rattlesnakes.
What for?
Pardon?
Plenty other things up
there to worry about.
Well, good.
I'll worry about them then.
What is it?
Possum.
Am I pleased
or frightened?
Take a look.
What the hell is that?
i just told you- Possum.
esus hrist. i
You got lots of possums
around here? ust that one.
Been spotted a few times.
is he friendly?
You one of them
reporter fellas?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
She likes reporter fellas
least of all.
She don't like
no one much.
She almost killed one.
One what?
Reporter fella?
Fella messin' around
with her eagles.
What do you mean,
"almost killed"?
You know, when you stop breathin'
and walkin' and seein' things?
That kind of "almost
killed him." Uh-huh.
Okay.
Oh, shit!
Geez!
Phew.
Getting more fun
every day.
The air's thinner
up here.
Better lay off those
today.
Every day
for 13 years,
some smart-ass has been
trying to tell me to qui-
Dear Lord, I know this might
sound a touch hypocritical...
after the way I've been...
roughly since birth,
but if you could swing things
just this once...
so I can get out ofhere...
uneaten,
I promise
I'll never again...
ask for anything...
or complain about anything.
ust please don't let
these hairy mother-
Goddamn it. i Get out ofhere. i Go on. i
Get out ofhere. i
You goddamn wet-nosed
son of a bitch!
Get out of here!
Go on! Beat it!
That was one of the other things
you had to worry about.
Really?
Thank you, Lord. I won't
forget that or my promise.
Oh, no.
Oh, no!
The bear stole
all my cigarettes!
For that I could've stayed
in chicago!
Oh, no!
It ain't much,
but there it is.
Ugh.
She's gone to the movies,
I guess.
Where are you going? You hired
me to bring you to Nell Porter's.
This here's Nell Porter's.
See ya.
Well, when do you think
she'll be back? Who knows?
Wait! You come back for me in two weeks!
When did we say?
Two weeks!
Well, if that, s what we said
- That's what we said!
said. i
Hello?
Hello.
Hello.
Shit.
Whoa! Ooh!
shit.
You're in my house.
I, uh-
You broke in.
I'm sorry.
I'm going to assume
the best for now.
You're a novice hiker
way out of your depth.
cold? Scared?
Lost?
You waited outside as long
as you could stand it?
You forgot tired.
Go to sleep.
You look awful.
Thank you.
Great coffee.
Perfect.
Thanks.
Ernie Souchak.
Nell Porter.
Nice to meet you,
Miss Porter.
Did I say "perfect"?
I was underselling you.
I've got my own provisions. Yes, I noticed.
Freeze-dried eggs.
Enjoy the real thing.
It'll be the last you get till
you get where you're going.
I saw from the tracks outside
that there were two of you.
Did Deke Lewis help you?
Well, 50-50.
Helped me, helped himself
to my liquor.
All of it.
Yeah, I know Deke.
He's a good guy,
but a lousy timekeeper.
Pardon?
Here's one.
Last October he told me he'd
deliver some supplies in November.
He showed up in May.
Where are you from, Mr. Souchak? chicago.
You?
I was raised in Boston.
That's one place I've never been. No?
I don't get out of chicago
much, try as I will.
Too bad. It's a magnif cent country.
That's so true.
Where are you headed?
Pardon?
Pardon?
Where am I headed?
That's right.
Uh, now?
Yes.
Here.
Salt?
I don't understand
what you're talking about.
I'm a newspaperman. This is the
story I've always prayed I'd do.
Finally my editor gave in.
i guess I wore him down.
What story?
Story about what?
You.
Did you ever think to ask
if I wanted that?
Did it never occur to you
to ask permission?
Of all the unmitigated,
presumptuous gall!
There's no call
to use big words.
Okay, here's a short one. "Out." How?
I can't get back
on my own.
ust aim straight downhill.
Deke Lewis will be back
in two weeks. No, now!
Miss Porter,
I'll die out there.
Life is full
of little trade-offs.
i mean it. I mean it. i
I washed the dishes.
I washed the dishes,
and you're chopping wood.
I gotta get out of here.
Well, you