02x11 - Cows and Effects

[bunniefuu]

(bell rings) (upbeat music)

(frog croaking)

(upbeat music)

(frog croaking)

(upbeat music)

(frog croaking)

- Whoa, two feet.

- Wow, Brett.

Did he break the world record yet?

(Brett laughs) (frog croaking)

- You know, this guy jumping two feet

is the equivalent of a human jumping, like, 50 feet.

- Hey, forget the science experiment.

This could be a whole new rodeo event.

- Oh yeah, frog roping.

- [Brett] You know, there's only one rodeo event

that matters.

- Rodeo Queen.

- (scoffs) You have got to be kidding me.

- [Brett] Do you think Taylor's gonna win again?

- Two years in a row.

- [Eric] No, nobody's gonna be looking at Taylor

when they get a load of my Hereford steer.

- Oh. So cows can run for Rodeo Queen too, then?

- Very funny city girl; no.

My steer's gonna take first place

in the two-year-old class.

- Here he goes again.

- Easy, frog boy.

- [Caitlin] Calf roping.

Barrel racing.

Rodeo Queen.

(Caitlin scoffs)

Big whoop.

I just don't see how anybody could get so worked up

over some ancient ritual

where they show off their farm animals every year.

(frog croaking)

- Freem!

(Brett laughs)

- Eric. Get him off of me.

(frog croaking) - Oh, no, your face.

That's too much.

- You are such a jerk.

(frog croaking)

- My frog.

(frog croaking) (upbeat music)

- [Eric] Okay. Everybody stay back.

(frog croaking)

- [Griffin] I have it. I have it. I have it. I-

(Eric shushes)

(upbeat music)

[Classmate] Okay.

(frog croaking)

[Eric] Oh. - Ah.

- Stupid. Brett, Brett.

Right there.

Grab him.

Just-

[Classmate] I'm terrified.

Approach it slowly.

- [Caitlin] Eric, you're such an idiot.

- [Eric] There.

Come on, little fella.

(frog croaking)

I'm not gonna hurt you.

- [Caitlin] Oh. You're evil.

(upbeat music)

[Classmate] Go get him. Get him.

(frog croaking)

(girl screaming)

(chairs cluttering)

(girl screaming)

(chairs cluttering)

(upbeat whimsical music)

- Wait.

Stop, stop, stop, stop.

(whistle blaring)

- For the love of Pete, what's going on in here?

(whimsical music)

- Man.

(frog croaking)

- Oh man. (laughs)

(frog croaking)

(Brett laughs) (Classmate whispers)

(whimsical music)

- [Eric] Caitlin was in on it too.

[Classmate] So much trouble.

(whimsical music)

- [Caitlin] I mean, why do they need a rodeo event

to show off animals for?

They can see them every day,

right here at High River High.

- I told her not to take off the -

(upbeat music)

♪There's a devil standing on my tail ♪

♪ But I don't have to beat him ♪

♪ And there's an angel that is tempting me to fail ♪

♪ But I don't really need him ♪

♪ And the waves just keep rolling along ♪

♪ But we can drift if the current prevails ♪

♪ Here we are in this slow boat ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail ♪

♪ A Sail, a sail, a sail, a sail ♪

♪ I'm wishing ♪

♪ I'm wishing ♪

♪ I'm wishing ♪

♪ For a sail ♪

(whimsical music)

(clock ticking)

(whimsical music)

- Coach, (whispers).

- Sure. Have a good one.

- Wait. How come he gets to leave?

- Cause I like him better than you.

- Oh. I get it.

So if you're on the football team,

you get special treatment?

- Take it easy, Seeger.

I'm just kiddin'.

- So can I go too?

- Well, if I let you go,

then I'll have to let everyone else go.

- But I'm the only one in detention.

- Bingo.

(whimsical music)

(Basketball players chattering)

- So we can hit the diner

and you can help me figure out my dial with Palma. (laughs)

- I wish I could help you with your modem, Griff,

but I've got a clarinet lesson.

- Oh, man. She's talented too.

- Please. You've heard me play.

- Oh, come on.

You'll be doing a solo with the orchestra in no time.

- Have a milkshake for me?

- Sure.

See ya.

(basketball bouncing)

(whimsical music)

- Griff.

Be cool.

- What do you mean?

- Haven't you ever heard of playing hard to get?

- Okay. Well, if you're such an expert with girls,

whatever happened to you and Taylor?

Oh, right.

Remember that part about her dumping you.

I don't get it.

Nikki's 10 times prettier than Taylor,

and she's way more talented too.

- [Brett] So why isn't she running?

- Hey, you're right.

- See you later, man.

(tense music)

(calf moos)

- Hey Dori.

Sorry I'm late. I had this stupid detention.

Great. It's you.

- [Dori] Here. Give Eric a hand with this little guy

so I can examine him.

- [Caitlin] Hey.

- Hey.

How long has he been like this?

- Uh, he got the scratches last week.

- [Dori] Oh.

Barbed wire?

- [Eric] Yeah.

And just started staggering a few days ago.

And this afternoon, I found him wandering in circles.

(calf moos)

- Oh, easy boy.

(Eric shushes)

(calf moos)

- Oh boy.

- What?

- I'm gonna have to look at the rest of your calves.

(tense music)

(Dori shushes)

- [Dori] Oh yeah.

(somber music)

- [Dori] Yeah.

This one's showing the same symptoms as the other ones.

- What do you think it is?

- Well, from the deterioration of their motor skills

and their eyesight,

I'd say it's some kind of neurological damage.

- And what causes that?

- Well, sometimes it's genetic.

- Yeah, but not if it's happening to all of them at once.

- You're right.

Probably not in this case.

Have you checked the water in the creek lately?

- Yeah.

All the time.

If it was polluted, we'd know.

- Well, something on this land is causing this.

- Well, look.

My dad's at the auction at Great Falls all this week.

Is there any chance they'll get better

by the time he gets back?

This is some of his prime breeding stock.

- Mm-hmm.

Depends what it is that's causing this.

- Well, I'll check our land tomorrow.

Thanks Dr. Lowe.

I'll let you know if I find anything.

- Good luck Eric.

- Thanks.

(cow mooing)

- Hey, Eric.

How many cows do you have?

- 500 head, and they're cattle, not cows.

- Okay.

And you're gonna just check the whole ranch by yourself?

- Well, yeah.

I'm in charge of the ranch.

- Oh, come on now.

You can't do it alone. You need some help.

- What? From you?

You're useless.

- Well, you know what?

You just can't stand it, can you?

Look, I'm not even helping you, all right?

I'm helping your cows.

- [Eric] Cattle.

(cow moos)

(Eric sighs)

- You wanna be here first thing in the morning then?

- Like Nine?

- Try seven.

- Seven.

Okay.

- Thanks.

- [Basketball Player] Hey, over here. sh**t.

Yo, Nikki.

Good luck next week.

- What are you talking about?

- Hasn't Griff told you?

- I've been at clarinet.

- He signed you up.

- He did what?

- The Rodeo Queen pageant.

Taylor's gonna be so mad

that she's actually got some competition this year.

(tense music)

(Nikki sighs)

- Griffin.

(Eric laughs)

(upbeat music) (rooster crows)

(cow moos)

(horse whinnies)

- It's quarter to eight.

- Yeah.

Well, I'm on Saturday time.

- How long has it been since you moved from the city?

I thought you would've adjusted by now.

- Adjusted to what?

Little boys putting frogs on my head?

- I was doing that frog a favor.

- How?

- I'm an animal lover.

I was letting it stretch its legs.

Mostly, I just wanted to see that look on your face.

- Can I drive it?

(cow moos)

- This beauty has triple link suspension, okay?

It has faster transport speed

than anything else on the market.

It goes 25 miles an hour.

- So?

- So of course you can't drive it.

- Yeah, you're right.

At that speed, I might just fall asleep.

(upbeat music)

It's really beautiful out here.

- Yeah. You should see it in this snow.

- Is this all your land?

- Yup.

- [Caitlin] Whoa.

(upbeat music)

(tractor engine revving)

- [Eric] Oh yeah, there's a good one.

Yee-haw.

(Caitlin whoops)

- [Caitlin] Let me out of here.

- [Eric] What's the problem?

- You did that on purpose.

- [Eric] Who, me?

- Yes, you.

Just like the last four logs that you hit.

- That, that, that log?

(Eric laughs)

(insects chirping)

- The fence is down.

(somber music)

(insects chirping)

Well, looks like your cows have been grazing over

at your neighbors.

Cattle.

- Yeah.

- I was kidding.

(somber music)

Stupid fence.

(whimsical music) (Eric sighs)

Oh man.

- All right. Don't move.

(whimsical music)

(pants rip)

(Eric sighs)

I told you not to move, Caitlin.

Why do you always do the opposite of everything I say?

- I do not.

- You just did.

Stay still.

(somber music)

(Caitlin huffs)

(Eric shushes)

(somber music)

- All right. You're free.

You all right?

- Yeah.

- Can I look at it?

Lemme look.

(somber music)

(Eric sighs)

All right.

I'm gonna have to put something on that.

(somber music)

(Hammer banging)

- Griffin.

- Hey.

Where were you last night?

I tried to call you.

- You signed me up for Rodeo Queen without asking me first.

- But-

- If you think I'm gonna parade around in a swimsuit

or answer stupid questions-

- Look.

I'm sorry, okay?

There was this deadline and you were at clarinet.

I, I tried to call you, but your dad said you were out.

- I don't care, Griffin.

- But you're smarter than Taylor.

You're more beautiful.

And you'll be the first African-American Rodeo Queen.

- I'm not a poster girl for minority rights.

And I don't care about being smarter or more beautiful

than anyone.

- I'm sorry.

I didn't think you'd be mad.

- I am mad. It's not cool.

And obviously, you don't know me as well as you think.

(tense music)

- You know what? You really don't have to do this.

I'm perfectly capable of-

- [Eric] Would you just-

- Ouch.

So how'd you manage to get out of detention yesterday?

- I didn't.

But with my dad and my brothers away,

I've got work to do here.

So the coach said I could make up the detention next week.

- Oh.

Thanks.

- Yup.

You think you can make it through the fence

without cutting yourself this time?

(Caitlin huffs)

(somber music)

(insects chirping)

- Hey.

Have you asked your neighbor if he's having problems

with his cattle?

- No. We don't have a neighbor. He-

went bankrupt.

(Eric sighs)

(ominous music)

Look at all this junk.

(ominous music)

(metal clanging)

- What is it?

(ominous music)

- It's old pesticide.

It's probably been leaking in this water hole.

(ominous music)

- Wait, so if your calves have been drinking from here then-

- They've been drinking pure poison.

(ominous music)

(upbeat music) (dog barks)

- [Dori] All right. Thanks again.

Well, they said they'll order another study.

(Eric sighs)

It's the mayor's office, guys.

It's all paperwork.

- Well, how long will it take?

- Well, they said they'd send somebody right away.

- And how long until it's cleaned up?

- Hard to say.

It could be a few days.

Could be a few weeks.

- Weeks?

- And what's Eric supposed to do

until they get it cleaned up, Dori?

- Well, we'll just keep our eye on the rest of the calves.

And let's just hope that we caught it in time.

- Pesticide's leaking into the ground.

You fixed the fence.

So you know the rest of the herd is safe.

Now, if you want to call the Mayor's office and-

- Eric.

Eric, wait.

- I have to go back to the ranch.

- But I-

I want to help.

- How? How you gonna help me, Caitlin?

- I, I don't know.

Um, I can, I can help look after your calves.

- [Eric] Yeah. How about calling my dad

and telling him what happened?

You wanna do that?

You wanna explain to him that the calves

that he put me in charge of,

that they're sick?

- But you didn't know.

- [Eric] Those calves have been acting weird

for a couple of days.

I'm a rancher's son.

I should have known.

(somber music)

(bell rings)

- Hey.

How's the-

How's the Rodeo Queen campaign coming?

(Brett laughs) (crowd laughs)

- [Nikki] Hey, Griff.

You like it?

Maybe there's a poster competition

or something you can enter me in.

- [Coach] Okay. Okay.

Get inside that classroom.

It's time for chemistry.

(crowd laughs)

Whoa there, Lowe.

Looks like you'll be joining

the weightlifting team this year.

(crowd laughs)

- Funny.

(somber music)

(man laughs)

(door creaks)

- Hey Eric.

Did you talk to your dad?

- Yup.

- And?

- Well, he said if I hadn't been so busy

trying to score touchdowns,

I would have noticed that the fence was down.

- Come on.

It is not your fault that there are poisonous chemicals

leaking into the water.

- You don't get it, Caitlin.

My dad's right.

I was supposed to mind those calves.

I was supposed to make sure the fence was okay.

It's not like, you know,

I forgot to do the dishes or something.

- I know.

- [Eric] No, you don't know.

Everything is so easy for you.

- Easy?

Look, all I'm trying to say is that

I know that you have a lot of responsibilities, all right?

You just, you shouldn't blame yourself for everything.

- Yeah. Well, thanks.

(bell rings)

(padlock rattles) I guess.

I got to get to class.

(Caitlin huffs)

(whimsical music)

- [Griffin] So,

when's the big date?

- What are you talking about?

- Well, you and Eric.

You were at his ranch all day Saturday.

It's all you talked about Sunday,

and now you're hanging out in between classes.

- Hanging out?

That is so not true.

(whimsical music)

- [Coach] Next, we drop the zinc

into the hydrochloric acid and watch the reaction.

And remember, when you combine the chemicals,

point the test tube away from everybody else.

Now this is what'll happen,

(chemicals hiss)

if you don't pay attention and get the formula wrong.

Now go ahead and find yourselves a partner,

and do it right.

(stationary clattering)

(Eric clears throat)

- You wanna be a partner?

- What?

- Do you wanna be my partner?

I figured since we're already working over chemicals,

we might as well work together over-

chemicals. (laughs)

- No, thanks.

- What?

Suddenly, I'm not good enough for you?

- Come on, Eric.

Don't take it so personally, all right?

- I wasn't taking it personally.

I was trying to do you a favor.

- Well, I don't need any favors from you.

- Okay.

Well, fine.

(dramatic music)

(eagles piping)

- Dad,

is it so terrible to, to want the world to see how beautiful

and smart and talented your girlfriend is?

- Well, if you're talking about Nikki,

I think the whole world already sees it.

- I just wanted her to be in that contest.

And I know she would've won too.

And now it's all messed up and I don't even know why.

- You just told me why.

- I did?

- Yeah.

(Jim sighs)

Why does it matter so much what the world thinks?

- Because it does.

It's good to be popular, right?

- Maybe.

Depends on what you have to give up to get it.

(dog whines)

(door creeks)

- Dori.

How's the calf doing?

- Oh.

He died this morning, Caitlin.

I'm sorry.

- I thought you said he was doing better.

- Well, I thought he was.

The others seem to be holding their own.

(Caitlin sighs)

- Yeah.

Well, I mean, at least now the Mayor's office,

they'll have to do something, right?

- Well, one would think.

First, we have to get through all the red tape.

- And meanwhile, what?

Just wait for more calves to die?

(Caitlin huffs)

I swear, if people knew about this-

There's gotta be something we can do.

- You wanna tell Eric or you want me to do it?

(somber music)

(Caitlin sighs)

(somber music)

- Eric.

- Eric, hold on.

- What? What do you want?

(Eric sighs)

- Dori told me that the calf in the clinic

died this morning.

(Eric scoffs)

(somber music)

(Eric inhales and exhales)

- My dad is never gonna trust me with anything else.

(somber music)

They won't even let me anywhere near the stupid mayor now.

I gotta do something.

- No. We have to do something.

That's why I brought this.

- What do you mean?

- Look, I'll take a picture of your sick calves.

We can write up a story

and get Griffin to run it through his computer.

We can put up flyers all over town.

Then the Mayor will have to clean it up

before more calves die.

- And you're gonna help me with that?

- Yeah.

Just take me to your cows.

- Cattle.

- Whatever.

(upbeat music)

- Hey.

Thought you weren't talking to me.

- Are you talking to me?

- Of course I am.

- That poster was really mean.

I'm sorry.

- I got the message.

(cow mooing) (insects chirping)

Nikki, I didn't mean to insult you

with the whole rodeo queen thing.

It was actually more about me wanting you to win

than you actually winning.

- I guess it was flattering in a way,

how much faith you had in me.

- You know what?

- What?

- You could win anything.

(birds chirping)

(heads thumping) - Oh.

(Nikki laughs)

- Sorry.

(serene music)

- Whoa.

(insects chirping)

(serene music)

- Read all about it.

Mayor refuses to order clean up

after pesticides are found leaking into the ground.

Your health is at risk and so is mine.

See exclusive photos.

Think this is gonna work?

- Oh.

Totally.

I mean the Mayor promised.

You saw his face when he handed him a copy.

- Yeah, you're right.

I just still want people to see this.

Look, I'm gonna to make sure that Nikki and Griffin

have enough copies, okay?

- All right. - Oops.

Sorry.

(upbeat music)

Here you go.

(upbeat music)

- [Caitlin] I never would have believed

I could get this interested in cows.

I mean cattle.

Especially Eric's cattle.

(Eric sighs)

I thought the only thing he cared about was football.

Who knows?

Maybe it's not gonna be as easy to hate Eric anymore.

(upbeat rock music)

♪ Wishing for a sail ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail ♪

♪ A sail, a sail, a sail, a sail ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail ♪

♪ A sail, a sail, a sail, a sail ♪

♪ Well, all right ♪

(upbeat rock music)

♪ On a sail ♪

♪ On a sail ♪

♪ On a sail ♪

♪ On a sail ♪

♪ On a sail ♪

♪ On a sail ♪