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[ COW MOOS ]
[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]
Harrison: "LARSON'S HOLSTEIN BULL.
"DEATH WAITS INSIDE US FOR A DOOR TO OPEN.
"DEATH IS PATIENT AS A DEAD CAT.
"DEATH IS A DOORKNOB MADE OF FLESH.
"DEATH IS THAT ANGELIC FARM GIRL GORED BY THE BULL
"ON HER WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL,
"CROSSING THE PASTURE FOR A SHORTCUT.
"IN THE SEVENTH GRADE, SHE COULDN'T READ OR WRITE.
"SHE WASN'T A ***.
"SHE WAS SIMPLEMINDED, WE ALL SAID.
"IT WAS MAY, THE TIME OF LILACS AND SHOOTING STARS.
"SHE'S LIVED IN MY MEMORY FOR 60 YEARS.
DEATH STEALS EVERYTHING EXCEPT OUR STORIES."
I'M ANTHONY BOURDAIN.
♪ THAT'S RIGHT ♪
I WRITE.
I TRAVEL.
I EAT.
AND I'M HUNGRY FOR MORE.
♪ OOH ♪
♪ YOU GOT TO ♪
♪ GET LOST ♪
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY THE TRAVEL CHANNEL, L.L.C.
THERE'S SOMETHING SURPRISINGLY OUTSIZED ABOUT MONTANA,
SOMETHING THAT REMINDS YOU CONSTANTLY
OF THE LIMITS OF YOURSELF,
THAT BOTH INSPIRES YOU AND KEEPS YOU IN CHECK.
PEOPLE NOT BORN HERE ARE DRAWN BY FATE,
BY CIRCUMSTANCES, BY DESIGN,
BY URGES AS UNKNOWABLE AS THE RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS
THIS STATE TAKES ITS NAME FROM.
THEY'RE DWARFED BY BOTH THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM
AND THE UNNATURAL --
THE EVER-CHANGING FORCES OF THE MODERN WORLD.
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING FROM THE LAND --
THE FARMERS, THE RANCHERS --
LIFE REQUIRES CONSTANT ADAPTATION AND ADJUSTMENT
TO THOSE FORCES,
WHETHER THE CAPRICES OF WEATHER
OR THE RISE AND FALL OF A FEW NUMBERS
ON A DIGITAL BOARD ON THE COMMODITIES MARKET.
NO ONE KNOWS THIS BETTER THAN A MONTANA RANCHER.
REMI AND SUSAN METCALF AND THEIR KIDS, BRET AND BROOKE,
ARE A FAMILY
OF FOURTH-GENERATION CATTLE RANCHERS
GOING ON FIFTH-GENERATION.
I DON'T REMEMBER IT EVER BEING PROFITABLE.
Bourdain: REALLY?
NO.
SO, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN UPHILL CLIMB.
YEAH, IT'S SOMETHING YOU GOT TO LOVE TO WANT TO DO.
NOT MUCH OF A MONEYMAKIN' PROPOSITION THESE DAYS.
IN FACT, LIKE A LOT OF TRADITIONAL-SIZED,
FAMILY-OWNED CATTLE AND FARMING BUSINESSES,
THEY OPERATE AT A NET LOSS...
AND THEY'VE HAD TO FIND MORE NONTRADITIONAL WAYS
TO SUPPLEMENT THAT INCOME.
THEY TAKE ON TOURISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
LOOKING TO EXPERIENCE A WORKING RANCH.
AND THEY, LIKE MANY OF THEIR NEIGHBORS,
HAVE HAD TO SELL PIECES OF THEIR GRAZING LAND
AS VACATION HOMES.
Susan: IF WE CAN SELL A SMALL 20-ACRE PARCEL
AND MAYBE PAY OFF THE DEBT ON THE REST OF THE RANCH,
IT'S A WAY TO STAY VIABLE IN AGRICULTURE.
FOR AN ADMIRING OUTSIDER LOOKING IN,
IT RAISES THE OBVIOUS QUESTION --
HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN SOMETHING INHERENTLY UNSUSTAINABLE?
IS THE PASSING OF A CATTLE RANCH TO THE NEXT GENERATION
A BIRTHRIGHT OR A BURDEN?
IT'S EASY FOR SOMEONE NOT BORN INTO IT
TO SIGH AND SHAKE THEIR HEAD.
BUT IF IT IS YOUR LIFE AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN YOUR LIFE
AND YOU'VE GOT 200 HEAD OF CATTLE
AND THOUSANDS OF ACRES TO TEND TO,
THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY MATTERS
IS HAVING THE ENERGY TO GET THE JOB DONE.
BREAKFASTS IN THESE PARTS ARE APPROPRIATELY HEARTY.
Bourdain: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
SAUSAGE, GRAVY, AND BISCUITS -- FAVORITE THING EVER
AND NOT SOMETHING I SEE IN NEW YORK.
Susan: YOU GOT TO EAT HEARTY
'CAUSE WE GOT LOTS OF WORK TO DO OUT THERE.
MAYBE "HEARTY" IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
WHERE I'M FROM, THIS THICK-AS-A-BRICK
AND, FRANKLY, DELICIOUS SPREAD
OF EGGS, BACON, BISCUITS, AND CREAM GRAVY
WOULD LEAD DIRECTLY TO A NEAR-CATATONIC SLUMBER.
BUT WHEN YOU'VE GOT A FULL DAY OF RANCHING AHEAD OF YOU,
EVERY TASTY CALORIE COUNTS.
SO, HOW LONG IS A WORKDAY HERE?
LAST NIGHT, WE QUIT ABOUT 10:00,
STARTED ABOUT 6:00 IN THE MORNING.
THAT'S SERIOUS TIME.
WE JUST FINISHED CALVING,
AND WE'LL TURN THEM OUT ON GRASS ALL SUMMER.
AND IDEALLY, IF WE COULD, YOU KNOW,
RAISE GRASS-FED BEEF AND SELL THEM TO YOUR RESTAURANT --
BUT THE MARKET'S JUST...
...NOT THERE.
WELL, THE ECONOMY DOESN'T HELP, EITHER.
PEOPLE WILL CUT OUT BUYING A STEAK AND BUY A HAMBURGER INSTEAD.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
SO, HAZARDS -- WHAT DO YOU GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR?
WHAT'S A REAL BAD DAY?
OH, WHAT'S A BAD DAY? WHEN SHE'S MAD AT ME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHAT'S A PERFECT DAY?
WELL, THE DAY WE SHIP THE CALVES.
GET PAID THAT DAY.
[ LAUGHS ] DAY OFF, WHAT DO YOU DO?
I DON'T KNOW YET.
[ LAUGHS ]
14-HOUR DAY, RAIN OR SHINE.
7 DAYS A WEEK.
YEAH, IT'S A TOUGH GIG.
WE HEAD UP TO THE METCALFS' GRAZING LAND
TO GET A GLIMPSE OF WHAT HAPPENS ON A TYPICAL DAY
AROUND HERE.
Susan: THIS IS MY FAVORITE RIDE.
WE CALL IT THE "TOP OF THE WORLD" RIDE
'CAUSE YOU GO DOWN HERE AND THEN YOU GO UP,
AND AS YOU GO UP, YOU JUST SEE THE MOUNTAINS
KIND OF COMING UP WITH YOU.
HOW OFTEN ARE YOU UP HERE?
OH, DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE COWS ARE UP HERE,
WE'RE UP HERE EVERY DAY.
22 YEARS.
IT'S UNSPEAKABLY BEAUTIFUL.
DO YOU NOT NOTICE THAT A LOT?
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T. WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.
I MEAN, WHO HAS THIS FOR A VIEW IN THEIR BACKYARD?
YEAH. WE'RE LUCKY. WE ARE.
WE'VE GOT SOME BABY CALVES
THAT HAVE JUST BEEN BORN THAT NEED TO BE TAGGED
SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY THE MOTHERS AND THE BABIES.
SO, WE'RE GONNA GO OVER HERE
AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND A COUPLE OF THOSE NEW CALVES
AND SEE IF WE CAN GET A ROPE ON THEM.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL SAY "YEEHAW" OR SOMETHING IF YOU WANT ME TO,
BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH GONNA BE MY CONTRIBUTION.
CLINT EASTWOOD, LEE VAN CLEEF, ANTHONY BOURDAIN --
ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS.
ROPED AND TAGGED -- REMI AND BRET MAKE IT LOOK EASY.
AND WHILE PUTTING A ROPE AROUND A CALF IS ANYTHING BUT,
I HAVE TO WONDER, COULD BRET SUBDUE A BEAST
OF, SAY, MORE SUBSTANTIAL GIRTH...
OOH, THAT'S A BIG'N.
[ BULL ROARS ]
...A CREATURE WILD AND FREE
WITH A MOTHER [BLEEP] EMMY NOMINATION?
APPARENTLY, YES.
HE ENJOYED THAT A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
[ SIZZLING ]
BACK AT THE RANCH, SOME FAMILY-RAISED STEAKS,
CORN, AND BAKED POTATO.
AND, WELL, YOU CAN'T VISIT THE ROCKIES
WITHOUT SOME CRISPY ROCKY MOUNTAIN OYSTERS,
OR BULL NUTS, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW.
THAT WOULD BE, LIKE, UNPATRIOTIC.
THESE ARE GOOD.
SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD AMERICANA.
THIS IS SO GOOD.
CAN'T TELL YOU ENOUGH HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS HERE.
HOW MANY INCREDIBLY RICH PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD
CAN LOOK AT THAT?
YEP.
ANYWAY, CALL IT GRIT, CALL IT WHAT YOU'D LIKE --
THE METCALFS DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO GO ON.
TO ASK WHY, I GUESS, WOULD BE A LUXURY FEW COULD AFFORD.
A MAN, A VISION, A LANDSCAPE.
Chatham: YOU CAN'T PUT A DOLLAR VALUE ON IT,
TO BE ABLE TO BE IN A PLACE THAT'S NOT BEEN TOUCHED.
NEXT UP, INSIDE THE MIND
OF PAINTER, WRITER, AND SPORTSMAN RUSSELL CHATHAM.
[ COW MOOS ]
MONTANA --
BIG SKY COUNTRY. THE PARADISE VALLEY.
ONE OF THE FEW PLACES YOU'LL FIND
THAT LOOKS AS ADVERTISED --
"PARADISE" IS ABOUT RIGHT.
YOU LIVE IN THE AMERICA THAT I LIVE IN,
IT'S EASY TO FORGET THIS,
THAT THERE REALLY ARE "PURPLE MOUNTAINS' MAJESTY"
AND, LIKE, FRUITED PLAINS AND ALL THAT,
THAT BETWEEN SEA TO SHINING SEA, AMERICA'S BIG.
THERE'S ROOM, A LOT OF ROOM, FOR ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE...
AND ALL TYPES SINCE THE FIRST SETTLERS HAVE BEEN DRAWN HERE.
Chatham: WHAT'S THIS WORTH IN DOLLARS?
YOU CAN'T PUT A DOLLAR VALUE ON IT,
TO BE ABLE TO BE IN A PLACE
THAT'S NOT BEEN TOUCHED AND EVERYTHING'S WILD.
OVER TIME, A STEADY STREAM OF ARTISTS, WRITERS,
FILMMAKERS, AND EVEN ACTORS ARRIVED.
THEY CAME, THEY SAW, THEY STAYED...
TO BUILD CABINS, RANCHES, TO FISH FOR TROUT,
TO LOOK AT ALL THIS IN THE MORNING.
Harrison: IT'S THE BEST GENERAL AREA FOR BROWN-TROUT-FISHING
LEFT IN AMERICA.
COOLS YOUR TUBES AFTER WRITING, YOU KNOW?
FOR DECADES NOW, THE NEW CREW
HAVE COMFORTABLY RUBBED SHOULDERS
WITH RANCHERS, COWBOYS, RAILROAD MEN,
AND THE DESCENDANTS OF HOMESTEADERS
AT PLACES LIKE THIS, THE OLD SALOON.
LIVINGSTON NATIVE DAN LAREN -- JACK OF ALL TRADES
AND THE MAN TO KNOW IN THESE PARTS.
HE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE BODIES ARE BURIED
AND, I'M GUESSING, BURIED SOME OF THEM HIMSELF.
I LIKE THIS PLACE.
YEAH, THIS IS A WONDERFUL OLD HANGOUT.
THIS IS THE LAST STRONGHOLD IN PARK COUNTY.
WELL, CHEERS, MAN, TO A WILD WEEK IN MONTANA.
SO, TELL ME ABOUT THIS TOWN.
LIVINGSTON HAS KIND OF A REPUTATION
AS SOME SORT OF A PARTY TOWN.
YEAH. WE USED TO HAVE 22 BARS.
AND A COUPLE WHOREHOUSES.
AND THERE WERE A COUPLE WHOREHOUSES.
NOW WE GOT 25 CHURCHES
AND 21 ART GALLERIES AND 7 BARS.
WAS IT BETTER THEN?
UM...
I...
I THINK I'D CALL THAT A YES.
THINGS WERE A LOT SLOWER AND A LOT MORE RELAXED.
NOW THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE --
THEY WANT TO CHANGE IT TO THEIR SPEED,
TRY TO DRIVE YOU IN TO THE FAST LANE.
THE FAST LANE DAN'S TALKING ABOUT
IS THE RELATIVELY RECENT INVASION OF CEOs AND MOGULS
LOOKING FOR A VIEW.
DESPITE THIS, LIVINGSTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
MAINTAIN A FREEWHEELING IDENTITY --
A PLACE THAT 38 YEARS AGO BEGAN WELCOMING
A BOLD, ICONOCLASTIC, AND CREATIVE NEW WILD BUNCH.
I'LL HAVE ANOTHER, IF YOU PLEASE.
EVENTUALLY DUBBED "THE BLOOMSBURY OF THE ROCKIES,"
THE FIRST INFLUX OF ARTISTS AND WRITERS
ARRIVED IN LIVINGSTON IN THE LATE '60s AND EARLY '70s.
AUTHOR, SCREENWRITER, TOM McGUANE...
PAINTER, AUTHOR, AND SPORTSMAN RUSSELL CHATHAM...
AND LEGENDARY POET, GOURMAND, SCREENWRITER,
AND AUTHOR OF SUCH WORKS
AS "LEGENDS OF THE FALL" AND "THE RAW AND THE COOKED,"
JIM HARRISON -- A MAN WHO'S DONE EVERYTHING COOL,
KNOWN EVERYBODY COOL...
THE LAST OF THE REALLY BAD MEN.
SO, TELL ME WHAT JIM WAS LIKE WHEN HE FIRST CAME OUT.
I DIDN'T KNOW HIM, BUT I SAW HIM.
I SAW HIM AND McGUANE AND CHATHAM.
THEY WERE NEWBIES, YOU KNOW?
"LOOK AT THAT GUY. HE'S GOT A BENT NOSE,"
OR "THAT ONE-EYED INDIAN," YOU KNOW?
SO, THEY WERE VIEWED WITH SUSPICION
OH, YEAH. OH, YEAH.
BUT PEOPLE GOT USED TO THEM.
SO, WHAT MAKES JIM HARRISON MAD?
'CAUSE I'M TOTALLY IN AWE OF THE GUY, OBVIOUSLY.
OKAY, IF HE SAYS SOMETHING AND YOU FORGET IT...
YOU'LL REGRET IT.
HE MAKES YOU PAY FOR IT?
YEAH, HE MAKES YOU PAY FOR IT.
A LITTLE BEFORE LIVINGSTON HAD JIM HARRISON TO CONTEND WITH,
THIS GUY SHOWED UP.
Chatham: WHEN I SEE THIS,
I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING HERE THAT I CAN IMPRINT,
THAT I CAN USE AS A STEPPING-OFF POINT.
FOR 40 YEARS,
PAINTER, AUTHOR, PUBLISHER, RESTAURATEUR,
AND DEGENERATE SPORTSMAN RUSSELL CHATHAM
HAS MADE LIVINGSTON HIS HOME.
HE'S MADE AND LOST AND MADE AND LOST FORTUNES
FROM HIS AVIDLY COLLECTED PAINTINGS AND LITHOGRAPHS.
THEY SAY THAT THE DEFINITION OF POETRY
IS THAT WHICH CANNOT BE TRANSLATED.
YOU KNOW, SO IT IS ITSELF, AND THAT'S IT.
AND THAT'S WHERE I'M TRYING TO GO WITH THIS.
I STARTED PAINTING WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD.
I NEVER SAW IT AS A PROFESSION.
AND THAT'S WHY MY DAD WAS ALWAYS SAYING TO ME,
HE SAYS, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GONNA DO?
"YOU CAN'T SCREW AROUND IN FISHING AND PAINTING
AND ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF."
HE SAYS, "GROW UP. GET A JOB."
YOU KNOW? WELL, I GUESS I DIDN'T.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE, WHEN I CAME HERE,
THERE WASN'T ANYBODY HERE FROM ANYWHERE ELSE.
WE SHOWED UP AND WE WERE LIKE ALIENS, YOU KNOW?
YEAH.
"HEY, I FARM. I RANCH. WHAT DO YOU DO?"
"WELL, I DRAW PICTURES."
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
AS A FISHERMAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A RIVER,
IT'S ONLY ABOUT 1% OF IT IS OF INTEREST
TO YOU AS A FISHERMAN.
IT'S THE SAME THING WITH THIS LANDSCAPE.
THERE'S ONLY GONNA BE SOME LITTLE PIECE OF IT HERE
THAT'S GONNA BE THE SPARK OF A PAINTING.
AND WHAT'S IT GONNA BE?
I DON'T KNOW.
Chatham: THIS PAINTING --
BEEN WORKING ON IT OFF AND ON
FOR SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 MONTHS AND A YEAR,
AND IT'S CLOSE TO BEING DONE.
DO YOU EVER LET YOUR PAINTINGS SURPRISE YOU?
OR ARE YOU THE CRUEL MASTER OF THE SHIP
FROM THE BEGINNING TO END?
NO, YOU WANT THEM TO SURPRISE YOU.
YEAH.
THE WAY I'M DOING IT
IS MAKING CHANGES AND MAKING CHANGES AND MAKING CHANGES
AND TRYING TO GET TO SAY,
"OH, [BLEEP] THAT'S RIGHT NOW. THAT'S OKAY NOW."
MOSTLY WHAT YOU SAY IS, "[BLEEP] IT'S WRONG."
YOU HAVE THREE BASIC DISTANCES TO SEE THIS.
ONE IS 30 FEET...
ONE IS 3 FEET... AND ONE IS 3 INCHES.
THE CLOSENESS -- THIS ONE --
IS WHERE YOUR CHARACTER IS REVEALED.
YOU SOMETHING UP HERE
THAT YOU CAN'T SEE FROM 10 FEET, YOU KNOW?
YOU EVER PAINT COMPLETELY FROM IMAGINATION
AND THEN, IN YOUR WALKS, STUMBLE UPON A LANDSCAPE
THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE PAINTED IT?
OH, YEAH. [ LAUGHS ]
JUST LIKE A NOVEL IS A MADE-UP STORY, MADE-UP CHARACTERS,
BUT IF IT DOESN'T REFLECT LIFE, IT'S NO GOOD.
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IN THESE
IS SOMETHING PRETTY METAPHYSICAL.
I'M LOOKING TO CAUSE AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE.
TO ME, THE ULTIMATE COMPLIMENT TO A PAINTING
IS FOR SOMEBODY TO LOOK AT IT AND CRY.
WHAT WERE YOU LIKE 35 YEARS AGO?
[ LAUGHS ]
I DEVELOPED LATE. [ LAUGHS ]
YEAH, YOU AND ME BOTH.
WHAT WAS HARRISON LIKE 35 YEARS AGO?
[ LAUGHS ]
JIM WAS A LOT LIKE HE IS NOW.
OH, IT'S JIM'S WAY, OR THE HIGHWAY.
[ LAUGHS ]
A FISHING SCENE. SAFE ENOUGH.
YEAH, I'M GONNA LOOK LIKE MC HAMMER IN THOSE THINGS, MAN.
GETTING YOUR BODY PARTS HOOKED, NOT SO SAFE.
YOU'RE DOING GREAT.
NEXT, THE ZEN OF FLY-FISHING
AND A DELICIOUS LOCAL FAVORITE -- THE PASTY.
Bourdain: IT'S NOT A "PASTE-Y."
THAT'S WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND WEARS.
IT'S A "PAST-Y," OKAY? WE JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.
[ COW MOOS ]
LIVINGSTON, MONTANA, IS UNIQUE
BUT STRANGELY TYPICAL FOR SMALL-TOWN AMERICAN,
WHERE OLD GUARD AND NEW MUTANTS LIVE TOGETHER,
FORM ALLIANCES, GET ALONG,
AND BECOME INDISTINGUISHABLE IN THEIR WEIRDNESS.
CASE IN POINT -- PINKY'S CAFE, SERVING PASTIES,
THE TRADITIONAL STAPLE OF THE CORNISH LABORERS
WHO CAME OUT HERE TO MINE FOR COPPER IN THE 19th CENTURY.
DAN AND I ARE GOING TO CHECK OUT THIS LOCAL PHENOMENON.
OH, MAN. I AM SO HUNGRY.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO EAT SOMETHING
THAT'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF THAT HUNGER.
YEAH.
A TRADITIONAL PASTY WAS A SPARTAN AFFAIR --
A SLAB OF DOUGH STUFFED WITH POTATO AND ONION.
THIS IS A MORE LUXURIOUS VERSION.
IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND,
IT WAS SOME SORT OF SHRIVELED, DEEP-FRIED THING
WITH MYSTERY MEAT INSIDE
THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO HAVE 4 OR 5 PINTS
BEFORE IT SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO EAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT CASE. THIS IS AN ARTISANAL PASTY.
SEASONED WITH FRESH HERBS,
THIS MEAT-FILLED TORPEDO OF DELICIOUSNESS
SKIMPS ON NEITHER BEEF NOR STARCH.
I WANT A PASTY. I WANT GRAVY.
ONCE STURDY ENOUGH TO BE DROPPED DOWN A MINE SHAFT,
THE WORKERS SAID IT WAS AS WELCOME AS A LETTER FROM HOME.
GENTLEMEN.
OHH.
THAT'S A THING OF BEAUTY. IT'S NOT A "PASTE-Y."
THAT'S WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND WEARS.
IT'S A "PAST-Y."
OH, I'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT YOU ALL MORNING.
REALLY? NOT ME.
I'M CLIMBING RIGHT OUT OF THE MINE AND GOING HOME FOR A NAP.
AND NOTHING SAYS "MINE SAFETY" LIKE A SHOT OF BUSHMILLS.
WAIT A MINUTE. BUSHMILLS IS --
THAT'S A PROTESTANT WHISKEY.
DO I CARE? NO, NOT REALLY. BONO HATES ME ANYWAY.
HERE'S YOUR MEDICINE, GENTLEMEN.
HERE'S A GO.
CHEERS.
PERFECT.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS NEXUS,
THIS CROSSROADS OF GOODNESS
WHERE BEEF, PASTRY, AND GRAVY MEET AND MAKE MAGIC TOGETHER?
RICH, ALSO KNOWN AS "PINKY," AND HIS WIFE, TERRY --
OWNERS OF PINKY'S.
Terry: HOW'S EVERYTHING?
Bourdain: THIS IS AN ANSWERED PRAYER. THIS IS SO GOOD.
IT'S EVERYTHING I BELIEVE IN, IN FOOD.
IT'S LIKE GIVING BACON TO A VEGETARIAN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE ALL YOU NEED IS ONE BITE.
WE MADE ABOUT 80.
AND WE ALL MADE IT TO WORK A LITTLE HUNGOVER FROM IT
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T MAKE THEM WITHOUT --
YOU CAN'T.
CHEERS TO THAT. DOWN THE HATCH.
AND YOU HARDLY SHOULD EVER EAT THEM WITHOUT GETTING DRUNK.
SO, THERE YOU GO.
ANY COMMUNITY THAT WOULD LOVE AND SUPPORT AN OBJECT LIKE THAT,
THAT IS A GOOD PLACE.
WELL, I'M READY FOR A NAP, BUT DAN HAS OTHER IDEAS.
HE'S TAKING ME TO DAN BAILEY'S LEGENDARY FLY SHOP --
A SHRINE TO ALL THINGS FLY-FISHING.
Bourdain: I'M USED TO LOOKING RIDICULOUS ON THIS SHOW,
BUT I THINK I'VE FLY-FISHED TWICE,
BOTH TIMES WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS.
IF NOTHING ELSE, THOUGH, I'LL LOOK COOL IN THE CLOTHES?
UH, YEAH. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE GEAR.
THE ACCESSORIES CAN GET PRICY.
YES. YOU CAN WALK OUT OF HERE WITH $5,000 WORTH OF STUFF.
WOW. THAT'S SOME PRETTY EXPENSIVE FISH.
ALL RIGHT. SO, LET'S DO IT.
LET'S WADER UP.
SO, REALLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE
IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF EQUIPMENT,
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
TO TRY TO OUTWIT A FISH, BASICALLY.
USING A CAR BATTERY OR DYNAMITE --
UH, YEAH.
I NOTICE EVERYTHING HERE IS KIND OF, LIKE, NEUTRAL COLORS.
IF I WAS LOOKING FOR A SPORTY RED OR A...
OH, THEY CAN.
DAMN, I WAS THINKING CERULEAN BLUE.
ON THE ONE HAND, THESE PANTS ARE NOT GETTING ME
A SPREAD IN "GQ" ANYTIME SOON.
YEAH, I'M GONNA LOOK LIKE MC HAMMER IN THOSE THINGS, MAN.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I CAN PROBABLY SLIDE
A [BLEEP] DOWN MY PANTS, AND NO ONE WILL BE THE WISER.
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR WHEN I GET OLDER.
DOES MY *** LOOK FAT IN THIS?
WAIT A MINUTE. I LOOK KIND OF OUTDOOR AND MANLY, THOUGH.
YEAH. OH, YEAH.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED?
PRETTY MUCH, THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT.
I'LL TAKE THESE.
THERE'S A CERTAIN ZEN POETRY TO FLY-FISHING,
BUT I'M STILL A LITTLE UNSETTLED
BY THE "RUBBER LEDERHOSEN" THING.
I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE SPANKING A NUDE GERMAN
OR HOSING DOWN THE AUGEAN STABLES.
IT JUST FEELS WEIRD.
FLY-FISHING IS A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
TO ENCOURAGE NOT SO MUCH RECREATION
AS HARD-CORE ADDICTION.
HOW CRAZY CAN YOU GET WITH THIS?
YOU CAN BE TOTALLY CAUGHT UP IN IT,
NEGLECTING YOUR DOGS, YOUR CHILDREN.
YOU CAN BE SO OBSESSIVE, YOU RUIN A MARRIAGE.
WOW.
SO, ON THE SPECTRUM OF FISH CRAZINESS --
10 BEING JUST BAT [BLEEP] CRAZY,
1 BEING A HEALTHY ENTHUSIASM --
HOW ABOUT JIM ON A 1 TO 10?
AND RUSSELL?
AT ONE TIME, HE WAS A 10.
[ Laughing ] OKAY, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
RODS, REELS, WADERS.
HEADGEAR? NO WAY.
THERE'S A LOT OF ACCESSORIZING TO DO HERE,
AND I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE LITTLE THINGS
THEY PUT ON THE END OF THE LINE YET --
THE FUZZY WHATCHAMACALLITS, THE -- THE FLIES?
RIGHT.
AH, SO MUCH TO LEARN.
I DON'T WANT TO RUIN MY MARRIAGE,
AND I DON'T WANT TO BECOME A FLY TIER ANY TIME SOON.
I -- I JUST WANT TO CATCH A FISH.
LUCKILY, DAN IS AN EXPERT AT THIS.
HE TAKES ME TO A LAKE OUTSIDE OF TOWN
WHERE HE'S REASONABLY CERTAIN
EVEN MY DUMB *** CAN ENTICE SOME TROUT ONTO A HOOK.
I HAVE, HOWEVER, HAD TODD READY TO STUNT FISH.
[ REEL WHIRRING ]
Dan: THIS IS ART. THIS IS NOT A TOOL LIKE A HAMMER.
A DELICATE INSTRUMENT.
YES.
THIS DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR ME.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD OF ME, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
CATCHING A HOOK IN MY EAR OR OTHER EXTREMITY?
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE OF THAT.
O-KAY...
WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN ON IT AND YANK IT,
IT COMES OUT THE SAME HOLE.
OH.
YEAH, IT DOESN'T HURT NEAR AS BAD.
YEAH. GOOD, GOOD.
GOT ROOM IN HERE FOR ALL MY FRIENDS
AND CAN STILL MAKE ROOM FOR ORSON WELLES.
YEAH, THE NICE THING ABOUT THESE IS,
YOU CAN FART IN THEM AND SMELL IT FOR A LONG TIME.
THAT'S GETTING A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO NATURE.
MAYBE I'LL JUST HAVE A FEW PRACTICE CASTS,
SEE HOW THINGS GO OFFSHORE HERE.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT A CLOCK,
THINK ABOUT 11:00 AND 1:00, OKAY?
NOW -- OOP.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU'RE DOING GREAT.
TIMING -- SLOWER.
BEAUTIFUL.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN THE BOAT AND CATCH A FISH.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
DAN'S HUNTING DOG, JACQUES, WHO ACCOMPANIES US EVERYWHERE,
IS UNIMPRESSED WITH MY PROGRESS.
COME ON. LET'S GO.
BUT I'M FEELING PRETTY GOOD.
I HAVEN'T HOOKED MYSELF IN THE EAR,
AND I'VE YET TO FIND THE PROGRESS OF MY CAST
IMPEDED BY THE IMPROMPTU PIERCING OF A ***,
SO IT'S WIN-WIN, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA START FISHING NOW.
THERE'S A CRUISER RIGHT THERE. GO FOR HIM.
GOOD. EXCELLENT.
OH, THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE. HE'S COMING RIGHT AT US.
EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT!
STRIP IN A LITTLE LINE.
FASTER, FASTER! GOOD, GOOD.
OOP! THERE HE IS! THERE HE IS! SET THE HOOK! SET THE HOOK!
OOP, HE'S OFF. [ LAUGHS ]
PHEW! THAT WAS A HIGH-SPEED REJECTION.
IT'S A FEELING I KNOW WELL, MY FRIEND.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ CHIRPS ]
HELPS WHEN I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.
YEAH, ALL YOUR SENSES COME TOGETHER FOR THAT FEELING.
EXCELLENT CAST.
Bourdain: WHOA!
[ LAUGHS ] OOP, GONE. OH, NO, HE'S STILL THERE.
STRIP, STRIP, UNDER THE TRIGGER FINGER.
OOH! GOT A JUMP OUT OF IT.
NICE.
BEAUTIFUL FISH.
THAT'S A RAINBOW TROUT.
OKAY. HERE WE GO. LICKS.
WHOA!
OH, HE'S GONE. AND HE'S HOT. YEP.
THAT WAS FUN.
IT WOULD BE AT LEAST ANOTHER FOUR HOURS OF STANDING HERE
BEFORE I MANAGE TO PULL SOMETHING IN.
MUCH LIKE THE LOCH NESS MONSTER OR BIGFOOT
OR EVIDENCE OF SEAN HANNITY'S BRAIN,
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D ACTUALLY SEE THIS,
BUT SINCE THIS IS A CATCH-AND-RELEASE SITUATION,
THERE WILL BE NO SLAUGHTER FEST TODAY, FOLKS.
BUT THE UNUSED STUNT FISH,
SITTING IDLY BY ON ICE IN A NEARBY COOLER,
SHALL SERVE ANOTHER SERVICE THIS DAY --
IN THE SKILLET.
BEST TO EAT TROUT OUT OF RIVERS IN THE SPRING.
WHEN THE WATER TEMPERATURE GETS WARM,
THE FISH JUST TOTALLY MUSH UP.
THAT'S SMELLING PRETTY GOOD.
YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE.
OH, YEAH. BEEN FRYING TROUT SINCE I WAS 9.
OKAY, THAT'S THE TROUT, THAT'S THE WHITEFISH.
NICE.
[ CAP POPS ]
WHY, THANK YOU.
THIS IS MONTANA BEER. IT'S PRETTY GOOD.
YEAH. WOW. IT LIFTS RIGHT OFF.
OH, THAT'S GOOD.
FRIED FISH, FRESH, LOCAL, BUT NOT MINE,
WASHED DOWN WITH A COLD, INDIGENOUS BEVERAGE OR TWO --
HEY, WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE?
WAS A SUCCESSFUL DAY ON THE LAKE.
OH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY.
YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY A LOT OF FUN.
I KIND OF GET WHY PEOPLE GET REALLY PSYCHO ABOUT IT.
YEAH.
THAT -- THAT --
I MEAN, HOLY [BLEEP] LOOK AT THAT.
NEXT, WHISKEY WITH A LEGEND...
GOOD BEHAVIOR THESE DAYS IS SO DIFFICULT.
...JIM HARRISON.
[ COW MOOS ]
[ ELECTRICITY BUZZING ]
DOWNTOWN LIVINGSTON, MONTANA.
DESCENDANTS OF THE ORIGINAL COWBOYS,
HOMESTEADERS, AND RAILROAD WORKERS --
THEY'VE ALL GOT HISTORY AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER
WITH THE MURRAY HOTEL.
ONCE I FIND IN MY TRAVELS A FINE, ECCENTRIC, OLD HOTEL,
I STAY LOYAL, I GO BACK WHENEVER I CAN.
I LIKE A HOTEL WITH A PAST.
AND THE MURRAY HOTEL HAS PLENTY OF THAT.
FOR OVER A CENTURY,
IT'S BEEN HOST TO A SLEW OF THE FAMOUS AND THE INFAMOUS.
CALAMITY JANE AND BUFFALO BILL WERE REGULARS,
BUT WHAT I FIND COOL IS THAT SAM PECKINPAH,
DIRECTOR OF "THE WILD BUNCH" AND "RIDE TO HIGH COUNTRY."
CHOSE THIS PLACE -- MY ROOM, IN FACT --
TO HOLE UP FOR SOME OF HIS LAST, CRAZIEST MONTHS.
PARANOID FROM PRODIGIOUS AMOUNTS OF ***
AND DRINKING LIKE A WILD MAN,
HE'D OCCASIONALLY SHOOT HOLES
IN THE WALLS, DOORS, AND CEILINGS.
HE WAS NONETHELESS A POPULAR GUY AROUND TOWN.
YEP, IT'S A GREAT HOTEL.
AND EVERY GREAT HOTEL NEEDS A GREAT HOTEL BAR --
A FINE AND APPROPRIATE PLACE TO MEET MY FRIEND JIM HARRISON,
72 YEARS OLD AND STILL WRITING
TIMELESSLY BRILLIANT BOOKS AND POEMS,
STILL KICKING *** AND TAKING NAMES,
STILL TERRORIZING BARTENDERS, WOMENFOLK, AND CHEFS --
ALL OF WHOM ADORE HIM.
GOOD BEHAVIOR THESE DAYS IS SO DIFFICULT.
SO, YOU CAME OUT ABOUT 35, 40 YEARS AGO.
I'VE BEEN HERE EVERY YEAR SINCE 1968
BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST GENERAL AREA
FOR BROWN-TROUT-FISHING LEFT IN AMERICA.
COOLS YOUR TUBES AFTER WRITING, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO BECOME
THE CHARACTER YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT.
I JUST WROTE A NOVELLA CALLED "THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER."
OKAY, SO FOR THREE MONTHS, I HAVE TO BE A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL,
WHICH IS REALLY TOUGH --
A PROBLEM. [ LAUGHS ]
ASIDE FROM THE "LITERARY LEGEND THING,"
HE'S SOMETHING OF A FIXTURE IN TOWN.
HOW ARE YOU?
HI. I'M KATHLEEN.
SHE'S THE OWNER OF THE HOTEL.
WELL, WHAT DID THE LOCALS THINK BACK THEN WHEN, YOU KNOW,
ALL THE ARTISTS AND THE DOPERS STARTED SHOWING UP HERE?
NOT TOO MUCH, BECAUSE, UH,
MONTANA ISN'T REALLY SO STRUCTURED.
LIKE, I KNOW ONE STREET OVER HERE, YELLOWSTONE.
THERE'S THREE MILLIONAIRES ON THAT STREET.
AND THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE ON FOOD STAMPS.
BUT EVERYBODY TALKS TO EACH OTHER.
THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE OLD IN.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE OUT HERE
THAT MAKES ME FEEL VERY, YOU KNOW, LATE-ERA WILLIAM HOLDEN.
YOU FEEL OLD BUT VAGUELY HEROIC
WITH ALL THOSE MOUNTAINS AROUND, YOU KNOW?
WELL, THIS FABULOUS, IMMENSE COUNTRY WITH JUST NO PEOPLE --
WHAT THEY CALL THE "SOLACE OF EMPTY VOICES."
JIM'S SORT OF THE LAST MAN STANDING,
APPETITES UNDIMINISHED, IT SEEMS,
BY TIME, GOOD SENSE, OR DOCTOR'S ORDERS.
UNDERSTANDABLE, THEN, THAT CHEF BRIAN MENGES,
WHO'S WELL-FAMILIAR WITH JIM'S LIKES AND DISLIKES,
HAS BEEN SWEATING IT OUT ALL DAY.
THREE SALAD BOWLS.
HE IS, WITHOUT QUESTION, THE BEST CHEF AROUND.
AND HE HAS SPECIFICALLY BEEN CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS
WITH AREA FARMERS AND PRODUCERS,
ALL IN AN EFFORT TO CREATE A TRULY LOCAL,
AND YET ALSO TRULY EXCELLENT MENU
OF TOP-FLIGHT PREPARATIONS,
REFLECTING WHAT MONTANA IS GREAT AT.
THE RESULT IS THE 2nd STREET BISTRO,
ALSO TUCKED AWAY CONVENIENTLY IN THE MURRAY HOTEL.
A SMALL KITCHEN, MINIMALLY STAFFED, OUT THERE ALONE
ON WHAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE CUTTING EDGE OF THESE PARTS,
BRIAN WORKS LONG AND HARD.
AND HE DOES A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH RELATIVELY LITTLE.
ARTIST AND FELLOW GOURMAND RUSSELL CHATHAM
JOINS JIM AND ME
FOR A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF BRIAN'S LATEST GOOD WORKS.
TO START IT OFF,
BUFFALO, ELK, AND CHICKEN GALANTINE
AND LOCAL PORK RILLETT, FRIED CRISPY.
Bourdain: IT'S "PORKOPOLIS."
AND WE JUST MADE RILLETTS JUST WITH, YOU KNOW, PORK BELLY,
AND THEN WE JUST PAN-SEARED IT REALLY QUICK
JUST TO GET IT CRISP ON THE OUTSIDE.
SO IT SHOULD BE A GOOD TIME. PLEASE ENJOY.
IT'S NICE.
THAT RILLETT IS GOOD.
SO, LIKE, 35 YEARS AGO -- WAS THIS A ***-TONK TOWN?
YEAH.
A LOT OF FISTFIGHTS AND CRAZINESS.
YOU COULDN'T GET ANYTHING TO EAT
IF YOU DIDN'T COOK IT YOURSELF.
THESE TWO GUYS ARE ENTHUSIASTIC
BUT POTENTIALLY ORNERY CUSTOMERS.
THEY ARE NO STRANGERS TO FINE FOOD AND WINE,
TO SAY THE LEAST.
RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING,
WE KNEW WE HAD TO MAKE LUNCH AND DINNER.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AN AFICIONADO OF FINE DINING
TO LOVE THIS -- A PAUPIETTE OF BRAISED WHITEFISH
STUFFED WITH LIGHTLY SMOKED TROUT...
SWEET!
...FINISHED WITH A HEAPING OF WHITEFISH CAVIAR
AND BEURRE BLANC, A WHITE-BUTTER SAUCE.
RYAN BUSTED HIS *** ON THIS DINNER.
YOU NOTICE?
THIS IS DELICIOUS.
WOW.
BOY, THAT LITTLE SMOKE TREATMENT IS REALLY NICE, ISN'T IT?
AND THUS, A TIMBALE OF LOCAL SPUDS, BACON, AND GOAT CHEESE
NUZZLES UP AGAINST A LAVENDER-CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB,
ALSO FROM RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD A WAY.
WOW.
OH [BLEEP] THAT'S GOOD.
ABSOLUTELY AS GOOD AS ANYTHING ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET.
WHICH YOU'D THINK WOULD BE ENOUGH, BUT NO.
HEY, I'M ON A DIET. [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
LOCAL GRASS-FED-BEEF SHORT RIBS
BRAISED AND SERVED WITH LOCAL MORELS --
A PERFECT FINAL EXCLAMATION POINT FOR THE AREA,
AS FINDING AND PICKING DELICIOUS LOCAL MORELS
IS SOMETHING, IT SEEMS, EVERYBODY LIKES TO DO HERE.
APPARENTLY, FROM WHAT I'M SEEING,
THIS IS A WONDERLAND OF RAW INGRE--
AM I WRONG HERE?
NO, AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IN.
I MEAN, A LOW-IMPACT RESTAURANT
TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
AND IF WE CAN SOURCE IT LOCALLY, I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF...
BUT, I MEAN, THEORETICALLY, IF YOU WANTED TO SOURCE
A LOT OF GOOD [BLEEP] LOCALLY, IT'S HERE.
YOU GOT TO HUNT FOR IT, BUT IT'S HERE.
IT'S HARD BEING AN AMBITIOUS LOCAL CHEF
OUT THERE ON THE EDGE, ALMOST ALONE.
BUT I GUESS THERE'S A TRADITION
OF DOING JUST THAT KIND OF THING AROUND HERE
SINCE IT ALL STARTED.
MAYBE THE CHEFS WILL BE THE NEW COWBOYS.
MAYBE THEY ALREADY ARE.
SOON, OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS
TO TIM'S CAMPFIRE COOKOUT,
WHERE WE TALK ABOUT WHOSE COWBOY IS BIGGER.
OH, I LOVED THAT FILM WITH PATRICK SWAYZE.
WE NEED MORE JOHN WAYNE AND THOSE KIND OF GUYS
THAT STAND FOR SOMETHING.
[ COW MOOS ]
FLANKED ON EITHER SIDE BY THE ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS,
THE PARADISE VALLEY HAS A GRAND AND ETERNAL FEEL TO IT,
A PLACE IT SEEMS AS IF IT'LL ALWAYS BE FREE
AND BEAUTIFUL AND WILD.
Bowers: THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THESE ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS THAT --
I THINK THEY'RE AWESOME.
Bourdain: IT JUST GETS PRETTIER AND PRETTIER, DOESN'T IT?
BUT LOOK CLOSELY, AND YOU'LL SEE EVIDENCE
OF THE NEW BARONS OF CATTLE COUNTRY --
WEEKEND COWBOYS AND ENORMOUSLY WEALTHY SEASONAL RESIDENTS
WHO KEEP THEIR PROPERTIES CLOSED TO THEIR NEIGHBORS.
THE ONLY POSITIVE THINGS THAT I SEE
FROM PEOPLE BUYING THESE PLACES
IS AT LEAST THEY CLEAN IT UP,
WHERE THE PEOPLE THAT OWNED IT PREVIOUS
COULDN'T MAYBE OR DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME.
AS A VETERAN BACKCOUNTRY GUIDE,
TIM BOWERS KNOWS THIS LAND WELL.
HEADS UP. [ SMOOCHES ]
HE'S TAKING ME AND CHEF BRIAN MENGES
UP AND AROUND A BIT FOR A LOOK AT WHAT'S AT RISK HERE.
BUT NOW ABOUT 90% OF THEM OR 95% OF THEM --
WHEN THEY DO BUY IT, YOU CAN'T GO ON THERE ANYMORE.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO SHUT THE DOOR ONCE THEY MOVE HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF DRIED GRASS, YOU NOTICE.
THERE'S ENOUGH PEOPLE OUT HERE, INCLUDING MYSELF,
THAT HAVE LIVESTOCK THAT COULD WORK IT.
KEEP THAT GRASS TRIMMED DOWN.
IT'D BE GOOD FOR THE LAND. IT'S GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY, TOO.
SOMEBODY WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, AS A KID,
THERE WERE ABOUT SIX PLACES THAT YOU COULDN'T GO.
NOW IT'S -- THERE'S ABOUT SIX PLACES YOU CAN GO.
I WOULD HATE TO SEE THIS VALLEY JUST FILLED WITH HOMES.
IT COULD EASILY HAPPEN
IF EVERYTHING KEEPS SUBDIVIDING OFF.
PEOPLE MOVE OUT HERE, YOU KNOW,
THEY HAVE THIS KIND OF COWBOY MENTALITY
WHERE THEY BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN SANITIZE THIS
TO THE LEVEL THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY --
SO, IT'S KIND OF LIKE NATURE BUT DIFFERENT.
NATURE THROUGH A 30-FOOT WINDOW ON A GREAT ROOM.
WE STILL GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE LAND.
THERE'S NOT ANY MORE BEING MADE.
TWO HOURS AND SEVERAL SLABS OF BUTT FLESH LATER,
WE ARRIVE AT BASE CAMP,
WHERE MY FLY-FISHING GUIDE EXTRAORDINAIRE
AND JACK OF ALL TRADES, DAN LAREN,
HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK.
OOH! YEAH, I'M GONNA BE FEELING THIS TOMORROW.
I GOT SADDLE SORES THE SIZE OF BABY FISTS.
SO, WHAT'S ON THE MENU TODAY?
Dan: GAME BIRDS. GAME MEAT.
OH, YEAH, LITTLE BIRDIES
AND THE JOYOUS WONDERS OF ORGAN MEAT,
STARTING OFF WITH A LITTLE PAN-FRIED DEER HEART.
THAT'S THE FINEST THING I'VE EVER PUT IN MY MOUTH.
WELL DONE. SO FAR, SO GOOD.
BRINGING HONOR TO YOUR CLAN.
PAN-FRIED ANTELOPE LIVER.
THIS STUFF IS KNOWN AROUND HERE AS PRAIRIE FOIE GRAS.
THE SMELL COMING OFF OF THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
IS THAT PRAIRIE FOIE GRAS OR WHAT?
WE KICKED THIS LIVER'S ***.
AND SOME EXCELLENT PHEASANT
THAT GO REAL NICE WITH THE SAUTéED ASPARAGUS.
TONY, THE PHEASANT.
OH, WELL DONE.
THIS IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE STUFF, HUH?
YEAH. YEAH, IT'S JUST PERFECT.
Menges: IT'S SO AWESOME.
HANG AROUND HERE LONG ENOUGH,
ESPECIALLY WITH PEOPLE IN JIM HARRISON'S ORBIT,
AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE'S A GREAT COOK AND A GREAT EATER.
BUT, THEN, DAN, LIKE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AROUND HERE,
HAS TO BE GOOD AT A LOT OF THINGS.
SO, DAN, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MULTIPLE JOBS,
AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THINGS YOU DO WELL.
LET'S SEE. FISHING GUIDE. YOU CAN DO THAT. YOU COOK WELL.
LOGGER, VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AT DAN BAILEY'S.
A FIXER FOR TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS.
YEAH. FIXER FOR TELEVISION, YEAH.
IT SEEMS THAT EVERYBODY OUT HERE
HAVE TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT SKILLS
OR TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES.
BUT THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF MAKING A LIVING IS HARDER.
YOU STARTED OUT WORKING FOR THE RAILROAD?
FOUR.
WHAT I DID THERE IS, I'D DRIVE A TRUCK,
AND THEN THEY FOUND OUT I COULD WELD,
AND SO I WORKED MYSELF
INTO A PRETTY CUSHY SEASONAL JOB WITH THEM.
IT TAKES A HARD MAN TO CONSIDER A WELDING JOB CUSHY,
BUT, THEN, THAT'S WHAT YOU'D EXPECT FROM THIS GUY.
AND IT'S ALSO NOT SURPRISING
THAT TIM'S CORE VALUES ARE INFLUENCED
BY NO LESS A WESTERN ICON THAN, WELL, THE WESTERN ICON.
WE NEED MORE JOHN WAYNE AND THOSE KIND OF GUYS
THAT STAND FOR SOMETHING.
THAT'S WHAT I GREW UP WITH, AND THEY DON'T HAVE IT NOW.
THE OLD SAYING IS -- "RIGHT IS RIGHT
"EVEN IF NOBODY ELSE IS DOING IT,
AND WRONG IS WRONG EVEN IF EVERYBODY'S DOING IT."
A PHILOSOPHY THAT RINGS TRUE
WHETHER YOU'RE SCRAPING BY, MAKING ENDS MEET
OR ENJOYING YOUR OWN FENCED-OFF 40 ACRES OF PARADISE.
GOOD TIMES.
NEXT, A FAREWELL FEAST WITH JIM AND RUSSELL.
Bourdain: I'M TAKING PARTIAL CREDIT FOR THIS ALREADY.
[ COW MOOS ]
Harrison: "THE MOON COMES UP. THE MOON GOES DOWN.
"THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT I DIDN'T DIE YOUNG.
"AGE SWEPT PAST ME, BUT I CAUGHT UP.
"SPRING HAS BEGUN HERE,
"AND EACH NEW DAY BRINGS NEW BIRDS UP FROM MEXICO.
"YESTERDAY, I GOT A CALL FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
"BUT I SAID NO IN THUNDER.
"I WAS A DOG ON A SHORT CHAIN.
AND NOW THERE'S NO CHAIN."
YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW WHAT KEATS CALLED
THE HEART'S AFFECTION TO THE TRUTH OF THE IMAGINATION.
IT'S THAT IDEALISTIC.
AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE GONNA FEEL BADLY.
THERE AREN'T THAT MANY PEOPLE
I REALLY LOOK UP TO IN THIS WORLD.
BUT JIM HARRISON --
I WANT TO BE HIM WHEN I GROW UP.
I'VE NEVER FELT PARTICULARLY AMBITIOUS.
I'M JUST A WRITER, SO I HAVE TO WRITE.
IT'S A CALLING,
INSTEAD OF A RELIGIOUS THING, YOU KNOW?
OF COURSE, I'D HAVE TO WRITE
BRILLIANT, TIMELESS POEMS AND NOVELS AND SCREENPLAYS
AND HAVE KNOWN OR HUNG OUT WITH, LIKE, ORSON WELLES
AND JACK NICHOLSON AND FELLINI AND ALL AND --
OH, YEAH, BEEN, LIKE, REALLY TALENTED AND BRILLIANT --
MEANING IT'S TOO LATE FOR ME.
IF I KNEW I WAS GONNA DIE IMMINENTLY,
I WOULD GO TO LEóN.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE THIS SIMPLE LUNCHEON DISH,
WHICH IS LIKE A LITTLE 7-POUND PIG
COOKED FIVE DIFFERENT WAYS.
BUT WHAT WOULD THE LAST MEAL BE, THOUGH?
I MEAN...
I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE NEVER BEEN BIG ON THE LAST MEALS.
I WANT LOTS OF LAST MEALS.
BUT I DO GET TO BASK IN HIS REFLECTED GLORY NOW AND THEN.
AND TONIGHT, HE'S MAKING DINNER FOR ME AND A FEW PALS.
I GET TO BE HIS PREP *** FOR A FEAST OF LOCAL WILD GAME.
AN ELK-AND-ANTELOPE CARBONNADE,
WHICH HAS TO GET ON THE STOVE FIRST.
SORT OF A GENERIC BELGIAN DISH.
THEY MAKE IT OUT OF BEEF.
WE DO IT A LOT OUT OF EXCESS GAME.
AND THEN THE ONIONS BROWNED WITH THE GARLIC.
CARBONNADE -- YOU NEED BEER AND JIM'S SECRET WEAPON.
TASTE THIS ANTELOPE STOCK.
GRAB A SPOON OVER THERE.
OOH, THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S THE FLAVOR.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
CAN'T LOSE WITH THE STOCK.
WHILE THE CARBONNADE SIMMERS,
I'M REMINDED THAT, LIKE MANY OF HIS CHARACTERS,
JIM'S NEVER BEEN A GUY
TO SHY AWAY FROM GETTING HIS HANDS DIRTY.
Harrison: JUST PRETEND YOUR SORT OF RUBBING YOUR GIRLFRIEND,
AS IT WERE.
THAT'S A LITTLE INDELICATE, BUT...
THAT'S SORT OF A HAIRY GIRLFRIEND.
ALSO ON THE MENU, WILD DOVE.
I THINK DAN BAGGED THESE EARLIER IN THE DAY.
YOU KNOW MY MOTTO, DON'T YOU?
IT COMES FROM LERMONTOV THE RUSSIAN WRITER.
"EAT OR DIE."
HE DIDN'T.
NO WAY.
YOU HAVE AUTHORITY IN YOUR QUOTES
IF YOU ASCRIBE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Harrison: THESE LITTLE BIRDS GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR US,
THAT WE MAY LIVE TO [BLEEP] AND EAT AGAIN.
YOU DIED IN A NOBLE CAUSE, THE LITTLE DELICIOUS ONES.
AND SIT DOWN AT DINNER... AND SOME WINE...
AND LET THE MADNESS BEGIN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
OKAY, EVERYBODY, SIT DOWN.
Chatham: BOY, THAT'S REALLY GOOD.
MMM.
DANNY, THESE ARE PERFECT.
WE DID GOOD. I'M TAKING PARTIAL CREDIT FOR THIS ALREADY.
THAT LOOKS GOOD. THAT SMELLS GOOD.
HAVE A SIDE OF HER GRAVY.
THIS IS WORKING WITH THOSE POTATOES REALLY NICELY, HUH?
I CAN'T SHAKE THE FEELING THAT, 'ROUND HERE,
IS GOOD COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN --
A PLACE I'M NOT GONNA LIVE OUT MY LIFE,
BUT MAYBE, HAD THINGS BEEN DIFFERENT,
COULD HAVE AND MAYBE SHOULD HAVE.
A DELIGHT, ANTHONY, WE MET.
A PLACE WHERE SOME MUST FOLLOW THE HEART'S AFFECTION,
AS TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE...
WHILE OTHERS CAN PURSUE WITH UNCOMMON VIGOR
THE TRUTH OF THE IMAGINATION...
WHERE PEOPLE CAN HEAR
THEIR OWN INNER VOICES WITH GREAT CLEARNESS
AND LIVE BY WHAT THEY HEAR.