In 1949 outside of San Angelo, Texas, John Grady, a 16-year-old who grew up on the family ranch, visits his grandfather’s body before the funeral. He tries to cope with the fact that the family patriarch has died and the fate of the ranch is up to John Grady’s mother, who wants to sell. At the funeral, John Grady sees his estranged father, then rides into the plains alone, thinking on his love for horses.

John Grady meets his father at a diner. His father is dying too, likely of lung cancer. They discuss John Grady’s mother, who has gone to San Antonio to appear in a play. John Grady’s father offers him money. John Grady declines and tells him selling the land isn’t his idea.

John Grady goes on a night ride with his best friend, Rawlins. They talk about Mary Catherine, the girl John Grady was seeing, who is now dating an unnamed older boy who owns a car. Rawlins says, “She aint worth it. None of em are,” to which John Grady replies, “Yes they are” (10).

John Grady takes to riding with his father, who tells stories of gambling away a fortune and shares that he and John Grady’s mother haven’t spoken in seven years.