Ragged Company

Amelia confides in Granite and Margo about her worry that Dick isn’t sleeping at all and is drinking much more too. They decide that Digger is the best person to talk to Dick, and Granite agrees to discuss it with Digger.

When Granite raises his concern about Dick to Digger, Digger dismisses Dick’s behavior as typical of a “rounder.” He doesn’t think they should interfere because “rounders” mind their own business; having money doesn’t change everything. Digger is happy to remind Dick that they’re all there for him but refuses to ask what’s bothering him.

One of the unnamed voices explains learning how humans receive three tools to get to the truth of things: thought, emotion, and words. While thought and words are generally considered the most valuable, emotion is actually the most powerful and difficult to employ. The voices wonder if having known this would have changed the way the story unfolded.

Timber sees Dick sitting in a rocking chair on the porch one afternoon, and begins to sketch him so that he can carve a likeness later. He wonders about the sadness and wistfulness in Dick’s expression—and why all the money hasn’t managed to change anything for Dick.

Granite and Margo meet with Granite’s old editor, Mac, to present the potential story Granite wants to write. Mac is impressed by Granite’s experience with the “ragged company” and insists that Granite write a book to do the story justice. He asks Granite to hang in and wait for the ending to happen as it must and asserts that Granite is the perfect person to write the story because he’s “just as homeless as they were” (285).

The group goes to see Dances with Wolves, and it especially moves Amelia to see her people represented on screen. To everyone’s surprise, Dick expresses knowledge about the Animal People, an old tribal teaching that describes how, in a time before people, animals communicated with each other. Dick reveals that he, too, is Indigenous.

Dick grew up extremely poor. His father, who was part Indigenous and sometimes told him stories, brewed moonshine for money. Dick started taste-testing batches when he was six years old, after which his father let him drink often. Dick and his friend, Tom Bruce, were eventually given the responsibility of carrying the wagon around to make deliveries, and by the time they were nine, the boys drank regularly.

Digger watches Timber work on a large carving of Dick based on a miniature model of Dick in the rocking chair that he already made; Timber’s hands remember how to do the work. Timber suggests that Digger’s do, too; with his wheelman history, Digger is an artist, too, and that’s why he can make broken appliances come to life.

Timber and Digger discuss what Dick revealed about his past and how the others are worried about him. Timber notes that they’re not “rounders” anymore and perhaps Digger should talk to Dick, but Digger is still reluctant. Timber suggests that they might all watch movies together like they used to, which might help Dick open up.

Amelia reflects on Grandma One Sky’s teachings about the four directions and the Great Wheel of Life. The East, which teaches how to be a physical person, is like Digger; the South, where growing takes place, is emotional, like Dick; the West is about thinking and reflecting, like Timber; the North is spirituality, like Amelia with her awareness of the “shadowed ones.” The only way to help Dick is if they all come together and be whole again, and so she welcomes Digger and Timber’s suggestion.

The group goes to the movies together every day for a week, and this seems to help Dick lighten up. One day, they gather in the living room to watch Ironweed, which is about three “back-alley drunks” in a city during the Great Depression. As soon as the movie is over, Dick gets up and leaves the house, insisting that he needs to be alone.

One of the characters in the movie gets drunk and accidentally kills his son, which reminds Dick of his own life. He drinks and walks, trying to get away from himself even as he remembers the past. Dick and his family lived in a shack; Tom Bruce, who had a similar life, was his only friend. As young boys, they made plans to save money and visit Tucumcari one day, though Dick had no idea where that was. The plan never materialized because the boys’ drinking got increasingly excessive over the years. By the time they were 14, they’d started doing some labor but still drank heavily and got sick regularly. Dick began having seizures when he was 16. Only more alcohol could keep the shakes away.

After six straight days of drinking, Dick went home feeling sick. His brother asked him to watch Earl that night, and Dick agreed, not wanting to anger his brother. After Earl drowned, Dick ran away in terror; he was found and put in the county jail, where he experienced the shakes, nightmares, and other withdrawal symptoms alone in a cell. The judge let him go, ruling the incident a horrible accident, because Tom Bruce and his brother explained that he was drunk and sick. Dick took all the money he and Tom Bruce had saved and left to find Tucumcari. He never made it but never forgot either.

Dick now ends up at a motel where the manager is happy to see Dick’s money. He lets Dick call him “Tom Bruce” and brings him alcohol, girls, and movies.

Amelia sleeps in Dick’s room that night, wishing she had her prayer medicines to pray for Dick. She regrets not talking more about her own story and encouraging Dick to open up more.

Timber carves at night while the others sleep, working on the likeness of Dick. He thinks about how, in keeping his own pain and secrets hidden, he failed Dick, teaching him that he must do the same.

Digger drives his truck all over the city looking for Dick, thinking about how much he loves Dick. He resolves to tell him this and to promise Dick that he’ll be there for him no matter what—as soon as he finds him.

Dick spends days drinking and partying with the girls and the motel manager. When the drinking makes him sick, the manager gives him pills to make it better, and Dick develops an addiction to them. One day, he begins to hallucinate and, panicked, gulps down whiskey and pills and leaves the motel.

Weeks go by without Dick and a gloom falls over the house as the old “rounders” retreat into themselves. Granite, Margo, and Merton finally gather them together in an attempt to get them talking, and Digger lashes out, accusing Timber of not doing enough to help find Dick. When Granite reveals that he told Digger about everyone’s worry, Timber is incensed that Digger refused to talk to Dick.

Digger then lashes out at everyone. He confronts Amelia for not talking to Dick herself and accuses Granite, Margo, and Merton of treating the others like entertainment. He refuses to believe their assertions of friendship and accuses them of hanging around for the money. He rails at Granite further for not sharing his own stories while lapping up everyone else’s, and yells at him to leave. Angry and upset, Granite and the other leave despite Amelia and Timber’s protests.

Dick visits a library once his head clears, and a woman there tells him that Tucumcari is a place in New Mexico. Dick buys a map and has a store owner circle the place for him; he decides to go there and fulfill his old dream. He gets a room at the hotel and continues to take pills and alcohol to keep withdrawal symptoms away. Since he can’t write a letter to his friends, he buys a tape recorder and records everything he has to say to them before he falls asleep.

Amelia reflects on how love doesn’t have the best vocabulary; the vocabulary of pain is what the group used that day instead: “Love’s talk, really, dressed up in anguish clothes” (320).

Angry at being blamed for what happened to Dick, Digger decides that he doesn’t need anybody else. However, he continues to drive around with a stronger resolve to find Dick.

Timber continues to carve Dick’s likeness, thinking about how he has learned, in Dick’s absence, that “home is belonging in someone else’s heart” (321).

Granite reflects on how he once thought that certain lives were not meant to cross, and he wonders if he was right then. He believes the others are right to be angry at his prodding; he hasn’t offered up much of himself and realizes that people don’t need just money but also relationships and connection.

The unnamed voices discuss how time isn’t real because it doesn’t leave behind a physical residue; the only way it becomes real is when it disappears into people and becomes memory and feeling.

Amelia is visited by all the people she has ever lost—her family and Ben—as well as many other “shadowed ones,” who talk to her about life beyond death and comfort her that things will be okay. She falls into a deep, peaceful sleep; when she wakes up, she knows what has happened to Dick.

Merton calls Granite to tell him that Dick was found dead in the Hilton, surrounded by pills and vodka; he vomited in his sleep and drowned to death. The police ruled it an accidental overdose. Shaken, Granite decides that the three of them should break the new to the others together.

Timber senses that something is different as soon as the doorbell rings. At Granite and Merton’s request, he gathers the others in the kitchen. Before they go, Amelia shows Timber and Digger a raggedy-looking plant in her garden. It’s a clipping from the neighbors trimming their hedges; when Amelia replanted it here, it took root and grew upwards because it wanted to live.

In the kitchen, Merton’s expression tells the group what has happened before he even speaks. Digger has an outburst, and when Merton describes the circumstances of Dick’s death, Digger is furious to learn that someone gave Dick pills. Digger resolves to visit Dick at the morgue, and everyone else decides to go along.

Digger is overwhelmed at the sight of Dick’s body. He stays with Dick alone for a while, telling him how much he admired Dick for never giving up and that he’ll miss having someone to protect. Digger wishes they’d never found the money and their lives had never changed because then Dick would still be around. He’s especially angry at the “Square Johns,” who he believes should have done more to help Dick. Digger kisses Dick goodbye.

Digger gets into a cab and disappears without waiting for the others, and Granite can feel the distance that has grown between Digger and everyone else. Back at the house, Granite offers to handle the press and write a eulogy. Merton knows a funeral director, and Amelia suggests that his resting place should be by a river because Dick’s favorite hymn was “Shall We Gather at the River?”

Digger goes down to The Palace to drink and talks to Ray, the owner. Ray expresses his condolences about Dick and wonders what will happen to Dick’s share of the money. Digger thinks the “Square Johns” will be all over it, but Ray disagrees because they seem to genuinely care about Digger and the others. Digger expresses his anger at them, saying that they should’ve done better. He then confesses that they wanted Digger to talk to Dick, but Digger didn’t because people should mind their own business. Ray points out that that’s exactly what Digger is accusing the “Johns” of having done.

Amelia sees a “shadowed one” in Timber’s carving of Dick and tells him that Dick’s spirit is in the piece.

Merton shows up at the house with news that Digger has left a will by way of a tape recording he made before he died.

On the tape, Dick apologizes for leaving and making everyone worry; he did something bad a long time back and still can’t talk about it, and Ironweed was a reminder. He hopes that once he’s back from Tucumcari, he can tell them.

Dick has decided to do a couple of things once he’s back. He wants to start going down to shelters and talking to people because he likes doing it and knows that people need someone to talk to. In addition, he wants to give money to each of the others: for Digger, to buy some land and put up a Ferris wheel again; for Amelia, to buy a nice dress for herself; for Timber, to replace the money he gave away to Sylvan so that he can get a place to make and sell his carvings; and the rest for Granite, to buy back his old stone house for Margo and him to live in. The house is a part of Granite’s history, and he should go home to it.

Digger asks Granite if he’s happy about getting the money he apparently hung around for, which infuriates Granite. He pities Digger’s inability to see what’s right in front of him; he’s too preoccupied with being a “rounder” to let himself be sensitive. If he’d dismantled the “rounder” rules, he might have been a better friend to Dick. This angers Digger, who claims that at least he rode out the bad times with Dick and didn’t just emerge for “feeding time” like Granite and the others. He yells at the others to figure out what to do among themselves and then leaves.

After Digger leaves, the group makes the arrangements for Dick’s memorial service, to be held at the Salvation Army chapel. Granite works on the eulogy, while Timber finishes his carving and brings it back to the house. Amelia suggests that Timber use it to bring attention to his work after the service; Dick would have wanted that. Amelia, Timber, and Margo watch How Green Was My Valley together.

Amelia enjoys the movie, which is about—among other things—how people live on forever in memories. Granite comes down with his finished eulogy for Dick, which he promises to show the others after they see Timber’s finished carving. Timber unveils his work, which the group deems magnificent; they can see the love he poured into it. Granite then reads his piece aloud to the group.

In the piece, Granite describes how he met Dick and the others, became friends with them, and helped them collect the lottery winnings. Money didn’t change Dick and the others; instead, Dick taught Granite that home is an idea about belonging somewhere completely as one is. Dick didn’t have a home of his own, but gave Granite one by bequeathing him the money to buy back the stone house. In addition, Dick took care of all his friends. All that mattered to Dick was staying warm, well-fed, and among friends. His absence has left a hole in Granite’s world. The piece also notes the date, time, and location of Dick’s memorial service, welcoming donations toward projects to aid the unhoused.

The unnamed voices discuss the honor beat that is played in an honor song—a loud, out-of-rhythm beat that is meant to mimic a skipped heartbeat and rekindle memories of a person who has passed.

Digger gets the same room at the Hilton in which Dick was found and watches movies all night, reflecting on his own life. He wakes up in the afternoon with a hangover and goes down to The Palace, where Ray shows him Granite’s piece in the paper, titled “Teachings from the Street.” Digger reads it and walks out in silence.

Digger doesn’t return even the night before the funeral. Amelia gets ready in the morning with the others; before it’s time to leave, the house is filled with people who want to accompany them to the service. The chapel, too, is packed with a large crowd: Street people, as well as strangers, come to pay their respects after reading Granite’s piece.

Digger is nowhere to be seen, and Amelia quietly prays for both him and Dick. When the crowd begins to sing a hymn after the service, Amelia tearfully sings along; through her tears, she sees a whole crowd of “shadowed ones” do an honor walk past Dick’s coffin.

Timber is moved by the turnout at the church. He helps carry the coffin to its resting place after the service, wondering about Digger. After the internment, he tells the gathered crowd a story about Dick’s simplicity and his ability to imagine.

After the service, Granite feels guilty about Digger not having turned up, regretting having caused a rift between such close friends. He drives around to clear his head and ends up at Dick’s old “digs.” He sits there and remembers Dick, crying and mourning him, and eventually begins to sing Dick’s favorite hymn. Digger’s voice joins him out of the shadows, where he’s hiding. Digger read Granite’s piece and even arrived at the service but was too ashamed to go in; he finally realized how much Dick loved Granite and how much Granite loved them all. Granite and Digger shake hands, and sit down, and share a drink together, pouring out one for the dead in Dick’s memory.

After Dick’s death, and after Granite tells their story in his column and later his book, the “shadowed ones” don’t appear to Amelia anymore; they let her be.

Digger keeps his repair shop running and starts a training program for unhoused men who want to change their situation; proceeds from the shop, in turn, go to the Mission. In addition, he finally puts up a Ferris wheel, which he finds with Merton’s help, and runs it three times a week, giving people free rides for hours.

Timber’s statue of Dick brings him enough attention that he opens his own studio, and he makes and sells a lot of work. He becomes famous, though his most known pieces are two he doesn’t sell: a mural carved in wood of a street scene displaying unhoused people hidden in every corner of the street, titled “Shadowed Ones,” and a statue of Sylvan sitting in a rocking chair with a jade plant on her lap.

Granite buys the stone house back and moves in with Margo. He begins to write a column for the paper again, about different people’s stories. He hears the songs again in the old stone house.

Amelia uses her money to set up a center for unhoused women called Deer Spirit Lodge, where they can heal and nurture themselves. She sets it up with Margo’s help and then hands it over to her. She leaves the house on Indian Road and returns to the streets, helping the unhoused by living among them once again. She still visits the house now and then to see everyone else, catch up, reminisce about the old days, and go to the movies.

The unnamed voices are revealed to have been Amelia and Dick, the latter traveling and inhabiting different places after his death. He feels complete now, and everywhere feels like home. Amelia bids him farewell, and Dick promises that they’ll see each other again.