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Cry Macho

Cry Macho AuthorN. Richard NashOriginal titleMachoCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreAdventureSet inMexico City (1978)PublisherDelacorte PressJune 11, 1975Media typePrintPages302ISBN0-440-04996-2OCLC1144762813'.5'4LC ClassPZ4.N254CR
Cry Macho is a 1975 American novel by N. Richard Nash published in the United States by the Delacorte Press. The story was originally written as a screenplay under the title Macho, but was later adapted into a novel after Nash failed to sell the screenplay. The book follows Mike Milo, a Texas rodeo star tasked with kidnapping an eleven-year-old boy in Mexico named Rafo. The story centers around the themes of loss, love, and redemption, all surrounding Mike's journey alongside Rafo.

Following its publication, Cry Macho was met with mixed to positive reviews from novel critics. Since its release, multiple filmmakers have attempted to adapt the novel into a feature film. Clint Eastwood produced, directed, and starred in an adaptation of the novel that was released by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 17, 2021. The film received mixed reviews.

Plot
Michael "Mike" Milo is a divorced alcoholic and experienced rodeo star in Galveston, Texas. Suffering from tennis elbow and severe headaches, Mike arrives late to the rodeo stadium he works at, run by Howard Polk. Participating in an event where he attempts to "ride out" a horse, Mike is trampled and hospitalized with a broken leg.

At the hospital, Mike reflects on losing his parents at the age of five, dropping out of college after his grandparents died in a house fire, working alongside his first employer who once tasked him with putting down a dozen horses, and his eventual path into becoming a rodeo cowboy.

A few weeks later, Mike is discharged from the hospital with a weak leg. Upon returning to the stadium, Mike is surprised to find out that he has been laid off. The next day, Mike finds out that his ex-wife Donna has remarried. Saddened by the news, Mike sells most of his awards and prized possessions at a local bar.

Following his divorce five years ago, Howard lost custody of his only son, Rafael "Rafo" Polk, who was then sent to Mexico to live with his mother. Howard meets with Mike and attempts to persuade him into kidnapping Rafo and transporting him back to Texas, promising ,000 through ransom money from Rafo's mother. Initially rejecting the offer, Mike remembers the time he unsuccessfully defended a prostitute named Cissy Brewer from Ewell Macmillian, the former owner and co-founder of the rodeo stadium, who forced a horse onto Cissy. Ewell was given a suspended sentence, and he was replaced by Howard shortly after. Cissy, who had been traumatized by the event, became homeless and mentally ill. In the present, Mike decides to help Howard retrieve his son.

After being given a panel truck, Mike drives down the Pan-American Highway and arrives in Mexico City, where he finds Rafo living in a large house with his mother, Alexandra "Lexa" Mu�os de Santis Polk, in the Lomas de Chapultepec. At midnight, while sneaking into the home, Mike becomes dizzy and suffers a fall that knocks him unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness, Mike finds himself being tended to by Lexa, who is aware of his intentions. Lexa reveals to Mike that Rafo does not live with her, and instead lives as a gambling thief out in the streets. Mike then departs from the home and begins his search for Rafo.

A few days later, Mike finds Rafo participating in a cockfight in Tepito. Before he can talk to him, the event is interrupted by a police raid and Rafo runs away. Shortly after, Mike finds Rafo's white rooster, Macho, which he uses to bait Rafo into talking with him at a cafe. Once there, Rafo agrees to travel to Texas to reunite with his father Howard. The next day, following a short altercation, the pair begin their journey to the southern border, where they plan to pass illegally.

In San Luis Potos�, Mike has his panel truck, money, and Macho stolen by a group of thieves. Using a public bus as transportation, the pair arrive in Janasco, where Mike finds and recovers his stolen truck and Macho. The next day, the pair meet and befriend Marta, a poor widow with whom Mike becomes intimate. After Marta suffers severe burns due to the burning of her jacal, Mike and Rafo depart from Janasco.

Driving towards the border, the pair stop after noticing a patrol car following them. As they wait, a vulture snatches and flies away with Macho, to Rafo's dismay. That night, the pair are confronted by two officers from the national patrol, who search the car and interrogate Rafo about his intentions of traveling to the United States. After Rafo lies about his plan to meet his father at the border, the officers follow the pair to a motel, with the intent of hearing the confirmation of the statement through a phone call.

At the motel, Howard refuses to admit his involvement with Mike, resulting in the arrests of both Mike and Rafo, for kidnapping and petty theft, respectively. Allowed to stay at the motel until dawn, Rafo learns that his father wanted to be with him simply to battle Lexa in court for her money. In the morning, the pair go their separate ways, with Mike continuing his journey to Texas, while Rafo returns to Janasco. To ensure Rafo's safety, Mike has the officers pursue him to Texas. Realizing Mike has crossed the border into the US, the officers decide to dismiss the case to avoid punishment for their failures.

Despite suffering a gunshot wound to his shoulder during the chase, Mike decides to return to Mexico in the hopes of reuniting with Rafo.

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