The Straight Story chronicles a 73-year-old man's pilgrimage to mend a broken relationship with his brother, Lyle, whom he hasn't seen or spoken to in over 10 years. When Alvin Straight (played by Richard Farnsworth) learns that Lyle has had a stroke, he determines to visit him and make things right.

Alvin hitches a makeshift trailer to his 1966 John Deere riding lawn mower and sets out on a 500-mile trip. He camps out in fields and backyards made available by hospitable people he meets along the way. Slowly but surely, Alvin perseveres and reaches his brother.

He steers his riding mower down a dirt road and finds a run-down wooden shack. Alvin climbs off the mower, shuffles slowly toward the house, and calls out, "Lyle! Lyle!" There is no response. The look on Alvin's furrowed face gives evidence to his fear: perhaps he's too late—maybe Lyle has died in the six weeks since he began his journey.

After a lengthy pause, a voice from inside the shack calls, "Alvin? Alvin?" Lyle appears at the front door holding onto a walker. He invites Alvin to come onto the porch, where they silently sit. Alvin nervously looks at his brother, while Lyle studies the riding mower and makeshift trailer. Obviously overcome with emotion and gratitude, his eyes puddle as he asks, "You came all this way on that…just to see me?"

Alvin's face twitches, betraying his emotion. His eyes, too, are tearful. He smiles and simply says, "Yep!"

Lyle's face speaks for his heart: he is humbled by his brother's grace.

Elapsed time: Measured from the beginning of the opening credit, this scene begins at 1:44:00 and lasts approximately three-and-a-half minutes.