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I've buried more of my children than I've raised. I've seen strong men wither and die under that unforgiving sun. I've had whole herds of cattle take sick and die...But I've never once doubted my life here.
Drew MacFarlane to John Marston in "Wild Horses, Tamed Passions"

Drew MacFarlane is a supporting character featured in Red Dead Redemption.

With the addition of the Myths and Mavericks DLC pack, Drew MacFarlane is also a multiplayer character model that may be selected in the "Revolution" section of the Outfitter.

History[]

Background[]

Drew MacFarlane is the owner of the MacFarlane's Ranch and father of Bonnie MacFarlane. Drew is an elderly man who has witnessed and survived through various plagues, droughts, cold winters, and range wars to operate his ranch. He is highly suspicious of outsiders, including John Marston. Drew is a loving and caring father, as has taught his daughter Bonnie how to break horses and run a ranch.

Events of Red Dead Redemption[]

Drew MacFarlane is seen for the first time in "Wild Horses, Tamed Passions", where he accompanies John and Bonnie to tame a herd of horses. John breaks only two, the first being taken away by Drew.

He is not seen again until "The Burning" when Bonnie is troubled when she cannot find her father and asks John to help her find him. When they find him, they discover that Drew has come across a dead man, a dying man, and two dead horses. Drew suspects local gang activity. He then requests that John and Bonnie go and get a wagon. However, upon returning to the ranch, they discover that the ranch's barn is ablaze. Not long after, Drew approaches Leigh Johnson, in a panic, saying that Bonnie has been kidnapped. When John appears at the sheriff's office, Drew begins to question him, until one of Bill Williamson's henchmen appears and claims that his group has kidnapped Bonnie. John then promises Drew that he'll find his daughter for him, which calms him down. Marshal Johnson, John, and the deputies then leave Drew behind to find Bonnie.

He is not seen again until near the end of the game when John and Jack Marston go to MacFarlane's Ranch to buy cattle. Drew greets John and Jack as they ride into the ranch, stating he is surprised to see John again. He then waves them off as they leave, inviting them to return sometime. This is the last time John encounters Drew.

Unlike the other main characters, his fate after John's death isn't revealed.

Events of Undead Nightmare[]

Note: The events of Undead Nightmare are not considered part of the same canon as Red Dead Redemption. The following description is therefore not contiguous with the preceding section on Red Dead Redemption.

Rdr undead drew macfarlane

In Undead Nightmare, Drew MacFarlane has been keeping the undead locked up in the barn. When John arrives at the MacFarlane Ranch, Bonnie notes that he's been in the barn since the previous day. John investigates and finds six of the undead wandering around. Upon killing them, Drew appears, having been infected and turned undead. John is forced to put him to rest and bring the bad news to Bonnie afterward.

Mission appearances[]

Red Dead Redemption
Undead Nightmare

Quotes[]

  • "Ah ya know we've lived here for 30 years now. Came here from the East. The land had never been settled. For 10 years we fought the Indians. Tough men. Then we had outlaws and we had drought, and we had smallpox, terrible winters, cholera. I've buried more of my children than I've raised."
  • "Now, I don't know much about politics... -but I know we're only as free as they say we are. Power is like a drink. The more you have, the more you want. And there's few men who can handle it."

Multiplayer[]

  • "You're all goin' home in a box, ya hear me?"
  • "Come back here, ya goddamn lily-liver!"
  • "Give it up now."
  • "Show some goddamn respect!"
  • "Last chance to walk outta here free!"
  • "None of you are leavin' here alive!"
  • "It's time you learn some respect!"

Trivia[]

  • Drew is the father of seven children, six boys and one girl: Bonnie. His surviving son is still living as of 1911, however, he lives in New York, as a banker (according to the son's last letter).
  • Drew is a keen player of Five Finger Fillet, according to some of the comments made by NPC competitors whilst John is playing. Drew is reported to have kept on playing after nearly slicing off a finger.
  • Five of Drew MacFarlane's sons have been laid to rest in the Coot's Chapel cemetery. Cole, age unknown, died of a gunshot to the head, Ethan died at age 19 from trying to milk a bull, Hank died of tuberculosis at age 12, Gus was killed in a bar fight at age 22, and Owen died of chronic diarrhea at age 14.
  • In "This is Armadillo, USA", Bonnie mentions that he hired a French governess to teach Bonnie "social graces". She later states they spoke Russian, causing her to suspect their legitimacy.
  • NPCs also mention that if Drew doesn't start "moving with the times," he'll no doubt lose his ranch. What exactly he is being old-fashioned about is never specified.
  • Bonnie MacFarlane refers to her father as a "bull of a man", which is as much a reference to his physical capabilities as it is to his stubborn nature. However, when he goes missing, she worries about him because, despite his imposing height and solid build, he's "getting old and frailer than he looks".
  • While playing Liar's Dice in Thieves' Landing, the player may hear an NPC say "that Drew MacFarlane has been getting into trouble again."
  • According to rumors circulating around MacFarlane's Ranch, Drew does not like Gus McCloud, the ranch's blacksmith.
  • He wears the same outfit as Abraham Reyes in missions "Must a Savior Die?" and "An Appointed Time".
  • Drew is also one of the few characters to say the word "fuck" more than once.
  • In Undead Nightmare, Drew's actions of placing Undead in a barn could be a reference to The Walking Dead, in which another elderly farmer with many children, Hershel Greene, does the same.

Gallery[]

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