The film is narrated by the adult Mattie Ross (Elizabeth Marvel), who explains that her father was murdered by one of his hired hands, Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin), when she was 14. Chaney made off with her father’s horse and his two California gold pieces. While collecting her father's body, the 14-year old Mattie (Hailee Steinfeld) inquires about hiring a Deputy US Marshal to track down Chaney. The Sheriff gives three recommendations, but she chooses to hire Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) because he is described as having "true grit" which is what Mattie wants. He repeatedly rebuffs her attempts to talk with him. The next day, she attempts to hire Cogburn offering him $50 after reminding him of the government's payments. He doesn't believe she has it and refuses. Meanwhile, Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon) arrives on the trail of Chaney. He has been pursuing him for several months for the murder of a state Senator in Texas. After meeting Mattie, he proposes that they should team up with Cogburn, since he knows the Choctaw terrain where Chaney is hiding, while LaBoeuf knows how Chaney is most likely to behave, but she refuses. After finally securing Cogburn's services for $100, Mattie is instructed to meet him the following morning to begin the search for Chaney since she insists on going. Instead of meeting Mattie, Cogburn leaves a note and a train ticket telling her to go home while he goes to apprehend Chaney. After she is refused passage on the river ferry that conveyed <b>...</b>