Original subtitles

Well, Rand, are you ready to leave us?

You can't keep me.

No, I can't. The door's open.

But I never see a man walk through it

that I don't wonder what he takes with him.

What I'm leaving behind is more important... seven years.

And now you're going back to that place you come from,

somewhere out in Nebraska... Little Fork, isn't it?

And you'll take your memories with you.

Next thing, you'll be right back here, or on a gallows somewhere.

I've paid for my freedom. It's up to me what I do with it.

Get out.

FLINT: We'd pushed across the Missouri border into the state of Kansas.

My name is Flint McCullough. I scout for the wagon train headed by Major Adams.

We'd been going through a heavily wooded area,

so it was good to see some daylight.

The major and I were riding out front

when word came that someone was hurt

way back on the wagon train.

But it wasn't until we got back to the scene of the accident

that we learned that the man who was hurt was Chuck Wooster,

the major's cook and driver

and, well, one of our best friends.

Wooster!

Ohh, my back!

How the devil did this happen?

We were trying to get Larson's wagon out of this gully.

The axle broke and pinned him under it.

Somebody go get some blankets. We have to get him in a wagon.

He's gonna need more than blankets.

He's managing to breathe. That's about all.

You got any idea where there's a doctor?

Yeah, I think I have.

There's a settlement off the trail down to the south called Little Fork.

I understand there's a doctor there.

How long would it take you to get there

and bring him back?

Oh... two-day ride each way.

You got yourself a job, boy.

I'll take it.

Evening.

Howdy. Howdy.

My name's McCullough.

Any one of you happen to be the doctor?

Nope, none of us is a doctor.

Three.

Can you tell me where I might find him?

Supposin' you tell us what you're looking for old Doc Rand for.

I ride scout for a wagon train. A friend of mine's hurt bad.

I heard there was a doctor in town, so I came to get him.

How'd you know there was a doctor here?

The agent at Fort Ready told me.

Well, old Doc Rand's out taking care of his patients,

and they're spread all over this territory.

He won't be back for a couple of days, and no way of finding him.

Do you have some idea where I might look?

Mister...

there's enough territory out there

for a man to lose himself for the next hundred years.

Maybe you could find him,

but none of us here could.

Yeah, maybe a week or longer.

Can't really figure when he'll get back.

Depends upon his practice.

My advice to you is to get back to that wagon train.

When the doc comes in we'll send him out to you.

That's right, young man.

Just be foolish for you to set around here and wait for the doc.

Hold on, there, Lottie. Maybe we're all wrong.

Maybe this young man oughta stay right here and wait for the old doc.

You know how he is, he could come back any time now.

Son, if you want to be sure, you better stay right here

and wait for him to come back.

I wasn't leaving without him. Well, good.

There's a room right there at the head of the stairs all made up,

door's unlocked. Just help yourself.

Thanks. I'll bed down my horse.

I'll stable him for ya.

Have you had your supper yet?

No. I could sure use some food. I'll send some up.

And some fresh water for you to clean up in.

Thanks. If I can stay awake that long.

Evie, you're just in time. This boy is gonna stay over with us.

Fix him some victuals, will ya? All right.

I'd sure appreciate it, ma'am.

I'll send it up as soon as it's ready.

Thanks.

You said the head of the stairs?

Yeah.

Ah.

Anybody here?

Anybody here?

Mr. Tarback?

Anyone here?!

Anybody here?

It's pretty quiet around here, isn't it?

Yeah... couldn't be any more quiet.

This place hasn't changed much.

You been through here before?

Yeah, I been through. What about you, when you get here?

I rode in last night.

Was it this quiet then?

No, there were some people here.

When I got up this morning, everyone was gone.

The Tarbacks, the Buffums, Tom Olsen,

Doc Rand and a little boy, huh? Doc's grandson.

I didn't get any names, and I didn't see a boy.

But they told me the doc was out of town.

Ah.

You had your breakfast? Hunk of pork chop.

Well, let's see if we can rustle up some hot potatoes to go with it.

Won't get any arguments from me.

You know, I just remembered something.

Old man Tarback once promised me a drink on the house.

Might as well take him up on it.

Help yourself.

Thanks. On the house.

Yeah. I think I can enjoy that breakfast now.

No, I know this place better than you do.

Let me get it.

Say, I noticed you coming out of Doc Rand's cabin when I rode in.

You got business with him? Yeah.

Friend of mine's hurt.

I was planning to take the doc away with me.

Ah. Why do you ask?

Just curious.

This is what I call pretty fair country-style eating.

High on the hog.

Yeah.

You know, it doesn't figure...

I go to bed with eight or nine people living here,

and when I get up, everyone's gone.

I'm wondering if you've got something to do with that.

Well, could be they figured I was about due to show up.

Got some reason to be afraid of you?

I don't know. I've been gone a long time.

Seven years.

The war?

Prison. Got out ten days ago. Killed a man.

Well, that's nothing new for this part of the country.

All depends on why and who you kill, doesn't it?

Mm-hmm.

Do they think you're after them now?

They're not sure.

One thing's sure, though...

They like the idea of you and I being alone together here.

Why is that?

Well, you told everybody you wanted to take Doc away with you, didn't you?

Yeah.

So, you want to take Doc with you,

and Tarback knows that he's really the one I came here to kill.

So maybe you and I get into a little argument, one of us wins...

sure help them if it was you.

I see.

You plannin' on arguing with me?

That, my friend, is up to you.

That's the girl who was here last night.

Evie Tarback.

She's got a boy with her. Is that the doc's grandson?

Whoa... whoa.

Good morning.

Hello, Les.

You're all grown up, Evie.

I was grown up before you left.

This is Mike Rand.

Hi.

Um, Mike, this is Mr. McCullough.

Howdy, Mike.

Hi.

Hi.

Mike, you go on home, put the horse away.

I'll be along in a minute. All right, Eve.

You didn't even speak to him.

Uh, it was kind of bare when I got up this morning.

Oh, well, we left in a hurry.

Yeah, so I noticed.

Where are the others?

Stacy's farm.

Got word I was coming, huh?

In the night. Someone rode through.

Any news of Doc Rand?

No. Tom Olsen went looking for him.

Well, I'll wait.

So will I.

The others didn't want me to come,

but I had to talk to you.

You still gonna do what you said?

Why not? Nothing's changed.

You can say that after seeing your boy?

Wait a minute.

I didn't get your name.

Haven't you told him?

Les Rand. His father's Dr. Rand.

And you're gonna kill him?

When I got your letter in prison telling me Okiah was dead,

I knew it was him that killed her.

You didn't tell me, but I knew it.

He killed her the same as he killed my mother.

The same as he killed everything else in his life.

There's one thing you ought to know. What's that?

Your father hasn't had a drink since Mike was born.

Ah! What's that matter now?

What happened to Okiah isn't his fault. You've gotta believe that.

Don't lie for him!

Don't get yourself worked up, Rand.

I'm taking the doctor with me.

We've got company.

Who is it?

Your father, Fred Buffum, Tom Olsen,

women bring up the rear.

Evie! You all right?

What did they think was gonna happen to you?

I'm all right. So is Mike.

You didn't have to come back on our account.

TARBACK: You best come on over here.

We're gonna settle this thing with Les right now.

Settle what?

What are you trying to pull?

With the three of you, I'd be a little silly to start something...

or did you figure taking me on one at a time?

What'll we do?

Well, I wasn't scared of him before,

and I ain't scared of him now.

Go on! Do something!

Hold up now, Lottie! We goin' in.

We all right as along as we three stick together, but watch him.

If he tries anything, just start a-shootin'.

It's nice of you to welcome me home.

There's only one face missing.

But Evie tells me the old man will be along any minute.

Sure be glad to see him.

You know, I never could figure out

why a man would want to live his life out

in a miserable stump like this.

I was fifteen years old when my old man brought me here.

I didn't like this place then, and I still don't like it.

Nobody asked you to come back.

No. No, they didn't.

But I came back, didn't I?

There. That pays for four more drinks.

You keep your money. Nobody's asking you to pay.

I pay for what I receive... Even your rotten liquor.

No one's asking you to drink it!

No one's asking you to stay here, either!

I heard what you said about this place.

Well, everyone here feels the same way about you.

Why don't you get out?!

I will, Lottie. I will when I'm ready.

You've been a troublemaker from the time you got here.

You couldn't live decent like the rest of us...

Fightin' and lookin' for trouble.

And then marrying up with that Indian squaw!

Hold it!

All right! Don't let me stop you!

I ever hear you call Okiah that again, I'll kill ya!

Thinking of doing something with that gun of yours, pathfinder?

Not yet, Mr. Rand.

I came here to get a doctor.

Your personal problems are not my concern.

Like I told you before,

your personal problems are none of my concern, either.

As for the man who needs a doctor,

he'd probably be a lot better off

if the old man never got to him.

That way he might live a little longer.

Buzzards...

three mangy buzzards.

Three buzzards...

one, two three, just sittin' there.

What are you lookin' at?

What are you waiting for?

Think I don't know how you feel about me, don't ya?

You think I don't know what you feel about me.

You'd shoot me in the back if I gave you the chance.

Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you?!

You think I'm drunk.

Think I can't handle a gun, huh?

You watch.

Wait. Don't move.

Don't move.

Uh-huh.

My gun!

Rand!

Can't find my gun here...

Come on. Get on your feet.

Come on. Come on.

I'm gonna take you home.

I gotta kill the buzzards first.

Sure, soon as you rest up. Come on.

Three buzzards just sittin' there lookin' at me.

I don't think you better wait around for that doctor any longer.

Maybe you forgot... I'm not leaving without him.

Come on, Rand. Come on.

Come on. Get movin'.

Who is it? Evie Tarback.

It's kind of late to be paying a visit, isn't it?

I know, but I had to find out what happened to Les tonight.

I share a room with my mother, and I had to wait till she was asleep.

He got himself drunk.

If I hadn't walked into the saloon when I did,

I think your father and that other pair would have killed him.

They had him staked out like a fly in a honeypot.

I think they were just waiting for him to pass out.

Well, thanks.

I guess I better leave.

Wait a minute.

I answered your question. Now you tell me something.

Did Les live here in town when he was married to the Indian girl?

Yes, he brought her to Little Fork

while he was getting his own place ready a few miles out of town.

How did he come to marry an Indian girl?

Well, you wouldn't wonder if you'd ever seen her.

She was Pawnee, and only about 18 years old.

She was the most beautiful thing you ever saw.

He sure was in love with her.

After the shooting, when they took him away from her,

he almost went wild.

I was the one that had to write to him in prison

to tell him that she died.

They say that he went for months without speaking.

You've liked Les a long time, haven't you?

Yes...

I've liked him a long time.

The man that he killed, who was that?

Oh. Uh, Mart Rogers. My uncle on my mother's side.

He used to live here with us.

I see. How did it happen?

What are you doing here?

Get back to your room!

I think maybe you better leave.

Well, just remember that I came on my own accord.

I guess I know what happened.

Now, you can stay the rest tonight,

but come morning I want you out of this place.

What's the matter?

Am I digging too close to something you'd rather wasn't found out?

Reach. And don't try anything funny.

Hey, don't you ever do that again.

Mighta had my gun on me.

What are you doing in my grandpa's house?

Well, to tell you the truth, I don't know, Mike.

I guess they brought me here last night.

You were probably asleep and didn't hear us come in.

Well, maybe.

But you have no business poking around that dresser.

Those are my ma's things.

Put them back!

All right.

All right, I'll put 'em back, boy.

There.

You think your grandpa will be back today?

Hope so. You know him?

Yeah. Yeah, I know him.

Never can tell about Grandpa.

Goes fishing something for days.

Not here, though.

Likes it best out at Pa's homestead.

Your father's place?

Sure. About ten miles from here.

Grandpa worked on it after my pa went away.

Is this the place that's up on a knoll

with a creek running down below it?

Yeah, that's it.

That's where he likes to go fishing the best.

How'd you know?

Oh, I've been there. Your grandfather go there often?

Oh, yeah, all the time.

Fixin' things up for when my pa comes back.

We're gonna live there. We're gonna grow wheat.

Mike, where's your father now?

California. But Grandpa said he'll be coming back any day now.

Sure be glad when he gets here.

Tom Olsen told me once he was in jail,

but Tom was telling a lie.

I asked Grandpa and Eve, and they said it was a lie.

Say, you like fishing?

Well, I used to, but I haven't done much lately.

You wanna try your luck with me?

Lend you my pole. It's a dandy, isn't it?

Grandpa made it for me. Yeah.

I had one just like that when I was a kid.

Well, you wanna come?

Some other time.

Hope you stay for dinner.

I'm gonna catch me a whole mess of catfish.

Okay, boy, you do that.

You had anything to eat?

No.

Well, a man has to eat. I'll fix you something.

You saw Mike?

Yeah, I saw him.

We had quite a talk. He told me all about the homestead.

You'll never know the place, all the improvements are in.

Sod house and a well...

your father has worked very hard on it.

He's wasted his time.

It's a fine place. You'll be proud of it.

I don't want to see it.

It's your home. I haven't got a home.

It's no use, Evie.

I haven't changed my mind about him.

That was a mighty good breakfast, Evie. Thank you.

Feeling better now? Yeah.

You know, I can't get over how you've changed.

You've grown real pretty, too.

Well, I'll never be really pretty.

Not the way Okiah was.

I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring back unhappy memories.

There's nothing unhappy about what I remember of Okiah.

We never had a bad moment together.

It's funny, you know... she couldn't speak more than a dozen words of English,

but... she could make one look take the place of every word that was ever spoken.

She could put her hand on mine and make me feel like

we were the only two people in the world.

You knew her, you know how she was.

Yes.

I forgot to thank you for writing me and letting me know what happened.

I couldn't write back.

I didn't expect you to.

What about you, Evie? Have you got somebody?

Oh, Tom Olsen wants to marry me.

Olsen, huh.

Do you love him?

No, I don't love him.

But you haven't got much choice out here.

I want to have children. Well, children aren't everything.

No, but at least at part of what I want.

Well, I don't want anything. I guess my life's behind me.

You've got a son!

A home that's waiting to be lived in.

You've had love. You...

You've got more than most people ever get.

I'd sure be willing to settle for that.

Evie! Evie!

I got stucked.

Oh, he's hurt.

Here, You better let me handle it.

Now, bite on that. Bite hard, huh?

Yeah. That wasn't too bad, was it?

Doesn't hurt anymore.

You're a brave boy, you never hollered once.

I'm half-Indian, that's why.

Indians never holler, even if it does hurt bad.

Thattaboy. Now you better go catch that fish.

Coming out soon, Eve?

Pretty soon.

I noticed your face when you that saw he was hurt.

You really love the boy, don't you?

I feel as if he were my own.

Oh, Les, everything's all over and done with.

Why don't you take him away someplace? Anywhere.

There could be such a wonderful thing between you.

Ever since he could talk, he's talked about

nothing except the day his father comes back.

And you want to kill it all with bitterness.

He was born in bitterness.

She'd be alive if it weren't for him.

I'm glad Okiah can't hear you say that.

She was different. She knew how to forgive...

and I don't.

Good morning.

You leavin'?

Maybe you thought better about what we said last night.

Nope, can't say I have.

If the doc shows up today, then I'm leaving.

If he doesn't, I'm afraid it's too late.

For all you know, maybe Doc got scared out.

Maybe he'll never come back.

Maybe.

That's a chance I'll have to take, isn't it?

TARBACK: Now, go on. You know I don't sell to no Pawnees. Git!

Didn't you hear me, you miserable heathen? I said git!

Have money. I don't want your filthy money.

Now, I said git, or I'll take a whip to you!

Get out of here, ya dumb varmints!

TARBACK: Go on, git!

Go on, put the whip to him anyhow. LES: I wouldn't try that.

I'll shoot the first one of you that lays a hand on them.

Seven years...

seven years and none of you has learned one blasted thing.

Same old maggots festering inside of you.

Hate the Indian. The only good Injun is a dead one.

Look at you, you miserable, ignorant trash!

When I think of the way you treated Okiah,

I could kill every one of ya.

But you're not worth a bullet.

You weren't good enough to lick her boots,

let alone be in the same company with her.

You miserable scum, you.

Hanged if I'll let anybody talk to me that way.

You sure? Go ahead.

Why don't you do something? You just gonna take it?

Why is it you folks are so worked up against the Pawnees?

They massacred my family, for one thing.

Pa and Ma and two sisters. All but my brother and me. We was lucky to escape.

Les Rand married a Pawnee, didn't he?

What about it?

Just seems to me like a coincidence.

Don't rightly know what you mean by coincidence.

Les Rand killed your brother Mart, then he married a Pawnee girl.

Couldn't that have something to do

with the fact that you people hate the Indians?

No.

Listen, you.

Nobody asked you to come here, and nobody wants you to stay.

Why don't you get on your horse and ride out of...

That's Doc Rand, isn't it?

Isn't it?

Now maybe we'll get this thing settled.

Dr. Rand, wait a minute. Yes?

Did Evie tell you who I am and what I'm here for?

She told me my boy's in there waiting to see me.

He told me he was going to kill you. I don't believe that.

Don't make any mistakes, Doctor.

Do yourself a favor... turn around and ride out of here with me.

I can't do that. Why not? You're a doctor, aren't you?

You might be able to save a man's life.

I'm also a human being with my own problems.

Right now they come first.

Afterwards I'll ride with you.

Hello, Les.

Les?

Have a drink.

I haven't taken a drink in seven years.

I didn't believe that when Evie told me, and I don't believe it now.

It's true.

A man stops drinking because he either gets himself

a case of piety or remorse. Which one stopped you?

I stopped because I had a boy to raise... your son.

It's too bad you didn't start with your own son.

Well, I couldn't undo what was already done.

All I could do is try to make up for it.

Oh, make up for it.

Do you think you could ever make up for what you did to me?

To Ma? To my wife?

One way or another, you killed all three of us.

Little late to start worrying about the boy.

He's still your boy. I don't want him.

Okiah would be alive if not for him. And you!

Mike knows nothing. Don't take it out on him.

Okiah came to me because her tribe sent her away

and there was no other place for her to go.

She had no choice.

She didn't want her boy raised Indian.

Okiah wasn't ashamed to be an Indian. It wasn't for that reason.

It was for you and the boy.

How did she die?

How did she die?!

It was something that just happened.

I did what I could, but I couldn't save her.

It was all I could do to save the boy.

I know how you felt about her.

It couldn't be helped, Les.

We did everything we could.

I just want to ask you one thing. What's that?

When you were taking care of her,

doing everything in your power to keep her alive,

how much liquor did you have in you?

How much?

You were drunk, weren't you?

Weren't you?!

Yeah. Yeah.

Now...

drink it.

Drink it!

I want to remember you the way you always were...

Falling down in the streets,

sleeping with the rain coming down on you like a stray dog,

the kids coming home from school laughing at ya, and me...

"Hey, Les. Les. Your old man's drunk again."

Doc Rand, the town drunk.

Me and Ma hiding in the house, too ashamed to come out.

Now, you drink that. You drink it!

I want to see you drunk one more time before I kill you!

Stop it, Les! You keep out of this!

I'm warning you, Rand.

You go for your gun you'll have to draw against me.

Any time.

You've got to stop covering up for them.

You've got to tell him the truth.

What are you talking about? Tell him what really happened!

I didn't want to...

You better get him out of here.

Give him a hand, get him out of here.

Who was he trying to kill?

You... me...

hardly matters.

They were afraid I'd tell you what happened to Okiah,

what they did to her.

What did they do to her?

When Okiah's tribe sent her away and she came to me,

Tarback and the rest said they would have no Pawnee

in the same settlement with them.

I said who I took into my house was no concern of theirs,

and if they didn't like it, they could stay away from her.

Well, the details aren't important.

They did everything they could...

even refused to sell me food as long as Okiah stayed here.

Evie was our salvation.

She stole food and supplies from her father to bring us.

We'd never have gotten through without her help.

Well, Okiah wanted to leave, and I wouldn't hear of it.

And then one day I came back from hunting...

and she was gone.

I found her two or three hours later in a field.

She'd walked all the way.

That's where Mike was born, in the field.

And that's where she died? In a field?

Later I found out Tom Olsen had been at the house and threatened her.

I think he even struck her.

Then when he drove her off...

he left a bottle for me.

A peace offering.

The irony of it is,

that was the first whiskey I'd seen in three months...

since the day they cut me off.

Whiskey was the one thing that Evie wouldn't bring me.

I didn't know that about Tom.

Well, I didn't know any of it. Why didn't you tell me?

So you could have hung from a rope for killing 'em all?

Or maybe been killed by them?

There was nothing to be gained. Wouldn't have brought her back.

I could have killed you.

I was never afraid of that happening.

Let 'em go.

Grandpa! Grandpa! Eve!

Mike! It's all right, Mike.

I thought everybody had gone off and left me!

No, darling, no. Don't worry.

Where are they all going?

It doesn't matter. I'm here, and you're here, Grandpa's here.

And him?

Sure, son. Say, tell me something...

How'd you like to show me that farm you been talking about, huh?

If Grandpa comes too.

Yeah...

yeah, he'll come.

I'm afraid there's a little ride I've got to make first.

Any time you're ready, McCullough. I'm ready now, Doctor.

Well, how about it, doc?

It'll take a little time, but he's going to be all right.

He sure had us worried for a while.

Afraid you're gonna have to eat some of your own cooking?

I'll be outta here in two days.

You'll stay right there till the doc tells you you can get out.

You stay put and be quiet.

McCullough, you asked for four days.

What in tarnation kept ya?

You might say I had some trouble.

That's the trouble these days...

You can't depend on nobody.

Let's get this wagon train rollin'.

Come on! Break camp! Let's go!

Doctor, thank you.