Original subtitles

♪

You two save some of that whiskey

- for tomorrow night, you hear? - You betcha.

- Yep. - All right, okay.

Night, Bobby!

Hey, hey, what's happening?

- Good afternoon, sir. - Good afternoon.

And how long did you plan to be with us?

Well, only till tomorrow morning.

I've come here to meet a friend. Mr. Whalen.

Oh, I see he's registered.

Could you tell me what room he's in?

I asked you what room is he in.

Are you... you're a friend of Mr. Whalen?

Yes, I am. Is there anything wrong?

I, uh... well, I'm afraid Mr. Whalen

isn't a guest of the hotel any longer.

Oh. Well, do you know where he is?

You say this happened last night?

A little before midnight, I was told.

And I take it there hasn't been time to notify the family.

No. I wasn't aware he had a family.

All right, I'll see to it.

I'll also arrange for the railroad

to have his body sent home for burial.

The Sheriff intends to have the remains stay here

until after the hearing, you understand.

Oh?

And when would that be, the hearing?

It's going on now over at the courthouse.

It's a closed hearing. Not open to the public.

I am not the public. I'm the dead man's friend.

I'd be careful who I mentioned that to, sir.

I mean, after what he tried to do to Nan Allen,

there are some who might not take it kindly

if you tried to stand up on his behalf.

Get a proper coffin. That box isn't even decent.

Court's in closed session. Nobody allowed in.

Oh.

Isn't Arnold Carver the presiding judge

of this district?

That's right, he is.

Would you tell the judge that Alan Mackenzie

would like to be admitted to the hearing?

I'm a business associate and a friend of Thomas Whalen.

You wait right here. I'll see what he says.

Takes some amount of sand, don't it?

Claiming friendship for a raper.

It sure does.

Thank you.

Judge.

Good to see you again, Colonel.

Sheriff says you have an interest in this matter?

Yes, sir, I have,

as a friend and associate of the dead man.

It's also my duty to inform his family of their loss.

I hope that I can tell them that his death

has been thoroughly investigated.

Are you aware of the reason this hearing's

been closed to the public?

I've heard some very unpleasant innuendos about Mr. Whalen.

Yes, I'm afraid the whole situation

is unpleasant and delicate.

All of us are most concerned that the lady involved

be spared any undeserved notoriety.

Judge, we've only known each other a short time,

but I assure you I'm a man of my word.

Of course you are. There's no question of that.

Please, let him stay.

I thank you. That's very gracious of you.

Very well, Colonel, take a seat.

Thank you.

Mr. Hill, let your records show

that Colonel Alan Mackenzie of Shiloh Ranch

was admitted to the hearing as an interested party.

This hearing is to determine whether criminal charges

should be lodged against Robert Allen.

He has already voluntarily admitted shooting Mr. Whalen.

All right, Robert, go on with your sworn statement

about last night.

Yes, sir.

Um... well, I'd spent the night at the Gold Spike

drinking and playing cards with some friends.

And then I, um... I went home...

well, a little bit before midnight.

It's a good thing I did, too, because usually when I...

I, uh... I play cards, I play all night.

I... I got home to the front of the house,

and I looked up, and I saw a light on

in my sister Nan's bedroom upstairs.

And then the light went out, and I heard a sound

like the noise of glass breaking.

And I went into my sister's bedroom,

and she was struggling with this Mr. Whalen.

I yelled at him, and he let go of Nan,

and then he came at me.

I shot him.

And the shot knocked him through the window

and down onto the trellis,

and I went to see how Nan was,

and then I went and got Sheriff Tracey,

and, uh...

that's really all there is to it, sir.

Colonel, do you have any questions?

Did you go to get a gun on your way to your sister's room?

No, sir, I had it with me.

Isn't it strange to wear a gun

when you're spending an evening with friends?

Oh, no, because I...

I make the bank deposits for Nan.

But did you really have to use it?

I mean, you're younger and stronger than Whalen.

Couldn't you have stopped him in some other way?

Sir, he... he came at me out of his head.

He was... He was like a madman, I...

So you... You shot in self-defense.

Yes, sir, I sure did.

Now you say you... You heard breaking glass

when you were outside the house.

What got broken?

The lamp on the little table next to Nan's bed.

It was knocked over during her struggle with Mr. Whalen.

And it didn't set fire to anything?

It was just the glass chimney,

not the whole lamp that was knocked over.

I see.

Thank you.

Miss Allen?

Will you come forward, please, and be sworn?

Do you swear to answer all questions truthfully,

holding nothing back so help you God?

I swear.

- State your name, please. - Nancy Ann Allen.

Just tell us in your own words

the events leading up to the shooting.

Mr. Whalen came to my office yesterday morning.

I'd met him a few times before on business matters.

Yesterday, he was acting as an agent for Shiloh Ranch.

He was interested in an offer I'd made

to receive and load Shiloh cattle

at our shipping yards here.

It was an unusually busy day. Many interruptions.

So I invited him to our house for supper.

We ate together, and then Bobby had to go off

and visit some of his friends.

Then... he...

He began to talk about personal things,

about his wife having passed away some years ago,

and... about how lonely he was.

I was sympathetic.

Maybe he mistook that for encouragement.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about that part of it,

wondering if... If I'd been cooler

or more reserved, it might not have happened.

Anyway, I knew that if... If he stayed any longer,

he'd make advances.

I asked him to leave.

I was a little abrupt.

As I remember, he... He looked hurt and disappointed.

But he did leave.

At least I thought he did.

I shut the front door after him,

and I left it unlatched

because Bobby would be coming in later.

And I went up to my room to get ready for bed.

All at once, Mr. Whalen was there in my bedroom.

I-I tried to talk to him, but it was as if he couldn't...

He couldn't hear me.

Uh, he came at me.

We struggled, and...

the rest is the way Bobby told it.

Colonel?

Do you have anything you wish to ask Miss Allen?

I find myself in a very difficult position here,

Your Honor.

I thought that I knew my friend Tom Whalen.

It's absolutely impossible to believe

that this side of his character existed.

He wasn't a bad man.

We'd had wine with dinner,

and he'd had two or three brandies after that.

I'm sure it was the wine that made him...

Made him act the way he did.

He was so lonely.

And maybe I... maybe I, without meaning to,

somehow encouraged him.

I'm more sorry than I can tell you about all of it.

I have no more questions, Your Honor.

And neither have I.

Under the circumstances, I can only make the finding

that this was a justifiable homicide

in defense of Miss Allen.

And therefore, no charges of any kind

shall be brought against Robert Allen.

Well, I sure do thank you, Judge Carver.

Sheriff, I'll ask you to see that your town newspaper

prints a very brief and circumspect account

of this matter.

All right, Judge.

And, Mr. Hill, your record of this hearing

shall be held in close safekeeping

and not made available to anyone unless on my orders.

Court's adjourned.

Say, mister, you're heading in the wrong direction.

The town dump is back that way.

He could have run you over and killed you.

Well, he's gonna wish he had. Come on.

Whoa, boy.

Uh, mister?

Could you give me a hand here?

I say, could you give me a hand here?

♪

All right, stop it! Luke, Andy!

What's the matter with you?!

What's the matter with all of you?!

Come on, Bobby.

Figured any friend of that snake you shot

don't deserve no better.

You figured wrong. All of you.

Colonel Mackenzie, I hope you will accept

my apology for these... people.

Bobby, would you help the gentleman

with what he was doing?

Oh, yeah, all right.

Come on. All of you, come on.

They've hurt you.

No, I'm... I'm all right.

But I'm glad your brother came when he did.

I'd like to skin the bunch of them.

The way they acted, I wish you had skinned them.

Well, now you... You must come home with me

for some repairs, I insist on that.

Well, I won't take no for an answer.

Bobby, would you take the buckboard

back to Mr. Bristol?

Colonel Mackenzie needs some doctoring,

and I'll take him home in the buggy.

The boys said they're sorry.

They're gonna hang around the depot

until the train gets here,

- make sure there's no more trouble. - Thank you.

Luke there said it's a good thing we stopped him

'cause he was beating you so much

that you would've killed him.

My buggy's on the other side of the loading yard.

Do you feel up to walking that far?

Well, now, if you were to take my arm,

I think I might just manage it.

I'm afraid I made a bit of a mess in there.

Here, you sit down and let me... Let me have a look at that.

Hmm? All right.

Good, it's... it's looking fine.

You know, you're most awfully kind.

Oh, Bobby's back already.

That noise is your brother?

Yes, he drags a stick across the fence.

He's done it since he was a little boy.

I don't think he even knows he's doing it anymore.

Hi.

Hello.

You look some better.

Oh, yes.

Your sister has a healing touch.

She's a... She's a Florence Nightingale.

A who?

Florence Nightingale.

You know, Bobby, like our Clara Barton in the Civil War.

Well, I'm afraid this is the best I can do.

Thank you very much.

Mm! Oh, that's very good indeed.

You see now, I'm further indebted to you.

I wonder if you'd consider allowing me

to repay your kindness.

Would both of you do me the honor

of coming and having supper with me tonight at the hotel?

We'd love to, but I'm sorry, we can't.

Oh, but you can, especially if you'd love to.

Well, what Nan means, sir, is that it's a little soon.

It just wouldn't be proper so soon.

Yes, but...

are you sure I can't persuade you?

No, I'm sorry, we can't.

Well, goodbye, Mr. Allen.

Sir.

Well, Miss Allen, this is my goodbye, too.

I'm sorry, but...

How can I have supper with you?

How could I stay in this house...

after last night?

By doing it. Just doing it.

Living one day at a time,

each day will be easier than the last

until eventually, it'll become just a faint memory.

Goodbye, Miss Allen.

- Colonel. - Hmm?

We will have supper with you.

Wonderful. 8:00?

All right, yes, yes, we'll come.

Will I ever be able to thank you, Alan,

for being so very gentle and generous with us?

You already have.

By calling me Alan.

8:00

Goodbye.

Afternoon, Sheriff.

I was just my on my way up to see you, Colonel.

I heard about the ruckus at the train depot.

Oh.

You have the right to make charges, you know.

Charges?

After the way it turned out,

I was thinking of offering those boys a job at Shiloh.

Well, you're a more understanding man than most.

You're a bit taken with Miss Nan yourself, are you?

Why, Sheriff, that's... That's rather private.

Not in Cooper's Spur, it ain't private.

If you was to claim you wasn't taken with Nan Allen,

that'd be private.

You'd be all by your lonesome.

Only man in town fool enough to lie about it.

Yes, I understand what you mean.

Tell me, Sheriff,

there's something I don't understand.

A woman with the qualities of Miss Allen,

why isn't she married?

Well, she almost did get married once.

- Yeah? - Five or six years ago.

Fella she was engaged to got himself killed.

- Oh. - Some freak accident down at the shipping yards.

She doesn't have much luck with men, does she?

Seems not.

Well, good afternoon, Colonel.

Good afternoon, Sheriff.

Well, they said that America has no royalty.

Miss Allen, you look absolutely stunning.

Well, thank you, sir. You see?

He thinks I look all right.

I ordered champagne. I hope you like it.

How can anyone not like champagne?

Now, before we get down to any serious eating,

there's something I'd like to discuss.

It's a business matter.

I can't argue with these figures.

If the railroad will guarantee these rates.

I have the guarantee in writing.

Well, then, there's no question.

I could save important money by shipping here.

We'll figure 10 days.

You haven't seen our high-country whether yet.

Well, you can't trail a beef herd for 10 days

or even eight days without grass.

- It won't work. - Yes, it will.

Just listen, we set up feedlots along the way,

three on my side of the pass and two on yours.

We move the herd from one to another.

They'll drop a few pounds per head,

but we fatten them up here before we load them anyway.

Feedlots. Where do you get the feed?

We haul it by freight wagon.

Won't the cost be prohibitive?

Not if you own the freight line, which I do.

Oh, it'll cost all right, but we...

We'll have margin for profit.

How much profit?

I'll make 30 cents a head if...

If what?

If you'll haul your own feed to the two caches

on your side of the mountains.

Nan, you are a wonder. It's ingenious.

You have a deal.

That's marvelous. Bobby, we're going to do it.

Well, sure, how could he do anything else,

the way you laid it out for him?

That's right, Bobby, come on. Let's drink to the lady.

No more for you.

All right, you clown.

Just remember in the morning I told you so tonight.

Come on, come on.

Let's start again, huh? To Nan.

Bobby, you come straight home

after you've mapped the last feed station.

No place else to go up there, sis.

And you do your share of the camp chores.

Nan, your voice is awful piercing this morning.

Serves you right.

Well, Nan...

Yes.

I wish...

Well, I wish so many things, but...

most of all, I wish I had more time.

I know.

But I will see you again.

Soon as I can manage it.

Look after Bobby.

He's not going to be too steady today.

Don't worry.

You look after yourself, huh?

Come on.

♪

Well, here looks pretty good.

Why don't we mark this number one feed area, huh?

All right.

Blowing up a rainstorm.

Don't think we're gonna go back tonight, huh?

We'll camp here.

Yeah, I won't argue with you on that.

You look after the horses. I'll try and put up the tent.

All right.

Wasn't any of them businesses my dad started

worth a plug nickel when he died.

Most folks figured we'd go broke within a month.

And Nan, she went around to all the ranchers

and asked them to ship with us

instead of the big outfit over in Casper.

Well, she cut prices, made a lot of promises.

Before you know it, we're shipping more cattle

than both Casper and Douglas together.

Lotta folks in Cooper's Spur figured the town

would have never gotten the railroad

if it weren't for Nan.

Town would've just dried up and blown away then.

Mm, she's a remarkable woman, your sister.

Yep.

A tragedy what happened to that fiancé.

Oh, that fella? He wasn't any loss to anyone.

Nan's really too fine a woman

for any man I ever seen around.

But why did she never marry? Lots of men must've asked her.

Asked her? Oh, yeah, they asked her.

They used to stand in line almost to ask her.

Used to?

Well, I guess they got the message by now.

Do you hear something?

Something strange.

Wait a minute, I'll go and have a look.

Bobby, get out!

Bobby! Bobby.

Bobby. Bobby.

Miss Allen?

A telegraph just came from Medicine Bow.

Your brother's hurt bad.

I'll need help, Mr. Finley, someone to drive,

fresh horses waiting along the way.

I want to get to Medicine Bow as fast as possible.

He's no better?

No.

But he's no worse either. That's something anyway.

But he's been unconscious for two days and two nights.

Colonel, he could stay this way for another two months, more,

and still come out of it all right.

Or he... may never come out of it.

Every breath he takes could be his last.

We just don't know enough about injuries to the brain,

Colonel, I'm sorry.

Well, if you can't tell me whether he'll live or die,

at least tell me what I'm going to say to his sister

when she arrives tomorrow.

Just say he may get well. It won't be a lie.

Completely well?

He could sit up in bed tomorrow morning

and order a bunkhouse breakfast.

You just never know until it happens.

Near as I can tell, it's just a bad concussion.

No sign of fracture, no blood inside the skull.

But I just can't swear to it.

Most people recover from concussions.

Hemorrhage inside the brain,

well, that's something else again.

I didn't mean to get sharp with you.

I'll stop by again in the morning.

Can I get you something, sir?

Oh, no, thank you, Parker.

How is he?

Much the same, I'm afraid, sir.

He still doesn't even move an eyelid.

Yeah, I know. Well, look.

You go on off to bed. I'll look in on him after.

Who the devil?

It's past 3:00 in the morning.

Well, I'll see.

Nan! Good heavens, come in.

I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow.

You must've come straight through without a stop.

I had to stop awhile in Cheyenne.

My driver collapsed, and I had to hire a new one.

Has there been any change in Bobby?

No, I'm sorry, no.

Parker, Miss Allen's driver will need hot food and a bed.

And the lady, sir?

You look after the driver. I'll look after the lady.

- As you say, sir. - Please take me to see Bobby.

Of course, come on. Let me take your coat.

Yes.

Don't be frightened by the way he looks.

He's been like this since he was hurt?

Yes.

What did the doctor say?

He could make a full recovery.

Could?

He's... He's had a serious injury,

but you must understand,

everything that can be done is being done for him.

You must believe that.

Nan, you need food and rest yourself.

You're on the verge of collapse.

I want to be with him. Be near him.

But you're no good to him if you make yourself ill.

Nan, look.

Look, I think he's heard your voice.

That's the first time he's moved a muscle

since he's been here.

Bobby? Bobby?

It's Nan.

Do you... do you understand?

It's me. I'm with you. I'm here.

Nan...

You did it, Nan.

Hey, Nan.

Hey, Colonel.

Hello, Bobby.

The rain, what...

What happened to the tent?

Well, that's quite a story, Bobby.

I'll tell you about it one day.

♪

Parker!

Parker... oh, there you are.

Oh, she's awake then, huh?

Yes, sir, and ate a nice bit of breakfast.

Oh, that's good. Is Dr. Walker here?

He's come and gone, sir.

He says the only worry we should have with young Mr. Robert now

is trying to keep him in bed for a couple of days

- till his head mends. - That's very good!

Tell you what, you go and prepare

a bit of lunch for us, and I'll look in on Miss Allen.

Good as done, Colonel, good as done.

Come in.

Well, now...

that's worth coming home to.

Come in, Alan, and shut the door.

Aren't you frightened I might compromise you?

What would Parker think?

Parker is a delightful gentleman,

but I'm sure he's never had an evil thought in his life.

He'd like to hear you say that.

Please, come in and shut the door.

Parker told me what you did.

You brought Bobby down from the pass

in the dead of night in the worst storm in years.

He told me all about that.

Parker has a vivid imagination.

I'm sure he wasn't exaggerating.

You saved Bobby's life.

But what else was I going to do?

I don't know, you could've done something else.

You could've played it safer.

But you're not a man who plays with your life

in a safe way, are you?

You didn't in Cooper's Spur, and you didn't in the pass.

I'm not going to play it safe either.

I owe you that, Alan.

Nan, you don't owe me anything.

Nan...

you're a very special woman, Nan.

Maybe you're the woman I thought I'd never find,

and if you are, I want us both to know.

And we never will if gratitude gets in the way.

- Gratitude? - It's weak stuff, Nan.

Alan, are you just going to walk out like that?

Only as far as the kitchen. I'm hungry.

It isn't gratitude, and you know it isn't.

Maybe it's just masculine pride.

Shall I tell Parker you're going to join us for lunch?

Yes, yes, you tell him that.

Nan...

It's considerably better.

You'll be all right, young fella,

until the next time a mountain falls on top of you.

Sometimes having a thick head has its advantages.

Did you tell him I was the thickheaded half

of the family?

I never said any such thing.

Nobody had to tell me anything, sonny.

But when I give a patient instructions to stay in bed

and he don't and not to drink liquor and he does,

I can figure out for myself that he's got a thick head.

He hasn't stayed down all the time, that's true.

But drinking? You must be mistaken, Doctor.

Think so?

Well, wouldn't be the first time.

Anyway, there's no reason he can't start doing

a few of the things he's used to doing.

Just take it a might slow at first.

Well, I guess that means we can go home soon, huh?

There's no reason we should rush right back.

Oh, I wouldn't be in too big a hurry about traveling.

I hear you folks live clear over

the other side of Laramie Mountain.

That's right, it's not the easiest traveling there is.

Well, I'd wait another week anyway before starting home.

I won't need to see him again anyway

unless he does something to set himself back some way.

Doctor, I'd like to make payment on your services.

I can give you a draft on the bank in Cheyenne.

My fee has been taken care of, Miss Allen.

Nice of you to mention it, though.

Well, I'll be bidding both your brother and yourself

a very good day, ma'am.

Thank you for everything, and a good day to you, Doctor.

He's a crusty old fella, isn't he?

Guess the colonel paid his bill, huh?

He shouldn't have.

Well, it strikes me the colonel takes on an awful lot himself,

don't you think?

What do you mean by that?

Oh, like when I got hurt,

bringing me back here instead of taking me to Cooper's Spur.

Wait, Bobby, it was 15 miles closer this way.

He brought you here because it would get you help faster.

Yeah, I suppose that's one reason.

Kind of takes after that big stud don't he?

Bobby, you don't seem to completely understand.

Colonel Mackenzie saved your life.

Sure, I know that. Don't you think I know that?

Sometimes I wonder.

Hey, come on, boy, come on over here.

Yeah, come on.

([clicks tongue)

Come on. Come on.

Like that, huh? Smell good?

Smell good to you, huh?

Come on, come on.

Yeah, you stick with old Bobby,

and everything's gonna be fine, huh?

Oh, it's so peaceful here.

Would you like to take a walk?

Come on, boy.

Oh, Alan.

I know, Nan. I know, darling.

I'm sorry I can't be prim and proper.

If that's how you want me to be, I'll try.

Nan..

Tomorrow, I'm going to check the grazing

in the west pasture,

and there's a little line cabin there

that I use sometimes during roundup.

It's a long way, Nan.

We'll have to start at dawn.

It could be 1,000 miles, for all I care.

Well, now, don't this beat all?

You know, I was just thinking about the long ride home.

Nice of you two come along

'cause now I won't have to ride home alone.

Well, I think I'm going to get some coffee.

- Care for some? - I'm gonna have a brandy.

Bobby?

Uh, no.

I'm glad that you approve of my brandy.

Would you care for one now?

No, no, thank you, not right now.

That is a gramophone.

It's a newfangled music box, huh?

I heard you and Nan playing with it the other night.

Oh, really? I hope we didn't disturb you.

No, not at all.

I was wondering about this morning,

how you found your way to the line camp so early.

I couldn't sleep last night. Felt a little restless.

So I, uh... took a ride.

And found your way directly there?

Quite a coincidence.

It sure was.

You don't mind my wandering around your place

when I feel like it, do you?

Of course not. After all, you're my guest.

Oh, I'm sorry about that.

This thing is as flimsy as you said it was.

It's all right.

It's not important.

Well, I think I'll have some more of that brandy wine.

It helps me drop off at night.

- Help yourself. - Thank you.

Don't you dare drink all of that.

Oh, Nan.

Well, it appears we'll finally be alone.

Yes, yes, and Bobby does not like it.

Nan, he's behaving very strangely.

Alan, you have to understand something.

I've been the only mother he's ever had.

You see, our mother died when he was born,

and our father when he was just 12.

So I've had to... To be everything to him,

which makes us...

closer than most brothers and sisters.

We just have to make allowances for Bobby.

Maybe too many allowances have been made already.

Are we going to talk about Bobby the rest of the night?

Oh, no, no, no. The subject is closed.

Oh, no, what happened to your gramophone?

Well, what always happens to toys.

A child broke it.

♪

Whoa, whoa.

Whoa, whoa!

Stay here.

What happened?

I'm sorry, sir. There's just no saving him.

But how did it happen? Who did it, hmm?

Hmm?

Oh, hey, I should've listened to these fellas, Colonel,

'cause that old horse of yours,

he don't jump too good with strangers up on him.

Oh, I'm okay, sis.

I fell in the soft mud over there

by the water trough there.

I hardly felt anything.

Nan? Go up to the house. Take him with you.

Hey, I don't mind shooting that horse for you, Colonel.

I mean, that's the least I can do.

Will you go up to the house?

Mm-hmm.

I'm so happy to see your appetite is so much improved.

Well, you know me.

I always did eat like a horse.

Oh, I'm sorry, Colonel, I didn't mean to remind you.

- Bobby. - That's all right.

Plenty more in the kitchen.

I just might take you up on that.

I was thinking today,

since you do seem to be recovered, Bobby,

we ought to be, uh, starting for home.

Hey, well, that sounds great to me.

When would you like to leave?

In the morning.

Well, I'll have Parker put up some lunches for you.

I think maybe I'd better do it now.

Excuse me.

Oh.

Couldn't sleep either?

No. I smelled your tobacco.

It does rather permeate the house.

I should've stepped outside.

Don't be silly. It's your home.

It's a beautiful home, Alan.

I don't believe I've told you that.

Well, you have now.

I'm sorry to leave it.

And so very sorry to leave you.

We'll start sending the feed out to the trail stations

as soon as we're back.

They should be ready for you in a week and a half.

That's perfect.

Then I can round up the cattle and start my drive.

Everything will be waiting for you, Alan.

Everything. I'll be waiting.

I may turn out to be a hard-driving trail boss.

I'm going to miss you terribly.

We won't always have a mountain between us.

Well, I'm ready.

Well...

Three weeks, Nan.

Sooner, if possible.

Make it sooner, Alan.

♪

Haven't you fellas got work to do?

Grinning like a lot of ninnies. Huh?

♪

Judge Carver.

Why, this is an unexpected pleasure.

I wish it were, Colonel.

I don't think either of us will find much pleasure

in what I've come about.

What's happened?

Sheriff Tracey brought me some of Tom Whalen's effects,

things left behind in his hotel room after his death,

and I was looking through them trying to decide

- how to dispose of them. - Yes?

Well, I don't know where to begin, Colonel.

I wouldn't have believed it

if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

Believed what, Judge? Please, sit down.

A letter written from her to him.

He brought it with him from Chicago.

It was very discreet, no return address,

signed only with her initial "N,"

but it was hers, all right.

A letter?

A letter from Nan to Whalen?

It was nothing like what she told us, nothing.

They had had a liaison for months.

Every chance they found to meet.

I don't believe it.

It's true.

I saw it. I read it.

But are you sure? Are you sure it's what you say?

It was nothing brazenly explicit,

nothing like that.

It was... rather tame, I suppose.

She went on about her loneliness.

Her loneliness. Isn't that incredible?

And how she had to be discreet,

her obligation to the town and her neighbors.

But that isn't enough to...

It was there, man. It was unmistakable.

Don't you see what this means?

She let her brother think she was being attacked.

She let Whalen die,

and then she smeared his name to save her reputation

and her brother from prosecution.

Yes.

Yes, her brother.

But... why do you... Why do you come to me?

Because I don't know what to do.

You were his friend, his associate.

You were there, the only one

not from that town not under her spell.

Who else knows about this?

No, no one. The letter was among his papers.

I'm sure the Sheriff didn't go through them.

I... I have it here.

When are you going back to Cooper's Spur?

Oh, not for a month.

I have endless matters at the capital.

I wish I could never go back there again.

Do you know what she is in that town?

She's a saint.

Yes, I know.

I know.

See, this is more than just a matter of law.

I don't know where my duty lies.

I'm going back there myself.

You see, I'm in business with Miss Allen.

Didn't you know?

No, I had no idea.

And what you said about me not being under her spell...

I'm afraid that isn't so, Judge.

It isn't so at all.

Bobby? Is that you?

Alan!

I thought it was Bobby.

I heard the stick on the fence.

W-was that you?

That's right.

That's a habit he has, isn't it?

Where is he?

He's working late getting the last repairs done

on the loading pens,

but he won't be back for about another hour or two.

But you don't know.

You're never really sure about Bobby, are you, Nan?

Let's not talk about Bobby.

You're here, and... And that's what's important.

What's wrong?

Oh, nothing.

Tired, I suppose.

I've come a long way since we last saw each other.

You're two weeks ahead of time.

Were you that anxious to see me?

Yes.

That makes me very happy.

I want to ask you something.

Oh, Alan.

I don't understand.

Nan...

Nan, you know I love you.

Please, will you tell me the truth?

The truth? About what?

About you and Tom Whalen.

You know the truth about that.

Yes, Nan.

I know.

Uh, w-what's this?

Are you accusing me of writing this?

Nan, will you stop lying?

I'm not lying.

You say that you... That you love me,

and then you accuse me of this.

What in the world do you want from me?

I want Tom Whalen's name cleared

and the truth about your brother.

Hey, Bobby, I've been looking for you.

Hey, Will, I'm right here.

Listen, you know who rode through town

- just a little bit ago? - Unh-unh.

Colonel Mackenzie.

You sure?

Sure, I am.

Headed for your place, too, it looked like.

Well, he can go anywhere he wants.

It's a free country.

Drink a little whiskey tonight?

Uh, no, I forgot some stuff down at the yards.

I'd better go down there and get it.

- I'll see you later. - All right.

You expected Bobby to be out all night playing cards,

just as he always did.

Tom Whalen didn't force his way into your room.

He came by invitation, just as he has in the past.

- I won't listen. - And there you were

in your room alone with Whalen,

and Bobby comes home early, unexpected.

You heard the noise on the picket fence outside,

- and you knew you were caught. - It's a lie.

- One of you tried to blow out the lamp. - It's a horrible lie.

The glass chimney fell to the ground and smashed,

and then Bobby came in and killed him.

- That's not true. - It is true.

You've been lying just as you've been lying

- to save him for years. - No, please stop it, please.

- Nan, don't you understand? - No.

He's mad. He's insane.

- He isn't. - He's so jealous of you,

he'd kill anyone who comes near you!

- He couldn't have. - Nan, he's insane.

Your fiancé, you remember, he didn't die in an accident.

I know Bobby killed him.

- No, no. - And then he frightens away

any man who tries to come near you.

Nan... He believes that you're perfect,

pure, untouched.

And, oh, Nan, you let him go on believing that.

You're as much to blame as he is.

Oh, Alan.

It's true, true.

I knew what he was.

But I couldn't... I couldn't face it.

I-I just couldn't see it.

I raised him.

I was so alone here except for Bobby.

But, Alan, can't you understand?

I-I'm a woman. I have needs.

You know that.

I had to keep it from him.

He saw me as a... as a saint.

I couldn't destroy that image.

And so you destroyed him and Tom Whalen.

And I also destroyed...

the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me.

Your love for me.

No, Nan, you haven't.

You haven't destroyed that.

Get away from him, Nan.

No.

Nan...

Oh, God, no. No.

Nan...

Alan...

What a... pity.

She wasn't like that, like what you said inside.

She was...

fine.

Too fine for any man I ever saw around.

Will I ever be able to thank you, Alan,

for being so very gentle and generous with us?

♪

♪