All language subtitles for The Virginian S09E18 - The Angus Killer ENGLISH+2s

♪

Yah!

Yah! Yah!

Whoa. Whoa.

Oh, Reedy.

Miss Duff, look.
That fence, it's cut.

Killers. Murderers!

The man who cut my fence
murdered my cattle.

Who did it to me, Lon?
Who did it?

I don't know, Laura.
Reedy, how is he?

Oh, he's still breathing.

Maybe he didn't eat
too much of that locoweed.

You know, this is a pretty
finicky old bull, Miss Duff.

Don't let him die, Reedy,
don't let him.

I'll sure do my best.

Hey, old bull?

You heard what the boss lady
said now.

Come on, get up from there.

- Get up!
- Please, old bull.

And get up and get well.

Maybe you should vomit him,
Reedy, that might help.

Well, sir,
I'm sure gonna do my best.

Old bull, old bull...

dear God, are they gonna
kill you, too?

There's no sense in it,

killing animals
like this for no reason.

It's horrible. It's cruel.

♪

Good afternoon.

I'm looking for the Duff Ranch.

Kind of chilly, isn't it?

Is this the Duff Ranch?

The Adam Duff Ranch.

Adam Duff.

That's a good
Scot-sounding name.

Is your dad around?

My pa's dead. So's his history.

It died with him.

I'm sorry. Is your mother here?

She wrote that she had
some cattle to sell.

Angus stock?

- You from Shiloh Ranch?
- Yes.

Rode all the way out here
just to see our herd?

That's right.

Try the west range.

Much obliged.

♪

Mrs. Duff?

Yes?

I'm the foreman of Shiloh Ranch.

Oh, yes, Colonel Mackenzie wrote
you were coming.

What's happened here?

Well, as you can see, we had
a little trouble last night.

Somebody came
and cut my fence wire

and let all my cattle
go through.

They must have known they'd eat
from that patch

of locoweed up there.

Any idea who did it?

Could be a man named Gus Muller,
don't you think so, Mr. Worth?

I wouldn't be too quick
to accuse a man

without proof, Reedy.

Why would he want
to do a thing like that?

Well, he'd had his differences
with my husband,

and he had no love for us.

He lives on the other side
of that hill over there.

Yeah.
He ain't no friend of ours.

I'm sorry, this is
my foreman, Pat Reedy.

- Hi!
- Howdy.

And my neighbor and very good
friend, Alonzo Worth.

Times like this,
good neighbors are appreciated.

Sorry to bring you all the way
up here just for this.

I hope there's enough cattle
left to suit you

and to sell you.

I hope so, too.

Let's go see.

So you folks are from Ohio, huh?

Originally, yes.

Well, I'm sorry to say that's
one state I've never been in.

If I were to guess,
I'd say you were from Virginia.

How would you know that?

Oh, by your manner

and you're very slight trace
of an accent.

And Colonel Mackenzie wrote
you were from Virginia.

Oh, please start while it's hot.

Say, is that what I think it is,
hominy grits?

I like to make my guests
feel at home.

Well, this smells
like real down home.

What's the matter, Jimmy?

I don't like it.

Well, have some potatoes then.

I made them for you
and Reedy anyway.

I didn't think he'd appreciate
my efforts

at Southern cooking either.

Seems like a good man,
your foreman.

He is, except that he drinks
a bit too much.

I don't care for that,

but it never seemed
to bother my husband.

He had that rare quality

of helping what you might call
misfits.

Must have been
a big-hearted man.

He was a Scot.

He was as good as he was strong
and hardheaded.

He'd just come to Ohio
from Ayrshire when we met,

met and married and had Jimmy.

We raised dairy cattle
back then,

but he was never really
very happy with that life.

"Cup and saucer country"
he used to call it.

It was too soft, too fragile.

Do you remember, Jimmy,
how he used to say,

"Land's too fragile.

Good for a night's sleep, aye,
but not for a man's dream."

And this was his dream.

This ranch,
to raise Angus cattle

and make it the finest ranch
in this avengin' valley.

And now his dream's all gone.

I don't even know
where the blame lies.

Like today, the fence.

It was Alonzo Worth
who cut that fence.

Jimmy, be still.

Like it was Alonzo Worth
that killed my pa.

Jimmy, I don't want
to hear that again from you.

It was.

But you never listen to me.

That's enough!

Now leave the table.

And take Reedy his supper.
It's on the back of the stove.

I'm sorry.

He's still a boy.

And lately, a right surly boy.

His own father
wouldn't know him.

How did your husband die,
Mrs. Duff?

He was...
He was trampled to death

trying to get a steer
out of a bog.

It was about 10 months ago.

Was he alone?

Yes, and... and now we're alone,
Jimmy and I,

but not for long.

What are you going to do?

Go back to Ohio
to the cup and saucer country,

to the gentle cattle
who are only good

for the milk they give,

let somebody else raise
this blessed beef Angus.

I've had enough of this country.

It takes young girls,

and it makes
old women out of them.

It takes strong men,
and it breaks their backs

or their spirits,
and I've had enough of it.

I hate the West.
It's got no mercy.

Because it killed your husband?

Can't blame the West for that.

It was a man cut your fence wire

and a man who tried
to kill your cattle.

Question is, which man?

♪ Old Tim Barker
had two daughters and a song ♪

♪ One went to Cheyenne ♪

♪ And the other,
she went wrong, wrong, wrong ♪

How's the bull, Reedy?

Hmm?

I asked you, how's the bull?

Bull's dead.

So welcome to the wake.

It was pa's bull.

Mm-hmm.

It was and it wasn't.

It was your ma's.

You gotta face it, boy,
your papa's dead,

and everything on this ranch
belongs to your mama,

every bit of it, all of it.

So why don't you get
out of yourself

and see what she's
gotta contend with?

Give her a helping hand.

Don't make her worry
about all your petty things.

So why don't you help your ma?

Help her, boy.

Your papa'd love you for that.

I'll help her.

By paying back the man
that killed my pa, Lon Worth.

So you think you know, huh?

But are you sure,
Jimmy boy? Hmm?

Sure enough.

Thinking about taking that rifle

your pa left you and... oh, no.

You wouldn't do that.

Your pa was a fair man,
and you are his son.

'Sides, you know
that wouldn't be right.

And you might just be wrong.

Yeah, you might just be wrong.

♪ So Tim Barker
had two daughters and a song ♪

♪ One went to Cheyenne ♪

♪ And the other,
she went wrong, wrong, wrong ♪

♪ But don't we all? ♪

Yeah.

Don't we all?

I think we got it licked, ma.

Just make sure you got it all.

What does Muller want?

We'll let him tell us.

What you think you're doing
setting this range on fire?

Trying to burn me out?

If you'd take the trouble
to look, Mr. Mueller,

you'd discover that it's
loco weed we're burning.

Loco?

Where did that come from?

That news to you, Muller?

I didn't know there was any
loco around here.

The way it spreads, it could've
got over to my place.

Then Mrs. Duff is doing you
a favor by getting rid of it.

You might thank her.

It's her cattle she's
thinking of, not mine.

My cattle already been in it

thanks to somebody cutting
my fence wire last night.

Somebody set on a horse
right here smug as anything.

You naming me, old man?

If the boot fits,
put a spur on it.

It don't.

And I don't like being called
out for killing stock, you hear?

You let go of him!

The lady said let go of him,
Mr. Muller.

Maybe you didn't hear her.

Look, we ain't friends.

But it don't sit on me when I
hear there's stock been killed,

not even the widow Duff's.

I know nothing about the loco
in this open range land.

I haven't been around
these parts in months.

Then what brings you
here now, Mr. Muller?

Smoke.

And just make sure
you get it all.

And keep an eye on that fire.

Come on.

Thank you, fella.

Jimmy, get them two... of yours.

We gonna back-burn
this whole hill.

Mr. Muller reminds me
of the cowboy

who jumped on his horse

and charged off
in all directions.

He tried to charge
my husband once.

They were quarreling
over some water rights,

and he took Adam to court.

The judge listened for a while,
and he said,

"Mr. Duff,
the water rights are yours."

He hadn't spoken to us since.

The wind's getting stronger.

You go on in, Laura,
I'll be right there.

Whoa.

Well, what a pleasant surprise.

Hello, Marjorie.
My, you look well.

This is the foreman
of the Shiloh Ranch.

He's come to look at my cattle.

- How do you do, ma'am?
- Ah, Shiloh Ranch.

Now is that mountain country
or flatland?

Well, a little bit of both.
It's in Medicine Bow, Wyoming.

Ah, well, come sit down.

You know, I just got a letter
from my sister Elvira.

She's moved to San Francisco,
and she tells me

that place has more hills
than Sitting Bull has feathers.

Or is it "had"?

Is that scoundrel still alive?

No, he's not. He died recently.

Oh, George Armstrong Custer

must have smiled
from heaven that day.

Well, I'd be there
smiling with him

if my buggy'd been going faster
when I turned over.

As it is,
I'm as helpless as a babe.

Or would be without Lon.

Oh, well, I've done enough
walking in my time.

Sitting ain't so bad.

Gives you plenty of time
for sewing.

Your quilt's coming along
beautifully, Marjorie.

Would you ladies excuse us?

You know, these patches are
particularly pretty, I think.

They came off a dress I made...

I thought you could use
a little beverage.

Thanks, I could.

I thank you for coming.

- It cheers Marjorie.
- It's my pleasure.

I'm glad she's not letting on
about last night.

- I wouldn't want Laura upset.
- Last night?

About her boy, Jimmy.

Riding over here,
prowling around

carrying his pa's rifle.

Marjorie saw him.
She was sitting by the window.

What did he want?

I asked him,
and he wouldn't answer.

I said, "Now look, Jimmy,
you're upsetting my wife."

I mean, Marjorie's had enough
trouble these past few years,

the accident, her spine twisted.

Anyway, when the boy finally
got around to telling me

what was on his mind,
I couldn't believe it.

Crazy talk about his father.

From what I hear, he's taking
his father's death pretty hard.

Even so, what he said to me
raised the hair on my neck.

He said I killed his pa,
that I did it.

He said if the law
didn't make me pay,

he'd see to it himself.

I tell you,
that boy means to kill me.

Whoa.

Well, it's about time.

You know how long I've been
a-sitting on that porch?

I know how long I've been
waiting for you, Sheriff.

Well, I got out here
as soon as I could, Mrs. Duff.

You know I've been operating
kind of shorthanded lately.

Had me a bank robbery
over yonder in Wardlowville,

couple of young fellers,
hardly more than boys they was.

Had to chase them for three days

'fore I finally
got 'em cornered,

and then they wanted
to shoot it out with the posse.

I sure do hate
them sort of things,

just hate 'em all to pieces.

But like they say,
it all goes with the badge.

They tell me that you had
some cows die from loco weed.

That's right, Sheriff.

Well, what'd you call me
out here for?

Well, their fence wire was cut.
It was no accident.

Who are you, young feller?
A new hand?

He's a guest here.

Well, I knew I hadn't seen him
round here before.

I'm from Medicine Bow,
if it matters.

Well, no, it don't matter to me

except I would kind of like
to know what you're doing

so far away
from your home range.

He came to buy my stock.

But by the time he got here,
half of it was dead.

Is that right, Mrs. Duff?

You fixing to sell out?

I know running
a cow outfit like this

is pretty rough
for a widow lady.

Sheriff, what are you gonna do
about the murder of my cattle?

Well, now,
I don't believe I ever heard

killing a cow
called murder before.

But her fence wire was cut.
The cattle are dead.

It comes to the same thing.

Well, I'll look into it,

but I sure can't
promise you nothing.

You know whoever cut that wire
ain't gonna be

standing around waiting with
the wire cutters in his hand.

Now if it was a bank robbery,
like they had

over yonder
in Wardlowville, why...

Jimmy, what on Earth
are you doing with that?

Practicing.

Hello, Sheriff.
Hope I didn't scare you.

You scared me half to death.
Now give it to me.

- Ain't yours.
- It was your pa's.

And it's mine now.
Right, Sheriff?

The law that says a father
wills his rifle to his son

to protect himself
and his ma against evildoers.

Blame kids,
robbing banks and no tellin'.

Now lookee here, boy,
I've got more to do

than stand around here
jawing at you.

Why don't you try
to behave yourself

and be a credit to your ma?

You sure scared your mom, Jimmy.

It's Alonzo Worth
she should be frightened of.

He killed her husband,

and even thinking about it's
made her blind.

Her eyes are wide open.

Then why can't she see?

The way he looks at her

when he thinks
no one else is looking.

Like a cat near a milk shed

waiting for everyone to scat
so he can have her alone.

That's why my pa's dead...

because he wants her alone.

She's not alone. She has you.

He'll find some way
of getting rid of me.

He thinks.

Not as long as I got this.

If I were you, I'd stay away
from the Worth place

and quit sneaking around
with that rifle.

I wouldn't set foot
on his place.

That's not what he said.

Then he's a liar
as well as a killer.

I guess your ma is right.

Oughta get you away from here.
I guess you'll be glad to go.

Guess again, mister.

My pa never ran from anything.

If my ma don't understand that,
I can't help it.

I have done everything I can
to make her stay here,

everything.

You're not the only one.

Whoever cut that fence wire
did a pretty good job

of keeping her here.

Dead Angus bull meant a lot
of going-away money to her.

On the other hand, it made her
more determined to go.

Maybe whoever cut that fence
outsmarted himself.

It wasn't me.

I didn't say it was.

I've got to get Jimmy
out of here.

Too many unhappy memories.
Too many ghosts.

There's nothing here anymore
but pain and sorrow.

Worrying yourself to pieces
about it won't help.

You know, I can't even talk
to him anymore.

He needs his father. A man.

No, I'm not gonna put
my troubles on your shoulders.

That wouldn't be fair.

You wanted to sell your herd
to Shiloh and start a new life.

Let me help you if I can
and help the boy, too.

I was hoping that...
That Reedy could help him,

but he must have
his own troubles lately.

He's been drinking
more and more.

Not much call for an old
ranch foreman who drinks.

Have any idea what Reedy
would do if you left here?

I don't know, I hadn't
really thought about it.

I hardly pay him
anything as it is.

Enough to keep him in whiskey.

Some men'd do almost anything
for that much.

You're not suggesting
that Reedy...

No, I don't believe that.

Has that fence
been repaired yet?

I don't know.
I asked him to do it.

- But I don't know if he has.
- I'd like to take a look.

See how it was cut
and from which side.

At night? Couldn't it wait
till the morning?

I'll sleep better knowing.
I won't be long.

What if the wire
was cut from our side?

Then I'll know that someone
on this side of the fence

wanted to keep you here.

♪

How is he, doctor?

Alive.

He'll be feverish,

might try to kick
his covers off.

You see that he don't.

Keep him warm.

Send for me if he takes
a turn for the worse.

That's about all I can tell you.

You're not leaving.

Have to.
A baby's waiting to be born.

I gotta be there
to bid him welcome.

When are you coming back?

When I can, Mrs. Duff.

He's got you to look after him.

No medicine I know of can touch
a woman's tender care.

I'll let myself out.

- Reedy.
- Jimmy boy.

Hey, where'd you find him
out there in that dark

- with that bullet hole in him?
- Where the fence was cut.

Did you see anybody?

I heard the shots.

Look, you was near enough.
You might've seen somebody.

Are you sure? You're dead sure?

Must've heard me coming
and rode off.

It don't matter.

I know who it was.

How's that?

Same way I know he killed my pa.

Ma... ggie.

Maggie!

I'm Laura.

How did I get here?

Jimmy.
He found you and brought in.

Jimmy...

Jimmy...

It's so dark.

It's night.

What did the doctor say, Laura?

Another couple of inches,
he would've been dead.

It was only that he dropped
to his knees that saved him.

Well, I sure hope
he pulls through.

You know, there's been
enough burying

going on around this valley
as it is.

And I'm just as much
in the dark right now

as he was last night
when he got hisself shot.

Did the doctor say anything
that could help?

Only that the bullet
came from a rifle.

That's a big help.

Every man and boy in this
whole valley owns a rifle.

Mrs. Duff, this boy of yours,
how'd he happen

to run across the stranger
out there last night?

Hmm?

Jimmy, your boy,
what was he doing out there

riding all alone last night?

I don't know.

I don't know what
you're driving at, Sheriff,

but you can forget it.

The boy hasn't been
sleeping well since his pa died.

I've seen him out at night
myself a couple of times.

You've seen Jimmy?

Probably after you'd gone
to bed, Laura.

Well, why didn't you mention
something, Lon?

I... I had no idea.

When you saw him out there
riding late at night,

what was he doing?

Nothing.

He just seems to go riding.

Finding the stranger
was a coincidence, I guess.

Maybe.

You don't suspect the boy.

You're talking about
attempted murder, Sheriff.

That's right,
that's exactly what it was.

On these occasions
that you saw the boy

out there late at night
riding around,

did he have his pa's
rifle with him?

You can't be serious.

This is a boy!

Yes, ma'am, that's right,
but so was Billy the Kid,

and look what all he got hisself
into before he growed up.

But this is my son
you're talking about,

not some... some outlaw.

You got to be careful, Sheriff,

speculating
about an innocent boy.

You know, you still haven't
answered my question.

Was the boy carrying
his pa's a rifle

when he was out there all alone?

Of course he had a rifle.

Everybody around here
carries a rifle in his saddle.

I ain't asking about everybody!
I'm asking about the boy!

Seems to me that he's acting
awful doggone suspicious

a-sneaking around there
late at night that way.

Excuse me, I'm not going to
listen to another word of this.

It is utter nonsense.

Well, I was just trying
to do my duty.

Doggone it, I don't know
what everybody's

so dad-blamed
thin-skinned about.

Hello.

How long have you been awake?

How long was I asleep?

This is the second night.

You...

You've been here all the time?

Part of it.

I would have slept better

if I had known
you were watching over me.

I've been...
dreaming of faces with wings.

You were dreaming about Maggie.

Maggie?

It's a girl I used to know
about 100 years ago.

That long?

Yeah.

Oh...

- I'll get the doctor.
- Don't go.

All I need is rest.

Just rest.

Not the first bullet
I ever got over.

Well, you're up with the sun.

Or haven't you been to bed?

I wasn't sleepy.

Growing boy.

You can't keep going on
like that

or you're gonna drop
in your tracks.

Jimmy.

I'll fix your breakfast for you

after I've tended to him.

You certainly saved his life.

He would have bled to death
out there.

At least some good's
come of your riding around

in the dark like that,
even though I don't hold to it.

Your pa wouldn't like it either.

It was him I went to see.

I went to see pa.

Or his grave anyhow.

You rode all the way
out there to the cemetery,

all that way in the dark?

Ma, I'm not scared
of the cemetery at night.

Pa always told me
don't be afraid of dead people.

It's the living that do us harm.

Well, what do you do out there
in the cemetery at night?

I talk to him.

And he talks to me.
And I don't mean with words.

I mean inside and in my head.

Just remembering how he was.

I-I know what he'd say.

He'd say he was murdered,
and he'd name his killer.

Oh, Jimmy, stop that.

I don't want to hear
any more talk like that.

That doesn't make
any sense to me.

If you want to talk to your pa,

why don't you talk about
the happy times that we had?

Like... like...
Like last Christmas,

the two of you rolling around
in the snow together

like a couple of kids

and firing snowballs
at each other?

I don't know why that picture
sticks in my mind so.

You were laughing so hard.

And all covered
with snow like that

and just laughing
your heads off.

Ma?

I don't want us
to leave this place.

Let's stay.
I'll work hard to make it run.

We wouldn't have to sell
the cattle or anything, we...

Jimmy...

it's not going to work.

Not for us.

We couldn't manage.

I couldn't manage,
that's what you mean.

You never even let me try!

Look...

the man from Shiloh
is here to buy the cattle.

Now I've made up my mind.

And I don't want
to talk about it anymore.

At least when I talk to Pa,
he listens.

Jimmy, that horse
gonna need some rest,

even if you don't.

Good morning, Reedy.

He still with us?

- The stranger?
- Mm-hmm.

He's still with us.

Your ma has been setting up
with him.

That don't sit so well.

My pa died in a mud hole,

a steer crushing
the life out of him,

the mud choking him,

Not in a bed with ma's
good white sheets around him.

Jimmy, you'd better start
chilling that horse down,

do you hear me?

Jimmy: Yah!

Ain't nothing you can
run away from anyway.

What are you doing out of bed?

Now isn't that
just like a woman?

I got my strength back,
my wound is healing,

I dressed myself,
and all you can say is,

"What are you doing out of bed?"

- The doctor said it was...
- I know what the doctor said.

But I'm up,
and I'm gonna stay up.

The only thing
I can't manage is this sleeve.

You still look
pretty pale to me.

I'm gonna do something
about that right now.

- I'm gonna get out in the sun.
- You're not.

Yep, I'm gonna take
a ride on my horse.

What do you think of that?

I think you're probably
gonna break your neck.

Go right ahead.

I'll have the milquetoast
waiting for you

when they bring you in.

Yep, you're a woman, all right.

Was there ever any doubt?

Please don't go out there.

The man who shot you is just
waiting for you to come out.

Well, I wouldn't want
to disappoint him.

And don't tell me to be careful,
because I won't be.

Please...

be careful.

♪

Jimmy.

As I remember it,
there were two shots.

The first one went right through
the top of the fence post.

Must have come
from this direction

because the little hole's
on this side,

and the big hole's around here.

That's good to know.

Climb down.
Come and take a look at this.

Now, the question is,
which side of the fence

was the man standing on
who cut the wire?

Get that under other end
of the wire for me,

will you, Jimmy?

Huh.

Either he stood on his head
and cut the wire behind his back

or the fella was standing
on this side of the fence.

What's your closest neighbor
in that direction?

Gus Muller.

Well, let's go see him.

He didn't do it.

Let's go see him anyway.

Hey, wait.

Adam Duff, sir.

Your ma send you over to cry
about another ailing bull?

Other bulls all right.

That's funny.

I could have sworn with that
drunken foreman of yours

breathing his juniper gin
into their faces,

they'd all be dead by now.

What brings you around here?

I was bushwhacked,
shot in the back.

Couple inches higher,
it would've killed me.

Is that a fact?

Bushwhacked, huh?

Now I wonder who'd want
to do a thing like that.

Did you ever find out
who cut that fence?

I thought maybe
you could tell me.

I see you're wearing a gun.

- Know how to use it?
- Yeah.

You'd better, talking like that.

Let me tell you something.

I've shot a man
or three in my life.

But never from the back.

And I never cut any Duff fence.

If I had, it would've been
right out the open.

Do you understand?

If I'd wanted to poison
their mangy cattle,

it have been done long ago
when Duff was alive.

Did you ever hear of forgive
and forget?

How long you gonna
hold this grudge?

When I see that widow
and her brat

clearing out of here.

I got them mountains at my back.

I want to buy her land.
It's the only way I can expand.

He offered her
practically nothing for it.

That's more than anybody else
around here's offered.

She can't run that ranch
no more than her husband could.

All that land's
just going to waste.

Folks like that got
no business coming out here

in the first place.

They don't have the guts
or the know-how for it.

You watch your mouth, mister.

Hold it, Jimmy.

Get him out of here.

We better be heading home.
Your mom will be worried.

We wouldn't want mama
to be worried.

Now you just run along home.

Hey, mister,
you forgot to say goodbye.

Hey.

How long did it take you
to learn to shoot like that?

Too long.

Listen, I want you
to know something.

Muller has always hated us,
but he didn't cut that fence,

and he didn't shoot you neither.

You sound pretty sure
about that.

I am.

This is the bog
were my pa was killed.

Your ma told me about that,
said it was an accident.

He was trying to pull
a steer out of here,

and the steer reared back
and trampled him to death.

Nearly happened to me once.

Were you alone?

Yes, I was.

My pa couldn't have been alone.

Look, he was raised in Scotland.

More than once he told me
how they had to pull

stray cattle out of those moors
they got.

Yeah?

Even showed me
how it was done once.

Either by one man on a horse
roping the steer

and then backing the horse
to pull the steer's forelegs

on solid ground, or by two men,

one on the horse

and the other in the bog
working in close to the animal.

Your pa was found in the bog.

Right.

So there must have been
someone else on a horse

pulling the rope.

He let go.

And the steer fell back
on my pa and killed him.

Well, it could've happened
like that.

What makes you so sure it did?

'Cause Alonzo Worth wants my ma.

I saw my pa
the night he got killed

riding off due east
toward the Worth place.

And I saw him, Worth,
the night you got shot.

Saw him where?

Off in the distance riding.

Just before I found you.

He'll tell you he was
coming back from Casper Ridge.

He's always on his way back
from Casper Ridge.

But I don't believe him.

And you don't believe me.

I'm willing to be convinced.

For heavy charges like that,
a man needs proof.

And if he did it
and there's no proof?

Does he get away with it?

No.

Not as long as I'm around.

He doesn't know
what he's saying, he can't.

Why, Lon Worth is one
of the finest men I know.

Well, Jimmy has got a point
about there being

two men in the bog that night.

Well, it could have been
anybody, Gus Muller.

No, not Muller,
your husband wouldn't have asked

for his help, and Muller
wouldn't have volunteered.

Think a minute, Laura.

Who else could have gone out
to the bog with him?

One of the hands?

It's possible.

But suppose the rope slipped

and Worth couldn't help
your husband.

Suppose he was afraid of being
blamed for his death,

maybe with good reason.

Now look here,
I'm not gonna listen

to one more word about that.

Lon and Marjorie
are my very best friends.

As a matter fact,
I told her I'd stop by

this afternoon and see her.

She looks forward
to the company.

Maybe the ride'll clear my head.

You're welcome to come with me.

No, thanks, I think
I'll stick around here.

Get up.

Reedy?

- Wait just a minute, Reedy.
- Hmm?

You don't look like you're
any too steady on your feet.

Oh, it's that old rheum,
it's going down into my legs.

You think you could do
some talking?

What about?

About the way Adam Duff died
in that bog.

Yeah-huh.

I saw you snooping around.

I figured that you know.

Sir, I'm gonna tell you.

Mm-hmm.

I'm gonna get it all
off my chest

'cause Lord knows
it's been there long enough.

It was my doing that Duff died,
my fault.

But how did you know?

I don't know anything yet.
I want you to tell me.

Well,
it was getting pretty near dark.

We was out on the east range.

It was Duff and me
and a couple of cowboys,

and them cowboys were
kind of getting twitchy

to get back to town.

It was Saturday.

Well, I never go into town.

This here...

this is my part of the town.

Yes, sir,
whenever I get twitchy,

I come right back to here.

Well, Duff, you know
what a hard worker he was,

I reckon he found out.

He... he let us go

and said he'd finish
the job up himself.

And you came back here?

Mm-hmm, boys went their way,
and I went mine.

Then I started imbibing
old John Barleycorn.

I always get a snoot full
of this before the Sabbath.

Then Duff come back.

Must've been three
or four hours.

And he got excited about
a steer being stuck in a bog,

and he come at me,
and he said, "Reedy!"

That's what he used to say.

Said, "Reedy,
I'm gonna need your help!"

Well, I said to him, well...
And the words,

they weren't pure polite.

I said to him, "Why don't
you go help yourself?"

Because I was getting
real drunk about that time.

I figured he realized it

'cause he just up
and walked off.

And a few hours after that,
I saw him,

I mean, his corpse,
crippled in pain,

and even in death, I figured

that he was trying
to tell me something.

Yeah, I'd have swore
that he's trying to tell me,

like his soul was crying out
and saying,

"Reedy, Reedy...

why didn't you come?"

When he rode out of here,
could you see

if anybody else rode out
in the same direction?

No, he was all by himself
when he died.

That was the crime of it.
I wasn't there to help him.

"Reedy, why didn't you come,
you drunken bum?!"

You wouldn't help him,

and he needed help with a steer.

So he must've gone
straight there.

Which way did he go
when he rode out of here?

He went straight to that bog
and his death.

And me not there to give him

a helping hand
when he needed it.

Reedy, which way
is the bog from here?

It's...

Out that way, out east.

Out east of here.

That's right. But that's west.

Hey, young fella,
what are you saying?

The bog is east. That's east.

But you said he rode out
of here that way, west.

Then he went to the Worth place.

Yeah.

He went to fetch Lonzo Worth.

Than that boy was right, Jimmy.

Yeah. He was right all the time!

Now, Laura, I need your advice
in a very crucial matter.

- Crucial?
- Mm-hmm.

Before I snip again,

I need your advice
to tell me which to use,

this flowered-print dress,

or this old smock
with the Chinese doodads?

Duff: It's hard to say
which one would work best.

What do you think, Lon?

Oh, no, you're not dragging me
into this.

If you ladies will excuse me,
I'll go heat up the coffee.

- Coward.
- That's right.

When it comes to picking out
scraps for a quilt,

that's when I run fast
in the other direction.

- Care to come with me?
- No.

I-I need Laura here.

But I would like a little more
cream from the spring house,

though, while you're at it.

Then cream you shall have.

Shall I fill the sugar bowl,
too?

Go away with you, Lon,
for heaven's sake.

Now don't you two talk about me.

We've got better things
to talk about.

The way you two carry on.

Open your mouth,
and I'll pull this trigger.

I swear.

- Your mother's...
- I mean it.

Start walking.

I had to be sure about you.

Now I am.

You killed my pa.

You're out of your mind, boy.

That's what you'd like folks
to think, isn't it?

So they wouldn't believe me.

Put down that gun, Jimmy.

I'll put it down when
I don't need it anymore.

- They'll hang you for this.
- But they won't hang you,

will they,
because there's no proof.

It was an accident.

The night you shot
the man from Shiloh,

was that an accident, too?

Just keep walking.

I can smell the coffee.
It's going to boil away.

Lon?

Where is that man?

I'll go see what's happening.

Don't you be too long

or I'll think you two
are up to something.

Where is he?

I don't know.
It's the strangest thing.

Well, that can't be Lon.

Unless he's pulling
some kind of a joke.

It's the Virginian.

Laura...

What, Marjorie?

N-nothing.

Hello, Laura, Mrs. Worth.

I'd like to talk
to your husband.

He's not here.
Is there something wrong?

Well, I declare,
you look as good as new.

Sit down.

I need to talk to your husband,
Mrs. Worth.

Well, he'll...
He'll be back in a minute,

soon as he remembers he left
the coffee on the stove.

He's outside.

Mind if I take a look?

Well, go ahead.

And tell him for me he'll
never hear the end of this.

What does he want with Lon?

Are you in pain, Marjorie?

Just a twinge.

Wh... where'd that man get to?

Do you suppose
something's wrong?

He wouldn't just go off
without saying something.

I didn't find him,
but I found something else.

- Jimmy's horse.
- Jimmy? It can't be.

- He's not here.
- Well, he was.

And the rifle boot is empty.

What are you saying?

That the chances are good
Jimmy's with your husband

right now, Mrs. Worth,

and maybe holding
a rifle on him.

You gotta stop them.

Before I do that,
I've got to know the truth.

Don't you understand?
He may kill my husband.

Look, two people saw Adam Duff
ride in this direction

the night he died.

You were here in that chair.
You must've seen him, too.

No, no.

He would have come in
to say hello

and pay his respects,
and then he asked your husband

to go help him pull
a steer out of a bog.

Lon. It was Lon!

Maybe your husband told you
it was an accident,

and maybe you kept quiet
to protect him.

You gotta make him stop,
Laura, please make him stop.

He's in real danger now.

Holding back the truth
has made that boy desperate.

Hearing it may be the only thing
that'll stop him.

Tell him, Marjorie!
For heaven sakes, tell him!

We're running out of time.

Adam Duff was here
in this house, wasn't he?

Yes.

And you saw him
and spoke to him.

Yes. Yes.

And your husband went
to the bog with him

and came back here later alone
after Adam Duff was dead.

Yes, you've gotta stop him.

He may kill Lon.
Stop him, please. Stop him.

Why, Marjorie? Why?

Why?

Look at me, Laura.

And walk over to that mirror
and look at yourself.

I was a pretty young thing once.

That's kind of hard to believe,
isn't it?

A twisted old thing like me.

I'm not that old.

Not near as old as I look.

It's the pain, it's the...

It's the sitting in one place,

not being able to tend to my
garden or feed the chickens.

Or be a wife to my husband.

You see, when you and Adam
and Jimmy moved out here,

I-I saw a change come over Lon,

and then I saw you
for the first time.

And I knew why.

You were so pretty.

Lon tried to hide it from me.

But I knew he was in love
with you right off,

and loving you, he...
He came to like Adam less.

Love on one side,
hate on the other.

Because he wanted you
for himself.

And you let him live with you
in this house knowing that?

Let him?

I kept it from him that I knew

so he'd go right on living here.

'Cause I love him.

And I need him.
I need him, Laura.

What in the world
would I do without him?

What would I do?

Shrivel up in this old chair
and just die.

Even knowing he killed Adam?

Even knowing
he'd have to kill me

so he could have you.

I'd rather die
than be left alone.

I'd rather die
than be left alone.

Do you see, Laura? Do you see?

Do you see why I kept still
for so long?

Why did you bring me here?

It's where you killed my pa.

Jimmy, listen to reason!

Keep walking.

But that's quicksand.

I saw my pa
when they pulled him out.

I know what it is.

It's murder.
Cold-blooded murder.

Then it's fitting, ain't it?

Same bog.

Only it's me standing
on safe ground

and you that's gonna be
begging for help.

Jimmy, listen, what happened
to your pa was an accident.

The rope slipped!
I didn't know what else to do!

So you rode off and left him.

I was scared.
I didn't know what to do.

So you left him to die
in the mud under that steer.

And went home to your supper.

I'd give anything
if it hadn't happened.

But it did happen.
And now it's gonna happen again.

Walk. And keep walking.

Listen to me.

I said walk!

Straight out to the center.

Move.

Keep moving. Don't stop.

Help!

Help!

Help!

Help me!

Help!

Don't lift a finger to help him.

He'll die in there.

Let him.

Help me! Help! Help!

Help me!

Throw that rope,
and I'll blow your head off.

Jimmy, I've got
the proof we need.

His wife saw him leave his house

with your pa the night he died.

It's too late for proof.

Please help me!

I'm doing what has to be done.

Help me! I did it!

I killed Adam Duff!
I wanted him dead!

I let him die!

Is this the way your pa
would have wanted it?

Think about it.

Help me! Please help me!

Get me out of here! Help me!

Leave him alone!

Put it under your arms.

It's what he done to my pa!

Jimmy, you get on that horse
and pull!

I can't!

Then you'll kill us both!

That's it.

Pull, Jimmy!

Pull!

Pull, Jimmy! Pull!

Back, that's it.

Hold it a minute.

Thanks.

Sure you won't change your mind
about selling the herd?

Nope, I guess I know it
by now that rifle's

not the only thing
that Adam Duff left his son.

He left him this ranch, too.

It's just a bunch of mean land,

but we'll tame it in time,
Jimmy and I.

You can always come around

and lend a hand
at branding time.

Ought to be quite
a few calves by then.

Now how did you know
I was thinking just that?

I'll get your horse.

Branding time.
That'll be next spring.

I might just drop by
before then.

I'll practice up my hominy grits
and spoon bread.

If it's all the same to you,
I'd just as soon have beef.

♪

♪