Original subtitles

How'’s Gretchen?

Preparin'’ up. The icehouse.

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

This is a farmhouse in the Black Hills country

back in the year 1873.

One of a handful of houses in a vast area

so primitive and so isolated it has no name.

Usually, one house became the focal point

of whatever community activity there was.

Here, the mail was dropped off at infrequent intervals,

and the simple folk gathered to exchange views.

Such a place was Abel Duncan'’s farmhouse.

He'’s dead, but all that he was

is very much alive in a very pleasant way,

because Abel Duncan made a startling request

in a story I call...

Morning, Gretchen.Gabe. Sam.

We come soon as we heard.

Well, Gretchen, everybody'’s here that'’s gonna be.

Come sudden on Abel.

He took to bed.

1:00, 2:00 in the morning,

he woke me up and he said,

"I'’m going to die."

He asked me a promise,

he closed his eyes,

and he passed on.

"Woman," he said,

"I ain'’t never been one for churchin'’,

"and I don'’t know God's Words,

"but for all that, I'’ve been God-respectin'.

And when you bury me," he said,

"I want a true man of cloth--

"don'’t matter what he'’s ordained--

to read over me and Godspeed me on my way."

Well, now, you know there ain'’t no minister in these parts.

Got to find one.

Gretchen, any one of us here

could read the Scripture with a full and loving heart for Abel.

"True man of cloth," he said.

Same here was Abel'’s best friend.

He could read out of the Bible.

"Ordained," he said.

It don'’t matter the mouth, Gretchen, so long as it'’s God's Word.

I promised.

We can go out and look.

But suppose we come back empty?

It was Abel'’s dying wish.

If the Lord heard, He will provide.

"If the Lord heard."

All these years, Abel didn'’t believe.

Now he expect the Almighty to come running?

Wasn'’t if we all thought so highly of Abel,

I'’d say spade him in, and we all get on with our business.

If Gretchen asked me to fetch the moon, I'’d sure try.

Well, as just we know, there ain'’t an ordained man in this jackrabbit country.

Well, ya say there'’s one in Butte, Eric?

Yeah. Four or five days there, four or five days back,

and then maybe he wouldn'’t come.

Be too late anyways.

What if we divide up,

search around Blackhawk, Wicker, and Gun Flats?

At least Gretchen will know we tried.

Pa and me'’ll take Wicker.

Cowells and me, Blackhawk.

Leaves Gun Flats. Eric?

Well, I don'’t put no hope to it.

Sure, I'’ll go.

Meet back here sundown tomorrow.

[ sighs ]

Need a little help, eh?Afraid so.

Ma'’am.

[ grunts ]

There.

Ah. Oh, thank you, gentlemen. Thank you very much.

Well, it'’s a bad place to be stuck out here in the middle of nowhere.

Well, my wife and I, uh--

Oh, this is Clara, and I'’m Joe Breger.

We'’re going to the Miller wedding. We'’re kind of late,

but thanks to you gentlemen now, at least we'’ll get there.

A wedding?With a justice of the peace?

Oh, no, it'’s a religious ceremony.

Maybe they'’d like to come with us.

I'’m sure the Millers wouldn'’t mind. It'’s a happy occasion.

Thank you, ma'’am. We'’d like that.

Well, come along then.

Come on.

♪ [ man singing prayer in Hebrew ]

♪ [ continuing ]

♪ [ stops ]

Sss. Blessed be ye who come in the name of the Lord.

We welcome you beneath the chuppa,

the wedding canopy symbolizing your future home together.

Please repeat after me.

Harei. GROOM: Harei.

Atah.Atah.

M'’kudash.M'’kudash.

Li. Li.

B'’tabaat. B'’tabaat.

Zo. Zo.

K'’dat. K'’dat.

Moshe.Moshe.

V'’Yisrael.V'’Yisrael.

Be thou consecrated unto me, with this ring, as my wife,

according to the faith of Israel.

[ speaking in foreign language ]

[ continues in foreign language ]

[ no audible dialogue ]

We recognize the imperfections of the past and the world today

by shattering this glass at the end of the ceremony,

and as we break it,

we pray that we may yet achieve a peaceful world

in which the breaking of the glass

will no longer be necessary.

[ glass shatters ]Mazel Tov!

[ lively chatter, laughter ]

[ chatter, laughter continue ]

What kind of sect do you figure that is, Pa?

I don'’t know, Gabe. Original Scriptures, maybe.

I think it'’s Latin.

Did you ever hear it spoke before?

No. Um, I seen it writ somewheres.

I think the Pope uses it.

Gentlemen.

Oh, thank you!

Here you are.

Thank you.

Now, that'’s gefilte fish and meatballs.

You'’ll enjoy it.

And a sacramental wine.

Excuse me. I'’d better go in and lend a hand.

Well, l'’chaim.

That means "to your health."

Oh. And to yours.

You know, it just occurred to me.

I guess you didn'’t realize that this was a Jewish wedding.

Well, uh--

There aren'’t many of us around here, you know.

We always get together at a time like this.

You know, the bridal couple had to wait five months

before the rabbi could get here and marry them.

"Rabbi"?

Why, that'’s the same as a priest or a preacher in other religions.

Go on. Taste your food.

This here rabbi-- How long is he gonna stay?

Oh, a few days, I suppose. He'’ll be visiting some of us

before he leaves to catch the train at Butte.

Oh, hello, Paul. How are you?

Come on. Sit down.All right.

Join us. Enjoying yourself?

Oh, just fine. Nice ceremony, wasn'’t it?

Uh, Sam and Gabriel, uh, Maccabee, Paul Myers.

How do you do?Howdy.

Excuse me. I have to get back to Clara.

Good food, isn'’t it?

I married me a Sioux wife.

Don'’t get this kind of cooking.

Ain'’t you Jewish?

Me? No. Half the people here ain'’t.

Ain'’t many of them, or us, around.

We get along fine. You meet the rabbi?

Not yet. Fine fella.

He baptized the Murdoch boy this morning.

Ain'’t in the Jewish religion, but he done it anyway

because there was no Baptist minister around.

I'’m getting me a second helping.

L'’chaim.

What do you think, Pa?

If he baptizes and marries,

he can bury.

RABBI: And as the human body has many organs

but only one heart,

so it is with the great religions.

Each worshipping in his own way

but in one belief:

the goodness of man and the redemption of his soul.

What you said, Rabbi,

about that pharaoh.

Well, he sure was a ornery cuss.

[ chuckling ] Yes. He was an ornery cuss.

You sure make belief in God sound simple.

But if God'’s so all-powerful,

why are there pharaohs in the first place?

I seek God.

I do not challenge Him.

Perhaps truth is sweeter and more enduring

for the finding of it.

I guess you'’re right.

Corn is sweeter for the plowing.

Anyway, sure nice of you, Rabbi, troubling and all,

Abel Duncan being of a different faith.

Well, to quote from your own New Testament,

"In my Father'’s house are many mansions."

Yeah.

I guess that'’s right.

Well, I'’m tuckered. Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

I'’ll tell the folks we'’re here.

Where'’s Gretch?Sleeping.

Tavis and me-- we didn'’t find anybody over in Gun Flats.

And Neil and Cowells are not back from Blackhawk yet.

Well, we didn'’t come back empty.

Outside. A rabbi.

A "rab"--

What did you say?

A Jewish preacher fella.

Good morning, Gretchen.

The Lord provided, like you said. Praise be.

He'’s outside. I'’ll fetch him.Hold it, Gabe.

Gretchen, they, uh-- they brought us a Jew fella.

Is he a proper man of God?

Oh, he'’s ordained, Gretchen, and he'’s come a long way.

But he'’s heathen!

I'’ve heard about Jews.

Hanged if I ever seen one.

But I seen a Chinee two, three years ago.

Well, uh, Jews ain'’t slanty-eyed.

No, but they sure ain'’t like the rest of us.

Watch your talk, Eric!

Oughta be grateful we found someone.

Well, Neil and Cowells might come back with a more proper preachin'’ man.

Ain'’t that much time.

We all gotta get on.

Well, Gretchen?

[ sighs ]

Well...

he don'’t look any different from anyone else.

The devil comes in many guises.

I don'’t figure you at all, Eric.

But Neil and Cowells still might come back with somebody.

You can all wait if you want. I can'’t do it.

Gretchen, I done what I could and I ought.

The rabbi is a fine and honorable fella.

If you think he ain'’t proper, why...

Well, you tell him, and Gabe and I will be on our way.

What do you all say?

Just go by Abel'’s last words, Gretchen.

He said--

"Don'’t matter what he's ordained

"to read over me

and Godspeed me on my way."

Rabbi?Yes?

What I got to say, I say meaning well.

It'’s just that...

Well, we'’re different kind of people.

I was asked to come.

I know that, but that was a mistake.

Now you can best help by leaving quietly.

Is that the widow'’s decision?

Well, she ain'’t herself.

She don'’t know her mind. [ door opens ]

I can go, and Abel Duncan will be buried.

But if there'’s any point to a death in such a man,

it'’s the legacy of love he leaves for his fellow man.

If you can'’t be a part of that, you might at least respect it.

That'’s right. So let it be, Eric.

Sam, I'’m kin. I got a right to say what I feel.

Please. This isn'’t fitting.

And this is not new to me.

That which one does not understand, one fears.

Rabbi, ever buried a Christian before?

Many times.

I was attached to Ferguson'’s 3rd Cavalry.

I'’d be pleased.

I'’ll do my best.

Friends, loved ones,

we are gathered here to pay homage

to a dear departed friend and devoted husband,

Abel Duncan.

I... [ hoofbeats approaching ]

Neil and Cowells.

ERIC: Neil...

Sorry we took so long. There was no one in Black Hawk,

when we ran into Father Timothy here on a wagon train.

He was kind enough to come.Pleased to meet you, Father.

I see you'’ve already started.

Uh, no. Just wait, Father. Neil.

Now we got two.

The Lord gives a bountiful reply.

What is he?

Father Timothy.

Near as we can make out, he'’s a Jesuit.

That'’s, uh, Catholic, ain'’t it?

Likely.

There as sparse around here as that rabbi fella.

Well, he'’d be a lot closer to what Abel'’d want.

Ain'’t that so, Gretchen?I don'’t know.

Our folks was Luther, Eric.

Abel'’s pa was Baptist.

We just made no point of being either.

I guess we wasn'’t anything, Abel and me.

But the rabbi was here first.

The Lord seen fit to send a more proper man.

Uh, even if he is from the Pope.

Ain'’t right.

Ain'’t right.Pa--

Ain'’t!

We was all set.

Glad enough when we just had the rabbi.

We started with him.

How do you do? I'’m Rabbi Eli Lipner.

Father Timothy.

We'’re both far afield.Yes.

I'’m afraid the situation is complicated now.

I think it would be well if Father Timothy took over.

[ sighs ] Very understanding of you, Rabbi.

No. You were here first.

Could'’ve been nobody but you come.

The father is here, and he'’s more to our way of thinking.

We just believed, Eric.

In no special way, but just believed.

Father, this is Mrs. Duncan.Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Duncan.

Father.Speak to her, Father.

Make her understand. The rabbi understands.

It'’s a small matter, Father, whether you or--

It is?

Suppose I hadn'’t come. You would'’ve gone ahead with the service.

But, Father, you are here, and that'’s just the difference.

Eric--Now, Gre--

You shut up. Just shut.

I appreciate your coming, Father Timothy,

and I'’m beholden to the two of you,

but I think my husband would say that

him that is first is him that serves.

That'’s very kind of you, but I would understand if you preferred--

Please, Rabbi. You started. You finish.

But, Gretchen, the father'’s come a long way.

Both the rabbi and I have come a long way.

But you have a longer way to go.

And it won'’t make it easier by my being here now.

Really, I--Now, Mrs. Duncan,

I think you are very right.

Please continue, Rabbi.

I'’m sorry I interrupted the service.

Father Timothy,

I'’d like it if you'd join me in the service.

No, I-I don'’t--I would be pleased.

And I'’m sure the widow would.

And both of us bidding Abel Duncan Godspeed

will surely get him there.

[ speaking in foreign language ]

[ speaking in Latin ]

"Out of the depths I cry to thee, O Lord.

"Lord, listen to my voice.

Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication."

"O Lord, support us in this long day,

"until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,

"and the fever of life is over, and our work is done.

"Then in thy mercy

grant us safe lodging, and peace at last."

Amen.

ALL: Amen.

In my house are many mansions.

Abel Duncan left a very special legacy.

A truth so simple it is often elusive.

"A good name is rather to be chosen

than great riches."