Original subtitles

♪ [ trumpet ]

In the late 1800s, the untamed frontier

of northeastern Colorado

was an arid land of little water

and few women.

Young Jack Byrd and his brother Leland

found both,

only to discover that water and women

can be a very explosive combination.

It all began with cousin Hugo's scheme

to swindle two orphans out of their homestead.

It was all very legal, because Hugo did everything

Well, here we are, Louella.

Acorn, Colorado.

Home.

Doesn't look like much.

Maybe not,

but it's the start of a new life.

Where do we begin?

By finding Mr. Hugo Stillwell.

Should we ask them?

Could--

Would you gentlemen please tell us

where we can find Mr. Stillwell's

homestead office?

They'd be horse-whipped back home.

Virginia is a long way off.

We'll get used to things being different out here.

Well, good morning, ladies.

Can I be of help?

Are you Mr. Hugo Stillwell?

I am. What can I do for you?

Your letter arrived so late we almost didn't make it.

We had to leave the next day.

We did get here before our claim expired,

didn't we?

With four days to spare.

I'm amazed you got here at all.

[ sighs ] So are we.

Oh, I'm Fran Baldwin.

This is my sister, Louella.

You've come to stay?

We have.

Could you show us our property?

We're dying to see it.

Of course. I'll get my horse,

and you can follow me out.

Well, at least there's one gentleman in town.

FRAN: It isn't quite what we expected.

I thought not.

Only improvement is this shack your father built,

if you can call that an improvement.

Improvement.

Yes, the homestead law says improvements have to be made,

if a claim is to be kept,

and they must be made within a time period.

I see.

Well, as you can observe, none has been made here.

This place doesn't even have any water.

Is a well an improvement?

Well, yes, but, uh,

your claim expires within four days.

No, you girls haven't a prayer of sinking a well in that time.

We could try.

Ms. Baldwin,

Homesteading is hard work.

Two women alone, they could never make it.

May I make a suggestion?

Mm-hmm.

Go home.

Go back to Virginia.

We can't, Mr. Stillwell.

We spent almost everything we had to come out here.

Ah.

I'll take this place off your hands.

$1,000 will pay your fares back home.

Just barely.

We'd go back to nothing, with nothing.

No, we're staying.

And somehow, we'll get that well dug.

Ms. Baldwin, two women alone out here.

There's no telling what could happen.

Why, you're nearest neighbors are the Byrd brothers,

and they're a half mile away.

Well beyond summoning.

[ Louella screaming ]

There's a man in there.

Now, now do you believe me?

Who is he?That's Gabe Flannigan, the town drunk.

He's been squatting out here.

Gabe, go on, beat it.

Go on.No, wait.

We can use him.

For what?

Well, he's good for nothing.

Can you build hen houses?

Can you put up a corral for our cow?

Can you dig a well?

Ms. Baldwin, I must insist.

You keep out of this, Hugo.

I can do all them things.

It's just that nobody ever asked me before.

[ scoffs ] I think you girls are making a mistake

by not taking my offer.

I hope you won't regret it.

We'll be fine.

Thank you and good day, Mr. Stillwell.

Good day.

What do we do first, Fran?

We unpack, then we go to work.

What's the matter, Mr. Flannigan?

He ain't goin' back to town.

He's headin' for the Byrd place.

Oh, trouble's comin' for sure.

[ yelling ]

Leland, we weren't meant to be bachelors,

but with your cookin', we're not gonna live long enough

to be anything else.

Look, Jack--Are the beans done?

Yeah, cold from breakfast.

Well, I'll eat in town.

I wonder what brings cousin Hugo way out here.

Did you give him this month's payment on our loan?

Well, that's what brings

cousin Hugo way out here.

Now, hold on, cousin Hugo, we got the money.

Except for $2.

Well, you're late as usual,

but that's not why I'm here.

Old man Baldwin's kin came to claim his property.

So what?

I want that place for myself!

That's so what.

Now that don't sound quite legal.

I mean, you being executor of the estate and all.

What are you plannin', cousin?

You want that claim to expire

so you can take it over for free?

Jack, I assure you this whole thing will be handled

by the book.

Nice and legal.

But they got the claim by the book.

Nice and legal.

But they won't keep it, not if I can force them out

before they can put in that full well.

Sometimes you don't think straight, Hugo.

You're supposed to be on their side.

You can't just force them off.

That's right,

but you two boys can.

You can harass 'em,

scare 'em, make 'em leave.

Now, wait a minute,

you don't think we're gonna do your dirty work.

You owe me $1,000,

and I can demand it.

You didn't meet your full payment.

We will, Hugo.

Boys...

all I'm asking you to do is let loose a few chickens,

make a little noise.

Is that all you want?

Nothing more than you do at a charivari, at some wedding,

make some noise, a few pranks.

Look, it's a lot easier than paying that note.

Okay.

When do we start?

Tonight.

Where'd you say Gabe was?

In town to get some medicine.

He said he felt a cold coming on.

[ fake cough ]

[ laughs ][ pipe blowing ]

What was that?

Shh.

[ loud mooing ]

[ chickens clucking ]

[ loud mooing ]

[ metal clanging ]

Who's out there?[ clanging stops ]

[ whispering ] They're girls!

The Baldwin's are girls!

Answer or I'll shoot!

Let's get out of here.

I see.

And you saw nobody last night, Miss Baldwin?

No, but we want to file a complaint, Mr. Stillwell.

Mm-hmm.

I can understand that...

but against whom?

I don't know, but can't you help us?

I'd like to, but this sounds

like a job for the Sheriff, young ladies.

Silly of us, Fran.

We forgot all about the Sheriff.

Unfortunately...

you're outside the township

and his jurisdiction.

What are we to do, Mr. Stillwell?

Go back to Virginia.

Sell.

Let me pay you a thousand for your trouble.

No, we are not quitters.

You're not?

No.

And you wouldn't think very much of us if we were.

I wouldn't?

We're going back and help Gabe dig our well.

[ door closes ]

You are?

You... You planning to wash?

Mercy yes. We're running out of everything.

Well, I'm sure we are.

What do you plan to do for water?

[ laughter ]

Good morning, ladies.

Good morning.

Um, I'm Fran,

and this is Louella Baldwin,

my sister.

Well, I'm Jack Byrd,

and this is my brother, Leland.

"I'm Jack Byrd."

We live up the road.

We was just wondering if y'all needed anything,

at all.

Well, we don't have any water. We certainly could use some,

if you have it handy.

Gosh, Miss Louella, we've got lots.

Well, let's get it.

Yah!

Why, I never. Isn't he nice?

They're both nice.

Nice and neighborly.

Ain't nothin' neighborly about a sinful conscience.

And if they ask us to dances, I could wear this again.

[ whistles ]

Boy, they sure must have some fancy dances

where they come from.

Hey, what are you-- [ laughs ]

Thank you. Thank you both very much.

You're welcome.

Um...

can we come callin' tomorrow?

Well, I, uh...

I guess so, Jack.

Uh, everything's gonna be all right from now on,

Fran.

You just wait and see.

So, you quit.

They let you bring them water,

they let you help with the laundry,

and that's a reason to quit?

Aw, they're girls, Hugo.

Girls.

I want my $1,000.

We haven't got it.

I'll take your land.

You can't, Hugo.

We're homesteaded with improvements.

I'll sue, and if you can't pay,

I'll foreclose.

On what grounds?

We keep our payments up.

Not this month. You were short this month.

Leland, pay the man his $2.

[ cow mooing ]

Oh, Fran, I can hardly wait till morning.

[ chickens clucking ]

You can bet Hugo and them Byrd boys done this.

But why? What do the boys have to do with Mr. Stillwell?

Well, they're his cousins.

Cousins?

I don't understand.

Well, Hugo wants this place.

Couldn't get it legal, so he got the boys to help.

I knew there was gonna be trouble

when I seen him heading for their place that first day.

Can we help?

You've done quite enough already.

What's that supposed to mean?

Why don't you ask your cousin, Hugo?

Oh, you know about that?

I know all about that.

And I also know that you're all in cahoots.

Hey, now, it looks bad, but we could explain.

Then explain why you did this.

Hey, now we didn't cut your clotheslines.

Now that's the truth.

I admit that we let out

your cow and chickens that night,

but that was before we knew you was girls.

Oh, both of you, get out of here!

Fran, I believe it.

Well, I don't.

Now, move!

And don't come back!

Them gals is the only folks that was ever nice to me.

Now you boys know that.

How can I tell them?

Tell 'em what, Gabe?

I'm hittin' bedrock.

There ain't no water in their well.

Oh, boy!

Just what cousin Hugo wants to hear.

They're gonna sell for sure now.

Am I, sir, to believe that you was tellin' the truth

about not bein' in cahoots with that cousin?

Neither of us wants to see them leave, Gabe.

Who you told about the well?

Nobody. Like I said,

I ain't even told the gals, yet.

Well, don't.

You just keep diggin'.

Well, I'm down to hardpan.

They're ain't gonna be no well.

Yeah, but Hugo don't know that.

Come on, Leland. We're goin' into town.

Heads up!

[ laughs ] That ought to keep Gabe a-diggin'.

What are you so happy about?

Hi, cousin Hugo.

We're plannin' a surprise celebration.

The girls don't know it yet, but their well's comin' in.

Oh, that's just dandy.

It is...and it isnt.

See, when they find out,

they may want to go right on homesteadin'.

Me and Jack here, well, we got other ideas.

You think they'd sell?

Oh, not for a thousand.

We couldn't let them do that.

Now that we know they got water.

I'm gonna get that place,

well or no well,

and nobody's gonna stop me.

Nobody's tryin', cousin Hugo.

[ shouts ]

I thought I told you both to stay away.

Fran, listen to me.

We haven't got much time.

Now, Gabe's hit bedrock.

There isn't any water.Oh, you're lying!

Tell her, Gabe!

GABE: Solid rock, ma'am.

But that was our last hope.

No, you've got one more.

Now, we got cousin Hugo thinkin' the well's comin' in.

He's on his way out here to make you an offer.

You take it, it'll be a good one.

I don't want Louella to miss this.

Hey, he's comin'!

You keep diggin' no matter what.

Whoa.

Good afternoon, ma'am.

Good afternoon, Mr. Stillwell.

Do you know what day it is?

Regrettably, it's Friday.

The day your claim expires.

Well, we have until sundown, don't we, Mr. Stillwell?

Yes, but I just can't have you girls on my conscience,

my dear.

If I didn't make one last try,

I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

Kind, kind, Mr. Stillwell.

Your happiness and my sleep are worth, say...

$2,000?

Oh, you're so very generous.

So very kind.

STILLWELL: I'm buying your troubles,

I realize that,

but I feel a father's responsibility.

Fran! You can't sell!

I won't leave Leland.

Stay out of this, Louella.

I don't know who put you up to this, Mr. Stillwell,

but we're not selling.

Not even for twice what you've offered.

I see.

You four are trying to pull a fast one.

Well, the price was $2,000,

but you'll be glad to settle for half

after your well caves in.

[ screams ]

What are we going to do now, Jack?

We'll think of something.

Hey, come and look, Hugo's done brought in a well.

STILLWELL: I'll be back, Fran Baldwin.

You haven't heard the last of this.

Pardon me, cousin Hugo,

but you're talkin' to the future Mrs. Byrd.

The Byrds kept the well,

and married Fran and Louella Baldwin.

The family records can be found

in the Logan County courthouse in Sterling, Colorado.

As for cousin Hugo, they paid him off,

by trading him water from their well.

Next week, another true story

of the winning of the West.