Original subtitles

Good riddance.

That's what everybody says.

And knows to be true.

A man like Tom Newcome--

a man like Tom's been looking for the gallows the last 20 years.

Well, you found one for him.

BOY: How'd you like the hangin', Miss Celia?

Hello, Miss Celia.

How'd you like the hangin'?

It was a terrible thing.

Oh, I wouldn't say that.

STEVE: Molly.

What'd you think of the hangin'?

Oh, I hated it.

I just hated it.

What'd you go for?

Don't bait me, Steve.

I had to go, and you know it.

No, I'm not baiting you. I--

Downy-cheeked kid.

What does he know what to ask?

The Virginian came to pay some laden bills.

See him?He's waiting for me.

He didn't show at the hangout.

I know.

Give me a minute with him, will you?

Sure.What for?

Celia.

Hello.Are you all right?

Hi.

I had to go.

I run a newspaper

I had to see it.

And now I'll write about it.

I had to go.

Nobody said you didn't.

Anywhere a man gets hanged, people come to watch.

So, why weren't you there?

There's no point to it.

Why not?

A man's dying-- any man's--

belongs to himself and any friends he wants close.

Tom didn't have a friend in the world.

You don't think Tom was hanged

for the crime he was convicted for, do you?

You don't think he murdered that woman?

I don't know.

Well...

Steven and Trampas don't seem to mind at all.

Like you said, Molly--

a man gets hanged, people come to watch.

I don't like this kind of talk between us,

like we're being cunning with each other or something.

It's important that we don't talk that way.

I--I don't know what I mean exactly.

I do. I know exactly what you mean.

Well...

if I ever get to sneak away from those two...

tell me about it, will you?

Heh. I will.

All right.

How do you do it?

I think winnin' more. I think it.

Miss Celia.Ma'am.

I want to tell you something.

Yes, ma'am.

It's said you have doubts about Tom's guilt.

You should be told to your face that my testimony was true.

We all believed you, ma'am.

Tom Newcome was not with me

at the time that woman was killed.

Tom Newcome was never with me.

Tom Newcome--

why, I never even knew him.

We know that, Miss Celia.

Well...

I just felt it should be said again, that's all.

You believe it?Believe what?

Years ago, what they said about her,

just a little after she got here to teach school.

Some kids seen her dancin' in the moonlight,

all by herself.

What makes you believe that?

Nothin'.

Just that it's a pretty picture.

I like the way it'd look.

You mean with her in it?

Sure.

Slap a little face rouge on her,

push a pretty in her hair,

you got yourself a moonlight dancer.

Medicine Bow?That's right.

There was a hangin'.

You come to watch?

Well, you're too late to see it. It's done.

It was a shivaree, mister.

Everybody come?Everybody.

You missed somethin'. It was a real show.

A man died on the gallows, mister.

That's all there was to it.

Hi.

Betsy. Ma'am. Hi, Betsy.

Yes, you are.I am what?

I've been thinkin' about this all day

and tryin' to make up my mind.

Yep. You're pretty.

[ both chuckle ]

Well, thank you, Betsy.

What about me?

Uh...funny.

What about me, Betsy?

I'm gonna marry you.

Yes, ma'am.

Race you back to Shiloh.

THE VIRGINIAN: That's a sight.

Every time, I gotta stop and take a look.

It's yours, gents.

Did you let me win 'cause you're courting me?

Any man doesn't court you hasn't got good sense.

Now, what's all this to-do about?

Tonight's my party.

You need a heifer in a pit

to tell you I'm 15 years old today?

No, ma'am.

Is that all you have to say?

Happy birthday.

See you later, honey.

See you later, honey.

Why should I have been at that hangin'?

To dignify it.

That what worries you,

that a man's dyin' was without dignity?

That's not what I said or meant.

That a man's death became a carnival

with kids and lemonade?

Chivalry under a gallows. That what worries you?

People want to watch. They have the right, whatever way they choose.

And you're sayin' I should've been part of it?

You're an important man, Judge.

The way you are is important,

and what you think is important.

You don't come to a big to-do like Tom Newcome's hanging,

people could begin to wonder.

Wonder about what?

The judge's position.

Might seem to them, him not bein' there...

might seem to them the Judge thinks we wronged Newcome.

That couldn't be, could it, Judge?

I wasn't there, either, Sheriff.

I noticed.

You think we wronged Newcome, Judge?

He needed to die.

He needed to die.

You said it, a jury said it...

and the hangman.

A man takes a life like Tom Newcome took that woman's...

he pays for it with his own.

It's the law.

There's no reason to be bitter about it, is there?

No reason.

You know what's happening to us, Virginian,

to this wilderness, to this savage land?

You'll tell me, Judge.

Civilization, progress.

You objecting to civilization?

You know what civilization really means?

Sure, I do. I saw it comin' through town

on the way back to Shiloh.

It's called a phosphate palace.

[ laughs ]

See that, Sheriff? The Virginian and me,

we're men of a breed.

Sorry we didn't suit you, Judge.

Sorry it didn't happen like you wanted.

That time will come.

That time of dignity.

Thanks for giving me the time of day, Judge.

[ plays notes ]

You said you weren't at the hanging?

Nope.Why not?

I've been at hangings.

They're supposed to be an end to something.

And?

No one goes unmourned.

That's right, Virginian.

No one does.

##

Tom Newcome.

That's Tom Newcome lyin' there.

##

Yeeee-ha-ha-ha!

[ shouting ]

##

[ song ends ]

##

You know him?

We've met.

I know him.

His name is Paul Taylor.

He spent most of day at the newspaper office.

Doing what?

Reading. He devoured every back copy of the paper

I handed him.

When I left, he was still there.

Good evening, Miss Molly.

Mr. Taylor.

Your eyes must be burning from so much reading.

They say laughin' sets up tears to cool 'em.

That's why I'm here.

There's laughin' goin' on here.

The word was the town's invited.

I know I'm a stranger.

Stay. Enjoy yourself.

Thank you.

I mean to.

[ indistinct chatter ]

[ all cheer ]

[ indistinct chatter ]

[ cheering ]

You try it, Mr. Brady.

You try it, Mr. Brady.

Do we know each other?

No. You gonna try that nail thing

like the lady asked you?

I'm Celia Ames.

Schoolteacher.

Yes.

Pleased to know you, Miss Celia.

Now, how did you know Celia--

I read her name in the newspaper.

It's a gentle name.

I remembered it.

You gonna try that nail thing?

You'd be...

Paul.

Paul Taylor.

Show me the strength of your arm, Paul.

Me?You.

[ laughs ] Ain't much.

Show me.

Ooh.Come on.

Yeah.

[ laughs ]

Um...

[ song ends, applause ]

[ laughing ]

Hmm.

Whoo! Ooh!

Oooh! Whoo-hoo!

Are you hurt?

Yes, Miss Celia.

I am hurt.

##

[ song ends, applause ]

[ playing ]

Are you the birthday girl?

That's right. I'm Betsy Garth,

and today I'm 15 years old.

Oh. Well, I brought you a present, Betsy.

Thank you.

Mm-hmm.

String?

Not just string. What I can do with it...

Ladies and gentlemen--

Ladies and gentlemen!

Folks? Folks, can I have your attention, please?

Folks? I just want to show you

the presents that I've brought Miss Betsy.

I bring Miss Betsy the setting sun.

And I bring her a canoe.

A special kind of canoe, called an outrigger.

And Osage Indian diamonds.

That's beautiful.

Who brought Miss Betsy such things?

What more can be given with a tangle of string?

Oh, yes.

Ha ha ha ha!

[ guitar playing softly ]

JUDGE: Boy?Yes, sir?

You from Texas?

Sometimes Lonesome Port, Judge.

Play us some Mexican dancing music, will you?

[ playing ]

That was quite a show you put on up there.

Did you like it?No.

What didn't you like?

The hangin' part.

That was Tom Newcome's hangin'.

Yeah, I figured.

That Miss Celia sure dances pretty, don't she?

That's all done. What do you want to rile folks

with a hangin' for?

Did I do that?Mm-hmm.

Did I do that to you, mister?

Forget it. This here's a party.

A man's hangin'...

fallin' on the same day that a pretty little girl was born.

That--That is something to remember.

This hangin' mean something to you?

Seems it meant something to you, mister.

Seems it meant something to this whole town.

Just that Tom Newcome killed a woman, and he hanged for it.

No more than that?Mm.

To you personally, I mean.

Tom Newcome's dyin' meant no more than that?

It seems to me it must've meant more.

Why, I, uh...

pull out a dirty little piece of old string,

make a noose out of it,

you--you get all riled up.

[ chuckles ]

What do you want here?

Just to be a part of things.

Seems you're doing that fine.

I've been a long time alone.

That supposed to make me feel sorry for you?

I wouldn't know, mister.

I wouldn't know what makes you sorry.

Miss Celia?

I want to thank you.

When you thought my hand was hurt,

you touched it.

There's a word for that.

You know it?

Compassion.Compassion.

[ chuckles ]

That's the fist time I ever said it out loud.

May I have the pleasure of a dance?

The crowd pushing you.

Outside, when I came up here,

the wind was so...

quiet and soft.

Yes.

Pretty, ain't they?

Daddy said any one I wanted. I know that.

Hyah! [ whistling ]

Howdy.

Morning, Miss Betsy.

Good mornin'.

It's the biggest spread I've ever been on.

Been ridin' around it all morning.

You could ride lots of mornings

and never see the end of it.

That's right.

I asked, and they say you're the foreman.

Then you'd be the right man to see about a job.

What can you do?

Well, I can do most anything pretty good.

I can.

I like what you did with those strings.

Uh, not the last part especially, but the first.

Well, I still gotta give you a keepin' present.

Sure. Take a little gold from the sun,

then a little blue from the sky.

Put 'em all together and we make you a pretty little thing

to match the color of your eyes.

Maybe you'd like something that good old Mother Nature grows.

So, if you blow real gently...

I'll make you a pretty...

pretty, pretty little rose.

What else can you do?

Most anything.

Truly.

I know.

Can you break a horse?

Sure.

Can you figure out which one you want yet?

Oh, yes.

That one.

Miss Betsy, you want that colt saddle-broke

or just the way he is?

Any way at all would be fine.

Trampas, get out the black!

Run two others in with him!

Yo! [ whistles ]

Hyah! Get in there!

[ Trampas shouting, whistling ]

[ horse neighing ]

[ grunting ]

[ neighing ]

Whoa. Whoa, whoa.

[ neighing ]

Trampas.

[ neighing ]

Uhh!

Whoo!

Whoo!

Whoo!

[ men chattering ]

Whew!

Ha ha ha!

Whoo!

[ Paul laughing ]

Come here, you little devil.

You're a fine colt, and I'm gonna ride you now.

[ neighing ]

Trampas.

Hey!

[ neighing ]

Hyah!

[ shouting ]

Hyah. Hyah!

There you are, ma'am.

Thank you.

50 cents a day and keep.

I like it here. Heh heh.

##

Well, he's a worker, all right.

I don't like him.Why?

I got a feeling about him.

He irritates me.

Why should he do that?

All he is somebody I pay for you.

You're gettin' old, Judge.

Leery of drifters is a sure sign of it.

You'll be pokin' under the bed next.

That's not it, and you know it.

That boy acts it, but he's no fool.

See him much around the bunkhouse?

No.

No.

Finishes his day's work,

and some other hand would be tired from it.

He goes off into town.

Oh, I know there's no law against that,

but he harasses people.

What do you do to someone to harass 'em?

You, uh...bother 'em.

You ask questions about the trial,

about Tom Newcome,

Celia Ames.

Don't he worry you some?

He always did.

But that boy's a worker, like you said.

He can ride and rope fine.

He gives his four bits' worth every day.

And he don't carry a gun.

Judge, I'm foreman here, and I'm runnin' your ranch.

And I'm runnin' it better because he's workin' for me.

##

##

Paul?

Yes, ma'am?

Am I pretty?

I suppose you are.

Do you know what I do sometimes?

Shall I tell you?

Yes.

I dance. That's what I do sometimes.

At night...

when the moon is so bright it hurts my eyes.

You know what I mean?

Do you know what I mean?

Would you do that?

For me?

Dance?

No.

I'm older than you are, Paul.

I'm much older than--

No.

A few years maybe.

Would you...

kiss me now?

Not an important one. Just...

to be kissed by someone...

here...

now.

Talk to me, Paul.

What man kissed you last?

Oh, that's stupid talk... that a petulant child--

I wanted to know, that's all.

Well, it doesn't matter.

Never will.

Why did you ask me that?

[ chuckles ] No reason.

Paul, who are you?

I don't know what you mean by that.

Where do you come from? Why are you here?

Oklahoma.

And I am here because this is where I got to.

What did you do in Oklahoma?

Oh, lots of things.

Cowhand, ranch.

But more than that, though,

once I was a travelin' man.

Celia...Celia, would you like to hear about that?

Oh, yes.

I'm nimble. Have you noticed?

Ha ha ha!

I can do things with my body and my hands.

Quick things.

For a time, I was a circus fella.

Circus?Mm-hmm.

Tricks.

Jugglin'. [ clicks tongue ]

Travelin' around. I did all that.

That's very interesting, Paul.

Celia.

Do you drink?What?

Are you a whiskey drinker?

Well, I am.

Sometimes, I mean.

[ chuckles ] You wait right here, now.

##

[ cork pops ]

Celia, would you like a drink of whiskey?

No.

Well, I would.

Taste it.

I, uh...

I'd sometimes--

like you--

Yes, ma'am.

I want to go home now.

Why?

I want to go home now, Paul.

You know a secret about me now, Paul.

I know a couple of 'em.

You, uh, like to dance in the moonlight.

You drink whiskey sometimes.

The only other man who knew that, I...loved.

Who was he?

##

Someone.

[ horse approaches ]

Good evening.

Hello, Sheriff.

Just parking?

I don't know what you mean.

We were taking a ride.

It's a very pleasant evening.

That's right, it is.

Well...

let me tell you something, Miss Celia.

You shouldn't be riding around like this late at night.

You're a schoolteacher.

And it's not right for you to be with a stranger come to town

this late at night.

You understand what I'm saying to you, Miss Celia?

[ softly ] Yes.

What?

[ louder ] Yes.

Yes.

Get going, boy.

##

[ cows mooing ]

[ shouting and whooping ]

[ mooing wildly ]

Whoa.

You work good.

Seems you're real good at a lot of things.

You ride all the way out here to tell me that?

Uh-huh.

All right, you told me.

Folks come to me...

talkin' about you all the time.

The old man, a gravedigger, for instance.

How you stood by Tom Newcome's grave.

Why'd you do that?

I missed the hangin'. I didn't want to miss all of it.

Then there was the party...

and you makin' a noose a playactin' like the hangman.

Folks are still talkin' about it.

I didn't know that string was gonna do that.

It just kind of took hold of my fingers--

I said a thing to you last night.

"Get going," you said.

You ought to get riding out of here, boy.

Far away.

Most of the people around here

would be a lot happier if you did that.

Including me.

You jealous of me, Sheriff?

Me?

[ chuckles ] Why, I'm nothin' but a clown.

A man like you...

What about...me?

Why, you're ten feet tall.

Hangin' a man like Tom Newcome...

a man like you...

ladies all around must be bitin' their lips,

waitin' for you to call,

watchin' you when you walk by.

Talk to me some more.

Well, you take that girl...

that, uh, that lady Newcome killed.

What about her?

Seems to every cowhand around

she was what Saturday night was meant to be.

Go on.

A man like you--

It seems like you'd be right up there

at the head of the crowd.

And her holdin' her hand out to you

and shuttin' the door on the rest of 'em.

Did she do that?

Did she do that to you, Sheriff?

Before old Tom Newcome came and shot her down.

Oh, come on, Sheriff. You can tell me.

Why, I can hold secrets like they were sleepin' in stone.

Ask Miss Celia.

##

I say something?

You notice I don't wear a gun, Sheriff?

[ gunshot ]

[ gunshot ]

Well, hi.Are you all right?

Why shouldn't I be?

What are you doin' here?

Paul invited me. He found me riding,

and he wanted to know if I'd like to watch him trick-shoot.

You were wonderful.

Thank you, Miss Betsy.

Go home, Betsy.

Well, why? I was having such a good time.

You heard me. Go home.

Miss Betsy...

go home.

All right, Paul.

But because you said so.

Hyah.

Mister...

don't lay a hand on me again.

Or what?

Or what is, I'll kill you.

Try it.

[ laughs ]

I spent all my bullets cuttin' down a birch sapling.

[ laughs ]

You could reload.

Well, like I say...

I ain't got any more bullets.

Besides, no reason to kill you.

Except you'd give me one.

Good with a gun, huh?

Yeah.Real good...

considering you've told it around you never wear one.

Betsy was impressed.

Betsy's a child.Yes, she is.

Betsy a part of your schemin'?

I don't know what you're talkin' about.

Avenge a man's hangin'.

Tom Newcome's hangin'.

Not hard to figure.

Gunplay, oilin' up for the kill.

Playin' the hangin' fool with a piece of string.

Goin' to a grave, plan to go a week, and be forgotten.

That's why you rode in to Medicine Bow-- to avenge him.

To avenge a man who walked across who knows how many graves

on the way to his own.

That's why you're here.

Not yet.

Not yet, Paul.

First you're gonna hear me out.

You tell me about Tom Newcome.

You tell me about the man he was.

Hired killer is what he was,

and he had a lust for it.

Bought for a price to do someone else's killing.

And he sold cheap...

because of his lust for it.

It was use to him for a time--

a wilderness man for hire.

But not anymore.

A new time was biting at his heels.

And finally he must have come to know it.

And finally, growing desperate,

killing a helpless, accommodating woman.

They found her where it said Tom killed her,

and they hanged him for it...

because he was done, and not needed.

And deserved to die

for reasons no one will ever know the count of.

And I say, guilty or not,

good riddance.

##

[ grunting ]

Aah!

You know what he meant to me?

I wasn't sure. Now I am.

You won't stop me.

If I have to.

People say he was hanged for the wrong killing.

They say Tom wouldn't kill a woman.

People say that.

I say it, too.

What are you gonna do about it?

Just ask questions like I been doin'.

Come to the truth about it.

I think you're a man who'd understand.

Leave me be.

Give me the time for it.

And when I find out the truth...

maybe that's all I'll want to know.

Maybe I'll just ride away.

##

Well, that won't show much.

Ooh.

Hurts good, huh?Yeah.

Well, now it's happened. Get rid of him.

Why?

He's trouble. I don't want him around here.

I don't want my hands getting beat up.

Well, that's not your problem, Judge.

And I don't want him around Betsy.

That is my problem.

Well, how's it gonna look?

I fight him, then I fire him.

It's gonna make me look like some kind of a fool.

Well, you got a big lump fist fighting.

That looks pretty foolish.

Now, look, Judge--

Monday morning, I don't want to see him around here.

Get rid of him.

##

##

Paul, Miss Celia.

What pretty flowers.

Thank you, ma'am.

Saturday night courting?

I guess it looks like it.

What'd you stop us for?

I gotta talk to you, Paul.

Not now, mister.

Just wanted to make sure you'll see me tomorrow.

Carryin' flowers.

Yeah, I noticed.

Me, I'd hide 'em under the poncho.

Well, you know the Virginian.

When it comes to courtin', he's got no shame.

Don't seem manly.

No.

You know, I think he needs help.

Somebody ought to talk to him.

I'd do it.So would I.

I'll match you.Yo.

Tails.You win.

Well, wait a minute. Look again.

You talk to him good, now. You hear?

I'll do that.

Now you can make it important.

Why?

Because I don't feel like it, that's why.

I, uh... I brought you flowers, didn't I?

Yes, you brought me flowers.

And that's a pretty civilized thing to do, isn't it?

Very.

And you're always screaming that I'm not very civilized.

I've never screamed at you in my life.

And let me tell you something else.

The day that I do start screaming,

that's the day that you'll know you're making progress.

That, by the way, is the day also that--

[ knock on door ]

Brought you some flowers.

[ laughs ] Steve.

Come in.

Aren't they lovely?

They're two bits for the bunch, as many as you can carry.

[ both chuckle ]

Well, I'll get some water.

What are you doin' here?

I'm havin' a Saturday night. What are you havin'?

You ought to be doin' what a kid your age is supposed to be doin'--

playing cards, not courtin'.

Well, I like courtin'.

MOLLY: Sit down, boys.

I'll put on some tea.

How nice.

##

[ humming ]

I'm, uh, I'm sorry, Miss Molly,

but I gotta get out of here. I just gotta get out.

I mean, I'm not a tea-drinker, now.

And I don't want to have to say I am

in case somebody asks me if I am.

And besides, it's a beautiful night out,

and I think we ought to go riding.

Well, I feel like riding.

Good, then why don't we ride?

Well, let's go, boys.

Both of us?

It's a wide country.

It's not that wide.

Listen, why don't you go on back downtown?

Do some gambling.What for?

I feel it in my bones, you got a lucky streak coming up.

Well, tell me more.I really do!

Oh.

Well, look what he's done.

What a nice thing to do.

All I can say is, you got a stupid-lookin' horse.

If I was that horse, I wouldn't budge.

Miss Molly, you're gonna look might pretty up on this horse.

Especially with me riding beside him.

It's a nice night, boys, isn't it?

Heads.Tails.

I lost my quarter.

What are you doin'?

You're disqualified.

Wait, is that the rule?

Surprised you didn't know.

Once more.Yo.

I'll match you.

Heads.You lose.

Hey, now, wait a minute. Show me.

Trampas, haven't we always had a good, honest relationship?

Don't we always take pride in that?

Well...that's what you always brag about, Trampas.

Sure.

Well, there goes my flowers.

Quarter. Quarter.

Gee.

[ chuckles ]

[ bottle smashes ]

What else?

He was very handsome.

Very, very handsome.

And you loved him.

I loved him.

More than you.

I think more than you, Paul.

I think so.

Don't you care?

I got here later, that's all.

[ chuckles ]

Are we lovers now, Paul?

Is that what we are?

What else?

About what?

About Tom.

Tom?

I never said his name, Paul.

I never said his name.

[ chuckles ]

You're just drunk.

I never said his name.

You said Tom Newcome.

You said once you loved him.

You did.

I loved him.

More than me, you said.

Yes.

I guess maybe--

maybe it's because I got so much to...

learn about courtin'... as yet.

Because I'm younger.

Yes.

Are you listening to me, Celia?

Well, listen to me.

Dear Paul--

No. Just listen.

Just listen.

Tom Newcome...

was my father.

##

Tom Newcome's son.

Tom Newcome's son, Celia.

No. No.

No. No. No!

Oh!

[ ringing ]

[ ringing stops ]

##

[ rings once ]

Miss Celia?

What did you do to my father?

I killed him.

I didn't mean to.

I couldn't help myself.

I couldn't say it. I couldn't.

What did he expect me to do?

Stand up in front of all those people--

all those people at the trial--and...

say it.

Tell them...

destroy myself.

Fingers pointing at me.

Schoolteacher with the...

morals of a--

of a--

of a--

I can't say the word.

Oh.

I was with him that night.

That night... a woman was killed.

I--I was with him.

With him.

Because...

I loved him.

And he loved me.

He...

said he loved me.

We were together.

We were together, so someone else killed that woman.

Not Tom.

And I had to say it was not so because--

because what they would have done to me--

the people of the town--

laugh at me,

point at me.

That's why I had to say...

Tom was not with me.

Don't you see?

I am a woman who...

teaches children.

And therefore...

I am not to be touched.

##

What you said about my father was wrong.

Paul!

Paul!

SHERIFF: Boy?

Where you going, boy?

I heard the school bell ringin'.

What are you doin' here?

I asked you a question.

What are you doin' here?

I was goin' into town, Sheriff.

And I guess finally I was gonna get to you.

Why were you gonna do that?

To tell you he's Tom Newcome's son.

To tell you Tom was with the schoolteacher

when that woman was killed.

Is it true?She said it's true.

Yes!

Miss Celia... you perjured and you lied.

And a man's dead because of it.

You caused that hangin' and you made me a part of it.

PAUL: [ cocks gun ] That's right, Sheriff.

And you were part of it.

Put that gun down, Paul.

Once you saw me shoot, Virginian.

Tell the sheriff how good I shoot.

Put it down, Paul.

No, I can't do that.

All right, boy. You got a gun in your hand.

Now say your piece.

There ain't much to say.

A woman lied, and my father hanged for it.

Now, let me tell you what's going on in my mind, Sheriff.

I can't kill a woman.

And I can't kill the whole town who hanged him.

But I gotta do something.

I'm the son of my father,

and I have got to do something!

You mean me.

It's you standin' there,

and lookin' at you, and you're the man who jailed him.

And you're the man who marched him up them steps,

and you're the man who set spring to that trap!

You're the man who killed my father.

I'm gonna kill you, Sheriff.

So, you bite your lip, or do whatever you gotta do

just before you die.

- Paul, listen to me. - About what?

What's gonna happen after you kill him?

A dead sheriff is all I care about.

A dead man because my father's dead.

You pull that trigger, it's gonna be me and you, Paul.

And maybe you'll make out fine, Virginian.

And even that don't matter much.

Look, I'm not saying somebody shouldn't suffer

for what's happened--

the man who did the murder your father died for.

What man? Who was he, Virginian? You? Him?

Now nobody will ever know.

A cowpoke on a Saturday night binge,

or a saddle bum passing through, or whoever.

Nobody'll ever know.

But you gotta believe it, boy.

I didn't know a lie was being made.

I just didn't know.

Now there's no way I can undo it.

Are you crawlin' a little bit, Sheriff?

I don't want to die, if that's what you're asking me.

All of us are guilty, Paul. Even me.

For not sayin' loud enough what I believed.

There wasn't enough evidence against your father.

But he is dead!

Because a town and a time had such fury.

They didn't give him a chance...

like you're doing.

Like you're doing, Paul.

Like you've already done...

to her. To Celia.

Makin' her love you and then shamin' her.

Think of the dyin' she's gonna do...

knowin' what she's done.

And the sheriff.

And me.

All of us.

##

And now everybody's had his say.

Your way is better, Virginian.

You got a lot of dyin' to do...

for a long time.

All of you.

[ music swells ]

Now it don't ache so much.

Now it's done.

We were havin' a Saturday night.