Original subtitles

DAISY: Doesn't seem to have changed any for the better.

JESS: That's the trouble with forest fires, Daisy.

They never get any way but worse.

Thanks, Mike.

How long are you gonna stay at Mr. Carlson's, Jess?

I don't know. As long as it takes, I reckon.

Oh, that poor man.

He's worked so hard and so long.

I don't think I've ever seen anyone

who's so determined to succeed.

Now everything could be wiped out with this fire.

It could, but he'll fight for every blade of grass,

I'll tell you that.

He's a mighty stubborn man, Daisy.

That's why I'm in a hurry to get to him.

You mean you think he might stay too long

fighting the fire if it reaches him?

Maybe.

He don't know what it means to quit.

Jess, I hope you do.

You know I do, Daisy.

I'll help him all I can, but I'm not about to let him get barbecued

out of stubbornness. So long.

See you, Mike.

[ horse whinnying ]

We're getting a break, Pa.

The wind's blowing to the south.

Yeah, but she can change again.

I feel better when we get all this cleared away.

[ horse approaching ]

Jess, it's good to see you.

It's good to see you, Lars.

I saw the smoke from over at our place.

When it started coming this way,

I thought maybe you could use some help.

We're all right for now. I only hope our luck holds.

Look, why don't you give me an axe and a shovel and let me pitch in around here?

If that wind changes, you're not gonna want all that brush over by the barn.

Look, there is something that you can do for me.

And it's more, much more than shovel and axe work.

You name it.

Come, you had the long ride.

We talk inside, huh?

Come in, Jess.

Hey, what's happened here?

This place looks like it's had a woman's touch.

Oh, not yet.

But soon, very soon.

It's easier to talk over a glass of cider.

Tell me, Lars, when did you develop this case of petticoat fever?

Oh, it's no fever.

Ever since Garth's mother died five years ago,

this house is a lonely place for me.

Skoal.

Sit down, Jess.

What about your son?

But he is not my son, he is hers.

He gives me obedience, but no respect.

He says what he has to and nothing more.

I think maybe with a woman in the house, it would help.

You old rascal, you.

I didn't know you were seeing anybody.

No, not seeing, writing.

Sarah Deaks and I write to one another

for more than six months now.

You mean you've never laid eyes on this Sarah?

I don't have to.

Everything is in her letters.

Well, how'd you get in touch with her?

I saw her letter in the St. Louis newspaper.

Sarah says she wants to meet a widow,

that she knows farm life and old country ways

from her mother and father,

and she is good church-going woman.

And so I answer right away.

And she write back

and we have a lot to write to one another about.

And, Jess, Sarah arrives today from Philadelphia.

In three hours, she gets off the stagecoach here in Laramie.

Then you better get going.

No.

That's what I want you to do for me.

Now let me get this straight.

You want me to pick her up?

Yes. See, I cannot leave here now, not with the fire so close.

Well, I can stay here until you get back.

No, there is more.

I don't want her to come here now, not with the fire.

The first time Sarah sees the place,

I want everything to be nice.

There should be nothing that would upset her.

I understand.

What do you expect me to do with her?

Get her the best room in the hotel.

See that she wants for nothing

and then when this is over,

then I will come for her.

If that's the way you want it, Lars.

It is, my friend, it is.

I better get going.

Wait a minute.

You forgot to tell me, when is the wedding?

Oh, Jess, you go too fast.

Oh, first Sarah comes here, and we see one another,

and we talk, and then after a while,

if we both agree, then we marry.

I see.

Oh, Lars, do you have a picture of her or something,

anything that I could know her by?

No, nothing. But you would know her in a crowd.

She is so high, her hair is the color of honey,

her skin is like the first milk,

her eyes are as blue as--

She wrote you all this?

Oh, no.

No, she's too modest, but a man can read

between the lines.

Well, how old is she?

Uh, she was widowed when she was 25,

and that was eight years ago.

Well, that oughta be enough to go on.

Oh, there is something.

She will wear a hat with feathers.

She wrote that in the last letter.

JESS: Wind must be blowing this way again.

I can feel the heat from here.

Whoa!

Miss Sarah Deaks?

Yes.

I'm Jess Harper. Lars asked me to meet you.

Is he all right?

Well, there is nothing wrong.

He just couldn't leave the farm, not for a while anyway.

I don't understand.

Well, he asked me to get you settled here in town

till he can come fetch you himself.

I've come a long way, he should have--

should have been here.

Mr. Harper, something's wrong.

You're keeping something from me.

There's a fire in the hills, ma'am,

and he doesn't want you out there till it's over.

Oh, that's ridiculous.

Not if you've ever seen a mountain fire.

Besides, he wants the place all clean and neat

as a pin first time you see it.

You think that makes any difference?

If there is trouble, my place is with Lars,

the way it'll be later.

I'm just telling you how he feels about it, ma'am.

Mr. Harper, would you take me to him?

Lars has pretty positive ideas about things.

So have I.

If you don't take me I'll--

I'll get there one way or another.

Yes, ma'am, I reckon you would.

What else did Lars say about me?

Oh, just that you were widowed like he is,

that you knew some about farming.

What's his son like?

You mean his stepson?

Yes, of course.

Well, you'll find out in a while.

What kind of a farm did you live on?

What kind?

Yeah, what'd you grow?

Oh, wheat mostly.

No cotton?

Uh, some. Mm-hmm.

Where'd you say this farm was?

Uh, Vermont.

What kind of stock?

Stock?

Oh, uh, mostly pigs.

What about chickens? Guernseys, Herefords or Jerseys?

Yeah, some of each.

Hyah! Giddyup!

Now before you get down,

suppose you tell me who you really are.

The fire, you think it will come this far?

Never mind that, just answer my question.

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

Don't you?

Is this your idea of a joke?

Sarah Deaks or whatever your name is,

cotton doesn't grow in Vermont.

And Jerseys and Herefords aren't chickens, they're cows.

Obviously, you've never been on a farm before.

Now why don't you tell me what you are up to?

All right.

I'm a fraud, but not the way you think.

I mean--

LARS: Valkommen, min kare.

I know you've every right to tell him

but please wait, just a little while.

Valkommen, min kare.

Welcome. Welcome.

Thank you, Lars.

I tried to explain it to her, Lars,

but she insisted on coming out.

You do not say enough about yourself in your letters.

Not nearly enough.

Yes?

I agree with you there.

You must be Garth.

Oh, yes.

This is my son Garth.

How do you do?

Forgive my poor manners.

This does not happen every day, you know.

Maybe she'd like to rest up, Pa.

She must be tired.

Oh, yes, yes.

And, Sarah, you must promise

not to look at the house too close.

If I know you come, there would be flowers.

You have a lovely place here.

Oh, well, most days you can see for miles,

but the smoke from the fire makes everything seem...

d-dirty.

I explained it to her, Lars.

She understands.

Oh, good, good.

Well, then we go indoors.

And you will stay for dinner.

We will make this a special occasion.

Shall we?

Hey, just in time, Mike.

The wind changed again, didn't it?

Yeah.

If it holds this way, that fire will come right through this basin.

Carlson's place will be the first to get it.

But that's where Jess is.

I know. I want you to do like I told you.

You go home and get busy, stay that way.

And don't worry so much.

That was Ma's deathbed.

If you get married, Pa will move in here.

We've been sleeping in the next room.

I hope we will marry, Garth.

Would be a nice change having someone young around here.

It could work out

you'd appreciate having me around.

Well, after all, the old man's twice your age.

You'll run out of things to talk about, I know.

I hope not.

You are not exactly what he figured on.

You know, old country ways, looks to match.

I guess he got more than he bargained for.

I'm tired, Garth.

I'd like to lie down.

You asking me to go?

Please.

You know, it'd be kind of nice having a stepmother around,

so close to my own age.

Please go.

Sure.

Just remember, don't count on marrying Pa

unless you got me on your side.

We'll have that to talk about, won't we?

Well, Garth, how do you like Sarah's cooking, huh?

I like it just fine, Pa.

Just fine.

But now it's time for a toast.

This is first time since my wife died

that we used these dishes

that I bring from old country.

Sarah, I hope from now on, we use them together.

Thank you, Lars.

And, everyone.

No, no.

Garth will take care of this for tonight.

Sure, Pa.

I keep forgetting she's a guest.

Not one of the family.

Sarah, after you leave Philadelphia, three weeks passed

and no letter, and then from Kansas City,

I get your telegram.

You spend some time there, huh?

Yes.

I stayed with friends.

Oh, you did not tell me you have friends there.

Pa, there's hot ashes falling near the barn!

The fire will ruin everything.

Sarah, don't you worry, it will be all right.

They can take care of themselves. I want to talk to you.

But I want to help, I want to do what I can.

That man out there is my friend.

Now I can't cover up for you any longer.

I want the truth, now.

You can call me Zoe Carter, that's my real name.

He was right about Kansas City.

Sarah didn't have any friends there.

And you knew her?

By accident.

I met her there at the hospital.

She was taken off the train with pneumonia.

You a nurse?

Take a good look, Mr. Harper.

Are these the hands or face of a nurse?

I hustle drinks for a living, I'm a dancehall hostess.

What about Sarah Deaks?

She died two days after we met.

See, I was on the next bed getting over a beating.

Well, you healed pretty quick.

Oh, you have to in my business.

Before Sarah died, we got to be real close friends.

She showed me her letters from Lars,

and told me about how she was on her way out here.

So you just took her place, just like that?

No, not just like that.

I was the only one at her funeral.

I must have stood there over an hour.

I realized that Sarah wanted what I wanted.

A chance to make a new life for herself, a decent life.

Well, there's a difference.

Sarah had a decent life before.

That's just why I needed it more than she did.

You can get sick and disgusted

living in dancehalls and saloons,

getting pawed over for a drink.

Sometimes it gets so you...

don't want to wake up again, ever.

This is my chance.

Don't you see, maybe my last chance.

Lars needs a wife, I need a chance to go on living,

a reason for living.

Is that so wrong? Is that so wicked?

I didn't say that.

There's Lars to think of.

Well, it isn't one-sided.

I have a need in me to care for someone

and make that person happy.

Someone that much older than you?

Older, wiser, kinder, what's the difference

as long as you can help each other?

I don't pretend love but...

maybe even that would come in time.

After the men you've known,

Lars might seem old-fashioned, maybe even dull.

I've known the worst.

I was even gonna marry one till he went to prison.

I'm not looking for excitement,

I just want quiet contentment...

to know I won't wake up wishing I was dead.

I'm on your side, Zoe.

But even if it does work out,

he's got to know sooner or later.

He will, when the time comes.

When will that be?

When he makes up his mind, for himself, I'll tell him.

Give me that much time, please.

All right.

I just hope we won't both be sorry for this.

Don't count on it.

I was wondering how come you didn't help out,

since you were so eager to stand by Pa's side

at the first sign of trouble.

It's my fault, I asked her to stay.

She can speak for herself.

She did plenty of talking this morning

when she was acting too good for me.

That's a laugh, ain't it?

A dancehall tramp too good for me.

Let her alone, Garth.

Don't, Jess, make it any worse.

That's right, it's gonna be worse, a lot worse,

because you're gonna pack your things and get out of here

before Pa throws you out.

Why are you so anxious to have her leave?

She's no good, that's why.

Why, because she won't let you touch her?

Because she lied her way in here!

That's just part of it.

What do you mean, Jess?

He's afraid of losing this place.

If Lars marries you, it's yours.

Garth, you're wrong.

I don't want to take anything from you.

No one like you is gonna cheat me out of anything.

Not after what I heard.

[ bell ringing ]

You better get some water.

You'll be smart to get out now, take the wagon and go.

Oh.

[ horses neighing ]

Go on! Hey! Giddup!

Here, fetch it!

[ horse neighing ]

Lars, you all right?

Yeah, thank you, thank you, Jess.

Get them all watered,

stay out until the ashes stop falling.

You got to do better than that to get me!

Sarah.

Ah.

Jess.

It'll be all right for now.

The wind won't change again till morning.

Ah, good.

You feel better, min kare?

Mm-hmm.

Now you know why I want you to stay in Laramie.

- [ giggles ] - I'm sorry this happened.

If you want, Pa, I can take her back there.

She ain't doing any good around here anyway.

Garth, you will apologize to Sarah.

You...

think you got one coming?

He means...

I lied to you, Lars.

I'm not Sarah Deaks.

She died in a hospital in Kansas City of pneumonia.

I took her place.

Don't you understand?

I'm a cheat, fraud, dancehall girl.

Don't let her fool you, Pa.

She's only telling you because she knew I would.

What is your real name?

Zoe Carter.

Can't you see? She's no good.

He knew about it too, they were gonna keep it to themselves.

Be quiet, boy.

First time I see her, I know she is not my Sarah.

You knew all the time?

When I say, "Valkommen, min kare,"

I see she does not understand.

My Sarah would.

And Sarah promised the first thing

she cook for me would be Janssons frestelse,

not meat stew.

But if you knew, why'd you let her

make a fool out of you?

Nobody make a fool of Lars.

I wait.

I wait to find out about her for myself.

What's left to know?

Why such a woman would travel such a great distance

to share life with a man twice her age.

The place, Pa, the farm, everything you own.

Yeah, maybe, maybe not.

Jess, you would know about that.

If I thought she was after your money, Lars,

I'd have told you before.

What does it matter what he believes?

The damage is done.

Is that all you wish me to know?

No.

Don't blame Mr. Harper for this.

I asked him for time, and he gave it to me.

He felt sorry for me.

It wasn't out of pity, Lars.

Zoe thought she could make a new life for herself.

She thought she could make you happy.

And I believe she can.

If you were a friend of Pa's, you wouldn't keep it from him.

You do not insult my friends, not in my house.

She lies to you, he covers up for her,

and I try to tell you the truth.

So that makes him your friend and I'm your enemy?

Wake up, Pa, before it's too late!

I do not need your advice, boy.

Sure, she's young and good to look at,

but she's poison for you, Pa.

Pure poison.

I'll go pack.

Not unless you wish it.

You're asking me to stay?

That is up to you.

You do much to save the barn, I'm grateful for that.

Not much of a reason.

It is enough for now.

What happens after the gratitude wears out?

Maybe I ask you to go.

Doesn't seem to make much point in staying.

It is a place to stay, to rest, you would be fed,

but you will work for what you get.

And pretty soon, I know whether you can ever take my Sarah's place.

If you decide to go, Zoe, I'll take you back.

I thank you for everything, Mr. Harper.

But I've come too far to just turn around and go back.

Whoa.

Which of these roads leads to the Carlson place?

One straight ahead.

Where the smoke's coming from?

There's a fire up in the hills,

been burning for three days now.

Well, how closer to the farm?

Too close, that's why I'm bringing this water wagon in.

What about mine?

It ain't fit for pigs.

Pigs have better manners.

You eat it.

Now!

[ sighs ]

You can stop running now, Zoe.

Everything is gonna be all right.

No, Hank, please.

You don't sound like the same girl who said,

"I'll wait for you, Hank.

Even if it takes ten years, I'll wait."

I-- I wrote to you in prison, I told you it was no good.

I tore it up.

The only thing that counts is what's between you and me

when we're together.

Like when I left, like right now.

Don't worry about the old man, he won't give us any trouble.

How do you know about him?

Well, the first thing I did

when I got out of prison was look you up.

Your friend Clara at the dancehall told me

how you planned on throwing your life away

on some old coot out here.

I don't even know if he wants me.

Well, as long as I want you, what he wants don't matter,

so we won't go into that. Now get your things together.

Can't you see it doesn't make any difference

between us whether I stay here or not?

You and I are through.

You and I will never be through.

No, Hank.

I'm not going back to saloons and boardinghouses

and hiding you out whenever you get into trouble.

Why, you must be kidding yourself.

We're two of a kind, you'll never change,

I'll never change.

You don't fit in here.

If you stayed, you'd probably run out on the old man

and more than likely crawl for me to take you back.

I told you Lars has nothing to do with it.

I never again want you or your kind of life.

Sure, honey.

Now you just keep right on

trying to convince yourself of that,

and when you're all through,

remember what we've been to each other.

And just so you won't forget.

[ gasps ]

Is that the man you were telling me about?

Hank Emory, just got out of prison.

Maybe she didn't tell you enough.

That's all I need to know.

What about the old man? Does he know?

No, and he ain't gonna know, not from you anyway.

Well, don't count on it, unless she leaves with me.

You're the only one that's going, mister.

Now.

But no man ever called me

unless he was willing to back it up with his hide

and I don't figure you for that unless...

unless you're more interested in Zoe than I thought.

Are you going or not?

Sure, sure, why not?

When Zoe comes to her senses, I won't be too far away.

Hank, I'll use it. I swear I will.

All right, Zoe, I'll go.

But I'll be back.

And when I do, I'm gonna tell the old man

how it was between us.

LARS: The old man don't want to hear.

You go now, mister, or I use this.

You owe it to yourself to hear it, Pa,

find out what she's really like.

Garth is right.

You want to know about me, he's an expert on the subject.

No. What's past is past.

You'd like it to be,

but there are some things that don't end.

Do they, Zoe?

And there are some things you can't fight,

even with that thing.

Like how a man your age

expects to hold a healthy woman like Zoe.

She's used to being gentled, you got hands like corded wood.

- Lars! - Ah!

You got something that belongs to me, Zoe.

Be seeing you.

I'm sorry this had to happen, Lars.

Even if you don't see him again?

Especially if I don't see him again.

Well, don't just stand.

Jess bring the water wagon a long way,

there's a lot of work to do.

Jess, you hear anything about the fire?

Yeah, it's burning out of control, Lars.

It gets this far, we've got to stop it.

Yeah, well, she don't get past here.

I'll stay and wet down the roof.

You're a good friend.

If this gets any worse, you'd be better off in town

or at the ranch where I work.

I've been burned before.

Keep it coming.

[ gunshots ]

[ Zoe screams ]

Jess, are you all right?

Yeah, get in the house!

[ gunshot ]

[ horses approaching ]

Ho! Hold.

How bad is it?

Bullet went through.

Mostly torn flesh.

Jess, I go get that crazy killer.

Take it easy.

Just 'cause he only winged me doesn't mean he can't improve his aim.

Here, hold this real tight.

- Little too tight? - It's fine.

- You did a good job. - [ sighs ]

Thanks.

I have plenty of experience patching up Hank.

He's no good.

I'm to blame, just as if I held the gun.

Nobody's blaming you for what he did.

I knew he'd cause trouble if I didn't go with him.

I reckon we all did.

It's too late to change that now.

He can be deadly with a gun.

He went to prison over a gunfight.

He won't stop till I give in.

Then somebody has to stop him.

No, I won't be responsible for anyone else getting hurt

because of me.

I should have gone away with him before.

Look, giving up out of fear is no reason.

Maybe so, but the longer I stay here

the more trouble I'll cause.

I have no right to do that to you or Lars.

Zoe, you came a long way and you took a big chance.

Don't throw it away, huh?

No. It's time I admitted it was a mistake.

Lars doesn't want me.

He was the one who asked you to stay.

That's because he's kind and decent,

but we're worlds apart.

It's time I went back where I belong.

You do, and you'll regret it the rest of your life.

I know what I am.

I was wrong trying to deceive myself I was something else.

You're whatever you want to be, you're more than that.

You'd make any man proud to have you for his wife.

Jess, you really believe that?

Why don't you stay and find out?

Oh, Jess.

Now maybe you get the idea, Pa.

He'd like her to stay because he wants her for himself.

That's a filthy lie and you know it.

You're a fine one to talk.

First your boyfriend and now him.

You were my friend, Jess.

And because I still am,

you shouldn't be thinking what you are.

Don't let him put a lie on your mind, Lars.

I don't listen to him, I see with my own eyes.

And just what did they see?

I don't want to talk about that.

You saw two people,

two friends reaching out toward each other.

I needed strength and comfort.

That's all Jess offered.

If we waited a couple more minutes,

she wouldn't be talking so innocent now.

How'd you like to make a meal out of your own teeth?

Stop it, both of you!

There's nothing left to fight about, it's all finished.

Listen to me, Lars.

Just before you came in, Zoe said she wanted to leave,

so nobody else would get hurt on her account.

I bet you talked her into staying though.

I told you to stay out of this!

No, Jess, no more trouble, please.

I'm just trying to make him see what a mistake he's making.

The mistake is already made.

- Lars. - Let him go.

Better this way.

All right, if that's the way you want it.

It's what everybody wants,

including your gun-happy friend.

When I was out looking for him,

I found every water barrel smashed.

You stay around here much longer,

there won't be anything left of this place.

Sorry, Zoe, I guess I didn't help things out much.

You helped me make up my mind. I'll be leaving.

You better stay the night here.

I'll come back in the morning with a buckboard

and take you into Laramie.

Jess, you can stop feeling sorry for me.

I'm a big girl, I can always go back to what I was doing before.

I'd hate to see you do that.

Well, beggars can't be choosers.

I'll always think of this as a happy memory.

Chance where I got to breathe some air

and wash some dirt off.

Best of all, I-- I got to meet you.

Good night, Zoe.

It's leapfrogged right in front of us.

We better go back, we'll never get through.

We'll try that way.

There's a steep cliff over there that--

- It's too steep for the horses. - We'll try it anyway.

- Oh, please, Hank. - We're not going back!

[ horse neighing ]

He's not gonna change my mind either.

Lars would have been here,

but I made him go back and watch the place.

You saved his life, friend.

He wants you back, Zoe, he needs you.

The old man don't talk so good.

He reads even worse. I saw the letter Zoe left him.

He meant what he said, Zoe.

Lars wants to spend the rest of his life with you.

All right, you delivered the message.

Now turn your horse around and keep going, hmm?

When she tells me to.

Well, I've had a belly full of you, friend.

Now you clear out or fill your hand.

Please, Jess, go, do what he says.

Because you want it that way or he does?

- It doesn't matter. - I don't believe that.

Then you better draw...

now.

Ah!

I didn't know he meant that much to you.

He doesn't, but he'd be alive if it wasn't for me.

When are you gonna stop blaming yourself for everything?

He wasn't gonna let you stay,

and he wasn't gonna let you go back.

You can't stop a man like that with talk.

Should I be happy about it, Jess?

All right, he was just another gunman,

you did what you had to do.

But maybe I'm just bad luck.

Maybe I always have been for everybody.

[ horse approaching ]

So it is done.

Who's watching the place?

That is not important now, Jess.

I could not stay not knowing.

I'm sorry I-- I had to come.

Zoe, you know why I am here.

It is proper that I ask you myself.

Please, Lars, don't say any more.

Jess didn't tell you?

Yes.

Well, what is it then, min kare?

You shouldn't call me that.

Oh, you cannot forgive Lars for what he has done.

Forgive you?

If anyone needs forgiveness, it's me.

And I don't deserve it.

Please, Zoe, no more tears.

I know women cry and sometimes it helps,

but you cry for the wrong thing.

You have never done anything except--

Except to cheat and lie and...

start with a lie I never stopped.

No, I started to say you have never done anything

except bring a little sunshine

in the life of a clumsy old farmer

with dirty hands and not much brains.

Zoe, please stay.

Please become my wife.

My land, my house, they are empty without you.

Lars.

We go home?

Oh, Lars, I'm so sorry.

I hoped it might not happen.

I came after you to offer you a home,

but now I have nothing to offer.

You might have saved it if you'd have stayed to fight it, Lars.

Perhaps, I do not know.

But when I asked myself which is of greater importance,

Zoe or the farm...

then I know it is nothing without her.

You did that for me?

Yes, for you, or for us, I thought.

Do you still want me?

You know the answer to that, min kare.

I already accepted, Lars.

But even if there is nothing but our clothes on our backs,

and the few dollars I saved in the bank?

At least nobody can say I married you for your money.

DAISY: Oh, my.

"Damage from the blaze has been estimated at $10,000.

Credit for checking the flames

goes to a number of local ranchers

who fought for three days

before bringing the fire under control."

Hey, that's us. We're the local ranchers.

Hey, girl, what are you doing, huh?

Hey, Mike, your popcorn's on fire!

Gee, Slim, I'm sorry.

Well, it's sure a good thing you weren't on that fire line.

The whole Wyoming territory would have gone up in smoke.