Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

Hey! That's my bonnet.

I won it fair and square.

Is that what that is?

No wonder old Sal here

kicked up such a fuss when I put it on her head.

You did what?

'Course it did cramp her ears a bit.

Oh, now look what you done.

Oh, it wouldn't have fit you anyhow.

Payday high jinks. They'll be taking off for town soon.

Figure on joining 'em?

I reckon you made a mistake.

No mistake, Niles.

I put you on full-time pay when you filled in that week when Red was laid up.

An extra hand doing full-time hands' work

gets full-time pay around here.

Much obliged.

Where did you learn to break horses, Niles?

I didn't know there was anything about it needed learning.

Would you be interested in signing on steady?

New string of horses due in a week or so.

I could use you, at full pay.

Be here if I can.

All right.

JENNIFER: Niles.

Miss Jennifer.I just wanted to thank you for...

Uh,

that's for my sister.

JENNIFER: I didn't know you had a sister. How old is she?

She's very young.

Oh, well, Betsy left all kinds of things lying around the house.

Books and dolls and dresses and things.No, thank you.

But they're not doing anyone any good here.

Don't trouble yourself, Miss Jennifer.

It's no trouble at all. I'll just run on up to the house--

I'm afraid I can't, Miss Jennifer.

If there's, uh, nothing else...

No. I just wanted to thank you

for spotting that stone in Calico's shoe.

If it hadn't been for you,

I'm sure she would've turned up lame.

Ma'am.

Well, you'd think that a little girl who hadn't seen her big brother

in over a month would be expecting something.

Well, I didn't mean to make him angry.

I don't think it was anger.

Pride, maybe. Prime case of it.

Or something worse.

♪ Butterfly

♪ Has wings of gold

♪ Moth has wings of flame ♪

♪ Inchworm's got no wings at all ♪

♪ But he gets there just the same ♪

♪ Butterfly flits up and down ♪

♪ The moth flies around and around ♪

♪ Inchworm just goes straight ahead ♪

♪ And stays close to the ground ♪

♪ Butterfly needs warm sunshine ♪

♪ The moth needs candlelight ♪

♪ But the inchworm needs no light at all ♪

♪ He can travel by day or night ♪

[ hoof beats ]

Well, I guess this here is about as far as we go.

How do you feel, boy?

Like somebody drove in a horseshoe nail.

[ chuckles ] Well, you ain't far wrong.

We stopping because of me?

Well, you ain't in much condition to ride, are you?

I can ride.

Well, it wouldn't do no good no how.

By this time, they got them passes closed up so tight

a flea couldn't get through.

No, I figure there's only one way to move from here.

Stash the money,

turn around and go back.Back?

Last place they'd look.They'll spot us.

Hey, boy,

what makes you think I was talking about you?

That's what they're looking for, ain't it?

Two men, one of 'em

with a bullet in his belly?

I was talking about me.What about me?

Well, I don't know about you, boy.

I never figured you to be so stupid.

Stupid?

Well, that's what it was--

just plain stupid, stopping a bullet like that.

Could've happened to you.Yeah, but...

it happened to you.

Well, I figure they never got a look at our faces

back there at the bank.

One man my himself ought to be able to move around pretty free.

Take a job tending bar

or riding stock till things ease up some.

It'd be the easiest thing in the world

to pick up the money and move off for parts unknown.

Could leave you here for them to find,

but that'd just mean a rope for you anyhow.

And a man can do an awful lot of talking

on his way to getting hung.

[ shot fires ]

Marcy?

Marcy.

Niles.

[ chuckling ]

Niles!

Mm! I forgot your face!

Well, you take a good look at it so you'll remember it.

You been a good girl?

Don't go away anymore.

Did you miss me that much?

I'm scared when you're gone.

There's nothing to be scared of.

He'll come back.Who?

That man.

What man?

The man in the picture.

Honey...

Honey,

pictures can't hurt you.

MARCY: He scared me bad.

Well, it's all right. I'm here now.

Come on. Let's go up to the house.

Come on.

Laura.

Pa.

Glad to have you back, son.

You look fit.Well, I feel fit.

I've been calling you, girl.She's here now.

Supper will be ready.

Why don't you go on

and help your ma with supper?

Go on.

Well,

how are things at Shiloh?

All right. They set me to breaking horses.

You always had a way with horses.

What's that?It's my pay.

Hadn't you ought to keep some for yourself?

Nothing I need.

Well, I, uh, guess I'll go in and wash up.

See you at supper.

Yeah.

Hmm.

MAN: Do you think they're still in the area?

Yeah, I'd bet on it.

One of them's got a bullet in him.

What's the next move?

Well, Jennings and I are gonna ride out and warn the ranches.

Sooner or later, they've got to make a break for it.

Well, be careful. They've already killed one man.

Two.

The bank teller died during the night.

We'll get 'em.

[ giggling ] It turns!

Well, sure it turns.

It's a windmill. It's supposed to turn.

Here.

Now, you hold it like this

and blow real hard.

Go ahead. There you did it.

Did you see me do it?I sure did.

Hey, you're getting to be a real expert at it.

MARCY: Can I keep it, Pa?

PA: It's all yours.

Can I show it to Niles?Sure, you can.

Is that what you're teaching her?

You hadn't ought to take on so.

Child gets little enough as it is.

She isn't a child.

You know what I mean.

She's near a woman now.

She ought to be doing a woman's work.

You know she can't.

She's got to learn.

How? By you scaring her half to death?

Do you think I like her hating me?

Running when she sees me?

She's my daughter too.

I didn't mean that.

No.

You didn't mean it.Mary,

don't you think we ought to talk some about Marcy?

We've been through it too many times.

Nothing we say changes anything.

She is what she is.

Is it so bad?

A girl...

ought to grow up into a woman.

Get married.

Have her own children.

That's all the life there is for a woman.

You tell me how much of that Marcy's going to have!

It could've been worse.

How?

She could've been born dead instead of...

instead of slow.

At least it would've been over.

So now that's said too.

You have no call to look superior.

She's your shame too.

Afternoon, Sheriff.Hear you're heading out for the Tait place.

That's right.You know the Taits?

I know the son. He worked here for us as an extra hand.

He's good with horses. We've got a new string due in tomorrow,

sooner than we expected, so I'm going out to get him.

Oh. Do you mind if I come along?

Help yourself. Trouble?

No, I'm just notifying the ranches about those two men on the loose.

Well, I could tell the Taits.

Well, I think it's about time I meet 'em for myself.

You gave me a good reason. How many are there?

Uh, I think a mother and father

and, uh... oh, yeah, a sister."Sister"?

Little bit of a thing.Never heard mention of a sister.

Neither had I till Niles brought it up.

I guess we'd better get started.

I'm glad I caught you.

Where do you think you're going?With you.

All right.

"M,"

"A,"

"R,"

"C," "Y."

There. Just like you showed me.

I practiced every day while you were away, Niles.

Every day I practiced just so's you'd be proud of me.

I am proud of you, honey.

"Marcy."

Niles, how does that say "Marcy"?

That spells "Marcy."

You see, these are letters,

and they spell out your name.

If you know enough letters,

you can spell anything.

That book I gave you-- it was a whole story

made out of letters.

I wanted you to study the letters, honey,

not get frightened of the picture.

That man scared me.

I know.

Come on.

You want to see me write my name?

Mm!

Oh, I didn't mean to stop you.

That's all right. I was finished anyway.

You go ahead and practice, honey.

She was lost without you.

Was she?

She kept looking for you every day.

Just couldn't get it through her head that you were away.

She knew I'd be back.

Yeah.

I guess she did.

Can't say the same for myself.

I know it's... ain't easy on a young fellow.

Is it easy for anybody?

No, I guess not. Take your ma. She...

Me, I can stand it.

I guess it's how you feel about it that matters.

As long as I'm alive, Niles,

she'll have a place to stay and someone to look after her.

And after that?You're her brother.

She doesn't have you, she's got nothing.And what have I got?

You?

You've already lived your life, Pa. When do I start living mine?

[ hoof beats ]

Marcy, get up in the hay loft. Stay hidden till I call you.

Go on, do what he says, honey. Go on.

Now, you hear me? You don't come down till I call. Understand?

Niles, this is Sheriff Emmett Ryker.

My father and my mother.

Ma'am.Hello.

THE VIRGINIAN: Nice little place you've got here.

NILES: What was it you wanted?

THE VIRGINIAN: I want to talk to you. Ryker's got his own business.

You came a long way just to talk.

I figure you're worth it to Shiloh.

We want you to go back to work for us.

String of horses I told you about has gotten in earlier than expected.

All right.

Mr. Tait, we're alerting all the ranches in this area.

A bank in Medicine Bow was robbed.

We tracked the outlaws as far as Frying Pan Creek, and we lost them.

I was thinking maybe they might be holed up around here somewhere.

We ain't seen 'em.

Well, you be careful. They're dangerous.

They killed two men already.

Thanks for the warning.

Well, Emmett, if there's nothing else...

There is something else.

I brought this for your sister.

Is she around?No.

May I leave this for her?She's not here.

It's quite all right, really. No one at Shiloh has any need for it.

Any sweetening left?

Breakfast will be ready.

Fence up near the creek needs fixing.

You ought to eat something.

Not hungry.

It's them people from Shiloh.

Well, likely they've come for Niles.

Niles knows the way by himself.

[ knocking ]

Hello.

May I come in?

I want to apologize for what I did yesterday.

I brought some things for Marcy.

Dolls?

No.

Dresses, books, ribbons.

Would you let me give them to her?

I know how hard this must be for you,

and if you'd rather, I'll just leave them and go.

But I'd like to give them to her myself.

It's no use.

She won't come out for you.

Would you let me try?

I think it would be good for her to talk to another girl.

I think I can help her, Mrs. Tait.

Let her try, Mary.

Mrs. Tait?

You can try.

In the barn.Thank you.

Marcy?

Marcy?

Marcy?

Randy?

I think she's hiding. Play something.

Oh, all right.

♪♪

♪ Oh, the butterfly

♪ Has wings of gold

♪ The moth has wings of flame ♪

♪ The inchworm's got no wings at all ♪

That's enough.

Hello, Marcy.

My name's Jennifer.

I brought some things for you.

I've got a book. Niles gave me one.

There are lots of different books.

This one's an alphabet book.

See? It's got all the letters in it.

Like "A."

"A" is for "apple pie"

and "ant" and "anger" and all kinds of things.

Here's a "B."

Would you like to learn the letters?

Could I?

Of course.

I've got a slate. Niles gave me a slate.

Run and get it. We'll see what we can do.

♪♪

Afternoon, Niles.

[ playing guitar ]

Where's Marcy?

She'll be right back.

Miss Jennifer, I'd appreciate it if you'd leave now.

Why?

You know why.

Because you're ashamed of Marcy?Miss Jennifer...

How long do you think you can keep her hidden, Niles?

I don't think that's any of your business.

Well, somebody has to speak for her. She can't speak for herself.

And you think you can?Yes, I do!

Do you know how old Marcy is? Sixteen years old.

Near 17.

Do you know how old she was before she could dress herself or take care of herself?

When she was five years old,

she nearly lost her foot.

She stepped on a hot coal and didn't know enough to move it.

Eight, ten times, we've tried to start up a new place,

and every time, people would find out about her,

and they'd...

My mother and my father,

me...

Cost us.

Sleep, pain.Niles...

Sixteen years! You saw her

for the first time yesterday, and you're gonna speak for her!

I'm sorry. I feel like a child.

But somebody has to tell you you just can't keep running anymore.

What she needs, she can't get here.

But there are places that she can,

and I hope to have enough money for one soon.

A home? An institution?

Do you know what those places are like?

It's what she needs.

It's what sheneeds?

Or is it what you need for her?

Things can change, Niles.

She can learn to live in this world. Give her a chance.

Nothing changes.

And I don't want to hope anymore.

Niles, did you see what I got?

I got this and this

and this...

Close your eyes.

Go on. Close your eyes.

Okay.

Go on. Open them.

See?

"M,"

"A,"

"R,"

"C," "Y."

"Marcy."

I was mixing up these two letters.

Um...

The "A" and the "R."

This one's an "A"

and this one's an "R."

You're crying.

Uh-uh.

Let's get back to work.

[ shouting, whistling ]

Jason,

I want to see those new men before we put 'em to work.

All you new men signed on today--

Over there pronto. Boss wants a word with you.

These all the new men?

Right.

Just a word before you get to work, men.

Can't hear you back here, mister. Too much noise.

Move in a little closer.

I want a bunch of broke horses, not a bunch of broke cowboys.

These horses are mean and they're new.

Be careful with everything you do with them.

Whoa.

What are you hauling?

Lanterns. I ordered them by catalogue.

Thought I'd pick 'em up myself just to be sure.

You're figuring on doing some reading, huh?

No, they're Japanese lanterns for the barn dance Saturday night.

You figure on coming?

Well, that depends on what we flush out today.

Let me know if you need some men.

All right. Thank you.

Whoa.

Jason.

Makes a man want to dance just looking at 'em.

Don't let me stop you, but you'd better put them in the barn first.

Shall I hang 'em?No, wait till Miss Jennifer gets here.

She'll tell you where they go.

Brody, give us a hand here, will you?

Sure.

Hey, they're mighty pretty. What are they for?

Dance Saturday night.

You ain't figuring on leaving before then, are you?

Me? Mister, I like it here.

I'm gonna stay as long as they let me.

All we got to do is stack 'em.

Hanging 'em's up to Miss Jennifer.

That's fine, honey. Now try the rest.

My name?Mm-hmm.

See if you can remember the letters from the alphabet book.

"T,"

"A," I know.

"I" is next.

And another "T."

T-A-I-T.

Tait.

Now, tell me, honey,

how did you get "Tait" out of that?

"T"...No, honey, that's a "D."

"D," "D."

What you want is "T."

"T." "T."

"T." "T."

And how did you get "I" out of that?

From the book.

That's for "I."

No, honey.That's for "I."

That's this kind of eye.

Look, a finger that you hold straight up and down

that you hold up to your eye is for "I."

See?

Oh.

That's for "I."

Now "T."

What's this?

What's that?

A tree?That's right.

Now, a tree stands for "T."

Now, we'll make the tree stand for "T."

Hmm. That's easy.

Hmm.

"T" for "tree."

"A" I know.

"Finger" is for "I."

And "T" for "tree."

"Tait." Is that right?

Oh, that's beautiful.[ giggles ] I done it.

Young lady, we're going to have to work on your grammar.

What's that?

We'll talk about it when we come to it.

There's all kinds of things you're going to learn.

Like write numbers?That too.

But I was thinking of things that girls do,

like cook and sew and dance.

[ guitar playing ]

You wait right here.

Randy,

could you come in here, please?

Marcy, put down that chalk.

We're going to try something.

You want me to take that stuff...Yes, please.

Come on.

Whoa.This is fine, Randy.

You all right?

Thanks again.

Hello.

Well, how's it going?

Beautifully. She's coming along just fine.

Are you sure you're not biting off more than you can chew?

No, it's just for a couple of hours every day.

I'm enjoying it.All right.

Those two killers are still on the loose.

You'd better keep using Randy to ferry you back and forth.

I will.

Something else?

Yes.

I want to try something, something with Marcy.

No. What you want is impossible.

You don't know what you're saying.

It's what she needs, Mrs. Tait--

to come out of hiding after all these years,

to meet people, a chance to find out what the world is like.

What is the world like to her?

Have you ever given it a chance?

She can do it, Mrs. Tait. I know she can.

Let her try it, Mary. Let her try it.

It's easy enough for you.

Only, somebody's got to say no.

If Niles were here, I know he'd agree with me.

This is a dance, Mrs. Tait--

a place for fun, colored lanterns, costumes.

It's as much a part of a girl's life as hard work.

Let her try it, Mrs. Tait.

It'll be good for her.

It's only a house, Marcy.

It's a little bigger than yours, but it's still a house.

You know Marcy Tait.Miss Marcy.

I'm very pleased to see you again.

The pleasure's mine.

You'll excuse us. Marcy and I are going upstairs.

That wasn't so bad, was it?

Huh-uh.You were just fine.

And now...Miss Jennifer,

I wrote you a note.

Oh, Marcy.

I love you too, Marcy.

We've got work to do now.

We haven't got much time if you want to go to that dance.

[ hoof beats ]

Where is she?

She's upstairs.

What are you gonna do?

I'm gonna take her home.

You gonna try and stop me?

No.

You just don't know what you're doing.

Do you?

[ door closes ]

Miss Marcy.

Miss Marcy.

Niles.

[ dance music playing ]

[ people chattering ]

Hey, ain't that the little dummy?

The Tait kid?

Hey, Billy, can I see you outside just a minute?

Yeah.

[ punches landing ]

Would you like something to eat, Miss Marcy?

Yes.

Please.

[ dish shatters ]

[ screams ]

Come on. It's all right. It's all right.

Come on.

All right, easy.

Real easy up there.

Real easy.

Well, he's been dead I guess since that first day,

the day of the hold-up.

JENNINGS: From that bullet he took trying to escape.

RYKER: He's got two bullets in him.

The bullet that killed him was fired point-blank.

None of us were ever that close.JENNINGS: His partner?

RYKER: He must've carried him here draped over his horse,

and then he just chucked him over.

There's no telling where the killing took place.

Why? Why?

For one thing, the take doubles when the killer doesn't have to split it.

For another, when you're on the run, a man with a bullet in him

can be pretty much of a liability.

We've been looking for two men.

The man we're after's by himself.

We'd better get him to town.

I want to go see her, talk to her.

You'd better not do that.

But something must've happened.

She was ready for it. I know it.

It was a mistake we all made.

I never should've agreed to it.

It's done. It's out of our hands now.

Poor little girl. She was doing so well.

We can't let it all be lost.

I'm afraid it's not up to us.

I was wondering when it would be happening.

That ought to take you almost halfway across the country.

Got it all figured out, huh?

MR. TAIT: Reckon I know what I see with my eyes.

How long you been saving for it, boy?

Long enough.

It's funny how wrong you can be about someone.

Me asking you if there was something you wanted for yourself,

and all the time you were saving your pennies.

If that's so,

is it so hard to understand?

A boy walking away from his responsibility?

No. Maybe not.

What's it like, Pa?

Going with a girl, getting married?

You know. You've been through it. But me,

I went with a girl once, a couple years back.

She took one look at Marcy, and I never saw her again.

You've got yourself a little girl.

In a way, I guess maybe that's what you want.

But I got a millstone, an anchor.

Maybe you ought to ask Ma what she's got.

Ask her why she never had any kids after she had Marcy.

She figures it's in the blood,

and she's always taken the guilt for that.

Maybe that's something you ought to ask yourself.

To me, it makes no difference whichever it is.

I got it in mine too.

Hey, you tell me

how I'll ever dare have kids of my own.

And then tell me how much money I need to run away from that.

Do you suppose she heard?

Is it gonna make any difference now?

[ door opens, shuts ]

They found one of the two men they were looking for.

He's dead. Looks like his partner shot him to death.

Yeah, we've been looking for two men.

All the time, we should've been looking for one.

Ryker knew we took on some new hands with that last string of horses.

He thinks maybe the second fellow was smooth enough

to take on a job here and wait for things to quiet down for him.

Let's go check 'em out.

We did. They all checked out okay except one,

a man with the name of Henry Brodie.

Henry Brodie. The last time I saw him was at the dance.

Well, let's go look him up.

No, they're out now.

Some of your boys said he was out with a crew mending fences along your east line.

Well, let's go look him up.

He's leaving, Mary.

Niles?

I, uh...

It was me that drove him away.

He was bound to go sometime.

You're a good woman, Mary.

Generous.

I reckon that a lot of what's been happening between us

is my fault.

How?

I've been stubborn,

selfish.

Truth is, it hasn't been so bad for me, having a little girl around.

I was wrong.

We've both been wrong in a lot of ways.

Something else needs saying.

Say it.

I never thought...

leastwise, I never let myself think

that you were blaming yourself for what Marcy is.

You needn't.

It's in me,

not you.

My brother's little boy was like that.

I never told you, but... he was like our Marcy.

It makes no difference.

What is, is.

Laying the blame doesn't change anything.

I reckon I've been wrong too.

You?

That dance last night...

She's near 17.

It shouldn't have been her first.

Whatever she is,

she's ours.

We ought to have stood behind her.

Peters, we're looking for Brodie.

Oh, well, when you find him,

I want a word with him myself.Why's that?

He rode out halfway with us and then took off

with all of our provisions.

I had to send Handley back to get some food for the rest of us.

Where'd he leave you?

Just before the ford, headed south.

If he kept on the direction he was going,

he ought to come out around Tait's place.

Let's ride.

Hey.

Sugar.

Sugar?

Well, now, I know you're here someplace.

Same place you was, I guess,

when me and Gully had our little talk.

You probably seen me put that bag away.

You seen that, you can't be too far off.

Well, now, you know, sugar, I got to have that little bag.

Cost me something to get it, and I ain't gonna give it up that easy.

Well, come on out, sugar.

I ain't gonna hurt you.

You can trust me.

Do I look like the kind of a man

that'd hurt a woman?

Now, look here, sugar, I ain't a man that's long on patience.

Now, you can push me just so far, and somebody's gonna get hurt.

All right, all right. [ chuckles ]

Here-Here's what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna... I'm gonna count to five,

and you come out by then,

and I'll give you back your ribbon...

and you give me back my little old bag,

and we'll part friends, all right? Huh?

All right.

One,

two,

three,

four,

five.

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

Niles?

You're going away?That's right.

Well, what about Marcy?

She's gonna have to stay here a while.

When I get enough money, I'll send her to a home.

How can you do that?

Wasn't last night enough for you?

There was a reason for what happened last night.

That man the sheriff is after-- they think they know who he is. Henry Brodie.

Brodie?Yes, you worked with him. Don't you remember?

He was there when Marcy went to pieces. She must've recognized him.

She did mention that some man scared her,

but I thought it was just from a book I gave her.

The cover had a picture

of one man shooting another man on it.

She must've seen Brodie shooting his partner,

and the picture got confused in her mind.

You can imagine what a shock it must've been

when she saw him at the dance.

No, it doesn't make any sense.

If she saw Brodie shoot his partner, he would've killed her too.

Well, ask her. It has to be the answer. She'll tell you. I'm sure.

All right.

Marcy?

Marcy!

Come on.

There you are.

There you are, sugar.

Marcy?

Marcy, answer me.

She's got a place somewhere in here she goes to.

Where?

I don't know.

Marcy!

Where are you?

Aah!

[ shots firing ]

Are you all right?

Brodie!

Niles?

I wanted the money for you so's...

you could go away if you wanted to.

♪♪

[ buggy approaching ]

Ho.

There.

Niles.

Miss Marcy.

I'm pleased to see you.

Hi!

I brought you some more things, Marcy.

That is, if...

They're appreciated.

Oh, I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

No.You're welcome.

If you don't mind,

can I ask what you're going to do now?

Oh, we're gonna stay right here. All of us.

You'll be most welcome.

I just came from town... with Marcy.

We stopped and talked to the schoolteacher.

Marcy's not gonna go to school or anything, but...

the teacher has agreed to come out here two or three times a week

That's wonderful, Niles!

We don't know what she can learn or what she can't,

but, well,

what she can, we'll be grateful for.

What she can't,

we'll just be patient.

♪ Butterfly has wings of gold ♪

♪ Moth has wings of flame ♪

♪ Inchworm's got no wings at all ♪

♪ But he gets there just the same ♪

Where, Randy?

Far as he's got it in him to go.

Ain't nobody can do any better than that, is there?

[ theme music plays ]