Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

♪♪

[ rings ]

Let me have a beer, please.

Make it two.

No, these are mine.

Courtesy of the town.

Thanks.

You, uh... just passin' through?

Any special reason for asking?

No, we just like to know where we stand with strangers.

Yeah, I'm just passin' through.

I'm lookin' for a friend of mine. Maybe you've seen him.

Mister, all cowboys got one face

after ten years on this side of the bar.

What's his name? I'll keep an eye out.

Grainger. Stacy Grainger.

You enjoy your beer, huh?

What was that all about?

A couple of glasses, Tom.

Forget the beer. He'll drink my stuff.

It's a little early.

I don't share this good stuff with just anybody.

Come on over.

Sit down.

Here's to you.

Give me a man who knows how to savor a good liquor.

Heh. Well, what are we celebrating?

We're not.

Then what are we doing?

Heh.

Your friend--

How do you say something like this?

Something like what?

Your friend...

got in a game the other night.

He was a loser.

It happens. Where is he?

Afterward, there was some trouble.

Where is he?

Jail.

Thanks for the whiskey.

I'd take it easy if I were you.

Think there may be trouble?

I think it's trouble when you get up in the morning.

♪♪

Well, that's what he said, all right--

that he was a friend of Grainger's.

Thought you'd want to know.

You thought right.

Sheriff, are you holding Stacy Grainger?

Say who you are.

I work for his grandfather.

Business here?

We have our cattle consigned to the mines for the winter.

We came down to close the deal.

I'm holding him.

What did he do?Shot a man dead.

What, a gunfight?

Robbery.

That's hard to believe.

Mister, we just buried

one of the finest men who ever lived--

a doctor here, the only one in miles.

I don't know how many broken arms he set, babies he delivered.

Hard to believe he's dead? You bet it is.

But it happened.

How?

Well, I'd say the doctor was reluctant

to share his wallet with a fella he'd just met.

Stacy wouldn't kill anyone for money.

He was cleaned out in a poker game.

Everybody in the saloon swore it didn't set good.

He even had words with the doctor

for just lookin' over his shoulder.

You enjoy anyone watchin' you lose?

Then he went to the hotel for a room.

They don't give on credit, no matter who you are.

So, he got a little hotter over that.

He rode out of town. It was raining hard.

He was wet and cold.

He saw Doc Marsh on the road, stopped him.

Any witnesses?

Two men who caught him afterwards.

Can I see him?

Leave your gun.

You don't look so good.

I've had reason to feel better.

You make your deals at the mine?

Good.

I'm glad you're here.

Stacy, what's this all about?

I was riding out to meet you. I heard a shot,

and found a man on the ground.

A couple of other men came by and pulled me in.

Anything else?

As I rode up,

I heard someone running away.

I fired a shot to stop him.

You should've hit him, son.

You should've hit him.

I wasn't trying to hit him.

Anyway, it was too dark.

Not too dark to recognize a man with some money.

I don't have his money.

Figure he threw it away

when he heard someone comin'.

Did you find it?No.

It was pretty wet up there after the rain.

Dried up by now, I expect. We'll find it.

Everybody in the saloon heard the doctor

talk about making collections for that orphanage.

Anybody could've followed him.

You got five minutes.

Well, Stacy, I don't know what this is all about,

but I'm gonna find out. All I need is a little time.

That's the rub.

Your friend here just don't have all that much time.

Who's this?

Name's Randall.

Not much company, but he's the best they could find.

Randall.

Randall-- I've heard that name.

That gallows outside for you?

They're shipping me out to the penitentiary

as soon as the federal marshal shows up.

Claimed I robbed a bank.

No, sir. That gallows out there is for him.

What about a trial?

It's a nervous town. Nervous sheriff.

He's been tried. Tried, convicted, and sentenced.

The party's tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

Just before dawn, when the streets are empty.

Sheriff says a man has the right to die in private.

Well...

don't worry about it, Stacy. I'll get you out.

And if you don't?

Are you plannin' to stay around?

I'll be around.

I got all I can handle here.

Don't want any more trouble.

You want to check and see how I'm fixing this trap, Sheriff?

Later, Ed.

It's gotta be just right.

Very tricky thing.

You don't waste any time, do you?

Can't afford to.Delay it.

Can't do that.

Can't or won't?

Your choice.

Where do I find the judge? No judge.

Well, who sentenced him?

Justice of the Peace.

What are you talkin' about? This was a murder trial.

He's duly authorized.

Where do I find him?

Well, probably in his office.

If he hasn't left for some fishing.

Down on the corner.

He's also the mayor.

♪♪

That fella that just left here--

you really figure he's gonna help you?

He'll be workin' on it.

That's what friends are for, I guess.

But don't count on him doing you any good.

I know towns like this--scared.

Hey, you want to play some cards? Helps pass the time.

I'm not that anxious to see the time pass.

Sorry.

♪♪

You know... I bought this rod

from a man who's supposed to know how to make them.

"Take your time," I said. "Do a good job.

"Give it feel," I said.

Frankly, it doesn't compare with this old piece of bamboo

I've been using for 20 years.

Well, that happens.

It wouldn't bother me so much by itself,

but this was good enough for me

when I couldn't afford anything better.

Now that I can afford the best,

I still can't get what I want.

Do you think there's a lesson there someplace?

Money can't solve every problem.

Ask a fish.

Well... what's your problem?

Sit down, tell me about it.

Thanks.

Well?

I'm a friend of Stacy Grainger's.

I see.

Stacy didn't kill that doctor.

How do you know that?

How do you know one pole would catch more fish than another?

That's a matter of feel.

This is an entirely different situation.

Tell me, how come you didn't wait for the circuit court judge?

Takes time. We're out of the way.

We have to do the best we can.

Why the rush?

Why? This town is growing,

bursting at the seams.

Miners, cattle, and freighters.

Easy money, easy virtue.

Oh, it's an old song, I know.

But when the disease strikes,

when the epidemic comes,

under these conditions, it must be dealt with--

speedily and efficiently.

And fairly?

We were fair. You can believe that.

You've made a mistake.

Heh. Your friend made the mistake.

He didn't kill just some no-account tough.

That would've been bad enough.

No. He killed Dr. John Marsh,

probably the best loved man in this town.

Well, look... I need some time

to get Stacy's grandfather down here.

Sad trip for a family to make.

All I'm asking you to do is delay the hanging.

On what evidence?

Stacy didn't kill that man.

I said, what evidence?

He told me so.

That isn't enough.

It's all I've got.

Oh, Lord. Man, what do you think we are?

We had a trial. It may not be up to your standards--

or mine, either, for that matter--

but it's all the law we have, and it'll have to do.

And I cannot and will not tamper with it.

To do that would bring everything down on our heads.

Well, you say that doctor was murdered.

All right, I realize the killer has to be caught

and brought to trial.

As far as I'm concerned, you haven't done that yet.

So I guess someone else will have to. Excuse me.

♪♪

♪♪

Look, this is important.

They all are, or else they'd have written a letter.

This fella wired his grandfather already.

Was there any answer?

Not yet.

How long does it take to get a message up there?

Oh, well, our problem is them lines.

You see, I send from here to Mason.

Now, a rider takes it overland to Junction Forks.

And they wire it on from there.

How long does that take?

Hmm, can't hardly tell.

Two days, maybe three.

That's the time it takes a man on horseback.

Well, maybe sooner. It's hard to say.

You suppose you could tell me where the late Dr. Marsh lived?

Oh, north of town. Ranch house.

Big corral out in front. You can't miss it.

Thanks.

Here, you got some change co--

You got some cha--

♪♪

[ children laughing and chattering ]

Ha! Ha ha ha!

Oh, children, please. Come on.

Hello.Hello.

You certainly have your hands full.

Oh, yes, but I love it.

Come on, children. On your way into the house.

Get that back room cleaned up.

This is the Marsh place?Yes.

Welcome to the John Marsh Children's Home.

I'm Lucy. Dr. Marsh was my father.

Oh. I--

I heard about your father in town.

I'm very sorry.

Thank you.

Well, is there something that--

I wanted to talk to you for a few minutes.

Of course.

My mother's inside.

I'll join you there.

♪♪

Hello.

Are you a friend of Dr. Marsh's?

I might have been.

I've been waiting for him.

When is he coming back?

Amy.

There's milk and cookies in the kitchen.

Why don't you be monitor today?

Come on!

[ children chattering ]

Mrs. Marsh?Yes.

I met your daughter outside. She said it was all right--

Oh, yes, it's perfectly all right.

My husband always left the door open

for the children-- they're in and out so much.

You're a stranger here.

Yes, ma'am. I'm from Medicine Bow.

Medicine Bow?

The Shiloh ranch.

I'm a friend of Stacy Grainger's.

What do you want with us?

I know your father's death was a terrible shock to you, but--

What do you want?

The truth.

Go away. Please go away and leave us alone.

Stacy didn't kill the doctor.

How do you know that?I know Stacy.

I know my husband is dead.

The evidence as it stands is not enough.

It was for the jury.

They were friends of your husband.

Everybody loved my father.

Not quite everybody.

How dare you put the burden on us?

Stacy will hang unless I can find out

who it was that killed your husband.

I don't really know where to start looking.

But somewhere, somebody had a reason.

If there's anything you can tell me, anything at all...

Do you want to know about my father?

This was my father.

And this.

I keep thinking that he's still out there.

Climbing over the corral fence.

And running across the fields.

Laughing.

You'd better go.

I understand how you feel, and I don't blame you.

But Stacy's a fine man.

He had no reason to kill your husband.

♪♪

He seemed so sure.

There's nothing he can do.

Suppose he is right.

Suppose his friend didn't do it.

There was a fair trial, Lucy.

It could be someone we know.

Couldn't it?

♪♪

Your drinking partner's back.

Whiskey.

The Marshes any help?

The telegraph operator stopped by for a beer,

said you were asking directions.

Hmm. Well...

a lot of people stop by for beer, don't they?

The sign outside says "Saloon".

Even Dr. Marsh?

Well, doctors get thirsty.

Often?

Not often.

But he was here that night?

He was. What does that prove?

Somebody could've followed the doctor.

Who walked out after Dr. Marsh?

Clara, you know I don't remember faces.

Don't want to be a witness to anything if it happens.

That ever win you any medals?

Just a longer life, is all.

The doctor have any enemies?

Probably the best liked man around.

Tell me about his friends.

The whole town.

There isn't time to question the whole town.

Did he say where he was going when he left here?

He said he was gonna stop by Josh Miller's before he started home.

That's the dog-eared place about a mile out of town.

Beer, Tom, and make it big.

Sure is a lot of work for just one second's use.

Take your time.

♪♪

Where's he off to in such a rush?

Chasin' a lost cause.

♪♪

Mr. and Mrs. Miller?So?

I was told Dr. Marsh stopped off here

on the night he was shot.

What's it to you?

It's important.

He was here.

How long did he stay?

A few minutes.

Just long enough to collect his money and run, as usual.

When he put your fee away,

did you see how much he was carrying?

We haven't given him a dollar in a year.

We didn't see him put it away.

What'd he do for his money anyway?

You tell me that. What did he do

but come in here and poke around and then go away

and leave me feelin' just a sick and as weak as ever?

Do you know where he went next?

He might've gone anywhere.

Might even have gone visiting.

Did he say who?

Some pretty girl maybe?

That's just idle talk, mister.

A rumor's only a rumor because a man ain't been caught.

The doctor was a good husband.

And that, mister, was for my benefit.

Nobody said anything.

But if I'd had a decent doctor,

maybe I wouldn't feel so helpless all the time,

gettin' dizzy and all that at the slightest commotion!

I wasn't complainin', Josh.

Oh, I can tell.

You'd rather have the John Trueheart front.

Well, I wouldn't put anything past any member of that crowd of his--

Mayor Sommers, Councilman Lumberfield,

or the sheriff.

What about him?

They may have shown one face to the town maybe,

but I heard things.

They weren't as cozy as all that.

Lumberfield and the doctor-- they had words.

Now, we don't know for sure.

No wonder somebody got shot.

None of them could handle power.

And a man's gotta know how to live with power.

You'll be up there someday, now.

You'll see.

♪♪

Councilman Lumberfield?

That's right.

You know, the ladies will scream for joy

over this new material.

It comes direct from England.

You know why I'm here?

Yes, the whole town knows.

You're wastin' your time.

You knew the doctor?

Yes, I knew him and I liked him.

Ever have any differences?

You have a friend?

You ever have differences?

Heh. What kind of a man was he?

Dr. Marsh was energetic,

he was full of life, and it rubbed off.

He was interested in a lot of things,

and he got you interested, too.

What kind of things?

Oh, the town, the orphanage,

the mines.

Women?

I guess most men sow wild oats

at one time or another. But not Dr. Marsh, no.

How can you be sure?

You been talkin' to the sheriff?

Does the sheriff think Marsh was involved with a woman?

Let me put it this way.

Dr. Marsh was an itch that the sheriff couldn't scratch.

And the rumor was merely a handy weapon.

Why would he need one?

Marsh didn't always agree with the way the sheriff operated.

What's your opinion?

The sheriff's always done his job.

How long has he been the sheriff?

Well, it's been about 15 years now.

Maybe the job's getting a little big for him.

I don't know of anybody else in town who wants it.

Look, what is it you want?

You're a councilman. I want you to get together with the mayor

and arrange a stay of execution.

Give me time to find out who killed the doctor.

We know who killed the doctor.

I told you--the sheriff was doing his job.

Well, he made a mistake this time.

He arrested a suspect, the only suspect.

He was brought to trial, he was found guilty.

You have to live with that.

Stacy Grainger may have to die with it.

♪♪

Hello, Lucy.

Miss Baines.

You got a minute?No, I'm busy.

Look, let me come out there and lend a hand.

I told you before-- it isn't necessary.

Excuse me.

Oh, please--Let go of me.

You'll--You'll be needing money.

Not from you.

Go on, take it. I give a lot to charity.

Will you please get out of my way?

Please, they're babies. They're orphans.

They don't know where it comes from. They don't care.

I care.Oh, Lucy.

All right, so we don't have tea together.

But you need help, and I really have no use for it.

Do you want to really help?

Buy a ticket to someplace far away from here.

But please leave me alone!

♪♪

Some days you can't even give it away.

♪♪

I've had tastier food in worse jails.

Maybe it'll be better at the territorial prison.

You really think I'm just gonna sit here

and wait for that federal marshal to pick me up?

You got any choice?

Everybody has a choice.

That carpenter out there--

He could just throw up any old scaffold,

and it'd do the job.

But he has a way with wood,

and he takes pride in his work,

so he chooses to do the best job he can.

You--

You had a choice about killin' that doctor.

I told you I didn't kill him.

Me--I got a choice about spendin' ten years of my life in prison

for something I didn't do.

No one in jail is very guilty, is he?

Well, I only speak for myself.

But here's how I see it.

You only got one life.

You have the stomach, the brains, you survive.

You quit on it, it quits on you.

You can't sit around waitin' for things to happen.

You gotta make 'em happen.

[ door opens]

Anything?

Nothing solid.

Tell me everything you remember about that night.

Anything that comes into your mind.

I played cards at the saloon.

I was taken like a tenderfoot.

Any complaints?

Yeah, I complained some.

Remind me to talk to you about that.

What else?

Out there in the grove,

after I fired that shot,

a shadow...

a sound.

What kind of sound?

I'm not sure.

A horse?

Whoever it was didn't just walk out there.

No, it wasn't a horse.

A buggy maybe?

Maybe, maybe.

Could the shadow have been a woman?

Why do you ask that?

Idle talk so far.

But it's all I've got to go on.

And a woman would've had a buggy.

It could've been anybody. All I know is that it wasn't me.

It's a hard thing to say to his friend,

but I gotta say it.

You aren't doin' that boy any good,

gettin' him all steamed up.

He's our man. Let him make his peace.

It'll be easier that way,

instead of puttin' false hope in his heart.

All I know is, someone in this town

murdered that doctor,

and it wasn't Stacy Grainger.

You learn something?

I've learned that the doctor

didn't always agree with the way you ran things around here.

I thought that was you comin' out of Lumberfield's store.

I could've saved you the trouble.

No trouble.

All right.

The doctor stuck his nose in once in a while,

and I didn't like it.

Lumberfield told you that.

Nothin' secret about it.

But you can't keep the lid on a town like this

and please everybody.

As far as that goes,

Lumberfield and the doctor didn't see eye to eye

on how much the miners paid for the supplies they got.

The doctor figured that he squeezed them a little.

Maybe he did. He's a businessman.

Profit and loss.

But Dr. Marsh--

he just didn't see things that way.

None of this helps your friend, does it?

I have an idea you know something

about Dr. Marsh and a woman.

I can't guess where you picked that up.

But I don't know anything of the kind.

Stacy saw someone running away.

There was nobody in that grove

but your friend and the doctor.

Witnesses swore to it.

About anything else, I'm just not interested.

We got a victim, and we got a convicted killer.

As far as I'm concerned, this case is shut tight.

I don't suppose you'd object

to my looking over that grove.

Rain washed the ground clean.

There could be something.

Mister, I object, all right.

But I won't stop you.

Matter or fact, take my deputy along,

keep you company in case you do find something.

♪♪

You know, you're not the only one with friends.

I've been expecting mine two, three, days now.

Your friend--

he means well, I guess, but he don't do much.

That's what you were drivin' at with all that talk, huh?

Mine-- they're good friends.

Old friends.

I expect there's nothin' they wouldn't do for me.

♪♪

This is gonna be a waste of time.

Just start lookin'.

For what? What are we lookin' for?

We'll know when we find it.

This is the last place he was alive, you know.

Yes.

I guess I've been here a hundred times.

This never used to be anything but a grove

where I used to try and find shady places

to picnic with my father.

This place--

I can never come here again without remembering.

Can I?

Well, what do you expect to find?

The truth.

Stacy says someone was with your father that night.

They may have left some sign.

He killed my father.

You don't know him. You've never even met.

But I don't want to know him.

If your friend weren't about to die right now,

would you still be here searching for the truth?

Or would you be on your way to another town,

another life?

Lucy, I can't do this alone. There isn't time.

You expect me to help?Yes.

Help me bring back my father.

I can't do that.

He's gone. Nothing can change that.

Hanging an innocent man won't bring him back.

I found this.

Doctor's initials on it.

Full of money.

May I have that?

Sorry, Miss Marsh.

This goes to the sheriff's office first.

LUCY: Go to your friend for the answers.

Ask him to search his conscience...

if he has one.

Ask him why my father died.

I can't help you.

♪♪

Well, now, that should put it to rest for good and all.

As far as I'm concerned, when you found that wallet,

you shut the gate on any doubts I may have had whatsoever.

Your friend was surprised in the act of robbing the doctor,

threw the wallet into the bushes,

where we missed it before.

Suppose robbery wasn't the motive to begin with.

Suppose the doctor was shot for some other reason.

What other reason?

Stacy says he saw someone there,

someone who was running away.

This someone you keep talkin' about--

any idea who he'd be

or why he'd be meeting the doctor?

The good doctor sounds too good to be true.

There's one possible answer to that question.

John Marsh was everything we said he was--

decent, respected, loved.

We do know that had your friend not come to this town,

he'd still be alive. We know that.

You've done your best.

But it's all over.

There's nothing else to talk about.

It isn't over yet.

Well, now you're all here together

and you can get down to business

and decide where you're gonna put the statue for the great man.

I recommend the town square.

He hasn't lost any of his steam, has he?

Given enough time, who knows what he'll dig up?

It'll all be over soon.

Will it?

Just what does that mean?

Just wish he'd stop pushing, that's all.

Well, he won't.

He can't save his friend, but he'll keep trying,

and a lot of folks will get hurt.

What can we do?

Discourage him. Slow him down.

So far, we're in the right.

John Marsh used to say

you could never call anything you did right or wrong

until ten years after you did it

and had a chance to look back and reflect on the results.

♪♪

You had no right to come back.

I had to.

I can't help you. You're wasting your time.

Mrs. Marsh, I'm sure you want to see your husband's killer punished.

And right now,

it looks pretty bad for my friend Stacy.

Lucy told me the deputy found my husband's wallet

where your friend had thrown it.

My friend wouldn't have robbed your husband, Mrs. Marsh.

Someone else was with the doctor, perhaps meeting him.

What are you getting at?

Well, if there was another person,

you'd want to know it, wouldn't you?

What other person?

Everyone has good things about the doctor.

But there is some talk.

Oh.

You're digging under rocks,

looking for a dirty little story.

Why do you say "dirty"?

There are at least a dozen reasons any man might be shot.

Not all of them are dirty.

I can't help you.

Now, will you please leave?

Mrs. Marsh, was your husband seeing another woman?

Leave her alone!

Now, get out of here with your lies and accusations.

You have no right to--

It's all right, Lucy. It's all right.

I've heard the talk.

You've heard?

Yes. But I knew it wasn't true.

My husband and I

were very much in love with each other.

More than even you knew.

He was a very rare and wonderful person.

I didn't want to say anything.

I didn't want to dignify the gossip.

But that's all it was.

Are you sure?

Yes. Yes, I am.

[ door closes ]

The children will want supper, Lucy.

♪♪

Whiskey.

Leave the bottle.

Oh. Good evening, Miss Lucy.

Good evening.

Something I can do for you?

Yes. I'd like to see him.

Stacy Grainger.

I don't think that's such a good idea.

Please?

Lucy...

you can't stay long.

Hello.

You're Lucy Marsh, aren't you?

What is it? What did you come here for?

I'm not sure.

I know it won't do either one of us any good,

but I'd like to tell you that I'm sorry about what happened.

Your friend says you're innocent.

What do you think?

I don't know.

I didn't kill your father.

Did you see anybody run away that night?

I told them everything I know.

♪ When she was a maiden

♪ Oh, then, oh, then

♪ When she was a maiden

♪ Oh, then

♪ As many bright stars

♪ Have appeared in the sky

♪ So many fine lovers were caught by her eye ♪

♪ And she was a beauty

♪ Oh, then, oh, then

♪ And she was a beauty, oh, then ♪

♪ One day she got married

♪ Oh, then, oh, then

♪ One day she got married

♪ Oh, then

♪ She married a fella who traveled a lot ♪

♪ Who courted another and got himself shot ♪

♪ And now she is wiser

♪ Oh, then, oh, then

♪ Now she flirts and she teases ♪

♪ Makes men do as she pleases ♪

♪ She will never get married again ♪

♪ She will never get married again ♪

♪ Again

[ cheering ]

Whew. You still here?

Still here. Have a seat.

What's new?

Well, it seems the good doctor

rubbed a few people the wrong way in this town.

Oh? Like who?

Mr. Miller, the sheriff, Mr. Lumberfield.

You're reaching.

Gotta have a good reason for murder.

What is a good reason for a murder, Clara?

I don't know.

Jealousy?What?

There's talk the doctor had a lady friend.

You're joking.

It's no joke. You want to tell me about it?

Tell you what?

You tried to be nice to Lucy Marsh on the street. She cut you down.

I shouldn't have stopped her in the street like that.

Mrs. Marsh was afraid

Id' come across a dirty little story.

Do you know any stories like that?

Heh. No.

The doctor was here the night he was shot.

The doctor stopped in here to pass a few words

and have a beer, that's all.

Jealous women kill, Clara.

So do jealous men.

And greedy men, and selfish men,

and scared men, and so do hot-headed men like your friend.

You've been askin' a lot of questions. It doesn't matter to you

if you take a good man like the doctor through the mud,

a man people look up to.

'Cause he was something special.

I'd be proud to say I was his girl.

I'd shout it from the rooftops.

If he even looked at me,

I wanted it printed in every paper in the world.

You wouldn't have to pull it out of me.

You'd better get out of here.

You're givin' this place a bad name.

♪♪

The rule is only one visitor at a time.

Who else is--Lucy Marsh.

Give us five minutes.

All right. Five minutes for both of you,

and that's all.

What are you doing here?

You said I didn't know him.

Now you do?

No, but...

we've talked and--

and I want to believe him.

Something else brought you here.

What do you want of me?

The name of your father's killer.

I'm sorry for you.

I wish there was something I could do.

You can help us. I know you can.

I can't break my mother's heart.

I don't even know if this means anything.

Tell us what you know before it's too late.

One night...

my father went out without his hat.

It was raining.

I didn't want him to catch cold,

so I went after him.

I saw them.

I saw them together...

in that grove.

Who?

My father.

Clara Baines.

♪♪

What do you figure all that's about?

I'm not sure.

Maybe there's a chance.

I told you, we make our own chances in this life.

You know, it occurs to me that once the coop is open,

all the birds could fly out for the same price.

I've grown kind of partial to your company.

I could put a word in with my friends.

You'll never make it.

We'll make it.

Thank you for wanting to help.

We don't need your kind around here, mister.

You and your friend don't deserve to walk among decent folk.

When you see any, let me know. I'll ask them.

♪♪

Is he all right?

He's still breathin'.

Looks like whoever did it got away.

I'd better have a look, though.

Take him someplace.

It'd be a good thing for all

if he slept till it was over in the morning.

[ whistles ]

[ whistles ]

They're all here.

What about it, Grainger? You comin'?

Runnin' sure beats swingin'.

Him, too.

Hold it!

How'd you know?

My deputy's been keeping his eyes open.

Good thing you weren't with 'em.

Doesn't look like it makes much difference, does it?

♪♪

[ piano music playing ]

Ooh.

Oh.

I see you're up.

I didn't think you had the strength.

You sure got a tiger by the tail.

How long was I out?

Almost for good.

Who made the party?

Couple of public spirited citizens.

Well, I didn't think you were gonna have

anything more to do with me.

Somebody had to pick up the pieces.

Know who did it?

Couldn't be sure.

I thought I saw 'em coming out of Lumberfield's.

Why him, I wonder?

I haven't been too popular around here.

And I know why.Heh.

So, what else is new?

No.

This time I'm sure.

It was you, wasn't it, Clara?

Again?

Someone saw you together.

Not that night. Before.

Who?

Lucy Marsh.

You and the doctor had been seeing each other.

Some of the people here in town suspected it,

but Lucy knew it for sure.

She didn't say anything

because she wanted to protect her mother.

When the doctor was killed,

they genuinely believed that Stacy did it.

They still do.

They didn't want me nosing around,

finding out that you and the doctor had been keeping company.

That's what Lucy thinks?

That her father and me--

Yes. That's why she snubbed you on the street.

Stacy's gonna hang in a few hours, Clara.

Yeah, there's trouble all over.

Your conscience must be eating you alive.

[ laughs ]

Conscience? Me? In my business,

a conscience isn't a necessary part of the equipment.

You've already killed one man. Isn't that enough?

Who'd believe that?

Let's find out.

Wait.

All right. I've always played the cards the way they were dealt.

So far, I've managed to stay alive.

So far.

I'd like to keep it that way.

I used to know the doctor...

a long time ago.

When I hit town,

I didn't know he was living here.

I bumped into him one day.

We started seeing each other.

But it bothered him.

He said he loved his wife.

And his daughter.

He wanted to break it off,

but I wouldn't let him.

He came to the saloon that night...

and asked me to meet him later.

I did.

He offered me money.

I threw it in the brush.

I had a gun.

I said I'd kill myself.

[ laughs ] Isn't that a laugh?

I got a business, a couple of dollars,

a chance to be clean for the first time.

Kill myself--me.

After what I'd done all these years

to stay alive.

He should've known I'd never do it.

Well...

anyway, he...

tried to stop me.

The gun went off.

It was an accident. I swear it.

Is that all, Clara?

That's the way it happened.

The problem is to show strength,

swift justice.

Like a big sign across the road--

"Mind your ways when you walk in here, mister,

"because we'll send you out feet first if you don't,

and we'll do it fast."

Well, I guess we'll just have to say

it was an unfortunate accident.

A misunderstanding.

We never thought that Clara...

I've got an errand to do.

When I get back, you have Stacy out of that jail cell.

♪♪

[ knock on door ]

Oh. What happened?

Stacy Grainger's obliged to pay for his own mistakes.

No one else is.

This won't be easy, but you'll hear about it soon enough.

You found out something.All of it.

What is it?

Everybody's been trying to protect something--

themselves or each other or the doctor.

I've been trying to protect a friend.

We know that.

Lucy, Stacy Grainger didn't shoot your father.

It was Clara Baines.

Clara?

But why would she--

I think you know that, Mrs. Marsh.

Oh, Mama.

I didn't want you to find out.

I saw them together--

Daddy and that woman.

Lucy, you don't understand.

How did it happen?

Well, they quarreled.

She had a gun, they struggled, and it went off.

She claims it was an accident.

It looks like they believe her.

Did she say how they happened to be together?

She didn't have to say. It's plain enough.

Your father did nothing wrong. Neither did Clara.

She killed my father! It's all her fault!

Oh, no, Lucy.

It was my fault.

All mine.

Because I'm shallow

and barren...

and I've never been able to face life honestly.

But I don't understand.

I don't know Clara.

I've never talked to her.

But I think I understand what she's trying to do.

She would rather have you believe a lie about your father

than to find out the truth about yourself.

What truth?

Oh. I forced your father

to tell Clara to leave town.

He didn't want to,

but I forced him.

To protect your marriage.

In a way.

Your father and I had wanted a family so very much.

We waited and hoped for a long time

before I became pregnant.

And we were so happy.

We made plans, all sorts of plans.

And then I lost my baby.

A little girl.

I wanted to die, too.

But your father wouldn't let me.

He made me live again

and hope again.

I couldn't have any more children.

But one day,

he told me he had attended a young woman

who had a beautiful little baby girl.

She couldn't keep her.

She was alone, she had no money,

and she offered us her child.

It was Clara Baines?

Yes.

And when she came here,

she said all she wanted was to...

be near you.

To see you and to talk to you sometimes.

I didn't know what to do.

I was afraid that you'd find out,

that I might lose you somehow.

Your father wanted to tell you the truth.

But I wouldn't let him.

I was afraid.

He wasn't my father.

And it's not--Oh, Lucy.

We couldn't have loved or cared for you more

if you were our own.

Please believe that.

Why are you telling me this now?

Because I want you to know

that your father was everything you thought he was.

You doubted that...

for good reason, I suppose.

But he was a remarkable man,

a fine man.

I couldn't let you think less of him.

Or Clara.

She didn't kill him.

It was my fear that killed him.

I'm--

I'm sorry I had to do this.

I'm sorry about the way it happened.

Well, your friend is innocent.

He'll be free soon.

But I want you to understand

that I didn't know that John was meeting Clara that night.

I had no reason to imagine that she'd kill him.

I believe you.

♪♪

Stace, I'll be right back.

Clara?

Oh, excuse me.

Hey, do me a favor and move on.

I got a live one here that's been pushin' me to sell him the saloon,

and I don't want to spoil the sale

by being caught with a couple of criminal types.

[ laughs ] Have you met Stacy Grainger?

Oh. I don't believe I've had the pleasure.

You know, I don't think I could've done it.

What's that?

Let you hang.

What are you gonna do with yourself?

Well...

I've been here almost a year.

That's enough, huh?

There's places to see. Now I'll have the cash.

Clara, Lucy knows you're her mother.

Mrs. Marsh told her.

Listen, you think they'd take--

I mean, I'm gonna make a bundle.

That orphans' home sure could use the money.

I could leave it with the mayor in an envelope.

You don't have to run, Clara.

Get lost, will you? You're killin' the deal.

Well, what do you say?

How long does it take you to buy a saloon?

♪♪

You all right?

I think I could use a change of scene.

[ laughs ]

I'm so glad I caught you before you left.

I wanted to thank you.

I might never have known the truth about my father.

I'd have gone on thinking that he deceived us

about the kind of person he was.

I want the town to know

that he was all they thought he was in the first place.

That's what they need--

to know that there still can be people like my father in this world.

Well, I'm glad you see it that way.

We want to invite her to supper.

Do you think she'll come?

I'd say there's a pretty good chance.

♪♪

Well, Stace, we got a clear road north to Medicine Bow--

no towns, no people, absolutely nothing out there

to give anybody any trouble.

Do you think we can make it home in one piece?

I'm game if you are.

[ theme music playing ]