All language subtitles for The Virginian - 07x09 - The Storm Gate

[ Birds Chirping ]

[ Yawns ]

♪♪ [ Whistling ]

Hold it
right where you are!

♪♪ [ Whistling Continues ]

Morning.

You're on private
property, mister.

If you ain't here on business,
you're trespassing.

Well, maybe
I'm here on business.

- Tell me what business.
- Well, uh,
tell me who's asking.

My name is Hudson.
I'm foreman of this ranch.

I got orders to stop everyone.
That's who's asking.

Orders from,
uh, Jason Crowder?

You know Jason Crowder?

Yeah. That's who
I'm planning to see.

Well, you just now
had a big change in plans.

[ Gun Cocks ]What the devil
is this all about?

It's all about you getting
down off that horse...

and being very slow
about it.Why?

To keep on living a little
bit longer, if that's what
you got a mind to do.

Now look, I don't know
who you think I am,
but-- Hey!

Now wait a minute.
Now wait a minute.

Now you had no call
to do something like that!

Look, I told you--

[ Groans ]

[ Hammer Cocks ]

[ Gasping ]Now look, son,

[ Gasping ]

It's a very nice spring day,
and I never did like
killing people.

So, come on.
Get on that horse of yours
and ride out of here,

back where
you come from,

or any other place
on God's green earth
except here.

Now if you ever
show your face
in this town again...

or try to contact
Jason Crowder again,

you'll be dead so fast
somebody will have to
remind you to lay down.

Now git.

Can I help you
with something, mister?

Yeah, you the sheriff?No, no.
Jabez Cole's the sheriff.

But he ain't due back
in town for a couple of weeks
yet. What'd you want him for?

You know the Crowder Ranch
east of here?

Jason Crowder's?
Yeah, yeah, sure.Yeah.

Well, there's something
wrong out there.What's wrong?

I don't know. All I know
is I went out there,
and two men jumped me.

One of 'em said
he was the foreman
and ran me off.

They said
they had orders.Orders? From Mr. Crowder?

That's what I asked.
And I got a gun barrel
in my stomach for an answer.

- You do know Jason Crowder?
- Everybody knows him.
You know him?

Yeah. We were friends
when we were kids.
You know his foreman?

- Yeah. Name's Hudson.
- What does he look like?

Mmm. Look like?
Well, now let me see.

[ Chuckles ]
He looks like that fellow
right there would look...

if the fellow next to him
looked like Jason Crowder.

- Jason!
- That's the man, Mr. Crowder.
You better light out fast.

Come on!Hah!

Jason!

All right,
get those hands up
and get 'em up high.

Hold it, Hudson.
This isn't Lueders.

Great jumping jackrabbits!

And may I be shriveled
on the spot if we don't
have here big as life...

and twice as crusty,
my childhood partner
in perfidy, T-R-ampas!

[ Both Yelling, Laughing ]

[ Jason ]
You old son of a gun!

Boy, am I glad to see you
before your foreman put
a hole in me and shot me dead.

Mistook you for somebody else--
somebody who's out
gunning for me.

Gunning for you?Talk about yourself.

What are you doing here?
What twister blew the likes of
you into River Oaks, Nebraska?

I came looking for you.[ Both Laughing ]

You couldn't have come
at a better time, right?

Hey, you all right,
Mr. Crowder?

Oh, fine, Sam.
Just fine.

Fine, everybody.

Here's your hat, mister.Thank you.

Seeing all you, uh,
good folks up at the house
tonight, aren't I?

The missus is expecting you,
so don't go disappointing her,

on account of
she's a buzz saw when
she doesn't get her way.

We'll all be there.
Don't worry, Mr. Crowder.Thank you.

Well, where's your horse?

He's over there
by the sheriff's.
Over there.

Get it for him, Hudson.

Go on, Hudson.
Nobody's looking.

And it'll show Trampas
you're not mad at him anymore.

Hey, did I hear you
say missus?

Yeah. I'm, uh, almost afraid
to introduce her to you.

Sweet-talking, lady-killing
lounge lizard like you.

Sweet-talking? Me?
You could talk a pailful
of milk out of a cow...

without even laying
a finger on her.

- Comes from Pappy
being a preacher.
- [ Laughs ]

Here's your horse.

[ Coughs ]
Yeah, thanks.

[ Jason, Trampas Laughing ]

Look at this land, Trampas.
Look at it.

God made it, they say,
and doubtless he did.

Doubtless.
But he must have done it
in bad humor then,

because as an example
of his handiwork,
it shows a cussedness...

that ain't exactly
complimentary
to the Almighty.

Why?
It looks good to me. And it could be.

By all that's powerful
but for this river here.

God might have made the land,
but the devil made this river.

Come the spring of the year
and she swells,

and she overflows,
and then she rampages.

And by the time she's
settled back in her banks,

another inch of topsoil's
headed downstream
for the Missouri.

"Erosion"-- that's what
it's called. Erosion!

- Which is why I'm here.
- What's why you're here?

These are fine folk,
Trampas.

And this land
is rich in potential.

All they gotta do is to find
a way to keep their topsoil
from getting away from them,

and they've not
only got themselves
rich ground for growing,

but they got themselves
a river at their doorstep to
float their produce to market.

- And I'm gonna do it for them.
- What are you gonna do?

I'm gonna build 'em...
a dam.

Come on.

Whoo.

I don't know, Jason.
I feel like I ought
to use the back door.

[ Chuckles ]
Let's use the front.

All right. [ Horse Approaching ]

Ah, not a word.

Oh, lady love,
take a breath.
Take your time.

Start guessing.
How many do you want?
Three? 300?

It doesn't matter. You'll never
in a year or a dozen of them
guess who this is...

standing right here
before you.

Then spare me, Jason.It's...

Trampas!

Trampas?

Well, I thought you were someone
that Jason just made up.
But you are real.

And all those stories about when
the two of you were little boys
actually happened?

Yes, ma'am, I'm real,
but I can't swear to
the stories though.

Mighty glad to meet you,
Mrs. Crowder.

Oh, call her Anne.

Yes, please call me Anne.

You, uh-- You staying here?

Well, it's, uh, kind of you
to ask, ma'am, but, uh--Of course he's staying with us.

Well, maybe
a day or two.Yeah, and maybe longer.

You know,
I'm no big believer
in providence,

but you dropping in like this,
out of the sky,
out of the past,

well, it's got my mind
going helter for skelter.

I got something to show you.
Come in with me.

Something to do with
what we were talking about.

You better get busy, pet.
The good folks of River Oaks
are coming out in force tonight.

Yes, Jason.

And, uh, I must get a room
ready for you too, mustn't I?

[ People Chattering ] ♪♪ [ Orchestra: Classical ]

[ Jason ]
Study it well, my friend.

A piece of engineering
well beyond its time.

Solid masonry, arch design,

the finest
structural steel made,

the newest cement
strong enough to hold back
the seven seas.

Inside of one year,

this land along the river
will be as rich for planting
as the hills of heaven itself.

You're gonna build this?

Just as soon as
the good people of this town
say to me, "Jason, it's a deal."

That's what this, uh,
party is for tonight.

There are still a few laggards
among the city fathers.

But I'm hoping to soften
them up with honeyed words
and spiked punch.

[ Chuckles ]
Well, Jason, where'd you
learn how to do all this?

My boy, you are presently
in the company of...

Jason Crowder, Esq.,

graduate of
the Boston School
of Engineering.

Well, by golly, Jason,
you've-- you've come a long way.

It ain't no place
to where I'm goin', boy.

Jollify, Trampas.
Circulate. Enjoy yourself.
Make yourself at home.

There are a scattering
of daughters here...

who wouldn't complain
at a smile or two from you.

Excuse me, darling,

but, uh, there are some
guests out there that
would like to see you.

I guess I feel
a little out of place,

looking like a cowboy
who's waiting to go
on a roundup.

Nonsense. Forget how
you're dressed. Nobody else
is going to notice it.

Go on. Enjoy yourself.

You are
a beautiful woman.

You're living in the dark ages,
Ed. You can't stand
in the way of progress.

Gentlemen,
you know my wife.

Mrs. Crowder.Sam.

Ma'am.Oh, excuse me.

Mrs. Kedison.

Excuse me.

[ Chattering, Laughing ]

Come on. Let's take
a look at the study.

Ah, just because
he can build a toy
out of boxwood and paper...

don't mean he can build
a real dam out of stone.

Well, I guess it proves
that he knows what he's
talking about, doesn't it?

Look at all the land
that has to be deeded
over for it.

Here, here,

and now look, over in here,
this is good growing land
already without--

without no dam.Yeah.

What about all this land here
that you can't even grow
a radish on now?

There's 10 times as much.

Ain't it worth it
to lose a few acres here
and save the whole valley?

Hmm. I guess so.
It's just-- I think that--

Well, I see you stumbled
on my model, gentlemen.

I was, uh, showing it
to my friend but forgot
to hide it away again.

I, uh, didn't intend
to show it to you people
until a meeting tomorrow,

but I, uh-- I reckon
no harm's been done.

Do you have
any questions, Edgar?

Well, Mr. Crowder,
you know, the dam is nice--

Well, that's what
the meeting's for tomorrow--

to, uh, answer questions
and clear up any confusions.

Tonight's for jollification.
Come on now.

There are a few ladies out there
getting a mite restive
looking at each other.

[ All Chuckling ]

♪♪ [ Continues ]

Thank you.
I would like
a little more.

It was very kind of you
to ask.

[ Chattering, Laughing ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

[ Chattering Continues,
Muffled ]

Thank you.

Well, Trampas,
has he changed much...

in all the years
since you've seen him?

No, he's the same
old Jason.

He gets an idea in his head
to do something, well, he won't
quit till he gets her done.

And he won't let anything
get in the way of getting
it done.

You know, he's never told me
about when he was a boy,

his parents
or any of those things.

Well, his pappy, he, uh--
He was a preacher.

And, uh, they were poor.

I reckon they were
the poorest folks in town.

But, uh,

well, that, uh--
that part sure has changed.

[ Sighs ]
My husband has many faults,

but, uh, he stands acquitted
of the charge of modesty.

Well, I guess when you've been
poor all your life and you
suddenly strike it rich,

it's, uh-- it's kind of
like a dam bustin'.

What an appropriate
expression to use.

Do you know how you prevent
a dam from busting, Trampas?

How's that, ma'am?

You keep a little trickle
going all the time.

Uh--Ah. Here are the two
runaways now.

[ Chuckles ]
I was, uh, getting
ready to organize a posse.

Trampas, figure on coming
to the council meeting
with me tomorrow.

There'll be a decision
on the dam,

and I want you to share
a moment of triumph
with your old partner.

You going to
the meeting too, ma'am?

No, I, um-- I never go
to those meetings.

I-- I just stay right here
and keep the dam from busting.

Well, you know how it is
with the ladies, Trampas.

God bless them.
Business bores them.

They appreciate what money
buys them, but they can't be
bothered with how it's made.

That's right.Well, come on now.
Let's, uh--

Let's have a drink and, uh,
talk about old times, huh?

Oh, right after I get rid
of all those hayseeds in there.

You go on ahead.
I'll wait for you out here.

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

[ Man ]
Hey, Jason!

Brought it, hey?Ah, gentlemen.

Mr. Crowder.

Ah, present, youngster.
What's the word?

Says there's a letter come in
for you on the morning stage.
Says it's urgent.

Well, who says?Over to the hotel,
the postmaster.

He wouldn't give it to me.
Said it's got to be handed
over to you in person.

All right.
Thank you, lad.

Step in and convene.
I'll, uh, join you in a moment.

Come on.

[ Man ]
Stop right there, Crowder!

Tell your man
to drop his gun now,
or he gets it first, then you!

Obey him, Hudson.
Go on.

Uh, let's talk, Lueders.

No, thanks.
I've heard your talk before.
Now I want to see you shoot.

I'm not a gunfighter.

Look, what happened,
I'll make it up to you!

- Uh, let's just talk, Lueders.
- I'm doin' my talking
with this!

And you better get ready
to do the same!

I'm gonna put it away,
count to three,
then I'm gonna draw.

Hey, mister! Hey, why don't
we, uh, calm down here
and find out what--

- Now you stop!
- Now look. I got my hands
up in the air.

I just wanna--

You all right?
Are you hit?

Nope.

[ All Chattering ]

Here, wait a minute.
Let me see that. Give it here.How bad is it?

Well, there ain't nobody gonna
complain about your shooting,
mister, except maybe him.

Is there a doctor
in this town?Uh-huh.

Is he the fellow that
was gunning for you?

That's the one.

Get him
over to the hotel.
Call Doc Heller.

Tell him I'll take care
of all the bills.

I want him to get
the best care he can get
in this town.

[ Chattering ]

Mr. Crowder, I think
maybe we better postpone
that meeting till Monday.

No, no. I'm fine.
I'm just fine.

That don't make no difference.
Some of the rest of us
may be not so fine.

Mr. Burmeister,
now the longer we delay,

the closer those
spring rains are
to washing River Oaks...

another couple of miles
closer to
the Missouri River.

Well, Monday ain't that
far away, Mr. Crowder.

I figured maybe
I can get Ed Wood and some
of those other foot-draggers...

to come around to our way
of thinking by that time, huh?

I bow to your superior wisdom
and experience in these matters,
Mr. Burmeister.

Monday it is then.Well, all right.
Till Monday.

Well, here's for
saving my life...

and for steadying
my nerves too.

You know, just between
you and me and the woodwork,

I'm not heartbroken
old Burmeister decided
to cancel the meeting.

Gunplay doesn't
set well with me.

Me either, Jason.

Now tell me. Why was
he gunning for you?

I did.You mean
that's all of it?

Just a jealous husband?

"All of it"? My boy,
you surprise me.
"All of it"?

You have no idea
what passions that kind
of thing arouses in a man...

when he feels he's been,
well, deceived.

This one,
this poor fool Lueders,
fool that he was,

he worked for me
on a construction job.

His wife,
lovely young thing,

used to bring him
his midday meal.

We became acquainted.
He became wildly jealous.

His work deteriorated,
and I fired him.

Then she ran away from him
at the very time I'd completed
my part in the project.

Now the conclusion
he inescapably leapt to...

was that we had fled
the scene together.

There you have the tale,
Trampas.

Unadorned, undecorated,
in all of its mere,
bare ugliness.

And you didn't
run off together?

Where I ran, Trampas,
was to St. Louis, Missouri,

where my fiancée,
the beautiful and talented
Miss Anne Delafield,

was waiting to join me
at the altar.

All right?

Because if it is,

I'd like to press on
to more stimulating
and rewarding matters.

Namely these--

- come and work for me.
- As what?

Sit down. Sit down.

We'll think up
a gaudy title later.What do you want me to do?

A spread this size,
there's got to be something.

Now look, Jason, just because
I managed to wing this fellow
before he blew a hole in you--

Oh, now, Trampas,
that'd be a measly reason.

No, I've had this stumblin'
and grabbin' ahold of things
inside the old noggin...

ever since you
came dropping down out
of the big blue yesterday.

I'm heading for the moon,

and there's no one else
I'd rather have along
for the trip.

[ Chuckles ]

Well, that's mighty kind of you,
Jason, but, uh, what's my job?

I can't quit Shiloh
without knowing what
I'm supposed to do.

Would you turn down foreman?

Foreman?
Of this spread?

Yeah, Hudson's
itching to move on.

He's said so
more than twice now.

And, uh, I've been
keeping him here with
sweet talk and cajolery.

And when a man's got
the wanderings, you can't
hold on to him for long.

I'd be shy a foreman,
and if you had a hanker
for the job, it's yours.

Whew! Well, by golly.

I guess I'd, uh--

I guess I'd have to
at least think about it
for a while.

Excuse me, darling,
but, uh, if you and Mr. Trampas
would like to have dinner now--

My lady love.

I'm putting you to work
for your country.

Tomorrow, take this
stubborn cowboy out and
beat the boundaries with him.

I want you to show him
this ranch...

top to bottom,
front to back
and side to side.

And maybe he won't
be so long
in making up his mind.

Will you do that
for me?

Well, I'd be delighted
if Mr. Trampas would.

[ Clears Throat ]
Well, I'm sure glad
I need all this persuading.

Good.
Then let's go to dinner.

Well, this where Jason's
gonna build the dam?

I don't know.
I never asked.

Are you gonna work for him?

Uh, I don't know.

- That's how most people end up.
- Working for Jason?

Until they're no more
use to him.

Well, I'm no use to him
to begin with.

Everybody's
some use to him...
to begin with.

[ Thunderclap ]

Well, we better head back
before this storm breaks.

[ Thunder Rumbling ]Just a spring shower.

[ Chuckles ]
Well, they can
get you wet too.

Well, then we'll take shelter
for a while until it's over.

You're the boss, ma'am.

Oh, no.
Jason's the boss.

I'm just working for him
like everybody else.

[ Thunderclaps ]

[ Whinnies ]Whoa. Whoa.

Go on in there, Buck.
Go on. Go on in there.

Now there's a spring shower
that's got a little too big for
its britches, don't you think?

It won't last long.I don't know.

I've listened to a lot
of rainstorms in my time.

[ Thunder Rumbling ]This one sounds like
an all-nighter.

You know,
they never got much silver
out of these hills,

but they certainly dug
some splendid mines,
don't you think?

Look, dry as a bone
in here.

I think we ought
to make a run for it
while it's still light.

Isn't that--
That's wood back there.
Why don't we make a fire?

Jason's gonna get worried
if we don't get back
before dark,

especially in weather
like this.

The horses could never
keep their footing.
The ground's too wet now.

We'd have to keep 'em
at a walk, that's for sure.

That'd take us almost
three hours from here.

I know 'cause
I had to do it once.

We would make it by nightfall.Yeah, if we made it at all.

What is it, Trampas?

Are you, uh, afraid
to stay here with me,
just the two of us?

Fear wasn't what was
going through my mind.

Well, then, why don't you see
if you can build us a fire
so I can get dry.

'Cause I certainly don't
want to walk back to the ranch
in weather like this.

[ Thunderclap ]

All right, ma'am.

[ Thunderclap ]

What wasgoing through
your mind, Trampas?

I said, what was
going through your mind?

[ Thunderclap ]

[ Knocking ] [ Thunder Rumbling ]

[ Knocking ]

See them anywhere?

One of the men did,
earlier this afternoon.

They were heading for
the old Wolverine workings.

They, uh--
They could be sheltering there
until the storm blows over.

Which is what any person or
persons in their right minds...

would do in weather like this,
wouldn't you say so?

Oh, yes, sir. Yes, sir.

I could get out a search party
now if you want me to. No.

You go on to bed, Hudson.

All right, Mr. Crowder.

Now you turn me out now
if you need me.

I will, thank you.

Good night, Hudson.

Good night, sir.

[ Thunderclap ]

Don't worry.
The dam's holding.

Can I--

Can I ask you something?

Well, there really isn't
anything else to do until
the rain stops, is there?

What do you want to know?

What did you mean
when you said everybody
ended up working for Jason?

Well, I think I said
most people.

All right. Most people.

I didn't mean
anything against him.

It's just... his personality.
It's so strong.

Even-- Even the people
that he goes to work for
end up working for him.

And most of the time
they don't even know it...
until afterwards.

Then it's too late,
isn't it?

I'm not sure I understand
what you're talking about.

I'm not sure that's not best.

Well, he's telling
the truth, isn't he?

I mean, he means
what he says about building
them the dam, doesn't he?

Yes, he means it.

Jason always means
what he says.

He's done it before then?

- Done what before?
- What he's doing now.

Yes. He's doing what
he's done before.

[ Thunderclap ]Why do I get
the feeling that...

you don't somehow
like any of this?

I like everything Jason does.

Even the things that
he and I used to do...

there isn't
much time for anymore.

Why ever did you
think otherwise?

I mean, you, uh--

You sound sort of bitter
when you talk about
Jason and his work.

Then you're a bad judge
of relationships, Mr. Trampas.

'Cause without Jason,
I'm nothing.
Absolutely nothing.

I have complete faith in him
and complete loyalty to him.

Whatever he does,
whatever he wants to do--

he can count on me
for complete assistance.

Not that Jason needs any help
from anybody to get where
he's going.

Where is he going?

Wherever he wants to go.

Well-- [ Thunderclap ]

now I think it's time
to get a little sleep.

You're right.
It does sound like
an all-night rain.

[ Thunder Rumbling ]

[ Thunderclap ]

I'll tell you what was going
through my mind now,

if you still want to know.

But it's too late now,
isn't it?

Jason's here now.

Well, good morning.

Well, we were just turning out
a dozen hands and horses.

Well, we were of a few minds
as to whether to call it
a search party or a posse.

Your good name
is unsmirched, darling.
Trampas is the soul of honor.

We spent the night
in the old Wolverine Mine
and we, uh, talked only of you.

Well, in that case, I suggest
you get yourselves dried off
and changed...

while I order up
a few breakfasts.

Well, I'm sorry for
your discomfort, Trampas,
but, uh,

the same rain that soaked you
penetrated to some of the
bone-dry brains in this area,

and I think we'll get
a unanimous decision
for the dam.

Now all that's needed
for me is a large
"Yes, sir" from you...

on the subject of taking over
the duties of foreman of this
far-flung establishment.

Excuse me
I'll go change.Of course.

[ Door Opens ]Well, do I hear it?

[ Door Closes ]

Not yet.Not yet?

What's needed to get an answer
out of you, Trampas?

Well, like I said before,
Jason, just a little time.

Even if I do say yes,
I still got to get back
to Shiloh.

Telegraph them.
There's a place in town.

Well, I-- Come on, Trampas.

Now you saved my life
in River Oaks
day before yesterday,

and you probably
saved Anne's life
last night in the storm.

Now don't you think you owe me
something after that?

By golly, Jason, it's true.
You haven't changed a bit.

[ Chuckles ]

[ Scoffs ]

Some change, please.

Thank you.

Uh--I'll buy.

Well, thanks.What'll it be?

Oh, something
out of a bottle
with a label on it.

So, uh, you figure
on staying around
a while, huh?

Well, now I never said
that, uh--

Oh, I saw you coming out
of the telegraph office.

Oh. You read
the telegram too?

Don't have to.

Well, just might be
my pappy's birthday.

I figure you're stayin'.

Well, you're figurin'
a lot closer than I am.What'd Jason offer you?

[ Sighs ]
I don't think that--

I'll bet it
was something big.

Was it foreman?
Did he offer you foreman?

Listen, whatever
Jason and I talked about--

Don't tell me it was
private between
the two of you.

If I'm about to be paid off and
sent packing, that ain't private
between two other people.

Jason said you had
a hankering to move west.

Oh. Oh, did he now?

Well, I guess I figured
right after all, didn't I?

You mean, you don't
want to leave?

Look, boy, I've been foreman
of that spread ever since
Old Man Montague had it.

And when he went bust
and the bank in Kansas City
took it over,

I stayed on
for over a year and a half
as a caretaker.

Then when
Jason Crowder bought it,
I went along with the sale.

[ Scoffs ]
Hankering to move west.

Why would I have a hankering
to move anywhere?

I've got 14 years of my life
behind me on that ranch.

[ Sighs ] Well, I'm sorry.
I not aimin' to take anybody's
job away from him.

I guess Jason misunderstood
what you said to him
about leaving.

I guess Jason just wanted
to sign you up so bad,
he was ready to say anything.

You know what puzzles me?

Why the two of you are
so all-fired up to pretend...

- you ain't what everybody
knows you are.
- What's that supposed to mean?

Well, it's not against the law,

but it's a little unusual
in these parts to have
a hired gun on your payroll.

Hired gun?
What are you talking about?

You.Nobody hires my gun.

- No?
- No. Nobody.

Well, do you, uh--
you get pleasure out
of shooting people then,

so you just
do it for nothing?What people?

- Well, like that man across
the street that's dying.
- He was gonna kill Jason.

And you never gave any thought
to the fact maybe he had a good
reason to kill Jason. Did you?

[ Man ]
Yes?

Uh, are you the doctor?Yes. What is it?

Well, I want to see how he is,
that, uh, Lueders fellow.

He doesn't look any better,
but at least he's conscious.

Do you think I can see him
for a minute?Absolutely not.

He's in no shape.

Besides, my orders are
no one is to be let in.

[ Sighs ]
Well, I see.

Who are you anyway?

I'm the man who shot him.Oh. Then you
work for Mr. Crowder.

I guess
you can say that.

Well, I suppose in that case,
but I don't want him upset.

Well, I won't upset him.He may not have much chance,

but I want him to have
what's left.

I'll be careful, Doctor.

How you feelin'?Ohh.

That's all right.
I just wanted to see
how you are.

Oh. You, uh, tell your boss...

that I'm glad I tried.

Now look, uh,
let's not talk about that.

You just tell him.

I've known Jason
since we were kids,

and, uh, there's one thing
he ain't and that's a liar,

especially about
something like that.

Now, uh, I don't know
if your wife ran off with
somebody else or alone,

but I know she didn't
run off with Jason.

I'm willing
to swear to that.What are you talking about?

About your wife.

She ran away from you.
I mean, back on that
construction job.

Jason--I ain't got no wife.

I never been married.

Jason?

Jason? [ Door Closes ]

Trampas.

Something the matter?Where's Jason?

Well, he's out
with Sam Burmeister
inspecting the storm damage.

When is he coming back?

They said that they
might go all the way
to the end of the valley.

And if he did,
that he'd stop overnight
at the Burmeisters'...

and come back
early in the morning.

Trampas, something wrong?

Can I ask you something?

Seems to be
our favorite pastime.

What is it you want to know?

Why did you and Jason
leave Kansas?

- I'm his wife.
I live where he wants to live.
- That's not what I asked.

Jason figured
we'd be happier here.

But why then? I mean,
just wake up one morning,
decide to leave?

No. He had finished
some business deal or other...

and, uh, figured
that was a good time.

What sort of business deal?
Do you know?

I feel as if I'm being asked
to defend myself.

I really don't know anything
about my husband's business.

Is that because
you don't want to know?

Perhaps.

You know he did something
dishonest, don't you?

I don't know that.And it's gonna happen again.

I don't believe you.

Anne, you're his wife.

What do you want of me,
Trampas?

I want you
to talk to him.

Well, I can't.

You're his wife
and you can't talk to him?Not about that I can't.

Trampas,

I love Jason,

but that doesn't even
begin to explain it.

I need him. Literally,
for my life, I need him.

It might seem strange
to you that a--

that a child could have
every conceivable
material possession...

and still have nothing.

But to my father,
love was a new dress.

I got expensive schools,
all the proper trappings,

and the effect was that,
uh, I had things.

But by the time I was 18,
I-- I was ready to die.
I wanted to die.

Why, Anne?

Because I hadn't
found anything to
make me want to live.

In a very real sense,
I was crippled.

I guess without love,
it can do that.

But then Jason came along.

And it was as if
I had been untwisted.

So you see, I mean it when
I say I really need him,
Trampas.

If he keeps on
going on like this,
you may not have him.

Yes.

I know that.

Then you have
to talk to him.

I'm afraid to.

So it doesn't matter to you
if he goes ahead with this?

Of course it matters.

Stop him, Trampas.

Don't hurt him,
but stop him.

Where are you going?

Back to town.

[ Door Closes ]

Well, good morning.
You've been out early.

Jason, I'd like
to talk to you.

- About the job? Good.
- What's the real reason
you want me to work for you?

We'll come to that part later.
I want to collect some things
for the meeting tonight.

What you really want to hire
is my gun, isn't it?

What kind of a thing
is that to say? Straight, Jason!

- Is it my gun?
- Yes, your gun.

Why?

Because you're as good
as they come.

Why do you need my gun?
Why does a respected man in
a peaceful town need my gun?

- Protection, man.
- From who, Jason?

Who do you need
protection from?

- From people like Lueders.
- How many people like
Lueders are there?

Child, as a man moves
through life--

Who needs to make people think
he runs off with his wife.
Is that it?

Well, now, you've--Or--

Or, Jason,

are they gunning for him
because he promised
to build them a dam...

and they deeded a lot of
valuable land over to him...

and he ran off with the titles
and he never built them
the dam?

- I got the whole story
from Lueders.
- Lueders?

Oh, then he pulled through it.

Not quite.

He died about an hour ago.

[ Clicks Tongue ]

Why did you lie to me
about him?

Because I figured
the real story would
only bore you.

Oh, you mean telling the folks
you were going to St. Louis...

to consult with that
construction company,

and then selling the land deeds
to that railroad
for a small fortune...

and never going back
to the place where you
promised to build the dam?

- You mean that story, Jason?
- That's the one.

Now if I'd told you that story,
would you have believed me?

[ Chuckling ]
You see?

But the one I told you--
about his wife and him thinking
we were running away together--

you swallowed
that one whole.

You know, it's amazing how
people really prefer to be lied
to most of the time. Amazing.

Jason,

you're not planning
to do the same thing
here in River Oaks?

You're not planning
on running off with
those title deeds...

and never building
that dam?

You come on
into the study.

I've got something
to show you.

Look here, Trampas.

A railroad is coming
right along that river.

In another couple of years,
they'll be ready
to move in through here.

And when they're ready,
guess who else
is going to be ready.

That land along the river
will go for a gold mine
an acre.

And what about Burmeister
and the others?

They can go whistle
for their dam?

And their farms can stay
underwater till hell
freezes over. Is that it?

If they want their dam
after this is all over,
I'll build it for them.

I can build dams
with my left hand, Trampas.
Build 'em good, real good.

I'd have built those other folk
a fine dam, but all they
were interested in...

was hunting me up
and shooting me down.

That's because
you stole their land.

You're trying to do
the same thing here.

Trampas, when you walk
over an anthill,
do ants come hunting you?

No, they don't. They go
somewhere else and build
themselves another anthill.

These aren't ants.
They're people.

It's the same thing.

There are two kinds of folk
in this world: the scratchers
and the dreamers.

You're stealing, Jason,
and you can go
to jail for it.

Well, then first
they'll have
to catch up with me.

And by the time
they do that, I'll be rich.

I know this country I live in,
and when you're rich,
you don't go to jail.

[ Chuckling ]
No, sir.

Now,

you want to be rich too?

Not like this.

Not like this?

What way then?
Cowboyin'?

I reckon that's
the only way I know how.

I'm just now offering
you another way.

No, thanks.

Too bad.
Can't say I didn't try.

It would have been nice
to have you along
for the journey, Trampas.

- But I guess--
- Jason--

What, lad?

That journey's off.

- What?
- The journey's off.

Do you mean you're going
to do something?

I guess I'm gonna
have to, Jason.

I can't stand by and watch
a bank being robbed without
trying to stop it.

What do you plan
to do?

Start out by asking you
to forget the whole thing.

Don't be a fool.
Do you know how long-- I'm asking you!

No!

All right, Jason.

Then there's only
one thing I can do.

I'm gonna tell Burmeister
and the others what you're
planning to do to them.

Why, Trampas?

You've been poor.
You know what it's like.

And I guess I still am.

Well, I've had enough
of being poor,

and I'm not gonna be
ever again.

I got my chest full of that,
Trampas, living off charities
handed out to my father.

Your father was one
of the finest men I ever met! And one of the poorest!

Yes, sir!
One of the grim, gray poorest.

Well, now, he tried
to teach me a lot of things,

but what I learned best
was not to scratch,
not to be poor.

And I taught myself
how not to. Yes, sir.
I know how!

And if you think
I'm gonna stand by
and let you stop me,

you better start looking
for another thought
in that empty head of yours.

Jason, what more do you want?
This ranch is bigger-- Trampas!

You know, that shows why
you're a 30-dollar cowboy.

You don't even
understand how
money is made.

That whole thing in Kansas
was just to get a stake
for something big-- this!

I used everything
to set this up.

The ranch?
A bank in K.C. owns it.

Now why, Trampas?
You don't even know these men!

Well, I guess you said
it yourself.

I'm just a dumb cowboy.

Well, maybe I'm dumb enough
to believe that people
should be honest.

And dumb enough to try
to stop them when they're not.

Dumb!
That doesn't say it!

You are nothing.

You've been my friend,
Jason.

But you're a thief.

And I'm not gonna ride
outta here...

and turn my back
on your stealin'.

I can't.

Promise you, if you don't,
you'll go to your grave
wishing you had.

Maybe.

But I guess
I'll find that
out for myself.

[ Door Closes ]

[ Floorboards Creak ]

[ Crowd Chattering ]

[ Chattering ]

Charlie.

Hi, Mrs. Matthews.

Uh, I guess everybody's
here now, yeah.

Let me have your--
[ Raps On Table ]
attention, fellas.

Seems like Mr. Trampas here
has got a message for us
from Mr. Crowder.

Well, it's not
exactly that, Sam.

Well, in the first place,
I don't think Jason
will be here tonight.

[ All Clamoring ]

Now, look. Look, your deal
with Jason-- you can
forget all about that.

[ All Clamoring ]

Now wait a minute.

The truth is, I don't
think you'll be seein'
Jason Crowder again.

[ Clamoring ]Wait a minute.
All right, wait a minute.

Now listen.
Settle down.Hold it!

I'd say that you owe us
an explanation.

[ Jason ]
I'd say you do too, Sam.

I was hopin'
you wouldn't come, Jason.

I'll just bet
you were hoping that.

[ Sam ]
What's this all about, Jason?

All right. I'll tell 'em.
Since you insist it's
gonna be that way.

No, I'll tell you, Sam.
After this excuse for a dog
puts his gun on the floor.

You know
I'm not gonna do that.

Oh, yes, you are.

[ All Murmuring ]

Jason, you're not gonna make me
believe you're gonna kill me
over something like this.

We've been friends
too long.

Friends? After what
you did to my wife!

I don't know
what you folks
call "friends,"

but I'm willing to
wager it's not someone...

who will take your wife
to the old Wolverine
diggings...

- and force her to stay
the whole night with you.
- That's a lie and you know it.

You're saying to these
good people that you didn't stay
the night with her up there?

We stayed there. We had to
on account of the storm.

Naturally, you wouldn't say
you held her at gunpoint
and threatened to kill her...

if she didn't lie
with you as to why
you had to stay there.

Well, the truth
is out now, Trampas,

and I'm saying to you
clear and cold,

put down that gun,
or I'll kill you on the spot.

All right, Jason.
My gun's on the floor.

What are you gonna do now?

I tell you to step outside
onto the street.

For what?
I said for what?

You think I'm gonna let you
gun me down on the street
with no way to protect myself?

Did Mrs. Crowder have
any way to protect herself?

Your wife didn't need
protection and you know that.

If she were here
to speak for herself,
she'd come forward and say so.

- Would she?
- I swear she would.

Save your swearin'.
You're already
close enough to your maker...

without adding profanity
to the bill of particulars
against you.

She'd say I'm lying,
would she?

Let's just see if she would.

I'm being called a liar
about what happened at the
Wolverine Mine the other night.

I'm telling what was told
to me by you. It's being said
it's a lie. Is it?

My husband never lies.

What he said
is absolutely true.

[ Crowd Murmuring ]

Gentlemen, wait, please.
You must let me handle this.

No, gentlemen.
Now wait, please.
You must let me handle it.

I'm the injured party.
It's my right.

Hyah! Come on, Buck! [ Galloping Hooves ]

[ Crowd Muttering ][ Door Slams ]

- He was gone too fast.
Couldn't get a shot at him.
- I didn't even see him there.

[ Chattering Continues ]

Now listen, men.

What I want is a posse
to get together.
There any volunteers here?

[ Men Exclaiming ]

No, sir!

No, sirree.

Gentlemen, I'm touched
by your sympathy,

but when a husband's
been dishonored,

there ain't a posse big enough
or fast enough in the whole
wide world that can help him.

This is one job
that's got
to be done alone.

Can you do it alone?

If I can't,
I give you all permission
to spit on my grave.

Jason, no!
I didn't agree to that.
I didn't agree to murder.

Well, you got here, Hudson.
Now what about our friend?
Any sign of him?

Yeah. He's taken the trail
past the Wolverine.

I figure he's gonna skirt
the east slope and head
for O'Connor's Crossing.

We could head him off
there at Cook's Bend
if we forded the river.

But it's running
kind of high, and he's got
a pretty good start.

No. I--
I think not, Hudson.

Trampas may be on the run,
but he's not running away.

He's got unfinished business
in this town, you see, Hudson,

and he's far too much
a man of honor
to let it remain unfinished.

Make camp here, Hudson.

If anybody got a notion
to follow us,
they'd come along this way.

- Where you going?
- Wolverine.

- Don't you think
I'd better come with you?
- No, I don't.

How many people do you think
it takes to swat a fly? Hoh!

[ Taps Leg ]

[ Gunshots ]

[ Echoing ]
In addition to my other talents,
Trampas, I also read minds.

Did you know that?
Shall I read yours
for you?

Shall I tell you what
you're thinking right now?

You're saying to yourself,
"He's got one bullet left.
Then he'll have to reload.

"If I can get him to fire
that last shot by,
uh, making a noise,

"by throwing something,
by diverting his attention
in some way,

then I can rush out
at him."

Am I right, Trampas?

Here I come, old friend.

Hold it right there,
Mrs. Crowder.Let go of my horse.

I'm sorry, ma'am.
Mr. Crowder's orders.

Nobody goes past here
till he's finished
with that Trampas fellow.

My orders are
to let go of this horse.I'm not working for you, ma'am.

I'm working for Mr. Crowder.[ Sam ]
You do as she says, Hudson!

Don't be a fool.
You've been workin'
for a thief,

but you haven't done
any thievin' yourself.

You want to turn killer now
just because that's what
your boss is aimin' to do?

[ Chain Clatters ]

Why don't you throw your gun
away now, Jason?

And we'll settle it man-to-man
and everything equal.

Settle what, Trampas?
Did you think this was
an Independence Day picnic...

with turkey shoots
and three-legged races?

Don't you understand?
I'm a dishonored husband,

out to kill the scoundrel
who attacked my wife.

You know I didn't do that,
Jason.

Oh, yes, I know it,
Trampas. I know it.

But the good folk
of River Oaks don't.

I got to avenge
my honor,

or they won't respect me anymore
and let me build their dam
for them.

You're not gonna build
them a dam. Yes, I know that too, Trampas.

[ Chuckles ]
Trouble is, so do you.

[ Loud Footstep ]

[ Gunshot ]

I got a plan, boy!

But you're trying
to throw a switch on me
and shunt me off on a siding.

A plan for what?

A plan for money
in the bank.
That's what!

A plan for hearing
a whole chorus of...

"Yes, sir, Mr. Crowder!"
when I say go fetch.

And you figure
you got to kill people
to make sure it works out?

I figure I gotta do
whatever's got to be done...

to see nobody
gets in the way
of it working.

No matter what, huh?
No matter who you hurt?

I'm sure glad your pappy
ain't alive, Jason,

to see how serious you took
to his preaching.

My pappy spent all his life
preaching the Golden Rule,

and now I'm practicin'
what he preached,

only I'm dropping the rule
and sticking with the gold.

Now I've spent enough time
making palaver with you,
Trampas.

You're holding up progress.

You come out of there,
or I'm coming in.

Jason? Jason!

Don't come in here, Anne!

Then come out here.

- Before you know it, pet.
- No, right now.

Jason, what you're doing
now-- it wasn't part of it.

You never said this was
in your mind.

I didn't want to burden you
with the details.

You call murder a detail?

Aw, don't be sentimental.
Now don't come in here, Anne!

Trampas!
I'm a-comin'!

I ain't interested in spendin'
any more of my life in a cave!

Jason?

If you kill him, Jason,
then you're a murderer
for nothing.

I told them.

I told them
what happened in Kansas,

and what you're planning
to do here.

I told them, Jason.
They know!

That's a stupid
and unconvincing lie.

If you expect to save his life,
you better think
of a better story than that.

She's not lying,
Mr. Crowder.
She told us.

Told you what?

'Bout Kansas.
'Bout Lueders.

'Bout sellin' the land
to the railroad.

'Bout you gonna do
the same thing here.

'Bout how nothin' happened
between her and that fella
that night up at the mine.

She told us, Mr. Crowder.
Told us everything.

I pretended I didn't know,
Jason. Please don't
be angry with me. I--

I-I just never had the courage
to-- to face what was going on.

Trip's just been
unavoidably delayed.

[ Whimpers ]

Road just got washed out.

You know how long
I've been working on this?

Do you know how many years
of thinking have gone into this?

[ Whimpers ]
Any of you?

With your measly little lives
and stupid little aspirations?

And you back there,
Trampas, with your
dumb cowboy honesty, and...

you with your spineless
little slither-through life.

How dare you?

How dare you--
any of you-- coming in here
and spoiling it, wrecking it?

I could've owned every mountain
from St. Louis to the moon.

And all you wanted to do
is to grow radishes.

You got no right.

I'm telling you here and now--
you got no living right!

- Trampas!
- [ Gasping ]

Jason, darling, li--

Darling, listen to me.
Please.

No matter
what's happened,

it-it-- it'll be
all right, darling.

I don't know you.

I don't have any idea
who you are.

[ Laughing ]

Just like Pappy
always predicted!

The meek have gone
and inherited the earth again.

[ Laughing ]

All the king's horses
and all the king's men...

couldn't put a busted dam
back together again.

[ Sighs ]
Where's Jason?

He's gone.

Without you?

Without me.

I betrayed him.
I committed the unforgivable.

I interfered with the plan.
So I'm no use to him anymore.

I'm just one
of the ants now.

Well, what are you
gonna do now?

Oh, go back to St. Louis,
I guess.

The bank will send somebody
to take back all of this,

and then I'll ride out
of here.

Alone?

Not quite.

There was a good side
to Jason, too,

and I've got
the best of him... here.

Does he know?

Well, for a while,
I was afraid to tell him,
and now I'm glad I didn't.

I guess he was so busy tryin'
to figure out schemes to be
the richest man in the world,

he-- he didn't realize
he already was.

Anne, if there's
anything I can do.

No, Trampas.
It's very kind of you,

but, uh, now I have
to have time for--

for just me.

Anne, it's been a long time
since you've been alone.

I'm not alone anymore.

And in a way, I'm less alone
now than I have been
for the past few years.

Alone or not, people need
to help each other through life.

Trampas, I'm deeply
indebted to people--

most all the people
I've ever met.

But, uh, now
I'm beginning to learn--
learn how to help myself...

and my child.

And soon I can--
I can ask favors
from people again.

Well, good-bye, Anne.

Bye, Trampas.

Uh--
[ Chuckles ]

Good luck.

Or, maybe someday,
a long time from now,

there'll be someone
who'll know how to put
the pieces back together again,

put all of us
back together again.