Original subtitles

Captioning made possible by Paramount domestic television

♪ Git along, little dogie ♪

♪ ride around and slow ♪

♪ 'cause the fire and the Snuffy ♪

♪ are a-rarin' to go ♪

♪ Now ol' bill Jones ♪

♪ had a daughter and a son ♪

♪ The son went to Denver ♪

♪ the daughter went wrong ♪

♪ His wife got killed ♪

♪ in a pool hall fight ♪

♪ Now ol' bill sings ♪

♪ from mornin' until night ♪

♪ Git along, little dogie ♪

♪ ride around and slow ♪

♪ 'cause the fire and the Snuffy ♪

♪ are a-rarin' to go ♪

Will Penny!

Steal all my damn biscuits,

and you don't bring me no firewood.

What the hell's got into you?

Them biscuits ain't for no nighthawk to steal.

They're for the whole shebang and they ain't to be eat till I say so.

Now come on. Give 'em back.

Leastwise you can give me some coffee.

Bring me some firewood.

Go on.

Pot ain't boiled yet anyhow.

Chuck!

Come on, you cow nurses,

or I'll throw it out!

Chuck's on!

Up and at 'em, boys.

Get out of those blankets,

damn your hides!

You wearing snowshoes, Bo?

You should know. You've been walking all over my feet.

Old men belong at the end of the line anyway.

I'm surprised you got this far

when you done earned yourself

a warm corner someplace.

That's enough, shorthorn.

You wasn't about to do something, was you?

'Cause I'll sure clean your plow for you.

Whoa. Ride 'em!

Whoa.

You stupid jughead!

Last day!

Let's make it a good one.

We get there today,

and you make your bonus.

Get where, Anse?

Ain't a bottle of whiskey inside a week of here

let alone a town to spend a dollar in.

Save your money!

Get your own spread like me.

Wasn't money started you in the cattle business.

No? What ya think it was, Will?

More like a long rope and a hot iron.

Let's go!

Let's go!

Don't be afraid to ask for help, old man.

It's time you done something about his ragging.

Fighting don't get the work done.

Hyah!

Something chasing you, Dutchy?

They see you scratching a horse, you're gone.

I seen where they're taking us.

Where?

Nowhere.

It ain't nowhere at all.

Who figures it out they put a spur there?

What for?

Everybody trying to get ahead of everybody else.

Train company

wants to beat the other railroads

to the cows.

Anse wants to get 'em to market first

so's he can get top price.

The poor cowhand rides drag.

It's better than pushing a plow.

Yeah.

Down steer!

Down steer!

Bigfoot! Come a-runnin'!

Come on!

Ah! Oh!

He busted my damn leg.

Over here.

Give me some air, boys.

Stand back. Stand back, boys.

Easy now.

Ohh.

She's busted, all right.

Grab hold of this.

Damn you, ike, you've been holding out on us.

That stuff's for doctoring.

It ain't for drinking.

Hang on to him.

That's enough.

Feels like it's all smashed to pieces.

Well, he'll go to Kansas City with us

and get proper doctoring,

then I'll give him

his train ticket home.

What if he can't work no more, Anse?

What then?

That's the fall of the cards.

He'll get a job someplace.

Ike, how did you manage that?

Real slop, but that's the way I like it.

You cook, and I'll get a job

where the horse has all the brains

and does all the work.

Well, look who's here.

Where you been hiding, grandpa?

Might not be good, but it's hot.

You ain't fighting proper!

You're the one that's down.

I told you that leaky mouth

would jump up on you sometime, boetius.

Hell, aren't you going to fight with these?

My hands are for working.

If the lord had wanted men to fight like dogs,

he'd a-give 'em teeth and claws.

He's younger than you figure,

ain't he, Sonny?

Yeah?

Go to your gun, and you'll hang!

You boys want to fight or get paid?

Paid! Paid! Paid!

Can't write, make your mark.

Can't write? I went to 4 grades of school.

Want your train ticket back?

You know I got my wagon.

Let the next man in.

Wish you could cowboy as good as you write.

Ticket?

No, no ticket for me.

I think I'll ride along with blue.

What's your whole name, Will?

Penny. Will Penny.

You got any family?

No.

Got another job to go to?

This time of year?

You know better, Anse.

You're a good, steady hand, Will.

You can be bull nurse with me.

Wait here for the train,

then ride to Kansas City.

Sure thing.

Mr. Howard, can I go with you to Kansas City?

You want to see the elephant?

Naw--hell.

I been there before.

My pa lives there now.

He's getting pretty old, you know.

I reckon if I don't see him on this trip,

I'll never get to see him again.

Well, I already got Will Penny.

If you really want to go,

you got enough to get you there, more besides.

Well, you're a fair man, Mr. Howard.

Ah, I reckon I'll see you punchers sometime.

Ever been to K.C.?

No. I guess I'll see the elephant.

Ja.

Wiedersehen, Will.

Will, I got to talk with you.

Sure.

It's about my pa, Will.

So long, Anse.

So long, Bo.

Damn haul gets longer every year.

See you back in cactus country.

I don't know, bigfoot.

It puts me out of a job mighty sudden.

There's a place north of here.

Flatiron--they might be hiring.

In winter?

I wouldn't lie, Will.

Now hold on. Look.

I'll give some of my pay--

yeah, $20.

Which one of you two is coming with me?

Ah, hell, go on then.

Here, give me $10

so I don't feel like a damn fool.

Me, Mr. Howard, if it's o.K.

Come on.

Much obliged, Will.

Yeah.

Hey, you fellas got room for one more hand?

So long, boys!

See you in the fall if I see you at all!

So long, boys!

Ah, blue. Come on. Wake up.

What the--

I bet a dollar someplace in this wilderness

they got a drink of whiskey.

And some beds.

I forgot what it tastes like.

And a bath.

I think I got bugs.

Just one shot.

I sure hope we can find us a job.

Not the three of us together, we can't.

Ain't no place they'll hire 3 hands

in the wintertime.

One job's all I need.

Sharing a blanket don't make us married.

Old Will...

He'll find that flatiron spread to hire on.

Yeah, well, it's a damn good thing

he can cowboy,

'cause he sure as hell ain't no navigator.

It ain't hot yet.

Hey, come on.

Go get the water.

All right. All right.

What the hell--

shh! It's an elk.

Fresh meat.

[Gunshot]

Hey!

Good shot, blue. You got him.

But I didn't.

Di--didn't you?

Didn't I?

Yeah...

I shot him with my knife.

Let's get him out of here.

Somebody going to be mad.

Madder than a gelded stud.

[Gunshot]

Careful. They got the sun on us.

Rawhiders.

Ja. It's bad business.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Name's quint...

Preacher quint.

These here are my boys.

Mighty nice of you

minding that elk for us.

We can, uh...

We can clean it up our own selves.

Uh, rafe here handles a knife just fine.

We give them the elk, ja?

We were onto it first.

Next thing they'll want our britches. Then what?

Come on, papa. Kill them.

We seen a whole camp back there.

Where's the rest of the party?

My shot brought it down.

Maybe we split him with you.

Shut up.

Well, now, that's some better.

Uh, they's, uh--

they's 5 of us...

Counting my woman.

If you was to be only two,

that there elk might be enough

to go around at that.

We work it out that way.

Then we go away friends.

Damn you, Dutchy.

There's more of us,

but we'll make do.

I don't see no more'n you.

Maybe you're just trying to get the better of us,

or maybe you're just saying that

because you know damn well that there elk is our'n.

And you're plumb scared

because the lord don't side

with them that lies and steals.

Yes, sir,

the lord sides with the righteous.

If you walk away quiet,

maybe the good lord would forget

you tried to do poor folk

out of what's rightful there'n.

Walk away in peace.

We leave them the damn elk.

If'n they let us.

Aah!

They done killed romulus.

Beware the wrath of the lord.

He strike down them

that hath blood on their hand.

He punisheth the sinner.

Life for a life!

Eye for an eye!

Tooth for a tooth!

Burning for a burning!

Wound for a wound!

Stripe for a stripe!

Who sheddeth man's blood...

That man shall his blood be shed!

You ain't seen the last of me!

Blue!

Dutchy, what's wrong?

I...

I'm shot.

I think maybe I done it to myself.

Damn gun, I couldn't get it out of the pocket.

Don't you move. We'll go get the wagon.

Hey, blue?

Don't forget the elk.

Yeah.

Sooey! Pig pig pig pig.

Here, pig pig pig pig pig.

Here, pig pig pig pig pig pig pig!

Here, pig pig pig pig!

[Pigs grunting and squealing]

[Dog barks]

Is there a doctor nearby?

We got a man hurt.

Maybe I could see to it in some way.

Isn't there a damn doctor close?

A half day's fast ride, town of Alfred.

I don't know the doctor's name.

Time anyone here gets hurt bad and don't see a doctor,

time they get there it's too late anyway.

How bad's your friend hurt?

Bad.

He's gut-shot bad.

Belly shot? He's a dead man for certain.

He'll bleed himself to hell

before you get him to Alfred.

Hello there!

Name's catron.

Place is mine.

Got some good whiskey inside.

Best thing you can do

is make him rest easy

while he waits for the end.

We can bury him out back. Won't cost much.

$25 sound right to you?

Ground's hard. Digging ain't easy.

You sound sure he's going to die.

Best to face these things so you can make plans.

Dutchy?

Ja?

How you making out?

Oh, Will...

Hurts like hell.

We'll go on.

Hey, Will...

Maybe he's right, what he said,

that I... die before we get there.

No. Hell.

We...

We have waited a long time

for a drink of whiskey, ja?

And, uh...

Here is the last place before that town,

and...

You know,

maybe I'll never get there.

Will, I...

I like to have a sure drink here

better than a maybe drink later on.

Oh, it couldn't hurt so much, one drink.

Come on.

Planning makes all the difference, I always say.

That way a man don't get any unhappy surprises.

Take your friend there.

He knows he's going to die.

You don't have to fight over his goods.

Take his buffalo coat he's got there.

Why, for a coat like that there,

I'd give a man $5.00, $6.00. Whoever gets it--

you--

Will.

Give us a bottle and 3 glasses.

Can you pay?

You got more guts

than a man could hang on a fence.

We can pay.

How does she taste?

Damned if I know,

but it sure burns a dollar's worth.

[Belches]

Good, ain't it?

Argh!

Gott verdammt.

Oh.

Ja.

Ma!

Ma!

Ma!

H.G., don't shout.

I can hear you.

There's a man who's hurt.

He's lying in a wagon.

Is he alive?

Sure is, and he's cussing something awful,

some words I never even heard before.

[Groaning]

You have to get to a doctor immediately.

Oh.

Too late for a doctor.

No.

I'm just a dying cowboy.

Well...

There must be something I can do.

Oh, if...

If maybe you could...

Hold my hand?

Oh, well, of course.

You are an Angel, lady.

How did it happen?

Uh...

Wild Indians there was, lady.

Maybe, uh...

50.

My friends, they run away

and left me to fight them all off.

Why, the cowards. That's a terrible thing.

Ja, ja. That's right.

Them bummers.

They wait until them Indians is all finished,

then they come back and bring me here.

Oh.

Here you go, Dutchy.

Oh.

Oh.

Thanks, Will.

Least I can do

after all them injuns you killed.

Are you one of the men?

One of his, uh, friends

who left him to the savages?

Yes. We surely did.

You call yourself a man?

You call yourself his friend,

and then you do this to him?

If I were you, I'd never speak...

I would never speak to them again.

Ja.

Maybe I won't.

I cannot...

Comprehend behavior like yours.

I simply can't.

Well, it's easy to figure, ma'am.

We just ain't as...

Brave as he is, that's all.

Dutchy's...

Plumb brave.

Yes, he is.

And you leave him to die in the cold.

At least bring him inside.

That don't figure to help him none,

juggling that bullet around in his innards.

Well, is that going to help him?

It may not rightly

put him back on his feet,

but it ain't gonna put him in his grave, neither.

Is there anything more

I can do to help you?

Uh, no.

Hey, Will?

What he said, that schwein.

Is he...

Is he right, do you think?

I will die?

That happens to all of us.

Oh, no, Will, you know what I mean.

Is now my time?

We'll get you to that doctor right enough.

Will.

I don't know, Dutchy.

How the hell do I know?

There's a whole lot I ain't done yet--

cowboying around.

Hurts like hell.

I'll get you another drink.

Hey, Will?

I'm only 27 years old.

Hey, Will, you want part of the bet?

What bet?

Grass-belly here bet $50

Dutchy don't make it to Alfred.

You want some of that?

All you've got.

Another 50.

You got a bet.

Let's drink on it,

seal the bet like gentlemen do.

How do you know how gentlemen do?

[Laughing]

Mr. Bodine.

Mm-hmm.

You promised to get us across to California

before winter set in.

That's what my husband paid you for.

Yes, ma'am. Sure did.

[Belches]

As soon as you finish that plate,

we're going to leave here. Is that clear?

Yes, ma'am.

Yes.

Let's have another bottle,

one of them St. Louis ones.

Mr. Bodine.

That'll be $3.00, ma'am.

Hurry up, H.G.

Get your stockings up.

Hold on.

What do you think, Will?

About what?

About Dutchy.

You known him a long time?

Nope.

Why did you bet?

Why did you?

We've been working the same outfits

3, 4 years running.

He's a good old boy.

This ain't no good way for him to go.

I tell you, blue,

ain't no good way to go.

Let's drink up and get out of here.

Sonny?

Yes, sir?

Where's the doctor here?

Doctor?

Isn't there a doctor here?

Oh. Down the street at the barber shop.

Much obliged. Giddy-up.

Where it says post office.

Whoa! Whoa.

Doctor, there's a man hurt out here.

How about it? Bad shot.

Shot, hell.

He's damn near froze to death.

He smells like a still.

What did you do,

stop off on the way to celebrate?

All right, slow and easy now.

Move too fast,

they might miss something.

Over there on the couch.

You better go home, John.

I'll finish you later.

If I want any help, John,

I'll send for you.

You can go home now.

Mattie!

I'll need you!

Must have taken your own sweet time about getting here.

This is my wife Mrs. Fraker.

I don't know their names.

Mattie, if we try to straighten him out too fast,

he's going to break.

So let's warm him up,

then get his clothes off.

[Sniffs]

Why don't you boys go over to the hotel,

get yourselves a bath?

Come back tomorrow morning.

Children...

Dangerous children.

But it's so early.

Early, hell. The sun's up.

Oh. The sun's up.

Go along now, huh?

I'll see you again.

Not if I see you first.

Hey, Will,

you, uh... really all that set on going?

It's not some place I'd care to winter.

The way the money goes,

I'd be selling my saddle.

Damn, Will, riding the grubline up here?

Well, there's that flatiron spread bigfoot spoke about.

If that don't work out,

I guess I'll head south.

You?

I reckon I'll just hang around a spell,

maybe get a job bar dogging,

see how Dutchy makes out.

Maybe we'll cut trail someday south of here.

Maybe so, Will.

Hey.

Yeah.

That's him, all right.

Ain't no way to forget him,

not while he's alive, anyway.

We can fix that in a hurry.

Not yet.

Plenty of time.

He ain't going nowhere we can't find him,

and we just going to take

our own good time about it...

About carving him up.

Can you make him out?

Somebody riding grubline, I suppose.

That horse--

that's a flatiron horse.

Ain't that bright eyes?

Yeah. That's one of old Claude's string.

Want to talk about this?

I found him like that.

I figure he bucked off

and wrapped up the whole ball of wax right there.

Claude was a pretty good horsebacker.

Pretty forked.

Well, if you say so.

I never had the pleasure.

What brings you up here?

You the stud duck?

That's right.

I shoved a bunch from Texas,

put them on the train,

and went off the payroll.

Looking for a meal now, huh?

No. Looking for a job.

One of the Texas hands

said you were hiring.

I'll take him.

He ain't coming.

I come instead.

You must need a hand.

Don't know. Claude was a good cowpuncher.

Mighty good man all around.

Well, sure.

That's always the way, ain't it?

What's always the way?

Let a man die,

right away, he's good old Claude.

How was he before he bucked out?

You boys go dig a proper grave.

We'll hold services for him later.

Come on over to the bunkhouse.

This here gentleman calls hisself Will Penny.

Ridin' around here as nice as you please,

hoping to find hisself a nice job.

And there lays old Claude,

just beggin' him,

"Take mine, Mr. Penny. Take mine."

That's the story you give the big augur.

Now, we just no-account cowpunchers

together here.

Ain't no need for you to tell us them lies.

Well, son,

you dealt this hand.

I guess you'll just have to play it out.

Hold it.

All of you.

This man's on the payroll.

He's a flatiron hand.

That means he's no stranger.

I'll do any eyeballing around here.

Hell, we just trying to help him out.

Yeah, like a sharp stick in the eye.

You can take old Claude's string.

You'll be line rider up in Ridge country.

Pays $30 a month.

Are you sure you rode line before?

Sure enough to have strong feelings about it.

You can tell he's rode line before.

Got rules here on the flatiron.

You hold to 'em, and we'll be friends.

You break 'em,

and you'll be set down quick.

Now first, we got no drinking or gambling.

You can cut loose all you want to in town,

but not nowheres on this layout.

Is that plain?

Plain enough.

Now, about the pilgrims that come through--

if they keep moving, fine.

If they take a beef, you don't do much.

But don't let nobody stop.

That's the most important thing.

Nobody stops on flatiron range.

What if they don't move?

They'll move, all right.

Won't nobody say nothing, neither.

One of the boys here will tell you

how to get to the shack.

It's 3 or 4 days' ride.

Is there anything else?

Nope.

I reckon you said it all.

About them nesters--

if there's too many to handle,

come back here for help.

Otherwise, I don't want to hear from you till spring.

[Rooster crows]

[Singing]

Hello, the shack!

You may as well come on out.

This here's flatiron range.

You can't squat here.

[Gunshot]

Don't! Don't--

don't shoot!

Please!

Don't shoot!

My name's Will Penny.

You remember me, ma'am, from the road ranch,

that man catron's place?

Don't come any nearer.

I'm a woman alone, and--

Ma!

The boy's right.

Don't ever, never tell a stranger out here

you're alone.

Where's your guide Mr. Bodine?

He went on up ahead.

Did he get paid?

My husband paid him in St. Louis.

He ain't coming back.

I can promise you that.

Anybody could see he had no stomach for it.

Now look at you.

You and the button,

you can't sleep in the wagon.

Well, of course we won't.

You can't stay here.

Why?

This here's flatiron range.

Outfit rules say no squatters.

If you won't move on peaceable,

somebody'll make you move.

Are you going to do that?

If I don't,

they just send some...

That's the way it is here.

There's nobody using this old shack anyway.

The line rider uses it, son.

Look, ain't no way in the world you--

don't come any nearer.

This may go off.

Please, don't be scared, ma'am.

I won't hurt you.

Look, I'll be on my way.

I'll just--

please be careful with that damn thing, ma'am.

I'll be gone 2, 3 days, maybe a week.

I got to see how this place lays out.

That gives you plenty of time to pack.

When I come back, you got to be gone.

This here's the line rider's shack.

Hey, Mr. Penny?

Who is the line rider?

Me. I am.

We'll have to get us more tomorrow.

Already?

If you want to be warm,

especially in the morning.

[Twig snaps]

You going somewheres, boy?

He ain't as stout as he looks.

Aw, hell.

Just stand right there.

Stand right there.

Give me my knife back.

Get his boots.

Boots hell, papa.

We going to get everything here.

Come on down!

Papa.

He ain't dead yet.

Ain't we gonna get to kill him?

Ohh.

That's bad.

Oh, that is bleeding real bad.

We don't want that to happen.

Hey.

I knowed a fella once--

his wagon team got away,

run a wheel spoke right through his middle.

Bled hisself out right there.

Don't you know how easy it was?

It was like taking a sleep

under a shady tree.

It didn't hurt none at all.

He just got kind of...

Kind of drowsy,

and he just, uh...

He just dozed off.

Well...

Sir...

It ain't going to be that easy for you.

No, sir.

Not that easy.

Remember me?

He dead?

No, he ain't dead.

Leave him.

Leave him?

Pa--

leave him be.

Out here by hisself...

No goods.

With winter coming on,

he going to be a long while dying.

And all that time,

he going to know who done it to him.

Yes, sir.

Mighty long time.

And then, he'll be dead.

Oh.

Yeah.

Ashes to ashes,

dust to dust.

The lord giveth,

and the lord taketh away.

Blessed be the name of the lord.

Come on.

Up, up, up.

Grr-aah.

Grrr.

Grrr.

Ma.

Yes?

Is he going to die?

Well, I hope not.

H.G., go and get some water.

H.G.?

Yes, Horace.

I thought we didn't like him.

We don't.

But I just couldn't let him stay sick.

It wouldn't be...

It just wouldn't be Christian, would it?

Like--like a good Sam-samaritan.

That's right.

I think that you should, um...

Eat something. It's been three days.

That long?

Here.

Good.

Thanks. I...

I owe you thanks.

Let's be clear.

We are not friends.

You're welcome to stay

until you're strong enough to leave.

But then when you are, you will leave.

Poor old cow's freezing out there.

You awake, mister?

Not real sure.

Was it the Indians? The wild Indians?

How many were there?

100.

Maybe 200.

Aw, 100?

You're telling a fib.

That's right, button, just a...

Just a windy.

I think Mr. Penny would like some rest now.

Mr. Penny!

Hold on, woman.

Burning it up so fast,

I won't chop enough to keep up two-handed.

We worked hard to make you better.

You'll hurt yourself again

doing something unnecessary.

Unnecessary?

I don't want to scare nobody,

but we'll have hell around here

before this winter's through.

Working all day, every day,

we won't be ready for it.

Most of this wood's so damn green.

What are we going to do?

Winter's just hardly started.

Burn chips, I guess.

What's chips?

Cow chips.

Buffalo chips.

They make a hot fire, burn slow.

You know.

No, I don't know. What's chips?

Well--

chips are--

well, they're--

well, they're just dried up...

Yeah?

Oh, hell.

I'll go get the button.

We'll go find some. Horace!

Is it true what ma says,

you're going to Chase us away?

More to it than sitting there.

Sit up straight. Hang on with your legs.

If they found out about you and your ma...

If you told them, would there be shooting?

Might be.

Maybe you ought to tell them.

Want to see some shooting?

Ain't never seen any.

I don't believe you'd like it much.

How many people have you shot?

Don't think that's anything to brag on

to a nice boy like you.

Sit down. Rest a spell.

Oh, I ain't so nice.

You could tell me.

Well...

I guess there was a few times.

How did it feel?

Bad.

Bad scared before and bad sorry after.

Ever shoot an Indian?

Yeah, once.

Didn't like that much, neither.

How come Indians are all red and sunburned?

That ain't sunburn.

They come that way.

Injuns don't get sunburned much.

But how come?

Well, they're smart.

You seen them sunflowers that grow in the spring?

Yeah.

Injuns take the seeds

and grind them into a butter,

then they spread it over theirselves.

Keep the sun out.

Ah, no.

It's truth.

Injuns make do with what nature gives.

How do you know all these things?

Even blind hogs will root up acorns sometimes.

Will you keep telling me

all these things you know?

Why, sure, button.

We'll have you a regular scout

in no time at all. Come on.

Come on, boy.

"Here comes the band.

"Shall we call mama and Fanny to see it?

"Let us stand still and hear the men play

"as they pass.

"I hope they will stop here and play for us.

"See the large man in front of the band

"with his big hat?

What has he in his hand?"

Cold on the outside and warm on the inside.

At least that's the way I hope it works.

I'm almost finished, ma.

Why don't you finish tomorrow?

Then tell me what you've read.

How much has gone from here to here.

Right now, jump into bed.

Oh, ma.

Hurry up.

Good night.

Good night. Night, Will.

Good night, button.

He reads real good.

That ought to do her.

When the... snow comes hard,

why, she'll seal up even tighter.

You seem well-recovered, Mr. Penny.

Feeling real good now.

I'm glad.

Mr. Penny, it's time for a bath.

Bath?

Yes, Mr. Penny.

A bath.

What for? I took a bath.

When?

Well, at, uh, back there in Alfred

at that hotel.

It was real hot, too.

What--

that seemed like a long time ago.

It's about time for another.

So soon?

Mr. Penny, how often do you bathe?

What? What?

I said, how often do you bathe?

Well, eight or nine times.

It--it... it depends.

On what?

Well, on the weather.

Eight or nine times a month?

Eight or nine times a month?

A year.

A year?

Well, sure.

You have a good one

when you finish the shove up north,

like at the hotel in Alfred.

Then one or two in the winter--

hope you don't catch your death.

Then a couple in the spring.

Then one before you start the shove up.

The rest depends on what kind of water

you hit in the drive.

Well, what's wrong with that?

That's as much as anybody.

Um, not quite anybody, Mr. Penny.

Um... there.

Now, I think that'll do.

That's hot.

Those clothes look like they could be washed.

May I... have them, please?

What am I going to wear till they're dry?

I have some of my husband's.

You could give them to me in here.

What are you fixin' to do in Oregon?

Farm.

We're farmers, Mr. Penny.

Hear tell that's mighty good cow country.

Well, we're not cowboys. We're farmers.

Good thing, too, I reckon.

What's that supposed to mean?

Well, them horses you got,

neither one of them good for much

except a nice ride to church on Sunday morning.

Jim is a perfectly good horse,

and so is Daisy.

Neither of those horses

have kicked or bucked

since the day we got them.

I surely believe that.

Ooh.

Plain truth is, I'm going to have hell

if I don't get me a decent cow horse.

Going to have cows everywhere.

Well, then get one.

Where? If I go to the flatiron main house,

Alex will ask me

about the string he give me.

Well, tell him. It wasn't your fault.

Now, I know that, Mrs. Allen.

Well, then?

Well, don't you know he's going to have

every hand in the place

out looking for them rawhiders?

Well, I hope they do, Mr. Penny.

You hope they do?

Well, ma'am, you don't know sic 'em.

First thing, they'll be poking around here

looking for them horses.

Then what?

Oh, I see.

Does that... mean finally

that you won't tell them

about Horace and me?

No, I ain't going to tell 'em.

What?

No, I ain't going to tell 'em!

[Dog howling]

It's plain you'll be staying.

Cold weather like this, I miss it some.

You come, uh...

All the way from Ohio alone?

Yes.

No, with H.G. And, um... Mr. Bodine.

From St. Louis with him.

You, uh, going on?

In the spring.

Alone?

Unless I find someone to show us the way.

A--a guide or a...

Wagon train.

It might be your husband come back

looking for you.

No, he won't do that.

If I was him, that's what I'd do.

Well, you--you see, you're not.

I hope that he doesn't.

He went ahead to, uh, start things for us.

If he came back for us,

well, it would just...

Be a waste.

I mean, it would all be a waste.

It wouldn't be very practical.

I don't know about that.

This is hard country.

Double hard.

I hate it.

But you could turn around

and go on back home.

No, I don't think I'd like that, either.

Looks like you're caught

between the sap and the bark.

Was it, um... such a bad place, that town?

We don't all have the same choices.

We just don't all... have the same choices.

We did what we thought was right.

Seems a long way to go for wood.

Yep. Reckon it is.

There.

Looks about right.

Here, button. You cut it.

Right there where I marked it.

Is it really almost Christmas?

Pretty near.

It's beautiful.

I chopped it down by myself, didn't I?

You did it all.

Tonight I'll make some things to hang on it.

Ma.

Yes?

Next Christmas, will we be home?

Yes, Horace,

next Christmas we'll be home.

Sure glad no one seen me do that.

I'd be laughed off the place.

What? Milking?

No self-respecting cowhand

would be caught dead milking a cow.

I won't tell anyone.

Well, I sure won't go bragging on it none.

♪ O Tannenbaum ♪

♪ O Tannenbaum ♪

♪ wie treu sind deine blaetter ♪

♪ O Tannenbaum ♪

♪ O Tannenbaum ♪

♪ wie treu sind deine blaetter ♪

♪ du grunst nicht nur zur sommerzeit ♪

♪ nein, auch im winter, wenn es schneit ♪

♪ O Tannenbaum ♪

♪ O Tannenbaum ♪

♪ wie treu sind deine blaetter ♪♪

you remembered all the words

that grandpa taught you.

That's very nice.

Let's all sing it in English.

♪ Oh, Christmas tree ♪

♪ Oh, Christmas-- ♪♪

I don't know them words.

But everybody knows that one.

Not me.

Don't you know any Christmas Carols?

I guess not.

Well, we'll teach him one, all right?

That will be our Christmas present.

Only that will be for tomorrow.

Right now, it's time to go to bed.

Good night.

Good night.

Night, Will.

Good night, button.

Good night.

Is it really almost Christmas?

Yes, Horace.

Is it, Will?

Sure enough, boy.

Night.

We can never repay you.

You've done so much to help us.

Ain't nobody keeping books on it.

It looks like, uh...

You're due for a singing lesson.

It looks like.

Is that so funny?

You won't think so when you hear me.

You'll be fine with h.G. As a teacher.

He likes you.

That goes both ways.

He's picked hisself a mean chore, though.

Here.

Let me do that for you.

The sooner we start, the better.

What?

Uh, I'll sing a line and then you follow.

♪ Deck the halls with boughs of Holly ♪

Aw, no.

Oh, come on, for h.G.

♪ Deck the halls with boughs of Holly ♪

very good.

♪ fa la la la la la la la la ♪

♪ fa la la la-- ♪

Ah, it's plumb silly.

Oh, let's do the two of them together.

♪ Deck the halls with boughs of Holly ♪

♪ fa la la la la la la la la ♪

♪ Tis the season to be jolly ♪

♪ fa la la la la la la la la ♪

maybe you was right at the start of it.

Be better if I bed down somewheres else.

I think that you misjudge.

No, I was talking about me.

So am I. I think you misjudge yourself.

No.

I ain't no better than the rest of them.

You don't know what it's like out here.

One woman for every 20, 30 men.

She ain't likely to be much

for looks or temper.

Someone like you...

You don't know...

No.

Looking the way you do...

Just... going on about your business,

not talking all the time like some,

but that smile--

like in your voice when you got something to say.

No.

Please, no.

Well... you do know then, don't you?

You know.

I suppose I do.

I tell you, I've had some kind of hell

these last weeks.

Pure hell.

I'm sorry.

No. No need for you to be.

I been alone since I was a button like him.

No family to speak of.

Just helping around saloons,

living with this one, that one.

Free and easy.

I never wanted it no other way.

Thought that was the way it was supposed to be.

Now here you are.

You... you and him.

You ain't even mine.

You got a way

of making a man feel like he's a man.

Well, I reckon it's just a case

of too soon old and too late smart.

Stay, Will.

Merry Christmas!

So, after all that time, you still ain't dead.

Well, that's good.

You got yourself fixed up real nice around here.

Yes, sir. This is real nice.

Ma!

Hey, boy.

Boy.

Come on.

Boy.

No!

Boy.

Boy, tell me, this your pa?

No!

This your pa, boy?

Is he your husband?

No--yes! Yes, of course.

Rejoiceth not in iniquity,

but rejoiceth in the truth.

Ask quick, and the lies come out second.

What you going to do?

What we going to do?

We going to stay here and rest from our labors.

But no work. No work

because this strong and upright man there

is going do it all for us.

Never figured on having nothing like that, did you?

Our own hired hand.

Here, boy. No!

Wait, please.

Now, woman, look!

Look, woman. Which one of my tall sons

are you going to take up with?

It's a hard choice.

Both these fine upstanding young men,

righteous in the eyes of the lord.

Amen.

Ha ha!

So which one? Choose.

He ain't your lawful husband.

You took'n up with him.

She never took up with me.

Take up with one of my boys. Choose.

I--I don't. I can't.

I--I--I--

yeah? Yeah?

I, uh...

Uh...

I need some time.

It's a very hard choice.

I'll give you two days.

That's fair.

Pick over all their fine points.

Rafe there's smarter but meaner.

Rufe there's stronger but dumber.

If the good lord had put them together,

they'd have been a perfect man.

Take your pick.

Come out of there before you make trouble.

Get back there with the woman and the boy.

Come on, boy.

Ma!

Now then, you! Hey, wake him up.

You.

We're going to keep you here.

We're just going to keep working your butt off.

And if you misbehave,

I'm going to let rafe there skin you.

And I mean skin, Sonny.

He skun a fellow once down in Texas.

Made a mighty fine job of it, too.

What the hell!

Go back to sleep.

You all right?

Yes.

Some way I got to get back down to flatiron.

Will, they'll kill you.

I got a plan.

It'll be no party.

You'd have to deal with them.

Will...

You know what they want from me tomorrow.

I'll do anything.

Anything, anything, anything.

Not now, rufe.

I--i have to make supper.

Where?

In the morning, right in there.

In the morning, there?

Just you and me?

Just you and me.

When?

Everybody will be busy in the morning.

In the morning? Where?

Where?

Where?

Well, the lean-to.

The lean-to in the morning.

All right, in the morning in the lean-to.

I'm going to be there.

[Playing music]

I can dance any of you down to your knees.

If you don't believe me, give me a try.

Come here!

Come on now.

Get your mouth off her.

Hey, watch it, Rafe.

Did you forget what you told me?

What are you doing?

What's the matter with you?

Who asked you here?

You want to know?

Yeah.

She did.

That's who.

Uh...

You're lying, boy.

She told me to come here, not you.

I asked you both.

I wanted to see who'd be the better man.

And she made her decision. See?

I think you been lying.

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

Rufus, look there.

Hyah!

Hyah!

Whoa!

Not at the cabin.

There's a woman and boy there.

Trouble runs to you like a calf to his mama.

Blue! What the hell...

You sure forget your friends in a hurry.

I thought you was from the flatiron.

I was so glad to see you, I never even looked.

Come on.

Lord was smiling down when he put you here.

We come looking for you.

We?

Dutchy!

Ja, it's me, all right.

That doctor in Alfred didn't take no credit.

Said we saved him

by leaving him in the wagon.

It was so cold, his blood wouldn't run.

Just sort of scabbed right up.

What the hell happened over there?

I need some help...

Bad.

Try and get us down there in this wagon.

Close to the shack, though.

Real close.

Load that gun.

Whoa! Whoa!

Hyah! Giddyup! Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah!

H.G.!

Get away from there!

Get away from there!

Get away!

Will!

Going to tell me about all this?

How'd you come to be here?

Couple of your compadres were looking for you.

I figured you might start up with something.

Then one of the lazy-bar-seven hands

said we had cattle scattered all over this country.

He kind of wondered

if we had anybody taking care of this camp.

I can see why we didn't.

You got it wrong all the ways.

It'll be all right. Don't worry none.

It was them rawhiders made the trouble.

They damn near killed me.

They would have done it

if it hadn't been for that lady.

What about them?

We come to take him with us.

That man catron owes us $50 each.

Them, too?

Hell, Alex, I couldn't turn them out

to winter up here alone.

That must have been some comfort to both of you.

There's no call for that.

What would you have done in my place?

Hell, I'd have took them down to headquarters.

We could have found work for them till spring

or till the wagon train come along.

Maybe you thought of that, too.

Yeah, I reckon I did.

We'll do that right now, then.

What happened?

Oh, Alex has got his back arched up some.

Can't hardly blame him.

He's sending you down below.

You coming with us?

You want us to go down and wait

while you work the winter up here?

I ain't staying here.

Will we go with you?

Cath.

Shoot, you're still married.

Pardon?

You got a husband.

I've never been married, really.

He'd never notice if we never showed up.

Except for the work.

You've been more of a father to Horace

than Reuben ever was.

That's not it, though, is it... Will?

Will, what is it?

This come on so--

so quicklike.

Will.

Before I married Reuben,

I had two whole years to think about it.

All of that time never helped a bit.

Now I've got a few minutes,

and I'm sure. Will...

I'm absolutely sure.

I'm damn near 50 years old.

Yes?

Oh...

What could we do?

There are lots of homesteads all over this land.

Will, Will, before...

When we talked,

what did you think we'd do?

I don't know. I...

I never really come face to face with it, I guess.

Will, do you love me?

What do I know about love?

Love? I guess you could call it that and more.

I never felt like this about... nobody.

I want you,

the button,

for my own, but...

But?

It takes a heap of time--years--

to build up a spread.

I don't have them years no more.

Homestead... we'd just be starting up

with a few measly cows.

Come next January, I'd be in a storm

trying to feed you, the button, and me.

We don't have to ranch. We can farm.

I don't know nothing about farming.

I do.

Cath, I'm a cowhand.

I been a cowhand all my life.

You scared?

Damn right.

Bad scared.

I told you before...

I lived one way my whole life.

What would I do?

Try to feed you and the boy

on some measly six-cow ranch.

What would I do?

Love us?

Aw... hell.

You don't know how bad it can be, ranching.

Say I-I got a...

Frostbit foot or broke my hand.

There we are starving.

How's love going to stand up to that?

It's supposed to, isn't it?

Yeah, I...

Come closer with you than I ever will...

With anybody.

I seen what it was meant to be like.

But it--

it's too late, Cath.

Too late for me.

I ain't a good gamble for you.

I wish luck to you, though.

I surely do that.

I love that boy.

Buena suerte.

Pick us up them $50?

That's right.

You bet.

I'm quitting, Alex.

I couldn't work here no more.

Any money you figure I got coming for my time,

give it to Mrs. Allen and the boy.

Is he ever coming back, ma?

Is he?

S-say goodbye, Horace.

Horace, wave goodbye.

Bye, Will.

Bye, Will!

Bye.

♪ Don't know too much ♪

♪ but one thing I'm sure of ♪

♪ a man ain't nothin' more than a man ♪

♪ A lonely rider playin' his time out ♪

♪ the best he can ♪

♪ the best he can ♪

♪ Too many joys ♪

♪ too swiftly tasted ♪

♪ Play the cards ♪

♪ as they fall ♪

♪ next thing you know ♪

♪ a man's purpose gets wasted ♪

♪ As the wind blows ♪

♪ that's how the tree grows ♪

♪ no matter where he chooses to travel ♪

♪ The lonely rider wakes every morn ♪

♪ and knows that he must go where he's guided ♪

♪ His fate was decided ♪

♪ on the day ♪

♪ he ♪

♪ was born ♪