Original subtitles

And if the lady would be so kind.

- Where do you want her? - The usual, by the chair.

Sir?

When were you married?

About a month ago now.

Oh, newlyweds.

We've had some wait so long to make the portrait

the bride's dress no longer fit.

Steady.

One, two, three, and hold.

Hold.

Hold.

And as you were.

I found myself holding my breath.

Sir, I understand you would like to make a second portrait.

Yes, my brother's request.

A family portrait, how lovely.

Will it be a gift for your mother?

No, a keepsake for my brother here. My wife and I are headed to California.

Then we must make another picture, one for each of you.

-God knows when you'll be together again. -No, one picture will suffice.

One, two, three.

We'll have Christmas in New York and get you a proper wardrobe.

And I'll meet with furniture dealers.

Is there anything you desire for our new home?

You should please yourself.

When we're out from under this roof,

things will be easier.

Am I hurting you?

No.

Coming through.

You're taking Father's portrait.

Did you want it?

No.

Careful with that one.

I hear there's sunshine all year in California.

Will you stay there long enough to enjoy it?

What makes you think I wouldn't?

You're gonna break his heart.

I've told him I don't want to go.

It isn't my fault if he doesn't listen.

Marriage isn't so easy to undo.

No.

But perhaps it can be slipped out of…

like a poorly made knot.

Will you bring me back an orange?

Don't think I plan to return here.

Should I try with my mouth?

No, just…

I could cover my face. That helps sometimes.

Shut up.

Come on…

Get out.

-Um… -Get out!

Get out!

Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out!

Oh my God.

♪ Should auld acquaintance Be forgot ♪

♪ And never brought to mind? ♪

♪ Should auld acquaintance be forgot ♪

♪ And auld lang syne? ♪

♪ For auld lang syne, my dear ♪

Cheers!

♪ For auld lang syne! ♪

♪ We'll take a cup… ♪

Cathy!

- Excuse me. She's right there. - Ah.

Cathy!

♪ For auld lang syne, my dear ♪

♪ For auld lang syne… ♪

Welcome to 1900!

To hell with that rotten century!

Let's get the door closed shut on it!

We'll only stay in Salinas until we find our home.

The valley to the south of here is meant to be a wonder.

Bad women.

Brothels? Oh, no. No, thank you.

I've hired this man Hamilton to help look for properties.

The hotel manager said Samuel Hamilton will know the best land

because he's in possession of the worst.

It seems his bad luck has become local amusement.

But the manager said there's no one more respected,

which is saying something for an Irishman.

Aren't you gonna ready yourself?

You go.

I'm tired from our journey.

Don't you wanna help choose where we'll live?

You already chose where we live.

It's a wedding present. I had to wait for it to get engraved.

Go on, open it.

Cathy.

With time,

you will be happy.

Did I tell you about Tom?

Well, there came a dance at the Peachtree School.

Our boys each asked a lady,

but Tom, as usual, took too big a helping,

and he invited both Williams sisters.

And you couldn't take even one of the Williams sisters out on the rake.

What did Tom do?

Well, he wrestled Liza's fine horsehair sofa out of the house.

And he tied the sofa to the hay rake,

hitched up, and proceeded to drag the whole thing across the valley

with the two Williams sisters reclining in style.

Our sofa came back thin as a wafer.

But I… I caution you not to mention the word "sofa" in the Hamilton house.

It's a word of great sorrow to Liza now.

I take it we won't be riding out on any of your furniture today?

You must be the man who wants to buy into our valley.

-Samuel Hamilton. -Adam Trask.

-Adam, welcome. -Thank you.

- Louis Lippo. - Louis. Adam.

- Rabbit Holman. - Adam.

- Right, well… - Shall we?

We shall.

- Come with me. - How far out do we need to go?

Pretty far from Salinas.

Yeah, we're closer to King City here.

- Is the valley always so dry? - Ah, not to worry.

There's rich loam around here.

Plenty of water underground if you know where to look.

The old Spanish ranches were all carved up years ago,

but there's a good 900 acres left of the Sanchez Ranch. Uh…

Take a pretty penny,

but, uh, can't think of a better place for a man to set down roots.

You'll need to do some rebuilding.

Whitewash.

And you and, uh, your wife could stay in the servant's quarters

while this place is finished.

Will you be hiring help?

I suppose we'll need to.

Yeah, some folks send to Sacramento or San Francisco for a Chinaman.

You know, they're, uh, quiet fellows, and they can cook and clean.

What do you intend to farm?

I don't know.

My brother's the farmer.

Maybe I could find someone to help me run things.

I should warn you. Fixing this place could run into money.

That's no matter.

I wanna build a home worthy of my wife,

to repay her.

Surely she needs no repaying.

Before Cathy, I had a gray life.

And a home was a place to wait for death,

the way you might wait for a dreadful picnic.

And then Cathy came.

She changed my world the way a star shell changes a battleground.

She lit it up.

There were no limits to anything.

I wasn't afraid anymore, and all of this coming out of this hurt little girl.

Not out of you?

No.

My wife has not had an easy life, Mr. Hamilton.

I only wanna offer her the happiness that she deserves.

An angel needs a paradise.

Cathy.

I found our new home.

Cathy.

Cathy?

Cathy, wake up.

Cathy.

Doctor!

We need a doctor!

Will she be all right?

What caused it?

Step outside a moment, Mr. Trask, so I can finish the examination.

For your wife's modesty.

I'll be in the hall if you need me.

What did you do it with?

Oh, the things women do.

You've nearly killed yourself.

And for no reason. Your aim was bad. The baby is safe.

Does your husband know you're pregnant?

There are women out there wasting and crying for a baby,

women who would give everything to have what you have.

Can't you see, my dear?

You must not destroy life.

All right.

You won't speak. You don't have to.

But I will tell you this.

You will not try it again.

Do you know what the law in this state has to say about abortion?

If you lose this baby and I have any reason to suspect,

I will charge you.

And I'll see you're punished.

You don't understand.

Adam is good, and I am tainted.

Whatever do you mean?

Epilepsy.

Not you?

No, but my grandfather and my father. My brother.

I didn't want to bring that to my husband.

Poor child.

Let me ease your worry.

It's more than probable that your child will be fine and healthy.

Now, will you promise me

not to try any more tricks?

- Mr. Trask. - Yes.

Your wife is sick. She has the only good sickness there is.

Your wife is gonna have a baby.

Wha…

What?

Oh, Cathy.

Oh, goodness.

Cathy, baby.

Baby.

My brother, Charles.

Cathy and I have settled in the Salinas Valley,

as beautiful a place as I've ever seen.

There is a different scale to life here,

an expansiveness that makes a man feel like anything is possible.

I can't help but think of you stuck in the cold house of our youth.

I wish you could free yourself as I have done.

Cathy is expecting our first child.

It's a blessing.

Perhaps someday you'll join us here.

Missus need anything else?

Cathy!

Mr. Hamilton has come to dowse for our wells.

Lay an extra plate for supper.

Come on.

Rabbit Holman said we need it for protection,

but I don't intend to shoot it,

except maybe at coyotes.

Got enough shooting fighting the Indians?

- I don't want to talk about that. - What? Why not?

See, if I had fought the Indians, God help my family and neighbors.

I couldn't find good enough reasons for killing

nor understand the reasons that were explained.

I find myself telling you more than I mean to.

Ah, maybe because I want to hear.

Here, I eat stories like grapes.

You should have seen Mr. Hamilton's stick plummet to the ground,

just like it was planting itself there.

Your husband knows how to pick a piece of land.

There's water here, plenty of it.

Do you like our valley, Mrs. Trask?

Uh, if it isn't impertinent to ask, um, when do you expect your baby?

The baby will come at the end of the summer.

Isn't that right, Cathy?

Hm.

My wife is one of those paragons of a woman who does not talk very much.

Well, sometimes the silence tells the most.

Uh…

I've just remembered.

I promised my Liza I'd take myself right home.

- My apologies, Mrs. Trask. - It'll be getting dark soon.

- I thought you'd stay the night. - No, there'll be a moon.

I'll return in a week's time to dig those wells.

What's your name?

Lee.

Just Lee?

Lee family name.

Call Lee.

Ah. I've read quite a lot about China.

Where were you born?

Born here, California.

I mean no disrespect, but, uh…

I've never been able to work out why you people talk pidgin

when a boy from the black bogs of Ireland, his head full of Gaelic,

could, uh, learn to talk a poor grade of English in a matter of years.

Me talk Chinese talk.

I suppose you have your reasons.

But you'll forgive me if I don't believe you.

Mostly, we have to use it to be understood at all.

You look in a man's eyes, you see, he expects pidgin and a shuffle,

so you speak pidgin and shuffle.

English, for me, they don't listen to, and they don't understand.

Talk Chinese talk, wear Chinese fashion.

You savvy?

Oh, I'd like a hidey-hole like that.

You know, I suppose I have my own version. You know, the merry Irishman.

I tell jokes because, uh, people expect me to make them laugh.

Mmm.

It isn't the same.

So, tell me.

Tell me.

You weren't born in America,

and yet after a few years, you can almost disappear,

while I have no chance of mixing.

But if you cut your queue and you talked and dressed like everybody else--

I've tried it.

To the so-called whites, I was still a Chinese,

only an untrustworthy one, and my Chinese friends steered clear.

I had to give it up.

Yeah, must… must be

a lonely life.

Lee.

Is there something wrong here?

With the Trasks?

I felt like a… a goose walked over my grave back there.

Have you ever seen a wrestler go slack

and win by using the momentum of his opponent?

That's what she reminds me of.

There's an absence there,

like she's gone away and left a breathing doll in her place.

Directions to my farm,

if you ever need me.

Liza's right.

My imagination will give me a passport to hell one of these days.

And, uh, feel free

to look through that before you give it back.

I wouldn't mind having someone to discuss such matters with.

Do you know what I found myself thinking about?

Old Sanchez, who first built this place.

And you know what I think about most?

If he had a Cathy, and who she was.

You know, one day

not too far away,

the whole valley will be green with our crops.

And you'll see it

from that big window in that fine, finished house.

- Adam. - Hm?

I didn't want to come here.

I don't intend to stay here.

And as soon as I can, I will go away.

Okay, come out before you catch a cold. Come on.

One day, there'll be a way to get a peach like this clear to Philadelphia.

Always talking about how it'll be someday.

They're getting ready to put arc lights in the streets in Salinas.

Change is coming, Rabbit.

Well, I wonder whether people will be happy when it does.

Happy? Watch out, he's haywire now.

A cousin of mine back in Ireland, rich and handsome fellow,

shot himself on a silken couch

sitting beside the most beautiful woman in the world, who loved him.

Now, some folk have a capacity for appetite

that a whole heaven and earth of cake won't satisfy.

Mr. Trask! Mr. Trask!

- Why is it so dark in here? - Missus say her eye hurt.

- What are you doing? - We need light to do our work.

She says it hurts her.

She can close her eyes. Lee, put the kettle on to boil

and bring me some clean rags, plenty of them.

Should I call for the doctor?

Well, no. He won't come unless it goes wrong.

Now, you're not to worry.

I've helped Liza bring nine babies into this world.

- Samuel, what are you doing?! - Adam!

It's considered a sweet practice for you to get drunk right now.

Go! Out you go.

Now, go on. Do as I say.

And, uh, tell Lee to bring a rope for pulling.

She's nearly there.

There. It's all right.

There, now. Your baby will come very soon. Don't worry.

Argh.

A collie bitch did the same to me once.

I might have to muzzle you as well.

I can save you some pain, Mrs. Trask, or I can leave you to welter.

What's it to be?

You have two fine, healthy sons.

Each one was born separate in his own sac.

Your wife must be made of whalebone.

Came so fast, could scarcely catch them.

Cathy, aren't they beautiful?

Mrs. Trask hasn't felt up to seeing her boys yet.

Cathy, we have two sons.

I don't want them.

Well, you're tired now, Mrs. Trask. You'll soon change your mind.

I won't change.

I don't want them.

Cathy.

Cathy.

Cathy, look at me.

Look at me, please.

- Cover the windows and go away. - It's just weariness, Adam.

In a few days, she'll feel different. She won't remember.

I will remember. Take them out of the room and leave me alone.

What? What are you saying? What is the matter?

Leave me alone.

Come on. We'll bathe the babies in the kitchen.

No, I won't leave her.

I don't want you.

I will stay.

Fine.

But don't talk to me.

Take them out of the room and turn the lamp off.

What is that?

Ng Ka Py. It's brandy made with wormwood.

Let it sit on the back of your throat before you swallow.

Have you ever seen a mother behave this way?

I find myself thinking of fairy tales my father told me.

We Chinese have a highly developed demonology.

You think she's a demon?

Of course not.

But you wouldn't happen to need a cook, would you?

No, I'll… I'll fetch my Liza.

If she feels trouble, we'll bar the door.

Okay, now we take the cork.

And this will help to cool it.

There's two of them. They'll be hungry.

All right. Uh, give me your arm.

You feel that?

- Just want it warm, not hot. - Mm-hmm.

- You got that? Every time. - Mm. Mm.

Gently.

And one there.

Hard as rocks.

Once the milk is dried up, you shouldn't be in pain much longer.

So what we do, we go over the shoulder.

You have to hold that. Right.

And then what we do is give the back a little rub. That's right. Yeah.

How does the missus strike ye?

No fault but a touch of laziness.

She doesn't lift a finger in regards to those babies.

Won't even try to suckle them.

The Lord, in his wisdom, gave money to curious people.

Perhaps because they'd starve without.

Quite a spell she's put on her husband, I must say.

He moons around her like a sick duck. Hardly looks at the twins.

Well, she's lazy, and he's moony.

Who's going to take care of the sweet babies?

I'd have sworn he was a heathen, wouldn't you?

I don't know.

Samuel. Anyone would.

But he's learned everything I've told him.

Cares for the twins as well as you could ask.

It's a matter for praise and a matter for prayer.

Mrs. Hamilton.

I, uh…

I don't know how we'll ever repay you.

You can start by naming those babies.

I won't have them damned for lack of christening.

As soon as my wife is herself again.

Hm.

Don't worry. Those babies will have her right in no time.

I warm bottle for when baby awake.

If that's what Mrs. Hamilton told you to do.

Cathy. Are you all right?

I wanted to take a stroll in the garden,

let my hair dry.

You well enough for that?

Mm-hmm. The longer I act like an invalid, the longer I'll feel like one.

Adam, would you accompany me?

Yes.

Lee, you'll have to head to King City.

I don't like the bottles we're using for the babies.

Purchase some glass ones with rubber nipples.

-Mrs. Hamilton say-- -This is not Mrs. Hamilton's house.

If you head out now, you'll have time to come back and prepare dinner.

Why don't you let him stay the night? He hasn't had a night off in so long.

He can spend the night in King City.

I should have thought of that myself. Here, we'll see you tomorrow, Lee.

Mr. Trask be okay?

Sure. If we need something, Rabbit Holman's always around.

He go home. Uh, all carpenter gone till Monday.

You act as if we're helpless. Go on. Enjoy yourself in King City.

I'm so glad that you invited me outside.

Beautiful.

Cathy!

Okay. Okay.

Okay. Okay. Okay.

Cathy?

Cathy?

Cathy?

I think the babies need feeding.

I'm going away now.

What?

What on earth do you mean?

I told you before.

You… you didn't.

-You… you didn't say anything. -I did. You just weren't listening.

Cathy, the babies need you. They need their mother.

Throw them in one of your wells.

What?

You are sick!

You can't leave me!

No! No, no, no, no, no!

No!

Adam?

Adam, please, can you open the door?

Let's talk about this, please.

Adam?

Cathy?

Adam?

Adam?

I'm sorry.

I didn't know you'd take it this badly, and I'm sorry.

Can you please just open the door, and we can talk about it?

If you'll let me out, we can talk about it. Please?

I'm sorry, my poor Adam.

I'm sorry…

Will you open the door?

I…

My poor darling Adam. I'm so sorry.

Mr. Trask?!

Missy Trask?!

Mr. Trask?

Mr. Trask?

Adam. Adam?!

Adam?

Adam.

Adam, what's happened?

Adam?

Howdy, Mr. Trask.

Sheriff Quinn.

Rabbit Holman

said you got hurt.

How'd it happen?

I was cleaning my gun,

and it went off.

You got the gun around?

So,

how'd it happen?

You cleaned the barrel with a rod,

and you hadn't swung the cylinder out to see if it was loaded?

That's right.

And you were cleaning it

with the barrel pointed toward you,

with the hammer cocked?

Now…

You wouldn't want me to write a report like that, would you?

All I know is that it went off.

Let's see what your wife has to say. Ching Chong,

tell Missy Trask I would admire to talk to her a minute.

- She gone away. - Away?

Where? She's just had those babies.

Did your wife shoot you?

I told you it was an accident.

All right.

An accident.

But was the gun

in her hand?

Mr. Trask,

you've been shot, and your wife is missing.

If you don't start talkin',

I'm gonna have no choice but to arrest you.

She had a secret…

and I promised I wouldn't ask.

For a year, you've been living with your heart's draining,

and you haven't even laid a number to those boys.

And Liza says if I don't get them named today,

there'll be no warm place in the house for me.

For inspiration.

Adam.

Have you no love?

I had.

Enough to kill me.

No one ever had enough.

Your boys are here, and they need you.

What I do is my business.

I told Liza I'd pummel sense into you if I had to.

Your boys will have names.

Seems to me,

you're in the fortunate position of knowing your children

before you name them.

-What can you tell me of their characters? -What is there to tell?

They're babies.

In my experience, babies let their nature be known.

Be good, be good. Okay, okay. I'm leaving.

Is there a Bible name you favor?

Or a family name you wish to preserve?

Eh, what a shame that the proper names for them, they cannot have.

What do you mean?

Firstborn of Adam.

Cain and Abel.

Don't say that. Don't damn them.

I don't find it damning.

Cain and Abel. I think it's everybody's story.

The greatest terror a child can have is that he isn't loved.

Rejection is the hell he fears.

And with rejection comes anger.

And with anger, a need for revenge.

And that is the story of mankind.

If rejection could be eliminated,

I think the human would not be what he is.

I think we would be better.

All right. Share with your brother.

All right. All right. Let him have some too.

They need names.

Of all the people that started out of Egypt,

only two got to the Promised Land.

Caleb and Joshua.

No, Joshua was a soldier.

No soldiers.

But Caleb.

Caleb Trask.

You've called his name. Hmm?

Uh, and the other one?

I've always liked Aron.

Great human for a prophet.

What do you think?

Caleb.

Aron.

Now you are people and have the right to be damned.

Be good, be good. Okay, okay.

I'll go get the Trask family Bible to write down their names.

I swear he used to speak differently.

Well, maybe now you can think about planting a garden.

I have no one to show a garden to.

But what… what about your babies?

Caleb and Aron.

Did you ever hear news of Cathy?

Where she could have gone?

Don't expect the feeling to die.

It won't ever die until you do.

Act out being alive.

Eventually, it will be true.

Why should I?

You are going to pass down something,

no matter what happens,

even if you do nothing.

The weeds will grow, and the brambles.

Something will grow.

Samuel.

If you hear news of Cathy,

you'll tell me?

Aye.