Original subtitles

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Well, there they are, Mr. Jenks, eating into that hillside like locusts.

Look over there, Pa.

That's bad enough, but now I understand they're planning to move over

about 50 miles south of Crescent Mountain, cut the timber there.

That's what I hear.

It's... It's about...

Well, it's over 3,000 acres of the watershed.

You're a land agent, Mr. Jenks, you know what that means.

It means that that range below Crescent Mountain

- will be turned into a dust bowl. - Let me see that map, Pa.

But Mr. Milburn is within the law, Mr. Cartwright.

Anybody under the law now that doesn't own land in Nevada

can go in and file a timber claim.

- How does that work? - Under the Preemption Act,

you can go in, make improvements on a quarter section of land,

then you can claim it for $200.

Milburn owns a lot of land in Nevada. How did he get by that?

He's got a lot of men working for him that don't.

What they do is, each one of these hands goes in and claims a quarter section.

Then he sells the timber off to Milburn for $1

before he goes looking for another job.

That's just plain stealing, then, ain't it?

In a manner of speaking it is, but it's also legal.

It's also criminal.

Pa, take a look at this.

Without that quarter section,

Milburn couldn't afford to get his timber out, no access, no water.

- What do you think? - I think you're right.

Hey, Hoss, remember that patch of land Pa gave us last year?

- Yeah. - I'll toss you for it. Winner take all.

One of us wouldn't own any land in Nevada, would we?

That's right. Call it.

- Heads. - You win.

That wipes me out. I guess I can claim that quarter section, Mr. Jenks.

- That's right. - You know, I think it's worth a try.

I'll do better than try.

It'll take me a day to get there, two days to do the improvements.

I'll meet you at the Carson land office on Friday.

You know, Mr. Jenks,

someday there's gonna be a law to protect those forests.

When that day comes, I sure hope there's some forests around to protect.

Yes, sir, I do believe I caught myself one, at long last.

Come on, boy, get off your horse and come on down here.

Keep the hands away from that gun.

Yes, ma'am.

It would sure help me, ma'am, if I knew what this was all about.

Well, I told you, I was fixin' to catch myself a man, that's all.

You'll do real fine with the muscles you got... for choring, and all.

I got myself a bit of need right now.

Come on. Let's go home.

Look, lady, I'm trying to...

I'm not aiming to hit you,

but I'm shooting with my left hand and unnatural,

and this gun's got a hair trigger.

It's, uh... It's also empty.

- No, it ain't. - Oh, yes it is.

I guess I did fire both barrels.

- Kind of a fool thing to do, wasn't it? - Mm-hm.

You said something about a house nearby.

Yonder, near the edge of the lake. Come on, boy.

It's a real pretty place you got here.

The water, all them pines, real pretty.

Yeah, just the way the Lord made it, except for the cabin.

How long you been living here?

Been living up here for years, boy, why?

Oh, no reason, I didn't expect to find anybody up here, that's all.

Tie up that animal of yours. There's chores to be done.

Yes, ma'am.

- Ma'am, there's something you ought... - My name's Carrie.

Mrs. Amos Picket.

My Amos been gone now three years or more.

- I'm sorry, Miss Carrie. - How are you called, boy?

Cartwright, Joe Cartwright. I'd like you to look at this map...

I ain't ate much since yesterday, Joe.

Truth be told, I ain't ate nothing at all.

There's some beans on the back of the stove.

I'll warm 'em up for supper.

Could you do it for me?

Miss Carrie?

Miss Carrie?

How about some more coffee?

I was noticing that hand. How'd you hurt it?

You know, I been trapping critters most of my days.

It's the first time I ever got chawed on.

You were bitten? Let me take a look at that.

- No, it's nothing. - An animal bite's nothing to fool with.

- You ought to let a doctor see it. - Don't worry your head about it.

It'll heal in time.

It wouldn't hurt none to have a doctor look at it.

You're gonna have to ride into town with me anyway.

What do you mean?

That's what I was trying to tell you. This property you're living on?

It's government land, you're gonna have to file a claim.

It ain't government land, it's mine.

- Nobody's gonna tell me any different. - Miss Carrie, it is.

- You like living here, don't you? - What kind of a fool question's that?

I wouldn't be here if I didn't.

With my Amos lying over there in the lake grove,

I wouldn't live nowhere else.

Ma'am, you will be living somewhere else unless...

Come over here, boy.

What do you hear, boy?

Well, the wind talking to the pines. Miss Carrie, I...

That's just how my Amos used to say it, just like.

Pure mountain man, my Amos.

Couldn't live nowhere else but in the deep piney woods.

Couldn't breathe nowhere else.

You be feeling things the same way, Joe.

Well, they're different pines where I come from, but the same wind, I guess.

Look, Miss Carrie, I'm a rancher, but I care about the forests, too.

You're gonna have to file on this property or you're gonna lose it.

It ain't possible.

It's mine and it's gonna stay mine as long as I draw breath.

It ain't yours and it's not gonna stay yours

unless you file a claim and pay the government $200.

Land offices and clerks and rule books meaning what they want 'em to mean.

You know them clerks took away a ranch from my Amos' daddy?

Run a road smack through his cabin.

That's why we come here, to get clean away from everybody.

My Amos built this cabin and he left it for me.

And I don't have to claim on what's already mine.

Ma'am, it's the law. It's the law!

If you don't file, you're gonna find your piney woods stripped clean.

You're just trying to scare me.

I am not trying to scare you. I'm trying to tell you the truth.

Now, there's a man named Milburn, Jason Milburn.

He's gonna log out the whole side of Crescent Mountain.

He can't. He can't! It don't belong to him.

You keep saying he can't. He can and he will.

Unless you file that claim, and you're gonna do it tomorrow.

- What's the matter? - Oh, I'd better sit down.

Here.

Do you want me to get you something?

You got a lot of gentleness in you, Joe, just like my Amos.

Putting that blanket on me, and all.

Stay and do for me, just for a little.

Just till I get my strength back?

Doing for you isn't gonna help anything, Carrie.

You're gonna have to file that claim and you're gonna have to see a doctor.

Have him lop off my hand?

Is that what you're so scared about? If it's that bad...

No. No. It ain't nowhere near that bad.

All right then, it's settled.

Tomorrow, I take you to the doctor and to the land office.

You go and get some sleep.

We'll talk about tomorrow when tomorrow comes.

Where you going, boy?

Not me, we. We're gonna ride into town, like I said last night.

- I told you I wasn't going with you. - Well, you are going.

If you don't, a man named Milburn is gonna file on this land of yours.

All this talk about a man named Milburn.

I think you're gonna steal my piney woods yourself.

Now, come on, Carrie, you know better than that.

Why don't you stop your arguing, go in the house

and get ready to ride into town with me?

I can't, even if I wanted to. I'm too sick to sit a horse.

All right, I'll file the claim for you and bring the doctor out here.

File all the claims you want to! You still won't get my piney woods.

I'll stand you off. I've fought Indians aplenty.

- Oh! - Let me see that.

No, leave it be. It's all right. It's doing all right of itself. Leave it be.

I'm sorry you hurt your hand.

Go on, ride out.

Before you go, fill the water bucket down at the lake.

The well's been dry for a year.

Least you can do, when you're leaving a poor old lady to fend for herself.

Go on, get out of here. Go on. Go on.

Go on, get out of here. Go on.

Go on. This way. That's it. Go on.

Go on, get out. That's it. Go on. Get out.

- What kind of a stupid trick was that? - Your horse got loose.

My horse got loose? You turned him loose, didn't you?

I'm gonna find that horse, saddle him, and I'm going to ride him into town.

You can't leave me without any food in the house.

Don't give me none of that. You got enough food to keep you till I get back.

Joe, I been going through the cupboard.

There ain't enough food left for one supper.

Carrie, we've been through all this before.

I checked the cupboard. There's plenty of food there for you.

I wish you'd come and see for yourself. I'm telling you the truth.

And my horse better be there when I come out.

You wouldn't leave a poor old lady to starve now, would you?

I hate you.

Jenks.

Oh. Say, aren't you gentlemen a day early?

Two days! I thought Joseph was gonna file that claim on Friday.

Well, he is, but Hoss and I here decided we were gonna ride up to Crescent,

and thought maybe you'd like to ride along with us.

You could be a witness to the improvements that Joe made,

and have that claim right in the hand to stop Milburn.

Well, I have work to do here.

Those streams up there are chock plumb full of them trout.

Mr. Jenks, the government has a stake in that watershed, too.

The basin it feeds won't be worth a cent once all that timber's gone,

and you'll have at least 20 ranchers going bankrupt.

You'll have flood and drought, and more flood and more drought.

Oh, and them trout are good eating, too.

They do everything but jump right out of the stream and into your frying pan.

Oh, there's nothing like fresh trout for breakfast.

All right.

You know, we do have a stake in that watershed.

I don't look forward to the ride.

It's been ten years since I rode a horse that far, but it's...

It's a worthy cause.

Damn it!

Carrie, it took me three hours to flush out that partridge.

You saw it was burning, you couldn't even give me a holler.

I figured you'd notice it and come running, and you did.

That's what you figured, huh? All right, fine!

The soup hasn't burned.

You'd better see it doesn't cause that's all you're gonna have for the next day.

What do you mean?

I mean I'm gonna file on this land for you, whether you like it or not.

See you Saturday morning.

Joe Cartwright! Joe!

You can't mean it. Joe!

Joe Cartwright, you can't do it.

You can't do it. You can't do me out of my piney woods this way. You can't.

Claim-jumper!

You go down out of this mountain and you don't need never come back.

You hear? Never!

Carrie Picket, you're a stubborn, cantankerous old woman,

but I'm gonna save these piney woods for you, in spite of yourself.

Oh, Joe. I'm sicker than I let on, Joe, please.

All right, come on, get up, Carrie.

Come on, get up. It's not gonna work, not this time.

I'm getting sick and tired of you trying to fool me, old woman.

Miss Carrie?

Miss Carrie, why didn't you tell me how bad it was?

Weren't nothing to do but let it heal by itself.

- You've got to have a doctor... - Joe.

A doctor will leave me one-handed.

And I can't do for myself no more.

I'll have to leave my mountain.

My Amos is here.

Can't live nowhere else.

I got to breathe free, Joe.

Don't you worry, Miss Carrie, you're gonna breathe free.

You try and get some sleep.

I'll be back with that doctor as quick as I can.

It's not all that bad, Joe.

Hoss, that's three whole steaks you've plowed through.

- Mm-mm! Good grub in this place. - Oh.

Mr. Jenks, you feeling that ride a little bit?

More than a little bit, I'm afraid.

I hope nobody objects if we get off to a late start in the morning.

- Ain't no big hurry, is there, Pa? - No.

Joe will have finished the improvement work by now.

Good. We can get on with our trout fishing, huh?

Mr. Jenks, I think what you need is a good night's rest.

Let's see if we can find ourselves a place to sleep.

That's three dinners and, uh... five steaks.

What's a good place to find some rooms for the night?

Right here, mister. Only place in Crescent City, but I have one room left.

Mr. Milburn and a couple of friends rented the others already.

The room has a double bed, though, and I could rustle up a cot.

Well, Mr. Jenks, you take the cot, and Hoss and I will share the bed.

Hoss, can I at least have half the bed?

Say, would you get that cot up right away, please?

I'm practically asleep on my feet.

Very good. Up the stairs, second door on the right.

- I'll have it up right away. - Thank you.

Looks like we got here just in time, huh?

Mr. Milburn... Doc.

- Did you see who went up them stairs? - Who?

- Competitor of yours, Ben Cartwright. - Cartwright, huh?

I never met him. If I had access to his holdings

I could set up an operation that would be very lucrative, very.

No chance. Mr. Cartwright is a man of principle.

He believes in conservation.

Conservation! That's for dreamers and fools.

And for people who feel an obligation to the future?

Doc's principles are showing.

Kinda rusty... but they're showing.

Really, Doc? You developing principles?

I would if I could afford it, but I can't.

That's why I work for you.

A few more remarks like that and you won't.

What did you find on the mountain?

Well, there's a cabin on that key quarter section.

There's two people living there,

a young guy and an old woman, a sick old woman.

If there's no record of anybody ever filing a claim,

it doesn't matter who's there.

I'll buy the cabin, burn it down.

We'd better ride soon as it's light.

Come on, I'll stand you to a nightcap.

Excuse me, mister.

Speak of the devil.

That's the young fellow I saw up on the mountain this morning.

- What'll it be, mister? - Where can I find a doctor?

You can't, not now. Doc Jarvis won't be back until morning.

Well, is he the only doc in town?

- Tomorrow morning may be too late. - Well, there's a doctor right here.

Dr. Belden. Of course, he hasn't practiced in some time.

Hey, Doc, why don't you at least see what you can do?

Look, Doc, there's a lady who needs your help real bad.

Sorry.

He still has his doctor's bag with him.

You might remind him of that.

It's been so long since he done any doctoring,

- he ain't gonna help that old lady. - I know. That's the whole idea.

- Light the lamp. I'm coming in. - Look, I told you...

I don't care what you told me. Light the lamp.

I haven't practiced medicine for a long time.

You're a doctor. You know more than I do. I need your help.

- You'll have to get somebody else. - There isn't anybody else.

It's an old woman. She's got an infected hand, poisoned by an animal bite.

- How badly? - Pretty bad. Her hand's all swelled up.

Running a high fever.

Blood poison, an animal bite.

That can mean an amputation.

You want me to go with you to cut off the hand?

I want you to save her life.

- What makes you think I can? - I thought it was a doctor's job to try.

You and everyone else.

A doctor's supposed to be on call day and night, to go anywhere, any time.

To give help and medicine to people who can't or won't pay.

Well, I got tired of being poor.

That's why I gave up the practice of medicine. Now get out.

Just what do you think you're doing?

There's your fee in advance. Let's go.

And if I say no, I suppose you'll draw your gun.

What do you think?

I believe you would.

All right, sir. I'll go with you.

That's right.

Yeah, it's all right.

Now...

Let's see, where did I...?

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

That's where I put it.

Where'd I put it?

Here it is.

You're an old fool, Carrie Picket, just like Joe said you was.

Nobody's gonna steal my piney woods.

Nobody.

I told you to git and never come back.

Put the gun down, Carrie.

I ain't aiming to kill you exactly, but I'm shooting left-handed and unnatural,

- and... - And you've only got one shot left.

We've been through this before. Put the gun down.

Let Doc Belden take a look at you.

You're like my Amos, right enough, Joe Cartwright.

I wanna know if this is a trick to get my piney away from me.

Come on, Carrie, you know me better than that, it's no trick.

You've got my word the doc won't do a thing without your say-so.

All right?

That's my girl.

Okay, Doc, you can take a look at her.

I'll need a clean towel, Mr. Cartwright.

There you go.

I'm sorry, sorrier than you know,

but you're gonna have to lose it.

Oh, Joe, I told you.

I told you. I told you. I told you.

- Now, Carrie, take it easy. - I told you. I told you, Joe.

- I told you, Joe. - I need a wash basin.

- Boiling water, some bandages. - Take it easy. Doc, are you sure?

I'm sure.

Oh, Joe, don't let him do it. Don't let him do it, Joe.

- Carrie, listen to me. It's your life. - I don't care if I live. I don't care.

I got ready to die before you come.

I put on my Chinese silk scarf that Amos give me for my wedding present.

I been treasuring it for my burying. I just wanna die here near my Amos.

You promised, Joe.

You promised.

I can't let you take off her hand.

She's making a mistake. That infected hand isn't her life.

Well, she thinks it is. You're gonna have to try to save it.

- I can't save her hand. - You have to try something, anything.

I can try a drain, but if it doesn't work, it'll be her life.

We try the drain.

Carrie, everything's gonna be all right.

Just so he don't take off my hand. Promise.

Mr. Cartwright doesn't have to promise.

I'll do what I can, all I can, without amputation.

Mr. Cartwright, I'll need your assistance.

- When do you think we'll know? - Whenever the fever breaks.

If it breaks.

All we can do now is wait and hope.

- You got a file on this land? - No, Miss Carrie does.

Too late now, even if she lives, she won't be able to stay here.

A month from now, there won't be a tree left on this mountain.

Yeah, well, I wouldn't count on that.

Milburn will be here soon, with Marks and some of his loggers.

I work for Mr. Milburn.

They won't let you go down the mountain to the land office ahead of them.

Yeah? Just how do you think he's gonna stop me?

Five or six to one?

They'll stop you.

Even if you get past them, it's first come, first served at the land office.

They need her signature on the paper. How you gonna get it?

Well, you must like working for a man like Milburn.

- He pays me very well. - That's all you think about, huh?

Not whether it's right or wrong, just so you get your money.

It's my job, filling out claim papers for Mr. Milburn.

Just happen to have one on this quarter section.

All it needs is a signature.

Milburn and Marks.

Watch out for Marks. He's tricky.

- Let's put the horses in the corral. - Yeah.

- Good morning, young man. - Mr. Milburn.

I trust Dr. Belden has proved useful and the patient is recovering.

She's still pretty sick.

Perhaps I can assist you in another way.

The patient would be better off in town, where she could get adequate help.

If money is a problem, I'll, er... buy this cabin.

Pay her handsomely for it, so that you can buy medicines and medical help.

Oh, that's very generous.

- We're not interested. - Oh, this land isn't yours.

- You've filed no claim. - That'll be taken care of.

I'm afraid it's a little too late for that.

I don't think so.

The improvements have already been made. I'll file a claim for the lady.

Why don't you two get on your horses and get off this property?

I, uh... don't think I'm going to do that, young man.

- I think you will. - Oh?

As I said before, young man, I'm afraid I can't do that.

Better tie up that young man. I don't want any more trouble.

You put the gun away.

You, Kelly, you come on down and do like the boss said.

Get a chunk of rope off that wall.

Milburn!

- Turn him loose. - What is this, Belden?

Quitting time, Mr. Milburn. This is one piece of timber you're not going to get.

Doc...

Put the gun away. You ain't the man for this kind of work.

Try me.

Doc, put the gun down...

or I'll kill this young man here.

Go ahead, Doc.

I told you this wasn't your line of work, Doc.

Now, we've got two to tie up now.

Not the doc. There's a sick woman in there. She needs Doc Belden.

Dr. Belden is an employee of mine.

I'll see to it he takes very good care of your friend in town,

after you both get off this land.

She's not well enough to make that trip. She may be dying.

I'm a long ways from dying, Joe, my fever's broke.

I been watching you two.

You git off my land, you trash.

This isn't your land, madam.

It sure is. I just signed this here claim paper.

- Where did you get that? - The doc here give it to me.

Get this woman on a horse and get her into town.

You put that woman on a horse, you'll kill her.

I'll risk it.

Joe!

Back it up!

All the way!

Move back. Move back.

Get me some water!

Let me help. I'm a doctor.

Mr. Cartwright. I, uh...

I've always wanted to meet you, perhaps under less awkward circumstances.

What started off as a business proposition ended up as...

I know exactly what happened here.

Sir, all I'm trying to do...

What you're trying to do is steal some more timber.

As a businessman, Mr. Cartwright, you must understand...

There's something you must understand.

This is my son that you've beaten up.

I'm all right.

Mr. Jenks, you bring that claim book with you?

I sure do.

It's that lady's claim paper, all filled out.

And I got the money right here.

Gold dust. My Amos brought it from California.

I been saving it against a mighty need.

Well, ma'am, I'm afraid that this is...

Looks like enough gold to me. What do you think, Pa?

Mr. Jenks, I think by the time you get to Carson City

you'll find that there's probably more than $200 worth there.

Oh, I'm sure there'll be enough here.

Like I told you before, Mr. Milburn, get off this property.

You won, Joe.

You saved my piney woods.

Pa, I want you to meet Carrie Picket.

- Miss Picket. - And this is Doc Belden.

Hasn't been doing too much doctoring lately, but when he does, it's great.

I think I'll do a great deal more from now on.

He's a pretty good man in a fight, too. Thanks, Doc.

I'm afraid I didn't help you too much, but you did a lot for me.

You made me open my eyes and take a good look at myself.

I'll tell you, Doc, that wound's gonna be closed again,

unless you start to use some of your own medicine.

You both need doctoring. Looks like I'm the healthiest one around here.

Come on in the house.

Miss Carrie, I'll be back tomorrow to check on your hand.

It's time.

Joe's cleaning up inside.

- He'll be out in a minute. - Good.

- Are you all right, Joe? - Oh, yeah, I'm fine.

Don't you worry about me. Sure you'll be all right up here alone?

Oh, I'll be fine.

You know, I can hardly believe that I was so scared for so long,

and now... all of a sudden, everything's all right.

And you done it for me, Joe.

Oh, it wasn't just me. We all wanted it that way.

Joe!

I ain't seen the likes of you since my Amos.

And before, neither.

If I had me 20 years less...

And if I had me 20 years more.

Cause I ain't never seen the likes of you, either.

You're stubborn and you're cantankerous.

But they just ain't making girls into women like that no more.

I know, I looked around.

Goodbye, Carrie Picket.

Goodbye, Joe Cartwright.