All language subtitles for The Virginian - 1x24 - The Golden Door

[ theme music playing ]

I'll race you to
the Keel place, Trampas!

Yo!

Come on, let's move!
Come on! Go!

Come on! Yee!

Ahh.

[ whistles ]

Uh, Mr. Keel?

Mr. Keel!

Mr. Keel?

Mr. Keel?

Aaah!

Aaaaah!

It's only a little
nerve tonic.

Just swallow it down.

Better?

Maybe you ought to
lie down,

try to nap a little.

I'm afraid
if I close my eyes,

I'll see his body
all twisted.

You know, I saw Keel
in town yesterday.

He must've been
killed today,

or maybe last night.

Why don't you ride
over to the line camp,

send some of the boys
out on a search.

All right.

You take Hank with you,

search along
the main flats.

Yes, sir.

Do I have to?

All of it.

[ horse neighs ]

Whoa, now.

TRAMPAS: Take it easy.

What do you want?

Just want to ask
some questions.

Where'd you
come from?

Latvia.
We come from Latvia.

We have papers.

Everything is signed.

I will show you.

That's all right.
I meant, where'd you
come from just now?

Down the pass
or across the flats
back there?

From town, that way.

Beatty Corners?

Trail comin' that way

cuts right past
the Keel place.

I guess we'll have
to look inside.

Sorry, mister,
but I gotta--

No! No way.

You don't understand.

I understand.
I understand good now.

When we first landed,
I thought everything
would be different.

No more sound of boots.
No more men with gun...

who tell cattle worker
what he must do.

But I learned.
I learned good now.

We're not out
to steal anything,

if that's
what you think.

If we aimed to
clean you, we'd have
done it by now.

Mister, that little
old pea-patch gun
you got there

ain't fast enough
to take two men.

[ grunting ]

Maria, stop!

All right, Hank.
Look through
the wagon now.

You get hurt?

I'm sorry it come
to a roughing,

especially when there's
no need for trouble.

If you would've waited
and listened,

I would've
told you that--

Well, it's not
you folks in particular.

I got orders to
stop anybody out here,

anywhere that's
near the killing.
Killing.

An old man,
about 12 miles back.

Beaten to death
and robbed clean.

We know nothing.

Karl, please.
You tell them.

Nothing.

Just a mess of
old cookin' pots.

Couple of blankets.

A sack of salt
beef chips.

I'm sorry
we troubled you.

You did say you cut
straight across the flats

from Beatty Corners?
Not down the pass
from Medicine Bow?

Yeah. Why?

It's from Harry's
gun shop, all right.

TRAMPAS:
I'm certain Keel had
a rifle from there.

I'd wager
sinkers to mud beer
that's the one.

I can explain you
where I got the rifle from.

You'll get a chance
to explain it to
the sheriff in town.

Get back in the wagon.

Go on!Karl!

I'd listen real close
to your wife, mister.

Maria!

You all right, ma'am?

Is your wife pregnant?

Yeah.

Head goes around.

MARIA:
I'm all right now.

With her in that kind
of condition,

we'd better head 'em
into Shiloh.

Help them
into the wagon.

Let's go, come on.

I just wondered
if there was anything
I could do, Mrs. Rilke.

No.

No, thank you.

No. But could I see
Karl now, please?

He's all right.
He's downstairs
with my father.

You just rest for now.

You've got two months yet
to see through.

You're wrong,
Mr. Rilke.

This is
a free country.

To search a man,
to arrest him--

that is free?

You don't understand.
My men had the right
to arrest you.

They had no right.
They were not officers.

That's true.

But in this country,
any citizen can make
an arrest

if he has reason
to believe that a felony
has been committed.

We were looking
for a murderer.

I'm not a murderer.

Well...you'll have
every chance.

Here, to arrest a man,

you can do that
without wearing a uniform.

Yeah.

Where I come from,

only officials
take such responsibility.

Well, that's one of
the obligations
in a democracy.

To make it work,
everybody must take
responsibility.

[ knock on door ]

You alone?Yeah.

My deputy's
coming out later with
the Keel boy--Johnny.

He knows about
his father?

We hunted him down
in the Silver Bow.

He was with one of
your men--Shorty Downs.

We had to take him
out to his Pa's place,

see if anything
was missing.

How did Johnny take it?

He sobered up real hard.

I thought there was
bad blood between them.

Well, I guess
even bad blood is
thicker than water.

Inside?Yo.

Judge. This him?

Karl Rilke.

Do you understand
English all right?

Good. I've got some
questions to ask you.

I warn you--you don't
have to answer them.

Anything you say now
can be used against
you later.

Warn?

That's another
peculiarity

of our law, Mr. Rilke.

You don't have to
answer any questions
if you don't want to.

And the sheriff
is required to
tell you that.

But if you do answer,

whatever you say
becomes official,

can be used--
either against you
of for you.

Do you understand?

I answer what I can.

Good. Now,
about the gun

that belonged
to Mr. Keel.

Is this it?

Trampas says
you told him
you bought it

from a man
along the road.

Right?

But you can't
identify him?

I don't know his name.

What he looked like?
What he was wearing?

He was big--
a big man.

Big? Like me?

Or him?

I--I don't know.

I--

He had a black shirt

and a big hat
and yellow hair.

Yellow hair. Blond, huh?

How do you know that
if he was wearing a hat?

I don't know. I--

Shorty, there's
no need for us here.

Let's head
into the bunkhouse.

I'll be in the bunkhouse
if you need me, Johnny!

You're pumping
a little hard,
aren't you, Sheriff?

Just part of the job
you people are paying me
to do, Judge.

Mr. Keel, too,
for that matter.

You say
you bought the gun.

You got a receipt?Receipt?

A paper.

No.

[ knocks ]

Take it easy, Johnny.

[ knock on door ]

Is that him?Johnny!

Johnny!He killed him!

Johnny, that's enough!

Won't do you
any good, not now.

You saw my pa--
what's left of him.

We're all sorry
about what happened
to your father.

Then why don't you give
that foreigner what's
comin' to him, then?

He hasn't even
been charged with
anything yet,

much less tried
and convicted.

He had my pa's gun,
didn't he?

He had a gun from
Harry's shop
in Medicine Bow,

but there are a lot
of those around this
stretch of country.

Well, if you look at it,

you'll find a pea-sized chip
gone from under the stock

right near the pump guard.

I snuck it off once
when I was a kid.

I dropped it on a rock
squirrel hunting.

My pa laid the hide
off of me for it.

Yeah, the chip's
here, all right,
right where he said.

That's proof enough
he done it, ain't it?

JUDGE:
A piece of evidence.

It isn't proof
of anything.

I bought the gun...

with money I earned
with my hands.
I bought it!

You think a man
that killed somebody
would turn around,

sell all the things in
the same neighborhood?

He'd be askin'
to be strung up.
Now, he did it!

He robbed him clean
of a watch, a ring,
and near a thousand bills,

and half of it mine
by rights from my ma!

Johnny, we searched
the wagon.

There wasn't anything
like that in it.

Then he must've hid it.

He done it.
Who else could've?

The facts point to him,
I'll say that.

Then how come you
ain't takin' him in?!

I'm handling this.
You just settle down.

Why should I?
It was my pa he killed.

Sure, he was a hard man.
Stuck tight to
his own ways,

and rock-mean
when it come on him,
but he my pa.

And I know something
about him.

If it'd been me
beat to death,

he'd have seen
that it was squared.

I ain't gonna figure
to let that hunkie
just walk away!

My wife?

She's doing fine.

Though it wouldn't
hurt her any to
rest over a time.

She can stay
as long as she needs.
Can't she, Daddy?

All right if I ask her
a few questions?

I think so, if you
don't tire her.

You don't talk to her.
You leave her.

No one aims to upset her.

I said,
you leave her!

Could be to your
benefit, Mr. Rilke.

Your wife might
be able to offer
some information

that would back up
your story...

of buying that gun.

No, I said!

She must've seen the man
you bought it from.

She has not seen him.

I've been away
from the wagon then.
She knows nothing.

You leave me no choice
but to charge you
and take you in.

Oh. Jail.

Yeah, until you
come to trial.

Come on.Is that law?

There'll be a hearing.

Then a trial,
if you're held.

It'll be a fair trial--
you needn't be
afraid of that.

I'm not afraid for myself.
I'm afraid for my wife.

We'll look after her.

SHERIFF: Rilke!

I talk to my wife.

Then I come back.

He'll come back.

Karl.

What is it?

Is there trouble
for you?

No.

But I have to
leave you now.

Just for a little while.

No.

Where do you go?

Into town.

Can I come with you?

No, you rest.

Don't you worry.
I'll be all right.

No, Karl.

If you go, you will
not come back.

I'll be all alone.

You won't be alone.

I'll come back.
I promise.

Nobody will
keep me away.

Nobody.

We found some of
the old man's tools

gathered over there
by the windmill.

He was probably on his
way back to the house,

maybe get something
to eat.

Sees this fella
skulking around,

comes over
to investigate.

Fella hits him
with this rock.
Got bloodstains on it.

No chance of
footprints, huh?

No, too many people
trampin' around.

Guess things look
kind of bad for Rilke.

Take a look
at that story of his

about the cowboy
that sold him the gun.

Nothin' to back it up.

I think somebody
better tell the Judge

to prepare his young wife
for the worst.

I understand you set
next Thursday

for the Rilke trial?

Pretty quick, isn't it?

Climate of the town
demands it.

So does my calendar.

I've got a case
over at Twin Rivers
on the 20th.

Have an apple, Henry.

Oh, no, thank you.

I was hoping to
appoint Oliver Smith

to defend Rilke.

Why don't you?

Laryngitis. Can't talk.

I imagine that could be
a handicap for a lawyer.

It improves some I know.

I suppose that leaves
Charlie Steele.

Yes, I brought it up
to him this morning.

I can't say he was
exactly enthusiastic
about it.

In any case,
he's overdue here
right now to discuss it.

There's nothing
to discuss, actually,
is there?

He's the only other
lawyer in town.

Except you.

Oh.

The last case
I handled was...

years ago.

A trust case.You win it?

Yes.

[ knock on door ]It's open!

Well, I guess I'll--

No, Henry. Sit down.

No need for you
to run along.

Well?

Yes. I've given the matter
considerable thought.

I'm sure you have.

And I'm not really sure

that I'm the right man
for the case.

Oh?

Well, you're not sick

or incapacitated
or anything, are you?

You're familiar with
the state criminal codes?

Thoroughly familiar
with them, forward and back.

Well, then I don't
quite understand

why you find yourself
unfitted for this case.

It's not that, exactly.

It's simply...
in undertaking this case,

I'd be doing it against
my better judgment.

Against your
better judgment?

Frankly, he's not
the sort of client

that I could feel, uh,
comfortable with.

Why? Because
he's an immigrant?

I wouldn't put it
that bluntly.

How would you put it?

Now, see here.

I have a certain position
to maintain in this district.

Yes, I know you've got
your sights set on
running for office.

That I can understand.

But what I can't
understand is a lawyer

who doesn't believe
in the law.

But there's no case.

From the bare facts,
he's obviously guilty.

That doesn't deny him
the right to a fair trial.

I don't think
you see my point.

Oh, yes, I do.

There's no need in becoming
personal about it.

Oh. I feel personal,
Charlie.

If it was my decision,
I wouldn't let you
defend Rilke!

Not if you were the last
lawyer in the state.

I happen to be the last
lawyer in this town.

No, you're not.

I haven't practiced
in 12 years,

but I don't think
I could do any worse for
Rilke than you would.

I'll defend him myself!

Uh--

I don't know if I jumped
or I was pushed.

But I have a notion
you know.

[ Judge laughs ]

Where did you make camp
before that?

[ sighs ]
In the open.

Where? Near a stream?
On a hill? Near trees?

I don't remember.
Why do you ask that?

'Cause that's what
the prosecutor's gonna do.

Oh, please. No more.

We have just
one day left

to prepare
some kind of case.

I have to ask you
questions.

Let's go back
to the rifle.

Did you test it
before you bought it?

Yes.Fire it?

No.

Why not?

Because I hate guns!

Still,
you bought a gun.

I thought I might
have needed it.

I thought I--

Oh, please,
no more. I--

I want to see my Maria.

I know.

Is she well?

She's staying
at a hotel now...

to be near the doctor.
She's all right.

It's you, Karl.

You don't seem
to realize

you're being tried
for murder.

You can hang.

I think of it.

And I think of my son,

whom I never will see.

And I wonder why--

why I came to America.

For this.

Doesn't matter for me.

Only for my son.

It mustn't be
like this for him.

It'll be a fair trial.

An honest jury.
You'll have every chance.

No.

No, I can see them.

I can see them right now
from here.

They look at me
as if I'm guilty.

And they think it.

Do you think it, too?

Now, you listen to me.

It doesn't matter
what I think,

what anybody thinks.

Right now,
you're innocent,

because that's the way
our law is.

A man is innocent
until he's proved guilty

beyond a reasonable doubt.

And that's my job,
Karl--

to try to find
that reasonable doubt.

And to make it stick
in a jury's mind.

You understand me,
Karl?

This court is now
in session.

The Honorable Judge
Wickersham presiding.

When you first approached
the defendant,

what was his attitude?
Friendly?

No, not friendly.

Was it hostile?

Yes, sir.

Well, uh...perhaps
you threatened him?

No, sir. We asked
if we could talk to him.

He didn't seem
to understand at first.

He could speak English.

Yes, sir.

When the defendant
first saw you,

he reacted hostilely,
guiltily.

And when you spoke
to him, he pretended
not to understand you.

Objection.

Witness did not say
"pretend" or "guiltily".

Prosecutor is putting
words into his mouth.

Objection sustained.

The jury is instructed
to disregard the words
"pretend" and "guiltily".

Strike them
from the record.

And no more verbal
shenanigans, Mr. Kane.

We're trying to get
at the truth here.

Yes, Your Honor.

Go on with
your questions.

When you tried to search
the defendant's wagon...

did he resist you?

If you call
pulling a rifle
resisting, yeah.

So, the defendant
held a rifle on you.

But you forcibly overcame
his resistance

and took the rifle
from him.

This rifle.Yes, sir.

Which we have established

as belonging
to the murdered man.

You asked the defendant
where he got the rifle,
did you not?

Yes, sir.

What did he say?

He said he bought it
from a man on the road.

For how much?

$5.

[ laughter ]$5!

For a hand-tooled rifle.

Order in this court!

I understand
you're well-acquainted
in these parts.

I know most
of the people
hereabouts, yes.

But, as for this
phantom of the open road,

this philanthropist
who goes around
selling rifles for $5--

have you ever seen--

Objection!
Prosecutor is--

Sustained.

Rephrase
your question.

Did you recognize
anyone in this vicinity

from the defendant's
description of the man
on the road?

TRAMPAS: No, sir.

Your witness.

Heh.

You say you know
everyone around here?

Uh, more or less.

Oh, I see.
You know everyone
"more or less".

But, from time to time,

you have met strangers
on the road

who you've never
seen again, haven't you?

Sure.
And more than once.

Then there could've
been such a man

as the one the
defendant described.

Objection. That calls
for an opinion
from the witness.

Sustained.

Now, Trampas...

you told
my young colleague

that when the defendant
first saw you, he was--

to use the word
he so kindly provided
you with--

hostile.

He was.

If you were a stranger
in open country, alone,

with your young wife,

and two armed horsemen
appeared,

suddenly galloped
toward you,

what do you think
you'd do?

I object, Your Honor.

The defense counsel
insists upon calling
for an opinion.

Objection sustained.

You said Carl Rilke
resisted you

when you tried
to search his wagon.

Yes, he did.

Did you explain
that you were acting
as citizens

investigating
a capital crime?

That you had
the legal right to
stop and search him?

Well, no. I just
told him there'd been
a killing.

You told him. When?
Before he resisted you
or afterwards?

Well, bef--

I guess it was
afterwards.

Thank you.

No further questions.

I call John Keel.

That's you, Johnny.

You say there were
other articles of value

missing from
your father's house.

There sure are.

A ring with
a ruby stone in it.

That big gold watch
my old man had
that rang the hours.

Close to $1,000
in old, dirty bills.

Are you positive
your father had
this money?

Dead positive.

Half of it
was rightly mine.
My ma left it.

Are you sure he had it
in the house.

It was there, all right.

Leastways the last time
I was out there.

The night before
that hunkie kill him!

I warned you about that.

Strike it from the record.

Now, I expect you to hold
this witness in check.

Yes, sir.

Now, as for the rifle.

This rifle.

Do you think...

that it was possible
for your father

to give this to anyone?

My old man
give something away?

He wouldn't give
the scruff hair from
a dead prairie rat.

Anybody in town
could tell you that.

[ chuckling ]

But he never asked
nobody for nothin', either.

Your witness.

No questions.

So, when I told him
he ought to get a lawyer,

he said he didn't have
any money to pay for one.

What did you do then?
Lock him up?

No, sir.
I searched him first.

What did you find?

It's there on the table--
all the marked property.

These articles here?

Yes, sir.

And so, you found
on the person

of this poor,
indigent immigrant

one pen knife--
made in Germany--

one nickel-plated
pocket watch,

one ten-cent
magnetic compass,

and one bandana
containing...

two health certificates
and two immigration
certificates.

And a leather wallet.

Containing $885
in United States currency!

[ murmuring ]

I repeat--

This poor,
indigent immigrant

had, on his person
when arrested,

$885--

as Mr. Keel
so aptly put it--

in old, dirty bills.

Correct, Sheriff?

Yes, sir.

No further questions.

Sheriff, when you were
at the Keel house
investigating,

did you find any evidence
that the defendant

had been on the premises?
Any footprints,
anything at all?

That area around there
had been pretty much
tramped down.

And there were no signs
of the defendant's presence

in the house, either?

Somebody
sure had been there.

The place was torn apart
like a tornado struck it.

I didn't ask that.

Was there anything to
prove that the defendant,
Karl Rilke,

was in the house?

No, sir.

That's all.

You may go.

That's our case,
Your Honor.

The prosecution rests.

Judge Garth, we are ready
for the defense.

First, however,
the court will take
a short recess.

$800. How about that?

A man could go to Denver
and blow the roof
clean off of it

with that much money.
Ha ha ha!

Do you think the judge
is gonna give it
to you, Johnny?

He's got to.

Unless the jury
lets him off.

They'd better not.

Except he's still
got Judge Garth
to defend him.

What business
does Garth have

stickin' his nose
into this anyway?

Tryin' to
twist the facts
every which way.

I'll tell you
one thing sure--

if that hunkie
does get let off,

I'll quick enough do
something about it.

Just, uh...what would
you do about it?

If it comes to that,
you'll see.

I hope not.He's guilty.

He didn't give my pa
chance, did he?

Just killed him
straight out.

If the law don't
fix him for it,
there's other ways.

That's dangerous talk.

I got a right to talk
any way I feel.

Yeah.

As long as that's
all it stays--

just talk--

that's fine.

Hey, court's
startin' up again!

Come on, boys!

And there was
no reason for you
to leave the trail

from Beatty Corner?

No. No reason.

Now, Karl...

this money
that the sheriff
took from you--

this $885--

was all of it yours?

No.

I see.
This wasn't yours.

Did you steal it?
Did you take it
from Mr. Keel?

No.

Where did you get it?

In your own words, Karl.

The place where
I come from...

is not a big country.

And it's different.

When the father
plows the field,

the son must plow, too.

And his son.

There's no change.

Maria was going
to have a child.

But the soldiers came.

They took our shop.

They put us
out on the street.

Maria lost her child.

You might not
understand, but I--

I went mad.

I cursed at them.

I threw bricks
at the officers. I--

They beat me.

They put me away
to jail.

Your Honor...

is this really relevant
to the case we're trying?

Judge Garth?

It is relevant.

Prosecutor has
introduced the money
on this table

as evidence.

Implied that
Karl Rilke stole it

from Andrew Keel.

The testimony of
my client will explain
this money,

show that he did not
steal it.

More, that given
the kind of man he was,

he could not
have stolen it.

You may continue
with your questions.

Thank you.

Now, Karl...

what happened
when they let you
out of jail?

I wanted to leave
my country.

I dreamed of--

of freedom...

and of the country which
could give it to us--

America.

I started a new shop,

and I worked day and night.

Maria and I tried
to save money, but...

it wasn't enough.

It's so far.

Where did you get
the money to come
out here?

Friends.

People who felt
like I did.

We all put money in,
each of us a little.

Together,
almost $1,000.

And then we drew straws.

I won.

It was like a miracle.

I was to go.

But for everyone.

"You are a craftsman,
Karl," my friend said.

You'll find work
in America, and money,

and you'll
send money back for
the next of us to come.

That's how they
wanted it to happen.

One would bring one,

and two would bring two.

A dream.

Only a dream.

There's no work here.

Each day I walked,
I looked, I searched.

Nothing.

We even decided
to go back, but...

to have a dream for
so long a time inside,

to come so close to it--

you just can't let it die.

So, we decided to stay.

But we wanted to go
far west...

where all is new.

All new.

And so, you bought
a wagon and supplies.

No. In the beginning,
we walked.

But it was too hard
for Maria.

So I bought a wagon
to ride in.

You spent the money
your friends put up
for you?

No. Only my own money.

Just a bit of theirs.

The rest I kept
to buy tools,

to start
a new shop again,

so I could work
and make money

to send it back
to my friends.

I see.

So, when the sheriff
searched you,

you had $885

that you were
keeping in trust
for your friends.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Karl.

Your witness.

Now, that's a very
interesting story,
Mr. Rilke.

How do we know that
that isn't...

just what it is--
a story, not the truth?

It is the truth.

Do you have a paper,
a contract?

Some document,
signed by yourself
and your friends?

Something to show your
indebtedness to them?

A paper?

I didn't need a paper.

They are my friends.

They knew I would
keep my promise.

I see.

Then we'll have to take
the witness at his word--

that under oath,
he is telling the truth.

Correct, Mr. Rilke?Yes, sir.

Very well.

Now, Mr. Rilke,

you stated that,
when stopped and arrested,

you had come directly
from Beatty's Corner,

over the mountain,
to the point where
you were apprehended.

Yes, sir.

Do you now want to
change that statement
under oath?

No, sir.

And you did not
stop anywhere

or go away from the road
for any distance?

No. Just for sleeping.

You never left
the vicinity of the road,

you made no side trips,

and you stopped
only for sleeping?

Yes, sir.

Mr. Rilke...

it means that
you were never closer

to the house
of the murdered man

than about ten miles.

But, Mr. Rilke...

when the sheriff
and his men searched
the area,

they found ashes
from a campfire

where someone had camped
for at least two days--

less than a mile
from Mr. Keel's house!

And in that same
campfire, Mr. Rilke,

where the tracks of
a wagon with iron rims--

that did not quite
come together

where they were nailed
at the wheels--

rims exactly like the ones
found on your wagon!

These empty jars were
found in that camp.

They were purchased
in St. Louis.

They are identical
to unopened jars

found in your wagon.

Mr. Kane is bringing in
new evidence!

This should've
been introduced

when the prosecution
was presenting its case!

It was deliberately
withheld

to surprise
and entrap the witness!

I agree, Judge Garth.

This procedure is entirely
out of line, Mr. Kane,
and you know it.

I could call a mistrial
on the basis of what you--

It is true.
I was there.

But I was afraid.

Afraid you would think
I'm guilty.

I lied, yes.

But I did not
murder him.

I--I just asked him
for a job,

and he wouldn't
give me work,
so I went away.

But I did not murder him!

Please believe me!
I did not murder him!

This court
stands adjourned

until 10:00
tomorrow morning.

I'm sorry. I--

I lied,
but I was afraid.

I hope
you can understand.

I can understand.

Kane.

These are cheap,
vicious...

peanut gallery
tactics.

Tactics, sir?

I thought I was
just doing my job,

bringing the facts
before the court.

I think you were
trying to buy one step

up a paper ladder...

with a man's life.

It can be a long fall.

You got trapped,
and now you're squirming.

Is that it, Judge?

Well, you had
just as much chance

to uncover that evidence
as I did.

More, in fact,
since one of your
own men gave it to me.

Judge?

I was wondering
where you'd got to.

You ever felt
completely empty?

Yeah.

I suppose I have.

There's a man waiting
over there behind
those barred windows

for his life to end.

Down at the hotel
is a woman...

waiting for a life
to begin.

The fate of all three
is my hands.

Unless some little
seed drops...

from out of heaven
tonight...

I haven't the slightest
idea what I'm gonna do

in that courtroom
tomorrow.

He didn't give you
much help.

Oh, the man's
frightened, confused.

He clutches at anything--

a stupid lie
to save himself.

Could've happened
to anybody.

Maybe it's my own fault

for not hammering the lie
out of him beforehand.

On top of it all,
for it be one of my own men

who wouldn't come to me
with what he knew.

I'm puzzled
about that some.

According to
our worksheets,

the only one we had
anywhere near
the Keel place

about that time
was Shorty Downs.

But why didn't
the prosecutor
put him on the stand,

make him tell it
out straight?

He made more
of an impact

bludgeoning it
out of Rilke.

Maybe. But let me
ask you this.

If the prosecutor
had done it the other
way around,

he'd have had to
put him on the stand.
Yeah.

Then you'd have got
a crack at him.

Maybe even before,
because you'd have
known he'd be a witness

and you could've
questioned him, right?
Yeah.

It looks like
the prosecutor
didn't want that.

Doesn't that follow?

Oh, it could.

I've thought of it
in that light.

Then, on the other hand,
it could be a trap.

Unless...

Maybe.

Maybe this is
that little seed

I've been praying for.

Come back to
the hotel with me.

We'll water it,
nourish it...

with a lot of
good thought.

Maybe by morning,
we can make it sprout.

Ha ha ha!

BAILIFF: Court is now
in session.

Judge Garth.

The defense calls
Rufus Downs to the stand.

Shorty, I want you
to tell the court

what you were doing
around the time
Mr. Keel was killed.

During that week, say.

Remember,
you're under oath.

How can you expect me
to remember that?

Workin', I guess.

You were setting
bear traps.

Yeah, I guess.Where?

Uh...

well, I was--

Can't seem to remember.

It was around
the Keel place, wasn't it?

Or do you want to see
the worksheets

to help refresh
your memory?

Yeah, sure, it was close
to the Keel place.

Now, Johnny Keel
testified

that he was at
his father's house

the day before
he was killed.

You want to
back him up on that?

Yeah, sure.
That's when it was.

You were there
with him.
Yes, sir.

About what
time of day was it

when you went to
the Keel house with Johnny?

Well, let's see. I--

I don't seem to be
able to remember that.

Well, approximately.
Was it evening?

Afternoon? Before lunch?

Yeah, that's when
it was--before lunch.
It was in the morning.

And Mr. Keel was there?

Sure.

You're lying, Shorty.

[ murmuring ]

What?

You didn't see Mr. Keel
that morning

because he wasn't there.
He was in town then.

Because I, for one,
saw him in town.

Oh. Well, I guess
I must've forgot.

You forgot...

that it was the morning
of the day Mr. Keel
was killed

that you and Johnny
went out to his house.

Isn't that what
you forgot, Shorty?

Well, uh--

Or did you go out there
by yourself?

Oh, no.
Johnny was with me.

Then you and Johnny
were at Mr. Keel's house

the day he was killed.

Uh...

yes, sir.

What happened, Shorty?

Well, him and Johnny
had kind of a go-around.

You saying that Johnny
and his father
had an argument?

Yes, sir.

About what?

Well, it was
about the money

Johnny claimed
his ma left him.

But they was always
arguing about that,
Judge.

What else did Johnny say?

He said that--

Well, he said
this was...

the last time
he was gonna
ask him about it.

Go on.

And, uh...

he said that if his pa
didn't give it to him,

he was gonna do
something about it.

And then what happened?

I don't know exactly,
because it was gettin'
kind of late,

and I went
to set my traps.

You left Johnny
there alone,

fighting with
his father?

Objection!

The witness did not
say "fighting".

Sustained.

All right,
you left him alone,
arguing with his father.

Yes, sir.

But he come along
no more than
three minutes later.

And even if
he did kill him,

he couldn't have
messed up the place
the way they found it.

Not in three minutes.

But the last thing
you heard

before you left
them there alone

was Johnny saying
that if his father
didn't give him the money,

he'd do something
about it.

Yes, sir.

That's all.

You're twistin' it
all around.

I just asked the old man
for my money.

He wouldn't give it to me,
so I went about
my business.

Why did you testify
under oath

that you went to
your father's house
on Tuesday

instead of on
the day he was killed?
Why did you lie?

I didn't.

I was nervous,
that's all.

With your people
badgering me, I got
my days mixed up.

Just an oversight?

That's right, Judge.

Then why did you
promise Shorty money

if he'd keep
his mouth shut?

He told you that?

All right, I did.
'Cause I was afraid

people would do
what you just did--
make something out of it.

If they knew
I had an argument
with my old man,

they might think
I had something to do
with the killin'.

Did you, Johnny?

Did you have something
to do with it?

Judge Garth, it--

it seems to me
that you are deliberately
leading the witness

into possible
self-entrapment.

Under said
circumstances,

he has the right
to be warned

that he need not answer
any question

that might
incriminate him.

Judge?

I beg your pardon,
Your Honor.

But this has everything
to do with my case.

The defendant is
on trial for his life,

based on evidence
which is entirely
circumstantial.

No one saw him
commit the crime.

It's only been proved
that he was in the area

where the crime
was committed

and that he had
in his possession

certain properties
that belonged
to the deceased.

Now, in questioning
John Keel,

my intention to show
that he, too,

was in the area where
the crime was committed.

That he had
a much stronger motive
for killing his father.

And that, in fact,
he threatened to do so.

And further than that...

it's my intention to show

that if Johnny Keel
were on trial here today,

based on such
circumstantial evidence,

the prosecution would have
a much stronger case
against him

than it has against
Karl Rilke.

Johnny Keel could be
found guilty of the crime

just as well
as the defendant.

I never killed him!
I swear it!

Sure, my pa and me--
we never got on!

Sure, he had his ways,
and I had mine,
but he was my pa!

He taught me how
to sit on a horse,
how to hold a gun.

And once, when I wasn't
more than belt-high,
he strapped me raw.

But then he stayed
up all night rubbin'
lard on me when I cried.

Why would I kill him?
I loved him.
He was my own blood.

I object to the defense
counsel's entire line
of questioning!

John Keel
is not on trial!

No!

Karl Rilke is!

But if John Keel
were on trial here--

Suppose he'd gone
to his father's house
two hours later.

Suppose he left alone,

with no one to vouch
for his whereabouts.

Suppose he were afraid,
alone--

a stranger!

Suppose he didn't have
that so-called witness,

just as Karl Rilke
had none.

How would you vote then?

You just looked
at your watch

a couple of
seconds ago.

Almost four hours now.

Is that good or bad?

I wish I knew.

[ door opens ]

Is it time?

No, the jury's still out.

The judge gave permission
for your wife to visit you.

You are thin.

Don't you eat?

I'm all right.

And you?

You made this?

Yes.

For our son.

Something
from my hands.

It's not finished yet.

I might not have
the time.

No.

We will be together
always.

You and our child...

and me.

Maria, I--

I've thought--

thought very much.

After I--

Better go back
to our country.

You will have
friends there.

Promise you'll go back?

There is no need
to promise.

I know they will
free you.

I feel it.

No.

No.

They won't free me...

because I'm guilty.

What do you mean,
guilty?

I did kill him.

Karl...

that isn't possible.

I did.

[ door opens ]

All right, Rilke.
Jury's coming in.

Has the jury
reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

The defendant
will please rise

and face the jury.

What is your verdict?

We find the defendant
not guilty.

[ people murmuring ]

The prisoner is discharged.

The case against Karl Rilke
is closed.

You're free, Karl.

Free?

You have nothing more
to worry about now.

Hey, up there!

You hunkie greenhorn!

You hunkie greenhorn!

Stick your head
out here!

You skunked
that yellow jury,

but you ain't
gonna skunk me!

I say you're guilty,
you hear?

You killed my old man!
You're gonna pay for it!

Now, hunkie, stick your
head out the window

and take what's
comin' to you!

Don't stay there.

Are you hurt?

It is nothing.

See?

Hey, hunkie!

MARIA: Karl!

Come on, Johnny,
give us the gun.

Nobody takes this gun
away from me.

If anybody tries,
I'll put a hole in him.

[ grunts ]

Rilke! Rilke!

Let him go!
You want to kill him?

[ grunts ]

Karl?

We must leave now,
Maria.

[ groans ]

Karl!

It is the baby.

Get the doctor.

All right. All right.

[ singing in Latvian ]

MARIA: Like you.

KARL: The Judge says
he's a citizen--

right now,
from the beginning.

What is it, Karl?

They'll find out
one day.

And they'll take away
citizenship from him.

No!

You must not think
of it now.

But I do think.

I think that here is
justice for all men.

But they tell the truth.

And I lied.

At night I wake up...

I have fear...

and shame.

Maria, I must tell them.
I must speak with--

Oh, no, Karl!I must!

We will go away.

We will not stay here.

But I cannot
live with it!

Oh, go!

Tell them
you're guilty!

They will hang you!

You think I work
and I plan

to raise a child alone,
no father?

You think I can live
without you?

No!

[ baby crying ]

Boy, isn't he loud.

He'll wake up
half of Wyoming.

Only a week,
and he's grown already.

That's the nature
of babies, I understand.

How is he?Fine.

Let her settle the baby
down to sleep first.

Your wife's been through
a very hard stretch,
Mr. Rilke.

In a few weeks,
we'll have her

completely back
on her feet again.

Thank you very much.

A few weeks?

I have to go on.

We have to find a place
where to live,
where I can work.

Why not do some work
around here in Medicine Bow?

The town could do with some
touching up here and there.

I've tried.
But it's no use.

A stair that is broken,

a door that doesn't
hang on its hinge--

I could fix it.

But no, they say.

No matter
what the jury says.

They don't trust me.

Well, maybe some people
will feel like that,

but not all of them.
Let me ask around.

I think I can turn up
some work.

Betsy?

Thank you.

I don't deserve it,
but...

thank you very much.

Good-bye.

How long do you think
it'll take to settle
this account?

We should have it
cleared through
the bank in Cheyenne

by the first
of the week.

[ hammering ]

You hired him?

Well, uh...
not exactly.

Judge Garth sort of
asked if I'd give him
some repair work.

I don't really see
anything wrong in it.

Well, maybe.

He came around
to my feed store

looking for
carpentry work.

To tell you
the truth,

jury or not, I just
wouldn't feel safe
with him around.

Well...

It's all right?Sure, sure.

Look, you don't have to
redo the whole thing.

Just so it holds solid,
is all.

It has to be right,

so it looks beautiful.

A shutter?

All wood has beauty.
It's my trade.

Looks like they caught
the real one, huh?

But for the grace
of God and you, Judge...

Karl Rilke
would've been hung

about three weeks
ago today.

Hey, there he is.

Hey! Karl!

Over here!

[ whistles ] Hey!

Look, they found him.

I don't understand.

They arrested a man

for the murder
of Mr. Keel.

Must be the same one
that sold you
Keel's rifle.

They found all
the stolen stuff
on him.

Rings, watch,
everything.

And they will--

they will try him,
like me?

Same court,
same charge--murder.

Murder?

I--

Sorry, I--

I finish later.Sure.

I guess some of us,
including me,

feel kind of small
by now--

treating him
like he was guilty
even after the trial.

What do you sort of
think we can do, Judge,

to make it up to him?

Well, for a start,
you might try treating him

like you would any other
law-abiding citizen

who wants to do
an honest day's work

and support his family.

[ baby cooing ]

Karl? Can't you sleep?

No. I cannot sleep.

Like him in his jail.

I know he doesn't sleep.

The morning is his trial.

Maria, I'm afraid.

But even more, ashamed.

This country
has given us everything.

And I've given back
nothing but lies.

What shall I do, Maria?

Nothing.

They will let him
go free at the trial.

Same as you.

That's a fancy enough job
to be sure, Jonas.

Thank you.
The work is done.

Looks just fine.

I've got
a casing around back
that needs squaring.

Wait a second, Jonas.

You can't take
all his time.

Mr. Rilke,
I've got some shelves
down in my store

that I've been meaning
for some time
to have reworked.

You know what I think,
Mr. Rilke?

Why don't you just
settle right down here
in Medicine Bow?

The whole town
would be pleased.

You think about it some,
all right?

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

[ baby cooing ]

Karl?

Karl?

Oh--

You have heard
the testimony.

You have heard
the defendant admit

that he went there,

that he stole the money
and the property,

that he, in fact,
went there with
that very intent.

There's very little, then,
for you to consider.

This man brutally and coldly
murdered Mr. Keel.

The state now asks

that you return
a verdict of murder
in the first degree.

No!

That is not the truth.

That man did not kill.

I killed him.

I'm the one who's guilty.

I killed Mr. Keel.

Should you swear him in,
Your Honor?

Go on.

Please...

if you still
can believe me now,

I did not mean
to kill him.

Not murder.

And that is the truth.

Maria felt sick,
so we stopped.

And I was afraid
if I used more of
my friends' money,

I wouldn't have enough
left to open a new shop,

to start a new life.

So, I went to Mr. Keel,
asked him for work.

He hired me--

for $5 to repair
his windmill.

I worked all of that day,
all the next.

When I finished,

I asked him the money.
He said no.

He wouldn't pay me.

I didn't do a good job.

But I'm a craftsman!

I'm proud of what
I do with my hands.

I said, "Please,
you owe me $5."

He pushed me.

He called me names.

But I'm no dirt!

No animal! No hunkie!

I'm a man!
I wouldn't leave a place

without the money
I earned with my hands!

He picked up a rifle,
and I grabbed him.

He hit me,
and I hit him back.

And hit him back,
and hit him, and hit him!

And--

He fell down and hit
his head on a rock.

I looked down at him.

He was dead.

I might've killed him
with my hands...

or when he fell down.

I don't know.

It's hard to remember
afterwards.

He owed me money,
so I took the rifle.

I knew it was wrong,
a foolish thing to do.

But...I didn't think.

I went back to Maria

and told her that
I'd met a man on the road

who sold me the rifle.

This is how it happened.

Mr. Rilke...

would you be willing
to repeat that statement

under oath?

Yes, sir.

Your Honor, I move
that the charge
of murder

against Vincent Engel
be dropped.

WICKERSHAM: Granted.

The defendant
is herewith discharged.

But he will be bound
over to the sheriff

on the charge of robbery.

The court thanks
the prosecutor.

The jury
is dismissed.

This case is closed.

You may go, Mr. Rilke.

Why?

Don't they believe me?

They believe you, Karl.

Then what must I do?

You must take Maria
and your son

and find a place
to work.

Just like you planned.

But I don't understand.

I am guilty.

No, you're not, Karl.

Not if it happened
the way you said.

Yes. It happened
that way.

Then it was self-defense,
not murder.

So, they will--

they will try me again.

No, that's another
of our peculiarities.

In America, no man
can be tried twice

for the same crime.

[ theme music playing ]