Badlands (1973) - full transcript

[Holly narrates]

My mother died of pneumonia
when I was just a kid.

My father had kept their wedding cake
in the freezer for ten whole years.

After the funeral he gave it to the yard man.

He tried to act cheerful but
he could never be consoled

by the little stranger he found in his house.

Then one day hoping to begin a new life

away from the scene of all his memories

he moved us from Texas to
Fort Dupree, South Dakota.

[Dustbin lorry's compactor whirs]

I'll give you a dollar to eat this collie.



I ain't gonna eat it for a dollar.

I don't think he's a collie either.

Some kinda dog though.

Watch your head.

Hey Woody gimme a cigarette.

Woody wouldn't give me a cigarette.

Ever notice he don't talk much?

Yeah he's not a talker. You got that.

Little did I realize that what began

in the alleys and back ways of this quiet town

would end in the badlands of Montana.

- No, no they wouldn't fit.
- How do you know you haven't tried 'em on.

- I know. What size are they?
- Your size.

- Come on gimme a dollar for 'em.
- No.



Cost 20 new.

Why don't you see if they fit you?

[Dog barks]

[Kit whistles]

This lady don't ever pay her bills.

She gonna get in trouble
if she doesn't watch out.

[Dustbin clatters]

I throwed enough trash for today Cato.

I'll see you in the morning.

Catch.

What do you mean?

[Pleasant music begins]

Hi I'm Kit.

- I'm not keeping you from anything important am I?
- No.

Just thought I'd come over and say hello to you.

I'll try anything once.

What's your name? I said mine.

Holly.

Well listen Holly

you er, I don't know want
to take a walk with me?

What for?

Oh I got some stuff to say.

Guess I'm kinda lucky that way.

Most people don't have anything
on their minds do they?

Oh incidentally my last name is Carruthers.

Sounds a little too much like Yourothers hey?

It's okay.

Yeah well nobody asked me what I thought.

They just hung it on me.

You still in school?

Nah, I got me a job.

Doing what?

Well I don't mind getting up early so

I got a job throwing garbage.

Holly's dad: Holly!
- I'm not in love with the stuff okay?

- That's my father I gotta run.
- Hey wait.

When am I gonna see you again?

Well I know what my dad's gonna say.

- What?
- Can I be honest?

Sure.

Well that I shouldn't be seen with
anybody that collects garbage.

- He'll say that?
- Yeah.

Now what's he know about garbage huh?

- Nothing.
- There you go.

Well I mean there's nothing
he wants to know.

I gotta run.

Who was that?

Just some boy.

Is that gonna kill the grass?

[Holly laughs]
You got some on my feet.

What did he want?

He was just asking if we
needed any yard work done.

I said no

and for him not to bother us.

Heard the news Kit?

- No.
- Been in all the headlines.

- What's that?
- You've been fired.

Ain't that a hell of a note?

Yeah how about that?

Oh I won't be needing my keys anymore.

I'll just leave 'em where
they'll be nice and handy.

I've got my dog.

[Typewriter keys clacking]

Interviewer: Have you ever
held another job before?

Yeah I used to throw trash for the city.

And you lost that one?

Yeah I wouldn't be here if I hadn't.

Why did you leave?

Just felt like it.

What kind of work do you
think you'd be qualified for?

I just got to get this.

Well I can't think of anything at the moment.

I want you to write me out a slip though

proving I came down here.

I think we can get you something
working cattle over at the pens.

Well what the hell.

Just hope there's a breeze.

He was handsomer than anybody I'd ever met.

He looked just like James Dean.

- Hi.
- Well stop the world.

- Hey quit my job.
- Great.

Seemed like the right move.
What you doing?

Spanish.

How do you say "quit my job" in Spanish?

Something mi trabajo.

Well I'm gonna to work as a cowboy now.

Thinking about it.

It's a routine like anything.

- What do you think?
- I don't know.

Yeah well

at least nobody can get on me
about wearing these boots anymore.

You wanna go for a ride?

Well I got homework.

Bring it along.

Somebody dropped a bag on the sidewalk.

If everybody did that the
whole town would be a mess.

[Child talks indistinctly]

Hi.

- You're a redhead.
- I know.

Anybody ever call you Red?

- Yeah but I don't like it.
- Why not?

I just don't.

- I have a headache.
- Oh yeah?

[Horn toots]

- Can I come around and see you tomorrow?
- Okay.

♫ Music begins ♪

Kit went to work in the feed lot

while I carried on with my studies.

Little by little we fell in love.

As I'd never been popular in school

and didn't have a lot of personality

I was surprised that he took such a liking to me.

Especially when he coulda had any other
girl in town if he'd given it half a try.

He said that I was grand though,
that he wasn't interested in me for sex

and that coming from him this was a compliment.

He'd never met a 15 year old girl
who behaved more like a grown up

and wasn't giggly.

He didn't care what anybody else thought.

I looked good to him and whatever I did was okay.

And if I didn't have a lot to
say well that was okay too.

What a nice place.

Yeah the tree makes it nice.

And the flowers.

Let's not pick 'em.

They're so nice.

It's your play.

Of course I had to keep all
this a secret from my dad.

He woulda had a fit since Kit
was ten years older than me

and came from the wrong
side of the tracks, so called.

Our time with each other was limited
and each lived for the precious hours

when he or she could be with the other

away from all the cares of the world.

My stomach's growling.

[People chattering in the distance]

There's an old Fudgsicle. You want it?

No.

Somebody else is gonna get it.
[Holly laughs]

I don't care.

Kids eat that kind of stuff in Korea.

In the stench and slime of the feed lot

he'd remember how I'd looked the night before.

How I ran my hand through
his hair and traced the outline

of his lips with my finger tip.

He wanted to die with me

and I dreamed of being lost forever in his arms.

The whole time the only thing I did wrong

was throwing out my fish when he got sick.

Later I got a new one but this incident
kept on bothering me and I turned to Kit.

Well he was sick.

You couldn't do much about that.

- I guess not.
- So?

Well it scared me.

Ah don't worry about it.

I didn't mind telling Kit about stuff like this

'cause strange things happened in his life too.

And some of the stuff he did was strange.

For instance he faked his
signature whenever he used it

to keep other people from forging
important papers with his name.

And as he lay in bed in
the middle of the night

he always heard a noise like somebody
was holding a seashell against his ear.

And sometimes he'd see me coming
toward him in beautiful white robes

and I'd put my cold hand on his forehead.

Did it go the way it's supposed to?

Yeah.

- Is that all there is to it?
- Yep.

Gosh what was everybody talking about?

Don't ask me.

Well I'm glad it's over.

For awhile I was afraid I
might die before it happened.

Had a wreck or some deal like that.

See where that tree fell in the water?

Yeah.

River must've washed the roots away.

You don't care about anything I say though.

- You know what I think?
- What?

We should crunch our hands with this stone.

That way we'd never forget what happened today.

- But it would hurt.
- Well that's the point stupid.

Don't call me stupid.

Okay but I'm gonna keep it for a souvenir.

Well maybe one that's lighter.

Kit made a solemn vow he
would always stand beside me

and let nothing come between us.

He wrote this out in writing,
put the paper in a box

with some of our little tokens and things.

Then sent it off in a balloon he'd
found while on the garbage route.

His heart was filled with longing
as he watched it drift off.

Something must've told him

we'd never live these days of happiness again.

That they were gone forever.

[Gentle music plays]

Then sure enough dad found out I'd
been running around behind his back.

He was madder than I'd ever seen him.

As punishment for deceiving
him, he went and shot my dog.

He made me take extra music
lessons everyday after school

and wait there till he came to pick me up.

He said that if the piano
didn't keep me off the streets

maybe the clarinet would.

Sure is pretty.

What did you come out here for?

I wasn't aware there was any law against it.

You know Holly?

Well she means an awful lot to me sir.

You know before I met her

nobody could ask me how
I was doing with my girl.

Matter of fact I didn't really have one.

Is that right?

Yeah.

It okay me leaning on your Willys here?

Look I got a lot of respect for her too sir.

That's about as good a
one as I know to tell you.

Well it's not good enough.

What do you think would happen to
her if she stuck around with you Kit?

- A guy like you?
- She'd get along okay.

And if she didn't why

she could just take off.

Just take right on off.
I wouldn't mind.

I always tell people I deserve it.

I don't want you hanging around anymore.

I don't wanna see you again.

Understand?

You something.

Takes all kinds sir.

[Kit knocks on door]

Hi.

What are you doing?

I got a gun here sir.

It's always a good idea to have one around.

What do you think you're doing?

Go on get outta here.

[Kit sighs]

I got it all planned

and er I'm taking Holly off with me.

Okay boy.

I'm turning you over to the authorities.

- What for?
- Coming onto my property with a gun.

No you're not either.

Yeah why not?

'Cause I can't allow it.

Hey!

Hey wait a minute!

Suppose I shot you

how'd that be

huh?

Want to hear what it sounds like?
[Kits gun fires loudly]

- Kit. Kit!
- Hey where are you going?

[Two gunshots sound]

Daddy

this is Holly.

Are you gonna be okay?

♪ Tense quiet music begins ♫

♪ Tense quiet music stops ♫

I came in the front.

How bad off is he?

I can look and see.

We better call the doctor.

Listen I'll say how it happened.

The part I saw.

Well

I don't think that'll work.

He don't need a doctor.

- Are you sure?
- If you don't believe me see for yourself.

[Insects chirp]

I found a toaster.

[Kit sighs]

Don't worry honey I'm gonna.

Listen maybe we oughta
tell somebody about this.

You said that once already.

Too late now.

Why?

They're not gonna
listen to me. You either

You kidding?

Suppose the neighbours heard the noise.

It wouldn't be funny.

Listen er, I'll be back after awhile.

Oh er if you wanna call
the police, that's fine.

Just won't be so hot for me.

[Door closes]

♫ Sorrowful music begins ♫

♪ Music becomes louder ♫

♪ Music ends ♫

Er my girl Holly and I have
decided to kill ourselves.

Same way I did her dad.

Big decision huh?

Er the reasons are obvious.

I don't have time to go into 'em right now.

[Kit sighs]

But er one thing though

he was provoking me when I popped him.

That's what it was like "pop"

Well we're sorry.

I mean er nobody's coming
out of this thing happy

especially not us.

[Kit sighs again]

I can't deny we've had fun though.

And er

that's more than I can say for some.

That's the end of the message

I run out of things to say.

Thank you.

♪ Piano plays as petrol hits the keys ♫

[Glass lampshades smash]

[Sound of gurgling petrol]

[Insects chirp in the night air]

Record plays: My girl Holly and I
have decided to kill ourselves

same way I did her dad.
Big decision huh?

Kit left a record playing over and over

for the district attorney to find.

He was gambling for time.

[Kit's Voice continues on record player]

♪ German choir sing ♫

♫ Choirs song continues ♪

♫ Choirs song pauses ♫

♪ Choir resumes for the final time ♫

♪ Song finally finishes ♪

Kit made me get my books from
school so I wouldn't fall behind.

We'd be starting a new life he said
and we'd have to change our names.

His would be James mine would be Priscilla.

We'd hide out like spies
somewhere in the North

where people didn't ask a lot of questions.

I coulda snuck out the back or
hid in the boiler room I suppose

but I sensed that my destiny now lay with Kit

for better or for worse.

And that it was better to spend a week
with one who loved me for what I was

than years of loneliness.

How you doing?

I'm fine.

Kinda tired.

Yeah me too.

♪ Familiar music returns ♫

We hid out in the wilderness down by a river

in a grove of cottonwoods.

It being the flood season we'd
build our house in the trees,

with tamarisk walls and willows
laid side by side to make a floor.

There wasn't a plant in the
forest that didn't come in handy.

♫ Familiar music plays ♪

We planned a huge network
of tunnels under the forest floor

and our first order of business
every morning was to decide

on a new password for the day.

Now and then we'd sneak out at night
and steal a chicken or a bunch of corn

or some melons from a melon patch.

Mostly though we just lay on
our backs and stared at the clouds

and sometimes it was like being in a big marble hall.

The way we talked in low voices
and heard the tiniest sound.

♪ Familiar music increases in volume ♫

They hadn't found but one set of
bones in the ashes of the house

so we knew they'd be looking for us.

Kit made sure we'd be prepared.

He gave me lectures on how a gun works.

How to take it apart and
put it back together again

in case I had to carry on without him.

He said that if the devil came at
me I could shoot him with a gun.

One day I carried 30 pounds
of wood a distance of five miles.

Another day while hiding in the forest

I covered my eyes with makeup

to see how they'd come out.

♪ Antiquated rock 'n' roll music ♫

♪ Love mm mm ♪

♪ Love is strange yea, yea ♪

♪ Lot of people mm mm ♪

♪ Take it for a game. ♪♪

[Water splashes beneath Kit's feet]

We had our bad moments like any couple.

Kit accused me of only being along for the ride.

While at times I wished he'd
fall in the river and drown,

so I'd watch.

Take a break Red.

Life of Riley huh?

Mostly though we got along fine

and stayed in love.

One of the chickens died last night.

I almost stepped on him.

The Kon Tiki's motion was a little different

from what it usually was in such conditions.

We had become sensitive to
changes in the rhythm of the logs.

I thought at once of suction from
the coast which was drawing near

and was continually out on
the deck and up the mast.

He was nervous.

Time passed. At dawn just before 6:00

Torstein came hurrying down from the mast head.

He could see a whole line of small
palm clad islands far ahead.

♫ Familiar music returns ♪

I grew to love the forest.

The cooing of the doves and
the hum of dragonflies in the air

made it always seem lonesome,
like everybody's dead and gone.

When the leaves rustled overhead

it was like the spirits were whispering

about all the little things that bothered 'em.

One day while taking a look at
some vistas in dads stereopticon

it hit me that I was just this little girl

born in Texas.

Whose father was a sign painter,

who had only just so many years to live.

It sent a chill down my spine and I thought.

Where would I be this very moment

if Kit had never met me

or killed anybody?

This very moment.

If my mum had never met my dad.

If she had never died

and what's the man I'll
marry gonna look like?

What's he doing right this minute?

Is he thinking about me now by some coincidence

even though he doesn't know me?

Does it show on his face?

For days afterwards I lived in dread.

Sometimes I wished I could fall asleep

and be taken off to some magical land

but this never happened.

[Insects chirp and water swishes]

[First gunshot]

[Second gunshot]

Holly whispers: I know the stars

and I saw the trees.

I knew the frog

and I send the breeze.

♪♪ German choir sings again ♫

[Kit imitates a bird call]

What?

Get out of here run!

Somebody's coming!

Hide!

♫ Fast dramatic music ♪

Ethereal voice: Come hide
in the trees, the branches.

Come hide...

♪♪ Choir resumes in German ♪

[Rifle cocks]

Hey.
[Rifle shots blast through the air]

Ho-o.
[Final rifle shot]

Holly?

[Car boot slams]

Get in the car Red.

Well you don't need this.

Kit felt bad about shooting
those men in the back

but he said they'd come in like
that and they would've played it

as down and dirty as they could.

And besides he'd overheard 'em whispering about

how they were only interested in the reward money.

With laymen it would have been different.

They were out there to get a job done
and they deserved a fair chance

but not a bounty hunter.

[Car door slams shut]

♪ Guitar plays ♫

♪ Flute joins guitar solo ♪

We went to hide out with a friend of Kit's
from the days of the garbage route.

[Engine backfires and stops]

How ya doing Cato?

Not bad.

Take that son of a bitch.

[Chicken squawks]

- What you been doing?
- Running this place for a fella in town.

It's nothing much to speak of.

Well I don't notice us hustling trash either.

Where did you get them antlers?

They come with the house.

Oh Cato I want you to meet my girl

Holly Sargis.

Hi.

Did you hear about the guy at the nuthouse

that walked around naked
except for hat and gloves?

And his nurse came up to him and said

You can't walk around that way.

And the guy says

Well it's okay nobody comes around here anyway.

And the nurse says.

Well what do you have on
the hat and gloves for?

And the guy says. Well you never know.

[Cato laughs loudly]

In't that funny?

Yeah I guess.

She plays clarinet too.

Don't you get bored around here?

Yep sometimes.

The other day though

an old boy ploughing the field
over there found some old coins.

Old Spanish coins.

That's what he told you huh?

Nope. No he showed me one.

- What'd they look like?
- Well kinda round like so

- and gold.
- Where at?

Right over in that field over there.

I'll show you if you want.

Let me finish my supper.

Well we're thinking of going down to Texas.

Holly wants to visit some
of her people down there.

But after that I don't know.

They say Mexico's nice.

Kit maybe I'd better get a shovel.

- Okay.
- I'll catch up with you.

Okay.

I found a lid it was laying on the ground over there.

Put that down it's dirty.

[Holly laughs]

- You missed!
- You're a pissant.

Hey you're throwing big ones!

Ho! Ho!

- Cato?
- The shovel's in the truck.

[Rifle shot rings out]

Argh.

[Cato sighs]

Kit never let on why he shot Cato.

He said that just talking about
it could bring us bad luck

and that right now we needed
all the luck we could get.

You never told me about her.

Look at all this junk.

How's he doing?

[Kit sighs]

I got him in the stomach.

Is he upset?

He didn't say anything to me about it.

Bunch of junk.

He stole that cage.

I saw him doing it.

- What you looking in there for can't afford any of that.
- I'm just looking.

Why don't you go in there and
keep him company for awhile?

Hi.

[Cato replies "Hi" weakly]

That your spider in there?

In that bottle?

Yeah.

What do you feed him?

Flies.

Grasshoppers when I can catch 'em.

Does he bite?

He ain't never bit me.

[Car horn honking]

Hi.

- Hi.
- Where's Cato?

Well he's gone.

- Gone?
- Yeah.

- Where?
- He said not to tell.

Oh yeah.

He said for you to give us a lift into town.

You're the ones with the
Studebaker, aren't you?

- I just need to pick up something in the house.
- I can't allow that.

- What?
- You go in there I'll have to kill you.

- What's going on?
- Can't afford to take chances.

Come on outta there young lady.

Let's us go out in this field here. Come on.

Ah skip that I'm gonna have
to keep my eye on you though.

- Okay.
- You don't mind?

Hi.

What's gonna happen to Jack and me?

Have to ask Kit.

He says "frog" I jump.

Okay.

- What's your friend's name?
- Jack.

Hmm.

- You love him?
- I don't know.

I gotta stick by Kit he feels trapped.

Girl: I can imagine.

Holly: Well I've felt that way hadn't you?

Okay come on you two now in the cellar.

Go on.

Hey.

- Do you promise to stay there for an hour?
- Yeah.

- You expect me to believe that?
- Yeah.

I'm gonna shut the door.

[Two pistol shots ring out]

- Think I got 'em?
- I don't know.

Well I'm not going down there and look.

Holly Narrates: Suddenly I was
thrown into a state of shock.

Kit was the most trigger
happy person I'd ever met.

He claimed that as long as you're playing
for keeps and the law's coming at ya

it's considered okay to shoot all witnesses.

You had to take the consequences
though and not whine about it later.

He never seemed like
a violent person before

except for once when he said he'd
like to rub out a couple of guys.

whose names he didn't care to mention.

It all goes to show how
you can know a person

and not really know him at the same time.

We're in for it now if they catch us.

What you put him in there for?

Just to keep him out of the sun.

[Background music returns]

At this moment I didn't feel shame or fear

but just kind of blah.

Like when you're sitting there and
all the water's run out of the bath tub.

- Are you tired?
- Yeah.

Yeah you look tired.

Listen honey when all this is over

I'm gonna sit down and buy you a big thick steak.

I don't want a steak.

Yeah well we'll see about that.

Hey look

they're probably gonna blame that on me too.

Bastard.

The whole country was out looking for us.

For who knew where Kit would strike next?

Sidewalks cleared out,

stores closed their doors and drew the blinds.

Posses and vigilance committees

were set up from Texas to South Dakota.

Children rode back and forth
to school under heavy guard.

A famous detective was brought in from Boston.

He could find no clues.

People left their lights on
when they went to sleep.

My clarinet teacher said I
probably wasn't responsible

but others said I was.

Then on Thursday the
governor of Oklahoma sent out

the National Guard to stand watch
at the Federal Reserve Bank in Tulsa

when word got out that Kit meant to rob it.

It was like the Russians had invaded.

We needed supplies so we went to a rich mans house
[Doorbell rings]

Kit figured it'd be safer and quicker
than shopping in the downtown.

A maid came to the door.

Hi I'm here to check the
meter. My tools are in here.

Oh this is Holly she's from Texas.

Later we found out she was deaf
and we hadn't even known it.

Excuse me.

- Hi.
- Yes?

This your place?

- Yes.
- Sorry to barge in on you.

Anyone else here besides you two?

No.

Good deal.

Oh we're on the run

and erm

we'd like to hang out here for awhile.

Couple hours maybe. How'd that be?

Stay as long as you like.

[Hollys high pitched musical tone!]

[Bell rings]

Next time I ring that means it's time to clear out.

♪ Odd music begins ♫

I left Kit in the parlour and went
for a stroll outside the house.

The day was quiet and serene but I didn't notice

for I was deep in thought

and not even thinking about how to slip off.

The world was like a far away
planet to which I could never return.

I thought what a fine place it was

full of things that people
can look into and enjoy.

Listen to your parents and teachers.

They got a line on most things
so don't treat 'em like enemies.

There's always an outside chance
you can learn something.

Try to keep an open mind.

Try to understand the view points of others.

Consider the minority opinion

but try to get along with the majority
of opinion once it's accepted.

Of course Holly and I have had
fun even if it has been rushed.

And er

so far we're doing fine.

Hadn't got caught.

Excuse the grammar.

Hi.

Kit's downstairs playing with the Dictaphone.

Sometimes he acts like there's
something wrong with his bean.

Hope nothing ever goes wrong with mine.

You think he's crazy huh?

I don't know he's kinda odd.

They claim I got him wrapped
around my little finger

but I never told him to shoot anybody.

- Gosh I like your house.
- Thank you. [Doorbell rings]

[Kit cocks pistol]

Hi.

Hi er Mr Scarborough here?

Yeah.

The thing about him he's
down with the flu. He's sick.

- Really?
- Yeah.

I'd invite you inside except it's contagious.

- Don't want to start an epidemic.
- No of course not.

Er it's only he called last night

and asked if I could come by.

Well he, he didn't have it last night.

- What's that?
- Well I'd like to leave a message

if that's okay.

Sure.

[Visitor writes on notepad]

Oh you have to excuse me now.
I have to go back inside.

Bye.

Hey Tex we're outta here!

Hi whatcha doing?

- Just thinking.
- Yeah good a way to kill time as any.

- She okay?
- Yes.

Good.

Oh er we're gonna take the Cadillac for awhile.

- How'd that be?
- Fine.

Oh don't worry I won't let her drive.

Oh and er here.

Here's a list of everything I
borrowed. Car's on there too.

Okay ma'am let's go. Out that way.

Go on.

- You're my friend aren't you?
- Yes.

Okay no monkey business now.

Groceries.

Kit: That guy could sell that list I
gave him as a sample of my handwriting.

Hey why are you always walking ahead of me?

Why are you always walking behind me!

Don't!

- Anybody ever done that to you before?
- No.

- Positive?
- Yes.

Guess there's no way I'll ever know for sure.

That guy must pay through
the nose to keep this place up.

Lawn, gas and electric.

Bagworms.

Plus the upkeep on the cars.

Yeah you get a little money in your pocket

and you think all your problems are solved.

Well let me tell you they're not.

I'd like to get outta here.

As soon as I start the car.

[Engine starts]

And fix my hat.

[Holly Narrates] Fearing there'd
be roadblocks on the highways

we took off across that region
known as the Great Plains.

Kit told me to enjoy the scenery and I did.

Rumour:

Pat Boone is seriously
considering giving up his career

so he can return to school full time
and complete his education.

Fact: Pat has told intimates

that so long as things are
going well for his career

it's the education that will
have to take a backseat.

I don't blame him.

Rumour: Frank Sinatra and
Rita Hayworth are in love.

Fact: True but not with each other.

Yeah.

♪ Pleasant music plays ♫

Through desert and mesa

across the endless miles of open range

we made our headlong way.
Steering by the telephone lines

toward the mountains of Montana.

Kit would sometimes ram a cow to
save on ammo and we'd cook it.

Once we had to eat a bunch of salt grass.

It tasted like cabbage.

For gas we used the leakage
from the valves of the pipelines

we found along the way.

Drip gas is what it's called in that part of the country.

Little by little we approached the border.

Kit was glad to leave South Dakota
behind and cursed its name.

He said that if the Communists
ever dropped the atomic bomb

he wished they'd put it right
in the middle of Rapid City.

That's Montana over there.

I never been to Montana.

Acquaintance of mine's
been there but I hadn't.

Never had any reason to.

Holly: State bird's the Meadowlark.

♫ Whimsical music plays ♫

We lived in utter loneliness neither here nor there.

Kit said that solitude was a better word

'cause it meant more exactly
what I wanted to say.

Whatever the expression I
told him we couldn't go on

living this way.

Why not?

I mean I'm having fun.
At least I'm not bitching.

Well I feel kinda like an
animal living out here.

There's no place to bathe and

not any place to get anything good to eat.

Well I'll catch you a big trout
soon as we get to the mountains.

Everybody loves trout.

I'm serious.

♪ Whimsical music continues ♫

In the distance I saw a train making
its way silently across the plain

like the caravan in the Adventures of Marco Polo.

It was our first taste of civilization in weeks

and I asked Kit if we
could have a closer look.

Before we left he shot a football

that he considered excess baggage.

Afterwards he took and buried
some of our things in a bucket.

He said that nobody else would
know where we'd put 'em.

and that we'd come back someday
maybe and they'd still be sitting here

just the same but we'd be different.

And if we never got back well

somebody might dig 'em up
a thousand years from now

and wouldn't they wonder.

[Train horn blares]

[Train noisily passes by]

[Silence slowly returns]

Maybe we should have tried to hop it.

It was going too fast.

Yeah I coulda pulled the car up
on the tracks, slowed it down some.

Yeah then we'd be stuck here.

Well maybe we oughta be stuck here.

I'm not saying I know.

You're crazy.

Kit took the bottle and spun it around

leaving to fate which direction we should take.

Well maybe the slope here
is throwing it off some.

- We ought to find a more flat place.
- How about over here?

Are forget it, it doesn't matter.

If I'm worth a damn I'll pick the right direction.

If I'm not well I don't
care. See what I mean?

- No.
- Well I shouldn't expect miracles should I?

We'll keep on heading for that mountain.

Just remember I said it wasn't such a hot idea.

We took off at sunset

on a line toward the
mountains of Saskatchewan

for Kit a magical land beyond
the reach of the law.

He needed me now more than ever
but something had come between us.

I'd stopped even paying attention to him.

Instead I sat in the car and read a map

and spelled out entire sentences with my tongue

on the roof of my mouth where
nobody could read 'em.

♪ Folk music plays ♪

That night we moved closer to the border

and clear across the prairie at
the very edge of the horizon.

we could make out the gas fires
at the refineries at Missoula.

While to the South we could
see the lights of Cheyenne.

a city bigger and grander than I'd ever seen.

I felt all kind of things looking
at the lights of Cheyenne

but most important I made
up my mind to never again

tag around with the hell bent type.

No matter how in love with him I was.

Finally I found the strength to tell Kit this.

I pointed out that even if
we got to the far North

he still couldn't make a living.

I can get a job with the Mounties.

Northwest Mounties.

Hell I got all the qualifications.

I can ride and, shoot

and er I don't mind the cold.

- In fact I kinda like the cold.
- What?

Nothing.

I was just running off at the mouth

as usual.

I'm sorry I wasn't listening.

Hey man don't lip it.

Well

you know like they'd probably
ask to see your drivers license

before they hire you.

Oh I'm not gonna let that stop me.

- You smoke Pall Mall?
- Yeah.

Are you haven't seen me when
I'm going after something honey.

Tough.

♪♪ Crooner sings on radio ♫
Hey interesting Nat King Cole.

♪ You turned to me ♪

♪ The gypsies say ♪

♪ And I know why ♪

♪ A falling blossom ♪

♪ Only touches lips that lie ♪

♪ A blossom fell ♪

♪ And very soon ♪

♪ I saw you kissing someone new ♪

♪ Beneath the moon ♪

- ♪ I thought you loved me ♪
- Boy if I could sing a song like that.

♪ You said you loved me ♪

If I could sing a song about
the way I feel right now

♪ And together ♪

- ♪ To be ♫
- ♪ To be forever ♪

♪ The dream has ended ♪

♪ For true love died ♪

♪ The night a blossom fell ♪

♪ And touched two lips that lied ♪

♫ Nat King Cole stops singing
as his orchestra continues ♫

♫ Orchestra fades into silence ♫

Kit knew the end was coming.

He wondered if he'd hear the
doctor pronounce him dead.

Or if he'd be able to read what the
papers would say about him the next day

from the other side.

He dreaded the idea of being
shot down alone, he said

without a girl to scream out his name.

Then for an instant the sight of
the mountains in the dawn light

got his hopes back up.

God what a sight.

Hey tell me this honey.

What does a little Texas girl like
yourself think of a sight like that?

♪ The dream has ended ♪

♪ For true love died ♪

♪ The night a blossom fell ♪

♪ And touched two lips ♪

♪ that lied ♪♪

Love this air.

Morning.

Er you got any gas?

Maybe.

Well I'm sorry sir but
we got to ask you for it.

We're about out. We
been driving all night.

Actually I don't even have
time to explain it to you.

Stranger speaking: Well
what I got I can't spare.

Just a second now.

That's your truck in't it?

- You didn't walk out here.
- It's mine alright.

Well listen I'm gonna swap you my Cadillac.

Now don't worry you're getting a fair deal.

Hell ask anybody. What's the Blue
Book value on this thing Mildred?

Stranger: Who are you?

The name's Carruthers. Believe I
shoot people every now and then.

- Not that I deserve a medal.
- Kit!

[Pistol cocks]

- Okay friend start running.
- Give me a chance.

Go on get!

Boy I had a feeling today was gonna be the day.

- Helicopter.
- Yeah.

He's not gonna take us for any ride.
Come on let's make a run for the car.

I don't want to.

Have you got a better idea?

I just don't wanna go.

What?

What is wrong with you

huh!

What is the matter with you huh?

[Sound of helicopter approaching]

Shit.

I don't know what to make of people like you.

I really don't.

You want a second chance then listen.

12:00 noon Grand Coulee Dam.

New Years Day 1964.
You meet me there.

Now you got that?

[Tyres screech]

♪♪ Choir sings in German ♪

♪ Choristers voices amplify ♪

Hey anybody here?

Hi.

Say you got any shells for
a Savage .300 Savage?

No.

Damn I pissed all mine
away shooting up bottles.

Hey you gonna fill her up boy, please?

♪ Wind chimes sound ♪

[Kit sighs]

If you want any of that junk it's yours.

[Patrol car tyres squeal]

[Horn toots]

[Shoots pistol]

[Kits car accelerates]

[Engine accelerates]

[Cattle moo, horn honks]

[Cattle fence pings]

[Shots fired]

[Bullets fly]

[Tyres screech]

[Silence returns to the road]

Holly narrates: Many times I've wondered what
was going through Kits head before they got him.

And why he didn't make a run for it
while he still had the chance.

Did he figure they'd just
catch him the next day?

Was it despair? He
claimed to having a flat tyre

but the way he carried on
about it I imagine this is false.

[Gunshot]

[Stones clatter]

[Sound of distant patrol car approaching]

[Tyres squeal]

Hi.

Hold it right there.

I could have held off an army if I coulda
got behind a boulder up in the mountains.

- Oh yeah?
- As long as my ammo held out.

Right there is where you caught me.

We did it Ray.

You better not leave that
Cadillac sitting out here.

Put your hands on back of your head.

Now put the other one on yourself.

[Handcuffs click]

Hell he ain't no bigger than I am.

Look at that.

You're gonna give me a
cauliflower ear sheriff.

He should've thought about
that before he got caught

shouldn't he?

[Gunshot]

Think I'll take the juice?

Beats me.

Say what kind of rifle was that
you were shooting at me?

Thirty o six.

You ever had to open
up like that before?

No.

Well you boys have performed
like a couple of heroes

and don't think I'm not gonna pass
it around when we get to town.

You tossed my hat out the window.

Wanna sue me?

- No.
- Kit?

Kit I got a question for you.

- You like people?
- They're okay.

Then why'd you do it?

I don't know.

I always wanted to be a criminal
I guess. Just not this big of one.

Takes all kinds though.

You know who that son of a bitch looks like?

- You know don't you?
- No.

I'll kiss your arse if he
don't look like James Dean.

[Train rattles by]

How you doing there Kit?

Fine as can be expected.
Just locked up, can't move.

- Nice little coat you got on there.
- You think?

It's leather. Hey

now looky here. Here's the real prize.

I must've had this about
ten years. Looky there.

- Who's gonna get it?
- Give me that son of a bitch.

- There you go.
- Where are you from?

- South Dakota, where you from?
- Here.

Want a comb?

Joni James is from South Dakota.

Yeah I know she got outta there too.

Kit who's your favourite singer?

- Eddie Fisher, who's yours?
- Eddie Fisher.

Damn you want a pen?

How old are you?

Don't you read the papers?

- Have you ever been married?
- No I haven't.

- Hey Kit?
- Yep?

You afraid of death?

I haven't thought about it much.

[Men laugh and chat]

[Indistinct conversations]

Hey Tom I don't mean to tell you how to run your
show here but these cuffs are pinching some.

- What do you say now?
- We need to get your signature

on some paperwork here Kit.

Well I'll have to read it first.
Suppose I could get a coke while I do?

Sure thing.

- You boys keep out of trouble.
- Don't worry about us.

Holly's over here Kit if you want to see her.

Sure.

I gave him the papers to sign.
I'm gonna get him a coke.

You gonna give me a little slack here?

Hi.

And push!

Don't worry now I'm gonna
get you off these charges.

There's a whole lot of other
boys out there waiting for you

and you're gonna have a lot of fun.

Boy we rang the bell didn't we?

I'll say this though.

That guy with the deaf maid

he's just lucky he's not dead too.

'Course er too bad about your dad.

Yeah.

We're gonna have to sit down
and talk about that sometime.

[Plane tyres screech]

[Pickup engine screeches]

[Plane engine clatters]

[Troops chat amongst themselves]

There you go...

- Thank you.
- Thank you very much chief Sims.

- Sorry if I caused you any inconvenience.
- You didn't cause me any trouble.

Thanks anyway.

Well.

- Kit.
- Tom.

- Good luck to you.
- Thank you.

- I know you mean it.
- Good luck to you too.

- Now we go.
- Okay thank you.

Come on Red.

[Tranquil music begins]

Holly narrates: Kit and I were
taken back to South Dakota.

They kept him in solitary
so he didn't have a chance

to get acquainted with the other inmates.

Though sure they'd like him,
especially the murderers.

Myself I got off with probation
and a lot of nasty looks.

Later I married the son of
the lawyer who defended me.

Kit went to sleep in the courtroom
while his confession was being read

and he was sentenced to die in the electric chair.

On a warm spring night six months later

after donating his body to science, he did.

Sir where'd you get that hat?

State.

Boy I'd like to buy me one of them.

You're quite an individual Kit.

Think they'll take that into consideration?

[Music returns as film ends]