Goodnight for Justice: The Measure of a Man (2012) - full transcript

It's the late nineteenth century in the Wyoming Territory, known as one of the most lawless regions on the continent. John Goodnight, a traveling circuit court judge, hates lawyers, even when he was one himself, but believes in justice. Such an example of his lawyer hatred is toward Lucius Breed, the leading lawyer in his latest stop of the small town of Rollins. John considers Lucius as corrupt and self-serving as many of the people John convicts. In Rollins, John is reunited with the former Callie Bluepointe, a former flame from their days in Chicago a decade and a half ago. John will learn why Callie stayed in Rollins instead of what was her plan to travel to San Francisco: the birth of her son, Will Donohue. John learns of Will's existence in an auspicious manner: Will is the only person captured among Deke Spradling's gang in their attempted getaway following Deke's robbery of the local bank, the second such in recent memory. Although Callie has not seen Will in a few years after he ran off, Callie stands by Will as being a good boy, which places her standing in Rollins in jeopardy as most of the townsfolk want Will to hang as he is the prime suspect as the gunman who killed one of the townsfolk in a previous robbery by the Spradling gang. John has to protect Will against the lynch mob mentality until Will gets a fair trial. Although not admitting to anything regarding the murder or involvement in the robbery, Will defends Deke in the court of public opinion. Beyond what happens to Will, John knows the town cannot feel safe until Deke is captured. John has to decide whether to trust Will in his search for Deke. He also has to figure out how Callie's information about Will will affect his judgment about how to treat Will in this case, and thus how Will will emerge on the other side, both physically and emotionally.

[♪♪]

[SNORING]

[COYOTE HOWLS DISTANTLY]

[SEAMS RIP]

[GROANS]
AW, SHOOT.

[SIGHS]

WYOMING TORT LAW?

MEANT TO BE BURNED.

WHOA!

[CHURCH BELL TOLLS]

[CRACKS NECK]



SHERIFF.

JOHN GOODNIGHT.

OH, 'MORNING, JUDGE.

UH, WELCOME TO RAWLINS.

[GROANS GROGGILY]

DID YOU HAVE
A ROUGH RIDE IN?

LET'S JUST CALL IT
A RUN OF BAD LUCK.

WELL, MAYBE
YOUR LUCK WILL CHANGE.

YOU WANT ME TO
GET YOUR DOCKET.

NO, IT CAN WAIT.

HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO
KEEP FOLLOWING ME?

IT COULD BE
10, 20 MILES.

THAT'S ALL?

YOU COULD STOP
WALKING RIGHT NOW,



TURN AROUND AND LET ME
INTRODUCE MYSELF.

OR YOU COULD STOP
FOLLOWING ME.

IT'S NOT ME.

IT'S MY HORSE.

YOUR HORSE
PICKS OUT WOMEN FOR YOU?

WELL, SADLY, YES.

[NICKERING PLAYFULLY]

[LAUGHS]

CALLIE?

MY GOD. JOHN.

IS IT REALLY YOU?

WELL, WHAT'S LEFT OF ME.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN?

SINCE I LEFT CHICAGO.

AND ME.

16 YEARS.

YOU BROKE MY HEART.

OH, I HAVE A FEELING
YOU RECOVERED.

[CHUCKLES]

WASN'T THERE ANOTHER GIRL
WAITING IN THE WINGS?

WELL, SOMEONE HAD TO BE THERE
TO EASE THE PAIN.

THEN YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED
SO MUCH THEN, JOHN GOODNIGHT.

I LIKE THE BEARD.

HANDSOME.

VERY DISTINGUISHED.

KEEPS MY FACE WARM.

I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT YOU.

GOOD THOUGHTS OR BAD?

BAD...

MOSTLY.

[GIGGLING FONDLY]

SMALL TOWN.

I SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN
CARRYING ON WITH A STRANGER

IN PUBLIC.

I'M NOT EXACTLY A STRANGER.

TO THEM YOU ARE.

WALK WITH ME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE?

I ASK MYSELF
THAT QUESTION EVERY DAY.

TRUTH IS,
I WAS APPOINTED.

I'M THE CIRCUIT JUDGE.

WHAT?

YOU'VE GOT TO BE
KIDDING.

OH, DON'T MAKE ME
SHOW YOU THE GAVEL.

[LAUGHS]

I'M IN SESSION
HERE TODAY.

LAST TIME I SAW YOU,

YOU WERE ON YOUR WAY
TO SAN FRANCISCO

WITH STARS IN YOUR EYES.

WELL, THIS IS
AS FAR AS I GOT.

YOU'RE STILL ACTING, THOUGH.

SEWING.

I'M A SEAMSTRESS.

NOT EXACTLY THE ROLE
I HAD ENVISIONED.

I UNDERSTAND, COMPROMISE.

SINCE WHEN?

I'M IN RAWLINS,
AREN'T I?

BUT YOU'RE JUST
PASSING THROUGH, JUDGE.

FROM WHAT I AM TOLD,

SAN FRANCISCO
IS STILL THERE.

TAKES YOU ABOUT TWO WEEKS
TO GET THERE BY STAGECOACH.

THAT DREAM IS GONE.

WELL, IT SHOULDN'T BE.

YOU ARE VERY TALENTED.

LIFE DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT
THE WAY YOU WANT IT,

THE WAY YOU DREAMED IT.

YOU MARRIED?

I'M A WIDOW.

MY HUSBAND DIED,
GOING ON THREE YEARS NOW.

I'M SORRY.

I'M QUITE CERTAIN
YOU'RE NOT MARRIED.

THAT'S TRUE.

IT'S THE HORSE'S FAULT.

KEEPS PICKING
THE WRONG WOMEN.

PERHAPS YOU NEED
A NEW HORSE, THEN.

A SEAMSTRESS?

THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, THEN, I AM IN LUCK,

BECAUSE,
AS YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE...

[LAUGHING]

I, UH, I NEED A SEAMSTRESS.

UNBECOMING
A MAN OF YOUR STATURE.

WELL, I QUITE AGREE.

I SUPPOSE I WOULD HAVE TO
TAKE THESE OFF

IN ORDER FOR YOU
TO SEW THEM PROPERLY.

OR I COULD STITCH THEM UP
WITH YOU IN THEM.

SOUNDS PAINFUL.

MEANT TO BE.

[PHOTOGRAPHER]:
HOLD STILL, NOW.

NO BLINKING.

[FLASHBULB POPS]

THIS COURT WILL NOW
COME TO SESSION.

[BANGING GAVEL]

THE HONORABLE
JOHN WILLIAM GOODNIGHT

PRESIDING.

[CRACKING NECK]

WHO'S FIRST?

PLAINTIFF JEREMIAH WALTERS

VERSUS DEFENDANT
FRANCIS B. LANGHORN.

LUCIUS BREED, ESQUIRE,
YOUR HONOR,

ATTORNEY REPRESENTING
THE PLAINTIFF,

THE UPSTANDING MR. WALTERS.

ESQUIRE.

A LAWYER, HUH?

IS THAT A PROBLEM, YOUR HONOR?

NO, BUT IN MY EXPERIENCE,

A LAWYER WILL DO ANYTHING
TO WIN THE CASE.

SOMETIMES, HE'LL EVEN
TELL THE TRUTH.

[CHUCKLES INDULGENTLY]

MR. LANGHORN,
BE SEATED.

STATE YOUR CASE, COUNSELOR.

WELL, I'LL MAKE THIS SIMPLE,
YOUR HONOR.

THE DEFENDANT, UH--

LANGHORN.

YES, THANK YOU.
MR. LANGHORN....

PURCHASED A PLOW FROM MY CLIENT,
MR. WALTERS,

FOR $21.

THIS IS THE BILL OF SALE.

HE REFUSES TO PAY.

WE ARE SEEKING PAYMENT

AND DAMAGES
IN THE AMOUNT OF $50.

MR. LANGHORN,
WHAT'S YOUR SIDE OF THE STORY?

YOUR HONOR, I DID BUY A PLOW,

AND IT SURE LOOKED NEW,

BUT AS SOON AS
I WORKED IT,

THE DURN THING BROKE
IN THREE PIECES,

AND YOU COULD SEE
IT WAS RUSTED AND USED--

OBJECTION!

IT WAS
THE ROCK-HARD SOIL

ON HIS FARM

THAT DAMAGED THE PLOW.

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG
WITH MY PLOWS,

I CAN ASSURE YOU--

MR. WALTERS,

THIS IS MY COURTROOM,

I WILL NOT TOLERATE
ANY OUTBURSTS.

DO YOU HAVE THE PLOW?

I HAVE IT HERE
FOR YOUR EYE, YOUR HONOR.

BRING IT IN.

LET'S HAVE A LOOK.

WE WILL ENTER IT
INTO EVIDENCE.

NOTE, THIS IS, UH,
EXHIBIT "A".

[PIECES CLATTERING]

IS THAT THE PLOW
YOU SOLD HIM, MR. WALTERS?

I SOLD THIS MAN A NEW PLOW.

YOU GENTLEMEN, TAKE YOUR SEATS.

IN THE MATTER OF WALTERS
VERSUS LANGHORN,

CASE DISMISSED.

[BANGS GAVEL]

WHAT?

YOU HEARD ME.

THAT PLOW ISN'T FIT
TO CHURN MILK WITH,

A FACT THAT I'M SURE
YOUR CLIENT WAS WELL AWARE OF

THE FIRST TIME HE SOLD IT

AT THE EXORBITANT SUM
OF $21.

YOU TELL YOUR CLIENT

IF HE SELLS FAULTY MERCHANDISE
IN THIS TOWN AGAIN,

I'LL HAVE HIM
ON MY DOCKET FOR FRAUD.

CASE DISMISSED.

[BANGS GAVEL]

NEXT CASE.

PLAINTIFF...

[WALTERS, MUTTERING]:
I'M NOT HAPPY, BREED.

IGNATIUS HAYES,

DEFENDANT
JOHN EDWARD LOMAN.

LUCIUS BREED,

REPRESENTING
THE DISTINGUISHED MR. HAYES.

IS THERE ANYBODY
THAT YOU DO NOT REPRESENT?

THE DAY IS YOUNG.

IT FEELS OLD.

STATE YOUR CLIENT'S
CASE, COUNSELOR.

MY CLIENT, MR. HAYES,
IS PETITIONING THE COURT

AS REGARDS A LAND DISPUTE

IN WHICH HIS GOOD NAME
HAS BEEN MALIGNED...

[ROAR OF ROWDY CROWD]

DANG!

YOU'RE A LUCKY
SON OF A GUN.

I'D RATHER BE
LUCKY THAN GOOD.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS
MY HAND FOR SURE.

CUT THE BICKERING.
LET'S PLAY CARDS, BOYS.

NEVER YOUR HAND, SON.
ALWAYS MY HAND.

GENTLEMEN.

[TELLER]: 20, 25, 30.

GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.

MA'AM.

[RINGS BELL]

I NEED TO MAKE A WITHDRAWAL.

OF COURSE, SIR.

YOU HAVE
AN ACCOUNT WITH US?

I DO.

FIRST NAME, DEKE.

LAST NAME, SPRADLING.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INTENTION

ON GOING FOR THAT GUN,

I SHOULD INFORM YOU
THAT MY ACCOUNT NUMBER...

IS COLT 45.

WELL, WASTED
TWO BITS. CALL.

SURE ARE A LOT
OF RAGS IN THIS DECK.

YOUR HAND AIN'T GONNA
IMPROVE FROM LYIN', DELL.

[SIGHS]

WHAT'S THE
VERDICT, JUDGE?

WELL...

I CAN'T FIGURE OUT

WHO THE SUCKER
AT THIS TABLE IS...

SO IT MUST BE ME.

ALL IN.

[COCKING WEAPONS]

DEKE!

YOU'RE BLUFFING, ARE YOU?

[GLASS SMASHING]

[TOWNSFOLK SCREAMING]

WAIT A MINUTE!
HEY, HEY, WHOA!

WE HAD A HAND HERE--

[SHOTS BLASTING]

[SHOUTING]

[SHOTS BLAST,
PEOPLE SCREAM IN TERROR]

[BULLETS RICOCHETING]

[GROANS IN PAIN]

LEAVE HIM.

H'YAH!

[GUNFIRE SNIPING]

YAH!

[GUN CLICKS, EMPTY]

[FIRING WILDLY]

[HORSE WHINNYING]

IT'S LOADED, JUDGE.

[TRADING GUNFIRE]

I OWE YOU ONE.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

I HAD A KING-HIGH
STRAIGHT FLUSH!

WHO'S THAT ONE?

THAT'S HORACE SPRADLING.

THE ONE WHO JUST RODE OUT
IS HIS BROTHER, DEKE.

THE SPRADLINGS?

I THOUGHT THEY WERE
HOLED UP IN KANSAS.

GET UP!

NO, SIR.

THEY'RE HIDING IN THE CANYONS
UP NORTH OF HERE.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME
THIS MONTH THEY'VE HIT US.

YOU SEND OUT A POSSE?

YES, SIR.

THE POSSE JUST BRINGS BACK
DEAD BODIES,

NOT A SPRADLING AMONG 'EM,

JUST TOWNSPEOPLE.

THIS AIN'T A GOOD PLACE
FOR FIGHTERS.

YEAH, I GATHERED THAT.

HE'S DEAD, HE'S DEAD!
BILL FARNUM'S DEAD!

AND THERE'S
THREE PEOPLE WOUNDED!

GO FETCH THE DOC.

WE SHOULD HANG
THIS PIECE OF TRASH RIGHT NOW.

"WE" DON'T DO THE HANGING.
I DO.

THAT'S BURT DONOHUE'S BOY.

THAT'S WILL.

YEAH, SO IT IS.

YOU SURE GROWN SOME.

GROWN UP BAD.

WHAT DID YOU DO
THIS FOR, SON?

WE'RE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

YOU GREW UP HERE.

LISTEN, THAT HOLD-UP
IN THE GENERAL STORE

IN INDEPENDENCE,

THAT WAS A COLD-BLOODED MURDER,

AND IT WAS A YOUNG FELLOW
PULLED THE TRIGGER, TOO!

[WOMAN]: IT SURE WAS.

MY SISTER WAS THERE.

THIS IS THE BOY!

HE DESERVES TO HANG!

THERE'LL BE NO LYNCHING
WHEN I'M IN THIS TOWN.

HE GETS A FAIR TRIAL.

WHAT, BY YOU?

I DON'T SEE
ANY OTHER JUDGES AROUND.

EMPTY YOUR POCKETS.

HOW OLD ARE YOU?

OLD ENOUGH.

OLD ENOUGH TO HANG?

BETTER THAN
DYING OF OLD AGE.

YOU'VE GOT A SMART MOUTH.

COME ON, GET IN THERE.

[KEY RATTLING IN LOCK]

YOU KNOW,
IF YOU WERE REALLY SMART,

YOU'D BE ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THESE BARS.

I WILL BE.

WHEN MR. SPRADLING COMES FOR ME.

"MISTER," IS IT?

I'D PROBABLY CALL HIM
SOMETHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW,
HE LEFT HIS OWN BROTHER DYING

OUT THERE IN THE STREET.

YOU THINK YOU'D BE
ANY DIFFERENT?

YOU DON'T KNOW HIM.

YOU TELL ME WHERE HE'S AT,
I'LL GET TO KNOW HIM.

SEEING AS THOUGH
YOU AND I JUST MET,

THAT REQUEST SEEMS
A BIT PERSONAL.

WE'LL GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER
BETTER AT YOUR TRIAL.

THEY'LL COME FOR ME
AND BREAK ME OUT!

THE ONLY THING
BREAKING OUT AROUND HERE

WILL BE THE DAWN.

[DOGS BARKING]

[WHISPERING]
WILLIE!

YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE.

OH, WILL...

DON'T CRY.

I'M SORRY.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

YES, I'M ALL RIGHT.

[SIGHS IN WONDER]
YOU'VE GROWN SO TALL.

HE'S YOUR BOY,
ISN'T HE?

NEVER PICTURED YOU
AS THE MOTHER OF AN OUTLAW.

JOHN, WAIT.

HE WAS ALWAYS A GOOD BOY.

IN MY HEART,
I KNOW HE STILL IS.

YEAH, WELL, HIS ACTIONS
SPEAK OTHERWISE.

HE FELL IN WITH
THE WRONG GROUP OF MEN,

THAT'S ALL.

THE SPRADLINGS?

THEY ARE
COLD-BLOODED KILLERS.

ARMED ROBBERY, MURDER.

HE'S NOT LIKE THAT.

HE'S NOT ONE OF THEM.

SO YOU KEEP SAYING.

I TRIED MY BEST
AFTER MY HUSBAND DIED,

BUT A BOY NEEDS A MAN AROUND.

I GUESS HE FOUND THAT
IN DEKE SPRADLING.

[SIGHS SADLY]

ABOUT TWO MONTHS
AFTER WILL DISAPPEARED,

I WENT LOOKING FOR HIM.

I'D HEARD WORD HE'D JOINED
THE SPRADLING GANG.

DOES ANYONE IN THIS TOWN
KNOW THAT?

NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

I TOLD EVERYONE
HE WAS BACK EAST WITH FAMILY.

[SIGHS HEAVILY]

NO ONE TELLS YOU
WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

TO HAVE A CHILD.

I HAD ALL THESE DREAMS,

AND THE MOMENT WILL WAS BORN,
HE BECAME MY LIFE.

JOHN, HE'S A GOOD BOY.

HE'LL GET A FAIR TRIAL, CALLIE.

THEN WHAT?

WHAT HAPPENS
AFTER HIS FAIR TRIAL?

[♪♪]

LOOKS LIKE
YOU WERE WRONG.

I GET THAT A LOT.

YOU NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.

WELL, I THOUGHT
MR. DEKE SPRADLING

WAS SUPPOSED TO COME
WITH HIS BIG GANG

AND BREAK YOU OUT OF HERE,

YET THERE YOU SIT.

GET UP.

YOU'RE LETTING ME GO?

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING, JUDGE?

PREPARING HIM FOR TRIAL.

I THOUGHT THE TRIAL
WAS TOMORROW.

WE'LL BE BACK.

YOU TRY TO RUN,

I'M GOING TO ASSUME
YOU'RE GUILTY.

IF I THINK YOU'RE GUILTY,
I'M GONNA SHOOT YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING
WITH THAT?

WITH THIS?

I AM GOING TO
WATCH YOU SWING IT.

W-WHAT?

YUP.

SEE THOSE ROCKS?

START BUSTING.

THERE'S NOTHING BUT ROCKS.

YEAH,

AND YOU GOT
NOTHING BUT TIME.

WHY?

GOOD TRAINING

FOR YOUR CAREER
AS A HARDENED CRIMINAL.

THE HORSES NEED
WATERING FIRST.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF
THESE HORSES.

YOU GET THAT HAMMER.

START BREAKING
THOSE ROCKS.

WHO TAUGHT YOU
TO SWING LIKE THAT,

DEKE SPRADLING?

HE'S GOT BETTER THINGS TO DO.

YEAH, LIKE WHAT?

KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE,
STEALING THEIR MONEY.

NO ONE'S INNOCENT, JUDGE.

HE TELL YOU THAT, TOO?

MR. SPRADLING'S
TRAVELED ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

HE'S BEEN TO PLACES
YOU CAN ONLY DREAM OF.

YEAH, THE ONLY PLACES
HE'S BEEN

IS THE FEDERAL PENN IN WICHITA,

AND A CHAIN GANG IN YUMA.

YOU FOLLOW HIM, IT'S GOING TO BE
TO AN EARLY GRAVE.

LIKE I SAID,
MY GANG'S COMING BACK FOR ME.

WELL, I'LL BE HERE WAITING,

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO
KEEP DOING THIS FOR?

NOBODY EVER DROWNED
IN HIS OWN SWEAT.

A MEANINGLESS LIFE
OF POINTLESS TASKS,

THAT'S WHAT PRISON IS.

THAT'S WHERE
YOU'RE HEADED,

IF YOU DON'T
GET HUNG FIRST.

I'M GOING TO TAKE THE HORSES.

I'LL LEAVE YOURS TWO MILES AWAY
SO I CAN GET A HEAD START.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT
TO YOUR HORSE.

YOU DON'T THINK
I WON'T SHOOT YOU.

YOU KNOW
HOW TO USE THAT THING?

YEAH.

SHOULDN'T YOU
TURN THE SAFETY OFF

BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR FINGER
ON THE TRIGGER?

YOU KNOW SOMETHING, WILL,

I'D MAKE A MUCH BETTER FRIEND
THAN I WOULD AN ENEMY.

YOU KNOW SOMETHING ELSE?

IF YOU EVER PULL
A GUN ON SOMEBODY,

YOU'D BETTER
BE READY TO KILL HIM.

YOU ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT IT'S LOADED.

[GUN CLICKS, EMPTY]

BACK ON YOUR HORSE.

YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL.

I'M SORRY I'M LATE.

I BROUGHT SOME THREAD.

I'M GLAD YOU STARTED WITHOUT ME.

AND WE'LL BE
FINISHING WITHOUT YOU.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I THINK YOU DO.

YOUR BOY'S A SINNER.

NO, ANNA, HE ISN'T--

THAT MAKES
YOU ONE, TOO.

PLEASE
LET ME EXPLAIN--

THERE'S
NOTHING TO SAY.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW
A PERSON,

THEN YOU FIND OUT

SHE'S BEEN LYING TO YOU
FOR YEARS.

BUT YOU DO KNOW ME, ANNA.

YOU DO.

YEAH, WELL, NOW
WE KNOW YOU BETTER.

PLEASE LEAVE
MY HOUSE.

[SNIFFLES]

WELL, I SPENT $3.00
ON THE SUPPLIES.

GET IT FROM
THE SPRADLINGS.

IT IS NOT THAT I AM
WITHOUT COMPASSION, LADIES,

IT'S JUST THAT
I CANNOT TOLERATE A LIE.

I KNOW.

MORNING.

THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY
UP THERE NOW.

THEY'RE GOING TO RUN HER
OUT OF TOWN.

LET'S GO!

HEY, GET OFF
YOUR FANNY!

COME ON,
SHE'S UP THERE.

COME ON, YOU'RE ALL GOING TO
WANT TO SEE THIS!

THAT MAKES HIM
AN OUTLAW!

AND RAWLINS IS--

[CALLIE]: STOP THAT!

RAWLINS IS TIRED
OF OUTLAWS!

HE'S A MURDERER
AND HE'S GONNA HANG!

MY SON IS NOT A MURDERER!

YOUR SON'S GONNA HANG
TODAY, CALLIE!

AND WE'RE GONNA DO IT!

YOU'RE NOT WELCOME HERE.

IT'S ABOUT TIME,
YOUR HONOR,

JUSTICE IS SERVED
HERE IN RAWLINS.

IT WILL BE, TOMORROW MORNING
IN MY COURTROOM.

YOU PEOPLE, GO HOME NOW,
THAT'S AN ORDER.

YOU'RE HERE TO SUPPORT

THE MOTHER OF A CRIMINAL?

NOW, WHY IS IT THAT I FIND IT
HARD TO BELIEVE

THAT YOU WILL GIVE THAT BOY
AN IMPARTIAL TRIAL?

THERE ARE PAINT SPLATTERS

ON YOUR SHOES,
COUNSELOR,

WHICH I FIND SURPRISING.

CURIOUS THAT
AN UPSTANDING ATTORNEY

WOULD SULLY HIS REPUTATION
BY GETTING INVOLVED IN

THE COMMISSION
OF A PETTY CRIME

WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY
LEGAL WAYS

FOR YOU TO BE DISHONEST.

ARE YOU
ACCUSING ME OF SOMETHING?

MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION
OF PRIVATE PROPERTY,

FOR STARTERS.

YOU BE IN MY COURTROOM

TOMORROW MORNING,

AND I'D RECOMMEND

THAT YOU RETAIN
SOME COMPETENT COUNSEL.

[MAN]: QUIT YOUR LEGAL JABBER
AND LET'S HANG THAT BOY!

THE REST OF YOU, GO NOW.

THAT'S AN ORDER.

[MAN]: THERE'S NO JUSTICE
IN THIS TOWN.

[MAN 2]: LET'S GET
OUT OF HERE.

WHO DOES HE
THINK HE IS?

IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

I'VE LIVED NEARLY
HALF MY LIFE

WITH THESE PEOPLE.

THEY WON'T HARM ME.

YEAH, WELL, I'VE SEEN
THE HARM PEOPLE CAN DO.

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE
VENGEANCE.

IS WILLIAM SAFE
IN THAT JAIL?

HE'S SAFER IN THAN OUT.

I KNOW YOU DON'T
THINK MUCH OF HIM.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO THINK?

I'VE MADE
SUCH A MESS OF THINGS,

SO MANY STUPID MISTAKES.

WE ALL HAVE.

YOU TURNED OUT ALL RIGHT.

I THINK MAYBE IF YOU
KNEW ME A LITTLE BETTER,

YOU MIGHT NOT SAY THAT.

I KNOW YOU WELL ENOUGH.

OH, JOHN, LET HIM GO.

PLEASE, AND I PROMISE,

YOU WILL NEVER
HEAR OF HIM AGAIN.

HOW CAN YOU
PROMISE THAT, CALLIE?

DON'T LET HIM HANG, PLEASE.

HE'S AN ACCESSORY TO MURDER.

THAT IS A HANGING OFFENSE.

BUT YOU CAN'T HANG HIM.

YOU JUST CAN'T.

HE'S NOT JUST MY SON.

YOU'RE HIS FATHER.

I'M NOT HIS... FATHER,

CALLIE.

I'M NOT.

HE, UH...

HE'S TOO OLD.

HE'S TOO YOUNG.

HOW OLD IS HE?

[WHISPERING]
15 YEARS AND NINE MONTHS.

I WAS HALFWAY TO SAN FRANCISCO

WHEN I LEARNED I WAS
GOING TO HAVE A BABY.

IT NEVER OCCURRED TO YOU
TO TURN BACK?

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
HOW HARD IT WOULD HAVE BEEN,

FACING MY FAMILY, NO HUSBAND,
WITH A BABY ON THE WAY?

I GOT AS FAR AS RAWLINS,

AND THERE WAS A GOOD MAN
WHO WAS WILLING TO MARRY ME.

HE SAID HE WOULD RAISE THE BABY
AS HIS OWN.

I DIDN'T HAVE
ANY OTHER OPTIONS.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE
TO TURN TO,

AND I WAS SO FRIGHTENED.

YOU MIGHT HAVE
GIVEN ME THE CHANCE.

AND WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE
IF YOU HAD KNOWN?

OFFERED TO MARRY ME?

WE'LL NEVER KNOW NOW, WILL WE?

OH...

YOU'D HAVE BEEN MISERABLE.

OH, I COULDN'T BE
MORE MISERABLE...

NOT MORE MISERABLE
THAN I AM AT RIGHT NOW.

[MAN]:
THEY'RE COMIN'! THEY'RE COMIN'!

THAT'S THEM.

DAY OF RECKONING, MISSY.

WE'RE GONNA GET
OUR JUSTICE TODAY.

THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY.

MAY I ADDRESS THE COURT--

NO.

I MOTION THAT YOU
RECUSE YOURSELF--

MOTION DENIED.
SIT DOWN.

[BANGS GAVEL]

THIS COURT IS NOW IN SESSION,

THE HONORABLE
JOHN WILLIAM GOODNIGHT

PRESIDING.

SHERIFF, BRING IN THE PRISONER.

YES, SIR.

[APPLE THUDS]

[CROWD ROARING AND JEERING,
SHERIFF SHOUTING IN PROTEST]

[BANGING GAVEL]

ORDER!

ORDER IN THIS COURT!

ANYONE ELSE HURTLING
ANY OBJECTS IN THIS COURTROOM

WILL BE HELD
IN CONTEMPT OF COURT.

IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?

[BANGS GAVEL]

YOU'RE BEING ACCUSED

OF ACCESSORY TO
ROBBERY AND MURDER.

DO YOU HAVE
ANY LEGAL DEFENCE?

NO.

WHO WOULD DEFEND ME
IN THIS TOWN?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE CHARGES
BEING BROUGHT AGAINST YOU?

PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND
ON THE BIBLE.

DO YOU SWEAR
TO TELL THE TRUTH,

THE WHOLE TRUTH,
AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH,

SO HELP YOU GOD?

I DO.

VERY WELL.

HAVE A SEAT,

STATE YOUR NAME
FOR THE RECORD.

WILLIAM SPRADLING.

[CROWD GASPS IN SHOCK]

HA!

THAT'S A KILLER'S NAME!

MURDERER!

[BANGING GAVEL]

IS THAT THE NAME
YOU WERE BORN WITH?

NO, SIR.

SO YOU'VE BEEN ON THE STAND
FOR ALL OF 30 SECONDS,

ALREADY YOU'RE
PERJURING YOURSELF?

SPRADLING
BECAUSE HE TOOK ME IN.

BECAUSE
HE TREATED ME FAIR.

SO IF JESSE JAMES TOOK YOU IN
AND TREATED YOU FAIR,

YOU'D TAKE HIS NAME?

DEKE SPRADLING'S
NOT LIKE JESSE JAMES.

SON, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS DEKE
SPRADLING'S STILL ALIVE,

FOR NOW.

YOU DON'T KNOW HIM.

CLEARLY, YOU DON'T EITHER.

YOU TALK ABOUT HIM
LIKE HE'S SOME KIND OF SAINT.

YEAH, WELL,
HE'S NOT THE DEVIL EITHER.

I'M A LITTLE RUSTY
ON MY BIBLE STUDY,

BUT I DO REMEMBER A VERSE,

"EVEN SATAN
CAN DISGUISE HIMSELF

AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT."

CORINTHIANS 11:14.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I'M GOING TO READ
FROM A LIST OF NAMES.

WHEN I SAY YOUR NAME,

I'D APPRECIATE IT
IF YOU'D STAND UP.

LOUELLA DRADER...

SARA ANN JONES...

SETH OLSON...

THE CAMPOS FAMILY...

THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
SUMMONED HERE TODAY

TO GIVE TESTIMONY.

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM

HAS LOST A LOVED ONE
AT THE HAND OF DEKE SPRADLING.

SARA ANN,

WILL YOU TELL US
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

DEKE SPRADLING CAME
INTO OUR HOUSE ONE NIGHT.

IT WAS LATE, AND HE WOKE ME...

[CRYING] HE HAD ME
COOK HIM A MEAL,

AND THEN MY BROTHER
WOKE UP,

AND HE TOLD HIM
TO LEAVE,

AND...

AND THEN HE KILLED MY BROTHER.

[CROWD MURMURING IN SYMPATHY]

FOR NO REASON AT ALL.

THANK YOU.
YOU MAY BE SEATED.

WOULD YOU CARE TO HEAR MORE?

BECAUSE, I ASSURE YOU,
THERE IS A LOT MORE.

NO, SIR.

SPEAK UP.

NO, I WOULD NOT
LIKE TO HEAR ANY MORE.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL THIS COURT

EXACTLY HOW IT IS

YOU CAME TO BE INVOLVED WITH
THE SPRADLING GANG.

I WAS WORKING
AT A LIVERY STABLE,

AND...

HE SHOWED UP ONE DAY,

AND SAW I WAS GOOD WITH HORSES,

AND SO HE OFFERED ME A JOB.

GOOD PAY?

A LOT BETTER THAN
ANYTHING I'D MAKE HERE.

YOUR MOTHER'S
IN THIS COURT TODAY.

YOU JUST LEFT HER?

I FIGURED
I WAS DOING HER A FAVOR.

HOW'S THAT?

[SIGHS]

NO ONE WANTS A WOMAN

WITH A CHILD
WHO ISN'T THEIRS.

[CROWD GASPING IN SHOCK]

BUT YOU HAD A FATHER.

HE RAISED ME,

BUT HE WASN'T
MY REAL FATHER.

[CROWD SHOUTING IN OUTRAGE]

ORDER!

WHY DO YOU SAY THAT, WILL?

BECAUSE HE INFORMED ME
OF THE FACT,

BEFORE I LEFT.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?

I COULD HAVE
ASKED YOU THE SAME.

I WAS TRYING TO PROTECT YOU.

YOU'RE SPEAKING
OUT OF ORDER.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO
ADDRESS THE COURT?

[WHISPERS] I ONLY WISH
I COULD CHANGE THE PAST.

AS FAR AS I KNOW,

TIME ONLY TRAVELS
IN ONE DIRECTION.

I'M SO SORRY, WILL.

YOU'VE CAUSED
A LOT OF PAIN HERE.

SORROW.

I REALIZE THAT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY REMORSE?

YES, SIR.

DID YOU EVER ROB ANYBODY?

NO.

DID YOU EVER KILL ANYONE?

NO, SIR.

DO YOU KNOW
HOW TO SHOOT A GUN?

I DO,

BUT I'M NOT THAT GOOD
OF A SHOT.

I DON'T LIKE GUNS THAT MUCH.

THEY SPOOK THE HORSES.

SO, I'M TO UNDERSTAND

THAT THE EXTENT
OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT

WITH THE SPRADLINGS

WAS, UH, YOU TENDED THE HORSES?

YES, SIR.

[SCOFFS OF DERISION]

SARA ANN.

COULD YOU STAND UP AGAIN
FOR ME, PLEASE?

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE
A VERY BRAVE YOUNG LADY,

WHEN YOU GAVE
YOUR TESTIMONY EARLIER.

I'M SORRY
TO HAVE TO DO THIS,

BUT I NEED TO ASK YOU
ONE MORE QUESTION.

DO YOU NEED A MOMENT?

LOOK AT THE DEFENDANT.

DID YOU SEE
THAT YOUNG MAN

ON THE NIGHT

DEKE SPRADLING
KILLED YOUR BROTHER?

NO.

[CROWD MURMURING]

NO, YOUR HONOR.

I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE.

THANK YOU.

YOU MAY HAVE A SEAT.

WILL, WHEN I WAS YOUNG,

I WITNESSED
MY WHOLE FAMILY MURDERED.

I HAD NOTHING.

I WAS OBSESSED
WITH VENGEANCE,

BUT SOMEONE
SHOWED ME KINDNESS.

SHE TOOK ME IN,

SHE...
SHE TOOK CARE OF ME.

SHE WAS A GOOD PERSON.

SEE, SOMETIMES,

THAT'S ALL IT TAKES
IS ONE PERSON,

IT CAN CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

YOU WERE TAKEN IN
BY DEKE SPRADLING.

HE MADE YOU FEEL IMPORTANT,

FEEL LIKE

YOU BELONGED.

THE PEOPLE IN THIS COURTROOM,
THEY DON'T CARE HOW YOU FEEL.

NO, THEY...

THEY CAME HERE TODAY
LOOKING FOR BLOOD.

THEY DON'T CARE

IF IT'S INNOCENT BLOOD.

I'LL MAKE MY RULING TOMORROW.

THIS COURT IS ADJOURNED.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

YOUR HONOR, I PROTEST!

WE HAVE HAD JUST ABOUT ENOUGH
OF YOUR SO-CALLED JUSTICE.

HE IS GOING TO DIE TODAY--

WHETHER YOU CONSENT
TO IT OR NOT!

NO, HE ISN'T!

[BANGS GAVEL]

MR. BREED,
YOU'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR

YOU WANT SOMEONE TO DIE
HERE TODAY.

I AM VERY CLOSE
TO ACCOMMODATING YOU.

I CAN ASSURE, HOWEVER,
IT WILL NOT BE THAT YOUNG MAN.

SHERIFF,

ESCORT THE PRISONER
TO JAIL.

YES, SIR.

[TOWNSFOLK SHOUTING ANGRILY]

BRING HIM OUT HERE!
BRING HIM OUT HERE!

COME ON OUT!

[CROWD SHOUTING]

THEY WANT VENGEANCE.

I'M RIDING OUT
TO GET SPRADLING.

HE'S THE GUILTY ONE.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TRACK HIM
ALL BY YOURSELF?

WILL'S GOING TO
TAKE ME.

WHAT?

HE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

JOHN, HE'S SAFER
HERE IN THIS JAIL.

YOU TOLD ME SO YOURSELF.

HANGING ONE BOY

IS NOT GOING TO STOP
THE SPRADLING GANG

FROM COMING BACK TO THIS TOWN

TO ROB AND MURDER
UNTIL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT.

NOW, IF YOU WANT
TO KILL A SNAKE,

YOU CUT ITS HEAD OFF,
NOT THE TAIL.

AND YOU'RE THE ONE TO DO THAT?

I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER
VOLUNTEERS AROUND.

THAT BOY'S GONNA LEAD YOU
STRAIGHT INTO A TRAP.

MAYBE.

LOOK, GET HIM
OUT BACK

WITH THE HORSES

AND I'LL BE THERE.

LISTEN TO ME--

I'LL RIDE WITH YOU.
I'M NOT LOSING HIM AGAIN--

NO, CALLIE, STAY HERE--

JOHN--

I WILL FOLLOW YOU,
YOU KNOW I WILL!

OKAY.

YOU CAN GO.

I NEVER COULD WIN
WITH YOU.

GET HIS STUFF
OUT OF THE CELL.

NO! LET ME OUT!

YOU KNOW, HE'S HOT-HEADED.
HE PROBABLY GETS THAT FROM YOU.

OR YOU.

HMM.

OR DO YOU STILL
NOT BELIEVE HE'S YOURS?

I BELIEVE
YOU'D SAY ANYTHING

TO PROTECT HIM.

NOT IF IT MEANT LYING TO YOU.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE
HE'S YOUR SON,

WHY ARE YOU HELPING HIM?

HE DESERVES
ANOTHER CHANCE IN THIS WORLD.

I DON'T KNOW IF I HATE YOU
OR IF I LOVE YOU RIGHT NOW.

I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

[KEYS RATTLE AS THEY DROP]

LOOK AFTER HER.

KEEP HER SAFE.

I SURE WILL, JUDGE.

I'LL TRY TO BUY YOU
SOME TIME.

[MOB SHOUTING ANGRILY]

I ORDER YOU PEOPLE TO DISPERSE

AND DEPART
AND GO ON BACK TO YOUR HOMES.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

PUT THEM TORCHES OUT

BEFORE YOU SET
SOMETHING ON FIRE.

I'VE GIVEN YOU PEOPLE
FAIR WARNING.

I'LL SHOOT ANYBODY THAT
TRIES TO TAKE MY PRISONER.

YOU PEOPLE,
PUT AWAY YOUR WHISKY

AND GO ON BACK HOME
WHERE Y'ALL BELONG.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

[OWLS HOOTING]

[GROANS STIFFLY]

ARE YOU JUST GOING TO
LEAVE YOUR GUN LAYING THERE?

YUP.

HOW DO YOU KNOW I WON'T
USE IT AGAINST YOU?

YOU WON'T.

AND WHY'S THAT?

BECAUSE THAT IS NOT
MY ONLY GUN,

AND I HAVE A KNIFE IN MY BELT,

AND, WILL, IF YOU EVER
THINK ABOUT DRAWING ON ME,

THAT'LL BE THE LAST THOUGHT
YOU EVER HAVE.

YOU GO TO SLEEP.

I GOTTA FINISH THIS CHAPTER.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

ADVENTURE.

I LIKE GOING PLACES,

EVEN IF IT IS IN A BOOK.

IS THAT WHY YOU LEFT HOME?

ADVENTURE?

NO.

I READ DIME NOVELS
FOR ADVENTURE.

WHERE DID YOU MEET MY MOTHER?

CHICAGO.

SHE WAS PERFORMING AT
THE STATE STREET THEATER.

SHE WAS WONDERFUL.

I, UM...

BOUGHT A TICKET
EVERY NIGHT FOR A WEEK

UNTIL SHE AGREED TO, UH,
HAVE DINNER WITH ME.

YOU KNEW HER
BEFORE I WAS BORN.

YES.

IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

WE SHOULD GET SOME SLEEP.

DID YOU CARE ABOUT HER?

I DID.

STILL DO.

THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

BAD TIMING, I SUPPOSE.

YOURS OR HERS?

BOTH.

I'M GOING TO SLEEP.

[♪♪]

WITH TWO HORSES,

I SORT OF THOUGHT
YOU MIGHT BE FARTHER AWAY.

LEAVING WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN HONORABLE.

YOU DIDN'T LEARN THAT
FROM DEKE SPRADLING.

NO, MY MAMA
TAUGHT ME THAT.

AND YOU WAITED THIS LONG
TO PUT IT INTO PLAY?

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

LAST WEEK WOULD HAVE
BEEN A BETTER TIME.

LIKE YOU SAID,

TIME ONLY TRAVELS
IN ONE DIRECTION.

DID I SAY THAT?

YOU CATCH ANYTHING?

[WILL]: NO.

I SUPPOSE
YOU COULD SHOOT ONE FOR US.

NO, I ONLY SHOOT FISH
WHEN THEY'RE IN A BARREL,

WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH
WHAT YOU AND I ARE GOING TO BE

IF YOU DON'T TELL ME
WHAT I'M UP AGAINST

WHEN WE GET THERE.

I AGREED TO LEAD YOU TO THEM,
THAT'S ALL.

THIS ISN'T A SOCIAL CALL, WILL.

HE'LL PUT A BULLET IN YOU
IN A SECOND.

I'M NOT GOING TO
HELP YOU KILL THEM.

I CAN'T.

[GALLOPING HOOFBEATS APPROACH]

CAN I HELP YOU?

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

I BELIEVE I WILL HELP MYSELF.

IT'S MY PHILOSOPHY

THAT A MAN SHOULD ALWAYS
WALK INTO A ROOM

LIKE HE OWNS IT.

DON'T YOU AGREE?

NOW, THAT IS A LOVELY BRACELET.

YOU BRING THAT OVER

FROM SWEDEN?

NORWAY.

I NEVER CAN GET
THEM PLACES STRAIGHT.

TAKE IT OFF.

IT-IT'S NOT FOR SALE.

I DON'T INTEND ON BUYING IT.

HOW ABOUT THAT RING?

WELL, THANK YOU.

I'LL TAKE SOME OF THEM PIES
FOR MY BOYS OUTSIDE.

ALL OF THEM.

[YELPS IN FRIGHT]

[SOBBING]

DON'T YOU FRET
OVER THEM PIES.

YOU CAN MAKE SOME MORE.

I'LL COME BACK FOR 'EM
ANOTHER DAY.

JA.

JA, JA...

OR I COULD JUST
WAIT HERE

WHILE YOU BAKE UP ANOTHER BATCH.

BY THE WAY,

WHERE IS YOUR HUSBAND TODAY?

HE'S AWAY.

THAT'S TOO BAD.

[CLUCKS TO DOG]
COME HERE, GIRL.

I FIND IT'S THE BEST POLICY
TO TELL THE TRUTH,

UNLESS YOU ARE
AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD LIAR,

WHICH YOU ARE NOT.

I KNOW HE'S HERE.

YOU'RE MISTAKEN.

AM I?

I COULD SWEAR

I SAW A SHADOW
IN THAT BACK ROOM

WHEN I WALKED IN.

YOU GET OUT OF OUR STORE
AND DON'T COME BACK.

THAT IS A VERY
PERSUASIVE RIFLE.

LOOKS A LITTLE
OLD, THOUGH.

YOU BRING THAT OVER
FROM SWEDEN, TOO?

NORWAY. [COCKS RIFLE]

SVEN, DON'T!

PLEASE...

PLEASE, JUST GO AWAY.

JUST LEAVE US
ALONE!

"PLEASE."

WHY THANK YOU, MA'AM.

NOW, THAT IS THE WAY
CIVILIZED PEOPLE TALK.

I WILL TAKE MY LEAVE OF YOU.

IT'S TIME I BROUGHT
MY BUSINESS SOMEPLACE ELSE,

LIKE THE UNDERTAKER.

[DEKE FIRES,
SHE SCREAMS IN HORROR]

[SOBBING IN ANGUISH]

[♪♪]

I THOUGHT I WAS
THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD READ

BOUNCING AROUND ON THE BACK
OF A HORSE LIKE THAT.

APPARENTLY NOT.

BE CAREFUL.

IT'S BAD FOR YOUR EYES.

YOU MAY END UP
NEEDING SPECTACLES.

YOU'RE WORRIED
ABOUT MY EYES NOW?

JUST MAKING
CONVERSATION.

MY EYES ARE FINE.

YOU EVER READ EMERSON?

NO.

"THE END OF
THE HUMAN RACE WILL BE

THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY
DIE OF CIVILIZATION."

WHEN I'M OUT HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE,

I SOMETIMES WONDER
IF THAT ISN'T TRUE.

HE SAY THINGS LIKE THAT
ALL THE TIME?

YEAH.

I WOULDN'T MIND
SEEING THAT BOOK.

[♪♪]

CAN WE STOP OVER THERE?

I NEED SOME LINIMENT
FOR MY HORSE.

[COCKS RIFLES]

ALL RIGHT,
BE QUICK ABOUT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

MA'AM?

PUT THAT RIFLE DOWN.

MY NAME'S
JOHN WILLIAM GOODNIGHT.

I'M A PRESIDING JUDGE
IN THIS TERRITORY.

I REPRESENT THE LAW.

NO LAW NEVER COMES UP HERE.

IT'S HERE NOW.

IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME,

I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU
MY CREDENTIALS.

I CAN'T READ.

WELL, I CAN SEE THAT
SOMETHING AWFUL HAS HAPPENED.

I'D LIKE TO HELP YOU
FIND OUT WHO DID THIS.

I ALREADY KNOW WHO DID THIS!

WELL THEN PUT THE RIFLE DOWN
AND YOU CAN TELL ME.

YOU!

Y-YOU'RE MISTAKEN.

NO.

NO, I'VE SEEN YOU
IN HERE BEFORE.

YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE
SPRADLING BOYS!

I SWORE...

I SWORE TO GOD

THAT IF ONE OF YOU
EVER CAME IN HERE AGAIN,

I WOULD KILL YOU,

JUST...

[SOBBING]
JUST LIKE YOU...

JUST LIKE YOU KILLED MY HUSBAND.

YOU'RE A SPRADLING!

HE'S NOT. HE'S MY SON.

WHY'D YOU SAY
I WAS YOUR SON?

'CAUSE THAT LADY
WAS ABOUT TO SHOOT YOU.

YOU DIDN'T
HAVE TO SAY THAT.

OKAY, NEXT TIME SOMEONE'S
ABOUT TO SHOOT YOU,

I WON'T SAY ANYTHING.

MOUNT UP, LET'S RIDE.

[♪♪]

I MET AN OLD CHINAMAN ONCE.

HE SAID SOMETHING
TO ME I NEVER FORGOT.

HE SAID, "HE WHO WAITS
FOR ROAST DUCK

"TO FLY INTO HIS MOUTH

WILL GO HUNGRY."

I DON'T THINK I KNOW
WHAT THAT MEANS, SIR.

BEST I CAN MAKE OF IT IS,

AIN'T NOTHING GIVEN
TO US IN THIS WORLD.

WE'VE GOT TO HELP OURSELVES
TO GOD'S BOUNTY.

I'VE GOT A SHOE LOOSE.

FRONT LEFT.

CAN YOU FIX ME UP?

SURE.

IT'LL BE HALF A DOLLAR.

A HALF DOLLAR?

WELL...

UM, SIR, I CAN'T
MAKE CHANGE FOR THAT.

HOW ABOUT YOU KEEP IT?

THANK YOU, SIR.

THIS YOUR FAMILY'S OUTFIT?

NO, SIR,
I JUST WORK HERE.

I AIN'T GOT
NO FAMILY.

NO FAMILY...

A RECENT LOSS?

YES, SIR.

BOY, WE SHARE THAT IN COMMON.

ORPHAN...

ME TOO.

YEAH...

THAT'S RIGHT.

I LOST BOTH MY PARENTS

WHEN I WAS ABOUT YOUR AGE.

[HAMMERING HORSESHOE]

GOOD.

THAT'S REAL GOOD.

SO HOW LONG
YOU BEEN WORKING HERE?

UH, GOING ON
TWO MONTHS NOW.

PAYS DECENT?

WELL...

MR. BILLINGS SAYS
AS SOON AS WE HIT PAY DIRT,

WE'LL ALL GET REWARDED.

AND MR. BILLINGS,
HE'S THE MINING BOSS?

YES, SIR.

WELL...

I COULD WAIT AND TALK TO HIM,

BUT...

I'LL TELL YOU, SON...

I'D MUCH RATHER TALK TO YOU.

WHAT ABOUT?

TWO MONTHS GONE,
YOU AIN'T BEEN PAID YET.

THAT AIN'T RIGHT.

LISTEN, I RUN AN OUTFIT.

I RECENTLY LOST ONE OF MY BOYS.

HE WAS REAL GOOD
WITH THE HORSES.

NOW, I HEARD
YOU WERE CLEVER WITH THEM.

NOW, YOU HIRE ON WITH ME,

PAY'S GOOD, ON TIME,

AND YOU'RE WITH PEOPLE

WHO TAKE GOOD CARE
OF ONE ANOTHER.

HOW'S THAT SOUND, SON?

YOU INTERESTED?

I'D RIDE OUT OF HERE RIGHT NOW
IF I HAD A HORSE.

[CHUCKLING]

YOU DO NOW!

GO ON OVER AND PICK OUT ONE,
GO ON.

AND GRAB A GOOD ONE.

I'LL LEAVE MR. BILLINGS
SOME MONEY

AND A GOODBYE NOTE.

SO, WHAT DO I CALL YOU?

HENRY'LL DO, SIR.

HENRY.

YOU CAN CALL ME MR. SPRADLING.

IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO MEET
YOUR NEW FAMILY.

[♪♪]

HOLD ON!

THAT WAY ISN'T SAFE.

THERE'LL BE ABOUT EIGHT
AT THE HIDEOUT,

BUT ONLY TWO
YOU NEED WORRY ABOUT.

SPRADLING AND BIG MIKE.

BIG MIKE'LL BE POSTED
UP OUTSIDE ON LOOK-OUT.

HE'S DUMB AS A STICK,
BUT HE'S GOT A SHARP EYE,

AND HE'S GOOD AT PICKING OFF
ANYTHING THAT HE SEES MOVE.

SO, WHAT'S THE WAY?

THAT WAY.

WE'LL HAVE MORE COVER.

WE SHOULDN'T
GET SPOTTED.

[♪♪]

[WHISPERING]
COME THIS WAY.

THAT'S BIG MIKE.

BEHIND HIM'S
WHERE WE HOLE UP.

HE'S DUMB, RIGHT?

DUMB AS A STICK?

DUMBER.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
YOU WANT TO TELL ME?

NO.

YOU SURE?

I'M SURE.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE

YOU WANT TO TELL ME?

THERE ARE A FEW THINGS.

ANOTHER TIME.

THERE'S SOME MONEY
IN MY SADDLEBAGS, WILL.

IF I DON'T MAKE IT BACK,

YOU TAKE THOSE HORSES,
AND YOU GET OUT OF HERE.

GET WORD TO YOUR MOM
THAT YOU'RE SAFE.

SHE'S WORRIED SICK
ABOUT YOU.

YOU'RE LETTING ME GO?

YOU LED ME TO THEM.

YOU SAID YOU WOULD.

I JUST...

DIDN'T EXPECT YOU
TO KEEP YOUR WORD.

MAYBE YOU NEED TO RAISE
YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF PEOPLE

A LITTLE BIT.

MAYBE I WILL.

I HOPE I SEE YOU AGAIN, WILL,

BUT IF I DON'T,

TAKE THIS SECOND CHANCE.

YOU DESERVE IT.

HEY, BIG MIKE!

WHO'S THAT?

IT'S ME, HORACE.

HORACE?

BUT YOU'RE DEAD.

IF I'M DEAD,

HOW CAN I BE
TALKING TO YOU?

QUIT MESSING AROUND!

GIVE ME A HAND UP

BEFORE I DOCK YOU A DAY'S PAY.

OOF!

WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'
DOWN HERE, MIKE?

YOU'RE ON WATCH.

[COCKS GUN]

MIKE'S EYES ARE CLOSED
AT THE MOMENT.

YOU'RE THE ONE
WHO SHOT MY BROTHER.

YES, I AM.

YOU'RE THE ONE THAT LEFT HIM
TO DIE IN THE STREET.

PUT THE RIFLE DOWN.

AS YOU WISH.

[SHOTS BLASTING]

[TRADING GUNFIRE]

[GUN CLICKS, EMPTY]

[SHOTS BLASTING]

YOU'VE GOT TO COME OUT,
SPRADLING.

I'LL BURN THIS BARN DOWN
AROUND YOU.

[SPRADLING]: I GUESS
WE'D BETTER JUST RUN.

BOYS, INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES.

THEY'RE NOTHING MORE
THAN CHILDREN.

QUITE THE CONTRARY.

STEP ASIDE, BOYS.

YOU'VE GOT YOUR WHOLE LIVES
AHEAD OF YOU,

AND YOU DON'T NEED TO DIE TODAY.

DON'T LISTEN TO HIM, BOYS.

HE JUST WANTS TO COME
BETWEEN OUR FAMILY.

WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!

A PITCHFORK?

A GUN WOULD BE MORE OF A THREAT.

OF COURSE, HE'LL NEVER LET YOU
GET YOUR HANDS ON ONE,

'CAUSE HE KNOWS,
ONE OF THESE DAYS,

YOU'RE GONNA TURN ON HIM,

AND YOU WILL.

WHEN YOU REALIZE
WHAT A LYING, MURDERING

PIECE OF DIRT HE IS.

WE'RE A FAMILY,
AND WE'RE NOT AFRAID OF YOU!

THAT'S MY BOY...

FAMILY?

HE WOULD PUT A BULLET
IN ANY ONE OF YOU

IN A HEARTBEAT.

YOU'RE WRONG.

YOU THINK SO?

WALK AWAY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

[COCKS PISTOL]

[PANTING IN FEAR]

EASY...

HOLD FIRM, BOY.

I CHANGED MY MIND.

I WANT TO GO HOME.

SHH...

YOU ARE HOME, HENRY.

LET HIM GO.

I'D SOONER SEE HIM DIE
BY MY HAND

THAN BY THE ROPE
OF A LAWMAN.

AND I WILL TAKE THE LIFE
FROM THIS BOY,

AND EVERY ONE OF THEM
TILL IT'S JUST YOU AND ME.

NOW, YOU TOSS OUT THAT GUN.

GO ON, TOSS IT OUT.

NOW!

GOOD.

NOW, COME ON OUT.

WILLIAM.

IS THAT YOU, SON?

I HOPED YOU'D FIND YOUR WAY
BACK TO US.

YOU BRING THIS LAWMAN HERE?

YES, SIR.

HE'S MY GIFT,

TO YOU.

WELL, I DO APPRECIATE GIFTS.

YOU COME ALONE?

YES, SIR.

YOU FLYIN' STRAIGHT
WITH ME, BOY?

YES, MR. SPRADLING.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, SON.

REAL GOOD.

I'D NEVER HURT MY BOYS.

NEVER.

I JUST HAD TO BLUFF HIM OUT.

ALL RIGHT, GO ON AND TELL HIM.

I'D NEVER HURT
A SINGLE ONE OF YOU.

GO ON!

GO ON, TELL HIM!

I'D NEVER HURT
A SINGLE ONE OF YOU!

[MUTTERING OBEDIENTLY]
YOU'D NEVER HARM ANY OF US.

SEE?

YOU'RE HOME, HENRY.

YOU'RE HOME.

GO ON, WILLIAM,

CHECK HIM FOR WEAPONS,

AND BRING 'EM
BACK TO ME.

YES, SIR.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, WILL?

LIKE HE SAID,

WE'RE A FAMILY.

YEAH... FAMILY.

PACK UP.

WE RIDE OUT.

NOW!

YOU SPEND
A COUPLE DAYS WITH ME,

YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME?

I DO KNOW YOU.

HELL,
YOU'RE JUST A STRANGER TO ME.

HE'S GOT
AN INDIAN KNIFE.

LET'S GET MOVING, WILL.

THIS IS GOING TO END BAD.

FOR YOU.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR MOTHER?

YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT HER?

THINGS HAPPEN.

HERE'S HIS KNIFE.

KEEP IT.

I'LL TAKE THE PEACEMAKER.

YEAH, YOU WILL.

NOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE DOING, WILLIAM?

WHAT I SHOULD
HAVE DONE

THE DAY I MET YOU.

YOU AIN'T GOT THE GUTS IN YOU.

YOU STOLE MY LIFE!

YOU HAD NO LIFE!

I HAD ONE.

NOW I'M TAKING IT BACK.

GO ON THEN, SHOOT.

DON'T DO IT, WILL.

DON'T DO IT.

I KNOW YOU WANT TO,

BUT IT DOESN'T
FIX ANYTHING.

IT JUST STARTS
THE MISERY.

IT MAKES YOU A MURDERER,

A CRIMINAL,

AND THEN I GOTTA DEAL WITH YOU.

[CACKLES TRIUMPHANTLY]

I'D RATHER DEAL WITH
THE REAL CRIMINAL.

RIGHT HERE.

RIGHT NOW.

AND I DON'T NEED GUNS,

AND I DON'T NEED
TO HIDE

BEHIND A BUNCH OF LITTLE KIDS.

[LAUGHS]

WELL, I DO BELIEVE
I'M GOING TO ENJOY THIS.

[BLOW LANDS HEAVILY]

[SPRADLING LAUGHS]

[GROANING IN PAIN]

[CACKLES]

[LANTERN SHATTERS]

[LAUGHING]

HEY! A BLANKET!

[LAUGHING]

[BLOWS THUD HEAVILY]

[GROANING IN PAIN]

BOYS, IF YOU FOLLOW
A MAN LIKE THAT,

YOU'LL MOST LIKELY END UP
THE SAME WAY.

BUT YOU CAN TAKE
A DIFFERENT PATH.

MAKE A CHOICE

ABOUT THE KIND OF MAN
THAT YOU WANT TO BE

IN THIS LIFE.

MAKE THAT CHOICE NOW.

ONCE YOU CROSS THE LINE,

THERE AIN'T
NO GOING BACK.

[SIGHS SADLY]

I'M HENRY, SIR.

HENRY.

I'M JOSEPH,

AND I'M VERY SORRY

FOR ALL THE WRONG I'VE DONE.

WE ALL ARE.

THIS IS COOPER.

AND THIS HERE'S ROY.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

I'M BILL, SIR.

I DONE WRONG, TOO.

WELL, HOW OLD ARE YOU, BILL?

12, I THINK.

I DON'T RIGHTLY REMEMBER.

WHAT DO WE CALL YOU, SIR?

JUDGE'LL DO.

THEY'RE COMING!

[♪♪]

I'M SORRY, MAMA.

OH, I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HOME.

WELL, I'VE BEEN
WAITING FOR THIS

FOR A LONG TIME.

YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST
KILLED ME

WHEN YOU HAD THE CHANCE.

YEAH, THE KILLING
IS WHAT YOU DO.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE
JUDGED BY THE LAW.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

DEAD IS DEAD.

THE DIFFERENCE IS JUSTICE.

YOU'LL KNOW IT WHEN YOU FEEL IT
SQUEEZING AROUND YOUR NECK.

[HARD SLAP]

THAT'S FOR ALL THE MOTHERS
WHOSE SONS YOU TOOK.

I SAVED THEM BOYS.

WILL, TAKE THOSE BOYS
OVER TO THE LIVERY STABLE.

TELL THEM TO BED DOWN
THERE FOR THE NIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO, BOYS.

ARE YOU BOYS HUNGRY?

[ALL REPLYING WITH ENTHUSIASM]

WELL, WE BETTER
FEED YOU, THEN.

ALL RIGHT...

YOUR HONOR...

THAT CAN'T BE A GOOD IDEA.

THEY'RE CRIMINALS.

THEY'LL RUN AWAY.

THEY'RE JUST BOYS.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.

I AM GLAD TO SEE YOU,
HOWEVER, COUNSELOR.

YOU AND I HAVE A LITTLE
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

THIS COURT IS IN SESSION.

JOHN WILLIAM GOODNIGHT
PRESIDING.

STEP UP TO THE BENCH.

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.

DON'T MAKE ME USE THIS.

[SCOFFS]

YOU'RE INSANE.

POINT WELL TAKEN,

BUT IT HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT

THAT YOU OWE THAT LADY
$50 IN REPARATION.

FOR WHAT?

MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION
OF PROPERTY,

TRESPASSING,

VANDALISM
ON HER PERSONAL DOMICILE.

YOU HAVE NO PROOF
OF ANY OF THAT.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU SAW

OR HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE

OF MR. BREED ENGAGING IN
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

PERTAINING TO
THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION.

AH! RIGHT THERE.

GUILTY.

AND KICK IN ANOTHER 10

FOR HER PAIN
AND SUFFERING.

YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE LAW.

I AGREE.

BE SURE AND WITHDRAW
THAT MONEY FROM THE BANK

BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE ROBS IT.

I'LL HAVE THE SHERIFF
ESCORT YOU.

THIS COURT IS ADJOURNED.

RIGHT THIS WAY,
COUNSELOR.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

CAN I COME IN?

JOHN, I READ SOMETHING ONCE,

AND IT STAYED WITH ME,

"IF FRIENDSHIP
IS STRONGER THAN LOVE

"AND LASTS LONGER,

THEN LET US BE FRIENDS."

THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FRIEND
AND WILL'S FRIEND.

DID YOU JUST
QUOTE SHAKESPEARE TO ME?

BUT I CAN.

"OH, WHAT A TANGLED
WEB WE WEAVE,

WHEN FIRST WE PRACTICE
TO DECEIVE."

I WISH I HAD TOLD YOU
16 YEARS AGO.

WIRES HAVE BEEN SENT OUT

TO TRY TO LOCATE
YOUR NEXT OF KIN,

SHOULD THERE BE ANY.

THEY'LL PICK YOU UP

AT THE UNION PACIFIC OFFICE
IN CASPER,

WHERE YOU WILL BE
LEARNING A TRADE.

CAN ANY OF YOU READ?

WILL WAS TEACHING US.

OKAY.

THIS CONTRACT WILL PUT YOU
UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT

OF THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD

TILL THE AGE OF 18.

YOU WILL MAKE
SOMETHING OF YOURSELVES,

AND IF ANY OF YOU
DISAPPEAR OR DROP OUT,

WHETHER YOU'RE 18 OR NOT,

I'LL FIND YOU,

AND I'LL PROSECUTE YOU

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
OF THE LAW.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

YES, SIR.

YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, STEP UP HERE,
SIGN YOUR NAME.

IF YOU CAN'T WRITE,

JUST GO AHEAD
AND MAKE AN "X."

JUDGE, IF IT'S
ALL RIGHT BY YOU,

I CAN EMPLOY ONE OF THESE BOYS
TO WORK MY STABLES.

I'LL DO IT, MA'AM.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

HENRY.

WE'VE GOT
THREE HORSES, HENRY,

AND A NEW FOAL.

GOOD.

I HAVE DEPUTIZED
THESE CITIZENS HERE,

AND THEY HAVE AGREED
TO ESCORT YOU BOYS TO CASPER.

NOW, GO OUT THERE,

GET ON THOSE HORSES,

AND BE THE MEN THAT
I KNOW YOU CAN BE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU,
JUDGE GOODNIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

COME ON. I'D LIKE
A PICTURE OF BOTH OF YOU.

OKAY, STAND UP STRAIGHT.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE GOOD.

IS THIS OKAY?

JUDGE...

THIS TOWN OWES YOU MORE
THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW.

JOHN!

COME GET IN THIS, TOO.

I'D LIKE A PICTURE
OF BOTH OF YOU.

OKAY, STAND UP STRAIGHT.

I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE
SHOOTING AT ME.

COME ON.
IT'S A CAMERA.

I LOOK STUPID
STANDING UP HERE ALONE.

TRY TO SMILE, BOTH OF YOU.

WE'RE GOING
TO SAN FRANCISCO.

MAMA'S ALWAYS
WANTED TO GO THERE.

I KNOW. REMEMBER?

I KNEW HER
BEFORE YOU DID.

I GUESS I KNOW WHY
SHE WANTS THIS PICTURE, THEN.

SHE TOLD ME
YOU ARE AND I ARE, UH...

WHAT?

[FLASHBULB POPS]

WELL, YOU THINK IT'S TRUE?

YOU LOOK
A LITTLE BIT LIKE ME.

OF COURSE, I'M, UH,
BETTER LOOKING.

[LAUGHS]

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU LOOKED IN THE MIRROR?

OH, YOU GOT A SMART MOUTH.

YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BE A LAWYER.

I DON'T LIKE LAWYERS.

NEITHER DO I.

YOU COULD BE
A JUDGE, THOUGH.

[CHUCKLES]
I DOUBT IT.

THINGS HAPPEN.

THEY SURE DO.

SO YOU STILL THINK
HE'S NOT YOURS?

HE'S NOT MINE.

HE'S NOT YOURS
ANYMORE EITHER, CALLIE.

WILL'S HIS OWN MAN NOW.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO
MAKE YOU PROUD.

YOU'RE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

I HOPE HE TURNS OUT
LIKE YOU.

ME AND YOU...

WE NEVER DID HAVE
THE BEST TIMING,

DID WE?

MAYBE THERE'LL BE
ANOTHER TIME.

I'LL HOLD YOU TO THAT.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN'T
LIE TO ME NOW.

I'M A JUDGE.

I WILL BE
THINKING OF YOU.

YEAH?

GOOD THOUGHTS OR BAD?

BAD MOSTLY.

HERE YOU GO.

GOT HER, WILL?

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

[GROANING WITH EFFORT]

WILL...

IF YOU EVER FINISH THAT,
LET ME KNOW HOW YOU LIKE IT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

YOU KNOW
WHERE TO FIND ME NOW.

YEAH, I DEFINITELY KNOW
WHERE TO FIND YOU.

AND I KNOW WHERE TO FIND YOU.

YOU EVEN THINK OF TURNING TO
A LIFE OF CRIME AGAIN, WILL,

I WILL FIND YOU,

AND WHEN I DO,

I'LL PUT YOU AWAY
JUST LIKE YOU WERE A STRANGER.

NO, YOU WON'T.

YOU DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]