The Wild Country (1970) - full transcript

[Dramatic instrumental music]

*

- Yah! Yah!

- Coach is here.
Coach is here!

[Dog barking]

- Ephraim,
double or nothing.

- Heads.

- Better luck next time.

[Bell ringing]

- Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa!

This is Kelly,
the end of the line.



- Hello, hello, hello, hello,
hello.

- Hello there, cousin perse.
- Welcome to dodge.

How are you?
- Just fine.

And Kate, you don't look
a day older

and just as pretty as ever.

- Thank you, cousin perse.
- You too.

Why the last I seen,

you was barely
grasshopper knees.

- Virgil, come here.

- Where are you boys going?
- To see those cowboys.

- Virgil, you watch out
for Andrew now.

- I will, mom. I will.

[Cowboys herding cattle]

[Dog barking,
cow lowing]



- How was the trip?
Fine? Fine.

You did right by listening
to me coming out here, James.

No more smoky Pittsburgh
for you.

No, sir, the good life
is yours from here on out.

- Well, cousin perse,
it took some convincing,

I can tell you.

- Wisest thing you ever did.

- Well, I certainly hope so.
Farming isn't--

- wait a minute, now, Kate!

You don't know why you talk
like that there.

All you got to do is Chuck out
a little seed in spring

and harvest it in the fall

and you ain't gonna make like
but pure money.

- So I've heard.
- Map to the place.

A few miles down that way.

Lord have mercy.
Yes, sir.

With the majesty
of these beautiful mountains

at your feet,

sorry to be leaving
this country, I am.

Wouldn't go except it for a big
business deal in California.

Got all the stuff
you asked me to, James.

Wagon, cow, tools,
the Jimmy-Jack.

- What?
- Mule. Mule.

Very, very expensive.

Awful good around the farm
for plowing and hauling.

They're sent to town
to get the farmers.

Now the chickens is a little
something from me to you.

- Thank you,
cousin perse.

- That's kind of you,
cousin perse.

- Bought it with part
of my commission.

Help you get started.

Now you best be on your way.

You got a few miles to go
before it's dark.

- All aboard for Victor, Idaho!
This coach is late.

Let's roll!
- Ephraim, my satchel!

- Cousin perse, thank you
for everything.

- Thanks, it does me a good one
tending to it

for you two
and them kids of yours.

Yes, sir.
Y'all take care now.

Good luck and the good lord's
got his hands around ya.

- Good-bye, perse.
- Bye. Jensen!

- Yeah.

- Them is my cousins
four times removed.

Take good care of them,
you hear?

Them is babes
in the wilderness.

Driver, take US out.

- [Yells] Giddy up! Yah!
- Y'all be good now!

The good lord
watches over ya!

- Yah!

- Make yourself fine
and blessed,

prayin' in the good book!

Bye!

- Welcome to Kelly.
My name is Jensen.

I own the store.

- Well, it's good to know you,
Mr. Jensen.

My name's Tanner.
This is my wife, Katherine.

- How do you do, Mr. Jensen.
- Hello.

Uh, can I help you load
the wagon?

- Well, that's very kind of you.
Thank you.

- Ephraim!
- Let's go, boys.

- Hey, fella. Fella. Fella.
Come here, fella.

Come here, fella.
Come here.

- Yo!
- Yo!

- Yo!
- Hoo-ooh!

[Cowboys herding cattle]

- Hi.
- Howdy.

- My name's Virgil Tanner.
That's my little brother Andy.

Come here, Andy.

[Cowboys herding cattle]

- You're a cowboy,
aren't you?

- You bet ya.
My name's hiram.

These other cowboys here
is my brothers.

Little Willy over yonder
is my nephew.

- Hi, Virgil.

- This girl here
is my ugly sister, Agatha.

- Howdy.
- Ma'am.

- We had a dog like that.
- Is that a fact?

- His name was Ralph.
Only he chased cats.

- He did, huh?

- We had to leave on account
of he couldn't ride the train

or the stagecoach.

- Yeah.
- 'Sides, he's a city dog.

- Andy, they don't want
to hear about Ralph.

- Virg, do you think
he'd sell US that dog?

- Course not.
Come on, we got to go.

- Hiram, would you sell US
that dog?

- Well, Andy,
he ain't much good,

but I reckon we better
be keeping on to him.

- Oh.

- Be seeing you boys.

- Bye.

- Lets get them
in here, aggie.

Get that bull there
with the horns on him.

- Yo, bull.
- Virgil, Andrew!

- Come on, Andy. Bye.

[Cowboys herding cattle]

- Hyah, hyah, hyah, hyah, hyah,
get in there!

[Cattle lowing,
cowboys herding]

- Scoot back a little bit.
Make more room for your father.

- Giddy up, mule.
[Clicks tongue twice]

- Bye. Good luck.
- Good-bye.

- Anything you need,
come to Jensen. Good-bye.

- Virg, you suppose hiram
would change his mind

if we offered him
a whole dollar?

- I'm afraid not, Andy.
- Who's hiram?

- He's one of them cowboys.

His dog
wasn't as good as Ralph.

He was pretty good.

Dad, could we buy that dog?

- There's a few other places
to spend our money, son,

before it goes for dogs.

- Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!
- Bye.

Bye, Virgil.
- Bye.

- Well, now, Kate, it's not
so much what things are,

it's what they could be,
right?

You take what we got here

and we pull some weeds,
and straighten the fencing,

and add a new roof,

maybe a board or two
here and there,

and first thing you know,

we'll be planting crops,
and raising cows,

and everything will be just
what we expect.

Don't you think?
- Sure it will.

You know, mom, we could get
some paint and stuff--

- yes, son, I know.

Add a board or two
here and there.

Cousin perse didn't have
much money to work with.

- Come on, Andy.

- Oh, mind there aren't
any snakes in there.

- Mom, there isn't--

- no snake would be caught dead
in there.

- Andy.

[Growling and barking]

[Andrew screaming]

- There's a wolf in there!
- What?

- A wolf. Get the gun.
- Stay back. Stay back.

- Virgil!
- But mom, I got to help--

- get back here! Virgil!
[Dog barking]

- Don't shoot him.
Wolf, you hush.

What's going on here?
Who are you?

You lost or something?

- You stand
right where you are.

- Virg, look at that!
- Shh. Keep still.

- What are you doing here?
- I was sleepin'.

- James--
- ma'am.

Ma'am!
Ain't never been so ashamed.

- He's mean.
- He ain't neither mean!

Come busting in on a man
while he's halfway altogether.

- Neat, huh?

- I ain't never been seen
in my longies

by a woman
in my whole life.

Come barging in on a body,

you got to expect
to get growled at.

Now sit down, wolf,
and hush!

[Barks]

Dumb...

Plain to see, old wolf's
as harmless as I am.

Two dog, he sure got a way
with animals.

He's the one that tamed him.

Two dog and me uses this place
for a stopover

to the high country.

- Who is two dog?

- Man standing over there,
chewing on the jerky.

- [Gasps]

- You must be them newcomers
I heard about down in Kelly.

Why don't you put
that thing down

'fore goes off
and does somebody some hurt.

Old two dog there,

he's as harmless as me and wolf
put together.

Name's Thompson.

You got a name?

- Tanner.
- [Laughs]

That's my wife.
- Ma'am.

- That's Virgil.
- Howdy, Virgil?

- And Andrew.
- Howdy there, Andrew.

[Laughs]
We'll be on our way directly.

[Speaking native American
language]

Two dog will store our gear.

Now US going sudden
like this,

well, it leaves a half
a deer carcass

yonder there
in the root cellar.

Come along, I'll show you.

- Well, that's not necessary.
I can find it.

- That sure is a fancy bed.

Ma'am, that place there
is ripe enough

to curl your toes.

You just open up them shutters
and air it out,

it'll freshen up.

They stick some,
old two dog will help you.

- I'm not going in there
with that savage.

- Savage? Two dog ain't
no savage, he's injun!

Come on, Tanner, you bring
that big tad of yours

and I'll show you how to carve
that carcass.

You ain't gonna have
no supper.

And if you don't carve it,
it'll spoil.

You better get this cow
off this wagon.

Can't you see
she's drying up?

- James.

- Andrew,
will you water the cow?

- Yes, sir.
- Your mother will help you.

- Well come on, mom.

- You take the head
and I'll take the tail.

- Thompson, what's going on?

- [Gasping]

Got a word
for you Tanner men.

Ain't for your woman
or that young UN.

- A word about what?

- [Laughs] Looky here.
Ain't he a beauty?

I must've tracked that old boy
for 20 miles.

You know, you only get one shot
at a smart old boy like this.

- All right, Thompson,
what's this all about?

- Mm. Well, I didn't want
to fret your missus none.

- Fret her about what?

- Well, it don't draw no sauce
from my jug

one way or the other,

but I thought
you ought to know

this here piece of land
is trouble.

- What are you talking about?

- Talking about you and yours

skedaddling back
to where you come from.

- Mister, we're here
to start a farm.

- It's been tried before.

Ever come a thought to you
how you got this land so cheap?

- How do you know
we got it cheap?

- 'Cause a rock bottom price
paid by a greener's

is the only way to sell.

Nobody here in Wyoming
would touch it.

- How come is that?

- How come is lack of water.

- Water? There's water
running all over this place.

- That's ditch water, boy,
'cause your place is on a ditch.

It's a difference
between a crick and a ditch.

Come on. I'll show ya.

Now you see that notch up there
between them two hills?

- Yeah.

- Well, that's home to me
and two dog.

Now that Ridge over there
on the left,

that's where
your water comes from.

- According to my deed,
through the property

of a man named ab cross.

- Uh-huh, and he's
the flat-out meanest yay-hoo

this side of perdition.

Why him controlling the water
is the reason this here land

has stood empty
since the war.

- Well, it's not empty now.

- It will be come summer

when there ain't
no more runoff from the snow.

- Well, I've got
a legal right

to all the water above
the four-foot Mark on his dam.

It says so in my deed.

- Always been in the deed.

Only water comes down
is what little spills over

during the spring thaw.

- Well, Mr. Thompson,
I thank you for your concern,

but we're not leaving.

And when the time comes,

Mr. Cross and I
will have a little talk.

- [Laughs]

I'd give a season of pelts

and every last drop of whisky
in Jackson hole

to see you tango
with ab cross and win,

but there ain't no way
you could.

- I thank you
for your support.

I'll take all I can get.

- Your pa's got grit,
I'll say that.

- Yes, sir, he has.

- Do him as much good as
a sulfur match in a wind storm.

Well, shadows
are getting long.

- Virgil, we'll get
these chickens down first.

- Yes, sir.

- Lord keep you, Tanner.

[Laughs]

Two dog, wolf!

Come on,
let's get outta here!

We can't stand around all day
and watch these dumb greenies.

- [Muttering indistinctly]

- Dad.
- Yeah?

- Does that fella Thompson
know what he's talking about?

- I don't know, son.

- If he does, I guess we got
our work cut out for US, huh?

- Could be.

Oh, Virgil,

let's not say anything
about this to your mother, huh?

- Well, like Thompson said,
it was for the Tanner men.

- That's right.

[Chickens clucking]

- Virg, you know
what I wish?

- What?

- I wish Ralph was here.

Do you think we could train
a wolf like two dog done?

- Did.

- You figure?

- No, I don't.

- Maybe we could
catch US a deer.

They're easy to train.

- Go to sleep,
will you, Andy?

- Night, virg.

- [Blows]

- Night, mom!

Night, dad!

- Night.

- Good night, boys.

- We got a lot
of work come morning.

Get to sleep now.

- We will.

- [Blows]

You believe in this,
don't you, Kate?

- I believe in you.

- Are you sorry we came?

- Yes.

- We can be happy here,
Kate.

You won't regret it
this time.

I promise.

- I love you, James.

- Yah! Yah!

Yah! Come on, old mule.
Come on!

Come on, old mule.

Giddy up there!
Yah! Yah!

- A little more.

All right.

- Come on, mule.
Come on.

- Come on, mule, go!
Go!

- Yah, yah.

- Go, mule, go.

[Bird chirping]

- Ralph!

[Raccoon shrieks]

- [Sighs]

- Ya!

- Close it off, Virgil!

Cooling off?

- Yeah. Whew.

It's hard to believe.

- What's that?

- That this water's
ever gonna quit.

- It's not gonna quit.

- Well, suppose I better go
muck out that barn.

- Well, never mind that now.

Your mother tells me
we're running low on meat,

and I think it's about time
you and me went hunting.

- Could we?
- Sure.

I think we've earned it,
don't you?

- Yeah.

Suppose it's safe to leave
mom and Andy alone here though?

- I don't see why not.
Get that gun.

- All right.

Dad, look.

- Come on.

Tie him off right there.

See him?

Here, you take it.

- No, no, you shoot him.
- It's meat for the table.

- I'll miss him.
- It'll be your first deer.

- Well, sure, but--
- it's cocked and loaded.

I want you to get him.

Go ahead.

Now, he'll come out
from behind those rocks.

And when he does,
you squeeze the trigger.

All right?
- All right.

- There he is!

- [Screeches]

- What'd you do that for?

- It's a horse.

It must be a wild horse.

- Is he dead?

- Head is still moving.

Hold on now.

- 'Cause of me,
he fell down there, dad.

Now we gotta do something.

- We're gonna do something
about it, Virgil.

Now get ahold of yourself.

Go get the rope
off the mule.

- [Neighing and groaning]

- Careful now.

- It's a mare.

- And she's going to foal.

- Why'd I have to shoot her?

- Why, you didn't shoot her,
son.

She just got scared
by the noise.

- It's still my fault.

- You know, something, Virgil.

This may be
a blessing in disguise.

- I don't see how.

- Well, if this mare
isn't hurt too bad,

if we can get her home,
we can use her--

- whoa, girl, steady.

- Look out. Watch your feet.
- Whoa.

Getting closer to the edge.
- Look out for those front feet.

- Look out, dad.

- There she goes.

Give her some slack
in the line.

Keep her going.
- Come on, girl.

- Get up there, horse.
- Up the hill.

Come on.

- Whoa. Whoa there.

- Whoa there, girl.
- Steady, girl.

- Stay now.
- Whoa, take it easy.

Whoa, girl.
- That's it.

- Whoa, girl.
- Girl, whoa.

- Whoa. Whoa.
- Boy, look at her.

Hold tight, virg.

- What do you think
I'm doing?

Whoa, whoa there.
Whoa.

- Why is she so wild?

- It's 'cause
she's hurting so bad.

- This bacon grease
ought to at least

make those cuts
feel better.

- What about the foal?

- When's she gonna
have her baby, mom?

- I don't know, dear.

- Not for a while, son,
I'm sure.

- Whoa there.
- Be careful, James.

- Here, take this, Kate.

- Ooh, ooh there, girl.

Oh, oh.

- Whoa now, whoa.

- Easy, girl.
- Easy now.

- Easy.

What's wrong with her?

- Is she dying?

- Wait a minute, Andy.
Don't get too close.

- No.

I don't think she--

seems like all the fight's
gone out of her.

- Is she gonna be
all right?

- I don't know, son.

Doesn't seem to be much more
we can do for her.

I think she just
needs some rest.

- Well, I'm gonna
sit up with her tonight.

- That might be
a good idea, Virgil.

- Me too.
- Oh, Andrew, I don't see--

- oh, please, mom.
Virgil gets to.

- Andrew.
- Please, mom.

- Well, all right.

But you boys be careful
in here.

- Thanks, mom.
We'll be careful.

How 'bout this?

We got US a horse.

Two maybe.

Huh, virg?

[Chickens clucking]

- Dad, come here quick!
Mom, come out here.

- What is it, son?

- The mare's in trouble.
Hurry, come on.

[Horse groaning]

- What's the matter
with her, dad?

- I don't know, son,
but it doesn't look good.

She's clearly hurting.

- Dad, we got
to do something.

- She needs two dog.

- What, Andrew?

- Two dog can help her.

- Yeah.

Mr. Thompson!
Where are you?

Get up there, come on.

Mr. Thompson!

I gotta find you!

Where are ya?

Hold it, mule.
Oh!

Mule!

Come back here, mule!

Get outta here!

Go on, get outta here!

[Baby bear cries]

[Bear growls]

[Bear growling]

Get outta there!
Yah!

Thompson! Help!

Thompson!

Thompson! Help!

[Thompson laughs]

- Get outta there,
you old sow!

Get outta there.

Ahh!

Go on, you old sow.
Get outta there.

Get outta there!
Ah!

[Bear growls]

Go on, you old sow.
Get outta there.

Ha!

Ah! Go on!

Shoot your blooming head off
if you wasn't nursing a cub.

- Mr. Thompson.
- Yeah?

You're gonna get cold up there
come winter, boy.

Better get on down.

[Laughs]

I never thought
of hunting bear that way.

- Mr. Thompson--
- don't reckon I could get

old two dog to bait 'em out
like that for me.

- Two dog!

- Ah, you're through with me

now that I run
that bear off, huh?

[Laughs]

- Can't you see I need him?

- Hey, come back here, boy.

Tell me why you're
looking for two dog.

[Laughs]

- My dad and I found US
a wild mustang,

and she's ready to foal.

But she's in trouble.
She's about to die.

- Easy, boy.

- We need two dog to help her.

I almost shot her.

She fell down a steep hill
and got all banged up.

It's my fault,
can't you understand that?

[Horse groaning]

[Both speaking
native American language]

- Young UN's a mite
sideways too.

- You mean she's gonna
be a breach?

- [Speaking native American
language]

- No.
- Two dog says no.

- Mom--
- she'll be all right, boy.

Easy.

- She keeps thrashing
around like that.

- Whoa, whoa.

Mrs. Tanner,

I was wondering if

while me and two dog's
handling matters here,

if you could stir US up
something to eat.

- All right.
- Ma'am.

- Boys, we'll go
to the house now.

- I'm staying here.

- Me too.
- No, you're not.

You're coming
up to the house with me.

- Kate.
- I'm not gonna listen to any--

- come here.
- James.

These boys can't stay here.

- Now you calm down
and listen to me.

- I will not.

These children aren't
going to see this.

- We're not back
in Pittsburgh, Kate.

This is a new life out here.
These boys have got to grow up.

- But they're just children.

- Who've got to become men
as quickly as they can.

- I don't see
how watching this

is gonna help 'em.

- It's part of life, Kate.
We can't hide it from them.

- James, i--

- I'm gonna
let them stay.

- Tanner, give me
a hand here.

Ma'am, you bring US out
some sacking

so I can wrap
this mare's tail.

You boys skedaddle
out of the way there.

- But, Mr. Thompson,
I might be able to help you.

- Get.
- Come on, Andy.

- [Speaking native American
language]

- [Speaking native American
language]

Get a tight hold on her.

Two dog's gonna turn
the young UN around.

- Whoa, girl.
Whoa.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Whoa there, mama.

Whoa, mama.
- Whoa, girl.

- Easy now, mama.
Easy, mama.

Whoa.

We got to take her
down again.

All right, here, mama.

Let's go.

All right, bring her down.
Steady, steady, girl.

Steady, steady.

- Like this?

- Ah, ah.

- Whoa, mama.

Whoa, mama.

Easy, girl.
Easy.

Take it easy, girl.

Ooh.

- Shh.
Shh, girl.

- Easy, mama.

Ooh there, mama.

Ooh there, mama.

Oh, mama.

Easy.

Easy.

- Look at it, dad.

Is it a boy or a girl?

- It's a girl, filly.

- Well, I'm still gonna
call it "Ralph."

- You can't call
a filly Ralph.

- Well, I am.

- [Chuckles]

- Is it all right
if I touch her?

- Sure.

- Stand back, Andy.

- [Neighs]

- Good girl.
Good old mama.

[Sucking sounds]

- Boy, Ralph sure is hungry.

[Cows lowing]

- Hey!

Get! Shoo!

Shoo! Shoo!

Get out of my garden, you!

Get out!

Get outta here!

Get out!
All of you, get outta here!

Shoo!

Shoo! Shoo!

Go on, you too,
you big dumb bull!

Get out,
all of you!

Get outta here!
Get out! Shoo!

Shoo!

Get out of my garden, you!
Get!

Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!

Shoo!

Mr. Thompson!

- [Speaks native American
language]

- Get outta here!

- [Shouting in
native American language]

- Mr. Thompson,
get them out of my garden!

Get out of my garden!
Shoo!

- [Shouting in
native American language]

- Yah!
Ah!

- [Shouting in
native American language]

- Get outta here!
Get outta here!

Shoo! Shoo!

Ahh!

- [Shouting in
native American language]

- Get out of my garden.
Shoo!

Shoo!
Oh!

[Gunshots]

- [Shouting in
native American language]

- [Groaning]

Mr. Thompson, who do those
cows belong to?

- Ab cross.
Who else would they belong to?

They done a fair enough job
on your garden there.

- They sure did.
Just look at it.

- Where's your men folk?

- Oh, they're up there
on the hill cutting timber.

Fine time to be up there.

- Oughta make 'em 'bout
as hungry as two dog and me.

Why don't you take
these geese inside there

and cook 'em up for US.

I'll have two dog
fix up your fence.

Reckon you can
make 'em tasty?

- I reckon I can manage,
Mr. Thompson.

- Yes, ma'am.

I don't know how many
of these old birds I've had,

but it's the undying truth
these are the best ever.

- Well...

- I swear I ain't
gonna hunt no place else

but in that river bottom
from now on.

Must be the feed they get.

- More carrots, Mr. Thompson?

- Obliged, ma'am,
but I pass.

I would like some more
of that coffee.

Gentle tip, miss Tanner,

pinch more grounds,
mite longer boiling,

would just do wonders
for that there brew.

- Mr. Thompson, if you don't
like my cooking,

you don't have
to come to supper.

- You were telling me
the easiest way

to ab cross' place,
Mr. Thompson.

- You folks
keep calling me "mister,"

you're gonna
have me shaving.

Ever wonder what's
under this brush, boy?

- No, sir.
- [Chuckles]

- Truth is...

If I was you, I'd stay wide
of ab cross.

- After what his cattle did?

- Well, now, ma'am,

he's been grazing these here
parts for quite a spell.

Sort of got to thinking
it was his land.

- Then he's got some more
thinking to do.

- And he's certainly going
to pay for the damages.

- Well, I can't see him
doing that.

- It's time he and I
had a little talk anyway

since we're neighbors.

[Man herding cattle]

[Cows lowing]

- How high you figure it
to be?

- It's above the four-foot Mark,
that's for certain.

- Making quite a bit of that
water it holds back ours.

- There's enough to last
through the summer

and then some.

- With all the water
ab cross has got,

why should he want more?

- Let's find out.

[Cow bellowing]

- Yah! Yah!

- Yee-haw!

- Yah!

- Ha! Ha!

Hiya! Ha! Ha!

- [Chuckles]

Look at that, Virgil.

Any of you people tell me
where I'll find ab cross?

- Who wants him?

- Name's Jim Tanner!

- What do you want?

- I want to see ab cross.

- Anybody ever tell you
it is bad manners

to step down
before you's asked?

- So you're ab cross.

- What do you want?

- Well, I own that farm
down there in the flat.

- I know all about you.

- Do you know that your cattle
got into my place

and knocked down the fence
and trampled my garden?

- Until just
a short while ago,

my cattle have been
grazing that land

for the past 25 years,
I know that.

- Well, Mr. Cross, they're
through grazing it now.

- Who the devil
do you think you are?

- Well, I've already
told you who I am.

But I'll tell you
something else.

All the water
on that log dam

above the four-foot Mark
belongs to me.

Come the time I need it, why,

I'll let you know
and you can release it to me

or I'll go to court.

[Laughter]

- This may come as a surprise
to you pilgrim,

but there ain't no courts
in this country.

And there ain't no laws.

- Well, I've said everything
I came here to say.

The rest is up to you.

- Now you hear me.

You can waste your time
fencing that land off

against my cattle
if you want to,

but come summer,
if you're still here,

you're gonna be sitting
on the driest piece of land

this side of togady pass.

Now clear off my property

or get shot
for trespassing.

- Mister, that advice
works both ways.

- Well, I ain't paying you
just to stand around.

Start cutting beef.

- [Clicks tongue]
- [Whistles] Yah! Yah!

[Thunder rumbles]

- Aye-yie-yie-yie.

That piece of land of yours
will never be worth

what that water
could cost you.

Oh, good boy, Ephraim.

Don't forget the fire wood.
- Yes, pa.

- Mr. Jensen,
you still haven't told me

where the United States
marshal's located.

- [Sighs]

His office is in Cheyenne.

Mr. Tanner, please,
give it up.

Go back east.

Otherwise
you may find yourself

putting more than just
your sweat into that ground.

- We do appreciate
your concern, Mr. Jensen.

Can you tell me
how long it'll take

the marshal
to get this note?

- [Mutters indistinctly]

You got to figure
at least a week

to ten days.

- Ten days?

- Yeah, that's right.
Ten days.

Then with that trouble
in Johnson county starting up,

well, your guess
is as good as mine

as to when or if
he'll come here

to settle a land dispute
between you and ab cross,

whose family happens
to have opened up

this section of territory.

- Thank you, sir.

- Understand?

- How much is the postage
to Cheyenne?

- [Mutters]

All right.

All right,
I will look it up for you.

[Muttering indistinctly]

- So by the time summer comes
and we really need that water,

the marshal will have
settled this thing

once and for all.

- James.

What kind of a man is he?

- What?

- What kind of a man
is ab cross?

Is he a violent man?

- All I know is
he believes he's right.

- What if he should
do something

before the marshal
gets here?

- Like what?

- I don't know.

Like try to harm US.

- He's not gonna harm US.

[Clattering]
- I got him!

I got him, dad!
I got him!

I've got myself
another Ralph.

I've got him.

- Let him go, Andy.

Come here, let him go.
Let go of that rope.

- What are you--

- Andrew.
- Andy, let him go.

Let that go, Andy.

- James, let him go.

- Letting him go.

- Oh, Andrew, honestly.

- Ralph!

- Andrew,
you're a fine trapper.

But a porcupine doesn't make
a very good Ralph.

You understand?

- Whoa, whoa.

Just a sack.
It's not gonna hurt you.

- Doing okay, stubby.

- Hey, Mr. Thompson.

Look, Ralph's leading
real good now, isn't she?

- Yeah, she sure is, boy.

You reckon you can handle
that little filly alone?

- Sure.

- You just take her
over there out of the way.

I need two dog to help
Virgil and me here.

Now go on.

[Speaks native American
language]

Why don't you get up here
and let's see how much vinegar

this old girl's got.

- Whoa.

- Okay, boy.

- Come on, virg.
Hang on now.

[Horse whinnies]

That a way, virg!
Stay with her!

- Ride her, cowboy!

Ha! Ha ha ha!

Hang on there, boy.

- Ride her, Virgil.

- Hey!

- Virgil!

Crazy man is gonna kill him.

- Oh, he's all right.
Look at him.

- Easy. Easy.

- Did you see that,
Mr. Thompson?

Did you see that?

Boy, I can ride this mare.

- Whoa there, boy.

That's enough for one day.

You'll be pony expressing
in no time.

- Come on, boys, we got to get
to town and back before dark.

Come on.
Kate.

- Did you see that, dad?
I can ride this mare.

- Yeah?
- Did you see, I rode her?

I rode that mare, dad.

I got bucked off,
but I rode her for a while.

And did you hear
what Mr. Thompson said?

- No, what did he say?

- He said before long
I'd be pony expressing.

That mean that I'll be
riding with the mail

like those fellas do?
- Pony express, huh?

- I got bucked off,
but I rode him.

I rode her
for a long time.

I rode her two or three...
- Virgil!

[Dog barking]

- Virgil, would you help
your mother down?

- Yes, sir.

- Dad, can I have
some licorice?

- What?
- Licorice.

- Here.

- Don't you go eating
a whole penny's worth though

and spoil your supper,
Andrew.

- I won't.
- Thank you, Virgil.

- Dad, can I buy a hat?

- A what?
- A hat.

- Virgil, I can't afford
to buy you a hat.

- Dad, I'm getting
way too tall

to wear this little
old thing.

- Well, you'll just have
to make do with that one.

- Yes, sir.

[Laughter]

- Mr. Tanner.
How are you?

- Hello, Mr. Jensen.

- My wife wanted to pick up
a few things there,

if you could help her.

- Yeah, if you'll excuse me
just a minute.

I'll be right there.
- Yes, thank you.

- Oh, Mr. Jensen.

Did the marshal answer
my letter yet?

- Well, I told you
it'd take at least a week

to ten days.

- Tanner.

So you wrote the marshal,
did you?

- I told you we'd have
to handle it ourselves

or let the law do it.

- Well, there ain't
gonna be no need

for the law
to settle anything,

'cause you and me are gonna
settle it right now.

- Kate, will you pick up
all the things you need

as quickly as you can and
then we'll--

- James!

[Clattering, glass breaking]

- Ab, no!
Don't ab!

- Let loose of me, old man.

You stay outta this.

- Oh!

- Whoa, boy.

- James!

- I'm sorry.

Let's go home.

[Crowd murmuring]

- Get on up here, Andy.

Come on.

[Kate gasps]

[Both panting]

- Get up, mule.
Get up there.

Hiya. Hiya.

Get up, mule.
Get up.

Get up there.
Get up.

[Dog barking]

- Fellas.
- Sir?

- I want you and cleve

to close that dam down tight.

- What?

[Thunder rumbling]

- I don't want
one more drop of water

going down onto
that bottom land,

you hear?

[Dramatic music]

- What you got there, Andy?

- I got a hurt bird!

Ma, got an emergency.
[Bird chirps]

- All right.
Oh, what's that?

- It's a hawk.

It was just lying there
sort of crumpled.

- Well, I think he's got
a broken wing.

- Can you save his life?

- Oh, I don't think he's
in any danger of dying.

- Well, maybe I better go look
for Mr. Two dog.

- Oh, no,
that's not necessary.

- But he's awful good
at working on animals.

- Yes, I know, but I think
if you help me,

I think we can handle
this without him.

- You mean you and me?

- Right.

- We'd better feed him
some soup.

- Meat.
- Meat?

- Meat.

- I'll get some
out of the root cellar.

[Door closes]

Dad!

Can I use your knife?
- Why?

- I need some meat for Ralph!

- Horses don't eat meat.
- Not her, my hawk!

It's only a baby now,
but it'll grow big.

And I'm gonna train it
to hunt like in that book

you read me, virg.

- Yeah.

- It'll get rabbits for US
and sage hens.

We won't have to do nothing
but sit back in the shade

and let it.

- How soon you figure we can
start training him to do that?

- Well, as soon as mom
fixes up his wing

and he gets a little bigger.

He just a little thing
right now,

but he's gonna grow
to be a giant hawk,

'cause I'm gonna feed him
nothing but lots of good meat.

Not soup.
Hawks don't eat soup.

And you and me will train him,
all right, virg?

- All right, but--
- but I'm the boss.

- There you are.
- Thanks, dad!

- Andy.

You know, dad, we just gotta
make it go over here now.

I mean, how can we ever take
a hawk and a horse

all the way back
to Pittsburgh?

- Dad! Dad, Virgil!

Come quick!
We got no more water!

Dad, Virgil, come quick!

Mom!

Look.
- James, what's happened?

- Well, Kate, it's pretty clear
what's happened.

- Ab cross.

- Just like it's clear
what we got to do.

- Now I thought
we had that out.

- But, dad, we can't let him
get away with this.

- We're not going to,
but we'll do it the legal way.

- It's too late for that.
The Marshall's not coming.

- If the law won't come to US,
we'll go to the law.

- Go where?

- By the time you go to Cheyenne
and back, the crops will die.

- Kate, you pack me a bag.

Virgil, you hitch the mule
to the wagon.

- Dad, we have got
to have water.

- Now no more talk.
- But dad!

- Virgil, hitch the mule
to the wagon!

- Virg?

- Virgil can take care
of things until I get back.

- James, you're forgetting
the lunch I packed for you.

Now just a minute.
I just want to--

- why hasn't that boy
hitched up that wagon?

- Now hold on.
- Virgil!

- Hold still just a minute.
I just want to fix your collar.

- Kate. Virgil!

- Jim, will you hold still
for one more minute

while I finish?

- Where's Virgil?
- He's gone.

- He's what?

- Virg made me promise
not to tell ya,

but I'm scared for him.

- Scared about what?

Andrew,
where's your brother?

- Whoa. Whoa, mule.

What the devil do you think
you're doing?

- I'm getting US our water.

- I told you we'd handle this
the legal way.

- I can just get enough down
to soak the fields.

- You put those logs back
right this minute! Virgil!

- Whoa! Whoa!

- They can't climb out,

ain't worth the salt
in his sweat.

He's all through.

- Dad.

- Virgil, Virgil,
get over to the embankment!

Get the rifle!

- Hold your fire!
My son is with me!

Give me that rifle.

[Gun clicks]

- What are we gonna do?

- Hold on, ab!
He's throwin' in.

He's dropped to ruin.

He's stowed up for good.

Now don't kill him.

[Cocks gun]

Ab...

- You can thank your friend here
I don't kill you.

Now you take your boy
and get off my property

and don't you never
come back.

Feathers, you and cleve
get the logs back in that damn!

- Hear you talking.
- Sir.

- What would my daddy
had done to him?

- Just what you done, ab.
Just run him off.

- You're a liar.

He wouldn't have shot him
in the leg

and stood here talking.

He'd have killed him.

- [Speaking native American]
- Mr. Thompson!

Mr. Thompson, come here!
They shot him!

Ab cross shot dad!

- What you doing up there
anyway?

- I was getting US
our water back.

- Here. Stand still.

Let me tie up that bleeding
for you, run clear dry.

- Mom, come quick!
Dad and virg is coming!

Something wrong's, mom.

Mr. Thompson and two dog
are bringing him.

- James!
- I'm sorry, mom.

- What are you sorry about?
What happened?

- Virgil, get me down from here.
- Dad, you better stay up there.

- He was shot
in the leg, ma'am.

You just stay up there
till we get down to the soddy.

- Who shot you, dad?
- It's all right, Kate.

- Ain't all that bad, ma'am.
Bullet went clean through.

- Clean through?

- It looks a lot worse
than it is.

- He ain't even felt pain yet.
[Laughs]

Two dog will have him fixed up
in no time.

Lordy, the bullets
he's dug out of me,

the lead alone would've sunk
the monitor.

- Mr. Thompson, please.

Let's get him down off here.
I'll get the bed ready.

- Table's a better place
to work on him, ma'am.

- Virgil,
you go get some water.

Andrew, you help him.
Here, I'll take this.

- Right here. All right,
come on down here now.

Just put your weight on me.

All right, there.
There you go.

- Is he hurt bad?
- Afraid he is.

- If you would've hitched up
the mule like dad said,

this wouldn't have happened.

- I know that.
Don't you think I know that?

- Virg.

I had to tell him.

I'm sorry,
but I had to tell him.

- You did right, Andy.

Now put the mule away.

- Come on, mule.

- Ease up there, mule.
Ease up there.

Whoa.

- Hi, virg!
- Did you get the wood cut?

- No.
- Why not?

I told you mom needs it
for the stove.

- Look, ever since
dad got hurt,

you've been bossing me around
like you was the boss.

- Well,
I can't do everything.

Now I've been doing
all the hard work around here.

- You're not my boss!
- Wait a minute now.

What's wrong?

- When I left here,
I told him to cut some wood

and he hadn't--
- well, I told him not too.

- Why?

- Because he's too little
to handle that axe

and I don't want him
to hurt himself.

- Well, if he can't do
a simple little thing

like cut some wood,
I don't know what I'm gonna do.

- Virgil!
- I'm sorry.

- I see you got the water, son.
That's good work.

- Yes, sir! Lot of good
it's gonna do the crops.

- You didn't bring much.

- Well, it's the ruts
in the road!

I spilled near as much
as I got!

- Andrew!
- Mom, I was just trying--

- oh, I know. I know.
Just fill it again.

Here. And be careful.

Here.

Virgil.
- I know, mom.

I'll get the wood cut.

- Well, there's time enough
for that.

- That's just it, there isn't
enough time to get it all done.

- Virgil, I want to talk
to you.

- Mom, listen, I'm sorry
I yelled at everybody.

- I know. I know. I know.
- Well, then what is it?

- No one blames you
for what happened

to your dad, you know.

- I almost got him killed.

- Yes, and you almost
got yourself killed too.

You realize what you did
was wrong, don't you?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Well, your reason for doing it
was right.

Do you understand that?

- I think so.

- Virgil, what I'm trying to say
is it makes me real proud

to know that there are
two men now

to take care of Andrew and me.

- We're gonna make it here,
aren't we, mom?

- [Laughs]

- Plucking chickens
is no fun, is it, Virgil?

- You can say that again.
How many eggs you get?

- Eight.

- Too bad we had to kill
this good laying hen.

- Sure is.

- Soon as I'm able,
we'll go out deer hunting

and this time we'll get him.

But your mother will have
some dumplings

to go with that tough
old bird.

That'll be mighty tasty.

- Yes, sir.
It sure will be.

- Where's Andrew?
I haven't seen him since sunup.

- Oh, he's off playing
with that hawk of his.

- You mean Ralph.
- Yeah, Ralph.

- Ralph.
[Horse whinnies]

- Kate, have you got
enough flower

for a few extra dumplings?

- Don't tell me that Thompson
is out there.

- Oh, no, but I've got
a whale of an appetite.

- If I hear one more suggestion
from him about my cooking,

he's gonna have to find
another table to eat at.

- Dad. Mom, dad,
come here quick.

Look!

- It's coming
straight at US.

- Oh, my god.

- Virgil, let the animals
out of the barn.

- All right, I'll get them.
[Cow lowing]

- Ralph!

- Virgil, take care of the mule!
I'll get the cow!

[Wind blowing fiercely,
Jim shouting, animals bellowing]

- Where's Andrew?
- Virgil, where's your brother?

- I don't know.
- We have to go find Andrew.

- What do I do?
- Kate. Kate.

Get in the root cellar.
Get down here.

[Mule brays]

Virgil, you check the house
and see if Andrew's there.

Go on!

- Andy! Andy!

Andy!

Andy!

- Andrew! Andrew!

Andrew!

Andrew!
[Grunts]

- Andrew!

Andrew!

- Andy!

- Andrew!

Virgil! Andrew!

Boys!

Boys!
Boys, let's get out of here!

- Ah!

- Hold on.
Stay close.

[Kate coughing]

[Andrew crying]
- Virgil, I can't see.

Virgil, are you all right?
- I'm here, ma.

- Andrew, where were you?
- Virgil...

- James,
where did you find Andrew?

- Get the matches.
- Where are they?

- On the top shelf.
- Are you all right, mom?

Are you all right?
[Tanners coughing]

- I can't find them, dad.
- They're near the canned goods.

- Virgil,
are you all right, Virgil?

- We're all right, mom.
We're both all right.

[Tanners coughing]

- Oh, thank god
we're all safe.

- Ralph's not safe.
He's gonna get hurt.

- Who?
- Ralph. He's out there.

[Crying]
- Ralph.

- He's all right, son.
- No. He's gonna get hurt.

- He'll be fine.
He'll be fine.

He can fly away.
- Are you sure? [Crying]

- He's better off
than we are, son.

He can fly.

- Well, what about
my horse Ralph?

Where's she?

[Winds subsiding]

- Listen.
[Andrew crying]

[Silence]

- Maybe it's over.

Kate.
- No.

- Come on.

- Look at that.

Looks worse than when we first
came here.

- We're going back
to Pennsylvania.

- Dad?

- Kate.

Kate, for heaven sakes.
- I mean it. We're going home.

- Mom.
- This is our home.

- Yeah.
- Look at it.

- Kate.

- This isn't
what I came here for

and I don't want
to discuss it.

- Fine.
Then you just listen.

- Listen to what?
More of your fancy dream talk?

How much more has to happen

before you realize
we can't make it here?

- We can make it.
- I can't.

- Mom, please.
- Mom.

- Virgil.
There's nothing here.

Not even the basic essentials
for hu--

We have no water

and we have no prospects
for any.

A whole spring's work
is gone.

Your father has been shot
by that maniac.

You children have almost
been killed.

Virgil, there's nothing here.

We can't make it.
We're going back.

- Are you finished?

- Yes.

We're going back.

- There's nothing to go back to,
is there?

- Yes, there is.

There's lawns, and streets,
and churches,

and peace, and order,
and civilization.

- Kate, now you know
as well as I do

we can't get ahead
by going back.

- I don't know that.

We can go back
and start over again.

That's what I'm going to do.

- I'm not.

I'm not going back there.

If we leave now
and find it hard going again,

we'll move again--
and again if we have to.

Mom, when do we stop
starting over?

When do we say
"this is where we stay"?

When, mom?
- Virgil, that's enough.

- I'm not leaving.

You can do what you want,
but I'm not leaving.

[Andrew crying]

I'm sorry, dad.

- Andrew,
stay with your brother.

[Andrew crying]

- [Crying]

- Katherine, we have always
decided things together,

haven't we?

The important things.

Well, for the first time,
that's not going to be.

We're staying here together.

Because the one thing
that's made it all bearable,

that's gotten US through
all these years

and will get US through this,

is having one another.

- Mom won't leave US,
will she?

- I don't know.
Sure hope not.

- Hey, virg, she can't.
The wagon's busted.

- Andy, if she really wants
to leave,

that's not gonna stop her.

- Virg, mom's never
gonna leave US.

Now I got to go find Ralph.

- Don't go too far.
- I won't.

- I don't want you
getting lost again.

- I won't. Ralph!

Ralph!

- [Blows]

[Horse whinnies]

- Whoa. Easy, boy.

Howdy, boy.
- Hello.

Your horse's leg
sure is bad off.

- Yeah, my horse near went down
on top of me.

Wind took him right out
from under me.

[Exhales]
It's a good horse.

- You're a law man,
aren't you, mister?

- That's right.

I'm looking for a man
named James Tanner.

- That's my dad.
- Well, I got something for him.

My name's George jobal,
United States marshal.

- This is the court order
we've been waiting for.

- Open it.

- Thank you.

Marshal,

we'll drive you to Kelly.

Trade that horse of yours
at Jensen's store.

- Let's go.
- Giddy up.

- You men got something
to do?

[Excited chatter]

- Kate, you're the greatest cook
in the world.

[All speaking at once]

- Well, I don't know.

- You know what we got to do,
we ought to make up a song.

- About what?
- A song?

- Yeah.
- About what?

- About the man who brought
the law to Jackson's hole.

- Yeah.
- Oh, who's that?

- You.
- Aw.

- Lead on, Virgil.
- Yeah.

- * old Jim Tanner brought
the law to Jackson's hole *

- * old Jim Tanner brought
the law to Jackson's hole *

- yeah, that's it.

- Well, Virgil, I'm not sure
I can claim credit for all that.

- Mm. He's absolutely right,
James.

- Ab cross himself
said there was no law here.

There is now, dad.

- Well, I'll show you
about that old Jim Tanner.

- All right,
I'll take you on.

- Oh, Andy, your face!

- * old Jim Tanner brought
the law to Jackson's hole *

- go wash it off. Good.

- Dad, can I have some more?

- I'm going to take you, dad,
this time.

- Sure, but you do
what your mother told you.

- Andrew.

[Laughter]

[Fire crackling]
- It sure is a special occasion.

Mom, I think I'll have
another piece.

- Fire! Mom, dad,
the barn's on fire!

- The mule!

- Get a bucket.
- Hurry up.

[Horse bellowing]

- Get out of here!
Get out!

- Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!
- Get out of here!

Yah yah!
Get out of here!

- Put the harness
by the wagon.

I'll put this ladder.

Go on up, Virgil.
We'll hand them to you.

Here.

Get behind the wagon!

- Andrew, come over here.

- It's cross.

You stay here.
I'll get the rifle.

- Stay down.

- Ah.

- James!
- Dad!

Dad.

- Andrew, get in the house.
- No, dad, I can't.

- Kate, get me that rifle.

Kate.

Kate! Kate!

[Horse whinnies]

- Dad.

- Dad.
- I'll be all right, Virgil.

- I--i--

- it'll be all right.

- I just guess he never took
full measure of you folks.

Mr. Tanner, it's gonna take US
a few days to cut the logs,

but we're coming back here

and we're gonna put
that barn back

just like it were.

Mr. Tanner, long as you are
stole up like you are,

we're gonna do everything we can
to help you and missus

and the young uns.

Ma'am.
- Thank you.

- Yes, ma'am.

- Let's take him home, boys.

[Mule brays]

[Mule brays]

- You ready to quit?

- There's reason enough,
isn't there?

You know, I still love
this country, Kate.

But if a man isn't careful,
he can get shot.

- I suppose by the time
snow falls,

I could have the house
in order.

Virgil can kill enough meat
to last.

Mr. Jensen will give US credit
at the store.

I'm not worried.

I know we can make it
through the winter.

And in the spring,
we'll plant a new crop.

- Kate, are you sure?

- I'm sure.

I'm sure for the boys...

And I'm sure for me...

Of what we can have here
because of you.

I'm sure because of you.

- Mom! Dad!

My Ralph's come back!

Things are kind of busted up,
Ralph.

We'll get them fixed up

and you'll have a brand-new
barn to sleep in.

- Where'd you find him,
Andy?

- Over there in the Meadow
drinking some water

out of the ditch.

You were right, mom.

Ralph's mother brought her back
just like you said.

- Did you tell him that?
- Yes, I did.

- How'd you know so much
about horses?

- Well, I guess I just know
about mothers.

- Mrs. Tanner, seeing as how
this man of yours is gonna live,

why don't you folks come in
and get it while it's hot.

- Get what?

- Now--now just hold
on there, ma'am.

If you folks are gonna settle
down here like you say you are,

there's a few things
I ought to be passing on to you.

- Like what?
- Some of my cooking tips.

For example, I'll bet
you fry your eggs

in plain old grease.

- Well, bacon grease.

- Eh. Did you ever think
of adding just a smidgeon

of bear fat?

- Bear fat?

- See, I can tell by the way
you're all goggley-eyed there

you never use bear fat.

Put a little bear fat in there,
it don't taste so greasy.

- Virgil.
- Virgil, come on in here.

- Now listen up.

I'll thank you for leaving
my kitchen this minute.

- I wanted to talk to you
about this coffee

you've been making.

- My coffee?
What about my coffee?

Mr. Thompson, if you don't like
my coffee...

- Come on, Ralph.
Don't be sore at me.

That whole storm
wasn't my fault.

Come on, now.
Quit fighting.

You better make up

'cause we're gonna be here
for a long time.