Wanda Nevada (1979) - full transcript

[COUNTRY SONG PLAYING]

♪ If I had a wish

♪ And believed it was true

♪ I'd open up my heart

♪ And I'd share it
all with you

♪ If I had a dream

♪ And you were the star

♪ I'd open up my eyes
and see forever more

♪ And if deuces were wild

♪ You could call me a child

♪ I can see
the shuffle lies ahead



♪ Queen of hearts

ALONZO: Fred Grange's boy,
Walt, was killed last week.

Walt Grange was
killed last week?

Elliot Maddox told me
he spoke with
Fred's brother Harlan.

How'd he get it?

Food poisoning.

Food poisoning in Korea!

Well, I figure them
slant-eyes slipped some
rat droppings in his beans.

Honey,
put the brush down.

That thing cost me
two dollars.

♪ Oh, if deuces were wild

♪ You can call me a child

♪ I can see
the shuffles lies ahead.

♪ Queen of hearts



♪ Had a humble start

♪ Some things
are better left unsaid ♪

Honey,
you can't go in there!

I can do anything
I damn well please
and nobody's gonna stop me!

And I'll raise $50.

Yeah.
Too much for me.

I fold.

Yup, I guess
it's back to
punching cows.

Bet's to you, fellow.

Your luck can't
hold out much longer.

There's your $50,

and I'll raise you $50.

How we doing tonight,
lover? Get away!

Fifty and I'll bump you $50.

I ain't got
that much money.

Throw in your cards.

Hey, you can't
buy that pot.

The bet's $50 dollars,
pal.

You gotta honor
my marker.

I wouldn't honor
your mama.

I was always taught

to respect my elders
so I'll let
that remark slide.

Any of you cowboys
wanna back
a winnin' hand?

Tell you what,
I'll give you her

if I lose the hand.

Slade! Shut up!

Well, what's it gonna be?

I ain't even
broke her in yet.

Kick 'em over.

Three queens
and two bullets.

Well, can you beat that?

I ain't never seen
a deck with five queens.

I ain't never seen one
with five aces before.

It weren't me
who cheated!

[GUNSHOTS]

[GROANING]

Come on, honey.

He ain't gonna be
any good for you and
I got all the money.

Get out of my way.

Watch out!
He's got a razor!

Don't shoot!
It's just a comb!
See. It's a comb.

GIRL: I'm hungry.

[MAN CHATTERING]

[WOMAN LAUGHING]

[WOMAN CHATTERING]

You always
eat this fast?

Only when I'm in a hurry.

You got mustard
on your chin.

I don't care
how nice you get.

I ain't gonna
let you have me.

Well, you're so skinny
who'd want you?

[LOUDLY]
Well, Slade wanted...

Slade wanted me.
We were gonna get married
till you busted us up.

[SCOFFS] Fat chance.

That one-eyed jack
sold you in
a card game, girl.

We were gonna
get hitched.

Your folks must be
worried sick wondering
where you are, you know.

My folks are dead!

Sorry about that.

Go to hell! I already been there.

Then go back.

Mostly likely I will.

Watch yourself,
little girl.

Oh, honey.
Where you been
all my life?

How are you? Ain't I seen you
someplace before?

You believe
in flying saucers?

We got a fifth of vodka
up in the room.

We got a flying saucer
in the barn.

MAN 1: Hey, bitch!

MEN: ♪ Over there
Over there ♪

[MEN LAUGHING]

♪ Ninety-nine bottles
of beer on the wall ♪

[MUMBLING]

[HONKING]

Hey, how'd you like
a little ride?

Come on,
get in the car here.

MAN 2: What time is it?
What time is it?

Yeah.

Hey, hop in. Come on.
You want a lift?

Come on, I'll show you
a good time. Hop in.

[HONKING] Come on,
I won't hurt you.

I just wanna
talk to you.

Damned jailbait anyway.

GIRL: I still ain't gonna
let you touch me.

Hey, watch the paint.

You better have
gotten two rooms.

[CAR PASSING]

[TURNS RADIO ON]

[COUNTRY SONG
PLAYING ON RADIO]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Who's there?

[KNOCKING LOUDLY ON DOOR]

Who's there?

There's only
one bed in here.

You lock up
the Studebaker?

Slade drove
a black Merc.

I gotta get
my beauty rest.

Well, where am
I gonna sleep?

Now there's
plenty of floor.

♪ Well, I heard

♪ Your name mentioned
yesterday

♪ I cried

♪ Too few tears for you

[GIRL HUFFING]

[GIRL GRUNTING]

Can you do anything
besides complain?

Well, I can sing.

What else can you do?

I worked in the laundry room
at the orphanage
folding sheets.

Well, that ain't
gonna get me
my hundred bucks.

You've got a dirty mind,
mister.

Say,
how old are you anyway?

I'm 19.

You lie to me again
and I'm gonna kick
your little butt

right out of this room.

Thirteen and a half.

Those people from
the orphanage are gonna
be looking for you.

Uh-uh.
I ain't going back
to that hellhole.

I plan on singing
in the Grand Ole Opry

and making lots
and lots of money.

What's your name?

Wanda Nevada.

What?

It used to be
Wanda McGuinty.

That's the name
they gave me
at the orphanage.

Wanda Nevada's
my stage name.

Well, I wish you
lots of luck,
Wanda Nevada,

but I don't think
you're gonna do it.

Yes, I will!

Goodnight.

Everybody's gotta
have a dream,
even a yahoo like you!

Go to sleep!

What's your name?

Beaudray Demerille.

[WHISPERING]
Beaudray Demerille.

Reverend Eldon,
I feel that was
a long time ago.

[MAN CHATTERING ON RADIO]

[SNICKERS]

[LAUGHING]

That was
a long time ago.

Well, listen, it all comes
back to you when you do
something like that.

[BELL DINGING]

Single or double?

Checking out.

That's right.

You're the guy that was
in here last night
with that young girl.

Bungalow nine.

Well, uh, when she gets up,
would you give her this?

Cutting out on her, huh?

Well, are you gonna
give it to her
or ain't you?

I'll give it to her

but not like you did.

[CHEERING ON RADIO]

[TRUCK ENGINE STARTING]

MAN ON RADIO:
Jesus! Wipe it out!

[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING
ON RADIO]

[VOLUME INCREASES]

♪ And when I'm 18

♪ That tall, good-looking
gambling man

♪ Is gonna give me
red roses across
the Grand Canyon ♪

You call that singing?

I just made it up.

Yeah, well, if I want
the Grand Ole Opry,
I got it right here.

[RADIO STATION CHANGING]

I can sing
better than that!

[SCOFFS]

You owe me 50 bucks.

What for?

Well, then let's go
back and get it.

I don't like going back
to where I've been.

♪ No one had
no possession of me ♪

[WHISPERING]
Don't slam the hood.

[SLAMS]

Everything's all right.
And it'll cost you
two big ones.

I'll flip you for it.
Double or nothing.

Say, what you are
trying to tell me, man?

You ain't got no bucks?

I just thought you looked
like a gambling man.

You wouldn't want the day
to go by without a smile

and maybe an extra
couple of bucks.

Well, uh, uh...

We'll use my nickel.

Not that I don't trust you,
friend.

Hey, you can look at it
all you want, buddy.

That's just a plain
ordinary nickel.

That it is.
Call it.

Heads! Darn!

Well, thanks
for the gas, pal.

Hey, uh,
hey, buddy,
hey, buddy,

let's make it
two out of three
or double or nothing.

I'll catch you on
the way back.

I'll be needing
a new set of tires.
Here.

At least you get
to keep your nickel.

Hey! Hey!
Hey, you cheater!

Hey! You cheater!
Cheater!

What kind of
nickel was that?

So that's your game,
huh?

Cheatin' folks
out of their
hard-earned money.

Don't you ever call me
a cheater again.

He had a 50/50 chance
just like I did.

Except I figure
nine times out of ten,
a man'll call heads.

Besides,
he slammed my hood.

Well, if you ain't a cheater,
then what are you?

Well, let's just say,
I know a few tricks.

Oh, like slippin'
a fifth ace
into your hand?

Girl,
you talk too much.

Well, why don't you
teach me your tricks?

That way, I'll be able
to pay you back
the money I owe you.

I thought you wanted
to be a singer.

Call it.

Tails.

[SOFT CHUCKLE]

[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING]

Damn!

Buy you a coke?

Well, I thought
I had you there, pal.

I don't mind
if you win one, pal.

MAN: Rack it.

What're you hanging
around with
a loser like that for?

What did you
ever win at?

Banks.

What?

We rob banks.

It takes guts.

You got lots of money?

Plenty.

I'll flip you
for that dollar.

Call it.

Heads.

Better stick to banks.

"Better stick to banks."

You haven't won
a game all day.

Warmin' up, okay,
I'm just warmin' up.

Hey, that is some trick.

BUM: May the good Lord
strike me dead.

I'm telling you
the truth.

Watch it, girl.
That kind'll step
on you for a lot less.

[MEN LAUGHING]

Hey, lads, how are you?

I'm tellin' you,
there's more gold
in the Grand Canyon

then any of you
ever dreamed about.

Nuggets!

Big gold nuggets
the size of them there,
them there pool balls.

Texas Curly,
the only gold
in that big hole

is in your teeth
when you're down in it!

[MEN LAUGHING]

More like fool's gold.

CURLY: You're the fool.

I want you all to know
that I just found me

the fattest vein of gold
in the whole damn world!

[LAUGHING]
Yeah, I'm richer
than all of you!

I'm rich.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Where in the Grand Canyon
did you find this gold?

Where did I find the gold?
Wouldn't you like to know?

Tell us, Texas Curly,
tell us where
the gold is, huh?

It's, it's at a place
where only eagles can fly.

Eagles?

[SNICKERS]

You're flyin', all right.

You're flyin'
off the handle
like an old fool!

And it's guarded
by the ghost of
an old Apache warrior.

Ghosts? Yeah.

And if you try to
take my find,
he'll cut your throat.

Is there any truth
to his words?

Well, he drinks a good yarn.

But everybody knows,
there ain't no gold
in the Grand Canyon.

I heard
your lyin' mouth,
Ruby Muldoon!

[GROANING]

[LAUGHS]

You know, old man,
I could beat that
gold out of you

and still not
have a cent left! Take it easy!

Easy, pal, we still got
a game to finish before
you go bustin' up that cue.

[GRUNTING]

MAN 1: He's got a gun on him,
right?

Yeah, I guess
you're right, pal.

MAN 2: Aw, well, did he tie
his mules up out front?

Leave him alone.

I'll show you
who's tellin'
the truth!

I'll show everybody!

Barney, set up drinks
for everybody in the house!

Let's see your money,
Curly.

Here, here,
come over here.

Now cast your eyes
on that. There.
How 'bout that?

[PEOPLE EXCLAIMING]

MAN 1: Biggest damn nugget
I ever saw in this part!

MAN 2: Is it gold,
real gold?

Biggest damn nugget
I ever saw.

Everybody have a drink
on Texas Curly,
the richest man in the world.

Three cheers
for Texas Curly!

[ALL CHEERING]

Looks like
fool's gold to me.

I want this kid
out of here.

I'm nineteen. Ha!

Here.

Go buy yourself a soda.

I'm staying.

Wanda, don't sass me.
I'm down 75 bucks!

Then you go buy yourself
a drink, babe!

[DOOR OPENING]

[GRUNTING]

[COUGHING]

[MAN CHATTERING]

[CHATTERING]

[WHISTLING]

[COUGHING]

[WOMAN CHATTERING]

[CAT MEOWS]

[BABY CRYING]

Tell us where
the gold mine is,
you old coot!

Yeah, where's the gold?

Go find it yourself,
you dirty coyote!

[HISSING]

Where's that leather pouch
of yours, old man?

Let me alone!
That's mine!
I found it!

Give it to me!

[GROANING]

Tell us where
the big money is.

Tell us and
we won't hurt ya, huh?

[GROANING]

Cut him!

Bye, bye.

[CURLY GROANS]

Search him.

I can't find it.

It's gotta be on him.

[CAT HISSING]

It's that gal
from the pool hall. Go get her.

[BABY CRYING]

[WHISTLING]

Watch it!

[GROANS]

Shit!

Damn! Hey!

Hey!

Jeez!

Shit!

Damn!

Oh, well, a little luck
never hurt anyone.

Hey, everybody,
somebody just slit
Texas Curly's throat!

[ALL SHOUTING]

Hey, wait a minute, pal!
We got a game to finish!

I've never seen anybody
with his throat slit before!

Oh, shit!

[WHISPERING]
Where have you been?

Where have I been?

Get in and close the door!

Now what's up?

Make tracks! Come on!

[ENGINE STARTING]

You look like a snake
that's hidin' under a rock.

It's them!

Who?

Howdy!

What're you doin'?

Fingerin' the dog.

What's he doin'? Fingering the dog.

Where's that pretty
little girl you was with?

Hell, a tramp like that
could be halfway to Phoenix

with a truckload
of drunk Indians by now.

Reckon so.

Evenin'.

Evenin'.

Those lowlifes
killed Texas Curly!

Stay down!

She's there
in the Studebaker.

[TIRES SCREECHING]

Hang on.
Here they come.

Yeah. Come on,
come on, come on.

Take the wheel.What?

Take the wheel! I don't know how to drive!

Take it!

Pull over or I'll blow
your brains out!

[TIRES SCREECHING]

[ENGINE DYING]

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

[BOTH WHEEZING]

[BREATHING DEEPLY]

Now you know
how to drive.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

Well, do you think
I should tell
the sheriff what I saw?

I'm for mindin'
my own business.

You can do
what you want.

Hey, don't I get
the bed tonight?

You owe me $150,
not including expenses.

Well, if I pay you
the money I owe you

can I sleep
in the bed alone?

Yeah. Sure.

Here. That's more than
twice what I owe you.

That's mine!

You stole this off
a dead man's body.

And I thought
you were a good girl
under all that hot sauce!

I didn't steal it!
You've got it all wrong.

[THUNDERCLAPS]

Did you roll up
the window in the car?

Damn it, I didn't!

Why me, Lord, why me?

I didn't steal that pouch!

It fell out of his pocket
when he came out
of the pool hall.

Hey!
Didn't anybody
teach you manners?

Half of all that's mine.

Texas Curly's map.

The gold mine! Yeah.

Hey, something's
written on this.

"Please deliver
my belongings

"to Missus Emma Langston
of Sioux City, Ioway,

"my beloved wife
who I left 35 years ago

"for another woman.

"Tell Emma

"the other woman run off
after the third night
I was with her."

You got the bed.

Do you think
there really is gold
in the Grand Canyon?

I'd say
I'm gonna sleep on it.

[CLUCKING]

[DOG BARKING]

You wait here.Why?

When you can pay
your own way, then
you can do what you want.

[DONKEY BRAYING]

[MAN CHATTERING]

Onions.

Be with you
in just one minute. No hurry.

Just one minute.

[DOG BARKING]

[MUMBLING]

It's just a little dry,
but it's really good.

That comes to $16.75.

Well, this is
all I have.

Well, let's see
what you got.

Oh, you're
four dollars short.

You give me credit,
Mr. Krupp?

Credit? Yeah.

[LAUGHING]
He wants credit.

No credit.

Give me one of
those bracelets... No!

...and we'll just
call it even.

No, no!We'll call it even.

No, I'm not gonna let you
cheat me anymore!

Well, then, just
why don't you go
someplace else

if you ain't
got the money?

I, uh, found this
out in the dirt.

It must belong to you.

[HUFFING]

Take your goods
and you get out of here.

Vamoose!
Get going!
Giddap!

[HUFFING]

[STOMPING]

[HENS CLUCKING]

Don't you ever come
in my place and do
a thing like that again

or I'll chew off your ear!

Start chewing.

What can I do for you,
mister?

I wanna buy a pack train
to go prospecting
in the Canyon.

I was told that you
could fill the bill.

Is that cash or trade?

Trade.

What you got?

'51 Studey
with four new tires.

[SOFTLY] Oh.

[WHISTLING]

♪ When the roll

♪ Is called up yonder ♪ Is called up yonder

♪ When the roll ♪ When the roll

♪ Is called up yonder ♪ Is called up yonder

[HARMONIZING] ♪ When the roll [HARMONIZING] ♪ When the roll

♪ Is called up yonder ♪ Is called up yonder

♪ When the roll is called up ♪ When the roll is called up

♪ Yonder, I'll be there ♪ Yonder, I'll be there

All right. Yeah.

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

[DOG BARKING]

Now if they're gonna
go down in the Canyon,

they'd have to come here
for mules and supplies.

Ruby!

Uh, make sure
your gun hand's ready.

Don't I always?

[WHEEZING]

[CHUCKLING]

Oh.

Looking for the guy
who owns that
Studebaker outside.

Traveling
with a young gal.

You boys are law?

Yup.

Well, he signed it
over to me just after
I sold him a pack train.

Ain't stolen, is it?

How much of a head start's
he got on us?

I reckon about a half day.
Say, what'd they do?

Can you supply us
with mules and grub?

[DONKEY BRAYING]

Yup. Say, what'd they do?

Killed a fellow over
in Show Low last night.

What for?

An old prospector.
Said he found gold
in the Grand Canyon.

Gold?

[LAUGHING] Well,
I heard stories tell

but I always thought
that was just Indian legend.

Gold?

[EXHALING]

Well, you're looking at
the end of the rainbow, Wanda.

WANDA: You really think so?

You'd better hope so.
You owe me another
25 bucks

for the new duds
you're wearing.

I didn't ask you
to buy them for me.

Come on,
let's ride.
You lead.

That's gotta be them.

We'll kill 'em tomorrow.

I want the girl.

Strap, you've been
married three times.

I don't plan
on marryin' her.

Check your gun hand.

[MIMICS GUNSHOTS]

All right.

WANDA: What if
there ain't no gold?

Why couldn't we get
horses to ride?

And what if we get lost
and can't find our way back?

Why did you have to
trade the car?

If there ain't no gold
and we get back
to the trading post,

what then?
Hey, when are we
gonna make camp?

I never should've
brought you along.
All you do is gripe.

[HUMMING]

BEAUDRAY: Whoa.

Howdy.

I reckon one of us
started out a little
late this morning.

Well, it weren't me.

I reckon you're right.

What are you prospecting?

Oh, a little silver.

And gold!
You seen any?Shh.

[LAUGHS] Gold?

Everybody knows
there ain't no gold
in the Grand Canyon.

Yeah? What're you
doing down here?

If there'd be gold
down there, you can
bet your sweet britches

Dutch Gravel'd
found it by now.

You ever hear
of a guy named
Texas Curly?

I wouldn't believe
that thieving
sack of chicken guts

if he was to tell me
the world is round.

He's been murdered.

Tex is gone?
Who done him in?

BEAUDRAY:
Could've been
a lot of people.

He was talking big
about a rich strike
he had down here

in the Canyon.

I told him that mouth of his
would be the death of him.

He said there were
ghosts in the Canyon.

Don't believe everything
you hear or your nose
would fall off.

Come on, Imogene.

[BRAYING]Easy. Careful.
Come on now. Come on.

I'm gonna fall off! Oh. I got you, girl. Hold on now.

Whoa. Whoa.
Come on.

Come on.

If I was you
I'd turn back.

Ah.

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

Now I'd say
this arrow's
pointing north.

Looks like south to me.

Yeah?

Well,
we're heading north.

Why do we always
have to do it your way?

'Cause I got
all the money
and the guns.

Good day,
good people.Howdy.

I saw a Bearded Tit
this morning.

Of course, it was
a single sighting so probably
no one will believe me.

The river
is rather turgid today

or is it turbid?

No, tumid.
That's what it is.
It's tumid.

The ferryboat man
will be here before dark.

My name is Bitterstix.
Merlin Bitterstix.

That's a rather odd
nomenclature for a biped,
don't you think?

You talk awful funny.

Oh, I didn't realize.

Well, perhaps you could
give me some lessons.

"Perhaps I could"
and perhaps I won't,
you fat varmint.

Go on, get out of here.
Go on. Go feed the mules.

[EXHALING]

That's rather heavy work.
She's only a child.

That child'll cut your
heart out and feed it to
the coyotes just for laughs.

I find that a trifle
difficult to believe.

Believe what you want,
but I wouldn't turn my
back on her if I were you.

[MIMICS BIRD SQUAWKING]

[MIMICS BIRD SQUAWKING]

[CHICKS CHIRPING]

Well, anyway,
my folks were murdered
when I was nine years old.

I saw it happen
with my own eyes.

Who would do such
a fiendish thing?

Black-hearted men.

And Mr., uh,
Mr. Demerille,
what is he to you?

He won me
in a poker game.

And until I can pay back
$150 plus expenses,

he can do anything
he well pleases with me.

Hi-ho.

What if we run
out of grub?

What if we
run out of water?

What if you shut up?

Uh, yeah, shut up,
shut up, shut up,
shut up, shut up.

Mr. Demerille,
may I have
a word with you?

Talk fast. We'll be
loading the ferry soon.
Girl, go get the mules.

Well, Wanda and I
have been... Who?

Uh, Miss Nevada and I
have been chatting

and she's told me
about her unfortunate
predicament.

Yeah, I saw you two
sneaking around
down by the river.

Well, she has had
a frightful time of it.

I'm afraid you don't
understand the young
woman's plight.

What's your line of work,
Mr. Bitterstix?

I'm an ornithologist.
You know what that is?

I'd say you're for the birds.
Go on, spit out
what you got to say.

Well, I'm prepared
to pay you the $150

that Wanda owes you
and furthermore,
to give you $50 more

for any inconvenience
she might have caused you.

What you gonna do to her?

Why, I'm going to take her
back to New Orleans with me
and give her a decent home.

Teach her to talk
like a parrot.

[SHOUTING] A parrot? WANDA: Watch out!
He's going for his gun!

[WHIMPERS]

[BLOWING NOSE]

She can leave anytime
she damn well pleases.

And as for the money
she owes me

ah, hell, I always knew
she didn't have the guts
to pay it back on her own.

You can have her.
I got no use
for a little skunk.

If I was you, though,
I'd sleep with one eye open.

[FERRYBOAT HONKS]

Oh, he's an odd
sort of duck, isn't he?

[MIMICS BIRD HOOTING]

Don't you think we should
stay close by to Beaudray?

Everybody knows
there's no gold
in the Grand Canyon.

Cuckooricoo, Demerille!

Let's go.

Tell you one thing,
Poker Joe,

don't go getting mixed up
with no young filly.

Ride! Got a lot of leg
but no head sense.

[BRAYING]

STRAP: Why ain't we
catchin' up with 'em?

'Cause you keep stoppin'
every ten minutes.

It must've been
your cooking
last night.

No, it's more like that Kraut
bullet you took in the stomach

you know, when you jumped
in front of me?

I did it for you. I didn't ask you
to do it.

I don't wanna
talk about it.

Well, what if there ain't no
gold? What do we do then?

There is gold.
So let's move.

Thanks.

[WIND WHOOSHING]

[MIMICS BIRD CHIRPING]

Lovely evening,
isn't it, my dear?

It looks like rain. I see what you mean.

It doesn't look like
anything at all.
That's very funny.

You look like an old woman.I bet you say that
to all the boys.

I don't like old women,
Wanda.

I, uh, I guess it's
about time to turn in,
isn't it?

I don't feel like turning in. Wanda, I want you
to remember that it was I

who saved you
from that scoundrel.

If you've got
something to say,
say it.

Very well, I will.

I saw you.
I fell in love with you.

You cross-eyed pervert!

Yes, yes, that, too.

Wanda, I believe
you're afraid of me.

I'm Wanda Nevada
and I ain't
afraid of nothing.

That includes you.

But I just want
to touch you,
stroke you...

Hey, cut that out! So on.

[WHOOSHING]

[GASPING]

[HOWLING]

Poker Joe, she's gotta learn
a little respect.

Hell if I'm gonna go
looking for her.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

[COYOTES HOWLING]

Wanda?

Wanda?

[ECHOING] Wanda?

Wanda?

Wanda! Wanda!

Wanda.

[BRAYING]

Oh. Oh.

[BOTH GROANING]

Hey, man. We should've
turned off at the last gorge,
you know what I mean?

No, these tracks
don't look
that old to me.

Who the hell do you think
you are? John Wayne,
the great Indian tracker?

I guess I might never
should've brought you along.
All you do is gripe.

Partner, you'd gripe, too,
if you had my problem.

I've been drafted.

They want me to go to Korea
and fight for my country.

You fought in the last one. Ruby, I don't wanna
go back in the Army.

Don't worry about it.
We got, we got gold to find.

Hey, come on,
mount up.

How far is it
till we get to the gold?

Hey, why don't you like me?

Well, I never figured on you
letting me ride off with that
birdbrain, Bitterstix.

Well, when you get to be
a real woman you'll know
who to ride with.

I am a woman! You're nothing but
a skinny little runt!

And you talk too much! I'm sick and tired of you
pushing me around!

You ain't nothing
but a cheat! Hey!

Ow!

Hold it. Hold it!

[CLICKS]

Had you all lined up. Oh. How long you been
up there?

Ever since you arrived.
It was such a lovely picture.

The cowboy watering
his horses.

They're mules.

[CHUCKLES] I'm sorry.
Of course, mules.

Anyway, when you two started
playing, well, I just had
to get a picture of that.

I'm sorry,
my name's, uh,
Dorothy Deerfield.

Beaudray Demerille,
ma'am.

Well, I'm very glad
to make your
acquaintance, Beau.

Perhaps you and your daughter
would like to come
and have supper with me.

My camp's just over the side
of those lovely trees.

Sounds good to me,
ma'am.

Beau, don't you think
we should be moving on?

There's still plenty of
daylight left!

What's a good-looking woman
like you doing out here
in the wilds?

I work for Lifemagazine.
I'm doing a photo layout on
the Grand Canyon.

No fooling? "No fooling?"

[BEAUDRAY LAUGHING]

BEAUDRAY: Plus everybody in
the company, uh, they had
their own way of seeing it.

I knew that it was
either him or me.

Beau,
you're quite a cowboy.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

Well, you're quite a card,
Dorothy.

Mmm. Why don't you come over
and sit next to me here

before I get too lonely? Why, sir is that
a proposal?

Well, I'll let you know
after you pour me
another drink.

Okay.

[BOTH CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

[WANDA CLEARING THROAT]

Make that three.

There's only two cups.

I'll drink
from the bottle.

No, it's okay.
You can have mine.

I've had enough anyway.

Well, come on, Beau,
finish your story.

Well, there's not
a lot to tell.

Well, of course,
if you don't
want to tell us.

Yes, Beau,
tell us your story.

Drink up, honey.

Like I was saying
there we were,

surrounded by a whole
battalion of Krauts.

Hey, you never told me
you were in the war.

Well, how could I
with you talking
100 miles an hour?

Anyway, we was running
low on ammunition.

I figured I was
playing my last hand.

What battle was this,
Beau?

Oh, it was, uh.
Aw, hell, I was so busy
fighting, Dorothy,

I forgot to ask
what battle it was.

[LAUGHING]

Was you scared?

Scared?

Shoot,
I was terrified.

My daddy died in the war.

He won the Purple Heart.

Your pop died in action?

Oh, the way I heard it,
he was the bravest man
that ever lived.

What's wrong? Nothing.

My husband, Bill,
was killed
in Pearl Harbor.

We'd only been
married nine days.

[SIGHING]

Best time to get it.

How can you
be so cold-hearted?

We both lost men we loved.

Well, all I meant was
if you're gonna get
knocked off in the war,

it's better to do
it in the first day,

rather than go
through all the bull
and get it at the end.

Please, please,
let's not talk
about war or dying.

It's all right.

Yeah, why don't you
take a walk and leave us
women alone?

Listen, you, I was doing
just fine till you stuck
your little neck in.

Beau, I'd like to
talk to Wanda
alone just for a minute.

Do you mind?

"Why don't you take a walk
and leave us women alone?"

Shit.

Well, I'm sorry about Beau
opening his big mouth.

He ain't so bad.

It's just that he doesn't
know how to make
a woman feel womanly,

you know what I mean? You really do love him,
don't you?

Yes.

But we're cut from
different cloth.
I can't figure him out.

When I was your age,
I had my hair in pigtails
and I was in bed by 10:00.

You are quite a lady, Wanda.

Do you really think so?

Yes, I do.

Demerille, as soon as you find
that gold you're gonna get rid
of that gal once and for all.

Okay, hold it.
That's great.
Keep your chin up.

Hold it. Just one more.
Oops. Hold it.

That's beautiful.
I'll treasure
this picture forever.

If you're ridin',
kick that mule!

A woman's gotta be a fool
to ride with that man.
Reckon I'm a fool.

Have a good journey. Bye.

Goodbye.

[CHIRRUPING]

[BRAYING]

Do you think
we're heading in
the right direction?

Wouldn't be headin'
in this direction
if it weren't right.

It sure is a pretty day
out today, isn't it?

It'd be a lot prettier
if we found the gold.

You're peeved at me 'cause
you couldn't snuggle with
Dorothy last night, huh?

I don't wanna
talk about it.

I apologize if I ruined your
evening last night, Beau.

You what?Apologize!

Girl, are you sick today?No.

I know I ain't done you
any good since
we've been together,

but I have a feeling
that's gonna change.

Wanda, look out! Heya!
Get outta here!

Come on, quick!

Stay down!
I saw an Indian push
that boulder on us.

It was the Apache Ghost.

Ghosts!

Let's go down by the river.
It'll be a lot cooler.

Oh, Beau, it's so beautiful.
It's like a cathedral.

I wanna give you this.

But, Beau,
this is your favorite.

You ever shoot
one of those things?

Sure, lots of times.

Oh, boy.

I could learn.

[GUNSHOT]

I could sure go
for a cold beer.

See?I hit it.

Oh.

Throw.

Hey. [CHUCKLES] Oh. Oh.

Well.

Beau,
you ever been married?

Yeah, a long time ago.

Did you love her
more than anything else
in the whole world?

Yeah, I sure did. Why'd you run off
and leave her?

It didn't happen like that.
Anyway, it ain't
none of your business.

I didn't mean to pry.

I mean, I don't know
where you're from
or what you've done.

I found her in bed
with my best friend.

What?

I was discharged
late in '45,

been overseas
almost four years.

Figured instead of calling,
I'd surprise her.

It weren't
a pretty homecoming.

What happened?

Well, I strolled in
around midnight.

He shot me in the back
and she stabbed me
in the chest with an ice pick.

I'd like to have bled to
death from a broken heart.

Now got to sleep.

[OWL HOOTING]

Beau,
what's he doing?

Looks like he's
on his way to
the Happy Hunting Ground.

[CHANTING]

Hey, do you know where
Indian Head Canyon is?

[WHISPERING]
Shh, let's ride.

Well, maybe he knows.
Indian Head Canyon?

See? Come on, let's ride.

[CHANTING]

Oh!

Damn it to hell,
we're lost!

Does that,
does that look like
an Indian head to you?

I knew we were close.
Come on. Giddap!

STRAP: You remember
my second wife,
Butchie?

She had the hairiest
legs in San Diego,
but could she jitterbug!

Yes, Strap,
I remember Butchie.

Well, I never said
she was perfect.

I can't get
through there. What?But I can!

Hey, get your little
butt back here.

I ain't turnin' back now.

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

What's wrong?

Oh, nothing much.

[RATTLING]

Are you coming or going?

Will you shut up?

[RUSTLING]

WANDA: What do you
make of it?

Well, that cross
on the map must
mean this graveyard.

I mean,
who killed them all?

I don't know
the answer to that.

Well, my guess is
the Apache Ghost.

The only ghosts I've ever
seen were in the Fun House
at Coney Island.

Tell that to Mr. Bitterstix.
And what about the landslide?

Do you want to turn back?
Go ahead if you don't have
the stomach to get rich.

Well, well, well,
what do we have here?

It looks like some kind of
religious hocus-pocus.

Yeah.

Hey, old man,
you see a fellow and a gal
pass by here?

I'm talkin' to you, old man.

You better say somethin',
old man, or I'm gonna
blow your ass off.

Kill him.

[GUNSHOT]

[MULE BRAYING]

Maybe this isn't the right
Indian Head Canyon?

It's gotta be!

Well,
I don't smell no gold.

Well, if you'd get off
your little butt and help,
maybe we'd find it!

I work just as hard
as you do! That'll be the day!

Beau! Beau, come here!
Come on! Quick!

What do you make of it?

It's a rope ladder.

It's a rotten rope ladder.

[SIGHING]

Go back to the bag
and get the flashlight
and the rope!

Beaudray Demerille,
this is it!

Who's going down first? Who do you think?

What if the rope
were to break or
something were to happen?

I couldn't pull you up,
but you could, me.

Clip that flashlight
in your belt.

Is your gun loaded?

Yeah.

Beau, if anything
happens to me...

Nah, cut out
that mush talk now.

It may sound mushy,
but it's from my heart.

I gotta get you
over the side.
Come on!

Not until I finish
what I have to say.

All right.
All right.
Spit it out.

Beau, I love you,

even though you are
the biggest fool
I ever met.

Come on.
Be careful of my
50 percent now.

Be careful now.

[SQUAWKING]

[SCREAMING]

Wanda?

Wanda?

I love you,
too, Wanda.

[GRUNTING]

Gold!

Gold!

Gold!

What are you lookin'
so sad for?

Wanda!
I thought you were...

What about the gold?

Ah, yeah.

The gold.
Well, money's not
everything, babe.

Bust out, eh?
Well, we tried.

Everybody knows
there ain't no gold
in the Grand Canyon.

[LAUGHING] Woman,
we are rich! Rich!

Those beans taste
pretty good tonight.

You just wait till
I get a house
with a real kitchen.

I'll cook you
the best grub
you ever tasted!

A house with a kitchen?
I thought you wanted
to see the world.

Well, being an orphan,
it kinda makes you want
to have a place of your own.

Of course, a tumbleweed
like you wouldn't know
anything about that.

I run away from
the St. Jerome Orphanage
when I was nine.

So I know all about that.

You were an orphan?

Wanda, I ain't sayin'
I don't care for you.

You put some meat on
those bones, and you'll
be a real looker.

The men'll be fallin'
all over themselves
just askin' for your hand.

It's you I want.
Always have.

Honey, I must be
20 years older than you.
Don't you see?

I might not be a woman yet,
but I ain't never done
anything to hurt you.

How much money
do you think
this'll bring us?

Well, uh, the first thing
we do, my dear, is invest
and double our money.

Cattle, timber, land.

Let's not forget
Texas Curly's widow.

Oh, yeah, sure.
Emma Langston.
But first, we invest.

A man without property
is a man without respect.

Well, Strap,
after all that hard work,

we have finally
struck it rich!

Now ain't that the truth?

Yeah. Hey, Rube. Yeah?

I still get the girl.

You bet.

Well, if we ever run
out of money,
we can always come back.

Not me. Why not?

Ah, just a feelin'.

Come on,
let's get out
of this place.

Superstitious, huh?

No. Let's just say
I'm gettin' cautious
in my old age.

Get your gun out!

Beau,
the mules are gone!Yeah.

They can't do this to us!

Well, they're
doin' it to us,
whoever they are.

The Apache Ghost!

Help me get that gold
to the cliff.

What are you doing?

If we want to get out
of this canyon alive,

whoever's watchin' us
had better see
that we don't have the gold.

Come on, girl. But we were so close
to being so rich.

The gold ain't worth
a hill of beans
if you're dead, woman.

Come on!

It just ain't fair. Yeah.

Who ever told you life
was supposed to be fair?

As I always say,
easy come, easy go.

Come on.

RUBY: Hold it!

All right, stick 'em up
and hand over the gold.

Everybody knows
there ain't no gold
in the Grand Canyon.

Shut up,
you little tramp.

That ain't no way
to talk to a woman, friend.

Where's your mules?

Run off.

Ours run off, too.
We thought you did it.

The Apache Ghost did it. The Ghost?

Say, little girl,

it's time for you
to grow up and I'm just
the man for the job!

Strap, your gun hand!

Go for it, Wanda!

[GROANS]

Wow! Run!
Christ, I'm hit!

Ruby!

Help! Ruby!

Don't shoot!
Don't shoot!

Pretty fancy shootin',
Wanda.

Do you think we hurt 'em?

No, only their pride.
But keep your eyes peeled.

[COYOTE HOWLING]

[HOWLING]

That coyote's getting
mighty close.

Yeah.

I thought we were bound
for heaven last night.

We ain't out of
the frying pan
yet, honey.

Can't we rest?Hold it.

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

A little breather,
that's all I'm asking.

You wanna end up
buzzard's bait, girl?

The gold!

Beau,
it's the gold!

You see, Beau.
It was meant for us to have.

Yeah. Yeah!

Get the packs!

We can't be more than
a couple of days away
from the ferry crossing.

What're you gonna do?
Swim there?

We could build a raft. Out of what?

Sand and brush?

Some gamblin' man you are.

Well, there's a time
to bluff and
a time to fold.

We've already
played those cards.

Well, I'm not givin' up. Well, you figure it out
for yourself.

[EXHALES]

It's not for me,
Lord.

I just don't wanna see
that little girl
end up as buzzard bait.

Care to take a boat ride
in the Colorado River,
Mr. Demerille?

I always knew I was
your good luck charm.

Wanda, you're much
more than that.

[COYOTE HOWLING]

[ROARING]

[HOOTING]

[GROANING]

Beau!

Beau.

[GROANS]

Babe,
I ain't gonna make it.

Bet you all my gold
you will.

Just my luck
to be in the right place
at the wrong time, babe, huh?

It must've been
the Apache Ghost.

No, no.
It weren't no ghost
that killed me.

You ain't gonna die.

I love you truly,
Wanda Nevada.

[SOBBING] Oh. Beau,
don't leave me.

You're the only thing
I've got in the whole world.

I love you, Beau.

NUN 1: It doesn't look good
for the Orphanage when
one of our girls runs away.

STICKMAN:
We're ready to leave.

Would you send
a boy up to, uh,
232, for the bags?

You put a terrible strain
on the other girls. Yes.

Thank you. You mustn't say anything

to those reporters
downstairs. Yes, we'll take care of that.

Yes, we will.

[PHONES RINGING] This is the hottest
thing to hit this area

since Truman relieved
MacArthur of his command.

[CHUCKLES] Oh, hell,
it's bigger. These hicks don't
give a damn about politics.

What're you gonna use
for a headline, Hank?

"Girl Returns
from Canyon of the Dead."

That ought to
sell newspapers.

[ALL LAUGHING]

Wanda, we've gone
just as far as we're
gonna go with you.

Now, you're going
to the reformatory.

Maybe they can
teach you some manners.

Are you listening to me?
Gimme that!

That's mine!

Oh, Mr. Stickman,
are you all right?

Wanda! Wanda!Catch her!

It's Wanda Nevada! NUN 1: You get back here!

Wanda! Wanda!
Wanda! Wanda! Wanda!

Come here, Wanda! NUN 2: Wanda!

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

Wanda!
Come over here
right now!

Miss Nevada, we need a shot
that'll make you look
beautiful against the Canyon.

REPORTER: Is it true
that you found gold
in the Grand Canyon?

Believe what you want to. Oh, surely you don't
expect us to believe it.

Frankly,
I don't give a damn
what you believe.

[GASPING]

What? Can you tell us
something about
the man you were with?

REPORTER: Yes,
what was this man to you?

Yes, could you tell us
something about
this Mr. Demerille?

He was the man
who saved my life.

What? The man who
saved your life?

[CAR HONKING]

Hi, babe.

[GASPING] Beau!

Wanda, Wanda,
come back here!

How do you spell
"Demerille?"

Where have you been?

Well, I had to go invest
our money, didn't I?
Not too bad, huh?

[ALL CLAMORING]

REPORTER: Mr. Demerille. The box is for you, honey.

REPORTER:
Demerille, can we get...

Ah, thanks,
but don't you think
we better be leaving now?

Whatever you say, partner.

Mr. Demerille,
what about the gold?

Ah, hell, everyone knows
there ain't no gold
in the Grand Canyon.

[LAUGHING]

REPORTER: But the story... Wanda, come back!

Wanda, come back here.
It's not too late for
God to forgive you.

Wanda!
This is crazy!

[MORNING SUNPLAYING]

♪ Sometimes I feel like
I've been living much too long

♪ And I've wasted
too much time

♪ I think I've lost
the inner harmony

♪ That flows through me
and my body and mind

♪ Like the shoreline
that divides the sea and sand

♪ I'm a surface ever changing

[INAUDIBLE] ♪ I get burdened by the things
I just don't understand

♪ And all the mountains
left to climb

♪ But then the morning
sun comes shining
through my window

♪ And it's good to be alive

♪ It's gonna be a golden day

♪ Wings unfolding day

♪ Green trees

♪ Blue skies

♪ If I can only learn
the lesson of the seasons

♪ Of a balance rearranging

♪ Though they may not always
come just when I want them to

♪ Still they come
and keep me high

♪ And the morning sun comes
shining through my window

♪ It feels good to be alive
Yeah

♪ It's gonna be a golden day

♪ Wings unfolding day

♪ Green trees

♪ Blue Skies