Centennial (1978–1979): Season 1, Episode 9 - The Crime - full transcript

As the 19th century was
drawing to a close,

Centennial was hit by the
most destructive blizzard

ever recorded in
Northern Colorado.

Within hours the
temperature had dropped

to an incredible 45
degrees below zero,

16 inches of new
snow had fallen.

Cattle perished by the tens of
thousands on the open range.

For some, like
Charlotte Seccombe

and the Scottish
accountant, Finlay Perkin,

and especially for
Oliver Seccombe,

who had begun the
mighty Venneford ranch,



the great blizzard marked
the end of an era.

For Levi Zendt, it was
the end of a lifetime.

For the traveling actors,
Mervin and Maude Wendell,

it meant a brand new beginning.

A new audience for
old performances.

For the frontier
lawman Axel Dumire,

it brought concern
that his town,

like others before it,

would fall prey to
a kind of crime

the presence of his badge
and gun could not prevent.

But for most working men, like
John Skimmerhorn and Jim Lloyd,

it was simply the
terrible white present,

and its passing meant an end
to the backbreaking effort

to save what could be saved
during a devastating tragedy.



How many you think
lived through it?

Well, you add your count to
the rest of the line camps,

maybe 20,000.

Is that all? Out
of almost fifty?

Fifty book count.

Hey, John,

I was talking to that Mr.
Perkin the other day.

He asked me if Mr. Seccombe had
been cheating on the books.

What'd you tell him?

Well, I told him I
never see the books.

Good.

John.

You see the books.
What do you think?

I think it's a damn good
thing that blizzard hit.

Was Mr. Seccombe stealing?

A man buys a pound of sand.

How many grains has he got?

I don't know. He can't tell.

Suppose he wants to
come up with a figure.

He has to estimate it. Right?

Right.

And suppose his estimate
is a little low.

Does that mean somebody
stole the rest?

Good point.

The funny thing is, Perkin'd
probably understand the point

about a pound of sand, but
not about a herd of cattle.

I've told that man
a dozen times.

Book count is an estimate.

Just an estimate.

Yeah. Still...

Still what?

Well, it's one thing
to talk about sand

running through your fingers.

It's another thing to lose
as many breed cows as we do.

Thirty thousand
longhorns missing.

That's nearly a million dollars.

And you have the gall to tell me

they're lying out
there in the snow,

stiff as boards.

It's the truth.

Can you prove that?

Can you prove otherwise?

Very well.

I can't sue.

But I know that you're not fit
to run this ranch, Seccombe,

no matter what tricks this
lassie comes up with.

And when I return to London,

I'll tell Lord Venneford as much

and I'll tell your father and
the rest of the investors.

Mr. Perkin, there wouldn't
be a Venneford ranch

without my husband.
My husband...

Be still a moment,
Charlotte, please.

Mr. Perkin, you have
my resignation.

Oliver, he's bluffing. Now,
he can't force you out!

I'll go to London myself...
Charlotte, Charlotte...

Are you really surprised?
Or are you just acting?

I can't tell anymore.

You shouldn't be surprised.

I'm extraordinarily tired.

It's time someone
else took over.

Well.

You've made a very wise decision, Mr.
Seccombe.

I'll fetch a pen.

Take the name of Jesus ever

As a shield from every snare

If temptations round you gather

Breathe that holy name in prayer

Precious name, O how sweet

Hope of earth and joy of heaven

Precious name

Precious name

O how sweet How sweet

Hope of joy... Hope of earth

And joy of heaven

The Lord bless thee
and keep thee.

The Lord make his face
to shine upon thee

and be gracious unto thee.

The Lord lift up his
countenance upon thee

and give thee peace.

Amen

Amen

Amen

It's nice to see you.
Thank you for coming.

Nice to see you

and don't forget the
church social tonight.

It's nice to see you.

I've never heard a hymn
played with more skill

or sung with more
piety and devotion.

I've said it before and
I'll say it again.

The Union Church was blessed

when you chose to join
the congregation.

Together with your dear husband,

of course, and your son.
In fact...

Now, Reverend Holly,
not another word.

You'll turn our heads.

The fact is we were blessed

when we were led to
this lovely town.

Weren't we, Maude?

Really, really,
everyone in Centennial

has been so sweet.

But none sweeter
than you, Reverend.

Oh, please, Mrs. Wendell.

Oh, no, no, we were penniless

and you found work
for my husband.

We needed shelter and you...

You turned over your
second house to us.

I just can't imagine

how we're ever going
to repay you.

Don't even think about it.

Now, of course, we
will expect you all

to sing for your supper at
the church social tonight.

The social?

Well, Whispering Hope.

Listen to the Mockingbird?

You do them so splendidly.

Thank you, but would you
settle for a solo from Maude

instead of a trio?

I don't believe I understand.

I'm afraid I won't be there.

I have to take a train to
Denver this afternoon.

It's a family matter,

and Philip will be staying with
his friend, Beeley Garrett.

Mervin, I really wish you'd
give me some warning

when you decide to
dash off like this.

I was counting on you to...

Oh, forgive me, precious,

but everything
happened so quickly.

Oh, how in the world
am I ever going to get

all that food over
here to the church?

The food? Oh, the food.

Oh, Lord. I nearly
forgot the food.

I have an idea.

Now, it's no good your
refusing because I insist.

I will carry the food.

Oh, no, no, no. Oh, no, no, no.

It's so far out of your way!

No, no. Nonsense!
Not a bit of it.

It's all settled.

I'll be there at 7:00 sharp.

Well, that's the last of them.

Reverend Holly!

You haven't packed
the wagon yet.

Oh, well, I'm sure we
still have loads of time,

haven't we?

Yes.

I hope Mr. Wendell got
safely away this afternoon.

Oh, thank you. Yes,
he did indeed.

He must be halfway
to Denver by now.

I'm so silly.

But I guess that's just
the kind of woman I am.

What's that?

I just... I just can't
bear to be alone.

I need a man.

It's so unfair. I mean,

men and women were
meant to be together.

I really don't see how you can
stand it, Reverend Holly.

Being a bachelor, I mean.

You're so, so vigorous.

So, so...

Oh, dear Lord.

Didn't you enjoy it?

Yes.

Maude?

Maude, I'm home. May I come in?

Maude.

Mr. Wendell, listen
to me, please.

You filthy...

Mr. Wendell, I'm so sorry.

And so pious,

so sanctimonious.

Where's your Bible now, Pastor?

About goodness and
innocence and trust.

Oh, please, you can't
say anything to me

that I haven't already
said to myself.

How did this happen?

I don't know how this happened.

It's as much my
fault as it is his.

If you're going to shoot,
then shoot both of us.

Yes, don't worry about that, madam.
You'll pay.

Stoning is what you deserve.
Both of you.

The whole town ought
to know about this.

The whole town shall know...

No, Mervin. No, no, darling.

What about Philip?

Philip!

You talk to me of Philip.

Please, we've
admitted our guilt.

We'll do anything.

Yes, anything.

Shut your mouth, sir!

If for one second,
you believe that

there is anything more
important to me than honor...

No, no, of course not. I didn't
mean that at all, but...

But to scar your son like this.

He's right.

Why should you want
to punish Philip?

Please, let me try to make
this up to you somehow.

Let me... Let me
give you something.

Something for Philip's sake.

I don't have very much, but...

Well, I don't know.

Perhaps some kind of
security for his future.

The deed.

The what?

I want the deed to this house.

That would be something
permanent for him.

That's scandalous.

Scandalous?

You talk to me of scandal?

I'll show you scandal, sir.

No, wait.

The house is yours.

Nothing more boorish
than a sour Scotsman,

and the train would
be an hour late.

Well, he's gone.
That's the main thing.

Oliver?

Are you ill?

Think of it this way.

A countryside without
Finlay Perkin in it

is bound to be a sunnier place.

He wasn't such a bad sort.

He was impossible.

We're well rid of him.

You would have preferred me
to fight him, wouldn't you?

Darling, what about Australia?

What about Australia?

Well, it's a big, new country.

It must have big, new
opportunities there.

We should take
advantage of them.

We could.

Land would be cheap,
don't you think?

Let's go there.

Now, this instant?

No.

But can't we talk about it?

Yes. We'll talk.
I'll be in soon.

I have to go and see
John for a moment.

Well, go on. Run along.

There's a good girl.

It is exciting though, isn't it?
Australia?

Most exciting.

I don't know, Jim.

The whole spread just
smells sweeter to me

with that little
pipsqueak off it.

Of course, he did have a
couple of fair ideas.

Yeah, like what?

Like cutting the ranch down

to a workable size for openers.

And he told me we should

sell everything north
of the Colorado border

and east of Line Camp 2.

Do you concur on that, John?

Oh, howdy, boss.

John?

Yes, sir, I do.

Why?

You can't patrol five million
acres the way you should.

You lose more cattle
to wolves and rustlers

than you can replace.

Anything else?

Well, I'd switch to Herefords, Mr.
Seccombe.

Longhorns are too stringy.

And I'd plant an extra
1,000 acres to hay.

That's because you're
a cattleman, John.

And you know what you're about.

I'd let the longhorns run
the full five million acres

till I lost everything.

Mr. Seccombe, that ain't true.

That's almost why we lost
everything this winter, isn't it?

No, the fact is that loving
the land isn't enough.

I run a ranch, but
I'm not a rancher.

You're the Venneford.
Not me. Not Perkin.

Certainly not the
British investors.

But I did do my best. I
want you to know that.

You began the Venneford, Mr.
Seccombe.

It was your... I
thought of it, John.

I thought of it. You began it.

You and Jim and the
rest of those men

that drove the
longhorns up here.

You began it and you saved it,

and the snow came.

I watched you both
battling that blizzard.

You took command. You did the
things that cattlemen ought to do.

I thought to myself,
why can't I do that?

Why, what's the matter with me?

I wanted to take
hold like you did.

I wanted to work like you did.

I wanted to fight like you did.

But I couldn't.

I did nothing.

Well, some people are created

to think up ideas

and other people are born to
carry 'em out, that's all.

Maybe you're right.

Anyway, I've decided
it's time for a change.

I've resigned as General Manager

and I recommended
to Finlay Perkin

that you replace me, John.
He agreed.

If you think I can
handle it, yes.

You've handled it
for years, John.

You can choose your own foreman.

Well, I won't have very
far to look for him then.

Me?

Good.

Excellent choice.

Look, from now on you're gonna
have to deal directly with...

With Mr. Perkin.

Why don't you write
him your suggestions?

I know he'll accept them.

Yes, sir. I will.

Good. Well, I'm glad
that's settled.

I wanted to make sure the
ranch was in safe hands.

Before what? Are you leaving, Mr.
Seccombe?

I think it's time.

A man needs new
challenges, right?

New horizons, new opportunities.

Anyway, I can't get
used to Centennial

without old Levi.

Did I ever tell you how I
met him on the way west?

He was with his first wife Elly.

She was the soul of
the West, that girl.

They were on their own.
Two children, really,

coming across a...

No matter.

That was another world.

Well, where you figurin' on
heading then, Mr. Seccombe?

Charlotte's talking
about Australia.

That's a long way.

Long way, yeah.

Good luck to you both.

I think I'll just go and see
how the new grass is doing.

That?

It appears to be.

Disgraceful old tub, isn't she?

You going to the ports?

Oregon.

Well met. I'm for Oregon, too.
Seccombe. Oliver Seccombe.

Boston, London, Oxford.

Levi Zendt. Pennsylvania.

Delighted, old boy. Delighted.
And this is...

My wife. How do you do, Mrs.
Zendt?

Oh, it's Elly, Mr. Seccombe.

Elly? Enchanted.

I'll go find the Captain.

His name is Frake, but
you'll not find him aboard.

He'll be in the
tavern down the way.

Heavy drinkers, these
riverboat men,

but they can navigate narrows
you and I couldn't even swim.

Elly, let me give you a hand.

When Levi's got the wagon
aboard, we can all go and see

the sights of the
town together, hmm?

Well, Levi,

perhaps we weren't so
different after all.

We could never leave this place.

It's a lovely land.

Jim. Skimmerhorn. Howdy, ma'am.

Don't go down there.

Don't go down there, Mrs.
Seccombe.

Mrs. Seccombe,
please, don't go...

Okay. Go ahead.

Go ahead.

These are real fine,
fine sugar beets.

It's a fine, fine harvest, Mr.
Takemoto.

Thanks mostly to you
and your family.

Oh, no. Oh, yeah, yeah.

You're the hardest workers
I've ever seen. The best.

To show you my appreciation,

there'll be another bonus.

Brumbaugh-san. Bonus nice,

but we want...

You want your own farm.

Well, you're a fine farmer, Mr.
Takemoto,

but land's pretty hard
to come by in Colorado.

Oh, Stretzel...

Stretzel's farm is
up for sale, yes,

but it's a lot of money.

$3,500.

Now, you got $3,500?

Have some. You give rest.

I give rest?

You want me to finance you,

so you can leave
me in the lurch.

Never.

You hear me? Never.

Never.

You're ungrateful.

Whoa. Whoa.

What do you want?

Oh, me? Nothing.

Who's ungrateful?

They're ungrateful.

Why? They quit.

Workers all the same.
Germans, Indians, Russians.

You take 'em in, you
treat 'em like family,

you give 'em good wages, and
as soon as you turn your back,

they're off buyin'
their own farm.

Well, it's not gonna
happen again, you hear me?

I'm through financing every
field hand in Colorado!

Anyways, how's everything
at the Venneford?

Not bad. Got a letter from Mrs.
Seccombe.

She still in London?

Still there, still locking
horns with old Finlay.

You know, though, I think she's
getting a little homesick.

She's taking an interest
in the ranch again.

She made Finlay buy us a bull.

A bull?

A champion Hereford.

As a matter of fact, I'm on my
way to collect him right now.

Is there anything I can
pick up for you in town?

No, I gotta go in myself.

I got to meet the new minister.

Oh, yeah? What ever
happened to the old one?

He cleared out two months ago.

Sickness in the
family or something.

Look at them. I'll go in with you.
I'll get my coat.

Never.

Never.

Brumbaugh-san.
What mean "lurch"?

Lurch? That's what
you're leaving me in.

You're supposed to
do my spring sowing.

How am I supposed to
block my beets. Huh?

Brumbaugh-san, no, you not...

Takeshi!

We block the beets,
Brumbaugh-san.

You block your own beets.

Daytime we work here,
nighttime our place.

What, you do both?

Both.

Brumbaugh-san, we not
leave you in lurch.

Brumbaugh-san, you family.

Well.

Over here on the pad, Mr. Lloyd.

You Mervin Wendell's boy?

Yes, sir.

What's your name?

Philip.

You come down to see
your dad do his job?

Yes, sir.

Well, he's a real hard worker.

Job don't pay much.
Only $4 a week.

Hardly enough to
keep a bird alive.

You look like you're
eating all right, though.

Got some new clothes.

Yeah, well, I think
someone gave 'em to us.

Good talking to you, Phil.

Here you are, Mr. Lloyd.

My Lord! Look at him.

He looks like a king, don't he?

He is a king. That's his name.
King Bristol.

Not bad.

Might even tempt a man to
give up herding sheep,

if he owned an animal like that.

Calendar.

Hello, Jim. Mr. Brumbaugh.

Where in blazes you
been keeping yourself?

We don't see you
around town, anymore.

Well, I wasn't sure that
you righteous ranchers

allowed us sheepmen
here in town.

We make exceptions now and then.

Jim, I want you
to meet somebody.

This is my son Jake.

Jake, this is Jimmy Lloyd.

You heard me talk about Jimmy
Lloyd and Mr. Brumbaugh.

Mr. Lloyd. Hi, Jake.

Mr. Brumbaugh.

Jake's mother passed on,
so he came to work with me

on the Garrett's spread.

Well, I tell you what, Jake.

Minute that smell of sheep
gets too much for you,

you come on over
to the Venneford.

We'll give you a real job.

Okay, Mr. Lloyd.

Don't listen to him, Jake.

Say, Jim, I was...

I was sorry to hear about Mr.
Seccombe.

Yeah, right, that
was a bad time.

How's everything been with you?

Couple of nightriders.

Nothing we couldn't
handle, right, Jake?

Yes, sir.

Guess you heard the rumor.

What rumor?

Well, maybe you
haven't heard it.

They say they're still
looking for the three guys

that killed Frank and Orvid.

Is that a fact?

Dumire still looking for 'em,
too, or did he give that up?

I don't think Dumire
ever gives anything up.

No, I reckon not.

Want me to open up
for you, Sheriff?

I thought I told
you to go on home.

I'd rather be here.

Go on in there then.

You gonna learn how
to be a deputy.

First thing you gotta
learn is to obey orders

to your superior officer
of the law, see.

You gonna enforce the law,
then you gotta obey the law.

That means doing
the right thing.

I'll go home.

Well, wait a minute.
Hold it here, now.

I didn't say a deputy
couldn't be forgiven

for minor infractions.

Now,

how come you'd rather be here?

It's just a better
place, I guess.

Well, why? You got a good home.

Your parents love
you, don't they?

Yeah.

Love 'em back, don't you?

Well, sure.

Well, what do you mean?

They do things you
don't approve of?

Never mind that. I
know what you mean.

This place ain't any better.
It's just...

It's just different, I guess.

I used to feel that way.

My dad was a sheriff,
too, back in Ohio.

It was the last thing
I wanted to do.

You know what I wanted to
do when I was your age?

I wanted to run off
and join the circus.

I wanted to be with
them circus people.

They were really good.

I used to dream about that.

Taming lions and tigers,

flying through the
air on a trapeze...

Sheriff, telegram for you!

Julesburg says we got a
killer comin' in on the 3:17.

Kinderdine. Ain't he one
of the old Pettis gang?

Yeah, sure is.

Well, what's he
coming back here for?

You figure he's after somebody?

Figure he's after three somebodies, Mr.
Timkins.

I just don't know what took
him so long in getting here.

Hey, what's he gonna do?

Just stay back.

Mr. Kinderdine.

Afternoon.

Seems that you have
the advantage, sir.

Have we met?

Axel Dumire.

You meet every train, Mr.
Dumire?

There's a murder
warrant out on you.

What I want you to do
is reach over there

with your right hand,
take a hold of that gun

and hand it to me.

Or what?

Or I'm gonna shoot you in
the head, that's what.

Now here you are trying
to keep everybody

from getting excited
just seeing a gun.

And you expect me to believe

that you're willing to take the
chance of getting somebody shot.

I only hit what I shoot at.

Me, too.

Maybe we better find a compromise, Mr.
Dumire.

You gave up your
right to compromise

when you set foot in my town.

Maybe I'm just passin' through.

Maybe the Pettis boys paid
you to come down here

and do a couple killings.

Hand over that gun.

Sheriff Dumire, there's
a situation down here

that needs your attention.

Get your hands up.

Get them hands up high.

Turn around.

Pick up that other gun, Wendell.

Pick up the gun.

Move out. Come on, move.

Ladies and gentlemen, please!

There's no need to be alarmed.

Our peace officer has the
situation well in hand.

It was just a
little disturbance.

Everything's under control.

So there's no need
to stand around.

Philip, what are you doing here?

I was with the Sheriff.

Dad, that was a killer.

Yes, yes, I know that.

You saw how we handled
it though, didn't you?

No panic, no danger to anyone.

The Sheriff and
myself out there.

The crowd didn't even know what had
happened till it was already over.

Yeah, well, I gotta go...
Philip.

Don't trouble your
mother with tales now.

There's no need to blow
everything out of proportion.

Is it Charlotte?

Yes, my Lord.

Good evening, Uncle.

Well, I have outlived
your father...

But not by much.

You'll outlive him by a decade.

Well, not by another night.

Please, sit down.

You're a handsome
woman, Charlotte.

Are you an intelligent
one as well?

I can generally add
two and two, sir,

when it's required of me.

According to Perkin,

you can do a good
deal more than that.

Uncle, those charges that he
brought against my husband...

Yes, well, that was in the past.

Lord Venneford
proposes leaving you

his majority shares
in the American ranch

if you want them.

There will be
conditions, of course.

In the first place,

I would expect you to retain

this trusty, old Scotsman.

He'll make you want
to climb the walls,

but he'll increase

your income a thousand fold.

Uncle, I would retain the devil

if it would increase my income.

I told you she was a
canny businesswoman.

I believe now that
your father and I

made a mistake in requiring
you to return to England.

So the second condition is this,

that you return at once

to your Red Indians

and your woolly cowboys

and your uncivilized ways.

To Colorado.

To your home,

and I don't want any
argument about this.

Uncle.

Nor any tears.

That's not a condition
and you know it.

That's the loveliest
gift I've ever received.

Thank you.

Jim!

Welcome home, ma'am. Welcome
home, welcome home.

Oh, here, here!

Thank you very much.
They're beautiful.

John Skimmerhorn, he helped
me pick 'em for you.

He got throwed a
couple of days ago

and wasn't quite up to
the ride into town.

Is he badly hurt? Well,
he got a bum leg,

but I think it's his pride
that's hurting him mostly.

Luggage checks, please, madam?

Oh, yes.

Here. Thank you. Thank you.

Well, it's about time you
got back here, ma'am.

We've been missing you.
Oh, Sheriff,

wonderful to see you. Who's this?
The new deputy?

Yes, it's beginning
to look like it.

Now go back and see if the jail's
locked or something, will you?

Yes, sir. I'll see you later.

Walks just like you, Mr.
Dumire. He does?

Yeah, that's Philip Wendell.
That's Mervin's son.

The baggage handler. Actor.

Yeah, actor, singer. Talented man.
Talented family.

They'll make their mark someday.

Oh, they've done that
already, more than once.

Good to have you back, ma'am.

Jim, did the bull get here?

King Bristol. Oh, yes, ma'am,

and I want to tell you, he is a wonder!
Real voluntary.

You know, he just steps
right out there...

Well, you know what I mean.

Yes, Jim, I know what you mean.

Reverend Holly.

George.

Well, if this don't beat all.

You back permanent or
just passin' through?

Permanent, George. Permanent.

That's wonderful.

This place sure could
use a good pastor.

I haven't heard a real
sermon since you left.

A good pastor.

Well, I don't know about good.

But the fact is that the
church here feels that

it needs somebody

who really knows the people.

And I do know these people
as well as any man can.

Their strengths and their sins.

Well, I'll see you
in church, George.

Sure, Reverend. Sure will. Yes.

Maude!

Maude!

What is it?

Holly's back.

Did you hear what I said?

Well, what about it?

What about it? What's
he doing here?

Mervin, don't be such an ass.

The church still
needs a minister.

They've re-hired him.
That's all.

Yes, but... Mervin.

No man of the cloth is
ever going to admit

that he was caught in a
married woman's bedroom.

Then you feel there's
nothing to worry about?

Nothing.

Maude,

I don't know what
I'd do without you.

Neither do I, Mervin.

What do you think
you're lookin' at?

I was just wonderin'.

Wonderin' what?

How come your hat's so wide?

That's 'cause it's
a sheriff's hat.

I'm a sheriff, see.

I gotta keep the sun out of my eyes
so I can see what I'm shootin' at.

Reverend Holly.

Mr. Dumire, I want
a word with you.

I got your letter and...

Hello, Reverend.

Philip.

Deputy, you keep an eye on the
prisoner there, will you?

Yes, sir.

Step right this way, Mr. Holly.

Right, Sheriff.

To tell you the truth, I didn't
expect to see you in person.

I thought maybe you'd answer my
letter with another letter, you see.

I wasn't going to answer you
at all in the beginning.

And then I thought to myself,

"No, no, the Wendells have got to be
stopped. Somebody has to speak up."

I just don't know how
you figured it all out.

It didn't take much figurin'.

In the first place, they're living
like kings on $4 a week in tips.

And that with you leaving
all of a sudden...

That didn't make good sense.

I couldn't stay.

I know, but the point
is, why couldn't you?

You see, that's the crux of the matter.
We gotta make a formal charge.

No, no, Mr. Dumire, I
won't go into court.

Well, Reverend...

No, I can't.

Please, please understand.

Now, I thought that if I
came to you like this

and if I told you about
it in confidence,

well, that somehow you'd
be able to watch them.

To catch them.

I mean, if they ever tried
to do this thing again...

Now, isn't that enough?
Won't that serve?

Oh, it will help. It'll give
me one foot up in the stirrup.

But what I got to know is,
how did they work it?

Well,

the woman seemed to
like to be close to me.

Well, anyway, one night

Mr. Wendell said that
he was going to Denver.

By train.

And that Mrs. Wendell
would be alone.

She was.

I kissed her.

I took her into the bedroom and Mr.
Wendell burst in.

And how much did you
have to pay him?

I gave him my house.

But even that wasn't enough.

He kept asking for
money, for more money.

And in the end I left.

Judas Priest.

Where was the boy all this time?

I don't know. I didn't see him.

Of course, he must
have been in on it.

I mean, Philip
didn't go to Denver.

No, he didn't go to Denver.

Maybe that's why he's here now.

To keep an eye on you.

Philip's an actor,
too, you know.

That's right, he is.

He sure as hell is.

What a lovely day!
What a lovely country!

Jim, do we have to go
straight back to the house?

I mean, it's so
beautiful out here.

Oh, you're the boss, boss.
Where would you like to go?

The prettiest place of all.
Line Camp 4.

Ma'am, we sold that camp.

Of course, if you're not afraid
of a little trespassing.

What's the penalty?

Nothing much. Bucket of tar.
A few feathers.

I love feathers. Let's risk it.

Yes, ma'am.

Oops!

Jim, isn't this the most
beautiful place on earth?

It's always been
my favorite, too.

Ever since I first
came up from Texas.

Oliver told me you were only
15 years old on that drive.

And a half.

Ah.

Yeah, John Skimmerhorn brought me
up here and showed me this spot

and told me he wanted
me to file on it.

Well, I tell you, you
never saw anybody

more excited than this
little kid right then.

I mean, I couldn't imagine anything could
be better than ownin' a spread like this.

Then he explained that
I wouldn't own it.

I'd just file for a homestead

and turn it over to Mr.
Seccombe.

But I realized I could still
have a piece of this range

by helping somebody like Mr.
Seccombe look after it,

and that, that wasn't
all half bad neither.

You're happy you stayed?

Oh, yes, ma'am.

You've never been back home?

This is the only home a man
like me could ever want.

Do you know when I
first saw this camp?

1881.

Lot of changes since then.

In all of us.

Especially in you, I think.

Me?

You seemed so young.

You've grown a good deal, Jim.

I hope so.

And Mr. Perkin told me you'd
even gone back to school.

Well, Miss Keller in town,

she pointed me to some good
books I'd never known before.

Arthur Russel Wallace's
Natural Selection

and a lot of Mark Twain.

And Mr. Perkin says he counts on
you as much as on Mr. Skimmerhorn.

He's shown me some
of your ideas.

You have a very strong grasp of economics
and some very strong opinions.

Too strong, probably.

No, no. A foreman
ought to be firm.

I appreciate that.

I need that.

As the owner.

Yes, well, feathers were one thing,
but let's not forget the tar.

Shall we go back
before we are burned?

Yes, ma'am.

By the way, I'm
dining alone tonight.

Would you care to join me?

Yeah, I'd be much obliged.

Whoa. Howdy, Sheriff.

Hello, Mr. Garrett.

You know my son, don't you?

Sure. How are you, Beeley?

Sheriff.

I'm glad I ran
into you, Sheriff.

I was just coming for Mrs.
Wendell.

I want to invite you
to the hotel tonight.

It's my wife's birthday.

I thought I'd throw her a party.

Well, that would be nice.

I got to take a prisoner
over to Julesburg.

Excuse me a minute.

Where you been, boy?

I thought you drowned in there.

Who, me?

Where'd you go?

I was just in the reeds here.

Hey, Beeley. Mr. Garrett.

- Philip.
- Phil.

Pa, can I go in?

Without a suit?

Phil don't have a suit.

Well, hell, go on, go on.

Your ma will skin me, but go on.

You sure you can't make
it back in time, Sheriff?

You're gonna miss a
whale of a wingding.

The Wendells are going
to do Whispering Hope.

Is that a fact?

How about you, boy?
You going to perform?

For Mrs. Garrett's birthday.
Yes, sir.

Plan on going up to Denver afterwards?
You and your pa?

Denver, sir?

I don't think so.

Good. I'm glad to hear that.

Can I give you a lift
in to town, Sheriff?

You sure can. I appreciate that.

Take care now.

Let's go, Phil.

Wait a minute, Beeley.
This ain't a good spot.

What do you mean?

There are too many rocks, you know?
We better go on down a ways.

Okay.

Dumire is some
sheriff, isn't he?

I'd sure hate to have him after me.
Wouldn't you?

I sure would.

All right.

Now that we got you
all heated up,

we're gonna let you
simmer down a little.

My friends, will you
please give a warm welcome

to three of the most
accomplished musicians

to ever set foot in Centennial.

They're going to do a special
request: Whispering Hope.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the Wendells.

Soft as the voice of an angel

Breathing a lesson unheard

There you are, Mr. Sorenson.

If you'll just
sign the registry.

Thank you.

Sam, take Mr. Sorenson's
bags to Room 17, please.

I'll take that one. Thank you.

What's the celebration?

Birthday party. Upstairs
in the ballroom.

It's nice, pretty music.

That's the Wendells.

They are something to behold.

Thank you.

O how welcome thy voice

Making my heart

In its sorrow rejoice

Then when the night is upon us

Why should the heart sink away?

When the dark midnight is over

Watch for the breaking of day

Whispering hope

O how welcome thy voice

Making my heart

In its sorrow

Rejoice

Champagne, precious?

Yes, in a moment.
But not too soon.

Oh, I see.

Pa, I...

Yes, lad, later. Later.

But I spoke to Sheriff
Dumire and he...

Jim.

Ma'am, good evening.
I'm sorry I'm late.

We had a problem down at the barn.
Horse with the heaves.

I'm so sorry. I do hope
he'll be all right.

I think so.

Well, Jim, you look wonderful.
New suit?

New everything.

Must have tags
hanging all over me.

I don't see a one.

Dinner is served, ma'am.

Thank you, Wallace.

Shall we?

It's the first time I've
ever been in this room.

No. Really?

Well, I hope it
won't be the last.

Well, tell me all
about the ranch.

Are we making any money?

We'll make plenty this year.

Make a lot more if we get
the price of feed down.

As a matter of fact, I
got an idea about that.

You see, more and more farmers around
here are goin' in for sugar beets.

But they throw the tops away.

And it seems to me we might
buy 'em up for cheap forage.

The Herefords love 'em.

Jim, what a marvelous thought!

It's an old Indian trick.

You know, never let
anything go to waste.

Speaking of Indians, you used to be
involved with an Indian girl, didn't you?

Part Indian.

What was her name?

Clemma. Clemma Zendt.

Yes.

Whatever happened to Clemma?

Nobody knows.

And you don't care?

Well, I suppose I do in a way.

Is she the reason
you never married?

I guess she must be.

It's dumb, I know,

but I keep thinking
she'll turn up again.

Well, now, let me guess.

Doctor?

The black bag. No, I'm
just a businessman.

Here looking at some properties.

I see.

Go play with Beeley.

Maude, Maude.

Yes.

Excuse me, sir.

I'm terribly sorry. I've
just spoken to Higgins.

He insists I come
to Denver tonight.

Tonight?

Now, precious, there's nothing I can do.
You know that.

I've just got time
to catch the train.

Oh, no.

Please forgive me.

I'll see you tomorrow.
I promise you.

This is the end.

I mean it.

That's the last time that man
is going to run out on me.

Are you all right?

Would you take me home, please?

Of course.

Thank you.

I just feel so ashamed.

Surely not for crying.

It seems to me you're certainly
entitled to a few tears.

I mean, but I have no right to put
my burdens on your shoulders.

I think they're broad enough.

Yes, they certainly
seem to be...

Mr. Sorenson...

You're a beautiful woman, Maude.

You should never be left alone.

I'm not now.

Maude, I'm back.

I missed the train.

Maude...

Be still, man, for God's sake.
Nothing's happened.

Be still? What earthly right have
you got to tell me to be still?

You wait until my back is turned.
You creep into my house!

There's no judge or jury

who wouldn't honor
me for killing you!

Sir.

The old badger game.
I should have known.

I must be getting silly in my old age
not to see through an act like yours.

You're very good.

Now we'll see what your sheriff
has to say about this.

Mervin.

Now, sir, just one moment.

Put that down, you fool.
I've had enough.

He's breathing, isn't he?

No.

Oh, my God, we'll hang.

They won't hang us.

Nobody knows he's here.

We'll bury him.

What?

We'll put him in the well.

That's the first
place he'll look.

Phil.

Dad, I tried to tell
you at the party.

Sheriff Dumire knows what
you did to the minister.

So the minute he finds out you
were dancing with this man,

he's gonna be out here.

He's gonna be looking down that well and
he's gonna be digging up that cellar.

Philip, how did you know
about the minister?

I guessed.

I knew he didn't give us
this house for nothing.

Oh, dear God, what
are we gonna do?

What are we gonna do?

What have we done
to this poor boy?

Mervin, be quiet.

He won't collapse.

He's his mother's son.

Aren't you, dearest?

I guess I must be.

'Cause I know where
we can hide him.

Right here.

In the creek? It won't work.

Yes, it will. Now, come on.

They'll know he didn't drown.

Someone's bound to
remember he left with me.

Look, nobody will ever find him.

Here, help me get him in.

He's too heavy for you.

I can handle him in the water.

Things are lighter in water.

Philip?

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Philip, come.

Come.

Where did you hide him?

Cave.

Some beavers made it, I guess.

It was my secret hiding place.

Now, I guess...

Now, I guess it's got
to be ours, huh?

Mother, one thing.

We can never tell him,
no matter what we do.

The Sheriff?

No. Father.

Mervin? Maude, look.

Look. It was in his black bag.

It's a fortune. $5500.

Do you know what this means?
Do you know what this means?

It means we can go to Europe.
It means we can invest.

We can have a business.
We can have a theater.

No.

Maude. Not yet.

What are you talking about?

Sheriff Dumire.

He'd want to know where
we got the money from.

We're going to be very patient.

We're going to quit
the badger games.

We'll take on extra work.
All of us. Even Philip.

And then...

Yeah.

When the time comes,

we'll be able to
invest our savings.

Dumire again.

He's always the fly
in the ointment.

What if he finds the body?

He won't.

Why not?

Where did you hide it?

If you don't know,
you can't tell.

Listen to me, young man.

Mervin, shut up!

Go, make yourself useful.

Go wash the blood off the floor.

Well, well, well. Sheriff.

Morning, Hans.

You're up bright and
early this morning.

Is this some kind
of official visit?

Oh, no.

I just wanted to talk to
you about a couple things.

Someone told me you arrested
Charley Kinderdine.

Yeah.

Packed him off to Julesburg.

Beats me why a killer like that would
ever want to come to Centennial.

Ain't that a mystery?

Speaking of mysteries, I
got another one for you.

Manager of the hotel is
worried about a guest of his.

This fella checked in last night
and just plain disappeared.

Never slept in his bed.

Name of Sorenson.

Sorenson?

I talked to a man like that
over at the land office.

When?

Yesterday. Late afternoon.

He just got off the train.
Had his bags with him.

He was inquirin' about
buyin' some land.

I said I didn't have any,

that maybe Lucinda Zendt might.

I best have a talk with her.

She's not home, Sheriff.

She went to see her
son in Wyoming.

She won't be back
for another week.

All right, Hans.

You take care, Axel.

I can't meet all the trains.

What was that all about?
Who's Sorenson?

Some man who probably
ran away from his wife.

Well, I came to tell you I
heard from Nacho Gomez.

He's thinking about coming
back to the States.

Now, I could write to him again,

tell him to head on
up here if you want.

He'll be looking for work.

Maybe he could bring a
whole crew on up with him.

Maybe.

Tried everything else.
Maybe this would work.

What's the matter?

You ever hear of a man by
the name of Kinderdine?

Charley Kinderdine?

Killer from Kansas?

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, sure. Friend
of the Pettis boys.

Why?

What was he doing here?

I don't know.

Where is he now?

Julesburg.

Axel picked him up.

Then that's the end of it.

Is it?

Don't you think so?

Well, I think we better
keep our eyes open

and our guns handy.

Might be a time.

Meanwhile, I'd be obliged
if you'd write this Nacho

and tell him that there's plenty
of work for as many as he can get.

Serafina!

Serafina, where is your husband?

Don't run like that in
these mountains, Uncle.

You have a problem
with your heart.

No, no.

The only problems of
the heart are caused

by beautiful women like you.

Now, where is your husband?

The cantina.

Tranquilino.

Nacho.

Tranquilino, how would you like
to go to the United States?

Not today.

Oh, sure you do. What
are you talking...

There's nothing up there
we don't got down here.

You crazy?

There is opportunity.
There is wealth.

Really? Then how come you
left such a paradise?

I told you. I came to see
my family before I die.

I've seen them. Now
I want to go back.

Go ahead, Nacho, I
won't keep you.

Come on.

Do you know what this is?

No.

It's a new life.

It's from a friend of mine
from the state of Colorado.

They need farmers there.

Good pay, good food,
good places to live.

I've got good food, a
good place to live now.

You have nothing.

I tell you what you will
have is a revolution.

Hey.

Yes, I know.

They've killed all the
Indians up in those mines.

And now they're working
the mestizos to death.

How long do you think a
human being can stand that?

It's not my problem.

It will be your problem.

Now, cut your finger.

Now, you see if the
blood does not spread.

That is what revolution is.

Blood!

Nacho.

Come with me.

Don't let them kill you
like a fish in a barrel.

Please.

Please, Tranquilino.

Mr. Dumire?

What happened?

Nothing.

That's the trouble with
wearin' one of them badges.

Everybody expects a catastrophe
every time they see you.

How do you know I wasn't just
waiting to buy a box of cigars?

Were you?

Could use some.

I'm sorry the store was closed.

I've been in Wyoming
to see Martin.

How is he?

Oh, he's fine.

He's looking more like
his father every day.

Lucinda, I want to
ask you something.

I'm trying to trace down this man.
A stranger.

Come here about two weeks ago
and nobody's heard of him.

Name's Sorenson.
Remember seeing him?

Sorenson.

Oh, yes, he was here.

He wanted to buy some property.

Made a very tempting offer, too,

but I didn't want to sell.

How tempting was it?

Well, he was willing to
go as high as $5,500 cash

for some good river property.

Cash?

Yeah, he even had it with him.

In a black bag. He
even showed it to me.

That's a lot of money
to be showing around.

You bet it is.

I told him he should take
it straight to the bank.

But he said he could handle it.

You know, he's from Minnesota.
He may have just gone home.

Sent a wire to his wife.
She ain't heard from him.

Oh, dear.

Ms. Zendt, could you kinda
watch your customers for me

and see if anybody's spending more
money than usual and let me know?

Yes, I will.

But if Sorenson was
robbed or hurt,

would the people who did
it to him stay here?

They would if they're smart.

And I got a hunch
they're mighty smart.

Well, thank you for your time, ma'am.
Good day.

Do you want those cigars?

I'll come back for 'em.

I just got to talk to somebody.

Bob.

Back again, Mr. Dumire.

You ought to take a room here.
Save yourself some steps.

Listen, I just found
out Sorenson had

a little black leather bag
with him when he come to town.

Did he still have it
when he checked in?

Yeah, I think he might have.

Yes, he did.

A little one about so big.
Looked like a doctor's case.

What ever happened to it?

I'm blessed if I remember.

Let's see, did he give
it to the bellboy?

No, wait a minute.

He wouldn't let anybody
else touch that case.

Took it right on into
the ballroom with him.

In the ballroom?

Yes, Mrs. Garrett's birthday party.
You remember?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, the Wendells sang
for it, didn't they?

Oh, my. Yes, they did.
That was some affair.

Yeah, I am sure.

You don't happen to recall who
he left the party with, do you?

No.

No, that was a busy night.

Wendells sang all
evening, did they?

Yes, till about half past nine.

Mervin had to leave then.

Just him?

Yeah. Said he had to
take a trip to Denver.

Busy man.

A real worker.

We could use more
like him around here.

Yeah.

Ain't like him to leave
the missus alone, though.

Suppose she got home all right?

Well, I didn't see
her then, or later.

Of course, I was awful busy.

Why?

Oh, nothing. Nothing
to worry about, Bob.

I just wanted to make sure
Sorenson had that money with him

when he went in the ballroom.

Money?

It was in the bag.

Hey, Phil.

Hey, Ma, can I go?

Yeah, go ahead. I'll
be out in a minute.

Okay.

You wanna go swimming?

No, I can't.

I got a job. I'm gonna
go over there right now.

Where?

At the telegraph office. I'll
be delivering some wires.

Well, now, what's this?

What's this? Is this some
sort of a mystic powwow?

I mean, a sheepman talking to
a rancher in broad daylight,

in the middle of town.

Yeah, I told him he was taking his life
in his hands. But he's a stubborn cuss.

Well, maybe it's time I
got a little stubborn.

The world's changing. Centennial's
got to change right along with it.

Well, it ain't gonna be
easy on Centennial. Or you.

Yeah, well, I tell you
something, Garrett.

I just got my nose skinned.

I was talking to a
couple of the ranchers.

I told them maybe it was about
time we held out the olive branch.

And you know what they said?

They said, "To Garrett?

"Why, Garrett's got a
murderer working for him."

I mean, they're bound
and determined that

Amos Calendar killed
the Pettis boys.

I can't talk 'em out of that.

You know, that's kinda funny.

I keep hearing that
Amos had a little help.

Yeah? Yeah.

From a farmer and a rancher.

Let's wash the dust
out of our mouths.

Come on, Garrett,
I'll buy you a drink.

I've never turned a
free drink down yet.

Hey, you know who they
were talkin' about?

The rancher anyway. Jim Lloyd.

Oh, yeah.

I could never kill a man.
Could you, Phil?

Phil?

Could you ever kill a man?

Yeah, yeah.

If I had to.

I mean, Sheriff
Dumire, he has to.

He's the best man
I ever knew, too.

Thank you, Mr. Pierce.

Philip!

I'll see you.

What's wrong, Mom?

How is Mr. Dumire been
treating you lately?

Kinda funny.

Yeah, he's been asking
a lot of questions.

He seems to be asking a lot of
questions about us all over town.

The butcher just told me

Mr. Dumire was only
checking our credit.

But I think you better stop
seeing him for a while.

No.

No?

Because that would just make
him more suspicious about us.

Or about me anyway.

Yeah.

All right.

You play it any way you want to.

But you be careful.

You said his name was Sorenson?

Yeah, was a big, tall
fella about six foot.

Forty, maybe 45 years old.

As a matter of fact, I did
see a stranger at the party.

I thought he was a doctor.

Why?

Bag he carried. A
little black bag.

Never put it down. Not
even while he was dancing.

You recall who he
was dancing with?

I do, indeed.

It was Maude Wendell.

I remember thinking to myself

that that gentleman had
better watch his step.

Was I right?

Have they been trying
to blackmail him?

Might be a little worse than blackmail
this time around, Reverend.

Worse?

What could be worse?

Murder.

Murder?

See, he told everybody he
was out to buy some land.

He was walking around
with $5500 in cash money

in that little black bag of his.

Nobody seen him or the
bag since that party.

Couldn't he have
changed his mind

about buying here in Centennial?

Couldn't he have gone on to Wyoming?
Oregon?

Not too likely.

His wife got one card from him.

Said this was the
area he decided on.

Said he was staying in the Railway
Arms till he made his deal.

Poor man.

Poor, poor man.

Yeah.

Now, Mervin Wendell left
that party at 9:30.

Anybody see Sorenson leave?

No.

Maude?

I'm sorry, no. I kept as far away
from her as I could that night.

But surely if they did leave together,
somebody must have seen them.

In the lobby, on the street.

No, sir, nobody. Nope.
Not a soul.

They can't get away with a
thing like this, can they?

No, sir. Not in my town.

Them people killed that man,
Reverend, and I'm going to prove it.

I'm gonna prove it if it takes
me the rest of my life.

Oh, Jim.

Good afternoon, ma'am.

Isn't it ever going
to be Charlotte?

It seems to be a kind of
hard word for me to say.

Force yourself.

Charlotte.

There.

See how easy?

We haven't talked in a
long while, have we?

No, ma'am.

I don't suppose you'd care to
dine at the house again tonight.

No, ma'am.

Why not?

Because I'm gonna ask
you out tonight.

Oh?

If you're free.

Yes. Yes, I'm free.

More wine?

Please.

You'd think they'd gotten
used to us by dessert.

Does it bother you?

Well, to tell you the
truth, I don't know.

I guess I can see their point

as a ranch foreman having
supper with a European heiress.

I know how they feel.

And how does the foreman feel?

The foreman's enjoying himself.

So's the heiress.

They shouldn't give a
hoot about what happens

to the rest of the room.
Is that it?

Not a hoot.

Your check, sir. Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

You ready?

Want me to open her
up for you, Sheriff?

Past your bedtime, isn't it?

Some.

Hey, notice anything new?

Where did you get it?

Ain't it a dilly?
Just like yours.

Asked you where you got it.

Bought it.

Where'd you get the money?

Working.

Timkins must be paying
you pretty good.

Oh, he gave me an advance.

Got another question for you.

What's that?

Where were you the night that your dad
broke in on the minister and your ma?

What are you talking about?

I'm talkin' about badger games.

I'm talkin' about murder.

Murder?

The minister?

Nah, can't be. I just
saw him this afternoon.

You see Mr. Sorenson
this afternoon, too?

Who's Sorenson?

Quit it.

Now, I know what happened as sure as
I'm standin' here, and so do you.

She talked him into takin'
her home from the party,

and when your dad
broke in on 'em,

I don't know what
happened exactly.

Maybe a gun went off accidental.

But I know he's dead and I
know you know he's dead.

Where's that body hid?

What body?

Get outta here!

Go on, get out of here
and stay out of here.

I don't want to see your
lyin' face no more.