02x27 - Bitter Glory

[bunniefuu]

Why don't you
finish up tomorrow?

You've been leaning
on that pencil

like you're trying
to stab a hole in the desk.

I'll be through
in a minute, sir.

Billy.

Sir.

I understand how you feel.

But you can't let it
sour you.

You're too good a soldier.

Anything you say, sir.

Well, you lock up.

Yes, sir.

Slim.

Ladies,
you better stay outside.

Huh!

Hey, what are you
doing down there?

Oh,
you're a barrel of laughs.

[ laughs ]

Say, Jess, you know, you took
a bath a couple of days ago.

I know that schoolmarm
invited you out for supper.

I understand she cooks
a pretty mean chicken,

but two baths in one week?

You're gonna be
looking like a prune.

Slim, just to get away
from your cooking,

I'd take two baths a day
and six on Sunday.

All right, I know
I'm not handy in the kitchen,

but you
and a school teacher.

Boy,
that's some combination.

Well, like I always say
it's never too late to learn.

Besides,
you're just jealous

'cause she asked me
instead of you.

Well, listen, by the way,

picked up this telegram
in town for you.

This is from Fort Laramie.

Read it for me, will you?

Hmm,
you sure smell sweet.

Just read it.

"Jess Harper, Sherman Ranch,
Laramie, Wyoming.

Dear Jess,
I must see you

regarding our mutual friend
Billy Jacobs.

Urgent you come at once.

Signed, Major Stanton."

Is that all it says?

Yeah.

Major Stanton is taking
a lot for granted, isn't he?

Well, he wouldn't ask me to come
unless it was mighty important.

Who's this Billy Jacobs?

He was my first sergeant
in the army.

Top-rate soldier.

He, Stanton and I were
in the same outfit.

We we're all
pretty close friends.

Well, then you'd be
wanting to go, huh?

No, it's not a matter
of want to go, Slim.

Billy Jacobs
pulled me out

of a lot of tough scrapes
in those days.

I owe him a lot.

Well, if he's a friend of yours,
Jess.

He is.

Well, you didn't think
I was gonna heat up

all this water without washing
my clothes, too, did you?

[ knocking on door ]

MAJOR STANTON:
Come in.

Jess.

Major.

Come in.

It's good to see you,
Jess.

Good to see you, sir.

Here, here.
Sit down.

Drink?

Yeah, I could use one.

Jess, I reckon you're wondering
why I didn't say what I wanted.

Well, the thought
crossed my mind.

Well, I couldn't.

Everything
that's said here

must be held
in the strictest confidence.

I'll need your word
on that.

You got it.

Two days ago, Billy Jacobs

ran off with $30,000
in payroll money.

What?

I thought that'd
set you back a little.

Major, are you sure you know
what you're saying?

Believe me,
I wish I was wrong, but I'm not.

I haven't reported it yet,
but the money is gone.

And Billy is gone with it.

Yeah,
but it doesn't make sense.

Billy has been
a professional soldier

for 15 years
and been proud of it.

Why would
he suddenly turn sour?

Three days before he left,

this came from
the w*r Department.

I'd recommended Billy
for a field commission,

'cause of the way he fought in
the Sioux uprising last spring.

And they
turned him down.

Yeah.

I found that
crumpled up on his desk

the morning after he left.

All right,
so he didn't get a commission.

Billy wouldn't let
something like that throw him.Ordinarily, no.

But it seems that while he was
down here fighting the Sioux,

there was a renegade band
rousting around the north,

and they k*lled his father.

That's rough.

Still I can't figure out why--

I know.

Still doesn't explain
why he'd throw away


to become a criminal.

That's why I sent you.

You want me to find Billy
and bring back the money

before you have to report,
is that it?

That's it.

Obviously I can't go
looking for him.

But he likes you, Jess.
He trusts you.

Maybe he'll listen.

Maybe he will,
maybe he won't.

How do I go
about finding him?

I think I'd start
with his wife.

His wife?

When did he get married?

Six months ago.

Took a small house
in the town.

Well, is she still here?She was the last time I looked.

Well, has she got any idea where
he could've gone with the money?

Jess, I-- I didn't mention
the money to her.

As far as she's concerned,
Billy is an unreported AWOL.

Well, you told me you.
Why not her?

Look, Jess,
by not reporting the theft,

it makes me the same
as an accomplice.

That's a pretty powerful
weapon against me.

You're afraid
to trust her, huh?

Jess, you remember
Billy is a man

who could take a lot of rough
knocks without complaining.

Since he got married
he's changed.

You think
she put him up to it?

Use the streak of bad luck
to turn him over?

I have no tangible evidence
against her.

Major, just what kind of
a woman did Billy marry?

Well, that's something

that you're gonna have
to decide for yourself.

I'll ride along with you.

Point the house
out to you.

[ music box playing ]

You're not gonna
take that with us, are you?

Yes, I am.

We're gonna be covering
some pretty rough trails.

It might get broken.

Then we just have to be
careful, that's all.

Anything you say, honey.

[ horse neighing ]

Cal, someone's coming.

Know him?
No.

But you better
not be seen here.

Having to explain you
as a cousin

is beginning to wear
a little thin.

[ c*ck g*n ]

Mrs. Jacobs?

Well, yes.

I'm Jess Harper.

I'm a friend
of your husband's.

Oh, well,
he's not here just now.

Yes, ma'am, I know.

That's what I want
to talk to you about.

Major Stanton was right.

You are pretty.

You a friend
of Major Stanton's?

No, ma'am.
I was just passing through.

I wanted to say
hello to Billy.
Oh.

The major doesn't
seem to know where he is.

Well, I don't know
where he is either.

You mean
Billy is absent without leave?

It's just a misunderstanding.
I'm sure it'll clear itself up.

If there's nothing else,
I have things to do.

It doesn't seem to figure,
Billy being AWOL.

You got any idea why he'd paint
himself in a corner like that?

Mr. Harper, it's a personal
matter between Billy and me.

Do his folks know about it?

Of course,
I wrote them a letter.

But he's not with them.

Billy's pa was
always so proud

about him being a soldier,
I mean.

Well, I'm sure that
if he goes there,

his father will talk to him.

I'm sure he will.

When Billy comes back,
I'll tell him you called.

Thank you, ma'am.

Sorry, I barged in
on you like that.

Nice meeting you.

Good day.

Did you hear?

Yeah.

Don't it seem
a little odd to you

this Jess Harper
just happened to be

passing through
right about now?

Yeah, I was wondering
about that myself,

asking those questions.That's all right.

But Major Stanton still hasn't
said one word about that money.

He probably doesn't know
the money is gone yet.

And he won't till
the paymaster checks the safe.

I guess you're right.

But suppose he does know.

Suppose he sent
that Jess Harper here

to come snooping around
and catch me off my guard.

Well, if that's the case,
he might have done just that.

You told him you wrote a letter
to Billy's father.

Now, dead man don't read.

I'm just trying to get him
from going up there.

There's a lot of loose ends now.
I don't like it.

Neither do I.

Even so, I think

maybe I'd better not leave
here for a while yet.

We were supposed to meet Billy
up at the cabin in three days.

Suppose this fellow Harper
is working for Stanton.

Well, you follow him,

and if he heads
towards Billy's ranch,

well,
do what you have to.

All right.
What about you?

Well, I'll stay here
a while yet.

Play the loyal wife
for the army's benefit.

Then you ride north
to the cabin

and wait for Billy
to arrive with the money.

You sure you can
make it up there alone?

I have to.

And, Cal,
by the time I get there,

make sure
Billy is out of the way.

Well?

I don't like it, Major.

She's too young
and she's too pretty.

She lied about
Billy's father being dead.

Maybe to keep me
from going out there.

You don't think he went
up to his mother's place?

Well, he's got $30,000.

She's alone except
for his younger brother.

Well,
it's up to you now, Jess.

In a week, it's payday.

If that money isn't back,
I'll have to put in a report.

I'll do my best, Major.

I know you will.
Good luck.

Thank you, sir.

[ groans ]

What's the trouble, mister?

Somebody bushwhacked me.
I could use some help.

Sure.

You better get his horse.

See who done it?

I got a look at his horse,
but...

[ groans ]

Oh, I'm sorry.

b*llet went clean through.
You sure are lucky.

I'd be a lot luckier
if he'd had missed me.

Can I help?

Well, I could do with some
clean cloth to bind this thing.

You can ride with us.
We're going to Danville.

Much obliged.
I got a score to settle.

You spend much time
at Fort Laramie?

I start my run from there.
Why?

Did you ever see anything
of a dude type fella?

Tall, kind of well-dressed,
rides a paint horse.

Well, I don't know
him personally,

but there's a young fella there
that fits the description.

Gambler maybe?

You know what his name is?

Mason. I've seen him with
Sarge Jacobs and his new wife.

I heard he's a cousin
or something.

It's beginning
to make sense.

I got to get a message to
a friend of mine, Grace Jacobs.

She has a small ranch
in Danville.

I'll be glad
to deliver it for you.

Thanks.

You got a pencil and paper
I could borrow, mister?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

There you are.

I don't think you should
travel with that shoulder.

Neither do I.

But I got no choice.

Are you sure
you're all right?

I'll manage.

Where does that
upper fork lead?

Canadian border
about 60 mile.

Be sure that letter
gets delivered, huh?

You got my word on it.

I'm much obliged to you all.

I wanted to get him a stone,
but I haven't had the money.

We'll get him a stone,
Mom.

We'll put his name
and the dates

and how he was k*lled
by a bunch of renegades

while I was away
being a hero for the army.

Billy, 3 months ago you come
here and you cried over him.

Now suddenly you show up
and you seem all bitter inside.

If you're blaming yourself,
you got to stop it.

Maybe you're right.

Maybe those renegades
finished something

that started
a long time ago.

Yeah.

Poverty's what k*lled him.

Wishing and wanting
and never having.

Well, it ain't gonna
happen to you.

Go on up to the house,
I'll be in, in a minute.

You brother
will be glad to see you.

I'll put on some coffee.

Hello, boy.

It's been a long time.

Yeah.

Ma, I want you
to sell this place

and take a house in town
with Johnny.

Here's $5,000,
ought to care of things

with what you get
for the ranch.

Well, I know you're
probably wondering

where that money
come from, but don't.

Just take it.

I know
where it come from, Billy.

Your brother
got this from a stage driver,

when he went into town
for supplies.

It's from your friend
Jess Harper.

A mother thinks
she knows her own son.

When I read that,
I didn't believe it.

But then,
there it is, plain to see.

After all these years,
you turned into a thief.

The driver said Jess went after
the one who shot him.

He said Jess was
in pretty bad shape.

All right.
I did steal it.

But do you think I'm sorry?
No.

After all these years
of service,

after Pa having to fight
the Sioux alone.

I say we deserve it.
I say we earned it.

Oh, so now it's "we," is it?

Well,
you don't speak for me.

Maybe you think
you deserve it.

But I know better,
and I don't want any part of it.

Now look, Ma,
I've thought this all out.

You didn't think it out.

It was Ellie,
she talked you into it.

All right,
maybe she did.

You know what she said?

Take what you can get

and the devil
with everything else.

And you know what?
She's right.

Your friend Jess Harper was
nearly k*lled and she was right?

That's what you're saying?

If Jess had minded
his own business,

it wouldn't have happened.

But Jess believes
in you, Billy.

It might even
cost him his life.

Or don't that mean
anything to you?

Suppose you think this is all
a big surprise to me.

Well, I'll tell you something.
I expected something like this.

I expected it from the minute
I set eyes on Ellie.

Ma, don't say
anything bad about her.

Sat in your house
and watched her,

and I watched the way her
and that cousin Cal Mason

looked at each other
and I knew--

Stop it!You look at yourself, Billy.

You're over 40
and you're old before your age.

What would a young thing
like Ellie want with you?

Why would she look at you

unless she could
get something out of you?

Shut up!

Maybe I seem old
and ignorant.

But I can tell the truth
about another woman.

She's been playing you
like a fish.

Once she gets that money,
she'll get rid of you.

Maybe Cal's on his way
to do that already.

Was you going to meet them
up near the border?

That the plan, son?

Look, Ma,
I brought you this money

to make up for all the years
that I wasn't here to help,

to make up for Pa dying
useless and with nothing.

At least your pa died
with his honor, Billy.

His honor...

Now you pick up that money
and take it back,

or don't you ever walk
into this house again.

[ neighing ]

[ c*ck g*n ]

[ neighing ]

[ groans ]

Yeah, it's me.

Well, I suppose I should have
made sure you were dead.

Like they say,
haste makes waste.

Yeah.

Well, what you gonna do?

First, I'm gonna ask you
some questions.

Then you're gonna
give me some answers.

Well, don't count on it.

Mason,
I got a hole in my shoulder

and a big pain in my belly
from trailing you.

Unless you want to argue
with a b*llet,

you better
loosen up quick.

How do you know my name?

Let's say I took
a wild guess.

I knew you were
hiding in that room

when I talked to Ellie Jacobs.

I saw your horse out front.

You must know your way
around that house pretty good.

Well, you know
all the answers.

Suppose you tell me.

I figure I know
most of them.

I figure
she sent you after me.

And you came out here
to wait for Billy,

probably to bury him.

She coming out here, too?

Or you gonna take
the money back to her?

Look, Harper,
I came up here to hide.

I thought I'd k*lled you.

I'm just a hired hand
in all this.

You're a rotten liar!

You and Miss Jacobs
got the same look about you,

just like
a pair of rattlesnakes.

You might have fooled Billy,
but you ain't fooling me.

Well, why don't you take me
into Fort Laramie

and have me arrested.

You'd like to get me out
on that trail

with all that blood I'm losing,
wouldn't you?

No, I figure we can settle this
if we wait right here.

You might have
to wait a long time.

Well, if it stretches out
too long,

maybe I'll just put a b*llet
in you to liven things up.

Maybe, but you're wounded
and you're weak.

The smartest thing for you to do
is to find a doctor.

You stay around here,
sooner or later,

you'll fall asleep.

[ c*ck g*n ]

Get up.

Get up!

Turn around.

We'll see if you still cut
a fancy figure,

dressed up like
a Sunday pig.

You're gonna be sorry
you did this, Harper.

I'm sorry already.

k*lling you would have been
a lot easier.

Yeah, but you won't because
you're a do-gooder,

a do-gooder.

That's what got you
into all this.

Sooner or later,
you're gonna cave in.

Well, I can wait.

[ c*ck g*n ]

Hold it.

Billy!

It's me, Ellie.

Well, I figured you'd come by
if I waited here.

I don't understand.

I knew you'd have to be
riding alone on account

of Jess Harper.

How do you know about him?

He got word to my mom.

Told her everything.

But how?
I sent Cal after him.

He came asking questions
and I sent Cal.

Yeah, yeah.

Cal didn't finish the job.
He only wounded him.

Now Jess is on his trail.

There must be
something we can do.

Well, not at the moment.

We can wait here till morning
and then hope for the best.

You, uh...

got the money all right?

Yeah.

Every cent of it.

How much did you
give your mother?

None.

She wouldn't take any.

Well, what'd she say?

She said lots of things.

Most of them
you wouldn't want to hear.

About me?

Yeah.

About you...

and Cal.

We're paying
Cal to help us.

What could she possibly
say about him?

Ellie, she said
I was too old for you,

and that you were using me...

you and Cal.

Oh, Billy.

Why, she's just jealous.

Mothers get old and they say
terrible things,

but they don't
really mean them.

Now you got to
believe that.

Trust me.Oh, Ellie.

You're so beautiful.

I look at you and I--
I wonder.

There's nothing
to wonder about.

No.

Look, I'll get your gear.

We have to camp here
for the night.

Honey, what are we gonna do
when we get across the border?

I told you, I want a silk gown,
orchid pink.

You didn't tell me.

I guess I only meant to.

You know, when I was a girl,

we lived on a dirty
little farm in Texas.

Once a month
we went to town...

where in one of the
store windows

there was a dress...

and a beautiful
little music box.

I wanted them.

But my father said he needed
the money for seed.

Well, one day
I took that money...

and I went to town...

and I bought that dress
and the music box.

What'd you do with them,
honey?

I brought them home,
and that night I went outside

and I put the music box

on the chopping block
and I put on the dress.

Then I danced around
in the moonlight.

And when my father
found out what I'd done...

he came over to me
and he ripped that dress

right off me and he took
a axe to the music box.

But I grabbed it
and I ran away.

How far did you run?

I don't know.

But I still got
that music box.

And all my life I've hated
that dirty old man...

that mean,
dirty old man.

Hold it.

The cabin's on up the trail
there about a mile.

Jess Harper
is probably waiting there

with some others
to back him up.

No telling
what happened to Cal.

We can't turn around now.

No, but we can keep Jess

from getting his hands
on this money.

I can take these saddle bags
and bury them off the trail

and we can come back later,
after it's all settled.

Maybe it's best.

All right. You stay here
and keep watch.

[ groaning ]

[ groaning ]

[ panting ]

Get back on that bunk.

[ groans ]

Cal!

Sorry, Jess.

Help me get him on the bunk.

He can die just as easy
on the floor.

He ain't gonna die.

There's no need.

We'll tie him up
and take his horse

and go get the money
and make for the border.

By the time
he gets another mount,

our trails will be cold.

What do you mean
dig up the money?

Don't you have it?

Billy buried it on the trail.

We knew that Mr. Harper
was following you,

and we wanted
to play it safe.

You must be real proud
of yourself, Billy,

making a fool out
of Stanton and me.

Shut up.

Nobody asked you
to get involved.

You remember the time
you carried me 6 miles

out of Mescalero country
on your back?

You could have left me
there to die.

Nobody asked you
to get involved then.

Well, I'm asking you
to stay out of this.

And when you get back
to the fort,

you tell Stanton
to get himself off the hook.

And don't you
try to follow us.

You go across that border,
and there's no turning back.

The army will hunt you down
like an animal.

And if they don't k*ll you,
she will.

Or maybe your friend
will do it for her.

You're digging your grave
with your mouth.

Put that away.

Cal, do as he says.

Now look,
you go saddle your horse,

I'll tie him up.

I'll tie him.

I hope your friends
don't k*ll you, Billy.

I want to be around when the
army catches up with you.

Look, Jess,
there's a small settlement

about 12 miles
due east of here.

When we're safe at the border,
I'll send word

and have somebody come
and help you out of this.

Careful.

Don't get yourself involved.

Now look, Jess, I've done a heap
more living than you have.

You've got a long way
to go to catch up to me.

Maybe someday
you'll understand.

Just remember that things
aren't always what they seem.

Harper's horse
is around the back.

What's been
happening, Ellie?

How was it you two came in
here together?

How did you know
Harper was in there?

Never mind that now.

Just remember
that I still don't know

where Billy
hid that money.

So play this out till we get
our hands on it.

Right. But we can't leave him
in there alone.

He'll be all right.

I know how we can use him
later on.

[ horse neighing ]

Get on your horse.

All ready.

Let's go.

We got it.

Let's go.

Oh, so that's the way it is.

That's the way it is.

There's not much
I can say, is there?

Ellie, I wish I could hate you,
but I can't.

I guess, like they say,
a man makes his bed,

he's gotta lie in it.

Only in my case,
I guess he's gotta die in it.

Let's take a short walk.

Not here.

We'll take him
back to the cabin.

What about Harper?

We'll bury him.

The army will think
that he k*lled Billy

to get the money for himself.

Well, that makes sense.

Nice and neat.

Yeah, real good.

A beautiful woman who can
outthink a man every time.

It kind of spooks you,
doesn't it, Cal?

Mount up.

All right, move out, Billy.

All right. Hold on.

Get down.

[ groans ]

Ellie!

[ g*nsh*t ]

[ groans ]

[ groans ]

Don't blame yourself, Billy.

For all that money,
it was almost worth it.

[ groans ]

Jess,
open those saddle bags.

You see, honey,
I wasn't carrying any money.

The money
is on its way back

to the fort
with my brother Johnny.

Why, Billy? Why?

'Cause I had to know
the truth about us.

[ groans ]

What's the answer, Jess?

I don't know, Slim.

I guess on account
of her pa,

Ellie really couldn't care
for any man.

All she cared
for was money.

But the payroll got back
to the fort in time for payday.

Billy's back at his desk.

A little older
and maybe a little wiser.

Say, you know,
that meal wasn't half bad.

Yeah, I've been
taking lessons.

From who?

Schoolmarm.

Now wait a minute,
I saw her first.

Well, you stood her up.
What'd you expect?

Well, I sure didn't expect
you to run under me

the first time
I turn my back on you.

I'm not running under you.

There's no sense
in arguing about her anyway.

Oh, yeah?
Why not?

As she's marrying
that sweet-talking lawyer fella,

Charlie Webb,
come Sunday, a week.

I'll be dad-gummed.
[ chuckles ]

Well, that's all right,
hard rock.

You did the best you could.

Look at it this way:

I'm losing a wife,
but I'm gaining a cook.