03x14 - The Perfect Gift

[bunniefuu]

If Matt knew we was here,
he'd skin us alive.

If we wait for him
to take care of it,
we'll wait forever.

[ dog barking ]

Too risky to use a g*n.
Every Arapaho in the village
would hear it

and come a running.Who said we'd use a g*n?

There's other ways.

Like I said,
there are other ways.
Fires don't leave b*llet holes.

Winona!

Winona!

Over here, quickly.

Somebody in there?

The girl Winona.

Thanks to you, my daughter
will live out her life.

You are a brave man.

No thanks needed.

I have seen you many times
but we have never met before.

Among my people
I'm known as Quinto.

Slim Sherman.

Winona will always be
grateful to you.

And our tribe will always
look upon you as one of us.

Why, she's the girl that
was on trial last week

for k*lling young Cady.

And you are the foreman
of the jury who freed her.

So it is twice now
that you have saved her life.

No, no, I didn't
save her life.

The evidence did.

Yeah, they proved her
innocent so,

well, that's why
we acquitted her.

Winona, this is the man
to whom you owe your life.

I will not forget,
my father.

How'd that fire start?

I do not know.

I was at the stream,

someone came at me
from behind.

They covered my face
and dragged me into the hut.

They struck me.

That is all I remember.

You didn't see anyone
or hear any voices?

Do we need to see or hear
to know who it was?

The Cadys?

Yeah, that'd be my guess too,
but which one?

How are you gonna
prove it?

You see, to bring charges
against anybody

you've got to have witnesses,
evidence.

It doesn't look like
we've got any.

But you heard them
in the courtroom,

you heard their threats
when she was allowed to go free.

Yeah, the whole town
heard it,

it still doesn't prove
anything.

But don't worry,
Quinto.

I'll report this
to the law

and have a talk to
Matt Cady myself.

And right now is
as good a time as any.

No, wait, my friend.

You cannot leave yet,
not without your property.

My property?

What is rightfully yours.

I've got everything
I came with.

Oh, no, no,
you are wrong.

She is now your property.
She belongs to you.

She belongs to me?

It is the law
of our tribe.

When a life is saved
from certain death,

then that life belongs forever
to the one who saved it.

Well, that's a mighty
interesting law, but...

my tribe's got
a law too, that--
one of them is that...

no human being
can own another.

Now, I appreciate the offer,
but I can't accept it.

Oh, you don't understand.

If she does not pay
her debt to you,

she will bring shame
and disgrace upon us all.

We will be forced
to send her away.

Now look, I don't know
anything about this law

or whatever you call it,
but I can't take her home
with me.

Don't you know what the people
in Laramie would think?

Don't you know
what everybody would think?

I'm sorry, Winona.

Well, you're the nicest gift
that's ever been offered to me

but I can't take you
home with me.

What shall I do,
my father?

You know
what you must do.

[ wind blowing ]

[ thunder rumbling ]

What are you doing
out here?

I'm following you.

Why?

Because it is my duty.

Where you go,
I must go.

That's loco weed talk.

Why don't you go back to
your people where you belong?

There is nowhere to go back.
I belong to you now.

Winona, you're a--
You're a fine girl.

I-I wish I could let you
follow me, but I can't.

People just
wouldn't understand.

Look, I'm gonna give you
an order

and I want you to obey it.
Will you?

Of course, I am yours
to do with as you wish.

Good. I'm ordering you to
not follow me one step further.

Understand?

I understand.

I'm glad we got that
settled.

Bye.

[ thunder rumbling ]

What, are you just gonna
sit there?

I only do
what you told me to.

[ thunder rumbling ]

Well, come on!

I wonder
what's keeping Slim.

It's not like him
to be late for supper.

Well, that thunderstorm
was coming down

pretty hard, Daisy.

He likely took cover.

Or he could have stopped
over in Laramie

and found himself a gal
and got married.

Well, that's what
you're always

wanting him to do,
isn't it?

And what's wrong with wanting
two healthy attractive young men

to find wives for themselves?

Well, there ain't nothing wrong
with wanting it.

Except there's only two things
in this world I'm afraid of,

that's a decent woman
and being left afoot.

[ laughs ]

MIKE: Hey, there's Slim!

And he does have a girl
with him!

I'll be doggone.

She looks like
one of the Arapahos.

She's a real pretty girl.

Yeah.

Well, what are you all
staring at?

Nothing.

Just a little walleyed
from staying inside so long.

Well, aren't you
going to introduce us?

Oh, yeah, sure.

Winona, this is Daisy Cooper
and Jess Harper,

Mike Williams.

She used to live
at the Arapaho village.

Used to?

Where does she live now?

Well, you-- you might say
she sort of lives here.

Here?

Oh, Slim,
how thoughtful of you.

But I don't really need any help
with the chores.

Well, that's not exactly
why she's here.

Why is she here?

Well, to tell you the truth,
it's kind of hard to explain.

You see, she was in trouble
and her father gave her to me.

She's mine now.

Slim Sherman, what sort of
hanky-panky have you been up to?

Hanky-panky?

Yes, hanky-panky.

I haven't been up to
anything of the kind, Daisy.

It's just she belongs to me.

I can't get rid of her.

You mean her father
just gave her to you,

like a box of candy?

You might say that.

And why did her father
give her to you?

Well, you see, there was
a fire in the village

and she was trapped in a hut
and I managed to pull her out.

You sure you
don't want a pencil

so you can write this
all down?

The Arapahos have a crazy law
that says

if you save somebody's life,
that life belongs to you.

It's...

it's their way of
saying thanks.

Their way of saying thanks?

Oh, you think
it's funny, don't you?

Saddest thing
I ever heard.

Well, I don't care
what you say.

A law like that
should be ignored

by anyone
with a grain of sense.

Well, I tried to ignore it,
Daisy,

but well, it didn't change
anything.

Why, you poor child,
you're still soaking wet

from that thunder shower.

I see you don't have
much else to wear.

Well, all right, Slim,

I suppose we can keep her
for a couple of days.

She can share my room.

The first chance I get,

I'm going to have
a talk with her father

and set things straight.

Well, that suits me
fine.

It wasn't my idea.

Come with me, I'll get you
some dry things.

Yes, sir.

And, you, shut up.

Your dinner's
on the stove.

It's gonna have to keep.

I'm gonna go over
and see Matt Cady.

Now?
What for?

That fire was
no accident, Jess.

And I think he knows it.

You want me to
go with you?

No, I expect
I can handle it myself.

See you later.

I've been
looking for you, Matt.

You're a hard man
to find.

I shouldn't be,
I've been sitting right here.

I saw a fire
at the Arapaho village today.

I came in to tell you
that the girl isn't dead.

Are you suggesting that
I started some kind of a fire?

You or your brothers.

Well, you're sh**ting up
the wrong tree, Slim.

I've been in town
since early this morning.

With Lon and Wayne?

That's about right.

About won't do it.

I said they were here,
you calling me a liar?

I'm not
calling you anything.

I came here
to warn you.

The girl is staying
at my place.

You try anything again,
you've got me to answer to.

Well, first you acquit her
of k*lling Randy,

now you're her protector.

I didn't know she meant
so much to you.

She doesn't,
but law and order does.

I'm sorry what happened
to your kid brother

but he shouldn't have
forced his attentions on her.

She had every right
to defend herself.

She was just
a no-account Indian.

If that's true then he
wouldn't have much reason

to attack her,
would he?

Don't try it again,
Matt.

Now that's what
I think of it.

I told you
after the trial we'd wait,

we'd do it my way.

We waited a whole week,
didn't we?

As long as she's dead,
I don't see

what you're getting
all riled up about.

Now the only thing
that's riling me

is how could Pa have sired
a couple of whelps like you.

Now, you didn't
k*ll her.

She's safe
at Slim Sherman's

and everybody
in Laramie can guess

who started the fire.

Well, guessing
ain't proving it.

Now, you listen to me
and you listen carefully.

I want you
to stay away from her,

both of you.

One Cady
is already dead

because he couldn't
keep his hands off

a dirty little
Indian girl.

I have no wish to lose
two more on her account.

But she k*lled
Randy, Matt.

Are you forgetting that?

I'm not forgetting it
for one minute.

I want her dead
as bad as you do

but I'll say how
and I'll say when

and we won't have to answer
to the law when we do it.

[ alarm ringing ]

Are you kidding?

You're getting up
an hour early?

I lost a lot of time
at that fire yesterday.

Got to get to that
fence mending.

Well, Daisy ain't
getting up this early.

You'll have to make
your breakfast yourself.

Well, I didn't figure
you were gonna do it.

Well, how did you know
I was up so early?

It is my duty
to know.

Where'd you learn
how to cook like this?

It does not
please you?

Sure
it pleases me.

Pleases me
very much.

Mike,
do you know

where Slim put
his soiled clothes?

Winona, you don't
need to do these.

It is my duty
to please him,

even in small way.

Is he a friend
of yours?

He is just a brave
from the village.

He no longer
matters.

You look beat,
partner.

Well, I am.

Fence mending
is a tough job.

I'd sure
go for a hot bath.

It is ready for you.

What is?

Your hot bath.

Come.

Hey,

I'll be dad-gummed.

I'm beginning to think
you made yourself

a pretty good deal.

You wouldn't care to have
me take the little lady

off your hands,
would you?

Ain't no chance.

She's mine,
all mine.

You are pleased?

That's the general idea.

You're a pretty good
mind reader.

Well, what are you
waiting for?

To give you your bath.

Did they teach you that
at the village, too?

They teach us to bathe
the small children.

And what is a man
but a small child grown up?

It cannot be
so very different.

Well,
it's different enough.

You wait outside.

But who will
scrub your back?

Just let me worry
about that.

That is an order?

That's an order.

You know, Slim,
every now and then

I get the feeling
you're gonna go

all through life
missing an awful lot.

Whoa.

It'll take me
about a half an hour

to get this list
filled.

Winona and I have
some shopping to do,

she needs
a new dress.

There we go.

Thank you.

Morning, Slim.

Howdy, Bert.

Got a load of
supplies here.

Fill that for me?

Reckon I can.

Well, if it ain't
the squaw man.

Hey,
how does it feel

to have a nice little
Red Stick all your own?

You know, I wondered
why you brought in

that not guilty verdict
so fast at the trail.

Was it then
you took a shine to her

or was it
even earlier?

You're walking
on eggs, Cady.

Don't dig
your heels in.

Of course
I can't blame her

for feeling
grateful to you.

After all
you've paid in advance

for what
you're getting.

All right,
let's step outside.

Sure, squaw man,
anything you say.

Lon.

That'll be
enough of that,

now break it up.

You all got
nothing better to do

than stand
around here,

watching
a street brawl?

Now clear out.

Slim,
are you all right?

Now get on your feet.

I guess
I ought to apologize

for my brothers.

I don't like street
brawls any more

than the rest of you.

There's usually
no excuse for them.

Well, I'm wondering
if there's any excuse

for what he's done.

Matt, I think
you better head on home.

Oh, no, not till I've had
my say first, Sheriff.

Lon and Wayne got reason
to hate Sherman

more than they should,
I think you all know why.

First he frees
the k*ller of our brother,

then he takes her
to live in his own house.

Or is that why you freed
in the first place, Sherman,

'cause you wanted her
for yourself?

You know
that's not true.

I only know
what I see.

I see her here
with you.

She claims she k*lled
Randy in self-defense.

Well, I don't see her
fighting off Sherman.

Maybe that doesn't
bother you people.

Maybe you don't mind
having a squaw man around town,

maybe you'd like
to take the Arapahos

into your
own homes.

Winona,
get in the wagon.

If I were you people,

I'd ask myself
a lot of questions.

Most of all, I'd ask who
was really the guilty one

at that trial.

My brother or her...

or him.

You feel better now,
Matt?

Come on.

First we drink,

so that lodge
has luck with favor

upon both of us.

Oh, no thank you,
Mr. Quinto.

No thanks.

Oh, it is custom.

If you do not drink
then I do wrong

in eyes of ancient chiefs
for bringing you in here.

Oh, well,
then just a sip.

It's delicious.

You must
give me the recipe.

The recipe?

What you put in it,
how you make it.

Oh, one part
ox blood...

one part
goat's milk,

just drop of
rattlesnake juice.

Now about my daughter,

she does not please man
who she belong to, huh?

Oh, it isn't that.

The people in town
don't understand.

They are thinking
the wrong thing

about your daughter
and Mr. Sherman.

That is very foolish
of them.Doesn't it bother you?

I'm not bothered by
evil thoughts of others.

It is them who are
bothered by them.

But she is your daughter,

her reputation is at stake.

Her reputation
is without blemish.

Exactly, and I want
to keep it that way.

That's why you must take
her back immediately.

Cannot do that.

She is no longer mine
to take.

Our laws forbid it.

Oh, that ridiculous law.

I don't see how you can
bear to live with it.

I have to live by laws
which are right for me.

If I do not,

I'm shamed
in eyes of my tribe.

But I don't live
by any such law

and I'm civilized.

I see you wear
wedding ring.

You have husband?

My husband died
some time ago.

Then why you still
wear ring?

Why?

Because I was
a married woman.

But your husband
is dead.

Well, that doesn't make
any difference.

The ring is a symbol
of our marriage.

If I took it off, people
wouldn't understand.

They would think
the wrong thing about me

and I wouldn't
like that.

You mean,
you would lose face.

You would be shamed
in eyes of your tribe.

I'm glad my people
are not civilized.

We do not have to worry
about wedding rings.

Now I have
work to do...

it's been
a very good meeting.

Look at those
little rascals,

know exactly
what to do.

Don't have to
teach them a thing.

It is very late.

You will go to
sleep now?

Not for a while yet.

I want to lock
them up real good.

There's been
a coyote around here

for the last
few days.

Then I will make you
some coffee.

Well, no.

Hey, why don't you
get some sleep?

You've been working
harder than I have.

My place is with you.

I will stay, too.

Don't you ever
get tired?

To work hard
is my duty

and my pleasure.

Are you happy here,
Winona?

To keep busy
is to be happy.

Don't you miss your
people in the village?

I do not have time
to miss them.

You're so different

and very beautiful.

'Course I suppose it's been
told to you before.

Among my people
we do not say these things,

we feel them.

See, that's the difference
between you and me.

If I feel them I--
I've got to say them.

I'm beginning to think
that I was lucky

having a chance
to save your life.

Lucky that you people
have that crazy law

that gave you
to me.

The law was not meant
to hurt anyone.

Well, Matt Cady was
right about one thing.

You can't stay
on here like this.

I no longer
please you?

Yes, you please me,

you please me
very much.

That's just
the trouble.

When a man and woman
please each other

and want to stay
together,

well, it should be done
legal and proper.

They should stand
in front of a preacher

and have him read to them
from the Good Book.

Do you like me,
Winona?

You are a good man,
strong yet gentle.

Well, that's not
what I ask.

I want to know
how you feel about me.

How do you wish me
to feel about you?

With your heart,
your love.

If that is your wish
then that is how I feel.

Love isn't something
you can order,

it's something
that's inside of you

whether you want it
to be there or not.

Is that what
you feel for me?

Yes, that is what
I feel.

You better
fix that coffee.

[ door shuts ]

You come with me!

Leave her alone, mister!

No!

You bring me disgrace.

I hate you for this. Go.

What did he want
with you?

It was nothing.

Didn't look
that way to me.

Please, you will
not tell Slim.

It would shame me
and I owe him everything.

I bet you do.
You owe him the truth.

What is the truth, Winona?

What is there between
you and that brave?

I was pledged to marry him.

We were in love.

But that is over now.

It was wrong of Jacero
to come here to ask me

to forget my duty.

You still in love with him?

No.

There is no room for love when
a debt of honor must be paid.

Well, morning.

Morning.

How are the pups?

Oh, they're fine.
Frisky as all get-out.

Oh, good.

Jess, I...

think I got it
all figured out.

What?

About Winona.

Oh, yeah?

She's a fine girl, Jess.

Got to thinking
about it last night.

She's the kind of girl that'd
make a good wife for anyone.

For you?

Maybe.

I don't care what anybody says.
She's staying on.

Got to have a chance to know
each other, learn to care.

Think that's something you
can just learn to do, Slim?

Well, how do you think
it happens, like that?

Look, partner,
this is something no man

can figure out for another.

I just get the feeling
that you like her

because everybody says
you're not supposed to.

Are you claiming I don't
know my own mind?

No, I'm claiming
you don't know hers.

Now what is that
supposed to mean?

Well, you don't know anything
about her, her past.

For all you know,
there might be another man.

Now you're talking
like Matt Cady.

She's not good enough
for me.

That ain't true,
I didn't say that.

I think Winona is a fine
girl, it's just that--

[ door shuts ]

Oh, forget it.

Hello, Matt, kind of early
for you to be here.

I'm looking
for my no good brothers, Tess.

Usual place.

You got nothing better
to do than to sit here?

All right, come on, get.
Come on.

What's the matter, Matt?
You getting old?

You come here,
you see plenty of Tess.

Not when I got work to do.

You never give us any time off.

You treat us like we were
a couple field hands

instead of your brothers.

Well, maybe I'm trying
to keep you out of trouble.

Come on,
let's get out of here.

What are you doing hanging
around here, Indian?

Better move off.

I wish to trade for whisky.

You know I'm not allowed to
sell liquor to you Arapahos.

Seems to me that your tribe is
in enough hot water as it is,

what with your woman
taking up with Slim Sherman.

That's a lie.
He means nothing to her.

Well, I wouldn't know about.

Now get out of here.

He has no right to her.

For once in your lives,

you boys were in the right
place at the right time.

Tess.

What are you talking about?

You want me, Matt?

Are we old enough friends
for you to do me a big favor?

Sure, Matt, anytime.

That Indian boy looks like
he could use some sympathy.

Sympathy?
What kind?

Liquid.
Lot's of it.

Hi.

I couldn't help hearing
you in the bar.

I don't blame you
for wanting that drink.

With troubles like yours,
I'd want to drink too.

Come on, try it, it'll make
you feel better.

[ coughs ]

Why should you care?

Maybe 'cause I know
how you feel.

There was a boy in love
with me once name of Johnny.

Another fellow tried
to take me away from him

but Johnny wouldn't let him.

He figured
if I was worth having,

I was worth fighting for,
even worth k*lling for.

He got me back all right.

I guess I'm talking too much.

Maybe you don't price
your girl that high.

Maybe you don't mind her
belonging to Slim Sherman.

Maybe even you're
scared of him.

Of course, I couldn't
blame you if you were.

[ coughs ]

Boys, there's nothing
like a fancy woman

and a bottle of whisky
to get quick results.

I told you we'd wait
for the right time

to take care of Sherman
and the girl.

The time is now.

We're gonna let that
Red Stick do it for us?

No, we'll let him
set it up for us.

Whatever happens
after that,

the town will know
who to blame.

And it won't be us.

Up you go, tiger.

We'll be back before dark,
Jess, I told Mrs. Wade

that I'd bring over the clothes
for the new baby today.

Oh, the diapers,
did you bring them, Mike?

Yup.

Okay, y'all get going.

That little baby
is gonna be an old man

by the time you get there.

Bye.

Winona, have you thought about
what I told you last night?

You still feel
the same way?

Are you sure
you're happy here?

Are you sure
this is what you want?

Yes.

I wish I was a lot more sure

about the way you
feel towards me.

Love is what you said,

something that must come
slowly from inside.

Everything's gonna work out.
I promise you that.

What do you want?

No!

[ grunting ]

Slim!

What's going on?

I don't know.

He just bursts in here
and draws his knife on me.

Who is he?

He's the man
she's in love with.

I tried to tell you before,
they were gonna get married.

You came along
and did what you did,

turned everything
inside out.

Yeah, I guess I did
a good job of it all right.

Well, you don't
seem too surprised.

I had a feeling she was
holding something back from me

but I guess I just didn't
want to know what it was.

Why didn't you tell me
that you loved him?

No, it is you I care for.

You care for me
but you love him.

I hate him.

He has shamed me in your eyes
and the eyes of all my people.

She's right.
I shouldn't have come.

Only a fool drinks
the white man's whisky.

Somebody give you a bottle?

The girl at the saloon.

The one they call Tess.

Matt Cady's girl.

It will not happen again.

I will leave the village.

I will go far away
and never come back.

Now wait a minute.

No point in you running away
if you love each other.

You go with him, Winona.

It's where you belong.

You still do not understand.

You saved her life.

Now she belongs
to you forever.

There is no way
to change that,

not without shame
and disgrace.

[ crying ]

What do you suppose
happened down there?

What's the difference?

Long as we finish
what that Indian started,

only thing that matters
is what people think

when they see that Sherman
and the girl are dead.

What about Harper?

We'll have to chance that.

It's all or none.

Now remember
what I told you.

Hold your fire till
they come running out.

That ought to bring them out.

Winona.

Slim, it's better
if we all keep busy.

Slim, the barn's on fire!

Trigger happy fools,
you couldn't wait?

They'd have been
sitting ducks.

You think that Indian did it?

No, but the Cadys probably
want us to think so.

If that fires spreads anymore,

it's liable to take
the house too.

We'll never get them here.

Slim, you keep them busy
from here.

I'm gonna make a run
for it out the back.

[ g*nsh*t ]

[ g*nshots ]

[ g*nshots ]

[ g*nshots ]

[ grunting ]

[ grunting ]

You stay down.

Jess!

[ gasps ]

[ grunting ]

No!

Stay where you are.

Jacero, are you all right?

He saved your life, Winona.

But Matt would have k*lled
you if he didn't jump him.

Now what do the laws of your
tribe say about that?

I do not know.

Well, I know.

From this moment on, you owe
your life to him, not to me.

It means you are
his property now.

That is an order?

That's an order.

You're a sweet girl,
Winona.

I shall miss you.

I shall miss you, too.

Good luck, Winona.

Thank you.

You are a good man.

But not the right man.

You know something,
Jess?

Yeah, I know, always
a bridesmaid, never a bride.

Yeah.

[ chuckles ]