02x05 - The Evil That Men Do

[bunniefuu]

Hey, did you have
any trouble with that?

Yeah, until I found
the right balance.

Maybe you wouldn't mind
helping me with the rest
of the stuff.

I would, but I pulled
my shoulder, lifting
that heavy...

Well, you could be
brave and try.

I'll do my best.

Good morning, Miss Marlow.

Fine day, isn't it?

Indeed it is.

I was only this moment
remarking that the only thing

that could top
a day like this

would be the sight
of a beautiful woman.

And you've proven my point.

You always manage to tell
the type of lies that
a woman loves to hear.

It's nothing.

He's had a lot of practice.

How's the shop coming?

Oh, very well, thank you.

Please, if ever--

if ever you need
any assistance at all--

I'm available.

In a dress shop?

[ laughs politely ]

Friendly looking lot.

Why would they be here?

It's a labor g*ng.

Been out mending roads,
I guess.

Hey, look over there.

That's a lot of woman!

Makes a man's hands
sweat just thinking
about what he could...

[ dogs barking ]

[ horse neighs ]

It's all right!
All of you, sit down!

Back in your seats!
You heard me! Sit down!

Get around the other side.

VIRGINIAN: Mister, give it up.
You've run your string out.

Hold it!

You hit him again,
we'll haul a dead man
out of here!

Nothing wrong with that,
mister.

Be doing everybody
a good turn.

Get him out of here.

Move.

Move.

I said move.

What happens to him now?

Put him in the oven
for a couple of days.

That'll sweat a few pounds
of meanness out of him.

Will it change him any?

Mister, I've stood guard
over Matthew Cordell
for 11 years.

The only way he'd change
is to get worse.

Eleven years?!

He can't be any more
than 26 or 7 right now.

'Bout that.

You mean he's been in prison

since he was 15 years old?

Yeah, since about then.

And we got him
from the orphanage.

Much obliged to you
for your help.

That's all you got.

What do you say?

I could play these cards...

and draw five more...

and still not have
anything.

Chair open.
Anybody want it?

Come on. Want to
try your luck?

No, not tonight.

I'm gonna run into town.
You want to come in with me?

No. No, thanks.

All right. Something's been
eating you all day.

What's wrong?

That prisoner we captured
this morning.
Yeah?

What chance do you think
he had to get away?

None. He was a loser
from the start.

Still, he tried.
Everything against him,
and he wouldn't give up.

Pretty stupid thing to do,
wasn't it? He could have
got k*lled.

That didn't seem
to matter much to him.

When a man lives
like those prisoners do,

anything's gonna
seem better to him.

You won't change your mind
and come to town with me, huh?

You go ahead.
I'll see you in the morning.

All right.

How do you like him?I love him.

Got a mount
as soft as a soap bubble.

He's yours now.
Treat him right,
and he'll do the same for you.

If you need, Bess...

Anybody who touches this horse
except me is getting brained.

And the lady means it.

Judge, you're sure
you don't want me
to drive you to town?

I mean, you know,
I kind of--

I guess not. No.

Yeah.

'Morning, Judge.

I had space cleared
for that barbed wire
shipment.

When do you think
it'll get here?

I'll wire you the date
from Colterville.

Gonna be up there
very long?

Three, four days. Why?

I... I imagine you'll be
seeing Warden Harris

at the prison, won't you?

Yeah. What's on your mind?

That prisoner
I told you about,
Matthew Cordell--

I keep wondering
what a boy of 15

could have done to get
himself put behind bars
for 11 years.

I'll make it a point
to find out.

Thanks, Judge.

GUARD: Come on, move!

[ indistinct command ]

Well, I should be grateful.

You and your committee
got me almost everything
I asked for.

Patience, Fred,
we're starting something new.

First victory was
getting you appointed warden.

You've got to crawl
before you can walk.

But why? The territory
appropriates more money

to improve the breed of stock

than it does to rehabilitate
prison inmates.

Well, maybe they believe
everyone will benefit

from a better grade of beef
on the market.

The money they spend
on prisoners they figure
is a total loss.

A g*n, a whip, a cage

never made any man
any better than he was before.

At least you got
the go-ahead

for setting up
a parole board.

That's a step
in the right direction.

Yes, it's a step.
We've got so far to go!

When are you holding
the first parole hearing?

Soon as I can make a list
of the prisoners

I feel are entitled to one.

That isn't easy.

They show me only one face,

and that tells me
very little.

What does the face
of a prisoner named
Cordell tell you?

Cordell? Why?

You know, my foreman
helped recapture him
a few days ago.

Oh, yes. I got a report
on that incident.

Here's his record.

Tell you more about him
than I can.

as*ault, inciting a riot,
attempted escape.

Attacking a guard.

Another attempted escape.

Matthew Cordell was left
at the gate of an orphanage
when he was a day old.

He stayed there
till he was 15,
then he was sent here.

Are you saying he's never
been free of a state
institution

his entire life?

Probably never will be.

These charges keep
building up on his sentence.

The odds are 100-to-1
that he'll die in prison.

Without ever knowing
what it is to be free.

The only world he knows
is behind prison walls.

I release him,
it'd be like letting
a wild animal run loose.

Oh, how do we know that?

If he's lived
like a wild animal,

isn't it because
he's had to?

I mean, away from this place,
given a chance, maybe...

Maybe.

That's where it stops.

He has no one.
He's all alone.

And being the way he is,
who would take that chance
with him?

Would you?

Yes, you.

Would you take him
to your place,

be responsible for him?

Just a minute, Fred.
I've just inquired--

There's your answer, Judge.

It's easy to say
a lot of noble words
about the dignity of man,

but something else
to put them into practice.

All these years
I've studied Cordell.

Even with his record,

I've had the feeling that,
given the opportunity,

he might change...

if he had someone
to help him.

Then again, he might not.

We'll never know unless
we give him that chance.

You know, if we're wrong,
it means you're finished--

your career, your job,
your future.

Wouldn't do you
much good either.

He's in
the punishment yard now.

Do you want
to talk with him?

Yeah.

Let him out.

He's still got
another day in there.

Now.

Zeke.

Over here.

Let your friend
out of the oven.

I don't like it
any better than you do.

Why don't you do away
with it, Fred?

I've tried.

I intend to keep trying.

Do it.
You won't be alone.

Can we... take him
into your office?

Cordell,
come into my office.

How do you feel?

I'll make it.

Do you want to talk now,
or would you rather
rest a while?

I told you I'd make it.

This is Judge Garth,
Cordell.

He has some questions
to ask you.

I know something
about you from your record,

but I wanted to know
some more.

What did you do
at the orphanage
to get sent up here?

The Judge made a special
effort to see you, Cordell.

It might help if you
cooperated.

Just could he, or anyone,
do to help me, Warden?

He might help you
walk out of this place.

Don't play games with me.

I'm not playing games.

Why were you sent up here?

Tried to k*ll someone.

Who?

A boy.

In the orphanage.

Why?

He broke a toy soldier I had.

For that, you tried
to k*ll him?

You asked me.
I answered.

You have any idea who
your parents might be?

No.

But my mother
was clean and neat.

They told me
that she wrapped me
in fresh-washed blankets

when she left me
at the orphanage gate.

If you were on the outside,

what would you do
to make a living?

He works with the prison stock.

There isn't a man around here
who knows horses better
than he does.

You think you could
put that to use on a ranch?

Mister, I haven't earned
the right to think.

I only do what they tell me,
nothing else.

But I'll say anything,
do anything, be anything

if I can get out of here.

We'll be back in Shiloh
in a couple of hours.

Feel good to get home.

You know, Warden Harris
had to step on a few toes

to push your parole through.

Didn't even thank him
when we left.

Didn't thank him
for the 11 years, either.

Could you
hold up a minute?

Whoa.

Something to see,
isn't it?

Yeah.

Something to see.

No walls to close it out,
either.

No reason why you should
ever have to go back.

You're a reason.

Oh, for one year.

After that, you'll be
responsible only to yourself.

But anytime during that year,

if I sit down
when you say stand,

you can send me back
for the rest of my life.

Oh, I could, but...

if you act like
a normal human being,

shouldn't be any problems.

And how does a normal
human being act, Judge.

JUDGE GARTH: Steve!

Meet Matthew Cordell.
New man.

Hi, how are you?

Can always use
another hand around here.

Makes things
that much easier.

You want your luggage
in the house?

Yeah, please.

Hello, Judge.Well.

Glad to see you home.
This paperwork is really
getting me down.

Ha ha!
Does the same thing to me.

Well, I know you two
have met.

No need to introduce you.

One thing you might
like to know,

this man is mainly
responsible for you
being paroled.

Welcome to Shiloh.

He's done a lot of work
with stock.

You might be
able to use him in
the blacksmith's shop.

Sure.
That all right with you?

Yeah.
Anything you say.

That settles it.

You'll draw a wrangler's pay,
plus bed and meals.

Anything you want to know?

No.

Get you squared away
in the bunkhouse.

Cordell.

Any problems come up,
let me know.

Ooh!

Oh, I am sorry.

I guess I never seem
to watch where I'm going.

Betsy Garth,
Matthew Cordell.

He's come to work with us.

I'm very happy to meet you.

You want to show me
where to stay?

Hi, Daddy!

Well! Did you miss
the old man while he was gone?

Don't I always?

This time you had
a new horse to keep you busy.

You're better company.

Well, at least
I didn't come in second.

You know, we got ourselves
a new blacksmith today.

Matthew Cordell?
I just met him.
And?

And he's one of
the rudest young men
I've ever met in my life.

Well, you know,
they don't teach them manners
in prison, Betsy.

I understand that,
Daddy, but--

Good, 'cause he's gonna
need more than a job

and a place to sleep
from us.

Careful handling,
patience,

and, above all,
understanding.

Aww!

BELDEN:
Ease that one up there.

Whoo-ee!

STEVE: First one's all right,
but that second one,
I don't know about.

BELDEN:
Just sh**t, will ya?

Aah! Yep!Nope!

Well, now, let's see.
That makes, uh...

that's 20 cents you owe me.

20 cents?That's right.

Carry me to payday?

Don't try to leave town.
How about a little
double or nothing?

Double or nothing?
Not them stakes.

Find yourself
another pigeon.

You're a real gambler.
I can see that.

Hey, chick, chick, chick!

Game's open!
Anybody feel lucky?

Feel lucky?

Hey, uh,
how about you, Cordell?

That's an easy way
to pick up 10 cents.

[ curtly ]
No.

You're the real
friendly type, ain't you?

Man said no.

Well, look,
he's been here a week.

Now, he ain't said
five words to anybody.

Now, he's about run
his string out with me,

and I ain't the only one.

[ horseshoes clatter ]

Ever sh**t horseshoes,
partner?

Yep.

If it's a matter of money,
I could stake you till payday.

Why would you want
to lend me money?

Just something people
do for each other.

No special reason.

That'd be a favor,
wouldn't it?

In a way, I suppose
it would, yeah.

And favors
have to be paid back.

Less a man excepts,
less he has to worry about.

Whoa.

He stepped into
a chuckhole and went down.

What about you?

I'm all right,
but look at his leg.
It's all swollen.

It's not broken.

Then he'll be all right?

What is it?

It's a sand crack.

What is that?

He's got a split
in his hoof.

Can it be fixed?

It's hard to say.

Depends on whether we can
keep it from splitting
any further.

And if you can't?

It looks deep, Betsy.

I'm afraid it'll spread.

I'm sorry. You'd better go
on up to the house.

No.

You've been around horses
all your life, Betsy.

You've
seen this happen before.

You can't destroy him.

There must be another way.
There has to be.

There's a chance.

A slim one.

It's up to you.

Please, please let him try.

If you think you can,
go ahead.

Thank you.

I'll get one of the boys
to give you a hand.

I can manage alone.

I'm going to help you.I said I can handle it.

He belongs to me.
I have a right to be with him.

All right. Let's get him
over to the forge.

Get it muddied down?

Soft and soggy,
about six inches deep
all over.

Good. You keep it that way.

Cushion his hoof
while it mends.

What are you doing?

I have to bind the split,
get it closed tight.

I'll have to make
a bar shoe

to help pull it together.

Then, maybe in time,
it'll mend.

Just like a cut
on your toe would.

Is it painful for him?

Some.

The mud in the corral
is help.

Hand me that rasp,
will you?

You really didn't want
me to help, did you?

You're here.

Why are you so afraid
of making friends?

I never had any "friends."
I don't know what they are.

But I do know
if you stay by yourself,

you don't get
into any trouble.

And I intend to keep it
that way.

I let you help
'cause of what you said.

When?

About this horse
being yours,

and only yours.

I know what that means
to you.

I owned something once,
till it was thrown away.

What?

I was in the orphanage.

Lady came by looking for
a boy to adopt.

She didn't pick me,

but she gave me
a tin soldier.

It's the only thing
I ever owned,

till another boy
came along and broke it.

Well... did he know
how much that soldier
meant to you?

Why do you think he did it?

How long before
you can tell?

Soon.

Just keep it
plenty muddy in there.

[ sighs ]
I will.

Better go put my gear away.

No need. You--
you go on back to the house.

Matthew.

No matter how this turns out,

thank you.

You going with us?

To town?
Yeah.

I don't think so.

Anybody ask Cordell?

Yeah.
I asked him.

But he don't want to.
Not the friendly type,
I guess.

Some of the fellows
are going into town.
Why don't you join 'em?

No, thanks.

If it's a question of money,
I told you before--

And I told you,
I don't want any favors.

You won't
have to pay 'em back.

You're not in prison
now, Cordell.

You have any complaints
about my work?

No, but--
I've been living
according to the rules.

Haven't broken any, have I?

And my off time is mine
to do just as I please.

There's no law
that says otherwise.

No, there's no law.

Well, then, mister,
leave me alone,

'cause I'm still a prisoner
and we both know it.

I've got 51 weeks
left to serve.

Let me do them
just as I want to.
Just leave me alone.

Today's the day, huh?

Yep.

What do you think?

Well, the hoof's
grown together, all right.

Question is, will it
stay together?

Well, I hope so.
So does the Judge.

Huh?

He cornered me
in the bunkhouse yesterday,

asked me a lot of questions
about the horse and Cordell
and Betsy.

What are you getting at, Steve?

She's been spending
a lot of time with him.

Not so much she
didn't have time to plan
a big party tonight.

Party?

Yeah. Seems that one of
the hands is having
a birthday.

Hey, that--
that's my birthday.

I forgot all about it.

Sure you did.

Hey, that's great.

Uh... party.

Hey, just to show
I don't hold no grudge

for all the extra work
you laid on me,

you're invited.

Well, thanks, Steve.
I appreciate that.

That's all right.

Party.

Young lady!

You hardly touched
your breakfast!

That horse can wait
another 10 minutes!

I know he can,
Father, but I can't!

'Morning.'Morning.

Is he ready?Ready as he'll ever be.

Where's Matthew?

In the barn, I think.

I want him to be here.

Matthew! Matthew!

What?

I'm going to ride him now.

I've done all I can.
You don't need me.

But I'd still like
for you to watch.

VIRGINIAN: Ride him easy,
one turn around the yard.

See if he favors it any.
This is his first day
on hard ground.

All right. Come on.

Come on.

It's holding.

He's gonna be all right!

You hear?
He's gonna be all right!

Matthew!

I gotta get back to work.

Did I say something wrong?

Better brush him down.

Brush him down real good.

[ humming a happy tune ]

[ humming ]

[ knock on door ]

Come in.

Look.

Isn't it beautiful?

Well, yes, it is.

Cost me a fortune.
I'm going to owe you
my allowance for the next year.

Betsy...

I know, Daddy,
I guess I should have
asked you first,

but I was in town,
and there wasn't much time.

Miss Marlow spent
the entire morning
on alterations.

I thought you already had
a dress for the night.

Well, I did, but it's
all ribbons and bows,

and it's really juvenile,

and this one
is so much more...

well, you know.

I likeribbons and bows,

instead of "you know."

But I'm not going to spend
the whole evening dancing
with my father.

Betsy, sit down.

Daddy, I've got to finish--I want to have a talk.

You sound so serious.

I am.

Now, you and I have
always been honest
with each other.

We say what we think
because we love each other,

and that's as it should be.

Now, then...

[ clears throat ]

I, um...

To think, I was once
considered somewhat eloquent.

Daddy...

do you want me
to say it for you?

You think you could?

Two words--
Matthew Cordell.

All right,
Matthew Cordell.
Betsy, he's a man who--

Who's everything
you're going to say he is.

He's an ex-convict.
He's sullen.

He has a violent temper.

He's a man who doesn't
understand our ways,

and he doesn't
trust our motives,

because he's never had
any reason to trust
anyone before.

You know him pretty well.

I've thought about him
quite a lot in the past
few days,

and I know his good points
as well as his bad,

and, Daddy,
there's a lot of good in him.

When he wants to,
Matthew can be very kind
and warm and gentle.

And when he doesn't want to?

Then he needs something
more from us

than just a place to sleep
and a job.

Remember, Daddy?

Careful handling,
patience,

and above all,
understanding.

So, we've had our talk now,
and I'm glad,

but if you don't let me
finish getting dressed,

we're both
going to be late.

Daddy...

you're still
my best fellow.

All right, men,
dig deep.

Our share of Steve's
birthday present

comes to 50 cents each.

What'd we buy him?

We got him
the fanciest pair of boots.

The Judge picked 'em out
in town the other day.

I said, "Judge,
I don't think--"

And he said,
"Don't worry about it.
I'll make up the difference."

That difference has come
to a goodly amount.

That ain't your problem.
Just help sweeten the kitty.

All right, Mr. Cordell,

every man gives his share.

Now, look,
you drew wages yesterday.

Now, 50 cents
ain't gonna break you.

Get away from me.

Maybe you'd like
to help me get away from you.

Or are you all mouth?

You lean heavy, Belden,
but you're not worth going
back to prison for.

Hmm.

Get it all?

Yeah, all except his,
and he ain't about
to give any.

Boys, the folks from town
will be here any minute.

We ought to be up there
on the hill to welcome them.

Let's go.

Lot of pretty girls
up there are going to
need partners, Belden.

Yeah, and I'm just the guy
that can keep 'em all happy.

It's an open party.
Everyone's invited.

I'm content where I am.

Don't they have
a saying in prison

about a convict
doing hard time?

Yeah.

Doesn't it mean that a man
won't try to fit in

or adjust to the way
of prison life?

Something like that.

Seems to me you're doing
hard time right now.

Mister, all my life
has been done under hard time.

It doesn't trouble me.

Up until a couple
of weeks ago, it had
to be like that.

Still plays the same.

What are you going to do
when your parole is up,

and get out of here
and be on your own?

You intend to live
the rest of your life
shut in tight against everyone?

I'll work it out,
when I get to it.

Might be a lot tougher then.

I told you I'd worry
about that when it happens.

If I were you,
I'd worry about it now,

because if you don't,
you're gonna wind up
back where you came from,

and there's not gonna be
a second chance.

You figure
I owe you something,
don't you, mister?

You put a bug
in someone's ear
and you get me out of prison.

Now you figure I should
look down at the ground
every time you pass,

bow at the waist
every time you talk!

I don't owe you anything!
You or anyone!

You think what you want,
mister.

But know this--

there are people
on this ranch I care about.

Watch out
you don't hurt 'em.

[ live instrumental
music playing ]

Well, well, well.
Good evening, Miss Garth.

Good evening.

You look very pleasing
in that dress.

Thank you. Do you like it
better than blue jeans
and a flannel shirt?

Well, not better,
just different.

And it's a nice difference.

I have Miss Marlow
to thank for that.
She made it for me.

I'll have the other things
you wanted done
by next week, Betsy.

You have a beautiful
home, Judge.

I've often admired it
from a distance.

I'm glad you could
join us this evening.

Daddy, I think since this is
Miss Marlow's first time here

that she should have
the first dance with you.

Are you looking for
anyone in particular?

No. Just looking.

It looks like Steve's
enjoying himself.

Yeah.

Matthew isn't coming,
Betsy.

All the rest of you
are here.

Why'd he have to stay away?

He's a little different
than the rest of us. He...

What were you saying?

Hello.Hello.

Well, what do you think?
Do you like it?

It's all right.

Um... would you like
some punch?

If that's what they serve
at these things, all right.

It's over there.

Glad to see
you changed your mind.

Here it is.
Help yourself.

JUDGE GARTH:
Are you enjoying yourself?

I am now.

Matthew, how are you?

Fine.

Rita, this is
Matthew Cordell.

Rita Marlow.

I'm happy to meet you,
Mr. Cordell.

Hello.

Rita...

...may I have this dance?

Oh, of course.

Excuse us.

Well, Matthew.

This is my favorite
song to dance to.

Would you like to dance?

I've never had
much chance to learn.

If you wouldn't mind,
I'll show you.

It's not very hard.

No. No, thanks.

I'll-- I'll just sit
down here and watch.

That Miss Marlow,
does she belong
to anyone?

If you mean does she
have a boyfriend...

no.

[ music ends; applause ]

Hold it.
Folks! Folks!

Can I have your attention
for a minute, please?

Uh... I want to thank
everybody for coming
to my party this evening,

'cause I'm sure
having a good time.

Either that, or somebody
put something in the punch
I didn't know about.

[ laughter ]

And I want to thank
all the guys that I work with
for these fancy boots.

[ applause ]

You know, it's about one
or two times in a man's life

that he can wear
boots like this--

either to get buried in
or married in,

and I don't know
which is worse.

[ laughter ]

But most of all, I want
to thank Miss Betsy Garth

for having this party for me.

[ applause ]

I'd like to ask another
favor of you, Betsy,
if you don't mind.

Sing a song for us?

Would you mind?

I got no hold on you.
You do what you want.

[ whispers ]
"Some Folks Do."

[ musicians begin playing ]

♪ Some folks like to sigh

♪ Some folks do,
some folks do ♪

♪ Some folks can't get by

♪ But that's not
me nor you ♪

♪ Some folks like to fret

♪ Some folks do,
some folks do ♪

♪ Just like a fish
in a net ♪

♪ But that's not
me nor you ♪

♪ Long live the merry heart

♪ That laughs
by night and day ♪

♪ Like the Queen of Mirth

♪ No matter what
some folks say ♪

♪ Some folks never smile

♪ Some folks do,
some folks do ♪

♪ They think
it's out of style ♪

♪ But that's not me
nor you ♪

♪ Some folks have such fun

♪ Some folks do,
some folks do ♪

♪ Get along with everyone

♪ And that's for me and you

♪ Long live the merry heart

♪ That laughs
by night and day ♪

♪ Like the Queen of Mirth

♪ No matter what
some folks say ♪

[ music ends; applause ]

You haven't danced yet.

I'm not much on dancing.

I get the feeling
I'm not wanted.

No, it's not that.
I haven't had much chance
to learn, that's all.

Well, it's about time
you did.

All right, the next one's
gonna be a tag dance!

[ musicians begin playing ]

Well, why don't you
teach me how?

Well, you...
just do what they're doing.

Relax and...
and let the music
carry you along.

Hey, make room there.

Let the little lady
enjoy herself for a change.

Get away.

Wait a minute.
I'm cutting in.

She's finishing
this dance with me.
You go find someone else.

[ woman screams ]

Frank, over here,
quick.

Where can I take him?

Up in my room.
Conrad, Mike,
help the doctor.

You tried to k*ll that man.

I'm going to have to hold you
till I see if it's necessary
to send for the sheriff.

Take him to
the tack room for now.

And I want to see you
in my office in a few
minutes.

Drink?Thanks.

How's Belden?

Lucky, any way
you look at it.

Lucky nothing's broken.

Lucky it didn't happen
when they were alone.

Cordell would have
k*lled him.

I know that.

I may have made
a bad mistake
bringing him here.

You mean we
made a mistake.

Nah. It was
my decision then,

and it's my decision as to
what's going to happen now.

I wish it weren't.

BETSY: You're going
to send him back to prison.

Daddy, please, you can't.

He didn't mean
to do that tonight.

He meant it.

He just didn't understand
about cutting in,

and lost his temper.

If he had done it
in a ranch of anger,

I might find some excuse,

but he was cold
and deliberate.

But he doesn't know
any better yet.

He made a mistake,
and you can't send him
back to prison

because of one mistake.

It isn't only that, Betsy.It's me, isn't it?

That's why you don't
want him here.

You're using
what happened tonight as
an excuse to get rid of him

because you're afraid
that I like him too much

and that I'll start
liking him even more.

Isn't that the real reason
you don't want him here?

Daddy, please, you can't
send him back to prison

for the rest of his life
just because of that.
It isn't right!

You believe what she said?

You got plenty of reason
to send him back without that.

Well, it does weigh
in the scales against him.

She was right in that.

He's broken his parole.

I'd be derelict in my duty
if I overlooked it.

But I am prejudiced
against him

because he's seeing
too much of my daughter,
and I don't like it.

I don't mind admitting it
to you or anybody else.

And if I sent him back,
I'd never know why I did it--

because of duty or...

fear.

[ door opens ]

How's Belden?He'll be all right.

I didn't start that fight.Sure you did.

And you weren't trying
to just hurt him, either.
You wanted to k*ll him!

It's the only way
I know how to fight.

It's the wrong way.Not where I came from.

There, you got somebody down,
you made sure he stayed down.

If you didn't,
he'd be right there on you.

One day you'd turn your back,
and he'd be right there
on top of you.

I wasn't about
to let that happen.

I've told you before,
we live by different rules.

You just can't seem
to understand that,
can you?

I suppose I do.

Doesn't make
any difference, though.

I go back to prison.

You stay here.

But I want you
to understand something,
and remember it.

I'd written you off.

You were going back
as far as I was concerned.

But you get a second chance
because Judge Garth
wants it that way.

Make it good.

Lock the door when you leave.

Uh... Steve.

I, uh... I noticed that
your bridle needed some work.

So I, uh, fixed it.

Here.

Thank you.

Boy, I sure like these
few minutes of doing just...

...nothing

before riding herd on
a bunch of dumb cows.

They say nice things
about you.

[ laughs mockingly ]

Hi, Belden.

VIRGINIAN:
How you makin' it?

Hmm?How you makin' it?

Another couple of days,
I can go back on the payroll.

Well, you were
never off it.

Then I'll start to earn it.

Take it easy, Bel.

Yeah. He's been tryin'.

Saying I'm sorry
won't change things much.

So go ahead.
Work it out of your system.

What are you
talking about?

The other night,
I didn't give you
much of a chance to hit back.

I figure you have
the same right.

[ chuckles ]
No, uh... no point to it.

I'd just end up
back in bed from the effort.

I, uh, better
save my strength.

Got enough strength
to pitch a horseshoe?

Name the stakes.

Cordell and I
each got a quarter says
we can take you and Steve.

You want to partner up
with me?

Right.

You just threw
your money away, son!

[ indistinct happy chatter ]

All right.

Hey, wait. Maybe you'd
like to take a couple of
practice tosses first.

Might help, might help.

All right, just don't
let me hear any crying

when you go to give me
your two bits.

Ha ha!

Don't scare 'em off,
don't scare 'em off.

Oh, 'bout that quarter--

there's two things
we had a lot of in prison.

One was time,
the other was horseshoes.

Hello.

I came to see Betsy.

I tried the house,
but nobody was...

She's out for a ride.

She ought to
be back anytime,

if you'd care to wait
up to the house.

Is there any harm
if I wait right here?

No.

I just thought...

What?

Nothin'.

Matthew, I've been hearing
nice things about you,

about your work.

My work?

About you.

But I only hear.
I haven't seen you around.

I didn't think
you'd want to... after...

I understand
what happened that night,
more than anyone.

They don't have formal dances
at a girls' orphanage either.

You were at an orphanage?

Until I was 19.

The other night
at the party...

That was a long time ago.Not to me.

To me, it was
just like yesterday.

I'm not like that... really.

I... I mean, well,
I used to be.

Not because I wanted to be.
Because...

well, I thought that
I had to be.

That can't make any sense
to you at all.

You'd be surprised at
the great number of things
that happen to people

that shouldn't make
any sense at all...

but do.

I've never met anybody
quite like you before.

I felt the same way
about you.

[ knock on door ]

[ knock ]

Come in, Daddy.

That's a fine way
to treat your father.

Keeping off
to yourself up here.

Had the worst supper
of my entire life.

Sorry. I wasn't hungry.

What's the matter, honey?

Nothing.

You always used to be able
to talk to me.

I hope
nothing's changed that.

No.

Well.

Just remember,
if you do want to talk,

there's nobody in the world
I'd rather listen to.

I know that, Daddy.

Good night, honey.

[ crying ]
Oh, Daddy!

Oh, now.

Oh, now, now, now.

What is it? What?

I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to cry.

It's silly and stupid.Oh, no, it's none of that.

Just a good way for a woman
to make herself feel better
sometimes.

I'm not a woman.

What brought this on?

Matthew Cordell?
Did he do something
to hurt you?

It's nothing he did.

It's just that
he's a grown man,

and I guess it's only right
that he likes somebody
who's a grown woman.

I liked him so much
that I forgot I was
that silly girl Betsy Garth.

You're quite a wonderful
girl in my book.

You're prejudiced.

[ laughs ]
You're darn right I am.

I thought
I was in love with him.

I mean, I've never felt
this way about anybody
before.

I-I think you were.
And that's good.

Even if you were hurt,

loving and feeling deeply
about people.

And if you did love him,
I...

I think you picked a very
worthwhile young man.

I still like him.

I mean,
not the way I used to,

but I still like him.

So do I.

Now if you'll just
get on to bed

and try to get some sleep.

Good night, Daddy.

Hello, Cordell!
[ laughs ]

What's the matter?
You surprised to see me?

Huh?

I never figured you to walk
outside those walls.

Well, why not?

You made it, didn't you?

And you set
such a good example

that they figured to give
a few of us others
a crack at it.

Warden Harris, he signed
my papers earlier this week.

Parolees don't wear weapons.

Well, I...

I bend the rules
to fit me a bit easier.

You still stringy
on words, ain't you?

All right, I'll
lay it out for you.

I want money.

And the way I intend
to get it is quick and easy.

The amount is big.
It spends a long time.

What are you talking about?

There's a man
living up in that house.
He's got a lot of money.

Must keep some of it
in the safe.

You show me
where his room is,

and I'll slip in
and convince him
to open up that safe,

so as not to disturb
anyone else.

And we'll take care of him.

And we'll take off before
anyone else is the wiser.

There couldn't be anything
easier than that, could there?

Huh?

Could there?

[ horses whinnying ]

[ gasps ]

Get-- get away from here.

Go on. Go on.

Now, that's all the men
we can spare off their jobs.

That's enough.
Cordell doesn't know
the country.

He won't be hard to track.

We'll ride as soon as
the sheriff finishes
checking the body.

It must have
been self-defense.
It had to be.

Why did he hide
the body?

Because he thought
he had no chance,

that you
wouldn't believe him.

I'm beginning
to think he's right.

The men are all ready,
Judge.

Just waiting for the sheriff
to come up from the bunkhouse
and deputize them.

Daddy, you're
wrong in doing this,
tracking him down.

He k*lled a man!

And he could have
k*lled me and buried my body
along with the other,

and you would have
never found us.

And Matthew would still
be free, but he let me go!

I'm sorry, Betsy.

I've thought about it.

I knew it was no good.

Running never is.

I wouldn't know.
I've never had the room
to run before.

But you stuck
your neck out for me.

I couldn't let you
take the--

If I have to go back,
you might as well be
the man who sends me.

You realize you've just
given up your freedom,

if not your life.

Until I came here,
I only had an existence.

You gave me a life.
All of you did.

It's not your fault
I threw it away.

But I learned
a funny thing about freedom.

It takes a free man
to give it up.

You the fellow that k*lled
that man in the bunkhouse?

Yes.

Friend of yours?

We were in prison together.

When he was paroled,
he came here.

What'd he want?

He wanted money.

He was going to rob
the Judge.

I hit him.

Then I made a big mistake.

When he was down,
I played the game
by your rules.

I didn't make sure
he was finished.

I guess somebody forgot
to tell him about the rules.

He pulled a knife on me.

Man came at me
with a knife,
I'd have to k*ll him.

Self-defense, huh?

I've only got
your word for it.

I think his word's good.

He could have k*lled
my daughter and gotten away.

This parolee he k*lled...

Deke was no parolee, Judge.

He broke out
over a week ago.

k*lled a guard doing it--
with a knife.

Son, I figure you just
saved somebody else
a lot of trouble.

'Course, there's gonna
have to be a hearing.
You're gonna have to be there.

Whether you wait
in prison or here at Shiloh
is up to the judge.

You better get
that arm tended
and get back to work.

Good blacksmith's
hard to come by.

Uh...

'cept today's Saturday.

That's-- that's my day off.

I suppose you'll want
to go into town.

There's somebody
I'd like to see.

Well, I suggest
you clean up first.

Uh, Matthew.

I'll fix up your arm.
That is, if you want me to.

I'll appreciate it.