03x17 - The Runaway

[bunniefuu]

There.

That's done.

Their spelling could certainly
stand some improvement.

Phew, I'm tired.

You know, I wish the beatle--

I mean, Miss Kingsley
would hurry up and come back.

Ever since you've been
substituting for her,

we're getting out
of this school later every day.

Yes, but somebody
had to take her place.

Wonder where Jess is.

Oh, he'll be here by the time

Bill finishes
his after school assignment.

I'll take whatever it is
you're hiding from me. Eh?

You heard me, Bill.
Come on, hand it over.

I ain't got nothing.

Give it to me!

I'll take that right now
or I promise you--

Promise me what?

What, ma'am, you--

you're gonna keep me
after school another hour?

Let me tell you something,
I am fed up with book learning.

Now if you don't mind,
teacher,

I got some friends
waiting for me.

I'll take that g*n.

Uh-uh.

Bill, what's the matter
with you?

Your uncle was kind enough
to take you in, feed you,

give you a chance to catch up
on your education.

And this is the way
you act?

Ma'am, I got all the education
I needed

coming across this country.

The only thing worth
learning's how to handle a g*n.

You don't believe that,
and neither do I.

No?

[ g*nshots ]

[ marshaling horses ]

[ g*nsh*t ]

[ glass shattering ]

[ g*nsh*t ]

You won't be getting that
out of no book.

They ain't easy to learn
neither.

That's true,
you do that very well.

What does it prove?

Well, it beats siphoning

a lot of black print marks off
of a page.

At least you can eat
with a g*n.

Not in here!

Mike!

Billy!

[ grunting ]

I've had just about enough
out of you, boy.

[ grunting ]

I'm telling you,

I've had enough of you
around here.

Let's go see your uncle.

Daisy, you and Mike
take the buckboard on home.

I'll borrow a horse
and meet you later.

Hey, Johnny.

Yeah, I see him.

Something wrong, mister?

Nothing I can't handle.

This happens to be
a friend of ours.

Is that right?

Trust us.

You got a beef
against this boy, you tell us.

We'll handle him.

You ain't gonna
handle nothing.

He's his uncle's problem.

Well, maybe Ezra Watkins
is too old

to understand
a high-spirited boy like this.

Get out of my way.

Now you better be careful.

You're talking
to a grown man.

Well, I'd never know it.

Now I won't be
telling you again.

[ grunting ]

No, Johnny,
now ain't the time.

Is this what
you're looking for, Jess?

Thanks, Mort.

He's been acting up
again, huh?

Well, I was taking him in
to see Ezra,

till these two dudes
tried to stop me.

Sheriff.

Now we've taken care
of this boy

halfway across the country.

We couldn't stand by
and watch him being bullied.

You men working here
in Laramie?

Well, we haven't found
anything suitable yet.

Then you better start
looking a little harder.

And if nothing suitable
shows up real soon,

you better think about
looking somewhere else.

What did you do this time?

Nothing.

Stand still.

What did you do?

Nothing, I told you.

Is nothing the only word
you know?

He was sh**ting this off
in the schoolhouse, Ezra.

Fool, boy!

Seek out night or day
to fire this colt of his.

That is, when he ain't hanging
around with saddle tramps.

Ezra, I don't think
Bill belongs in school.

Not for a while, anyway.

You tell me
where he does belong.

Well, it's not for me to say.

All I know is
he's making a shambles

out of the school house
and a wreck out of Miss Cooper.

Well, I can't keep him
around here.

Well, why not?
Must be something he can do.

Can't you-- can't you use
a stock boy or something?

You don't know half of
what's on all these shelves.

Well, how would he help?

Can't even read
the printing off of a package.

I can so.

Boy, you making a liar
out of me?

Go on.

Read it out.

J--

Jus--

[ men laughing ]

I don't think
this is the time or the place.

Why not?

High time somebody
rubbed his nose in it.

Ezra, I've got them sacks
of green waiting in the wagon.

Well?

You can hear, can't you?

Get a move on.

Well, there's nothing more
I can do.

It's between you two now.

Tell you one thing.

If I knew how to get rid
of that boy, I'd sure do it.

You're the only kin he's got,
aren't you?

Only one dumb
enough to claim him.

Then why don't you quit
hollering at him all the time

and try and make something
out of him?

You ever try to make a silk
purse out of a sow's ear?

I can hardly stand smelling
this warmed-over grub,

let alone eating it.

Yeah.

I don't like the way
things are going, Johnny.

This kid ain't turning out to be
as much a meal ticket

as we thought.

Maybe you'd like working
for a living better.

[ horse neighing ]

You're late, boy.

You're late,
and you're empty-handed.

Yeah, you promised
to bring us a side of bacon

and a plug of tobacco.

There wasn't no chance.

The way my uncle's been
following me around lately,

I couldn't have walked away
with a 10-penny nail.

Yeah, we ain't had
nothing to eat all day

except that
leftover mutton hash.

You know, the sheriff had

a pretty good idea
this afternoon.

What was that about, work?

What could we do, Billy?

It's harvest time.

Farmers are hiring.

You mean stomping
around in a field?

In the blazing hot sun
from morning till dark?

Couldn't take it, boy.
Tried it before.

Those hired hands, they die
off like fleas on a mangy dog.

But you don't mind me
bowing my back.

Oh, you seemed to have
forgotten something, boy.

It hasn't been 2 months
since we found you

under that cactus out there
in the badlands.

You wasn't even moving,
Billy.

That's right.

Them crows and vultures were
screaming and swooping down.

I'd give you up
for dead myself.

What color blue was he?

We even give you the food
and water out of our mouths.

Ever since then, why,
you've been turning on us.

What do you mean
turning on you?

I've only been keeping you two
in food and pocket money.

Now you got no call
to talk ornery like that, Billy.

So you had a spell
of tough luck.

Now we're having some.

All right, so why don't you
do something about it?

That might be an idea.

Tell me, Billy,

you remember that stage stop
where that Jess Harper works,

that Sherman Ranch?

What about it?

Well, it's only about


So?

So there's some
white-face cattle there.

Nice and fat
and grazing up on the hill.

Sure, and every one of them
has got some brands on them.

Tell me, Sam,

you remember that fella
we met off the Cheyenne road?

Yeah.

He said he'd give us
real folding money

for every head we brought in.

No questions asked.

Johnny, the sheriff
would lock us in jail

and throw away the key.

Well, if they catch us,
which they won't.

I ain't planning
on being greedy.

Just maybe one head or two.

Probably won't even miss 'em.

What if they do?

Let them try
and prove something.

[ cows mooing ]

See, what did I tell ya?

You ever seen anything
any simpler?

[ cows mooing ]

[ barking ]

Shh. You're gonna get us
into all kinds of trouble.

[ barking ]

Shh.
You promised you'd be quiet.

[ barking ]

Buttons!

Shh.

[ barking ]

Shh.

[ barking ]

Shh.

[ barking ]

Mike, what did I tell you

about keeping that dog
out in the barn?

[ barking ]

Slim, look.

Hey, Jess, roll out!

Hey, hold it right there!

Whoa!

Yah!

Whoa!

[ horse neighing ]

Jess, those men
Bill was with,

did he tell the sheriff
who they were?

No, but I got
a pretty good idea.

And if I'm right,
our young cow thief

won't identify them.

I wonder
what's keeping Mort.

Oh, he's probably
over at the courthouse

getting the papers.

Jess,
won't you change your mind

about signing the complaint?

You just won't give up,
will you, Daisy?

How can I?

When I know that boy
isn't as bad as you think he is.

It's not what I think he is.

The fact is
he was caught red-handed

trying to rustle stock.

It's time somebody sat on him.

Suppose if someone had
sat on you when you were--

I was waiting for you
to say that.

Well, I'll tell you,
if they had,

I'd have straightened out
a lot sooner.

Oh, jail doesn't straighten
everyone out.

That's the last thing
to try.

Maybe it'll stop him
from causing any more damage.

He's not that bad.

Honestly, I think I know him
better than you do.

Sure.

To you he's just a poor
misunderstood boy.

Yes, he is.

There must be
some way to get to him.

[ door opens ]

Sorry to have kept
you folks waiting so long.

Well, I guess
everything's in order now.

I've added the damage
to your fence

and the dead steer right here
in the complaint, Jess.

You want to sign it now?

Anything wrong,
Jess?

I don't know,
Mort.

Maybe I'd better not sign it
till we look into it more.

Well, what is there
to look into?

You caught the boy committing
the crime, didn't you?

What is it you want,
Sheriff?

Come on in
and sit down, Ezra.

Well, I ain't got
that kind of time.

Nobody's looking
after the store.

This won't take long.

That nephew of yours,

he's caused more than
$80 worth of damage,

not to mention--

You stop right there.

Now I'm not legally
responsible for that boy.

He run off
from his foster home.

I just took him in
'cause he's kin.

Now he can pay
his own damages.

I'm not putting out any more
of my hard-earned money

keeping him in books.

Ezra, if you don't
stand behind that boy,

do you realize--

Yes.
Go on, get it over with.

Maybe a spell behind bars
will learn him something.

Ezra Watkins.

How can you
talk like that?

I'm getting up
there, Mrs. Cooper.

I don't need
my last years

deviled by an
ungrateful no-account.

Has it ever
occurred to you

that there might be
another way of looking at it?

A way that would keep
a 17-year-old

from wasting
his whole life?

Oh, I feel
so strongly that--

Ma'am, if you've got
all those feelings,

you take him in.

I got to get back
to my store

before they
steal me naked.

You do what you want, Sheriff,
I wash my hands of him.

You see?

No wonder that boy
acts the way he does.

Why, his uncle doesn't care
the first thing about him.

What do you
want to do, Jess?

Sign or not?

I don't know.

Look, I do have
to dispose of this case.

His uncle
doesn't want him,

and you won't let me
send him to jail.

What am I supposed
to do with him?

I reckon
I'd better sign.

Oh, no, wait.

Isn't there
some sort of a camp?

A railroad work camp?

No, ma'am,
not in these parts.

Of course, you could
let him work off his debt

to you on the ranch.

Now wait a minute--That's an idea.

A very good idea.

No, it ain't, Daisy.

Why not?

You could always
sign the complaint later,

if it didn't work out,
couldn't he, Sheriff?

In the first place,
Slim won't go for it.

I think he will.

Well, now
if the boy's willing,

I'll release him
into your custody.

You're making
a mistake, Daisy.

And why I'm letting you
do it, I'll never know.

Right there.

How do you feel,
Bill?

I'm all right,
as far as I know.

Well, there's one thing
you'd better know,

if Mr. Harper wanted
to press charges,

we'd have to put you away
for a good long spell.

I ain't asking
for no favors.

This is not a favor.

It's strictly business.

We want you
to come out to the ranch

and work off the damages

that you were
partly responsible for.

I'll tell you right now,
it won't be easy.

Are you willing?

Well, I'll think about it.

No, you won't.

You make up your mind
right here and now.

Jail or work?

Work.

All right.

But I promise you, young fella,

you just sneeze
the wrong way,

and I'll yank you
back in here so fast,

your horse won't even know
you've left the saddle.

I wish Bill would hurry.

He'll be here.

You find those tools?

Not yet,
but they'll show up.

Bound to,
sooner or later.

Well, I wish I was
as sure as you are.

Now don't throw it up
to Bill, Jess.

Well,
he used them last.

Jess, I'm getting
real good at roping.

Tell him
how good I am.

He's coming
right along.

He's got the arm
and the rhythm.

And all I need
is the eye.

Once I get the eye,

I'll be roping with the best
of them, huh, Slim?

You get any better,
and you'll be running

this spread
in the next week or two.

Come on, let's eat, huh?
We've waited long enough.

[ door opens ]

Sorry if I held you up,

but you didn't
have to wait for me.

We try to eat together,
Bill.

Well, I ain't
part of the family.

Oh, we want you
to feel at home.

Where's my milk?

Please.

Please.

Daisy, sit down.

Hey, Mike, why don't
you get your own milk?

While you're at it,
wash those dirty hands.

It must have been hot
out there this afternoon.

It sure was.

Did you have
enough lumber?

Plenty.

If you run out of anything,
you just holler, huh?

Mmm.

You get much done?

Oh, enough.

How much is enough?

Jess.

Well, I'm tired of walking
on eggs around here.

He can answer questions
just like anybody else can.

If you got any complaints
about my work, Jess,

then I'll listen.

If you don't, well,
I just soon not hear from you.

Don't tell me
what you want to hear

and what you
don't want to hear.

This was a nice, peaceful outfit
till you showed up.

And it's gonna
get that way again soon.

Look, I ain't
asked to come here.

And I ain't asked to become
part of your family.

Well, I'm glad
you said that,

'cause hired hands eat and sleep
out in the bunk house.

It suits me fine.

Next time
you take any tools,

put them back where they belong,
will you, please?

Sit down, Bill.

What tools?

You know what tools
I'm talking about.

If that happens again,

I'm gonna give you that
hiding you've been asking for.

You try it.

Let it go, Jess.

[ door slams ]

You're only
making it worse.

What do you mean
I'm making it worse?

Practically every job
he's had around here

I've had to clean up
after him.

You can't expect the boy
to change overnight.

I could change him
overnight.

I'd like to take him out
behind that barn.

I'd change him
in 5 minutes.

You'll only
make him meaner.

He's already been
whipped to the bone.

Yeah, well, not so
as I can tell.

You see yourself in that boy,
don't you, Jess?

Is that why you've
got this feud going?

I don't know, Slim.

It still doesn't
give him the right to--

Whoa.

Let's not go
through that again.

All right, what are you
trying to do?

I was aiming
for the post.

That's some aim.

Well, next time I'll aim at you
and get the post.

Well, you come near me
with that thing one more time

and I'm gonna wrap it
around your neck.

Bill! Bill!
Bill, help!

Help!

Help! Bill!

Bill, help!

Mike!

Whoa! Whoa!

h*!
h*, boy, h*!

And naturally you were
minding your own business

when this horse
came up to you,

mistook your lasso
for a big red apple

and grabbed it right
out of your hands, huh?

Of course, not.
I roped him.

Boy, you're
gonna remember

that piece of horse flesh
for a long time.

There's nothing serious,
is there, doctor?

Well, he has some sore spots
in some strange places,

a nice collection of bruises,
but no broken bones.

Keep the sores bandaged,

put hot compresses on the spots
that make him jump.

No need to call me back.

Unless that poor old horse
needs tending to.

[ chuckles ] Ow.

Bye, son.

Bye.

Goodbye.

I hope you know,
young man,

that you scared me
half to death.

Well, I was scared, too.

Oh, Bill,
I don't know how--

Forget it.

I got to be getting back
to the barn.

Wait a minute, Bill.

Forget about that,
huh?

Take the rest of the day off.
Have some fun or something.

When you get back,

we'll have your gear
moved out of the bunk house.

Slim and I think
it'd be a good idea

if you stayed here
with us.

You can room
with Mike.

You sure
you're all right?

Oh, Jess.

Oh, Jess, nothing.

Next time you decide
to play rodeo,

wait till Slim
or me are there.

All right.

Well, this book here,
what do they call it?

Poor Richard's Almanack.

Why?

What's it about?

Lots of things.
Benjamin Franklin wrote it

when he was a little kid
learning to be a printer.

Well, is it any good?

Oh, I guess so.

It's got lots of crazy
sayings in it.

Like what?

Oh, they're pretty dumb.

One of them is,

"A spoonful of honey
will catch more flies

than a gallon of vinegar."

Who wants to catch
flies anyway?

I don't think that's exactly
what he meant.

I watched you at school

and you was sure
the best reader in class.

You think you might be
able to show me how?

Well, what do you want to learn
to read for anyway?

Oh, I just do.

Do you want
to teach me or not?

Well, why don't you
ask Daisy?

She'd be glad to have
you back in the class.

No.

Well,
it's the easiest way.

No,
I don't want to.

Why not?

Because I don't want a bunch of
pint-sized punks laughing at me.

Well, okay.

But what are you
so interested in reading

all of a sudden for?

Well, if I tell you,

you swear to keep
your mouth shut?

Sure.

That uncle of mine,

he ain't never again
gonna be able to

stand up in front of a room
full of strangers

and say I'm too dumb to read
the printing off of a package.

Where should I start?

Well, just any place.

You say a word
and point to it,

and then I'm
going to say it after you.

Okay. "Early."

"Early."

"To."

"To."

"Bed."

"Bed."

[ whistling ]

Who was that?Nothing. Go on.

"And."

"And."

Ain't that just
like a boy?

When you want him,
he don't show.

It's like my ma
always said,

some folks
ain't never grateful.

Well, try it again.

[ whistling ]

Did you hear it?Yeah, I heard it.

It's just some mangy bird
sounding off.

Who cares?

Go ahead.

"A."

"A."

Jess will be here
any minute,

and I still have all those
groceries to get.

Now?

Yes, now.

Did I hear someone volunteer
to sweep the floor?

Oh, yeah, I'll do it
before I leave, Miss Cooper.

Thank you.

I'm so glad you decided
to come back, Bill.

You know, you amaze me.

I thought you didn't know
how to read.

Well, I didn't, ma'am.

But today you were
the best in the class.

Who taught you?

Well...

Let's just say, uh,
Benjamin Franklin did.

Oh, you had a good teacher.

Yes, ma'am.

I think you better leave

Poor Richard
in your desk tonight.

Not when I'm just catching
on to it, Mrs. Cooper.

You know,
I just never seen a body

who could wrap up
so much stuff into--

into just a little
handful of words.

Listen to his,

"Small strokes fell great oaks."

What's so good about that?

Well, it's right neat, Mike.

Something I know just
how you feel.

A month ago,
I wouldn't have given

a mouthful of chewing tobacco.

for all the print
in creation.

Well, that's fine.

But I think you better pay
a little attention

to your geography
and your arithmetic.

Benjamin Franklin not only knew
where the Red Sea was,

but he could add
a column of figures

and get the same answer twice.

Tell Jess we'll be back shortly.
Come on, we got to hurry.

Tidying up, Billy?

Now what's it look like
I'm doing? Fishing?

Well, he's getting
a sharp tongue.

Did you hear us calling you
the other night?

Yeah, I heard you.
I was busy.

What, after all
we've done for you?

All right.
What do you want now?

Just a little help,
that's all.

To do what?

We got ourselves a notion

about your uncle's
general store.

We've been watching it.

The farmers been coming in
from miles around,

laying out their harvest money
for next year's provisions.

Well, man,
I ain't never seen

so much gold dust
and silver in all my life.

Leave me out.

We need ya.

We'll give you
your full share.

No.

No?

I heard you and Jess Harper
was getting pretty thick.

Jess Harper has got
nothing to do with this.

Well, what has?

You like being Harper
and Sherman's mule?

I had to work for him.

It was either that
or going to jail.

How long they
going to keep

breaking your back
in the hot sun, boy?

One month, two months?

Listen, in less than
a half hour's work,

we can all have enough money
to last for years.

No, I can't
rob my own kin.

You never cared
nothing about your uncle.

You never did.

And I still don't.

But that ain't got
nothing to do with it.

Now listen, you weren't meant
to sit around no ranch,

milking cows
and washing down horses.

Not when you can hit the trail
with enough money

in your jeans
to have a real good time.

Well, don't count on me.

We was planning
that tomorrow night.

We are counting on you.

And either way,
we're going to do it.

So we'll be seeing ya.

I figure you owe us
that much.

Come on.

They're more than a mile
outside our property line, Jess.

A hundred miles is too close
as far as I'm concerned.

In another 10 or 15 minutes
maybe, Johnny.

I sure
got to hand it to you,

that's the plumpest little
old hen I ever did see.

She never made a squawk
when you grabbed her.

That's no chicken.

It's a duck, a wild duck,
and don't you forget it.

A what?

Looks like
we got visitors.

Those two
from the Sherman Ranch.

No, let it go.

Your r*fle is next
to your saddlebag.

I'll tell you
when you go get it.

What do you mean,
when I go get it?

Oh, that--
that's a nice thing,

come busting
into a man's camp,

get dust
all over his dinner.

You're going to get
more than dust on you.

Where did you
get that chicken?

It ain't no chicken,
it's a duck,

if it's
any your business.

Eh, well, maybe
they don't know

the difference between
a chicken and a duck.

Well, I know you're not
going find any mallards

or teal around here
until early spring.

And I don't have
much use for anybody

who robs chicken coops.

I'll tell you what,
Mr. Sherman,

you go home
and count your chicks.

If there's one missing...

You want to make a meal
out of your own teeth?

SLIM: Stay where you are.

Ease off, Jess.

Now you trail drifts
got till morning

to clear out of here.

You saying it
don't make it so.

You think it don't?

Not so as we're going to lose
any sleep over it.

You stand to lose
more than that.

You get lost by morning

or we're taking you in
to the sheriff.

For what?Rustling, that's for what.

Well, now that's got to be
kind of hard to prove.

Sheriff couldn't do it.

He was here
less than an hour ago.

Yeah, he tried to
scare us off, too,

threatened to throw us
in jail on suspicion.

We said, fine, jail food's
probably pretty good.

Now wait a minute.

Billy's turning
into a decent kid,

and we're going to see
that he stays that way.

Now you're wasting your time

if you're thinking
any different.

Well, I think it's--
it's our time.

We can waste it the way
we want to.

This is government land.

Like they say,
it's a free country.

Mister, you're leaving,
and that's it,

unless you want 6 feet
of this free country.

Now you're not
the kind of man to

sh**t somebody down
in cold blood, are you?

I'm close to making you
number one.

Sam, go get the papers
out of the saddlebag.

You know,
the ones we took out

to file for that
homesteading claim.

The what?

Homesteading claim,

the ones we signed yesterday.

We put them in your
saddlebag, remember?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

You'd be sh**ting down
your own neighbors.

Now that wouldn't be a very
charitable thing to do now.

Hold it.

All right, Jess.

You better be out of here
by morning

because the next time
we come riding in,

it won't be to talk.

You hear what he said?

Yeah.

Let's get them.No.

We'll pick
our own time.

Yeah, but it's now
I'm thinking about.

Oh!

What's the occasion?

Well, there's none, Daisy.

I just thought I'd do
something for Bill.

Sort of make up for the way
I've been riding him, you know.

Think
he'll like them?

You know
the answer to that.

Oh,
it's a nice idea.

I don't want him to know
they're from me.

Not yet, anyway.

I'll let him find them
in the morning.

Well, that ought to last
for a while.

Then why don't you
wash up for dinner.

Daisy!

Yes?

Have you seen Mike?

No.

Well,
my g*n's missing.

I told him if I caught him
playing with it again,

I'd give him
a good tanning.

I don't think
Mike's been in here.

Hello, Jess.

If you're looking for Mike,
he ain't here.

I was looking for you.

Any special reason why?

Yeah, I think you got something
that belongs to me.

I want it back.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

I think you do.

Don't make me
ask you twice, Bill.

I ain't got
nothing of yours.

Why don't you just
let it drop, huh?

Did you just
bring in the firewood?

So what if I did?

You didn't take my g*n?

All right, I--
Well, I found the g*n.

I didn't know it was yours.

What difference does it make
whose it was?

I thought you were told
not to go near a sh**ting iron,

no matter what.

All right.

I was looking at your g*n.

I was going
to put it back.

Keep your finger
off that trigger.

Well, Jess, I ain't
going to sh**t you.

Not with an
empty g*n anyhow.

[ horse neighing ]

Whoa. Whoa.

He's not coming back,
Daisy.

You'd rather have it
that way, wouldn't you?

Yes, I would.

Why in the world?

I take it he didn't
intend to take your g*n.

Well, he sure gave
a good imitation.

Well then, explain
why he left that place

wide open
for anyone to see.

Well, he just didn't think
about it, that's all.

I don't know,
Daisy.

Boy's got something
eating at him from inside

that nobody
can get to.

You forgetting
what he did for Mike?

I'm going into Laramie
to look for him.

Now, Daisy, you shouldn't
go into town alone.

I'll finish
this page here

and then I'll hitch
up the buckboard.

Oh, you can't
go either, Slim.

Stage line inspector
is due tomorrow.

You got to get those
books in order.

I'll go.

No, Jess, the way
you're feeling now,

you wouldn't be
of any help to that boy.

I don't have to help him
to find him, Daisy.

That's what
I aim to do.

He's not in there,
Daisy.

Where can he be?

I don't know.

We've looked
just about everywhere.

We'd better be
heading back.

He didn't have
any money.

His uncle
hadn't seen him.

He can't be
far away.

We don't know
that for sure, Daisy.

Come on, it's getting late.
They're closing the saloon.

I think I'll spend the night
in the hotel.

I have to be here in the morning
early to teach anyway.

You go along.

What, and leave you alone?
No, I'll stay, too.

We'd better go
get some rooms.

I'll attend to it.

Do me a favor,
get in the buckboard

and drive around town
one last time.

You sure don't give
up easy, do you?

All right.

Whoa.

All right.
Come on.

Wait here.

There's something
I want to get.

There won't be
time later.

Is this what
you're looking for?

Mrs. Cooper,
what are you doing here?

We looked
everywhere for you.

This was the only place
that was left.

How did you know
I'd come back for the book?

Well, I didn't know exactly,
but when I found it here

I thought it wouldn't
hurt to wait,

at least for a while.

I guess you know me pretty well,
don't you, ma'am?

I think I do.

Enough to know
that you're not quite

honest with yourself
or with me.

I got to be leaving.

If you wouldn't mind
loaning me the book,

I-- I'll send it back just
as soon as I've finished it.

I want you to have it.

I'll make you
a present of it.

Why did you run off
this afternoon?

Too late to talk
about that.

But why?

We're all very fond of you,
including Jess.

Yeah, I know
how fond he is of me.

No, you don't.

He spent the whole night
trying to find you.

Maybe it's better
he didn't,

'cause I'm clearing out
for good.

I don't know
where you're going,

but I have a feeling
this is a turning point for you.

Don't make a mistake.

Before you know it,
you could...

[ footsteps approaching ]

I got to be going,
ma'am.

Goodbye, Mrs. Cooper.

Come on, Billy, what...

Well,
what have we got here?

You're the lady from the
Sherman Ranch, aren't you?

Yes.

Well, who are you
here with?

No one.

You've been discussing
our plans, Billy?

What?

How come they're sitting
around the schoolhouse

during this time
of night?

I don't like it,
Johnny.

She--
She forgot something

and she just happened by
when I did.

Maybe they're fixing for us
to walk right into a trap.

What are you
accusing me of, Sam?

Nothing, Billy.

Sam's just being careful.

We can't take
any chances.

We don't know how she got here
or who sent her.

I didn't.

We can take her along with us
till we get out of here.

That's a good idea, Sam.

All right, lady.

BILL:
Leave her out of this.

Oh, I'd like to
oblige you, Billy,

but she's the best
insurance policy we could want.

All right, lady,
move out.

Come on!

[ bell rings ]

Yeah.

Oh, evening, Jess.

Out kind of late,
ain't ya?

Yeah, sort of.

Let me have a piece of paper,
will ya?

I want to leave a message
for Mrs. Cooper.

Now don't bother
with all that witting,

I'll tell her
when she gets back.

Gets back?

Yeah, she came in here
and registered

and then she waltzed off
about a half hour ago.

Didn't say
where she was going.

Thanks, Ed.

[ dog barking ]

EZRA: I hear you.
I'm coming, I'm coming.

Who is it?

Uncle!

Open up,
it's me Billy.

I got to talk to you.
It's important.

All right, Ezra,

open that safe
and make it fast.

Oh, no.

I worked a whole lifetime
for what's in there.

Then maybe
you'd like to die.

I just take some of that
guaranteed blasting powder

you sell
and blow it apart.

Well?

All right.

All right.

He's taking forever.

Get the key
and open the safe.

Don't just stand there,
help him.

Is this what
you wanted, Billy?

You stay
out of this.

I have nothing to say about
how you destroy yourself,

but you've no right
to take this boy with you.

Get out of the way.

[ grunting ]

[ g*nshots ]

[ grunting ]

Get the sheriff,
Billy.

Listen, Jess, I--

You did fine.

Now just
get the sheriff.

Oh, would you look
what they've done to my store?

[ clattering ]

You're lucky
you're alive, Ezra.

That ought to count
for something.

What are you
looking for?

Here it is,
Mrs. Cooper.

I told you,
it was a present.

And I meant it.

Thank you, ma'am.

"Experience is an
expensive school,

but a fool
can learn in no other."

Did you just read that?

I swear.

What's it mean?

It means you--

you got to kick
some people in the head

to learn them anything.

I was that kind of a fool
today, Bill.

So was I, Jess.