02x03 - Interlude

[bunniefuu]

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General, this is Chief Satangkai.

'w*r chief of the Sioux Nation.'

You wanted him here today.

He's here.

Let's hope that this is an end to it.

And to the agony on both sides.

I wish I could believe that.

We've been refused water at four homesteads

in the past 50 miles.

Refused water?

We're Mormons.

Is it like leprosy then?

I beg your pardon, ma'am?

You and your lady are welcome here.

[chuckles]

They sure are gettin' along fast, huh?

She isn't paying much attention to him

already having a wife either.

Aunt Molly, he really cares for me.

And he wants a wife who can give him children.

Neither Maggie or his other wife can.

He has another wife?

I will not have you running off to be someone's..

...concubine!

Jeremiah has asked me to marry him and I'm gonna say yes.

You are not my mother!

You can't tell me what to do!

Ooh. You don't look so good.

It was Tobe, wasn't it?

You know, it was Tobe 'cause you put him up to it.

It's your own fault.

How is that?

It's simple.

A girl's gotta do somethin' to get noticed.

Well, if you wanted to get noticed

why didn't you start with this?

[grunts]

Pedro, we're gonna have to take him in.

I think you are right.

It seems we both stand a reasonably good chance

to be endin' up on the gallows.

But I for robberies..

...enthusiastically, committed and freely acknowledged.

'You, I want to believe your story'

for somethin' you didn't do.

Joinin' you?

That idea so far-fetched?

I think I'd have to give that one a little more thought.

Oh, don't take too long, we're movin' out in a week.

Somethin' we've had planned for a long term.

Colonel Mia!

We caught him trying to escape.

[dramatic music]

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

[dramatic music]

[sighs]

I don't understand you, boy. I truly don't understand you.

I don't want the colonel to try the shipment at Jimson's Break.

Why does it make any difference to you?

Because I got friends there.

You were startin' to have friends

up here too, weren't you?

Anyway, nobody's gonna get hurt if they don't try to interfere.

Suppose they do try to interfere.

Why, it'd just be provin' that they got a little sense.

Look..

I was hopin' you was fixin' to join up with us.

Passed through my mind more than once, Curt, believe me.

I'm not sure the colonel will give you a second chance.

Well, I don't want a second chance.

I got a price on my head.

And I know that I'm not guilty of anything

but if I join up with you, I will be guilty.

'And I don't think, I'd like that.'

You see, Curt, I..

...I sleep pretty good at night nowadays.

I'd like to keep it that way.

[dramatic music]

Well, I just don't understand you.

[dramatic music]

Huh?

[music continues]

Mari..

You got a horse ready for me?

Walk?

[music continues]

[grunts]

I'll be thinkin' of you, Maria.

[instrumental music]

Thanks, fellas.

Hey, Orville!

Oh!

[knock on door]

You..

I gotta talk to Orville.

He doesn't wanna talk to you anymore and neither do I.

Get out please. Get out!

Hillary, it's important.

Can't you see that you're not wanted here any longer?

Hillary, I'm sorry for goin' off the way I did

without sayin' anything.

You've got a right to be mad at me.

I'm not mad.

I just don't feel anything anymore.

I don't feel anything for you, Luke

and I don't wanna see you again, not ever.

Oh, Hillary.

Please, just listen to me.

Oh, why should I listen to you?

I've heard it all before, remember?

"You're the most wonderful girl in the world."

Isn't that the way it went?

And I like a fool believed you.

'Well, you got what you want.'

You just left without even saying

thanks for the hayride, Hillary.

No, it wasn't like that.

I made a promise.

Oh, I know all about you and your fine promises.

Well, I don't wanna hear anymore, Luke Macahan.

Now just get outta this house.

Look..

...I came back here because I had to.

Because I have to talk to your pa.

Oh, Hillary..

...if I tell you the truth about why I left..

...then would you tell me where he is?

Your father found out, I was dishonest with him.

In addition to wounding that sheriff in Missouri

I've k*lled other men.

'Orville knew these killings were in self-defense'

but he didn't want you getting serious over a..

...over a man who is building his reputation as a gunfighter.

Pa sent you away?

Let's just say we talked about it.

Which it was agreed and..

It'd be better for you if I just...disappeared.

Without one word of explanation?

It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

Believe me.

Now please, will you just tell me where Orville is?

He was playin' worried father.

And you were bein' noble.

You actually rode away forever to save me from myself.

You mean to say that you two decided between yourselves

how I was gonna run my life?

Didn't you ever consider that I had the right to decide?

Argh! The arrogance of it all!

- Why.. You! - Oh!

[Hillary screaming]

Hillary! I..

How dare you!

Hillary, stop, wait a minute!

[screaming]

Hillary, please.

[screaming]

When you see my pa, you tell him he better not set his face here.

'Wait a minute. Will you wait a minute?'

It wasn't that way.

Hillary, what's goin' on?

- Luke, what are you doin' here? - I'll tell you what.

He's back visitin' his partner in crime

that's what he's doin'.

[indistinct chatter]

- Let's talk about this. - Yes, let's talk about it.

Let's talk about how you two men decided how..

How are you gonna run my life and who I was gonna marry.

Marry?

Oh! Yes, marry.

Now you listen to me.

I told you you had the right to get mad, and all over again.

But I have got to talk to Orville.

Now this town is in danger.

The Flint g*ng's gonna rob that gold shipment

comin' up here tomorrow.

[dramatic music]

[Orville] 'Tommy, why don't you get out there and saddle up your horse?'

I figured this town'll be the last place for

the mine guard you'd expect to get robbed, huh?

Jerrod Flint's a clever man as I've ever met.

Tommy, I want you to take this note

up to Mr. Jimson, alright?

Alright, pa.

And you tell him to reroute that gold shipment.

Pa, I don't think I can get up there before dark.

Well, Mr. Jimson will give you supper and a place to sleep.

Come back here, bright and early in the morning, understand?

Alright, pa.

Wait a minute. You're tellin' him to reroute the shipment?

The south road from the mine leads straight into town here.

But if he takes the north road, out the back door so to speak.

He can get into Butte City.

'It's a lot longer that way but, uh..'

That way he won't come anywhere near here.

Now we're gonna have to see if we can figure out some way to..

give old Mr. Flint a nice, warm welcome.

I sure wish there'd be a way to stop a fight before any starts.

I can't see no way.

See you down at the saloon.

I sure missed you, Hillary.

I missed you too, Luke.

Uh..

On second thought maybe we oughta walk down there together.

I figure you can, uh, give me some other details.

[dramatic music]

[sighs]

[Orville] 'Hello the camp.'

Howdy.

I'm lookin' for someplace to rest my horse.

I smelled your coffee.

We didn't ask for no company.

'Move on.'

[coughing]

What's the matter, you got somebody hurt there?

What we got or ain't got, it's none of your business, mister.

You've been told to move on.

I wouldn't do that.

You get rid of that g*n.

You get over there.

[g*nf*re]

[grunts]

[grunts]

[grunts]

[dramatic music]

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Zeb?

Zeb Macahan?

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'I don't believe it.'

'It's impossible.'

Beth.

'I saw you back there, I thought I was seein' a ghost.'

Elizabeth Harrison is dead.

'She died in the Fort Niles m*ssacre with her husband.'

I don't know how to explain. I--

'I'm trying to explain now. You need rest.'

You've been roughed up real bad.

I tried to escape.

When they caught me, the big one hit.. Oh.

It's alright.

They're both dead.

Both?

Zeb, there were three.

I thought I saw third set of tracks out there.

Hell, he's probably taken off for parts unknown.

[sighs]

Y-you think you got any broken bones?

'I don't think so.'

Just a headache.

I don't think I've had any sleep for a week.

'I can't believe it.'

I can't believe it's you.

I can't believe it.

It's alright.

Beth, we'll talk about it later.

Right now you gotta rest.

But there's so much to say.

Later.

[dramatic music]

Alright, Zeb.

Whatever you say.

If you send word to Jimson not to bring the gold in

'what are we doin' here?'

Hoadley, Flint doesn't know that the gold is not comin' in.

He and his men are still comin' here lookin' for it.

Do you know what I say, Orville?

To the devil with Jimson.

'Just give me one good reason'

'why I should stick my neck out for him.'

He already owns all the money in the town.

He ain't sharing it with me.

Maybe there ain't a person in here that's got love for Jimson.

- But-- - You're dang right.

We ain't got any love for him or his mine.

What's Jimson ever done for this town?

Except send his miners in town to drink liquor

and taste fleshpots.

Keep the town awake all night with drunken shenanigans.

Don't forget this town gets a lot of business

from the gold mine, Ms. Walker.

Business? Where?

'The only business is in the saloon.'

'It's a tight business a decent person should be ashamed of.'

You know, she's right, Orville.

There are a lotta decent people that don't wanna settle down

and start farming hereabouts, and do you know why?

'Because of the hill risin'. His miners in this town.'

I was countin' on you, Ben.

But you of all people should know

why we don't want to fight for Jimson's gold.

Have you forgotten already the three of us miners

Daniels k*lled you a little while back?

All I'm trying to say is that I got more pride

than to let a g*ng of thieves and outlaws

come ridin' in here and take over.

Now, I want a show of hands.

Now, the men who are gonna back me up

when that bunch of outlaws ride in.

Count me in, Orville.

Thank you, Charlie.

Who else?

'Thank you, Mr. Stevenson.'

I got two volunteers.

A bartender and a drunk who's gonna be 83 next Thursday.

Well, I agree with him.

I think everybody in this town oughta to keep their heads

in their houses until their gone.

Well, like they say. I guess now is the time

to divide the men from the boys.

It ain't like that, Orville. You know it isn't.

I got friends in that g*ng.

Well, I'm a might more particular

about the friends that I pick.

- Now what's to be? - Look, what can I do?

I like them. I could no more sh**t them

than I could somebody here in town.

Orville, you've gotta understand my position.

No. You've got only to understand the position

of any man who takes a pride in himself.

A man who sees only one side of the law.

Beside where he can get himself a wife and raise a family.

And not worry about no g*ng of outlaws violating that family

or telling him that he's gotta keep off his own town street

where he's got the right to walk!

You asked back there, somebody should write a letter to Flint.

Well, maybe you're right, maybe somebody should tell Flint

that the town has been warned.

You're lookin' to get tucked under six feet of ground?

No, I'll tell him.

I'll tell him that, uh..

You got maybe...30 or 40 g*ns waitin' to open fire on 'em

as soon as they set foot..

Too risky for ya.

Anybody that stands against them is gonna get k*lled.

Now, do you want that, Orville?

Alright, son.

Alright.

But you play them cards real close to your vest, you hear?

I'll try.

You tell that daughter of yours I'll be comin' back.

[dramatic music]

Zeb, I can't eat anymore, I want to talk.

Don't you realize it's been 20 years since I've seen you.

You know somethin'? You haven't changed a bit.

Everything you want has to happen right now.

Eat.

Now can we talk?

Any way of stoppin' you?

Why didn't you come back for me like you promised you would?

Oh, I tried, Beth.

You know I went out trappin' that summer.

I was gonna come back with the biggest cash of furs

any man that ever walked into that fort.

'Almost made it too.'

I got a little careless and tangled with a grizzly.

'I was hurt pretty bad, I got back to the fort next spring.'

You was gone.

[dramatic music]

By then I was in Washington.

Married to Captain Harrison.

That's what I heard.

I, well, I figured you changed your mind about me.

I was sad, I thought you were dead.

Or worse, I-I thought you didn't care anymore.

Well, you was wrong.

On both accounts.

'Robert Harrison was first in his class at West Point.'

The army's youngest captain.

He had a brilliant career.

Zeb, papa was dying.

He wanted to see me married.

Robert was posted out to the territories.

I guess you know about the rest.

I don't understand how you lived through that m*ssacre, Beth.

'The word was that nobody was left alive to tell the story.'

Well, the men were all k*lled, I was taken prisoner.

I-I escaped a few months later.

Everyone thought I was dead.

I decided to leave it that way.

Papa died a few weeks after the wedding.

So, there wasn't any family to go back to.

'I just decided I didn't wanna spend the rest of my life'

as that poor army widow who had been a prisoner of the Indians.

So, and you made a new life for yourself?

Beth, it's none of my business.

Oh, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

I teach school now.

At the White River settlements.

You're a school teacher?

'Yes.'

Did you ever marry again?

No.

- You? - Yeah.

To a Cherokee woman.

Lost her in a fire.

I'm sorry.

It was a long time ago.

I never stopped loving you, Zebulon.

And guess what came to it?

I'd have to say the same thing, Beth.

Jessie.

I've something for Laura.

This is ma's.

'She gave it to me and I've been savin' it.'

It's the only thing I have to give you.

I sure will miss you, prissy.

[dramatic music]

I miss you too.

Oh, Aunt Molly, I can't believe it.

I'll be a married lady before nightfall.

I wish Luke and Uncle Zeb could've

made it back here in time.

I guess that would've been nice.

But you're a lovely-looking bride, dear.

Aunt Molly..

...I'm gonna miss everybody.

Oh, Laura.

Aunt Molly! Laura!

They're here. Josh and the other Mrs. Taylor.

[instrumental music]

You must be Mrs. Culhane.

Josh has been telling me so much about you.

I'm so very grateful to be here for the wedding.

'We're.. We're very pleased to have you, Mrs. Taylor.'

And this is my niece.

[Jeremiah] 'Ellen!'

Jeremiah!

[laughing]

Jeremiah, please. We are in public.

'You're upsetting my bonnet and I'm gonna be..'

Nonsense, my dear, you couldn't be anything but ravishing

no matter what.

[dramatic music]

Now, I want you to meet Laura

who's going to be your loving sister.

Mrs. Culhane, Laura--

Excuse me, please. It'll just be moment.

[music continues]

[crying]

Laura?

Aunt Molly.

How could I've been such a fool?

How could I think..

...what I thought.

That you were the only woman in the world

that Jeremiah could love as you loved him?

Yes.

You knew, didn't you?

I suspected it.

How?

Jeremiah Taylor is a very magnetic and vital man.

With an eye for a pretty girl.

'I just didn't think he could be in his middle '30s'

'without finding someone to give him'

'what Maggie obviously cannot.'

Then when Maggie told me he had a 20-year-old wife..

Why didn't you tell me?

Well..

First of all, I wasn't sure.

And secondly, would you have believed me

feeling as you did about Jeremiah?

No.

You sent for her on purpose, didn't you?

You knew this would happen.

No, dear. I didn't know what would happen.

But I didn't know that you deserved the chance

to make a choice with your eyes wide open.

You deserve to see if Jeremiah really loved this girl.

Oh, Aunt Molly, what am I gonna do?

You're going to tell Jeremiah that you've made a mistake.

But I can't. What am I gonna say to him?

I'm in a wedding dress..

Ellen came all this way.

I gave my promise.

Now, you listen to me, Laura.

When you agreed to marry Jeremiah you were sincere.

You thought you loved him.

I do love him, Aunt Molly.

If you loved him with the same selflessness

that Mormon's have been taught to extend to each other

Ellen wouldn't make any difference, would she?

I don't know.

'I think you do, dear.'

You aren't brought up to share the love of the man you marry.

I don't say that you couldn't someday.

But right now you're not prepared for that.

You must tell that to Jeremiah.

[dramatic music]

Aunt Molly, I can't face him.

I can't face any of 'em.

Couldn't you tell him for me?

No, child, I can't.

'You have made a mistake.'

'Now, you must find the courage to face the pain'

'and embarrassment that has brought.'

'Not just to yourself but to others.'

You must tell Jeremiah yourself.

Now dry your eyes, and off you go.

[sighs]

Little brother, looks like you've got a big sister

gettin' after you again.

[instrumental music]

I guess it'll just have to wait.

I still love him, Aunt Molly. How long will that last?

I don't know, dear.

What I do know is that there'll be another man one day.

A man who'll walk into your house see you covered in sweat

hear the squalling of babies

see the pot boiling over on the stove

and still swear to heaven

that you're the most beautiful woman in the world.

Oh.

You know, I think the Mormon's will give up polygamy one day.

Why?

Because it's wrong?

No, dear.

Because it makes too fierce a demand upon the human heart.

[dramatic music]

Hello!

Luke Macahan, I'm comin' in!

I see I was expected.

So, you decided to warn the town.

That we were comin' in.

Colonel, there'll be a lot of men waitin' for you.

That's why, I came back to warn you

not to move against Jimson's Break.

Let him in.

'We have scalded that town.'

'People upset with the miners'

'were tearing the place apart every payday.'

Sheriff will be lucky to find half-dozen sound men

backin' him against us.

You're a smart man, colonel.

You'd risk everything to move against a town waiting for you?

No.

I'm afraid that we will have to, uh..

...change our plans.

Hittin' the gold en route from the mine?

Uh-huh. Uh-huh. That's not gonna work either.

No, it won't.

No way to ambush a gold between the mine and Jimson Break.

that's why we decided to hit the town in the first place.

Then you'll lose all the way around.

Not quite, Luke.

You're friend, the, uh, sheriff..

...has presented us with another alternative.

[dramatic music]

My pa'll stick you in jail for life, you fathead.

[chuckling]

This young one, he reminds me of my own little chamaco.

Now, this is some good old horse trading, Luke.

Now, the sheriff's son is a whole card

you can't beat. Right?

Colonel, when you told me about how you operated

you never mentioned anything about using children.

Now, you forced me into this position, Luke.

You make no mistake, my strong-minded friend.

You're gonna do exactly as you're told or else..

You wouldn't gamble that's a bluff, I hope.

No, I..

...sure wouldn't call it.

Good!

Hasn't lost any of his level-headedness, I'd say.

Now, you study this.

A lot is gonna depend on your total compliance

'and I don't mean just that $100,000 in gold.'

Now, this is the route that Orville Gant mentioned

in that note he sent over with his son

suggesting that the gold take the Butte Canyon route

cross through and going over the Rock Creek stage stop

for shipment.

I'll take a guess.

You want me to take Orville's note up to that mine

and you'll be waiting at Butte Canyon for an ambush.

That's right.

And you will be appearing..

...carrying a note in the sheriff's own handwriting.

The boy goes free..

...the moment the gold gets in the canyon.

No.

He goes free... the minute I see that gold.

I have your word..

...that the moment you see that gold in your ambush

that boy will go free.

My...word.

[instrumental music]

I'll tell you somethin', I've seen a skinned antelope

who was as bare as you are there, gal.

Aren't you ashamed of yourself carryin' on like that?

Nope.

You know we got a name for a loose woman like you.

Really?

Why don't you come in here and tell me what it is.

Don't tempt me.

I'd like to spend another month up here, Beth

but we got things we gotta do.

What things?

I'm gonna get you to a doctor and find out

about those headaches you've been having.

Now, come on out of that water.

Oh, Zeb, I don't need a doctor.

This has been medicine enough for me.

Tell you one thing. It doesn't seem like 20 years.

More like last Spring.

[moaning]

Beth..

Beth!

Zeb, I wish you wouldn't be so stubborn.

I'm getting you a doctor, gal, and that's all there is to it.

But I only fainted, it's just a reaction to those men

and to finding you.

I know. But you're going to Free Rivers to see a doctor.

I don't want anyone to know who I am, you know?

I'm going under the name of "Elizabeth Smith", please.

Well, it's perfectly alright with me

as long as you see the doctor.

[indistinct chatter]

Reckon haulin' a cowboy all the way down from the mountain.

I'm not sure, honey.

Is she dead?

Whoa!

- Easy now. - Zeb, I'm alright.

I know you're alright.

We're just gonna see what the doctor has to say.

What about seeing double?

Only when I'm angry or don't get my own way.

Well, you didn't lose your sense of humor anyway.

Didn't I? You're telling me

I have to remain in bed for a week

and can't ride a horse for a month.

I'll also tell you, young lady, that concussions..

You've definitely had one..

'...are strange affairs.'

Doctor, you can do me a favor. Don't discuss your decision

about my riding with Mr. Macahan.

Oh, favor refused.

I don't help people k*ll themselves.

There's something I must do.

There's someplace you have to get to?

Yes and it's very important.

Of course it's your business when you decide to ride a horse.

But before you throw a saddle on him

you remind yourself you're gambling your life

against that important trip you want to make.

[sighing]

Come on, Jessie, we're going berry hunting.

I don't feel like picking berries, Laura.

You're just gonna have to go by yourself.

By myself?

Do you know how long it'll take to fill this two baskets?

We'll need at least this much for a cobbler.

So, fill one basket and I won't have any cobbler.

What is the matter with you?

Lazin' around this whole week.

I'm not lazin' around. I just don't feel good.

Not that again.

This whole week, every time there's a chore to be done..

Give me that.

You're probably just pickin' berries

to get out of doing the wash yourself.

I finished the wash, smarty.

[instrumental music]

[bees buzzing]

[screaming]

[Jessie] 'Bees! Bees!'

[screaming]

'Help me! Please!'

[screaming]

[Laura] 'Jess!'

h*! h*!

Bees!

[Jessie screaming]

[Josh] 'Over here, Jessie!'

'What is it? I'm over here!'

Bees!

It hurts. Please help me, Josh.

- It's alright, Jessie. - It hurts!

It hurts!

Let's get back to the house and everything'll be fine.

Aunt Molly! Aunt Molly!

- It hurts. - Aunt Molly!

'It's the bees!'

[crying]

Get her in the house, quickly, Josh, quickly!

Oh, it's all my fault.

It's all my fault.

Remember, back in Virginia when she was little

she got stung by a bee and got real sick.

Josh, get the vinegar, lots of it.

Jessie..

Were you stung too, child?

Oh, maybe once or twice. Bee stings don't bother me.

It was all my fault. She didn't wanna pick berries.

Laura, get sheets and rip them up for rags.

I made her come with me. She wasn't even feeling well.

Get the sheets, Laura.

[Laura] 'I said she was lazy. I was so mean to her.'

Do as you're told. Sheets and rip them up!

[Jessie] 'It hurts, Aunt Molly, it hurts.'

Josh..

...when Jessie was bitten in Virginia, did she have a doctor?

I was too young to remember, Aunt Molly.

But I think so.

Well, Laura may remember. Ask her.

See if she can recall what the doctor said about it.

There, you're not a baby.

There, now.

There, now.

[sobbing]

Laura.

Oh, Jessie..

Hey!

Well, we gotta help Aunt Molly.

- Josh, she didn't feel-- - You stop that!

Aunt Molly wants to know if Jessie had a doctor

when she was stung by that bee.

Did the doctor say anything at the time?

Give any reason why she became so ill?

The doctor said..

...that bee-stings are poison to Jessie.

And she only got stung once or twice that time..

...not dozens like now.

And maybe..

...maybe she could even die.

[sobbing]

[instrumental music]

[sobbing continues]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]