Capture, The (1950)

[bunniefuu]

Please come in, senor.

Gracias.

Your husband isn't going to eat?

He already eaten,

senor. He must go to town.

Somehow he looked like a man

who would have to go to town.

Aren't you staying?

No, I've had a

change of plans.

When your husband comes

back with the police,

tell him I'm sorry

I couldn't wait.

Yes, Father.

What are you doing

here with the chickens?

I was just resting

against your shelter.

- This is for animals.

- The house is for men.

Come.

It's nothing.

We will have a

look at it. Come.

Phone Tampico, get the money.

Stop it!

Stop it, you fools, he's got

his hands up! Got his hands!

What is it?

- You were dreaming, my son.

- You shouted in your sleep.

Sorry I disturbed you.

Sleeping men shout in

this fashion in prison,

in the battle lines of armies,

and when we are being hunted.

What do you want me

to do, confess my sins?

I want you to have peace.

Then leave me alone.

As you wish.

Father.

I will dress your arm again.

No doubt the pain was

what disturbed you.

No, no, no. It's not much.

It hardly hurts any.

Well, you saw it yourself.

It's only a little wound.

And yet, Father, here's

the whole trouble.

Because of this wound or

something, I can't move my arm.

I can't lift it.

You mean lift it,

as a man would who was

ordered to surrender?

The police.

Yeah.

They've tracked me for

two days and nights.

They'll be here in the morning.

This is it, the end of the line.

Even the police are

not always so merciless.

You understand, I saw it

happen to another man.

He couldn't lift his arm either.

He stood up in a lonely

place at daybreak.

Somebody shot him.

Somebody who shot-

Come and lie down, my son.

You don't have to

talk about this.

But I do.

I mean, I have to know

the answer, Father,

and there isn't much time.

Began about a year ago.

You might not believe

it to look at me now,

but in those days, I was

running an oil field.

Hey, Lin! Lin Vanner!

I got a flash for you, Lin.

Drive me down to south

field, would you, Herb?

Got a broken bit down there.

Better 90 to the office first.

Know what day this is?

Wednesday.

And the ghost is supposed

to walk this afternoon.

We got payroll trouble?

Not another stick-up?

I thought they were gonna

fly it in like last time.

They couldn't get a

plane! Earl Mahoney.

You know, the guy from

Petroleum Finance Corporation?

He was bringing it up

himself by rail car.

One of those putt putt jobs.

A bank vice prezzie

on a rail car?

He must've been out of his mind.

He had guts, Lin.

He knew how vital it was

after all the trouble we had.

He wanted to be

personally responsible.

Don't take it so hard, Lin.

We've got insurance, you know.

Great but meanwhile what am

I supposed to pay my men with?

Lop washes and seashells?

They like money, moolah.

- You know what I mean.

- Money, let me see.

12 paydays a year,

we get three stick-ups.

- Where's Mahoney now?

- He's in the office.

We'd better step on it, huh?

- Who's this guy?

- Corporal Valdez.

He was in charge of the guard.

- Only guard left?

- That's what they say.

You'd better get Doc

Fellows to take care of him.

He's on his way over.

All I want is a pair

big enough to ride,

and they don't have to fit.

- Hello, Vanner.

- Hi, Mr. Mahoney.

Looks like we're in

a little trouble.

Ah, we'll get that money

back. Every last cent of it.

We'll get this

fellow before dark.

- You're not taking off again?

- You bet I am.

The police coming down has

assigned a mounted squad

to do the tracking, and I

guess they're going to need me.

Anything you want before,

before I take off?

Well, yes.

Frankly, could you give me some

idea of just what happened?

I only got a sketch. I'd

like to make out a report.

Lin, Tampico's calling.

I'll call back

in five minutes.

It was a rough deal.

We were right on that hairpin

turn back at the gorge.

- You know the one?

- Yeah.

Oh, thanks.

This fellow was

track walking there.

Never would've

slowed down for him,

but he had a company badge on

and looked like an American.

About your height, stocky build.

Thought maybe he'd been

sent out to meet us.

Then all of a sudden,

the sky busted open

and the sh**ting started.

He got three of the guards

with the first burst,

but I fell off the car.

It's probably what

saved your life.

Yeah, I guess so.

Well, I'll put it all in

writing when I get back.

- Good luck.

- So long.

Get Tampico back.

Miss Ware's waiting in there.

Got a cigarette, Herb?

Hi, baby. What are

you doing here?

- I couldn't stay at the ranch.

- This is much too exciting.

Hm. So is having

your pocket picked.

Sometimes I'd settle for that.

Hello? Yes, Mr. Hubble.

Yes, that's it.

The entire payroll.

Yes, I imagine they'll

cancel the insurance

but it can't be helped.

Okay.

Thank you.

The doctor finished

with that corporal?

He's working on him now.

Get a report from him

and ask him to see me

when he gets through, will you?

- Sure.

- Thanks.

Would you like a drink?

Not now. I don't

want to keep you.

Was I going somewhere?

I thought you'd be

going on the posse.

Not me.

- Lin, you don't mean that!

- Sure I mean it.

Well, they'll

think you're chicken.

So I'm chicken.

That stuffed shirt Earl

Mahoney will get all the credit

for catching the thief.

He won't catch him.

- But the posse.

- It's not a posse.

It's an armed police squad

and some gringo.

Besides, posses don't catch

anything but colds in the head.

And this one won't, either,

if they think that guy's

headed for the coast.

Why wouldn't he?

'Cause he's an American.

And what's that

got to do with it?

An American will stay

right on the railroad

where you don't leave a trail.

He can keep on all night that

way, and along toward morning,

he'd cross over to the high

road through some pass.

El Tejon Pass, maybe.

Let's see.

Yeah, that'd be his best out.

It's rough, but once he got

across, he could hit the road.

That's what he'd do, Lin.

If he knows the country well,

and he did know it well.

Oh, he must have

planned this carefully.

You bet he did.

But if you actually

caught this stick-up guy,

you doped it out so brilliantly,

if you brought him

in all by yourself...

I'll admit I'm

crazy enough to wonder

if I've doped it right.

- That's all I wanted to hear.

- Hm?

Bree, would you call my dad's

foreman Pedro at the ranch?

Oh, hold your horses.

- Just one horse, darling.

- The one you're going to ride.

Tell him to catch the quarter

horse, the one dad uses.

- Have you got a g*n?

- What would I want a g*n for?

Never mind. We'll

get one at the ranch.

Come on, Sheriff. We don't want

to keep that bandit waitin'.

Here we go.

That horse must've been

used to rocky country.

He followed the trail

up the pass all night,

as if he'd had eyes in his feet.

For some reason, I was asking

myself what I was doing there.

I wondered if I hadn't

been out of my mind

to start on this chase

in the first place

just to show off like a

kid turning handsprings

on his girl's front

lawn or something.

This wasn't a game

of cops and robbers.

We were playing for keeps.

It boiled down to a duel between

me and the unknown fellow

waiting up in the rocks or

struggling on ahead of me.

Never had the slightest

doubt that he was there

and that I'd find him,

but I didn't like it.

It was all wrong, somehow.

Maybe I was afraid,

but I don't think I

was afraid for myself.

It was more like being scared

of what was going happen.

The moment which had to come

soon now and would come,

as if it had been

determined long ago

and couldn't be stopped

by any act of mine.

Oh, you see, Father, I'm

trying to justify myself,

explain what happened, though

I never can explain it.

Not in any way that'd make

the answer come out right.

Then, suddenly, I saw the man.

- Get your hands up!

- I got a-

- Both of 'em, over your head!

- I can only get one-

- Get 'em up!

I can't, you...

Some posse man. sh**ting

a guy with his hands up.

Told you to put 'em both up.

I couldn't. My arm's busted.

That's what I was

trying to tell you.

I didn't hear you.

Where'd I hit you?

Ah, it's nothin'.

Maybe I'm lucky at that.

Pick that coffee

pot up, will you?

Hey, didn't you used

to work for Bolsa Grande?

- Sure, I was a rigger.

- Sam Tevlin's my name.

I thought so.

- And I know you, Mr.

- Vanner, and you don't act

no different now than when

you were down at the plant.

All right. Pull

yourself together.

I'm gonna stash your

stuff and take you back.

- What for?

- You know what for!

I never took that

payroll, if that's what you mean.

- How'd you know about it?

- Well, I-

- All right, we'll

talk about that later.

Well, if I took

it, where is it?

Did I hide it out

somewhere? Have I got it on?

Hey, why don't you search me?

If you've got it on

you, we'll find it.

If you've hidden it out,

we'll find that, too.

All in due time. Come on.

Come on.

As we started down, I think

I felt weaker than he did.

I was shaky and sick because

I knew in my heart

I'd shot too soon.

I hadn't given him a chance

to explain about his arm.

I felt pity for him.

Oh, easy. That's it.

You've been sitting at a

desk too much, Mr. Posse Man.

You're kinda soft in the belly.

I didn't figure I'd have

to pack you onto my back.

Oh, we're buddies, aren't we?

One pal don't mind

helping another.

Especially when he shot

him with his hands up.

That's a lie and you know it.

Do I?

Come on.

Maybe I oughtta

pack you on my back.

Car waiting for you, huh?

Yeah, could be.

I don't suppose there's

any use telling you again,

I didn't take that payroll.

You'll have to tell

that to the proper authorities.

That's about what

I figured you'd say.

Look, Mr. Vanner.

If those company guards

get a hold of me now,

I haven't got a chance.

Give me a break, will you?

Turn me loose right here.

I'm not so beat up

that I won't make out,

if you let me take the horse.

Can't do it, Tevlin.

I was half tempted to

give him the chance,

but it was too late.

I had to see this through

the way I'd started.

Boss, you sure

did a great job!

You certainly did, and say,

did you hear about the reward?

Reward?

Yeah, the head office

put it up last night,

right after you

left, 2,000 bucks!

- Congratulations, boss.

- Nice going, Lin.

Boy, oh boy, that helps.

Hey, 2,000 bucks!

Never ride in a pal's

boots unless he wears 12D.

Well, my boy, I understand

you're to be congratulated.

You've done a fine job.

Well, I'm not even

sure he's the right man,

but at least he's

suspect number one.

Lieutenant, my company

has a vital interest

in this matter.

Would you object if I asked

the prisoner a few questions?

No, go ahead, senor,

but don't take too long.

- Oh, no.

- Where is he, Clark?

In the back office, boss.

Well, let's go and see if

we can find something out.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Hey, what's going in there?

I suppose you'd call

it a cross examination.

That's your man,

all right, Lieutenant.

He doesn't feel

like talking, but,

I can positively identify him.

My department will

check it out, Mr. Mahoney.

Good.

How is he?

In bad shape.

I'm gonna give him a hypo. Will

you stay with him a minute?

Don't suppose

there's use

telling you again.

I...

I didn't take that payroll.

It's cold.

Cold in here.

Better?

Mother. Mother.

Your mother will be

here. She's on her way.

Thank you.

That cross

examination must've been

a form of t*rture

in his condition.

That wasn't what k*lled him.

What, then?

A b*llet, right there.

Why, I thought

that only nicked him.

No, no. It punctured

the pulmonary artery.

He bled internally.

Well, I'm sorry, baby, but

I hadn't heard of any reward

when I went after this guy

and I don't have to be paid

for bringing him in.

Why you keep saying

"paid"? It's not paid.

It's just a sort of prize,

an honor you're entitled to.

Oh, Lin.

Think what $2,000

can mean to us.

Well, I'm not

going to take it.

Call it sentiment or

superstition or anything you like.

I'd call it insanity.

You wouldn't borrow

money from the company,

and I could understand that,

but now that they want to

give you some, you refuse.

Can't you see it from my angle?

How do you expect me to feel?

I don't mean to be rude,

but I don't think

this is your affair.

I thought it was.

Seems to me I remember

starting you on this, right?

Yes, you started me, but...

Well, now it's something else.

Something between me and-

- Your precious conscience?

If you hadn't been

cleared at the inquest,

it might be different.

I won't take it, Lin.

I've taken a lot and

tried to understand,

but this is just a

little bit too much.

You mean you're

breaking our engagement?

No, you are, with

this crazy attitude.

I've waited and hoped and tried

to see your point of view.

I didn't know I was being taken

and you never meant to marry me.

All this talk about

money was just an excuse.

What you wanted was an alibi.

Any reason was all right, as

long as you could put me off!

Well, you've got your way and

now I'm not changing my mind!

This time it's

finished! We're through!

- You're yelling.

- I will yell!

Oh, Lin, what's

happened to us?

I don't...

I don't know, baby.

I guess we both found out

at the same time, didn't we?

We'd never get along.

I just love you to pieces, Lin,

but I know I'll never understand

you as long as I live.

Remember, it's right

here on this table.

I wish you'd keep it.

That's

very gallant of you,

just the right thing to

say, but I'm leaving it.

You might need the

money to put in

a blind man's cup or something.

Tampico 324.

It's Mr. Vanner

calling Mr. Hubble.

If he's not there,

please try him at home.

Thanks.

Hello?

Oh, Mr. Hubble.

This is Lin Vanner.

I'm very sorry to disturb you

at this time of night, but...

Yes, I believe it is urgent.

Well, sir, I hate to

put you in a spot,

but I'm resigning my

position with the company.

That's right.

I know it is sudden, but...

No, sir.

Where to, senor?

Just give me about 100

pesos worth of ticket.

In what direction, senor?

You name it and I'll go

there, on the first train out.

Do I understand you

wish a change of scenery?

Any place will do?

That's right.

- How would you like Los Santos?

- It's a nice little place.

- Los Santos?

- Yes.

Today, we ship a coffin there.

For such shipments, a

ticket must be bought,

and this one has been paid for,

too, according to the rules.

But today, no one is using it.

All right, I'll

take it. Thanks.

- You're welcome, senor.

- You've saved me trouble, too.

Would you be kind and give

these to the baggage agent

at Los Santos?

- I'll do that.

- Good luck, senor.

I knew there

was only one dead man

who could be going from

La Mancha that day,

but I didn't care.

I'd accept that much

from Sam Tevlin.

My transportation to a new life.

After all, we'd been

traveling companions before.

A new life.

I figured that was ahead of me.

Nothing behind.

I was a lucky guy,

I told myself.

Why not?

I was still young enough,

reasonably strong,

and this new life

could be a lot of fun.

All I had to do was hand some

papers to a baggage agent,

and then the last thread

that held me to the past

would be gone.

I could go anywhere I felt

like, do anything I wanted.

Los Santos!

Los Santos!

But then I had another thought.

Someone had paid to have

Sam's body sent home,

and the person who had

paid would meet the train.

Well, whoever it was, I

didn't want to see them.

I was finished with

the whole business.

I'd just had enough of it.

I made up my mind to made tracks

getting away from that station.

Senor?

Tequila.

Si, senor.

- As I live and breathe!

- Put it there, Lin!

Carlos, you old son of

a g*n!

Oh, you're getting

a little fat.

Oh, what is a few

pounds between friends?

And you know something?

I will always buy a

drink for a doggone hero.

Let's go sit at the table, eh?

You know, I was just

reading about you.

A guy on the crew sent me this.

It was in the Veracruz paper.

Keep it

for your scrapbook.

Didn't know you had it in you.

And here's luck.

Luck? Oh, that

is what we have.

Plenty of it, Lin.

Biggest blinking oil strike

in years, right here,

only 50 miles from Los Santos.

Maybe I ought to cut

myself a slice of it.

Oh, there'll be

enough for everybody.

Man, you should have

seen that first gosher.

Gosher? What is a gosher?

With or without the accent,

it's 50,000 barrels a day.

All high-gravity stuff.

Hey, Lin, why don't you come

and have a look at it

with me tomorrow, huh?

Oh, compadre, you

got yourself a date.

Bueno.

So I took a job

in a few field.

After a couple of

months, I quit.

I kept thinking I had

to get back to that town

and find somebody.

Crazy enough, I

couldn't seem to think

of anyone but this person.

As you've guessed it, Father,

it was the woman I'd seen

for a few seconds on a

railway station platform.

Tevlin's widow.

I'd found out that

much about her.

But then I found

out where she lived.

And finally, I hitched

a ride out of town.

That was the first

time I saw the ranch.

Neat and comfortable enough,

and yet it had that sorry

kind of a look a place gets

when there's no man

to take care of it.

You know, that it looked

different once when there was hope

when people started out to

build something, and then, we",

they let go or were

defeated in their purpose.

This was where a

woman lived her life,

and I wondered what the power

was that had drawn me there.

My share in her secret,

or was it just herself,

her beauty or her personality?

Which was really unknown to

me and only half guessed at.

I hadn't thought of any special

way to explain my visit.

Figured I'd just knock on the

door and see what happened.

Who is it?

Are you Mrs. Tevlin?

That's right.

Won't you come in?

Sit down.

Oh, thanks.

Your name, please?

Brown.

Lindley Brown.

We've see each other

before, haven't we, Mr. Brown?

No, I don't think so.

I hadn't expected

anyone so soon.

- In answer to the ad.

- Oh?

You

understood the terms?

I can't pay wages, but

I'll share the profits

after the stock is

rounded up and sold.

Oh, I see. I wasn't

quite sure about the wages.

Oh, I thought that was clear.

It's right here.

"Foreman for ranch co-op."

You must have understood it.

Oh, that'll be

all right, I think.

We run between

300 and 400 head.

The range is good and we

have a nice calf crop.

I have one Indian

vaquero helping me,

but I've no way to round

up, brand, and sell.

I should imagine it'd

be a little hard to keep house

and ride a herd, too.

Yes, even for a person

capable of handling livestock,

which I'm not.

I've often thought of giving

up, going back to the States.

When I had to decide,

I always try once more.

Hang on a little longer.

My husband and I bought

this place with savings

and he used to work

in his spare time.

Now my husband is dead.

Well, I think you're

quite right to keep it.

Place of your own can

mean a great deal.

My husband used to work

for the oil companies.

Have you ever worked in

the oil fields, Mr. Brown?

Oh, yes, I have.

But where I grew up, oil

and cattle were a team,

nudging each other for

the same hunk of ground.

I can pass myself off for

a cowboy when I have to.

Get a load of those

boots. He's no cowboy.

- Mike, this is Mr. Brown.

- This is my son, Michael.

- Hi, Michael.

- Hello.

Mike, you're right about

these boots, they're no good,

but I've had the other

kind, no kidding.

And I can roll my own

cigarettes when I have to.

I'd want to be quite sure

that you understood the work

and that you were

confident to do it.

Things have run down

here. It won't be easy.

I'd like to try.

Is he gonna stay, Ma?

We haven't decided yet.

Well, if he is,

I'm moving out.

I'll tell you, Michael, I'm

looking for a place to work

and your mother wants someone

to help her the way you do.

Now, wouldn't it be

all right with you

if I just sort of hung

around and helped your mom?

It's okay with me, if

that's what you want, Mom.

All right. We'll try

it and see how it goes.

I suppose you have to get

your things from town.

I can do

that this evening.

I'll show you the

room you can use.

So, now I understood.

She was stuck for somebody

to work the ranch.

She naturally would

be, with Sam gone.

That ad in the local paper

must've been a last resort

for her, but for me, it was

a chance sent from heaven.

I was only sure of one thing.

My being here had nothing to

do with the late Mr. Tevlin.

Only with Mrs. Tevlin.

I'd come because I'd seen a

woman on a station platform.

And now that I'd talked to her,

I'd made up my mind I

was going to be near her,

even if Sam Tevlin

came back from the dead

to try and stop me.

Why, hi, pal. How you

feeling this morning?

Okay. I always feel okay.

Swell. That little

paint your horse?

Yep, what'd you catch him

for? He likes to be let loose.

Maybe you'd want to

slap a saddle on him

and ride out with me.

- I'll tell you why I can't 90.

- There's Indians around here.

No kidding. Sometimes,

they attack.

Then I have to take

care of Ma, you see?

Sure. Well, you do that.

So long, Mike. See you tonight.

So long.

Did Mr. Brown ask

you to go with him?

- I couldn't 90!

- There's an attack!

So we found some tracks

and we followed 'em, and,

pretty soon Mike here heard

this little bull calf bellowing.

Just moaning, like he

said, and gosh awful.

He was dragged

off with his mammy

in a little canyon where

the spring had dried up.

We got him out of there,

though, didn't we?

Next week, I'm gonna dam

that creek so there'll be

some water up that way

when the bad months come.

Lin says when enough water

gets in it, I can swim there.

That's fine, but right now,

it's getting pretty

near somebody's bedtime.

Aw gee, Ma.

If you want to be a vaquero,

you've got to take time

out to go to sleep.

Can't I fool around

with Lin a little while?

Not tonight, honey.

Mr. Brown has some work to do.

You go along now.

I'll be in later to

read you that story.

I was going to help him

with that bridle he's making

but I guess it'll keep.

It will have to keep.

I've something else

I want you to do.

Will you come with me, please?

Sure.

I had the

colt in here today

and he broke through the fence.

I'd like you to fix it.

Okay, I'll start first

thing in the morning.

I want it done now.

Well, isn't it a little late

to begin wrangling fences?

When there's work to be done,

you'll just have to do it,

if you expect to stay here.

She had a real genius

for concocting that

kind of assignment.

Every night after work,

and day times, too,

if I had 10 minutes to spare,

she'd come up with something

new, and generally,

she'd find some excuse to

be around and watch me.

If she could've stood

over me with a whip,

that would've pleased

her better still.

I almost quit 100 times, but

always managed to hold out,

because I knew something

was boiling inside her,

eating her up, and I wanted

to find out what it was.

So I took everything

she handed out

and waited for the next move.

Hi, pal.

Wanna try?

Sure, come on.

How do you put your fingers?

Well, let's see. First one

would be about like that.

That's pretty good. A

little farther back.

Press harder.

You do it.

Tired already?

All right. What'll it be?

The one you were playing.

Oh, one about the

doggies. You like that?

Did you ever go to Wyoming?

No, but I always

had a hankering to.

If you went,

would you come back?

Sure, you bet I would.

Chances are I'm

not going anyway.

What's "dead"?

I mean, what does it mean, dead?

Dead?

Well, that's when

you're not here anymore.

When you stop

being what you are.

When you start to

be something else?

I guess so, Mike. I don't

know much about those things.

Most people don't.

- My mom does.

- Does she?

Yeah. She told me about it.

My dad's not coming

back anymore.

I'm sorry.

- Oh, that's okay.

- He's in heaven.

Heaven. What a place.

I bet you nothing

happens up there much.

Supposed to be all right.

Those angels, they

look like ladies.

Are there men angels, too?

There are both kinds, I guess.

They have spears.

Sure they do.

I saw it in a picture.

I had a spear once

but I lost it.

Michael.

I'm out here with Lin, Mom.

Come in, dear. It's bedtime.

I'm coming.

Doggone, I wish I

hadn't lost that spear.

I lost my bow and arrow, too.

It was a swell one.

My dad made it for me.

When he comes back, he'll...

Well, he's not coming

back. I told you that.

Can you make a bow and arrow?

Well, I guess I

could. I could sure try.

Will you tomorrow?

Well, yeah.

Yeah, I will.

Gee, thanks, Lin.

Okay.

You'd better go on in now.

Okay. You won't forget

the bow and arrow, will you?

No, I won't forget.

You're a pal. Well, goodnight.

Goodnight, son.

Son.

There I was, moving into

something I'd never bargained for.

I was picking up a

ready-made family for myself

and loving it.

All except one thing.

Ellen wouldn't change

her manner to me,

at least when we were alone.

In front of Mike,

she was nice as pie.

Can I go out and

sh**t now, Mom?

Sure.

- You coming, Lin?

- In a minute.

I'm fixing to help your

mother with these dishes.

Dishes. Holy smoke.

I can make out

without help, thank you.

How long do we have

to keep on this way?

I don't know what you mean.

The way we are now, like

strangers mashed together

against their will, not

knowing what to do about it.

What would you

suggest we do about it?

Well, we could act like

a human once in a while.

Like at the table, you

never say a word to me,

except " pass this, pass that".

When the meal's through,

no time for anything.

I go to work, Mike goes

to play, and you...

Could sit around and talk a

little bit. Now, people do that.

Just pour an extra

cup of coffee.

Or if you don't like

that, we could go uptown.

Sure, in the evenings.

We could walk around the

plaza and listen to the band,

look in the shop windows.

Maybe even take you into one

of those old time movies.

Now, Mike would like that.

We have no money

to waste on shows.

But we have to do

something, don't you see?

Even if we fight and

yell and throw things.

What should we fight about?

About anything!

At least we'd

prove that we're alive.

This way, it's nothing.

The days go by.

I don't know where they

go or what's wrong.

It's like a sickness or like

being goofy or something.

We just stand still.

You feel it, too.

You know what I mean.

Why, even have would be-

Hate?

- What do you know about hate?

- Well, not much, thank god.

Hate can be sweeter

than anything.

You've hurt yourself.

It's just a scratch.

Can we go swimming, Ma?

I thought you were having

a big Indian w*r today.

It's Sunday. You said we

could swim at the dam Sundays.

Oh, you can't go alone,

dear, and I can't go with you.

- Aw gee, but Rico can swim.

- He's going to teach me.

Lin has the irrigation ditch

all made and it's real deep.

All right, 90 on.

Gee, thanks!

I don't blame 'em.

Oh, this air, wow!

It's always that

way this season.

Short of going

swimming with the kids,

I don't know what to

do about it myself,

unless I use the family

swimming pool here,

like Mike did yesterday.

You're most welcome

to it, I'm sure.

You mean I have your gracious

permission to dunk myself?

You know I don't

care what you do.

Oh, you're too kind. You

can't miss a chance like this.

Yoo-hoo!

You know, I was working

one time on a tr*mp steamer

down on the Caribbean

and we were quarantined

for a couple of weeks

in the company port.

It was a case of

typhus on board.

Well, maybe we were lucky or

it wasn't typhus or something.

Anyway, when we put out

to sea again, the captain

stopped the ship and let us

all go over side for a swim,

and it was a great feeling.

And you know something?

Today was just as good.

Yes, sir, that little old barrel

is all right for a Sunday dip.

Imagine you had more

room in the Caribbean.

Are you, uh, you

through with this?

You can take it to

your room and read it.

Oh, no. It's

fine right here, thanks.

Ellen?

Ellen, will you listen

to me for a minute?

Listening to you is

just a waste of time.

You weren't wasting your

time when you went to my room

and looked through my things.

My wallet, for instance.

You'd seen me at the station.

You wanted to know if

my real name was Brown.

You found out it wasn't.

I found

out you were the man

who m*rder*d my husband.

m*rder*d?

That's a pretty big word.

Generally, before you

hang that on a man,

you investigate what he's done.

Most times, a lawyer

presents the evidence,

a jury considers it, and

a judge passes sentence.

What are you, judge, jury,

and prosecuting attorney,

all rolled into one?

Did Sam Tevlin

have a judge, jury,

and prosecuting attorney?

I was working for a company

and he'd stolen money

from that company.

At least, that's what everyone

believed, and I did, too.

Did you believe it?

What made you so sure?

Did Sam tell you he was a thief,

or did you forget to give

him time to tell you?

Well, there wasn't time for...

Go on.

Well, what do

you know about it?

You speak as if

you'd been there.

You were the one who

started asking questions.

Well, let me ask you something.

Why did you sh**t Sam

when he had his hands up?

He only had one

up. I yelled at him.

But nobody knew

that. Nobody except-

- No one except you, Mr. Vanner.

You and Sam.

But Sam's dead, so that

leaves you all by yourself.

And you're quite right.

There was no word about

it in the clipping I read.

Would you like to know

how I found that out?

I found out from Sam.

They sent him home to me.

You should remember that.

You got a free ride with him.

Well, I looked at Sam's body.

A wife is apt to do that if

her husband is sent home dead

and she doesn't know

what k*lled him.

I saw where the b*llet went in,

just below the

muscle of the chest.

His arm was raised when it hit,

because the muscle dropped

over the hole and sealed it up.

That's why he bled internally.

Oh yes, Mr. Vanner.

I know how my husband died.

You were a great hero.

You were very brave that

morning at daybreak.

Ellen.

Won't you please go now?

Ellen, everything

you've said is true.

I think I shot too soon.

Oh, he yelled something at me,

but I couldn't make

out what it was and...

Well, I thought he was playing

a trick on me and so I-

- You got the shakes.

You were a coward and you k*lled

because you were a coward.

Believe me, it wasn't that.

Men who get the shakes

shouldn't go on posse rides.

They should clean pigsties.

They should crawl in the dirt.

I've been doing those

things. I thought you knew.

I'll send you your

share of the money

when the stock is sold.

I can get somebody else

to round up for me.

We were talking about Sam.

I was with him when he died

and he didn't ask for you.

He asked for his mother.

What's the point

of telling me that?

I'm telling you because

this wifely loyalty

doesn't fool me a bit!

Sam didn't think of you

when he was dying alone,

groping for one

thought or feeling

that would help or comfort him.

Don't you think most men

would turn to their wives,

under such circumstances?

I don't know. It'd

depend on the man.

And the woman, and the

way they'd lived together.

Oh, it's a small thing, might

not mean anything at all,

but it's part of the feeling

I've had about you and Sam.

It's hard to put into words,

but it seems to me you

two were strangers.

Is that wrong?

Oh, people can be married

and even have a child

and buy a ranch,

the way you did,

and never like each other

much, or even know each other.

From the looks of this place,

I don't believe he spent

a year all told here

as your husband.

It was more fun to buck the

oilfields for a bankroll

and make love to Tampico

dance hall girls.

Isn't that about the way

it was between you two?

Yes, that's just

the way it was,

but some women would

k*ll you for saying so.

But not you, people

get punished for k*lling,

and you don't figure

to get punished.

You operate from your

brains, not your feelings.

You've let me work

here, knowing who I was,

because you needed me.

Besides, what fun

it was to ride me,

when I had no

comeback, wasn't it?

- It was sweet.

- It was wonderful.

Yes and the best of it was

I couldn't hit you in the face

and walk out on you for six

months, the way Sam used to.

You didn't learn to

hate men from me,

or from anything you

found out about me.

You learned from Sam.

You've been saving

something up against all men

and you've enjoyed

letting it out on me.

Well, you've won, Mrs. Tevlin.

Our partnership is washed

up and you may keep my share

of the profits, if any,

with my compliments.

Is that the way

you say goodbye?

Unless I'm saying hello.

Hello, then.

I don't know what

love is, Father,

unless it's one person's

recognition of another,

or one great experience that

breaks down the walls of self.

Well, we had it, Ellen and I.

We'd begun at the place

where most people never get.

The final explanations.

People pay for

such explanations,

but there are also rewards.

Yes, Father.

Well, we found the

greatest reward of all.

Our marriage.

Amen.

Amen.

I could hardly

follow the priest's words

because I kept thinking,

"She's mine now.

She's mine."

That day, I was sure the

devils that had haunted me

since I shot Sam Tevlin

were gone for good,

but they weren't through

with me yet, Father,

as I found out.

- Give me some rice.

- Not now.

I want a big handful.

Oh, Michael. You were

a wonderful best man.

Yeah, thanks for

standing up with me, chum.

Oh, that's okay. I

got something for you.

- Yeah?

- Good luck, compadre.

Oh, thanks.

- Here.

- What's that?

Ellen, look at the wedding

present Mike got us!

Oh, they're beautiful.

- Can I try 'em on now?

- Oh, they'll fit.

I copped one of your

old boots for size.

Oh, let me try 'em

on anyway. Let's see.

Here. Over here.

Well, Ellen, good luck.

Thank you, Carlos.

I'm so happy.

You'll get

something out of that.

Just perfect.

I guess I'll see you later.

Oh, we'll see you

tonight at the party.

I'm a real cowboy now.

Absolutely perfect.

- You like the butterflies?

- They've got real ones.

Yeah. They're the best looking

pair of boots I ever saw.

- How about that?

- They're beautiful.

Come here.

What's that I hear

about a party?

It's a surprise.

Every wedding has to

have a party afterwards.

Have to have a procession.

Procession? But who's coming?

I don't know. Juan

invited most of them.

Oh-h*! That's the

country club set.

Think they're

having a good time?

- Wonderful.

- Oh, I'm glad.

Well, Juan's a little careless

with that Milwaukee champagne.

Gracias.

All right, compadre, you are

through. Carlos takes over.

Oh, take it easy,

bridesmaid. This is our job.

Go, little one. Go hold

hands with your husband.

You're an angel, Carlos.

I could use a

little hand holding.

I hid out two plates

of food for us in the house.

- You're a smart woman.

- Hm, and a good cook.

Oh, well, wait a

minute. I did the cooking.

You did the carving.

Oh. Oh, yeah.

Our first party.

We're livin'.

People say that for a joke,

and yet it can mean so much.

You were the one

who made me realize

I'd been alive without living.

Even the hate I thought

I had for you was a lie.

I couldn't let myself

admit I loved you.

Do you?

I feel as if tonight, all

the nights and days ahead of us

were a wedding present from you.

You've helped me,

too. You know that.

How?

You made me quit running away.

Were you running when

you first came here?

Why?

You know why.

But not now. You're

not running now.

You don't blame

yourself for anything.

No, I don't think so.

Yet here's the funny twist.

I only thought of it tonight.

I'm in Sam's shoes,

don't you see?

It's as if a wheel were turning

in a circle or something.

Sam's wife, Sam's kid.

But...

Then you haven't stopped

running, darling.

Not until you know Sam's

shoes are on Sam's feet.

You're wearing boots from a

little boy that loves you,

and you're married to a girl

who never really was Sam's wife

just as you told me.

She's really yours.

There is no past.

Nothing's going to happen.

Just the two of us together now.

What's with those children?

Doesn't sound like playing.

You're right. That's a scrap.

Hey!

Hey! Hey, Mike!

Mike, Mike!

Hey, take it easy, will ya?

Well, well, what's it all about?

Honey, maybe you'd better

take him back with the others.

Go on.

Go on, Pablito.

Come here. Tell me about it.

What happened?

Oh, this is just

between us chums.

Nothin'.

Well, something

must have happened.

They said somethin'.

Uh-huh. About you?

About your mom or me?

About my dad.

While he was

playing the moccasins game

with those kids, he heard one

of them say he was the son

of that bandito Tevlin.

Oh, how terrible.

I was hoping he wouldn't have

to hear about it like that.

How would we put it

to sound any better?

I don't know. I suppose

he'll have to be told someday.

What shall we tell him?

The truth.

That his father

was a stick-up man?

I didn't think we knew

the truth about that.

Oh, Lin, you can't turn back

now. You can't undo the past.

No, but you can

find out facts.

If there's blame, you can

put it where it belongs.

Oh, I've had this on

my back for a year now.

The way I had Sam when I

took him down the pass.

Why should he have stolen

money? He wasn't a criminal.

He could always get a

job in the oil fields.

In fact, I'll bet he was rail

hitching back to Bolsa Grande

looking for a job when the

payroll car caught up with him,

if it did.

And another thing, why was

the posse and the police

dragged through every cut

and cane break between here

and the coast instead of

the mountains, where I went?

At the time, I thought it was

just stupid and yet it seemed

wrong to me somehow, even

while I was riding after him.

I'm sure someone in that posse

never meant for

him to be caught.

There's a man alive somewhere

who took that payroll

and caused Sam's death,

and I want him to pay.

You can't forget, can you?

All right.

I don't want this

hanging over our heads.

Go and do it, and

then come back to me.

So I traveled back

the way I'd come,

only this time, I

paid for my ticket.

I went to the company files

and looked up everything

they had about the holdup.

Oh, by the way, do you happen

to remember the name of

that guard, you know,

the one that was wounded?

Well, there ought to

be a medical report

on him there, hadn't there?

Mm. Oughta be

in here some place.

Valdez.

That's it. That's it.

Here we are.

Corporal Valdez.

You don't

remember me, do you?

You're not a stranger, senor.

But I, since my wound,

my memory's not so good.

I know about that wound.

I was an official at

the Bolsa Grande company

when you were brought in.

I was the one who sent for

the doctor to take care you.

You stayed?

Ah, Si.

Si!

Mr. Vanner.

Senor Valdez, I'd like to

have a little talk with you.

Couldn't we sit down

and rest awhile?

Si, senor.

Would you like a cigarette?

Muchas gracias.

I'm glad you've

made such a recovery,

but I have serious news for you.

My pension. Has it stopped?

Oh, I don't know

anything about that,

but the case concerning the

hold-up has been reopened.

I'd like to ask you

a few questions.

- It's a long time ago. Mr.

- Vanner, my memory is bad.

Well, I'll try to refresh

it. Now, come on, sit down.

Let's see, you were assigned

with three men as an escort

for Earl Mahoney, who

was bringing the money.

Yes, but that-

- In the mountains, the car

came up with an American

who was walking the tracks.

The reports say he had a Tommy

g*n. Now try to remember.

Did the gringo have the g*n,

or did he take it from

one of the guards?

He had it with him,

senor.

Track walking

with a machine g*n.

Strange nobody noticed

that when you slowed down.

A Tommy g*n doesn't

fit in a man's pocket.

He was hiding it maybe

underneath his clothes.

Oh, I tell you wrong. He grab

it from one of the guards.

Yes, I think he did that!

You're lying, Valdez.

Not this American, but

somebody else had that g*n,

and that person used it on you.

You weren't meant to be found

alive, and when you were,

somebody warned you

to keep your mouth.

Warned you and paid you,

which is how you got that

pension you spoke of a minute ago.

Senor Vanner-

- And since then, you've

been afraid of every shadow,

haven't you?

Even had bad dreams about it.

Dreams where you can

see the man with the g*n

firing on the guard, your

companeros, and on you.

Who are you protecting, Valdez?

Who is the man with the g*n?

Who took the Bolsa

Grande payroll?

I must...

I must ring the

bell at the mission.

All right. I'll wait.

I pitied Valdez for his

insane act, but he'd left

my plan of operations

hanging as high as he was.

He'd been my last, and

in fact, my only witness,

and he was dead.

All I could do now was

figure out another angle,

even though I knew it

was a crazy gamble.

Strictly a shot in the dark.

Nobody's allowed

to drink in here.

What do you wish, senor?

10 minutes in your files.

I regret exceedingly,

that will be impossible.

Perhaps you need an opener.

I'm sorry. There are

positively no exceptions.

That's disappointing.

This beer is warm. I will

get some ice, for 10 minutes.

This is the file

index. It is lock.

The keys, you understand,

are in the desk drawer.

I forbid you to use them.

I'd like to see Mr. Mahoney.

Step inside, sir.

Mr. Mahoney in?

He's busy.

All right. I'll wait.

You state your

business, Mister?

Okay, have a talk with

him and get back to me.

I want a yes or

no by 12 o'clock.

You'll have it.

You wish to see me?

Aye, Mr. Mahoney.

Lin Vanner! Long time no see.

- How've you been?

- Doing fair.

Maybe a little better.

No complaints at all.

So I noticed. "Earl

C. Mahoney Enterprises".

What's on your mind?

I...

Come on inside.

I don't want to be disturbed.

Quite a little

place you've got here.

Not bad, is it?

I picked it up awhile back from

the estate of General Ibera.

Sit down.

You know, it was kind

of you to drop in.

Won't you have a spot of cognac?

No, thanks. I'll come

right to the point.

Got a little statement here

I'd like you to glance over.

Not trying to

raise a little dough, are you?

No, just straightening

out some facts.

Facts concerning

the payroll hold-up

at the Bolsa Grande

company about a year ago.

Tell me something.

Yeah.

Have you lost your mind?

Why? Is there some inaccuracy?

Inaccuracy?

You state here that

I, Earl C. Mahoney,

planned and ex*cuted the

Bolsa Grande payroll robbery.

That's right.

That I myself

machine gunned six men

and wounded Corporal Valdez.

That I then hid out the money,

and put the blame on

an American oil worker

whom we'd met track

walking in the mountains.

Sam Tevlin.

You haven't figured on him,

I'll admit, but finding him,

the way you did, worked

like a charm for your plan.

You know, I get a

kick out of this.

What did you do, dream

it up all by yourself?

Not quite. I

did some studying.

As an oil operator, you were

running into tough luck.

Your finance company

was almost broke.

You had an option on a new field

that you thought would save you,

but you didn't have the

money to take it up.

Two days after the

robbery, you took it up,

and that was the deal

that made you rich.

Here's a photostat in the

memorandum from your own files.

So, one day I had no

money, the next I had some.

What's so unusual about that?

You think for

evidence like this,

I'm going sign your confession,

or whatever you call it?

Yes, I think you will.

You've got guts. I like that.

What's the deal, Vanner?

I want to clear

a dead man's name.

For clearing dead men's

names, I pay 5,000 pesos.

That's tops.

Not enough.

10.

This deal won't cost

you a cent, Mahoney,

except the price of a

trip out of the country,

after you've signed that paper.

I suggest you move fast, and

once you're out of Mexico,

you stay out.

This country doesn't like

Americans who ignore her laws.

And if I don't sign?

Think I'll change my

mind about that brandy.

Help yourself.

You know, Vanner,

you're a tough man,

But you don't leave

me much choice.

I guess I'll have to

play along with you.

Get up.

Come on, get up!

Sure, I'd k*lled

him in self defense,

and I should've called the

cops and given myself up,

tried to make the story stick.

It would've been a

simple thing to do.

I even thought of it, I guess,

and yet I couldn't do it.

I couldn't think straight

anymore, except to make sure

that I had something to

fight with, if I got caught,

and I didn't intend

getting caught.

Hey, he doesn't

want to be disturbed.

- He told me to come back.

- Oh, you know best?

Yes.

Your hat, sir.

Mr. Mahoney, I...

Senora.

I figured I could work

up to the mountain trails

and find my way

home across country.

I wanted to see

Ellen and Mike again.

Maybe we could

work something out.

Some way to salvage our lives.

But the next day,

the police picked up my

trail and cut me off.

I was sure by this time they

must have the ranch staked out.

- Senora, you understand.

- Now we must search the house.

Very well.

They've been watching

us for a week.

Why did they choose

tonight to search for him?

Because they think

they know something,

but they don't know enough.

Where is he?

When they leave,

go to the priest hut

at the foot of the mountains.

Oh, Father, can't you

do something for my arm?

My son, if I could

help you, I would be glad to.

I know.

We talked all night.

It was coming

daybreak then, too.

The day when I...

When you?

When I made my mistake.

Look.

They are here.

Senor Vanner!

For a man of your intelligence,

that is a poor decision.

I want to live, Father,

whether it's for 30

years or 30 seconds.

If I go out there, I'll die.

Come out, Vanner!

Vanner!

Do not sh**t!

That's someone with him.

It's a woman.

So that is where

you want to be,

but take this message to him.

He must give himself

up in two minutes

or we will sh**t again,

whether you are there or not.

It's Ellen!

Oh, Lin.

Oh, Ellen, you

shouldn't have come here.

You've done just what they

wanted, given them a hostage.

It doesn't matter. You've

got to give yourself up.

That's something I can't do.

But it's the only

way. Please listen.

- Oh, you're hurt.

- It's nothing.

He cannot raise

his arm to surrender.

Oh, Lin.

Well, then you've got to

tell them what's happened.

Make them understand

that you're wounded.

It's no use, Ellen.

Darling, you've got to listen.

I know you k*lled

Mahoney in self defense.

I'm sure of it.

You can make them believe

it, too. You can get justice.

No! Don't you understand

what's happened?

It's the full circle.

This was in the cards.

It had to come out this way,

right from the very first.

It's just a scratch, and even

if I take my arm this way now,

I can't lift it,

I can't move it.

I can't!

- Vanner!

- Your time is up!

Get over there.

Get over there!

- Oh, Father, what can we do?

- He wants to destroy himself.

Yes, and it's not his wound.

He feels he must destroy himself

because of something

he has done.

It has happened to many

men. I have seen it.

This is in his mind.

I'm going out!

Ellen!

Are you hurt? Are you all right?

I wasn't hit. I fell.

Your arm.

You used your arm.

This is the answer. We

haven't lost, we've won.

We can live.

We can be together again.

But have we won?

If I...

If I go outside...

If you want to be with

your wife and son again,

you must try.

I'm coming out!

Put up your hand!

- Come with us.

- Have faith, my son.

Come.