05x08 - The Mark Miner Story

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You think God began in the world?

I got no now and several other things
South took for me.

Then she died in the spring.

What do you think I made of her?

Hide the very best saddle
that you ever did ride.

Saddle or bridle
or any such a thing about the measles.

And she died in the spring.

What do you think I made of her nose?

The very best thimble
that ever sold clove, thimble or thread.

Or in such a pain in the saddle,
took the measles.

And she died in the spring.

What do you think Made of her feet?

The very best pickle that you ever did.

Pickles or glue or any sort
to being the south of to me.

She died in the spring.

Oh, right about here.

I'll be just dandy. Oh,

yeah, Because it'll be just fine at home.

This mark.

Don't
you think there's a better way to do this?

What if nobody wants to help us
fix the wheel?

Now, don't you worry
none about that little brother.

All the help, Will.

One has had to write this way.

Out of all those people on that wagon
train. There's got to be.

Somebody will take pity
on a couple of poor homeless boys like us.

And them and.

You just trust me, Matt?

If you say so.

More.

Oh. What do you suppose now
I've been like that's going on down here.

Looks like you broke down.

We're going up.

And so went to cover it. Yes, sir. Now,

Adam, Why?

Oh, why should it be?

It was all that misprint.

Sure.

It's nice of you fellows,
but I feel I ought to be helping.

Don't you worry about these two boys.

I can. It's all kind of all. They.
All right?

You're gone.
We might have to go back there.

They got much more muscle.
They got brains.

Oh, you can hold the wagon again.

You can use your hands.

Quit your blabbing, Charlie,
and get that wheel on.

And I will.

But first, tell me your story about what
you said about my cooking's one way.

Come on, I'll cut it out.

How are you going to say
you're sorry, Charlie?

Put that grease down, down, down.

About there, I.

Oh, you think it's funny?
I know what I do.

You know what you done? You made a face
this morning. Was making my coffee.

And not only that,
when you thought my back

was trying to put it on the ground,
I saw you.

I see everything.

Charlie, when we get this wheel on.

Yeah, but when you get it on,

don't you put it on.

Just take your time
and I'll move back to the wagon.

I'll see you later, boys.

Come on, boy.

Get that wheel on.

Hurry up about it, sugar. Lay.

Come on, get it on.

Oh, come on.

Just.

They're not going to hurt them all, Mr.

Hale. Jolly.

No, not seriously injured after. To that
they did.

He's the cook.

I guess it isn't right for me
not to have mentioned this before, but

I haven't any money to pay for this wheel.

You haven't had?

No, sir,

I. I guess I should have said
something, huh?

Oh, I guess the subject had to come up
sooner

or later.

Well,
the only thing I could do, sir, is to

stop work for it until I pay it off.

We're on the move every day, you know.

Yes, sir.

I know,

But my brother and I could ride along with
you and I could work at the same time.

Would that be all right, Mr. Hale?

I guess it's that.

Or just give you the wheel, isn't it?

No, sir. I wouldn't want charity.

My brother and me work for our cake.

We've been making our way
ever since we left Kansas,

and we're going to keep making it until
we get to California to get any family.

Just an uncle in Sacramento.

I lost my folks in the w*r.

All right, son, pull your card in line.

I'll see you get to California.

Thank you, sir.

You know, young man, I had a take on
you and your brother on the train.

Anyway, if you just asked me,
you didn't have to write that, were you?

What do you mean?

Wagon wheel? The brakes by itself.

Very seldom has any ax marks on it.

What are we going to do, Mark?

Just what we're doing.

But you heard him.
He knows about the wheel.

It doesn't make any difference.

Got us on the train.

Didn't

our child who's in the wagon, I think.

Yeah, Yeah, in the wagon.

Charlie, let's go.

Charlie, what are you doing?

Just trying to wipe out my beard.

That's all.

I ran.

Hey. Hi.

You sure this is the right wagon train?

It is.

There's so many people.

How do we ever find the right one?

We already have.

We have.

I didn't know it at the time.

Then I heard somebody call them by name.

It was one of the fellows that helped us
with the new wheel.

Twin.

Twin, was he?

I don't think I better tell you just yet.

I got as much right to know as you do.

You know. You know, not you do.

But if you knew where he was,
he might catch you looking at him.

Just the way you're looking right now.

That would spoil everything.

You think I am a baby?

You know I'm not. You're not a baby.

It's not a fact.

I couldn't do this thing at all
without you.

One of these times I'll point out to you.

Yeah.

Shaughnessy.

See what he looks like?

Yeah.

Just creep slowly.

By Lorraine.

Oh, the snow is on the grass again.

The sun's low down the sky.

Lorraine Oh, the frost gleams

where the flowers have been

here.

Nothing pretty Doesn't make things
all the time

to tell you about that showgirl
we had on the wagon.

Very much.

Since when is your beard
become so tender, Charlie?

I touch you. Yeah.

Get the hell out of Africa.

Reach out on a corner.
That's way too smart, Alex.

This man

can never did so low

as down.

Jones Cloudless sky.

We loved each other

then Lorraine

more than we ever dared to tell.

And what we might have been learning.

I had.

But our loving prospered.

Well,

but then despise.

The years are gone.

I'll not call up their shadowy Oh,

I'll say to them Last year's sleep.

Oh, sleep on Nora.

He lives pelting stones.

I thank you very much
for your hand-clapping.

I really appreciate it,
but I reckon that's all for tonight.

Oh, I just wish that things are wonderful.

Well, thank you,

Mark.

I'd say a song like that's almost worth
the price of a new wagon wheel

all by itself.

Why, thank you, Mr. Hale,

but I was kind of figuring on a little
harder kind of work to pay you back.

Well,
we've got plenty of that around here, too.

Mark, I'd like you to know.

Reverend Norris, this is Mark Minor.

How do you do, sir?

You've got a God given voice there, Mark.

I'm happy to see you.

Don't hesitate sharing it with others.

I thank you, sir.

No, I guess there isn't anything
I I'd rather do than sing,

even when nobody's around listening
but me.

Oh, I don't believe you know my little
brother Matthew, This is Reverend Norris.

Hey, you want to take this boy?

Sure, Matthew, You say Matthew and Mark.

Two good Christian names for Duke,
Good Christian boys.

I'd say perhaps you'd sing a hymn
at services on Sunday.

I'd be glad to, sir.

My daughter Molly can play for you.

Always seemed to me
the church was in church without an organ.

I carry a small one with us, Mr. Hale.

This time I'm glad I found you.

Oh, what's the matter, Mr. Hale?
I've been robbed.

Somebody stole my gold
watch right out of my wagon.

Well, maybe I just misplaced it.
Maybe this is mine.

But no, sir, I'm positive
I took it out of my pocket.

I was fixing to go to bed early.

Then I heard this young fella singing.

I stuck my head out of the back
of the wagon and it sounded so purty.

I figured I'd mosey down to listen to it,
and my wife came with me.

Well, sir, I laid the watch on the bed
right there in plain view.

Anybody looking in the back of the wagon
could have seen it.

Then when I come back a few minutes later,
that watch was gone.

Cain in all.

Well, sorry.

I mean, didn't see anybody around there.

He didn't belong there, did you?

Not that I know of.

Well, we're
we don't have a talk with your neighbors.

Maybe we can arrange them.
I'll go with you, Mr. Hale.

See, in the morning,
ma'am. Good night, Mr. Hale.

Oh. Oh, Lord.

My God.

When I, in all some wonder,

consider all the world by.

And may

I see the stars?

I hear the rolling thunder.

My power throughout the universe displayed

then sings my soul Oh,

my savior God to me Oh, great.

Oh, great.

The w*r

then sings my soul.

Oh, my Savior, Gone to thee.

How great the Lord, How great The w*r.

I went through the woods and forest

glade And I wonder

and hear the purse strings sweetly.

Inventory

when I look down

from the.

Lofty mountain ground. Do

I hear. The broom

and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul

My fave Your God to me how great the w*r.

Oh great.

The w*r

then sings my soul.

Oh my Savior, God,

How great the Lord.

Oh, great Lord.

I heard

Brother Abner

Thorn wishes me to announce
that his valuable gold

watch was stolen from his wagon
last night.

He praised for its return.

It has great sentimental value
as well, being a gift

from his late father.

I would ask you, my friends,
to add your prayers

to those of Brother Thorn for the safe
return of the watch, of course,

but also that one who has back lived

will hear yet another voice

and will of his own good conscience

return that which he has stolen.

All very fine, thank you.

Realize we have an evening service.

I come back.

Well, I hope your request for prayers

on the part of the thief among us
does some good. Reverend.

I have faith that they will, Mr. Hale.

Apparently it was busier
last night than we thought.

Since I got up this

morning, three more people have come to me
complaining of similar thefts.

Currently,
they all occurred about the same time

while the people away from their wagons
listening to Mark sing.

Hard to believe
that anyone would be so heartless

when you think of the hardships
people must endure to take

what few possessions
they do have across this vast country.

Man, they have a valuable stolen.

It's cruel, Mr.

Hale, where we will find the culprit.

I'm sure, should be easier
Now that he stolen more things,

he could hide one watch.

But several things won't be so easy.

Mark.

Yes, sir.

I want to tell you
I enjoyed your song very much.

I'm sure everybody did.

Well, thank you very much, sir.

Mr. Hale, if you haven't got
any more chores for me to do.

Molly, Miss Norris has invited us
for Sunday dinner.

Well, it shouldn't be anything
the boys and I can handle.

Even on a wagon train.

We only do what we have to do on Sunday.

You kids enjoy yourself. Thank you, sir.

You can
help me set the table if you want to go.

I'd be glad to.

Come on. We'll get things
out of the wagon.

Mark,

do we have to stay here?

Yes, we do.

And hold on to my guitar.

Well, you.

We always use Mama's good linen
tablecloth on Sunday.

And good silver, too.

Where's your mother, Molly?

She's up in heaven, Mark.

Oh, I'm sorry.

That's my papa decided
we go to California with Mama gone.

He didn't want to stay in Iowa any longer.

I see.

I guess.

What kind of a life can that we aren't?

We we both lost our mothers.

Yeah, I guess we are.

But at least you still have a father.

When you get the silverware,
Mark, it's in the box right on top.

All right.

Give.

Close the lid on the chest
with your mouth.

But sure.

Girls who are more
can leave me behind anyway.

Go off with their old girl.

My man.

Where are you?

I ought to make them look for me.

I told them to stay right here.

I better be getting back before
Papa gets worried.

Oh, I can find my own way.

All right. My.

I guess
I'll see you at the service tonight.

I just had a wonderful time
this afternoon.

Mark, you seem to your thing.

And I.

I like being with you, too, Molly.

Well.

Bye bye.

Where have you been?

Well, like you care.

Well, what's Ellen, you

know?

Well, come on, now.

You're mad
because I didn't take it with me.

Well, how would you like to be left alone
on Sunday afternoon with nothing to do?

Well, I was with Molly.

You can't go dragging your brother
along when you're with a girl.

Why don't you take a walk with her anyway?

Because I like her, that's why.

Yeah,
And you're going to get to, like, in her

so much,
you'll forget what we've got to do.

You forget all about Posh.

I'm not forgetting about Pyle.

Not for one minute.

As a matter of fact,
I'm planning something for tonight.

You are

with Molly yourself.

I'll put me on to it.

You mean she's helping?

No, not on purpose. She isn't.

I sure didn't tell her anything.

Well, and that's
why you been pretending to like her?

Well, not exactly.

I'm not pretending.

I really do like her.

Now, about tonight,

I think the best time is
when I'm singing to him at the services.

Now, what's the matter?

You still haven't told me
which one of those men is Duke Shannon?

Do you remember the big young one

who was playing at the end of the card
while they were putting on the new wheel?

That's him,

Wood.

We're and Charlie,
your beard won't fall up.

I ain't fair to picking on one.

You mean one?
You got this copy on your side.

And that's a deadly weapon
if I've ever seen one.

Mr. Hale.

Mr. Hale.

Something wrong, Robert?

Well, certainly
I haven't seen Mr. Hale at once.

What's the matter, Erin?

Something terrible has happened.

The thief was in my wagon
tonight, Mr. Hale.

He stole my church building fund.

All of it. Over $800.

When this happened,
I just now discovered it.

I kept it in a leather bag, in a chest.

I put part of the collection in it
after church this morning

when I started to do the same thing
after services tonight, it was gone.

Not a trace of it.

How many people know
where you keep this money, Reverend?

Just my daughter,
Molly and myself, that's all.

Well,

who beside the two of you
has been inside the wagon lately?

I don't believe that there's been anyone.

We haven't had any guests for several days
that have been inside the wagon.

That is.

Of course, we did have the minor boys
for dinner today, but it was today.

The money was stolen.

My didn't steal the money.
I know he didn't.

He wouldn't do such a thing.

But he was inside the wagon.

He just helped me
get the tablecloth and silverware.

But he didn't steal the money
because when I put them back in the check,

the money bag was still there.

Believe me, Mr.

Hale, as a minister, I get to know
what's inside people pretty well.

And I can assure you Mike
Minor is not a thief.

Well, I hope you're right, Reverend.

I think Mark's a pretty nice boy myself.

I hope as much as you do that
there's another answer to this thing.

Thank you, Mr. Hale.

Come on.

I'm going to have to go along
with the Reverend Chris.

I can't see Mark Minor's a thief
now. He ate.

I want somebody else much.
I saw the reverend hide his money.

It's hard for me to believe that
a fella can sing as pretty as he does.

Pay me
enough to steal money from a church.

And besides, it appears that everything
was being stolen while he was saying.

Now, how can a fellow
be in two places at the same time?

Come on, boys, I'm
going to need your help.

Where you going, Mark? Miners camp.

We're going to strike that Carnegie is

leaving. Boy.

Oh, good evening, Mr. Hale.

Now you go to sleep.

You were up late last night.

You want to see me about something?

Yes, I do.

Mark, did you know that $800 was stolen
tonight from Reverend Moses wagon?

$800.

Do you think it was the same person
who took the other things as I do?

You see, apparently this thief
always strikes at the same time

while you're singing.

Even the church money,
I think, was stolen tonight during

church services, maybe even
while you were singing your hymn.

Well, the reason

probably is that's when most of the folks
are away from their wagons.

I think that's reasonable.

But the funny part of it
is these robberies

didn't start around here until last night
after you boys joined the train.

What do you mean? Mr.

Hale, you're in Reverend Ross's wagon
today, and you could have seen that pouch.

The money was kept in,

and you went to a lot of trouble
to make sure you joined this train.

And you did break that wheel on purpose,
didn't you?

Yes. Yes, I did.

But only because I didn't think

it was safe enough to go on by myself.

But I didn't take anything.

I couldn't.

I was singing at the time, like you said,

it's right, you know, But somebody else
working with you could have

somebody else.

I don't know anybody on this train.

Besides, I don't like being accused
of something I didn't do

that.

You should welcome the opportunity
to clear yourself.

How? By letting me search
you and your belongings.

Well, sure.

Go ahead.

Search anything you want, but you won't
find anything that doesn't belong to us.

Chrissy,

you think we should go through with this?

We'll see. We have any choice now, do you?

I guess not. Come on, Shirley.

Nope.

Search their bed.

Yes, sir.

I'm right.

Sorry to have to disturb you, young fella.

Your hands off me,

Mr. Hale.

What are you doing?

That's what it looks like.

We don't think these boys had anything
to do with the thieving.

I hope not.

We are searching them.

That's the same as accusing them. Yes,
I guess it is.

It didn't find anything in the bedrooms.

Well,
I hope you're satisfied now, Mr. Hale.

Mind if I look at your guitar, Mark?

But why do you want to look at my guitar?

Why don't you want me to?

No reason

about it.

What is it? A story

I haven't heard.

This is outrageous. No one.

No reason for this.

Anybody can see
they're not the ones who did it.

How can you be so sure, Mr. Simms?

Because there's goodness
in their heart, Mr.

Hale.

Anybody can see that so much. Goodness.

I'd say there wasn't any room for thieving

night.

All of us who had things stolen agree
with Mrs.

Simms.

In fact, we think you're wasting your time
accusing these boys

when you could be searching the wagon of
somebody much more likely to be guilty.

Finally, you get an idea who that might be
and try to appreciate.

You're telling me

that, Mark,
if you get an idea all that he might be,

you won't hesitate
to tell me that, would you?

Well, Mr.

Hale, now that you ask me, and since I was

the first one to be accused,

I think the only thing for me to do

is to tell you
what's been on my mind right now.

All right, let's hear it.

Well, I saw somebody hanging around
Reverend Norris's wagon this afternoon.

It seemed kind of strange at the time.

First he looking at the wagon
and then pretending not to.

When he noticed that I saw him,
It was right at the time.

Mollie and I were taking a walk, and
Reverend Norris was taking a nap outside.

It would have been a very good time

for anybody to sneak in
and get that money.

It's him right there.

He's the one.

I mean,

I didn't steal anything.

It wasn't me.

And I find that a little
hard to believe myself.

You mean you're not going to search him?

You think he's the guilty one
you were talking about?

Abner, I'd sure hate to think so.

We're all mighty
fond of Duke on his wagon train,

but it seems to me
you're obliged to search him

just as much as these boys don't have
to be told my responsibilities, Abner,

I sure hope you don't think
I'm guilty, Mr.

Hale.

Well, I'll look to you.

Things ought to satisfy everybody, Duke.
You don't mind?

I sure don't.

Good thing I travel.

I won't take long to find out.

I didn't do it.

I remember

my jewel box. That's it.

Where'd that come from?

I've never seen it before. Honest.

I didn't steal it.

Is your watch, Abner?

It sure is.
And I'll take my wife's locket to

go in here.

There's your pouch, Hoskins.

Yes, sir. Curious.

What about the church?

Money doesn't seem to be here.
Are you sure?

I'll look for yourself.

It's not here. It's gone.

My diamond ring.

Everything else is here but my rings.

All right. Where's the ring? In the money.

I've told you
I don't know anything about any of this.

How do things got in my saddlebags
or how you got there?

Because you put them there just like you
hid the money in the ring and a church.

Him. Hold it.

I'll take care of this.

There's other ways to find out.

I advise you to put that away.

Get back to your wagon.

I said I'd take care of this,

you know.

Can you tell me anything more about this?

No, sir. Nothing. Except

I didn't steal anything.

All right, now I get my boys.

Come on, Duke.

Ronnie, didn't

you know I want you and Charlie
to stay close to Duke for a while?

It's back in trouble, Chris.

Not exactly, but certain people might get
a little stirred up

when they find out somebody's
stolen church money

and want to take matters into their own
hands.

Well, in a way you couldn't blame.

I thought I'd have to be awful low
to do a thing like that.

And you don't think I'm
that kind of a fellow, do you, Mr.

Hill?

No, I don't. You

thankful for that.

I also don't think you're a fool enough
to leave

stolen goods in the saddlebag
where everybody can find it.

Duke, did you ever see either
one of those boys before?

Well, you don't still think they had
something to do with this, do you?

Oh, never mind what I think.

Have you ever seen them before?

I'm afraid I haven't.

Not before.

I rode out to see
what was the trouble with that car?

I don't know.

I still can't figure those two boys
to be out and out. Thieves.

Neither can I, Bill.

Stars are smiling.

Molly, darling.

Through the mystic veil of night,

they seem laughing.

Molly does

one fella hide her lighter?

No one listens

but the flower is

why they hang their heads in shame.

They are modest.

Molly, darling,

when they hear me, call your name.

Molly

squeezes.

Dear,

Look up, darling.

Tell me that.

Do you love me, Molly?

Darling

lad, your answer

Be lucky.

I told you we're not going to talk
about Molly anymore.

It wasn't for her.

We left this train like we planned just
as soon as they arrested Duke Shannon.

She's not the reason.

She is to.

Look.

We can't just leave
and take the money and the ring with us.

That would really be stealing.

Well, why can't we just hide them
someplace and go?

Because if they're found
and the folks get everything back,

they might not put them in jail.

And that's what we're here to do.

We're not going to leave until we do it.

You will leave anyway.

You want to stay
because you're sweet on that stupid girl.

So mad.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to hurt you.

I am sweet on Molly.

I like her
better than any girl I've ever known.

I don't want to leave.

I might even marry her someday.

She just what I thought.

Well, go on, Mary.

Or go off and leave me. I don't care.

Man. I'm not going to leave you.

You will?

Look, I said I'm sorry I hit.

Yeah.

I wish my pa was here.

So do I.

Matt.

Subtle lie.

I sure don't take much to this kind 11.

Now, don't worry about it, Duke.

Chris will find out who did it.

What if he doesn't?

I'm going to have to take this up

as a steady thing,
and I don't think I'd like that.

I'm used to being outdoors.

I'll just be patient and

play along with it.

Well, Duke, you better get some sleep.

I got to go check in with Chris. Sure.

Bill, thanks for staying to talk with me.
All right.

Good night.

If you see Charlie, tell him I'd like
some fresh headaches for breakfast.

If he can find some.

Oh, my goodness.

Look what we got here.

You doing out here, son?

Now, you take it easy. Nobody's
going to hurt you.

Oh, it's Cooley.

Well,
I mind if you calm down a little bit.

Your brother know that you're out here.

Maybe you'd like to see the prisoners.

That'd

step right up to see the big, bad Robert.

Maybe the boys never seen a man
behind bars before.

Yes, I have.

Now you know how it feels.

When you hear what I heard.

Were you suppose you meant by that?

I don't know.

That sounds like revenge.

Like you're being paid back
for something you did to somebody else.

I mean, like,
maybe I had one of them put in jail once.

Well, I'm one of them, but the parents,
maybe somebody like that.

Ever been to Kansas, Duke? Nope.

Well, I'd been several years ago anyway.

After folks were k*lled in the w*r,
I wouldn't count on that being a fact.

Bill Duke Were you ever connected
with the law in any way?

I mean, like a deputy,
a bounty hunter on a posse or something?

No, sir.

Don't believe ever
was somewhere along the line sometime.

You must have been responsible
for somebody going to jail.

Well,

yeah.

There was one time Phil stole
my horse in Arizona.

Had track him down on foot.

When I turned him over to us, Marshal.

Turned out
he'd been stealing quite a few horses.

He'd been looking for him for a long time.

And he usually lynch horses.

Not this fellow marshal
got him out of town.

So you protect him till he went to jail.

Remember his name?

I don't remember ever hearing it.

Well, if there's any connection,
it shouldn't be too hard

to get the rest of the facts
from the boys.

I'd rather not. Just yet.

Oh, Mr.

Hill sort of hankering to get out of here.

We'll get you out, Duke.

Right
now, I'd rather handle this my own way.

There's one thing for sure.

We better not tell anybody
what we suspect.

That's right.

Whatever you say, Mr.

Hill.

Good morning, President.

Say, now what you got there?

What I found is some wild turkey.

Yet I'm going to have to get myself
arrested.

More often.

If you repeat me like this, I'll do that.

You take care of Charlie.

Well, good morning, fellas.

I bet you came here to find out
why the wagon train had moved out.

Didn't you know?

You didn't know it?

Didn't you saw Mr. Hale and Bill ride out?

We figured this might be a good time
to have a little talk with the thief here.

I think you ought to wait
till Mr. Hill gets back.

I can't tell you anything anyway.

No, We see a different cop around.

Happen to get the key.

You're making a big
mistake, Mr. Hill. I like it.

And we don't like thieves

who steal church money.

Come on out

in camp.

We're going to take charge like this.

Nobody else seems to be doing anything.

Mr. Hill is.

He's already got evidence
that I didn't do it.

I suppose you're going to tell us again

that the minor boys are guilty?

No, I'm not going to tell you anything.

Oh, we'll see about that.

You know, you.

You can't stay mad forever.

White men anymore.

Well,
sometimes they'll tell you what is it,

Mark?

Matthew, something terrible is happening.

What's wrong?

Abner Thorne and the others

were rounded up to the prison wagon,
and they've got ropes.

I was going to try to stop them.

And you stay here.

You better take a look at what they're
doing with that wagon down,

and then
you better think once more about not time

you got plumb out of your mind to find out
what that money is in the ring, too.

And if you think we're bluffing,
you just keep on not talking.

I ain't like you.

You ain't going to tie him up again.

Get tie me up.

Remember?

Oh, look at

the thorn.

What on heaven's name are you doing up
here, Reverend?

You're going to next to remedy.
You can't help.

What can I. Do? You people,
why don't you stop?

I don't advise you to try.

Any of you, huh?

We don't want to hang Duke here,
but whether we do or not is up to him.

All he has to do to save his neck is to us
where he hid that church money.

You can't take a man's life for that.

That ain't considered
wrong to lynch a horse thief. Reverend,

I told you not to come here.

We're only going to hang him to be quiet.

And there's another reason to.

There ain't no way
you can put a lock on a wagon.

We don't aim to travel all the way
to California

worrying about somebody
stealing our belongings.

We figure that this will put an end
to that once and for all.

She's already Abner.

Well, Duke,

you're going to let us hang you
for a few measly dollars and a ring.

There's no way I can stop you seeing that.

I didn't steal him.

You can step up on the boxer.

We'll call you up.

Duke.

A lot of folks around here are mighty

sorry to see you turn out the way you did.

A lot of us were friends of yours.

We thought you were our friend,
and I guess we were wrong.

I reckon we owe

you one last chance to have your say.

Go ahead.

I've already said everything I had to say,
but I guess nobody believes me.

Except maybe for one person.

And that's the one

who put those stolen things
in my saddlebag to make me look guilty.

And I guess he's
just about ready to have the last laugh.

You don't leave me no choice.

This is your last chance to pick up. Boy.

Where did you hide that money?

I have. No,
you can't go through with this.

You can't hang me.

I'm innocent.

You've got to believe me.

Hammer, please. You got to listen to me.

No, You must stop now.

Shalt not k*ll.

Wait a third way.

You've got to stop.

He's not the thief. By an. Order.

We get it on my brother and me.

Can we put the blame on Duke Shannon?

We wanted him put in jail
like our pa was because of him.

But we didn't want him k*lled.

We didn't want any harm to anybody.

Just him.

That's our only reason.

$800 and a diamond ring.

Pretty good reasons.

We were going to pay it all back. Honest.

Oh, sure you were.

If you expect anybody to believe you now,

after fool you made of us.

When I think how all of us
stood up for you

and that innocent brother of yours
don't him that

he only did what I told him to.

I did it because I wanted to.

Did you hear that?

Did you ever hear such gall from a boy
in all your life?

Were you criminals? Both of them.

And the way they

pretended to be such good churchgoing
boys?

Abner, what are you waiting for?

Criminals belong in jail, don't they?

What's the matter, Mr. Sims?

Have you lost confidence
in your judgment of people so soon?

Yes. Goodness.

In their hearts, you say.

Well, now, do you suppose all that
goodness is drained out of them?

Just since yesterday.

I was taken in just like everybody else.

Hey, Guilty. That's all.

We need to take your hands off
those boys out here.

Any more talk isn't going to do any good.

I mean, you better wash out your ears.

I don't understand you at all.

First, you talk us into pretending
to hang Duke so that Mark will confess.

I act as if you wish you hadn't.

That's right.

This whole hanging exhibition was a hoax.

And I'll tell you why.

Because of you, Mr. Sims.

And because of you, Abner. Me.

And because everybody else

who defended these boys
when I searched for their belongings.

Mark, you are right in doing so.

They weren't criminals,
but they could have become criminals

if we treated them like they were then,
or if we treat them like they are now.

I wanted them to confess
because they wanted to,

not because they were forced to.

And they could have been arrested
when I searched them

because I had already discovered
where they'd hidden the things belt

and you know,

guitars don't have secret compartments

without a reason why.

How did you know, Mr.

Hale?

All I knew because that stick
I poked in the sound hole didn't go in

as far as I thought it should.

Mark, I had to

know why you were stealing these things

when Duke and I had figured that out
from something Matthew had said.

I talked to them and Norris.

And together we went to the others
who had things stolen.

And I asked them to stage the fake.

I promised them that it would make
the guilty party confess.

Bill and I were conveniently gone.

So this could happen.

I'm sorry that I had to trick you boys

and all the rest of you
didn't know about this,

But I'm glad you didn't let us down, sir.

I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused

and for all the lies I've told.

I think it's Duke.
You owe the apology, too.

That's all right, Mr. Hale.

I'm just sorry I had to be
the fellow that brought in their father.

But if I hadn't, somebody else would have.

Well, it wasn't a horse thief.

Like I said,

I. Seeing we're telling the truth,
we might as well tell it all.

You tell the boys why you had
to turn their father over to the U.S.

Marshal. You stole my horse.

You still had it.

When I caught up with him.

Better to know the truth and carry

this bitterness with you all your lives.

He only had lived with our father
in Arizona for a year.

We didn't know.

Now I understand
why our mother took us to race by herself

in Kansas.

I reckon
I did some pretty awful things to you.

I got to admit,
you gave me a few bad moments there,

but I can let you know
how you can make it up to me.

I'll be glad to. Any way I can

imagine.

You could
teach me how to play that guitar.

I sure could. After I fix it.

I know that that secret compartment
gave it a pretty bad tone,

and, well, I guess that about
takes care of everything.

Except for one thing.

The fact remains, a crime
has been committed, and it's customary

for the criminals to be imprisoned
until after the trial and verdict.

So far, Matthew and

Mr. Hale,

I must protest.

You can't lock these boys up.

Well, I can't be a judge and jury.

No, but these good people can.

Nobody was hurt
and everything was returned.

The boys did confess to their own
free will and their reason

for borrowing these things in
the first place has been cleared up.

You know what the
Bible says about forgiveness?

How do you feel about this knowledge?

Simms Well, I.

I know we'd all hate to be cheated
out of that, boys.

Him singing.

Abner

I don't know.

Duke They don't hold no grudge.

I don't see why I should.

And nobody else should either.

Well, I'm a reasonable man.

I'll bow
to the will of the majority right.

And let them go. And

Mark, wait for me.

Reverend

Dugger, and convincingly
trying to stop that hanging.

I almost forgot you're in on it.

That's
because I believe everything I said.

Remember it.

If you ever do start the lynch
somebody, I will say,

I hope
I didn't hurt you when I showed you.

No, not at all.

I get more bruises and that every day
just riding my wagon seat

and in the same place, I'm afraid.

Like I say, I was sure glad to see you
when you showed up, Mr.

Hill.

I was beginning to think
you'd forgotten to come back.

Bill and I were behind the wagon
most of the time.

But I want to tell you, Duke, I've never
seen a finer performance on the stage.

And you gave me that rope
around your neck.

Well, to tell you the truth,
that wasn't all just a performance.

It got so there.

After a while, I wasn't too sure
Abner was still kidding for Duke.

Yet another have to worry about.

You know, if Abner had to pull that box
off, my honor, you will.

Chris and I would have got you down.

Well, thanks, Bill.

It's always nice to know
you got friends at your funeral.

Oh, you hear something?

Yeah, It sounds like
it's coming from over there.

Wow. What do you know about that?

Do you think we ought on time, huh?

Oh, well, you get the impression
you try to tell us something.

Maybe we ought to pick this gag off first.

We'd have a million question.

Yeah, and then it get real noisy
around here for a while.

We won't know all about why Duke
knew about it and all those other people.

He didn't.

And we can't tell him it's
because he's such a big blabbermouth.

So you wouldn't like that? No.

He's got a black eye too.

You'd be mad about that? Yeah.

And then he'd probably say a lot of things
that he'd be sorry for later on.

We'd better protect him against himself.

I think you're right, Chris.

I'm really not.