04x03 - Presumed Dead

[bunniefuu]

[calling out to horse]

♪♪ [theme]

She's alive.

Better get her
to the cabin.

[Irish brogue]
The cabin?!

We got enough trouble
dodging cattle guards.
We don't need no more.

Can't leave a woman
to die, O'Leary,
trouble or not.

If we hadn't come along,
she'd have died.

Well, we come along.

What does she mean
to us, Jase?

We never seen her before!
She's a stranger!

Told you, I ain't
a woman-k*ller.

Well, I say
we can't take her.

If we get slowed up now--

You so worried about
them guards, ride on.

I'll follow quick as I can.

You'd better make sure
she's still alive.

She's alive.

We found her
at a stage wreck,

'bout five miles
down the gulch.

Friend?

Never seen her before.

I thought you and Fleet
were gettin' cattle.

We got 'em--
four cows and two calves.

We left them at
Snake Canyon 'til we
can change the brands.

Snake Canyon?

Couldn't drive 'em
no further.

Couple of herd guards
spotted us.

And you took time
to drag her?

[g*nsh*t]

That don't make sense.

Tell Fleet that.

That bruise ain't so bad.

I think
she's coming around.

Well, maybe
she's hurt inside.

Oh, I don't think so.

She, uh, looks kind of
like Hessie, don't she?

Not to me.

Well, I don't mean
her skin, color of
her hair

or nothin' like that,
but the way her face is.

Don't you see it?

Kind of strong, like,

but soft too, and gentle.

Hessie's face
was like that.

Well, she ain't Hessie.

From what's left of
her clothes,

she's a high-flown lady--

probably kin to
the same kind of men
what k*lled Hessie.

Maybe.

But we still couldn't
leave her to die.

What happens if she lives?

She'll be able to tell
all about this place--

what it looks like,
maybe even where it's hid.

Now, what are we
going to do with her?
We can't let her go.

Maybe she won't
want to go.

You're a fool, Jase.
A fool.

Nnn... no.

-Nooooooooooo!
-Easy.

Easy, now.

Easy. Easy.

You're all right, now.
You're all right.

Ohh!

Ohh!

All right?

Yes, you're safe.

I'm gonna take care of
you, understand?

Jason will take
good care of you.

Jason.

Jason will take...

care of...

[thunder]

[rain falling]

[distant thunder rumbles]

[thunderclap]

Food's ready, Jase.

What?
Oh, be right there.

Hang on, Larry.
Remember this?

Give it to Hessie
on our tenth wedding
anniversary.

Sent clear
to New York for it.

I remember.

[thunderclap]

She was in the corral
when I brung it home,
working the stallion.

Didn't even wait
to change clothes--
put it right on.

[chuckles]
She sure was a picture,

prancing around in boots
and a velvet bonnet.

I thought you was
going to get rid
of all them things.

Well, ain't had time yet.

Here's a present
that Hessie give to me

first year
we was married.

It's a poem by that
O'Reilly fellow she
liked so much.

She copied it
out of a book,

said it told how she felt
better than she could.

Says, "The red rose
whispers of passion,

"the white rose
breathes of love.

"the red rose is a falcon,

the white rose is a dove."

[thunderclap]

'Course, I can't read it
like she could.

Sounded like music then.

Lookin' back all the time
is no good, Jase.

That just makes things worse.

Oh, who's lookin' back?

Just tryin' to find
somethin' for her.

She's gonna
need clothes, you know.

Hers is pretty tore up.

Anyhow...

what's so good
about looking ahead?

Well... maybe it ain't
so good, Jase,

but it's alive,
and that ain't.

Not no more.
Not for over three years.

[sighs]

Fleet is mooning over
that trunk again.

Him and Hessie
was mighty close.

Too close, maybe.

What do you mean?

Take today,

them herd guards.

'Fore he started
moonin' around,

Jason never got spotted.

Law didn't even know
what he looked like.

Now they've got posters
out on all of us.

[objects clatter]

There was always
posters on you, Charlie,

from here to Missouri.

That high-toned woman
is another thing.

Her kin will have
a reward for sure.

The law will be lookin'
for her as well as us.

Well, that's my lookout.

They find us,

yours ain't the only
neck that gets stretched.

They been nosin' this gulch
ever since I started rustlin'.

They ain't found
nothin' yet.

High-toned woman's
got a way of sharpening
a man's eyesight.

I'll judge that too.

VICTORIA:
Jason! Jason!

Here!

-Jason!
-Here!

I'm here!

Oh, you are real.

Oh, I thought
I was dreaming.

I'm real, all right.

And you're safe,
just like I said.

Safe?

Oh, it doesn't seem--
Ooh! Ohh!

-Head hurt?
-[groaning]

Now, you just lay still.

-You got a pretty bad knock.
-Ohh.

You just drink this.
It'll make you feel better.

No, no.

Come on, headache syrup.

Oh.

How long have I
been lying here?

O'Leary and me
found you this morning

on the ground
near the stage.

You was throwed out
when it crashed.

Was there--
was there anybody else?

Didn't see nobody.

Oh.

What is it?

Well...

ever since I woke up...
before I called you...

I've been trying to
remember what happened
before the accident.

And I can't.

All I remember is falling.

Not where I came from or...

where I was going, but...

just falling.

You mean you can't
remember nothin'?

Nothin' at all?

Nothing.

Not even my name.

Your name's Hesper.
Hesper Fleet.

Hesper.

You're my wife.

[thunder crashes]

There's no doubt about it.
These are her things,
all right.

I made this
for her myself.

Fred, I don't
understand it.

If they found
the driver's body,

how could she
just disappear?

She could
have walked away,
gone for help,

and gotten lost.

That mountain country
around Volcano can
be pretty tricky

if you're not
familiar with it.

Weren't there any tracks?

There was a cloudburst
right after the accident.

Everything could have
been washed away.

I'm sorry.

I just can't believe
that she's dead.

Neither do I.

We can reach Volcano
in a couple of days.
Let's go.

You take care
of things here

till Nick gets back
from El Paso.

Wait a minute.
You can't get
through to Volcano.

-What do you mean?
-Nobody's going up there.

The storm broke out a dam
two miles south of town.

You'd have to swim,
and even then,
the Army'd stop you.

What do you expect us
to do, Fred, just sit
here and wait?

Use your head, Jarrod!

Now, look,
I know how you feel, but...

nobody can do anything
until that water goes down.

[soft knock at door]

Come in.

-Good morning, Jason.
-'Mornin'.

Ah, you're looking
mighty fine.

How's it feel being up?

Wonderful!
I'm as good as--

Ooh.

Hey, easy.

Well, almost
as good as new.

Maybe you'd better
go back to bed for a while.

Oh, no, please.
I know it's only
been a few days,

but I feel as though
I've been there forever.

Please, I couldn't
stand it another minute.

Let me help.

-They feel comfortable?
-Mm-hmm.

You always favored
boots over slippers.

I wouldn't even
have known they were mine.

Hesper.

Hesper...?

Hesper Fleet.

Hesper Fleet.

It's like
looking at a shadow.

It'll come back to you
in time. Everything.

Is this mine too?

Carved it
for you myself.

Here. Smell.

Pine bristles!

Go ahead. Use it.

It shines so.

You always said
there was nothing
like pine bristles

for polishing
a woman's hair.

Did I?

Oh, I wish
I could remember.

It's all so...
so strange.

Sure it's strange.

You've had a bad shock.

Now, I'll tell you
about everything,
a little at a time,

until you remember
all of it.

And until you do remember

and I ain't
a stranger no more,

this room's yours,
understand?

Just yours.

I wouldn't advise
squeezin' that trigger.

Just thinkin'.

How 'bout you?

I'm thinkin'
you're a fool

tryin' to make her believe
she's Hessie.

She already does
believe it.

Maybe. But it ain't
stopped her puzzlin'.

Ain't gonna stop her from
askin' questions, neither.

What are you gonna tell her
when she asks us what
we do for a livin'?

The truth.

Figure it'll save a lot
of trouble in the long run.

That way, she'll understand
why she can't ride out much
or go to town.

Won't have to watch her
all the time,

like she's a prisoner.

Maybe she won't take
to bein' a rustler's wife.

Far as she's concerned,
it ain't a question
of takin'.

She already is.

Supper.

Maybe he's right.

Maybe it will save trouble.

As long as he don't start
thinkin' she's Hessie.

Still wonderin', Hessie?

I'm always wondering.

Jason, maybe if I went
back there...

to the wreck
and looked at it, I...

Would you take me there?

Take you?

Well, sure.
A few weeks.

No, no, no.
Now. Today.

It's a long way.
Hard ridin'.

Well, I don't care
about that.

Don't you understand
I've got to stop wondering?

I've just got to.
Otherwise, we--

Otherwise, we'll
always be strangers.

All right,
I'll take you.

[sighs]

Mean anything to you?

No.

Why was I on
the stagecoach, Jason?

Well, you was comin' back
from Amador City.

Amador City?

Yeah. Supposed to be
a real good lawyer there.

You went to see him
about tryin' to get
our ranch back.

A few years back,
you, me, and O'Leary
owned all this land.

Had the biggest spread
hereabouts...

'til the gold hunters come
and took it away from us.

-I don't understand.
-Squattin' all over the place,

diggin', killin' the stock,
fowling the water.

But the law!
Surely the law--

This land is part of
an old Spanish grant,

and the law wouldn't
recognize our rights
to it.

So at first O'Leary
and me fought back,
g*n to g*n,

but there was too many
of 'em, and they
burned us out.

All except that old place
we're livin' in now.

They couldn't find that.

And so we lost everything.

And I can't even
help share the memory.

You're here. That helps.

We might as well go.

Nothing even looks familiar.

Oh, Jase, wait, wait.

Hm.

Jason, was this mine?
Was I wearing it?

Well, not as I knowed.

Oh.

But didn't you--

I thought you said
nobody else was on
the stagecoach.

There wasn't. At least,
not that we saw. Why?

Them pictures look
familiar to you?

No. I've never
seen them before.

[g*nshots]

Give it up, Fleet!

Quick, get behind
the coach.

[g*nshots]

[g*nshots]

Jason! Jason!

Wait, now, wait.

[g*nshots]

MAN:
Put away your g*n, Fleet!
You haven't got a chance!

[g*nshots]

[g*nshots]

[return g*nf*re]

There. It's gonna be
all right, Jason.

Them herd guards
usually can't sh**t
straight enough

to do no real damage.

-Herd guards?
-Or deputies.

Can't tell from here.
Could be either one.

[g*nshots]

Well, what do they want?
Why are they sh**ting?

Burnin' us out didn't
change nothin', Hessie.

O'Leary and me figure
this land is still ours,

and everything on it,
including the cattle.

So, we've been takin'
'em back a few at a time.

Well, we change the brands
and sell 'em out of state,
that's all.

But that's rustling!

Can't steal what's
already yours, Hessie.

Well, I knew
it'd come as a shock.

You never did like it much.

Can't hold 'em off
much longer.

Gonna have to make
a run for the horses.

But you can't--
not with your leg!

There's no other way.
Now, whatever happens,

you stay here,
under cover.

No, I'm going with you.
You'll need help!

I don't want you
riskin' yourself,
Hessie.

It's me they're after.

Bein' a man's wife
ain't no crime.

Do you think you can mount?

Sure!

All right. Don't you start
'til I draw their fire!

Hessie! Hessie!

[g*nshots]

I thought you
were resting.

No need. Ever since
you put that salve on,

leg's feeling much better.

Um... I'm sorry
you had to go
against the law

to save me, Hessie.

I know you didn't
like it much.

I couldn't let them
k*ll you, Jason.

Well, I made you
a little present,

kind of cheer you up
a little bit.

Carved it
to match the brush.

Oh, that's the loveliest
comb I've ever seen.
Thank you.

I know it's hard to see
the truth from just being
told the past, Hessie.

Now, believin'
in somebody's like...

well, it's like carvin'.

Comes a little at a time.

I'm just askin' you
not to judge me too harsh

while you're decidin',
that's all.

Is cattle rustling
the only way?

Isn't there some other--

No, not for now, Hessie.
Believe me that much.

[approaching hoofbeats]

Looks like they been
ridin' pretty hard.

You mind fixin' some coffee?

Expected you back
a couple of hours ago.
What happened?

We was lucky to get
back at all.

Them cattle guards
set the sheriff from
Volcano on your trail.

Him and the deputies
are crawling all over
the gulch!

If they find this place,
we'll have her to thank.

How do you figure that?

It was on account of her
that you went back
to that wreck.

Charlie's right.
She's nothin' but
trouble, Jase.

We've got to get
rid of her.

Get rid of her?
What do you mean?

We don't have to
hurt her none,

just blindfold her,

then set the horse
loose someplace

where they'll be
sure to find her.

We turn her loose,
she's liable to
bring 'em back here.

Better they find her body
like they should have
in the first place.

You touch her,
and I'll drill you
right between the eyes.

It's plain
somebody's got to die.

I don't care who Hessie was
or what they called her.

She's one of us now.

She proved it
by savin' my life,

and she's gonna stay
one of us.

Cold water. I thought
you might like some.

Thanks.

Suet drippings?

Keeps the leather
from cracking.

Well, you'll be
needing more.

I'll start
saving it for you.

Don't trouble.
I run out,
I'll get my own.

Have you always
disliked me so much?

What?

Jason says we've been
friends for years,

but that's not true,
is it?

Well, sure it is.

No, you're Jason's friend,
not mine. Why?

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

Well, you always seem
to avoid me whenever
I'm around.

You never speak
directly to me,
not really,

not even to say
"pass the coffee."

Well, uh...

I don't mean no harm.

I just ain't talky,
that's all.

Was I different
before the accident,
is that it?

Different?
What do you mean?

Oh, I suppose
I look the same,

but people are...

people are feelings
and memories.

How did I feel
about things?

Was I happy?
Was I sad?

Well, ask Jase.

He recollects
better than me.

No, better perhaps,
but that's not
the same thing.

Don't you see, O'Leary?
I've got to remember!

Otherwise, I...

Otherwise, I...

I'll never
find myself again.

Well, um...

you was g*y, mostly.

The laughingest woman
I ever seen.

Rain or shine, you
always saw things bright,

or made a chuckle
out of 'em.

Well, then, we must
have had some good
times together.

Oh, we had some fine times,

especially before
we lost the ranch--

Ah, some real fine times.

You know, you was not only
the best cook around,

but you could sh**t,

and sit a horse
better than any man,

including Jase and me.
[chuckling]

You know, once--

once you even beat us
in a greased pig contest.

Now, Jase and me,
we couldn't catch a pig,

let alone hold on to it,
and you didn't do
no catchin'. Oh, no!

You just plopped yourself
on the ground, see,

and stuck a carrot
in your ear!

[laughs] And when
that old pig come up
to sniff it,

you grabbed him!

[laughing]
I tell you...

I tell you, Hessie
was a woman, all right.

When she died...

Oh, I-- I don't mean
anything by that.

It's just, uh...

Well, the accident
did change you some.

I promise you
one thing, O'Leary:

if I never remember
anything...

I'll try to be Hessie
again...

in every way.

[horse whinnying]

[cattle lowing]

It's Fleet and his g*ng,
all right.

Spread out.

Hessie, Hessie,
bring the iron!

Come on.

Go ahead!

All right, Hessie,
go ahead.

[g*nshots]

Come on! Come on!

[g*nshots continue]

Hessie, come on!

[g*nshots continue]

[g*nshots]

Thought we had Fleet
this time.

Was that the woman
you saw him with?

Yeah. You recognize
her, Sheriff?

No, but I will
if I see her again.

Come on.

Let's get out of here.

[sighs]

I'm as hungry
as a she-wolf
with six pups.

I didn't expect
to spend the night
under a tree!

Well, we ain't headin'
back till I'm sure
we wasn't followed,

so quit belly-achin'.

Keep your eyes open.
I'll take over at midnight.

I'll be finished
with this in a minute.

[chuckles]

You can darn a shirt
and brand a steer
in the same day.

I'd say I'm
a pretty lucky man.

Jason, I've been
thinking about that brand
on the cattle today.

It, uh...

it seemed so familiar.

Well, that's no surprise.

We get cattle from all over.

Might have been
quite a few carrying
that brand.

But I've been remembering
other things too.

A-A-A big house
with white pillars.

Now, do we know
anybody who lives
in a place like that?

Nobody.

You're just imaginin'
things, Hessie.

Well, I guess I am.

But it-- it seemed
so real. It seemed--

Ohh.

Headache again?

Uh. It's, uh...

it's been coming
and going most of
the afternoon.

There.
It's all right now.

Well, no wonder
you got a headache.

You're workin'
yourself to death.

Now, come on, come on.
You've got to get some rest.

Good night, Hessie.

Good night, Jason.

Now, we'll, uh--
we'll backtrack to
the bottom of the gulch.

Make sure our trail's
covered

before we head to
the cabin.

Right.

It ain't likely
anybody'll pass this way,

but I'll feel
a lot easier if
you have this.

I feel so much better.
I wish you'd let me
go with you.

It's gonna be hard ridin'.

You're better off here,
restin'.

We'll be back
in a couple of hours.

Aahhh!

Aahh!

Aaahhh!

Aah!

Ohh!

Ohh!

[sighs]

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

Aaahhh!

Ohh!

'Morning, folks.

Just a minute!
I didn't think
you'd have the nerve

to come waltzing into
town in broad daylight!

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

I just came to town
to send a telegram.

You just come along
with me. You're gonna
answer a few questions.

-What questions?
-About your friend
Jason Fleet.

Jason Fleet? I don't
know anybody by that name.
You've made a mistake.

You made the mistake,
thinking you wouldn't
be recognized!

You're under arrest
for cattle-rustling!

She's been caught!

She didn't even have
a chance to use the r*fle.

Ain't no sign of struggle.

Well, they probably
sneaked up on her,

just like they
did us, yesterday.

Then how do you account
for just one set of
tracks leaving here?

I'm telling you, Hessie
wouldn't leave like that.

The law's got her,
and I'm telling you
something else--

She ain't Hessie, Jase!

Hessie was beat to death

because she wouldn't say
where you was hidin'.

Now, callin' another woman
her name

ain't gonna change that.

You got to face it.
You got to, Jase.

-Where you goin'?
-I'm goin' after her.

Them tracks will take you
right to Volcano Road.

You want to meet up
with the sheriff?

If he's got Hessie.

I rode with you
a long time, Jase,

as long as it made sense,
everywhere.

But this don't make sense.

You do what you want to.
We're going back to the cabin.

It's your choice.
I lost Hessie once,

I ain't
gonna lose her again.

Sheriff, I don't know
how many times

I have to tell you,
I am Victoria Barkley.

I was in
the stagecoach wreck--

Of course, of course.
And where you been since,

the last three weeks?

All I remember is
the stage starting to fall--

nothing until I found
myself in the mesquite
grove today

with a locket my son Jarrod
gave me for Christmas.

Now, Sheriff, you have
got to believe me.

I'd like to, but I'd
deserve to be locked up
right alongside of you

-if I went for that story.
-It's no story!

I saw you branding
stolen cattle with
Fleet yesterday

as clear as I see you now.

I've got two witnesses
to back me up.

But if I did do that,

why would I
ride into town today?

We've been makin' things
pretty hot for Fleet
lately.

I figure he's hard up
for supplies.

He sent you after 'em
'cause he figured a woman
would draw less attention.

Sheriff, I've never been
in Volcano before
in my whole life.

Look here--

I don't know what
Fleet means to you,

but he's cost the ranchers
around here a lot of money.

They're mad enough to
break in here
and string you up,

woman or not,

so, for your own sake,

you'd better tell me
where that hideout is.

I wish I could, Sheriff,
I wish I could.

'Cause I have a feeling...

I have a feeling that
something very important
happened to me

during those weeks.

[glass shatters]

FLEET: Hessie!

Hessie!

Over at the window!

What is it?
Who do you want?

I figured
the sheriff had you.

Come on out
as quick as you can.

I've got horses
in the alley.

Fleet!

[g*nshots]

[g*nshots]

He called me Hessie.

What is it, ma'am?

I don't know.

But I think I'm beginning
to remember things.

The hideout?

Maybe.

Where?

I-I think I can
take you there.

We'll ride out at daylight.

I think it's around there.

-You sure?
-Yes.

I remember that gully.

How much further?

I don't know.
All I remember
is the house.

Let's go.
[clicks tongue]

I told you she'd
bring the law on us!

She can't help it!
They forced her!

I tell you,
she was jailed!

I talked to her myself!

Well, she ain't
jailed now.

She ain't even handcuffed.

Well, they've still got
quite a ways to come.

Maybe they'll turn back.

They're coming in range.

Hessie!

-Go back!
-It's Fleet!

Hessie!

No, don't! No!

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nshots]

[indistinct shout]

[g*nf*re continues]

Jason!

[g*nf*re continues]

[g*nf*re ceases]

I didn't want it
to happen this way,

but I-I couldn't remember.

I couldn't remember
until I saw you.

You did right.

Had to happen this way.

Couldn't have done
nothin' else.

I was glad you was Hessie...

if just for a little while.

So am I, Jason.

I saw your light on,
so I came to say goodnight.

It's wonderful
to have you home.

It's wonderful to be home.

What a lovely brush.
Is that hand-carved?

Mm-hm.

Pine bristles,

and they say there's
nothing like them

to make your hair shine.

What are you thinking?

Mmm... you know,
it's difficult to believe

there's a stranger
inside you,

that under other
circumstances,

you might have lived...

well, a different
kind of life.

I think there's a stranger
inside of everyone.

But I wouldn't worry
too much about it.

I hear there's at least
one horse thief in
the best of families.

[chuckling]

♪♪ [theme]