Original subtitles

A hundred bucks... that was the price.

How about laying over for a day or so, it being Christmas tomorrow?

Round up a couple strays for a poker game!

Good idea, but I'm due in Butte tonight.

What's in Butte?

Turkey dinner and a girl named Phyllis.

Well, I ask no more.

You'd better scamper,

those clouds are building up.

Keep the drinks going, or these boys'll get cold!

One for the old man.

Thank you, friend.

See you, now.

Are you Mr Randall?

Laddie?

What are you doing here, son?

You know him?

Harmon Stone's kid. His folks run a sheep ranch at the edge of town.

What can I do for you?

What it is... I been hearing how you do things. Find people an' all.

I only got 8 cents.

It ain't much but it's what I saved all my life.

I was wondering if you'd find someone for me.

Now who would you want him to find?

Santa Claus.

EIGHT CENT REWARD

What's this about Santa Claus?

I know it's a lot to ask, being Christmas Eve,

and I wouldn't have come, only...

It's alright, you go ahead and say it.

There's something I've wanted him to bring me awful bad.

Ever since I can remember. I write to him every year,

begging him to bring it, and I even tell him I want nothing else.

Just this. But I don't know...

I guess he never gets the letters 'cause it never comes.

You tell me what you want so bad.

I can't Mr Randall. I can't tell no one, only him.

Well, I've found a few people but...

He sure has, kid.

Hundreds! He can easy find a little old fella like Santa!

Harkrader!

Might take a little time.

How long? The rest of the day?

You can do it? You can find him?

He'll have him at your place,

bells and bib on, for supper!

Wait till I tell mom what you said!

Wait till I tell!

Did you see the look on the kid's face?

I saw.

Well, why ain't you laughing?

I'm laughing.

Why are you looking at me like that? It was only a joke.

Ask the drunk!

Hey, Ben, let me ask you. Wasn't the look on the kid's face funny?

Get out of here.

- Get out? - You and your sheepdog.

Come on, we was just joking.

- Didn't I say it? - Yeah!

You said it to me and Haefer. Now which one's gonna tell that boy?

Well, what about you, Harkrader? It was your bright idea.

Takes a certain mind to figure this out.

You liked the look on his face? Wait till you tell him what it was.

Just an old-fashioned joke.

Look, I wasn't the only one... Shut up!

He lives on a sheep ranch?

Such as it is. Harmon, Laddie's pa, really had the place working once.

No finer ranch you'd ever see. Not that now.

- What got into it? - Wolves.

Moved in, chopped up the whole flock.

Really changed the place, Harmon too.

Where do I find it?

Forget it, I'll take a ride on out.

North or south.

Highway south, there's a sign.

Randall.

For what it's worth.

I know. Merry Christmas to you, too.

- Mrs Stone? - Yes.

Could I speak to your boy a minute?

He's not here. He was ten minutes ago but his pa sent him after...

some strays. He's not in any trouble, is he?

Something I oughta know?

Nothing like that, it's just that...

My name's Josh Randall.

- Randall? - Want something, mister?

It's the bounty hunter.

Come to see Laddie.

What's the matter, haven't you had enough fun

with him already?

Look, Mr Stone... I know what you're thinking.

No.

No, you don't. But I'll get me a horsewhip and show you.

I'd like to explain.

What's to explain?

That it was just a little good-natured fun?

That must've been something to see his face light up

when you told him you'd find Santa Claus.

I wouldn't tell him that.

He seems to think you did.

A couple of other fellas told him I'd do it.

What others? Who?

Coupla clowns.

Harkrader? Vale?

They didn't mean any harm, they were being stupid.

Before I could explain to the boy, he left.

I don't know.

The boy was wrong in the first place, wasting time from farm chores

to go chasing after bounty hunters.

If we'd have told him the truth...

- Harmon... - If we had.

Why not? It isn't a world of make-believe.

I never said make-believe, I never did!

Alright then. Hope. Isn't that the word you like to use?

Hope! Well, it isn't a world of that either.

Don't tell me no different because I know.

It's a world of scrambling against things you can't win.

Wolves, cold...

not enough food.

I tell you for fair, I'm not far from giving in to all three.

I got my sheep to tend to.

Go in the house and wait for the boy.

He'll be back in an hour.

Give him some coffee, Hilda.

He looks near froze.

Much obliged.

Come inside, there's a fire.

Like some more coffee?

Yes, ma'am, I would.

My husband hasn't always been so rough on people.

When we first come here

and Laddie was born...

That was before the fire in the hills,

when the wolves come down and stayed down,

chewing our flocks to bits, night after night.

Ain't hardly half of them left.

Wish we had a way of fighting them.

I wish he wasn't so hard on Laddie. He's a good boy.

If I only knew what he wanted, what it is he keeps writing

Santa Claus for. - You don't know?

He's never said in the two years he's been writing them letters.

Course we've tried to guess, gotten him toys,

one year a fishing pole, next year a knife.

Hard enough getting Harmon to do that

seeing as the money was needed so badly.

Whatever we bought it was the wrong thing.

He'd come down at Christmas, look at that tree and his face would drop

'cause it wasn't the right thing.

Harmon says he's selfish.

You can't blame him for thinking that way.

I think he's just being what he has a right to be: a boy.

Mr Randall!

Hello, Laddie.

Did ya find him yet?

Listen, Laddie, there's something I gotta tell you.

What, Mr Randall?

Well, it's the way...

This isn't easy...

What is it?

My horse hasn't eaten since yesterday and...

- There's hay in the barn! - Hay would be fine.

I'll go feed him right away.

Mrs Stone, I know it's not my place but I got an idea.

I admit it's a wild one.

I can't help feeling a little responsible.

Supposing I go into town and get someone to play Santa.

Like I said, it's a wild one. But suppose I do.

Laddie could tell Santa what he wants

and you and I could pick it up.

- We've already... - Don't worry about the money.

If it's a little high, I can help out.

If it's out of reason, Santa can tell Laddie.

The boy would understand.

It's Christmas Eve, you must have things to do.

It can wait.

I'll talk to my husband.

Mrs Stone, I've got to move on this. What about it?

Alright.

Set another plate, I'll see you for supper.

Mr Randall,

you haven't told me yet why you're doing this.

Two reasons. First the boy paid me.

Second... I haven't got the nerve to tell him.

Santa Claus, me?

You got me into this hole. You can get me out of it!

I'd be glad to but look at me, I'm 6 foot 4.

What about you, Vale?

I wouldn't know what to say, I wouldn't know a thing.

The kid knows me.

- With a beard and red suit... - He'd see right through it.

Mr Randall...

I'm your man if you want a Santa Claus.

Sure, old Ben!

Ben Hatch, kind of a handyman. When he isn't propping up my bar.

Oh, I'm not that way now. I'm sober as a judge. Look!

Think you can do it, Ben?

Sure I can do it!

You're taking a chance. Ben gets near a bottle...

What are you saying? I got plenty of will when I need it!

Ain't I, Harkrader?

Just loaded with it, Ben.

I'm just loaded with it.

I'd sure take it kindly if you'd give me the job.

It'd give me a chance to be something to somebody once.

What about the hair?

We could put flour in it.

Needs a beard.

Cotton.

Cotton.

Gotta have a coat. A red coat.

I got my old hunting jacket.

And pair of black boots. I'll polish 'em!

And he can wear the pants he's got on!

You're in business.

Come on, what are we waiting for?

Ben, put your arms up.

Now, Mr Randall, I thought you trusted me.

I do but just keep your arms up.

Ben, you know what to do?

The signal is, I light a cigarette in the window.

What window?

Watch that window, right there.

Just left of the door.

You light a cigarette there, then I come in.

Just like we planned it. Got it?

Sure, I got it.

Don't worry, I can see it from here.

I couldn't miss it even if I was... And I'm not!

Laddie, come and finish your dinner.

- I'm too excited! - Come and sit at the table.

Such a nice dinner, it's a shame nobody came.

The way that snow's piling up

only a fool would go traipsing around in it.

Listen!

I heard something.

Didn't you hear it? Like sleighbells!

It was nothing, Laddie. Nothing yet.

But you said he'd be here at dinner.

He promised it.

You listen to me, all of you.

I've had my bellyful of this thing.

Join me in a smoke?

No!

You don't mind if I do?

Have your cigarette, Mr Randall.

Good evening, sonny. Mind if an old man

in the snow thaws out by your fire?

I was heading for town

but with the drifts piling up...

I saw the light in your house.

Come in.

I'll be no bother, ma'am, just sit by the fire.

Ain't this cozy.

Excuse me.

- Ben! - You ready?

Don't worry about a thing, Mr Randall, I know my lines.

Ho, ho, ho, sonny.

Who do you suppose is here? Your old friend Clanta Saus.

Santa Paws...

Don't worry, your old friend.

Ben, snap out of it.

I'm always out of it.

I don't know why I should all be...

What are you doing?

Think of that boy, if he sees you like this...

Ben, think of me!

I'm thinking every minute, steady as a rock and loaded with will.

Just the way we planned.

- Ben! - No, no Ben!

I am Santy Clause, you see? Forward!

That's right charitable, ma'am, offering a stranger a bed.

You'd never get past the barn, not in this storm.

It's a snap right enough. These northers are.

Seen them bury a house in a ten-hour fall.

Laddie, come here.

Harmon.

You got nothing to say, Hilda. Come here, son.

I should've told you this before.

But I'm telling you now.

I want you to listen and hear it like a man.

People who live in dreams, son,

who trust them, believe in them,

they're just fooling themselves.

Life's just not made up of dreams.

No more than I can dream them wolves away from my sheep,

or that I can fight them.

- Do you understand, son? - No, sir.

Well then...

to tell you hard...

Ho, ho, ho, look who's here!

Your old friend Santa Claus.

Would you like to come and sit on Santa's knee?

I got your letters. Every one of them.

But I was a little confused by what you asked for.

So I thought maybe if you'd tell me,

if I could hear you...

See, it's true that Santa...

brings things to little children

and he'd like...

I mean I'd like very much to bring you what you want.

You said you'd bring him!

You promised! You lied!

Mr Randall!

I don't know what to say. How did you do it, how did you know?

Know what?

You brought him, just like you said!

What is he talking about?

On the porch, come and see!

Just what I wanted!

Two years I've wanted it!

A rifle for papa to fight off the wolves!

Good heavens, my bread!

I'll go help you, mama!

Randall, you'll never know how much I appreciate this.

The thought behind it an' all. But I can't accept it.

You think I gave you that?

- Didn't you? - I sure as the devil didn't.

Who did?

I don't know.

- I didn't. - Somebody did!

Everybody's here...

except...

The old man, where is he?

Who's seen him?

- I thought he was... - In the other room?

Must be out back.

There's no tracks out back. Out front either.

Did he leave in that snowstorm?

He couldn't have.

I bolted both doors last night and they were still bolted this morning.

He had to leave someway.

But how?

Subtitles by TELETOTA