Original subtitles

That was the price.

Oh, I don't suppose I could talk you into laying over for a day or so. It'd

in Christmas tomorrow.

Yeah, we could round up a couple of strays, get up a poker game.

Well, that's a good idea, but I'm doing Butte tonight.

Oh, what's in Butte?

Turkey dinner and a girl named Phyllis.

I ask no more.

Joe, you better scamper. If you figure on getting there, those clubs are

building up to something.

Avery, you keep these drinks going out here. I don't want these boys to get

cold.

One for the old man, too.

Well, thank you, friend. Thank you.

I'll see you now, here.

Are you Mr. Randall?

Laddy.

What are you doing here, son?

You don't know?

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

I'm Randall. What can I do for you, son?

What it is, I've been hearing how you do things.

Fine people and all. I only got eight cents.

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

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

Now, who would you want him to find for you, son?

Santa Claus.

Now, what's this about Santa Claus?

I know it's a lot to ask me on Christmas Eve, and I wouldn't have come only...

It's all right, son.

You go ahead and say it.

Well, there's something I 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, because it never comes.

Now, suppose you tell me, son, what you want so bad.

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

Well, I found a few people, but... He sure has, kid.

Hundreds. Why, it wouldn't be nothing for him to find a little old fellow like

Santa. Might take a little time.

What would you say, Randall, the rest of the day?

You can do it?

You can find him?

Find him while he'll have him at your place, bells and bib on, ready for

tonight.

What are you looking at me like that for? All it was was a joke.

Asked a drunk.

Hey, Ben, now I asked you. Didn't you think it was a panic to look at a kid's

face?

Get out of here.

Get out? Yeah, you and your sheep, dog. Get out of here. Oh, come on, Hap. We

were just joking. Didn't I say it? Yeah, you said it. You said it to me. You

said it to Hafer. Now, which one of you funny men are going to tell that boy?

What about you, Harkrader? This was your bright idea.

It takes a certain kind of a mind to figure this out.

Would you like to look in his face? Oh, well, it'll be nothing compared to what

it's going to be when you tell him what it was.

Just an old -fashioned joke.

Oh, look, Randall, I wasn't the only one. Oh, shut up.

You say he lives on a sheep ranch?

Ah, such as it is.

Old Harmon, that's Laddie's pa.

He really had the place working once.

No finer ranch you'd ever want to see.

Not that now.

What got into it?

Wolves. Moved in one summer and chopped up the whole flock.

They really changed the place. Harman with it.

Well, where do I find it?

Oh, forget it, Randall. I'll take a ride on out.

North or south?

On your way south, there's a sign.

Randall?

For what it's worth, I... Yeah, I know.

Merry Christmas to you, too.

Mrs. Stone?

Yes? I was wondering if I could speak to your boy for a minute. Well, he's not

here. I mean, he was ten minutes ago, but he's passed on him after some

Oh. He's not in any trouble, is he? I mean, something I ought to know.

Oh, no, nothing like that. It's just that... Mrs. Stone, my name's Josh

Randall? Something you wanted, mister?

It's the bounty, Hunter Harmon.

He's come to see Laddie.

What's the matter, Mr. Randall?

Haven't you had enough fun with him already?

Look, Mrs. Stone, I, uh... I know what you're thinking. Oh, no.

No, you don't.

But hang the fine about to give me a horse whip and show you.

I'd like to explain.

What's to explain?

That all it was was a little good -natured fun?

That must have been something. I'd like to have been there, seen his face light

up when you told him you'd find Santa Claus for him.

I wouldn't have told him a thing like that. He seems to think you did.

Well, it was a couple of other fellas. They told him I'd do it. What others?

Who?

A couple of clowns.

Hawk Raider?

Vale? They didn't mean any harm. They were just being stupid.

Before I could explain to the boy, he left.

Oh, I don't know.

I guess the boy was wrong in the first place.

Wasting time from farm chores to go chasing after bounty hunters over some

nonsense.

If we'd have told him the truth like I wanted.

Harmon. If we had, and why not?

This isn't a world of make -believe. I never said make -believe. I never said

that. All right, then. Hope.

Isn't that the word you like to use?

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

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

I got my sheep to tend to.

You can 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.

A bunch of lies.

Come on inside, Mr. Randall. There's a fire.

Would you like some more coffee?

Yes, ma 'am, I would.

My husband.

He hasn't always been so rough on people.

I remember when we first come here and Laddie was born and... Then that was

before the fire in the hills.

When the wolves come down and stayed down, chewing our flocks to bits night

after night.

There ain't hardly half of them left.

I wish he had some way of fighting them.

And I wish he wouldn't be so hard on Laddie.

He's a good boy.

If I only knew what it was he wanted.

What it is he keeps writing Santa Claus for.

You mean you don't know?

No, he's never said.

In the two years he's been writing them letters, sending them off to Santa

Claus.

Of course we've tried to guess.

Gotten him toys.

One year a fishing pole, the next year a knife.

It was hard enough getting Harmon to do that, seeing the money was needed so bad

in other places.

Whatever we thought, it was always the wrong thing.

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

to his knees because it wasn't the right thing.

Harmon says he's selfish.

You can't blame him for thinking that way.

Of course, I think he's just being what he has a right to be.

A boy.

Mr. Randall!

Well, hello, laddie.

Didn't you find him yet? Did you?

Well, listen, laddie.

Well, there's something I've got to tell you. What, Mr. Randall?

Well, it's the way this came up.

It's not an easy thing to say to you, son.

What is it?

Well, my horse hasn't had any food since yesterday, and I was just wondering

if... There's hay in the barn.

Oh, well, hay would be fine.

I'll go feed him right away.

Miss Stone, uh, no, I know it's not my place, but I've got an idea.

Now, I admit it's a wild one, but I can't help feeling a little responsible

about this.

Now, suppose I go into town and get somebody to come out here and play Santa

Claus tonight.

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

Laddie can tell Santa Claus what he wanted for Christmas, and you and I can

into town and pick it up.

We've already... I wouldn't worry too much about the money. If it's a little

high, I can help out there.

And if it's completely out of reason...

Santa can tell laddie and I believe the boy to understand What about you

Christmas Eve you must have things to do well nothing can't wait I'll talk to my

husband about it. Miss Stone. I've got to move on this now. What about it?

All right set another plate and I'll see you for supper Mr.

Randall

You haven't told me yet why you're doing this. I'd like to know.

Two reasons. First of all, the boy paid me to do it.

Second, I don't get the nerve to tell him.

Santa Claus? Me?

Well, you got me into this hole.

I figured the least you could do is get me out of it. Well, I'd be glad to do it

for you, Randall, but look at me. I'm six foot four.

What about you, Vail?

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

The kid knows me.

Oh, listen, with a beard and a red suit on. See right through it.

Mr. Randall.

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

Hey, sure, old man.

Ben Hatch, kind of a handyman. When he's holding up one end of my bar.

Oh, listen, I'm not that way now.

I'm sober as a judge.

Look.

I don't know. I mean, do you think you can do it, Ben?

Sure I can do it.

You're taking a chance.

Ben gets near a bottle.

Oh, now, what are you saying?

I got plenty of will when I need it.

Ain't I got will, Mr. Harker?

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'll give me a chance to be something to somebody once.

Well, what about the hair?

Oh, we could put flour in it.

He needs a beard.

Cotton.

Cotton.

He's got to have a coat.

A red coat.

Hey, I got just the thing. My old hunting jacket and a pair of black

I'll have to polish them. And the pants. He can wear the pants he's got on.

He'll be fine. Just fine.

Looks like you're in business, Ben.

Oh, come on. What are we waiting for?

Ben, put your arms up.

Huh? What do you mean?

Oh, now, Mr.

Randall, I thought you trusted me.

I do, but just keep your arms up.

Ben,

Donnie, you know what to do.

The signal is I light the cigarette in the window. What window?

Hey, watch that window right there.

Yeah. The one just left at the door.

All right.

And you light the cigarette there, and then I come in.

Just like we planned. Now, you got it?

Sure, sure, I got it.

Now, now, look, don't worry.

I can see it right from here.

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

um

Laddie come back and finish your dinner.

I'm too excited to eat. Come sit at the table.

It's such a nice dinner. It's a shame nobody came.

I'll tell you Miss Stone, the way that snow's piling around out there, a man

would be a fool to go traipsing around in it.

It was nothing, laddie.

Nothing yet.

But you said he'd be here at dinner.

He promised it.

Now, you listen here to me, all of you.

I've just about had my belly full of this thing.

Join me in a smoke, Mr. Stone?

No.

Well, you don't mind if I do?

Half your cigarette, Mr. Randall.

Good evening, Sonny. You mind if an old man caught out in the snow thaws out by

your fire?

I was trying to make town, but with the drifts piling up and hiding the road, I

saw the light from your house.

Come in.

There'll be no bar of the man just set by the fire.

Now ain't this cozy.

Jingle bells, jingle all the way.

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one -horse open sleigh.

Ben. Oh, hello. You ready?

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

Now, listen.

Ho, ho, ho, sonny.

Who do you suppose is here?

Your old friend, Plenty Sauce.

Send it, Paul.

Plenty. Yeah, well, he's your old friend.

How's that?

Ben, snap out of it. Snap out of it, Ben.

I'm always out of it.

Buddy, help me.

Take it out.

I don't know why I should... What did you do?

Now listen, Ben.

Think of that boy in there. If he sees you like this... Ben.

Ben, think of me.

Well, I'm thinking of the minute. I'm steady as a rock and I'm loaded with

Just the way we planned.

Ben. No, no, Ben. No, Ben, I am.

Sandy Claus.

You see?

Forward.

Well, now, I'd say that's right charitable, ma 'am.

Offering a stranger a bed for the night.

You'd never get past the barn. Not in this door.

Oh, it's a snapper, right enough.

These northers are. I've seen them bury a house in a ten -hour fall.

Laddy, come here.

Harmon.

You've got nothing to say, Hilda.

Come here to me, son.

I should have told you this before, son.

But I'm telling you now, and I want you to listen.

And hear it like a man.

People, people who live in dreams, son, who trust them, believe in them,

they're just fooling themselves.

Because life's just not made up of dreams.

No more than I can dream them wolves won't come down on my sheep or that I'll

have some way to fight them.

Do you understand what I mean, 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.

And so I thought maybe if you tell me if...

If I could hear you.

See, it's true that Santa brings things to little children, and

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

I don't know what to say.

How did you do it? How did you know?

Huh? Know what?

You brought him! You brought him! Just like you said!

Would somebody please tell me what he's talking about?

I appreciate this, the thought behind it and all, but I can't accept it.

You think I gave you that?

Didn't you?

I'm sure the devil didn't.

But who did?

I don't know.

I didn't. Well, somebody did.

And everybody here... except, uh...

Hey, old man, where is he?

Well, who's seen him?

Hmm?

Well, I thought he was... Oh, in the other room?

No. He must be out back.

Well, there's no tracks out back.

There's no tracks out front either.

Well, you don't suppose he left in the middle of that snowstorm, do you?

He couldn't have.

I bolted both doors from the inside last night, and they were still bolted when

I got up this morning.

Well, now he had to leave some way. Now how?