Original subtitles

Well, that's a likely looking town.

Drought like this, any town's likely.

You know, Hode, without that gun you'd be a cynic.

And with it?

Come close to being a fool.

You keep saying things like that, I could

be real foolish right now.

Aw, we've made a lot of good money together.

You couldn't get along without me.

You've got a point.

And you shouldn't try to tell me what I can say.

You're the boss, Mathers.

Till I say you ain't.

Mark?

Coming, Pa!

That well's getting worrisome low.

Down to 8, 9 inches.

I know.

We going into town?

If you'll wash off some of that dust.

We don't want to advertise we've got a drought.

Sure.

Uh, Pa?

You figure... I mean, with the water being so low, and all...

You figure I oughta waste it?

Well, I guess you can skip your wash up this once.

Just change your clothes.

Sure.

But Pa, I've only got one go to meetin'... well,

the road's pure deep with dust.

You figure I oughta wear it?

Might be better to wear what you've got.

Clay Borden can't never wash no more.

Their well's lower than ours.

Says his pa's ready to quit.

Lots of others, too.

Yeah, I guess the drought's been pretty hard on everybody.

Everybody but boys.

Well, I'd better hitch up the team.

Well, I know you've got important business.

I'll meet you at Hattie's later.

You figure we oughta spend the money with things going so bad?

Well, I like to think they'll be better, son.

And the time for candy's mighty short.

Thanks, Pa.

I'm sorry, mister. Uh...

My fault. I was walking blind.

You don't hardly the dust.

Exceptin' for the licorice.

Have some candy, boy?

Oh...

He can buy his own.

You go on, Mark.

Go on.

I'm much obliged, sir.

I didn't no harm.

I didn't think you did, sir.

Who's he, Micah?

I don't know.

Just rode in.

He's the least I got to worry about.

Now, you look like a real smart bunch of men to me,

and I'd be seven times a fool if I didn't deal you

the truth right from the start.

Now, certainly I get paid by the railroad for...

Name's Mathis.

He's hiring for the railroad camps,

and making it sound almighty good.

Now sure, sure, you can stay here.

You can stay here and watch the sun burn up your land.

You can watch the sun melt the life out of your stock.

Watch your cattle drop dead...

15, 20, 40 head a day.

That thin, the bones are coming through.

The hides aren't even worth the taking.

You can stay here and mortify yourselves, or...

Or you can stop eating dust and hire out to the railroad.

$3,00 a day, and keep.

$3,00 a day.

Hard money in your pocket at the end of every week.

Come rain, come shine, it's no skin off your noses.

Aye, it's worth that just to be able to spit at the sun.

How long you say we gotta sign up for?

Just one year.

Less than that wouldn't pay either you, or the railroad.

Are you with us, sir?

Well, I don't know.

What do you think, Lucas?

Well, if you're asking me, I'm sticking with the land.

I know you've been thinking to quit, Jeff... your boy

told mine.

Comes an end to what a man can take.

Well, nobody says the life is easy.

The land gives up hard, and takes back fast.

You leave it even for a year, you'll find twice

the work when you come back.

If you come back.

I'll come back.

Oh, I know some who didn't.

So I should stay and watch the drought take it all?

Well, it'll take a lot, that's for sure.

But it can't take the land.

One thing we'll always have is the land.

You ain't got no land, mister.

All you've got is dust.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, we can talk this out.

Here, come on.

Come on, the drinks are on me.

Come on!

Well, ain't no harm in taking a drink.

Yes, sir, Mr. Borden, the last thing I'd want to do

is crowd you.

Now, you think it over for a day or two.

I'll be here.

I never did trust a man that's too reasonable.

Mm.

And too free with his whiskey.

Listen, mister... mister?

You was right to stay.

You won't lack no water.

If it's water you want, I can tell you where to find it.

Where?

Everywhere Everywhere.

Like it says in the book.

His spirit's on the face of the waters.

And He's everywhere, so the water's got to be everywhere.

Just so you believe.

Can I buy a drink?

I can buy my own.

Did I hear you talking about water?

He's just talking.

Did you ever hear of water witching?

You mean looking for water with a willow stick?

Not looking.

Finding.

But you gotta believe.

You one of them fellers?

Well, you ask anybody from Vermont.

You just ask them about Mr. Jonas.

You're a long way from Vermont, old timer.

Still, might be worth a try.

Jeff, the way you are right now,

you'd go looking in a dark closet for a black cat

you knew wasn't there.

Well, I got nothing to lose.

You know, I heard someone else say that once.

We were real bad off for water, and my pa

found one of these fellas with a witching stick.

Had to pay him $100 to start.

Worth it if you got water.

All we got were blisters for digging.

$100 was big money to us.

My ma didn't get a new dress for three years.

Well, that's cause you didn't believe.

It don't matter what happened before.

I can find the water, mister.

You just tell me that you believe.

I wish I could.

I said I'd meet you over at Hattie's.

But you were here.

We got stores to buy.

Sack too heavy?

I can handle it.

Pa?

You figure that old man was lying?

I mean, about finding water, and all?

I wouldn't say he was lying.

Sometimes people get ideas.

Sure would like to see how he does it.

Figure I could ask him some time?

You save your breath for cooling your soup.

I didn't mean that disrespectful to him, Mark.

I sure wish you liked it.

Well, do I like him.

He's a nice old man, but you can't

always go by your feelings.

I know he means well, but he could do folks a lot of harm.

Harm?

Getting their hopes up about the water.

They'd just end up feeling worse than before.

That's how it is.

Hode.

You don't want him finding water, do you?

You don't think he can?

What if he did?

Watch your work, boy.

No looking for water, old man.

You don't need no water.

You don't find no water.

Pa!

You don't talk no water.

You hear?

All right, start walkin'!

You just have to get in my way, don't ya?

You all right, old timer?

Like us to walk over to the hotel with you?

I don't stay at no hotel.

I just bed down any old place.

Pa, maybe you...

Maybe you'd best stay the night with us.

Where's your horse?

It's a mule.

He's over there.

I'll go hitch it on the back of the wagon.

Lucas.

Been looking for ya.

Been doing a little thinking over.

We figure it'd be worth it to give him a chance.

When?

Tomorrow morning.

My place.

You going to be there?

I'm asking you, old man!

You going to be there?

He'll be there.

He'd better.

That mule needs tying.

Whatever you're thinking about, just forget it.

Mr. Mathers, I don't know what you're talking about.

You figure this to be a good place?

As good a place as any, I'd say.

Must have lost my candy when I...

Well, I'd be pleased to share.

Thank you, boy.

Mr. Jonas, why'd he jump you?

You didn't say.

He was working for the other fella.

He figured if I was to find water, they'd...

It'd spoil their chances of hiring for the railroad.

Well, you figure he could stop you tomorrow?

He don't scare me none.

Shook me up a mite, coming on me sudden like that.

Well, you oughta tell Pa.

What'd be the use?

He don't figure I'm going to find water, anyway.

He just don't believe.

But he's wrong, boy.

He's wrong.

Cause I got me a willer stick.

And a willer stick is the best kind that there is.

And I got a feeling, too.

You believe I can do it, boy?

Well, sure I do.

Then I can do it.

Th-there it is!

It's water!

Pa!

Pa, come quick!

Pa!

Pa, he did it!

He did it!

He found water, Pa. Where?

Right here.

Show him, Mr. Jonas.

I'd like to see it, Mr. Jonas.

I've made it a rule never to trick the boy.

Supper's on.

Let's go eat, son.

An

You oughta try it, Mr. Jonas.

Pa's got a real way with cornbread.

Even some of the womenfolk come by to ask.

You know, this is the first deer meat we've

tasted in nearly two months.

Games have been pretty scarce since the drought.

You know, I grew these beans.

Pa says they're about the best he ever...

Mark, it's not polite to force a guest.

Yes, sir. Food's there.

If he's hungry, he'll eat.

You like to play checkers, Mr. Jonas?

Maybe we can play some after supper?

Thank you, boy.

But I'm going to be busy.

Yes, sir.

I've been thinking on it.

It ain't you or nobody going to say me no.

Time to be thinking about sleep, Mark.

Oh... but Pa, I can't go yet.

Well, it's too warm in the house.

Soon, though.

Well, sure.

Just like a shootin' gallery.

You sure it's going to work, Mr. Jonas?

Well, you just keep thinking it will, son.

But you said willow was the best.

Well, it could be that...

That elm's better in this part of the country.

Anyway, we're going to find out tomorrow.

Mark.

Stay where you are.

You first, McCain.

That rifle don't give you no odds this close.

Come on out.

I'm out.

Pa?

It's all right, son.

That's him.

He didn't want Mr. Jonas to find any water.

I know.

It comes hard to me, killing a man.

I hope you can prove I had good reason.

An early start, an early finish, I always say.

I expect that old man to get up along about noon.

Then we can devote the rest of the day to, uh...

Business, huh?

Morning.

Morning, Marshal.

Going to write out with the miracle of the water?

You seem to be almighty sure nothing's going to happen.

Are you sure it is?

Where's your partner?

Worn out already?

Well, I'll tell you.

Sometimes he's pretty unpredictable.

I thought Lucas would be here by now.

I rode in to meet him.

Kind of rushing things, aren't you, Jeff?

You know, if I was you...

Well, you ain't me, and I ain't you.

If there's any preaching you want to do,

save it till next meet.

Gentlemen, there's no need to argue.

Here comes your man.

Where is he, Lucas? Where's the old man?

Well, he took the cross-covered march.

It's a while shorter.

Why didn't you take it?

I've got business with Micah.

Right here.

Mathers?

Well, I told you he was unpredictable.

You didn't say he was dead.

What happened, Lucas?

He tried to kill the old man last night.

These are the ones you were going to do business with?

Gentlemen, I had nothing to do with this.

You were his partner.

In business!

But not murder.

I didn't leave the hotel last night.

You can ask the clerk.

Maybe I can't charge you, Mathers,

but I can run you out of town.

All right with you, Jeff?

It's all right with me.

Let's go, Lucas.

Jeff, you made the right move.

I'm counting on the old man.

Ha!

The marshal ran Mathers out of town.

That puts it up to you.

It ain't easy.

I have to look around.

I got 1,200 acres.

Help yourself.

Ain't even a sign.

Fourth place you tried.

You going to get going?

I can't seem to...

Something ain't right.

I just can't...

Can't?

He never could.

He's scared, Pa.

Scared?

You're just faking!

Like he says, you never could.

I'll put a bullet in you myself.

Ain't nothing you can do to me that...

That he ain't done worse to me already!

Look, old timer... No.

You kill a man, and it's over and done with.

But if somebody don't believe in a man, he...

He loses faith in himself.

Even back home, I...

If somebody didn't believe, I...

I couldn't find no water.

Well, you did it yesterday.

I saw you.

You can do it again.

I know.

Please, Mr. Jonas.

Mr. Jonas!

I was thinking, maybe some candy?

Thank you, boy.

I'm sorry, Mark.

For you and him both.

There ain't nothing now, Lucas.

Ain't nothing left.

Except the land.

This drought can't last forever.

Long enough to burn me out.

I'm through.

Pa!

It's... it's coming on rain!

It's coming on rain!

It's raining!

Rain!

Rain!

Rain!

You believe him now, Pa?

You got any of that candy left for me?

Well, sure, I...

Aw, Pa.

Now, by golly, it looks like it's going to rain again.

Yeah, I figured it would.

You don't have to go, you know.

Jerusalem, cricket.

You know how dry it is up north of here, McCain?

You want me to leave them folks up there waiting?

Well, bye to you, sonny.

Thank you, McCain.

Come on, mule.

So long, old timer.

Bye Mr. Jonas.

He'll sure have a lot of believers now.

All he needed was one.