All language subtitles for S05E25 - Bitter Harvest

[ theme music playing ]

♪♪

♪♪

He's had about enough,
hasn't he?

Stay out
of this, mister.

MAN:
All right,
break it up.

Come on, now.
Get your horses
and get along.

And you-- you get up
and go home.

You're new here, huh?

I just rode in.

Well, it's a small town.

Couple hundred yards,
and you'll be out of it.

Aren't you even
interested in what
the fight was about?

I know what
it was about.

Three against one--
is that the usual odds?

And I can count.

I'm all right,
cowboy.

I guess you didn't
know you were helping
the wrong side, huh?

Mister,
I don't have a side.

I was just trying to
even the odds a little.

Thanks.

I wonder if you could
tell me where I could find
a man named Frank Adams.

Adams?

Well, sure.
Just go on out of town

till you come to a road
coming in from the left.

Stay on it till
you find a patch of land

that nobody in his right mind
would try to farm.

That's the Adams place.

Thanks.

♪♪

Hi, son. Is this
the Adams place?

Yes, sir.Is your pa around?

He's out back,
but Ma's here.

Ma?

Ma?

What is it, Jamie?

What do you want?

There was, uh,

an advertisement
in the Medicine Bow paper.

This is
the Adams place?

Oh, about the...
about the oats.

Yes, ma'am. That's right.
I'm from Shiloh Ranch.

Jamie, run and get your pa.

Tell him somebody came
about the advertisement.

Hurry!

Well, won't you come in?

Thank you, ma'am.

Have a seat.Thank you, ma'am.

Mister, you're
the answer to...

Well, what I mean
to say is,

we'll be very pleased
to deal with you.

There's still the matter
of the price, ma'am.Oh, it's all right.

I'm sure we can...
you know.

Maybe I'd better wait till
your husband gets here.

Oh. Surely.

He's out back.

But about the price,

I'm sure it'll be
all right.

I've got some
coffee on the stove.
Would you like some?

Thank you.

How many bushels
do you think you'll need?

Oh,

about a thousand.

Oh, I'm sure we have...[ door opens ]

This is my husband,
Frank.

Mr. Adams, I'm pleased to
meet you. I'm the foreman
of the Shiloh Ranch.

Hi.He came
about the oats.

I saw your advertisement
in the Medicine Bow paper.

Well, that was
my wife's idea.

I'm surprised
you advertised
so far away.

The people around here--MRS. ADAMS: We couldn't
agree about a price.

Instead of taking
what they offered,

we thought we'd
try to do better.

Could I take
a look at 'em?

Sure.

Jamie?

Jamie?

What is it, Pa?

Take this gentleman
down to the barn,
show him the oats.

Yes, sir.Lead the way, Jamie.

♪♪

Why didn't you
go with him?

He can make up
his own mind.

You don't want to sell
to him, do you, Frank?

I didn't say that.

You'd rather we just
packed up and left,

the way
they want us to.

Maybe they're right.
Maybe we're just beating

our heads against
a stone wall trying to
make a go or it here.

Nobody's going to run me
out of here, Frank.

They're not
running us out.

They made a fair offer
for the land.

After they tried
every other way.

If you don't care
about yourself,

I should think you'd
want to fight for Jamie

build a home for him
where he can put down roots.

Look, I only said that
maybe we chose too quickly.

This is the wrong place
to make a start.

We took what
we could get.

This time we're staying.

Like the others
are going to do.

Maybe they are
and maybe they aren't.

Sometimes when
you make a mistake,

the best thing to do
is to face up to it.

I don't want to hear
any more talk like that...[ door opens ]

Now, I'm ready to
make an offer.

Three hundred dollars for
a thousand bushels of oats

delivered to
the railway station.

That's my best offer.

Well, it's not that.

The fact is,
we have a more...

a more general offer.

You mean, for
more of your crop?

Not that either.
An offer to--

Frank, we advertised
to sell oats.

He's come a long way
to buy them.

He's waiting
for his answer.

You don't even
want to consider--

He's waiting
for his answer.

I'll start loading
the wagon for you.

Well, fine, then.
I'll go into town
and reserve freight space.

Won't you have dinner with us?
Can't offer you much, but...No, thanks.

Mr. Grainger,
the owner of Shiloh,

has an old friend
living out here
somewhere.

I promised
to look him up.
Tom Hadley.

Hadley?Yeah, you know him?

He owns the land
on two sides of us.

Wait.

It's all settled
about the oats?

You'll buy from us?
That's settled?

Mrs. Adams,
it was your husband
holding back, not me.

Frank, shake
his hand on it.

There.

That's sure, now.
That's settled.

It was settled
before.

Well, thanks a lot.
I'll see you later.

Frank,

Thank you.

It's what you wanted.

Now we can make it
through to next summer.

It's sure to be better.

I'll put on dinner.

♪♪

Carl!
What happened to you?

A couple of Hadley's men
tried to convince me
I ought to sell out.

Oh...What'd that fellow want?

A thousand bushels
of oats

for enough money to
get us through the year.

Are you staying, then?Yes!

But at the last meeting,
Frank talked of giving in.

I told you we're staying.

Well, I'll pass the word.
They'll be glad to hear it.

Will you help us get them
ready for shipment?Sure.

I'll tell Frank.

You know, I-I...

I still can't figure
how a sister of mine

could've married such
a weakling as--I know.

You told me that before.

♪♪

♪♪

Are you Mr. Hadley?

He's inside.
I'm his foreman.

Well, I'd like
to see him.What about?

Tell him it's personal.MAN:
What is it, Ed?

This fellow says--I'm John Grainger's
foreman.

He asked me to
stop by and see you.

Well, I'm glad to meet you.
John and I are old friends.

So he told me.This is my foreman,
Ed Stix.

We've met.Well, come in,
come in.

Gentlemen,
I'd like you to meet

John Grainger's foreman
from Medicine Bow.

Fred Gorman.Grainger...
Shiloh Ranch?

That's right.Harry Davis,

Ken Curtis
and Bill Shaeffer.

Gentlemen.

We were just holding
a council of war.

Oh, if I'm interrupting--No, no, not at all.

We could use another head.What brings you
out this way?

I came to buy
horse feed.

I thought you
grew your own.

We usually do,
but this year
we got hit by rust.

Ruined most of
the oat crop.

Oats?Who'd you come to see?

Fellow named Frank Adams.
He advertised in
the Medicine Bow paper.

Advertised?
Now, that's real clever.

Looks like we
underestimated them.

I'm afraid
I don't understand.

I made them an offer
to buy their place.

Land, buildings, water,
the whole outfit.

But they've been
stubborn, so...

We don't buy
their produce.
Anyone around here.

Boycott, you mean, huh?

We're not obliged to buy
from them, would you say?

They're not obliged to be
starved out, either,
would you say?

Look, you probably
haven't talked to them--Yes, I have.

But you haven't
gotten around to--I made the deal, Mr. Hadley.

I'm buying
a thousand bushels.

You can't.
You're a rancher like us.

You don't do that
to your own people.

I've made the deal, Mr. Gorman.
I've shaken hands on it.

But you're one of us.
You go to those
sodbusters and--

I said I've shaken
hands on it.

Get in touch with Grainger.
He'll set him straight.

I don't believe he will.Now, wait a minute.

I think this is
just a matter of
making things clear.

I'm sorry, Mr. Hadley.
I guess I'd better be going.
Goodbye, sir.

Gentlemen,
I'll let you get back
to your council of war.

Wait.

There's no need
for this.

Why don't you stay
and eat with us?

Well, thanks,
but I've got some
arrangements to make.

It's a long ride
back to town,

and I'd like a chance
to explain things
a little more to you.

Mr. Hadley,
I think I've got
the general idea.

[ door opens, shuts ]

John Grainger's foreman.

Your fine friend.

No friends like
old friends, eh, Tom?

You weren't
much help, Fred.Maybe not.

I ain't like you.

You explain,
you talk at things,

but things keep
going along.

We're getting to where
talk don't help.

We've got to
just stop them.

♪♪

[ whinnies ]

Get his boots off.
Morg, you get his horse.

All right, let's
get back to town.

♪♪

Hello, Joe.

Good morning.Good morning, sir.
What can I do for you?

I'd like to buy
a pair of boots.

Oh?

That surprise you?

I'm sorry.
I'm taking inventory.

You're what?

I'm closed.
You'll have to try
somewhere else.

Look, mister,
somewhere in this store
there's a pair of boots

that's just my size.

Now, are you
gonna find 'em,

or am I gonna have to
find 'em myself?

♪♪

Good afternoon.Afternoon.

Westbound train
stopping through
here tomorrow?

Yes, sir. Train number 17
stops through at 12:06.

Sell you a ticket?No, thanks.

I'd like to reserve
freight space for half
a carload of bagged oats.

Sorry. No space.

Oh, well, then,
what about the next day?

Afraid not.

I see. Uh,

let's see, you're
the telegraph operator
too, aren't you?

Yes, sir.

Then I'd like to
send a telegram.

Where to?

Uh, superintendent,

central freight office,

Wyoming
and Great Plains
Railway.

Sir, your agent
in Winton

informs me that there
is no freight space

available on train
number 17 on...

Let's see.
We'd better make
that "asserts."

Your agent
in Winton asserts

that there is no
freight space av...

I guess we better put
your name in too,
don't you figure?

Uh, that there is no
space available on...

[ chuckles ]
Say, you're not writing
this down, are you?

All right."All right" what?

You got your space.

I'll have my freight here
by 11:30 tomorrow morning.

I'll do my own loading.

Nice doing business
with you.

♪♪

You all right, Frank?

Yes.

We could load
the rest tomorrow.

You wanted it sold.
I want it ready for him.

Suppose... Hadley
talked him out of it?

All I know is,
it'll be ready
for him.

We're liable to
come out a little short
of what we promised,

Well?

There's still
some uncut left up
around the fences.

Ain't worth cutting,
That's miserable stuff.

That's all we got.
I'll get the scythe.

He ain't gonna know
the difference if we
turn up a little bit short.

He's paying for
a thousand bushels.
He's gonna get a thousand.

♪♪

Oh, you're back!

I was beginning
to worry.

Well, I had
a few delays.

What, with your going to
visit Hadley, I thought

he might try to,
you know...

I wish you'd told me
exactly how things stood
between you and Hadley.

It might have
saved me a certain
amount of inconvenience.

Suppose I had told you.
You're a rancher like him.

Do you think you'd have
come back to us?

Oh, I know I wasn't...
outright with you.

Forgive me.

We're fighting
for our lives.

I know that now,
Mrs. Adams.

Howdy.Howdy.

We met in town
this morning.

We, uh, can't quite
make it up to the full
amount that you wanted.

Carl's gonna help me
cut what's left.

"What's left."
We'll get about four kernels
of grain off each stalk.

It's been
a bad year.
Next year.

I always try
and keep my bargains.

STIX:
Adams?

What do you want?

I came by to tell you
you left a hole
in your fence.

No hole in my fence.

Well, one was there,
and some of Mr. Hadley's
cattle come through.

Oh, uh, I'm afraid

they tramped down
some of your crop.

You made the hole, you mean.
You drove them through.

That's far enough.

Then get your cattle back out
and mend the fence.

I've just got
two men with me.

All we can do
to head them back.

You'll have to mend
your own fence.

Why didn't you stand up
to him, Pa?

Nothing to stand up about.
He didn't have to
come and tell us.

I doubt if they
caused you much loss.

Most of it's already
been cut, you said.

You've already loaded
most of what--CARL: That ain't the point.

It's them cutting
Frank's fence.Let's find out

before we get
too worked up.

What's it take to
get you fighting mad?

Let's finish our work.
We'll have a look.

♪♪

Drove them
right through.

You see any reason
to think otherwise?

Looks like cattle
broke it down,
all right.

Whether they were
driven through or not
is pretty hard to say.

Not for me.Where are you going?

I'm gonna bring 'em back
to mend our fence.

How are you
gonna do that?
With a gun?

If I have to.

Mr. Ryan, I went to
considerable trouble

to get freight space
on that train tomorrow.

You start a shooting war
right now,

that train's liable
to pull out empty.

He's right.Gee, Pa!

You'd think a man would be
ashamed to act like a worm
in front of his own son.

See you tomorrow.Yeah.

♪♪

The clerk told me
you'd taken a room
for the night.

I was hoping that
you wouldn't decide

to stay out at
the Adams place instead.

What was it you wanted
to see me about?

I heard you got roughed up
on your way back from my ranch.

I wanted to tell you that
I'm sorry it happened.

If I find out who did it,
I'll make them even sorrier.

So will I.

That was meant
to be an apology.
What more do you want?

You might
answer a question.What is it?

Your cattle
tore down Adams's fence
and trampled his land.

Was that without
your knowledge too?First I've heard of it.

Check with your foreman.
He's out there now,
rounding up your cattle.

What about the fence?He said that
was their problem.

Well, he was wrong.
If our cattle knocked
that fence down,

we'll string it back up.
You have my word on that.

Well, I guess it's
my turn to apologize.

Now that I've established
a little credit,

maybe you'd like to hear
our side of it.

I think I would.Over a drink
at the ranch?

You got a deal.

♪♪

You arrived here,
and you saw

that the Adams are
struggling and poor,

and that Frank Adams
is a decent, honest man,

and that I've been
trying to buy him out,

even crowd him out,
in any legal way
that I could.

But what you didn't
bother to learn is that,

while Frank Adams is
struggling to make a farm

on land that
can't support it,

he stands
a very good chance
to ruin me.

You haven't run
into this yet at Shiloh,

but it'll come.

When it does, you'll have
a better understanding
of our problems here.

You see, Adams has
fenced off a waterhole.

The nearest other one
is about six miles away.

He has the right,
you could say. It's his.

The government
gave it to him.

But I have a hard time
explaining that to my cattle.

I sold off 90 head last year
because I couldn't
keep them watered.

I can lose 40 or 50 more
every winter against
that fence he put up.

Couple of more years,
I can be busted.

You want to hire
a middle-aged cowhand?

If you don't mind
my asking,

how much did you offer
Adams for their place?

Three thousand dollars.
Does that seem
reasonable to you?

Mm-hmm.
Why didn't he take it?

You tell me why.

They can't make
a go of it there.

They just barely raised
their last crop.

Bad summer, they told me.

It was an ordinary summer.
Wait till they get
a real bad one.

Besides, they're
destroying all the
natural grass cover.

They'd have called it quits
if you hadn't arrived.

They'd have taken my offer,
packed up, and moved on.

Now, I'm not the kind of man
that feels right to plead,

but will you call
that deal off?

I can't do that.
I gave my word.

I've been trying
to hold things back
on both sides.

Moderation, I've said.
Reason.

Pretty soon I'll have no one
to talk to but myself.

Well,

I can't get out of my bargain
if they want to hold me to it,

but I can talk to them about
reconsidering your offer.

They won't. I've talked
till I'm blue in the face.

Maybe the others
are right:

them or us.

If they won't go,
maybe they need
to be driven.

I'm sure
you don't mean that.

Are you?

Wait till you're
a middle-aged man with your
life's work going to ruin.

Then see how sure
you are of anything.

♪♪

♪♪

[ knock at door ]

Come in!
You're just in time!

Evening.Howdy.

We're having
sort of a celebration.

Here.
Sit down.

I just stopped by to--

It's all sacked
and ready to go.

I won't start
hauling till sunup.

Won't take more than
eight or nine trips.That's fine--

I bought this
two years ago.

[ laughs ]
It's just ordinary,

but I paid
fifty cents for it.

I know it's a sin
to spend money on
something useless,

but I saw it,
and I just bought it.

And I guess I was
just saving it for
a night like this.

Mr. Adams, I had
a long talk with Hadley--

About the fence?
He sent his men
over to fix it.

Well, it sure took
him a long time.

When I was coming back
from the barn just
a little while ago,

I saw them heading
back to Hadley's.

It was good of you to
get them to do that for us.

What I meant was--You've done
everything for us.

You bought our crop
when nobody else would,

you've got us through
this year, gave us
a start on the next.

We get to stay here
because of you.

CARL:
I'll drink to that.

Big men.

Big ranchers
with their smooth talk.

They didn't fool him
and they didn't scare him.

He found the right side
and he took it.
He took our part.

I came by to tell you
I think you ought to sell out.

What?I think it's the best
way for everyone.

For Hadley.For you too. I don't think
you can make out here.

Frank, he's going
back on us.

On his bargain.He didn't say that.

I apologize, mister,
for what I said.

You're no different than
the rest of the ranchers.

Hadley swung you
right back in line.

You're breaking
a promise to us.

No, I made
a bargain with you,

and I told Hadley
I wouldn't break it.

It's just that
about some things
I think Hadley's right.

I don't think you can
make a go of it here.

We are!

You're destroying
yourselves and the land
and Hadley too.

This land's only
good for one thing:
grazing cattle.

Listen to the rancher.

This is our land.
The government
gave it to us.

But Hadley needs
the use of it.
He depends on it.

Are we trying to
get Hadley's land?

It amounts to
the same thing.

You made
a bargain with us.
Are you gonna keep it?

Yes.

Three hundred dollars for
a thousand bushels of oats.

What about this?

Suppose I pay you
the money as I agreed,

and then you reconsider
the offer Hadley made?

MRS. ADAMS:
Three hundred dollars for
a thousand bushels of oats.

Is that right?
Your word?

I just told you.Well, the oats
are in the wagon.

You can take them
right now if you want to.

That's our side
of the bargain.

All I have to know is,
are you keeping yours?

Are you keeping
your word?

Have you got
pen and ink?

Marie, look. I think
what he's trying to say--Frank...

All right.
He delivered.
That's enough.

I've tried not to
take sides in this.
You know that.

You know that
if I ask you to
talk to Hadley--

No.

No, he's not
going to anybody
hat in hand.

Not ever again
in his life.

Our life.

Mister,

for the first time
in our lives,
we own something.

We're on our own land,
making our own life.

We're not beholden
to anybody.

Have you any idea
what that's worth?

I know how much you
value your independence,
Mrs. Adams.

Just talk to Hadley.
That seems reasonable enough.

No. No, tell him
you won't, Frank.

Tell him clear.

Tell him.

No, I won't talk to Hadley.

I know you mean
well to us,

as we do
towards you.

Please, have
some wine with us.

Am I still welcome?Oh, you are. Please.

Well, this is sort of
a Thanksgiving for us,

for everything
we've won.

The wagon!No.

It's too late.

♪♪

They did it.

Tried to buy you out.
Tried to squeeze you out.

Finally they
burned you out.You've got no proof.

CARL:
How much more
proof do you need,

Hadley's men working
on a fence less than
a mile away?

FRANK: They were here
this afternoon, but that
doesn't mean that--

I asked you before
how much you'd take.
Now I know.

You'd take anything
they hand out.

Just roll over
and play dead.

♪♪

A thousand
bushels of oats,

every last thing
you own in the world,

and you watch them
go up in smoke without--

I appreciate all
the help you've given us.
Now I think you'd better leave.

You're right.
I'd better.

I've been poking around
out there. Not much
to find, though.

Are you looking
for a burnt match?I found a burned lantern.

I'm not claiming that's
the answer either.

By the way, you said
you walked out back
last night.

Did you by any chance
take the barn lantern
with you?

Well, sure.
And hung it up
and put it out.

You're sure of that?Rancher, I don't need you.

I say I put
that lantern out,
I put it out.

You are careless
sometimes, Carl.

I don't need you either.

Hadley set that fire--
Hadley's people.

And my people are gonna
make it up to him.Your people?

We ain't all built
like him, rancher.
Some of us fight back.

Even if you're wrong?

You did me a favor once.
I owe you for that.

But I've got to tell you
you've just about
used that favor up.

Go find your own side.
I've got mine.

It's my barn, Carl.
It's not your fight.

It's all of our fight. If we
let them get away with this,
they'll do it to everybody.

I-I'm sorry.
There's no reason
that you--

THE VIRGINIAN:
I'm sorry too,
Mr. Adams.

I guess the best
thing I can do is
settle up and leave.

"Settle up"?

Well, I wrote you
a bank draft last night.

Oh.

I clean forgot.

The, uh,
bank draft, Marie.

For the oats.

Well, the deal was,
delivery to the station.

♪♪

I'll give it to him.

I don't suppose
there's anything more
keeping you.

But she doesn't mean that
the way it sounds.

Well...One last favor.

You're riding that
direction anyhow.

You mind if I ride
along with you
as far as Hadley's?

What?

I'm asking him if
he'll let me ride along
to Hadley's with him.

No!

Look, if he wants the land,
we've got to sell.
There's no other way left.

Frank, I'm not going
to crawl to Hadley.

You won't have to.
I'm the one crawling.

How can you do that
after they burned us out?

I doubt
that they did.

But there's no way
now of knowing.

Doesn't matter now
how it happened.

Look, we're finished here.
We've got to accept it.

You're good at that--
accept failure.

And you'll go
and set up another place

and fail again.

Carl's right about you.

You never fight.
You just run.

I try and do what
it makes sense to do.

If you go to Hadley,
I won't be here when
you get back.

There is no choice,
Marie.

Stubbornness and anger
don't change the fact.

The fact is,
we have to take
his offer.

I mean it, Frank.

♪♪

If you're, uh, ready,
I'll ride along with you.

[ hoof beats recede ]

Well, good luck.

Thanks.

I'm sorry about the way
things worked out.

Wasn't your fault.

I guess people are
just the way they are.

Do the best you can,
and sometimes things
just don't work out.

That's kind of
the story of my life.

I say it's time
we stand up together,

time we show them
what we're made of.

Oh, you can talk to
a rancher all you want to
about "my land,"

"my land," "my rights,"
"my family,"

but he just runs
right over you,
like Hadley did to Frank.

Now, I say we do
the same thing to him.
We've got the men, the guns.

I'm beginning to
believe you're right.

I know I'm right.
One by one-- that's
the way they want us.

They tear out
that man's fence,
trample this man's crops.

One by one,
they crowd us out,

scare us out
and burn us out.

Are you just
gonna sit around
and wait your turn?

What about the sheriff?
Shouldn't we get him?

Two of Hadley's men
beat me up on the street
while he stood and watched.

You think he's gonna
protect your crop?

Now, I say we do it
the same way they did it:

one at a time,
and we start with Hadley.

I'm with you.Spread the word.

Tell 'em we're
in this together--
every man-jack of us.

Meet back here
in an hour.

♪♪

I'm sorry, Mr. Adams,
but you're a little late,

I made that offer
quite a while ago,

and you turned it down.

Things have changed
since then.

Well, things have
changed with me too.

You ignored that offer
before, and everything

that I tried to tell you
along with it.

I've had two years of
losing money and cattle

and watching you
ruin that land.

I've had to put up with
your brother-in-law
stirring up trouble

among my fellow ranchers.

I've had to apologize
and explain and try to
keep this trouble in hand.

I've been accused of
tearing down your fence,

and when I send my men to
fix it, they're accused

of setting fire
to your barn.

And now at last you discover
that I was right to start with.

That you can't make out
with the land.

And you expect me
to pay you for it.

Well, I wouldn't expect you
to very much, Mr. Hadley,

but I still do hold
title to that land.

You're moving out
because you have to move.

You take your title with you,
the land stays here.

Yesterday you told the man
I was selling my oats to

that you were
still interested.

That was yesterday
It was a business offer.

Today
it would be charity,

and I don't feel
that charitable.

I won't take any more
of your time.

♪♪

♪♪

Yeah?That freight space--
you can cancel it.

Well, that sure
bails me out, mister.

I had a feeling Ed Stix
was gonna cut me up
and use me for fish bait

when he found out
about the space.

Tell me something.
Just when did Ed Stix

talk to you about
the freight space?

Just before
you come in yesterday.
Him and a couple of cowhands.

Sure glad you
changed your mind.

So am I.

♪♪

Hey, you!

What do you think
you're doing?

Let me go!Oh, no, you don't.

Now, let's just see
what you were up to.

Gonna set fire
to the barn, were you?

That's what you
did to ours!

You come along
with me, kid.

♪♪

That's a very serious
crime, son.

That's what you
did to ours.

My uncle said so.Well, your uncle's wrong.

He is not!

He ain't scared of you.

You'll see. He's gonna
get even with you.

Come on, kid.
We'll let the sheriff
figure out what to do with you.

No, wait a minute.

What do you mean,
he's going to get
even with me?

You'll find out.

Where are the hands
working today?

On the north range,
up at Beaver Canyon.

That's a good
four hours' ride.

Anybody left
around here?A couple.

Get them.You think there's
gonna be trouble?

I don't know, but if there is,
I want to be ready for it.

Sit down, son.

Now, I want you
to tell me exactly
what your uncle said.

♪♪

He, uh,

withdrew the offer.

Well, that's what
you wanted, isn't it--
to keep the land?

Jamie's gone.

What...
What do you mean?
Gone where?

He's run away.

Jamie? Why would he--Because he was
ashamed of you.

I was going to
take him with me.

I looked all over for him.
I couldn't find him

Then I found this...

in his room.

"Dear Ma,

I'm sorry
Pa is a coward.

Don't worry.

I'll get even.

You'll never
see me again."

He ran away to
get even with you.

Your own son.

Wait a minute.

"I will get even."

What makes you so sure
that he meant me?

What do you mean?

Well, he heard Carl say
that Hadley burned our barn.

He might've thought that
he had to get even with Hadley.

Chuck, get upstairs
and cover the back.

Burt, get the side.
You,

you get to where
you can cover
the other side.

I could only round up
three hands.

What are you
gonna do with him?I don't know.

STIX: You let him go,
he'll tell them there's
only five of us here.

I'm afraid
you're right.

I'm going to have to
keep you here, son.

I hope nothing's
going to happen,

but I can't
take a chance.

I'll cover this side.

♪♪

Here comes your friend.

Let him in.

Mr. Hadley's in there.

I didn't come to
see him this time.

I didn't want to go back
to Medicine Bow without
paying you what I owed you.

That's for one boot.
Get up, and I'll pay you
for the other one.

[ gun cocks ]Hold it, mister.

Get his gun.

What's going on?

A nice, peaceful little
ranch you run here,
isn't it?

I don't see anything peaceful
about coming in here
and hitting my foreman.

If you think we burned
the Adams' barn--

I don't know
whether you did or not,
but I told you yesterday

I'd like to find the man
who bushwhacked me.

If he did that,
he went against orders.

But right now we've
got a bigger problem
on our hands.

This boy tells me
that his uncle's
out to get revenge.

If the rest
of the sodbusters
feel the same way,

then we've got
a fight on our hands.

Is that right, Jamie?

I believe him.

We caught him trying
to burn down our barn.

Well, I know his uncle.

He's pretty much
of a hothead, but maybe
I can talk sense to him.

Come on, Jamie.

I'm sorry.
The boy stays.

Well, I guess
I had you pegged wrong.

I've got four men.

The rest are up
on the north range.

If this boy's uncle brings
the rest of those sodbusters,

I'll need every
advantage I can get.

[ hoof beats approaching ]

[ gunshots continue ]

Cover from
the living room.
Make it sound big.

Upstairs.

Let's get down
in here, son.

[ gunshots ]

Looks like they're
expecting us.

We'll go around
to the side.

Touch off the barn first
and then get the main house.

If you want to help,
go out there and tell them

we've got Frank Adams'
boy here.

I'll tell them.

You men listen to me!

That's far enough!

They've got
Jamie Adams in there.

If you want any
harm to come to him,
you'd better get on home.

What kind of a trick
you trying to pull?

It's no trick.
He's in there.

Go back in there
and tell them they've got
two minutes to let him go.

They won't do it.

Use your head, Carl.

Go on home
and take the rest
of the men with you.

Take this with you,
rancher!

You go in there
and tell 'em what I said!

He's scared,
or he wouldn't be trying
a stunt like that.

Suppose he's
telling the truth?

Doesn't matter.
We're calling the shots now.

Well, you heard 'em.What kind of men
are they?

I guess they're
wondering the same
thing about you.

I didn't start this.
If they don't care enough

for the boy's safety
to call it off, that's
on their conscience.

♪♪

♪♪

Ray, you go around the side,
pile up some hay against
the outbuildings,

and get 'em started.

The rest of you spread out
in a skirmish line.

♪♪

You want to get
Marie shot?

Where's Jamie?
Have you seen him?

Your rancher friend said
he was up at Hadley's.

But don't worry.
We'll get him back.
They wouldn't dare hurt him.

What do you mean?We're gonna
burn 'em out.

Anybody lays a finger
on Jamie, he knows
what'll happen.

Carl, no!I know what
I'm doing.

You think I want anything
to happen to Jamie?

We've come this far.
We can't run now. We got
to go through with it.

Carl, listen--We'll never get
a better chance.

Most of their men are
out on the range.

If we let them bluff now,
they'll burn us out
before the night's over.

I tell you--Shut up, Carl.

You men hold your fire.
I'm going in to get Jamie.

Frank, wait.
They'll shoot you.

♪♪

I warned him.Hold it, Ed.

You gonna let him
walk right up
to the front door?

He doesn't have
a gun on him.

They tell me you got
my boy up here.

I've come to fetch him.

You had us worried,
Jamie.

We thought he might be
up to some mischief here.

He tried.

Oh, I'm sorry,
Mr. Hadley.

I guess he had things
kind of mixed up.

I'll straighten him out
when I get him home.

Come on, Jamie.

Nice try, sodbuster,

but you're staying here--
both of you.

You think that's gonna keep
my brother-in-law from doing
what he came here to do?

You're his brother-in-law.
Jamie's his nephew.

I figure that
means something.

Well, you don't
know Carl.

See, he thinks he's found
his vocation out there.

He's decided
he's a leader,

though he don't care much
for anyone else.

You mean they'd still
try to burn us out
with you and the boy here?

Carl would.
He's out there
right now

trying to build a bonfire
under the rest of them.

Let me and Jamie go,

and I'll un-build it.

What makes you think
they'll listen to you?

I guess you'll have to
leave that to me.

Unless you want to
stay here and fight it out.

Frankly, I don't think
you have much of a chance.

First they'll fire
your barn, then they'll
set the house afire.

When you come
running out...

I don't think you have
much choice, Mr. Hadley.

STIX:
Supposing he
double-crosses us?

They still don't know
there's only five of us here.

Now, if we can hold out
until the rest of
the hands get back--

You won't.
Carl isn't gonna wait
much longer. Believe me.

All right.
Take the boy.

I think you made
the right decision,
Mr. Hadley.

Come on, son.

I don't know what
you have in mind, but...

if you need
any help...

Thanks.
Maybe I will.

They didn't take kindly
to you last time you tried
to talk to them

This time, he'll be
doing the talking.

♪♪

Here they come.

Everybody wait now.
Wait till they get
over to us.

Then there's nothing
to stop us.

Soon as they're out of
the way, pour everything
you have at the house.

Keep 'em so busy,
they won't be able
to cover the barn.

What are they
stopping for?

I don't know.

What's the matter, Pa?

Looks like as good
a spot as any,
I guess.

We haven't
played mumblety-peg
in a long time, Jamie.

Pa! We can't stop
and play mumblety-peg here!

I can't think
of a better time
or place, son.

Come on, son.
Sit down.

What's he doing?

What's he up to?

I wish I knew.

Come on, son.

You all right, Pa?

Never better.

Nothing like
a nice, quiet game
to cool things off.

I used to be a pretty fair
mumblety-pegger.

Let's see if I've
still got the touch.

Come on, Jamie,
get in the game.

♪♪

Frank, get over here!

You, uh, don't mind
if I go first,
do you?

Not at all.

I was wondering
back there how you were
gonna handle things.

I sure never would have
thought of mumblety-peg.

Well, neither would they.

Not bad
for an old man.

Not mumblety-peg.

I don't believe it.

Looks like they're
playing mumblety-peg.

Frank! Get out of there!
You'll get hit!

Oh, shucks.

Pa! We're right
in the middle!

The only place for
a moderate man to be.

But, Pa!THE VIRGINIAN:
Don't worry about it, Jamie.

Your pa knows
what he's doing.

You just made it.

I don't know what got
into him, but we can't
wait any longer.

Jeff, ease over
around the side.
We'll cover you.

Go on, I tell you!

Don't pay any
attention to him!
Do what I tell you!

♪♪

Ah!Thought you said
you were good at this.

Well, I'm not
used to playing

in front of such
a big audience.

Your turn.

Go ahead, son.

What's the matter
with everybody?

Just 'cause Frank's
gone loco?

You forgetting what
they done to us?

It's all over, Carl.

Ed, if you ever have
any grandchildren,

you'll sure have
something to tell them.

That's very good, son.

Looks like you can call
the game off pretty soon.

I was just beginning
to enjoy it.

Jamie, your father's
not only a brave man,

he's a smart man too.

Frank?

Well, I guess
that's enough for now.

You played
real good, son.

Frank!

I was scared, Ma!

We all were, Jamie.

All except your pa.

I guess I've always
been curious about

how much a man
could stand.

the truth is, he can
stand most anything.

But that's not to say
he always should.

Why don't you run along?
I want to talk to your mother.

Come on, Jamie.

Frank--

You had your say
a while back.
Now it's my turn.

We start over.

If you want,
you go where I go,

you do what I want done,

My faults and weaknesses--
you don't bother to
tell me about them.

You abide them.

All right?

Yes, Frank.

I was just
wondering...Yes?

.'..how a woman
could live with a man
all those years

and not really
know him.

HADLEY:
Mr. Adams?

Mr. Adams,
I'm obliged to you.

I expect both sides
are obliged to you.

Won't you sit down?

I, uh, think Jamie
has something
to say to you.

I'm sorry, Mr. Hadley,
about what I tried
to do to your barn.

That's all right, son.

I guess we all did
a few things we're
not very proud of.

I still think farming
and ranching don't mix,

but if I'm going to
have to have neighbors,

I think we can find
a better parcel
of land for you

somewhere around here.

Better for
both of us.

Well, I'm willing
to look.

I've got some maps
we can look over.

Well, I guess
I'll be heading back.

Oh, I... believe
this belongs to you.Thank you.

I saw how you helped
Frank out there.

I don't know how
to thank you.

It was all his idea.
The only trouble is,
when I get back to Shiloh,

they won't believe me,
and I don't know
as I blame them.

Goodbye, mister.
It's been a pleasure
knowing you.

Good luck.
So long, Jamie.

I guess you're pretty
proud of your father,
aren't you?

Yes, sir.Don't forget how good
he is at mumblety-peg.

I'll walk out
with you.

I may be needing
a new foreman.

You wouldn't
be interested?

No, I'm afraid
I've got a job.

Give Grainger
my regards.

I'll do that.

♪♪

[ theme music playing ]