Original subtitles

Coach driver: Whoa!

Here we are, folks. Dodge City.

- Let me give you a hand, ma'am. - Thank you.

Morning to you, Newly.

Reilly, how you doing?

- There you are, Miss. - Thank you.

Here, let me help you with these.

Oh, I don't think that will be necessary, thank you.

Here, let me give you a hand there.

Excuse me, are you the marshal?

No, the marshal's out of town.

My name is Newly O'Brien. I'm one of his deputies.

- And this here's Miss Kitty Russell. - How do you do, Miss Russell?

- How do you do? - I'm Jenny. Jenny Pearson.

The driver said I ought to talk to the marshal.

You see, I'm going to Slater's Crossing, only the stage doesn't go there anymore.

Slater's Crossing is deserted.

There hasn't been a stage line in there for a long time.

No, ma'am. Are you traveling all by yourself?

Yes, sir. All the way from St. Louis.

Kitty: That's a long way.

You see, my mother died, and I'm going to meet my father at Slater's Crossing.

Only the driver said that the closest city was Dodge.

And so I don't know what to do.

Well, I know about stage coaches, and I know they don't feed you.

What do you say we get you some sweet rolls and milk?

Oh, yes, ma'am.

I think there's some in the office, Newly.

Well, let's see here, I'll take those for you.

Oh, thank you.

Let's go sit over there.

Well, now...

You mean to tell me that there wasn't anybody on that trip with you?

Well, just two cowboys and a lady.

- And Melissa. - Oh.

How old are you?

Ten. Well, almost ten.

And your father lives somewhere near Slater's Crossing, huh?

Well, I don't know. I just got a letter from him telling me to meet him there.

He finally got a ranch, he said.

And we're gonna be having cows and chickens and horses.

And there's a pony for me to ride, and a creek to go swimming in.

He's even gonna take me hunting with him.

Well, that sounds wonderful.

Pearson...

Pearson's Ranch? Doesn't sound familiar.

Well, Pearson isn't really my name.

It's just a game I'm supposed to play.

My mother made it up.

My real name is Jennifer Pritchard, but everybody calls me Jenny.

Thank you, Newly O'Brien.

You're welcome.

What's your father's name?

Lucas. Lucas Pritchard.

Would you like to see a picture of him?

Yes. Mm-hmm.

Isn't he handsome?

Oh, he certainly is.

Well, you know, that just looks so good,

I think I'm gonna have to go get myself a cup of coffee.

- Newly? - Yes, ma'am.

You just dig right in.

Newly and I are gonna try and figure out what to do.

Mmm. Thank you, it sure is good, ma'am.

You're so welcome.

There couldn't be any mistake, could there?

I seen posters of him. He's the same man I trailed in Oklahoma this spring.

How do you tell a ten-year-old that her father is wanted

in practically every state this side of the Missouri?

Don't worry about it being hot, now.

The best thing to do when it's hot is just don't think about it.

- Don't you see? - That's exactly what I plan to do.

But of course, you know he's just liable not to be there at all

when he sees that there ain't no well water and there ain't...

Mr. O'Brien? Miss Russell told me you're going out to meet my father.

I sure am.

And I was wondering if I could go with you.

I mean, I think I could ride a horse without any trouble.

I bet you can ride a horse, Jenny, but I'll tell you something,

it's a pretty hot day, and I might have to ride further than Slater's Crossing

if your dad isn't there.

Maybe when the stage didn't go that far he went back to his ranch.

Could be. Excuse me.

This is Mr. Festus Hagen.

Festus, Miss Jenny Pritchard.

- How do you do? - Howdy, Miss Jenny. Nice to meet you.

Festus, why don't you see if Mr. Lathrup's got a new batch of root beer made up?

Good idea, Newly.

I could stand a little swallow of root beer my own self.

You run over yonder and see Mr. Lathrup

and be sure and tell him to get it out of the cellar, where it's cool, will you?

- Okay. - All right, darling.

Keep your hands where I can see them.

Take the bit out of the horse's mouth.

Do it.

What are you, a deputy?

That's right.

New, aren't ya?

- Yeah. - Shows.

Could have had you ten times over and then some.

She's in Dodge, Mr. Pritchard.

You sure don't look like your picture.

She?

Your daughter. Jenny.

She came as far as she could, then I come the rest of the way.

You got a name?

O'Brien. Newly O'Brien.

You said Dodge. Where's Matt Dillon?

Out of town.

You're in charge, are ya?

Me and another deputy.

Well, O'Brien, I got a proposition for you.

Jenny's the only important one around here.

You and me, we don't count for much.

But she does.

You're gonna bring her here to me.

You don't shoot me if I bring her back here, is that it?

Right on.

She'll still be in Dodge,

and you ain't about to ride in shooting, now are ya?

So I'm gonna make a bargain with ya.

The only bargain I'm gonna make...

is you come back with me...

make your arrangements...

see that Jenny's taken care of...

then you come back and stand trial.

Now, you don't have too many choices, do ya?

Come on, spill it out. What are you offering?

I just did.

Two days in Dodge of you being a father,

in return for you giving yourself up.

Amnesty? You offering me amnesty?

Call it what you want.

Two days as a free man?

I got your word?

If I got yours you'll give yourself up.

You'd take the word of a wanted man?

I'll take the word of Jenny's father.

Is something wrong, Judge?

Pritchard.

The deputy just brought in Pritchard.

Newly, you got him, huh?

Not exactly.

What do you mean, not exactly? He ain't got you.

Let's go inside and talk about it.

Festus, shut that door a minute.

Pritchard, I'll go get Jenny. You wait here.

I think it's best you're not seen in the streets.

I thought you said as a free man?

You want someone to collect that $2,000 reward on your head?

No.

All right, then. I'll go get her.

Newly, will you explain this to me now?

I want to know what's going on...

Lucas Pritchard.

That's right.

You remember me.

Name's Franklin, Alan Franklin.

Yeah. Joplin.

That's right.

I'm the judge that indicted you for robbery two years ago.

But you escaped before you could be brought to trial.

Joplin's in Missouri. What are you doing in Kansas?

Substituting for Judge Brooker who's in Washington.

And now if we're finished with the questions,

I suggest we get this man locked up.

- Festus? - It's true, Newly.

The judge here come in on that noon stage.

Now, wait a minute. Nobody's gonna lock me up.

Judge, there's a couple things you ought to know.

See, Pritchard's daughter, she's here in Dodge.

- What's his daughter got to do with... - She's nine-years-old,

and she come here to meet her daddy.

I give him a couple days to take care of her,

and then he's gonna give himself up.

Give himself up? What's that mean?

- He's in custody. - It means that I've got amnesty, Judge.

I got this deputy's word.

You got him here by promising amnesty?

Yes, sir, for a couple of days.

Lock him up.

But, Judge, I promised him two days' amnesty.

Not even two hours, lock him up now. That's an order!

- I can't do that. I give my word. - Deputy!

Festus, just a minute. I said I gave him my word.

Wait a minute, Judge.

Now, Newly here... Well, in this here part of the country,

when a feller gives his word, it means something, don't ya see?

This man is under indictment for robbery. There's a price on his head.

And I don't intend to risk the safety of this or any other community

by having him at large.

Come on, Pritchard.

Here.

I think you need this.

She's got to be told, Miss Kitty,

and I don't know how to say it except straight out.

We don't have to tell her tonight, do we?

I mean, can't we just spare her at least one tearful night?

She'll think we were usin' her, Miss Kitty.

Saying I'd be bringing her father to her, knowin' he's a man we been huntin'.

Newly, you just shouldn't be blaming yourself.

Appreciate it.

Sam, will you look after things for a few minutes?

I'm going upstairs and tuck the almost-10-year-old in.

Sure, Miss Kitty.

Let's get this turned down for ya.

Here, let me get this.

There you go.

You wanna give me that bracelet?

Thank you.

Here we are.

Goodnight.

I love him.

Newly.

Jenny, you're a flirt. I thought you liked Festus.

I do.

I like Festus.

But I love Newly.

Oh, I see.

You know, I'll never be as pretty as you are.

You'll be prettier. But you got to get your beauty sleep.

You lie down and close your eyes.

Goodnight, Jenny.

Goodnight, Miss Russell.

Miss Russell?

Today sure was nice, but tomorrow's gonna be even better.

Goodnight, Jenny.

Night, Melissa.

Miss Jenny, ain't you up kind of early?

Oh, I'm in a hurry, Mister Sam.

I got to see Newly about my father!

- Where's Miss Russell? - She's still sleeping.

Newly?

Newly, you in there?

Hello.

Why are you in jail?

I, uh, don't think you should be in here.

I'll wait for Mr. O'Brien out there.

Well, Melissa, I guess we're just gonna have to wait.

Lucas Pritchard?

$2,000?

Robbery and assault?

Dad?

Jenny... let me talk to you for a minute.

Please?

Jenny.

Pritchard, I got your breakfast...

Jenny!

Honey, look at me and stop crying.

Please don't cry, sweetie.

It's not gonna help things.

I didn't lie to you like you think I might have.

You did lie!

Even my father and Festus!

And even Miss Russell!

You knew, all of you.

You knew all the time.

Oh, Melissa...

Would you mind leaving that open?

It's close in here.

I'm sorry, Pritchard.

Yeah, you keep saying that.

I don't know what else to say.

The day her mother found out...

Smoke?

No.

Said the same thing.

I said I was sorry. Didn't help.

Couldn't talk to her any more after that. She wouldn't listen.

This is gonna be worse.

Jenny's gonna be here and she's gonna watch me stand trial.

And she's gonna hear all the ugly gossip.

And all the lies.

Lies, Pritchard?

I never done half the stuff I got credit for.

Anything happen, didn't know who to blame,

say Lucas Pritchard did it.

If you're innocent, it'll come out in court.

I'm not innocent, O'Brien.

But I'm not a killer either.

Now, I'm telling you something.

I didn't know Judge Franklin was gonna be here

or that he wouldn't honor that...

Well, we both made a mistake, didn't we?

I got to see my daughter.

I'll bring her here.

No!

No, she won't come.

O'Brien...

I got to see her someplace alone.

Where it's quiet.

So I can tell her that I love her.

Now, come on, O'Brien.

You made a lot of noise to that judge

about your word and how much it means to ya.

What... Miss Kitty, Lucas Pritchard.

How are you, Mr. Pritchard?

Uh, where is she?

Well, she's in that room asleep, I hope.

Oh... Wait a minute. Now, just a minute.

- Newly? - I know the judge would have my head.

Well, Matt would too, if he were here.

- I don't know what else to do. - I just want to talk to her.

Ma'am, I got to see my daughter.

All right.

Thanks.

Now, Jenny.

Honey?

I know it was all a shock.

I didn't mean it to happen this way. I sure didn't.

I thought I had it all planned out real good.

Buying a little farm just below the Texas border,

a woman there to take care of the house.

I thought you'd never... need to learn about me.

Oh, maybe when you got older I'd be telling you the truth.

Maybe at an age that you'd be able to understand.

Do you hate me so much, Jenny?

Mommy.

What about Mommy?

Even she lied.

But, honey, she was only trying to see that you didn't get hurt.

And you telling stories...

about the ranch, and the cows, and the chickens.

And my pony.

And me going hunting with you.

Nobody tells the truth.

Nobody.

Just lies.

Sure mixed up, O'Brien.

The bucket's been kicked over real good between Jenny and me.

You know, I don't know what to do.

Like I said, I'm sorry.

O'Brien, will you just quit telling me that you're sorry?

Yeah.

Pritchard!

Stop, Pritchard! Stop, or I'll shoot!

Newly, wasn't that Pritchard?

Is there anything wrong with this gun, Deputy?

No, sir.

- Then it will fire. - Yes, sir, it'll fire.

Mr. Hagen, get a posse together.

I want Lucas Pritchard back here in Dodge.

Dead or alive, but I want him back.

Oh, now, that there ain't actual my place.

You see, Marshal Dillon left Newly here in charge and...

Mr. O'Brien is no longer in charge of anything.

He's under arrest for defiance of authority and dereliction of duty.

Now form that posse.

You wait just a minute.

Do what the man says, Festus.

It's all right.

All right.

All them's got horses, go get 'em.

We're forming up a posse in front of the livery stable.

I believe you know where the jail is, Mr. O'Brien.

I say that Pritchard's escape was a deliberate and premeditated act.

That O'Brien posed with that gun

ready to fire a few shots into the air for effect

if witnesses hadn't arrived on the scene so quickly.

Oh, that's crazy.

Why don't you arrest me for knowing that Pritchard was out of jail

and not saying anything?

Miss Russell, don't think that thought hasn't crossed my mind.

Are you finished, Judge?

I believe I've made myself clear.

All right, now I'm gonna tell you a couple of things.

It so happens that Newly O'Brien is not the kind of a man

that'd conspire to let anybody out of a jail cell

for any reason whatsoever.

Now, there's been some mistakes made here, and you've made the biggest one.

- Oh, what's that? - Not using common sense.

I don't care for your tone, Marshal,

nor placing a burden of guilt on my office.

I'll tell you something else you're not gonna care for.

I'm gonna turn him out of that cell right now.

Dillon, you release that man,

it just may finish your career as a United States Marshal.

Kitty, could you get us some coffee?

Oh, y-yeah.

Sit down, Newly.

We have to talk about how many mistakes a deputy of mine's entitled to.

First of all, you never should have given amnesty to an outlaw.

However, under the conditions there, I guess I might've done the same thing.

So we'll forget about that part of it.

The main thing is that once you had him locked up in that cell,

you never should have let him loose.

Sir, he shouldn't have been locked up in the first place.

Yeah, but he was. That's the whole point.

The third mistake was that when he escaped like that,

you should've stopped him somehow, even if you had to shoot him.

In the back?

He was unarmed, Marshal.

Had a rifle in his saddle boot, but he didn't have no gun in his hand.

Is it all right if I get me some breakfast?

Sure.

I sure am sorry.

Newly, what are you doin' out of jail?

That judge get hisself a change of heart, did he?

Marshal Dillon come back to town and let me out.

Seen any sign of him?

Oh, we picked up a few piddly little old tracks up yonder

where Fall River splits

and then we lost them over yonder by Turkey Tree.

We're fixin' to get ourselves a bite to eat

and swap horses, and then leave in a couple of hours.

You wanna go back up with us?

You bet.

All right, come on, fellers. We can get a drink later. Come on.

Get these horses water and something to eat.

Never did catch that Pritchard feller, huh?

No, sir. A good horse and a fast start, he's well on his way.

Good horse?

That was my old mare he stole last night.

She's wind-broke.

Wind-broke?

Figure she'll run ten miles before she whistles and comes to a dead stop.

- Ten miles. - Not a foot beyond.

Did you tell this to anyone in the posse, Reilly?

No.

Them posse fellers never did ask me.

Pritchard!

Pritchard, I know you're here. I found your horse.

Pritchard, you don't stand a chance!

You don't have a horse, and there's a posse after ya!

I'm not without a horse now, O'Brien.

I got yours.

No more deals, Pritchard. This time you're gonna have to kill me.

Except I don't think you're a killer.

Pritchard?

I don't wanna have to kill you, Pritchard, and you'd be a fool to kill me.

Taking on a murder charge.

I thought you said Jenny was the most important thing to you.

Well, use your head... give yourself up, come back and stand trial.

Stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about Jenny.

Pritchard?

Pritchard?

I could have sworn I didn't hit him, Doc.

You didn't, Newly.

This is a ricochet.

Bad?

Well, I don't know. I'm afraid so.

Give me that probe.

Jenny, there's somebody here who'd like to see you.

Jenny, your father's been hurt. I think you ought to go see him.

Soon it's gonna be time to go home.

When we get home, I'm gonna give you a bath...

Doesn't that matter to you?

You're...

Miss Kitty.

Jenny, you're making a big mistake.

Howdy, Newly.

Festus, how's Pritchard?

Well, still hanging on, old Doc says.

Reckon it will be a while before we know, though.

She's still up there.

Won't talk to anybody except that doll.

Won't even cry.

Sure is hot.

How am I doing?

I wouldn't have believed it. You're pretty amazing.

You all right?

Yup, that Lucas Pritchard,

he's something altogether now, isn't he?

You know something?

You really got hit.

What'd he shoot me with, a cannon?

Ooh, that bounced off of something, didn't it?

Well, he wasn't trying to shoot me after all, was he?

Newly told me you could have killed him.

Yeah, I could have.

Well?

I never killed a man who wasn't trying to kill me first.

You don't believe me, do ya?

I don't think it makes too much difference to you what anybody believes, does it?

No, it don't.

Except Jenny.

And she won't even talk to me.

How are you, Jenny?

Jenny, you know, this is my day for taking care of sick little girls.

And you know, in all of Dodge City,

you're the only little girl who's sick.

And I understand you can't talk.

Well, we're gonna see what we can do about this.

I wanna have a look at your mouth here.

Now, open it... That's right.

Open real wide now.

Let me...

Hmm.

You know, I don't see any reason at all there why you can't talk.

But we're gonna be on the safe side about it.

I'm gonna give you some medicine here

that'll cure just about anything.

I've never tasted this.

But folks says it's the worst stuff they've ever tasted in their lives

and it's kind of thick, too.

Sticks to the roof of your mouth, but I'm gonna give...

I don't need any medicine!

Oh, is that so?

Well, now, maybe...

Maybe I'll have another look here.

Let me see your eyes.

You know something, Jenny?

By golly, I just don't think you're sick at all.

I am, too, sick.

I'm... I...

I just don't talk... 'cause I don't want to.

Well, why don't you want to talk?

Well, now, just a minute here.

Let me tell you something, Jenny.

You don't have to talk unless you want to.

You know, sometimes there's a big disadvantage about that.

Not talking, I mean.

'Cause, you see,

folks kind of get the wrong impression about it.

If you're not talking, they see you looking unhappy

and they don't know how you feel.

Of course, that makes them unhappy, too.

Now...

I don't know, maybe you don't care about those folks and what they think,

but I think it's kind of important to you

that you know how they think about you,

how they feel.

Now, you take Kitty.

Well, I'll tell you, she got so upset that, uh...

well, she went out and got you a present.

- Present? - Mm-hmm.

She got kind of a special present for you.

Of course, if you don't want it, I can take it back to her.

A special present?

Mm-hmm.

Pretty special.

Oh...

Lucas: You know, the difference between people and God, Jenny,

is that people make mistakes.

When I was a young boy,

not much bigger than you are right now, I...

I lived in a big old ugly house with a lot of other boys

who didn't have parents either.

And I hated it, so...

one day, I up and ran away.

And I got awful hungry.

And so I stole from a general store.

Well, there wasn't anybody around

to tell me that that mistake I'd made could be corrected.

And I made another mistake, and then another and another.

And before I knew it, I was...

I was all growed up...

and what they call an outlaw.

Then, when I met your mom...

and you were born...

well, I tried to be good.

But all them mistakes that I'd made,

they just kept running after me

and catching up.

So I ran away again.

And I been running ever since.

Do you understand what I'm trying to tell ya, Jenny?

I think so.

Well...

the only way that I can be a real father to you...

now...

is to pay for all them bad things I done.

And it's not gonna be easy.

And you're gonna have to be really brave,

and understanding, too.

Can you do that?

I'll try.

Okay.

Oh, there's one other thing, too.

Newly O'Brien made a kind of small mistake.

I think that, uh,

he feels really bad for hurting you...

and me.

And there must be something we can do to help him out.

Daddy, why do people have to make mistakes?

Baby...

Isn't it good that people do make mistakes once in a while,

so that we can forgive them?

- Oh, I'm sorry. - No.

- Newly. - Marshal.

This just came in for ya.

See, I wired the attorney general's office yesterday before you brought Pritchard in.

"Conduct of Deputy Newly O'Brien unorthodox

but in the absence of U.S. Marshal,

within discretionary powers of acting lawman.

Abrogation of those powers by circuit judge invalid."

What does that mean?

Newly, I think it means you get your badge back.

I appreciate all you done, Marshal.

Thank you, sir.

- Hello, Marshal. - Hello, Jenny.

- Newly? - Jenny.

The difference between people and God is that people make mistakes.

And I made a bigger mistake than you did, Newly.

I love you. Don't you forget that.

And you won't forget where I am?

I got the address memorized.

Anyway, Newly will be back here just as soon as he gets you settled in.

And he'll have it down even better.

And everybody says that Mrs. Martin is the nicest woman

and she runs the best boardin' school in the whole country.

But, Daddy, I don't wanna go. I wanna stay here with you.

Now, it's not gonna be for that long.

But, uh, you're just liable to forget who I am.

No, I won't.

Well, I just might knock on your door one of these days

and you'll come to it and you'll answer it

and you'll not even know who I am.

Oh, Daddy, I'll remember you forever.

Well, you just better now, you hear?

Okay, come on, we better get you on that stage

before that driver spanks both of us.

- O'Brien, take good care of her. - Yes, sir.

- Matt: All right, driver. - Bye, Daddy.

Stage driver: Ride on, Marshal! Hyah!

Five years.

Maybe four with good behavior.

Quite a difference. I wonder how she'll be.

Pritchard, I'll tell you something, you got quite a daughter there.

She's gonna be all right wherever she is,

don't you worry.