Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Jess?

Jess?

Jess, are you here?

Oh, Jess!

You lookin' for someone, Lacey?

Oh.

I was afraid you hadn't come.

Ain't I always here when you come lookin'?

We'll have to watch our talking...

Keep our voices down.

We don't have to talk at all, Lacey.

Jess... Jess, wait.

We've got to face things.

We've got to plan a-and find a way.

Well, ain't this a way? Ain't it now?

Oh, Jess.

You know how Papa feels about us.

You know how I feel about you, Lacey.

Lacey!

Get away from him!

In a barn!

Is there no shame in you?

You make us do this, Papa!

We don't want to hide!

I told you before... You leave Lacey be.

I don't want you around here.

I don't want to see your face again.

Oh, Papa, we love each other!

I'm warnin' you for the last time.

Don't you come around here no more.

He's comin'.

Mind now, we're all together. We're not to be afraid.

Let me go out and face him alone, Mrs. Parcher.

It's decided now.

Might be you don't know, Ellen...

I ordered him off my place this mornin'.

I know you did, Cyrus. I...

I asked him to stay.

We'll take that up later.

Papa, don't. We just want to talk it out with you.

Ain't no kind of man lets womenfolk talk for him.

Well, you never gave me the chance to talk, Mr. Parcher.

You hard of hearin'?

No, sir.

I can't count the times I told you to leave Lacey be.

This mornin' I told you I didn't want to see your face again.

I mean that.

Cyrus, they want to get married.

I don't like him, Ellen.

He's no good.

Lacey does... she loves him.

Lacey's too young.

And you're too no-good.

You don't even know me, Mr. Parcher.

You never took the time!

I know you.

First look I got, I knew all about you.

Papa, we're ready to set down the supper.

We can talk then, the four of us.

Get out.

You won't ever listen!

Not a minute!

You're nothing but a stubborn old man!

Don't you ever do that again, Cyrus.

Do you want to see her a little tramp?

I want her to be happy.

You see something in him, do you, Ellen?

For Lacey, yes.

You right sure it's for Lacey?

Cyrus, don't.

I remember one or two like him, or was it three or four, Ellen?

I'll serve up the supper.

Ellen will tell you, I'm no hand to change my mind.

I don't want to see you here again, ever.

You're not to worry, either of you.

Mama, how can you say that?

You heard all he said, you saw what he did.

I know your father, Lacey.

I'll settle things with him once and for all.

If, if you're dishing that up for me, Mrs. Parcher,

I guess I'm just not hungry.

Lacey?

I guess none of us are.

Well, I guess I'll say good night to you now, Mrs. Parcher.

I'm sorry about everything, Jess.

Yes, ma'am, I know you are.

Well, Lacey...

I'm going outside with him, Mama.

Did he hurt you bad, Lacey?

I never saw Papa like that.

He never hit me before, never once.

Was all I could do not to tie into him right there,

except I'd never hit an old man.

Oh, what are we going to do?

Well, he as good as threatened me, you know that.

I love you so much.

You love me, don't you?

You take a lot of convincing.

I couldn't bear not seeing you.

If I didn't have you, I don't know what I'd do.

Lacey, your papa's likely to kill me,

I set foot in here again.

Don't even say that, Jess.

Oh, you know it's true.

You're afraid, same as me.

Mama said not to worry.

Ain't nothing your mama can do to change him.

Ain't nothing anybody can do.

I know that now.

Oh, Jess.

♪♪

Oh, hello, Mrs. Parcher, Lacey.

Good morning, Marshal.

Well, what can I do for you ladies?

Tell him, Lacey, tell him what you done.

I killed Papa.

You what?

I found her standing over him with this gun.

I took it off her.

I want you to keep her here.

I, I never want to see her again.

But wait a minute now.

I think maybe we'd better sit down

and talk this over a little bit.

I couldn't bear that, Marshal.

She'll tell you.

She's the one that knows.

I will say this.

Cyrus was wrong.

Well, uh, here, Lacey,

why don't you, why don't you sit down here?

Now, uh, why don't you tell me what happened?

I killed Papa.

Why?

Well, you must have had a reason, Lacey.

Now, look, if I'm gonna help you,

you're gonna have to tell me what happened out there.

I'm tired.

All right, then.

Well, Lacey, you, uh, you can get some rest here.

We'll talk about it later.

She sure is a young thing, ain't she, Mr. Dillon?

Girl like that killing her own father.

Can't believe it.

Well, you know, tha-tha-that's awful hard

for me to believe, too.

I don't like the idea of her being locked up in jail either.

Yeah, well, I know what you mean.

Hello, Chester.

Oh, hello, Miss Kitty.

Did you come to kind of help us out, did you?

Well, I hope so.

Well, you'll need this, Kitty.

Yeah.

If she don't take to Miss Kitty,

it'll be the first person that never did.

Well, it's just a question

whether she's ever gonna talk to anybody or not.

Well, I just think that we're real lucky to have her.

Uh, Miss Kitty... we're, we're lucky to have Miss Kitty.

Yeah.

Why, I just thought

there might be something I could do for you.

Something you need, something I could get for you.

You know, sometimes I need someone to talk to,

somebody to just hear me out when I've got troubles.

If there's anything you'd like to say...

I said all there is.

Saying it again won't change anything.

You know, um...

I never got to know my father very well.

Seems he was, um, cold man.

He was away all the time.

Never said much.

When he did say something, it seemed to me

like it was always "no" to something I wanted.

I loved him, though.

I always felt, well... sort of cheated

that I didn't get to know him better.

Did you love your father, Lacey?

Maybe you've never been in love.

Maybe you've never wanted someone so much

that... that you'd do anything to be with him!

Yeah, I can understand loving someone that much.

If your Papa was standing between you and who you loved,

maybe you'd... Maybe I'd what?

Tell me what happened between you and your father.

It might help. It might help an awful lot.

Lacey?

Well, if there's anything you feel like talking about

at any time, I... I'd be happy to listen.

Did you found out anything?

Well, her father stood between her and the boy she loved,

but I guess you knew that much.

Well, no. As a matter of fact, I didn't.

You didn't?

Did she say who it was?

No. No, I thought she was going to say more, but she didn't.

I don't think she will, either.

But golly, that-that don't give us too much to go on, does it?

You know what I think I'm gonna do?

I'm just gonna take Lacey and go out to that ranch tomorrow.

See if I can find out anything.

♪♪

Hello, Mrs. Parcher.

You were to keep her there, Marshal.

Well, Lacey hasn't said much since she's been in town,

and you didn't tell me much yesterday.

I'd kind of like to know a little bit more

about what happened out here.

What happened is, she shot Cyrus.

We both told you that.

Mrs. Parcher, a girl like Lacey doesn't just kill her father

without a reason.

I'd like to see where it happened,

and I'd like to find out why.

- Lacey! - Jess!

Marshal, this is Jess Ayley.

How do you do?

Marshal.

The grave's over there, Marshal.

There it is. There's the grave.

Who's this fella?

Jess has been helping me now I'm alone.

No harm saying it, Marshal.

Lacey and Jess... They-they love each other.

I see.

How did you manage a grave, Mrs. Parcher?

I didn't have to.

When I come back from taking Lacey to you,

Jess had done it for me.

He's most helpful, Marshal.

Was he here when your husband was killed?

No. He came up just as Lacey and me was leaving.

Now when you came in yesterday,

you said something about your husband being wrong.

What did you mean by that?

He didn't like Jess.

Couldn't abide the thought of him and Lacey marrying.

He was dead set against it.

But you were for it?

Indeed, I was.

It's funny, Marshal.

Him going the way he did.

I can't bring myself to mark his grave.

Where was it he was killed?

In the barn.

Lacey killed him in the barn.

I'd like to take a look in there if you don't mind.

Lacey, I, uh...

I'd like you to show me just what happened in here.

I came in the way we did now.

Papa was pitching hay over there,

and I shot him.

You just shot him without a word?

I tried talking to him lots of times.

I was through trying.

Where'd you get the gun, Lacey?

It was Papa's.

That's all you can tell me, nothing else?

Can we go now, Marshal?

All right.

I, uh... I cleaned the barn up after,

in case you were wondering.

Mm-hmm.

There's nothing much I can do now, Marshal,

but things like that... I guess they help.

I can't say how much.

Lacey, uh, I'd like to talk to your mother for a minute.

I'll be along.

Now, Mrs. Parcher, you...

you can do something for me if you would.

The circuit judge isn't gonna be here for a good ten days, and,

well, keeping a girl like Lacey in jail is...

is kind of a problem.

I don't see that, Marshal.

I'd like for you to keep her here if you don't mind.

Here? In my house?

I'll send a guard out.

Marshal, my husband was a hard man.

I... I won't say living with him was easy.

But I loved him.

I won't stay under the same roof with his murderer.

All right.

I'm sorry about all this, ma'am.

All right, Lacey, let's get back to town.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Chester, don't fidget so!

Oh, golly, Ma, you got to rest your arms once in a while.

They just get cramped.

Men... always full of complaints.

Well, this here's a harder job than what you might think.

It ain't too easy.

Oh, Mr. Dillon.

Oh, Chester, you're no good to me at all.

Here.

Here. Let me take that.

Oh, some shotgun guard you make there

with your hands all tangled up in a bunch of yarn.

- Yeah. - Got the key?

Oh, yeah.

Locked doors, nailed down windows.

I just never!

Oh, here.

Well, I don't like it, either, but what else is there to do?

Here, Chester.

Lacey?

Marshal.

Now, aren't you gonna eat anything?

I can't swallow any more, Marshal.

Well, you know, Ma Smalley's one of the best cooks in town.

It's not the food, Marshal. I just can't swallow.

Lacey, let me ask you something.

You did what you did to your father

'cause he wouldn't let you marry Jess... is that right?

Papa was wrong about Jess.

Said he was no good.

That all he wanted to do was move in on a good farm.

That he'd marry any girl to do it.

But your mother didn't agree with that?

Jess loves me. Mama knows that.

Mama knows a lot of things she could tell you if she would.

About Jess?

About Papa.

Oh, he hurt her lots of times.

She hardly looked my way today, Marshal.

Well, this has been pretty hard on your mother.

I didn't want to hurt Mama.

But I couldn't lose Jess. I just couldn't.

Well, you probably lost him now anyway.

But someday we can be together, can't we?

That depends on what the judge says.

You know, Lacey, you're gonna have to pay for what you did.

Well, they won't hang me, will they?

They don't hang women, do they?

No, I've never seen a woman hanged, Lacey.

But you could be in jail for a long, long time.

Jess'll wait for me. I know he will.

That'll ease the time.

I declare, Jess, you'll wear yourself out.

Oh, no, ma'am.

Dipper of cool water helps sometime, Mrs. Parcher.

Water's like food to me now, Jess... I can't force it down.

You drink it.

Tastes good to me.

Well, evening's come on.

Can't see doing much more outside.

Can I do something for you in here?

Not unless you can make me understand.

Understand, ma'am?

Oh, I'm talking foolish, Jess, I-I can't help it.

They were here...

Cyrus and-and Lacey... And now they're gone.

I... I can't make myself understand.

I don't just see how you could, Mrs. Parcher.

Cyrus wasn't a talking man...

and Lacey had so much he wanted to say.

I... I should've seen what was coming, but I didn't.

Well, don't blame yourself.

I love them both.

I should've seen.

Mrs. Parcher, I been... searching myself, too.

He told me enough times not to come around anymore.

Been better off for Lacey if I'd gone away and never come back.

It won't rest easy on me living with that.

You can't take that on yourself, Jess.

Well, I can't help myself, any more than you can.

I feel so much, only I... I don't know how to feel.

Half of me wants to go to Lacey,

half of me wants to bring Cyrus back.

Mrs. Parcher, I...

I can't help thinking... Or maybe I shouldn't say it...

You say your mind, Jess.

Well, you being all alone here now the way you are,

ain't it too bad that you and Mr. Parcher never had a son.

That's what I was thinking.

If I had a son he could work the farm,

knowing it'd be his someday.

- It's a good farm. - All we got's in it.

There's no money to pay to have it worked.

Be a shame if a fine farm like this went to weed.

I had a cent, I'd buy it from you.

Young man like you, Jess...

it's not his place to be around a grieving woman.

I'd just like to help where I can.

You've been a help, and I'm grateful.

There's a night coming on now; why don't you go into town,

forget about us Parchers.

Well, you sure you want me to?

I'm tired, Jess.

- You be all right alone here? - I'll be all right.

I'll never be alone here.

You sleep well, now, Mrs. Parcher.

Thank you, Jess.

Ayley?

Oh, evening, Marshal.

Well, don't remember seeing you around town before.

Been a time, all right.

I, uh, figured on paying a visit to a friend of mine lives here.

Oh? Well, I thought maybe you'd come to see Lacey.

Why, I didn't know I could.

Well, I don't see any reason why not.

Well, sure, I'd like to, Marshal.

All right, come on.

Chester?

Chester?

Chester's gone out for a bite, Marshal.

Come on in.

There's somebody here to see Lacey, Ma.

Well, for land sakes, come on in.

Hello, Jess.

Lacey.

Ma, this is Jess Ayley.

Well... if this isn't just the nicest surprise!

I'll... I'll just gather up all my piecework,

and we can go on with it later, Lacey.

Oh, all I've heard about you,

I should've recognized you the minute you stepped in.

Oh... Now, Ma, look...

you just can't leave this revolver lying around.

Well, it always gets in the way.

It's too heavy to rest in my lap,

and I need two hands for piecework.

But this girl is a prisoner here;

she's not a guest, you know.

I put her to work, and what's wrong with that?

Well, nothing, but you're leaving doors open,

guns lying around.

What do you think she's gonna do, kill me?

- Well, no, but... - If you're not satisfied

with our little arrangement, it's all right with me.

Oh, but it just breaks my heart, seeing that young one around

and knowing what lies ahead of her.

Well, I feel the same way you do about that, Ma,

- but still, you... - And it wasn't my idea

bringing her here, remember that.

All right. All right, but just...

just try to watch that gun, will you?

It's heavy as can be.

Maybe I shouldn't have come, Marshal.

She's crying in there; I can't stop her.

Oh, well, uh, Ma, maybe you could speak to her, or...?

It's not my business to toady to prisoners.

Maybe I shouldn't try to see her anymore.

Ma'am.

Now, Ma...

just try to remember what I said, will you?

- Lacey's under quite a strain. - I know that, Marshal.

I just wish there was something I could do to help, though.

- Good night to you. - Night, Marshal.

I don't believe it.

Sure you do, Bessie.

I still don't believe it.

Well, maybe you're not trying.

Now, wait a minute.

It's been a long time.

Well, you didn't forget me, did you, Bessie?

It's not impossible, you know.

I can make you remember.

You're still mighty high on yourself, aren't you, Jess?

Aren't you?

You, uh, just passing through?

What's happened to you, Bessie?

You didn't used to be so full of talk.

Maybe I had time to practice,

all the talking I did to myself after you left.

Well, you don't have to talk now.

I heard it was some farm girl this time.

Talking and listening... You've been busy.

I got a right to know if you're back for good this time.

- I got a right to know if it's me! - Bessie...

it's you.

It's always been just you.

Well, I swear... first person I ever heard of

lose weight on Ma Smalley's cooking'.

Well, it doesn't surprise me, Doc.

She doesn't eat any of it.

Well, I sent over a little tonic for her.

If Ma Smalley can get her to take it, why,

it might improve her appetite some.

Did she talk to you at all?

Lacey? No, nothing.

Ma says that she just worked on that quilt all the time,

and I guess that's... a pretty good thing for her,

keep her mind occupied.

Sure.

- Well, you about ready? - Uh-huh.

Oh, is this gonna be on you?

Well, I don't see any reason to change things

after all this time.

- Marshal. - Ayley.

Uh, uh, maybe you've met Bessie?

Neither of us never had the pleasure.

How do you do?

Enjoy yourself.

How come you know the marshal, Jess?

I'll be right back.

- You in trouble? - You wait here.

Uh, Marshal?

I, uh, just don't want you to get the wrong idea

- about that in there. - About what?

Well, I've known Bessie for a long time, that's all.

This is Doc Adams here.

How are you?

Howdy.

Uh... I just want you to understand, Marshal.

Jess and Lacey are good friends, Doc.

In fact, they're supposed to be married.

Yeah, sure, but... what do you want me to do now?

Not up to me.

Like I said, I've known Bessie for a long time,

- even before I knew Lacey. - That so?

If I want to see her, I got the right.

Nobody's arguing that with you.

Why don't you go on back in and finish your supper.

I know what you might be thinking, Marshal.

Look, I-I went to see Lacey and it didn't do her no good,

it just hurt her.

Well, I'm going over to see her now.

You want me to give her a message for you?

There's nothing I can do for Lacey now.

Look, all I'm saying is, I'm gonna see Bessie all I want,

and don't you go looking at me like that every time I do.

Well...

what in thunder did you say to him in there?

I just told him to enjoy himself.

Morning.

Good morning.

Aw...

Good morning, Mr. Ayley.

Yes, ma'am. Morning.

I, uh... I have a list of errands.

I... I guess I'd better go now.

Where'd you come across her?

I'm getting sick of this town.

Jess, if you done something, you better tell me about it.

Don't you go riding me now, Bessie.

I ain't done nothin' wrong.

She looked at you mighty odd, seems to me.

Well, it's just this crawley town.

Ain't fit for us, Bessie, it ain't fit at all.

Come on.

♪♪

Hello, Ma.

Marshal.

What did you do with Chester... Send him out to eat again?

No, I packed him off to bed.

Guess I had him quilting too much.

His eyes gave out on him.

What about Lacey? Is she asleep, too?

No. I'm giving her a rest

from the sight of me all the time.

Oh, Marshal, this can't go on much longer.

She's wearing awful thin.

It's not gonna go on much longer, Ma.

The circuit judge will be here day after tomorrow.

Come in.

Hello, Marshal.

Hello, Lacey.

I kind of took a chance on finding you awake.

It was no chance.

I see Chester brought your clothes to you all right, huh?

I can't bear to look at 'em.

I don't know why.

Yes, I do.

Mama made most of them.

Helped me make the rest.

I sure miss Mama.

Poor, poor Mama.

I guess she won't come to see me, will she?

Well, I wouldn't say that. I...

I know she won't.

Have you been out to the farm?

Is she making out all right?

Well, no, I haven't been out there, Lacey,

but I'm sure she's doing all right.

Oh, Jess helping out, she ought to be all right.

At least she isn't... alone.

Um... Jess is still with Mama?

Well, it's like I say, Lacey,

I-I haven't been out there,

but he probably is.

Jess'll help her out.

I got a telegram today, Lacey.

Circuit judge will be here day after tomorrow.

Well, I won't miss the waiting.

Waiting's sure hard.

I want you to do something for me.

You think back real hard

on everything that happened out there.

And if you think of anything that you haven't told me,

just you be sure you tell the judge.

I won't have anything different to say, Marshal.

Well... just thought you ought to know.

Marshal?

If you happen to see Jess,

would you ask him to please come and see me?

Well, if I see him, I... And tell him I...

I won't cry this time.

All right, Lacey.

Good night.

Something wrong, Marshal?

Ma, I don't know much that's right. Do you?

Oh, Lacey, don't cry.

I don't want to. I... I just can't seem to help it.

We just don't know, any of us, what lies ahead,

so we can't give up hope.

I guess I'm crying for Mama.

I don't think I'm crying for me, Mrs. Smalley.

No one would blame you if you did.

Oh, you're awful nice to me.

I like you, Lacey.

You liked Jess, too. I could tell.

What's the matter?

Why, nothing.

You did like Jess, didn't you?

Oh, yes, yes, of course I did.

Mrs. Smalley, what is it?

Oh, nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Something's happened to Jess. What is it?!

Oh, nothing's happened to him.

He's perfectly fine.

How do you know he is?

Oh, well, I... I-I don't know.

I... I-I just assume.

Oh, Lacey, you're putting words in my mouth.

The Marshal acted funny

when I asked him if Jess was with Mama.

What are you keeping from me?!

Now, Lacey, you're getting all worked up over nothing!

Have you seen him?

Yes. Yes, I've seen him. So there.

You want to worry me sick?!

What's the matter with Jess?!

Well, I wouldn't waste the worry!

Oh, Lacey, no.

Now you tell me about Jess.

Everything about Jess!

Oh, no, Lacey.

No.

No.

♪♪

♪♪

You know what time it is?

You want the rescue mission, honey, this ain't it.

Tell her to go, Jess.

You better go, Bessie.

I better go?!

Go on! Wait downstairs.

Well, Lacey, what are you doing here?

That was going to be my question, Jess.

Lacey, honey... Just talk to me this time.

Well, sure. I-I... I can explain, all right.

Who is she?

Why, Bessie? She's got nothing to do with us at all.

Do you love her, Jess?

Now, Lacey, you're just gonna get in trouble,

coming over here this way.

Now, tomorrow, I'll come over, and I'll...

I didn't believe it!

I tied up an old lady and forced her

to tell me you were here with her,

and I still didn't believe it.

And now, seeing you with her here...

Jess, you can't make that right with me.

You're gonna let me try, aren't you, Lacey?

I always listen to you.

"Lacey, I had to kill your Pa.

"He came at me with a pitchfork.

"They don't hang women, Lacey.

They'll hang me sure, but they won't hang women!"

You listen to me!

I told you not to talk about that.

Now you shut that little mouth of yours,

and you get back over to that old lady's!

I look at you.

I don't know you.

You sure don't.

There are lots of things you don't know about me.

Papa was right.

You're no good at all.

Lacey, put that gun down.

You killed him.

You killed him.

I was just coming to find you, Marshal.

What happened?

I killed Jess.

You killed him?

In that woman's room.

What about her? You didn't...

No, she's all right.

What about Ma Smalley?

I had to tie her up.

I-I hope she'll forgive me. I'm sorry.

Lacey, why did you do it?

For all the things that he done to us.

Mama will feel better about things now.

What do you mean?

You can tell her for me.

I didn't kill Papa.

You mean Ayley?

I made him hide in the hayloft afterwards

so Mama would find just me when she came running in.

He said they wouldn't hang a woman.

Why didn't you tell me?

I loved him.

I believed him.

He had ways to make a woman believe.

If you'd even told me an hour ago...

I didn't know about Bessie an hour ago.

But I do know now that poor Papa was right.

I hated him for saying Jess was no good,

but all that time,

he was just saying what was right for me.

And he's gone.

And now Jess.

And Mama and me... It'll never be the same.

All right, Lacey.

Let's go.

Marshal?

You never really saw them hang a woman?

No, Lacey.

I never saw 'em hang a woman.