02x13 - A Sound of Bells

[bunniefuu]

Any sign of them yet?

No.

The Sioux are out there,
but they're sure
not giving anything away.

I'd feel better
if that stage was in.

I'm glad Andy isn't on it.

Yeah.

It won't seem like Christmas
without him, though.

Yeah, likely they'll be having
one of them big parties
at the school

with all the trimmings.
Andy will do fine.

Yeah, I was thinking
about those presents.

If they'll get there
on time.

Somebody's coming.

Do you recognize him?

Nope. At least he ain't
wearing w*r paint.

Buenos dias, señor.

Howdy.

Has the stage come yet?

No.

This morning
they came across the ashes

of a Siouxan camp
but still warm, you know.

I said to myself,

"This is no time for a man
to be traveling alone.

I think it will be better
if you take a ride on a stage."

You know,
if you keep riding east

you'll be out of Sioux country
before nightfall.

Oh, that is not
very friendly, señor,

especially
when a man is tired.

Let me tell you something
about being tired.

I'm tired of hearing
about a Mexican bandito

riding a black horse,

robbing folks
around these parts.

You come pretty close
to fitting that description.

Maybe you'd better
keep on riding.

I'm sorry
you feel that way, señor.

Still I think it will be better
if I wait for the stage.

Don't make me have
to change your mind.

I'm not asking
your permission, señor.

I am telling you,
I will wait for that stage.

You reckon
you can handle both of us?

Both?
No.

One?
Yes.

And that would be
a pretty foolish price

one of you would
have to pay

just to keep me
from that stage, huh?

[ g*nshots ]

Well, it appears I may be
welcome after all, eh, señores?

[ g*nshots ]

[ screaming ]

MAN:
Hey, there's a kid inside.

Come on.Let go of me!

Baggage, you're not gonna
just leave it there.

No time for that now,
ma'am.

Well, you don't know
what you're saying.

I brought some of those things
all the way from Paris.

I wouldn't worry
about those hats, ma'am.

They'll scalp you,
no matter what you're wearing.

Rose. Rose honey,
you shouldn't have done

a darn fool thing
like that.

You might have been
k*lled.

At least, I wouldn't have
to listen to you all the time.

There isn't much chance

we can hold those hostiles off,
is there?

Hard to say, ma'am,

especially
when they just got here.

There's nearly 10,000
in here.

We're just gonna have
to have a safe place for it,

that is,
if there is one.

Put it in the bedroom.
It'll have to do.

[ g*nshots ]

Hey, hombre,

that ladder goes up to the roof,
you better climb it.

Keep a sharp lookout.

There's a enough Injuns
out here to start a rain dance.

We need some help.Sure.

Got any ideas?

[ g*ns firing ]

Well, that's one thing
about getting old.

b*ll*ts don't go straight
as they used to.

I just missed a shot there

that I could have made
blindfolded when I was a kid.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Get that table.
Put it up here
and cover the window.

Perhaps you can help him.

As you can see
poor Tom isn't quite
what he used to be.

Oh, now, Rose.

Wife isn't exactly
backwards, is she?

She's saying what she's
got on her mind, isn't she?

[ g*nsh*t ]

I can tell you
one thing, son.

I'm pretty near broke
and she knows it.

A partner of mine
sold me out

when we was away
traveling in Europe.

Now I'm not sure
there's anything
for us to come back to.

As a matter of fact
I don't think

we should have left at all.

Why do you say that?

Well,
maybe it's my fault,

but Rose has been used to
everything that money could buy.

Now at my age,

I'm not sure
I got much else to offer.

Well, none of us
will have much to offer

if that roof catches on fire.

I got a couple of barrels
of water in the backroom.

You think
you can talk your wife

into helping you fill some pails
and spread them around?

You mean, put her to work?

Yeah.

You just might have
something there, son.

You want to help
with the water, son?

I've carried water
plenty of times before.

Good.
Give him a hand.

He'll do
what you tell him,

but don't expect
anything more.

We'll be
needing bandages.

You seem
very sure of that.

I was born in an army post,
Mr. Sherman.

And for 12 years
I was married to a man

who served on one.

Our chances here
by even a charitable guess

amount to nil.

Yeah.

There's sheets and stuff
in the chest in the bedroom.

Mighty sad woman,
ain't she?

I don't know about that.

But I hope
the rest of your passengers

rate our chances
higher than she does.

In a way
maybe you can't blame her.

Her husband
was part of the patrol

the army sent out
to put down the Sioux uprising

when it first started.

Patrol was wiped out.

Every last man died.

[ g*nshots ]

I always thought it was bad luck
to be on a stage at Christmas.

I never thought
it'd happen to me though.

Maybe you've just been lucky,
Slate.

How do you mean?

From what I hear,
you've been running g*ns

into this territory
for a long time,

and main' a pile
out of doing it.

Maybe I have
and maybe I haven't.

Law wasn't able
to hang anything on me.

What difference
does it make either way?

The lid was bound
to blow off sooner or later,

once them Injuns got their hands
on enough Winchesters.

So the way I figure,
if anybody gets burned here,

you sure got it coming.

Why, you...

Ease off,
both of you!

We got enough trouble
without this.

They're moving
out there.

Come on, Jess.

Won't be long now.

Save your fire
till it counts.

Hey, can I give you
a hand, son?

I can do it myself.

Well, I got to do something
around here to earn my keep.

I'm not doing this
to earn anything.

[ g*nshots ]

It's like talking to a wall.

He's by himself?

He's been alone
for the 3 days

he spent on the stage
with us.

Nobody can get to him.

What about that tag
on his coat?

Oh, that was pinned on him
when the stage picked him up.

You mean nobody was with him
at the station?

No.

And he hasn't changed
his clothes in 3 days either.

I don't think
he has anything else.

Poor little fella.

[ g*ns firing ]

If you're looking
for volunteers,

I just might be persuaded.

Thank you.
I'll manage.

Being independent
is a pretty strong thing today.

Around here, is there
any other way to live?

No, ma'am,
I guess not.

Driver told me about
your husband, Mr. Bell.

I'm so sorry.

Don't be.

Grief is rather
a personal thing,

not something to share
with people I hardly even know.

I wasn't grieving that way
for you, ma'am.

I'm just sorry you seem to be
taking it so hard.

My husband's death
was wasted, Mr. Harper.

How else should I take it?

Wasted?

A patrol of 15 cavalry men

sent him to stop
a Sioux w*r party of nearly 200.

What else would you call it
but a waste?

Well, I'd call it buying time,
ma'am.

Probably none of us
and a lot of others
would be alive today

if your husband's outfit
hadn't hit them when they did.

And what good
has it done?

Do you hear
any bugler sounding charge?

Can you look out any of these
windows and see sabers flashing

or hear the thunder
of reinforcements arriving?

Well, I can't.

Nor do I expect to.

[ g*nshots
and screaming ]

Keep down, ma'am.

Get down, boy!

Now stay there.

What's wrong
with that boy?

Nothing.

He acts like he doesn't care
what happens to him.

Sounds like you got him
pegged pretty good.

Slim, that kid was me


I still know what it's like.

Hold it.

What are you doing?

No firing from the roof.

Maybe he's been hit.

Wait, stay here.

Get up on the roof.

You don't knock, señor,
when you come into a room, eh?

So it is the gold
you're after, huh?

You are right.

And you'd risk
all of our lives for it.

Oh, you exaggerate, señor.

This is just
a small raiding party.

Well, you got it
figured out.

Maybe we don't need you
around here.

Oh, come now, señor,

you need every fighting man
you can get.

And I'm a very good
fighting man,

especially
when I have the cause.

If we get out of this,
we'll see.

Esta bueno.Now get.

Oh, take good care
of my gold, eh?

Ain't got too hot
for you, huh?

Oh, no, señor.

I just like
to get enough targets

to make it worth
my while.

Looks like
they had enough for now.

Hey, they're running.You mean one is?

Yeah, by the time
he gets back with his friends,

we may be sorry he did.

Well, that's no way
to bed down, boy.

Here, get up.

Here.
Use that as a pillow.

This will keep you warm.

I guess
I just can't sleep.

Well, you can't
if you're gonna talk.

How come everybody
is against you?

Who said
everybody is against me?

The look in their eyes,
that always tells.

Yeah, what do they know?

You're like my pa,
what I remember anyway.

Always mad
and kind of scared, too.

Thought you was an orphan.

I lived with my pa
till I was five.

What about your ma?

She died
when I was born.

Pa was gonna raise me

except some men came over
one night, took him away.

Said he stole something.

There was a big fight.

I never saw him again.

Didn't he ever write
to you afterwards?

He didn't know how.

Besides, he's dead,
I know it.

Now let me
tell you something, boy,

just because you don't hear
from somebody

don't mean they're dead.

Take me, I got kinfolk
in Tennessee.

Just because
they don't hear from me

that don't mean
I don't think about them.

You know, you're just about
the same age of my youngest.

You ever been in Tennessee?

I'm going back there someday
when I got enough money

so that I don't have
to sharecrop no more.

And when I do,
I'm gonna have

the best piece of farmland
you ever saw.

How would you like
to go along with me?

Supposing
you never get back?

Don't you fret about that, boy,
I'll get back.

Beats all what a kid
will take up with, don't it?

Yeah.

Shh.
Shh.

They're still out there,
all right.

Any chance of getting
past them?

No, not much,
unless the man had wings.

I got one of the horses,
though, just in case.

Where are you going?

What's that for?

Somebody's got to
make a try.

Either we get help by morning
or we're up the creek.

You take care
of this place,

I'll doe
the outside work.

No dice, Jess.

The way I figure,
your g*n is worth two here.

Oh, we'll have a room
full of Sioux

before you two heroes
are finished arguing.

Let's draw for it.

All right
with the rest of you?

Low card wins the horse.

All right, one at a time.

Who wants to pick first?

No need of that.

This job is made for me.

Tom?

Stay out of this, Rose.

Look, I'm 61 years old,

and I've got much less to lose
than any man here.

Nobody said
we're going by age.

Fact of the matter is,
though, a younger man

would stand a better chance
of getting through.

Aren't you gonna ask
to go, Mr. Slate?

He don't have to.
He's likely to ride off
and forget about us

even if he did get through.

I think I can save you all
some time.

I got most of those hostiles
spotted out there.

And at least two of them
have moved in close

that probably none of you
even know about yet.

So if you give me
a little covering fire

I'll be on my way.

Now wait a minute, Jim.

You're not gonna go out
and get--

All my life I wanted
to do something important.

Don't get much chance
driving a stage.

I got no kinfolk.

And pushing a horse is
sort of in my line, you know.

You'd sure
be doing me a great favor

if you just let me go.

All right, Jim,
job's yours.

You cover us.

Jess,
we'll cover each other.

Saddle up.Right.

Those two Red Sticks I seen out
there are bound to have seen us.

Just over there
back of those rocks.

The minute I hit the saddle,
you nail him.

Head for that hollow
over there.

We'll keep him busy
while you're heading out.

Here, this ain't much,
but if I don't make it back,

give this to the kid.

Jim, if you don't make it,
he won't be needing it.

[ g*nshots ]

[ glass shattering ]

Praying, Rose?

That rider,

he's gonna need the kind of
help that we can't give him.

Yeah, he's a brave man,
all right.

No more than you.

You think he made it,
señores?

There's no way of telling.

All we can do now is wait.

[ humming ]

Hey, compadre.

You don't let much interfere
with your appetite, do you?

Do you think
if I stopped eating

our friends out there
will go away?

No. I reckon a man
could starve himself
plum to death

and we'd still be in this fix,
just like we are.

[ chuckles ]

I wonder
how many are out there.

I don't know.

Moon will be coming up
pretty soon.

Maybe then we can tell.

Do you think they'll start
anything before daylight?

Probably.

I remember serving
with a cavalry major.

He was pretty certain on
how they hate to fight at night.

I hope somebody
told the Indians that.

How long you figure
it's been since Jim rode out?

Near 2 hours I guess.

It'll take him about an hour
to get to Laramie,

another hour
to round up some help,

and about the same time
to get back here.

You thinking
what I'm thinking?

Yeah.

By the time any help comes,
it'll be too late.

Where are you going?

Going up
to check on that bandito.

He went up on the roof
without even being asked.

I'll say one thing
about that pistolero.

He sure
knows how to fight.

No arguments there.

When it comes time for him
to be taken in,

someone's gonna
have their hands full.

Haven't you
eaten yet, son?

Get yourself a plate
and a spoon and dig in.

What's the matter?

But I haven't any money.

Anybody ask you
for any money?

Go ahead, kid, eat.

This is my brother,
Andy's.

He used to be
about your size.

I have my own jacket.Oh, I know.

It's a nice one, too,
but this will be
a little warmer.

Come on, put it on.

Go on, kid,
it won't cost you.

Why did you do that?Do what?

Move away when the boy
sat down beside you.

Did I do that?You know you did.

Oh, what difference
does it make?

By tomorrow
we'll probably all be dead.

Well, it hasn't
happened yet.

There's still plenty
of time in between.

It seems to me
you bein' a woman and all,

you can at least have
a little feeling for the boy.

A little?

I'm afraid
I feel a great deal, Mr. Harper.

We need some water
up here.

[ g*nshots ]

I shouldn't
even have troubled you
for such small a burn.

No trouble.

Well, I'm glad it's over,
at least for now.

Oh, it takes many hours,
you know,

to make a good fire arrow.

The tinder has to be dry
before it's used.

And you have to
put the wrappings on

very carefully
around the grease shaft.

If we're lucky,
we won't have another one

before morning.

Oh, you seem to know
quite a good deal about it.

Oh, I've seen my share.

You know,
it's a funny thing in a way.

When I was up there
on the roof,

one of those arrows,

the flame was
brighter than all the others,

and it went up so high,

thought it would
never come down.

And suddenly I remember
a picture my mother showed me

when I was little boy.

A picture?

Si,a place called
Bethlehem.

Stable and...

star shining down...

just like that arrow.

Well, you certainly have
a vivid imagination.

He sure has, ma'am.

Unless there were
some Sioux Indians

hid out in Bethlehem
nobody ever told us about.

Well,
we're still alive.

Seems to me we got
a lot to be grateful for.

Well, I can think
of a lot of places

I'd rather be
on Christmas Eve.

That's hardly surprising.

Still
I'm a lot better off

than I was
exactly a year ago.

Yeah?

You must have been pretty sick,
maybe almost dead.

I was in jail a year ago,
dead broke and borracho,

you know, a drunk.

I couldn't even sell
the clothes off my back.

So how do you figure
you're better off now?

Well, at least
if anything comes

I'll be standing on my feet
when it gets here.

When I was growing up
in Galveston,

Christmas always used to be
sort of a magic time for us.

Didn't matter
what happened all year around,

we always dressed up
for Christmas.

Usually we'd open the presents
in the morning,

and then around
mid-afternoon

we'd all sit down
and have dinner.

You know,
Christmas was something special

in our place, too.

It was the one day
of the year

we could count on
my old man being sober.

Oh, you sound very bitter,
señor.

Bitter?

No, just honest.

Christmas is a fairytale
for kids,

like that one
sleeping down there,

and for heroes
who ride out into the night

trying to save people.

I hope the Sioux
don't get you, Slate,

because I want a piece
of your hide myself.

Come on, boy, wake up.
You gonna sleep forever?

Leave him be.

I'm not asleep.

I was for a while maybe,
but then I heard you talking...

something about Christmas.

I bet you don't believe
all that stuff, do you?

Christmas, I hate it.

Why do you hate it, boy?

Because I don't like
any handouts from anybody.

See, the boy knows
what's right for him.

What, you adopting him?

Could be.

Someone's coming.

It's Jim,
he got back.

Yeah, looks like him,
all right.

Wonder what happened
to the horse.

And now I'm thinking about
the Sioux that were out there.

They must have pulled out,

otherwise Jim wouldn't be
walking in the way he is.

Yeah, probably why we're
standing here talking.

You know, it beats all how them
Red Sticks just leave,

and here we are waiting
to get plowed under.

You mean it's over?
We can go?

No, if I know the Sioux,

they're not about to just get up
and leave us here.

I'm going out there, Slim.Nobody's going anywhere.

What's the matter with you,
Sherman?

You think if those Injuns
were still out there,

they'd let your friend
just come breezing in?

You take another look at the way
he's walking.

Is that what you call
breezing in?

Maybe he's just dog-tired.

You would be, too, if you
covered as much territory

as he likely has.

What is it?

I don't know, Jess.

I got a feeling
something is wrong.

If there's something wrong,
he'll know it, I'll call to him.

Jim!

Jim!

Hey, maybe he's hurt.

If he is, he needs help.
Cover me!

Jess!

Hold your fire!

They were just using him
for bait.

They must have
put him through a lot.

Guess you were right,
Slim.

Remind me to listen
to you next time.

Mmm, thank you, ma'am.
It sure tastes good.

If it tastes so good,

I think I'll take
another cup out to Slim.

Well, this is
the fourth batch.

It's about time a good cup got
mixed in somewhere.

Where were you
heading on the stage?

If I'm out of line,
you can just tell me.

Oh, I plan to

open a boarding house
in San Francisco.

My husband had friends
in the Presidio.

We were married there.

Judging from the supper
you whipped up,

and the way
this coffee hits the spot,

I say you'll do all right.

Well, I'm glad he finally
dropped off to sleep again.

This way when the worst comes,
he probably won't even know.

He'll know.
He knows now.

The way he's got that blanket
nearly kicked off.

He's half sacred to death
even though he's asleep.

You read a lot into things,
don't you?

Couldn't it be that it's not
as cold in here as it was?

He needs somebody like you,
ma'am.

I think you need him, too.

Oh.

Oh, no, I'm never gonna
care that way for anyone again.

It hurts too much
when you lose them.

[ boy whimpering ]

What's the matter?
Is he sick?

Yeah. Only where
no medicine
will reach.

Shh.

Señor?

Yeah?

Can I have
the stool please?
Por favor.

I'm sitting on it.

So I see,
that's why I'm asking for it.

All right, come on!
Come on!

Come on!

Get some coffee.

I asked him polite first.

He's just spoiling
for a fight, that's all.

What do you want it for?

For a piñata.

In my country we celebrate
Christmas with a piñata.

I was going to use the stool
to make one for the boy.

It's not much, but...

a little muchacholike that

should have a present
for Christmas.

I can make it into a fine
little dog or something.

Maybe a Chihuahua.

Gracias.

Slim.

Remember that shirt
we got for Andy

that turned out
to be too small?

Yeah.

I never did get around
to taking it back to the store.

Couple of neckerchiefs
in there I didn't get to send.

The package that was
too big to put in the mail.

Along with some yellow ribbon,
you better get that, too.

Where you gonna be?

Up on the roof.

See that the Sioux
don't crash the party.

You know, I used to see
those piñatas down

along the Brazos
where I was born.

First time I ever saw
one made though.

Of course, you know,
there should be
some candy inside

and some nice colored beads,
but it all will be the same.

You're welcome to these
if they'll help.

Oh.

Gracias, señora.

Maybe the little boy will have
a real Christmas after all, eh?

I used to know how to
make ornaments out of paper.

It's too bad we don't have
a tree to put them on.

Well, there was a tree
outside in the barn

when I put my horse away,

but with those Indians
out there,

I don't think
we can get it.

Well, I'll
take a look around,

maybe I can find something
we can use.

Ah, señora?Mm?

Could you please
hold that way?

Oh, of course. Gracias.

Did you make it?

Yeah.

Let's go.

Well, what do you think?

Well, if you
aren't the craziest,

jug-headed pair of lamebrains
I've ever had the misfortunate
to run into.

Right about now
kind of glad you are.

Say, did any of you
make this present?

What is it?

It's a whistle.

I don't know.

Well, it's all ready.

That's fine.

Well, will you get
the boy now, huh?

Oh.Come on.

BOY: Gee!

Here, look,
the whistle, huh?

Look what we got
for you.

Huh, do you know
what this is?

It's a Chihuahua.

[ imitates dog's bark ]

Don't let it bite you.

That's for you,
take it.

Wow!

It sure is a pretty tree.

I only wish those candles
weren't burning down so fast.

Don't matter.

We're just about
through now.

The sun's coming up.

In case things
don't work out,

I was just gonna
give you this now.

I was thinking
the same thing.

Merry Christmas, Jess.

Thanks, partner.

Hey, Slim, come here.

Look.

Yeah, we saw them.

Can I see, Mr. Slate?

Sure, you can see.

Now stay down.

Are we gonna die,
Mr. Slate?

Well, we ain't dead
yet, boy.

And dying is not so bad.

Not like some folks think
anyway.

If you've never been dead,

how do you know
what it's like to die?

Well, if you see
it happen enough, you can tell.

Now there's no reason
to be afraid, is there?

No, sir.

That's more like it.

Black Eagle.

You see that tall one,

riding the white horse
in the middle?

Who's he?

Well, he's the leader
of the tribe around here.

Not many white men
have seen him

and lived to tell about it.

But you've seen him.

Otherwise you wouldn't know
who he was.

Yeah, I've seen him...

and done business
with him, too.

Some of it I'm not too proud of
right now.

You could almost say
I know him

like I know
the inside of my hand.

You mean, you can talk him
out of k*lling us?

No.

I'm afraid nobody
could do that now.

But if something was to
happen to that old w*r horse,

you could bet that
it'll change things aplenty.

Maybe he'll come
in close enough,

so you can get
a good shot at him.

Nope,
he's too smart for that.

You see, the Sioux
have to have a leader,

otherwise they forget
all about the fighting.

You mean,
they're just gonna come in?

Nothing can stop them?

Boy, you ever
sh**t a g*n?

Yes, sir.

Here, you take this g*n
and go over there,

and fire it off.

Go ahead.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Not a scratch on him.

He's probably
just scared.

Slate!

No, Jess.

No.

No.

[ screaming ]

[ horse whinnying ]

It's all my fault.
If I hadn't had done
what he said,

he wouldn't have died.

Now take it easy.

Slate knew exactly
what he was doing, boy.

He gave us the only way
out there was.

Bye, Slim.
Bye, Jess.

So long, tiger.Bye-bye, Neil.

Take it away, Jack.

You know, Slim,
I'm gonna miss that little guy.

He kind of filled the place
around here.

Yeah, me too, Jess.

But with Mrs. Bell
adopting him

and taking him up to
San Francisco and all,

well, it's kind of nice knowing
he's gonna be all right.

A lot of problems kind of worked
themselves out pretty good.

[ horse galloping ]

There's one left,
it looks like.

Hey, adios, señores.

Hasta la vista.

Merry Christmas,

and many thanks
for your hospitality, huh.

Are you planning on
following that stage?

Why do you ask?

The gold's on it.

Si,so it is.

I forgot all about that.

I'll bet you did.

Somehow it doesn't seem
important anymore.

What am I saying?
Does that make sense?

Today it does.

Yeah.

Today it does.

Adios, amigos.

Hasta la vista.

Adios.

Well, Jess,
I'm sure glad

every Christmas
isn't like this one.

Yeah,
I know what you mean.

It's getting so a man
can hardly live through 'em.