03x08 - The Forgotten

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[male narrator] In almost every w*r that has ever been fought

there have been men who continue to fight

long after their leaders had surrendered

or their cause been lost.

Some fought on out of stubborn pride

some out of the bitterness of the wasted years

and the graves of those who had fallen for a principle

that had still not been won.

And some, the fewest of all

for reasons far, far more tragic.

[instrumental music]

[panting]

Billy.

Get the tripod and put it over on that embankment

down over that log down the creek.

Sure thing, sergeant.

Luke.

[Worth] 'Will you get off that horse for a minute?'

'Just 'cause you're a guide for this survey party'

'that don't mean we have to get over that mountain'

'ahead of the wind.'

It's deep enough to make a man look like a fool

trying to climb up it.

[birds fluttering]

- 'What are you lookin' at?' - 'Uh, nothin', I guess.'

It's those birds.

It's like someone flushed 'em out up there.

[chuckles] You's getting jumpy, Luke.

[dramatic music]

Okay, spread that leg down there a little bit.

Right you are.

[music continues]

[g*nsh*t]

[dramatic music]

What the..

[music continues]

[water splashing]

Billy.

He's been shot!

[g*nsh*t]

[g*nshots]

Jonas..

'...is he alive?'

I, I don't know.

Come on, whoever it is, knows how to sh**t.

It's gotta be Indians.

No, they'd be on us by now.

[groaning]

Sergeant, he's still alive!

- 'Billy's still alive!' - I'm goin' after him.

No, you don't. We're going together.

Jonas, just keep shootin' at the top

of that ridge up there.

Come on.

[g*nshots]

- Easy, Billy. - Now, just take it easy, son.

Easy there. You'll be alright.

[g*nsh*t]

[groaning]

Oh, my God!

Who are you? Why?

Jonas, cover yourself!

Keep some shots firin' up at that ridge line.

[g*nshots]

[groaning]

[panting]

[g*nshots]

[Luke] There he goes. He's leavin'.

Jonas.

What did he look like?

I don't know. Just a shadow.

[panting] Now, look.

You ride into Teton, tell Doc Gunnerson

to get to the Macahan ranch as fast as he can.

Then telegraph the fort and tell 'em what's happened.

- Now, go on. - Sure.

[dramatic music]

[hammering]

Nail it on good, Josh.

It's liable to come off in the next storm.

[Josh] Yeah.

I'm liable to come off in the next storm

if Laura and Jessie don't stop shaking this ladder.

- It's just the wind, Josh. - What's the matter?

You're afraid you're gonna fall?

[dramatic music]

[Josh] 'Luke's comin'.'

Looks like he's got somebody hurt with him.

[instrumental music]

What on Earth happened?

The survey team I was leadin' got bushwhacked

Aunt Molly, up on the mountain.

Sergeant Worth is still there. He's dead.

I sent a soldier into town to get Doc Gunnerson.

Oh, dear God.

What reason would anyone have

'for doing that?'

No reason from what I can tell.

- 'But he's just a boy.' - Uh..

Ah. Old enough to know a pretty girl when I see one.

Oh, with that attitude, you'll recover quickly enough.

[chuckles] Take him inside and into bed, boys.

Sorry to be such a bother, ma'am.

It's no bother, now consider

the matter closed.

[intense music]

[sighs]

I'm sorry.

His bleeding stopped.

Internal bleeding.

I tried.

No one could have done more, doctor.

[door opens]

I still can't believe what happened up on that mountain.

Oh, no.

Aunt Molly, he's, he's not..

Yes, I'm afraid Billy's dead.

There were complications.

I'm sorry, son.

He was so young, so nice.

Give a months' pay to get my hands on that bushwhacker.

It's almost first light. I'm goin' after him.

After who, Luke?

The one who did this.

Luke, I know how you must feel

but surely this is a military job.

She's right. It's strictly army business.

I'm makin' it mine.

Luke, I just can't see you riding up there alone.

He's not, Aunt Molly. I'm goin' with him.

That's fair enough.

I'm not takin no

for an answer, Luke!

What did you say?

I said, I'm glad for the company.

I'll go saddle the horses.

Oh, I wish your Uncle Zeb were here

to ride along with you.

It would be a comfort.

Now, there's a k*ller on that mountain, Luke, and Josh is--

Josh is grown up, Aunt Molly.

He did real fine out in that street

with Uncle Zeb facing down Henry Cole.

[g*n c*ck]

[sighs]

[intense music]

You see who it was did the shootin'?

No, I just got a glimpse of someone

slippin' off into the trees.

Think it was just one man, though.

And he was firin' a musket.

- A musket? - Yeah.

I thought I recognized the sound of powder

and ball at the time.

See, during the w*r, we used both muskets and breech-loaders.

It wasn't long before we knew which was which by the sound.

Come on.

[music continues]

[Luke] This is it.

[Josh] Where were you when the shootin' started?

[Luke] Over there, across that stream bed there.

[Josh] Sergeant Worth's body, I don't see it.

[intense music]

[music continues]

[stones rumbling]

Josh, off your horse!

[dramatic music]

[g*nsh*t]

[grunts]

[panting]

That's a musket, alright.

Well, all I know is you have to muzzleload 'em.

That's right.

Takes an expert to fire off a round

in less than eight to ten seconds.

[g*nsh*t]

[groans]

He's an expert. Cover me.

Thousand-one, thousand-two, thousand-three

thousand-four, thousand-five

thousand-six, thousand-seven, thousand-eight..

[panting]

Alright now, mister.

You reload it. Give you one more chance.

[g*nsh*t]

That's it.

[Luke] 'So much as move..'

[instrumental music]

Let go of the musket.

Come back for another try, did you?

I oughta blow your head off, mister.

Well, if you're gonna sh**t, sh**t. I ain't afraid.

You k*ll people, good people, friends of mine.

Yankee blue bellies. Had the chance, I'd do it again.

Well, you've just run out of chances.

You're goin' back with me.

You make one wrong move, you'll be tied over a saddle.

Oh, you gotta take me first.

'Well, come on, Yankee, I'm waiting.'

'Come on.'

[intense music]

[g*nsh*t]

[dramatic music]

It's mantraps. Watch yourself.

[music continues]

[music continues]

[panting]

[groans]

Josh!

- Josh, you alright? - Yeah.

Just got the wind knocked out. Luke!

[dramatic music]

[g*nsh*t]

[breathing heavily]

Now, just who are you, mister?

'And what are you doin' wearing that uniform?'

I'm a Confederate soldier doing my duty.

That's who I am.

A soldier? What did you take us for?

Nobody's worn that uniform for more than four years.

I think he's mad.

What are you lookin' at me like that for?

Come on.

The horses are over that way.

I got a lot of reasons to bury you right here.

So just give me an excuse.

[intense music]

Aunt Molly, Luke and Josh are back.

[horses trotting]

[panting]

Is that..

Yeah, it's him, alright, Aunt Molly.

Admitted to the killings.

Is he the one that bushwhacked Billy and the sergeant?

- That m*rder*r! - Hey! Well, easy, easy, Jonas.

He's wounded bad.

What happened to him?

Ah, he hit his head on somethin'

forced Luke to sh**t him.

[mumbles]

Prudy.

Prudy Willow.

'My wife.'

Coleville, Nebraska.

Tell her...I'm alive.

Been took prisoner.

His wife?

Oh, he's out of his head, Aunt Molly.

Come on, let's take him in the barn and wait for the army

to come and get him.

No, Luke.

'We'll put him in the house.'

Now, I don't care who he is or what he's done.

That man is hurt very badly.

We can't leave him out here in the damp and cold.

Jonas, I assume you'll be riding into Teton

to telegraph the fort about this.

Would you be so kind as to ask Dr. Gunnerson

to get out here as quickly as he can?

Yes, ma'am.

Then I'll be getting on back to the fort.

Aunt Molly, you sure you wanna do this?

Yes, Luke. I'm sure, I'm sure.

[birds chirping]

I tell you something, doctor.

I think all those years on that mountain

must have affected that man's mind.

Do you know, he wouldn't even let me

put on a-a clean shirt over the bandage?

He insisted on putting back on that dirty uniform.

Well, Molly.

This wouldn't be the first time I've seen loneliness

drive a man a little mad.

[grunts] Trappers snowbound for month on end

come back sometimes mad as hatters.

Is that a fact?

Ah, but usually it's just

a temporary condition.

But will he be alright?

He won't die, will he?

No, I don't think so.

The b*llet came out easy enough.

He did lose a lot of blood, and it'll be a good week

before he can be moved.

Alright.

Well, thank you, doctor.

I hope it's a while before we have

to bring you out here again.

So do I, Molly. Heh-heh-heh.

So do I.

[intense music]

[door opens]

[door shuts]

[grunting]

[breathing heavily]

[grunting]

[clattering]

[rattling]

Uh..

[grunting]

[dramatic music]

[crickets chirping]

[window creaking]

[thuds]

[crickets chirping]

[groaning]

[panting]

[music continues]

[groans]

[panting]

It's the duty of every Confederate soldier

when he's taken prisoner

to try to escape.

Confederate soldier?

Maybe you can look the other way while I ride off.

You don't look like you're in any condition to ride anywhere.

And why would I let a k*ller go off, huh?

Maybe...'cause..

...I let you go off

after you done a bit of k*lling.

What?

You think on it, Yankee.

It'll come to you.

[breathing heavily]

If you were smart, you'd stay close to that bed.

Let that wound do some healin' for a while.

Smart or not, mister

number-one thing, you're in a house full of people I love.

You try anything, I'll k*ll you.

I'm a soldier.

Wouldn't hurt women or kids.

I wouldn't hurt nobody that was helpless.

You ought to know that.

You keep saying you're a soldier.

Don't make no more sense in that talk

you did back at the barn.

- You mean, about you owing me? - Yeah.

Heck, you're only alive now 'cause I didn't k*ll you.

It wasn't for lack of trying.

And I don't mean up on that mountain.

You still don't remember, do you?

[instrumental music]

You're saying that we met before?

Why I was lookin' closer at you at times.

Thought I recognized you.

'Wasn't sure.'

Am now.

You were at Shiloh in '62.

'The Yankee uniform.'

How do you know that?

[scoffs]

Shiloh.

'Second day, close to sundown.'

[music continues]

'I was in the bushes near a creek.'

'Heard some shootin' and someone screamin'.'

'It's beginning to come back to you now, ain't it?'

[music continues]

[Andrew] You were wounded in the side.

Left side, just below the ribs.

Bet you're still carrying a scar.

I couldn't see what was goin' on

but kept hearin' the shootin'.

[dramatic music]

I was on my way to see what's going on

when I come nose to nose with you.

Limpin' through the woods..

...bleedin', lookin' like you just seen the gates of hell.

You were hurtin'.

Maybe hurtin' too much to remember, but..

...I saw you

and you saw me.

[music continues]

I remember you.

You could have k*lled me.

That's why I said

"Maybe you could look the other way while I rode off."

But those people up in the mountain that you k*lled

why?

I'm a Confederate regular

in uniform and under orders.

'Yankees gotta expect to be shot at, don't they?'

Are you tryin' to tell me you actually think

the w*r is still being fought?

[scoffs]

Unless you think for a minute I can't see

what you're tryin' to do.

Trick me into believin' the w*r is over, huh?

So I tell you everythin' I know.

Didn't anybody tell you that Lee surrendered

at Appomattox in '65?

General Lee? Surrender?

Never.

He not only surrendered..

Why, Abe Lincoln's been shot. Ulysses Grant is president now.

[coughing]

[laughs]

That's some story.

Ulysses Grant is the biggest drunk

in the Yankee army.

Who'd make him president?

The w*r has been over for more than four years.

Look!

- 'What's that?' - It's a newspaper.

Maybe a-a month old, but it's proof

that you've been livin' in the past.

And, here, look, there's an article

at the bottom of the page.

Statue's being erected to General Lee

in honor of his heroism during the w*r.

Well, go on, read it!

'You won't find a single casualty list in that paper.'

'The one thing about battles being won or lost.'

'What you will find is that for the past four years, mister'

'you've been killin' innocent people.'

[instrumental music]

I, I didn't know.

Uh, them soldiers I k*lled..

...I didn't know.

So help me God, I didn't know.

I thought I was doin' my duty.

I was ordered to stay up there

not let any Yankees come by me.

Ordered to stay up on that mountain?

Why?

'To do what?'

[music continues]

Makes no difference now.

Mister, by your own admission

men died 'cause you were up there.

Seems to me, the why makes one whale of a difference.

[music continues]

I didn't know.

He spared your life?

That man up there in your room?

And he really thought the w*r was still goin' on?

That seems awfully hard to believe.

Not as hard as it was for him to believe

the w*r has been over for more than four years.

Why, then, he's not what we thought at all

a-a m*rder*r.

He's a victim.

Oh, my God, how terrible!

[Molly] 'What is it, Luke?'

Soldiers. Out in our field.

Lieutenant.

You're in charge.

In case you weren't aware, this is our land.

Colonel Roland Craig.

Attached to general headquarter staff.

Molly Culhane.

I think what my aunt wondered was, uh

those soldiers on our land.

Your name, sir?

Luke Macahan.

Oh, yes. The man that, uh, caught that guerilla.

To answer your unspoken question, madam

I am bivouacking my men on this meadow

with the permission of the Macahans, of course.

Why, yes, I suppose.

And as to why we're here

I've come to establish the extent of guerilla activity

in this area and to execute the guerilla

that Mr. Macahan had the good fortune to apprehend.

Uh, colonel, we, uh, learned a few things about this man.

His name is Andrew Willow.

Instead of being a Confederate guerilla, he was a soldier

thinking he was only doing his duty.

Doing his duty?

k*lling military personnel assigned to survey work?

I know this is gonna sound strange, colonel

but he didn't know the w*r was over.

Well, uh, actually, Mr. Macahan

that doesn't sound strange to me, not strange at all.

There are very few rational lies left

to those caught in the act of killin' other human beings

under the guise of never having heard of Appomattox.

'Although, I must confess, with more than four years'

having passed, Mr. Willow's story

would strain the credulity of a moron.

'Is the prisoner still being held in the house?'

Yes, indeed, he is, colonel, but he's in no condition

to be moved.

No? Why not, may I ask?

He's laid up with a bad wound. Still in some considerable pain.

Is he, indeed?

Well, the hangman's noose

will shortly relieve him

of that inconvenience.

'Perhaps you'd be good enough to show me to the prisoner'

so I can have him moved to the bivouac?

Colonel, I just told you

that he's in no condition to be moved.

And I have no intention of letting you come in

to our house to abuse that man.

Madam, I have no intention

of abusing him.

But I hope you will allow me

an immediate interrogation of the prisoner.

He's still asleep.

Then we'll just have to wake him.

Won't we?

[exhales sharply]

You may leave, Mr. Macahan.

Uh, colonel, it being my room

I think I'll stay.

As you wish.

Well, all good things must come to an end

must they not, Mr. Willow?

What are you talkin' about?

Come now, Mr. Willow.

Were you the only one up on that mountain?

Or are there others like you still up there?

What do you mean, others like me?

- You don't know. - I told you, colonel.

He's just somebody who thought the w*r was still on.

- That's all. - That's the truth, colonel.

I thought the North and South are still fightin' each other.

Well, I was ordered to stay up on that mountain

not let any Yankees come by me.

I see.

Then tell me, Mr. Willow.

If you really thought the w*r hadn't ended

I mean, knowing now that it's over

why were you, as you put it

"Ordered to stay on that mountain" all those years?

Tell him, Andrew.

Nothin' else to say.

I believe you.

I don't think there is anything else to say.

Now, for once, the man is telling the truth.

And as soon as you're able to stand, Mr. Willow

it'll be in front of a military hearing.

Colonel..

...the w*r is over.

That would make Willow here a civilian.

Seems to me you lack the authority

to bring him to a military hearing.

Mr. Macahan, I have, since the end of the w*r

been invested with power and authority

by General Thomas Gates of the Unites States Army

to deal with guerrilla matters as I see fit.

And I declare this

to be strictly a military matter.

[instrumental music]

It's real nice of you to help me clean up a little bit

Ms. Laura.

Quite a chore takin' off all that hair.

I lopped it off now and again, much as I could

but...you can only do so much with a bayonet.

[Andrew chuckles]

Now, Prudy...shaved me for a whole month once

when I...hurt my hand plowin'.

Prudy. It's your wife, isn't it?

Yes, ma'am.

It's why I wanted

to get a shave and cut my hair.

When she gets here, I want her to see me

the way she used to remember me.

She's comin' here?

Yeah. I had Josh send the telegraph.

She should be arrivin' on the noon stage.

Got me a little one, too.

I don't know if it's wearin' boots or lace.

'Prudy was still carryin' when I went off to w*r.'

They were the only things kept me goin' all those years

on the mountain.

Uh, Andrew

uh, about all those years..

I know what you're gonna ask, Luke.

Don't.

'I got nothin' else to say.'

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Whoa! Whoa!

[whistling]

Whoa!

[horse neighing]

Howdy.

Uh, you wouldn't by any chance be

Prudence Willow, would you?

- Yes. - Oh.

Here we go.

I'm Luke Macahan, ma'am.

Oh, and this

this must be that little one her daddy keeps talkin' about.

Her name is Stacy, Mr. Macahan.

Nice to meet you, Stacy.

They told me my husband

was missing in action in '64.

Later they sent word that he was presumed dead.

Yeah. Ma'am..

Uh, let me get your bags down, alright?

Hey, bud, wanna throw down her bags for me?

Hey!

Okay.

Alright. This way, ma'am.

Come on.

- Finished with this? - Yeah.

Y'all been..

...decent to me enough.

I wanna thank you for it.

[chuckles] Stayin' in a room like this..

...it's a lot different than bein' on the mountain.

You know, I was wonderin', Mr. Willow

just where did you stay on that mountain?

Where does someone stay on a mountain? I..

Wherever he can get to keep the rain off his head

the wind off his back.

I just sort of stake me out a piece of land

and just lived on it.

Uh, does that..

...make it legally mine?

Um, that piece of land?

Oh, I don't know.

I reckon you'd have to file a claim for it.

But why would you want it?

Nothin' up there except brush and rabbits.

A man can get attached to wherever it is he's at

if he's there long enough.

[knocking on door]

You have company, Mr. Willow.

[instrumental music]

[chuckles]

It's been a long time.

Yes, Andrew.

It has, a very long time.

You, you look pretty as ever.

Josh.

You, too, soldier, you're not needed here at this moment.

Mrs. Culhane, I have my orders.

Oh, he's not goin' anywhere. He's manacled.

Besides, you already got someone guardin' the yard.

- But-- - I'll take full responsibility.

Yes.

[sighs]

Prudy?

Andrew..

...this is Stacy.

Your daughter.

Stacy?

Hello, pa.

Come here.

[instrumental music]

So..

Looks like I got me a little bit of lace.

Look at you now.

Soft as a spring fawn.

I bet you've got a smile

that could light the whole world.

'Let's see.'

Oh..

Hope you're not too disappointed in seein'

what your pa looks like for the first time.

Oh, no. I like you.

Are you hurt, pa?

Was hurtin' real bad..

...until you and your ma came.

You and Stacy must be tired after the trip.

The trip was wearin', Andrew.

And maybe you could use the rest, too.

We'll have a lot to talk about.

Lot of things to catch up on.

[music continues]

[door opens]

Nice night.

It all seems so strange

seein' Andrew again..

...after thinking all these years he was..

Yes, I understand.

Mrs. Culhane..

Mrs. Culhane, I..

What is it?

There's something I need to tell someone.

I can't hold it in any longer.

Well, if it's any help

I'm very good at keeping confidences.

I've remarried, Mrs. Culhane.

When Andrew didn't come home from the w*r

I still didn't give up hope

that maybe somehow

even when they presumed him dead in '65..

Finally, I got tired of trying to fool myself.

I met a man, Lehigh Kilip.

Married him.

'Stacy needed a father.'

She didn't think she had one.

At least, not livin'.

You shouldn't torment yourself.

You did what was right. You couldn't know.

When the telegram came saying that Andrew was still alive..

...I told Stacy

that these things happen sometimes..

...and that she has two fathers now.

I told her not to say a word about her new pa to Andrew.

What with all he has goin' against him

his knowin' I remarried would break his heart.

Yes, I think it probably would.

[instrumental music]

Morning, Mrs. Willow.

- Luke. - You're up so early.

Just came down to watch the sun break across the hills.

Andrew and I used to get up every morning

and watch that yellow sun come up, together.

It was just somethin' we did.

He knowed yellow was my favorite color.

He even planted a whole bed of bright, yellow flowers

side of the house on my birthday.

[chuckles]

Those were special times.

Mrs. Willow..

'...there's a chance that you can have some more'

'of those special times.'

If someone could convince Andrew to tell us why he was up

on that mountain for all those years..

[Prudence] 'Those special times are gone, Luke, forever.'

'Andrew can never come home with us.'

He can never go home with you?

I don't understand.

I'd rather not go into it with you

or explain. Please, Luke.

- Good morning, Mr. Macahan. - Good morning.

Mrs. Willow. Uh, Mrs. Culhane.

I've decided to, uh, to begin your husband's hearing tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

Oh, but, colonel, the doctor has said

that Andrew Willow should not be moved for at least a week.

My time is limited, Mrs. Culhane.

So is Willow's.

Yes.

I would expect the, uh, the hearing

to take several days.

It could, of course, be held out in bivouac area

but, uh, I'd rather not move the accused back and forth

like a-a sack of grain.

So I wonder if, uh, we might have your permission

'to hold the hearing here in the house?'

Of course, if the hearing must be held

then, yes.

It would be preferable to moving that man in there

back and forth like a sack of grain, as you say.

Sir?

Are you gonna hurt my pa?

Well, your, uh, father's done some bad things, child.

He's, uh, hurt people.

And when somebody hurts someone

they must be punished.

He never hurt my ma and he never hurt me.

If he hurt anybody, it's 'cause of the w*r.

Didn't you hurt anybody in the w*r, mister?

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Is there something you forgot to say, Mrs. Culhane?

Do you like Appaloosas, colonel?

Oh, well, I...I hadn't noticed.

How much do you notice?

I'm afraid the, uh, the significance

of that question eludes me, madam.

Well, what I mean is that, uh

sometimes a person can

well, harden themselves to something so much

that they fail to see the beauty

or the goodness in anything else.

Oh.

Well, I had two sons that I used to see

a world of good and beauty in.

One of them was, uh, k*lled during the w*r.

Well, the w*r, almost without exception

spared few of us some personal tragedy, did it not?

Personal tragedy, madam?

No, as a, as a soldier

I accept warfare as being impersonal.

I mean, sorrows come our way, don't they?

Impartially proffered by the, uh, hand of fate.

It's the after-w*r tragedies

that become very personal, indeed

when we've all supposedly, uh

put aside the horror, hm

to live in common peace.

It's the day of the, uh, vulture, if you will.

I'm not sure I understand you, colonel.

Guerrillas, Mrs. Culhane.

A handful of them, uh

broke into my son's house

just after the w*r.

My only remaining son.

And they..

...they bayoneted him to death..

...k*lled his wife.

Guerrillas, Mrs. Culhane

just like your Mr. Willow in there.

I'm so sorry.

Good day, madam.

Why, Andrew, why? Why won't you tell?

Luke's been after you to talk to me.

But all of us want the same for you.

For you to go free.

Prudence, I've done nothin' wrong.

They're not gonna hang me. They gotta set me free.

But suppose they don't?

Suppose they say, "Andrew Willow

'"you're hidin' somethin'.'

'"And if you don't tell us what it is, well'

that proves you're the guerrilla we say you are."

[instrumental music]

w*r's cost us, hasn't it, Prudy?

We're like two friends talkin'.

Not like it was.

You were always laughin'

wanting to be kissed

be squeezed tight in my arms.

Don't wanna slip these around you.

Wouldn't seem right.

[instrumental music]

[sobbing]

Only one thing is important, Andrew.

And that's having you free again.

Just me bein' free?

What's more than that now, Prudy?

You, Stacy, me, we..

We've all had somethin' taken away from us.

Especially, you and Stacy.

I want you to believe in me.

But I do believe in you.

- That's why I want-- - Shh.

Made up my mind to do what I have to do.

And, Prudy, there is somethin' you can do for me.

Maybe I can do it myself if they let me go, but..

There's this piece of land I sort of lived off

on the mountain.

It's in the high gorges.

Spent so much time on it, I kinda come to see it

as bein' ours.

When you happen to get into town

maybe you could look into the particulars

of getting it filed for.

Filing for mountain land?

Well, what good's the land gonna be if you..

Hang?

[sighs] Trust me, Prudy.

[music continues]

Please?

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[knocking on door]

You said you wanna see me, pa.

Forever and ever.

But if I can't, I wanna at least make sure

that you and your ma are happy for the rest of your lives.

What do you mean, pa?

Well, I got somethin' I can't show your ma.

Afraid she might show it to Luke

or to that army man Colonel Craig

and that'd spoil everything.

What's that?

It's a map.

I want you to keep it safe for me, Stacy.

A map?

Showin' the way to the mountain land where I was livin'.

I want you to hide it for me.

- What's your doll's name? - Charity.

Can Charity keep a secret?

- Uh-huh. - Good. Can you?

As good as Charity.

Well, then, it's to be our secret.

Now, if, if they let me go

I'll take you and Prudy up there and show you the secret.

Maybe we can even stay there, up in the mountains.

You'd like it, Stacy. It's right up in the sky.

You could chase the butterflies

through the wild flowers on the slopes

and the rabbits scampin' around, thick as grass.

Now, what's on that land

will keep you and dolls and your mom in fine clothes

for the rest of your lives.

The blazy yellow that lit the north wall

will crown what's to be yours.

'Huh. Wrote that on the map.'

What's that mean, pa?

Well, your ma will understand.

I had to write it that way so that if somebody else

gets a hold of the map

they won't know where to find what's hidden.

What is hidden?

Our secret's big enough already, don't you think? Yeah.

Add any more to it and it'll be too hard and too big

for a little girl to keep all inside.

I don't want you to go away, pa.

'I want you with ma and me.'

I'll be happy wherever I go

as long as I know you and your ma are taken care of.

'You be happy so I can. Is that a fair bargain?'

Now, remember, what I told you is our secret.

I will, pa.

- You promise? - Uh-huh.

You've gotta say it.

I promise.

That's my girl.

That's my girl.

"Andrew Willow, you are charged with m*rder

"in connection with the wanton slayings

"of Private William Twiggs and Sergeant Chester Worth

on the fifth day of March, 1869."

So how do you plead, Mr. Willow? Innocent or guilty?

Well, I shot 'em, alright.

But I didn't k*ll nobody without cause, colonel.

I thought the w*r was still on.

You'll have every opportunity

to defend yourself, Mr. Willow..

..but properly.

Indeed, we would all love

to hear you break that silence, Mr. Willow.

Now, you have stated that you did not know the w*r was over.

And if I am correct, you've also stated previously

that you were placed in the mountain under order.

- 'Well?' - Yes, sir.

Am I also correct in assuming that you're now very much aware

that the w*r is over?

Yes, sir.

If, Mr. Willow, you were acting under orders

as you claim you were

would you be so good as to tell us

what kind of orders would keep a man on a mountain

'for half a decade'

'and who it was that so ordered you?'

You wanted your chance, Mr. Willow

here it is, speak up.

'Or were you, perhaps, a deserter'

from your own ranks who took to the hills?

I'm no deserter, colonel.

Oh.

I believe you, Mr. Willow.

How could I, for a moment, have suggested otherwise?

'On the contrary'

the, the passion that you just exhibited

would seem to confirm the one and only motive

for so long soldierin' on that mountain

'one that would most certainly explain your keeping silent.'

I mean, especially here in the presence of soldiers

in blue uniforms.

A mountain's a good place to hide, isn't it?

Good place to ambush people

especially Union soldiers.

'Something that a guerrilla, for the intense passion'

'and hatred for the Northernists would relish more and laugh..'

[grunts]

Mr. Willow..

...I seemed to have proved a point.

You pushed him into it!

One does not push a man like this into violence, Mr. Macahan.

It is inherent in his nature.

'All one needs to do is give him the opportunity to display it.'

Andrew's not what you say he is.

He is a good man and he was a good soldier.

I am not contesting the fact

that he was a good soldier, Mrs. Willow.

On the contrary, he was so dedicated to the Confederacy

that he kept his own w*r going after more than four years.

Ask Captain Jethro Clay, who Andrew served under

'or any soldier from the 11th Texas Cavalry'

'they'll tell you what kind of man Andrew is.'

That there's no one alive with more feelin' for others

than him.

Why don't you telegraph the w*r Department?

[Luke] 'See if they can get a hold of this, this Captain Clay.'

Alright, we will request

and hope for an immediate answer.

'I declare this hearing to be recessed until further notice.'

[instrumental music]

Pretty night, huh, Stacy?

Oh, now. I didn't mean to scare you.

That's alright, Luke. I'm not scared.

I guess you know I've been tryin' to help your pa.

Uh-huh.

I think a lot of him

like I do you and your ma.

But you know somethin', Stacy?

I think I've just about run out of ways to help him.

You wouldn't happen to know a way to help him that I don't

would ya?

My pa says he knows what's best.

Goodnight.

[door creaking]

[crickets chirping]

Macahan

I'm beset by a few curiosities.

You might help me with one of 'em.

Help you in what way?

I believe it's something on that mountain

that holds our answer to whatever it is

that Willow's concealing, and I wanna find out what that is.

If for no other reason, then to clarify the evidence.

When I sentence someone like Willow

I don't want any mysteries

left hangin' in the air.

I want the man dead, buried and forgotten.

Why tell me all this?

Because at first light

I'd like you to accompany me to the mountain.

You're familiar with the area?

Uh, those are mighty big mountains, colonel.

Hard to tell where to start lookin' first.

That's another reason I want you with me.

Because you're as interested as I am

in finding out what the man's keeping secret

maybe more.

So you'll be looking very hard.

Hm?

As if Mr. Willow's life depended on it.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

What is it?

It was just about right here

where we ran into those mantraps.

Way I see it, colonel, somebody alone

wouldn't just lay traps anywhere.

He put 'em where they lived or stayed

so nobody come creepin' up on 'em while they were asleep.

Your reasoning is faulty, Macahan.

Guerrillas never stay in any one place.

It makes 'em too vulnerable to capture.

So they move about constantly.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[Luke] 'A cabin. That might be where Willow lived.'

[Craig] 'A trapper, perhaps, but not Willow.'

Now, what makes you so sure?

I told you before, Mr. Macahan, guerrillas don't build cabins.

'Their tracks would too easily give away their positions.'

It won't hurt to take a look.

[door creaks]

Colonel, look.

A picture of Andrew Willow's wife.

That's proof enough he's been stayin' here.

Andrew said she was the only thing that kept him goin'.

It just doesn't make any sense.

It makes perfect sense

if Willow is not a guerrilla.

But you're still not prepared to admit that, are you?

In spite of all of this.

I'd thank you not to make judgments

about what I think or don't think, Macahan.

But if Willow didn't follow the pattern of every guerrilla

I've ever known, it's because, because he couldn't

because he, uh, he had to stay here.

Why?

I have no immediate answer.

Perhaps to, uh, protect something.

Something that he couldn't easily carry away.

What's this?

What do you make of it, colonel?

I don't know.

I don't know.

Oh, my God!

Colonel?

[intense music]

Sergeant Worth's cap.

He's inscribed their names

and the dates they died.

Almost all of them after the w*r had ended.

Well..

...it seems we have our answer

as to why Mr. Willow was so reticent

about what he'd been doin' up on this mountain.

Slaughtering unsuspecting Union soldiers.

- 'Stealing their valuables.' - I can't believe!

You can't believe the evidence of your own eyes?

A m*rder*r wouldn't bury his victims

and mark their graves with their own headgear.

He'd be signing his own death warrant.

Which is exactly what our Mr. Willow has done.

[music continues]

[Craig] Well, Mr. Willow, in light of the fact

that you will not tell me

why you were ordered to stay on that mountain

why you built that cabin

or what it is that you're hiding--

Winters were cold.

Needed a place to keep out of the weather.

He's telling the truth.

He's not hiding anything about his cabin.

He built it to live in. Is that so strange?

For a guerilla, yes.

They'd never live in a place

they thought to be enemy territory.

Andrew wanted that land for the future, for us.

He wanted to file for it.

[Prudence] 'Tell him, Andrew.'

You wanted to file for the land, Mr. Willow?

Figured someday it might be worth somethin'

to my wife and daughter.

But did you feel that they'd be comfortable

living on land inhabited by m*rder*d men?

I told you why I shot those men.

We back to that again, Mr. Willow?

- I gave 'em Christian burials. - Mm-hmm.

And next, I suppose you're gonna tell me

that you kept the personal belongings

the, uh, watches, rings

'money, medals, thinking to return them'

'to their families after the w*r.'

Yeah, that's why I kept 'em.

Made sure I marked the graves proper, too

so kin could send the bodies home again

if they had a mind to.

Did you, indeed?

I, uh, received this telegram this morning

from the w*r Department in regard to Captain Clay

'who was to speak for Mr. Andrew Willow.'

"Jethro Catlin Clay

"captain, Confederate States of America

'"and a 15-man patrol were k*lled, to the last man'

'"in two separate actions on consecutive days in 1864.'

'No word on what Clay's mission was."'

So it seems, Mr. Willow, that there was only one man

who knows what Captain Clay's mission was.

You.

Have you anything, Mr. Willow, to offer in your defense?

Tell him everything.

The truth, Andrew.

Please.

For Stacy's and my sake, if not your own.

Tell the truth, Andrew.

I beg of you.

Well, Mr. Willow?

Madam, would you kindly return to your seat?

It seems I have no recourse, but to credit you

with guerilla activity in connection with the murders

of the hithertofore-mentioned soldiers

and to find you guilty as charged.

Andrew Willow

'I hereby sentence you'

'to be hanged by the neck until dead'

'two days hence, at a place to be determined.'

'Soldier.'

[dramatic music]

Colonel.

I'd, uh, take it as a favor

if Andrew could stay here at the house

till the time of execution.

For the benefit of his wife and daughter

they havin' so little time together and all.

He may stay.

[instrumental music]

[sobbing]

[exhales sharply]

Stacy and I..

...will be leaving before the..

'...the sentence is carried out.'

I don't want her to be here when they come for you.

Neither do I.

I love you!

[sobbing] Oh..

I've never loved anyone but you.

[music continues]

[sighs]

What's the matter, Stacy?

Uh, I don't want my pa to die, Luke.

Oh. I know you don't, honey.

None of us do.

Why, we've been tryin' so hard to help him.

I've, too, but..

But what, Stacy?

Stacy, what did your pa mean when he said he knows best?

You know, uh, if you told me, you might feel better.

My pa made me promise not to tell.

Oh.

Well, if it could help him

it'd be worth tellin', don't you think?

[sniffles] He...says

he knows what's best.

Oh, I'm sure he does.

But, Stacy, what's best for him right now

is to get free of the trouble he's in.

'Right?'

[instrumental music]

It's a map, to the land my pa wants.

"Blaze of yellow that lit the north wall

will crown what's to be yours."

Stacy, you know anything about this?

I, I think there's, like, a treasure there

'cause he said it would keep me and ma happy

for a long, long time.

It could buy me dolls, and ma pretty dresses.

Oh.

Stacy, I'm not sure what this is all about.

One thing I am sure of

you did the right thing by showin' me.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[intense music]

- Uncle Zeb? - 'Luke?'

Uh, excuse me, ma'am, uh..

Oh, uh, Uncle Zeb, this is Prudence Willow.

Prudence, this is my Uncle Zeb.

- Hello. - Ma'am.

Luke, what's all 'em soldier boys doin' here?

Uh, Uncle Zeb, why don't you ride with us?

'Uh, we're going up the mountain.'

'A man's life may depend'

'on what we find up there.'

I'll explain everything on the way.

Alright.

[instrumental music]

That the saddleback you was talkin' about?

The one overlooking the ravine?

That's it, Uncle Zeb. It's not far from his cabin.

You figure out what Andrew meant by

'"The blaze of yellow that lit the north wall'

'will crown what's to be yours?"'

Andrew knew yellow was my favorite color

but as for the rest, no.

Now, that saddleback ground's on a piece.

Let's go over there and take a look.

[horses trotting]

What is it, Uncle Zeb?

Well, Luke, I ain't rightly sure

but I'm thinking about what her husband said

about yellow being her favorite color.

Uh, we just passed us a bunch of yellow wildflowers

growin' on the hillside there.

Now, it strikes me that they was a might far up

in this meadowland for 'em to be growin' natural.

You're saying those kind of flowers don't grow that high up?

That's about it.

Unless someone were to plant 'em up there and tend 'em.

"The blaze of yellow that lit the north wall."

The place Andrew built, when we was first married

he planted a whole bed of bright, yellow buttercups

'the north side of the house.'

What do you think?

I think we ought to find out.

[horses trotting]

[stones clattering]

Uncle Zeb, Prudy!

[intense music]

[grunting]

Look, there's a Confederate insignia on the lid.

Well, that's it, alright. Oh!

Whatever's in it sure weighs a plenty.

Ah..

Oh, it is locked, Uncle Zeb.

Alright, stand back.

[g*nsh*t]

[grunting]

[mumbling]

- Gold! - Damn!

- Oh, no. - Ah..

[chuckles]

Well, looks to me like Mr. Willow

was gardenin' himself a-a bunch of Confederate gold here.

I'd say he was a soldier performin' his duty.

Had to drag it back here on a travois.

Where was this chest hidden?

In one of the ravines near his cabin.

No!

You did this to me?

I did nothin'.

I was just trying to help you.

You spoiled it, Luke.

'You spoiled it.'

I did what I had to do, Andy.

- 'So did your daughter.' - I'm sorry, pa.

[Luke] 'Happen to be people who care about you, even if you don't.'

I'm sorry, pa. I just wanted to help.

That's alright, honey.

It's alright.

Just what is in the box?

Gold bars.

[clears throat] Would you, uh

care to explain this, Mr. Willow?

I was..

...guardin' this chest for the Confederacy.

I was with Captain Jethro Clay's detachment

just like my wife said.

We were supposed to get it to Missouri.

Sterling Price needed it to buy g*ns.

Well, we ran into Yankees.

'We got shot up pretty bad, had to turn tail.'

Captain Clay decided he'd fight his way back to Fort Hubb

and bring back help.

Given a lot to have gone with him.

But captain wanted me to stay 'cause..

[chuckles] ...he knew I'd stick.

'He told me to guard this with my life.'

There's more than a man's lifetime of treasure

in this chest.

A dozen men's lifetimes.

Why, Mr. Willow, didn't you divulge this little truth

when you, as you say, suddenly realized that the w*r was over?

'Hm?'

Tell it all, Andrew.

Please, please, Andrew.

That's why I was thinkin' of filin'

for that mountain land up there..

...so as everything on it

includin' the gold would be mine.

So you were planning on keeping the gold for yourself?

Not till after I found out the w*r was over.

Confederacy didn't need it anymore.

Figured I earned it.

'Stayin' up there on that mountain'

watchin' over it all those years..

...years I could've spent with my wife and daughter.

I-I wanted to give it to you, Prudy.

'You, waitin' for me all that time.'

'I had nothing else in the world to offer you.'

'Cause I figured it'd set you and Stacy up

for a long time to come.

Very touching, I'm sure.

Can't you see he is tellin' the truth?

What I see, Mr. Macahan, is someone

who has not only bushwhacked innocent people

but who's been hoarding government gold to boot

and who has been using this woman and that child

to play on my sympathies and yours.

That woman and that child

happen to be this man's wife and daughter, colonel.

- To all intents and purposes. - What?

You better explain that, colonel.

Yeah, just what are you saying?

I'm talking about a very interesting

little piece of information an aide of mine

'happened to come up with a short while ago.'

I became suspicious of Mrs. Willow

when I overheard her talking with you one morning

so I decided I would just investigate her past a bit.

Just what are you trying to say, colonel?

Simply, Mr. Willow, that Mrs. Willow here

is in fact Mrs. Lehigh Kilip.

'She remarried to a wheelwright in Nebraska'

'more than four years ago.'

That's a lie!

Tell him he's lying, Prudy!

[instrumental music]

Prudy?

Mrs. Kilip, did Willow happen to promise you some of this gold

if you'd come and plead for him?

No, that's not true.

Prudence told me on the very first day

she arrived at the ranch, about being remarried.

Now, she told me in the strictest confidence..

'...afraid that if somebody else knew'

'they might let it slip to Andrew.'

'She couldn't tell Andrew'

'because he was laboring under enough pain'

'as it was.'

It's just that I, I thought you were never coming home.

'They told me you were dead, a-and Stacy and me..'

I understand.

Y-you've done the proper thing, Prudy.

Well, all said and done, the verdict still stands.

'Return the prisoner to his room, private.'

Hey, colonel.

[Craig] 'What is it now, Mr. Macahan?'

There's somethin' here.

It's a letter. I think we oughta read it here.

Mr. Macahan, I've played about all the little games

I want to with you.

Colonel, I don't play games with people's lives.

It's a letter, colonel, let's read it.

It might be evidence.

Tsk.

[exhales sharply] Well, then, read it.

"The gilded lead bars."

Lead?

No.

No, it can't, it can't be.

Not, not all those years

guarding a box of lead.

But they look like gold.

Easy way to see for sure.

It can't be.

It can't be!

It's lead, alright.

[Andrew] I k*lled men guardin' this.

"The gilded lead bars in this chest

"are the responsibility of Captain Jethro Catlin Clay

"11th Texas Cavalry, CSA.

"If they should fall into the hands of the enemy

"be it known they were intended to divert attention

"from the actual shipment of Confederate gold ingots

'"to Fort Quinlan, by other means.'

'"The defense of this chest by Captain Clay and his patrol'

'"was an act of extraordinary heroism'

'"since he was fully aware that he was risking his life'

'"for something he knew to be worthless.'

'"We besiege the Union Army to inform the secretary of w*r'

"for the Confederacy

"if Captain Clay is k*lled or captured

"so that his dedication and that of his men

"may be appropriately recognized.

'"General Adrian Forbes'

'11th Texas Cavalry, CSA."'

All them years.

'The lives of those men.'

That lead came dear.

[clears throat] Mr. Willow, there's, uh, still the small matter

of your plan to keep that gold for yourself.

But, colonel, it isn't gold, it's lead!

You can't hold a man for hoardin' a box of lead, colonel.

- That's right. - He did not know it was lead!

So felonious intent could still be charged.

Oh..

However..

...however...it is finally

and I think, imminently clear

that Private Willow was indeed ignorant

of the cessation of hostilities..

'...and was in his own mind'

'carrying on in the tradition of a good soldier'

doing his best for five long years

to fulfill the orders given him by his commanding officer.

That's a..

...a truly extraordinary

dedication to duty.

So for these reasons, I find him innocent

of the charges of m*rder lodged against him..

'...and I declare this hearing to be closed.'

'Release the prisoner.'

[instrumental music]

[door shuts]

[music continues]

[chuckles]

You take good care of your ma now, you hear?

I will, pa.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

What do you do now, Andrew?

Prudy and Stacy belong to another man now, Luke.

All I got left is that mountain.

Guess that's where I'll go.

It's beautiful up there

and...outside of Prudy

and my little gal

it's the closest to heaven I ever been.

[music continues]

Maybe I'll see y'all some time.

You can count on that.

I'll be cooking some good meals with an extra plate in mind

so you better drop by every now and again.

'We don't wanna let good food go to waste.'

I'd cross the mountain barefoot durin' the snowflake

to see that it didn't.

- Bye, Mr. Willow. - Goodbye.

- Goodbye, Andrew. - Goodbye.

[horse trotting]

[instrumental music]

Ma?

Yes, dear?

We nev..

We're never gonna see my pa again?

[music continues]

Hey, Luke.

Good to see ya.

How are you makin' it, Andy?

Huh?

I've been doing a little experimentin'

to see what the ground would give me up this way

now that I got me some seeds to plant.

You set makin' a trip somewhere?

Nope. Supplies are for you.

Huh. Supplies for me?

[chuckles] Well, I appreciate the thinkin' behind it, but, uh..

Well, looks like you got enough there

to feed a passel of mouths over the winter.

I don't know about a passel of mouths

but I figure it'll do about three.

[Stacy] 'Pa!'

- Whoa! Whoa! - Pa!

[chuckles]

Go on.

Pa!

[chuckles]

We've come to be with you, pa.

Well, you, you mean you've come for a visit?

No, for forever.

What? What's she sayin', Prudy?

You'll have to add on extra rooms for us.

You're...comin' to stay?

Here, with me?

If you'll have us.

[instrumental music]

But...what about..

You-you're married to that other f..

Was married.

[chuckles] Ya-hoo!

[laughs]

You know, this cabin of mine, ours

is in bad need of a housewarmin'.

Would you two like to do the honors?

What's a housewarmin', pa?

[laughs]

It's you and your ma.

Luke, you come inside, too, you hear?

[music continues]

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]