03x11 - expl*si*n! pt. 2

[bunniefuu]

This is Richard Long.
Here are some scenes

from last week's episode
of "expl*si*n."

I'm not thinking
of using an axe

to make a firebreak.

There's a better way.

Nitroglycerin.

That's a good idea.

But who's gonna
carry it?

Mr. Carter will,
for one.

He's the best
nitro man in
the Mother Lode.

Charlie...

you won't be takin'
that stuff

to a nice, cool mine,
you know.

You'll be takin' it
right into the middle
of a forest fire.

Am I really worth
that much to you?

If I didn't think so,
I wouldn't be going.

Oh, come back.
Please come back safe.

I need you.

[rattling]

[neighing]

Whoa! Whoa, boy!

Hold it, boy!

[expl*si*n]

Aaaah!

It isn't just
Granite City now.

The fire's on its way
to Stockton!

Ten gallons
of nitroglycerin?

What am I gonna say
to Mrs. Barkley? Miss Audra?

You're not gonna
say anything.

The less they
know about this,
the better.

Leave that wildcat
to me!

[shouting]

[bangs piano]

[chuckles]

Funny. I was afraid
that my manners

wouldn't be
good enough for you.

Ah, I thought
that would bring
a speedy recovery.

Nobility, huh?

Well, I've had
smoother deals put to me
by dance hall girls.

And even they weren't
peddled by their fathers.

You might be interested
to know, Marquis,

that you didn't have
to drag your daughter
through the mud.

My brothers and I decided
to take that nitro

before I came here
this evening.

♪ [theme]

Hi, Jarrod.

Hello, Harry.
Seen my brothers?

Not since they left
with you.

Well, I guess
I'll have a whiskey.

Your money's no good
in here tonight.

How come you
haven't left town
like everybody else?

Listen...

everything I got
in the world

is tied up in them
whiskey barrels
down in the cellar.

Now, the last time
there was a fire,

I went out
to help fight it.

Oh, we stopped it,
all right,

but while I was gone,

I was looted
out of every drop.

And it's not gonna
happen this time.

Here. Help yourself.

I gotta get
some more water.

I'm glad you didn't
take off, too.

I got no place to go.

Me, either.

Fire didn't
scare you, huh?

Nope.

[sighs]

You ain't paid for
the last one yet.

What's the matter
with you?

Get your paws
off of me!

You ain't no
little bride, you know!

You're back here
workin'!

JARROD: Toby.

Uhh!

You make me sick!

All right, Toby,
that's enough.

I didn't do nothin'
wrong, Mr. Barkley.

She's supposed
to be nice to
the customers.

I know. Come on
over here and sit down.

$2,000 really mean
that much to you?

Get out of here.

Sure seems
to be my night for
makin' out wills.

Lawyer, you could've
helped before, not now.

-That's where
you're wrong.
-Get out of here!

You think this is
what Charlie was
carryin' that nitro for?

He was stupid.

Lady, I knew him
a long time.

Believe me,
he wasn't stupid.

Look, this is
none of your business.

Sure must've been
somethin' mighty special
about you.

"Special."

You didn't have
to be special

to attract a man
like Charlie.

He was a hard-rock miner,

trapped all week long
in a mine shaft.

Anyone would
look good to him--

anybody who was
a little bit nice to him.

There are lots of
girls downstairs

who are in the business
of being nice.

Charlie picked you
to be his wife.

Now, why do you
suppose he did that?

I don't know.

Look, I know what
you're tryin' to do,

and you don't fool me.

You couldn't have
fooled him, either.

He must've thought
you'd make him
a good wife.

-Me?
-You.

-I'm a saloon girl.
-What of it?

I've been one
since I was 15.

I never even seen
a decent marriage.

My father ran away,
and my mother.

Let me tell you
about my mother.

When boys used to come
to our shack to see me,

they used to have
to bring a bottle of
whiskey for my mother,

or they didn't get in.

You're not your mother.

Well, I'll tell you
something else.

Charlie meant
only one thing to me--

$2,000 and a chance.

To do what?

To get out of here.

To come home
to one room at night--

my own--

to one man.

No more Tobys
slobbering all over me.

No more having
to pretend and smile,

to like being clawed
and pawed.

I can't go back to it.

You thought Charlie
was stupid, huh?

Well, you just told me
what it was he saw in you.

And I'll tell you
something else--

I think you would've
made him a good wife.

All right,
maybe I would have.

He was a good man.

Oh, at first, it almost
made me sick

the idea of living
with a man

old enough
to be my father.

But then I realized...

he wasn't getting
any bargain, either.

Together, we could've both
gotten what we wanted.

But he's dead now!

So, you're just
givin' up, huh?

How long am I
supposed to fight?

You don't know what it is
to be someone like me.

Everywhere you turn,
you're caught.

I was born
in hard luck,

and it's never
gonna change.

Don't blame it
on hard luck.

You put yourself
in that dress.

Well, for an
expensive lawyer,

you give pretty
cheap advice.

Go on. Let me hear
the rest of your sermon.

Easy virtue,
easy way out.

With that g*n
in your hand,

your way doesn't
seem so easy.

Get out of here
and leave me alone.

-Gail--
-Get out of here!

All right.

I've got enough
trouble of my own.

Oh, trouble?
You don't know
what that means.

You've always thought
the grass is greener

somewhere else,
haven't you?

Oh, you're breaking
my heart.

You're about to lose

one of your lousy
gold mines, aren't you?

If it'll mean
anything to you,

my brothers and I
are taking that nitro
out in the morning.

But--

But you've got
everything.

How can you
throw it all away?

I don't plan on
throwing anything away,

if I can possibly
help it.

It'd be kind of nice
to think you were
doing the same thing.

Now, come on.
Why don't you
give me that g*n?

Come on,
give it to me.

You don't have
to have $2,000
to feel like it.

I'll spread the word
on you.

You'll never get
another job

in any saloon
in Stockton!

You can bet on that.

Not in Stockton,
or any place else.

[Toby chuckles]

You're gettin'
awful uppity.

What happened?

Find somebody to take
old Charlie's place
already?

[laughs]

Hello, Heath.

You may be right
about this hearse

being the smoothest
ride in town,

but it sure don't
inspire confidence.

Now, if somebody
would just flatten out
the Yuba Trail, huh?

Sure hope you know
how everybody in town

feels about
what you're doing.

The valley's been good
to the Barkleys.

We're sort of
paid in advance.

You're doin' a good job
here, you know?

I just wish
I didn't feel

like I was
building a coffin
for good friends.

I'm sure there's
a better way you
could've put that, Jed.

Well, now, like I told you--

I'm gonna make you
the best rig

ever to roll
out of Stockton.

Now, you just go
take it easy.

Find yourself a girl
and have some fun.

There must be
one left in town.

If it'll make you
feel any better,
I might just do that.

Mr. Barkley?

I want to apologize.

There's no need.
It was my fault.

I guess
I handled it badly.

No, I was wrong.

Maybe we both
made a mistake, Miss...

Wells. Bridget Wells.

Well, why don't you
just forget about it?

Mr. Barkley,

would you mind walking me
to the mission?

Well, those men won't
bother you again.

Oh, I wasn't
thinking of them.

I'd like to talk to you.

I'm sure there's
something else you'd
rather be doing,

but it's--
it's important to me.

All right, come on.

Have you been
to the mission before?

No, but I've been by it
a couple of times.

I guess that's
the trouble.

Most people
just go by it.

I, uh...

heard that you were
taking the nitro.

That's right.

You could be k*lled.

Well, I've
thought about that
a time or two.

Is that what you wanted
to talk to me about?

Well...yes, partly.

Uh, won't you come in
for a cup of tea?

Look, I-- I promise
not to preach.

What would I talk
to you about, anyway?

Courage? Duty?
Conviction?

You already practice
what I preach.

Please?

I'll put the water on.

My family.

The Wells have been
missionaries
for 150 years.

Do they live
in Stockton?

They're dead.

They went down
into Mexico,

into Yaqui country.

The Yaquis m*rder*d them.

I'm sorry.

They knew what
they were doing.

They knew
it was dangerous.

Even the Mexican army
wouldn't go into
Yaqui country.

Why are you taking
the nitroglycerin?

Well, I guess because
there's no on else to go.

I wish I had
your courage.

Talk fast enough,
I might let you take my place.

How do you
really feel...

about tomorrow?

The less thinkin' I do,
the better.

But you must have
some kind of fear.

How did you
overcome it?

Maybe I've just been
scared so many times,

it's a habit
to ignore it.

Why did I have
to be born

with the devil of fear
inside of me?

I told you my family
were dead.

Aren't you wondering why
I didn't go with them?

I didn't have
the courage.

I pretended
to be sick

and stayed here...

while my family
were offering presents
and love to the Yaquis.

So hopeful, I'm sure...

while they were m*rder*d
in their sleep.

I've no right to be here.

I've no right to be alive.

[crying]

What would you have proved
if you had been k*lled?

That at least I'd
have had the courage

of my convictions.

I've always been afraid
to try anything.

Please...

give me some of
your courage.

What did that prove?

Well...

my father once told me
about a tribe in Africa,

where the young men
eat the heart of a lion,

and from it,
draw its courage.

Did he say it worked?

The natives thought so.

Sometimes
if you believe things
will work, they will.

I'm afraid it won't work
in this case.

I'm no lion.

[girl crying]

Laure, what is it?

Mary. She's gone.

No, she isn't.
She's upstairs
with the others.

No, Miss Audra.
She ran away.

What is it?

Mary's run away.

When did she go?

Just a little while ago.

A few minutes.

Do you know where?

Back to the orphanage.

She couldn't have gone
very far. Come on.

Well, they are all
safely tucked in now.

Padre,
Mary's going back
to the orphanage.

Oh, no!

We'd better start
looking for her,

but we'll do better
if we separate.

I'll look down the road.

You take the back,
I'll take the corral.

Mary?

Mary? Let's go back
to the house.

I have to go back.
I have to get Susy.

There's no one
back there.

Susy's back there.
I can't let her burn.

Everyone is here.

No, not my sister.

Mary, Audra has told me
about your family.

Your sister is with
your mother and father now.

She is not.
I put her under my bed

so she couldn't
get hurt.

There is no Susy.

Don't say that!
Don't say it!

She'll burn
unless I get her!

How can I make you
understand?

All right, Mary,
tell me about her.

No.

Oh, please. Please.

Please, you tell me
all about her.

Now, what does she
look like?

She has blond hair,
blue eyes,

only one shoe,
but I promised her
another one.

I know you love her
very much...

but isn't it possible
that Susy is a doll--

someone you want to
believe is your sister?

[crying]
No. She is my sister.

She's the only one
I have left.

Oh, no, no.
That's not true.

That's not true.
You have us and the padre,

and we care very much
what happens to you.

Come on, let's go
back to the house.

Please don't make me.

Well, I'm hoping
you'll want to go.

You see, Mary,
the children are afraid.

You've been
through a fire.

They will
listen to you.

Now, let's go back
to the house.

The children are
waiting for you.

She's asleep now.

-I think she's going
to be all right.
-Good.

I do not know how to thank you
for your kindness, señora.

Father, I wish
we could've done more.

Gracias. I'll see
to the others.

Oh, Silas,
hitch up the wagon.

-We're going into town.
-Stockton?

Well, with all
these children,

we're going to need
fresh supplies.

It's dangerous in town,
Mrs. Barkley-- the fire.

Oh, we'll take
our chances.

I am not about to face
a lot of hungry children
at breakfast.

Mrs. Barkley,
please don't go
into town now.

Please don't.

Why not?

I tell you what,
Mrs. Barkley--

I'll go into town
for you.

Silas...

we've been together
for a long time.

Now, what are you
trying to hide from me?

Nothin', Mrs. Barkley.
Nothin'.

Look me in the eye
and tell me that.

I told Mr. Jarrod
this would happen.

-Tell me.
-But I promised.

Silas, you know
I am going into town,

and you know
I hate surprises.

Your sons are going
to blow a firebreak.

Blow a firebreak?!

Mr. Carter and two men

were k*lled yesterday
tryin' it.

The nitro
blew up on 'em.

Nitroglycerin.

I'll be back
as soon as I can,
Audra.

I'm going with you.

What's the matter?

I forgot.

They're not my boys
anymore. They're men.

Men can make mistakes.

And do,
with great frequency.

But...
that's their right.

Can't we even go in
and say good-bye?

No.

Because we'd point out
all the reasons

why they shouldn't
do it, and--

and the more right
we were...

the harder it would be
for them to do.

No.

No.

Whoa, whoa!


be here pretty soon.

Yeah.

-Say, Nick...
-Yeah?

You never did tell us--

how was life among
the aristocracy?

Well, now...

you boys
wouldn't believe

the impression
I left on that girl.

Why, before I left,
she offered me
anything I wanted.

And the Marquis--

why now, he was so impressed,
he was speechless.

You wouldn't care
to fill us in on some
details, would you?

-No.
-Thought so.

Uh-huh.

You know, gentlemen,
as we approach the brink,

the question occurs to me--

was that just a lot of
academic information

you were throwing around
in that saloon?

Or do you really know
what you're talkin' about?

Oh, and that
reminds me--

I hope you did
a good job makin' out
our wills.

That was not the answer
I'd hoped for.

Relax, Jarrod.

Nick knows
as much about nitro
as he does about art.

There's a comforting thought.

I think you boys
ought to save your jokes

for the Yuba Trail.

By then, I think we're
gonna need a few laughs.

[bell ringing]

[steam hisses]

That's the last of it.

Easy, Nick.

[sighs]

Nick, I promise
never to call you

a bull in
a china shop again.

If we get back
in one piece,

you can call me
anything you like.

[clack]

[clatter]

[sighs]

Just up ahead, Jarrod.

That nitro sure changes
a man's thinkin', doesn't it?

That gully right now
looks like the Grand Canyon.

We'll have to
carry it across.

All right.

What's the matter?

NICK:
This one's leakin'.

Which one is it?

Seems to be leakin'
right here.

This one's half full.
This one.

What now?

We get it away from here.

Put it over there.

[sighs]

We better see
where it leaked to.

It's on
the other side.

It seeped down
through the bed here.

Right onto
the brake linkage.

Yeah. It's gonna travel
all along that linkage

until it comes down here
to the brake shoe.

One touch of those brakes,

and we're gonna be blown
to San Francisco.

All right, we'll have
to take them off.

I'll start carryin'
the nitro to the other side.

[clack]

[sighs]

[thud]

NICK:
Give me a hand with this,
will you, Jarrod?

[whistles, clicks tongue]

Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

What caused that?

Who knows?

Like I said,
this stuff's
very unstable.

I think it's just
proved your point.

[clattering]

Whoa.

Well, it looks to me
like the Barkley luck

has finally run out.

It'll be just
a little tricky

carryin' that stuff
down on foot.

Too tricky.
One slip in that
soft dirt,

and it's all over.

So, that leaves us
with one special built
hearse from St. Louis,

with no brakes.

We can rough-lock
the rear wheels.

If it'll hold.

There's just one way
to find out.

-Ready?
-All set.

Don't let 'em get away,
now, you hear?

With these two horses
comin' down on top of me,

I was about to say
the same to you.

All right, let's go.

[clicks tongue]
Giddyap! Hyah!

Giddyap! Hyah!

Giddyap! Hyah!

Giddyap! Hyah!

Giddyap! Hyah! Hyah!

Easy! Easy there!

Whoa! Whoa, now!
Whoa, now!

Easy boy. Easy, fella.

Whoa! Whoa, now!

Whoa! Whoa, now!
Whoa, now! Whoa!

Easy, boy. Easy.

They're achin'
to get to the fire.

Fire horses.

Whoever thought
of fire horses?

-I think you did.
-That's right.

That's as close
as we can get.

We'd best get to
plantin' that nitro.

What's that girl
doin' here?

[horse neighs]

Bridget! What are you
doin' here?

I'm trying to reach
some of the farmers.

They may be trapped
by the fire.

-You've gotta get
out of here.
-But they may need help!

Bridget, you can't
go any farther.

Well, then let me help you.
Look, I have to do something.

All right, come on.

All right, what's goin' on?
Is she out of her mind?

She's gonna stay
with the horses.
I'll explain later.

-Does she know
what we're carting?
-She knows.

-Well now, wait a minute--
-Nick, we haven't got time
to argue.

Let's get started.

All right, if that fire
gets too close,

you take the team
and yourself out of here.

Get it as close
as you can

and set 'em in
a straight line.
We'll work our way back.

Pick the biggest trees.
All right, come on.

We all know where
we planted 'em.

Put a fuse
in each one of 'em.

When you get it all set,
fire off a shot.

When we hear three shots,
set 'em off, all right?

[coughs]

Heath!

You can't lift it.
Go on, get out of here.

Do what I tell you! Run!

Go on, get!

Heath and the girl
aren't here.

The shot came
from over there.

Never mind that!
Get the horse!

Ahh.

I hope you get
your wish, Mrs. Barkley.

I already have.

My sons came home
safely.

Well, Jarrod,
you're good at speeches.
You want to--

Oh. Uh, well...

Mother, I'll make it
short and sweet.

With all our love.

A Charles Russell?!

Oh, it's beautiful!

Thank you.
Thank you all
very much.

A fair-weather
friend of mine

said that we were
bringing culture
to Stockton.

I'm surprised.
No girls for either of you?

No, I've been sadly
disillusioned, I'm afraid.

What about you, Jarrod?

Mine is a sad story also.

I so completely
reformed a lady

that she moved to San Francisco
and opened a dress shop.

You might say I talked my case
right out of court.

[laughter]

♪ [theme]