01x05 - The Les Rand Story

[bunniefuu]

Well, Rand,
are you ready to leave us?

You can't keep me.

No, I can't. The door's open.

But I never see a man
walk through it

that I don't wonder
what he takes with him.

What I'm leaving behind is
more important... seven years.

And now you're going back
to that place you come from,

somewhere out in Nebraska...
Little Fork, isn't it?

And you'll take
your memories with you.

Next thing, you'll be right back
here, or on a gallows somewhere.

I've paid for my freedom.
It's up to me what I do with it.

Get out.

FLINT: We'd pushed across the
Missouri border into the state of Kansas.

My name is Flint McCullough. I scout for
the wagon train headed by Major Adams.

We'd been going through
a heavily wooded area,

so it was good to see
some daylight.

The major and I
were riding out front

when word came
that someone was hurt

way back on the wagon train.

But it wasn't until we got back
to the scene of the accident

that we learned that the man
who was hurt was Chuck Wooster,

the major's cook and driver

and, well,
one of our best friends.

Wooster!

Ohh, my back!

How the devil did this happen?

We were trying to get Larson's
wagon out of this gully.

The axle broke
and pinned him under it.

Somebody go get some blankets.
We have to get him in a wagon.

He's gonna need
more than blankets.

He's managing to breathe.
That's about all.

You got any idea
where there's a doctor?

Yeah, I think I have.

There's a settlement off the trail
down to the south called Little Fork.

I understand
there's a doctor there.

How long would it take you
to get there

and bring him back?

Oh... two-day ride each way.

You got yourself a job, boy.

I'll take it.

Evening.

Howdy. Howdy.

My name's McCullough.

Any one of you
happen to be the doctor?

Nope, none of us is a doctor.

Three.

Can you tell me where
I might find him?

Supposin' you tell us what
you're looking for old Doc Rand for.

I ride scout for a wagon train.
A friend of mine's hurt bad.

I heard there was a doctor
in town, so I came to get him.

How'd you know
there was a doctor here?

The agent at Fort Ready told me.

Well, old Doc Rand's out
taking care of his patients,

and they're spread all over
this territory.

He won't be back for a couple of
days, and no way of finding him.

Do you have some idea
where I might look?

Mister...

there's enough territory
out there

for a man to lose himself
for the next hundred years.

Maybe you could find him,

but none of us here could.

Yeah, maybe a week or longer.

Can't really figure
when he'll get back.

Depends upon his practice.

My advice to you is to get
back to that wagon train.

When the doc comes in
we'll send him out to you.

That's right, young man.

Just be foolish for you to set
around here and wait for the doc.

Hold on, there, Lottie.
Maybe we're all wrong.

Maybe this young man oughta stay
right here and wait for the old doc.

You know how he is, he
could come back any time now.

Son, if you want to be sure,
you better stay right here

and wait for him to come back.

I wasn't leaving
without him. Well, good.

There's a room right there at
the head of the stairs all made up,

door's unlocked.
Just help yourself.

Thanks. I'll bed down my horse.

I'll stable him for ya.

Have you had your supper yet?

No. I could sure use some
food. I'll send some up.

And some fresh water
for you to clean up in.

Thanks. If I can
stay awake that long.

Evie, you're just in time. This
boy is gonna stay over with us.

Fix him some victuals,
will ya? All right.

I'd sure appreciate it, ma'am.

I'll send it up
as soon as it's ready.

Thanks.

You said the head of the stairs?

Yeah.

Ah.

Anybody here?

Anybody here?

Mr. Tarback?

Anyone here?!

Anybody here?

It's pretty quiet
around here, isn't it?

Yeah... couldn't
be any more quiet.

This place hasn't changed much.

You been through here before?

Yeah, I been through. What
about you, when you get here?

I rode in last night.

Was it this quiet then?

No, there were some people here.

When I got up this morning,
everyone was gone.

The Tarbacks,
the Buffums, Tom Olsen,

Doc Rand and a little boy,
huh? Doc's grandson.

I didn't get any names,
and I didn't see a boy.

But they told me
the doc was out of town.

Ah.

You had your breakfast?
Hunk of pork chop.

Well, let's see if we can rustle
up some hot potatoes to go with it.

Won't get any arguments from me.

You know, I just
remembered something.

Old man Tarback once
promised me a drink on the house.

Might as well take him up on it.

Help yourself.

Thanks. On the house.

Yeah. I think I can
enjoy that breakfast now.

No, I know this place
better than you do.

Let me get it.

Say, I noticed you coming out of
Doc Rand's cabin when I rode in.

You got business with him? Yeah.

Friend of mine's hurt.

I was planning to
take the doc away with me.

Ah. Why do you ask?

Just curious.

This is what I call pretty fair
country-style eating.

High on the hog.

Yeah.

You know, it doesn't figure...

I go to bed with eight or
nine people living here,

and when I get up,
everyone's gone.

I'm wondering if you've
got something to do with that.

Well, could be they figured
I was about due to show up.

Got some reason
to be afraid of you?

I don't know. I've
been gone a long time.

Seven years.

The w*r?

Prison. Got out ten
days ago. k*lled a man.

Well, that's nothing new
for this part of the country.

All depends on why and
who you k*ll, doesn't it?

Mm-hmm.

Do they think
you're after them now?

They're not sure.

One thing's sure, though...

They like the idea of you and I
being alone together here.

Why is that?

Well, you told everybody you wanted
to take Doc away with you, didn't you?

Yeah.

So, you want to
take Doc with you,

and Tarback knows that he's
really the one I came here to k*ll.

So maybe you and I get into a
little argument, one of us wins...

sure help them if it was you.

I see.

You plannin' on arguing with me?

That, my friend, is up to you.

That's the girl
who was here last night.

Evie Tarback.

She's got a boy with her.
Is that the doc's grandson?

Whoa... whoa.

Good morning.

Hello, Les.

You're all grown up, Evie.

I was grown up before you left.

This is Mike Rand.

Hi.

Um, Mike,
this is Mr. McCullough.

Howdy, Mike.

Hi.

Hi.

Mike, you go on home,
put the horse away.

I'll be along in a
minute. All right, Eve.

You didn't even speak to him.

Uh, it was kind of bare
when I got up this morning.

Oh, well, we left in a hurry.

Yeah, so I noticed.

Where are the others?

Stacy's farm.

Got word I was coming, huh?

In the night.
Someone rode through.

Any news of Doc Rand?

No. Tom Olsen
went looking for him.

Well, I'll wait.

So will I.

The others didn't
want me to come,

but I had to talk to you.

You still gonna do
what you said?

Why not? Nothing's changed.

You can say that
after seeing your boy?

Wait a minute.

I didn't get your name.

Haven't you told him?

Les Rand. His father's Dr. Rand.

And you're gonna k*ll him?

When I got your letter in prison
telling me Okiah was dead,

I knew it was him
that k*lled her.

You didn't tell me,
but I knew it.

He k*lled her the same
as he k*lled my mother.

The same as he k*lled
everything else in his life.

There's one thing you
ought to know. What's that?

Your father hasn't had a drink
since Mike was born.

Ah! What's that matter now?

What happened to Okiah isn't
his fault. You've gotta believe that.

Don't lie for him!

Don't get yourself
worked up, Rand.

I'm taking the doctor with me.

We've got company.

Who is it?

Your father, Fred Buffum,
Tom Olsen,

women bring up the rear.

Evie! You all right?

What did they think was
gonna happen to you?

I'm all right. So is Mike.

You didn't have to come back
on our account.

TARBACK: You best
come on over here.

We're gonna settle this
thing with Les right now.

Settle what?

What are you trying to pull?

With the three of you, I'd be
a little silly to start something...

or did you figure taking me on
one at a time?

What'll we do?

Well, I wasn't
scared of him before,

and I ain't scared of him now.

Go on! Do something!

Hold up now, Lottie!
We goin' in.

We all right as along as we
three stick together, but watch him.

If he tries anything,
just start a-shootin'.

It's nice of you
to welcome me home.

There's only one face missing.

But Evie tells me the old man
will be along any minute.

Sure be glad to see him.

You know,
I never could figure out

why a man would want to
live his life out

in a miserable stump like this.

I was fifteen years old
when my old man brought me here.

I didn't like this place then,
and I still don't like it.

Nobody asked you to come back.

No. No, they didn't.

But I came back, didn't I?

There. That pays
for four more drinks.

You keep your money.
Nobody's asking you to pay.

I pay for what I receive...
Even your rotten liquor.

No one's asking you to drink it!

No one's asking you
to stay here, either!

I heard what you said
about this place.

Well, everyone here
feels the same way about you.

Why don't you get out?!

I will, Lottie.
I will when I'm ready.

You've been a troublemaker
from the time you got here.

You couldn't live decent
like the rest of us...

Fightin'
and lookin' for trouble.

And then marrying up
with that Indian squaw!

Hold it!

All right!
Don't let me stop you!

I ever hear you call Okiah that
again, I'll k*ll ya!

Thinking of doing something
with that g*n of yours, pathfinder?

Not yet, Mr. Rand.

I came here to get a doctor.

Your personal problems
are not my concern.

Like I told you before,

your personal problems are
none of my concern, either.

As for the man
who needs a doctor,

he'd probably be
a lot better off

if the old man never got to him.

That way he might
live a little longer.

Buzzards...

three mangy buzzards.

Three buzzards...

one, two three,
just sittin' there.

What are you lookin' at?

What are you waiting for?

Think I don't know how
you feel about me, don't ya?

You think I don't know
what you feel about me.

You'd sh**t me in the back
if I gave you the chance.

Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you?!

You think I'm drunk.

Think I can't handle a g*n, huh?

You watch.

Wait. Don't move.

Don't move.

Uh-huh.

My g*n!

Rand!

Can't find my g*n here...

Come on. Get on your feet.

Come on. Come on.

I'm gonna take you home.

I gotta k*ll the buzzards first.

Sure, soon as you rest up.
Come on.

Three buzzards just
sittin' there lookin' at me.

I don't think you better wait
around for that doctor any longer.

Maybe you forgot...
I'm not leaving without him.

Come on, Rand. Come on.

Come on. Get movin'.

Who is it? Evie Tarback.

It's kind of late to be
paying a visit, isn't it?

I know, but I had to find out
what happened to Les tonight.

I share a room with my mother,
and I had to wait till she was asleep.

He got himself drunk.

If I hadn't walked
into the saloon when I did,

I think your father and that
other pair would have k*lled him.

They had him staked out
like a fly in a honeypot.

I think they were just
waiting for him to pass out.

Well, thanks.

I guess I better leave.

Wait a minute.

I answered your question.
Now you tell me something.

Did Les live here in town when
he was married to the Indian girl?

Yes, he brought her
to Little Fork

while he was getting his own
place ready a few miles out of town.

How did he come to
marry an Indian girl?

Well, you wouldn't wonder
if you'd ever seen her.

She was Pawnee,
and only about 18 years old.

She was the most
beautiful thing you ever saw.

He sure was in love with her.

After the sh**ting, when
they took him away from her,

he almost went wild.

I was the one that had to
write to him in prison

to tell him that she died.

They say that he went for
months without speaking.

You've liked Les
a long time, haven't you?

Yes...

I've liked him a long time.

The man that he k*lled,
who was that?

Oh. Uh, Mart Rogers.
My uncle on my mother's side.

He used to live here with us.

I see. How did it happen?

What are you doing here?

Get back to your room!

I think maybe you better leave.

Well, just remember that
I came on my own accord.

I guess I know what happened.

Now, you can stay
the rest tonight,

but come morning
I want you out of this place.

What's the matter?

Am I digging too close to something
you'd rather wasn't found out?

Reach. And don't try
anything funny.

Hey, don't you ever
do that again.

Mighta had my g*n on me.

What are you doing
in my grandpa's house?

Well, to tell you the truth,
I don't know, Mike.

I guess they brought me here
last night.

You were probably asleep
and didn't hear us come in.

Well, maybe.

But you have no business
poking around that dresser.

Those are my ma's things.

Put them back!

All right.

All right,
I'll put 'em back, boy.

There.

You think your grandpa
will be back today?

Hope so. You know him?

Yeah. Yeah, I know him.

Never can tell about Grandpa.

Goes fishing something for days.

Not here, though.

Likes it best
out at Pa's homestead.

Your father's place?

Sure. About ten miles from here.

Grandpa worked on it
after my pa went away.

Is this the place
that's up on a knoll

with a creek running
down below it?

Yeah, that's it.

That's where he likes
to go fishing the best.

How'd you know?

Oh, I've been there.
Your grandfather go there often?

Oh, yeah, all the time.

Fixin' things up
for when my pa comes back.

We're gonna live there.
We're gonna grow wheat.

Mike, where's your father now?

California. But Grandpa said
he'll be coming back any day now.

Sure be glad when he gets here.

Tom Olsen told me once
he was in jail,

but Tom was telling a lie.

I asked Grandpa and Eve,
and they said it was a lie.

Say, you like fishing?

Well, I used to,
but I haven't done much lately.

You wanna try your luck with me?

Lend you my pole.
It's a dandy, isn't it?

Grandpa made it for me. Yeah.

I had one just like that
when I was a kid.

Well, you wanna come?

Some other time.

Hope you stay for dinner.

I'm gonna catch me
a whole mess of catfish.

Okay, boy, you do that.

You had anything to eat?

No.

Well, a man has to eat.
I'll fix you something.

You saw Mike?

Yeah, I saw him.

We had quite a talk. He told
me all about the homestead.

You'll never know the place,
all the improvements are in.

Sod house and a well...

your father has worked
very hard on it.

He's wasted his time.

It's a fine place.
You'll be proud of it.

I don't want to see it.

It's your home. I
haven't got a home.

It's no use, Evie.

I haven't changed my mind
about him.

That was a mighty good
breakfast, Evie. Thank you.

Feeling better now? Yeah.

You know, I can't get
over how you've changed.

You've grown real pretty, too.

Well, I'll never
be really pretty.

Not the way Okiah was.

I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to
bring back unhappy memories.

There's nothing unhappy about
what I remember of Okiah.

We never had
a bad moment together.

It's funny, you know... she couldn't
speak more than a dozen words of English,

but... she could make one look take the
place of every word that was ever spoken.

She could put her hand on mine
and make me feel like

we were the only two people
in the world.

You knew her,
you know how she was.

Yes.

I forgot to thank you for writing me
and letting me know what happened.

I couldn't write back.

I didn't expect you to.

What about you, Evie?
Have you got somebody?

Oh, Tom Olsen wants to marry me.

Olsen, huh.

Do you love him?

No, I don't love him.

But you haven't got
much choice out here.

I want to have children.
Well, children aren't everything.

No, but at least
at part of what I want.

Well, I don't want anything.
I guess my life's behind me.

You've got a son!

A home that's waiting
to be lived in.

You've had love. You...

You've got more than
most people ever get.

I'd sure be willing
to settle for that.

Evie! Evie!

I got stucked.

Oh, he's hurt.

Here, You better
let me handle it.

Now, bite on that.
Bite hard, huh?

Yeah. That wasn't
too bad, was it?

Doesn't hurt anymore.

You're a brave boy,
you never hollered once.

I'm half-Indian, that's why.

Indians never holler,
even if it does hurt bad.

Thattaboy. Now you better
go catch that fish.

Coming out soon, Eve?

Pretty soon.

I noticed your face
when you that saw he was hurt.

You really love the boy,
don't you?

I feel as if he were my own.

Oh, Les, everything's
all over and done with.

Why don't you take him away
someplace? Anywhere.

There could be such a
wonderful thing between you.

Ever since he could
talk, he's talked about

nothing except the day
his father comes back.

And you want to k*ll it all
with bitterness.

He was born in bitterness.

She'd be alive
if it weren't for him.

I'm glad Okiah
can't hear you say that.

She was different.
She knew how to forgive...

and I don't.

Good morning.

You leavin'?

Maybe you thought better
about what we said last night.

Nope, can't say I have.

If the doc shows up today,
then I'm leaving.

If he doesn't,
I'm afraid it's too late.

For all you know,
maybe Doc got scared out.

Maybe he'll never come back.

Maybe.

That's a chance I'll
have to take, isn't it?

TARBACK: Now, go on. You
know I don't sell to no Pawnees. Git!

Didn't you hear me, you
miserable heathen? I said git!

Have money. I don't
want your filthy money.

Now, I said git,
or I'll take a whip to you!

Get out of here,
ya dumb varmints!

TARBACK: Go on, git!

Go on, put the whip to him
anyhow. LES: I wouldn't try that.

I'll sh**t the first one of you
that lays a hand on them.

Seven years...

seven years and none of you
has learned one blasted thing.

Same old maggots
festering inside of you.

Hate the Indian. The only
good Injun is a dead one.

Look at you, you
miserable, ignorant trash!

When I think of
the way you treated Okiah,

I could k*ll every one of ya.

But you're not worth a b*llet.

You weren't good enough
to lick her boots,

let alone be in
the same company with her.

You miserable scum, you.

Hanged if I'll let anybody
talk to me that way.

You sure? Go ahead.

Why don't you do something?
You just gonna take it?

Why is it you folks are so
worked up against the Pawnees?

They massacred my family,
for one thing.

Pa and Ma and two sisters. All but my
brother and me. We was lucky to escape.

Les Rand married
a Pawnee, didn't he?

What about it?

Just seems to me
like a coincidence.

Don't rightly know
what you mean by coincidence.

Les Rand k*lled your brother
Mart, then he married a Pawnee girl.

Couldn't that have
something to do

with the fact that
you people hate the Indians?

No.

Listen, you.

Nobody asked you to come here,
and nobody wants you to stay.

Why don't you get on your horse
and ride out of...

That's Doc Rand, isn't it?

Isn't it?

Now maybe we'll
get this thing settled.

Dr. Rand, wait a minute. Yes?

Did Evie tell you who I am
and what I'm here for?

She told me my boy's in there
waiting to see me.

He told me he was going to
k*ll you. I don't believe that.

Don't make any mistakes, Doctor.

Do yourself a favor... turn around
and ride out of here with me.

I can't do that. Why not?
You're a doctor, aren't you?

You might be able
to save a man's life.

I'm also a human being
with my own problems.

Right now they come first.

Afterwards I'll ride with you.

Hello, Les.

Les?

Have a drink.

I haven't taken a drink
in seven years.

I didn't believe that when Evie
told me, and I don't believe it now.

It's true.

A man stops drinking because
he either gets himself

a case of piety or remorse.
Which one stopped you?

I stopped because I had
a boy to raise... your son.

It's too bad you didn't
start with your own son.

Well, I couldn't undo
what was already done.

All I could do is try
to make up for it.

Oh, make up for it.

Do you think you could ever
make up for what you did to me?

To Ma? To my wife?

One way or another,
you k*lled all three of us.

Little late to start
worrying about the boy.

He's still your boy.
I don't want him.

Okiah would be alive
if not for him. And you!

Mike knows nothing.
Don't take it out on him.

Okiah came to me
because her tribe sent her away

and there was
no other place for her to go.

She had no choice.

She didn't want
her boy raised Indian.

Okiah wasn't ashamed to be an
Indian. It wasn't for that reason.

It was for you and the boy.

How did she die?

How did she die?!

It was something
that just happened.

I did what I could,
but I couldn't save her.

It was all I could do
to save the boy.

I know how you felt about her.

It couldn't be helped, Les.

We did everything we could.

I just want to ask you
one thing. What's that?

When you were
taking care of her,

doing everything in your
power to keep her alive,

how much liquor
did you have in you?

How much?

You were drunk, weren't you?

Weren't you?!

Yeah. Yeah.

Now...

drink it.

Drink it!

I want to remember you
the way you always were...

Falling down in the streets,

sleeping with the rain coming
down on you like a stray dog,

the kids coming home from
school laughing at ya, and me...

"Hey, Les. Les.
Your old man's drunk again."

Doc Rand, the town drunk.

Me and Ma hiding in the house,
too ashamed to come out.

Now, you drink that.
You drink it!

I want to see you drunk one
more time before I k*ll you!

Stop it, Les! You
keep out of this!

I'm warning you, Rand.

You go for your g*n you'll
have to draw against me.

Any time.

You've got to stop
covering up for them.

You've got to
tell him the truth.

What are you talking about?
Tell him what really happened!

I didn't want to...

You better get him out of here.

Give him a hand,
get him out of here.

Who was he trying to k*ll?

You... me...

hardly matters.

They were afraid I'd tell
you what happened to Okiah,

what they did to her.

What did they do to her?

When Okiah's tribe sent her
away and she came to me,

Tarback and the rest said
they would have no Pawnee

in the same settlement
with them.

I said who I took into my
house was no concern of theirs,

and if they didn't like it,
they could stay away from her.

Well, the details
aren't important.

They did everything
they could...

even refused to sell me food
as long as Okiah stayed here.

Evie was our salvation.

She stole food and supplies
from her father to bring us.

We'd never have gotten through
without her help.

Well, Okiah wanted to leave,
and I wouldn't hear of it.

And then one day
I came back from hunting...

and she was gone.

I found her two or three
hours later in a field.

She'd walked all the way.

That's where Mike was born,
in the field.

And that's where she died?
In a field?

Later I found out Tom Olsen had
been at the house and threatened her.

I think he even struck her.

Then when he drove her off...

he left a bottle for me.

A peace offering.

The irony of it is,

that was the first whiskey
I'd seen in three months...

since the day they cut me off.

Whiskey was the one thing
that Evie wouldn't bring me.

I didn't know that about Tom.

Well, I didn't know any of it.
Why didn't you tell me?

So you could have hung
from a rope for k*lling 'em all?

Or maybe been k*lled by them?

There was nothing to be gained.
Wouldn't have brought her back.

I could have k*lled you.

I was never afraid
of that happening.

Let 'em go.

Grandpa! Grandpa! Eve!

Mike! It's all right, Mike.

I thought everybody
had gone off and left me!

No, darling, no. Don't worry.

Where are they all going?

It doesn't matter. I'm here,
and you're here, Grandpa's here.

And him?

Sure, son. Say,
tell me something...

How'd you like to show me that
farm you been talking about, huh?

If Grandpa comes too.

Yeah...

yeah, he'll come.

I'm afraid there's a little
ride I've got to make first.

Any time you're ready,
McCullough. I'm ready now, Doctor.

Well, how about it, doc?

It'll take a little time,
but he's going to be all right.

He sure had us worried
for a while.

Afraid you're gonna have to
eat some of your own cooking?

I'll be outta here in two days.

You'll stay right there till the
doc tells you you can get out.

You stay put and be quiet.

McCullough,
you asked for four days.

What in tarnation kept ya?

You might say
I had some trouble.

That's the trouble these days...

You can't depend on nobody.

Let's get
this wagon train rollin'.

Come on! Break camp! Let's go!

Doctor, thank you.