01x10 - The Mary Halstead Story

[bunniefuu]

Hey! I caught somebody snooping.

What do you want with me?

I ain't done nothin'.

Shut up.

You fellas think you can
just walk right in...

I told you to shut up.

What'd you think you'd do, huh?

Just walk in here and
pick me up for the reward?

I don't know you.

It's the land patent my dad got

for gettin' k*lled in the w*r.

It's mine!

Oh, is that right?

You're hit bad, Kid.

Not so bad I won't see him hang.

Get a rope!

It's the posse. Come on.

It's the posse!
Come on, let's go!

That's not one of 'em.

What do you suppose
happened here?

I don't know.

Any chance he's still alive?

Nah. He's done for.

Then let's get after 'em.

We'll pick him up
on the way back.

Let me down. I'm done.

Just hang on a little
bit longer, Kid.

We'll make it.

Not me. Let me down.
I'm all finished.

Anything you say.

How do you feel, Kid?

Who'd ever thought I'd get it

from a punk stray?

You take your orders from
Trace from now on, you hear me?

Here.

Go out and buy the boys a drink.

Now, get out of here
and save your hide.

Now, look... Go on!

Get out of here!

Mr. Ferguson? Yes, ma'am?

Where is he?

When can I see him?
I beg your pardon?

My son... Earl. You
did find him, didn't you?

Oh, are you Mrs. Halstead?

Yes. I just arrived in
Major Adams' wagon train.

This is a very,
very pleasant surprise.

Won't you sit down? Major?

Where is he? I want to see him.

I'm afraid you're going to
have to be patient a little longer.

But your last letter
was so encouraging.

You said you had
positive information.

All you needed was money
to verify the records.

Yes, that's...
Yes, that's true, but...

things take a little
more time out here.

This isn't like Philadelphia.

This lady's traveled
almost 1,500 miles

on your say-so.

Now, either you know something
about her boy or you don't.

I certainly do.

I've looked into
every possible source.

Well, here. Here's a, uh...

Here it is.

Record of your
former husband's death.

His death?

Yes, I wrote you
the minute I found out.

You must've left before
the letter reached you.

It took a great deal of
time and effort to trace that.

But what about Earl?

He's all right, isn't he?

Yes, I'm sure he is.

He evidently left home several
years before your husband died.

Then it's...

Then it's all a lie.

You haven't found him.

I assure you, Mrs. Halstead,

it's just a matter of time.

I have several promising leads.

Seems to me you've been
doing nothin'

but stringin' this lady along.

Mrs. Halstead!

Are you all right?

Oh, it was...

It was just that
I was so sure this time.

FERGUSON: You seem to think
this was very easy.

It took me four months
to make certain

that man found frozen
in a ditch last winter

was the boy's father.

Frozen?

I'm sorry, Mrs. Halstead,

but in the law, we have to
deal with facts as we find them.

I told you you shouldn't
have come on this trip, ma'am.

Ought to be easy to see this fella
doesn't know anything about your boy.

I think the best thing
for you to do

is to take the next stage
back east.

I can't, Major.

I know he's somewhere out there.

I must find him.

That's up to you, ma'am.

This is an awful big country.

It's askin' a lot
to find somebody

with nothin' more to
go on than a tin-type

of a six-year-old kid.

Well, maybe it is.

But I'll find him.

I've just got to.

He was such a beautiful child.

His hair was so soft and silky.

I couldn't bear to have it cut.

You really should rest
now, Mrs. Halstead.

Oh, there's so little
time, Paula.

So little time.

When you're young, you
always think there's time

to make up for things,
to turn back,

but there never is.

If I could only have
a little time with Earl...

A few days, even...

I'm sure he'd understand.

Whoa!

Charlie, bring some of the
men and come on up here!

MARY: What is it,
Mr. Hawks? Why did we stop?

We found a boy on the
trial, ma'am. He's been shot.

Oh, how awful.

Is he hurt badly?

Pretty bad. I got
some brandy in my wagon.

I thought I'd get it.
It might help.

How old a boy is he?

Oh, 17 or 18, more or less.

Help me down, Paula.

Oh, now, Mrs. Halstead,
you really shouldn't.

I have to see.

Is he dead?

No, his heart's still beatin'.

Hey, look at that.
If that ain't a rope burn,

I've never seen one.

Probably one of them outlaws
that hole up around here.

Somebody must've
caught up with him

and started to do the job
and didn't get it finished.

Oh, we don't know that!

Stay back, and give
him a little bit of air.

Otherwise he will be dead.

I want to see him!

Oh.

It... It could be his hair.

And his mouth.

Mrs. Halstead, this is
just a boy off the plains.

Anybody could have
hair like that.

Earl! Earl!

Look at his hand!
He had a scar on his hand!

Which hand, ma'am?

This hand... his right hand!

Your holdin' his left hand.

Oh.

For an instant, I thought...
I really thought...

I'm sorry, Mrs. Halstead.

Ain't much anybody
can do for him now.

Where's that brandy?

Hurry up, Hawks.

Hey, wait a minute.
That's a rope burn.

I'm not about to waste
my brandy on him.

He's probably
a horse thief or worse.

Oh, I don't believe it.

You can't just let him
lie here and die!

Please, Major, have them
put him in my wagon.

HAWKS: You're askin' for
trouble takin' him into this train.

Never mind. But, Major...

Are you scared of
a half-dead kid?

Come on around here
and pick him up, then.

Help carry him
back to her wagon.

Here, hold this.

Pick him up. Give
him a hand, Charlie.

Oh.

You've been sitting
with that boy all day.

You simply have to rest now.

No, not yet.

You should never have
come on this trip.

You know what Dr. Carson said.

Why, because I have
only a few months left

instead of a year?

Does it matter?

I'd settle for one day
with Earl.

Look, it wasn't my
fault, Trace... any of us.

With that posse behind us...

You left him.

You ran off and left
the Kid to die.

I couldn't help it.
He told me to!

He was done for!

And the last thing he said
was to take orders from you.

What did you do to
the one that k*lled him?

I shot him. Dead?

Well, I guess he might be...

You don't know?

I didn't have any time to...

No-good bunch of
yellowbellies, all of you!

Now, wait a minute.

We don't have to take
that kind of talk.

We're gonna find out
what happened to that stray

that k*lled the Kid.

If he's dead, all right.

If he's not,
we're goin' after him.

Sure, Trace, but we
don't know who he was...

His name or anything.

How do we find him
if he is alive?

The man that k*lled
the Laramie Kid...

He'll be crawlin'
all over the territory.

We'll find him.

And when we do...

we'll hang him to that tree...

just the way the Kid wanted it.

It sure would've
been nice, Major,

if he'd have turned
out to be her son.

Just imagine
comin' all them miles

and lookin' all them
places, and bang...

Finding him just like that.

Yeah. Things don't always
turn out that way, though.

I guess not.

Hey, what'd you do... shave?

Yeah.

You all right? Are you sick?

No.

And using my razor, too.

I know you ain't got
one of your own.

What are you gettin'
all slicked up for?

Well, it sure wouldn't
hurt you none, either,

to try lookin' less
like a scared porcupine,

as long as we're traveling
with a nice widow lady

like Mrs. Halstead.

Oh?

Well... maybe you'd better
start watchin' out

for that nice widow lady.

She gets one look at that
face of yours all naked,

she's liable
to head for the hills.

Evening.

Evening, Mrs. Halstead.

Paula. Good evening, Major.

Would you like some tea?

Oh, no thanks, ma'am.
I never touch that stuff.

Has the boy talked to you yet?

No, not yet, but I'm
sure he'll be all right.

Well, I sure hope so.

I'm sorry he didn't
turn out to be your son.

I know how much
that meant to you.

You couldn't begin
to know how much, Major.

You don't believe I'll
ever find him, do you?

Well, ma'am, 12 years
is an awful long time.

We really haven't got
much to go on, you know.

Mrs. Halstead? Yes?

Where did you come from?

I've driven all day
to catch up with you.

I have wonderful news,
Mrs. Halstead.

I have some new information.

You're sure about it this time?

It's a matter of checking
certain records.

But you do think
there's a chance...

Madam, you mustn't let
yourself become so excited.

What's wrong, ma'am?

I'm all right.

I'll be all right in a minute.

Paula, you look out
for her, will you?

Just take it easy, ma'am.
I'll talk to this fella.

Come here.

All right...

just what have you found out?

I told you... I have a new lead,

new information. It cost me $50.

I don't give a hang what it was.

All I want to know is, what is this
new lead you're tryin' to peddle?

Well, I met a man

who says he saw
the boy in Laramie.

When? About four years ago.

Where is that man now?

I don't know. He left.
He was just passing by.

That's what I figured.

You listen to me, you
little high-binding crook.

If you don't want me
jumpin' down your throat,

you'd better clear out of here.

And quit pestering
Mrs. Halstead.

You haven't heard
the last of me.

I know about that young
stray you're sheltering.

Ten to one he's an outlaw...

Maybe one of the
Laramie Kid's g*ng.

I wasn't gonna say anything.

Now maybe we ought to hear

what the Federal Marshal
might have to say.

You know, you really scare me.

Get out.

Get!

I'm sorry, Mrs. Halstead.

That fella didn't have
anything worth listening to.

You all right now?

Oh, yes, I feel much better.

There was just too much
excitement, I guess.

Will you put the pillows up
a little bit, please?

Thank you.

Ma'am, uh...

I'd hate to think you
wasn't telling me the truth.

I've got a lot of
responsibility...

For all these wagons
and these people.

Well, I just can't risk
taking a sick person along.

I hope you understand that.

Yes, I know, Major.

I'm gonna have to ask you
to think about

taking a stage east

just as soon as we hit
the next relay station.

Good night, ma'am.

Wait a minute, Major.

Yes, ma'am?

I know you think I'm a stubborn,

unreasonable woman.

I never said that.

It's all right, Major.
I understand.

I just hope you can
understand my side of it.

Sit down, please.

Mrs. Halstead, you're
not well. Why don't you...

I'd feel ever so much better

if you'll let me tell you a
few things about myself.

I would've done it before,

but I just didn't
have the courage.

I don't want to pry
into your affairs.

You're not prying. You
have the right to know.

Whatever happened was my fault.

I don't want you think I'm
making excuses for myself.

You see, Major, I was
married too young

to a man I scarcely knew.

Our families arranged the match,

and it wasn't right...

Even after Earl came.

And then I met someone else.

Ma'am, there's no reason
for you tellin' me all this.

Please, let me finish, Major.

As I said, I left
my husband and my son,

and when I returned
to Philadelphia,

I found that I was
a divorced woman...

and that my son
and his father were gone.

Later on, I married again,

and I was reasonably happy,

even though there were
no children.

And the boy... I suppose
you lost all track of him, huh?

Yes, I did.

About a year ago,

my husband died
and I was left alone.

I began thinking about my son...

What I'd done to him,
what I denied him.

I must find him, Major,
to make amends.

I don't want him to hate me.

Now that I've come this far,

I can't turn back.

This search is all
that I live for.

It's... It's all that matters.

Well, ma'am...

you just forget what I said

about the next stage east.

Oh.

Thank you, Major.

Thank you.

Good night, ma'am. Good night.

He'll be 19 in November.

He was born a day
before Thanksgiving.

You know, for a moment,
I was so sure that you...

Being left alone is hard.

You do understand.

Well, havin' folks
your own blood and bone...

I guess that's about the most
important thing in the world.

Everything else gets
blowed off and gone.

Not folks... even when
they're dead and buried.

'Cause you still got
something of 'em inside of you.

Sort of like land, I guess.

Something that's yours
and nobody else's.

I had it,
and I let it blow away.

Now, you'll find your son.
I know you will.

You're very kind, Tommy.

But sometimes I think I
have no right to find him.

Maybe that's my punishment.

No, ma'am.

I don't think there's
any world mean enough

to punish a woman like you.

Oh, there are things you
don't know about me, Tom.

I know you saved my life.

You can get so close
to being dead,

you just don't know
if you're livin'.

I was scared. I was
scared when I first woke up

and saw you.

And just lyin' there
and listening to you...

lookin' up at you,
watchin' you smile.

I got to feelin' all calm
and peaceful inside.

It's odd.

I feel the same way
watching over you,

nursing you,
seeing you come to life.

I haven't felt that way
in a long time.

Wooster, don't you ever
bring any wood in for this fire...

Is that a clean shirt?

A necktie? What's
goin' on with you?

Did you take bath?

I did, and it wouldn't
hurt you none, either.

It seems like you're forgetting

we got women in this train.

I'm liable to forget
more than that

if you don't quit moonin'
around that Halstead wagon.

Why, Major, I was only
tryin' to help.

Major Adams?

I thought I told you to stay
away from this wagon train.

This is U.S. Marshal Crocker.

We're here on official business.

Howdy, Marshal. Howdy.

What can I do for you?

I understand from Ferguson

you picked a stray kid up
off the trail.

That's right.

I'd like to have a look at him.

I don't see any reason
why you shouldn't.

Come on, I'll take you to him.

Mrs. Halstead?

I hate to bother you, ma'am,

but this is Marshal Crocker.
He wants to talk to Tom.

Is there anything wrong?

Mr. Ferguson here is a
little concerned about him...

Has an idea he might be
an outlaw of some kind.

I think Mr. Ferguson's
only concern

would be if he had
a reward on his head.

Tom, an outlaw?

That ain't true.

Those outlaws tried to hang me.

Tell me, son...

How'd you get away from them?

Well, I...

I grabbed the fella's g*n
that was standing next to me,

and I shot the one I
thought was their leader.

Pretty soon I heard someone
yellin' about the posse comin'.

He's making it up. He's
one of them, all right.

That's ridiculous.

You only have to look at him

to see that he's just a boy,

an ordinary, decent boy.

Nothin' ordinary
about this boy, ma'am.

Why, he's done something no other
lawman in the territory could manage.

He's the one that got
the Laramie Kid.

Me?

Well, I shot a fella, but
I didn't think I k*lled him.

But you did.

And you've got $5,000
in reward money comin',

once the identification
is official.

It just don't seem right...

Gettin' paid to k*ll a man.

It does for this one.

Well, Ferguson?
That satisfy you?

No, it doesn't, Major.

Mrs. Halstead, I know my efforts
haven't met with any success yet,

but I spent a lot of
time and money.

I'll pay you.

I'll pay you any
fair price you name.

No, you won't, ma'am.

Now, you get out of here.

And for the last time, I
don't want to see your face

around this wagon train again.

You'd better keep
in touch with me.

I'll send in my report
right away.

Thank you, Marshal.

Good night, ma'am.

I hope we gave you no trouble.

No trouble at all, Marshal.

Thanks for comin', Marshal.

What are you doing?

Gettin' my pack together.

Figured it'd be best if I start
movin' off in the morning.

You can't leave now.
You're not well enough yet.

Heh. It takes a lot
to k*ll off a Nichols.

They said my dad had about


before he fell.

Oh, how awful.

Oh, I guess he didn't mind.

You see, he was a believing man.

When we moved to Kansas, he
fought with John Brown for a while.

Then he just sort of sat around

and waited until
the real w*r started.

Well... where will you go?

Your mother's dead, too.

Yes, ma'am.

Dad wasn't much of
a churchgoing man,

but he always took me out
to her grave on Sundays.

That's about the only time
he mentioned her name.

He'd look down at her grave
and he'd say like...

"Sarah, I'm gonna
take the boy into town

to buy him a new pair of shoes."

Or he'd tell her what
we'd done during the week,

or what was happening
out in the country.

After he died, I just never
went back out there anymore.

Guess I never had
the heart for it.

I guess you'd understand that.

Yes, of course.

Memories hurt terribly.

Sometimes almost
too much to bear.

And yet these last few
days we've had together,

talking and remembering...
I've never been so happy.

Oh, Tom, don't go. Don't leave.

You mean you want me to
stay on the train with you?

Well, why not?

Well, I... I don't know.

It's like Mr. Ferguson
said, I guess...

I'd sort of be taking advantage.

Oh, no, Tom, you wouldn't.

Believe me, you wouldn't.

I need you, Tom.

You've known what it is
to be lonely.

You've lost your people.
I lost my son.

Will you stay, Tom?

Yes, ma'am.

The fact of the matter is,

I'll be downright happy to stay.

Oh, I'm so glad.

I'm so glad.

Hey!

Whoa!

That old boy's carryin'
the mail, whoever he is.

Sure is.

Hyah!

We seen your dust. We
figured it was our only chance.

What's your trouble?

Outlaws attacking us.

There's only three
of our wagons,

and we can't stand up
against it.

What are they after?

We was all in trading goods
out of Omaha.

How far up are you?

About two miles.

How many of them
you figure there are?

A pretty big g*ng...
Maybe 15 or 20.

There's only seven of us.

You wait here.
I'll get some men.

Bill, round up
all the g*ns available.

There's some traders up
ahead that are in trouble.

I want to give
'em a hand. Right.

Get everybody you can!

Outriders and guards... up front!

Hawks!

What's happening?
What's going on?

Pack of outlaws jumped
some traders up ahead!

You're not going!

Yes, ma'am. I figure it's the
least I can do for Major Adams.

You're really not well
enough to go yet.

I'll be all right.

I figured they'd fall
for Kermit's yarn.

I just hope there's something
on that train worth the trouble.

They must have some money.

They ain't headin' west
flat broke.

Look. It's workin' like a charm.

All right, let's ride!

What are you doin' here?

You ought to be back
with Mrs. Halstead.

I figured my place
was here with you, sir.

What's the matter with you?

I'm not sure, but that looks

like one of the
Laramie Kid's bunch.

What? Are you sure?

Hey, wait just a minute!

Hyah!

Hold it! Hold it!

Back to the train,
everybody! Come on!

What went wrong?
Where'd they come from?

Come on, let's ride for it!

You're pretty lucky.

First you got Earl, now me.

I tried to tell the Kid.

Earl?

Was Earl the Kid's name?

Yeah.

Yeah. But he liked
"Laramie" better.

I don't figure they'll
be tryin' it again, Bill.

But you'd better tell everybody
to keep their eyes open.

Ain't no use takin'
chances. Yeah.

It's a lucky thing
Tom spotted that fella.

Yeah.

Tom hasn't come back.
Where is he?

I was just goin' out to
look for him, Mrs. Halstead.

But you don't have to worry
about that boy none.

He's a man.

I was just ridin' out
to get you.

You sure saved the whole
kit and kaboodle, boy.

I k*lled him. You did?

Good work.

You don't understand, sir.

I k*lled him.

Where's Kermit?

I guess they got him.

What went wrong, anyway?

How should I know?
It was all planned right.

Come on!

Kermit!

Where'd they get
you? What happened?

That stray...
The one that shot Laramie...

He's with the wagon train.

So, that's where
that k*ller went.

He won't lose us again.

Patch him up.
Take him back to camp.

The rest of us
have got a job to do.

There's too many of
them for us on that train.

We'll get him.

Sooner or later,
we'll get him alone.

All we gotta do is to keep
our eye on that wagon train.

Howdy, Major.

Hello, Wooster. Howdy, Flint.

Well, Mr. McCullough,
where you been?

Every time I come
back from workin',

it seems to me all
you people are doin'

is just sittin' around
and takin' it easy.

Is that so?

For your information,
Mr. McCullough,

this is as far as we go today.

We're resting.

Incidentally, where the
devil were you yesterday

when we needed you?

Pickin' berries, I suppose.

Yeah... when I wasn't
huntin' buffalo. Ah.

After all, Major, you're
the fighter in this outfit.

I'm just a peaceable scout.

Isn't that right, Wooster?

WOOSTER: Right, Flint.

I'm gonna need some
help with the meat.

You know where to get it,
saddle tr*mp.

Right.

Howdy, ma'am.

How about a cup of
coffee, Mrs. Halstead?

No, thank you. Where's Tom?

He's been gone all morning.

He wanted to take a turn
with the outriders, ma'am.

He ought to be back
pretty quick.

Oh, there he comes now.

I was so worried about you.

You shouldn't have
gone off like that

after what happened.

Well, I've been thinkin', ma'am.

I figure it's best
if I be moseying on.

You mean... you want
to leave? But I thought...

Believe me, ma'am,
it's best this way.

What's happened, Tom?

Did I say something?
Did I hurt your feelings?

Like I said, ma'am,
I've been thinkin'.

Then what is it?

What's got into you, Tom?

Something's bothering you.

Can you tell me what it is?

Well, let me ask you something.

If you had to tell
somebody something,

and you knowed it was gonna
cut the heart right out of them...

Even if you owed that person
more than you could ever count up...

Would you tell 'em?

I mean, would you
tell 'em anyway?

What are you trying
to say to me, Tom?

You didn't answer
my question, ma'am.

It's always better
to tell the truth.

What is it?

I found out about your son Earl.

Earl?

What's wrong?

Is he...

Yes, ma'am. He's...

He's dead.

Ohh.

Oh, no.

I'm sorry.

Earl.

My poor little baby.

How did you find out?

A man told me.
I met him off the trail.

I've been askin'
every place we stop.

Well, how did he know?
Maybe it was a mistake.

No, ma'am. There's
no mistake this time.

He knew your son
real well, ma'am.

He said you'd be real proud

of the way he died.

He went into an outlaw
camp single-handed.

He was real brave, but there
was just too many of them.

He was always fearless,

even when he was little.

That time when
he burned his hand

and he didn't cry a bit.

You'd better lie down.

Oh, he's dead.

He's dead.

He's dead.

Hello, Peters. Hello, Ferguson.

What are you doing in town?

I'm lookin' for the Marshal.

Something wrong?

I've got something for him.

Here, take a look.

The darnedest thing.

Jack Ward gave it
to my sister Essie

when he got back to
riding with that posse.

You know, the one that was
lookin' for the Laramie Kid,

found his body.

This belonged
to the Laramie Kid?

Jack took it
right out of his hand.

I don't want Essie
wearing anything

that belonged to some outlaw.

And I don't want
anything to do with it.

That's why I'm turning it
over to the Marshal.

As a matter of fact,
I saw the Marshal,

ride out early this morning.
I'm sure he's not back yet.

I'd be glad to
give it to him for you.

Thanks. I gotta be gettin' back.

Think nothing of it.

What are you doing here?

I came to see Mrs. Halstead.

You were told she doesn't
want nothin' more to do with you.

You won't be sitting
so pretty with her

when she finds out it
was you who shot her son.

How'd you find that out?

Take a look at this.

Where'd you get it?

Came straight off
the Laramie Kid's neck.

Listen, I got a lot of money
comin' from that reward.

That's all you want from
Mrs. Halstead, ain't it?

I'll give it to you...
All of it...

If you just get out of here
and leave her alone.

You haven't collected it yet.

Sometimes that takes years,

and she has ready cash.

Besides, a man has his pride.

I don't want her hurt.
You tell her, and I'll k*ll you.

Mrs. Halstead! Wait a minute!

Wait! Mrs. Halstead!

What is it? What's
goin' on here?

He wants to stop me
from telling you

that he shot your son.

Tom? No.

Don't you believe anything
he says, Mrs. Halstead.

Is that so?
What's that in your hand?

I...

I put that around
Earl's neck when I...

The night I left him.
Where'd you get it?

I found it. It belonged
to the Laramie Kid.

I didn't know he was your
son, ma'am. I didn't know.

Earl an outlaw?

I'm sorry.

I'm awful sorry.

You k*lled him.

I'd cut my arm off before
I'd do anything to harm you.

Can't you understand that?

That story you told me
about the way he died...

That was nothing but lies!

I just told you that to
make it easier on you.

Oh, go away.

Please, I can't look at you.

Maybe you'd better go, son.

For the time being,
anyway. Come on.

All right, boys.

Go on, folks. Move on, please.

What about my reward?

I brought in the proof.
I found your son for you.

I'll reward you by
lettin' you get out of here

before I break your
neck with my own hands!

Now, get!

Let go of me!

I ought to k*ll you for
what you done to her!

Stand hitched, both of you!

FERGUSON: Don't sh**t.
I haven't got a g*n.

Shut up! We don't want you.

I thought it was you. It is him.

I didn't get a good look
at him the other night,

but that's the man
that k*lled Laramie.

I suppose you're gonna k*ll me.

Does it take all of you
to k*ll one man?

He's askin' for it.

Hold it! Not that way.

Have you forgotten?
Trace gave the orders.

We find him, we're to
take him to Eagle Rock.

Trace means to
hang him... personally.

Get a rope and tie his hands.

How are you, Mrs.
Halstead? Feelin' better?

I feel very much
better, thank you.

But I also feel a little
ashamed of myself.

Why? No need for that.

Finding out what you did
about your son,

a body can't blame you
for being a little let down.

That's not what I mean.

You asked me once if I was
well enough to take this journey,

and I said yes.

But it wasn't true.

The doctor warned me
I had only...

three or four months left.

It's really that bad, huh?

I was selfish enough
to lie about it.

Because there was such
little time I had,

I felt I had to come.

I'm really sorry
about that, ma'am.

I put you to so much trouble.

I'd hate to ask
any more of you, but...

But what?

Find Tom. Bring him back.

I was bitterly cruel to him,

sending him away like that.

But I couldn't think.

All I could see
was Earl lying there...

dead.

Oh, it seems it's
the pattern of my life...

Hurting those
who come close to me.

You don't have to worry
about Tom, ma'am.

I had a notion you might
change your mind

once you thought it over
a little.

I've already sent word
out to Flint McCullough

to find him and bring him back,

and if anybody
can do it, Flint will.

Oh, thank you, Major. Thank you.

I think you'd better take
a little more rest now.

I ain't no doctor, ma'am,

but rest is the best cure
I know for most things.

How is she?

She ain't too good.

MAN: Hey, Major! We need
some help back here!

I thought I told you to...

What happened to you?

Outlaws... some of
the Laramie Kid's g*ng.

Look what they did to me.

By golly, he's tellin'
the truth this time.

Why would they want to jump you?

It wasn't me they were
after... it was the boy.

What boy?

That tr*mp you picked up... Tom.

Tom Nichols? Was he with you?

I was tryin' to help him.
That's how I got this.

What about Tom?

Probably dead by now. They
dragged him off with them.

I heard them say they
were gonna hang him

for killin' the Kid.

Wooster, get my horse. Bill
round up some of the boys.

Come on,
get saddled up, you men.

Somebody do something
about my head.

I will... later.

Time for your medicine.

Ohh. Thank you, Paula.

What is all that excitement?

Oh, it's that
Ferguson man again.

Oh, I'm so glad he's back.

Tell him I want to see him.

But, madam, you know
he always upsets you.

Well, I want to talk to him.

Hold it a minute, boys.

Whoa. Whoa.

No sign of the kid, Major.

What's up?

I think we got
some track on him.

I'm glad you're here.
We can sure use you.

All right. We go!

You wanted to see me, ma'am?

Yes, Mr. Ferguson.

I don't think you've been
quite fairly treated.

You've gotten a lot
of trouble on my behalf,

and I'd like to square
our accounts.

That's considerate of you.

Some people don't seem
to realize

how difficult my job is.

It's downright dangerous
sometimes.

First, this Tom Nichols
threatened to k*ll me,

and then when I tried
to help him,

the Kid's g*ng jumped us
and almost did k*ll me.

It'll serve him right.

It'll be your son's friends
that'll finish him.

Poor Tom. What did
they do to him?

I told you... I was with him
when they jumped us,

they took him off and said
they were gonna hang him.

Then perhaps he's still alive.

No, I doubt it.

Following tracks, the Major
couldn't reach the hideout in time.

What do you mean?

I think you know
where they took him.

Why didn't you tell Major Adams?

Well, if that g*ng found out

that I knew where
their hideout is,

my life wouldn't be
worth a plugged nickel.

And for that reason,
you let them hang that boy?

Mr. Ferguson...
you'd better take me there.

What good would that do?

What could you accomplish
that Major Adams couldn't?

I'm Earl's mother.

They'll listen to me.

You'd better take me to them.

I'll pay you.

I'll pay you anything.

I've got the money.

I'll right. I'll get
the buckboard.

Who's he? Why'd you
bring him here?

This is somebody you've
been lookin' to meet.

You told us to get you
the one that k*lled Laramie.

Get down.

Are you the kid
that k*lled Earl?

Get on your feet.

He's out cold.

See that, ma'am?

That's Eagle Rock.

That's where they said
they were taking him.

As far as I'm concerned,
this is the end of the line.

I'm not going any further.

But I paid you.

Not enough to risk having
them get their hands on me

a second time.

Here's where
they jumped Ferguson.

The tracks lead that way.

Well, Mr. McCullough,
this will give us a chance

to find out just what
kind of a tracker you are.

All right, let's go.

Hyah! Hyah!

Bring him here!

I'm gonna hang you slow,

and I'm gonna leave you
dangling there...

A marker for Earl.

MARY: Wait! Who's that?

Wait! Who are you?

I'm Earl's mother.

That could be.

You look like Earl.

You alone? Yes, I am.

You're just in time to
watch me hang the fella

that k*lled your son.

Mrs. Halstead,
what are you doing?

You shouldn't be here.

Please let him go.

I'm begging you in Earl's name.

Let him go? I'm just
finishing what Earl started.

Oh, Tom is all I have left.

Don't take him away
from me, too.

I'm sorry, lady.

I gotta go by what
I know Earl wanted.

Earl was my son!

He wouldn't have refused me.

MAN: Don't give me that stuff.

If he was here right now,

he'd laugh right in your face.

You never meant anything to him!

He never even mentioned
he had a mother.

That isn't true.
I don't believe it.

Are you callin' me a liar?

Mrs. Halstead...

it's no use.
Don't argue with him.

I gotta think.

I gotta know what
Earl would've wanted.

What makes you think
he would've listened to you?

The only time he ever
mentioned you to me,

he said you run out on him.

Maybe I didn't deserve
it, but he did love me.

Look, did you ever see this?

That was Earl's.

Yes, it's the last thing
I ever gave him.

Would he have carried it
with him all these years?

Would he have worn my picture

if he didn't love me?

I thought an awful lot
of your son.

I wish he could
tell me now what to do.

Hit your saddles!

There's a big bunch of riders
bearing down on us!

This was nothing but a stall!

We ought to k*ll
the both of 'em.

I give the orders here!

But not this time, you don't.

She was the one who
brought 'em down on us.

All right, take the boy.

Ohh.

Oh, Tom, are you all right?

Yes, ma'am.

I still don't know
how you did it.

Well, if you pray for
something hard enough,

it's bound to come true.

Uhh.

Mrs. Halstead!

Over there!

Major Adams?

Go on after 'em! Hyah! Hyah!

Do something of her,
Major. Help her!

I'm afraid there isn't much
anybody can do now, son.

Oh, don't cry, Tom.

Don't cry.

Thank you, Major.

I found all I was looking for.

Mrs. Halstead?

Mrs. Halstead?

It ain't fair, Major.

Sometimes things
even themselves out, son.

Maybe it's like she said...

She found what
she was lookin' for,

and that made her happy.

Nobody can ask for
any more than that.

Here, Tom.

Do you think she'd want
me to have this, Major?

I know she would.

You take it.

Wear it.