01x04 - Young Marauders

[bunniefuu]

Hey, get out of the way!

Watch out.!
Watch out.!

Get out of there!

- I'm not gonna faint or anything, I don't think.
- I wouldn't blame you if you did.

All I wanted, really, was to get
a closer look at that black stallion.

Oh, he was beautiful.

I, uh, didn't mean to get that close.

I did. I was trying
to catch him.

Oh, I'm sorry.

No hurry. Tomorrow's another day.
I'll get him.

- For yourself?
- For sale after I break him.

- Is that your work?
- Right now it is.

Hey, Lloyd!

We better get
after them horses.

You should get out of those wet clothes
as soon as you can.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Thank you.

Whoo-wee!

I reckon I'd risk my own neck
for a gal as fetchin' as that one.

You got a one-track mind, Turk.

Maybe. But if I'm gonna be
tramped on by horses...

there better be some more pay
in it than just a thank you.

We're new in this valley.
We can use a good reputation.

You mean that's the reason you saved
that gal, for a good reputation?

It's getting late. Let's forget the horses
and get back to the others.

We'll hit that farm
as soon as it's dark.

Sorry I'm later, Mother.

Audra, your hair, it's all wet.
Where have you been?

Riding.

- Through the swamp?
- Alongside the stream on Mokelumne.

Well, surely you didn't fall in?

As it happens, I was-
well, pushed in, by a young man.

Who?

I guess it was probably the most
thrilling experience of my whole life.

It, uh, wasn't Amos Carver's son,
Tad, was it?

It sounds like
the kind of trick he'd pull.

I don't think
it's anyone you know, Nick.

Oh? Well, try me. There's not many people
in this valley I don't know, you know.

Now, uh, let's see.

Was it, uh, Chet Beamish?

He didn't dunk me.
He saved my life.

- Saved your life?
- From a herd of wild horses.

Well, why in blazes didn't you say so?

Because you didn't
give me a chance!

As usual, you were all more interested
in finding out whether your little sister-

who happens to be well able
to take care of herself-

was pushed into the water
by the right kind of man.

Your kind,
not necessarily mine.

All right, all right.
Audra, we're very sorry.

Uh, but who was he?

Whoever he was, I'm very grateful to him.
I'd like to meet him and tell him so.

I forgot to ask his name.

Lloyd, I think.
But I'd know him in a minute.

I mean, you just can't
forget what he looks like.

I don't know, just-
There's something so different about him.

How'd he happen to be
up there on Mokelumne?

He catches wild horses,
sells them when they're broken.

You seem to know
quite a lot about him.

I'd like to know more.

How much more can a man take?

I was workin'on my books when it come
through the window like a thunderbolt.

When I got out there,
they was gone.

Has this happened
to anyone else, Harry?

Two, three of my friends-

Graff, Bauer, Jamie Drumm.

- I don't know of anyone else.
- How did they answer?

Like the note said, I guess.

What choice have we got, Nick?

You either pay or you see
your lifetime of sweat go up in smoke.

And that's still your choice?

I don't know, Victoria.
I... paid them all I've got.

When you hear that
pack of hounds comin'...

your blood turns to water.

And you pray for God's wrath
to strike 'em dead.

I'd say you better
start sh**ting first, pray later.

They'd wipe me out.

And Margaret and the kids.

Well, this won't solve any problems,
but it might settle that stomach of yours.

You're all saying the same as Nick?
sh**t it out with 'em?

It may not come to that
if they know you have help-

my boys, some of our hands,
the sheriff.

Jamie Drumm went to
the sheriff last week.

They got wind of it.
Burned his barley field and fouled his well.

The sheriff ain't even
a notion who they could be.

Nor you?

- All I ever seen was notes like this.
- Not even a guess?

You're welcome to this
if you feel you have to pay.

They'd burn me out if I didn't.

Oh, I know they did damage,
enough to frighten you.

But I believe men like that back away
when they see you're determined not to yield.

Now you were free the first time,
but once you pay-

Well, here's the money.

I don't believe I'll be
needin' that, Victoria.

Harry, first thing tomorrow...

we'll find that pack and drive
'em right into the river.

I'll be waitin' for you.

I guess all I ever really needed was
to open up to folks who don't scare.

Thank you.
Good night.

You been visitin', mister? How'd they
treat you, those folks at the big house?

Were they understandin'?
How much they give you?

Nothin'.
You get no more from me.

Is that what those Barkleys
told you to say?

Maybe you forgot to tell them
how we've been protectin' you.

By suckin' the life out of me...

like you done to the others.

You pay only for protection.

You're not being very sensible
accusing us of anything else.

I'll accuse you, all right.

You're all a bunch
of thievin' hoodlums! Scum!

I'm gonna prove it.

I- I know you.

I've seen you in town.

Tomorrow morning, I'm gonna go-

Harry! Harry!

Oh, dear God in heaven, no!

Oh, Harry!
Oh, Harry, no! No!

You look tired, Lloyd.
Have some coffee.

Reckon you need somethin'
stronger tonight than coffee, Lloyd.

You nervous, Turk?
'Cause I'm not.

Wasn't what you planned,
killin' that farmer, was it?

Anyone else worrying
about what happened tonight?

Ain't worried, Lloyd. But they're
gonna be looking for his k*ller.

They won't look here
unless we give 'em cause.

We're following our respectable trade
as mustangers for a couple of days.

We'll be busy breaking 'em
for shipment to the cavalry after that.

What about them other farmers, Lloyd?
You gonna forget about them?

I'm forgetting nothing, Turk.

And I'm gonna make sure they don't forget
us or talk back like Coleman did this evening.

Those words were put
in his mouth by the Barkleys.

Just as soon as we're ready,
we're going after them.

Might be shootin'
a little high, Lloyd.

They own half this valley.

And if we get them,
we'll own the other half.

Farmers around here
don't think for themselves.

They turn to the Barkleys
the way Coleman did.

There's nothing can stop us
once we get the Barkleys.

Big plan like that just
what I've been waitin' to hear, Lloyd.

We're startin' out early after those ponies.
Let's get some sleep.

Lloyd. The boys are
all with you, Lloyd.

They'd better be.
They know where they'd be without me.

Where we goin'
when we leave here, Lloyd?

Don't tell me you're homesick.

- Ain't you?
- For what?

There's nothing left in the South
for any of us, Francie.

Don't you ever think about it?

Your home?
Your family?

I only think about tomorrow,
not yesterday.

I'll find what
I'm looking for right here.

It'll be big. It's gotta be big
or I might as well be dead.

Leaving our dead in the hands
of the all-loving Father...

we pray for his strength to endure
and his guidance on the way.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord lift up his countenance
upon you and bring you peace.

Amen.

- Margaret.
- Don't touch me.

You just leave us alone.

You Barkleys are to blame
that he's dead.

He come to you for help.

Instead, you told him
to stand up to them.

Like a fool,
he listened to you.

All-All the help
he got from you was a b*llet.

And you k*lled him just as sure
as if you'd shot him down yourselves.

Come, children.

Let's go home.

She had no right to say that.

All we did is tell him how we felt about it.
And besides, you offered him the money.

Would that change the fact that
we influenced him not to accept it?

- I don't think we can blame ourselves.
- What else could we have done?

I don't know.
But what we did was too easy.

We weren't in Harry's shoes. We didn't have
to face what he faced or live with his fear.

I thought I understood
how he felt.

I didn't.

All right, if we went too far, then there's
only one thing to do now. Go further.

Now I don't know how much
Harry knew about that g*ng...

but it's certain the others
he mentioned must know a little.

If they'll talk after this.

- They've got to talk.
- Asking men to risk their lives...

and without any more law
to protect them than Harry had?

No. No, I don't think you can
expect that of them, Nick.

I do, because I expect it of myself.

And I'd say the same thing
to Harry right now if he were alive.

They might talk if every farmer in the valley
agreed to stand with them.

But that would take time.

And there's bound to be holdouts
to frightened to join in.

- No. No, I think one man might be enough.
- One man? How?

If he had the courage to refuse to pay
and knew that we were with him...

he might act as a decoy
and bring 'em out in the open.

Sweet as honeysuckle, Graff.
What are you getting for Tokays now?

Price don't change much-


Less what you pay those jackals
for letting them ripen, huh?

Graff, how long are you gonna stand still
and let that g*ng of K*llers squeeze you dry?

And they will, you know,
just like that.

- Nick, I got a little place. I work hard.
- Graff...

we could trap that g*ng...

if someone were willing to go along
as a decoy, and you wouldn't be alone.

We'd be there waiting for 'em
when they came.

It ain't that I'm scared, Nick.
But I got to think of Lottie.

I don't want to have her left a widow
like Margaret Coleman.

You can't say for sure she won't.

No, I can't.
I wish I could.

You're askin' too much of me.

'Twould be willin' enough I'd be to do it
if I was a single man, but none of us is that.

'Tis a big valley, this.

And there's nights with
not a body for miles around.

There won't be any more nights like that,
Jamie. We'll have all the g*ns we need.

Aye. But they're shrewd. Never a sight
of'em do you see when you expect to.

Jamie, have you ever seen
any of them face-to-face?

Never.

Just the masked and hooded men
coming at night asking pay to protect me.

A man must be prepared to die if he's to be
the decoy, and I'm not brave enough for it.

We'd do it in your place
if we could, Jamie.

Aye. But they would na
go after a Barkley.

In their evil way,
because their dirty hands are in my pocket...

they let me live.

I'm just mortified, sir, but my dance
program's filled to the very last waltz.

Some other time?

Whoo!

Oh, declare.

I'm just about the most sought after belle
at the Governor's Ball.

Buy it for me, Lloyd, honey.

How much?

Well, that one's kinda high- $14.

Ain't too high for someone you love.

Put it on the bill.

Looks like you recovered.

Oh. Yes. No ill effects at all.
And you?

I never felt better.

I was going to look for you.

My mother would like
very much to thank you.

Well, I-I'm not much
of a hand at being thanked.

Well, I think
she'd understand that.

Reckon she would,
if she's at all like you.

Order's all ready for you, Miss Audra.
You got the buggy outside?

No. Just my horse.

Might be a little too much
for just the one horse.

But not for two.
Where do you live?

Oh, it's not for me.
It's for the Colemans.

That's the man that was
shot the other night.

I'm just taking a few things
over for his family.

That's, uh,
very thoughtful of you.

Oh, I- I guess we forgot to introduce
each other. I'm Lloyd Garner.

I'm Audra Barkley.

Mmm-mmm!

I'll see if she's at home.

Hello, Mrs. Coleman. I- I brought
some things I thought you might need.

Your family's conscience botherin' 'em,
Audra? Gifts won't heal it.

You just take what you brought
and get off this place.

And don't any of you Barkleys
ever come back here again.

Don't take it too hard, Audra.
She didn't mean it.

She does.
And she has every right.

My family told her husband to stand up
to those men who shot him!

She'll feel different
about it tomorrow.

Will she?

She just needs a little time,
that's all.

I'd still like you
to meet my mother.

- Would you have supper with us?
- All right.

- Tomorrow night?
- It'd be a pleasure.

Do you know where we live?

It's the first thing you learn
when you come into this valley.

- Yes?
- Miss Audra?

Won't you come in, please?

Lloyd.

Dinner's going to be late.
I- I hope you don't mind.

The family's busy with a visitor.

- Whiskey? Brandy?
- No. I don't drink much. Thank you.

- Cider. How's that?
- Just fine.

Why don't you sit over here?

It was my father's favorite chair.

Mmm.

Who are you, Lloyd?

What are you doing here?

Oh, I know you catch wild horses,
but where's your family?

- You really do want to know about me?
- Everything.

Well, for one thing,
I have no family...

nor a home
since I was 10.

What kin I did have died
or was k*lled...

when the South
was overrun...

and the Union Army
marched to the sea.

- I'm sorry.
- That was a long time ago.

How did you live?

Same way as the soldiers-
off the country, foraging...

sleeping in fields
and caves.

Running.

Always running.
Just anywhere.

To get away, to hide.

There was a few of us
stuck together.

Safety in numbers,
we thought.

We kept moving.

Always moving westward.

Have you stopped running?

Perhaps. Guess I could settle
in a place like this.

It reminds me of home.

Where do you live now?

We have a camp, out that way,
beside the Calaveras.

It's good grazing for the horses,
till they're ready for sale.

I'm glad you changed your mind, Jamie.
You're a very brave man.

It's not so brave I am as practical,
but I must keep my self-respect.

You won't be alone, Jamie.
We promise you that.

- Thank you. I've kept you from your supper.
- Won't you join us?

Thank you. But I'll eat at my own hearth
and enjoy it for the first time in many a day.

- Good night.
- Good night, Jamie.

We're late.
Do forgive us.

Audra's made the time fly,
Mrs. Barkley.

- This is Lloyd Garner, Mother.
- I'm glad to meet you.

And you must know how very grateful
I am to you. Audra told me-

- Don't embarrass him, Mother.
- Well, a mother's gratitude. Thank you.

- This is my brotherJarrod, Lloyd.
- How do you do?

- And Nick and Heath.
- Hello.

- Howdy.
- Hello.

- I hear you have a way with horses.
- I think so.

- May I offer you a drink?
- No, thank you.

- Well, now, Mr. Garner, where are you from?
- Georgia.

Georgia? Well, you're
a long way from home.

Well, home has been most any part of the
country with me for quite some time now.

- Tennessee, Kansas, New Mexico.
- New Mexico?

- Have you ever been to Santa Fe?
- Yes.

I have a very good friend there.
His name is Miguel Escobar. Raises cattle.

You don't by some chance
know him?

Please stop interrogating him, Jarrod.

Well, I certainly hope it didn't
seem like an interrogation to you.

- Not at all.
- Come on. You must be starved.

- Like it?
- Not now, Francie.

That all you can say? I bet it isn't
what you tell that Barkley gal.

That's enough, Francie.

- Hey, Lloyd.
- What do you want?

We're riding out to the flats tomorrow
to pick up the money from that farmer.

- You goin'with us?
- You can forget it. I saw him.

He was at the Barkleys.
And they're setting a trap.

We go up there, every farmer, every deputy
in the valley will be waiting for us.

Does that include the Barkleys?

They won't stay away
from a chance like that.

Well, then, maybe this is our chance
to hit 'em, while they're gone.

You was after information up there, Lloyd.
Looks like you got it.

"Nothing can stop us once we got
the Barkleys. " Ain't that what you said?

No. No, it's too soon.

Well, maybe we can do it ourselves,
if it's that Barkley gal that's bothering you.

She's got nothin' to do with it.

The only thing that girl
means to me is information.

The more she talks about her place,
about her brothers...

the easier it is for me to know
exactly how to handle them.

And I say we wait.

- Where did you find him?
- About a mile from where you saw him.

- We had quite a chase.
- Oh, he's beautiful.

- That's why I caught him for you.
- For me?

I've had a saddle on him, but he'll need
careful handling for a few more days.

Of course,
he's gonna cost you.

How much?

A couple of hours in town tonight
having supper with me at the hotel.

Tonight?

I don't know. It's-
It's very short notice.

There's a pleasure in
doing things on impulse.

- I love being impulsive, but-
- Are you afraid of me, Audra?

How could I be?
You saved my life.

I-

There's a special reason why
I want you to have supper with me.

- What is it?
- Well, it's kind of a celebration for us.

- For us?
- If it hadn't been for him, we'd never have met.

- Well, good-bye, Jamie.
- All right, Lloyd.

- Well, where'd he come from?
- He's mine. A gift from Lloyd.

Yeah, that's a fine-looking animal.
Saddle broke?

- Close enough for Audra to handle the rest.
- Uh-huh. We'll see.

I'll call for you at 6:00.

You, uh, goin' someplace
with him tonight, are you?

Mm-hmm. To town for supper.

Sure does work fast, don't he?

Didn't have to say that.

No, but it is true.

And you think so too, I suppose?

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

but he sure doesn't stint on the size
of his come-on, now does he?

You're impossible, both of you!

Heath, round up the men.
I'll getJarrod.

Oh, and, uh, make sure
they have supper.

I got a feeling it's gonna be
a very long night.

Is something bothering you, Lloyd?

No. No, nothing.

I thought perhaps I wasn't
as good company as you'd hoped.

Oh, don't ever think that, Audra.

It couldn't have been nicer.

You're wonderful.

Thank you.

You're so beautiful.

Until now, I... never felt
really free of the past.

Knowing you makes me
forget it ever happened.

It's getting late, Lloyd.

- Oh, you're all right.
- Yes, I'm all right. It happened so quickly...

- there was nothing we could do about it.
- Was anyone hurt?

- We lost three horses.
- Four.

- How did it happen?
- We found this on the porch.

They want $2,000
or next time it'll be the house.

But I'll tell you what
they're gonna get- nothing.

They've gone as far
as they're gonna go.

Would you excuse me, Lloyd?
I think I ought to be with my family now.

Sure. May I call on you tomorrow?

All right.

Take that horse over to the vet
first thing in the morning.

In fact, now.
He's pretty badly singed.

- Nick.
- What?

- Could be I'm not making sense, maybe not even worth mentioning.
- What?

- Garner.
- What about him?

When was the last time
we saw him?

This morning, when he-
when he brought that stallion.

Yeah, and the time before that
was when he was here for supper.

What are you getting at, Heath?

Both times he was here
so was Jamie Drumm.

- Now he could have overheard us talking in the hall.
- So was Silas in the hall.

Nick, who else but our own could've known
where we'd be this evening except Garner?

Well, he-he was with Audra.

Well, the rest of his pack of coyotes weren't,
if they are his.

Well, that's mighty little to go on.

It's more than we had till now.

Audra, we saved that stallion
Garner gave you.

I'll tell him when he
comes by tomorrow.

Aren't you moving pretty fast?
Why don't you slow down, little sister.

- You hardly know him.
- But I do.

- Yeah, what's it been, a week?
- That's long enough!

Or am I still too young to see him again
without getting your permission?

Look, we've had a little bit too much
on our minds to be pestered with callers.

Now, we're all overwrought. Audra,
come on. Let's get a good night's sleep.

Nick, what was that all about?

I don't know.
I don't know, Jarrod.

Heath has got some wild idea
that Garner is mixed up in all of this.

You got anything to go on?

- I do, but not enough.
- Let's hear it.

Hey, Lloydy boy.

Whoo.!

Hey, Lloyd. We lit up the countryside
for miles around.

I bet we got every little old sodbuster in
this valley just a shaking in his shoes tonight.

- But not the Barkleys.
- Mm. Yeah. We'll know about that tomorrow.

- I know now!
- Funny thing about you, Lloyd...

being so sure you
could get the Barkleys.

Looks like the only thing
you can be sure of now is you can't.

Well, me and the boys
happen to think different.

Since when have you or anyone else started
to do the thinking for this outfit, Turk?

Ever since you been gettin' the information
while we been takin' the risk.

Well, you just remember this.

I taught you how to stay alive.

Without me, you'd be starving
in some southern swamp...

sniveling about what
those Yankees did to you.

Don't try doing the thinking
again for this outfit, Turk.

Turk, you think them Barkleys
will pay tomorrow?

If they don't,
we'll burn their house.

- Would you tell Miss Audra Lloyd Garner is here?
- Oh, yes. Won't you come in?

This way, please.

Well, hello there, Mr. Garner.

- Mr. Garner, may I get you a drink?
- No, thank you.

- Mm. You're here to see my sister?
- Yes.

And her brothers aren't tactful enough
to get out of the way.

Well, she should be down directly.

Why don't you come on over here
and sit down, Mr. Garner?

Right over there.

Say, by the way,
I imagine you'll be happy to hear...

- we managed to save that fine stallion you gave Audra.
- I'm glad, for her sake.

Must be worth quite a bit of money.

Would have been, I guess,
if I'd put him up for sale.

You know, I don't like to offend you,
but it kind of makes me uncomfortable...

to see a young man giving gifts
he can't really afford.

What makes you think
I can't afford it?

Well, we hear you've got quite
a little family down by the river.

Keeping 'em fed
must cost quite a bit.

We live a pretty frugal life.

We've been living that way for a long
time now, and we're not complaining.

Well, now, that is a rare virtue,
especially for around these parts.

Isn't it?

Mm. Well, I'll go see
what's keeping Audra.

Well, what about it?

He's got the right speech.
It could be him.

And that horse out there
looks like the same sorrel.

All right, Jamie.

- You won't be seeing Audra today, Garner.
- Is something wrong?

Whatever's wrong is not with Audra
or this family, but with the valley.

And it's been wrong ever since you
and your g*ng of mustangers got here.

Is that coincidence, Garner,
or would you happen to know why?

Do the Barkleys always suspect a stranger
when something happens?

Only when there's good reason.

According to this telegram, the same thing that's
been happening to the people in this valley...

happened in Santa Fe this winter.

That's where you were last.
Or is that a coincidence too?

It's not proof of anything else.

Looks like questioning any man
who's friendly with your sister...

is one of your favorite pastimes.

Excuse me.

Tell me something, Garner. Whose money paid
for Audra's supper at the hotel last night?

Was it the money
you got from Mr. Graff?

I'm not answering
any more questions.

Now if you'll get out of my way.

It couldn't have been Harry Coleman's.
He turned you down.

How about Hank Bauer?
I know he's been paying.

You're wasting your time if you think
you can trick an admission out of me.

I don't know those men.

You're a liar. A liar, Garner.
A cold-blooded liar.

You put the squeeze on Coleman
just like you did the rest of'em.

And when he stood up to you, you shot
him down. Isn't that the truth, Garner?

Admit it? Isn't it the truth?
Admit it or I'll beat it out of you!

- Get up! Get up!
- That's enough, Nick.

All right, you're gonna tell me
the name of every farmer...

you put your filthy hands on.

- Nick!
- Now tell me, Garner.

- What are you doing? Let him go! Leave him alone!
- Audra, stay out of this!

You gonna tell me?
I think you better tell the sheriff.

- What are you doing to him?
- Tell her why! Tell her why!

Let her tell you. She knows me
better than you ever will!

- Let him go!
- It's all right. He won't get far.

How could you?

Audra. Audra, he-
he's a cold-blooded k*ller.

He'd k*ll his own father
for a dollar.

He k*lled Coleman.

Audra.

I told ya.
Y'all get packed and saddled up...

then we'll head north
across the line to Klamath.

- We'll meet at the falls.
- That's a far piece, Lloyd. I-

Don't argue.
Just do as you're told.

Then you're givin' up
on the Barkleys, is that it?

And all that talk about ownin'
half the valley after we got 'em...

- wasn't nothin' but talk.
- I misjudged them. They won't pay.

You don't know that for sure.
All we did was burn one barn.

- They'll change their tune after we burn their house.
- I told you we're moving out!

Movin' out is what he says,
but what he means is we're running.

Hold it.! Hold it.!
Someone's comin'.!

What are you doin' here?

I couldn't believe what
they said without asking you.

You shouldn't have come.

You said I know you better than
they ever would. Do I, Lloyd?

Do I?

- Lloyd?
- Sure. You know me better than they do.

Better than anyone.

But it's no use, Audra.
It just won't work.

Well, I think I should
know the reason.

Forget it. Just mount up and go home.
That's all.

- But why, Lloyd? Why-
- I said that's all!

Kind of stupid lettin' her go, Lloyd.
The Barkleys pay now.

"Put the money in a saddlebag and leave it
at Oak Flats before noon tomorrow.

Do not tell the sheriff or anyone else
if you want her back alive. "

- I should've k*lled him.
- It seems we have no choice now.

We have a choice.
The same one Harry Coleman had.

I know now how he felt and how much
courage it took for him not to give in.

- There must be something, something we can do.
- What time is it?



Quick with the answers.
Smart-aleck answers.

sh**ting off my mouth of
what I'd expect from myself...

if anything like this
ever happened to us.

Big, brave, Nick Barkley.
Big-mouthed Nick Barkley!

- Oh, Nick, don't.
- Don't? Don't what?

Don't admit we're human beings?
Because we are, and that's a fact.

We're as human as anyone else.

And when we're pinned
to that wall, we pay!

We have till noon tomorrow
to do that, Nick.

- Jarrod, we can't take the risk of-
- I know the risk, Heath.

Looks like the number two man
in this outfit...

has just been promoted
to number one... permanent.

Got it.

And without no information.

Hundred. See this?
Hundred.

Twenties. Look here.
Got it. Got it. Huh?

You can go now.

Fifty, fifty-

- I didn't say she could leave.
- You don't need her now.

That's right. I don't.

In fact, she'd be kind of a nuisance all around,
her knowing who we are and all.

Let her go, Turk. We can be out of the state
before they even know we're gone.

Get down.

I said get down!

Go on! Go on! Get going!

Drop it!

- Where are the others?
- Answer him.

- Where are they?
- Waiting at camp.