01x23 - The Fallen Hawk

[bunniefuu]

[Whooping Cheering]

Stay with him,
Heath! You've got him!

[ Men 1 Whoa! Whoa!

[Whinnies]

[ Whooping Continues 1

You've got him! Can I
bring anything from town?

Yeah! A nice, soft pillow.

[Whooping]

[Horse Whinnies]

Yes! [ Cheering, Applause]

- I hope the next one's got a broken leg.
- [Man ] Heath!

You make it look real easy.

How are you, old buddy? I was
just riding by. Thought I'd say hello.

Hey, you remember that time we's down in
Tucson, and you took that job busting broncs?

- What do you want, Ward?
- I told you. I was just riding by and I-

[Chuckles] Okay, so I was
not exactly just riding by.

As a matter of fact, I
come to ask a favour of you.

You want to borrow
some more money, Ward?

[ Exhales] You know me
pretty well, don't you, old buddy?

Yeah, Ward, I
know you pretty well.

Well, I need a
hundred bucks, Heath.

I plan to do some fixing up
around that stump ranch of mine-

That's the same excuse you
gave me last month to borrow $50.

[Chuckles]

I've got to learn to keep
my stories straight, don't I?

- Say hello to Nora for me.
- Yeah, well-

Well, Heath, I really do
need that money, old buddy.

[Chattering]

All right.

I'll give you a
chance to earn it.

Earn? How?

Break that bronc.

Are you serious?

Well, if that's it.

That's it.

Okay.

Hold it, Dave! Mr. Whitcomb's
gonna ride this one.

Okay, Heath.

[ Chattering 1

[ Man] Ready? Let -er go!

[Men Whooping]

- [ Groans]
- Ward!

Ward!

Somebody ride for the doctor.

I thought that's what
we hired Dave for, to do

bronc busting. What's
Whitcomb doing out there?

- Oh, Nick, honey, not now.
- [Knocking]

Who's this?

[ Spurs jangling]

- It isn't serious, is it?
- Well, we don't know yet.

Mother, this is
Ward's wife, Nora.

- And this is my brother Nick.
- How do you do? I'm so sorry.

- How did this happen?
- Well, it was my idea.

Well, where is he?

[ Heath 1 Here
comes the doctor now.

Doctor, this is Mrs. Whitcomb.

How do you do, Mrs. Whitcomb?

Ward's going to be
all right, isn't he, Doctor?

Well, it's a little
too early to tell.

- We||, what is it?
- [Doctor] His legs.

They're paralyzed.

Now, it could be a
temporary condition...

a small spinal fracture
impinging on a nerve.

I'm afraid only
time can tell us that.

But there must be
something you can do.

Very little... for the moment.

I've given him something to, uh,
reduce the pain and help him sleep.

He mustn't be moved.
Not for the present, at least.

- Can I see him?
- Of course.

I'll take you up to him.

- I'll drop by tomorrow.
- Thank you, Doc.

[ Spurs jangling]

- Good-bye now.
- Bye.

- Whitcomb ever been on a bronc before?
- Accidents happen.

- You're not answering the question.
- I don't know.

You don't know? You put a man
up on a bronc, and you don't know.

Get your spurs out of me.

Heath!

All right, I... guess I came
down a little too heavy.

- Easy, boy.
- [ Horse Nickers]

- Easy there. Easy boy -
What are you going to do?

Whoa. Whoa. I'm
gonna break that horse.

Go ahead. Break your
back... if you think it will help.

- Silas has some supper for you.
- [ Sighs]

- I'm not hungry.
- Oh, Heath, it was an accident.

Nick was right. I shouldn't
have made him ride.

Why did you?

All of a sudden I got fed up with
him coming around asking for money.

I was gonna make him earn
it. Well, I guess I did, didn't I?

How much money
have you given him?

- Around 300.
- Why?

Because he's an old friend.

Is that the only reason?

When he came to Stockton a couple of months
ago, he picked up the old Palmer place...

and he kept talking how he was
gonna fix it up and settle down.

Oh, I know he
didn't mean it, but-

Look, when you've
grown up with someone...

when you've worked with him,
ridden with him, hunted with him...

you can't help
but feel something.

That you owe him something?

Not that exactly, but
that you got to help him.

You just don't know
how it was with Ward.

He-He never could
make anything work.

Did he really try?

Oh, a couple of times,
but he was always getting

lost in some scheme
for striking it rich.

And he was always talked about how we
were gonna live off the fat of the land...

when he made that big strike.

But he never did.

Suddenly, all of Ward’s dreams
came true. But not for him, for you.

And now you feel guilty
about it. That's the truth, isn't it?

I don't know.

Oh, I think Ward does.

I think he wants you to feel
that you owe him something.

And now I do.

[Laughing]

What are you laughing at?

Oh, I don't know. I
just felt like laughing.

Remember when we used
to laugh about nothing?

We used to laugh all the time.

- We still do.
- Alone.

Oh, come on, honey. Cheer up.

Why, I'm gonna be out of this
bed and on my feet in no time at all.

- I'm sure you will.
- And then you know what we 're gonna do?

What?

We're going to buy you a new
outfit from your head to your toe...

and go to San Francisco
and have ourselves a real time.

- How do you like that?
- Well, I'd-I'd love it.

Of course, I'm gonna have to
mix some business with pleasure.

I know some men I just might
be able to get interested...

in that logging deal up in Montana
Shad Martin was tellin' me about.

You know, if I could bring some-

[Sighs]

Some investors to Shad, why-

Why, he'd just have to cut
me in on that timber deal.

- You know that, don't you?
- Oh, yeah, I-

Yeah, I guess he would.

And then, we-We could buy
us a spread just like this one.

And hire somebody
to run it for us.

[Laughs] Now wouldn't
that be something?

To have a place just like this?

[Sighs]

Ooh, I'm gonna get myself in on
that timber deal of Shad’s someway.

I'm not gonna miss this chance.

Now, I mean that, honey.

Yes, Ward.

I mean that.

Nora?

I saw the doctor driving
away. What did he say?

- I can take Ward home tomorrow.
- Home?

But don't you think he ought to stay here
where he can get the attention he needs?

He can get all the
attention he needs at home.

- And besides, we can't impose any longer.
- You're not imposing.

[Chuckles] All right.

No, I just think he would
feel better if he were at home.

And I know I would-back in
my own place, in my own kitchen.

Well, you know
what a nester I am.

Just don't worry
about us. We'll be fine.

All right.

Uh, he's awake. Would
you like to see him?

[ Nick 1 Morning, Nora.

- [Nora ] Morning.
- Heath.

[ Heath 1 Mornin'.

Heath, uh, I'd like to have
a word with you, if I might.

Tell Ward I'll be
up in a minute.

Boy, the sky's falling down. We've
got about a week's work to do today.

West boundary
fence needs mending.

Got to get a crew of men to work
on that road into Long Meadows...

and we got about four
or five broncs to bust.

And ole McColl says if we don't
get those cows out to pasture pret-

Well, now, boy, you
haven't heard a word I said.

Huh? Oh, sorry,
Nick. I was just-

Aw, look, Heath.

Take my word for it.
Whitcomb's gonna be all right.

Now, I know a lot of men that
were in worse condition than he is.

And today, they're
just as good as ever.

I know some men who aren't.

Whoa. Whoa.

You know, a good fire'd
do wonders for this place.

[Ward] Easy, now.
Nice and gentle.

I've been meaning to do some fixing up
around here, but, well, you know me, Heath.

Never do today what you
can put off till tomorrow.

Well, what's this?

I brought it out here
this morning for you.

- Aw, sit you down here.
- Thanks a lot, old buddy.

-[Groans] - Hey,
let us give it a whirl.

This is all right,
you know that?

I've been wondering how
I was going to get around.

Well, uh, I better get on back.

- Thanks, Nick.
- Oh, no. None of that.

- I'll see you at home, all right?
- Yeah.

- Thanks for everything, Nick.
- Uh, uh-

Nora, why don't you get that
bottle from the cupboard...

so Heath here and
me can have a drink?

- Some other time, Ward.
- Oh, come on! Now, cheer up!

You look like you’d just
come back from buryin' me.

- Ward!
- Well, he does! And so do you.

Oh, look, I know
what you're thinkin'.

Poor ole Ward, tied to a wheelchair for the
rest of his life, and it's all my fault.

Ward, please!

Well, don't kid
yourself, old buddy.

In the first place, it wasn't
your fault. Not all of it anyway.

And in the second place, I'm gonna be
out of this thing before you know about it.

As a matter of fact, I've been
meaning to talk to you about that.

Now, you save that
bronc for me, you hear?

I still want to earn that
hundred bucks. Okay?

Okay. I'll see you tomorrow.

You do that.

[No Audible Dialogue]

Oh, no, Heath. Uh-uh.

It's the hundred dollars I
promised Ward for riding that bronc.

Not for riding it, for breaking
it. That's what Ward told me.

But how're you gonna get by?

Oh, that's our problem,
Ward's and mine, not yours.

Ward! Ward.

[ Ward 1 Leave me alone!

I'll be all right! That goes
for you too, old buddy.

[Breathing Heavily]

I might not have been able
to ride that bronc of yours...

but no little old wheelchair is going
to throw me and get away with it.

[Panting]

I guess I'm going to need
your help after all, old buddy.

You told me to fix that board,
didn't you? Before somebody got hurt.

[Breathing Heavily]

I think I wanna lie down.

No, it's all right, Heath.
I can do it myself.

I'll be out in a minute.

Gonna pay cash?

I could put it on
the ranch account.

This isn't for the ranch.

- You know Mrs. Whitcomb, don't you?
- Sure.

She comes in for anything, you let
her have it. I'll pick up the bill later.

I-I heard what happened out
at the ranch. It's too bad. I, uh-

Yeah.

It's Heath.

- [Nora ] Hello, Heath.
- Hi.

[ Nora 1 What's all this?

I heard Ward say he wanted to make some
repairs. Thought I'd get started on 'em.

- Morning!
- Morning, Ward.

You can't. You've got
your own work at the ranch.

- Now, Nora, don't argue, you hear?
- But-Ward-

Honey, you know Heath.
As stubborn as a mule.

Once he gets his mind set, well,
there's nothing I can do about it.

Leastwise, not in
my present condition.

You want a cup of coffee
before you get to work?

No, thanks.

Can I help you?

Yeah. Keep that end
from slidin' over, will you?

Oh, okay.

Watch your finger now.

Oh, well, I guess I better
go around the back way.

No, here. Let me have that.

Step up here.

- Good morning, Nick.
- Mm-hmm.

Oh, my, aren't we all in a
nice, sunny humor this morning?

- Heath's gone?
- Mm-hmm.

- I don't have to ask where, now, do I?
- I suspect not.

Mm-hmm. How long’s
this gonna be goin' on?

He's been at the Whitcombs
every day this week.

Oh, Nick, be a little patient.

Patient! How patient can I get? There's
a lot of work to be done around here!

- Take it easy, Nick.
- Look who's talkin'!

I think Nick's right. And since
you're so relaxed about it...

why don’t you stay here and help
out instead of going to San Francisco?

- Quiet, child.
- [Bangs On Plate ]

Silas!

[Grunts] What is it you want?

- More ham!
- More ham?

Well, I have to do
the work for two men...

so I figure I better eat the
food for two men, don't you?

- Absolutely.
- Oh.

[Laughs]

[ Hoofbeats ]

- Hello, Nora.
- Hello, Ben.

You look prettier
every time I see you.

- Where's Ward?
- He's still sleepin'.

Rode into town just last night.

Heard what
happened. It's too bad.

You don't have a cup of that
good coffee of yours, do you?

You know, the thing I
remember most when I

stayed with you and Ward
in Hangtown that time...

was your coffee.

Thank you.

- I’ll call Ward.
- Wait a minute, Nora. I wanna talk to you.

Look, the reason I
came to Stockton...

was to see if Ward could pay
me back the money he owed me.

- What money?
- [Chuckles]

I guess he never
told you about it.

He borrowed 50 bucks from me
when you and him left Hangtown.

Ah, of course, I didn't
know about him gettin' hurt...

sol guess I'll just
have to forget about it.

No, you don't have to forget about
it. We've got the money to pay you.

It must be hard for you...
not to have a man around.

I mean, a-a man
to do things for you.

I was thinkin', maybe I'd hang
around and give you a hand.

If you've got a spare room,
well, I'll move right in and-

We oughta be able to work out
somethin' about payin' that money back...

some other way.

Let me go! Let me go!

No! Stop it!

Stop it! Get off!

- Stop! Get off! Let me go!
- Nora?

Nora!

Stop!

- Stop it!
- Nora!

Oh. help! [Grunts]

Nora!

[Grunting]

[Grunting, Screams]

Stop! Oh, help!

No! Don't! Stop it, Heath!

Stop it! Stop it, Heath.

- Stop it, Heath!
- [Grunts]

Stop it!

Get out.

Sony, friend. I didn't know there
was somebody here ahead of me.

Heath!

- [ Bird Twittering]
- What's that?

- What?
- Listen.

- Don't hear a thing.
- Shh.

[ Bird Twittering]

Oh, that. That's
a whiskey 'yack.

- A what?
- A whiskey jack.

They're real pesky
critters. A kind of a jay.

You know, they?! steal side
pork right out of a hot fryin' pan?

Listen. [imitating Bird Cali]

[ Bird Twitters]

How'd you learn to talk to 'em?

Well, I'll have you know I was
champion bird caller of Calaveras County...

before I was 10 years old.

[Chuckles] Really?

I could imitate 20 different kinds
of birds. Modoc Indian taught me.

[Laughs]

That was a nice sound too.

[Sighs] It's good
to laugh again.

[Sighs]

Thank you for taking
me to church, Heath.

Welcome. You know, you've been tied down
pretty close these last couple of weeks.

Being tied down is one thing I've never
had enough of. I told you. I'm a nester.

Most women are.

Heath-

Heath, I-

I don't want you to come around
any more. Ward is using you.

It's only been a
couple of weeks, Nora.

But when does it stop? A
couple months, or a couple years?

Uh-uh. Not if Ward
doesn't want it to.

You know him. You know he
has a way of trapping people.

Did he trap you?

Yeah, I suppose so.

But for nearly five years,
you've stayed with him.

Well, you know
where he found me.

Not yet 17 and already
working in a saloon.

Whatever he's given
me is better than that.

And he loves me, Heath.

He's given me that.

Please stay away.

Not while he's still
in that wheelchair.

Please, Heath, do as I ask you.

Nora, I don't know
where it all ends.

But it's not here. Not now.

[Chattering]

- Give me a beer, Milt.
- Sure thing, Mr. Barkley.

Just because Whitcomb can't
walk don't mean he can't see...

what's goin' on with Barkley
at that ranch every day.

- Why don't he do something about it?
- What can he do?

I know what I'd do if some guy
was foolin' around with my woman.

You'd be strung up before
you knew what happened.

I understand you don't k*ll a Barkley
around here and get away with it.

Not even a half a Barkley.
Even if he steals your wife.

- [ Laughs] - I guess you
boys are talking for my benefit...

so, uh, I won't bother
asking you to take it back.

Get up. You.

- Who me?
- Yeah, you. Up.

Sure.

We're all thinkin' the
same thing, Barkley.

I was wondering what
made the stink so bad.

[Grunts]

Come on. Get out.

Now, if you boys'd like to finish this
outside, I'd gladly accommodate you.

That goes for you too, boy.

- Well?
- I don't think they like the odds.

[ Milt] Okay, get out.

[ Clatters ]

Hey, uh, Milt-

Uh, let's make it
whiskey this time, huh?

Phew.

Good morning, Mr. Pursey.
How nice of you to drop by.

Please, sit down. May I get
you something? Tea? Coffee?

No, thank you.

If you don't mind, I'll come
right to the point of my visit.

Please do.

Mrs. Barkley...

last evening, at a meeting of the
board of deacons of the church...

the subject of Heath
was brought up.

The subject of Heath? Now, what
on earth is the subject of Heath?

The board has voiced
its disapproval of Heath...

escorting Mrs. Whitcomb
to services last Sunday.

Go on.

The deacons feel that...
under the circumstances-

What circumstances?

Well, surely you've
heard the talk.

No, Mr. Pursey, for the purpose of this
conversation, I have not heard the talk.

Suppose you tell me about it.

Mrs. Barkley, you're
making this very difficult.

That's my intention, for I will not
get down and wallow in the mud...

with any self-anointed,
self-righteous bigots!

Mrs. Barkley!

Does Reverend Stacey
know about this visit?

Well, no. And since he is only
a servant of the congregation-

Is that what he is? Well,
now, that surprises me...

as I'm sure it will Reverend
Stacey when I tell him about it.

Because Fm sure he's
under the impression...

that he’s the servant of much
worthier, much higher power.

Good day, Mr. Pursey.

Mrs. Barkley, if I
have offended you-

You have, indeed. And may I suggest
that you quit while you're ahead?

Good day.

Can I help you?

- I might find something for you to do.
- 'Kay.

- Hold the end of this board for me.
- Okay.

[ Hammering I

- [ Ward] You callin' it a day?
- Yeah.

Why don't you
join me in a drink?

Well, come on.

Well, here's to, uh...

nothing.

What does that mean?

Oh, it's just the
last couple of days-

I don't want Nora to
know. Not yet anyway.

- Know what?
- I've stopped kidding myself

I'm never gonna get
out of this wheelchair.

Oh, Ward, don't talk like that.

Oh, I know. I know I
shouldn't feel that way, but-

Well, I've been thinking.

Nora and I can't go
on livin' like this, Heath.

Not depending on
you for everything.

- Don't worry about it.
- You've been great, just-just great.

But, uh-

I want to show you something.

Here. Take a look at this.

Well, come on. I
want you to read it.

A man I know, Shad Martin, and I were
talking about it just before the accident.

Uh, timber?

Uh-huh. Ten million
board feet of it, just

waiting to be cut and
sold to the mines in Butte.

Now, he already has
an option on the timber.

Now all he needs is a little capital to
buy equipment, hire crews to start cutting.

It's all there.
Take it. Read it.

It's solid, Heath. It's
the chance of a lifetime!

How much capital?

Oh, I can get 50% of
the operation dirt cheap.

And you know how much the
Montana mines are paying for timber?

Well, it's all in there.
Shad has all the facts.

How much, Ward?

$5,000.

I don't want to go living on
charity for the rest of my life, Heath.

Ward, I don't have
that kind of money.

- Yeah, but your family does.
- Yes, but I can't-

Look, I'm not blaming
you for what happened.

At leastwise, no more
than you're blaming yourself.

I didn't have to
ride that horse.

But you knew that I wasn't a bronc rider...
and that something could have happened.

Oh, not this bad, no, but-

$5,000 is a lot of money, I
guess. Maybe it's too much.

Maybe it isn't enough.

I don't know what the price
of a pair of legs is. Do you?

I Nick 1 $5,000;

I know how much I'm asking.
And I know I don't have any right-

All right, now you just put a
cork on that kind of talk, huh?

Nick's right. This isn't only your
problem, Heath. It's the whole family's.

I'd like to put a name
on that. Blackmail.

- You don't think we owe him anything?
- No, no. I'm not saying that.

But I am saying
he's using Heath.

Heath, after all, didn't put a g*n to
his head to make him ride that bronc.

Besides, who says Whitcomb
will never walk again?

Not Doc Merar.

On the other hand, he
didn't say he would either.

Heath, as far as I'm concerned,
you can have the money.

Thanks, Jarrod.

Well-

Audra?

Well, I think Nick's
right, that it's blackmail.

But if Heath wants the money-

Mother, what do you say?

Does Nora know about this?

I don't know. I doubt it. But
she'll go along. She has to.

It's either that or go
back to some saloon.

Oh.

Jarrod, would you go to the bank with
Heath in the morning and get the money?

[Sighs] Thank you.

[Exhales]

- You going somewhere?
- For a walk.

You don't want to be here when
Heath comes with the money.

I'm ashamed, Ward.

Ashamed of you for taking the
money... and of myself for letting you.

Uh, why didn't you
try to stop me then?

Could I stop you?

Maybe. If you'd wanted to.

But you don't want to.

Nora, I know what's
been happening.

I know you’re falling
in love with Heath.

What are you talkin' about?

Now, I don't blame
you. In fact, I understand.

No, I don't think so.

Yes, I do.

Oh, you don't-You don't want to
fall in love with Heath, but you are.

And if you stay here, you will.

You know there's
only one way to stop it.

Get away. Never see Heath again.

And that's why you
want the money.

Now, go on for your walk.

You knew what was happening,
and all you did was sit and watch?

Do you think I enjoyed it?

Yeah, I think you did.

[ Birds Tweeting]

w*r-

Ward?

You didn't walk very far.

[ Sighs] Yeah, I was going to
tell you after we got to Montana.

I guess it doesn't matter.

Course, it would be better if
Heath doesn't know about it.

You can't do this, Ward.

Aw, come on, now. Look, Nora!

I've closed my eyes
to a lot of things!

And I told myself that they
didn't matter! But not this time!

You can't do this to Heath.
If you don't tell him, I will.

Now, Nora, we are this close...

just this close, to having
everything I always wanted for us.

But I've already got everything
I ever wanted, right here.

- What? This place?
- Yes! That's what I came back to tell you!

To beg you not to take
the money from Heath.

Ward, we could make something
for ourselves here! We could-

Oh, no. I'm not gonna spend the rest
of my life scratching in dirt for a living.

Now, you don't want the
money, okay. Don't take it.

But I'm going to.

Please.

Look, why don't you go back to
that saloon where I found you?

Maybe you'd
like it better there.

I'm going to Heath,
and I'm gonna tell him.

- No. No, look. Please. I'm
sorry. I didn't... Let me go!

- I didn't mean to... Let me go!

- No! I'm not gonna let you go!
- Let go, Ward!

You're not gonna tell
Heath. You promise me that?

- No!
- You're not goin' to Heath.

- You promise me that?
- Ward, you're choking me.

I can't-I can't breathe.

- You promise me you're not going to Heath?
- [Gasping]

You're not gonna tell
Heath! Not now, not ever!

[Grunting]

[g*nsh*t]

Ward.

- Nora?
- [ Sighs]

Nora.

Nora.

[ Hoofbeats Approaching ]

[ Hoofbeats Approaching ]

[ Knocking ]

Come in!

You bring it?

Yep.

Thanks, old buddy.

Where's Nora?

I think she, uh, said she was
going for a walk or somethin’.

Oh. Well, good luck in Montana.

- Thanks a lot.
- And you'll say good-bye to Nora for me?

Yeah, sure.

- Heath.
- Yeah?

Take off your g*n belt, old buddy.
Toss it down there on the floor.

Do it, Heath.

How long have you been walkin'?

A few days now.

[ g*n Clatters]

Where did you say Nora was?

She's on the sofa.

Wh... She's dead, Heath.

What?

I didn't mean to do
it. It was an accident.

Course, you won't believe that,
and neither will anybody else.

So [guess Fm
gonna have to k*ll you.

I can't help it. I gotta have a
story that the Sheriff'll believe.

I found you and Nora together...

and I just lost my head,
like any husband might.

I'm really sorry, Heath.

- Ward, she's alive.
- [ Scoffs]

No. No, you're not going to
make me fall for a trick like that.

Well, go on. Look for yourself!

[Groaning]

Well, go on. Look.

[Groaning]

[Panting]

[No Audible Dialogue]

One way or another, I
always foul things up, don't I?

Yeah. One way or another.

[Giggles]

You'd think after so many rooms and so
many houses, one more wouldn't matter.

You don't have to go.

Well, there's
nothing here for me.

I tried hard to
believe that there was.

Almost had myself
convinced of it.

You know, Ward accused
me of being in love with you.

I tried to deny
it, but I couldn't...

because I wasn't sure.

But now I know that all I really wanted
was for Ward to be the man that you are.

The truth is, you've
always loved him.

I don't know.

Even after what's
happened, I don't know.

But I do know this.

That Ward didn't trap me.

See, I don't think that
anyone can really trap another.

I think you trap yourself,
and you free yourself.

[Sighs] And I am free now.

'Cause I no longer have to live on
the hope that Ward will ever change.

And if he does?

Well, he's not far.
He's in Denver.

And if he does, I mean if he
really does change, he'll find me.

Shall we go?

[No Audible Dialogue]