04x13 - Top of the Stairs

[bunniefuu]

[sighs]
Two more hours.

What?

It takes exactly
two hours to get
to Abbottsville

from that last turn
we just made.

I remember counting it
the first time we came
to Uncle Jim's.

Well, I wish it were
a little closer.

This is without a doubt
the roughest road in the
entire state of California.

h*!

Whoa.Whoa!

Headed for
Abbottsville,
ain't you?

-That's right.
-Well, you ain't gonna
make it on this road.

Why not?

Mornin', ladies.

The Canyon Creek bridge
is out.

-Out?
-Collapsed sometime
during the night.

Well,
I ain't surprised--

what with them heavy
ore wagons usin' it
the way they do.

Guess we'll just
have to turn around.

Isn't there another road
into Abbottsville?

You can get there
through Tyler's Cut,

but that's 35 miles
out of the way.

-What about it, driver?
-Sorry, miss.

I gotta connect with
the eastbound Mayo train
out of Parkersburg.

You gotta go back
to Lake Junction,

and then through
the valley.

Well, I guess there's
only one thing for us
to do--

go back to Lake Junction,
then rent a buggy.

That's a mighty hard road
through Tyler's Cut, ma'am.

I wouldn't try it
if I was you.

I don't see how it
could be any rougher
than this road.

But thanks
for the warning.

Get up!

Get up, you!

Hahh!
Hyah!

-Didn't work.
-What happened?

The ladies are
gonna hire a livery
at Lake Junction

and go by way
of Tyler's Cut.

They'll be late
gettin' to Abbottsville,

but they'll get there.

♪♪ [theme]

Dad?

Been to the bank.

I know.

Just had to have another talk
with Seth Duncan.

He spent an hour
telling me about his
new grandchildren,

and another half hour

ravin' about a shipment
of caviar he just got
from Russia.

When I got to talking
about the loan,

he suddenly remembered
an appointment he had
with his tailor.

Dad, why do you keep
wasting your time?

Now, you know there
isn't a bank in the country

that's gonna lend money
on silver these days.

And I don't want you
begging Seth Duncan
for help.

We've kept the mine running
so far, haven't we?

Yes, yes, but, uh--

Now, no buts about it.

That mine's operating
and it's gonna keep on
operating.

I promise you that.

Well, I just--

Now, Dad, why don't
you go back to work?
I'll talk to you later.

All right, son.
All right.

Whoa.

Mrs. Barkley.

Mrs. Barkley!

Eric.

-How nice to see you.
-Oh, Eric, how are you?

-Audra, my goodness,
look at you.
-It's been a long time.

-Three years.
-Yes, you were just about

to join some law firm
in San Francisco.

[chuckles]
That's right.

Then Dad talked me into
coming back here

and opening up
an office of my own.

Uh, well, may I invite you
to join me for lunch?

Oh, no, thank you.
I'm sure Jim is waiting
for us in the hotel.

Uh, he's not there,
Mrs. Barkley.

-Are you sure?
-Positive.

Well,
we're hours late.

Well, we'd better get on
to the ranch, then.

Oh, Mrs. Barkley, I--

I don't think
that would be
advisable.

Oh?

It's, uh--

It's, uh,
your brother-in-law.

He's ill.

Ill?

It's his mind.

His mind?

It happened just
a couple of months ago.

Jim and I had been
to Arizona to look over
some of his holdings.

One day, about a week
after we came back, he, uh--

Well, what, Eric?
What?

He tried to k*ll
his foreman.

Mike Newcomb?

Mike was working
in the barn.

Jim came storming in,
babbling something about...

Mike trying to ruin him
by poisoning his cattle.

He went after Mike
with a baling hook.

He had him down
and he would have k*lled him

if some of the hands
hadn't been close by.

Since then,
we've had to keep Jim
confined to his room.

You mean he's kept
locked up?

I'm sorry,
but we had no other choice.

Mrs. Barkley, I know what
a shock this must be to you,

but I'm afraid
your brother-in-law
is hopelessly insane.

I-- I don't understand.

I-- I don't understand why
we weren't told about this.

Well, I suppose I should've.

I kept putting it off,
thinking that maybe
Jim would recover--

or at least show
some signs of improvement.

Then, when I got your letter
to him--

Well, I get all of his
mail now--

saying that you were
stopping here in Abbottsville

on your way to a wedding
in San Francisco,

I decided to wait until
you arrived so I could...

well, break the news
to you in person.

Oh... would, um...

would you drive us
out to the ranch?

Certainly.
If you're sure that's
what you want to do.

I took the liberty
of reserving rooms for you
here at the hotel.

I thought you might prefer
staying here...

under the circumstances.

No, no...

I want to see Jim--
under any circumstances.

All right.
I'll get my rig.

Oh.
Oh, Mrs. Barkley.

It's so good to see you.
And Audra!

My, you look prettier
every day.

Oh, I'm so glad you
decided to stay here
instead of the hotel

like Mr. Abbott
said you might.

-Come in.
-How've you been, Grace?

Oh, Mike and I have
just been fine...

considering.

Where is Jim?

He's up there.

I want to see him.

Well, Dr. Morley's
with him now.

-Dr. Morley?
-Yes.

Oh, he's new
in town.

He's a young man who
knows a lot about
modern medicine.

What happened
to Dr. Pearce?

Doc Pearce?
Oh, he's still around.

He'll go on forever,
I suppose.

But, uh, Doc Pearce
is a little old-fashioned.

I felt Jim should
see somebody

who knows more about
this sort of thing.

Come on, come on
into the living room.

We seldom use this room
since Mr. Jim took sick.

I've always loved
this house.

Oh, it's been home
to Mike and me for
a lot of years now.

I don't really know
what we'll do when it
comes time to leave.

Now, Mrs. Newcomb,
let's not think
about that.

Mr. Barkley needs you
and Mike now more than
he ever has.

The Newcombs have been
very loyal through all this.

Well, I just wish
I could do more.

It's hard just
to stand by and see
a fine man like Mr. Jim...

but I better see
about supper.

You'll stay and have it
with us, Mr. Eric?

Well, that's very kind
of you, Mrs. Newcomb.
Thank you.

-If I'm not intruding.
-Not at all.

Well, then,
I'll just get
things started--

[scream, crashing sounds]

[knocks on door]

I've given him
an injection.
He'll quiet down now.

Dr. Morley,
this is Mrs.
Victoria Barkley

and her daughter
Audra.

How do you do?

I'd like to see him.

I can't permit that,
Mrs. Barkley--

for your own safety.
He's much too upset.

-When can we?
-Well, I'm not sure.

Doctor, they have to
catch the morning stage
to San Francisco.

Wouldn't it be possible
for them to--

Well, you know
as well as I do

how unpredictable
Mr. Barkley's moods are,
Eric.

I'm afraid we'll just
have to wait and see
how he is in the morning.

Well, now,
I must be
getting along.

I'll walk out
with you, Doctor.

Yes, I'll be back
in the morning
before you leave.

Thank you.

Would you like
to freshen up
before supper?

Yes, thank you.

I'll have your bags
brought right up.

[footsteps in room]

Oh, it's like that.

He paces and paces
and paces for hours on end,

up and down,
back and forth, like...

[quietly]
Oh, dear.

Can I give anybody
some more coffee?

-No, thank you.
-Not for me.

Nor me, thank you.
I'll just finish
what I have and run,

if you'll forgive me.

I promised Dad
I'd stop by the
office tonight.

How is your father,
Eric?

Well, these are
pretty rough times
for him, Mrs. Barkley.

Yes, I-- I guess
his silver mine

is the only one
in the state that
hasn't shut down.

They'll never
shut him down.

You know Dad and how
he feels about Abbottsville.

This is his town.
He started it.

He built it.
He's poured his
whole life into it.

Let me tell you
something you might
not know.

My father lost a fortune
in the crash of '66--
and again in '71.

But the mine
and the stamp mill didn't
shut down for one day.

He kept the men working.
And he kept Abbottsville
alive.

I know the story.
Your father is a fine man.

Yes, he is, Mrs. Barkley.
They don't come any finer.

Well... I better be
getting along.

And I'll see if Grace
can use some help.

Audra, take Eric
to the door.

Eric, very nice
seeing you.

Well, I wish it could've been
under happier circumstances.

So do I.

I'm sorry you have
to leave tomorrow.

I am, too.

You were very close
to your uncle,
weren't you?

He used to talk
a lot about you.

Oh, about your brothers,
too, but mostly about you.

If one didn't know better,
one would've thought that
you were Jim's daughter.

In a way, I was,
after my father died.

He and Uncle Jim
were so much alike.

This was a second home
to me.

It was such a warm,
busy, g*y place.

[chuckles]
Yes, there was always
something happening--

a party, a barbeque,
a picnic.

Except after
Aunt Ellen died.

I spent that summer
here.

We rode,
and took long walks,

and sat out
on the porch
in the evenings.

Sometimes we'd talk.
Other times,
we'd just sit.

And I realized I was
the one person in the world
he wanted to be with.

I was only 15,

but it was
the first time anyone
really needed me.

[sighs]
Look, Audra, I know how much
you want to see your uncle.

But if you want my opinion,
you won't do it.

You won't know him,
the way he's changed.

And he probably
won't know you.

Wouldn't you rather remember
the man you did know?

Think about it.

Goodbye, Audra.

Goodbye.

Dad?

Well, where've you been?

Mrs. Newcomb invited me
to stay to supper.

And I'll bet you
haven't had a thing
to eat.

All right,
let's go get
you something.

I don't want anything.

Hey, come on, partner,
quit worrying.

How did Mrs. Barkley
take the news?

First some supper.
Then we'll talk.

We'll talk now.

Oh, she took it
about as I expected.

She wants to see Jim,
naturally.

But she won't.

There just won't
be enough time

before she and Audra have
to catch the morning stage.

Morley will see to it.

Are you sure?
Suppose he can't.

Oh, Dad...

-I know Victoria Barkley, Eric.
-So do I.

-She's no fool.
-Far from it.

-If she ever suspects--
-She won't.

[sighs]

I-- I can't let you
do this for me, Eric.

This is my problem.

Dad, Dad, Dad...

come here.

Dad, one of
the first things

I ever remember
you telling me
when I was a boy...

was that I would
never have a problem...
that wasn't our problem--

yours and mine.

That's the way
it's always been.

-Eric--
-And this time
it's my turn, Dad.

-I want to tell the truth.
-But you'd be ruined.

Dad, don't you understand?
Everything you've worked for
your whole life...

would end up nothing.

I am not going
to let that happen
to you, Dad.

I'll never let that
happen to you.

Now, let's go home,
huh?

[crickets chirp]

[rattles]

[clock bell chimes]

[door creaks]

Oh!
[spits]

Oh!

-Oh...
-Mrs. Barkley, I didn't
mean to frighten you.

I just got back from town,
saw the barn doors open,

thought it might
be a prowler.

Well, it was--
it was so warm
I couldn't sleep.

I came out
for a breath
of fresh air.

Pretty warm night,
all right.

I'm sure glad you
and Miss Audra came.

Might help Mr. Jim--

You and your family
bein' his only livin'
relatives.

Eric and the doctor
don't seem to think so.

They believe he's
beyond help.

It could be.
Pretty bad with him.

I guess maybe Mr. Eric
or Grace told you

how he came at me
with a bale hook.

That must've been a terrible
experience for you.

I don't blame him.

It wasn't the man I'd known
all these years.

Just some poor,
k*ll-crazy animal that didn't
know what he was doing.

Mike...

what happened
to the horses?

Mr. Jim sold 'em.

His palominos?
When?

Right after he took sick.

But why?
He loved those horses.

Why would he
get rid of them?

Well, I guess you could
ask that question about
a lot of things he did.

All I know is that one day,
Mr. Eric came to me

and told me to sell 'em
for the best price
I could get.

-Eric told you.
-Yes, ma'am.

Oh, he's been
sorta running things
for Mr. Jim for--

well, it's over a year now.
He's got full power of
attorney and everything.

But Mr. Jim did approve
of the sale of the horses.

Mm-hmm.

Mike, this ranch isn't
being worked at all,
is it?

I mean, the bunkhouse empty,
the corral overgrown-- Why?

Well, mostly because
the men we had left

after what
Mr. Jim did to me.

And you couldn't
hire others?

Greenhorns and waddies,
maybe, but none worth
their salt.

You've got a spread
of your own, Mrs. Barkley.
You know how it is.

A place gets
a bad name for something,
and the good men just...

Good night, Mike.

Good night,
Mrs. Barkley.

[chimes]

Eric!
We weren't expecting
to see you this morning.

Good morning.
I thought I'd
come out

and drive you
into town to
catch the stage.

Well, that was
very thoughtful
of you,

but you needn't
have bothered.

Mike would've
taken us.

Well, as a matter of fact,
I had to come out anyway.

I'm afraid I've got some
rather disappointing news
for you.

Oh?

Dr. Morley was called
over to Wall River
on an emergency.

Then he won't be here
this morning.

I'm afraid not.
At least not before
you have to leave.

He asked me to apologize
for him.

Is that all he said?

No.

He told me to tell you
that he couldn't permit you

to see Jim
unless he was present.

Look, I'm not sure
I agree with him,

but if he feels that way,
well,

I'm afraid that's the way
it's gonna have to be.

Did he say when
he would be here?

No.

This afternoon,
perhaps?

Well, he didn't say.
I just don't know.

Well...

there's nothing
for us to do
but wait and see.

-But your stage leaves--
-We won't be taking it.

And what about the wedding?
Won't you miss it?

Well, there's a 7:00 train
tonight out of Parkersburg,

and that will get us
into San Francisco
in plenty of time.

As a matter of fact,
this whole thing may
work out much better.

It will give me
a chance to go into town

and see some friends
I haven't seen
for a long time.

Would you like
to come with me,
Audra?

No, thank you.
I'll stay here.

Well, then, I guess
I'd better be getting
back to town.

Look, I can come back
and drive you to Parkersburg,
if you like.

Oh, no, no.
Mike will take us.

Well, then,
I'll say goodbye again.

Eric...

uh, Eric,
before you go,

I'd like to ask you
a question.

Why did you sell
Jim's palominos?

Why?
Because Jim
told me to.

That was after
he became ill?

Yes.

Well, surely you're
not letting him
run his own affairs

in his condition,
are you?

Oh, of course not.

But in a case like this,
what difference did it make?

You see, the horses
didn't mean anything
to Jim anymore.

Five minutes after
he told me to sell them,

he couldn't remember
that he had ever owned them.

But you went ahead
and sold them anyway, mmm?

Mrs. Barkley, those palominos
were expensive to keep.

And with the ranch
not working--

with everything going out
and nothing coming in--

I didn't feel that I could
afford to be... sentimental
about a bunch of horses.

Well,
I suppose you're right.

But I wish I had known
about the situation here.

I would've bought
those horses.

I know how much
they meant to Jim.

And we Barkleys...

well, we put great store
in sentiment.

I'll remember that
the next time.

Goodbye, Mrs. Barkley.

Whoa.

-Amos.
-Well, well, well. Victoria!

-How are you?
-Nice to see you.

S-s-sit down,
sit down, sit down.

-You look fine, just fine.
-Thank you.

How's the family?
Everybody sitting up
and taking nourishment?

-Uh-huh.
-Good.

Now, what can I do for you?
You don't need a doctor--

I can tell that just
looking at you.

I came here
to talk to you
about Jim.

How is he?

That's what I
want to know.

Well, now, uh--

I'm not his doctor anymore,
you know.

There's a new fella in town.
Dr. Morley.

What can you tell me
about him?

Oh, I dunno.
Nothing much.

Came to Abbottsville
about two months ago,

just about the time that
Jim, uh-- began to fail.

Where did he come from?

Some silver camp,
I understand.

The way these
silver camps have been
shutting down lately,

this state is gonna have
almost as many unemployed
doctors

as it has miners.
[chuckles]

You know, when Dr. Morley
first set up practice here,

I thought he was gonna
run me right outta business--

him being young and
knowing all the new ways
of doing things.

But somehow it hasn't
worked out that way.

What do you mean?

Well, he kinda
discourages folks

from coming to see him.

Talk has it that he
has a private income

and he doesn't care whether
he has any patients or not.

Except Jim,
apparently.

Have you seen Jim?

Is that what's
bothering you?

-Among other things.
-Like what?

That I knew nothing
about Jim's condition

until Audra and I
got here yesterday.

Now, when was
the last time
you saw him?

Just before he
and Eric went on
that trip to Arizona.

-How was he?
-Fine, as far
as I could tell.

But that doesn't
mean a thing.

Jim was in Arizona
almost a month.

Anything can happen
to a man in that time.

Doesn't it seem odd
to you that, um,

this man Morley was
called in after you had been
Jim's doctor for years?

No, not to me,
it doesn't.

I'm an old man, Victoria,

and I haven't kept up with
the latest developments
in medicine.

I don't make
any bones about it.
Nope.

No, my feelings aren't hurt
because Eric called in Morley.

I think he did
the right thing.

I might've recommended
the same thing myself.

I see.

Well, I would like
to ask a favor of you.

What's that?

That you see Jim
before Audra and I
leave here.

Now, what good
will that do?

I don't know,
but would you do it?

I can't, Victoria,
not without Morley's
permission.

-Amos--
-And anyway, I'm supposed
to be in Lake Junction today.

Amos,
this is important.

All right.

I'll... discuss it
when I get back.

No, no, that will
be too late.

Audra and I
will be gone.

Well, Lake Junction
isn't that far.

I'll be back
in a few hours.

Not with the bridge out.

-What bridge?
-The Canyon Creek bridge.

A man flagged down
the stage yesterday

and said the bridge
had collapsed.

The Canyon Creek bridge
isn't out.

I came across it myself
just yesterday evening.

Amos, the man stopped
the stage and--

Amos...

someone wanted to delay
Audra and me in getting
to Abbottsville...

or...

perhaps they didn't
want us to get here
at all.

Would kinda seem that way,
wouldn't it?

-Maybe I better
take a look at Jim.
-Good.

What time
are you leaving?

We have to leave
the ranch at 5:00

in order to catch
the 7:00 train.

Mm-hmm.
All right.

I have to make a call
out that way later.

I could be by Jim's
about 4:00.

-Thank you, Amos.
Thank you very much.
-It's a pleasure.

Eric!

Eric...

I was just on my way
to your office.

I've just had a talk
with Amos Pearce.

Oh?
About Jim?

Yes.
I asked Amos to see him.

Did he agree?

Any objections?

No,
I have no objections.

But Dr. Morley will.

Dr. Morley is not in town,

and I have no intentions
of leaving here

until I know more about
Jim's condition than I do.

Dr. Morley told you--

He told us nothing.

Well, it's not my place
to say anything in a case
like this.

-If you want Amos Pearce
to see Jim--
-I do.

Well, that's fine with me,
Mrs. Barkley.

Eric.

Mrs. Barkley.

Mike's bringing
the buggy around.

He says you better leave now
or you'll miss your train.

I'll take your
suitcases out.

I can't understand
where Amos is.

He said he'd be here
before 5:00.

-Mother, why don't we
miss the wedding?
-Oh, no, no.

You can't do that.
You're maid of honor.

Harriet would be
terribly disappointed.

-But that can't be helped.
-Yes, it can.

Yes, it can.

Now, you go on
to San Francisco.

-Mother, I don't--
-Now, hear me out.
Hear me out.

After the wedding,
come right back here.

You'll be gone
less than 48 hours.

And then we can stay on here
as long as we want.

You'll be sure
to send me a telegram

-after you've seen Uncle Jim?
-Mm-hmm.

It will be waiting for you
when you get to San Francisco.

Oh, um,
those two bags
will stay here.

You're not going?

Audra is,
but I'm staying.

Now, Audra,
give Harriet my love,

and tell her
how sorry I am.

-I will. I'll be back Sunday.
-All right.

Have a good time.

Can I fix you a cup
of tea, Mrs. Barkley?

No, no, thank you.
I'm going to drive
into Abbottsville.

h*, boy.
h*.

Yes, ma'am?

I-- I was looking
for Dr. Pearce.

I guess you
haven't heard.

Along with Jim Barkley,

Amos Pearce was one of
my father's oldest friends.

And I've known Doc Pearce
for-- well, for as long
as I can remember anybody.

Mrs. Barkley, I am just
as shocked by what's
happened as you are,

and if you're implying
that I had anything
to do with it--

I asked a question.

The answer's yes.

Yes, it was a coincidence
that this happened
to Doc Pearce

right after you asked him
to see Jim.

Such coincidences do occur.

Mrs. Barkley...

it's obvious
that you don't trust me.

Now, I don't know why.

I'm interested in
my brother-in-law's welfare.

And his estate?

Oh, come now, Mrs. Barkley,
isn't that a fair question?

After all, when Jim dies,
you will be his sole
beneficiary.

Well, I'm not exactly
a poor relation who
needs his money.

Well, that's true.

Then what are you
getting at?

I'm trying to find out
what it is

that you suspect me of.

The thing that comes to mind
is that perhaps you think

I'm mismanaging Jim's
financial affairs.

So?

So, you've got
an appointment with me
for 9:00 tomorrow morning

to receive a complete
accounting of all my
transactions with Jim.

I want to see Jim,
not his ledgers.

I'll arrange for that
at the same time.

All right, Eric.
All right.

But you and Dr. Morley
had better not disappoint me
this time...

because I'm going to see Jim
before I leave here...

even if it means
breaking down his door
to do it.

[doorknob rattles]

[door opens]

Aah!
Ah!

[gasps]

[clatters]

Oh!

[quietly]
Oh...

Oh...

[sighs]

Oh...

Eric?

-Easy, now, Mrs. Barkley.
Take it easy.
-Oh...

Eric, I--

-I went into his room--
-I know, I know.

That's why we tried
to convince you
he was dangerous.

Mike and Grace found you
unconscious on the floor.

Where's Jim now?

-He's gone.
-Gone?

He ran away.
Sheriff Clark and a posse
are out looking for him now.

-Oh, well, I--
-You gotta rest.

-Eric--
-Mrs. Barkley, you gotta rest.

Here.
I want you to take
this medicine.

It'll help you
to sleep.

-I--
-Dr. Morley prescribed
this for Grace.

It'll start working
right away.

What is it?

Your ring.

My ring?

It wasn't Jim.

It was you!
You!

-Shut up!
-Oh!

Dad.

What are you
doing here?

The story about what
happened here last night
is all over town.

How could I stay away?

Look, I want you
to go home and
stay out of it.

Let me handle it.

What are you
gonna do?

Please, just go home.

Well, tell me.

All right.

Victoria Barkley knows
it was me in the room
last night.

What else
does she know?

Isn't that enough?

I'm gonna tell
the truth, Eric.

Oh, Dad, will you
just stop saying that?

I don't care what
happens to me.
I won't permit m*rder.

You're too late.

What do you mean?

Do you really think
Amos Pearce

fell down those cellar steps
accidentally?

Eric...

Mrs. Barkley had talked
him into seeing Jim.

I had to stop him.

My God.

So, if you tell
the truth now,

it'll be the noose
for all of us--

the Newcombs, Morley--
for you and for me.

Amos Pearce.

What... are we, Eric?
What have we done?

What have we done?

Dad, we saved the mine.

We saved the jobs
of 200 men.

And we saved
Abbottsville.

Who's gonna save us?

Sheriff Clark
is here.

[door opens]

Any news, Sheriff?

Yeah.

We found these on
the riverbank between here
and the Edwards place.

Have you ever
seen 'em before,
Mrs. Newcomb?

They're Mr. Jim's.

You sure?

Yes, he was wearing
them yesterday.
I put them out for him.

What do you think, Sheriff?
He took these off to swim
the river?

That's how it looks
to me.

But it'd be a miracle
if he ever made it,

the way the current is
this time of year.

I put men to searching
both banks of the river

between here
and Griffin's Ferry.

But the way the river is,
uh-- I have a hunch
we'll never find Jim--

alive or dead.

How's Mrs. Barkley?

She's still
unconscious.

I left word for Dr. Morley
to get out here as soon as
he returns from Wall River.

But I'm afraid he's
gonna be too late.

Well, if she dies,
maybe it's a blessing

that Jim did drown
crossing that river.

-I'll see you later, Eric.
-All right, Sheriff.

Oh...

Oh...

[grunts]

[grunts]

I thought you might
like some hot coffee.

Mrs. Newcomb,
you go up

and stay
with Mrs. Barkley.

Morley should be here
in a few minutes.

Keep the door locked
and be careful.

She knows it wasn't
Jim Barkley in that
room last night.

ERIC: Mrs. Newcomb.

You and Mike don't wanna
have to leave here after
all these years, do you?

No.

You just remember that.

I'm not likely
to forget it, Mr. Eric.

You can buy people
like Grace and Mike
pretty cheaply.

But a man like Morley
must be rather expensive.

He is.

But he's worth it
when you need him.

-Mrs. Bar--
-[door closes]

-Oh!
-No!

No! No!

Oh...

Oh! Help!

GRACE: Help!
Mr. Eric!

ERIC: Mrs. Newcomb!

GRACE:
Mr. Eric!

Help, please!
Help!

Help, Mr. Eric!

Mr. Eric!
I--

I'm locked in!
Help, please!
Help!

Help.

[upstairs racket]

No!
Oh!

Stay away from me.
All of you--
stay away from me!

Now... where's Jim?
What have you done
with him?

Answer me!
Where's Jim?

The medicine's
beginning to work,
isn't it, Mrs. Barkley?

Answer me!

He's dead.

You k*lled him.

No, actually,
it was an accident.

It happened when
we were in Arizona.

His horse threw him.
He was k*lled instantly.

We were four days
from the nearest town,

so I buried him
where he died.

If you didn't
k*ll him,

why did you try
to make me believe
he was still alive?

-He did it for me.
-For you?

To keep the mine open.
To save Abbottsville.

When the bank refused
to lend me the money
to keep going,

Eric got it for me
by using Jim's
power of attorney

to sell off some
of his holdings--

the Arizona land,
the horses and cattle
here on the ranch.

We had to pretend Jim was
alive in order to keep his
estate from being settled--

and to keep you from
knowing what we'd done.

Oh, I intended
to repay the money.

And I still intend to.
All I need is time--
just a little time.

I'll pay back every penny.
We'll make it up to you.

And how are you going to
make it up to Amos Pearce?

Now, you get
out of my way.

Wait.

Let her go.

I can't do that.

Get out of...

Get out of my--
Ah!

[grunts]

No!
No!

[grunts]

Okay, now, as soon
as Morley gets here--

-Eric--
-Stay out of it!

You got what you wanted,
didn't you?

Just stay out of it,
Dad.

And what did you
get out of it,
Eric?

The pleasure of saving
a dead mine in a ghost town
for your father?

Or were you trying
to save it for yourself?

A dead mine in a ghost town
wouldn't have been much

for you to inherit,
would it?

Would it?!

Ow!

That's enough, Eric!

Why didn't you answer her?

Get her out of here.

No, Mike.

Let her go.
We've done enough.

-Can't you see what
she's trying to do?
-I see.

Dad, it's not true.
I wasn't doing it
for myself.

-I'd like to believe that.
-You can.

I'll take your word
for it.

Then put down the g*n.

-Give it to me, Dad.
-No, Eric.

-No, please, don't.
-Give it here.

-No! No!
-Let me have it.
Give me the g*n.

-No!
-Dad, let me have the g*n!

-You mustn't!
-We have to!

Aah!

No, Mike!
Let her go!

h*! Haah!

Haah!

Jarrod.

Well, this is
a pleasant surprise.

I didn't expect
to find you still up.

Oh, I wasn't sleepy.

I guess I'm enjoying
being at home too much.

-How was the dance?
-Oh, you know those
cattlemen association dances.

Same old stampede.

Uh...
by the way...

Tom Porter is bringing
our little Miss Audra
home.

Oh.

I'm glad Audra went
to the dance.

I think,
in a way,

Jim's death was
harder on her
than any of us.

Oh, Jarrod...

I want you to do
a favor for me.

Name it.

I want you to go
to Abbottsville

and see Ben Abbott
for me.

See Ben?
What for?

Before I left,
I persuaded the
district attorney

to drop charges
against Ben.

I felt that with Eric's
conviction of the m*rder
of Amos Pearce,

that Ben
had suffered enough.

Well, that could be.
Just what is it you
want me to see Ben about?

Well, I want you to find out
how much it will cost

to keep the mine operating
for another six months.

I think that the price
of silver will be back up
again, don't you?

Possibly so, possibly so.

But there's a little more
to it than that, isn't there?

Yes.

Ben Abbott
was a desperate man,

but he's not a m*rder*r.

He saved my life,

and I think I'd like
to try and save his town
for him.

Otherwise, a lot of innocent
people may be hurt,

and we--
we don't want that.

We don't need another...
ghost town.

I'll tell you what--
I'll leave first thing
in the morning.

Thank you.

-Good night, Mother.
-Good night.

-Jarrod.
-Mmm?

Did you say
that Tom Porter was
bringing Audra home?

-Yeah.
-Oh.

He's a very nice
young man.

I got the feeling
Audra felt the same way.

She saved every dance
for him.

Well, that's very,
very interesting.

You know, I get the
distinct feeling that you
know something I don't.

Apparently Audra didn't
tell you what happened
at Harriet's wedding.

No.
What did happen?

She caught the bride's
bouquet.

[chuckles]

♪♪ [theme]