11x10 - A Darker Shadow

[bunniefuu]

- Hey, Clyde. How you doin'?
- Howdy.

- Wade.
- Hey, Joe. Be right with you.

- All right.
- There you go, Charley.

Hey, we got this... we got this
letter from Tim Henry in Willow Bend.

Yeah, I know him well.

- He owns that livestock company.
- Yeah, that's right.

We wanna buy
some horses from him.

He made 'em sound awful
good in the letter, but...

But you don't know him and you're
wondering if he's telling the truth

or trying to sell
you some crowbait.

It's a long ride to Willow Bend. I
thought you might be able to help.

Just a minute, Joe.
Be right with you.

Take your time. I would.

Hello, Joe. Clyde.

- Hi, Sarah.
- Hello, Miss Sellers.

May I be of some service to you?

Uh, yes, I have come
to make a deposit.

Oh, that's fine. Let's see here.

2,480 dollars,

plus your usual five
deposit, plus my ten...

No, no, my 25.

Brings the total to 2,505,

plus your ten,
brings it to 2,515.

I wanted to surprise you.
I wanted to be the one.

You are the one. Come here.

- It's been a long day coming...
- Oh, hello, Mr. Barker.

- Hello, Sarah.
- Mr. Barker.

Uh, we... we've been building us a
mountain, five, ten dollars at a time.

2,500 dollars and we can get
married, and today we finally made it.

I've got some good news too.
I'm retiring at the end of the month.

You're gonna take my place.
You're the new manager, Wade.

Oh, Wade. Oh, that's
wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Barker.

Clyde, I was gonna talk to
you about this later today,

but since Sarah was
here, it seemed fittin'...

That's all right, Mr. Barker.
I'm happy for Wade.

Congratulations, Wade.

- To both of you.
- Clyde.

- Thank you, Clyde.
- I didn't expect this.

- I don't know what to say.
- Don't say anything.

- Good luck to both of you.
- Thank you, Mr. Barker.

Clyde, I... I'm sorry. I... I wished
it could have been both of us.

- Don't mention it.
- There he is, Hank. Look at him.

All dressed up like a city dude.

We sold our furs and we
had us a good day's pay,

and we're gonna take
old Wade out for a drink.

No, thanks, boys. Can't do
it right now. Maybe later on.

Don't worry about these
folks. Bring 'em along.

- I can't right now.
- Wade, Wade, I'll see you tonight.

Hey, that ain't like the
old Wade we used to know.

He's getting high-toned,
too big for his old friends.

Let's mess him up and make
him look like the old days.

- Let's mess him up.
- All right, boys, that's enough.

I used to camp with these
fellas on the Bitterroot.

They're good men until
they get full of the jack.

Come on, Wade, let's go
to the saloon. Come on...

Hey, Sweeny, come on...

Come on, Sweeny,
let's get to the bar.

- Hey, wait.
- Come on, let's take Wade with us.

Come on, Wade.

- What's the matter with you?
- Listen, look at the mess you made.

I gotta clean it up, you...

Get out of here!
Get out of here!

Get out of here! Get
out of here! Get out!

I'm... I'm sorry, gentlemen.

Hey, Wade, you all right?

Yeah, I'm all right. Uh,
what was it you wanted, Joe?

Oh, Tim Henry. You can
trust him. He's all right.

Thanks.

Looks mighty good to me.

Just bring the
hammer and a nail.

Yes, ma'am. Your slightest
wish is my command.

- That should be right in the center.
- Uh-huh.

Here.

There you go.

Hmm.

What do you think?

- Tomorrow.
- Huh?

I think tomorrow is long enough.
Let's me and you get married tomorrow.

Oh, Wade.

I want to, more than anything.

- Well, why not?
- Because we can't.

You've gotta add another
bedroom and enlarge the kitchen.

Well, I've gotta make all the
arrangements for the church

and the party afterwards
and the invitations and the...

- There are thousands of things.
- All right, then, day after tomorrow.

No. At least three weeks.

Oh, Wade, I'm only gonna be married
once, and it means so much. Please?

Three weeks, and no more.

Oh, no, not another one.

It's the last one.

Right there.

Here.

Hmm.

I hear you had some trouble
with those two trappers.

News travels fast.

There was no trouble.
I just threw 'em out.

Oh? Well, I thought
they were friends of yours.

Oh, they still are.

They'd just had too much to drink
and they were wrecking the place,

so I had to whack 'em.

Oh, they'll forget it.

We pound on each
other all the time.

Come here.

Oh, Wade. Are you sure you're
not gonna miss the mountains?

The hunting and the
trapping and the prospecting?

Oh, I'll miss it.

When the temperature
drops below zero

and my chilblains remind me what
it's like standing hip deep in the snow,

I'll miss the mountains
like I'll miss a toothache.

No, I won't miss it.

You know, Sarah, a
time comes in a man's life

when... when he
wants to get warm

and come in from
the weather outside.

That's when I started to
work for the trading post.

You're very sure?

It was what I wanted
even before I met you.

You couldn't drive
me out of town now.

Oh, I'm glad.

No.

You just stir up that fire and I'll make
some coffee and sandwiches and...

- And then what?
- And then we'll talk.

Wade.

What's the matter? What's wrong?

- Nothing's wrong.
- Well, something's wrong. What is it?

I just had a little headache.

But it's gone now.

Nothing's wrong.

It's all right.

It's all right.

Hey.

Looks like Wade's buckskin
over there, doesn't it?

Yeah, could be, but there's
a lot of buckskins around.

Yeah.

Not mentioned in here either.

You don't live in
Willow Bend, do you?

At least I've never seen
you around here before.

No, I... I live up
in the mountains.

Oh, I see.

Well, I'm gonna need
a lot more information

before I can be
of any help to you.

I can get it by mail, say,
oh, two, three weeks.

What about telegrams?
Can you send telegrams?

Yes, I could. That is if
you're willing to pay for them.

Cost about, oh, 10, 12 dollars.

How long will it take?

Well, this is Tuesday.

Say, Friday. I'll
surely have it by then.

All right.

I'll be back.

Any time after
noon, Mr... Mr...?

You didn't give me your name.

I figure 'em to be at least two
years older than you claim they are,

which is not too bad
for a horse trader.

Candy, what do you think?

I'll let you know after
you set the price.

I'll tell you, Tim, they're a
fine piece of animal flesh.

We'll take 'em. What
do you want for 'em?

- Isn't that Wade Turner?
- Yeah, it sure is.

That's funny. Didn't
even say hello.

Wonder what he's doing
here in Willow Bend.

It could be if he'd wanted you to
know, he'd have stopped and told you.

- Hello, Sarah.
- Hello.

I had to take a little trip.

I know. I went in to say
hello and Mr. Barker told me.

Wade, is something wrong?

Bad news, Sarah.

I didn't want it to
come like this...

but I suppose now
is a good time as any.

Sarah...

we just can't get married.

Wade...

what... what in the world...?

I'm sorry, Sarah. I
don't wanna hurt you.

It's the last thing
in the world I want.

I don't believe...

You can't be serious.

Well, it's been two years, Wade.

You quit the mountains and you
took the job with Nevada Trading.

I thought it was going
to be forever for us.

I keep telling you,
Sarah, I'm sorry.

- What have I done?
- Nothing. Not a thing.

- Is there someone else?
- No.

And there never will be either.

But you won't marry me?

No, Wade, that won't do.

There has got to be
more reason than that.

That's mother. She
wants me upstairs.

You wait, please? Be
here when I get back.

Sarah, it's all been said.

Then you'll be wanting this.

Well, if it isn't
the prodigal son.

Well, Wade, did you get
your business accomplished?

Yes, sir. I thought I'd get back sooner.
I just barely made it by closing time.

- I'm sorry.
- No harm done.

I took your place

and it gave me a chance to let a lot
of old customers know I was leaving.

Now, here's that invoice on
the Glen Hill Mine shipment.

- Thank you.
- Oh, Mr. Barker.

Your wife wanted me to remind you
to be sure and be home early tonight.

Oh, yes, we're having
guests for dinner.

- Yeah.
- Well, Wade, it's almost closing time.

You might as well lock
the door behind me.

Yes, sir.

I been wondering, Wade.

Don't you sometimes miss
being out in those mountains

instead of being cooped
up in a place like this?

- I like it here.
- Yeah?

It's a good idea of
Mr. Barker's, isn't it?

Keeping this lamp on
top of the safe at night.

And the shades up, so the sheriff
can look in when he makes his rounds.

Keeps the robbers away.

Beautiful day, isn't it?

Nice and sunny.

Here's my money tray.

Payslip on top, all
made out and signed.

Oh, I got a check here for
50 dollars, made out to me,

I'm gonna need to
cash for the weekend.

- How do you want it?
- Why don't you let me have all ones?

I got a wad of bills in my
pocket, I feel like a rich man.

Boy, you sure do make
big figures for that ledger.

Couple of numbers
almost fills the whole page.

If I didn't know better, I'd
think you were going blind.

- There's your money.
- Thanks.

- I'll lock up behind you.
- All right.

He didn't give you
any reason, huh?

No reason.

He just said that it
was over and that's all.

That doesn't sound like Wade.
There's gotta be something wrong.

Well, Joseph, there are
some things that I can't control.

And if Wade chooses
not to marry me,

there's... there's
nothing I can do about it.

- Hi, Wade.
- Hi, Joe.

You keep it dark in here.

A little bit. I hadn't noticed.

The place looks real good.

Done a lot of work
since I was here last.

Mostly Sarah's work.

Are you and Sarah gonna
live here after you're married?

We had planned to.

What's the matter, Wade?

Nothing.

- I talked to Sarah.
- She send you out here?

No, she wouldn't.
She... She's too proud.

What happened between you two?

Made a mistake.

People make mistakes.

Saw the... Saw the
pack horse outside.

Got a lot of grub there.

Mr. Barker know you're leaving?

He will. There's a
letter on his desk.

And the company money is right
where it's supposed to be, every penny.

Wade, we've been
friends a long time.

A man doesn't just quit his job, leave
the woman he loves for no reason.

Let me help you.

All right.

You wanna help, just get out of
here and... leave me alone, Joe.

You wanna get rid of
all your friends, huh?

Goodbye, Joe.

You just whittling, or are
you worried about Wade?

Both.

Pa, he's throwing away everything he's
ever worked for, his... his job, Sarah.

Well, you know, Wade's
been pretty much of a loner.

Sarah's gotta... she's gotta
take care of her mother.

Maybe... well, it's a possibility
that Wade just decided

that he didn't want to assume
the double responsibility.

No. No, I don't believe
that. He loves her too much.

There's gotta be something else.

So you think he's in some kind of
trouble and you offered to help, hmm?

What'd he say?

He told me to mind
my own business.

Hmm.

Same thing you're gonna tell me.

- Night, Joseph.
- Goodnight.

Sarah.

I kept telling myself not to
come out here, not to beg.

But I came anyway.

I'd invite you in, but
I... I'm just leaving.

- At night?
- Well, I... I like riding at night.

Wade.

We had so much. Where did
it go, Wade? What happened?

- Who knows, Sarah.
- I have to know.

You were going to marry
me and now you're not.

Now, you can't just ride
away and leave me wondering.

It's not fair. You
have to tell me why.

Well, it... it's just gone.

Wade, do you love me?

Wade? What is it?

What is it?

Wade, what's wrong?

Wade...

Just go, Sarah.

I don't wanna hurt
you. Just... Just go.

Wade left his resignation
but no explanation.

Now, when an employee
departs suddenly,

we check his accounts
as a matter of course.

Found a shortage
of 5,000 dollars.

- Wade's not a thief.
- We'll have to bring him back.

If there was a mistake,
he can straighten it out.

Mr. Barker, if you'll sign this
complaint, I'll get a posse organized.

Clem, let me go on ahead
and see if I can find him.

This is the law's business, Joe.

I know that, but I've trapped with
him. I know the country he'll head for.

Wind River, around Three Peaks.

Could save somebody
from getting hurt.

- What about it?
- All right, I'll give you three days.

Then I'll come with a
posse for both of you.

Good enough. Tell
Sarah not to worry.

- I'll pick up what I need in town.
- Right.

All right, now, open your eyes.

Open, open, open, open, open.

Oh, I know it hurts, but
come on. Open again. Open.

That's it. Now, once more.

Huh? That's it.

Well, it's the occipital
lobe of the brain.

That's the sight control.
That's located back here.

Now, on... on you, that's
directly beneath this scar.

Now, your initial pain, that was
caused by pressure or a bone splinter.

The injury healed

and nature repaired
anything that was really wrong.

Now, there's an
old friend of mine,

and he's the dean of a
medical college in Boston.

I sent him your symptoms by telegram
and he consulted some other doctors.

Now, they feel that a growth
started on the occipital lobe.

In other words, a tumor.

Well, now that has grown large
enough to cause this trouble.

You mean there's something
growing inside my head

that's getting
bigger all the time?

Yes.

And you can't help me, huh, Doc?

No, I can't. But
a surgeon might.

Surgeon?

He's gonna get
inside of my head?

- Yes.
- How?

Well, he'd lift a piece of your
skull and remove the growth.

- Suppose he misses?
- You'll be blind.

- Or dead.
- That's a possibility.

But this is one of the oldest
operations known to medical science.

Egyptian surgeons were
doing it a thousand years ago.

Now, without this
operation, you will go blind.

And without it, the
growth can also k*ll you.

Well, it's... it's just
not for me, Doc.

It's your only chance.

I said no.

Here, these'll help some.

Thanks.

Hi, Sarah.

Hello, Clyde.

Is there anything
I can do for you?

No, I... thought it might
be the other way around.

The news got out some way

and... everybody knows
about the missing money.

They're starting to say some
pretty terrible things about Wade.

I... I just thought maybe
you could use a friend.

Thank you, Clyde, but I am
just not listening to any gossip.

You know, we weren't always
such strangers, you and me,

before Wade came.

Whenever you needed a friend
or help, or just a shoulder to cry on,

why, you always... turned to me.

Nothing's changed with me,
Sarah. I just wanted you to know that.

Thank you, Clyde.

But when Joe brings back
Wade, everything'll be all right.

I didn't know Joe was
going out looking for Wade.

Yes, he... he thinks
he's up at Three Peaks.

- Clyde. Sarah.
- Hello, Hoss.

I'd like to have a
word with you if I may.

- I'll be on my way, Sarah.
- Right.

- See you, Hoss.
- Yeah.

It's too bad about
old Wade, isn't it?

Course, he's been acting kind of
strange for some time now, I guess.

You're gonna make sure everybody
knows about it too, aren't you?

A fella like Wade just won't
change like that unless...

unless something
happened to him.

- Well, he certainly changed a lot.
- Yeah.

I just wonder if it might not have
something to do with that ruckus he had

with those... those trappers.

Well, I left before it started,
but I guess it's possible.

Wouldn't hurt
none to talk to 'em.

Boys over at the saloon said that
they rode out of here for Elk Creek

looking for new territory
for their trap land.

You know, they've known
Wade an awfully long time.

Yeah. I thought about that too.

We saw Wade's horse tied up in front
of the doctor's office over at Willow Bend.

He didn't tell me
anything about that.

Well, a fella gets to feeling
puny, wants to see a doctor,

but if he figures the
news is gonna be bad,

probably wouldn't wanna
worry nobody or hurt 'em,

so he might choose a
doctor out of town, reckon?

Wade would do that.

Candy and I thought we'd take a little
ride and see what we could find out.

Hoss, can I go with you?

Just waiting here for
some kind of word is terrible.

- I'd like to do something to help.
- Sure. Be glad to have you.

I'll go change. It'll
only take a minute.

I'll get Betty Perkins
to take care of the store.

Come back! Come back!

Bad hurt? You mean that little
thing we had at Nevada Trading?

- No, ma'am.
- Well, you've known Wade a long time.

Have you ever known
him to act irrationally?

- Irr-what?
- Uh... strange.

Well, ma'am, we're
all of us kind of strange.

Well, what she means is

did Wade ever tear anything up
without any reason or anything?

He tore up some, but he
generally had a reason.

Like the time he got mad at
that hammerhead gray horse.

- What'd he do?
- Nothin'.

Till he come to.

Old Wade, he figured he could ride
anything with hoofs and horsehide.

But, you know, that old gray,

she just pitched him right
up there with the sparrows.

Come down in the rocks.

Oh, and he did some snoring.

When he woke up, though,
he was just yellin' like a cougar.

- Didn't hurt nobody, though.
- Was he hurt badly?

Oh, he was bleeding
on the back of his head.

Yeah, he said he had a headache
like there was a beaver inside

all chewin' out.

Few days he was fine.

That was just before
he went to Virginia City.

Well, thank you.

Hey, Wade. Wade,
it's me, Joe Cartwright.

- Hey, you all right?
- Yeah.

What happened back there?
I found your stuff on the trail.

The horse spooked. What
you doing up here, Joe?

- I was looking for you.
- I told you to leave me alone.

I know what you told me,

but you got some unfinished
business back in Virginia City.

- What kind of business?
- Money.

They're 5,000 dollars
short in Nevada Trading.

Five thou...?

Oh, no. I put the money in
the safe, all of it, every cent of it.

I believe you, but you're gonna have
to come back and straighten things out.

All right, anything
you say, Joe.

Good. Let's get started.

Stand easy, Joe.

Real careful, now.

Drop your g*n belt.

You mind putting that hammer down?
That's my g*n. It's got a hair trigger.

Good. It'll discourage you
from making any sudden moves.

Come on, Wade. You
don't wanna sh**t me.

I sure don't, but I will before I let
you take me back to Virginia City.

You know, it doesn't
make a lot of sense.

A man steals 5,000 dollars
and runs, he covers his trail.

The trail was clear and easy to
follow. You even dropped your canteen.

- Why won't you go back with me?
- Nah.

Come night, I'm
riding out of here.

I'll take your horse over the
peak somewhere over there.

By the time you find him,
I'll be long gone from here.

A man travels at night,

stays in the shade, keeps
his eyes almost closed.

You got something wrong
with your eyes, don't you?

There's nothing
wrong with my eyes.

I got a bandana in my
hand. What color is it?

- What's the difference?
- I think you're blind.

- What color is it?
- It's... blue.

I don't have a bandana in my hand,
Wade. I've got your broken glasses.

- What'd the doctor say?
- What doctor?

The one you went to see in
Willow Bend about your eyes.

There's nothing wrong
with my eyes, Joe!

Going over that pass
at night in the dark,

pulling two horses, is
gonna be pretty rough.

- That's a narrow ledge.
- That don't worry me a bit.

It might bother your horse.

One slip, and you
could whistle Dixie

all the way to the end
before you hit the bottom.

Looks like you're
losing your shade.

Gonna have to move pretty soon.
The sun's gonna be in your eyes.

- You think that makes a difference?
- I know it does.

Well, if you believe that,
then try getting away.

I'll... I'll give you four to one
I'll drop you right in your tracks.

It's a common thing, fear
of the surgeon's scalpel.

Particularly when the
operation involves the brain.

After all, that's
the center of it.

Everything we are.
Everything we can be.

Yeah. I'm afraid
I'd have my doubts.

I'd be scared to death.

I think I would too,

and I know the operation has been
done successfully many, many times.

Is it the only hope?

Well, I'm not an expert.
I'm not a brain surgeon.

I'm just a country doctor,
doing the best he can.

But, in my opinion, it's his
only hope for a normal life.

We'll talk to him, get
him to change his mind.

Well, I hope so, and soon.

- Time is a very important factor.
- Yeah, how much time has he got?

Well, only a guess.

Judging from the
change in his condition

between his first
and second visit here,

it would indicate that the pressure
of the growth has increased rapidly.

He's a changed man.

Well, that's understandable.

At first the pain was mild,
and now it's almost unbearable.

Blazing headaches
and irrational rage,

and he's lashing out like
a... like a wounded animal.

Doc, when one of them things hits him
like that, does he know what he's done?

I doubt it.

That's why I'm afraid that he
might hurt himself or somebody else.

I'm giving Sarah a
chance to be free.

She's got her mother to take care
of. She don't need no invalid husband.

- She loves you.
- I don't want her to pity me.

I don't want her to spend
her life savings on a doctor

who might not be
able to help me.

You ever notice how
people look at a blind man?

Yeah, I've noticed.

I've never thought about it till I
realized I was going blind myself.

Huh.

Imagine me working
at the trading post.

Can't even see the
figures on the ledgers.

Or work in the store. I
can't even see the shelves.

They sh**t horses
that break a leg.

What I got's worse
than a broken leg.

Why don't you shut up, Wade? I'm tired
of hearing you feel sorry for yourself.

Hold it. I'll sh**t.

You don't wanna sh**t me.
You wanna sh**t yourself.

- Where you going?
- Back to Virginia City.

I'm wasting my time here.

Joe?

Joe?

Joe?

I'm right here,
Wade. I'm right here.

I guess we'd
better... start back.

Joe?

No use hiding, Wade!

You're gonna die anyway.

Blind man with no food
and water can't last too long.

Sarah may grieve for a
while, but she'll get over it.

And I'll be there.

Wade!

Joe?

It's Clyde. I'll tell you
about it on the way back.

Can you make it?

Or are you feeling
too sorry for yourself?

I think between the
two of us we can make it.

Well, we're on our way.

It's all arranged.

Dr. Mills' friend in Boston
recommended a surgeon in San Francisco.

Betty's gonna take care
of the store and my mother.

Yeah, well, you hurry back.

You're gonna have the biggest wedding
reception Virginia City's ever seen.

Thank you.

Joe, thanks for everything.

Good luck.

Ha! Ha!