"Caleb." "That's Atkins." "And he's ridin'Jubal." "Someday you and me are gonna have a horse just like that." "Mama says we gotta get us a mule." "Your ma says a mule... and I says a horse." "Yes, sir, get us a horse like that... turn this rock pasture right into a land of milk and honey." " I love riding." " Of course you do." "'Cause, you know, you've got the knowings of a horse in your blood... just like your pa and my pa before me." "Say, Billy, you know what beat me down?" "Is how an educated woman won't pour no kind of soap... until the sun go down." "Oh, you know soap makin' better than my granny, huh?" "Well, just you don't forget, Mr. Caleb Revers, you said yourself... my granny's soap is gonna help pay for your mule." "Did I ever say anything about a mule?" "Papa says we're gonna get us a horse." "That's right." "Get us a horse just like the one I had... when I was a mustang cowboy." " Did I ever tell you about that?" " You recollect, Bill?" "It was up in the Montana hills." "Some beautiful country up there." "You heard, Caleb." "Is that what Atkins come to warn us about?" "Looks like we'll have to build us another soap mill, Pa." "He's done, Will." " Will you quit sayin' that?" "Zachariah." " Yes, sir?" " I'm gonna get me another opinion." " Who from?" "Zachariah, will you get on over to Caleb and tell him get down here right away." "You'd take that nigger's say-so over mine?" "If he can saveJubal." "Don't get your feelings ruffled up." "He learned horse doctoring' in the army." "Next time you get a sick horse, you send for that blue-belly nigger right off." "All right, I will!" "Mr. Atkins, I was atJubal's borning." "You can go, Zachariah." "Yes, sir." " Mr. Atkins, please." " I know how you feel, Billy." " The boy loves that horse, Mr. Atkins." " Damn it to hell, I know that." "But the nicest thing we can do is put him out of his misery." "You want me to do it?" " No, Papa, no." " Come on, boy." "Get out of the way." "Go on and get it over with, Caleb!" "Why don't you just..." "Why don't you just say I shot him and he's dead." " I don't understand you." " You can give the horse to the boy." "Dr. Cobbler had him all cut up into hides and had soap made out of him." " So just give him to the boy." " You can't do anything for him, Caleb." "Well, we'll get him up on his feet and we'll get him out of here... and at least you'll have a clean stable." "If you can get that horse to walk out of here, he's yours." "Come on." "Now you pray." "Billy, you pray like you never prayed before." "Get the blanket." "Put the blanket on him." "Hurry up." "Easy." "We don't wanna go anywhere." "Just take it easy now." "Easy now." "That a boy." "Easy now." "Easy." "You gotta stop actin' like you're some green mule who's still on his mama." "Yeah." "He minds you better than he minds me." "Easy." "Hey, Mama." "Look at him." " Now, you be gentle now." " Come on, boy." "Be gentle with that horse!" "Oh, my goodness." "What you doin' with them blankets?" "I'm gonna wash 'em and put 'em back on the bed where they belong." "Oh, Caleb, he's the most beautiful thing I ever saw." "Yes, indeed, and he's gonna make things beautiful for us." "You know how much money that horse will bring us just for studding'?" "Oh, there you go letting your mind go through the trees again." "Well, no, no, it just ain't the studding'." " It's the credit at the store." " What's studdin'?" "Time for you to get back to your studies, young man." "You've been neglecting them while you help your father makeJubal well." " I never heard that word... studdin'." " William!" " I know my lessons." " All right now, listen." "You think you can takeJubal down by the dry riverbed and rest him in the shade?" "Sure, Papa." "Come on, boy." "Go ahead." "And be careful." "You take care of the book learnin' and let this be my affair." "Oh, Caleb, he's so young." "Yeah, well, the boy's old enough to know... and he should learn it and learn it right." "See the beauty of it." "See that stallion full of power." "See him pawing' the ground." "Yeah, see him full of power..." " You better stop that." " See the mare backing up a little bit." "She's sashaying, you see, so he'll come out there." "Yes, indeed, and see him full of power." "You know it's daylight." "I don't care what time of day it is." "I've been in that damn barn five nights, woman!" "Now can you tell me about studdin', Pa?" "Now can you tell me about studdin', Pa?" "Well, these things is natural things... and it has to do with... with men... needing and lovin'... things." "See, now, it ain't just got to do with horses." "It's got to do with us where we "get..."" "calfs and colts and... things." "See, nature..." "It's nature's way... of binding the male... with the female so's... that they keep life goin'." "So, I mean, if you don't learn this... learn it right... then all the rest of your life you'll be lookin' for what's missin'." "See, God... put love in a man... so that man could..." "he'd have love." "Now, do you understand that?" "I understand about love, Pa, but what's studdin'?" "Mr. Savenger." "Hey, boy." "I said, hey, boy." "Morning, Caleb." "What can I do for you?" "Billy, how are you?" "Mr. Savenger, I come by..." "I need that credit you said you'd give me for the seed and the harness." " Just pick out what's most needful." " Thank you, Mr. Savenger." "Caleb, a store like this where there's feed and lots of fertilizer... it attracts lots of flies." "Just let 'em buzz." "Otherwise they'll fret you to death." " Understand?" " Sure." "I don't understand, Papa." "You wanna know something, William?" "Neither do I." "Hold on, boy." "Just gonna have a look at you." "Get away from him." "If I was you, I'd put that rifle down." "You might just hit your horse." "Just stay away from him, Mr. Lawson." "Be a pity if he was to be on the brink of death again, like Caleb said he was." "We come by that horse honestly with Mr. Atkins' knowledge and approval." "Well, folks is wonderin'... if he was really dying' all that hard, how come he ain't dead?" "Well, now, they ever consider a miracle, Mr. Lawson?" "Like the Hebrews made the Red Sea open." "No, they ain't." "What they expect us to do, those folks who are wonderin'?" "Give the horse back, I expect." " It's time for you to leave." " Now, that ain't polite... considering' I come here to give you a warnin'." "Thank you kindly, but you're on our property." "I sure do find it hard gettin' that in my head." "I guess you just have to try harder." "It's okay, boy." "Pull, Jubal, pull!" "That rock sticks in Papa's eye and he ain't got no mind to plow around it." "Pull!" "Pull." "Pull!" "More pie, Billy?" "You better enjoy yourself on that pie now... 'cause when your brother or your sister get here... that'll be four less pieces you gonna have." " I was just puttin' the cork on it." " You already put the cork on it twice." "What'd you learn today, boy?" "Well, I learned that old rock don't talk back toJubal." "That's right." "Yes, indeed." "That's right." "Sing us something, Papa." "Oh, I was down" "Come on, come on." "I won't laugh." "Come on." "Oh, I was" "Hey, coon!" "Come on out here." "We got somethin' for you, nigger!" "Come on out, blue belly!" "Come on out, nigger!" "He ain't comin' out." "He's gonna hide under the bed until the snow falls." "Blue belly!" "Put your hands up!" "Put 'em up!" "Don't try it!" "Now put him up on that horse." "Move!" "Come back here again and I'll kill you." "Get on out of here!" "Get back in the house!" "Ivy, you an educated woman." "You live with white folks all your life." "What's in 'em to make 'em act like that?" " Give him back, Caleb." " And give back the land too!" "I know how you feel." "No, you don't." "You don't know how I feel." "Nobody knows how I feel." "As soon as you're strong enough we're gonna take you to Peabody's... for studding', whatever that is." "Then Pa says we can get you a Spanish saddle." "Boy, I sure would like to see that saddle." "Jubal, let's go down to Mr. Savenger's store and look at the saddle." "Then if Pa comes to town like he said he might after seeing Mr. Atkins... we can help tote home some supplies." "Come on, boy." "Oh, yeah." "Like Pa said, I won't ride you." "You walk." "Come on." "Oh, hell, one little bitty ride won't hurt you none." "Come on, boy." "Is that the black's horse?" ""Sí." First he owns land." "Now he owns a horse." "He holds his damn proud head high." " Whoa." "He yours?" " Me and my pa's." " Sure is handsome." " Can we ride him?" "Nope." "Nobody can ride her but me and my pa." " How come?" " Well, he belongs to us." "Then you can let us ride him if you wanted to." " Nope." " You're just plain mean." " No, he's been bad sick." " You ever play war?" "Then come on." "TheJohnny Rebs need one more to make it even." " The blue bellies always win anyway." " No, they don't neither." "Come on." "Now you stay here and get you some water and you rest, okay?" "And I'll be back in a few minutes." "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" " Lie down." "You're dead." " He ain't even started to play yet." "Yeah, that's right." "I ain't even started to play yet." "You joined theJohnny Rebs as soon as you got off your horse." "No, he ain't." "I wouldn't join theJohnny Rebs anyway 'cause my pa wouldn't let me." " Why?" " Because he was a blue belly." " Right." "He's gotta be a blue belly." " Why?" " 'Cause he's black." " He's a nigger." "All niggers was blue bellies." "Everybody knows that." "Leave him alone!" "All right, you tell me everything." "Every place you went, who you saw and what you did." "Everything." "Answer me when I talk to you." "I said answer me!" "Caleb!" "What'd you do that for?" "He's just trying to be like you..." "hold his head up and be proud!" "Why do you think he rode that horse into town?" "Look, he can't have gone far." "I am goin'." "Wouldn't be no good staying'." "But is it worth your life, Caleb?" "Now, what would the boy think of me if I didn't try to get back what's ours?" "What makes you think you can catch him?" "Jubal's sick." "No matter how much the man whips on him... he can only run three, four hours a day and that's it." "And besides, I done told you, I got to go." "Well, how do you know which way he went?" "He's a horse thief and don't wanna get hanged." "He'll try and make it to Mexico." "I'm takin' the boy with me." "Oh, Caleb." "He lost the horse." "He'll help me get him back." "You look after him." "I'm gonna look after him." "I'll look after him." "And you make sure that he... takes a bath and that he's... kept warm and..." "Oh, Caleb, he's so little." "I'll look after him." "I got to go." "You all right?" "You ain't cold, is you?" "I said I ain't cold." "You ain't said nothin' since we left the house." "Here, put this on." "Put it on!" "Now, you give a smile, maybe we can get us a ride here." "Whoa." "Whoa." "Caleb." "Caleb Revers." "Mr. Blocker?" "It sure is good to see you, Caleb." "This is my boy, Billy." "I used to work for Mr. Blocker." "That's where I met your mom." " How is Ivy?" " She's fine." "What are you doing out here away from your spread?" "Looking for work?" "No." "Somebody stole our horse." "You lookin' for a stole horse afoot?" "Well, that's all we got." "Well, I can take you as far as the Bar "A."" " Appreciate it." " Come on." "Get in." "Come on." "Get in there, Billy." "Appreciate it." "Get yourself a bunk and some sleep, Caleb." "Find a place in the tack room for the boy." "All right." "Thank you, sir." "I thought you were some old-fashioned preacher lookin' for souls to save." "What you doin' here?" "I just come by to see some old friends of mine." "This is my boy." "This is Billy." "Hey, he looks just like you." "I know your ma." "Oh, sure do miss her cookin' around here." "I don't." "Why don't you go on over there and wash up." "Go ahead." "Hear you got yourself a spread." "Having trouble?" "No more than what a man would have owning his own place." "Just had my horse stolen." "Me and the boy's goin' after him." "Afoot?" "Old man says work here three days for him and he'll loan us one." "You go to work on that cattle drive, you can buy yourself one." "Too long away from home." " Everything okay 'tween you and Ivy?" " Oh, yeah." "I brought the boy so he can see what's on the other side of the mountain." "'Course things look like they sure haven't changed around here though." "No, no, things ain't changed too much." "Nate, he's still around." "Nate ain't changed much neither." "Hell, Mr. Revers... he's one hell of a ladies man." " Oh, yeah." " Oh, yeah." "And maybe now we'll get some special chow." "He's the boss man." "He's got it comin'." "There's only one thing I can't understand." "Why he wanna drag ass with us poor folks down here?" "Just come here to work, Nate." "It ain't polite to..." "to turn your back on a man... bigger than you." "Ready for sleep, Papa." "You sure he's yours?" "He don't look like you." "Oh, Nate." "This is between me and him." "He's kind of like the joke man around here." "He always likes to get a rise out of a fella." "I don't like him." "You've got to understand... 'Course I think you're too young to understand." "But he fancied your ma, you see." "You afraid of him, Pa?" "I don't want no trouble." "It's pay day and I'm headin' for trouble!" "It's pay day and I'm headin' for trouble!" " You tagging' along?" " Nope." "Well, how 'bout you?" "The boy stays here with me." "Things are better in town than they ever were." "Miss Annabelle Pinkwell sees to it." "I remember the time old Caleb here was shaved clean as a baby." "Put on his brand-new calfskin boots... with the cactus flower embroidered on the high top." "And this..." "this brand-new Stetson hat... that goes good with a wool shirt and a leather vest." " Ain't that right, Caleb?" " If you say so." "I hope you took note of this braid in my hat." "It took me one big rattler to get that string." "And now..." "I'm gonna get me a saddled horse... go into town." "Now, Caleb had a horse, but only it got "losted."" "Sure you ain't comin' along?" "Come on, fellas." " Good-bye, old trail horse" " Old trail horse" "I mean you no harm" "I'm quittin'this business to go on the farm" " I'm sellin'my saddle" " Yeah!" " Gonna get me a farm" " Get me a farm." "Won't be long before we'll be out on that trail... playin' nursemaid to about a thousand head of cattle." "Sure, I can see myself pullin' the boots over them damp socks... the smell of that coffee." "Leave it alone, Stretch." "This is mine." "Good-bye, old trail horse" "Good-bye, old trail horse" "I mean you no harm" "I'm quittin'this business" "To go on the farm" "Talk about sporting' bets." "And whoever it was courtin' Miss Annabelle's girl." "And there was them big talkers from the Winfield Ranch... braggin' as how they had with 'em... a real racing'jockey." "Well, hearing' as how he was such an expert on a horse..." "Nate had a proposition to make." "We was willin' to wager... that he couldn't ride Nate Hodges." "No spurs." "Not unless he wanted to get stomped and busted... ain't nobody can ride Nate Hodges." "Well, that jockey took the bet." "And then we put this cord between Nate's teeth for a bit." "And then it started." "That jockey hangin' on... and old Nate just buckin' and twisting' every which way... and that jockey pulling' on the rope." "But Nate just clamped his teeth over... and he tossed that jockey like a dude." "An old cannonball!" "Nobody can ride Nate Hodges!" "I heard the noise, Pa, and I thought you wanted me." "You don't have to worry about these men." "They're not gonna do anything to you." "They're just half loaded on mountain whiskey." "Maybe we can get old Thornhill here to... scream up a tune on his fiddle for you." "Put the boy down, Nate." "I said put the boy down." "Now you go on to your room." "Don't you touch my son again." "Don't do that." "I didn't want it that way, Stretch." "Hell, he had it comin' to him." "But we've got a million things we can fight against." "You're gonna have to talk to Blocker." "He ain't gonna like it, Nate not being able to work." "That's it." "That's it for me and Blocker." " You all right, Papa?" " I'm..." "I'm quittin'just like I came here." "Get your things together, boy." "We're leavin'." "Go on." "Billy boy, you sure would have been proud of your old man." "The way he give that big fella his comeuppance." "Now you don't believe that, do you?" "I don't know what you got against your pa, but... he ought to have better done by him than that." "I would have killed him, that Nate Hodges." "What for?" "For makin' you out somethin' to laugh at." "Well, I evened it out before I left." "That's just what Stretch said." "You don't believe him." "What do you think was right?" "I promised your ma you'd take a bath." "Yeah, but there ain't no tub." "Well, we'll find someplace for you to take a bath." "Maybe we won't." "All right now, keep a hold of my hand." "Papa!" "I got you!" "You all right?" "Well, I got my bath anyway." "How do you do?" "How do you do?" "Ma'am, we... we... we would be obliged if... you could give us some information on..." "We're looking for a man on a horse... comin' by here." "Fella's... riding a black horse..." "Like me, "negro caballo."" "I don't see nobody come through on a horse." "Just some Indians and a wagon." " Maybe two days ago." " Well, thank you." "You're welcome to stay and feed him." "I got some blankets." "You can dry your clothes." "My name is Rosita." "Pretty Nose Rosita." "My husband was part Seminole." "His tribe gave me that name." "He's out there." "I'm sorry to hear that." "Real good." "Aziola, the chief, he married himself a wife that was half black." "Her mother was a slave." "There's lots of black people mixed in with us Indians." "Yellow Dog was in the cavalry." "He can sleep for a while in there." "This blanket's from "México."" "I can do it." "If you want something, just call me." "He's a good boy." "Yeah, he'll be asleep before his head hits the pillow." "I wanna thank you for fixing all this food for us." "Cooking's no good unless there's someone to eat it." "It wasn't so bad when he was around." "Are you able to read?" "The boy can read." "I got some books and magazines there." "His ma is educated." "Sometimes I get so lonesome here I make out like I'm playing checkers with him." "I let him win sometimes." "Keeps me from going "loco."" "Well, you'll have to get yourself a dog." "I had one." "He took off." "You'd think he'd have more sense." "I thought to myself to get myself another one, but..." "I wouldn't wanna go through it again." "Can't make them understand." "Sometimes when I'm sitting outside, I begin to imagine what ain't out there." "Oh, I know." "That there's whiskey." "It's been a long time since I had a taste of whiskey." "I made it myself." "It's my birthday." "Well, I think then we ought to celebrate." "To your birthday... and may you live a long life." "Oh, thank you." "Whoa, whoa, whoa, ma'am." "You got a wife?" "Yeah." "Got another kid on the way too." "You don't have to feel bad for us." "I wished I was her." "How come you ain't with her?" "Me and the boy got to find that horse thief." "You get along?" "Yeah, we get along just fine." "I thought maybe you didn't." "That's why you took the boy away." "No, we get along just fine." "I mean, if you was looking for a home, I could... put you up here and take care of the boy." "Now, see, what you need is some cheering up in here." "If you had a banjo or something, see, I could..." "I could make him a good mother." "I ain't hard on them." "I know that you could." "And I wish I could help you." "I sure as hell wish I could help you." "No, no, no, no." "Here." "Well, I was havin' so much fun..." "I woke Billy up." "I forgot I was tired." "You stay with the boy." "I'll sleep by the fire." "Good night, Rosie." "Good night." "Well, I guess we'd better get goin'." "It wasn't me keepin' us." "You mind your pa." "Boy!" "Now you say thank you to Miss Rosita." "Thank you." "You'll come back this way?" "Well, maybe somebody will come by this way... who can stay." "Maybe." "Thank you." "On the way back." "Don't forget." "Now, there's a town up ahead here that he might have gone to... so you can rest if you want to." "If that's what you want." ""If that's what I want." Yes, that's what I want." "Now... what's the matter with you, boy?" "You go ahead and speak your mind right here." "It ain't like you said about love." "What ain't like what I said about love?" "You treated her just like she was Ma!" "I did not treat her like your ma." "I love your ma more than anybody in the world." "You're too young to understand that... but that woman was lonely." "And I was tired." "Now, you may have an education, but you don't know nothin'." "Now you got no right to fault me for nothin'." "Now come on." "Come on." "Go on." "Good." "Is them the kind you once caught?" "Them's the kind." "Just like that white one." "Didn't believe your pa, did you?" "Now, what you can do... you can... get that branch over there." " That one?" " Yeah." "If they come your way... you wave it at 'em." "If they don't stop, get out the way." "I'm gon' get us... a horse." "Get him." " Got him." " Hold him, now!" "Hang onto him!" "Let's go, boys." "Let's get outta here." "He's mine!" "He's mine!" "Papa!" "I'll get you some water." "Jubal!" "Hey, Papa, Papa, it's Jubal up there." "It's Jubal." "You gotta wake up." "You gotta wake up, Daddy." "It's Jubal up there!" "Creepin' up on a man like that, you might have got yourself killed." "Now, I ain't gonna kill you anyway." "You gonna talk?" "You just holler when you ready to tell me." "You tookJubal." " That old buzzard meat?" " He ain't no buzzard meat." " Was you really gonna shoot me?" " Yeah." "You oughta be shot for ever leavin' that horse where a man'd get stuck with him." "He's a good horse." "For plowing', maybe." "Suppose I'd had a posse after me?" "You know what might've happened?" " You'd have got caught." " I didn't say go to him!" "You know who I am?" "You're a horse thief." "You ever hear tell of..." "Lee Christmas?" "What's your name?" " Well?" " William Revers." "What's a little colored boy doin' out here?" "Please?" "Well... go on." "I could've just as well taken me a good horse... and been over the border by now." "Got me the rheumatism." "All swoll up and uglified." "Don't go makin' no mistake about me." "You know how to probe for a bullet?" "Picked me up a dose of lead... tryin' somethin' foolish." "But don't get no ideas about me passing' out." "Man's gotta finish what he starts." "That's the only way to finish off your life." "How'd you like to be a 64-year-old... with arthritis, rheumatism... and the varicose veins in your legs lookin' like some treasure map?" "And you wonder how come I'd wanna take your horse... to get me over the border." "It's warm across the border." "I hear tell the arthritis just melts away." "Come here, boy." "This here's a music box." "Go on." "You can touch it." "Comes from across the sea." "Someplace they call..." "England." "I dream" "OfJeannie" "With the light brown eyes" "Used to belong to some bank teller." "Till me and Cap took it away from him." "Smoky and the gang." "I guess me and Cap was mixed up in about everything... even being law-abidin' when we hired on at the Wells Fargo." "Sometimes he'd ride shotgun... and I'd handle the reins." "That's how we got the experience to rob the stage." "Billy!" "Call him, boy." "Go on." "Howdy." "Papa!" "You all right?" "Huh?" "Are you all right?" "Family reunion's over." "I want that boy back here by me." "Make it easier... to keep you honest." "Move, boy." "Fine, spunky lad you got here." "Come after me with a gun." "Real killer." "Got a bit to learn, though, "Mr..."" "Revers." "Caleb Revers." "Christmas." "Lee Christmas." "That name Christmas tells you somethin', don't it?" "Yeah, there's a few know I've passed this way." "I didn't say you could go to him." "Horse is sick." "Lordy, don't I know it." "It ain't gonna hurt nothin' to look at him." "Well, go on." "Long as you don't get any fool notions about takin' off on him." "I got no rules about shootin' a horse, woman... or boy... in the back." "You know doctoring'?" "Yeah." "Horse needs tending' to." "After me." "You show me some of the mercy you aching' to give that dumb critter... it might be worth somethin'." "What you want me to do?" "Cut some lead out of my back." "Cure it in the fire a spell... and start diggin'." "Mister..." "I can hear you thinkin'." "You try to knife me..." "I'll blow this boy's head off... before I'm dead." "Now do it, and be quick." "Now, what if the pain... gets to be too much for you... and you shoot the boy by mistake?" "Then there'd be nothin' to stop you killin' me." "We could... tell them... white pumpkin-eaters... where they heading'... that a man's... got to go home... before he... cashes in." "Bottle of whiskey... is in the saddlebag." "Flush the wound with that." "Then bind it up." "Now get away from the horse." "Now, I did what you wanted." "We won't tell nobody we saw you." "Don't mean beans." "My pa just helped you!" "He did." "But if it got convenient... he'd turn me in." "I got a mighty fine proposition for you two." "Join up with me." "I'm real took with you and the boy." "We don't want that kind of livin'." "You ever tell him what he's got to look forward to?" "Or does he know already?" "Oh, sure, you got the Emancipation Procrastination... and amendments up to your eyeballs." "But come hard times, what you gonna do... sing a hallelujah chorus overJohn Brown's body?" "Or you gonna join the army again so both sides can shoot at you?" "You smart, you'll do like old Smoky." "Orneriest black man that ever lived." "Made theJames boys look like small potatoes." "You heard of old Smoke?" "Yeah." "He died on the end of a rope." "'Cause of his pride!" "He had a price on his head and he wasn't satisfied... so he had to make it grow." "But old Smoky never gave an inch to no man, white or black." "When Judge Parker asked him "You got anything to say?"... old Smoky answered..." ""I come here to die, not to make speeches."" "Freeze." "I'd kill you now... if it wasn't I still got hope I can talk some sense into you." "Mister... we're a family." "I got a wife to get back to." "Who says you can't go see her now and then?" "You see, I got the know-how... and you with those bull arms and the boy... why, we could take him into an express office or bank... to soften things up." "Let us go." "I give you the chance of a lifetime, and that's all you gotta say?" "He wants to go with me and grow up to be like old Smoke." "Don't ya, boy?" "I wanna be with my pa." "Well, you ain't." "You're going with me." "We'll give you the horse, mister." "And I swear we won't tell the law." "Ready to get to your knees and beg, ain't you?" "I just don't want the boy hurt." "Then you'd better keep your mouth shut... 'cause the boy's going with me." "And if you talk to any lawman... before I get over the border... you ain't never... gonna see him alive." "Get on that horse." "You got a wound." "Suppose you don't make it across the border." "What's gonna happen to my boy?" "Hard times, mister." "No!" "No, he won't tell!" "He won't tell!" "Please!" "I promise he won't!" " He won't tell!" " Stop!" "Stop that goddamn blubbering'... and get up on that dying' horse!" "Smoke!" "Smoke, I thought he'd be another one like you!" "Billy!" "Christmas!" "I'll do what you want!" "You belong to me more than anybody else." "You're gonna take me to Christmas." "Stand real still." "Les, go get Caine." "Now you move away from that horse, mister, real slow." "I suggest that you drop the weapon." "Now... what makes you think you can steal my horse in broad daylight?" "He's mine more than he is yours." "How's that?" "Me and the boy had him down in Box Canyon and the rope broke." "Why should I believe that?" "He was gentle when you got him." "He was sweatin' and warm, wasn't he?" "Yeah, he was at that." " Well?" " Where's your boy now?" "Somebody's got him, and I gotta go get him." "Let me have the horse." "I'll break him for you, and I promise I'll bring him back." "I got to get Billy." "If I don't, Christmas'll kill him." "Lee Christmas?" "Did you say Lee Christmas, boy?" "You answer me, boy!" "Where's Lee Christmas?" "Sheriff, are you talkin' about the old outlaw?" "He's no outlaw." "He's a rattlesnake." "A black rattlesnake." "Well... you Union army, boy?" "I knew a lot of black boys fought for old Abe... and got killed." "Lots of'em." "Now, you tell me where you left this Christmas... and maybe we can talk about this horse thieving' you're supposed to be doin'." "You known Christmas a long time?" "Lee?" "Hell, I've known Christmas so long, I can't remember when I didn't know him." "Then you find him." "If I ever seen a combination that begged for a rope, you are it... black and a horse thief... and a blue belly in the wrong town!" "Well, boy... we're gettin' up a posse... and by sundown we will have Christmas in this cell right alongside you." "But you'll get the edge, you show us the way." "You sure must have it in for him." "Well, it comes time for a man to retire... he wants to go out in a blaze of glory." "And all you got is me." " You want your boy back, don't you?" " Alive." "Well, I know Christmas." "He'll never give up, not till that boy's dead." "He show you that music box... playing about "Jeannie"?" "Oh, Lee was all in love with Jeannie." "It was a game we made up, the two of us." "Always sharing'." "What you tellin' me all this for?" "So you know why I got to find him." "There was a time that I was one throw ahead of the rope myself." "Yeah, I had me a bunch." "I took him in, I favored him." "He turned my boys against me." "It's come to be a miracle... him and me outlivin' the rest of'em." "Now you're gonna help me." "You and me." "You're gonna lead me to where you left Christmas." "And I take you out in a blaze of glory." "You and him, face to face for the last draw." "You go to hell." "Boy, I'm offering you a chance." "To get my boy killed so you can have your revenge?" "We'll hang you." "What good's your boy then?" "He'll be alive." "And you his hero?" "Sheriff!" "Sheriff!" "I'm comin'." "You men all ready?" "We'll take the prisoner with us." "I'm coming as a member of the posse." "Suppose I don't see fit to take you up on that offer." "Well, you'd be missing some good bait for Christmas, wouldn't you?" "And we could always try prevailing on him to be cooperative." "Yeah, that makes sense." "Sheriff!" "You might as well take me along with you." "All right." "Men, raise your right hands." "You swear that you'll do what I say to uphold the law." "You're all deputies." "Right here's your boy's tracks." "They're headin' up that ridge." "You gon' tell us where they're goin'?" "All right." "We'll find him anyway." "Move out." "Sorry!" "You'd have killed me!" "Oughta shoot you like I should've done your old man!" "From now on I'm gonna start treating' you like a man." "Which means that I'm gonna kill you if I have to!" "Let's go." "This boy might do real good with us." "This your boy's, ain't it?" "He's leavin' you a trail, mister." "He's smarter than you are." "Let's move." "Let's move!" "Is it him?" "Is it?" "Is it?" "I can't tell!" "He's too far away!" "You're lyin'." "I gotta kill you, boy." "You know that, don't you?" "Your pa's got it comin' too." "It's all my fault anyway." "I'm the one who lostJubal." "You got me into a pack of trouble." "Will it hurt?" "Dog meat is all he is." "Dog meat!" " I hate you!" " See that I don't get to hate you." "Come on, you staggerin' sack of misery." "Well?" "That's my boy's." "Oh, you can talk." "Well, it's too late." "Lee's so close I can smell him." "Can't you see?" "Can't you see that he's just settin' you up?" "Can't you see that he laid them out there?" "Christmas!" "Christmas, can you hear me?" "That you, Cap?" "Lee, your aim ain't what it used to be!" "I left my specs home!" "Where's my boy, Christmas?" "You got a tracker, Cap?" "I didn't bring them here!" "Cap... how you been?" "Up to now?" "Where's my son, Christmas?" "We made a bargain." "Well, I didn't bring 'em here!" "I know what I see." "Mossman, tell him how it was." "Where's my boy, Christmas?" "Papa!" "Billy!" "I ain't gonna let him keep us bottled up in here." "There's a trail right over there." "A man could get up behind him." "I'll keep you covered." "Now!" "I could use a good man to help me over the border." "You wanna join us?" "Only way you'll get out of here alive!" "I can get around him." "How?" "Are you gonna fly?" "You want Christmas, I want my boy." "You got nothin' to lose." "Lee Christmas for my son... and you get your revenge." "You could make the same bargain with him." "That's the idea, as long as I get around him." "Suppose he don't take you up?" "Then... you get just what you brought me out here for." "Let him go, Sheriff." "He owes it to me." "I need a gun." "That's the best I can do." "Talk to him." "Keep him busy." "Lee, you still got that old music box?" "You know I do." "Keeps me company." "Still workin', is it?" "Yes, siree." "Keeps right on playin' sweeter than ever." "I thought by now it'd sure be busted." "No, siree." "Keeps right on playin'." "I expect it'll go on after we gone." "I sure wish I could hear it once more." "Be right glad to oblige." "Just hold on, now." "Yes, just like old times." "You and me, Cap... and Jeannie." "I hate to think of somebody else listening' to that box one day." "Well, Cap... the next fella might remember me by it." "Now, who the hell would want to remember Lee Christmas?" "I figure maybe you." "Only you'll be gone!" "One of us sure as hell will be!" "Christmas!" "I didn't bring 'em here!" "Christmas!" "Cap!" "I'm askin' you... was he with you?" "Did he show you the way?" "Mossman, tell him, damn you." "Well, Cap... this concert's about over." "Come on, boy." "Send out the boy, Christmas." "Do with me what you like." "You ain't in no bargaining' position." "I been waitin'... saving' the boy for him." "The boy is your last decent chance." "You beggin'?" "I didn't bring him up here!" "You ask him!" " You beggin'?" " Lee." "Get out of the way!" "Cap!" "We could've had the sun... the three of us." " Pa." " Yeah?" " Ma's gonna love this old music box." " Yes, she is." "Let's get on."