- 3 weeks ago
Christmas proves a dangerous time when a rancher chooses family over peace and violence over negotiation.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00with this gun i could have stopped murder tonight
00:09but i've taken it off that's my present to you in all my life i've only seen a dozen real killers
00:19but i've seen 10 000 people that would stand by and let it happen which is the greater evil
00:30and
00:37yeah
00:41yeah
00:44yeah
00:47yeah
00:49yeah
00:54yeah
00:59Merry Christmas.
01:06Merry Christmas.
01:10Merry Christmas.
01:24Merry Christmas.
01:29Well, is this Christmas Eve day, isn't it, or have they changed the date in Texas?
01:34Mister, this is Nathaniel Beecher's place.
01:56Nathaniel, that's enough. It was an accident.
01:58No accident.
01:59Laziness. Letting prize cattle run off and passing me to my face.
02:03Please, Mister Beecher.
02:04Get off the place.
02:08Good morning.
02:11You told that fine Nathaniel Beecher here.
02:15You found him.
02:17I pay 25 a month, if I like your work.
02:20Find out where he's punched me for.
02:21Well, Mister Beecher, you may recognize this.
02:24You answered it by telegram.
02:25It's about that boy of yours that was stolen from the Sioux six years ago.
02:34You're too late. I got him back already.
02:36Wait a minute.
02:37Won't do.
02:38I've come 1,100 miles.
02:40Our agreement included travel expenses and common courtesy would include a tub of water and a bed.
02:46This isn't a trail station.
02:48A hundred dollars will cover the expenses.
02:51Put him off the ranch.
02:53Nathaniel, come and...
02:54Put him off the ranch.
02:55I'll cut out three head from your range herd.
02:57I think you'll find that approximates what you owe me.
02:59You touch a head of my stock, I'll hang him.
03:03Nathaniel, ain't this the fellow that talks Indian?
03:06Like his telegram said, you've been wanting to talk to the boy.
03:13You talk Pawnee?
03:14I do.
03:15Ordinarily, I'd interpret for nothing.
03:18For you, the fee is $100 a day.
03:20Take him to the house.
03:29This way.
03:31All right, take care of Jess, will you?
03:45Well, looks like I just beat the rain. It's really clouding up, isn't it?
03:50Maybe I'd better straighten you out about something, Mr. Paladin.
03:54Just so there'd be no trouble in the house.
03:56You see, we're not sure that this is Nathaniel's child.
04:01He told me he found his son.
04:03Well, we was about three days' ride north, Mr. Paladin.
04:08He found a boy riding with a small band of Pawnees.
04:12Just accidental.
04:14The boy was riding with the chief.
04:16Nathaniel says this is my boy and takes him.
04:18Just like that.
04:20Was this an Indian boy?
04:22Looks Indian to me.
04:24Of course, Robbie was just under three when he was took.
04:27I see.
04:29Do you mind if I explain something to you about Nathaniel?
04:34You see, when they took the boy, they killed his wife, too.
04:39Pete's supposed to ride fence till midnight and the kids would sure love some doings tonight.
04:46Something Christmassy.
04:48Well, I'll talk to Nathaniel.
04:51Maybe having the boy would change things.
04:54I hope so.
04:56I'm trying to get some decent clothes on that, boys.
05:05Okay, okay.
05:07Robbie.
05:09Robbie.
05:12Robbie, listen to me.
05:14Listen to your daddy.
05:16You're home, you understand?
05:19You're in your own...
05:20I know you wouldn't shoot your daddy.
05:25Even a kid ought to feel it.
05:27Like I do.
05:29The same flesh and blood.
05:36Mr. Beecher!
05:51Oh, Robbie.
05:53Robbie, what do you want?
05:55Please.
05:57Listen, Robbie, I...
05:58I built this place for you.
06:01Every time I strung a fence, I said this is for Robbie.
06:04Six years I've been building this place now for you.
06:08Six years you've been gone, Robbie.
06:10I've been trying to understand and take it slow.
06:20Why can't the boy feel something this strong?
06:28What's wrong?
06:30Take it easy, Nat.
06:32This is my son.
06:34I said I'd have the boy home for Christmas.
06:36I knew it.
06:40And I know it's him.
06:46It's a piece of my flesh.
06:47My blood is running in his veins.
06:51I can feel it.
06:53Nathaniel, he don't understand.
06:59All right, paladin.
07:00See if you can talk to him.
07:12Conor left the sheep.
07:14Newsy fair and warm.
07:16Don, what's going on?
07:18Do you think he is.
07:22Our son.
07:24I didn't understand.
07:31His name is Chiwa.
07:35His father is Carlate, chief of the Pawnees.
07:36His name is Chiwa. His father is Carlate, chief of the Pawnees.
07:41Tell the boy I'm his father.
07:43He says his father will come to take him back.
07:46You should have hung that Indian when I took the boy back.
07:49Been a Sioux, I would have.
07:53He sets foot on this place again, we'll do it. You hear?
07:57Lost this boy once. I'd sell my soul before I lose him again.
08:01You don't understand that, do you, boy?
08:06But you will.
08:08You've got to hold on to what you've got in this world.
08:15I said tell the boy I'm his father.
08:18You're a curious mixture, Beecher.
08:21Tears in your eyes, bruises on your knuckles, a rope for Indians,
08:25misery for your employees, and a full heart for a boy who...
08:31Which one is really Nathaniel Beecher?
08:34The one that's paying you to talk Pawnee.
08:37Mr. Beecher, on the East Range, Pawnees are putting up camp.
08:41Take the boy to his room. Stand guard.
08:43Yes, sir.
08:44In here.
08:50But Nathaniel...
08:51Later, pull out some of that heavy timber. We're gonna do some building.
08:54Where you going, mister? I may need your lingo.
08:57I have a couple of questions in mind. I think the Pawnees may have the answer.
09:00All right, cowboy.
09:02You can tell their chief one thing from me.
09:05We're building him something with a noose on the end of it.
09:09Not many seasons ago, when the Pawnee's lodges were filled and the drying racks bent low with meat,
09:27The one called Ulushoate was known on the plains.
09:31Ulushoate.
09:33He who ride with many tribe.
09:36Calate here, name.
09:38I have heard the name Calate, he who keeps the treaty.
09:42The name is well taken. May you be repaid in good hunting.
09:46Ulushoate here, how white men pay tribe who keep treaty.
09:50I'm sorry.
09:53Now they take children.
09:55And the Pawnee love their children above all else.
09:58Ah.
09:59Even above greatness.
10:01Is the boy Chiwa Calate's own seed?
10:05We mix blood.
10:07He traded from Sioux. He's my seed now.
10:10The Sioux stole a boy just about this age from the white man Beecher nearly six years ago.
10:15Chiwa my son.
10:17Is he white?
10:19Chiwa my son is our law.
10:22The white man has laws too.
10:24White man laws sickness to my people.
10:27I take my son back.
10:30Calate you have kept the treaty thus far.
10:33If you take the boy back, there'll be killing.
10:37And the white man Beecher has many rifles.
10:40Rifle no can kill men now dead.
10:44Gray wolf driven from land.
10:47No game.
10:49Winner come.
10:50No war.
10:52He walk.
10:54He call to moon.
10:56But he is now dead.
11:14Well, here's the Indian lover.
11:17Did you give him my message?
11:19I did.
11:20You cinch that rope good.
11:23Having this wagon dragged out to their camp tomorrow morning.
11:27Gonna let it sit there in plain sight.
11:29Come on in.
11:30Merry Christmas.
11:31Come on in home.
11:32Find seats any place.
11:33Merry Christmas.
11:34Merry Christmas to you all.
11:35Just find your seats anywhere.
11:36It's a pretty hour.
11:37Merry Christmas to you all.
11:38Merry Christmas to you all.
11:39Let's go.
11:40Merry Christmas.
11:42Fairy Whereas Daddy.
11:43Come on in home.
11:45Fine seats any place.
11:46One видел.
11:47Merry Christmas to you all.
11:48Just find your seats anywhere.
11:49Let's go.
11:50Merry Christmas to you.
11:52Merry Christmas to you all.
11:53Just find your seats anywhere.
11:54It's a pretty hour.
11:55Merry Christmas.
12:21That looks fine, Marty. Need any help?
12:24No, thanks.
12:44Let Pete bring the boy. Let's get on with it.
12:48Tell Pete to bring the boy.
12:49Right.
12:51I said rations, not all this fancy stuff.
12:55When a man can't even trust his own foreman.
12:58Maggie and me always done right by you.
13:00Ever since you was a kid yourself.
13:02You're not doing this for me.
13:05All right.
13:06If there's one strand of fence down, if one calf wanders off tonight, we work double tomorrow.
13:21All right, let's get on with it.
13:23Tater, it's Christmas Eve. Joy to the world, let's hear those carols.
13:35Right.
13:36All right, come on now, boys.
13:38Let's us then show the women and girls the thing or two.
13:40Ready?
13:41Yeah.
13:42One, two, three.
13:43The birds, oh well, the angels did say,
13:51What the certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay,
13:58In fields where they lay.
14:02Mr. Beecher, they knocked off Buck and took your boys.
14:06Shut up, everybody.
14:07Willie Pawnees.
14:08Yes.
14:10You knew about this.
14:12I thought they'd try, but not so soon.
14:14You see how heathens work, using Christmas Eve?
14:16Get your rifles.
14:18There's no hurry.
14:20The Pawnees plan on waiting for you, they're tired of running.
14:24Mr. Beecher, to my considerable surprise, reminds us that this is a very special night.
14:28Preaching from a gunslinger.
14:32You've just been aching to speak a piece, haven't you?
14:36I'm going to show you something.
14:38Go ahead.
14:39Go ahead, say anything you want.
14:41But when Nathaniel Beecher yells go, these people are going to jump.
14:46All right.
14:48All right, you folks.
14:49You listen good now, you're going to have a choice.
14:52Like the poet fellow says, a full heart or a full belly.
14:58Excuse me, Taylor.
15:04Excuse me, Taylor.
15:17My card says, have gun, will travel.
15:20I have no intention of trying to justify my profession to you people.
15:25Or my personal code.
15:26I am a long way from being a preacher.
15:32But I do know something about killing.
15:35And that's what you people are going to have to do tonight.
15:41Now, rightly or wrongly, the Pawnees believe that boy belongs to them.
15:45It might interest Mr. Beecher to know that the boy was adopted, purchased from the Sioux.
15:50He might be Robbie Beecher.
15:54Few people love children as much as the Pawnees do.
15:59Their chief might have given up the boy.
16:02And properly treated, he might still give up the boy.
16:07On the other hand, those Pawnees can run no further.
16:10They would rather die out there in that camp tonight than give up that boy to force.
16:18Now, I suppose this isn't much of a Christmas message.
16:22I haven't reminded you that this day has a very special meaning.
16:26I haven't tried to tell you that to a starving man, food might have more weight than all your rifles.
16:35Well, I ain't got so much to say.
16:46Now we're going out and kill some Indians. Hang one special Indian.
16:54Anybody who wants can stay here and draw his time.
17:00Them are going with me?
17:03Stand.
17:05Stand.
17:08I'm staying.
17:12That's my job.
17:14Who's next?
17:16I'll go.
17:22Nice story from the beginning, Mr. Paladin.
17:25The belly always wins out.
17:36I can't hit you, Tater, but I can fire you.
17:41You had me half believing, Mr. Paladin, until you put that gun on.
17:44Christmas is just talk, ain't it? Like Mr. Beecher says.
17:45All my life I've only seen a dozen real killers, but I've seen 10,000 people that would stand by and let it happen.
17:53Which is the greater offense?
17:54I don't know that answer.
17:55But if killing is wrong, especially tonight, then it's wrong for everybody, isn't it?
17:59It's wrong for you, too.
18:00Even to protect the few poor Indians.
18:02It's wrong for you, too.
18:03Even to protect the few poor Indians.
18:04Oh, my God.
18:05It's okay.
18:06Thank you, Tater.
18:07I'm sorry, Tater.
18:08I'm sorry, Tater.
18:10You are sorry.
18:11I'm sorry.
18:12I can't do that.
18:13But if killing is wrong, especially tonight, then it's wrong for everybody, isn't it?
18:16It's wrong for you, too.
18:19Even to protect the few poor Indians.
18:23I might have stopped the killing with that gun tonight, but you're right.
18:43Two things this night stands for, love and courage.
18:49You people have the courage to walk past level rifles.
18:53If you know the meaning of the word love, then I can give you something tonight.
19:15Ah, kiburi.
19:23Ah, kiburi.
19:24Ah, kiburi.
19:25Ah, kiburi.
19:26Ah, kiburi.
19:27Ah, kiburi.
19:28Ah, kiburi.
19:29Ah, kiburi.
19:30Ah, kiburi.
19:31Ah, kiburi.
19:33Ah, kiburi.
19:36Ah, kiburi.
19:39commitments.
19:43Right there, determine how to kill, know how to die.
19:47know how to die.
19:49What good does that do the boy?
19:51Will Chiwa take other father after this?
19:58No, I suppose you do win this way.
20:01I wonder if Beecher knows that.
20:03Squaws must be in the wigwams with the kids.
20:09I don't want a shot fired until we know where the boy is.
20:17I don't want a shot fired until we know where the boy is.
20:40Well, this is the night when some people pretend there's no evil in the world.
20:47This is the one night of the year when the white man honors the children of his tribe.
20:51Ah.
20:57Tater, bring them on in.
20:59There'll be no rifle fire here tonight.
21:01Come on in, folks.
21:02Marty, do you need any help?
21:15No, thanks.
21:16No, thanks.
21:23C-Cri-Christmas.
21:29Christmas.
21:31Kewuni.
21:33Christmas.
21:36That's right.
21:37That's what they call it.
21:38Christmas.
21:40Robbie.
21:46The boy grow much.
21:49The ring too small.
22:01Robert Beecher.
22:05We must return the seed to the plant that bore it Kalate.
22:07The soul of that plant is not dead.
22:09The boy will make it green again.
22:12The white rancher is not an evil man.
22:18If boy must go, place dust in my mouth.
22:24Stop breath.
22:26Bury dead wolf.
22:27Dead wolf.
22:29I see other Pawnee children.
22:32Will Kalate let them starve?
22:35One handful of land can kill a man.
22:38But 500 acres of land can keep a whole tribe alive.
22:41Take the holes with vows of folly.
22:44Fa la la la la la la la la la la la la.
22:52Here's the season to be jolly.
22:56Fa la la la la la la la la la.
23:00Done we now our gay apparel.
23:04Fa la la la la la la la la la la.
23:07Fa la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
23:37He says he always gets his fee.
23:39And I get my price, too.
23:41I'm staying on.
23:42Watch how you treat the kid.
23:44I'd like that, Tate.
23:46Trouble with you is I never whopped you often enough
23:49when you was a kid.
23:51Now, get on over there.
23:54And Nathaniel, Merry Christmas.
24:02All right, tie up your horses, then.
24:05Get rid of your guns.
24:35All right.
24:37Round yon virgin, mother and child.
24:42Holy infant so tender and mild.
24:47Holy infant so tender and mild.
24:56Sleep in heavenly peace.
25:06Sleep in heavenly peace.
25:13Be.
25:14Sleep in heavenly peace.
25:18Run.
25:20THE END
25:50THE END
Be the first to comment