- 3 months ago
Because of a terrible drought the railroad has sent two men into North Fork to recruit workers. But when a water-witch gives the people hope, the railroad takes a different approach.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00The Rifleman
00:06Starring Chuck Connors
00:30Ah, it's a likely-looking town.
00:33A job like this, any town's likely.
00:36You know, hold it out, that gun, you'd be a cynic.
00:40Would it?
00:41Come close to being a fool.
00:42You keep saying things like that, I could be real foolish right now.
00:46Ah, we made a lot of good money together.
00:49You couldn't get along without me.
00:51You got a point?
00:53Then you shouldn't try to tell me what I can say.
01:00You're the boss, Mathers.
01:06Until I say you ain't.
01:26Clark?
01:27Coming, Paul.
01:30That well's getting worrisome low, down to eight, nine inches.
01:37I know.
01:39We going into town?
01:40If you'll wash off some of that dust.
01:42We don't want to advertise we've got a drought.
01:44Sure.
01:44Sure.
01:44Uh, Paul?
01:55You figure, I mean, with the water being so low and all, you figure I ought to waste it?
02:00Oh, I guess you can skip your wash at this once.
02:02Just change your clothes.
02:03Sure.
02:03Uh, Paul, I've only got one go to meet, and then, well, the road's pure deep with dust.
02:11You figure I ought to wear it?
02:14Well, it might be better to wear what you've got.
02:17Clay Bowden can't never wash no more.
02:19Their well's lower in arms.
02:21Says his pa's ready to quit.
02:23Lots of others, too.
02:25Yeah, I guess the drought's been pretty hard on everybody.
02:29Everybody but boys.
02:31Well, I better hitch up a team.
02:33Well, I know you've got important business.
02:48I'll meet you at Hattie's later.
02:50You figure we ought to spend the money with things going so bad?
02:53Well, I like to think they'll be better, son.
02:55And, uh, time for candy's mighty short.
02:57Thanks, Paul.
03:01I'm sorry, mister.
03:02Matter of course, I was walking blind.
03:09You don't hardly show the dust.
03:13Something for the licorice.
03:15Have some candy, boy?
03:17Oh, he can buy his own.
03:21You're going, Mark.
03:22Go on.
03:24I'm much obliged, sir.
03:27That didn't mean the harm.
03:29I didn't think it did, sir.
03:32Who's he, Marker?
03:38No, no.
03:38Just rode in.
03:40He's the least I got to worry about.
03:41Now, you look like a real smart bunch of men to me, and I'd be seven times a fool if I didn't deal you the truth right from the start.
03:50Now, certainly I get paid by the railroad for...
03:53My name's Matthews.
03:54He's hiring for the railroad camps and making it sound all mighty good.
03:58Now, sure, sure, you can stay here.
04:01You can stay here and watch the sun burn up your land.
04:05You can watch the sun melt the life out of your stock.
04:08Watch your cattle drop dead 15, 20, 40 head a day.
04:12That thin, the bones are coming through.
04:14The hides aren't even worth the taking.
04:17You can stay here and mortify yourselves, or...
04:21Or you can stop eating dust and hire out to the railroad $3 a day and keep $3 a day.
04:29Hard money in your pocket at the end of every week.
04:32Come rain, come shine, it's no skin off your noses.
04:37Aye, it's worth that just to be able to spit at the sun.
04:41How long you say we got to sign up for?
04:43Just one year.
04:44Less than that wouldn't pay either you or the railroad.
04:48Are you with us, sir?
04:50Well, I don't know.
04:52What do you think, Lucas?
04:54Well, if you're asking me, I'm sticking with the land.
04:57I know you've been thinking to quit, Jeff.
04:59Your boy told mine.
05:00Comes an end to what a man can take.
05:02Nobody says the life is easy.
05:04The land gives up hard and takes back fast.
05:07You leave it even for a year, you'll find twice the work when you come back.
05:11If you come back.
05:12I'll come back.
05:13Well, I know some who didn't.
05:15So I should say and watch the drought take it all.
05:17Well, it'll take a lot, that's for sure.
05:19But it can't take the land.
05:21One thing we'll always have is the land.
05:24You ain't got no land, mister.
05:25All you got is dust.
05:29Gentlemen, gentlemen, we can talk this out.
05:32Come on, come on.
05:34The drinks are on me.
05:36Come on.
05:40Well, ain't no harm in taking a drink.
05:42That's right.
05:43Yes, sir, Mr. Bolton.
06:08The last thing I'd want to do is crowd you.
06:10Now, you think it over for a day or two.
06:12I'll be here.
06:13I never did trust a man that's too reasonable and too free with his whiskey.
06:18Mr.
06:18Mister?
06:19Mister?
06:20You were right to state you won't like no water.
06:25If it's water you want, I can tell you where to find it.
06:28Where?
06:29Everywhere.
06:30Like it says in the book, his spirit's on the face of the waters.
06:36And he's everywhere, so the water's got to be everywhere.
06:39Just so you believe.
06:41Can I buy you a drink?
06:43I can buy my own.
06:45Did I hear you talking about water?
07:09He's just talking.
07:11Did you ever hear water, would you?
07:14You mean looking for water with a willow stick?
07:16Not looking, finding.
07:17But you've got to believe.
07:19You one of them fellas?
07:21Well, you asked anybody from Vermont.
07:23You just asked them about Mr. Jonas.
07:25A long way from Vermont, old-timer.
07:28Still might be worth a try.
07:29Jeff, the way you are right now, you'd go looking in a dark closet for a black cat you knew wasn't there.
07:34Well, I got nothing to lose.
07:36You know, I heard someone else say that once.
07:38We were real bad off for water and my pa found one of these fellas with a witching stick.
07:42I had to pay him $100 to start.
07:44Worth it if you got water.
07:45All we got were blisters for digging.
07:48$100 was big money to us.
07:52My ma didn't get a new dress for three years.
07:54Well, that's because you didn't believe.
07:56It don't matter what happened before.
07:58I can find the water, mister.
08:01You just tell me that you believe.
08:03I wish I could.
08:04I said I'd eat you with a Hattie's.
08:17But you were here.
08:19We got stores to buy.
08:20The sack too heavy?
08:33I can handle it.
08:36Pa, you figure that old man was lying?
08:38I mean, about finding water in him?
08:40No, I wouldn't say he was lying.
08:41Sometimes people get ideas.
08:43Sure would like to see how he does it.
08:45Figure I could ask him sometime?
08:47You save your breath for cooling your soup.
08:49I didn't mean that disrespectful to him, Mark.
08:55I sure wished you liked him.
08:57Oh, I do.
08:57I like him.
08:58He's a nice old man, but you can't always go by your feelings.
09:01I know he means well, but he could do folks a lot of harm.
09:04Harm?
09:05Well, getting their hopes up about the water.
09:07They just end up feeling worse than before.
09:10That's how it is.
09:11I don't want him finding water, do you?
09:37You don't think he can?
09:39What if he did?
09:54Watch your work, boy.
10:03No looking for water, old man.
10:05You don't need no water, you don't find no water.
10:08Paul!
10:11You don't talk no water.
10:13You hear?
10:18All right, stop walking.
10:21You just have to get in my way, don't you?
10:24You all right, old Simon?
10:27Would you like us to walk over to the hotel with you?
10:30I don't stay at no hotel.
10:32I just bed down any old place.
10:35Paul, maybe you...
10:38Maybe you best stay the night with us.
10:40Where's your horse?
10:41It's a mule.
10:43It's over there.
10:44I'll go hitch it on the back of the wagon.
10:46Lucas!
11:00Been looking for you.
11:02Been doing a little thinking over.
11:03They figured it'd be worth it to give him a chance.
11:06When?
11:08Tomorrow morning.
11:09My place.
11:11You gonna be there?
11:13I'm asking you, old man, you gonna be there?
11:21He'll be there.
11:22He better.
11:27That mule needs time.
11:31Whatever you're thinking about, just forget it.
11:35Mr. Matters, I don't know what you're talking about.
11:38You figure this to be a good place?
11:44A good place in here, I'd say.
11:48Must have lost my candy when I fell in.
11:49Well, I'll be pleased to share.
11:50Thank you, boy.
11:51Mr. Jonas, why'd he jump here?
11:52You didn't say.
11:53He was working for the other fella.
11:54I figured if I was to find water, they'd spoil their chances of hiring for the railroad.
11:55Why'd he jump here?
11:57You didn't say.
11:58Well, why would he jump here?
11:59You didn't say.
12:00He was working for the other fella.
12:01He figured if I was to find water, they'd spoil their chances of hiring for the railroad.
12:03What's he doing?
12:04But?
12:05Well, I'm sure.
12:06I'm sure he's in there.
12:07Oh, I'm sure.
12:08Let's go.
12:10Hey, old man.
12:11Oh, I'm sure.
12:12You figure this to be a good place?
12:13Good place in here, I'd say.
12:15Must have lost my candy when I fell in.
12:16Well, I'll be pleased to share.
12:17Thank you, boy.
12:18Mr. Jonas, why'd he jump here?
12:19You didn't say?
12:20they'd spoil their chances of hiring for the railroad.
12:24Well, you figure he could stop you tomorrow?
12:27Hey, don't scare me none.
12:28Shook me up a mite coming on me sudden like that.
12:32Well, you ought to tell Pa.
12:34Would it be the use?
12:36He don't figure I'm going to find water anyway.
12:39He just don't believe.
12:42But he's wrong, boy.
12:44He's wrong.
12:45Because I got me a willer stick.
12:47And a willer stick is the best kind that there is.
12:52And I got a feeling, too.
12:59You believe I can do it, boy?
13:02Well, sure I do.
13:04I think I can do it.
13:17Hey, there he is.
13:37He told him.
13:38Pa, pa, come quick.
13:43Pa.
13:44Pa, he did it.
13:45He did it!
13:47He found water, Pa.
13:49Where?
13:49Right here. Show him, Mr. Jonas.
13:55I'd like to see it, Mr. Jonas.
14:05I've made it a rule never to trick the boy.
14:10Supper's on.
14:11Let's go eat, son.
14:15You ought to try it, Mr. Jonas.
14:42Pa's got a real way with cornbread.
14:46Even some of the womenfolk come by to ask.
14:53You know, this is the first Jeremy we've tasted in nearly two months.
14:57Games have been pretty scarce since the drought.
15:00You know, I grew these beans.
15:03Pa says they're about the best he ever...
15:05Mark, it's not polite to force a guest.
15:08Yes, sir.
15:09Food's there. If he's hungry, he'll eat.
15:10You would like to play checkers, Mr. Jonas?
15:16Maybe we can play some after supper.
15:19Thank you, boy.
15:21But I'm going to be busy.
15:24Yes, sir.
15:26I've been thinking on it.
15:27It ain't you and nobody going to say me no.
15:29Time to be thinking about sleep, Mark.
15:41Oh, but, Pa, I can't go yet.
15:44Well, it's too warm in the house.
15:46Soon, though.
15:47Well, sure.
15:47Just like a shooting gallery.
15:55You sure it's going to work, Mr. Jonas?
15:57Well, you just keep thinking it will, son.
16:01But you said Willow was the best.
16:03It could be.
16:04It elements better in this part of the country.
16:09Anyway, we're going to find out tomorrow.
16:11Stay where you are.
16:29Stay where you are.
16:29You first, McCain.
16:46That rifle don't give you no odds this close.
16:52Come on out.
16:54I'm out.
16:59It's all right, son.
17:12That's him.
17:13He didn't want Mr. Jonas to find any water.
17:17I know.
17:22It comes hard to me killing a man.
17:25I hope you can prove I had good reason.
17:29An early start, an early finish, I always say.
17:42I expect that old man to get up along about noon.
17:45Then we can devote the rest of the day to business, huh?
17:49Morning.
17:50Morning, Marshal.
17:51Going to ride out to the Miracle of the Water?
17:54You seem to be all mighty sure nothing's going to happen.
17:56Are you sure it is?
17:57Where's your partner?
18:00Going out already?
18:02Well, I'll tell you.
18:03Sometimes he's pretty unpredictable.
18:13I don't know, Lucas would be here by now.
18:15I wrote in to meet him.
18:15Kind of rushing things, aren't you, Jeff?
18:17You know, if I was you and I...
18:18Well, you ain't me and I ain't you.
18:20If you've got any preaching you want to do, save it till next meet.
18:23Gentlemen, there's no need to argue.
18:25There comes your man.
18:27Where is he, Lucas?
18:34Where's the old man?
18:35Oh, he took the cross cut with Mark.
18:37It's a mile shorter.
18:38Why didn't you take him?
18:39I've got business with Mike.
18:40Right here.
18:50Manthers?
18:50Well, I told you he was unpredictable.
19:01You didn't say he was dead.
19:03What happened, Lucas?
19:04He tried to kill the old man last night.
19:07These are the ones you were going to do business with?
19:09Gentlemen, I had nothing to do with this.
19:11You were his partner.
19:12In business, but not murder.
19:14I didn't leave the hotel last night.
19:15You can ask the clerk.
19:16Maybe I can't charge you, Matthews, but I can run you out of town.
19:19All right with you, Jeff?
19:21It's all right with me.
19:34Let's go, Lucas.
19:35Jeff, you made the right move.
19:36I'm counting on the old man.
20:00The Marshal run Mathers out of town.
20:02That puts it up to you.
20:03It ain't easy.
20:06I have to look around.
20:08I got 1,200 acres.
20:10Help yourself.
20:11Help yourself.
20:41Let's go.
21:11Ain't even a sign.
21:34Fourth place you tried, you gonna get going?
21:35I can't seem to...
21:37It's something ain't right.
21:39And I... I just can't...
21:41You never could.
21:43He's scared, Paul.
21:44Scared? You're just faking.
21:45Like he says, you never could.
21:47I'll put a bullet in you myself.
21:50Ain't nothing you can do to me that...
21:53that he ain't done worse to me already.
21:55Look, old-timer...
21:56No. You kill a man and it's over and done with.
22:01But if somebody don't believe in a man, he...
22:04He loses faith in himself.
22:07Even back home, I...
22:10If somebody didn't believe, I...
22:11I couldn't find no water.
22:13Well, you did it yesterday.
22:15I saw you.
22:16You can do it again, I know.
22:18Please, Mr. Jonas.
22:29Mr. Jonas!
22:30I was thinking maybe some candy.
22:36Thank you, boy.
22:50I'm sorry, Mark.
22:52You and him both.
22:54There ain't nothing now, Lucas.
22:56Ain't nothing left.
22:57Except the land.
22:59This drought can't last forever.
23:02Long enough to burn me out.
23:05I'm through.
23:07Paul!
23:27It's coming on rain.
23:37It's coming on rain!
23:47It's raining!
23:49It's raining!
23:49Do you believe him now, Paul?
24:07You got any of that candy left for me?
24:19Now, by golly, it looks like it's going to rain again.
24:25Yeah, I figured it would.
24:27You don't have to go, you know.
24:29Jerusalem cricket.
24:30You know how dry it is up north of here, McCain?
24:33You want me to leave all them folks up there waiting?
24:36Well, bye to you, sonny.
24:38Thank you, McCain.
24:39Come on, mule.
24:42So long, old-timer.
24:43Bye, Mr. Jonas.
24:45You sure have a lot of believers now.
24:47All they needed was one.
25:17All they needed was one.
25:19wach
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