Broken Lance Page #6

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Yeah.

I'm going to get a smoke.

Me, too.

We got to do something, Ben.

Why?

They'll put him in jail.

- No.

Not him.

We got to do something,

we owe it to him.

Maybe you do, Joe, but not me.

You heard him up there...

You heard him telling

about his cattle...

...and his wife, and going

it alone with three kids.

What do you think we did while

he was building up the state?

I worked 16 hours a day for him

when I was ten years old.

And all he ever did was

treat me like a hired hand.

Ben, listen...

- You don't know about that.

You came along later

when things were good.

So you figure you owe him something.

All right, go ahead,

do anything you like.

You're his little pet...

...you always were.

It looks bad, doesn't it?

- Yeah.

I'm sorry about the judge.

- Yeah, he's tough.

I mean about Dad.

What about him?

Why, about him having

the fight with your father...

...and refused to appoint the judge.

- He fought with Pa? What about?

Us.

Well, was it?

I thought he must have told you.

Where are you going?

- I've got to see Lawton!

Well?

It's all right. I made

a deal with them.

You'll have to give up

the land the mine is on.

Give up the land!

- Then you'll got to jail.

Look.

- Will you listen to me!

All right.

You give'em the title

to the mine...

...and pay the injured men and the

costs on the wrecked building.

We can work that out later.

That wrecked building is worth...

- There's one more thing.

I'm going to put Joe on the stand.

Why?

- Somebody...

...must be responsible...

Not Joe!

- Wait a minute!

I just talked to him.

He wants to do it.

He says McAndrews

called him a half-breed.

He says...

- Joe is not going on the stand!

Look, Matt...

This is a deal.

Somebody has to do this.

You just destroyed any

chance you had.

If they convict Joe,

we can appeal it.

If you give up the land,

they won't contest the appeal.

The worst that can happen is that

Joe will be held for a few weeks.

I don't like this.

- I don't ask you that!

I'm just asking you to

take some advice!

The court is now in session.

Please come to order.

I'm going to call

the boy to the stand.

If you say one word

until after the appeal...

...it'll mean at least ten

years behind bars.

Call Joseph Deveraux.

Defense calls Joseph Deveraux.

Take the stand, please.

Do you swear...

...to tell truth...

...the whole truth...

...and nothing but the truth?

We can't do anything more, Pa.

- Get away from me!

I don't want to talk to any of you!

Get away from me!

You are making yourself

ill, my husband.

Please! This will pass!

Two Moons said Lawton

brought some papers.

They're here, I will get'em.

And food.

- No food, just the papers.

But you must eat.

- I sent Two Moons to look for 'em.

They're still your sons.

Please send them to me

when the come, 'Seora'.

You wanted us?

No, I don't want you.

I told you to come here. Sit down.

All right.

What is it, Pa?

Papers.

Lawton wrote'em.

It's an agreement to keep

Joe out of jail.

You own the property, so you sign

them. Here you, make your mark.

I can write.

How much, Pa?

80,000 cash and the mine property.

Sign it!

No.

Is too much, Pa, get

them to cut it down.

Why you...?

This is to keep Joe

out of jail. Sign it!

No!

We are not gonna sign it, Pa.

You'll sign these papers

or I'll kill skin the lot of you!

We decided we're not gonna

sign, it's too much money.

Joe'll only get 7 or 6 month.

- Sign it!

Take it easy, Pa.

It won't do you any good to

get yourself wound up...

Get him to bed.

I'll send for the doctor.

You, Deveraux!

Come on down.

You got a visitor...

...a pretty one.

No.

- Joe, don't give me no trouble.

Joe!

Yeah, it's me.

Get out!

Orders are to stay with prisoner.

- Get out, now!

Joe, what's the matter?

What are they doing to you?

- Nothing!

Nobody's doing anything to me.

I was working and it's hot.

I don't understand, Joe.

- I'm a convict.

I work and eat here and sleeps

in these stinking clothes.

My darling...

...as if that could...

You shouldn't have come here.

Don't do it again.

Shouldn't have come?

Why not?

Three years isn't forever, Joe.

No matter how hard it is, I can...

- It isn't hard.

It's just being here, and

not being able to get out.

Is it your father?

He's been sick but he's been...

- I know about it.

Two Moons has been here. I know

what they're doing to the old man.

They killing him, just little by

little, day by day...

...they're tearing him apart.

While I'm in this...

- Joe, stop it!

Stop thinking about your father and

your brothers and the crazy ranch.

Forget it, you've got your own life.

- Forget it?

That's what keeps me going.

- But...

...it's insane to brood for 3 years.

Joe...

...please...

...when you get out, we'll go away.

Just the two of us, any place...

- Stop it!

You're going to be on the outside,

with people, free to move around.

I can wait.

Maybe you can.

I'm not so sure about me.

When I see you...

Now do you understand?

Don't come here again.

Stay here.

He's coming.

I know he's coming, but

when? I want him now.

He's here.

Please, my husband...

...no more quarrels.

Try to understand him a little.

Hello, Ma.

Pa.

Leave us alone, will you 'Seora'?

Sit down, Ben.

This is all right.

What's on your mind, Pa?

The land.

They tell me you're selling

some to an oil company.

That's right.

Why?

We need the money to operate with.

To operate that office in town?

Yeah.

Why didn't you tell me?

You wouldn't like it...

...and the Doc says it's

bad for you get riled up.

Yeah.

You're real concerned about

my health, aren't you?

I don't like it. I don't

like selling the land.

It's good business for the ranch.

I'm selling it, Pa.

It's yours to sell.

I spent my life building it for

you and the others, but...

I've been rough on you, Ben,

because you were...

...the oldest.

I guess I felt I could

expect more from you.

I never did this before,

but I'm doing it now.

I'm asking you, Ben.

Give up this sale, will you?

No.

It figured.

I always knew there was something

between us, some way.

What is it, Ben? What is it?

Joe, maybe, Ben? Joe?

Because he's smarter

than the rest of you?

Because he stood up to me when

the rest of you were afraid to?

You hate Joe, don't you, Ben?

No, I never hated Joe.

Me, then.

I'm no trouble to you now.

- No, not now...

...because you're old

and crippled and sick.

So now you call me in and ask me

something. You're a little late.

Did you ask me how I'd like and

Indian stepmother after Ma died?

Or how I liked doing all the chores

and caring for Mike and Denny?

Or how I liked quitting

school to work for you?

Did you ever in your life...

...ask me how I felt or what

I thought? What I wanted?

No, you didn't.

So, it's...

...it's a little late

for asking now, Pa.

But the gate is always open, Ben...

...you could have left. I would

have understood that...

...I did it myself.

I always used to think there was...

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