Deep Valley Page #2

quite a lot of money.

It's for a pretty

good cause, sir.

It's your highway.

It goes right past your door.

Right across

my meadow, you mean.

You weren't using

that meadow.

You got a very good price

for it.

Not half enough.

Besides,

I didn't figure on...

On having things like that

running loose all over my place.

Hey...

Cut that out.

You, can that

playing with the dog.

What I mean is,

water

being so valuable,

it seems to me you ought

to be willing to pay

a couple of dollars

a barrel.

Thanks. Thanks.

Forget it.

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

Now, don't rush off

like that.

Take all the water

you want.

I was only kidding.

You didn't sound like

you were kidding.

Ah. Can't you

take a joke?

All right. Thanks.

Fill up the casks.

All right,

let's go.

I'm sorry. I must

have misunderstood you.

Have a smoke.

Thanks. My name

is Cliff Saul.

I've been around these

parts, oh, over 25 years.

Jeff Barker's

my name, Mr. Saul.

I'm the engineer

down below.

Oh, I'm glad

to know you.

This is

my daughter Libby.

Hello.

She don't have

much to say for herself.

You wouldn't take her

to be 22 years old,

now, would you?

I don't know.

Say, you might

like a visit

with some just plain folks

once in a while.

Why don't you

drop around sometime?

Well, we're pretty busy

most of the time-

suit yourself,

but I can promise you

a game of cards

and a nice, cold

bottle of beer.

You know, I might

take you up on that.

I just got out

of the army,

and I sure didn't

figure on being

back in a camp

this soon.

Yeah. I know how it is.

I was in

the last war myself.

Say, how about

coming around tonight?

Ha ha ha!

I take you guys in

and lock you up,

then I take a shower,

change my clothes,

and I step out.

And you poor animals

spend the rest of the night

in your little cage.

Ha ha ha!

Oh!

Get up,

you dirty mug!

I'll pick you up and

knock your brains out!

You'll get 20 years

for this.

I told you to cut it

out before, didn't I?

Put your hands up, or I'll run

this right clear through you!

Hold it, now!

You want to

kill a man?

You get out of this! This is

my business! He slugged me!

Lay off! Better put your

hands up, fella.

This guy's gone crazy.

O.K. The dirty pig, treating

us like we were animals

just because

we look at a girl.

I'll fix you.

Get up on the truck.

What's the matter

with you?

Hold still,

can't you, Libby?

Now, if you'll only

remember to smile.

It's your best point.

And don't talk any more

than you have to,

and maybe he won't

notice it so much.

There. Smile, Libby.

Can't you do

anything to help?

You act as if you didn't

even care. You must.

Now that

the road's here,

it's all going to

be different, Libby.

There will be

people, young men.

Women have

got to care.

You're O.K., Barker.

You go down, pretending you're

just going to the kitchen.

You act-well,

you can try anyway-

act kind of surprised,

and then smile

like you're happy

and say, uh, "Good evening, Mr. Barker."

No. You'd stumble

on his name,

so leave that out.

Say, "I didn't think you'd

make it on a night like this."

Then you smile

at Mr. Saul and say,

"Can I get you some beer

and sandwiches, father?"

C- can I g-get you some

b- beer and s-sandwiches, f...

You don't have

to say father.

Now... go on.

It's all right.

Remember, Libby-

you're happy. Smile.

I'm going to stop trying

to teach you this game

and take a few

pointers myself.

I told you I was

good at cards.

I learned during

the last war.

I came home

with enough money

to buy a cow

and a couple of pigs.

Let's see.

6, 19, 27.

If you win three more

points this next hand,

why, you'll blitz me.

Blitz? What's that?

All the points

are doubled.

Good evening,

miss Libby.

G- good evening.

He's teaching me

to play gin rummy.

I get a little poker,

a little blackjack,

and the rest

just plain rummy.

That's all. The storm almost

blew my jeep off the road,

but I'm sure glad

I came.

I d-didn't think

you'd m-make it

on a night-

night like...

It's worth the trip,

miss Libby,

to see you

in such a pretty dress.

You know,

it's astonishing

what a little sprucing up

will do for these gals.

You'd never take Libby

to be real pretty, would you?

I mean,

not seeing her around

in an old shirt

and pants.

Closet full

of dresses,

and she goes round

in jeans.

Oh, but this is

the only d-dress I've got.

Ah, Libby must be a great

help to you, Mr. Saul.

You're a widower,

aren't you?

Not exactly

a widower.

You see, Mrs. Saul is not

feeling very well tonight.

Oh, I'm sorry.

How is your mother,

Libby?

Well,

s- she's like always.

Uh, c-can I fix you

some b-beer and sandwiches, pa?

We don't mind,

do we, Barker?

Oh, no. That would

be swell. Thanks.

You know,

it's funny.

Some days

she's like that,

and other days she don't

do it hardly at all.

What's that?

That uh-uh-uh-uh

business.

It's contrariness

mostly.

Oh, no. I've read

about people that

get cured of that

all the time.

You mean you don't mind

especially?

Me? No. Well, I never

thought much about it.

Say, you're all right,

Barker.

I like a fella that don't

hold it against a girl

just 'cause of a little thing like that.

Libby's all right,

too.

Yeah. She does everything around here.

You know, she'd make

a mighty fine-

say,

whose deal is it?

It's yours.

Oh.

What's that?

Nothing. Just a shutter tearing loose.

Houses near the sea always

have some little thing.

I better go fix it,

though.

Before it busts

itself to pieces.

Can I do it for you?

No, no, no.

No, thanks.

You wouldn't know

which one.

I'll fix it.

You just stay here

and talk to Libby.

I'll be back

in a minute.

Boy, that looks good.

Here. Let me help you.

Where's p-pa?

He's out fixing

the shutter.

This is the first

beer I've seen

this side

of king city.

Uh, w-w-what...

What are you

trying to say?

Here. Sit down and talk to me. Come on.

That's it.

What did they d-do

with that man?

Who?

That man.

Oh, you mean that fella

this afternoon?

They locked him up

in a toolshed.

They'll send him back

to San Quentin tomorrow.

They will?

Then what?

Oh, he loses

his good behavior,

serves

five more years.

He would have been out in two otherwise.

Five years?

Yeah.

I'm sorry that

you had to see it.

He's one of the kind that

hits before he thinks.

He tries to solve everything by hitting.

The world just can't

hold him, that's all.

When they t-took him...

Took him away,

I- I had a f-feeling that...

Feeling that I was him.

Ah, I see.

Let's have a sandwich.

Libby, how would

you like it

if I came over

to see you sometime

instead of

your father?

I-

we'd go dancing maybe

up to monterey.

I- I don't know

h- how to dance.

Well, I'd teach you.

It would be fun.

No. I-I'd be afraid.

Afraid of what?

People?

You're not afraid

of me, are you?

Yes.

Oh, but you

shouldn't be, Libby.

I like you

very much.

Whew!

What's the matter?

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