Duel in the Sun Page #2

and happiness.

Jesse! Pearl!

Here you are.

Prettiest girl ever to set foot

on Spanish Bit.

Pearl, dear.

I'm so glad you've

come to us, darling.

Here, let me look at you.

Yes, you're Scott's daughter.

And now you're ours.

You're just like he said.

I'm afraid I'm somewhat

different than he remembered.

But come, dear.

Did you take good care

of her, Jesse?

I showed her all

the points of interest.

- He did. He's nice.

- I think so, too.

You southern belles

are all alike.

Where in holleration

you been all day?

I just went down

to Paradise Flats.

- Senator, this is Pearl.

- Who?

Pearl Chavez, our cousin.

You remember. We invited her

to come and stay with us.

Don't be scared.

You're not a trespasser.

She's no cousin of mine.

She's Scott Chavez's

daughter, ain't she?

Yes, of course she is.

Why don't you say so?

Girl, what are you doing

in that getup?

Is that the latest fashion...

with them aristocratic

cousins of yours?

Or is it what they're

wearing this season in wigwams?

Come on, boy.

We got to talk business.

See you later, Pearl.

Come, dear.

I'll take you to your room.

He don't want me here.

You mustn't mind the Senator.

He doesn't mean anything by it.

It's his way ever since...

ever since his accident.

Accident?

It's a long story...

and, I'm afraid,

not a very pleasant one.

I wish we had

a better room for you...

but later on,

we'll speak to the Senator.

Lewton, dear.

This is Pearl.

My youngest son... Lewton.

Pleased to meet you, Lewton.

Pleased to meet you...

Pearl.

Come, Pearl.

You and Lewton will have

plenty of time later on...

to get to know one another.

I'm sure we will.

Yay... boy.

Sounds of the rude world

Heard in the day

Lulled by the moonlight

Have all passed away

Beautiful dreamer

Queen of my song

List' while I woo thee...

Where will I put

your medicine, Mrs. McCanles?

Leave it on the table.

Mrs. McCanles,

can I get married?

But, Vashti, whom do

you want to marry?

Nobody in particular, ma'am.

I just thought I'd kind of

like to get married.

Of course, Vashti.

You may marry

whenever you wish.

Thank you, ma'am.

Do you know anybody...

who would be nice

for me to marry?

No, I don't,

but I'll think about it.

Thank you, ma'am.

There's no particular hurry.

That Vashti.

I'm afraid I'll never be able

to train her properly.

And as to marriage...

Sit down.

I'm glad your father

sent you to me.

All you have to do

is behave like a lady.

Not that

Scott Chavez's daughter...

could ever be anything

but a lady.

I'm a good girl, ma'am.

Of course you are, dear,

but you see...

you'll be the only young girl

at Spanish Bit.

No one could blame you...

if your head

were turned a little.

You take Lewton, for instance.

He's such an attractive boy.

I think Jesse's much nicer.

But you scarcely know Lewton.

Of course, he's

a bit undisciplined...

but perhaps that's what gives

westerners their charm.

The Senator was like that.

That's why, when your father...

Jesse always chides me

for talking about the past.

I hope Jesse likes me.

We're going to lose him someday.

I've known that ever since

he came back from law school.

I've been so selfish.

He'd have gone long ago

if it weren't for me.

My firstborn... he's so good.

He's made such

a difference in my life.

- Ma'am?

- Yes, Pearl?

I'll be a good girl.

I promise I will.

I want to be like you.

That's what my father wanted.

I'm afraid neither

your father nor I...

found happiness, child.

I hope you will.

Come, child.

This is no way to begin.

Do you know this waltz?

Will you stop

that infernal instrument!

King me, Senator.

I always figured when I moved

into my own quarters...

I'd be rid of that noise.

I guess that's it, Senator.

I think I'll take me

a little stroll.

Now we got that papoose

to put up with.

I don't know.

She looks like

a pretty cute tamale to me.

You think so?

Wouldn't appeal to me none.

Of course, I always

liked my women more...

Say, Senator.

Yeah, Lewt?

You know that last trip

I took up to Abilene?

Yeah.

I was driving the herd all day

and kind of tired...

and felt like getting

some relaxation.

Yeah. Didn't happen

to drop into a place...

called the Last Chance, did you?

How did you find that out?

Sent them a check

for 1,600 just yesterday.

That's how I found out.

I guess I had

a few drinks too many.

That's all right.

A fella's got to sow

some wild oats sometime.

What's the money for?

Senator...

I hope someday I'll be like you.

The only thing

I don't like about you...

is the miserable way

you play poker.

Trying to fill inside straights

is a sucker's game.

Go on, boy. Go on. Run along.

What a boy.

How'd they come

to name you Pearl?

I don't know, sir.

Couldn't have had

much eye for color, could they?

They might better have called

you Pocahontas or Minnehaha.

Ain't that right?

I guess so.

All right, Minne, on your way.

Good night, sir.

Minne... ha ha.

Ha ha.

Hello, Pearl. What's the matter?

Are you unhappy?

Don't you like Spanish Bit?

If everybody was like you.

If everybody was like me,

the world would be...

a terribly frustrated

sort of place.

What do you mean?

Nothing for you to worry

your pretty little head about.

I want to learn.

Will you learn me?

Your ma says you're a lawyer.

I want to be a lady

and know everything, like her.

I wonder if learning

ever made mother any happier.

- I wish I could do that.

- What?

Make rings like that.

Can I try? Let me try.

No, Pearl. Now whoa.

Ladies aren't supposed to smoke.

Now you won't want

to learn me things, will you?

You don't like me

no more, do you?

Of course I do.

I'm afraid a lot of men

will want to learn you things.

I think you better go to bed...

like a good little girl.

We'll discuss your education

another time.

All right.

Good night, Pearl.

Good night, Jesse.

Good night.

What do you want?

I hate you!

Don't you pretend

nobody ever did that before.

They didn't. Nobody did.

Nobody's going to.

You little...

You leave that alone!

I reckon he must be

the white half.

I forgot to say

good night, ma'am.

Sometimes I feel like

a motherless child

That ain't no ham, Miss Pearl.

That's a pig.

Same thing.

But Mrs. McCanles,

she's very particular...

and she don't want no big pig

listed like no little ham.

Here. Maybe you better

make the list, Vashti.

No, ma'am. I can't write.

Mrs. McCanles says to me once,

"Vashti, can you write?"

And I says, "Mrs. McCanles..."

Vashti.

Mrs. McCanles says to me once,

"Vashti, can you write?"

And I says, "Mrs. McCanles..."

Vashti!

Mrs. McCanles says...

Vashti!

That's Mr. Lewt.

I think he wants to see me.

Vashti, where are you?

I'm scared of that Mr. Lewt.

He says to me once,

"Vashti, you're empty-headed."

Vashti!

Tell Miss Pearl

to come out here.

Miss Pearl...

I heard him. Tell him I'm busy.

Why don't you tell him...

and I'll just run along

up to the house?

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