Smith! Page #7

or, in default,

3O days' imprisonment.

- [sighing] $50, huh?

- That's all.

[chuckling] Well, it's a lot

of money, but it was...

It was sure worth it.

- Where do I pay?

- Here...

Just a moment, Corporal,

just a moment.

I beg your pardon, Mr. Smith,

did you say it was "worth it?"

Yeah. Well, I mean,

in a manner of speaking.

'Course my wife's

not gonna like it at all, but...

[sighing]

I sure got my money's worth.

In other words, you consider

the fine as a rental fee for staging

- a violent altercation in my court?

- No, I wouldn't say that. I mean...

It...

For further contempt of court,

there'll be an additional penalty of

3O days imprisonment,

without option of fine.

Thirty days, at haying time?

Oh, man, that's really rough,

Your Honor.

- Take the prisoner away.

- No, wait a minute. I...

Listen, I got, yeah, I got $13 left.

Couldn't we make some sort of a deal?

Perhaps you'd like to rent my court

for another quick go at the sheriff?

L---

[sighing] Man, I just

gotta get that hay crop in. I...

I'm sorry, Mr. Smith. Now, you brought

this on yourself, definitely.

Take the prisoner away, corporal.

- Smith!

- [indistinct chatter]

Uh...

Albie, I'm gonna be tied up here

in Williamstown for about 3O days.

- Thirty days? At haying time?

- Yeah.

Uh, yeah. Well, that's

what I told the judge, but...

Mind taking my truck and asking

your boy if he'd drive Albie home?

- OK, Smith.

- Fine.

Now, you tell your mom not to worry

about a thing, because...

Oh, here's the money I have left.

I've got...

Right here. Now...

Oh, come on, now.

Don't look so sad here.

Soon as I get home, me and OI' Antoine,

we'll break the Appaloosa for ya.

OK?

Yeah.

- Take care of him, huh?

- Come on, Smith.

Don't worry, Smith. When that trial

over, we go back and cut your hay.

She stay hot, Smith. Don't worry.

Where did you get that Indian?

Uh...

Well... [clearing throat]

I'd like to take credit for him,

but I think in the final analysis,

he found me.

Well...

- Congratulations, anyhow.

- Isn't it a little early for that?

When you've been around as long

as I have, you know when you've lost.

I must say it's the first time

in about four years.

Oh, you're putting me on!

You haven't even made

your final summation yet.

Oh, but you've made yours.

That was the best plea

for self-defense I ever heard.

Come on, I'll let you buy me lunch...

It's the least you can do.

Oh.

[chanting and singing

in Native American dialect]

Too bad Smith isn't here. He'd like to

hear them singing for Gabriel Jimmyboy.

I don't know what Mom's gonna

think when I get home without him.

You tell her OI' Antoine

make big speech.

- Judge let Gabriel Jimmyboy go.

- Uh-uh.

Not the judge, the jury.

They let him go on account of

self-defense on the night in question.

I guess I gotta go home now.

- How long are they gonna keep singin'?

- [Peterpaul] Long as everybody happy.

What about Smith's hay crop?

Don't worry.

They only happy little while.

- OK.

- [speaking in Native American dialect]

Likewise!

[Judge Brown] Mr. Maxwell,

state your request.

Your Honor, we would like to ask for

a re-hearing in the case of Mr. Smith.

Yes.

Corporal, do I understand that Antoine

has been sitting on the courthouse steps

- for the last two days and nights?

- That's right, Your Honor.

And he says he's gonna stay there

until Mr. Smith is released.

Smith good man.

Longtime friend of Indian people.

He speaks English, Mr. Maxwell.

Antoine, uh... You speak English?

[Antoine] Uh, yes, Your Honor.

Off and on. More or less.

It's against the law for you to sit on

the courthouse steps for 3O days?

[speaking in Native American dialect]

- What does that mean?

- Courthouse steps very hard, judge.

I sit on the grass.

Uh, Mr. Maxwell...

...will you vouch for the good behavior

of Mr. Smith henceforth?

From my discussion with him,

I certainly will, Your Honor.

- I'll consider a re-hearing.

- Thank you, Your Honor.

Now, will you gentlemen excuse me?

I'd like to talk to Antoine.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Antoine, now tell me,

were you really there

with Chief Joseph?

[speaking in Native American dialect]

Yes, yes, Antoine.

Well, let me put it this way...

Now, if I were to release Mr. Smith,

could you and I possibly manage

to talk in English?

You let Smith go, we talk plenty.

Whoa! [exhaling]

Oh, Albie, it sounded like such

a good idea last night, didn't it?

We'll make it, Ma.

We can cut the rest

of this section before dark.

Oh, why did they have

to put Smith in the pokey?

You're gonna miss him, huh?

Yeah, me, too,

but we'll surprise him.

Aw, no. We'll never get this field

in before the weather breaks.

Something will happen.

The mower will give up

or the horse will go lame or...

[sighing]

The rain will come down out

of a clear blue sky.

[horn honking]

It's Smith! Smith!

Smith! Smith!

- What happened, Smith?

- I got a re-hearing.

The judge let me off!

He got a re-hearing,

Ma, and the judge let him off!

Get down off there, woman.

I'm taking over.

You stay away from me,

you jailbird!

I started this field

and I'm gonna finish it!

- Ma, you missed Smith!

- Be quiet, Albie!

Get away from those horses!

I've got work to do!

When I was sitting in jail, I did some

thinking. Know what we're gonna do?

Oh, Smith! Everything that we own

is riding on this hay crop!

I know.

And I can't trust you

to even finish the mowing!

- That's right, I'm irresponsible.

- You are!

- You get into fights, You run off...

- Yeah. Yeah.

You work yourself

into a lather over the Indians!

Right, right, right.

Oh, Smith. I did miss you.

Of course you did. Now, come on.

- Ma! Smith! Look!

- [vehicles approaching]

- What in the...?

- [Norah] Indians.

- [Smith] I don't believe it.

- Indians with beautiful hay mowers!

[indistinct yelling, cheering]

Smith, can me and Peterpaul

help with our mower?

- Yes.

- Peterpaul!

- Come on, let's cut the hay!

- Giddyap!

Move it, Young Alexander!

We almost got ya!

- McDonald!

- We're gonna cut your hay, Smith.

We're gonna get it all finished.

You have supper for hungry people?

Oh, you can eat the place bare!

I'll get everything ready!

Smith?

I think we're gonna make it this year.

Now you see, Smith?

No good to worry about hay.

McDonald, he come cut,

just like he tell you.

I stay here and

break that horse for the boy.

- You mean today? Now?

- Sure.

Smith...

...is good friend of Indian people.

All Indian people say,

"Smith is like big tree

out in the grass

when the sun is very hot."

Is that what they say?

Yeah.

Gonna be good day tomorrow, Smith.

That hay dry pretty quick, I think.

You're right, OI' Antoine. It certainly

looks like a good day tomorrow.

[I Bobby Russell: The Ballad

of Smith and Gabriel Jimmyboy]

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