The Hanging Tree Page #3

- I took a nightgown from your trunk.

- Thank you.

Don't be disturbed about anything.

I'll take care of you.

- Morning, Rune.

- I was just going to call you to breakfast.

- Got enough for three?

- Sure.

Is she going to be all right?

She'll need quiet and

protection from strangers.

Rig that up on the porch

so she can call us.

- Is that all to it, Mr. Flaunce?

- Yes, that's all we've got to ship.

- The gold crease petering out?

- Never has been a big strike.

Nobody's had any glory holes here.

Well, good luck!

Good morning, Rune.

Where did you get the horse?

Doc took it in on a fee.

Doc sent me to see

if you got them eggs.

Yeah, I got a dozen and

I saved three for you.

How's the Lost Lady?

She's sitting up for the first time.

but is still weak.

- And still blind?

- The doc says it will take some time yet.

These are mighty precious

this far out.

- You tell the Lost Lady we're all pulling for her.

- All right.

That will be $3, pay the missus.

Isn't $3 mighty high for eggs?

That's $1 apiece.

That's not bad. They came

all the way from Sour Creek.

I suppose the Doctor's busy with

his various practices up there.

Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

Well, looks like church!

A few of us women have

decided to see about that girl.

If the Doc wanted help

he'd ask for it.

She may be the one who needs help.

She's hardly in the hands of saints.

Edna, don't stick your nose in

where it's not wanted.

If she's decent, she doesn't

belong up there.

If she isn't, we'll

soon know.

It was a bad winter.

My mother died that year.

My father said:

''Let's go somewhere else

A place that is new and bright

and not ever hungry.''

Oh, it was wonderful.

The steam train to St. Louis.

and the steam boat

up the Missouri.

And then the coach over the mountains

and through wide lands.

This was why we

had come so far.

''And now,'' my father said,

''While you're thinking,

try and find the right place''.

Did you think that

this would be the right place?

When I can see again,

I'll know.

What you will see is a raw,

wild little gold camp.

The crawling ants here will blow away

with the first wind from the next site.

And you'll see some of

the scum of the world.

- Not a place you'd want to live.

- Why are you here? And Rune?

- Maybe we belong here.

- I got no place else to be.

Tell me what Rune's like?

And you, Doctor Frail?

What are you like?

Rune? He's kind of cross-eyed

and has two thumbs on each hand.

Doc's got a long

gray beard and no teeth.

We're poorly paired.

I know that's not true.

Rune is very handsome.

But it's mainly that I have

no such description at all.

I only know of his hands.

They are burned from the sun

and gentle.

And his legs must be very long because

he crosses the room in 3 steps.

We've also got some customers.

Or some fancy visitors.

One of them's the landlady.

What have we here?

- Four ladies in trouble?

- We've come to see Miss Mahler.

- Miss Mahler isn't receiving visitors.

- Isn't that for her to say?

No, Miss Mahler is in my care.

Until she's well, that will continue.

The decent element of this town...

What are you doing, Doctor?

I'm aiding your departure.

And unless all of you ladies are pregnant

and need my services

I suggest you

mind your own business.

- Am I a prisoner, Rune?

- Doc tells everybody what to do.

Rune? Is someone there?

Just good old Frenchy Plante,

come to pay his respects.

I'm the one that found you

in the wilderness, remember?

I was wondering if you

can spare my canteen.

I'm sorry, I'm

not dressed for company.

- Would you mind the door?

- Sure, ma'am. Sure.

Hey!

You almost fell, Lost Lady.

Well, I saved you a

second time!

Well, not that it matters. If I didn't

find you, someone else might have.

But then it might

have been too late.

- I wish there was something I could do for you.

- As a matter of fact there is.

I was just going to ask

if you could help me out.

- What can I do?

I've got this spot all

picked out

that looks like it might produce

real color if I could just boost it.

Color?

You are talking about gold?

Gold? Lost Lady, more gold

than anybody has dreamed of!

- How would you like to be rich?

- I would love to be rich.

Whoever grubstakes Frenchy,

is going to be mighty lucky.

- Grubstake? It means you need money?

- That's right, Lost Lady.

I'm afraid I haven't any.

My father was carrying our money.

I would have been happy

to lend you some.

Oh, that don't matter none.

I just came here on

a social call anyway.

But maybe you... just a

little kiss, huh?

Like what?

- Mr. Plante came for his canteen, Doctor.

- Yes, yes.

He has it.

- I'd better be going, ma'am.

- Good night, Mr. Plante.

- Are you all right, Elizabeth?

- Yes.

If you don't need anything,

I have some business to attend to.

Rune! Rune!

Fix the warning bell.

It's been cut.

From now on, you'll

sleep under her stairs.

Joe!

Stow this behind the bar!

I ain't afraid of you, Doc.

But I ain't packing a gun!

I want you all to witness that

I ain't packing a gun!

I just paid a visit to the Lost Lady

and Doc is taking offence.

Unclip that razor from your neck

and I'll get rid of this gun.

Doc, you mean you'd stoop to dirty

your hands on common folk like me?

Yes.

If I ever find you on this hill again

It makes no difference whether

you're wearing a gun or not...

I'll kill you.

Now you listen.

I warn you again.

That butcher doctor

is the devil

and you must cast him out!

Looks like the doc is going to keep

the little lady all to himself.

Kick my dog. It can

sleep around.

Then I kick them back.

With a good friend.

- Did you kill him?

- No.

- She said he did nothing to her, Doc.

- I don't care.

- I don't want any of them near her.

- You don't own her, Doc.

Is that how it was before?

You tried to own somebody

until they hated you?

Go ahead. Hit me!

You own me, Doc!

Close the shutters.

To avoid shock to your eyes,

we are darkening the room.

Now, sit up and face me.

Light the lamp.

I have removed

the outer bandage.

Turn the lamp down a little.

Now I am removing

the inner bandage.

Remember, you can't expect

immediate vision.

Now, there are just

the pads over your eyes.

I am going to soften them

with cool water.

Turn the lamp very low, Rune.

Now bring it over

to my right.

Ready, Elizabeth?

Pray for me, Doctor.

Hold the lamp high, Rune.

Open your eyes.

Can you see anything?

No.

Move the lamp from

right to left.

Nothing.

Not quite nothing, Elizabeth.

Your eyes are following the lamp.

- Tell me what you see.

- Please, Lady. Try.

- I see a little light moving through a fog.

- A little light? That's a lot.

That's more than

most of us see.

And tomorrow you'll see much more.

I can not see anyone.

I love you first.

What's wrong?

My eyes! They

are hurting me!

Her eyes hurt.

They burn! Like fire!

When did this begin?

It got dark again.

I'm blind again!

I know it!

Go to the cabin.

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