The Hanging Tree Page #4

- Let me see your eyes.

- No!

Let me see your eyes.

Suppose we go outside

and try again.

- No.

- Why not?

There was a stagecoach.

One of the red men

was shooting.

- I'm blind again.

- Your eyes are all right.

Take your hands down.

Now listen to me.

If you keep your eyes closed,

you'll think from the sounds

that the world is falling on you.

But if you open your eyes and look,

you'll see things as they are.

I can not.

Now I'm going to leave you here.

You are on the edge of a cliff.

I don't advise you

to go through life

with your eyes closed.

She's all right.

She's free now.

Thought I told you

to go up on the hill.

I'm not going

until you go.

Well, it's going to be

quite a wait.

Listen, Doc.

She spent all afternoon picking out

supper for us. You know that.

Give her my apologies and

tell her I'm busy here.

You just can't treat

her that way.

You're minding my

business too much.

Aren't you a little confused

about who owns who?

Cards, Doc?

Do you want cards?

Yes.

- We were waiting for you.

- I'm sorry I couldn't come.

Are you afraid of me,

because I'm well now?

No, I'm glad you're well.

If you'll excuse me,

I'll say good night.

- You shouldn't have come in here.

- I know.

Go back to your own cabin. You're getting

out of here tomorrow on the stagecoach.

Where should I go?

New York. Back to Switzerland. Wherever people

go when they've come the wrong way.

- What would I do there?

- You have relatives.

There's no one here to look after you.

There is no place you here.

There's no way

you can make a living.

Why do you do this?

Because you have to go.

And because I intend to stay.

Why do you do this?

Don't send me away.

Youll be packed in the morning

and I'll take you to the stage.

No, you wont.

And you will not again

tell me what to do or not.

I will not take the coach

in the morning.

I came to make

this my home.

And I will do it.

In 6 weeks, this could be a ghost

town, with no-one left in it.

I'll be here!

Ill plant ghost wheat

and raise ghost cattle.

- And watch when I build my ghost house!

- With ghost money?

I will get some money.

Somehow I will.

Even if its only to pay you

for your services, Doctor.

Ill cover you for that bullet

youve been holding on me.

Oh, I threw that away

a long time ago.

You threw it away?

You mean Ive been working

for you and didnt have to?

- Looks that way.

- I'm free too?

You're the damndest, contraryest

human being I have ever seen.

Rune?

You better keep the old gray, too,

so you and the lady won't be afoot.

Good morning. My name is

Elizabeth Mahler. Thank you very much.

Hey, Rune.

Is that the Lost Lady?

- My name is Elizabeth Mahler.

- Pleased to meet you, ma'am.

Thank you very much.

- Welcome to Skull Creek, ma'am.

- Thank you.

You're a strange lady. You like

to talk to them strangers.

They speak and I speak back.

Good morning.

- Allow me, Lost Lady.

- We don't need no help!

Thank you very much.

My name is Elizabeth Mahler.

- Come on in before you start a riot.

- It's a great pleasure, madam.

Good morning.

- Are you Mrs. Flaunce?

- Yes I am.

- I'd like to talk to your husband.

- I'm here, Miss Mahler.

Thank you.

How do you do.

Rune tells me that you have been

very kind to me when I was found.

Nice to see you

up and around.

Thank you.

I would like a grubstake.

What did you say?

Rune and I

want to dig for gold.

I see. Isn't it unusual

for a lady?

- I'll be right with her.

- I'm not afraid of hard work.

Would you lend me

a grubstake on this?

It is worth much money.

It is a family heirloom.

The stones are very regal.

This is a very interesting piece.

I have a jewellers glass in the back room.

Do you mind if I take a look

at it through that?

No, of course not.

- Doc, they want a grubstake.

- That's what I thought.

She wants to borrow money on

this. She says it's an heirloom.

Looks to me like

it's not worth $20.

Tell her it's worth

whatever they want.

All right, Doc.

Seeing as you're paying for it.

Old Frenchy wasn't lying!

If you just give me the money,

I'll start the development.

No, first we must

discuss the agreement.

It's embarrassing talking business

with a lady, especially a pretty lady.

- Mr. Plante, tell us everything about this claim.

- Good point.

All right.

How about 20% of everything?

I can't be more generous than that.

I can get a grubstake

at any time for 5 or 10%.

Why didn't you?

No, I don't think 20% will do.

We want 50%.

- Now, take it or go with it.

- Or leave it.

Yes, or leave it.

- 50%.

- 50%.

Just for you, ma'am, I go with it.

You want to shake on it?

No, we just to Mr. Flaunce

and write out our agreement

And then we will shake hands.

''... it is agreed that should

any co-locator withdraw

from sharing in and the

working of said claim... ''

Whoa!

I set the sluice

up there at the waterfall,

aim her down past the tree

into the creek.

I'll start cutting brush.

Well, Lucky Lady?

If you just

sit in the shade, old

Frenchy will unload the wagon.

Mr. Plante, I will do my share of the work

if you would treat me as a man.

That ain't gonna be easy.

It will be easy if you find something to do with

your hands besides putting them on me.

You're something, you know that?

You're really something!

Go up and start

cutting sluice lumber.

Rune! Get up there

with the water!

Now we're ready

to start washing dirt.

Let her come!

Now we can start digging gold.

Now we can tear out the gold

that's been behind a shield

for over a million million years.

10 yards of towelling.

Who's having a baby?

Wonder Russell's wife.

Well, if I know her she'll cause trouble.

You'd better take 12.

Listen, have you heard anything

from up the river?

You aren't getting lonesome,

are you, Doc?

No, I just wanted to know

how things are going.

- Well, they got the sluice in.

- Get anything out?

Kind of a let down.

Only 5 ounces in 3 weeks.

Kind of slim return on your money.

It takes time.

They're into your account

for over $1,000.

- You want me to go on giving her whatever she wants?

- Yes.

- Even if it's a bust?

- Even if it's a total bust.

I don't pry into folk's affairs.

But as a business man I don't understand

what you're trying to prove.

Seeing as I'm not a businessman, Tom,

I don't have to justify my reasons.

Thanks for

keeping it confidential.

I haven't even told the wife.

I promised Wonder

I'd stay up with him.

He's more scared than his wife.

Funny about a man.

Funny that the woman got

such a hold on him.

Don't avoid that dog leg.

Over the ridge and down along the creek.

Here a solid month

and not one full poke to show for it.

I never had any luck. Always

on the outside looking in!

- We have to be patient.

- Patience is something I'm fresh out of.

Hello, Doctor. I wondered

when you would come to see.

I had to make a call

up the canyon.

- Would you like some coffee?

- Yes, please.

Thank you.

Doesn't a doctor always say

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