The Hired Hand Page #2

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20-- Just turned.

Hell, boy,

you didn't stand a chance.

Ah, it weren't her fault.

I wasn't ready, that's all.

Too hot to ride

and too hot to walk.

Well, it isnt far now.

Wonder what your wife's

going to say to you

When she lays eyes on you,

harry.

What I mean is, what kind

of nature does she have?

I don't rightly recall.

Only lived with her

about a year and nine months.

Well, if I had a horse

for a year and nine months,

I'd sure know

how many teeth he had.

Well, she had three teeth,

I remember that.

Hannah:
hello?

What can I do for you?

Go on inside, Janey.

I don't want to, mama.

Go on.

Do like I told you.

How have you been, Hannah?

Why'd you come back?

Got tired of the life.

What are you hoping for,

coming around here?

Work.

You don't have any right

to come back this way.

You think I can't send you away.

Think you're still married to me,

but that isnt so.

Look, Hannah, just let me

work the place for a bit,

Like a hired hand.

No difference.

See how it runs.

I'm asking you, Hannah.

I don't want Janey upset.

As far as she knows,

her father is dead.

I don't want you saying

no different.

Sure.

Come on.

Get ready for bed.

Shout me when you're in.

Not 100, mama.

I counted.

Off you go.

I'll add them to tomorrow night.

There's some sacks in the shed

And some clean straw

in the rack.

Should be a lamp there, too.

Tomorrow we'll talk about

what you're going to do.

Need some thinking

what to put you to.

Mama, Im in!

Coming, Janey.

All right.

See you in the morning.

Don't mind me asking, ma'am.

How come you don't have a dog?

I notice when we rolled up

there wasn't one.

Had one, but it ran away.

Never bothered to get another.

Good night, ma'am.

Welcome home, harry.

Yeah.

The straw smells good.

Beats sleeping on the ground.

What do you think, harry?

You think you'll stay?

Harry's turned in.

He's so tired,

he can't see proper.

By your leave, ma'am,

Ill just finish my smoke.

Surely.

What are you getting

out of this, Mr. Harris?

Ma'am, if I wasn't doing this,

Id be doing something else.

Be more prospects

in something else.

Well, me and harry, we rid

around together a long time.

He's keen to try this for a while,

So Ill just string along.

Why'd he come back?

Just got tired

of drifting around.

He'll go.

It's just a matter of time.

Well, most things are, ma'am,

one way or the other.

Ask Mr. Marshall at the store

If that lead paint

has come yet.

We can paint the house

before winter comes.

And don't forget

the jars for preserving fruit

And don't forget my candy.

Candy?

You don't eat candy, do you?

Look there, it's write

n down -- "Candy for Janey."

Come on. Hey!

Bye, Janey.

I'll go on over

to the general store.

You go set up the beers.

Sounds like a reasonable

division of labor.

Give me two beers.

Hello, there.

You riding on through?

No, sir,

we picked up a job.

You with somebody else?

Yes, sir.

We're working

for miss Collings.

Oh? Both of you?

Yes, sir, that's right.

Well, now, she's really down

to some serious business.

She's a fair woman

to work for, all right.

Fair?

Why, the widow Collings

is more than fair.

She's downright generous.

You can always tell a man

who's got something on his mind.

He keeps talking to people

he don't know.

Now what is it

you're trying to tell me?

What Im trying to tell you,

mister,

Is that most men who work

for the widow Collings

Get paid in more than cash and keep.

I'll surely remember that.

Save me getting

a lot of fancy notions.

And you can tell her

when you get back

That Ed Plummer

might take a ride out to see her.

One of these

moonshine nights.

What's he talking about,

arch?

There's your partner.

How do you work it, boys?

Night about,

or do you each do a week?

He was talking about Hannah,

wasn't he?

Was he?

You know he was.

That's why you hit him.

Stopped him from saying

something about her.

What was it, arch?

Said she slept

with the hired help.

If you're going to swing at me,

I'll take a great deal

of pleasure

In kicking the living sh*t

out of you.

Do you believe him?

He was a mouth off.

It's the kind of story

you find in any saloon.

You really believe that, arch?

Of course I do!

I am not saying your Hannah

Never looked the side

a man was on...

but I sure don't believe

What that fellow

was saying.

If I was you, harry,

I wouldn't be putting

no questions to her.

She isnt going to take

too kindly

To you setting up

judgment on her.

Giddy up!

Did I get the feeling

Your friend Harris

made himself scarce?

Could be.

Why could that be now?

I guess he knows

I want to talk to you.

What about?

I hope you arent getting

ready to propose.

In town today,

someone said...

they made some remarks

about you.

What sort of remarks?

About you and the men

that worked here.

Go on.

What did they say?

You know what they said.

They said you slept

with all your hired hands.

You hired men to sleep with.

God, what do you know about it?

How many?

Does it matter?

Of course it matters!

You were long gone

before anybody got into my bed.

And don't think that's

'cause I was hankering after you.

I wasn't.

That was as long

as I could stand it.

I walked about this room

on nights like this,

Going crazy for a man,

any man, didn't matter.

And sometimes, when there

was a man out there,

He knew about it,

and he'd come in.

And sometimes Id have him

or he'd have me --

Whatever suits you.

But not all of them, and not

every time I wanted to.

And when the season's work

was over, Id pay them off,

No matter how well he'd worked

or how well he'd pleased me,

'Cause the man

that's in a woman's bed

Thinks he's her boss.

And sooner or later,

they'd have tried

To move their tackle

out of the shed and in here,

And I didn't want that,

'Cause Id already

had one man in here,

And I didn't want another.

Is that all you wanted to ask me?

Woman:
miss Collings?

Mrs. Collings?

Oh, I was just passing,

thought Id drop by.

I never seem to catch you

in town somehow.

Hello, Mrs. Sorenson.

It's not often I get visits

from your good self.

I'm so glad

to hear the news.

I'm sure

you're very pleased.

Oh?

Well, I saw the paper

with my very own eyes.

Carl said he recognized him

in town today,

But I said

that wasn't possible

Because we hadn't even come

to Calmen in those days.

But Im sure

you're very pleased.

Janey, you go on outside

and play for a bit.

And I bet you're pleased, too,

aren't you, little Janey?

Go on, Janey.

Go on outside like I told you.

I assume you're talking about

the fact that Harrys come back.

Oh, yes, of course.

Maybe we'll see you in town

at the quiltings and all.

Folks are always saying what

a pity you never get into town.

Mrs. Sorenson, I didn't know

that he was coming back,

And I don't know

how long he'll stay.

I don't want Janey upset.

She thinks her father's dead.

If she finds out different,

and if he goes off again -

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