Joe Dakota (1957) Movie Script
1
(soft piano chords)
(lilting orchestral music)
("Flower of San Antone"
by David and Joseph)
(stranger whistling ballad
"Flower of San Antone")
(birds chirping)
(quiet western harmonica music)
(soft violin music)
(knocking)
(birds chirping)
(stranger whistling ballad
"Flower of San Antone")
Hello!
Hello!
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
(romantic violins swelling)
Hello.
Imagine my not seeing you.
What kind of a town is this, anyway?
[Woman] It's a small town.
Oh, I can see that.
Where's everybody else?
Or are you the only one who lives here?
Everybody else is working.
[Stranger] And they left
you here to run the town.
Did you want supplies?
No.
Wind always blow like this around here?
Sometimes.
Sure you won't just vanish
the minute my back is turned?
I'll be here, I live here.
I'll be back.
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
(clunking)
(whimsical violin music)
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
[Man In Blue Shirt] All
right, men, pull it up again!
[Men] Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
[Man In Blue Shirt] Let her go!
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad orchestral music)
(tools clanging)
All right, take it up!
[Men] Pull!
Pull!
Pull, steady, pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Let her go, now!
(weight thuds)
Pull it up again.
Hold it.
Cal, we got company.
(birds chirping)
Hi, something I can do for you?
Oh, I'm just riding by,
and I noticed you were
drilling an oil well.
Yeah (laughs)
Looks interesting.
Thought I'd stop and watch
for awhile, if you don't mind.
[Cal] No, no, I guess
it'll be all right.
Thank you.
Who is he, Cal?
I don't know, just
riding through, I guess.
Wants to watch.
You want him to keep
on going, just say so.
No, no, I don't think
he'll get in the way.
(somber woodwind orchestral music)
Pull it up again, now!
[Men] Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Let her go!
(weight thuds)
(tense western orchestral music)
Look, mister, just because
I said you could watch,
doesn't mean you have
the run of the place.
This is private property, you know.
Where's the fellow
who lives in the shack?
Nobody lives there.
Oh.
Where's the fellow who owns the property?
I own it.
If it's a job you're looking for,
I'm afraid we can't use you.
This is what you might call
a small, private operation.
And as you can see, we're quite...
Oh, I see, I won't bother you.
Hello, how long you fellas
been diggin' this well?
I don't think you got a good look
at that No Trespassing sign.
We could read it to him.
Yeah (laughs).
Hey, mister.
Excuse me.
Let me give you a little tip, friend.
People in a small town don't
like strangers very much
at any time, and when these
people are diggin' an oil well,
they don't like strangers at all.
You know, I think you'd
better get on your horse
and ride away from this small town.
You understand?
Yeah.
All right, take it up!
Bring that drill over here!
I thought you were leaving.
How long do you say you've
been drillin' this well?
[Cal] I didn't say.
That shack up there.
Did you build it, or was that here before?
I don't think that's
any of your business.
What about this pool of oil?
What about it?
Well, it doesn't look
like you've hit oil yet,
so it must have been here before.
[Cal] You're just full
of questions, aren't you?
Made it pretty simple for you
to figure out where to put this well down.
(splashing)
(laughing)
Aw, you fellas shouldn't have done that.
Well, you seem to be having
a problem about our oil pool.
Yeah, we wanted you to
get to the bottom of it.
(laughing)
See you boys around.
(men laughing)
Ho, there.
Now, don't try to be funny.
It's me.
Who is he, Cal?
I don't know.
From the questions he was
asking about the oil well,
my guess is he's a wildcatter.
Isn't that a pretty rough
way to treat him, Cal?
Best thing to do is
get rid of him, Frank.
I know these wildcatters.
Once they smell oil and
start asking questions,
they try to figure out a
way to cut themselves in.
Myrna, you don't
suppose that Jody told him
what we were doing when
he came through town?
No, she wouldn't talk
to a stranger, Dad.
She hardly talks to us any more.
Maybe she did, but don't worry about it.
I don't think he'll be back.
All right, boys, get the drill.
(bouncy woodwind music)
(laughing)
If I'd known where you were going,
I could've told you they
don't like visitors.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
This your store?
My father's.
If I had some coal oil,
I could clean some of this stuff off.
Got any money?
This is money.
It is?
Will be, after I clean it up some.
It's not gonna help your clothes much.
I think you need some new ones.
I think you're right, you find my size?
I'm pretty dirty to come inside.
Shirt large, pants small.
Ahh, better make the
pants medium, socks large.
Sure could use a bath.
There's a public bath
upstairs, you could use that.
[Stranger] You know it
sure is a funny thing.
[Jody] What is?
Oh, you're being so
friendly and so helpful.
Look at the way they treated me.
How come you're so nice?
I'm not as interested in
that oil well as they are.
[Stranger] That's good.
Neither am I.
You're not?
Then why'd you go out there?
Came here to see the old man.
The Indian.
Joe Dakota?
Who?
[Jody] The Indian.
What'd you call him?
Joe Dakota.
You came out here to see a man,
and don't even know his name?
That's nothin', I don't
know your name, either.
Jody Weaver.
Jody?
Well, Jody, I know that's
Joe's shack out there,
but one of the men told
me it's his property.
And nobody lived there at all.
Is that right?
Farm used to belong to Joe Dakota,
but he doesn't live there anymore.
Hey, where you goin'?
(door slams and lock clicks)
Hey, Jody, wait a minute!
Hey, Jody, you can't leave
me out here like this!
What about my bath?
(stranger whistling
"Flower of San Antone")
There are fools who must always wander
And go wherever the winds have blown
I heard the call, and I rode out yonder
So far from my home in San Antone
I want a love so sweet and tender
The dearest love I'll ever know
[Jody] Hey!
In my heart she'll bloom forever
[Jody] Hey, mister!
So far far from San Antone
[Jody] Hey!
Hey!
Get over, Blackie, get
over, get over, come on.
Get over there, boy, get over there.
Hi!
[Jody] What do you think you're doing?
[Stranger] Taking a bath.
You shouldn't be taking it in there.
[Stranger] You shouldn't
have locked me out!
It's the only place in town that was open.
[Jody] You'd better get out of there.
[Stranger] What'd you run away for?
You're in trouble now.
(somber woodwind music)
(tense orchestral music)
Ho!
What in blazes is he doing?
That man, taking a bath!
Jody, get away from that window!
Rosa, take Maddie inside, right away.
That fella's got a lot of gall.
Gotta get him outa there.
Thing like that could
give this town a bad name.
[Sam] Come on, Sis, that's
nothing for you to be looking at.
Scandalous!
Well, you don't have
to keep looking, Ethel.
Myrna, take the women
and kids into the store.
Keep 'em off the street.
We'll handle this.
(ominous brass orchestral music)
I guess maybe I'd
better explain this, huh?
Go ahead.
Make it good.
Well, to be truthful, I,
I didn't expect you to get back so soon.
And, took me a lot longer
to get this stuff off
than it did for you to get it on me.
That's no reason for
makin' a public bath
out of our water trough.
It is a little more public
than I figured, at that.
You oughta be thrown in jail.
If you jail him, you gotta feed him.
Horse whippin's cheaper.
I thought we made it clear before
that you're not welcome here.
Oh, you made that clear enough.
May need a little help.
Just what kind of help
you think you'd get from us?
Well, now the way I see
it, we got two choices.
We can wait here until it gets dark,
or you fellas can make a tighter circle
and I can get up outa here.
Would you please throw me
the towel off my saddle bag?
I think you've stalled
around long enough.
[Stranger] Money for the new clothes
is over there on the bench.
How'd you get the stuff, anyway?
Just go in my store and take it?
[Stranger] Nope.
Your lovely daughter got them for me.
You mean my Jody was out here when you...
[Stranger] No, of course not.
We were over there,
talking about the Indian.
Joe Dakota.
She ran inside and locked the door.
(water splashing)
[Adam] Hold it.
I'm afraid I got the water pretty soapy.
Are you gonna get on that horse,
or are we gonna make other plans for you?
I don't suppose any of you boys
like to tell me where the
old man went, would you?
Nope, I didn't think you would.
(ominous orchestral music)
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
(upbeat western orchestral music)
(somber woodwind music)
(tom toms thrumming)
(laughter)
[Cal] I don't think
we'll be bothered with him
coming around here again.
[Aaron] He sure don't discourage easy,
I'll say that for him.
[Jim] I don't feel right about it, Cal.
I think we handled that fella all wrong.
Jim, you worry too much.
You know, if you go on like
this, you won't be able
to shave yourself, let
alone your customers.
I don't know, Cal.
Rosa and me's been talking.
It seemed to us our town is a'changed.
It used to be a nice,
friendly place, but no more.
Used to be a friendly
people, open, kind.
We're still the same people.
Ah, but we're not the same people.
Look at what we do to that man today.
And look at what we do to Cal.
Just a little while ago.
When he's coming, we say, come in.
Sit down, have a glass of wine.
We shake his hand, we
listen to his talkin'
nice and friendly-like.
That's because you were friendly.
And because you did listen to me
when I told you about
the oil on Dakota's farm,
we're all partners in a
venture that will make us rich.
That's why we have to be
careful about outsiders.
You know, no other stranger would walk in
and give you an oil well.
He'd only trying to take it away from you.
But that is not the reason
we throw this fellow out today.
It's because we're scared.
We're scared somebody's
gonna find out the truth
about what we do.
We so scared, we, we don't
even wanna talk to each other.
We're not scared of that, Mark.
We only did what we had to do.
I don't think any of us
should be ashamed of it.
We did it to keep this a
good town, a friendly town.
But it's nobody else's business.
And we have to see that it stays that way.
Forget it, Mark, you'll have
plenty of time to be friendly
when that well comes in.
When we get our hands
on some of that money.
That's the day I'm waiting for!
I might even buy me a shave!
You have to talk to my assistant.
(laughter)
Well, even without help, Jim,
you're the unbusiest man in town.
How much longer we gonna have to wait?
Cal says it could come in any time.
Mark, let's have round of drinks on me.
I didn't realize it was so soon.
Just like I've been telling Bertha.
Little farmers like me
ain't gonna get rich
no matter how many times
we pick up and move on.
But this time, I think
we're located to stay.
It's gonna be real nice for Sis, too.
Ethel never was pretty enough
to catch herself a husband.
She deserves something outa life.
I think maybe I talk too much.
Come on, bring your glasses,
wine is on the house.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(water splashing)
(Jody humming "Flower of San Antone")
(upbeat orchestral music)
Ho.
Come on.
You go on, I'll be over in a minute.
How do you do, honey?
I saw you outside a minute ago.
Did you go for a walk today?
Jody, wouldn't you feel better
if you came out to the
well once in awhile?
I'd stay here.
Jody, this is ridiculous, you
can't go on not talking to me.
(stranger whistling
"Flower of San Antone")
What's that?
(whistling continues)
[Jody] I knew he'd come back.
What'd you say?
[Jody] I knew he'd come back.
(whistling continues)
He told you this?
[Jody] No, he didn't
tell me, I just knew.
Well, he's gonna be sorry he did.
You stay here.
Sure is quite a town.
It's always empty, except
for one pretty girl.
You're a different pretty girl.
Where's Jody?
Never mind about my sister.
If you think this town is empty,
you're in for an unpleasant surprise.
Wait a minute, I'll go with you.
Cal, Cal, he's back!
[Stranger] Glass of wine, please.
(somber orchestral music)
Wait a minute, Mark.
Thank you.
I don't think he'll be around
long enough to drink that.
[Stranger] Maybe I won't, at that.
You answer a couple of
simple questions for me,
maybe I can leave you for good.
[Cal] Let's hear the questions.
All right, where's the Indian?
The old man, you know, as Jody put it.
[Cal] The Indian doesn't
live here any more.
You mean, he left town?
[Cal] Yeah, he left.
When did he leave?
Oh, two weeks ago, maybe, maybe more.
[Stranger] Where'd he go?
He didn't say.
Do you know where I can find him?
[Cal] No.
Does anyone know where I can find him?
No.
Well, looks like I'll just have to
stick around for awhile.
For what?
Maybe I like it here.
It's a pretty little town.
Nice people, friendly.
Why don't all you folks
have a drink with me?
Why not?
Let's have drink with him.
You remember what Mark told us last night?
Let's show him how friendly we really are.
Where?
Why don't you and Adam see if our friend
would like to join your club?
Sure, Cal.
That's a fine idea.
Of course, it's a pretty exclusive club.
Yeah, but we're always
lookin' for new members.
And if you plan to stay around here,
you'd better join, it's
the only club in town.
Sounds interesting.
Who's in your club?
Just us.
Me and Aaron.
What do you do?
Oh, we drink, mostly.
[Adam] Yeah, drinking club.
[Stranger] I'm in favor of that.
[Aaron] Only we play
a little game, first.
[Adam] To see who buys the drinks.
But I already offered to buy.
No, that'd spoil all the fun.
And it's against the rules.
I figured there'd be rules.
It's real easy, it goes like this.
First, I try to knock Adam off his stool.
But I only get one punch.
That's a rule.
And I can't hang onto
nothing with my hands.
That's a rule.
If Adam falls off, he's gotta buy.
But I didn't, so now it's my turn
to try to knock Aaron offa his stool.
(Aaron grunts)
But neither one of you fell off.
Yeah, that's a tie.
So we keep on going 'til somebody wins.
I understand why you
have a limited membership.
Well, it's a small town.
We don't get visitors very often.
Well, I don't join many clubs.
When a visitor does come to town,
he's too busy trespassin'.
Or pokin' his nose into
somebody else's business.
Or takin' baths.
(laughing)
Or maybe he's just yella.
Yeah.
Couldn't I just buy a round
of drinks for the house,
and let it go at that?
Not without joining the club.
No, we couldn't drink
with you, if you're yella.
Well, sounds like a
harmless little game.
I'll join your club.
Please, mister, why don't
you just leave town, huh?
[Stranger] What do we do first?
First, we have the initiation.
You just turn around and face Adam.
My younger brother's still a growin' boy.
Probably doesn't have
his full strength yet.
I thought he did pretty
good for a young fella.
My turn, now?
Looks like it.
[Adam] Yes, it is.
[Stranger] Ready?
[Adam] Yeah.
We're ready.
[Stranger] Who's first?
[Adam] I guess I am.
Looks like you fellas buy.
You boys really like to fight, don't you.
Yeah, we sure do.
And we get awful tired
of fightin' each other.
(dramatic orchestral music)
That was a very
impressive demonstration.
[Stranger] Thanks.
But it doesn't mean a thing.
There isn't any place for
you to stay in Arborville.
And that includes the street.
Well, don't worry about me.
I own a little piece of
property around here.
It's got a shack on it.
I'll spend tonight at my place.
(whimsical orchestral music)
Wait a minute, mister.
It's about time you stopped bluffing.
We know every piece of land
in this area, and who owns it.
Which piece do you claim is yours?
You're drilling an oil well on it.
You're getting unfunnier by the minute.
Who do you think you are?
Thought you'd never ask me.
The name is Joe Dakota.
That's right.
And the Recorder's Office, County Seat,
shows clearly that the property
is registered in my name.
Since I don't remember
selling it to anyone,
I figure it still belongs to me.
You're wrong, mister, that's my land,
the old Indian sold it to me.
Frank, get my envelope outa your safe.
Sure, Cal, we can put a
stop to this mighty quick.
Joe Dakota?
How could his name be Joe Dakota?
Could be the old man's son.
No, he couldn't, he's not an Indian.
Could be a half-breed.
He looks enough like an
Indian to be a half-breed.
Sure fights like a savage.
[Frank] Here you are, Cal.
This paper's worthless.
Worthless, just because
I haven't had time
to get it recorded doesn't mean a thing.
It's legal here as it would
be at the County Seat.
Except that the Indian
didn't make this mark.
I say he did.
I doubt if he's ever seen it.
He saw it and he made the mark.
Then there's only
one way to settle this.
Let's get him.
Bring him back here, find out from him.
We told you, the old Indian is gone.
That's your problem.
(crowd murmuring)
And you can forget about
any more drilling out there
until we get this thing settled.
I told you, we don't know where he went.
Well, then we'll just have
to wait until you find out.
Or until one of you...
Remembers.
(somber orchestral music)
Frank, you better put
this back in the safe.
(crowd murmurs)
[Tom] I wonder what
Cal's gonna do about this.
[Myrna] What does it mean,
what is he trying to do?
Oh, he's just some wildcatter
trying to bluff his way in.
I had him spotted right the first time.
How can we be sure he's bluffing, Cal?
That's right, he seems to
know more about this Indian
than a stranger should.
Look, I didn't say he wasn't
smart, he's proved that.
With one quick trip to the County Seat,
he gets just enough information
to make it sound like
he knows more than he really does.
Maybe we should ask him
to prove he's Joe Dakota.
My guess is, that he can do it.
And a lot easier than we
can prove that he wasn't.
Right now.
You think he's telling the truth?
No, of course not.
But you can be sure that he
took the trouble to get some
kind of evidence, just in
case we did ask for it.
Could have been anything
with Joe Dakota's name on it.
Phony letter or something.
I don't know, Cal, he
seemed awful sure of himself.
Wait a minute, Jim,
what are you getting at?
Well, nothing, Cal, I was
just thinking that maybe.
Thinkin' what, that he's right?
Because if you are, you
know what that means.
Means you think that I'm wrong.
He as much as said that I stole
that land from the Indian.
Is that what you believe?
Oh no, Cal, no!
Nobody thinks that, Cal.
Nobody here believes
anything that fella told us.
We all know about the paper.
Jim, you saw it go into the safe.
Yeah, I did.
Bud, you were here in the store.
Yeah, I remember.
Myrna opened the safe, I put
the paper in, and locked it.
And we all know when it was done.
Nobody doubts you, Cal, not
after what you've done for us.
For all of us.
I know, Myrna, I know.
But that's not what concerns me.
Well, what is it, then?
Well, it's something I
should have thought of before.
There is a chance the Indian
sold me a piece of land
that he didn't really own.
Something he had no right to sell.
(dramatic orchestral chords)
You think such a thing is possible?
Well, the well this close to coming in,
and him sitting out there.
We need to find out.
I'm going to County Seat.
(somber orchestral music)
I'm scared, Cal, I'm afraid
it's all gonna fall apart.
I couldn't stand that.
I wanna walk down a
street that isn't dirty,
where everybody's different,
not always the same.
It means a lot to me, too, honey.
That surface oil pot, as shallow as it is,
will be the stake to get
us started on the next one,
and the one after that, I
don't wanna lose that stake.
I don't wanna lose you.
You won't lose me.
I used to pray that somebody
like you would come here.
I was so grateful when you
did, even before I knew you.
Ever since you've been here,
it's been wonderful and exciting.
I don't want anything to
happen to our plans, Cal.
Nothing is gonna happen, Myrna.
If I find that the Indian
really owned that land,
we'll have very little trouble
with the new Joe Dakota.
Supposing you find something else?
The worst that I can find
out is that this fellow
really owns the land.
I figure that if he does, he's
the only one who knows it.
(romantic violin music swells)
(dramatic orchestral chords)
(dramatic orchestral music)
Hold it, right there.
(rifle cocking)
And I don't think you'll
have any need for that rifle.
[Cal] I didn't come
out here for any trouble,
but I think you and I had
better have a little talk.
What for?
Nothing to talk about
unless you found the Indian.
You know, when you first came into town,
I had a feeling that I've
seen you someplace before?
I don't think so.
Oh, I spent a good many
years around the oil fields.
Maybe it was Pico Canyon I saw you.
Is that where you're from?
Nope.
Well, sooner or later,
every wildcatter winds up at Newhall.
[Joe] Is that so?
Well, it's the only oil
refinery in the state, isn't it?
Newhall you say?
[Cal] Yeah.
Never heard of it.
Well, you are an oilman, aren't you?
You know what I think?
I think you ask an awful lot of questions
for a man who says that I am bluffing.
Hold it.
Well, now just a minute, friend.
I was trying to be nice to you.
I know we were a little rough on you,
and I'm sorry for that.
I'm even willing to overlook the fact
that you're trespassing until
we get this thing settled.
Well, as I understand it,
possession is nine points of the law.
And as you can see, I'm in
possession of this place.
So until somebody changes
that, one way or another,
it looks to me like you're trespassing.
Let me give you a friendly tip.
People in a small town
don't like strangers
prowling around their places at night.
So why don't you just climb on your horse
and ride away from this place?
(dramatic orchestral music)
Are you listening, Jody?
Sure.
This is important, I don't
want you to talk to him again.
I think he's nice.
Well he's not nice.
If he's that Indian's son
or any relation at all,
it's not safe for you to get
near him, and you know why.
I wish you'd stop talking about it.
Well, I'm only doing
it for your own good.
Cal says he's dangerous.
Cal's afraid of him.
Cal's not afraid of anybody.
He's not?
No, he's not.
Neither am I.
(somber orchestral music)
(tapping)
All right, keep your shirt on.
(tapping)
All right.
Come in.
Ask for a shave, I guess.
[Jim] Must be 1 o'clock in the morning.
Yep, a shave.
You said, shave?
Yeah, cash customer.
That'll be something different, too.
Time I get a sack of potatoes.
Maybe a chicken.
I'll have to use cold water.
That's fine.
What's your name?
[Jim] Jim.
What's your last name?
Jim Baldwin.
[Joe] Good to know you, Jim.
I guess you know my name.
Yes, yes I do.
(blade scratching)
Jim.
Huh?
This fella Cal, lived
around here for a long time?
Oh, Cal Moore?
No, not as long as the rest of us have.
He seems kind of like
one of us, now, I guess.
You people are pretty lucky
to have an oil expert here,
just when you found out
that there was oil here, weren't you?
[Jim] Yeah, I guess we were.
Only he said he wasn't
looking for oil, when he came.
I thought wildcatters
were always looking for oil.
That's what I figured, too.
Only according to him,
he's just looking for a
nice piece of farming land.
Said he was through with
oil, wanted to settle down.
That's why he wanted to buy
the Indian's place, farming?
Yeah, that's what I figure, I guess.
Jim, let's talk about the Indian.
He didn't really wanna sell his farm.
Isn't that right, Jim?
And when he couldn't persuade
him to sell his place,
he tried to force him into
it, even threaten him.
[Jim] He ain't gonna get me
talking about that, no sirree.
Jim?
Jim?
(crickets chirping)
(footsteps crunching)
Well, hello.
I thought I might be having
all kinds of visitors out here.
I sure didn't expect you.
Not this time of night.
It's almost morning.
I had to come out, while
everybody was asleep,
or I wouldn't get a chance
to talk to you at all.
Come in.
Well, what'll we talk about?
I wanna know who you are.
Thought you weren't
interested in the oil.
I'm not, but there can be other reasons.
Well, as I said, my name is Joe Dakota.
[Jody] That's not true.
Isn't it?
And you're not his son,
like they say in town.
Joe Dakota didn't have a son.
How do you know that?
He told me.
I used to come out here
to see him, lots of times.
He'd talk, he'd show me how to make things
or would tell me stories
about when he was a scout
for the cavalry.
Sounds like you knew him pretty well.
I did, he was my friend.
If you came here just to steal his land,
why did you have to steal his name?
I didn't steal his name.
As a matter of fact, he borrowed mine.
You're making that up.
You didn't even know his name
until I told you what it was.
I just didn't know he was using it.
I came up here because the
old man sent me a telegram
asking me for help.
He sent for you?
He was my friend,
too, that's why I came.
You came too late, he's dead.
I was afraid that might be it.
Do you know who killed him?
Everyone.
They hanged him.
Hanged him.
Why?
Because he wouldn't sell his farm?
What kind of a town is this?
They hanged him for what he did to me.
For what he did to you?
I came out here one
night, and Joe was drunk.
He grabbed me, tore my
clothes, and hit me,
and I got away from him and ran off.
When they heard what he tried to do,
they came out here and
got him, and hanged him.
Who sent you out here
to tell me this fantastic story?
It's not a fantastic story.
It's the truth.
I don't believe you.
He couldn't have done a thing
like that, drunk or sober.
That's what makes it
so hard to understand.
Maybe it was my fault.
I don't believe that, either.
Your story just doesn't make sense.
It didn't take an expert to figure out
there was oil on this land.
Almost anyone who saw that
surface pool out there
could make a pretty good guess.
Well, somebody made that guess.
Now there's an oil well here.
And the Indian is dead and the whole town
is trying to hide behind
a phony piece of paper.
But Cal put that paper
in my father's safe
two weeks before the hanging.
Then why was the old man still here?
Cal said he could stay
until he was ready to take possession.
They gave you all the
answers, didn't they.
Nobody told me what to say.
I'm telling you the truth.
Well, go back, and
tell them it didn't work.
I'm sorry that's the
reason you came out here.
I'll tell you the real reason.
I came out here because
I thought you were nice.
And because I hoped what
they were saying about you
wasn't the truth.
That won't work either, Jody.
You're a lovely-looking girl.
I'm sorry you're not
as honest as you look.
I hate you.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(western ballad harmonica music)
(sad violin music)
What are you doing?
Getting dressed.
Jody, you've been crying again.
Wait for me, honey, let's
have breakfast together,
and we can talk.
[Jody] I don't want any breakfast.
Dad, I think you'd better
have a talk with Jody.
She was crying this morning,
and it looks like it's
starting all over again.
Myrna, I don't know what to say to her.
Well, you'll have to say something.
She won't even talk to me.
Where is she?
Out front.
Hello, Frank, kind of
nice to have a day off
from the oil well at that, isn't it?
Gives us all a chance
to catch up on things.
Myrna's inside.
Hello, folks.
Oh, Frank!
Has anybody seen him yet, today?
Who?
Him, you know.
No, not a sign.
If I don't watch that boy,
he'll hand his hand in your candy jar.
Don't you worry, we'll count the pieces.
Missed you at breakfast
this morning, Jody.
I wasn't hungry.
Honey, I hate to see
you get like this again.
You were so much better.
Was I?
I suppose there's that
fella coming into town,
asking about the Indian,
made you start thinking about it again.
Is that it?
Something like that.
I know it's no use to
say, don't think about it.
But at least we made
sure nothing like that
will ever happen here again.
Did the oil well have
anything to do with it, Dad?
What do you mean by that?
Did you hang Joe Dakota
to get the oil on his farm?
Jody, that's a terrible thing to say.
You shouldn't even have
thoughts like that.
What kind of people do you think we are?
That's what I'd like to know.
Jody, I don't think there's one person
that knew there was oil on that farm
the night Joe Dakota was hanged.
I didn't know it.
The two things just
aren't connected at all.
Where'd you ever get such an idea?
From him, that's what he said.
You mean you talked to him again?
I went out there this morning.
Jody, that was dangerous and stupid.
Don't you care what happens to you?
I had to talk to him.
Then you told him what
happened to the Indian.
Yes.
I just don't understand you.
What made you do a thing like that?
I guess because I
had to talk to somebody
about what happened,
because I feel like it's my fault he died.
And if he's related to
him, or even just a friend,
I could try to explain.
Because it just didn't seem right
that he was looking for Joe Dakota,
and nobody was gonna tell him he was dead.
You're the last person to
go telling a story like that
to a stranger.
If there's nothing wrong,
I don't see why it makes any difference.
You have a responsibility, Jody, to me,
and to the others.
Because of what we had to do.
I didn't ask you to do it.
I didn't want him to be killed.
Neither did anyone else.
Dakota had to be punished.
We did it because it was our job.
I don't know what I'm
gonna say to the others.
They were helping me protect my family.
And it turns out, my
family isn't very grateful.
Jody, go to your room.
Stay there 'til I tell you to come out.
(ominous orchestral music)
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
What's he trying to do?
I don't know.
(somber orchestral music)
(dramatic orchestral chords)
Doesn't have to mean anything.
Maybe he was just fishing,
hoping we'd give something away.
Did you see the cross
hanging from the saddle?
I'm a'wonder what he's gonna do with that?
He knows, all right, he's
goin' out to mark the grave,
that's where he's goin'.
Yeah, it looks like
that's where he's goin'.
We can find out, easy enough.
(somber orchestral music)
(stone rapping)
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
I know who you are.
You do?
That's a cavalry pistol belt, isn't it?
Yes.
I should have known before.
But I thought you were
lying about your name.
So I didn't believe anything you said.
Well, that makes us even,
I didn't believe you, either.
There was only one person Joe Dakota
would have asked for help.
Only one man he ever called his friend.
That's who you are, isn't it.
His captain.
That's right, Jody.
I wonder why he never said your name.
Probably because he
was using it, himself.
But why?
Well, he put my name on his land deed.
The only reason I can figure is because
my name is the only one
he knew how to write.
I didn't think he could write at all.
He couldn't, really.
But he could write, Joe Dakota.
I taught him.
Then that's how you knew
Cal's paper was no good.
[Joe] That's why the story
you told me didn't make sense.
But now that I know who you are,
you've just got to believe me.
[Joe] Well, that's a
pretty big order, Jody.
Either they hanged the
old man to get the oil
for themselves, or...
They didn't even know the oil was there.
[Joe] Then for some reason,
they did it to cover up for Cal.
No, they did it for me.
Well, that's the part I can't believe.
I didn't make up the story, it's true.
You have to believe me.
Maybe there's a way I can believe you
and not believe your story.
[Jody] What do you mean?
It's like that paper of Cal's.
You and I know that it's no good.
But as long as the people believe in it,
they'll believe anything he tells them.
And what can I do to convince
you I'm telling the truth.
Tell me what happened that
night, Jody, everything.
Little details, anything
that comes into your mind.
All right.
[Joe] Was it dark here?
Very dark.
Well, where did it happen?
Right outside, there.
My father didn't like for
me to go out to see Joe
after dark, sometimes I did anyway.
When I was almost to the
door, somebody grabbed me.
(screaming)
I couldn't see him at first.
He held me so tightly, I
couldn't even turn my head.
I remember his breath was hot on my neck.
I could smell the wine he'd been drinking.
And I remember his face
was rough against my cheek.
When I fought to get away,
he hit me so hard that
everything went black.
When I came to, I saw Joe standing there.
I could see him clearly.
It was Joe Dakota, bending over me,
reaching out for me with his hands.
(screaming)
Jody, you said that his face
was rough against your cheek.
What did you mean?
It hurt.
Scratched.
His whiskers, I guess.
His whiskers, Jody?
Joe, when he was bending down,
reaching out for me, he
was only trying to help me.
Wasn't he.
Yeah.
(suspenseful orchestral music)
(hissing and rattling)
(horse whinnies)
Hey, that's Cal.
What's the matter?
[Myrna] He found out about the Indian.
He hung this on our sign.
Who told him?
Nobody.
We don't even see him until
he come in town with the rope.
[Cal] Well, somebody must have told him!
Jody, Jody did it.
Jody, why would she do that?
[Frank] Some strange reason of her own.
Where is she?
[Frank] She's in her room.
(crowd murmuring)
Tom, I'm beginning to wonder
if something didn't go wrong
and Cal isn't telling us about it.
So am I, he sure seems
awful worried about something.
Cal, nobody likes what's
been happening here today.
[Cal] (laughs) Oh, you
mean about the noose?
Not only that, he's make a wooden cross
and put it on the Indian's grave.
Today he ride down the middle of town,
with a cross and a rope
hanging from his saddle
for everybody to see.
Just like he's trying to be the conscience
for the whole town.
Conscience, we've got
nothing to feel guilty about.
You said that yourself, Frank.
I know I said it, Cal.
I hope we haven't...
[Cal] You hope!
Say, what's the matter
with all of you people?
A man comes riding in, goes
through a lot of hocus pocus
about a cross and a noose,
you all start to fall apart.
Well, you know he did
it just to scare you.
He's not interested about
the Indian being dead,
or how he died.
He's interested in but
one thing, that oil well.
I only wish we could believe that, Cal.
We can!
That paper that we have
is just as good as gold.
The old Indian really owned that land.
The clerk at the Recorder's
office remembered him.
We can prove it, any time we have to.
Now, wait a minute.
Now, you all listen to me.
That's my land, but your
money is invested in it.
Our entire futures are
tied up in that oil well.
That's what he's trying
to take away from you.
You gonna let him?
(ominous bass chords)
Well, what are you waiting for?
Cal's found proof of our rights!
He's only asking us to
stand up for what's ours.
You can't let him down, now,
you can't let yourselves down.
[Aaron] We'll hook up the wagons.
[Adam] This time, we'll
run him out for good!
Rosa, I'll stay here with the children!
[Rosa] Good!
If it weren't for me,
he'd still be alive.
Jody, what we've just discovered
proves that it wasn't your fault.
You mustn't blame yourself, ever.
(rumbling)
The well!
(roaring)
(horse whinnies)
Ho, how down, ho there.
(oil gusher roaring)
We gotta get out there
and stop that gusher!
What about him?
First we gotta cap that oil well.
We'll take care of him later, let's go.
[Frank] Right!
Joe, what are you gonna do?
Have a little talk.
Don't go out there, Cal may
have a gun, he'll shoot you.
I don't think he will.
[Jody] Joe.
You stay inside.
Myrna, Myrna!
You stay with the women!
Can he stop us, Cal?
Don't worry about him.
(oil rain pattering)
Go ahead, get the plugs and the sledges!
He's coming down, Cal.
That's far enough.
You wouldn't shoot anybody, Cal.
You get other people to
do your killing for you,
like you did with the old Indian.
I figure any man who'd use
a girl to frame an old man
hasn't got too much daylight courage.
You had to get rid of the old Indian
by having a whole town hang
him for something he didn't do,
then you're not going to shoot me.
You wouldn't shoot anybody,
not in front of witnesses.
Not when there's proof that the old man
didn't sign legal papers with an X,
and you found that out at the
Recorder's Office, didn't you.
You're wasting our time, mister.
Nobody believes that story.
Everyone here knows what
happened to the Indian, and why.
[Jody] No, you don't, Dad.
Jody!
I know something the
proves we're all wrong.
What you been telling this girl?
Jody, don't talk any more.
I thought about it all
over again, step by step.
Don't pay any attention to
her, he's told her what to say!
I remember a man's
hot breath on my neck.
I could smell the wine he'd been drinking.
And I remember his whiskers
scratching my cheek.
Well, Mr. Weaver, do
I have to explain to you
what Jody just told you?
The old man, like most
Indians, didn't have beard.
Which just goes to show
that there was somebody else
out there that night, too,
someone who had a beard,
whose whiskers scratched Jody's face.
Someone who got there
long enough ahead of her
to get the old man drunk.
Who was already back in town
waiting for her to come in
to make sure that you'd hang him.
You're a little liar.
Someone who had to get rid of the Indian
because he had a forged document
planted in Frank Weaver's safe.
You don't believe that
fantastic story, do you?
I don't know what to think, Cal.
I'm beginning to wonder.
Think, what's there to think about?
I gave you the oil well, money,
look at it going to waste!
Didn't I give you...
A murder?
He's just an old Indian.
Nobody's hurt, the girl's all right,
what's an Indian against an oil well.
All right, mister, let me have your gun.
I'll show you who's a
coward, and I'll show you
something about killing,
too, if I have to!
Adam, Aaron, pick up that plug!
Sam, Tom, give 'em a hand!
This is my oil well,
and we're gonna cap it.
Mark, get the sledges.
And Frank, you're gonna help, too.
Don't think I won't use this gun.
Remember, it's all I got left, now, move!
(gunshot fires)
I said, move!
Come on, come on, get it in there!
Come on, hurry up, lift it higher, higher!
Ready, easy, Tom!
(splashing)
[Aaron] Get him, Joe Dakota, get him!
Stick him in the oil,
Joe, stick him in the oil!
Get your hand off that wrench, Cal!
No wrenches, that's a rule!
(splashing and gurgling)
This time we handle it
legal, right, Frank!
Yeah, we'll turn him over to the county.
[Jim] Look, look!
(dramatic orchestral music)
[Frank] Get out of here, up on the hill!
I had to do it.
Now maybe we have our
friendly town back again.
If God will forgive us
for what we have done.
Come down.
(whimsical western music)
Adam, don't you ever talk
me into an oil deal again.
That's a new rule.
Joe Dakota, we can't undo
what's already been done.
It's not really a bad town.
And we're not bad people.
I know that, Mr. Weaver.
I kind of like this town, too.
Maybe that's one of the
reasons I'm coming back.
(somber woodwind orchestral music)
He borrowed my name, Jody.
This is just to let him
know, it's all right.
(peaceful orchestral music)
("Flower of San Antone")
(soft piano chords)
(lilting orchestral music)
("Flower of San Antone"
by David and Joseph)
(stranger whistling ballad
"Flower of San Antone")
(birds chirping)
(quiet western harmonica music)
(soft violin music)
(knocking)
(birds chirping)
(stranger whistling ballad
"Flower of San Antone")
Hello!
Hello!
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
(romantic violins swelling)
Hello.
Imagine my not seeing you.
What kind of a town is this, anyway?
[Woman] It's a small town.
Oh, I can see that.
Where's everybody else?
Or are you the only one who lives here?
Everybody else is working.
[Stranger] And they left
you here to run the town.
Did you want supplies?
No.
Wind always blow like this around here?
Sometimes.
Sure you won't just vanish
the minute my back is turned?
I'll be here, I live here.
I'll be back.
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
(clunking)
(whimsical violin music)
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
[Man In Blue Shirt] All
right, men, pull it up again!
[Men] Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
[Man In Blue Shirt] Let her go!
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad orchestral music)
(tools clanging)
All right, take it up!
[Men] Pull!
Pull!
Pull, steady, pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Let her go, now!
(weight thuds)
Pull it up again.
Hold it.
Cal, we got company.
(birds chirping)
Hi, something I can do for you?
Oh, I'm just riding by,
and I noticed you were
drilling an oil well.
Yeah (laughs)
Looks interesting.
Thought I'd stop and watch
for awhile, if you don't mind.
[Cal] No, no, I guess
it'll be all right.
Thank you.
Who is he, Cal?
I don't know, just
riding through, I guess.
Wants to watch.
You want him to keep
on going, just say so.
No, no, I don't think
he'll get in the way.
(somber woodwind orchestral music)
Pull it up again, now!
[Men] Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Pull!
Let her go!
(weight thuds)
(tense western orchestral music)
Look, mister, just because
I said you could watch,
doesn't mean you have
the run of the place.
This is private property, you know.
Where's the fellow
who lives in the shack?
Nobody lives there.
Oh.
Where's the fellow who owns the property?
I own it.
If it's a job you're looking for,
I'm afraid we can't use you.
This is what you might call
a small, private operation.
And as you can see, we're quite...
Oh, I see, I won't bother you.
Hello, how long you fellas
been diggin' this well?
I don't think you got a good look
at that No Trespassing sign.
We could read it to him.
Yeah (laughs).
Hey, mister.
Excuse me.
Let me give you a little tip, friend.
People in a small town don't
like strangers very much
at any time, and when these
people are diggin' an oil well,
they don't like strangers at all.
You know, I think you'd
better get on your horse
and ride away from this small town.
You understand?
Yeah.
All right, take it up!
Bring that drill over here!
I thought you were leaving.
How long do you say you've
been drillin' this well?
[Cal] I didn't say.
That shack up there.
Did you build it, or was that here before?
I don't think that's
any of your business.
What about this pool of oil?
What about it?
Well, it doesn't look
like you've hit oil yet,
so it must have been here before.
[Cal] You're just full
of questions, aren't you?
Made it pretty simple for you
to figure out where to put this well down.
(splashing)
(laughing)
Aw, you fellas shouldn't have done that.
Well, you seem to be having
a problem about our oil pool.
Yeah, we wanted you to
get to the bottom of it.
(laughing)
See you boys around.
(men laughing)
Ho, there.
Now, don't try to be funny.
It's me.
Who is he, Cal?
I don't know.
From the questions he was
asking about the oil well,
my guess is he's a wildcatter.
Isn't that a pretty rough
way to treat him, Cal?
Best thing to do is
get rid of him, Frank.
I know these wildcatters.
Once they smell oil and
start asking questions,
they try to figure out a
way to cut themselves in.
Myrna, you don't
suppose that Jody told him
what we were doing when
he came through town?
No, she wouldn't talk
to a stranger, Dad.
She hardly talks to us any more.
Maybe she did, but don't worry about it.
I don't think he'll be back.
All right, boys, get the drill.
(bouncy woodwind music)
(laughing)
If I'd known where you were going,
I could've told you they
don't like visitors.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
This your store?
My father's.
If I had some coal oil,
I could clean some of this stuff off.
Got any money?
This is money.
It is?
Will be, after I clean it up some.
It's not gonna help your clothes much.
I think you need some new ones.
I think you're right, you find my size?
I'm pretty dirty to come inside.
Shirt large, pants small.
Ahh, better make the
pants medium, socks large.
Sure could use a bath.
There's a public bath
upstairs, you could use that.
[Stranger] You know it
sure is a funny thing.
[Jody] What is?
Oh, you're being so
friendly and so helpful.
Look at the way they treated me.
How come you're so nice?
I'm not as interested in
that oil well as they are.
[Stranger] That's good.
Neither am I.
You're not?
Then why'd you go out there?
Came here to see the old man.
The Indian.
Joe Dakota?
Who?
[Jody] The Indian.
What'd you call him?
Joe Dakota.
You came out here to see a man,
and don't even know his name?
That's nothin', I don't
know your name, either.
Jody Weaver.
Jody?
Well, Jody, I know that's
Joe's shack out there,
but one of the men told
me it's his property.
And nobody lived there at all.
Is that right?
Farm used to belong to Joe Dakota,
but he doesn't live there anymore.
Hey, where you goin'?
(door slams and lock clicks)
Hey, Jody, wait a minute!
Hey, Jody, you can't leave
me out here like this!
What about my bath?
(stranger whistling
"Flower of San Antone")
There are fools who must always wander
And go wherever the winds have blown
I heard the call, and I rode out yonder
So far from my home in San Antone
I want a love so sweet and tender
The dearest love I'll ever know
[Jody] Hey!
In my heart she'll bloom forever
[Jody] Hey, mister!
So far far from San Antone
[Jody] Hey!
Hey!
Get over, Blackie, get
over, get over, come on.
Get over there, boy, get over there.
Hi!
[Jody] What do you think you're doing?
[Stranger] Taking a bath.
You shouldn't be taking it in there.
[Stranger] You shouldn't
have locked me out!
It's the only place in town that was open.
[Jody] You'd better get out of there.
[Stranger] What'd you run away for?
You're in trouble now.
(somber woodwind music)
(tense orchestral music)
Ho!
What in blazes is he doing?
That man, taking a bath!
Jody, get away from that window!
Rosa, take Maddie inside, right away.
That fella's got a lot of gall.
Gotta get him outa there.
Thing like that could
give this town a bad name.
[Sam] Come on, Sis, that's
nothing for you to be looking at.
Scandalous!
Well, you don't have
to keep looking, Ethel.
Myrna, take the women
and kids into the store.
Keep 'em off the street.
We'll handle this.
(ominous brass orchestral music)
I guess maybe I'd
better explain this, huh?
Go ahead.
Make it good.
Well, to be truthful, I,
I didn't expect you to get back so soon.
And, took me a lot longer
to get this stuff off
than it did for you to get it on me.
That's no reason for
makin' a public bath
out of our water trough.
It is a little more public
than I figured, at that.
You oughta be thrown in jail.
If you jail him, you gotta feed him.
Horse whippin's cheaper.
I thought we made it clear before
that you're not welcome here.
Oh, you made that clear enough.
May need a little help.
Just what kind of help
you think you'd get from us?
Well, now the way I see
it, we got two choices.
We can wait here until it gets dark,
or you fellas can make a tighter circle
and I can get up outa here.
Would you please throw me
the towel off my saddle bag?
I think you've stalled
around long enough.
[Stranger] Money for the new clothes
is over there on the bench.
How'd you get the stuff, anyway?
Just go in my store and take it?
[Stranger] Nope.
Your lovely daughter got them for me.
You mean my Jody was out here when you...
[Stranger] No, of course not.
We were over there,
talking about the Indian.
Joe Dakota.
She ran inside and locked the door.
(water splashing)
[Adam] Hold it.
I'm afraid I got the water pretty soapy.
Are you gonna get on that horse,
or are we gonna make other plans for you?
I don't suppose any of you boys
like to tell me where the
old man went, would you?
Nope, I didn't think you would.
(ominous orchestral music)
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
(upbeat western orchestral music)
(somber woodwind music)
(tom toms thrumming)
(laughter)
[Cal] I don't think
we'll be bothered with him
coming around here again.
[Aaron] He sure don't discourage easy,
I'll say that for him.
[Jim] I don't feel right about it, Cal.
I think we handled that fella all wrong.
Jim, you worry too much.
You know, if you go on like
this, you won't be able
to shave yourself, let
alone your customers.
I don't know, Cal.
Rosa and me's been talking.
It seemed to us our town is a'changed.
It used to be a nice,
friendly place, but no more.
Used to be a friendly
people, open, kind.
We're still the same people.
Ah, but we're not the same people.
Look at what we do to that man today.
And look at what we do to Cal.
Just a little while ago.
When he's coming, we say, come in.
Sit down, have a glass of wine.
We shake his hand, we
listen to his talkin'
nice and friendly-like.
That's because you were friendly.
And because you did listen to me
when I told you about
the oil on Dakota's farm,
we're all partners in a
venture that will make us rich.
That's why we have to be
careful about outsiders.
You know, no other stranger would walk in
and give you an oil well.
He'd only trying to take it away from you.
But that is not the reason
we throw this fellow out today.
It's because we're scared.
We're scared somebody's
gonna find out the truth
about what we do.
We so scared, we, we don't
even wanna talk to each other.
We're not scared of that, Mark.
We only did what we had to do.
I don't think any of us
should be ashamed of it.
We did it to keep this a
good town, a friendly town.
But it's nobody else's business.
And we have to see that it stays that way.
Forget it, Mark, you'll have
plenty of time to be friendly
when that well comes in.
When we get our hands
on some of that money.
That's the day I'm waiting for!
I might even buy me a shave!
You have to talk to my assistant.
(laughter)
Well, even without help, Jim,
you're the unbusiest man in town.
How much longer we gonna have to wait?
Cal says it could come in any time.
Mark, let's have round of drinks on me.
I didn't realize it was so soon.
Just like I've been telling Bertha.
Little farmers like me
ain't gonna get rich
no matter how many times
we pick up and move on.
But this time, I think
we're located to stay.
It's gonna be real nice for Sis, too.
Ethel never was pretty enough
to catch herself a husband.
She deserves something outa life.
I think maybe I talk too much.
Come on, bring your glasses,
wine is on the house.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(water splashing)
(Jody humming "Flower of San Antone")
(upbeat orchestral music)
Ho.
Come on.
You go on, I'll be over in a minute.
How do you do, honey?
I saw you outside a minute ago.
Did you go for a walk today?
Jody, wouldn't you feel better
if you came out to the
well once in awhile?
I'd stay here.
Jody, this is ridiculous, you
can't go on not talking to me.
(stranger whistling
"Flower of San Antone")
What's that?
(whistling continues)
[Jody] I knew he'd come back.
What'd you say?
[Jody] I knew he'd come back.
(whistling continues)
He told you this?
[Jody] No, he didn't
tell me, I just knew.
Well, he's gonna be sorry he did.
You stay here.
Sure is quite a town.
It's always empty, except
for one pretty girl.
You're a different pretty girl.
Where's Jody?
Never mind about my sister.
If you think this town is empty,
you're in for an unpleasant surprise.
Wait a minute, I'll go with you.
Cal, Cal, he's back!
[Stranger] Glass of wine, please.
(somber orchestral music)
Wait a minute, Mark.
Thank you.
I don't think he'll be around
long enough to drink that.
[Stranger] Maybe I won't, at that.
You answer a couple of
simple questions for me,
maybe I can leave you for good.
[Cal] Let's hear the questions.
All right, where's the Indian?
The old man, you know, as Jody put it.
[Cal] The Indian doesn't
live here any more.
You mean, he left town?
[Cal] Yeah, he left.
When did he leave?
Oh, two weeks ago, maybe, maybe more.
[Stranger] Where'd he go?
He didn't say.
Do you know where I can find him?
[Cal] No.
Does anyone know where I can find him?
No.
Well, looks like I'll just have to
stick around for awhile.
For what?
Maybe I like it here.
It's a pretty little town.
Nice people, friendly.
Why don't all you folks
have a drink with me?
Why not?
Let's have drink with him.
You remember what Mark told us last night?
Let's show him how friendly we really are.
Where?
Why don't you and Adam see if our friend
would like to join your club?
Sure, Cal.
That's a fine idea.
Of course, it's a pretty exclusive club.
Yeah, but we're always
lookin' for new members.
And if you plan to stay around here,
you'd better join, it's
the only club in town.
Sounds interesting.
Who's in your club?
Just us.
Me and Aaron.
What do you do?
Oh, we drink, mostly.
[Adam] Yeah, drinking club.
[Stranger] I'm in favor of that.
[Aaron] Only we play
a little game, first.
[Adam] To see who buys the drinks.
But I already offered to buy.
No, that'd spoil all the fun.
And it's against the rules.
I figured there'd be rules.
It's real easy, it goes like this.
First, I try to knock Adam off his stool.
But I only get one punch.
That's a rule.
And I can't hang onto
nothing with my hands.
That's a rule.
If Adam falls off, he's gotta buy.
But I didn't, so now it's my turn
to try to knock Aaron offa his stool.
(Aaron grunts)
But neither one of you fell off.
Yeah, that's a tie.
So we keep on going 'til somebody wins.
I understand why you
have a limited membership.
Well, it's a small town.
We don't get visitors very often.
Well, I don't join many clubs.
When a visitor does come to town,
he's too busy trespassin'.
Or pokin' his nose into
somebody else's business.
Or takin' baths.
(laughing)
Or maybe he's just yella.
Yeah.
Couldn't I just buy a round
of drinks for the house,
and let it go at that?
Not without joining the club.
No, we couldn't drink
with you, if you're yella.
Well, sounds like a
harmless little game.
I'll join your club.
Please, mister, why don't
you just leave town, huh?
[Stranger] What do we do first?
First, we have the initiation.
You just turn around and face Adam.
My younger brother's still a growin' boy.
Probably doesn't have
his full strength yet.
I thought he did pretty
good for a young fella.
My turn, now?
Looks like it.
[Adam] Yes, it is.
[Stranger] Ready?
[Adam] Yeah.
We're ready.
[Stranger] Who's first?
[Adam] I guess I am.
Looks like you fellas buy.
You boys really like to fight, don't you.
Yeah, we sure do.
And we get awful tired
of fightin' each other.
(dramatic orchestral music)
That was a very
impressive demonstration.
[Stranger] Thanks.
But it doesn't mean a thing.
There isn't any place for
you to stay in Arborville.
And that includes the street.
Well, don't worry about me.
I own a little piece of
property around here.
It's got a shack on it.
I'll spend tonight at my place.
(whimsical orchestral music)
Wait a minute, mister.
It's about time you stopped bluffing.
We know every piece of land
in this area, and who owns it.
Which piece do you claim is yours?
You're drilling an oil well on it.
You're getting unfunnier by the minute.
Who do you think you are?
Thought you'd never ask me.
The name is Joe Dakota.
That's right.
And the Recorder's Office, County Seat,
shows clearly that the property
is registered in my name.
Since I don't remember
selling it to anyone,
I figure it still belongs to me.
You're wrong, mister, that's my land,
the old Indian sold it to me.
Frank, get my envelope outa your safe.
Sure, Cal, we can put a
stop to this mighty quick.
Joe Dakota?
How could his name be Joe Dakota?
Could be the old man's son.
No, he couldn't, he's not an Indian.
Could be a half-breed.
He looks enough like an
Indian to be a half-breed.
Sure fights like a savage.
[Frank] Here you are, Cal.
This paper's worthless.
Worthless, just because
I haven't had time
to get it recorded doesn't mean a thing.
It's legal here as it would
be at the County Seat.
Except that the Indian
didn't make this mark.
I say he did.
I doubt if he's ever seen it.
He saw it and he made the mark.
Then there's only
one way to settle this.
Let's get him.
Bring him back here, find out from him.
We told you, the old Indian is gone.
That's your problem.
(crowd murmuring)
And you can forget about
any more drilling out there
until we get this thing settled.
I told you, we don't know where he went.
Well, then we'll just have
to wait until you find out.
Or until one of you...
Remembers.
(somber orchestral music)
Frank, you better put
this back in the safe.
(crowd murmurs)
[Tom] I wonder what
Cal's gonna do about this.
[Myrna] What does it mean,
what is he trying to do?
Oh, he's just some wildcatter
trying to bluff his way in.
I had him spotted right the first time.
How can we be sure he's bluffing, Cal?
That's right, he seems to
know more about this Indian
than a stranger should.
Look, I didn't say he wasn't
smart, he's proved that.
With one quick trip to the County Seat,
he gets just enough information
to make it sound like
he knows more than he really does.
Maybe we should ask him
to prove he's Joe Dakota.
My guess is, that he can do it.
And a lot easier than we
can prove that he wasn't.
Right now.
You think he's telling the truth?
No, of course not.
But you can be sure that he
took the trouble to get some
kind of evidence, just in
case we did ask for it.
Could have been anything
with Joe Dakota's name on it.
Phony letter or something.
I don't know, Cal, he
seemed awful sure of himself.
Wait a minute, Jim,
what are you getting at?
Well, nothing, Cal, I was
just thinking that maybe.
Thinkin' what, that he's right?
Because if you are, you
know what that means.
Means you think that I'm wrong.
He as much as said that I stole
that land from the Indian.
Is that what you believe?
Oh no, Cal, no!
Nobody thinks that, Cal.
Nobody here believes
anything that fella told us.
We all know about the paper.
Jim, you saw it go into the safe.
Yeah, I did.
Bud, you were here in the store.
Yeah, I remember.
Myrna opened the safe, I put
the paper in, and locked it.
And we all know when it was done.
Nobody doubts you, Cal, not
after what you've done for us.
For all of us.
I know, Myrna, I know.
But that's not what concerns me.
Well, what is it, then?
Well, it's something I
should have thought of before.
There is a chance the Indian
sold me a piece of land
that he didn't really own.
Something he had no right to sell.
(dramatic orchestral chords)
You think such a thing is possible?
Well, the well this close to coming in,
and him sitting out there.
We need to find out.
I'm going to County Seat.
(somber orchestral music)
I'm scared, Cal, I'm afraid
it's all gonna fall apart.
I couldn't stand that.
I wanna walk down a
street that isn't dirty,
where everybody's different,
not always the same.
It means a lot to me, too, honey.
That surface oil pot, as shallow as it is,
will be the stake to get
us started on the next one,
and the one after that, I
don't wanna lose that stake.
I don't wanna lose you.
You won't lose me.
I used to pray that somebody
like you would come here.
I was so grateful when you
did, even before I knew you.
Ever since you've been here,
it's been wonderful and exciting.
I don't want anything to
happen to our plans, Cal.
Nothing is gonna happen, Myrna.
If I find that the Indian
really owned that land,
we'll have very little trouble
with the new Joe Dakota.
Supposing you find something else?
The worst that I can find
out is that this fellow
really owns the land.
I figure that if he does, he's
the only one who knows it.
(romantic violin music swells)
(dramatic orchestral chords)
(dramatic orchestral music)
Hold it, right there.
(rifle cocking)
And I don't think you'll
have any need for that rifle.
[Cal] I didn't come
out here for any trouble,
but I think you and I had
better have a little talk.
What for?
Nothing to talk about
unless you found the Indian.
You know, when you first came into town,
I had a feeling that I've
seen you someplace before?
I don't think so.
Oh, I spent a good many
years around the oil fields.
Maybe it was Pico Canyon I saw you.
Is that where you're from?
Nope.
Well, sooner or later,
every wildcatter winds up at Newhall.
[Joe] Is that so?
Well, it's the only oil
refinery in the state, isn't it?
Newhall you say?
[Cal] Yeah.
Never heard of it.
Well, you are an oilman, aren't you?
You know what I think?
I think you ask an awful lot of questions
for a man who says that I am bluffing.
Hold it.
Well, now just a minute, friend.
I was trying to be nice to you.
I know we were a little rough on you,
and I'm sorry for that.
I'm even willing to overlook the fact
that you're trespassing until
we get this thing settled.
Well, as I understand it,
possession is nine points of the law.
And as you can see, I'm in
possession of this place.
So until somebody changes
that, one way or another,
it looks to me like you're trespassing.
Let me give you a friendly tip.
People in a small town
don't like strangers
prowling around their places at night.
So why don't you just climb on your horse
and ride away from this place?
(dramatic orchestral music)
Are you listening, Jody?
Sure.
This is important, I don't
want you to talk to him again.
I think he's nice.
Well he's not nice.
If he's that Indian's son
or any relation at all,
it's not safe for you to get
near him, and you know why.
I wish you'd stop talking about it.
Well, I'm only doing
it for your own good.
Cal says he's dangerous.
Cal's afraid of him.
Cal's not afraid of anybody.
He's not?
No, he's not.
Neither am I.
(somber orchestral music)
(tapping)
All right, keep your shirt on.
(tapping)
All right.
Come in.
Ask for a shave, I guess.
[Jim] Must be 1 o'clock in the morning.
Yep, a shave.
You said, shave?
Yeah, cash customer.
That'll be something different, too.
Time I get a sack of potatoes.
Maybe a chicken.
I'll have to use cold water.
That's fine.
What's your name?
[Jim] Jim.
What's your last name?
Jim Baldwin.
[Joe] Good to know you, Jim.
I guess you know my name.
Yes, yes I do.
(blade scratching)
Jim.
Huh?
This fella Cal, lived
around here for a long time?
Oh, Cal Moore?
No, not as long as the rest of us have.
He seems kind of like
one of us, now, I guess.
You people are pretty lucky
to have an oil expert here,
just when you found out
that there was oil here, weren't you?
[Jim] Yeah, I guess we were.
Only he said he wasn't
looking for oil, when he came.
I thought wildcatters
were always looking for oil.
That's what I figured, too.
Only according to him,
he's just looking for a
nice piece of farming land.
Said he was through with
oil, wanted to settle down.
That's why he wanted to buy
the Indian's place, farming?
Yeah, that's what I figure, I guess.
Jim, let's talk about the Indian.
He didn't really wanna sell his farm.
Isn't that right, Jim?
And when he couldn't persuade
him to sell his place,
he tried to force him into
it, even threaten him.
[Jim] He ain't gonna get me
talking about that, no sirree.
Jim?
Jim?
(crickets chirping)
(footsteps crunching)
Well, hello.
I thought I might be having
all kinds of visitors out here.
I sure didn't expect you.
Not this time of night.
It's almost morning.
I had to come out, while
everybody was asleep,
or I wouldn't get a chance
to talk to you at all.
Come in.
Well, what'll we talk about?
I wanna know who you are.
Thought you weren't
interested in the oil.
I'm not, but there can be other reasons.
Well, as I said, my name is Joe Dakota.
[Jody] That's not true.
Isn't it?
And you're not his son,
like they say in town.
Joe Dakota didn't have a son.
How do you know that?
He told me.
I used to come out here
to see him, lots of times.
He'd talk, he'd show me how to make things
or would tell me stories
about when he was a scout
for the cavalry.
Sounds like you knew him pretty well.
I did, he was my friend.
If you came here just to steal his land,
why did you have to steal his name?
I didn't steal his name.
As a matter of fact, he borrowed mine.
You're making that up.
You didn't even know his name
until I told you what it was.
I just didn't know he was using it.
I came up here because the
old man sent me a telegram
asking me for help.
He sent for you?
He was my friend,
too, that's why I came.
You came too late, he's dead.
I was afraid that might be it.
Do you know who killed him?
Everyone.
They hanged him.
Hanged him.
Why?
Because he wouldn't sell his farm?
What kind of a town is this?
They hanged him for what he did to me.
For what he did to you?
I came out here one
night, and Joe was drunk.
He grabbed me, tore my
clothes, and hit me,
and I got away from him and ran off.
When they heard what he tried to do,
they came out here and
got him, and hanged him.
Who sent you out here
to tell me this fantastic story?
It's not a fantastic story.
It's the truth.
I don't believe you.
He couldn't have done a thing
like that, drunk or sober.
That's what makes it
so hard to understand.
Maybe it was my fault.
I don't believe that, either.
Your story just doesn't make sense.
It didn't take an expert to figure out
there was oil on this land.
Almost anyone who saw that
surface pool out there
could make a pretty good guess.
Well, somebody made that guess.
Now there's an oil well here.
And the Indian is dead and the whole town
is trying to hide behind
a phony piece of paper.
But Cal put that paper
in my father's safe
two weeks before the hanging.
Then why was the old man still here?
Cal said he could stay
until he was ready to take possession.
They gave you all the
answers, didn't they.
Nobody told me what to say.
I'm telling you the truth.
Well, go back, and
tell them it didn't work.
I'm sorry that's the
reason you came out here.
I'll tell you the real reason.
I came out here because
I thought you were nice.
And because I hoped what
they were saying about you
wasn't the truth.
That won't work either, Jody.
You're a lovely-looking girl.
I'm sorry you're not
as honest as you look.
I hate you.
(dramatic orchestral music)
(western ballad harmonica music)
(sad violin music)
What are you doing?
Getting dressed.
Jody, you've been crying again.
Wait for me, honey, let's
have breakfast together,
and we can talk.
[Jody] I don't want any breakfast.
Dad, I think you'd better
have a talk with Jody.
She was crying this morning,
and it looks like it's
starting all over again.
Myrna, I don't know what to say to her.
Well, you'll have to say something.
She won't even talk to me.
Where is she?
Out front.
Hello, Frank, kind of
nice to have a day off
from the oil well at that, isn't it?
Gives us all a chance
to catch up on things.
Myrna's inside.
Hello, folks.
Oh, Frank!
Has anybody seen him yet, today?
Who?
Him, you know.
No, not a sign.
If I don't watch that boy,
he'll hand his hand in your candy jar.
Don't you worry, we'll count the pieces.
Missed you at breakfast
this morning, Jody.
I wasn't hungry.
Honey, I hate to see
you get like this again.
You were so much better.
Was I?
I suppose there's that
fella coming into town,
asking about the Indian,
made you start thinking about it again.
Is that it?
Something like that.
I know it's no use to
say, don't think about it.
But at least we made
sure nothing like that
will ever happen here again.
Did the oil well have
anything to do with it, Dad?
What do you mean by that?
Did you hang Joe Dakota
to get the oil on his farm?
Jody, that's a terrible thing to say.
You shouldn't even have
thoughts like that.
What kind of people do you think we are?
That's what I'd like to know.
Jody, I don't think there's one person
that knew there was oil on that farm
the night Joe Dakota was hanged.
I didn't know it.
The two things just
aren't connected at all.
Where'd you ever get such an idea?
From him, that's what he said.
You mean you talked to him again?
I went out there this morning.
Jody, that was dangerous and stupid.
Don't you care what happens to you?
I had to talk to him.
Then you told him what
happened to the Indian.
Yes.
I just don't understand you.
What made you do a thing like that?
I guess because I
had to talk to somebody
about what happened,
because I feel like it's my fault he died.
And if he's related to
him, or even just a friend,
I could try to explain.
Because it just didn't seem right
that he was looking for Joe Dakota,
and nobody was gonna tell him he was dead.
You're the last person to
go telling a story like that
to a stranger.
If there's nothing wrong,
I don't see why it makes any difference.
You have a responsibility, Jody, to me,
and to the others.
Because of what we had to do.
I didn't ask you to do it.
I didn't want him to be killed.
Neither did anyone else.
Dakota had to be punished.
We did it because it was our job.
I don't know what I'm
gonna say to the others.
They were helping me protect my family.
And it turns out, my
family isn't very grateful.
Jody, go to your room.
Stay there 'til I tell you to come out.
(ominous orchestral music)
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
What's he trying to do?
I don't know.
(somber orchestral music)
(dramatic orchestral chords)
Doesn't have to mean anything.
Maybe he was just fishing,
hoping we'd give something away.
Did you see the cross
hanging from the saddle?
I'm a'wonder what he's gonna do with that?
He knows, all right, he's
goin' out to mark the grave,
that's where he's goin'.
Yeah, it looks like
that's where he's goin'.
We can find out, easy enough.
(somber orchestral music)
(stone rapping)
("Flower of San Antone"
ballad harmonica music)
I know who you are.
You do?
That's a cavalry pistol belt, isn't it?
Yes.
I should have known before.
But I thought you were
lying about your name.
So I didn't believe anything you said.
Well, that makes us even,
I didn't believe you, either.
There was only one person Joe Dakota
would have asked for help.
Only one man he ever called his friend.
That's who you are, isn't it.
His captain.
That's right, Jody.
I wonder why he never said your name.
Probably because he
was using it, himself.
But why?
Well, he put my name on his land deed.
The only reason I can figure is because
my name is the only one
he knew how to write.
I didn't think he could write at all.
He couldn't, really.
But he could write, Joe Dakota.
I taught him.
Then that's how you knew
Cal's paper was no good.
[Joe] That's why the story
you told me didn't make sense.
But now that I know who you are,
you've just got to believe me.
[Joe] Well, that's a
pretty big order, Jody.
Either they hanged the
old man to get the oil
for themselves, or...
They didn't even know the oil was there.
[Joe] Then for some reason,
they did it to cover up for Cal.
No, they did it for me.
Well, that's the part I can't believe.
I didn't make up the story, it's true.
You have to believe me.
Maybe there's a way I can believe you
and not believe your story.
[Jody] What do you mean?
It's like that paper of Cal's.
You and I know that it's no good.
But as long as the people believe in it,
they'll believe anything he tells them.
And what can I do to convince
you I'm telling the truth.
Tell me what happened that
night, Jody, everything.
Little details, anything
that comes into your mind.
All right.
[Joe] Was it dark here?
Very dark.
Well, where did it happen?
Right outside, there.
My father didn't like for
me to go out to see Joe
after dark, sometimes I did anyway.
When I was almost to the
door, somebody grabbed me.
(screaming)
I couldn't see him at first.
He held me so tightly, I
couldn't even turn my head.
I remember his breath was hot on my neck.
I could smell the wine he'd been drinking.
And I remember his face
was rough against my cheek.
When I fought to get away,
he hit me so hard that
everything went black.
When I came to, I saw Joe standing there.
I could see him clearly.
It was Joe Dakota, bending over me,
reaching out for me with his hands.
(screaming)
Jody, you said that his face
was rough against your cheek.
What did you mean?
It hurt.
Scratched.
His whiskers, I guess.
His whiskers, Jody?
Joe, when he was bending down,
reaching out for me, he
was only trying to help me.
Wasn't he.
Yeah.
(suspenseful orchestral music)
(hissing and rattling)
(horse whinnies)
Hey, that's Cal.
What's the matter?
[Myrna] He found out about the Indian.
He hung this on our sign.
Who told him?
Nobody.
We don't even see him until
he come in town with the rope.
[Cal] Well, somebody must have told him!
Jody, Jody did it.
Jody, why would she do that?
[Frank] Some strange reason of her own.
Where is she?
[Frank] She's in her room.
(crowd murmuring)
Tom, I'm beginning to wonder
if something didn't go wrong
and Cal isn't telling us about it.
So am I, he sure seems
awful worried about something.
Cal, nobody likes what's
been happening here today.
[Cal] (laughs) Oh, you
mean about the noose?
Not only that, he's make a wooden cross
and put it on the Indian's grave.
Today he ride down the middle of town,
with a cross and a rope
hanging from his saddle
for everybody to see.
Just like he's trying to be the conscience
for the whole town.
Conscience, we've got
nothing to feel guilty about.
You said that yourself, Frank.
I know I said it, Cal.
I hope we haven't...
[Cal] You hope!
Say, what's the matter
with all of you people?
A man comes riding in, goes
through a lot of hocus pocus
about a cross and a noose,
you all start to fall apart.
Well, you know he did
it just to scare you.
He's not interested about
the Indian being dead,
or how he died.
He's interested in but
one thing, that oil well.
I only wish we could believe that, Cal.
We can!
That paper that we have
is just as good as gold.
The old Indian really owned that land.
The clerk at the Recorder's
office remembered him.
We can prove it, any time we have to.
Now, wait a minute.
Now, you all listen to me.
That's my land, but your
money is invested in it.
Our entire futures are
tied up in that oil well.
That's what he's trying
to take away from you.
You gonna let him?
(ominous bass chords)
Well, what are you waiting for?
Cal's found proof of our rights!
He's only asking us to
stand up for what's ours.
You can't let him down, now,
you can't let yourselves down.
[Aaron] We'll hook up the wagons.
[Adam] This time, we'll
run him out for good!
Rosa, I'll stay here with the children!
[Rosa] Good!
If it weren't for me,
he'd still be alive.
Jody, what we've just discovered
proves that it wasn't your fault.
You mustn't blame yourself, ever.
(rumbling)
The well!
(roaring)
(horse whinnies)
Ho, how down, ho there.
(oil gusher roaring)
We gotta get out there
and stop that gusher!
What about him?
First we gotta cap that oil well.
We'll take care of him later, let's go.
[Frank] Right!
Joe, what are you gonna do?
Have a little talk.
Don't go out there, Cal may
have a gun, he'll shoot you.
I don't think he will.
[Jody] Joe.
You stay inside.
Myrna, Myrna!
You stay with the women!
Can he stop us, Cal?
Don't worry about him.
(oil rain pattering)
Go ahead, get the plugs and the sledges!
He's coming down, Cal.
That's far enough.
You wouldn't shoot anybody, Cal.
You get other people to
do your killing for you,
like you did with the old Indian.
I figure any man who'd use
a girl to frame an old man
hasn't got too much daylight courage.
You had to get rid of the old Indian
by having a whole town hang
him for something he didn't do,
then you're not going to shoot me.
You wouldn't shoot anybody,
not in front of witnesses.
Not when there's proof that the old man
didn't sign legal papers with an X,
and you found that out at the
Recorder's Office, didn't you.
You're wasting our time, mister.
Nobody believes that story.
Everyone here knows what
happened to the Indian, and why.
[Jody] No, you don't, Dad.
Jody!
I know something the
proves we're all wrong.
What you been telling this girl?
Jody, don't talk any more.
I thought about it all
over again, step by step.
Don't pay any attention to
her, he's told her what to say!
I remember a man's
hot breath on my neck.
I could smell the wine he'd been drinking.
And I remember his whiskers
scratching my cheek.
Well, Mr. Weaver, do
I have to explain to you
what Jody just told you?
The old man, like most
Indians, didn't have beard.
Which just goes to show
that there was somebody else
out there that night, too,
someone who had a beard,
whose whiskers scratched Jody's face.
Someone who got there
long enough ahead of her
to get the old man drunk.
Who was already back in town
waiting for her to come in
to make sure that you'd hang him.
You're a little liar.
Someone who had to get rid of the Indian
because he had a forged document
planted in Frank Weaver's safe.
You don't believe that
fantastic story, do you?
I don't know what to think, Cal.
I'm beginning to wonder.
Think, what's there to think about?
I gave you the oil well, money,
look at it going to waste!
Didn't I give you...
A murder?
He's just an old Indian.
Nobody's hurt, the girl's all right,
what's an Indian against an oil well.
All right, mister, let me have your gun.
I'll show you who's a
coward, and I'll show you
something about killing,
too, if I have to!
Adam, Aaron, pick up that plug!
Sam, Tom, give 'em a hand!
This is my oil well,
and we're gonna cap it.
Mark, get the sledges.
And Frank, you're gonna help, too.
Don't think I won't use this gun.
Remember, it's all I got left, now, move!
(gunshot fires)
I said, move!
Come on, come on, get it in there!
Come on, hurry up, lift it higher, higher!
Ready, easy, Tom!
(splashing)
[Aaron] Get him, Joe Dakota, get him!
Stick him in the oil,
Joe, stick him in the oil!
Get your hand off that wrench, Cal!
No wrenches, that's a rule!
(splashing and gurgling)
This time we handle it
legal, right, Frank!
Yeah, we'll turn him over to the county.
[Jim] Look, look!
(dramatic orchestral music)
[Frank] Get out of here, up on the hill!
I had to do it.
Now maybe we have our
friendly town back again.
If God will forgive us
for what we have done.
Come down.
(whimsical western music)
Adam, don't you ever talk
me into an oil deal again.
That's a new rule.
Joe Dakota, we can't undo
what's already been done.
It's not really a bad town.
And we're not bad people.
I know that, Mr. Weaver.
I kind of like this town, too.
Maybe that's one of the
reasons I'm coming back.
(somber woodwind orchestral music)
He borrowed my name, Jody.
This is just to let him
know, it's all right.
(peaceful orchestral music)
("Flower of San Antone")