[ Train whistle blowing ] ♪♪ TRAIN CONDUCTOR: Green River Junction! Green River Junction! [ Train bell ringing ] Hello.
Yes, hello. This is Jerrine. Take this list to the mercantile.
We need, uh, 200 pounds of flour. Uh, the rest you can read for yourself. Tell him to put it on my bill.
I'll be back in half an hour. ♪♪ Ho! Little lady.
. . Come on.
-Jack, this is Mr. Randall. -How you doin', ma'am?
Pleased to meet you. Any trouble with the heifers? Missing four, is all.
I corralled the rest up on the bench. Good. And all fences down.
Yeah. I'll get to it tomorrow. This'll be yours, then.
The only stove's out there, you'll be wanting to warm yourself. What you hear in town? Old Frasier's selling out.
Could have made it if he got rid of the damn longhorns. MAN: That man will never figure out nothin. ' -MAN: Whose find?
-CLYDE: Didn't say. -See to the wagon, will you? - Sure, Jack.
Everything you got to do is in here. Flour, sugar, jerk. Root cellar's out there, you can take a look tomorrow.
It's been empty for some time now. -Your milk, Mr. Randall?
-Yes, sir. Butter will be a good thing again. Hmm.
Jack can meet for meals. You said you'd cook for railroad crews. So, uh, the hayin' and brandin' won't give you much trouble?
No, sir. For a washin', the tub's in the store room. As soon as the weather eases up, you'll want to get a garden started there.
I think we have some seeds left. Mr Stewart, in your letter, you said seven dollars a week. In Denver, I got a $1.
80 a day just for washing. Well, I don't guess Burnt Fork's quite caught up to Denver. I'll show you the chickens and pigs tomorrow.
I've always had my Sundays free, after breakfast. All right. Will that be all?
Good night, Mr Stewart. It's not ready yet, Mr Stewart. [ Horse whinnies ] ♪♪ MAN: [ Mumbling ] Easy.
Easy, now. Hey, Bubba. Easy, now.
Easy. [ Horse neighs ] Hey, easy, easy boy. Hey.
Easy. Come on, now. Easy.
Hey! Hey! Hold it!
Hey! Ho hee! Ho hee!
Easy. [ Horse snorts ] -[ Horse neighs ] -Ho! Ho!
[ Indistinct conversation ] I've never seen the like. He don't scare me. Some things are sensible to be scared of.
If he don't scare ya, I will. You stay clear, you hear me? [ Milking the cow ] Come on.
Easy, babe. Okay, now. .
. Just squeeze at the top and then all the way down. That's it, and then pull.
That's it. That's a girl. That's good.
Not too hard, just. . .
Start at the top, and pull again. Okay? That's it.
This can be your job. Giddyup! Come on!
Come on, move over! Whoa! Hello!
Hello! Where's the Stewart? -He's not here right now.
-Oh. I'm Elinore Randall. This is my daughter, Jerrine.
Oh, I know who you are. They call me Grandma Landauer, 'cause I've delivered so many babies in this valley. I'm pleased to meet ya.
I was getting to believe I was the only woman in this country. Oh, you are not. My ranch is 10 miles north of here.
Lots of cows, more than Stewart. [ Chuckles ] Coffee? Yeah, please.
Do you take cream? Yeah. I, uh, I come for Jack.
My cowboys always run out on me when I need them. [ Sighs ] We hear you was coming, uh, a long time now. The cups are in here now.
Come. Sit down. GRANDMA LANDAUER: He bought this churner for that poor thing.
She died three years back, now. Well. .
. Jerrine and I've put it to good use. How long have you lived in this country?
Wyoming, oh. . .
since I was a young girl, working all the time. It does seem to follow you around, wherever you go. Hmm.
I've had my hands full since my Bennie's gone to his maker. I do everything now. Of course, you know I always did.
[ Chuckles ] You like cows? I do. Cows.
Only about three I ever liked. We've been churning butter here till come out our ears. You don't know anybody nearby who'd like to buy it?
Butter? Hmm-mmm. Most folks do it for themselves out here.
Well, how about you then, grandma? I can see you'd do okay. Why not?
I'll buy your butter. Gonna get rich? Not on butter and spuds.
Not working for the Stewart. He's as stingy as my old hen. At least you could cook your old hen.
[ Laughter ] [ Indistinct conversation ] Well, grandma. You come to my place now. The sale is Thursday.
The Greeks do it. Oh, hell, yes. I'll look after the heifers.
But none of that laying around the saloons, like last July, ya hear? Who, me? All those old mares will be on their way home before the sale is finished.
Won't they, grandma? Don't you "grandma" me, or I'll beat you with a whip. Four days.
Yeah. Four days. Good, grandma?
Good. ♪♪ [ Metal clanging ] [ Cows moo ] ♪♪ All right, to hunt! Come on, mate!
♪♪ [ Cows moo ] Ho! Ho! -Ho!
-Ho! Ho! You send them cows right back there.
Ho! That's good. That's the guy you scared that one over there?
Ho! Mama, Dean and Rawhide need some water. Can I take it to 'em?
Huh? They do, huh? Well, what about Jack?
Doesn't he need any water today? Yeah, he needs some, too. [ Laughing ] Well, you did all right, Mr.
Randall. Thank you. Come on.
Let's turn 'em up. I can't talk to that man. You'd better learn before winter.
Did you ever rope with him and all that? Oh, sure. Why not?
When I was younger. You, you want to rope? Well, not today.
I've done all kinds of farm work, all my life, but nothing like this. GRANDMA LANDAUER: Now, this is not farming. GRANDMA LANDAUER: This is ranching.
Is that all they do up here, run cattle? All it's good for, that and sheep. Thank God, not so many sheep.
I didn't pass one place on the way up here. You'd think there'd be homesteads with all of this. Homesteads?
Seven feet of snow up here in the winter, maybe snow tomorrow. So, a person couldn't make it up here, not even in the summer? How long did you tell the Stewart you'll work for him?
Grandma, I'm no piker. I wouldn't run out on him. It's just that.
. . all my life, I've been working for somebody else.
Aye, you and me, we've got to look out for ourselves. Did he tell you there's a place next door to him? No.
240 acres, he can file on it. He got all the land he can claim. Folks have been out looking at it.
Got oats, to add worry. . .
Oh, but I like this place. Here, right here. Listen to me, young woman.
Don't get any ideas about living up here. My Benny, he. .
. froze to death one winter. Up here.
. . you don't play with these winters.
Oh, grandma. . .
Nah, there's nothing to be done. JERRINE: Mama! Mama!
Jerrine, come help me with this colt. MR. STEWART: Come on.
Come on. See if you can pet his nose. Come on.
Go ahead. MR. STEWART: You're on the left here.
Right next to me. Here you go. Come on.
Come on, hyah. MR. STEWART: This over the side.
[ Gunshot ] [ Scraping ] I'll take a little of that water. Ohhh! Uh, better than city life, huh?
Uh, yeah, uh, give us some more. -Agh! -I'll give you some more!
[ Laughing ] MRS. RANDALL: Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power, the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen. All right. [ Singing ] .
. . is still on the roses And the voice I hear Whispering in my ear The son of God discloses And he walks with me And he talks with me And he tells me I am his own And the joy we share As we tarry there None other has ever known Look, mama, a shoe.
Put that back. I want to keep it. Put it back, Jerrine.
It's not a toy. ♪♪ Let's go. [ Knocking ] Hello?
[ Knocking ] Hello? Anybody home? Are you all right?
Jerrine, go outside and play. Go on. [ Door opening ] ♪♪ Hello, there!
Hey! Good mornin'! How are you today?
Have you seen my housekeeper, Mr. Randall? Riding my bay mare, had a little girl with her.
Yeah. She stopped here yesterday. I was working in here.
Well, she was asking and inquiring about land and water and everything, and. . .
so I sent her up Great Creek Valley way. Thought that was the best. How'd you find us?
Took half the night, far enough for a Sunday drive. Heya! The folks don't like newcomers nosing around out here.
We weren't nosing around, Mr Stewart. She needed help. I apologize about the horse.
Ah, that's not what I mean. Did you see a lot of country? It's so big.
I'm not used to so much. Mr Stewart. .
. I'd like to have a word with you. I hired a housekeeper.
I hired you to come out here and take care of my place, not get ya around. I don't think you have any complaints about my work. Huh?
About your work? Just so we agree. .
. I paid your way out here. I expect you to take care of my house.
. . for one year.
That includes the kitchen, cotton, and everything. Yes. Heya, come on, Bill.
♪♪ Have you ever filed before today? Your name, please. Gene Connolly.
Floyd County, Kentucky. Gene Connolly. Are you a US citizen?
-Yes, I am. -Next, please. You ever filed before today?
[ Indistinct conversations ] Next. Next. The name please.
Elinore Pruitt Randall. Marital status? Widowed.
And where would you like to file? MRS. RANDALL: Birch Creek.
Next to Clyde Stewart's. That's two miles north of Burnt Fork. It's not taken, is it?
I don't know. You have to live on it 10 years, not just visits. That'll be 12 dollars, please.
CLERK: Next. [ Singing ] JERRINE: I don't know the rest. MR.
STEWART: [ Singing ] -When can we go see it? -Shh. Don't say nothin'.
Okay? Here. Uh-huh.
That's a granny. This. .
. There's a square. Huh?
Jerrine. Honey, go to bed now. How much did they charge you for the spuds?
260 for a hundred pounds. How's that? I don't know.
Sounders fair. I just hope they bring a profit this fall. I wouldn't count on it the first year.
Mr Stewart, I didn't have much choice. About what, Mr. Randall?
Homesteading, the place next door. I hated that piece for 12 years. Well, we're neighbors now, and I'd like to make it clear right off that I'm open to working out a fair arrangement.
I'm going to need to borrow some money for seed and potatoes. I thought you could. .
. just hold my wages till I caught up. I'm going to need a shack built, and if you build me one, I'll exchange it for the hay and for the grazing.
Well, I don't make business deals when I can't see a profit. That'd be all burning wood this late in the season. I hope you like chopping wood, Mr.
Randall. Otherwise, what are you going to swap for eight cords each winter? Well.
. . I'll just have to worry about that when winter gets here.
You know, you haven't lost your housekeeper. Well, you can always quit. Are you firing me?
No. How many hands are layin' right now? I don't know.
15. 17. You should know that.
I own 113 mother cows. Branding 91 calves, I kept eight replacement heifers. We got 46 two-year-old steers, 11 three-year-olds, oh, and a stud, and Jack and me are partners in the mares.
Now do you know what that means all together, Mr. Randall? That means that I get a very small living out of this place, and your wages will never get you started, not even started.
You will be an old woman and your daughter grown before you approached the poorest sort of sufficiency. Where will you get the water? There's no well.
Will you carry it from the creek? I'll do what I have to do. At least, you haven't lost your land.
Haven't lost the land. No! Not if you're named Miss Stewart.
[ Hammering ] Find me a 16, Pruitt. Since when don't you know a 16, Pruitt. Well, hell, hold the damn fort, I'll get the nail.
Oh, I got it. I don't know why you're in such a flying hurry. She don't care if it's done today or tomorrow.
A wedding present's a wedding present. Anyways, she's paid before. I wouldn't give my horse a homestead shack for a wedding present.
That's because you haven't got a horse worth speaking of. Hand me the ribbon. Ouch!
You're hurting me. Well, Jerrine, if you would stand still! Stay clean.
Jerrine! Jerrine, stay out of the food. Take the quilts out and put them on the table.
Well, uh, lady, if you won't be needing me, I'll be back tomorrow. You won't be staying? Well.
. . I never did care much for weddings.
Well, I never did care much for 'em, myself. They're a sight better than funerals. Yeah.
♪♪ It'll have to do. Aye, come, now. They are all waiting for you.
-I burned the pies. -Aye, forget the pie. They're all waiting outside.
Wait, grandma. Grandma, I can't do it. Ah, now, you did it once.
You can do it again! Come on! JERRINE: Mama!
MR. STEWART: Mr. Randall!
MR. STEWART: Mr. Randall!
MR. STEWART: You better come over here and stand by me. Friends, we are gathered here today to join in matrimony, this man and this woman.
Clyde, will you have this woman to be your lawful wedded wife, and with her, to live together in holy matrimony? I will. Elinore, will you have this man to be your lawful wedded husband and with him, to live together in sickness and in health and forsaking all others, keep you only on to him as long as you both shall live?
I will. May I have the ring, please? Will you please place the ring on her finger and repeat after me.
. . With this ring, I thee wed.
With this ring, I thee wed. And with my worldly goods, I thee endow. And with my worldly goods, I thee endow.
Now, by the virtue of the authority vested in me, as justice of the peace, for the state of Wyoming, I now pronounce you. . .
man and wife. [ Clapping ] -Thank you. -Thank you.
[ Crowd murmuring ] I got married in my apron and my work boots. [ Laughing ] ♪♪ [ Rooster crowing ] [ Rooster crowing ] [ Engine humming ] Hey, Sam! How are you?
A little fancy! It's not even good enough to suit me. Hi.
Where's your new wife? Oh, you missed out, that's all. Uh-huh?
That serious, huh? Well, if I'm not too pretty, you could introduce me. Don't worry about the pretty!
Well, Sam. Hey, Jack! Stewart, damn it!
Excuse me, ma'am. We've done this 1,000 times. I guess we'll do it 1,000 more.
You know, I can't give you more than I offered the Landauer. [ Laughter ] How the hell could I offer you more? Eh!
There's been no rain, and the prices are so far down this year. Nope. We did business last year.
We'll do it again, but not this time. Hay's sky high. Well, we'll feed them through.
Clyde, this don't make any sense. Those people in Omaha are not gonna let me give you more than I give everybody else in this country. Take the three-year-olds, that'll help some.
But that two and three, quarter- penny a per, well, I'll not let the two-year-olds go. Ah, prices will come up if there's any justice in this country. Yeah.
You do what you see fit, but I wouldn't put my money on justice. [ Laughter ] Well, we'll run those, uh, three-year-olds in with the Landauer bunch. Eh, Mr.
Stewart, meeting you has been the pleasure of my day. Jack, see ya! Sam.
[ Indistinct conversations ] [ Engine humming ] Hey, Jack, how about a game? Well, not now, kid. Threshing at Needleson's tomorrow.
All of my team every year for five years, then the damn meadow burns up before they get here with their team. Well, we need her, okay. Uh.
I figure we'll need about seventy ton of hay this winter, minimum. Well, we only got 50. You know, Stewart, I've seen bad luck follow its own nose to the grave.
Is that right? Why are folks always afraid to try anything? Well, old man, how about working with the yahoos tomorrow?
You got enough cash there for 20 ton of hay? Well, that does put things in a different light now. I ain't spending the winter riding the grub line around here.
Nope. I got some better things to do. What about the colts?
Don't know, Stewart. I'll see how things go. .
. down in Mexico. As soon as I get my things, I'll be up after my pay.
Shut your mouth, kid, before the flies get in. We got to feed the team. You pay them.
No. Clean it up. MR.
STEWART: You mind your mother, lassie. [ Scoffs ] That's a fine job. Jerrine, go to the bedroom and stay there till I say, "Come out.
" She's yours, too, you know. If she doesn't mind, I'll use a strap on her. She'll mind.
She's upset about Jack. Ellie, listen to me. There were no wages.
Jack knew that. That's why he left. We'll make do.
Okay. ♪♪ Jerrine, give me your hands. I feel it.
♪♪ You all right? Yeah, I'm okay. Boil us some tea, hmm?
All right. ♪♪ Mama, the coop's drifted in. I can't get to it.
Eggs must be about frozen. It's frozen solid, the creek is. The coop's drifted in.
Jerrine can't get to the chickens. There's a shovel by the door. I can't.
You can try, miss! Where you going? To do what no one else will!
No! Just shut the door, please! You sure have your black boots on today.
She's only seven years old. Everyone has to do their part. [ Ice cracking ] [ Water splashing ] I'm trying to sleep.
Sleep, hey. But only put Jerrine in the other bed. No.
She got frostbit today. Bad? What do you care?
It was you, sent her out. What do you say? I said she shouldn't have been outside.
That's not what you said. You want to do it all yourself, always, but you won't let her. That's not true.
You're taking this out on us. The hay's runnin' out, and there's no help. I can't help you.
It was you that got us into this. If Jack were still here. .
. If Jack were here, it wouldn't be any better. You still don't see.
Oh, I see plenty. I didn't marry those cattle. [ Chuckles ] [ Blows ] You got what you wanted.
Now you gotta take what comes with it. Mama, Go tell your father I need Grandma Landauer. It's okay.
Go on. ♪♪ JERRINE: When will he be back? ELINORE: Don't you worry, honey.
ELINORE: He'll be here with Grandma Landauer before you know it. Oh, mama, let's sing a song. I can't sing to you right now, Jerrine.
[ Sighs ] How about we make up a story? Why don't we make believe. JERRINE: I don't know.
Well, come on. How about. .
. ? It's summer.
No. It's early spring. .
. and there's some colts, newborn, running in that field out there, and the creeks are runnin'. Hear em'?
Listen. Hear 'em? And we ride up into the mountains.
. . and along about sundown, we build us the nicest fire, and we roast our potatoes, and then along comes old man Tinker.
And he takes out his fiddle. We sit by the fire, and he plays and plays. .
. and plays. .
. and plays. Clyde!
[ Wind blowing ] She wasn't there. Don't talk. Jerrine, get your father a cup of coffee.
Her boy Dean froze up. She took him to Green River. [ Wind blowing ] ♪♪ [ Panting ] ELINORE: Agh!
ELINORE: Agh! Agh! Agh!
[ Groaning ] Agh! [ Baby crying ] [ Baby crying ] ♪♪ Here. Take your son.
Come on, take him. ♪♪ Ah, James, got a healthy crier in the wilderness. Easy, now.
You're never going to live this down, you know? Clyde Stewart, you know just what to do with a calf. Can't even spank his own baby.
What are you going to do with him now? Hey! He's so tiny.
Helps him to breathe the air right off. Don't need help. Maybe he takes after his mother.
[ Baby crying ] What was that? Just an old horse. An old horse?
He's so thin, his bones show through. How'd he get here, Clyde? Probably saw the light, come looking for food.
We have nothing to spare. It would be better if I shot him. Don't waste your tears, Ellie.
Your move, Jerrine. [ Singing lullaby ] [ Ice breaking ] [ Mooing ] [ Water splashing ] He's been convulsing. Well, wrap him up.
[ Baby crying ] How long has he been like this? Just after you left, this morning. Fever took him.
Oh, Clyde, I don't know what else to do. We'll keep him warm. He'll be all right.
Easy, man. [ Baby crying ] Mama? Mama?
♪♪ [ Wind blowing ] [ Water dripping ] [ Scrubbing ] One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. . .
[ Scrubbing continues ] [ Wind blowing ] Where's your mother? I don't know. Agh!
[ Screaming ] Ellie? She's all right, lassie. [ Door closes ] Stewart is out with the cattle.
Don't know how many made it through. No. Stay, stay.
I know where the coffee is.
