As quickly as you can,
snatch the pebble from my hand.
[dramatic music]
When you can take the pebble from my hand
it'll be time for you to leave.
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
Time for you to leave.
[hissing]
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
[indistinct chatter]
[groaning]
Hey.
You knocked my partners down.
-I am sorry. -No, wait a minute.
I think you owe my friends an apology.
Huh?
Please, forgive me.
I am sorry.
Let's go. This ain't even worth beating up.
Only, if we catch you around here again...
What about him?
...I'm gonna make chop suey out of you.
[chuckling]
-I'm tired. -We're all tired, Harpy.
Only, we can't stop now
just when we found the man to do the job.
[dog barking]
-Mister! We wanna talk to you. -Get out of here, kid.
Well, look at that. It's a full-dressed monkey.
Fancy hat and all.
He's riding a stagecoach.
Deal cautiously with my luggage.
That's a good fellow.
Listen.
It talks fancy too.
[rustling]
Let me help you, my good fellow.
That won't be necessary.
Okay. You don't appreciate my help...
...then take it yourself!
You see what happens when you don't accept my help
my good fellow?
Come on. Let's go see if we can find somebody else to help.
[groaning]
Harpy, stop pulling on me.
Hey, Abel, did you see that punch?
[groaning continues]
You know, we ain't through yet, friend.
Shoot him. Shoot him!
If you won't, I will.
-He's even better! -Hey, hold it!
Looks like it's all over, sheriff.
-What's going on here? -Your cousin Quade started it.
He and his boys went out looking for trouble like usual.
Found more than they could handle.
You would've had a killing here
if it wasn't for that guy there.
He's right, sheriff. We all saw that.
-You're right. -I know my job.
What're you doing here, if you're not looking for trouble?
Just passing through.
Enjoying your hospitality.
I leave in the evening on the northern coach
for San Francisco.
He ain't going anywhere.
I'm gonna kill him before evening.
You just won yourself a day in jail, you and your boys there.
-Cousin. -Let's go.
Okay, folks, you can go home now.
Law and order has been restored by Sheriff Jackson.
Don't forget that when election comes up next month.
-You got my vote, sheriff. -Thank you for your help...
...my good fellow.
You are a very skillful fighter...
...in a style I have never seen before.
The style is called capoeira.
It evolved from the ceremonial dance of African slaves...
...sent to work...
...on the plantations in Brazil.
Is that your country?
The country in which I was born.
And your style...
...did you learn it from a priest in a temple...
...or a teacher in a school?
I learned it from a man...
...who was shot...
...by the authorities for teaching it to his students.
-He must have been a brave man. -He was a fool.
He thought about everyone else except himself and his family.
So much for my foolish father.
Now, my good fellow...
...I must say goodbye...
...and thank you.
For the future...
...remember the name of Isaac Montoya.
Some day it will be famous, and then you can tell people
how you saved his life.
Be proud.
You have done the world a service.
That's a good fellow.
Hey, Chinese man. Hey, Chinese man.
Come here. We wanna talk to you.
[dramatic music]
-What do you want? -Is the sheriff gone?
Yes.
How would you like to earn $4.08?
$4.08 is a useful amount of money.
What do you wish done for it?
Go ahead. Ask him.
Do you like piano players?
I have heard some who please me...
-...and some who did not. -Well...
...if you want the $4.08, all you got to do...
...is kill a piano player named Zolly.
[dramatic music]
Kill?
What is it that makes children speak of killing?
We're doing it for our ma...
...so she don't do it herself, like she said she would.
And she always does what she says.
Why does she want this man killed?
Because he pulled a dirty trick on her.
They been supposing to get married.
And this Sunday last they even got as far as the church...
...and he run out on her, leaving her standing there.
Nothing to show but the preacher's bill.
She throwed a fit then.
Said in front of God and the preacher:
"I'm gonna kill him." Then stomped out red as a beet.
-What did she do then? -Took us home for lunch.
Pork chops. Mmm.
Hey, I'm hungry.
Don't worry, Harpy. We'll be home and eating by tomorrow.
Ma's a good cook.
Well, will you take the job?
I would like to talk with your mother first.
No need to do that. It's our money.
We earned it doing honest chores.
Does your mother know you are here?
No.
But we left a note saying not to worry.
We'd be back as soon as we took care of Zolly.
Only, we didn't figure it'd take three days to find him.
We don't want our ma to go to prison.
Well, Chinese man?
-I am called Caine. -Well, Mr. Caine...
...will you take the job or not?
I have a job...
...at the livery stable.
I will offer you shelter for the night.
Does that mean you will help us?
I will give thought to what you ask.
-Will you do the same? -What does that mean?
Last week your mother wished to marry the man she loved.
Today you ask me to kill this man in her name?
Think of that.
We will speak again.
And then I will help you all I can.
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
[sloshing]
Sheriff!
I demand that you search those three men.
-You what? -I have been robbed.
I believe those men to be responsible.
I demand that you search them at once.
Come back tomorrow. Can't you see I'm busy?
Tomorrow may be too late. What was taken from me means my life.
-I ask you for your help. -Tomorrow.
You represent justice here. I demand your help, now.
There he goes again, cousin. Demanding.
Get out. I've lost patience with you. That's what I get...
-...for treating you like a man! -I am a man!
[clanking]
Cousin, we're gonna--
He's dead.
You killed him.
I.... I did not intend to.
-It was an accident. -No, you killed him.
And I ain't gonna let you get away with that.
I only wanted what was taken from me.
Please.
Take some more.
There is plenty of food, children.
-Eat all you want. -Mr. Caine...
...we've been thinking about what you said.
We decided you don't have to kill Zolly.
That pleases me.
All you gotta do now is bring Zolly back to Ma.
Let her decide what to do.
That's only worth $2.00 to us. Less expenses.
We may need the money for food getting home.
Well, Mr. Caine, how does that deal please you?
It pleases me that you no longer wish another man's death.
Does that mean you'll do what we asked and take the chore?
What is the value of truth, master?
It binds one to the reality of oneself.
This is hard for me to understand.
So is truth.
Hard to understand...
...except that which cannot be spoken.
But should I not always speak the truth...
...no matter what the consequences?
Recognize that all words are part false...
...and part true...
...limited by our imperfect understanding...
...but strive always for honesty within yourself.
[dramatic music]
Before I give you my answer...
...I would like to talk with this man.
When are we going home? I wanna go home.
He works at the Good Time Saloon.
[piano music]
Excuse me.
Excuse me. You are Solly?
Zolly.
Maybe.
You know three children...
...Todd, Abel and Harpy?
How do you know them?
They came to me yesterday.
They asked me to kill you.
[music stops]
[sighs]
You come to do this?
I come to ask you to take the children to their mother.
-Better you kill me. -They have been gone three days.
Their mother must be worried.
You worried about her...
...you take children back. She live 10 mile West.
Apple Mountain Road.
You do not worry?
[scoffs] Yeah, I worry...
...for Zolly.
[sighs]
She is best woman I ever saw.
Every time I see her I want....
I want to marry her.
I love her.
God give me will of iron.
Zolly must stay free.
I travel alone.
They come by foot...
...they can go back by foot. They are not Zolly's children.
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
Turn around.
That's him, marshal.
-We're looking for your friend. -My friend?
Hotel register says his name's Isaac "Montola," from Brazil.
He your friend?
-I met him yesterday. -You seen him since?
-No. -He helped him. That's enough.
Quade.
I don't throw a man in jail for helping someone, friend or not.
He can show us where he is.
Do you know where this fellow is now?
-No. -What are you doing here?
I came to ask the sheriff for help.
There are three children who must be taken to their mother.
Sheriff's dead.
It seems Mr. "Montola" killed him yesterday.
Let's go.
If you hadn't helped that monkey...
...sheriff wouldn't be dead today.
Mister.
Take me to children.
I think their mother frightened for them.
Maybe we take children.
I drive you...
...to farm.
You take in to mother.
Zolly and woman must not see each other.
You agree to this?
I will take you to the children.
I am Armenian.
Seven years ago I come this country young man.
I leave behind nothing
because there is nothing to leave behind.
You know about Armenia? What went on?
What goes on to this day?
I know little of this world outside my own experience.
[clicking]
He helped him.
He's got to know more than he's saying.
If he does, we're watching.
You let me drag him in, I'll make him talk.
This badge I'm wearing says
I'm responsible to uphold the law.
That's what I'm gonna do.
Armenia is small...
...conquered country.
Those who conquer say Armenia is no more.
But one man look to another and say:
"How can not be Armenia?
We are still Armenians."
[speaking in Armenian]
You know what conquerors decide then?
-Destroy the people. -By a miracle, I escape...
...come to America. But I make promise:
Someday Zolly will save enough para, money...
...go back, fight government that killed my people.
Zolly not coward. Avenge family's death!
[dramatic music]
[laughing]
Arise calmly, grasshopper...
...and brush the indignity off your trousers.
You fought blindly, grasshopper.
A sickly maiden could've beaten you.
Yes, Master Po, forgive me.
Forgive yourself. You have suffered for it.
What is the cause of your anger?
-It is anger at myself. -Yes, but what is the reason?
For being a coward.
[sighs]
When did you discover this about yourself?
Yesterday.
When Ho Fong and I were attacked
by five big bullies in the marketplace.
He was struck first.
And I, out of fear, did nothing to help him.
You were two boys against five larger than yourself.
What do you think you should have done?
Fought back and try to help my friend.
Yes, grasshopper, that would have been heroic.
You agree, then, that I was a coward.
What is cowardice but the body's wisdom of its weakness.
What is bravery but the body's wisdom of its strength.
A coward and a hero march together within every man.
So to call one man coward and another brave...
...merely serves to indicate the possibilities...
...of their achieving the opposite.
[footsteps approaching]
Do not have fear.
I have no wish to harm you.
I am looking for the Chinese man.
He saved your life.
He saved my life...
...so that he could steal from me something very valuable.
-Harpy, come back! Come back! -Where is the Chinese man?
-We've to get our brother! -Where is he?
Mr. Caine warned us not to go near the swamp. It's dangerous!
No, Zolly cannot marry. No, no.
Must stay free.
Free to fight injustice, cruelty.
Surely a man like yourself, half white, half yellow...
...you must have experienced these things and you understand.
Justice, cruelty are everywhere.
You could fight them here.
Well, for me...
...there is only Armenia.
Someday I will go back.
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
What has happened here?
-Where are the children? -Mr. Caine! Zolly! Mr. Caine!
Harpy's in trouble. The black man is with him! He needs help!
Take us!
Don't worry, Harpy, they're coming.
He threw the log in and jumped right in after Harpy.
Only, they can't get out.
Don't worry, boy. Zolly is here. We will save you.
[rustling]
Those who speak convincingly of peace...
...cannot go armed.
Those who speak convincingly of peace, must not be weak.
So we make every finger a dagger...
...every arm a spear...
...and every open hand an axe or sword.
[dramatic music]
[cracking]
[panting]
-Come in more. -Don't squirm. Don't squirm!
No, no, we will all be trapped. Come back!
Get back.
-Zolly very fast, get rope! -No.
-Get him. -Zolly very fast. I go get rope!
No, I need you here!
Alright, you have Isaac where you wanted.
I need you here!
-At least get the boy out! -Mr. Caine, they're sinking.
[screaming]
[dramatic music]
Take hold.
You take hold too.
[panting]
Hold up. We need some information, mister.
-Zolly no have time. -I'm a United States marshal...
...and we're looking for a killer.
Colored man that killed Sheriff Jackson.
Colored man?
Killer?
You'll be killer if you no let Zolly go. Boy in trouble.
-If you marshal, you help. -What kind of trouble?
Quicksand!
Little boy!
Carl, you come with me.
Ben, you go get that rope.
That Chinaman is gonna lead us to that...
...colored man.
And we're gonna hang him.
[panting]
Close call, my good fellow.
I owe you another debt.
But yours is still greater.
Children! Mr. Chinese Man! I bring men to help!
Have courage!
Zolly is coming! Have courage!
[birds chirping]
Okay.
Where's that colored man?
-He's.... I don't know. -He's gone!
Which way did he go?
You know...
...for a man you just met, he sure seems to like your company.
What'd he want from you?
Hearing you, he did not say...
...but ran.
We don't catch up to him, I wanna talk to you.
Let's go.
[galloping]
Whoa.
That is farm.
Take boys.
Five minutes I wait for you.
-Where are we? -Home, boys.
-Home? -Yes, home, home.
Why are we stopping here?
Goodbye, boys.
Tell Mama....
Goodbye. Go on. Go home. Go to Mama.
Remember, 10 minutes you no back, I go.
If woman come out of house, also I go. Leave you here.
You're a coward.
Zolly not coward! Mr. Chinese understand!
He has a dream.
An old dream.
[galloping]
Zolly!
You're alive!
Oh, Zolly, the children.
They've gone!
They left a note! I've been looking for them everywhere!
Mama! Mama!
Uh!
Zolly!
I should hate you for leaving me.
What brought you back?
I tried to stay away.
Sent the children ahead, but...
...then waited here.
You don't love me?
[sighs]
[bells ringing]
Woman...
...I love you.
[instrumental music]
I love you.
Will you come into the house and talk with me?
Yes, yes, yes. Whatever you say.
-Come on. -Children.
Come on.
[music continues]
Ma, why do you want to marry him?
Uh, just because.
-Women don't need a reason. -Don't need reason for what?
He knows about women.
-What do you want here? -From them, nothing.
Don't move.
Be careful, that gun. Woman here, children.
Boys, go outside. Go. Go.
Stay.
Do as Zolly says.
And now, my good fellow...
...where is the diamond?
That diamond that belongs in that pouch.
That pouch that I found in your shack!
You see, you cannot lie to me.
I am not lying to you.
Do you want to die?
No.
Then do not force me.
The diamond is my life...
...my only hope for life as I wish to live it.
Surely a man such as you is not less of a man...
...for the loss of a piece of stone.
Until that "piece of stone," there was nothing.
Do you think I started out intending to steal...
...a diamond?
Or to kill another human being?
All I wish was opportunity...
...to do all that my mind and body were capable of doing.
Only, then I discovered...
...that that was not the way for the son of a slave to think...
...even after he had educated himself beyond his masters.
-The man is murderer. -Keep out of it, Zolly.
The stone changed everything.
It lay there on the ground...
...and as I held it in my hand
I thought of my father and my grandfather...
...and generations of my people working that same mine.
All slaves.
I took it.
I cannot go back.
Do you understand now what that stone means to me?
I understand.
I cannot help you.
Then I cannot help you.
[clicking]
Can you kick as fast as I can pull this trigger?!
Make no mistake, my good fellow.
You must tell me where my diamond is.
I intend to shoot now.
[groaning]
[glass shattering]
[clanking]
[gunshots]
[panting]
Stay outside. Stay outside. Outside.
Get out the way, yellow man.
[clicking]
You cannot shoot this man. He is unarmed.
You're obstructing justice.
Does not your justice demand a trial?
Don't tempt me, yellow man.
That murdered my cousin.
And I'm gonna kill it.
Now, you men are witnesses.
Last warning.
Stop!
This is not Armenia!
These men have rights.
If you shoot them...
...you must shoot Zolly first.
And then you can kill the woman...
...and the children.
-That man's a murderer. -Then after trial, hang him!
If guilty.
Hold it.
Tie up the prisoner.
Get out of the way of my prisoner.
You step out here, "Montola," you're my prisoner now.
You're gonna get a trial...
...an honest trial.
I have killed a man.
An accident, not murder.
[clicking]
Thank you.
Marshal.
You leader here?
Anything happen to that man before trial...
...I, Zolly, will speak up.
I don't intend to let anything happen to my prisoner, mister.
Beautiful woman.
Good woman.
I love you.
Marry me.
Zolly.
Are you sure you want to get married?
Even though it means you may never go back to Armenia?
I have just gone back.
To fight injustice anywhere
is to fight it everywhere.
Marry me.
When?
Today.
No, no. Tomorr-- Today.
-No. -Yes.
No wait for church wedding.
We go to marrying office in town, pay $1...
...we get married quick, legal.
We go now.
[sighs]
Mr. Chinese man, you friend.
You ever been to wedding?
-No. -I never have either.
You help, huh?
I need you walk beside me.
Martha.
We both help with children.
Wedding will be today.
[pleasant music]
-Have him? -Yes.
Have her?
Sure.
One dollar.
[indistinct chatter]
Mr. Caine!
We owe you $2, but
since everything worked out pretty good--
-You can have the whole $4.08. -The eight cents is mine.
Thank you.
Finders keepers.
Did you not hear Mr. Montoya say he lost it?
You and him started fighting. I was afraid.
And now, you have given it up.
It wasn't mine. I felt bad.
What's gonna happen to him, Mr. "Montola"?
Perhaps...
...he feels bad too.
Bye, Mr. Chinese man.
[indistinct chatter]
-Goodbye. -Hold on, Harpy.
Hold on, boys. We go home now.
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
[theme music]
[music continues]