Kung Fu

Fergie, looks like a woman to me. What do you say?

Too far away for me to tell.

Must be suffering hot in all them clothes.

I don't know about them people.

Took yourself quite a spill, missy.

Miss, you got a sick creature here. It's carrying a disease.

There's more like this, ain't there?

There's more like this, ain't there?

A few.

We can't have our cattle infected.

Tell your people to keep their stock away from this water hole.

You do understand.

It looks like she broke that arm.

You make sure old Schultz gets that message.

Tate.

Do not be afraid. I will help you.

Other people, outsiders, they have evil habits...

...and corrupt ideas.

And if we are exposed to them...

...then soon, very soon...

...we begin to imitate their sinful ways...

...and we are lost to God and his way.

Paul.

- Gretchen, what happened? - Some men, they chased me.

They said our sheep can't use the water.

Her arm is broken. The bone must be set.

Without Lottie, how shall we help her?

I have knowledge of healing.

Thank you.

I am sorry to disturb you.

- How is Gretchen? - She is well.

I wish to do her work until she is able.

That is very Christian of you.

Very charitable.

We don't usually permit outsiders here.

- You are afraid? - For our souls.

We lead very simple, God-fearing ways of life.

Outsiders interfere.

They corrupt us and lead us from the path of righteousness.

Where I was born...

...there is a creature called the chameleon.

- Chameleon? - A small lizard.

He has the great gift to change the color of his skin...

...that he may hide from predators.

Yet he never changes himself.

He is always a chameleon.

You're an unusual man.

- You have a wife, children? - No.

Do you?

They're all my children here.

I do not understand.

Long ago, I had a call to serve God.

I never married.

I decided to serve this group of families...

...to lead them with my own example.

I, too, follow a path.

Perhaps not unlike your own.

It would be unchristian...

...uncharitable of me...

...to deny you a bed and food after all your kindness...

...you've shown Gretchen.

I am grateful.

You may stay here tonight...

...but I warn you, I'm not like that lizard of yours.

- The chameleon? - I won't change...

...and I don't want any of my family to change.

Not a single hair on the head of a man, woman or child...

...if it leads them to stray to sinful paths.

He's an outsider.

He helped with his knowledge.

Now he helps with his labor.

What does he want, sheepskins, wool?

No. He asked for nothing.

I say we should expel him now, before it's too late.

Otto, I feel obliged to repay his kindness.

Someone else may be injured or become ill.

Otto, couldn't we let him stay a little longer...

...but watch him closely?

Please, Otto.

Get them sheep out of here.

You have nothing to fear.

Sheep fever is not contagious to cattle.

We have had many years' experience with sheep.

Never has a steer caught this fever. I would not lie to you.

Turn them around, Schultz.

We have as much right to this water as you.

You're going to have sheepskin instead of sheep, mister.

The nearest water hole is three days away.

We'll have to move our camp there.

But, Otto, most of our sheep will die.

We can't raise our hands against these men.

Could you not leave the sheep in camp and bring water to them?

- Yeah. - It will provoke them.

Then we do not raise our hand.

We'll try it...

...but we won't change our ways.

- You know anything about sheep? - Nothing good.

Gotta figure a way to prove old Schultz is wrong.

We'd cut that scrawny yearling and put him in...

...with them sheep.

We don't try anything with Mr. Davidson's stock.

If he wants to risk it, that's his business.

- Is something wrong? - You were singing.

- It helps me work. - We do not approve of that.

I am sorry.

But...

...would it not make the work go faster and easier?

It isn't supposed to be easy.

Hard work is what man is destined to do on this earth.

But is it not good for the body...

...to do the best it can...

...and so give pleasure to you for doing something well?

Work is part of suffering of life...

...and suffering tempers the soul.

Otto does not believe life should be enjoyed.

It is work, not play.

Gretchen...

Master...

...I am puzzled.

Now that is the beginning of wisdom.

I have seen you laugh...

...and I have seen you cry.

And you do not?

We are taught discipline.

The purpose of discipline is to live more fully...

...not less.

But how shall I know...

...if my sorrow...

...is only the echo of self-pity?

Or my laughter...

...the preening of my own happiness?

The bird sings in the forest.

Does it seek to be admired for its song?

Let tears come when your heart tells you of its sadness.

Let joy come unasked, unplanned.

You work all day long, so hard...

...yet take no pleasure in what you do.

Well, I must confess...

...yesterday, when two of my brethren and I...

...were building a lambing pen in the field...

...we notched our logs just so.

When the last one was pounded into place...

...a feeling rose in me...

...that I had done something good.

Otto Schultz says...

...it is bad to allow such feelings.

Do you think it is bad?

Otto is wise.

I am a farmer. I have not studied such things.

Father, I have to take the butter to the kitchen tent.

Wait, I will help you. It is too heavy.

It's alright. I can manage. I'm not helpless.

Be careful with your arm.

- She's a good daughter. - Yeah.

Sometimes I...

...wonder that she needs more than I can give her...

...with my Lottie gone.

- Your Lottie, wise? - Oh, yes.

- Like Otto Schultz? - She was wise...

...and she was good. Different from Otto.

You know, when I was a boy...

...I watched a small boat on a lake in a storm.

The wind yelled its anger...

...and the rain pounded like armies of hammers.

The boat...

...clung to the anchor, it was safe.

Lottie...

...she...

She was my anchor.

Hi, Jim.

You and the boys ready for another lesson...

...in the fine art of poker?

If you are, I'll oblige as soon as I finish soaking my corns.

Jordy, those Hoots are letting diseased sheep wander...

...loose around the water.

Is that so?

I saw the sheep myself, sheriff.

What disease they got?

Whatever it is, it makes them fall down...

...because I've seen it too.

You boys know as much about sheep as you do about poker...

...which ain't saying a lot.

Well, I know about cattle.

I'm not letting those Hoot sheep infect the water hole.

I'm not partial to Hoots, and I'm not against them.

But I don't want to start crowding the graveyard up...

...with them either.

No problem.

Move the sheep out.

Now, Jim, them Hoots don't carry guns.

If one of them gets shot, none of you can say...

it was self-defense, understand?

What is that?

A flute.

Have you not heard one before?

Otto Schultz says things like that are frivolous...

...and waste time.

They make you lazy.

Is that part of your religion?

It is what Otto Schultz says.