The Old Way

When we take it upon ourselves

to act against our best interests.

And the best interests of our community,

we have to understand

that there are consequences for those actions.

And we must respect the hierarchy of power

as it is handed down to us from God.

I did not ask for this responsibility.

I did rise to power under my own volition,

but the drive to do so

was placed inside of me by a higher power.

Jimmy.

- - It's God's will

that I stand here today

take a hard look at your lives, people.

You believe that anything happens

without the will of God?

If it were God's will that he wanted

one of you to be in charge...

Hey, Briggs.

Keep a sharp eye out for the brother.

Boss thinks he might try something.

He did not.

God blessed me with the means and the mental fortitude

to grow my interests in this community.

Not only was I able to open up Clark's Mercantile and Trade,

but I was able to lure in the railroad.

Now I know that many of you do not agree

with my methods.

Let me assure you Mr. McCallister here's

had every opportunity

to do right by this community, but he's flat out refused.

Jimmy, you go on home, now.

Don't stay here and watch this.

You hear me, son?

You go on home!

Go!

"James," is it?

Do you understand what's happening here today?

Well, your father is teaching you a valuable lesson.

Go home. Go!

Know your place.

He stole from me.

Yes, he did. Yes, he did!

He stole from all these good people.

That makes him a sinner.

You know where in the world sinners go?

I can tell you.

Sure as hell ain't Wyoming.

Let him hang.

Shoot the wagon driver.

Pa!

Get him, Briggs!

Please help me!

- - Dad, you okay?

Help... help me.

Get the doc.

You owe me more.

- You okay? - Yeah.

Bobby.

Oh, god, no.

Paid in full.

You killed my brother, you son of a...!

Get these hung early

so they have a chance to dry before the wind gets up.

Are you gonna help me or just keep watching?

I like watching you.

Yeah? You like watching me hang laundry?

I like watching you do most things.

Most things I do, I do for you.

That's true.

Suppose that might be why you like watching me?

I reckon I'd enjoy watching you do other things.

Not just things for me.

Like when I do things for our daughter?

Yes. You're a good mother.

Anyone can see that.

Thank you.

Now, I need you to be a good father today

and walk our daughter to school.

Oh, no. She's old enough to walk herself.

She needs you.

I need you.

And I can't walk her today

since the wind is probably gonna get up

and I need to finish hanging this laundry.

I have to open the store.

Then the two of you had best get going

so you're not late.

Brooke!

You need to hurry.

Your father's walking you to school today.

Why can't you walk me?

Brooke.

Yes, sir?

Listen to your mother.

Thank you.

Brooke, I have too many chores to get done this morning.

So no arguing.

Grab your school books and scoot before you're both late.

I think you and your father could use

a little walk together, anyway.

Go on.

We should have taken the horse.

No.

There wasn't time to saddle the horse

and walk you to school and be back at the store

on time to open.

Wouldn't we be faster on the horse?

Undoubtedly.

Then wouldn't the time we save by being faster

have made up for the time it would have taken

to saddle the horse?

No.

"No classes today, as Miss Valerie has taken ill."

What do you think she's ill with?

Pox?

It's probably pox.

You need to walk home now. I have to open the store.

Mama says I'm not allowed to walk home alone.

That's nonsense.

You say I should listen to Mother.

This is different.

Mama wouldn't like it if you made me walk home alone.

Sit there and finish your studies.

I have finished my studies.

The teacher needs to assign new ones.

Then sit there and read a book.

Good morning, Mr. Jeffries.

- - Good morning, Mr. Briggs!

How's your day?

Very well. How can I help you?

Well, I'll tell you, Mr. Briggs.

My mother done got it in her head yesterday

that she wanted to bake a cake

for the church potluck this weekend.

Now, last year, she made a pie,

but the apples she used grew on Mr. Johnson's apple tree,

you know, the one out back by the outhouse.

And wouldn't you know it,

them apples tasted plum-like shit

and made anybody who eat 'em sick to their gut.

I tell ya, I think the shit from that outhouse

has soaked down to the root

and changed the way a basic apple can taste.

But Mr. Johnson says that's a bunch of hooey,

and because of that,

he won't let Mama have no more apples for her apple pie,

which, as far as I'm concerned,

is fine by me and Mama because as I mentioned before,

the apples taste like shit anyhow.

Well, that left a dilemma for Mama.

She's not going to bake pie for this week's potluck.

What could she possibly make?

A cake.

Exactly. Mama's gonna bake a cake.

Bring it to the church potluck after church on Sunday.

Was there something that you needed

from the store, Mr. Jeffries?

There I go, blundering on around about Mama.

I done forgot you don't know why I'm here.

Mama needs some flour.

The sack she has is full of weevils

and she don't think she can sift them all out this time.

How many pounds?

Just a 20-pound bag will do.

I didn't, uh, I didn't see you there.

I wasn't really gonna steal 'em.

This is a game I play with your daddy.

Twenty pounds of flour.

That'll be one dollar and a nickel.

Yeah, could you apply it to my mother's account?

Of course.

Thank you, Mr. Briggs.

Hope to see you at the luncheon on Sunday.