The Homesman

Come on, girls.

Whoa.

Come on.

Come on.

- Hello, Bob. - Afternoon, Ms Cuddy.

Come on inside. I got supper ready.

The pie is made out of peaches from a can.

Mmm-hmm. They had four of those cans.

I don't know who got the other three. I don't know who could afford 'em.

It's good pie.

If it pleases you, we might have a postprandial recital.

Do what?

A bit of music.

I like music.

it In its quiet beauty lived and smiled

it Loves around its porch to twine

it With her blue eyes beaming soft and mild

it And the wavy ringlets of her flaxen hair

it Floating in the summer air

it Light of that prairie home was she

That sure was pretty singing, Ms Cuddy.

I got some cheese.

Cheese?

Yes, ma'am. You know I got a few sheep now.

I know.

Well, I made some cheese out of their milk.

I wonder if you'd like to have some.

I got some here in my pocket.

Well, cheese would be a fine finish

to our fried chicken dinner and peach pie this evening.

Well, then...

Here it is.

This is fine cheese, Bob.

So why not marry?

- Do what? - Why not throw in together?

Land, animals, implements, lives.

The whole ball of wax.

We could use my capital and know-how

to improve your claim and mine.

And if the union produces children, so much the better.

Looked at from any angle, it works.

So why not marry?

I reckon I'll go back east to find me a wife.

Please, Mr Giffen.

I won't take no for an answer.

Ms Cuddy,

I appreciate the offer, and the supper,

and the concert and all,

but I cannot marry you.

Will not. Won't.

I ain't perfect,

but you are too bossy.

And too plumb damn plain.

Ain't no medicine for it.

This one here's still breathing a little bit, Mama.

Oh, my Jesus.

To what do I owe this pleasure, Reverend?

Springtime, Ms Cuddy!

Are Clydene and the kids getting along all right'?

Meaner than ever, and growing by the minute.

Put your mule up, and come on inside the house.

Yam!

There's been some trouble amongst the women hereabouts.

I've heard about it.

It's bad.

Guess what I'm ordering?

- I couldn't. - A melodeon.

- You are not. - Yep. I don't trust shipping a piano.

So soon as I get into Loup, I'm gonna order a Mason & Hamlin melodeon.

Well, you'll have the only melodeon in the Territory.

Back home, I used to play the piano by the hour.

I can't live without real music much longer.

I could help you with them dishes.

I don't want any help with the dishes.

So, uh,

how you getting along with that Giffen boy?

He uses my mules when I don't need them. He helps me with my corn.

We planted some potatoes together, and we keep the fences up.

How you gettin' along?

When my bulls finish their work here, I let him turn them out on his heifers.

Well...

Seems like you're getting along together all right.

- I feed him a meal every now and then. - Like you do me.

You're a good citizen, Mary Bee.

The bed up on the loft has fresh linen on it.

Take the slop out to the hogs before you go to sleep.

Hell, no.

This here's a goddamn free country, Dowd. Can't nobody make me do it.

Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain, Vester.

- Especially not in his own house. - I won't go.

- I can't. - Why not'?

In the name of our Saviour, Vester, I ask you, "Why not?"

I can't take no time away from my crops,

and I got the girls to look after, and I can't afford to pay for no wagon.

- I ain't in on this deal. - Then what are we gonna do about Theoline'?

Pitch her down a hole in the outhouse.

You are a poor specimen of a man, Vester Belknap!

I came here for the drawing.

- Me, too. - Let's get it over with.

- Oh, what about Vester? - I'll draw for Vester.

What do you mean?

I said I will draw for him.

What did she say?

I said I will draw for Vester Belknap.

Can we proceed?

This is a painful occasion for you and your families, and I grieve for you.

Your wives are fine and godly women.

But life gave them more than they could bear.

Now, we will draw lots.

Whoever draws the black bean,

will carry the women home to where they come from.

Shall we defer to the lady?

- I'll draw last. - I'll go first.

Keep your hands closed until everybody's drawn.

Thor.

Ms Cuddy.

Put your hands in a circle here.

On the count of three. One.

- If that bean in my hand is black... - Two.

- Hush, boy. - Three.

Does that mean Vester has to go?

- But he said he wouldn't. - He has to. He's one of us.

- I baptized him. - I don't trust Vester.

Me, neither.

It's true, Reverend.

Vester is a brute with no conscience. I'll go.

- You can't. - Yes, I will.

A woman?

Well, I can ride as well as anybody.

And handle a team, and shoot. You all know that.

And I can cook, and care for those women better than any of you can.

Hell, she's right.

She's sure as hell right.

That's mighty kind of you, Ms Cuddy. You tell us what you need.

- We'll... We'll see to it. - When will you leave'?

- As soon as I can. - Today's May 5th.

She could be back in time to celebrate 4th of July with us.

Reverend Dowd, we cannot allow this.

It is not a lone woman's place to drive a wagon across this country.

Much less when it carries three of the Lord's...

least capable children.

Then why not go with me, Mrs Linens? We could do it together.

You too, Mrs Polhemus. Better still.

No. You have husbands and family to care for, as you should.

But I do not, because I live uncommonly alone.

Enough. Please, be seated.

I'm afraid you all are right about Vester Belknap.

He's untrustworthy with a task of this gravity.

And we need a homesman.

We will do everything we can to equip

and accommodate you for this journey, Ms Cuddy.

If you gentlemen will excuse me for a minute.

- You come to look after your wagon? - I did.

My Lord. What is that?

That's a frame wagon, traded for it last year.

Since then, it's been sittin' out here in the snow.

When Svendsen and Sours come around here wanting a wagon,

I gave them a hell of a deal on it.

I give it to 'em.

I cut the windows a little bigger.

Greased it real good.

Set some new spokes and felloes.

That's just the right thing for them women.

I put a sliding bolt on that door.

What for?

Lock them ladies in.

Why would I do that?

Stop and think about it.

Oh.

What's that?

You might want to tie something down.

Put in 10 of 'em.

Oh, my. I'm not sure I'm ready.

Are you scared?

- A little. - Listen here, Mary Bee.

You got a passable rig, mules,

and you're as good a man as any man hereabouts.

And you're doing a hell of a fine thing.

So go ahead on.

Get to it. And do it.

Does everybody know?

- Yep. - What do they say'?

Don't say nothin'.

People like to talk about death and taxes,

but when it comes to crazy,

they stay hushed up.

Ms Cuddy!

Mary Bee!

Mary Bee!

Whoa.

I tried to catch you in town, but you was already gone.

- What do you want, Reverend? - To give you these.

They're letters to the women's closest of kin around Hebron, Iowa, and on back east.

Your journey will be long, difficult, and dangerous.

- I expect it will. - God bless you, woman.

Bless you and keep you. You know I believe in you, don't you'?

- I truly do. - I know it.

I'd go in your place if I could.

Now, let us pray.

Heavenly Father, look down upon thy daughter,