Elkhorn (2024) s01e09 Episode Script

ANNOUNCER: Previously on
Elkhorn MERRIFIELD: Come fall
we’ll be wrangling cattle from
across the whole range
to sell for winter.
SEWALL: Truth is a local
cattlemen’s association
may just be the thing
that mends up Medora.
MAN: Show of hands
for the new chairman
Theodore Roosevelt.
[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
What game are you playing?
Do not be a sore winner.
MEDORA: The roundup
will soon be upon us.
Bad things happen all the time.
PADDOCK: You wanna take
a shot at Roosevelt?
MARQUIS: Roosevelt
is far too prominent.
His men on the other hand.
If some misfortune
were to befall them
ROOSEVELT: Come now Bill, You could
at least pretend to be enthusiastic.
The round-up is everything
we’ve worked for.
We’ll finally test our
mettle on the open range
and prove Elkhorn a
profitable venture to boot.
SEWALL: I’ll be enthusiastic once we’ve
filled our ranks, Mister Roosevelt.
With George falling off that brute
mustang, we’re a man short
we got less than
twelve hours to go.
Have faith.
[MEN CLAMORING]
Throw a rock in this town, and
you’ll hit a sturdy cowboy.
[MEN CLAMORING]
[MEN CLAMORING]
Well, he’s got spirit, sure.
[MEN CLAMORING]
[MEN CLAMORING]
[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
BETTOR: There you go.
MURPHY: Which
one’a you is next?
Who’s got the sand on ’em?
Aw, c’mon now,
you can’t be serious, four eyes.
C’mon now.
COWBOY SPECTATOR:
Careful there, Murphy.
That’s Theodore Roosevelt.
MURPHY: Careful?
Is he a biter?
He’s an employer.
And a worthy opponent,
I assure you.
Well, I ain’t gonna
hold back on ya.
Better not.
[MEN CLAMORING]
[MEN CLAMORING]
[MEN CLAMORING] [PUNCH LANDS]
[MEN CLAMORING]
[MEN CLAMORING] [PUNCH LANDS]
[MEN CLAMORING]
[MEN CLAMORING]
[PUNCHES LANDING]
[MEN CLAMORING]
[MEN CLAMORING]
[MEN CLAMORING] [PUNCH LANDS]
[MEN CLAMORING]
Murphy, was it?
Elkhorn Ranch could use
a cowboy like yourself.
How’s fair pay for
hard work strike you?
Strikes me just right, I’d say.
[GRUNTING]
[PANTING]
Excuse me for a moment.
[PANTING]
[PANTING]
SEWALL: Knocked the
wind out of you, did he?
No.
It’s the asthma.
I thought you’d near-bested it.
[ROOSEVELT PANTING]
You sure you’re okay to
go through with all this?
Yes,
yes.
It’s passing.
It’s just
the air. It’s-
it’s gone thick.
Aggravates my lungs, but
it’s only temporary.
Means a storm’s coming.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[THEME MUSIC] ♪
[THEME MUSIC] ♪
[THEME MUSIC] ♪
You got a couple men
yourself, as well.
All right gentleman,
it’s time to get to business.
Each man
will draw for his pony.
No, no
Not you, Mister Roosevelt.
And why not?
Well, proprietor always
gets pick of the litter.
Nonsense!
I shall ride the whims of chance
just like the rest of you.
Suit yourself.
Ooh
Ol’ Butler.
[CHUCKLING]
The mustang that
busted up George.
MURPHY: Mister Roosevelt, you
don’t feel like pullin’ leather,
I’ll be happy to ride
that bronc for you.
Cowboy, I know that
you can ride him.
But I want to know
if I can ride him.
We’ll see.
Let’s finish up.
Okay, now, listen up.
We’ve been paired
together with some boys
from Prairie Falcon
and Chimney Butte,
but don’t worry
I’m still captain of this posse.
Now
we got ’round nine-hundred head
to account for ourselves,
they are scattered across a
couple hundred miles
of grazing land.
So, it may take us two to three
weeks to sort those brands.
Once we’re finished, we will
drive that herd on back
to market for sale.
Now, we will have
the chuck wagon
with us during the day.
But at night,
we pair up
and we ride lines
around that herd
to keep ’em together
but more importantly
to keep ’em calm.
To a triumphant round-up!
MERRIFIELD AND THE
COWBOYS: Here here!
And to think, you
said this didn’t
look like cattle country.
It still don’t look it
even if it’s
grown on me just a bit.
Where’s Dow off to?
[SEWALL SIGHS]
Can’t keep a lady waiting.
DOW: Guess I’ll be sleepin’ under
the stars for the next few weeks.
ROSIE: Well, they’re a
pretty great set of stars.
Yeah they are.
Lucky me,
I know someone
who knows them like
the back of their hand.
- Yeah?
- Gave me a proper tour of ’em.
Well, if you get tired of
stale biscuits and beans,
you know you could always
sneak back this
way some evening.
I’ll make sure to it that
you get a proper meal
at a fair price of course.
[ROSIE CHUCKLES]
I like spending time with you.
So do I.
Oh good.
Now
the leaving you part
and walking away?
I don’t like that as much.
You know,
first snow usually comes pretty
quick after the round up. And
this whole place turns
into a ghost town.
Uh
I know We ain’t much
spoke on it, but
were you thinkin’ about
heading back to
Maine for the winter?
The plan was that Uncle
and I were gonna head back,
yeah, but
I don’t know.
I see.
Well
but if I do go
I reckon that
all I’ll be thinking about
is how I can get right
back here in this spot
as fast as I can.
Well
before you go,
if you go
You should probably ask
me to the round up dance.
Because nobody has asked me yet.
And you know, I
might just have to go
find myself a proper date,
I was thinking maybe Joe Ferris
at the general store-
Rosie Maddox,
will you do me the
honor of accompanying me
to this year’s round up dance?
ROSIE: Well,
let me think on it a minute.
All right. Yes, I will.
Great.
[DOOR OPENS]
[ROSIE GASPS]
Miss Medora, I-We-
MEDORA: Rooms 3 and
4 need cleaning.
ROSIE: Yes, I’ll-
be right there.
Good night.
Night.
DOW: Evenin’, Marquise.
This is a mighty wonderful night
we’re having tonight isn’t-
[DOOR SLAMS] isn’t it?
[CATTLE LOWING]
MERRIFIELD: Dow,
take the outside.
Nice and easy boys,
nice and easy.
Hey, hey. Hey.
Hep!
There it is.
SEWALL: Dow! Bring ’em up
over this side, if you can.
Come on, come on.
[GUITAR] ♪
[GUITAR] ♪
[GUITAR] ♪
Wil?
[GUITAR] ♪
Uncle.
You alright?
Yeah, I’m alright.
Uh
Actually
there’s something I’ve
been meaning to ask you.
Shoot.
Well
with you and Aunt Mary
was there a time-
well when did you know that you
wanted to ask her to marry you?
Uh
there are men that
can put words to those things
I ain’t one of them.
I don’t know.
If it’s Maine or Dakota-
the where is starting to
matter a whole lot less
to me than the who.
Figured you were
headed this way.
Uncle,
every time I look at Rosie
I swear-
it feels like home.
After all this
at that dance
I’m gonna ask her for her hand,
and since I ain’t ever done it
I wanted to ask you.
What do you think?
You tell me straight, Uncle.
Well
I think that’s mighty fine.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
Yeah.
All right.
And you’re sure it’ll be
ready in time, Auntie?
MADDOX: Not if you don’t
stop vexin’ me, it won’t.
One more.
All right.
Go on,
give it a twirl.
Woowee! That’ll
turn some heads.
ROSIE: Oh, there’s
only one I care about.
MADDOX: So long as
that boy’s got a pulse,
this’ll do just fine.
There something wrong?
No.
You just look like
your mama is all.
Go on now, hand it over.
I still got some
cross-stitchin’ to do.
- Auntie?
- MADDOX: Uh huh.
I really think I’m
fallin’ for him.
MADDOX: That bad, huh?
- Mm hmm.
When Wilmot looks
at me, it’s like
like there ain’t no one else
in the world for him to see.
And I know it sounds strange but
when I’m with him, it’s like..
It’s like I’m home.
And he feels the same?
Yeah, I think so.
Well, you make sure he
tells you first then.
ROSIE: All right.
And just
MADDOX: Be careful.
That lousy husband of mine,
he weren’t always so lousy.
You just make sure
he’s got you in mind,
your future,
and that you ain’t
just sittin’ pretty
side-saddle to his dreams.
ROSIE: No. He’s not like that.
I know he’s not.
[MADDOX SIGHS]
I hope you’re right, child.
Aw, what do I know.
Don’t listen to this
old maid anyhow.
[CHUCKLING]
[THUNDER RUMBLES] Whoo.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
Bones swole all up.
Gale needs to break already
and be done with it.
Ain’t that how it goes?
Just when things
start lookin’ good
that’s when the storm rolls in.
[HORSE WHINNIES]
MERRIFIELD: I hope you
boys enjoyed your breakfast
but we do have a full day ahead.
Okay? Let’s go ahead
and partner up.
We’re gonna clear the small
valleys out this morning.
Digging the stragglers
out of the gullies
and ravines they’ll
be nappin’ in.
C’mon. Finish up;
let’s get moving.
Let’s get back to it then, Bill.
All ready.
[HORSE WHINNIES] Whoa. Whoa.
SEWALL: Ol’ Butler.
[HORSE WHINNIES]
How’s he riding?
A bit better.
Still a little unpredictable but
add it to the list of problems.
Here’s one more you can add.
MARQUIS: Bonjour,
my dear Roosevelt.
ROOSEVELT: Marquis,
to what do we owe the
pleasure of your company?
MARQUIS: I’ve come to
offer my assistance.
Men, horses
whatever you may require.
Do not be too flattered, now.
I’m offering the
same to every party.
In the spirit of
prosperity.
An efficient round-up
benefits the entire community.
ROOSEVELT: Well your
generosity is appreciated.
But, as you can see, we’re
quite efficient on our own.
There’s much work
left to be done.
So, my dear Marquis- MARQUIS:
Let us ride together, then.
We’ve not spoken since the-
regrettable events
a few weeks back.
I would love the opportunity
to clear the air.
SEWALL: Tell me you’re
not considering this.
If there’s a chance to settle
the bad blood between us,
I very well have
to try, don’t I?
SEWALL: Well
he’ll have you in the open,
helpless and alone.
I’m not helpless, Bill-
I didn’t mean you were helpless-
Plus MARQUIS: Merci.
I don’t think he’s
brazen enough to try
anything in broad daylight.
SEWALL: Tell that to the rancher
he gunned down a year back.
MARQUIS: Come Roosevelt!
While we are still young.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[HORSE WHINNIES]
Woah there! Stubborn thing.
[MARQUIS CHUCKLES]
[DEEP INHALE AND EXHALE]
MARQUIS: Unpleasant air, this.
It’ll be crisp once
the storm passes.
But then the winter
always comes quick.
You have yet to see
a Dakota winter.
They can be
most brutal.
ROOSEVELT: So I’ve heard.
MARQUIS: Last winter, well,
that was mild.
Lost very few cattle.
But this year,
who can say?
Who can ever say, really.
Always at the mercy of
nature.
We must treat every winter
as though it were our last.
As ranchmen, I mean.
That’s why every
rancher ought to make
the best deal he can.
As if it were his last.
I had not intended
for things to escalate
as they did last month.
But I am glad you oversee
the Stockmen now
Someone must.
Is that supposed
to be an apology?
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[COCKS GUN]
Whoa. Easy.
Wound up pretty tight ain’t ya?
Find any strays?
MURPHY: Naw.
No, I’m gonna head south next.
Just stopped by
to get some grub.
You run across Mister Roosevelt?
MURPHY: Nope.
Shoulda been here by now.
You stay put!
I’m sure he’s fine.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
MARQUIS: You’ve come some
way since we first met.
[HORSE BLUSTERS]
I did not expect you would
survive a Badlands summer,
much less the fall.
But you have proven
yourself resilient,
and resilient men like us
must continue to work together.
Will you be returning to
New York in the winter?
I will. [HORSE WHINNIES]
MARQUIS: Your daughter
lives there, does she not?
[LIGHTNING STRIKE]
[HORSE WHINNIES]
Whoa!
[GASP] [GROANING]
Confound it all!
MARQUIS: Are you alright,
Monsieur Roosevelt?
[GROANING]
My shoulder
[GROANING]
MARQUIS: Come now.
You are in no condition
to be out here.
Perhaps you should return
to Elkhorn for some rest.
Don’t be absurd.
Is that your plan all along?
To remove me from the round-up?
Mon ami.
I have no plans here
but to make a profit.
But a lame cowboy has no
place riding in a round-up.
Come, now.
Let me escort you
back to camp
then onward to your ranch,
if you will allow the company.
[STRIKE WITH RIFLE BUTT]
[STRIKE WITH RIFLE BUTT]
[STRIKE WITH RIFLE BUTT]
[DRAGGING SOUNDS]
[CATTLE LOWING]
What happened?
The horse threw me.
Seems we’re still not
seeing eye to eye.
Whole arm broke?
ROOSEVELT: No.
Just the shoulder.
If that.
Well
I’m gonna say it once,
and I mean once ever
you should have
listened to Merrifield.
Alright well,
I’ll take it from here.
We’ve only just begun
Ah, you’ve done plenty
Mister Roosevelt.
One week on the round-up,
it ain’t no small thing.
Very well.
I’ll get my things
and be on my way.
[BIRDS CAWING]
[CATTLE LOWING]
What happened?
Looks like Murphy got
himself into some trouble.
Trampled maybe.
SEWALL: My hat.
Herd could’ve got spooked,
I don’t know. ROOSEVELT: And you
think Murphy got caught up in it?
[BIRD CAWING]
SEWALL: I just left him
I told him to stay put.
It’s okay Bill,
these things happen.
Isn’t that so?
MERRIFIELD: Yes sir, they do.
And they don’t.
Makes sense,
got caught in a stampede,
but
I’ve seen my fair
share of accidents.
Good cowboys get caught
up in bad circumstances,
meeting their end under hooves,
but it don’t look like this.
SEWALL: What’re you saying?
MERRIFIELD: I dunno
what I’m sayin’.
Just
something bad happened here.
Don’t look right.
Mister Roosevelt!
What happened to your arm?
An accident.
[FOOTSTEPS]
PADDOCK: Thought I had a
shot at him, I took it.
Don’t change a thing.
MEDORA: It changes everything
He’ll be watching for us now.
PADDOCK: We’ll make our move tonight.
Storm oughta roll in by then,
give us cover.
They’ll never-
[DOOR OPENS]
MEDORA: Rosie.
ROSIE: Miss-Medora, I-The
room needs changing.
I’ll see to that.
A hard-working girl should
learn when to take a break.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
ROOSEVELT: I can manage Bill.
SEWALL: Takin’ it easy
means takin’ it easy.
ROOSEVELT: I don’t like it.
Leaving the men behind, after
what happened to Murphy
SEWALL: Well, If
Merrifield’s right-
it wasn’t no accident-
it’s better if you’re not here.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
SEWALL: What?
Nothing. You’ve just-
gotten quite good at this.
I’ve had plenty of
practice saddling
at this point.
No, I mean all of it.
Ranching.
I asked a lot of you, to
come out here from Maine.
And you and Dow
more than delivered.
I know it couldn’t
have been easy.
And it was never gonna be.
You made that clear in your
very first letter, when
you invited Dow and I
out for this venture.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
Can I ask
Are you glad you came?
Now you once spoke of a
rise ahead for us out here.
A future
bright as we choose to make it.
It does seem a little brighter,
just now at least.
Ride straight to Elkhorn.
Ride hard.
Don’t look back.
See you in a few days, Bill.
We’ll talk about
that future then.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[GUITAR] ♪
Last night as I
laid on the prairie ♪
And looked at the
stars in the sky ♪
I wondered if ever a cowboy ♪
Would drift to that
sweet by and by ♪
Roll along ♪
Roll along ♪
Roll on little
doggies, roll on ♪
MERRIFIELD: Well,
two more cowboys on the line.
SEWALL: That’s us.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
Storm’ll be overhead in an hour.
Y’all gonna be okay managing
out there by yourselves?
SEWALL: Time to find out.
MERRIFIELD: Guess so. SEWALL:
Don’t worry Merrifield.
Be safe.
MEDORA: Rosie.
ROSIE: Medora, did
you need something?
I just sent all
the staff home but-
Sit a moment.
Imported from Paris.
Have you ever tasted
French chocolate?
I’ve actually never
tasted any kind.
You’ve worked exceptionally hard
these past months.
Turning this heap into a hotel
worthy of my husband’s name.
Don’t be shy.
You’ve earned it.
See?
Even here, we can
have the finer things.
ROSIE: What’s Paris like?
I hear it’s beautiful.
Would you like to see it?
Well sure I would,
someday.
Paris
started from humble
beginnings as well.
It was a Roman garrison once,
and before that, a band of Celts
who settled by the Seine river.
But from that,
a kingdom was made.
Why shouldn’t we become
the Paris of the frontier?
That’s a beautiful dream.
It’s more than that.
But
building something grand
takes patience.
It takes resolve.
And as I’ve told you many times,
it takes loyalty.
Well I
I like to think I’ve
done all I’ve been asked.
That’s true.
But allow me to ask
one thing more.
The ranch hand,
from Elkhorn.
Oh, Wilmot?
Well, he’s actually a manager-
MEDORA: You’re not
to see him again.
What?
Why?
Rosie,
I have opened a door.
But you cannot step
through it with him.
He will only hold you back.
Why not?
He’s a good man.
He’d be loyal.
Don’t cast aside
what I’ve done for you.
I love him.
You can have your small,
provincial love.
Or -
you can have Paris.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
[CATTLE HOOFBEATS]
[CATTLE HOOFBEATS]
[CATTLE LOWING]
[WHISTLING] [PROMPTING CATTLE]
[LIGHTNING STRIKES]
[CATTLE MOOING]
[THUNDER AND LIGHTNING]
Uncle!
Uncle, these cattle ain’t happy.
SEWALL: Just keep ’em together.
Storm’s either
gonna break or pass.
Either way, we keep ’em
together til it’s gone.
DOW: Yes sir.
- Come on. - Hyah.
Hyah.
[LIGHTNING STRIKES]
[CATTLE MOOING]
This is getting to be a habit.
Take him down Paddock.
PADDOCK: I’m working on it.
DOW: Uncle
SEWALL: I heard it.
DOW: Maybe it was
just thunder
SEWALL: Doesn’t
sound like thunder-
[GUNSHOT]
[CATTLE MOOING]
DOW: Uncle, They’re
gonna stampede!!
MARQUIS: Must I do everything?
PADDOCK: So long neighbor.
SEWALL: What are you doing here?!
- I couldn’t rightly let you
have all the fun, now could I?
What’s got you spooked?
SEWALL: You may want to keep
riding Mister Roosevelt
I think we may be on the wrong
end of someone’s rifle
Are you sure it’s not
just the lightning, Bill?
I ain’t sure of anything.
Which way is it coming from?
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
Come on, let’s get out of here.
Ole Rooze-velt spots us
and we’ll be hung for sure.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
I got him in my sights.
[LIGHTNING STRIKES]
[CATTLE MOOING]
[CATTLE MOOING]
SEWALL: They’re running
scared, Mister Roosevelt.
They make it to those northern
cliffs we’ll lose half the herd.
[CATTLE MOOING]
[LIGHTNING AND THUNDER]