It's as it should be.
Cattle prices dropped after the war ended.
The Colonel don't seem to care.
He lost nearly everything he had.
We'll make it back...
on horses or something else if we have to.
He's saying that your brother voted for the Volstead Act.
Did he? You suggesting I become a bootlegger?
Good money in bootlegging, if you know what you're doing.
Screw the government.
Screw them.
Forever turned out to be too long.
I know.
Here.
I don't want it.
They told me that this was magic...
that whoever wore it would be protected.
Keep it.
Don't you want to see Alfred?
It's probably better that I don't.
Tell him hello...
and congratulations.
He likes you.
Welcome home.
Isabel?
I want you to have him.
I have something for you too.
I brought it back.
It's from lerapetra.
- That's in-- - Crete.
- Yeah. - I know where it is.
Your father taught me European history.
A little girl. That's me, right?
Thank you.
Okay, we'll see you in a few days.
Don't wait on me. I'll be fine.
It was then that Tristan came into the quiet heart...
of his life.
The bear inside him was sleeping.
It is hard to tell of happiness.
Time goes by...
and we feel safe too soon.
- I heard the oddest news. - Yes?
Yes.
Tristan...
is back.
Yes, I know.
You know?
How do you know?
I saw him.
He had the audacity to come here just to see you?
He wanted to see you, but thought you'd get upset.
He might be right.
What did he--
What did he say?
He said to say hello...
and congratulations.
Silly me.
He told you the news?
What do you think?
Come on. It's perfectly absurd.
Marrying Isabel Two.
God, she's practically our sister.
She can't be more than, what, 19?
Twenty.
I can't imagine what the hell Decker is thinking of...
to allow this.
Perhaps he's thinking of his daughter's happiness.
Happiness? With Tristan?
You, of all people, should know how impossible that is.
I'm not Isabel Two.
June 2, 1921.
Dear Tristan:
I was so pleased to hear of your coming marriage.
Your father must be very happy.
Isabel Two is like a daughter to him...
as she was named after your own mother.
It seems as though it was always meant to be, doesn't it?
Damnation.
Samuel Decker Ludlow.
Dearest Tristan:
Alfred and I were delighted to hear of your son's birth.
We hoped for a child of our own, but of that I despair.
I know Alfred thinks of you often.
I look forward to the day when we all might see one another again.
Your son bears a proud and noble name.
I know he will live up to it.
Please give my love to Isabel Two...
and to your father and everyone else.
Yours always, Susannah.
Evening, gentlemen.
Been meaning to talk to you about one or two things.
By all means.
As you know perfectly well...
we handle the liquor around here.
Now, you've been a small-time operator.
An amateur, frankly.
Lately, your shipments have been getting a little fat...
and my patience has been getting a little thin.
So the next time you get in our way...
will be the last time.
Excuse me. I appreciate it.
Perhaps you're wondering why you're not dead already.
Because your brother is Congressman Ludlow.
And that's it. That's all.
Kenneth. Thomas.
Can't you just say hello?
- Hello, Alfred. - Hello, Tristan.
- Who's this young man? - This is Samuel.
She's beautiful.
Let me see.
- Who is this lady? - I'm your Aunt Susannah.
I used to know your Uncle Samuel who died in the war.
- You look like him. - That's what Grandpa says.
He was very brave and very good.
Grandpa says that too.
Grandpa says I can have Uncle Samuel's gun when I'm bigger.
Would you come and see it?
I'd love to.
Sometime.
- He's a fine boy. - He is.
- Is Father well? - As well as can be expected.
- I wish-- - Pardon the intrusion.
Excuse me. We're ready for your speech now.
I'll be there in a minute.
Thank you.
- We'll meet again soon? - I'd like that.
What's this?
Go and get Tynert.
I think you missed a bump, Stab.
Jesus!
Sir, we have information that you're transporting goods...
in violation of the Volstead Act.
If you mean a case of I rish whiskey for my father, I am.
Give it up.
He'll be disappointed.
Hold him down.
Let's get out of here.
- There's an envelope in his pocket. - Now.
My brother told you to stay out of our way.
Put him in the car.
- I don't want to see him. - Father--
I'm so very sorry.
Father won't see me, even now?
He blames the government for Isabel's--
There's something we have to talk about.
The officer you beat almost died.
Now, everyone understands...
but you'll have to plead guilty...
serve 30 days.
And the one who shot his gun?
He was...
reprimanded.
- The O' Banions? - Nothing.
You have to let it go.
It was a terrible, tragic accident.
Listen to me.
You let this go now.
You got in over your head.
I'll need a minute.
I'm so sorry.
We all loved her.
How are you?
I'm fine.
We never get to see you.
I gave a speech the other day.
- You did? - Yes.
My first public engagement.
It was on the responsibilities of women in--
It's good to see you.
I'm sorry.
I still sometimes dream...
that I'm the mother of your children.
I wanted her to die.
Maybe I even wanted Samuel to die.
You had nothing to do with Samuel's death.
And you had nothing to do with Isabel's death.
Didn't I ?
Go home.
Go home to Alfred.
Where were you?
I just went out for a walk.
I needed a walk. What are you doing home?
Your doctor rang, said you missed your appointment.
I called home. You weren't here. I --
I feel very tired.
I'm going to bed.
You have won her. I am bringing her home.
Alfred.
I followed all the rules:
man's and God's.
And you--
You followed none.
And they all loved you more.
Samuel, Father...
and even my own wife.
I'd like a moment alone with her.
When Samuel died--
When Samuel died, I cursed God.
Did I damn everybody around me as well as myself?
You are not damned.
I won't allow that.
You're not damned!
Samuel, this is a gentleman's gun.
It's smaller, but it's just as powerful.
That's what you want when you grow up, isn't it? A gun.
Samuel, come here!
Run along now. Go with Pet. Get him in the house.
He's a fine boy.
You know we're not here to arrest you.
You take me to the woods so my boy won't see.
I don't want my boy to see.
Let's get on with it.
- Father. - Colonel Ludlow, sir.
What's going on here?
You don't have to be a genius to know they'll come after you for this.
Yeah.
Yeah?
I want to ask you to watch over my children.
Watch over Samuel.
Brother, it would be an honor.
How much I wanted to take scalps...
but it was not my kill.
That night, we buried the bodies...
and dumped the car in a deep pool in the upper Missouri.
I remember when he was a boy...
I thought Tristan would never live to be an old man.
I was wrong about that.
I was wrong about many things.
It was those who loved him most who died young.
He was a rock they broke themselves against...
however much he tried to protect them.
But he had his honor...
and a long life...
and he saw his children grow...
and raise their own families.
Tristan died in 1963...
in the Moon of the Popping Trees.
He was last seen up in the north country...
where the hunting was still good.
His grave is unmarked...
but it does not matter.
He had always lived in the borderland anyway:
somewhere between this world and the other.
It was a good death.