The Hanging Cross - Recap
Paladin arrives at the Beecher Ranch on the morning before Christmas. He wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, but they ignore him. When he asks one man what's going on, the response is that it's Nathaniel Beecher's ranch. Paladin finds Nathaniel beating up a ranch hand, Jesse, supposedly for letting cattle run off. The foreman, Tater, intervenes, saying it was an accident, but Nathaniel insists the man disrespected him and orders him off the property. Paladin steps forward and shows him his card. He explains that Nathaniel contacted him to find his missing son, Robbie. The rancher informs him that he's already recovered his son. He refuses to pay Paladin his travel expenses, and things turn messy when Paladin threatens to take three cows in payment. Tater intervenes and reminds Nathaniel that Paladin speaks Pawnee. Paladin agrees to interpret for $100 a day.
As Tater takes Paladin to the house, he explains that they're not sure that the boy is Nathaniel's child. Nathaniel found a boy riding with the chief of the Pawnees, insisted it was Robbie, and took him. Tater thinks the boy looks like an Indian, but admits that Robbie was three when he abducted by the Sioux, six years ago. As he starts to explain that Nathaniel lost his wife when Robbie was died, Maudie runs up and asks Tater to see if he can appeal to Nathaniel to have some Christmas doings for the families' children. Tater says he'll see what he can do.
At the house, Robbie runs away from the housekeeper, Maggie, when she tries to put decent clothing on him. The boy runs to Tater, talking in Pawnee, and Nathaniel takes him and tries to get through to him. When the boy continues to hit him, Nathaniel starts to strike him until Maggie intervenes. He tries to get through to the boy again, explaining he's been building the entire ranch for him. Robbie runs to Paladin and looks at him inquisitively. Tater insists the boy doesn't understand and Nathaniel asks Paladin to talk to him. When the gunslinger speaks in Pawnee, Robbie responds. Paladin translates and explains the boy's name is Chewa, and his father is Cah-la-te, Chief of the Pawnees. He warns that his father will come to have him back. Nathaniel insists he should have hung Cah-la-te when he had the chance, and will do it if the chief sets foot on his land. The rancher says that he'll hold on to what's his no matter what.
Nathaniel tells Paladin to tell Robbie that the rancher is his father. They're interrupted when a cowboy, Pete, comes in to warn that the Pawnee are setting up camp on the ranch lands. Nathaniel puts Robbie under guard and tells Tater to build a gallows. Paladin says he has some questions and goes to see Cah-la-te.
At the Indian camp, Paladin introduces himself as Ula Chate: "He who rides with many tribes." He asks if Robbie is Cah-la-te's child and the chief explains that he received the boy from the Sioux, and mixed blood. Paladin warns that the chief has kept the treaty so far, but Nathaniel will fight back with many guns. Cah-la-te insists that it doesn't matter because his people are already dying, their lands taken from them under the treaty.
Paladin returns to the ranch as Nathaniel's men finish building a gallows on a wagon. The rancher plans to have it taken out to show the Pawnee. That night, the ranch church bell tolls and everyone attends the Christmas gathering. Paladin arrives and hangs up his gun belt, and Nathaniel comes in. He tells Tater to have Pete bring Robbie, and then complains that they've put out a feast. Nathaniel warns that if there are any cattle missing or fences down, they'll work double on Christmas Day. He tells them to get on with it. Paladin suggests they sing and everyone participates except Nathaniel. They're interrupted when a man comes in to notify Nathaniel that the Indians have abducted Robbie.
As Nathaniel tells his men to grab their guns, Paladin tells them that they can wait: the Indians will stand their ground. Nathaniel invites him to say whatever he wants, but reminds everyone that when he gives them orders, they'll obey or he'll fire them. Paladin steps forward and tells them that the Pawnee might give up the child if properly treated, but they've been chased from their lands and have nowhere else to go. Nathaniel gets up and simply says it's time to kill some Indians. Tater and some of the others refuse, but others agree. Nathaniel tells Tater that he's fired and leaves with his men.
Paladin straps on his gun belt and starts to go after them. Maggie accuses him of being a hypocrite, and that Christmas is a night when no one should kill, even to protect a few poor Indians. Paladin briefly considers and then hangs his gun belt back up and admits that she's right. He tells the others that if they are willing to walk past level rifles in the name of love and courage, he can give them something tonight.
Cah-la-te is reunited with his happy son, and Paladin arrives to stand at their side. Nathaniel and his men arrive with the gallows and Cah-la-te refuses to fight. He believes that Robbie will never accept Nathaniel after seeing him kill, and Paladin admits he might be right. Tater and the others arrive with the Christmas feast. Paladin explains to Cah-la-te that Christmas is the one night when the white men pretends there is no evil, and honor their children. Paladin assures Tater and the others there'll be no gunfire tonight and invites them in.
Later, everyone gathers at the church and Robbie says his first English word: Christmas. Cah-la-te gives Paladin a ring he found with Robbie: a ring with Robbie's name on it. Paladin asks him to give the boy back, and assures him that Nathaniel isn't an evil man. Cah-la-te asks that Paladin kill him so he doesn't have to live without his adopted son, but the gunslinger says there are other Pawnee children. As all of the children play together and sing Christmas carols, Paladin claps them on. Tater gives Nathaniel the ring and says Paladin wants 500 acres of land paid to the Pawnees. Further, Paladin wants his $1,000 fee paid to Cah-la-te. Tater insists on staying to watch Robbie and make sure that Nathaniel brings him up right. He tells Nathaniel to go be with his son… and wishes him a Merry Christmas. Nathaniel tells his men to get rid of their guns and join in the celebration. Paladin cuts down the noose while everyone sings together.
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As Tater takes Paladin to the house, he explains that they're not sure that the boy is Nathaniel's child. Nathaniel found a boy riding with the chief of the Pawnees, insisted it was Robbie, and took him. Tater thinks the boy looks like an Indian, but admits that Robbie was three when he abducted by the Sioux, six years ago. As he starts to explain that Nathaniel lost his wife when Robbie was died, Maudie runs up and asks Tater to see if he can appeal to Nathaniel to have some Christmas doings for the families' children. Tater says he'll see what he can do.
At the house, Robbie runs away from the housekeeper, Maggie, when she tries to put decent clothing on him. The boy runs to Tater, talking in Pawnee, and Nathaniel takes him and tries to get through to him. When the boy continues to hit him, Nathaniel starts to strike him until Maggie intervenes. He tries to get through to the boy again, explaining he's been building the entire ranch for him. Robbie runs to Paladin and looks at him inquisitively. Tater insists the boy doesn't understand and Nathaniel asks Paladin to talk to him. When the gunslinger speaks in Pawnee, Robbie responds. Paladin translates and explains the boy's name is Chewa, and his father is Cah-la-te, Chief of the Pawnees. He warns that his father will come to have him back. Nathaniel insists he should have hung Cah-la-te when he had the chance, and will do it if the chief sets foot on his land. The rancher says that he'll hold on to what's his no matter what.
Nathaniel tells Paladin to tell Robbie that the rancher is his father. They're interrupted when a cowboy, Pete, comes in to warn that the Pawnee are setting up camp on the ranch lands. Nathaniel puts Robbie under guard and tells Tater to build a gallows. Paladin says he has some questions and goes to see Cah-la-te.
At the Indian camp, Paladin introduces himself as Ula Chate: "He who rides with many tribes." He asks if Robbie is Cah-la-te's child and the chief explains that he received the boy from the Sioux, and mixed blood. Paladin warns that the chief has kept the treaty so far, but Nathaniel will fight back with many guns. Cah-la-te insists that it doesn't matter because his people are already dying, their lands taken from them under the treaty.
Paladin returns to the ranch as Nathaniel's men finish building a gallows on a wagon. The rancher plans to have it taken out to show the Pawnee. That night, the ranch church bell tolls and everyone attends the Christmas gathering. Paladin arrives and hangs up his gun belt, and Nathaniel comes in. He tells Tater to have Pete bring Robbie, and then complains that they've put out a feast. Nathaniel warns that if there are any cattle missing or fences down, they'll work double on Christmas Day. He tells them to get on with it. Paladin suggests they sing and everyone participates except Nathaniel. They're interrupted when a man comes in to notify Nathaniel that the Indians have abducted Robbie.
As Nathaniel tells his men to grab their guns, Paladin tells them that they can wait: the Indians will stand their ground. Nathaniel invites him to say whatever he wants, but reminds everyone that when he gives them orders, they'll obey or he'll fire them. Paladin steps forward and tells them that the Pawnee might give up the child if properly treated, but they've been chased from their lands and have nowhere else to go. Nathaniel gets up and simply says it's time to kill some Indians. Tater and some of the others refuse, but others agree. Nathaniel tells Tater that he's fired and leaves with his men.
Paladin straps on his gun belt and starts to go after them. Maggie accuses him of being a hypocrite, and that Christmas is a night when no one should kill, even to protect a few poor Indians. Paladin briefly considers and then hangs his gun belt back up and admits that she's right. He tells the others that if they are willing to walk past level rifles in the name of love and courage, he can give them something tonight.
Cah-la-te is reunited with his happy son, and Paladin arrives to stand at their side. Nathaniel and his men arrive with the gallows and Cah-la-te refuses to fight. He believes that Robbie will never accept Nathaniel after seeing him kill, and Paladin admits he might be right. Tater and the others arrive with the Christmas feast. Paladin explains to Cah-la-te that Christmas is the one night when the white men pretends there is no evil, and honor their children. Paladin assures Tater and the others there'll be no gunfire tonight and invites them in.
Later, everyone gathers at the church and Robbie says his first English word: Christmas. Cah-la-te gives Paladin a ring he found with Robbie: a ring with Robbie's name on it. Paladin asks him to give the boy back, and assures him that Nathaniel isn't an evil man. Cah-la-te asks that Paladin kill him so he doesn't have to live without his adopted son, but the gunslinger says there are other Pawnee children. As all of the children play together and sing Christmas carols, Paladin claps them on. Tater gives Nathaniel the ring and says Paladin wants 500 acres of land paid to the Pawnees. Further, Paladin wants his $1,000 fee paid to Cah-la-te. Tater insists on staying to watch Robbie and make sure that Nathaniel brings him up right. He tells Nathaniel to go be with his son… and wishes him a Merry Christmas. Nathaniel tells his men to get rid of their guns and join in the celebration. Paladin cuts down the noose while everyone sings together.
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