The Monroes

Kathy Monroe:
Clayt, but what do you know about building a cabin? How do you start?

Clayt Monroe:
Well, you cut down a tree and then you trim it into a log and I guess you start it.

Major Mapoy:
Haven't you learned yet? You will not last in this country, Mr. Monroe.

Clayt Monroe:
It'll take more than wolves to scare me off.

Major Mapoy:
You're sentimental. I realize of course that your father discovered this valley ten years ago before I was here, and that your parents died bringing you children out; but this is open range, unsurveyed. Don't you think it is rather fool-hardy of you to uh... squat on it?

Clayt Monroe:
I'll take my chances.

Major Mapoy:
The wolves, Mr. Monroe. The wolves of all kinds wait in the brush for innocents just like you. It is they, not I, who will measure how much time you have. Remember this: only the strong control this land. The weak lie buried in it.

Major Mapoy:
I did put a price on those wolvers. Would you like cash or would you prefer a trade?

Clayt Monroe:
Uh... what kind of trade?

Major Mapoy:
Men to build your cabin.

Clayt Monroe:
Well, that would suit me just fine.

Major Mapoy:
You men on my left, stay and build that cabin for them.

Clayt Monroe:
I sure appreciate this, Major.

Major Mapoy:
Don't thank me, boy. In all probability, the cabin will end up mine anyway.

Clayt Monroe:
I don't understand.

Major Mapoy:
When you give up this struggle here, as you in evidently will, the cabin will revert back to me. Sleeve... I want a cabin down here large enough to accommodate five children and their adopted Indian...

Billy Dan Wales:
Well, I do declare. If this ain't the one big pleasure of my day! Jonah, I'd like you to meet the belle of the Teton. Miss Kathleen Monroe.

Kathy Monroe:
Mr. Wales.

Billy Dan Wales:
Mr. Wales? Now, that's my Pa's name, Mr. Wales. I'm Billy Dan, remember? How have you been keeping?

Billy Dan Wales:
Now, when Billy Dan Wales says he's gonna escort a lady home, Billy Dan is gonna do just that.

Major Mapoy:
No greedy, self-righteous animal is going to frighten me off! He may kill me. But while I live, I shall never be driven back to England a failure!

Billy Dan Wales:
Pa, you talk like we are proud folk. Well then, let's act proud... Well, you can't kill him for what he ain't done, Pa. Lorna's alive and no worse off for what's happened... No Pa, you can't kill him. We found that bear like he said. I ain't never known you to kill, Pa. Not without cause... Well, it ain't prideful.

Albert Monroe:
Things that come easy in this life ain't worth having.

Major Mapoy:
You're not listening. They never listening. Well, go on then. Get back to your valley and try if you must. You've wasted enough of our time.

Kathy Monroe:
Clayt, while you were gone, the twins and I and Amy had a little meeting.

Clayt Monroe:
Oh?

Kathy Monroe:
We decided we don't want to go back to Ilinois no matter what. And we know there'll be problems ahead. Still, like Ma said... we trusted Pa. When it comes right down to it I guess we'll have to trust you for now on. We'll do whatever you say, Clayt.

Clayt Monroe:
We'll not going back. I told the Major we'll stay. I told him I'dl fight if I had to. It's just like pa said... If it were easy, it ain't worth having.

Dirty Jim:
Ho-um... Ho-um.

Clayt Monroe:
Home? Home.

Clayt Monroe:
My name is Clayt Monroe. The year 1875. Coming here was a wild dream my Pa had - to find a valley somewhere in Wyoming. He sold a good farm in Illinois and brought us a thousand miles west to build a new home, start a new life. But we had to drag our wagon through the fiercest country we'd ever seen. Storms would hit sudden, lightening, rains, snow. Finally, lay and waiting was the last river we had to cross: The Snake... I carried my brothers and sister over on horseback. All of our belongings were on the wagon. We even had to tow the family milk cow. Pa fighting the current, my sister Kat, and Ma worrying... I tried, but it wasn't enough. They were gone in seconds. Now we were orphans. I was eighteen, the oldest. I'm Clayt. Fennimore... We call him Little Twin. Jefferson... Big Twin. They were nearly twelve. Amy was six. Kathleen, sixteen. I kept wondering what Pa would do. We couldn't stay here, and we didn't have a farm anymore to go back to. And up ahead there was nothing but wilderness, and one valley Pa had marked with a pile of rocks. But I was the pa now, and I had no choice. I had to find that valley - for him.