<P> Settler Meredith (Henry Fonda), his wife Mary (Joanne Woodward), and their young son Jackie (Gerald Michenaud) are passing through, on their way to purchase a farm near San Antonio, when a wheel on their wagon breaks . They wait at Sam's while the local blacksmith repairs it . Meredith, a recovering gambler, learns of the big poker game and begins to feel the excitement once again . During a break, Otto Habershaw catches a glimpse of Mary in her violet dress . Being so enchanted by her, he permits Meredith's request to watch the game only if Mary allows him . The newcomer buys into the game, eventually staking all of the family savings, meant to pay for a home . </P> <P> The game builds to a climactic hand; the gamblers raise and re-raise until more than $20,000 is in the pot . Meredith, out of cash, is unable to call the latest raise . Under the strain, he collapses . The town physician, Joseph "Doc" Scully (Burgess Meredith), is called to care for the stricken man . Barely conscious, Meredith signals for his wife to play out the hand . </P> <P> Taking his seat, Mary asks, "How do you play this game?" The other players object loudly to playing with someone who does not know the game, but eventually give in . The situation is explained to her: if she cannot match the last raise (and any others that may follow), she will be out of the hand . </P> <P> Despite the men's protests, she leaves the room to borrow additional funds . With Jackie and four of the players trailing behind, Mary crosses the street and talks to the owner of the Cattle and Merchants' Bank, C.P. Ballinger (Paul Ford). After she shows him her hand, Ballinger assumes she is playing a practical joke . When he learns otherwise, he loans her $5,500 (at 6% interest) and makes a $5,000 raise for her . The other players, aware of Ballinger's tightfisted, cautious nature, all reluctantly fold . Mary collects her sizable winnings and pays Ballinger back with interest . The game then breaks up, no one ever having seen the winning hand . </P>

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