He is encouraged about the prospects of work in the vineyards and orchards:It says, ""Plenty of work in California.In the background are the majestic Grand Tetons.A young, wide-blue-eyed, eight year-old son, Joey Starrett (Brandon de Wilde) is tracking a deer with his unloaded rifle." The youngest daughter is bratty Elsie Mae Adele Brunch Sousè (Evelyn Del Rio).[Fields"" two real-life sisters were named Elsie May and Adel.]Mrs.Brunch complains further:Smoking and drinking, and reading those infernal detective stories.The house just smells of liquor and smoke.There he goes again, down to the saloon to read that sillyDetectiveMagazine.(Egbert appears from upstairs, deftly swallows his cigarette, and snatches hisDetectiveMagazine from Elsie Mae.Ironically, the farmer""s young child cowers in terror in his mother""s arms at the sound of all the gunfire.] [It is deeply ironic that the narrator was actually a dead man by film""s end, and that he was the one who was responsible for ""Laura""s"" presumed murder! The narration could also possibly be partially composed of quotes taken from a diary or notes that Lydecker might have written - that were found after his death.