Original subtitles

Look out, Lucky. What are you trying to do, knock me off?

I'd be doing the community a favor.

Young squirt.

- Pretty, huh? - Don't do that.

Hello, Lucky!

Hello.

What lovely flowers!

Yeah, I brought them for you.

Thank you.

They're pretty, huh?

Don't do that.

What's this all about?

The old man is always upsetting things.

That grand bouquet of flowers.

Hoppy, my hay fever's got me down again.

Spring fever he means, look at that sign.

Good job, I call it.

Looks like something a cat dragged in.

What do you mean? That's...

You better take something for that, you're going to drown somebody.

I ain't.

Are you hurt much?

- What do you think? - Where?

Well, that's kind of a personal question.

I reckon he's hurt the most where he hit the hardest.

Right where he fits in the saddle.

You fellas ain't got no delicacy at all.

Look out for them big words, Lucky.

If you don't, they'll snap right back and through you.

Windy.

What's in that jug?

Why... Medicine, that's what it is.

You see, each Spring I get a powerful hitch in the feet.

So I kind of take a little of this to get it out of my system.

You know what happens to anybody Uncle Buck catches with liquor on this Ranch?

Liquor? Here, smell it.

Here, you taste it.

Holy smoke!

So you told the truth for once.

I never told a lie in my whole life, did I?

- Yeah. - Well, maybe once.

Come on, Lucky. I'll give you something to rub on you where you fell.

Looks like Buck's niece has got a rope on Lucky he won't be able to get rid of.

Hand it over.

Hoppy... I added some milk in it to make the medicine work.

I just wanted to see if Lucky would lie to save your hide.

Yeah, great kid.

Are you thinking, Hoppy?

About what?

- Some girl. - No.

I'm just thinking about what happened over back in Black Butte last spring.

At this time, remember?

I ain't likely to forget that stampede.

200 head of Bar 20 cattle lost in them blind canyons.

And three of the Bar 20 best riders trampled into something

- that didn't look human. - Yeah.

That stampede wasn't an accident.

It was murder, Windy.

I can't forget what happened there in Black Butte.

You got something else on your mind.

Do you think it's that good-looking Nora Blake?

That lady that homesteaded over in Grass Valley a couple of years ago?

- Maybe a little. - I had your age too.

I don't like to think of any lady living in a place

where there's nothing but rattlesnakes and rustlers.

Hey, you got it bad.

You better take a swig of this.

Come on.

Hoppy, I've got a tough job for you.

All right, name it.

I got an order for a thousand head of stock.

What's so tough about that?

The herd's got to be delivered at Fort Hastings within ten days.

- I don't think it can be done, Buck. - It's got to be done.

I need the cash.

You can cut out the fat stock in two days.

We don't have time to make it to Fort Hastings.

You'll have to take a short cut over the Black Butte Trail.

- Those Buttes are restlessness. - Remember that last trip over there?

- Black Butte Trail? - Yeah, that means trouble.

Why can't we take on my Southern route?

You got to make the contract date.

Railroad won't hold the cars.

I don't like this anymore than you do, but I'm up against a brick wall.

I reckon that's going to put you up against the Buttes.

I need that chunk of dinero.

Well, we'll make it somehow, Buck.

All right, boys, come on. We got some wrangling to do.

Can I go, Uncle Buck?

Go where?

I've never ridden herd on trail.

Certainly not.

I came all the way here from Kansas City for my vacation.

You and everybody else treats me like I was a kid.

You don't think you're a man yet, do your Archibald?

Shut up, sister. Just because you got a man, you don't have the right to do everything.

Go on that trail and one of them rustlers will skin you alive.

Just show me one of them, I'll give him this.

You'll be the death of me Archibald.

How can a fella get into this world with a name like Archibald?

Windy, how do you do that?

Do what?

That spinning with your gun.

Go away, you bother me.

Come on, everybody's teasing me.

You're the dirtiest pest I ever seen all my life.

Keep your eyes open.

Go ahead and do it.

Boy, I get it.

Lucky!

Where's Keno?

In the city.

Go see him and get him here.

Hey, you, Keno.

So you've been hitting the old red eye again?

What's it to you, handsome?

Hoppy wants to see you.

Mr. Cassidy wants to see me so bad. Why don't he come after me?

Just telling you what he said.

Now you'll go back and tell him what you just saw.

I'm no stool pigeon.

You're always trying to find out something to tell to that slave driver.

Getting yourself set pretty, ain't you, Lucky?

Playing up to Buck Peters' niece, singing her love songs.

- You'd better pull in your horns. - Why don't you make me?

I would, except Hoppy needs every man he's got.

I didn't join up the Bar 20 to fight no wars for 40 pesos a month.

I don't ride herd on the Black Butte trail.

Keno, you came here with a pretty tough breath.

You asked Hoppy for a chance and he gave it to you.

Now you show your stuff by laying down on him.

You're just plum yellow, Keno.

You should have had it, Keno.

I ain't got no fight with you, Cassidy.

You got no fight with anybody so long as you can hit like a sidewinder.

When you're talking to a guy like this, never turn your back, Lucky.

Go back to your work.

You go to Buck Peters and get your time.

If I catch you on the Bar 20 Ranch in an hour, I'll come after you smoking.

And Keno.

If I was you, I'd ride east.

Do you hear me?

Yeah, you said right east.

Wait a minute.

Where are you heading?

That's according to who you are.

You're the one who's answering.

What do you want?

I want to see the chief.

What for?

Him and me has got a deal on.

The chief ain't in the Buttes.

Who winged you?

I had a run-in with a foreman of the Bar 20.

Hopalong Cassidy?

- Yeah. - And you're here to tell it?

Yeah.

Loose talk.

If the chief ain't in these parts, I'll get to ride.

Not that away.

The chief will come back soon.

We are hospitable, we can entertain you till the chief gets back.

As long as you got a deal on with him.

He wouldn't like it if we let you go.

Okay?

- Yeah. - Come on.

- Sorry to hold you up, stranger. - That's all right.

Nice looking cattle you have there.

The Bar 20 raises nothing but the best.

- Taking them to market? - We're taking them tomorrow.

One of my horses cast a shoe.

It's too bad. Drive up the Ranch.

Ask for Windy, he'll be glad to put it for you.

Thanks very much.

Pretty good, huh?

You caught up with me already.

Windy, how about you asking Hoppy to ask uncle Buck

if I can go on that trail drive tomorrow?

You may stay home.

We got to have somebody take care of the range.

Where can I find Windy?

What's the trouble?

My horse cast a shoe.

Can you fix it for me? I'll be glad to pay you for it.

Sure.

Bar 20 never charges a strange anything with little things like that.

I'll get some nails.

- Been driving along? - Yes.

- Where are you going? - Oh, west.

- And you don't even carry your gun? - No.

Say, mister, you won't live long.

Dear me, why?

It's full of bad hombres ready to shoot you as soon as they look at you.

You alarm me.

We're riding that way tomorrow. You bet your boots they'll be armed.

We'll be ready for them if they make one false move.

A noble effort, my little man.

Only you seem to be as awkward with firearms as I'm afraid of them.

Yeah.

What are you doing?

Do you mind if I asked you the same question, mister?

This gentleman has a sensational curiosity regarding my property.

I thought I'd teach him a little lesson.

I'm Professor Hepburn.

I'm visiting my sister, Nora Blake, over in Grass Valley.

Oh, Nora Blake.

I'm Cassidy. Hopalong Cassidy.

Glad to know you, professor.

She's spoken of you often.

It must be kind of lonesome over there around the Butte, ain't it?

On the contrary. You see, I'm a paleontologist.

A what?

A scientist, a naturalist.

Explorer.

In other words, I'm a bone digger.

Oh, yeah.

I'm doing some research for an Eastern Museum.

I hope to prove to the scientific world

that Butte's the natural habitat of the extinct dinosaur.

Another prehistoric fauna.

- You don't say. - Yes, indeed.

I'm finding quite a boneyard.

A place of desolation where any creature might die and remain undisturbed.

Undiscovered for a million years.

A perfect paradise for my purpose.

I guess that Butte's kind of a boneyard all right.

If you find any bones or hides at the Bar 20 stock, let me know.

All right, all set.

Thanks.

I hope you forgive any embarrassment I caused.

Maybe, but I won't forget it.

I aim to ride over the Grass Valley and see how Nora is getting on.

Homesteading is quite a job for a lady to take on.

My sister'll be glad to know what an interest you've taken.

- Goodbye. - See you.

I've never seen any of them diner snorter he's aiming to hunt.

He's going after them with heavy caliber ammunition.

What do you mean?

- See what he's got in the wagon? - What?

Dynamite.

Well, folks, homesteading, they need dynamite.

They might want to blow up some stumps or something.

Hoppy, I never thought I'd see the day that you let a good-looking woman...

Just a minute.

I hope he'll blow up too.

Those snorters...

Know this hombre, chief?

Says he's got some deal on with you.

What do you want?

The Bar 20 is pushing a big herd by here tomorrow.

I'm here to collect the money you promised me if I tipped you off.

You're late with the news, I found out for myself.

I kept my part of the deal, I want my money.

You got nothing coming to you.

After quitting my job and taking the chance of coming here?

That's your misfortune.

I'll meet Cassidy, tell him what he's up against.

Hold on.

Give me your rifle.

Nice shot, Chief.

Trifle heavy for sport shooting.

All right, boys, get the top off.

And then carry it all up the hill.

Say, what about Keno?

Leave him there.

Cassidy will find him.

And if he does, what then?

Always get your opponent in the jumpy frame of mind,

you have a psychological advantage over them.

Blackie, nature has a peculiar way of preserving a biological balance.

Yeah, that's right, Chief.

Ornithology is the most interesting study.

Take that buzzard, for instance.

There's a useful institution.

What better coffin could any man desire than one which flies?

Blackie.

Did you ever wish you had wings?

Say.

I ain't aiming to ride no clouds.

Don't worry, Blackie. You never will.

Clem, take this wagon over the Grass Valley.

All right.

Explain to my sister that I've gone around hunting some fossil specimens.

And hurry up back here.

Fellas, you all know what happened on the Black Butte Trail last year.

If any of you want to back out, now's the time to do it.

- Who do you think we are? - We're with you, Hoppy.

Be sure that all your guns are in working condition,

in case we need them.

Here's an order in the Cattleman's Association for that cash.

That's quite a piece of change.

Think I better put the money in the bank and bring back a check?

Are you loco?

After that fly-by-night bank folded up with me last year?

I reckon, though, you better come back by the Southern route.

All right. So long, Buck.

- Good luck, Hoppy. - Bye, kid.

Try and get the herd past the Buttes before dark.

All right.

Can I go, Uncle Buck?

Haven't I got enough to worry me?

Go away.

Let's go, Lucky.

The Buttes have always been bad luck to the Bar 20.

Be careful, will you, Lucky?

All right, boys, get started.

Come on, Lucky.

They'll be all right, honey.

Poor Artie, he wanted to go so badly.

They can't reach here much before sundown.

- Start planning it there. - Come on, boys, hurry up.

When it goes off, it'll stampede the herd and we'll be able to rustle them.

We'll give Mr. Cassidy a welcome to Black Butte

that'll justify his nickname of top of law.

Lucky!

Tell the boys to push a little faster, we'll never make it through here.

Artie.

Is there any way for a regular cowboy day?

I'd let you go, son, but there's too much danger.

Danger? That's why I want to go.

You didn't think of danger when you came out here 50 years ago.

I couldn't have been born then and you had all the fun.

Sure you think it was fun?

If you had to do over again, what would you do?

I reckon you got me there, Artie.

Can I go?

It's too late.

I got my pony ready. I can get to them before they reach the Butte.

Now listen here.

If you're going to take a man's place, you're going to have to do a man's work.

I will.

Well, your gun, your belt and holster are right where you left them.

Oh, boy.

Artie!

Where are you going?

Well, I guess he had to learn sometime.

I reckon it's in his blood.

Give a little water.

Pushing them steers is hard.

I hope they don't take a note to turn them into one canyon for water.

Hoppy, something's happened.

Come on.

I told him to ride east.

Plunged right through the back.

Probably he never knows what happened.

Maybe he did.

One of your boys take care of him.

The rest get started, it's going to be dark soon.

Keep your eyes peeled on them Buttes and don't let the herd break that way.

Hoppy, look.

Here I am.

Get off of that horse.

Uncle Buck said I could come.

Did you hear what I said? Get off of that horse.

Get in the chuck wagon here with Windy.

Windy, go to that cliff, we'll stay there tonight.

Come on.

Come on, son.

Help me with it.

- Hey! - Get in there!

All right, boys. Pick up those steers.

Windy, Artie!

Take it easy, Artie. We'll have you out in a minute.

Let me speak, Lucky.

See if there's some water in the wagon.

Hoppy, what happened to my pony?

Your pony's all right, Artie. He's still out there grazing.

Hoppy, come here!

Look at that.

What do you think of your Danny snorter?

I aim to find out.

Come on.

Here we go.

Where's the herd?

The boys are holding it about six miles south of the Buttes.

- What's left of them. - How many missing?

About 200 head.

How about the men?

All few sprained wishbones.

We didn't have no chance to make our fight.

Ride back and get the herd moving south.

But, Hoppy, aren't you going to get our stolen cattle back?

No.

It ain't like you, Hoppy.

Just like what happened last year, Hoppy.

Only it'll never happen again.

Lucky.

Artie can't be moved.

Make a camp and look out for him here.

Yeah?

Lucky, from now on, you're in charge of the herd.

I want you to roll them into Fort Hastings.

Here's the cash order.

You'll be paid for the number of steers you deliver.

I want you to listen close.

I want you to get the cash and ride back this way.

Exactly twelve noon, eight days from now.

No sooner and no later.

You got that?

That's a week from tomorrow.

That's right.

You won't let me down, will you?

- Have I ever? - No.

- So long. - Bye, Hoppy.

Good luck, son.

If it's any of my business, what are you aiming to do?

When you go after big fish, you've got to use live bait.

I'm going fishing.

And Lucky is my bait.

Just as plain as a Chinese laundry ticket.

Just get them rustlers down out of the Buttes.

Out here in the open, that's all I want.

I think I figured out a way to do it.

You better throw up a few rocks there for protection.

Yeah, Hoppy.

And if you're right about Nora Blake,

a woman that plays a man's game has to take a man's chances.

So long.

So long, Hoppy.

Archibald.

How are you?

- I'm hungry. - Hungry?

No doubt you're going to get well.

Hi, Nora.

Well, if it isn't Hopalong Cassidy.

Is your boyfriend there in the window?

Boyfriend?

Horace has the funniest sense of humor.

That's my brother's laboratory now.

- Come on inside. - Fine.

I must have known you were coming.

- Yeah? - Look.

Donuts, my favorite dish.

And good too.

That thing out there kind of scared me.

When you meet Horace, you'll understand.

I have met him.

He didn't tell me, but he's so absent minded sometimes.

- But I'd like to know him better. - Come on, then.

Just a minute. All right.

Horace.

- Horace. - What?

Hello.

Mr. Cassidy is interested in your work.

I just made the most astounding anthropological discovery.

There's a missing link in the human group

between the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages,

the intermediary between the flat skull and the round type.

You don't tell me.

We have here the cornered cranial structure

so long sought by science.

You mean, kind of a square head, huh?

Yeah, I think I know this fella.

Well, careful.

You're liable to destroy a priceless specimen.

Yes, sir. That's him all right.

A fellow named Anthony.

He was a rustler.

The boys in the Bar 20 captured him red-handed up on Thunder Mesa.

That's where they parted his hair with a 45.

No, you must be mistaken.

No, I'm not.

It's here.

There's the slug.

When you get ready to put this felon amusing,

just label him as a sample of what happens to people

that can't keep their hands off Barn 20 stock.

I should have made such a mistake.

We all make mistakes.

But some of us don't make them twice.

I can't understand it.

Did you come here to visit me or Horace?

Where's your shadow?

Windy, he's always at your heels.

He's got hay fever. I left him over in the Bar 20.

Hi, Artie, how are you feeling?

Pretty good.

That's fine.

You can take it easy now. I'll go get fresh water.

No, thanks.

Have another.

All right.

- You haven't your usual appetite. - No.

And how's Lucky?

I was going to tell you about Lucky, we were...

What's that?

My brand. I just had it registered with the Cattleman's Association.

The triangle is the shape of my little Valley.

The Double B is for the Black Buttes that surround it.

You were going to tell me about Lucky.

What's the matter, Hoppy?

Nora, I sent Lucky to Fort Hastings with a big bunch of stock.

I'll meet him at the Buttes when he rides back with the money.

That will be several thousand dollars.

Yeah.

- Do you think it's safe to allow Lucky? - I trust Lucky.

Then I'll have your company until Lucky returns?

Unless you throw me out.

Mr. Cassidy, consider yourself my prisoner.

And I couldn't ask for a prettier guard.

Give me a hand.

Get him up.

I want you to ride fast to Fort Hastings, check a man named Lucky.

Find if he's riding back this way with money and when.

Come back and report.

We've done a good job, chief.

In two weeks, you'll never know Bar 20 had always been triangle BB.

Yeah, Hepburn's got them steers bottled up in the Canyon.

They're blocking the Bar 20 brand to Triangle BB.

Sent a fellow to Fort Hastings to check on Lucky.

Just what I figured.

We can get that gang into the open here and have an open fight.

When Artie's well enough to be left alone, you go back to the Bar 20.

Have Buck and the boys back here when Lucky makes his ride by.

Come on.

Keep under cover and don't let anybody see you.

You lied to me, Hopalong.

Why did you tell me Windy was back at Bar 20?

Because rustlers are raiding the Bar 20 stock.

They're using your brand to cover their tracks.

Then I'm under suspicion?

I'll have to find who the guilty party is.

I'm afraid you'll have to prove what you say.

I aim to, and Windy is part of my plan.

Artie!

Thanks, Windy.

I can't leave you now, son.

It's sure knocks Hoppy's plan higher than a kite.

You've been here a week today and you haven't proven anything to me yet.

There's one now.

There's the old Bar 20 brand.

You see how they've changed it over the Triangle BB?

- I'm sorry I doubted you, Hoppy. - It's all right, Nora.

My men must have known about this.

I'll fire every last one of them.

No, don't do that.

Lucky and Windy carried out my orders, I'll make my play today.

I've been a lot of bother, haven't I?

Bother?

It's all right, as long as you're still in the ring.

Who was it?

Looks like trouble.

The odds are against us.

Now, listen, son.

You and me, you've got to make just the best flight we can.

I kept you from going out to Uncle Buck, didn't I?

Boy, you couldn't help it.

Yes, I wish Hoppy was here.

Lucky will be riding along here in a minute.

Get me a drink, will you?

Sure.

Hey!

Come back here!

I'm going to get Uncle Buck and his boys!

Young whipper snapper.

Hello, Horace.

Hello.

Where are you going?

I'm shipping some specimens east to the Museum.

Taking them to the railroad at Fort Hastings.

There's an interesting one.

Well, I better be going.

Take care of yourself, Horace.

If I'm not back in a few days, don't worry about me.

- Bye. - Goodbye.

You certainly had me worried.

I mean, about Horace.

I was afraid you suspected him.

Him?

Your brother is a big man.

He has more important things to think about in the world than rustling cattle.

Here he comes.

Bar 20 fella is coming to the money, he'll ride by the Buttes.

Blackie, a rifle.

Give me a rifle.

Hoppy!

Hoppy!

Do that again.

- Mr. Cassidy. - Nora, look there.

- See anything? - No.

Whoever took that pot shot at me wasn't fooling.

It didn't miss far.

Now is the time for me to make my play.

Goodbye, Nora.

Did you mean it just now when you kissed me?

Come back sometime.

I aim to.

- Goodbye, Hoppy. - Goodbye, Nora.

Ben, you stay here. The rest of you come with me.

Come on.

Where's Hoppy?

Hoppy stopped over the Buttes.

What for?

We don't know.

- Where's the money? - Lucky's got it.

Where's Lucky?

Where's Artie?

Sorry, Buck, we got in a little trouble over the Buttes.

We got messed up.

Uncle Buck, look!

Uncle Buck!

Trouble at the Buttes. I had to ride fast.

Hoppy needs us.

Get my horse, saddle up, boys.

Boys, if Hoppy's got that Black Butte gang in the open,

we've a long score to settle.

We'll never call you Archibald again, Artie.

All right, boys, let's go.

Let's get him.

Hold it.

He's too much of a man to shoot in the back.

Now, we are in a fine spot. You got the money?

- Good. - Why didn't you get here on time?

You made me bush my hair.

- Your what? - My watch.

Save your breath, you might need it later.

Why didn't you shoot Cassidy when you had a chance?

I couldn't plug him in the back.

Get down there and get that man.

Here they come.

Well...

Looks like the trouble with the Black Butte is finished.

I reckon so.

Poor devil.

I hope Nora never finds out.

Hoppy, you're in love.

Maybe you're right.

- Me too. - It must be springtime.

Fellows get that way when the posies begins to bloom.