Original subtitles

Oh, Mr. Howard, sir. I just couldn't leave the valley without seeing how you

look in your new dress.

How can I ever repay you?

Well, you might ask me in for some coffee and poetry reading.

Well, if Vern Scott found you here, he'd kill you.

Oh, Scott's in town now. He's rounding up a posse to chase me out to Maverick

Sheep Ranch.

Please come in, then.

A Warner Brothers television production.

It's your bet, I believe, Mr. Coley.

The only thing left that shines, Maverick.

Well, I'll accept that.

And I'll call.

Three little ladies on an errand to mercy.

And three wise men to show them the way.

Wheels fixed, gents.

I never would have believed it, but you know this dude Maverick has just bested

Big Coley.

Sure, and the devil plays a harp. I tell you, we've seen it.

Charlie, Big Coley is smarter than a tree full of owls. There ain't nobody

best him.

Is that right, Mr. Coley? Ain't nobody gonna best you.

Come on, give me a hand with the horses.

Glad to. This way, gents.

Seems you have a reputation, sir.

Yeah. Look, Maverick, I got a deal I want to make to you.

A deal?

I've got a ranch property I'll trade you for everything you've got there.

Oh, come on, Mr. Coley.

Halloween's a long way off.

I'm serious.

A man's reputation's a precious thing around these parts.

I spent a long time building mine.

Look, if I was to say I flipped you double to nothing and I won...

They'd say that, see, you can't beat Big Coley no matter what.

They might be right.

I haven't seen that ranch.

I've got a legal description and a deed right here.

That's one of the sweetest spreads in the New Mexico Territory.

Three thousand head.

That alone is worth a lot more than what I've got right here. Then we've got a

deal.

I'll sign it. And you'll keep quiet about this?

Quiet?

Like a fly walking on fresh peach.

Hold your fire. I'm on your side.

He's run up the white flag.

Don't shoot.

I'm the new owner. Here's the deed.

New owner.

Well, better let him in, Batso.

If we don't like him, we can shoot him later.

Better get the boys.

Best we trim him down before he takes root.

Take the back trail.

Hi.

You sure you're the new owner?

You ain't some gun shark on the Dodge like Jesse James.

Oh, my name's Maverick, Brett Maverick. Here's my passport.

Maverick.

Sounds like cow people.

That's right. Well, I am now.

But then was cow people up there that were shooting at you?

I think I'll just call you Jesse till I find out a little more. Well, didn't I

notice lead flying at me from here, too?

Well, likely they thought you was one of us. We thought you was one of them.

Well, just who is everybody?

And what is that smell?

Smell?

Must be this deal you made with Big Coley. He sold you this shooting match.

I know that Coley. You can't lose.

No, I can't lose. Not at the price I paid.

By the 3 ,000 head alone, it would make me rich.

What is that smell?

What smell?

There ain't no smell here, except in the critters.

Critters? Yes, all 3 ,000 head. We just counted them yesterday.

Oh, you mean the cows.

Finest flock in these mountains.

Oh, that Vern Scott and his doggie punchers.

He's bound to run this flock clean off in the range if he has to kill Basco and

me and Heather to do it. Heather? What's Heather?

Don't tell me there's a beautiful shepherdess and a fine friend.

There sure is.

She's on watch.

Oh, I'm Jensen.

This here's the Basco. He don't speak much English, but he sure can wrangle

sheep. He understands pretty good what you're telling.

This is a new boss, Basco.

Mucho gusto, senor.

Mucho. See those animals out there?

They look fat and healthy. What do they bring on the market?

Practically nothing.

Can't even get a bid on them.

Oh, there was a sheep buyer come around a few days ago.

But the cattleman grabbed him before he even got to the hotel.

What'd they do with him?

Well, nobody knows.

Nobody'll ever know.

Maverick!

You come out peaceful or we'll ride down and burn you out!

Come on, Jesse, we'll blast them.

Basco, you know what to do.

Si.

Come on, follow me. Wait, wait, wait a minute. There's no point in getting them

all stirred up. Is there a way out of here?

That's what I'm trying to tell you. We're going to outflank them through the

tunnel. What tunnel?

This old escape tunnel for Apache raids.

We'll powder them counters. You mean we'll ambush them?

That's the idea.

And if that don't work, I still got an ace up my sleeve.

Where does this tunnel come out?

In the rocks, other side of the house. We'll wipe them out. You don't think

we're going too far?

Jesse, you're a fighter, remember?

Brett, if you don't mind.

What's the Vasco gonna be doing?

Now, he's gonna stay here and shoot from the door. That way, we get him in a

crossfire. Vasco!

We'll give you the signal when to start firing.

We'll raise our hands like this. Si, si, comprendo.

Let me go first, Jesse. Heather don't like strangers.

Where is Heather?

She's around here someplace.

There she is.

That's Heather?

Sure is.

What's she doing, counting sheep?

She's a real dream, Jesse.

You know, someday, Heather and Bosco and me are going to have a flock of our

own. Just us, way off there in the mountains.

And no dude giving us orders.

Come on, Heather.

And don't touch her until she gets introduced.

Heather, this here is Jesse James, alias Brett Maverick.

Hi, Heather.

Well,

it stuck to me right off, huh?

Hey, haven't we got some work to do? Yeah.

Heather nudged me.

Here they come, Jesse.

I'm out of cartridges.

I have to use our ace.

Aim for that little barrel in the middle of the road.

What for?

Don't ask questions. Just hit it.

Hit it.

I told you I had an ace up my sleeve.

Old -timer, you sure play rough.

come to a bad end. We licked him today. We can lick him tomorrow. Without

gunpowder? Well, they throw your rocks up there, and we got our hands.

And weak stomachs.

I never could stand a sight of blood, especially mine.

Look, nobody there knows who I am.

I'll be back.

Heather, you trail him.

Leds are gonna be buzzing around, Maverick, like bees around a hive.

Only lead stings deeper.

Now you go on, take care of him.

Short beer.

Stranger in town?

So far.

Ain't much room around here for rolling stones.

Not even if they don't gather any moss.

Boys, I called you together because we've got a job to do.

And just to show that we are all together.

I've brought the little lady that owns the biggest spread in the valley.

Miss Cooper.

She could be real pretty wearing lace instead of leather.

Take it easy, stranger.

That's Mr. Scott's girl.

I was just enjoying the view.

Guess you know the Coopers have been in cattle ever since my father drove the

first herd into this valley.

And how we feel about sheep.

There's only one sheep outfit left.

And the only reason they're still operating is quick money.

Money. Is there any man here who thinks money's everything?

How quick money's not worth ruining a good cattle range, is it? No. No. No.

No. No.

Well, now, I've got the name of this mutton puncher who thinks money's

everything.

Big Coley took the trouble to wire me personally who he sold the ranch to.

A ten -horn gambler by the name of Maverick.

He's a hard case, boys.

This maverick tried to kill me in some of my hands today with blasting powder.

Now, there's only one place for a man who puts himself above the law, and

underground.

I'm offering $500 bounty for this maverick. And I'm matching it.

Anyone else?

$200. Another $100. $400.

$200. Anyone else?

That makes $1 ,900.

Now, who'll make a $2 ,000?

Thank you, stranger.

Now, the committee offers $2 ,000 to whoever hangs up this maverick saddle.

Now, that being the sole business of this meeting, I declare her adjourned.

Well, see him. Just a minute, dude.

Couldn't be the quickest $2 ,000 a man ever made. Mr. Scott.

Excuse me.

What's going on here? Smell this man's clothes.

Sheep. Maybe you better explain, mister, beginning with your name.

Oh, certainly.

My name is Gordon W. Howitzer.

I smell of sheep because I've been on a sheep range.

You've what?

As a part of my business, Mr. Scott, I'm a federal inspector of rangelands.

And our government is vitally interested in the depredations of sheep in this

valley. Federal man?

And Washington's worried about sheep on our range?

They are, if I say so, Miss Cooper. Very worried.

Well, now, Mr. Howardson and I might get along real fine.

We can't turn our backs on a range inspector just because he dresses like a

and his clothes smell of sheep.

No more than I could turn my back on a pretty girl just because she dresses

a boy and her clothes smell of cattle.

Drinks are on you there, Dee.

Set him up.

You, uh...

You agree, then, Howitzer, that this new sheep owner, Maverick, should be wiped

out? Well, I can't speak officially, of course, but if I were in your shoes, I

wouldn't like to be in his.

You know, Howitzer, this is providential.

You may be just the man we want.

Maybe I am.

Now, you being a government inspector can ride right up to Maverick's ranch.

You could get him out in the open on some pretense, couldn't you?

Nobody could do it quicker.

Well, we'll drink on that.

To Mr. Maverick.

We'll find that lightning can strike twice in the same place. That's just

my pappy said as he looked down my brother Bart's cradle.

Oh, uh, as a range inspector, there's one thing I would like to know. You

of quick money and sheep.

How much money and how quick?

Well, there's been a buy -around offering $12 a head for sheep.

We're only getting $10 for cows.

Well, I understand this maverick has about 3 ,000 sheep. That's $36 ,000.

Just who is this buyer?

You don't know?

Should I?

Certainly. He's a government man like yourself, out from Washington.

A government man, huh?

I don't know him.

Well, that makes me feel sort of sheepish.

He's supposed to be a special agent for the Seward Committee.

out of the sheep's bread.

It sure is.

Well, I'll just fix it up, son.

No, wait.

The dog's looking for someone.

Might be one of those mutton punchers.

That might be Mr. Maverick himself.

Yeah.

Norman?

It was Mr. Howard, sir. He went out back. He said he had to get himself

fumigated and he'd call on you later.

On me?

Yes, ma 'am. He wanted me to tell you especially.

He didn't want to show up with that sheep aroma.

That's what he said.

What a nice, thoughtful man.

Don't you let that animal out of your sight.

You're right, Mr. Scott.

Mr. Howard, sir,

to see Miss Cooper.

Who is it, Lee?

Gordon W. Howard, sir.

Mr. Gordon W.

Hollister. Ask Mr. Howard, sir, to make himself comfortable.

I'll be right down.

Come in, please.

Love is the feel of the sky and the earth, yea, and the creatures upon it.

Love is the food of life.

Sorry, Mr. Howard, sir.

Your servant, Miss Cooper.

Flowers.

Just a token of a stranger's respect.

Oh, they're beautiful.

I never got flowers before.

Oh, really? A girl as pretty as you?

Me pretty?

Oh, I know what I look like, a tomboy.

I was brought up to ride and rope so as I could run my folks' ranch.

They wanted a son, but I was the best they could do.

Well, all you need is a lovely dress and some brilliance in your hair.

Thanks. Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Nice to hear easy talk like that just once in your life.

Roundup wouldn't know the difference.

Well, love may come late in Roundup, but... It'll come.

Love is the feel of the earth and the sky.

Yea, and the creatures upon it.

How did you know that?

The couch is lumpy.

Yes, I'm engaged to Vern Scott, and he knew I read these books.

Well, what can I do for you, Inspector?

Well, it's about my government report, ma 'am.

I must have all the facts about the threat of sheep to this range, including

name of the elusive buyer.

Well, then you've wasted your flowers and your sorghum talk because I don't

it. Well, how do you know he made the offer?

From a man named Coley.

Big Coley? Friend of yours?

Oh, no, no. Just heard his name mentioned in the circle of friends.

He has the reputation of a man who doesn't like to get beat.

Coley owned that sheep spread of Mavericks. Boasted all over the valley

cattle folks were going to beat him. Said he had a cash offer for his

Well, why didn't he sell?

Well, he wired the buyer to meet him here in Roundup. And just as the stage

leaving town, Vern mixed up a pod of tar and feathers.

Gave Coley his choice.

He took the stage.

What happened to the buyer?

He was met by certain people and told to keep quiet about the high price of

sheep. But he wasn't killed?

No, but he might as well have been.

Where'd he go?

Where he won't talk.

What are you doing here, mister?

The inspector just came to check on the sheep buyer.

Yeah? Is that why he brought you them flowers?

Well, sheep are a pretty smelly subject, Mr. Scott.

Mr. Dude, Roundup's a small town.

And everybody knows you bought flowers for the girl promised to me. Now, Vern.

And I don't like it.

Well, now, can't we discuss this in a civilized manner, Mr. Scott?

No.

you later, Mr. Howitzer. At your convenience, Mr. Scott.

I think I'd better be going, too. I think you had to.

Thanks for the flowers.

It's a pleasure.

You going to hide behind a woman's skirts?

Anytime.

If she was wearing skirts.

Thank you, Miss Cooper.

Maybe I can return the favor sometime.

You can't. Because you've got just one hour to clear town.

Well, what about my survey report, Mr. Scott?

One hour.

Or you'll be hiding behind a headstone.

to act like a wild animal. He clobbered me pretty good in here. You started it.

He was just trying to do his job for the government.

I don't pay no taxes for him to buy flowers for my girl. That's the way they

things in Washington.

He makes a lady feel at least there's more to a face than a sombrero and a

sunburn. He's a gentleman.

No, he ain't. He's a wolf with sheep in his clothing.

But now you've frightened off Mrs. Gilhooly, my very first customer in

Never mind. The way she went out, she'll be back. Look, I came in the back door

because I'm making a confidential purchase for a lady friend.

Confidential? Oh.

Something flimsy, revealing?

Just the tiniest bit, outre.

Just the tiniest bit, yeah.

Well.

She smells something.

Now, this is rather exciting, don't you think?

Gun -blue bombazine with an amusing little bustle of mink tails.

Oh, and leg -a -mutton sleeves.

Leg -a -mutton? Oh, no, not for this lady. That's impossible.

Impossible? Why, I'll have you know this is an original from A .E. Stewart.

Very big in the east this season. For wakes, maybe.

Now, don't you have something that a beautiful girl could kind of come alive

Ah, hey, here.

Something like this. Well, oh, my, you do have exceptional taste, sir.

Why, this is raw silk with a chemisette of... antique Belgian lace and buttons

down the back to get out easy in case she catches fire.

Just joking a little, sir.

Wrap

that

up and send it out to Cooper Ranch. Miss D. Cooper. As soon as possible, sir.

Keep the change. Well, thank you. Oh, thank you very much.

He's no range inspector. It's him, Maverick.

Trail him. I'll get Scott back in the town. We'll round up the boys.

Thanks, pal.

Come on, let's go.

What's wrong?

Got to get back to town.

Help me.

Oh, Mr.

Howardson. I just couldn't leave the valley without seeing how you look in

new dress.

How can I ever repay you?

Well, you might ask me in for some coffee and poetry reading.

Well, if Vern Scott found you here, he'd kill you.

Oh, Scott's in town now. He's rounding up a posse to chase me out to Maverick

Sheep Ranch.

Please come in, then.

You've got a long ride back to Washington.

I'm not going back, ma 'am. I can't. Why not?

Because I've failed. How?

Washington knows there's a sheep buyer on this range, and I can't even file a

report.

I'm finished.

They'll get rid of me.

You mean drum you out of the service?

It's quite a ceremony.

Would they rip the buttons off your coat?

They might.

But that's not fair.

They've got to give you another chance.

Not in our service.

Not when you've failed because of a woman.

Me? Oh, you needn't worry, Miss Cooper.

It's a closed chapter. My lips are sealed. I'll never breathe your name.

Oh, Mr. Howitzer, I can't stand it.

You can't?

I thought of you going through life with your lips sealed and without your

buttons. Well, then, tell me about the sheep buyer.

What would you have to know about him?

Oh, nothing much, just what he was up to, where he went.

And you wouldn't lose your job, then?

Miss Cooper, if I could find out where this man is and how much he's bidding

sheep, I might get out of this mess pretty well.

Well, whatever happens, I'll always carry the memory of you in that dress.

A vision of a little girl who became a woman.

The buyer's over at Vern's ranch.

Bless you.

We cattlemen couldn't have him running loose offering big money for sheep.

Why not?

Well, it might give the smaller ranchers ideas.

And they'd start bringing in more sheep and more sheep. And they'd ruin your

range. Mm -hmm. So Vern's just keeping him as his guest.

Don't you mean his prisoner?

Well, till that horrible man Maverick and the sheep are out of the valley.

What's that?

I think it's a dog barking.

No, must be Vern.

Here, out the back way.

Thanks for the lovely dress.

Oh, think nothing of it.

It'll be on the expense account.

What's that you got on there? Are you hot or something? It's a ball gown,

my very first.

Raw Chinese silk and an exciting chemisette of pure Belgian lace.

The ball's over, young lady. Now, where is he? The Maverick. We trailed him

straight out here.

Fern, there's been no Maverick here. Look, don't lie to me. He sent you that

dress from Crabbills and followed it out here. No, Fern. It was Mr. Howitzer.

That's Maverick. He just calls himself Howitzer.

What? He's no federal agent. He's a dirty sheep dipper. Now, where's he

I don't know.

And I suppose you don't know what he was doing out here. Fern Scott.

He's a perfect gentleman. He just came to check about the sheep trader.

He's Maverick?

told him you told him well it was this dress and he he told me he was gonna

his job he easy talked me come on he's headed for the barber ranch right now i

can't go in this dress then get in something decent black if you have it

you'll be riding to maverick's funeral

there's

a cheap buyer around here somewhere heather

You smell hard for Uncle Brett.

The lost traveler, my wife and five children are out at your gate in an

uncovered wagon.

Can't stop at this range.

Oh, I don't plan to.

If you'd just be kind enough to point out the road to Roundup.

Turn left beyond the gate.

Then right till you get to...

Are you the sheep buyer? I am, Honest Donald McFadden. My name's Maverick.

on, we can talk of a trade. Oh, I'm afraid not, son.

Why not? Well, this is why.

That pirate, Burns Scott, took my clothes.

You can ride a horse in that.

Scott's liable to be here any minute, and I want to talk business with him.

no, a public servant, which I happen to be, doesn't appear in public clad in his

unmentionables. Oh, for the love of... No, wait a minute.

got some sheep for sale. Do you want them?

Want them?

You're looking at the chief wool purchaser of the sewer committee.

What's that?

Well, it's a committee of Congress charged with populating the new

Alaska.

It's my duty to buy wool for garments to keep the settlers warm.

Well, my sheep are the warmest and the wooliest, all 3 ,000 of them. Now, how

much you paying?

Well, if so happens, I have $36 ,000, of which I was going to buy another 3

,000. Hey, wait, young fellow.

Where are your sheep? Not on the box canyon.

That's right. Well, those are the sheep I've been held prisoner for. They're

only technically yours.

Technically nothing. I got the bill of sale, yeah.

Worthless in this lawless land.

Scott considers them his sheep. After you're dead, of course.

But he's a cattleman.

And will you get dressed?

Well, you know, everybody thinks he's a cattleman.

But what he really plans to do is to flood this range with sheep.

If he gets the profits from...

selling me your sheep.

He can't do that. He doesn't control the range.

They'll kill him. Well, he will control it after he marries the trusting Miss

Cooper and gets hold of her land.

You know, cattle in this range are doomed.

So are we if we don't get out of here fast.

Now, come on.

Is he dead?

The bullet just grazed him.

He'll keep.

What a place to die.

You're just stunned.

Little Scott cares.

He'd murder me or Maverick or anyone else for those sheep.

Mr. Scott is fighting to save our cattle range.

Oh, you're Miss Cooper.

So you're giving your heart and hand and your big ranch to Vern Scott and Mary,

huh? Well, allow me to acquaint you with a few facts about Mr. Scott and sheep

in this lovely valley.

Boys, it's me, Maverick.

What's the matter, Jesse? Scott found out who I am and raised a posse. They're

right behind me. Well, we'll blast their hats off.

You don't understand.

Too many this time. We can't stop them. I can't ask you to stay here and take

it. You mean you want us to leave your critters to them butchers and just run?

They're my sheep. I'll take the loss. But your lives are something else.

Jesse, you just don't know nothing about sheep men.

We don't desert them critters out there to coyotes, wolves, mountain lions,

grizzly bears, or cowboys.

Them sheep is our dream.

Brett, we can't quit now.

There's some things more important than just living.

Old -timer, you're so right. How much ammunition we got?

One box of shells for three guns, and them knives.

What's that for?

Inviting. Ain't you never been married?

No.

And it looks like a pleasure I'm going to miss.

Fisher in the barrel.

All right, boys, let him have it.

Crack their shell.

All right, rush them!

The only chance we've got is to get Scott. You keep firing from here.

I talked to McFadden. He told me about your double cross.

Come out with your hands up or we'll kill you.

The buyer must have squealed about the sheep.

We're done.

If we give up now, they'll do worse than kill us.

Come on, let's make for the horses.

You know what to do next.

Traffic around here is busier than a rabbit in love.

That's the kind of traffic we like, Pop.

That's the money coming.

Well, real good to see you.

We've got the sheep. They're all yours for 36 ,000 lovely little dollars.

Mr. Maverick, I have terrible news for you. You didn't bring the money?

Yes, I brought it, but I also brought a telegram that I got in town.

They've dissolved the Seward Committee. They're calling Alaska Seward's folly.

You mean they don't want any more warm, woolly clothes for all those settlers?

What settlers?

People are saying that Alaska's nothing but a snowbank.

It only has Russians.

What am I going to do with all those poor lost sheep?

Quit worrying about them, Maverick.

We'll take care of them for you. Here we go again.

Hold it, boy.

Kelly, put that rifle down.

Yes, Miss D.

Mr. Maverick.

Just how big was your stake in that poker game?

About $1 ,000. Why?

I'll buy those woolies from you for 50 cents a head.

You? What are you going to do with sheep in this valley? I'm going to give them

to the old -timer here, Basco, Heather, if they'll just drive them far away,

anywhere off our range.

Lady, you've got yourself a deal. Where do I sign the papers? Well, I've got a

pen and paper back at the ranch.

And an easy -talking fellow gave me a dress that I'd just love to wear to

with him.

Lady, did I ever tell you the story about the traveling sheepherder? No.

Who is the tall, dark stranger there?

Maverick is the name.

Riding the trail to who knows where, luck is his companion, gambling is his

game. Smooth as a handle on a gun, Maverick is the name.

Wild as a wind in Oregon, blowing up a canyon, easier to tame.

Riverboat, ring your bell, fare thee well, Annabelle.

Luck is a lady that he loves the best.

Natchitoches, New Orleans, living on Jackson, Queens.

Maverick is a legend of the West.

Riverboat, ring your bell.

Farewell, Annabelle.

Luck is a lady that he loves the best.

Natchitoches, New Orleans, living on Jackson, Queens.

Maverick is a legend of the West.