Original subtitles

I'll tell you, boys, I ain't never spent no scarier time in all my born days.

So there we was.

Just me and old Kip Carson hunkered down behind a pile of rocks and them Apaches

were swarming everywhere around us.

And that ain't all.

We was running low on ammunition.

And water, too.

We was clean down to our last swallow and our last canteen.

I seen my whole life a -flashing before me.

Because I know that we didn't have us more than a minute or two to live.

It wasn't only pinned down by them Redskins, but they'd went and run off

horses and pack mules, too.

Oh, you're making all that up, ain't you, Sheriff Grant?

Now, what makes you say a thing like that, Alfie?

Because you said them Apache were members.

Members who had never been that far north.

Did I say members?

That ain't the limit. It must have been a slip of the tongue. What I meant to

say was Chiricahua's. Let the sheriff finish telling what happened.

Thank you, William.

All right, now. With that sun beating down the way it was and them arrows

by thicker than toothpicks, we know we couldn't hold out for long.

Come on, Sheriff Gant. What happened then?

Well... What do you think happened?

There we was, outnumbered ten to one.

Out of water, half -starved. And I hate to admit this, but them Apaches got us

right there. Tucked both of our scalps and went back to their teepees to

celebrate. Now, that hurt my pride real bad.

Fact is, I was ashamed to show my face in town until my hair growed back.

Yeah?

Now, I want you fellas to get going. I don't want your mamas to blame me for

making you late for school. We got plenty of time. Do like I tell you,

Right now. Go on.

Isn't Art a little slow opening up this morning, Mrs. Bonesley? Oh, he spoke to

me through the window just a few minutes ago. Said it'd be just a moment.

Yeah, man, get old waiting on one of Art's moments.

Horses, I hear you.

Well,

what's the matter, Sheriff?

A couple of men bid on some easy money.

What? No time to stand and jaw. Let me in.

Orville, tell me what you mean.

And, of course, many times the General's door simply did not carry a full

display. Morning, Mrs. Bogsley.

Well, Art, I thought you up and died.

Morning.

Oh, Mr. Bogesley, I just want to talk to you for a moment about that claim your

brother put in for.

Orville, what are you doing here?

Oh, uh, just helping Mr. Kingsley out while Bob's on vacation.

Uh, can I help you, sir?

Need some change.

Just helping out.

Willie, I'll explain it to you later.

There's one, two, three.

Well... Who's taking over for you down at the jail, Orville? Your deputy?

Four.

Five. There you are, sir.

You better think about it, mister.

You going for that gun's only gonna make one man happy.

That's the man the town's gonna have to pay to bury you.

Yeah.

It's like your partner flew the coop on you.

What? Yeah.

Just stand easy now.

All right, now.

Let's move on out and see if we can put a name to that he.

Sheriff, you suppose maybe there's some way we can make us a little deal? Oh,

sure. We can make us a deal.

You shut up and I'll rest my ears.

How's that?

Now just move on in there.

Go ahead.

if we'd be enough for you.

You ain't interested in talking to me at all, huh?

Talk about what?

About that yellow -livered kid that ran out on me. Oh, him.

No, I don't mind talking about him.

Supposing you start off with his name.

Said to call him Bodine.

What's his first name?

Well, I don't know his whole name or even where he lit out to.

But I can tell you something just in my interest, you little... Yeah? What's

that? He killed a territorial judge, that's what.

Last year, down in New Mexico.

Sure be a big feather in a lawman's cap that caught a judge killer now, wouldn't

it? Where was that, in New Mexico?

Down in Las Mesas.

The one that got a bullet in the back.

And that's all I'm telling you.

Till I know we got us a little deal going here.

Circuit judge ain't doing here for a week.

I can't talk for him. Now, I could put in the words at your trial.

No, no.

No, I ain't bargaining away nothing until I know for certain that the judge

himself is going to shave a little bit of my time.

I am from Jimson's break. I'm Sheriff Orville Gant.

I was in the office when it came in. Here.

What does it do?

Have information?

Killer Judge Renson.

Stop. Come Jimson's break as soon as possible.

Signed, Orville Gant.

Judge Renson?

I better settle up.

People don't still think that Luke had anything to do with that killing.

It doesn't matter what they think here, Molly.

Luke figures he can't get a fair trial in Las Mesas.

Not till somebody down there comes up with a clue as to who did shoot Judge

Ransom.

Oh, my.

What is it, Laura?

It's Hillary.

Luke hasn't written to her in ages.

He's gonna have a lot of explaining to do when he gets to Jimson's break.

More pie, Father?

No, thank you, Tonka.

Glenn. No.

Thank you, dear. It's time I was getting home to bed.

Once we're married, you'll find that the day begins at the crack of dawn on a

working ranch.

Oh, is that so, Clay?

I expect once you're married, you're going to find out Hillary's day starts

after she's catching that second wink.

Somewhere between nine and ten.

Well, of course, now.

Father's only joking, Clay.

Why, I love the sunrise.

Really, I do.

I've always found it, well...

Inspirational.

Have some more coffee, Father, and quit teasing Clay now, won't you?

I've learned to overlook your father's sense of humor, Hillary.

I'm afraid he and I just don't see eye to eye on a lot of things.

At least you're right about that, Clay.

For instance, Sunday services.

In fact, Reverend Holmes is hoping that once Hillary and I are married, I'll be

able to influence you to attend, Orville.

Oh, he is, is he?

Well, let me tell you something. That Parson's thick in the head if he don't

know by now that his Sunday service is getting in the way of my fishing.

Father.

First things first, I say.

Well, we'll see about that, Orville.

We'll just see.

Now, before I go, I've got a little surprise for everyone.

Oh, surprise, Clay. What kind of surprise? Well, it's occurred to me that

not getting any younger, Orville.

It's time you were looking ahead to retirement.

Just hold on there, Clay. What the devil you talking about?

Just this.

After the wedding and the honeymoon, of course, I'm going to build a little

house right there on the ranch for you.

Retirement. My foot.

As long as you're fixing up my future for me, why don't you go on down yonder

graveyard and pick me on a plot?

Sorry, Hillary, I didn't intend to... Oh, it's all right, Clay.

You meant well.

I'll just have to have a little talk with my father.

That's all.

Supper was excellent, dear.

Oh, thank you, Clay.

And it's always interesting to talk to your father.

Oh, by the way, Hillary, I told Mrs. Holmes you'll be joining the Guiding

Society. The guiding light?

Oh, Clay, thank you, but I don't believe I belong.

Those ladies, well, they are quite a bit older and... Hillary, those are the

wives of the most substantial men of the town. And as my wife, you'll be

expected to be a member.

I may have mentioned Constance was chairman of the society the year before

died. Yes, I do believe you did mention that once or twice.

Oh, Clay, I do hope I won't be expected to follow in her footsteps precisely.

Of course not, my dear.

Constance was a truly remarkable wife.

Yes, I'm sure she was.

I'm sorry. I only meant that she had a capacity for handling both social and

civic affairs with ease.

Of course, I understand.

I'm afraid even I couldn't fill Constance's footsteps in that respect.

But the society is an important part of my career, Hillary.

They're meeting tomorrow at two in the rectory. Mrs. Holmes is very anxious to

have you attend.

Play.

Bye.

Bye.

Orville?

Orville?

Afternoon. Afternoon. Looking for Sheriff Gant.

Oh, he's stepped out for some supper.

Much obliged.

Pa, now supper was a last try.

sent for me.

Didn't he tell you?

He sent for you?

I should have known.

And I know why he did.

He figures we'll just pick right up what we left off.

Oh, that man will do anything to keep me from marrying Clay Hollinsworth.

Marrying?

You're getting married?

Now, don't give me that, Luke McCann.

Just tell me one thing.

Just tell me how much he had to pay you to get you to come back here.

Because I figure money's about all that would have done it. He didn't have to

pay me anything.

Fact is, the telegram he sent me didn't even mention you or getting married.

It didn't? No, it didn't. And who'd you say you were marrying?

I figure that's none of your business.

I figure I have a right to know.

A right?

I'd like to know just what right after a whole year.

That's not fair, Hillary.

I wrote you.

I've forgotten. You certainly did.

You certainly did. Two whole letters.

Why, Luke, I hope you didn't get writer's cramp with all that penmanship.

You just hold on. A lot of things have happened since then.

I think you ought to at least give me a chance to explain.

Uh -oh.

So you sent for him, did you?

Punkin, there's a reason.

Maybe there is, Paul.

But there couldn't be a reason good enough for you not telling me you were

coming.

Pardon my asking, Orville.

But why didn't you tell Hillary you sent for me?

She told you about the wedding, did she?

More or less.

I figured there wasn't no guarantee that I could get word to you. Or even if I

did, whether you could come.

So I just thought if you couldn't come, it'd be better all the way around for

Hillary if she didn't know.

Being engaged and all.

You don't sound too tickled about this wedding.

No, I ain't.

But then I ain't too tickled about having to bring you back here neither.

Dang it, Luke!

Couldn't you just have wrote her now and again or come back once?

You think I didn't want to, Orville?

You think I didn't care?

Here, look at these.

Here's every letter that your daughter ever wrote to me.

I've read them over and over so many times you can hardly read the words

anymore. I just... I just didn't think it fair, Orville, for me to sit there

writing her, telling her how much I loved her, how much I missed her.

And all the while knowing that I can't offer her a thing until I get out from

under these charges hanging over me.

You yourself sent me packing because you didn't want her getting hitched to a

man who was starting to be called a gunslinger.

I know, boy.

But that still don't change the size of the mess we're in.

Now, it ain't that this Hollingsworth ain't a decent man, but he's got about

much humor as a dead gopher.

And why's she marrying him?

Truth is, I think she's doing it to spite you.

See, the longer she went without getting a letter from you, the madder she got.

And when she finally got mad enough, she went out and latched on to this

Hollingsworth so fast it made everybody's head swim.

I can't say I blame her, Orville.

God knows I love her.

But until I find the man who shot Judge Renson, people are still going to be

believing that I did it.

Well, Luke...

Maybe the answer to everybody's problem is right in here.

His name is Trapper.

Seems like you two fellas need old Waddy Trappers just as much as he needs you.

Well, your town hotel sure turns out to be first -class grub, Sheriff.

Now, Waddy, if you don't start to talking in just about two shakes, I'm

on a charge of blackmail for wangling me out of a fancy meal.

Now, as much as I don't like watching a man talk while he's eating, you better

get started right now. Where'd you meet up with this fella that calls himself

Bodine? Uh, at a saloon up in Centerville.

Told me he's up from a place called Herndon.

Kid bought me a drink when he found out I just got out of a Dakota jail.

That's just a little misunderstanding I got into up there.

You see, I didn't quite have this proper bill of sale from the stranger that

sold me this little blue room.

All right. Now, he bought you a drink, told you his name was Bo Dean, and then

what? Well, the kid liked to talk, you know.

Got loud with a couple of beers in him.

He told me that he got real mad at this judge down in Las Mesas.

So he snuck back into town one night, just laid him away.

Go on.

Well, that's it.

That's it.

Wanda, you ain't told us nothing here yet.

Nothing? I just told you how he killed a judge. The kid's name's Bodine, and he

comes from somewhere around Herndon. Now, what more do you want?

This Bo fella said he laid the judge away.

He say he shot him?

Yeah. Sure, he shot him.

Didn't he say anything else, like why he did it?

No, except that he almost got caught leaving the house.

Almost got caught?

Yeah. Seems like nobody heard the shot.

But as he's leaving the house, a dog started barking.

The man came out to hush it up.

Yeah, there was a dog barking that night at me, too.

After I left the house when I found the judge's body.

Sounds like his partner's the one who killed Judge Renson, all right.

Yeah, or why'd he hear himself knowing so much about it?

I'm just telling you what I know, Sheriff.

and hoping you'd catch that kid and stick it to him for running out on me.

Sheriff?

What's it been worth to you, me talking?

I told you, the judge said that he'd go light on you if you'd cooperate.

Well, I'll tell you what it's gonna be worth if we find out you're good at

spinning fancy yarns.

Another hotel -bought meal on the taxpayers right after I convinced the

he'd order make bank robbing a hanging offense.

Duncan, I think we'd ought to have a talk.

Not tonight, Pa.

Please.

Just thought you'd like to know Luke's got a line on the man that killed Judge

Renson.

Reckon he'll be going after him.

If you please. Thank you.

Now, before we settle down to business, I feel we should make welcome our newest

member, the future Mrs.

Clay Hollingsworth, Hilary Gant, daughter of our courageous sheriff.

Is there anything you'd like to say to the ladies, Hilary?

Not at the moment, thank you.

I'll just sit back and listen if I may.

Well, then, let me just assure everyone that I feel certain that Hillary will do

her very best to live up to the high standards of community service always

exemplified in this organization.

Oh, but Hillary, as long as you are joining our circle, perhaps you'd have a

word with your father.

and see if you can't bring him closer to the church.

Oh, well, Mrs. Holmes, I'm afraid my father's about as close to the church as

he's likely to ever get.

Well, I certainly know your meaning, my dear.

Orville is such a colorful character.

But many of us do feel that he doesn't always set a proper example.

Example?

Well, Mrs. Holmes, the town doesn't pay him to set an example. It pays him to

keep the peace.

And he does that very well. Yes.

Yes. Well, possibly I chose the wrong word there, and I am sorry. I would just

ask you to remind your father, a widower, and certainly in the prime of

life, that in the church we also have ladies who have been widowed.

And also in their prime, we might add.

No, Mrs. Atwood.

No, I just want to point out to Hillary the many social advantages that our

church offers. But I really feel we must get on with the business at hand.

The first item on the agenda today is the replacement, the fund drive for a

replacement of the church organ.

Not that the organ has completely outlived its usefulness, but we all know

on its last legs.

Excuse the expression. And I would like to throw the meeting open now to

suggestions so that we can have the best fundraising spree ever.

Mary Ellen Wilcox has agreed to head the fund drive, and she has already come up

with the idea of a raffle.

The prize, perhaps, being a livestock... Two o 'clock now, my dear. I shan't

tell you.

I trust your nap was refreshing, Hillary.

I'm truly sorry, Mrs. Holmes, but I just didn't sleep a wink all last night.

That does happen.

Yes. You see, this boy I knew came into town and all last night I... Yes?

Well, you see, it's difficult to explain.

I'm sure it is.

Now, before you start throwing things, I just stopped by to apologize about

yesterday.

Apologize? As far as I remember, you were never too good at apologies.

Or goodbyes, either. Now, will you just listen to me, Hillary?

This may be the last time we'll be seeing each other, and I didn't want to

with a fight between us.

Maybe I'm the one that owes you an apology.

Pa told me why I sent for you, and... and I hope everything works out. I

do.

I hope so, too.

And about your wedding... I wish you all the

happiness.

Why don't you come in the kitchen and tell me what you've been doing these

months while I start supper?

No, I think I'd better be going on. Oh, now, don't be silly, Luke.

We're both grown -up people.

The past is the past.

There's no reason in the world why two friends can't get together and have a

little talk.

Tell me, what are your plans?

Thanks to Orville, I got a lead on the man I'm after.

And I'll be pulling out today.

Today? So soon?

Well, I guess you can't afford to let any grass grow under your feet, now can

you?

Which way will you be headed?

Back to Wyoming territory.

If Orville's right... Only place he could have crossed over is Herndon Pass.

But tell me something about your lucky fella.

Clay?

Oh.

Well, I don't know.

He's a widower.

A widower?

Well, he's on the older side.

Not that much older.

Oh.

He happens to be very well off.

He owns five sections of grazing land and leases three more.

It's very well thought of in town, and people have been saying that in five

years or so he'll be governor of this territory.

All right.

He's a big man. You don't have to build him up to me.

Build him up?

What a nerve.

Yes, Clay Hollingsworth is a big man. In fact, he could make two of you with

change left over.

Oh.

Well, if that's the way it is, how come your Paul looks about half sick every

time his name comes up, huh?

I'm sorry. I didn't have any call to say that.

And I meant it when I said I wished you happiness.

I'm sorry, too, Luke.

You know, the funny thing is, we never really could last ten minutes without

fighting over something.

Here, let me help you.

I'll tell you what.

Let's just change the whole subject. I've heard all I want to hear about your

fiancée.

All right.

Why don't you tell me about your family and all about the new home?

The ranch?

I think you'd like it.

There's big mountains all around.

Plenty of good water and grass.

Best horse country you can find.

We're starting off kind of small now. Only running 40 or so ahead.

Well, we figure we can get about two or three good years ahead.

Oh, look, would you please shut up and kiss me?

Oh, look, what am I going to do?

I don't know.

If you'd only ask me to wait.

You know how much I want to.

But I got no right to do it. I don't know how long this wanted poster is

to be hanging over me until I get rid of it.

Didn't aim to butt in.

I was just going.

I ain't never exactly kicked up my heels over the prospects of having Clay

Hollingsworth for a son -in -law.

He's an honorable enough man, I reckon.

He sure is a pompous ass sometimes.

I don't know, Pop.

Now, I sent for Luke to come back here.

I knowed what might happen, so it's part of my fault.

No, Pa.

It wasn't your fault.

Well, what I'm getting around to is if you ain't decided for sure about

Clay, I think you'd ought to just up and tell him so right now.

What kind of woman would I be, Pa, to promise myself to Clay?

And when an old beau shows up for me to take back my promise?

I mean, what, with Luke headed right off again?

You know, only... Only a fool gets in the way of a young girl's heart.

And I'm fool enough in other ways without adding to it.

So I ain't gonna offer you no advice at all.

Not even a little dab of it.

Clay, I was just on my way up to your ranch to have a talk with you.

I'm so glad I ran into you because there's something I think we really

discuss. I was just on my way into town to have a talk with you.

Oh? I heard about the Guiding Light meeting.

Mrs. Holmes is quite upset that you slept through the entire meeting.

Oh, Clay, I truly am sorry.

Hillary, I tried to make you understand how important the society is.

You offended the wives of most of my friends and business associates.

that can't happen again.

Oh, it can't? You know my plans, both business and political.

Unpredictability is part of your charm, but as my wife, I must ask you to

remember the impression that you make upon people.

Oh, I see.

You mean like play acting, saying things that I don't really mean.

It's called putting one's best foot forward.

I must ask you to promise me right now that from this moment on... you'll

conduct yourself with the decorum that, well, that Mrs. Holmes might use on any

occasion.

Promise?

Why, Clay, I hope you're not threatening to break off our engagement if I'm not

able to make such a promise.

Well, that would be a drastic ultimatum, wouldn't it? No.

I understand the fairness of your decision, just as it wouldn't be fair if

were to make you a promise that I couldn't keep.

Hillary, I was only trying to make you aware of the importance of appropriate

behavior. There may be a governorship in the offering, and the governor's wife

must be a model of rectitude.

I understand.

It's a difficult moment.

Well, Clay, I hope we can still continue to be friends.

Friends? I do hope so, Hillary.

Thank you.

Forgive me if I hurry back home, but it's a difficult time.

You know, a girl must be alone at a time like this.

How far do I got to go to get to Herndon?

Oh, about a day and a half.

Once you cross the river.

How much is that going to cost me?

Fifty cents.

Fifty cents?

Seems kind of high.

Well, swim your animal across for free.

I might do that.

But I'll bet you, young fella.

You get yourself flanked deep out in that snowmelt, why, 50 cents ain't gonna

sound so outrageous.

Snowmelt? You know, that water's so cold, the fish got chills.

And then sometimes, why, there's a terrible undertow out there. Why, it's

known to suck a man down like a pill.

All right.

All right, you convince me.

That's good thinking, young fella. You won't regret it.

Luke!

Luke, wait a minute!

Wait for me!

Luke! Hillary.

Is that a friend of yours?

Yeah, something like that.

Well, she got you back to the water, son.

You went out to face the music.

Hillary, what are you doing here?

I thought I'd never catch up with you.

Catch up with me? But why?

Well, you could at least act like you're a little pleased to see me.

Well, I am glad. I am, but I thought, you know, the wedding and all.

Oh, Luke, there isn't going to be any more wedding.

It's all off.

It's off?

You mean you're not going to get married?

Now I can go with you, Luke.

I suppose it's going to cost me another 50 cents.

Well, now, it ought to, young fella. It truly should.

I mean, them's my prices.

Oh, but I'll tell you what I'm going to do.

Seeing as you two are sort of packaged, so to speak, I'll let the little lady

ride along for just two bits extra.

That's mighty generous of you.

Now, you listen to me, Hillary. Nothing has changed. You understand that?

I still got to find this Bodine fellow if I'm going to clear up...

If I'm going to clear up what happened in Las Mesas.

And what about your Paul? What's he going to think about all this?

Oh, Luke.

What are you trying to say to me? I'm saying if I had any sense at all, I

wouldn't let you go with me.

Luke McCann, either I'm going with you right now or I'm riding back home and I

never want to see you again.

Well, let me tell you something, Luke McCann.

Last time I let you ride off, I didn't see you again for 18 months.

I don't intend to make that mistake again.

What about...

He's going to be worried sick. You know that, don't you?

Well, I wrote him a note explaining everything.

Oh, that's going to make him feel just fine to know that you ran off to help me

run down a killer.

Well,

he's going to have to get used to it.

And the reason you left him a note was you knew what he'd say if you asked his

permission.

And on top of that, what about the fact that we are not married? You know what

he's going to think about that.

The reasons we're not married, Luke, are mostly yours.

Well, if you were to ask my opinion, I... Well, in answer to your

question, I... I suppose we'll just think we're living in sin.

Well, let him think what he likes.

He won't really be.

Oh?

Do you have any more objections?

Nope.

I know when I'm whipped.

Besides, I might be able to help you.

Oh, sure.

Well, I might.

Now, just how do you figure that?

I don't really know offhand, but I haven't been a sheriff's daughter for

these years for nothing.

Hillary Gant, either you promise to leave the manhunting to me or I will

you back.

End of the line.

I let the ramp down.

Pull them tight now. Sometimes they get a little skittish if the ramp moves

while they're on it.

There you go.

Well, thanks a lot, mister.

But I want to tell you something.

I still think 75 cents is an awful lot of money.

Well, you know you're right, son.

Highway robbery. I ought to be ashamed of myself.

I tell you what, you keep your money.

What? No, you keep your money.

I tell you, I've had more entertainment from you two than I've had in the last

six months.

And you have good luck with that little lady.

As I said, it sounds to me like you're going to need it. She's a handful.

That's like I say, Herndon's about a day and a half down the trail.

Good luck to you.

Do you both?

Until I

cleared up that mess down south, I couldn't come for you.

And there was so much to do at home.

I'm getting a new place started.

You could have written more.

I should have, I guess.

It seems every time I sat down, too, just more excuses came up.

I would have been happy for excuses, Luke.

Anything that had your name signed to it.

And when I didn't hear from you, I can't explain it.

You can't possibly understand how it is for a girl to be looking forward to

being an old maid.

An old maid?

I never admitted it.

Not even to Pa.

But I was scared to death.

Are you scared now?

I meant it when I said we weren't going to be living in sin.

I know you did.

And I respect you for it.

If we're not going to live there, maybe we can just visit now and then.

Oh, Luke.

you know for sure Bodine passed through here if it came this way at all?

I don't. I figure the best I can hope for is another lead.

If he did come through here and talk the way he did to Waddy Travers, folks

won't be forgetting him for a while.

Well, let's get ourselves a room, then I'll go see what I can find out.

A room?

Why,

Luke, I hope you're not suggesting we pretend we're married.

You got any better ideas?

As a matter of fact, I do.

My name's Clara Eastman, ma 'am. This is my brother Samuel.

We will require separate rooms, of course. Do you have anything available?

How many nights will you be staying?

Sam? Just tonight.

Clara.

I'll get our gear.

My heavens, he does seem to be in a snit.

It comes and goes.

I see.

And this is room number six.

This will be your room, my dear.

Connect with number five, your brother's room, right through here.

That lock is broken.

Of course, that doesn't matter to you.

Have a pleasant stay, folks.

Thank you, ma 'am.

McCann, if I didn't know better, I'd see you playing this.

Who, me?

I hope I didn't disturb your sleep there, Sheriff.

Well, you did.

But I shouldn't have dozed off in the first place. This damn paperwork puts me

to sleep every time.

What can I do for you, young man?

I'm looking for a fellow that might have passed through here about a week or so

ago. Name of Bo Dean.

Fair complexion.

Real hard -nosed.

Fancies himself a hand with a gun.

Are you sure about the name?

I can think of somebody who may be fitting that description.

Fancy himself a gun hand.

He calls himself Bowden.

Bowden.

Could be pronounced that way, I guess.

Tell me something.

What do you want with him?

It's personal.

You ain't looking to do him no violence?

No, sir.

No, sir. I just want to talk to him.

Well, maybe this Bowden's your man. He kind of fits the description. He

around with a strapped -down gun.

Him and his partners hold up in a little shack just north of town.

Pleasure to see you, Sheriff.

Piece of advice?

Don't go surprising them up there.

Bowden don't look like the kind of man who'd enjoy a surprise.

must be it well come on let's go you're not going anywhere i'm gonna wait right

here until i get back but look the sheriff said this boden could be

now you do as i say i'm gonna take you right back to town oh all right and stay

out of sight

Everybody home?

What do you want?

Heard a fella named Bowden lives here.

Like to talk to him.

What about?

You Bowden?

Some trouble in Las Mesas a while back.

Down New Mexico territory.

Judge got himself shot. I heard you might know something about that.

Could be I do, could be I don't.

You the law, maybe?

Nope.

Fact is, I'm sort of on the run myself.

Why should I believe that?

Maybe because I said so.

Well, say you ain't lying.

What is this judge to you?

Oh, nothing much.

Except I did a stretch in Las Mesas jail thanks to that judge.

I just want to say I'm obliged to the man who shot him, that's all.

If I was you, I'd ride on.

I've never been to Las Mesas, and I don't know anything about your judge.

It's an interesting story, though.

It gets more interesting.

Does it?

Yeah.

You see, what I heard was that you were bragging in a saloon how you were the

one who did the killing.

Any truth in that?

You're really asking for it, ain't you, friend?

ain't you i just want answers friend andy i'm on him frank

don't fly i don't want that culture has going off considering where it's aimed

looks like a standoff mister if you'll just back on out we'll forget all about

it

You don't even know for sure if this is the man you're after, Luke.

And to go back there tonight.

I'm sure enough to know I want to talk to him again.

Luke, there are two of them. I saw what they're like, and they're going to try

to kill you.

That's exactly why I waited till dark.

Now, don't worry. I'm going to be all right.

Don't worry? Don't worry? You're going to get yourself killed if you're telling

me not to worry?

You know, it's downright assuring to know how much confidence you have in me.

Luke, listen to me.

What if we were to tell the sheriff the truth about everything?

Then he'd have to arrest Bowdoin. If we go to the sheriff and tell him the

truth, the first person he is going to arrest is me.

Now, I told you when we started, leave the man hunting to me.

Luke, I'm not going to let you go back there.

Well, you don't have anything to say about it. Now, will you get that through

your head?

I don't have anything to say about it, huh?

No.

Going back there, Luke.

He's tearing my clothes off! Help me!

Ow!

You take your hands off that girl, you monster!

Hillary, tell her it's all a joke.

I mean it, Hillary. Tell her it's a joke.

I think I'm going to faint.

And then we came here and registered at the hotel.

But Miss Corwin said you registered as brother and sister.

He forced me to, Sheriff.

Would you want to explain that to me, child?

You see, he's not my brother. He just said that to explain why we were

together. And why was that?

Well, Sheriff, I thought it'd be plainly obvious.

He abducted me.

Oh, Sheriff, she is lying to you. She's lied about everything just to get me

thrown in jail.

Oh, Hillary, if I ever get my... Sheriff, you see, he's crazy.

He can't get out of there, can he?

No. Now, you just go get some rest. I'll shut this one up.

Thank you, Sheriff.

I can't thank you enough for everything.

Now, listen to me, Sheriff.

There is not a word of truth in what she is saying.

No.

You listen to me.

One more word out of you and I'm going to tell the boys in town what you tried

to do to that little girl. They keep a special knife honed down real sharp.

Just to take care of a belly crawling snake like you.

But I believe I have a proposition that might interest you.

The lady here wants to make me a proposition.

Hired him for what?

Howdy, partner.

Howdy.

Look, Hillary, I don't know what you got in mind, but this has gone far enough.

Now you've got to start telling people the truth.

I'm going to, Luke.

Just as soon as I find out if this Bowdoin is the one that shot Judge

What are you talking about?

I'm going to go out and visit this Bowdoin.

And if he is the one, I'm going straight to the sheriff and telling him the

truth about everything.

Then he'd be forced to arrest Bowdoin and set you free.

Now, you just listen to me, Hillary Gant. You cannot go out there. That

is dangerous.

I am quite aware of that, Luke.

Why do you think I've hired Herman here?

He's going to be my bodyguard.

Bodyguard?

That's me.

I just came by to let you know so you wouldn't be worrying.

It'll all be over by morning. You'll be out.

Now, just try and be patient.

Hillary.

Hillary, come here.

You just wait till I get my hands on you

What

you

got there Herman Lady here wants to talk to you, Frank.

Frank? Now, Herman, I can count on you, can't I?

Yes, ma 'am.

I'm working for you.

No question about that.

What's your name?

Lucy.

Lucy Ames.

Uh -huh. What did you want to talk to me about, Lucy?

There was a man out here to see you earlier about a shooting down Las Mesas.

Yeah, some kind of lawman. I figure me and Andy run him off.

Uh... Why don't you step inside where we can talk a little bit more private? Old

Herman there won't mind, will you, Herman?

Sorry, Frank.

I can't let you do that.

Lady here hired me on to bodyguard her.

Oh, she did, did she?

How much did she pay you?

Five dollar gold piece.

Well, what say I just... double that?

And all you gotta do is ride back into town and buy yourself a drink.

That'd be Jim Dandy, Frank.

Now, hold on a minute, Herman. What about me? I hired you first.

Sorry, ma 'am. I got me a better job.

Oh, here's your five dollars back.

Herman, I... Now, shall we step inside?

You realize it could be considered abduction.

Abduction. You hear that, Andy? Invite a lady in for a chat. Have a drink? I

don't see how.

Sit down.

Sit down, Lucy.

You see, I kind of do know about what went on down there in Las Vegas.

Not that I had any part in it.

My name just happens to sound like Bodine. I ain't him.

Well, then you might know who this killer is. Maybe. Where we can find this

Bodine. Seems to me like you want to know pretty bad.

I figure if you want to know bad enough, then maybe you and me can work a little

trade.

Drink up, Lucy.

Let's talk about it.

You got a visitor.

Hillary?

Horrible.

What are you doing here?

Well, when I heard my daughter set out to hunt you down, you out of trying to

hunt down an outlaw, I thought it might be smart to come after her. Try to

rattle some sense in her head.

Well, thank God you've come.

Don't start thanking him yet, boy.

Sheriff here tells me he's arrested you for attempted assault on a girl fits the

description of my daughter.

Believe me, Orville, I can explain everything.

I sure do hope so, son.

Because if you can't, it's going to put a terrible strain on our friendship.

Gant, I still ain't sure I like this.

Don't worry, Sheriff. I'll keep an eye peeled on him. I still can't believe

little girl wasn't telling the truth.

I promise you, if I find out she was, he's gonna wish you had him locked up

here again.

Orville, no more talk, Luke. I want to see my daughter.

I've asked you both to let me go.

You're holding me against my will now.

That is a felony. A felony.

Looks like we had a lot of trouble, Andy.

It's pretty hard to listen to him, Frank.

Why don't we just get on with it?

Hey, see, Lucy, Andy, they'll take his fun wherever he can.

That's for myself.

I like my women friendly and cooperative, which is why I tried to

little deal with you.

But I do like my women, and I'm just about out of patience.

You listen to me.

Both of you.

Either one of you lays a hand on me, you're going to force me to go straight

the sheriff.

Well, you do that, Lucy.

I just think you ought to understand the sheriff can't find his backside with

both hands.

Besides, Andy and me have been thinking about moving. We've been getting too

many nosy visitors up here lately.

Well, I guess you've left me no choice but to...

Now, get up!

Move! Move it!

Now, believe me, I know how to use this thing.

I believe you do.

But it ain't gonna do you no good.

I'll shoot.

I will.

No, you won't.

Because it ain't loaded.

I was just about to clean it when you rode up.

You're an old man. You're pretty good with that thing.

Ain't no substitute for experience.

Pa! Luke!

Are you all right, huh?

Yes, I'm fine.

Hillary?

I judge by the way you're hanging on him. He didn't try to attack you at all.

No, Pa.

Then you got yourself a heap of explaining to do.

And when I'm satisfied, you can go into town and repeat yourself to the sheriff.

I will, Pa.

Luke.

They know about the killing of Judge Renson.

It's a man named Bodine.

Bodine?

And they know where he is.

Why don't you go to Blaze's, old man?

You know, I can't understand you, boy.

If you didn't have nothing to do with that killing, then what's it gonna hurt

you to tell us about Bodine?

I got no call to help the law.

Your real name Wesley Bodine?

Yeah, so?

It's got a right familiar sound.

I don't think we're gonna get anything out of this mulehead, Will.

Well, he's gonna talk, all right.

What makes you say that?

Well, you see, what I got back in my office is a Colorado warden charging one

Wesley Bodine with horse thieving. Another bad habit.

Old man, you're a Colorado sheriff. This is Wyoming. You're out of your

jurisdiction. You're right there, Wes.

If I was to hog -tie you across your saddle and ride a day or two south, I'd

right back in my jurisdiction.

And out there is a mighty uncomfortable way to travel.

Are you going to start talking, or are we going to start heading back for

Jimson's break?

I don't like the idea of one man blabbing on another, but I don't see

worth worrying about.

Calls himself Chris Bodine when he leaves home. But that ain't his real

Not when he's at home. He lives out west of town on a farm with his family.

What is his real name?

Chris Jennings.

You two go on over by the hotel and wait for me. I'll talk to Sheriff Daniels

and join you in a minute. I'll go with you. Oh, no.

He'll have to throw you back in jail again.

The fact is, throw the two of you in jail for a waste of his time.

I catch you yelling out any more windows, I'm going to give you something

yell about.

Oh, Luke, I wish I was so scared for you.

You know something? I've been thinking.

We're not far from our place, maybe 60, 70 miles.

If things work out here, maybe we should go there.

Luke, I know how much you must miss your family in Albany.

But what?

Well, I thought we could start thinking seriously about getting married.

Once your name got cleared with the law and all.

Oh, you did?

Well, yes, I did.

Well, I've been thinking about that, too.

What I figure is...

And Molly'd like nothing better than to throw the biggest wedding in the history

of the territory.

Oh, look.

With the wedding being at the McCann Ranch, you think your sisters would be

bridesmaids? Of course they would. I'm so excited, I can hardly believe it.

I hear you're looking for me, McCann.

My

name's

Chris Bodine.

I'm going to give myself up, Sheriff.

Chris Kennings.

I had to climb the fence because the gate was locked.

I move into the house.

See him sitting at the desk.

He started to turn around.

That's when I pulled the trigger.

Bullet caught him in the back.

He was shot in the back, all right.

It was kind of an accident.

He was turning around when I pulled the trigger.

I don't shoot people in the back.

It's against my principle.

Then what?

Then I got out of there.

Anything else you want to know?

Yeah.

He told a man named Waddy Travers that you were almost caught.

What, you mean the dog?

Yeah, he's set up yapping, running up and down the street, just yapping away.

One thing I'm curious about, son, why'd you do it?

Sheriff asked you a question, Chris.

I had my reasons.

But I ain't saying.

What can it matter if you tell us the reason?

Look, I ain't saying.

Not to you, not to anybody.

I'll arrange for an extradition hearing.

What's ailing you, Luke? I'd have thought you'd have been feeling mighty

about now.

It's Chris's story.

Luke.

What's wrong with it?

I don't know.

There's nothing I can put my finger on.

Why won't he tell us why he did it?

I ain't got no answer for you, Luke. All I know is human beings come in all

different stripes.

Question is, Luke, do you have a good reason not to believe him?

No, I don't have a good reason.

Well, then, I think you two ought to start looking ahead to your wedding day.

The can ring. Oh, Luke, it's beautiful.

Yes, sirree.

That's a right nice spread your family's got there, Luke.

Suddenly I'm terribly nervous about seeing your family again.

You got nothing to worry about, honey.

They love you.

So do I.

Come on, you two. I smell some home cooking down there.

Oh, Jeffy.

Nice to see you, girl.

Hello.

Welcome home, Luke.

What about Las Mesas?

It's all over. They found Judge Renton's killer and he's locked up in Herndon.

That's wonderful news, Luke. Oh, what a happy day.

Oh, happier than you think, Aunt Molly.

Hillary and I are going to be married.

We're going to have the wedding right here at the ranch.

Congratulations. We couldn't be happier.

Big brother finally settling down.

It's going to be such an exciting day. Trim the veil all the way down with this

very fine Irish lace. Oh, lovely.

I think you'll like it, dear. This pattern has been in my family for years

years. Laura, where are those tiny little pearl buttons we had? Yes, yes,

they're in your trunk, aren't they? I think if we put them all the way up the

skirt and right around this very tight waistband...

Across the bodice and right around to the hooks at the back.

Don't make those hooks too complicated now.

I was never any good with hooks.

Will you get out of here, Luke? You're not supposed to see it.

All right.

I know when I'm not wanted.

Luke.

I can hardly believe you and Luke are finally going to get married.

I know.

He had some real doubts back in Herndon.

But he's all right now.

Oh, you'll be like...

Ah, they're a pure wonderment, Luke.

Mighty good horse flesh there.

It was a fight and a half trying to catch and break them.

I wish it was easy as getting your daughter under a saddle.

Of course, I never knew a gal who didn't fall prey to my good looks and winning

charm sooner or not.

Now, just who fell prey to who, Luke?

The day you think you got me broke to a saddle is the day you get thrown.

Is that so?

It's Uncle Zeb.

Hey.

Hey, Uncle Zeb. Been hoping you'd show up.

Got some friends of yours here.

Ah, Laurel.

Hillary.

Looks like time's put a few more cracks in your walls, Orville. Don't look like

you got no younger neither, Zeb.

What brings you out this way? Did you run out of fishing holes over there at

Jimson's break?

No. Certain young buck here thinks he's gonna steal my daughter.

You're looking at the future Mrs.

McCain, Uncle Zeb.

Well, I'll be.

Say, now, when's that gonna take place?

One week from tomorrow.

You know something? Let's call for some celebrating.

You know, I got me a jug out back somewhere. Let's go see if we can find

Has that jug got the McCain touch to it, Zeb?

Tingle your toes, I might, if that's what you mean.

That's just what I mean.

I'm going to go on in and help her suffer.

Dinner's almost ready, Jessie.

Does anybody know where the men are?

I don't know where Luke and Josh are, but only when Uncle's ever out behind

barn.

Again?

What on earth do they do out there?

Well, they drink corn liquor and they tell lies.

For three days running, nobody can tell lies for that long.

Oh, they can't. Boy, do they tell some whoppers.

Oh?

Just how do you happen to know that, young lady?

Well, every time I go out and milk the cow, I overhear them talking.

Mm -hmm.

So that's why milking's been taking so long, eh?

And I bet half those stories aren't even fit for a young lady's ears.

Maybe not, but they sure are fun.

I got me a trout once with so big he drug me clean through two beaver dams

washed Willie Cutler's privy into the vestibule of the Ladies' Temperance

Society. But nowadays, fishing around Jimson's break ain't worth a hoot. Hard

find a braggable trout as a sleeping center on doomsday.

Well, you know, I've been thinking. I used to know an old trapper, a fellow by

the name of Bowers. You know, he was telling me that he used to have a

way of... Reeling in a whopper every time.

I don't believe it, but go ahead, I'm listening.

Well, now, what he said was that he takes a minnow and he lets him swim

around in a jug of corn liquor for a minute or two and he puts him on the

Oh, yeah.

That minnow got himself kind of pickled on that hooch and then the trout saw him

as a tastier dish, huh?

No, no, that ain't it.

Say, what it is, every time he reels in that line, that there minnow has a five

-pound trout by the throat.

A five -pound...

Sam,

you got me again.

Yes.

They are... You know, now, Luke... He, uh, he's got me a little

worried. Now, somehow or other, he just don't seem like a carefree, happy young

fella ought to that's just about to get married.

Yeah, I've been a -noticing that myself lately.

Something's weighing on him awful heavy.

It's gonna be me or you, Zeb.

Or if I tell you something.

I appreciate everything you've been doing for that boy.

Sending him that telegram and helping him out with the law and all.

I'd be mighty beholden to you if you'd talk to him.

Much obliged, Zeb.

You know, I got me a future son -in -law. I want to see how he died there.

I'll do some jawing with him right now.

What's eating on you?

Might as well spit her out.

I've tried not to think about it, Orville, but it doesn't work.

I don't believe Chris did it.

Why not?

His story.

There's just something with it that just doesn't make sense.

I still can't put my finger on it, but I know something's wrong.

What you're saying is all you've got is a hunch.

No, it's more than that, Orville.

Dang it, boy, I wish you could lay it to rest.

So do I.

Well, I reckon we'd better get on back and have us another talk with Chris.

I sure don't envy the job of telling Hillary.

Oh, Luke, it's so good to be back here again, seeing Jesse and Laura.

But I feel like my own sisters.

Look, tell me, what's this all about?

Hillary, we're going to have to put off the wedding.

Put off?

I'm sorry, but maybe only until I get back from Herndon.

Herndon? Luke, why are you going back there?

There's something wrong with Bodine's story. I've got to go back and hear it

again. Ask him questions.

Look, this is insane.

What if you do prove he's lying? Then what?

I don't know.

Hillary, this thing has got a hold of me and it's not going to let go until I

know the truth.

But he's confessed.

It means you're free.

I know.

Freedom. Find the beat again.

I know.

But it wouldn't be right.

Luke, if you have to go back there, please, let me go with you.

Where's Sheriff Daniels at?

He's at the dock.

Chris Jennings escaped.

Took a rifle butt to Daniels' head in the process.

He escaped?

Yeah, they got him holed up over there in the livery. They may have to set fire

to the livery to smoke him out.

Yeah. Folks out here would like that, wouldn't they? Be better than a pigeon

shoot. Well, ain't nobody gonna set fire to nothing. I'll handle this. Now, wait

a minute. Who are you?

I'm the closest thing you got to the law right here.

No,

you're not, Luke.

You stay here and look after Hillary. They're going to be shooting in there.

if I can help it, they won't. I want to try to talk some common sense to him.

All right!

All right!

The shooting's been done here. Let's calm down some.

Chris?

This here's Sheriff Garrett.

I hear you, Sheriff.

Now, I want you to come out there with your hands over your head.

There ain't gonna be no shooting. You got my word on it.

Do you hear me, Chris?

Sorry, Sheriff.

You want me, you're gonna have to come in after me. Now, that there's graveyard

talk. That what you want?

Sheriff, I don't give a damn.

But I promise you right now, before I die, I'll see to it I'm not the only one

laid up for burying.

Horrible.

Luke, I told you to stay out of this. He's not coming out. I don't want to see

him killed.

Words ain't never killed nobody.

I ain't run out of them yet.

Hold your fire.

I'll kill you quick as that, Sheriff.

Coming in, Chris.

Better not come in here, Sheriff.

You shouldn't have come in here, Sheriff.

You do as I say and you drop that gun or I'm going to blow her brains out. Don't

be a fool, Chris.

Drop it.

I said drop it, Sheriff.

You all right, honey?

I'm delivering a note for my pa.

Hurting that girl ain't gonna add no points to your manhood.

What might, though, is turning her loose and handing over that rifle and facing

up to things.

I know what I'm doing.

I know what them men out in the street will be doing, especially if they find

out you're holding a girl in here.

I already told you I don't care.

Turn her loose, Chris.

Ain't no reason we can't talk this out.

What, do you got ears in your boots, Sheriff?

I said I ain't talking. I'm through.

Now, what I'm gonna do...

He said, I'm going to walk out of here.

You make one wrong move, and come next Sunday, she goes to church in a box.

Now move.

Everybody just be easy now.

I don't want no guns going off. You hear me?

You, move!

Move!

One shot fired and this girl don't get a minute older.

You, McCann, step out here.

That's right, Luke. Get on out here.

Get back, Sheriff.

Get back.

Move.

This is between me and Luke McCann.

He's right, Orville.

Just between him and me.

All right, Lloyd.

I know you didn't kill Judge Renson, Chris.

I don't know what made you say you did, but whatever the reasons are, they're

not worth getting killed over.

What do you mean I didn't kill him?

The barking dog running in the street.

I finally remembered about that dog.

He was tied up that night. He wasn't running around loose.

So I figured he was in the street.

No, you didn't.

Anybody hearing a dog bark is going to turn around to see if he's coming at

What you heard was a lot of details about the night the judge was killed.

But you didn't do it.

I did it!

I did it! I killed him! No, you didn't.

That's a lie!

That's a lie!

You couldn't kill anybody.

You see?

That's what I started thinking about when Orville went in the livery.

What his chances were of coming out alive.

Suddenly it hit me, Chris.

His chances were very good. Yeah?

Yeah, well, maybe your chances aren't so good.

I read about you in the papers.

You're a gunfighter, aren't you?

Well, I'm going to take you, Luke McKay, and me, Chris Bodine.

Maybe.

But I don't think so.

A moment ago, you had a clear shot at Orville.

You aimed to scare him, didn't you?

You didn't hurt the girl in the livery, either.

Shut up.

You shut up and stop it.

You know what I think, Chris?

I think you want to die.

They go out in a blaze of gunfire.

The biggest, baddest killer to ever come out of the territory of Wyoming.

My folks will remember your name for it.

That's why you confessed to Judge Renson's murder, isn't it, Chris?

This is better, isn't it?

Calling me out in the street and facing up to me is one better.

They go down facing up to some gunfighter.

I don't understand it.

I'll tell you something.

I feel sorry for you.

I really do.

Next one is going to be right in your belly.

No, it isn't.

Because I'm not going to draw against you.

You don't want to be remembered for gunning down a man that didn't have a

his hand, do you, Chris?

Draw!

Feeling sorry for me.

Draw.

You ruined it.

You spoiled the whole thing.

I just wanted to be somebody.

I wanted you to kill me.

You're supposed to shoot me. You're supposed to kill me. Why did you kill

I would have been famous.

Everybody would have remembered my name.

But in the newspapers, people would know me.

I keep waiting for you to say, there's nothing we can do here. Let's forget it

and go back and get married.

I can't forget it.

The judge was a friend of mine. His killer is still loose.

Even more outside the law in some places.

Isn't it enough that I'm willing to take the chance?

was.

I love you, Hillary.

I love you more than I could love anybody if I lived to be a thousand.

But I once... Well, I was close to a girl that was

killed by a bullet that was meant for me.

She died because I made a terrible mistake, a mistake I'll never let happen

again.

Until I can walk anywhere as a free man, I can't marry you.

We'd never have a moment's peace.

Would you mind terribly if I waited?

Could be years.