Original subtitles

♪ [ trumpet ]

In the decade after the Civil War,

great herds of Texas Longhorns

were driven north to meet the railroad

as it came across the plains of Kansas.

Overnight, small towns would find themselves

the new railheads,

booming with prosperity as the herds poured in,

bringing the hundreds of cowboys

eager to spend their pay.

Stores and saloons sprang up,

followed by gamblers, and gunmen.

Places like Ellsworth, Abilene, and Dodge City,

became famous

because of their men who enforced the law.

In the Spring of 1871,

the tracks reached Newton, Kansas.

So, too, did a tough Santa Fe foreman

by the name of Mike McClusky.

And with McClusky, begins the story of...

Can I get some breakfast?

Sit down, I'll be with you in a minute.

Well, I can see the service hasn't improved any around here.

McClusky!

What are you doing here?

I was hoping at least for a cup of coffee.

You know very well what I meant.

The lead tracker who left yesterday--

you should be five miles down the right of way about now.

I've left the road for a while, Joe.

Michael, you can't be seriously thinking

of taking that job of marshal.

Can't I?

Just because the town council makes an offer,

that doesn't make you a lawman.

Why, they've asked a half a dozen others already.

I just took the oath.

I'll tell you what you took.

You took a step toward your own funeral.

By nature, Flannigan, and you're a worrier.

You've handled enough track crews in your time to know

that cowboys aren't half as tough.

Frank Bailey is no cowboy, Michael.

Neither are those lads who are always with him.

They're gunmen, killers.

They didn't like it a bit when the council fired Bailey as marshal.

They've been saying that nobody dares to wear that badge.

The only thing a cow town has more of than longhorns

is loose talk.

You're a stubborn man, McClusky!

Loose talk, eh?

Every day this town is getting worse and worse

for the decent men and women who live here,

ruffians riding roughshod over everything.

MAN: All right, you ready?

Hear that?[ horses galloping]

McClusky.

If you just take a bit of advice for a change.

[ horses galloping ]

I'll be back for that advice in a minute.

MAN: All right, we were even.

I had you by a neck. Now, pay up.

Now, what you talk about? Was dead even all the way in.

What do you say, Pearson?

Guess you better run her again.

Double or nothin'.You're on!

Excuse me.

Hey.You fellas wanna race,

do it outside of town.

[ laughs ] Well, I'll be.

A new John Law.

Look at that, Keller.

I see it.

Don't much care for it either.

Frank Bailey's gonna be downright annoyed

unless you stay off the street, mister,

and then maybe Frank won't notice then.

Double or nothin', I'll beat you all the way.

[Keller] You're on.

This time of day, there are women and children

on the street.

Like I said, if you fellas want to race,

do it outside of town.

Understood?

Take him!

I said "understood?"

I've got nothin' to do with this, Marshal.

You--

When Frank hears about this...

He already has.

McClusky, isn't it? The railroad man?

Bailey.

I'm a little surprised, McClusky.

You've been around town long enough to know how I feel

about someone wearing my badge.

Well, how you feel is your business.

Hiring and firing a marshal is the town council's.

They'll be hiring me again.

You can make it easy and walk out,

or you can make it tough on yourself and stay.

but one way or another,

I mean to wear that badge real soon.

[ door creaks ]

Hold it.

All right, now real easy,

hands on your head and turn around.

You hear me? Hands on your head.

I-I-I can't.

Do it! Right now.

Rice, flour, preserves--

not much to risk getting shot for...

unless you're hungry.

When'd you eat last, boy?

I had a pound of beefsteak for dinner,

and don't call me "boy."

Oh? How old are you?

20.

You got a name?

No.

All right, pick that stuff up

and put it back inside, mister.

You gonna take me to jail?

Isn't that the place for a man who steals?

Honest, Marshal, I was just...

[ knocking continues ]

I'm closed!

Mike McClusky, Joe!

Never showin' himself

and only in the middle of the night for him.

It's all cold.

I'm not firing the stove for anyone.

We'll make out, Joe.

What do you have there?

A friend.

All right, help yourself.Thanks.

Put it on your own bill.

Oh, Joe?

That shed of yours out in back

is still empty, isn't it?

He can bed down there for the night if he wants to.

Help yourself.

I don't take charity.

I don't give it.

I expect to be paid back

when you get a job.

A job?

I hear they're looking for a boy over at the stable.

It won't pay much, but it's honest.

I...

Now, you can run out, or you can spend the night.

If you're still here in the morning,

I'll take you over to the livery.

Marshal?

I lied to you,

about everything.

I only stole that food because I hadn't eaten nothin'

in two days.

Good-night.

It's Riley.

My name-- it's Jim Riley.

Good-night, Riley.

Coffee?

The word for that is mud.

No thanks.

I came by about that kid you brought over last night.

Yeah, I know. He ran out.

I went by to look for him a little while ago.

Well, go good look again.

I saw him sneaking back into the shed.

He had a bag of somethin' under his arm.

When a stray dog gets scared, he usually snaps.

I did, more than once.

Keep an eye on things for me, will you?

[ rustling ]

Change your mind?

If you think I ran away, you're wrong.

You mind telling me where you went?

I had to get my things.Your things?

They're not stolen, they belong to me.

Let's take a look.

Please.

That's all that was left after they buried my family.

They sold everything else

to pay for some neighbor keeping me.

If you had a foster home, why'd you leave?

After a while,

they said there wasn't no more money to take care of me.

I'd have to give up what was left.

I just couldn't.

That's everything I have.

Let's go see about that job.

Even.

You've only been here a few days,

I can wait.

Well, I want to be even, Marshal.

Everything I've borrowed.

All right, even it is.

New?

Mm-hm.

I thought you lived at the hotel.

Yeah, that's why I've been trying to find somebody

to stay over here tonight,

to kind of keep an eye on things.

It won't pay anything, but it'd be warmer come wintertime.

Mm.

You interested?

Well, uh...

Go get your stuff, bring it over here.

Thanks, Mike.

Can't you see that I'm busy?

Now, go on, get out of here.

Okay.

Hey, Thomas.

Isn't that the kid that follows McClusky around all the time?

Yeah.

Oh, sorry.

You should be.

Ooh-Wee, something sure smells bad.

I'm lookin' at it.

Excuse me.

Don't push me, boy.

I didn't.

You pushed!

What do you got in that blanket, stable boy?

It's personal.

Oh, you hear that, Thomas? It's personal.

Makes me real curious.

A kid like that's probably got something stolen in there, belongs to me.

I better have a look.

[ laughs ] Well, I'll be.

It's my old watch.

[ laughs ] And that there gun belongs to you, doesn't it--?

[ laughs ]

Frank!

[ sighs ]

Mike.

Well, now, I wasn't hurt bad enough to be a ghost.

Yeah, but the doc said you're--

To take it easy a few more days.

Look, if I lie flat on my back much longer,

I'll never get out of bed.

Yeah, but everything's been real quiet since you--

Killed Bailey?

Might have been the other way around

if you hadn't helped me.

He had me cold.

It was my fault it happened.

Now, you've been around here long enough

to know better than that.

You saved my life, and I thank you.

Oh, there's one other thing.

I found this by the side of my bed when I came to.

Oh?

You put it there, Jim.

The doctor told me so.

It belonged to my Paw.

I know that, too,

but I'm not your Paw.

Don't try and make me in another man's image, Jim.

I'm not Mike, honest.

It's just-- well, it's just a gift...

to a friend.

I got work to do.

Oh, Jim, before you start that,

would you run over to Flannigan's

and ask him if I could borrow one of this cane poles

for tomorrow?

You going fishing?

Well, I'm supposed to take it easy.

I can't think of a better way

than to sit on a quiet river bank.

I'm off work tomorrow.

[ laughs ] Tell Flannigan we want to borrow

two of his cane poles.

And a skillet and some bacon to fry up our catch.Right.

You will keep the watch?

I'd be proud to.

Look out, fish, we're comin'!

And remember to tell him that he cost me two bits a piece.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Bring back a couple for me

Where's Pearson?Right behind me.

Whatever you want, hurry it up.

Some cowboy's having a lucky night at my faro table.

Well, it's our lucky night, too, Pearson.

I saw McClusky go in his office not five minutes ago.

I'll put money he's gonna make his rounds tonight.

Wait, I didn't swear that I'd go in on this.

I said I'd think about it.

Well, you do that, Emmett.

Take all the time you want

because when the word gets out

Frank Bailey's friends

don't want anybody spending money in your place,

it's gonna get nice and quiet,

for thinkin'.

Well, what if he doesn't show up?

He will.

If not tonight, then tomorrow night.

But I think it's gonna be soon,

so you better get back to your place and get ready.

But, we--Go on.

What kept you?

Lecture from Flannigan? [ chuckles ]Yeah.

Are you going back to your room?

Soon as I make my rounds.

Well, maybe you shouldn't make them tonight, Mike.

I mean we're getting up so early to go fishin'.

What's the matter with you, Jim?

Nothin'.

Don't go, Mike.

They're planning to kill you.

They?

Thomas and Pearson and that other one.

Keller?

Yeah, I heard them talking in the alley.

They said if you made your rounds tonight

that they'd be waiting for you.

Don't go.

You know, Jim, a rattler's tale sounds bad,

but without the fangs, it's harmless.

Bailey's dead.

Yeah, but I heard them. They said they'd kill you.

Don't you believe me?

Yeah, I do believe you.

If I hid out every time someone talked about making trouble,

I couldn't very well wear a badge, now, could I?

No, I suppose not.

See you in the morning.

Don't you say that about her.

All right, all right. Break it up.

But, he pushed me--Never mind. Move on.

Sure, Marshal. Come on, I'll buy you a drink.

Well?

They might try to get you from behind.

This way there's another gun to back you up.

Well, I appreciate that, Jim, very much,

but you don't have to follow me.

Besides that gun of yours is almost as old as you are.

It's a miracle it went off once.

Next time it's liable to blow up in your face.

No, you go on back and do your job at the office

and let me do mine.

But--Go on, now. Go on.

[ people chattering ]

Well, Marshal, I see that you're up and around.

Where are your two friends?

What do you mean?

Don't play games with me, Pearson.

I mean Thomas and Keller.

I don't know.

Marshal!

Have a drink on the house

in honor of your getting Bailey.

I never drink to another man's death.

That went real nice.

Start pourin', Emmett boy.

Start pourin'.

[ whistles ] Well, looky there.

It's the stable boy.

[ chuckles ] Well, McClusky's dead, boy.

We killed him. How 'bout that?

Well, come on, boy.

Now's your big chance to do something about it.

Go for that old horse pistol of yorn there.

[ both laughing ]

And I thought he was your friend.

[ cocks gun ]

Find the kid?No.

Ah, he can't have gone too far.

Maybe so, but if I didn't know better,

I'd say that Jim Riley just upped and disappeared

into thin air.

Perhaps Jim Riley did not disappear into thin air,

but he was never seen again.

Nor was his body ever found.

Whether he died somewhere out on the plains

or whether he survived and moved on westward

is a question that can never be answered.

As for Newton, Kansas,

the violence at Pearson's Gardens

convinced the town council

to shut down the saloons and gambling halls.

A new source of prosperity was found

in the growing of wheat.

And that was fortunate for Newton

because the next year the railhead moved on,

and instead of withering like so many cow towns,

Newton survived and grew.

In part, this came about because of the story

of "The Friend."