All language subtitles for S18E03.Old Stape.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.H264.AAC-jenkins_track3_[eng]

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Narrator:
Where Western history
comes alive.

Stories of the Old West,

stories of hardships
and adventure,

of dreams and of courage.

Stories of the American pioneer
are all a part of our past,

of our heritage.

The border country
between nations

is always an area of trouble,

and nowhere
was the truth more evident

than along the border
between the United States

and the newly formed
Republic of Texas.

Outlaws of every type
infested that border.

Some of the worst,
most violent criminals to walk

on the of the Earth. Others
were simply frontiersmen,

proud and independent rebels
who hated civilization

and law in any form.

It was these men who caused
sheriffs on both sides

of the border
their worst headaches.

Just before the annexation
of Texas by the United States,

one of the most colorful
of these outlaws

lived on the northern end
of the border.

He was an unrepentant old sinner
who worked out his own solution

to the problems of border law.

His name was Stapleton.
The Sheriffs knew him as...

[ animal panting ]

Come on.

Yeah.

Hey, Joe?

Do you see what I see?

Old Stape.

Hyah! Hyah!

We'’ll get
that old buzzard this time.

Come on.

Man, he'’s clumsier
than a day-old cub

backing down a sycamore.

[cackles]

You ought
to have better sense.

You know you can'’t catch
Old Stape in the woods.

Yeah, I guess I ought to.
Tried it often enough.

I don'’t know.

Seeing him so close up,

guess I just lost my head.

You'’re lucky
he didn'’t blow it off.

Oh, Old Stape
don'’t shoot law officers.

He just makes
jackasses out of them.

At least we got Major
Atherton'’s prize hog back.

Yeah. Trouble is,
I'’m a United States Sheriff.

And we'’re in Texas
by a couple of miles.

I got no authority to
reclaim stolen property

in Texas.Stolen? Who said it was stolen?

No reason we can'’t cooperate
returning strayed stock.

"Strayed"?

Sure. I found that hog
wanderin'’ along,

and returned him to you--
no crime involved.

Yeah, but Old Stape--Oh, he can'’t make
any protest.

He wouldn'’t dare. I got
eleventeen warrants

to arrest him on sight,
as it is.Yeah, maybe so.

But he'’s gonna be awful sore
at us for taking his loot.

He went to a lot of effort,
swiping that hog.

I better get him
back to the Major.
He'’s been raisin'--

He'’s gone!

I thought you tied him up!I did!

He must have pulled loose!

Hyah!

[neighs]Hyah!

Stape.Stape.

Poor as
a wicked sinner, Stape!

Stealin'’ a prize hog!

Wicked! Wicked.Oh, stop naggin'’, Weasel.

Atherton'’s rich.
He'’s got plenty of hogs.

That is not the point!

Stealin'’ is a sin, Stape.

You stole that hog twice!

I had to! Them sheriffs was
takin'’ it back to Atherton.

Come on, now. Relax.
Weasel? Here.

Here, have a drink
for that cold.

[coughs]
Yeah, I feel maybe...

Maybe just a little nip
for medicinal purposes.

You know I don'’t
approve of demon rum!Oh, yeah, I know.

[gulping]

[coughing]

Whoa. Thanks.

Stape, I saw that
Sheriff Webb in town,

him and that Louisiana
sheriff, Joe Dickens?

Oh, they was mad enough
to bite themselves.

Was they, now?Oh, they was cussin'’ you
up and down,

terriblest language
I ever did hear.

Stape, you oughtn'’t
to have run off them
horses like that.

Walking'’s mighty hard
on men in ridin'’ boots!

Really made me mad!Not as mad
as you made them!

They'’s out to get you
this time, Stape.

And I'’m worried!Well, you don'’t need to be.

That'’s why I had that
surveyor fella help me
get this cablin located

square on the border line.

That door opens in Texas,
and the other one opens
in the United States.

So no matter which one
of them sheriffs shows up,

all I got to do is
step out the other door,

and they can'’t arrest me.

I know. I know!

And it'’s always worked
slick as a whistle.

And I know they can'’t
trap you outside.

But still!
[chuckling]
You worry too much, Weasel.

How '’bout that cold?What cold?

Oh.
[sneezes, coughs]

Deep. Deep.

[gulping]

I sure am glad
you ain'’t a drinkin' man.

[coughs]
Will power, Stape.

Will power'’s the only thing
that defeats demon rum.

Is that what it is?

I guess I'’d better get
goin'’, or Petunia's
really gonna be worried.

I-I just stopped
by to warn you to
be careful, Stape.

Them sheriffs are mean.I'’ll be careful, Weasel.

Oh, and by the way...

Petunia says...
thanks for the hog meat.

She gonna roast himSunday.

If you wanna drop by.

[door closes]

Petunie, you'’re the best cook
in the Republic of Texas.

You can save the sweet talk,
you thievin'’ old bushrunner.

I don'’t know why Egbert
thinks you'’re still
worth trying to save.

Now, Petunia--

And you get him started
on that woodpile out back,
now, you hear me?

How come she'’s
so sore at me?

Don'’t you pay
no attention to her, Stape!

She'’s got some silly notion
you sent me home
drunk the other day.

She hates the stuff.

You tell her
you had a cold?Didn'’t believe me.

Egbert?

We better get on
that woodpile.

We don'’t want her
reallyriled up.No.

That'’s one kind of trouble
I can do without.

Now, you chop.
I'’ll saw.
All right.

Folks in town is
all talkin'’ about
the States annexin'’ Texas.

Pretty excited
about it, too.

Yeah. Just talk.
Never happen.

Might be
a good thing, Stape.

You crazy? We just
fought a war to get free.

Yeah, but the United States--...is another government.

And more government means
more rules and laws,

and we got too many
of '’em already.All right, all right!

Cool down! Like you say,
it'’s probably just talk.

Well, I don'’t like no talk
about annexation.

All right. All right.

Well, hear that Webb'’s
been prowlin'’ around,
down near your place.

[chuckles] Yeah.
Seen '’im a time or two.

Reckon he'’s still
a mite fressed at me.

Oh, you can lay odds on that.
Him and Joe Dickens both.

I hear they been meetin'’
at the crossing.

Oh, yeah?
Yeah.

Alby seen '’em head to head,
making medicine.

And your name was heared
two, three times, too.

You know something, Weasel?

I'’m gettin' a bad hunch.

Really? '’Bout what?

'’Bout them two sheriffs.

They both know about my cabin
being on the border line.

That works fine,
against either one of them.

But if they get together--That'’s right!

That'’s right, Stape.
They should both
come at you at once.

They could nail you
no matter which way
you jump, see?

I reckon the only thing
to do is to fix it so
I don'’t have to jump at all.

Yeah! Huh?

You still got
that bucket of whitewash?Yeah.

Get if for me, will ya?Sure.

And a brush!

Here you go.
Whatcha gonna
do with it?

No time for questions.
I got a job to do.

What kinda job?
Can I help?No, you'’ll see when I'm done.

So will a couple of sheriffs
we both know.

Wh-Wh-What about
the work?

Tell Petunia I'’ll finish
choppin'’ later.

[Petunia]
Egbert, I don'’t hear
no choppin'’!

I can'’t wait around any longer
for him to show, Neil.

Our town council'’s
having a meetin'’ tonight.

I got to be there.All right. We can do it
tomorrow, if you can make it.

[sighs]
I'’ll make it.

I'’m just as anxious to grab
Old Stape as you are.

My feet. My feet
are still sore.

Oh, yeah. Mine, too.

But we'’ll get him this time,
if it takes us a week.

We can'’t miss,
working together.

I hope not.
I'’m fed up with
that old scoundrel

thumbing his nose
at the law in my county.

Our county.
See ya tomorrow, Joe.

You fellas
come right ahead.

I'’m gonna have
a real nice surprise for you.

Egbert!

That lazy, good-for-nothing!

Now, Petunia, he said
he'’d finish it later.Yesterday,

and he hasn'’t
been back since!

But Stape was in trouble!
He had to go!
To do what?

Well, I don'’t know what
it was, but it was important.

Important!
Well, it was.

I-I could finish this
kindling for you myself.

You'’ll do
no such thing!

Now he said he'’ll chop
this wood, and he'’ll do it,

if he knows
what'’s good for him.B-But he may--

You but me no buts, Egbert!

Now you go right now, and
fetch that shiftless rascal.

Do you hear me?Yes'’m. Whatever you say, dear.

And Egbert?Yes'’m?

Don'’t catch any colds!

No, ma'’am.

Well? Well?Yeah, he'’s there.

That'’s a relief. It's hard
to believe we'’re finally
going to lay Old Stape

by the heels at last.Yeah.

All right. Let'’s move
in cautiously.

We'’ll go in
on your signal.
Right.

Yahhhh!

We got ya, Stape.

You'’re under arrest.You two is
the noisiest critters.

Sounded like a couple of
bull elephants sneaking up
on the cabin.

Never mind that.
You'’re under arrest.

You fellas ain'’t noticed
my new decoratin'’.

What the devil'’s
that supposed to mean?

You got brains.
Why don'’t you use 'em?

Now look here, Stape.
We both got warrants for you.

Well, sure you have.
It'’s real simple.

If you look close,
you'’ll likely see

that half of me
is in the United States.

But the other half of me
is in the Republic of Texas.

But that don'’t--Oh, hush.

Now, you, Joe. I reckon
you got the right to arrest

the part that'’s
in the United States.

But you got no authority
to arrest the part
that'’s in Texas.

That'’s crazy.
You can'’t be in two countries
at the same time.

Well, I am,
and you can see it.

Mm, same goes
for you, Webb.

Only in reverse.

It'’s your move, fellers.

He ain'’t right, is he, Joe?
I mean, he can'’t get away
with a stunt like this?

Oh, I don'’t know.But that'’s loony!
I ain'’t gonna stand for it.

Have a seat.
[chuckles]

Blast it, Joe.
If you arrest your half,

and I arrest my half,
then we could--

Then you could both get
yourselves into a whole
bunch of legal trouble.

Now you shut up!Just tryin'’ to help.

You know somethin'’, Neil?
I think he'’s got us.

It'’s obvious
we both can'’t arrest him.

But one of us has gotta--You know how delicate
relations are between

Texas and the US right now.

What with annexation
so close, and everything.

Now me, I'’m not about
to do anything that'’s
gonna cause it to blow up.

And if you value that star,
you won'’t either.

Yeah, but--
If nobody found out...

I suppose you'’d make
a big squawk about it.

I'’m the biggest squawker
you ever saw.

They'’d hear me clear
to Austin and Washington.

Ahhh!

Blast it, Joe.
He can'’t stay
in that bunk forever!

All we gotta do
is wait him out.

The minute he makes a move,
grab him.

Well. Help yourselves,
fellas.

Gonna be
a long, hungry wait.

For you too.Not me.

I got plenty
of grub and water,

right under my bunk here.[pot rattling]

Come prepared
for all emergencies.

Joe, for the first time in
my life, I know what it'’s like

to want to commit a murder.

Let'’s get out of here,
while I can still remember
I'’m a sheriff.

This ain'’t the end
of the game, Stape!

Annexation'’s comin'!

Stape? Are you all right?
I seen them!

Wh-What'’s all that?[laughing]

Sit down, Weasel, sit down,
and I'’ll tell you all about it.

Tha-at'’s it.

There you are.
Take her down, little fishie.

[hee-haw]

Stop, don'’t shoot!
Stape, it'’s me!

Whoa! Ho, babe.

Thank goodness
I found ya, Stape.
I been lookin'’ all over!

What'’s up, Weasel?Word just come in.

Annexation.

Official?
Texas is now part
of the United States.

Reckon that does it for me.

What ya gonna do, Stape?

I don'’t know, Weasel.

But I'’m gonna do something.

Give these to Petunie.

I cleaned '’em already.

Tell her she won'’t
need to save any for me.

But Stape, you--

You been
a good friend, Weasel.

Better than I deserve.

Good luck, Stape!

I may starve to death!

Give it up, Stape.
You can'’t get us both,
and you know it.

Maybe not.
But I'’ll put a hole through
the first one that moves.

Now don'’t be a fool.
The charges against you
are all minor.

If you shoot one of us,
you'’ll swing for murder.

He'’s talking sense.

We'’re annexed.
This line don'’t mean a thing.

We'’re one country now!

I told you once,
you may annex Texas,
but you ain'’t annexed me.

Oh, for the love of--You move fast like that,

makes me kinda nervous.

Wouldn'’t do it no more.

All right, Stape.
If you want a war...

No, wait. Wait, Neil!

I got an idea.
There'’s no cause for
a lot of bloodshed.

Now, the main thing
we want is to get rid
of Old Stape, right?

Right.

And you'’re all
packed up, Stape.

You, uh-- You game
for a contest?

A which?

Well, a river is
just a quarter of a mile
north of here.

Cross it, and you'’ll be
safe in the Territory.

So?So, feet are better than guns.

We race you for it.
You win, you'’re free.

We win, you surrender.
Peaceable!

Oh, I don'’t know.

That'’s a--
That'’s a long run.

You fellers
is younger'’n me.

But I reckon it'’s a deal.

All right with you, Neil?All right. I'’ll go along.

Now, there'’s just
one thing, Stape.

You make it,
you don'’t ever come back.

I want your word on that.

You'’ve got it! Got too many
laws around here anyway.

All right, Stape.
I'’ll tell you what.

You'’re carryin' a pack,
and everything,

we'’ll give you a count of,
uh, count of ten start.

Well, you can
start countin'’.

"One... two... three...
four... five...

six... seven...

eight... nine... ten!

I gotcha!

[laughs]
Hurray! I ain'’t annexed!

Ya hear me?

I ain'’t annexed!

[laughing]

I thought you could
beat him, Neil.

Yeah. I had him beat until
he pulled that dodge on me.

Blast him,
he even runs crooked.

Well, anyway,
we'’re rid of him.
Yeah.

But you know
something funny, Neil?
What?

I think I'’m gonna
miss that old devil.

Life'’s gonna be
mighty dull around here...

without Old Stape.

Men such as Old Stape

were the inspirations
for legends that grew

out of the American West:
wild, independent,

and a headache to sheriffs.

They were a hearty
and special breed.

They seldom fitted
into a law-abiding society.

But it was their courage
and daring that opened

the first doors
to our western expansion.

An expansion that was
to span a continent

between two oceans.

Be with us again next week,
for another exciting story

from the American past.