Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

...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.

Near the turn of the century, Amos Kolb was a cowboy

in the Temecula area of Southern California.

He was a determined young man

with unusual grit and integrity.

What almost did him in was man'’s old nemesis,

an affair of the heart,

which brought about a strange conflict between...

[ bull mooing ]

Jeremy!

Jeremy, someone'’s coming!

Silas.What happened?

It was Amos'’ fault.

What happened, Amos?

We had a little fight.

Well, I can see as much.

Over what?

Cards.

Silas was cheating.

It ain'’t true, Pa. I weren'’t cheating!

You were, too!

Go fetch some water, Maggie.

Now, exactly what happened?

Well, we were playing cards at the saloon last night,

me, Silas, and Bill Wilson.

Silas had a little too much to drink.

I never had too much--Go on, go on.

I don'’t know much about poker but I was winning.

Then, I started to lose. I lost all my winnings.

That'’s when Bill Wilson caught Silas dealing from the bottom.

That'’s a gall-darn lie.

It is not.

Gambling'’s Wilson's business.

If anybody can spot cheating, he can.

I ain'’t gonna take that.Now, you be quiet!

Everybody knows Bill Wilson for an honest man.

Let'’s get him inside.

Rousing and gambling every night.

It'’s no wonder you'’re always in trouble.

You mightn'’t be so lucky next time.

I think you owe me an explanation, Amos.

Oh, I know.

Is Silas all right?

Yes, but it'’s not Silas that worries me.

What is it, then?

Oh, you mean the gambling?

You know how Jeremy feels about gambling and drinking.

You'’ll set him against you if you act like Silas,

and that'’ll ruin things for us.

Oh, Maggie.

A man plays cards for one night...

so'’s he can get himself a stake to get married,

suddenly, he'’s a no good gambler.

Is that what you were doing?

That'’s what I was doing.

Trying to get me a stake so I can talk to Jeremy about us.

Oh, Amos.

I'’m so sorry. I should have known.

Yep, you should have known.

You are beast, Amos Kolb.

Yep.

Why was you so early?

Well, I was anxious to come see you, I guess.

Of course, I can go away,

come back later if you prefer.Oh, no. I won'’t let you.

There. You'’re my prisoner.Want to see your prisoner escape?

You can'’t.

Hey!

You caught me.

Oh, Amos.

Amos, I don'’t want you to gamble anymore.

I thought you understood about that?

I don'’t intend to make a habit of it.

How else are we going to get married?

On what you earn.

You work hard.

What I make as a cowhand isn'’t much.

Well, if you think we can make it, Maggie,

I'’ll go talk to Jeremy.

That'’s not all right, young man.

No, sir, it is not all right.

May I ask why, sir?

I mean, if it'’s the gambling with Silas...

I can'’t say that I approve of your behavior.

I can explain.

Amos, believe me,

I know that gambling is not your pitfall.

It'’s the money.

Frankly, yes.

Try to see my side of it, Amos.

When her father died, I promised to look after Maggie,

see that she married well.

I understand.

And Frank Madson has already asked for her hand.

They'’ve been going together for a year now.

They what?

He wants my answer in a month

when he gets back from the East.

Amos.

Improve your circumstances within the month,

and I might reconsider.

Believe me,

it wasn'’t that way.

How was it, then,

between you and the rich banker?

It'’s true. I saw Frank a few times,

but only to please Jeremy.

You didn'’t make that very clear to Frank.

I tried.

Oh, you'’ve just got to believe me.

He can'’t just...

just give me to Frank Madson.

We'’ll go away. Tonight.

After it'’s dark.

Maggie, I...

I'’d like to agree with you, but...

Well, I don'’t know. Jeremy may be right.

What are you saying?

I can'’t give you the things that Frank can give you.

I mean, maybe not even a home.

I mean, he can make things nice for you.

I don'’t want things nice. Not that way.

I just want you and our children and a happy home,

even if it'’s a shack. Is that so wrong?Oh.

'’Course it's not wrong. I want to give you even more.

Maggie, listen, listen.

I'’ll go up North. I can get myself a steady job,

and then I can send for you.

Oh...

There'’s just one solution, then.

I'’ve got to make it good right here.

How?

I don'’t know, but I...

I'’ll do it somehow.

You just...

You just keep thinking of that house full of love

and those happy children.

Mr. Hatcher?

You'’d said you'd reconsider.

I did. Well...

I'’m going to be rounding up strays

for the double R for a few days,

and the foreman says it might be a steady job for me when I get back.

Well, you can see that I'’m trying.

Amos, I'’m sorry,

but the promise of a steady job is not enough.

What is enough, then?

If you only had a home for Maggie.

Well, look at that.

I am glad you are enjoying our pond.

Boy, I sure thought I was a goner.

I saw you fellas around that pond.

Mm.

This is really tasty.

You'’re a good cook, Yucca.

I'’m a poor cook compared to my wife to be.

When are you going to get married?

That is a difficult question.

She sits waiting for me in her father'’s camp.

I have yet to find a suitable gift for him.

Oh, you got problems.

Believe me, Yucca, I know.

I'’ve already given him three rifles,

a fine bear skin,

two ponies,

two fry pans, and still he wants more.

He wants more?

He wants, above all, to be remembered by our people.

This he will do by starting our tribe'’s first herd.

For this he needs a fine herd sire.

Oh.

And that'’s what you have to get for him, huh?

Yes. And nothing will do but a magnificent black bull.

Such an animal is not easy to find.

Well, I know where there'’s a dandy looking black bull.

My friend, I will gladly trade all of this for such an animal.

Might just be the answer to both our problems.

How is that?

Are you serious about trading all of this place

for a black bull?

Yes.

Well, if I can somehow get that bull, I mean...

you'’ll have your bride, and I'’ll have mine, too.

I promised you the answer, didn'’t I?Yes.

Well, listen to this. Not too far from here,

just north of the stage road, you know?

There is the prettiest little valley.

You wouldn'’t believe it.

There'’s shade trees, and there'’s a great cool pond,

and grass, and flowers.

I'’ve never seen such a place.

Well, you'’re going to see it,

'’cause I'm taking you there as my wife.

But...There'’s lumber.

I can build a house from the lumber,

and there'’s land and water. I can take to farming.

Well, that is if you wouldn'’t mind

being the wife of a farmer.

But, how can we afford such a place?

All it takes...

Hold on.

All it takes is one black bull.

That'’s sure strange.

One black bull.

Amos?Uh-huh?

Jeremy has a black bull.

I know!

Ye-ha!

[ mooing ]

Can I help you with that, sir?No, thanks.

Yes, Amos?

Well, sir, I...

I would like to buy your black bull.

Oh?

I saved six dollars.

I'’ll pay the rest off a dollar a month.

Well, credit can be a man'’s ruination.

Yes, sir. Well, sometimes it'’s the only way

he can get himself started.

Two years ago, that bull cost $25.

It'’s a better animal today.

I'’ll give you 30 for him.

That'’s a fair price,

and I'’m willing to sell.That'’s great!

Only trouble is, I only own half the animal.

The other half belongs to Silas.

Silas!

Silas: Coming.

Amos has a proposition, Silas.

He'’d like to buy our bull for $30.

I think that'’s a fair price.

He'’s got $30?

Well, he'’s got $6 cash.

He'’ll give us a dollar a month until it'’s paid for.

No.

I don'’t do business that way.

Why not? I'’ll pay you.

I won'’t cheat you.

Oh, it'’s not a matter of cheating,

just being too poor to pay.

By the way, I hear Frank'’s coming back in two weeks.

Hit him again!

Get him!

[ assorted taunting ]

Let him have it.

[ continued taunting ]

Hello, Amos. Hit him again!

I said, "howdy," Amos. Get him!

Oh, Wilson, I'’m sorry.

I didn'’t hear you.

What'’s the matter?

I got a lot of problems.

Haven'’t we all?

Join our game tonight.

Maybe it'’ll solve some of yours.

No, thanks. I can'’t, Wilson.

I promised somebody that I wouldn'’t.

Oh.

Better watch those promises, Amos.

Lead you straight to the alter.

Men, your attention, please.

May I have your attention?

I'’m short a drover.

Sheriff has him locked up in jail.

I need a good, honest man to finish the drive.

Maybe three or four days.

Pay is two bits a day and found.

Any takers?

Right here.

It'’s the hard way to get it.

Good. We start at sunup.

Just one thing.

If you want me, I'’ll sign on for good.

Better ride drag with me, Amos.

Some of them are straggling back.

Come on, let'’s go.

Sure be glad to get this herd through.

Been out so long, they'’re a little hard to handle.

Yeah.

I noticed.

I'’m pretty sure we picked up a few strays along the way.

Oh, yeah.

Like maybe that good-looking black bull

on the edge of the herd today, huh?

Not quite like that.

He'’s part of the herd.

Oh.

Well, uh...

Can he be bought?

Afraid not, Amos.

He'’s the prize herd bull.

Couldn'’t be bought for any money.

Well, just, uh...

You know, curious.

Oh, by the way, that drover whose place I took,

why is he in jail, anyway?

I put him there, son.

Caught him trying to run a brand on a few of our cattle.

Some would have hung him.

Amos,

it'’s none of my business,

but I'’ve been watching you close.

You got some kind of problem?

Want to air it a bit?

Thank you kindly, I...

I have to work it out my own way.

[ cows mooing ]

[ mooing ]

[ mooing ]

Well...

I was starting to worry about you.

Nothing to worry about.

Little problem with a stray.

Is he back in the herd?

I would say so.

By the way, I changed my mind.

I'’m heading back for Temecula when the drive is over.

Well, Amos, I never once thought

running was your problem.

Amos! Help me!

What'’s wrong?

He going off the bottom of the deck,

that'’s what's wrong.

I didn'’t. I didn't!

We'’re going to give you a lesson this time.

How about tar and feathers, boys?

He'’s had it coming.

[ group cheers ]

You with this, Amos?

You bet I am.

Bring the tar over to the livery.

Amos, you can'’t let them do it!

Can'’t I?

Please, please stop them!

On one condition.Anything, I swear!

All right.

The bull.

He'’s yours. My word on it, he'’s yours.

Amos!

Wilson, wait.

That'’s a high price he'’s paying for his stupidity.

I thought you were with us, Amos.

Well, I was thinking, that tar is going to scar him for life.

Jeremy will be after all of us.

I'’m not afraid of Jeremy.

Maybe you'’re afraid of what you'’ll think of yourself.

How much money did you lose?

Why, none.

Anybody lose?

I did.

You'’re not even a good cheat, Silas.

Why not let him go, Wilson? He'’s learned his lesson.

Have you, Silas?

Yeah. I'’ll never play again.

You sure?

I swear. I swear!

All right, let him go, boys.

All right, listen. I got six dollars here.

I'’m buying.

Let'’s go.[ cheering ]

It'’s just as you said, Amos.

It'’s wonderful. We'll build our home here by the pond.

My bride thanks you, Amos, as I do, too.

Oh, it'’s you who deserves the thanks.

You can stay on this land if you'’d like, Yucca.

You are kind. We have other land not far from here.

We will visit.

You bet we will.

And maybe you can get your bride'’s daddy

to sell me a prized bull.

I plan to start me a herd.

Amos and Maggie Kolb built their home near the pond,

raised three fine children.

Their families still occupy the land near Temecula, California.

They'’ve built there a Western family resort

called "Woodchuck,"

where Amos Kolb'’s rugged individualism

still lives on.

♪♪