Original subtitles

"The Rifleman"...

starring Chuck Connors.

Get us those drinks, Sandy.

Yahoo!

What's the matter, mister?

You don't look happy to see us.

Maybe a little dance to make you feel better.

Well, you wasted $0.60 worth of cartridges

and you never hit him once.

That's really lousy shooting, you ask me.

Oh yeah?

Bet you a dollar I can shoot the buttons right off of his coat.

Well come on, let's have us a drink.

I got 1,000 miles of trail dust in my craw.

You man about ready to get paid?

Hey, it's Keely.

Hey, Keely with a mutton.

He's all slicked up.

Site for sore eyes.

We've been waiting for you for six months.

Did you make a deal for the herd, Keely?

You men had a hard trip.

You deserve a good time.

Here, go to it.

Out of my way, you cow chasers.

I'm gonna tear this town apart.

There you are, boy.

Thank you, Pa.

All ready for the test today?

I think so.

You'll do fine.

Just remember, sit easy and think straight.

And Mark, you keep out of trouble.

I'll try, but sometimes I just can't help it.

I know, but let me give you some advice.

Yesterday you butted into an argument

between Jeff and Skinny.

Now, if you want to keep out of that kind of trouble,

you just mind your own business.

I'll try, Pa. All right.

I've got a lot of chores to do in town.

It'll probably take me till about 4:00.

If you wait, I'll come by and ride you back home.

I'll wait. OK.

Goodbye.

Good morning, Lucas.

Be right with you.

Good to see you again.

How's Mark?

Well, outside of carrying on a running

fight with an English grammar book, he's mine.

I need a few supplies, Willard.

Here's my list.

You better add a bag of hard candy to it.

Mark didn't ask for any, but there are some things a boy

wants that go without saying.

Never met a youngster yet that didn't have a sweet tooth.

Dan used to be a great one for candy.

His tastes sure have changed since he came back.

Is he around?

Working in a general store with his father's

too dull for him.

He's got himself a new job.

Acting Marshal of North Fork.

Oh?

Where's Micah?

Had some business to attend to up north.

He swore Dan in as temporary deputy before he left.

Well, I don't think there's anything to worry about.

He can take care of himself.

Like you said, it's only temporary.

One day as marshal may be too long.

Aren't you laying it on a little heavy, Will?

I hope so, but I'm afraid not.

Dan seems to be using the job just so he can prove himself.

How do you mean?

Ever since he was dropped from West Point on account

of his eyes, it's been in his craw

that he has to show everybody that the Academy was wrong.

He's just as good a man as he ever was.

I don't think you have to work too much.

Everything will work out.

Got a bunch of Texas cowhands in town.

On the trail three months and spoiling for a good time.

Dan's been riding hard on them pretty strong.

Maybe he's got good reason.

Oh, they been acting up some.

It's mostly high spirits.

At least it was that way until Dan started pushing them.

Now their tone has changed and they're

deliberately making trouble.

Well, I don't like to stick my nose into things

that don't concern me, but if you want,

I'll have a talk with Dan.

I was hoping you'd say that, Lucas.

He always thought a great deal of you.

I hope he still does.

How do I look, Mr. McCain.

I've seen worse.

I've seen a lot better too.

Ain't anyone faster in North Fork.

Now North Fork doesn't cover much territory, son.

If you'd made that claim in Dodge City or Tombstone.

There something I can do for you?

I don't think so, Dan.

I just dropped in to see how you were

getting along in your new job.

Oh, couldn't be better.

I had a few problems at first, but I'm

getting things under control.

Problems?

Nothing to worry about.

Some Texas cowhands thought they were

going to take over the town.

I just had to show them that they were wrong.

A man who wears a badge has a heavy responsibility.

He sure has.

Dan, I always thought the best way to enforce the law was

a firm hand on a slack rein.

That way you got control and no one feels the bit in his mouth.

Well, I can't say as I agree with you, Mr. McCain.

The way I look at it, you just got

to prove to them that you're better than they are

and they'll fall in line.

I see.

Could be you're being a little too tough on these cowhands.

After all, you're not dealing with a bunch

of West Point Plebes.

Thanks for the advice, but I'll

handle the situation my way.

You're the marshal.

At least till Micah gets back.

Look, I'll walk a little ways with you if you promise

to talk about something else.

Talk about anything you like, Dan.

He's just come out and there's someone with him.

You ready?

Rest of you men know what to do.

All right, he's close enough.

All right, that's far enough.

One more step and I'll...

All right, cowboy, the fun's over.

Drop your fun.

Well, if it ain't the Marshal.

Yes sir, anything to oblige.

Wait a minute, Dan.

I can handle this.

This ain't none of your affair, mister.

Just stand easy.

All right, that's enough.

You're playing against a stacked deck, mister.

Start dealing.

We've got no fight with him, Sandy.

Kid got what he deserved.

Could have been worse.

Come on, Marshal.

Show those cowboys they're not going to get away with this.

They wouldn't have gotten away with it this time

if you'd been on your toes.

You should have noticed the first man wasn't drunk.

Well, he looked drunk to me.

His eyes were too clear.

Mistake number two, the fellow on the floor.

Dead men aren't tense.

This one was primed for action.

You think there'll be any more trouble, Lucas?

No, I don't think so, Willard.

They've had their satisfaction.

What Lucas says makes sense.

My advice is to leave them alone from now on.

The saddle tramps beat up the town marshal and all you

can say is leave them alone.

You think I was wearing this badge for my own benefit.

Are you?

Another thing, McCain, I can get along

without any help from you.

He sure is bent on doing things the hard way.

Riled clean down to his boot heels.

Hard headed as a pine board knot.

Dan's an amateur trying to do a job

that calls for a professional.

Hope there's no more trouble.

It's not very easy trying to bring up a boy by yourself.

It's hard enough trying to be a good father.

But Luke, you just don't know.

Being both mother and father is tougher than driving

a mule team across the desert.

How did you get all the way out here from Missouri?

Drove across the desert with a mule team.

Just thought I'd ask.

I've tried my best.

I really have tried.

But somewhere along the line, he got away from me.

How old was Dan when his mother died?

10.

She had such hopes for him.

Kind of wanted him to be a doctor or a teacher.

Anything that didn't have to do with guns and fighting.

Well, if she was still alive, I bet she'd be proud of him.

Oh, I know.

I didn't say she'd be proud of the way he's acting today.

She'd be proud of him because he's her son.

Women are just naturally proud of their own flesh and blood.

She'd try to understand his hurt and try to make

up for his bad eyesight.

Like it was her own hurt.

Luke, I'm sorry.

I forgot you've been bringing up Mark by yourself.

Maybe that's why I have kind of a special liking for Dan.

He's been growing up the hard way

and, well, I think he needs a little extra understanding.

Sure ain't no way to treat a good gun.

Well, maybe that's the way he uses it best.

Well, of all the...

hey, will you look at this?

That order goes into effect exactly one hour from now.

I'll be waiting on you men in my office.

Marshal.

Far as I'm concerned, you'll be waiting till the seat

of your pants wears out.

I ain't taking off my gun belt for nobody.

Well, if you don't, I'll remove it from you personally.

You're welcome to try.

Law says until 12 o'clock.

I can wait.

I claim the first shot at him.

This is my turkey shoot.

Come on, I'll buy us a drink.

You got a minute, Dan?

I want to talk with you.

Later.

I still think you ought to let me do it.

It's after 12:00, mister.

You know what the law said.

Never did read well.

Especially signs.

I'll give you one more chance.

Take off your gun belt.

You ain't man enough to make me.

He's dead.

You killed a better man than you'll ever be, kid.

Was his own doing.

Should have turn in his gun like the law said.

I'm still wearing mine.

There's been enough gun play already.

I'd say that was a matter of opinion.

You finally got what you wanted, didn't you, son?

What's that supposed to mean?

You've been pushing my man

ever since they rode into town.

All they had to do was obey my orders.

I don't know what you're trying to prove, kid,

but you ain't proved it yet.

Take care of Sandy.

You know, I'd better have a talk, Dan.

Keely Thompson has killed more men

than the years you've lived.

I saw him in action in Dodge City.

He's good.

His guns don't scare me.

I carry a couple too.

When a man wears twin guns, Dan, he's usually bragging.

Thompson is the exception.

He's a fast draw and a dead shot, both hands.

Why don't you give up that badge, Dan?

A few days and those cowhands will be heading back for Texas.

What am I supposed to do in the meantime?

Hide?

As long as the Marshal gave me the right to wear this badge,

I'm the law.

And right or wrong, what I say stands.

Well mostly you've been wrong.

And posting that gun checking notice

was your biggest mistake.

I did it for the good of the town.

You You can lie to yourself, Dan, but not to me.

The law has to be respected.

It never will be when a man makes it suit his own purpose.

Suppose those Texans do ride out of here

without any more trouble.

You think that'll be the end of it?

I think so.

Well, you're making it awful tough on the Marshal

when he gets back.

Those cowhands will pass the word

along to the other men driving cattle herds into North Fork.

And they'll ride in here looking to pick

up where the Texans left off.

When a town gets a mean name, it draws mean customers.

Got a message for you, boy.

Keely's revoking your gun law.

Said that if you want to try to enforce it, he'd be waiting.

Well, you tell him he won't have to wait

long, because I'll be there.

I was hoping you'd say that.

Some of the boys are betting that you'd weasel out.

Thompson must have lost his touch.

Never thought he'd want to gun a kid.

I don't know what you do when a blowfly bothers you, mister,

but me, I squash it.

So does Keely.

Don't think about it too long, Marshal.

Me and the boys would be mighty disappointed

if you change your mind.

I said I'd be there and I will.

Dan, you're not going to go.

I'm going.

Lucas.

If he wants to commit suicide, there's

nothing I can do about it.

Keely Thompson's big reputation doesn't bother me.

I took that cowhand and I'll take him.

You were lucky.

An experienced gunslinger would have cut you down before you

even cleared leather.

Lucas knows what he's talking about.

Act sensible.

I still think I can take him.

So there's no sense in putting it off, is there?

Wait a minute, Dan.

Plenty of time to get your head shot off.

Sit down and think it over.

Sit down.

Where you going, Lucas?

I'll be back.

There you are.

And just to show you how confidant I am,

you can hold it.

Anybody else want to make a bet?

What about you, mister?

I'm giving five to one the marshal doesn't get

a chance to fire off a shot. I don't bet on murder.

Hello, McCain.

Have a seat.

I see you're still carrying that rifle.

A man gets himself a habit, it's hard to break.

Yeah, from what I heard since I saw you last,

that habit has earned you quite a reputation.

I'm not proud of it, Thompson.

But at least it was honestly earned.

What is that supposed to mean?

It means I never deliberately pulled

the trigger against a man who didn't have a chance.

If you're talking about that marshal,

he brought it on himself.

He's just a kid who thinks he has to prove he's a man.

You know he doesn't have a chance with you in a gunfight.

There's already been futile killing.

Why have another?

Let the boy out, Keely.

I almost wish I could.

It's too late to back down now.

It's not too late.

You can take your boys and ride out of town.

You think they'd ride with me if I did that?

Asking favors don't come easy for me, Thompson.

But I'm asking for one now.

Like I said, it's too late.

Besides, once I start a play, I never back down.

All right.

If that's the way you want it.

I got no fight with you, McCain.

Don't get in the way.

Not a person in town would blame you for not showing up.

Yeah, but I got to live with myself.

So I might as well get it over with.

Dan, being you're determined to go through with this,

I'll tell you a few things that might help.

Walk down to the church and come back up

the street toward the saloon.

That'll put the sun on your back in his face.

Another thing.

Watch his eyes.

They're the tip off he's going to draw.

And drop your gun belt a few inches.

Anything else I should know?

A great deal, but it's too late for that now.

Keely, he's moving up the street.

No sense wasting a good cigar.

Here, hold it for me.

All right, kid, it's your move.

Take off your guns, Thompson.

I'm going to give you the jump on me, son.

Go ahead.

Draw.

Nice shooting, Keely.

How bad is it, Lucas?

It's not too bad, Will.

But you better get the doctor.

Thompson.

Right or wrong, that gun law is still in effect.

I think you better do like the marshal

wanted and take yours off.

You're a good man with that rifle, McCain,

but not that good.

Maybe not.

I said I had no fight with you, McCain.

Now don't make me...

Take off your gun belt.

You could have killed me, McCain.

Why didn't you?

You could have killed the boy.

Why didn't you?

You men saddle up.

We're riding for home.

Hi, Pa.

Come on.

Well, how did you make out on the test?

Got the third highest mark in the class,

and I didn't get into any trouble today.

I minded my own business.

Good boy.

Here's some hard candy for you.

Thanks, Pa.

Anything happen in town?

What?

Everything go all right in town?

See, Mark, sometimes it's easier to give advice

than to take it.

That's what I was telling Skinny when he tried to stop

me from taking a poke at Chip.

Well, that's just what I said.

Skinny should have minded his own business.

Let's go home.