Original subtitles

Stop worrying, Mr. Williams.

Nothing will happen to you.

The law's on your side.

Maybe we ought to give Blue Boy some sulfur

and molasses, Pa.

Well, I think the doc will know

best what to do for him, son.

He's a pretty sick colt.

I hope he does. He will.

It's his business.

Doc sure must know his business, taking care

of people and horses, both.

Stop fretting, Mark.

He must be on a call.

Let's see if the marshal knows where he is.

Do doctors have to go to school for a long time, Pa?

As a matter of fact, they do, Mark.

Doctors, lawyers, judges, they all have a lot of schooling

to do their jobs.

What's wrong, Micah?

A man got bushwhacked outside of town.

Doctor's seeing what he can do for him.

Bushwhacked?

That's all open country.

That's the puzzling part.

The shot seemed to come out of nowheres.

The two deputies were taking him over the Silver City

to be a witness in a court trial.

Not much medicine can do for a dead man.

Might as well open the jail door right now

and let Slade out.

Slade Burrowes?

That's right.

Oh, Deputy Phil Rogers, Lucas McCain.

His son Mark.

Pleased to meet you, Mr. McCain.

You were talking about Slade Burrowes.

That's the gunslinger, isn't it, Pa?

That's right, son.

You've heard of him, same as everyone else.

Judge Marx at Silver City's been trying

for years to get a case that'd stand up against him in court.

He had one, till he got killed.

Oh? What did he have on him?

A month back, Slade killed a man near Silver City.

But he claims he was visiting his brother in Arizona

Territory at the time.

This man was a witness to the killing.

Well, that's the same man, all right.

You know him?

Micah, you remember last month,

when I was over in Silver City on some cattle business?

Well, I remember, Pa.

That's the time I stayed overnight at Hattie's.

That's right, son.

Well, I saw this man riding with Slade and another rider

out near the Landon Ranch.

That's where the killing took place, the Landon Ranch.

Well, the third rider, I seem to recollect,

was an older man with a beard.

That's Elijah Mattern, the man Slade killed.

Mr. McCain, you've just cut Slade Burrowes Arizona

alibi clean out from under him.

Looks like you're our new witness.

Now, look here, Deputy.

You're rushing things a mite fast.

Why, he can place Slade near the... near the Landon

Ranch right before the killing.

So could he.

Look what it got him.

Lucas, you wanna get mixed up in this?

When's the trial set for?

This Friday.

I'll be there.

Well, there's nothing more I can do.

I'll see you gentlemen.

Son, let's go outside and tell Doc about Blue Boy.

Mr. McCain, Carl and I'll give you

safe conduct to Silver City.

Well, if it's all the same with you gentlemen,

I'll get there by myself.

We come to town to get Doc, But now

my pa's gonna be a witness.

Witness?

What for?

Well, he's gotta go to Silver City.

What he knows is gonna hang Slade Burrowes.

Mark, where's Doc Burrage?

He's getting his hat and coat, Pa.

So long, Freddie.

That sure is something, your pa being a witness

against Slade Burrowes.

You shouldn't have done that, son.

What?

Boast in that way about me testifying.

But everyone's heard of Slade Burrowes.

And you're gonna see he gets strung up.

Hold on now.

I don't know whether I'm going to do anything of the kind.

I saw something.

It's up to me to get up in court and say so.

I've always told you to tell the truth.

That's all I'm gonna do.

All righty, It's let's go.

Oh yeah, Doc.

Mark, you jump in the back and let Doc sit up there.

You wanna take care of this for me, Mark?

Sure.

Lucas McCain's one of the best liked men in North Fork.

He's gonna make Judge Marx mighty happy.

Sure, if he gets there alive.

The main thing, Mark, is to keep him warm.

Try and stop him kicking off the blanket.

What is it, Doc?

That's a pretty sick colt. Chance he won't pull through.

Blue Boy's pretty special to Mark.

Come here.

Mark can get over losing a horse, but losing a father

is something else again.

Whoever gunned that witness will be after you next.

I told 'em I'd go, Doc.

What you have to say isn't that important.

You didn't actually see anything.

I saw Slade Burrowes.

What happens to Mark, something happens to you?

A man lives by certain principles, Doc.

You take those away, you might as well be dead.

Well, sometimes principles have to bend a little.

You start bending principles, they're not principles anymore.

Like the fellow who says he wants to be a little dishonest.

It just can't be done.

You're a darn fool, Lucas.

Well, thanks, Doc, for coming out.

Mark's a fine boy, Lucas.

Real fine boy.

What have you got for lunch, Freddie?

A couple eggs, bread and butter.

Cake.

Trade you a tomato for an egg.

Sure.

Know what my pa says?

What?

That your pa's going to Silver City,

testify against Slade Burrowes.

What about it?

Says he's never gonna get there

anymore than that last witness.

Nobody's gonna bushwhack my pa.

Your pa's no different than anyone else.

Well, I know my pa, and if he says he'll get there,

he'll get there.

He'll get there in a pine box.

That's how he'll get there.

You take that back.

I'm not taking anything back.

Come on, fight me.

Ah, good to see you, Lucas.

Hi, Toomey.

Say, this is a nice working hinge.

Well, the least I can do for that Slade Burrowes witness

is not to slam the lid on him, put it down gently.

Hinges are a lot better than getting nailed in.

Saw your boy Freddie in town yesterday.

He's growing faster than the beanstalk.

Your boy Mark's Freddie's best friend.

Look, Lucas, while you're gone, the rest

of us, Jenkins, Crown, March, and me,

we'll look at the ranch for you.

Well, I'll only be gone a couple of days.

Well, we just want you to know that we'll

keep an eye on things.

Sure, Toomey.

I know what you mean.

There you are.

Afternoon, Hattie.

Well, if it isn't the town hero, Lucas McCain.

Now, don't you start on me, Hattie.

I just stopped by to see if you'd take care of Mark for me.

Of course I'll take care of him.

But you make me sick!

Huh?

You heard me.

All day long, I see people here in this store,

but that don't mean anything.

Come nighttime, I go home, what have I got?

Nothing but a cat named Penelope that meows and claws

up my best overstuffed chair.

I got nothing and nobody.

And there are a lot of other folks in this town that

are just as lonely as I am.

Yet you don't find them gallivanting

off, risking their necks.

And they got nothing to lose!

And then there's you.

You got a fine son, and yet you just can't wait to let somebody

use you for target practice!

Everybody in North Fork's got me as good as buried.

Well, you can't fight what you can't see!

Loneliness is just about the hardest thing

a person has to live with.

I'd give anything to have that boy of yours for good,

but I happen to know how much parents mean to a kid.

I should.

I never had any.

A man has certain principles, Hattie.

I'm a woman, Lucas.

Don't you talk to me about principles!

Principles never tucked a boy into bed at night.

Or principles never washed behind his ears

when he needed it!

But they're the only things that make a boy into a man.

Thanks, Hattie.

Mark, Mark?

He's no better, Pa.

He might not get better, son.

You may just have to face up to it.

I don't want you to go to Silver City, Pa.

I know you don't, Mark.

Freddie's pa said you won't come back.

I say I will, Mark.

Now, let's get you to the well and get that face washed, huh?

Nice looking wooden kimono you got there.

Well, I figure a man deserves a little consideration when

he dies.

Most of 'em get little enough while they're alive.

Amen to that.

You just riding through, Mister?

No, I got some business to tend to in North Fork.

Good luck to you, Mister, during your stay here.

Thanks.

World looks awful big and lonely at night, doesn't it,

son?

Mark, where are you?

I'm in here, Pa.

Mark. Look, Pa.

Blue Boy's eating.

Well, that's fine, son.

Say, whose horse is that outside?

Oh, that's Brad's.

He's washing up out back. Brad?

Brad who?

I don't know.

He's the one who fixed up Blue Boy.

Brewed up something special for him.

Oh?

Awfully early for a stranger to be up doctoring someone else's

horse.

He didn't come this morning, Pa.

He slept in the barn last night.

Oh.

A man usually comes at the door to ask when

he wants a night's lodging.

What's the difference, Pa?

Look how he's helped Blue Boy.

Brad's my friend.

You act in haste, son, you repent in leisure.

What's that mean, Pa?

It means it's best to make friends slowly, son.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm Brad Davis.

I told Pa about how you helped Blue Boy, Brad.

Well, I sort of have a way with animals.

Yeah, I guess you have.

We're grateful to you.

You grateful enough to give a hungry man

some breakfast, Mr. McCain?

I... I sure could use some.

Hey, me too, Pa.

Well, that makes three of us.

Let's go.

You got a good-sized spread to tend here alone, Mr. McCain.

Alone?

There's two of us.

Where are you heading for?

Well, I thought I might find some work in Silver City.

Heard in town you might be heading that way yourself.

Pa's gonna be a witness.

I told you not to go boasting about that, boy.

When are you leaving, Mr. McCain?

Maybe we could ride together.

I don't rightly know, Mr. Davis.

Come on, Brad.

Let's see if Blue Boy will eat something.

Thanks for breakfast.

You've gotta leave for school in 15 minutes, Mark.

Yes, Pa.

He's a good boy.

I think so.

You like your pa a lot, don't you, Mark, huh?

I sure do.

I love him very much.

Well, your father is a brave man.

I know, but I wish he wasn't going.

Hey, I thought you were mighty proud of him.

I am, but, well, something might happen to him.

Well, do you love anyone, Brad?

Only person I've got's a brother.

Well, you wouldn't want anything to happen to him,

would you? No, Mark.

I sure wouldn't.

He looks out for me.

I look out for him.

Oh, that's Micah, our town's marshal.

Guess he wants to know when Pa's leaving for Silver City.

Something wrong, Brad?

No, no.

Deputy Rogers figured it out and sent word over to me.

That's how it must have happened.

Whoever did the killing used a rifle with a telescope

mounted right on it.

That's quite an idea.

I've heard about such guns, but I've never seen one before.

A lot of 'em were manufactured back East, during the war.

Sharpshooters used 'em to pick off enemy

officers a half mile and over.

Out in this part of the country, they're scarce as hen's teeth

now.

Well, at least I know what I'm up against.

You're still going?

Well, a telescope's not much good at night, Micah,

unless you're looking at the stars.

Oh, you're going after dark?

Yeah, tonight.

Micah, I want you to do me a favor

and take Mark to Hattie's in the morning.

That way, I'll be in Silver City,

and nobody'll know I've even left.

Don't worry about the boy.

Much obliged, Micah.

Visitor?

No, just a stranger riding through.

See you tonight, Lucas, boy.

About time for school, isn't it, Mark?

Go on, boy. Get your lunch.

Go on.

Something troubling you, Mr. McCain?

Well, that's a pretty big rifle boot not

to have any gun at all in it.

I sold the gun.

A man can always do with a little extra money.

Maybe you didn't sell it.

What's that supposed to mean?

I saw the stock of a rifle in that boot this morning.

I don't think you had time to sell it between now and then.

You're a very observant man, Mr. McCain.

Like I said, he's a nice boy.

You wouldn't want any harm to come to him,

so let's get him off to school.

You'll stay a while and look after Blue Boy, won't you,

Brad?

Sure he will, son.

He's our friend, isn't he?

Now, you better get going.

I don't want you to be late for school.

Bye, Brad. Bye, kid.

Come back and see us again, Brad.

I sure will, son.

You handled that very smart, Mr. McCain.

Now, there's no reason why this can't go back

where it rightfully belongs.

It's a Lyman Special, 10 power scope,

full windage, elevation knobs.

Optics are the best made in Europe.

I don't think there's more than three

like it west of the Mississippi.

You don't need a telescope at this range, Mister.

What are you waiting for?

Now, let's get to the barn and get you saddled up.

I'd rather have them think that you set out for Silver City

and got it on the trail same as the first witness.

What's Slade paying you for this, Mister?

I don't kill for money.

I got feelings, same as you. You got your boy.

I got my brother, Slade.

Brother or no, he's not much of a man to kill for.

I couldn't agree with you more.

He's just downright mean.

That's one part about this that I don't like.

Leaving that nice boy of yours without a father

just for the likes of my brother.

But he is my brother.

He looks after me.

I look after him.

It's an old family custom.

Anyway, that kid of yours will grow

up with or without you, McCain.

All kids do.

And so that's how it is.

Now get in the barn.

We'll get you saddled up.

Go on.

Get your saddle over there.

Brad!

What brought you back, Mark?

I got to thinking about what you said, Pa.

What I said?

Yeah, outside, when I was leaving for school.

Oh.

Oh, I was just trying to get you out of the way

so you wouldn't get hurt.

Before you told me "make friends slowly."

Then you said, Brad's our friend.

It just didn't add up.

Well, I'm mighty glad it didn't.

Did he kill the first witness?

That's right, Mark.

Life sure is funny, Pa.

How's that?

How he can be so good to animals and so mean to people.

That's a sign you're growing up, son.

What do you mean?

Well, Mark, the older you get, the more questions

don't have answers.

Oh, Lucas.

Hattie fixed you a little something for the road.

Keep it to the side of the saddle.

It'll keep the soup from getting cold.

Thanks, Micah.

Take care of things, huh.

Mark and I got fishing plans for sun up tomorrow.

Well, that's fine.

Goodbye, son.

Bye, Pa.

I'll be back in a couple of days.

I know you will, Pa.

And don't forget to wash behind your ears, huh?

I will, Pa.

Good boy.