Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

Would you like to see Godey's?

I've read Godey's twice.

I have some cards in my reticule.

We could play old maid.

Stop trying to amuse me, Aunt Grace.

Oh, you don't have to be unpleasant, dear.

After all, San Francisco isn't the end of the world, you know.

Isn't it?

Your father thought it best to take you away from New York.

I know, I know.

Father doesn't like my friends.

Perhaps I'll find some low friends in San Francisco.

I'm sure there must be some low people there.

Oh, Caroline.

What would you do, Aunt Grace? Send me back to New York?

[ whistle blowing ]

[ piano playing ][ people whooping, chattering ]

Stop the train!You're gonna miss your train!

Well, I certainly wouldn't want to do that.

Oh, sisters, it's been grand!

Do you love me, honey?

Sure, I do!How about you, sweetheart?

[ whistle blows ]

Don't forget to write!

Oh, a souvenir!Come back! Bye!

[ all shouting goodbyes ]

[ man shouting drunkenly ]

[ chuckling ]

[ gasps ]

Uh, beg your pardon, sisters.

I done got throwed.

Young man, will you please get up?

Uh, yes, ma'am. No intention to offend, ma'am.

Uh, you understand, I just heard the owl.

I beg your pardon?

I seen the elephant.

I have no doubt of that, considering the condition you're in.

Yes, ma'am.

Looks like we've got a nice, long trip ahead of us.

Do you plan to sit here?

Good a place as any.

There are plenty of empty seats where I'm sure

you'll feel much less crowded.

Well, don't you worry about me, ma'am.

I've got plenty of room.

Besides, there's nothing like charming company

to help pass the time.

Well, I'll be dogged!

If you ain't the spitting image of Cockeye Annie Doyle!

Caroline!

Well, I'll tell you, sisters, Cockeye Annie Doyle

was the finest old heifer you ever done see.

Why, she had herself the fanciest layout in Deadwood

till the Law and Order Society came along and run her out.

But that woman had a heart as big as a barn!

[ gasps ]

When the conductor comes through, I'll speak to him about changing our seat.

I wouldn't think of changing now.

For the first time, the trip doesn't seem so dull.

Good morning, sisters.

Guess I made a howling jackass out of myself last night.

Uh,

I'll bet you ladies think I'm a drinking man.

That was quite obvious.

Yes, ma'am.

Uh, my name's Tolliver. Jefferson Tolliver.

My name's Caroline Witman, and this is my aunt, Mrs. Van Ryder.

Well, I'm pleased to meet you.

Uh, well, you see, ma'am, I, uh...

I attended prayer meeting last night, and afterwards

the ladies passed around a little blackberry cordial.

Well, I never could handle anything like that,

but I had to be polite, you see.

And the ladies who brought you to the train,

were they at prayer meeting?

Them...

Oh, yes, ma'am.

They're sisters of the choir.

[ whistle blowing ]

Oh, good heavens!

Young man, is this becoming a habit?

Whatever are we stopping here for?

Cattle blocking the tracks.

I'll just go give them a hand.

You've got a weak bridge up ahead.

I didn't have time to get a warning into town.

I drove those steers on the track so you'd stop the train

and not kill yourself and the passengers to boot.

A flash flood washed out the center bridge support.

You're lucky one of my hands spotted it.

Why didn't you just flag the train down?

Mister, you wouldn't have stopped for a bunch of armed cowhands, and you know it.

Well, could you get a message into Medicine Bow for me

and tell them I need a work crew out here?

I'll take a message in.[ Tolliver whooping ]

[ whooping ]

[ laughing ] What are you doing here?

Well, that's a long, sad story.What happened?

Well, you're looking at a busted flush.

Well, I'll be. Boys, look who's here.

Corbie.Thought you was in Kansas City. They run you off?

Hi, Steve, Trampas.Howdy.

No, they didn't run me out of Kansas City. They said to me,

"Mr. Tolliver, you come back anytime.

You just bring more money with you."

Well, none of you look like you've changed too much.

We haven't.No, we've been working for a living, Jeff.

Get the steers off the track and take them over to the river.

Let them water and rest for a while.

Then the cold, hard trail.Jeff, you gonna be around for a while?

I got nothing better to do.

All right. See you in a couple weeks.So long, Jeff.

Why don't you lend us a hand, Jefferson?

Unless you're afraid one of them cows is gonna bite you.

Well, why don't you just lead on, Corbie?

[ whooping ]

But you can at least tell us how long we'll be here.

I'm sorry, Miss Witman. I don't know.

Depends on how much damage there is to the bridge.

Maybe 12 hours. Maybe more.

Excuse me, ma'am.

Do you expect us to spend 12 hours

in this... wilderness?

We'll try to make you comfortable, Miss Witman.

Anything else I can do for you in town?

Yes, there is. Would you ask the station agent

to send out some more food and comforts for these people?

Sure, I'll tell him.Thank you, sir.

You. You there.

Cowboy.

Would you come here, please?

Yes, ma'am?

I would like to go to the nearest town.

Well,

you strike off in that direction, keep heading northwest,

and in about 14 miles from now, you'll be in it.

I want you to take me to town.

All right, I'll make it worth your while.

Say, uh, $5?

Oh, all right, $10. Not a penny more.

Now, wait a minute! What are you doing?

What do you think you're doing?

You wanted to go to town, didn't you? You're on your way.

Now, I-- I didn't mean like this. Now, wait a minute!

Put me down at once!Hey!

Hey, where are you going?Going to town.

Not without me!

Let's go!

First time I ever had to ride on the back of my own horse.

Here you are, ma'am. Medicine Bow.

Hotel, bank, saloon's over here,

and the railroad station's right up the street.

Take your pick. Jeff, I'll see you later at the saloon

after I finish playing messenger for the railroad.All right.

So long, now.Just a minute!

That is the rudest, most arrogant excuse for a man I have ever met!

Oh, he was just having a little fun with you.

He's all right once you get to know him.

I'll see you later.

Ma'am.My name is Caroline Witman.

I'd like a room, please. The best you have.

Yes, ma'am.

Do you have baggage?

My baggage is on a miserable train

which is stuck in the middle of this miserable wilderness.

That's $2.

In advance.

How ridiculous. I left my purse and money on the train.

It certainly is ridiculous, isn't it?

Surely you can trust me until--

Ma'am, I don't make the rules, I just work here.

Well, Mr. Tolliver.

Don't you worry about a thing.

I'll take care of it.

Now, listen, this lady--Two dollars.

"Two dollars."

How much?

Two dollars.

Do you really need a room?

I was thinking maybe we might see the town together.

There are lots of things to see-- opera house, stock pens, new jail.

No.

I'm really very tired.

Just give the little lady a room.

That's only a dollar and a half.

Lucky piece.

It's all set.

Oh, I don't know what I would've done without you.

Thank you.

Uh, uh, uh!

I was just taking the lady to her room.

No visitors for single ladies in their rooms.

Goodbye, Mr. Tolliver, and thank you so much.

[ chattering ]

So, there I was with $1,500.

Now, that's a lot of money.Mm-hmm.

So I said to myself, "Jefferson,

no more riding fence when it's sizzling hot,

no more feeding hay when it's freezing cold.

Go east, young man, and make yourself a fortune."

So I went. To Kansas City.

How was it?

Corbie, you ain't never seen a town like that.

They got buildings there that are so tall

that a man could stand on the roof and kick off his boot

and count to 100 before it reached the ground.

I don't believe that.

Well, it's the truth.

Ain't it?

True as gospel.

Well, how about that fortune you was gonna make?

Well, I looked around,

kind of testing the financial climate,

as they say back there,

and, uh, well, I was showing them fellows a thing or two.

Well, uh, they just picked me

right down to the pinfeathers.

And when they started to singe those, I decided

to come on back here where I belong.

Broke, huh?

Busted.

Well, except for this.

Paid a man $75 for that watch.

That's solid gold.

[ wolf whistles ]

Oh! Excuse me.

Hey, boss man, are you gonna give him his old job back?

We'll find something for him to do.

Good evening.Good evening.

Miss Caroline, you shouldn't be in here.

Is it against the law?

Well, no, ma'am, but it ain't decent. If anybody was to see you in here--

I was on my way to dinner and thought I'd see

if you gentlemen would mind joining me.

Well--I'm afraid we've already eaten.

As a matter of fact, I was going to dine at Murphy's,

but I understand they frown on ladies dining alone.

THE VIRGINIAN: Hmm.

That's a new one. Never heard that before.

But it didn't bother you to come into this here saloon,

so that shouldn't matter too much to you.

Or did you just come in here to get somebody to buy you dinner?

Miss Caroline.

I'm sorry. I forgot. She ain't got a cent on her.

Oh, well, why didn't you say so?

Here.

I wouldn't accept a meal from you

if I were starving to death.

I've never met a man so insulting and crude as--

You'd better take this because they're both flat broke.

And you wouldn't have come in here if you weren't hungry.

Now, that's a nice way to treat a lady.

Yeah.

Go find the lady and feed her.

Just call this an advance on my wages.

Call it anything you want.

Miss Caroline? Miss Caroline...

Why, Mr. Tolliver.

Hey, I thought you was mad.

Oh, of course not.

Well, what I wanted to say was...

Well, most people get along with him just fine,

but I guess you just rubbed him the wrong way.

Oh, not that you've got any reason to like him much.

Well, I'm sure if a person got to know him...

Oh, that's right.

Oh, what I, uh, wanted to say, uh...

I'd like to ask you to dinner.

Why, I'd be delighted.

And, later, well, I'd love it

if you'd show me around this wonderful little town.

Yes, ma'am.

[ whistling ]

Thanks.

Are you the man around here?

I'm foreman, yeah.

Name's Cassidy. I could sure use a riding job.

Well, I'd like to help, but, uh,

we've got a full crew.

Same thing all over.

Stay and eat.

That's kindly of you. I don't mind if I do.

GRACE: Caroline! Caroline!

Where have you been? I've been so worried!

Hurry up, Aunt Grace. Get our baggage and get off.

Get off here? You're out of your mind! Why should I get off here?

Because we're staying. I've already wired Father.

Well, I feel that little kids are now safe to play with me.

Where are you from?

Jackson Hole country. They got trouble out there.

What kind of trouble?

Stealing whole herds of cows, running them over to the mining camps in Montana.

Where would you hide a whole herd of rustled beef?

Oh, well, there's plenty of places to hide 'em if a man takes time to look.

You sound like you know quite a bit about it.

Oh, I just hear things, that's all.

Well, thanks for the grub, mister.

Say, uh, we're starting a roundup around here pretty quick.

One of the other spreads might need an extra hand. You could ask.

Thanks a lot. I'll try.

I don't understand your interest in this town.

There's absolutely nothing that...

Whatever have you got on?

It's a riding costume.

Like it?

It looks indecent.

No lady ever rides straddle.

They do out here.

Well, I suppose it is, uh, practical.

Aunt Grace, I'm going to buy a horse.

Buy one?

A wild horse with spirit.

That's half the fun--

making a spirited animal obey.

Caroline, wild horses

can be dangerous.

It's the danger that makes the animal exciting.

Thought you went out with the boys this morning.

I was on my way. Uh, are we in the business

of selling saddle horses these days?

Sure, if we've got a customer. Why?

Well, we got one. Won't talk to nobody but the foreman.

Wants a horse, huh?

Good morning.

Good morning.

I guess you must've missed your train.Deliberately.

Father always told me land was a good investment,

so I figured as long as I was out here, I'd take a look around.

And if I'm going to look around...

You'll need a horse.Exactly.

Any one of my men could've picked out a good mount for you.

You're not going to make it easy for me, are you?

How do you mean?

All right.

I'm a little ashamed.

I was rather rude to you the other night for no reason at all.

Well, I guess I figured this would be the best way to apologize.

Accepted?

Accepted.Good.

We got off to a bad start.

I think with a little extra effort, we can be good friends.

Well, let's see about that horse.

Thank you.

[ whinnying ]

How do you like this one?

Well, I want to make sure I get a horse with spirit.

Well, this one's got enough spirit for two of you.

I don't know much about horses, so I'll have to depend on your judgment.

I'm completely at your mercy.

Well, you never want to admit a thing like that in a horse trade.

What, then?

Well, you should look wise.

Walk around the horse. Make a few remarks.

Just what kind of remarks?

Well, you might say, uh,

"He looks a little sway-backed, doesn't he?"

or, uh, "Doesn't he sound a little heavy?"

Things like that.

I'd say this is a good hundred-dollar horse.

Looks a little, uh, sway-backed.

Doesn't he?

[ chuckles ] Did I do it right?Just perfect.

Come on. I'll put a saddle on him and we'll try him out.

It's almost frightening, isn't it?

What?

This country.

It's so big and empty.

Why does anybody stay here?

Why do you stay here?

It's where my work is.

I mean besides that.

Maybe because it is big.

A man feels free, I guess.

Does freedom mean so much to you?

Doesn't it to you?

I don't know. I've never had much freedom.

Poor little rich girl.

I wasn't looking for sympathy.

But it isn't as easy as you think.

There are so many things that I want

and never can have.

Things other girls take as a matter of course are impossible for me

because of family position and money.

Things like love and romance

with the kind of man I'd select for myself

rather than one picked for me.

Could get to be a problem.

We'd better get back.

[ whinnying ]

I can't hold him!

[ whinnying ]

Good runner, isn't he?

Do you realize I could've been killed?

Do you realize I'm not quite as big a greenhorn as you thought I was?

I'll try to keep it in mind.

Good.

I thought we were going to be friends.

You don't think much of me, do you?

It's not important what I think about you.

I want to know.

All right. You asked for it.

You are reckless and headstrong, young lady.

You never think about consequences.

I think you were the kind of little girl

that'd burn her hand on a hot stove

and then touch it again to see if it was still hot.

You're the kind of a woman a man would have to beat.

Regular.

Keep on a Spanish curb bit.

Kind of enjoy playing games with people.

And right now, you're trying do it with me.

You know, it, uh, could be nice.

So very nice.

[ whistling, shouting ]

Hello, Wainwright. Come on down.

How's your tally coming out?Down from last year.

My count's down more than a hundred head.No.

They've been beefing my breeders.

Something ain't done about this rustling, we'll all be out of the cow business.

Well, we've all got guards out, and the sheriff's doing everything he can.

Even if he catches some of them, that won't stop anything.

Putting them in jail a few months won't teach them a thing.

Well, I don't see what else he can do.

If I wanted to keep crows out of my corn patch,

I'd hang me up a dead crow or two to scare the others off.

I don't aim to stand still while they rob me blind.

We've got to form an association. Take some action.

Let's wait till we finish the roundup. Then we'll talk it over.

It'll take more than talk.

Something's down.

Is it one of ours?Yeah.

Look at that. Fresh kill.

Butchered out the best cuts.

What do you make of it?

Somebody's butchering beef for market.

Take care of that. I'll try to pick up a trail.

Now, why?

Why would a man risk all the trouble there was

just to beef one little old steer?

Different men got different reasons, I guess.

If the butchers didn't leave the carcass laying around, a rancher wouldn't miss it.

Well, miss it or not, stealing's stealing.

Stealing depends on who gets caught and which end of the rope you're on.

Corbie, I never heard such talk.

Well, that's 'cause nobody talks about it.

How do you think all these big ranchers got started around here?

They went out and got themselves some ranch land

and set about with a wide and careless loop in their rope and stocked it.

If they got caught the first year, they hung 'em.

If they lasted five years, they got big,

and they became a member of the stockmen association.

Then they set about to hang all the poor devils

out stealing their beef.

Well, I still don't see it that way.

Well, it's like I said--

It all depends on which end of the rope you're on.

Mail's in. Come and get it.

Cook.

Combes.

Brown.

Tolliver.

Right here.

You, uh,

get anything important in your mail?

Nothing much.

You, uh, planning on doing anything

after roundup?

I imagine I'll take a good rest. Why? You planning something?

Well, uh, I thought

I might attend a soiree.

Uh, this came in the mail for me

from Miss Caroline Witman.

Hmm. It's engraved. Real high class.

Sure is.

You got one too?

Why, sure. So did a lot of the other fellows.

That girl's planning one big party.

I can see absolutely no reason for this party.

All this fuss and bother for a lot of townspeople and cowboys.

I don't know what your father will say.

That's tight enough.Ooh, I want it tighter.

Good heavens, you'll suffocate!

I want the tiniest waist ever.

Very well.

Oh! Enough, enough!

I thought you were saving that gown

for a special occasion.

Oh, this is a very special occasion, Aunt Grace.

Why?

You didn't answer me.

Why is this a special occasion?

There's a man, isn't there?

Not exactly.

Not the way you mean it.

I intend to teach someone a lesson.

Caroline, I think you're making a mistake.

The men out here aren't at all what you've been accustomed to.

They... They take things quite seriously.

I don't like it, Caroline.

I don't like it at all.

[ waltz playing ]

Miss Witman, it's a magnificent party.

Medicine Bow has never seen anything like this.

Thank you. I hope you enjoy it.

I do indeed.

Good evening, Miss Caroline.Oh, hello, Jeff.

May I have this dance?

Not right now, thank you.

Well, may I serve you some punch?

No, thank you.

Excuse me, please.

I'd almost given you up.Never fear.

I'm glad you decided to come.So am I.

Do you waltz?

Badly.Shall we try?

Of course.

Mm, we're terribly close.

Are we?

Ooh, we'll set tongues wagging.

There'll be a terrible scandal.Do you mind?

No. Do you?

Not at all.

Just the same, I think

we'd better go outside.

For some air.

You certainly have beautiful nights here in Wyoming.

Mm-hmm.

We certainly do.

Do you still think I'm the kind of woman that needs to be beaten?

Well, only with a very light switch.

And kept on a Spanish curb bit?

I'm afraid that'd be the only way to keep you.

I have to get back to the other guests.

Got a few minutes?

Can it wait, Sheriff?It's important.

Wainwright's got up a meeting of the ranchers.

They're over at the saloon talking about forming a stock association.

You sitting in on it?Trying to keep the lid on.

I could use another sober voice.

All right.

Um, I've been looking all evening

for a dance with you, Miss Caroline.

Why, Jeff, I've been wondering where you've been hiding.

WAINWRIGHT: That's the way it's got to be. We'll make up our minds,

decide here what we're gonna do and how we're gonna handle it.

We'll stick together. Hello, boys.

Wainwright.Sit down.

Mark, I want you to understand one thing.

Nobody's trying to criticize you.

We just got too big a job for one man to handle,

and we aim to help you.

You're talking about organizing vigilantes, Wainwright.

Well, they tried that up in Johnson County. Know what it led to?

Stopping a lot of rustling.Yeah.

And they got nesters, saddle tramps,

everyone they even suspect of rustling dangling from hanging trees.

Somebody's got to be taught a lesson.Some lesson.

Those ranchers have lit a fire under a powder keg,

and some of these days, it's gonna blow up in their faces.

They're heading for a range war.

We got a right to protect our property, ain't we?

No. Not with hangings,

barn burnings, and shootings from ambush.

That's what it leads to. I've seen it.

Mark, maybe Wainwright's got a point.

Maybe a range association would help.

That's vigilante action.

Not if you deputize the members of the range association.

And we'd be working under the law, and we'd be bound by the law.

No, that won't work.

You arrest a cow-stealing nester, and a jury'll turn him loose!

The idea's worth trying.

All right. I'll go along with it.

For a while.

[ waltz playing ]

May I?

I'm sorry. It's already promised.

Perhaps later.

[ music resumes ]

Good night, Miss Caroline.

Good night, Jeff.

Good night.

Did you have a good time?

Oh, it was all right.

Do you think you're being wise?

I don't know what you mean.

Caroline, sometimes you must think I'm a silly old woman,

but I have eyes in my head and I can add two and two and make four,

and... you're in love

with that ranch foreman.

Oh, Aunt Grace, that's ridiculous!

Is it?

Well, he's conceited,

unmannerly and insufferable.

I stayed here to teach him a lesson,

and I'm going to do just that.

I'm going to put a ring in his nose

and teach him how to heel.

What an interesting idea.

I wonder if

you believe in it yourself.

A man ain't never danced till he danced with that Miss Caroline.

You know, it ain't so much like dancing. It's more like floating.

Why, she's as light under your arm as a puff of thistle down.

You'd better get off your high horse, Jeff.

You're gonna get bucked off, boy.

Who's gonna get throwed?

Don't you understand? She's just leading you on.

Look, Corbie, there ain't nothing in this world

that pure love can't overcome.

That's including a big bank account.

And that's what I got--

pure love.

You're not going to town again, are you?

Well, uh,

I ain't wearing this new $20 hat

just to punch cows in.

Whoo-ee! That's the second time this week, ain't it?

Yep.

Oh, uh, say, where's the boss?

He's down at the corral.

[ whistling ]

Again?

Well, I've got a little business in town.

You've sure been having a powerful lot of business in town.

Well, I get my work done, don't I?

Yeah, you get your work done, all right.

Well, then it doesn't matter if I go to town, does it?

Not a bit. Have a nice time.

Oh, uh, speaking of time,

ain't I got a little something coming?

"Coming"? You're already into me

for four months' pay in advance.

Well, this is kind of important. Let's go for five.

Jeff, I just can't do it. It's not my money.

Well, all I need's $15, $20.

That's almost half a month's pay.

What do you do with your money?

I don't ask you what you do with your money, do I?No.

I'm not asking you for any loans, either.

Jeff, I'm sorry. I just can't do it.

Well, all right!

If that's the way you feel about it.

I thought you was going into town.

A man can change his mind, can't he?

How about that?

What about it?

Corbie, here's your chance

to buy yourself a solid gold watch and chain.

I paid $75 for that.

I'm gonna let you have that for $15.

Jeff, I've been putting off telling you something about that watch.

That watch ain't gold.

It ain't?

No, it ain't.

A ton of them watches wouldn't assay out 15 cents.

Besides, I ain't seen $15 since payday.

I just don't have it.

[ whistling, shouting ]

Just hold it right there, friend.

I've seen you before, ain't I?

That's a nice way to pay for a meal-- butchering Shiloh beef.

I never knew it was Shiloh.

If you was hungry, why didn't you just ride in? You didn't have to do this.

A man needs more than a full belly once in a while.

A man needs to know he's got a few dollars in his pocket

for a drink or a girl or something.

Or just to feel he's got a little money.

You was butchering for market?

Well, I got to take you in.

You know what they'll do to me.

It's only a steer.

It ain't right to send a man to prison for a steer.

It ain't up to me.It is now.

If you let me go, I'll drift out of this country and never come back, and that's a promise.

Start drifting.

What are you gonna do about that?

You never mind about that.

Well, it's dead.

It ain't no use to nobody laying there.

Get on your horse!

Mister, that's $70 worth of beef.

That's $35 apiece.

It ain't gonna hurt nobody if I sell it now.

"Halfers"?

[ laughing ]

[ gasps ] Murphy's, Jeff?

Well, sky's the limit, honey. I just came into a little money.

They took ten head.

What do you got there?

Nothing.

I'll send a roll of wire out. String it tight.

You sure picked a good time to go into town.

We was out riding till sunrise.

So I heard.

Uh, you boys find anything?

Nope. They got clean away.

Daggone fools.

"Fools"?

Sound pretty smart to me if they got clean away.

Well, we'll catch 'em sooner or later.

What for? Chicken feed.

"Chicken feed"? Ten head of steer--

that's worth a lot of money.

Look, Jeff, that's still chicken feed.

Now, if you're talking about 300, 400 head,

chance for a man to get rich, that's different.

If you're gonna put your head in a noose,

you may as well get caught as a lion instead of a sheep.

Well, that's easy enough to say,

but first of all, you got to get them cattle

and you got to figure out what to do with them.

I don't see that that's any problem.

If it was me, I'd locate me a big herd,

stampede 'em in the middle of the night,

and while everybody was busy, I'd run off

400 or 500 head.

Then I'd drive 'em across the Montana border,

change the brands, and I'd have no more worries.

I'd be a rich man.

Yes, sir.

Well, you make it sound easy.

Mm! That's a nice pair of boots.

Forty-dollar boots.Oh, that's a whole month's pay.

But I got 'em real cheap. Fellow going out of business.

Oh, where? I might like to get a pair of boots like that myself.

Sorry, friend. That's the last pair he had in stock.

Why, that's-- that's my watch.

Mm-hmm. Found it. I've been saving it for you.

Where'd you find it?

Well, don't you remember where you lost it?

No, I don't remember. That was over a week ago.

Oh.Thank you, though.

Mm-hmm. Going to town again?

Yeah, I'm going to town.

Must cost you a pack of money to go into town so often.

Well, I tell you, it would purely break a man

if, uh, there weren't such bad poker players around that hotel.

I never saw such fellows that could draw into inside straights.

It's like... just like shooting chickens to take their money.

Doesn't it, uh,

bother your conscience some to take money like that?

Well, if I didn't take it, somebody else would.

I suppose so.

Good night.Good night.

I'll see you in the morning.

Corbie?

Yeah?

You been, uh, making any of these poker games

in town with Jeff?

What poker games?

The way he tells it, he's been going into town every night

to play poker with the boys at the hotel.

Well, the part about him going to town, that's true enough,

but it's not to play poker.

You see, that boy's kind of sick,

if you can call love a sickness.

About the only thing he's interested in these days

is going into town to see Caroline Witman.

[ knock at door ]

Well, this is a surprise.

It's been at least a week, hasn't it?

I want to talk to you alone.

I'll be in the other room, Caroline.

Was that necessary?

I want to speak to you about Jeff.

What about Jeff?

Are you serious about him?

That's rather personal, isn't it?

And besides,

what could it possibly mean to you?

Jeff just happens to be one of the best friends I've ever had,

and you're driving him right out of his mind.

He thinks he's in love with you.

Is there anything wrong with that?Sure, there is.

For you, everything's just a game, but Jeff is serious.

He should hardly take the fact that I've seen him a few times

as meaning anything.

I haven't encouraged him in any way.

Oh, you couldn't help encouraging a man

any more than you could stop breathing.

The point is, you'd better make it clear to him

just how you feel about him or you're gonna shove that fellow into serious trouble.

More serious than you can possibly imagine, young lady.

Well, hey. What are you doing here?

I just left Caroline, Jeff.

Oh? You want to tell me about it?

Sure, I do, but not here.

Here's as good a place as any.

You been seeing my girl? You been sneaking around behind my back?

Look, let's go on back out to the ranch.

We can sit down and talk it over.

I don't want to talk. I want some answers.

So do I, Jeff, and I don't like the ones I'm coming up with.

You're getting into trouble over that woman.

Deep trouble.That's my business.

And mine and Wainwright's

and maybe even the sheriff's.

We can't talk about that here, so--

No, you finish what you started.

You just tell me what right you've got to be calling on my girl.

Jeff, what makes you think she belongs to you?

A girl like Caroline Witman belongs to any man--

[ knock at door ]

Hey, you're all ready.

I'm not going out tonight, Jeff.

Are you all right?I'm fine.

A little tired.

Come in, please. I want to talk to you.

Jeff, we've been seeing a lot of each other lately.

We sure have.

Possibly too much.

I wouldn't want you to get the wrong impression.

"Wrong impression"?

Jeff, you're a dear, sweet man--

charming and amusing.

And I've enjoyed your company.

You don't have to tell me that, Caroline.

Yes, I do, because you still don't understand.

I never intended for...

our association to ever become serious.

Is that all?

Isn't that enough?

Well, sure,

but I knew that.

I even felt the same way myself.

You did?

Sure, but all that proves is that...

well, things just don't always turn out the way you think they will.

Now, you just let me do the talking for a while, will you?

Jeff, please--Please, just let me do this my way.

Now, I don't know how they do it in New York or San Francisco,

but..

Oh, Jeff, you didn't understand a word I said.

I understand I love you, Caroline.

But I don't want you to love me.

I never wanted that.

Well, maybe so, but it's happened.

And you can't change that.

Jeff, listen to me.

And try to understand.

You took things seriously that I never intended to be serious,

because I'm not a serious girl.

I'm not a cowhand's girl, Jeff.

For me, Medicine Bow was a stopover,

a few weeks in a Western town.

And no matter what you think,

you were nothing more that someone

who made those few weeks a tiny bit more interesting.

I don't believe that.

Then believe this.

My father is a very wealthy man.

How much do you make?

I make $40 a month.

Forty dollars.

That's not even enough to keep me

in dresses for a week.

Doesn't that tell you anything?

Yep.

That tells me something.

Jeff,

I'll be leaving Medicine Bow.

Write me a letter once in a while.

I think that'd be best for both of us.

No, I won't have to write you.

I'm gonna find you.

And when I do, I'm gonna have more money in my pocket

than you've ever seen in your life.

You know four or five good men?

Why? You got something in mind?

Something that's gonna take four or five good men.

Have them out at the line shack tomorrow morning.

Wainwright's moving his main herd to new grass.

They're mostly feeder stock. I figure we can take half of them.

That's an awful big job, Tolliver.

They hang a man just as high for 100 cows

as they do for one cow.

[ all shouting ]

[ hoof beats ]

Who's there?

THE VIRGINIAN: Shiloh Ranch coming in.

How bad did they hit you?They split up my herd.

Stampeded half of them over a cliff. Got away with the rest.

Over 200 head. Killed one of my men.

I said all along this day was coming.

Take it easy, Wainwright.

I'll take it easy when we catch up with those rustlers.

Let's get started.How are we gonna pick up their trail in the dark?

Best we can do is wait here and start out in the morning.

By that time they'll be 30 miles gone,

hid up so's we'll never find them.

We've got to get started tonight. Split up.

Come daylight, we'll have a chance to pick up their trail.

Fair enough. I'm sending Corbie with you.

I'll get my bunch into their saddles.

Corbie.

You ride with him. He's so mad he can't see straight.

He catches up to those rustlers...

Well, I don't want any necktie parties, understand?Yep.

They're heading north toward the Montana border.

Shouldn't be hard to follow this one.

A broken horseshoe's as good as a signature.

Wainwright!

Good.

What are you trying to do? Tell the whole country we're here? Put it out!

The boys just want some coffee, that's all, Jeff.

That kind of wanting will get you hanged. I said put it out!

Now, come on, Jeff!

Cut out, boys!

[ hoof beats retreating ]

Go get him!

Bring 'em up!

Anybody got anything to say?

Anybody want to tell me who it was that got away?

Santa Claus.

Hoist 'em up.

[ hoof beats ]

Put down those ropes, Wainwright.

I took 'em. They're mine.You're wrong, Wainwright. They belong to the sheriff.

Take 'em down!

Take 'em down, boys.

Where's Corbie?

One of 'em got away. I sent Corbie after him.

You got a gun at your back, mister!

Jeff?Corbie!

[ laughs ]

Well, what you doing out here?

Whoa, boy.

Look at that shoe! It's busted!

Jeff, you may as well hung a sign around your neck

that said "rustler."

I never noticed that.

Whatever put a fool notion in your head to pull a stunt like that?

Now I got to take you in.

Take me in? Corbie, I thought you'd understand.

I was only doing what you were always talking about doing.

You said if a man was gonna be anything,

he had to steal big.

Well.... Well, I-I didn't mean that.

Don't you know the difference between doing and talking?

Well, then, what are we gonna do?

Well, I can't take you in. I...

And I just can't turn you loose either.

They're looking all over this country for you.

They're trailing you because of that busted horseshoe.

Look, uh,

maybe you could go into town and let on like you'd been there all day.

But what about those fine friends of yours? Are they gonna talk?

I don't think so.

All right, then, you do that.

You go into town and get drunk, get throwed in jail.

I don't care. Do anything. But just...

just let people know that you ain't left town, you understand?

But what are you gonna do?

I don't know.

Well, I can take your horse and make a false trail.

I can turn him loose, and when they find him

I'll just tell them that the man I was following jumped me.

Now, go on. Get out of here, will you?

Corbie, I always knew you was a good friend.

Oh, shut up, will you? Go on.

Go on! Get out of here!

Just ride!

That way.

Don't shoot!

This is the horse that that outlaw was riding, all right.

What was Corbie doing on him?

If you'd kept your head, we might've found out.

Now you see what's wrong with hanging out a couple dead crows, Wainwright.

Awful lot of sparrows get caught in the birdshot.

Put him on his horse, boys.

Whoa. Easy, boy.

Jeff.

Hello, friend. Where you been?

Out trailing cow thieves.

Is that a fact? I ain't heard about it.

I've been here in town last couple days getting, uh...

liquored up, one thing or another.

Ain't kept up with the news.

Whose herd got rustled?

Corbie's dead, Jeff.

Well, I'm sorry to hear that.

He was shot by accident.

He was riding the rustler's horse.

I, uh...

I figured to let you turn yourself in.

Somehow things got all messed up.

I'll be at the sheriff's.

I ain't gonna turn myself in.

Don't be a fool, Jeff.

Well, you've got to take me or I'm gonna take you.

You're not fast enough or straight enough, Jeff.

I got nothing more to lose.

You killed him!

I think that's what he wanted me to do.

I don't understand.

Well, you think about it.

Think about it long and hard!

Wait.

You blame me, don't you?

I never meant to cause any harm. I just...

I know.

You were just playing games.

But I had a reason.

I didn't know it at the time, but Aunt Grace did.

Was it worth this?