Original subtitles

[ theme song ]

Watch out there now, Melanie.

How many times have I told you to be careful about snakes?

Snakes won't bite you if you don't mean them no harm.

How do you know what they figure?

Come on now. Eat your breakfast.

Are turtles bad luck, Daddy?

Well, not if you're hungry and like soup, I reckon.

[ horse approaching ]

Mornin'.

Mornin'.

Hungry, boy?

Wouldn't wanna put you out any.

Ah, there's plenty.

Been on the road long?

Long as I been livin'.

[ strums guitar ]

It sounds pretty.

Yeah, real pretty.

[ strums guitar ]

[ laughs ]

Maybe I'll play ya something pretty soon.

If you're headed toward Medicine Bow,

you can ride along with us if you want.

Wagon will be a change from that saddle.

Well, I don't mind, I guess.

Much obliged.

Randy, will you be my friend?

Why, sure, if you want. I bet you got lots of friends.

I used to when I was a little girl.

Well, you're not so big yet, you know.

I'm big enough to help my daddy.

He says I'll have lots of new friends

when we get to Medicine Bow.

Sure you will.

But you'll be my friend now, won't you?

I said I would.

I'll be yours.

All right.

Not just sayin' it?

Cross my heart.

[ both chuckle ]

Do you have lots of friends, Randy?

Well, not too many, I guess.

How many?

Here now, instead of all this talk,

how would you like to hear a song?

Oh, yes, please, Randy!

All right. You listen now.

♪♪

♪ Shady Grove, my little love ♪

♪ Shady Grove, I know ♪

♪ Shady Grove, my true love ♪

♪ I'm bound for Shady Grove

♪ Now I wish I had a great big horse ♪

♪ And corn to feed him on

♪ A pretty little girl to stay at home ♪

♪ And feed him when I'm gone ♪

♪ Now when I was a little boy

♪ I wanted a whittlin' knife

♪ Now I am a great big boy

♪ And I want a little wife

♪ Shady Grove, my little love ♪

♪ Shady Grove, my darlin' ♪

♪ Shady Grove, my little love ♪

♪ Goin' back to Harlan

♪ I wish I had a guitar string

♪ Made of golden twine

♪ Every time I'd pick on it

♪ I'd wish that you were mine

♪ I went to see my little gal ♪

♪ She met me at the door

♪ Shoes and stockings in her hand ♪

♪ Little bare feet on the floor ♪

♪ Shady Grove, my little love ♪

♪ Shady Grove, I know ♪

♪ Shady Grove, my little love ♪

♪ I'm bound for Shady Grove

That was good, Randy!

Thank ya.

Six years I've been placerin'.

Lost my wife last winter--

took by the consumption.

It's mighty hard country.

The way I hear about them placer fields,

a man can pick up gold right off the ground.

Most likely break his back, barely make his wages.

Less he's lucky enough to hit a rich pocket.

Six months ago-- richest pocket I ever saw.

Why, I can show you nuggets I picked up there as big as...

Well, big ones.

Reckon we better find a place to camp before it gets dark.

Yes, sir.

Hmm, should be a spring over in those trees.

So I guess I'll make myself useful.

Thanks.

You take care of this for me, ya hear?

I will.

Daddy, may I build a nest under the wagon?

Well, I reckon every young chicken ought to have a nest.

Go ahead.

Hello there.

Get yourselves down.

The coffee will be boilin' in two shakes.

That's right friendly of you.

Yes, sir. This old pot's boiled more cups of friendship than--

Ugh!

[ cocks gun ]

[ cocks gun ]

You said we wouldn't--Shut up.

Let's go.

Melanie, you better come on, honey.

Now you stay right here, honey, and don't move until I come for you.

[ wagon approaching ]

Whoa!

Hey, what's going on over there?

Watch out, he's got a gun!

[ gunshot ]

He tried to kill me! You saw him pointing that gun.

I didn't see him shoot it.

That's because I got the jump on him.

It's the only way to deal with a killer.

Take a look at him.

I got eyes, mister.

[ strums guitar ]

Melanie?

Well, I figured they'd take you back on to town with them.

I just come back to see if they missed my old guitar.

Well, you sure been takin' good care of it, hadn't ya?

I was just gonna get it and clear out of this country.

This is one place I sure don't want no part of.

Sure didn't figure to find you still here.

You left me alone.

Well, I had to or get killed.

I didn't tell you to spend the rest of your life here.

Why didn't you holler out to those people on the stage so they'd find ya and help ya?

I'm sorry about your pa and all but...

well, that wasn't my fault, and you and me ain't no kin,

so I can't take care of ya.

You understand that, don't ya?

Now, Melanie, you can't expect--

All right. All right, but just for tonight, you understand?

[ strumming guitar ]

You get away from here! Go on now!

Well, first time I ever heard a talking bullfrog.

It looks like somebody threw some old clothes away here.

Put that down!

By golly, I'll bet these clothes

belong to that old bullfrog.

You leave those alone, ya hear?

Well, sure is a timid old frog hiding there

and croaking his fool head off.

Maybe I can poke him up a little.

You better stay back. I warn you or I'll...

Well, on second thought,

it may be kind of fun to see a dressed-up bullfrog.

Maybe I'll give ya about two minutes

to skin into those old clothes

and come out after this old vest the moths have been chewing on.

[ giggles ]

Hey, you bring that back!

Come and get it!

Gol darn you! You goldarned girl!

[ whistling ]

I'll thank you for that vest, miss, if you don't mind.

Well, it's not a bullfrog after all.

If you was to get on that horse and ride off,

it sure wouldn't bother me none.

Well, it seems to me it should be you who's leaving, since it's my ranch.

Well, anyway, my father's.

Shiloh--that's the name of it. You've probably heard about it.

My father's Judge Garth.

Well, I've never heard of him nor Shiloh neither.

Well, you will after you've been here a little while.

I'm only stayin' around here long enough

to do one short chore, and after I do that,

I'm gettin' out of here as fast and as far

as my horse has got legs to carry me.

What do you do? Just drift around the country all the time?

Mostly.

Well, don't you have anybody that you care about?

My horse, but not quite halfway.

Look, we have drifters like you all the time

come here at Shiloh asking for hand-outs,

but, well, you're younger than most.

Good-bye.

Bye.

[ strumming guitar ]

What took you so long, Randy?

Hey now, think I wasn't comin' back?

Just 'cause I met some crazy girl.

No sense at all.

I sure told her a thing or two.

[ chuckles ]

Hey, we better get you cleaned up

before I take you over to that aunt of yours your pa told me about.

What's her name?

Miss Reese.

She does tailorin'-- sews for people.

She's your mother's sister.

She's gonna be real happy and surprised to see ya

'cause she doesn't even know you're comin'.

'Cause your pa didn't tell her about that when he wrote.

She'll make a lot of dresses for ya,

and you'll be real happy there.

I don't think so, Randy.

Sure you will.

Well, your aunt will fix your hair a lot better,

but that'll do for now.

Hey, she's probably a real good cook, too,

and after you get a couple of good meals under your belt,

you'll feel a lot better.

Then maybe you'll feel like tellin' them what happened,

and she'll know what to do about it.

I don't wanna think about Daddy, and I won't!

And nobody's gonna make me!

Okay, honey.

Well, I guess I better get the horse saddled up

so we can get goin'.

It'll be all right, Melanie. I promise you.

Anyway, it was late by the time I got the wagon back to town

and the body taken care of,

so I thought I'd stay in and see if I could help the sheriff.

This fella you saw standin' over the body--

did you get a good look at him?

If I ever see him again, I'll know him.

Yeah, I got a good look.

Well, I guess his sister-in-law

just couldn't keep it to herself when she got the letter--

about him findin' gold, comin' here and all.

I suppose that's about it.

Somebody heard about it, and it gave them the idea.

[ knock at door ]

BETSY: Can I come in?

Come on in.

Hello, nuisance.

Takes one to know one.

Hey, Steve, would you be a real sweet boy

and take care of my horse for me?

Betsy, there's nothing I'd rather do!

Oh, thanks!

If I didn't have 150 other things to do.

Like what? Telling stories?

Betsy, I want you to stay clear

of any strangers you might meet on--

So which one of these sneaks has been spying on me?

What?

And I suppose that they also reported that I stole his clothes,

which, well, I know that I shouldn't have done,

but at the time, it seemed like kind of a funny joke.

Oh, I gave them back right away, of course,

but by that time, he was boiling mad.

Well, except for that, he was really kinda nice.

Betsy, who you talkin' about?

Well, the stranger that you said I wasn't--

what do you mean, who am I talking about?

Aren't you the one that just said--

Now hold on, wait a minute.

You mean to say you met a stranger this morning?

Well, yeah, I thought that's what you meant.

He was out by the water tank south of the fork,

swimming and washing his clothes.

What'd he look like?

Well, I guess he looked like just about anybody else.

He was young and had sorta yellow hair

and had the awfullest vest I've ever seen.

Calfskin-- brown and white blotches?

Why, yeah.

Well, then he's still around.

Would somebody please tell me what this is all about.

Betsy, there was a robbery,

and a man was killed on the road south of town.

Steve here saw the young fella

you were havin' so much fun teasing...

standing over the body with a gun in his hand.

I don't believe it.

Fits the description.

But, well, he's so young.

You may have been real lucky this mornin', honey.

We better take a look.

I don't believe it.

[ sighs ]

I, uh...

I guess you already heard about it.

Yes, I've heard.

Is this what you've been hinting about?

This big deal that was gonna make us rich?

That's pretty wild talk, Alma.

I don't know what you mean.

Don't lie to me. Don't you dare, not again.

Now listen here, Alma--

I'll listen to where you've been all day and half the night.

A poker game.

I was beginnin' to think it would never break up,

but just bein' late don't give you the right

to accuse me of robbin' and killin' your brother-in-law.

You don't wear them fancy spurs when you play poker.

It's only when you're ridin' out somewhere.

Oh, uh, I forgot. I did ride out to see Pell.

That was early this morning.

Pell--

it was the saddest day of both our lives when you met him.

He winds you right around his finger!

Nobody winds me around their finger--

not Pell or you or anybody else.

Not me--that's the truth.

It's more the other way around.

I just work for ya and wait for ya.

I'm not lying, Alma. I swear I'm not.

You better not be... not about this.

Go ahead and have some water.

[ horse approaching ]

[ horses approaching ]

No sign of him on the trail, and he isn't down by the windmill.

Looks like he camped here last night.

It's hard tellin' how long he's been gone, though.

Funny he'd hang around here with the whole countryside out lookin' for him.

Yeah.

A killer will do strange things sometimes.

Once a man knows he's wanted for murder,

his mind starts playin' tricks on him.

A man on the run's more animal than human, anyway.

Randy! Randy!

Randy! Randy! Randy! Randy!

Randy!

[ all laugh ]

Well, here. Hold on now, honey.

We're not gonna hurt ya. What's your name?

Well, I've chased a lot of yearlings in my day,

but none quite like this.

[ chuckles ] Well, she's kinda scrawny, isn't it?

Well, I guess we could put the Shiloh brand on it and keep it around for a pet.

Let's take a look up there-- the way she was headed.

Belden, you take care of the little girl.

[ gunshot ]

Miss Reese?

Yes?

I gotta talk to ya.

Go ahead.

Well, it's about the fella in the wagon--

the one who was robbed and killed.

He told me you were kin to him.

What do you know about it?

Well, we were friends sorta,

but it's the little girl I wanna talk to you about.

What little girl?

Melanie-- she was in the wagon with him.

I guess I'm the only one that knows about it.

Well, she's all right. She's out at Shiloh ranch now,

but they don't know who she is, and she's kinda scared and--

You're lyin'! You're the killer they're all lookin' for!

No, I didn't do it. Melanie will tell ya.

You've gotta get her and try to calm her down,

and she'll tell ya what really happened.

She was there, and she saw it.

If you've done any harm to that child--

Be quiet!

Please.

Now you get Melanie and talk to her.

She'll tell ya.

[ horses approaching ]

Melanie!

I don't know nothin' about a kid.

I gotta get word out to Shiloh.

I'll go out myself in the mornin' and get her.

You'll keep your mouth shut and stay out of it.

Are you crazy? What are you talking about?

She's only a little girl!

[ dog barking ]

What word out to Shiloh?

To your friend--why?

Keep your nose out of it.

He said Melanie saw the whole thing.

Are you saying that you were involved and she may recognize--

I'm warning you. Stay out of it!

[ continues barking ]

What's the matter with that fool dog?

[ continues barking ]

What have you done, and what in the name of heaven are you thinkin' to do next?

Answer me!

Ugh!

You're in this just as much as either of us.

Now you keep your mouth shut,

or I'll let Pell teach you a lesson.

You mean kill me, don't you?

[ door closes ]

[ all yelping ]

Pell, you're just in time. Got a full day in the saddle ahead of ya.

How come?

Break in the west drift fence.

We're gonna round up strays all day.

Well, I already rode 15 miles today.

Well, at least you're gettin' calluses

someplace an ax handle wouldn't put them.

Or a deck of cards, either.

[ laughs ] Ooh, careful.

You're very funny now, aren't ya?

That gambler from in town-- what's his name?

Uh, Reese.

He was out here lookin' for you this mornin'.

Well, I met him on the road. How's that?

Oh.

What happened?

Did he find out you been playin' with them cards

with the little marks on them?

[ all laugh ]

Well, you boys are really funny.

Let me tell you something.

All right.

What I do in town is my business.

Now you remember that.

Just, uh...

Yeah?

That's right, Pell.

I don't check on you... you don't check on me.

You mind if I beg off on my work?

My back's a little lame from all that wood choppin' I did.

After one morning of it?

[ chuckles ]

Well now, I didn't hire on as a lumberjack, did I?

No, you hired on as a ranch hand.

Now that includes doin' anything that needs doin' around the ranch here.

What doesn't need doin' is layin' over in town drunk

four nights out of the last two weeks.

You wanna draw your time, I'll figure it up for ya.

You aim to go on workin' here, hit the saddle.

All right.

Let's go, boys!

Betsy, I'm goin' over to the Lazy D

and see if they'll loan us a few hands to help with those strays.

I'll be back in about an hour.

You better stick close to the house here.

All right.

When I get back, little lady,

we'll take you into town and see if we can find out something about ya.

I've tried. She won't tell me a thing, not even her name.

My guess she's had quite a shock.

You're a real mystery, young lady--

much so as that stranger is.

There's a lot more I'd like to know about both of ya.

One thing I'm sure of-- at least he's not guilty of murder.

Running is a bad way to prove innocence, Bets.

But it's the only way he knows. He's done it all his life.

He said so.

Betsy, you've got a good head on ya and a good heart.

You just better get them workin' together.

Betsy, to be fair,

why don't we both withhold final judgment on this fella until we both know.

All right?

All right.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

If you don't eat, you'll get sick.

I know you're scared and feel completely alone,

but all of us here are your friends,

and we're trying to help you.

Can't you understand that?

I'm your friend.

Well?

Randy!

I knew you'd come for me!

Sure you did.

You all right?

Of course she's all right.

Well, she won't be if I don't get her out of here.

What are you saying?She ain't safe here.

Well, that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

Somebody on this ranch intends to do her harm.

Like who?

I don't know who,

but I heard a man in town say he was gettin' word

to somebody on this ranch about Melanie.

Now I'm takin' her away.

I don't believe a word you're saying.

Well, whether you believe it or not don't matter none.

She hasn't gotten over seein' her pa get killed,

and somebody's gotta take care of her

until this mess gets straightened out.

You mean she was there? She saw it happen?

Yeah, she was there all right.

Hidin' under the wagon-- lucky for her.

She never said a word about it.

I know.

She don't even like to think about it, much less talk about it.

I guess I don't blame her none.

Come on, Melanie.

Randy.

Where were you when it happened?

I was fetchin' water for supper,

but I wasn't close enough to see who done it.

I believe you.

Too bad you ain't the law.

Randy, please leave her here at Shiloh. I promise no harm will come to her.

Now how you gonna do that?

I promise!

You promise? Suppose I was the man I was talkin' about.

How could you help her?

How could you stop me from takin' her just like I'm doin'?

Please.

I've already told ya, she's not safe here.

Now I'm sorry.

Suppose I yell for help?

I been watchin' the place for nearly three hours.

The way it looked to me, you're the only one here.

Randy, you can't do this!

You'll only make it worse for yourself!

I don't see how it could be any worse

with half the people here tryin' to hang me

and the other half tryin' to shoot me.

But running away only makes them sure you're guilty,

like the Virginian says.

Stay and talk to him. He'll listen.

Yesterday, he was doin' his listenin' over his rifle sights.

But you've got to face it-- tell your side of the story.

If you don't, you'll be sorry for the rest of your life.

How come you're so anxious to get me caught?

You don't trust anybody, do you?

All right then,

but you're teaching her to run, too.

You'll turn her into the same kind of coward you are!

I'm keepin' her alive.

Just one thing, Randy.

You better ride fast and you better ride far

because they're really gonna be after you now.

You men know what happened as much as I know about it.

He's got the girl, and we've got to find them.

Divide your men up into parties of four or five a piece.

Fan out to the north and west.

Yes, sir.

I want you to beat every bush,

thicket, and briar patch.

Steve, take Betsy into town. Let her talk to the sheriff.

She's had more contact with Melanie and the kid than anyone else has.

Maybe she can help him.

All right, let's get started.

He won't hurt Melanie.

Well, if for no other reason,

she's the only one that can clear him.

Or hang him.

Betsy.

Better head on down that way.

We'll search in here and circle around.

That was quite an argument you had with the sheriff.

I didn't argue, he did.

Well, I never heard any lawyer

give a better case for the defense than you did.

The Virginian says when a man runs, he leaves his brains behind.

Well, I think that people do the same thing when they're chasing somebody.

They're like a pack of hounds taking off after a rabbit.

Well, yeah, I've seen that happen but--

Hey! Wait up! Hold it!

How about tyin' this prisoner on to that go-cart of yours

so I can get back and join up with the grownups?

Go ahead.

Well, that's Randy's horse.

Well, that's what we figured.

Well, then you haven't--

No, ma'am.

Found the horse about two miles from here.

Figured it went lame on him. He took the saddle off and turned it loose.

He can't get far on foot.

Hey, you're supposed to be playin', not lookin' out for me.

Are the bad men gonna find us here?

Well, not if we stay lucky.

I'm getting awful thirsty. Hungry, too.

Didn't they give you anything to eat or drink at the ranch?

They tried to, but I wouldn't take it.

Why not?

Because they chased you, and they shot at you.

They're bad.

Oh, no, they're not, honey. Not all of them, anyway.

Is Betsy bad?

Well, not the way you probably mean.

She's--well, I'm sure there's lots worse.

She treats you good?

I guess she tried to, but I wouldn't let her.

Randy?

Huh?

I'm still thirsty.

Come here.

Tell you what I'll do a little later.

Soon as it gets dark, I'll try and get us some water, okay?

I'm thirsty now. You could get some at that windmill.

That's pretty open down there, honey,

and there's a lot of people lookin' for us.

You real thirsty?

Awful thirsty.

Yeah?

More than I've been in my whole life.

Aren't you thirsty, Randy?

Well, doggone it, the more you talk about it, the more I am.

You sit right here... and hold that...

and don't you fret none.

[ strums guitar ]

When we get to the windmill, let's stop. I'm thirsty.

We'll be home in half an hour.

I'm thirsty now.

[ wagon approaching ]

Something wrong?

Nope, let's hurry and get home.

I thought you were thirsty.

Thirsty? Are you out of your mind?

[ guitar music playing ]

♪ Hear that lonesome whip-poor-will ♪

♪ He sounds to blue to fly

♪ The midnight train is windin' low ♪

♪ I'm so lonesome I could cry ♪

♪ I've never seen a night so long ♪

♪ When time goes crawlin' by

♪ The moon just went behind the cloud ♪

♪ To hide its face and cry

♪ The silence of a fallen star ♪

♪ Lights up a purple sky

♪ And as I wonder where you are ♪

♪ I'm so lonesome I could cry ♪

It sounds pretty, Randy.

Thank ya, honey.

But it's awful sad.

Yeah, I guess I know more sad songs than any other kind.

Why? I don't know.

I guess there's more sad people than others...

least that's been my experience.

Are you sad?

Well, lonesome would be a better word, Melanie.

Me, too, Randy.

[ horses approaching ]

Get back there. Hurry up.

Randy? Randy? [ gasps ]

How many of them did you bring with ya?

What do you mean?

I mean how many men

do you have waitin' outside for me to show my face.

That's the way they got it figured, isn't it?

You come in here and talk me into goin' outside

so they can gun me down without havin' to risk their own necks.

Randy--

If you're gonna start in on that trustin' people business,

the answer's the same as before.

I don't trust you anymore than I trust anybody else.

Look, would you please listen to me?

Why should I?

Because you're gonna find you're wrong as usual.

About what?

No one is with me.

Nobody knows I'm here. I slipped off alone.

The only time I ever did, all I did was get hit in the head.

What are you doin' around here, anyway, sneakin' around?

Is there a reward for me or something?

So how'd you find us?

I saw you at the windmill.

I was with Steve, but I didn't say anything.

I knew you'd be here.

Hardly anybody except me knows about this cave.

I found it when I was a little girl.

I used to come here and play.

It was my secret place.

Melanie! Are you all right?

Hey, what's that you got?

I found it in the cave.

Princess!

I lost her years ago and never knew what happened to her!

Give it back to her, Melanie. We don't want another crime added to our list.

You keep it, Melanie. I want you to have it.

If I'd had meant to turn you in,

I could have told them where to look.

I haven't been here in a long time.

What'd you ever have to hide from?

Not necessarily hiding,

just a place where I could come to be alone

and sad and happy at the same time.

Must take a heap of doin' when your pa owns half the territory like you said.

He didn't own it then.

Well, at least you had a pa-- still do.

Don't you?

I'm sorry.

What's there to be sorry for?

I don't need nobody, least of all you.

Look, I'm only trying to help.

Can't you understand that?

Well, I don't need any.

Oh, yes, you do.

You've got no food and just what water that's left in that canteen.

They found your horse, so they know you're afoot and can't be very far.

I know that.

They've got guards at the windmill

and every other water hole,

and the ranchers have all gathered in their horses.

So now what do I do?

Ask the Virginian for advice.

I don't need his advice or yours or anybody else's.

Then what do you need, Randy?

At least I know you need some food and water.

I'll sneak some off to you later... somehow.

Probably send your friends.

Well, that's a chance you're gonna have to take.

I haven't said you could go yet.

And just how you gonna stop me?

Oh, of course, you could kill me.

That is if you were a killer,

but since you're not,

I guess you're just gonna have to trust me.

It's funny, isn't it, Randy?

You're finally gonna have to trust somebody.

[ knock at door ]

Come in.

Can I talk to you?

Bets, where have you been?

Well, I, uh, I've just come from the barn.

Um, what I wanna talk to you about is...

well, with Daddy being gone--

Betsy, dear, this has been a very unproductive day.

I've got an awful lot of work to take care of

before your father comes back or he'll have my hide.

Of course, if it's really important...

Well, it is important or else I wouldn't have bothered you.

It's--well, it's about life.

Sit down.

Well, what about life?

Well, it's something about what Daddy always says,

what he believes in.

The one that says "First to thine own self be true."

No, Betsy, you don't remember it right.

It goes "This above all-- to thine own self be true.

"And it must follow as the night the day--

thou canst not then be false to any man."

But what does it mean to be true to your own self?

I mean, what does it really mean?

Well, I guess people have been wondering about that

and arguing about it ever since Shakespeare wrote it and before.

But I care about now-- tonight.

I mean, does it mean that when you believe in something so strongly

that you know it without any question

and that you stick to what you know and believe

no matter what anybody else says or thinks or does?

Well, I'd say that's a pretty good way of explaining it--

at least a part of it.

An important part?

Mm-hmm.

Very important part.

[ exhales ]

Thank you.

[ yawning ]

I'm a little worried about Betsy.

Said she wasn't feelin' well and went right up to her room after supper.

Nothin' to worry about. Just a stage that young girls go through.

That's just a stage that young girls go through.

What do you know about the stages a young girl goes through?

Belden, my boy, let me explain--

Please. Please, spare me.

Save me. I'm sorry.

Well, here's a bunk I bet ya ain't gonna be used tonight.

Whose that? Pell's?

Pell's.

Yeah, that Pell spends more nights in town

than any man I've ever seen in my life.

I don't know what it is-- wine, women, or cards.

Cards.

The only thing Pell thinks about is money.

You know, if thinkin' about money was money,

Pell would be rich.

Well, I don't know how he does it.

I can't stretch my wages that far.

I'm hard-- look at them--

Hey.

Anybody that would put gravel in a man's bunk

has gotta have a pretty mean sense of humor, fellas.

If a man would take a bath once in a while,

he wouldn't have gravel stickin' out all over everything.

[ laughs ] Three.

I take more baths than the rest of you saddle bums put together.

Yeah, well, it's probably just them packrats.

I've been listenin' to them gnawin' and squeakin' round here for the last couple of weeks.

We ought to get us a cat or two.

No cats.

I ain't sleepin' in no bunkhouse with no cats.

It ain't healthy.

For the cats?

Look at that. Look at that gravel.

Must have used a bucket.

Hmm, well, I... [ clears throat ]

I kinda got that lucky feelin'.

Maybe I should have gone down with Pell.

[ chuckles ]

Why don't you go to bed instead?

[ clears throat ]

Two pair.

[ hums ]

Me, too.

Ace, ace, ace, ace, king.

Stupid kids' game.

Pell, I was just worryin' how to get in touch with ya.

Well, now you don't have to worry anymore, do ya?

Huh?

[ chuckles ]

Look, I found where that little girl is hidin' out.

She's hidin' out with that wanderin' boy, you know.

They're hidin' out together.

Did you--

Just be quiet now.

Shh.

Ain't no need to talk so loud.

You don't think I'm a fool, do ya?

I mean, with the Shiloh riders

ridin' all over the countryside...

Besides, Judge Garth's daughter is in on it with them.

That's how I found out where they was-- by followin' her.

Maybe we just better pull out.

Ah, wait a second.

Ain't nobody pullin' out of nothin'--

neither you or me-- ever.

You understand that?

The first thing that we gotta do is to keep your voice down.

The second thing that we gotta do

is to get that bratty little kid and that wanderin' boy

far enough away from Shiloh

ain't nothin' gonna be kickin' back on us.

Well, how do you figure to do that?

Well now, I got that all planned.

It's all planned out.

You know where that windmill is on that north road that's north of the ranch?

Mm-hmm.

Well, I'm on guard duty there tomorrow.

Now you be there at noon.

Listen, Pell, I don't like this at all.

Now let me tell you something, friend.

You hang just as high for one killin' as you do for three.

Now don't forget that.

There's something else. We got other trouble.

Like what?

It's my wife Alma.

What about her?

She's, uh, she's upset.

I think she's gettin' ready to spill the whole thing.

Mm-hmm. How much did you tell her?

Oh, it's not like that, Pell.

I didn't tell her nothin', but she guessed most of it.

I thought you told me something about

that you could handle her and she wasn't gonna be any trouble.

Oh, I have, but with the little girl bein' her niece and all...

and I didn't figure on no killin'!

Shh.

If you can't handle that wife of yours,

I can.

Now, Pell, don't.

I know how you get when you get riled.

You know what that feels like around your neck, huh?

What's that feel like, huh? You don't like that, do ya?

Have you ever felt that rope around your neck,

chokin' out your wind and your senses?

Ah, a little touchy about that, aren't ya? Huh?

[ chuckles ]

You know what I think?

I think that Mr. Pell had better have a talk with Mrs. Reese.

Because I think she needs to find out

that it's time that her husband

ain't one that likes to be pushed around.

[ chuckles ]

Makes you swallow a little hard, doesn't it?

Now I would suggest...

that you be at the windmill tomorrow at noon.

Understand?

Thanks.

Morning.

Morning.

Well, thank you.

What's the matter with you? Aren't you hungry?

I was just wondering if that little girl

had anything to eat this morning.

I'll talk to her.

[ crying ]

Wanna tell me about it, Betsy?

I'm so ashamed of myself.

I thought I was doing the right thing,

and then later, I wasn't sure.

Now I just don't know.

I didn't sleep very well last night.

Here. Blow your nose.

Go on.

[ blows ]

[ sniffs ]

Thank you.

Now what's this all about?

I know where they are. I found them.

Randy and Melanie?

I've seen them twice.

I sneaked out last night and took them some food and water.

Is Melanie all right?

Yes, but I promised Randy I wouldn't tell, and now I have,

and I promised you that I wouldn't leave the ranch, and I did,

and all I was trying to do was just be true to myself,

and now I'm not true to anybody.

[ continues crying ]

All right, Betsy.

We're gonna wait exactly five minutes,

and then we'll all pull ourselves together

and try to figure out what the right thing to do is.

♪♪

[ horses approaching ]

Who's coming, Randy?

You get in the back. Hurry on in there.

BETSY: Randy.

I know, Randy. I broke my promise, and I'm sorry.

You can say what you want or think what you please,

but you've got to listen to me.

I reckon I ain't got much choice now.

Randy, it's not a matter of choice. It's a matter of what's right.

Sure.

Look, I wouldn't have tried to help you

if I hadn't believed you were right,

but you've got to stop running sometime

and try to prove what you say.

And just how do you suggest I go about that?

Well, you wouldn't come and talk with the Virginian

because you said he wouldn't believe you.

Well, he's come here, and you've got to talk with him

because if he's convinced, he's gonna try and help you.

[ footsteps approaching ]

Don't be a fool, boy.

I got four Shiloh riders down in the ravine.

Protection for Betsy.

They're armed, I'm not.

Well, what do you want?

I wanna find out why Betsy's so all-fired sure you're innocent.

Are ya?

Yes, sir.

Too many wrong moves have been made in the last few days.

It's time we started makin' some right ones,

like takin' Melanie back to the ranch.

RANDY: Can't do that.

I know, Betsy told me.

You think somebody at Shiloh may be mixed up in this.

Whoever it is might be a threat to Melanie.

Well, I'll guarantee ya nothin' will happen to her now.

I'll listen to your story, and I'll see if I can help.

And meanwhile, you figure to lock me up somewhere, huh?

Meanwhile, you can stay right here, if that's what you want--

provided you promise me you will stay.

You trusted Betsy, and I think it's about time somebody started trustin' you.

Now what's your story?

Whoa.

Mrs. Reese, what happened to you?

Here, let me help you.

I've come here to do

the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.

I have every reason to believe that my husband is a murderer.

I'm certain that he and a man that works for you

are the ones who murdered my brother-in-law for the gold that he had with him.

[ crying ]

Here, let me help you in the house.

Belden, take care of the horse and then round up as many men as you can find.

BELDEN: Yes, sir.

Hey, Randy.

Randy, we comin' in.

We're friends.

Betsy sent us.

[ coughs ]

[ chuckles ]

We wasn't sure ya was still in here when ya didn't answer.

Ya say Betsy sent ya?

Yeah, I ride for the Shiloh.

I'm about the only one that she trusts, I guess.

Oh, he's a friend of mine. He's okay.

Well, what'd she send ya for?

Well, she says that everything's changed,

and you gotta high tail it out of here just as fast as you can.

She told me where to take ya, so I brought you an extra horse.

Little girl can ride on double with you.

She said that?

Well, she didn't actually mention anybody's name but yours.

But that little girl's here, isn't she?

The Virginian know you come?

Well, I didn't talk to nobody but Betsy.

You know, I was on duty--

guard duty up there at the windmill.

You know where that's at.

Matter of fact, I was waitin' for you,

but you never came back.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, Randy.

[ chuckles ]

I was back at the ranch just five minutes

when Betsy come right up to me.

You recall what she said-- I mean, exact words?

Just about what I already told ya.

She said tell you to get out of here

just as fast as you can

and get over to that other place

and that she'd see you there later.

Well, if she's up to something on her own,

I'd be a fool to go along with it

'cause I promised the Virginian I'd stay here.

Well, you know now that I think of it,

she said that we'll meet him there later.

Now that's got to mean her and the Virginian, right?

Look, Randy, if Betsy don't think that it's safe for y'all here,

you ought to think about the little girl, right?

Well, she's at Shiloh, but you wouldn't know that, see,

because you weren't there when they brought her back.

So I gotta think about this.

To think she's really my sister's child,

and I'd never seen her.

I thought she'd been sent to San Francisco...

after my sister died.

I guess Silas wanted to surprise me.

Come here, dear.

Give her a little time, Mrs. Reese.

MRS. REESE: It must have been terrible for her.

Yes. It's a blessing that she can't seem to remember it.

Here, let me help you.

Betsy, maybe you'd like to go along and tell Randy.

Randy?

That's right.

You'll see him soon, Melanie.

According to what Mrs. Reese says

and the way other things add up,

Pell's in this up to his ears.

It's Pell.

It's pretty certain

that he and Reese killed that wagon driver.

Well, he was gone that night--

stayed in town, he said.

Yeah, I remember.

He's standin' guard out by the windmill.

That's where we're goin'.

I still don't feel right about it--leavin' like this.

You still trust her, don't ya?

I don't know. That girl can get some crazy notions sometimes.

[ horses approaching ]

Pell!

That's a Shiloh bunch.

Let's get out of here.Shut up.

You better run for it, kid.

What for?

'Cause it's a double-cross, that's why.

They used me to get you out here in the open

so they could shoot you down.

Well, I ain't runnin' from anybody anymore.

Fool. Get his gun, Reese.

If you'd have had sense enough to run,

you'd have got it with a bullet, boy,

but now you're gonna get it with a rope,

and you keep your mouth shut.

Now get down.

That's right. That's right.

We found your killer.

Where'd ya find him?

Ah, he come sneakin' down lookin' for water.

He stole one of the Shiloh horses here.

REESE: Alma!

That's her! She's the other one!

She's in on it with him!

She's the one who put him up to the whole thing.

He told us when we caught him.

He offered to split half his gold with us--

if we'd let him loose.

[ chuckles ] Told us about a letter

that she got from her brother-in-law.

She's the one who put him up to the whole thing.

I hope they hang you twice, Pell.

This boy says that he paid a visit to your house the other night.

Now is that true or not?

I just went over there to tell her about Melanie-- tell her who she was and all.

Well, that ain't quite what he told us five minutes ago, you understand?

Now Reese here's been suspicious of his wife right along from the start.

He come to me the other day and asked me for my advice,

but we didn't have no evidence until we caught this boy here.

None of that is true at all.

Well, we'll just leave it to a court.

Pell and I will turn the prisoner over to you

and let a court decide who's tellin' the truth.

Maybe it's you and Pell who should be the prisoners.

My wife is lyin' just to cover up for herself.

[ spurs jingle ]

You're the man!

You're the man that killed my daddy!

I saw you! I saw you! You're bad!

Now--now hold on.

I'm not the one that killed her father.

I thought all we was gonna do was rob him. Pell here--

[ horse whinnies ]

[ grunting ]

Ugh!

Ugh!

Ugh!

I'm terribly sorry about this, Mrs. Reese.

Well, Melanie's going to need me now.

Well, Randy, how'd ya like to give up this driftin' around

and work for Shiloh?

Well, I wouldn't wanna put you out any.

You'd be doin' me a favor.

Then I'd like it fine... sir.

So what do you like for breakfast?

Huh?

Well, I have to know. Sometimes I cook.

Well, I gotta feelin' that just about everything's gonna taste fine from now on.

♪♪

♪ There was a rich old rancher who lived in the country by ♪

♪ He had a lovely daughter on whom I cast my eye ♪

♪ She was pretty, tall, and handsome ♪

♪ Both neat and very fair

♪ There's no other girl in the country ♪

♪ With her I can compare

♪ I left the state of Texas Arizona bound ♪

♪ I landed in Tombstone City and I viewed the place around ♪

♪ Oh, money and work was plenty and folks around were kind ♪

♪ The only thought in my heart was the gal I left behind ♪

♪ One day as I was ridin' goin' into town ♪

♪ I met the stagecoach driver and he handed me a letter down ♪

♪ He handed me a letter which let me understand ♪

♪ The gal I left in Texas had married another man ♪

♪ So listen all you cowboys yeah listen to my song ♪

♪ If it hadn't done you any good well it hadn't done you wrong ♪

♪ When you court a pretty gal well marry her while you can ♪

♪ For once you go across the plains ♪

♪ She'll marry another man

This has sure been one heck of a week.

You know, if the work around here gets any rougher,

I'm gonna give up cow punchin' and do something else.

Yeah? Like what?

Well, like...

I could always, uh...

I mean, if I had to, I...

There's plenty of things I could do.

Yeah, sure they're are.

All right.

Doggone pack rats.

You keep me awake every night with your gnawin'.

Now you're throwin' gravel at me again.

Well, we'll see.

[ screams ]

You little buggers!

Ow!

Hey.

[ grunts ]

Hey!

Gold!

I found gold!

Did he say gold?

Look at that!

Get your hands off of that!

Look at that.

[ screams ]

I'm gonna quit! I'm gonna quit cow punchin'!

Wait a minute. That was Pell's bunk.

Yeah, so what?

That must be the gold he and Reese stole

from Melanie's father when they killed him.

Afraid you didn't strike it so rich, Stevie boy,

but Melanie sure did!

Ah, I knew it!

I knew it was too good to be true.

Well, look at it this way--

if you wait around for about 12 years,

maybe you can talk her into marryin' ya.

Twelve years ain't so long.

[ all laugh ]

Let's bag it up, boys-- ever bit of it.