Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

Whoa! Whoa!

Well, we can't go around it.We'll have to move it.

Better keep a sharp lookout, though.

Hey, you fellows will have to give me a little help

to pull this thing off the road.

[ gunfire ]

He's dead.

Don't waste time on that chicken feed.

Here's what we're looking for.

[ shot fires ]

[ groaning ]

[ groans ]

Hello, Mr. Umber.

Still looking for your pattern of crime?

That's right, Marden.

Still looking.

Lot of pressure on the council. People of Gunnison want some answers.

I've given them their answers.

These outlaws come out of nowhere, they leave no witnesses,

and then they disappear back to where they came from.

And always seem to know

when a stage strongbox carries gold.

Seven robberies.

Twelve men dead,

and not a clue.

Well, I'd point out to you, Mr. Councilman, that your townspeople

are very loathe to leave their businesses to ride posse.

That's changed. We had a meeting this morning.

From now on, our number-one business

is to catch these robbers and murderers.

Everything else is secondary.

That's been my number-one business for some time.

[ door opens ]

Sheriff.Yeah?

Telegram from Montrose.

The Gunnison stage never got there.

It's four hours late.

Here we go.

Five men shot and killed.

How much can money mean to some people?

You ever been without it?

Plenty of times. Sam Bennett.

Clay Garnet.

Had a drink with them not more than two weeks ago.

Doesn't seem to be any identification on this one.

UMBER: They're all pretty well stripped of their belongings.

I do know who he is, though.

Name of Trampas.

This was lying on the ground near him.

Letter of introduction to a rancher in Gunnison.

He was supposed to select breed cattle

and take them back to Wyoming.

MARDEN: Doesn't look like he's gonna make it.

All right, let's get 'em back into town.

What about a posse?

Too late now to round up the men we need.

Morning will have to be time enough.

[ horse whinnies ]

Hello?

Anybody home?

Hello, son.

WOMAN: Don't touch that horse.

I, uh...

I called a couple times and nobody answered.

I didn't hear.

I don't know my way around

this part of the country.

Um, there was a stage holdup and I got away.

I mean, uh...

Look, mister, I mind my own business.

Now, why don't you be on about yours?

Is there a town near here?

Yes.

That's something. How far?

Oh, not very far.

If I was to scream real loud,

I suppose they could hear me down at my...

I mean, the sheriff's office.

You couldn't hear me on the other side of the house.

Fact is, you're alone out here, aren't you?

No.

My husband's around here someplace.

Well, I reckon he's in the house.

Well, in that case, you don't have to worry about

them hearing you all the way into town, do you?

Look, ma'am, I mean you no harm.

Now, if your husband's here, I'll deal with him.

Otherwise, I'll deal with you.

The horse and the saddle-- how much?

Why, they're not for sale.

Uh, I'll give you $40.

All right, ma'am, I got no choice.

You're getting a bargain, and you know it.

There's $42 there.

Forty for the horse and bridle

and $2 for whatever you might have on the stove

that I can eat.

Deal?

Where are you going? I...

Lady,

my head hurts, I'm tired and I'm hungry.

Now, are you gonna make me eat out here on the steps?

Evening.

Dear, the gentleman's staying for supper.

Oh, we aren't fixing anything fancy,

but you're welcome.

My name's Ellie.

Mine's Trampas.

Howdy.

Why, goodness, what'd you expect to find? An outlaw or something?

Ellie!

What's the matter, son? You look scared.

There's no need to be.

Uh, tell you what.

You know how to saddle a horse?

Why don't you go out and do that for me, and, uh,

that'd save me a job.

You heard the gentleman, Jonathan.

Go saddle up your daddy's horse.

Uh, don't tell me your husband's hiding in there too.

Ellie, that stew's gonna take too long.

Why don't you put up some eggs and some side pork?

Lordy, that sounds mighty good.

Thank you.

Mm!

For a minute there, I thought you and me might be friends.

Oh, I was hoping so too.

Ellie,

cut some bread.

Ma'am, I, uh...

I understand how you must feel,

me coming in here wounded

and looking like a trail bum or worse, but, uh,

well, I'm as much a victim of circumstances

or, uh, whatever they call it as you are.

I mean no harm to you or your family.

Believe me.

Ellie,

you're a mighty fine cook.

Uh, when I get everything all squared away,

maybe I can, uh,

repay your daughter with a new dress

for this meal or...

Well, I, uh, guess I'd better be going now.

Thanks again.

Don't move, friend, or you're a dead man.

Oh, thank God!

You all right?Yes.

I'm sure glad to see you.Quiet.

Give me a chance to ex--I said quiet.

I knew who he was the minute I saw that gun.

Yeah.

Doesn't leave much doubt, does it?

I'll take him into town.

It'll be dark before you can get him there.

Don't worry.

He so much as wiggles, and it'll be his last move.

All right, on the horse.

Uh,

town sounds like a pretty good

holler away, lady.

Thanks for supper, Ellie.

It ain't always easy being a sheriff's wife.

I'll be back as soon as I take care of him.

Uh, can I say something?Go ahead.

I'm not sure I know what this is all about.

I was riding the Montrose stage, and three men held it up.

In the fight, I was wounded.

Five men were killed.Yeah, I know.

The outlaws left me for dead along with one of their own.

When I came to,

I started to head for town.

This is a long way from the trail to Gunnison.

Look, I told you, I was wounded.

I fell off the horse, the outlaw's,

and I, uh, started walking.

Now, that doesn't sound too convincing, does it?

Look,

my name's Trampas, and I'm no outlaw.

And I can prove who I am.How?

By sending a telegram to Medicine Bow, Wyoming.

I work at a ranch called Shiloh.

They'll send somebody up here to prove who I am.

Well, mister, I know who you are.

You're an outlaw. You were wounded holding up that stage.

You fell off your horse, and your friends left you there for dead.

Now, wait a minute. I can prove who I am right now.

I had a letter of introduction.

Sure, you did.

They must've taken it.

This gun is your letter of introduction, mister.

The only thing known for certain about this gang

is that one of its members carries a gun just like this,

a fancy gun, and uses it.

I took it off the dead outlaw.

Fired recently?

Of course. I told you that.

You're not telling me anything, mister.

My wife knew who you were the minute she saw this gun.

There'll be a whole town full of people who'll be the same opinion as my wife.

There's a whole town of people

gonna feel mighty foolish after I send that telegram.

Maybe.

All right,

let's move.

You know, I'm beginning to feel a little bit worried about you, boy.

That supposed to be funny?Look at it this way.

There's a lot of folks in Gunnison that have reason to be

a little bit high where you're concerned.

A lot of folks have been killed--

fathers, sons, friends.

That's lynch talk.I know.

Uh-uh. Straight.

I thought the road led straight into town.

It does.

I'm beginning to think it's best not to take you straight into town.

Now, hold on.

Move.

What do you claim your name is?Trampas.

Funny thing.

We sent off a telegram this afternoon about Mr. Trampas.

Saying what?

Saying he was dead. Shot in a stagecoach robbery.

All those folks back in Wyoming are gonna think

Mr. Trampas is dead.

I'm a hard man to kill.

Funny thing.

Guard dead,

driver dead, three passengers dead.

One of them was an outlaw.

The other two--

who got away?

I got a good look at 'em.

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

[ pistol cocks ]

Hyah![ whinnies ]

[ hoof beats pass by ]

There she is, Betsy, bright and shiny as a new double eagle.

Thanks.

But not worth half as much.

Where you been? You were supposed to have been riding line this morning.

Well, Betsy said she might want to go along,

so I thought I'd saddle her horse for her.

What's the matter? Can't you put leather on your own horse?

Sure, I can, smarty, but...

Your father in the house, Miss Betsy?

Why, no. He's in Medicine Bow.

I didn't know. The foreman here?

No, he's with him. Is anything wrong?

Could I see you a minute, Steve?Yeah.

Big secret.

Steve? Is anything wrong?

Saddle me a horse, will you?

What's the matter? Can't you put your own leather on either?

Steve...

I have to leave, Betsy.

Give this to your father when he comes in. That'll explain.

Trampas? Dead?

All right, men.

You wanted action. Now you've got it.

But just remember this.

I've got his gun.

This man just won't be taken alive.

That's the gun the sheriff took from him, men.

I think it tells the story clearly enough.

All right, let's go.

TRAMPAS: Well, I'll be.

I'm sorry. I, uh...

I know what you must think. I, uh... I didn't expect you.

What... What do you want?

Uh, is there a horse that goes with that wagon?

No.

Now, look, I...

I'm not gonna hurt you. I promise you that. I...

I want you to take me out of here in that wagon.

I want you to take me to Gunnison.

When we get there, I'll let you go.

There is no horse.

Um, I'm sorry.

Let's go get him.

Come on.

Whoa.

What is it?

It's a wagon. Come on.

Give me the reins.

[ whistles ] Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

[ whistles ] Hyah!

You give me no choice but to take you along.

You said you would let me go.

And have you bring them down on my neck? No, sir.

Looks like they're heading for the canyon.What's between here and there?

MARDEN: Couple miles of open country.

Then it drops off straight up and down.

What'll we do?

We'll leave the horses here.

We'll split up in twos and threes, fan out,

and crowd 'em right up to the edge of that cliff.

What about the girl?She's helping him, isn't she?

And she's a Chinaman.

We can't just shoot her down. I know her uncle.

Oh, sure. We all know old Ning Yang.

He's a doctor-- an herb doctor.

Eh, don't fret.

Nothing will happen to the girl she doesn't insist on.

All right, fan out.

Once they reach the edge of that cliff, there's nowhere for them to go.

That's right. Nothing but sheer bluffs.

We'll rest here a minute.

What's your name?

Kim Ho.

Mine's Trampas.

Trouble is, nobody will believe me.

Why are they hunting you?

They think I'm somebody they want real bad.

Montrose is the nearest town, isn't it, outside of Gunnison?

Yes.

I, uh, I want you to take me there.

Oh, it's a long walk from here.

I haven't any choice.Have I?

Sorry, no.

If I let you go, you'll make it that much more easier for them.

This man they think you are-- what has he done?

Robbed a bunch of stagecoaches, killed some people.

What's out there ahead of us?

Just the canyon.

Well, we'd better get moving.

They say there is no way down.

Well, Kim Ho, we're, uh... we're just gonna have to find one.

What are you going to do now?

I don't know.

You seem pretty calm about the whole thing.

I have done nothing wrong.

Why don't you give yourself up?

I wish I could.

If what you say is true--

It's true enough. But there's a man up there wearing a star

who doesn't want me to prove who I really am.

Could you do so?

If he'd let me live long enough.

Why Sheriff Marden want to kill you?

I don't know.

Do you know him?

Yes.

For a sheriff, he's mighty free and easy with a gun.

My uncle says he's an ambitious man

without a heart and therefore dangerous.

If you could reach town,

how would you prove your innocence?

By sending a telegram.

I could go to Gunnison and send the telegram for you.

Yes, you could, if your friend Marden would let you.

Sheriff Marden is not my friend.

I am Chinese, you see?

No, he's no friend of mine either.

Are you really offering to send that telegram?

Yes, I will send it.

You can also tell Marden exactly where I am.

Yes.

Why would you want to do this for me?

Because I do believe what you say.

You do?

I speak the truth.

Besides, as you said,

you don't have a great deal of choice.

All right. Now, listen to me.

Judge Garth, Medicine Bow, Wyoming,

Shiloh Ranch.

They'll send somebody up here in a hurry to clear this mess up.

Only, um, don't take too long, huh?

All right.

[ gasps ]

One peep out of you, and I'll break your Chinese neck.

Now, I want to know where he is.

Back there.

I want to know exactly.

He said he's innocent. He can prove it.

Oh, of course, of course.When you speak to him,

let him give himself up without shooting.

All right. Just for you, I'll do that.

If I could only believe you.

Oh, you can believe me.

Now, show me.

Let's go.

Hurry up, hurry up.

How much farther?

Not far. Past those rocks.

All right.

You so much as warn him, and I'll shoot you dead. Do you understand?

Move.

There's a clearing just down there.

That's where he is.

You'd better be right.

Oh.

He was here.

You pretty, lying heathen.

Get him, men! Trampas, I'll kill you!

[ gunfire ]

I didn't tell you, but I know the way down the cliff.

Come.

You hurt?

Fan out.

Shoot on sight-- to kill!

The girl too.

[ whistles ]He called you "Trampas."

He knows who I am, all right.

Oh, he must be out of his mind.

No.

But like your uncle said, dangerous.

You brought him right back to where you left me. Whose side are you really on?

I didn't know for sure.

Well, you know now, don't you?

There's a ledge below.

Come, I'll show you.

Hurry, Trampas.

They couldn't just disappear.

UMBER: But they did.

That girl you were sticking up for--

she's in it with him now-- all the way.

I don't believe that.Well, I know it.

Mr. Marden! Look!

They made it.

To think I had that man right in my hands--

right in my hands twice!

What's down there?Wilderness, all the way to Canada.

They ain't got no horses.

The girl will slow him up too.

Yeah, that's right.

Even if we could get down there, we'd be on foot, the same as they are.

All right. All right, we'll head back to town,

get fresh horses, something to eat, and come around the long way.

By morning, we should be hot on their trail again.

Let's go.

Looks like they're leaving.

How long will it take them to find another way down?

Several hours, even if they travel very fast.

Well, that's something, anyway.

How far is it to Montrose?

A day's ride.

Makes a long walk.

You don't have to come along.

This way, Trampas.

Bedroll was in the stage.

This was lying alongside him.

Do you recognize any of these hats?

If we'd known anybody was coming so quick,

we'd have held off the burial for a few days.

Was he a good friend of yours?

Well, son,

what'd you say your name was?

Hill. Steve Hill.Mm-hmm.

Well, Mr. Hill, if you'll sign a release,

I don't see any reason why you can't take his belongings

and go back where you came from.

Got fresh horses ready, Mr. Marden.

Good.We're going out to look for the man

we think killed your friend now.

It'll only be a matter of time before we catch him.

You're going after him now?That's right.

I'd like to go with you.

Now, wait a minute, son.

You're not familiar with this country. We'll be riding fast.

I won't get in your way, Sheriff.

All right.

Glad to have you, son.

You see how it is, Councilman?

Your townspeople show precious little interest

in capturing their outlaws once the excitement has died down.

Then you should welcome a willing hand, it seems to me.

My experience, a man who has a personal interest

in a manhunt gets in the way more often than not.

All right, men.

Twice I've tried to capture this man we're after alive.

Two mistakes. I don't want any more.

That understood?

Let's go.

UMBER: Weather looks heavy.

STEVE: That where we're headed?

That's where we're going, boy,

come hell or high water.

Well, this'll keep the rain off, anyway.

If the gods are kind, it will rain.

Rain will wash away our tracks.

It'll also slow us down getting to Montrose.

My uncle says

it is difficult to make a dragon smile at you

without singeing your hair.

It is good to hear you...

hear you smile.

Hear me smile?

Kim Ho, what are you doing

out here in the mountains all by yourself, anyway?

My uncle and I have a cabin.

You would need to know my uncle to understand.

In China,

he was a very important man.

He wore his honors with great humility.

Unfortunately, we were also very poor.

So he came to this country to make his fortune?Yes.

In San Francisco, we learned

what our opportunities really were.

He could have sold me for a considerable amount.

Instead, he chose to use

his knowledge of herbs to earn the money

so I at least might return to my homeland.

Do you want to go back?

Oh, with all my heart.

So it's been that bad?

When I was a little girl,

my father told me I was like

a beautiful doll to be adored,

and that my ancestors were royal family,

and that the red blood of royalty

bruised my veins.

Here, I am something even less than a woman,

and my blood is yellow.

We are truly outcasts.

Oh, yes, Trampas, I want to go back.

Here I am only the Chinaman's niece.

Here, you're that and much more.

Oh, it is a very small "here."

But you make it seem much larger

and very pleasant.

Well, it's a... start, anyway.

[ thunder crashing ]

Trampas?Hmm?

What are they like?

What are what like?The ladies you know.

[ chuckles ] Well, uh,

actually, punching cows

isn't exactly the line of work

where a fellow gets a chance to meet many ladies.

Oh, you are modest,

and that is a quality to be admired.

You are also tall and handsome,

so I am sure if you do not seek out the ladies,

ladies will seek out you.

Well, Kim Ho,

there's a difference between a lady and just a woman.

How do you mean?

Well, uh, in Gunnison,

you've seen the dance-hall girls?

Yes.Well, uh,

they're, uh, they're women.

Uh, and then there's, uh...

uh...

Well, you're a lady.

I am also a woman.

Trampas?

Thank you.

It's funny how cold it gets so quick.

I'd better not chance a fire.

Kim Ho, uh...

I'm sorry.

For what?

You've got enough troubles without me.

Well, looks like our rain's gonna pass us by.

The dragon did not smile after all.

No, it didn't.

Without food or horses,

how do you expect to escape from them?

I don't know.

Trampas?

I will help you.

No, you've, uh... you've done enough to save my neck.

I will take you to my uncle. Our cabin is not far.

So that's how you knew how to get down from the cliff.

It takes great patience to search out the proper herbs,

and some of them grow best

from the crevices of the canyon wall.

At your cabin, do you have a horse?

Yes.

Well, what are we waiting for?

What will you do, Trampas?

Well, I've got some money, more money than that horse is worth.

I know it will put you out, but...My uncle will understand.

Kim Ho, um...

there are some people who are, uh, stupid.

Yes.

But not everybody.

Only ones who matter.

A few narrow-minded people

here and San Francisco,

well, that doesn't make up the whole world.

We'd better hurry.

Blood.

Wait here.

Do not move!

[ groans ]

Kim Ho!

Uncle!

[ groaning ]

He's been shot.

They were here, all right.

Yeah. I'd say they're not too far ahead of us.

Let's go.

It's a bad wound?

Bad enough, but I think he'll be all right.

What are you thinking?

I'm, uh, thinking I'd better make tracks.

Trampas,

those things I said back there

about people, your people--

I did not mean them for you.

Why not? I dragged you all over the countryside against your will.

Only at first because I was afraid.

Later, it was not against my will.

Still, it, uh...

I have learned a great deal from you.

Like what?

The qualities I accused

your people of lacking,

you have them all.

Whoa, now.

You think I mean things like being brave

or heroic.

What do you mean?

I mean, you're kind,

even gentle,

and with a love for life,

yet to survive you must be something,

something perhaps you do not want to be.

I mean,

you... we are...

really much alike, you and I.

All of us.

You know, I...

Trampas...

[ coughing ]

Uncle, this is Trampas.

He's a friend. He fixed your wound.

How'd it happen?

Highwater.

"Highwater"?

It's a small town about ten miles from here.

UNCLE: Two men...

I was only passing through.

I meant no harm.

It's all right, Uncle.

They said

I must dance.

They shot their guns at my feet,

and one of the bullets

must've struck a rock and...

At first, I thought you

were one of them.

Seems like that's getting to be a habit of everyone's lately.

How did he look like me? It's important.

Tall, yellow hair.

And the other one?

Dark. A red shirt.

Thanks.

Take it easy, huh?

What is it?

Oh, not much. He just described the two men

that got away with that stage robbery and got me into this.

What will you do?

Well, the way I look at it, I've got two choices--

either to keep on running and try to get to Montrose before that posse does

or try to catch up with those two and clear myself of this mess.

It will be Highwater.How are you so certain?

Because with you, it will always be better to fight than to run.

Yeah.

That rifle.

Empty.

You mean there are no shells?

My uncle is not a man of violence.

You'll be all right here?Yes.

Uh, I'm going to need your horse.

In case I don't get back,

here's, uh...

Kim Ho's done enough for me already. Here's $40.

That's more than enough to cover...

KIM HO: Trampas?

I'll, uh, get your horse back to you

as soon as I can.

[ hoof beats ]

See that he's not out back.

Well,

your gentleman friend deserted you, huh?

What do you want?

Your niece helped a killer to get away.

No.

All right.

Now, where is he?

I don't know.

You aided and abetted his escape.

For that, in case you don't know it, you can buy time in prison.

Where is he?

Just a minute, Marden. She's still a woman.

Ha!

Mr. Umber, you are known as a fair man.

You must stop this before an innocent man is killed.

You must tell us where he is, if you know, Kim Ho.

Oh, but he's innocent,

and none of you will give him a chance to prove it.

Not even you.All right, all right. Now, talk.

Don't touch my niece again!

He's hurt. Don't.

"Hurt"?

Chinaman, how are you hurt?

I asked you a question.

Shot. He was shot.

"Shot"?

Well.

Seems to me we've got a pretty good case right here.

Two outlaws escaped. We know she was in cahoots with one of them.

Now the old man turns up nursing a bullet hole.

That's absurd.

Why is it absurd?

He's been around as long as these holdups and killings have been going on.

Please leave him be.

Then will you tell me what I want to know?

Chinaman,

you want your niece to go to prison?

Maybe hang?She has done no harm.

She's hiding a killer.

Now, spill it! You know where he is!

Stop. You will kill him.

Leave him alone.[ Uncle grunting ]

I thought you said this Trampas was a friend of yours, son.

He was.

But he wouldn't like this any more than I do.

Just trying to catch a killer, son.

Find another way.

All right.

Take him outside.No! No!

He takes too much pleasure in other persons' pain.

All right, then. Will you tell me where he's hiding?

Please.

Trampas would understand.

He went to Highwater.

Let's get him!

Please.

Trampas is your friend?He was, yes.

This man they're after, he said his name is Trampas.

[ hoof beats receding ]

Anybody can use a name.

This man they want, I believe he speaks the truth.

[ Uncle groaning ]

Help me, please.

This man-- what did he talk about?

When he talked about himself, what did he talk about?

About a place called Shiloh

and the man he worked for, Judge Garth.

What'd he look like?

Young, like you, very tall,

and light-colored hair,

and when he smiles, his face is warm

and his teeth very white,

and if you can reach him before Sheriff Marden,

you can know for sure.

Ride with the wind!

Hot day.Mm, tolerable.

No business inside?

Only customer just left.Oh.

I'm, uh, looking for two men.

Uh, two men in particular, I should say.

Friend of mine said he saw them here yesterday.

These wouldn't be too hard to remember.

One was tall, light-haired. Partner wore a red shirt.

And they sort of liked roughing people up.

Hard types to forget.

Your friend gave you a bum steer, mister.

Nobody like that here--

yesterday or any other time.

Sure.

Well, I think I'll stick around, take a look anyway.

MAN: Hey.

That friend of yours you was talking about--

that wouldn't be the old Chinaman Ning Yang, would it?

Maybe.

Friend of mine too.

We've shared plenty of bacon and beans over campfires in these hills.

Them herbs of his is good for my rheumatism too.

If a man was interested in

finding the two fellows that shot him up...I'm interested.

Well, I heard 'em say

that they was gonna camp at the Eagle's Roost.

You can't miss it.

Just keep bearing that way as you go out of town.

Finger rock sticking up just like that.

Thanks, old man.

There he is! Come on!

Don't take chances with him.

Marden!

Marden!

What do you want?

I want to talk.

Keep his attention down here.

Wait a minute. Maybe he wants to give up.

Well, just make sure he doesn't put a bullet through your head.

Now, stall him.

This is Umber. Go ahead and talk.

The real killers are above me.

Umber, I can prove I'm innocent.

I want to talk to you...

in person.

And don't take too long to decide.

Trampas...

Move one more muscle, and I'll kill you.

Steve.Just passing by. Drop it.

I don't know how you got here, pard, but you're welcome.

Get over there.

What are you gonna do?Well, that depends.

[ gunshot ]

Chick! Lacy! Help me!

There's only two of them!UMBER: You're wrong, Marden.

Dead wrong.

I can explain.

You'll get your chance. No wonder they always knew which shipments carried gold.

So he really is Trampas.That's right.

Listen, give me a break, huh?

Like you did me?

Look, I can fix it so you never have to work again.

You'll be rich!

Sure, Marden.

I was hoping he'd try that.

Well, I guess you don't need my help this time.

I guess not. How are they doing up there?

All right. One down, one--[ man screams ]

Correction-- none to go.

Trampas, after you left,

I told my niece that you would

take care of yourself.

Well, uh, with a little help.

Your horse is outside.

Mr. Umber said he'd return the wagon and the other horse later.

We've got a long ride.

Yeah.

I'd better get the horses ready,

with a ride that far.

Goodbye, sir.Goodbye.

Take care of yourself, now.

Goodbye, Kim Ho.Goodbye, Steve.

[ door shuts ]

I, uh...

All I can think to say is "thanks."

It is I who am thankful.

You taught me something

I shall not forget.

Me?Yes.

From you I learned

it is always better

to fight than to run.

Then you're not going back to China?

No.

Well, maybe we'll see each other again.

I'd like that.

Goodbye, sir.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Trampas.