Original subtitles

[ theme song ]

[ whistle blows ]

[ train whistle blows ]

Well, right on time!

Now what do you know about that?

I gotta tell Herbie about this.

Right on time!

Come on, Herbie.

How can I tell him if he don't answer?

[ whistle blows ]

Slim!

Hey, Slim.

Get out there and give them a hand with that baggage.

What do you think you get paid for around here, anyway?

[ train brakes squeal ]

Never happened before.

[ clears throat ]

Howdy, sir. Are you stayin' or are you passin' through?

That all depends.

Tell me--this person ever come through here?

A lot of people come through here.

Can't expect me to remember every passenger that steps up--

yes, sir, I do remember this one.

How long ago was she here?

Huh? Oh, about a month or so.

She went on West.

To where?

Well, there's a lot of stations

a person could get off at if they had a mind to.

There's Cheyenne Flats, Sioux Falls, Laramie, Medicine Bow...

I'll check them out.

Fella kinda gives you the shivers, don't he?

[ chuckles ] Not you, I reckon.

Wonder if Herbie woke up yet.

Right on time.

Hold it.

You think I need a haircut?

You always need a haircut.

Well, I like it a little long.

STEVE: Who's that?

Old Mr. Makely, Steve.

He's the town banker.

The lady.

That is Miss Alva Lowell...

from back East somewhere, I understand.

She just bought the Lazy K ranch last week.

I heard a woman bought it.

I didn't know it was one that looked like that.

Oop, comin' this way.

Must be your famous charming personality.

Without a haircut.

Maybe she'll trim it for ya, buddy.

A lady barber?

Ever hear of a gent called Samson?

Mornin', boys.

Mr. Makely. Miss Lowell.

Hello.

Miss Lowell, this is Steve Hill.

How do you do.

How do youdo.

How's the ranching business, Miss Lowell?

I'm afraid the Lazy K hands

can't get used to the idea of a woman boss.

Are they givin' you trouble?

Not really, just taking advantage of my ignorance.

Do you know them?

Some of them.

The boys that work around Medicine Bow

sorta get to know each other on Saturday nights, Miss Lowell.

Well, gentlemen, I better pick up my rig and drive back home.

Well, I'll let you know as soon as the papers

are ready to be signed, Miss Lowell.

In fact, I might even bring them out myself.

Well, thank you. Well, it's been very nice.

Miss Lowell, is your rig at the livery stable?

Yes.

It's a long walk. I better carry those for ya.

They're really not very heavy.

It's all right.

Well, I would appreciate it.

Well, he did it.

What?

Got to meet the pretty lady.

She wanted to meet him, too.Oh?

It was her idea to cross the street and say hello.

You don't say.

You know, I think some tea would be very nice right now.

Will you join me?

Tea?

Well, you do drink it?

I'd be delighted.

Oh, Miss Alva.Yes?

I just wondered if there wasn't something else

we could take back to the ranch for ya.

No, there's nothing else. Uh, you know Mr. Hill.

Sure now, we know Mr. Hill real good.

How do you do, Mr. Hill.

Gentlemen.

Well, shall we have our tea?

Tea?

[ laughs ]

Tea.

Oh, Miss Lowell...

being you're not goin' right back to the ranch yourself,

uh, I was thinkin' maybe you wouldn't mind

if the boys and me took an hour off and--

You're very far behind in your work already.

Ah, don't worry about it. We'll catch up.

See you around, uh, Mr. Hill.

I'm sure.

Tea?

[ chuckles ] That's what he said.

[ all laugh ]

How is it?

Hot.

[ chuckles ]

I don't really see you as the tea-drinking type, anyway.

Well, that's encouraging. What typedo you see me as?

Well, let's just say...

I like what I see and what I've heard.

I didn't know I was that well-known.

I ask questions.

So do I.

What, uh, typeare you?

Confused, right now.

To put it simply, I bought a ranch,

but I have a problem-- I don't know the first thing about running it.

You still have the same ranch hands

that Mr. Crowder had when he sold ya the Lazy K.

With one very important difference.

Mr. Crowder was his own foreman.

Mm-hmm.

You saw for yourself out there in the street

the kind of respect those men show for my authority.

Well, like you said, they're not used to takin' orders from a woman.

Oh, they make that point very clear.

They sure sat up and whistled for Mr. Crowder all right.

That's what you need-- a foreman.

I agree, Steve,

and that's why I decided to offer you the job.

I've got one,

but I'll look around for somebody for ya.

I'm serious. I want you to be my foreman.

I've never bossed a ranch.

I've never owned one before.

Well, that's a little different.

[ chuckles ] Well, you know everything that has to be done

and how to do it.

Yeah, but planning the work-- being in charge--

that's... that's something else.

Well, it's a step you're going to take some day, isn't it?

Look, Miss Lowell...

I admit that's a very interesting offer,

and I appreciate it,

but I'm probably doing you a favor by saying no.

You know what I really think?

What?

You're just like those others.

You don't want a woman boss either.

I've thrown better harness than that in the campfire many a time.

The judge likes to make things last.

Yeah, some of this looks like it's been lastin'

since about the time I was born.

[ horse approaching ]

Here comes the prodigal son.

A little late for the harness mendin' chores, aren't ya, fella?

Well, I had a little business in town.

Business?

Ranch management business, Bill.

Of course, you wouldn't know anything about that.

Would you?

Well, enough to give Miss Alva Lowell

a few suggestions on how to run a ranch a little bit better.

Just how many ranches have you run?

Well, not too many.

What you mean is none! Zero!

I sure hope your suggestions don't tend to bankrupt Miss Lowell.

So do I.

You know, you're the nice, friendly type.

Somehow I don't see you bossin' a spread.

No offense.

You know, that's exactly what I told Alva.

I said, "I just don't see myself doin' that kind of a job."

Hey, wait a minute. Let me get this straight.

You mean to tell me she offered you the job?

That's right.

As foreman?!

Well, wait a minute. That's not such a wild idea, you know.

Boy, that poor woman must be sufferin' from sun stroke.

Boy, I wish I'd heard what led up to that.

I bet a young boy like me could've learned something.

Oh, yeah... but not about ranchin', huh?

Very funny.

You know, I heard she was lookin' for somebody,

but I never thought she'd--

You didn't think she got quite that desperate, is that it?

Now, whoa, Steve.

All I meant was that runnin' a big outfit

like the Lazy K requires a lot of know-how, that's all.

And you figure even a greenhorn from the East

isn't gonna be dumb enough to hire somebody like me.

I hear it's the paperwork that gets you down.

Well, yes, sir, it's all that brainwork.

Steve, boy, I give you maybe two weeks on a job like that.

Three maybe... if he can keep a tight rein on that friendly temper of his.

You makin' sure I don't run out on ya?

Oh, simmer down, will ya.

You're not really thinkin' about takin' that job, are ya?

Yeah, I'm beginnin' to.

Well, I wouldn't let myself get kidded into doin' something

I might regret later on, if I were you.

It's something I thought about before.

Well, that's fine, but you got plenty of time for that.

You took your chance when it came along.

What's wrong with me doin' the same thing?

Nothin', Not a thing,

but I had fallen on my face a time or two before I got to Shiloh, Steve.

Fine, then I got a chance or two comin'.

To fall on your face?

Why not?

Look, I'm tryin' to tell ya--

when a man takes on this kind of responsibility,

it, uh, it sometimes weighs a little heavier

on his shoulders than he banked on.

No, what you're sayin' is I should stick

to chasin' steers and patchin' harness.

Things I can do, is that it?

It's not that at all.

It's not what you can do. It's what you're ready to do.

Well, Miss Lowell thinks I'm ready now.

I think I'll take that first chance-- find out if she's right.

Steve, you've got a good job here.

Now get back down off your horse and forget it.

I'll send one of my hands after my gear.

Say, you fellas ever need a job, well, uh...

Us workin' cowboys better get back to work, huh?

Well, there you are.

You know as much about this place now as I do.

I'll know more as soon as I talk to the men

and see how they take to the idea of a new boss.

You'll do just fine.

Steve...

I'm glad you changed your mind about taking the job.

I'll try not to make you sorry.

Better stand at attention, men. It's our new foreman.

How are things in the house, Steve boy?

[ all laugh ]

Supposed to be workin', aren't ya?

Is that what Miss Lowell says?

That's what I say.

Sure. You're all mixed up, Toby. Steve here is the boss.

All right, outside, all of you.

If you're a ranch foreman, I'm the son of Abe Lincoln.

[ all laugh ]

I'll say one thing, though.

You do all right when it comes to women folk.

I don't want that kind of remark in here ever.

What's that doin' here?

Well, just sittin', far as I can see.

Whose is it?

It belongs to me, but I reckon you can have a drink, if you like.

Get rid of it.

Well, that's just what I'm aimin' to do...

over about the next hour and a half.

[ all chuckle ]

I don't think it'll take that long.

Wait a minute.

All right, boy, you done asked for it.

[ grunting ]

Now I'm foreman here, and I'm gonna stay foreman!

You just spread the word.

You figure to whip us all?

If I have to.

Steve.

Something wrong?

No.

I just didn't feel like listening to all that chatter in the bunkhouse.

What are you doin' out here?

Being lonesome, I guess.

Oh, I don't mean just being alone.

I mean... all of this...

doing something I've never done before...

being somebody I've never been before.

That kind of lonesomeness.

I know the feeling.

We're sort of in this together, aren't we?

You know, I've always imagined having something like this...

really being someone.

Then if you're lonesome this way,

why, it really doesn't matter at all, does it?

Does all this mean that much to you?

Oh, yes.

See, I was a very hungry little girl.

Then I filled an empty stomach and an empty life

with wonderful dreams of all the things I'd have

and what I'd grow up to be.

[ chuckles ]

Next I'll be frightening you away.

No, I don't think so.

Are you lonely, too?

We're all lonely... in different ways.

Well, we don't have to be, you know...

you and me.

Think about it, Steve.

Mornin', Betsy.

Why'd you let him do it?

Who? Steve? Yes.

Well, I didn't let him do anything. He just up and went.

It won't seem the same around here.

I know.

[ sighs ]

Howdy. Mornin'.

Why would Miss Lowell hire Steve anyway

when he's never had any experience as a foreman?

As a matter of fact, we sorta pointed that out to Steve ourselves.

Like--like friends, of course.

Thought you two would be mixed up in this.

Where you two friendly types think you're goin'?

We're gonna bring those yearlings up from the pasture.

Uh, just like you told us.

No, Steve and I had an awful lot of fence

to ride on the south boundary today.

Now you'll have to do it.

I'll take care of the yearlings.

Yes, sir.

You know, I miss him already.

Who?

Steve.

Take a deep seat, Jack.

Ah, get him, Jack.

[ all cheering ]

[ cheering continues ]

[ cheering continues ]

[ cheering continues ]

[ cheering continues ]

Better get a deeper saddle, Jack.

Why don't you practice a couple years on colts?

[ laughs ]

He's gonna be all right. Bring him on over.

Get up on him, Jack. You can ride him.

Bring him around.

[ all cheering ]

[ cheering continues ]

Goin' again, buddy? Want a deeper saddle, partner?

[ laughs ]

You havin' a little trouble, Jack?

Ah, we just like to wear them down a little at a time.

You think you could do any better?

I'll take him.

[ horses approaching ]

[ horse whinnies ]

You know, this is the first time

I ever seen the foreman doin' all the work himself.

I guess we just hooked up with the wrong outfit.

Hey, boss man, that was sure a great ride.

Well, good, I'm glad you learned something from it.

Because by tomorrow, I want that animal tame enough for a baby to ride.

Hey, wait a minute.

You heard him, fellas.

Well?

Something sure must happen

to a man's disposition when he gets to be foreman.

I don't know. Maybe we better get out of here before he puts us to work, too.

Change might do you good.

You know, I could have sworn you was gettin' ready

to do some bronc bustin' when we rode up.

All right.

Anything wrong with that?

No. Reckon we could talk our boss into bein' like old Steve here?

Sure would save us a lot of aches and pains, wouldn't it?

You made your point.

How's it goin'?

You saw.

BILL: You, uh, you gonna stick it out, Steve?

Is that what you came by to find out?

Oh, heck no. What a man does is his own business.

We--we were just ridin' by.

We just--look, Steve, we just stopped by to say hello.

Yeah, I know you did, Bill.

Just a little edgy, that's all.

Well, I can sure understand that.

Tryin' to get work out of a fella like that Bard

or Squeaker's enough to get anybody edgy.

Well, I guess we better be gettin' back, huh?

You take it easy now.

I'll give you a holler if I fall on my face.

Okay, Steve.

We'll see, hear?

[ all cheering ]

Was someone here, Steve?

Just a couple of boys from Shiloh. They're gone.

What did they want?

Just to say hello.

Probably to see if the big job had broken my back yet.

Glad they didn't see this mess.

Well, I hired you to boss the ranch, not add up the accounts.

That's part of the job, isn't it?

Well, if things get in too much of a mess, we'll hire a bookkeeper.

Oh.

What are ya gonna do with that?

Mr. Crowder gave it to me when I bought the ranch.

Said a lady had to protect herself in this part of the country.

It's not gonna do ya much good. It has a special bore.

Gunsmith in town's gonna have to make special cartridges for ya.

Oh, well, it looks loaded.

Oh, would you drive me into town?

I have to go to the bank and a couple of places.

That an order?

Yes, it's an order.

All right, then I'll do it.

I'll get my hat.

Ooh.

Steve!

Betsy!

How are ya?

Fine.

You look beautiful.

Thank you.

How have you been?

Fine.

Oh.

Uh, Miss Betsy Garth, this is Miss Alva Lowell.

Hello. How do you do.

Well, I--I wasn't sure I'd ever forgive you

for taking Steve away from Shiloh.

Oh, I hope you do, Betsy.

But, well, after seein' ya, all right.

Do come and visit us sometime.

Thank you.

You, too, Steve.

I will.

Bye. Bye.

She seems very sweet.

Yeah, she is kinda nice.

What's the matter?

[ gasps ]

What's wrong?

Nothing. I'd just like to go inside.

Feel all right now?

Yes, I'm fine. Steve, I wanna talk to you.

All right.

Do you think you're up to drinking a little more tea?

All right. I'm gettin' used to it.

You know, this stuff kinda grows on ya.

[ sighs ]

It's easy to get used to nice things.

[ sighs ]

It's not so easy losing them.

What are you afraid of losing?

Everything.

Why don't you tell me what's bothering you?

[ sighs ]

A little while ago out there in the street,

I saw a man-- someone out of the past.

Mm-hmm.

It's been over a long time as far as I'm concerned,

but he won't have it that way.

He swore he'd find me no matter where I went...

and kill me.

Well, he won't do that. I promise you.

Did he see you?

I--I don't know. I don't think so.

All right, come on.

Where?

Tell the sheriff.

Oh, no, Steve.

This is not the kind of thing that I want anyone here to know about.

Well, if he swore to kill you...

Oh, I don't wanna get the sheriff.

I don't want anyone-- I don't want anyone involved in this.

Please try to understand.

All right.

What are ya gonna do?

I don't know exactly.

Steve, I...

I'd like to think that I could depend on you...

no matter what happens.

Sure you can but...

Thank you.

Will you take me home?

All right.

[ footsteps approaching ]

Come in.

Were you expecting me?

Well, you might say that, yes.

Before you did anything foolish, I wanted to talk to you.

Just as cool as ever, aren't ya, Alva?

Jess, I can explain...

About the 50,000?

Ugh!

You've always paid for hitting me, but you never learned, have you?

Never mind that. You were just about to do some explaining.

Do you know why I took that money?

With you, money's always its own answer, Alva.

Sacramento, San Francisco, Yuma--all the same.

And what happened to every cent we got the last time?

And the time before that?

It disappeared... right across the poker table.

Well, the same thing would have happened to this money.

And what did happen to it?

[ chuckles ]

I invested it...

in a ranch that's worth half again what I paid for it.

I got it cheap from an old man who wanted to retire

because I could pay him cash.

And what did you have in mind?

Settling down with that cowpoke I saw you with on the street?

Don't be a fool.

[ chuckles ]

I knew you'd find me sooner or later.

Jess, I planned all this for you and me.

I'll bet you did.

First, I needed someone to help me with the ranch,

but he got out of hand.

Maybe he doesn't like the ring you're gonna put in his nose.

It's the other way around. He's got one in mine.

I hired him as foreman because I thought I could manage him.

Well, I was wrong. I couldn't.

[ sighs ]

He became... infatuated, insanely jealous.

Jess, I'm afraid of him.

You? Well now, that is a new one.

That's not all.

I'll bet not.

The deed to the ranch, all the legal papers--

he's got them.

How did you ever let that happen?

I don't know. He found the strongbox.

I suppose I could force him to give them back,

if I could stand the publicity...

and if I wasn't afraid he'd kill me.

So you finally let your foot slip.

Yes. I admit it...

and I'm glad you're here.

I'd have written you in a few days.

Sure you would have.

I mean it, Jess.

I haven't forgotten the old days...

not some things.

Things like...

Like that?

Like that.

You know, you're a liar and a devil,

but you're the only woman I ever really wanted.

Jess, we've made enough mistakes--you and I.

This is our chance to make up for all of them.

Don't you see that?

Now suppose I agree... what next?

We have to do something about Steve.

That shouldn't be too hard.

Well, it's not that simple.

We wanna stay here this time.

What then?

I don't know exactly.

Listen, it's too risky for me to stay here--

Nobody can see through these walls.

My buggy is right outside--

You've got an excuse for everything, haven't ya?

Jess. Jess, tonight, come out to the ranch.

Make it late, say about 10:00,

and we'll plan what we have to do, hmm?

All right, I'll be there.

I'll leave the side door to the office open.

[ door closes ]

Whoa.

Thank you.

Alva?

Oh, yes, Steve.

I was ridin' out to check the day's work at the line camp.

I heard you drive in.

I didn't know you'd gone anywhere.

I went back to Medicine Bow.

I'd rather not talk about it.

Was it about that man you saw in town?

If you want me to help you like you asked,

I'm gonna have to know what's goin' on, Alva.

I'm sorry, Steve. I--I did drag you into this, I know.

I wish I hadn't.

Will you answer my question?

Yes, I went to see him.

Jess Carver.

Why?

Because I thought it was the best thing to do.

I thought if we met face to face and talked things out...

What happened?

Well, he seemed to know

all about the ranch and everything.

First, I thought he wanted money.

So I offered it to him.

Then I offered him the ranch and everything I own.

I begged him to go away and leave me alone!

And?

And I made a mistake.

I told him about you.

At first, he just laughed,

and then he became furious.

He hit ya?

He said I'd never be rid of him.

No, Steve, he's not in town anymore.

Where is he?

I don't know.

He--he said that now that he knew where I was,

he'd just turn up sometime

when I'd forgotten all about him.

Oh, Steve, I'm afraid!

Don't be afraid. Nothing's gonna happen to ya.

I promise you that.

It's not just for me. I'm afraid for us.

You do believe that?

Yes.

How long will you be at the line camp?

I can put it off till morning. I don't have to go.

No, we still have a ranch to run.

Get back as quickly as you can, will you?

Three or four hours all right?

I'll be waiting.

[ door closes ]

[ knock at door ]

Come in.

Hey, we got some female company.

Well, I must say none of you flatter a girl too much.

Betsy.

I guess we're just used to how pretty and all you are.

[ sighs ]

Something on your mind, Bets?

Well, I met that woman in town today.

Miss Lowell?

[ whistles ]

[ chuckles ]

Anyway, I was all set not to liker her,

but after meeting her--

You decided she wasn't so bad after all, huh?

Well, what's so all-fired important about that?

Well, anyway, I was in the bank,

so I asked Mr. Makely about her.

And he told ya that she's a very unusual woman.

Paid cash for her ranch

and has told several conflicting stories about where she came from.

I found out one more thing, too.

There was a stranger in town asking questions about her.

When was that? Today.

I'm afraid Steve's getting mixed up in something

he doesn't know anything about.

Come on, boys.

If it'll make you feel any better,

I'll ride over to the Lazy K and see what I can find out.

Come on. I'll walk you back to the house.

It's like old times, Jess-- together like this.

Ready to scratch and claw each other at any minute, just like old times.

I don't feel like clawing tonight.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

Now what about this foreman of yours?

Well, I told you. He's gone to town for the evening--

probably the whole night.

No, that's not what I meant.

I mean what are we gonna do about him?

I was hoping you had a solution to that.

Maybe I have.

Maybe I'll do something about it

as soon as you get the deed away from him and sign it over.

Jess...

Well now, that was very nice,

but it still won't get you off the hook.

What's the matter?

I don't know-- my nerves, I guess.

I--I keep hearing things.

That's what Steve's done to me...

and that's why I keep a gun handy.

Jess...

My glass is empty. How 'bout yours?

No, no, I'm fine, and I suggest you slow down a little.

[ horse whinnies ]

[ horse approaching ]

Listen.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

One of the riders rounding up strays has just come in.

I'll, uh, have to go and meet him.

He'll come in to report.

I'll meet him in the office.

I don't think the men should see you here.

ALVA: Help! Please!

ALVA: Aah! He's here!

He tried to kill me!

Hold it!

You all right?

Yes, I'm all right.

I just had to know if he was... if it's all over.

Yeah, it's over.

Cover him up, will ya?

This is no place for you. Take her inside, Bard.

No, Steve, I don't wanna be alone.

I'll be in as soon as I can.

I heard the shots.

Looks like I'm a little late.

He tried to kill Alva, and then he came for me.

I had to stop him.

Better send somebody for the sheriff.

Squeaker.

Anything I can do?

I guess I've done all the doin'.

What's wrong, Steve?

Nothin'.

Well, if I can help in any way at all, I...

I'll call out.

Thanks.

All right.

I'll be in the bunkhouse if you need me.

Steve.

Mark.

Bad go-around you had here tonight.

Yeah.

Miss Lowell filled me in on everything I need to know.

Looks like this Carver fellow's

been botherin' her for a long time.

So I've been told.

Far as we know, the only business he had

in Medicine Bow was lookin' for her.

He sure found her, didn't he?

Yeah, worse luck for him he did.

Well, no need to bother you anymore.

Is that his stuff?

Yeah.

Can I see it?

Yeah, no reason why not.

Where'd you get this?

Next to the body. Where else?

One shot fired. Shouldn't surprise you any.

No.

According to Miss Lowell, Carver drew down on you,

you fired in self-defense.

That's the way it'll go down in the report.

Night, Steve.

Good night, Mark.

[ door closes ]

Steve.

I haven't had a chance to thank you for what you did.

Just what did I do, Alva?

You saved my life.

Hold me, Steve.

Where's Crowder's gun?

In the desk. Why?

No. No, it isn't in the desk.

Then I don't know where it is.

Jess could have picked it up, I suppose.

He--he got into the house through the office door.

What difference does it make where it is?

That's what I'm tryin' to figure out.

Well, well, well, you're up bright and early, Mr. Hill.

Been doin' some thinkin'.

All night?

Yep.

Wanna talk about it?

[ sighs ]

You saw the gun layin' next to Jess Carver's body last night, didn't ya?

Mm-hmm.

Well, it wasn't his.

It was an old gun Mr. Crowder left there when he sold the ranch.

Carver had been in the house. He must have picked it up.

Could have, but he wouldn't-- not if he looked at it.

No shells for it. It was empty.

Well, it was too dark for you to tell

what kind of a gun he had in his hand, Steve.

No, no, it isn't just that.

First of all, Jess was supposed to have just fired the gun at Alva.

Second, when the sheriff showed me the gun that he found layin' beside the body,

it wasn't the empty gun at all.

It was Jess' gun this time.

Are you sayin' they were switched?

I'm sayin' that Alva Lowell set it up for me to kill a man.

Spell that out, Steve.

All right.

Jess comes into the ranch while I'm out roundin' up strays.

Now somehow, Alva manages to switch the empty gun for his.

She hears me ride in.

She goes to the office,

shoots out the lamp with Jess' gun,

runs out the door screamin' for help.

Jess gets all excited, grabs what he thinks is his gun,

follows her out the door, sees me and...

Yeah, go on.

Afterward, before the sheriff gets there,

she watches for her chance,

sneaks back, and switches the guns again.

Why would she do that?

To get rid of somebody she thought was gonna spoil things for her--

somebody out of... out of her past.

You guessin' some of this, Steve?

Only part of it. She told me some of it.

All the little things begin to add up.

Steve Hill-- Lazy K foreman.

Boy, she sure picked the right man

for the job she had.

You wanna hear the topper?

All right.

I found a newspaper in her desk

about the shooting contest I won last year.

Remember they gave me the gold bullet?

Talk about man's conceit. I was--I was flattered!

Anybody would have been flattered, Steve.

She had me figured out right down to the last item--

shooting ability, quick temper,

conceit, and short on experience.

Question now is-- what are you gonna do about it?

I don't know.

Better talk to the sheriff.

I will, but I wanna talk to her first.

If I can be of any help...

I'll let you know.

See ya.

Where have you been?

I've been thinking.

[ chuckles ] Not about that silly gun?

About that and about a few other things, yes.

[ sighs ]

Steve...

I understand that no matter how much they may deserve it,

it must be a terrible shock to kill someone.

Kill... or murder, Alva?

There's a difference.

What are you trying to say?

That you wanted a man dead...

and you needed somebody to do it for ya, that's all.

Steve... it wasn't that way at all.

It won't work, Alva.

The hungry little girl has lost her magic touch.

You're imagining all these awful things.

I was imagining things when I thought I was a foreman.

You didn't want a foreman.

You wanted a hired killer.

That's a very dangerous thing to say.

Isn't it?

If we're going to talk about murder,

there's something you better remember.

If a murder has been committed,

you're the one who committed it.

That's right.

I pulled the trigger, Alva,

but you pointed the gun.

That's not true.

Maybe we should let the law decide if it is or not, huh?

[ sighs ] Oh, Steve, the law has already decided!

Why do you have to stir things up this way?

Because the fact remains that a man is dead!

The fact remains that you killed him.

Exactly!

Where are you going?

I don't know.

[ door closes ]

He should be here any minute, Miss Lowell.

This is as difficult for me, Sheriff, as it is for you.

I hope you understand that.

Good morning, Sheriff.

Frank.

I thought the shooting last night was all settled.

Now your deputy tells me there are complications.

Miss Lowell, this is Mr. Giles-- our prosecutor.

How do you do. How do you do.

Sit down, Frank. Thank you.

Miss Lowell, would you please tell Mr. Giles

exactly what you told me?

All right.

Last night, I didn't tell the sheriff exactly what did happen.

Go ahead.

Well, Mr. Carver and I were in the living room talking

when I heard someone enter the office.

I went to see who it was.

It was Steve. He was very angry about Mr. Carver being there.

Angry?

Perhaps jealous is a better word.

I told him I was in no danger at all.

I--I even pointed out that Mr. Carver's gun belt

was hanging over the chair right there in the office.

I let him in through that door.

[ sighs ]

He said all right and acted as if he were about to leave.

I started back to the living room.

[ sighs ]

There was a shot.

Last night, you said Carver fired that shot at her.

I was trying to cover up for Steve.

Actually, he fired at Mr. Carver.

Anyway, the shot missed.

Steve ran outside, I ran out after him,

and then Mr. Carver came out.

[ sighs ]

Please tell him what you saw later.

Just before the sheriff arrived,

I went to the door to look for Steve.

Go on.

Well, he was standing over the body.

I started to call out to him,

but, well, just at that moment,

he bent over and laid a gun down on the ground,

and then he picked up the one that was already there

and walked away.

This is the gun she saw Steve pick up.

Miss Lowell kept this on her desk in her office.

Takes a special kind of shell.

Been empty for a long time.

I see.

You're saying,

if Steve switched guns after the shooting,

it's logical to assume that he also switched guns before.

Calling a man out knowing he was carrying an empty gun

would make it murder.

Yes, it would.

I have two questions.

One--how does this gun happen to be here?

And two--is there any corroborating evidence?

Bard?

I was over by the bunkhouse, and I saw Steve switch those guns, too.

Sheriff, you have only one choice.

You heard the news?

Steve's been arrested for murder.

He's in jail.

No!

Are you sure?

Sure as I'm talkin' to ya.

Well, but you said that--

I said it was self-defense. That's what the witnesses said.

All I know is he's bound over for trial.

Hmm, somebody must have changed their mind.

We've got to do something.

You bet we do. First off, he's gonna need a lawyer--a good one.

What's the name of that lawyer friend of your father's up in Laramie?

Packis? Ebberly Packis?

That's the one.

Look, I'll wire Laramie right now and try to hire Packis.

That's exactly the way Steve told the story to me

and exactly the way I told it to Mr. Packis.

He told me the same thing.

Well, you both know Steve. Don't you believe him?

The sheriff isn't judge or jury, and neither am I.

Whether or not we believe him isn't pertinent.

Sorry, there's nothing I can do.

Hey, where is this Mr. Packis of yours, anyway?

He's over at the hotel gettin' cleaned up. He'll be along any minute now.

Well, I said I'd hear you out, and I have.

Now I'm late for an appointment at my office

with Miss Lowell, as a matter of fact.

We're going over a few details--

Oh, Mr. Giles. They said I might--

I--I hope I'm not interrupting anything.

Oh, that's perfectly all right, my dear. I was just leaving.

Well, Good mornin', ma'am.

Mr. Packis, this is Mr. Giles-- the prosecutor.

MR. GILES: How do you do, sir.

Sheriff Abbott... and this is Miss Alva Lowell.

Well, Miss Lowell, this is indeed a pleasure.

Thank you.

You know, it ain't every day

I get to meet a fine-lookin' woman like you,

and I ain't sure I ever met one as pretty.

Mr. Packis is going to be the defense attorney.

Uh, this is the woman I told you about.

Well, I ain't never seen a woman rancher before

that didn't look like an old battle-ax.

[ chuckles ] Well, I'm glad I'm a surprise to you.

Well, I think we better be leaving.

My pleasure, sir.

You the same.

Ma'am. Bye.

Hey, mighty fine-lookin' woman.

Mm-hmm. For a minute there, I didn't know if you

were gonna be Steve's lawyer or hers.

Son, when ya get to be my age,

you learn to treat every woman

like she was pretty as a picture,

clever as sin, and tough as an old boot.

Always pays in the long run.

I'll try and remember that.

Well, good, good.

Now tell me-- where is this client of mine?

Right back here.

Thanks, Mark.

Steve, this is your lawyer-- Mr. Packis from Laramie.

Howdy, boy.

Your friend here told me the whole story,

but I wanna hear it again from you--in detail.

All right.

First, though, I think we should concentrate

on that lovely lady.

You know, I got a feelin',

when a female is that pretty and with all that money,

she must have an interestin' past some place.

Yes, sir,

and I've got an idea I'm gonna keep

the local telegrapher plenty busy

between now and trial date.

Which isn't too far off.

Uh, tell me something, Mr. Packis...

how do you know how lovely Miss Alva Lowell is?

I met the lady outside,

and I don't need to wonder none

how come you got yourself in such a mess.

Come now, boy. Don't get discouraged.

It's just that I enjoy doin' business with a pretty woman.

Well, that's fine.

That's fine!

If I found out she's the kind of woman I think she is,

I'll get just as much enjoyment out of tryin' to hang her.

Well, gentlemen...

shall we get down to business?

You better draw another dozen of those.

You know folks that have been in court

get twice as hungry and thirsty as anybody else--

especially at a murder trial.

If I know old Judge Bradford,

he'll recess straight up at noon,

and they'll come flockin' in here like a pack of starved--

[ crowd clamors ]

Holy smoke, he let them out three minutes early.

Oh, hurry up.

Come and get it, men! Help yourselves.

[ all clamor ]

Plenty for everybody.

Bet this sure beats the food that Betsy's gettin' down there at that tearoom.

Yeah, it's cheaper, too.

What are Steve's chances?

Hard to tell yet.

Spent the whole morning on preliminaries.

All those whereto's and wherefore's and whereas's

just add up to the fact that Steve's bein' tried for murder,

no matter which way you look at it.

The biggest mistake we made was hirin' that big-time lawyer.

Why, he didn't even pay no attention to what was goin' on this mornin'.

RANDY: Most the time, he just sat there with his eyes closed.

And the only question he wanted to know

was if the sheriff thought Steve was guilty as charged.

And then the judge wouldn't even let the sheriff answer.

Mr. Packis is no fool, boy.

I sure hope you're right.

We'll soon know.

After lunch, they ought to start gettin' down to some cold, hard facts.

Prosecution ready to continue?

It is, your honor.

And the defense?

Oh, yes, your honor.

Proceed.

We call Mr. Bertram Arden.

Why, it's old Bard.

Well, there's not much to tell.

I was in the bunkhouse when I heard the shots.

By the time I got outside, it was all over.

By all over, you mean that one man was lyin' on the ground dead.

Yes, sir.

Then what happened?

Well, one of the boys covered the body

with a blanket, and then Steve--

The defendant.

That's right--Steve hill.

He told me to take Miss Lowell into the house.

Now, Mr. Arden, when was the next time you saw Steve Hill?

Well, after I did what he said,

I--I was goin' back to the bunkhouse,

and then I saw him again.

Was this before the sheriff arrived?

Yeah.

Now tell us exactly what you saw Mr. Hill do.

Well, uh...

he was standing by the body with a gun in his hand,

and then he put it down next to the dead man

and picked up the gun that was laying there.

He switched guns.

[ all murmur ]

Uh, what did he do next?

Well, he went around the house.

Did you follow him?

I sure did.

He was actin' so suspicious,

I--I wanted to find out what he was up to.

And what was he up to?

He hid the extra gun in some rocks behind the house.

When he left, I picked it up,

and after thinking about it,

I decided I better tell Miss Lowell.

Thank you. That is all.

Your honor, I'd like to pass up

examinin' the witness until later on.

That'll be all for now.

Proceed.

Miss Alva Lowell.

Raise your right hand.

You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

I do.

Tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing...

She doesn't know the meaning of the word truth.

Sure you don't want some of this food, son?

Alva makes up this story, and then she talks Bard into backin' it up,

and you-- you don't ask either of them a single question!

I asked the judge to give us this recess.

Fine, what good's that gonna do me?

Sorry, boy, but we do need the time.

What for?!

To get back some answers to all those telegrams I been sendin' out.

In the meantime, they're gettin' ready to hang me!

You know, boy, they serve mighty tasty food in this here jail.

Well, I think I'll just mosey on down

to the telegraph office and see what's come in.

Oh, Sheriff!

I'll see you in court.

Miss Lowell's testimony

completes the prosecution's case.

Mr. Packis, are you ready to cross-examine?

I am, your honor.

Well, proceed.

Miss Alva Lowell-- that's your real name?

Yes, of course.

Well, let's see now. Where was I?

Oh, yes. Yes, the man who got himself killed-- Jess Carver.

How long had you known him?

Oh, about three years.

How'd you get along with him?

He seemed very nice at first.

Then he started forcing his attentions on me.

So you came here,

and just about the time you thought you'd lost him,

he turned up again?

Yes.

Miss Lowell, you bought a ranch-- the Lazy K--

and you paid $35,000 in cash for it.

Now tell me-- where did you get that money?

Well, I, uh, inherited some money from my grandmother...

and I also made a few fortunate investments on my own.

Well, your honor, I'd like to introduce at this time

a telegram I got today

from the marshal of the Arizona territory.

Your honor, I object.

Now don't get yourself in an uproar.

I intend to piece everything together.

See that you do.

It states that Jesse Ray Carver...

is wanted for robbery and murder.

It seems that he made off with about $50,000

from the Bank of Arizona less than six months ago.

The marshal also stated that Carver had a woman accomplice--

someone presumed to be his wife.

Your honor, I have here another telegram.

This one from San Francisco, California.

It states that seven years ago the District of San Francisco

issued a marriage certificate to Jesse Ray Carver

and one Alva Lowell.

There's a copy of the certificate comin' through the mail.

[ all clamor ]

Quiet. Quiet in this court!

Now would you care to change any part of your story, Miss Lowell?

I'm not on trial here, and I'm not the only witness!

Say, that's right.

Well, your honor, at this time,

I should like to recall Bertram Arden,

better known as Bard, to the stand.

JUDGE: You're still under oath.

Mr. Arden, do you know what the penalty for lying under oath is?

No, sir.

Five years in territorial prison.

Now, of course, five years isn't so bad

compared to what they give an accessory to murder.

Now you just heard Miss Lowell or Mrs. Carver

or whatever her name is get herself caught up

in some mighty interesting contradictions, didn't you?

Now I ask you to think about it this way.

Jess Carver probably killed a man for Alva somewhere along the line,

and Jess gets himself killed by Steve Hill.

Now you're killin' Steve by puttin' a rope around his neck.

Now who do you suppose...

is next in line, my friend?

Now Steve is hung by a rope of lies.

Jess Carver died holdin' an empty gun.

Now how are you gonna get yours, Mr. Arden?

Framed for a murder committed by her?

Now tell me-- what did she promise you to lie for her?

This is your last chance, boy.

What did she pay you to lie for her?

Five thousand-- she offered me $5,000.

[ all clamor ]

[ gavel bangs ]

Quiet. Quiet in this court!

Your honor, I hereby petition this court for a dismissal of charges.

Granted. The defendant is released from custody.

This court stands adjourned. [ bangs gavel ]

I want you, and you'll have to come with me.

See ya back at the ranch.All right.

Steve.

Mr. Packis, I wanna apologize

for bein' a little edgy in the cell this afternoon,

but I didn't know what you were doin'.

You know, Alva could've gotten away with this whole thing,

no matter what you told the sheriff you thought,

if she hadn't gotten scared and tried to pin it on you.

Now let that be a lesson to ya, son.

Never run scared.

Thank you.

Mr. Packis. Thanks very much.

My pleasure.

Hey, are you ready to go back to work?

Let's go.

Mr. Packis, now I know what Daddy meant

when he used to call you an old fox.

Well, it takes one to know one, Betsy.

Steve, still think you need a haircut?

That's how this whole thing started.

[ laughs ]

Well, it's good to be back.