Original subtitles

Well, come on, come on, did you find out anything over at the telegraph office?

Yeah.

Sheriff at Edgerton said the territorial marshal left

with Vern Buckner this afternoon.

They're going the long way around

so they don't have to go through Ironwood.

Who's the marshal?

Branch McGary.Good man.

Yeah, he's good, but not good enough

to handle the whole Buckner gang alone.

No, he's got a couple of good deputies, and anyway, we can't be sure

that the Buckner gang's laying for him.

Yeah, well, we know De Walt was gonna meet him.

Otherwise, why would he have started shooting when you went to arrest him?

Maybe he was scared, maybe a lot of things.

Stillwater Crossing marked on that map you took from him.

That's right outside of the bridge in Ironwood.

And that's the only place Branch can cross that river.

Sure adds up, all right.

I'll show you how to find out.

De Walt.

De Walt!

Why were you gonna meet Buckner at Stillwater Crossing?

You'd like to know, wouldn't you?

We know you were gonna join up with Buckner and his gang.

Clint wants to spring his brother, doesn't he?

And he plans on bushwhacking the marshal too, doesn't he?

Well, aren't you? Come on, talk!

Doc.

Well, he's not gonna be doing any talking for anybody.

If I'm wrong, it just means a wasted night's ride.

But if I'm right?

You win, Jess.

Come on, doc, let's finish this up.

What's your hurry? You're not going anywhere.

No, not in the shape you're in.

Besides, I got a lot of hard riding to do

if I'm gonna beat Branch to that crossing.

One extra gun isn't gonna help McGary much.

Get some men to go with you.

I haven't got the time, Mort.

Do me a favor.

Tell Slim to look for me when he sees me.

[ dog whimpering ]

Well, what are you staring at me for?

I'm not gonna give you one bit more food no matter what you do.

Now, now, now, no good clawing me.

No, no, won't change my mind one bit.

Well, that's a pretty good trick.

I had a terrier back in London who used to do the same thing,

except when I told him to.

But where did you learn to roll over like that?

I taught him.

Look, I don't know where this dog comes from

or who he belongs to or where he's going to,

but I don't think he'd like to have anything to do with you.

Well, if you were smart, you wouldn't either.

That's why you better open this door before those two get back.

Or you're gonna die right along with the marshals.

Oh, you don't scare me.

I've heard the likes of you before.

What would you know about it, a foreigner?

A foreigner?

If it wasn't for some of my ancestors

coming over on the Mayflower, you wouldn't even be here.

Well, you certainly look like a foreigner around these parts.

Well, I've been out here for 2 years.

Maybe that doesn't make me a native,

but I daresay I've seen as much of the west as you have.

In fact, before I lost all my store goods in a flood,

I used to travel all over here as a salesman.

Well, now skip all that.

Now you got no stake in this, as far as I'm concerned.

You know, you have the most remarkable habit

of being wrong about everything.

You may not know this,

but Branch and Reb took me in after the flood.

I hadn't got a thing, I'd lost everything,

not a penny in my pocket,

except those two mules that pulled my store wagon.

The marshal gave me a job when nobody else would.

I can assure you that I owe both of them

a great deal more that I can ever pay.

Well, suit yourself.

But it's just as easy to dig a grave

for three as it is for two.

Yeah.

[ leaves rustling ]

Oh, guess I should have whistled or something.

Anything wrong?

No, but I can't help feeling edgy

with Vern Buckner locked up in that wagon down there.

I don't see why.

We've done enough looking around to make sure nobody is here.

Yeah, nobody we can see.

Branch, you're beginning to sound just like Patches,

always worried about trouble that hasn't got here yet.

Figure we'll make Laramie by tomorrow night?

Yeah, if we're lucky.

Good, maybe we can rest up for a few days, huh?

Depends on orders from Cheyenne.

They may want us to bring Buckner all the way in.

Hanging's about the same, one place or another.

He's got to be tried first.

Waste of time.

I can't stop you from thinking that way, Reb,

but as long as you're wearing that star,

I'd just as soon you kept it to yourself.

The law is your bible, isn't it, Branch?

No, it's pretty close behind.

The bible shows a man right from wrong in his heart,

law spells it out in his head.

Lesson for today.

Glad to hear you're studying.

You better get back to that wagon.

Be rolling before sunup.

All the men spotted?

Yeah, they're up along the slope on this side of the river.

Good, that wagon will be here soon.

They're leaving a dust trail nobody could miss.

Yeah. They'll never know what hit 'em.

Pass the word to wait until that wagon's in mid-stream

and open up on the driver and team first.

Right.

[ horse approaching ]

Clint, a rider coming in on the south trail to the crossing.

It's probably De Walt.

He was due in last night.

No, it didn't look like him.

No, that isn't De Walt.

Well, whoever it is, he means trouble.

Take a couple of the men and stop him.

You can pick him off at the ravine.

And no shooting.

Those marshals might hear it.

Use your rope, and the knife will take care of the rest.

Right.

[ wagon approaching ]

Well, now, that looks a lot more natural.

Of course, that badge kind of spoils the effect.

How's it feel being a law man now?

Any different on that side of the gun?

Any better doing the chasin' instead of the runnin'?

For the last time, shut up!

Everything all right?

Everything except that big mouth of his. Can't we shut him up?

No, siree. I'm your prisoner.

You got to treat me right.

That's the law.

No law says we have to listen. Let's get out of this dust.

How much further to the crossing?

Just round the bend.

You said that half an hour ago.

What bend?

Has Vern been sticking burrs under your saddle?

Why do we have to take that kind of stuff from him?

Well, I've always found his kind talk the biggest

when they're most scared.

The fellas it bothers the most are those who,

well, aren't exactly too sure of themself.

Don't you trust me yet?

I trust you.

Do you trust yourself?

All right, Patches. Roll it across.

[ gunshots ]

Cover me.

Keep him pinned down on the other side.

Where are you going?

That cowpuncher sprung a trap for us.

We can't leave him there alone.

Well, what can I do, Reb?

Here, take this.

All right.

I'm over here, Clint!

Come on and get me!

I told you no shooting.

Couldn't help it, he got away from us.

All right, forget about him.

Go for the men around the wagon.

Go for them by the--

He made it.Yeah.

Getting over there is one thing, but getting back is another.

Keep pourin' it on.

Same old McGary.

Never waits for an invite.

I should have known it was you, Jess.

Nobody else ever got in a mess like this.

Oh, I don't know.

You didn't seem to have much trouble.

Clint, it's no use. Let's get out of here.

Not without my brother.

We can't do anything about him now.

We lost too many men already.

They're taking off, Jess.

Legging up the hill.

Jess?

Jess?

Jess!

Reb, get over here!

What's the matter? Can't you get it out?

I daren't risk trying anymore. It's too near the heart.

Well, doesn't that book of yours tell you how to do it?

Yes, it also tells me what will happen

if I'm even an eyelash off.

Probing for a bullet in an arm or a leg is one thing but this,

a doctor will have to do it, and soon too.

We won't be in Laramie before tomorrow afternoon,

at the earliest.

Bouncing around in that wagon all day, he won't last.

Even farther going back.

Yeah, the only other doctor I know of is in Ironwood.

Well, now, look who's a nursemaid.

Does that go with the badge too?

Buckner, I'm warning you right now.

You don't keep your mouth shut,

I'll nail it closed with your own teeth.

Look who's trying to be tough.

You can't touch me.

Try me.

Easy, easy, Jess.

Don't move no more than you have to.

Where's McGary?

He's riding outside.

I'm Reb Carlton, the deputy.

I'm glad to see you in one piece.

What about Buckner?

Still got a date with a rope.

It's a tumbleweed wagon, eh?

Uh-huh.

It's funny.

Slim always said I'd wind up riding in one of these.

We're taking you to the doctor.

How bad is it?

Well, nothing that can't be patched up.

Why don't you stop kidding him?

Shut up.

They don't even think you can last till they get to Ironwood.

Ironwood?

You can't go there. It's Buckner territory.

Just lie still.

My brother will be there, waiting.

Buckner, I warned you.

McGary! McGary!

What's going on in there?

I don't quite know.

Hold up.

Any trouble in here, Reb?

No, not now.

Good.

How about you, Buckner, any complaints?

That's good. I wouldn't want it spread around

that we don't treat our prisoners right.

We'll be in Ironwood in a half hour, Reb.

All right, Patches, take it away.

[ dog barking ]

Hey, come back here.

Think of all we've meant to each other.

Oh.

How is he?

Hanging by his teeth, that's about it.

As soon as we get him inside, you go for the doc.

You there.

You in charge of this rig here?

That's right. Are you the sheriff?

No, justice of the peace.

We don't have no sheriff here.

Jethroe is the name.

McGary, Territorial Marshal.

My deputy and my driver.

Howdy.

You've got Vern Buckner in there, haven't you?

Word travels fast.

Well, now I don't want any trouble.

Ironwood's a peaceable town.

Fine. We're peaceable men.

But you're gonna get things all riled up.

Vern's got friends here, and his brother.

That's our problem, Mr. Jethroe.

No, it's mine.

You stay here and all tarnation's gonna bust loose.

Branch, we're wasting time.

I appreciate your concern, Mr. Jethroe,

but I've got another man in that wagon.

He's hurt badly. He needs a doctor right away.

Well, I...

I'm sorry, that don't change things.

He's hurt too bad to move any further.

Now I'm gonna have to use your jail.

And I need another cell for Buckner.

No. Nothing doing.

I won't allow you to bring him in my jail.

I won't allow it.

In case you've forgotten, if you ever knew,

the United States marshal has authority

over every peace officer in the territory.

I don't care what you've got, you're not bringing him in.

What are we arguing with him for?

You stay back. You're not coming in.

I know my rights.

Well, you just go ahead and exercise those rights, Mr. Jethroe.

But you can do it without blowing your leg off.

Now where's the key to that cell?

Ah, on the desk inside.

All right, now get out of here.

You'll get your jail back when I'm finished with it.

That's the local law?

That's why it's this kind of a town.

Come on, let's get Jess inside.

Hey, Clint.

See?

Yeah, yeah, I got eyes. Is Vern all right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fixing to moving him into a cell now.

They are, huh?

Looks like we did some damage.

He's hurt pretty bad.

Must be why they've come here, huh, to get a doctor for him?

I'll round up the men.

That jail's an egg crate, we can bust it wide open.

Wait a minute.

We don't have to.

The way I see it, they're gonna open the door

and let Vern walk out all by himself.

Come on.

Look at this. Probably hasn't been washed in years,

but we're gonna need bandages.

Wonder what's keeping Reb.

I could have gone through this town a dozen times by now.

Well, doctor's probably out on a call.

I hope that's the reason.I'll go and wash this and unhitch the team.

McGary!

Take it easy, Jess, lie still.

The way I feel,

I couldn't move if you lit a fire under me.

You'll be all right soon, Reb's bringing the doctor.

Yeah, sure.

You're a fool, McGary.

You never should have come here.

Who was the fool who rode into that ambush?

That's got nothing to do with it.

Jess, you couldn't have made it to Laramie.

Maybe.

But you had a job to do, bring that prisoner in.

I've had a lot of jobs since I last saw you, Jess.

There have been a lot of prisoners.

Somehow...

it just doesn't seem to be workin' anymore.

Bringing a man in, seeing him punished.

What does it prove? They never learn.

That tumbleweed wagon's always got somebody in it.

You're getting old, Mac.

I'm getting tired, Jess.

I'm getting tired of trying to keep a house clean

that everybody is trying to make dirty.

You still shou--

You still should have kept going.

It's worth a lot more to me to save a man's life

than take one to an execution.

[ footsteps approaching ]

That must be the doctor.

You're the doctor?

No. You McGary the marshal?Yes.

My name is Rafferty, this is Mr. Davis.

We're here to talk to you about your--

We'll talk outside.

Right here is good enough for us.

Not for me, now outside.

[ chattering ]

All right, what is it?

We're a citizens committee, McGary.

We're here to protest the unwarranted,

high-handed, arrogant way--

Cut it short, Mr. Rafferty.

You don't like the way I treated your justice of the peace.

It's inexcusable.

You may be a United States marshal, but this is our town.

Mr. Jethroe represents the law here.

There's no law here to represent.

Now hold on.

Except the law enforced by Buckner gang,

and any other range rat who comes in packing a .45.

It's not just Jethroe's fault, you're all to blame

for lying in the gutter and letting him walk all over you.

We don't have to listen to this.

And I don't have to stand here arguing.

Now wait a minute, marshal.

Maybe we're wrong, I don't know, but too late to change now.

The Buckners are here and there's nothing we can do about that.

There's plenty that can be done about it.

I'd kill a snake by cutting off its head.

Get rid of Clint, you get rid of the whole gang.

Marshal, you said you would--It's my job.

Sure, sure, it's your job to get rid of them,

but they'll make us pay for it.

Marshal, you've got to leave, please.

Innocent people will be hurt.

And I've got an innocent man in there

who will die if I don't stay.

If we find the doctor for you, if we bring him in...

You bring him.

Deals come later.

Let's get back to the meeting hall.

REB: Branch!

Where's the doctor?

He's gone.

You mean he's on a call?

No, vamoosed.

I've been up and down and in and out

of every place in town. No sign of him.

Somebody must know where he went.

Uh-huh. Somebody does.

Doctor's housekeeper said the last time

she saw him was this morning, right after we hit town.

He left his office with Clint Buckner.

Buckner?

His fever's going up.

And I thought I was helping him by bringing him here.

We'd be burying him now if we kept on for Laramie.

Will you let me do what I asked?

Let me try to find Clint Buckner, I'll make him tell me.

Oh, you're good, Reb, but not good enough

to outgun the whole outfit.

BUCKNER: McGary!

Come on out, I want to talk to you.

That Buckner?

Yeah, I'll handle this.

Keep an eye on the street.

Hey, McGary, can you hear me?

Funny thing.

All these years we've been rubbing each other's fur the wrong way.

This is the first time it's been just the two of us,

face to face.

Just the two of us?

Oh, come on, you can trust me.

Sure, Clint, and you can trust me.

Hey, wait a minute, I'm not looking for trouble.

I got a swap for you.

Who says I'm in the market?

That fella in there with a bullet in him, he says.

Well?

Come on, McGary, you don't need any spelling lessons.

I want Vern and you want a doctor.

A straight swap.

How do I know you've got the doctor?

You know.

Bring him around, I want to see him.

Sure, just as soon as Vern walks out that door.

Well, how about it?

I'll have to think it over.

By 5:00.

That give you enough time?

5:00.

Now, McGary,

I wouldn't do too much thinking if I was you.

Your friend won't get any healthier.

McGary!

McGary!

What are you doing?

Let him go!

No, Branch, no!

Branch, you don't understand.

Outside.

Patches, lock the door.

You can't treat me like this, McGary.

I'm your prisoner, you know. I got my rights!

You certainly have. If I were you,

I should complain to the sheriff.

How many times do I have to tell you?

When's it gonna sink in?

You can't manhandle the prisoners.

Ah, look, Branch,

maybe you got it all over me when it comes to the law

and the right way of doing things.

But maybe I can teach you a couple lessons

in taming that brand of polecat.

The first one is,

you don't gentle them, you don't make deals with them.

No, you just push 'em around.

You go gunning for 'em, that settles everything, huh?

Don't you see?

You're letting Clint take the play away from you.

It should be the other way around.

You should be making him swallow the deal

because you've got Vern.

What are you talking about?

How long do you think Clint would hold out

if he saw his brother standing on the edge of the roof with a,

with a rope around his neck?

Uh, he'd know we were bluffing.

But would he call us?

And if he didn't, could you be the hangman?

Ah, it wouldn't come to that.

How do you know that?

That shows you're not thinking straight, Reb.

When you start something like this,

you've got to go all the way.

So we take that chance. So Vern hangs.

What's the difference? He's gonna hang anyway.

He's a murderer 10 times over.

And make murderers out of us too, huh?

Reb, you can't take the law into your own hands.

Well, what are we supposed to do?

Just wait and watch him die?

No.

Rafferty and those other two are looking for the doctor.

That's why I'm stalling, to gain a little time.

What if they don't find him?

Your only other choice is open up that door

and let Vern walk out of here.

And that's just what you'll do, isn't it?

No.

No, I won't buy Vern with Jess' life.

Neither would you, Reb.

But I wouldn't quit without a fight.

Not your way, Reb, that's not fighting,

that's getting right down there in the dirt with him.

Your way is better, huh?

Letting a man like Clint Buckner laugh at you,

make deals with you, walk all over you, that way is any cleaner?

Reb, you got to try to understand.I can't.

I can't understand a law that expects a man

to fight with his hands tied.

Maybe it's good enough for you but not for me.

When you gave me this,

you said it stood for a lot of big things:

justice, peace, order, equality.

That's funny.

Now it just looks like a piece of tin.

Wait a minute, Reb.

I'm sorry, Branch.

Then I guess we've both made a mistake.

Reb.

Reb, listen to me.

Nah, I've heard enough already.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, Branch.

He'll cool off.

Yeah, if he ever stops running.

Leaving so soon?

Well, you hardly got here.

Some people in town you already got to know.

You don't have to bother on my account.

No bother.

Clint wants to make your acquaintance.

Let's go.

Nothing personal.

Just wanted to slow you down,

in case you had any ideas about coming for me.

Simpler this way.

Simpler?Sure.

I could have taken your gun but shooting an unarmed man,

that's called murder.

Let's go.

Where'd you find him?

In the barn, saddling up.

He was gonna leave town.

He wouldn't say where he was going.

What's the matter? You hurt your arm?

Someday you're gonna break a man's arm with that trick, Ragan.

Where's your badge?

I left it with the job.

I noticed you and McGary

weren't too friendly a little while ago.

What was that all about?We had a disagreement.

And look, all I want to do is get out of this rat-hole town.

So if you don't have any more questions,

I'll just saddle up and be on my--

Not so fast.

Not till I get a straight answer.

What's your name?

Reb Carlton.

Carlton? From up north?

Yeah, mostly.

Yeah, sure.

When me and Vern were up around Sundance,

we saw how you handled a couple of tinhorns.

Heard you were building a reputation for yourself.

Vern was thinking of having you tie in with us.

Yeah, he told me.

Next thing we heard, you were hooked up with McGary.

Why?

Had my reasons.

Why are you quitting him now?

Different reasons.

Like what?

Mainly because he wouldn't let me take care of you

in my own way.

Pretty cocky, aren't you?

You asked, I told you.

Where you heading from here?

Any place I can find a job.

Thirty a month?

I've had my fill of that.

We get Vern out, there might be a spot open with us.

No, I work alone.

I don't like splitting with anybody.

A split with us is bigger than anything you can make alone.

I'll think it over. I'll let you know.

Wait a minute.

Think about it now. Come on, I'll buy you a drink.

Nothing personal.

I just wanted to make sure you didn't slow me down any.

Maybe next time you'll be a little more careful

how you use that trick, huh, Ragan?

Come on, Reb, we got 25 minutes to get acquainted.

McGary.

McGary.

Mac, Mac.

Right here, Jess.

Don't let Vern go.

Don't think about it, Jess.

That's for me to decide.

No, Mac.

I got a say-so in this, too.

Please,

please don't make this all for nothing.

I haven't got a chance now.

Don't, don't waste me, Mac.

Jess, I... I can't.

I won't trade you for--

Too far gone to hear you.

I'm sorry, marshal.

We've had everybody in town looking for him.

Well, you did your best.

I know what you think of us, and well, we deserve it.

But I want to tell you, if you decide to let Vern go,

we'll do our best to help you track him down again.

Thanks.

We'll talk about that later.

Right now I think you better get out of here.

If Clint sees you...

Let him.

Good luck, marshal.

VERN: No sense stalling now, marshal.

Come on! Open up!

Roll out the red carpet.

Won't be long now.

Wonder how McGary is taking it.

Yeah, wonder what old Jethroe and Rafferty

are doing over there.

After we get Vern out,

maybe we'd better have a talk with Rafferty,

get ourselves a new justice of the peace.

Have a drink.

No, I'm not one for much of this.

You're going to tie in with us,

you're gonna have to learn to hold your whiskey.

You are coming in, ain't you?

Well, I could do worse, I guess.

Worse?

You couldn't hardly do no better.

You've been with McGary, you ever see anybody else put one over on him?

Put one ov--

You mean you don't have the doc?

Sure, sure, I got the doc.

Well, you better get him here awful quick

if you're gonna go through with your deal.

I can hammer that deal 2 seconds after Vern steps out.

I don't welsh on no deal, not me.

Of course, after Vern's free and clear,

now that's something else again.

Look, I don't take kindly to having my brother locked up

in a jail wagon and he don't either.

I wouldn't be surprised if he's got something real choice

cooked up for McGary.

Especially since it's just he and driver left.

Clint, see what time it is.

Yeah, yeah, keep your shirt on, I'll tell you when.

Everybody wants to be boss.

What's the matter with you?

All of a sudden, I don't feel so good.

Come on, you ain't had that much.

Yeah, I know, but I...

I got...Where are you going?

Outside. I got to get some air.

Air?

Slater, take him out back.

No, it's, it's all right. I...

Just want to make sure, Reb.

I may get drunk sometimes, but never careless.

Now hurry up, you'll miss the whole show.

Hey, Reb, what were you raised on?

Sugar water?

Oh, I got to sit down.

Got to sit down.

Now come on, Reb.

You ain't that sick.

Hey, Reb.

Hey, Reb!

CLINT: Ragan.

Ragan!

Yeah, what do you want?

Time's up.

I'm going out there. Keep your eyes on me.

When I signal you, you bring down the doc,

but not before.

Right.

All right, Ragan.

Hold it.

Don't you even breathe.

Just the way you are, nice and natural,

and get away from that window.

Just like I thought, a double-cross.

I played it straight with Clint

until I found out just how straight he plays,

like a corkscrew.

Get over against that wall.

McGary, it's 5:00, how about it?

Don't turn around, there's nothing for you to see.

You said you'd bring the doctor.

When I see Vern walk through that door

and not a second before.

All right, Patches, bring him out.

REB: No!

Don't do it, Branch!

I've got the doctor up here--

Why, you dirty--

Drop those guns.

You're under arrest.

Take it easy, Jess.

What's going on?Nothing for you to worry about.

It's just Branch and Reb teaching some cowboys

a few manners.

Hang on, please, please, Jess.

Come on, doc, hurry up.

Get over to the jail, quick.

Thought you didn't like fighting with your hands tied.

Well, it's better than not fighting at all, I guess.

But on the side of the law, huh?

I can stand it if you can.

I was hoping you'd see it that way, Reb.

Slim! Aunt Daisy!

Slim, come quick!

Look!

What kind of a contraption is that?

It's a traveling jail.

They call it a tumbleweed wagon.Tumbleweed?

Yeah, 'cause it's always on the move

picking up law breakers.

Why is it coming here?

I don't know.

This the Sherman ranch?That's right.

Branch McGary, territorial marshal.

I've brought a...

You're not bringing a criminal here.

Yes, ma'am.

He's awful dangerous,

but I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave him here.

Now wait a minute.

Jess.

Oh, no.

Slim, Daisy, Mike.

JESS: Well, what's the matter? Aren't you glad to see me?