All language subtitles for S03E06 - The Brazos Kid

[ Trolley Bell Clangs ]

Samantha Frye?

Yes, sir.This story of yours--
it's a great story, Miss Frye.

It's filled with pathos,
fraught with suspense.

Tear on every line.Thank you, sir.

And not a fact in it!
Miss Frye, you are fired!

[ Man ]
A very good story, Miss Frye.

Unfortunately, the chairman
of the board of aldermen...

objects to being referred to
as "Finky" Malloy.

In fact, he's suing
this newspaper
for $10,000.

And the chief of police
is suing for 15!
And if that's not enough--

The city council,
as a man, has threatened
to close us down altogether!

Now, what do you
have to say to that?

I'm fired?

[ Train Whistle Blows ]

[ Bell Clanging ]

Wouldn't be
the 9:12, would it?It is.

Roads gettin' better
all the time, aren't they?

Got a letter there
for Judge Henry Garth?

Thanks.
Keep up the good work.

Uh, hey, you.
Uh, hombre?

Me?Uh, yeah. Yes, you.

Uh, come here a minute,
will you?

Uh, howdy.Howdy.

Um, native to
these here parts?Yep.

Just how big
is this whistle stop?

Ma'am, that all depends
on how you look at it.

To some folks, it's
a mighty big town. To others,
it's not so big at all.

Just depends
on what you're used to.Ah.

Um, i-is there
a newspaper in town?

Well, that all depends
on how you look at it too.

You tryin' to kid me
or something?Yep.

[ Chuckles ]

All right, I deserve it.
Will you show me
where the newspaper is?

Happy to.

Where you from,
Miss, uh--Frye.

Samantha Frye.
I came through from Chicago,
heading for San Francisco.

Oh. Well, why stop
at Medicine Bow?

The conductor discovered
I was traveling
on an expired pass.

Really?
How'd you get this far
on an old pass?

Batted my eyes
at the trainman.
[ Giggles ]

Well, now--No ideas, mister.

I'm a newspaperman.You're a which?

Well, what's wrong with that?
Haven't you ever heard
of a woman reporter?

Pretty rare
around these parts.I'll bet.

Well,
there's your newspaper.

Les Jensen owns it.

Publishes every Thursday,
mostly.

Les is a nice fella,
but he's not much
of a go-getter.

Yeah, I can see that.

Well,
thank you very much.

[ Clears Throat ]
Friend of yours?Who's that?

Young lady
you were talking to.No, she's a stranger. Why?

Don't you know the first thing
a lawman does is check
on strangers in town?

That's the way you operate, huh?Know of a better way
to meet interesting people?

Somethin' on your mind, miss?Just watching.

Dang it. Where are those
dang capital T's?

Here.[ Murmurs ]

I see why you
publish once a week
as a general rule.

[ Sighs ]Here, give me that.

What's this word?"Unconstitutional."

[ Sighs ]

Where'd you learn
to set type like that?

Grew up in a print shop.
Where'd you learn to spell?

I never learned exactly.
I kinda go by instinct.

Well, your instincts
are all wrong, friend.

[ People Chattering ]

Afternoon, Danny.Afternoon.
You're in town early.

Had some errands to do
for the judge.
Give me a beer.

Joe.
Buy you one?

No, thanks.
I gotta be gettin' back.

Sure don't see
much of him.

Some folks like
to travel alone, I guess.
Joe Cleary's one of 'em.

[ Sighing ]
There.

You oughta straighten out
that pied type.

Ah, figure
I'll get to it someday.

Well, that's one of
the first things I'll do
when you hire me.

I didn't say nothin'
about hirin' you.Well, you need somebody.

I may as well be it.

Depending, of course,
on what you'll pay.

Well, if I was hirin'--
and I say if--

oh, I might go
as high as, uh,
eight dollars a week.

I got double that on
the Chicago Inter Ocean!

Well, this ain't
the Chicago Inter Ocean.

Why-- [ Door Opens ]

Les, where are those
handbills I ordered?

Oh, uh,
hello, Emmett.
I was, uh--

I was going to get to those
the first thing,
right after--

You've been going
to get to those things
for the first thing...

for the last two weeks.Yeah.

How do you do?

Oh, uh, Miss, uh--Samantha Frye.

Uh, say hello
to Emmett Ryker.
Emmett's our deputy sheriff.

How do you do? Miss Frye's comin'
to work for me.

- Eight dollars a week.
- Now, wait a minute.

Uh, you better take it,
Miss Frye, because that's
high wages for this town.

[ Sighs ]

Do you know a good
boarding house in town--
that I can afford?

Yeah. There's, uh--
Try Ennith McKillan's.

Three dollars a week,
and the food's prime.Mmm.

Okay, we've got a deal.
Give me an advance
on my salary. Four dollars.

[ Ryker ]
I'll, uh, wait for you.Well, I don't know. I--

What kind of a hayseed
journal are you running,
Mr. Jensen?

Anyone knows
the first thing you do
when you hire a reporter...

is give him
an advance on his salary.Why?

Because a reporter never has
enough to live on until payday.

I'll, uh, show you the way.Thank you.

Hey, you come back
right after dinner,
you hear?

Got a lot of work to do.
Tomorrow's publishing day,
you know.

Maybe.

I missed you.Oh, I've only been gone
a few hours.

Long enough to be missed.
Did you get everything?

I think so.
I, uh, even got
a couple of extras.

My.

Oh, you're extravagant, Joe.
It's beautiful.

A rider came by
from Shiloh today.Oh?

You want to go?You know I don't
care much about parties.

Well, maybe we ought to go
just this once.

Do you think
it would be all right?We never go anyplace anymore.

You haven't been
off this ranch in weeks.I don't mind.

Well, we'll
talk about it later.
Let's have supper.

♪♪ [ Guitar, Up-tempo ]

♪ Well, girls on Cripple Creek
are sweet as any wine ♪

♪ And they wrap
their arms around you
like a sweet potato vine ♪

♪ Roll my britches up
to my knees ♪

♪ I'll wade ol' Cripple Creek
as far as I please ♪

♪ Yeah, goin' down
to Cripple Creek
Goin' on a run ♪

♪ Goin' down to Cripple Creek
to have a little fun ♪

♪ Goin' down to Cripple Creek
Goin' on a whirl ♪

♪ Goin' down to Cripple Creek
to see my girl ♪

♪ Well, I'm a-roundin' strays
and pitchin' hay ♪

♪ Tryin' to earn
my dollar a day ♪

♪ But when my daily chores
are done ♪

♪ Cripple Creek
Well, here I come ♪

♪ Goin' down to Cripple Creek
Goin' on a run ♪

♪ Goin' down to Cripple Creek
to have a little fun ♪

♪ Goin' down to Cripple Creek
Goin' on a whirl ♪

♪ Goin' down to Cripple Creek
to see my girl ♪♪

♪♪ [ Band: Dance ]

Enjoying your work
on the Banner,Miss Frye?Not very much.

The news is a little
on the dull side, I'm afraid.

Oh, you know-- meetings,
school reports, church affairs.

I thought the West
was a lot woollier
than it really is.

Well, some of us
are happy that
it's been shorn and tamed.

I'll bet you could tell
some hair-raising stories.

Have you ever
killed any Indians?

We usually leave
the Indian fighting
to the Army.

How about outlaws?How about 'em?

Well, have you ever
run into any?Oh, some. Why?

Well, Indian fights,
outlaw bands, gun battles.

Do you know what that's worth in
some of the magazines back East?No, what?

Two cents a line.Hmm.

When a girl's trying to live
on eight dollars a week and
failing, that's quite a lot.

[ Both Chuckle ]

I sold four dollars' worth
in the last two weeks.

Well, you must've used up
just about all the stories
there are by now.

[ Clears Throat ]
Excuse me. Do you mind?

You packin' a warrant?Come on, son. You gotta show
some respect for the law.

Mrs. Cleary.
Joe, I'm glad
you could make it.

Well, thanks for askin' us.Gee, that's
a lovely dress, Anne.

Come on. I'll introduce you
to some of the people.

♪♪ [ Band: Up-tempo ][ Guests Chattering ]

[ Chattering ]

♪♪ [ Continues ]

I'm glad you came.

Well, I figured it was
about time we started
acting like human beings.

Might not be so easy. We haven't
seen this many people under
one roof in a lot of years.

Just relax
and enjoy yourself.
The past is dead.

- You really think so?
- As dead as the Brazos Kid.

[ Joe ]
Well, I'll drink to that.

I hope I'm not interrupting.

Oh, uh, do you know
Mr. Cleary?

Joe, this is Samantha Frye.
She just went to work
for the Banner.

How do you do?Fine, thank you.

It's getting late,
and we have a long ride.Of course.

Will you walk out
with us, Mr. Cleary?

♪♪ [ Ends ]

[ Quietly ]
Whoa.

Are we there?Mm-hmm.

Oh, my.

Fresh air certainly
does pack a wallop.

Did I sleep all the way?Most of it.

Did you have a good time?Too good, I'm afraid.

I was so busy
enjoying myself, I forgot
to do any reporting.

Oh, Les is
going to be annoyed.

Ahh, it's a shame.What?

Here we are-- you and me,
great big full moon,

and one of us can't forget
you're a newspaperman.

[ Chuckles ]
Maybe if I try very hard.[ Chuckles ]

That reminds me.
Who is the Brazos Kid?

What?The Brazos Kid.

I heard you mention his name
tonight, and I didn't get
a chance to ask you earlier.

Why would you want
to ask me at all?

Well, it's a colorful name.
Two cents a line, remember?
[ Chuckles ]

Who was he?Eh, he's just a cowboy
that ran into some bad luck.

An outlaw?Mm-hmm.

Ended up
the way most of 'em do.Dead?

Mm-hmm.

Ah, you know,
I'm gonna be--What did he do?

Who?The Brazos Kid.

Ah, well, he, uh, tried
to kiss a gal one time,

in the moonlight
in front of her roomin' house.

Is that against the law?No, no.

She kept talkin'
about some other fella,
so, finally, he strangled her.

Oh.

Well, in that case--

We wouldn't want you
going to jail, now,
would we? Good night.

Good night.

[ Kisses ]

What are you doin',
Samantha?Mmm.

Uh, looking through
the back files.

Oh, now, maybe if you told me
what you were looking for.

The Brazos Kid.Oh, him.

You knew him?

Well, I know about him,
but I didn't know him.

And I didn't
want to know him
or anybody like him.

He was a murdering man,
Samantha.

A cold-blooded killer
that'd just as soon
shoot you down...

as pass the time
of day with you.

At least
that's what they say.

Good morning,
Mr. Ryker.

Well, how are you, Miss Frye?
Did you get home
from the party all right?

Oh, did you think
I wouldn't?

I was figuring on
taking it on myself,

but I, uh-- I guess
I don't move fast enough.

Oh, you were moving
at a pretty good rate
the last time I saw you.

[ Chuckles ]
What can I do
for you?

Or is this
a social call?

Well, I'm doing
a little research.

What can you tell me
about the Brazos Kid?

Oh, well, not very much,
I'm afraid.

Uh, he was wanted
for a lot of things, but they
never caught up with him.

What did he look like?

Never was a very clear
description of him.

Let's see, he was supposed to be
a tall man, uh, soft-spoken,
a real polite sort of fella.

Some say he came
from someplace below
the Mason-Dixon Line.

Hmm. Did you know him?

Oh, no,
I never met the fella.

What--
What's your interest
in the Brazos Kid?

- Money. Two cents a line,
to be exact.
- Mmm.

Listen, you know
what I make on the Banner.

Yeah, you make
eight dollars a week.

Mm-hmm. By careful scrimping,
saving and doing without,
I manage to live on nine.

[ Chuckles ]

I'm into Les Jensen
for salary advances,

and a few more months
on the Bannerwill find me
in perpetual servitude.

So, you see,
I have to make money
on the side.

Uh-huh.
With the Brazos Kid?

Well, it's a colorful name.

Bank robber,
train robber, killer.

Wanted from the Rio Grande
to the Canadian line.

Nobody knows
much about where he came from.

- How did he die?
- Drowned.

Where's he buried?He isn't.
They never found his body.

A writer
can do things with that.

[ Sighs ]

[ Trolley Bell Clangs ]

Oh, yes, and get in touch
with that writer, Miss, uh--
What's her name?

Frye.Oh, yes. Tell her to send all
she can get on the Brazos Kid.

At-At two cents a line,
Pomeroy.Mm-hmm.

No, by thunder,
we're going to do this
handsomely.

Three cents a line,
and all she can write.

Oh, yes, and for heaven sakes,
do something about that name.

We've got to change that.
Uh, embellish it.

Give her a handle.
Colonel.Colonel.

It's as good as any.
Colonel Sam Frye.

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight.

There you are, Samantha.

Have you heard that the price
of living has gone up,
Mr. Jensen?

Oh, is that a fact now?
Yeah, well, it seems
like it never stops.

Well, I've been finding it
difficult to, uh, get by on my
salary, and I was wondering if--

No, sir.
No, sirree, Bob.You didn't let me finish.

Askin' for a raise,
weren't you?
Well,
I was getting around to it.

Well, there's something
I learned a long time ago,
Miss Frye.

Too much money
is bad for, uh, children,
fools and newspapermen.

Or women,
as the case may be.

It spoils 'em.
I've come to regard you
kindly and fondly, Miss Frye.

And I--
I won't have it said that
I contributed to your ruin.

Good morning, Samantha.
Les.

Hello, Emmett.

I, uh, just picked up
your exchanges
at the post office this morning.

Mail service sure has picked up
since I hired me some new help.

Here's something for you,
Samantha.

Oh! It's from
the National Police Digest.

What's that-- good news?

Ah! Twenty-five dollars!What?

[ Gasps ]
And they want more.

Let's see.

There!
There it is!

Well, you certainly gave
his bones a rattle, Colonel.

Well, what do you think?Nothing.

Why not?Because I don't believe what
I read in scandal magazines.

Well,
as the head of this agency,
that's a luxury I can't afford.

Check it out.

You're the boss, Mr, Pendleton.
But just between the two of us,

I think you're wasting my time
and your money on a case that's
been closed for a long time.

Well, maybe I am.

But if I'm not,
that $5,000 reward on Brazos...

will make the time spent
seem a little more worthwhile.

5,000? You mean
that old railroad
association reward?

I thought they called
that in when he died.

You mean, ifhe died.

Without a body, there's still no
conclusive proof of his death.

And that makes it still
an open file in my book.

You get out there
to Medicine Bow.
Have a talk with this Sam Frye.

From the sound of this story
of his, I got a feeling
he's onto something.

If it's Brazos,
I want him back here-- alive.

I'll leave
first thing in the morning.

And, Delaney, there might be
others who want him.

They'd just as soon
take him dead.

I need a room
for a few days.Certainly.

Well, I'll fix you up with
a nice room, Mr. Sebastian.
A real nice room.

Just give me the key.Certainly, Mr. Sebastian.

Room 7,
head of the stairs.

That's Lou Sebastian.
Somebody's facin'
a lot of trouble.

What you
so dressed up for?Goin' to town.

What for?

If you don't know, remind me
to have a little talk with you.

Hey, did you ever hear
about this fella Brazos?

Wasn't he in
on that business
on the Rosebud?

Randy, I'm surprised at you,
readin' that kind of stuff.

Well, hello.Hello.

What brings you
into town?Payday and you.

[ Rings ]Ah. In that order?

Well, maybe it's
the other way around. How soon
will you be finished here?

Why? Well, I thought we could
go over to the hotel,

have a little dinner
and talk over a few things.

- No?
- Sorry.

[ Ryker ]
What do you say?

Him?

I'll be with you
in a minute, Emmett.

Oh, sure, Samantha, right.
Well, take your time.

[ Clears Throat ]
Well, where you been
all this time?

I chase cows
for a livin',
remember?

Oh, yeah.
That's right, you do.
Yeah. I--

Well, isn't a shame
some people's work interferes
with their social life?

Mm-hmm.

Shall we?Bye-bye.

Oh, uh, would you mind
springing the lock on the door
before you leave?

Not at all.
Have a nice time.

Oh, you can just bet on it,
ol' buddy.

[ Door Closes ]

Uh, do you mind telling me
where we're going? Uh--

It doesn't matter.

Why did you all of a sudden, uh,
decide to go out with me?

A girl shouldn't accept
last-minute invitations.
It cheapens her.

The idea of that big galoot
just riding in here...

and assuming that I've been
waiting breathlessly...

for him to spare
a little time infuriates me.

Good, good, good.
Now, about having
dinner with me.

Oh, I'm gonna be in
a rotten mood all evening
and no fit company for anyone.

If you're smart,
Mr. Ryker,
you'll reconsider.

Oh, I'm not that smart.
I'll, uh-- I'll pick you up
at Mrs. McKillan's.

All right.Good.

[ People Chattering ] [ Samantha Giggling ]

[ Chattering ][ Giggling ]

[ Giggling Continues ]

[ Imitates
Explosion ][ Laughs ]

Don't let me interrupt anything.
Just act like I'm not here.

Well, of all the nerve.Old friend, don't you know
that three's a crowd?

You know, I did hear
somethin' about that once.

I didn't believe it though.
Pass the salt,
would you, please?

[ Sighs ]

I just hate to eat alone.
I was sure you wouldn't mind.

Emmett,
let's simply ignore him.Yeah, that's a fine idea.

Friend,
you are being ignored.

Uh, would you
pass the pepper, please?[ Sighs ]

[ Clatters ]You were about to say,
Emmett?

You know, Samantha,
it's a terrible thing...

when a fella rides 15 miles
into town to see a girl,

and she cooks up another date
on the spur of the moment.

Uh, just a minute, friend.Well, what's a girl
supposed to do?

Just sit around and wait
for a man to come calling?

Well, I told ya.
I chase cows for a living.

Sometimes that cow chasing
takes me an awful
far distance from here.

Well, you could have
at least sent word.

How was I supposed to send word
from 40 miles away?

Now, just a minute--If it was important enough,
you would've sent word.

This isn't the big city,
you know.

We don't have any telegraph
offices or messenger boys
where I've been.

[ Clears Throat ]
I'd like to
say something.

The idea of a man just
walking in and expecting me
to drop everything.

[ Virginian ]
I thought you'd be
pleasantly surprised.

Pleasantly surprised?
I never heard-- Emmett?

Excuse me a minute.

Well, now,
where's he going?Never mind him.

Now, why do you think
I rode 15 miles
all the way into town?

Tell me.I could tell you a lot better
if we were alone.

Hello, Sebastian.Hello, Ryker.

You're the law
in this town?I'm it.

Times change, don't they? Never mind that.

What are you doing here?

Is there any law against
my being here, Deputy?

I'll ask you a different way.

Who are you after?

Brazos Kid's dead.Maybe.
Maybe not.

If he's alive,
there's 5,000 on him.

Mmm.
Dead or alive, hmm?

That's right, dead or alive.

Sebastian, I never had
any use for bounty hunters.

I particularly
never had any use for you.

So don't give me a chance
to prove it to you.

Samantha, the story
of your career could be
summed up in one word.

Fired.Ha!

Fuddy-duddy editors.Oh?

My father always said,
"Never let facts interfere
with a good story."

He said, "Samantha, the average
reader is not interested
in dull, dry statistics.

He wants to hear life, fire,
color, imagination!"

Your father
was a newspaperman?One of the best.

Did you ever hear of
the men on the moon?No.

The New York Sun
put that story out
about 40 years ago.

It sent its circulation up
from nothing to one of
the biggest in the city.

Now, I'm not saying
that people believed it.

But they wanted to believe it,
and they bought papers
to read about it.

My father was working
on the Sunwhen
that story was published.

It left
a lasting impression.I can see that.

Now, what do you mean
by that?

I read your story
on the Brazos Kid.And?

Well, it's exciting
all right and colorful.

Seemed to me
to be more imagination
than anything else.

Uh, is that a compliment,
or, uh, do I sense a
slight air of disapproval?

Ah, Samantha,
I don't have any right
to approve or disapprove.

Just between us,
it was imagination,
wasn't it?

Well, let's call it
clever reporting.

I, uh-- I indicated
that it was possible that
he could still be living.

And if certain editors
want to draw
certain conclusions--

At two cents a line.Exactly!
[ Chuckles ]

You still disapprove?No, no.

It's all over with.
Let's forget about it.

All over?
Not on your tintype!

My editor wants more,
and I'm going to give him
everything I can.

That doesn't make sense.

Brazos isdead.
There's nothing to write about.

Now who's imagining things?
The body was never found.

Unless you know
something I don't.

So, you see? My theory is
just as valid as any other.

What theory is that?

Give me time.
I'll think of one.

I'm sorry.
I can't invite you in.

Mrs. McKillan is a little
old-fashioned about some things.

Hmm.Good night.

Good night.

[ Steam Hissing ]

[ Whistle Blows ][ Bell Clangs ]

May I help you?Yes, I'm looking
for a Colonel Sam Frye.

- Samantha?
- This platen's just about gone.
You better order another one.

Well, never mind that.
There's a gentleman here
to see you.

Yes?

Sam Frye?
Colonel Sam Frye?

[ Chuckles ]
I guess I received
a typographical commission.

Well, what can I do for you,
Mr. Delaney?

Well, I'd like to talk to you...
in private.

Perhaps you'd join me
at dinner?

Well, I never refuse
a free meal, Mr. Delaney.

Shall we say 7:00
at the hotel?

That's fine.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]What's his business?

He's with the Pendleton
Detective Agency.

Pendleton?

Samantha, have you been
up to something?

Ask me after dinner.

[ Men Shouting, Hooting ]

Hyah!

[ Whinnying ]

Hyah!

Good-looking
saddle stock.Yeah.

Judge, have you
got a few minutes?
I need some legal advice.

Got a dollar?Sure.

That constitutes
a retainer.

Now anything you tell me
is a privileged communication
between counsel and client.

Come into the house.

[ Horse Whinnies ]

Now, what is this
all about?

Well, Judge, suppose that
seven or eight years ago,

a fella had gotten himself
into trouble with the law.

He was on the run,
a posse chasin' him,
but he lost 'em.

And they thought
he was dead.

Well, now, suppose
he turned up alive now?

What do you think
would happen to him?

Well, it would depend
on the nature of his crimes.

The statute of limitations
doesn't apply in capital cases.

I assume you're talkin'
about a friend of yours?

Yes, a good friend.

I see.

Did you ever hear
of the Brazos Kid?

He wasn't as bad
as he was made out to be.

I've heard that said before.

He had reasons for a lot
of the things he did.

Did he indeed?

How would you advise him,
Judge?

I'd advise him
to give himself up
and stand trial...

in the hope that time
might've softened
the public's memory.

Thanks.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]

Well, you look like
the tail end
of a misspent life.

You better come inside
and have some coffee.

Is Anne in there?Yeah.

Let's walk a piece.

Well, I've been
expectin' this.

So far, it's nothing
but a story.

It's enough to bring every
hide hunter in the country
to Medicine Bow.

Just the rumor
that the Brazos Kid
might be alive...

will bring 'em like
buzzards to a carcass.

What are you gonna do?

Well, I don't know.
I've had about eight good years.

That's about as much as a man
in my position can expect.

I tell you, ever
since I came here,

I've kept the guns oiled
and the saddlebags packed,
'cause this day had to come.

The day when somebody
surmised that I didn't die
on the Rosebud.

Well, maybe
I'll just clear out.What about Anne?

She's known what to expect.

Look, nobody can prove
that the Brazos Kid
isn't dead.

There's no reason
to start running. This may
not amount to anything.

Those are the things that
trip a man up-- the things
that don't amount to anything.

Worst comes to worst,
there's other things
to do besides run, you know.

What-- turn myself in?
[ Scoffs ]

I'd either hang
or I'd rot in jail.

Just don't run.
It's the surest way I know
to get a bullet in you.

Well, it's better
than years in jail
or a rope.

Nobody's gonna hang,
Joe.

All the things
they said about you
aren't true.

I'm glad you believe it.

I believe it.

Miss Frye, where did
you get the facts
for this story?

Oh, a newspaperman
never reveals his source.

There's still an outstanding
reward for the Brazos Kid--
$5,000.

Very interesting.

If you know anything about
his present whereabouts--

Oh, whatever
gave you that idea?

Your description of
the Brazos Kid tallies with
everything we know about him.

Come on, Miss Frye.
You must have
some information.

I told you, a newspaperman
never reveals his sources.

Miss Frye, I think
you're a fraud. I don't
believe you know anything.

I think your story
is a figment
of the imagination.

Ah. In that case, Mr. Delaney,
I'm afraid you've wasted
the price of a good dinner.

I'll ask you for the last time,
do you know anyone who might be
the Brazos Kid?

You're the detective,
Mr. Delaney.
Suppose you find out.

Morning.Morning.

Deputy Ryker, I'm--Surprised, Delaney?

In a way.

I didn't really
believe the stories, but
if they brought you here--

You took the words
right out of my mouth.

If you two are through saying
your hellos, I'll tell you
why I sent for you.

I'll make it short.
[ Clears Throat ]

I think you're wasting
your time in Medicine Bow,
but that's your problem.

Mine is keeping the peace.I'm not a law-breaker,
Deputy. I'm--

You're a private detective.

I'll admit your agency has
a good reputation, but private
doesn't mean legal.

It doesn't give you.
any authority to make an arrest.

If you want
the law enforced,
you come to me.

I never intended
anything else.

Mmm. Well, then,
we'll get along.

- As for you--
- I'm just an honest businessman
trying to make a living.

[ Sighs ]
Mm-hmm.[ Thud ]

If telling yourself that makes
you sleep any better nights,
you go ahead.

Just remember,
you find anybody you think's
the Brazos Kid, you come to me.

If you're right,
I'll see you get your reward.

I've heard
that story before.

Even tried it once
when I was young
and didn't know any better.

Know what happened?
Some lawman got rich.

You remember this.

You try packing anybody
out of Medicine Bow
across the back of a horse--

anybody--
and I'll see you hang.

Now get out of here.

One question.

What happens if Brazos
and I run into each other
outside of Medicine Bow?

What then, Deputy?

Well, what now?

Do we go
have a drink together
like civilized people?

Pretend we don't
hate each other?Why not?

You buy.

I'll trade the drink
for some information.

What'd you find out
from the girl?

I don't know
what you're talkin' about.Colonel Frye.

Prettiest colonel
I ever saw. Did she tell you
anything about the Kid?

She doesn't know a thing.You're a cheerful liar.

Then let's forget
about the trade. I'll buy.

Saloon's down the street.

The last time I had a friendly
glass with you, I didn't
come to for three days.

Cost me
a thousand-dollar bounty.

Just protecting
the company's interests, Lou.
You can't blame a man for that.

Only when it conflicts
with my interest, Delaney.

All right,
I'll take another
chance with you.

By the way,
what was that stuff you
put in my drink that time?

Chloral hydrate.

I'll have to
remember that.

Yeah.

"Then, gentle reader,
ask yourself,

"if the Brazos Kid
is dead, as claimed,

"why the world's
greatest detective agency...

"has sent one of
its keenest operatives
into Medicine Bow?

"Can it be that the soul of
outlawry walks amongst us
in this quiet cow town,

wearing the guise of simple
homesteader, honest rancher
or dashing cowboy?"

[ Chuckles ]
That's bully stuff,
Pomeroy! Bully!

Oh, very bully, Mr. Fix.
Very bully. Mm-hmm.

Oh, Pomeroy, you have
the soul of an oyster.

Pomeroy, wire Colonel Frye
at once.

Tell her to send
all she can.
Milk it dry.

How's it goin'?Oh, not too bad.

Should be finished
in another half hour or so.That's fine.

You still readin'
that thing?

Yeah, there's a new story
in there about the Brazos Kid.

Says he could be livin'
right here in these parts,
if he's still alive.

Is that what it says?

Well, not just like that,
but I can figure things
good as the next fella.

Has a description.A description?

Why don't you
take a look at it? Maybe you
can figure out who he is.

Where is it?

[ Door Slams ]Oh, well, good afternoon,
Emmett.

Samantha, I want to talk to you
about those stories you've been
writing in the Police Digest.

Oh, dear.
[ Chuckles ]

Don't tell me you're after
the Brazos Kid too.

If I was, and I believed
those articles of yours,

I'd have a pretty good idea
where to find him.

Really? Where?

Don't play innocent with me,
Samantha.

You described the Virginian
in these stories right down
to the way he parts his hair.

Now,
it's about time you stopped.
Somebody's liable to get killed.

Oh, aren't you being
a little melodramatic?

What do you think
Delaney and Sebastian
are doing here in town?

Following me.Following you?

Uh-huh.

Come on.
See?

There's one of them.

[ Chuckles ]
I suppose they think I'll
lead them to the Brazos Kid.

Samantha, do you realize
if you'd have stopped
writing those stories,

that pair would have
left town by now?

Oh, I wouldn't
want that to happen.

Why, they make good copy
while they're here.

You know, the man hunter
in pursuit of the outlaw.

Do you know that one of them
is a cold-blooded killer?Oh, now, Emmett, really.

Have you seen the Virginian
since those two
started trailing you?

Certainly.
Why not?

I'm trying to explain
to you, Samantha.
This is not the East!

Men still get killed out here.

They get killed
in silly quarrels
over fool misunderstandings.

Now, you started something,
Samantha, with your stories
about the Brazos Kid.

In the beginning,
it wasn't so bad.

But now you've practically
branded him and ear-bobbed him
as the Virginian!

Well, he can certainly prove
he isn't the Brazos Kid.
Can't he?

If he has time.
Samantha, I want you to
stop writing these things.

Well, I'm not going to.
Just what do you think you are,

coming in here and
telling me what to write
and what not to write?

Didn't you ever hear of
freedom of the press?

Oh, now, just a minute.Now, just a minute nothing!

I'm standing
on constitutional rights...

that you or any other
cow town constable
can't take away from me!

You go on.
Get out of here.
I have work to finish up.

Go on.

It's a shame
I can't take your pencil
and paper away from you.

They're deadlier
than any six-gun.

[ Sighs ]

What's the cheapest room?Day or week?

We'll start with a week.That'll be seven dollars.

Room 12.
Second floor, front.

And where does a man go
for a payday blowout
around here?

There's a saloon
right down the street.

♪♪ [ Piano, Up-tempo ]

[ Blusters ]

♪♪ [ Piano Continues ]

Well, here's luck.

Good or bad?Both.

Good to me, bad to you.

Let's keep it friendly, Lou.
The Brazos Kid.

[ Danny ]
Evening.Good evening, Danny.

Monongahela.

You know somethin' funny?

I was just readin'
about that Brazos Kid
in the Digest.

He drinks
the very same thing.Oh, yeah?

Might have to talk to
that Colonel Sam Frye.

You given
much thought to him?

♪♪ [ Piano Continues ]

You mean--

Don't try to
play it clever with me.

You've been checkin' him out,
same as I have.

[ Sebastian ]
If anybody in this town's
the Brazos Kid,

it's gettin' to look
more and more
like that cowhand.

You're getting old, Lou.
He's a cowhand, period.

Fits the description
in those stories.

That description
could fit a lot of others.

Granted.

But this one came into
Medicine Bow soon after
Brazos was reported dead.

And this one is friendly
with our Miss Frye.

I figure he's
a pretty good suspect.

You know what I think, Lou?

I think you're trying
to false-trail me.

Would I do that to a friend?

'Cause I know you.

If you thought that was
the Brazos Kid standing
over at the bar,

you'd have shot him
in the back a long time ago.

Brazos.

That settles that much.

- You're makin'
a mistake, friend.
- No mistake, Brazos.

- Tell me you don't know me.
- I don't know you.

You're a liar.

You couldn't look at me
and not know
I'm Mike Ringbolt's brother.

I don't know a Mike Ringbolt.

You killed him--
in Laredo, nine years ago.

Gunned him before he even
had a chance to draw.

Now do you remember?

No, I don't remember.
You're makin'
a big mistake, friend.

Yeah.
Maybe I did make a mistake.

Dead?

Yeah.
You better get Ryker.

[ Man Sighs ]

Mike Ringbolt's brother.
Who'd know the Brazos Kid
better?

No doubt about it being
self-defense?Nope.

There'll be a hearing,
but there's, uh,
no reason to hold you.

I, uh, looked up some facts
on the Brazos Kid.

He wasn't so bad.

Uh, to me, he looks like
a fiddle-foot cowboy,
got into trouble once or twice,

and, uh,
he just ran away from it.

After that, he got blamed
for a lot of things
he never did.

A man can get
a bad reputation like that.

I know that. I had some trouble
along those lines myself once.

Now, if I was the Brazos Kid,
I think I'd turn myself in.

Get a lot of things,
uh, cleared up.

Uh, it might go easy
on him.Why don't you tell him?

I'd like to,
if I knew he was alive
and here in town.

Ryker, do you think
I'm the Brazos Kid?

If I thought that,
you wouldn't be
walking out of here.

- Then what are you gettin' at?
- I'm sure of just one thing.

You know more
about the Brazos Kid
than you're willing to say.

A man can be sure
and still be awful wrong.
Ringbolt found that out.

There's more like him
around town,
so watch yourself.

What happened?

No story here, Miss Frye.
It's all down the street.

Well, what's wrong
with him?

He just had to kill a man that
thought he was the Brazos Kid.

You've been hemmin' and hawin'
and doin' considerable beatin'
around the bush, Delaney.

I gotta earn a livin'.Might as well
stick around, Lou.

The Kid belongs to me,
all nice and legal and alive.

After all,
I've got the authority.

I'm packin'
some authority myself.

You pack the kid out,
and I'll see you
swing for murder.

I only kill
men who are wanted,
men who need killin'.

I want to talk to you.
Uh, both of you.

Sit down.
You know Mr. Sebastian.

That man, Mr. Ringbolt--
he made a mistake.

He sure did.
Got himself killed.

Oh, but the man who killed him
isn't the Brazos Kid.

You hear that, Lou?

Look, maybe I wasn't
completely honest with you.

Oh? I didn't have any
sources of information.

I-I just made it all up.

It was good copy, but there
wasn't a fact in any of it.

I believe it, Delaney.

I thought the whole thing
was phony from the beginning.

Miss Frye,
I sure appreciate
what you told us.

Save a lot of time
and trouble.

Then you'll be
leaving town soon?Yes, ma'am. Sure will.

And you?Very soon.

Good.
I-I'm sorry if I made
any bother for you.

You believe her?

- No.
- Me neither.

Drink your coffee.
We'll go see Ryker.

One thing I like about you, Lou.
You're a sensible man
and a good loser.

And you don't holler
too much when the cards
are stacked against you.

- Doesn't do any good to holler.
- That's right.

A man has-- A ma--

[ Clatters ]

Lou.

Chloral hydrate.
Remember?

I think Mr. Delaney's
had an attack. You
better watch over him.

[ People Chattering ]

That's it.
Drink it all.

[ Sighs ]
What happened?

Looks like
you got a dose
of knockout drops.

Sebastian, he's gone after
the Brazos Kid.

Oh, but you told me
you weren't--You look after him.

Judge wants
to see you.

Give him a hand with this.

Sit down.

You're protecting
the Brazos Kid, aren't you?Yep.

Why?

Well, to begin with,
he's a friend of mine.

And he's led
a real quiet life
for eight years.

And he's got
a nice wife.

But most important,
most of the stories they
tell about him aren't true.

You know that
to be a fact, eh?

Judge,
we rode the grub line
together many years ago.

We were poor as church mice,
both of us.

We shared beans and
blankets and misery.

That's the kind of thing
that makes friendships.

We split up and
went our separate ways.

When I met him again,
he was the famous
Brazos Kid.

I didn't even know it
till the posse jumped us
up on the Rosebud.

Youwere there?

They were shootin'.
There was no time
to offer explanations.

We went into the river
together.

Halfway across,
my horse foundered.
The Kid turned back.

He dragged me out of the water,
and we both tried to make it
over on his horse.

But we didn't.

We got swept downstream
and...

finally made it
to the other shore
a couple of miles below.

We holed up for a couple
of days, and then we heard
the Brazos Kid had drowned.

Decided to
leave him dead.

And now he's
come back to life, huh?

Already one man's
mistaken you for him.

Might be others.I know that.

How far do you
intend to carry this?

I only know
I can't trade
his safety for mine.

That's commendable,
loyal--

but wrong.

Think it over.

Goin' up to the north range
to round up those strays.

I'll swing by
Joe Cleary's place
on the way.

Right.

[ Blusters ]

Where's the Virginian?He went out
to the north range.

Thanks.

He said he was gonna
stop by Cleary's!

Morning.

Gotta talk to you.Come on in.

Morning.Anne.

Well, go ahead.
You can talk.

Joe, I had to
kill a man yesterday.

A man named Ringbolt.

He thought I was you.
He thought I was the one
that killed his brother.

That was down in Laredo.
He tried to gun me
in a card game.

Well, I'm sorry about
your run-in with Ringbolt,
but, uh--

I want you
to turn yourself in.

No. You don't
listen to him, Joe.

That's all right, Anne. I want you to talk
to Judge Garth.

He'll see that you get every
break that the law allows.

You can wipe your slate clean
once and for all.
Do time, if you have to.

Time?
I'd end up with a rope
around my neck.

Do you know
what happens when
a man gets a reputation?

He gets blamed
for every killing,
every robbery...

that takes place
within a thousand square miles
of where he just happens to be.

You never
killed anybody?

Yes. I killed two men.

Mike Ringbolt and one other,
both in fair fights.

And I robbed a bank
and a train...

and I got enough
for salt and beans
and cartridges.

But you ask anybody
about the Brazos Kid,

and they'll tell you
he killed 30 men
and stole $100,000.

Now, what kind of a chance
do you think I have with
that kind of a reputation?

Well, what chance
have you got now?

There's a Pendleton man
and a bounty hunter
in Medicine Bow.

Right now, they got
their sights set on me.

But sooner or later,
they're gonna figure out
they made a mistake...

and go after
the real Brazos.

What are you gonna do then?
Run again?

You know, one of these days,
you're gonna run out of moves.

Would you turn me in?

All I know is,
I don't want to have
to kill any more men.

All right,
I'll talk to Judge Garth.

But I won't promise
anything else.

I'll tell him
to expect you tonight.

Anne.

I'll need a couple of shirts
and some beans and whatever
coffee you can spare.

Well, we knew this day
would have to come.

As soon as I get clear,
I'll get in touch with you
and let you know where I am.

Which way will you head?Up north to Canada.

They can't follow us there. [ Horse Approaching ]

Joe.

[ Joe ]
It's Ryker.

I'll see what he wants.

Hello, Cleary.
Has the Virginian been by?

Yeah, he was here
this morning.
What's the trouble?

Bounty hunter
named Sebastian's
after him.

Thinks the Virginian's
the Brazos Kid. You know
which way he rode out?

- Toward the north range.
- Good. Thank you.

Ho. Hah.

Joe.Ryker, wait!

I'm goin' with ya!

[ Galloping Hooves ]

[ Water Rushing ]

- [ Gunshot ]
- [ Whinnies ]

[ Gunshots ]

Come on out, Brazos!
You haven't got a chance.

You're makin' a mistake!

[ Water Rushing ]

You're gonna bleed to death,
Brazos.

All I have to do is wait.

[ Horses Approaching ]

That's a warnin', Ryker!
Ride out!

Stay outta this, Ryker.
He's mine.

Come on down, Sebastian.
He's not the Brazos Kid.

Yeah, I know better.
He's mine!

I'm not splittin'
that reward with you.

We got to get him
out of there.

[ Ryker ]
You wait there.

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunshots ]

[ Gunshots ]

Sebastian!

You got the wrong man,
and I'm not gonna
let you kill him!

Cleary!

You want the Brazos Kid,
try me!

[ Body Tumbling ]

I'm sorry you feel
you gotta leave.

Things were going good.
Real good.

If it's a matter
of money, I--Oh, it isn't money, Les.

Let's just say it's time
for me to be moving on.Where you goin'?

Nowhere. Anywhere.
Away.

San Francisco.

Good-bye, Les.
And thank you.
You've been very kind.

I'm sorry you're leaving,
Samantha.

You did liven things up
around here though.

[ Chuckles ]
Yes, I-I did
that much, didn't I?

Samantha,
you're a good writer.

This story on the death
of the Brazos Kid--

I'm glad you liked it.

It's the last one
I'll ever write.

[ Whistle Blows ]

I was wondering
if you'd come.
Thank you.

Samantha, you, uh--
you didn't mean that
about not writing again?

I meant it.

You once told me that in my
hands, a pencil and paper could
be as dangerous as a six-gun.

You were right.He was wrong too.

They don't have
to be dangerous.

Did you read
my last story?I read it.

I was real proud of you.
Plenty of action and color,
and all the facts too.

Not quite.
Not the real facts.

They would have read quite
differently, I'm afraid.

Something like, uh--

"A sad-faced ex-outlaw
and the man who killed him...

"were buried today
in adjacent graves.

"Mourners who attended the brief
services believed the two men
died from gunshot wounds.

[ Train Whistle Blowing ]"They were wrong.

Both were victims
of an irresponsible
newspaper reporter."

Samantha, aren't you bein'
a little hard on yourself?

"There was
a third victim present--

an innocent bystander."

Me? I've been hurt worse
bulldoggin' steers.

You could have been killed.

Who are you feelin'
sorry for, Samantha?

Me and Joe Cleary
or yourself?

- I killed two men.
- You helped.
So did a lot of others.

What about the men
who offer rewards, Samantha,

with those
simple words on them--
"Dead or Alive"?

The men who attributed crimes
to the Brazos Kid...

that were committed by
other people hundreds of miles
away from here.

The Brazos Kid himself,
Samantha,

who could've settled
for a few years in jail.

Or me. I could have
turned him in. [ Bell Clanging ]

You didn't kill anybody,
Samantha. You just
stirred things up a little.

Well, I have a talent
for doing that.

Maybe you've learned a few
things here in Medicine Bow...

that'll help you out
when you get to San Francisco.

It would mean
beginning all over again.
New-New habits, new style.

- I wouldn't know
where to start.
- Want a suggestion?

You've written the story
of the Brazos Kid.

Why not write the story
of Joe Cleary?

- I could try.
- I think you will.

- Good-bye, Samantha.
- Good-bye.

[ Man ]
All aboard!

[ Train Whistle Blows ]

[ Man Announcing ]
Produced in color in association
with the NBC television network.