Original subtitles

♪♪ [ Piano: Romantic ]

Like I say, Sunday night's always a quiet night in Cobb's Run.

Town's empty, except for the locals.

But, boy, you come around here next Saturday night, this place'll be roaring.

There's not much chance. My foreman will be meeting me tomorrow,

and we'll be heading back home for Wyoming.

Well, fine place, Wyoming. Whereabouts?

We work for Shiloh Ranch. It's outside of Medicine Bow.

What about his accounts?

He gives you fellas on the town council...

one or two pieces of paper a year...

and you can't make heads or tails out of 'em.

Are you saying that Floyd isn't honest?

No, but if I had his job, the marshal's office would be run in a businesslike way.

[ Chuckles ] Well, Floyd may not be a very good bookkeeper,

but he's a darn good marshal.

[ Laughing ] Wade's right. I remember the time the four Williams boys--

- Three. - No, no. Four.

Well, Floyd took 'em all on.

Now, that was 11 years ago-- before your time, Mr. Loomis.

Eleven years. He isn't the man you remember anymore.

If he ever was.

I have the greatest confidence in Floyd.

Floyd can handle anything that comes down the pike. Just about anything.

[ Sighs ]

[ Door Rattles ] [ Man ] Marshal?

Coby? Yeah.

Mmm.

[ Exhales ]

Come on in.

I stopped by your place. Nora's all right.

Thanks. Forgot my glasses.

Well, I can fetch 'em up from the office.No hurry.

Eat your supper first.

Sam Loomis has had half the town council down at the hotel bar all evening.

They've been runnin' you down.It's his time.

If you like your job, you better do a little politickin' with 'em.

If you like yours, stop being a gossipy old woman.

[ Chuckles ] He's not likely to do me any harm.

- How big's the payroll this time? - Little over 50,000.

[ Whistles ]

I wish those railroads would send their payroll through some other bank.

Guards will pick it up tomorrow at 9:00,

and you can relax.

Yeah, until next Sunday. Every week, I get the willies.

Skeedaddle.

Cards?

Two.

Two.

Gettin' kinda late.

Say, before you turn in,

would you help me down to the livery with these here suitcases?

They're awful heavy, and I got this bad sprain.Sure, I'd be glad to.

Before we go, would you mind if I had just one quick beer?

And I'll buy you one of them sarsparillas.

Oh, there's no need, Mr.-- Uh--

Cole, Harley Cole. No, you come on now. I insist.

Bartender. You set these up again, please.

[ Door Closes ]

[ Footsteps ]

[ Imitates Bird Call ]

[ Bird Call Whistle ]

Is that too heavy for you?

I'll manage.[ Chuckles ]

[ Chattering, Laughing ]

This is fine right here.

Well, I'll give you a hand with these things.

No, no. You go on back and get to bed.

Well, good night, Mr. Cole.Thank you, son.

Good night.

Hey, mister!

Get the marshal. I'm goin' for the doctor.What happened?

His daughter Nora-- an oil lamp exploded on her.

That poor, pretty little thing. Her face is burned something awful.

Well, where's he at?He's at the bank. I'll fetch the doctor.

Marshal?[ Knocking ]

Marshall?[ Knocking ]

There's been an accident! Your daughter's got hurt.

What happened?A lamp blew up in her face.

Oh, dear Lord. Nora.

Nora!

Don't turn around!

[ Imitates Bird Call ]

[ Footsteps Approaching ]

[ Man ] Come on, let's get outta here.

[ Knocking ]

Marshal?

Hey, Marshal, you haven't gone to sleep?

[ Gunshot ]Sounds like trouble.

[ Gunshots ]

[ Gunshots ]

[ Horse Whinnies, Nickers ]

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunshot ]

[ Galloping Hooves ] [ Gunshot ]

Ninety-five, 100.

Floyd, is this--

[ Doctor ] Now this is gonna hurt, Marshal.

[ Slug Clatters ]

Floyd, is this all you recovered?

- How much? - 4,100.

You let them get away with $47,000.

Mr. Hammill, you can't blame him for being taken in by that kid.

Could've happened to anyone.

Evenin', Miss Buckman.

[ Chattering ]

Now, what good do you think a posse's gonna do?

Now, Floyd asked us to turn out. That's good enough for me.

What are you gonna see? Where are you gonna go?

Well, more'n likely, he got more information outta that boy he caught.

[ Scoffs ] I think you might find out...

before you go running around in the middle of the night.

Get a buggy, take your father home and put him to bed.

All right.Doctor, they're waiting for him.

Nora, you go home and get me another pair of pants.

You're in no condition to travel.

Father, please, let me get the buggy. Do like I say, Nora.

Coby, bring the boy in here.

Thing like that doesn't mean any more to him than fallin' off a pool table.

Marshal, a man your age--Father, please.

Nora, honey, you know that one way or another...

I'm goin' with that posse.

So you might as well see that I'm covered.

There's no changing you.

Did you do that to my father?

No, ma'am, I sure didn't.

I'll talk to him.

Coby?Yeah?

The kid tell you where the others might be?Nope, not a word.

I don't guess there's any harm in asking Floyd a couple questions.

But I only come into town this afternoon.

Nobody's denying that.

My foreman's coming to meet me tomorrow morning. He'll tell you.

We work up on the Shiloh ranch in Wyoming.

Marshal, surely you realize a posse in the middle of the night's a waste of time.

I know you want my job pretty bad, Loomis. You got a better idea?

Yes. I'd wire every marshal and sheriff around here--

and every station master too-- alerting 'em.

It's already been done. Anything else?

Dogs. I'd get Fallon's hunting pack and track 'em down.

And what do we use for a starter scent?

The tools and the suitcase they left in the bank.

Yeah, they thought of that too. They poured coal oil all over 'em.

They planned it to a "T", didn't they? They sure did.

But I wounded one of 'em. I don't think they'll travel far or fast.

That's the reason for the posse.

You're wounded too. What makes you so different?

[ Scoffs ]

I won't be responsible, Marshal.That's fair enough.

Anything else?

I'd wallop him till he talks.

No.

Still, he probably has got a pretty good idea...

which way they went with that money.

I don't. All I did was deliver a message to the marshal.

And hit me over the head with a gun butt.

No, sir. It was this other feller.

Other fella? You was the only one that was there.

No, sir. This feller in black came in right after I did.

He must've walked through a wall then.

Do you deny that I closed that door behind you?

Yes, sir. Now that I think about it, I believe you did.

Believe it? You know it.

Yes, sir, but-- Then you admit you was alone?

- No, sir. - This is a lot of nonsense.

Oh, I know he wasn't alone later.

After you hit me, you opened the door for your accomplices.

No, sir. I mean, you closed the door after me, but you couldn't have bolted it.

Well, now, that would be quite a blunder, wouldn't it, Floyd?

Floyd, I can't believe that you'd turn your back on an unlocked door.

Now hold on. If the marshal closed that door, he bolted it.

One follows the other, automatic as breathing.

Me, his own deputy--

hundreds of times he's let me in and out of that bank,

and he opens and closes and bolts that door like clockwork.

I mean, it's like a habit,

and not once in a hundred times have I seen him do it different.

Well, a fellow did come in, so the door had to be unlocked.

Come on. Please believe me.

Bank robber's word, boy, is not the best in the world.

He's telling one lie to bolster another.

Floyd, you'd better get going with that posse.

Right away.

Randy Benton, one of our citizens was killed...

during the commission of your crime.

Therefore, I'm holding you for murder.

[ Marshal ] Coby, lock him up.

[ Chattering ]

[ Bell Dinging ]

Sorry, I'm doubling behind the bar today.

You sure missed it.Missed what?

All the excitement. Big hold-up last night.

Gunfight in the middle of the street.

Shot poor Ben Shattuck. That's why I'm tendin' bar.

Marshal killed one of the desperadoes and caught another one.

Got shot himself. Yes, sir, you sure missed it.

I guess I did.

Could you tell me where Randy Benton's room is?

Randy Benton.

212.Thanks.

He ain't there.

- Where is he? - You'll never guess.

You're right, I won't, because I won't even try.

In jail, charged with murder.

Randy?

212.

Now, this fellow that said his name was Harley Cole--

About 40, you say, and stocky?Yeah.

Well, some say they recognized him in the gunfight,

and others connect him with the robbers just because he was a stranger.

Because you were having a drink with him in the bar, they figure you were partners.

Yeah, and that ain't the worst of it. I carried his bag for him,

the one they found later on in the bank with all the tools in it.

And they even claim I was trying to shoot the deputy.

How could they figure that?

Well, the marshal was standing behind me during all the gunplay,

and from where he was standing, I guess it might've looked like it.

That's why he said he shot me.

And that's the way it was.

I guess the robbers rigged the whole thing...

just so I'd get Marshal Buckman to open the door.

Floyd Buckman?

I've heard of him. Are they treatin' you all right?

Except for everybody wantin' to hang me and all, just fine.

The posse's comin' in, if you want to talk to the marshal.

Don't worry too much about this, Randy. I'll get you outta here.

Don't think for a minute that I'm doubting you,

but could you give me some idea of how you're gonna go about it?

I'd feel a good bit better.[ Chuckles ]

Oh, I'm sure I can straighten things out with the marshal.

See ya, Marshal.

Good-bye.

Get some rest.

Floyd, you must be whang leather and whipcord.

I'm four years younger'n you, and I'm about stove in.

Maybe you don't live right.

Well?I didn't see hide nor hair of 'em.

Oh, Floyd. Floyd. I was expecting--

I can't work miracles.

I'll be goin' out again.

Wade.

Give him time. It's only been about 12 hours.

Remember that stagecoach robbery in '7l?Seventy.

Well, whenever. Took him eight days then, but he got 'em.

And the money. He always does.

Yeah, he said you'd be along this morning.

That oughta count for something.

Means he told the truth about havin' one friend, nothing more.

We're here in Kansas selling cattle. We come from Wyoming.

A town called Medicine Bow. Shiloh Ranch.

Our business separated us, and we arranged to meet here in Cobb's Run.

Here's my instructions, a letter of introduction, money order receipt.

And this one even mentions Randy.

That's real nice.

But we were here last night, and we saw it all.

And we saw him.

I know this boy. Randy'd never rob a bank.

Well, that's your opinion, but I don't know you from Adam.

Won't you at least admit he might be telling the truth,

that there could have been another man in that bank?

No, it's not possible. I bolted that door.

Now, unless you've got something besides your opinion--

The marshal's been up for 30 hours.

I heard you were a fine lawman, Marshal.

Thank you.

I never heard you were above making a mistake.

Nineteen, 20, 21.

Twenty-two words to Medicine Bow, Wyoming.

That'll be $1.37.

Uh, this Judge Garth, uh, bein' out of state and all,

he can't do you no good.

We'll see. Is there a lawyer in town?

Oh, yeah. Two. Old man Martin and Sam Loomis.

Now, Loomis is smart.Thanks.

Good luck.

Assuming these papers are genuine and you're who they say you are...

and your opinion of young Randy's correct,

yes, I'd be interested.

Then you'll take the case?Now, I didn't say that.

I'd like to see Marshal Buckman taken down a peg or two.

It's no secret I'd like his job.

Be a good stepping stone in politics.

But I'm not willing to get all bloodied up.

You don't know what you're up against.

A famous lawman, huh?

More than that.

For nine, nine and a half years,

Cobb's Run has been a quiet town,

except for a couple of family killings...

and the usual run of drunk cowboys.

Before that, it was wild, woolly and uncurried.

Marshal Buckman's the man that quieted it down.

Yeah, that's what I've heard.

No doubt about it, it was a tough job.

I've heard the stories--

the big gunfight down at the livery corral,

the time he killed Billy Slade out there in the street--

all of 'em.

Each year, the stories get more and more exaggerated.

- And people believe 'em, huh? - Yeah.

I've never heard Buckman deny 'em either, in any version.

I think he's beginning to believe 'em too.

So you see, that's what you're up against--

opinions, memories, a storybook hero.

Personally, I think the old man's over the hill.

Now, you dig up something that'll help me discredit him,

and I'm your man.

- Otherwise? - Otherwise, forget it.

Father.Oh, mornin'.

[ Exhales ]

Are you all right?

Right as rain. Leg's stiffenin' some.

But that's only natural.

You need sleep, and then you ought to go see Doctor Wagner.

Nah, too much to do.

I'll have a bite to eat and some coffee...

and then I'll ride out again.

Why? Haven't you got good sense?

You mind yourself.

The town's looking to me to catch 'em.

And I will.

Go on.I'll take a minute or two.

I spoke sharp.

Last night, when that kid said you'd been burned,

it was like I'd been struck by a bolt of lightnin'.

I can imagine. It was a cruel thing.

They knew it would fetch me.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]

"Daddy in San Francisco. Trying to reach him. Betsy."

You can't catch up with this Judge Garth, huh?

Any reply?No reply.

Deputy, if you were to go looking for those bank robbers,

where would you start?

Oh, I know my reason. What's yours?

Friendship.

Well, the posse worked up north, in amongst them ridges.

You stumble onto 'em, it's your own hide, you know.

Thanks.

You're not gonna find 'em before the marshal does.

Maybe not.

The circuit court judge is comin' into town tomorrow,

so don't root around too long, you're liable to miss the trial.

Thanks again.

[ Door Opens ]

Howdy, Miss Nora.

Is your father comin' back?No, he rode out to the Bar Z.

Said he wanted to pick up some hands there...

and look for those men up in Carver's Canyon.

Well, I guess they could have headed in that direction as well as north.

[ Coby ] Dinner.

Thank you. [ Exhales ]

[ Cell Door Closes ]

I thought you might like some steak.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, I'll cut it.Oh, thank you.

I don't suppose you like my father.

The way we got acquainted wouldn't hardly lead to it.

If you were to tell my father where the rest of the men are,

well, I know he'd speak to the judge for you.

It'd maybe make things easier for you.

I guess it would, and I'd do it like a shot if I had anything to say.

And if you were to speak up,

it'd spare my father riding out day after day.

I worry about him so.

Won't you change your mind, Randy?

There's nothing to change.

Miss Buckman?

I sure am glad you weren't really burned like the fella said.

That's a funny thing for you to say.

Not if you believe the rest of the things I said.

It's not funny at all.

[ Birds Squawking ]

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunshot ]

Drop it.

[ Groans ] Thank heaven.

I wasn't shootin' at you.

Them buzzards-- [ Laughs ]

they don't always wait until you're dead.

You must be Cole.

Randy described you pretty good.

Where are the others?

Them dirty scoundrels.

[ Chuckles ] They never give me a hand.

They let me slide off my horse right here,

never even got down to take a look.

Took my money, my horse.

Trotted off, left me here to die.

- Where they headed? - I don't know.

Shagrue had this hideout. I don't know where exactly.

Randy's in jail accused of murder because of you three.

If I get you back to town alive, will you tell your story to the marshal?

[ Chuckles ] Sure.

That boy Randy-- nice young fella.

That's why I picked him.

I know Buckman would never open that door to one of us.

But an innocent-lookin' young kid--

Worked pretty good, huh? [ Chuckles ]

I fooled 'em though.

I-I don't die as quick.

You, uh-- You gonna get some good outta me.

We-- We better not tarry too long.

Any sign of 'em?

Nope.[ Clatters ]

That friend of the kid's came in after you left.

He's out looking too.

Well, I hope he has better luck than me.

Cole? Cole.

Here, I've written it all out-- your confession clearing Randy.

Do you want to read it?

Well, then sign it.

Why not?

[ Chuckles ] Can't write.

Well, at least make your mark.

Thanks.

Take-- Take me back to town.

Please.

Christian burial.

Don't--

Don't leave me for them birds and varmints.

- You promise? - I promise.

You got one of 'em, Floyd. Any information about the others?

He's got some sort of confession.Any news about the money?

No.This confession completely substantiates the boy's story.

The marshal did let someone else into the bank,

and his name was Shagrue.

That couldn't be. I closed and bolted the door. Remember?

I remember what you said, Floyd.

Seems kind of hard to believe that Floyd left the door unlocked. Still--

You'll have to let Randy go now, Marshal.

Well, Floyd?

This your handwriting?I put it down exactly the way Cole told it to me.

And this at the bottom?Well, that's his mark.

Any witnesses?Of course not.

Then we don't really know who made the mark, do we?

[ Man ] By George, that's right.

I got Cole's body outside. You'll recognize him as the man you shot.

You trying to say I made that up?

I don't have anything but your say-so you found him alive.

And we don't have anything but your say-so...

that you locked that door again either.

The marshal's word's always been good enough for me.

Don't be blind, Gaynor. Surely this must raise some kind of doubt in your mind.

Assuming we do have some doubt, what do you suggest?

Postpone the trial until we get more evidence.

I say we have enough evidence now.

But I'll leave it up to the members of the council.

I think the trial should go as scheduled.I agree.

Then it's settled.

I'm going to use this against you at the trial tomorrow.

That's your affair.

Well, you gonna defend him?

[ Chuckles ] Not me.

Don't you understand? You just lost the trial right there in his office.

Try old man Martin.

Yee-haw! Yee-hee-hee!

Yee-hee.

Whoa.

Hey!

- Where is everybody? - They're at the trial.

George!

George Gaynor!

You ain't Bill Steele?In the flesh, what's left of me.

Well, I'll be doggone. Good to see you.

What are you doin' in that getup?Haven't you heard?

No.I'm Pony Bill Steele, the last of the Express Riders. Hyah!

[ Both Laughing ]Nobody ever wore a getup like that in the Pony Express.

Ah, this is just for a little glow and glitter. You know, one of them things.

Hey, I read about the robbery in the papers.

That's why I rode over from Wichita, to see Floyd.

Well, he's up at the court. Don't know as how I can get you in.

Oh, come on. Let's try.Okay.

[ Chuckles ] Jury's out right now.

Oh, you missed seein' Floyd on the stand.

Martin cross-examined him for over two hours.

Didn't shake Floyd's testimony one little bit.

[ Chattering ]

Don't worry, Randy.

Oh, here comes Floyd and the prisoner.

Ah, this is like old times, Floyd.

Billy Steele.That's right.

This the prisoner?Yeah.

Well, I got an idea that he'd be, uh,

a little older and a little meaner-lookin'.

Maybe a bigger man.

Hey, let me buy you a drink, Floyd.

All right, Coby, you lock him up.

Congratulations, Floyd.

I want to talk to you anyhow.

It's been a long time.Sure has.

I could've told you that jury wouldn't pay no attention to that confession.

I had to try.

[ Chattering ]

Mr. Hammill.

Mr. Hammill.Yes?

How many bank robbers were in the street last night?

Five. Everybody knows that.Mm-hmm.

How many were mounted?Well--

Four.

[ People Chattering ] ♪♪ [ Honky-tonk Piano ]

Well, how many people come to these things?

Thousands of folks, every performance.

Billy--[ No Audible Dialogue ]

I don't know what I'd do in a Wild West show.I'll tell ya.

We'll make you the last of the fighting lawmen.

We'll get you a black broadcloth suit and a pair of fancy patent leather boots...

and a couple of black holsters and maybe a brocaded vest, you know, one of those things.

Hey, I got an idea. We can set up a saloon scene maybe...

where you're a-shootin' it out with a half a dozen bandits.Uh, Billy--

Usin' blanks, of course. And we'll get a pretty girl.

Hey, how about usin' that daughter of yours?

Let her toss up the glass balls for you to bust.

Billy, you know I'm not up to that kind of fancy shootin'.

Oh, who is? You use shot shells, Floyd.

You couldn't miss one if you tried. What do you say?

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

Pay's good. Work's easy. The crowd will love ya.

Costumes. Blanks. Shot shells.

All seems kind of fraudulent to me.

Floyd, you're halfway a fraud already.What do you mean?

I mean to hear people in this town talk...

about you bein' the roughest, toughest, greatest lawman alive.

Braggin' up all those old famous exploits of yours.

Well, they all happened.Sure they did.

Fifteen years ago.

But the old jug's been to the well a thousand times since then, Floyd.

Floyd, Virginian here has raised a point we thought maybe you could settle for us.

All right.

Now everybody agrees there were four riders in the street that night.

- Were there any other horses around? - Not that I know of.

- Where was Randy? - You heard. On the sidewalk.

- Well, where was the fifth horse? - Fifth horse?

Yeah. He means the one that Randy was gonna make his getaway on.

How would I know?

Maybe you think Randy's stupid enough to stand there in the street and let you arrest him?

I don't know.

Well, my thought is he, uh, had a horse hid out somewhere.

Or maybe it got away from him during the hullabaloo.

As far as I'm concerned, it was settled at the trial.

[ Hammill ] Yes. That's right.

We ought to concentrate on finding those other two fellas and recovering that money.

Now you haven't received any answers to those telegrams,

which means that they might be hiding out around here somewhere.

I'll be going out again directly.

And I'll keep at it till I bring 'em in.

Well, they know the truth about what happened.

I wonder if you really want to bring 'em in, Marshal.

Easy, Floyd. Easy.

You can't blame him for sticking up for his friend.

I suppose not.

And what about that fifth horse? That is quite an interesting point.

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

♪♪ [ Guitar ]

[ Randy, Monotone ] ♪ The old maid's a-waitin' for leap year to come ♪

♪ The minstrel's a-waitin' to sing ♪

♪ Cow and the bull are standin' in the pasture ♪

♪ Just waitin' for the grass to turn green ♪

♪ Barfly's a-waitin' on an easy mark ♪

♪ Bronc buster's waitin' for a ride ♪

♪ Life-termer's waitin' on a prison break ♪

♪ Beachcomber's waitin' for the tide ♪

♪ Farmer's daughter's waitin' for the salesman ♪

♪ To take her into town

♪ City slicker's waitin' on the country boy ♪

♪ To lay all his money down

♪ Katie's a-waitin' by the garden gate ♪

♪ Moonshiner's a-waitin' at the still ♪

♪ Gambler's a-waitin' on his ace in the hole ♪

♪ And Jack's still waitin' on Jill ♪

♪ Everybody's waitin' on somethin' ♪

♪ Nothin' seems to turn out right ♪

♪ Night's just waitin' on mornin' ♪

♪ Burglar's waitin' on night

♪ Congregation's waitin' on the preacher ♪

♪ Preacher's a-waitin' on the groom ♪

♪ Groom, he's waitin' on the June bride ♪

♪ She's just waitin' on June

♪ Sunflower's waitin' on the sunshine ♪

♪ Violets are waitin' on the dew ♪

♪ Bees are waitin' on the honey ♪

♪ Honey, I'm just waitin' on you ♪♪

Sounds pretty good, doesn't he?

Yeah. ♪♪ [ Guitar Strumming ]

You go on home. Get a good night's sleep.

I'll handle things here.

♪♪ [ Guitar Continues ]

You don't mind him having that guitar, do you, Marshal?

He asked for it, and Nora borrowed it from somewhere.

No, I don't mind.

Well, good night.

♪♪ [ Guitar Continues ]

Any messages?Uh--

Nope. I'm gonna have to put a fella in with you tonight.

I mean, the way people are pouring into town for the hanging--

Anybody looking for me?Uh, no.

If anybody comes by looking for me, tell him I'm at the jail.

[ Door Closes ]

Got to where I can look at it without getting all tight inside.

I was watching 'em test it this morning.

I was kind of hopin'-- But it works fine.

Look, Randy, I must have talked to 20 people.

I offered a cash reward.

Any minute now, one of them's liable to come walking through that door...

and tell us exactly where those two men are.

Well, then you'd have to catch 'em and bring 'em back in time.

I got a few things in the bunkhouse back at Shiloh--

There's no need for that kind of talk.

You might as well let me say it now. I don't know how I'll be thinkin' as the night wears on.

See old Hector gets them brand-new boots of mine...

and give my guitar to Betsy.

You can have that saddle if you want it.

And that's about all I've got that's worth anything.

Hey, by this time tomorrow night, you'll be free and clear.

Sure.

Supper's here.

You didn't say if you wanted anything special.

It's fried chicken, so you won't have to cut it.

Oh, I can move my arm.

The doc was in this afternoon making sure of that.

That's so they can tie his hands behind him tomorrow morning.

Well, Randy, it might not be too late, if you've got something to say.

If I had something to say, don't you think I would now?

I'm sorry.

Go on home now.

Father, are you sure?

Are they making you doubt me too?

I was asking. I can do that.

I'm sure.

[ Door Closes ]

Hmm. Smells real good. Dig in.

I ain't hungry.

He must know. He's gotta remember.

Maybe he thinks he does.

I've been thinking about it.

He left the door unlocked. He let that other fella in.

All of this, everything that's happened,

could be traced right back to him and laid at his doorstep.

I can understand a man not wantin' to remember that.

Will you be here in the mornin'?Mm-mmm.

And neither will you.

I expect I will. It's a fearsome thing to have to go through alone.

[ Sighs ] I'm goin' back to the hotel for a while.

[ Virginian ] Buckman.

[ Footsteps Approaching ]

[ Keys Jangle In Lock ]

Anybody looking for me?Nope.

[ Lantern Shatters ]

[ Horses Nickering ]

[ Woman ] Fire! Fire!

[ People Shouting ]

Fire! [ Shouting Continues ]

[ Man ] Get that wagon out of here! Fire! Fire!

[ Shouting Continues ]

[ Shouting Continues ] [ Bar Clanging ]

What are you gonna do?Keep you hid out till I find evidence to clear you.

Put your weight against it.

Yeah! Come on! Let's go!

[ Shouting Continues ]

[ Chattering ]

All right, men, we're riding north.

Another wild goose chase, Marshal?

I mean, isn't it just as likely they went east, south or west?

Maybe. But that friend of the boy's was rooting around in them ridges up to the north.

He'll most likely head for terrain he's familiar with.

That makes good sense to me.

Makes no sense at all particularly.

You got a better idea, Loomis?

You're the marshal.

That's right.

All right, let's go.

[ Chattering ]

[ Chuckles ] Why, the old fool.

Jeb, you go get Fallon's hounds.

You tell him I'll pay for 'em myself this time out of my own pocket.

The marshal overlooked something.

This time, we got Fallon's dogs and a starter scent.

The kid left his arm sling in his cell.

Now what do you say, men?

How many of you want to ride with a posse that's gonna bring those two back?

[ Chattering ]Yeah.

[ Barking ]

[ Barking ]

Whoa. Whoa.

Whoa. Whoa, boy.

I think it's opened up again.

Well, we put a good bit of ground behind us. Let's go over under those trees.

Okay.

Whoa.

[ Grunts ] Here you are.

Sittin' around all cooped up kind of took the starch out of me.

[ Exhales ]

Let's have a look.

Here, dab it with that.

[ Dogs Barking In Distance ]

Was that a dog? [ Barking Continues ]

Sure sounds like it.

Think we'll make it all right?

Yeah. Buckman knows I've been poking around up north.

That's where he'll be looking. [ Barking Continues ]

We'll keep on this way till nightfall, and tomorrow we'll swing over to the west.

[ Barking Continues ]Listen to that old hound.

He's tollin' off a trail, ain't he? [ All Dogs Barking ]

Hey, that's a pack. Buckman ever say anything about using dogs?

No. They're-- They're probably just chasin' a rabbit or somethin'.

[ Barking Continues ] [ Horses Approaching ]

It's them! Let's go!

There they go! Forget the dogs! Hah!

Whoa. Come on, Randy. Hold on.

Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

I can't go on anymore. You go on without me.

Come on down. Come on. Come on down.

[ Horses Approaching ]

Come on out.

You haven't got a chance.

Drop your gun belt.

Loomis, I thought you were on our side.

Did you?

I'm on any side that will help pull down Marshal Buckman.

Why, hello, Marshal. Uh, brought your prisoners back.

Had to wait here quite a good while.

Oh, had to put a new lock on that back cell too. Here's the key.

Thank you.

[ Door Closes ]

♪♪ [ Honky-tonk Piano ][ People Laughing ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

Well, what'd he say?

Floyd?Yeah.

Just took the keys and said "Thank you."

It's funny. You can see a man every day, year in and year out,

then all at once, one day he looks different.

Floyd looks like he shrunk four inches.

You know, I question-- I seriously question...

whether Floyd's up to the job anymore.

Come on, Wade. We've all built up Floyd a good bit. Too much maybe.

I'm probably guilty as anybody.

The first time he slips up,

there's no need to do a complete turn in the other direction and condemn him altogether.

He's still a better man than you're liable to find.

There's better.

You know, by keeping Floyd Buckman as good as he ever was,

or maybe a little bit better,

we might be fooling ourselves that we're as good as we were.

We're getting old.

We are old. And so is Floyd Buckman.

When I was fighting to make this town quiet and safe,

you must have been a kid somewhere,

never knowing about me, me you.

And all those years, you growing up...

just so's you could come here and cause all this trouble.

I didn't mean to cause you any trouble, Marshal.

The only thing I had...

was the respect and high regard of the people I serve.

They felt better just knowing I was here,

looking after 'em, protecting 'em.

A little harsh and strict sometimes,

but always fair and right.

They knew it.

I could tell the way they looked at me.

But now-- Town council's meeting tomorrow.

They're most likely gonna take my job away and give it to Loomis.

That's your doing.

I'm sorry about that.

Well, they doubt me now.

But the worst part is,

between the two of you, you've made me doubt myself.

Marshal?

Floyd, I thought I ought to come over and tell you what's going on.

Well, half the council is down there in the saloon sayin' as how--

well, sayin' as how Loomis made a fool out of us with them dogs.

Made a fool out of me, you mean.

Marshal, uh, folks over at the hotel told me...

you got a fella locked up here I'm lookin' to talk to.

Randy Benton? Why?

Uh, that fella right there. It's kind of a private matter.

I ain't carryin' no iron.Floyd, what I have to say is important.

I'll give you 10 minutes with him. You can talk to him through the bars right in that corridor.

Yes, sir.

Point is, Loomis is having a field day at your expense.

Now you ought to get over there and defend yourself.

[ Buckman, Gaynor Continue, Indistinct ]You got the money?

I mean, you being in jail like this,

it just don't seem reasonable you'd have no hundred dollars on ya.

I got it.

Well, let's have the feel of some of it.

[ Kicking Boot Off ]

[ Buckman ] Coby's comin' along.

I seen 'em. I seen 'em. They're up at the old Potter shack.

How is it the posse didn't find 'em?

- Swamp. Folks figure there ain't no way in no more. - But you got in.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I was-- I was lookin' to find me some ducks.

Well, the way you get through the swamp,

you can ride your horse if you want to,

you go due south out of town.

Anyway, Floyd, at the council meeting tomorrow morning,

there'll be at least one man on your side.

Thanks, George. Good night.Night.

You want the rest of this?Yes, sir.

You keep your mouth shut about this and get out of town right now.

Yes, sir, I'll do it.

Scat.Yes, sir.

Thank you kindly, Marshal.

[ Horse Departing ]

Buckman.

What did that fella want? Or don't you want to tell me?

Yeah, I want to tell ya.

He came to collect the reward money I offered...

for information about the bank robbers.

What?You won't catch him now.

But it doesn't matter.

I know where they are.

Steeber and Shagrue?Mm-hmm.

Probably the money too.

Whatever doubts anybody's got, including yourself,

they're the only two that can settle 'em.

Where are they?

You'd like to catch 'em single-handed, wouldn't you?

It could save my job.

Well, that's fine. That's just fine.

But I'm goin' with ya. Because, you see,

they can save Randy's life too.

You know that you can trust me.

You know that all I wanted from the beginning was to clear Randy.

All right. I've got little enough to lose.

Whoa. Off over there-- that light.

Ah, you go chasin' off over there if you want,

but you'll wind up neck-deep in a swamp.

That's not the Potter place. It's fox fire.

Gone chasin' after it myself many a time.

Whatever it is, you can only see it from a distance.

Get up close, there's nothing there.

Up this way.

I think that's Steeber the way Cole described him.

You follow my lead, understand?

Now, while they're separated. Never get a better time.

Steeber! This is the marshal!

[ Gunshot ]

I goin' in. You cover me.

[ Sighs ] There's, uh, no more runnin' left in me.

The other one's still alive. I'll cover you. [ Gunshot ]

All right.

Are they both dead?This one isn't.

Shagrue, when you robbed that bank,

a young kid got me to open the door.

Did you come in behind him?

Did I leave that door unbolted?

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

Get the doctor!

Well, good work, Floyd.

Ha. You don't have to worry when Marshal Buckman's around. No, sir.

[ Coby ] Hello, Marshal.

Come on. Give me a hand.[ Crowd Chattering ]

[ Gaynor ] Well, now what do you think of him, huh? Didn't I tell ya?

You're right. Floyd, I own up to it. I had my doubts.

But I take my hat off to you.

Yes, sir. Now let's see Loomis make trouble.

Floyd, anything I've said about you, I apologize. You're the greatest.

And this clinches it. You got to go east with me now.

We'll hold up the hangin' a day or two so's you can see it.

There'll be no hangin'.

Listen.

The boy's innocent.

I recognized the man's voice out there afore he died.

Shagrue-- that's the voice I heard in the bank.

The boy's right.

I didn't bolt the door.

Shagrue's the one laid me out,

not Randy.

[ Exhales ]

Everything that's happened,

it's my fault.

You didn't have to say that, Floyd. Nobody would have known.

I would have known.

What I think about myself--

my respect, my opinion--

that's all that counts.

Everything else is no more than fox fire...

dancin' in the distance.

No charge, sir. Orders of the town council.

Here, I'll take those.

[ Door Opens ]

I just wanted to see you before you left and,

well, tell you how badly everyone feels about what happened.

I know apologies don't mean much, but--That's all right.

I see, uh, Loomis lost out.

Yeah. Marshal Buckman sent a note to the town council resigning...

and recommending me for the job.

After last night, he's a bigger hero than ever to them.

So they voted me the job and him a pension, unanimously.

Well, that's fine.

That, uh, mistake about Randy-- it was an honest one.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]I believe it.

Everything's set, sir.

Well, good luck.

Same to you.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]

Honest mistake or not, I still think Marshal Buckman was awful darn stubborn and prideful.

Well, Randy, you see him one way, and the town sees him another.

But like he said last night,

the only thing that matters is a man's opinion of himself.

[ Hammering ]

[ Hammering Continues ]

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