Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

This is as far as you go, gentlemen.

I'll take it from here.

We'll see you in the Medicine Bow saloon

three nights from now, huh, Sam?

You ain't going to change your mind on us again,

are you, Sam?

Well, now, I'd like to see the end of that rainbow

the same as you two.

I ain't likely to change my mind.

See you.

Sure you going to be all right, Jennifer?

Maybe you better have Virginia get a woman

in here to help you.

I'll be fine.

And I want that boy to stay off that leg

until I return, understand?

Yes, sir.

Where's Doc Benson.

He's in the study, putting on the cast.

I am going to be late.

Well, they'll hold the train.

Young lady, don't get an exaggerated idea

of my importance to Medicine Bow.

I have been left behind before.

And tell the Virginian I don't want anyone else

to try to put a saddle on that black stallion.

♪ I ride through the highlands ♪

♪ Gonna ride through the low ♪

♪ And I'll meet you someday ♪

♪ Where the green waters flow ♪

♪ And I'll meet you someday ♪

♪ Where the green waters flow ♪

[ whistling ]

[ laughing ]Doc'll be right down.

Didn't mean to almost run you down, Mister.

We're having some trouble with a wild stallion,

and I had to call a doc.

Oh, busted up another cowpoke, huh?

You heard about him, huh?

Well, word gets around.

The way you're prancing up and down, boy,

I'd say you have a little mustang blood in you yourself.

Go on, don't miss the excitement.

This little lady'll take care of me.

Well, it's nice to meet you.

Right. [ chuckles ]

Hmm.

Now, little lady, where might I find the boss?

Judge Garth is on his way to Colorado.

Oh, gone to Colorado, huh?

Can I help you?

Not unless you're the ramrod around here

while he's gone.

No, that would be the Virginian.

I'm just the ramrod of the splints and bandages.

One of our cowboys got a cast put on,

and I'm his nurse.

Well, now, you get ready for patient number two,

and then that'll be the last.

How can you be so sure?

Because Sam Willock is here,

and I'm going to have a talk with your Virginian,

and then I'm going to come to an understanding

with them wild horses.

Well, nice to have met you, Florence Nightingale.

Easy, Buck, easy.

That snake-eyed, son-of-a-horned outlaw.

Eat a man alive, spurs and all.

Who's he going to bust up next, huh?

Well, let's see here.

Don't want to move him too much, Doc.

I'm afraid it might be broken.

Well, you get a lot of injuries when cowhands are tired.

That trail drive must've taken all the ginger out of him.

It's not the trail drive. It's that horse.

Yee-ha! Yee-ha-ha-ha-ha!

[ whinnying ]

I don't know what you and that horse have between you, Mister,

buy you sure turned him, and we're grateful.

That black might've been shot. That's what might've happened.

I was just going to crease him.

Oh, that would be the day.

You would've cut him down sure as shooting.

What was I supposed to do,

let that outlaws skin a man alive?

Well, if you ask me, the hide of a $30 puncher

ain't worth a chance of killing a king

like that black stallion.

Remind me, friend, to thank you some day

for saving my worthless hide.

You did us a good turn.

Don't let it go to your head.

I'm the foreman here.

Yeah, I figured that.

You're one up on me.

Who are you, and what can I do for you?

Well, I was just passing through Medicine Bow

when I heard about all the trouble you were having up here

with them wild ones

that some fast-talking mustanger must've sold you,

so I thought I'd mosey on over and say hello.

My name's Sam Willock, world's finest horse fighter,

so you see it's not what you can do for me, son.

It's what I can do for you.

You're--

You're Sam Willock?

That's right, one and only.

I see you're heard of me.

I seen you work.

I was about 15 years old,

just starting out as a kid wrangler

on a little spread near Omaha.

I heard about this bronc-buster who really had the touch.

I think you were working for an Englishman over on the Platte.

Friend of mine and I rode over one day off

just to see you go up on a wild one.

It was a good many years ago.

I guess that's why I didn't recognize you.

You were the best. I remember that much.

I still am.

I'm sure you are.

You don't believe that, do you?

You look at this battered old hunk of horse fighter

and you say to yourself, "He's had it.

Time has passed him by,"

but you're wrong.

This is one boy time don't touch.

I'm just as good as I ever was,

maybe better.

Well, I--

I'd like to put you on,

but the men are used to breaking their own mounts to saddle.

I wouldn't want to stir up any hard feelings.

It's either hire me, or hire the Doc full time,

and I think you'll find

that I work a little cheaper old sawbones.

You got a point there.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure anyone can break that wild bunch.

Well, son, you ain't just hiring anybody.

You got yourself Sam Willock.

Well, how does $5 sound for every head you bust?

Fair enough.

Randy, show Mr. Willock to the bunkhouse.

Show him where he can stow his gear.

It's right this way, Mr. Willock.

Sam. Lead on.

I hear you boys just got back

from taking your cattle to the railhead.

Yeah, 35,000 head.

That's a nice town, Cheyenne.

I guess you're really looking forward to that back pay, huh?

Yeah, I'm slaving for something pretty special,

so it'll sure come in handy for me.

Is that the wild bunch I'm going to be working on?

Uh-huh.

Pretty to look at, ain't they?

And devils to ride.

[ whinnying ]

You must really have a feeling for horses, Mr. Willock.

I told you to call me Sam.

Sam, I mean.

I mean, the way you cared about what happened to that black stallion,

you must really--

I don't give a hang about horses, boy.

They're the enemy, boy.

That's all they are to me--

the enemy.

[ coaxing horse ]

Easy, boy. Ho, boy.

Ready to pop him in the oven, Willock?

Going to pop you in next, boy.

The way you got him trussed up,

I figured he must be a Thanksgiving turkey.

You don't believe in taking any chances, do you, Willock?

If you mean I ain't like any of you cabbage-heads, you're right.

I don't happen to feature walking upside down on air

just to show my britches.

Randy, you better saddle up that big horse.

I think he needs exercise.

There's the message for the telegraph office.

Right.

How's it going, Sam?

Oh, smooth as silk.

You figure to bring them all under control that way?

No two horses alike.

I do whatever I think is best for each of them.

You follow every one of them like that?

That's right.

Don't you think that's a little hard on them?

I thought you only cheated a rough, mean horse.

That's right.

Sawhorse doesn't look so ornery to me.

Well, you take my word for it-- Pure outlaw.

Now, you see the meanness in him,

and you show him who's boss real quick.

That's one way.

That's my way.

Ain't no calf chasers, not even you ramrodders

going to tell me how to fight horses.

I'm not trying to tell you.

Oh, yes, you are.

You're just like all the rest of them.

You want to see me break those horses like they did in the old days--

pure guts and strength.

Well, let me tell you something, Mister.

That was a stupid way

for stupid kids who didn't know any better.

Now, I ain't no hard-nosed kid, not anymore.

I do it my way.

I break them with my head.

All I said was--

I don't mean to give you the rough side of my tongue,

but we better straighten this out right here and now.

That's the way it's going to have to be.

Now, I do my job, and you do your job.

You leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone.

Fair enough?

We'll try it that way.

I like you, ramrod.

You know what makes a man tick.

I also know that no one, not even you,

breaks a string of wild horses without some help,

at least on that first saddle.

I was going to get to that next.

Maybe you'd like to use Buck here.

He won't be able to get up on another horse for a day or so.

Seeing as how he's the top buster here at Shiloh,

he ought to be worth his weight in wild cats.

Well, he ain't worth nothing to me.

It's them ones that think they know all about horses

that cause you all the trouble.

No, I wouldn't have him if you put him in a box

and tied it up with a pink ribbon on top.

Don't worry, Willock. I ain't yours for the taking.

I'd rather have a green hand

like that kid over there.

Least ways I could teach him from scratch and no back talk.

Hey, Randy? Come here, boy.

How would you like to help me bust them broncs, boy?

Not going to let him--

Let's wait and see how Randy feels about it.

Whatever you think I ought to do is fine with me.

What's the matter with you, boy?

You want him to put your boots on you every morning for you?

Now, do you or don't you?

Sure, I'd like to work for you, Mr. Willock.

Sam.

Sam, I mean.

Sure, I'd like to work for you.

It's up to the boss.

Now, wait a minute, boy.

When me and you are in there, I'm the boss,

and don't you forget it.

Yes, sir.

There's my man, ramrod.

He's your man.

Let's go, horse fighter.

We got two tons of crazy mustang

just waiting to get a lick at us.

Excuse me.

What are you trying to do, spoil that man rotten

or give him enough rope to hang himself?

Just trying to give Randy a chance to learn something new, is all.

All right, Randy boy.

Go on in there and gentle him a little bit.

Rub himWhoa, boy.

Let's see what you know.

That-a-boy.

You know why he wants a green hand

that don't know nothing about horse busting, don't you?

He knows I see right through him.

He's lost his guts.

That's why he's got a mile of rope on that mustang.

He just can't take them head on anymore.

All I remember is...

a man a long time ago back near Omaha

look a wild horse in the eye

and make him dance to his tune.

You know, if even a bit of that man's still alive, Buck,

he can do a big job for us.

Hey, Sam.

That wild stallion, just forget about him.

He can't be broke for cow work,

and I don't want him touched, understand?

We've had our share of broken bones

around here.

Yeah, I understand.

You don't want me making donkeys our of your men.

Yeah, right. Right, ramrod.

Easy, boy.

♪ Oh, Lord, it takes a worried man ♪

♪ To sing worried songs

♪ It takes a worried man

♪ To sing a worried song

♪ I'm worried now

♪ But I won't be worried long ♪

Hey, Randy,

play a little Lone Star Trail,

get us in the mood for hitting the sack.

Yeah, I always liked that one.

♪ I'm up in the morning

♪ Before daylight

♪ Before I sleep

♪ The moon shines bright

♪ With my knees in the saddle ♪

♪ And my seat in the sky

♪ I quit punchin' doggies

♪ In the sweet by and by

♪ Yippy-aye

♪ Yippy-yay

♪ All along the Lone Star Trail ♪

♪ It breaks my heart

♪ To have to go

♪ And leave my sweetheart

♪ So far away

♪ And when I'm out ridin'

♪ Up hill and dale

♪ I'll think of my darlin'

♪ On the Lone Star--

How's a man going to get any shut-eye around here

with you tomcats howling on the back fence?

I got a bunch of wild ones to break in the morning,

and I need a lot of rest, so why don't you just shut up?

Well, that old boy's got a loud mouth on him.

Oh, the devil with him.

Go on, Randy, play a little more of that tomcat music.

Well, maybe Mr. Willock's right.

It does take a goodnight sleep

when you're breaking mustangs in the morning.

I'm turning in.

Night, Randy.

Travis.

Sam?

I didn't mean to get you riled with the guitar playing.

Oh, that's all right, boy.

I guess it can get under your skin

when you're trying to sleep.

No, it wasn't you.

It was that song you were singing kind of brought back memories.

I didn't mean to get my back riled up.

Well, I guess you had a right.

I'll see you in the morning.

Whoa, easy now.Whoa, yeah, easy, now.

Take it easy, fellow.

Easy. It's only me.

It's only a saddle.

It ain't the end of the world.

Yeah.That's it.

That-a-boy.

That's it, boy.

Whoa, boy.

Now, don't turn loose of that rope, boy, till I tell you.

Yeah--Yes, sir. All right.

All right, boy. Easy, now.

Easy, boy. It's only me.

Only me.

Easy, boy.

Nobody going to hurt you.

Nobody going to hurt you.

Let him see the light.

Ho, now.

This one's all bucked out.

Oh, you got him, Sam. He knows you're the boss.

Smart horse.

Back. Back, back, back...

Well, look who's here now, Mr. Willock himself.

Sit down, Sam. Sit down.

Got you all set up here. Got your favorite.

Just the thing to ease up on the pain and wash away your cares.

Whoo-yeah.

I'll bet you're showing them waddies out at Shiloh

a thing or two about horses, ain't you?

[ clears throat ]

Well, I still got a few tricks up my sleeve.

Why, sure you have.

Them ignorant cowpokes out there

ain't got sense not to appreciate

a man like you, Sam.

[ chuckles ] That's a fact.

Well, how does it look out there?

Mace, I don't think it's going to work.

Now, I mean,

we figured on the old Judge being the only man

that we had to draw down on,

but he's gone to Colorado.

What's that got to do with it?

Well, they still got all that money

coming in with that back pay, ain't they?

Yeah, but that young ramrod--

he's handling things now,

and he may draw a gun faster than the old Judge.

Well, if he does, we'll blast him,

simple as that.

I don't want nothing to do with no killing.

Don't you pay no mind to Albie.

He's always talking about using that gun of his.

There ain't going to be any killing, Sam.

Take my word for that.

Now, this ain't exactly my line of work, you know!

It may have been better if you boys tied up with someone else.

Wait a minute, Sam.

We tied in with you because we know

you're the man to get the job done.

Yeah, the way you was talking

last week when we find you in that saloon,

you ain't exactly overjoyed in the line of work you been in.

What do you mean?

I got nothing against bronc-busting.

I'm still the best there is, ain't I?

MACE: Why, sure you are.

Just ain't any money in it anymore.

There never was.

Never will be.

You just remember,

this thing out at Shiloh

could be a real sweet little trick

if you just don't lose your guts, Sam.

Who said I was?

Relax. I was just joshing, will you?

All you got to do is play nursemaid

to that bunch of mustangs out there

till you find out what we need to know.

Me and Albie, we'll waltz in there and

relieve the ramrod of the burden of all that money

and disappear up into Canada somewhere.

Boy, inside six months

you could buy yourself a thousand acres somewhere,

run all the horse flesh you ever dreamed of.

Sure.

Why not?

I deserve it, don't I?

Twenty-nine years falling in the dust.

A man deserves something for all that.

Now, what did you find out?

How long we going to have to wait?

Well, day after tomorrow

Virginian going to that Cattlemen's meeting in Cheyenne.

He ought to be back with all that money

about the end of the week,

first of next?

Soon as I hear he's coming back,

I'll let you boys know.

It's good enough, champ.

How much you figure there will be?

Well, there's three months back pay

for more than a hundred hands,

and there's a trail bonus.

Ought to be more than about $20,00 a piece

split three ways.

No bad thing.

[ hoots quietly ]

I can just see the look on that ramrod's face.

[ chuckles ]

Yeah, that's the way to live--

wild and free--

the only way to live.

Sure are something.

Ain't no words for a sight like that, boy.

[ chuckles ] You know what they're doing?

They're racing with the wind, that's what they're doing.

Makes you want to get right out there

and race along with them, don't it?

That's just the way I feel.

That's because you're half horse yourself, boy.

That makes the pair of us.

[ chuckles ]

Yeah, now, these two fellows,

just a bit ago they were

running wild and free

until I put them under saddle.

Ah, makes a man wonder, don't it?

Well, I guess we better get back,

turn these fellows over to their new riders.

They don't ride like they're fresh broke.

Well, that's because I leave them

with a little bit of their pride left, boy.

Now, all these young bronco twisters,

they don't know nothing.

All they know is to bust them down and shake them up.

Now, that ain't no way to do it,

no way at all.

You've got to respect their pride, boy.

You've got to learn that they have feelings,

just like you and me.

I know.

Once thought I'd get a place of my own one day

up Montana way,

little ranch,

and just let them all run wild.

Eh, just a pipe dream.

I don't think much about it anymore.

Well, here they are, ramrod.

I'll have the others ready for you day after tomorrow.

You'll fine them just as prime

as when you first gave them to me.

No panther tracks and no scariness in the eyes.

They look good, Sam.

Now, the rest is up to your punches.

I don't want to see any of you waddies jerking these mounts around

or riding with a tight rein.

That's what cuts up their mouths,

turns them starry-eyed,

makes them lift their head up too high,

and don't overwork them.

They need a little time to learn.

You don't like horses very much, do you, Sam?

Well, I guess I do treat them

like little girls on their first day of school.

Probably all for nothing, though.

I can't tell you how many horses I've seen ruined

by cowboys who don't have the brains

of the animal they're sitting on.

Here. Come on, Randy, let's go.

We've got work to do.

No possible way to talk nice to that man

without him trying to bite your head off

like an old gray wolf

That's how much you know about him.

What's the matter with him?

All I said was--

Let's just forget it.

Time to get back to work.

[ men laughing ]

Spare ribs for supper, Randy.

Yeah, I know.

I don't know about you two,

but I'm going to high-tail it over there

before those chowhounds lick the platter clean.

All right.

[ strumming chords ]

You're not going to start strumming that thing

with spare ribs waiting for us.

Hey, I've got to show you something.

I got it out of an old copy of Leslie's Illustrated

that the Judge gave me.

WILLOCK: Mm-hmm.

Purely beautiful.

Kind of reminds you of that black stallion.

You know, these other boys

would laugh themselves silly

if they knew I had this under my mattress.

Well, they don't know no better.

Ever since I saw my first horse,

I've had this--

this--this feeling, you know?

Yeah, I know.

And then the other day when you were talking

about someday having a place of your own,

well, I wanted to tell you something then, but...

I guess I thought you just might laugh at me.

Well, go on.

Tell me now.

Well, I had the same idea--

Forty acres somewhere,

little horse farm,

just like what you said.

That's why I've been saving this picture.

Kind of reminds you of a place you'd like to have someday.

Well, a man's not a man until he's got a dream, boy.

Well, I guess I shouldn't waste your time showing this to you.

We're liable to miss out on them ribs.

I'm going to give you that wild horse, boy.

I'm going to break him for you.

I don't think the Virginian's going to like--

Nah...

The Virginian don't have to know.

He won't be back for the next few days.

He's taking the Judge's place at that Cattlemen's meeting in Cheyenne.

Well, you know what he said.

It don't matter what he said.

You deserve a good horse under you,

a horse that's worthy of a man with a dream.

Go on, wash up. I'll wait for you outside.

[ whinnies ]

There's only one way to handle

a proud and defiant animal like that--

fight him man to man,

let him know that you're just as tough and proud as he is.

All right, now, you stay here

and don't come in until I give you the sign.

Hey there, Mister.

That's right, look at me.

My name's Sam,

Sam Willock.

[ chuckles ]

Yeah, I'm mighty proud to meet you, too.

You and I are going to travel a long way together.

Is that all right with you?

[ whinnying ]

Down. Come on, boy.

Down, down.

Come and get him.

That's it, just a get-acquainted hoe-down.

The real high heel stomping ain't even started yet.

Hey, Buck,

make room in the hospital.

You're going to have company.

Mr. Willock is going to try and ride the stallion.

It should be a few laughs.

Nothing to bother about,

just a tired old saddle with nowhere to go.

Make him feel at home.

[ squeals ]Easy, easy, boy.

Whoa, whoa.

[ continues coaxing ]

Now we give His Highness a chance to get used to that saddle up there.

Easy, boy, easy.

Easy.

Easy, boy, easy.

Easy, whoa. Whoa.

Hey, Willock,

You figure to mount up sometime before sunup tomorrow?

Why don't you just give up, Willock.

Nobody's going to break that stallion.

Listen to them,

waiting for me to fall flat on my back,

choke on my own blood.

Well, it wouldn't be the first time.

I had to learn the hard way, boy,

the hard way.

A little bit of you dies each time you get busted up.

After a while there's nothing left to kill,

and that's when you know you're a real horse fighter.

Ho. Whoa, boy.

Now, you get a good hold of that rope

and don't let go till I tell you.

Easy, now. Whoa, whoa.

Easy, boy.

Got to get you used to me up here, now, boy.

I'm a part of you now. You know what I mean?

Are you ready?

Let him go.

Hah!

Stay with him, Sam!

Sam? Sam.

I'm all right. I'm all right.

I'm all right.

Hey, let him go.No, I've got to ride him.

You told me yourself,

when you got a real hard case to fight, you take plenty of time,

give your wild man a chance to think things over before you go back in.

Yeah, that's right.

Give him a chance to think things over.

Tomorrow will be soon enough.

Right.

Sam?[ grunts ]

Maybe I can get the doctor, take a look at you.

Uh-uh.

I don't want no doctor!Sam, you might be hurt.

You've got a lot to learn about fighting wild ones, boy.

It just ain't enough breaking them to saddle.

You've got to learn that you can't go running after no sawbones

every time life knocks you down.

You've just got to get back up again.

It knocks you down, you get back up again,

and you keep getting up

until you find yourself standing tall--

tall like a man no matter what's coming at you.

That's the way you got to do it, boy.

Ain't no other way.

[ snoring ]

[ groaning ]

How you feel?

Huh.

Morning. Morning.

Morning yourself.

Well, I've got to get back to work.

You don't have to if you don't want to.

[ continues groaning ]

What am I doing all dressed?

Don't you remember?

You hurt so much last night you couldn't take your clothes off.

You fell asleep on the bed,

and I just threw a blanket over you.

[ chuckles ]

Sure you feel all right?

Yeah, yeah.

I'm all right. I'm all right.

Just point me to the corral.

That's all. Let's go.

You can't just start ridding on that stallion this morning.

What do you mean? That buck stallion's waiting for me.

I can't keep him waiting.

Got to show him that I'm full of vinegar as he is.

Listen, I promised Miss Jenny

I'd bring you to see her first thing in the morning.

But that black stallion's waiting for me, boy.

He can wait. Come on, I promised her.

Well, what's she want to see me about?

You'll find out.

Mm-mmm.

Old Randy here's going to have to carry me

over to the corral in a wheelbarrow.

You don't mean you're finished yet.

Miss Jenny, I want to tell you something.

You remind me of somebody I knew a long time ago.

She was a princess in the kitchen, too.

Well, thank you, Sam.

Her name was Lila,

sod-buster's daughter.

She and her girlfriend

used to come over and watch me get up on them wild ones.

Boy, I really strutted my stuff in those days.

Yeah, the prettiest thing you ever saw.

I'll bet you had lots of girlfriends, Sam.

No, just her.

What ever happened to her?

I married her.

I didn't know you had a wife, Sam.

She died a long time ago.

I'm sorry, Sam.

Oh, I almost forgot.

I've got something for you.

Hot diggity.

No, blueberry pie.

Wow-wee.

Mm-mmm.

I'm going to have a piece of that pie right now.

For breakfast?

Sure, always have pie for breakfast.

[ knock on door ]

Excuse me, Ma'am, but I'm looking

for a man named Sam Willock.

JENNIFER: Mr. Willock's right here.

You remember me, Sam,

Doggie Brewster?

We had us a high old time back in Julesburg.

Yeah, sure, how are you?

Well, I heard you was working out here at Shiloh.

I thought maybe you could get me hired on.

I could use a month's wages.

Well, the ramrod isn't here right now, but--

Excuse me, folks. Let me straighten my friend out.

I'll be right back.

What the red-bellied devil you doing out here, Albie?

You want to queer the whole thing?

No, you're the one that's queering things, boy,

messing around with that stallion.

What do you know about it?

Oh, every cowpuncher in the saloon was yapping about it last night,

crazy Sam Willock going against orders

while the ramrod was away.

How do you explain that one, Sammy?

I got my own reasons.

Well, listen, boy.

You stay away from that killer horse, you hear?

Them's orders from Mace.

We don't want to take no chance of you getting fired.

Ain't nobody going to fire me if I break that horse,

and I'm going to break him.

Now, listen, boy.No, you listen.

I'm my own boss, always have been and always will be,

so don't go trying to tell me what to do.

When's that Virginian due back?

Any day now.

He'll have the money with him.

Now, you can't be sure.

Well, Mace figures he'll have it.

That's good enough for me.

Don't either of you two boys show your pretty faces around here

till I send you word the ramrod's got it.

You understand?

We'll see what Mace says.

You do what I say...

both of you.

You're getting mighty sassy in your old age, Sammy.

Don't you push me, Albie.

If I were you,

I wouldn't mess around anymore with that stallion.

You wouldn't want to fall on your face

before you reach that rainbow.

Randy!

Bring my gear. Come on, we got work to do.

Time for another waltz, Rand.

Let her go.

Now you're getting me mad, Mister.

[ groaning ]

Easy.

[ coaxing ]

Let her go.

Ho!

Why don't you give up on him, Sam?

He ain't going to make no kind of horse.

Him and I has got to come to an understanding.

Look, Sam.Now, just one more time.

You've been saying that--One more time.

Aren't you going to rope him first?

No, just the two of us,

two free men, no rope, nothing,

just the two of us.

Whoa, boy.

Whoa, boy.

Ho, now.

Easy.

[ continues coaxing ]

[ horse squealing ]

Sam, you never should've tried that.

Lila?

Lila!

Where are you?

Let me--What's the matter?

What do you mean she's dead?

I don't believe you! What do you mean she's dead?

Don't tell me. You're lying to me!

Why--No! Lila!

Oh...Lila.

Randy? Is that you?

Yeah, Sam

What happened?

You were calling for your wife.

You thought-- I don't know what you thought.

Oh, yeah.

Just a kid...

and I had a lot of dreams--

had a lot of dreams...

and I wanted to make them all come true...

for my wife.

She was pregnant.

I was about the happiest man

you ever saw.

but I knew I couldn't own no ranch

on a bronco-buster's wages.

Then there was this--

this wild herd of beauties

in the foothills, in the Rockies.

I figured I could mustang them,

break them to the saddle,

sell them.

I had to do it, boy.

I had to break them wild horses for her and the child.

Sam? Sam!

[ groans ]Sam, you can't--

I left her for a herd of wild horses.

Maybe if I stayed with her, she might--

Help me up, son. I've got to ride them.

What happened to her?

She died.

When I got back, she was dead,

and the child in her, it killed him, too.

Wasn't your fault, Sam.

Oh, yes, it was. I was greedy.

I wanted everything right then and there.

I broke them wild horses.

I broke them and took away their lives

by putting a saddle on them.

No, you didn't.

Yes, I did. I was greedy.

Yes, I did.

I caught them, I broke them, and I sold them for what?

For money.

God showed me.

Help me up. Come on, now.

It was for your wife, Sam.

[ sighs ]Her.

Listen, boy.

Never put a woman in the center of your dreams, boy,

because if you lose her,

you lose everything.

You give up. You don't care anymore.

Come on, Randy. Help me up, boy.

No.

I got to ride that horse, Randy.

I'm not going to let you kill yourself.Help me.

Randy!

Randy.

[ groans ]

Fight him, boy.

Fight him.

Keep his head up, Randy.

[ horse squeals ]

Keep his head up, Randy.

Stay with him.

[ squealing ]

[ horse quiets down ]

I think we got him.

Boy, you got him now.

He's all through. [ laughs ]

We did it, Sam.

Uh-uh. You did it, son.

Oh, you had him softened up for me already.

All I had to do was just sit in the saddle.

No. I couldn't go the last mile.

You went it for me.

Well...

Now, don't get down off that horse.

You rode him, you broke him. He's yours.

Well, Sam, I just--

Look, why don't you ride up to the main house

and show Miss Jenny your horse.

You mean it?

Of course I mean it.

Now, go on. Strut your stuff.

Thank you, Sam. Thanks for everything.

Oh...

[ inaudible ]

I told you not to touch that horse.

You stayed away just long enough, Virginian.

That horse is fresh broke.

What's Randy doing up on him?

He broke that horse, Randy himself.

You're a fool, Willock,

putting a kid like Randy up on a horse like that.

Could get that boy killed.

That boy's a man.

That stallion will never be safe.

I told you, and I--

Look, you don't like the way I do things,

why don't you fire me right here and now.

I've got half a mind to.

I'm not going to let the way I feel

change what I think of a man's work.

You've done a job of work for us.

We'll just forget about that stallion

and just tell Randy he's too dangerous.

He's not to use that horse again.

Now, don't start telling me what to do.

I follow my own orders.

I'm my own boss, and devil take the hindmost.

I won't have a hand working for me that can't be told what to do.

You're all through, horse fighter.

Pack your roll, pick up your pay at the main house.

There will be a $10 bonus for you.

You can keep your bonus.

That's the way you want it.

That's the way I want it.

All right.

Sam, I've been looking for you.

I want to show you how that stallion moves now.

He's pure horse, man.

Well, you take good care of him, you hear?

You rub him down yourself.

Don't leave him to nobody else.

Where you going?

Oh, someplace over the hill, I guess.

Always someplace to go.

Why?

I was fired.

Your Virginian fired me.

For what?

Wanted me to take that black stallion away from you,

said you couldn't ride him, it was too dangerous.

I can't ride him?

That's right.

Well, I helped break him, didn't I?

What does he think I am?

Hey, listen, you ought not have to leave because of this.

I got no choice now.

Look, I'll be back, say so long.

I'm going over and pick up my pay.

Shoot.

Hey, where's that champ-een horse fighter.

I just heard about it, Rand.

I'm real proud of you.

That took a lot of nerve.

I guess I'm going to have to say a nice word or two

about your old pal.

I must admit, he really taught you how to hold on to a wild one.

Hey, what's the matter, boy?

You mooning over some little gal?

Nah, Randy hasn't any time for girls.

Why, he's a horse fighter now.

Sure, he's got a gal.

No fooling.

Well, when I was mopping out the bunkhouse this morning,

tossed up Randy's blanket to get under his bunk,

and what do you think I found?

What?

A picture of Randy's girlfriend.

I'll be.

Yeah, about 16 hands high, weights about 1,100 pounds

with two of the prettiest brown eyes

and four of the loveliest hairy legs you ever did see.

[ whistles ]

Well, that's not bad.

Well, I wouldn't mind waltzing a night or two

with this little lady myself--

What, you want the picture that bad, Randy, take it.

Hey, hah-hah.

Got her.

If you want the picture that bad--

Get him off--

Trampas--what are you trying to do?

Get up off there.

What happened?

Hey, Randy.

What did you do that for?

Randy--

Hey!

Randy, what are you--

Now, hold on. Hold on, Randy, listen. Hey!

I ain't going to stay down no matter how many times you hit me.

I'm going to keep getting up and getting up.

What's the matter with you? What do you want from me?

I want you to give Sam his job back.

Means that much to you, huh?

Yeah.

All right.

You got a friend, Willock.

It's your job if you want it.

What are you doing here?

You weren't figuring running out on us, was you, Sam,

or was you?

You know the chance you're taking?

Anybody saw us,

we're just a couple of old buddies

come to visit the finest horse fighter ever lived.

We could rot, waiting for you to give us a word, Sam.

Virginian came back.

Why didn't you let us know?

I was going to.

When, next year?

That money will be in the pockets of a hundred cowpokes

by noon tomorrow.

What's wrong with you, Sam?

A Shiloh hand was talking about it in the saloon,

or we would have never known

all about the run-in you had with the ramrod

over giving some green kid a wild horse.

Would have ruined everything, Sam, if you would have got fired.

Now, you know that, don't you?

Maybe I wanted it that way.

What he means is--Wait a minute, no.

None of that.

He's not a broken-down old bronc-buster.

That's a proud man, Albie.

Got to reason with a man like this.

Yeah, well, I ain't letting him--

Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute.

He knows what we'd do if he up and quit on us.

That don't faze him a bit.

He don't care how he dies

just so he dies with his boots on.

Now, come on, this is the--

this is the best horse fighter ever lived.

This is Sam Willock, and he don't scare.

Sam, I know you.

You'd die a slow death trying to work and live your life

out in a place like this.

Can't you see it now, couple of years from now?

Why, you'd just be old Sam, character,

just good for a laugh,

stiff-legged, crusty old barnacle just hanging on,

nothing more than a charity case

because you know you ain't got it in you

to put up with any more of that bronc-busting.

I'm just as good as I ever was.

Oh, are you, Sam?

No, you didn't break that stallion.

That horse broke you,

took a green kid to run in, save you.

No, you gave that horse everything you had left.

You can't take that no more.

I will if I have to.

You're just kidding yourself, Sam.

You couldn't stay around here.

Why, sooner or later

every young punk from the ramrod on down

would be riding you.

What you need is a place of your own,

a little place away from everybody, no bosses,

but to get that, now you got to have a stake

because every man knows it.

If you ain't got a stake,

sooner or later you're going to have to go crawling

on your hands and knees to some boss man.

You never was meant to do a thing like that, right?

Why, of course I'm right.

Now, here's the way we're going to do it.

That ramrod's up there stuffing that money

in those pay envelopes,

and we're going to go up there,

and you're going to be the lookout.

Albie and me are going to waltz in there

and say a fast hello-good-bye, and off we go.

I thought we was going to wait

until all them cowpokes was asleep.

No, now, he'll be on guard later.

Now's the time, Sam...

right now.

All right.

Come on, Sam.

Well, I got me a royal straight--

four, five, six, eight, nine.

You're too lucky, Trampas.

Good thing tomorrow's payday.

Hey, Randy, you're welcome to sit in on this hand

if you want to lose your money.

I got me a winning streak going here.

Look at that. Hmm?

No, thanks. I guess I'll just get me some fresh air.

RANDY: Sam?

I came outside looking for you.

What are you doing up here?

I'm waiting for the Virginian.

He, uh, went in to pick up my pay.

Look, why don't you go on back to the bunkhouse, huh?

I got something I want to talk to him about.

You getting ready to leave?

I haven't made up my mind yet.

I have.

I just decided.

I'm going to quit Shiloh and ride up north

to look for my 40 acres now.

Now, you better think that one over, boy.

I know it's going to be hard.

That's why I wanted to ask you to come along.

What do you mean, be partners?

Why not?

We could ride out together, just you and me.

Now, don't let breaking that stallion go to your head, boy.

What do you mean?

Well, wouldn't that be something, huh,

you and me,

old stumble-bum Sam

and Green Kid Randy,

two of us horse breeders.

That's right.

Boy, you don't have the pig sense

if you think a thing like that will ever work out.

Now, you could turn your pockets inside out a hundred times

and still not find enough money

to buy an acre of prime land.

Now, besides, what do you know about horses?

Not a thing.

I know. That's why I need you, Sam.

We could do it together. We really could.

No, we can't.

Get out of here and leave me be. [ rumbling ]

I tried to get rid of him

when you two came busting out that door.

He might have seen our faces.

No, he's just a dumb kid.

He don't know what's going on.

Ought to take him with us just in case.

Well, that would just slow us down, wouldn't it?

Sam's right.

Look, I'll drag him into the bushes,

tie him up, and gag him.

By that time nobody will find him till morning.

We'll be long gone.

You make it quick. No pussy-footing, Sam.

Right. Get the horses.

[ knocking through walls ]

Made good time.

I'd have been here sooner,

but I stopped over to have a quick chat

with the bartender at the saloon

just before he closed.

Willock's been in, all right.

He lifted a few with a couple of hard cases

out of Colorado.

That's them all right.

Got two hours head start on us.

You know that northern country better than we do.

You mean if I was a payroll robber

looking to get lost in Canada, which way would I run?

Ryker, you do have a way of hitting the nail.

Well, due north is too easy to trail,

and they'll be figuring us

to come sniffing after them all the way.

Let's see now, if I was as smart as they are,

I'd head northwest,

and I'd cross over Boot Pass,

and zag northeast back to the border.

That sounds logical to me.

Head due north and pick up their trail at the border

unless we guessed wrong.

What are we waiting for?

Getting late. Looks like we guessed wrong.

Better camp here for the night.

Let's give those scouts one more turn to the west.

If there's no sign of them then,

you can start figuring out

what you're going to tell the Judge

about your great payroll robbery.

I'm fresh out of alibis.

I'm going to let you tell him.

[ gun fires ]

I saw them

about six miles west!

That's them all right,

up there in the rocks right behind the waterfall.

Well, then, let's go.No, wait.

It'll take a half hour at least

to get position on them

without them knowing it.

It'll be dark by then.

Why not move into position in the middle of the night

when they're sleeping?

Then we jump them at first light.

If I know Willock, we'll have a time taking him.

Well, I guarantee you,

he's not going to want to see the inside of a jail.

Yeah, lock him up and throw away the key.

Well, it's getting about that time to post a night guard.

You did more than your share last night, Sammy boy.

You get a good night's sleep.

Albie and me, we'll split it between us.

If we need you, we'll call you,

and you can take the trick before daylight.

How you feeling?

Fine.

You're worrying about him, aren't you?

So.

To tell you the truth, I am, too.

You know, when you try to add up

what a man's life really means...

you can't just count the things against him.

You can't just cancel out

all those years of being decent,

doing a job...

for one dark night when he runs off

with somebody else's money.

I know.

It's not that so much.

Just don't judge him too hard.

You don't have to be in on it tomorrow

if you don't want to.

Think it over.

Night.

Night.

Randy, what are you doing here, boy?

I had to come.

You're going to get yourself killed.

It don't matter.

You mean you tracked us all the way up here?

The posse did.

A posse?

Yeah, they got you from all sides,

getting ready to move in at first light.

The first light? It's about that time now.

Well, I had to try to warn you, Sam.

I didn't want them to shoot you down

or lock you in a cage like some animal.

Boy, you know what you're getting yourself into?

You're going against the law.

Hang it, boy. I ain't worth it.

I'm just a lying, thieving, cheating horse fighter

who's at the end of his rope.

You got your whole life ahead of you.

You don't want to mess it up

by tying down with the likes of me.

You ain't none of them things.

You don't understand, boy.

Look, I don't care what you say.

I don't care what you've done.

All I know is you're a good man, Sam.

Please, boy, don't.

You are, and you're not at the end of your rope.

You got that dream.

If we could find a way out of here,

maybe you and I could get that place together, huh?

There's only one way--

up and over the mountains

if we can make it.

We can sure try, boy. Huh?

Hey, Sam, Sam,

I just got a glimpse of somebody coming up through the bush,

probably a whole dang posse going to hit us about--

Hey, what's the kid doing here?

He come up here to warn us, Mace.

That's a real good boy.

Yeah, that's a real pal.

Hey, maybe you can help us, huh?

Why, sure, they don't want to see him get hurt.

Yeah, that's a good boy.

Albie.

Hey, Albie.

He always did sleep like a dead man.

Listen to me, boy.

When I say run, you run over that ridge, and don't turn around.

I'll be right behind you, but just keep running

no matter what happens, you hear?

Albie, come on. There's a posse down here.

Just trust me this one more time, huh, boy?

Right, Sam.

Go.

Mace!

[ laughs ]

A funny thing--

A heck of a way for a horse fighter

to go out.

[ laughs ]

I should've been kicked in the head

by a prize hunk of horse,

like that black stallion.

[ grunts ]

Lila.

Good-bye, fellow.

He'd always remind me of Sam.

He's just like him--

born to run wild and free.

[ theme music playing ]