All language subtitles for S04E21 - Morgan Starr

[ theme song ]

Whoa.

This ain't
the railroad station.

I know it.

This is the saloon.

I know that, too.

Well, if I remember
our instructions correctly,

we were supposed to deliver
this stuff to the station.

Train ain't due
for another hour.

I reckon we got time
for a drink.

Yeah, I reckon we got time
for two or three.

Beer.
Whiskey.

Perdition.

Fire and brimstone.

You movin'?

Not for one solid hour.

Sendin' the judge
some more of his stuff.

Oh, yeah.
Any news from him?

Whiskey.

Uh, seems kinda sudden--

the judge
bein' appointed governor,
that is.

Well, they were after him
for about a year.

He wasn't sure.

He thought he
could talk them out of it.
I guess he couldn't.

Well, all right.
Why the gloom?

I mean, it's gotta rate
an honor bein' governor
of Wyoming.

I reckon there's nothin'
goin' on at Shiloh
the Virginian can't handle.

Beer.

I take it there is something
goin' on at Shiloh
I haven't heard about.

Yeah.

Well, are you celebrating
or havin' a funeral?

A little bit of both, Sheriff.

A little bit of both.

Well, how would you feel

if you were second man
on a job for so long

you felt like you
were born with it?

And then when
the top job opened up,

they brang in
somebody else for the job.

That depends on the job.

The job's Shiloh.

Uh, you mean the judge

is bringin' in somebody else
to run Shiloh?

Now you got it.

Whiskey.

Who?

What do you do
if you're the Virginian?

You feel like you owe
a certain amount of loyalty
to the ranch.

You feel like you owe
a certain amount to the judge.

Then he passes you by
and gives somebody else
the job.

Who?

Do you go or do you stay?

It'd be a hard decision
to make.

Well, I'm askin' you--
who's comin' in to run Shiloh?

Oh, why didn't you say so?

I guess I should have.

Uh, fella named...
Morgan Starr.

Who the blazes is Morgan Starr?

That's a fair question.
Who's Morgan Starr?

[ cowhands helping ]

[ mooing ]

You can pay
or you can turn around

and go back where you came from.

It's all the same to me.

Suppose you tell that
to the boss.

You get any orders from me
to stop the herd, men?

Those guns are blocking
the trail, Mr. Starr.

You're on private property,
friend.

Permission to cross
revocable at any time,

and I'm revokin' it now.

Last I heard,
this was still public land.

You heard wrong, friend.

You wanna move
your beef through,

the price is a dollar a head.

I don't suppose you can show
any proof of ownership.

You're lookin' at it, friend.

Men...
get the herd movin'.
Yeah?

Maybe you better get
some of that Texas dirt
out of your ears, mister.

Any of these people
try to interfere,
shoot them.

You ever see a herd
of tired, jittery cattle
stampede?

Wouldn't take much
to get them running.

A gunshot ought to do it.

Take a good look at them.
They'll be heading your way.

Men, move them up.

One more thing, friend.

[ grunting ]

You have got
any legitimate claim, friend,

take it up with
the association in Dodge.

MAN: Move them out then!
Head them out!

[ mooing ]

[ cowhands yelping ]

I wish you joy of it.

The men paid off?

Every last one of them.

Generous.

You earned it.

Yeah, I guess I did.

You know I'm going to Wyoming?

I heard.

Come along, if you like.

[ chuckles ]
No, thanks.

Suit yourself.

That's exactly
what I intend to do.

Ahh.

Well, I, uh, wish I could say
I'm sorry it's over with, but--

I never promised you'd enjoy it.

No, I guess you didn't.

What's that for?

My drink.

Hello, Morgan.

I had forgotten
how pretty you are.

A declaration of love
from Morgan Starr.

You wouldn't have come up
to say good-bye?

It's over.

Oh, it's more than that.

It's burned out, forgotten.

You don't just finish things,

you wipe them out
of your memory.

What is it you want, Melissa?

I guess I want to touch you.

I want you to remember me,
as I'll remember you.

I'll remember you.

I don't think you will.

Is there anything at all
from the past that you
keep with you, Morgan?

Anything at all?

[ sighs ]

A woman, a child.

That was a long time ago.
It isn't important.

It's more important
than you know.

A man is what he's done,
what he's felt,

and what he suffered.

The things a man holds on to

are the bonds that tie
his life together.

give it meaning.

Without them,
there isn't anything at all.

I don't know what that means.

I'm sorry for you, Morgan.

Oh, is the telegraph office
still open?

Yeah, I guess so.

[ whistle blowing ]

[ whistle blows ]

[ brakes squealing ]

Mr. Starr?

You the Virginian?

I thought I'd come down
and meet you personally.

I'd appreciate it if you'd
see my bags are taken care of.

First three on the rack.

Can't understand
the Virginian--

rushin' off to town
to cut his own throat.

Wonder how he's
feelin' inside.

I reckon it
was quite a jolt--

judge passin' him by
like that.

You think he'll stay on?

If he don't,
who's to blame him?

Not me, and I'll tell ya
something else.

If he leaves,
a lot of us will follow.

I'll get them.

Uh, you know,
watchin' you two,

a fella could get
the impression
that you'd met before.

Well, how 'bout it, Mack?
Have ya?

We've met.

A lot of the judge
is in this room.

You're Jennifer.

And you're Mr. Starr.

Welcome to Shiloh.

Thanks.

Judge did a lot
of reading, huh?

Yes.

I think I'll have the books
taken down and packed away.

If you want any,
you better pick them out now.

All right.

I'm surprised he didn't take you
with him to Cheyenne.

Oh, we talked about it.

I may join him later,
but in the mean time,

he has plenty to do
and I'm very happy here.

And you've decided
you're going to put up with me,
haven't you?

[ chuckles ]
Yes.

Why?

Because Uncle Harry
wants me to.

Besides,
I was a stranger here
myself once.

Did you know the judge
before you came here?

No.

There is a difference
between us. I did.

Did you?

The war.

We served together.

"Together"
may be the wrong word.

We fought with each other
every day,

until we found a third party
we could fight--

the whole Confederate Army,

and when it was over, we went
into the cattle business,

found we had plenty of enemies
without fighting each other--

wind, frost, drought, famine.

And when they beat us,
we split up.

Why did you come here?

The judge asked me to.

It was your choice,
too, you know.

A chance to try out
my ideas,

the judge's land,
my own money.

If they work,
we go on together--
partners.

And if they don't?

They will.

[ cowhands yelping ]

Make sure you brand
only Shiloh stock.

We ain't likely to make
any mistakes at this late date.

[ chuckles ]

I saw a pocket of them
up in that draw.

Not sure they're ours,
but you might check them out.

All right.

Yo! Wait a minute.

Been lookin' for ya.

Well, I'd say you found me.

Morgan Starr
wants to see ya.

Now?

More like
a couple hours ago.

Well, tell him
I'll see him tonight.

Tell him I'm getting
his herd ready
for a trail drive.

Not anymore you ain't.

What do you mean?

There ain't
gonna be no trail drive,

so says Morgan Starr.

Now the fur's gonna fly.

Come in.

Mr. Starr.

Yes?

You, uh, sent Randy out
with an order for me.

That's right.

I wanted to hear it from you--
make sure I got it straight.

I said we're not going ahead
with the round-up.

You know, we've been working
the hands double time

seven days a week
to get the herd ready.

Right now, we've got the jump
on every ranch in Wyoming.

If you postpone the drive,

we'll be lucky
to catch the tail end
of the Cheyenne market.

I'm not postponing
the round-up...

I'm calling it off.

Well, that's crazy.

Are you questioning
my right to give the order?

I'm questioning the order.

I wonder if you know
all the circumstances.

There's $60,000 worth
of beef cattle out there.

More than that,

but we're gonna keep them
on the range

until we're ready to sell.

When will that be?

I'll tell ya
when the time comes.

Well, uh, what about the men,
Mr. Starr?

They've been working
their heads off

to cut our cattle out
for the drive.

You gonna tell them now
it's all for nothing?

They'll draw their wages
no matter what the work is.

That's not enough, Mr. Starr.

These are the best men
there are.

They're the best because
they're proud of what they do.

What they give,
you can't buy with wages.

Suppose you leave that to me.

I'll raise.

[ coin clinks on table ]

[ sighs ]

How much was that raise?

Keep your eyes on the pot.

Well, I can't keep my eyes
on the pot and on my hand
at the same time.

The raise was two bits.

I'll call.

Tens and threes.

Huh, no good. Kings over.

Let's see them.

Well, they're right there.
Just turn them over.

Show them yourself.

[ chuckles ]
Sure.

Kings and nines.

Beats tens, huh?

You sure do a lot of talkin'
for a man that ain't playin'.

Well, you do a lot of growlin'
for a bear with bad eyes.

Wait a minute!

Hold it!

What's the trouble?

No, no trouble,
just a little bear baitin',
that's all.

Walker?

No trouble,
except I'm givin' notice.

I'm pullin' out of here.

You're quitting?

That's right.

Now look, Walker,
I didn't mean--

Ah, it's got nothin'
to do with you, Randy.

[ sighs ]

Things just haven't
been the same around here
since he came.

He?

You know who I mean--
Morgan Starr.

Well, I guess I can't stop ya
if that's what you wanna do.

You could...
if you had a mind to.

You mind tellin' me how?

There's only one man
who should be runnin' Shiloh
with the judge away,

and that's you.

[ chuckles ]

Look, I draw my wages
just like the rest of ya,

and I do what I'm told.

Who runs this place
is up to the judge.

He says it's Morgan Starr.

Runs it into the ground,
you mean.

Have you given him a chance?

How long have you
worked for the judge, Walker?

Three, four years?

What about you, Belden?
Is it eight?

You both ought to know by now
the judge never does anything
without a good reason.

Whatever you may think
of Morgan Starr,

he's the judge's choice.

That's good enough for me.

Whatever I may think of him
personally,

I'm gonna ride along with him

till he gives me
a reason not to.

I can give you a reason.

I've worked for Morgan Starr,

been on round-ups,
drives with him.

Oh, he's hard. He's tough.
He's all knuckle!

He's just the way you see him,

and he isn't gonna mellow
with time,

if that's why you're thinkin'.

Two years past,

we crossed the Washington River.

Now we could have taken the herd

and moved them down 10 miles
and gotten over the crossing,

but that would have taken
two extra days,

and that didn't sit well
with Morgan Starr.

So we crossed where we were.

We lost two boys--
drowned in the river,

savin' Mr. Starr two days.

You sure about this, Mack?

I'm sure about it.

One of the boys was my son.

Hey!

Good mornin'.

Mornin' to you.

Where ya headed?

Railroad station.

Expectin' someone?

If there's anything
I can't stand,

it's a nosey sheriff.

[ chuckles ]
Well, you can't blame me.

I mean, the whole valley's
wonderin' about you and Starr.

Tell ya the truth,
I'm kinda wonderin' myself.

Oh, yeah?

Got a mechanical seeder
comin' in on the next freight.

A seeder?

Nosey and deaf, huh?

[ chuckles ] Why?
You figurin' on doin' some
plantin' down at Shiloh, huh?

Looks that way.

What for?

Cattle feed.

What's the matter
with range grass?

Ask Morgan Starr.

All right, I will...
when I meet him.

Sheriff, for you.

Thank you.

Well, see ya later, Emmett.

Right.

Here, here.
You shouldn't be doin' that.

You should be standing there
looking helpless

so some man passing by
will stop and give you a hand.

Oh. Well, are you just going
to stand there and make jokes,

or are you going to help me?

[ chuckles ]

[ grunts ]

Stockin' up for a siege?

No, it's for the party tonight.

You're still planning on
going through with that, huh?

Of course. It's the best way
I know to bring Mr. Starr
and the ranchers together.

Does he know
that's what you had in mind?

Not yet.

Planning on telling him?

Tonight. You'll be there,
won't you?

Am I invited?

Of course.
You head the list.

Wouldn't miss it for the world.

Well, then you might as well
earn your feed.

Come on, help me
with the rest of the things.

♪♪

Have you seen him yet?

Yep, saw him
the other day over at
the north boundary line--

where his place meets mine.

Have anything to say?

Nope.

Man ought to be at
his own party.

Yep.

Did you hear about him
not movin' his herd out?

Yeah, gonna keep fattenin'
on the range.

Buyin' up hay and grains

so he can bring them down
when the bad weather sets in.

Keep fattenin'.

Well, he can't keep
feedin' them forever.

Nope.

[ chuckles ]
When he gets good and ready,

he's gonna rent him some
of those fancy Pullman cars

and send those cattle
all the way east

on a nice,
comfortable train ride.

If he don't go broke
buyin' up fodder and seed.

[ laughs ]

Takin' quite a gamble.

Yep.

I think he's crazy,
but I'll say this--

if he pulls it off,

bein' crazy's gonna be
right fashionable next year.

Yeah.

Fair turkey.

Yeah.

What's this I hear
about Shiloh not takin'
their herd to market?

That's the way it is,
Mr. Wingate.

That's gonna make it
kinda hard on the rest of us--

havin' to cut out
our own stock

without the Shiloh hands
doin' their share.

Now wait a minute.

No one said anything
about the Shiloh hands
not doin' their share.

Well, as far as I see,
nobody said anything
either way.

Who's talkin' for Shiloh?

Mr. Starr.

Well, where is he, anyway?

Isn't it about time
we've met the guest of honor?

He'll be along any minute,
I'm sure.

Mr. Wingate.

Mr. Starr?

Here.

Aren't you well?

I'm fine.

But you're not even dressed
for the party.

Well, I forgot.

With all that music?

Is that what that is?

[ chuckles ] Please hurry.
They're waiting for you.

Who?

Well, all the ranchers
in the valley.

They came
especially to meet you.

I wish you
hadn't done this, Jenny.

Why? You're going to be working
with these people.

Sooner or later,
you've got to meet them.

I remember the story
about the man

who was offered the job

of the President
of the United States,

and he turned it down--

the reason being that it meant
doing something one hour a day

and then using up the other 23

explaining to one outraged man
or another just why he did it.

That's what's facing me
out there.

I don't think
it's all that bad.

Oh, now you know they
didn't come out here to meet me.

They came to see who it is
they're mad at.

It doesn't have to be that way.

How old are you, Jenny?

Nineteen. Why?

My daughter
would be your age now.

Where is she?

She died.

And your wife?

Dead, too.

I'm sorry.

Please come out.

Sure.

I'll change.

There's no time for that now.

What you're wearing
will be fine.

I'm not used to this.

What?

Having somebody to talk to.

There are lots of people
at Shiloh you can talk to.

Who?

The Virginian.

Tell me, Jenny,
why is he staying on?

Because he belongs here.

Feeling the way he does?

Do you know how he feels?

Well, I know how any man
would feel

if he saw another man
brought in

to take over a job
that should have been his.

You know how one man
would feel--yourself.

[ chuckles ]

I'm not that much different
than anybody else.

[ crowd grows louder ]

Mr. Starr.

[ clears throat ]

My name is Riker,
Mr. Starr.

Emmett Riker--
the sheriff of Medicine Bow.

Sir.
This is Mack Lewis.

He's a federal agriculture agent
of the territory of Wyoming.

I'm sorry to interrupt
your party, Mr. Starr,

but when the sheriff told me

that all the major ranchers
in the valley were here tonight,

I asked him
to bring me right out.

What is it?

Locusts.

[ all gasp ]

Millions of them,

moving on a shifting front
and heading this way.

Last week, the entire area
around Tessler's Junction

was wiped out by locusts.

Right now,
as near as we can estimate,

they're about here.

The wind is going to push them
right through Timbrook Pass

and then to the South Valley.

They'll be hungry.

They'll be moving fast
in the only direction
they can...

to right here.

I hear tell
they've come this way
once before--long time ago.

All right, what do we do?

We're suggesting
that you move your stock--

every cow, every horse,

every last living thing
that feeds on grass or grain.

Do you know what you're asking?

As far as we can tell,
it's the only possible move.

Now if you'll drive
your cattle

southeast
across Greenstraw Desert,

you'll hit
federal grazing land here.

Now the government
will allow you to graze
your cattle

all this next year,

until your grass comes back.

Mr. Lewis, we're only halfway
through our round-up.

It's been a little slower
than usual.

Now you're talking
about finishing

and driving
20,000 head of cattle

a hundred miles in something
like a week's time.

Well, we'd be lucky
if half of them
reach grazing lands.

If you leave them here,
you'll lose them all.

The first sight of locusts,

your herds
will panic and stampede.

What's left of them after that
will starve to death.

Suppose the wind shifts.

Well, that's a chance
that's so slim,

it's not worth considering.

Well, still, it's a chance.

If you wait to see
what the wind does--

just one day--

it'll be too late
to move your herds.

You can't afford it.

Now you're talking
about taking the herds

across the Greenstraw Desert.

That's 50...
60 miles.

What about water?

There are natural wells
within the area.

You guarantee enough water
for 20,000 head?

I'm guaranteeing nothing.

I can only repeat the facts.

You drive your cattle
across Greenstraw,

you've got a chance
of saving them.

You keep them here
and the wind doesn't change,

you could lose
every single head.

Doesn't look like
we have much choice.

No, or much time.

I say we go back right now
and get the men out,

then we complete
our general round-up,

and then we move the herds out,
just like Mr. Lewis says.

Not a general round-up.

Shiloh cattle
are staying where they are.

What are you saying?

I'm saying Shiloh cattle
are staying on the land.

Land? What land?
Didn't you hear the man?
There won't be any.

That's his opinion,
it isn't mine.

Well, don't you
believe what happened
up at Tessler's Junction?

I believe it.
I've seen locusts before.

I know what they can do--

fire, pestilence, drought--
all rolled into one.

Not a leaf, not a blade
left standing. I know.

It sounds like you're
making a pretty good case
for getting out.

I say we stay here
and fight them.

Look here. Excuse me.
Pardon me.

Timbrook Pass.

Now we dig a fire break
between here and there,

and we fill that fire break
with timber,

with brush,
with leaves--anything.

It'll burn,

and at the right moment,
we set a match to it.

What about it, Mr. Lewis?

It's been tried before--
places like India, Persia.

It will work.

It's too much of a gamble.

No, I've got to stick
with my original recommendation.

Move your cattle to safety.

Safety?

Dragging them across the desert?

Driving them 100 miles
in one week?

Why, these herds are the finest
feed cattle in the world.

What do you think
they'd be worth

at the end of that safe drive
you're talking about?

A slight bit more maybe
than if those locusts
get through.

How 'bout it, Procter?

You yourself said we'd be lucky
if we come through that drive
with half a herd.

If we lose half,
we still have half.

McDuff?

Well, I've got 35 hands
workin' my spread.

Some have wives,
some have kids.

If I move my herd out,
I can lose half my stock.

I can still lose three-quarters
of my herd on a drive,

but I still have something--
a way to keep goin'.

Keep those men
earnin' their bread.

But if I lose everything here,
what am I gonna tell those men?

All right. Do what you like.

Shiloh cattle stay here.

You mean, don't you,
we all stay here?

You know we can't cut out
all the Shiloh cattle

in time to make
that kind of a drive.

Mr. Starr, you're willin'
to gamble Shiloh.

Now that's your business.
Maybe it's the judge's business.

But you're forcin' all of us
to gamble with you.

Now you've already heard it
said clear as day that none
of us wants to.

We're askin' ya
to change your mind.

We're keepin'
the ladies waiting.

Randy!Huh?

That's no locust, Jennifer.
That's just a preying mantis.

Not even a distant cousin
to a locust.

Hmm.

Everything set?

Everything's set.

Well, let's get them moving.

All right, men, get movin'!
Roll them out!

You talk to them.

Gentlemen.

We'd like to talk to ya.

Go ahead.

Well, we're talkin'
for all the ranchers
in the valley--

a delegation.

We're askin' you
to send a telegram
to Judge Garth.

Saying what?

Telling him what happened
at the meeting...

and askin' him
to give you authority
to speak for Shiloh.

You're askin' me to go over
Mr. Starr's head?

I watched you
at that meeting last night.

You feel
just like the rest of us.

Why don't you send
the telegram yourselves?

Well now, you know the judge.

He backs his men all the way,
but he'll listen to you.

You've known us a long time.
You know we wouldn't do this
lightly,

and we're none of us fools
or crackpots.

Starr will destroy Shiloh
and us along with it.

You owe it to the judge
to let him know what's goin' on.

I can't do it.

Why? Are you afraid of him?
Why do you put up with him?

I think you know why, Procter.

McDuff, you said the judge
backs his men all the way.

Works the other way around, too.

The judge sent him here.

I'm backin' him all the way.

Well, do you know
what they wanted?

I can guess.

Mr. Starr,
you can't push men
like those around.

Is that what I'm doing?

I thought I was digging
a fire break to fight
a horde of locusts.

You're forcing them
to take the same gamble.

They can't finish the round-up
in time without our men.

You tell me
how I can do both--

get miles of firebreak
dug in a few days

and cut out 3,000 head
of Shiloh cattle.

You so sure your firebreak
is gonna work?

Maybe not, but it's my job

to make the decisions
and live with the consequences,

and that's just
what I'm going to do.

You're wrong, Mr. Starr.

You're like a man sittin'
at a poker table,

and everything--
the land, the herds,
the people--

they're your chips.

You're puttin' them
all up against

that big pot you see
in your mind's eye.

But a lot of folks
besides yourself

are gonna have to live
with the consequences--

the other ranchers
and the hands on Shiloh.

They're your people--

your responsibility,
whether you like it or not.

You're puttin' them
all on the line
to back your gamble.

If you go down,
you don't go down alone.

You live with that for a while.

They should have done
what I said.

What was that?

Fill a couple of these
with cold beer.

Man, we would've made
a fortune. [ laughs ]

Mr. Starr,
we're not gonna have enough
kerosene to stretch.

Get some.

Hey,
I just told Mr. Starr

we're gonna run short
on kerosene.

What did he say?

Well, he said get some.

Well?

Well, I'm goin' to get some.

Bill?

Huh, looks like
we're a mite late.

Wonder where Jenkins lives.

We're gonna have
to wake him up.

What was it Starr said
when you told him
we were short on kerosene?

Well, he said get some.

And the Virginian?

Well, him, too.

It's probably
in the store room.
Let's see.

Let's go.

All right, that's enough.

Move it out and make it fast!

[ horse whinnies
and man groans ]

Put your brake on!

Bad?

My ankle--
I can't move it.

All right, men,
let's move him
over to the buckboard.

Careful with that leg.

All right, the rest of you men
get back to work.

If you don't stop pushin' them,
there's gonna be more of this.

Some of these men
have been on the line
for 30 hours.

What's it gonna take
to earn them a rest?

There's no time to rest.

We've still got almost half
the distance to go.

Starr, you're running the risk
of killing some of these men.

Nothing's worth that--
not even Shiloh.

Send the men back to work.

MacMillan!

Mr. Starr.

If you don't call a break,
I will.

We'll work till supper time...

then take four hours off,

if that's all right with you.

All right, men,
let's get back to work.

Bring that about ten feet.

Get them up.
They've gotta go back
on the line.

You're crazy,
they can't go back now.

They're going to have to.

We got a telegram
from Timbrook.

The locusts
have just been sighted.

It means
they're travelin' faster
than anybody thought.

These men are finished.

No man is finished
when he thinks he is.

There's always
a little more left.

They've already given you that.

Then they'll have to find more!

We put too much into this
to quit now.

Every foot of it's
cost sweat and blood,

and I'm not gonna let it
get lost

because you say a man
isn't up to his best.

MR. STARR: Men!

Take an hour.

Eat what's in front of you,
sleep if you can,

but in one hour,
we go back to work.

We'll make it.

You'll make it, Mr. Starr.

It's all yours,
nobody else's.

I wish you joy of it.

If this is too rough for you...

you can always get out.

All right, Mr. Starr.

When this is over--
win, lose, or draw--

I'm out.

Well, we're here.

To help?

Well, it's our only chance
to save our herds.

We'd be fools not to.

You want us?

All right, men, let's get at it!

I'll take it.

I'll take it.

[ exhales deeply ]

I'm going back to the ranch.
Come with me.

I can't.

Well, you can. You have time
before the locusts come.

You need rest and food.

If you're finished,
Mr. Starr...

I'm finished.

Jenny.

Yes?

You feel like
the rest of them,
don't you?

How's that?

That I was wrong--
driving the men like that.

I suppose it
depends on what you
consider most important--

the land or the people on it.

The people will survive
if the land survives.

That sounds very wise.

I hope it's true.

A man won't really put out
all he's capable of

unless he's driven to.

There's no limit
to what a man can do.

[ chuckles ]

The penalty is that
they do not love the man
who drives them.

They would have worked as hard
for the judge.

They wouldn't have hated him.

Would they?

I don't think the judge
would have asked them to do it.

We're different men--
Judge Garth and I.

I can live
with a man hating me.

There's one other thing
to consider, Mr. Starr--

the Virginian, or the judge,

would have had
the other ranchers working
with them from the beginning.

Jenny, I think they
would have been halfway across

the Greenstraw Desert
by this time instead.

Perhaps.

Are you so sure
your firebreak's going to work?

We'll know tomorrow.

What's wrong with him, Jenny?

Who?

The Virginian.

Why did the judge pass him by
for the top job here?

You just won't see it,
will you?

Well, tell me.

Don't you know
why he stayed on this far?

Why?

The judge asked him to.

The Virginian would fight
the devil himself

if the judge asked him to.

Meaning me.

Meaning no more
than what I've said.

It's not too far off at that.

How he must hate me.

Why?

Well,
how would any man feel

toward a man
who's taken over his job?

You think
that's the way it was?

I'm sitting here in this study
instead of him.

I think it's time for me
to betray a confidence,
Mr. Starr.

The Virginian wouldn't want me
to tell you this,

but I'm going to anyway.

You were second man,
Mr. Starr.

The Virginian was offered
the job of head man here,
and he turned it down.

Is that true, Jenny?

Gospel.

Well, why would a man
turn down top job
and stay on as second?

Why don't you ask him?

Ah, much too tired
to even think about it.

Nothin' to do now but wait.

Guess that does it.

Yeah,
but will it hold them?

We'll know soon enough.

Can't be more
than a couple of hours now.

Where's your Morgan Starr?

Don't worry.
He wouldn't miss this
for the world.

All right, men, take it easy
where you are!

Is that you, Jenny?

No, Mr. Starr,
it's your avengin' angel.

Today is the day of reckonin'.

If you're wishin'
for a gun, Mr. Starr,

I have one,

and one is all
we're gonna need between us.

Do you know any reason

I would not be doin'
this world a great favor

by pullin' this trigger

[ cocks gun ]
here and now?

You're drunk, Noah.

Yes, I've had a bit to drink,

but not enough
to spoil my aim.

Can I get up?

Why do you wanna kill me, Noah?

Because you have
a clear disregard

for men's lives
and for men's feelings,

Because
to get what you want,

you'll drive men
to their deaths.

Because one of the men
you drove to his death

was a boy with high promise--
my son.

You think I was responsible
for Tim's death.

I know you were!

No, Noah, youwere.

How much did it take
to work yourself up
to this, Noah?

A pint? A quart?

I can always tell
when you've been drinking.

You get lyrical
and very clear in your speech.

I've always admired that trick.

But the trouble is,
Tim was the same way.

You gave him love,
you gave him a little bit
of your... poetry,

but you gave him no strength.

When the going got rough,
he had to do what you do--

drink.

Now that river crossing
was tough,

but he should have
been able to make it,

and the reason he didn't
was because he was drunk.

Plain drunk.

Yougave him that.

You make a good case,
Mr. Starr,

but there were two men drowned.

The other man was Vince Reed.

He was a good boy.

He went in to save Tim.

Tim pulled him down with him.

You're not tellin' me
the truth!

[ door opens ]

See that he's taken care of.

He would have killed you.

[ sighs ]

I know how it feels
to lose a child.

Everything in order?

We've done all we can do.

Any late word
on the locusts?

They haven't
changed their mind,
if that's what you mean.

If you're lookin'
for conversation, Mr. Starr,

you'll find little of it here.

Give them time.

If your firebreak works,
they'll come around.

And you?

I thought it was pretty clear
where we stood.

[ locusts buzzing ]

Here they come!

[ all clamoring ]

Pour the kerosene!

Set the fire!

Fire it!

Close it up down there!

Keep that brush coming!

Bring it on!

Bring it on!
All you can get!

Close it up down there!

Hey, they're gone!

We did it!

[ cheering ]

We got them!

[ all cheering ]

We did it!

[ cheering continues ]

[ cheering continues ]

[ cheering continues ]

[ cheering continues ]

[ knock at door ]

Come in.

[ door opens ]

I'd, uh...
like to do something
for the men.

They deserve it.

Oh, they saved Shiloh
$60,000 worth of beef.

I figure they're
entitled to 25%.

That's a nice bonus.

If the judge objects,
it'll come out of my share.

I don't think the judge
will object.

I'll give you this--

no one could have done it
but you.

Tell me something.

Shoot.

Why does a man--
a good man--

turn down Shiloh?

I guess
it's a matter of roots.

Roots?

I need to be free.

If a thing chafes,
I have to know
I can put it down.

Well, see that the men
are told about the bonus.

Aren't you
forgetting something?

What?

Win, lose, or draw--
I leave.

[ closes door ]

What would it take to get you
to change your mind?

Two words.

Stick around?

That's them.

[ theme song ]