Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

♪♪

...give you about the best breeding stock around.

My pa spent three days choosing them out for you.

You tell your father I'm pleased to do business with him.

It's a pleasure for us, too. Yes, sir.

Oh, here's your tally sheet, sir.

That's 50 head, and your foreman-- he signed it for me.

Thank you.

I have this already made out--$1,400.

Oh, that would be $1,460, Mr. Grainger.

1,400--that's the cattle price.

And it's $60 to drive them here.

That's wages to me and my drover.

That wasn't my understanding.

Your father set the deal at 1,400 delivered.

Tell you what--

I'll give you a check for that 60,

and I'll write your father a letter

and trust him to send me back the check--

No, no! Never mind, Mr. Grainger.

You and Pa set that price.

I was just goin' by the usual, that's all.

Don't trouble yourself.

My mistake.

You just drop it out of mind.

If you're sure.

Yes, sir. And thank you kindly.

Thank you.

Oh, Mr. Carlson...

you've had a long, dusty trip.

Stay to dinner.

Oh, no, sir. Thanks.

My drover's waitin' for me.

I reckon he wants to get to town and see the sights.

Mr. Grainger.

Mr. Carlson.

♪♪

Well, he didn't bite on it.

I told him just like you told me to,

and he didn't bite on it.

Well, that's a pity.

Buxton, we can still ride on into Clarion.

I got a couple dollars silver.

Ain't that pitiful?

Lemoine, I was plannin' on showin' you some sights

that maybe you never seen before,

but we can't do that on no $2 silver.

He was gonna write a letter to my old man.

How come your old man is so tight on you, Lemoine?

I see your young step-mama ridin' around the country

in a buggy hitched behind your daddy's favorite mare.

He don't hold nothin' back on her.

And here you are drovin' cattle like a common cowpoke,

and all you got in your pocket

is a few dollars silver.

You gonna sit on that fence all day and just talk?

No. I sit on this fence and I consider.

What?

First thing I consider

is that there ain't nobody around now but us.

Where's that foreman?

Well, he and the others went to grub.

So, now, the second thing I consider

is that somebody could open up this here gate

and let a few of them cattle out,

and then that way, we'd raise us some cash.

Steal my own father's cattle?

They're Grainger's cattle now, son.

I ain't no cattle thief.

That's a pity.

So, I guess we'd better get started--

Buxton, you really think

we could have a big, wild time in Clarion?

Lemoine, I heard that there's a girl there,

and she does this kind of Oriental-type dance.

And all the time, she's balancing a pitcher of beer.

Yeah. Ha ha ha!

I guess we'd better forget about that-- Buxton.

I ain't gonna do nothin' like you said,

but if I was to leave now and ride on over to Clarion

and you was to meet me there later,

and you had some money,

well, I wouldn't have to know how you got it.

You ain't no cattle thief,

but you don't mind being friends to a cattle thief, huh?

[ laughs ]

Well, all right, Lemoine.

You get started to Clarion, and I'll see you there.

Okay.

♪♪

[ whistling ]

[ crows ]

Good coffee, honey.Thank you.

Anybody's coffee tastes good at the crack of dawn.

Thank you.

Can I have a little more?

Hurry it up, Stace.

I want to ride out and look at that new breeding stock.

It ought to be pretty good at $28 a head.

Mr. Carlson has a reputation for breeding prime beef.

[ knock on door ]

Good morning.Morning, Elizabeth.

Coffee?Thanks.

Morning, Stace, Mr. Grainger.

You wanted to see me?

I thought you'd like to ride out with us

and look over that new stock.

Oh, fine.

Have your coffee first.

Go ahead.

The stock will keep longer than Liz's coffee.

♪♪

I counted these cattle in myself.

Signed a tally for 50 head.

I only count 45.

You don't suppose you counted wrong the first time?

Nope.

They broke the fence maybe.

Looks all right to me.

They could've squeezed through.

Why don't you take a look out on the range?

They're probably filling up on some of that good range grass.

I'll check the range, but I don't think it's likely.

Then what?

Think somebody took 'em?

I don't know what else to think.

Who?

I don't know. But don't worry, Mr. Grainger.

I'll get 'em back.

I'm not holding you responsible.

I hold myself responsible.

All right.

Take all the time you need.

Good luck.

That's a prideful man.

I'm sure glad it wasn't me. What?

Tallied that herd.

Let's get back.

♪♪

MAN: You like them cows?

Mm-hmm. Good stock.

I've driven clear from Medicine Bow

lookin' for some cows like that.

Mm-hmm?

You, uh...traveling somewhere with 'em?

Over toward Delphi.

That's where I live.

I'm a sodbuster.

You?I'm a rancher.

Well...a rancher.

I'm pleased to have you...

stand over here and look at these cows.

But if you stay here lookin' at 'em,

I might get nervous.

I wouldn't want to make you nervous, Mr.--

Kiley.

Mr. Kiley.

But I think we've got a problem.

See, the more I look at these cows,

the more I think they belong back in Medicine Bow.

You're right. You sure enough got a problem.

'Cause I believe they belong in Delphi.

Look, I want to be reasonable about this.

If you stand quiet while I move 'em out,

I won't even ask you how you got 'em.

I want to be reasonable, too.

Suppose you just turn in that direction

and go a considerable distance,

I won't even ask you why you're interested.

I can probably work this pistol

a whole lot faster than you can work that rifle.

Elver?

Elver, you there?

ELVER: Over here, Daddy.

Speak up, son...

so the rancher believes in you.

ELVER: Do you want me to shoot him in the ear, Daddy?

Oh, no. Go slow, son.

So long as he's reasonable.

That's Elver. He's my backup.

All right, suppose I do ask you how you got 'em?

Bought 'em.

Got a bill of sale?

You got one?

Yep. 50 head of Carlson cattle.

Shucks. This ain't no 50 head.

It's only five.

That don't advance the situation much, does it?

Five is what I'm missing.

Well, I sympathize with you, rancher.

I'd miss 'em, too.

Mm-hmm.

You mind tellin' me where you got 'em?

Sure do.Why?

Don't figure it's any of your business.

I paid for 'em in gold.

And I aims to keep 'em.

You don't like my questions.

Oh, I like 'em fine.

But Elver, layin' on the ground over there

in the cold night air--

he's gonna get bored.

Tell you what, rancher--

you ride on ahead into Delphi

and get the sheriff and bring him back out to my place.

Kiley's place. Tell him Ransome Kiley.

Then we'll both do some answering.

I'll just do that.

That your son Elver-- your backup?

No, no, that's my son Jethro.

He's Elver's backup.

Good-bye, Jethro.

Say good-bye to the rancher, Jethro.

Now, Jethro, that's not being polite.

♪♪

They're Shiloh cattle.

They got Shiloh ranch dust all over 'em.

With Carson's brand.

We didn't have time to change the brand.

He'd just sold 'em to us.

Carlson sells a lot of cattle.

The man--No, thanks.

The man wouldn't even answer my questions.

Kiley? He didn't like how you were askin' them.

You made a mistake, mister.

I know Kiley.

He's a decent, hard-working man who's worth respecting.

Did he tell you anything at all?

He said somebody sold him those five cows.

Look, I didn't try to settle it myself. I came to the law.

He said he'd talk to you.

Will you come on and ride on out to his place with me?

Well, sure I will... to talk.

When?In a day or so.

You ain't in Grainger country now.

You're in Delphi.

In the second place, you got no evidence

Kiley took them cattle.

In the third place, I'm up to my ears

in more important things to do.

Now, why don't you get a room at the hotel,

and as soon as I get ready, well--

Sheriff, if we wait, he'll have 'em skinned or hidden out,

if he's still around.

Friend, you need more trust.

Kiley ain't goin' anywhere. Neither are those cattle.

Look, Sheriff--

Need more patience, too.

Now, I'm sayin' you're wrong,

but tomorrow, next day, we'll find out.

If you can't stay here till then, I won't keep you.

Whoa.

Gonna look for Buxton. I'll get off here.

If I wanted Buxton, I'd first try the saloon.

That's where I'm goin'. I'll meet you by the bank.

Lemoine, I could wait for you.

Annie? Annie?

Whoa, boy.

Annie. Heh. I just got to town.

I gotta stay a couple of days. Where'd you drop from?

I don't know you.

I was just going to the hotel, and I looked up--

I'm sorry. You've mistaken me for somebody else.

I'm sorry.

What are you tryin' to-- I called your name.

What--What are you doin'?

Where you goin'? Here!

Here! Come here!

Come here!

♪♪

All right, Lemoine. Then what?

Then she ran away.

Then he stared after her a while.

Then he went over and registered at the hotel.

Well, now, that's peculiar.

I reckon your step-mama's got more old friends

than she allows.

[ laughs ]

I ain't got time to reckon.

I'm clearin' back out to the ranch.

Why's that, Lemoine?

They found those cattle missing.

He's come here askin' questions.

Well, Lemoine, you don't know that, really.

You don't know, Lemoine, if he suspicions you or me or what.

Boy, I've tried to teach you

and learn you about people--

to reckon with people and deal with people--

like I've learned, Lemoine, that you're a coward.

I didn't steal those cattle.

That's just what I mean!

You rode off and you let me do it.

Of course, son, I ain't gonna make no mention of that

when they haul me in.

Boy, I want you to stay here...

and I want you to start reckoning.

You want me to hang around till that ramrod bumps across me?

No!

I want you to bump across him first.

♪♪

Hi, I'm Lemoine Carlson.

Delivered you some cattle a week or so back.

Oh, sure, Mr. Carlson. Come on in.

Thought I saw you on the street just now.

Then I said, no, it couldn't be.

Went over to check the hotel register,

and, by golly, it was. What are you doin' around here?

We had some of those cattle stolen.

Sit down.

That's bad news.

You got any idea who took 'em?

I know who's got 'em anyway.

Sodbuster named Kiley, lives just outside of town.

Oh?

He claims he bought 'em, of course.

Oh.

What do you plan on doin' to him?

Ride out there with the sheriff

and claim them back, I guess.

Well, I guess it's workin' out all right, huh?

Sure hope so.

Say, I see you got some friends in Delphi.

Friends?

Before, down on the street.

Wasn't you with some woman?

I couldn't see very clear. Oh, yeah.

Someone I thought I remembered from Abilene

eight years ago-- great girl. Oh.

Looked up, and there she was again,

right in the middle of nowhere.

Naturally, you grabbed her.

She didn't seem to know me. I could've been mistaken.

Well, I hope it works out all right.

About the cattle, I mean.

Say, I've been thinkin'--

your sheriff here is very strong on proper evidence.

Yeah, that's true.

I'd kind of like to talk to your father,

see if he ever sold any cattle to Kiley.

Makes sense.

Why don't you come on out for supper?

Oh, if you're sure I wouldn't be puttin' you out.

No, no trouble at all.

Towards supper, then. I'm lookin' to see you.

All right.

♪♪

LEMOINE: Annie!

Where you been, Annie?

Couldn't find the buggy. I missed you.

I've been hunting all over.

I'm sorry, Lemoine.

I went to...stop and call on Mrs. Hagar.

I guess the time just went by.

Why'd you put the top up?

The sun-- it warmed up so.

Yeah, it is. It is kind of warm, isn't it, Annie?

Mrs. Hagar--she someone you knew down south?

What?

Mrs. Hagar.

You used to live southwards, didn't you?

Originally, before you married my pa?

Oh, yes.

Kansas, wasn't it?

I've been a lot of places, Lemoine.

My father--he traveled.

He was in the telegraph business.

Before he died.

Before he died, yes.

He traveled a great many places with me,

so I've been a lot of different places.

Then you married my pa.

Lemoine, I'd sort of like to get back.

Well, let's see what we can do about that.

♪♪

♪♪

I got a hard time to believe that.

Ransome Kiley-- he's not the kind of man

to steal cattle.

Sodbuster, ain't he? They're all alike.

He gave you no explanation as to how he got 'em?

Guess he didn't feel obliged to.

His various sons were holding rifles on me.

But you didn't sell them to him?

No.

And no one you know of?

No.

Well, it's kind of you to give me the information.

Not kind, it's right.

Fact. Fact is fact and right is right.

Well, it's kind of you to have me to supper.

Oh, Pa. I clean forgot to tell you.

I invited him to eat with us.

Oh?

Well, I can just go on back into town.

Oh, no, no, no. Please stay.

There's plenty of food. You'll stay, absolutely.

Lemoine, you'd better go tell her out there.

A woman likes to know.

Yeah, sure I will, Pa.

THE VIRGINIAN: I don't like putting your wife out.

Oh, not at all. Plenty to eat.

She loves company. She's young.

And you'll see...

Oh, Lemoine, I didn't see you.

Want something?

Oh, a drink of water, I guess. Kind of dry.

Oh, Annie, when you get a chance,

I think Pa would like to see you out there.

Well, it'll have to wait a bit.

I'm baking bread.

Yeah.

Lemoine? Uh...

you were very nice to me when we were coming back here today.

I appreciated it.

I wish we'd always got on as good as that.

Well, Annie, maybe we just need to learn more about each other.

Five years ago, she died--my wife.

Lemoine's mother.

Bad time. Hard for Lemoine.

She was gentle with him.

I'm not so gentle.

Too strict, too old country.

Oh, I wouldn't say that, Pa.

Heh.

Then there was three years

when I was so lonely, you know.

And one day in church, I saw this woman-- this girl.

She was so pretty,

I could hardly stand to look at her.

Then a long time troubling, you know.

Old man, old fool you are, Einar...

to even hope that she sees you.

But--But I married her.

Heh heh. It was a miracle. She's an angel.

I'd say you're a very lucky man.

Some fellas, they ain't got no sense.

Goes with Buxton to Clarion City,

waste two days with cheap saloon women.

Buxton? You mean the drover?

Yes.

Is he around?

No, I fired him.

You don't go with cheap saloon women.Well--

Pa, I reckon he knows 'em from here to Texas.

Lemoine, you someday want to marry that kind of a woman--dirt?

Of course not, Pa.

Then keep yourself clean and wait...

and marry a woman like that.

And look hard, because there ain't many.

They're too free and easy nowadays.

Look for a girl raised pure and decent,

one who could keep house for you and cook and--

Einar, did you want me?

Oh, Annie. This is Mr. Grainger's foreman.

♪♪

Mrs. Carlson, Lemoine asked me to come out to supper

so I could meet his pa and yourself.

It's kind of short notice.

Lemoine, didn't you tell her we're having company for supper?

well, I--

Hope I'm not putting you out, Mrs. Carlson.

No, no.

Oh, we have plenty of food, huh?

Well, you look like you already know each other.

You met before?

No.

But, Mrs. Carlson, I'm proud to meet you now.

I'm most proud to have you here.

Most welcome. I'll set another place.

♪♪

Maybe now you'll believe me how she cooks, huh?

I have to believe what I've just eaten.

You should've seen your face

when Annie first came in the room.

You didn't think that an old, ugly man like me

could get such a beautiful gal, huh?

I'd say she seems contented with you, Mr. Carlson.

Altogether.

I'd say that's all there is to it.

I got chores to do.Hmm.

Chores to do.

Oh, I'd better check that calf.

Excuse me. Have some more coffee.

I come so near ruining myself.

To see you standing there...

Been a long time, Annie.

To see my whole past walking in.

Lemoine planned it. He tried to trap me.

Oh, he hates me.

He must've seen us together in town.

He said he saw me with someone.

I don't think he saw it was you.

Why'd he invite you here?

Natural enough. Business connection.

He kept asking us if we knew each other.

I guess we looked pretty startled when we saw each other.

Annie, it's good to see you again...

in the kind of place where you belong.

Where I want to belong.

I've never told Einar about me.

I've wanted to, and I've started to,

but he has that idea of what a woman should be.

If he knew the kind I am...

What kind?

Raised in saloons.

But it's given me one advantage.

I've heard a thousand men's complaints against their wives.

I've tried not to give Einar those complaints against me.

I don't hear him complaining.

I hope not. I love that man.

You've changed. Eight years.

You used to be kind of unsettled.

Unsettled inside and green all over.

Hmm. You didn't have too much common sense--

talking rough to two of the meanest gunmen in Abilene.

[ laughs ] You know something?

I can't even remember the name of that bar.

Olin's Red Cat Bar.

The Red Cat. Ooh, how I hated that--

[ clang ]

It's nobody.

You don't mind if we don't talk any more,

if I just stay apart from you generally?

I hate to ask it.

Annie, after what you did for me once,

you can ask anything.

Well, it isn't just the thought of losing this,

of losing Einar.

I have to be doubly cautious.

I mean, at my old age, I'm gonna have a baby.

Annie, that's wonderful!

Don't say anything, please.

I haven't even told Einar about it.

Told me about what?

About, uh--

About what you don't know won't hurt you.

[ laughs ] A wicked woman.

Heh. Keeps secrets?Mm-hmm.

You stay overnight, huh?

Annie, how about we--

No, thanks. I ought to get back into town.

It's a long ride back into town.

Lemoine, you tell him to stay.

Why not? I reckon Annie can find a place for you.

THE VIRGINIAN: Well, I paid for a hotel room.

I think I'd better use it.

Besides, I got a couple more things to do tonight

before I could sleep good.

[ laughs ]

[ piano music playing ]

Queens and threes.

Take it, Tern.

You won everything but the schoolhouse.

It's a good loser makes a handsome winner.

Love, bring my friends whatever it takes to celebrate with.

And, uh, bring me the change.

Careful town, careful sheriff,

and a careful saloon keeper.

All right, here you are.

We find it cuts down mortality.

I'll take a beer.Right.

Boys, it's dealer's pleasure.

We're gonna play a little high-low and change my luck.

[ chuckles ]

Good evening.

Hey, a gold coin.

Buy that from you?

Here. Thank you.

Hello.

Say, don't I know you, dealer?

You and Lemoine Carlson brought some cattle

over to Grainger's place.

Yeah, yeah.

Name's Buxton or something like that.

I'm Mr. Grainger's foreman.

Glad to see you.

Cards.

Funny thing about those cattle--

five of them got stolen.

I'm real sorry to hear that.

Here you are, honey. You're just in time.

I'm gonna have to bump you there.

I found them, though-- those cattle.

Buxton, I found the cattle.

Well, that's real good. That's really good.

Sodbuster had 'em.

Imagine that-- a sodbuster.

He claims somebody sold 'em to him, of course.

Of course, he could be lying.

Only one thing you can tell for certain

about a sodbuster.

[ clears throat ] What's that?

Well, they're dirt poor

and miser close.

You take a sodbuster with a gold coin

like as not he'd scratch his initials in it...

like this.

R.K. for Ransome Kiley.

You've been playin' poker with Kiley's money.

Oh. Is that so?

Where'd you get it?

I said, where'd you get it?

I tell you, friend, money changes hands

pretty often around here, don't it, boys?

Then maybe you'd like to ride up to Kiley's place

and let him take a look at you.

Look, friend, are you tryin' to tell me

that I sold those cattle to Kiley?

I'm just askin' you to take a ride out to his place with me,

let him have a look at you.

Well, uh...

all right.

[ grunting ]

All right, all right! That's enough of that!

Now, just settle down!

What you creatin' now, friend?

Just tryin' to get Buxton here

to ride out to Kiley's place with me.

Buxton? What for?

Figured maybe Kiley could identify him

as the man who sold him those cattle.

You were tellin' me Kiley took your cattle.

I changed my mind.

What evidence?

He's playin' poker

with Ransome Kiley's money.

Money could come from anywhere, Sheriff.

A gold coin with Kiley's initials on it.

Friend, in this town,

we don't go around accusing this one and that one

and jumpin' into fights.

Now you're tellin' me Buxton stole your cattle

and sold 'em to Kiley?

It's possible.

And it's possible I'll be lookin' into it.

Buxton, you clear out of here.

But you stay around town.

Sure, Sheriff, anything you say.

You're a stranger here. I'll do you a courtesy.

I won't lock you up.

What about Buxton?

When I get a chance, I'll be talkin' to Kiley.

You want to hang around, you'd better cool it off.

♪♪

♪♪

Mr. Kiley? [ knocking ]

Mr. Kiley.

KILEY: Hold on out there!

All that noise ain't necessary.

Well, now, if it ain't the rancher.

How are you, Mr. Kiley?

Tolerable. Yourself?

Before we talk, why don't you call Elver and Jethro in

so they won't have to lay out on that cold ground?

Heh. Boys?

You might as well come in.

Mr. Kiley, you've got some Grainger cattle.

That's what you say.

Now I think I've found the man who sold 'em to you.

Oh? I thought I was makin' that up.

About 5'10", lean,

dark-haired, around 35.

That be him?

Boy, that's a shame how these flies

come around the lantern light.

That's possible.

Name's Buxton. Lives in Delphi.

I wonder if you'd come into town tomorrow and identify him for me.

Say, now, I got me a full day of plowing tomorrow.

Suppose you bring him out here?

Afraid I can't do that.

The sheriff don't favor me much.

That's too bad.

Mr. Kiley, I'm only asking you to do what's lawful.

Hold on there. That's rancher's law.

And I'm a sodbuster-- outsider.

I had a sodbuster friend once,

got mixed up in rancher's law--Tomlinson.

These two ranchers had a court case.

One of 'em asked him to testify, and he did.

The other one got a bunch of cowmen together.

Hitched up one end of his fence

and pulled it clean out of the ground.

His house wouldn't burn so good.

They set everything afire inside,

including his wife's Bible and the children's clothes.

So, I figure a sodbuster ain't got no business

mixin' in ranchers' problems.

Good night, now.

Mr. Kiley, I'm kind of an outsider myself.

I'm from Medicine Bow.

I don't swing much weight here in Delphi.

I'm lookin' to gain more respect for...

all of us outsiders.

You know, you still ain't said somethin' to me.

What's that?

An apology for the way you talked to me the first time.

All right, Mr. Kiley.

I apologize.

Well, now...

I just might be into town tomorrow...

around about noon.

Thank you kindly.

Good night, gentlemen.

Good night.

Well, Jethro, I do believe

you learned to be polite, boy.

See there, Elver? You can learn somethin' from your brother.

Now, come on in here, let's get into bed.

♪♪

Morning, Lemoine. Sleep good?

How about you?Hmm?

Did you sleep good, Annie?

Yes. Why?

Pa still asleep?

Yes.

Yeah, well, he's gettin' on.

Gettin' older.

You know, it's funny you didn't marry a younger man, Annie.

A man like that Shiloh foreman maybe?

Lemoine, as a matter of fact,

I didn't sleep too good.

I've had a gutful of you.

Is that any way to talk for a nice, respectable--

You once said I wasn't your mama.

Well, I agree. I got no cause to suffer you.

I never sinned against your mama.

She died. I met your pa, I loved him,

I married him. That's fair enough.

That all depends on what you mean by--

I've tried being fair with you.

I've made excuses to your pa for things you've done.

But, Lemoine, don't push it to a point in this house

where there's a choice between you and me.

Because I know which way it would go.

How you want it to go, maybe.

But maybe there's a few things that--

[ knock on door ]

Mornin'.Mornin'.

Mrs. Carlson.Good morning.

Lemoine, there's something I'd like to talk to you about.

Won't you come in?

Well, I've got things to do.

Why don't you sit down?

I owe you something for your hospitality, Lemoine.

I think I owe it to you

to ask this question straight out.

Did you and Buxton go to Clarion City together?

Yeah.

I mean, we were in Clarion together.

We didn't go there together.

Buxton said he had some friends he wanted to visit.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

I think Buxton is the one who stole those five cows.

Oh, I doubt that. Wall Buxton--

he's a little easy, sure enough. But I don't reckon that he--

No need to reckon about it.

Mr. Kiley's comin' in to town today.

If Buxton's the man who sold him the cows, he'll say so.

Of course, Buxton could claim

that it couldn't have been him

because he was with you,

unless you were to testify that he wasn't.

Yeah, well, I guess I'd have no choice, would I?

I mean, if that's the facts.

Well, maybe this time I can satisfy the sheriff.

Thanks. I'd better go along and see if I can find him.

♪♪

Everything all right?

Yeah, everything's all right.

What'd he want to talk with you about? You look kind of--

Look, it's all right! I--

I gotta go somewhere.In town? Your pa's--

Look, I'm just goin' somewhere, all right?!

So, why'd you tell him we went together?

I didn't know what he knew.

I thought he was tryin' to trap me.

So you let him trap me instead, huh?

Buxton, just clear out before Kiley gets to town.

No one's gonna chase after you for just five cows.

That foreman did, didn't he?

What are you doin'?

That Kiley's a sodbuster.

He ain't got no right messin' with rancher people.

I'm gonna teach him a lesson.

We'll throw a scare into him.

He ain't gonna identify me, boy.

Where are you goin', Lemoine?

I'm goin' back home.

Now, Lemoine...

after all I teached you about life,

you ain't learned nothin'.

You're in this, son.

Believe me.

♪♪

Whoa!

What's the matter, Pa?

Well, son...

lookin' down this lonesome road here,

it occurs to me some people might not want us in Delphi.

Should we go back home?

Heh. No.

I gave a man my promise.

You boys jump down here.

Trot along the tops of those hills while I ride the bottom.

That way we won't meet no bad surprise.

KILEY: Don't trip over that rifle there.

Jethro?

Don't you step on no rattlers.

Hyah!

♪♪

Lemoine, will you stop dancin' around?

There ain't nothin' to this.

Yeah, there ain't nothin' to a lot of things.

You promised to show me a big, wild time in Clarion.

I let you steal cattle for it,

and there wasn't nothin' to that, either.

Well, Lemoine,

I can show you where the sin is,

but I can't make you enjoy it.

Yeah, I done stupid things,

and I listened to the stupid talk.

Well, Lemoine, this ain't the proper time to repent.

[ horses approaching ]

LEMOINE: What are you loadin' up for?

I got to scare that old man.

You could just get out of town, Buxton. I told you that.

Look, I've gone along with you, Buxton,

but this is my stoppin' place.

You plan on killin' him, don't you, Buxton?

He's just a sodbuster, ain't he?

I told you, this is my stoppin' place.

And I told you he's gonna witness against me!

I ain't gonna let you kill him, Buxton.

I'll witness against you myself.

Hyah!

Elver?

Elver?

Annie?

Annie?

Annie!

Annie?

[ door opens ]

Annie?

Been wherever you were going?

Look, I got some berries.

Where's Pa?

Outside. I saved you some--

Annie, you gotta help me with something.

Something bad's happened, hasn't it?

I killed Buxton.

Annie, I couldn't help it. He tried to kill me first.

He took me out to bushwhack that sodbuster--

that Kiley.

He was gonna murder him.

I told him I couldn't go along with it.

Annie, that's how it was.

Why'd you go with Buxton?

Buxton is the one that stole Grainger's cattle.

I let him do it. He was holdin' that over me.

Well, go to the sheriff.

Oh, Lord, it's gonna kill your pa.

Annie, they'll lock me away.

If it was self-defense--

Who knows that? It's only my word.

Annie, I said you gotta help me.How?

Listen, I've thought it all out.

No one saw me with Buxton.

No one's got any reason to connect me with him,

except that fella from Shiloh.

What's he got to do with it?

He suspicioned Buxton and me.

He asked me about Buxton and Clarion.

Lemoine, go to the sheriff.

Listen, I want you to get him out of town, that's all.

I got no intention of it!

Why do you think he'd leave on my say-so?

Because you know him from a long time back, right?

I got no idea what you're talking about.

Eight years back. Abilene.

Olin's Red Cat Bar, right, Annie?

I mean, I could tell Pa about that.

I could stand on some hilltop and shout it out--

that the young, shy, sweet girl my Pa married,

that girl he'd seen in church one day, bright as an angel--

ask about her down Kansas way, they'll tell you.

That woman my Pa married, she ain't nothin' but a--

I won't cover up for murder!

Annie, Buxton was the murderer, not me!

I was tryin' to keep him from it.

I was tryin' to do right.

Annie, should a man suffer for tryin' to do right?

Or a woman?

Or a man's pa-- my pa?

Should he suffer for it, Annie?

♪♪

Annie.

You shouldn't be here like this,

in a man's hotel room.

No one saw me... I hope.

How'd you get in?

Picked the lock.

I used to know a lot of things like that.

Something the matter?

I gotta ask you a favor.

Can you leave town?

Well, I've got good reasons not to, Annie.

I found my cattle thief. I'm going to get him identified.

That's not too important, is it?

A cattle thief?

Well, it's $150 important,

and it's important to me personally.

I have the money for you.

Why should you pay that?

Don't ask me questions, please.

That should make it even.

Doesn't it-- for the cattle?

There's nothing else really matters.

I'd like to see Buxton put--

He doesn't really matter.

Please.

I did something for you once.

Last night you said I could ask you to do anything.

This is all I'm asking.

Take the money, go back to Medicine Bow,

and go there now.

All right, Annie. I guess I owe you that.

Oh, thank you.

I'll let you go first. I'll slip out the back again.

♪♪

Just stop right there.

Put your hands up.

What's this all about?

Arrest on suspicion of murder. Wally Buxton's dead.

I didn't kill him.

Wally's dead.

I played him poker last night.

Lost himself $100.

And now he can't never win it back.

That's enough, Tern.

Speaking of money, let's see what's here.

Where'd you get this?

You couldn't beat it out of Buxton, huh?

Figured you'd shoot it out of him?

I didn't do it, and that's no evidence I did.

You'd better come along with me.

Nice and easy.

[ men murmuring ]

You've been looking for trouble since you got here.

You're the only man around with motive to kill Buxton.

You were angry enough last night.

And there is evidence.

Kiley?

Well, I can't say much for certain, Sheriff.

Well, say what you can.

Well, I was on my way to town.

I sent the boys up on the ridges--

to kind of patrol my flanks.

Then we heard those shots.

Jethro here ran up and saw Buxton layin' on the ground,

another man runnin' away.

But he wasn't close. He couldn't see his face.

But could it have been him?

Jethro, do you think he could've been the man?

Come on, boy, speak up when I ask you.

KILEY: Jethro?

I don't like it, either, boy.

But you must tell the truth.

Could it have been him?

All right. There's a cell waitin' right behind that door.

♪♪

Makes no sense.

All he had to do was wait.

Get the cattle back, get the money back,

get Buxton put into jail.

No use to kill a man.

No right to kill a man.

I guess Buxton ain't gonna be missed.

No right to kill any man.

It's only angry, foolish.

Angry men do foolish things.

Makes no sense.

Einar? Einar, I want to--

No! Make no mistake, Annie.

You tell about me, I got things to tell about you--even for even.

That was an accident.

But if it comes to a choice, it's better him than me.

And I guess it has come to a choice, Annie.

You want me to call him back so you can tell him?

Want me to call him for you, Annie?

♪♪

You want somethin'?

Ask you to send a wire.

Writin' to the folks back home.

They'll be interested to hear.

Just send it.

Pretty soon, you could have more news for 'em.

There's a hearing being held tomorrow

to see if we hold you for trial.

Expect we will.

In a cautious town, you move fast.

That's right.

And, friend...

next time you hammer on these bars,

I'm gonna chain you in the back cell. Believe that.

But no more visitors.

I haven't had any visitors.

You've got one now.

Mrs. Carlson?

Annie.

Are you all right?

Aside from being in a jail, yeah.

I talked with Einar. He's getting a lawyer for you.

Fine. Thanks.

But how about gettin' me out?

Annie, you know something about this.

No.

You came to my hotel room.

You gave me 150--

I've been talking with people.

They say you'll be let off.

Who says?

They know Buxton stole your cattle.

Mr. Kiley's a witness to that.

They know Buxton fired his rifle. They'll say you--

They'll say it was a case of self-defense.

But I didn't do it.

They'll let you off.

I don't want to be let off.

I want to be cleared. I'm innocent.

It's the same thing.

No, it's not the same thing.

Annie, I keep asking you what you know about this,

how you're mixed in.

"Leave town, don't ask any questions," you said.

But with a hearing sitting on me,

I've got to ask questions.

Please, I'm begging you.

Please, there's things I can't say.

And there's things I don't want you to say.

I got a chance at a decent life,

and I can't lose it.

Not so much for me.

Oh, I could take care of myself all right, but--

A decent life for that baby I'm gonna have.

No.

They'll let you off.

Maybe.

You want me to just stay quiet and take that chance, huh?

But it's a good chance for you.

And it's my whole life.

♪♪

♪♪

Judge is ready.

You want a little advice?

People know Wally Buxton wasn't much account.

They know he stole your cattle.

When you come to testify, I advise you

to tell them in a frank and manly way

he went to shoot you, and you naturally plugged him back.

Suppose I didn't?

Well, you go against the evidence, you could hang.

You take my advice, the judge will let you off.

A good, strong confession and sincere repentance--

it'll get 'em every time.

I don't want to keep you here talking, Sheriff.

Let's go.

Einar, you said you were going to get a lawyer.

Did you get one?

No lawyer today. It's just a hearing.

If the judge holds him for trial, then he needs a lawyer.

They won't hold him. Hear a few witnesses

and let him off-- that's all.

Don't be too sure.

People getting to realize you just don't kill even a sodbuster.

Even a thief-- it's a human life.

The hearing is convened.

On the afternoon of August 11,

the coroner was called to examine the remains

of Wallace R. Buxton, deceased, of this town.

The ascertained cause of death as follows--

puncture and contusion by pistol ball

of not less than .45 caliber,

penetrating left center of rib cage

and passing through lung and heart.

From the examination of the body

and testimony of witness,

we've established the death occurred

at or near 11:00 of the morning.

♪♪

I hear the shot.

One was a rifle shot,

and the other one was a pistol shot.

I climbed up there, and Buxton was already dead...

leanin' over that rifle.

Let the record show that Mr. Kiley indicates the rifle

of Winchester manufacture, model 1873.

Mark "A" for exhibit.

Mr. Kiley, did you know the deceased?

I'd met him once before.

On what occasion?

He sold me five cows.

Did you know they were stolen cows?

Not then.

How did you find out?

A man came up to me and told me.

What man?

Do you see him here now?

That man over there.

Annie.

It's all right, Pa. Let her go.

She'll be all right.

♪♪

Well, no. The first time he come to me,

he never mentioned Buxton.

He said Kiley stole the cows.

What did he ask you to do about it?

Ride out there right away, get the cows.

What was his manner of asking?

Impatient.

What did you answer?

I told him not so fast.

In this town, we go by evidence.

What was his manner then?

Angry.

What was his manner in general?

Angry and impatient.

Yeah, so then he knocked down Wally.

Mr. Buxton.

And us, we took to render assistance to Mr. Buxton.

And, uh, he knocked us down.

Then the sheriff came in and, uh--

Well, the man says that Buxton took the cattle

and he can prove it.

The sheriff says, "Which is it, now?

Kiley or Buxton?"

First he accuses Kiley,

and now it's Buxton.

The man says now it's Buxton and he's got evidence.

Something to that effect.

Was this a fight with weapons or hands?

Well, if he'd have had a weapon,

he'd have used it, all right.

♪♪

Annie?

Annie?What's happening?

Nothing. Other witnesses.

You all right?

Yes. It was just so hot in there.

I thought maybe some air might help.

You're worried about him, huh?

You like him? Me, too.

Don't worry. It's all right.

They'll let him off.

Listen, do you want to go home maybe?

No, thanks, Einar. I'll be fine.

Please, you just go back in there.

Yeah, it'll be over soon.

As soon as it's over, they'll let him off.

I'll come tell you right away, I promise.

We've heard testimony of accusations by you--

first against Mr. Kiley, then against Buxton, the deceased.

Do you have any comments to make on that?

I wanted to get my cattle back.

We've heard opinion that during that saloon fight,

if opportunity had offered,

you would then and there have killed Buxton, the deceased.

Well, I didn't kill Buxton, the deceased.

What caused the saloon fight between you and Buxton?

I thought he might be the one

who had sold the cattle to Mr. Kiley.

I wanted to take a ride out to Kiley's place with him.

Now, wait a minute.

It wasn't until after Buxton's death

that Mr. Kiley identified him as the seller of those cattle.

Before that, Buxton had had enough money

to have a high time down in Clarion City.

And then I found out that Mr. Carlson didn't trust him,

had fired him.

There seemed to be good reason to suspect him.

That's all?

I thought I had evidence.

Did the sheriff feel you had evidence?

He was going to look into it.

You just couldn't wait.

♪♪

Were you with Mr. Buxton at the time of his death?

No, I was looking for him.To what end?

I wanted to make sure he was in town when Mr. Kiley got there.

Were you with him at any time on the day of his death?

No.

I checked his shack. His things were there.

Where were you going at the time of your arrest

outside the hotel?

I was leaving town.

Not waiting for Kiley?

Not waiting for anything?

No.

Why? What made you decide to leave town?

You may either refuse to answer

on grounds of self-incrimination

or be held in contempt.

What is your answer?

Let the record show--

witness gives no answer,

nor reasons for refusal to answer...

and will be cited for contempt of court.

When you were arrested, you were in possession of $150.

Where did you get that money?

Witness refuses answer as before.

Mr. Kiley testified that he heard a rifle shot,

then a pistol shot.

The court may find it reasonable to suppose

that the rifle shot was fired by Buxton,

and the pistol shot was fired in return...

in self-defense.

I suggest to you that in that case

the court might not bring charges.

With that in mind,

do you wish to reconsider any of your testimony?

I didn't kill Mr. Buxton,

in self-defense or any other way.

Witness dismissed.

The court has three obligations.

To certify cause of death,

to determine whether a crime has been committed,

and to determine whether any person

shall be bound over for trial.

The court has no alternative

but to certify death by violence

with the presumption of homicide,

and directs that the suspect, here present,

be held for trial.

If you please...

I'd like to give testimony.

Annie.

Annie, no. Testimony's all over.

There's nothing you can say.

Einar, get your son away from me.

Mrs. Carlson, we've just closed the testimony.

The court is about to--

I won't take long.

The defendant has refused to answer some of the questions

because of his regard for me.

[ people murmuring ]

I met him in his hotel room,

and I paid him that money and asked him to leave town.

I was previously acquainted with him

in Abilene...

where I managed a saloon.

[ murmuring grows louder ]

My stepson, Lemoine Carlson, found that out.

He threatened to inform my husband

if I didn't ask this man to go.

He--Lemoine.

CARLSON: Lemoine what?

I killed Buxton.

I had no choice. He tried to kill me first.

The only thing I had a choice about

was lettin' him steal those cattle.

I did that.

Take him in charge.

♪♪

I'm sorry, Pa.

If you have no more need for me.

No more need for you, Mrs. Carlson.

Don't think it'll go too hard with Lemoine.

Probably bind him over to Ransome Kiley

to pay off the cost of them cows.

A year's work pullin' vegetables

will do the boy a world of good.

I'm sorry for your inconvenience.

But I bet you've never been in a cleaner jail.

Too bad about her.

Yeah.

And him, too.

♪♪

Mr. Carlson.

There's some women that are born

to do things for other people and get no thanks for it.

You want to set your mind clear about me and Annie and Abilene--

I was a whole lot younger then.

I decided to take on two of the worst-tempered gunmen in town.

They would've killed me.

Annie got me thrown in jail to cool off,

and she got me out, gave me breakfast,

and sent me along my way.

She was raised in that kind of life,

but she don't belong to it.

She belongs with a good man--

keeping his house and having his children.

She's gonna have one.

A child.

She wanted to surprise you with that.

♪♪

Next stop Clarion City. Load up, please.

Load up, please.

Hyah!

Hyah!

Whoa! Whoa!

Whoa.

You fool, what are you tryin' to do?

Get out.

No, I'm not going to, Mr. Carlson.

You'd spend the rest of your life forgiving me

and hating me.

No. I don't forgive.

But you're going to have a baby--my child.

I'll have it by myself, thank you.

Get out!

Mr. Carlson...

in that courtroom just now,

you looked at me like a stranger.

That's what you've made it. We're strangers.

Strangers?

Like I've never seen you before?

For the first time only?

No. Mrs. Carlson-- my wife.

Move over.

Move over.

[ clicks tongue ]

♪♪

There's a fella here askin' for a cup of coffee.

Well...

I was just leaving for Delphi, get you a lawyer.

No, thanks. I don't need a lawyer.

I handled my own case.

What happened to the cows?

Turned out Carlson's drover stole 'em.

They're back with the herd.

They ran a little fat off 'em,

but they'll get it back.

You were gone three days longer than I'd planned.

I was gone three days longer than I'd planned on, too.

Reasonable I dock you three days' wages?

Reasonable.

Granddad, what about his time and trouble?

Well, I tell you what--

suppose we call it square.

That'll be just fine, Mr. Grainger.

Uh, is that coffee on the stove?

Uh-huh.

What are waiting for?

What was that all about?

Just man talk, honey.

Honestly.

♪♪

[ theme music playing ]