Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

♪♪

We'll track on back towards Woodside.

Just a minute, Wally. Let's see what we have.

What's the matter-- you got no patience?

Curiosity.Hey.

I like it.

Ones.

Well, there's plenty more in here, though.

Well?

Canceled loan notes.

Shouldn't have trusted that white-faced bank teller.

He switched bags on us.

Switched bags!

Trash! He cheated us!

[ laughs ]

I'm glad you think it's funny.

Well, let's face it, Wally.

Whatever we are, we ain't bank robbers.

Just give me my half and we'll split up.

What?

Look, we're lucky. We slipped past the posse.

Nobody got a good look at us.

Now, they're looking for two men.

We just take our luck and split up.

Now, look here.

This may be $35, $40 apiece here.

This is no grubstake. This is no time to quit.

It's time. A man should stick to what he knows.

Our first try after a bank, and we just look foolish.

We're partners.

We've been doin' pretty good so far.

We got us a little money.

We had a lot of laughs, didn't we?

Jim, this is just the beginning.

There's lots more banks, and the next time--

No next time about it, Wally.

Just give me my half.

Where do you think you'll go?

You're all alone like me. You got nobody.

I got a wife somewhere,

and a boy I haven't seen for three years.

You never told me that.

All the time, I thought it was just you and me.

Don't bother to count it. Just split it somewhere in the middle.

We could still ride back to Woodside.

Do it, Wally.

Look, Jim...

you want to ride on over and visit with your family.

I can understand that--

Wally, I just want to give it a try--

a steady life.

How long do you think it'll last?

Permanent.

You don't know yourself too good, Jim.

You won't last.

I'll last.

♪♪

I'll be seein' you, Jim.

Bother. The Virginian and Mr. Grainger are comin' here.

Gracious heaven, what do you reckon they want?

Coffee, I reckon.

Well, I'll get the coffee

and you get the rest of the supplies in.

Oh, pardon me.

Afternoon, Mrs. Boyer.

Good afternoon.

Well, now, that's what I call an understanding woman.

[ laughs ]

Jim, I see you're earning your keep.

Ha!

It's on my foot.

I haven't seen you for a while.

Just came in to pick up the Shiloh payroll.

I said, it's on my foot.

What, sir?

Your sack-- it's on my foot.

Oh. I'm awfully sorry, Mr. Grainger.

I sure didn't mean that.I hope not.

Could you just convey that safely to the kitchen, please?

Yes, ma'am. Honest, Mr. Grainger--

It's all right, son. I never cared much for walking anyway.

[ chuckles ]

Oh!

Pardon me!Oh!

Don't say anything.

I'm terribly sorry.

That's all right. Don't worry about it.

He's just getting so big.

They get dangerous.

I think he grew a foot last week.

Maybe a foot and a half.[ pans clanging ]

He keeps forgetting how wide he is, too.

Perhaps you should turn him loose...

before he destroys you.

Well, actually, that's what we were thinking about--

turning him loose.

You see, everything's going well here.

I've paid off the bank,

I can hire a girl to help.

And what he really wants to do is man's work-- ranch work.

That's natural.

What I was thinking about was...

possibly a job at Shiloh.

That why you steered me in here?

It didn't take much steering.

Sir, I--

Don't talk. Just concentrate, Jimmy.

By golly, I think he'll make it.

You know, we could use someone in the barn.

Dawkins is about ready for a riding job.

Yes, I suppose so.

He's a good boy, Mr. Grainger.

And he's smart.

And he's going to be strong, just like his father is.

Is?

Well, I'm not a widow.

Folks here think I am, but--

See, my husband didn't die. He just left.

I'm over that finally, but I've had to raise Jimmy alone.

And now he needs a man to learn from.

Like this one?

That's rather a reckless idea.

[ laughs ]

You want him, you've got him. Good.

That is, if you can keep him from crippling me.

Oh.

I'm very grateful, really.

Have him report on Monday.

Oh, no, please. No.

Well, then, good afternoon.

Thank you, Mr. Grainger.

Thank you.

Ma, what were you saying to them?

Nothing?

You sure were. I saw you smiling.

What were you talkin' about?

About if you ever manage to bring the rest of those supplies.

♪♪

♪ We'll work this job

♪ From sun to sun

♪ For a cowboy's chores

♪ Are never done

♪ We're up and gone

♪ At the break of day

♪ Drivin' them dogies

♪ On their weary way

♪ I left my gal

♪ In Abilene

♪ Blond of hair

♪ And eyes of green

♪ Now 'round the camp

♪ Fire's flickerin' below

♪ I miss my love

♪ Of long ago

All right.

Sears, Kettleman, Spence--

you ride down where we cut those timbers

and start peeling 'em out.

Trampas, go out and inspect the spring head.

The water's gettin' flavorsome.

Look for a drowned animal.Yo.

Cate--

Cate--you, DeVrees, and Pivacek

ride fence as usual.

Edelman and Smith,

down to the bottoms, start collecting them colts.

I'll be down to help later.

Well?

Well, here I am.

Hmm?

Ma told me you said something about hiring me on.

Oh! That's right, sure.

Dawkins!

Ran half the way.

Walkin' would've got you here.

Start you at quarter pay, all right?

Quarter?Mm-hmm.

Sure, whatever you say.

I've never done too much work riding, you know.

No special need.What?

Dawkins! Oh.

Dawkins, this here's Jim Boyer.

He'll be takin' over from you.

You show him the work.

I'm out of it? I'm free!

Free to peel logs. Show him how first.

Nice to have you around, Boyer.

Thank you, thank you.

Son, come with me.

♪♪

Set down, whoever-- I'll be right out.

The specials are written on the blackboard.

Got some fresh pie coming out of the oven, too.

Would you like some coffee to start?

Sir, would you like some coffee to start?

[ gasps ]

Hello, Jessie.

I...brought you a hat.

Green hat, green feather.

Cost me $40.

What--

The last time you went, you left a note...

that you were never coming back.

I took that for a promise.

I got lonely.

Lonely?

You think you know about being lonely?

Lord, you're a pretty woman.

Jim Boyer, I have no feeling for you,

friend or enemy.

All I ask is one kindness--

Go back where you came from.

Green hat for green eyes.

Should've brought you a green horse and carriage.

Jessie, I'm not just sure I've pleased you.

I hoped you were dead. Why did you disappoint me?

I almost didn't.

I hung around for a couple of days,

lookin' in your window,

gettin' up the courage.

Saw you. Saw the boy.

Big, isn't he?

You tell him I'm dead?

I told him all I know--

that alive or dead, you're useless.

Yeah. I sure have been.

Want to give me another chance?

You must be joking.

Didn't think you would.

Either way, I gotta take it.

What?

I'm 38 years old, Jessie.

I've been up, down, and sideways.

I reckon I got just one last chance

to make a decent life.

Oh.

Let me get you straight.

You have some idea that you can just come back

and pick up where you left off?

No idea whatever.

I got no claim left on you, Jessie.

Or the boy, either.

Stay away from him, Jim.

However you want to treat me is your choice.

I'm gonna get a job somewhere,

and I'll be around.

I'm just a man.

A stranger.

Who, uh...

brought you a green hat.

Trash!

I'll be around. Get used to it, Jessie.

♪♪

[ men chattering ]

Son, wipe down my horse. I'm late for grub.

Hey, you're supposed to wipe 'em down.

Oh, I already took some of the dew off.

Just blot him up a little bit more, get the burrs out.

That's a nice lad.

Hey, look, Dawkins--

Oh. Mr. Grainger.

Boyer.Evening.

Uh, this over in here, I--

Well, you see, I--I didn't know--

I wasn't too sure if--

If anything's not right, Mr. Grainger,

I wish you'd just--

Here.

You had a pretty full day. You missed supper.

Oh, thanks. But I still have to wipe down Dawkins' horse.

Really?

I'll wipe down Dawkins' horse.

Then maybe I'll wipe down Dawkins.

Loosen.

Enjoy yourself today?

No.

Lonely?

Yeah, somethin'.

But you did it-- by yourself--

the work, and you did it right.

JIMMY: I didn't see what else to do.

Don't underrate it.

Most anyone can work if they're stood over,

or they got a bunch of friends to chin with.

But to do the mean, nasty, unsociable job

and make the best of it--

well, we just wanted to see if you could do it.

We?

You mean, you planned all this? Everything?

The way you talked to me when I first got here?

Also, it won't be forever.

Old Ben Wade's comin' back to take over our barn job.

In a couple of weeks, we'll have you out cowhanding...

if you can last.

Oh, I can last.

You know, I'm grateful for this--

workin' for a man.

I guess other people learn from their pas, but--

Well, my pa never--

[ horses neighing, men shouting ]

What's that?

Those mustangs we brought in are gettin' a little snorty.

Want to take a look?Yeah.

[ neighing, shouting ]

You hurt, Trampas?

No, just my pride.

I landed it on.

I think it's bent into a "U" shape.

Whew! He threw me in the air.

How many has he thrown?

I make three.

Turn him loose, fellas. Try another.

Mind if I give her a try?

Who are you?

I'm the fella that's gonna ride this horse.

Hyah!

[ men cheering ]

Who is that?

He's the fella that's gonna ride that horse.

Very special animal.

Needs very special handling.

No offense.

No offense.

You the foreman?

I hear you're takin' on hands.

That's right.

I'm available.

We can talk about it. What's your name?

Boyer. Jim Boyer.

Boyer?

Good to see you, Jim.

You're Jim's pa?

Mm-hmm.

I heard about you, Mr. Boyer.

You're a traveling kind of a man.

That's been my history.

Well, when Mr. Grainger takes someone on,

he likes to keep him for a while.

[ chuckles ]

Well, I've done all the traveling I need.

I'm ready to be kept.

Well, one other thing.

That boy of yours got hired here first.

I wouldn't want to make any difficulties for him.

I don't either. Or his mother.

Whatever you've heard about me, I--

All I'm asking from you is a job.

All I'm asking from them is a chance to make things straight.

But that's for Jim and his mother to decide.

Fair enough?

Let's go talk to Mr. Grainger.

♪♪

[ mooing ]

[ indistinct chatter ]

[ men shouting, cows mooing ]

How does Boyer look to you so far?

So far I can't fault him.

He's quick, smart,

one of the best riders I've ever seen.

And the men admire him.

Funny how he happened to turn up here all of a sudden.

Natural enough, I guess.

He hit town, and we were hiring.

He probably wants to be near his boy.

How's the boy taking it?

Cautious.

Seems like a nice boy.Hmm.

A man would be a fool to run out on a boy like that,

on a woman like his mother.

I don't take Boyer for a fool.

What, then?

Hard to tell.

Restless maybe.

Anyway, he's here now, and he's doing good.

Uh...are you still planning

to buy the Mentor ranch?

Yes.

I understand the hands are talking about it.

It's not exactly a secret in town.

If the deal goes through, I'll send Stacy over to manage.

Of course, he'll need a ramrod.

But I need you and Trampas here.

I've been thinking about somebody like Belden, maybe.

But, as you say,

Boyer has all the skills.

He told me he once had a spread of his own, a small place.

Of course, I know Belden. I know what he can do.

I've never seen Boyer handle things.

Let's give him a try at handling things.

♪♪

[ door creaks open ]

Evening.

Evening.

I was just ridin' into town to visit--

Visit your ma.

Whatcha doin'?

The foreman showed me a harness to mend.

This ain't workin' hours.

He can't make you come in--

He didn't, he didn't.

I get pleasure out of work.

All alone?

Yes, sir.

You're young.

You ought to be mixin' around in town with the others.

Why, when I was your age--

Heh.

Come to think, never mind when I was your age.

Look, Jim--

I doubt you've said a dozen words to me since I've been here.

I--

I expect I don't know what to make of you.

[ chuckles ]

Neither does your mother.

Gotta educate her, too.

I got off on the wrong foot

a long time ago.

You got no cause

to believe in me right away, either one of you.

But I've got this feeling

that everything is going right now.

I've got this feeling inside, and--

Well, look.

I am your pa.

I don't say you gotta look up to me, but--

Sometimes, by golly, you gotta look at me.

[ chuckles ]

You, uh... spilled some.

Wipe it up with your sleeve.

I hope you don't treat your other customers like this.

Here I've been comin', night after night,

puttin' down gallons of bitter coffee,

dozens of stale doughnuts.

Go somewhere else.

I have. All over the West.

I've had better pie maybe, but--

Tried on the green hat?

I threw it in the trash.

I know that. But did you try it on first?

How did you know about it?

I paid the trash man six bits to get it back.

Well, it'll just keep on costing me.

Get out.

I'm a customer.

As long as I eat my pie in a lawful manner,

you gotta let me.

I've got friends. I'll have them throw you out.

Tell me about your friends.

That foreman-- he your friend?

You still don't think I'm gonna stay this time, do you?

No.

Neither does the boy.

He's skittish of me, too.

He's a good boy.

Got some of your qualities.

But not much of what I'd call spark.

I thank God he doesn't have what you'd call spark.

Why'd you never marry again?

That's what I've been puzzling at.

There's nothing to keep you from it, really.

To find someone else-- a good, steady man.

Get rid of me.

You must've had chances.

Yes. Yes, I've had chances.

But you didn't.

That's the puzzle.

And there's only one answer to the puzzle.

Just like I never found anyone like you,

you never found--

Stay out of my life!

It's the only answer.

Like it or not, we're fastened together.

Oh, no. Oh, no.

It's the truth.

Here or apart.

Loving me or hating me-- that doesn't matter.

That doesn't matter in the slightest.

[ door opens ]

Sorry.

No, it's all right.

It's a public restaurant. Come on in, boys.

That's right, boys.

Don't want to lose any trade just on his account.

He's just leaving.

Come to court the woman.

Tells me she's married already.

Won't tell me her husband's name, though.

I'm gonna hunt the devil down.

I'm a very patient man.

She's a mite shy yet.

You see what I mean.

Take care with her, boss.

I got my eye on you.

[ men laugh ]

Sit down, boys. I'll be right with you.

Can you fire him?

I have no cause to.

He's worthless.

Well, he hasn't been so far--

He will be sooner or later. He always is.

After he's tangled everyone into trusting him again.

Are you beginning to?

What about my son?

Out there at Shiloh with a man like that to admire,

maybe turning into the same kind of man as he is.

I hope your son will turn into his own kind of man.

Please, talk to him.

Warn him.

I can't do that.

He's his father, and your husband.

I can't tell either one of you what to believe about him

Mainly 'cause I don't know myself.

♪♪

[ cow moos ]

[ men laughing ]

[ men shouting ]

[ mooing ]

Look at him there!

I believe that calf's gonna tie him!

See that Boyer boy?

He's rooted more dirt than a gopher in May-time.

Whoo-whee! I think he's the dirtiest child

since Moses in the swamp!

All right, now go and take care of the noisy one.

What?

It's time he settled his mouth.

He didn't mean nothin', Pa.

You want to listen all your life?

Go on, boy.

♪♪

Dawkins?

What, son?

Kid, you shouldn't have done it.

Now I'm gonna have to take you down.

[ men shouting and laughing ]

All right.

Hey, young Boyer just ironed out Dawkins!

Dawkins?

As soon as you're cleaned up, I want to see you.

Dawkins' been riding the boy.

The boy's a better man.

He's been teasing him every day--you know that.

Yeah.

Yeah, I know that.

[ chuckles ]

Well, he just sat up there and hoo-hawed me.

Why not?

I knew I could lick him.

Then why bother?

My pa said to. It's what he would've done.

Let me ask you this. What would you have done?

What?

You, yourself. What would you have done

if your pa hadn't been there?

I don't know.

Put up with him maybe.

And why didn't you?Well, my pa said--

Let me tell you how I see it.

Barn boys get teased.

It's almost part of their job.

No one thinks very much about it.

Dawkins, when he was barn boy,

got his share of teasing.

Dawkins is loud and he's foolish,

but he's not mean.

You had nothing to lose, Jim.

He had a great deal to lose--

starting out as a regular hand, his pride.

Well, he made me feel silly.

Every man alive has got times

when life makes him feel silly...

or helpless or miserable or wrong.

The questions is, can he take those times?

Life.

Or does he have to go find somebody

to blame and beat it out on?

♪♪

Jim?

We'll be goin' up after the cattle in the morning.

You'll be ridin' with us.

You can ride a horse, can't you?

Evening, ma'am.

Evening.

Uh, I'll have a--

a piece of that apple pie right over there, please.

I'm a stranger in town.

It's a nice town you got here.

Yes, it is.

You Mrs. Boyer?

Yes.

Should I know you?

No. I sure heard a lot about you, though.

Oh, from who?

Your husband.

He's a friend of mine.

I come all this way just to see him.

Oh, he's a great fella.

What do you want with him?

I tell you--

when you see him,

just tell him that a friend of his is in the neighborhood.

I don't think he'll be interested.

Just tell him you ran into me.

My name is Simpson.

♪♪

♪♪

Wait up here, boys! It's just down the stretch!

Let's go, ramrod.

The trail separates, here.

One trail to the middle range, one to the way-high-up.

There's no cattle up there. It's been snowing.

They probably made their way down on their own account.

That's what I'm hoping.

♪♪

Well...

hope you all brought a change of socks.

What'd you find?

Couple of big herds behind Glazer's Rocks,

sittin' there nice and polite.

Well, I said to myself, there's everybody.

And then I counted 'em.

You're short?

Must be 100 or more left up high.

No problem.

I'll climb that mountain for you.

Give me half the men.

THE VIRGINIAN: No way to give you half the chuck wagon.

We got dry rations. I'll have 'em down in two days.

More like three or four.

Bet you a new hat.

I'll have your cattle down

and my men in town drunk by Friday night.

I'm not sure I want to race you.

[ laughs ]

Hey, Clurman! Rhodes!

Spangler! Sawchuk!

You boys are comin' with me.

Trampas, will you ride along with him?

I've been riding.

You know the country up there.

He may want your advice.

I'll offer it to him. I'm not so sure he'll want it.

All right, we're movin' out right now!

All right, Jimbo. You come along, too.

Mind if I keep him with me?

All right. But why?

Kind of rough country to practice cattle driving.

Well, he's gotta learn sometime.

Yeah, but not all at once.

All right, Jim, be a good boy.

I'll bring you back a mountain goat. Anything else?

I'm not sure Mr. Grainger can use a mountain goat.

But he would like all his cattle down.

[ laughs ] All right, boys,

We're gonna dance on the mountaintops! Let's go!

[ whistles ] Hyah!

Ain't he the cheerful one.

That's his style, Trampas.

Yeah, that's what Grandma said about Granddaddy

when he fell in the sump-hole.

Oh, go on, Trampas. Go on!

All right, boss.

♪♪

All right, boys, let's go.

[ cows mooing ]

Howdy. Where you been?

Just walkin' around, lookin' at the mountains.

Like it up here?

It's sure a whole lot better than the barn.

You know, uh...

something's bothering me.

Hmm?

You and my pa--

you're different kinds of men.

What's the bother about that?

Well, all my life,

Ma told me not to grow up like Pa.

But I like him.

He's a likable man.

And the things he knows about.

And well worth knowing.

And some things I reckon he can do

just about as well as--

My friend, I expect there are some things

he does a whole lot better than me.

Still you're--

you're different.

I don't think it matters so much...

who you learn from, what kind of man.

The important thing is,

that you turn out to be your kind of man.

No man's got everything.

Don't look for idols, Jim.

One way or another, every man alive

is a little bit clay-footed.

You--

You figure my pa is clay-footed?

Like me or anyone else.

Jim, I figure he's human.

♪♪

[ men shouting and whistling ]

All right, let's keep movin'!

If they won't move, twist their tails!

[ mooing ]

How about that, Trampas? A day and a half,

and we cleaned out the whole gang.

I'm not too sure about that.

That meadow just beyond Devil's Knee.

Sometimes a few will hide out there.

There's a snowfield between here and there.

That's the point. They move off the Knee

lookin' for a warmer place. Sometimes they get boxed in.

Want me to go take a look?

That'll take about three or four hours.

I got Spangler up on the crag. He didn't see anything.

You said about 100 head. We got 104 right now.

I said about.

There's something else I want to ask you.

There's a bare slope over there

leading down to the main trail.

They call it Edie's Slide.

You ever drive cattle down that?

Sometimes, if we're in a bad hurry.

Well, I got a bad hurry.

It's rough. It's rough on the men, rough on the cattle.

I figure it's worth it.

All right, climb out of the ridge!

Down the slide! Let's go! Move out!

[ mooing ]

♪♪

[ men shouting ]

[ shouting continues ]

[ banging on door ]

What the devil do you want?

[ Irish accent ] Excuse me, ma'am...

but is the house of the widow Boyer?

The beautiful, bad-tempered widow Boyer?

This is not Dodge City.

You can't into town like this!

Madame, I've got awful news.

I found your husband.

Widow, listen to me! Listen!

I'm not sure I can protect you.

A more ferocious man I have never seen.

A red-eyed, trail-drivin' cowboy,

as quick as a wolf and four times meaner!

I'm not even sure I can protect you.

Go to the saloon and get drunk.

Well, I'll get everybody else drunk,

but that husband of yours-- he's got a terrible gleam in his eye.

He might be comin' back here after you.

[ shouting and whooping ]

Did we do it?! Huh?

We snatched those cattle off that mountaintop!

Huh? Huh? Huh?

All right, I buy!

I buy everybody a drink!

Hey! Where's old Trampas? Where's Trampas?

He dropped out five miles outside town.

Hey, listen.

All those cowboys out there on that foggy old prairie,

and we got a weekend to howl!

[ all cheering ]

Boyer.

Simpson.Who's that?

I've been in town.

Didn't no one tell you I was in town?

Well, I've been out.

How's it goin', Willy?

Can we talk?

Sure, sure, sure.

Come on, drink up, boys.

[ all chattering ]

How's it goin', you ask me.

Not too sweet.

But it could be, Jim. It could be.

I need you back.

Sorry, not likely.

You tried what you said--

the steady life?

Heh. I got it thrown and tied.

Well, good to see you again, Wally.

I got friends waiting.

Oh, now, wait a minute here.

Come on, you ain't even heard

what I wanted to see you about.

I ain't interested, Wally. Don't you get that?

More than you can make in five years cowbusting,

and you're sittin' right on top of it.

Get the hay out of your ears!

Out of yours. I said I wasn't goin' down that road.

I just ain't interested.

I know some folks

who might just be interested in you.

Oh, don't you push me.

Some of the things we done--

that bank? The sheriff maybe?

Or Grainger. He might--

All right!

Clear me a path, boys!

[ all cheering ]

No, Jim!

[ all laughing ]

Boyer, why'd you do that?

Boys, he offended me.

Now, we've taken care of that little detail.

Now, what else?What else?

I'm gonna straight things out around here.

Boyer, what else?

Never you mind.

You just go on and get drunk, all of you.

I've got private what elses. Now, go on.

[ all chattering ]

[ banging on door ]

JIM: Widow! Widow!

Go away! I told you, I don't want to have any part of you!

Will you leave me alone?

Widow, I just seen your husband close by

with his jowls aquiver

and his teeth a-mashin' like a crocodile's.

Let me in, will you? I got to protect you!

Go away!

Will you please go? You'll wake up this whole town.

You leave people in peace, Jim!

I don't want to have anything to do with you!

Go away, or I'll call the sheriff!

Do you hear me?

I'll call the sheriff, Jim! Go away!

I want nothing to do with you anymore!

You leave me alone!

Do you hear? I'll call the sheriff!

Do you hear me?

Jim, do you hear?

Jessie?

Jessie.

I find you shouting through doors

at a dirty old cowboy.

And here I brought you a green hat.

That old cowboy tried to put me off.

Said you were a respectable widow,

had no need for a husband.

I don't!

She's married to me, I said, and nobody else.

Didn't I change my life for her, I said.

Ain't I the most honest man that ever lived, huh?

Ain't she mother of my boy, I said.

Ain't she beautiful? And don't I love her?

Don't I?

Jessie!

♪♪

Oh, God help me.

I'll want you till I die.

I thought Boyer would have you all back to Shiloh by now.

He did, but I thought I'd come back out.

What for?

Well, uh... I want to talk to you.

Sure. Boys, you don't mind?

Uh, Boyer did a good job, you understand?

But it was a fast job.

So I thought maybe we'd better tally up what you collected

with what we got.

We got 108 up on the ridge,

another four on the way down.

That's 112.

Well?

We're about 30 head short.

[ men shouting, banging on door ]

[ Irish accent ] What can I do for you, my good man?

We want the widow.

Do I look like the widow?

We need something to eat pretty bad.

Mostly some coffee.

Serves you people right--

drinking and roistering around all night!

Ohh!

While us good folks are home in bed.

She ain't gonna open up?

To the likes of you?

My good man...

the widow is goin' to church.

[ all laughing ]

Aren't you?

In your new dress...

and your new green hat.

Hmm.

And your new green husband.

Oh, you're not so green.

Oh, I tell you, I am the most respectable,

married, hard-working, money-grubbing,

hen-picked husband that ever come down the road.

And you know what I'm gonna do after church?

I'm gonna walk around and show you off

all over this town.

And you know what I'm gonna do after that?

I'm gonna ride out to see Grainger.

And I'll say,

"You bought that Mentor ranch yet?

'Cause I know man to be your foreman."

Oh, you're pretty cocky, aren't you?

But he won't live in no bunkhouse, I'll say.

He'll have his own little house...

with flowers outside and...

inside...

that wicked, beautiful widow woman.

Jim, are we going to church or not?

Well, I guess we'll have to.

Part of my new life. But I'm--

I'm beginning to reconsider that walking around afterwards part.

Excuse me!

But you two keep dodging around one simple fact.

Boyer left 30 head of cattle on that high range.

You had to go back and get 'em.

It's my responsibility.

Maybe. But his mistake.

And my cattle.

He doesn't know that country very well.

He had Trampas with him, didn't he?

Didn't you tell him about that box valley beyond the Knee?

Uh, well, I-- Most likely, although I'm not sure--

Will you please stop mumbling?

Yes, sir, I told him.

All right.

There's something else that nobody saw fit to inform me.

Boyer brought his gang back so fast

that I was impressed,

that I rode out to have a look at the cattle.

They were all cut up around the legs.

He brought them down over Edie's Slide, didn't he?

Well...

What's that?

Hmm? Uh...

yep.

Well, thank you for that nice, clear answer.

Now, will you please tell me

why you're both trying so hard to protect him?

He's a good man. He's worked hard.

I take that into account.

He's made mistakes.

Maybe they're not such big ones.

I hope you'll consider the fact

that he was trying to look good for his son and his wife.

He's trying very hard to make good.

I take that into account, too.

But now will you please consider this?

This is my land, my ranch...

and my cattle.

You give me the facts,

and I'll make the judgments.

That's all.

♪♪

Mom? Mom?

Hello, son.

I just got into town.

They said I'd find you here.

Well, it's a fact.

Jimmy, I hope you--

Oh, no. No, it's all right, Ma.

I mean, I guess I'm glad.

Well, come on, now.

Come to church with us. Make a family scene.

The Virginian and Trampas came in just before I set out.

I think something maybe went a little wrong about the cattle.

Whose cattle?I think maybe yours.

Acted kind of funny.

Well, I'll see Grainger at church.

No, he didn't come in.

I'll see him after church. I gotta talk to him about that Mentor job.

Stop frettin', son.

I got everything I need right here.

And, um, if there was something wrong,

the foreman would've come and told me.

He's that kind of a man.

You left 30 head of cattle behind on the high range.

Well, sir, if I did, I'm sorry. I--

You ignored Trampas' advice as to where to find them.

I didn't ignore him. I just figured it'd save time.

Why? Thought you'd like the job done quick.

Some jobs I like quick.

All the jobs I like thorough.

Then you brought them down over the Slide.

Same reason.

Same answer.

Did you think you had to make a race of it

against the Virginian?

Look, why didn't Trampas or the foreman come to me?

I'm asking the questions.

Well, sir.

Well, sir, I guess I was making a race out of it.

I reckon I had that foreman job in mind.

Not this foreman job.

The Mentor ranch, when you buy it.

I'm not buying the Mentor ranch.

Sir?

That's right.

Mentor and I couldn't agree on a price.

It's that simple.

Thought it was a sure thing.

So did I.

But sure things don't always work out.

Well, uh--

Well, look.

You'll be buying some other place, I'm sure.

I have no plans for it.

Here I've been going along and--

Maybe you could give me something around here--

run your winter corral?

The Virginian's my foreman.

Mr. Grainger, I've worked very hard for you.

I know that.

I figure I'm entitled.

I've earned some rights.

Of course you have rights, Boyer. You're a good hand.

You do your work, and you'll get your wages.

More than that.

I don't know what you mean

when you say "more than that".

You do your work, you get place to sleep,

you get your meals, and you get fair pay.

Just like anyone else.

All right.

Like anyone else.

♪♪

[ overlapping chatter ]

Hey, Cate.

You didn't drink all that, did you?

No. Boyer did.

I mean, he gave it to me.

He traded it-- his bottle.

He did what?

I was goin' along with my own bottle.

He took it away from me and gave me this.

He's lookin' for you.What?

Came into town about three hours ago,

mean and drunk, lookin' to find you.

Says you went behind his back to Grainger.

Where is he now?

Let him sleep it off. Then talk to him.

Where is he?

Well, when I--

Hello, you honest waddies.

Rhodes, Spangler!

My fine, broken-fingered friends.

Cate!

Cate, come here.

Come here.

Cate...

I done wrong by you.

I took your bottle away.

No, no, no. I, uh...

thought it over. I'm ashamed.

Well, here.

I brought it back to you.

[ laughs ]

Service here! Service!

Come around.

All of you.

I got good fortune.

Good friends, good fortune!

I got promised a life of wood-ticks...

and saddle sores.

You know how it come about?

Jim, I'd like to talk to you.

Up! All the way up!

You know how this fortune come about, hmm?

I was in danger

of getting a foreman job. See?

Send me to fetch cattle.

And by great, good luck, I leave some behind.

And I have this good friend.

A fine, quiet, clever sort of a man, you see?

And he's foreman.

Boyer, you're out of line.

Hmm?

Listen to my story.

This fine, quiet, clever friend--

how he tiptoed back

and fetched those cattle himself.

Bartender.

Up. All the way up.

And then!

He goes smart and quiet behind my back

and told Grainger the favor he had done me.

Now, that's some friend, huh?

Some clever friend!

Clear me a space while I thank my friend!

I won't fight you, Jim.

When I come to town,

you shivered in your boots.

You've been wanting for a chance to knife me.

You haven't got that quite right.

Oh, you had it all.

My own son to follow you around.

My own wife to keep you company!

But I come back here,

I'm three times your size a man,

and I'm here to prove it.

I said I wouldn't fight you.

Oh. Coward?

Everything else, and a coward, too?

Oh, come on.

I'll fight you anywhere you say.

Hands, guns, broken bottles.

I'm sorry.

Now, you gotta fight!

You got a rat's courage, you gotta fight me.

Now, hit me! Fight! Fight me!

Coward! You coward!

He's a coward. He's a marked coward!

You saw him! You saw him play the coward!

You saw it!

I don't think we see it that way.

And just so you'll know,

he did everything he could to smooth it over for you.

Liar!

Let go of me!

See you tomorrow.

I don't fight drunks.

Aah! He's a coward, too!

You're both cowards!

You saw it.

I proved it.

I said, "Fight me."

"Any way you want," I said.

You seen 'em back down.

Too much man.

Cowards. I showed you that. I proved it.

I'll fight any man here.

Huh? Any two. Three men!

Huh? I'll fight you. Come one!

Come on, somebody hit me.

Come on!

You cowards, too? All of you?

Come on!

Come on, fight me!

Somebody fight me!

Come on, fight!

You cowards! Come on, fight me!

Huh? Hit me, I'm right here!

Come on! You name it!

Go on, fight!

Huh? Come on, fight me!

Come on!

Dawkins!

Dawkins...

you don't have to stay and fight me.

Just stay and drink with me.

No, just--

Will somebody--

[ grunting ]

♪♪

[ horse approaches ]

I'll drink with you, Jim.

Just like old times.

♪♪

Well, looks to me

like you either lost a horse or found a saddle.

The first, I'm afraid.

I was on my way back out this morning.

She pulled up lame on me. Sorry about that, Mr. Grainger.

Lost part of the workday.

That's all right. Climb aboard.

I'm sorry about last night.

Forget it.

Guess I was out of line.

Suppose you heard about that, Mr. Grainger.

No, I didn't.

Kind of got my back up against him.

He's your foreman, of course.

Well, he didn't tell me.

We're even up, Boyer.

That's peculiar, how a man's luck can turn out.

Some people got all the qualities,

no luck.

Other men, no special account--

they get it all.

I mean, compare me and this man.

We stood even to begin with.

Even luck-- I'd be a foreman now. Ain't that right?

Well, now...

That's not the kind of question I give much thought to, Boyer.

I think, by and large, a man makes his own luck.

[ laughs ] Oh, I can't agree at all.

Here, I can ride better than him,

rope better, shoot better,

and I expect outfight him best day he ever saw.

And here he is, foreman of a big spread,

and me, just eatin' his dust,

just like anyone else, you say.

That's a case of what I've been speakin' about--

luck.

I just had bad luck I never expected.

And now you.

Bad luck you never expected.

Don't turn around too quick.

Just drive off the road beyond those trees.

Do as he says.

Well, now, look who we have here.

Mr. Grainger from the Shiloh spread.

Maybe we ought to break out our best china.

Never mind, Wally.

All right, gentlemen. Shall we get down?

Here, check the satchel.

Why wreck everything for yourself, Boyer?

Things go a little wrong, why kick them over altogether?

I'm afraid I don't feel talkative anymore.

What about your wife, Boyer? And Jim?

This the way you want them to remember you?

We didn't make no mistake this time, Jim.

There ain't nothin' in here but money!

Here. Get 'em inside and tie 'em up.

All right, move on out.

Boyer?

Foreman, you stay right where you are!

Be sensible, Boyer.

There's nothing in this for you!

You work for wages!

Why not just stay quiet and safe?

What's in it for you? You had it all.

There's still time, Boyer.

You don't have to be that kind of a man.

You never had to be!

It's all gone sour, Jim. Best give it up.

No man beats me!

And no man's luck! You understand that?

You beat yourself!

You're a child!

Don't tell me about what I am!

I'm Jim Boyer! And you'll see me dead

before you see me little!

♪♪

Ma?

Jimmy.

He's dead.

How?

Didn't they tell you?

Trouble, they said. Just trouble.

Jimmy, he was meant to be a good man.

He had everything

Everything.

Everything except patience.

What happened?

Well...

the job at the Mentor ranch fell through.

Your father was hurt...

angry.

He tried to steal money.

They killed him?

Jimmy, he was stealing money that wasn't his.

And they killed him?

Who?

The Virginian.

♪♪

Oh, no.

Oh, no, Jimmy. He's gone, he's dead!

There's nothing you can do for him now!

You must listen to me. You're all I have left.

I can't lose you! I can't lose you!

[ sobbing ]

Trampas?Yeah?

Mr. Grainger's been waiting to talk--

Where's the Virginian?

I don't believe he's anywhere around.

Why don't you give me that rifle?

Stand away.

Jim, you haven't got things straight in your mind.

Why don't you give yourself a minute--

Jim?

♪♪

THE VIRGINIAN: Jim?

I've been wanting to talk to you, Jim.

You don't want to use that.

Pity I'm gonna have to.

You killed my father.

I had no choice.

No choice?

I can't talk to you very well with that gun in your hand.

You couldn't find any other way? You had to shoot him?

Can you find another way?

I trusted you.

GRAINGER: Shows you got some sense.

Stand away, Mr. Grainger.

Why? So that you can imitate another man's foolishness?

I've got to settle with him.

Settle with yourself. You're a man now.

Do you even know what happened?

He drove him to it.

No. He drove himself.

He was a fine man in many ways--

when he was the center of things,

when everything was going for him.

But he had no tolerance of life

or disappointment.

I hope you do.

Put the gun down, Jim.

You get a gun.

Right out there in the yard.

That's what Jim Boyer would say.

You know better.

He's afraid.

Of course he's afraid!

So is any man that has any sense!

Aren't you afraid?

Considerably.

But you tell me this--

why did he wait here and let you find him?

Why'd he stand and let you shout at him?

Why didn't he dodge out that door?

Or turn over the lamp,

or do a dozen other things he knows how?

You talk about trusting him?

He's been standing there trusting you.

You know why?

Because we saw you clean out a bard once...

with nobody to show you how.

Lonely work, hard and dirty work.

But you did it, and you did it right.

We figured right there

that you know how to make your own choices.

Your pa's dead, Jim.

What you have left now...

is you.

♪♪

Well?

Ma...

Oh. You need a shave.

I do?

Ma, listen. It's only 20 miles away,

and I'll get here on the weekends.

Oh, sure. Go on, now. Go on.

Next weekend, I'll come and see you. I promise.

Jim Boyer, will you move along?

I've got a lot of work to do. Go on.

Jim, I'm glad I caught you.

Mr. Grainger took note you had four days' pay comin'...

asked me to bring it in to you.

Oh.

Ma, why don't you keep it for me?

Thank you.

I didn't mean to interrupt.

Oh, no interruption.

He's just setting out for himself.

Mr. Grainger got me a job over at the Cletus ranch.

I heard about that.

They've been needin' a good hand.

Well...good luck.

Thank you.

♪♪

[ theme music playing ]