Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

Give him a good rubdown.

He's been ridden hard.

Hello, Emmett. Comin' or goin'? Comin'.

Someone said they thought you'd been away for a few weeks,

but they couldn't be sure.

Been away? Is that the truth?

If you'll just hold up there a minute,

I'll go get the mayor to get on his speech-making suit.

What this town really needs

is stricter laws against loitering.

How are you?Good.

How'd the trial go in Cedar Groves?

Depends on your point of view.

Were they guilty?As sin.

They got what they deserved.

Cut and dried, huh?

Cut and dried.

What's been happening around here?

A whole lot. Burr Sherick kept dropping

the collection plate last Sunday,

and the preacher gave an impromptu sermon on the evils of drink,

lookin' right at Burr all through it.

And, um...what else?

Oh, Pettijohn's got in a supply of licorice.

Reckon that's all you need, Mr. Hiller?

I think that'll hold us for this week, thank you.

Much obliged.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

Nice to see you again.Good-bye.

Cliff.

My name's Andrew.

Andrew Hiller.

This is my wife Judith, our son Brian.

Hi.

How do you do? My name's Emmett Ryker.

Hello, Brian.

What can we do for you?

Nothin'. I just thought you were someone else.

Sorry to bother you.

Well, nice to meet you.

Yeah.

Giddyap!

He moved in a couple of weeks ago,

Bought the old Griswald place.

He's a rancher?

Can't arrest a man for that.

As memory serves, I owe you one, Emmett.

Thought you never were gonna mention it.

Was that the sheriff?

I think that he was the deputy.

You think he ever shot anyone?

I don't know.

I guess sometimes they have to.

It's part of their job.

Why don't you wear a gun?

Andrew?

What?

Why don't you wear a gun?

Oh, just gets in your way when you're workin'.

The deputy thought he knew you.

He was mistaken.

[ knock on door ]

Come in.

Oh, Cliff.

Come in, come in.

Glad you stopped by. It saved me a trip.

How long you been here?

Almost three years.

Heh. It's the last place I expected to see you.

Last job in the world I expected you to end up with.

This town appealed to me. So did the job.

Three reasons-- breakfast, lunch, and supper every day.

Good reasons.Yeah.

You like it?

Yeah, I like it. It's a good town, Cliff.

I met some fine people here.

There must've been some changes in your life, too, huh--

brand new name and everything.

That's what I wanted to talk to you about.

I figured.

Last I heard, there was a warrant out for Cliff Darrow.

For robbery, was it?

I didn't have anything to do with that.

But you ran.

Hey, look, I wasn't about to wait around

and see how it worked out.

You've been on the dodge ever since, huh?

That's about it.

Never occurred to you to go back and clear it up?

Oh, I thought about it plenty.

But that was Judge Pheiffer's district,

and he was building up a reputation

for clearin' out all the riffraff.

I figured I qualified, and I just--

Well, I just decided it wasn't worth the risk.

Pheiffer still on the bench?

I understand not.

The difference is that I'm here now,

in Medicine Bow.

I got a whole new life going.

As far as Judith and the boy know, I'm Andrew Hiller.

And that's the way I want to keep it.

And that's the way you want me to keep it?

Is that askin' too much of an old friend?

I'm a peace officer.

Yes.

And your job is to uphold the peace in this town.

But I'm tellin' you, I won't give you any trouble.

I haven't touched a card

or been in a saloon for three years.

I've also sworn to uphold the law, Cliff.

And you're wanted by the law.

I figure you owe me, Emmett.

I've pulled your chestnuts out of the fire more than once.

There's chestnuts and there's chestnuts.

Believe me, Emmett.

If it were just me, I wouldn't put you in this position.

I'd ride out now.

I'm askin' for Judith and the boy.

They like it here.

They want to stay here, put down roots.

We've been drifting mostly...

till now.

How long you been married?

About a year.

Judith was a widow.

She was lookin' for a new life, just like me.

We took to each other right away.

And your son?

Well, of course he's not really my son, not yet.

But I'm workin' on it.

[ distant shouts, bottle breaks ]

I gotta get down to the street.

Smells good. Make it two.

What you got there?

Sanger's got a couple of trespassers

camped down by Cuddy Creek.

Wants them off his property.

They're probably just stoppin' by to rest up a few days.

The man says he wants 'em off.

It's our job to move 'em.

Yeah. It ever occur to you

this job's got its shortcomings?

It occurs to me plenty.

There's just no chance to make any judgment

about what's right or what's wrong,

what's good or bad.

It's all cut and dried.

We're just supposed to enforce this law.

And a law that's fair in one situation

might not be fair in another.

That's the biggest speech you've made

since you drank too much at the Founder's Day picnic.

Emmett, you don't have to light a shuck under those squatters.

Just tell 'em they can't stay there.

I wasn't talkin' about that in particular.

What were you talkin' about?

Long as I'm out that way,

I might just drop in on that family that bought the Griswald place.

The Hillers? Why not?

Nice day for a ride.

Listen, after that four days I just spent in the saddle,

no day is good for a ride.

Hey! Anybody home?

[ cow mooing ]

[ mooing ]

Hyah! Hyah!

Get in! Get in there!

That iron ready?

I think so.

Fetch it here.

[ mooing ]

[ mooing ]

Go on! Up! Hyah!

What happened?

He broke out. Those timbers are rotten.

They don't take much to branding at that size, do they?

They're mavericks. The three of us rounded them up together.

Thanks for the hand.My pleasure.

Whoa! Whoa! Come on! Hyah!

It's been a long time.

I just came out of the ranch.

And you have done wonders with that place already.

Well, there's still a lot of work to do, but we enjoy it.

[ chuckles ]

Mr. Ryker, will you stay and eat with us?

There's plenty.

Oh, I...

Maybe Mr. Ryker's business

makes that impossible.

Uh, no, I think I'd like that fine, Mr. Hiller.

And after lunch, Mr. Ryker,

you will have the honor of helping brand

the very first beef in the Hiller herd.

Oh, well, I'm proud to be part

of such an auspicious event.

Up a little.

That's too much. Down a hair.

That's just right.

Give me that hammer.

[ horses approaching ]

Somebody's coming.

Oh, we don't have time for callers.

Mr. Hiller?Yes?

We're from Shiloh.

I never heard of it.

Must be some scrawny homestead place.

Some of your cows seem to think the grass is greener over there.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'll see to it first thing in the morning.

There's no harm done. We shooed 'em on home

and did a spit and bailing wire repair job on your fence.

That whole section's gonna need some new posts, though.

Oh, I know. I'll get to it right away.

This is my wife-- Mrs. Hiller.

My son Brian.

Hi.

Hello.

You're from Shiloh?Yes, ma'am.

I understand it's beautiful there.

There's a lot of it-- I can tell you that.

Climb on down. There might be somethin' in the cupboard

to make your trip worthwhile.

Thanks anyway, but we're headed on into town.

Payday, and the money's liable to burn a hole in our pocket any minute.

But we'll sure keep the offer in mind.

HILLER: Any time.

So long.

Nice folks, huh?

Real nice.

Hey, he looks familiar to me.

Like I know him from somewhere.

You probably saw him in church last Sunday.

Nah, it's not from around here.

I got to ask him next time where he's from.

Two ladies.

The proud ladies are listening.

I'm forced to bet you, uh...

$30, cowboy.

Got to keep you honest.

Beat the queens.

Well, Stace...

Looks like I'm on pump for a while.

On what?

He means he'll have to live on credit

till he gets another stake.

You must be from northern Oklahoma.

I've been through there.

It's nice country.

Not from where I sat.

I rode with a posse that was trying to clean it.

Anytime you want your money back, cowboy,

I'll be right here.

Sheriff?

Good evenin'.Evenin'.

Something I can do for you?

I'm not real sure.

Does the name Cliff Darrow mean anything to you?

Cliff Darrow.

Darrow.

Yeah, there was a Darrow wanted in Arkansas...

Oklahoma?

Oklahoma.

He goes back a ways.

He could be dead by now.

If there wasn't,

would there still be a reward on him?

Yeah, most likely.

Why, you know something about him?

Naw. I just wanted to shore up an old hunch.

You got any old dodgers around?

Well, if you want to spend a Saturday night plowing through 'em,

I guess I can dig 'em out.

Let's see.

Now...

Don't get these mixed up.

What order are they in?

They're filed according to color.

The older they are, the browner they are around the edges.

Have fun.

[ laughter ]

You know, there are Sunday chicken dinners,

and there are Sunday chicken dinners,

but this is what I call a month-end Sunday chicken dinner.

Thank you, Emmett.

I love to cook.

Especially for a man that likes to eat.

Come on, Brian. Give me a hand, please.

Well, I gotta get back,

see that the sheriff gets his Sunday chicken dinner.

Emmett, I--

I've never found exactly the right words

to tell you how much--

Well, don't bother.

I just hope it all works out for you.

I gotta get back.

Judith...

you outdid yourself again. Good-bye.

There's more pie.

No! Mmm!

[ clicks tongue ]

Emmett?Hmm?

You never told me about the gold they took off the train.

Oh, yeah. Do you know, to this day,

they haven't even found a speck of that gold anywhere?

For all I know, it could be right here on this ranch,

buried somewhere.

Listen, Brian.

Your dad knows bushels of stories better than that.

Get him to tell you some.

Good-bye, Judith.

Brian?

Hey.

It's cool enough out now.

Why don't we go put that peach tree in the ground?

All right. I'll go get the shovel.

Go on, Andrew.

Evenin', deputy.

There.

Throw some dirt in there and tamp it down good.

That's it.

How do you like the new school?

It's all right.

Is it hard?

Are kids giving you any trouble?

Well, I know how it is to be the new boy at school.

Everybody wants to know how tall you stand.

Hi.

Good to see a man in this country

who don't think the sun rises and sets

on the hindquarters of a cow.

Heh. That's a long way from a peach pie,

but it's a beginning.

You, uh, come across some more strays?

No. No, just passing.

Normally, I'd be in a penny ante bunkhouse game,

but, well, after last night...

They plucked you, huh?

Pin feathers and all.

Well, that kind of money has no home. You'll get it back.

I'm not worried about that.

Makes for a long month, though.

Oh, it does that.

Unless there's a kindly neighbor around

to sort of tide you over.

You askin' me for a loan, Mr. Barnes?

Nothing big. Say, $40, $50 till payday.

That shouldn't be much to a rancher.

It is to this rancher.

I can't get over the feeling

I know you from somewhere.

You ever pass any time in Missouri?

Oklahoma? Round in there?

No.

Funny. I'd swear on the Bible.

Maybe you just remind me of someone.

If I think on it, that name will come to me.

You wait here.

You like this horse?

Yeah.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

What's that for?

I've got a chance to buy a seed bull cheap.

I do appreciate your reconsidering like that, Mr. Hiller.

Be seeing you.

I thought you weren't gonna give it to him.

[ whistles ] Hyah!

[ men whistling and shouting ]

What happened to you?

My horse turned up lame, so I came back.

THE VIRGINIAN: He's not as lame as that excuse.

You can't expect a man to herd cattle on foot.

I expect you to start pullin' your weight around here.

For the past two weeks, you've kept a lot of daylight

between yourself and the work.

Now, it's your choice.

Start carrying your end, or pack up.

That's no choice.

You said it.

[ gunshot ]

What's he doing here?

He's teaching Brian how to shoot.

You know how I feel about guns.

I tried to explain,

but Brian was so anxious to learn.

Andrew.

He seemed so vague

about when we'd be getting at seed bull.

I did it! I did it!

Give him back the gun.

I'm afraid the lesson's over for the day, Brian.

The lesson's over for good.

You go in the house.

Sorry.

I didn't know you had such strong feelings on the subject.

You didn't come here just to give Brian a shooting lesson.

Came by to tell you.

It may take some time to deliver that seed bull.

Matter of fact,

I may just have to ask you to reconsider the price--

a fine animal like that.

The fact is, Mr. Hiller,

I seem to have suffered further reversals.

I was fired, through no fault of my own, mind you.

And I was wondering if you could help me out

till I get situated again.

I told you the last time--

I can't afford to keep on giving you money.

The way I see it...

you can't afford not to.

The best part about these new ones--

you just bolt on another tooth if you break one.

That ought to ride.Uh-huh.

Say, uh...

I hate to ask you, but...

would you mind putting this on an account for me?

Well, I guess it'd be all right, Mr. Hiller,

seeing it's you.

Thank you.See you later.

Mr. Hiller.

If I'd bought a new harrow,

I guess I'd be celebrating, too.

Yeah.

Oh, it's a little early for me.

But under the circumstances.

Did you get your new windmill set up?

Uh, no, I decided to fix up the old one.

Oh?

Any problems?

No, none.

Why?

I just thought you'd decided

to stay shy of these places.

Just a little somethin' to take the chill off the morning.

What'd that cowboy out there want?

Oh, he was after me for a job.

I told him I wasn't ready yet.

Well, that harrow isn't doing me any good

on the back of the wagon.

You come out and see us soon.

Judith and Brian-- they've been askin' for you.

Yeah, I will. I'd like to, real soon.

Might even put you to work.

This ought to be enough.

We only got a quarter section to go.

Yeah.

All right. I'll stretch, you nail.

Right.

Hey, that's not bad for an amateur.

Come on over to Shiloh, work for us.

We'll pay you twice what you're gettin' here.

This isn't business.

It isn't pleasure.

All right, slack off.

I've been meaning to ask you--

You used to have a Tony Barnes

workin' at Shiloh?

Well, he bunked there.

I hired him on for a drive a while back.

He was no whirlwind, but I kept him on.

He started looking for ways to avoid work.

He wouldn't prod. I finally had to let him go.

You know where he comes from?

To hear him talk, he's been every place

and done everything. Why, is he in trouble?

No, no, no. But an unemployed cowboy

has a way of gettin' there faster than anyone I know.

There's a lesson in that, Stacey.

I'll try to remember that.

See you, Emmett.See you.

So long, Mr. Hiller.

[ overlapping chatter ]

If Denise hadn't shied away from this hat,

it could have been a long time

before he'd have been discovered.

Denise?

My horse.Oh.

Anyway, I figured nobody would throw away

a perfectly good hat.

Mr. Yellman,

will you be around Medicine Bow for a couple of days?

Well, yes.

But believe me, Sheriff,

that's exactly the way it happened,

just the way I told you.

I'd left Greenfield about 6:30--

Mr. Yellman, you're not under suspicion.

I appreciate your taking the trouble to come in here

and tell us about it. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Sheriff.

Looks like we've had a population drop.

Yeah, I just heard.

Anthony Michael Barnes.

Lived at the hotel. Do you know him?

I saw him around a few times.

About 25. No family, at least not around here.

Any ideas?No.

All I know for sure is that he was shot through the heart,

close range.

Was he robbed?

He still had a watch and $1.87 in his pocket.

He's an ex-Shiloh hand.

Thought I'd ride out there,

see what they know about him.

I'll save you the trouble, Mark.

I bumped into the Virginian and Stacey the other day,

and I asked them about Barnes.

He'd signed on as an extra hand.

But the Virginian had fired him a while back.

Why?

He'd been doggin' it.

What were you after, Emmett?

Nothin', really.

He bothered me, Mark.

I mean, I'd seen him in the saloon at night--

livin' high, always seemed to have money.

I couldn't figure out where it was comin' from.

I found this in Tony Barnes' room.

It was slipped under the shelf paper in the closet.

"Wanted-- Cliff Darrow.

"The territory of Oklahoma is offering $400 reward

"for information leading to the arrest

"of Cliff Darrow, convicted murderer.

Considered dangerous. Should be approached with the utmost caution."

Barnes was askin' me about Darrow.

Apparently he had good reason.

Thanks, Sam.

Yeah.

Emmett...

that look like anybody you know?

Andrew Hiller.

You know him pretty well, don't you?

You've been givin' him a hand in your spare time.

It's my time.

You do that for every rancher

who moves in around here...

or just certain ones?

They're nice people. I liked them.

Emmett.

Does all this begin to suggest something to you?

Barnes recognized Hiller and was blackmailing him.

You didn't know anything about that

when you asked the Virginian about Barnes?

I saw Barnes talking with Hiller

on day on the street.

It looked like kind of a squabble.

I asked Hiller about it, but he shrugged it off.

So, first chance I got, I--

Oh, come on, Emmett. Let's have it.

I've seen you limp in here on Mondays

all scratched up and rump-sore

from wrestling fence posts out at Hiller's place.

You don't put yourself through that week after week

just because someone's "nice people".

You knew Hiller before he came out here, didn't you?

Yes.

Did you know he was wanted?

I didn't know he'd been convicted of murder.

What about the theft charge?

He said he was innocent. Oh, he did?

I believed him.

And you decided to let bygones be bygones.

Mark, he was a different man, a reformed man.

He had a family, he was settled down.

Frankly, I didn't think puttin' him in jail would help society.

Emmett...

what was it you said the other day

about the shortcomings of being a lawman?

No chance to use your own judgment.

Well, your judgment just might've cost a man his life.

Mark.

You goin' after Hiller now?

That's right.

And I don't expect to find him there.

Hello, Brian.

Is your dad home?

I'll get my mom.

You can sure see the work Hiller's put in around here.

Hello, Emmett.

Judith, this is Sheriff Abbott.

Ma'am.

How do you do?

I've heard Emmett speak of you often.

Is your husband home, Mrs. Hiller?

No, he isn't.

Where is he?

I don't know.

When do you expect him back?

I couldn't say.

Mrs. Hiller, I--Mark.

Can I handle this?

I don't know, Emmett.

All right.

I'll have a look around.

You got your chores done, Brian?

Almost.

That woodpile looked kind of low out there when we rode up.

What are you and Sheriff Abbott here for?

We just wanted to talk with your daddy.

What about?Brian, get to work.

Has Andrew left for good?

Oh, please.

I have to ask that.

Oh, Emmett.

Everything was going so beautifully.

Do you know what's happened?

A man has been shot to death, and there's good reason

to believe your husband might have--

He might know something.

Judith, I'm--

I'm not here just as a lawman.

Your husband's an old friend of mine,

and I want to help him if I can.

You're old friends?

Yeah, we--

Uh...did he ever tell you anything

about himself before he met you?

No.

No.

We hadn't known each other very long

when we got married.

Naturally, I was curious about where he'd been

and what he'd done, but whenever I asked him questions,

it made him nervous.

His real name is Cliff Darrow.

And we got together

on the banks of the Cimarron one morning

because he had the bacon and I had the coffee.

And I guess, for about the next two years,

we shared just about everything.

Blankets and boots

and biscuits and bottles.

We didn't have a cent.

[ chuckles ]

Between us, we could make up

a fairly respectable suit of clothes.

So, Cliff would get slicked up,

going into the local saloon,

and he'd look like he could afford a drink.

So they'd let him at the free lunch.

Well, Cliff would fill his stomach,

fill his pockets, and--

[ laughs ]

When he'd worn out his welcome,

he'd come back to where I was

with the makings of a meal for me.

The next time, I'd put on a suit and run the same deal.

You get to know a fella pretty well,

livin' that close.

Why did he change his name?

That happened after we split up.

He got in some trouble,

and then he made it worse--he ran.

He's still wanted in Oklahoma.

For what?

Grand theft and murder.

You knew that and you let him stay?

No, I didn't know that--

that he'd been convicted of murder-- until today.

Use the whole blade, son.

Then you won't have to work so hard.

Here, let me show you.

He rode out of here four hours ago...

for good.

Where to?She doesn't know.

Well, he'd probably head south to Messilla County.

Mark, we don't know for sure that he did it.

Then why'd he run?

If you're thinkin' of makin' a posse,

it might pay to make it up at Shiloh.

To save time or bloodshed?

Both. I can't guarantee for sure he'll come in peaceful.

You can't guarantee anything.

Maybe not, but I think I can find him.

Emmett, you're free to ride any place you want to,

but not with that.

One man's been killed,

and there could be a couple of more before this thing's over.

Because you seem to think that's just a hunk of scrap iron.

All right, hold it!

How'd you know where to find me?

We rode the washes together more than once, remember?

I didn't expect you to remember.

There's a few things I didn't expect.

You pop up in my town after all these years, Cliff.

You ask me to put my neck on the block to save yours.

Oh, it was for your wife and kid, wasn't it?

You're innocent as a babe,

straight as a deacon.

There'd be no trouble.

I had your word on that.

You just forgot to mention you were wanted for murder.

You know about that?

So did Tony Barnes, didn't he?

He knew.

And he was blackmailing you.

Let me tell you something, Cliff.

This thing has cost me my job.

Probably a lot more.

But the thing that really gnaws at my belly

are all those lies you spoon-fed me.

Look, the man I killed was a bounty hunter.

He was trying to bring me in on that robbery charge.

But he was plannin' on bringing me in

draped over the back of his horse.

He told me to put my hands up, and when I did,

he tried to kill me.

So I shot him where he stood,

and don't tell me you would've done anything less.

Did you turn yourself in?

Not exactly.

But I didn't make any fuss when they caught with me at Benton.

I told the court exactly what I'm tellin' you now.

They found me guilty of murder.

I broke out the minute they looked the wrong way.

Emmett, let me go.

You'll never see me again, I swear.

Nobody has to know about this.

I'd know about it, Cliff.

You answer me something flat out.

Did you kill Tony Barnes?

Yes.

All right.

Then I'm takin' you back to town.

You going by the telegraph office?

Yeah, I guess.

What'll Oklahoma do?

Probably waive jurisdiction,

let us have him.

ABBOTT: Sorry, Emmett, but your friend's in trouble.

About as bad as trouble can get.

[ judge bangs gavel ]

JUDGE: The Seventh District Court of Carbon County

is now in session.

Will the defendant please rise?

Cliff Darrow, you are charged with the fatal shooting

of Anthony Wallace Barnes on September 12.

How do you plead?

Guilty.

Do you still wish to waive the right to counsel?

Yes, sir.

If there's any evidence or information

having a bearing on this case,

the court will entertain it now.

Your Honor, I'd like to say something.

Your Honor, for a while, a few years back,

Cliff Darrow and I were about as close

as two friends could get.

We did a lot of--

Well, we did some pretty wild things, I guess.

Some in fun, some just to stay alive.

But...

thinking back on it,

I never knew Cliff to do anything

he couldn't talk about later...

over a drink or somewhere.

Of course, I'm not trying to whitewash him.

But I know when he came to Medicine Bow,

he was bound and determined

to get a new start. I know this.

We talked about it out at his place many times.

He never actually said this to me,

but I think what he wanted most of all...

was for his wife and son

to be proud of him.

Just to be proud of him.

And he really worked at it.

Harder than any man I know.

Barnes wasn't actually holding a gun at his head,

but he was robbing him just the same.

Robbing him of all those things

that he wanted and worked for.

I figure it's easy enough for the rest of us to...

say what we'd have done,

or what Cliff should've done, but...

we weren't there.

Your Honor, I guess what I'm trying to say is,

when Cliff killed this man,

he must've felt in his own mind...

that there was just no other way out.

I think I speak for a lot of folks in town...

when I ask this court to show him clemency.

[ people murmuring ]

[ judge bangs gavel ]

Mr. Darrow...

there seems to be little doubt

that in the past few years,

you've become a useful and productive member of society.

The court takes that into consideration.

It is also aware and concerned

that any punishment levied on you

will cause a hardship to your family.

But the fact remains

you are a confessed murderer.

Your present character or that of your victim

can really be of no concern

in view of that fact.

Even as you face this tribunal,

there are open charges against you elsewhere...

as well as a previous conviction for murder.

But here we are only concerned with the fact

that you did willfully take the life

of a fellow human being.

Therefore, my verdict must be based

on the punishment prescribed by this territory

for that offense.

Clifford Darrow.

Do you have anything to say

before sentence is passed upon you?

No, Your Honor.

Clifford Darrow, this court finds you guilty

of murder in the first degree...

and sentences you to be hanged by the neck until dead.

No!

Judith.

Sentence to be carried out at 12:00 noon

the day after tomorrow.

I'll put the team up at the livery.

Thank you, Emmett.

If you need anything else,

I stay at Mrs. Crandall's boarding house.

Right down the street.

Hyah! Hyah!

I don't want to see her.

It's bad enough as it is.

I told her not to come here.

I wish you'd stop meddling in my life.

Whatever's left of it.

Yes, but you have--Just get out!

How is she?

She misses you somethin' awful.

Is she--

Is she holdin' up all right?

As good as you could expect.

Why don't you see her, Cliff?

No.

Brian have anything to say?

Not much.

But you know Brian.

It seemed like he took to me a little more toward the end.

Didn't you think so?

He loves you, Cliff.

I'll have to take your word for that.

You want anything?

A gun and a fast horse would go pretty good right now.

Emmett.

If you're lookin' for a graceful way to say good-bye...

you got your work cut out for you.

I'm sorry, Cliff.

I never--I never been more sorry

about anything in my whole life.

Do you think he'll need those?

Look, Emmett--

I didn't invite your friend into this town.

I didn't try him, I didn't sentence him.

But it's my job to carry out that sentence.

I don't have to like it, but I have to do it...

best way I know how.

I know that.

Try and leave him some dignity.

He's not going anyplace.

He killed a man in Oklahoma.

He killed a bounty hunter who tried to kill him.

And less than a week ago, he killed a man in this town.

Then he lit out.

It still doesn't make any sense to me.

What?

Him taking off like that.

Most people would've stayed right here and denied everything.

I'll admit, it wasn't the smartest thing.

But it was typical of him.

Emmett, I'm sorry I got my back up.

I know how you feel.

Look, there's a bottle with my name on it

down at the Rocky Mountain.

See if that doesn't help what ails you.

It won't. I tried.

[ door closes ]

[ children shouting ]

Hey. Come on, come on!

Come on! Break it up! Break it up!

All right, now.

What's all this about?

Brian, what happened?Nothin'.

A lot of energy being wasted over nothing.

You three boys go on home, now.

Go on, beat it, all of you,

before I tan your britches!

Did they say something about your father?

He'd not my father. Not my real father.

What'd they say?

It doesn't matter what they said.

I don't think it'd worry your dad much, either.

He'd sure be proud to know you stuck up for him.

And you should stick up for him,

because no boy ever had a better dad.

Brian he's one of the--

one of the best men I've ever known.

Can I go now?

Yeah, but let's tuck in your shirttail here first.

Tuck it all in. Brush some of this dirt off.

They called him a murderer.

Most of the people in this town

don't really think about it that way.

Why'd he kill Mr. Barnes? I liked him.

He taught me how to shoot a pistol.

And sometimes he let me ride his horse.

He was tryin' to make trouble for your dad, Brian.

He was trying to make trouble for you and for your mother.

You see, Brian...

what your dad did was wrong.

It was wrong.

But his reasons were right. You understand that?

[ sighs ]

We'd better not tell your mother about this.

Women don't understand about fighting, do they?

There.

Brian.

When did Tony Barnes let you ride his horse?

Sometimes.

Where?Around the ranch.

Was your dad around?

He was always off workin' somewhere.

Did Mr. Barnes come over often when your dad was away?

Yeah, sometimes.

[ clatter ]

[ knock on door ]

[ knocking ]

Come in.

I thought you might like to have someone with you.

Did you see him last night?

Just for a minute.

He was worried about you,

wondered how you're bearin' up.

But he didn't want to see me?

No.

I'm numb.

If it wasn't for Brian, I don't know what I'd do.

It's no comfort,

but people are sayin' that this is one of the worst things

that's ever happened in this town.

And one of the girls over at the saloon

has been even sayin' that Cliff did this town a favor

by gettin' rid of Barnes.

I guess he was a real pest.

Please, Emmett, let's not talk about it.

He ever trouble you any?

Tony Barnes?

Yeah.

Brian mentioned to me

that he used to come over sometimes

when Cliff was away. And I--

Once.

Or twice, maybe.

Why are you dredging all of this up now?

Judith, it just never made sense to me

that Cliff could kill a man for blackmailing him

and then take off like that,

just so everybody would be sure he did it.

He confessed.

It's over.

Not for a few minutes, it's not.

He confessed.

But supposin'-- Now, just supposin'--

he didn't kill Barnes but took the blame for someone else.

Suppose that.

He wouldn't give his own life for someone--

just anybody.

Would he? It'd have to be someone pretty important to him.

I don't understand what you're saying.

I'm saying, Judith,

that maybe you know more about this than you're lettin' on.

Emmett, I think I'd like to be alone.

He's gonna be gone in a few minutes...

for good.

If you know anything that can save him,

nothing justifies you keeping it. Nothing, Judith!

Stay out of this.

He wants it this way.

He wants it? What do you mean, he wants it?!

No man wants to be hanged!

Oh, Emmett.

Please help me.

I love him.

I want to let me--

[ groans ]

[ sobbing ]I can't! I can't let him die!

Emmett?

Please leave.

When you tell me the truth.

Those scratches on Barnes' face weren't from brambles, were they?

They were from your fingernails, weren't they?

Leave my mother alone!

Leave us alone!

Emmett.

Andrew didn't kill Barnes.

I did.

He used to come by.

Sometimes when Brian and I were alone.

He seemed pleasant enough, but...

it made me nervous...

the way he looked at me.

That day, I was going visiting in town.

He was waiting for me in the grove

when I came by in the wagon.

He said he needed a lift.

But when he'd come into the wagon...

he said that he wasn't in a hurry.

And he grabbed me.

And when I pushed him away, he said...

that my husband was a wanted man,

and if I wasn't nice to him, he'd tell the sheriff.

I wouldn't believe him.

He began to pull at my clothes.

I was struggling with him,

and I found his gun.

And...

when he tried to take it away,

it went off.

As soon as Judith got home and told me what had happened,

I knew it'd get around to me.

She might've gotten off if she'd told the truth.

But there'd have been a lot of questions.

Especially from Emmett.

He suspected that Barnes was giving me trouble.

And he wouldn't have been able to keep quiet

after the body was found.

So, I told her I'd take the blame.

I told her I'd been convicted of murder in Oklahoma,

and a man can only hang once.

I should never have listened to you.

Judith didn't do anything wrong.

But you never know how things are gonna set with people.

And Brian--

Brian just never did take to me very much.

And if he'd lost respect for his mother, too,

he'd have nothing to hold on to.

No matter what, we were wrong, Andy.

Cliff.

We're a family.

We hold on to each other.

[ laughter ]

So, this sergeant comes to attention.

He says, "Sir, this tattered ensign

"isn't our company guide-on.

Well, it's Maggie's drawers."

[ all laugh ]

Thanks, Emmett. Much obliged.

Mr. Grainger keeps asking when you're gonna come to work.

People around here keep offering to buy me drinks.

I don't think it's polite or judicious

to leave town under those conditions.

Maybe a good time to run for sheriff.

You've already got yourself a good sheriff.

Is Cliff out of the woods yet?

No, not altogether.

But he's better off than he was a week ago.

They're gonna review his murder conviction in Oklahoma.

The stage is gonna be leaving.

If you're lookin' for anyone in particular,

she'll be here.

THE VIRGINIAN: Don't worry about your ranch.

We've got a lot of men just beggin' for extra work.

Uh, I think I just volunteered.

Good luck, Mr. Hiller.

It's Darrow from now on-- for better or for worse.

It'll get better.

Emmett, I--

If you're lookin' for a graceful way to say good-bye after all this,

you got your work cut out for you.

[ chuckles ]

JUDITH: Cliff?

New dress?

Brand new.

You'd better not hug me.

I'm not sure I got all the pins out.

Uh...where's Brian?

He wanted to come.

He had an important history test he couldn't miss.

Well...

he needs all the schooling he can get these days.

I, uh...

I talked with Mr. Emory at the bank,

and he's gonna be in touch with you.

Please don't worry about us.

We'll make out all right till you get back.

Yeah.

[ splashing ]

What are you doin' up there? Nothin'.

How come you're not in school?

You got more important things to do,

like throwin' rocks into a rain barrel?

Brian, there's no sayin' for sure

how long your dad's gonna be gone.

It may be a few months, it may be longer.

But if you don't something off your chest before he goes,

it just may be you can never get it off.

It's just gonna sit there like a big old lump

the rest of your life.

DRIVER: All aboard!

All aboard!

Hyah!

Stop!

Stop!

Hey, now. Don't you forget to water that peach tree.

I won't.

DRIVER: Hyah! Hyah!

Uh, you gonna drive Mrs. Darrow home?

I'd planned to.

While you're out that way,

look in on Emma Cushing.

She says somebody's been stealing her chickens again.

It's my hunch you'll find a hole in her fence

about the size of a fox, but...

well, it may not be that cut and dried.

[ theme music playing ]