Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

Now, remember-- invite them for supper.

Better lay in some extra supplies.

They'll have big appetites after a drive like that.

Uncle Clay's excited, isn't he?

Oh, that trail gang's from Texas.

Clay has his mind set on seeing some folks from down home.

Well, where are they?

They're camped near Three Falls.

Looks like he made it with the whole herd.

Why not? He's a Texan, isn't he?

[ chuckles ]

He's camped over there.

Mr. Jackson? Kyle Jackson?

That's right.

I'm Clay Grainger.

JACKSON: Mr. Grainger...how do?

Mr. Trampas.

Hello.Howdy.

My brother Stone. He's my right hand.

Where's my left hand?

Willie! Will, come over here and meet the people.

This here's my brother Willie.

Mr. Grainger, Trampas.

Mr. Jackson-- a pleasure. Howdy.

Well, you've come quite a ways.

Yeah, a piece.

How many hands did it take you

to bring your herd up here from Texas?

Eight, including Willie.

Eight? Heh.

Not many men could do that.

You did it yourself a while back.

No. My brother John.

It was quite a drive then when he did it

with more than eight men.

Stone, take Trampas and show him around.

I want to talk to Mr. Grainger.

Fair enough. Come on, Willie.

I'd offer you some tea, but we haven't got any,

along with everything else.

Well, I'll have some supplies sent out to you.

Maybe when your herd gets settled in,

ya'll can come over to Shiloh and have a meal with us.

Mrs. Grainger's expecting you.

I'd like that. Thanks.

There may be some other Texas people there.

Sam McLain-- you know him?

McLain--used to be a marshal in Texas.

He lives here now, up north.

Cougar Flats country.

Comes down a couple of times a year to sell horses.

I'd be glad to see him again.

And I'd be glad to be in a house again.

Of course, I expect most of the other boys

will find something to do in town.

Yeah. It's too bad John can't be here.

He's on business up in Denver.

I know he'll want to be filled in on everything

when he gets back.

Tell me about the drive.

STONE: Can't just say how we did it.

Get in a windstorm,

drive from one waterhole to the next

just to find it drifted over.

Sleep four hours a night, keep watch four.

Eat, drive out again.

And cold! Get in those mountains,

Willie used to just huddle up in his blanket and moan!

[ laughs ]

Ain't that right, Willie?

Yeah, we all did some moanin', all right.

[ laughs ]

STONE: I reckon it was Kyle who hauled us through.

He's got everything ridin' on this herd.

And he ain't the kind of man you turn back.

Anything that could walk,

we threw a brand on it, put it into the herd.

They're good beeves, Mr. Grainger.

They have to be. You fatten 'em up some,

they'll bring a good price.

There's one thing that troubles me a little.

We contracted for 400 head, if you got 'em here.

Looks to me like you've got almost twice that.

600 or 700.

775.We can't guarantee--

Don't worry about it, Mr. Grainger.

They're spoke for, too.

I got a purchasing agent from the Chicago stockyards

comin' down to meet me.

If you don't take, he will.

Well, you're a driver, Mr. Jackson,

and you're young-- that's a good combination.

This may be just the start for you.

Any man who could bring--

Well, what do you say?

Everything look all right?

Kyle, you know I'd only show him the good ones.

[ laughs ]

As soon as you get all straightened out here,

we'll look to see you at Shiloh, Kyle.

Thank you, Mr. Grainger.

Boys...

Mr. Grainger invited us to his house for supper.

If it's all the same to you, Kyle,

I figured I'd take Willie into town and--

Town? What for?

What's there to do in town?

Ha ha ha ha!

Ha ha!

That's a good man.

What's the matter?

Well...

I'm afraid they got disease in that herd.

Blackleg fever.

They tried to keep it from you?

I don't think they know.

Of course, I could be wrong.

We'd better find the Virginian and tell him.

Don't talk to anybody else about it. Yo.

Here you go, Johnny.Thanks.

You sure you won't come with us?

The Graingers would like awful well to see you.

I'll do all the talking and selling.

All you have to do is sit there and grunt.

Who's gonna tend to things around here

while I do all that sittin' and so on?

Things will keep.

Ah, you go on, now.

Have a good time.

Well, it'll take us a day to get to Shiloh,

and then we'll spend the day after that in Medicine Bow.

You look for us back Thursday.

Who tied these?I did, Pa.

Well, you tied good.

Pa?

When you get to Medicine Bow,

you buy yourself something.

Jackknife...somethin'.

This is your absolutely last chance.

Medicine Bow? Bright lights?

Anyway, what are you gonna do back here all by yourself?

Oh...givin' you something to come home to.

Go on.

Hattie.

Oh. Can I come in,

or are you too busy enforcing the law?

Come in, come in. I can spare you a few minutes.

Just don't step all over my clean floor.

How come you aren't out enforcing Shiloh?

I had to come in and see Doc Farnum.

The vet? What's the matter-- you sick?

Ha ha. No.

But that Texas herd that just came in might be.

Oh, yeah? What have they got?

Either just travel sores,

or maybe...blackleg fever.

Well, Dr. Farnum want me to quarantine 'em?

He hasn't even seen 'em yet.

We'll do that this evening.

I haven't told anybody about this,

even the Texas people.

But if it is blackleg fever--

Yeah, it's apt to stir people up around here.

Want to give me a hand with that bench there?

Oh, sure.

Put in on the desk.

Aunt Holly!

Hattie, it's so good to see you! And Johnny.

Thank you, Mrs. Grainger.

Elizabeth, how are you?

Just fine, Mrs. McLain.

Liz? If this fella's here to sell us horses,

you'd better tell him you already promised the McLains.

You know, the family with that little boy.

Hi, Trampas.

Johnny, that you?It's me!

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought for a minute you were a strange man.

How are you?Fine.

Mrs. McClain.

Well, let's see what your brought us here.

Come on down, Johnny.

Hattie, I have the spare room all ready.

Oh, I promised Johnny we'd spend the night

in a real hotel room.

I'm much obliged, though.

Well, then stay for supper.

Come on inside where we can talk.

Let me give you a hand.

Here.

How is Sam?

Mr. Jackson?

No, thank you, Miss Grainger.

However, I do request you marry me.

[ laughter ]

You staying the night with us, Hattie?

Oh, no, thank you.

I thought we'd get on in to Medicine Bow,

and then I can buy my provisions all tomorrow

and then start headin' for home.

Too bad Sam couldn't come down with you this time.

You know how he is. He's single-minded.

He's breakin' a new string of horses.

Can't you take a little more time to visit?

Sam and me, we--

we get kind of fidgety when we're away from each other.

Makes me curious, Mrs. McLain,

why you and your husband moved up to this country.

He could've been an important man in Texas--

being marshal and all,

and with his reputation.

Well, we'd met each other and...

I just couldn't marry a man whose life was violent,

so Sam gave it up for me.

Lucky woman.

He's a lucky man.

Well, I'll say this--

you've got yourself some fine country up here.

If you've a mind to look it over,

I'd be glad to show it to you, Kyle.

Oh, I have my eyes on a piece of Texas land.

I've been watching it for 12 years.

That's why I put everything into this cattle drive--

a gamble to raise money.

Chance of a lifetime, like they say.

Are you sure you won't have some more?

Well, actually...

I wouldn't want to insult the cook.

[ laughter ]

I'm Texas!

I'm a Red-River Screamer!

Yeah-hoo!Tell 'em, Willie!

Raised in a canebrake, suckled by an old she-bear!

Yeah, Willie!

I'm snake-quick! And I'm wolf-mean!

And this is my night to ho-o-owl!

When I breathe, the trees rare over!

When I cuss, gators run for cover!

I am so mean!

I am so mean-- What?

Are you the terror to humanity I've been hearing about?

I'm a Texas man.

Texas man!

Oh. You're the sheriff here. Deputy.

Oh?Yeah.

This man here says you broke his window.

Feed and grain store?

[ laughs ] Oh, yeah.

Willie stuck his elbow through it.

Accident.

Willie does that kind of thing.

You want to pay him for it?

Can't. Cleaned out.

When we get paid, I'll settle up.

We drove in that Texas herd.

Oh, yeah.

What have you got here, son?

Think you can get this monster back to camp?

Easy.

But ain't never been drunk before.

Yeah, I believe that. I believe you.

All right. Back to camp.

Come on, Willie.

I'm a rooster! I'm a cattymount!

When I cuss, the whole earth shakes!

When I yell--

Aren't you going to arrest them?

You heard what he said. They'll pay up tomorrow.

You could put 'em up overnight.

I'd rather not, Mr. Harger.

They may have problems enough.

Other problems.

What do you mean, other problems?

♪♪

Thank you.

That sure was pretty, Mrs. Grainger.

Next time you all are going to hear Elizabeth.

We are working on a duet.

Well, that'll give me an excuse to come back.

Well, it was wonderful,

and I hate to eat your food and scat away,

but I think we'd best get to town and find a hotel room.

That is, if I can find John.

He's probably out with Trampas,

settling the problems of the world.

The problems of horse-breaking, you mean.

I'll find him.Oh, thank you.

Mr. Jackson, it's been a pleasure to meet you.

It's been my pleasure.

Hi.Evening, Liz.

I was afraid I wasn't gonna get to see you this trip.

That was a fine bunch of horses you brought us.

Thank you.

How's Sam?He's fine.

Where you been hiding?

I had a little errand to run for Mr. Grainger.

You've met Kyle Jackson?

My foreman.

How do you do, sir?How are you?

I'm afraid it doesn't look too good.

Something wrong?

There's something, Kyle,

we didn't want to trouble you with before.

Oh?

Something we weren't sure about.

We asked the doctor out.

Doctor? What for? Is someone ailing?

Uh...we think some of your cattle

have blackleg fever.

Oh, no.

Doc Farnum wasn't sure. He took some scrapings. He's gonna send--

Wait, you're mistaken somewhere.

I--I got them here.

There's a laboratory in Denver.

It'll take about a week to get the word.

I said no.

My cattle are fine.

I drove those cattle a thousand miles, and--

and now you tell me--

What is this, a trick? It's some kind of lyin' trick!

Mr. Jackson...don't.

I'm sorry.

Mr. Jackson?

You put your faith in Clay Grainger.

I've known him for a long time.

He cares about people.

You talk, plan things out.

But I got them here.

800 head-- I drove 'em.

I know what you mean.

It's bad luck you had no way to expect.

Things like that happen to people sometimes.

Well, I'd better find John.

That report-- you said a week.

What about the meantime?

The vet says you'll have to separate out

the cattle that look sickly, fence them off...

and fence off the rest of your herd.

We'll help you with that.

What about feed?

If they can't graze loose--

We'll help you there, too.

How do I pay?

We'll work it out.

Well, I appreciate it...

considering.

I'm sorry, considering.

A man like you-- I hate to give you news like that.

I'd best tell the others.

Stone and Willie-- they went to town.

End of our trail drive, you know.

They went in to...

celebrate.

[ click ]Ha ha!

I told you you couldn't hit her.

That's a dollar you owe me. Pay me.

Stone, my gun's empty.

Sure. The deputy emptied it.

I bet you a dollar you couldn't shoot that post.

That was the bet. Pay me.

Oh, come on, Stone!Pay me.

Come on!

Don't make no matter if you hit her now.

Terms of the bet. You owe me a dollar.

I don't know. Should we stay at the hotel

or a rooming house?

A hotel's a whole quarter more.

But it's sure a lot nicer.

Johnny, do you see it?

Why, it's a whole town!

Practically a city.

[ gunshot ]

That came right by us!

Ha! I did it!

You see, Stone? Now you pay me!

A cowboy's shootin' or something.

Maybe even a gunfight.

Mom, did you see that ricochet--

Mom! Mom! What's the matter?

Somebody help!

Help! My mom-- she's been shot!

Please! Help me!

Help me! Mom!

Help! My mom! She's been shot!

What is it? What happened?

You hurt somebody. We gotta get out of here.

Willie!

I thought you were going back to camp.

[ knock on door ]

[ knocking ]

Oh, hello, Emmett. Come in.

Sorry to bother you, Mr. Grainger.

But I thought you'd want to know.

Hattie McLain's been shot.

What?

Clay?

What is it?

Hattie McLain-- she's been hurt.

It's worse than that, MR. Grainger.

I'm afraid she's dying.

Oh, no.

How? What happened?

Well...

two of the men from Texas were doing some target shooting

in the street.

Mrs. McLain drove in and, uh--

Well, they were drunk. Not mean drunk.

It looks like an accident.

Where are they?They're in jail.

CLAY: I'll have to go get Sam.

He can be there by morning.

Ride all night?

You go stay with Hattie, straight through.

Of course.

The Virginian will ride in with you.

I'll get word to Kyle Jackson.

Until we know more, it might be best

if they all stay out of town--

between this and everything else.

Well, let's get started.

Giddyap!

Sam.

There's been an accident.

At Medicine Bow.

Hattie got shot.

Ohh.It's bad.

Accident?

Two men from the Texas trail drive.

I know the man. It was an accident.

That's all I can tell you.

All I know.

There must be something.

She's lost a lot of blood.

I eased the pain some, but...

HATTIE: Johnny?

Come here.

I'm not gonna bite you.

I want you to stay with the Graingers

until your father comes for you.

That's what I want.

You tell him to stop

and buy that jackknife that you didn't get.

And always be proud of yourself.

Now...shoo.

HATTIE: Mrs. Grainger?

Yes, Hattie.

Can you take Johnny out to Shiloh?

Of course we can.

It's getting harder for me.

I'd rather he didn't see that.

Hattie, Sam is on his way right now.

He'll be here by nightfall surely.

I'm gonna try to last for him.

But if I don't...

will you tell him that I loved him?

He ought to know that.

But it won't hurt to tell him.

What have you got there?

Your brother sent these in to you.

Soap, razors, change of clothes.

Why didn't Kyle come himself?

Under the circumstances, it seemed better

to ask all your people to stay in camp.

Why?

You mean to tell me this town's beginning to brew up about us?

What's the matter with these people anyway?

They think Willie done it on purpose?

Nobody could be sorrier than us that lady got--

Any messages you want to send to your brother?

No.

Wait.

Is that true-- the other thing I heard--

that we may have blackleg fever in our cattle?

Yeah.

Bad luck sure came down all over...

all at once, didn't it?

Don't you worry, buddy.

Kyle will get us out of here.

Mr. McLain. Ed Harger.

We sure are awful sorry about your missus.

I told that deputy. I told him.

Get them off the streets--

roamin' around drunk like that.

One of 'em stuck his elbow through my window there--

Mr. Harger.Huh?

Sam, she tried to stay alive till you got here.

She didn't suffer much, Mr. McLain.

Clay, she's gone.

God rest her.

Sam.

Hattie asked me to tell you...

that she loved--

Thank you.

I'll sit here with you, Sam,

if you'd like me to.

Or you can come out to Shiloh with us.

Dr. Spalding can make all the arrangements.

There's nothing you need to do.

Hey, Willie. It's morning.

Yeah, I know it, Stone.

You just lay awake all night?

Was I supposed to sleep?

That woman died.

I killed her.No.

I mean, you didn't go to do it.

Will they hang me for it, Stone?

Not a chance.

I shouldn't even care about that.

After what I done.

But I do.

I'm scared.

You've got nothin' to worry about.

It's an accident.

Besides, it's partly my fault what you done.

And I'm not lettin' you down, Willie.

And they won't us down, Kyle and the others.

We could just chew up this town and--

Stone?What?

That woman being married to Sam McLain and all.

So?

What's he gonna do?

EMMETT: Mr. McLain?

Morning, Deputy.

I see you sittin' out here, Mr. McLain--

I understand you didn't go back to Shiloh last night

with Mr. Grainger.

I hear that--

I heard Mrs. McLain's funeral is at 10:00.

You'll be attending that?

I don't know.

Mr. McLain, I'm going to release one of those two men.

The older one.

We may bring charges of negligence against him later,

but right now his outfit's shorthanded.

But I see you sittin' here--

I wouldn't want to bring him out on this street

and have some kind of, uh...

He's not the one who fired the shot.

No, he's not the one.

Well, about the other-- the youngster--

Mr. McLain, I think I know how you must feel.

But you've been a lawman,

so you must know how I feel.

I can't let anyone interfere

with the course of the law.

The law is, the judge comes here Wednesday,

and the boy stands trial.

I'll wait.

Hello, Mr. Jackson.Hello.

I brought some hands over from Shiloh to help.

We ought to have you fenced in by noon.

I'm fenced in already, ain't I?

If you need anything else,

you just call on us.

Mr. Grainger's sending over some fodder later.

How does he expect me to pay for it?

He knows I ain't got no cash money.

I talked to the foreman about that.

We figured you could trade for the fodder...

out of your herd.

How much?

Two head a wagonload, if that's reasonable.

Tell Grainger I appreciate it.

Stone. They let you go?

He may be charged later, Mr. Jackson,

but for now he's released on your recognizance.

That means that you're responsible.

Where's Willie?

You think they'd let him go?

They're fixin' to try him.

They gotta let him off.

It was an accident.

I'm not an expert, Mr. Jackson.

Listen to me, Kyle. They'll do anything they can to Willie.

That woman's husband is sittin' there right now

right across the street from that jail.

Sam McLain?

I woke up this morning, and he was sittin' there.

That whole town started buzzing around behind him.

They're gonna do him and do us.

Do us what? Hang us?

Cheat us, ruin us.

You listen to me, Kyle.

They got us closed in, and you know it.

Fence us in, keep us stuck here--stuck!

What choice have we got?

That stockyard purchasing agent. He was due in today.

Yeah, and we're in quarantine,

and he'll soon find that out.

Go get him. Make some kind of a deal.

A crooked deal, you mean?

Any deal you can. Sell him the cattle,

load up, get Willie, and clear out of here.

I don't like it, Stone.

What do you like? Stand here and let 'em poke hole in us

and bleed us to death?

What's that for?

Your herd's in quarantine.

I know that.

The law requires me to post this.

Well, I posted it.

What's the rush? Why don't you stick around

and see the fences go up?

We have to go to a funeral.

Mr. Grainger, where's my Pa?

I'm not just sure, John.

Why didn't he come?

Well...

it may be it was more than he could deal with.

The pain of it.

Even very brave men--

sometimes they meet up with pain they can't face.

But I was looking to see him.

I'll bring him to you as soon as I can.

Come on, John. We'll drive out to Shiloh.

Sam McLain's sittin' across the street from the jail.

You have a mind to talk to him?

Thank you, Emmett.

Mr. Grainger.Mr. Harger.

What I hear around town-- is that true?

Is what true?

That Texas herd out by your place-- blackleg fever.

We won't know for a few days.

What if one of 'em gets out,

strays in with one of our herds?

I'm hoping that won't take place. We've taken all the--

They should be destroyed. That's the safe thing to do.

Go out there with rifles, shoot 'em and bury 'em.

Harger, there's a lot of money tied up in that herd.

It's not our cattle.

Mr. Grainger, I guess you know what they're saying.

Around town, you mean?

What they're saying--

I don't mean any disrespect,

but you folks brought those people up here.

You brought the herd, you brought the disease.

You brought those two young gunmen that killed that woman.

As I say, I don't mean any disrespect--

Mr. Harger, I think you mean all kinds of disrespect.

Hello, Sam.

Hello, Clay.

I'm goin' back out home now.

I can offer you a ride...

a meal and a night's sleep.

I thank you very kindly, Clay.

No.

Your boy wants you, Sam.

He needs you.

He's been alone with us since his mother died.

Time for you to go to him, Sam.

I can't.

Not yet.

Why not? What's keeping you?

Him.

Sam, you lived your whole life with the law.

You know what the law says.

That boy's entitled to a trial.

If he's found guilty of murder...

I'd accept that.

What if he's let go, freed?

Well, that hasn't happened yet.

No, but it could.

I've got to wait and see.

I'm not gonna let it go at that, Sam.

I mean, I'm going now,

but I'm not gonna let it go at that. Do you understand?

Clay?

You've got your own affairs to tend to.

That, uh...Texas herd.

I saw Kyle Jackson slip into town a while back.

Saw him meet a fella in front of the saloon.

Looked like a cattle buyer.

Thank you for letting me know.

Tell Johnny...

I'll come for him...

when everything's settled.

All right, everybody turn out!

Stone! We're drivin' cattle.

Kyle, you saw the man? Yeah.

What kind of bargain did you make?

2,000.

For the whole herd?That's right.

And we're givin' him back 200 of that for himself, personally.

You said make any deal I could,

and that's the deal I could make.

Move out!

[ mooing ]

Cut that wire!

Cut it wide open! We're drivin' cattle!

Move!

Kyle, where are we takin' them?

Some old loading pens back in town no one uses.

He promised to have some freight cars in there tomorrow.

What about the people in town?

We're not going anywhere near town with them.

If they see us loadin' them up and shippin' them out,

that's what they want, too, isn't it?

They won't stop us.And Willie?

They won't stop us there, either.

Kyle.

Go tell the boys to hold off a second. Don't let on.

Hyah! Come on!

Kyle.

Mr. Grainger.

I'm bringing you some men, since you're a little shorthanded.

We seem to be doin' all right. I don't--

They'll take over the night guard for you,

let your crew get some sleep.

You got your own place to tend to.

What's happening up there?

Looks like some of your cattle

broke a section of your fence already.

You men go up there and help those fellas fix that fence.

CLAY: Oh, sorry about that.

They must not have built it strong enough.

Mr. Grainger...

can I talk to you?

Sure.

All right.

I was gonna drive 'em out.

Oh?

A purchasing agent I met--

he's willing to have his company buy 'em.

Some of them may be diseased.

He's willing to take that chance.

I don't see how he could do that to his own company.

Because I bribed him.

I'm givin' him $200 on the side.

Look, I'm tryin' to get rid of 'em-- ship 'em out.

Out of this region, off your land.

That's what everybody wants, isn't it?

Besides, that purchasing agent--he's willing.

If he's willing to buy sick cattle,

maybe that's his business.

If he's willing to have you drive sick cattle to the loading pens

and maybe infect all the local stock--

if one or two of 'em gets loose-- that's our business.

We can't let you risk that.

Mr. Jackson, things have happened

that none of us look for.

Accidents-- we can't help that.

But deliberate injustice from people to people--

That's easy for you to say. These are my cattle.

My whole investment!

All right, then it's on you.

I tried to save myself and my people,

and trouble for your town.

You say no to that, then it's on you.

From now on, whatever happens-- on you. Everything.

[ mooing ]

Evening, Johnny.

Evenin'.

I was looking for you today.

I had a proposition to make to you.

They tell me you train horses up there,

alongside your dad.

You know that work?Yeah.

I've got some colts I'd like to start working.

You could give me a hand tomorrow,

and I'll pay you man's wages right off.

I wouldn't ordinarily ask someone your age,

but I need a good man.

How about it?

I guess not.

Thanks just the same.

Good evening. May I join you?

Of course. Would you like some coffee?

It'll only take a minute.

No, thanks.

Haven't seen you all day.

No.

Didn't know what to do with myself.

Nobody to tell me what I was doing wrong.

I saw Johnny out in the hall.

Offered him a job.

What'd he say?

He said, "No, thanks."

Oh, he's eating his heart out.

If only Sam would see him or talk to him...

You were going to talk to McLain again about the boy.

I did.

He heard me out, that was the end of it.

Well, he must have some feeling for his own son.

Of course he does.

More than most men.

Sam feels things in a special way--

quietly, deep inside.

Why won't he see the boy?

Well, Hattie said it.

Sam is single-minded. Once he sets his mind on something,

he has to stay with it until it's resolved.

That way, he makes room for the next thing.

Right now his mind's on Hattie.

Yeah. And the man who killed her.

Clay, you said all you could to him.

Beyond that, it's not your responsibility.

Then tell me why it feels like my responsibility.

Here I've got one of my oldest friends,

waiting to destroy another man--

and himself and his son.

I've got a herd of quarantined cattle on Shiloh range,

and a bunch of Texas people blaming me for it.

It's not you, it's the disease.

There's a lot of people in town blaming me for that.

They say I've brought blackleg fever here.

But you didn't.

In a way, I did. I told Jackson

if he brought the cattle here, I'd buy 'em.

You still can if it's not blackleg,

or if they don't all have it.

And we'll know that pretty soon.

If you can just keep Jackson going for a few more--

No, I can't do that, either.

I've just been going over our requirements--

for hay--for Shiloh this next winter.

I'm gonna have to tell Jackson

I can supply him only a little longer.

After that, he's on his own.

The defendant will rise.

Mr. Jackson, I understand you've waived your right

to a jury trial.

Yes, sir.Let it be entered.

The charge against you is murder.

How do you plead?

Not guilty.

Prosecution will open.

I feel so helpless, sitting here and shelling peas.

So much is happening.

I feel I should be doing something.

I notice you had a letter from your grandfather.

How is he?

He's anxious to finish up his business

and come home-- Stacey, too.

Well, by the time they get here,

things will be sorted out and back to normal again.

Do you really believe that?

Of course I do.

Life has a way of moving us on

from one thing to another.

Like a river carrying a tree branch.

Sometimes it gets caught in a whirlpool,

but pretty soon it gets free

and moves on again with the current.

[ horse neighs ]

Hi, Johnny.

Hi.

Well...

[ chuckles ]

They sure are pretty, aren't they?

Yeah.

They look so pleased with themselves.

As if they're just finding out who they are.

Are those the ones the foreman wanted you to break?

I understand he offered you man wages.

Trampas?Hmm?

How long will that trial last in town?

Oh...a couple of hours, most likely.

Then will my pa come for me?

Well, I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

Mom told me once...

that he used to be a famous man.

Yep, he sure was.

Then he came here to live, she said.

For her and me.

To keep us safe.

That's right.

That's because he cared about you.

I don't think so.

I think he just cared about her--

how he's acted ever since--

but I don't guess about me.

Johnny, that's not so.

Your pa does care about you.

Where is he, then?

Why hadn't you locked up the defendant?

I didn't consider him that dangerous.

You heard him offering to fight anyone.

Ah, just talk.

Answer the questions directly, Ryker.

You heard him offering to fight.

Yeah.

And you knew that he'd already caused damage.

Yes.And that he was drunk.

Some.

Drunk! But you didn't take him seriously.

No.

Later on, when you learned the defendant had shot a woman,

she lay bleeding in the street.

Then did you take him seriously?

Objection!

The boy shot a hitching poster.

What happened then was an accident.

I hold myself accountable.

Some things I might've done different.

But it was an accident! Why can't you people--

Deputy!

Please confine your testimony to the point.

No more questions, Deputy.

You may step down.

When we brought that herd up from Texas,

there were eight of us.

And it wasn't over a regular cattle trail.

It was over country,

with mountains and valleys

and trees tearin' at us.

Sometimes I thought it'd be easier dead.

But we made it.

And we felt...good.

Of course, that was before we suspicioned the fever--

the blackleg fever.

Well, what may be blackleg fever.

Kyle, he says to me,

"Now you're a cattle-drivin' man."

Stone says, "Let's go in town and celebrate."

So...

so, we went to town.

Except I didn't know how to--

Well, I didn't exactly--

I'd never seen a cattle drive celebration before.

So, I just kind of did like I heard they done.

I mean, I drank.

I shouted.

And then we went outside,

and there was this old hitching post there

with open ground in back of it

and nobody in sight.

I didn't see those people around the corner.

I didn't see that woman.

But she was there.

And if you say that I killed her,

well, I reckon that's true.

And if you have to hang me for it,

well, all right.

But dear God, first to last, I didn't know.

Witness is excused.

Close the record temporarily.

The bench wishes to confer with counsel from both sides.

Mr. McLain!

Mr. McLain, they let him off.

I mean, they practically let him off.

Three months in prison, the judge says. That's all.

Will you stand out of the way, please, Mr. McLain?

In a minute.

I'm between you and him, Sam.

I know you don't want to shoo me.

At least I'd be very discouraged

if it was otherwise.

I just wanted to mark his face.

Mr. McLain?

I've been wanting to talk to you.

I don't see why.

Mr. McLain.

Stand out of the way.

All right, I've seen him.

He was tried in court and sentenced.

Tomorrow morning at 8:15,

I'm putting him on the train for Cheyenne.

Anyone who interferes between now and then--

anyone--

is in danger of arrest.

Say, Emmett?

You think that was a good idea? What?

Makin' a public announcement of your plans.

Not if I have any intention of following them.

What's that supposed to mean?

I'm removing the prisoner tonight, Mr. Grainger,

While Mr. McLain, I hope, is peacefully asleep.

I'm gonna put him under your guard at Shiloh, if that's all right.

Tomorrow I'll take him across country

and board the train to Rawlins.

That's a good idea, Emmett.

I hope it works.

The law found him guilty, John.

And he's guilty of negligence--

just simple foolishness.

But the law allows a man some foolishness.

Which is lucky for all of us.

But there was no real malice in what he did.

So I think the verdict was just.

Do you?

I guess so, sir.

There were some people who didn't,

and that's what I've got to tell you.

He's still in danger in town.

And Mr. Ryker's going to bring him out here for the night,

so he'll be safe.

You won't have to see him, of course.

Is my pa after him?

Yes, he is.

Maybe I shouldn't have kept that from you.

I respect your father--

I think someone's coming.

Pa?

Doc Farnum got the laboratory tests back

on those scrapings he took from the Texas herd.

They're not good.

Keep an eye out for Ryker.

Come on!

Come on and hear!

We got the news, boys!

Come on and hear it!Good news, Kyle?

I want you to hear it from the man himself.

You tell 'em just exactly the way you told me.

Everybody listen!

Our laboratory results were positive.

It is blackleg fever.

What does that mean now?

The vet says the cattle we know to be infected--

the bunch we've already isolated--

will have to be destroyed.

I'll send some men over tomorrow.

Well, we could invite the whole town,

make sort of a public festival out of it. Ain't that right?

What about the rest of the herd?

Doc Farnum says

the quarantine will have to continue on the rest.

If any of them get sick, they'll have to be destroyed, too,

and the quarantine extended.

For how long?

Till none of 'me turn up sick

for a period of a month.

Then we can sell 'em, right?

Then you can sell 'em.

Nobody likes this, Jackson.

I hope there won't be any trouble over it.

Trouble? Here we got the medical proofs from yourself, Mr. Grainger--

full of civic virtue

and bustin' out with the hospitality and justice

of this whole region.

We'll see you tomorrow, then.

Mr. Jackson--

I know what you're gonna say--

how you're sorry it was blackleg after all,

and how, after all you done,

you had no choice.

Yeah.

Something like that.

What's the matter with you, Kyle?

We still have cattle left.

Yes.

Kill off the sick ones. The others could last it out.

Yes.

Then we sell them after all.

That's right, Stone.

If we wait a month till they're proved healthy.

Well?

Too bad we ain't got that long to wait to prove it.

Figure it out.

Look out there and count 'em and figure it out.

I've bartered a quarter of that herd already--

fodder for them, food and supplies for us.

How much more do you think we got left to trade?

Three weeks, Stone. Three weeks to zero.

We drove those cattle a thousand miles

just to give 'em away.

I reckon they're faithful to us-- to people, I mean.

So...

have the boys saddle their tired, skinny old horses and mount up.

What are we gonna do?

Do?

The boys are gonna turn our poor, tired cattle loose.

You and me are gonna ride into town and haul Willie out of that jail.

Now, you mount up.

Jackson, let's go.

I've got two horses outside.

You'll be riding in front of me, and don't talk.

Ryker.What?

What about Sam McLain?

I figure he's sleeping somewhere till tomorrow morning.

If we're lucky, by the time he gets here,

you'll be somewhere else.

Jackson, one more thing.

You're safer with me than anyone else.

But you make a wrong move between here and Shiloh,

I'll shoot you myself.

Let's go.

[ mooing ]

[ men shouting ]

Can't you get some sleep, Clay?

Ryker said he'd have that boy here about now.

What are you going to do with him?

I'll fix up the storeroom next to the kitchen.

You've done what you could all along.

I wonder if I couldn't have done more.

I don't see how.

I certainly never looked for this to happen.

Hattie.

I always felt so right about what they had together--

Hattie and Sam.

I can't get used to the idea

that we won't be seeing her anymore.

I've got the feeling that...

no one really dies

as long as there's someone to remember them.

Kyle, where is he?

I don't know.

Where are they?

What are you talking about?

Where'd he take Willie?

I couldn't rightly say.

You've been on the street and you ain't seen nothin'?

Look, you two shove me around, you'll regret it.

That's a knife. You can't--

Yes...

I can, shopkeeper.

Ryker took him out about ten minutes ago,

riding north.

[ knock on door ]

Come in, come in.

I saw some Shiloh riders on the way in here. Anything wrong?

Those Texas men turned their herd loose.

First thing we knew, some of them drifted over here.

The Virginian and Trampas rode out with the men to round 'em up.

Maybe they just broke loose.

Not likely, not that many.

We've got a room in back for your prisoner.

Mr. Grainger, I put him in your charge.

I'm goin 'up to that Texas camp.

If they broke quarantine, I'm gonna arrest him.

Come on.

Come along.

That's the only way out.

I'm not gonna try escaping, Mr. Grainger.

Have you eaten?

Yes, thank you.

HOLLY: Clay?

We meant to take Willie away from the deputy, Mr. Grainger.

I'm sorry it has to be you.

Kyle.

Come on, Willie. We're taking you home with us.

You'd better think about this, son.

Yeah, I am.

Come on, boy.

I'm not going, Stone.

You've got cattle to round up, Jackson.

JACKSON: I've got no more cattle, Mr. Grainger.

You people traded us out of them all.

All we got left is Willie.

Willie, you're comin'.

[ horse approaching ]

You kept us talking long enough. The deputy's back.

It's not the deputy. It's McLain.

CLAY: You've got two women and a child here, Jackson.

We're not gonna do any shooting, Mr. Grainger.

We're just gonna take Willie out.

He sits there like death.

I'll death him.

Hey, old man!

Old man, what do you want?

I want you to send him out.

STONE: Go home!

JACKSON: Mr. McLain!

I didn't want it to come to this!

Suppose we turn Will back over the to the deputy?

That's a pretty fair proposition, ain't it?

No.

He's a ferocious old man, ain't he?

Stone.

Mr. McLain...

I've got a lot of respect for you.

I don't want to be the man that kills you.

If you don't back off,

I'm the man who can do it.

I'll wait a reasonable time, Mr. Jackson,

for you to send him out.

No. You'll wait a long time.

I'll wait.

You're a fierce old buzzard, you are.

Old man, do you want to try me?

Stone!

No, sir. I've no quarrel with you.

Don't.

I'll go out.No!

Look, Stone's my brother.

Stay here.

Get him inside.

Do it!

Clay, you shouldn't be in the middle of this.

Neither should you.

Let's walk away from it.

I can't. You know that.

Sam, is this going to content you?

To call out a boy unskilled with guns,

look in his face and shoot him down?

Is that gonna repair everything--

damage, disease, heartbreak?

One more killing-- is that going to square everything off?

Hattie died.

You wrapped yourself in anger.

Too hurt to cry.

Now you'll sacrifice anything

to feed that anger, to keep it going.

Another life.

Even your own son.

All right.

I've said everything I could to both of you.

Now you do what you've got to do.

Jackson will make an awful good target

against that lighted house.

I'm gonna ask you to let him step down off the porch

before you draw.

All right.

Down below.

This is crazy, Willie.

Let me go.

No, Kyle. This is mine.

He wouldn't listen.

Johnny, come here, son.

Pa?

Johnny?

Johnny...

I didn't know how to tell you.

There--

There was an accident.

[ crying ] Son... your mother's dead.

Well, uh...guess we'd better get drivin'.

It's a long way up home.

Sam, we'll look for you in the spring.

And bring us some good horses, too, you hear?

Bring us Johnny, too. We still want to hire him.

He offered him man's wages, Mr. McLain.

Well, he isn't that grown yet

to get full wages.

Put your hat on, son.

Clay, what about Kyle Jackson?

Ryker decided not to file charges against him

for breaking the quarantine.

Especially since there's been no harm done.

Kyle let Will go peaceably.

He rode his bunch out this morning, back to Texas.

I'm taking over the herd.

Those that survive, I'll pay him for.

Won't come to much, I suppose.

Not much.

But maybe enough for him to start again,

to raise a herd, maybe bring them up, too.

He's a good man. I'd like to see him make it.

Well...

I guess that's the way, isn't it?

Start again.

I guess.

Come on, John.

[ theme music playing ]