Original subtitles

♪♪

♪♪

We'd oughta get goin' if we're gonna be where we oughta be.

Right, love. Let's go.

♪♪

Look, Annie. There they go.

Our dancing partners.

This time, they're on their way to your livery stable...

to talk a deal about that pair of geldings.

I hope Clay buys 'em.

Come on, Clay. I want you to see these horses.

I can give you my oath that this pair...

Well, I can safely say that in 30-some-odd years of trading horses,

I have never in my life seen anything like this pair.

Why, it takes a man's breath away just to look at 'em.

♪♪

Whew! That's some fiddler!

Oh, and this is some punch.

I think somebody seasoned it after Nellie Bower finished with it.

Well, bless his heart, whoever he was.

At least this time, they can't blame Trampas. He's in Cheyenne.

I'm sure you ladies have met Mrs. Maggie Connor.

Maggie.

Have you ever known me not to know anybody that had been in town for two weeks?

Nope.

My, you look like you're already dressed...

for one of them big dos out East.

Her man's taking her all the way across country.

Oh, I could brain that Ben. Best I can wrangle outta him is a week in St. Louis.

How do you like your first social in Medicine Bow?

Well, it's a lot more lively than the ones back in Louisville.

♪♪ Shall we?

I don't see how you can bear to part with them, Ben.

I can't. But I am in the horse business.

Oh, uh, Mr. Connor.

Are you still interested in talking a deal on my pair of matched geldings?

As a matter of fact, yes, I am.

Well, you can't have two pair of matched geldings.

You must be talking about the same pair I was planning to look at, Mr. Connor.

Well, don't think I'm trying to crowd you, Mr. Grainger.

But Ben was saying you're making up your mind today.

Well, if you're not interested,

I'm in the horse business myself, as you know,

and I do have a buyer.

Well, then I guess I'd better get to seeing these two animals.

I get the feeling that once you have seen them, Mr. Grainger,

I won't stand a fiddler's chance in Hades.

Well, there's the horse trading business for you. Is that right, Ben?

That's truer than true, Mr. Connor.

Now, if you'll excuse us, I'll let you know what Clay decides.

This way to the stable, Clay.

Meantime, enjoy yourself, Mr. Connor. I'll do my best.

I'm gonna go out for a second. Meet me back here.

Ah! Your partner.

Yes. Uh, this is my husband, Con.

This is the Shiloh foreman.

I hope you didn't mind my dancing with your wife.

Oh, not at all.

I'm not much of a dancer myself.

I consider it a personal favor...

that you saw that my Mag got a spin or two.

Once more? If you don't object.

My thanks.

Just look at them muscles.

Well, pretty nice animals, Ben.

"Nice animals"?

Why, them are as perfect as the marble angel...

the Rileys bought to stand over their credenza.

You haven't mentioned price.

Uh, what kind of money we talking about? Yeah, now, money.

You see my problem, Clay. How does a fella set a price on perfect?

Well, I'm sure you can if you try hard enough, Ben.

You're trying to tell me I'm fattening up the price on these horses.

No, no, no. All I want is what's fair.

Mmm. How much would that be?

All right, let's say we make a deal at, uh,

500 apiece.

You get a fight out of me for 500 a pair, let alone 500 apiece.

Well, Mr. Connor. Couldn't wait, I see.

I can't fault you for that.

Them's beautiful, rare animals, ain't they?

They are at that.

Well, don't let me interfere with your dealings, gentlemen.

It's all right. We're just discussing price.

600 a pair.

400.

550, and that's rock bottom.

450, and that's my top.

Mr. Connor, you like to pay 550 for these beautiful horses?

I'm willing, but not able... Not and make a profit, Ben.

450.

For that pair? Why, them's perfect!

450.

- Any more than that, Mr. Connor? - No. Too rich for my blood.

Done.

I envy you, Mr. Grainger, when you take the first ride on one of those.

If I were you, I couldn't wait.

I'm afraid I can't either. I think I'll ride one of 'em home...

and have the boys pick up the papers and the other one in the morning.

You oughta be hung for this deal, Clay.

You stole these horses. Yeah, I know.

Would you tell Holly to come home with the Virginian and the rest of 'em...

when they get enough party?

I'll have the coffee on.

Be my pleasure.

Be my pleasure to lend you a saddle and a bridle too. No charge.

Yeah. Ah, you made yourself a real buy, Clay.

- Have a good ride home, Mr. Grainger. - All right. Thank you.

♪♪

We won't have a better chance than this if we wait a thousand years.

Everything's going like clockwork.

I'm still against it.

Because you've got a tender, loving heart.

I wouldn't have you change for the world.

You know where we meet. In an hour.

Lots of other ways to get money, Con... honest ways.

You could really go into trading horses.

I'm not the merchant type. You knew that when you married me.

♪♪

You didn't think I could last, did you?

I was so busy trying to keep up with you, I didn't have much time to think of anything!

Well, Holly, that man of yours is some horse trader.

I know what you're going to say.

He couldn't wait to try one of them out,

and so he has started home and I am to come when I'm ready.

Holly, you've got the gift.

That's exactly what he said for me to tell you.

You see?

I can't see a ruddy thing.

Have some patience, Henry.

Here, let us have a look, eh?

I don't know why we haven't done nice, clean work like this before.

No muss, no fuss, no flaming bother.

Right as rain, Henry. Like having your own money tree.

You see anything else?

Nothin', mate.

Grainger will be standing on Alf's toe before he sees him.

Who was it a minute ago saying he couldn't see a ruddy thing is what I'd like to know.

Oh? And what do you see then?

I'll tell you what I see, mate.

I see you asking to swallow these binoculars

and my fist along with it is what I see.

My, my, isn't he the fierce one though?

I'll show you who's fierce, mate. No mistake!

I'll give you the toe of my boot if you both

don't cork up and watch the flippin' road!

Hey, there's someone comin'.

That's him.

Alf. Henry.

Hello!

Hello!

Smooth as silk. Smooth as ruddy silk.

Get those two horses off the road then, Henry. All right, love.

Right, Henry. Get up that slope, get the other horses.

Why is it always, "Henry, get up the

flippin' slope"? Alf ain't got no busted leg.

You're the youngest.

You climb the flippin' slope. You're no invalid, you know.

- You want me to go? - Why not? You're not an invalid either.

- Get the bloomin' horses! - You know what I love about you, Con?

You got about as much charm as a man wearing cactus drawers.

"Get the ruddy horses, Henry. Get the ruddy horses.

Get the ruddy horses."

Oh, that Henry is turning into a ruddy complainer.

Of course neither you or I are getting up that

blinking slope. You're turning into his nanny.

I'll be a nanny... a nanny to the both of you before I finish.

Ooh!

Like to trade places with him?

I was just thinking how beautiful that must feel.

Silent as a churchyard, Con.

Henry, come and give us a hand, will ya?

Well, thanks a flippin' lot, mate!

Just how do I rate being the mule in this enterprise, I'd like to know.

Aw, come on. Get him on your back, will ya?

There we are. Whoops.

Up we go!

Who's stronger than you then, Henry?

- Not many. - So?

I get to tote, and you get to watch.

You wouldn't have to watch nothin' if we'd done him in.

What happens if his wife wants to see him alive...

before she pays the ransom, eh?

Well, we tell her to go take a running jump is all.

She tells us the same, and we're out 10,000.

20,000. The price has gone up. 20,000?

That's a king's ransom. He's the richest

man around here for a hundred miles or more.

20,000 is not too much to ask.

Well, I still vote we do him in right now. Use your noggin for once, Alf!

Stop bickering!

Now, let me put it this way, Alf.

No violence unless it's strictly necessary.

And I'll say when that is.

You start acting up, I'll tear your ruddy arm off...

and I'll beat you barmy with it.

All right, old fella? Oh, yes, all right, Con. But listen, uh...

But nothing.

All right, all right. I said all right.

He's gettin' a little uppity.

Come on, love.

There you are. Take it steady now, Henry.

Ready? Yeah.

There you go.

Don't go in with him.

He don't bounce, Alf.

None of them bounce. I seen one bounce.

Came out of a window of the Comstock Hotel in San Francisco, six floors up.

Hit the canopy over the door and bounced a good 10 feet.

And he picks himself up, dusts himself off and walks away as nice as you please.

You can't be sure of anything these days.

That's the gospel truth. Bye-bye, love.

Clay?

You go see if your uncle really did start that coffee.

And I'll go see where he is.

Ow.

Clay?

Did you see any sign of your Uncle Clay? No.

Oh, I know. He's down in the barn currying that new gelding.

That horse Mr. Grainger bought isn't in the barn.

Must have turned it out to pasture.

Yeah, must have.

You know, dancin' doesn't make no sense at all, when you think about it.

I mean, you got a fella up there stompin' his foot and fiddlin' a tune...

and then a whole bunch of people just walkin' around the room...

hangin' on to each other.

I guess it depends on who you're hanging on to.

Yeah.

Is Mr. Grainger in the barn?

No, ma'am.

That horse isn't there either.

Well, I wonder where he could've got to.

Thanks.

I got those flamin' horses so well hid nobody can find 'em.

No sign of Alf? Uh-uh.

He should be back by now, long since.

Speak of the devil, and up he pops.

Hello, Alf. Yeah.

She never showed up.

And I don't mind sayin' it was as hot as blue blazes sitting out at them crossroads.

Maybe it's trouble, Con. Not to my Maggie, no.

You left there before you should have.

You wanted to get out of the heat as if you'd melt or something.

She's probably still there waiting for you, sweating in the sun!

You're here cool as ice.

You ain't suggestin' I go out there and wait some more?

Well, I can't. Not till I finish this ransom note, now can I?

Well, why doesn't Henry go for once?

All right, let Henry go. You cook us a bite to eat.

- I'd rather sweat than cook. - All right then.

You get back there, wait at the crossroads, see if she's there.

If she isn't, ride into Medicine Bow and find out what's what.

Aunt Holly?

Well, honey, where do you think you're going?

Going out to help find Uncle Clay.

I can't just sit here waiting and doing nothing.

Sitting and waiting is something, my child.

But...

Among the things that a woman has to learn to do that she will always hate doing...

is sitting and waiting.

- But I can help. - What if you were the one who found him?

What if he was hurt? You're not strong enough to lift him and carry him.

And if he's fine,

if he was just thrown from his horse,

it wouldn't do a thing for his pride to be found by a young lady.

Well, what do you think happened to him? I don't know.

Nothing, I hope.

If he was thrown...

If he has torn the pants to that new suit,

I might just cut them off at the knee and make him wear them short.

Aunt Holly,

I'm sure he's all right.

Well, he had better be...

if he knows what's good for him.

See something?

No, it's, uh, just the tracks of a wagon hauling too heavy a load.

Looks like we're gonna lose our daylight soon too.

How do I know where she is? She wasn't at the crossroads. She wasn't at the hotel.

She was in none of the saloons. She was no place.

I'd better go find her. All things considered,

I'd say you're a little flippin' late.

I won't stand any guff from you, Henry.

It's our necks if she was to tell the law what we're up to.

We've got good reason to be concerned, if you know what I mean.

You don't have to worry about my Maggie.

Put this note in the bridle of Grainger's horse. Set it loose at first light.

I'll be back as soon as I can.

See, it's just like I told you, Alf.

A man a mite on in years marries a woman much younger than himself.

He's asking for trouble and strife.

I've got to admit it, Henry.

That's what you flippin' well said.

Trouble and strife. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Hey, Henry, come on here, will ya.

What's up then?

I didn't think you could get loose till tomorrow at the soonest.

I need some water.

I'm telling you, Henry,

he's gonna be nothing but a ruddy millstone around our necks.

Don't you know no other bloomin' tunes, Alf?

We ain't doing him in. Do you hear me? Him in the flamin' hole.

We ain't doing him in just now. Right? Right.

You want me to put you down the flippin' hole with him, Henry?

Not even on your best day, mate.

Hey, Grainger, uh, we'll think about giving you some water,

but meantime, answer me a question.

Do you think your wife would give $20,000 to get you back?

I'll think about the ransom while you're thinking about the water.

He's a cool one, ain't he?

He's not cool enough to outfox me.

No water. No answer.

Say this for ya...

You don't scare easy.

Cemetery's full of men who didn't scare easy.

Aye, that's the truth there, Alf.

Take note of it, Mr. Grainger.

There shall no evil befall thee,

neither any plague.

Come nigh thy dwelling place,

for he shall give his angels charge over thee,

and they shall keep thee...

in all thy ways.

Easy, boy.

Go. Go!

Train leavin'. All aboard!

All aboard!

Where the devil do you think you're going?

I can take stealing, but not... Shut up. Say nothing.

You're having a word with your husband. You're mucking up the plan.

I'll scream. You may get to open your mouth,

but I'll make sure you make no sound out of it.

You know it.

Now, we'll discuss all that in our room later,

as soon as that ransom note arrives.

I don't want there to be any hitch over that. It should be here any moment.

Talk yourself blue in the face.

I'll run first chance I get.

I'd be gone now if there'd been a train.

What have you got against a nice trip to Paris, France,

with a bucketful of money?

It's how you get the money.

Is it me being too old? You want a young one. Is that it?

Doesn't matter what I say. You don't listen.

I love you, Mag.

Well, then turn that man loose and... Shut up.

Ah! Up early this morning!

Trying to locate Mr. Grainger.

Didn't happen to see him this morning or last evening, did you?

No. How about you, Mag?

No. Not since the social.

Uh, that's one of the horses that

Mr. Grainger bought. He must have got loose.

Clay decide to back out of our deal?

Something wrong?

Did you ever hear of the San Francisco Hounds?

Yeah, I read about 'em in the Gazette.

Bunch thrown out of Australia... Killers and worse. Why?

Ben, find the sheriff. Ask him to get out to Shiloh.

What is it?

Just find him. Fast!

- Do the Hounds have Mr. Grainger? - Yes, they do.

I'll ride out to Shiloh Ranch with you. Maybe I can do something to help.

Can you ride Mr. Grainger's horse? Yes, I can.

Mag, don't leave me. Don't go. You come along as soon as you can, Con.

Maggie! Mrs. Grainger, I...

Maggie, what is it?

What is it?

Mr. Grainger's been kidnapped.

Kidnapped?

The men who have him put a note on his horse's bridle and turned him loose.

The horse came back to the livery stable.

What did the note say?

Would you read it, please?

"We have got Mr. Grainger."

"He is alive and in good health."

"We will release him to you in return for $20,000."

"If you want him, that is the price."

"Do not search for him or us."

"If you do, we will burn down Medicine Bow flat to the ground."

"We will not dicker. 20,000 is the price."

"Put the money in a sack and put the sack in a red buckboard."

"Send one driver, alone, out the road south from Medicine Bow."

"Tell him to keep driving until we contact him."

"We will start out at sunup tomorrow."

"If you do not do what we say, then you will never see Mr. Grainger again."

"Don't try to sneak a posse in with the ransom. We'll be watching."

"Signed, the last of the San Francisco Hounds."

They mean it, Mrs. Grainger.

They mean it.

Well, that oughta be red enough.

Yeah. They'll be able to see it for miles.

That's the one thing about trouble.

It brings out the best in people. Take that Mrs. Connor.

She's been in town a week, less. Where is she now that trouble hits?

She's right here doing what she can to help Mrs. Grainger.

I wish I knew that's what she was doing here.

Ben didn't know what it was all about, but he told me to get out here fast as I could.

Mrs. Grainger's waiting up at the house for you, Mark.

I'll get it.

Thick and black, Mrs. Grainger. It'll help.

Thank you, Maggie. Don't thank me, Mrs. Grainger.

Virginian told me what happened.

Every man in town will be out looking for that bunch as soon as they hear.

You can't do that.

'Cause they threatened to burn Medicine Bow?

Some folks might be afraid, but not most.

That town knows how much they owe you and Clay.

They'll join the hunt.

Then the Hounds will burn the town.

Oh, I don't think they're half as bad as the papers say.

They're worse, and they will burn your town if you search for them.

How do you know that, Maggie?

How do you know that they're worse?

How do you know that they'll burn Medicine Bow?

I was in San Francisco. I saw them.

I saw buildings burned that they put their torches to,

people they hurt.

They don't care. All they care about is staying alive themselves.

If anybody gets close to them, they'll kill Mr. Grainger...

so that he can't point them out.

Believe me.

Mark, please.

No search.

I'll go to the bank and get the ransom money somehow.

Mrs. Grainger, if they are as bad as she says,

there's no guarantee they'll let

Mr. Grainger go once you give them the money.

Even so... No posse.

All right, Holly. I won't start a search.

Thank you.

Take a look at the kitchen fire, will you, honey?

Maggie?

There's more to it, isn't there?

More you could say...

and won't.

Mrs. Grainger,

I can't.

Will you answer just one question for me?

Is my Clay all right?

Do you know if he's all right?

I don't know.

I really don't.

My husband is one of the Hounds.

He'll do what he said in that note.

He will. I know it.

What are you doing here, Maggie?

You're not spying for him.

Why did you come here?

I'm running... from him.

I don't know where they have Mr. Grainger.

I'm going to go into town.

I'm going to get dressed now.

You stay here, Maggie.

Aunt Holly?

We'll be at the bank. Yes.

Uh, Mrs. Grainger, it has to be your decision,

and I agree with you that there's too much danger in a mass search.

But there are a dozen likely places where the Hounds might be holding Mr. Grainger,

and I think we oughta have a look.

A man driving a few head of cattle...

could take a look at those places without attracting attention,

just keep his eyes open and ride on.

Well, you know what the situation is,

and you know what I think.

I'll trust your judgment. Won't be any risks taken.

Just a man moving a few cows.

We'll be at the bank at 3:00 and ride shotgun back to Shiloh.

Good.

The Hounds might decide that it would be easier robbing me...

than waiting for the money to be delivered tomorrow.

We'll be there.

You!

You up there. I need some water.

Sure. Next Sunday mornin', if you mind your manners.

What point is there in letting me go thirsty?

Well, the water you don't get is that much more for us, if you see what I mean.

Man could well perish of thirst, Alf!

I ruddy well hope so.

Oh.

You hurt yourself, chum?

Hey, what's up, Alf?

He got a bad leg. That's why he didn't bounce.

Well, what's up with you?

You know what, Alf?

You mince. I what?

Mince.

When you walks, you mince.

What do you mean mince?

Well, look, the way that you walk, it... Like this.

You...

You mince.

I don't never walk like that.

You ever seen yourself walk, mate?

How in the bloody blazes can I watch myself walk? I ain't two people.

Then believe me, Alf.

When you walks, you mince.

And it's not very becomin'.

Well, as it happens, these boots are a bit tight.

Then if it were me, I'd sit rather than not.

Right? Till I got a new ruddy pair.

Mincin' Alf!

I'm warnin' you, Henry.

You say that once more... one ruddy "mince"

out of you... and I'll split you fair in two.

Hey, come on, Alf.

Walk a few steps for me. Come on.

You give me my part of that 20-flippin'-thousand,

and I'll walk for you, all right, mate... right out of this partnership.

Man's got a right to expect some consideration.

All I wanted you to do was take a few steps, Alf.

The fact is, you, uh... you don't walk so perfect yourself.

The shack behind Tooie's spread...

on the river west of Wallace's Ford.

And that grove near China Crossing... the old stage station there.

There won't be enough time to take anything west of China Crossing,

not with just the two of us.

I know, but we double the chance of mistakes if we add another man.

Don't forget the Peterson farm.

That's a lonely-enough place.

I'll met you at the bank at 3:00. All right.

I...

You up there!

I need some water. You...

I think we could give him a dram of water, Alfie.

What for? Shut him up mostly.

Ah, as long as we can hear him hollerin', we'll know where he is.

That's true, Alf. Aye.

Besides, I've seen his face. He won't choke.

He wouldn't give us the flippin' satisfaction.

When his time comes, he'll be a real chore, that lot.

Aye, lads. Here's your old Con back again.

Where's Mag?

At the Shiloh ranch.

What's she doing there then?

She's keeping an eye on things, seeing that nothing goes wrong.

Well, what for? What can go wrong?

Not a thing now that my Mag's on the inside.

Got a great idea.

You two lads, you stretch your legs a bit.

I'll keep my eye on that pot of gold in the hole here.

Don't mind if I do. I got a better idea.

Bring that ladder.

We'll haul Mr. Grainger up here. Give me somebody to talk to.

You think that's smart, Con? I'm gonna ask him how much money he's got.

Then we can raise the ransom a mite.

Is that smart then, Alf? Oh, smart as a fresh coat of paint.

Watch your back, Alf. Come on. Here, give me that.

In you come then.

All right, swing it out.

There we are.

Easy down there.

Take it easy there, Mr. Grainger.

One foot at a time. Up you come then.

Oops! Oh! Did you hurt yourself then, love?

- Oh! - He's all right.

Up you come then.

That's right. Come on. Another one.

That's right. Give us your arms.

Give him a hand then, boys. Give us your arm then. Come on.

Come on. Give us the other one.

Bit of sympathy. That's right.

That's right. Take 'er easy now.

Easy does it. Up another bit.

Whoops. There you go. Hang on now.

Easy! Take it easy now. There you go.

There. All right then, you two fellas. You run along.

Mr. Grainger and I will get along just fine.

Ah.

Well, how's that for a little change then, eh?

Anything's better than the bottom of that hole.

You have a bite to eat this morning?

We're not savages. We're just folks trying to earn a decent...

Well, just trying to earn a living.

You've got a bad leg.

I'd offer you some whiskey, but I'm fresh out.

A little water would do.

Well, no trouble there.

Now, Grainger, I'm going to ask you a question.

I want a straight answer.

Anything else, and, uh... Well, don't let there be anything else.

What is it?

We've got you right enough,

but your folks have got my Mag.

My men at Shiloh took your wife as hostage?

Yes and no.

Nobody took her.

We had a small argument, and she just went.

To get away from you? That's not what matters.

I want to know what the odds are they'll do her in.

They won't hurt your wife.

I hope that's a comfort to you.

I wish somebody could do as much for my wife.

You want to write her a note?

It would ease her mind.

Well.

There we are then.

Go ahead. You write. You say, uh, you're in very good health.

You're going to be returned safely.

You got that?

Now add this.

I want my Mag on that wagon when they bring the ransom money.

If she's not on it, you're as dead as Kelsey's goat.

Does she want to come back to you?

She doesn't know what she wants.

But either way, that's no concern of yours.

- I can't write that. - I can, and I will.

Now, if you want your missus to know that you are still alive,

you write what I tell you.

If I write that, it'll mean I want it done.

I'm not going to put my name to anything...

that means somebody's got to be turned over to you who doesn't want to be here.

You're willing to die so that my Mag can get away from me?

Any man who wants to die is sick in the head or a fool.

Any man who wants to live hating himself is even more of a fool.

The deal's the same, whoever writes it.

As sure as I won't write that, my wife and friends at Shiloh...

won't turn your wife back to you unless she wants to come.

Says you, mate.

They'll hand her back so fast it'll make your head swim. No, they won't.

They'd ruddy well better.

Hyah! Move along!

Come on, cow!

Hyah! Get a move on there!

Hyah!

Hold it.

Climb down.

Now don't get any ideas.

Anything happens to me, the same and worse will happen to your Mr. Grainger.

Is that clear to you? All right.

I've got a note here.

I want you to deliver that to Mrs. Grainger.

It means just what it says. You tell her that.

It means just exactly what it says.

I can't make any deals with you. I wouldn't if I could.

But I can tell you this...

And I mean exactly what I say...

If anything happens to Mr. Grainger,

I'll hunt you down if it takes the rest of my life.

I'll be dead and long buried by the time your

string runs out, so don't make any promises.

You just deliver that note, and everything will be fine.

I'll get my cash, and you'll get your Mr. Grainger back.

Mount up.

Tell my wife I miss her.

Ain't a man in town who wouldn't saddle up

and go out huntin' them snakes in the grass.

Yeah, well, Mrs. Grainger knows that, Ben.

Seen her going to the bank not 10 minutes ago.

Fact is, I didn't know what to say to her.

Another thing... she didn't look a bit different than she does any other day.

Gotta hand it to her.

Both of 'em cut out of the same cloth.

Yeah.

Can you have your boy cool out my horse, Ben, give him a little water?

Surely can. Thanks.

Come on, boy.

Well, I didn't turn up a thing.

Well, I did. Connor's one of 'em.

- How do you know? - He told me.

You saw him? Yep.

He's made another condition.

He wants his wife returned with the ransom.

And I got a feeling she doesn't want to go.

She-She's out at Shiloh.

Think I'd better talk to her before I show Mrs. Grainger this second note.

Well, there's your cash.

I can't tell you what to do with it.

Everything taken care of?

I've been trying to explain to her...

what giving in to kidnappers could really mean,

how damaging it could be to the town.

Not half as bad as holding back could be for Mr. Grainger.

I understand that, but... but if the situation were reversed,

if Clay were sitting there where you are and you were in his place...

I believe he would be doing exactly what I'm doing.

I understand why you're saying what you're saying.

It's right, and it's good sense.

But being right and making good sense is not what's going to get my husband back.

This money is the only thing that can do that.

Doesn't it strike you as curious that there was no search party sent out?

No posse? Mrs. Grainger's decision, I suppose.

Why do you suppose she made that decision?

'Cause them Hounds said they'd burn down

Medicine Bow flat to the ground if there was.

So she wouldn't let the sheriff mount that posse.

So now, if she doesn't pay that ransom,

just where is that gonna leave Mr. Grainger?

How much chance would he have then?

I'll tell you how much chance he'd have. Two chances... slim and none at all.

Have you got any more suggestions as to what Mrs. Grainger oughta do?

I didn't know.

See she's all right. Oh, yeah, we will.

Mrs. Connor, I don't have much time to tell you this.

I saw your husband today. I know he's one of the kidnappers.

He gave me a note for Mrs. Grainger.

He wants me turned over to him, doesn't he? With the ransom money.

Or he'll kill Mr. Grainger.

Sounds like you read the note. I don't have to.

It's what he'd do.

I don't really know what part you've got in all this, but I've got to know.

You'd better clear the air for me, because it's my friend that could be killed.

I don't want Mr. Grainger dead either.

I'll go back.

Mrs. Grainger won't want you to go.

Doesn't take a mind reader to see you don't want to go back to him.

She'll let me go.

Jim went to the barn looking for you.

I can see you... you know who Maggie's husband is.

He's alive. Clay wrote this first part.

- He wants you back, Maggie. - And I'll go.

Mrs. Grainger, I won't lie to you.

I won't say I want to go back to Con.

I never learned how to make noble gestures.

But this is my choice to make,

and it's made.

All right now, lads, time to bid our happy home good-bye...

after gathering our fortune.

St. Louis, New York, Paris, France.

I'd like to spend a few days back in Sydney.

Wouldn't we all? But we'd get hanged, or worse.

Particularly poor old Alf. I didn't say I was going to. I just said I'd like to.

I know what you mean. Are we gonna leave our ruddy mate down that hole?

Of course we are. Come on, Henry. Help get the ladder up.

Hey, hey. Hey, we ain't gonna just leave him there, are we?

How long would you last down there without water?

Well, not ruddy long. Well, there you are.

Pure and simple. All right, let's go. Let's go.

Let's go then.

How are you going to handle it?

You've got plans to make, and you can't make them with me here.

Excuse me. Maggie, you don't have to leave.

Excuse me.

Jim will drive the wagon. I'll trail along behind about a mile back.

It being red will work for us as well as for them. It'll be easy to keep track of.

But they said if anybody tried to follow, they'd... Elizabeth.

If there's a man alive who can trail that buckboard and not be seen, it's you.

I know how tired you both are, but...

do you think you could get a little sleep before you leave?

Not and start out the south road at sunup.

Besides, this isn't a sleeping kind of night anyhow.

I agree. And what about Maggie?

Well, she can ride with Jim in the wagon or use a saddle horse.

It's up to her.

Well, uh, if you're hungry, Elizabeth made a wonderful soup.

I could use some. We both could.

You'll get to the south road in plenty of time to see the sun come up.

Yeah. I wish you well, Maggie.

Let's go.

Won't be long now.

Henry, nip up that tree.

Have a look. See what you can see up the road.

Here, now that really tears it up.

It was, "Climb the flamin' hill, Henry. Fetch the flipping water, Henry!"

Now its "Climb the ruddy tree, Henry." Not me again. Not this time.

Alf does it, or nobody does it.

- You on that picket again? - Not again. Yet.

I think you've got a point there, Henry.

I ain't climbin' that flippin' tree, Connor.

Now, right's right, Alf.

You know, I think this is a ruddy conspiracy...

to see how long it takes me to bust my flamin' neck.

You nip up there now, Alf. Go on.

You got the sharpest eyes anyway.

Go on. Have a look.

Whoa.

This is where I leave you. Good luck.

- You too, Mrs. Connor. - Thank you.

Hyah.

Ain't no one coming yet.

Keep a weather eye out.

Our fortune will be coming along very soon.

You mean I'm to stay up this flamin' tree?

It's better than climbing up and down every two minutes, isn't it?

No sign of dust, Alf? Nothing neither?

If I'd have seen some flamin' dust, I'd have said I'd seen some fl...

Wait a minute. I can see something.

- It looks like... - Some flaming dust, right?

Right.

Oh, it must be three miles off though.

Can't see if Mag's there.

She'll be there.

What's happening?

It's the flamin' red wagon, all right.

And Mag's riding alongside it.

That was a gem of an idea, Con, getting them to use the red wagon.

Yeah. I had a red wagon when I was a kid.

Me dad pinched it, sold it for a bucket of beer. Oh, that was a shame, Con.

Well, he gave me half the beer.

Much more than a lot of other fellas would have done.

You can say that twice more.

Do you know that was the first beer I ever had?

Whenever I down one now, I always think of that.

Get down nearer the road, Henry.

When he drops, grab the horses.

And grab Mag too.

How close now?

Quarter mile. Anybody following?

You've gotta be sure.

Can't see anybody.

All right then. Get on down, go give Henry a hand.

Right.

Beautiful shot, as usual, Con.

Left leg and right above the flippin' knee. Quiet now. Come on, boy.

Thanks, Alf. There we are.

Welcome home, love.

You know I didn't tell them anything, Con. Well, I know that.

But I had to have you back. I love you, Mag.

I just can't run anymore, Con.

A woman goes where her man goes, Mag.

If I run, you'll have to.

Look there. There was someone following that ransom wagon.

It's an easy shot, Con.

No, we'll be away from here before he knew where we went or which way.

Try these, Alf, and maybe you won't mince when you walk.

Thanks for nothin'. They look too small.

It hurts, but it won't kill me.

One of 'em grabbed the money and took my boots...

and took off up the hill.

You all right? Yeah.

They didn't leave word to where Mr. Grainger is.

Maggie! Don't go!

Maggie! We're gonna stop running!

Come on, Con! Come on!

I don't care what anyone says. That one, we're gonna do in.

Yeah, you're right.

There's no choice.

You and, uh, Mag have a family row then, Con?

He should be here by now.

I don't like it.

Henry. Get around the bend there, see if you can spy him.

Don't move.

Don't move a muscle. I mean a muscle.

Now, all right. Drop your guns right here.

The pistols too. And do it careful.

Come on. Get up. Move over here.

Come on! Move!

Now, all right. You, take this.

Tie his hands behind his back... tight!

Now, I've just got one question to ask you.

And one way or the other, I'll get the answer.

Make it easy on yourselves.

Where is Mr. Grainger? Oh, that's a very convenient situation.

You want him, we want to get free.

I think that we could be persuaded to swap one for the other.

How does that strike you?

And we can let you have half the ransom money.

If I may say so, that's a very sweet offer.

- Where is he? - You makin' a deal or not, chum?

Where is he?

All right. I'll improve on that.

Seventy-five percent of the ransom for you, 25 for us, and you set us free, huh?

- Where have you got him? - We're not admitting that we have got him.

Unless you make our deal and set us free,

we may feel that we've never even heard of your Mr. Grainger.

Now, with all due respect, put that in your pipe and smoke it.

I want to know where Mr. Grainger is.

And if I have to kill you one at a time to find out, I'll do it.

That man is easily worth three of you,

and then some.

Here! Where you takin' our mate?

Go on.

Don't let him worry you, Henry. He's running a bluff.

Poor Alf. He may be... He may be roughed up a little, you know?

What do you call that... A door slammin'?

That flamer's gone and shot our Alf!

- It's all right! - He's bluffing.

He's just trying to get us to tell him where... where Grainger is.

Hey, did you kill Alf, or were you just bluffin'?

If he was bluffing, he wouldn't be telling us, would he?

If you were in my place, what would you do?

I'd shoot anybody to find out! And so would you, Con!

- Look, I'll tell you where Grainger is! - All right! We'll tell you!

You didn't have to shoot poor old Alf.

He's up in the gully, that Vinegar Strip.

He's in an old mine tunnel. Alive?

We're not the sort of class of person to hurt anybody.

Now, that shot there that got that fellow with the ransom,

that was a warning shot.

And we're not very good shots, especially poor old Alf.

He's the worst shot of all. And he shot him.

May he rest in peace.

I told you he was bluffing!

Con, I'll never doubt your word again.

Oh. Oh, it took you long enough to find me.

Dance took a mite longer than we expected.

Tie this around you. I'll haul you up.

You all right?

Outside of a bad ankle...

and a big thirst...

Pretty near breaking my neck trying to climb out of here,

I'd say I was fair to middlin'.

Clay!

Oh, you're back! Whoa.

Clay! Oh, you're not hurt!

They didn't shoot you. No, I just got thrown in a hole.

They shot Jim though. Oh, no, now, I'm all right.

Well, you are hurt! Nah, I just sprained my ankle a little.

Oh!

Now, you... you might invite Mrs. Connor to step down from her horse.

I don't think she knows whether she's welcome or not.

Oh, Maggie, get down off that horse!

She's welcome, and I'm sure she knows she's welcome here at any time.

She can stay as long as she wants.

Why would you do that for me? You don't even know me.

Well, I know what you were willing to do to see that I got back safely.

Not much more you can know about anybody, is there?

Clay, look at this suit. You come on in the house.

Yeah. And you too, Maggie.

You must be starved.

Hey, you know what I forgot?

I forgot to send anybody out to bring in those three Hounds.

Oh, well, now, that's just a crying shame.

Why, I'll bet their throats are bone-dry by now.

Yeah.

You better hurry into town and get the sheriff out after 'em.

Yeah, I'll do that as soon as I, uh, send the doctor out for you...

and get the money back in the bank...

and anything else I can think up.

Ceece, care to drive me down to the bunkhouse?