All language subtitles for The Redhead from Wyoming (1953) en

NARRATOR: When the
territories of the Great West

were thrown open,
men of all kinds rushed in.

Most came to settle
peaceably, lured by free land,

gold, cattle.

A man could begin
a herd with a maverick.

An unbranded stray
on the public range.

By putting his brand
on it, he owned it.

Cattle barons had started their
great herds with mavericks.

Now they fought each settler
who tried to do the same.

They fought to keep the
settlers off the public lands,

drive them from
their homes,

destroy their towns.

Vast ranges became the
battlegrounds of cattle wars.

When the Wyoming big ranchers
found guns were not enough,

they used
the Maverick Law.

A law through which they appointed
themselves commissioners,

with power to rule on the ownership
of every maverick branded.

A commissioner's ruling could
declare the settler a rustler,

outlaw his brand,
make his mavericks illegal to sell.

Of course, there was no
shortage of sharp-witted men,

who were quick to take
advantage of this law.

I know what
I'm entitled to!

And I'm willing to
fight for my rights!

And I'm willing to
fight for your rights,

but you've got to
stand behind me.

You've got to put me
in the Governor's mansion!

You've got to have someone to
represent you, not just Reece Duncan.

Go ahead, Mr. Averell.
Don't let me stop you.

What brings you to town?
Your ears burning?

(ALL LAUGHING)

AVERELL: What is
this Maverick Law?

The Maverick Law was designed to
protect us all against cattle rustling.

There is nothing in that
law that says new settlers,

can't pick up unbranded cattle
and call them their own.

When a Cattle Commission
was appointed

to watch over
brands and cattle,

that was for our
protection too!

I'd like to ask
Mr. Duncan one question.

I'd like to ask him
who paid bribe money,

to the Cattle Commissioners
to outlaw your brands?

To see to it that every time you
roped a maverick it was confiscated?

Just hold it still everybody,
real quiet and still.

Put the gun away.

I only aimed to
drill his hat, Sheriff.

Just let out
some hot air.

Keep it there.

I think Mr. Duncan would like a
crack at the governorship himself.

Do you reckon Wyoming
will ever have a Governor

who'll take a shot at a man
who doesn't wear a gun?

No, or anyone who carries
it under cover either.

This is a big deal, Sheriff.
You ought to step out of it.

Everybody ought to.

I'm warning you men,
this range is taken.

There's no room
here for squatters.

You started from scratch
yourself, Duncan.

DUNCAN: That was
along time past.

For you! But we're
just beginning!

And we aim to start with
mavericks, and we aim to stay.

You'll stay just so long
as you stay within the law.

Which means that
if I find any one of you,

rounding up and branding
cattle on my range,

I have the right to
fill you full of lead.

Easy, boys, easy.

(MUSIC PLAYING
FROM DISTANCE)

A couple of you boys have
asked me if I had any ideas.

Well, gentlemen,

here's one of my
biggest ideas right now.

(GUITAR PLAYING)

(CROWD CHEERING)

Hello, Kate. How are you?
Same as always, Jim.

Measurements
and memory.

Keep the measurements,
forget the memory.

I'm gonna make
it up to you.

Folks, the newest
and latest

scintillating gem to
greet our fair town.

Is there anyone here so
young who doesn't recognize

the name of
Kate Maxwell?

(LOUD CHEERING)

Hello, boys.

Pleased to meet you.
(ALL CHEERING)

Boys,

I never was any good at
keeping secrets from you,

but I sure
kept this one.

That place of mine
I've been fixing up,

well, it belongs to Kate
from here on in.

There'll be music,
high kick dancing,

and the straightest
card game in Wyoming.

(ALL CHEERING)

And you'll have
money for it too!

Kate's a cattle
buyer now.

She aims to buy up every
maverick you can lay a rope on,

so just bring
'em on in.

Kate's got her own brand,
and not an outlaw brand.

She'll market your mavericks for
you, and there's nothing

that Duncan and his Cattlemen's
Association can do about it.

(LOUD CHEERING)

What are you up
to this time, Jim?

I told you I was gonna
make you rich.

I don't suppose I've got to
ask my lawyer if this is legal?

It's legal, Mr. Duncan.
I've looked into it.

Miss Maxwell, you've
looked into it too?

It's liable to get you
in some real hot water.

Why, I soak in hot water
every day, mister.

It's good for the,
uh, complexion.

(ALL LAUGHING)

I'm glad you're
used to it,

just in case any of those mavericks
you take in trade come from my range.

I'm just warning you.

No animal on my property,
branded or not, is a stray.

Whatever you pick up
on the open range is yours.

Anything you take from me
has lead coming after it.

Suppose you and me have a little
talk, Mr. Averell.

Wait'll you find out
what this is all about.

All right boys,

take the coach and the
wagon over to Katie's place.

(URGING HORSES)

Boys, make
room for the lady.

Oh, Kate, this
is Stan Blaine.

Sweetwater's strong
arm of the law.

Pleased to meet
you, Sheriff.

Why don't you show
me the town some night

before you
show me the jail?

You talk like you dress
but you don't feel that way.

Play along with him.
Play?

He's just a drifter.

Doesn't make any trouble,
doesn't want any.

The job was open, so he took it.
Drifter?

Now, I am a man
with a purpose.

Thank you.

Mind if I give you
a hand, miss?

Why I'd be
pleasured!

I'll carry you!
(GASPS)

(LAUGHING)

This one's a lady.

Why, thanks.

Take a look, Kate.
It's all yours.

Not bad. In fact, pretty good.

So, why are you
giving it away?

Well, honey, I've got
a sense of obligation.

I owe you something.

Oh, the world must
be coming to an end.

Not only is Jim Averell
giving things away,

but he's paying
his debts.

Listen, Kate.

A lot of things have changed
since I last saw you.

Since I last saw you,

running out of Abilene
like a jackrabbit,

leaving me
holding the sack.

Did anybody get
rough with you?

Why? Will you go back
there and gun them down?

Sorry, Jim, there's
no money in it,

just a poor,
underpaid judge.

I guess somebody ought to
give me a necktie party

for what I've
done to you.

Maybe somebody will.

But you came
when I called you.

You didn't waste
any time.

Birds of a feather.

But that doesn't mean that I'll
ever feel the same way about you.

You will, honey.
You will.

Believe me,
that last sour deal is way behind me.

I'm going up, up

and up right into
the Governor's mansion.

To ask a pardon?
To be the Governor!

I'm going to make the
whole territory of Wyoming

my own private range.

Think ll can't do it?

These settlers would vote
me into the White House.

I'm the only one around here
who'll promise them anything.

And what's in your way?
Reece Duncan.

I got a big front,
but he is big.

Sounds crazy,
but it's true.

If Duncan goes,
I can be Governor of Wyoming.

You will, of course,
drop in sometime for a drink.

And you'll be
with me.

That's what I'm trying
to tell you, Kate.

I'm going to make up
to you for everything.

What's this other
thing about?

Why am I a cattle buyer?

You don't have to know
anything about cattle.

Don't let that
scare you.

I know plenty.

I was riding a cow pony before
I could walk. What's the deal?

Duncan again, but,

you don't have
to know the details.

You just buy mavericks
and sell 'em.

Look.

Here's your brand,
registered and legal.

Kate Maxwell.

K-Bar-M.

Honey, it won't
be long before

people are calling
you "Cattle Kate."

These three for you, Tex.
Good! Let's go.

What'll it be, Tex?
Chips or cash?

Chips. Watch
me double 'em.

That's Duncan's
brand, Wally.

Let it go.

(COWS BELLOWING)

Here's a maverick
for you, Wally!

It's a clean one.

"For value received,
one maverick."

What'll it be?

Chips.

Horses coming, Matt.
(HORSES GALLOPING)

It's Duncan!
I'll head him off.

(GUNSHOT)

What's the matter with you?
That's a rustler!

Matt Jessup?
I'm missing a bunch of branded steers.

The Jessup boys
are taking mavericks.

These weren't mavericks.
They carried the Bar-Double-Check.

I don't say you didn't lose
'em, Duncan.

There've been reports of
strange faces in these hills.

Sheriff,
there's gonna be arange war here.

I suggest you make up your
mind whose side you're on.

I have. I'm on the side of
the first man who gets killed.

I could knock him off
right now. Why wait?

No.

Save us two or three
weeks of hard work,

and put that loud talking
Duncan where Averell wants him.

I said no!
Why not?

'Cause Averell said
to let him burn a while.

I told him to come
after midnight.

After midnight?
He better.

He does
what you say.

This afternoon he could've
finished Duncan off easy

but he let him go because
that's what you wanted.

I don't get it, boss.

Abilene taught
me something.

To wait.

We set one side
against the other.

Prod 'em a little, first
Duncan, then the settlers.

And wait till they
kill each other off.

That's the way to get
things done for you.

In fact, that's the way
into the Governor's chair.

How will that help you
to become Governor?

Look, when
times are rough,

a man can make himself
a reputation overnight

that'll spread through the
whole territory like wildfire.

Uh, that's if he's on
the popular side.

And right now I've got these
settlers eating out of my hand.

The way you got it figured,
there won't be any settlers left.

Now, that'd
be too bad.

In that case,
I'd have to take the consolation prize

and all the cattle and all
the land in this valley.

I might become one of the
richest, most important men

in the territory
of Wyoming.

There's more than one way
to become Governor.

Does Kate know how you're
running the cattle setup?

No.

And nobody'll know if you and
the boys keep your mouths shut

and do as I tell ya.

Understand?

Yeah, boss.

(MUSIC PLAYING FROM DISTANCE)

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

If I don't stand on 19,
my mind ain't on the cards.

Friend of yours, Kate.

Take over. I've got
to talk to a customer.

Go ahead.

With Jim, I can at least
keep my eyes on the cards.

Good evening, Sheriff.
Drifting?

Mmm! Got a nice,
clean shave there.

I bet it was for me.

You're keeping
the boys busy,

roping by day
and gambling at night.

This is a free country.
They work hard for their money

and they got a right to spend
it the way they want to.

None of my business.

Just wondering where some of 'em
find time to do any rustling.

Duncan's on the warpath.
Somebody's taking his branded stock.

Oh, he's
just talking.

He's got to say that
to stir up trouble.

No, there's
rustling going on.

Got it from the
other ranchers.

The cows I buy are clean,
unbranded mavericks.

You ever see a range war?
There isn't going to be a range war here.

A few rustled cattle...
A few rustled cattle

started the bloodiest killings in Texas.
I was there.

Oh, so that's where
you hail from, Texas.

Mmm-hmm.
What brought you here?

Passing through.

Oh, drifting.
You don't like that.

A man knows
where he's going.

Take a look
at Jim Averell.

There's a real man!
I heard him say so.

Kate, you've got a
couple more mavericks

in your corral than
you had a while ago.

Thanks, Hal.
Let's have a look.

Is anything
wrong with it?

No.

Don't you ever forget
that badge you're wearing?

No.

Feeling lucky
tonight, Hal?

No, I'd like it in cash.
I'm saving.

For any particular reason?

How'd you know?
He means it, Kate.

Aw, honey,
they all mean it!

Here. One free drink on
the house and then get out.

I need the space
for the free spenders.

Since you're on
duty tonight, Sheriff,

how 'bout
coming out back

and letting me show
you my stuff?

It's a nice moon out tonight.
Bright enough to read a brand.

Well, there they are.

Any of them
look stolen?

Nice looking stock.

And mavericks every one.
Lots of 'em too.

Is that suspicious,
to be doing business on a big scale?

No.

Every one
of those cows

were taken off
the free range.

You don't have to
spit fire at me.

My word's good enough
for everybody else,

it ought to be good enough for you.
It is.

Well, then don't come with rumors
of rustling and range wars.

I'm just
a businesswoman

giving the homesteaders their first
look at some cash in two years.

And I don't want
any trouble!

There's trouble
out in the range, ma"am.

You'll be in it along
with the rest of us.

Not if I'm playing straight
and minding my own business.

My Pa minded
his own business.

We had a small spread
down near Houston.

When the trouble came,
he said he'd stay out of it.

The range war you
were talking about?

I was up in the barn
when the shooting started.

By the time I got down
and ran for my rifle,

Pa was hanging
on the corral fence.

Ma was dead,
lying in the front yard.

They killed my three brothers.
Who killed them?

Folks, neighbors,

people who just got so
mad they started killing.

How old were you then? Thirteen.

Thirteen?
Your whole family?

Is that when you
started drifting?

Oh, drifting's not so bad.
A man sees a lot of country.

Not anything that
he can call his own.

Why own something
if you don't need it?

What about marriage?

Have you ever thought
about getting married?

Some. You?

Kate, need you inside.

We'll talk some
more later, huh?

(COWS BELLOWING)

Hey, someone's coming.
Put that away.

We'll take care of him.

It's the sheriff.
Go get Averell.

You were told not to
show up before midnight.

In this business,
you show up when you've got the goods.

How much did he see?
There's no telling.

Get rid of him.
For good?

KATE: Leave him alone.

Ever since that
Abilene business,

every time you get
called out of a room,

I get an urge
to follow you.

Now, what's this about?
Nothing, honey.

This drifter was interfering
in something private.

As a drifter
or as the sheriff?

And what jail did
you boys break out of?

Do we take him or not?

You leave him alone,
that's what you'll do!

And I hope you're thinking
up a good story, Jim,

because I'm getting
awfully mad.

Don't. You'll only
come apologizing later.

He's nobody to
be skittish about.

Take him and dump
him some place

where he'll have
a nice long walk back.

How do I know
they won't kill him?

I wouldn't trust them as far
as I could throw a steer.

They do exactly as I tell them.
Get to it, men.

You like him?

No! There's no money
in that kind of maverick.

All right.
Who are those men?

Well, It seems they were running
some cattle into your corral.

Whose cattle?
Yours.

Anyway, your brand.

There weren't that many
here a few minutes ago!

That's what I'm trying
to tell you, Kate.

Look at this.

Here's Reece
Duncan's brand.

Bar-Double-Check.

Now watch.
This is clever.

K-Bar-M.

Katie, somebody's apt
to call you a cattle rustler.

Why you dirty, lowdown
double-crossing...

It takes money
to run for office.

You'll never be Governor.
You'll be crow bait on the end of a rope.

I'm no rustler,
but you are.

This is your brand,
registered in your name.

I don't share the business
with you. I gave it to you.

You're the one who's been buying and
selling cattle. How do you get out of that?

Wait till I tell Stan
about this and Duncan!

What if they don't
believe you?

Pretty big
risk, isn't it?

Jim, what
are you up to?

This isn't a big enough
operation for you.

I've told you,
we're going to the Governor's mansion.

It's going to take time
and a lot of money.

And meanwhile,
you'll keep your pretty mouth shut.

When I'm playing
for high stakes,

I'll get awfully upset
if anyone talks.

Hi, Sheriff!

Maybe you can teach Knuckles how to ride.
I give up.

Come on,
you stumblebum.

Where's Kate?
Went riding.

Oh, come on,
Knuckles!

You're not going to throw in the
towel, already, are you?

KNUCKLES: I'll get a decision
over you yet! (LAUGHING)

WOMAN: Hold on
tight, Knuckles!

Come on, ya bum.

Hi, everybody.

You look like you
came off second best.

Third!
Bet you brought him in, though,

whoever he was.
No, he's still kind of loose.

But you will!
ll aim to.

You had a lot of stock
in here last night.

Some.

How many head when we
looked at them last night?

Why? How many head this morning

before you got them
out in such a hurry?

Putting together that question
and that tin badge you're wearing,

it looks like I'm accused
of being a rustler.

Two minutes after you
left here last night,

some cattle came up the
creek, heading for the corral.

Driven by my
boys, of course!

Too dark to see that. But you did see
them put that cattle into my corral!

(STUTTERING) No,
1 got busy.

Oh, so you've taken such
a personal dislike to me

that without seeing
anything, without any proof,

whatsoever you're willing to
believe that I'm a rustler!

I haven't taken
a dislike to you.

Sheriff, I go by
actions, not by words

and what I feel
when you talk to me...

Why, I just feel as
homely as a mud fence!

Homely? Why, you're
just about the most...

Women!

What did he say?

Oh, I gave him aline.
He won't be any trouble.

That's why he has that job.
That's why I gave it to him.

I took one look at him when
he first came into town

and I said
to myself...

"That's the kind of sheriff I
need, a drifter.”

I've got to
hand it to you.

This time you're
playing it smart, Jim.

It's nice to hear
you say so,

except I know you'd like
to see me break my neck.

That would be nice.

Oh, Katie, you're
just ungrateful.

Makes me very unhappy.

It's just that I don't
like the way you operate.

You don't think of
anyone but yourself.

What about the
homesteaders in this thing?

How long will it be before Duncan
starts taking it out on them?

Now, what makes you think
he'd do a thing like that?

You're hoping
he will.

Why, Kate!

You want trouble.
You want a full-sized range war.

You want so much killing that they'd
have to send troops in to keep the peace.

(LAUGHING) What
an imagination!

Duncan killed, arrested,
or any way out of the running.

And the homesteaders
just about wiped out

and ready to
listen to anybody.

And who steps up
to lead them?

Jim Averell,
the poor man's hope.

It's a good phrase.

Well, I don't want
any part of this.

I'm getting out of here.
You can't, Kate.

How far could you get?

It won't take Duncan long to
trace his cattle to your corral

and the sheriff
to wire ahead.

They don't just arrest
you for cattle rustling.

Jim!

This act you're putting
on about not being

interested in the sheriff.
(SIGHS)

Now you're imagining things.
I hope so.

I'm jealous, honey.
Can't get angry with me for that.

Sure, I want to be up there
where I know I belong,

but I want you with me.

I'm doing all of this
for you, Katie.

I'll prove that
to you yet.

But these things
need time.

Yes, that's what
we need, time.

Get some of the boys and
fix that north line fence.

We got to keep
the herds closer in.

Jiminy! Look
what's coming.

KATE: Good morning,
Mr. Duncan.

What brings you out
in broad daylight?

I wouldn't mind sitting
in the shade for a while.

I'd like to be polite,
but I have a lot of work to do.

Oh, my business
won't take long.

Not much here to interest a woman.
It's a man's place.

Oh, that would interest a woman.
Well, it hasn't.

No wife? No womenfolk?

I'd have thought otherwise.
I live alone.

Maybe that's why
you're so successful.

Everything goes into one big ambition.
So far.

Miss Maxwell, you said you had
something to talk to me about.

I have. You.

I think you're making
a big mistake.

No, Miss Maxwell,

it's your settler friends
who are making the mistake

with your encouragement.

Oh, now, Mr. Duncan,
you're a fair man.

Why don't you admit that you
started the whole trouble

by blacklisting
their brands?

If you came here thinking
that by being sweet to me

and nice to look at,

I would become a
more reasonable man...

You are a
reasonable man.

You've just never been
approached in the right way.

Miss Maxwell...

I came to this
territory as a boy,

aragged trail hand

without a penny in my pocket
and my boots open at the toes.

In 10 years I owned or
controlled most of this valley.

And if you think I'm
going to sit back now...

Don't holler
at me, Mr. Duncan.

If I made the
mistake of thinking,

that you knew how
to play for big stakes,

I apologize.

I was wrong.

What do you mean?
I said I was wrong.

I thought you wanted to control
more than just this valley.

Why don't you read
the cards, Mr. Duncan?

Before long, the settlers
will outnumber the cattlemen.

It has to be that way.
There's nothing that can stop it.

Cooperate. Give them achance
to earn an honest living

and you'll be the most popular
man in the whole territory.

They'll put you in
the Governor's mansion,

not Jim Averell.

What happened, Miss Maxwell?
You have an argument with him?

Let's just say that I want
to be on the winning side.

Suppose this turns out
to be the winning side?

What's in it for you?

The winning side will be the one I tell
the settlers to throw their weight to.

And I think I'll let
you fix the reward.

You sound like
a natural born politician.

It's all in knowing
how to deal.

(HORSES APPROACHING)
MAN: Mr. Duncan!

Mr. Duncan!

We caught the Jessup brothers
running off with some of our stock.

We got 'em holed up the other
side of town in Pitchfork Canyon.

You expect me to throw in
with a bunch of outlaws?

I'll give you an example
of how a man gets rich.

See that section there?

If I buy that up,
I'll control the six others around it

because of the water on it.
(GUNSHOTS)

It's all in knowing how.

You hear shooting? Yeah.
It's over near Duncan's place.

Let's go!

I'm out of
shells, Matt.

Looks like we're
gonna lose this one.

Blast 'em
out of there!

Hold your fire!

Better get down,
Miss Maxwell.

You don't want one of your
own friends to shoot you.

Drop it.
I said drop it!

You'd better learn to take orders
once in a while, Mr. Duncan.

Now start moving!

(GUNSHOTS IN DISTANCE)

Stop firing, men.

I keep underrating
you, Miss Maxwell.

I've got to stop that.

Hal! Matt!

Come out reaching!

Looks interesting.

Keep me covered.

What's the story?
They was rustling our cattle.

That's a lie,
we found a couple of mavericks.

DUNCAN: They're not mavericks
when they're on my land. I...

We didn't set foot
on your land.

He was sure coming
from that way.

Were those mavericks part of
Duncan's stock or weren't they?

Where's your proof?
I don't need proof.

Them Jaspers were coming from
the direction of our herd,

and I know rustling
when I see it.

All you know
is gun fighting.

But if that's what you
want, you can have it now.

But you'll have adead boss.
Simmer down, Wade.

What do you want,
Miss Maxwell?

Have you still
got your horses?

All right, get on
'em and hightail it.

Don't move, anyone.

What's this
all about?

Why, it's Mr. Averell!
Glad to see you, Mr. Averell.

Miss Maxwell and I were talking
about you just a while ago.

That's nice.
What did you say?

Miss Maxwell did
most of the talking

but I can see now that she
didn't mean aword of it.

Saying she might tell the settlers
to throw in with me against you.

You birds stick
together, all the way.

I'll, uh, send
this back to him.

You won't want to be
seeing him again.

KATE: Evening, boys. Myra?

We're shorthanded.

What am 1?
A marriage bureau?

Every time I get a dancer
trained, I lose her.

Well, you're sure going
to lose this one.

You know what
you're doing, Myra?

I want to see a preacher in
this, Hal,

or I'm gonna get
after you with a .44.

We're getting married as soon
as I get more maverick money.

See that you hide it from
him when he celebrates.

Been here long?
Settin'.

Can I "set" with you?

Set.

What do you think?
Nice team.

Is there going to be
trouble hereabouts? Mmm-hmm.

Killing?
Can't tell.

There's something
queer going on.

Got another report of
strange faces in the hills.

Got another complaint from
Duncan about losing cows.

What'd you see
him about today?

I was trying to make peace. How?

I wanted him to look at
this whole thing sensibly.

He thinks he's being
sensible right now.

I thought maybe awoman's approach...
A woman's approach?

A gun in the back?

So, you know
the whole story?

I know you didn't do
peace any good today.

What did you
expect me to do?

Let him shoot down the
Jessup boys or hang them?

Listen, Jim Averell
brought you out here

and set you up
in business.

Everything you do
is tied in with him.

No, you, you can't...
Duncan hates Averell.

When you held that
gun in his back,

it was being held
by Jim Averell

who's lying to the settlers,
lying to the cattlemen,

and for all I know,
he'd been lying to you.

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

Those two men are
building for a fight

and it won't take but one
wrong move to touch it off,

to maybe set the
whole range on fire!

Will you listen to me?
I'm not Jim Averell's woman.

I choose my own man,
whoever he is or whatever he is,

kingpin or drifter.
(GUNSHOT)

(WOMAN SCREAMING)

(HORSES GALLOPING)

It's a little early to
tell anything yet.

He's a bit low.

Any news?
We lost him in the dark.

Spent the whole night combing
the hills and canyons.

It's a waste of time!
I know where to go for that bushwhacker.

Duncan or one of his boys shot my brother.
Now it's my turn.

And then it's Duncan's turn,
and whose turn after that?

It's the way feuds
get started, Matt,

and there's no telling
where it will end.

I believe in law and order
myself, Sheriff,

but there's also
athing called justice.

And I'm dealing
some out.

The law didn't appoint
you to do that, Matt.

Now, don't make me
put you in jail.

Stan, you're holding
with Duncan.

The boys ain't
gonna like it.

You just sit down
and cool off.

Don't try to jump a gun, Matt.
It never works.

Matt can always
get another gun,

and Duncan always
gives us another reason.

There's a war
ahead, Sheriff.

You figure to stop
it all by yourself?

Not if some
folks want it.

I say wipe out Duncan
and his whole outfit.

It's the only thing
that makes sense.

KATE: You talk too much.

It seems to me that all
men want to do is fight,

even when they talk
about peace, like you.

It's with a gun
in their hands!

It's high time women took a
hand in running this world.

Duncan and his men run
the Cattle Association.

And the homesteaders
are mad

because he keeps
them out in the cold.

Very well. Let's form
an association of our own!

Sure! Our own outfit
to do business for us!

That's for being the
brainiest woman I've ever met.

Boys, Kate just
had a great idea.

It's the answer
to everything.

We'll form our own
stockmen's corporation.

We'll register our
brands with it,

we'll find buyers
who'll deal with us.

And if the courts
try to stop us,

we'll have an organization
to fight back with.

Now, Jim, please.
You're not a cattle raiser.

This thing has nothing
to do with you.

Of course, this will
all take money.

And it'll need
leadership.

I'm going to advance
you the money.

I want all you people
in this territory to know

that Jim Averell is
with you all the way.

Get the boys together.

Better pick your side,
Sheriff.

Smartest girl
I ever knew.

You make good partners,
you and Averell.

What one thinks of
is good for the other.

I didn't want him
to be part of this.

He took it right
out of my hands.

Played right
into Duncan's.

MAN: This is what we
needed for a long time.

Kramer,

you and Tiny Peterson start bringing
'em in from the north range.

O'Conners, Stubbs,
handle the west range.

Andrews, Elliot,

Lamont...
(WOMAN LAUGHING)

Hey, Matt, you wouldn't want the
men to ride out in the blazing sun

without something to line
their throats, would you?

Where's Averell?

I don't know.
He left ahead of us.

Kinda slow for a man
so anxious to help.

MAN: All right, men,
we got plenty of work ahead.

AVERELL: Got it?
Couldn't you wait?

Sure.

But not the boys.

They like to be paid
as they go along.

You know, it seems to me you
go to an awful lot of trouble

just to start
a shootin' war.

We could do the same
thing by nightfall

by just riding out and
throwing a little lead.

Mmm-hmm.

That's why it's a good idea
for you to do exactly as I say.

No more, no less.

Good coffee.

Makes the best coffee
in the whole dang world.

Learned it from Kate.
Now there's someone who can cook.

Tell him some more. I guess I need
all the recommendations I can get.

Here comes Averell
with the tally book.

Where have you been?
We've been waiting for the tally book.

The horse threw his shoe.

I had to stop
at the blacksmith's.

What's the matter, Sheriff?
Don't you believe me?

Just looking at
the white stuff.

What about it?

You come by way of
Salt Lick Canyon.

Long way around,
wasn't it?

I said, what about it?

Nothing about it. Relax.

Here comes
the first bunch!

Duncan showed up yet?
He'll be here.

Hey Sandy,
you just standin' around?

I need an extra man
to look for strays.

I work for Jim Averell.

You'll work in this camp
or you don't eat.

There's no grub to spare
for gunslingers.

I'll help you, Matt.

I said a man
to look for strays!

Oh, I was cuttin' cattle
long before I cut cards!

Get me a horse,
something alive!

Tom!

Thank you.

I wouldn't get on that critter, Kate.
It ain't safe!

(WHINNYING)

Kate!
(WHINNYING)

Bet she'd be real handy
on a homestead.

(HARMONICA PLAYING)

Round-up could be finished
before Duncan shows up.

Not likely.

Trouble is, I hold with the
settlers instead of him.

Makes it pretty hard
being sheriff.

It'll get harder
all the time.

Duncan's not the kind
who gives up.

Maybe I am.

I didn't figure on this kind
of thing when I took this job.

I didn't figure
on being Duncan's man,

running around
arresting homesteaders.

Seems to me the best
thing I can do is

turn in my badge
and move on.

Where would you go?
Yonder.

Yonder! Always yonder.

That's no life for a man.

Haven't you ever thought
about sending down roots?

Staying in one place
for a while?

Reckon so,

when I find what I want.

What do you want?

When Duncan hears how many
mavericks we rounded up,

he's gonna get
areal bellyache.

Bar-V-Ranch, one calf.

Duncan's comin'
up Loma Pass!

Get your girls
into that tent,

and get in with 'em.
Stay under cover.

But I want to be out here.
Get into the tent!

Off your horses, boys and into place.
You know what to do.

Get every horse
outta camp!

If there's any trouble,
they'll only be in the way.

Step lively, everybody!
He's on the other side of the hill.

Wade, hold the men
up here.

I don't know how far
you thought you'd go

with this fool idea,
Averell,

but it comes to
an end right now.

Where's that sheriff?

Here's a complaint
signed by Judge Crawford

to the effect that these men
are defying the Maverick Law.

Serve it.

Seems all regular
and in order.

Well, Sheriff, I just happen
to have a federal injunction

enjoining these men from
interfering with this round-up

in any manner,
shape or form.

Will you serve it, please?

Looks like a stand-off.

That Jim Averell!
Did anybody ever outsmart him?

If Duncan doesn't win by
brains, he'll win another way.

Here it comes.
Keep back.

That's a pretty
clever trick, Mr. Averell.

I'm surprised at myself
not figuring on that.

I've had it in my pocket for
a couple of days, Mr. Duncan,

just waiting for you
to show up.

Canceling out my
court order doesn't

cancel out my
rights as a rancher.

You don't know of any way
to stop me from stayin' here

and keeping an eye peeled
for my own stock.

I wouldn't want
to stop you.

Get a little nervous, though,
lookin® at all that artillery.

That's why
we brought it here.

You won't need it here.

Pick 'em up.

Duncan, tell your boys to drop
their guns off over in Kate's wagon.

I've got an idea
they wouldn't do that.

I'm tellin' ya they will.

Never had so many
deputies before.

Look over there.

I've got more of 'em,
but you can't see 'em.

Gentlemen,
peace is declared.

What about them?

All right, everybody! Over at Kate's
wagon, and drop off your hardware.

You deputies too!

All right, men,
drop your guns in the wagon.

Hey, Duncan?

Cut out a bunch of
your cows awhile ago.

You want the
calves branded?

I'll take that as a favor.

Where's its mother?

Got separated somehow.

How do you know this one
doesn't belong to me?

We don't, so we're dividing
up the doubtful ones.

Half for you and half for us.

Can you think
of anything better?

I reckon
that's fair enough.

Acts just like you when you
won't listen to reason. Oh?

Seems to me, if you'd settle
down and talk things over

you might find that there's room
enough around here for all of us.

Could be.

You're the prettiest little
maverick I ever did see!

How 'bout lettin' me
put my brand on you?

Thanks.
I'm wearing one already.

You know, you gotta get
used to sudden changes.

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

(SCREAMING)
Hey!

Get outta here!

Stop it! Stop it!

What's the idea?

Stampede! Stampede!

Mount up and
head 'em off!

(WHOOPING)

(MAN WHISTLING)

Whoa! Whoa!

Duncan!

You'd better get your men
together and clear out.

We've had enough
trouble here.

Nobody talks to me
like that.

That's a federal court order
talking to you like that.

You better go.

Call the men in.

Tell them I've gone back
to the ranch.

Can you finish this
round-up in one more day?

There's a chance.

Well, then
get movin'.

Well, there's
the last one.

Round-up's over.

How's the round-up?
It's over.

Your men standing by?

Yeah. When do we move?
Averell will give us the word.

ALL: (SINGING)
Oh, where have you been

Billy boy, Billy boy

Oh, where have you been

Charmin" Billy

{ have been to seek a wife

She's the darlin'
of my life

She's a young thing

And cannot leave her mother

Hi, Maverick.
How goes it with law and order?

Not much change.

There never is
any change with you.

Don't you ever
sing or dance,

or feel like kickin'
up your heels?

Come on. Dance with me.

I wish I knew what
to think about you.

If ll ride off,
it'll be too late.

Still talking
about going away?

About ready to turn in
my badge and saddle up.

What's holding you back?

Nothin', I reckon.

I hope it turns out to
be as green as you think,

the grass on the other
side of the fence.

(GUNSHOT)

Hold still, everybody!

Just stay like that and
there won't be any trouble.

I'm takin' you to
the marshal at Rawlins.

What for?
For rustling cattle

and murdering my foreman,
Wade Burrows.

That's ridiculous!

What are you trying
to start here?

You keep out
of this, Averell.

I'm in this all the way,

and you better have
plenty of evidence.

There's enough evidence to
hang her six times over.

Come out to the corral.

Found him out on the range
near my north section

stretched out
near a brandin' fire

with two holes
in his back.

They never gave
him a chance.

Wade Burrows
was a troublemaker.

It just caught up
with him.

What's the connection
with Kate?

I'll show you the
connection right now.

Every time I complained to you
about losin' branded cattle,

you'd talk about strange
faces in the hills,

and rustlers that
nobody else ever sees.

I'll show you
some rustlers.

That's my brand,
the Bar-Double-Check.

When we picked up Wade,
there was a brandin' iron under him.

I reckon the killers
forgot that.

Here's the iron.

And here's what it does.

K-Bar-M.

I'm taking you in on suspicion
of rustlin' and murder.

The sheriff's office
is still filled, Duncan.

Don't try to do my job.

This woman is goin' to jail!
But I'll do the takin'.

I trust you, Duncan,

but you got a vigilante
look in your eye.

He'd put a rope
around her neck

as soon as they
got out of sight.

Don't worry, honey.

I'll get you the best
legal representation

in the territory
of Wyoming.

By the time these
charges are heard,

Mr. Duncan will have
to eat a lot of words.

Am I right, boys?
(MEN AGREEING)

Your deputies must be tired
after the round-up, Sheriff,

so I know you'll be glad if I
post some of my men at the jail

to see she
doesn't get away.

There'll be some more
in jail when I find out

which of you have been
taking orders from her.

You haven't said a word
for the last 15 minutes.

You used to find it easy to talk.
Why not now?

Talking to you
never helped me before.

What's the truth, Kate?

Is Jim Averell playin' you,
or are you both playin' me?

Things were bad enough in
this town before you came.

They're twice as bad now.

You think I'm a murderer
and a rustler?

I don't know
what to think.

What's between
you and Averell?

Too much.

Keep your eyes
peeled for trouble.

Want these gents
barbecued or slow-fried?

Don't get the idea
you're deputies, boys.

Anything happens to her,
you'll pay for it.

You might as well
catch 40 winks.

Tomorrow could be
a big day.

I'll stay here.

You can't help her.
She's locked up.

I'll stay here!

(HORSE GALLOPING)

Kinda wondered why
he wasn't around.

AVERELL: I wouldn't put it
past Reece Duncan

to kill one of his own men
and pin it on us.

Now what his second move will
be, I can only guess.

I... I'm too busy
thinking about Kate

sitting over in that jail.

WALLY: Seems to me
we got nothing to go on

but her own word
that she's innocent.

MAN: We brought in
300 unbranded mavericks...

How did it work?

Fine. She was
so surprised

she couldn't
say a word.

AVERELL: Go back and
tell 'em to get set.

You'll see
the signal

as soon as it's light
enough to see smoke.

There isn't much
hay over there.

You'd better drag over
another bale.

Go on.

I say that Kate had
nothin' to do with it.

She's innocent
as a hew-born babe!

All right.
If nobody'll back me up

to bust her outta that
jail I'll do it myself.

I don't think
you'll have time.

Boys, I just got
some pretty bad news.

Sandy tells me that Duncan's
calling in every man he's got.

He's getting set
for a fight,

and I guess he'll find a
good reason to start one.

I'm going to go out there and
try and talk him out of it.

I never heard of Duncan
bein' talked out of anything.

Maybe so.

At least it'll give
you men a chance

to get organized
for a battle.

(MEN EXCLAIMING)

See that nothin'
happens to her.

As miserable a
collection of faces

as ever I seen
off a reward poster.

What kind of records
did you gents have

before you went
to work for Duncan?

Smart aleck!

Don't pay him
no heed.

(DOOR OPENS)

All right, men!
Come and get it!

That's real
cordial,

but kinda sudden.

See who's outside.

How do you like that?
They got suspicions.

I've got a good mind to spill
this stuff on the floor.

Quiet outside, but I'm kinda dry inside.
Give me some of that!

Just a minute.

I kinda changed my mind
about you fellas.

Gimme some of that beer, sonny.

Sonny?
(LAUGHS)

I'm gonna
like this!

Nice work, Knuckles.
Pick him up.

You got
me covered.

Hey, ain't this somethin'? A jailbreak!
We're bustin' ya outta here.

Who organized it? We did.
The sheriff's outta town

and Jim's ridin' up
to Duncan's ranch.

Jim found out Duncan's
gettin' ready for a fight.

He's gonna try
and stop him.

Don't you
believe it!

In ya go!

He doesn't want to stop a war.
He wants to start one.

Boys, I think it's about
time you knew the truth.

I've been covering up
for Jim Averell

in one of the slickest rustling
schemes Wyoming ever saw.

And the idea
back of the whole thing

is to start you

and the big cattle raisers
to killing each other off.

I told you she
mightn't be innocent.

You didn't finish.
We're still listenin'.

Jim's got a bunch of
gunslingers up in the hills.

And one of them,
or Sandy,

killed Wade Burrows

to pin the
whole thing on me

and start this big
range war that he wants.

He sure did
pin it on ya.

How many times that
brandin' iron been used?

I don't know,
but the important thing is

that he wants to
start a range war.

Boys, I know Jim Averell
and you don't.

He wants to be Governor.

He doesn't care
how many people

he walks over to get to
the Governor's chair.

Or how many he kills
to stay there.

I don't believe anything she
says, good or bad.

Shut up!

Boys, you've got
to believe me.

I tell you,
he's got this whole thing worked out!

What's he doing
up at Duncan's?

Oh, Duncan's as big
a sucker as any of us.

Jim made him
want to fight,

and he's gone up there
to push him into it.

I wish somebody would get
over to that case of rifles

and start protecting me
from what's coming.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

DUNCAN:
What do you want?

AVERELL: I'll talk
to you inside.

If you came here
to talk for Kate Maxwell,

you're wastin'
your time.

Kate doesn't need
anybody to talk for her.

She's probably
out of jail by now.

I don't think so.

I left five
of my men there.

Hope they're alive.

Duncan, the settlers
are talking fight.

They're gonna end this
thing by wiping you out.

Wantin' to
won't make it easy.

I'd hate to be around when
she sends them out here.

They'll smoke you
and your men out,

and knock you over
like rabbits.

Maybe.

Unless I crack down
on them first

with a few ideas
of my own.

Ned!

Call the men in.

Right.

I suppose your story's pretty
straight, Mr. Averell.

Now I'd like to know
how straight you are.

Duncan, use your head.

Why are we
fighting each other?

Neither of us really have anything
in common with these settlers.

We live in a different world.
We live a different life.

When the chips are down,
whose side do you think I'll be on?

Theirs or ours?

You're areal
high-minded citizen

to be looking
for the governorship.

I'm for Jim Averell.
I see that.

So after all
your big talk,

you're double-crossin' 'em.

That's not
a nice word.

How do I know you're
not double-crossin' me?

You don't.

It's a big chance,
isn't it?

Which reminds me.
While we're here talking,

we're giving them more
time to get organized.

That time's
about up.

They want a fight,
I'll bring it to them.

You're comin' along,
Mr. Averell.

If anything
goes wrong,

I'll have you
right under my guns.

DUNCAN: Ned,
get all the hands in from the range.

Saddle up.
We're ridin'.

All right. Come on. All set.

Get on the horses,
boys. Let's go.

If you try to
stop me now, Sheriff,

I'm not gonna
stop you.

I'm gonna join you,
like Averell's done.

How have you managed
to keep your outlaw friends

undercover for
so long?

What outlaws?

Wanna tell him?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

The outlaws that have
been working for him.

The ones that killed your
foreman and stole your cattle.

That's a lie!

If it isn't Averell...
No use arguing now.

We'll find out.

If there's going to be a
fight with Duncan's men,

we know that we're going
into it with clean hands.

But let's keep it
clean all the way.

The first shot
must come from him.

And if it does, well,
you boys know how to fight back.

Here they come!
(HORSES GALLOPING)

Now, remember,
Duncan's boys

must be the first
to start.

Duncan, you've got about a
minute to make up your mind.

Throw in with the settlers,
and I think we can prove

our friend here has been
double-crossing every one of us.

Start battlin',
and the outlaws will wipe out the town.

Seems to me
Mr. Duncan,

that a man
of your position

with all you have
at stake

isn't going to let your
thinking be done for you

by a $50-a-month
sheriff.

A saddle bum who rode
in here from nowhere.

What's your play,
Sheriff?

You didn't spend
much time in jail.

Couldn't afford it,
Sheriff.

Too many chores.

(MEN LAUGHING)

Glad everybody's
in good humor.

What's it going
to be, Stan?

We're gonna have
a little party.

A mite different from the one
Mr. Averell planned on, but...

He's gonna
be the host.

Get off.

What for?

The man
spoke to you.

Some odd characters
in the hills

are waiting for him
to tell them

we're killing
each other.

All right,
tell them.

I don't know
what you mean.

The smoke signal,
Mr. Averell.

You're supposed to light
that stack of hay

as soon as we start
throwin' lead at each other.

Then they come riding in
to take over the town.

Light it.

The wind'll sweep the fire
into every building in town.

Hal,

get over there in the hotel
and keep a bead on him.

If he tries to move anywhere,
let him have it.

Right.

Now light it.

Light it, Jim!

Let's draw "em
in close, boys.

Let 'em think we're in a
free-for-all and make it good!

(ALL SCREAMING)

(GUNSHOTS)

MAN: What are
we waitin' for?

All right. Come on!

Rise and shine,
Governor!

Listen to that battle.

This is where
we split up.

Let's ride!

I left five men
guardin' you.

Nobody hurt them.
Their pride maybe, but that's all.

You think I'm crooked
and no-account.

You'd put more trust
in a lead dollar.

Who killed
Wade Burrows?

Do you think if ll had
anything to do with that,

I'd have left that branding
iron there under him

like a signed confession?

Now you're saying that
Averell tried to frame you.

Why should he?
You're working together.

I guess, if I talk
from now till Christmas,

you'd still only believe
what you want to.

All right, Mr. Duncan, go
ahead, believe what you want.

But make up your mind quickly.
There's a fight comin® on.

You ain't
playin' fair, Jim.

You left us
no chance for fun.

They're partners,
all right!

I kept trying
not to believe it.

Well?

I've been with you
since we rode into town.

You... You boys better
put up your guns.

Why?

Well, I, uh, I...

Well, look here.

Captured ourselves
a sheriff!

You boys had
a nice little scheme.

Don't talk. Don't shoot.
It's atrap.

Not the kind of scheme
that'd give anybody a chance,

but I'm givin' you one.

A fair trial
if you drop your guns.

We're covered.

That's it, boys.

There's a bead
on every one of you.

Let's go!

Get that guy in
the hotel window.

He's got me
pinned down.

You stay inside!

Jim, grab on!

(NEIGHS)

Leaving?

Pointing a gun
at me again, Kate?

I ought to kill you,
but I'd rather see you hang.

(LAUGHS) Now, Kate.

You lying,
sneaking, murdering...

They'll be piling in here in a
minute, Kate. You gotta let me go.

Why? For what
you've done to me?

For what I used to
mean to you.

That was an idea
I had.

But you were never
like the idea.

Well, uh,
the good times we had then.

We had good times.

Think about them, Kate.

What are you gonna gain
if I die? (LAUGHS)

You'll never see me again.

You got Stan Blaine and...

Did I kill him, Kate,
when I had a chance?

When you asked me not to,
Kate, did I kill him?

There's another reason
you gotta let me go.

Look, Kate.

Look at this.

How can I believe
anything you've said?

Well, the...
The last time...

(GLASS SHATTERS)

(GUNSHOT)

(SIGHS)

Let's listen
to him, boys.

Thank you.

I think we can give credit for this to...
Cattle Kate.

I've come to realize

that I've got to consider your
interests as well as mine.

If you want to make
a friend of me,

think of my interests
as well as yours.

The West is gettin
smaller, friends,

and I reckon we've gotta
learn to live together.

Now, I'm not
the kind of man

that'll throw away the things
that I worked hard for.

Who gave you that?
He did.

Where is he?

Saddling up.

Where to, Maverick?

Could be California,
maybe Oregon Territory.

Do you still think I
was Jim Averell's woman?

That's how it looked.

Because I cried?

Sure, I cried,
but not because I love Jim.

I cried because,
when I found you,

I realized
I was all the things

I never wanted to be,
and because...

Oh, what do you know about
women or the way they feel?

There's a piece of bottom
land a few miles down.

Good for homesteadin'.
Let's have a look at it.