Original subtitles

In the Old West,

justice and courtrooms were often strangers.

The men who had conquered the frontier considered themselves

complete rulers of their hard-won empires.

The law held otherwise.

A United States circuit judge

needed three things to bring justice to this country:

a law book,

a horse, and a gun.

The further west he got, the less he needed the book.

I was headed west.

"Surely goodness and mercy

"shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

May the Lord keep thee and bless thee.

May the Lord make up his face to shine upon thee

forever and ever, amen.

Hey Colonel, he's here.

How do you know?

Could be a preacher in that getup.

No, that's Thorne alright.

Wait a minute, Colonel.

I was the first one that seen him come into town,

and I think that's deservin' of a drink.

Don't you think I should have a drink, Colonel?

I have a horse outside needs caring for.

You had to wake me?

I was dreamin'.

Number 10, $2 a day.

Hey, the fella before you stayed over at the Bannerman Ranch.

Oh, that's fine for him. I'm not the friendly kind.

Oh, well in that case, it'll be $2 a day in advance.

And the horse?

Another dollar in advance.

Excuse me, sir.

Take that back, you scoundrel,

and give His Honor the best room in the house.

Number 3 there.

Please keep your money out of sight, Your Honor.

You're Bannerman's distinguished guest, sir.

The town or Mr. Bannerman?

Well, sir, it's a mite difficult to tell

where one begins and the other leaves off.

As for myself, sir,

I'm Colonel Buck Streeter, at your service, sir.

And I do hope that service can begin

at the Bannerman Bar across the street.

Do you work for Mr. Bannerman, Colonel?

Well, sir, while legal accounts is necessary,

in the main I'm attorney for the United States government, sir.

That's what I understood.

I don't see how you keep the two jobs apart.

Room 10 is good enough.

I don't wanna live too soft. That might be bad for a judge.

Well, sir, I'm afraid that's gonna

make Mr. Bannerman very unhappy, sir.

Well, I didn't come here to make Mr. Bannerman happy.

As a circuit judge, it's my duty to review the town records,

to attend to any cases that may be awaiting court trial,

and, wherever I can, to strengthen or repair

the foundations of law and order.

Of course. the foundations of law and order.

Of course.

Now, in line with that, I might step across the street

to the Bannerman Bar to see if they're selling any liquor to the Indians.

Well, good for you, sir!

Judge, for a moment there you had me up a tree for fair.

I didn't tell you to keep the change.

Oh, oh, sure.

I'll need it to pay for my own drinks.

Isn't there a place in town that doesn't belong to a Bannerman?

This is a Bannerman town, Your Honor.

Name's Bannerman,

heart and soul are Bannerman.

If it isn't Bannerman, it's Taylor or Kettering.

- Cousins, Your Honor.

Family takes care of its own in its own affairs.

Got an immigration case.

Illegal entry.

Well, do the Bannermans take care of immigration?

That's government business, Your Honor.

Where's this Joaquin Morales?

I have him locked up.

Bring him in. I'll make out the deportation.

I notice a funny thing, Colonel.

Every time there's a transfer of property

or a dispute over property hereabouts,

the amount involved never exceeds $499.

That is a strange fact, Your Honor.

Especially since the value of $500 or more

would bring these cases under Federal jurisdiction.

Fortunately, sir, you are relieved of a heavy burden.

Too bad it rests entirely on Mr. Bannerman.

Joaquin Morales?

Sí, señor.

300 acres, $499.

1200 acres, $499.

750 acres, $499.

Mr. Bannerman establishes the price, sir.

Keeping it away from Federal examination.

That is so, Your Honor.

I suspect Mr. Bannerman is being very clever, sir.

That's what I intend to point out in my report.

- Well? - Sí, señor.

Illegal entry and so forth and so forth.

First question: why'd you do it?

¿Señor?

El juez quiere saber porqué usted cruzó la frontera.

Porque mi mujer ha muerto.

His wife died.

No hay trabajo.

No job.

Este país es muy rico.

Says this is a rich country.

Además,

Well, now, Your Honor,

I wouldn't be one bit surprised

if Mr. Bannerman could get this good man a job.

It seems a pity you had to ride 60 miles.

I wrote the government we didn't need a circuit judge here.

Do real well by ourselves.

Last item: population.

507.

I hope, Your Honor, you don't intend to ride off

without affording Mr. Bannerman the opportunity

to extend the hand of hospitality.

Well, this is dated last week.

Population doesn't change much hereabouts, Judge.

It's changed in the last couple of days.

There was a funeral yesterday morning.

Not a resident, sir.

He was a stranger.

What was the cause of death?

I beg your pardon, sir?

What did he die of, this stranger?

What was his name?

Name, sir?

His name was Morrison.

Died of a gunshot wound.

It was a clear case of self-defense, Marshal.

That's what they told me.

A case? Who tried it?

I didn't mean a case in that sense, Your Honor.

It was a matter.

Mr. Bannerman handled it very well, indeed.

Did he?

Where's the record of the arrest?

I didn't make an arrest.

Why not?

Judge, it was self-defense.

Who did the shooting?

Well, now...

I suppose that would be young Tom.

Tom who?

Bannerman.

The old man's son.

His only boy.

I don't understand this, Marshal.

There's been a killing in your town, and the killer's free.

Your Honor,

folks here are used to runnin' their own business

and tendin' to their own affairs.

It's a frontier, sir.

The garment of social conscious fits loosely, sir.

I'm here to tighten it up.

Bring in this Tom Bannerman.

Your Honor...

I don't reckon I could do that without a posse.

Form one.

Made up of his family?

Or the men who work for them?

You see how it is, sir.

I see how it is.

I'll tie it up for you, Mr. Hammer.

- Judge still in there? - Yep.

- Colonel? - Yep, and the marshal.

And they're talkin' about Tom Bannerman.

Oh, say,

it's been awful hot today, Mr. Hammer, and

you know the dust gets in a man's gullet somethin' fierce.

So I thought you...

You've got to decide whether you're serving

Bannerman or the Federal government.

Mr. Hammer, sir, this is indeed a pleasure.

Your Honor, may I present Mr. Arnold Hammer,

the president of the bank.

- The Bannerman Bank? - That's the only bank there is.

Are you a Bannerman?

Hammer, sir. Hammer.

Related to them?

No, sir.

You had to think it over, though.

What do you know about this killing you had in your town?

Killing?

We don't have killings here.

Well, maybe you call them something else.

But Thomas Bannerman did shoot and grievously wound

one Sidney Morrison, after which act said Sidney Morrison

did languish, suffer, and die. That's a killing.

Your Honor, you misjudge Tom.

I take my oath he's not a bad boy.

I haven't misjudged him. I haven't judged him at all.

That'll take place at the trial.

A trial, gentlemen.

I happen to know there's never been one in this town.

But a man's been done to death,

and the law demands a search into the circumstances.

I don't know what Mr. Bannerman's going to do about this.

We'll hear from him.

Him and Tom.

Your Honor,

did you ever hear the recipe for makin' tiger stew?

First, you catch a tiger.

He keeps moving it.

Well, maybe it takes a man

to hit a target that won't stay still.

Here!

Pretend this is your bridegroom puckerin' up to kiss ya.

Amy Lee, that's no way to treat

a nice, quiet bank president like Arnold Hammer.

Then don't tell me to marry him.

Mr. Bannerman.

Amy Lee.

Amy Lee, I sent you to that fancy school

to learn you some manners.

Lose what few you had?

Hello, Arnold.

Give your fiancé a kiss.

Isn't that kind of dangerous?

A couple of bear cubs playin' around

are bound to get a few scratches.

Where's that judge?

I told you to bring him here for supper.

Didn't seem like a good idea to invite him.

He's lookin' for Tom.

- What's he want me for? - Sid Morrison.

You been out in the sun too long?

That Morrison business is finished.

He says no. He wants you.

Sounds real stiff-necked.

I couldn't reason with him.

I don't why I tried.

Simple thing to me seems to be to go into town,

explain how it came to be self-defense,

let the whole thing blow over.

Amy Lee, I never said you were wrong about this fella.

But who else is there to marry around here?

You're loco if you marry her.

She'll finish you off inside of two weeks.

He's gonna come here to my holdings,

my town, and carry himself high, huh?

Is it true he carries a gun?

- A judge? - I didn't see it.

I'm goin' into town, have some fun with him.

You're gonna stay here.

- I'm goin' to town. - Tom!

Are you afraid of this judge?

No.

But you heard a few stories about him

and you want cousin Tom to stay undercover.

Tom's a fool.

He'll make things worse than they are.

What's worse than a Bannerman hiding?

You still say it was self-defense?

Would I lie?

Oh, you've had plenty of practice.

- If I may say a word... - Shut up.

All right, boy, take some men into town.

Bring that judge back here for supper.

Bring him back here? I aim to chase him down the road.

You're gonna bring him back here!

We're gonna give him the hospitality of the ranch,

show him why it pays to stand well with the Bannermans.

You Bannermans stand above everybody.

You're sort of like a royal line.

I don't know why anybody should want to marry into it, Hammer.

It's a grave responsibility.

What are you doin' here, Tom?

You better get back to the ranch.

Where's this judge they talk so much about?

Uh-huh, there's reason to talk.

You get out of town.

Oh, I've come here to ask him to put his feet under our table.

That's a fool idea.

Colonel,

never call a Bannerman a fool.

Somebody'll cut your wages.

Well, let it happen.

Come on in.

Good evening, Colonel.

A very pleasant greetin' to you, sir.

That is to say, I hope it to be pleasant.

Well, why shouldn't it be?

Tom Bannerman's here.

That's what I wanted, isn't it?

Judge, I wish I could make you understand that boy.

He's just a reckless, playful boy.

Then he shouldn't be allowed to carry a gun.

He's at the Bannerman Saloon now.

Just a playful boy.

I should point out, Your Honor,

that he's accompanied by several men from the ranch.

Twelve is more than several, Colonel.

That's what windows are for.

Well, that's better.

Judge, you're a man of wisdom and perspicacity.

No use tanglin' with the Bannermans.

Let 'em tend to their own problems.

Someday they'll realize the error of their ways.

Colonel,

a circuit judge receives very little pay.

I understand a Federal attorney draws even less.

That's truly correct, Your Honor.

Makes it easy for a man to choose sides, doesn't it?

He's in town.

Are you backin' me?

I'll tell ya how it is, Judge.

I've been around here too long to have much faith in anything.

You go after him.

When I see it, I'll back you.

- Pick it up. - Drop it!

- Pick it up! Pick it up! - Come on!

- Pick it up! Pick it up! - Drop it!

What'll it be, Judge?

Which one of these men is Tom Bannerman?

You want Tom, holler it out.

If he wants to talk to you, he'll make himself known.

Good evening, Judge.

- Bannerman? - Yep.

Give him a drink.

No, thanks.

Oh, come on now. You gotta.

How else anybody gonna tell the men from the boys?

We'll manage.

I'm glad you came to town of your own accord, Bannerman.

It'll count in your favor at the trial.

What kind of a trial?

You're under a charge of murder.

It was self-defense.

Are you this man's lawyer?

I'm Sam Kettering.

Oh?

One of the family.

You must be crazy in the head

tryin' to come in here and haul away a Bannerman to jail.

He's charged with murder.

We'll decide the charge.

In any event, Your Honor, I'm sure there's no cause

to take the boy to lockup, now is there?

Whatever bail you set will be forthcoming.

I'll decide the charge and the bail,

and there'll be no bail.

You're a hard-nose alright.

They tell stories about you.

I'm taking you to jail, Bannerman.

They say you pack a gun.

I don't see no gun.

I don't want to turn this into a shooting.

You'll have a fair trial with all due process.

No.

I like shooting.

All right, Judge, we know you're a tough hombre.

Now let him go.

The court's established a fact, Colonel.

The prisoner who pleads self-defense

doesn't hesitate to draw on an unarmed man.

Jail's across the street.

What do you want us to do, Tom?

Shut up!

What's the matter with you boys?

Nobody takes a Bannerman to jail.

How strong is your jail?

His old man'll tear it apart.

If we let him.

This is the first time since I put this star on

I been able to work at it.

How's it feel?

Loathsome.

- Colonel. - Thank you kindly, son.

Mornin', son.

Bright, beautiful morning.

Morning, Judge. I do trust you slept well, sir.

I sat in my window watching the street.

Well, no need to do that, Your Honor.

This is a law-abidin' town.

Well, reasonably law-abidin'.

Where's the nearest telegraph office?

Well, now.

That would be Cottonwood, sir.

That's 47 miles away.

I've got to ask Washington to appoint a prosecutor.

You do not, Your Honor.

I anticipated the need and I already attended to the matter.

You did what?

I sent a rider to Cottonwood yesterday, sir.

He sent a telegram to our national capital.

I already have the reply.

I fully realize my new responsibility, Your Honor,

and I'll rise to it in a manner that'll be a tribute

to Blackstone and our great and glorious Constitution.

You work fast, Colonel.

Well, I knew you couldn't ride to Cottonwood, Your Honor.

Your prisoner might escape during your absence.

I might've sent the marshal.

Oh!

Oh, a difficult ride, Your Honor.

Who knows what accident might befall him on the way.

Difficult country, Your Honor.

Indians, outlaws...

Bannermans.

Exactly.

You think we might talk to those witnesses now, Your Honor?

What witnesses?

Why, the ones that saw Morrison pull a pistol on Tom.

No, Mr. Prosecutor.

I think we can dispense with those witnesses.

Why, they could establish the boy's innocence, Your Honor.

Isn't the prosecutor supposed to establish his guilt?

Why, Your Honor,

I'm only interested in justice.

So am I, Colonel.

So am I.

Mornin', Judge.

Everything quiet?

Just give 'em time.

How are you this morning?

You'll have breakfast in a minute or two.

They're sending it over from the hotel.

Is there a lawyer in town you want to hire?

I'm gonna ask you to sign a statement.

When are you gonna take me out and hang me?

Well, it's a little early to talk of hanging.

The tree ain't been planted yet.

We'll knock somethin' together.

I'm gonna drag you behind a horse

till there ain't an inch of hide left on ya!

You won't fool with any Bannermans

when we get through with ya.

You'll be pickin' your hide off every rock

and mesquite bush in the county!

He's the one can do it, too.

He once killed a Mexican like that.

Got mad.

Over what?

Mexican spilled a pot of coffee on him.

When was that?

Oh, that was before my time.

Guess he was about 16.

- Self-defense again? - Yeah.

That's a funny thing about the Bannermans.

Folks are always pickin' on 'em.

Morrison's widow still in town?

Yeah. Next street over, last house on the line.

Well...

something new has come to town.

His Honor, I suppose?

What a waste.

Amy Lee Bannerman, Judge.

Cousin.

More like his guardian.

He's such a fool, Judge.

Good thing you're teaching him a lesson.

Oh, I'm not teaching him.

I'm bringing him to trial.

Do you know where Josiah is now?

I locked him in his room

so I could reach you first.

If he rides in and Tom is still in jail,

he will burn this town to the ground.

That's a serious crime. I'd have to arrest him for it.

Josiah?

First of all, you couldn't.

Second,

this town is ours.

No, that's a state of mind, Miss Bannerman.

The town belongs to the people,

and laws have been written to protect them.

And you're the great, big champion

who's going to see to it,

whether they want protection or not.

No matter what they say,

they usually want it, Miss Bannerman.

Amy Lee.

If the prisoner's family wants to see him,

they can have five-minute visits.

Well, he's human!

One at a time, at a distance of five feet,

nothing passing from hand to hand.

Miss Bannerman.

I pity his wife.

He's the kind who would have one,

and well-broken, too.

Probably nine children, all afraid of him.

He didn't say.

Sid was good to me.

He never raised a lot of dust,

but I knew about that when I married him.

I married him because...

...because he was Sid.

That was about the only thing he could do well,

braid rawhide.

He was always braiding,

even when he walked.

He knew how.

I'd like to buy some of this.

I could use a new bridle.

You don't have to feel sorry for me, Judge.

I've got money.

Enough to get home on.

Where's that?

Pennsylvania.

Anyway, that's where my folks are.

Sid and I, we never had what you'd rightly call a home.

We just drifted,

Sid always laughing and saying someday he'd find a gold mine.

We'd start a cattle ranch or something like that.

He laughed a lot, that Sid Morrison.

He wasn't much of a troublemaker, was he?

Sid?

Even out here he wouldn't carry a gun.

They say that he did.

They say that he used this.

But I never saw it before.

I don't see how he could've had a gun and me not know.

How'd you come by it?

- They brought it to me after...

A lawyer.

His name was Colonel Streeter.

He brought it to me,

with some money from Tom Bannerman's father.

Like I said, enough to get home on.

Old Bannerman paying your way home?

They said they didn't want me in the town.

What was the fight about, Mrs. Morrison?

The trouble between Tom Bannerman and your husband,

what was it about?

How could I know?

We'd only gotten to town a couple days before.

Everything seemed to be all right.

Did your husband know Tom Bannerman before?

No.

- Did you? - No.

I'll have to take this with me.

I don't care.

There's gonna be a trial.

I don't care what you do.

Did Tom Bannerman bother you?

Did he?

I don't want any trouble.

If you tell this to anybody, I'll say it's a lie.

- Even under oath? - It's a lie!

Thanks.

It's a hot day.

Mr. Kettering.

Colonel, where'd the shooting take place?

Didn't see it myself, Your Honor.

Somewhere near the edge of town.

I can ask the marshal. I want you to tell me.

It's a small town. Which edge?

Past the corral, sir.

Show me.

I understand young Tom Bannerman

is not exactly bashful with the ladies.

Well, sir, as a former expert in matters concerning the ladies,

I'd say he does right well, sir.

I don't like what you said.

I said it was a hot day.

But I don't like the way you said it.

Go ahead.

Colonel.

A mighty unusual judge, sir.

A very unusual prosecutor.

This is a nice town, Your Honor.

Folks'll get to like you here.

Bannerman folks?

Oh, they're just about like other folks.

Like doin' things their way, that's all.

A man like you could settle in this town,

get elected year after year.

Might even be sent to our national capital, sir.

With Bannerman backin' me?

Yes, Your Honor.

I'll ask him about that

when the trial's over.

Who lives there?

Oh, nobody of any consequence, Your Honor.

Colonel, a man has been killed.

A fellow named Webb has that house, sir.

Best gunsmith Bannerman ever had, Your Honor.

Lives alone?

Well, he has a daughter, sir.

Mighty fetchin' filly.

I'll see you later, Colonel.

I'll go with you, sir.

Of course, Your Honor.

What are you gonna say?

I don't have to say anything.

I think you do.

There's a right thing and a wrong thing.

Don't preach to me, Dad.

I'm only sayin' what you already know.

There's right and there's wrong,

and when you see the difference,

you just got to speak up.

That's all in books. People don't live that way.

Tom won't ever marry you, dear.

He just won't.

How do you know about that?

Oh, honey.

Good morning, Judge.

- Mr. Webb? - Yes, sir.

Do you recognize this gun?

Well, a fella like me handles so many guns for so many folks, it...

it's kinda hard to say.

A fella like you sittin' here all day could've seen the shooting.

Come in, sir.

Please stay.

My daughter, Judge.

I saw it.

Dad!

Well, I saw it.

I couldn't hear, though. I...

I don't know what they said.

Was Morrison armed?

That I can't say.

Did you see it?

Miss Webb?

Well...

no.

No, not the first shot.

I heard it and...

came to the window just as Tom fired again.

Did you see Morrison holding a gun?

Well, he was– he was down in the weeds.

He was already finished, but...

Tom fired again anyway.

I'll tell you something else, Judge.

I was gonna lie to you.

Was even gonna call my father a liar because...

because Tom had promised to marry me.

It isn't easy for a girl to find a husband out here.

It's not like back East.

The few men that are here...

well, they all bow down to the Bannermans

like the Bannermans were kings.

Will you repeat what you told me at the trial?

Everything quiet?

Everything except Tom Bannerman.

And he's losing his voice.

Got a little business to attend to out of town.

It won't take very long.

Be back before night?

Why?

Aside from the accused, I haven't seen a Bannerman,

a Kettering, or a Taylor all day.

I think they're holdin' a pow-wow.

Awful hot weather for arguin'.

Run home. Go home!

Well, of all people.

Oh, uh, my horse left me.

He threw me and ran away.

I'll take you back to town.

Why aren't you back at the jail guarding my cousin?

Nat Bell does all right.

Judge, you better take me home.

You can get a horse in town.

You're riding like this with a Bannerman

snuggling up to you?

Oh!

Your Honor, the prosecutor will make you disqualify yourself.

You're staying for supper, I hope.

I don't think so.

Well, I do. Come in.

Please come in.

What's this?

The gathering of the clan.

Come on. They won't bite you.

She brought him here, Amy Lee.

If I had a son like her, I'd turn up my toes content.

I don't think you have met everybody here, Judge.

This is my uncle, Josiah Bannerman.

Don't tell him who I am.

He has the sense to know who I am.

Sit down, Judge.

Have a drink. Let's be friends.

I'd like to know the names of all my new friends.

What's he, a cousin?

Oh, brother-in-law. Jesse Taylor.

The Taylors, the Ketterings, the Bannermans–

the whole clan.

And now you're marrying into it.

I certainly hope so, Judge.

"I certainly hope so, Judge."

Don't you know, talker?

Doesn't seem that Miss Amy Lee's made up her mind.

"Doesn't seem Miss Amy Lee's made up her mind."

I wish you wouldn't repeat whatever I say.

Go get me some cigars.

Every time he opens his mouth, a fool looks out.

What have you got against my Tom?

Speaking as a private citizen or as a judge?

You can forget that judge part.

You ain't judgin' any Bannermans.

Well, then speaking as a private citizen,

I don't like him.

Well, that's straight out.

What have you got against him as a judge?

Well, I'm sure the prosecutor must've told you that.

This is an odd place to find him, but since he's here...

Merely and simply investigatin' the circumstances, sir.

I've always been a staunch believer in

thorough and careful preparation.

Ah, he's a windbag.

I can buy and sell men like him everyday.

Anxious to get on in the world, please everybody.

Warm your chair before you sat in it.

Now, now, Mr. Bannerman, sir.

Now, you...

I couldn't buy you, could I?

You haven't made me an offer yet.

I could make you some would bust your britches.

You know what I own around here?

A man can't ride across it in two days.

And all the people I got that counts

is Amy Lee and that one boy.

No one else counts?

They do what I say.

And why shouldn't they?

Where would they be if it wasn't for me?

I took this land! I made it mine!

And you know what I started with?

With nothing.

I was a boy when I started.

I was layin' out here, right there where you're sittin',

a 15 year old boy

with my ma's body across me and an Injun arrow out of her back.

Nobody alive but me.

And I said right then, "This is mine.

This whole piece of country's mine."

My ma's blood's in it like it's in me.

She give it to me–

the land.

And I got away.

When I was growed, I come back and I took it.

What's good here is good 'cause of me!

If anything's bad, that's 'cause of me!

And I'll fix it my way!

You can't come in here, mister,

and tell me how to run my land.

Not with the law, not with soldiers.

I got men can handle guns, too.

You've got a son who's too sudden with 'em.

I'll whip him until he can't stand!

But I won't let any other man whip him.

You'd better get him a good lawyer.

He won't need one.

He will at the trial.

He won't need one.

You heard Mr. Kettering.

Amy Lee.

Excuse me.

You'd been away so long I thought they'd bushwhacked ya.

Maybe they will. They don't intend there'll ever be a trial.

Come sundown, I think we'll have trouble.

Not if we can run from it.

I'm takin' the prisoner to Cottonwood.

From here?

Judge, you won't get very far.

As far as an honest jury is far enough.

How strong are you for telling your story in court?

Well, we've been talking some about that,

figurin' things out.

It's sure we won't be able to live here afterwards.

I don't want to live here, anyway.

I've had enough of it.

Are you willing to go to Cottonwood to testify?

- When? - Tonight, under cover.

We wouldn't come back here?

Well, what about our things?

I've got some curtains I brought all the way from Boston.

I don't know why you had to come here in the first place.

Everything was fine till you came along.

You do what you have to do.

We'll wait for you on the Cottonwood road about

two miles out of town.

I'll try to talk the Federal government

into replacing your curtains.

Quite a crowd tonight.

Sizeable, sir. Sizeable.

I hope they're in town tomorrow

so we can draw on 'em for a jury.

Tomorrow, Judge?

Why, sir, by tomorrow...

What about it?

As the poet says, Your Honor,

there are determined men who act by night.

Thanks.

Thorne.

I see you're carryin' a gun under that coat.

You've got sense enough to know

you can't do that unless you're ready to use it.

I know.

You don't mind seein' blood?

I do, Judge.

I've been seein' it all my life.

I can smell it right now

just from talkin' about it.

I'd like to spend the rest of my days never seein' it again.

Why don't you sit down here, Judge,

have a drink,

and let's you and me talk this thing over like sensible men, huh?

That would leave the marshal alone at the jail.

I didn't knock, either.

What did your horse do this time?

He's a mean animal.

I didn't want to come, but...

- he brought me anyway. - Why?

Close the door.

The clerk see you come up?

He may have.

He's the talkative kind.

What do I care about clerks?

I cared more I might never see you again.

Did it bother you, too?

How could you walk away from me?

Why did you leave the ranch?

I was angry.

Why?

I knew it was all a trick. Your horse hadn't thrown you.

How could you tell?

You didn't have any dirt on you.

You looked me over?

Carefully.

Thanks for what you were thinking.

How did you know what I was thinking?

I could tell.

You're engaged to Arnold Hammer.

- Not anymore. - Since when?

Since you kissed me.

It isn't gonna work.

- What won't work? - What about all the others?

- What others? - Josiah Bannerman,

Tom Bannerman, Kettering, Taylor.

Oh, all the Bannermans!

Let Tom out of jail and the whole thing is over.

Better than over.

Josiah thinks you're the best that's ever come to town.

He says when you left that–

What's the matter?

You're a Bannerman alright.

What does that mean?

You'd stop at nothing to save your cousin.

Look there.

Just a minute. Where you goin'?

Tell me. Now, where you goin'?

- Who wants to know? - Old Bannerman.

He wants to know.

Listen, I'm s'posed to tell him

anybody that goes in and out of that jail.

Why did they pick you?

Because they can depend on me.

Look,

because you wouldn't suspect me.

You wouldn't want 'em to put somebody out here

that would suspect me, would ya?

Why, that'd be pretty close.

Well, now, look, why don't you come in the marshal's office

and watch me in a nice, comfortable chair?

'Cause I don't need a chair.

Maybe there's another jug in there.

I don't care.

Hey, maybe there is.

I've given that fool judge enough time to change his mind.

Go get Tom.

And no gunplay.

What?

You'd like to go on a scalp hunt, wouldn't you?

If you kill that judge, there'll be another fella

just like him snoopin' around to see what happened.

And after him, another and another

until they tramp down all the grass.

We don't want him killed.

Just plumb discouraged.

Go on.

Tom, wake up.

Tom, it's us.

Hey, he's sick or drunk. Somebody get a key.

Aw, they wouldn't leave it around.

What we need is a blacksmith.

Might be somethin' the matter with him.

Tom?

They took Tom away.

I've been thinkin' too tame.

All right boys, get your rifles.

Should be around here someplace.

Hold up!

Vince Webb?

And his daughter.

What have they got to do with this?

Witnesses. They saw the shooting.

Well, well, we're gettin' to be a nice-sized party.

Maybe now we can pick up a fiddler and have us some weddin' music.

Leave her alone.

Who's gonna leave you alone, and how far do you think you'll get?

Cottonwood.

- Yeah. 47 miles. - We'll make it.

- I don't know about that. - Get back in that saddle.

Judge, I'm tired of ridin'.

A man oughta walk once in a while.

Get back in that saddle or you'll come into Cottonwood across it.

Let's talk about it.

Judge, he looks to me like a prisoner tryin' to escape.

He has all the earmarks.

You can't shoot him.

That's no better than he did to Sid Morrison.

Why don't you button your lip?

Listen.

They're comin' right behind us.

If there's gonna be shootin', I want protection.

- I am a prisoner. - Shut him up.

They're ahead of us now.

You're worried, witness?

Look, there's a cut through them hills.

Ain't much good for night ridin',

but it'll save us 30 miles.

- Where'll it bring us out?

Down on the plain with Cottonwood a mile away.

We'll take it.

I know that trail. We'll end up over the side of a cliff.

Doesn't appear to be a soul down there.

Used to be plenty of room in them trees to hide Injuns.

Thorne doesn't stay under cover. He moves.

You like him.

Didn't go by here.

How could he know that?

What do you think, Sam?

Well, if he took the other road to Seven Pines,

Taylor's likely bringin' him in right now.

They're headed for Cottonwood where we don't stand so high.

They haven't passed by here.

You reckon Bell knows about that fool trail through them canyons?

If he does, Thorne would take it.

Then we've got him.

Sam, I want every man in from the range.

You go on into town, bring Taylor and his boys.

We're gonna tree this judge.

We'll close up both ends of that canyon trail,

and if he gets by us in there,

we'll be waitin' for him on the plains.

Joe, take some boys and ride this road.

You come with me.

- I'll go back with Arnold. - I said come with me!

And I heard you!

Fool women!

This is real nice of you, Amy Lee. I didn't expect...

Well, you know.

Oh, don't expect anything, Arnold.

- Do as you were told. - I don't understand.

Seems to me that every time we're alone...

Do as you were told!

All right.

Why don't we forget about getting married, Amy Lee?

I don't know what you want, but it isn't me.

Oh, I don't go through there with my hands tied.

How will I manage this horse?

He's right.

A man can't ride that trail with his hands tied.

And supposin' I wanna put a lovin' arm

around this sweet, cuddly girl here.

We gotta keep the witnesses warm.

Judge, let him ride the inside of the trail.

I'll keep him from a fall.

Think he's lookin' for us?

If he is, he's sure gonna catch up.

Amy Lee!

You best danged hombre in the world!

How'd you figure it?

- What are they doing here? - Witnesses, he says.

I thought Tom had his brand on you.

Until we saw him kill Sid Morrison.

- You turn real fast. - Never make a Bannerman.

You might as well let him go.

You can't make it to Cottonwood.

We can try.

Not by this trail. Josiah's at the other end.

I hope he'll be reasonable.

Keep an eye on Miss Bannerman.

You've come this far.

Why turn back?

Take a breather.

You believe the old man's waitin' for us?

He'll be there.

Bannermans take care of each other.

That's their strength.

Is there any water?

The judge has a canteen. I'll get it for you, Miss Bannerman.

Get me out of this.

First chance I see.

And see something's done about those witnesses.

How'd they get into this?

Morrison saw me hankerin' after his wife

and he wasn't man enough to call me out.

He ran to snitch to her.

I had to gun him down.

- You had to? - Sure.

I'll give it to 'em.

Could I have some?

Sure, go ahead, witness. I left a kiss on it for you.

Then I'll do without.

Stay here.

Hold the horses.

Get down.

You take care of her.

Steady, boy. Steady.

He's no Bannerman. He's a killer!

He pushed her father over the side! I saw it!

He was going to do it again, to him!

Keep your eye on him.

What makes you so bound to do this?

What's in it for you?

A man believes in a thing and he goes ahead.

Like your reason for tryin' to make me quit.

I could see you hurt or killed if you didn't quit.

That was my reason.

Double-crossed you ahead of time to keep you alive.

It looks like we've come to Cottonwood.

Not yet.

Well, the old bloodhound.

I told you.

It's a faraway trial you've got your heart set on, Judge.

Well, we back up in the canyon and make a stand.

They're coming from that way, too.

Stay on your horse.

- Tie his feet. - Oh, quit it, will ya?

- You're done. - I'll talk to you in the courtroom.

I'm not lettin' him go.

Thought you were ridin' back with Arnold Hammer.

I made another choice.

What's she doin' with my son?

Oh, a witness.

Claims she saw the shootin'. It's a lie.

That's for a jury to decide.

Judge, I'm tryin' to be a peaceable man.

- Then get out of my way. - I don't have to.

You're licked.

Licked!

What are you tryin' to do, bluff me with a pair of deuces?

If any man moves to help him, I'll shoot.

What does that add up to?

He dies this way instead of by a hangman's rope.

I care how he dies, Judge.

Nobody comes to where I am

and takes out a Bannerman to stretch his neck.

Even if he's guilty?

That's still my family and my business.

Call his hand.

I'm callin' ya, Judge.

Shoot him or let him go.

You, get back to your job while you got a job.

Yes, Mr. Bannerman.

Caroline, I'll get you home.

Is this the end of it?

Then why did my father die?

How's about somebody cuttin' me loose?

You oughta hang him yourself.

He's no good. He's a killer.

He killed Vince Webb on the trail.

She's a liar.

I saw him do it.

He never had a chance.

Is somebody going to cut me loose?

He's my son.

If he hangs, I'll pull the rope.

No one else.

She double-crossed you, a Bannerman!

Circle out of range! Get into the town!

Thorne!

That's enough!

I'm trustin' you to go easy on that boy.

He'll have a fair trial.

No favors.

You better take Amy Lee with you when you go.

I set no table for them that turns against me.

Court is in session.

Judge Richard Thorne presiding.

The People versus Thomas Bannerman.