Original subtitles

What kind of a Christmas present is this, Teaspoon?

This ain't like that stupid game of baseball, is it?

Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?

Since we don't got a salon, we will be playing the game of dirt tennis.

The rules are the same, and when you are assigned your positions, we will play a

rubber.

Okay, Hickok, Noah, Lou, over there.

Cody, the kid, over there.

Now hold on a minute.

That's three against two, Teaspoon. That ain't fair.

Cody, if I could figure out a way to split one of you down the middle without

messing up your pretty white clothes, I would.

Lou, you will serve first.

Take your positions, please.

Playing commence.

Is that an ace?

Yes.

That was out.

I mean, fault, fault.

Jimmy, that was a good serving. You know it.

No, it wasn't.

Teaspoon.

Good. What teaspoon? That was out by a long, long way. Can't you see anything?

I call some as I see some, son. Teaspoon, put on your glasses. Look, it

landed right here. Not here, but right here, which makes it out.

That is warning number one. Now, that is warning number two. Read the rules, son.

I think so. All right.

Come on.

Merry Christmas, Hickok!

Merry Christmas, dear!

You got good timing.

You're as good as your aim.

Saved me the trouble of whipping them barehanded.

I believe you could.

Name's Cyrus Happy. They call me Hap, mostly.

James Hickok.

Who were they?

Oh, just some skunks. They was trying to bushwhack me before I get into town.

Why's that?

Well, it was after this, you see.

That real goat?

Oh. Just like at the end of the rainbow.

They was wanting to know where I found it so they could jump my claim.

I was just heading into Sweetwater to register it.

Never held this much gold before.

James, you get used to it because you just earned yourself half my strike.

What? That's the least I can do. You saved my hide, didn't you? Well, that's

real generous of you, but I can't take that. Yeah, why not?

I don't know. It just ain't right.

Well, of course it is.

Might have been killed if it won for you. That don't mean that you gotta get

your gold. Oh, listen.

Gold ain't no good to a dead man. There's a whole fortune there, more than

I could ever use.

You ain't got nothing against being rich, have you?

I never really put much thought into it. There you are. It's all settled. You get

me into Sweetwater safe and sound. Tomorrow, we'll go in and register it,

and it'll be all legal. We got a deal, partner?

I said no.

No more credit until you settle your account, Jorgensen. Now, that's final.

I swear. I'll pay you next month, Mr. Tompkins. That's what you said last

month and the month before that. I tried, sir. I can't get a fair price for

my cattle. If I sell now, I'll lose everything.

Just a few more weeks. That's all I'm asking.

I know times are tough, but I can't keep carrying you.

I'm sorry, but that's the way it is.

Mr. Tompkins, I don't mean to interfere, but the Jorgensons are good folks. I'm

sure you can trust him.

Rachel, I can't run this store on promises.

Now, he owes me too much already.

He's got a wife and two children, and I just thought that with Christmas

coming... I don't like to see folks suffer, Rachel.

I got my own bills to pay. Here, look at this.

Half the folks at Sweetwater owe me money, even your weigh station.

How about it be something else?

No.

Sure looks real.

Mine is real.

Let me see.

Give it here. Cody.

Thank you, Rachel.

That's gold.

That's what I've been saying.

Who really gave you half his claim?

I'm gonna meet him at the land office tomorrow.

Damn, Jimmy, you're gonna be rich.

I think it's just wonderful.

I'd just like to hold it.

Jimmy?

Wasn't I supposed to make that run?

Yeah, but you asked to switch with me.

Yeah, but it was my run originally.

What are you getting at?

Now, Cody, you asked me to take that run before Jimmy.

You turned it down.

You're both wrong. Teaspoon scheduled me to ride. But that was a mistake because

I was on the schedule. Wait a second. That was... Quiet!

Quiet! Quiet!

Everybody settle down.

Would you listen to yourselves?

You should be glad for Jimmy. He risked his life to save that poor old man. It's

only fair that he be rewarded.

Now, I don't want to hear any more complaining.

You all make my head hurt sometimes. You really do.

Could have been any one of us out there.

Why don't we just split it even?

Okay? Sure.

Okay.

Here's to gold nuggets as big as your fist and pretty women to spend them on.

Don't seem right Rachel on taking share the things the riders deserve That's

what teaspoon will probably say when he gets back swears gold. He never brought

him nothing to trouble Give me that kind of trouble any day What do you think

this amount of ours gonna start paying out there happy? All right quick now

just soon as you boys by the provision will be what provisions to work claim

Why you got to have food to blast powder lumber for five-pack move?

There shouldn't cost more than 200 hours You want us to pay that?

Well, that gold ain't gonna just jump out of the ground into your pocket now,

is it?

Takes a lot of hard work, sweat, know-how, and seeing as how I'm

providing that, it seems unfair you boys ought to buy the equipment.

Partners, ain't we?

Come on, Lou, it's only $30.

You can't back out now.

I ain't gonna do it.

You give up your share.

What's wrong?

That means $200 for supplies.

Lou won't pay up. I told you, I'm saving my money for something else.

Ike says he's broke.

Oh, great. Now we won't have enough.

Well, now, wait a minute. Maybe you boys ought to just slow down.

I got it.

Let's use the Christmas money.

No way, Cody.

We collected that for Teaspoon's present.

This'll be his present.

You know, we can give him a part of the mine.

I won't let you do it.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

Well, it's our money.

So give it here.

Now!

Thank you.

I'd take a look at that mine before I spent all my money on it.

All right.

Let's have five of these, and that'll do it.

Okay, that's $183.40.

And I'll have everything ready to go in the morning.

Pay the man, boys.

Me, the kid, and Cody are gonna ride out to the claim.

Oh, that's good.

Hell, that'll discourage any trouble.

You boys eat breakfast?

I've been known to.

Meet me over the hotel about 8 o'clock. I'll buy you the best feed you ever

heard.

There you are, once bold of Calico.

It'll make up right for you, and you'll be wanting some of these ribbons to go

with it.

Now, looky here, Mr. Gordon. These cups ought to do just fine for your Christmas

party, and I'll even throw in this matching picture.

I don't know about that, but I do need the white thread. Are you Mr. Tompkins?

I'll be right with you.

Mr. McFailin sends his regards.

Excuse me. Sir.

I'm sorry, I didn't know who... Mr. McFailin will be here Wednesday.

He expects to be paid in full.

Well, I won't have the money by Wednesday. I told him in my letter that

I gotta have more time.

Time's run out, Mr. Tompkins.

Looking for Cyrus Happy. You and me both.

What's wrong?

The old buzzard snuck out of here last night, owing me $17.

You sure?

Damn right I'm sure. He cleaned out his room, even stole the towels.

How'd he do a thing like that?

Thank you.

He came back about an hour later, said you boys had changed your minds.

I gave him the money back.

All of it? Every cent.

Why? Something wrong?

What do you mean, my fault? I didn't tell you to trust him.

You're the one who brought him here. Hold on. All I did was help you.

Nothing would have happened if you hadn't been so damn greedy.

Who are you calling greedy, huh? Would you stop it?

This ain't gonna help nothing.

We've got to find Hap, and we've got to get our money back.

How? There's over thousands of miles of territory around here.

This horse was stable to deliver, and they don't know something.

Yeah, I remember him.

He asked about Fort Laramie.

Seemed real anxious to get there.

All right. Thanks, Hortus.

You bet.

Seems to me like he's headed toward Blue Creek.

That's the opposite direction.

Perhaps not dumb enough to say where he's going. He figures to trick us.

Or maybe he figures that we'll figure that that's what he figures and really

go to Fort Laramie.

Cody, you know the trouble with you is you're always making mud out of clear

water.

I'm going to Blue Creek.

You forgetting something?

What? You gotta go back to the weigh station.

Tell them all what happened.

Let's just get it over with.

Bye-bye, big girl.

Bye-bye, big girl.

Thank you.

Any of you gentlemen care to join me here?

Help yourselves?

Right ahead. I'll show you.

Well, then.

Any of you gentlemen ever played Follow the Queen?

I ain't never heard of it.

Well, I tell you, there just ain't nothing to it so long as you've got a

good sharp eye.

Because what she does is good.

It's tough. Nobody knows.

Except him.

And all you got to do is pick her out. There you go.

Is that one?

Look at that!

Shoot, boys, this was easy.

That's what I tell you. Now, I tell you what I'm gonna do.

I gotta have my money.

I told you yesterday.

I'm waiting to get paid myself.

Now you just relax.

Don't tell me to relax. Look at here.

Right there. Some of these bills are two months old. You're not the only one

holding overdue bills. We all are. That dry spell caused a whole lot of trouble

for everybody.

I know that, but this is serious.

I'll try to get you something next week.

Now that's the best I can do.

that money you owe me.

Lucas!

That one.

Are you sure now?

Turn it over.

Yes, sir.

There you are, partner.

That's it all.

Oh, now, easy, friend.

You're a hood winking me, I know it. Oh, no, there's no cause for trouble here,

gentlemen. I don't want you in that place.

We'll never get our money after they get through this.

Let me look at those.

This is an honest game. Those cards are marked.

Giant snake.

Now it's time to pay up.

Not so fast. He cheated me.

What can happen when you're done?

I can explain.

Just give me a minute. I'll explain the whole thing to you.

I'm telling you, you're making a big mistake.

I was going to come back. We're going to string you up. Get over here.

Oh, no, I really will hang you.

I'm getting you. I'm getting you. Let's go find a good hanging tree.

Come on.

Good.

No sign of them.

Looks like they turned around.

Boys, I am truly grateful to you. Enough with the sweet talk. Just give us our

money. Well, see, I would if I could, but I... You say you don't got it?

Ain't got it.

You just said not to say that.

He's got to be lying.

You seen him clean me out back there, didn't you, during that ruckus?

Damn it all, Hemp. How could you swindle us after I saved your life?

Well, now, son, you don't want to take it personal.

This is just...

It's business.

Business.

He's busted, all right.

You know, we ought to tie him up, buck make him behind his horse, and let it

drag him to Blue Creek.

Sounds good to me.

Oh, no. Now, wait. Now, they... All you got to do, get me over to Medicine Buff.

I got money stashed over there. Pay you right away. We'd have to be crazy to

trust you again.

Do you think I'd lie?

After you saved my life twice?

You're gonna wish we never had saved you, if you are lying.

Excuse me, Mr. Tompkins? Yeah?

There's $23 there. That's all I could get.

You owe me 68.

I know. I'll pay you more next week. That's a promise.

All right.

Can we buy a few things?

Sure, if you got money.

Well, I just paid you $23.

Well, what good does that do me if you borrow it right back?

Nobody wants to pay their... It's people like you that are ruining me.

Be good riddance.

He attacked me and busted up my store. I want him arrested.

I'm going to camp here tonight and still make medicine bluff by noon.

I see. We keep going.

He's dead.

Well, he can't be dead.

He ain't breathing.

Maybe he just fainted or something.

Check again?

Maybe he had a weak heart.

Maybe we shouldn't have been so mean to him.

Shouldn't have been so mean to him? He stole our money.

Something wrong?

He drank a powerful herb using religious ceremonies. It slows the heart.

Could knock him out for a couple hours.

And he's faking?

Man can't even die without lying.

Probably figured we'd leave him for dead.

And then we ought to bury him, too.

He's been leading us on a wild goose chase all along.

I say we take him to jail in Sweetwater.

Is there any way to wake him?

You must be Mr. Tompkins. Yes, sir. Sit down.

Perkins, get the gentleman some coffee.

No, no thanks.

Well, I'll get right to the point, Mr. Tompkins.

I'm a gambler, not a merchant.

I don't want your store.

I don't want to own it, I don't want to run it.

That's your business, not mine.

I sure am glad to hear you say that.

Unfortunately, you owed a great deal of money to a man who had very poor

judgment when it came to cards.

He lost the note on your store to me.

Oh, I know that, sir, and I'm doing my best. I'm not interested in your best,

Mr. Tompkins.

All I'm interested in is collecting $3,700.

Do you have my money?

Well, I don't have all of it, but I can give you about $1,000.

That's not enough.

Well, I can get more after New Year's. I can't wait that long.

You've got to give me a couple of more days, please. I built that old store

with my bare hands, and it's all I got in the world.

Seeing as it is the holidays, I'm feeling charitable.

I'll give you till tomorrow night. If I don't have my money by then, I'll take

everything you own.

get this wood over there.

Afternoon, Rachel.

Sarah.

How is everybody?

We're fine.

What brings you out this way?

I was just passing by. I thought I'd pay a call.

You're always welcome here. You know that.

Nobody just passes by, not way out here.

I heard about the trouble at Tompkins' store and how Stephen's in jail, and I

was worried about you all being alone.

We're making do.

We'd be glad to have you come stay at the weigh station till he gets home.

It's real kind of you.

Well, we gotta look after things here.

Well, now, there's plenty of room.

I appreciate it.

Now, Teaspoon will be back soon, and he'll straighten out all this.

Oh, I hope so.

He will.

I thought...

You might need a few things.

You shouldn't have done this.

Oh, God.

I don't know what we're gonna do.

It's gonna be fine.

I sure hate the idea of spending Christmas in jail again.

Get used to it, because we're going to make sure there's a lot more.

Some Christmas this is going to be.

No money, no presents.

That all means to you, money and presents?

It does when you ain't got any.

That's a sad thing to hear from a young man.

When you've got your health and your friends and your freedom, you've got

plenty to celebrate.

Being broke ain't nothing.

You're the reason we're broke.

Well, maybe teach you a lesson.

You got no right preaching to us after what you did. Oh, what you did to

yourselves.

Never could have got swindled if you hadn't been so greedy. Now, that ain't

so. Oh, yes, it is.

You all thought you were going to get half a gold mine, didn't you, without

even lifting a finger?

Yeah, ain't the way life works, boys.

All you get for nothing is nothing.

But you had them gold bars just dancing around in front of your eyes, didn't

you? If you'd stop to think for a second, nobody could have fooled you.

Well, you didn't give us a chance to think.

I've been on my own since I was ten years old, been all over this country,

run every game there is, and I'm here to tell you, God is my witness, I ain't

never been able to cheat a man who deep down didn't think he was cheating me.

He's not here.

Short records.

What place is he doing in there? I got in a ruckus with Tompkins.

He says I busted up his store.

Did you?

It was an accident, Teaspoon, I swear.

He came at me and, well, I kind of lost my temper.

You think you could hold on to it if I let you go home? Oh, yes, sir. You got

my word. I don't want no more trouble.

Barnett!

Teaspoon, I will forget this.

You know, a man spends his whole life trying to build up a business, and then

something like this happens.

There ought to be something you can do.

Nope, there's nothing.

He won that note from my wholesale supplier in St. Joe.

Gives him the right to take my business.

There's watchdogs here making sure I don't steal anything.

Can't your friends loan you something?

Yeah. Hard times have hit everybody, Teaspoon.

And that's how I got in trouble.

You know, giving people a little extra credit.

Just trying to help them out. No, Tompkins, we've had our differences from

time to time, but I've always respected you. That's why I hate to see you give

up. Time needs you.

Tough times can bring out the best in folks.

Maybe there's a way.

All I know is you sell things off at a loss, you'll be finished for sure.

Yeah, it'd take a miracle.

Now, I built this whole business up myself.

If anybody's gonna sell it off, it's gonna be me.

Maybe we ought to take him to jail first.

Never gonna live this one down.

What's going on at Tompkins?

I'll be damned.

Leo McFailin.

See that chimp there in the fancy duds? He's a card chopper. He ain't been

failing. Oh, he's good. He can cheat you more ways than Snake's got scales.

Sounds like someone you'd know. I never have met the man, but I've seen him skin

more than one sucker. Yes, sir.

I wonder what he's doing talking to Tompkins.

Well, fleecing him more than likely. That's what he does. Gets these rich

businessmen into rigged card games and cleans them out.

We gotta talk Tompkins in.

Boys, wait, wait, wait.

Oh.

The Lord is smiling on us. I see a way that we can all of us get what we want.

How?

I'm gonna beat McFailin at his own game.

Now, y'all get your money back, and I'll be on my way. Shut up, Hap. We ain't

trusting you again. I guarantee it'll work. Now, I just need a little help

from you. Some cash, of course.

Well, maybe we ought to ask Teaspoon first.

Teaspoon Hunter, this is Marshall here.

Just say a word to him. Me and Teaspoon crossed paths down there in Texas.

He swore he was gonna shoot me on sight next time. No, I'll get your money back.

I guarantee you that. But Teaspoon ain't to know nothing about it.

Let's get him out of here.

Yeah, I'll be right with you, sir. Just a minute.

I'm gonna buy it. No, you ain't. I saw it first.

Tompkins. Yeah.

You got that silver belt that I like so much? I sure do. I'm buying it,

Tompkins. I'm buying it, and I'll give you $20 for it. I'll give you $25.

Just wait a minute. Hold on. You boys ain't got that kind of money unless you

rob the stage.

Better.

We struck gold.

Gold? That's right.

You know that prospect that Jimmy helped?

Gave us half his claim, and it's worth a fortune.

Well, I'll be happy celebrating over the saloon right now, drunk as a skunk.

The way he's going, he's gonna gamble his half away by sundown.

Tony money.

That's him.

The old coot.

Papa?

Papa?

Oh, what are you doing here?

I'd like you to come home.

Well, I'll come home when I'm good and ready. Wendell.

Please, come with me now.

Quit nagging me.

Don't do this again.

Now go on, get out of here.

Please, Papa, I'm begging you. Get out of here.

Hey, hey, hey, be careful now.

Pardon me.

I thought you might need this.

Thanks, Whit.

I saw what happened.

That man is your father?

I shouldn't have come here.

No, don't apologize.

You're his daughter. You're worried.

Tell me what's wrong.

Well, that's real kind of you, mister, but... Oh, I can't burden a stranger

with my troubles.

I insist.

As a gentleman, you can't expect me to turn my back on a beautiful young lady

in distress.

It's his gambling.

It's always been a problem, but...

This time I'm afraid he's going to lose everything.

Like what?

Well, Papa's been looking all his life for the mother load.

It about killed my mama.

And now he's found it. He's really found it.

But if he keeps gambling, he's going to lose it.

He's going to lose it all.

I'm not going to guilt you.

I think I can handle it.

McFailin's going to cheat you out of your claim playing poker tonight, and

I'm supposed to help.

He's going to give it to me afterward so I can help take care of you.

Oh, I know. He couldn't resist a pretty woman.

How are you going to do it?

Well, I'll be standing right behind you, and if you're bluffing on a weak hand,

I'm supposed to hold this.

All right, then we know what to do.

I'm just going to let him win until he thinks it's working, and then I'll keep

raising the stakes until he puts up that note on Tompkins' door, and that's the

handle that happens. is gonna win.

Where are we gonna get the money to bet?

Oh, Tompkins is putting up some of what he owes McFarland. But if you win,

McFarland's gonna know that Rachel cheated him.

What if he starts cheating?

Well... Where is everybody?

Oh! What?

What is going on?

Nothing. Yeah, nothing.

Looks kind of peculiar to me.

That's enough snooping.

You're going to spoil your Christmas present.

My Christmas present?

Don't come in without knocking.

Aces over eights?

I ain't seen a bad run of cards like that in my whole life.

Sorry. Deal him.

How is it out there?

Quiet.

I think I'll get me some air.

Cleans me out.

I guess I'm in.

I'll raise you $100.

I just told you I'm cleaned out.

Well, you must have something.

This here's worth a fortune in gold, man. You can just ask anybody.

Well, I trust you, Mr. Hampton.

I'm in.

That won't cover it.

I own half that gold mine.

I'll call.

That ain't enough.

There's another $500.

Still ain't enough.

The note on Tompkins' store. Satisfied? All right.

Par sevens.

Full house.

Paris happy?

I warned you.

He

killed

him.

Yeah, he drew on me.

I believe his bet stands, Marshal.

Looks like I won.

Not so fast.

Looks like I win.

4-10.

I wouldn't do that if I was you.

I really killed me one cheat today. I'd get out of town before I make it two.

Merry Christmas.

McPhailin won this by cheating your friend.

It's only right you should get it back.

I'll never forget you boys for this.

I'm just terrible sorry a man had to die because of it.

What are you all looking at?

Hap was a good man, Teaspoon.

He may have sidestepped the law now and again, but he didn't deserve to die.

Well, actually, Cody, I couldn't agree with you more.

Me neither.

It sure wasn't nice to hear you boys speaking so well of the dead, Bill.

Blasted, Hap.

I'm tired of you dying on us.

I thought you and Teaspoon was enemies.

Well, we were worthy adversaries. Happen to lead me up a month's wages.

I still haven't figured out how you did that. You never will.

He was gonna hang me out to drive, and I told him about our old scheme, get

Tompkins' store back, and he just jumped right in there.

Why'd you go to Teaspoon?

Because you don't cheat a man like McFailin unless you cover your tracks.

And being dead is pretty good cover.

I had to know the kid was gonna have the winning hand.

Oh, I had lots of winning hands.

I had four kings in here and four

aces in here.

Hap told me to switch cards during the confusion.

Well, we got our money back, and Hap, looks like it's going to be a great

Christmas after all.

There's only one thing that could make it any better.

I'm way ahead of you, Teaspoon.

Come on, boys.

Where are we going?

Sleep tight, sweetheart.

It's gonna be all right.

Where do you want the tree?

I'll tell you.

It happened a long, long time ago on a night like this.

A little town called Bethlehem.

A fellow named Joseph and his wife Mary.

They come to town looking for a place to stay.

Well, you see, Mary, she's going to have a baby.

But they couldn't find a room nowhere, not a one.

So they had to bed down the barn with all these farm animals.

Sure enough, late that night...

Little baby boy was born.

And Mary, she wrapped the baby in swaddling clothes.

And suddenly, miraculous things started to happen.

A great star appeared in the sky overhead like a beacon. And this

beautiful angel swooped down in front of these shepherd fellas.

And the angel says to them, Behold, the Savior is born.

Then the whole sky lit up like was fourth of July and heavenly voices were

singing glory be to God peace on earth Goodwill toward men. I tell you

It was so nice That there's the reason

why we celebrate Christmas to this day Merry Christmas teaspoon

Merry Christmas to you.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Jorgensen.

Cyrus, you old scoundrel.

Merry Christmas to you. Merry Christmas to you.