Original subtitles

There he is... First to give up.

I never thought he'd sell out.

I suppose he's going to deposit all the money

He got for the herd.

How's the cattle business?

No sense sitting around here all day

Chawin' like a bunch of old women.

Anybody has a right to sell out if he wants to.

I suppose Steve wanted to get his

Before the price dropped to nothing.

And he was going to be the cattle king of Wyoming.

Well, the rest of you will soon do just what he's done.

We're not selling out.

You just stick around and see.

Sure, I'll stick around. I got nothing better to do.

As a matter of fact,

I'll be here long after you two-bit ranchers

Are all starved out.

If I were 20 years younger...

You won't live to be 20 seconds older

If you keep running off at the mouth that way!

Go ahead, let's see how fast you are.

All right, graycoe. That's enough.

Says who?

I've been wanting to talk to you men about something.

Aw, we got nothing to talk to you about.

Thanks, Steve, for what you just did for me.

I didn't ask for your help.

Now wait a minute, please.

Look, I just wanted to tell you this.

If you can help it, don't sell out.

You sold.

Now, look, if you trust me,

You'll hold on as long as possible.

How long are you talking about?

Till next spring.

You can manage that all right, can't you?

What is your scheme?

I can't tell you just yet.

We'll think it over.

Hi, Larry.

Hello, Steve.

Afternoon, Mr. mccullum.

Good afternoon, Steve.

Got a minute?

Of course. Sit down.

Thanks.

So you've sold your cattle, huh?

All but a few head.

After paying off the crew, this is all that's left of it.

$8,000. Not very much for all those steers.

Longhorns are a drug on the market.

I was pretty lucky to sell them at all.

If you'd held them a while longer,

The smaller ranchers might have had some hope.

Now, I don't know.

Hope for what?

For the price of longhorns to go up?

You know better than that, Mr. mccullum.

Well, something might have happened.

Sure, but not if somebody doesn't make it happen.

I'd like to mortgage my ranch.

You'd get more if you sold it.

I want to keep it.

Oh, I see.

Well... It's not worth very much.

5,000 acres is always worth something.

You were just getting ready to buy it.

How much do you need?

About $20,000.

$20,000!

You expect me to take a mortgage for $12,000?

I can't do it.

You can cut the place up into farms and make that much.

I'll let you have $6,000.

$8,000.

$6,000, Steve. Take it or leave it.

I'll take it.

Make out the papers.

What are you planning to do with the money?

You'll find out.

Hi, Bob.

Steve. How was the trip?

Well, about what you would expect.

I got the going rate for longhorns...

Half cent a pound.

I can pay your back wages now.

Thanks for waiting.

That's all right.

Well, thanks for everything, Steve.

I'll be seeing you.

Now hold on. You've still got a job.

You're still my foreman, regular foreman's wages.

You don't need me.

You just sold almost all your cattle.

And half a cent a pound, the few you got left

Aren't worth paying anybody to look after.

Climb on your horse and come with me.

Where to?

Just over the hill.

Remember him?

Mewhhh!

It's your little crossbreed.

How does he look to you?

He looks fine, Steve. He's coming along great.

Gonna have some good steaks on him.

Yeah, he's tough, too.

He's as tough as any steer we've ever grown around here.

It's going to work, Bob. I'm sure of it.

Looks like you're right, Steve.

It's going to take a lot of money.

Did you consider that?

Yeah. I mortgaged the ranch.

I'm leaving for Oregon tomorrow morning.

I sure wish you'd come along, Bob.

You don't waste much time.

I can't afford to.

I'm ready.

Good.

We'll button down the place and we'll get packed.

Mewhhh!

[ Player piano plays ]

Where are you going?

I'm going to see Maddox.

Maybe he's busy.

He won't be too busy to talk to me.

If it's about a job, Andrews, I'm the man to see.

It's about a job,

But you'll probably be working for me.

Oh? Sounds interesting.

Hmm. It is.

What is it?

I want to talk to you, Maddox.

This is Bob Andrews.

Come in.

I have a proposition for you, Maddox,

But it's confidential.

Mr. graycoe is a trusted associate.

All right, Mr. Andrews. I'm a busy man.

What is your proposition?

This is big, Maddox,

Bigger than anything you've ever done.

And I'm going to be your partner.

Yeah? Go on.

Steve Patrick has an idea he thinks is going to make him

The biggest cattleman in Wyoming.

I can't see any advantage

In being any kind of a cattleman in Wyoming.

He's bringing in a herd of white-face.

He's crazy.

If you don't shut up...

Who do you think you're talking to?

Graycoe!

Mr. Andrews, graycoe's a very impulsive man.

I suggest you be more careful with him.

Sit down and please go on.

Patrick has an idea for a new crossbreed.

He's tried it and it works. I've seen it.

It's a cross between the Texas longhorn

And hereford dairy cattle.

It's got half again as much meat as the longhorn

And it's just as rugged.

These winters won't bother it at all.

It'll change the whole cattle picture in this state.

And how does Patrick expect to keep this a secret?

He doesn't. Once he gets started,

He plans to furnish his neighbors

With all the breeding stock they need.

Very charitable man.

Just what do you expect us to do about all this?

Some of the ranchers around here have quit already

And their land's for sale.

The rest of them have mortgages.

You have enough cash on hand

To buy up 10 or 15,000 acres of land and paper tomorrow.

Then we'll go ahead.

We? I see you're a partner already.

Not a very good businessman.

You've told me a secret.

You've told me how to capitalize on it.

Now if I should decide to go ahead,

I don't need you.

Yes, you do.

You need the hereford cattle, and I'll have them...

$14,000 worth of the best breeding stock.

Where do you expect to get them?

Oregon.

Patrick and I are leaving in the morning.

I see. You figure to grab Patrick's herd.

That's right.

And I know just the place to do it.

I know this country like the palm of my hand.

Mr. Andrews...

You've got a deal.

Now just tell me when and where.

Can you furnish about six good men?

Yes.

We'll be gone a couple of months.

You set up a camp above canyon river.

I'll meet you there when we get back.

Let's see, you better be there in about six weeks

In case we make better time than we expect to.

I'll tell you the rest of the plan then.

We'll be there.

In the meantime, you buy up the land.

Maddox, between us,

We'll have the biggest spread in this state.

Before we're through, we'll own 50,000 head of cattle.

I'm curious about one thing.

I thought you and Steve Patrick were close friends.

I'm through working for other people.

I want a ranch of my own...

A big one.

Well, if this works out...

It will, if you do your part.

Don't worry about that.

I've got a question, too, Andrews.

Just what do you figure on doing with Patrick?

You don't think he's going to sit there

While you steal his cows, do you?

We'll decide that when we come to it.

All right.

We'll meet you above canyon river.

Right.

So we're going into the cattle business now, huh?

I don't see why not.

Maybe Patrick's all wrong about this crossbreed.

I don't think so.

He knows more about cattle than anybody around here.

If he says it'll work, it will.

And you're going to take the gamble

And sink all that cash in land?

It won't be much of a gamble.

The land that's available around here is pretty cheap.

And after Patrick leaves, it'll be cheaper.

Tell me, in your wide circle of acquaintances,

Would there be any rustlers?

Some of my best friends.

Get me a body of good ones, will you?

[ Coyote howls ]

More coffee, Bob?

No, thanks.

Enough for morning.

I'll take first shift tonight.

All right.

Wake me up about midnight, huh?

Yeah.

If you get tired, wake me up before that.

[ Bird call ]

[ Bird call ]

Neigh!

Neigh!

Steve!

Easy, Bob, easy.

It's only me, boy.

How is it?

It's not good.

Did you find the horses?

No. There must have been quite a few of them.

I saw a lot of moccasin tracks

Around where they picked them up.

Sorry, Steve. It's my fault.

I fell asleep.

Forget it. How about a little water?

Our problem right now is to get a doctor for you.

There's no horses. You can't walk.

I can try.

We can't be more than a few Miles

From the Oregon border.

Bound to be some settlers around there.

Look, you take it easy.

I'll get back as soon as I can.

All right.

Neigh!

Hey!

Hey!

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunshot ]

Thanks.

All right. What's the trouble?

Indians. Stole our horses last night,

Shot my partner up pretty bad.

Got to get a doctor to him before he bleeds to death.

There aren't any Indians within Miles of here.

I'm glad to hear that.

Where did it happen?

Rock flats out east of here.

How did you get this far since last night?

Walked.

That's impossible.

All right, so it's impossible.

Are you going to get me some help or aren't you?

I'm sorry.

I'll get a doctor and a buckboard right away.

Thanks.

Get me a horse, will you, please?

I'll be right here.

Oh, thanks, Chuck.

You're welcome, Mr. Patrick.

You can call me Steve, you know, Chuck.

Everybody else does.

Okay.

Mmm. Where'd you learn to make pie like this, miss hale?

Back home. I'm a farm girl from Illinois.

During the harvest season,

Mother and I used to cook for 40, 50 people at a time.

How is he, doctor?

Oh, he'll be all right.

Bullet missed his lung and went through.

He's got a couple of cracked ribs

And he's lost considerable blood,

But a couple weeks rest will put him back on his feet.

Where's the lung, doc?

It's right there.

Boy, you killed that Indian,

Didn't you, Steve?

Time for you to go to bed, Charles.

You promised not to call me that, mom.

That's right. I'm sorry, Chuck.

Now say good night and go to bed.

Good night, doc.

Good night, young fellow.

Good night, Steve.

Good night, Chuck.

You know what I'm going to be when I grow up?

I can guess.

What?

A cowboy, that's what.

This is probably the most exciting thing

That's ever happened to him.

He's a fine boy.

Can I get you some coffee, doctor?

No, thanks. I have a couple more calls to make.

I'll stop in in a day or two and change his dressing.

Thank you, doctor. What do I owe you?

Oh, I don't know.

It depends on how many calls I have to make.

I'll collect from you later.

Good night, Janet.

Good night, doctor.

Mr. Patrick...

You may not realize it, but...

You saved that young man's life.

I'm glad I was able to help, doctor.

Good night.

Night.

How are your feet?

Much better, thanks.

I've done enough walking to last me a long time.

Sure glad a cowboy can do most of his work sitting down.

Shall I heat that up for you?

No, that'll be fine. Thanks.

You've been very good to us, miss hale.

You had as much to do with saving Bob's life

As any of us did.

Well, I'm glad I was around at the right time.

I'm sorry to impose on you,

But if Bob has to rest up, Mrs. hale...

He's welcome to stay here.

I'll sleep in Chuck's room.

You and the boy alone?

Yes, my husband died almost a year ago.

I'm sorry to hear that.

It's a pretty rough country

For a woman and a child to live in alone.

Well, I'm trying to sell this place.

As soon as I do,

I'll use the money for our transportation back east.

I want Chuck to have a proper education.

He's getting to be as wild as the country.

Oh, he isn't so wild, ma'am.

No more so than any other healthy youngster.

Maybe not.

I wouldn't be so concerned

If he had a father to educate him.

If you don't mind my saying so, Mrs. hale,

Unless all the men in Oregon are blind,

There must be quite a few who'd like to be Chuck's father.

None that I'd care to marry, Mr. Patrick.

You must be...

Very particular.

Yes, I am.

Very.

I'm afraid you'll have to sleep in the barn.

There's no other place I can offer you.

That'll be fine.

Thanks again.

Good night.

Good night.

[ Rooster crows ]

How are your feet today, Mr. Patrick?

A bit tender, but I reckon they'll be all right

By the time I reach Pendleton.

I made you some sandwiches for your lunch.

Thanks.

Thanks for the loan of the horse, too.

Hey, Steve!

You're not leaving without saying goodbye to me.

Now you know better than that, cowboy.

So long.

So long.

I'll see you in about two weeks.

All right.

Don't worry about Mr. Andrews.

I'll take good care of him.

Good. Goodbye.

Goodbye, Steve.

Steve don't have any boys of his own, you know, mom.

Doesn't have any boys, dear.

Yeah. He'd like to have a boy, you know.

He told me so.

Oh, he did, did he?

Mom, why don't we go on the trail drive

With Steve and Bob when they go back to Wyoming?

It'd be a lot of fun.

I'm sure it would, but it's much too far

For a couple of tenderfeet like us.

Besides, we can't ride well enough anyway.

We could learn, I bet.

Steve wasn't any older than me when he learned.

We got plenty to keep us busy

Around here for a while, Chuck...

Till we sell this place.

Nobody wants to buy it.

Well, they certainly won't

If we let it get in any worse shape

Than it is already.

You didn't finish hoeing the vegetable garden yesterday,

For instance, now did you?

No, ma'am.

Yes, sir, Mr. Patrick, they're all prime beef.

You won't find better herefords than them anywhere.

Glad to hear that.

What's your price if I take the whole thousand?

$15 a head.

That would include 30, 40 new calves.

I'd let them go along with their mothers.

This is all there is, Mr. Reed.

I need the whole thousand head.

Hey, $14,000. All cash.

Mister, you got a deal.

You have pretty good-looking cows, all right.

Course they won't be by the time I get 'em up home.

Where's that?

Powder river country... Wyoming.

Wyoming? Mr. Patrick...

Selling a thousand head of cattle

Is something that I just can't do every day.

Much as I want to make the deal,

There's something I got to tell you.

Them herefords just won't live on the open range.

Only Texas cattle's got a chance

Against them hard Wyoming winters.

They'll live.

I'll see to it,

If I have to hand-feed every one of them myself.

All right, but I hope you're not making

An expensive mistake.

I hope the same, Mr. Reed.

When will you have the bill of sale ready?

Tomorrow before noon be all right?

Fine. I'll be back either in the morning or afternoon.

It depends on how long it'll take me

To hire a trail crew.

Now you might just have a little trouble there.

That's a long, hard drive you got in mind,

Going the wrong way on the Oregon trail.

Where do you think I should start looking?

Might try the cattlemen's association in town.

All right, I'll do that. Thanks.

Be looking for you tomorrow then.

Good luck.

I'm afraid that's the story, Patrick.

No punchers have registered with us for some time.

I guess they're all working.

Roundups have been over for two months.

What happened to the men who worked them?

I wouldn't know.

I think you would know.

When I told you what I wanted the men for,

You didn't even check your listings.

Listen, Patrick...

You listen! Men who are looking for work

Aren't going to like the way you represent them.

They'll thank me.

No cowboy in his right mind

Wants any part of a job like yours this time of year.

So good day, sir.

[ Player piano plays ]

Whiskey?

Yeah.

My name is Steve Patrick.

I'm a cattle rancher.

I'm looking for a trail crew.

Have any idea where I might find one?

This is as good a place as any, mister.

Take your pick. A

I got a crew of eight good men and a cook, Mr. Patrick.

Experienced?

Yes, sir.

All right. You're hired.

I pay regular wages... $40 a month and grub,

Bonus of $20 a man if we lose less than 5% of the cows.

How many cows and where are you taking them?

Does that make any difference?

No, just curious, Mr. Patrick.

A thousand head of white-face.

I'm taking them to Wyoming.

You mean that?

Sure I mean it.

No, thanks.

You men can't want work very bad.

We don't, Mr. Patrick. This is the off-season.

We can get along without a trip to Wyoming.

I've been there in the winter and I don't like it.

Neither will your cows.

Any other saloons in town?

There's only one other place

Where you might pick up a crew,

But I wouldn't recommend it.

Where's that?

It's around the corner. It's called mcclary's.

Why wouldn't you recommend it?

If you were looking for owl hoots

Or ex-convicts or rustlers,

Mcclary's would be the place to find them.

No rancher with any sense would hire them for punchers.

If you're going to mcclary's, mister,

You'd better figure on shooting your way out.

I'm taking three.

20.

Raise.

I'll see you...

See the raise...

And bump you 50.

I'll see you, lynch.

I'm light.

You're always light.

A house full of 3's.

That makes 30 you owe me.

Put it in the book, Ben.

How much does he owe me altogether?

Well, let me see now.

That makes it $170... $178,000 and 50 cents.

Nothin'. I can afford it.

Whiskey.

You know him, Ben?

Never laid eyes on him before.

Mister, you're either the law

Or you're running away from it.

Which is it?

And the answer had better be right.

Neither one.

I'm a cattle rancher...

Looking for a trail crew.

Now that's not very clever.

This is the last place

Anybody would look for cowpunchers.

Yeah, it's the last place, all right.

Nobody else wanted the job I'm offering.

We make our own jobs.

We do all right without hiring out to anybody.

Yeah, you look it.

Nice clothes...

A good livin'...

Lots of money to play around with.

Yeah, you look like you're doing real fine.

You came in here looking for trouble,

Didn't you?

Well, you came to the right place.

Make your play, big man.

I've had a bad day.

I reckon it's a good a place as any

To get it off my chest.

Stand still, will ya?

I'm gonna keep gettin' up,

So you better get your gun.

'Cause you're gonna have to kill me

To keep me down.

I don't want to kill you. I want to hire you.

Want to talk business?

Talk.

Like I said, I'm a rancher.

I'm going to Wyoming with a thousand head of herefords.

I couldn't get a trail crew

Because everybody thought I was crazy to try it.

Are you interested?

Well, any man that can hit the way you do

Can't be altogether crazy.

What's your proposition?

Regular puncher's wages...

And a permanent job on my ranch

After we get the herd through.

Mister, you got a crew.

But being a stranger,

Maybe you don't know about us.

Oh, I know about you, all right.

You're mostly ex-convicts or ex-outlaws.

Nobody will give you a job.

Well, as far as I'm concerned, you're my crew.

As long as you do your job and play square with me,

That's all I ask.

I don't care who you are or what you've done.

You're the first man that's talked that way to us

In a long time.

You may be loco at that,

Driving cattle backwards on the Oregon trail.

But if that's what you want us to do,

We'll do it.

We're all pretty good cowhands.

I believe you.

Maybe you won't think I'm so loco

After I tell you what I plan to do with the cows.

How about a drink?

Uh, I'd like to go along, too.

I can cook.

You can cook?

All right. Then you're hired.

There.

Well, you won't need me anymore.

Thank you, Chuck.

That's fine, doc.

How soon will I be able to ride again?

Right now, if you want.

But don't overdo it.

Hey, let me do that.

Doc says I'm going to live again.

Oh, he does?

He's healed up very nicely, Janet,

Thanks to your care and good cooking.

He doesn't owe it all to me, doctor.

Steve Patrick helped him. So did you.

Well, you're right about Patrick.

There's no doubt he saved Bob's life.

He must be quite a man.

Yeah.

Yes, he is.

Well, goodbye. See you soon.

So long, doc. Thanks again.

Bye, sir.

You're getting to be mighty polite all of a sudden.

How come?

Cowboys are always polite.

Oh.

Good day. Goodbye.

Goodbye. Bye.

[ Door closes ]

There's nothing wrong between you and Steve,

Is there?

Well, of course not. What makes you ask?

I don't know.

Just the expression you had

When the doctor said you owed your life to him.

You didn't seem to like the idea.

Don't be silly.

You know, I got a good mind

To go out and get myself shot up again

Just so you can take care of me.

I enjoyed it.

About your recovery.

None at all.

Too soon?

I think so.

I'm sorry.

Oh, don't be. I'm very flattered.

Janet...

Steve's going to be here soon.

I don't want to go back with him.

Why not?

Well, for several reasons, but i...

I like it here. I like it very much.

I want to start a new life...

With you.

I'm sure that if you explain to Steve

That you want to stay on here in Oregon,

He'll understand.

But as far as I'm concerned...

Janet...

I'm in love with you.

I don't think you are, Bob.

You're just grateful.

Yes. Yes, I am grateful,

But I'm not proposing to you out of gratitude.

I...I need you.

Something's troubling you, isn't it?

Everybody's got something troubling them, Janet.

Listen to me, please.

No. I'm sorry, Bob.

I like you very much.

That's all.

Well...

I guess that's that.

Steve! Hey, Steve!

How you doing, old-timer?

How you been, huh?

Fine.

That's good, cowboy.

There you are.

Good boy.

Hiya, Steve.

Hi, Bob. Janet, how are you?

Hey, you look as good as new.

Better maybe, huh?

How do you feel?

I feel fine. How'd it go?

Pretty well.

I got a thousand head of the greatest-looking white-face

You've ever seen.

Janet, I hope this character

Didn't give you too much trouble.

No trouble at all. He was a model patient.

Where are all the cowboys?

They're at the corral, Chuck, with the herd.

Do they all have guns and buckin' broncos?

Can I see them?

No, I'm afraid not. Not this trip.

Did you get a good crew?

Yeah, I think so.

They're a strange bunch,

But I think they'll work out all right.

That is, except for the cook.

He's a little bartender.

I don't think he knows one end of the pot from another.

Can I talk to you a minute before you go?

Sure, miss hale.

Hey, can you ride all right, Bob?

Yeah, fine. I'm ready whenever you are.

Good.

I know just how you feel, Chuck.

Bob sure looks fine, Janet.

I want to thank you for taking care of him.

He wasn't any trouble.

I'm glad to hear that.

Please sit down.

Thank you.

I'd like to pay you, Janet.

How much do I owe you?

You don't owe me anything,

Because I want to ask a favor of you.

A favor?

Yes. A big favor.

Well, I owe you a pretty big favor.

Take Chuck and me with you on the trail drive.

What?

We've got to get away from here.

I've told you why.

I can't wait until I sell this place.

That might never happen.

And I wouldn't be a burden to you either.

I'd be a working member of your crew.

Janet, i...

You said you weren't sure of your cook.

That's right.

Well, I can cook. You're sure of that.

Yeah.

And I'd expect to be paid for my work.

Then I'd have enough money to get to a big city,

Like Chicago or...

Janet, I'm sorry. I just can't do it.

Why?

Well...

There are two things that just aren't allowed

On cattle drives...

Women and whiskey.

I don't know. It's just...

Traditional.

A lot of things are traditional.

For instance,

Going east to west on the Oregon trail.

Well...

Now what about Chuck?

The trip is much too dangerous

For a child.

He can ride with me in the wagon.

What do you call it?

A Chuck wagon.

[ Laughs ] There. You see?

It's even named for him.

You said you owed me a favor, Steve.

Janet...

This is the favor I want.

I'd help, too.

I'd work hard, too, Steve.

I'd wash dishes.

All right. You're both hired.

Oh, Steve!

Come on, Chuck. Let's finish packing.

Hyah! Hyah!

Hup! Ho ho!

There's a stream about an hour ahead of us.

We'll make camp there tonight.

Okay, Steve. I'll tell the boys.

Fine.

[ Whistles ]

[ Coughs ]

How you doing, cowboy?

Great.

There's a little stream

About a mile and a half up the line.

We'll make camp there tonight.

Janet: All right.

[ Coughs ]

Have you got a bandanna or neckerchief?

Yes. Why?

Put it over your nose and mouth.

It'll help keep out the dust.

You, too, cowboy.

[ Coughs ]

Well, I'll be a dirt...

That is to say, well, I'll be doggoned.

Would you take a look at those?

Hot apple pie!

Get in line.

The smartest thing the boss ever did

Was to hire you to cook instead of me.

I sure never expected nothing like this.

Oh, me neither. Sure looks good.

Right there, miss Janet.

Come on, George. Come on.

Come on! Move along!

It's hot, boys! Look out!

I'm next.

Right there. Right there.

Right there.

Ha ha!

There you go.

Hot!

Ohh.

Thank you, lady.

You're welcome.

How about me?

Oh, goodness.

I was going to forget you.

Here you are, Bob.

Thank you, Janet.

Lucky thing for Bob that you came along.

He's gotten so used to your cooking,

He'd probably starve to death

If he had to eat any other kind.

We're all going to be spoiled before this drive's over.

This could be serious.

Well, now I never thought of that.

You're right, Ben.

Maybe I better stop making pies.

Janet, don't you pay any attention

To this half-pint.

You just keep cooking like this,

And we'll drive them cows

All the way to the Atlantic ocean.

Wyoming is far enough.

Chuck, come on get your pie.

Well, he's gonna be a good little cowboy, ma'am.

Just ride and eat and sleep.

That's one sure way of keeping out of trouble.

Thank you, George.

Uh, he ain't going to eat his pie.

Can I have it, miss Janet?

There you are, George.

Thank you.

Well, now,

What about those traditions of the trail you spoke of?

Well, i...

I could tell you stories about the terrible trouble

Woman have caused on trail drives,

But I reckon we can all bear up

Under this kind of trouble.

But it's only just fair, you know.

Maybe you can do better tomorrow, huh?

Hey, Steve.

What's the matter with you?

Where'd you ever eat better grub, boss?

No place.

I was just testing Janet

To see if she had a sense of humor.

You know, a trail cook has to have

A better sense of humor than anybody else.

Yes, sir.

Besides a sense of humor,

The cook also has an appetite.

That's mine.

[ Snoring ]

Thank you.

It's a pleasure.

Where are you going?

To ride nighthawk.

I'm a little more used to the saddle

Then the rest of the crew is.

I'll take the nighthawk job, Steve.

You've only been up a few days, Bob.

I'm all right.

Why don't you get all healed up first?

There will be plenty of other nights.

Quit nursemaiding me, will ya?

I tell you, I'm all right.

What's the matter with him?

He's been inactive too long.

I think he just wants to feel he's doing his share.

Good night.

Good night.

I'll take over for a spell.

Run up to the wagon

And get yourself some water.

Thanks, Steve.

I must've swallowed a pound a dirt today.

This cattle driving's more work than I remember it.

Nobody said it would be a picnic

When you hired on.

I'm just doing some normal complaining

Any cowhand's entitled to.

What's the matter with you lately?

We'll get your cattle through. Don't worry about it.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

[ Whistles ]

[ Whistles ]

How you making it?

All right. Listen, Steve.

I've been wanting to talk to you about the crew.

Oh? What about them?

Why didn't you tell me

They're all a bunch of gunslingers and outlaws?

I didn't think it made any difference to you.

It doesn't to me, as long as they do their job.

How'd you find out, anyway?

They don't make any secret of it.

I heard 'em talking about it.

Listen, I don't trust 'em.

Suppose you got into some kind of trouble?

Indians or rustlers.

If anything like that happened,

There's no one I'd rather have on my side

Than lynch and his men.

Sure they're gunmen,

But that's the kind of men you need in emergencies.

If they stick by you.

They'll stick. They're good men.

Now you just forget about the fact

That they might've once been outlaws.

They're all right.

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!

[ Whistling ]

There's a good campsite up about a mile ahead, Steve...

Plenty of trees and protection from the wind.

There's still about two hours of daylight left.

It wouldn't hurt to quit early.

Boys would appreciate it. They could use the rest.

Days are getting short enough as it is.

You tell the men we work from dawn till dark.

Rest at night, not before.

You're the boss.

Thanks, mom.

You're welcome.

Here's some milk for you, young fella.

Thank you, George.

The old girl I took it from objected a little,

But we managed.

I'll fill a plate for you.

Thanks.

Anybody want any more? There's plenty left.

Not me, miss Janet.

A man can eat just so much potatoes

Without any meat, and then he gets fed up.

We are getting low on food, Steve.

You know that.

Yeah, I know it. Got any ideas?

Just one... Butcher another cow,

Like they do on any cattle drive.

This cattle drive is a little different

From any other one.

You all know that.

I told you what I plan to do with the cows

When I get them to Wyoming.

Now, we've lost quite a few head

Because of the rough going.

That's why I'm not going to kill any more for food.

We need every head that can make it.

I'll probably lose a lot more

Before I get that new strain bred.

Sorry, but...

That's the way it's got to be.

All right, boys. You heard it.

Now do a little less complaining and more work,

And we'll get where we're going much faster.

Kincaid, you've got nighthawk tonight.

Got a half an hour to finish up and get out there.

I don't feel so good, lynch.

Let somebody else do it tonight.

Somebody else will do it tomorrow.

You've got it. Take it.

I'll take nighthawk tonight.

You're not due for three days.

I said I'd do it.

Good night, Steve.

Night. Sleep well.

Thank you, Steve.

Ooh, it's getting colder.

Yeah, and it's not going to get any warmer.

I only hope we don't get a snow.

How much longer do you think it'll be, Steve?

Oh, about a week if our luck holds out.

I'll be glad when it's finished.

Me, too.

But I wouldn't have missed it.

You're quite a girl, Janet.

It's been a pretty rough trip.

That's the second time you've called me a girl.

You liked it the first time.

Well, not anymore.

Oh, why not?

I'm afraid you mean just that.

Why shouldn't I mean it?

I'd rather you thought of me as a woman.

Janet, i...

I never had to ask a man to kiss me before.

I guess I've wanted to do that for...

For a long time.

I don't believe it.

If you'd wanted to, you would've done it.

I love you, Janet.

Oh, I hope you do.

Otherwise I'm making an awful fool of myself.

You are kind of bold at that.

And you're kind of backward.

No wonder you're still a bachelor.

Oh, it's good to hear you laugh again, Steve.

I don't know why I am.

I'm only adding one more trouble

To all my others.

Oh...

There are a couple answers I'd like, Janet...

If you don't mind.

Very well.

Do you love me?

Yes.

Want to marry me and move to that dirty old cattle ranch?

Oh, yes.

What about Chicago?

I never heard of it.

Hold it right there.

I want to see Maddox.

Who are you?

Andrews.

Okay.

[ Whistles ]

Someone's coming into the canyon.

All right, boys.

This is the man we've been waiting for.

How are you, Andrews?

Right on time. Come on in.

All right.

Just so we're sure we got everything straight,

Let's go over it again.

Here's where we are now,

And here's the herd coming this way.

We should be about here by tomorrow night.

I see. We stampede the herd.

That's right.

I'll be out here on the far side

To turn the point into the canyon.

Then we do the rest.

If Patrick and his men follow the cattle,

We'll be up in the rocks.

And it'll make it a real shooting gallery.

It better.

Patrick's got a crew of gunslingers

That he picked up in Oregon.

Looks like you've made up your mind

We can't do this without killing Patrick.

That's right.

Now you're getting smart.

Did you buy up the land and mortgages like I told you?

We've got all the land we could possibly use.

Good.

Tell me something.

Does Patrick know about this canyon?

Sure he does.

What better place to turn a stampeding herd?

He'll think I'm doing him a favor

By starting him in there.

Yeah. Good plan.

Keep the cows bottled up here in the canyon for a while,

Put our brand on them,

Drive them onto our own land in a few days.

You sure you can get that nighthawk job in tomorrow?

Don't you worry about that.

The time to start the stampede

Is about midnight or 1:00 in the morning

When everybody's sure to be asleep.

Graycoe, you ride out and meet me.

Okay. You're the boss.

Now there's just one more thing.

We've got a woman in camp.

Who is she?

She's our cook. She's got a kid with her.

All right, Andrews. It's your party.

What'll we do about her?

Don't do anything about her.

I'll kill the first man who lays a hand on her

Or that kid.

Your job to keep her quiet afterwards.

That's right.

It's my job, and I'll take care of it.

Everything straight now?

Yeah.

I better get back to the herd before daylight.

Give me some coffee.

[ Coughs ]

You don't look very well.

I guess I don't. I'm sick.

Give me some coffee.

All right.

[ Coughs ]

You're not sick. You're drunk.

Shut up.

Good morning, Steve.

Good morning, cowboy. Good morning, Janet.

Good morning, Steve.

Kincaid...

You know whiskey is not allowed

On a trail drive.

[ Coughs ] Patrick, I-I'm a sick man.

Then get on your horse and ride to the nearest doctor.

Lynch!

Yeah, Patrick?

Pay Kincaid off

And have Janet fix him some grub.

Patrick!

You firin' me?

That's right.

Why, you...

You know the rules, Kincaid.

Get your stuff together.

I'll handle him.

You're not sick, and you know it.

You've been a cowhand long enough to know

That nobody drinks on a trail drive.

You're through, Kincaid.

Sure, I've been a cowhand a long time.

Long enough to know that no trail boss

Ever kept his crew from eating meat.

None of them worried more about his fool cows

Than he did about his men!

You're crazy, Patrick.

You're drunk, Kincaid, and you're lucky to be.

For that reason,

I'm not going to shoot you.

Take your hand away from that gun.

Now get going.

You sure you don't want some grub?

No, I don't want no grub.

You know, Steve was right, Kincaid.

You are a lucky man.

He was within his rights to have blown your head off.

Good morning, Bob.

Morning, Janet. Thanks.

You must be cold clear through.

No, I kept moving.

Morning, Bob.

How'd it go last night?

Okay.

Steve...

Listen, i...

Jergenz! Ben! Get your horses!

Never mind.

Let him go.

Thanks, Bob.

That's all right.

We're even now.

Yeah.

[ Cattle mooing ]

Steve said to take the herd

Up as far as the flat rocks

Just this side of river canyon.

Said you'd know where it was.

Yeah, I know. What happened to Steve?

He's up scouting ahead,

Said he'd meet us back in camp tonight.

All right.

I've been meaning to talk to you about this morning.

That was a pretty quick piece of thinking.

A good shot, too.

I'm sorry about Kincaid going bad like that,

But, well, it happens sometimes.

The whole crew's gone a little sour.

Oh, they'll be all right,

If I have to sit on every one of them myself.

I still can't figure out

Why you all signed on as cowpunchers

For $40 a month.

That's $40 more than we were making.

You don't have to kid me, lynch.

I'm not.

Bob, let me tell you something.

I've done a lot of things in my life to make a living...

A little robbing, a little rustling.

An awful lot of running.

Yes, sometimes we made more than $40 a month,

But I haven't felt this good since I was a kid.

I feel good.

Maybe you won't when you get into town

And try to do anything with that money.

$40 doesn't go very far.

Far enough.

Steve's promised us jobs on the ranch.

I'd work for that man for nothing.

You know, I feel I'm pretty lucky,

Having met up with Steve.

But you're even luckier, Bob.

Why? How do you figure?

You've got your whole life ahead of you.

If you're smart, you'll stick with Steve.

He's going to be a big cattleman some day,

And you'll grow right along with him.

He likes you...

As much as if you were his own brother.

Sure. Steve's all right.

I don't know what's bothering you,

But whatever it is, I hope you get over it...

Quick.

Yah!

Let's go! Whoa! Whoa! Go!

Pay attention to what you're doing, Chuck.

You're wasting a lot of potato.

Nobody wants 'em, anyhow.

Don't talk like that.

You heard what Steve said about the cattle.

Mom, where is Steve?

I don't know.

Man: No, George.

I tell you, this time you're wrong.

We made a mistake. We might as well admit it.

Lynch: It's not going to be much longer.

In less than a week, we'll have meat.

I don't believe that. Neither do the other hands.

No, we're quitting. All of us!

Might as well quit arguing. We're through!

Look, we know you're on his side.

That's why we want to quit right now,

Just kind of calm-like,

Before we get in any shootin' scrapes

With you or Patrick or maybe Andrews.

You're a fine bunch of punchers.

Because you haven't had meat for a few days,

You're ready to give up!

Kincaid was wrong to be drinking on the trail...

All right, all right.

But he did make some sense.

He sure did. And another thing...

We're gonna butcher a cow and eat it before we leave.

Any trail boss who won't feed his men proper

Can get hisself another crew.

We're giving notice right now.

Hey, mom, look!

Janet, you reckon you still remember

How to broil venison steak?

I can try, Steve,

But it's a pretty small deer.

Couldn't be more than 30 or 40 steaks on him.

He was just a baby... Only a 6-pointer.

Probably wouldn't dress out more than 150 pounds.

Do the best you can, though, huh?

Did you hear what she said?

30 or 40 steaks!

I ain't had venison steak for 10 years.

I don't know if I can wait till it's cooked!

What was it you were saying

Before we were interrupted by that piece of meat

Walking right in the camp?

Why, uh, you remember very well, Mr. lynch.

We were saying as how we're ashamed

To be eating with you any longer.

We think it's time you washed your dirty face!

[ Men laughing ]

George, you let me go, now!

There, that'll teach you, you little runt!

Now you either apologize

Or you eat dinner in your underwear!

That's the first time they've laughed

In a long time, Steve.

Ah, it sounds good.

George!

George, you give me back my pants!

Give me my pants, George!

George, I'm pulling the tree out by the roots!

George!

[ Cattle mooing ]

Well, the herd's right where he said it would be.

Good.

It's 8:30.

We'll wait about three hours.

By that time,

Everybody ought to be asleep except Andrews.

You know, when I was punching cows,

I used to hate that sound.

Don't sound so bad to me anymore.

You'll be punching cows again, my friend,

Only this time they'll be ours.

Sure you've had enough, now?

Yes, ma'am.

Good night.

Good night, cowboy.

Night.

What's the matter, too much dinner?

Hey, you must've gained at least 10 pounds.

Thank you.

Ohh, mighty tasty dish.

Where'd you say you found this buck?

Back up in the hills.

He's got more relatives up there, too.

I think I'm going to like Wyoming...

Mountains full of deer, rivers full of fish and...

[ howling ]

Coyotes. I can do without them.

He's just talking to the moon.

We all do in Wyoming.

I hate to work off all that good food,

But it's my turn to nighthawk.

I'll trade with you tonight, Ben.

All right with you, Steve?

Sure.

Think you can stay awake?

Oh, I'm wide awake.

I've been having trouble sleeping, anyway.

Do you mind, Ben?

Mind? I should say not.

I don't figure I'll have trouble going to sleep.

You shouldn't have any trouble.

You ate enough for three normal-sized cowhands!

Ha ha. Yeah... I did.

Bob.

I'm sure glad you came along, Bob.

Yeah, me, too.

If things work out the way I figure, Bob,

By next spring you're going to have your own place.

What do you mean?

I'm going to start you out with a couple hundred cows

And all the longhorns you'll need for breeding.

Sure hate to lose a good foreman,

But I want to see you get started

On your own spread.

That sounds great, Steve.

You're being very generous.

You deserve it.

See you later.

You all set, Andrews?

Not quite. Go get Maddox.

What for? Is something wrong?

Yeah. Go get him.

Wait a minute. Settle down.

What's this all about?

I want to see Maddox.

There's no time for that now.

Get to the other side of that herd.

Unh-unh. The deal's off.

What?

Hoist 'em.

Look, Andrews...

I said hoist 'em and turn around.

Why don't you cut out this foolishness

And tell me what's going on?

I told you.

I changed my mind. The deal's off.

[ Gunshot ]

Stampede!

Bob! Stop!

Try to turn 'em into that canyon!

No, you can't!

Sure, we can. Come on!

[ Horse whinnies ]

Steve!

Maddox is in there! He'll kill you!

[ Horse whinnies ]

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunshot ]

Steve: Yah!

Whoop! Whoop! Whoop!

Hyah!

Something's gone wrong.

Get out there and make sure

Those cattle head into the canyon!

[ Whistling ]

Neigh!

Hyah! Yah!

Whoo! Whoo!

[ Gunshot ]

We can't turn 'em.

[ Gunshot ]

Andrews has double-crossed us.

He's turning them away from the canyon.

Get him. Get Patrick, too.

We got 'em now.

Keep 'em milling!

There he is.

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunshot ]

Bob's hurt bad, Steve.

Bob.

Steve.

You all right?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Maddox is not going to dry-gulch anyone else.

Now easy, boy.

Steve...

I was in with them.

Don't talk anymore, Bob.

You're going to be all right.

I'm sorry, Steve.

Janet...

I...

[ Janet sobbing ]

How do you like it?

It's beautiful.

Boy, what a place to be a cowboy!

Ha ha ha!

There he is...

First of the new strain.

Chuck and I want him for a pet.

Pet?

Why?

If he's the one that brought you to Oregon,

He deserves special treatment.

We owe him a lot.

I agree with you.

He's all yours, cowboy.

There comes our future, Janet.

It may be the future

Of every other ranch in Wyoming.