Original subtitles

Hyah! Hyah!

The place is Comanche, Texas, and I'm Jim Hardie,

sent by Wells Fargo to look for a couple of outlaws

we'd had word were hanging around here.

I didn't know much about the Rucker Brothers,

except that Pete Rucker had a scar on his cheek

and a weakness for race horses.

From what I'd heard about Comanche,

it looked like the right town to spread my bait for him.

Good-looking horse you got there, mister.

Thank you.

Looks like he might have some speed.

Well, I've matched him against a few that were slower than he was.

Folks around Comanche are pretty keen on fine horse flesh,

if you've a mind to run him.

I might.

Got a little mare in my own string ain't never been beat.

Maguire's my handle.

Mine's Henshaw. Bill Henshaw. Nice to know you.

Fifty bucks says my mare can, uh, outrun this chestnut of yours.

Interested?

Like I told you, Mr. Henshaw,

folks in this town are always ready for good horse race.

All right. I'll run your mare.

Go fetch her. I'll do just that.

Hello, Jim.

Aren't you mistaken?

My name's Henshaw.

You know who this is, don't you?

John Wesley Hardin.

I didn't think there was anyone who didn't know who it was.

You run along, get your mare.

I wanna talk to Mr. Henshaw alone.

I was just...

Sure. Sure, I'll run along.

All right, Hardie, what's the joke? Why this Henshaw business?

It has nothing to do with you.

I didn't even know you were in this town.

I'll bet you didn't.

You wouldn't have had the nerve to come around

after what happened that other time.

Swivel holster.

Still bothers you, doesn't it?

You made a fool out of me.

Faced me down in front of a lot of people.

You think I'd forget a thing like that?

No, I suppose you wouldn't.

Wes! Wes, look, it's finished.

Do you like it? Isn't it beautiful?

I can hardly wait for the day

to see it hanging over the door of your very own office.

Oh, yes, honey, that's fine. Fine.

Oh, uh, here's a friend of mine in town.

Calls himself Henshaw.

Mrs. Hardin, my wife.

Pleased to meet you, ma'am.

If you're going to be in town, Mr. Henshaw, you'll have to come to dinner.

I'm afraid he won't be around that long and...

right now, you'll have to excuse us.

We have things to talk about.

Thank you for the invitation, ma'am.

You're welcome.

And don't you be late, Wes Hardin.

I promise.

Looks like you've got a nice girl.

Thanks.

Attorney at law. Is that her idea?

Well... the law's always intrigued me,

I guess from being on the wrong side of it so often.

But lately I've been studying cases and some books I picked up.

Been thinking I might hang that shingle out one of these days.

Here in Comanche?

What'll the townspeople say about that?

I got friends here. Real friends?

Or are they just friends because they're afraid

not to be like everybody else in Texas?

That's none of your business, Hardie.

I'm still waiting to learn what you're doing here.

You didn't ride all the way to Comanche just to run in a horse race.

Or wait a minute.

Maybe that is it.

You got the idea.

I'll bet it's the Rucker Boys.

Wells Fargo is after them.

And this is just the kind of trick you'd pull

to try to smoke out Pete Rucker where you can get at him.

Now you're guessing. Am I?

Well, you'd just better hope I'm guessing wrong.

Did you know those boys are cousins of mine?

No, I didn't.

I'm not proud of it, they don't amount to much,

but their pa saved my life one time

when I was mixed up in that Taylor-Sutton feud.

So you can forget it if you got any idea

about taking 'em back with you.

Then you're admitting they're here.

You lay a hand on either one of them

and you're dead.

Mister, I'm ready to start this horse race whenever you are.

We'll start down here.

Is it clear now?

We'll take the corner down there,

turn at the head of the next street,

and finish back here where we started.

All right. And who's gonna start us?

WES: I will.

In just a minute.

I got 50 dollars, says Henshaw loses.

I'll take your bet. You're on.

All set?

Hyah!

It was a fair race.

You were right. You got a mighty good horse there.

Here's the money I owe you. Thank you.

There's nothing wrong with that mare of yours either.

Well, Hardin, I guess you lost.

When I make a promise I pay up.

Always.

Folks will be hearing about this, Henshaw.

You can expect challenges if you stick around.

Mr. Henshaw is leaving us. Not right away.

I'll be around for a while.

You tell 'em that.

Hardie. Hey, you don't need the gun.

Don't you remember me? Charlie Welch?

Yeah. Yeah, I believe I do.

It was in Clayville while I was working on an express job.

You were sheriff then. Uh, I still am.

You're a little out of your territory, aren't you?

Ah, whatever. Look, I've gotta talk to you.

In fact, I think you and I could make a deal.

I doubt that. No, really.

But we can't be seen together.

I'm in room 16 at the hotel,

under another name to be safe.

Come on over there when you can, all right?

Just a minute.

You've got to. I'll be looking for you.

I'd better get out of here.

Welch?

JIM: This thing was getting all out of shape.

Finding the Rucker brothers should've been a routine job.

I hadn't figured on Wesley Hardin being mixed up with 'em.

And now, here was a renegade sheriff

who could make plenty of trouble for me if I let him.

It looked like I had no choice.

I was gonna have to find out what Charlie Welch had on his mind.

Come in.

Close the door.

I thought maybe it was Wes Hardin.

Is Hardin a friend of yours?

He doesn't even know me.

I as soon it stayed that way till I finish what I came for.

What's that?

I'm gonna take him.

I'm gonna be the lawman that brings in John Wesley Hardin.

For what?

Well, think of the reputation the man will earn for himself

who brings in John Wesley Hardin.

Come in it with me, Hardie.

Is this what you called me up here for?

Sure. We work together,

we can put him out of the way for good.

What do you say?

I say you're talking to the wrong man.

Wait!

You're after the Ruckers, aren't you?

Well, you'll never take that pair without help.

I've been watching them.

Now, they come in from wherever they were hiding,

they walk around this town like they owned it.

They think there ain't no one gonna bother them

as long as Wes Hardin is around.

That's my problem... Doesn't have to be

if first we put Hardin out of the way.

I told you before I'm not interested. Wait!

You can't just walk out on me.

When I was investigating that robbery in Clayville,

I turned up a lot of funny things about you.

Because they didn't concern Wells Fargo, I didn't push them.

Now I think I should have.

You're a liar. You don't know a thing.

Take your hand off of me.

And don't you ever call me a liar.

Hardin, look out!

What is this? You trying to challenge me?

There was a man up in that window with a gun aimed at your back.

Did it ever occur to you that might be a bad place to stand

where everybody in town could take a pot shot at you?

Who would dare?

A man by the name of Welch.

There's nobody in this town named Welch.

Of course, if I was to think you'd saved my neck,

I might ease up on you,

give you a free hand with the Rucker Boys.

Is that what you want? Oh, no, mister.

You'll have to do better than that or it won't work.

All right, forget it. Even if you tricked me once,

I don't like being taken for a fool.

I said forget it.

JIM: I found myself pretty much at loose ends now.

I'd spread my bait.

Didn't seem much to do but wait.

Wait and see if Pete Rucker was gonna rise to it.

Your name Henshaw?

Yes, it is.

Pete Rucker. That's my brother, Ed.

Mean anything to you?

No. Should it?

That depends on how much you get around.

They tell me a stranger come into town

with a mighty fast horse under him.

They also tell me that, uh,

he beat Mike Maguire's mare from a standing start.

Like to see the bronc that could do that.

Well, that might be arranged.

He's down at the livery stable.

Maybe we could, uh, work up a little bet, huh?

Yeah. Maybe.

Let's go.

Hey, Rucker.

You mean him?

Thanks, mister.

Looks pretty good, I'll admit.

You think you've got one that can outrun him?

Don't know. Wanna make it a contest?

Save your breath, Pete. It's a trick.

I've just been tipped off this man's from Wells Fargo.

Who says so? Fella up the street.

And it could be true.

Well, if he is, he'll have papers on him.

Now get your hands up,

Throw your gun down. I'm not gonna wait.

Let it go.

I reckon he's learned his lesson.

You're right.

Nobody can touch us. Not in Wes Hardin's town.

Just a minute.

Hi, Wes.

What are you two doing in town?

Nothing. Just fixing to get us a drink.

Well, you just start fixing to

get your broncs and ride right out of here.

Why, Wes? We just got here. You heard me.

You fools. Don't you know Wells Fargo is looking for the pair of you?

Oh, we just now tangled with a Wells Fargo man.

We took care of him, all right.

You didn't kill him?

No. Not you.

You never killed Jim Hardie.

Hardie. Was that him?

I knew I should've finished him.

I'll go back there and I'll finish him right now.

No, you won't.

You'll get out of this town right now.

I'll hold him here till you had a chance to lose your trail.

But, Wes, all I wanna do is... Shut up!

I'm fed up with the pair of you.

From now on, stay out of Comanche.

I don't want you around here anymore.

Now get!

Sure. Sure, Wes. We're gettin'.

Wes.

Where are they? They're gone.

I sent 'em out of town.

No, Hardie.

You leave that bronc right where it is. You're not following them.

And you're stopping me. Is that it?

Until they had their chance to get away. It won't take long.

They know the country, you don't.

Maybe I don't intend to wait.

Oh?

A showdown. Is that what you want?

No, it's not what I want.

But I came here to do a job.

And you or no one like you is gonna keep me from it.

I told you you'll have to go through me to do it, Hardie.

Now, if you feel lucky, make your draw.

Go right ahead.

Wes, I've been looking all over town for you.

Please, Jane.

Dinner is waiting.

It's been ready for over an hour

and you promised you wouldn't be late this time.

If you and Mr. Henshaw have things to discuss,

you can do it at home.

And I won't take no for an answer this time, Mr. Henshaw.

Well, I guess we've had our orders.

Too late now for you to finish that other business anyhow.

I suppose you're right.

I'd be much obliged, ma'am.

Come along then, both of you.

Well, that was wonderful, Mrs. Hardin.

Well, you didn't eat much.

Mr. Henshaw had a clout on the head this afternoon

and may have wedged his appetite.

Oh, is there anything I can get for you?

No, no.

It's just a little tender and that's about it.

Well, in that case...

Wes, honey. The wood box is empty again.

Would you please get some

so I can be heating some water for the dishes?

I wanted to talk to you, Mr. Henshaw.

Is that your real name? No.

My name is Jim Hardie.

Are you the law?

Not really.

I'm a Special Investigator for Wells Fargo.

But we have nothing on your husband.

Well, then why this hostility between you two?

You noticed that.

Yeah, I didn't think we had you fooled, not really.

I won't bore you with the details, Mrs. Hardin.

It started a little over a year ago

when your husband and I found ourselves

on opposite sides of the fence.

We both knew I was no match for him in a gunfight.

But I managed to develop a swivel holster.

It was a trick I knew he couldn't possibly have heard of.

And it worked.

I managed to get the drop on him.

But it put him in a bad light and he never forgot it.

And today I came here after the Ruckers

Your husband said no.

Hmm... so that's it.

I love my husband, Mr. Hardie.

I think there are good things in him

despite everything that's happened in the past.

I want him to change and I think he will change if...

if he can just put the past behind him.

I hoped you'd understand.

I do. Believe me.

Glad we had the opportunity

to have this little talk, Mrs. Hardin.

I came here after the Ruckers

and your husband spoiled my chances at that.

Maybe I'll pick up the trail again, maybe I won't.

In either case I don't intend to make any trouble for you or for your husband.

Mr. Hardie?

I don't know what to say.

Then don't say anything.

Sometimes tells a good deal more.

There he is.

Where is he? Where did he go?

He's gone.

He's leaving town. He won't be back. He promised.

Well, I gotta see him. Wes, please.

Don't start killing again.

Jim Hardie's done nothing to deserve this.

Think what it'll do to you, to us.

We've been so happy. Don't spoil it.

Now, look. I'm not gonna kill anyone.

Jim Hardie's the only man

who was ever able to outsmart me.

Just his being here is a constant reminder that kinda bothers me.

I'm just gonna see him out of town. Nothing more.

I promise.

I'm always willing to learn a good trick from anyone.

And you're the only man, who was ever able to teach me one.

I guess that's why I couldn't stand to see you shot in the back.

Who is he? This is Charlie Welch.

Then that was on the level.

I guess that makes us even.

JIM: Does it? What about the Ruckers.

I told the Rucker boys to stay out of Comanche but they wouldn't mind.

They came back anyhow.

What happened to them is their hard luck.

Then like you say, we're even.

As far as I'm concerned.

Don't try to pull that gun, Wes Hardin. You're covered

Hey, come here I got Wes Hardin.

What's the idea of this?

You got away with plenty around here, Hardin.

You acted like the town was yours and everybody in it dirt.

You knew they were afraid to stand up against you.

Well, this time you went too far.

You murdered that man. I saw you.

Now, just a minute.

My name is Jim Hardie,

Special Investigator for Wells Fargo.

I was sent down here to get the Ruckers.

And I did.

That man was a renegade sheriff

who was gonna shoot me in the back

if it hadn't been for Wes Hardin.

If your back was turned

How do you know it happened just the way Hardin says?

'Cause I believe him.

Well, we don't.

You calling me a liar?

Wes Hardin, I'm holding you for the law.

You may be holding a corpse.

I killed that man to save another man's life.

And if that's wrong a lot of other men have been wrong.

Now, if you think you can pull that trigger

faster than I can shoot this gun, you go right ahead.

Mr. Hardie, come in.

Hello, Mrs. Hardin.

Is Wes around? No, he's out back. I'll go get him.

No. No, that won't be necessary.

I just came by to tell you that...

that what happened out there really wasn't his fault at all.

I know, he told me.

It never seems to be his fault.

The thing that worries me is that, uh

I thought these days were over but...

I guess I was wrong. I guess they'll never be over.

Oh, I think they will be.

Right now, he's got the will to want to do the right thing.

To go on and try to live a better life. Become a lawyer

with the help and support that you can give him.

He'll make it. I have very little doubt of that

I'd just like to say that I wish both of you, the best of luck.

Mr. Hardie?

Thanks.