Original subtitles

Jim Hardie's my name,

Investigator for Wells Fargo.

There's an old Chinese proverb...

A wise man never finds a dead body.

Ken Gibbons, for whom these gallows

were being readied,

was convicted for the killing

of a Wells Fargo driver during a robbery.

All through his trial Ken declared his innocence,

claiming he came upon the driver as he was dying.

But the evidence was circumstantial,

and the jury deliberated two hours.

In three days, Ken Gibbons would hang for a crime

that I didn't believe he committed.

One man, Fred Kimball,

could have testified and freed Gibbons.

But Kimball disappeared,

leaving no trace of his whereabouts.

This was the place I'd heard about.

A place lawmen talked about.

A place they didn't want to admit even existed,

because it had frustrated them so often.

The Canyon of Wanted Men,

men wanted by the law.

Men who rode in for sanctuary

and became members of a fugitive fraternity.

There was only one way into the Canyon,

which was also its only way out.

My search for Fred Kimball led me here.

If he was in the Canyon, I had to bring him out

in time to save Ken Gibbons' life.

I wanna talk to Len Garner.

Well, I got into the Canyon all right,

but in the back of my mind was the nagging question,

could I get out again?

I assumed the identity of an outlaw

I knew to be in the Yuma prison,

a man named Stample.

He'd been active in the northern part of the state,

but wasn't known by too many of the outlaws in this area.

So you're Bill Stample.

That's right.

I heard you was in jail in Yuma.

I was...

until two days ago.

I broke out.

How many did you kill?

Not any more than I had to.

You'll like it in the Canyon.

Ain't a lawman living with guts enough

to come and take you.

Well, I've heard about you and the Canyon

ever since I been in this territory, Garner.

I never needed your hospitality before.

Well, there's a price. Yeah.

I've heard about that, too.

$200, I believe.

You can come and go as you like.

But next time, it's 20% of any money you bring in with you.

20%? And I make the rules in the Canyon.

Never forget that.

I'll show you where you bunk.

C'mon, Pop, c'mon. How many cards?

POP: Yeah, yeah! Gimme time.

Men, this is Bill Stample.

Cam Dylan.

Bo Davies,

Pat Saunders,

Tim Croft,

Fred Giles,

and Pop Brown.

Glad to meet you, Stample.

Sorry to break up your game.

Been goin' on for months. It'll keep.

Stample just busted out of Yuma,

toughest pokey in the west.

Where's my bunk?

I'll show you.

Here, use this here,

and I'll move up.

Thank you.

Still use that, do you?

Well... No, I ain't had much chance to lately.

Who else is bunkin' here, besides us?

Why?

Who you lookin' for?

The marshal that sent me up.

I'll bet you are.

You give me his address,

I'll send him an invite.

We eat at 6:00.

Come on, Pop, come on.

Let's get back to the game.

Yeah, Yeah. How about you Stample?

All right, deal me in.

Grab a chair.

POP: So I set fire to the mattress,

and when the sheriff come in,

he couldn't see me for the smoke.

So I dumped the burnin' mattress on him,

grabbed his gun, and shot my way out.

There wasn't a sign of Fred Kimball in the Canyon.

I guessed wrong.

How's Shorty Lane?

You know Shorty, don't you?

He's been in the Yuma jail three years.

I was in solitary all the time I was there.

Solitary?

How'd you break out?

Well, I didn't have any mattress, Pop.

I had to use my head.

Shorty Lane and I rode together.

He'll be gettin' out one of these days.

Janie, where's your pa?

He's not feelin' so good.

He wants to eat in our quarters.

Well, just as long you don't make eatin' alone a habit.

This is new guest of ours, Bill Stample.

Jane Kimball. Hello.

How do you do?

Thank you.

Good night. Good night.

I wouldn't be gettin' any ideas

about the girl, Stample.

I've got other things on my mind.

Well, I'll be on my way.

I'll be back with a pocket full of money.

Where's he goin'?

That's another thing, Stample.

Around here, we don't ask questions.

I see.

I'll remember that.

Miss Kimball.

Your father's better I hope.

Oh, yes, much. Thank you

Hmm, it's a nice night tonight.

Wonder what it's like in Tucson?

About the same as here, I suppose.

It all depends on who you're with.

Jane?

I don't want you consorting with the men here.

JANE: Well, I was just comin' in, Pa.

I'm Bill Stample. I just arrived today.

I was just trying to be neighborly.

There are no neighbors here,

or friends.

Pa!

Do you know anything about this man?

Well, I do.

He's a killer.

A gunslinger, a wanton murderer

who should have been hanged years ago.

That's hearsay. You don't know it as a fact.

I'm sorry.

Who am I to judge anybody?

Come in.

Sit down.

Thank you.

I was rude.

No, I don't think you were.

I know Garner's rules about letting people be.

Garner.

Rules his corrupt little kingdom

like a baronial lord in the Dark Ages.

Thank you.

You must be thinking, uh...

what's a man like me doing here,

living like a hunted beast,

depriving his child of her heritage?

Pa, please.

I trusted my fellow men.

That was my error.

I've trusted a few in my day.

I can't recall regretting it.

How fortunate.

"Trust that man in nothing

who has not conscience in everything."

Sermons 27.

How's your conscience, Mr. Stample?

I think I'd better say good night.

You mustn't mind, Pa

I don't.

Good night. Good night.

You were very unkind, Pa.

Learn not to accept men at face value.

Jane, I've been terribly unfair.

Please, for the hundredth time, do as I say.

Get out of here.

I'll only go when you go.

I'll die here, child.

Then what will become of you?

I'll only go when you go.

I've been waitin' for you, Stample.

Red Cronin just come into the Canyon.

He's inside.

So? So?

So don't that mean nothing to ya?

Why should it?

You shot his brother, Slim.

Still means nothin'. What?

Well, you're a cool one, ain't ya?

Well, anyway, he's inside

and swears to kill you on sight.

He does, huh?

You were lookin' for me, were ya?

I heard you were a little smaller man, Stample.

That's because whoever told you that

saw me while I was still growin'.

Hold it, both of you.

I'll have no gunfights here.

First one that draws answers to me.

GARNER: Now, you two got any differences,

settle them any way you like

outside the Canyon. I'll have no feuds here.

We'll meet outside, Stample,

I guarantee you that.

Maybe. But you had your chance just now,

and you couldn't pull.

I don't think you'll do it outside, either.

I might surprise you.

Hope you don't hold it against me, Stample.

See, I figured you'd been locked up so long

it'd give Cronin the edge.

I don't hold it against you, Pop.

Pop Brown said you wanted to see me.

Miss Kimball, you trust me.

Yes, why?

I'm not Bill Stample.

I'm Jim Hardie, a special investigator for Wells Fargo.

I knew you couldn't be the kind Pa said.

But what are you doing here?

Tomorrow an innocent man's gonna be hanged.

Your father's the one only that can free him.

What man?

Ken Gibbons.

Your father was a passenger on the stage.

He could identify the killer.

He didn't get a good look at him.

But he could tell whether it was Ken Gibbons or not.

Please, there's nothing he can do.

Janie.

I know why you and your father are here.

He's wanted on a charge of embezzlement.

He's innocent.

His accounts were short,

and when the bank auditors came,

he didn't know what to do. So he ran.

Mr. Garner took all we had to let us stay here.

Does he know who's responsible for the shortages at the bank?

Yes, but he can't prove it.

All right, then I'll make a deal with you.

Your father's never gonna clear himself by hiding out in here.

If he comes and he testifies,

then I'll work until I prove his innocence.

I don't know.

Well, I do. I know tomorrow a man's gonna die.

Mr. Hardie, my father's a sick man.

Prison would kill him.

Besides, what is Ken Gibbons to you?

An innocent man.

I never saw him until the day he was arrested.

I'll talk to Pa.

I figured Cronin wouldn't wait.

I'm only sorry it ain't just your arm.

I want both of you.

No, wait, wait.

Cronin jumped Stample.

Got licked and tried to shoot him in the back.

Git. I don't want to see you in this Canyon again.

I said git!

You saved my life, old-timer.

Yup.

Well, I'll be leavin' here today.

Well, uh, where are you goin'?

I don't know.

You know, I'm gettin' sick of this place myself.

Say, uh, how about me goin' along with you, huh?

I wish you could, but I'm afraid it can't be.

Well, I could still do bank jobs and stages.

Oh, I still got a lot of juice left.

I bet you have at that.

No, I gotta...

Gotta play it by myself.

It's the only way I know how to do it.

Good luck to you, old-timer.

I've made my choice, Mr. Hardie.

Right or wrong, I'm staying in the Canyon.

May be if Pa gave you a signed statement

that Gibbons was innocent.

It might stay the execution for a while,

but it wouldn't stop it.

How did you know I was on that stage?

Passenger manifest.

That was before I was a...

hunted man myself,

when I could still use my own name when traveling.

Gibbons was not the man who held up that stage,

I can tell you that.

I don't know why I wasn't killed, too.

It would have been merciful.

All my life, I've acted honorably.

What good did it do?

I believe you're innocent,

and I think you're an honorable man.

That's why I don't think you can let an innocent man hang.

Jane tells me Gibbons was a stranger to you.

That's right.

And you risked your life to save his.

All right, Mr. Hardie, what's your plan?

You two are gonna have to leave ahead of me.

Garner mustn't know we're together.

He won't hold me.

I've been a nuisance to him.

Besides, he's taken all the money I had.

There's no hope for anymore.

But you...

Garner'll think it strange you leaving so soon.

Don't worry about me.

I'll meet you at the mouth of the Canyon.

We'd better get ready.

Now, the stage changes horses right here.

I figure about 4:30, they ought be at this point here.

The pass is narrow, and they're gonna have to slow up.

That's when I can take 'em.

How come you know so much about Wells Fargo?

I had lot of time to study while I was in solitary.

They usually carry somewhere in the neighborhood $3,000.

So figurin' at $3,000, you're end of it will come to 600.

Well, good. When do you figure to be back?

A day or so.

I've, uh, come to say goodbye...

and thank you.

Well, Kimball, I hope the doctors can help you.

Thank you.

I'm become used to havin' him around.

Oh, Bill. You better wait a few days.

You're trail's still hot.

That's the point.

Right now, they wouldn't think I'd have the nerve

to try anything so soon after bustin' out.

Yeah, I think you're right.

Good huntin'.

Thank you.

Good day.

Good day.

Hello, Len.

Well, I thought you'd never get back.

I had to outrun a posse.

You bring any money?

Not a nickel.

But I brought somethin' a lot more interestin'.

Oh, yeah? What's that?

This paper. Here.

"Bill Stample killed trying to escape Yuma jail."

I should've figured nobody could break out of that pokey.

Get the rest of the men.

Tell 'em to saddle up fast.

All right.

Keep going, keep going! Hurry up!

Hyah!

Garner!

Hold your fire!

Holler up there and tell them to let us through!

Else, there's gonna be a lot of needless killing!

Let 'em through!

Why?

I tell you why.

He's probably got a posse out there waitin' for us.

I'm not gonna let him fool me again.

He fooled me once with that wild story

about the Yuma prison.

That's the reason I've lasted as long as I have.

I don't take chances.

Who do you think he was?

I don't know.

But he sure knew a lot about Wells Fargo.

And he wanted them out of here pretty bad.

All right, hold it right there.

I told you, I might surprise you.

You're making a mistake.

You've got the wrong...

Shut up!

JIM: I'm not Stample.

You're lying.

My name's Jim Hardie,

special agent for Wells Fargo.

There ain't nobody around

to save your hide this time, Stample.

JIM: Kimball's testimony freed Gibbons,

although it put Kimball himself behind bars.

It was only for a little while, though,

as I lived up to my end of my bargain.

It took three and a half months

to find the man who was responsible for the shortage

that Kimball was accused of.

Now he's out.

Homesteaded a farm up near western Kansas, I understand.

Doin' good at it, too.

And Janie?

Janie, she married the finest farmer in those parts.

Gonna have a little one, I understand.