Original subtitles

Once upon a time,

there were three beautiful girls.

Two of them graduated from the police academy.

The other graduated from a top school for models.

And they each reaped the rewards

of their exciting careers.

But I took them away from all that

and now they work for me.

My name is Charlie.

Bobby?

Whoo-hoo!

Bobby Dan?

Yeah, Ma. Just a second.

Don't you yeah me, young man.

Now, last time, you took off without your lunch.

There's fried chicken in there and coffee.

And you know how your pa feels

about stopping during a run.

I know it, Mom, I know it.

I'm gonna be all right now, okay?

You be careful. I will.

You be careful. I will, I will.

All right.

You better listen to her, boy.

It don't pay to take chances.

Not with the Catlins on the move.

The Catlins?

The bad blood between them and us,

it should've been over 30 years ago.

You heard Bluford Catlin's threat

against me just Friday last.

Now, this load is worth over $3000.

You'd do well to watch your backside.

Bluford Catlin is just bellowing.

His drivers run a couple of their cars into a ditch.

Is that any reason to put the blame on us for their mistakes?

Not to dismiss the Catlins, Bobby.

They ruined this eye for a lot less cause.

But all that happened before I was born.

The Catlins are really no different than us.

They're just trying to make a living.

They're selling their moonshine same as we do.

I'll see you all come sun up.

You be careful now, you hear?

Yeah.

He's on his way. Be ready.

I'll call Turk.

Right, Mr. Lacy.

I'm getting the tractor into position now, Mr. Lacy.

Like clockwork.

Come on, let's get out of these.

Any trouble? Only for him.

You know, Mr. Lacy, a single match,

and that tanker will go up like a Roman candle.

Uh-uh. We want him to live

so the Catlins get the blame for this.

Once we get the Bartletts and Catlins

at each other's throats,

there will be plenty of fireworks, don't worry.

Charlie, you've gotta be kidding.

Moonshiners?

! wish I were, Angels.

But the Bartletts and the Cat/ins

aren't just any bootleggers.

The families have been in the business

for over a hundred years.

Not to mention also being at each other's throats

Hmm. Talk about your cottage industry.

Why doesn't Governor Whitman move in and shut them down?

The Gifford County wars, right, Charlie?

What?

The last time the feud

between the Catlins and the Bartletts exploded,

it made headlines all across the country.

Well, how come I never read about it?

You weren't even born yet.

The governor's task force has information

that some outsiders are trying to fan the feud

for their own gain.

And you think we have a better chance

of discovering what's going on than the governor's people?

Yes, Julie.

We can handle it a lot better undercover.

It would be catastrophic if anybody from outside

Blew this feud open again.

Well, I guess we better sharpen up

our little old accents.

And bone up on your basic sour mash chemistry.

Oh, no.

Oh, I'm gonna love this.

I thought you would.

Good luck, Angels.

Thank you, Charlie.

And may the sun always shine on your chitlins.

Ah!

Hello there, Mickey.

Bobby. Bobby Dan.

Melinda, you shouldn't have come here.

I had to come see you.

Daddy wouldn't let me go to the hospital.

Well, that's just as well.

Pa is convinced that you Catlins run me into the ditch.

Daddy give me his word he didn't do it.

And he didn't send nobody to do it either.

Well, I tried to explain to Pa

that whoever it was that run me in that rabbit trap,

they knew what they was doing.

And they knew what I was carrying.

But it's going to take a lot more

than Bluford Catlin's word to convince folks around here.

I'm not going to let them split us up.

Not my family and not yours.

Whatever it takes, I'll do it,

but the feud ain't going to start up again.

Don't get all fired up.

It'll pass when they cool down.

Just give it a little time, honey.

Bobby Dan Bartlett,

I don't intend to wait for you forever.

Hawk.

Well, I reckon I thought I'd never live long enough

to see a Catlin kissing on a Bartlett.

Come on.

Melinda Catlin.

Just come by to tell you it weren't no Catlin

done this to Bobby.

I think you best be going, gal.

The less seen or heard of Catlins around here,

the better.

Pa, you don't need to be so hard on Melinda.

The Catlins fired on another of our runners.

Hawk, the boy has got enough to worry about.

Best he know.

Best he know.

It's gonna get hot.

And Bartletts has gotta stick with Bartletts.

You're heading the wrong way, miss.

This here is Catlin land.

Oh, good. I thought I'd never find it.

Now put that gun down, Sam.

You don't shoot something that pretty.

Till you try to trap it first.

Something I can do for you, miss?

Howdy, I'm looking for Bluford Catlin.

Something wrong, honey?

Oh, no, I just thought

that you might be, uh, somebody else.

Bluford is my pa. He's out by the shed.

Well, you mind if I wait?

That's him coming now.

Well, that's her right there, Mr. Catlin.

All right, Josh,

you get back to that durned fence and keep it closed.

Mr. Catlin.

Yeah? I'm Kris Monroe.

I understand you're looking for a new still master and...

Well, I'd like the job.

There ain't no such job.

I wonder who might have said there was.

Well, I've got big ears not a big mouth.

I just thought it best to come right to the point.

Excuse me for saying,

but you sure don't look like the sort

that can run a still.

That is if you was to find one in these here parts.

Well, for whatever it's worth,

I got me a college degree in organic chemistry.

A good job is hard to find these days.

Why don't you give her a chance at it, Daddy?

That's all I want.

I can up your production

and up the quality in the bargain.

Tend to your chores, girl.

You, come on.

Now, supposing you know everything you say you do,

you know them things blowing now and again.

Well, not if you monitor the temperature properly

and vent the pressure.

Hand-formed copper. Phew.

That's hard to find nowadays.

Ain't as hard to find as somebody

that knows how to use it.

Well, the mash is in the cooker.

Let's see if you know what you're doing.

All right.

Well, first thing I gotta do is dog these things down here.

Can you hand me that wrench there?

Cinch it up real good.

You know, girl,

there's federal agents.

Sometimes jail,

sometimes a little shooting.

It's an awful lot of risk for a woman

if you was to get the job.

Well, now, there's ways to pay for risk.

Say 10 percent?

Say 8 percent and board and lodging.

You got yourself a still master.

Where are you hiding the rest of the mash?

If you're so all fired good at what you do,

you ought to be able to find it on your own.

Etta, if you don't hurry up,

my stomach is gonna think my throat has been cut.

Where's my coffee, Etta?

Uh...

Ah! Oh, honey, you gotta teach him better than that.

I'll be right back.

Got those doughnuts?

Hey, fries cooking?

Finished?

Well, you're just like the cavalry.

Saved the day in the nick of time.

Name's Etta.

Hi, I'm Julie. You put the sign in the window?

Oh, I sure did.

Seems like years ago. Position is still open.

Have you ever done any waitressing?

Sure have. All the way from Seattle to Chicago.

Took a bus from there until I ran out of money.

Well, let's see if you lost your touch along the way.

Okay. Uh, cheeseburger, Mm-hm.

Cheese omelet, two eggs over easy, and a BLT.

And four cups of coffee to that table over there.

I'll get those on the way back.

Hi. BLT?

Two eggs?

Hamburger?

When you get a minute, there's a fresh uniform in the back.

It should fit you. When I get a minute?

Oh, you'll get one.

The rush will be over in about four or five hours.

Yeah, well, everything looks fine under there.

Reckon them air shocks did the trick.

I just don't want this thing to drag tail

if the running gets hot.

Little lady, we ain't receiving no visitors today.

The name's Kelly. And I ain't come here to visit.

I need work, Mr. Bartlett.

Well, then, in that case,

just turn around and go back however you came,

because I ain't hiring.

Not much on looks,

but I wager she'll walk a chicken.

Ain't no factory model.

It ain't no state smokey either.

I wanna drive for you, Mr. Bartlett.

I know you need a driver.

Well, what are you waiting for?

I used to drive for my daddy

before he retired from the business.

I guess you could just say I never got it out of my blood.

You know it's no picnic out here, girl.

Well, this business ain't a picnic anywhere, Mr. Bartlett.

One thing more, Kelly.

If you do drive for me,

you're gonna have to be a darn sight more careful.

I don't wanna lose a new driver

and I can't afford to lose another load.

Thought you were gonna come see us, George.

You should have told us about the girl.

Well, that ought to do it.

A nice slow steady cook

and we'll up the proof 10 percent.

You sure are good with those things.

How'd you learn how to do all that?

At school.

Besides it's not very difficult.

I could teach you.

No. Pa wouldn't like that.

He even sees me showing interest in the still

and he gets mad.

Why? What's the problem?

He wants me to go to college.

Oh, well, it would be great for you.

What's wrong with that?

Well, nothing but...

Promise you won't tell?

Bobby Dan Bartlett.

We were both going to State,

then going to get married and leave this place.

Now everything is ruined.

Oh, why? I thought the doctor said

that Bobby Dan was gonna be all right.

Oh, he is.

But this was before.

Now... Well, you know, we're almost feuding again.

Melinda, why don't you and I

take a drive on over to the Bartletts?

Maybe together, we could talk some sense...

To a Bartlett?

The answer is no.

I hired you to make whiskey, not conversation.

I was just trying to help.

Seems more like meddling.

See? It never changes.

It'll change.

You can count on it.

Don't be shy, George.

I just wanna know why you didn't tell us

about Bartlett's new driver.

What you done to Bobby Dan...

Well, she's just a girl.

And a rattler is just a snake.

My first delivery of liquor is coming

in three days, George.

And if the Catlins and the Bartletts

are still making deliveries, I've got problems.

That means you've got big problems.

We made a deal, George.

Now... You said you could get my brother Leon

out of the penitentiary.

I'm working on that. A thing like that takes time.

But I paid you good money too, George.

I'll get the money back to you.

I don't want the money back!

I paid you for information!

Well, uh, you hear the Catlins took on

a new still master.

We know about that, George. We'll handle that.

Bartlett's driver, George, where's she running?

I said where is she running?

Rainer County.

When?

This morning.

Lake Road.

You heard him. Lake Road.

This time, Burt, show them.

Take her out.

You sure you wanna do this?

There's still time to call it off.

No. I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

Well, if you're gonna really do this now,

let me give you some pointers.

Sure am. Shoot.

Okay.

First off, Hawkshaw is old-fashioned.

He likes his whiskey in bottles instead of a tank.

So if smokey starts breathing down your neck,

there ain't no way to dump that load.

Oh, he already told me.

If it's better than bonded, it's gotta be in bottles.

You beginning to sound like Hawkshaw.

Well, better I drive like you.

Well, don't worry.

Because if anything starts gaining blacktop on you

from behind,

you just reach in there, flip that little red lever.

What does it do?

It kicks on the nitrous oxide injector,

and, baby, you better hang on to your hens

because she really scoots.

It's all hidden underneath the hood right there,

so that nobody can see it.

But it darn near doubles the horsepower.

Ah, well, you sure make a girl feel

like she's in good hands.

All right, you better keep the rubber side down now, you hear,

because it's long way from Gifford to Rainer County.

Okay. I'll be back before supper.

All right.

Oh, honey, you don't have to do that.

It's been a long day.

I wouldn't mind my aching feet

if I knew where there was some nightlife around here.

Gifford County ain't what you'd call a wild nightspot,

but I find my share of action.

Action?

All I've seen around here are truck drivers.

Well, there's been a few city boys coming around lately

that I got my eye on.

You know, honey, a girl can get a free ride

out of Gifford County if she plays her cards right.

But first, she's gotta find somebody to deal the deck.

Diner.

Yeah. Who?

Oh, sure, just a second.

It's for you, Julie.

Sorry, it's a girl.

Hi. Kelly?

None other. I just stopped for a second. I'm on a run.

Did you hear anything from Bos?

He's due in in an hour.

I'm gonna pick him up after this delivery.

Heard anything from Kris?

No, not yet. How are your folks doing?

Well, the Bartletts seem pretty legit for bootleggers.

You got anything?

Yeah. Dishpan hands.

Hawkshaw.

Flo. What are you doing out here?

You didn't come in. I brought you something to eat.

I'm afraid it's cold. Oh, it's all right, Flo.

But I think you ought to be getting on back to the house.

Why?

It's no secret you're loading up for killing.

It ain't none of my choosing.

Never been anyone's choosing, has it?

It sure ain't been my choosing.

You make the shells, you fire your guns,

and the womenfolk just gotta wait till you come back.

Or someone carries you back.

Now, Flo, you don't have to worry about that.

Well, I wouldn't have to worry at all if you just sold out.

If we went some place.

Florida or California. I got kinfolks in California.

Flo, you can't ask me to do that.

I can't run.

I gotta face down the Catlins.

Oh, Hawkshaw.

Sorry, I got to the bus station late,

but I had a little problem.

Problem?

I've got a problem. Riding with you in this car.

Hey, Kelly, stop. Kelly, what are you doing?

What's the matter, Bos?

You never minded my driving before.

Yeah? Well, I gotta talk to you,

and I can't even hear myself think in that machine.

Oh, then Charlie got something.

Yeah. More than we even hoped for.

Turned out there have been 12 major loads

of bonded whiskey hijacked back East in the last two months.

And the word is that it's all headed for Gifford County.

Well, that fits.

The two guys that tried to run me off the road

weren't from around here.

The gun, the clothes. Definitely city boys.

City boys with guns trying to run you off the road? What?

Well, I had a little unexpected reception on my route.

Tried to run the old squeeze play on me.

Somebody definitely did not want me to make that run.

The Catlins?

Don't think so.

I don't understand.

If it's hijackers,

they can sell their stuff anywhere.

They don't have to push in on the Catlins and Bartletts.

Yeah, well, Charlie thinks it's more than that.

If the mob gets this whiskey market,

they've got every important politician in this area

in their back pocket.

Sounds like an easy way to get their foot in the door

of the governor's mansion.

Charlie's thoughts, exactly. Sooner or later.

If they can get the Catlins and the Bartletts

to blow each other away, it could be sooner.

Yeah.

What are you talking about? How could she get away from you?

She's good. She knows what she's doing.

I thought you were supposed to know what you were doing.

Believe me, we nearly got killed out there.

We gotta do it another way.

Okay. If you can't cut off the deliveries,

then we'll have to figure out a way

where there's nothing to deliver.

How's it going?

That's my honey.

You remember, the one I was telling you about?

He looks a little warm.

Oh, he's always like that. Dynamite, fuse and all.

Hold the fort, I'm gonna fix my face.

How are you doing today, gentlemen?

I won't know until you tell me.

You're new around here.

Yep. My name is Julie.

I'll be right back with your menus.

Hey, wait a minute.

What's your special today?

Chicken fried steak

with sweet potatoes and creamed corn.

Well, give us three of those.

Nice to meet a man who knows what he wants.

Even better to meet a lady who knows what she wants.

Well, I'll be.

That Max Lacy has been coming in here for three weeks,

talking about New York and all,

and he hasn't given me a second look.

You land him in three minutes.

I'm sorry. I really didn't...

Oh, ain't nothing to be sorry about.

I like the strong looking one anyway.

Long as I get introduced. You got it.

Uh-huh.

Hello. I'm calling for Mr. Bartlett.

You got him.

Oh, Mr. Bartlett how do you do?

My name is Bosley.

Uh, I've come up from Texas to talk to you about, uh...

Well, your product.

You see it's a legend around San Anton.

Seems like a long trip for a drink.

How did you get my number?

Oh, you don't understand, Mr. Bartlett.

You see, I have tasted your sipping whiskey,

and I figure that I can handle anything that you can produce.

Listen, Mr. Bosley, or whatever your name is,

I know that what I do IS NO secret,

but it ain't exactly a retail store either.

Well, now, Mr. Bartlett,

you see you and I are in the same business.

It's just that I cannot produce my own supply.

You see, I'm simply a distributor.

I was thinking, though,

that if I could get you and Mr. Catlin to supply me...

I don't care what Catlin does,

and I usually don't pay any mind to strangers,

but you speak your piece.

Well, here's the way I see it.

Well, if it ain't Richard Petty come to pay us a call.

How'd she run for you?

Ha. Well, like a scalded dog.

Well, what happened here?

Did you run into trouble?

Oh, no. I just got tangled up with a tree.

Hey, George.

George, go in the back and get the rest of them bottles.

And stoke up the still.

We're running her to full capacity for a while.

Well, I'll get right on it,

but we're gonna need more bottles

if you're aiming to empty that reserve tank.

I'm aiming to empty it all.

You do what you gotta do.

Sounds like a lot of running.

No.

No more running after this.

A dealer is coming.

We're going for the money and then get out.

If the Catlins let us.

Well, that ought to hold that turkey for a while.

You sure make things seem easy, Kris.

Well, running a still is pretty easy

once you understand the principle.

Now, working for Bluford, that's different matter.

You know, you know more about making liquor

than most men I know.

You know how to handle one of these?

A scattergun? Well, sure.

But why the gun?

We got a big delivery to make.

I reckon the Bartletts have heard about it.

Now, I don't intend to have nothing took from me.

Not this batch.

Now, it's going to some big dude from Texas.

He's paying good money.

Dude is named Bosley something-or-other.

Well, then I guess

we'll be going full capacity for a while.

Till this batch is in. I'm paying double till then.

After that I'm closing down.

There just ain't nothing in it no more.

Feeling better, boy?

Yeah, I will.

Soon as I get rid of this and back on the road again.

Ain't gonna be no road.

We're getting out of the business.

You can't make a gain in whiskey no more.

What with the price of transportation and sugar.

A good gallon of better than bonded costs $30 to make.

Can you afford to get out?

Can't afford not to.

I'm working a deal with a man.

He's gonna buy out everything we got.

One shot.

You know, I always planned to leave the business to you.

I just guess we'll have to let that go.

No more people are gonna be hurt.

You don't have to worry about the Bartletts no more.

Why, George?

Hawkshaw is cooking full out.

Somebody is doing your work for you.

He's buying all we could make, and he's paying top dollar too.

Bartletts are going out of business.

Who's buying them out?

I want the name.

Find out who's in town.

If he's trying to move in on our market,

he's gonna find it tough sledding.

Look, you don't have to hurt people no more.

And you,

I want you to make sure they don't deliver gallon one.

That wasn't our agreement. It's just information.

We have a very large investment here, George.

You don't move until I tell you to.

And I need your help tonight.

We're going to have some fun at the Bartletts' house,

and the Catlins are going to catch hell.

No, wait!

Wait!

What is it?

Oh, Hawk!

Lord of mercy.

The Catlins are gonna have the devil to pay for this.

Hawk, it's gone.

I want you to stay here and take care of the place.

I should be back real soon.

I'm coming, Pa. I can't let you do this alone.

I'm gonna see one man: Bluford Catlin.

Don't need no help.

Flo, you can't let him do this.

You think I'd let him go over to the Catlin place

if I could stop him?

It's just something he's gotta do.

Hawkshaw, you can't do this.

You gonna stop me?

I know this is gonna sound strange to you,

but that's exactly why I'm here.

I work for the Charles Townsend Detective Agency.

We were hired to help prevent another Gifford County war.

It's not Catlin you want.

If you just give us time, we'll prove that to you.

That's too bad. I liked you.

But you've been here all you're gonna be.

You don't be here when I get back.

Hawkshaw.

You believe me, don't you?

It's all just a bunch of talk to me right now.

Come into town with me

and I'll prove what I say is true.

Otherwise, your Pa is gonna be making

the biggest mistake of his life.

Look, they busted you up

and they put George in the hospital last night.

What do you think is gonna happen

when Hawkshaw kills Catlin or the other way around?

Bobby, you can't stand alone.

She's right, Bobby Dan.

You get a move on, honey. There's not much time.

Go on.

Who is it?

Manager.

Yes. What can I do for y-?

Are you Mr. Bosley from Texas?

Ooh. Who wants to know?

That's him. Let's go.

Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait...

What is this?

Somebody wants to talk to you.

And I suggest you cooperate

or you'll be pushing up yellow roses, Tex.

Let's go.

You know, Julie, you could have a high time back in New York.

But, Max, it's been so long since I was there,

I wouldn't know anybody anymore.

Well, listen, you know me.

I could introduce you to anybody that's worth knowing.

You have to go? Yeah.

Give me a call, will you?

Or better yet, why don't you drop by?

You have my card.

Keep the change. Okay.

He's some kind of guy, huh?

Yeah. Some kind.

Look, I got a problem. Hold the fort till I get back?

If the creek don't rise. Thanks.

Julie.

Come on, we've gotta get to the motel and find Bosley.

He's not at the motel.

I just saw him in the back of a car

with some very bad boys.

And he didn't look real comfortable.

I think I might just know where they're going.

Okay, let's go.

You've done a real nice job here.

It's Hawkshaw.

Bartlett's coming.

Hawkshaw Bartlett.

Josh, now calm down, calm down. What's wrong?

Well, I just saw his truck up on the ridge.

If I know Hawkshaw,

he ain't gonna come blazing up the main road.

He's gonna come up the creek alone.

You get on back, cover the road.

Yes, sir.

Wait a minute. Now, what you planning on doing?

I'm gonna do the only thing to do

to end this thing once and for all.

So you see, Mr. Lacy,

I know more about you than you do about me.

That could prove unfortunate.

I know that you are playing the Catlins

against the Bartletts,

so as that you could gain control of this market.

I just thought it'd be easier to buy them out.

I'll tell you what you bought, Mr. Bosley.

Bartletts' still got a little hot last night

and blew.

There's not a drop left.

Well, that's just a minor problem now, isn't it?

I can buy my whisky anywhere.

What we're talking about, Lacy,

is political control of the state.

Just think of it this way.

You got a little competition.

This is a free market.

Not hardly, Mr. Bosley.

Nothing's free.

Mr. Lacy, the chick from the diner.

She's at the door.

Tell her to come back later.

Now, just a darn minute.

Nobody's errand boy tells me what to do.

Hold on, Julie.

And don't you point that gun at me.

And don't pick it up.

Much obliged.

Hold it.

Let's go y'all. We've got to shuck.

Because Pa is over at Catlins by now.

You heard him, Bos. Let's shuck it.

Sorry, Max.

Bluford Catlin.

Got a few things to say to you,

so come on out of there if you're man enough.

You pretty near killed my boy,

you fired on my runners, and blowed up my still.

That's a lot of talk for a man with a gun in his hand.

Daddy, don't do it.

Now, you didn't hurt Bobby. Now, explain it to him.

No!

I don't explain nothing to no Bartlett.

Somebody better start doing some explaining around here.

Like why two grown men can't talk out their problems

instead of shooting each other down.

That's one barrel.

Now, I know you know how to use that thing,

but you got one shot left.

You're gonna have to pick sides if you aim to use it.

Well, blast away at one each other, then.

That's what you wanna do anyway.

You don't wanna hear the truth.

Hold it, hold it!

Hawkshaw.

If you wanna use that, this is the man you want.

Oh, boy, am I glad to see you.

Mr. Bartlett.

Mr. Catlin.

I want you to meet Max Lacy, from New York.

Seems he wanted to get you both out of the business.

He's the one who blew up your still,

wrecked your boy's car,

and caused all this trouble between you two.

I know my rights. You can't turn me over to them.

I'll give you what you want.

You take me to the law. My pleasure.

Bobby Dan.

Daughter!

Hi. Hi.

Bobby Dan.

Aw.

You reckon all the feuds in Gifford County end this way?

Well, Angels,

I congratulate you on a job well done.

Happy to oblige, Charlie.

But next time, couldn't you send us some place

a little more exotic than Gifford County?

Yeah. Like the Bahamas.

I'll do my best.

I think Max Lacy and his boys are going to wish

they could go back to Gifford County

after their vacation in the state prison.

I just feel sorry about the Bartletts.

The Bartletts? Well, what about the Catlins?

Now, now, now, Angels,

I don't think that you have anything to feud about.

But the Bartletts did make the best whisky

in nine counties.

Second best.

Oh, no.

That is against the law, isn't it, Charles?

Yes, Bosley, but the governor was very understanding.

.With his help, they got a grant to keep on distilling.

A government grant for making whisky?

No, not quite.

But the next time you fill up your tank,

it might be with Bartlett and Catlin gasohol.