Original subtitles

[gunshots]

ANNOUNCER: "The Rifleman"--

[theme music]

--starring Chuck Connors.

[music playing]

[HORSE GALLOPING IN THE DISTANCE]

Pa?

Visitor coming.

[drum roll]

[suspenseful music]

Get inside, Mark.

- What's wrong? - You heard me son.

Get inside and close the door.

Whoa--

Don't bother getting off.

I needin' help Luke.

You came to the wrong place.

Maybe so but, I got no place left to go, Luke.

There three men on my trail.

The Sherman brothers.

Going to kill me for sure if somebody don't help me.

You were always good at running away from things.

Keep running.

Is the boy here?

I swore a long time ago the next time I saw you,

I'd kill you.

Now don't press your luck.

Maybe that's what you ought to do then.

I come here asking you for help, Luke.

I guess I got no right to do that.

And I won't do it again.

Do think I got it right to see the boy.

You've got a right to ride off my property

without being killed.

And you got that right because I'm giving it to you.

Now get going, before I change my mind.

Did you hear me?

[gunshot]

[music playing]

Who was it Pa?

Someone who has no right being here son.

[music playing]

[music playing]

Morning.

Good morning.

What can I do for you?

Wonder If you'd mind if I just,

help myself to that coffee?

Oh sure, go right ahead.

You want any breakfast to go along with that,

you'll have to go across the street to the Mallory house.

I don't serve nothing here but coffee and law and order.

I'd settle for law and order if I thought

it was real as this coffee.

It's real in this town mister.

That include protecting innocent people?

It does.

If they're innocent.

That a promise Marshal?

It's not a promise. It's an oath.

Same one I took when I put this badge on.

Ever hear of Jeb Sherman?

Yes I have.

First time, about eight months ago

when he killed the railroad agent.

Last time about, 20 minutes ago.

Your name Samuel Gibbs?

How'd you know that?

Got a telegram about 20 minutes ago.

Here read it.

I guess I am getting closer than I thought.

Figure they'll be in about midnight.

You want me to leave town, Marshal?

Mr. Gibbs, I just got through telling you my job

is to protect the innocent.

Not chase them out of town.

All right.

You'll need deputies.

The Sherman's, pretty mean boys.

We don't have any trouble getting deputies in North Fork.

You ought to know your own town.

Now If you don't mind, Marshal at Bensenville

told me he'd send my reward money here.

I'd like to get you to witness this will

I made out, just in case.

Some of that wording may not be all legal like.

I, Samuel E. Gibbs, in case I get killed.

And all the reward money that I got coming from turning in Jeb

Sherman, and all other things that I own to go

to my grandson, Mark McCain.

You're Mark's grandfather?

You know boys I never get tired of looking at this glass.

It always reminds me of a man's life running out.

Kind of makes you think, you know?

Just like Ma said it would when she give it to us.

Yeah.

It sure made that sheriff up in Bensenville think, eh?

That sand hardly started to fall down before he remembered where

Gibbs probably ran off to.

Oh.

Taking turns saddle sleeping all night may save time,

but, sure leaves your bones aching to rest.

How far to North Fork now?

Way I figure, we got just a couple hours

ride to Sam Gibb's funeral.

LUKE: Careful son.

I promised Lou we'd bring her six dozen today.

I'm sorry Pa.

That one just slipped out of my hand.

Pa, I can't help wondering about that man

who came here this morning.

I hardly even saw him but--

but I saw you.

And I saw the way you looked after you talked to him.

How did I look?

Well, you-- you looked like you hated him.

I don't think I ever really saw you look that way before.

Son, hate's a terrible thing.

It's something I don't want you to feel

for anybody, if I can help it.

The man you saw this morning is probably well

on his way to Mexico by now.

Chances are, we'll never see him again.

Mark, I'd like to leave it at that.

All right, Pa.

Let's hitch up the buckboard and bring

those eggs to Lou, huh?

Yep.

[music playing]

[call bell]

Well it's about time the rest of the McCain clan

made their way to town.

The rest of the McCain clan?

Oh I shouldn't have told ya.

I think he wanted to surprise ya.

Who do you mean?

See for yourself.

Who is it?

Why it's your grandpa Mark!

[suspenseful music]

My grandpa?

I'm sorry you had to find out this way Mark.

He's the man who came to the ranch

this morning, isn't he Pa?

Let's go outside a minute. Excuse us Lou.

[music playing]

Why didn't you tell me who he was before Pa?

Because I'd also have to tell you what he did.

And I hoped I'd never have to do that.

Pa, I'm not a little kid anymore.

I've got a right to know what's real so, well, so I can make

up my own mind about things.

All right Mark.

What was real the night your mother was dying

was that the doctor said the only medicine

that might help her was in Oklahoma City, 90 miles away.

Your grandfather came by that night.

Tried to borrow some money.

I didn't have to ask him what for, I could see

he was still sober.

I told him to stay with your mother,

that I was riding to Oklahoma City.

She begged me not to go son.

She said send Pa.

She begged me Mark.

I gave him the money for the medicine

and helped him saddle up.

He never came back.

That was the last time I saw him until today.

After I buried your mother, I only had one thought Mark.

To find Gibbs, and to kill him.

After a while I realized that making a home for you was

more important than tracking down a man

and killing him for revenge.

Then he killed Ma.

No Mark, he didn't kill her.

But he might have saved her.

But that's the same thing as killing her, isn't it?

[music playing]

[music playing]

Lucas!

Where are you going?

Back to the ranch.

Without even seeing Mr. Gibbs?

That's right Lou.

And what about you Mark?

I'm going back too.

But he came all this way.

And he's risking his life just to see Mark.

Lou, this is something that doesn't concern you.

Well it concerns me that he's liable to be killed.

And Micah too, if you leave town.

What's Micah got to do with this?

His job.

Lucas!

I'm glad you're in town.

Micah just sent me out to get you.

Howdy Lucas. Pick yourself out a badge.

What's this all about?

Haven't you seen Mr. Gibbs?

What's that got to do with your handing out deputy badges?

Well, don't you know about the Sherman boys gunning for him?

They'll be in town about midnight I figure.

Well that's his problem Micah.

Now if you want my advice, you'll

tell him what I told him.

Keep moving.

You mean to tell me that this Gibbs fellow lied to Micah?

He's not really Mark's grandpa?

LUKE: No, I'm saying it doesn't make any difference.

Now look, Nils.

If you're doing this for me, forget it.

He isn't worth it.

Well, it's like Lucas says--

Put the badge down Nils.

But after all, it's his kinfolk Micah.

Put the badge down.

I know you must have reasons for feeling the way you do

Lucas, but this town still has to operate

on the basis of law and order.

Micah I want you to send Gibbs away.

I can't do that.

I already gave him my word.

You don't know what he did Micah.

Mark, wait outside son.

Pa, you, you got to tell him!

Got to make him understand!

Mark, wait outside son, please.

[music playing]

I never thought I'd see Mark so filled with hatred

for another human being.

Well maybe it's because Gibbs deserves it.

The only Gibbs I know is an old man willing to die

to see his grandson.

[suspenseful music]

[knock on door]

Come in.

Well, now, you'd be Mark.

There's no mistaking that.

You'd be Mark.

Come in!

Come on in.

[suspenseful music]

[door slams]

Well, boy.

Do you know who I am?

Yeah.

I know.

Who am I?

You're the man who killed my Ma.

Well, now did your Pa tell you that?

You trying to say he was lying!

No, no no.

Ain't trying to say he was lying, boy.

He was telling the truth, your Pa was.

You mean you, you admit it?

That's what I come here for, son.

To admit it.

Ask you to forgive me.

Forgive you!

That's right, son.

Forgive me.

I don't know if I killed Margaret, exactly,

but I'm admitting that I'm to blame, just same as if I did

kill her.

Never admitted that to you Pa.

Never even admitted it out loud to myself either.

Just, kept running from the truth,

like I always run from everything.

Till today.

It was 11 years ago.

It was a cold, rainy night.

I'd rode just about as far as I could go.

I was afraid your Ma would die if I didn't get back in time.

Just thought that the one drink, it might

give me the strength to go on.

Least that's what I told myself.

Well, when I got back, your Ma was dead and buried.

I went into that empty farmhouse.

I looked out on your Ma's grave.

And I sat down to wait for Lucas to come.

Why?

I wanted him to kill me.

Well boy, you can go now.

Ain't easy for a man to ask someone to forgive 'em.

I can't do it a second time.

Mr. Gibbs?

I came here to ask you leave town before someone gets hurt.

You want me to keep running?

I-- I want you to leave town.

All right boy.

I'll go.

Be easier running away from gunmen,

than it's been running away from myself.

Admitting all the wrong I done to you.

I'll be gone in an hour.

Tell the Marshal.

[music playing]

Mark-- I took pleasure in seeing you, boy.

Good luck.

[door shutting]

[music playing]

He's leaving, Pa.

Mr. Gibbs is leaving.

How do you know that, Mark?

I went to see him.

I asked him to.

He promised he would.

He said he would be gone before the hour is up.

Can we go home now, Pa?

Go on, Lucas boy.

Looks like it's going to be a quiet night after all.

[music playing]

He admitted it was his fault that Ma died.

He said he came here to ask me to forgive him.

Did you forgive him, son?

No.

I didn't think you'd want me to.

[suspenseful music]

Pa, are those the Shermans?

[music playing]

[wagon moving]

It's been a long, thirsty ride.

That can come after we talk to the Marshal.

We going to take the thinking machine, Mal?

Yeah.

You never know when you're going to run into a stubborn man

in this world.

Go get it.

[suspenseful music]

Let's go.

[suspenseful music]

Evening Marshal.

Sit down and take it easy Marshal.

We're just going to ask you a few questions.

Close the door Bob.

Marshal, I said sit down.

Micah!

Lucas' buckboard is--

[door slams]

Whoa.

You stay here, son.

What are you going to do, Pa?

Gibbs is my problem.

I don't mean him to be yours or Micah's.

Here.

[suspenseful music]

You know, Marshal, when my Ma gave us this timing glass,

she said, boys, always give a man time to think

about what he's dying for.

He may decide it ain't worth it.

I hope you been thinking now, Marshal.

Because when that sand runs down,

you're going to be dying for a man named Sam Gibbs.

All I want to know is where he is.

You ain't got much time.

[glass shatters]

[suspenseful music]

[slap]

[scream]

Gibbs!

Gibbs is at the hotel.

What room?

Room 12.

Littleboy, you stay here.

I want to go!

Stay here.

[door slams]

[suspenseful music]

Hold it!

What's the trouble, cowboy?

Can't a man go in to a hotel without somebody

throwing a rifle at him?

That depends.

Micah!

Micah!

[suspenseful music]

[gun clicking]

Micah!

You all right?

[gunshot]

[gunshots]

[music playing]

Gibbs.

Did-- did they get Gibbs?

No.

He can stop running now.

[music playing]

Well, fresh air feels good, Lucas.

Yeah, does.

Well, as long as Doc Burrage has given

you a clean bill of health, Mark and I might as well go home.

It's been a long day.

Yes, it has been that.

For everyone.

[music playing]

Let's go, son.

Just a moment Pa.

Marshal, I'll be going on back to Bensenville now.

Got me a little piece of land there.

I want to thank you.

Don't thank me, thank your son-in-law.

Forget it Micah.

He doesn't owe me a thing.

What I did, I did for you and Mark.

I know that Lucas.

I'd like to thank you anyway.

And I just hope that someday you'll

be able to stop hating me.

Look Sam, I don't hate you.

I just can't find it in me to forgive you.

Well, book says not hating is the first step

toward forgiveness.

I'll settle for that.

Bye, boy.

Goodbye.

You want to tell him you forgive him, don't you son?

I do forgive him Pa.

Well, then I think you ought to tell him.

Mr. Gibbs!

Grandpa?

[music playing]

[theme music]