Original subtitles

( light rock action theme playing)

( suspenseful theme playing)

MAN: Good morning, boss.

(prisoners talking indistinctly)

Work.

I'm workin', boss. I'm workin'.

GUARD: Hey, Wilson, get to work.

You.

Hey, Morgan, this is a work program, not a vacation.

Let's move it.

(gunshots)

MAN: Morgan, wait for me.

Not your ride, cowboy.

Go. Go.

( ominous theme playing)

(siren wailing)

(chatter)

Commander. Ranger.

Ranger.

How many escaped?

We got 19 out, 14 still on the loose.

Do you have a chopper?

COMMANDER: In five minutes. Can we borrow it?

Just bring it back.

Hopefully with some prisoners.

Please.

( action theme playing)

MAN: Come on. Faster. Move.

Faster.

(all yelling)

He's yours, Trivette.

(chatter)

How many are still on the loose?

We've all but one, Dirk Morgan.

Morgan's a bad one.

In for armed robbery and murder.

Okay. Thanks, commander.

( ominous theme playing)

Hey.

Morgan.

You remember me.

Good.

(chuckles)

Come on.

Oh, you really think you're somethin', don't you?

Foreman of the jury that convicted Dirk Morgan.

I still remember the way that you stared at me

after you read that verdict.

But tonight I got somethin' that's gonna bug your eyes out.

(men laughing)

You ought to be honored.

You're the first one on my list.

Let's go.

All right. Ha-ha.

(laughter)

( eerie theme playing)

( light rock action theme playing)

♪ In the eyes of a Ranger ♪

♪ The unsuspecting stranger ♪

♪ Had better know the truth ♪

♪ Of wrong from right ♪

♪ 'Cause the eyes Of the Ranger ♪

♪ Are upon you ♪

♪ Any wrong you do He's gonna see ♪

♪ When you're in Texas Look behind you ♪

♪ 'Cause that's where The Ranger's gonna be ♪

( ominous theme playing)

Hey, Mary? Yeah?

Oh, Walker, Trivette.

Hey. Hi.

What we got? A bit of a puzzle.

Uh, the victim was a partner in a downtown accounting firm.

He was found hanged in the parking garage of his building.

Suicide? No.

His hands were duct-taped behind his back.

Hm. So the question is if you want to kill somebody,

why hang them?

Like I said, it's a puzzle.

( mysterious theme playing)

MAN: And... we're rolling.

Welcome to our Positive Profile

Person of the Week segment.

We're here at C.D.'s Bar and Grill,

where Mr. C.D. Parker is hosting a book signing

for Judge Art McSpadden's latest novel,

Code of the West.

But this series of best-selling western books

is only part of the story.

Here to introduce Judge McSpadden

is assistant district attorney

and the director of the Help Our People Excel Center,

Alex Cahill.

Thank you.

Judge Art McSpadden

is not only one of the best-selling authors in America,

but he is a real-life Good Samaritan.

He is using the profits from his books

to help benefit a very special group of children.

Children of incarcerated felons.

McSPADDEN: Thank you, Alex.

Now, in this film, taken at my ranch a couple of weeks ago,

you can see for yourselves the program in action.

( peaceful theme playing)

McSPADDEN: In all the years that I've served as judge

in Tarrant County,

my heart has gone out for those innocent children

that were left behind by the people I sent to prison.

Too often I've seen those very same children

follow in their parents' footsteps

and get into serious trouble.

Now, at the ranch, we want to help those youngsters

before they head down the wrong road.

(chatter)

( ominous theme playing)

Well, I'll be.

McSPADDEN: Many of these youngsters have never been out

of the inner city in their entire lives.

Sometimes just the chance to explore nature

gives them a leg up.

This the first time you ever played poker with me or what?

McSPADDEN: When these children realize

someone truly cares about them,

they feel worthwhile.

MORGAN: Hey, shut up.

Lighten up, Dirk.

Shut up and watch this!

Bunch of snot-nosed rug rats. So?

Yeah, what's the deal, Morgan?

You soft on kids all of a sudden?

MAN: That's it, Cole. Dirk's thinkin' about his own brat.

Shut up!

McSPADDEN: We need your help.

So come on down to C.D.'s and pick up your copy

of Code of the West.

With your help, these children will become

worthwhile citizens of our community.

I promise you, it'll make you feel good.

That's the judge that put me away.

He's gonna die real soon.

To Angela.

There we are.

Thank you. Thanks.

Well, hello, Earl, good to see you.

Thanks for coming down. There we go.

EARL: I really liked your book Code of the West.

Thanks, Earl. I appreciate that.

Hey, judge. Hey, Cordell, how are you?

Fine. Jimmy. Good to see you.

Thanks for coming down. How'd it go?

Oh, it was great. So many people turned out.

Big crowd, huh? Yeah.

Oh, he's been charmin' 'em all day long.

I think everybody had a good time.

Yeah, everybody except for one. WALKER: Who's that?

The judge's granddaughter. Katie.

She moved in with him about six months ago.

Where's her parents?

They were killed in an automobile accident.

Hit by a drunk driver.

That's tough. Yeah, really tough.

It's been tough on both of 'em.

That little girl has a lot of anger stored up.

Come on. Let me introduce you.

Katie, I'd like you to meet my friends.

This is Ranger Walker and Ranger Trivette.

Hi. Hi.

Hi.

Katie's gonna go with us on the trail ride.

It's gonna be her first time.

Oh, you'll have a good time.

Yeah. It'll be a lot of fun.

Yeah, right. Tons of fun.

Nice meeting you.

( ominous theme playing)

MAN: And here it comes.

Here's your map to McSpadden's ranch.

Who is this guy anyway?

That would be...

Judge Art McSpadden, which is soon to be

the late Judge McSpadden.

Ha-ha. Yeah.

Well, I see you boys

found a few things you could use.

Oh, yeah.

See? What'd I tell you?

No background checks, no waitin' period.

Whether it's info or ammo, Grissom's your man.

I'm gonna have to say...

you were right, Lyles.

Uh, aren't you forgetting something, Mr. Morgan?

I don't do business on credit.

Oh, then, I guess I'll have to pay you right now.

(all laughing)

(birds chirping, dog barking)

C.D., you got enough food here

to feed an army for a week.

It's only a weekend camping trip.

Ha-ha-ha. Well, now, listen.

You guys told me that you wanted these kids exposed

to real Western cuisine.

Well, brother, that's what I'm gonna do,

and it doesn't include bologna sandwiches.

Give me a hand with this, will you, Rudy?

Oh. Good lord, C.D.

What do you got in this box? It feels like iron.

It is. Cast iron.

The finest cast iron pot in the world.

That's what you make your best chili with.

We'll be the judge of that.

( melancholic theme playing)

C.D.: All right. Let's pack 'em up.

Katie, honey,

now, you can't go on a trail ride

with that hair blowing all over your eyes like that.

Maybe you ought to go back in the house and pin it up, huh?

You wouldn't even be happy

if I had pigtails like Annie Oakley.

TRIVETTE: According to his file, Morgan had an old cellmate,

Stanton. Rodney Stanton.

Do you have an address?

Yeah, 1126 Preston Road. It's probably no good.

He's got three outstanding warrants for credit card fraud.

Any known associates?

( ominous theme playing)

(beeping)

TRIVETTE: He has a girlfriend, Brenda Williams.

She's on parole for possession with intent.

She's staying at a house in Oak Cliff.

Let's go check it out. All right.

WOMAN: Who is it?

Texas Rangers. Open up, ma'am.

Rodney, it's the cops!

( suspenseful theme playing)

Get him, Trivette.

Come on.

Get up.

Get up!

Oh, boy.

When is it ever your turn to get 'em?

Well, when they don't run.

Put him in the bed of the truck, will you?

Uh, you don't mind getting back there, do you?

Heh. Only kidding.

Take a joke.

( peaceful theme playing)

Okay.

Roderick, you all set to go?

Yeah. All right, buddy.

Peter, my cowboy.

All cinched up? All cinched up.

Watch that foot.

Hey, Cindy. How you doing?

Hey. I'm okay.

Having some trouble? Yeah, I guess so.

Here. You want to get the cinch tight enough

so the saddle won't move and fall down,

but the horse can still breathe.

Remember how Ranger Walker taught you?

Yeah. I'm sorry for making trouble.

You're no trouble. What are you kidding me?

Where's Jason? There you are.

Listen, buddy, I wanted to let you know

that Walker's not gonna be able to make this trip,

but I'm going to be in your back pocket, okay?

Okay. All right.

( ominous theme playing)

Come on, you guys. I'm giving it to you straight.

Did I used to share a cell with Dirk Morgan? Yes.

Did he call and ask me to help him escape? Yes.

RODNEY: Did I do it? No.

And why didn't you?

Because Morgan's crazy, man.

Scary crazy.

I don't wanna have anything to do with him.

(phone rings)

Yeah. Trivette.

We'll be right there.

Another hanging.

(chatter over radio)

MARY: Walker, Trivette.

Hey, doc. Hey, Mary.

Hi. Know who he is?

Yeah. Jim Edelson.

Prosecuting attorney, Jim Edelson?

I'm afraid so.

Hey, take a look at this.

It's duct tape, like the accountant.

Yeah. MARY: Mm-hm.

Trivette, why don't you check and see

if there's any connection between these two guys?

You got it.

Do you know the approximate time of death?

We're still working on it,

I figure in the last couple of hours.

( menacing theme playing)

You guys ready to go? Yeah, Dirk.

I'd say we got enough firepower here

to take down an army.

Let's go kill us a judge.

( relaxed western theme playing)

This thing's rough as a cob. Dagonnit, Art.

Gonna hit every rock between here and there?

Oh, no, no, no.

I'll try and miss one or two before nightfall.

Now, see. I don't remember you being so sensitive.

Couldn't have anything to do with old age now, could it?

(snickers)

So you having fun? Oh, yeah.

It's like being on a wagon train

in one of Judge McSpadden's books.

Oh, you like his books, huh? Sure do.

What do you like best about 'em?

They make me feel good.

The hero always wins,

and the bad guys get what they deserve.

Hm.

Not like in real life.

McSPADDEN: Katie, honey,

you got to keep up with the others.

I didn't want to come on this stupid trip

in the first place.

C.D., I swear, I-I just don't know

what to do with her.

Well, just keep loving her, Art.

That's all anybody can do.

Yeah.

MORGAN: I've been waiting five years to get a rope

around that judge's neck.

( ominous theme playing)

And today I'm gonna hang him high.

( peaceful theme playing)

(whistles)

Easy, easy.

Easy, girl. Take it easy.

ALEX: Wow. What's that?

GIRL: Hey, look. It's a deer.

Okay. That a girl.

C.D.: What do we got here?

Oh, look. It's Bambi.

RODERICK: Aw, neat.

Shh. Shh.

Easy, kids. We don't want to scare her.

Looks like she's got a bum leg, C.D.

Are you gonna shoot him?

GIRL: We could have deer soup for supper.

Hey, we're not gonna shoot her or cook her.

Oh. We're gonna patch her up.

So she's got an infected cut. Yeah.

Art, let's put her on the back of the wagon.

Alex and I will look after her. Okay.

Is there anything I can do?

Yeah, there sure is, Cindy.

Uh, Katie, would you like to help too?

Yeah, I guess so. Great.

Why don't you hop on the back of the wagon?

Then you can help hold her.

Come on, kids.

Good job. Excuse me.

Now, I'm gonna need some help.

Katie, why don't you come around here?

We're gonna try to hold her down

so I can work on her leg.

Okay, boys. We got a job to do.

What kind of job?

We got to try and find her mother.

What if she's, you know, dead?

Well, if we can't find her mother,

we'll just have to take her to the Wildlife Rehab Center.

We can't keep her?

No. I'm sorry.

You see, a wild thing belongs in the wild,

not in somebody's back yard.

Now, let's spread out and see if we can find her, okay?

Let's go.

There we go. That's it. Okay.

ALEX: Hold her.

McSPADDEN: Any sign of the mother?

ALEX: No, we didn't find her.

Hello, sweetie.

That's a girl. How's she doing?

She's doing much better.

Find the mother?

Afraid not, C.D.

BOY: Man, we looked everywhere.

Okay, okay, okay. We got to head down the trail.

Why don't you girls help Alex

get the fawn into the wagon? You guys mount up.

Let's go. Come on.

I wish I could live out here

and have my own horse like you do.

Then I could ride every day.

Where do you live?

In a foster care group home.

What happened to your parents?

My mom's dead.

Where's your dad?

He's in prison for murder and robbing a bank.

Do you miss him?

Uh-uh. He was always real mean.

He used to hurt my mom a lot.

You know, you're real lucky, Katie.

Lucky?

Yeah. I mean, your grandpa really loves you.

I wish I had someone who loves me.

If I had pigtails like Annie Oakley.

(echoing) Pigtails like Annie Oakley.

( mysterious theme playing)

Hey, Walker, your hunch was right.

Edelson prosecuted Morgan.

Boyd Davis, the accountant,

was the foreman on Morgan's jury.

That means Morgan's out for revenge.

Who was the judge at his trial?

(beeping)

TRIVETTE: "Arthur McSpadden."

Art was the judge.

( menacing theme playing)

(ringing)

Let's get out to his ranch.

( suspenseful theme playing)

Can I help you boys? Where's the judge?

Well, he's not here right now.

Where is he?

Well, he's out on the river trail,

and he won't be back for a couple of days.

Why don't you leave your names,

and I'll tell him you stopped by?

Why do you want to see the judge?

Well, nothin' real important.

I just wanna kill him.

( dramatic theme playing)

Hyah.

(gunshot) (screams)

That showed him.

MORGAN: So the judge is on the river trail?

Let's find him.

ALEX: Okay.

Put your stirrup up over the horn

and let out the cinch

so these guys can breathe a little bit.

While we go get something to eat.

(chatter)

What's cooking?

You're gonna love this.

ALEX: It's C.D.'s famous chili.

( ominous theme playing)

Morgan?

Yes, my man, you're in for a treat.

Yes, siree.

This chili will make a hound dog hug a bear.

Thank you.

McSPADDEN: I guess you were right after all, C.D. Take a look.

Katie seems to be getting along all right.

Of course I was. She's going to be just fine. Here.

Still the best chili in the world.

Hm. I never lost it.

( suspenseful theme playing)

Judge McSpadden?

Will you tell us a story?

Aren't you a little too old for fairy tales?

Unless it's getting close to your nap time.

I'm older than anybody here,

and I wanna hear a good story.

So do I. How about that?

Come on, judge, tell a story.

Okay, well, now, this is a story about a Bo Claxton.

He lived in the Oklahoma territory

back in the late 1800s.

Bo's father was an outlaw,

and he abandoned Bo and his mother

when Bo was just a little fella, like you.

Hm. Sounds familiar.

Now, when the town's people found out

that Bo's father had turned to a life of crime,

they ran Bo and his mother out of town.

Bo's mother took him and went to another town.

She found work in a boardinghouse.

( suspenseful theme playing)

Now, Bo's mother worked long and hard

to support herself and Bo.

But the kids at school started to tease Bo

and make fun of him because Bo didn't have a father

and Bo helped his mother do women's work.

Is this a true story?

Now, the sheriff in town was kind to Bo and his mother,

and when Bo was old enough,

he gave Bo odd jobs to do around the jail.

One day, a gang rode into town to rob the bank.

Now, the sheriff and the deputy caught two of the gang members,

but three of them got away.

Well, Bo was sweeping out the jail

and prisoners started to talk to him.

During that conversation,

they found out that the leader of the gang

was Bo's father.

Now, the prisoner told Bo

that his father had been looking for him

because he wanted Bo to ride with the gang.

And he said, "Now, if you bring me the keys

to this jail cell, we'll take you to your father."

And then what'd Bo do?

Well, Bo thought about it long and hard.

He took the key ring off the peg.

And he thought, "Now, if I ride with my father,

"no one would dare make fun of me

or tease me ever again."

Did he let him out?

No, no.

He put the keys back on the peg,

and he ran to tell the sheriff.

Now, you see, Bo had to make a choice.

Now, it wasn't an easy one,

but he knew down deep in his heart

it was the right one.

What happened to Bo's father?

Well, they captured Bo's father, put him in jail,

and, uh, he died behind bars.

Well, whatever happened to Bo?

Bo grew up and he became sheriff of that very same town.

BOY: Yeah, but that's just a story.

In life, things don't always turn out okay

just 'cause you do what's right.

McSPADDEN: Well, that's right, son.

But if you do wrong, there's never a happy ending.

Take it from a judge.

( suspenseful theme playing)

There we go.

McSPADDEN: Come on.

( ominous theme playing)

(horse whinnies)

Good lord.

Hey, are you all right, son? Yeah, I'm fine.

I guess I forgot to tighten up the cinch.

Yeah, you see, that's why you leave

the stirrup on the saddle horn,

so you'll remember.

You sure you're all right? Yes.

Okay. Well, look, cowboy,

if you're all right, let's get this saddle cinched up

and let's, uh... Oh, my goodness.

Look it here.

Well, I'll be darned. C.D.: It's the mother.

( peaceful theme playing)

McSPADDEN: Well, how about that?

That's a beautiful reunion.

Yes, it is, hon.

(tires squealing)

MORGAN: We should be close now.

( peaceful theme playing)

BOY: Oh, look.

(cawing)

(birds chirping)

(chatter)

Well, how's it going? Well, we're just about ready.

How was that chili? Oh, yeah, it was great.

McSPADDEN: All right, listen up, kids.

We got another hour or two of riding before we set camp

and, uh, we want to get there before it gets dark, so...

let's get ready. Mount up. Come on.

( menacing theme playing)

(gunshots)

Get the kids in the woods!

Kids, go! Go, run, run, run!

No, no, no, hey, stop!

(Alex shrieks)

C.D.!

C.D.

(Morgan laughing)

C.D. Hey.

You remember me, judge?

Yeah, I remember you, Morgan.

I got a good memory for yellow-bellied scum.

Get the rope.

You know what they call you in prison, judge?

The hanging judge.

'Cause it seems like half the guys on death row

came through your courtroom.

( suspenseful theme playing)

( ominous theme playing)

Yeah.

I reckon you might call this poetic justice, huh, judge?

Come on.

(laughing)

Get down.

Grandpa!

Katie, get back. Get out of here.

Morgan, you get your hands off of her.

MAN: Who is that?

Dad!

Dad, you can't do this.

MORGAN: Cindy?

Oh, you're just like your ma, weak.

Time to toughen you up.

You got any last words, judge?

Yeah, Morgan.

Don't let the kids see this.

Why? It's good for 'em.

They get to see what the real world is like.

Do it.

No, stop it! Kids, get down.

Get back here. You're going up.

(choking)

( dramatic theme playing)

Grandpa, I was so scared. I thought I'd lost you.

Oh, no, no, no, honey.

It takes more than a bunch of varmints like that

to break us apart.

( triumphant theme playing)

Medics said you're going to be fine, Big Dog.

I feel like I was run over by a truck.

Well, you were, C.D. Now, tell me the truth.

You ran out in front of that 4-by-4 'cause you didn't wanna

ride back on that wagon with me, didn't you?

Ha-ha-ha. They won't be hitting

every damn rock in the road when we go back.

Oh, you're getting to be an old softy.

(chuckling)

Okay, guys, let's get him to the helicopter.

I'll see you back... Back in town.

I'll buy you a drink. Okay.

Fellas, could I have a shot of something?

MAN: Watch your back.

Well, thank you, Cindy.

You're welcome.

Just wanted to say I'm sorry.

Sorry for what?

For what my pa tried to do.

Well, you don't got nothing to be sorry about.

That was your pa that did a bad thing.

But that was him, not you.

Now, what you did was try and save my life,

and I'm mighty grateful for that.

You know, I've been thinking. I bet I could pull some strings.

How would you like to come and live at the ranch

with me and Katie?

You mean it? Very sure.

What do you think, Katie?

Would you like a sister at the ranch?

I sure would, if it's Cindy.

There we go.

You okay?

Yes, I'm fine and so are all the kids.

Good.

( triumphant theme playing)

C.D.: By golly, that's just great, Art.

Yeah, it just goes to show you

that there's somebody left in la-la land

that's got a brain working.

You bet. Well, listen,

give my regards to Katie and Cindy.

And the best to you, ol' buddy.

O-o-okay. All right. Thank you.

Well, you're not gonna believe this.

You know Art's new book? It's not even released yet.

A high-powered Hollywood producer

has bought the rights to it.

That's great, C.D. It is, Alex.

Because he's gonna take the money from the book

and start a foundation to continue his work

all over the country.

Well, that'll help a lot of kids.

C.D.: Yes, it will. Wait a minute.

You guys.

Art's new book, that's the one about the judge.

Right? He takes a bunch of kids on a trail ride.

And then the bad guys show up

and then they try to hang the judge?

Yeah, yeah, that's right. And two Rangers

come in and save the day.

Hey...

We're gonna be famous.

Huh. Well,

I never thought about that, Jimmy. I guess you're right.

Oh, I wonder who they'll get.

What are you talking about?

The cast to play us in the movie.

Well, I'm easy.

Paul Newman.

(chuckles)

Huh.

Paul Newman?

Do you have any other suggestions?

No.

Alex, who's gonna play you?

I have no idea.

Helen Hunt.

Helen Hunt.

Really? Yeah.

She's beautiful. She's intelligent.

She's you, baby.

Mm. And what about you, Jimmy?

Well, I was... I was thinking about Denzel.

Denzel Washington? No, Denzel Smith.

Yes, Denzel Washington, Paul.

And what about you, Walker?

Who do you think they're gonna get to play you?

How would I know? I do.

Chuck Norris.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

That's perfect.

Jimmy, you're a genius.

Chuck Norris?

C.D., you get Paul Newman,

who's an Academy Award winner.

Alex, you get Helen Hunt,

who's an Academy Award winner.

Trivette, you get Denzel Washington,

who's an Academy Award winner.

And I get Chuck Norris?

Now, what has he won?

How about six-time World Karate Champion?

Hm. That'll work.

(all laughing)

Let's go call him right now.

I wanna talk to you about this Paul thing.

Yeah, I wanna hear about that...

( light rock action theme playing)

♪ 'Cause the eyes Of the Ranger ♪

♪ Are upon you ♪

♪ Any wrong you do He's gonna see ♪

♪ When you're in Texas Look behind you ♪

♪ 'Cause that's where The Ranger's gonna be ♪