Original subtitles

I never give any man a "take it or leave it," Billy, but...

I'm under the same price squeeze you are.

Oh, I'm taking it, Mr. Slater.

- Good. - Got to.

Just sayin' two dollars a ton

don't even allow for decent drinkin' money.

Well, we'll include a bottle on me.

Bring you back smiling by the time we get that wagon unloaded.

Thanks, Billy.

- Mr. Slater. - Yeah.

- Paper says you need a man. - That's right.

You look like you got the shoulders for a good day's work.

What's your name, son?

Travis. Travis Smith.

All right.

Pay's $5 a week.

Now, that includes a half a day Saturday, but quittin' time's at 4:00.

It's Colter.

I said my name was Smith, but it's Colter.

Oh.

Well, yeah, I'd heard you and your mother

moved into Dodge a while back.

Well, all right, Travis. Where can I get in touch with you?

Over the roomin' house behind Ma Smalley's.

All right, uh, got some interviewing, as the newspaper might say.

Other fellas comin' by to...

Yeah. Yeah, thanks.

So that's the youngest of the Colters.

Yeah.

Doesn't seem like too bad a boy.

Always something in the way.

Can't just reach in and grab one, can ya?

I think that peppermint's about a penny a stick, I remember right.

There may as well be one of us has a good day.

You go get yourself the biggest stick in the jar, huh?

Hey, you give it back here.

Well, hey, Mister, there ain't no harm in him having a candy stick, is there?

Wasn't talking to you, Colter.

Remember you from Haynesville.

Don't need you or your kind giving nothing to my kid.

My kind?

Yeah.

You, that brother of yours, your old lady.

We don't need that kind of garbage...

What's going on here?

They belong in cages. That's what's the matter.

Shouldn't be allowed to mix around decent folks.

Who started this?

I didn't like his mouth. That's all.

Just tellin' him what I thought of Colters living in this town.

Speaking my mind.

Anybody's got a right to live in this town, Daley,

as long as they mind their own business and stay within the law.

Now, that's a good idea for you to think about.

Get movin'.

All right, folks. Break it up.

Let's move along now.

You're just gonna have to learn to smile.

No matter what people say to you.

We ain't garbage, Ma.

Yeah. So long as we know that,

I guess that's all that matters.

Yeah.

I'll get my cap.

Beatrice?

John Chapman.

Been a long time, Bea.

Well, for the life of me.

You're the last soul I ever expected to see in Dodge City.

That name still follows you around everywhere you go, doesn't it, Bea?

You ever think about changing it? Might be easier.

Too many people know me and my sons.

The Colter legend's got so big, there's nowhere left to hide.

That was Travis I saw, wasn't it?

I haven't seen that rascal since he was 12 years old.

Seems like a good boy, Bea.

They were all good boys once.

Now Amos is dead. Clayt and Virgil have a price on their heads.

And Travis is getting restless.

Matthew, maybe you and Newly ought to have yourselves

a couple of beers before you go off over yonder.

You know it's gonna take a tolerable lot of patience

of divvying up all that grazin' land for all them herds a-comin' in.

Well, I think we better take advantage of what daylight we have, Festus,

but, uh, thanks for the invitation.

Oh. Well, I wasn't exactly inviting. I...

We'll keep in mind the first one's on you when we get back.

If you need to find me, Festus, we'll most likely be camped down by Tillson's Bend.

Well, don't you worry none now, Matthew.

Whilst you're away, I'll be holding things down

to the best of my liabilities.

I, uh, I hope you're not gonna let that big mouth of Daley's get you down.

No, I... I suppose I got some more important things to worry about.

How old are you, anyhow?

18.

Matter of fact, just today.

Well, congratulations.

Let's call that beer on the house.

Well, thanks.

Thanks, and, I, uh...

I appreciate the thought.

See ya later.

Howdy, Travis.

Festus.

- Miss Kitty. - Hello, Festus.

Believe I'll have me a beer, Sam.

Sam: All right.

That Travis is sure having himself a rocky time of it, ain't he?

Yeah.

He's been tarred with the same brush as his brothers.

Seems like everybody's very happy to swap stories with him

or buy him a drink, but when it comes to giving him a job, it's...

Yes'm. I've heard the very same thing, Miss Kitty, and...

You know, a man's name hadn't ought to make no difference.

Whether it's Charlie Smith or Fred Whatchamacallit,

don't mean that he's gonna do a heap more work

or a heap littler work. Don't you see?

Hadn't ought to make no difference.

Who says a man's name counts in the way he works?

Well, that's right, Burke.

You ought to know a lot about that,

running that freight office and handling all those men, and...

And hiring all those men.

Well, of course he does, Miss Kitty.

See, old Burke here, he's a big chief.

A high mogul of that whole blamed freightin' operation.

Well, I do have some responsibility.

Uh, uh, Sam, uh, how about a beer on the house for Burke here?

This seems to be the day for it.

Well, that's awful kind of you, Miss Kitty. Thanks a lot.

Uh, you know, I seem to remember here a while back

that you were looking to hire somebody to replace Jim Bauers.

Yeah, well, that Jim Bauers, he never stuck to the job.

He went off to sign up with one of them Texas trail bosses.

And of course you'd want to be hiring the very best man you could get

and it don't make no never mind whether he's your brother or your friend

or what he looks like or what his name is, wouldn't you?

Well, ambition, like I had.

Willing to use a little muscle like I did before they put me in charge.

Well, that's fine, Burke.

Travis couldn't work under a better man.

And I'll get him over to you right away.

- Well, Travis... - Colter.

Oh. Yeah, well, I'll get in touch with him,

Miss Kitty and Festus.

No, no, no, there ain't no need for that, Burke.

I'll see that he gets over yonder to you.

See, you're too busy to piddle around with them little old things.

I'll see that he gets over yonder to you.

Yeah, well, thanks a lot, Festus.

Miss Kitty.

Well-managed, Festus.

Uh, Sam. Uh, as long as the house is buying,

give Festus another one here.

Ma.

I got a job at the freight office.

Oh, Travis. That's wonderful.

Yeah, $7 a week, and it's a real good job.

Mr. Burke says that if I learn the business,

I'll be up to $10 in just a couple years.

Eighteen years old today, and a good job.

It's a real special day.

What's this?

What?

- This. - Oh.

It's nothing.

Just came in the mail a while ago.

They got no right to print trash like that.

And you... Why, Ma?

I'll tell you why.

I've been a widow alone with a boy to care for

and no one to provide.

And so you sell us to liars who'll print anything they want?

All right. But it got us out of Galveston.

Got us away when there was no way left.

Nothing there to live on.

I ain't ashamed. I done what I had to do.

And them saloons.

You don't gotta work saloons like that no more.

Colters is worth more than that.

We used to stand for something when Pa was alive.

And Clayt and Virgil, maybe they're wanted,

but at least they ain't eatin' dirt because their name's Colter.

Look here, it's the same as that book, boy.

It puts food on the table when there's no other way to get it.

Well, there is now.

I've got this job, and I can make it for us.

Both of us.

I understand, Ma.

Took care of me all those years doing what you had to do.

Let's just call it my turn to take care of you from now on.

It's a real special day.

Hey, Travis!

Hey, Clayt and Virgil! How you doing?

- Hey, Ma! How are ya? - Hey, come here, boy!

Your ugly brother come to give you a party.

- Come on in. - Look at this boy.

He done growed and growed and growed.

How you doing, man? How you be?

Good to see ya. All right.

Hey, you stay out of jail, kid, huh?

- Sure. Sure. - How you been, Travis? You been okay?

Real good. Good. Real good.

Hey, Ma.

Ma?

Never meant nothin', Ma.

We was just travelin' through, and remembered Travis was havin' a birthday.

Sure. Sure is.

Brought you a present, Travis. Here.

- Present? - Yeah.

Look it there, Ma. They brought me a present.

Aw, Virgil, Clayton, thank you very much. Look, Ma.

- You like it? - Sure.

Ma, you're looking like the downhill side of a thunderhead.

We'll move out of here, you want us to.

Move out? No, no. You just got here.

Ma don't mean nothin'. Do you, Ma?

Your supper's about ready.

- You're welcome, boys. - Sure, come on, sit down.

Tell me all where you been.

Oh, we've been all over, we've been.

Last I heard, you was headin' for Mexico, I think.

- We was there. - About three years ago.

Yeah, we been there. We been...

That's you ended up, in Sonora, at Perez's Hacienda.

And, boy, when you're at Perez's, man,

I mean, everything's right at your fingertips.

Best food, fancy wines, and the senoritas.

Shoulder-deep to a tall Indian, boy.

You know, Clayt took a gambler for 2,000 just before we left.

He thought Clayt was too liquored up to read his cards.

Yeah, it was a good year.

Yeah, sure was.

Sweet whiskey and bad pasture.

Hey, Ma, about ready for that birthday cake.

Can't tell me you're still not hiding them for a surprise now.

Where you boys gonna head to now?

Oh, I guess we'll rest up a bit.

Fatten up the horses before we move on.

We got all kinds of choices.

We can go back to Perez's or maybe into East Texas.

Fat amount of money down yonder.

Me and Clayt draw down 500 a month and better

just sniffing out land trouble.

500 month?

- Uh-huh. - That's right.

Take me two years to earn that kind of money.

Clayt: Well, hey, now, it's easy money,

but you gotta keep the covers off your eyes.

I mean, the honey do draw flies.

Virgil: Yeah.

Clayt: Hey! Happy birthday, Travis. Many more of 'em.

Yeah, run 'em ragged, and don't look back.

Hey, 18 and one to grow on.

Sixteen was the last one I seen. Remember, Ma?

Yeah, I remember.

And your brother Amos too. His last one.

Five months before he was hanged.

Well, come on, get to it, brother. Come on.

Make a wish, blow 'em out, and let's eat.

Come on. Come on, Travis.

Hey, hey, that's good.

Hey, that one's yours, Ma. Wish and blow.

What'd you wish for, Ma?

Maybe that my youngest son would never have to sneak into any town.

Come on, Ma. Now, come on, will ya?

Hey, no Colters sneak in any place.

We take care of our own.

Oh, yes, I've been listening.

The big money, the fancy wines, the girls.

Tell me, where are you two sleeping tonight?

We're campin' out, Ma.

We took over an abandoned shack about five miles west of town.

Stuck in the trees, out of sight, sweet water,

and you can see anybody comin' for miles,

so there's no need to worry about us.

Worry? Until the day I die.

Or until the day you do.

No, I... I was talking about a bed.

A pillow instead of a saddle.

Aw, Ma, come on. They just came for my birthday.

Yes, they did.

Bearing tales of their good lives.

I just wanna hear about it is all.

Mother likes to hear about her children.

I heard you were in Dry Wells last winter.

Something about two deputies up that way

being wounded, I seem to recall.

Your names were mentioned.

Ma, we ain't never done nothin' that wasn't done to us first,

starting that night with Pa under the heel of that railroad.

But you never stopped with the railroad.

When was it you found it easier to make a living with a gun?

You of all people got no call to dress us down for doing what we done.

Hey.

It's time we was getting back to the shed.

It's not that I don't wish you both well.

It's all right, Ma.

So long, Travis.

Ma, look, uh, I, uh...

Well, take care of yourself.

We'll be seeing ya.

See ya, Travis. See ya.

Thanks for the present.

What'd you run 'em off for, Ma?

They're your sons.

It's been three years since you seen 'em. You might never see 'em again.

Look, I didn't mean it that way.

Look, I had four sons once.

I... I just don't wanna lose the last one.

Travis.

Travis. Weigh this.

Weigh it and put it outside in back with the Denver crates.

It'll be going out this afternoon.

Yes, sir. I'll do that, Mr. Burke.

Your books are in order, Mr. Burke.

As for those extra wagons you asked about,

I will have to check with Division about it.

Very well, Mr. Palmer.

Is that a new fellow you have there?

Yes, he just started the other day.

All in the records, I suppose.

Well, right there, sir.

All right.

Let's see. Colter.

Travis Colter?

Yes. The, um, the boy there, well, he's related.

Mr. Palmer: Related to the Colters and working here?

Burke: Well, he seems like a nice young fella, sir.

I... I couldn't hold his name against him.

Mr. Palmer: Oh, neither could I, Mr. Burke.

Neither could I.

But it is a bit sticky.

It will be a little difficult to explain to Division.

We are a public trust.

Many people deposit a lot of money with us.

Appearances, Mr. Burke.

After all, you don't leave the cat to guard the cream, now do you?

Burke: Maybe you've got a point.

I'm sure I do.

You're home early.

I got fired.

They didn't want the cat guarding the cream.

Travis, I'm sorry.

That sounds like something I should have been in on, Carrot.

Oh, Ma, now, that's not for your tender ears.

Say, Ma, you remember me? Abilene?

Oh, I don't see nothing much there to remember.

Well, I played the harmonica for you one night,

and we sure packed 'em in.

You did, I mean, with your singing.

Oh, yes.

Seems to me I used to call you Blowhard.

That's right.

Come on, Ma, you name it.

Oh, no. My singing days are long passed.

Hey, how about singing "Aaron at the Gate"?

Yeah! Aaron. Huh?

Come on. We come a long way to hear you sing that.

"Aaron at the Gate," huh?

Well, I guess that's one song everybody knows.

'Cause it says what really happened.

There've been so many stories about the Colters.

You read them penny novels,

we're the Devil's own emissaries here on Earth.

Well, I don't have horns.

Don't breathe fire.

Don't really eat little children for lunch.

And lookie here. Just one head. Not two.

The Colter boys... Amos, Clayt, and Virgil,

well, maybe they made their mark on this world

in ways not to gladden a mother's heart, but...

there was a time when they were just my boys.

Young'uns.

As maybe some of you have of your own.

Uh, I'm not calling them angels...

but you should know that the Colter boys

didn't just spring out of some dark hole in the earth,

shooting their way into being hunted men.

No. No, it all had a beginning.

And it all began with the father.

Aaron. At the gate.

State your business, Mister.

Virgil? It's me.

What are you doing here, kid?

Oh, I just figured I'd ride out and talk a bit.

About a hundred yards on.

Trail leads up here.

Well, Travis.

You ain't doing much talking.

Well, I'm feeling kinda mixed up.

I had about all I can take in them towns.

Yeah, it's tough, kid.

Ma singing songs for a bunch of barroom drunks.

Even sold Pa's story for money to live on.

And I don't seem to be able to help her much.

Folks turn me down before I even get the name out.

Then she's gotta go back working them bars.

So what are you saying, kid?

Well, I'm saying maybe you got the answer we need.

How's that?

Oh, you fellas, you got the life, the money.

Ma and me, sometimes we...

been talking about a little farm.

I could work a farm.

That's a good idea. Real good.

We been looking at this little place over near Dodge.

It ain't bad for what they want for it.

$400.

We figure, well, another 200,

put some stock on the place,

another hundred more would see us till we get things set up.

That sounds pretty good, boy. Sounds pretty good.

Yeah, I don't like asking you fellas for money,

but, well, $700 would kinda see Ma settled.

You askin' us for money?

Well, I'll pay you back.

Besides, you fellas get money real easy.

How about that 2,000 you took off that gambler, huh, Clayt?

Well, yeah, kid, but, uh, that ain't all the time.

I mean, uh, it don't rain money on no one, huh?

Costs more than some to travel the way we do, Travis.

You ain't got it, have ya?

Well, we get it, and we spend it, kid.

You know, good times, and not so good. You know.

We're gonna have it again. We'll be rolling in it.

And when we do, we're gonna set you and Ma up right. You watch.

What happened today, Travis? Bringing you out here.

Oh, I lost my job.

Over at the freight office.

Ma had to go back working in a trash bin called the Bull's Head.

Well, that's tough to hear, kid, but we ain't got no answer for you.

Well, maybe I got an answer.

That freight office, there ain't no bars on the back windows.

And them iron shutters, they need fixing.

They come right open in your hand.

I figure serve 'em right, we rob the place.

Boy, no one even knows we're in these parts.

We're gonna keep it that way if we can.

Well, maybe I could ride with you.

Send Ma some money.

Now, you get that stuff out of your head, Travis.

You ain't cut out for that.

Answer's flat out no, Travis. You gotta stay and take care of Ma.

Look, I done tried everything. There just ain't nothing else.

That's it now, Travis. That's how she stays. You understand?

Now, come on. You best be gettin' back.

Come on.

You know, you fellas, you've got a life.

Ma and me, we ain't got nothin' but a name.

Hey, Travis?

Wait a minute, boy.

Listen, the next time we're up this way, we might have a good stake.

We'll talk again about that farm.

Yeah.

Yeah. Sure. Next time.

He, uh, he makes that freight office sound real easy, don't he?

We owe that lady.

Uh-huh.

All these years, we ain't never given her nothin'.

Kid's got salt. He ain't cryin'.

You figure...

suppose we hit that freight office.

Dillon's town?

Yeah, but suppose we hit it anyway.

I mean, at night, on the quiet.

Cut off, and send all the money to...

To her?

How are your brothers?

They're all right.

Uh, I met Mr. Burke.

It was out of his hands.

I wasn't blaming him none.

I guess the world is just asking more patience from you.

More than maybe should be asked.

Oh, we got patience.

Had it in New Orleans.

Galveston.

In Baton Rouge.

Why did you wanna see your brothers tonight?

To ride with them?

Well, that's sure better than what I'm doing.

They've only got a grave ahead of them, Travis.

You've got a life.

I've got nothing, and neither have you.

And whatever Clayton and Virg have got,

they're not getting walked on.

They're just taking what's owed 'em.

I'm not sleepy.

I'm going for a walk.

Travis, you ever had any hard liquor before?

You got my dollar, ain't ya?

Look, son, your mother finds out you got drunk in my place,

I'll never hear the end of it.

Help! Somebody blew up the freight office.

Somebody fetch the doctor.

How much they get, Burke?

Me and Palmer put every nickel in the bank this afternoon.

All right, move aside. Move aside. Let me see.

Bea: What happened?

I don't know, Bea. I just don't know.

Some of you men pick him up, please.

Take him into my office. Now handle him gently.

Pick him up gently.

All right, easy, Burke. Easy.

Easy, fella.

I don't know...

That's a strong boy you brought into the world, Bea.

I mean, he's all right. For now.

That's something of a wonder considering the shock to his system.

Thank you, Doctor.

Well, no, I'm not finished with him yet. There's some surgery to be done.

Surgery?

Bea, he has a piece of glass in him.

When I probe for it now, it breaks off.

I wanna wait until he regains some of his strength

and his body starts to push the glass back out.

Well, how dangerous is it?

Well, as long as he doesn't move around,

push it in further, he'll be all right.

Can I talk with him?

Sure, as soon as he wakes up.

I'm almost afraid to ask the question, Doctor.

Bea, you and I go back a long way.

Since before Travis was born.

I guess maybe I know you 'bout as well as anybody.

Knew your husband.

Your boys.

Now, here.

I want you to do a little favor for me.

Here, I want you to drink that.

Doctor's orders.

What I'm working my way around to, Bea,

is that I see a lot of you in Travis.

Plenty of character. Plenty of strength.

But he has something else he has to overcome.

This resentment at being branded an outlaw.

I know.

Gets harder for him all the time, Bea.

He's a young man full of pride, full of strength.

But being rejected for a reputation he didn't want,

doesn't deserve.

He's the last of the Colters,

and... and yet he's not a part of the legend,

but being forever reminded of that.

You talking about my singing at the Bull's Head?

Bea, girl,

I'd never in this world try to tell you how to live your life,

but I do believe that every time you sing "Aaron at the Gate,"

you're driving Travis away.

Like Virgil and Clayton.

Travis, don't worry. Here, cut that out.

Don't move around like that.

You lie back there.

You want anything, you just ask for it.

Here.

Just take it easy. Just... take it easy.

- Had enough? - Yeah.

All right.

How do you feel, Travis?

Like a... Like a wall of that freight office hit me.

Here, I'm gonna... I'm gonna leave these two pills

right... right beside your bed now.

You have any trouble getting to sleep, well, you take 'em.

Why did you do it?

Even you think that, huh?

You trying to tell me it wasn't your brothers inside that freight office?

No, it was them.

The utter stupidity of it.

You were helping them, weren't you?

Oh, what difference does it make?

I'm a Colter, aren't I?

You didn't answer my question.

I saw their horses, and I knew they were in there.

And I wanted to warn 'em about the deputy in the street.

That's not helping them.

Ma, it's just us Colters against everyone.

And it's been that way since Pa stood up to the railroad.

Now you gonna tell me it pays to be honest?

He'll be sleeping now, I guess.

Well, now, Bea, I can give you something to help you sleep if you want.

No, thank you.

I've got some things to think about.

All right. You can think as much as you want to,

but I don't want you to worry.

I don't want you to get back in your room and start to fret...

Hello, Mr. Burke.

Uh, Festus deputized me before he rode out, Doctor.

He wants me to keep watch up here.

Mr. Burke, couldn't you have found something bigger than that?

A Gatling gun, maybe?

Oh, yeah, but I don't have a handgun, Doctor.

Well, never mind. Just step in.

All right, Bea. Now, rest.

Want you to rest.

Where is Festus?

Well, he rode out to fetch the marshal,

let him know the Colter brothers are up this way.

Paul Sorenson's missus is expecting.

I told him I'd sit up with her tonight.

Oh. Here. Here's some reading material.

You might enjoy that.

Just, uh, sit down, make yourself at home.

Thank you, Doctor.

Sure.

Doctor?

Doctor!

The doctor's not here, Travis.

He's tending Mrs. Sorenson down at River St.

She's expecting.

Travis.

Get me the doctor.

Look, Travis. Travis, you hold on. I'll get the doctor right away.

- Get the doctor! Quick! - Now hold on.

Dr. Chapman: Bea?

Bea.

Are you in there, Bea?

What's wrong? Is Travis...

Travis is gone. He slipped away from Mr. Burke,

but I've got to find him before that glass moves.

Now, you have any idea where he could go?

He'll be with his brothers.

Where are they?

I can't bring the law to my sons.

They'll be riding. Maybe they'll take Travis to a doctor in another town.

Bea, your boy has a piece of glass in him this long.

Now, if that moves into his lung...

We'll... We'll have to go alone.

Nobody goes with us. You'll have to promise.

Festus has already taken word of your sons to Marshal Dillon.

He needs no help from me,

but Travis may need me badly.

Now, we're wasting time, girl. Precious time.

Well, Clayt and Virgil talked... a shack hidden in some trees

about five miles west...

Be right with you, Clayt. I'm... I just been resting a minute.

How you feelin'?

Well, I guess I had better days,

but I'll be makin' it just fine.

You're sweatin'.

Well, what do you expect? This shack's a hotbox.

It ain't that hot, kid.

Look...

I made it here, didn't I?

Sonora's a long ways. You up to that?

Clayt, I got no place else to go.

All right, just so's you understand.

Brothers aside, there's gonna be no stopping, no fallin' back.

There's no percentage in three being killed for one.

You understand that, kid?

Virgil: Hey, Clayt!

You sit tight while we're getting saddled.

Be the last rest you're getting for a while, so make it count.

Look at that. A buggy coming this way.

Ma coming in with somebody.

No one's following 'em.

Leastways yet.

But buggy tracks. Like a map. Right to our doorstep.

Let's get going.

Thought you had better sense than that, Ma.

What are you trying to do? Put a rope around our necks?

Hey, Doc Chapman, how far behind is the law?

That doesn't happen to be my concern.

Travis, you need surgery.

You have to go back to Dodge with me.

I'm riding with Clayt and Virg.

Not far you're not, son.

I can guarantee that.

Hey! Hyah!

You make it, kid, you know where to find us.

All right, Bea, help me get him back to bed.

Come on. All right. Just be easy.

Easy. Easy. Easy.

Lie back down. Lie back. Lie back.

Once they get out of the hills, they'll probably head for the river.

We'll swing around, come in from the east.

There's a little bit of advice that goes with this doctoring, Travis.

'Course your mother said it before, but...

it bears repeating.

Son, why don't you come back to town with us?

Tell your story.

Put a little trust in people.

You tell 'em I was warning my brothers.

That story ought to get me about two years in prison.

Maybe even five considering my name's Colter.

Oh, yes. Oh, yes. That's right. Colter. Travis Colter.

In a hurry to catch up.

So what do you mean by that?

His brothers, gatherin' in all the glory.

Written about in the newspapers.

Talked about in the saloons.

And poor Travis.

He hasn't quite made it yet.

So he's a man in a hurry.

Oh. Correction. A boy in a hurry.

Well, you think whatever you want, Mister.

You like thinking that you've been mistreated, don't you, Travis?

You ask my Ma who's been mistreated.

Who's had her life ruined.

Talk about putting trust in people.

It was people took it all from us in the first place.

Took my pa. Took our land. Her sons.

The Colter legend.

Call it that. Call it anything you want, but don't you preach to me.

I saw my pa dyin' in his own blood at the gate to our house.

- I saw... - You saw a drunk being shot to death

over a saloon girl.

"Aaron at the Gate."

He used to stumble over that gate every night

after getting himself blind drunk.

And who was following behind that night with a gun?

That girl's husband.

Ma, what are you sayin'?

I'm telling you your father was shot over a saloon tramp.

I'm telling you I had to sell our land

to pay off his gambling debts.

Everybody knows what kinda man my pa was.

Oh, yes, even wrote songs about him, didn't they?

Probably written by the same hand that wrote "Ma Colter's Revenge."

My brothers'll tell you what happened.

What's been told them.

By me.

I was a widow left with four sons.

I tried to give you boys a father you could look up to,

instead of one you had to live down.

I told the lie so often, I began believin' it myself.

Well, my mistake.

I wanted you boys to have a father,

but what it was was an excuse.

And you've been using it as a crutch ever since, Travis.

Well, what are you waiting for?

There'll be Colter bodies down there,

but the last Colter still has to prove...

prove what, Travis?

Prove what?

Travis has a lot of laudanum in him,

but he's gonna be awake long enough for you to talk to him.

Um, Marshal pinned Clayt and Virgil down.

They gave themselves up.

Taken off to Hays for trial.

Well, I sure do wish 'em the best.

I guess it's all we can do, huh?

I suppose that...

I'll be going the same place they do, huh, Ma?

You're cleared, son.

The deputy testified you had nothing to do with that business.

Well, ain't that something.

A deputy standing up for a Colter.

You just sleep.

There's lots to do tomorrow.

To think about.

Well, I hope it's more than laudanum holding Travis here tonight.

I'd bet on it.

Any plans, Bea?

Well, I guess I'll be moving on.

Hoping Travis'll be with me.

I have a hunch he will be.

Oh, Beatrice.

Girl, I know how much it hurt you to tell him that.

Aaron was a fine man. I never knew a better one.

He'd be proud of you.

Look, a boy shouldn't think bad of his father.

Someday soon I'll tell him true.

Then Travis'll know you lied to him this time

but for the best reason in the world.

Well, legends are kinda hard to put down, Doctor,

but I won't be singing "Aaron at the Gate" anymore.

No harm in remembering the words, though.

None that I can think of.