Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

♪♪

Hey.

Slide off that horse, young fella.

Don't even look at that rifle of yours.

Now, wait a minute, mister.

I'm just an ordinary cowboy.

I-I don't mean no harm to nobody.

Of course you don't.

Now do like I say.

Now step over to that fire.

My name's Billy Waters.

I work for a man named Jim Donner.

He owns all this land around here, for miles.

It's all his.

Is that a fact?

You don't believe me?

This land don't belong to Jim Donner at all.

It belongs to anybody that can walk on it,

whether it be with two feet or four.

Except for cows.

You a buffalo hunter?

I was, when there was buffalo.

Been out three weeks.

12 hides.

Hardly paid my grub.

Boy, things ain't what they used to be, huh?

Son, there were some seasons

when I killed maybe... 100 buffalo a day.

Employed five skinners, had six Studebaker wagons.

Made thousands and thousands of dollars.

Wow, what'd you do with all that money?

Well, liquor and wild women, what else?

Why, Jeff Sutro never gave a penny

to the church, that's for sure.

Boy, you're quite a man.

You're all right, son.

You're green and young

and ignorant and half-helpless,

but I like you.

You know, I... I envy you, Mr. Sutro.

Well, living out here in the open like this,

skinning buffalo, wild and free...

Why, you're free.

Me? Cowboying for $20 a month?

I'm free, all right.

I sang loud and strong when I was your age.

You don't learn now, you never will.

Well, maybe, but...

But you're chicken-livered.

Why, a water dollar's got more backbone.

Now just a minute, Mr. Sutro...

Oh, I got your blood up.

What are you gonna do, pinch me?

Where'd you get the, uh, calf?

I shot it.

Must be one of Jim Donner's.

I said I shot it.

Well, I know you shot it, but it belongs to him.

Like this land belongs to him, I suppose.

Huh.

They sure bring you young'uns up with funny notions these days.

Well, it ain't my calf.

I mean, I ain't gonna tell him about it.

Well, I'm glad you said that.

Otherwise, I'd have to rip the hide off Jim Donner, too.

Boy, you sure don't live by the law much, do you?

Weaklings live by the law.

Strong men make their own laws.

I think it, uh, used to be that way,

but it ain't anymore, Mr. Sutro.

My, my, you got a lot to learn, son.

Well, I gotta get going.

- So long. - So long.

Find those strays yet, Billy?

I found two of them down by, uh, Devil's Draw.

The other one there's just no sign of.

All right, we'll check the water hole out at Cottonwood Grove.

Say, who is that, camped over there?

Well, that's just some old buffalo hunter.

There ain't been a good-sized herd around here in over a year.

Well, he's been there three weeks.

He's only had 12 hides.

Well, we'll ride over and say hello.

Oh, he ain't none too friendly, Mr. Donner.

On my land and he ain't friendly?

Well, he's, uh...

he's sore about there being so few buffalo.

Well, his manners ain't mine.

We'll still say hello.

Uh, hadn't we better be heading for the water hole?

It's getting late.

Why, it ain't hardly past noon, Billy.

You got some reason for not wanting me

to say hello to that hunter?

He sure acts like it, don't he?

Well, it's just a waste of time.

We'll just ride over there.

Wait a minute, Mr. Donner.

He's skinning one of your calves.

Now, why didn't you tell me that, Billy?

Well, because he's a feisty old man

and I was afraid there might be some trouble.

Well, there's already trouble if he's stolen a calf.

He's got a rifle, Mr. Donner,

and I don't think he's gonna be afraid to use it.

Now, you ain't gonna kill him, are you?

I never killed a man in my life, Billy.

No, I'll just drop a bullet close enough to discourage him.

I aim to turn him over to Marshal Dillon.

Come on, let's go.

Drop the gun and stand away from the wagon!

Hello, Festus. Is the marshal in there?

No, he ain't.

- Howdy, Billy. Steve. - Festus.

Where is he?

Well, I don't know.

He's around town someplace, I reckon.

Why?

Well, do you know a fellow named Sutro?

Sutro... you mean old Jeff, the buffalo skinner?

- Yeah. - Of course I do!

Why, I've knowed that old scamp...

He shot and killed one of my riders this morning.

What?

Joe Serls. He's a good man.

Well, where's Sutro at?

Well, he's probably up at Charlie Rath's,

selling his buffalo hides.

We followed him into town, trailing him by about a mile.

He's a terror with that big rifle of his.

Oh, golly Bill, you don't have to tell me that,

about his rifle or his shooting habits.

Why, I've saw the time when he'd take that...

It would be a lot more help

if you knew where to find the marshal.

Well, I'll help you look for him if you want me to.

Come on.

They're all bull hides, and they've been cured.

Yeah.

Well, for flint bull hides,

I'm paying two dollars and a quarter these days.

12 hides is $27.

Three weeks' work.

That's the top price, Sutro.

I ain't complaining about the money.

I'm just complaining about the lack of buffalo.

Well, the prairie's full of their bones.

I'll pay you two dollars a ton for all you can haul in.

Well, what do you want bones for?

Ship 'em back east.

Fertilizer, mostly.

Well, I ain't driving about no prairie,

picking up buffalo bones

like some old woman weeding a garden.

Times is changing, Sutro.

You gotta learn to change with 'em.

I don't change with nothing.

I do the changing.

Well, I ain't gonna argue with you.

I'll get the money, meet you out back,

if you don't mind driving them around.

Okay.

Hello, Marshal.

- Festus. - Howdy, Jeff.

In my time, men fought their own fights.

They didn't go running to hide behind the law.

You murdered a man out there today, Sutro,

and I believe in the law.

I want to hear your side of the story.

Well, they attacked me and I fought back.

Donner here says he fired a warning shot

into your wagon, that's all.

He made a big mistake, didn't he?

Everybody knows you're a crack shot, Sutro.

Why'd you have to kill Joe Serls?

Oh, was that his name?

Well, he drawed a six-gun on me.

Well, now, that's more like it, see?

You didn't tell me that, Donner.

Well, I was kind of busy, Marshal.

I didn't see him.

Did you see it, Hays?

No. It all happened too fast, Marshal.

What about you, Billy?

Oh, now, I didn't see nothing, Marshal.

I was looking at Donner the whole time, honest.

You don't have to apologize, son.

Well, now, what difference does it make, Marshal?

Serls didn't shoot at him.

Is that right? He didn't shoot at you?

I didn't give him the chance. Why should I?

That'll be up to the judge to decide.

He'll be here in two days.

He'll give you a fair trial.

You gonna arrest me, Marshal?

That's right.

For butchering a miserable little calf?

I'm afraid there's more to it than that, Sutro.

You should've kept your mouth shut about that calf,

like you said you would.

Why, look at all the dust you raised, son.

I'm sorry, but there was nothing I could do, Mr. Sutro.

Mr. Sutro?

Come on.

Let's get out of here.

I'll go along with you, Marshal.

I could use a couple days' sleep, anyway.

I'll take care of your wagon for you, Jeff.

Thank you, Festus.

Psst. Mr. Sutro.

Psst.

Well, now.

I ain't never seen a man try to break into jail before.

Shh.

The marshal'll hear you.

Well, the marshal can't do anything to me

he ain't already done.

Except hang you.

Ain't had my trial yet.

Look, the circuit court judge is arriving today,

and your trial is tomorrow.

Yeah, the marshal told me.

Come up here.

Here.

Take this.

Now, what is this for?

It's to help you break out of here.

Well, why are you doing that for me?

Well, it's like you said.

I... should've kept my mouth shut.

If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be in here.

Oh, but you don't care about me anyway.

I'm... I'm just an untamed old man

you run into in the prairie.

A man like you shouldn't ought to be in here.

It's like... like blinding a hawk or something.

Is that so?

The only thing you're guilty of is...

is stealing a calf, anyway.

Well, Marshal Dillon's mighty glum

about my chance of escaping the rope.

If I'd've just said I saw Joe Serls pull that gun,

you wouldn't be in here now.

Guess it's too late to change my story now, though.

Yeah, the marshal and Donner both heard you.

Here. I ain't gonna use this.

But you gotta.

It's your only chance.

Oh, let me have my day in court.

But if they find me guilty,

you bring it back.

Why don't you just break out now?

If I run, they'll be after me forevermore.

But if the court turns me loose,

I'll be as free as always.

Never thought of that.

Yeah. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Yeah.

Well, if it doesn't work out, I-I'll come back.

Yeah.

You know, Billy, you, uh,

you ain't as soft and half-helpless

as I first thought.

Thanks, Mr. Sutro.

I'll be in court tomorrow.

So will I.

- So long. - So long.

Whew, what a day.

Sure is hot.

Not as hot as it is for Jeff Sutro.

Well, that jury's been out more than an hour.

I can't figure what's taking them so long.

It's an open-and-shut case.

Well, I always figured that depended

on what the judge had for breakfast.

If that's true, Judge Brooking sure ain't had

a decent breakfast all his life.

He sure did give that jury a talking to.

Boy, it's hot.

I'm sweating like a pig.

Bet you fellas are thinking

how a nice, cold beer'd taste right now, aren't you?

You wouldn't have an ulterior motive

in that, would you, Louie?

- What's that? - Never mind what it is, Louie.

It's a good idea.

Here, you scoot on over there and get us a bucket of beer.

Yes, sir, Mr. Hoyt.

I'll be back before you can say "guilty"!

Afternoon, Sam.

Hello, Louie.

Did they reach a verdict?

Not yet.

But it's getting awful hot over there.

So I come over to buy the boys a beer.

Bucket of suds, Sam.

Oh, uh, Louie?

Someone paid for this,

and then went off without drinking it.

I'd kind of hate to throw it out.

Oh, no, I wouldn't want you to do that.

Here's to you, Sam.

There you are, Louie.

Thank you.

He got off, Sam!

They found him innocent.

They said it was self-defense.

It sure surprised me.

Me, too.

Sure can't argue with a jury.

How about a beer?

It was getting warm.

Festus?

Now, that judge is crazy.

He ought to be jailed hisself.

I thought the law was supposed to punish murderers,

not set them free.

Aw, fiddle.

Old Jeff Sutro never murdered anybody in his life.

And the judge seen that right off.

Then how does he figure that Joe Serls

got hisself killed, huh?

He didn't give me no answer to that.

But he pert near give you 30 days for contempt,

whatever that is.

Self-defense.

Sutro murders a man, and then he gets off scot-free.

Whoa.

Just back off now.

They just turned him loose in there.

Right yonder in the courthouse.

And if I was you, I'd quit calling him a murderer,

'cause if he don't get riled up, I'm just liable to myself.

Mr. Sutro, congratulations!

My luck held, Billy.

Oh, what's this?

What's the matter with you, Billy?

You gone as crazy as the rest of them?

Now, Mr. Donner, the judge says he's innocent.

I'm getting out of here.

Thanks, son.

Jeff?

You know something, if I was you,

I'd just stay plumb away from that Donner

and his ranch, too.

Well, you ain't me, Festus.

And as far as I'm concerned,

that land still belongs to everybody.

Yeah, but let me tell you something, Jeff.

Now, he-he'll shoot your head right off, and I mean it.

Well, he'd better shoot straighter

than he did the last time.

Otherwise they'll have to bury him next to that other fella.

♪♪

Well, how did it go?

Well, Sutro was found innocent of that murder charge.

Self-defense, the jury said.

That's right.

They turned him loose.

And Billy here couldn't be happier.

You know, Billy, I've been thinking all the way back.

Could almost hear you.

- What was I thinking about? - About firing me, right?

As soon as we got back here?

Well, then you ain't altogether stupid.

Go gather your stuff, and come on up the house.

I'll pay you off.

Donner, I know you don't care one way or another,

but, well, Sutro's the kind of man

that all of his life, he's-he's just been

free as an eagle and-and wild as a, as a wolf.

And independent as both, too.

He just never cared what nobody thought about nothing.

It'd take a young fool like you to admire him for that.

And he ain't the kind of man that would kill anybody

if there was any way out.

Now, I know you're never gonna agree with me,

but doggone it, he-he was acting in self-defense

when he shot Joe Serls, and I believe him.

Now I'll go get my stuff.

That young fool.

He's gonna grow up in a big hurry one of these days.

Yeah, if he don't get himself in trouble or killed first.

Yeah.

Howdy, Mr. Sutro.

Well, doggone if it ain't young Billy Waters!

What are you doing here?

Well, you think it'd been a month since we saw each other.

The trial was only yesterday.

Donner fired you, didn't he?

Yeah. How'd you know?

Well, you shook my hand after the trial.

That's reason enough.

You was really glad to see me get off, wasn't you?

Well, off my conscience anyway.

You buffalo hunting again?

After that last trip?

Not hardly.

No money in it, huh?

The buffalo have gone, son.

There'll be no more left at all before long.

And it's men like Jim Donner you can blame for it.

How's that?

Cattle.

Taking up all the land.

Ruining everything.

There's no room for buffalo anymore.

I always thought there'd be no more room for cattle

unless they kill off the buffalo.

You've been hanging around with Donner and his kind too long.

They all talk like that.

Always making excuses for their own rotten greed.

What do they know about things?

Bunch of citified weaklings, that's all they are.

Well, maybe some of them are.

They're all alike.

Hey, can I give you a hand?

I'm going into a new business.

- You are? - Yeah!

Hauling freight.

From Dodge to wherever.

Hey.

I could use someone dumber than me and I can still whup.

It, uh, sounds like you're talking

about me again, Mr. Sutro.

Then start getting your hands dirty.

Here, you do the greasing.

I'll take care of the back wheel.

Well, hello, Billy.

Howdy, Marshal.

Why, a bit new rifle there?

Oh, no, no. This ain't mine. I wish it was.

It, uh, belongs to Mr. Sutro.

Well, it's not much of a buffalo gun, is it?

Well, he traded his in for this.

- He did? - Mm-hmm.

Yeah, we're, uh, we're sort of partners now.

Kind of.

Partners in what?

Right there.

It's our first job.

Yeah, we're, uh, hauling saddles and harness

from here to Garden City.

I, uh, I left my, uh, horse

down at the stable down there.

You know, Mr. Sutro won't be parted

from that Appaloosa of his, now.

And you say you're partners?

Well, he lets me say that.

I mean, I...

It's got nothing to do with, uh, money.

I just work for wages.

I see.

So, you, uh, you got fired by Mr. Donner,

and you took up with Sutro, is that it?

Billy, let me tell you something about Jeff Sutro.

He belongs way back.

He belongs to a different time, a different era.

It was a lot less civilized than the one we're living in now.

Well, I know that.

Well, I wonder if you do.

Now, Billy, maybe the way he does things

and the way he acts and so forth looks good to you.

But believe me, they're not your ways.

But what are you trying to say, Marshal?

That I shouldn't be with him?

No, I'm not saying that.

I'm just saying keep your eyes open,

do your own thinking and be your own man.

Well, the way I see it, Marshal.

I, uh, I think I got a lot to learn from Mr. Sutro.

Yeah.

I think you have, too, Billy.

I just hope you learn it.

You'd better get over there. He'll be looking for you.

Have some coffee.

Oh, I'm gonna.

Boy, there ain't nothing like a fire, is there?

As long as it's out in the open

and not in some stinking settlement house.

Ah, you're right there.

Man's nothing but an animal anyway.

Wasn't meant to live all cooped up

by four walls and a roof.

Yeah, being civilized ain't everything, is it?

Only cowards are civilized.

Cowards and idiots.

I tell you, son.

It took real men to live out here

in the early days.

And I do mean real men.

I met and knowed them all.

White and red alike.

Injuns? You call them men?

The ones that was.

And what about the others?

All the same.

There are good men and bad men.

Red or white.

The good men you take to your heart.

The bad men you watch.

Put a knife in them the first chance you get.

What was that?

Nothing.

Just that fool horse moving around out there.

Want me to go take a look?

No, he's staked good.

I guess you've been just about everywhere, huh, Mr. Sutro?

Everywhere God's got land, son.

I seen the best of it and the worst.

I sure envy you.

Yeah, you ought to.

You'll get there.

♪♪

What was it?

I must be getting old.

- Old and deaf. - What do you mean?

That horse was moving all right.

- But somebody was moving him. - What?

Cut the picket rope, led him off quiet to his own mount

and then rolled off easy.

- Did you get a look at him? - No, he's gone.

But we're gonna follow him.

- What, at night on these mules? - That's right.

It's gonna be slow work, but we'll catch up with him

sometime tomorrow morning.

Now, you fetch them mules,

and I'll fix up things around here.

Hello.

Howdy.

Dan O'Hare's the name.

Sid Perce.

You're, uh, traveling a little light, ain't you, Perce?

Well, I ride for Donner.

The ranch ain't too far.

I see. You got caught out late

and don't feel like riding back in the dark, is that it?

Not exactly.

I'm looking for strays.

Say, you know, this is a pretty good horse

to be using as a pack animal.

Well, he may look good,

but, uh, I wouldn't ride him on a bet.

Why not?

There's nothing wrong with him that I can see.

Well, there's nothing wrong with him.

It's just his disposition, that's all.

Oh. Mean, is he?

Meanest animal I ever saw.

You know he bucked me clean off twice?

You ain't much of a horseman, then.

I'm enough of a horseman

to know a bad animal when I see one.

That so?

Think I could've sold him for $50 last week.

Sure wished I had've.

Fifty dollars?

That ain't much for a horse like this.

Well, you may be right,

but you know, I'd, uh... I'd take half that

if I ever got another chance.

You on the level?

Look, mister, I told you.

This horse is no good.

I got about, uh... $25

left from my last pay.

You, uh... you mean you want to buy him?

Let's see, that's... $23 and... 40 cents.

I'd throw in that nag over there,

except he don't belong to me.

Mister, I sure hate to take advantage of you.

Why don't you let me be the judge of that?

All right.

But just don't come looking for me

when, uh, when you try to ride him.

Don't worry about it.

Well, so long and, uh, good luck.

So long, O'Hare.

♪♪

Yeah, he must've seen us coming and run off, huh?

If he did run, he's run off on my horse,

'cause there's his.

Hey, look.

By golly, that must be the fella.

He's got your horse.

Don't say nothing about it.

I want to hear what he's got to say.

You fellas looking for something?

Just some water for our mules.

Well, there's a water hole right through there.

That's a nice-looking horse you got there.

Yeah. Just trying him out.

He goes like the wind.

Ain't got him long, I guess.

Not long.

What's it to you?

You pretending you don't know us, mister?

You trying to say you don't recognize these mules?

You got something to say, mister, spit it out.

Got a lot of gall, ain't he?

He sure does.

Look, I'm getting a little fed up with both of you.

Either state your business or get out.

Where'd you get that Appaloose?

Why?

That's my horse.

You're a liar.

We've been trailing you all night long,

and your tracks lead straight from our camp to here.

Well, if that's true,

you've been trailing the man who sold him to me.

Sold him?

That's right, sold him.

Came riding in just after dawn, said the horse was mean.

Wanted to get rid of him.

I don't believe you.

You stole that horse.

If you wasn't such an old man,

I'd put a bullet between your teeth for saying that.

Now get out of here before I change my mind

and decide to pistol-whip the two of you.

Don't try it.

Now get moving.

What you stopping here for?

I'm staying here; I want to rest for a while.

What?

You take the mules back and get the wagon.

I'll wait for you here.

Hey, you ain't gonna try

and get that horse back, now, are you?

No horse thief ever got the best of Jeff Sutro.

You know, Mr. Sutro, uh...

he just may have been telling the truth

about buying that horse.

Are you gonna do what I told you or ain't you?

Yes, sir.

I'll be back as quick as I can.

No rush.

You make one little move, mister,

and I'll kill you where you are.

Now rise real slow.

It's the old man, ain't it?

Young enough to handle you, son.

I told you before,

I didn't steal your horse.

I didn't believe you before

and I don't believe you now.

♪♪

Whoa.

You made good time, Billy.

Well, I done my darnedest.

You get some rest?

You bet I did.

The other feller gone, huh?

Yeah, he's gone.

You, uh... mind if I stretch my legs a bit?

No, take all the time you want.

There's coffee on the fire.

Coffee?

That fella left a few things.

Hey, you got him back, huh?

Yeah, I got him back.

I don't understand.

See, when I left here, that-that fella that had him

wasn't buying our story.

Well, there's one thing you gotta learn, boy.

Never trust a horse thief.

He had it coming.

See that sign? It says "horse thief."

But we don't know he was a thief.

We... we just thought...

Son, in my book, when you find a man with a stolen horse,

you don't ask questions; you hang him.

What happened to his other horse?

I run him off.

Why?

Probably stolen, too.

I sure don't want to be caught with no stolen horse.

You sent me off, you said you were gonna get some rest.

I did rest.

How long do you think it takes to hang a man?

Well, it takes the law quite a while.

They gotta try a man first.

He had his trial.

You was right there.

Yeah.

You sent me off 'cause you knew

I'd try to talk you out of killing him.

Nobody talks Jeff Sutro out of anything.

I sent you off because I wanted to spare you the hanging.

You're too soft and green for this kind of work.

Look, how do you know he wasn't telling the truth?

He had no bill of sale.

That's good enough for me.

Now let's get moving.

You mean you're gonna just leave him there?

You're not even gonna bury him?

You saw that rag I tied on him.

I wrote those letters in berry juice.

I went to some trouble doing it.

What for?

Well, you don't hang a man to teach him a lesson.

The dead don't need it.

It's the others who find him.

Mr. Sutro, you sure got your ways.

Now get my horse.

Let's get traveling.

Cut him down, Hays.

Wasn't any sign of anybody?

No, sir.

When Perce didn't show up,

me and Adam Fell rode out here looking for him.

Was that coffeepot on the fire like that?

Yes, sir, but there wasn't nobody around.

Mr. Donner...

How long had he been riding for you?

Well, just a few days.

He rode in looking for a job, and I hired him.

We bunked with him, Marshal.

Seemed like a square shooter to us.

You know, it just don't make any sense.

All my horses are accounted for.

I've had no reports of any stolen stock.

Who found him?

I did, earlier this morning.

He was in the cottonwood grove

on the west boundary of the ranch

and that there sign was tied to his back.

Well, wasn't there no tracks around or...?

No, we had some heavy thunderstorms

out there last night.

I don't suppose there's a thing you can do, Marshal,

but I figured you ought to know about it anyway.

I'll ride out there and have a look around.

All right, Marshal.

Well, let's pick up them supplies and get moving.

Festus, would you, uh, get him over at the undertaker's?

Sure thing, Matthew.

Oh, mister...

You a friend of the marshal's?

Yeah, I reckon I am.

Is there something I can do for you?

Not exactly, but... that fella there.

What about him?

Well, I know him.

He ain't no horse thief like that sign says.

Leastways, I don't think he is.

What makes you think that?

Couple of days ago, I rode into that cottonwood grove

where that cowboy said he found this fella hanging.

This fella was camped there

and he had a good-looking Appaloosa.

He was bragging to me

about how he bought this horse from some greenhorn for $23.

Appaloosy, huh?

That's right.

Real good-looking animal.

Seems this greenhorn figured the horse was mean

because he got hisself bucked off once or twice.

Well, how come you didn't tell Matthew that?

Well, to tell you the truth, mister,

I ain't got the best reputation in the world.

I don't want to get mixed up with the law.

I sure hate to see a fella get hisself hanged

for something he didn't do.

Now, you don't figure

that this feller could've just been hoorahing you

about buying that Appaloosy, do you?

I don't think so.

He was having himself too good a time

thinking about how he put it over on the greenhorn

what sold him the horse.

Much obliged, mister.

Uh, you'll be around

in case Matthew wants to talk to you, won't you?

You can count on me.

Get my horse, will you?

Your horse?

You just put him in 15 minutes ago.

I just got him unsaddled.

I'll pay you for a full day. Now get him.

Oh, I wish people would make up their minds.

Bring 'em in, take 'em out.

Everybody's in a rush, nobody got any time for anything...

You take care of the animals, Billy.

I'm going over to the harness shop

and see Carl Hoyt.

Okay, Mr. Sutro.

And I'll meet you over at Delmonico's.

We'll have us a nice steak.

Then we'll go over to the Long Branch

and have a nice, cool beer.

Yeah, that sounds good.

What are you staring at, mister?

I was just admiring your horse.

That's all?

Last fella that admired that horse

got hisself into a peck of trouble.

Here you are, mister.

- Thanks. - Yeah.

What can I do for you, Billy?

I want you to take care of these animals, Hank.

Are you sure you won't want them back in 15 minutes?

Huh?

Oh, never mind.

Golly Bill, I sure hope I'm wrong, Matthew.

Why, I've knowed Jeff Sutro ever since I can recollect,

and I've always liked him.

So have I, Festus.

But, you know, I, I think I suspected he was responsible

for that hanging before he even came in here.

Well, how'd you know that?

Well, it goes way back to the old days, Festus.

Men like Sutro used to make their own laws.

I sure wished I could've saw some way around it.

But as far as I know, he's the only one around here

with an Appaloosy within a hundred miles.

You fixing to throw him in jail, are you?

No, I can't. I got no proof.

Well, that feller said that he...

Well, all he said was he saw Sid Perce on an Appaloosa.

Now, we don't have any proof that it was Sutro's Appaloosa.

Or even that Sutro was anywhere near that cottonwood grove.

Even if Sutro comes riding into town right now on the horse,

we got no proof it was stolen.

The only man that can prove that is Sid Perce.

And he's dead.

What are you gonna do, then?

I'll do what I can.

I tell you, go check around town,

see if Sutro's back in yet, will you?

Sure thing, Matthew.

Hello, Sutro. Billy.

- Hey, Marshal. - Hi, Marshal.

How about a drink?

No, no, thanks. I got too much on my mind.

What, something wrong?

I was thinking of asking Billy that.

What do you think, Billy?

What do you mean, Marshal?

You know, Billy, uh, in the old days,

it used to be common practice

to hang a horse thief when he was caught.

Nowadays most men are against it, including the law.

Where do you stand on that?

Then, what are you driving at, Marshal?

I was asking Billy. What's your answer, Billy?

Well, I don't think anybody's for, uh, lynching, Marshal.

Including you?

Including me, yeah.

There's your answer.

I'm glad to hear that.

Now, would you mind telling me what you're talking about?

Man named Sid Perce was lynched yesterday.

Aw, that's too bad.

Yeah, he was lynched as a horse thief.

Well, he probably was, Marshal, he probably was.

That's one possibility.

The other possibility is that the real horse thief

was being followed, he ran into Sid Perce

out on the prairie, sold him the stolen Appaloosa

for $23 and rode off.

You said Perce bought an Appaloosa?

That's right, Billy.

And I think Sid Perce was innocent.

He was murdered in cold blood.

Somebody tied a sign on him saying "Horse Thief."

Something to think about.

Perce was innocent.

'Cause the marshal says so?

Don't be a fool. He was only trying to trap you.

Yeah, but why me?

Now, what did he ask me everything for?

'Cause he knows he could never crack me.

You're kind of soft and green.

He just seemed to know everything.

Well, he knows a lot.

I don't know how he learned it.

But if he had any real proof,

he'd have made an arrest, Billy.

Oh, I just don't understand.

Well, understand one thing.

If you talk, he'll have all the proof he needs.

And I'll swing high, Billy.

Oh, I ain't gonna talk.

I mean, I'm agin what you done, Mr. Sutro,

but I ain't gonna say nothing to nobody.

Of course not.

Why, if I thought you'd talk,

I'd take you right out in the back

and shoot you right in the head.

Come on, drink up. We got it coming.

Hey, barkeep?

There you are, ma'am... $2.50.

Thank you.

Morning, Roy.

Oh, uh, hello, Sutro.

Them goods you wanted freighted to Sublette?

We'll load them this afternoon and get started in the morning.

I changed my mind about that, Sutro.

What are you talking about?

Well, I'm just not going to have anything to haul after all.

Well, you needed them hauled yesterday afternoon.

Now, look, Roy, don't fool me.

I got a bad hangover.

Well, I'm sorry about that,

but I still haven't got anything to haul.

Now, look!

I turned down a job hauling grain for Bob Ryan

after I seen you yesterday.

Well, maybe you'd better go see Ryan.

He might have a job for you.

All right, all right, I don't got time to argue with you.

Ryan?

- I got good news for you. - Is that so?

I can haul that grain and coal order for you after all.

You can, huh?

Yeah, I didn't take that other job I told you I had.

I'd rather work for you.

Well, I guess I ought to appreciate that, huh, Sutro?

What are you trying to say?

I'm saying I don't need you.

Well, you needed me yesterday.

That was yesterday.

Today I don't have a job for you.

You mind telling me why?

I figure I can do better selling the grain here.

You're lying.

Something's going on around here.

What makes you say that, Sutro?

You and Roy... You both sound alike.

I lived wild too long.

I'm half animal, Ryan.

I can smell something.

I ain't sure what it is.

But I aim to find out.

Hoyt.

Oh, hello, Sutro.

Yesterday you told me you'd be sending some saddles

and harnesses up to Elkader before long.

Yup, I told you that.

I was wondering when it might be.

Well, it's hard to say.

Maybe three, four months.

Three months, huh?

I ain't just sure.

Well, yesterday I kind of gathered

it'd be a couple of weeks.

Well, I changed my mind, Sutro.

Just like everybody else.

I wonder why.

Things happen that way.

No, they don't!

They don't always happen that way.

Not three times in a row they don't.

Leave go of me!

Tell me, Hoyt.

Tell me or I'll kill you right here.

Tell me, Hoyt!

Jim Donner!

He's been all over town.

He's told everybody about you.

What you done.

Donner.

I might've knowed it.

Putting me out of business.

That's his idear, ain't it?

Yeah, and we're all behind him.

Get the marshal. Get the marshal.

- Festus... - What's the matter with you, Mr. Hoyt?

Sutro, he's going after Donner.

Don, get him up to Doc's.

Well, it don't look like there's anybody home.

You're sure hoping there ain't, right, Billy?

Yeah, I guess I am.

Well, you don't owe Jim Donner nothing.

First he fires you,

and then he ruins your next job.

Well, don't forget, he ain't done nothing illegal.

Well, that depends on whose law you follow.

Mr. Sutro?

You promised there wouldn't be any violence this time.

Oh, I told you I'm gonna talk to Jim Donner.

And that's exactly what I'm gonna do.

Sutro?

What are you doing out here?

I want to have a talk with you, Donner.

Like I was telling Billy.

So, you're still hanging around with this man, huh?

Never mind that. This is between you and me.

You found out you're out of business, is that it?

That's it.

Well, a cowhand of mine overheard the marshal talking

with you at the Long Branch about how you lynched Sid Perce.

Well, the marshal's a liar. He's got no proof.

Oh, he wouldn't tell me how he found out, but it's true.

Only he has no proof.

It's kind of strange, ain't it?

We're talking about legal proof, Sutro.

That's something you wouldn't understand anything about.

This Sid Perce, what, is he some kind of kid of yours?

No, I hardly knew him.

But you lynched an innocent man, Sutro.

And I'm punishing you in the only way that I can.

Well, you fixed me good, all right.

And I'm gonna punish you my way.

I'm gonna kill you!

You ain't gonna kill nobody!

Get out of my way, Billy!

Sutro!

Let him go.

You ain't got the guts.

Now, the next one's for you.

All right, Donner, easy.

You all right?

I think so, Marshal.

He's dead, Matthew.

What happened, Billy?

I shot him, Marshal.

I had to.

He-he was trying to kill Donner.

Billy, I'm sorry, I-I know how you must feel.

But I can tell you something.

It wasn't you that killed him.

Not really.

What do you mean?

Jeff Sutro started dying a long time ago, Billy.

Back when they put up

the first fences across this prairie.

Help me bury him, Marshal?

Sure I will, Billy.

I'll help you bury him.