Original subtitles

Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon.

Are you thinking of her?

When she's not in our minds,

she's in our hearts.

Aye.

Looks a wee bit better under the moon.

By day, it's a naked land.

Aye, it's not like the Highlands.

- That's a fact. - Yup.

I wonder if there is another place in the world

where you can see so far,

yet see so little.

You've not the vision you once had, Father.

What's the meaning of that?

The soil is rich.

It's no full of stones to break a plough.

If you look real hard,

you can see fields of wheat and corn

and orchards so heavy with fruit

that the ends of the boughs are touching the ground.

I thought it was your gran who has the visions.

Well, she's my granny, but your mother.

At least I come by it honestly.

Come, come, Gran.

It's time that you were in your bed.

This night will be our last sleep on the trail.

Is that a fact?

We'll be there come tomorrow.

- You see it in the fire, do you, Gran? - Aye.

That and more.

There's trouble waiting.

What manner of trouble?

Bad trouble.

There's a man of violence and a lad and a lass.

And death is waiting for one of the three.

Oh, is that all?

Is it not enough, then?

You might at least tell us if the lass is pretty.

Aye.

Father and son, alike in your wit,

but it's all there.

And the lad...

is yourself.

Ah, Gran.

Oh, Mother.

Aye, you can laugh, but you'll see it come to pass.

Ah, 'tis the land we sought, all right,

but 'tis a terrible price we'll have to pay for it.

Phew!

Sure some storm last night,

but it didn't cut the heat any, did it?

Oh, Doc, you have never saw no storm.

You mean that little ol' piddling thunder and lightning?

Why, it didn't rain as much as a little boy could spit.

I have saw storms

- that'd just wash a regular ditch... - You do...

Would you... would you... would you do me a favor?

Would you just once let me make a simple observation

about something... the weather...

Even though, to you at the time,

it might appear to be inconsequential?

Well, yeah... "In" what?

What do you mean, "in what"?

Well, what you just said.

What... I just said?

That's what I'm asking you.

You like another beer?

Yeah.

Good. Go in there and buy one for a change.

I'm going to my...

I'm going to my office so I don't get mixed up

in anymore of these inane conversations.

"In" what?

What do you mean, "in what"?!

What you just said.

- Hi there. - Betsy.

- Howdy, Miss Betsy. - Hot enough for ya?

Oh, yes, we were...

You want to know something, Miss Betsy?

I wouldn't give a hoot if I was to go blind

right this minute 'cause there ain't nothin' within 100 miles

outside of you that's worth lookin' at.

Well, you sure know how to turn a phrase, Festus.

Well, that's easy

when I'm talkin' to a pretty gal like you are.

Well, you better not let her pa hear you talkin' like that.

Well, I don't give a hoot.

I'd stand up to him eyeball to eyeball for her,

and if I'm lying, I'm dying. I would.

Well, there's been a few that's tried.

You know what the whole trouble was?

They backed off.

Well, shoot, if I was a mite younger,

I'd walk up to him, and I'd...

Well, if I was you, I'd just hush up.

How is your pa, Betsy?

Ugly, mean and grumpy.

In other words, his usual self.

Have you seen Thad around?

- Oh... - Yeah, right in there.

I'll fetch him for you. Thad?

Prettiest gal west of the Mississippi wants

to palaver with you. Come on!

I'd like to send him ahead just to announce me.

I wish somebody'd send him a head.

Oh. Hi, Thad.

Morning, Miss Betsy.

You doing any work right now?

Well, nothing I couldn't put aside

if maybe you were to ask me.

Well, Pa wants to know

if you'll hire out for about a week.

Well, I think that can be arranged.

He needs a hand till the crew gets back

with the herd he just bought.

Pays three dollars and found.

Well, I, uh... think it would be just fine.

Why don't I, uh, ride out...?

Oh, well, that's very kind of you, Thad,

but if you're gonna go to work for us,

do you think that's such a smart way to start out?

- Ah, think maybe you're right. - Mm.

Maybe you better ride on alone

and I'll, uh, catch up with you tonight.

Fine. Bye, Doc. Bye, Festus.

- Miss Betsy. - Hello.

Hi.

I beg your pardon. Uh, could you help me?

I'm-I'm looking for the land office.

Oh, sure. You see the marshal's office there?

It's just right beyond there.

You fixing to settle here, are you?

Aye, we are.

We found a grand place a few miles back.

My father's standing on it now.

Oh, he's standing on it, huh?

Oh, just to make sure that nobody else takes a fancy to it

before we've made our claim.

Well, ain't no need to fret about that.

We haven't had a homesteader here

in three or four months, have we, Doc?

Hmm?

Uh, you'd know better about that than I.

But it's a place we've been looking for for many a long day.

Hate to lose it now,

especially since Gran saw it in the fire.

Gran?

Well, I... I don't think you'd understand.

Well, we certainly welcome you to Dodge, young fella.

Well, I thank you for your greeting,

and no doubt we'll meet again.

Good day to you.

Now there's a mighty nice young man.

Yeah, I, uh, wonder who he is.

Sure talked funny, didn't he?

Well...

Say hello to your pa.

I'll do that. See you two later.

I've got some supplies to pick up.

Bye, Miss Betsy.

Thad, I want to tell you something.

You hadn't ought to back down from her pa.

That ain't no way to let Betsy know how you feel about her.

Oh, I wasn't backing down from her.

You heard me say that I'd ride out with her.

Yeah, but I heared how quick you changed your mind

when she said it wasn't a good idea, too.

Oh. You mean, she didn't want me to agree with her?

Well, of course not!

You sure have got a lot to learn about women, boy.

I'll tell you that. Phew.

Mmm.

I don't know how you do it,

but you sure can make food taste good.

You hungry?

If I wasn't, I sure am now.

Never figured a girl as pretty as you could cook.

When do we eat?

When Pa gets here.

Pa is here.

Doesn't seem to me I heard the dinner bell ring.

Well, it didn't really ring, Mr. Payson. I was...

Pa, I just asked Thad to fetch some water for me.

Did you also ask him to stand around making pretty speeches?

Now, just a minute. Betsy and I have been friends for a...

Son, when I want information, I'll ask you for it.

I hired you to work, not to make eyes at my daughter.

Pa, sit down. Supper's ready.

No, it's gonna have to wait.

You and I are taking a ride.

- Where to? - Down to the south fork meadow.

I understand we've got some squatters.

Must be the homesteader we saw in town.

We?

Well, I was just asking Thad

if he wanted to come to work for us,

and this fellow stopped

and asked directions to the land office.

Oh, out of all the people in town,

he just happened to stop and ask you for directions?

Pa, I was with Thad and Doc and Festus.

Oh.

Well, whoever he is, he's gonna have to get out of that meadow.

You know how to use that gun you're wearing?

Yes, sir.

But I wasn't figuring on using it.

Don't worry. I didn't hire you as a gunslinger.

Just wanted to make sure you knew how to handle it

in case you have to.

I can handle it.

Mm-hmm. All right, let's go.

Wait for me. I'll change and go with you.

All right.

Hello.

You're the ones I saw in town today.

My name is Ben Payson.

Ian McGovern. This is my son David.

What are you aiming to do with all of this?

We're aiming to make a home of it.

You're on my land.

Not according to the government land office.

This land is open to homesteaders.

This meadow was mine

long before homesteaders or government land offices.

We drove past your property for many and many a mile.

Mm-hmm. And I've fought Indians

and drought and blistering summers

and bitter winters for every inch of it.

Had fate put us here, Mr. Payson,

we would have fought alongside you.

The few acres

that we will plant will make no difference to you.

You'll plant nothing.

You'll put no ploughs in this land.

The land is ours by law,

and as hard as we would have fought with you,

we can fight just as hard against you.

You've been warned.

Whatever happens now is on your own head.

You should know that the clan has spilled blood before

defending that which belongs to it.

Mm. You better be prepared to spill some more.

I got a good notion

to give them a taste of trouble right now.

- I wouldn't do that if I were you. - Why not?

There's been somebody in that wagon covering us with a rifle.

Let's go.

Ben, I've known you a long time.

I got the feeling you didn't come here

just to talk about the price of beef in Chicago.

What's on your mind?

Oh, Matt, I've got squatter problems.

They showed up yesterday.

Moved into that south meadow of mine.

South meadow? You mean down by the river bottom?

Mm-hmm.

Well, that's not on your ranch, is it?

Well, we cut hay off of it last year.

We often do in a dry year.

Did you check with the land office?

They filed, if that's what you're asking.

That pipsqueak of a land agent,

he knows better than to let 'em file on my land.

Well, Ben, I'm afraid you'll find

that that land is public domain.

Oh, public nothin'.

It's always been part of the Bar B, and it always will be.

Well, yes, because nobody else has come along that's wanted it.

See, that'll be the government's attitude.

The government?!

Where was the government 30 years ago

when I first came here? What was the government doing

when there weren't no railroad here

or this town or anything else?

Ben, I'm afraid what you and I might think

doesn't really matter... The Public Lands Act is law.

I built that ranch,

and I'm not letting anybody take it away from me.

Ben, nobody's gonna take it away from you.

But, you see,

if I let them get away with this, there's gonna be others.

And if I don't put a stop to this now,

they're gonna chew me up into little pieces.

Ben, you're exaggerating this whole thing.

Don't buy trouble till it happens.

It's happening.

Matt, I want to know where you stand.

Well, Ben, you and I have been friends for a long time.

I'd do anything I could for you... you know that.

But if it comes down to it, I got to stay with the law.

Well, at least I know now.

♪♪

Don't move.

You all right? Huh?

Oh, I was so scared. I can't stand up.

Well, I cannot say that I blame you.

I've seen them attack calves.

Well, this one will kill no more calves.

He'll be naught but sausage now.

Over there!

Ah!

Where'd you get your sense of humor?

From your father?

Oh...

Here.

Thank you.

Oh, wait. You're only making it worse.

Let me see.

Are all Scotchmen as clumsy as you?

There's no such thing as a Scotchman.

People from my part of the world are called Scots

or Scotsmen, if you will,

but we do not take to being called Scotch.

I'll try to remember.

For someone who couldn't stand a few moments ago,

you've made a swift recovery.

Well, I'm not frightened anymore.

Why not?

Maybe you're not as ugly as the boar.

Did it ever occur to you

that I could be as dangerous?

Do you have a name?

I was christened Elizabeth.

But nobody around here calls me anything but Betsy.

I'll call you Elizabeth.

I'm wondering why you came out to the meadow today.

I wanted to see if my father would succeed

in running you off.

Ah. From the time I was a wee lad,

I never ran from a loud noise.

It's more than a loud noise, David.

Aye, there were signs the man could be a wee bit more

if he put himself to it.

He's really a good man, David.

There has to be some good in him

to have fathered the likes of you.

He'll try to make you leave.

Aye, I'm sure.

And I'm just as sure you'll stay.

The McGoverns have got a terrible fault, Elizabeth.

When they find something they want,

they will not rest until they make it theirs.

And what they've made their own,

they hold dearer than life itself.

I think we'd better be getting back.

Why?

Well, the rain's almost over.

Well, is that good enough reason

for leaving a place as cozy as this one?

Betsy, where have you been?

- Thad and I spent half of the after... - Pa, Pa,

I'm all right. I-I just got caught in the storm

and waited it out in the hay shed near the south fork meadow.

When your horse came home alone, I didn't know what to think

- or where... - Well, he got spooked by a wild pig

- and threw me. - A wild...

Are you sure you're all right?

Yes, Pa. I'm fine.

I'm just a little messed up, that's all.

What were you doing by the south meadow?

I was just out ridin'.

And-and this pig?

One of the homesteaders killed it.

One of the squatters, you mean, don't you?

Which one?

Well, what difference does it make?

He saved my life.

I told you to stay away from the meadow!

Why, Pa?

Because I don't want you associating with land thieves!

People!

- Honest, hard-working... - Now, don't you tell me what they are.

I suppose they-they think that we're indebted to them now, huh?

Well, I'd say we are, wouldn't you?

Now, you listen to me.

Just because one of those squatters came along

in time to kill a wild pig doesn't give them any claim

on you, now do you understand me?

Yes, Pa, I understand.

And I want you to stay away from them, you hear me?

I hear you.

If one of them puts his hands on you, I'll kill him.

If you're finished, can I go now?

Aw, Betsy,

all I've ever wanted is the best for you.

That's all I've ever wanted.

I didn't raise you for any dirt-scratching sodbuster.

You didn't raise me for a sodbuster

or a store clerk

or a ranch hand.

What did you raise me for, Pa?

Or haven't you ever asked yourself that?

Whoa.

Where'd you leave Pa?

Over at the drift fence.

Came back for more fence poles there.

You look nice this morning, Betsy.

Why, thank you.

I noticed it this morning at breakfast,

and I would have said something, but...

you know how your pa is these days, kind of touchy.

Well, it's nice to know you thought of it.

Something wrong?

Are you going into town pretty soon?

About noon to pick up the mail.

Why?

Thad, I've always thought of you as one of my closest friends.

Well, that's nice to hear

because I kind of feel the same way about you.

Then you'll do something for me in friendship?

Well, sure. That's what friends are for.

On your way into town,

would you ride down past the homesteader ranch

and deliver this message...

Wait a minute. I can't do that.

I'm working for your pa, and I'm beholden to him.

And you know how he feels about those people.

Well, is it more important than friendship?

Yes.

Who do you want me to give the message to?

Oh, what difference does it make to you?

Well, is it Dave McGovern?

What if it is?

Have you gone sweet on him?

I don't know.

If I have?

I'm sorry, Betsy. I just...

- never figured it. - Neither did I.

Your pa's gonna have a fit when he finds out about this.

That's why I want you to deliver this message for me.

Please, Thad.

All right. I'll take it to him.

Oh, thank you, Thad.

You're the best friend I ever had.

That's not exactly what I had in mind.

But it's something.

- Hey, Matthew. - Festus.

Fixin' to go someplace, are you?

Yeah, I'm going out and check on those homesteaders.

You mean them that, uh, filed on ol' Ben Payson's meadow?

Yeah, except it wasn't Ben Payson's meadow.

It was open range land.

Is ol' Ben givin' you trouble, is he?

Oh, he's making noises at it, yeah.

You know, he always was one to glom on

to whatever he figured was his'n.

Well, look at the way he treats Miss Betsy.

Well, yeah, except my concern right now is those homesteaders.

Well, if you ain't got nothin' agin it,

- I'll ride out with you. - No, glad to have you.

♪♪

David?

David?

Aye.

Oh. You startled me.

I've been waiting for an hour.

I couldn't get out any sooner.

Pa's been watching me like a hawk.

I'm glad that's it.

What do you mean?

I thought maybe you had a change of heart.

Oh, you don't really believe that.

Aye, I do.

I was on my way up to your place to make sure

when I met your friend Thad.

You were coming to the ranch?

Aye.

David, you're insane.

My father would have killed you.

Ah, I cannot believe that.

The man's not a savage.

David, when it comes to me,

there's a wildness in him I don't think even he understands.

You don't know him like I do.

No, I don't. But I'm willing to know him,

and I'm willing to have him know me.

He's got to give you up sometime.

David,

does this land mean so much to you?

Why?

Well, there's so much other land to be had for the asking.

Maybe if you'd move away, it wouldn't be so difficult.

I'm sorry. I cannot do that.

Well, if you're both gonna be so stubborn,

if-if neither one of you will give in,

something terrible is going to happen.

I will not be driven from what is mine by law and by choice.

Well, you're worse than my father.

Elizabeth.

Is there another girl in Dodge as pretty as you are?

Of course.

Why?

Now that I've found you and I've told you how I feel about you,

would you think it a wee bit strange if I decided suddenly

to give you up and go off with another lass?

You know the answer to that.

Then why does it seem so strange to you

that I do not wish to give up the land of my choice?

You'd better go on home, quick.

You make one more move and I'll shoot.

You won't need that gun, ma'am.

We're not here to harm you.

- Gran. - It's all right, son.

I have them covered. They'll give you no trouble.

I'll take that.

What do you want here?

Well, I'd like to talk to you for a minute if I can.

My name's Matt Dillon.

I'm the United States Marshal from Dodge City.

Are you a peace officer?

That's right, sir, I am.

Marshal, you'll, uh, have to forgive me mother.

She's been, uh, a bit wary of strangers

since we first arrived.

You've been having trouble, have you?

Well, uh, I don't know that you'd call it that.

There's a man drove by and told us we must leave.

Father?

This is my son, David.

David, this is Mr. Dillon, United States Marshal.

Howdy-do.

And this is Mr., uh...

Festus Haggen. Glad to meet you.

Did I hear the word "trouble"?

Well, your father was just telling us somebody's trying

to move you off this land.

Aye, that's right.

Would his name by any chance be Ben Payson?

Aye, that's the man.

If you're interested, Marshal, we've a paper to show our claim.

Well, I know all about your paper.

I also know about Ben Payson.

Uh, might he be a friend of yours?

Yes, I'm afraid he is.

That must make it a wee bit difficult for you, doesn't it?

Well, Mr. McGovern, my job is to uphold the law,

friends or no friends.

I'm glad to hear that, Marshal.

We traveled many and many a mile to be here,

and we'll travel no more.

Well, now, I can also tell you this.

Ben Payson's not the kind of man to back down very easy.

Now, if you're not gonna do any backing down either,

well, somebody's liable to get hurt.

If a man stands for his rights,

he must be prepared for the consequences.

Well, we'll do what we can to protect you.

We're not asking for help.

Well, I know you're not, but you're entitled to it anyway.

Now, either Festus or I will try to come by here about once a day

and look in on you, but I'm afraid

we can't be here all the time.

We understand, Marshal,

and we're grateful for your concern.

Ma'am.

It's nice to know that you're not alone.

Aye. It's always nice to know you're not alone, Father.

Now, I've told you twice to stay away from this place.

If I have to tell you again,

I'll lock you in your room like a child.

Now get out of here.

Well, if that is the lass that you'd have,

I'll not be the one to dissuade you,

though you might have chosen a better time and a better place.

What's the matter with you, man?

Can you not understand?

The lad did not have a choice.

What's the meaning of that?

Have you forgotten what I saw in the fire?

A man of violence and a lad and a lass.

You see, Father, it's been decided beforehand.

We've naught to say about it, any of us.

Ah, perhaps not, but here is one that may think different, lad.

McGovern,

keep that whelp of yours away from my daughter.

- Hold your insult! - Your daughter's a grown woman.

You cannot go on treating her like a child.

You heard what I said.

Then hear me.

When my house is built, I'm taking her away.

You're just trying to use her to get at my land.

We've already got the land.

If he comes near her again, I'll kill him.

David.

Elizabeth.

Hello, David.

It's been a long time.

Four days. I've missed you.

And I you.

I've been to the hayrick every day.

Well, this is the first time

I've been allowed out of the house.

Aye, uh, I thought that might be the way of it.

Did he know we'd met?

Yes.

He's hardly spoken to me since.

I'm sorry.

It doesn't matter.

Thad told me you were building a house.

Did he tell you what for?

Yes.

I-I've got plans and-and some of the material,

and, with luck, we'll be able to start the framework next week.

It'll not be much at first, but it'll be ours.

How long before you're finished?

Well, I cannot tell you,

but I'm thinking I'll not sleep until it's done.

David, I'm afraid.

Of what?

I don't know.

That you won't finish the house,

that something will happen.

Hush, lass.

The Lord moved a great many people to bring us together,

and I cannot believe that He plans to keep us apart for long.

Betsy!

So this was the errand you had to run?

Father, please.

I told you to stay away from her.

Aye, but she hasn't told me.

As long as she lives in my house,

she'll do what I say.

Father, please stop it!

Come with me.

Don't yank at me as if I was a child.

David...

Don't worry, lass.

It'll be all right.

I'm gonna tell you something.

I'll see you in Hades before you marry that girl.

That was a fine supper, girl.

Betsy.

All right, how long?

How long what?

How long do you intend to sulk?

Treat me like a stranger in my own house?

I don't have anything to say.

Oh, Betsy, please.

We've always been able to talk.

It's always been just you and me.

Please.

I can't keep you with me forever.

I know that.

And I wouldn't dream of standing in your way.

When the right time comes

and the right man comes along...

Right for who, you or me?

So you're on his side all the way, huh?

It's not a matter of side, it's a matter of right and wrong.

And it's me that's wrong for protecting what's my own?

Neither's yours.

You don't own the land and you don't own me.

Oh, it's Leemer and Marty.

Can I go now?

Oh, yes, you can go now.

Hiya, boss.

- Oh, hi. How was the trip? - No trouble.

- We only lost about a dozen head. - Good, good.

We rode on in ahead of the others.

The rest of the crew will be along with the herd

- in about an hour. - Mm-hmm.

Say, boss, why'd you lease out that meadow down by the river?

I didn't lease that. Them are squatters.

You know, they're breaking ground down there.

They put a plough into that ground?

You said it.

All right, when the boys get in, have them stay saddled.

Why? What are you figuring on?

We're gonna go down there and run them off.

Okay. We'll let you know when they get here.

Well?

You can't do this, Mr. Payson.

I'll bet she put you up to this.

Of course I did.

Somebody's got to make you listen to reason.

If you go into that meadow with armed men,

you'll be breaking the law.

Son, I told you once before...

When I want any information from you, I'll ask for it.

Now get away from that door.

No.

I won't tell you again.

Now stand over there.

Put that gun belt on the table.

Marty!

You want me, Mr. Payson?

Stay in here and keep an eye on these two

until the rest of us get back.

Yes, sir.

Pa.

I'll make a promise to you.

Don't take your men down there,

and I'll stay away from David.

I give you my word.

Sit down, Miss Betsy.

I sure am sorry, Miss Betsy.

What would you do if I decided to leave, Marty?

Oh, you wouldn't do that, Miss Betsy.

You wouldn't shoot me, would you?

You hadn't ought to talk like that, Miss Betsy.

Your pa'd skin me alive if I was to let you go.

Go.

You'd best kill us all here and now.

There'll be no end to this as long as I shall live.

I gave you fair warning.

You heard my father. Shoot now,

or by all the saints, you'll wish you had.

Get some hay under that wagon.

You'll regret this as long as you live,

each of you. Each of you!

Leemer.

- Yeah? - Burn it.

No!

Everything I own on is in that wagon.

Fire it.

All right, hold it!

Hold on, there!

All right, put up the guns. Call 'em off, Ben.

All right, let 'em up.

All right, over here.

Get over there. Move, move.

All right, throw the guns down, drop 'em.

David.

They're burning everything.

- Elizabeth, come out of there. - No,

David, come and help me.

Thad, go into town and get Doc, quick.

Ben, get some of your boys to start putting this fire out.

Let's go.

Betsy...

I'd give anything to undo it all.

I think we all would, Pa.

Isn't there anything I can say to persuade you to stay?

David thinks we ought to get away.

I-I guess he's got a right to hate me.

He doesn't hate you, Pa.

Neither do I.

It's just that we have to make our own life,

and after what's happened,

neither of us want to start it here.

How far will you go?

We're talking about California.

Well, that land's no better than here.

It's not important, if David wants it.

If you can give up everything for him,

why can't you just give up a little for me?

I don't know, Pa.

Maybe it's because

he's never asked me to give anything up.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

All right. You ready, Ben?

Yeah.

I thank you for letting me see her before she left, Marshal.

Let's go.

How long do you think they'll give me?

I don't know. That'll be up to the judge.