Original subtitles

Don't you see? I'm trying to save the Marshal's life.

Once you give him that there paper,

why there's more than a dozen men between here and Dodge

ready to kill him for it.

The Sheriff said nobody but Marshal Dillon.

Well, glory! Marshal Dillon.

How'd you get here so fast?

Just took a couple of hours to find that horse.

Drop the knife.

The hobbles were cut. You're pretty handy with that knife, aren't you?

Long way back to Dodge. Be glad to keep you company.

You're not going anywhere. Lock him up.

Sure could have used me the money

old Aaron Croft's offering for that paper.

Like I told old peach fuzz here, some of them boys out yonder,

they want that reward bad enough to kill you for it.

Me, I was satisfied to snooker you.

- Marshal Dillon? - That's right.

You are Marshal Dillon?

I can vouch for him, peach fuzz.

Didn't know but what you two might have had something cooked up.

We never met 'fore last night.

Speaking of that, did I thank you for them trail vittles, Marshal?

Well now, if you ain't a caution.

Mr. Humphrey's death bed statement.

And I hope it hangs Billy Croft.

It will.

If you can get it back to Dodge in time for the trial.

- Good luck, Marshal. - Uh, Marshal?

What about him?

Well, he pulled a knife on you, didn't he?

Just keep him locked up there until the circuit judge gets here

- and see that he stands trial. - Yes, sir.

Yonder, he comes.

I told you he'd take the most direct route back to Dodge.

It's like finding money lying in the street.

We're a long way from Mr. Croft and getting paid that reward.

I swear, Kittridge, you'd cry hunger

with a ham hock in one hand and a 'tato pie in the other.

All I'm saying is a lot of them boys after the same thing what we are.

Once I get a hold of that paper, ain't nobody gonna take it from me.

Don't waste no lead, now.

We's about to get us 1,500 dollars, and you fret over an extra bullet?

When I'm spending my share is when I'll stop fretting.

I swear, Kittridge. I truly do.

- I got him! - He didn't fall!

- Hurry... - He won't go far. I hit him.

Ain't no telling what way he went.

All that blood he must have lost, he can't get too far, whichever way.

Oh, sure was a foxy one, though, shedding his horse that way.

Making us track half the Indian territory.

We catch him, I'm gonna skin that fox and nail his hide to the nearest tree.

Yeah, well, you're gonna have to walk to do it.

That bush move again, you shoot right in the middle.

Cato.

Maybe there's something to Juba's Bible talkin' after all.

- Don't spook him now. - Shh.

Easy now, horse. Easy, baby.

You like that horse, do you, boy?

Us ain't meant no harm, sir.

Just gonna steal my horse. Of course you didn't mean no harm.

We thought it was runnin' loose.

And that puts your brand on it, does it, boy?

Name's Cato.

Oh. It has a name.

Well.

Mr. Cato, I see as a slave,

that you was dumb enough to run away and dumb enough to get caught.

I reckon you'd be dumb enough to try to steal my horse.

- Wasn't stealing. - Don't you mouth me, boy.

You seen a man hereabouts, staggering around, bullet hit?

They's just us two.

He said a man.

You move that gun one more inch, I'll kill you.

Just for practice.

Please, sir, us ain't seen nobody.

You from hereabouts?

We's camped yonder ways a couple mile.

Then "we'd" better get back on to that camp

before I take a mind to teach you both a lesson.

Now, get.

Cato, come on.

Cato.

You know something?

If we don't find Dillon by nightfall,

I'm gonna find that camp and I'm gonna roust me a smart mouth crow.

What you doing?

Gonna see to setting a drag stick in place.

Now, how far you think we gonna get with a drag stick?

We ain't getting no farther sitting here.

Just pray and believe. And do.

Well, we're still gonna have to have another mule,

all kinds of supplies.

I'm near about out of corn meal.

And there ain't no more than about two pounds of salt left.

We in the hands of the good Lord.

And when it come time for what we need, we'll have it.

Juba say he don't know how long we be camped.

Wheel needs mending.

We gots to get another mule somehow.

Steal it'd be my way.

Your way's what got you out here alone.

It was Juba that put me out here.

I knows you mean well, Benji.

It's just the way you go about doing things.

Look, I was going about trying to get you all to Oregon.

Now, ain't nobody else in that camp knows up or down about doing it.

And my being out here just means that my job's just a little bit harder now.

Juba thinking on leaving one wagon behind?

Toting what he can in Ike's wagon?

Mama Olabelle ain't about to leave none of her things behind.

Not after coming this far.

Yeah, and if them cabins ain't built by the time it snows,

she may as well forget about her things.

Food holding out?

Getting lower.

Ike and Cato's been out hunting though.

What field hands know about hunting?

We're never going to get to Oregon.

I should've stood up to Juba.

Ain't no way you could have.

You done wrong to have that gun, to fight Cato.

And to take that milk cow.

Well, a man needs a gun in this country and Juba gonna find that out.

I couldn't stand no more listening to Cato talking about your being his woman.

As far as that cow...

Ike and his children had milk the first time for more than a month.

See if I can't get you some meat, too.

And have Juba know you hereabouts?

Well, you can say, uh,

you come up on a sleeping antelope

and you bashed his head in 'fore he woke up.

- That be lying! - But it be eating.

Juba say feeding the soul more important than feeding the body.

Erlene, honey, if a man don't keep his body going,

his soul ain't going to get very far.

Benji! Maybe that's the kind of talk you learned

from some of them army soldiers you got to know,

but it ain't no talk I'll abide.

- I was just fooling. - Well, just stop.

It plain you ain't God fearing,

but you ain't got to go testing him like that.

Erlene honey, I figure that he gotta have a sense of humor.

Why, look at me. Huh? Well, I'm his doing.

Benji, don't.

You're a good woman, Erlene.

Yes you are. I swear true.

I'll tell you something else.

I vow it.

I vow that I...

Juba.

Benji!

- He's a law man. - He's bleeding.

- Looks like he's been shot. - Shot?

Uh-uh, hold on now. You ain't going nowhere.

- I gots to get Juba. - You gotta do what?

- I gots to get Juba. - Erlene, hold on.

Juba got enough problems. He don't need no more trouble.

- I gots to get him! - Wait a minute, Erlene. Hold on now.

- No, Erlene! - I gots to get him.

But you don't know what this man's going to bring down on everybody!

Fool woman.

Erlene, fetch the mule.

- Juba? - Man needs tending to, bad.

We'll take him to camp.

Juba, we gonna get caught with that white man.

- Hush, Reba, hush. - We'll gets the blame.

Olabelle, help me here.

Coming and going, that bullet tore him pretty bad.

Willa, Heck, run see can you hustle up Juba with that moss.

Yes, ma'am.

Benji with you when you found this man?

What?

Way you were looking around out there...

- Mama Olabelle, I ain't seen... - I ain't asking you to fib to me, gal.

But Juba sent him out. He wouldn't go against what Juba say.

No runaway like Benji's gonna get turned from the woman he figures is his.

Not by Juba nor Cato nor nobody else.

He's out there.

Yes, Mama, he out there.

I ain't looking for no answer for me, child.

In case Juba should ask, you best have something to tell him.

Meanwhile you can wash up this here man's things.

Big man, he gonna die, Juba?

Not if we can help it, boy.

He be a bad man, getting shooted like he done, huh?

He ain't no bad man. He gots him a badge.

That mean he a good man.

Juba say any man was hurt or get hurted,

and hurtin's did by bad men, ain't that so, Juba?

Well, Mama Olabelle say...

Whoa, hold up there.

Or Mama's gonna have more people mending to do.

There's moss a plenty, Mama.

Willa, Heck, run get some hot water from Reba.

- Any sign of Cato and Ike? - No.

I hopes they bring something.

Them children needs rib sticking food, soon.

Just pray and believe, Mama.

And do.

And... do.

Chucked a stone at him and got lucky.

I'll just get this poultice made, and then I'll start the vittles.

Thank you, sir.

- I surely love water bread. - Me, too.

- Can I help, Erlene? - Mm-hm.

Why don't you fetch the honey jar?

- I'll get it. - Erlene told me!

Don't start fighting, you two.

- Willa. - Willa, why don't you get the plates.

Stew's near ready.

- All right. - Sure wish we had us another rabbit.

This afternoon maybe I'll see can I find me a sleeping antelope somewhere.

A what?

Nothing.

- Cato. - Didn't get nothing.

- That gun been emptied? - What?

The children. That gun got a bullet in it?

Never mind, Cato.

Maybe tomorrow you'll do better.

Maybe so, Juba.

What's wrong, Cato?

Been listening to his mewling for the last hour, that's what's wrong.

Why is he mewling?

'Cause he's got chicken blood.

It's... hot.

What happened?

- Nothing. - What's wrong with you, Cato?

Erlene, set this here in the wagon.

I got some stew.

- I killed us a rabbit. - I ain't hungry.

Good. Then there'll be more for the children.

What happened?

Don't make no never mind.

It do when you bring such anger and hate into my home.

This place is my home now.

Talking to me like he done.

Who?

That white trash, looking for somebody out yonder ways.

Looking for somebody?

Juba, I'm a man.

If you be, ain't no call to say it.

They took this, but that's all they took.

Mr. Thomas Kingsley took your ear because you run off.

- 'Cause I run off. - Mr. Thomas Kingsley.

- Not they. - You saying it were right?

That what you heard?

Seems like I never really heard you, Juba.

But here we both is, in the middle of noplace,

trying to get someplace we hopes'll be better than what we left.

You're in the middle of nowhere, Cato,

and I'm thinking that's where you're always gonna be,

no matter where you go,

unless you set to do yourself some changing.

- Cato? - In your bed?

That be the one them two chalkies is looking for.

Likely.

Well, I'll tell you, they be looking with blood in their eye.

Ain't surprising, they be what you say.

He's a United States Marshal.

- And you keeping him here? - I ain't turning him out.

And you'd stand by him?

I stand by the law, God and man's.

Ain't nobody can bring no anger and hate in Juba Freeman's house.

No, sir! No anger and hate.

But it's fair doing if he bring in that lamb to let us get ate up by the tiger.

That be all right! Yeah! That's just fine!

Just fine!

Cato!

Boy, why ain't you asleep?

Can't.

Now, you close your eyes and try.

It going to be like Uncle Cato say?

We gonna get ate by tigers?

No, son.

There ain't no tigers around here.

Now, you lay back down.

How you feel?

Sore.

You be dead if we didn't find you.

I know. I'm grateful to you.

Grateful so you'd say nothing about seeing Benji.

Juba don't know he's out there.

How do you do, sir?

Yes, sir.

Been a lot of prayers for you.

You hungry?

No, thank you, ma'am, I...

I don't think I could eat anything.

Where's my... my papers?

- Your what? - Some papers I was carrying.

All you had is in your boots there.

Ain't nobody here that would mess with anything that belongs to you, sir.

That why them two shot you?

No, I... I just wanted to be sure I still had them.

Thank you.

- Who are you folks? - We're travelers.

We was on our way to Oregon.

Unless we get some sore needed things,

well, this sorry land here might could become to be our home.

Well, now, would you look at that.

Why, there's a whole passel of them, ain't there.

Evening.

Why, evening, Sam.

We was camped out yonder there.

Saw your fire.

Thought we'd just drop by and say our howdies, Sam.

Juba.

Uh... How's that?

Name's Juba.

That's second time in only a couple of hours.

First old leather ear, here. Now you.

I don't take kindly to being corrected by the likes of you two.

Well, they had near on to nine years to forget their manners, Kitt.

It just might could be that they gonna learn them back a lot quicker.

What can I do for you?

From all I can see,

you got a hard time doing just for your ownselves.

We want no trouble.

You always get what you want, do you, Sam?

You got no call to come messing around here.

Boy!

I had me a mean day of hunting and a meaner day of not finding.

And I'd sorely like to work some of that out of me.

I like you.

I'm gonna start with you.

Hey, Kittridge, come here. Looky here what I found.

Best you don't come too close.

- What are you hiding? - Hiding nothing.

Stand up, both of you.

- Cousin's powerful sick. - Sick, you say?

White folks knows the pox when you sees it?

- Pox? - Hm.

Erlene, honey, turn back the blankets on cousin.

Why didn't you tell us you had the pox here?

Well, I'm not sure we have it here.

Was he sick when he was messing around with my horse this afternoon?

He just started fevering a minute ago.

- It's no cause for you to fret... - Get away from me.

- All I want to... - Stay back, you slab headed fool.

- Come on, Kitt. Let's get out of here! - Don't you touch me.

I ain't staying.

They be the ones what shot you?

I've seen that fella Kittridge before.

Knowing him, it's likely.

- Olabelle. - Now, Juba,

it weren't exactly no lie, just a wrapping around of the truth.

Woman, you're something.

After 30 years, she's still full of surprises.

Well, once more, I'm grateful to you folks.

What for they after you?

Well, I got to be in Dodge in four days. They don't want to see me get there.

With that paper?

- That's right. - What would you have did

if Mama Olabelle hadn't fooled them two?

I mean, with them black kids yonder and these here black womenfolk?

Cato, hush up.

Just asking to see how valuable the white man feel that paper be.

All right, folks, I'm gonna tell you something.

Those two want that paper bad enough they'd kill for it.

I appreciate everything you've done for me.

As soon as I'm able to move, I'll be out of your way.

Mister, I'm asking you not to say any more.

You ain't got no reason to.

Cato, you'd better get some sleep.

Now.

- Sure you ain't hungry? - No thank you, ma'am. Not tonight.

Maybe I could try something in the morning.

- Good night, then. - Good night.

I ain't gonna try to apologize for Cato.

I figure that's his place to do that.

I admit, about them children...

I wonder what you would have done.

Good night to you, sir.

You ask him real nice, maybe Juba teach you.

Ain't no way in the world this here man can learn the likes of reading.

He could've.

We both could have if they took us to the big house.

Me? In the big house?

Man, you do talk foolish. You know that?

You're a damn fool.

Cato, I'll tell you something.

I know who I am.

I ain't much, mind you.

Just enough for Reba and the kids...

and me.

But knowing...

Well...

It's nice knowing.

Good night, Cato.

Damn fool.

- Good night, y'all. - Good night, Ike.

Good night.

Erlene, can we talk?

- I'm tired, Cato. - I never figured...

I'd be sorry for setting out like we done.

What?

Oregon.

It was leaving for there changed things between us.

Never was nothing between us, Cato.

I never promised you nothing.

We had us an understanding.

What we had was your running off any man looked at me more than once.

You never minded till that Benji.

That high and mighty runaway, what made it come along.

- Where he at now? - Reckon it's just that.

The way you's so quick to being angry, so quick to scolding.

There was a time when you being scolding mad was...

was being strong to me, but no more.

Not since Benji.

It's other things that make for being strong, Cato.

Night, Cato.

Benji, it's me!

God, woman, what are you doing?

Who'd you think I was? Put that away.

Well, how was I to know who you were?

What are you doing out here?

You could catch your death dressed like that.

Reckon as how that's something I wanted to hear.

That the night air is made for your ailing?

No. That you care so much to worry about how I be.

You know I care.

Yeah, I know.

Don't mean I don't like to hear it, though.

This afternoon when we were down by the swimming hole...

- Mm-hm. - You was telling me something.

I was?

"I'm telling you true.

I'm grateful I found you."

You were gonna tell me something else.

Something you vow.

I don't rightly remember that.

You do so.

What was it?

Well, that, um...

I promised Juba and Mama Olabelle and the others

that I'd see to it that they got to Oregon.

And you and me will light out a shuck.

Where will we go, Benji?

Don't make no difference where we go, so long as we get there together.

Together.

You! Keep away!

- Hey, you got the pox. - You get back.

Figured to do us a little talking.

- Ain't got no pox back at the camp. - Say what?

Mama Olabelle joshed you to believing it was there.

Yeah? Why'd she do that?

What you want?

- I want us to go to Oregon. - That a fact?

I figure we all can do it, if I was to sell you what you want.

Some paper that there lawman what you shot was carrying,

some paper you's after.

When the Marshal find that paper gone, well...

it'll make no never mind to me.

Won't be much he can do about it.

You sure are a smart one.

How much you figure it'll take, Cato, to get you to Oregon?

I mean, uh, how much money you want for that paper?

Mule can't run but 20 dollars.

Need supplies, cost of a new wheel.

I want fifty dollars.

Why, that's a sight of money, fifty dollars.

Paper worth killing for. That'd make it worth that much.

Got the paper with you?

- Right there. - Let's see.

Not likely, not until I see 50 dollars.

Must be that I got 20 put away. You got something there?

- I believe I reckon I got some here. - Ten. Let me see what you got.

Ten, twenty, thirty, forty.

Fifty-three dollars. Uh...

There's your 50 dollars.

Gotcha, boy!

Okay!

Wait a minute! He stole the wrong paper!

- What? - Ain't so.

You ignorant black. It's the wrong one.

But you're gonna get the right one.

And you're gonna get it now. And we're going with you.

And you make one wrong move,

one wrong step, and I'm gonna carve on you

till there ain't nothing left but bone.

And then I'm gonna start on your friends.

You understand me, boy?

It was a fearful and shameful thing he done.

And I'm pleading with you, sir, take one of our mules

and get away from this place, right now.

No, I'm not gonna do that, Mr. Freeman.

- I wouldn't do it if I could. - You got to.

No, I want you to go along and do like I said now.

Shameful, shameful thing he did.

And when I get them far enough away from here, I'm coming back.

No. No, you're not.

I want you to take care of these folks here.

Keep right on going. Now, hurry.

Yes, sir. Come on, Olabelle.

If Benji knew, he'd... he'd be here. He'd help.

I could go find him.

Why thank you, Erlene, but you go on with the others now.

Now, you mind what I said.

You make one wrong move,

you act like you're about to give us away,

and all your friends die.

Now, get down there.

Do you think he can do it?

He do or he don't, it's all the same.

Only thing is, he takes whatever chances there is.

Now, you stay here. I'm gonna cover from the far side.

Oh, my God. Don't shoot.

They's out there. They'll kill Juba and the others.

Juba and the others are gone.

I'll tell you what I want you to do.

Go back there and tell them that this paper's in my shirt pocket,

that you can't get it out without waking me.

You'd better be convincing.

Because as long as those two are out there, you're all in trouble.

Did you get it?

Can't get it. It's in his shirt.

I'd wake him if I tried.

Hush, child. Hush.

Shhh.

I don't want to get shooted by the white folks, Papa.

Willa, girl, you got to be quiet.

Please. They might can hear you.

- Papa, I's scared. - Shhh.

Hold it right there.

I know that I should have shot that tar face.

Drop the gun.

Shh.

Well, now, ain't this a sight.

You be hiding the Marshal behind you again?

He ain't here. Please. He ain't here.

Well now, don't tell me he's gone and shot poor old Croyden

and fixed it up so that all that money Mr. Croft's offering is all mine.

All right, get on your feet. Let's go.

Move along! Let's go. Get on.

- Where's your friend? - Marshal! We're coming in.

You'd better hold your fire till you see what I got with me!

- Kitt, he's got me! - Shut up.

You got one, Marshal. I got me seven.

Hold it, boy. Get over here.

Eight, counting this one.

Now, it ain't gonna be a standoff long.

All I want is that paper, Marshal. I ain't gonna ask again.

Either you step up and give it to me,

or one of these folks is gonna die for every minute you wait.

Had it planned good, Marshal. Ain't your fault it didn't work.

Saved a lot of lives, Marshal.

You better go a long way off to spend that money.

Dillon, you'd be a dead man, most likely,

but for these folks tending you.

Of course I...

wouldn't mind if, uh, you was to nurse me.

Kittridge, you got what you came for.

How'd you like to ride off a ways with me.

- No! - You little...

Juba, let go. Juba!

Juba! Juba.

I don't know what come over me.

I know the feeling.

And Juba here have time to think on it

while I'm taking that Croyden fellow back to Wichita.

I know Juba gonna let you come back now.

Well, if he won't,

I figure to bribe him with that wagon wheel I'm gonna bring back.

- Wagon wheel? - Yeah.

Marshal Dillon, he gave me a letter to give to the Wichita sheriff.

Not only am I gonna get a wagon wheel,

I'm gonna bring back a new mule.

And we'll be on our way again.

Oh, Benji.

You mean he's been out there all this time?

You looks at him and Erlene, you knows why.

And you knew it all along.

I strong felt it. Come to know for sure yesterday.

But I had other things to think on besides saying anything.

After all this time, those children are finally falling asleep at dawn.

Sleeping safe.

I thank you for that.

- More, Mr. Marshal? - Oh, no thank you, Reba.

I'm... I'm getting full. Couldn't eat another mouthful.

Fact, I'm gonna have to walk off all I've eaten now.

Excuse me, folks.

Marshal Dillon?

Cato.

How long's you got to get that paper to Dodge?

Oh, it's about two days now.

Wagons take more than a week.

Sure you ain't going to make it riding there on no horse.

Well, I'll just have to do the best I can.

I'd be that proud to take it in for you.

In case they'd be some others of a mind to try and take it from you.

I mean, who's gonna look at an old...

leather-ear like me and guess I'd be carrying

something as important as that?

Well, Cato, I'd be in your debt.

Thank you.

Pray and believe, Cato.

And do.

And do.