Original subtitles

MAN (over PA): Go!

( mellow theme playing) (Resync by Chuck)

(gunshots)

(indistinct chatter)

Randy McNally completes his practice round

in 42 seconds with a score of 85.

Eighty-five.

That last target. I can't believe it.

Ninety.

Eat your heart out, McNally.

I'm up.

Say your prayers, mates.

It's gonna take more than prayer if Walker gets here.

I'm only gonna say this once, man:

It's time the younger generation took over.

Okay, up next,

James Trivette, Texas Ranger.

Two.

One. Go. (beep)

Ranger Trivette completes his practice round

in 36 seconds with a score of 97.

(applause)

MAN: That's pretty good, man.

So how'd you do?

Ninety-seven, 36 seconds.

That's good shooting.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yes, it is.

Oh, yeah. It's your turn.

You wanna borrow my, uh, glasses and my...

No, thanks. I won't need 'em.

Yeah.

Next up, Ranger Cordell Walker.

Two. One. Go!

(beep)

( action theme playing)

Cordell Walker completes his practice round

in 34 seconds with a perfect score.

Perfect score.

Yeah.

Better luck next year.

That's what you said last year.

Kids were really upset.

They wanted to say goodbye here.

Baby, two hours after they get up to the lake

and their grandparents been waitin' on them hand and foot,

they're gonna forget all about me.

I'll bring 'em some souvenirs back from Dallas.

They'll forgive me.

Yeah, just bring home the medal, okay?

I'll try my best.

Just make sure you don't forget about me, okay?

Okay.

Bye. Bye.

Burke. K.C.P.D.

Thank you.

WOMAN: Be a good little girl.

(toilet flushes)

(man whistling)

( ominous theme playing)

I'm sorry, friend.

Could you give me a hand with that?

Sure.

There you go.

Thank you very much.

My goodness, that's a gun case, isn't it?

Huh?

Yeah, I used to do a little shooting myself

when I was in better condition, you know?

(chuckling)

I'm going to Dallas to the nationals.

You are?

Well, so am I...

Officer Burke.

Ah!

WOMAN: Thank you.

You're clear to board, Officer Burke.

Thank you.

Have a pleasant flight.

Thank you.

( light rock action theme playing)

(country music playing)

C.D.: Oh, Cordell, you're a hell of a shot,

but you should've seen old Rooney, Dodge and Selkirk.

Yes, sirree.

They could put six up in a circle

no bigger than a mouse's ear.

Pull that over to the left, will ya?

No, no, no. It's off-center.

Oh, you're both wrong. Move it to the right.

Senator Knox, what's your stance

on freedom of choice?

Choice.

I think choice is very important.

C.D.: No, Mabel.

It should be more to the left.

Look. Can't you see?

MABEL: Uh... yeah.

I don't think you can see much of anything.

You guys are worse than an old married couple.

C.D.: Hey, Jimmy,

have you ever heard of Laredo Jake Boyd?

Aw, he was something else, let me tell ya.

Knock the bark off a hickory sapling.

Yes, sirree.

Melt the needles right off a cactus with his face.

You reckon Laredo'll make it?

I don't know.

Sure like to see him though.

What is it with this Boyd character?

Well, if you ever get a chance to meet him,

you'll find out.

REPORTER: And how do you feel about gun control?

KNOX: I feel very honored to have been chosen

to award this year's trophies in the law enforcement

pistol competition.

As a matter of fact, I'll be in Dallas shortly.

As a gun owner and a sportsman,

I believe in the rights guaranteed

by the second amendment,

but on the other hand, I also believe

that there are those individuals in this society

who should not,

under any circumstances, have access to guns.

You believe this guy?

He commits to everything and nothing at the same time.

And when you're good at it,

every fool in the world wants your opinion.

Even if it isn't worth a damn?

(clears throat)

Excuse me, I'd like to introduce you,

all of you, to Alisha Holmes.

This is Ranger... James Trivette.

Ranger Trivette.

Ranger Walker.

And C.D. Parker.

How do you do? It's a pleasure.

The governor has offered Senator Knox

a Ranger security detail.

You two were at the top of the list.

Of course.

You didn't take me seriously,

what I was saying.

I-I'm always commenting on TV

news conferences. It's kind of a...

habit with me.

Tell her.

ALISHA: Gentlemen,

I'm sure security's foremost in your minds.

Senator Knox is flying in

from Houston today.

If you need anything or if you have

any suggestions, I'd be more than happy

to hear them.

TRIVETTE: Why us?

Why do our names always come up?

There are a hundred-plus Rangers, right?

But it's always us.

Why is that? Fate.

No, there's no such thing as fate.

I'll tell you what it is.

Alex volunteered us for it.

Now, why would she do that?

We're her favorite people.

No. You're her favorite people.

I'm her second favorite people,

in every sense of the phrase.

Well, look on the bright side.

You'll be working with Miss Holmes.

Yeah, right.

Not after the impression I made this morning.

Well, just rely on your charm, big guy.

WOMAN (over PA): Deplaning at gate 45C.

WOMAN: There she is!

MAN: They're runnin' late.

GIRL: Let's watch it take off.

MAN 2: Taxi! You need a taxi?

MAN 3: I don't think they were in there.

Look, I don't think they were.

MAN 4: Flight's been delayed!

I don't know.

MAN 5: I'm sorry, folks.

MAN 3: It's all right.

MAN 5: Take care.

MAN 3: It's all right.

Hey! What do you want?

You know what I want. The wallet. Come on.

Give me that wallet.

Walker, look at that guy.

Hey, mister, Texas Ranger.

MAN: Airport security!

WALKER: Easy, easy, easy.

Walker.

How you doing, Laredo?

Laredo?

Say, give this to that old gent

over there, will ya?

So where ya been? Two years, no one's heard from ya.

Well, cosmic fluctuation, Walker.

Guess that's my only explanation.

Guys.

Guys, we have to go.

The senator's plane is at the terminal.

BOYD: We can go to C.D.'s and talk.

And you can bring this young lady along with you.

That is, if you trust me with her.

(laughing)

Laredo Jake Boyd,

meet Assistant District Attorney Alex Cahill.

Ho-ho. How do you do?

My pleasure.

You can come along anyway.

I don't mean to be abrupt, Mr. Boyd,

but we really have to go.

Look, I gotta go pick up this senator.

Why don't you hang around and I'll give you a lift?

Walker, you know I've been a Ranger for 30 years.

I don't need a mother hen.

Okay, I'll see you at C.D.'s later.

Mr. Boyd, it is a pleasure,

but how'd you get my arm up there?

ALEX: We gotta go.

I just wanna know... We gotta go!

Well, now I've seen him.

Now I know what you're talkin' about.

Yep.

Pretty studly guy, huh?

Sure is. Whew.

(sighs)

MAN: There he is. Senator!

WOMAN: This way, senator!

MAN: One question, sir.

(chattering)

Alex, good to see you.

It's good to see you too, senator.

I'd like to introduce you

to Rangers Walker and Trivette.

They'll be heading up

your security detail. Gentlemen.

What did I tell you about calling me Senator Knox?

And you're as beautiful as ever.

Say, buddy, I got a question for ya.

There's a flight from Denver: 421.

Has it come in yet?

Ah, yes, sir.

We finished deplaning about

20 minutes ago. (groans)

Well, look, I'm supposed to meet a fella here.

His name is Mitchell. There's a picture of him.

You recognize him?

Disregard the girl in there.

She just happens to be a Sunday school teacher.

(chuckles)

Look, I'm sorry.

I can't give you any information

about passengers or the flight manifest.

You might check in baggage claims.

He could still be there.

All right. Thank you.

( ominous theme playing)

MAN: You're telling me it isn't ready?

MAN 2: You know, quality can't be rushed.

This is built on a Mauser action.

Barrel, 26 inches, stainless steel.

Twenty-four power transilluminated scope

and a solenoid trigger.

Now, that has been adjusted to 2 ounces.

You can run that up if you wish.

Where's the suppressor?

Ah, yeah.

This is what took the time.

Old Hiram Maxim.

He invented this in 1908.

I've never seen a suppressor like this.

You ordered the best, and this is it.

And these...

I loaded those with a slow-burning powder.

Makes for a subsonic bullet.

This .30-caliber rifle

won't make any more noise than a chicken

breaking wind in a snowstorm.

(piano playing music)

(indistinct chatter)

Senator, Congressman Hall.

I'll have to call him back.

Okay, thanks.

WALKER: And when you finish with that,

I want you to call Southwestern Bell.

I want impulse traps on all the lines

leading to the senator's suite.

Then I want a printout sheet

on all the originating numbers.

Uh, the senator's staff will do the crosschecking.

Okay. Bye.

Don't you think their conversation's

a little too friendly?

Have you ever known a politician

who wasn't too friendly?

Now that you mention it, no.

You know, if this guy

never takes a position on anything

and he never offends anybody,

I don't understand all this security.

Seems like a lot of expense for nothing, if you ask me.

Let's hope it's for nothing. I'll check with you later.

All right.

(crickets chirping)

What happened?

Evade and elude.

Can't be too careful here.

Oh?

You have reason to believe you're under glass?

No.

(huffs)

Then you be as careful as you'd like to be, but don't ever

be late again.

(quietly): All right.

Used to bring my kid here.

Had infield seats.

Now, they're tearing the place down.

That's progress, huh?

You're from this area?

Relax. I've been deceased since 1981.

Still a shame what they're doing to the place.

It's called change, gentlemen.

And that's what we're here to do.

We're here to make a change.

It would be good if you kept that in mind.

Your assignment is fluid.

Basically,

you're here to conduct mobile reconnaissance,

surveillance and interdiction during the operation.

You'll provide security and guard the flanks

until time of termination,

and that is my assignment.

This is the change that we're going to make.

This is our target.

Senator Julian Knox.

(country music playing inside)

(C.D. laughing)

(laughing)

Give me your attention, ladies and gentlemen.

The three judges for the contest:

Bob Rooney, Frank Dodge, Billy Selkirk.

Let's hear it for 'em!

(applause and cheering)

You noticed who got the applause, did you not?

(coughing)

Where's Boyd?

He ain't gonna squirrel out on us again, is he?

Hey, no squirrels where I live in, Dodge.

I gotta come to Dallas

and rub shoulders with 'em.

By God, we thought you'd up and died on us.

Oh, not yet. Not just yet.

You look like somethin' the cats dug up,

the dogs wouldn't eat.

Yeah, he do look a little grubby, don't he?

I think I'll lend him my razor. Click.

(all laughing)

(ringing)

C.D.'s.

Okay.

Telephone call for Officer Ridley Burke!

Ridley Burke!

Yes, sir. Right here.

Yeah. Take it on that end of the bar.

It's your wife.

Hello?

No, Ms. Burke, I met him at the range.

Willis. Bud Willis.

Yes, ma'am.

No, he said he went straight to the range

to get some practice.

That's why he hasn't checked in yet.

No.

(chuckles): No. No.

I wouldn't think there's any need for concern.

I'd be glad to. As soon as I see him.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, thank you.

ALL: ♪ Not half as much as me ♪

♪ She cried so When I left her ♪

♪ It almost Broke my heart ♪

♪ And if I ever find her ♪

♪ We nevermore Will part ♪

I'm sorry. Excuse me. I didn't see you.

Are you always so jumpy?

Long hours. I'm, uh...

a little edgy, a little grumpy, I guess.

Sorry.

You a cop too?

No. My ex was.

I feel at home around these guys.

Jessica Pritchard.

"Jesse" to old friends... and new ones.

Well, yes, ma'am.

Ridley Burke, sergeant, Kansas City Police Department.

KNOX: How long have you been a Ranger, Trivette?

Little over a year, sir.

Really? You must be damn proud of yourself.

I know I would be. Would you like a drink?

Not while I'm on duty, sir.

Ah. Of course.

Duty.

Alex thinks a great deal of you,

you and that other Ranger, Walker?

Have you known her long?

A while.

She and I went to law school together.

Of course, I was a few years ahead of her,

but we were, uh... We knew each other.

Can you think of anything

that would hold Alex here in Dallas?

I'm not sure what you mean by "hold her."

Well, like a relationship, family.

I understand she's not married.

No, sir, she's not married.

But I understand you are.

Oh, yeah.

Well, I'd like to hang out with you boys

until the sun comes up,

but I got to get my beauty sleep.

I'll give you a lift.

Not necessary. I'll walk.

Get my stop on the way.

I got this little itch,

and I'd like to get it scratched.

See ya, parson.

Heh.

He jokes, he drinks, dances, he sings.

Hell, he's a regular Fred Astaire.

C.D., you've known him for... 30 years.

Don't you think it's kind of strange

the way he's been acting?

Damn strange.

I'll see you tomorrow, partner.

(dance music playing inside)

(groans)

Look here, young fella.

You sure you're old enough to be in here?

I'm exactly 21 years old.

You wanna see some ID, fat boy?

Some people might take offense to gas like that.

Does Delong still own this joint,

or has the sanitation department foreclosed?

Look...

I might take offense to that one, Boyd.

Thought you were dead.

Well, maybe I'm supposed to be.

But I'm just being stubborn about it.

What a disappointment.

Delong, I wanna test your memory.

Recognize this fella?

Uh... no.

What about the girl?

Hm? No. No.

Ow! Ah!

Now, I'm gonna tell you something now.

You'd better listen to me.

I want you to turn around and look at that statue.

Go on.

You see it? Yeah.

Well, that's the same statue that's in this photo.

And that was taken less than eight months ago.

We think this guy's name is Mitchell, hm?

We know he likes the strippers

and the dancing girls.

Now, do you remember him?

He was in, okay? To watch.

For drinks and tips,

anybody can have a picture taken.

Anybody.

Yeah.

Anybody, huh?

Okay, I want you to let me know

when he comes around again.

Now, you understand that?

Do you?

You're not a Ranger anymore.

Oh, I'm glad you know that, Delong.

I'm real glad you know that.

'Cause now I'm not bound by any oaths.

I want that friend of yours! I want him real bad.

You catch my drift?

You contact me, now.

Don't just stand there. Get after him!

Get him.

Where do you think you're going, old...

(punch connects)

How's it going?

Oh, I could use a little help. Okay.

(screams)

I'm gonna sue you, Boyd!

You broke my fingers!

This was his fault, Walker!

He started it!

You son of a...

You wanna press charges?

No, I don't think so.

Not you, him.

Yeah. Matter of fact, I do.

I'm gonna finish that job.

WALKER: Whoa. Whoa.

Let's go.

(sighs)

Well?

Well, what?

What are you doing in a joint like that?

That's a silly question, Walker.

I went to see the dancing girls.

And those four gorillas came out here and jumped you

because you're watching.

Well, not exactly.

What, exactly?

Well, Mr. Ranger Walker, in case you haven't noticed,

I'm not dead yet.

Well, Mr. Ranger Boyd, you may not be dead yet,

but you could act your age.

Now, what in almighty hell

would I wanna do anything like that for?

WOMAN (over radio): Ranger Walker, this is base.

2847 for Walker.

Walker.

At Taylor and Long, McClelland Guns.

Parole supervisor Sergeant Slater, D.P.D.,

requires your assistance.

I'm on my way. You wanna go for a ride?

For sure. Maybe we can scare up some excitement

before the evening's over.

That's all you need is more excitement.

SLATER: His name's Arden Lee Stuart.

He's 72 years old.

He's owned this shop for over 30 years.

He's had an FFL forever.

M.E. been here?

Yeah. Homicide too.

I asked 'em to leave everything alone

till you got here.

You know, you gave a seminar last year about knives.

The difference between, uh, stabbing weapons

and hacking weapons.

How most knife kills are messy.

Both M.E. and Homicide were unsure.

Autopsy will tell, of course, but, uh, what do you think?

Well...

there's a hairline puncture underneath the sternum.

Did M.E. find this?

Not right away.

There's a puncture right to the kidney.

Just a speck of blood.

Looks like he's been dead three to six hours.

Check with M.E.

See if they found a bruise on the small of his back.

Yeah.

(pen scribbling)

Commando hit, military style.

Yeah.

Thirty-caliber,

240-grain Bothell hollow points.

What are they, hunting rounds?

The two-legged kind.

That's filled with mercury.

(chuckles)

Whoa, that can do a lot of damage.

What the devil is this?

Electronic ranging equipment.

Did this guy make custom rifles?

We haven't found that out yet.

We've got his sales records.

Have to check them against his inventory list

and his serial numbers.

Richwood-Casey stock oil.

There was a rifle in this mount

until a few hours ago.

Laredo, come take a look at this.

SLATER: What's that?

Mm.

Blueprints... for a Maxim device.

Or he was building... automobile mufflers.

BOYD: I don't get it.

Silencers.

That's what it is. Just what it is.

(alarm beeping)

Do you have to leave so early?

(chuckling)

You've heard the admonition,

"To rest is not to conquer"?

Mm. Yeah.

Who said so? Me.

(giggling)

Who said anything about rest?

You really are something.

Yeah, I know.

It's not the first time I heard it, either.

Oh, really?

Well, you tell me all about that.

You keep things warm for me till I get back.

Maybe I'll be out.

No, you won't.

You sound real sure of that.

I am.

You get another hour's sleep.

"To rest is not to conquer."

(snickers)

Actually, that's a quotation.

I didn't make that up.

Mm. Who did?

Adolf Hitler.

( ominous theme playing)

(door opens)

(indistinct chatter)

Miles, your continued support will be the cornerstone.

I won't forget it.

You've earned it all, Julian.

Next November, the world will know what I already know.

Oh, can you make the shooting competition?

The awards ceremony presents an excellent photo opportunity.

The police leagues and the unions,

they really eat this up.

I-I'm not sure that I can clear my schedule.

I may have to make it a possibility.

But the banquet is definite. I'll see you then.

Well... Finally.

Old feelings are still with me.

Do you ever reflect on those times?

Sure. But we were very different people then.

I mean, you always seemed to know where you were going.

I had no course plotted.

Took me a while to find it, and I have.

I'm not so sure of that.

I mean, there's, uh...

More out there than you can find being an assistant DA.

And I can make it happen for you too, Alex.

How could you find the time?

You have a full career, two children,

a beautiful wife.

A politician is supposed to have a family.

It was an expedient thing.

There's been nothing between my wife and I for years.

You satisfied with that arrangement?

No, of course not. But I allowed it to happen.

But that's going to change.

Listen.

Would you have dinner with me tomorrow?

There's something I want to discuss with you.

Something that might brighten both of our futures.

For old times.

(knocking on door)

Trivette, it's Walker.

Hi, honey.

Did you get my messages?

Yeah.

Brian Haller character.

Specializes in high-grade chrome steel and machine tools.

Moves around a lot.

Right now, he's got a company called Tetrascope.

That's his latest address.

Where'd you get his name from?

Boyd found it on an invoice at the gun shop.

Any yellow sheet on him?

Yeah. Not much in it, though.

Some of his customers are a little shaky.

But there's no law on selling steel and tools.

Tried to go international a couple of years ago

without the proper licensing,

but all he wound up doing was paying a fine.

Any word about the medical examiner's report

on the gunsmith?

Probably later today or...

Good morning, Walker.

Hi, Alex.

I'll catch up with you a little later.

KNOX: Alex, so, uh...

Tomorrow evening then, uh... 8?

Yes. Bye.

Morning, Ranger.

My, what big eyes you have.

Yeah, well, you got egg on your shirt.

MAN: We'll meet you at the car.

I saw your assistant DA when she came out.

She sure seemed to be in a happy mood.

So?

Well, did you run into her when you were up there?

Well, did ya?

Well, what if I did? You mind getting in?

WOMAN (over radio): All units, all units, 2-11.

Officer down at Skillman and Abrams.

Shots have been fired.

(tires screeching)

Back off!

( suspenseful theme playing)

I said, back off!

(woman whimpering)

MAN: I'll kill her!

Back off!

What's the situation here?

Well, we nailed one suspect.

The other one shot my partner and took a hostage.

I'll kill her! Back off!

Hey, what's he doing?

I'll kill her!

Damn it.

You gonna be all right, son?

Yeah.

I'll kill her!

Stay away.

I'll kill her, old man.

You're gonna shoot somebody, you shoot me.

I'll kill her!

Come on. Give me that thing.

Come on.

Give it to me.

All right, boy.

On your belly.

OFFICER: Let's go, bring him in.

Bring him in. All right, let's go.

Stay down.

Stay down, buddy.

Easy.

You okay?

BOYD: He'll be all right, huh?

WALKER: Yeah, looks like a flesh wound.

OFFICER: We got him. You guys can head on back.

OFFICER 2: Let's clear it.

What the hell you trying to do? Get yourself killed?

Come on, Walker. Lighten up.

None of us live forever.

OFFICER: Tommy, go ahead.

( melancholy theme playing)

I swear... I'll keep my word.

I swear.

Ranger Walker, I'm Brian Haller.

I'm, uh, sorry I can't offer you my hand.

I had a caller this morning.

A caller?

Yeah, an elderly gentleman.

He, uh, had a very blunt way of asking questions

and a total lack of understanding

when he didn't get the answers he was looking for.

Kind of a barrel-chested guy?

Yeah, like a ranch hand.

He came to my house before sun-up.

Do you know who he is?

I have a good idea. What did he want?

Well, he had a picture of a man he called Mitchell.

He had a stripper on his lap.

I mean, he was familiar, but I can't remember.

I don't remember who he is.

Well, I'm not here for that.

I'm here to talk to you

about a shipment of chrome steel tubing.

Do you have any idea

what a Mr. Stewart was using it for?

No.

Well, I do.

He was manufacturing silencers illegally.

Look, I hardly have any control

over any of the products I sell.

I mean, once they're delivered, it's out of my hands.

Are you the sole owner of this company?

No, I-I manage it for Gant Industries.

Gant? Is that a public or private company?

It's a division of Sidley International.

It's a, uh... Conglomerate.

Yes. Yes, that's correct.

Well, tell me something.

Do you have any idea who's in charge of this spider web?

Uh... Uh, not beyond the level of Gant.

W-what does this have to do with anything?

Nothing.

Sorry about the fingers.

( mysterious theme playing)

Yeah, this is Haller.

Get me the chairman right away.

(country music playing)

There used to be a good reason

for getting up early in the morning

and staying up late at night.

You just miss the good old days.

Well... Hell, we all do.

Well, there oughta be a way to go back.

Hell, I never saw myself playing dominoes

with a bunch of other old duffers.

Hey, Robo.

There's no action in this place.

Yeah, looks like a retirement home.

(young men laughing)

MAN: That ain't funny, sonny.

Hey, fellas, sure am happy you're in here.

It's just a little bit early for all this, isn't it?

Not for anybody under 80, gramps.

(young men laughing)

Do you think he's talking about us?

That's right, wrinkles. I mean you.

Don't let your mouth overload your butt there, cowboy.

Look, fellas, let's... Let's just cool it.

We haven't had a fight in here in five years.

BOYD: Well, you're overdue.

Yeah, all right! All right.

(grunting)

(dominoes clattering)

Where's the rest of 'em?

Whew.

Give us a beer.

(dance music playing inside)

MAN: Come on, baby. Shake it!

Yee-haw!

What's going on?

I don't want you around here, mister.

You got a couple of Ranger pit bulls looking for you.

They're as nasty as they come.

Who are they?

Cordell Walker and Laredo Jake Boyd.

If you don't know them now, you surely will before long.

Now, you drift.

(country music playing)

You missed all the fun, Walker.

Just like old times.

I know that look, Walker. What's up?

Who's Mitchell?

(sighs)

Oh, I see.

You went over and talked to Mr. Haller, huh?

Well, not soon enough.

Could I see the photograph?

Sure.

Who is he?

I don't know. I'll let you know

when I find out.

Come on, Laredo.

All right, all right.

Well, he belonged to a small group

that murdered a federal witness in Denver a year ago.

They put a hit on him before he had a chance to testify

before the grand jury.

They also killed a young Denver P.D. officer.

He was guarding him.

And that's when I got interested.

I'm not even sure that Mitchell's his real name.

Where'd you get this photograph?

Some guttersnipe. Owed me a favor.

He was talking about some shadow people.

They were dark, dark.

Black Boys?

That could have been it.

What does that mean, Walker?

They're professional assassins who have no identities.

Oh, boy.

I can't take those punches like I used to be able to.

Come on, I'll get you to the hotel.

Yeah.

How you feeling?

Better.

Look, I got a little bit of stress problems, that's all.

You? Stress? Yeah.

Well, that's what happens when you don't get out

and raise a little bit of hell now and then.

( action theme playing)

Walker, watch out! Watch it!

(tires squealing)

It's him! Who?

(gunshot) It's Mitchell!

Give me that gun.

(gunshot)

(gunshot)

(shotgun clicks)

(gunshot)

(two gunshots)

(tires screeching)

(honking)

(tires screeching)

(gunshot)

MAN: Get out of here! MAN 2: Let's go!

(man groaning)

Laredo, give me the gun!

No, I'm gonna get him!

Laredo!

Here, get him. He's getting away.

Never mind him. Where you hit?

No, I'm not hit.

I'm not over that last session yet.

Oh, I'm sorry, Walker. I'm sorry.

All right. Come on, let's go.

I will handle it.

(phone beeps)

I will, uh...

be taking my place in the firearms competition.

I'll provide all of you with a detailed terrain drawing.

Now, however, the possibility does exist

the plan may change.

Or be modified.

We'll adjust our approach to take full advantage

of whatever special conditions may develop.

Yet we'll keep in mind that we control all situations

because we know what actions will take place.

While our target... does not.

Ugh!

He came to life again in a photograph.

It's always a mistake.

And... he lost direction.

He began to freelance to try to clean up his own mess.

There are two rangers named Walker and Boyd.

We may have to eliminate them.

You'll take care of Mr. Mitchell's body, yes?

I'll see to a replacement.

Mr. Douglas is on line three.

Oh, thank you.

Mr. Douglas.

Certainly. Go ahead.

I've sent a messenger with a revised guest list.

You'll want to give him a copy to Senator Knox.

I propose we have him

present the trophies at the range

immediately following the competition.

T-That way, his only duty after dinner

would be his policy speech.

I'll be having dinner with the senator this evening.

I'll run these changes by him.

I'm sure they'll meet with his approval.

Thank you. Enjoy your evening.

Goodbye.

( sinister theme playing)

When I present Knox's replacement,

his image will carry any election

regardless of party or platform.

He'll be the candidate and president I own.

Mr. Valentine, I'd hoped to avoid a meeting,

but the situation involving the late Mr. Mitchell

may have jeopardized this operation.

One more point.

This, uh, retired Ranger, Boyd? Is he a potential for trouble?

The real danger is Walker. He's the hunter.

I know Ranger Walker. You're right.

My sources tell me Boyd seems obsessed

by, uh, the death of a policeman in Denver.

Was, uh... Mitchell responsible for that?

No.

I'm responsible for that officer's removal.

Rangers have a relentless reputation too, Mr. Valentine.

Indeed, they do.

Indeed.

I do believe I have the advantage you see, though.

I know what I'm going to do.

They don't.

(gunshots)

Who said Walker's gonna have a tough time this year?

Yeah, who said that? Where's C.D.?

He's the oddsmaker. (gunshots)

That ain't right that the judges can't bet.

Well, we'll change the rules next year.

Well, that's what we said last year.

Forgetful. You boys are forgetful.

(chuckling): Forgetful about what?

MAN (over PA): Ranger Cordell Walker

completes his qualifying round

in 33 seconds with a perfect score.

(applause and chattering)

That was fine shooting, Ranger.

Thanks.

Name's Walker. Cordell Walker.

Burke. Ridley Burke. K.C.P.D. Kansas.

Well, good luck.

Does luck have a lot to do with it?

Well, doesn't hurt.

(chuckling)

Next up, Sergeant Ridley Burke.

Kansas City P.D.

Two. One.

Go. (beep)

(gunshots)

Hey. Hey.

You taking him out on the course?

No, the senator doesn't like loud noises.

That's hard to believe. He's a military hawk.

Not hard at all, actually.

Look, I want you to fire up the computer.

Run a check on this guy, Mitchell.

That's what he looks like.

"Jack Mitchell"?

Probably an alias.

By the way, did you find out anything on the car

or the autopsy?

Just the car. It's stolen.

I got a break between shifts,

so I'll get what I can on this Mitchell guy for you.

Sergeant Burke completes his qualifying round.

A perfect score in just 32 seconds.

Hey.

Good shooting.

Well, thank you.

Perfect score. It's all skill. No luck involved.

All right, this stuff came from National Personnel Service

in St. Louis.

There are over 700 Mitchells that fit the profile

and your photo ID didn't help narrow it.

So I had to do it the hard way.

In terms of service.

And you got all those papers out of that machine?

That's just part of it.

Mitchell's last name could be short for Jackson.

It could be a nickname for "John,"

or the whole thing could be an alias.

But aliases are sometimes similar.

Hm. But...

This guy doesn't use one word when 1000 will do, does he?

Cut to the chase, Trivette.

What I'm saying is, I had to go back to the photo.

You see what looks like a shadow at the base of the throat?

Yeah.

That's a birthmark.

Those are recorded.

His name is Jackson Hale Mitchelson.

He was born here in Dallas June 8th, 1949.

Hey, that's very good.

Any service record?

Yeah.

He joined the army in '69, he made Green Berets,

and his record politely indicates

that his bubble's off-center,

so they discharged him in December of '72.

Anything after that?

Yeah, he got a pilot's license in '74

and then he disappeared

on a bush flight in Columbia in '81.

That picture was taken in a Dallas strip joint.

Mm, last August.

That's how a Black Boy's created, Laredo.

What?

Oh, it's a CIA term

for men who don't exist.

(phone rings)

Walker.

We'll be right there.

It's Sweeney. He has something for us.

I'm gonna hang back here, Walker.

Read a little bit more about this Mitchell guy.

Okay.

Oh, howdy.

I'm sorry, I thought Walker was here.

Well, he's not, but why don't you stick around?

Sit a spell, huh?

Are you sure?

You seemed to be off in a world of your own.

(chuckling): Well, sorry about that.

It's about 25 years or so ago, but that's time way behind me.

Yeah, I've been doing a lot of thinking myself these days.

About what?

About what I would have to leave behind

if the decisions I make in the next few hours or days

go one way or another.

You're worried about leaving Walker behind.

Isn't that it?

I made a decision once to leave somebody behind.

I knew it was a mistake.

But I argued myself into it.

And I've paid for it ever since.

Thanks, Laredo.

Least I'll know what to do when my arguments begin.

You know, I've read about wounds like these,

but I've never even seen 'em.

(sighs)

How 'bout the small of the back? Any trauma there?

Yeah, just as you thought, caused by a knee.

Let me show you.

Left hand, arm around the throat from behind with great force,

knee driven into the kidney.

Hit with the knife, lumbar region,

kidneys, upward angle.

Now, body spasms backwards

in reaction to the pain of the injury,

leaving the chest area open for the final blow to the heart.

Instantly fatal. Correct, Walker?

You got it.

Sweeney?

Yeah?

How do you know it was just like that?

Well, the combination of perfection and power

with which the blows were delivered,

massive internal bleeding, hardly any external,

and the size and type of the wounds caused by

a weapon like this.

A Sykes Fairbairn.

It's a knife.

It's the difference between a lump of coal, Trivette,

and a diamond.

Correct, Walker.

Designed in the '30s,

still in use by special ops teams.

I use it to, uh, open my letters.

The, uh, man you're looking for

is the worst kind of killer.

Experienced, unemotional, detached.

A trained professional.

Contract man?

Yeah, the worst kind.

And I think I know who the target is.

(chuckles)

I will not be intimidated, certainly not by theories.

Do you have any hard evidence

supporting this assassination idea of yours, Walker?

Enough to urge caution, yes.

What, based on a photograph?

Based on the fact

that he tried to kill me and an ex-Texas Ranger.

He's a professional assassin, senator,

and he's in town for a specific reason.

You're worried about a repeat of 1963, aren't you?

I'm not worried, senator,

and you're not president yet.

But you do have an advantage that didn't exist in 1963.

Really? What's that?

You've been warned.

( electric guitar playing hook)

WALKER: When we get back to the office,

I want you to fire up that computer of yours.

See if you can draw a line from Tetrascope

through Gant Industries and Sidley International.

From Haller to where?

I'm not sure.

Someone or some group that makes decisions.

What are you working on?

A hunch.

Professional assassins cost a lot of money.

I want to find the fat cat that finances this operation.

♪ Back and forward On the saddle ♪

(grunts)

♪ And the syncopated gator ♪

♪ Sets his funny meter to the road ♪

(muttering incoherently)

C.D., what do you think you're doing?

I'm borrowing your horse to go ride with the fellas.

And what kind of condition are they in?

(all laughing)

Relaxed. Very relaxed.

Yeah, I can see that.

Here, take this.

And you stay here.

( country theme playing)

(old men laughing)

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

What do you guys think you're doing?

(chuckling): Well, I don't know.

Rooney, what are we doing?

Hell, I don't know. Dodge? What are you doing?

I don't know. Selkirk, what are you doing?

I am getting off my horse.

It's dangerous to be riding

these horses when you're drinking.

My golly, I think Walker's got a point there.

You know, it is dangerous, especially for us tenderfeet.

That's not what I mean. ROONEY: Walker.

Uh, we did use a stepladder to get up on these old horses.

And they did not give one thought

to how they was gonna get off

till I showed 'em how.

(laughing)

We're irresponsible, that's what.

All I'm saying is I was concerned.

BOYD: Pay no attention to these jokers.

Come on, let's you and me.

We hump it back to the barn.

You're in no shape to be racing.

Try me, huh?

( banjo playing upbeat theme)

Laredo, this is crazy!

(chuckling): Yeah, but ain't it fun?

(both yell)

(grunting)

You still alive? Oh!

Unlike the broken egg inside me.

Oh, boy. Don't it kinda jig ya, huh?

When a couple of horses

appear to be smarter than two grown men?

Well, in this case, they are.

Whoo!

Well, kinda hard to tell

where the manure leaves off and they begin, ain't it, boys?

(laughter)

Oh, get 'em outta here, Walker.

(softly): Get 'em outta here.

Hey, guys, why don't you get to the ranch,

get those steaks started, huh?

You guys better hurry on up, or there won't be nothing left.

WALKER: We'll be right there.

( somber theme playing)

(grunts)

Here, sit down.

Oh, God.

Oh, this pain, it comes and it goes.

What is it, Laredo?

(grunting)

Let me get you to the hospital.

No, I'm not going to any hospital.

Uh-uh. I don't want to lay on my back

in a hospital bed, stupefied with morphine.

No, sir.

What do you mean?

Well, in that hospital,

they told me I was going to die.

What?

Yeah. They said I had some kind of a growth

in my stomach that they couldn't get rid of.

So they gave me some chemotherapy,

but there's no dignity in that, I'll tell ya.

I walked away from it.

Look, I don't want those boys

to know anything about this, okay?

I-I don't want their sympathy.

I don't want anybody's sympathy.

Okay, I won't tell anybody. All right.

Tell me, why did you come down here?

I've got some unfinished business.

Remember I was telling ya about that Denver cop?

Well, I gotta wash the blood off that badge.

(grunts)

Can you make it?

Yeah.

( mysterious theme playing)

GUARD: I'll handle this, Curtis. No.

You sure that's everything?

This is it.

Rangers Walker, Trivette and Boyd

to see Miles Douglas.

Oh, and I trust you have an appointment?

No.

No.

Well, just a moment.

Mr. Chairman,

we have three Texas Rangers out here to see you.

Names again.

I'm Walker, he's Trivette...

The one doing the talking is Walker,

and one of them, sir, is a...

Well, one of them's colored.

(chuckles)

Did he say "colored"?

Well, I'll be danged, I never even noticed.

DOUGLAS: You must understand, Ranger Walker,

it's nothing of a personal nature.

If you had had a warrant,

it would have been a completely different situation.

I just find people of certain ethnic groups

to be unacceptable.

That includes Jews and Catholics too, I imagine.

Well, now, religion is a different question.

I mean, in some cases, however, it's...

It's difficult to make a distinction.

Purification, selection.

These are really historical facts.

Well, I'm not here to discuss history, Douglas.

Take a cruise through this.

I don't know what it is. It's a road map.

It leads from the chairman of Douglas Consolidated...

You.

To 19 corporations and fronts,

all the way to Tetrascope

in south Dallas, where this came from.

But the one I'm looking for

is on the barrel of a rifle.

And when I find it... And I will.

I'm gonna be back here with a warrant,

and my "unacceptable" friend

will be more than happy to slap it on ya

just as hard as he can.

Have a nice day.

Curtis,

give Ranger Walker a goodbye he won't forget.

Yes, sir. I understand.

(yells)

This is my lucky day.

You first.

( action theme playing)

Back!

(grunting inside)

Well?

What do you think?

We oughta go in there and help?

Naw, no. He can use the relaxation.

(huffs)

Looks like you rattled him good.

Yeah, I did.

Now, he's going to have to send his Black Boys after me

before he goes after Knox.

( country theme playing)

( suspenseful theme playing)

What's the drill, Ridgeway?

I'm goin' through the front door.

O'Brien, you go through the kitchen.

Coleman, cover us from the silo.

Now.

(grunts)

(grunts)

Ridgeway.

(over radio): Ridgeway, is it done?

Ridgeway?

WALKER (on radio): Yeah, I got him.

He's out.

(grunts)

I lied.

(giggles)

Join me for a nightcap.

I've got some excellent liqueur.

Just a light one.

Did you enjoy dinner?

Oh, I was very proud and honored

to be having dinner with the man

who may become the youngest president since John Kennedy.

Well, actually, Teddy Roosevelt was younger than both of us.

Oh.

(chuckles)

Alex, I need to talk to you.

Two years ago, I was close,

but now it's gonna happen.

I mean, it has to happen.

And things are very, uh...

turbulent, in motion, and...

I need a point of stability in all this.

I need you.

Help me change my life.

I want you to make it full again.

Come to Washington with me.

I want you to be part of it. (phone ringing)

Part of me.

(knock on door)

Excuse me, senator.

I told you not to interrupt.

You have a call.

It's important. I think you should take it.

Probably some political thing.

Think about what I said, counselor,

and I'll expect a conclusion

when I get back.

Yes?

Hi.

Oh, just paperwork.

I can't tell you how I'm looking forward

to getting back and how I miss you...

Yes, and I love you.

We'll take some private time for ourselves, you know?

Pine logs, maybe some champagne, yeah?

Mm-hm.

Okay, well, kiss the babies for me.

I love you.

(kisses)

Tell me again how you want me

to help you change your life, Julian.

Alex, that didn't mean any...

Listen, I can do things for you.

I can turn your life around. I can make something of it.

I already made something of it.

Alex.

Anything I can help you with, senator?

(elevator bell rings)

These three guys you caught last night

aren't very talkative,

but you didn't expect that, did you?

No.

And they didn't have the rifle

with the Maxim silencer on it either.

They got those weapons stashed someplace.

Yeah, could be in their staging area,

if we could find it.

Trivette, Walker, I think you guys might want to see this.

Mesquite P.D. came up with this John Doe last night.

Their M.E. called this morning.

Two puncture wounds, heart, kidneys.

They also ran over that photo.

It's no John Doe, Sweeney.

Mitchell?

Jackson Hale Mitchelson.

That wraps it up.

It's over.

It looks that way.

Morning, Alex.

Hey, Alex.

I'll wait... I'll wait by the truck.

So, uh...

How'd your dinner go with the senator last night?

I think you know how it went.

Yeah.

Look, I know you two go back a long ways.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

We had a conversation.

A very enlightening conversation.

( melancholy theme playing)

Ooh, I'm gonna tell you, Walker,

that's a damn good woman.

Yeah, she is.

Well?

Well, what?

It's not my place to sayin',

but what are you going to do, just stand around and wait

till somebody comes along that knows what to do about it?

Yeah, you're right.

Yeah?

It's not your place.

Let me get you to a hospital.

No. No. No hospital.

Why are you so damn stubborn?

(grunting)

Come on in, Walker.

Sit down.

You gonna be all right?

(sighs)

Yeah, I think so.

This the young Denver cop you were talking about?

Who is he?

My son.

And my only son.

Well, boy, it's finished.

The blood has washed away and...

And the badge is clean.

( melancholy theme playing)

(sobbing)

Yeah, I know I should have called you back sooner,

but I didn't know what to say to you.

Well, he's an interesting guy.

Doesn't want to stick around.

Yeah, he just does his thing and leaves.

I don't need that kind of thing again.

Oh...

Jen, could I call you right back in a few minutes?

Um, I just found something that he left here.

Yeah, okay, I'll call you right back.

( suspenseful theme playing)

(door opens and closes)

Oh.

I know... I know I shouldn't have,

but I just... I thought... You thought what?

You thought...

What did you think? I just...

Bitch! What did you think?

Name's Jessica Ann Pritchard.

She didn't show up for work this morning.

She had a deadline,

so her employer called Fort Worth P.D.

Jessica Ann Pritchard. Why do I know that name?

You met her before.

She was a computer production artist.

She worked for Marker and Bell, that ad agency up from C.D.'s.

Oh, that's right, she was at C.D.'s reunion party.

Any family?

Nobody in Dallas, uh... Her parents are deceased.

She's got one brother,

F.W.P.D.'s trying to locate from Detroit.

Married once, divorced, no children.

She came out here from Grand Rapids two years ago.

She have a record?

Texas driver's license, one minor moving violation.

City records, one parking ticket.

Both of 'em paid.

She's only been dead a few hours,

but the wounds are identical

to the ones that killed your gunsmith.

And same type of weapon.

Exactly the same?

I won't know till I get her on the table,

but one thing I'm sure of, it's the same killer.

Is the Black Boy still loose?

Two hours till the competition.

You go cover Knox.

I'm going back to the office, see if I can get a lead.

Cordell. Cordell, where the hell have you been?

That competition's going to start in an hour and a half.

Hell, that's a dollar waiting on a dime. Come on.

Yes, I'm still waiting.

Look, Cordell, I've got some heavy money riding on you.

C.D., I'm in the middle of a murder investigation.

One of your patrons... Yes, Pritchard.

Jessica Ann.

Jesse Pritchard? She's dead?

Yeah, we found her body this morning.

Well, she latched on to that Kansas City cop

the night of the party.

She left with him.

What was his name? B-Burke.

Burke? Ridley Burke?

Yeah.

Hello. Never mind that.

I want a priority call

to the Kansas City Police Department.

Personnel records.

ASAP.

That ain't Burke.

That's the real Burke. Let's go.

(indistinct chatter)

DODGE: You did okay in the qualifying, Burke,

but Walker's mighty good under pressure.

Now, you don't sound very impartial for a judge.

Aw, now, I wouldn't take him too serious.

He's just been here before.

ROONEY: Yeah, that's right.

We wish everybody the same amount of luck.

And some's got more than others.

Oh, I agree.

I agree. I-I know all about luck.

(laughing)

MAN: Senator, what do you have to say about that?

MAN 2: How do you feel about gun control, sir?

WOMAN: What about the environment?

Senator, I've been trying to get through to you. Did Walker...?

Never mind, Ranger. I'm here and I intend to stay.

We missed one of the guys. He could be anywhere.

What do you mean, missed one?

MAN (over PA): Ladies and gentlemen,

let's give a big Texas welcome

to Senator Julian Knox.

(cheering)

I don't have a choice now.

I have to stay. Let's get on with it.

Don't you think it'd be better if we went back to the ho...?

Great to see you.

Thank you.

Thank you. How are you? How are you doing?

TRIVETTE: Watch your step.

Thanks.

(phone rings)

Hello?

Laredo, this is Walker.

Hi, Walker. I was just gonna call you.

Yeah, I'm not gonna be there for the shoot,

but I wish you the best of luck.

There's still a Black Boy out there.

C.D. and I are on our way to the shootout.

That's all I need to know. I'll see you there.

( suspenseful theme playing)

Heh-huh.

Los Angeles police officer Miguel Rodriguez

completes his first run with a score of 88.

Whoa. (cheering)

Yeah. MAN: All right.

(inaudible whispering)

He could do worse.

(laughing)

Have you seen Burke, the Kansas City cop?

He's the guy we're after.

That's the guy?

Yeah. Have you seen him?

Yeah, he was just here.

Sergeant Ridley Burke,

please join the group to the right of the judges' stand.

All entrants who have completed the course...

Who's covering the hillside?

TRIVETTE: Treadway and Kelly.

When was the last time you talked to 'em?

Ten minutes ago. Treadway?

Kelly?

Cover the senator.

( action theme playing)

First up at the finals, Shirley Hobbs

of the Waxahachie Police Department.

Two, one, go.

(beep)

(gunshots)

(gunshots)

(gunshot)

That was Shirley Hobbs

of the Waxahachie Police Department

with a score of 91.

(cheering)

(screams)

(grunting)

What do you say, Walker?

Let's finish this competition

and find out who really is the best.

You sure that's the way you want to do it?

Oh, Ranger.

I couldn't think of a better way.

Whenever you're ready, make your move.

(gasping)

MAN: All right, don't move.

(yelling)

Have a nice day.

Who got hit?

I don't know who it was,

but they're workin' on him over at the review stand.

MAN (over PA): It'd be a good idea

if you folks just went to your cars...

Covered him like a blanket.

We're going to have to postpone the remainder...

Did you have to do this, Laredo?

Well, look at the bright side.

It's a cure... and it doesn't hurt as much.

( melancholy theme playing)

Did you get your man, Ranger?

Yeah, I got him.

The Denver cop's mother.

Where is she, Laredo?

Oh... I'd, uh...

(grunts)

Yeah, woman wouldn't have me.

But I loved 'em all the more...

for the good sense she showed.

Oh, she was a poet.

Oh, yeah.

I heard some pretty things come from her.

Yeah.

I didn't get a chance to say goodbye

to either one of them, but...

But I'll see 'em both...

out across the meadows...

where the bluebonnets bloom.

(panting)

We're gonna miss you, Laredo.

(sirens wailing)

( piano playing sentimental theme)

(Resync by Chuck)

( upbeat theme playing)