Original subtitles

Howdy, boys!

This'll learn you, Riley Gratton!

This tar ain't split-pea soup!

You won't be cheatin' honest folks no more

when we get through with you!

You won't think it's funny

when we ride you out of town!

MAJOR: Any time you'd like to know about Nebraska,

you just get in touch with me...

Seth Adams... Major, U.S. Army, retired,

and wagon master.

I guess I've swallowed enough Nebraska mud and dust

to remember the bitter taste of it

for the rest of my life.

Yes, sir, it takes quite a spell

for a big wagon train like mine

to get across this piece of real estate.

And for every mile the wagons made,

I rode at least ten.

I can tell you right now that there's more saddle sores

than there are dollars in a job like mine.

You smell a polecat, Major?

Or you figure we're gonna have more rain?

Rain. Heh. If I see any more rain,

I'm gonna turn this whole shebang back to Noah.

Don't you mention rain to me.

Yes, sir.

How do you figure we're gonna cross that creek up ahead?

How do I know till I get a look at it?

Probably have to swim across it,

if we cross it at all.

Yes, sir. Anything you say, sir.

You sure got your troubles, ain't you, Major?

With a chuckle-head like you

and that lazy dreamy-eyed McCullough

off roamin' about someplace,

I got my share.

You're a good man, though.

There's no question about that.

Oh, shut up.

I don't know why I ever picked a job like this anyhow.

Wanderin' all over creation.

Got the home life of a coyote.

Gotta be judge and jury

at every family squabble,

and midwife to their cattle.

I'm supposed to cure homesickness

and prescribe for old ladies' bunions.

There's some people on this train from Pennsylvania

that actually asked me

what hills the gold is tucked away in

out in California.

If I knew that, I'd have never left California, would I?

I thought you was a dedicated man, Major.

It's always been my opinion you didn't care about gold.

Who asked your opinion?!

Yeah.

Chuckle-head.

What's the matter, Sam?

Biggest crook I ever seen,

and you have to ask me what's the matter.

Why'd you have to try to sell honest folks

a gold mine that never existed?

Well, I...

I don't know.

I guess that's kind of the way I am.

A crook, you mean?

A common kind, stink-up-the prairie crook,

like my pa said yesterday?

Well, let's not say the common kind, Sam.

Hey, what are you doin' that for?

I'm givin' them back to you.

Well, does that, uh...

That mean we're no longer friends?

I didn't say we wasn't friends anymore.

It's only that...

This land deed I got here.

Pa says I should give it back to you.

Pa said he'd bet his whole track of land

that it ain't worth the sweat off a lazy mule.

He says he knows it's the only thing

you didn't steal.

'Cause he seen you win it in a card game.

I can't see what good that's gonna do me now, Sam.

Sam...

did you ever see a man

ridden out of town on a rail?

A human being all tied up

and fixed like a pig for a barbeque?

Most folks got the decency

to kill that pig first.

I'm not gonna ask you to help me, Sammy.

I know that'd be cheating on your responsibilities.

You're cheatin' now.

You're tryin' to work me into opening the door.

If that's how you feel, all right.

You just listen to your conscience tonight

when you go to sleep.

It may not make a big speech to you,

see if it doesn't mention my name.

Why don't you keep these for me, Sammy?

I don't want nothin' from you.

I had your horse all ready an hour ago.

MAJOR: You know, I was right about that creek.

It's not that it was just runnin' fast...

It was more like the Lord had decided

on a second flood,

but somehow mistook me for Noah.

Frankly, I ain't a seagoing man.

Well, looks to me

like this dag-blasted stream

might gallop on like this for a week or so.

I just ain't gonna be responsible

for these people and their wagons and their stock

if it keeps up like this.

Where's that McCullough anyhow?

I don't know.

Why don't you know?

You might as well ask me where's Daniel Boone.

Major, you figure we can throw a rough bridge

over a creek like this?

That's just what I'm tryin' to figure out,

if you'll keep your mouth shut for a minute.

There's plenty of timber around here.

We've got plenty of manpower, too.

I think it's two or three days, I guess.

Them Dawson boys there look like they're big enough

to go bear-huntin' with a switch.

Seems like they ought to be able to swing a tree around

like a broomstick.

Seems to me, with all these delays,

we won't be doin' no plowin' this year.

We might've been better off

just stayin' in Connecticut.

Major Adams.

That's me. What can I do for you?

My name's Gratton... Riley J. Gratton.

I was just ridin' through to Dorbitville

when I saw these wagons,

and I just had a hunch it might be your train.

Of course, there's no reason

why you should really remember me.

Well, you sure look familiar to me.

I've seen you someplace before, I know that.

That's the feeling I had, sir.

You think it could've been Antietam or Vicksburg?

No, I don't think so.

Cold Harbor?

No.

Say, you wasn't at Shiloh, was you?

That's it, Major! That's it. I was with Wallace.

You was with Wallace?!

Well, by golly, it's good to see you.

Good to see you, Major.

You know, one thing I remember about that battle

was the day afterwards.

That wasn't much of a military success,

as you probably remember,

even though we did recapture our camp from those Rebs.

But the thing I'd really like to know

is the name of the dirty, sticky-fingered son of a snake

that robbed my tent!

A man can't be too careful about those things.

Take it from me, Major...

From my experience in the cattle trade. Have a cigar?

Thank you very much. You a cattle man?

Oh, just in a modest way.

You might say I'm a few cuts of steak ahead of the game.

You know how it is with old soldiers. Sure do.

We just do the best we can.

Well, it's a pleasure to see you again.

Why don't you unsaddle your horse and sit a spell?

It's a long, hard ride over to Dorbitville from here.

You might even spend the night, if you're of mind.

We'd be proud to have you.

Thank you, Major. I'm much obliged.

I got a little work to do down at the creek.

I'll be back in a minute, though.

Make yourself at home.

Thank you, sir.

Paul?

Paul?

WOMAN: Paul?

Anything I can do, ma'am?

No, I was just calling my brother.

I don't recollect seeing you around here before.

My name is Gratton. Riley J. Gratton.

I was just passin' by to say hello

to an old friend of mine... Major Adams.

Let me take that.

That's very kind, but my brother's here to help me.

You call me, sis?

Well, I wasn't tryin' to scare the crows.

This is Mr. Gratton, Paul.

He's a friend of Major Adams.

Oh? Glad to know you.

Pleasure's mine.

What's going on down there?

Huh? Oh. John's trying to tell the Major

how we build bridges in Connecticut.

I'm afraid we're gonna be here for quite a while.

Oh, do you think we'll ever get to California?

I don't know, sis. But I hope we get someplace

so I can start plowing.

California's not the only place

that has good farming land.

Oh? What do you mean?

Well, I don't like to influence people

on such a serious subject,

but there's mighty fine farmland right here.

What'd you say your name was?

Uh, Dawson.

Paul Dawson. Paul...

you probably surmised I'm not much of a farmer myself.

But I do happen to have

some choice Nebraska chokecherry acreage

right here in my pocket.

Oh?

This is the deed, see?

Yes, I've seen the wagons rollin',

Like pale ships in the sand,

Followin' the rainbow

To some destined Promised Land.

But there ain't no flesh on a rainbow,

No matter how bright they seem;

And you can't hitch a horse to a promise,

And you can put a plow to a dream.

As a fellow pilgrim...

But speaking strictly for myself...

I'd say I had an easier time

than you folks got ahead of you.

Yes, sir! When I reached this land...

The very land I'm standing on...

It suddenly occurred to me... Why hunt for rainbows

when the real thing is right here?

Makes sense, doesn't it?

I don't want you folks

to think I'm blaming the Major

for trying to take you to California.

After all, he's entitled to make a living, too.

And if folks want to travel two or three times farther

than they have to,

then that's their fault, not the Major's.

I know... because I speak as a man

who has more Nebraska acreage

than he knows what to do with.

Why don't you have a cup of coffee?

It seems to me you about talked yourself dry.

Oh, thank you, ma'am.

Much obliged.

Gentlemen...

to the land your hearts are set on!

Mr. Gratton? Oh, Mr. Gratton?

Can I speak to you for a moment?

I've got about $400, Mr. Gratton.

I'd like to put in with John and Paul

to buy that deed to your extra land.

Well, that's possible.

I've got nothing against you personally, Mr. Bixby.

$850 in all, that'd be.

We pooled the money, and I got it here.

Well, there's no use flashin' money around, Mr. Bixby.

I know how you feel.

Step over here a minute.

Don't bust your buttons, Major!

Well, Mr. McCullough.

Nice of you to come by.

I'm back, Major, reporting for duty.

Just wanted you to know that, uh,

you're not as young as you used to be.

Listen, you little... Take it easy.

Don't get excited just because I play a joke.

You know, you may have a point there.

You're young enough. Here, you take this thing!

Paul.

Where'd your brothers go?

Down by the river.

John says even if we are pulling out,

he figures we ought to help.

Good, sober men, your brothers.

How far is it to Dorbitville, Mr. Gratton?

Don't call me Mr. Gratton, ma'am.

How far is it to Dorbitville?

About a day's ride.

Do Mr. Bixby and my brothers know

that you're leaving for there tonight?

Why not? I told them, didn't I?

Yes, I guess you did.

I was just wondering how they're going to locate that land

they bought from you.

It's marked plain on the deed. They travel due north,

and it's staked out plain as the horns on a cow.

What are you gaping at, anyway?

You.

Why did you ask them not to tell Major Adams

that they bought your land and they're leaving the train?

Well, mostly because the Major's a friend of mine.

He might feel a little hurt

if he thought I was taking customers away from him.

I see.

There's just one thing I want to ask you, Riley Gratton.

Yes, ma'am?

Do you know if that tract of land you sold us

is any good?

Ma'am!

Now, why'd you have to ask me a question like that?

Because John would break your back like a matchstick,

and Paul would kill you with his bare hands.

And I wouldn't want that to happen.

I suppose not.

Ma'am, I'm sorry.

Well, if you're sorry, why did you do it?

I kind of wanted to find out what it'd be like.

You're an odd one.

I guess... I guess we just never had your kind

back in Connecticut.

That's the way things go.

I guess your luck ran out.

I don't know what you mean by that, but...

Look, I'm willing to forget what happened.

I mean, I won't tell John or Paul.

You know, you and I might even get to be friends...

if that land you sold my brothers

is half as good as you say it is.

Yes, ma'am.

Good night, Riley.

Good night, Sarah.

MAJOR: When I got up the next morning,

I felt it in my bones... Something was amiss.

I guess it's a kind of instinct you develop

in my kind of a job.

And when I saw the gaping hole

where the Bixby and the Dawson wagons

had been the night before,

I knew I was right.

Hey, Hawks. You didn't happen to see

the Bixby and Dawson wagons pull out, did you?

Yeah, I seen 'em leave about sunup, Major.

I was talkin' to 'em... Bixby and Paul Dawson.

Seems like they bought a great big chunk of Nebraska.

They did? Who'd they buy it from?

From that fella you were takin' around,

that friend of yours from the war.

His name's Ratton, ain't it?

Yeah, that's his name.

Where is he, do you know?

I ain't got the least bit of an idea,

but he sure seems like a nice fella.

Yeah. Real nice.

Pretty good. Mm-hmm.

Either one of you two birds

happen to see that fella Riley Gratton?

Did you say Gratton, Major?

That's what I said. You ain't deaf.

I remember that name from someplace.

Just tryin' to think of the skunk to go with it.

And I do mean skunk, if it's the fella I'm thinkin' of.

Was he a big, tall, good-lookin', fast-talkin' fella?

That's right.

Charm the skin off a crocodile?

That's him.

Impossible, Major. It just couldn't be.

A thing like that couldn't happen twice to a man like you.

Listen, you little runt...

if you got somethin' to say,

you'd better tell me and tell me now.

Who is he? Tell me!

This fella... did he mention Shiloh?

I mentioned Shiloh! What's that got to do with it?

He was there. He was there.

I hate to tell you this, Major, but this Riley Gratton,

if I ain't mistaken... And I ain't...

Is the fella that robbed your tent

and took them golden spurs.

No.

Are you sure? Dead sure.

I can't believe that anyone as smart as the Major

could let the same thing happen to him twice.

Why don't you just shut up?

Yes, sir.

Came into my camp here,

cheated all these people.

Why, he took their money right out from under my nose.

McCullough! Yeah?

You take charge here till I get back.

Don't bother building that bridge.

A little work would probably kill you.

Come on, Charlie. Where to?

The Second Battle of Shiloh!

Here's mud in your eye.

Otto.

Look over there.

Who's that talkin' to Annie?

I don't know. Friend of hers, I heard.

From Independence or Saint Joe...

One of the places she worked.

How good a friend?

Good enough to help him spend his money, I guess.

Why, Joe?

Mind your own business.

I'll tell you something, Riley...

You give me a pain in the ruffles.

You're like a big, sick cat. You've changed.

Who could complain about me changing?

I can.

I'm complainin' now.

You're counting memories, Annie.

And I can't say as I blame you.

Get your hands off me. Who's the girl?

You got that stupid look on your face.

I know the signs.

Hmm. That's possible. The same kind of signs,

but a different kind of girl.

Then there is one, huh?

How different is she, Riley?

Has she got three legs?

No.

Not much like me, though, huh?

Let's just say she's, uh...

beautiful and innocent... Like you, Annie.

But she, um...

She has different colored eyes.

That fella right over there, talkin' to Annie.

I don't like the romantic type,

especially his kind.

You're a cheat and a thief,

and I'd cut your heart out with a wooden spoon.

Yes, honey.

Are you in love with her?

She wasn't my kind.

I keep wondering what might've happened to her

the last couple of days.

You'd better start wondering about what's gonna happen to you.

Finish your drink and get out.

McSorley wants you.

I said get out.

You know why we're here, Harry.

Throw him out.

Any time, mister.

Any time at all.

Not if you're smart, Duke!

I've seen this fella before!

I'd like you people to know my name is Gratton,

Riley J. Gratton, from here and there.

I mostly like to go around establishing new friends.

You know, Duke, people get excited and do the wrong thing.

But you take me... I don't have that excuse.

I do the wrong things without getting excited.

You talk too much.

I know. That's another one of my faults.

I wish I was helpful to people like Mr. McSorley.

He's never mean or selfish,

and gives us whiskey and music

at a reasonable price.

And a chance to win money at his tables.

We're open for business,

if that's what you mean, Mr. Gratton.

But we just don't have time for your jokes.

You call this a joke?

Bartender, drinks for the house.

That, uh... That money's good?

I'd say so, yes. It belonged to some very nice people...

who used to be friends of mine.

There must be some kind of mistake.

He couldn't have been that much of a crook.

No. This is the spot.

I guess he owned this rock pile, anyhow.

The land's staked out and it matches the deed.

No sense wasting good tears here, Mr. Bixby.

All the angels crying together

couldn't even make a daisy grow.

I'll kill him when I find him, Paul.

Well, looks like you bought yourself

a right nice weed patch.

Might be all right...

for growin' scorpions or rattlesnakes.

We've already seen it, Major.

We don't have to be reminded.

And it's no secret... He's a friend of yours.

I didn't say he was a friend of mine.

You invited him to camp, didn't you?

Mr. Dawson...

I ain't spent the whole day lookin' for you

because I was happy with what happened.

Let's not waste our time deciding which of us

is the bigger fool.

I left Flint McCullough in charge back at the camp

so I could go get Gratton and bring him back.

All right, if that's your play.

But we're gonna go with you.

You'll do nothin' of the kind.

Your place is here with your sister...

who's probably got more brains

than the both of you put together.

But you can't get across that river now anyhow,

so you might as well go on back to the train.

I'll meet you there.

How long will you be gone?

Just as long as it takes me

to bring your money back...

or Riley Gratton's hide. Come on, Charlie!

You take a look around town in the other saloons,

then meet me back here.

If I'm not here, you wait for me.

I'll do that. One thing I want to tell you...

This Gratton's the kind of guy you don't meet every day.

He'll steal your mustache off you while you're blowin' your nose.

I just don't want you to get hurt, that's all.

You what?! I don't want you to get hurt.

Get out of here!

I'm lookin' for a fella named Riley Gratton.

This is a saloon.

We don't serve information.

Bartender...

how would you like me to beat some manners

into that impudent skull of yours?

I said I was lookin' for a fella.

Is McSorley out of bed yet?

Why?

Well, the guest in room 6

would like one small breakfast

and one big drink.

So?

He wants to know how much credit

he can get on these spurs. They're solid silver...

and gold inlay.

Send the guest in room 6 his breakfast...

in about ten minutes.

I'll be glad to pay for anything he can eat or drink.

Hello, Major.

Hello.

So, we met at Shiloh, did we?

You know how it is, Major.

Old soldiers?

Get up!

The land I sold 'em...

It wasn't any good, huh?

Get up, you cheap, thieving excuse for a man!

Now, wait a minute, Major. I never even saw that land.

I mean, I know I'm a crook,

but that land might've been good, mightn't it?

Good? That land?

Why, a skunk wouldn't walk his bride

across the sunny side of it.

You get up. I'm gonna wail the tar out of you.

Give me some room, Major. Give me a little room.

I'll give you room. Get up.

All right, go ahead and hit me, Major.

I deserve it. But don't forget...

Old soldiers.

Where's that money?

I can explain about that, Major...

Where is that money?!

Look at me, Riley Gratton!

Gone?

Mm-hmm.

$850... all gone?

Mm-hmm.

You gonna tell me that some thief robbed you?

There was a little cards and roulette last night.

I didn't do so good.

I suppose it was a crooked game.

Well, sure, but I knew that.

I usually do better that way, Major.

But McSorley...

Well, you've gotta give credit to McSorley.

I just couldn't figure out

what he was doin' to that wheel.

Well, you just gotta get the money back, that's all.

Huh?

I said, you gotta get the money back.

The man's a thief, ain't he?

Well, sure he is, but so am I, Major.

Who's got a right to complain?

Well, the Dawsons and the Bixbys... they've got that right.

And I promised them that I'd either bring that money back

or your hide.

Oh, I see.

Well, the money would be better.

I mean, I'd live longer that way.

You know, Major, lying here this morning,

just before you broke into my privacy,

I was thinking of turning honest.

That'll be the day.

I know what you're thinking.

I never had such a wild idea like that in my life.

But it's kind of catchin' hold of me.

Now... you want me to rob McSorley.

I don't give a hang if you rob him

or talk the man to death.

All I want to do is get that money back,

and I want it back right now!

And you're gonna get it!

All right, Major, all right.

Will you give me one hour?

Just one hour.

I may not even need that much time, Major,

but I got an idea how we can get that money back.

We? Yes, we.

Look, here's what I want you to do.

Walk out of here like a four-star general,

just the way you look, Major.

I mean, that'd be easy for you, wouldn't it, Major?

Will you do that for me?

Oh, I must be out of my mind.

But I'm gonna do it.

I'll give you just one hour, Riley Gratton.

And the Lord have mercy on you

if you try to pull anything on me again.

Major?

You find him?

I found him.

Fixed him up good, huh? Beat his brains out?

Charlie, speak softly.

Don't be so bloodthirsty.

But you did clobber him out a bit, though?

A little. Enough, I'd say.

Did you get the money?

I mean, you wouldn't be standing there

like General Grant's statue if you didn't get the money, would you?

Well, would you?

Charlie, when you're dealing with a crook

as clever as Riley Gratton,

you let him worry about a little thing like money.

Now, just take it easy and shut up, will you?

Troubles, Riley?

Maybe.

Who is he?

Why?

Is he a lawman, Riley?

What'd you steal this time?

Me? Last good bit of larceny I saw

was at the wheel last night.

Though I still can't figure out

how McSorley can stop it where he wants to.

Gratton, come in here.

Don't fool with him, Riley.

I shouldn't bother worrying you,

but he's not in the mood for any nonsense today.

Oh, this is Willy Gentry.

He shoots fleas off of runnin' dogs.

I'd advise you not to try any jokes today.

Hi, Willy.

They tell me that a government man

came to see you, Riley.

That's possible.

What do you suppose he's after?

Why don't you ask him?

Standin' out there,

sniffin' everything in sight.

What does he want?

I have no idea.

Except he seemed rather disappointed

that I didn't have any money on me.

Of course, I didn't tell him how much I owed that to you.

Money? What money?

Well, uh...

All right, I'll tell you, Joe.

He's a government man.

Seems there was a mail holdup about a week ago,

and the money that was taken was marked...

You know, like the Lord counts sheep.

Well, he told me that whoever took the money

was the blackest sheep of all.

I'm glad that's not gonna be me.

You're lyin'.

That's what everybody says about me.

But you can't tell every time.

You watch him, Willy.

You're holdin' that gun butt like a chicken neck.

Your grip's too tight.

Of course, I'm telling you in a friendly way.

Guess some chickens are faster than others.

Hey, Joe, did you see that?

Shut up. I'm lookin' to see if any of these bills

looks different than others.

Don't try it, Duke. You're smarter than that.

All right, throw it over there.

Count out $850, and don't bother lookin' for marks.

I haven't got time to be particular.

I'll kill you for this, Riley Gratton.

You drop that gun. I'm warning you...

You couldn't get out of this town with a regiment.

You hear?!

Move back.

I said move back.

800...

and 50 dollars.

Well, I never thought I'd see the day.

All right, give me the key.

So long, boys.

Hey, Marshal!

That fella stole $850 off of me!

How much? $850!

Well, go get him!

We might just do that, mister.

Come on, Charlie.

You know, Riley...

I wish you'd tell me something. Mm-hmm?

How the devil did you know about this little schoolhouse

if you'd never been through Omaha?

Well, I never thought we'd be sharin' it, Major,

but, you see, I always pick a place to hole up

when I come into a new town...

Sort of a habit of a sinful man.

There's your money.

You'd better count it.

Oh, Riley, I don't need to count it.

You know... old soldiers.

Well, I'd better be movin' along.

Been nice seeing you again, Major.

You just stay right where you are

till I get through countin' this money.

I want to take a look at that shoulder.

You'd better keep out of McSorley's way, too.

I doubt if he still thinks you're a government man.

Is that what you told him?

Another thing, Major...

Tell Sarah I never knew for sure

that land was no good.

I'll tell her.

I reckon you'll live.

Just keep it clean. You'll be all right.

Mm-hmm.

Never got shot in my whole life

until I decided to become an honest man.

A what?

Here.

Come on, boy.

Sarah.

Riley.

Why did you have to come back?

Because I wanted to see you again.

You're the prettiest little thing I've ever...

You're a liar!

I always was a liar, ma'am.

PAUL: Gratton!

Hello, Paul.

I promised I'd kill you, and I meant it!

Do you hear me?!

Paul, don't! Can't you see he's been shot?

You're such a low-down rotten critter, Riley Gratton...

You wouldn't even come back here whole.

If you were half a man, you'd roll over

and let me kick you in the healthy side.

I know, Paul, I know.

I'm not the kind you can depend on.

What'd you do with the money you took from us?

You'll get the money when the Major rejoins the train.

Oh, no.

You're fooling nobody, Mr. Gratton.

I've got an idea the Major shot you.

That's where you're wrong.

The Major and I are the best of friends again.

You're lyin'.

Hey, John! Mr. Bixby! Come here!

I'm not lyin', Sarah.

I wouldn't fight the Major,

not for all of Nebraska with the moon thrown in.

Then who did shoot you?

As far as I know, a fella by the name of Willy Gentry.

He's the only one in that town

that could hit a bull with a broom.

You're not lyin' again, are you?

I know it sounds like a big lie

when I tell you I gave the Major the money.

Sounds like the biggest, fattest lie I ever heard.

That crook!

Now, now, Mr. Bixby.

You'll get your money back, every last penny.

SARAH: Leave him alone, Mr. Bixby!

I ought to kill that...

I said leave him alone!

I'll use this thing if I have to.

She'll do it, too.

All I can say is...

Major Adams better have that money

when we get back to the train.

If he doesn't, or if he isn't there,

I'll see you hang for sure!

That's the man, all right...

The big fella ridin' forward.

I wasn't sure of it till now.

Well, now, what if he ain't a lawman?

I thought about that, too.

Just mind your manners, Willy.

Don't get itchy with that gun.

Hey, Major, when's that Second Battle of Shiloh gonna start?

You hear me, Major?

Why don't you just mind your own dag-blasted business

for a change?

Me? Why, Major...

you know I always mind my own business.

That'll be the day.

Looks like they're ridin' straight at us.

Know who they are?

I reckon so.

Looks like some of Riley Gratton's friends.

Something tells me we'd better split up, just in case.

You ride on ahead...

Easy, the way you are.

Then hit it straight for the wagon train.

I'll find out what they want.

Sure you don't want me to stick around?

You just do as you're told.

Ride like a scared jackrabbit once you're out of sight.

Good to see you, Marshal.

Howdy.

What can I do for you?

You are a lawman, ain't you?

I didn't say I was, I didn't say I wasn't.

That happens to be my own business.

It'd be easy enough for you to show us your badge...

That is, if you got one.

I like to be a law-abiding man,

and, well, I figure that hangin' Riley Gratton

is about as legal a thing

as a plain honest man can do to help his neighbors.

Now, if you are a Marshal,

why, you could sort of come along with us

and help us officiate.

I'd like to see that badge, if you don't mind.

This is the second time I've seen you flyin' through the air!

Paul said you could sit up here

if you minded your manners.

He said the fresh air is much better for a wounded man.

Mm-hmm, and who suggested that to him?

I did.

Where'd you get the shirt?

It's Paul's.

He didn't mind?

He minded some, but I said,

"Listen, you'd put a blanket on a horse, wouldn't you?"

Mm-hmm. What'd he say?

He said he never knew a horse to steal $850.

I like Paul. I guess I like John, too.

You know, Sarah, I, uh...

I've never been around people like you before.

I mean, a tramp like me,

kickin' around the country, you...

What I mean is, I just never got to thinkin'

the way right-livin' people think.

Yes, Riley? I'm listening to you.

Why?

I don't know. I guess most girls with any sense

just wouldn't even bother.

You know, the saddest thing about you

is that people like you.

And it's such a terrible waste.

Like you read in the Gospel about...

a bad tree can't bear good fruit.

You make everything a shame and a lie.

I guess you still think I'm the biggest crook you ever met.

I kind of do, but...

But what?

Well, I'm just not sure.

It wouldn't be fair to say that a person

couldn't ever possibly get better.

That's very kind of you.

I guess that kind of explains why I came back.

I mean...

there I was, riding away again...

No place in particular...

As useless as a hound dog up a tree.

Then I got to thinkin'.

Yes, Riley? You were thinking what?

Well, I...

RILEY: That may be the Major.

Nope. Not as big a man as the Major.

How many guns? How many guns you got?

Don't count him.

You're Gratton, ain't you?

That's right.

I never met you at the wagon camp,

but considering the kind of people that captured the Major,

I think we ought to count you twice.

I'll get my horse.

Sarah?

Mr. Bixby, you stay with the womenfolk.

820, 830, 35, 40.

It's all here, Willy.

The lawman had it all.

Throw the rope over the limb.

Where's Riley Gratton?

I don't know. You're a liar.

No pot-bellied cow of a man

can call me that and get away with it.

With a rope around your neck,

I think I can.

You and Gratton was partners, wasn't you?

I told you before... I'm a wagon master.

I'd as soon be partners with the devil himself!

But you admit knowin' him.

Of course I know him!

I wish I had my hands on him now.

Well, I don't care which one of you I hang.

One thief on the end of a rope is as good as another.

Come on, let's go on with it, boys.

Good to see you again, Major.

If it's a calf you're tryin' to tie up, Major,

the critter got away.

Maybe I didn't rope one, Charlie.

But I sure branded on with my boot.

The fattest calf in all the prairie, gentlemen!

Worth $850 on the hoof...

or sittin' down.

Why do you say you can't keep them, Riley?

The Major insists on you having them.

Why do you have to send them to some boy?

Well, you might say it's one of the problems

of being an honest man.

I might even tell you about it someday.

You'd look awful handsome

in them spurs, Riley.

You think Riley's gonna stay with us, John?

Heh! We won't be able to pry him loose,

if that's what he's got in mind.

Chances are you'll end up owning half of California

if you keep that fella with you.