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Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

- Qué pasa? - Bueno...

Get that wildcat rig out of my way.

I can't. My wheel's gonna bust.

I can see that. Use your spare.

I ain't got no spare.

Well, then, you better drag that rig out of my way.

I got a schedule to meet and I'm gonna meet it.

Look, that wheel'll cool off in a minute.

But I ain't gonna bust my axle.

You move them jugheads or I'm gonna move 'em for ya.

Listen to me. Now, let me... Let me tell you something, mister.

I know the feel of a whip,

and no man and no animal ain't gonna feel a lash when I'm around.

You understand?

- Howdy. - Howdy.

Looks like you're having a little trouble.

No, no trouble. Box burned out.

I just gotta get this load into Virginia City. Much obliged, though.

My name's Joe Cartwright. This is Candy Canaday.

- Howdy. - Howdy. You can just call me Gunny.

This here's my woman, Serafina.

Con mucho gusto, señora.

Virginia City, you planning to stay long?

No reason to.

I'm headin' north to Canada soon as I deliver this load.

There's only one freighter in Virginia City. They sure could use another.

Well, thank you, but I'll be moving on.

Well, if you run into any trouble fixing that wagon,

we got a line shack a couple of miles from here.

You're welcome to use it.

I ain't lookin' for no charity, mister.

Well, I'm not offering you any.

Change your mind about hauling that freight, just let me know.

I'm obliged.

Let me stay here and give him a hand, huh?

Good enough.

You're ex-army.

What makes you say that?

The way this gear's stowed and lashed. That's army.

So are the knots.

Yeah. You sound like an authority.

Born and raised on an army post.

Well, anybody can learn how to tie a knot.

You wanna pull that log out of there, son?

Gunny. That's what gunnery sergeants are called.

Yeah, well, it could be for gunnysack,

what my pa stuffed me into to throw me to the sharks.

I'm a freighter, mister.

The best.

All right, so I guessed wrong. I'll help you with that.

We'll get you hitched up. I'll show you that line shack. All right?

All right.

- Muchas gracias por todo. - De nada, señora.

Gunny, I hope you'll think on that freighting job.

It'll be worth your while.

Well, I'll study on it, mister, but I think that's all I'll do, though.

Adiós.

All around, the land is good.

A man could taste it, know when to plow, what to plant.

Serafina.

Maybe this place.

Serafina.

There ain't no place in this country.

All these years, never one piece of land to call our own.

It catches up, hijita. It always catches up with ya.

But there is this pride that I have for you.

Well, one man's pride is another man's hate.

But I know you better than anyone else.

And I cannot forget that in my country you were a hero.

That's a long time ago,

and there ain't no place for me here or in your country, all right?

The past. Always the past.

Now, listen, the past is right here, hijita.

Right there where they branded my face like a pariah dog. That's the past.

Maybe it was you who branded them.

If you gave this place a chance...

No.

No, not this place. Canada.

Up there we'll have a chance.

But after all this time, people must forget.

No, there's always gonna be somebody who remembers,

always, as long as I'm in this country.

You are my country, mi mundo.

As long as I am with you, that is country enough.

Whoa!

You wanna sell your outfit, wildcatter?

No. You got a load of freight goin' north?

- Why? - I'll haul it for you.

Nothing moves in or out of Virginia City that's not on Cambeau wagons.

You'd make out better workin' for me.

I'm my own man, mister.

Give you 100 dollars for the wagon, 50 apiece for the horses.

That's 100% more than they're worth.

- I'm movin' on. - Steady job, top pay.

Bet he's been out to see Cartwright.

He offer you that timber job that can't be done?

Better get your foot off my wagon.

You can't pick up work here, gypsy.

I got every business under contract to Cambeau Freight.

Hey-up!

I like the way he handles his rig.

Handles it better than you handled him.

He'll come crawlin' back.

Him?

Yeah. Soon as his empty belly tells him to.

- 30-footers. - Hand hewn, Mr. Cambeau. Hand hewn.

There isn't a mill within a thousand miles of here can cut beams this size.

Well, I can haul 'em to Virginia City for ya.

All you have to do is cut 'em in half.

Mr. Cambeau, our contract with the opera house

calls for three 30-foot beams, not... not six 15-footers.

Well, do you think you can haul 'em as they are?

Well, it's an impossible job,

but... I think I can do it.

After you sign that contract.

You've doubled the price in this contract.

Well, the old contract's expired.

You've got a contract expirin' too, ain't you, Mr. Cambeau?

You mean the government mail and freight contract?

Well, I'll win that again. Never lost a contract race yet.

No competition this time. Nobody wants to race against me.

You may as well sign it. I'm the only freighter around.

I wouldn't say that.

You... You talkin' about that gypsy teamster?

- Mm-hm. - I offered him a job.

He's thinkin' about it right now.

Well, Mr. Cartwright, I can't waste any more time.

Sign now or we'll both forget it.

Mr. Cambeau, I don't like ultimatums.

Your choice, Mr. Cartwright. But you made a mistake.

You got more than beams to haul. You got logs and lumber.

You haven't got the rigs or the drivers to do it.

You're gonna have to sign this contract.

And when you do, the price may be higher still.

Hup!

You think this wildcatter you found is good, huh?

Yeah, I think so.

Let's find out.

Está bueno.

Hi, señora. I'd like you to meet my brother, Hoss, and my father.

Con mucho gusto, señora.

Is your husband around? We wanna talk some business with him.

- Ah, hey, Gunny. - Howdy.

I know the shack wasn't much. I hope you found everything you needed.

Oh, she's fine. Thank you.

Gunny, I'd like you to meet my father, Ben Cartwright.

This is the man I was telling you about.

Get off my land, Riley.

Pa.

I think we ought to talk.

I'm sure you had a nice long talk with Gunny.

That should be sufficient for you.

Yeah, we talked to Gunny.

But he didn't tell us anything. What's it all about, huh?

I have nothing to say.

I think you're gonna have to say something.

There has to be a good reason to kick a man and his wife off our land.

I'm sorry that I lost my temper. Let's just leave it at that.

That's not enough. What's it all about?

I'm sure you two have plenty to do without standing around here talking.

Why don't you go do it?

Come in!

Come in, come in. Door's open.

What do you want?

I'll haul for you.

No, thank you.

We's old vets from a war long forgot, Cartwright.

Not long enough for me to forget that you're a traitor.

You got the wrong word. That's a D tattooed on my cheek, not a T.

That's right. A D for deserter.

A deserter.

I spent 15 years in your army,

from milksop bugle boy to gunnery sergeant,

the best the army ever had.

And you used those guns leading the San Patricio Battalion

against the Americans at Churubusco.

Blizzards we give ya.

Blizzards of grapnel from the heights we give ya.

Yes, that's right.

And killed my men for Santa Anna.

For my brave St. Pat boys, that's what it was for.

Potato famine Irish.

They had reason enough to cross the river over to the Mexican side.

Fresh off the boats, they was, lookin' for freedom, and what did they get?

The army grabbed them.

The horses was treated better. You saw it.

The horses wasn't tied to stakes and whipped.

Yes, I saw it. I was there and I said it was wrong and you know that.

- You said it was wrong at the time. - I said it was wrong at the time.

But that's no excuse. You were not born Irish immigrant.

You were born under the stars and bars.

They was my men!

- What do you want? - I told you, I'll haul for you.

Well, you've got some long timbers up there that nobody can get down.

I'm the best freighter around, man. You need me.

- I don't need you. - I was just returnin' a favor.

What favor?

I been to town.

You didn't tell anybody about me. I owed you for that.

Now we're even.

Saw Gunny ridin' out.

We found some fences to fix. We worked on 'em.

Good.

You want some coffee or something?

Something on your mind?

Something you'd like to ask?

No.

No, I figure you got all the answers and all the questions, Pa.

Think I'll wash up for dinner.

Señora.

Is your husband around?

I am very, very grateful to you, Señor Cartwright.

For what?

In other towns, when a man finds out who my husband really is...

they make it a public spectacle, a ritual.

They tie him in the public square and shave off his beard,

so that all can see the D that your army branded on his cheek.

Yeah, I'm not surprised.

He was a hero in my country.

Not in mine, señora.

Let me tell you a thing about my husband.

He never deserted a friend.

He was loyal to his men to the end.

If you come by to find out if we're gettin' off your land, we are.

We'll be gone come mornin'.

Came to offer you a job.

What for? I was a traitor five hours ago.

I'm the same man now.

That's right.

- You said you'd haul for me. - You said no.

- Somethin' change your mind? - Nothing's changed, Riley.

Now, do you want a crack at bringing those beams down or don't you?

Why? 'Cause Cambeau Freight can't do it?

You're just too stiff-necked to admit you need me, Cartwright.

All right, if it'll make you feel any better...

we need each other.

Need each other.

You can't saw them beams. You can't put drill holes in 'em.

Can't put spikes in 'em. That'd weaken 'em.

You're not gonna balance a 30-foot beam on a wagon.

You ain't got the rig to do it if you knew how.

Cambeau knows he can't do it.

What makes you think I can do it?

'Cause I saw you do it.

You had cannon on the heights at Churusbusco.

I saw that road.

There was no way to get those long guns around those turns, but you did it.

Yeah, I did it.

In that war we were in.

I'll haul your beams for you and deliver 'em unscratched.

Startin' when?

Come mornin'.

If you ain't got no special fondness for that buckboard I saw at your place.

How are you gonna use that buckboard?

Not the whole buckboard, just the front wheels and the wagon tongue.

Well, I don't see how...

Yeah... Yeah, I think I do.

Why don't you come by in the mornin', see if you're right?

Yeah.

50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 dollars. There you go.

I think before you decide for sure, you ought to know what the rules say.

Now, the first wagon to cross the finish line

will be awarded a two-year contract.

No wagon crosses the line, no contract.

Gunny, Gunny'll finish.

- In that wagon, huh? - Mm-hm.

Now, each wagon will be loaded with one ton of mixed freight.

- Clem, we know the rules. - Hold on.

This is over 15 of the toughest, steepest miles we could find.

- It'll be an easy day for Gunny. - Here's the 100 dollars entrance fee.

Well, all right, you're the boss. Hang on. Don't you want a receipt?

You try and leave town with the money, I'll call the sheriff.

- Take care. - You take care.

Them boys just wastin' their money.

Gunny's rig won't last five miles, let alone 50.

Yeah, I got money here says you're wrong.

You're wrong.

Hey, Willard. How come you ain't home oilin' that whip?

Ain't no need for that.

You know, Joe and Candy just paid Gunny's entry fee.

Looks like you and your boss got some real competition now.

- I'm bettin' Gunny takes it. - Willard'll be drivin'.

Him and Cambeau's been rollin' freight all their lives.

I got 20 dollars here that says Gunny wins the race.

You got a bet.

You mean you two put up 100 dollars entry fee for me?

That's right. You're gonna race Cambeau tomorrow.

No, I'm not. You just wasted yourself 100 dollars.

Well, what's the matter, man? You afraid you can't beat him?

I'm the best, and so's my team, but I ain't racin'.

If this has got something to do with the problem

between you and my pa, forget it.

The answer's no. Now, you just get away from here and leave me be.

All right, I did a job that nobody else could do. I got paid for it.

I don't owe nobody nothin'.

Up till now, querido.

- But you could win from Cambeau. - Why? What for?

Perhaps for Ben Cartwright.

Ben Cartwright?

You think he's changed? No more than me, he hasn't.

But that did not stop him from giving you work.

As much as he hated the thing you did.

And he did not tell the others about you.

Well, another man will, won't he? They always do.

But not Ben Cartwright.

I don't owe him nothin'!

I have a feeling in my heart that you do.

Hijo de perro. Váyanse!

Easy, señora.

Now, you only have one shot left in that scattergun.

- And there's four of us. - Eso primero.

That's far enough.

Now, come on, move out. Move out before somebody gets hurt.

You're gonna pay for this, Cartwright.

Cambeau's gonna squeeze you dry.

- The gunny isn't gonna run that race. - I've changed my mind.

- You can't run that race! - I said I changed my mind.

I'm better than you are. I am better than he is.

You're gonna eat my dust tomorrow, so now you get!

- Now, Gunny... - You save your breath.

I'm runnin' that race tomorrow.

Why? You wanna show me how good you are?

I'm my own man, Ben Cartwright. I got my own reasons for what I do.

Well, you may win, but you'll never get that contract.

- Why? You gonna stop me? - No. The government will.

Before they give you a contract, they'll investigate you.

They'll find out you fought with the Mexicans, killed American soldiers.

You'll never get the contract. Then the newspapers'll find out

and everybody around town will know who you are and what you did.

I don't want the contract,

but I'm not gonna let Cambeau get it without a fight.

Well... you can't run that race alone.

I'll help you, swamper, brakeman, anything you need.

Cartwright, I plan to run my team down that mountain flat out tomorrow

from giddy-up to whoa.

You got the belly for that?

We better fix that wheel and get the wagon ready.

All right, gentlemen, you've got four minutes till starting time!

I'm gonna run 'em right in the ground, Mr. Cambeau.

Way I figure, I ought to finish at least a mile ahead.

- I'm gonna tell you... - Why don't you...

Now, listen to me!

You try usin' that whip on me today like you did last night

and I'm gonna do two things.

First of all, I'm gonna wreck that wagon.

And second of all, I'm gonna shove that whip down your throat.

Do you understand me?

That's mighty big talk, mister.

I'm through.

Now, wait a minute. What's this about last night?

He's your man. I figure you knew.

Well, if I knew, I wouldn't be asking. What happened?

He come visitin' me and my woman, with that whip and some of his friends.

- Is that true? - I was just talkin', Mr. Cambeau.

He was just tryin' to run me out of town so he could win the race.

That's what he was doin'.

That's the truth, Cambeau. I was there.

- Ed? - Yes, sir?

- You're drivin' for me. You're fired. - Wait a minute.

Get out of here!

Well, Willard's idea, not mine.

I don't have to do things like that to win. And I'm gonna win.

Ed's just as good a driver as Willard, maybe better.

Ten seconds, gentlemen.

- Go! - Hah!

Yah!

Whoa!

Whoa!

Whoa!

Yah! Yah!

Whoa!

Yah!

- Hey, brother, you wanna take a ride? - Come on.

Where you two goin'? Ain't you gonna wait for the finish of the race?

I can't wait to find out who's in the lead. We're gonna ride out and meet 'em.

They ought to be halfway down that mountain by now.

I think I'll hang around here and have me a beer and see it on the finish line.

- I'll see you later. - See you later.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

Whoa!

Come on! Ha!

Give Pa a hand. I'll get him.

- Are you all right? - Blast. Yes, I'm all right.

I'm gonna need something to lift this up, Gunny.

All right. I got a spare wagon spindle.

Get that.

All right, you can let it down now.

Yah! Yah!

Well, here he comes.

- All right, all right. - Clear the street!

They're coming out of the mountains! Get out of their way!

- Get that rig out of here. - Get that buggy out!

They're coming, Clem. Clear the street.

- Clear it! - They're coming out of the hills.

Clear the street! Get that buggy out of there! They're gonna run right over you!

Yah! Yah!

Yay-up, dammit! Yay-up, dammit!

They're gaining! Faster!

Yah! Yah!

- Come on, we're gaining! We got 'em! - Yay-up!

- Come on! - Come on, dammit!

That's it!

That's it!

Hey! Come on, boys!

- Your lead line's gone, Gunny! - I know it.

- You got 'em? - Got 'em!

Hold 'em steady.

- Right. - Got it?

Come on, baby!

Yah!

Come on, dammit!

Yah! Yah!

Yah!

Come on, dammit! Let's go!

Ride, dammit!

Hang on, Gunny!

Hang on! We got this!

Yah!

Wha-ha! We're gonna do it! We're gonna do it!

Come on, dammit!

Congratulations, buddy.

What are you doing setting down here?

You're supposed to be up there on the rocks.

Well, here's the contract.

It just has to be filled out with the names signed and witnessed.

But it's yours. You won.

That's a lot of work for a little bitty piece of paper.

Come on, boys. The beer's on me!

It was a fine piece of drivin'.

Gunny, you're the first man to ever beat me in a contract race.

I guess this kind of puts you out of business, huh?

Probably.

I'll try, but you can't show a profit without that contract.

Well, I... I might talk a trade.

What, partnership?

What? You name it.

New wagon, new harness, and a load of freight to haul up north.

- Is that all? - No. No, that ain't all.

I didn't beat you by myself.

Ben Cartwright and me, we's old vets.

I guess he had a stake in this race too.

I tell you what, you write a contract

to haul freight for the Ponderosa for a fair price,

you guarantee the same for all comers, and she's yours.

You got a deal. I'll have it in writing in 20 minutes.

You can pick out your wagon and harness whenever you like.

All right.

In case you're wonderin', Willard's the one that dropped the tree in the road.

- You sure? - I'm sure. We got two witnesses.

You could have wrecked both wagons and killed us all!

I'll sign a complaint.

Get down off of there.

Sheriff, hold up.

You ain't by any chance the same fella who cut my lead line, are you?

Well, Willard, looks like your rent's paid for a long while.

Well...

Guess you'll be moving along now.

Givin' me a hand the way you did, that...

that was a decent thing.

It was a good ride.

I'm obliged.

Good luck.

Well, pick up my woman, I'll be on my way.

Yah!