Original subtitles

IF IT WAS UP TO ME,

THIS SCATTER GUN WOULD BE THE LAST THING YOU EVER SEE.

Bonney: I'VE BEEN CALLED A LOT OF NAMES.

BUT THE ONE THAT STUCK IS BILLY THE KID.

AND THIS IS MY TRUE STORY AS IT'S NEVER BEEN TOLD.

[ SIGHS ] DAMN IT.

"HELLO, BOB."

HELLO, BOB.

Bell: HE'S THE FIRST GOOD BAD BOY.

I THINK YOU CAN DRAW A DIRECT LINE FROM BILLY THE KID

TO JAMES DEAN TO ELVIS PRESLEY TO KURT COBAIN.

[ GUNSHOT ] DAMN, BILLY.

YOU'VE HEARD THE LEGENDS...

Hutton: WELL, THE STORY GOES

THAT BILLY THE KID KILLED 21 MEN --

ONE FOR EACH YEAR OF HIS LIFE.

...BUT THE TRUTH IS AN EVEN BETTER TALE.

Boggs: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE LAW IS AS CORRUPT AS THE OUTLAWS?

YOU TAKE THE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS.

I WAGED WAR ON A BAND OF MURDEROUS LAWMEN,

CHEATED DEATH REPEATEDLY...

JOKE'S ON ME. [ LAUGHTER ]

...AND BECAME THE FACE OF THE WILD WEST.

HE REALLY WAS A KID,

AND WHEN YOU'RE A KID, YOU'RE INVINCIBLE.

BUT THERE WAS ONE SHERIFF I COULDN'T SHAKE FROM MY TAIL.

Hutton: THE WARRANTS HE CARRIED WEREN'T ARREST WARRANTS.

THEY WERE DEATH WARRANTS.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

EVERYONE THINKS THEY KNOW THE REAL BILLY THE KID.

THEY CALL ME A PSYCHOPATH, A VILLAIN...

...A COLD-BLOODED MURDERER... BILLY, DON'T!

...BUT THE TRUTH ISN'T SO BLACK AND WHITE.

EVERY LEGEND HAS ITS BEGINNING.

MINE STARTS IN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO,

A LITTLE MORE THAN A DECADE AFTER THE CIVIL WAR,

WHEN THE WEST IS WIDE-OPEN

AND THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS.

Bell: IT WAS THE LAST SIREN'S SONG OF EASY MONEY,

AND PEOPLE CAME OUT WEST.

THE LAND WAS PRACTICALLY FREE,

AND IF YOU COULD FIND A MINERAL STRIKE,

THEN IT WAS JUST A DREAM COME TRUE.

AND SO THESE PEOPLE WERE DRIVEN OUT HERE BY THAT DREAM.

Hutton: EVERYONE'S ON THE MAKE. EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO MAKE IT.

[ STEER SNORTS ]

[ HORSE SNORTS ]

THAT'S ME -- BILLY BONNEY.

20 YEARS OLD AND JUST TRYING TO GET BY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THIS DAY WAS GONNA CHANGE MY LIFE FOREVER.

THAT'S JOHN TUNSTALL...

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

...THE OWNER OF THE HORSE I WAS PLANNING TO BORROW...

HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, LAD.

...UNTIL HE GOT THE DROP ON ME.

HE HAD EVERY RIGHT

TO SHOOT ME DEAD THEN AND THERE.

BUT HE DIDN'T.

I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU'RE ANY GOOD WITH THAT COLT,

ARE YOU, MATE?

[ GUNSHOT ]

DAMN, BILLY. GOOD SHOT, LAD.

LUCKY FOR ME, TUNSTALL WAS HIRING RANCH HANDS.

ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO COULD HANDLE A GUN.

HELL, BILLY, YOU COULD SHOOT THE WINGS OFF A FLY.

TUNSTALL ESSENTIALLY STRIKES A DEAL WITH THE KID,

AND INSTEAD OF PROSECUTING HIM, HE GIVES HIM A JOB.

ONE, TWO, LIFT! [ GRUNTS ]

WHOO!

YOU GOT THAT, CHARLIE?

Boggs: BY THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE,

BILLY THE KID KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND HORSES.

HE KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND CATTLE.

HE'S THE PERFECT FIT TO BE RIDING FOR A RANCH

IN LINCOLN COUNTY, NEW MEXICO, IN THE LATE 1870s.

IF TUNSTALL HADN'T TAKEN A CHANCE ON ME,

YOU MIGHT NEVER HAVE HEARD THE NAME BILLY THE KID.

Courtney: HE HAD HAD FAITH IN BILLY

THAT HE COULD TURN HIS LIFE AROUND,

AND I THINK BILLY WAS GRATEFUL UNTIL THE END.

BUT TUNSTALL'S END CAME FAR TOO SOON

AND THRUST ME INTO ONE OF THE BLOODIEST CONFLICTS

IN WILD WEST HISTORY.

YOU SEE, JOHN WAS AN HONEST MAN,

BUT HE HAD HIS SHARE OF ENEMIES.

LINCOLN COUNTY WAS CONTROLLED

BY A GANG OF CORRUPT RANCHERS AND LAWMEN.

THEY CALLED THEMSELVES "THE HOUSE."

Hutton: THE TOWN OF LINCOLN, THE COUNTY SEAT

OF THE LARGEST COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES,

IS CONTROLLED BY WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE HOUSE.

MURPHY, DOLAN, AND RILEY ARE THE MAIN PARTNERS.

Gardner: LAWRENCE MURPHY AND JIMMY DOLAN BASICALLY CONTROLLED

THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF NEW MEXICO.

THEY MADE MONEY

ON BEEF CONTRACTS WITH THE MILITARY.

THEY SERVED AS BANKERS.

THEY WERE ALSO MERCHANTS.

Ellis: THERE WERE TWO WAYS YOU BOUGHT INFLUENCE --

WITH MONEY OR A BULLET.

THERE'S NO QUESTION

THAT VIOLENCE WAS A CURRENCY OUT HERE,

AND THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING

THAT YOU LIVED WITH.

AND YOU ARMED YOURSELF AGAINST IT.

JOHN WAS A NEWCOMER,

AND THE HOUSE DIDN'T TAKE KINDLY TO NEWCOMERS,

ESPECIALLY AN ENGLISHMAN.

Bell: JOHN TUNSTALL CAME TO LINCOLN COUNTY.

HE WANTED TO MAKE HIS MARK.

HE WENT UP AGAINST THE IRISH CROWD,

WHO WERE JUST OUT OF THE MILITARY.

THEY WERE ROMAN CATHOLIC. HE WAS PROTESTANT.

Gomber: RIGHT TO THE END, HE SEEMS TO HAVE UNDERESTIMATED

WHO HE WAS DEALING WITH.

THE MORNING STARTED LIKE ANY OTHER.

BUT IT WOULD END IN BLOODSHED.

THIS WAS THE DAY BILLY BONNEY, RANCH HAND,

BECAME BILLY THE KID, OUTLAW.

THE KID WAS ONE OF THE COWBOYS THAT TUNSTALL HAD WITH HIM

WHEN THEY WERE DRIVING SOME HORSES INTO LINCOLN.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS

A DULY AUTHORIZED SHERIFF'S POSSE

THAT INCLUDED KNOWN OUTLAWS PURSUING THEM.

RIGHT, LADS.

PUFF OUT OF SIGHT, AND I'LL HAVE A WORD.

SHERIFF BRADY WAS IN THE POCKET OF THE HOUSE.

HE HAD TRUMPED UP A CHARGE AGAINST JOHN

AND FORMED A POSSE TO BRING HIM IN.

IT'S OKAY, KID. I'LL BE ALONG.

BUT BRADY HAD NO INTENTION OF TAKING JOHN ALIVE.

WAIT TILL HE GETS CLOSER.

Hutton: YOUNG JOHN TUNSTALL THOUGHT THAT THE LAW WOULD PROTECT HIM.

HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT IN NEW MEXICO,

THE GUN TRUMPED THE LAW EVERY TIME.

WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG?

[ GUN COCKS ]

Courtney: WHEN TUNSTALL WAS MURDERED, HE HAD REALLY LOST

THE LAST PERSON THAT REALLY CARED FOR HIM.

Boggs: THIS IS GONNA REALLY SHATTER

EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN LINCOLN COUNTY AT THE TIME.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU'VE GONE FROM A WAR

OF TALKING AND THREATS AND ARREST

TO A WAR OF OUTRIGHT MURDER.

JOHN WAS THE FIRST CASUALTY IN THE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR.

BUT I RESOLVED THEN THAT HE WOULD NOT BE THE LAST.

Bell: LEGEND SAYS THAT BILLY THE KID STOOD OVER JOHN TUNSTALL'S GRAVE

AND SWORE REVENGE ON EVERY MAN WHO KILLED HIM.

Hutton: WHEN OTHERS WERE WILLING TO LET THINGS PASS,

WHEN OTHERS WERE WILLING TO BACK OFF

AS THE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR HEATED UP, BILLY NEVER WAS.

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

Boggs: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE LAW IS AS CORRUPT AS THE OUTLAWS?

YOU TAKE THE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS,

AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT BILLY DID.

Hutton: WELL, THE STORY GOES --

AND IT CAME FROM THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE TIME --

THAT BILLY THE KID KILLED 21 MEN IN 21 YEARS --

ONE FOR EACH YEAR OF HIS LIFE.

WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THE ROMANTIC ELEMENT IN THAT?

NEVERTHELESS, IT'S THE NATURE OF THE KILLINGS,

IT'S WHY HE KILLED

THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE LEGEND OF BILLY THE KID.

AT THE HEAD OF OUR HIT LIST WAS

THE MAN WHO KILLED JOHN TUNSTALL

AND IN SO DOING STOLE MY BEST CHANCE

AT AN HONEST LIFE -- THE SHERIFF OF LINCOLN COUNTY.

HE WAS A LAWMAN.

IF YOU KILL A LAWMAN,

THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT CATEGORY.

Bonney: MOST PEOPLE THINK OF ME AS BILLY THE KID,

RUTHLESS OUTLAW AND NATURAL-BORN KILLER.

BUT THE REAL ME, BILLY BONNEY,

I'M JUST DOING MY PART

TO BRING JUSTICE TO A LAWLESS FRONTIER.

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

IN FEBRUARY 1878,

A POSSE OF CROOKED LAWMEN

MURDERED MY BOSS AND FRIEND, JOHN TUNSTALL.

SO THOSE OF US WHO WORKED FOR JOHN

FORMED A POSSE OF OUR OWN AND VOWED TO AVENGE HIS DEATH.

WE CALLED OURSELVES THE REGULATORS.

Gomber: THE REGULATORS WEREN'T LONG IN GETTING SOME REVENGE.

ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER,

THEY CAUGHT UP WITH TWO OF THE ACTUAL SHOOTERS

IN TUNSTALL'S DEATH -- BILLY MORTON AND FRANK BAKER.

MORTON AND BAKER HAD BEEN RIDING ALL DAY,

BUT WE WERE ON FRESH HORSES.

HYAH! HYAH!

HYAH! HYAH! HYAH!

WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?

THEY WAS RIGHT BEHIND US.

WE STILL ARE.

GUNS DOWN, FELLAS.

BILLY, DON'T! DON'T --

NO, BILLY. BILLY. BILLY!

BILLY, NO. NO. BILLY, NO.

JURY'S GONNA CONVICT THEM, NOT US.

IN LINCOLN COUNTY,

THE LAW WAS IN THE POCKET OF THE HOUSE.

WE ALL KNEW TUNSTALL'S MURDERERS WOULD GO FREE.

I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD'VE RECEIVED TRUE JUSTICE.

THERE WERE TOO MANY FRIENDS OF THE DOLAN FACTION IN LINCOLN,

AND THEY WOULD'VE GOTTEN AWAY.

BUT WE DIDN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

THEY ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE

AND, OF COURSE, ARE SHOT DOWN.

EACH REGULATOR PUT A BULLET INTO THEM

SO THAT THEY WOULD ALL BE EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE MURDERS.

AND THEY ALSO KILLED ONE OF THE REGULATORS

WHO THEY DIDN'T TRUST TO KEEP THE PACT,

SO THREE MEN DIED THERE

AS THE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR BEGAN IN ERNEST.

THEY PINNED IT ON BILLY,

AS THEY DID ALL THE OTHER MURDERS

IN THE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR.

THEY KIND OF, LIKE, ALWAYS LIKE TO PIN THEM ON BILLY

IN THE LEGEND,

NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHO SHOT THEM.

EVERY CAUSE NEEDS A PUBLIC FACE.

I BECAME THE FACE OF OURS.

Gomber: THIS GUY HAD PERSONALITY COMING OUT OF HIS EARS.

PEOPLE WERE CRAZY ABOUT HIM,

ESPECIALLY THE HISPANIC POPULATION.

HE SPOKE SPANISH FLUENTLY. HE NEVER CONDESCENDED.

Hutton: EVEN THE TOWNSPEOPLE,

WHEN ALL THE PAPERS WERE REPORTING THAT HE WAS BAD,

THEY ACTUALLY GOT ALONG WITH HIM.

BUT THE KILLER WITH THE KILLER SMILE

ISN'T EXACTLY THE STORY THE PAPERS WANT.

IT'S EASIER TO LABEL ME

A BLOODTHIRSTY, MAD-DOG MURDERER.

AND THEY CAN DO IT,

'CAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THE FIRST THING ABOUT ME.

BILLY'S ORIGINS, LIKE SO MUCH OF HIS LIFE,

ARE SHROUDED IN MYSTERY.

NO BIRTH CERTIFICATE HAS EVER BEEN FOUND ON THE KID.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW OLD HE WAS.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE HE CAME FROM.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW EXACTLY WHERE HE WAS BORN.

NEW YORK, INDIANA, MISSOURI -- IT'S ALL KIND OF SPECULATION.

Hutton: ONE STORY IS THAT HE CAME FROM THE SLUMS OF NEW YORK CITY,

AND THAT'S A VERY ROMANTIC IDEA, YOU KNOW,

THAT THIS KID FROM NEW YORK BECOMES THE MOST FAMOUS OUTLAW

IN WESTERN HISTORY.

THAT HANDSOME YOUNG DEVIL IS ME, ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD,

HEADED INTO THE WEST WITH MY MOTHER, CATHERINE,

MY BROTHER, JOSEPH,

AND MY STEP-FATHER, WILLIAM ANTRIM.

HE WAS SUPPOSEDLY A HAPPY KID,

AND THERE'S REPORTS OF HIM SINGING IN MUSICALS

AND DANCING AND STUFF AT SCHOOL.

BILLY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN

VERY CLOSE TO HIS MOTHER, CATHERINE.

CATHERINE APPARENTLY WAS A GREAT DANCER,

AND SHE WOULD DANCE THE IRISH JIG

WHEN HER HEALTH WAS GOOD.

TUBERCULOSIS EVENTUALLY GOT HER.

AND BILLY LOSES HER.

HIS STEP-FATHER, WILLIAM ANTRIM,

ESSENTIALLY ABANDONS BOTH BOYS, AND SO THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN.

WHEN MAMA DIED, WE WERE PUT INTO FOSTER CARE

AND PRETTY MUCH LEFT TO OUR OWN DEVICES.

Courtney: HE JUST KIND OF HAD TO FIGURE OUT

HOW TO LIVE IN THE OLD WEST, AND IT WAS ABOUT SURVIVING.

Gomber: HE KIND OF STARTED TO GET INTO SOME LOCAL SMALL-TIME TROUBLE.

HE GOT INTO A GANG OF LOCAL KIDS

WHO WERE BASICALLY JUVENILE DELINQUENTS,

AND HE WAS ARRESTED FOR STEALING CHINESE LAUNDRY.

[ CELL DOOR CLOSES ]

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I MADE THE PAPER.

AND MY FIRST JAILBREAK.

THE SHERIFF WANTED TO TEACH HIM A LESSON,

SO HE THREW HIM IN JAIL.

WELL, THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN THE SHERIFF CAME BACK...

...THE KID HAD ESCAPED, AND HE MADE HIS WAY TO ARIZONA.

Gardner: BILLY THE KID, AFTER SILVER CITY,

IS A SURVIVOR.

HE SURVIVES BY ANY MEANS THAT HE CAN,

AND HE'S VERY GOOD AT IT.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

THE NEXT FEW YEARS, I BOUNCED AROUND

AND PICKED UP SOME IMPORTANT SURVIVAL SKILLS.

I DEVELOPED A TALENT FOR THREE CARD MONTE

AND STEALING HORSES.

I ALSO LEARNED MY WAY AROUND A GUN.

AND ONE NIGHT WHEN I WAS 15, I WAS FORCED TO USE IT.

OH, YOU HAD ENOUGH ALREADY?

FRANK CAHILL WAS A BLACKSMITH.

HIS FEW FRIENDS CALLED HIM "WINDY."

BUT TO ME, HE WAS JUST A BIG DRUNK BASTARD.

WINDY THOUGHT IT WAS FUN TO SLAP THIS LITTLE GUY AROUND

FOR THE AMUSEMENT OF THE OTHER PATRONS.

AND FINALLY, BILLY GOT FED UP WITH IT.

GONNA GO HOME AND CRY TO YOUR MAMA?

HUH?

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ GROANING ]

Man: GET HIM!

Gomber: BILLY MAY WELL HAVE GOTTEN OFF ON SELF DEFENSE

'CAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE IN THEIR SIZE AND EVERYTHING,

BUT HE WASN'T ABOUT TO WAIT AROUND AND FIND OUT.

HE TOOK OFF HELL-BENT FOR LEATHER FOR NEW MEXICO,

BACK WHERE HE'D COME FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Hutton: AND HERE, HIS STORY SORT OF VANISHES INTO LEGEND

BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS

IN THE INTERVENING YEARS,

BUT WE DO KNOW WHEN HE EMERGES FROM THAT PERIOD,

HE'S ABSOLUTELY FLUENT IN SPANISH

AND HE'S ONE TOUGH YOUNG CHARACTER.

HE'S NOT LIKE OTHER GUNFIGHTERS.

HE DOESN'T ROB TRAINS.

HE DOESN'T ROB BANKS, LIKE JESSE JAMES.

HE KILLS PEOPLE.

BUT HE KILLS THEM FOR A CAUSE.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ HORSE NEIGHS ]

AFTER THE DEATH OF MY FRIEND JOHN TUNSTALL,

I WAS DRAWN INTO A WAR I NEITHER WANTED NOR ASKED FOR.

THE HOUSE HAD DRAWN FIRST BLOOD.

AND WE RESPONDED IN KIND.

[ GUNSHOT ]

BUT THE MAN MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR TUNSTALL'S DEATH WAS

STILL BREATHING.

AND THAT JUST WOULDN'T DO.

YEAH, I TELL YOU FELLAS ABOUT THAT BOY --

HEY. WHAT?

IS THAT -- IS THAT SHERIFF BRADY?

SIX WEEKS AFTER JOHN WAS MURDERED,

WE SAW OUR CHANCE TO EXACT REVENGE.

Hutton: BILLY AND SEVERAL REGULATORS WERE HAVING BREAKFAST

AT THE TUNSTALL STORE,

AND WHAT HAPPENED NEXT MAY HAVE BEEN HAPPENSTANCE,

OR THEY MAY HAVE BEEN THERE BECAUSE THEY HAD PLOTTED.

THE BOYS EATING BREAKFAST SAW HIM.

THEY IMMEDIATELY GRABBED THEIR RIFLES,

WENT OUT TO A LOW ADOBE WALL

THAT WAS BESIDE THE TUNSTALL HOUSE.

Gomber: BY THE TIME THEY DID ALL THIS,

BRADY AND HIS MEN WERE ALMOST 50 TO 75 FEET AWAY.

Gardner: IT WAS AN AMBUSH. IT WAS A COLD-BLOODED KILLING.

BUT IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, IF IT'S A WAR,

IT WAS VERY MUCH LIKE A WAR'S AMBUSH,

WHERE YOU KILL ALL OF THE ENEMY THAT YOU CAN.

THIS WAS MEANT TO END THE BLOODSHED,

BUT THE HOUSE WAS ABOUT TO UP THE ANTE.

Boggs: BRADY'S HIT. ONE OF HIS DEPUTIES IS HIT.

THEY'RE BOTH KILLED,

AND THEN THE REGULATORS RIDE OUT.

JUST GONNA CHANGE

THE WHOLE APPROACH OF THE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR.

Courtney: IT CHANGED EVERYTHING.

AND NOW YOU'VE KILLED A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL,

AND THERE ARE GONNA BE CONSEQUENCES.

Bonney: IF YOU WANT TO GET FAMOUS IN THE WEST,

WALK INTO ANY TOWN AND SHOOT THE SHERIFF.

AFTER I GUNNED DOWN SHERIFF BRADY,

EVERYBODY KNEW MY NAME.

A WARRANT WAS SWORN OUT FOR MY ARREST

IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHERIFF'S KILLING.

FROM THEN ON,

ALMOST ANY TIME SOMEONE TOOK A BULLET IN NEW MEXICO,

PEOPLE SAID IT CAME FROM THE GUN OF BILLY THE KID.

THEY FELL INTO THAT ATTRACTION TO THIS YOUNG OUTLAW,

AND SO THEY NATURALLY WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT HIM

AND MAKE HIM THE FOCUS OF THEIR STORIES,

AND OF COURSE, ALL THE WRONG THAT WENT ON

IN NEW MEXICO TERRITORY,

WELL, THAT HAD TO BE BILLY THE KID.

SHERIFF BRADY'S DEATH DID NOT BRING CLOSURE TO OUR CAUSE

AS WE'D HOPED.

INSTEAD, OUR WAR AGAINST THE HOUSE ONLY INTENSIFIED.

WE NEEDED TIME TO REGROUP,

SO WE TOOK REFUGE IN THE HOME OF ALEXANDER McSWEEN,

A LAWYER WHO'D BEEN SUPPORTING OUR CAUSE.

BUT OUR HIDEOUT SOON BECAME A PRISON.

Courtney: THE REGULATORS RECONVENE AT THE McSWEEN HOUSE,

WHICH WAS IN LINCOLN, AND WHILE THEY WERE THERE,

THEY GOT WORD THAT THE DOLAN MEN WERE ON THEIR WAY TO THE HOUSE.

Hutton: TROOPS FROM NEARBY FORT STANTON CAME IN,

SUPPOSEDLY TO BE NEUTRAL,

BUT VERY QUICKLY SHOWED THEIR HAND

THAT THEY WERE ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

AND INSTEAD OF RETREATING,

THEY DECIDED TO STAY THERE AND FIGHT IT OUT.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

Hutton: THEY WERE GONNA SETTLE THIS MATTER

ONCE AND FOR ALL,

BUT THEY MISJUDGED THEIR ADVERSARIES.

THESE REGULATORS ARE ALL IN THERE

WITH McSWEEN AND HIS WIFE, AND THEY'RE KIND OF TRAPPED.

WE HAVE TO SURRENDER. WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

IF I GO OUTSIDE, I'M A DEAD MAN.

IF YOU WON'T, I WILL.

THE REGULATORS HAD RETREATED FROM ROOM TO ROOM ALL DAY LONG.

IT WAS GETTING DESPERATE.

AT ABOUT DINNERTIME,

THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE PLACE

WERE ALLOWED TO LEAVE.

AS NIGHT FELL, WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS.

BUT FOR ME, SURRENDER WASN'T ONE OF THEM.

Bell: THEY START A FIRE

IN THE UPPER NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE BUILDING.

THEY'RE TRYING TO BURN THEM OUT.

[ MEN COUGHING ]

BILLY. THAT FIRE'S SPREADING FAST.

IMAGINE WHAT THAT WAS LIKE IN THE HOUSE.

THEY'VE BEEN IN A HOUSE THAT'S BURNING ALL DAY.

THEY GOT SMOKE. THEY CAN'T BREATHE.

THEY'RE GRITTY.

ALEX McSWEEN IS SITTING ON A SOFA

WITH HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS.

ALL IS LOST. HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

HE'S NOT A FIGHTING MAN.

AND IT'S THE KID WHO COMES OVER AND SHAKES HIM AND SAID,

"WE GOT TO MAKE A BREAK."

WE AIN'T DONE YET.

ALL RIGHT, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

ME AND CHARLIE WILL RUN OUT BACK FOR A DIVERSION,

AND WHEN WE DO,

THE REST OF YOU SLIP OUT AND SCATTER, GOT IT?

Gomber: AND IT WAS AT THAT POINT THAT THE KID TOOK COMMAND

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

BOYS, WE'RE BUSTING OUT OF HERE.

THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME

I'D FACED A DIFFICULT PREDICAMENT.

AND IT WOULDN'T BE THE LAST.

Hutton: GUN IN EACH HAND, FIRE LIGHTING THE SKY,

HE COMES OUT OF THE BACK OF THE McSWEEN HOUSE,

GUNS BLAZING.

Bell: WHEN BILLY THE KID JUMPED OUT OF THE BURNING HOUSE

AT THE McSWEENS',

HE BECAME THE MOST FAMOUS MAN IN NEW MEXICO.

SHOOTING GUNS, BULLETS FLYING OVER THEIR HEAD,

AND THEY'RE ABLE TO ESCAPE, AND IT'S KIND OF MIRACULOUS.

IT'S WHAT LEGENDS ARE MADE OF.

Hutton: HOW BILLY SURVIVES IS INCREDIBLE,

BUT HE DOES MAKE IT THROUGH AND DISAPPEARS INTO THE DARKNESS

TO CREATE MORE LEGENDS.

[ GUNFIRE ]

OTHERS AREN'T SO LUCKY.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

McSWEEN AND FIVE OTHERS ARE SHOT DOWN

IN WHAT COMES TO BE KNOWN AS THE BIG KILLING.

THE NEWSPAPERS HAD A FIELD DAY WITH MY DISAPPEARING ACT.

BILLY THE KID WAS EVERYWHERE AND YET NOWHERE.

THE NEWSPAPERS MADE IT ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL

FOR THE OFFICIALS IN NEW MEXICO TERRITORY TO GET THE KID.

UP UNTIL THEN, THERE'D BEEN NO OFFICIAL IN NEW MEXICO

CAPABLE OF CORRALLING ME.

BUT AS THE SAYING GOES,

THERE WAS A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN,

AND HE WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF

BY CATCHING THE MOST WANTED MAN IN THE WEST.

[ GUNSHOT ]

YOU'LL HAVE TO STAY REAL STILL.

WELL, AIN'T I ALREADY?

HOW MUCH THIS COST?

FOUR PRINTS FOR A QUARTER.

WELL, THAT'S A BARGAIN, MISTER,

'CAUSE THIS PICTURE'S GONNA BE FAMOUS.

Bonney: IF I HAD KNOWN THIS PHOTO WOULD BE

THE ONLY ONE OF BILLY THE KID THAT WOULD PASS INTO HISTORY,

I WOULD'VE STOOD UP STRAIGHTER, MAYBE CHOSE A BETTER HAT.

Gomber: EVERYONE WHO KNEW THE KID SAID IT WAS A BAD PICTURE OF HIM.

Bell: HIS TEETH LOOK CROOKED,

AND HE'S GOT SPLOTCHES ALL OVER HIM.

Gomber: ESSENTIALLY, HE'S BEING REMEMBERED

BY HIS DRIVER'S-LICENSE PHOTO.

AMAZINGLY, FOR 80-ODD YEARS,

NO ONE REALIZED THAT THE PICTURE WAS A REVERSED IMAGE...

...LEADING TO THE MYTH OF THE LEFT-HANDED GUN.

THEY EVEN MADE A MOVIE ABOUT IT WITH PAUL NEWMAN BACK IN 1957.

Ellis: BILLY THE KID WASN'T LEFT-HANDED.

IT'S THE FACT THAT THE TINTYPE PHOTOGRAPHY

THEY USED AT THE TIME REVERSED EVERYTHING.

SO HE'S HOLDING THE GUN IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE HIS LEFT HAND,

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY HIS RIGHT.

AFTER I KILLED SHERIFF BRADY AND CLASHED WITH THE HOUSE,

I WAS THE MOST WANTED MAN IN NEW MEXICO.

PEOPLE TOLD ME I SHOULD LEAVE THE TERRITORY

AND NEVER LOOK BACK.

BUT I WASN'T READY TO GO JUST YET.

[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]

[ TAPPING ]

Hutton: WHY DOESN'T BILLY LEAVE?

THAT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

HE DOESN'T LEAVE BECAUSE HE'S A ROMANTIC IDEALIST.

I PERSONALLY WOULD'VE TAKEN OFF.

BUT HE GOES BACK TO FORT SUMNER,

AND YOU CAN ONLY SPECULATE THAT IT'S FOR PAULITA MAXWELL.

PAULITA MAXWELL WAS RUMORED TO BE PREGNANT.

Hutton: HE DOESN'T LEAVE BECAUSE HE'S GONNA

PLAY OUT HIS STRING.

THIS IS HIS PLACE NOW.

THIS IS HIS HOME.

THESE ARE HIS PEOPLE. THESE ARE HIS FRIENDS.

HE'S GONNA STAY.

IT'S WHAT MAKES HIM IN SOME WAYS THE PERFECT WESTERN HERO.

HE'S GONNA PLAY IT OUT ALL THE WAY TO THE END.

I HAD ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO STAY A STEP AHEAD OF THE LAW.

BUT LINCOLN COUNTY'S NEW SHERIFF

EVIDENTLY MEANT BUSINESS.

PAT GARRETT HAD BEEN A BUFFALO HUNTER

OUT ON THE STAKED PLAINS.

HE WAS AN ALL-AROUND TOUGH GUY.

REALLY GOOD WITH A GUN.

JUST THE SORT OF MAN THAT THEY WANTED

TO BRING LAW AND ORDER TO NEW MEXICO.

DO YOU HAVE A POSE IN MIND, SHERIFF?

MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

BILLY COMES BACK FOR ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPH,

YOU LET ME KNOW, ALL RIGHT?

[ SIGHS ]

Bell: PAT GARRETT KNEW BILLY THE KID AND ALL OF HIS COHORTS

AROUND THE FORT SUMNER AREA, WHERE THEY HID,

AND HIS EDICT WAS, "CLEAN OUT THAT SQUAD EAST OF SUMNER"

GARRETT WAS EAGER TO PROVE HIMSELF.

HE SET OUT WITH A NEW POSSE, DETERMINED TO BRING ME IN.

AND HE DIDN'T LET UP.

I WAS NO LONGER SIMPLY WANTED.

I WAS HUNTED.

OUR PATHS FINALLY CROSSED

IN A PLACE CALLED STINKING SPRINGS.

[ GUN COCKS ]

SO, THEY HEAR COUGHING AND SNORTING AND GUYS WAKING UP.

IT'S ALL CLEAR.

Bonney: HOW'S IT LOOK OUT THERE?

Bowdre: THINK I'M GONNA GO SADDLE THE HORSES, GET THEM READY.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, A GUY APPEARS IN THE DOORWAY

WITH A SOMBRERO AND A GREEN HAT BAND.

EIGHT BULLETS TRAVELING AT 800 FEET PER SECOND

HIT HIM IN THE CHEST.

[ GASPING ]

I WISH...

[ COUGHS ]

IT WAS CHARLIE BOWDRE, MY CLOSEST FRIEND.

HE HAD BORROWED MY HAT.

Bell: HIS LAST WORDS WERE, "I WISH," AND HE FELL DEAD.

NOW, I THINK I KNOW THE REST OF THAT SENTENCE --

"I WISH I HADN'T WORN THIS HAT."

WHAT NOW, SHERIFF?

I'M FAMISHED.

LET'S HAVE BREAKFAST.

YOU SMELL BACON?

AND THEY GET BACON AND EGGS,

AND THEY'RE COOKING THEM OUT THERE,

AND PAT GARRETT SAYS,

"WHY DON'T YOU COME OUT AND BE SOCIABLE?"

COME OUT AND EAT, BILLY.

YOU AIN'T GETTING AWAY THIS TIME.

HELL WITH IT.

I'M GETTING SOME BACON.

Hutton: THEY REALIZE THERE'S NO WAY THEY'RE GETTING OUT

AND EVENTUALLY HAVE TO SURRENDER.

Bonney: NO POINT BEING GLOOMY ABOUT IT.

I HAD MY FUN. NOW THE JOKE'S ON ME.

[ LAUGHTER ]

AT FIRST, I WONDERED

WHY GARRETT DIDN'T JUST KILL ME IN STINKING SPRINGS.

I DON'T BLAME YOU FOLKS FOR WRITING

SO MANY TERRIBLE THINGS ABOUT ME.

I DON'T KNOW AS ANYONE WOULD BELIEVE

ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT ME ANYWAY.

THAT'S ENOUGH. LET'S GO.

THEN I REALIZED I WAS HIS PRIZE PIG,

AND HE INTENDED TO PARADE ME AROUND THE FAIRGROUNDS.

I WAS FOUND GUILTY IN THE KILLING OF SHERIFF BRADY

AND SENTENCED TO HANG.

IT WAS UP TO ME...

...THIS SCATTER GUN WOULD BE THE LAST THING YOU EVER SEE.

I WAS LEFT IN THE HANDS OF BOB OLLINGER,

GARRETT'S MOST DETESTABLE DEPUTY.

BUT WATCHING YOU SWING WILL SUIT JUST AS WELL.

Gardner: PAT GARRETT HAD WARNED HIS GUARDS,

"YOU GOT TO WATCH THIS GUY

"BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO ESCAPE.

"HE'S EITHER GONNA DIE ON THE GALLOWS,

OR HE'S GONNA KILL YOU ON THE WAY OUT OF TOWN."

I MIGHT'VE BEEN ON DEATH ROW, BUT I WASN'T DEAD YET,

AND I WASN'T ABOUT TO GO DOWN EASY.

Gomber: THE KID'S AGILE MIND WAS ALWAYS WORKING.

I'M SURE FROM THE MOMENT THEY INCARCERATED HIM UP THERE,

HE WAS THINKING OF WAYS TO GET OUT.

Gardner: HE WAITED UNTIL PAT GARRETT WAS OUT OF TOWN.

Gomber: WHICH LEFT HIS TWO DEPUTIES HERE IN CHARGE OF THE KID.

Gardner: ONE OF THE ARMED GUARDS, BOB OLLINGER,

HAD TAKEN OTHER PRISONERS ACROSS THE STREET FOR A MEAL.

THAT'S WHEN I ASKED DEPUTY BELL TO TAKE ME TO THE LATRINE.

BILLY HAD VERY SMALL WRISTS,

AND HE COULD GET OUT OF SHACKLES.

HE HAD PROVEN THAT MANY TIMES.

HE REALLY WAS AN ESCAPE ARTIST.

HE GOT OUT AT LEAST OF ONE OF HIS SHACKLES.

Gomber: TURNED AROUND LIKE BABE RUTH AND HIT BELL WITH THEM.

I DIDN'T WANT TO KILL BELL, BUT HE LEFT ME NO CHOICE.

Gardner: HE ACTUALLY FELT A LITTLE REMORSE FOR ONE OF THE GUARDS --

JAMES BELL -- WHO PANICKED AND RAN.

OLLINGER, HOWEVER, WAS A DIFFERENT STORY.

I'D ALWAYS HATED BULLIES LIKE HIM.

I JUST HOPE HE WEIGHS ENOUGH FOR THE ROPE TO HANG HIM.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

HE'S AS LEAN A CUT AS THE MEAT ON MY PLATE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

OH, DAMN IT.

HELLO, BOB.

Gardner: BILLY HAS HIS OWN SHOTGUN -- BOB OLLINGER'S SHOTGUN --

POINTED AT HIM AND PULLS BOTH TRIGGERS.

BOB OLLINGER FALLS INSTANTLY DEAD TO THE GROUND.

Hutton: THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE HE BECOMES

THE GREATEST OUTLAW OF THE WEST.

IT WAS THE MOST DARING ESCAPE THE FRONTIER HAD EVER SEEN

AND THE LAST ONE I WOULD EVER MAKE.

RUN DOWN TO THE OFFICE AND PULL RIFLES FOR ME, YOU, AND FRED.

WE'RE LEAVING AT SUNSET.

Bonney: NOW!

NONE OF Y'ALL INTERFERE, NO ONE ELSE WILL GET HURT.

I'M LITTLE TIED UP AT THE MOMENT.

ANYBODY HAVE A HAMMER?

Bonney: SHERIFF PAT GARRETT HAD DONE

WHAT NO OTHER LAWMAN SEEMED CAPABLE OF.

HE CAUGHT YOURS TRULY, BILLY THE KID.

GARRETT HAD ME CHAINED TO THE COURTHOUSE FLOOR.

BUT CHAINS ARE NO MATCH FOR THE KID.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Bell: TWO DEPUTIES WERE LYING DEAD IN THE YARD.

THE KID HAD THE RUN OF THE COURTHOUSE FOR AN HOUR,

AND NO ONE CHALLENGED HIM.

ANYBODY HAVE A HAMMER?

[ METAL CLANGS ]

THANK YOU, SIR.

Hutton: THE KID GOT SOMEONE TO BREAK HIS SHACKLES

AND, IN FACT, TOOK ONE OF THE LOCAL OFFICIALS' HORSE.

AS HE RODE OUT OF TOWN, CALLED BACK NOT TO WORRY --

THAT HE WOULD SEND THE HORSE BACK.

Bell: AND SURE ENOUGH, THE NEXT DAY,

BURT'S HORSE CAME INTO TOWN, DRAGGING A ROPE,

AND HE HAD FULFILLED HIS WORD.

THAT LAST ESCAPE MADE ME A LEGEND.

THE STORY SPREAD ALL THE WAY TO NEW YORK AND CHICAGO.

SOON, THE WHOLE COUNTRY WAS READING TALES OF MY EXPLOITS.

BUT THERE WAS A CERTAIN SHERIFF

WHO WASN'T SO FOND OF ALL THE PUBLICITY.

RUN DOWN TO THE OFFICE AND PULL RIFLES FOR ME, YOU, AND FRED.

WE'RE LEAVING AT SUNSET.

Boggs: PAT'S GONNA COME BACK INTO LINCOLN.

HE'S GONNA FIND TWO OF HIS DEPUTIES DEAD.

HE'S GONNA THINK,

"OH, MAN, I HAD THIS WHOLE THING WRAPPED UP."

AND NOW HIS REPUTATION'S ON THE LINE.

IT WAS PRETTY MUCH A GUARANTEE

THAT GARRETT WOULD COME CALLING AGAIN.

BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT IT'D BE TOO HARD TO KEEP AHEAD OF HIM.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS NOW, BILLY?

COME AWAY WITH ME.

WE COULD RUN DOWN TO MEXICO.

THEY WON'T CHASE ME THERE.

GOT TO REMEMBER THAT HE WAS A KID.

HE REALLY WAS A KID,

AND WHEN YOU'RE A KID, YOU'RE INVINCIBLE,

AND EVEN WITH ALL THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION HE'D SEEN,

I THINK HE STILL FELT THAT HE COULD GET AWAY

WITH MOST OF WHAT HE WANTED TO GET AWAY WITH.

WHAT HE DIDN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WAS

THE FACT THAT PAULITA'S BIG BROTHER, PETE,

DID NOT LOOK KINDLY UPON THE RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN HIS SISTER AND AN OUTLAW.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Hutton: THE WARRANTS HE CARRIED IN HIS POCKET

WEREN'T ARREST WARRANTS.

THEY WERE DEATH WARRANTS.

PAT GARRETT WAS THERE TO KILL BILLY THE KID.

[ WOOD CREAKING ]

[ GUN COCKS ]

I HAVE TO THINK ON THAT.

I KNOW YOU DO.

[ SMOOCHES ]

I'M GONNA GET A BITE DOWNSTAIRS, OKAY?

Gomber: THE KID KNEW THERE WAS A SIDE OF BEEF

HANGING IN THE KITCHEN

THAT HE COULD MAKE HIMSELF A SNACK.

[ WOOD CREAKING ]

[ WOOD CREAKS ]

¿QUIéN ES?

Hutton: "¿QUIéN ES?" HE SAYS.

¿QUIéN ES?

Gomber: "¿QUIéN ES?" "WHO IS IT?"

GARRETT, OF COURSE, RECOGNIZED THE VOICE.

THE KID SPRANG BACK, BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.

Hutton: TWO SHOTS IN THE DARK.

Boggs: ALL THROUGH HIS LIFE,

THE KID HAD BEEN BLESSED WITH A STRING OF GOOD LUCK.

HE ESCAPES THE BURNING HOUSE DURING THE LINCOLN COUNTY WAR.

HE'S ESCAPED THE GALLOWS.

AND ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 14, 1881,

THE LUCK RUNS OUT.

[ CRYING ]

DON'T LET ANYONE FOOL WITH THE BODY.

I'LL CALL THE UNDERTAKER IN THE MORNING.

Hutton: THE KID DIES. A LEGEND BEGINS.

Bell: THERE'S BEEN OVER 1,000 BOOKS WRITTEN ON BILLY THE KID.

AND IT'S INCREDIBLE. AND OVER 60 MOVIES.

Gomber: IF I WERE GONNA DESCRIBE BILLY THE KID IN ONE WORD,

IT'D BE...

Ellis: DARING.

Boggs: CHARMING.

Courtney: HERO.

Gardner: ESCAPE ARTIST.

Hutton: QUICK WITTED, BADASS PUNK. [ CHUCKLES ]

Gomber: ...A LOVER.

BUT HE WAS ALSO A KILLER.

THERE'S NO GETTING AROUND IT.

Courtney: IT'S SUCH A CLASSIC STORY OF AN UNDERDOG

WHO IS UP AGAINST THE BAD GUYS, AND HE SEEKS REVENGE

AND ULTIMATELY DIES BECAUSE OF THAT,

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE VIEW HIM AS A HERO.

Hutton: A FIGHTER FOR JUSTICE.

BILLY THE KID.

HE'S THE PERFECT OUTLAW OF OUR DREAMS --

SOMEONE WHO WON'T QUIT, SOMEONE WHO WON'T COMPROMISE.

THEY CAN'T CHAIN HIM.

IN FACT, IT'S RATHER AMAZING.

IF YOU GO TO HIS GRAVE TODAY, THERE ARE BARS AROUND IT.

THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD CAGE HIM WAS TO KILL HIM,

AND EVEN THEN,

THEY'RE STILL SO FEARFUL THAT HE'LL GET AWAY,

THEY'VE GOT A CAGE BUILT AROUND HIS TOMBSTONE.