Original subtitles

DRIVER: Hyah! Hyah!

JIM: Jim Hardie is my name.

I'm a special agent for Wells Fargo.

Usually my job has to do with running down

outlaws and thieves.

This time, however, I've got an easy one.

Wrapping up the purchase of a small feeder stage-coach line.

The Braddock stage line.

Mr. Hardie?

Yeah. I'm Joe Braddock.

Well, pleased to meet you.

You're younger than I thought you'd be.

Well, I'm... I'm old enough.

You bring the money?

I did. Thank you Herb.

That's hard money?

Yes, it is.

Well, good. I've got the papers right here.

We can complete the deal right now.

Hold on, there. Not so fast.

You don't mind if I get a look at

what Wells Fargo is getting for its money, do you?

Why, you're getting the Braddock stage line.

Lock, stock and barrel.

Consisting of, one stagecoach.

Let's have a look at it.

Looks a little used up, doesn't it?

Well, I never claimed it was brand new.

No, you didn't.

Well, so we got what?

A stagecoach and four horses?

No, no. You got eight.

You got four here and four at the relay station.

But no spare.

Well, Mr. Hardie,

what did Wells Fargo think they were buying anyway,

the Holiday stage line?

No.

No, all right, we got a coach and eight horses then.

The relay station?

Well, you just got the use of that.

It belongs to a man named Mike Langer.

I pay him 20 dollars a month, he takes care of the horses.

But down at Cougar Canyon,

you got a stage office and some stables.

But they're just rented.

I see.

So the only physical assets involved here,

one stagecoach.

Well, you... And eight horses.

Well, that's it.

And, for that, Wells Fargo pays 5000 dollars.

Mr. Hardie, for that, in the good will,

Braddock's stage line is a going operation, been in business 8 years.

Yeah.

And it's been going in the red for a year and half.

By the time you pay the hustler and a driver...

Mr. Hardie, I'm the driver.

I'm also the hustler.

Keeps you busy, doesn't it?

Yeah, it does.

My sister takes care of the office work, so...

Well, suppose, we make the run.

Give me a chance to look things over.

Sure, all right.

Hyah!

Well, you gonna stay on in Cougar Canyon, if we buy you out?

Not any longer than it takes my sister and me to get packed.

We're gonna be heading back east then.

East?

Yeah, I was in college back then when dad died,

That's the only reason I came here.

I don't think I was cut out for this kind of life.

Well, every man to his own taste.

I guess my taste doesn't run to physical labor.

I was studying law back at college.

There's a need for lawyers out here all right.

The way I see it, Mr. Hardie,

given his choice, a man would be pretty much of a fool

to hang out his shingle in this country.

Especially if he had a chance to practice law back in Boston and New York.

Well, I don't agree with you, Mr. Braddock.

But, that's what makes horse racing.

Take me now. I've been back East.

Never could get a good clean breath of fresh air

in any of those big Eastern cities.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

Mike!

Say hello to Mr. Hardie of Wells Fargo.

Mike Langer.

How are you?

How you doin', Mr. Hardie?

That be Jim Hardie?

That's right.

Hope you'll be staying on with us, Mike.

What else would I do?

It's a living.

Not much of a living though.

Well, maybe we can help out a little bit too.

Well, thank you, Mr. Hardie.

Git up, now!

You better go easy on that water.

We gotta lug that two miles.

Sorry.

It's sure a hot day.

Git up!

The man was making a pretty good living out of this business.

All I've done since I took over is drive it right in the ground.

Well, maybe we can build it up again.

There it is.

Got my arm.

Looks like you're not the only one

who wants that 5,000 dollars.

Whoa there. Whoa!

I'll take care of the horses, Mr. Hardie.

Why don't you go in there and introduce yourself to Ann?

ANN: Come in!

Hello.

How are you?

You're Mr. Hardie?

That's right. You must be Ann.

That's right.

Your brother told me he had a sister.

But didn't tell me she was pretty.

Won't you sit down, Mr. Hardie?

Thank you.

You know, I've heard a lot about you.

Read about you too.

But one thing they all miss saying

is that you're a flatterer.

I'm not either.

It's too bad it had to be business that has brought us together.

You are buying the stage line, then?

If you and your brother want to sell it, I am.

Of course, you can always change your mind.

Oh, no. Joe wants to sell and so do I.

I'm going to love New York. I just know I am.

I've been reading about it in the magazines.

In the Harper's Bazaar and Goldie's Ladies' Book.

Have you ever been to New York?

Yes, ma'am. I have.

Ma'am? I'm not that old.

Well, I didn't mean it in that way.

Tell me, Mr. Hardie.

You can call me Jim.

Jim.

Do the women on 5th Avenue really look as elegant as these?

Well...

I have seen one or two of the ladies walking up and down on the street

in a getup like that.

Mighty handsome they look too.

Not nearly as pretty as you'd look

if you had you one of them green silk dresses like that one.

Now, you are flattering me.

Oh, no... Joe.

Hello!

How's my girl?

Been behaving yourself?

Listen, I think I better get on my way.

No, Jim. You're gonna stay for dinner, aren't ya?

No. I'm going to the hotel. I'll get dinner over there.

No, you will not.

Supper's on the stove. Right now.

You didn't tell me about your sister, Joe.

She's been like that for six years.

Hasn't been able to walk a step... it's her spine.

I see.

She was out, riding.

Rattlesnake scared her horse, and she was thrown.

I brought a doctor out from St. Louis last year.

He checked her over, and...

He said it was hopeless.

But, then about three months ago

I got a letter from him.

And he told me about this Dr. Mayorson in New York

could perform an operation something like Ann would have to have.

And, the person's walking again.

That's good.

What would an operation like that cost?

Well... Counting the trip back East,

the operation itself and the convalescence,

it'd cost about 5,000 dollars.

So that's the real reason you're selling the line, huh?

I've convinced her I hate this country.

The work, everything about it.

You did a pretty good job of convincing me, too.

She's never complained.

Never felt sorry for herself.

No, it's always been me.

Me, me. What do I want.

I made her believe it was New York.

All right, you two.

Come and get it.

I believe that's the best piece of pie I've eaten since

Delmonico's, in New York.

Delmonico's!

Yeah.

You know what's one thing about New York?

Guess they got the finest restaurants in the world.

Even people who've been to Europe, say that.

You take places like Delmonico's, Rector's, and

John Wanamaker's.

Wanamaker's?

That's a department store.

Whoop!

I told you I've been reading the magazines.

And I'm beginning to think

that you haven't really been to New York at all.

Oh, yes. I have!

I was there two days once, eight years ago.

You want to know someone, never did find Delmonico's.

I'll get it.

I was told it's a good restaurant, though.

Everybody says it is.

Where is your home, Jim?

Oh, it's a little place not far from San Francisco.

Buttonwillow.

It's not the biggest place in the world,

but those who live there think it's the best.

Good evening, Ann.

Mr. Simpson, I'd like you to meet Mr. Hardie, Wells Fargo.

How are you?

Pleased to meet you.

Mr. Simpson runs the bank.

Been looking forward to meeting you, Mr. Hardie.

Ann, would you excuse us a minute?

I thought we'd get the business out of the way as soon as we could.

Pardon us.

Well, there's not much to do here.

Just... Sign the papers and count the money.

Be sure I haven't borrowed any of it.

Joe.

The company's in you and your sister's name,

you both are gonna have to sign it.

Oh, all right.

Ann! Yes?

JOE: Would you come in here a minute, please?

Coming.

And Mr. Hardie would like you to

sign this bill of sale right here.

Of course.

This is the first time I've ever had to sign anything important.

5,000 dollars is right.

Including the interest, Joe,

You owe the bank 4550 dollars.

You'd like to check the figures?

Oh, no, no.

But, I was just wondering, Mr. Simpson, you know, maybe if,

you just give me a little more time.

Even 6 months would help.

I'd like to, Joe.

If it was just me, there'd be no problem, but,

it's like I explained to you.

You're leaving town. The bank's policy...

JOE: Sure, sure. I understand.

Just how much does that leave us, Mr. Simpson?

450 dollars.

Well, at least you're out of debt, Joe.

That's right.

I better get back to my dishes.

Oh, Mr. Hardie.

Now that Wells Fargo has taken over the stage line

I'd like to ask you a question.

Does your company insure gold shipments?

We've always good any losses to be incurred.

I'm glad to hear that.

If you drop by the bank in the morning, I'd like to discuss it with you.

I'll be glad to.

Good night, Ann.

ANNE: Good night, Mr. Simpson.

Joe.

Oh. Good night, Mr. Simpson.

Good night, Mr. Hardie.

Good night.

A long way short of 5,000 dollars, Joe.

Yeah, well, I'll... I'll work.

I'll work hard in New York.

I bet you will.

Oh, Mr. Hardie, I was about to look you up.

I was just on my way over to see you.

Oh, good.

Mr. Hardie, as you know, this is a mining country.

The mines turn the gold over to us,

and we ship it to the Denver mint.

And since Wells Fargo has taken over the line,

we'd like to make an arrangement with you.

We'd simply turn the gold over to you,

and you would have full responsibility of it,

from that moment on.

We've been doing that since

before the Gold rush days in California.

I know that.

And since we knew that you were taking over the Braddock line,

we accumulated quite a bit of gold in our safe.

And it's overdue at the mint, we'd like to ship it out today.

Today?

Hadn't planned on making a run quite that soon.

Oh?

Well, that's too bad.

It's very important to me.

I don't like to carry that much gold in the safe.

Well, I suppose I could make the run if I had to drive myself.

Can't afford to lose a customer before we get open for business, you know.

Good. The townspeople are gonna be glad to hear

that we've finally got an express company we can trust.

Come in.

Hello, Jim. Hello, Ann.

Where's Joe?

Didn't you see him? He just went outside a few minutes ago.

No. He's probably in the barn. I'll find him.

Thank you.

Joe!

Bank's asked me to deliver a shipment for 'em today.

Oh.

Well, he wouldn't give the business to the Braddock line.

I think you could understand that. Can't you?

Sure, sure. Too risky.

I'd like to have you drive for me

and I'll ride the shotgun.

No. No, I made my last run yesterday.

The company is yours now. Lock, stock and barrel.

We'll pay you, and pay you well.

I wanna get out of here as fast as I can.

It's gonna take me all day to get packed. I'm sorry.

You know of anyone that you could recommend to drive for me?

Well, Mike Langer.

Fella up the relay station. He could handle the job, but...

To get that far, he might as well go all the way.

I suppose you're right.

Well, we'll be outta here tomorrow.

The place should be yours, then.

Have them all ready.

What, alone?

I couldn't get a driver.

Well, if there's gonna be 20,000 dollars worth of gold,

maybe you'd better put it off till tomorrow.

I believe it'd be all right.

Nobody knows it's going.

Besides, you were the one that's in a hurry to get it moved.

Well, all right. You sign the receipt.

You take full responsibility.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Whoa, there. Whoa!

Where's Joe Braddock?

Getting ready to go to New York!

Get this team got hitched.

Bottle of whiskey inside

if you care to cut the dust in your throat

Thank you, water will do fine.

Robert Langer!

Don't! He winged me yesterday.

Langer, wait!

Wait!

Hyah!

Whoa, now. Whoa, there!

Where's Joe?

What's happened?

I just wanna talk to him.

Something has happened, hasn't it?

Tell me!

Has he been here this morning?

Of course he's been here. He's helping me pack.

All morning?

What is it, Jim? What's he done?

Please, I've got to know.

Don't get excited yet.

Maybe it's nothing. We'll see.

JOE: Jim!

Did you make the run already?

Only got halfway.

As far as the relay station.

Langer's dead.

He's dead?

Well, what happened?

Somebody shot him.

You know, I had a feeling it was Langer yesterday

who tried to hold up the stage.

Langer and somebody who followed us from the rail road station.

That's probably the man who shot Langer.

No. He's dead too.

They didn't kill each other, if that's what you're about to say.

There were only three people who knew about the gold on the stage.

That was the banker, myself, and you.

He's still warm.

He's had a long run.

All right, Hardie. Go ahead, say it.

You were the one who hit me on the head and took the gold.

You'll have a time proving it.

No, I won't.

You got it hidden up there in the hayloft.

Go and get it.

Don't force me, Hardie.

That's not gonna do any good.

You killed two men already.

No, Kenner was trying to kill you,

that's why I shot him.

And Langer?

Look, Mr. Hardie, I needed that money.

You know that.

Now Ann's gonna walk again.

Even if I have to kill you.

Get it.

You're gonna have to draw, Hardie.

I don't think you've got a chance, boy.

This is my business.

I've faced some of the toughest gunfighters that ever lived.

I'm still here.

Go ahead, Hardie. Draw!

Joe!

Joe.

He's all right, Ann.

Whatever he did, Mr. Hardie, he did it for me.

I know that.

JIM: Joe Braddock pleaded guilty to armed robbery.

But the judge was sympathetic to him.

To him and his sister, Ann.

Joe went to prison, all right,

but only for two years.

When he came out, Ann was there to meet him,

walking.

Wells Fargo had something to do with that.

They added an extra 5,000 dollars to the purchase price.

That was enough to send Ann Braddock to New York to have the operation.

And Joe, he's working for Wells Fargo now.