Original subtitles

Veronica!

Who is it? It's me, Porter.

Who are you expecting?

You. It's every hour ago.

Want some coffee?

Please.

How come you smell like you've been drinking? You don't drink.

I had my first beer in three years tonight.

And my second, and my third, and my fourth.

Three years?

Yeah, no drinking, no associating with the wrong people, no leaving my father's

ranch.

In terms of my parole, which ended tonight, I should have told you.

What did you do?

Get caught smoking?

Throwing a brick.

Had a cop. Student riot.

And those weekly trips to San Francisco?

Parole officer?

Sort of. He was there when I was busted. He took an interest in me and arranged

my parole so I could report to him.

I thought it was another woman.

Chief Robert Ironside. Changed my life around.

What are you doing?

Doing some things together.

What? Porter, why are you so antsy? Is something wrong?

Wrong?

Nothing's wrong anymore. I'm free.

Free to do what I want to do. Free to leave the ranch to work.

To paint.

Veronica, what would you say if I told you that Emil Victor is going to look at

my paintings?

Emil Victor?

And maybe take me on as a student.

Chief Ironside set it up for me tomorrow morning at his office at 10 o 'clock.

Oh, Porter.

10 o 'clock?

If you left right now, you'd get there much too early.

Bring your things and your money to my place.

Tomorrow.

Money? Twelve hundred dollars.

I got rooms at my house.

You're going to live and stay with me one year.

I'll see you tomorrow morning at eight o 'clock.

Chief? Amo?

Sir?

Ma 'am?

I feel like I wrote a letter to Santa Claus and I got it all.

A year with Emil Victor.

Live with him, work with him for only 1 ,200 bucks.

If Emil needed another fortune, he could make it selling his autographs. But the

money's only a token.

Still,

1 ,200 is a lot.

Maybe your father could help. No.

I can't ask my father. He doesn't think I'm any good. Emil Victor thinks you're

pretty good, or he wouldn't have accepted you as a student.

There's no problem about the money, really.

I only have two problems.

One, how am I ever going to thank you?

And two, how am I going to tell my father that I'm going to leave the

Callahan.

Morning, Clint.

I'd like to have a talk with Porter.

See you around.

What's the trouble?

Well, the rustlers tried it again last night. Paul Pacheco's place.

Well, now, what's that got to do with my son?

Now, Clint, we've all known for a long time that them thieves couldn't have

gotten away with things the way they have unless they had some local help.

You're trying to put the blame on Porter. You better have some kind of

Just enough, Clint.

Now, where is he?

Well, he rode out of here last evening. I haven't seen him since.

Go ask that gypsy woman friend of his.

Well, now, according to Mr. Yarborough, you'd know where Porter's at if anybody

does.

Yarborough's such a flatterer.

You could twist a kid like that right around your little finger.

Yeah, I'm so much older and wiser.

Jezebel from the city.

That could pass for a small joke.

If it wasn't that, some of the neighbors believe it.

That is a cross I have to bear.

All right, Veronica.

Porter's in deep trouble and he ain't alone.

And if it happens to be on your account, you better tell me before some of the

neighbors find out.

I'll send you a candy, Grant.

Ironside?

No, no, he left here about ten minutes ago.

Who's calling?

Hello? Yeah, I'm here.

I know about you from Porter.

I'm a friend of his.

Can you do anything for him over here in Medina County?

In what regard?

Cattle rustling. They say a boy was hurt last night.

The sheriff has a warrant for Porter's arrest.

Yeah, who's calling?

Who?

Ironside, Mr. Yarborough. It's about your son.

I... No.

No, he's not here, but someone called to... I beg your pardon.

Look, I know what he's running away from.

I'm talking to him. I'm going to help. I won't iota, okay?

So just ring off. It's none of your concern.

Earl.

Do you have to hang around here?

I do. The border shows up at Callahan's orders.

Okay, do it outside.

Okay.

And that's right in, Wendota?

I see. Okay, thanks a lot.

That was the substation clerk.

The man in charge is Under Sheriff Callahan.

Somebody named Jody Peters is in the hospital in bad shape.

And the charge against Porter is grand theft, rustling with assault.

Here it is, Medina County, 1 Dota.

We can be there by 1 o 'clock.

Muncie to Wendota Station.

Dad, I didn't do anything wrong.

We all had a bash down at the pit last night. Order.

$2 ,000.

Where'd it come from?

I'd say someone went poking around in my room and pilfered it out of my desk is

where it came from, Dad.

Order, we've been losing livestock around here, all of us. Almost two years

Ever since I came home from prison, right?

Were you with Paul Pacheco's ranch last night?

Are you going to listen to my answer?

Who was with you?

No one.

You lie.

So I lie.

Now, don't suppose you fired a gun at Pacheco either, did you?

Don't suppose you rode off and left Jody Peters in a ditch.

What ditch? What are you talking about? Jody's in a hospital, boy. He was shot

last night. He's busted up six different ways.

And you better thank God he's unconscious so you can tell us straight

does. I pray that he doesn't remember how his pals rode off and left him alone

there in a ditch to live or die.

Look, if you want any help from me... No, thank you.

Hey, Porter.

Porter, you're under arrest.

Wait!

Just take it easy. Take it easy. Take it easy.

Porter, stop it!

Now, stop it!

Hey, Brown, Sam, it's just old police.

Well, that's just wonderful, but this man is under arrest.

I'm sorry, but I've got to get to the hospital and see Jody. He's hurt.

You listen to me. I just talked to Callahan at the hospital.

Jody Peters just died.

Ironside, huh?

Mr. Yarrow?

I told you on the phone. This is none of your concern.

You were mistaken.

Get back in your truck and get the hell off my land.

Your son is being handcuffed.

All right.

Why don't you get up and dance?

You win, I lose.

I didn't know there was a contest.

The other one made a jailbird out of him.

Let them have him. There isn't one place he'll be damn sure to stay out of

trouble.

You saw what you came to see.

The show's over. Go on home.

I'm sure you don't really want your son sent back to prison.

Listen.

I busted my gut trying to straighten that kid out all the time he was on

A kid won't do an honest day's work without sneaking off to draw pictures

that gypsy in town or over to the city to show him to you.

Now, I'm here to...

Find out what Porter is supposed to have done.

There ain't no supposed to about it. He flat lied.

Tell me what he lied about.

All right.

You tell me.

Where did he get $2 ,000 cash?

And why did he have to hide it away in this room?

Don't you pay him any wages?

Wages?

The whole spread's gonna be his when I'm gone.

It's what I spent my life on, building it up for him.

Nobody ever paid me wages.

He ever ask you for money for any specific reason?

Yeah.

To buy paint with, color crayons, trash.

So he made the money sneaking out and selling stolen cattle. Is that what you

think?

There's more to it than money.

For instance?

Callahan's got all the for instances.

Now, can you really turn your back on Porter?

Even if he is guilty?

You've got it backwards, mister.

He turned his back on me.

Well, I am sorry, Chief, but I've got them all locked up in the car. Maybe

they'll let you talk to them down at the county seat.

Sheriff.

Yes, sir?

You have written reports that cover the attempted theft and Porter's arrest?

Yep. Got them right here.

Wonder if I might have copies.

Sorry, Chief, but this is addressed to the district attorney's office, and I

don't have the authority to open the DA's mail.

Any chance of a verbal report, or did your mother tell you not to talk to

strangers? No, my problem is time. I've got to get the boy down to the county

seat. But my deputy will help you. I hate for him to show his ignorance to

educated folks.

But he'll let you know everything that we know.

Courtesy to a brother officer.

Red, white, and blue.

Chief?

Any luck?

I found a wreck on wheels for ten bucks a day. I'll report on luck after I try

to drive it. How about you?

A few chuckles.

If we're patient, we may get a look at the evidence in hand.

Well? Well, a bunch of the boys went down to the bar and got all beard up.

We know about Porter's celebration.

Okay.

We have four witnesses who say they saw Porter and Jody leaving the bar at the

same time.

And about an hour later, Callahan is cruising along.

And wham, he almost runs into Porter, who's riding his bike without his

And it's on the road leading from the box diamond, which is Paul Pacheco's

ranch. Is that all?

Well, there was money found at his dad's home, and he was looking for the

handgun. The handgun?

Yes, the one that was fired at Mr. Pacheco. We've got two shells from it,

establishing that it was an automatic. We've also taken pictures of the tire

tracks, establishing all three bought their tires across the street at the

repair. And they were all the same kind of tires.

May I see the pictures?

Sheriff Callahan's got him. He's working on it. Someone said there was a truck.

Mm -hmm. Callahan's working on that, too.

And the shelves?

Callahan's working on that, also.

Did, uh, Mr. Pacheco make a statement? And does Callahan have that, too?

Yes, sir, he does.

You familiar with the Julietta Auto Court?

Yes, sir. Yeah, it's right down the highway.

If there's anything more I can do for you, I'll be there for a couple of days.

Okay, fine.

Pacheco, would you please?

How'd you happen to be out here, Mr. Pacheco?

Oh, yeah, I was just riding fence lines looking for what I found last night. I

hope I never find again.

You couldn't identify any of them?

No, they're just too far away.

And the truck?

Well, it was a fair size, about three ton, I'd say.

It's closed in all around, you know, a panel -type van.

It was yellow, all yellow.

A third fellow stopped over yonder.

They only take one or two at a time, you know.

They run them right up inside the truck and off they go.

Then they slaughter them, butcher them, dress them out inside.

Next time they open the doors, they're miles away and the meat's ready for

A few little payoffs and the rest is pure profit, huh?

Yeah. Take about 200 head of cattle from Medina County alone every month.

They work this whole end of the state.

Oh, maybe four or five nights a week.

Who was firing at you?

Oh, one of the two that was down by the fence here.

One of them was Jody.

Well, I reckon so.

I was just firing in the direction of the truck, you know, hoping they'd stop

shooting at me.

Do you mind if I stay a while, look around? No, take all the time you want.

Thank you.

Mr. Pacheco, the hospital is listing Jody Peters dead of injuries.

Your bullet wasn't fatal.

Thanks.

Chief Ironside's office.

Well, howdy, partner. How are things in cow country?

I want to see that Porter has good legal advice. Ask Nick Patelli to stand by

for consultation if he's needed.

Is Porter guilty or innocent?

At this point, I can only guess.

Well, what do I tell Nick Patelli?

Homicide, probably not a murder, but with felony in progress.

Get over here to the Medina County seat, get details from the district attorney,

pass them on to Patelli and to me.

Where will you be?

Okay, um...

I'll be leaving here in about ten minutes. Should be over there by five.

Right.

Find something you like, sir?

I was looking for something by Porter Yarborough.

He does come here and paint, does he?

He mentioned something about a wheelchair.

I'm Chief Ironside's associate, Sergeant Brown.

You didn't mention your name when you called.

Veronica.

Zradina.

men on motorcycles, one with Jody, one, they say, was Porter. Who could the

third have been?

There must be 30 bikes around here.

Porter's friends, Jody's friends?

I wouldn't know.

I really wouldn't.

I'm not accepted in this community.

Why do you stay?

Because I'm not accepted.

Funny thing is, it's the men.

The women bring their kids in for art lessons.

Did Porter pay you for his lessons?

His father thinks that artist is another word for panty waste or bum.

Porter never had a don for lessons or any of this.

Porter has some cash he hasn't explained.

The sheriff doesn't think it's honest money.

Neither does his father, right?

What do you think?

All right, he got the money from me. I bought some of his paintings.

Why be evasive about it?

Because it's Porter's business.

Yeah, the guy in the beat -up Jeep.

Well, what's he doing there? He must be after something.

No. Oh, no.

The minute I leave, I look guilty.

I am.

You bet your life I'm worried. And listen, I mean your life.

Well, look who's suddenly interested in art.

What did the guy want that was just in here?

I was only kidding.

I know culture isn't your bag.

Don't get smart.

What did the cop want?

How'd you know he was a cop?

You kidding? Everybody in town knows it.

Him and that guy in a wheelchair.

Then everybody in town ought to know what he wants.

Asking questions.

What do you care? Buzz off.

Tell me what he said.

Hey, wait a minute.

What makes you so curious about... Jody Peters was a friend of yours, wasn't he?

So what?

He used to come around here a lot.

At night, mostly.

Don't mean nothing.

It might.

If you add it up to a banged -up bike, I saw you over there trying to straighten

out that fender.

In there.

And move.

Three -ton, closed van, metal box, 14 to 16 feet, yellow.

And there should be a bullet hole, a dent, probably high on the left rear

corner. Fran called from the county seat and confirmed that Jody Peters was hit

by a ricochet.

Okay, and Fran's bringing in casting of the left rear tires.

Yeah, as soon as she checks in. And, Mark, start backtracking. Meet Packers,

distributors, cut -rate markets, door -to -door sellers.

Get the state on it, every available unit, tonight.

Sure, but isn't the local sheriff doing anything about this?

Maybe. But I don't think you'll notice the competition.

Later.

You made better castings when you were a rookie.

Yeah, well, I had to take what was left. I was lucky to find anything on the

truck. Which bike is which?

Well, this one was on the hillside.

Outside the fence.

and this is the one that turned around a couple hundred feet away.

That was outside the fence, across from where they cut the wires. The sheriff's

man missed it somehow, and the shell casing was in a ditch a few yards away.

should match the ones Callahan has.

Which tire impression is Jody Peter's? I don't know, but that thing is not off

his bike. I checked at the garage.

Found the shell outside the fence, so this is the one which is the shooting.

This is off his bike because number three turned around, never got that

so this must be Jody Peters deceased.

Now,

if Porter was there, is he two or three?

We've had a report of wild geese in this room.

Speaking of birds, you're early.

Also confused.

I didn't understand you were hiring a lawyer for Porter Yarborough.

I hired no lawyer.

Well, he has one.

By the time I got to the county seat, he was already out in bail. I had nothing

to do but drive him home.

You talked to his father?

Well, not that far home.

He's in town with somebody named Veronica.

Porter? A woman like that was bound to get herself in trouble.

But not killed, and certainly not by Porter Yarborough.

You're sure of that?

No murder weapons. His time is all accounted for until Officer Belding

him off at the store tonight.

And Veronica was dead long before he was even released.

I'm not one to try to outguess a medical examiner. So while you're waiting for

his call, there's a murderer loose.

One of the rustling gang, more than likely.

He's a blamed fool if he's still hanging around here.

What with Porter being able to talk.

If Porter knows him. I'm sure he does.

Thank you.

Time of death was fixed at about four o 'clock this afternoon.

Four o 'clock.

Had to be right after I talked to her.

I wouldn't mention it to Callahan unless you want to take Porter's place in

there.

What about that piece of tailpipe, Chief? Give it to the sheriff?

Not yet. Bring it along when we take Porter home.

And check it against his back?

And check it against his back.

Jody said, come on, I'll show you some fun.

Seemed like a good night for fun, so I followed him.

He left the pit.

I thought I was just going to play chase with him.

The second I saw the truck, I knew what was going on.

Then what possessed you to follow it? Did I say I followed it? Well, you got

there somehow, didn't you? The truck was already there, Dad.

I followed Jody.

Now, maybe he and the other guy were spotting for the wrestlers. I don't

Nah, you were so blotto on beer, you don't know what you were doing.

do you ever listen to him? I try until now. Go ahead, Porter.

I swear I don't know who was driving the truck. I swear I don't know who was

driving the other bike.

I didn't know Jody was hurt. I ran.

It was my first night off probation.

I didn't want to blow it.

Boy, did you ever stop to think?

Didn't you think there were people shooting guns out there? Didn't I just

that I ran?

Was that any thought of reporting what you'd seen?

I thought I was going to tell Sheriff.

Callahan, I wanted to. Then the man almost ran me down.

Why didn't you come home instead of... Because I didn't want to get hassled.

Veronica never hassled me, Dad.

Never.

The tailpipe is not off Porter's bike.

Will you go over there, please?

Why? Why not?

Everything your son has said exactly fits the evidence.

That can mean he's telling the truth, or that he knows the evidence and how to

use it.

I came here as a friend.

I'm going to stay as a friend until I'm sure.

I borrowed these two from Veronica's store. The stylist copied from Cezanne,

whose father wanted him to go into business. Didn't approve of his career.

Whether or not that means anything to you.

May interest you to know that Veronica paid him $50 apiece for the canvas as he

did. That's where the money came from.

If they're worth it.

Surely you know there's something else about these portraits.

What do you think if he was so good, he could draw a better likeness?

Every portrait he made, every one of them is you.

The love is there, it's always been there.

I never said I didn't love the boy.

Just tell him about the lawyer.

You hired a lawyer for him, arranged his bail. Go tell him he needs it.

He lost a friend tonight.

Sure wouldn't hurt him to know he has another.

Might be wise to continue to keep this in our custody and just forget to

it. Who are we zeroing in on? I don't know.

But one of the honest, suntanned faces around here sure belongs to a dangerous

liar.

Hey, Carly. Oh, I love them.

I got a line on a truck.

The truck?

Well, we'll know sometime this morning. It's making a delivery to Henson's Cut

Rate Market.

Okay, we will stick it up.

Well? That's where I checked every motorcycle in town.

Been up and down every street, through every parking lot, every garage.

But you couldn't match up the tailpipe. I'm afraid not.

Then you must have missed one.

You might need a change of pace.

See what you can find in and around Veronica's place.

Ironside.

Yes, Mark.

Is he talking?

Well, he claims he's just a driver of the truck and is no part of the rustling

action. But he's given us the name of their contact man and spotter over

Well, let's have it.

You ain't gonna like it.

Porter Yarborough.

Bingo.

Chief, you still there?

Yes, Mark, we're still here.

Now I think I know why.

It's one of my problems, I guess.

I just never had the love for animals and soil.

You know, things that really turn you on.

Yeah, but you draw pictures of them.

Yeah, and that way I love them. I could just never get into which end of a cow

to punch, you know?

No, I don't know.

Well, you've seen me try.

Yes, I have.

I just figured you weren't trying hard enough.

Well.

It's going to become a rash.

It's my home, isn't it, Dad?

Yeah.

Well?

Say, uh, that woman never let you paint her naked.

No. You lie.

All right, I lie.

Come in.

Well, I do like some of your pictures, I'll say that for you.

All right, Sam, something new turn up?

Yeah, Clint, it has.

Did you find the other rider?

Nope.

Well, then, what's wrong?

Porter, you better come with me.

Hey, wait a minute. He's not up there.

Bale's revoked. He's being re -arrested. Come on.

What's going on?

You've been named.

By who?

You better come with me. Porter, stay where you're at.

Now, wait a second, Dad.

It's okay. Something's gone wrong. We can work it out. Just be cool.

Get out of here.

We'll meet you at the jailhouse.

All right, Zad.

Chief, the gas station across from Veronica's. Guy works here has a bike

one brand new muffler and a recently dented fender.

Could Veronica have seen it?

And a lot more.

Enough to get her killed, maybe.

So the man who killed Veronica and shot up Pacheco feels safe enough not to

leave town.

Must be sure Porter won't talk, or that Porter really doesn't know him.

In which case, who told that driver to give Porter his name?

How about your bare -faced, suntan liar?

Ring later.

in this area. I had Jody and the killer working for him. Jody's dead and your

man at the gas station can't talk without admitting to felony manslaughter

murder.

Where does that leave Porter?

I'd say ready to be killed.

He's a jolly good fellow.

He's a jolly good fellow.

He's a jolly good fellow.

Hey, now, what do you think you're doing?

Got to give me a little nap.

Yeah, well, I can readily understand it, but why don't you pull your car right

up here on the curb, right up against the curb there?

All right, I will as soon as I give it.

All right, I'll do it for you. Come on, now, sir.

Put your hands up on that car.

Keep your hands on the car. Stretch your legs.

Stay right there.

It would help, of course, if we knew for sure who it is.

Great, just great.

Somebody's out to kill me and I'm locked up here in a cage.

Even a deer in hunting season has a chance to run.

Well, at least you'll be on guard.

Well, but... What are you doing in here?

Just checking the accommodations.

It's not very nice in here.

Not very nice at all.

Even so, I'd rather live in here than die in here.

All right, you tell them to call me at home the minute you get a hold of them.

Yes, ma 'am.

Tim?

You keep your hands off my boy until I hear from his lawyer, yeah?

You touch him and I'll have you hide.

And don't be carting him off to the county chief behind my back.

What in thunder is this?

Well, they left his car down the street in the middle of the block. Why don't

you lock him up and I'll go move him, all right? No, we don't need him in here

right now. I've got enough folks bothering me already.

Come on. We wouldn't have it any other way.

Thank you for your courtesy, Sheriff.

We'll be leaving now.

I'd appreciate it.

You can't do this.

Punch the red button to talk.

My boy's life depends on this.

I believe it's the man who told that driver to give Porter's name.

It means for Porter to die before he can get to court. He said it's suicide.

That would close the case.

Our man would be in the clear.

But you don't know who it is.

No. But you know it starts here.

If I knew which one it was, I'd nail him before he drew another breath.

All right.

You say wait.

We'll wait.

Hey, is this thing working?

Yes, go ahead.

A patrol car just went by without lights.

And me are going to take a ride to the county seat.

So just turn over and take your belt off.

Sure. Loop it around my neck so they can find me hanging from these bars.

No way.

No way.

You're going to have to use your gun.

Well, then I probably will.

I'm going to take you out there to that black and white and I'm going to off you

for busting out of here and trying to escape.

Suicide is better. It's kind of a confession.

But if I have to, I'm going to blow your head off for trying to escape.

It's going to have to do in a pinch.

Well, then.

All right, you're calling the shots.

Pull him.

Pull him.

Take his feet.

Take his piece.

Fire one shot if it's healing.

The signal won't be necessary.

Don't move a damn thing. Except some fat -headed city cop coming up here trying

to trump up some wild ideas.

Now, number one, them rustlers always seem to know where we ain't. That ain't

fault. Number two, I never authorized you to move the boys. You listen to me.

I've got initiative. You don't have anything.

I think the shells you picked up at Pacheco's will fit this.

Earl, don't you say nothing.

Give me that.

Now I feel anything.

Hello, son.

Dad.

Hey, where are you going with that junk?

Inside. You told me to bring it and paint it home. Porter, I never said in

house.

Come here.

Well, come on, come on.

Now, listen, Dad, I'm not... Do I ask you to do what?

Will you please?

You're not supposed to put these in the barn.

Now, that's where pills are kept.

And ain't they the tools of your trade?

A room.

You had it cleaned out.

Well, how the hell do you expect it to work if you don't have any privacy?

Don't get mushy on me.

Porter.

What do you want me to tell Amy or Victor?

I'd love to study with them, Chief, but I'm not going to live over there.

I mean, this is a great place.

Great place to work and paint and... And it's home.

And it's home.