Original subtitles

♪

That Thad?

I don't know. It looks like him.

Yeah, that's him all right. I told you he'd show.

Same old Thad.

He looks good, don't he?

Yeah, he looks real good.

Everything's gonna work out all right now.

Everything's gonna be fine.

Now where's Ritter?

We're supposed to meet up with him,

make him feel welcome.

Yeah, Ritter, he... He knows how to talk to Thad.

Think so, Dean?

Hey, there he is downwind!

Well, now what... What is he riding

all hell-bent for leather for?

Oh!

Oh, my sweet cousin Thad!

Oh! Oh, it's so good to see you!

I got your message, Ritter. What do you want?

You know what I want, cousin.

We want you to come back to your rightful place

as head of the family, that's what we want.

Now that Dutch and Dean are out of the jail.

I'd like to, Ritter.

You know the family means a whole lot to me,

but see, I got this steady job now for the new rancher.

You probably saw him.

Guy talks funny, yeah. What is he?

Scotch, English. His name is Colonel Mackenzie.

Thad, you're our leader.

You know all the right ways to pick off the herd.

- You're the best. - Look, Ritter, things have changed

since I taught you boys how to cut beef.

They got law and order everywhere now.

Look, cousin...

I'm gonna say something to you now.

The boys, they run into themselves without you.

You're the only one in the whole family

that has any brains!

- Besides me. - I know, Ritter.

It's my brains that are telling me

that cattle rustling's a thing of the past.

It won't work.

Oh! Oh! Oh!

I can't believe you're my cousin.

Y... ah, you found a woman.

That's right. Woman, kids. They got me tied down.

- Ah! - Now, look, Ritter,

you're going to have to go back and tell your brothers

that they're going to have to find somebody else

to lead the pack 'cause I'm out of it.

I see your point, but the others,

they can't see enough for sour apples.

They can't see. I told you, they're dumb!

Look, Ritter, I'll... I'll even help you get started.

I'll leave a dozen beefs out here

where you can collect them anytime you want.

That's no help at all, Thad.

Thad, we need you.

You heard me, Ritter. The answer is no.

I can't say that to the boys.

You know I can't take that back to the boys.

No.

You're just going to have to.

Oh, no, no, man.

Look, Ritter, I'm not coming with you.

Dutch is crazy, so's Van, and Dean's even worse.

Oh... the next thing I know,

you're going to say that I'm crazy.

Well, you know, there is kind of a crazy streak

runs in the family.

Now you just say it plain,

that your cousin Thad's walking a straight line now,

and nothing or nobody is going to push him off.

Straight line.

Ah.

You'll push, Thad.

Ooh, Ritter pointing at him.

Van!

Van, you go on down there and find out why

that silly jackboot is pointing at Thad.

Family must be nearby.

Oh, look at that.

Your cousin Van. It's your cousin.

He's the second youngest, you know that?

I'm not going, Ritter.

You don't want to mess with me and Van, do you?

What's doing, Ritter? How come you pointing?

You won't shoot, Ritter.

The Colonel's out there with a couple of hands

checking brands.

He'll hear the shot and come running.

I really appreciate you warning us, I really do.

He says no. You go tell the others.

- Well, how come? - I don't know.

Just no reason, no reason at all.

Well, he's got to.

That's what I've been telling him.

Isn't that right, cousin? Haven't I done that, cousin?

Go tell Dutch.

That sounded like on our land.

Not too far from the corral.

Anybody out there?

Thad Miley, I saw him heading east about noon.

Let's take a look, all right? You stay here.

♪

That's all you know is shoot, shoot!

He was trying to draw on me.

You were pointing at him.

Oh, come on, now,

you know how good cousin Thad is.

Was. He's dead, can't you see?

Now who we gonna get to lead us?

Who are we gonna get to show us the way, what to do?

We're likely to get hung.

Well, we're going to get hung if we hang around here.

We sure are.

- Where we going to go? - We gotta go this way!

- Let's go this way, right? - Well, let's go this way!

No, man, you can't go that way.

Go that way.

That's Thad Miley's horse.

Go pick him up, huh?

He's dead.

Shot at close quarters.

About three feet, it looks like.

Gun's still in the holster.

Looks like someone's out to steal a little livestock.

Yeah, wanna go round up some men and get those horses?

Right.

You ride into town and notify the Sheriff.

You coming, Colonel?

No, I think I'll take a little quiet look around.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Morgan?

I'm Colonel Mackenzie.

I know who you are, Colonel,

and I know you were at Balaclava with the 17th Lancers.

Hey, you seem to have quite an intelligence service.

Well, I'll tell you, around here,

we call it dirty gossip.

What can I do for you, Colonel?

You sell cartridges like this?

Oh, sure, everybody sells them cartridges.

That's a Mason Packard waterproof rim fire.

You know, the gun that fired that

must have had a triangle-shaped firing pin.

Yeah.

Say, you're right, that ain't no ordinary

- strike mark, is it? - No.

You know, the firing pin that made that

there wedge-shaped firing mark was custom-built

by Sutter Ordinance, St. Louis, Missouri.

You know, I sold two custom-balance handguns.

Had a firing pin that'd make a strike mark just like that.

Let me look here and see.

Uh... oh.

One of them was sold to that there Ritter Miley.

Lives over in Mason City, been known to gamble some.

- Mm-hmm. - The other one...

well, I'll be darned.

I sold the other one to a young fella works for you, Colonel.

Trampas, he's also been known to gamble some.

- Trampas? - Yeah.

Anybody get shot?

Yeah. Dead.

What are you doing away from the ranch, Trampas?

Oh, I gotta pick up some luggage at the train station.

- Oh, yeah? - Mm-hmm.

Who's coming in?

The boss' cousin.

All the way from London, England.

Oh.

- Hey, tell me something. - Hmm?

How's that Colonel to work for?

Oh, he's like any boss.

No, I mean him being a military man.

Oh, well, he likes to ramrod us English style.

Plenty of saddle soap.

Likes to see his reflection in the brass work.

I gotta go.

- See you later. - So long.

What are you waiting for, Trampas?

The train, what else?

- It's come and gone. - Oh?

Miss Mackenzie's in here.

- Uh, Miss McKenzie? - Yes.

My name's Trampas.

The Colonel left orders for me to wait here for you

and wait for him and help you with your luggage.

- How do you do? - How do you do, ma'am?

Um, the train was early.

Yeah, first time for everything.

Uh, this the whole kit and caboodle?

- Caboodle? - Everything.

Oh, yes, yes.

Maybe I got my orders wrong.

Maybe I was supposed to drive you back to Shiloh.

Oh, no, his letter said he would meet me here at the train.

Seeing how it's 100 degrees heat

in your waiting room here, Miss McKenzie and I

are gonna go cool off.

If the Colonel comes, tell them we're having

refreshments over at Everly's.

About 31 degrees southwest of the corrals.

And about 650 yards away.

Picked this up in some cover.

You see that the casing has a wedge-shaped strike mark.

Yes, sir, I see that.

Now the gunsmith tells me there are two men

who own guns that would make that kind of a mark.

One is a man from Mason City named Ritter Miley,

and one of my ranch hands, Trampas.

Where is he now?

Well, if I see him, I'll tell him

to report to you, Sheriff.

You saved me a lot of trouble, Colonel.

Yeah.

So, this is the wicked potion.

Oh.

It's marvelous.

Only one to a customer.

Oh.

Here.

Oh, no, sorry, thank you.

Um, please tell me your name again.

I'm not sure I've got it right.

Trampas.

Is that all?

I've been called a couple other names,

but I never use them.

You come on purpose?

Oh, yes, most definitely. I'm a journalist.

Oh.

I write for various publications in England.

And, well, I live in Chelsea in London,

and my father is Colonel Mackenzie's first cousin,

and he invited me out here to visit the ranch.

And, well you see he stayed with my family in London,

so he's returning the courtesy.

I've always wanted to write about the American frontier.

And the picture of cowboys in The Illustrated News,

they're so, um...

- Quaint. - I was going to say appealing.

Appealing.

I never thought of them in that light.

Are you a cowboy?

Well, I guess you could say that.

I ride a horse, and I punch cows,

but I'm not so sure I'm appealing.

If I find out, I'll let you know.

Vanessa!

- Alan. - Vanessa, you look wonderful.

Welcome to the last outpost of civilization.

Darling, I'm sorry I missed you at the station.

Oh, your trains are too fast.

But I've been properly escorted and kept cool and comfortable.

Yeah, I bet you have.

Darling, I'm sure you've been shaken to pieces by trains

for days on end, but I'm gonna have to shake you

a few minutes more.

- We got a bit of a problem - What kind of problem?

Well, it concerns your... Your escort here.

Seems he got himself under an unpleasant cloud.

I forget something?

Trampas, far as I'm concerned,

you've been a first-class hand to me and that's it,

but I'm going to have to ask you a few questions

that might pin your ears back.

You're the boss. Pin away.

Could I see one of your bullets?

Yeah.

Here.

Mason Packard, huh?

Yeah, it's supposed to be the best.

Yeah. Could I see your gun?

Yeah, you, uh...

Do you mind telling me what you got on your mind, Colonel?

I got nothing on my mind except to clear things up.

You've got to understand this, Trampas, I'm not accusing you.

I understand, sir, but I'd like to know

what you're not accusing me of.

Thad Miley.

Thad Miley?

Uh, I seem to have arrived in the middle of something.

I assure you I'm perfectly willing to wait somewhere else.

Vanessa, forgive me, I hate to make

- a big mystery of this but... - Something happen to Thad?

He's dead.

Uh... I think I'd better sit down.

You don't think I had anything to do with it.

If I had my way, we'd jump in that wagon

and head back to Shiloh,

but you know the authorities have to keep records,

and it's important that we show

that you had nothing to do with it.

I'm getting the feeling I'm in real trouble.

You've got a problem, and this is it.

A custom-made sidearm

by Sutter Ordinance of St. Louis.

And it did have something to do

with what happened to Thad Miley.

Not that one. Thad was a friend.

Tell you what, why don't we go down to the Sheriff's office

for a couple of minutes and lay our cards on the table?

Uh, yeah.

You all right?

Oh, yes, I believe so.

The Illustrated News pointed out

that travelers in the West could expect

to meet some... hazards.

I'm sorry, Miss McKenzie to get your visit

off on the wrong foot.

Go ahead, Trampas.

Oh. Here's your umbrella, ma'am.

Oh, thank you.

Vanessa, we've got a couple of calls to make.

I think we'll drop by the gunsmith, huh?

Want any help?

- Hello, Mr. Morgan. - Hi, Trampas, Colonel.

Mr. Morgan.

I want to introduce my cousin, Miss McKenzie.

- Oh, how do, ma'am? - How do you do?

What can I do for you fellas?

Do you have a firing mat?

Do I have a what?

A place to test.

Oh! Oh.

I just use this old quilt.

I fold it around the gun to block the muzzle flash

and shoot it right into the floor if you want.

Well, let's test it then.

Oh, sit down.

Right here in this chair, ma'am.

Could I get you something, some iced tea or something?

No, I'm fine.

Sorry, Vanessa, this won't take a minute.

Thank you.

There we are.

Ah, wedge-shaped firing pin just off the rim.

I was hoping it would hit in the center.

Is, uh... that's what did it?

Let's let the Sheriff ask the questions,

huh, Trampas?

- Yeah. - Are you all right?

Oh, yes, I'm quite all right.

Let's go, Trampas.

See that?

Uh, Sheriff?

Sheriff, may I introduce my cousin, Miss Mackenzie.

- Miss Mackenzie. - How do you do?

Cartridge case, Mason Packard.

Sidearm, Sutter Ordinance.

I sound like a ruddy quartermaster.

- These are mighty close, Colonel. - Yeah.

You pressing charges?

Good heavens, no.

Trampas is one of my best hands.

I want to do everything I can to help him, and don't forget,

Sheriff, he came in of his own free will.

We try to be fair to everyone, sir.

Trampas, you mind to answer some questions?

That's what I'm here for.

Oh, my deputy'll help with your luggage, Colonel. Russ?

We'll get the carriage and come back and collect you.

Yeah, well, I... I may need collecting.

Don't forget, Sheriff, I want a full report.

- I'll keep you posted, sir. - Vanessa?

Trampas, I'm not gonna charge you yet.

That cousin of his is kinda pretty.

I really didn't get to notice.

I've been too busy not being accused of murder.

That's it, isn't it?

Thad Miley was murdered.

Somebody put a bullet in him up close.

How do you know I didn't?

Well, I didn't.

It's a dead match, Trampas.

Down to the scratches?

The lead's lost so I got nothing to compare on the bore.

The chamber's custom cleaned,

so there's no scratches on the shell case.

You can't hold me on no scratches.

- I gotta hold you suspect. - Hold me?

What I'm saying is I gotta put your name in the record book.

Am I under arrest?

Precautionary arrest.

Well, how does that differ from just plain old hard-nose arrest?

I'm cutting you loose on bail.

- How much? - $50.

You might as well lock me up.

I'll take your word.

- Can I have my gun back? - I'm afraid not.

I might need that for evidence.

Look, Mark, either arrest me or cut me loose.

- I am cutting you loose. - And you're not accusing me?

Mainly because Ritter Miley owns a gun like this.

Well, Ritter's in town.

- How do you know? - We played cards at Everly's.

It was, uh... Thursday night.

He's gonna be hot when he hears about this.

- Thad and he were cousins. - You leave Ritter to me.

Don't you go looking for trouble.

Trouble's one thing I don't have to go looking for.

Thanks, Mark.

Trampas?

Oh, howdy, ma'am.

The colonel tells me you were released

on your own recognizance.

I don't know about that, ma'am,

but he... He helped cut me loose, yeah.

I've been worried about you.

Oh?

I guess it is kind of worrisome to meet up with somebody

on your first day mixed up in a killing.

Oh, we don't have that sort of problem in Chelsea.

Oh?

I'm not sure how to behave correctly.

Uh, well, the colonel's been awful nice about this,

but I think if I were him, I'd prefer

that you and I don't get too friendly.

I respect the colonel,

but I'm his relative, not his ward.

Anyway, I intend to write an article about you.

- About me? - Yes.

Well, you seem to be calm and collected, but underneath,

you're seething with tempestuous emotions.

You must be quite a writer.

Well, it's true, isn't it?

You're furious at being under suspicion.

Yeah, yeah, I'm not...

I'm not too happy about it, but then again,

I'm not clean under.

He did cut me loose on bail.

It may be that my being foreign to everything here

helps me to see things in their...

In their true light.

Trampas, you can confide in me

even if you are somehow mixed up in it.

I promise I won't tell anyone,

and I'll do everything I can to help you.

By writing about me?

Only to help you, and you do need help, you know.

You Americans are a primitive people.

You can't be expected to bear up like the English.

According to The Illustrated News,

you... you lose control quite readily.

Doesn't that make you a little afraid of us?

Not really.

I feel that kindness helps wild things to be gentle.

It's kind of you to take such an interest.

Oh, we'll talk about it some more

when you feel you can trust me.

Maybe tonight at the swing up there by the porch.

Maybe I...

I need time to see if I can...

- trust you. - Yes, ma'am.

Yeah.

Three.

Three coming up. And three for the dealer.

I'll, uh, bet ten.

Ten.

What you got?

Big pair.

Nothing.

Straight.

How come I seem to be always put out of business

when you're dealing, Ritter?

I can see it. Don't start on me.

Start? Why stop?

What he just say?

You're suggesting I'm nicking cards, right?

You do have a big thumbnail.

I'm trying to be a good guy.

Just quit biting on me, Trampas.

Well, let's see what happens without a dealer,

leave it up to the laws of chance, hmm?

Do you hear him crowding me? Did you hear it?

I'm not crowding you.

I'm just crowding you into a high card.

Well, now you my witnesses.

I'm playing a peaceful game of poker,

and he's sore from losing fair!

All right, tell you what, Ritter.

I'll put all the money I got here in front of me.

Let's see, here's 20, one, two, three, four.

And one silver.

Where's your gun?

I don't play with guns.

Oh, come on, Ritter.

Why, I'll even throw in this old carbine.

I heard you were pulling the same stuff

on my cousin Thad.

What stuff?

Threats and all.

What kind of threats?

You see my brother, my brother Van, and me

both heard you arguing with him over a poker debt.

He speaks for my way of hearing.

- Is that a fact? - Mm-hmm.

Well, that makes you a witness against me, too.

Put your gun on the table, Ritter.

Well, no, I can't do that. If I draw, you shoot.

You draw for him. Come on.

Put your hand on the butt slow.

Ah! Leave it there.

All right, pick the high card, Ritter.

Okay.

I'm gonna cut.

Four of clubs.

Ten of hearts.

Let me see his gun.

Easy. By the butt.

That's not his gun.

Are you drunk or crazy?

You carry a custom special Sutter Ordinance,

St. Louis, Missouri.

You see what I carry.

That's a Sharp's pepper box.

Oh, I'm sorry. .31.

Then you switched it.

Let me see yours.

Slow.

Easy, by the... easy.

.36 Whitney.

Well, you got it all put away, don't you, Ritter?

Don't try to wipe it off on me.

We heard you cursing Thad

the night before the Colonel found him.

You just keep saying that, Ritter,

just keep on saying that.

Ladies and gentlemen, you're my witnesses

to what this man is doing.

We were playing peaceful, weren't we?

You hear any noise?

What about him?

Playing peaceful

till he laid that carbine on the table!

- You're my witnesses! - All right, break it up.

Put those guns away.

There's time for one more drink on the house

before we close down for the night.

Sure appreciate you stepping in, Sheriff.

Good night.

Good night, Sheriff.

- Ritter's your man. - Got any proof to back it up?

You know he carries a custom Sutter.

I didn't see it.

The gunsmith's records said he sold him one.

Says he sold you one, too.

Oh, come on, Mark, you know I didn't do it.

No, I don't know it.

Mind if I get a breath of fresh air?

It's getting kind of stuffy in here.

Fresh air'd be the best thing in the world for you, Trampas.

Give you a cool, clear head.

Can I have my carbine?

No, I think I'd rather see you unarmed.

Them two guns is alike as peas in a pod.

Yeah, I know, and the Sheriff's starting to clamp down on me.

Ah, look, Trampas, you might as well face it,

Ritter Miley, he seen you a-coming.

He knows I keep a record of everyone buying Sutter pistols,

so he just stashed his and left you to come up looking foolish.

He left me looking guilty, that's how he left me.

He's also passing lies about me arguing with his cousin, Thad,

and that brother Van of his backed him up on it.

Well, I can see where it might be beginning

to get a little tight around your windpipe.

I know the Mileys. They're all a little touched,

and that Ritter, he's... whoo.

And two of them went to prison.

I heard them two got out.

You did. Oh, that's great.

Then they'll be working on me, too.

It's a wonder to me that you're even out walking around.

I thought suspicion of murder was supposed to rule out bail.

Ah, well, the Colonel didn't press charges,

and the Sheriff's trying to help me,

but if the evidence keeps piling up on me,

he's gotta haul me in and slam the gate.

Uh, Morgan, hey...

would you be willing to help me?

It does get a little dull sitting around this shop

all the time fixing other people's guns, I...

Look, let's just say that I help you

feel out the situation.

That's just fine, fine.

Would you loan me a gun and a box of these...

These .38's?

A gun?

Yeah.

Y-you remember that them things is dangerous.

I'll remember that, Morgan. Thanks.

- Hello, Ritter. - Hello.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to spook you.

Oh, it's all right. It's all good.

You're passing pretty bad remarks about me.

Oh, now, no need to get so hot about it.

No, I'm not hot.

I just want to know why you lied.

You're not trying to pin Thad's murder on me, are you?

You... you saying I'm lying?

Thad told me that you was arguing

about something in a poker game.

And you just passing on

to anyone who's willing to listen.

You oppressing me.

And you wanted me to...

You know, high card.

Well, I wanted your gun.

Yeah, I know that. Why's that?

Well, Thad was killed by a custom Sutter pistol bore.

You think I'd shoot my own kin?

Wow.

Now listen to me.

You saw my gun.

It wasn't a Sutter.

I know one thing for sure, though,

a gun hand like you wouldn't carry a Sharp's pepper box.

Why, he can't draw it. He can't fan it.

Sort of flops around in your hand.

Yeah, yeah, it really doesn't work too good, does it?

They're all right,

but they're nothing like a custom Sutter.

Yeah I had one, Trampas, I had one.

Oh, it was about a year ago.

I sold it up in Tallahatchie, and I got a bill of sale for it.

- That right? - Yeah.

Oh, can I see it?

You bet.

- What's that for? - Never mind.

Just stand back and do as I say.

Sure.

Well, what do you know?

Custom Sutter just like mine.

Give it back.

Unh-unh. Tell him not to shoot, Ritter.

Why?

I got my finger tight on this trigger.

If I'm hit, you'll get a .38 right into you.

Van, nice and easy.

His knuckles are turning white from squeezing that trigger.

Well, we can't stay here.

We can hang around here as long as it takes.

Why should you give a care? Nobody's lined up on you.

Why don't you let him go so we can go on about our business?

Maybe we can back up to where you took out the gun.

If I give him your gun, will you tell him to go?

You bet!

Van?

Mm-hmm?

I don't need you helping me to get shot.

I can slam one through the base of his head.

He'd never have time to pull.

I'd just as soon not put it to the test,

- if you don't mind. - You two suit yourself.

I can stay here till daybreak.

Toss the Sutter back here.

Catch.

Don't shoot. It's me.

- I got the gun. - Good, good.

Listen, you see, your horse is over there,

My horse is over there.

I'm going to get on my horse and I'm gonna give you the signal.

You take off, and I'll follow you.

Okay. Okay, go.

Yah!

All right, Ritter, get up, get up.

Sure.

Oh!

What's the matter?

Oh, I don't know.

I think my... My shoulder's pulled.

I can't get up.

All right, all right, I'll help you get up.

Here, get a hold. Come on.

Yeah, I got it, I got it.

That's mighty kind of you. Thank you, Trampas.

I think we should go to the Sheriff's office.

- Let's go. - Unh-unh, your brother's got your gun.

It's your word against mine.

Right now, mine's not worth much.

Why, shoot, you tell the Sheriff I jumped you

with a deadly weapon, and that's assault.

- You know what I mean? - Yeah, sure, I know you mean.

Is that what's gonna happen? You better make up your mind.

Because you know the Sheriff's gonna come by here

with all the gunfire going on, he's gonna come by here.

I made up my mind. Let's go, come on, this way.

Yeah, sure.

See? Now, you don't want to fight me

with a crippled shoulder, now do you, Ritter?

I know you don't want me to shoot you.

You wouldn't kill me, not me.

You must like looking down my barrel, Ritter.

- Let's go. - Okay.

You left him. You ran out on him!

You're stupid, Van!

Don't you talk to me. I don't run out.

He was right behind me.

Well, he's there, and you're here.

Well, at least I got the gun, didn't I?

Yeah, you got the gun.

Trampas probably got him in jail by now.

Then maybe you know what cell the Sheriff's keeping him in.

This much I know, we're gonna get him out.

That's more than I know.

It's too bad we ain't got cousin Thad around here

to tell us what to do.

I mean, at least Ritter had half a brain.

Now we ain't got nothing.

Yeah, nothing.

You sure nobody'll be able to hear him?

That cyclone cellar, that's watertight.

Hold anything.

Yeah, well, you sure he can breathe?

I'm already up for one murder.

Well, as long as he lays still and don't exert himself none.

How long you planning on holding him?

I'm gonna hold him long enough till he breaks

- or his brothers break. - Or you break.

I'm betting it's got something to do with the Mileys.

I know them, they stick together like a pack of wolves.

You watch, they'll come in for this kind of bait.

- Sheriff? - Yeah?

I'm Ritter Miley's brother.

Well, which one are you?

I'm Van.

I got word for him.

What makes you think your brother's here, Van?

Well, we figured Trampas put him in jail by now.

What's Trampas got to do with Ritter?

Well, there's bad blood between them, Sheriff.

Well, neither one of them's here, Van.

Maybe I'd better go talk to Trampas.

Oh, Van?

You talk nice and quiet now.

No trouble.

Yes, sir.

The main thing is to act like nothing's out of the ordinary.

That way, something has to pop.

Try the ginger beer. It's from England.

Oh.

Call that beer, huh?

I knew you'd like it.

Well, how do you like my first American picnic?

Well, it's, uh...

uh, it's close.

Did I leave anything out?

No, it's, uh, more what you've included in.

Oh, well, it does seem rather a lot,

but I wanted to give you a choice.

Well, you certainly...

Now, you listen to me, Trampas.

While Miss Mackenzie's my guest, I'm responsible for her.

- Yes, sir. - I'm sorry, Trampas.

I am a guest, and I suppose it's not proper

for me to go dashing off without a clearance

from command headquarters.

Instead of calling me names, she throws the Army in my face.

Now, simmer down.

Now, if I was Thad...

I'd capture one of them.

Why?

To hold them as a... a hostage.

Thad wouldn't, no, sir.

He'd never touch the woman.

You start that, and you're gonna hang for sure.

No, what I mean is hold one of them as hostage

to trade in exchange for Ritter.

The Sheriff swore up and down that he wasn't holding Ritter.

And you believed him.

He ain't gonna trade Ritter for Trampas.

Why not?

'Cause he'd let us kill Trampas

to save him the trouble of hanging him.

Yeah, that's right, Dean. You're right.

But he'd trade sure for Mackenzie.

Now how you gonna catch hold of the colonel?

The same way that Thad took care of that railroad guard

back in Cooperstown.

You still got the makings?

In my saddlebag.

Good, we'll do it back by the Oak Tree Road.

You come back with me in the buckboard, huh?

I've got the surrey.

Please, we'll follow you in five minutes.

All right.

No hard feelings?

Well... not too many.

You know, I hate to stand guard like the midnight watch,

but while this search is going on, anything can happen.

Something fell on you, Trampas, and she'd be out here alone.

Now, I'm all for picnics and singsongs round the campfire

but not out on the open range, you follow me?

Yes, sir.

You're quite right, I'm sorry.

Mm, steak and kidney pie. It's good.

♪

Giddyap.

Here it comes.

Giddyap. Giddyap.

What was that?

Sounded like blasting powder. Come on.

♪

Whoa, whoa.

Trampas, oh...

It's all right. It's all right.

Oh...

Oh... what happened?

It's all right.

- Trampas, where is he? - It's all right, it's all right.

Where is he?

I don't know.

How do you know he didn't jump clear?

- I looked all over. - Any tracks?

Yeah, looked like about three horses.

They were headed for the riverbank.

Who would want to capture him?

It's hard to say, Miss Mackenzie.

He hasn't been out here long enough

to deserve any enemies, least not that we know of.

I'll go out and have a look.

Sheriff!

Stage driver was stopped about a mile out of town.

He thought it was a hold-up,

but they gave him this and turned him loose.

Looks like it was written by a six-year-old.

"Set Ritter free or...

find your man dead by sundown."

What do they mean, set Ritter free?

Well, one thing, it means Van Miley's in on it.

He was in here looking to see Ritter.

Trampas, I got some questions to ask you when I get back.

Yeah, all right.

Come on, I know why they captured the Colonel,

and I think I know how to set him free.

Morgan! Morgan!

Morgan! Hey.

It's all right, he's coming around.

Morgan? Hey.

Ritter, he got away.

How?

Well, I come in to bring him his dinner.

When I kneeled down, he belted me with the trap door.

How long ago? Let me help you to your feet.

I got here about... About quarter past.

Oh, no more than a few minutes.

He couldn't get far with that shoulder of his.

Well, he probably took my wagon from out in back.

- You steady enough to walk? - I'm all right.

Come on, here.

Stop right where you are. Don't move.

Ritter? There's two of us.

You hit me, and Morgan's gonna get you.

Try it, Trampas.

Hey, Ritter! I don't think you got a gun.

You don't think I got a gun?

Oh, I took it off your bench.

You got the Patton .38?

That's it.

Hey, Trampas, you can take him.

The rollers on that gun is busted.

All right, Ritter, here I come.

I thought you said the roller was ruined.

Well, it did fire once in a while,

but I guarantee you it'll never pop twice.

- You don't say. - Ritter?

That's me.

You just put your gun out of commission, Ritter!

You'd better lay it down! I ain't a-kidding!

You heard it misfire.

You pull that trigger one more time,

it's liable to blow up right in your face!

Morgan.

You can take him now. I'm sure it won't go off.

You sure?

You can take him.

You'd better be right this time.

Don't move, Ritter! Or I'll shoot.

No, no, no, no, don't shoot.

I told you, d-don't shoot, Trampas.

I didn't shoot to hit you.

Yeah, well, you didn't miss by far.

- You're fixing to take my wagon. - Get down, Ritter!

Do you know where your brothers are hiding?

I'm coming down, sir.

- Huh? - Get down, get down.

Yeah, I'm coming down.

Now you know where they're hiding?

- Maybe. - There's no maybe about it!

Now, they're holding the Colonel in exchange for you,

and I gotta turn you over to Dutch by sundown

- or they'll kill him. - You ought not to have kept me prisoner.

Just shut up and tell me where your brothers are hiding!

I'm not moving.

Ritter, you know, you're trying my patience.

You really are.

Your word's the only thing the Sheriff's got against me.

I'd as soon see you dead.

Right between your eyes.

- Let's go. - That's right, get in the wagon.

We'll go down Oak Road. See if you can find the Sheriff.

He's bound to leave some kind of trail.

- What about Miss Mackenzie? - I'll take her with me in the wagon.

All right, girls, yah.

Now, Colonel?

Where are they holding him?

Who?

The Sheriff.

Holding who?

Our brother.

I don't know your brother.

- Ritter Miley. - I haven't had that pleasure.

What's he saying?

I do recognize the name Miley.

Thad Miley was an employee. Engaged in my services.

- What's that? - Thad Miley is our cousin.

But never mind about him. The Sheriff has got Ritter.

He's holding him prisoner. Where?

Why don't you consult the Sheriff?

What?

He says to go ask the Sheriff.

- I did. - The Sheriff,

what did he tell you to do?

How would I know the Sheriff's procedures?

The Sheriff reports to you.

No, not unless it relates specifically to my...

Don't talk down to me.

He means it ties into his business, Dutch.

I know what he means.

I wish you'd tell me.

Now, you're the rich man.

They all take orders from you.

No, the people responsible to me are those in my direct employ.

Now I said don't talk down to me!

I ain't one of your soldiers.

Maybe he don't know where they're holding Ritter.

Oh, he knows. He knows.

He knows all about it. Can't you see he's in charge?

You're gonna tell us, Mr. Colonel.

You're gonna beg to tell us...

where you got our brother.

Yeah, I'll tell you.

Where to go burn, you half-wit!

Where... where they hiding Ritter, hmm?

You're going at him wrong, Dutch.

Now, if Thad was here, he'd tell you.

They put him to the test in the wars.

He won't tell you even if he knows.

I'll get it out of him.

Well, you care to bet on it?

He'll tell me.

Bet you 250 he don't.

I'll take that bet.

- You're on. - Real good.

♪

Whoa.

All right, get down.

Yeah, get down.

Shh!

Be quiet, Ritter, you hear me?

I didn't say nothing, Tramp...

I said be quiet, and you'd better be quiet.

Colonel's inside. We'll get him out of there.

Trampas, you're not going to trust them, are you?

Don't have much choice, do we?

But if we give Ritter to them, they may...

Yeah, they'll still kill him.

You can't go in there alone. There are three of them.

Have to figure a way to pull them out one at a time.

Yes, but how?

Feel strong enough to help?

I think you'll find the Mackenzies are quite hardy.

Can you hear me?

Van.

It's the girl. The Colonel's cousin.

Watch out, it's a trap.

Answer her.

Yeah, we hear you.

I just came from Ritter.

Now are we supposed to believe that?

Ritter must've told her where to find us.

Find out if she's alone.

Tell the men with you to show their faces.

There... there's nobody with me!

She could be on her own.

- You, cover the far side. - You got it.

You, if it's a trap, cut loose before she

- gets through the door. - Come on in.

All right...

Tell her to come on in.

Well, I did.

Alan, are you all right?

Yes, I'm fine. I'm fine.

Here, give him some water.

No water for him until you tell us

where to find Ritter.

Trampas is holding him prisoner.

Where?

In the back room of the gunsmith shop

down in a cyclone cellar.

She talks like the Colonel.

Why is he keeping him there?

He thinks Ritter killed Thad Miley,

but he doesn't have any proof.

It's his word against Ritter's,

so he's holding him until he gets certain evidence,

a gun.

This gun.

Been looking for it right along.

I don't know.

Ritter's hard to hold.

- He's injured. - Wounded?

Something's wrong with his shoulder.

He's incapacitated.

Oh, Lordy.

He suffers a hard injury.

He can't move.

The Sheriff don't know where he is?

No, and Trampas doesn't know that I came here to tell you.

Sounds right, Dutch.

Trampas won't part with the one man

who can clear him of killing Thad.

He's gonna part with him.

Van, you stay here with these two.

We don't come back with Ritter...

Hey you don't want to be a hero dying

calling out to your brother, now do you?

It ain't my time, Trampas.

Now you stay still. Stay still.

- Stone still. - Mm-hmm.

Van? Hey, brother? Van!

- Ritter? - That you, Ritter?

Yeah, it's me, it's me.

I know I'm supposed to be someplace else,

but I broke loose.

Dutch just left to go get you!

Hold it.

I swear I'll get even with you, Trampas.

Get inside. Just, jump.

- I can't jump, my shoulder. - Get over there.

Over there where I can keep an eye on you, go on.

Trampas.

- You all right, Colonel? - Yeah.

We got some really unfriendly fellas here, Trampas.

I was better off getting shot up back in the war.

Yeah. Where's the Sutter?

Fella called Dutch has got it.

- Dutch? - Wanna pass me my rifle?

Yeah.

I'll go get the wagon.

If we cut down past Old Grove Mill,

- we can beat Dutch into town. - Right.

Now you hold it!

Drop it, Colonel, or I'll drive it through her neck.

Won't do you any good.

Trampas will be back here in a minute.

Either way, she's gonna get it.

Hand the rifle to Ritter.

Oh, brother.

Back up!

Back up! You heard my brother!

Yeah! Back up!

Get me up there, Van!

- Come on! Come on! - We did it! We did it!

Come on, Ritter, give me your hand!

Come on, Ritter!

Come on, hurry up!

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

Here.

Dutch gets rid of that gun, this is all for nothing.

Come on, Ritter, get in the wagon.

- The wagon? - Yeah, get in.

♪

Get down!

Vanessa, keep down!

- Keep firing, huh? - Yo.

Van Miley? Drop the gun.

Excuse me, ma'am.

- Get back, Ritter. - Sure, Mr. Trampas.

Well, there's nobody there.

Is it locked?

Well, it looks that way.

Whoa, whoa!

Here.

Now, you keep him covered.

If he wiggles, pull the trigger.

Oh, I hope I don't faint.

Nah, I wouldn't worry about you fainting.

The Mackenzies are quite hardy.

That's right, laddy buck.

Hi.

You wait here.

I'll use my gun barrel to snap open the lock.

You keep my back covered.

We're getting it down, Dutch, one, two, three!

Just like that, oh, do it!

There the are.

The one crossing the street is Dutch.

Ritter.

Ritter.

Ritter.

Ritter, can't you talk? Ritter!

Ritter, can't you talk?

- You wanna live? - Yeah.

Then don't blink, huh?

That cellar's built to handle a cyclone,

but I think he's gonna blow it up.

Well, never mind, we got this one, and...

Hey, here come the cavalry.

Mark.

Hi, there, Sheriff.

I never thought I'd be glad to see you.

I see you got your share of the Mileys.

Here's another one for you.

There's a third down in the rat bin.

He's got Ritter's gun, the one that killed Thad.

- Where's Ritter? - We got him in custody.

I'll bring him along to your office.

Morgan, I want to thank you for the use of your cellar.

Anytime at all, Trampas, anytime!

Hey.

That's good work, Sheriff.

Oh, say, you mind relieving Miss Mackenzie

of standing guard?

She's all tensed up to the point of firing.

Well done, Vanessa, like a true Mackenzie.

Now we can hand him over to the sheriff.

Do I have your absolute word there's no more danger?

None whatsoever.

Ohh...

Well, at least practically none.

You're not dangerous, are you, Trampas?

Well, no, but what happened?

What happened?

♪