Original subtitles

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

with an exciting new story

of real life in the Old West.

In the Old West,

the gunfight was commonplace--

two men facing each other on a dusty street,

each gambling on his draw and his aim.

But there is nothing commonplace

about the gunfight that took place in Beatty, Nevada

on the evening of July 7th, 1879.

I call the story of this encounter...

[ hammering ] ♪ [ saloon piano ]

Does she really look like this, boss?

[ chuckles ] Ah, when the stage comes in, you'’ll see.

How did you ever get her to come here, boss?

She comes expensive. I'’ll tell you that.

She'’s really something.

Look at them legs.

Yeah.

Get your dirty hands off that poster,

and that goes for her, too, when she gets here. You here me?

That goes for all of you.

Sure, boss.

When I stake a claim,

I don'’t stand for any claim-jumpers.

Hey, boss,

there'’s a stranger outside you'’d better talk to.

What about?

About giving you some competition across the street.

What do you think you'’re doing?

Opening a saloon.

Not in this town.

Who says I ain'’t?

There'’s only room for one saloon here.

And you run it.

That'’s the first smart thing you'’ve said.

I'’ve already paid a month'’s rent on that store,

and it'’s going to take a lot more than just saying

to keep me from opening up.

If you want more, make a move.

[ horse neighs ]

Get him on a wagon and get out of town.

I don'’t want the street bloody when the stage gets in.

Yes, sir.

What happened?

Oh, just a little argument, Sheriff.

Don'’t make much difference who was right.

I can see who lost.

Well, he drew first, Sheriff.

Sure, he had his gun half way out

before the boss here even drew.

MAN: That'’s right.

Was it like he said?

Yeah.

What can we do about McCloud, Sheriff?

Just pray that one of these days

someone faster will come along.

Then we'’d have him to reckon with.

And that may not be an improvement.

At least it'’d be a change.

There ought to be a law against a man picking a fight,

having a right to kill just because he'’s faster.

Nobody stands a chance against McCloud.

It'’s legalized murder. That'’s what it is.

MAN: Hyah!

Stage is coming, boss.

Whoa!

I certainly enjoyed talking with you

even though I didn'’t believe half the stuff you told me.

I didn'’t really expect you to.

I'’ll see you to the hotel.

Maybe I'’ll be a little more convincing over lunch.

I wouldn'’t mind your trying.

I'’ll take care of Miss Morgan.

Stepping on another man'’s hand is not very friendly.

I didn'’t mean it to be.

Well, Fay, welcome to Beatty,

Hiya, Mac.

Howdy, boys.

Hi, ma'’am.Hi.

Let'’s go over to my place

and break out a cold bottle of champagne.

Oh, right now hot water sounds better than cold champagne.

Let me wash off some of this dust, and I'’ll be over later.

Those two trunks up there are mine. Will you take care of them?

Sure. All right, boys, take them down.

Take it easy. I don'’t want to break anything.

You'’ll like it here in Beatty, Fay.

You see anything in town you like, just...

There'’s no need to register. You'’re not staying that long.

You'’re leaving town this afternoon on the 5:00 stage.

Do folks around here always do what you say?

I'’d suggest you ask them.

Well, I'’m really not that interested.

Well, you'’d better be

because when I tell people to leave town, they leave,

one way or another.

If you'’re not on that stage this afternoon at 5:00, Mister,

you'’d better be wearing a gun.

I'’ll see you over at my place, Fay.

Mister, as much as I'’d like to have your business,

I'’m advising you to be on that stage, like he says,

unless you'’re fast with a gun, and I mean lightning fast.

Why didn'’t you tell him?

Tell him what?

That you'’re a preacher.

I may be a minister, Miss Morgan,

but I'’m also a man.

You mean you can handle a gun too?

No, I'’ve never shot one.

And you'’re going to face him?

If I have to.

But you heard what the hotel man said.

He'’ll kill you.

I'’m not afraid.

Oh, Mister, you better come down out of those clouds.

I appreciate your concern, Miss Morgan,

but it'’s not your worry.

Oh, yes, it is. I got you into this.

Looks like I'’m going to have to get you out of it.

What are you going to do?

Tell him who you are.

Please, Miss Morgan,

I refuse to hide behind my calling.

Hiya, Sheriff.

I'’m Fay Morgan.

Yeah, I know.

Mac'’s new singer.

That'’s right. I'’ve got a problem.

What, already?

This is about a friend of mine.

He came in on the stage with me this afternoon.

He'’s been challenged to a gun fight by McCloud.

Sorry, that'’s something I can'’t do nothing about.

You can'’t?

Not if it'’s fair and square.

You tell that friend of yours to hightail it out of here.

Mac'’s not only fast on the draw,

but he'’s deadly at showdown distance.

Showdown distance?

The usual five or ten steps.

Thanks. Thanks, Sheriff.

♪ [ saloon piano ]

Here she comes, boss.

Well, Fay, it'’s about time.

All the boys have been asking for you.

Hey, Rusty, break out that champagne.

We'’ll all drink to the little lady'’s health.

I think maybe we better drink to yours.

You sound like you have something on your mind.

I have. You.

Looks like you picked the wrong man to fight that gun duel with.

You know who that fellow really is.

He'’s a tinhorn gambler, judging from his looks.

There'’s nothing tinhorn about 40-Step Randall.

Forty-Step Randall?

Doesn'’t that name mean anything to you?

Well, not to me.

How about you fellas?

Never heard of him.[ others muttering ]

Well, looks like you boys haven'’t been spending much time down Texas way lately.

Are you trying to say this Randall'’s a gunslinger?

Is he?

He can knock the eye out of a one-eyed Jack from 40 steps.

That'’s how he got his name.

MAN: Forty steps? That'’s 120 feet.

That'’s real shooting with a six-gun.

I'’d want a rifle at that distance.

Call if off, Mac.

There'’s no percentage in trading bullets with a gun like him.

Well, I'’ve never backed down from a gunfight yet.

I'’m not asking you to back down.

I think I can talk Randall out of it

if you'’ll just say the word.

You can take him, boss.

Sure you can.

[ men repeating ]

And the word is no.

Oh, but Mac, please--I said no!

Forty steps or 400 steps,

that gunslinger gets on the 5:00 stage.

Come on, Rusty. Open up that champagne.

[ men chattering ] RUSTY: Let'’s go, boys. Drink up.

Miss Morgan, I thought you'’d change your mind,

so I went ahead.

Oh, I didn'’t come here to eat.

I came to confess.

Well, it couldn'’t be as serious as you look.

It'’s worse.

If there was ever any chance of McCloud forgetting about you at 5:00,

I sure took care of it.

Why? What did you do?

Well, I thought if I could make him scared of you,

really scared, I could get him to call off the gun fight,

so I made you out to be the best shot in Texas.

I told him you were known as 40-Step Randall

because you could knock the eye out of a one-eyed Jack

at 40 steps.

Well, it would have worked if his men just hadn'’t egged him on.

Why are you doing all this for me?

Oh, I don'’t know.

Guess maybe it was because I skipped Sunday school when I was a kid.

Trying to make up for it now.

Well, thanks for trying, but I really don'’t think you made things worse.

I'’m going to say it just once more.

Mr. Randall, please get out of town.

I can'’t.

Look, a minister'’s mission in life

is to help people. Isn'’t it?

That'’s right.

Well, you'’re not going to be much help to anybody,

lying out there in the middle of the street with a bullet in you.

I guess I have been thinking of myself

instead of my work.

I'’ll get a rig from the stable,

have it in back of the hotel in half an hour.

I'’ll drive you to the next town.

There he is.

Mr. Randall, shake hands with Mr. Connell, our mayor.

My pleasure, Mr. Randall.

Thank you.

Ed Scott, runs the bank.

How do you do?

Merv Stone. He owns the emporium.

How do you do?How do you do, sir?

Gentlemen, Miss Morgan.

How do you do, Miss Morg--

Mr. Randall, you have no idea

what your presence means to us.

For years we'’ve been hoping for somebody just like you to come along.

MAN: You'’re the answer to our prayers, Mr. Randall.

This town'’s gotten so a decent man

walks the streets at the risk of his life.

But things'’ll be all right again after 5:00.

MAYOR CONNELL: Oh, they certainly will be.

With McCloud out of the way,

we can have a decent, God-fearing community.

McCloud rules the town, huh?

Well, you ought to know how much power a fast gun has.

Oh, gentlemen, I think it'’s about time that you all knew that--

Please, Miss Morgan. I can speak for myself.

What makes you gentlemen so sure

I can get rid of McCloud for you?

Now, don'’t be modest, Mr. Randall.

We heard all about you.

MAYOR CONNELL: Now, we'’ve come here to tell you

that we'’re not going to forget this.

Whatever you want,

it'’ll be yours just for the asking.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Well, we'’ll be seeing you.

Come along, gentlemen.

[ chattering ]

Oh, this is getting worse.

Come on. Let'’s get out of here.

I can'’t go now.

What?

You yourself just pointed out

that my mission in life is to help people.

Well, this town needs my help,

and maybe you showed me the way to do it.

I showed you the way?

Yes.

You'’ve convinced me that as a minister

I can'’t get anywhere with McCloud.

Well, maybe as 40-Step Randall

I can.

Yes, sir?

Interested in property or a funeral?

A funeral.

Ah, modest or handsome?

First class.

Child or grownup?

Oh, grownup. He'’s-- He's about my size.

Hm. Well, now, that depends on the price of the casket.

How much did you have in mind to pay?

Well, something around a hundred dollars.

Uh-huh, I see.

Yes, I'’ve got a nice one

in back for a hundred dollars.

Silk lined a third of the way down.

Fine, I'’ll take it.

Uh, well, now, let me see.

The whole job will come to...

yeah, a hundred and fifty dollars, graveside.

All right. There you are.

Yes. Hm.

That'’s right, a hundred and fifty dollars.

[ sighs ]

Well, now, where do I pick up the body?

He'’s not dead yet.

What?

His name is McCloud.

McCloud.

Say, you must be that 40-Step Randall they'’re all talking about.

How come you'’re buying him a funeral?

Oh, superstition of mine, I guess.

When I kill a man, I like to know he gets a proper burial.

You treat a dead man right, and he'’ll never come back to haunt you.

[ muttering ] Yeah.

[ door bells chime ]

[ door closes ]

♪ [ lively ]

Mr. McCloud.

Mr. McCloud, listen.

Forty-Step Randall

just came in my place and paid for your funeral.

He what?

Here'’s the money he gave me.

MAN: Why should he pay for the boss'’ funeral?

Says he always pays for anybody he kills.

"Superstition," he calls it.

Something about treating a dead man right

so'’s he won't haunt him.

Uh, what kind of lining would you like to have in your casket?

I got one that'’s white,

but I thought maybe you'’d like something fancier,

like a purple--Get out!

Get out before I put you in one of your own boxes!

But it'’s paid for.

Get out!

Whatta you make of it, boss?

Oh, shut up and deal.

Go back to your drinks.

Rusty, how much champagne can you spare?

How much champagne can we let him have, boss?

All we got'’s 20 bottles left.

Well, what'’s going on, Johnson?

That fella Randall'’s throwing a big shindig

for the mayor and his bunch over at my hotel tonight.

Well, you tell Randall

I'’m not giving him any champagne,

and he wouldn'’t be able to drink it if I did.

All right, but he'’s going to be mighty disappointed.

Give me a glass.

I don'’t blame you for being upset, boss.

I'’d be worried, too.

Who said I was worried?

Well, that fella Randall seems awful sure of himself.

Yeah? Well, I'’m just as sure of myself.

I don'’t know, boss.

Did you ever try shooting at 40 steps?

120 feet?

Never had to.

Well, supposin'’ you had to.

♪ [ saloon piano ]

Boss, the stage is ready to go,

but he ain'’t on it.

♪ [ piano stops ]♪Well, where is he?

At the hotel.

Mac, please, just for me, call it off.

Do you have any idea what would happen to me if I did?

I'’d be through in this town.

But don'’t worry.

Randall might be better than me at 40 steps,

but I can beat him at 10,

and I have it figured out

so he has to meet me at my distance.

Randall!

Randall, either come out and get on that stage

or come out shooting!

You heard me, Randall!

Come on out!

Randall!

Randall, come on out!

RANDALL: I'’m already out.

Are you going to get on that stage?

Stay where you are.

You take another step, start shooting.

[ chuckles ]

Randall, you'’ve sure got guts.

You'’re my kind of man.

I'’d like to shake hands with you.

Never mind.

Relax, I'’m not sore anymore.

Hold it.

You said for me to get on the stage.

Now I say you get on it.

Me?

You'’re joking.

Get on that stage

or go for your gun.

Time'’s running out, McCloud.

DRIVER: Giddyap!

Giddyap!

I never want to have to go through that again.

I was scared to death.

To be honest with you, so was I.

Congratulations, Mr. Randall! You did it!

Like we said before,

anything you want is yours for the asking. Just name it.

[ townspeople chattering ]

All right, gentlemen,

I noticed you haven'’t a church in this town.

I'’d like you to build one for me.

MAN: What?[ murmuring ]

Church?

A church?

Well, I think it'’s about time you folks had a formal introduction.

I'’d like to present

Reverend David Randall.

[ people murmuring ]

Well, whatta you know about that?

Preacher?

And you were going to shoot it out with McCloud?

No, gentlemen.

This was my only weapon.

The Reverend David Randall

got his church,

a token of gratitude

from the citizens,

and a monument, you might say,

to the memory of 40-Step Randall.