All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S08E14.The.Reluctant.Gun.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks.
I'’m the Old Ranger,

with an exciting new story
of real life in the Old West.

A man of flamboyant style

of dressing, speaking
and living.

A man grimly determined
to be known for himself

rather than just as
a son of Sam Houston,

the great Texas liberator.

That was Temple Houston.

And by the time
he had left Texas
and opened a law office

in Woodward,
Oklahoma territory,

he had won shooting contests

against men like Bat Masterson
and Billy the Kid.

As well as spectacular
courtroom battles,

from the foremost
legal figures of his day.

But on the morning
of September 24, 1893,

he himself was unaware
that both his gunmanship

and his legal brilliance

were about to receive
their most severe test.

He knew nothing then of...

Sorry, Mr. Houston,
but Barney here
saw the gun first.

You want my opinion, it'’s much
too light for either of you.

Well, it ain'’t for me.
It'’s for my kid.

Billy?
[ chuckles ]

I thought books
was more up his alley
than bullets.

He'’ll stop bein' a bookworm
now that he'’s turned 21.

SHOPKEEPER:
21, huh?

Today.

I'’ll need a belt
and a holster, too.

Uh, somethin'’ real nice.

Well, you can always
bring '’em back
if he won'’t wear 'em.

Why shouldn'’t he wear 'em?

I'’ll leave it to you,
Mr. Houston.

Ain'’t it time he grew up?

Why, Billy'’s got
a more mature mind

than 90 percent of the people
in this town.

Sure.
But you'’re a book man

and it don'’t make you
refuse to wear a gun.

Maybe Billy'’s got more
moral courage than I have.

Set me up a box
of .45 cartridges, Will.

[ door opens ]

Tell Billy happy birthday.

Dawn?

Hurt your finger?No, but I used the last tack

and there'’s still reams
of stuff to put up.

Well, stay where you are
and I'’ll go across the street
and get some more.

[ horse snorting ]

Hi, Sheriff,
Mr. Houston.

Hey. Suzy.

Hey, that ain'’t no way
to greet an old friend.

After I'’ve come hundreds
of miles out of my way
just to see you.

Let me go, Wes.

You don'’t believe me?
Ask the boys.

I'’ve been tellin' '’em
all about you, Suzy.

That'’s a fact, ma'am.

I'’ve been hearin' things
about you, too.

Well now, you can'’t
believe everything you hear.

If I was as bad
as they painted me,

I'’d be in jail right now.
Ain'’t that right?

You'’d be on the gallows
if there was proof.

They say you'’ve murdered
a dozen men in cold blood.

That'’s not true,
is it, boys?

Their blood
wasn'’t at all cold.

[all laughing]

Suzy.

Hey, look at
the decorations!

Yeah, that'’s some decoration.

You gonna have a real bang-up
birthday party, huh?

That'’s real nice.
Ain'’t it, fellas?

We are invited, huh?

Suppose I said you weren'’t?

You wouldn'’t do
a thing like that, Suzy.

Me being an old beau,

and my two friends here
bein'’ strangers in town.

Who'’s the party for?

Billy.Billy Jackson?

Well, what do you know.

My old rival for Suzy girl.

What do you think
I ought to give him

for a birthday present, huh?

These presents
he likes, huh?

Well, naturally,
if you want to be a writer--

A writer?

Why, he likes
your present, too, dear.

Don'’t you, Billy?

Sure I do, Dad.

But you won'’t wear it?

I suppose I will...
someday.

Well, this day
is as good as any.

You'’re not gonna leave this
house without wearing that gun.

Aw, please, Dad.
I really don'’t see--

You heard me, Billy!

I'’m gonna make a man
out of you if it kills me.

And you.

I just don'’t see why he thinks
a gun is a sign of manhood.

And why a book,
or a painting,

or anything else
that contains beauty is--

sissy stuff.

About the most beautiful thing
I could imagine

would be a peaceful home.

Me too, me too.

Then do what your father asks,
Billy, please.

Wearin'’ a gun doesn't mean
you have to use it.

Do it for me, dear.

♪♪ [ music playing ]

You afraid he won'’t show up
or that he will?

I just can'’t figure out
what'’s happened to him.

Well, maybe he heard
I was in town.

Billy!

Wearing a gun?

What for?

No reason.
I just decided
to wear one. Why?

I don'’t know.

Just looks sort of strange
on you, that'’s all.

Just forget about it,
will ya?

Well, little Willie
got here after all, didn'’t he?

What'’s the matter?
Don'’t you remember me?

Yeah, I remember you.

Sure you do.

He'’s one of
my best school chums.

Wasn'’t you, Willie?

Stop calling me Willie.

WES:
Oh, I'’m sorry.

You never did like
being called Willie,

did you, Willie?
[ chuckles ]

Look, I'’m warnin' you, Wes.

You warnin'’ me?

Oh, you'’re a big man,
now that you'’re 21.

You got a shiny
new gun, too, huh?

You know how to use it?

No. Well, then you better not
try warnin'’ me,

'’cause I ain't feelin'’
so friendly toward you anyway.

Uh, come on, Susan,
let'’s dance or somethin', huh?

That ain'’t polite, Willie.

She was dancin'’ with me
when you come in.

Now, you just go over
to that punch bowl
and have some of that punch.

Me and the boys put
some real punch in it.

Maybe it'’ll give you
some courage.

♪♪ [ music continues ]

You better get the sheriff.

Looks like there'’s gonna
be some trouble.

[ groans ]
Wes!

[ glass breaks ] Stop it, will ya!

Well, that'’s mighty
strong soundin'’, Willie.

You got what it takes
to back that up?

You don'’t scare me.

Well, maybe you ought to
start gettin'’ scared, Willie.

Because I just might teach you
how to use that gun

before the night'’s over.

He'’s only teasing, Billy.
He'’s trying to get your goat.

[ chatter ]

Hey, Willie.

You didn'’t have that drink
like I told you to.

I said drink it,
not sniff it.

[ glass breaks ]

[ scoffs ]
Believe me,

it would'’ve done you
more good inside.

You'’re gonna need that courage
when the party'’s over

'’cause I'll be waitin'’
for you right outside.

Soon as you poke your nose out,
I'’m gonna empty my gun at you.

And when you'’re lyin' there
with the wind

whippin'’ through
them bullet holes,

I'’ll be escortin'
little Miss Suzy home.

And you know somethin'’?

It'’s gonna take us
a real long time

gettin'’ there, too.

[ gunshot ][ screams ]

You Billy?

He shot him
in the back!

Hello, Susan.

I'’m sorry to trouble
you at night, Mr. Houston,

but I'’ve been waiting
all day and--

Sit down, Suzy.

Well, I must say, you'’re
a persistent young lady.

I guess I have to be
to win my point

for the best attorney
in the whole West.

Well, if I do have
that reputation,

I did not win it
by defending men

who are thoughtless enough
to commit murder

in front of a room
full of witnesses.

Billy'’s father was here
three days ago.

I refused the case.

So has every other lawyer
in the territory.

Well, I can'’t say
I blame them.

Well, somebody has to
defend him, Mr. Houston.

How?
On what grounds?

Suzy, what can be said
in Billy'’s defense?

The judicial code
is one thing,

but the code
of the West is another.

And it says that
regardless of provocation,

no man is ever justified
in shooting another in the back.

Then why don'’t they go ahead
and hang him without a trial!

Why do they have to wait
for Mr. Brooker

to come from Guthrie
to send him to the gallows?

Nathaniel Brooker
is coming from the capital

to try this case?

Yes, why?

He must really want
to hang your Billy

to bring him into this.

Nathaniel Brooker beat me
in my last case.

By methods I can'’t say
I particularly admired.

Suzy, you'’ve got yourself
a lawyer.

You'’re sure that Mr. Jackson
is the customer

to whom you sold
the murder weapon?

Yes, sir.

Did he tell you
why he bought the gun?

He said it was
for his kid, Billy.

You know whether that
was before or after

Billy'’s lifelong enemy
arrived in town?

MR. HOUSTON:
Objection, Your Honor!

JUDGE:
Sustained.

All right.

[ snickers ]

Your witness, Mr. Houston.[ thudding ]

No examination.

And the prosecutor
better be careful

how he handles that gun
if it'’s half as loaded

as his question.

[ crowd chattering ]

Now, Mr. Jackson,

I'’m asking you
for the last time,

did you or did you not

give this gun to your son?

Yes, I gave it to him.

I even loaded it.

I did everything
but pull the trigger for him.

But you didn'’t pull the trigger,
Mr. Jackson. He did.

And he'’s the one who's
going to swing for it.

Your Honor, I should
like to protest--

All right.
Your witness, Mr. Houston.

Now, Mr. Jackson,
would you tell the jury

why you bought your son such
an unusual birthday present?

I bought it for him
for his 21st birthday.

I--I had a crazy idea that it
might make a man out of him.

Well, what made you think
your son wasn'’t a man?

Well, for one thing,

he never stood up
for his rights.

Not even in school,
when the other boys
would pick on him.

So how about later,
Mr. Jackson,

to the best of your knowledge,

did Billy ever indulge in
barroom brawls, free-for-alls,

or gunfights prior
to the night
of September 24th?

No.

He'’d run a mile
rather than--

Your Honor,
I object strenuously

to this irrelevant discussion
of the defendant'’s proclivities

for getting into fights
or avoiding them.

This isn'’t the office
of the school principal,

this is a court of law!

And Billy Jackson'’s
on trial for murder!

Perhaps Mr. Houston
will tell us the objective

of this line of questioning.

Be happy to,
Your Honor.

I'’m attempting to establish
that Billy Jackson

was a sensitive, scholarly,
peace-loving young man.

Usually referred to
by his inferiors

as a "sissy".

And as a matter of fact,
he never would'’ve engaged

in a fight of any kind,
with or without guns,

unless his own life
were in jeopardy.

It is a matter of fact,

Billy Jackson fired
in self-defense.

And I'’m prepared to prove
beyond the shadow
of a doubt, sir,

that Wes Corbett
was shot in the back,

and that he didn'’t even make
a move for his gun.

I'’d like to see
how you intend

to prove self-defense,
Mr. Houston.

Well, unless Mr. Brooker
manages to find himself

some urgent business in Guthrie
that might necessitate

his withdrawal from this case,

I will show him just that.

[ murmuring ]

Now, based on your past
experience, Sheriff Ketchum,

would you say that Wes Corbett
had been reaching for his gun

at the time he was shot?

It'’s doubtful.

And he was shot in the back?

Yes.

That'’s all.

Your witness, Mr. Houston.

Thanks.

Now, Sheriff Ketchum,
would you tell me
how you happened

to reach the scene
of the crime so quickly?

Well, one of the kids
came after me.

I'’ve been expecting trouble
and I'’d have been there earlier,

but a little ruckus
down at the saloon.

Now, why should you expect
trouble at a young people'’s
birthday party?

Wes Corbett was there,
and he had a mighty
bad reputation.

As a paid gunslinger? Yes.

As a fast-draw artist?

Objection, Your Honor.

As the killer of a dozen
or more men?

I said objection!

Wes Corbett is not the one
who'’s on trial here.

Objection sustained.

That'’s all. [ murmuring ]

Ben, in your, uh,
professional opinion,

Wes Corbett was a fast draw.

Well, I already told you,
he was like lightning.

That'’s why all this self-defense
talk is just so much hogwash.

Why, if Wes had even
thought about drawin'’
on that little pantywaist,

he wouldn'’t be sitting over
yonder right now.

But Billy had every right

to believe that Wes meant
those threats, didn'’t he?

No such of a thing.

Now, at the party,
didn'’t Wes tell Billy

he'’d be waiting outside for him?

And that he was gonna
empty his gun at him?

Well...

Well didn'’t he say that?

Well, the words is right,

but he didn'’t say 'em like you.

He was only kiddin'’.

He was kiddin'’ him all evening.

We was only at that party
to have a little fun.

Thank you, Mr. Matthew. [ murmuring ]

Miss Maynard,

the events of the night
of September 24th

stand out clearly
in your memory?

Yes.

Then you surely must recall

having told Billy that

Wes didn'’t mean his threats.

He was just trying
to get Billy'’s goat.

Might'’ve said
something like that.

Well, did you or didn'’t you?

Yes, I did.

And you couldn'’t have
made that statement

if you were in fear of, uh,

shall we say bodily harm
from Wes Corbett?

I guess not. I-- But you were

in fear of what Billy might do.

Even without provocation,
weren'’t you?

What Billy would do?

Isn'’t it a fact, Miss Maynard,

that Billy once caught you
kissing Wes Corbett

and that he was
furious about it?

I didn'’t want Wes to kiss me.
Wes forced me to!

And anyway, that was
two years ago.

Oh! So Billy'’s jealousy
of Wes Corbett

has been growing for years.I didn'’t say he was jealous. I--

Well, shouldn'’t he be jealous
if his girl invited another man

to take her home
from the birthday party?

It'’s a lie. I never asked him
to take me home!

Did you happen to tell Billy
that you didn'’t ask Wes
to take you home?

I didn'’t have a chance
to say anything to him!

The first thing I knew--No, perhaps you were too busy

enjoying the spectacle
of two men vying
over your favors.

Perhaps you even hoped
that Billy'’s jealousy
would provoke Wes

into taking you along with him
when he left Woodward again!

Stop it! Stop it!

Leave her alone![ murmuring ]

I won'’t listen
to any more of this!

[ grunts ]
Billy!

Now, you calm down.

Come on.
Sit down here.

Sit down.

Now, behave yourself.

[ gavel tapping ]

The court will recess
for a period of one hour.

Well, we got
another 15 minutes yet.

I'’d hoped that drink would
make me feel more optimistic
about the boy,

but it didn'’t.[ sighs ]

Don'’t look very good
for him, does it, Temp?

Well, they ought to put that
noose around Brooker'’s neck.

I'’ve never seen a prosecutor
get away with such murder.

Billy didn'’t help any
when he tried to escape.

The only thing
he was runnin'’ away from

was that scandalous attack
on Susan.

I know, I know.

I'’d almost try to engineer
an escape for him myself.

I'’d do anything in the world
for that boy, short of that.

I'’ve known him since the day
he was born.

It was 21 years ago.

Short life.

Not a merry one.

He'’s not swingin' yet, Phil.

Not if you really meant what
you just said about helpin'’ him.

What you tryin'’ to say, Temp?

I think we better
have another drink.

You'’ve heard all the testimony

that'’s been given.Yes.

And in the face of it,
do you dare deny

shooting Wes Corbett
in the back?

I never denied it.

Oh. Then it'’s your contention

that he went for his gun
before you drew?

Oh, no, he never reached
for his gun.

Then there was no reason
for you to kill him

except your insane jealousy.
Do you dare deny that?

[ murmuring ]

[ scoffs ]

Self-defense.

Your Honor,

I should like to take a moment
to pay tribute

to the absolutely unparalleled
callousness of Mr. Brooker.

He took this case
because he thought

it was an open-and-shut affair.

And he is so eager
to add another feather

to the war bonnet he will wear

when he goes campaigning
in the November elections,

that he has had absolutely
no regard for the reputation

of a young girl or the life
of a young boy.

Your Honor, I object
to this personal attack.[ murmuring ]

Objection sustained.

Do you or do you not
wish to cross-examine
the witness, Mr. Houston?

With Mr. Brooker'’s
kind permission, I will.

Permission granted. Thank you.

Now, Billy, prior
to your birthday

had you ever owned a gun before?No, sir.

Had you ever gone hunting
or shooting with your father?

No. He wanted me to, but...

No, I didn'’t.

Billy, did you know how
to handle a gun?

Not very well.

Were you aware of Wes Corbett'’s
reputation as a fast gun?

I sure was. Tell me then, Billy,

prior to the night
of your birthday party,

did it ever occur to you
that you might
be able to outdraw

or outshoot a professional
gunman like Wes Corbett?

Mr. Houston, despite
your unwarranted attacks
on a prosecutor,

he hasn'’t seemed fit to object
to this line of questioning,

but I shall have to warn you
against leading the witness.

Oh, my apologies, Your Honor.

It was my impression that
this court was interested
in discovering the truth.

It most certainly is.

And if you make any further
implications to the contrary,

I shall have to hold
you in content.

[ murmuring ]

In that case, sir,
we shall be even.

[ murmuring ]

I don'’t mean
to tell you how to run
your business, Mr. Houston,

but you'’re makin'
everybody mad at ya.

I hope so. [ gavel tapping ]

Mr. Houston, I see no reason
to penalize the defendant

for your outrageous antics,
so I'’m going to overlook it.

Any more questions?

Just a few.

Now, Billy, prior to the night
of Wes'’s death

had you ever fired a gun?

Once or twice, at a target.

Not a human one
on prior occasions, I presume?

You presume right
for once, Mr. Brooker.

Only the purposeful goading
and taunting of West Corbett

could'’ve induced Billy Jackson
to fire at a human target.

You can'’t goad a man into
committing murder, Mr. Houston,

unless he'’s already
a murderer at heart!

Oh, can'’t you, Mr. Brooker?

Well, let me tell you
that Wes Corbett'’s threats

would'’ve had a profound effect
on a far braver man
than Billy Jackson.

Gentlemen, there
has been some question

as to whether Wes Corbett
meant his threats.

Anyone who has ever known
a professional gunslinger

can tell you
that he really meant them.

And Billy Jackson
knew he meant them.

And he also knew that
his only chance in living past
his 21st birthday

laid in shooting before
Wes Corbett was ready.

To ignore that one chance

would'’ve been suicide.

And to take it was self-defense.

Now, any of you
gentlemen who may say

that Billy should'’ve waited
for a fair draw

has never really seen
a fast gun in action.

Gentlemen, you can hardly see
his hand move when he...

[ people exclaiming ] [ gavel banging ]

Order! Order!

Now, gentlemen, before
you cast your ballots,

you ask yourselves
what you would'’ve done

if a fast gun
had threatened your life.

Your Honor,
in all my years in court,

I'’ve never seen such a cheap
gallery-playing charlatan.

This man'’s a disgrace
to the legal profession!

If it'’s the last thing
I do, I'’ll have
this shyster disbarred.

Come outside and repeat
your name-calling, Mr. Brooker.

I do all my fighting
in the courtroom.

And I'’ll tell
you why, Mr. Brooker.

Because you are too yellow to
fight with anything but words.

You'’re yellow, Mr. Brooker.

Yellow, yellow, yellow![ people gasping, murmuring ]

[ woman screams ]

When they hear
how he provoked you,

nobody will blame you
in the slightest.

I don'’t know
how badly you'’re hurt,

but you asked
for whatever you got.

I got what I asked for.

Cooperation from
Sheriff Ketchum,

who loaded his gun
with blanks at my request.

And complete substantiation
from you two gentlemen,

for everything I'’ve said
on Billy Jackson'’s behalf.

The defense rests.

Temple Houston
need not have feared

being known only
as the son of a famous father.

His victory
in the Billy Jackson case
was but one among hundreds,

and he because known
as the greatest

of the frontier lawyers
and showmen.