Original subtitles

♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

- Hyah! -♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

♪ Keep movin', movin', movin' ♪

♪ Though they're disapprovin' ♪

♪ Keep them dogies movin' ♪

♪ Rawhide ♪

♪ Don't try to understand them ♪

♪ Just rope and throw and brand 'em ♪

♪ Soon we'll be livin' high and wide ♪

♪ My heart's calculatin' ♪

♪ My true love will be waitin' ♪

♪ Be waiting at the end of my ride ♪

♪ Move 'em on, head 'em up, head 'em up, move 'em on ♪

♪ Move 'em on, head 'em up, Rawhide ♪

-(whip cracks) -♪ Cut 'em out, ride 'em in ♪

♪ Ride 'em in, let 'em out, cut 'em out, ride 'em in ♪

-♪ Rawhide...! ♪ -♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

- Hyah! -♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin'. ♪

(whip cracks twice)

[COWS MOOING]

ROWDY: Mr. Favor, you're wrong.

FAVOR: In the first place, I am not about to argue with you.

In the second place, when I'm wrong, I'm always the first to admit it.

ROWDY: Well, you ain't ever admitted it yet.

And I'm telling you, I just can't do it.

- You are going to round them up. - I can't round them up.

And even if I could round them up, I'm not gonna round them up.

They ain't available for rounding up. You know that as well as I do.

Get moving, Rowdy.

Look, Mr. Favor, you're not talking about cattle now.

You're talking about men.

Sometimes I think you've gotten hard, you're forgetting that.

Well, in any case, as long as you are working for me, your job is--

I know my job. But the men need relaxing.

They've been three months without it.

Now, you expect me to ride through town like Paul Revere

- and waking them up. - I'm not expecting nothing from you.

I am flat-out informing you.

You have got a cattle drive to move day after tomorrow,

and you and your men are gonna be in condition to do it.

- Well, in my judgment-- - Your judgment?

Since when in the ever loving did you get judgment?

A man has got a big herd for us to move,

and you're gonna walk up to him and say, "Hey, looky, uh, we're tired"?

In this business, you move cattle when the man wants it moved.

Well, I ain't gonna be responsible--

Boy, you have just been itching for a set too, ain't you?

I could smell it way back at Brazos.

Well, I am not gonna oblige you today.

Today, I am gonna go sign with the man

and I'm gonna deliver that herd on schedule.

You won't give an inch, will you?

Of course, I will. Only when I have to.

Well, I'm afraid you're gonna have to this time.

Get yourself another ramrod. I quit.

FAVOR: Again?

No, I quit.

- Ah, you don't mean that. - Yeah.

Hey, wait a minute.

You can't really quit. You could never make it on your own.

In the first place, uh, how could you ever find a ramrod

as good as yourself, huh?

Now, that would be hard.

From listening to you talk, I'd probably find a better one.

Uh--

I hope what I heard didn't mean that I was the cause of trouble.

No, a gentleman who's willing to do business with me

is never any trouble.

No, it was just a summer storm we'd have to pass through.

- You'll be ready to leave on time? - That's right.

- Hi, boss. - Toothless.

Well, who's missing?

Longo, Parker and Rowdy.

Last we've seen of Longo and Parker

they were chasing a couple of twins out in the prairie.

- Nobody knows where Rowdy is. - Yeah.

All right, gentlemen.

I know it's been a long, hard ride back here to Yellow Fork,

but Mr. Curt Mathison here in town and he's got 3,000 head

he wants started day after tomorrow.

And I've agreed to move them.

I know, I'm just as tired as you

and need the day off in the worst way.

But this is a good herd.

Is there anybody here that thinks he can't make it?

Fine, fine. You're all good men.

Well, one last thing, um--

We'll be having a new ramrod on this drive.

- Who's that, Mr. Favor? - Oh, Quince.

- What? FAVOR: Yeah, you.

- Ramrod? - Why not?

Well, I don't know why not. I just never gave it any thought before.

Come on, think about it.

- I never thought I'd take orders from-- - Are you sure you want me?

FAVOR: That's right, sure do.

I'll do the best I can for you, Mr. Favor.

Good enough. Thank you, Mr. Quince.

We'll be pulling out day after tomorrow come sunup.

Yes, sir.

- Congratulations. - Mr. Quince.

- Goodness. - That's the part I like about him.

What happened between you and Rowdy?

Oh, not much.

A little misunderstanding about the men needing a rest.

You know, I had to remind him what business he was in.

- So you fired him? - No.

He sort of quit.

How about you and me go and having a drink?

Oh, no, I'm fine. Thanks a lot.

- It'd do you a lot of good-- - I said, no, thank you.

Do you know a man named Gil Favor?

Down there.

The one drinking doubles.

- Mr. Favor? - Mm?

I'm George Lockwood and this is Jim Traynor,

- one of my hands. - Gentlemen.

I know you just got off a drive, Mr. Favor,

but, uh, I was hoping I could turn you around and take a herd for me.

I'm sorry, I can't do it.

Well, there'd be a sizable commission, Mr. Favor.

This herd's beautiful and prime, over 3,300 head.

They're all beautiful when they're ready for market.

Oh, like I said, I'm really sorry,

but I just signed up this morning to go back with the Mathison herd.

Oh. Well, that's too bad.

You know anybody, Mr. Favor?

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Yeah.

You might try a fella named, uh, Rowdy Yates.

- Wasn't he with you at one time? - Mm.

He decided to branch out on his own.

Just this morning, as a matter of fact.

I'm sure he's still here in Yellow Fork, but I couldn't say exactly where.

Well, we can find him if we have to, Mr. Lockwood.

You say this would be his first time on his own?

Well, he was a fine ramrod.

Well, that's not quite what I asked, Mr. Favor.

Yes, it would be his first time on his own

and he is a fine ramrod.

Well, I'm sure he was, Mr. Favor.

But, uh, being a good trail boss is a different thing, isn't it?

Yeah.

Well, let me put it to you this way.

If it were your herd, Mr. Favor, would you hire him to move it for you?

Yes, sir. Yes, I would.

Mr. Yates is ambitious, hardworking and reliable.

That I can guarantee.

As to his luck, of course, I can't guarantee that.

It might be good, might be bad for you.

But I can promise you, you'll get a fair shake for your money.

Can he handle men?

Oh, yeah, he can be as hard and tough as anybody when he has to.

Good. I need a man who's tough.

LOCKWOOD: Yates.

Rowdy Yates, wake up.

Wake up, Yates. I have to talk to you.

It's business, Yates.

[GROANS]

Did I do something wrong?

Well, not that I know of.

I'm here to talk business with you. Cattle business.

Look here, mister, I ain't in the cattle business.

I'm in the out-of-work business.

I hate cattle, I hate trails and I hate people.

If I ain't done nothing wrong, there's nothing I hate more

than being waked up.

Then you're not looking for a job?

Of course I'm not looking for a job.

I'm a very wealthy man.

You can't see by looking at this?

I see.

All right.

It's just that I've got a herd to move and I need a trail boss.

I have to be loading in Abilene in about two weeks.

A trail boss?

In Abilene?

Hell-- I'm--

I'm your man, sir.

Uh, well, uh, I've got a loading date but no way of moving the herd.

I just was told yesterday.

I know you haven't been out on your own before,

but, well, I'm in a pickle.

You'd have to start from scratch, even hire your own crew.

- Yeah. Good, good. - Um...

You, um, honestly think you can handle a job like this?

Yeah. Nothing I'd rather do.

Mind if I, um, ask you something personal?

What's your name, sir?

Lockwood.

Well, Mr. Lockwood, I know what's you're gonna ask.

And the answer is no.

No, I don't wear this nightshirt on the trail.

I just bought this to go along with renting this bridal suite.

So that I'd have the best night's sleep a man ever had.

You can find a lot of men in this area who can do this job,

but none of them as well as me.

Because I can't afford not to do it perfect.

Well, all right, we'll give it a try.

By the way, how did you get onto me?

Oh, you were recommended by a fellow named, uh, Gil Favor.

Favor?

Hey, you wanna make some money?

Come on now, old buddy.

You need the money?

Wait. Wait, it's all right. It's all right.

It's just me. Come on.

Come on, you need the money?

They're hiring men for a cattle drive over at the saloon.

Come on. Come on.

Come on, these guys are on a toot.

They just come off a cattle drive.

You need the money.

You're just flat broke. Come on.

- Come on. Here, get right up. Here. - No, no, no.

- No. Agh! - Attaboy.

That feels good, doesn't it?

Yeah. Come on.

[LAUGHS]

Boy, I ain't had a--

I ain't had a nice sleep like that in a long time.

I sure do thank you, Luke.

Yeah? Well, a guy by the name of, uh, Yates

is hiring for a drive to Abilene.

Yates?

R-- Ro-- Rowdy Yates?

Well, it could be. You know him?

Well, he used to--

Here, hold on to that. Let's go.

He used to be a ramrod for Gil Favor for a long time,

and I wonder what it was that broke them up.

Morning, Mr. Lockwood.

A dollar a day, payable in Abilene.

Yes, sir, sounds fine with me.

Okay, we'll meet right out in front same time tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

How much experience do you have?

Well, I've been on, uh, eight drives that covered about 3,000 miles.

Two of them I acted as ramrod.

- Ramrod? - Yeah, that's right.

How come you're not working now?

Well, I'm a single man.

When I work, I work. When I play, I play.

You always look for a job with no shave like that?

You just waked up.

Not if I can help it.

Yeah, well, you look honest. I'll give you a try.

That'd be $2 a day and 10 percent of my percent.

Um, ahem, a ramrod?

- Yeah, a ramrod. - Hmm.

Congratulations, Weed.

Well, thank you, Mr. Lockwood. Thank you.

Thank you.

Did you know each other?

Weed's one of the best men around.

Well, how come you didn't tell me that?

I didn't wanna prejudice you.

You're next. How much experience you had?

- Oh, 10 drives. Anyway, we'd-- - Well, I'll tell you.

- A dollar a day, payable in Abilene. - Huh.

You coming with us, Luke?

Well, I ain't just real sure.

That guy will hire anybody.

All you gotta do is walk in front of him and you got a job.

Oh, you get out of here.

Uh, Weed.

This will be his first time out as trail boss.

Keep an eye on him for me, will you?

Ahem, yes, sir.

He didn't believe me when I said the men were tuckered out, so I quit.

Why the smile?

- Want me to be honest, don't you? - Yeah, that's right.

Well, I ran into a couple of your men the other day

and they was telling me as to how they get a couple of extra days off

just for crying on your shoulder a little bit.

Well, I'd take that as a compliment if I was you.

Ah, hmm.

Well, anyway, here's to a new beginning.

Sure, I'll drink to that.

I guess we better get back to hiring.

- We're still six men shy. - Yep.

I didn't think it'd be this tough getting the herd together.

Gil Favor never seemed to have too much trouble.

Well, I'll tell you, Mr. Yates,

there's one thing that Mr. Favor has that you don't.

Yeah?

Wishbone.

Wishbone.

Yeah.

You may just be 1000 percent correct, Weed.

So, uh...

We came to see him.

FAVOR: I see. - You object?

Well, you know, I was never one for slavery.

You don't need my permission to talk to him.

Or, uh, offer him another job.

That is why you're here, isn't it?

Well, Rowdy. Well, well, well, good to see you, boy.

Wish, good to see you.

- Meet my ramrod, Weed here. - Hi there.

Well, you're sure coming up in the world, aren't you?

Yeah. Yeah.

That's what I wanted to talk about.

See, I got my own herd now, on destination and a ramrod here.

I need a cook.

Now, I can pay you the same as you're getting here,

only with a bigger bonus at the end of the drive.

Maybe you'll think it over, huh?

Bigger bonus at the end of the drive. Ha, ha.

Come on, Weed.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Favor.

Isn't that nice?

I'd sure like to help him out.

That is, if I could.

Well, that'd be up to you, Wish.

Well, why not?

You'd like to see him get a leg up the ladder of fortune, wouldn't you?

Well, so do I.

If I could help him, I think I ought to.

Kind of owe it to him, you might say.

Oh, I understand.

It's only a matter of weeks. We'd be back--

Look, you don't have to make excuses to me.

We're gonna give him a leg up on the ladder of fortune, Mr. Favor.

LOCKWOOD: From what I've heard, you could set your watch by Gil Favor.

He's due in the 6th, two days ahead of us.

Well, we'll be there on time too, Mr. Lockwood.

The railroad told me Favor's never yet cost his owner

a train-idle penalty.

Well, just when will our pens be ready?

On the 8th at noon.

Mr. Lockwood.

Uh...

What would you say if we'd beat the Gil Favor herd in

and get there on the 5th?

Well, now, there's not much point in discussing it, is there?

Favor's got a smaller, faster herd, and he'll have a two-day start.

- I didn't say it would be easy. - The way the market's going,

you could be talking about thousands of dollars.

That's no joking matter, Mr. Yates.

Yeah. Well, why don't you just inform the railroad

that we'll be there on the 5th?

Right, Weed?

Yup. You're the boss, Mr. Yates.

That's right. Okay, Weed, let's shake them up.

Because we got a new brand of cattle we're pushing.

WEED: What kind is that?

Racing cows.

[MEN WHOOPING]

It's a shame to pass that pretty grazing land,

- but we gotta keep pressing. - Well, I'm pressing, Mr. Yates.

Yeah. Looks like we've made about 4 miles, huh?

Yeah, at least.

Good man, Weed.

Thirty-two rough miles, that's good herding.

We'll start out with eight nightriders,

and then we'll cut down to four later on.

Cut back to four?

That's playing it a little thin, isn't it, Rowdy?

Thought I'd ride on up and try a little of Wishbone's famous chow.

Thirty-two miles for Wishbone's stew?

It isn't that great, Mr. Lockwood.

Well, to be honest about it, Rowdy, I--

I was worried you might be pushing too hard.

Look, uh, back on your ranch, you're the boss of things,

but out here, I'm running it.

All right, Rowdy.

But pushing back to four nightriders--

ROWDY: Look, we started out shorthanded.

Now, the first day's drive is always double.

That's to shake the cattle down

and get them used to their new surroundings.

Now, this tires the cattle. It also tires the drovers.

Now, in my judgment, four men on night herd is enough.

I don't agree.

That's why you're riding back to your ranch.

He's right, Mr. Lockwood. You don't belong out here.

That's my brand on that herd.

Yes, sir.

But he's droving them.

Well, maybe some other time, Wishbone.

[SIZZLING]

All right, you men listen.

Gil Favor outfit's around 14 miles out in front of us.

Now, in case you haven't heard, I plan on overtaking him,

beating him in.

Now, I figure we can pass him

maybe in Duncan Canyon come sunup.

Now, the way we can do this is if we take a wedge of riders,

and move them in right next to Favor's herd,

and just gently ease them to one side.

If those riders stay there,

they can help our herds slide right on through.

Rowdy, can I speak to you a minute?

Uh, later, Wish.

Please?

Now, look, Rowdy. What you're thinking about is dangerous enough,

even if Mr. Favor knew about it,

But to spring it on him, oh, no.

Now, look, I'm not telling you what to do,

but I think you ought to give him a chance to set himself.

My beef's with him, not with you.

Now, look, I joined this outfit to help you, not to cause--

Stick to your cooking, will you, Wish?

I will not. Now, look here, Rowdy--

Look here, Wishbone.

As long as I'm ramrodding this outfit,

you'll refer to the trail boss as mister, is that clear?

Oh, boy.

That's clear enough.

Some friend you turned out to be, Mr. Yates.

[MEN WHOOPING]

Quince!

Yo, Quince.

Yes, sir?

What do you make of that?

- Rowdy. - Yeah.

That dirty, sneaky little son of a gun.

You know, I bet he's figuring on closing up on us,

have us do his scouting and his trail breaking for him.

I heard he was shorthanded.

You gotta give it to him though. Smart way of saving manpower.

Well, that could be.

You know, I think we ought to go and visit him tonight.

I bet the kid's having all kinds of problems.

Just might appreciate a helping hand.

Well, I don't know, Mr. Favor.

The way I heard it, his mad is pretty deep.

Ah, don't you believe it.

One thing I know is my boy Rowdy Yates.

Yeah, by golly, we will go over there tonight.

Just socialize.

See how the kid's making out.

FAVOR: Howdy, fellas.

- Howdy. QUINCE: Howdy, boys.

- How's it going? - Oh, fine, fine.

Ah.

Well, we noticed your dust.

We saw the way you was closing in on us.

Figured you were trying to save manpower.

And it occurred to us that about this time

you might need a helping hand, huh?

No.

Huh. Everything's all right, then?

Mm. Just fine, thank you. Just great.

Good, good.

See, ...

I plan on beating you in.

You plan on beating me in?

Mm-hm.

And just how do you plan to beat me in?

Well, by watching every stick and stone,

driving faster, better and smoother than you.

FAVOR: Oh, I see.

See, I got that herd of my own now.

That you do, Mr. Yates.

You most certainly do.

You'll be eating my dust.

Yeah.

Yeah, that might be true too.

Well, um, you take care, fella.

- Take care. - All right.

I hope you know what're you doing, Rowdy.

Mm, heh.

Quince!

Oh, that snake in the grass.

What did I say about him just before we come over here?

Sneaky, dirty little son of a gun.

My exact words, right?

Right. Oh, do I know him.

I ought to take his fuzzy little neck and wring it out.

Eat his dust.

Let's get out of here.

I don't know. Been me, I don't think

I would've taken that from him, Mr. Favor.

Even though he was a friend of mine.

Don't you worry. That dumb kid ain't getting by with nothing.

Forget it. We're not racing anyways.

They're already making bets back there.

I said no!

- No call to squall at me about it. - All right, all right.

Al right, I said to forget it.

He ain't got a rotten chance of beating us.

He's still behind us, ain't he?

All we gotta do is spread out the herd real wide.

Ain't nothing he can do about passing us. Ha-ha-ha.

The way I understand it, though,

you want that herd pushed just as fast as you can, is that right?

Yeah, sure.

- Well, that makes a race out of it. - Huh?

Alrighty, everybody up.

Come on, move it out. No sleep tonight.

Shake it up.

- What's up? - I know that man.

He's just as sneaky as I am. Come morning,

he'll spread that herd out all over the place and we won't have a chance.

We'll be finished. Now, here's what I want you to do.

You get your men on flank.

When we make contact, I'll fall back and you take over as lead.

- Who do you want riding anchor? - No anchor.

- Without one? - That's right, without one.

We'll move them out easy, smooth and with confidence.

Now, come on.

All right, you heard what he said. Come on, boys.

There ain't gonna be no anchor. We just drive today.

MAN: No anchor? WEED: Wrap it up.

[MEN WHOOPING IN DISTANCE]

It can't be.

I'll be it is.

All right, let's move! I want every man in the saddle.

I mean everybody, right now!

Let's go! Come on, move. Yah!

[MEN SHOUTING]

Hold it!

[MEN WHOOPING]

Looks like Mr. Yates' herd is headed this way,

headed for the canyon.

Well, you know our stock's a lot closer.

You wanna try to block him off, Mr. Favor?

No, just keep them tight.

I'd rather he got past us than get us all killed.

Come on, ladies, and follow Rowdy Yates into glory.

Here they come. Let's go.

[MEN WHOOPING]

[COWS MOOING]

- Move it. - Quince.

- You got your men in position yet? - Yes, sir.

You better be ready for anything. No telling what's gonna happen.

You be ready to mill that herd at any minute.

We're ready.

Slow them down.

Hold them steady there. Keep them down.

Sweet and steady.

Head them up and move them out.

Luke!

Fall back and take anchor.

Right!

[HORSE WHINNYING]

Steady.

Keep his head up.

- Unh. - Man in trouble!

Keep his head up.

Steady, boy.

Man down!

Get away from him, I'll get him.

I had my doubts, but I'm glad I didn't say nothing.

- I'm just glad it's over. - Hadn't been for old Luke getting hurt,

everything would've worked out perfect, though.

I've never seen such pretty droving in my life.

Maybe, but he's crazy, that Yates.

He's crazy as a bedbug.

Now, Luke, there's a town called Diablo a few miles back.

I'll put you in the supply wagon and take you in.

All right.

Ah. A beautiful job, Weed.

We're ahead of Mr. Favor and in a canyon too.

Yep. We'll be in on the 5th just like I said.

You're a lucky man, Mr. Yates.

Maybe so, but it seemed like a smart maneuver.

And very stupid.

First, you shouldn't have gone up in that canyon.

And second, there's that business the happened with Luke this morning.

We had a man down.

Well, Mr. Favor was closer to him than you was.

- Why didn't you let him pick him up? - It was our man.

No. You just can't admit a mistake, that's all.

Now, look here, Weed.

You're looking for a showdown, you're not gonna get one.

You're hired to move cattle.

As long as you're working for me, that's what you're gonna do.

- Yes, sir. - Did you scout that canyon?

- I did. - What'd you find?

That canyon splits in two.

There's an upper fork. It's as dry as a roadrunner's craw.

There's a lower fork.

It's longer, but there's a cold pond up the end of it.

How much longer?

Eight hours. Ten hours with water in the stock.

Yeah. If you think Gil Favor's gonna sit around behind us

waiting for us to get through that canyon.

No, no, no. He'll probably skirt east,

set his own pace, maybe even travel at night.

We'll lose that advantage.

What's your opinion?

My opinion is that my opinion ain't worth too much around here.

I'm asking you for it.

All right, you prodded me for it, you're gonna get it.

Mr. Yates, you ain't driving these men and these cattle hard

for a better price.

You only got one thing interesting you right now.

That's whether or not you're a better man than Favor.

Well, one man's been hurt because of that already.

I say quit this foolishness.

Quit this race.

That's your honest opinion?

That's it.

[BOTH GRUNTING]

And one of you's just as bad as the other.

No, you're worse.

Because you're trying to take out on him

what you think of your own darn self.

Why, he's just as like you as your own mirror image.

That ever occur to you?

Must be why you hired him.

You just had to find some way to hit out.

[MUMBLING]

Thank you.

ROWDY: You were right about a lot of things, Weed.

I'm gonna stop by Mr. Favor's camp on the way to Diablo

and tell him the whole thing's off.

Well, I know we'll all sleep better for it tonight.

Luke, have a good trip.

- Don't get too many ups and downs. - Yeah, you're funny.

Well, there's Gil Favor's fire.

We'll ride on in there and you can rest a while.

- I'll tell him we're calling the race off. - We're calling this race off?

You mean you.

Yeah, I've been watching you.

I got a broken leg, a broken arm,

maybe a couple of busted ribs.

And it's killing you worse than it's hurting me.

Now, you listen to me.

I break legs all the time.

Arms too, and I don't-- I ain't saying I like it that way,

but don't call this race off on account of me.

You wanna beat him to that railhead, you get at it.

Well, I'm glad you don't hold it against me.

Well, I've heard a lot about this Gil Favor.

Anybody who's supposed to be that good

don't just sit too good with me, so you whip him for me.

Biggest favor you could do me.

You whip him real good.

You might just be right.

- How much, doc? - That'll be $15, Mr. Yates.

Fifteen?

For an arm and a leg and one rib?

Two ribs.

All right.

Thank you.

I'd like to send some telegrams and wait for the answers, all right?

Mr. Favor, I just saw the Lockwood herd

heading into the upper fork.

- Did you say upper fork? - That's right, the upper fork.

Looks like nothing is gonna stop Mr. Yates

except Mr. Yates himself.

I'm betting anything he's gonna get too smart for himself.

Now, sure it's shorter.

It's so dry, it'd choke a lizard.

And if those cows can't breathe, they're gonna run.

Maybe they'll even stampede them.

Hey, can't do it without rain.

That fool is going to be taking a hundred to one shot.

Quince.

Section the herd in two.

We're gonna go through lower fork.

We're gonna go through faster than it's ever been done before.

All right, moving out.

Come on, boys.

[MEN WHOOPING]

Weed, hold them back! They're going too fast.

Well, the cattle in the back, they can't breathe.

They keep trying to get up in front increasing the speed.

Well, then, decrease it.

All right.

Another five minutes and I'll push on.

You give it an hour and bring the second section in.

Mighty pretty country, ain't it?

Yeah, down here in the canyon.

Now, I'm afraid our, uh, boy has bit off

more than he can chew in his part of it, though.

[COWS MOOING AND MEN WHOOPING]

Still too fast. Get some men up in front.

Yes, sir.

Sam!

Front! Front!

Tom! Front!

Up front!

ROWDY: We need more help. WEED: We need a medicine man.

[MEN CONTINUE SHOUTING]

WEED: We're getting pressure from the rear. Too much dust!

ROWDY:: Mill them, mill them! Don't let them stampede.

WEED: The more we mill them, the more dust we get.

ROWDY: Hold them! I said hold them!

Too fast. They're going too fast.

Get over!

Herd them!

WEED: They're breaking loose! They're close to stampede!

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

ROWDY: Say a prayer then.

WEED: I've been. I've been.

[MEN CHEERING]

Good morning, Mr. Weed.

Good morning, Mr. Yates.

- Brethren, good morning. - Delighted, gentlemen.

Never thought I'd see the day that cattle were smiling.

Looks like we're gonna on time, Weed, and you'll be a hero.

Well, I got no objection, but I'd rather be lucky like you. Ha-ha-ha.

Lucky, huh?

I spent all night in Diablo sending and receiving these,

trying to locate a rainstorm.

I finally found one moving west, from Harrison to Saragossa.

Weatherman here in Topeka said it'd be here this morning.

And here it is.

Sure wish you'd told us before you turn into upper fork.

I almost quit you.

I didn't want another one of your arguments.

Besides you're just a ramrod.

You ain't supposed to know what's going on on my level.

That is, until you get a herd of your own.

[MACHINE CLICKING]

Everything is confirmed.

Your check has been deposited.

Thanks again. Nice herd.

Well, heh, all I did was drive them, Mr. Morgan.

They're Lockwood's cattle. He raised them.

Well, he should be a very happy man.

Let me tell you, he is.

Now, Mr. Yates, I know of another herd in South Dakota.

The owner's over at the hotel now trying to find a trail boss.

I recommended you.

Well, that's very nice of you. Much obliged.

Anytime, Mr. Yates.

- Anytime. - Thank you, Mr. Morgan.

- Yates? - Mm?

Are you the man that wired me in Diablo?

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Been trying to reach you, but you left Diablo.

Right after I wired you about that storm,

it petered itself out in Highland Springs.

Sorry you never got that water you counted on.

That storm didn't reach the upper fork?

Don't see how it could.

Well, then what rain did?

That, sir, I couldn't tell you.

Whoo! Look at that. Here, have some of this, boys.

Forget all that beer.

Well, this is the kind of a party I like.

MAN: Hey, did you see that?

Hey!

I'm drinking this all myself because I ain't had nothing like this since--

Oh, this is too good. I don't want any of that.

Mr. Wishbone, I'd sure like to have a beer.

You'll have sarsaparilla.

Here, take two. They're free. It's on Mr. Lockwood. Ha-ha-ha!

- Hey, here comes Mr. Yates. WEED: Mr. Rowdy.

Yeah! Ha-ha-ha!

Hey, come over here and have a beer, boy.

Rowdy, you can look like you're enjoying it a little bit more.

This is on Mr. Lockwood.

- It isn't costing us a red cent, boy. WEED: That's right.

Hey, by the way, there was a feller in here from South Dakota

- asking for you. - Oh, yeah, yeah.

He's got a herd of 4,000 head up in the Black Hills.

- Wanted me to run it for him. - Oh, ha, ha.

Well...

MUSHY: Mr. Favor.

Here comes that poor, sore, tired, and dusty loser.

WISHBONE: Oh, hey! Ha-ha-ha.

Well, go ahead and say you'd beat us in

like you said you would.

We ate your dust like you said we would.

Congratulations.

- Thanks. - Any of you wanna come over

for a drink, you're welcome.

Yeah, I think I will go over and have a chat with him.

Come on, Mushy.

Oh, uh, if you're thinking of taking that South Dakota herd,

I'm not gonna be able to come along. Mushy and me need a long rest.

- Sure. WISHBONE: Come on, Mushy.

MUSHY: Mr. Quince. WEED: Uh, ahem.

Yeah, me too.

You too what, Weed?

Well, you know me, Rowdy. I'm kind of a rolling stone.

I had in my mind to go out to California.

I think I just might do that.

Swell.

Well, excuse me, I'm gonna go over and make my peace with Quince now.

[MEN CHATTERING]

MAN: Oh, boy.

You can always feel good.

- Good. - Where's that--?

Well. Well, how was the cooking this time out?

Fine. Just fine.

You know, we never ate better.

Oh?

Well, you old sugar-saver, believe me, it was choking bad, Wish.

Good to have you back.

Why, you two.

Well, no wonder. I had you all spoiled rotten.

MAN: That's right. Here. Let me have some of that.

- This one's empty. WISHBONE: There you are.

- Boy, this is fun, isn't it? MAN: I'll tell you, give me some more.

Mr. Favor, I, uh-- I'd like to say something to you.

I'm glad you could join us.

That, uh...

Well, me beating you in like this, strictly a fluke.

Just the biggest fluke you ever saw.

Fluke? You did a good job at droving.

A little harum-scarum at times, of course, but good.

No. Heh.

No. You see I gambled everything on a rainstorm.

I telegraphed all over and finally found one.

But it fizzled out before it reached the upper fork there.

I lucked in on some other rain I never knew anything about.

Well, that's mighty nice of you to up and say it.

I gotta admit we sort of hated coming in second to you.

Especially after we broke our backs trying so hard.

Now, some fella out there in North Dakota

wants me to take over his herd,

- a chance to go on my own again. - Hey, fine. Fine.

Oh, well, I'm not sure.

I don't think I'm ready for it.

Well, that's nonsense. What are you talking about?

You did a good job for Lockwood.

Oh.

No, you might think so, but I don't.

I don't think the rest of my men did either.

No, I might have a rough time getting a crew together.

I don't think I'm seasoned enough for it yet.

But learning every inch of the way.

I, uh...

If it's all right, I wouldn't mind coming back to work for you, you know?

Well, I'd surely like that, Mr. Yates,

but I already got a ramrod.

ROWDY: Oh, not ramrod, no.

Just plain working.

Well, that'd be fine, Mr. Yates, but you'd still have to talk to Quince.

Oh, no. I won't do it.

Not again, Mr. Favor.

I never did like that doggone job in the first place.

I hated it. It belongs to Rowdy there.

Why, you horsehead...

- And I hope you take it back. - You see, Mr. Rowdy?

Ah, ah. Just plain Rowdy will do.

Just plain Rowdy?

[MEN LAUGH]

MAN: Let's get beer, hey!

How much more...?

[MEN CHATTERING]

Hey!

That's for me.

- Oh, wait. - Hey.

Head them up!

Move them out!