Original subtitles

Well, there it is, the Waco River, running high and wide.

Is that worth coming out of the way for?

Except turning off the trail cost us three days.

I know, I know. It saved the herd, though.

Water up ahead, 2, two and half miles.

- Yeah, how much water? - River.

Boy, that's a relief.

There hasn't been more than enough to moisten their tongues.

The herd ain't smelled it yet.

I want them slowed down, broken up into small bunches

- before they do. - Right.

[ROWDY WHISTLES]

Senor Wishbone,

I have never seen the cattle behave like this.

Hey Soos, I got problems enough without Mushy.

I don't wanna worry about the beeves.

Senor Wishbone, please, look.

If I didn't see it, I wouldn't believe it.

- It must be the water. - No, senor.

I know this river. The water is fresh and sweet.

[ALL SHOUTING]

- Coffee's hot. - Hmm.

Well, it's the same as before. They won't go near the water

unless you drive them, and they won't drink when you do.

Maybe they're sick or something.

Maybe they're just plum worn out.

Oh, we drove them that hard before.

They ain't had no decent grass to graze on in the past three days.

Hell you, they gotta be thirsty.

If they don't drink, they die.

Well,

I'm afraid I've got to admit

that I just don't--

I just don't know why they won't go to the water.

I gotta find out in a few days.

Could mean losing the whole herd.

That could mean you men ending up without a full season's wages.

Oh, there's still time to

maybe sign up with another herd or at least look for another job.

All of you, any of you,

I'm willing to pay off any man that wants to quit right now.

Nobody?

[CHUCKLES]

Well,

what are we sitting around the chuck wagon for?

We got a herd of beeves out there just dying of thirst

within sight and smell of water.

A good sneeze could set them off in a stampede.

I want every man in the saddle and I want him out there right now.

You. You said something about them

- maybe being sick, huh? - Yeah, that's right.

Well, why aren't you on your way to the nearest town to find a vet?

Oh, well...

That's a good idea.

Senor Wishbone, you think the men are gonna be hungry tonight?

I don't know, but if any of them are, they're mighty well gonna get fed.

We shouldn't have any trouble getting back

once we get the beeves across the river.

Across it? We can't even get them to it.

Maybe we can when Rowdy gets back with the vet.

I got no belief in a sickness

what hits 3,000 head all at the same time.

They are just itching to run

in every direction except the water.

But they gotta have to stay alive.

I don't know. I just don't know.

Maybe I ought to go ahead and let them run themselves to death.

[HORSE APPROACHING]

The name's Tom Cowan. I'm looking for a job.

Well, I'm not sure this drive is gonna last out

another couple of days.

But if it does, I could sure use another hand.

Well, uh, I'm afraid you'd have to be a drover, though.

- You the trail boss? - That's right, the name's Favor.

- Got a smoke? - Oh, yeah.

Do I look like a cook to you?

Well, I don't care what a man looks like.

It's what he can do that matters.

So far you can roll a cigarette.

Why, you stupid--

Get off that horse.

You leave your guts on the ground?

Now, what are you trying to prove, Cowan?

I'm sorry, Mr. Favor.

All right. You ride, you rope, you're hired.

What did you come in for anyway, Jim?

Oh. Uh, the beeves are starting to scatter.

It's getting tricky in those arroyos.

I need another man.

FAVOR: Take him, his name is Cowan.

Well, I'm, uh, willing to forget it if you are.

Let's get after those strays.

He's sure touchy.

Oh, anybody might be missing awing.

He'll be needing a fresh horse before the night's out.

I'll tell Hey Soos to get one out to him.

Well, world's sure full of all kind of fools.

Like me, cooking a hot supper.

I'll be bringing in half the men when it gets dark.

That only makes me half a fool, then.

Wouldn't you know it?

Anytime the cook's louse goes off, it's just the time to run out of salt.

Suppose I can get by without using any in the stew?

Don't answer, I'll go get it.

Here's a fresh horse for the new man, Senor Favor.

- How are they holding up?? - Oh, fine, senor.

Except I'm running short of grain for them.

We had to use so much when we were crossing the burnt-over land.

No trouble watering them?

No trouble, senor.

What are you doing ferrying the cook around?

A bunch of steers got after me.

Cowan picked me up.

What are you doing out with the herd?

You were supposed to be rounding up strays.

You find a friend to take care of them?

I don't need no friend to do my job for me, or for anything else.

- Hey Soos. - Si, senor?

Get that horse out to him.

Well, I guess I'll make the stew without my salt.

- By golly, they're drinking all right. - A handful out of 3,000.

I cut out a dozen head upstream like you told me to,

but I tried to drive them into the river but trying was all I got done.

They ain't acting like these beeves.

Maybe it'll be different by morning, huh?

Could be.

I want you to go across and pick up the cattle.

I want every last beeve in that water this morning,

if you gotta boot them in one by one.

[SHOUTING AND WHISTLING]

Now, there's a sight for you the first thing in the morning.

Well, come on, the men are gonna be wanting coffee.

[SIGHS]

Boss, your troubles are over.

Where is the vet?

Oh, he's back in Danville.

Oh, you see the moment I told him about the whole situation,

he knew what the answer was.

Well, did he impart any of the secret to you?

Yeah, that's right.

You think maybe you might be able to share this with me, maybe?

Oh, yeah. Well, when I told him about the burned-out grass

that the beeves have been traveling over the last few days,

he had it all wrapped up.

- Oh, Rowdy. - Oh, no, no, no.

So you see the regular graze has minerals in it

this burned-out graze didn't have.

And the one mineral they were lacking was salt.

Now, the vet says that men or beeves can't develop...

...a thirst without salt.

Of course. Those beeves weren't after me,

they were after the salt leaking out of my sack.

That explains why we only saw a few head drinking at the river.

But the horses drank.

Now, they were on their regular feed.

I guess you could trail boss all your life

and still come up with something new to learn.

That's right. Our troubles are all over, aren't they?

So it's just a matter

- of, um, feeding the beeves salt, huh? - Right.

You bring any salt with you?

Well, no. I-- Danville is just a wide spot in the road.

They wouldn't have too much salt in the grocery store.

FAVOR: No store would have enough salt.

Do you know how much salt it's gonna take

for 3,000 head of cattle?

Pete, do you know of any salt licks, salt deposits hereabout?

Well, we're not on the regular trail. I don't know this country very well.

But if we were on the regular rail,

I don't know where there is any salt licks.

- Mr. Favor... FAVOR: Yeah, Cowan?

Nothing. Nothing, Mr. Favor.

You was gonna say something about salt.

Now, look, Cowan, spit it out!

I got 3,000 head of dying cattle out there.

I'll tell you what you want to hear.

The kind of salt you need is rock salt, ain't it?

There's a rock salt mine near Murtree.

At least there was about ten years ago.

- What's Murtree? - A town, 30 miles west of here.

Quince, unload the supply wagon.

Soon as you get it done, hitch up fresh horses to it, you'll be driving it.

Wishbone, get your cooking gear out of the chuck wagon.

Hey Soos, fresh horses for both the wagons, fast.

Pete, you'll be in charge of this.

Take Scarlet along with you to help load the salt.

And, Cowan?

COWAN: I can do most things anybody else can do

but when it comes to loading...

Look, you've made it pretty clear you've got a chip on your shoulder

about your missing arm.

Let me make it clear to you.

I don't give two cents about your missing arm.

Wouldn't have hired you otherwise,

but I did so you're taking orders from me.

Now, you're gonna lead those two wagons to Murtree.

I can tell them how to get there.

I do the telling around here.

You know how long those cattle have been without water?

Couple of hours could make the difference between living or dying.

You're the boss, Mr. Favor.

Place looks like it hadn't been worked in a long time.

It never amounted to much,

I figured there'd be enough salt here for the herd.

Can't see a thing inside.

We could put a bullet through that lock and get in and get the salt.

The sheriff around here is quicker with a gun than a question.

Yeah. Well, if there's no other way.

The town's only a mile from here.

What good is that?

This is public land, but the bank used to run the mine,

just like it did practically everything in Murtree.

Well, this ain't getting us any salt. Let's get to that bank.

Let's get your saddle horses and leave the wagons here.

Cowan.

Down that road about a mile, you're in Murtree.

- Bank's on the main street. - Well, you're coming with us.

Look, I'm giving the orders, you're coming.

I can't go into town.

You got us this far, you're gonna finish your job.

Ten years ago, I married a girl in Murtree.

I got my arm shot off in the war

so I had a friend write her a letter that I was dead.

I gotta stay dead for her.

All right, go on back to the herd.

I thought it was you, Cowan.

Sheriff, I'm in a hurry.

I've been away from Murtree three days.

You'd better come along with me.

I ain't even been in that town.

Now, how can I be sure of that? I'll take your gun.

[SHOUTS]

Cowan!

Mr. Butler, we can't sit around here waiting forever.

We got a herd that's dying.

I told you, my father will be back any time.

You told me that an hour ago.

I don't understand why you can't do something.

If he don't like the terms we make about the salt, I won't hold you to it.

Look, I don't own this bank.

I don't run it. My father does.

I just work here.

- You were in the Army, huh? - That's right.

You didn't have to check with your officer every time

before you fired a shot, did you?

I just as soon not talk about the Army.

Why you got that picture up there?

Because my father wants it there.

FRANK: Mr. Butler.

Hello, Frank. Need some banking advice?

I just brought a man in for the doc to work on.

Well, the doc sure don't need my advice.

He's wounded. Not bad, a flesh wound.

Sam, the man in there is Tom Cowan.

I ran into him just outside of town.

- He wouldn't come peaceful. - Is he conscious?

Ralston, Wade,

go get yourselves a drink.

Meet me at the bank later.

[SIGHS]

He wouldn't talk to me.

He will to me.

He's lost some blood, go easy with him.

As soon as the doc comes, fixes him up, I'll put him in jail.

We'll see about that.

Right now, I wanna talk to him.

You wait here for me.

So you come back after all, huh?

Well, I--

You...

Your arm.

A minié ball took it off at Vicksburg.

Well, I'm sorry to hear about that.

That must be almost ten years ago.

I got the impression you were never coming back to Murtree.

I wasn't.

The sheriff changed my mind about that.

Hook a job with a herd going the opposite direction, but they...

They ran into trouble. They need salt.

What are you after? More money?

I mean, there could be more money for your arm, say?

You just don't understand, Mr. Butler.

I don't want money. I don't want land.

We made a deal and I'm sticking to it.

Or trying to.

I mean, I wouldn't blame you passing through.

Wanting to see Jenny again.

Mr. Butler.

When you have somebody in the hospital with you write your girl

that you're dead,

you don't plan on ever seeing her again.

Well...

In that case, I better make sure

word of your being here don't get around.

You better do something else.

Get me out of here.

I will, Tom.

I will.

Frank, I want you to walk away from here

and forget you ever seen Cowan.

Nobody will know he ever come back.

What happens when the doc gets here?

Cowan will be gone by then.

I'll handle that.

There's still that bank robbing charge against him.

I let him go once before because--

Because I told you to.

And I'm telling you what to do now too.

You don't own me, Sam.

I own Murtree and everything that's in it.

Forget that, Frank.

Look, it was my bank he robbed.

Less than a hundred dollars in all.

Letting him go ten years ago wasn't right.

Letting him go now ain't right.

Frank, nobody but saints are right all the time.

You and me, we're not saints, are we?

I won't forget this, Frank.

Will, you close up and then come into my office.

Pa, these men have been waiting on you quite a while now.

Well, the bank is closed. Tell them to come back in the morning.

Wait a minute. We've been waiting here for three hours to see you.

I can't help that. The bank is closed.

Mister, there's 3,000 head of cattle down on the Waco that are gonna die

if we don't get some salt to them.

- You drovers? - That's right.

Well, uh, if you take your hands off me, maybe we can talk business.

Now, uh, how much salt do you need?

Oh, a couple of wagon loads. We got the wagons with us.

Mm-hm. Well, the mine ain't been worked in quite a long time.

But I guess there's enough salt laying around to fill your needs.

I'll put some men on it first thing in the morning.

No, wait. It's gotta be tonight.

Well, it'll cost you extra if I have to put men to work tonight.

How much?

Oh...

About a hundred and fifty dollars.

All right, it's a deal.

Will, uh, you go into my office and make out the contract.

- But, Pa, we don't need any-- - You do like I tell you.

And, Will, you stay in there till I'm ready for you.

QUINCE: Oh, we'll be working right alongside your men, Mr. Butler.

BUTLER: Well, that's a good idea.

Make things go that much faster.

Uh...

Do you have a fella by the name of Tom Cowan

working with your outfit?

Yeah.

Mm-hm.

- Do you know where he is now? - He's back with the herd.

You're wrong. He's in town with a bullet in him.

QUINCE: Just how bad hurt is he?

Well, I never heard that a bullet helped a man's health much,

but I don't think it's too serious.

How did it happen, anyway?

- It was a mistake. - I don't like the kind of mistakes

winds up with our drovers getting a bullet in him.

Now, don't you go flying off the handle at me.

This was a legal mistake.

- The sheriff shot him. - Is a doctor looking after him?

He ain't gonna be in town long enough for that

because you're getting him out of here tonight.

- If he's hurt, he shouldn't be moved. - Ain't you got somebody with the herd

who takes care of things like that?

Sure, we got someone out there that does the best he can,

but he ain't no doctor.

Well, that's too bad because that's the way it's gonna be.

Mr. Butler, I don't understand what's going on here.

I know if Cowan's been hurt, he ought to not be moved

till a doctor checks him over.

I thought you wanted that salt real bad.

What's that go to do with this?

Unless you get Cowan out of here tonight,

that mine stays closed.

Now, it seems to me

that you gentlemen are wasting your time and mine.

And I think I can afford it a little better than you can.

- All right, we'll get him out of town. QUINCE: Now, hold on, Pete. If it's--

If it's gonna hurt Cowan to move him, we'd better talk it over.

We've come to get that salt, remember?

You're aiming to become a trail boss too?

Joe, you've been a drover long enough to know that the herd comes first.

You and Hey Soos go out to the mine, get our bedrolls

make a place in one of the wagons for Cowan and bring it back here.

- Where is Cowan? BUTLER: I'll, uh...

I'll tell you that when your wagon gets here.

Get going.

Well, it's a real pleasure doing business with reasonable men.

While you're waiting, why don't you two go get something to eat?

There's a saloon right down the street

and the food is a little better than the drinks.

Will.

I, uh, changed my mind.

We won't need that contract.

I'm going home.

Good idea.

Give my love to Jenny.

Tom.

Will told me you were here. I couldn't believe it.

Tom, please look at me.

Hello, Jenny.

It's been a while, hasn't it?

Why did they write me you were dead?

Your arm.

Everybody,

the first thing they notice about me is I got an arm missing.

Is that why you didn't come back?

Well, that and other things.

- I was in love with you. - You were in love with a man.

Did you need an excuse not to come back?

I would have.

I wanted to more than anything else in the world,

but you deserved...

Tom.

Tom.

Tum!

Tum!

Cowan's not here.

HEY SOOS: Could not the doctor tell you where he is?

He claims he ain't even seen him.

The doc's been out of town most of the day

taking care of somebody on a ranch 30 miles out.

He just got back about an hour ago.

Maybe Cowan got tired of waiting, took off.

Yeah, or somebody took him.

Like Butler.

There's one way to find out. I'm going over to the bank.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Come in.

Well, it's about time you got here.

Now, look.

Ralston here's gonna ride out with you to your camp

to make sure that Cowan gets there.

Wade here is gonna have another wagon ready

to replace the one that you brought in.

We ain't got Cowan.

- Why not? - Because he ain't over at the doc's.

We don't know where he is.

Well, you'd better find him.

Look, I came here to get salt.

It means more to me than you or Cowan

or the whole town of Murtree for that matter.

I tried to go along with you on this. I've done nothing but waste time.

I'm going after the salt.

There's been a lot of people killed for less than 3,000 head of cattle.

What good would it do you?

I could have a dozen armed men around that mine

before you were halfway there.

If you got so many men why don't you send them to look for Cowan?

The way I'm doing this is the way I want it done.

It's the middle of the night. How are we gonna go out looking?

He might be anywhere.

It'll be light in a few hours.

Before the town is up, you try then.

You're in my home.

Mine and Will's.

We were married three years ago.

A widow's got every right to marry again.

Why did you bring me here for? So I could congratulate your husband?

Will thought you'd be safer here.

Anyway, there's practically no bleeding from your wound.

You should be all right if you don't move around too much.

I gotta get back to the herd.

Maybe tomorrow.

In all these years,

were you ever sorry that you had that letter sent?

Did you wish even once

that I knew you were alive?

That I was waiting?

I was too busy learning how to live with one hand.

The day you married me and ran off,

couldn't you at least have told me you were going?

WILL: He didn't have time to spare.

He was too busy robbing Pa's bank and getting caught at it.

Your horse was mighty hungry, Cowan.

I got him bedded down, though.

Tom.

Is what Will said true?

- It's true. - Why did you do it?

I promised you a wedding trip, remember?

The last dollar I had, I paid the preacher at Antioch.

Does he know?

That a preacher said a few words over us ten years ago?

That you rode off, saying you'd be back in an hour?

That I waited for you that day,

and the next,

and for weeks,

and months?

Until the letter came telling me you were dead?

That you never held me in your arms, not even once?

I never told anyone,

but Will knows.

Will.

Why didn't you tell me about the bank robbing?

You knew how I felt about Tom.

- Pa told me he thought-- - Pa told you.

Pa has been telling you what to do all of your life,

and you've been doing it.

Now, he's been mighty good to you, Jenny.

Good to me?

I don't think he even knows who I really am,

except that I was something you wanted.

He's been good to Will's wife.

And now it turns out that I'm not even that.

You did this to me, Tom.

Why?

I didn't think you'd want me like this.

Wouldn't it have been kinder to ask me?

Nothing's been changed, Jenny.

You got a letter saying your husband-- Your first husband was dead.

Now, he's still dead as far as you're concerned.

No one knew about our marriage.

No one has to.

Tomorrow morning, I'm gonna ride out of here.

I never really was here.

I've been dead for ten years, remember?

What he-- What he's saying is true.

There ain't nobody has to know.

Except us.

I can't go on with you, Will.

You're still in love with him.

What good would that do me?

There's something ought to be done.

Might be there's some legal way.

- I'll ask Pa, I'll-- - Can't you for once in your life

do something without asking Pa?

I married you because I was hurt and lonely.

That isn't a good reason for marrying.

But I thought we had a chance.

That is until I found out I'd married a boy,

and not a man.

Our marriage hasn't been any more real

than the one between Tom and me.

I'm tired.

I made the bed up in the spare room.

You're right, Jenny. You're even righter than you know.

There's more to it than I ever did tell you.

My, uh, Army record,

the medal I got,

the land I got for bravery.

I was never in the Army.

I thought that would stay buried

just like I thought Tom Cowan was dead and would stay buried.

Well, I was wrong.

There ain't nothing that stays buried forever.

Is there more?

Well, the sheriff caught Tom robbing the bank,

and he told Pa about it and--

And Pa made a deal with Tom.

A deal?

Well, there were drafting soldiers for the Army right then.

And Pa got the sheriff to let Tom off from the bank robbing charge

and he gave Tom $500

and he got Tom to enlist in my name.

Will?

What are you going to do?

I'm gonna go into town,

and I'm gonna tell Pa for a change.

I'm gonna take Cowan with me.

We got a lot to settle between the three of us.

Him and Pa and me.

Cowan?

He's gone.

COWAN: It's time you stopped playing god, Mr. Butler.

What, did you see a great light or something?

It might be fever.

I ain't feeling sorry for myself anymore.

It's like taking the blinders off a horse.

A whole new world opens up around him.

And what's gonna happen in that new world of yours?

I'm taking what's coming to me.

My land, my war record.

And maybe five years in jail for robbing a bank?

If I have to.

But we can settle all that in the morning.

Tonight, I'm making sure the drovers get their salt.

Wait a minute.

Did you think what this will do to my son,

to Jenny,

to their marriage?

I've seen their marriage.

They say marriages are made in heaven.

Well, maybe some are,

but this one was made in a bank.

The truth's gonna hurt, Mr. Butler,

but it'll be clean and sharp and short.

Not like the lying rotten mess your son's life has been, and Jenny's,

and mine.

Ain't nothing gonna change your mind?

Nothing.

And no one.

And never.

Ralston. Wade.

- Where are the others? - Inside.

We have been looking for you, señor. It was said you were wounded.

Never mind that.

Dig up some lanterns, shovels, picks. Meet me at the mine.

I'll have it open by the time you get there.

[SPEAKING IN SPANISH]

Father, there's something I got to tell you.

Ain't you done enough telling for one night?

Cowan was here.

Next time you want to confide in someone,

why don't you try me first?

All right, that's fine.

There are some things I wanna clear up right now.

Not tonight.

Pa, I'm warning you,

by tomorrow, the whole town is gonna know about us.

Hook care of you all your life.

I'm not planning to stop now.

You and Jenny thought Cowan was dead.

Well, you can go right on thinking that.

Where's Ralston?

Where's Wade?

I've sent them up to the mine to do a little chore for me.

Will?

Will! Will!

- Come on. - Will!

Will!

Sheriff!

Sheriff!

[GUNSHOT]

We can rush him.

What for? He's gonna run out of bullets a long time before we do.

Just keep him firing.

Wade.

What are you doing here?

I thought you might need help.

Why, you ain't even got a gun on you.

No, but you have, you still ain't taken him.

Well, we're waiting him out.

That could take all night, Ralston.

I'll tell you what.

I'll flush him out for you.

Cowan?

It's me, Will.

I'm coming in.

Whatever you've got to say, say it quick.

They ain't gonna try to take you.

Not till all your bullets run out.

How many you got left?

Those in my gun,

not enough.

You figuring going out and telling them?

No.

The only reason I come up here was lo--

Was to find out what kind of chance you had.

Now you know.

Yeah.

You got no idea how what I owe you

has been dragging me down.

Wade.

Now we got him, Mr. Butler.

- You seen Will? - Yeah, he flushed Cowan out for us.

I---

I only wanted the best for him.

You gonna take me in, Frank?

[MOUTHING] No.

Cowan, you gonna tell the truth?

All right.

Then I'll have to tell it myself.

Well, you--

You got the salt you came after.

What about me?

When they cut off my arm, it took a while for the hurt to heal.

I didn't realize how long.

Ten years.

It'll, uh, take a while for this to heal.

Head them up!

Move them out!