Original subtitles

Any word yet, warden ?

No grassmen sighted all night.

Are you sure they got my message at Yucca Wells ?

They got it alright.

You think they've hung him already ?

"Received your message. No Manuel Ruiz held here."

"Mistake. Bill Thompson, Marshal Yucca Wells."

You going to Yucca Wells ?

A man's life may depend on it, warden.

And now, "Colt .45"

A Warner Bros. television production.

Colt !

Marshal Thompson ?

- I'm Captain Colt. - Colt ?

Oh, Chris Colt. What you doing down here ?

Well, like it says I never heard of any Manuel Ruiz.

You didn't come all that way for this ?

I got this letter last week.

Dated may 20th.

Yucca Wells. Read it.

Manuel Ruiz wrote that he was being held for the murder

of Rancher Carl Benson, who was killed on the 17th of May.

On that date Manuel was in the Yuma Penitentiary.

His parole dated May 18th.

Well, I don't doubt you, Colt.

But till I got your telegraph

I never heard of Ruiz.

There's been no killing here.

Somebody's played a joke on you, Colt. Clean and dirty.

But Manuel wrote that he was arrested on the 20th of May.

Was there anyone held here on that date ?

No, I don't rightly recall.

Let me see.

No. Quiet day.

Not even a drunk locked up. See for yourself.

It's too bad you came all this way.

Well a man's life might have been at stake.

Mighty few people would've gone through that trouble.

I guess, you had to be sure though.

Well, one thing for sure.

That letter was sent from here.

It's our mark alright.

Can you tell me who sent it ?

Afraid not.

I'd like to help you, captain, but I can't keep track

of every letter that passes through my hands.

May 20.

Nothing special happened that day, I remember.

Day like any other.

Thank you, ma'am.

This doesn't make sense, Captain Colt.

My husband isn't dead.

Where is your husband now ?

I suppose it can't be kept a secret forever.

Not with thing like this crank letter.

People do gossip.

I don't understand.

Well, Captain Colt..

...when a woman's been deserted by her husband

after 12 years of marriage..

...it's bound to cause talk.

Especially in a town as small as Yucca Wells.

You know where Mr. Benson went ?

I don't..

Carl's always been a restless man.

He's gone away before, but he always came back.

But this time he's burned his bridges.

I can get along very well without him.

This is a good size ranch for a woman to run alone.

I have a competent foreman. I can manage.

I'm sorry to have bothered you, ma'am.

My foreman Gabe Randall. Captain Colt.

The captain came out here looking for a man.

Maybe you've heard of him.

His name was..

Manuel Ruiz.

No, sir.

That fencing out needs a patch

it sure took a licking from the windstorm.

Have it fixed.

The captain was asking about Carl.

Has there been any talk in town ?

I thought he was looking for this Ruiz fella.

Oh, the captain's just doing his job, Gabe.

Place to ask questions is from our marshal.

I did.

The letter.

If you, if you find out

who wrote it, will you let me know ?

I'll let you know.

Pleasure to have you as our guest.

Captain Colt.

You, looking for something ?

20th of May.

You'll find it right over there.

I'll look here.

If you're looking for somebody in particular

I got a good memory.

A Manuel Ruiz.

He stayed here ?

No he didn't.

You're sure about that ?

Yes, I'm sure.

Writing don't come easy to some folks.

Ashley made a mistake. He erased it and wrote over.

It happens often.

Often ?

Well, I can show you other pages.

'You still want that room ?'

My name's in the register, isn't it ?

- What'll be ? - 'Colt.'

- Have one on me. - No, thanks.

Town this size, you must have a coroner ?

We have. What would you want with him ?

I'd like to check his records for the third week in May.

You making me out a liar ?

Coroner's records usually tell the truth.

I hear you went out to Janice Benson's.

She sent you a telegram too ?

Coroner's name is Karp. Doc Karp.

You go have a talk to him.

Then if you want to call me a liar to my face

I'll be in my office.

What is your problem, Captain Colt ?

Dr. Karp, I'd like to examine your records

for the third week in May.

Long time back.

Did you write out a death certificate

for anyone at that time

Yucca Wells is a healthy town

I've had little to do of late.

I'd still like to have a look at your book.

There is no entry for the third week in May.

In fact there were no patients that week at all.

A very healthy town, Captain Colt.

No place for anybody like me.

Thank you, doctor.

You old fool, what did you tell him.

No law against talking to a man is there ?

What did you tell him ?

I told him the truth.

That Yucca Wells is no place for a real doctor.

And what else ?

Marshal... in the matter you are referring too

I said nothing.

Nothing at all.

Words don't mean anything anyway.

Not anymore.

Like those of Hippocrates the young doctor say.

When you get older and tireder

Hippocrates gets changed to hypocrisy... so easily.

So easily.

How'd those men get in my room ?

What men ?

This Aben Ashley

The one who couldn't remember his name where can I find him ?

I've answered enough of your questions.

You haven't answered one of my questions yet.

I'm trying to locate an Aben Ashley.

Can you tell me where I'll find him ?

Aben ? He was a no-account.

Still it ain't my provenance to predict where he landed.

I can tell you where we left him.

Under six feet of dirt up on Boot Hill.

He ain't had much mail lately.

Nobody's sure of the right forwarding address.

Thank you.

Oh, you're just in time for coffee.

Manuel Ruiz was in this jail.

He was registered at the hotel the 20th of May

and somehow a dead man erased his name.

A man by the name of Aben Ashley.

Been dead for two years.

- Now, that doesn't make sense. - It doesn't ?

You might as well get the facts, marshal.

I'm staying here until I get the truth.

I told you the truth.

Colt, you're a man of reason.

Let's say Ruiz was here.

Now, how in thunder would he get a letter out without my knowing ?

And if I had anything to hide, would I let such letter out ?

You keep a record of the meals fed the prisoners ?

Well..

"'How about an expense account ?"

Sure, but I do my figuring at the end of the week.

Keep no separate account of meals.

Mrs. O'Neil does my cooking for me.

Pay her average at 50 cents a feed.

Widow woman, lives across the way.

I want to talk to her.

Look, Colt, this isn't an army matter.

Get her.

Coffee turned cold talking to you.

Sure hate cold coffee.

Alright, Colt.

I'll let you talk to her.

Can't you get it through your head

that nothing's happened here.

Warden, let me out of this blasted dungeon.

Doc Karp. I had to lock him up last night for his own good.

Your Royal Highness.

How did I get in here ?

I figured you'd be safer here

without that bottle in your hand.

I could use a drink.

- Coffee. - Coffee ?

I don't mind sleeping in your flea infested Bastille

but don't insult me.

Did I meet you some place ? A long time ago.

Yesterday in your office.

Captain Colt wanted to look at your books remember ?

Oh, yes, captain.

I'm afraid I was not myself when we met yesterday.

- Will you please excuse me. - Go on, doc, get out.

Hold your tongue, marshal.

Is that one of your own rules ?

Dr. Karp, I'd like to show you a letter.

From Manuel Ruiz.

Listen, I've had enough of your interference.

If I only had a drink to stir the fickle memory.

- This ain't a saloon. - Hold it, marshal.

- You remember the letter ? - Well, sure he does.

You showed it to him yesterday.

I'm sorry, I didn't.

Yesterday ? It's a long time since yesterday.

You see ? The old sock doesn't make sense.

I'm a doctor. A doctor of medicine.

Thompson here can't understand that

all he thinks of is his job.

How to keep it. No matter how, no matter what.

You wanted to talk to Mrs. O'Neil, Colt ?

It'll wait.

It's just across the way.

[, this is one promise I kept at least.

Can't you see he's just putting on an act.

Just trying to figure out a way for you to buy him a drink.

He's unreliable too.

I found this page from the ledger, hidden in his desk.

But he burned it, I..

You might as well talk, doctor.

This promise you made, was it to Manuel Ruiz ?

The promise I kept ?

To Ruiz yes.

Ruiz, poor boy.

He shouted half the night that he was innocent

that he was in some other jail.

He shouted himself hoarse.

'I heard him all the way across the street in the saloon'

'and then I came over here.'

He gave me five dollars and this letter to mail.

He slipped it through the bars.

I'll be on my way.

Colt, that old rumpot..

What happened to Ruiz ?

He's dead.

I didn't have anything to do with it, Gabe Randall..

Carl Benson and Gabe Randall had an argument over Mrs. Benson

Gabe killed him.

He threatened to kill me.

Have his hired guns kill me, if I made him any trouble.

Does Mrs. Benson know the truth ?

She was there when Gabe fired the shot.

What does this have to do with Ruiz ?

Ruiz drifted into Yucca Wells looking for work

People were beginning to ask questions

I couldn't put 'em off, I told Gabe

that the truth will come out.

And Ruiz went out to the ranch, looking for work.

Gabe took one look at him

choosing to kill him in robbing Carl.

Wasn't hard making it stick.

Ruiz was a drifter and a saddle tramp.

Did you show Gabe my telegram ?

Sure.

I thought I'll be able to release Ruiz, but

he came that night..

...took and lynched him.

Made a whole town their accomplice.

And you call yourself a lawman ?

No. Not anymore.

Me, I, I just..

...lock up drunks and look the other way.

Come on.

Where ?

To Benson's.

I haven't got the stomach for it.

Colt.

They'll kill you.

You'd like that just fine, wouldn't you ?

Then you'll go find yourself another scapegoat.

'Not another step, Colt.'

Saw you riding in.

I knew you was trouble the first minute I saw you.

You're a stubborn man, Colt.

One who has to be killed or bought.

You're both wanted for the murder

of Carl Benson and Manuel Ruiz.

They must train fools in the army.

He's no fool.

We'll pay you anything you want.

Then you'll find your grave here.

Three guns against yours, Colt.

No more killing by you, Gabe.

It's too late for talk.

You're under arrest.

Oh, Gabe.

On your feet.

I recalled the oath I took, when I accepted this.

Move on, both of you.

Maybe you'd best hold this till

Yucca Wells find another man.

I can't take it, marshal, I'm under federal orders.

No one else around. At least not now.

Marshal here is not to blame, captain.

Blame me, blame a whole town

that was too scared to stand up to one of two men.

Because the marshal thought for a day or two he was afraid

doesn't make him a lesser man.

It take more courage to admit fear, then to deny it.

I've lived with fear all my life.

Fear of myself mostly. That's the worst kind.

The marshal here is only afraid of a man with a gun.

And I kinda imagine he's gotten over it.

What about you, doc ?

Well, I make no promises.

I don't believe in 'em, but I'll do the best I can.

Like I said, Colt, till they find another man.

I think they found him, marshal. Good luck.

Doc.

♪ There was a gun that won the west ♪

♪ There was a man among the best ♪

♪ The fastest gun or man alive ♪

♪ A lightning bolt when he drew that Colt .45 ♪

♪ He carried the message of law and of order ♪

♪ Into a wicked land ♪

♪ With a Colt single action army revolver ♪

♪ Blazing from either hand ♪

♪ There was the right, there was the wrong ♪

♪ The gun was quick, the man was strong ♪

♪ And peace was made when they'd arrived ♪

♪ A lightning bolt when he drew that Colt .45 ♪

♪ Colt .45 ♪

♪ Colt .45 ♪