Original subtitles

♪ [ trumpet ]

There comes a time in nearly every man'’s life

when he has to defend himself against oppression--

sometimes going against his established values.

Such a time came early in the life of Sam Smith

in long-ago Arizona.

We call this story...

Whoa! Whoa!

Say, you!

Hey, are you gonna move, or do I have to run over you?

Maybe neither.

Look, either you move, or I'’m coming through.

Now, will you get out of the way?

You know, the Good Book speaks to the very subject.

Yes, it'’s right here.

"He that puteth not out his money to usury,

"nor taketh reward against the innocent

shall never be moved."

Ya see?

Oh, we'’ll see about that.

Giddyap, Barney! Giddyap!

[ water splashing ] [ horse whinnies ]

[ whinnying ]

See? What'’d I tell ya?

I'’m not moving and neither are you.

Oh, you! It'’s all your fault!

[ grunts ]

Now!

All right! Giddyap! Thanks for nothing, friend.

Ma'’am, could you direct me to the Ellsworth place?

That'’s where I'm going.

It'’s my father's place. I'’m Ann Ellsworth.

I'’m Sam Smith.

I heard in town you'’re hiring out there.

I'’d be obliged if I could hitch a ride.

You? At our place?

You wouldn'’t last a day.

I'’m not afraid of hard work.

You'’d never make it with our boss wrangler.

Why not?

Yeah.

Why not?

Web Hardy could use a little religion in his life.

Get in.

[ whinnies ]

Anybody else?

Whoa. Whoa! Whoa!

That'’s who you'’re working for.

You still want the job?

That wasn'’t necessary, Hardy.

Ben tried. The horse can'’t be broke.

You tried, and you couldn'’t break him.

Listen, Ellsworth, if you don'’t like the way I'’m running your place,

do it yourself.I can'’t do that, and you know it.

Leastwise not for a while.

Then you better go along with my way of doing things,

or get yourself a new boss wrangler.

It'’s roundup time, man. I can'’t.

Stay.

Try using a gentler hand on the men

and on that horse.

Slim.

[ sputters ]

Look, my pa may have to put up with you, but I don'’t.

I'’ve told you before, stay away from me. Who'’s that?

That'’s Sam Smith. He wants a job.

A Holy Bible?

So you'’re one of them Bible spouters, eh?

Aah, you won'’t have any need for this around here.

What you'’ll need's a saddle. Where'’s yours?

At the salt mine in Colorado.

We don'’t need your kind around here.

Why don'’t you go preach to the Indians?

Are you the law around here?

This is the law-- five bullets in a cylinder.

And justice-- that'’s one in the chamber.

Mr. Hardy, there'’s a Scripture that says,

"He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword."

What'’s this all about?Pa, this is Sam Smith.

He'’s just met Hardy here. He wants to sign on as a hand.

I'’m pleased to meet you, Smith.

We can use another hand.

I'’m sorry about him.

I'’m forced to take a lot of things, with this bad leg.

Don'’t worry.

I'’ll either make a believer out of Mr. Hardy,

or I'’ll see him leave this camp.

You and who else?

Me and the Lord.

What can you do, son?

There'’s lots of work around here.

We need men to ride fence.

We need a camp cook to help Ann.

Well, it'’d be a pleasure to help Miss Ann, but I reckon I'’ll ride fence.

You better take the cooking job, Preacher.

You don'’t look like no rider to me.

That'’s what my mother always said. But I'’d like to try.

Say,

I reckon there is an animal around here that needs some riding.

ANN:Not him.

That'’s going too far, Hardy.

Listen, Ellsworth, you just got through telling me

that old Stonewall needed a gentler hand, didn'’t ya?

Don'’t let him, Pa. That'’d be plain murder.Now, wait a minute.

[ Stonewall whinnies softly ]

[ Stonewall snorting ]

[ whinnying softly ]Whoa, boy.

The good Lord made you just like any other horse-- four legs and a tail.

Can'’t see no reason why we can'’t get together.

Now, if you could just stay together.

Now, Sam, this horse is a man-killer.

He'’s never been broke.That'’s all right.

I never broke a horse in my life, so we'’ll start off even.

Listen to me, Sam. He'’s gonna jump high and wide.

Lean back and squeeze tight with your knees.

And pray!

[ whinnying ]

[ snorting ]

[ grunts ]

[ snorting ]

[ coughs ]

[ laughing ]

[ laughing continues ]

Well, I reckon that'’s one for the devil.

[ sighs, groans ]

You never should'’ve tried to ride Stonewall.

He'’s mean as Hardy himself.Don'’t worry.

Before I leave this place, I aim to gentle them both down.

You know one good thing about this cook job?

I get to see a lot better scenery than the rest of the men.

It is nice. Especially in the morning.

I, uh-- I was referring to you.

Well, thank you, Sam.

A girl out here don'’t expect to hear nice things

after living with a bunch of men like-- like Web Hardy.

Nobody ought to live with a man like him.

Even the horses deserve better.

You mean you haven'’t converted him yet?

Well, I'’m trying, Ann. I really am.

It'’s just that I don't believe no human creature'’s beyond hope.

It'’s not your fault, Sam. Nobody can tame a grizzly.

Well,

it just takes up a little time, that'’s all.

But time'’s important, Sam.

You should spend it on doing things that are--

Well, on what you want for the future.

What do you want anyway?

I'’d like a little ranch someday,

but I just don'’t seem to be cut out for it.

You said your pa put his whole life into this land.

I'’d like something I could put my life into.

I know exactly what you oughta do.

You need to work with people.

Yeah, I done such a great job with Hardy.

No, I mean you need a little church somewhere.

Not a big one, just a little one.

In a good town with good people who are trying to be better.

And you helping them to be.Me, a preacher?

Nah. I don'’t think I'm cut out for that either.

Well, you just said yourself you weren'’t cut out to be a rancher,

and you'’re not.

You'’re too gentle, Sam.

Gentle?

I think what you really mean is that...

[ sighs ] maybe I'’m a coward.

I didn'’t say that.

It'’s just that-- Well, I don'’t believe that violence is the answer.

But if I'’m pushed

too far,

well, I got a temper worse than most.

You got a temper?

Yeah. I just try awful hard to control it, that'’s all.

But why always control it, Sam?

Sometimes a man has to get angry,

and he has to fight for what he believes in.

That'’s not what the Good Book says.

I think the Good Book is your excuse.

I'’m sick of you having to eat crow all the time from that bully.

And maybe...

Well, just maybe you are a coward.

[ whinnying softly ]

There, there, Stonewall.

The good Lord says we gotta be forgiven.

So let'’s just start being friends.

[ Stonewall whinnies loudly ]

What do you think you'’re doing?

My work'’s done. I'’m on my own time.

I didn'’t ask you that. Oh, I get it.

You'’re doing a little practicing, huh?Something like that.

I'’ll tell ya something, kid.

If I can'’t break that horse, you don'’t stand a prayer of doing it.

Maybe. But I got a lot of them.

It'’ll be a cold day when a Psalm-singing runt like you shows me up.

I'’m not trying to. But even with the Lord on my side,

it'’s gonna take more than one day to gentle old Stonewall.

Might even take two or three.

If he lets you live through the night.

That man sure carries around a lot of fire and brimstone.

[ chattering ]

Well, how about this?

So that'’s what he's been doing at night.

Boy, I thought he'’d never tame him.I don'’t believe it.

I just don'’t believe it.

Well, there he is.

Anybody can ride him now.Huh!

Well, ain'’t ya gonna thank me?

I'’ll thank you to stay outta my way, Preacher.

Just '’cause you break one horse don'’t mean you're anything to me.

Mr. Hardy, what'’s eating you?

I mean, ever since I hit this place, you'’ve had your spurs into me.

If you don'’t steer clear of me, I'’m gonna put some lead into ya.

Mr. Hardy, you wouldn'’t shoot an unarmed man.

No.

I'’ll take it off. It'’ll make everything even.

Now-- Now, I'’m not gonna fight ya. I mean, what would it prove?

That if you don'’t, ya got a yellow streak up your backbone, that'’s what.

Mr. Hardy, I'’m sorry for you.

You'’re sorry for me?

You Bible-spouting, yellow-bellied liver!

"There is a way seemeth right to a man,

but the end thereof are the ways of death."

[ clanging ]

Miss Ann, can I talk to you a minute, private?

♪♪ [ guitar ]

Mind if I join ya?

♪♪ [ continues ]

[ chattering ]

How many days'’ supplies you take up there?

It'’d take ten days to get some sheep up there too.

Oh, man, that'’s for me.

[ chattering ][ sighs ]

Say, Preacher,

you know all about the Bible.

I got a question for ya.Shoot.

How many wives did old David have?

Well, I don'’t rightly know, but when I get to heaven, I'’ll ask him.

[ Web chuckles ]

Everybody knows that old David didn'’t go to heaven.

Well, why don'’t you ask him when you get down to where you'’re going?

[ laughter ]He got ya there.

What does the Good Book say about that?

I believe it says to turn the other cheek.

And after that, the Good Book don'’t say a thing.

[ grunts ]

[ grunting ]

That'’s enough! Break up the fight! Break it up!

[ breathing heavily ]

All right, Preacher, now you'’ve gone and done it.

If you don'’t apologize, I'’m gonna kill ya first thing tomorrow.

Make sure you'’re wearing a gun.

I'’m not gonna apologize to you.

And I'’ll be right here where you can find me in the morning.

[ cattle lowing ]

Evening, Sam.

Well, the cattle are restless tonight.

[ animal howling ]We just might have a storm.

You trying to tell me something, Mr. Ellsworth?

Matter of fact, I am, Sam.

Ann and me-- we'’ve grown mighty fond of ya.

You'’re the first decent thing that'’s happened to her.

She sure has a funny way of showing it.

Ah, don'’t pay no attention to that.

You don'’t have to prove yourself to her.

What you did tonight to Web Hardy--

that'’s all you need.

I wish you'’d quit talking in puzzles, Mr. Ellsworth.

What do you mean?

I mean, Web Hardy is a killer.

So what do you want me to do?

I want you to get outta here.

I'’ll give you your pay, and I'’ll throw in Stonewall to boot.

I want you to get on him, son, ride, don'’t look back.

I'’m sorry, Mr. Ellsworth. I can'’t do that.

What do you mean you can'’t?

You said yourself you were against violence.

I know. I am, up to a point.

Listen to me, Sam.

If you won'’t leave camp, go to Web and tell him you'’re sorry.

Tell him you didn'’t mean it.

Well, ain'’t that what the Good Book says do?

It says not to lie.

And if I said that, I'’d be a bigger liar than the devil himself.

Look, it'’s no use.

I'’m not leaving, and I'’m not backing down.

Yeah.

I didn'’t figure you'’d leave.

That'’s why I brought you this.

Can you shoot?

About well as I ride.

Shoot out that lantern over there.

I'’m fearful of breaking it.

I'’m fearful you won't. Shoot.

[ clicks ]

[ sighs ]

Sam, I haven'’t worn this gun for many years,

and I haven'’t prayed since my wife died.

I'’m gonna start praying again tonight.

Can I talk to you for a minute, Sam?

Sure. I got all the time in the world.

At least tonight I do.

Sam, don'’t do it.Don'’t do what?

Don'’t tease with me.

I know I'’ve been mean to you.

But I'’m sorry.

That'’s all right, Ann.

I should'’ve known better than to think that a girl like you

could be interested in me.

Interested?

Well, of course I'’m interested.

Why else could I get mad at you?

Women sure got a funny way of being interested.

I like you, Sam.

A lot.

That'’s why I hated to see Hardy roll right over you.

That'’s why I'm hoping you'’ll get out of here by morning.

No, Ann.

You called me a coward once,

and I'’m gonna prove you wrong.

I'’m gonna be right here in the morning.

Hardy'’s out for blood. You won'’t stand a chance.

Maybe.

Then again, maybe I will.

Say, did you ever hear the story of David and Goliath?

You see, there was this little fella--I know, Sam. I know.

But miracles don'’t happen these days.

I never saw one.

You just might, Ann. You just might.

I wish I could have a miracle.

I'’d have it to have you out of here and me with you.

Off someplace like we talked about once.

And you'’d remember the day that I turned tail just to save my skin.

You'’d be ashamed of me.

No, Ann, it'’s gotta be this way.

All right, Sam. All right.

But will you promise me something?

Whatever you say.

Tomorrow,

afterwards,

if I'’m still here,

will you help me make that miracle we were talking about--

you and me building something together?

Yes, I will.

Well, I guess it'’s about time you were getting some sleep.

Yeah. I reckon I won'’t get much sleep tonight.

Well, good night, Sam.

Good night.

Sam?Yes?

Whatever happens...

I love you.

MAN: Hey, Sam, he'’s coming.

Ellsworth! Ellsworth!

I don'’t wanna kill no damn kid.

Tell him if he apologizes for hitting me,

I'’ll call the whole thing off.

I'’m not apologizing for anything.

And I should'’ve hit you the first time you badgered me.

Well, kid, it'’s your distance.

What'’s your choice?

I'’m glad to know that.

Take hold the other end.

That'’s my distance.

Point-blank?

That'’s right.

Now, you must be crazy, kid. We'’ll both be killed.

Maybe.

But like I told you before, I got the Lord on my side.

I don'’t wanna kill no kid.

Then you apologize for what you'’ve done to me.

And the others here.

Uh, I reckon I was wrong.

Tell them!

I'’m sorry!

Oh, Sam, you took such a chance.

The Good Book'’s against gambling, Ann,

but sometimes a man'’s got no choice.

Oh, Sam.

Web Hardy left the camp and was never seen again in those parts.

Sam Smith and Ann were married.

But even more important, Sam found his niche in life.

In a moment of truth, he discovered a hidden talent

and went on to become a prominent peace officer of the Old West.

He never drew his gun if he could avoid it,

and then only in defense of his life

or the lives of others.

Next week, another story of the Old West.

See you then.