Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

The men who settled our Western frontier

had to be brave and self-reliant.

Even among these, Brit Bailey stood out

as a free spirit.

Together with his wife, Hannah,

he outran civilization, always moving west,

but he couldn'’t outrun age.

It caught up with him in the 1820s,

on the plains of southern Texas.

Here, threatened on all sides,

Brit dug in,

warning all comers...

Hannah, I'’m back.

I was expecting you.

I heard them shots.

Well, I could have missed, you know.

Not you.

Turkey!

Oh, Brit!

I thought you might like a change from venison.

You remembered how I love turkey.

Well, I allow it crossed my mind.[ chuckles ]

You know, I spotted a bee tree down by the creek, too.

Must be chock-full of honey.Yeah?

I'’m just going down there tomorrow

and smoke them bees out.

You know what?

If you'’re real nice to me,

I might just take some of that honey over to Swanson'’s post

and try to trade him for some dress goods.

A dress? Oh, Brit!

Aww! [ chuckles ]Oh, now, come on.

Come on, now. Now, don'’t-- let me go,

and-- and stop that bawling.

I can'’t help it. I'’m so happy.

I declare, Brit Bailey,

you spoil a woman somethin'’ terrible.

You know.

Well-- well, dog gone-it, a--

a woman as beautiful as you deserves to be spoiled

once in a while, and--

Now, how '’bout gettin' one of them turkeys into a pot?

I just didn'’t bring them home to look at, you know.

All right, Brit.

[ galloping ]

Indians.

[ galloping ]

Hold it.

MAN: No shoot!

We good!

We friends.

That'’s fine.

Good-bye, friends.

No, no.

You give friend lots presents.

Much food!

Drink! Lots drink.

Friend? I wouldn'’t give you

the short end of a muddy stick.

BRIT: Now, ride on out of here.

Jump for it.

Wait.

You, big fool.

You no give.

Yellow Cloud take.

YELLOW CLOUD: Take everything!

Nobody'’s ever taken anything from me.

Nobody ever will.

Savvy that, Indian?

All you'’ll get out of me is an ounce of lead.

[ rifle clicks ]

Now, get.

You no scare with long gun.

Me no only shoot once.

You shoot Yellow Cloud,

Little Hawk kill you, kill woman!

I reckon there'’s only one thing left to do--

that'’s make a couple of good Indians out of you.

You ready, Hannah?

Of course.

I better get these loaded.

Well, not for that pair. They won'’t be back.

You missed that Indian kind of close, didn'’t you?

I don'’t like being pestered when I'’m busy.

[ chuckles ]

Now, I gotta get my soap finished.

BRIT: Hannah?Mm-hm?

I'’m glad we'’re on the same side.

So am I, Brit.

So am I.

Pike, you stay with the horses.

Ain'’t much here.

One old mule. Ain'’t even a wagon!

Ah, but there'’s bound to be some grub, and--

maybe some powder and lead there, though.

[ chuckles ] You can'’t tell.

Maybe we'’ll find a few daughters stuffed in a teapot.

Whatever we find, it'’s gonna be easy pickin's.

[ chuckles ] That old man looks like he'’s over the hill.

So, let'’s go pickin'.

Hey, you and Axel, you take the man.

I'’ll take the woman.

[ chuckles ]

[ gasps ]You don'’t move, and you don'’t scream.

Why should I scream?

You can'’t be that ugly.

Now you hold your tongue, old woman.

You'’d better start runnin, mister.

If my Brit finds out you laid a hand on me,

he'’s gonna get awful mad.

Well, that really scares me, lady.

[ chuckles ]

Only he don'’t look too dangerous

to me at the moment.

One bother after another.

A man can'’t get no work done around here.

Ah, shut your face, old man.

Is he givin'’ you any trouble?

Nah. He flushed, but he come.

What do you buzzards want anyway?

I ain'’t got no money.

Boys, get inside and see what you can find.

If they mess up my clean house,

I'’m gonna--Ah!

There you go,

trying to scare me again,

and that ain'’t nice!

Oh, Brit. [ gasps ]

Leave him alone.

Get on your feet!

I wouldn'’t be in your boots for anything on earth.

I know, I know,

Your little Brit'’s gonna get mad at me.

Well, I'’m gonna tell you somethin'’--

I'’m gettin' a little sick of that tune!

Maybe if I gave you another slap right across--

Ahh!

Axel!

Coffee!

Oh, Brit! Now run, get to the woods.

Get away from '’em!

[ mutters ]

No! Let her go!

We gotta get a hold of that old man

before he reaches help.

After '’em!

Hannah-- Hannah, you all right?

Of course.

I'’m fine.

You go after '’em!

I will. Now you get back inside

and lock the door and the windows. Hurry!

I-- I'’ll get you your rifle.

Never mind, keep '’em both. You may need '’em

[ whispering ] All right.Go on. Hurry.

Coffee, you go get Pike and circle in from that side.

The old fool can'’t get too far.

[ gun clicks ]

Any luck?

No.

He must be part jackrabbit.

Where'’s Axel?

Well, he was right behind me.

Axel?

Axel?

That'’s funny.

Wait here.

Hard cases.

You stay in that bed, Brit Bailey.

I'’ve been in bed all day.

There'’s no need for a grown man to stay in bed

just '’cause he got his hide scratched a little.

Hannah, I got work to do.

Dog-gone-it, woman, I ain'’t no cripple.

Oh, Hannah...

A little more than a scratched hide you got there.

Why, I'’ve been bit worse by '’squitoes.

Serves you right,

letting one of them no goods shoot ya.

Well, there was four of '’em.

Oh, a pitiful ol'’ four.

Well, anyway, some of them need burying.

I already done it...

yesterday.

There.

I'’m hungry.

Well, maybe the soup is done.

Soup my foot!

I need some solid grub.

All right, maybe tonight.

[ horses galloping ]

Riders.

More people?

Might as well be living in the middle of town.

Oh, Brit, you shouldn'’t.

Don'’t argue with me, woman.

Get me my pants.

I can put on my own boots.

Get me my rifle.

They didn'’t look like outlaws.

We'’ll soon find out.

Stay by the door.

If trouble starts, duck.

My name'’s Austin, Stephen Austin.

Mordecai Evans.

Bailey.

This is my wife, Hannah.

Pleasure, madam.

Now, Mr. Bailey, just what are you doing on this land?

That any of your business, Mr. Long-nose?

You better curb your tongue, old-timer.

This land belongs to me.

The government issued my company a grant

for all this land around here.

Oh, did it, now?

I have the documents right here.

I'’m afraid you'll have to move off this property at once.

Don'’t be afraid.

We ain'’t movin' no place.

Now, you have no choice.

This land here belongs to Mr. Austin'’s company.

I have the papers right here. See for yourself.

This is my home,

and nobody'’s shovin' me off it

with a bundle of papers.

Then we'’ll just drive you off.

I don'’t drive easy, mister.

Be quiet, Mordecai.

Very well, Mr. Bailey.

One way or the other, you'’re moving off this land.

Now, I have 300 settlers coming in here and--

You... what?

I have 300 settlers coming in.

I'’ve set up my own camp a few miles east of here.

I have 14 other men in the area.

You can have one week to get moved.

If you'’re not gone by then,

we'’ll all come in and help you move.

You better bring shovels.

There will be a lot of graves to be dug,

and speakin'’ of movin',

you'’d best do some right now.

Why--No!

Now, wait a minute, but you'’re not gonna let him get away with this--

He'’s got--Shut up, Mordecai.

but he'’s got no right on this land,

We didn'’t come here to start trouble.

Besides...

this is no time to be impetuous.

Yeah,

yeah.

But you had your warning, Mr. Bailey.

I hope you'’re wise enough to heed it.

One week.

Good-bye.

300 settlers.

You hear him, Hannah?

I heard.

I should have shot the lunatic right then.

300.

Well, there will be people all over the place.

Yep.

300 people.

Oh.

That man'’s gonna plum ruin Texas.

Yeah.

You know, Hannah,

if that man ain'’t stopped, we won'’t be able to take a walk

without bumping into people.

Yeah.

And he-- he had the gall to tell us we have to move.

[ sighs ] You lay back there, now.

You stop thinking about it.

I'’ll get your soup.

BRIT: 300 people.

300 people.

Oh, hush, now. You hear?

You'’ll ruin your digestion.

You'’re right as always.

BRIT: Hannah?Mm?

I allow it'’s been a long time

since I told you how much I love you.

Maybe in words, Brit, but you'’ve told me...

every day.

I don'’t know how a man like me ever got so lucky.

[ groans ]

I know who the lucky one is, Brit.

[ whispers ] I know.

I'’ll tell you, Stephen,

they'’re squattin' on the best piece of land

in the whole grant.

Yeah, he picked a good spot.

It doesn'’t look like they intend leaving, either.

He has to.

[ chuckles ] Well, you know that, and I know that,

but we sure didn'’t convince them.

We will.Not him.

The only way to get that old coot out of there

is to ride over and carry him out,

and I see no reason to wait until next week, either.

Cool down, Mordecai.

Temper won'’t solve anything.

Well, neither will sittin'’ on our hip pockets.

Now, look, I can round up some of the boys,

and we can get out--I said cool down.

I gave Bailey a week,

and we'’re not gonna do anything until--

[ galloping ]

Now, that'’s old Bailey'’s wife.

Yes.

You mind your manners and hold that temper.

There'’s nothing wrong with my temper!

She'’s probably riding over here

to plead with us to take it easy on Bailey.

Poor old woman.

Must be miserable living with that old cantankerous old cuss.

Well, well, Mordecai, you'’re soft-hearted.

I am not,

and don'’t you be either.

How do you do, Mrs. Bailey?

Won'’t you please get down and have some coffee?

I have the pot on.

Didn'’t come for coffee.

It'’s about what you said to my husband.

Well, now you might just well just save your breath, Mrs. Bailey.

Pleadin'’ ain't gonna do you no good--

Right?

I'’m afraid not.

I understand you'’re old, and--

What'’s our age got to do with it?

We'’re not without sympathy, Mrs. Bailey,

and believe me, I--

Didn'’t come for sympathy, neither.

Then, what did you come for?

Well, to kinda warn ya, I guess.

Warn us?

Seems only fair,

you not knowin'’ Brit.

He don'’t rile up easy, but you got him downright mad.

Now, now-- wait, wait-- hold on, Mrs. Bailey, you mean--

you mean you rode all the way over here because you'’re afraid

of what he might do to us?

Of course,

'’cause you don't know Brit.

He can be awful dangerous when he'’s sore.

[ chuckles ] Well, this is the most fantastic gall.

Well, Mrs. Bailey, weren'’t you listening

when Mr. Austin told you that we have 14 men behind us?

Yeah and 300 comin'’,

but like I said, you don'’t know Brit Bailey

like I do.

I'’m sorry, Mr. Austin, but if you'’re stubborn about this,

Your new settlement may turn out to be

the biggest graveyard in Texas.

Mrs. Bailey, surely you can'’t be serious.

Now, you know your husband can'’t fight us all.

I reckon I'’d help him a little,

but he wouldn'’t need it.

You see, Mr. Austin, we'’ve been movin' west

for almost 50 years,

and I'’ve never yet seen Brit start any trouble,

but I'’m telling you true, I'’ve seen him finish aplenty.

So I'’m hoping you fellas got sense enough to back off

while you can.

I don'’t believe her.

She ain'’t real.

She'’s real.

Some woman.

Well, now-- now, wait a minute--

you'’re not gonna let her get away with that bluff--

Bluff?

Mordecai, you'’re a fool.

Didn'’t you see her face?

She believed every word she said.

Oh, that'’s crazy. She'’s crazy!

Then that'’s the kind of crazy

I want in our settlement,

You mean you'’re gonna let them stay?

Sure am.

Well, then you'’re crazy!

I may be...

but if we run into trouble here,

I want those Baileys on our side.

Peace, Mrs. Bailey.

I'’ve decided we want you to stay

and be a part of the settlement.

Where'’s your husband?

In the cabin.

Oh, well I'’d like to talk to him.

You can'’t.

I can'’t? What does that mean?

He'’s dead.

I'’m sorry, Mrs. Bailey, I'’m--

I'’m truly sorry,

but here, please, at least let us help you

with the grave.No, no. Now, Stephen-- here, I can do that.

We'’ll-- uh-- We'’ll take turns.

I'’m sorry, Mr. Austin,

but Brit left me clear instructions

how he wanted to be buried.

You just tell me.

Well, he hated the idea of anybody being able to say,

"Here lies Bailey,"

so he asked me to see he'’s buried standin' up.

Standing up?

Because he loved the frontier, he wants to be facing west.

Standing up and facing west?

That'’s how he wanted it.

That'’s how it'll be.

STEPHEN: You heard her, Mordecai.

Dig it deep and straight down.

Yes, sir.

Then I'’ll get him ready.

Please, Mrs. Bailey--

If you'’d allow me,

I'’d like to carve the marker.

Why, yes, Mr. Austin,

that'’d be very kind of you.

And we commend the soul of this good and brave man

into thy care, Lord.

We ask this in thy holy name.

Amen.

[ sighs ] Thank you both,

especially for the marker, Mr. Austin.

[ reading ]

Brit would like that.

James Brit Bailey--

a rare breed of man, indeed.

and one whose free and independent spirit

typified not only the Western frontiersmen,

but was in essence, the very meaning

of the United States of America--

a proud land of free and independent people

who hate to lie down for anything,

even death.

Next week, another true story

of the American West.