Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

...where Western history comes alive.

Stories of the Old West

are stories of hardships and adventure,

of dreams and of courage.

Stories of the American pioneer

are all a part of our past, our heritage.

Men came into the virgin territory of the West

and took possession of many things:

land, cattle, even water.

But here, almost a hundred years ago,

this main thoroughfare in Uvalde, Texas,

was claimed by one man...

Buenos días, señor.

I think you should take the other road, huh?

Now, look, this mail stage is going through,

and we don'’t want no trouble.

MAN: Neither do we, amigo.

You, turn around.

You stopped the last two stages, Fisher.

This one'’s going into Uvalde.

[ chuckles ] I'’m sorry.

Not on my road.

But this is the only road to Uvalde.

Why did you make me do that?

I tried to just nick him.

So you'’re good. It'’s only a scratch.

Take him back to San Antone,

and you tell them American mail boys

that this is my road,

and the King don'’t like nobody trespassing.

¿Comprende?

Never mind.

I do it myself.

[ gunfire ] [ men whooping ]

[ laughing ]

It is not funny.

Company'’s the laughingstock of Texas.

We'’ve got to get that road to Uvalde open,

or we can lose that government contract.

I don'’t understand.

Why doesn'’t he want the mail to go through?

When the mail goes in, the law usually follows.

Right now, he is the law, Uvalde is his kingdom.

Why don'’t you call in the Rangers?

We'’re a private company.

Rangers aren'’t on our payroll.

But you are.

Now, you are one of the best troubleshooters we'’ve got.

You'’ve handled situations like this before. I know you can do it now.

And I know that I'’m six months overdue on a vacation.

You open up that road to Uvalde,

and I'’ll see to it that you get an extra month with pay thrown in.

Plus a bonus.

Oh, now, see here, Roebuck. I--

[ stammers ] Plus a bonus.

In that case, I'’ll leave in the morning.

Oh, and, Harry,

that, uh, King Fisher--

Don'’t spoil his record.

So far, he hadn'’t killed anybody.

You'’re insane. Right out of your mind.

All I want to do is get a hold--

Contact the governor and tell him to take this King Fisher

and make him a...

Yeah, the whole idea floats

as much of gall as the young whippersnapper.

But, you know, it just might work.

I think it'’s worth a try.

Now wait.

Don'’t underestimate King.

You know, he'’s half Irish and half English.

He was raised by Mexican bandits until he was 12.

He knows all the tricks.

Hmm.

I hope over the years, I'’ve managed to learn a trick or two.

Yeah. Your superintendant tells me you'’re full of fire yourself.

Now, the kid'’s smart. You gotta give him that.

He hightails it with the banditos during the week,

and on Sunday he'’s an altar boy.

Plays both sides of the road.

How many men do you suppose he has?

Oh, maybe a dozen. Maybe the whole town of Uvalde.

He'’s well liked.

That'’s what I was afraid of.

Corporal!

You know, he'’s got an acute sense of humor.

Corporal, show him your hat.

The corporal here accidentally got

on King Fisher'’s road the other month.

King finds shooting the hats off of trespassers a real fine sport.

Roebuck, I'’m gonna stick my chin out a country mile.

We'’ll try it your way. I'’ll get the papers from the governor.

[ gunshot ]

[ gunshots ]

I had to put the poor thing out of its misery.

Who are you?

Who am I?

Hey, compañeros, he asks who I am.

He is King.

King of what?

This is the United States.

We don'’t have any kings here.

King Fisher.

And you?

Who are you?

Harry Roebuck.

Roebuck.

I know the name.

The Panhandle Bunch.

You handled all five of them by yourself.

The Panhandle Bunch?

Sí.

They used to rob the mail coaches.

You must be from the American Mail Company.

You'’re right again.

Where do you think you'’re going, señor?

Into Uvalde.

To get a new hat.

Oh.

Way better than a new head, huh?

Then I'’m going back into San Antone and get that mail coach,

and I'’m coming right back up this road.

Even if I have to go over the top of ya.

He'’s lyin'.

He has hot peppers for brains.

It will be much fun to chew him up, huh?

[ laughing ]

[ chuckles ]

KING FISHER: Ah, sorry, amigos.

Three señoritas.

[ speaks Spanish ]

Ay, Paco.

It'’s Señor Roebuck.

He just sent a telegram to the mail company.

Told them to come on through.

He did, huh?

Well, now, we will just have to give him a welcoming party, huh?

[ laughing ][ chattering ]

Good-bye, my friends. Another round of tequila.

Why do you do such a thing to me?

In front of my friends?

My girl in a cantina?Your girl?

When am I your girl? Only when it pleases you.

Chela.

Now, what is that supposed to mean?

That means that-- Oh, I could just...

What have I done?

What is it that makes you so angry?

You know what you mean to me.

Of course. I'’m the girl that you love. Sí.

The girl that you will marry one day.Absolutely.

And also the very same girl that you kept waiting

down at the river for over an hour!

Ohhh! The picnic.

The picnic.

I forgot.You forgot.

Chela, listen to me, my love.

One day we will be married.

When?When what?

Do we get married?

Well...

You know what you are?

You'’re a muchacho. A little boy.

You run and you play with the other boys in the hills.

You gamble for a living because you'’re afraid to work like a man.

Well, I want a man for a husband, not a little boy.

Chela--What?

It'’s a nice day for a picnic, huh?

Is it?

[ gunshot ]

[ gunshot ]

Hey, easy, amigo. [ chuckles ]

Enjoy yourself, but be nice.

Uvalde is a peaceful town.

We like it quiet here.

[ woman screams ]

[ screams ]

I could'’ve handled it myself.

Sure, you could.

Whiskey, straight.

Whiskey, double.

[ chattering ]

Once more.

[ chattering ]

Again.

More.[ chattering intensifies ]

[ slams shot glass down on table ]

[ slams shot glass down on table ]

[ shot glass slamming continues ]

[ people exclaiming quietly ]

[ lively chatter ]

[ mutters ]

[ chattering ]

[ cheering ]

[ speaks Spanish ]

[ crowd ] Aahh!

[ cheering ]

[ chattering ]

[ cheering ]

KING FISHER: Hey, amigo.

The boys here are betting that your mail coach

does not get past my sign.

You care to put up some money?

I might be interested in a wager, yes.

Ah, the odds are good.

For every dollar put up that the mail coach gets through...

I will put up $2.

Well, I'’ll tell you what.

For every dollar that'’s bet that it doesn'’t get through...

I'’ll bet $3.

[ excited chatter ]

I will make it 5-to-1.

I'’ll make it 10-to-1.

Paco...

[ chatter continues ]

See you mañana.

[ chattering ]I'’ll take Roebuck.

What do you give me?[ mutters ]

Make it 4-to-1.

[ shouts in Spanish ]

[ cheering ]

Chela, you shouldn'’t be here.

Please don'’t fight. Let Roebuck and the stage go through.

What does it matter?

There is nothing to worry about, chiquita.

The only thing that makes me sad

is that I may have to kill this Harry Roebuck,

and I was beginning to like him.

[ stagecoach approaching ]

[ whoops ] The stagecoach!

It comes![ whoops ]

Go back. Go back.

We don'’t want anyone hurt.

None of our people, huh? Sí.

Paco, you stay here.

And the rest of you men--

no shooting unless I say so.

Maybe we can do this friendly-like.

Hey, amigo, that is far enough.

You'’re not gonna stop us this time, King.

Look, amigo,

the mail-- that is something official.

Like the government, sí?

We let the mail come through, and the next thing will be a man wearing a badge.

Uvalde is our town.

We like it that way.

You be a nice man

and move along, huh?

We intend to. Right up this road.

[ laughs ]

No. Not past this sign.

All right, Captain.

The Rangers?

They are not supposed to guard private coaches.

Who said anything about that?

I'’m merely taking the captain and his men into Uvalde for a holiday.

[ clicks ]Drop your gun belt, amigo.

You disappoint me, Harry Roebuck.

I'’m sorry, but I have a job to do,

and part of that job means staying alive.

Sometimes there isn'’t time for politeness.

Which reminds me.

[ gunshots ]

My sombrero. My beautiful sombrero!

If you did not have that gun, I would make you eat that hat.

Let'’s see about that.

[ blows landing ]Go, Roebuck!

[ grunts ]

[ grunts ]

The fight'’s a draw. I declare it a draw.

You agree, Roebuck?I agree.

Fisher?That'’s all right with me.

But my road is still not open to the mail coach.

You listen to me--

I don'’t care if I have to put up a brick wall.

You put it up, and that'’s well.

Uh, here.

Read this.

Ah, you don'’t scare me with your official papers.

Just read it.

This paper, it said--

Makes you sheriff of Uvalde.

It'’s signed by Governor Marvin himself.

He figured you were kind of acting

like the law and order around here anyway.

So... [ chuckles ]

if you'’ll excuse the expression, amigo,

this makes it official.

Roebuck figured you'’d make a better live sheriff

than a dead troublemaker.

[ chuckling ]

Me, King Fisher, sheriff of Uvalde.

Here. The badge goes with the job.

Oh, King. Look.

You have a job.

Now we can be married, huh?

Sure, chiquita. Why not?

Ah, good.[ chuckles ]

Tell me, Roebuck,

why did you take so long to show me that piece of paper?

I didn'’t want you to think it was a bribe.

[ chuckles ] Hang on to your iron, amigo.

We want to keep the mail going through here safe.

Oh, just let any hombre try to stop them.

And now, my first act

as sheriff of Uvalde.

[ cheering ]

The road is now officially open.

[ cheering ]

But, King...

Jefe,what about me,

Paco, the road, everything?

I don'’t know, Paco.

Maybe I can make you my deputy.

What do you think? I give him a badge?

It'’s up to you. You'’re the new sheriff.

Okay. I make you my deputy.

Hey, Harry, we go into town and have a celebration.

We'’ll be with you.

Sheriff Fisher ran Uvalde with a firm but gentle hand.

Later, the little ranch town became famous for another of its people--

Mr. John Nance Garner, who became vice president of the United States.

Be with us next week

for another true story about the Old West.