Original subtitles

Whoa.

Hello, Mr. Lawrence. How's business?

What business?

You won't mind if I steal your daughter for an hour or so.

Oh, so that's why she's so dressed up today.

You two got a date, huh?

Sort of.

Well, she's inside. Oh, Janet!

How's things at Shiloh?

Just fine.

Things is bad there too, huh?

No, sir. What makes you think that?

Well, a cowhand that's off in the middle of the day, I just figured...

No, this is my day to come into town and pick up the mail.

I asked Janet to the barn dance Saturday.

Well, you look real pretty.

Well, I should.

I've had an extra hour to get ready.

You said 2:00.

Oh, uh, Judge Garth needed my advice

on some big business deal.

Well, come on. I want to see what that big surprise is.

So long.So long.

Oh, I'll be back to help you close up... won't I?

Sure. Ain't that big a surprise.

Besides, I only rented the buggy for two hours.

Hmm. You sound very mysterious about this.

I'm a very mysterious fella. It's part of my charm.

[ whistles ] Hup, son.

Whoa.

What are we stopping here for?

It's the end of the line.

I think you have a very good idea.

Now, how did you know what I was thinking?

Oh, the best of reasons.

You ever heard of female intuition?

Wait a minute. What about that surprise of yours?

What is it?

Come.

Well... there it is.

What?

Well, some of the richest grassland in the state.

Perfect drainage, hillside springs,

and topsoil that seems to run a mile deep.

You mean you bought it?

It's still public land, but I've decided

that someday it's gonna be mine.

A man has a way of knowing that...

that there's something just meant for him.

You'd better be careful, mister.

Don't get in over your head.

I'd be an awful hard girl to shake.

[ chuckles ]

[ hammering nearby ]

What is it?

That old Marshall place,

that one that fellow Gaynor bought.

They're putting up a fence.

Well, what about it?

What about it?

That land's been open range for years.

Let's go see what it's all about.

Howdy.Howdy.

You must be new around here, huh?

Name's Norris.

Mr. Gaynor hired me on as foreman,

a week ago when he took over.

I'm from Shiloh Ranch.

Has Mr. Gaynor arrived in town yet?

No, he's not due in for another day or so.

I'll have to talk to you about it then, I guess.

All this land through here is open range.

All the ranchers around here use it to graze their herds.

I guess things are gonna have to change.

I got orders to put up fence.

The only thing that's gonna change isthat fence.

It's coming down, right now.

Look, Mr. Gaynor wrote that he wanted his land fenced in.

Now, why don't the two of you back out of here.

We got work to do.

Mister, you take that fence down,

or we're gonna take it down for you.

You're too skinny to talk that talk.

I wouldn't.

This a private fight, or can anybody join?

All right, Randy, pull her down.

Have we made our point?

Yeah. Till Gaynor gets here.

That's enough, Randy.

Keep an eye on 'em, Randy.

Hello there, Janet.

Sorry we interrupted your buggy ride.

Oh, that's all right. I...

Who'd be dumb enough to pull a stunt like that?

The new owner, I guess.

Don't he know he can't fence open range?

The man's used to writing his own rules.

[ chuckles ]

Well, better get back.

My two hours with the buggy is just about up.

[ whistles ] Hyah.

Pretty girl.

You think he's getting serious about her?

Will you keep it under your hat if I tell you what I know?

I won't tell a soul. What do you know about it?

Not a thing.

Get the buggy back on time?

Yeah.

Fred stopped me in town.

Wanted me to deliver this telegram to you.

Just came in today.

Seeing as how you're busy, I'll just read it to you.

I'm not quite that busy.

Hmm.

Bad news?

No. Just kind of puzzling is all.

"Arriving on Six. Please meet my train.

Urgent business. Robert Gaynor."

[ chuckles ] Guess he heard about us tearing down his fence.

He couldn't have.

His foreman hasn't had time to send him a message yet,

let alone get an answer back.

I wonder what he wants, then.

I don't know.

I'm kind of curious to find out, though.

Want me to go along?

What for?

I'm kind of curious too.

I never met a real eastern tycoon before.

You got plenty of time for that.

Maybe he'll take a shine to me,

sort of adopt me like a son.

Or if he don't want to do that,

maybe he'd just like to get into a nice, friendly poker game.

Hmm. Maybe getting into nice, friendly poker games

is how he got to be a big eastern tycoon.

[ laughs ] Yeah.

Train pulled out about ten minutes ago.

If I'd known you wanted to catch it...

I was supposed to meet Mr. Gaynor here.

Do you know where he went?

Oh, sure. Right over on that siding.

Mr. Gaynor really travels in style.

Rode in in his private car.

Wire Creighton to firm up this deal.

Notify the committee I'll try to be back

on the 30th for the meeting.

Oh, and tell Holmes to open suit

on Regency Meatpacking if they don't immediately

cease and desist on their infringement of our brand names.

[ knock on door ]

Come in.

Yes?

I'm looking for Mr. Gaynor.

I'm Mr. Gaynor.

I'm Judge Garth's ranch foreman.

You asked me to come down here to see you.

Oh, of course. It's a pleasure to meet you.

I'm sorry I had to ask you to come down here,

but I knew there'd be some business

that would keep me tied up here for a while.

That's all right.

That'll be all, Andy.

I can't seem to get away from business

no matter where I go.

Please, sit down.

Would you like some coffee, drink?

No, thanks.

You, uh...

you look surprised when I identified myself.

Well, frankly, I had expected to see a much older man.

[ chuckles ] I'm used to that.

Nobody expects a man of my age

to be able to hold his own in the world of finance.

Personally, I think it's an advantage.

How's that?

Because I'm not bound by the traditions of the past.

I can try out new ideas, experiment.

Is this ranch you bought one of them?

Frankly, yes.

You see, I make a lot of money

out of processing other people's beef.

I figured it was about time I got in on where it all starts.

That's why I asked you to come down here.

Before we go into that, Mr. Gaynor,

I think I'd better tell you

that I had a little run-in with your ranch foreman yesterday.

Oh?Mm-hmm.

He was putting up a barbed wire fence

on land that was open range.

I had the fences torn down.

You mean the fences were not on my land?

Your land adjoined it, all right,

but if you intend to fence your property,

you'll be the first rancher out here to do so.

All the rest of us run our herds together on a common range.

Then there will be no fences.

Anything else? That was it.

All right.

So now we come to why I asked you here.

What does Judge Garth pay you?

Oh, no, no. I'm not trying to pry.

I just want you to multiply it by two,

because that's what you're making from now on.

What do you mean?

Well, I'm after a...

a vertical cattle and packing industry,

controlling everything from the source of the product

right on through to the kitchen table.

That's why I bought the ranch.

What's that got to do with me?

I work by one principle-- to learn everything there is to know

about each business I invest in, and to learn it from the best.

I've made inquiries, and you are the best foreman in this area.

That's why we have a deal.

I'm sorry, Mr. Gaynor.

I'm afraid we don't have a deal.

Well, come on.

Everybody has his price.

It's only the currency that differs.

Money, fame, power--

what is it that youwant?

To stay right where I am.

I've been with Judge Garth for a long time.

Hmm. Loyalty.

That's a rare commodity in my circles.

All right, we'll forget it for now,

but I warn you, you're only delaying the inevitable.

Meaning?

Meaning that when I want something, I don't give up easily.

What I want right now is what you can teach me.

Thanks very much for coming down.

We'll be seeing a lot of each other.

I hope so.

We could start that tomorrow night at Judge Garth's party.

Party? Fine.

Judge always has a little get-together just before we leave for the roundup.

I'm sure he'd like you to come.

You can count me in on both the party and the roundup.

I'll see you tomorrow night.

Good.

[ crickets chirping ]

[ playing guitar ]

♪ I'll give to you a paper of pins ♪

♪ And that's the way that love begins ♪

♪ If you will marry me, me, me ♪

♪ If you will marry me

♪ I'll not accept a paper of pins ♪

♪ If that's the way that love begins ♪

♪ And I won't marry you, you, you ♪

♪ And I won't marry you

BOTH: ♪ Paper of pins, paper of pins ♪

♪ That's no way for love to begin ♪

♪ I'll give to you a little lapdog ♪

♪ To sit in your lap when you go abroad ♪

♪ If you will marry me, me, me ♪

♪ If you will marry me

♪ I'll not accept your little lapdog ♪

♪ To sit in my lap when I go abroad ♪

♪ No, I'll not marry you, you, you ♪

♪ No, I'll not marry you

BOTH: ♪ Paper of pins, paper of pins ♪

♪ That's no way for love to begin ♪

♪ I'll give to you the key to my heart ♪

♪ That we may lock and never more part ♪

♪ If you will marry me, me, me ♪

♪ If you will marry me

♪ I'll not accept the key to your heart ♪

♪ That we may lock and never more part ♪

♪ No, I'll not marry you, you, you ♪

♪ No, I'll not marry you

♪ And now I see that money is all ♪

♪ And a woman's love is nothing at all ♪

♪ So I'll not marry you, you, you ♪

♪ I'll not marry you

♪ And I'm determined to be an old maid ♪

♪ Take my stool and live in the shade ♪

♪ And marry no one, no one at all ♪

♪ And marry no one at all

BOTH: ♪ Paper of pins, paper of pins ♪

♪ That's no way for love to begin ♪

♪ Paper of pins, paper of pins ♪

♪ That's no way for love to begin ♪

[ applause ]

Nice going, you two.

Thanks. Do you like my new dress?

Looks beautiful.

Looks better when I'm dancing.

You know, that gives me an idea.

It's about time.

[ chuckles ]

Sorry, honey. Later, hmm?

Guess you'll have to settle for me.

All right, but watch out for my shoes.

They're new too.

Mr. Gaynor, glad you could come.

Nice to be here.

Good. Come on and meet the Judge.

All right.

Excuse me, Judge.

This is Mr. Gaynor from Chicago. Judge Henry Garth.

I've been looking forward to meeting you, Mr. Gaynor.

Judge, very kind of you to invite me.

Meet a couple of your new neighbors. Barney Wingate.

Evan Barnes.

Hello, there. Mr. Barnes.

You going on the roundup?

Well, I wouldn't miss it.

Unfortunately, I've got business in Denver.

This'll be the first one I've missed in years.

Well, Mr. Gaynor, is it too early to ask you how you enjoy Wyoming?

I like both the country and the people.

I think the country is beautiful,

and the people seem to be genuine, honest, and hardworking.

Is that so different from the people back in Chicago?

The men I do business with in Chicago are hardworking, all right,

but as far as their honesty is concerned...

well, let's just say I make it a rule after shaking hands

to sort of count my fingers.

[ all chuckle ]

We don't have to stay if you don't like it.

We can sneak out anytime.

Don't be silly. I love parties.

You look pretty, Janet.

Thank you, Betsy.

Hmm.

Why didn't I think to say that?

Well, shall we show 'em how it's done?

You arebeautiful.

'Course, all I know about a cow

is how it dresses out at the packing plant,

but I intend to learn.

Come on, let me introduce you around.

Who is that beautiful young lady?

Janet Lawrence.

Father owns the general store.

Could I meet her?Why of course.

Uh, excuse me.

Janet, I'd like to present Mr. Robert Gaynor.

Janet Lawrence.

Miss Lawrence.

This is one of my top hands, Trampas.

Trampas.How do you do?

May I have your permission to dance with Miss Lawrence?

Well, uh...

Of course.

Nice man.

If you say so.

We must be getting pretty good.

People are stopping to watch.

Um...

[ applause ]

That's the first time anybody ever applauded my dancing.

Must be my partner.

I've never been applauded before either.

Well, then, we must make a good team.

Isn't he the most divine dancer?

You know something.

I don't think you'll be needing to rent that buggy anymore.

[ knocks on door ]

Trampas. I thought you were going on the roundup.

Well, I--

well, the boss and I had to stop into town to get some extra supplies,

so I thought I'd drop over and say hello.

Well, come in.

What's the matter?

Looks like somebody died.

Oh. The flowers.

Did you ever see so many?

Don't tell me who they're from. Let me guess.

I don't know where Mr. Gaynor got them.

I didn't know there were that many flowers in town.

Well, a man with his kind of money

can do just about anything.

So he bought some seed and said,

"Here's a hundred dollars. Grow!"

Oh, Trampas, that isn't nice.

Or maybe he charmed 'em into growing,

like he did last night at the party.

We went all through that on the way home.

He was a stranger in town, and when he asked me to dance--

Yeah, yeah, I know. You had to be polite to him.

All evenin'.

It's a wonder you even let me take you home.

As a matter of fact, he did ask me to ride home with him,

and if you keep going like this,

I'll be sorry I didn't accept.

Maybe you are anyway.

Maybe I am.

[ knock on door ]

Good afternoon, Mr. Gaynor.

Please, come in.Thank you, Janet.

Trampas. Glad to see you.

Mr. Gaynor asked me to show him around the country.

I thought I'd like a guided tour

before we go out on the roundup.

Sure.

Well, uh, I gotta be going.

Would you like to come along?

No, thanks.

I know the country pretty well.

I'll get my shawl.

[ horse whinnies ]

Hi.Hi, Danny.

Seen Trampas today?No. Ain't been in here. Why?

We came into town together and I lost him.

That's Trampas. Have a drink?

No, I'd better go look for him, I guess.

Even money says he'll show up here.

Maybe you're right. Make it a beer.

Sure. How do the cattle look this year?

Pretty good, pretty good.

Ought to get top prices for them, if we get them to market on time.

Ah. Thanks.

Mmm.

Uh-oh. Should have made the bet.

His nips.

Where you been?

I had an errand to do.

Whiskey.

Little early in the day for that, isn't it?

Got any better ideas?

We could go on back out to Shiloh and get some work done.

Hmm.

Big, fat showoff. That's all he is.

Who's that?

Mr. Gaynor. Chicago's gift to Medicine Bow.

They can have him back, for my money.

Still sore about his dancing with Janet last night, huh?

If you think he gave her the rush last night,

you should have seen what he did today.

He's got her house so full of flowers

that you can hardly get through the front door.

Flowers all over the place. 'Scuse me.

You're still as clumsy as ever, aren't you?

Pat.

Pate Wade!

Been a long time, huh?Well, I guess.

Well, let's see, not since...

Billings.

We were both working on the same ranch,

until the boss's wife

started rolling her eyes here at Pat.

That's when he lit out. Remember, Pat?

Oh, this is my boss. Pat Wade.

Don't worry. He ain't married, Pat.

Danny, another glass for my buddy Pat Wade here.

Well, any friend of Trampas' is a cash customer to me.

Don't worry, Pat.

Danny's always joking... I hope.

[ all chuckle ]

Oh, good. Mmm.

Here's to whatever brought you here.

All right.

What did bring you here?

Nothin'. I was just passin' through, that's all.

I see you're traveling kind of light.

Well, I give up wearing a gun a long time ago.

Seems like an invitation to trouble,

unless a man was fixing to use it.

Mm-hmm.

Why don't you stick around for a while?

You couldn't find a better man if you threw a net around Wyoming.

Looking for a job? I can always use an extra hand at roundup time.

What do you say, Pat? You'll like it at Shiloh.

And, uh... it's time you settled down.

Well, I can't promise how long I'd stay. I'll give it a try.

Good. Let's get started.

Yo.

Danny, I'll take care of this at payday.

Pat, it's good to see you.

I'lltake care of it at payday.

Let me tell you something about Pat here.

There's only two things he's afraid of--

a decent woman, and being left afoot.

I remember one night we road into Bozeman, and this--

That's no way for you to be looking at a pretty girl.

I'm not looking at the girl.

I'm looking at the mighty Mr. Gaynor.

Gaynor?

That's right, Gaynor. Know him?

I've heard the name.

Judging by your expression,

you and Mr. Gaynor had a little bit of a run-in.

No run-in yet.

Not yet.

Hey.

Whoa.

Well, there she is. I hope you like it here.

What do you mean? He's gonna love it here.

Probably turn out to be a regular Shiloh hand.

What do you say to that, Pat?

Never try to outguess fate, Trampas.

[ all chuckle ]

RANDY: Y'all sure took a long time. What kept you?

Ran into an old buddy.

Randy, meet Pat Wade.

Hi, Pat.What say, Randy?

He's gonna be riding with us.

RANDY: Here, I'll give you a hand.

Thanks just the same.

Trampas, you and Randy take care of the horses.

I'll show Pat around.

Barn, tack room. Store your gear in there.

Breaking pen's right down there.

Feed lot's up over the top of the hill.

That's the Judge's house.

This is the bunkhouse. Come on in.

Pick out any spot you like.

Thanks.Oh, uh, Pat.

Trampas says it's been a couple of years since he saw you.

You been working the ranches since then?

That's right.Any one in particular?

Just here and there.

Trampas sure seems to think a lot of you.

It works both ways.

Can I go in now?Sure.

Nice fella, ain't he?

Mm-hmm. Just a mite short on conversation.

Yeah.

You ride with him long?

Long enough to know he's a good man to have on your side.

Pat don't talk much. He likes to be left alone.

But if you give him a good reason,

he'll fight you till the Devil's ovens freeze over,

then skate with you on the ice.

My, my. I didn't know you could talk so fancy.

I read it somewhere.

Hey, men, gather round.

We're gonna handle the roundup same way we did last year.

Worked out pretty well.

Well, now, Mr. Gaynor's new here.

Maybe you'd better explain how it works.

Well, Mr. Gaynor,

the cattle have been spread out on the open range all winter now.

Not only Shiloh cattle and your cattle,

but everybody else's around here.

Now, our job is to get them together in one spot,

separate them, ship them to market.

Why don't you and your crew join up with Mr. Wingate

up on the west ridge.

My crew can get along just fine without me.

If there's no objection, I'll assign myself to you.

If you'll remember, I mentioned the first thing I wanted to do was learn.

All right. Let's get started.

As I said, I don't give up easily,

especially when it comes to learning from the best.

So, where do I begin?

Well, Mr. Gaynor,

I don't know of any better place for any man to begin

than right at the bottom.

Come on.

Hey, stock boy!

I'll need a couple of hundred feet of that rope over there,

and ten sacks of that feed.

And make it pronto.

Mr. Gaynor, we'll need--

No, no. No Mr. Gaynor around here.

I'm just plain stock boy too.

It's hard to get used to seeing you working a dirty job like this.

There's nothing wrong with dirt on a man's hands,

long as it's the kind he can wash off.

What can I do for you?

I'll need six bridles and some rawhide strips for the Bermuda.

Coming right up.

Howdy.

Boys tell me you're working out real good.

Well, still a few things I don't understand.

Your distribution methods, for instance.

Such as?

The way I get it,

you set up these out camps where the men bunk

while they're gathering in the herds from the mountain pastures.

Then, whenever they need extra supplies,

they have to come in here to the central camp to get them.

Right. This is where we store the stuff.

I wonder if it might make some sense

to set up some auxiliary supply dumps

a little more centrally located to the out camps.

Might save a lot of everybody's time.

You know, you might just have a real good idea there.

I'll look into it.

Meantime, I think you've earned a promotion.

Good.

Whoa.

We're ready to separate the cows with pinkeye.

Who you got around to give me a hand?

How 'bout me?

Well, I don't know, Mr. Gaynor.

It's pretty tricky work.

First of all, you have to learn how to rope.

Oh, by the way, this is a rope.

Um...

this here's what you call a honda.

You put the rope through the honda, like that,

and you build yourself a loop.

Then you take the loop

and twirl it around your head a few times,

and rope yourself a calf...

like that.

Oh, by the way, the calf's the little one.

Who you got around to give me a hand?

Trampas, can I borrow your rope?

Let's see. Slim is busy.

What about Randy?

Randy's all right, and Lefty,

and, uh... and take Ballard too.

Good.

Found out right away that if a man really wants to learn his work,

some parts of it need a lot of practice.

All right if I help you now?

There's a little more to it than just learning to rope, Mr. Gaynor.

That's all right.

Smart man like Mr. Gaynor ought to have no trouble.

I'll teach him a few tricks.

All right, take a crack at it.

Pick yourself a horse from the remuda.

Nothing to it.

Pick yourself out a calf, rope him,

then get off and throw him.

Here, uh, watch me.

See? Nothing to it.

Why don't you start with that one over there, that big one?

The bigger they are, the easier they fall.

All right.

What's Trampas trying to do,

sending Gaynor after a yearling?

Pretty good idea what he's doing.

[ laughing ]

I don't know, Mr. Gaynor.

Maybe we better put you on something else.

Roping seems to be a mite too rough for you.

Maybe that's because you forgot to tell him

to snub his rope on his saddle horn,

and not to take on yearlings.

Oh. How could I be so forgetful?

No, no, no. That's--

It's all right. I came here to learn.

I'm learning fast.

[ Trampas laughing ]

[ laughing ]

This must be a real letdown for a man like you, Mr. Gaynor.

Hmm? What's that?

Sleeping on the hard dirt,

eating tough beef and sourdough out of a tin plate.

I'll bet you're used to

living in mighty fine style.

Have you heard me complaining?

No. But I'll bet you miss it.

Those big hotels and fancy balls,

and escorting them pretty eastern women around.

I find my time is quite pleasantly taken up in Medicine Bow.

Just what do you mean by that?

Trampas, I want you and Pat to get started

on that forward shipping corral this morning.

Just a minute.

Get moving!

What are you looking at?You.

You sure like the Lawrence girl, don't you?

What makes you say that?

The way you've been riding Gaynor.

Trampas, you sure have changed.

You're settling down to ranching.

You're giving serious thought to a lady.

Since we're on the subject of a man changing,

let me say I haven't noticed much in you.

Huh? Why not?

Before you got here, you told the boss man you were working ranches.

I don't buy it.You don't? Why not?

Let me see your hands.

Blistered, aren't they?

What kind of work on a ranch

lets a man's hands get so soft?

Trampas, the boss said to get this corral up.

Let's do just that.

All right, next man.

I'll take your turn this time, Mr. Gaynor.

As you found out, it's a mite dangerous out there.

Thanks, but I'll take my chances.

Be sure to cut yourself a small calf this time.

Trampas, I do appreciate your concern,

but I think I'll try that one right out there.

You're next, Trampas.

Well, there's one thing about your kind of work, Trampas.

It's easy to learn.

Trampas, I'm surprised.

A man of your experience

forgetting to cinch his saddle.

It was cinched.

And you were the only one near my horse.

So I was.

I figured we'd better get it over with,

so I can get on to more important matters.

VIRGINIAN: Hey! Hey!

You want to fight, do it on your own time. Both of you.

What are you standing around for?

Get on back to work!

He don't even know how to fight.

Dances around like a kid at a party.

Why didn't he stand still so I could...?

I'd say he did all right, his way.

Ah, that's a beautiful sight.

Yeah.

Your cut comes to almost a thousand head of prime beef.

Now all that's left is to get 'em to market.

The sooner the better.

Prices start out high and go down fast as the stock comes in.

I want to thank you for all your help.

My pleasure. You learn fast.

You won't have any trouble taking care of that ranch of yours now.

From now on, I'll hold my own.

Man, is this bunk gonna feel good.

Hey, Trampas, come here a minute.

I was getting down something from the shelf,

and I accidentally knocked down Pat's bedroll,

and this gun fell out of it.

Looks like it's been used plenty.

Wonder why he keeps it hidden.

I don't know.

I enjoyed every minute of that roundup.

Well, almost every minute.

I missed you, Janet, very much.

At least the roundup gave you the chance to learn more about the country.

How do you like it now?

This is a terrible admission for a city boy,

but this place kind of gets to you.

Well, I'm glad you like it.

You know, the ranch you bought is one of the best in the state.

That's only a beginning, just the beginning.

You know, there's so much that modern methods can do here--

breeding a better quality of beef,

developing better grasses.

I want to make this country come alive,

realize its full potential.

I really believe you will.

At least I'm going to try.

That sounds as if you're going to stay here.

No.

No, I couldn't do that, even if I wanted to.

Just too many business commitments back east.

Besides, I am a city boy, Janet.

I like the excitement, the life, the comforts.

You would too.

That sounds wonderful.

When I get things moving here,

I'll be going back east.

When I do, maybe you...

Robert...

Janet.

I know I don't meet the usual requirements

of having carried on a long courtship,

but what I'm trying to tell you is that I've fallen in love with you.

I want you to marry me.

Oh, Robert.

Now, wait.

A man would be a fool to press for such an important decision

unless he were sure it'd be favorable.

I can wait.

I can wait.

Uh...

I've got a little private errand to run.

You mean you don't want me to go along with you, is that it?

I can do my courting without your help, thanks.

Not very sociable of you.

I'll buy you a drink at the saloon, later.

All right, I'll be there.

Hello, Janet.

Well, hello, Trampas.

Won't you come in?

Thanks.

Well...

looks a lot better than last time I saw it.

More like a home, less like a funeral parlor.

Just joking.

Well... how you been?

Oh, just fine.

I, uh...

I could hardly wait for the roundup to be over

so I could come by and see you.

I heard you were quite busy.

Sure was.

Teaching Robert Gaynor how to rope calves.

Did he tell you about that?He didn't mention it.

Mr. Wingate told his wife when he got back, and she told me.

It was, uh... all in fun.

That bruise on your cheek-- that was all in fun too?

Mr. Wingate's quite a talker, ain't he?

Well, I'm glad I found out.

Now, look, Janet.

So I played a trick on Gaynor

and we got into a fight.

What's so terrible about that?

Well, I-I didn't mean I was really angry.

I just meant that it helped me to make my mind up about something.

About you and me.

What are you trying to say?

Well, it's not just you, Trampas. It's...

It's the whole country around here,

the way people live, the way they think.

There's a violence always under the surface.

You didn't mind it before.

I never hand a chance before

to get to know much about anyplace else.

In other words, Gaynor.

What's he been telling you?

It's not what he's been telling me.

It's what he is, the way he lives,

the way all people live where he comes from.

What's wrong with Wyoming?

Seems to be a nice enough place to me.

Oh, it's fine--

until somebody's cattle strays in another herd,

or there's an argument over water rights,

or a hundred other things.

It's not that way all the time.

You're making too much out of it.

Too much of it, Trampas? Remember Johnny?

What happened to your brother was an accident.

An accident?

I thought what happened to Johnny was conversation--

one part talk, and one part whiskey,

and Johnny ending up shot to death

in the middle of the street.

Well, maybe it was meeting Robert Gaynor,

getting to know a different kind of man.

Maybe it was a combination of things.

All I know is that, well, it just isn't the same, Trampas.

Now, Janet...

You always reminded me of Johnny.

Maybe that was what I liked about you.

But...

Somehow I get the feeling you're walking around

what you really want to say.

What I'm trying to tell you is that--

is that Robert Gaynor has asked me to marry him,

and I'm going to accept.

I love him, Trampas.

I don't know how it happened. I don't even know when it happened, but it did.

I know the feeling.

Once you get it, it's pretty hard to shake.

Oh, Trampas, I...

It's all right.

Good luck, Janet.

I was afraid you might not get my letter

to meet the train.

I'm here. Is our deal still on?

Mr. Wade, I wasn't sent all the way from Chicago just for a chat.

Five hundred dollars.

As I said in my letter, to be split between you and Crandall.

The price has gone up.

Since when?

Since I found out how big a man Gaynor is.

It's gonna cost you a thousand now.

A thousand dollars for two men to do a little--

I never asked you to hire the other man. You did that on your own.

My employer doesn't want any slip-ups.

With me, there's never a slip-up.

One thousand dollars.

Why didn't Crandall come with you?

He's not here. I just checked the hotel.

I was told he was reliable.

Risky business.

One more thing--

I usually know who I work for.

Mr. Wade, it should be apparent that's why I was sent--

so your employer could remain anonymous.

At least you could tell me why he wants my services.

If Robert Gaynor remains alive

long enough to reach Chicago,

he'll consummate a business deal

that will wipe out our mutual employer.

You go on back and you tell our...

mutual employer that he can rest easy.

[ locomotive whistle blows ]

I'll let you work out the details with Crandall when he gets here.

You do that.

[ whistle blows ]

[ laughing ]

Hey! Where'd you find him?

Oh, he was just wandering around out there.

Looking for his ma, I guess.

Poor little fella. Ought to be pretty hungry now.

That's the third stray you've brought in.

You're gonna have to sign on regular,

so you can get 'em taken care of right.

I'll just pass 'em on to Randy when I check out.

Still don't feel like getting tied down, huh?

I like to play it one day at a time.

[ approaching hoofbeats ]

Well. Mr. Wingate. Gentlemen.

To what do we owe the honor?

Robert Gaynor.What about him?

We just went into town to see about shipping our combined herds back east.

We can forget it.What do you mean?

Gaynor's already reserved every cattle car

in this section of the country for the next five weeks,

just to ship his own herd.

By the time we get our herds shipped,

the price may be cut in half.

Looks like the wonder boy from Chicago

opened his pocket, and we jumped right in.

Well... let's go talk to him about it.

Come here.

Come on. [ laughing ]

Yes.

Yes, gentlemen.

What about it?What about it?

You come out here spreading sweetness and light,

and all the time, you've got one plan--

cut our throats.

You knew by tying up all that shipping equipment,

we'd be late getting our herds to market.

Oh. Oh, I see.

I'm supposed to have tied up

all the shipping facilities

just so I could freeze you out, is that it?

That's about the size of it, isn't it?

You don't need all that equipment to move your herds, and you know it.

When I came here, I told you I wanted to learn.

What I learn, I put to use.

Such as?

Such as the makeup of beef on the hoof, for one thing.

When we were rounding up the cattle,

what was it you kept telling us?

Drive 'em slow, keep 'em spread apart,

keep down the loss of weight.

What about it?

You taught me that the flesh of a steer

is highly susceptible to activity, pressure--

that those things can cause a great weight loss.

Get to your point.

Well, it gave me an idea about some of your shipping methods.

I had my Chicago office run a survey.

The results prove that your method

of stuffing twice as many cattle as you should

into each railway car causes a great loss of weight,

plus a high mortality rate.

That, in my mind, far outweighs the expense

of added railway cars.

No, gentlemen, I wasn't trying to freeze you out,

just protect my own interests.

I'm going to need all that rolling equipment.

Which mean you get things your way

while we just sit and wait.

Well, let's just say that you've paid for a good lesson.

My guess is that next year

you'll all decide to ship the same way.

Maybe for you, Gaynor, there won't be a next year.

That sounds like a threat.

What do you expect us to do?

Sit around here and let you break us?

You'll get away with this.

But maybe you're starting to push a little harder than you should.

I'd think about it while there's still time, if I were you.

Does that implied threat include you?

No.

But only because I run the Garth place

and do things the way the Judge wants.

If I had a place of my own, mister,

I'd already have put some slippery rocks under your feet.

I say that we make Gaynor give us some of those cattle cars,

even if we have to turn him inside out to do it.

[ shouts of agreement ]

Hold it, hold it.

Gentlemen, look, we're not going to get anywhere this way.

Gaynor reserved those cars. There's nothing we can do about it.

Well, how 'bout us getting our herds to market?

Maybe there's another way.

You got any ideas?I got a couple.

First of all, you and Mr. Martin

could contact the Wyoming Central Railroad.

They've got a spur line 40 miles west of here.

Maybe they'd be willing to consign some cattle cars to our use.

Meantime, I'll wire Judge Garth in Denver,

see if he can't put some pressure on our own railroad

to make some more cattle cars available to us.

How's that sound to you?

All right. Fine idea.

All I've got to say is, something's gotta work.

It will, don't worry.

You got a problem with your back?

They say all a cowboy does is use his saddle for a workbench.

They didn't say nothing 'bout putting a pitchfork in his hand.

Good exercise keeps your back loose.

Is that enough, Randy?

Fine.

[ chuckles ] You'll get used to it.

You're just spoiled, that's all, Pat. Yeah.

[ Pat chuckles ]

Hey, you really do like this life, don't you?

Sure I do.

Mm-hmm. I can see it all now, Trampas.

You settling down, a nice piece of land,

you and Janet raising a bunch of kids.

Too bad, too. You had promise.

Only one thing wrong with that picture, Pat.

She's going to marry Gaynor.

I wouldn't be too sure about that.

Cheer up, Trampas.

I've got a feeling everything's going to turn out

just right for you.

Pat, I know you mean well, but I'd rather not talk about it.

All right, I'll drop it.

Hello, Sheriff. What brings you out here?

Your friend Gaynor.

He's no friend of mine.

Yeah, that's what I hear.

Is it against the law not to like him?

Trampas, you ever hear of a fellow named Ross Crandall?

I don't believe I have.

Why?

He's a professional gunman. 'Least he was.

I got a wire from the sheriff

over at Beaver Falls this morning.

Seems this Crandall got himself killed last night in a saloon brawl.

What's that got to do with me?

He had a piece of paper in his pocket.

It had Robert Gaynor's name on it,

and the name of this town.

So?

I hear you had a fight with Gaynor up at the roundup.

Yeah, I got into a fight with him.

Oh, now, wait a minute, Mark.

Are you trying to tell me you think I hired a gunslinger

to kill Gaynor just because I got into a fight with him?

Mark, if I wanted to get rid of somebody,

I'd do the job myself.

What job?

Ask Mark.

Professional gunman was killed yesterday over at Beaver Falls.

They found Gaynor's name in his pocket.

Mark thinks he's working for me

on account of the fight Gaynor and I got into.

I didn't say that.

Just how sore are the ranchers at Gaynor?

Not thatsore.

You know 'em as well as I do, Mark.

They wouldn't pull a stunt like that.

No, I don't think they would.

Have you told Gaynor about this?

I'm on my way over there now. You want to come along?

No, thanks.

Lot of bookwork to do. For once, I'm gonna enjoy it.

Oh, Mark, you say this gunslinger

got killed in a saloon brawl?

Yeah, that's what the telegram said.

Some gunslinger.

You ever hear of him, Pat?

No, can't say that I have.

I wouldn't want to be in Gaynor's shoes.

Any idea who this Crandall's employer might be?

That's what I came to ask you.

You know the people around here better than I do.

You don't have to worry about them.

What about back east?

Anybody there might have it in for you?

By the dozen I suppose, but if this Crandall was killed--

They could always hire another.

Then there's nothing I can do about it.

Care for a drink?

No, thanks. I've got to be heading back.

I thank you for your interest,

but I learned to ignore things like this a long time ago.

Well, when you have as many enemies as I do, you just get used to it.

Thanks a lot.

WINGATE: Here he is.

We contacted the Wyoming Central, as you said.

Yeah?

And all their cattle cars are taken.

Did you hear from Judge Garth?

Sure did. Just got the telegram back.

"Contacted railroad.

"No rolling stock available.

"Handle problem best way you can.

Judge Henry Garth."

Gaynor's not leaving us any choice.

Either we take over those cattle cars by force--

We can'tdo that. It's not legal.

We may not like what he did, but it's not illegal.

You think we're gonna take this sitting down?

Or standing up.

But you'll take it.

He's right, you know.

Gaynor may have double-crossed you,

but he hasn't broken the law.

And the first man that does is gonna answer to me.

May as well face it, gentlemen.

We learned a lesson the hard way.

Next year, we'll turn it around.

[ indistinct muttering ]

You hear any more on the Crandall thing?

Well know tonight.Tonight?

Gaynor's leaving for Chicago this evening

with the first shipment of his herd.

There was an item about it in today's paper.

If anyone's really interested in killing him,

we'll know before he gets on that train.

I'll see you later.

Hey. You're so quiet,

I almost mistook you for part of the woodwork.

I was just doing a little thinking.

I'd say you were doing a powerful lot of it.

Pat...Yeah?

I was thinking about the old days.

Like when you and me was riding together up in Montana.

Yeah. That was a long time ago, huh?

They were good times. Good times.

Man get to missing times like that.

Maybe when you leave, I'll be going along with you.

Who are you kidding?

You're all set up here.

You got a real good job,

everything that makes for a real solid future.

Like I said, I might be going along with you.

No, Trampas.

Those were real good times, all right,

but I'm used to traveling alone now.

You pulling out now?

Yep.

Kind of sudden, isn't it, Pat?

You know me, Trampas. I never stay too long in one place.

You go back to your girl and your job,

forget about all this foolishness.

This here's where you belong.

I told you, there is no girl.

Not anymore.

I told you, you give up too easy.

I don't want to argue about it, Pat.

Just tell me where you're going, I'll join up with you later.

No, you wouldn't.

You'd change your mind.

I think I'm a better judge of that than you are.

Not this time, Trampas, 'cause I've got a deep feeling

that you and Janet are going to get back together again.

Fact is, I'd be willing to bet...

a thousand dollars on it, huh?

Till next time, Trampas.

So long, Pat.

Get in there, son.

How'd the meeting go?

Fine. Just fine.

No way we can get our herds to market

for at least ten days.

By that time, the price of beef will be way down.

Meantime, Gaynor goes out tonight

with his first shipment of cattle,

right on schedule.

Gaynor's leaving town tonight?

He's leaving, all right.

Unless whoever that fellow Crandall was working for

decides to hire somebody else to do the job.

Who knows Gaynor's leaving?

Anybody that can read. It was in the paper today.

By the way, I picked up the payroll money at the bank.

Tell Pat if he's short,

I can give him a little advance.

Yeah, I'll do that.

[ horse whinnies ]

Pat.

What do you say? What are you doing here?

I was abut to ask you the same thing.

My horse got a little stone underneath his shoe.

I just now got it out.

Did you have to put on your gun to do it?

Well, you never do know who you're going to run into on the trail.

I guess not.

You haven't told me why you were following me.

Told you back at the ranch I was thinking of pulling out.

When you left, I decided to make my break right then and there.

Without even a saddlebag?

I travel light.

Trampas, you're a rotten liar.

Come on, tell me, what are you following me for?

To keep you from killing Gaynor.

What are you talking about?

It all adds up, Pat.

The cracks you made about me and Janet getting back together,

you leaving Shiloh without even drawing out your pay,

how you got those blisters on your hands the first day you got there.

How long you been hiring out?

What difference does it make?

None, I guess.

As long as you don't practice your trade here.

Just this once, then I'm off.

No, not even this once.

I don't get it. This man, he stole your girl, didn't he?

You don't want her back?

He didn't steal her. She chose him.

When he's gone, she's gonna choose you again.

I don't want to argue about it, Pat,

but you're not gonna kill him.

You'd better beat it, Trampas,

'cause he's gonna be here in a few minutes.

You'd just better pretend you didn't get here in time.

I wish I could, Pat, but I didget here in time.

Look, Trampas, I've been paidfor this already. A thousand dollars.

Do you realize how long you've got to work to makea thousand dollars?

I don't care how much you got for it, you're not gonna kill him.

You realize, then, what you're asking me to do, don't you?

Sorry, Pat, but that's the way it is.

I just don't get it.

I'm sure not going to get into a fight with my best friend over it.

If this man means that much to you,

he's all yours. You can have him.

[ gunshots ]

[ horse neighs ]

I always did wonder which one of us...

was faster.

Oh, you're a lucky, lucky man, Gaynor.

Very lucky.

What did he mean?

I don't know.

Cattle are about loaded.

Equal lot from each ranch.

Good, fine.

I'd like you to know, and the other men would too,

that we really appreciate your letting us off the hook like this.

Well, it would have been pretty hard not to,

after what Trampas did for me.

Got any idea who might have paid Wade

that thousand dollars they found on his body?

I can guess.

Somebody else I was pushing too hard back in Chicago.

Gonna let them off the hook too?

I've already sent a telegram to that effect.

You know, old habits are hard to break.

All I can do is try the new ones on for size.

I think they'll fit just fine.

Well, goodbye, Mr. Lawrence.

Goodbye, Robert. Take good care of her.

You can be sure of that.

Goodbye, Daddy.Goodbye, hon.

Come along, Mrs. Gaynor.

[ locomotive whistle blows ]

[ locomotive whistle blows ]

Are you just gonna sit there all day?

Come on. We got work to do.