Original subtitles

[ theme song ]

What now?

I think there's a spring up there beyond the draw.

What about it?

I'm thirsty.

Oh, for Pete's sake.

Well, if you'd have brought that canteen...

Well, I didn't, and I didn't bring a sofa pillow

or a box of chocolates or a mandolin either.

I thought we came up here to ride some barn fat off these colts.

Are you finished?

Yep.

Well, I'm still thirsty.

See, I told ya so. Only there's more water than I remember.

Randy? Randy?

Huh?

Don't you want a drink?

No.

Hey, how 'bout this?

How 'bout what?

Looks like a cave here behind this deadfall.

Let's go inside!

No, we better not. It's gettin' kinda late.

Well, you go ahead. I'm gonna take a look.

[ chuckles ] I can just see me goin' back and tellin' them

I left you in a cave here somewhere.

Well, go ahead.

Oh, you women can think of more things to waste a man's time.

No, I better go first.

There might be a drop-off or something.

Well, come on if you're comin'.

Pretty good sized.

[ water dripping ]

Randy, quick, light another one.

Maybe it is gettin' kinda late. Come on, let's go.

Wait a minute.

Randy.

Randy, what is it?

Here, light another match.

It can't be!

But it must be, or else it'd be tarnished.

What is it?

It's gold! Look it there.

It's almost as big as a $20 gold piece.

Randy, look! Huh?

There's another one!

Hey, look, there's a whole bunch!

Yeah!

They're all over here!

Wow!

Look at this!

Do you know what we found? We found a--

[ screams ]

'Bout how many coins you say there were?

183 exactly.

183.

What's your name again, boy?

Benton. Randy Benton.

Hey, is this gonna be in all the papers?

All the newspapers in the territory ought to pick this up.

Did you say you went back out there with them?

Mm-hmm.

Besides the stuff we brought in,

there was some old pots and pans and a busted lantern.

It looked like he lived out there for quite a spell.

Did you find anything that might tell who he was?

Just this belt buckle with some initials on it.

R. MacD.

Anybody by those initials ever work out at Shiloh?

Not since I've been there.

Say, I might know who it was.

Yes, I'm sure he's the one.

Who.

It was before I came here,

but I've run across this story two or three times.

There was a funny old fella who lived up in Shiloh country right after the war,

before there was a Shiloh.

What makes you think it's the same man?

Here. You see this?

Now this in an English coin. It's called a Golden Guinea.

Now this old fella used to come down here about once a month.

He'd trade a couple of those in for American money,

get his supplies, and disappear again.

Well, how much are they worth?

Twenty-one shillings, as I remember.

That's five and a quarter American.

5.25 times 183.

Anybody ever mention his name?

Don't think he ever told it.

Used to call him Stonewall.

Why that?

Oh, he was kinda rabid about the Civil War, they say.

One of those Confederates who wouldn't surrender.

Wow, $960.75!

That's almost $500 a piece!

Five hundred dollars.

Boy, that's more money than I ever thought I'd get my hands on.

You still haven't.

What do you mean?

The law says I gotta keep that money for 30 days,

in case a legitimate claimant turns up.

Well, we better be gettin' on back.

Well, good-bye.

Come on, Randy.

Gonna be a long 30 days.

Turn that little bay mare out into the corral.

How ya doin'?

Better than it was, anyway.

[ horse approaching ]

Here comes another one.

Good luck.

Howdy.

Howdy. What can I do for ya?

Well, you can point out the foreman, unless you're him.

That's right.

Doin' any hirin'?

Well, that all depends.

Well, I'm a good hand.

Where'd you work last?

Britton and Lomax. Espuela brand.

Worked for the Spur outfit?

That's right.

Name's Kane.

Mm-hmm.

[ chuckles ] I been workin' the tallow pots.

Kinda softens ya up, but I callus quick.

What other odd jobs can you handle?

Well, I can butcher, I can tan,

and picked up some harness makin'.

Could really use the job.

And I could really use a hand.

What I don't need is a treasure hunter.

Treasure hunter?

Oh, maybe you didn't hear about

what happened here last week.

Oh! Oh, sure. I read about that.

You mean about findin' the money?

Yeah, there's quite a bit of talk over in Cheyenne.

Been quite a few drifters through here, too.

Fellas expect me to pay them wages

while they look for stray gold pieces.

[ chuckles ] Well, ain't gonna get no trouble on my account.

You independently wealthy?

I got nothin' against money.

I just ain't foolish enough to think any of it's left.

What do ya think of that?

Well, me-- I'd have double-stitched it.

Pays a dollar a day. Put your gear in the bunkhouse.

Thank you.

Oh, say, uh...

that young fella that found the money--

believe it said his name was Randy Benton.

That's right.

Wouldn't happen to know if he was from back East, would ya?

Around the Carolinas?

Maybe. Why?

Uh, I might have known him... or his folks.

I used to run with his brother some.

Brother?

Well, it was a half-brother really.

Same father, though.

Good bit older than he was.

I don't know. Never heard him say anything about a brother.

Well, no matter.

Lot of Bentons around. Probably not even the same family.

Easy enough to find out. Randy.

You know, this old mare's

gettin' to be a regular cribber.

She's got her manger half gnawed away.

Fella here thinks he knows ya.

I knew your brother Johnny.

Oh.

I guess you don't remember me, huh?

Well, I don't know. I don't know if I do or not.

[ chuckles ] Well, it's no wonder.

You was, what, only about six or seven.

Main reason I used to go out to his farm was for the music.

Your pa wasn't much of a farmer.

No slight to the dead,

but music! Whoo!

He'd play music, and I swear creatures

would come out of the woods just to listen.

I guess you were there all right.

Yeah, I guess I was.

Randy, I want ya to give that mare's stall

a good coat of creosote right after chow.

I'll see if I can find some.

It's waitin' for ya out behind the barn.

Kane, you give him a hand.

Might as well start buildin' up those calluses.

Well, come on. Let's get some chow. I'll show ya where it is.

Thank ya.

It's the end stall right there.

Whoo!

The smell of this stuff's enough to gravel ya.

You ought to taste it.

That little mare's in for quite a shock.

You still like horses.

Yeah. Why?

Well, that's about one of the best things I remember about you.

You were always talkin' about havin' a horse ranch of your own someday.

Yeah.

Well, probably get one now.

What do ya mean by that?

Five hundred dollars. That's a lot of money.

Oh, you heard about that, huh?

Well, sure. Lots of people have.

It was right on the front page of the Cheyenne Call.

It said "Gruesome find on Shiloh ranch lucky for youngsters."

Lucky, maybe.

What do you mean maybe?

Well, somebody could walk in there and claim that money any day now.

Well, that's what it said, but I wouldn't worry about that.

Why not?

Well, figure it out.

They don't even know who that old man was.

They'd have to prove that first,

and then they'd have to prove if the money was rightfully his,

and then they'd have to prove that they was the legal heirs.

There's a lot of provin' to do.

I hope you're right.

You, uh...

you don't remember much about your brother, do ya?

What makes you say that?

Well, you don't talk much about him.

Not much to talk about.

He left home when I was about six.

Only saw him once after that.

He came home once a few years later for one night.

Hardly saw him at all.

Woke up the next mornin', and he was gone.

You blame him for that?

No, I don't blame anybody for anything.

Well, uh... he was in trouble with the law.

You know, that's why he took off.

Didn't anybody ever tell ya that?

Trouble or not, a man says good-bye or kiss my foot or something.

Well, he liked you fine.

He got quite a kick out of ya.

Where was he when Pa died then, if he like me so much?

Well, I guess he didn't hear about that.

He could have found out.

No matter. It's all water under the bridge now.

I better get some more creosote.

He felt pretty bad about it when he did find out.

I mean, about you bein' left on your own and all.

Is that so?

Hey, Cotton.

Where'd you get that name?

Don't ya know who I am, kid?

Seems I should've known right off...

or maybe I did.

I knew something right when I saw ya.

Tell ya the truth, though...

you're a little bit uglier than I recollect.

[ laughs ]

I don't see no beauty prize on you either.

I'm, uh, sorry about Pa.

I'd have come back for ya sure.

Randy.

I--I told him my name was Kane.

Best we leave it that way for now, huh?

Y'all finished?

Uh, yeah. Just a minute.

Steve can use ya at the corral. Bring a posthole digger.

All right. You in trouble?

Would it matter?

[ chuckles ]

Old Johnny.

Well, come on.

Thirty dollars.

Randy. Sign your name.

And $30.

Kane.

Three dollars for three days.

We'll give them fits next month.

You goin' into town?

Thought I might.

Mind if I ride in with ya?

Be mad if ya don't.

Use a few dollars?

I don't want your money, kid.

What's that for?

Oh, habit mostly, but ya never can tell.

Johnny?

Yeah?

I guess ya would have told me about it if you'd have wanted to,

but I got to thinkin',

maybe if I knew what the trouble was, I could help.

It's a lot of trouble, kid. You can't help.

Whatever you say.

Now hold on.

What's the matter?

Nothin', Johnny. I don't reckon I had any call to ask.

Of course you have.

It's not that I don't trust ya, Cotton.

It's just that, I mean,

I just don't wanna put more strain on a rope than the rope will bear.

What's that supposed to mean?

Well...

You seem to get along pretty well with the folks around here,

and if I told ya something about myself,

you wouldn't feel called upon to let them know about it, would ya?

You're my brother, Johnny.

I guess the fella who first said it was right.

Blood's a good deal thicker than water.

You got no worry on my account.

Well...

I got into a little jam down south.

I was workin'-- poundin' a saddle--

and then I figured I needed more money than I had,

and there was this little old bank just sittin' there.

Looked so easy, but it wasn't.

Thing is, a man got killed.

Oh, I didn't do it.

You gotta take my word for that,

but I was there, and I was seen.

Are they after ya?

Well, it's a fair bet.

[ chuckles ] You know, it's a funny thing.

I didn't make one cent out of it.

You think you'll be safe here?

For a time, anyway.

Takes a while for the posters to get up this far.

You know a good place?

Where?

Oregon country.

[ chuckles ] That's a long ways off.

That's just it,

and I hear it's good country, too.

That's where you ought to go.

On three dollars?

Listen, I got an idea--

Any of you fellas wanna ride into town with me,

I'll be leavin' from the main house in a few minutes.

We'll talk about it later. Come on.

See ya later.

All right.

Oh, whatever the sheriff wants to see ya about, tell him I didn't do it.

Sure thing.

What was that about the sheriff?

I don't know. Sheriff wants to see him.

♪♪

♪ I like what I see when I look at you ♪

♪ I do, I do, I do

♪ The very first time that I looked at you ♪

♪ I knew, I knew, I knew

♪ The preacher will read from his book to you ♪

♪ Making one from two

♪ And 50 years hence

♪ It will still be true

♪ I'll like what I see in you

♪ I like what I see when you smile at me ♪

♪ I do, I do, I do

♪ It's love, love at sight ♪

♪ That I feel tonight

♪ I do, I do, I do

♪ I like what I feel when you hold my hand ♪

♪ Love is grand, it's true ♪

♪ There's only one thing

♪ I would never do

♪ Resist being kissed [ all laugh ]

♪ By you

♪ I like what I see when I look at you ♪

♪ I do, I do, I do

♪ The very first time

♪ That I looked at you

♪ I knew it was love

♪ I knew

[ cheering and applause ]

What'll it be, Steve?

Uh, beer.

And you, sir?

Beer.

Randy? Uh-uh.

Sarsaparilla.

Comin' up.

Well, you're just in time. Coffee?

I don't mind.

Thanks for comin'.

I didn't know I had a choice.

Deputy said official business.

This is Mr. Duggan from Washington, D.C.

Mr. Duggan.How do you do.

I understand the owner of the Shiloh ranch is out of town.

That's right.

And in his absence, you're in charge?

That's right.

Well, not to waste your time or my own,

I'm a special investigator for the War Claims Division of the Treasury Department.

War Claims, huh?

That's right.

My job is to track down certain properties and assets

of the late lamented Confederacy

now considered legitimate spoils of war.

In other words, Uncle Sam wants what's comin' to him,

and I'm here to see that he gets it.

Sit down.

Thanks.

What's all this got to do with me?

I need your cooperation.

It's my considered opinion that certain spoils are hidden on Shiloh ranch.

What makes you think so?

During the war, the Confederacy kept certain assets

and an amount of gold coinage in the Merchant's Bank of Roanoke.

Now after the surrender of Appomattox--

you'll excuse me for bringing up painful memories.

What memories?

The sheriff here tells me you're a Virginian.

The war's been over for a long time, Mr. Duggan.

Please go on.

Well, after the surrender at Appomattox,

the assets of the Roanoke Bank were found to be missing,

along with the cashier-- a man named MacDermott.

Robert MacDermott.

You think this was the skeleton that was just found?

Well, the coins that MacDermott took are reasonably rare.

English Golden Guineas-- last minted about 1813.

Well, that's too bad.

What?

Well, the kids were sorta countin' on that money.

Oh, the coins.

We're after much bigger game than that.

How much bigger?

$250,000 bigger.

You think there's a quarter of a million dollars on Shiloh?

That's right.

Cash?

Well, cash and English negotiable securities just as good as cash.

Now my problem is that I may have to spend some time on the ranch--

perhaps a week, if it's agreeable to you.

As long as you want.

In case your men get curious,

I brought along some surveying equipment.

You can tell them that I've come to redefine

some government boundaries on the ranch.

If the word got out that I was on a treasure hunt, it might start a gold rush.

I'll put you up in the bunkhouse, if that's all right with you.

That'll be fine.

Well, now that you've sampled some of Mark's coffee,

maybe I can buy ya a real drink.

No, some other time. I've got some paperwork to do.

The government wants everything in triplicate.

Sometime I'll find out what they do with the extra copies.

[ chuckles ] We'll see ya at Shiloh then.

Right.

So long, Mark.

Hey, Johnny, I been thinkin'.

About what?

About Oregon.

Forget it.

Why?

I told ya-- slight financial problem.

Well, I'll have $500 in a couple weeks.

Thought maybe we could go down there and start a horse ranch together.

Why not?

Danny.

Why don't you call her over.

Donna.

Got company.

Yes?

Uh, Donna, I'd like you to meet

some of the boys from Shiloh.

This is Steve and uh...

Johnny Kane.

Johnny--and that's Randy.

Hi, Randy. Hi.

Donna Durell's gonna be around here with us

for a while cheering us up.

You said Kane?

That's right.

You're new in town, huh?

Just since yesterday.

How do ya like it?

Better every minute.

Well, would you care to take a little refreshment?

I'd be delighted.

Danny.

Pleasure.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Now... what would you like to drink?

Evening.

Evening.

Steve got a new attraction.

Very pretty, isn't she?

Mm-hmm.

What's the matter, Johnny?

Nothin', kid. Nothin'.

Ahh.

Well, aren't ya gonna stay around to hear her sing?

No, it's been a long day. I'm goin' home, boys.

Nothin' at all.

What? What'd ya say?

[ chuckles ] I didn't say anything.

Oh.

Look, you ain't makin' a dime here.

Why don't ya go on home, kid.

I guess I am kinda sleepy.

You gonna stay a while?

A while.

Say, Johnny, is there a reward out for you?

Well, I guess so.

I didn't stick around long enough to find out.

Why?

That girl-- I don't know.

I don't like the way she's been lookin' at ya-- kinda studyin'.

Caught her at it two or three times tonight.

[ chuckles ] You've been drinkin' too much sarsaparilla.

People have been turned in before, you know.

Well now, look, kid, I wouldn't have told ya about it

if I thought you was gonna spook every time somebody looked my way.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

Well, see ya tomorrow.

[ knock at door ]

You always follow girls home from bar rooms?

Just the extra special pretty ones.

How was you're trip?

Bumpy and lonesome.

Oh, Johnny, I miss you.

Don't ya think I miss you?

Why can't we be together?

What do ya think this is?

You know what I mean-- really.

It's gotta be this way... a little while longer.

I thought you said we'd be safe up here.

Well now, look, honey, they're not stupid.

If they saw us leave together,

they'd be lookin' for us together.

As long as we stay apart,

that's one little edge they haven't got.

All I want is to be with you-- someplace far away.

Well, it won't be much longer.

Just a couple of more weeks.

That boy Randy-- is he your brother?

Yeah, yeah.

He seemed nice.

Yeah, he, uh, turned into a good boy.

Johnny, what about the money?

He hasn't got it. I told you that in Cheyenne.

They haven't released it yet.

Well, I mean when they do release it.

Will it be all right? Can you get it from him?

I'll get it.

I'll get it.

Boys, this is Mr. Duggan.

He's a government surveyor.

He's gonna be workin' around Shiloh for a few days or so.

Now y'all let him alone and don't bother him.

You'd be surprised how well he can get along

without the benefit of your expert advice.

All right, let's get busy.

Come on.

Think you can find it all right by yourself?

Yes, if you drew the map correctly.

Think it's in the cave, huh?

Logical place to hide it.

Well, I looked the place over pretty good.

I didn't see any hidin' place.

Yeah, but you didn't know that you were looking for

a quarter of a million dollars.

It's all right.

[ whistles ]

Steve, I wanna talk to ya.

Yeah?

Let's get that Hereford bull ready for shippin'.

They met the price, huh?

Mm-hmm. Got a wire this mornin'.

They want delivery as of yesterday, of course.

Well, that figures. Who's takin' them down?

You are.

Me?

Tonight.

I didn't lose anything in Texas.

Take the 618 southbound.

Pick out somebody to go with ya.

I pick you.

Sorry.

Wait a minute.

One question-- one little question.

Why me?

You're the best man.

You call that an argument?

[ water dripping ]

S-

U-

S-

S-

E-

X.

Sussex.

Nine days gone. Three more weeks to wait.

[ chuckles ] You're sure countin' on that money.

Listen to this.

"For sale cheap. Tarquinius Rex.

"Four-year-old bay stallion. Seventeen hands high.

Twenty live foals this year."

I know that horse, Johnny.

Big bow neck bay with an eye that could drive nails.

Why, with a sire like this, we could start a line that'd never stop.

What's his breedin'?

It says right here he goes back

to the Godolphin... Arab.

Is that good enough?

[ chuckles ] That's a better family tree than we got!

Where is everybody? Randy, can I talk to ya?

Sure, just a minute.

I'll see ya later, Randy.

John. Steve.

Hey, Johnny. Yeah?

We ever work together before?

No.

You sure?Yeah.

There's something about ya that, uh...

I don't know. Your eyes or something reminds me of somebody.

[ chuckles ]

Guess I got one of those faces.

Seems like a nice enough guy.

Oh, we get along.

Yeah, I can see that. How's he to work with?

Oh, he holds up his end. What'd ya want, Steve?

Oh.

How would ya like to go to Texas?

Have a whole car all to ourselves.

Just you and me... and a Hereford.

[ chuckles ] And a Hereford?

Yeah.

No, thanks. I think I'll just stay here.

That's what I thought.

Well, I guess it's just me and a Hereford.

Sussex.

Mean anything to you?

As I recall my geography,

it's a county in the southeast of England.

Is there anything on this ranch

that the word Sussex could apply to?

Sorry.

Anything-- the wildest guess.

Not even a wild guess.

Would you like a drink?

Yeah, I could use one.

Well, there's gotta be some connection.

You were out at the cave the other day.

Did you notice anything? Anything at all?

Like you said, I didn't know

I was lookin' for a quarter of a million dollars.

No.

Hey, you natives do all right for yourselves out here, don't you?

We're catchin' on. You'd be surprised.

Now where were we?

Sussex.

Are you sure the word's gotta have some connection with the bonds?

Yes, it's sure to.

Now get this picture--

old man MacDermott dyin' alone on the floor of his cave.

He's got a quarter of a million dollars hidden away someplace,

and he's gotta communicate-- tell somebody...

but how?

He gets an idea, and with his last drop of strength,

he reaches in his gun belt and gets out a bullet

and scratches a message on a rock.

Logical?

Sure, till ya run right into that stone wall.

Yeah. Sussex.

Somewhere or something on this ranch

reminded old man MacDermott of Sussex.

It's gotta be the key.

I don't know what it is, but I'm gonna keep diggin' till I find it.

Why don't you ask the sheriff.

He's been around here a long time.

Maybe he knows what it means.

I'll do just that.

Hi.

Howdy.

How's the job goin'?

Slow.

How's the cowboy business?

Well, let's put it this way--

I don't know how your job works, but I'll trade ya even.

I may take ya up on that.

Yeah, it's funny, isn't it?

The other fella's job always seems better until you try it.

Well, you boys don't generally shave twice a day

just to have supper in the bunkhouse, do ya?

Looks more to me like a night in town.

You guessed it.

Well, I'll ride in with ya.

I got some business myself.

Although, I don't think it'll be as interesting as yours.

Buy ya a drink?

No, thanks. Gotta see a man.

[ all laughing ]

What'll it be, Johnny?

Whiskey.

Pardon me.

Danny, it looks like the kids could use a refill.

Right away.

Hi there, stranger. Buy a lady a drink?

That fella Duggin-- what do ya know about him?

Government man? He's been in a couple of times.

He'll never go broke from throwin' his money around. Why?

He's not a surveyor. He's a special investigator.

How do you know?

I saw a piece of paper in his wallet.

Do you think maybe he's after you?

Well, I don't know. I didn't get a chance to read all of it,

but he's over at the sheriff's office now.

Johnny, we better get out of town quick.

First I wanna make sure.

[ sighs ]

Well, if he knew about me, he'd had done something by now.

He might not even know who I am.

I wanna find out before I make any move.

How?

That's where you come in.

Danny, the gentleman's gonna buy me a drink.

Good.

Sussex.

No, it doesn't ring a bell.

Well, that leaves me right where I was before-- nowhere.

Something or someplace on that ranch

the word Sussex means something.

I'm about ready to give up.

Sorry.

Well, maybe whiskey will make me brighter.

Never did before, but there's always a first time.

[ chuckles ]

JOHNNY: Mr. Duggan.

You ready for that drink now?

Sure am.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry!

Oh, that's perfectly all right.

Oh, how clumsy of me.

Oh, no, that's all right.

Oh, here. Let me take it in the backroom.

No, don't bother with it. It's all right.

Well, if it dries like that, you'll just reek of whiskey.

Then people will think you're a drunk.

It won't take me a minute. I'm terribly sorry.

She didn't have to go to all that trouble.

Well, when a woman wants to work for ya, don't complain.

That one's on you. This one's on me.

Thank you.

That, uh, surveyin' sounds like an interestin' job.

How long ya been at it?

Oh, 15 years.

I'd like to see how it's done sometime.

All right.

If the boss will give ya a day off sometime,

I'll take ya along and show ya how it's done.

Here we are.

Now at least you won't smell like a distillery.

You didn't have to go to all that trouble.

Oh, it was no bother.

Well, Johnny, I'm gonna head back to the ranch.

Comin' along?

No, I think I'll stick around

and try and win me some poker money.

I see. Well, don't worry about the coat.

It smells nice.

Oh, thank you.

Good night.

Well?

He's looking for something all right,

but it sure isn't you.

He's looking for a quarter of a million dollars.

It's out on the Shiloh ranch someplace.

Been there since just after the war.

What are you talkin' about?

That's what it said--

$250,000 in negotiable bonds, whatever that means.

Well, that means it's-- it's like money in the bank.

Well, anyway, you can relax.

Yeah, I--I can relax...

till he finds the money.

Oh, Johnny, you don't think he's gonna let you take it away from him, do you?

Well, honey, I don't think there will be anything he can do about it.

Got a pretty loose wheel there, Mr. Duggan.

I'll fix it for ya before ya go out in the mornin'.

Don't bother.No bother at all.

I won't be goin' out in the mornin'.

Takin' the day off?

No, I guess I won't be goin' out anymore at all.

So you're givin' up, huh?

Well, I can't dig up the whole ranch.

You've only been here two weeks.

Two weeks, two days, two months--

I got no place else to go except home.

When are ya leavin'?

Well, tomorrow, I guess. You gonna be around?

No, I'm bringin' some beef down out of the high rock.

It's a government contract, and they're a little touchy about delivery dates.

Yeah. I'm gonna miss this place.

Think they'll be sending somebody else out?

No, I doubt it, not unless they find some more evidence.

Look at the bright side.

This ranch is worth $250,000 more than it was before.

You really think there's a quarter of a million dollars buried here on Shiloh?

I'm sure of it.

Sussex.

[ chuckles ]

Is it utterly meaningless?

Would a dying man-- with his last breath-- scrawl nonsense on a rock?

Maybe, but I doubt it.

I do, too.

Is it so complicated I can't see it

or so simple I don't understand it?

Well, maybe if you got a fresh look at it,

like you were seein' it for the first time.

Well, that's easier said than done.

Suppers almost ready.

VIRGINIAN: Thank you.

MR. DUGGAN: Miss Betsy.

Yes?

I have here a kind of puzzle.

The idea is for you to look at it quickly

and tell me what it means to you.

I'm afraid I'm not very good at puzzles.

With me, the cannibals always get the missionaries.

All right, now look at it.

What's it mean to you?

Doesn't mean a thing to me,

except that there's a fifty and two S's in the middle.

What's that?

Two S's in the middle.

No, no, what you said first.

Did you just say a fifty?

Well sure, it looks like a fifty.

There. What's it supposed to be?

Did I do it wrong?

Well, looks like the missionaries got it again.

You know, she could be right.

That first S could be a five,

and the second letter I took for a U--

look how the top is trying to close.

Could be a zero.

Did you copy this exactly as it appeared on the rock?

Close as I could.

All right, 50. Fifty what?

Well, it could be 50 feet, 50 yards,

but you can bet me it's 50 paces.

All right, 50 paces. Fifty paces to where?

The next thing would be a direction.

The next letter is an S. Could be south.

SSE-- south-southeast.

Which leaves us with X-- the unknown quantity.

Doesn't X usually mark the spot?

Then what we're looking for is 50 paces south-southeast of X.

What is X?

Would somebody please tell me what's going on?

Wishful thinking, I'm afraid.

You know, it's a long shot but--

[ bell rings ]

Oh, supper's ready.

We'll be right with you.

Well, if there's anything I can take, it's a hint.

[ door closes ]

But what?

Is there anything on this ranch maybe carved on a rock,

crossroads, anything that resembles an X?

Well...

I suppose it could be the Shoshone Cross.

The Shoshone Cross? What's that?

Oh, it's a sort of a cross formed out of boulders.

Shoshone Indians made it as an offering to the four winds.

Is it anywhere near where MacDermott was found?

No, it's at the north end of the ranch about 10 miles the other direction.

Well, it makes it a pretty long shot against it then.

But you're still goin' up there, aren't ya?

Well, there's a chance and I need a lot of luck,

but maybe it's time that I had a little luck for a change.

BETSY: Stew's getting cold.

Let's eat.

What is it?

Nothin', nothin'.

I--I just thought he was gonna leave the ranch this mornin' is all.

Guess he changed his mind.

Yeah.

Find your way up there all right?

You know, I get the feeling that for two cents you'd come along.

For one cent, government contract or no government contract.

Afraid you'd be wastin' your time.

Ten miles from the cave.

The more I think about it, the more unlikely it seems.

You gonna come back to the ranch tonight?

Yeah, I'll be back to let ya know what happens,

but don't count on anything.

I'm not.

Good luck.

All right, fellas.

When you get to the north section,

split up and work the draws.

Drive them to the holdin' pens. I'll meet ya there.

All right, let's split up.

Come on.

Ya wanna work that draw before we go on?

No, no.

Look, kid, if somebody should ask,

you tell them I've gone off lookin' for some strays, huh?

Where are ya goin'?

I got business.

Ya got yourself into something else, Johnny?

No. No, it's just something I gotta do.

Well, I don't mean to be pressin' ya.

I know that,

and I want you to know

that if it should happen that I--

I don't, uh...

Don't what?

Nothin'.

I'll see ya later.

South-southeast.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine...

Well, howdy, howdy. How was your trip?

Well, if you like sharin' a freight car with a bull, fine. Fine trip.

Cashier's check.

Well, bully for you.

That was a joke.

Oh.

Well, I gotta get down to the loadin' pens.

I ran into something very interesting in the bank while I was down there.

Tell me about it later, will ya? The boys--

It's about Johnny Kane.

Except his name isn't Kane.

It's Benton-- Johnny Benton.

Three's gonna get ya five that's Randy's brother.

I had a feeling all along there was something funny goin' on--

the way they hang around together.

Randy doesn't make friends that fast.

What ya wanna do about it?

Talk to Randy first.

We owe him that.

Come on.

[ shovel clangs on metal ]

[ gunshot ]

Hiya! Hiya!

Get out of here! Get!

[ cowhands helping and whistling ]

No, I haven't seen him since we split up a while back.

All right, Bill. Thanks.

You think they took off together?

I don't know. Maybe...

Maybe what?

Tell the rest the boys to fan out and look for them.

I'm goin' up by the Shoshone Cross.

What for?

Probably a bad hunch.

Come on.

[ cowhands yelping and whistling ]

Johnny.

Johnny.

Over here, kid.

I thought you was suppose to be movin' beef.

I'm sorry. I got to worryin'.

I tracked ya.

I gotta be more careful.

What's in the box?

Some papers.

They're worth more money than you ever heard of.

Well, where'd it come from?

Look.

CSA.

Confederate States of America--

a country that don't exist anymore,

and seein' as I found them, I reckon they must be mine.

Well, how'd ya know about it?

Well, that's a long story,

but that fella Duggin-- he's no surveyor.

He's a government man.

He was sent out here to look for this.

I just got to it first is all.

Hey, you lightin' out?

Uh-huh.

Sure are one for leavin' without sayin' good-bye.

Well, I meant to.

I--I tried,

but, uh...

well, I guess it's like you say.

Johnny.

I wanna go with ya.

Well, there's something else-- a girl.

I'm goin' to pick her up right now.

Well, that's all right for me.

Or do you mean that makes it one too many?

No, no, you'd be welcome to come along. I mean it.

But I don't think you quite got the story.

The way I see it, this is as much mine as it is anybody's,

but the government-- they won't see it that way.

They'll be after me.

Me--it don't matter, but you...

well, I'd-- I think you better stay out of it.

Johnny, I'm in it already.

What do ya mean?

I can't go back to Shiloh.

Sooner or later, somebody back there's gonna ask me about you and that box,

and I don't know what I'm gonna tell them.

Well, all you gotta tell them is you don't know anything about it.

I don't think I could do that, Johnny.

So for me, it's either driftin' or goin' along with you,

and I'd heck of a lot rather go along with you.

[ chuckles ] Well, I guess you better come along then.

Hi, Randy.

Hi.

Where's your brother?

What do ya wanna see--

what do you mean, my brother?

Cut it out, Randy.

Steve brought a poster back from Texas with him.

It's got his picture on it and his real name--

Johnny Benton.

I'm sorry I didn't tell ya about that, but I just couldn't.

I wouldn't expect you to.

He didn't do what they said.

He was in on the robbery, but he didn't do any shootin'. Do you believe that?

It's not for me or you to decide.

That's for a court of law. Now where is he?

He went up the trail a ways.

And then he came back.

Take it easy, Johnny.

Don't worry, kid. Nobody's gonna get hurt.

Get his gun.

Go on, get it!

I'm sorry. We don't mean ya no harm.

We just wanna be on our way.

What do you want?

To make a deal with ya.

Well, I can't say I don't admire your guts,

but you're in a pretty shaky spot for bargainin' right now.

Here it is.

Get on that horse and ride out of here right now.

I thank you kindly, but I wouldn't get very far, and that's a fact.

Not with you pointin' my trail like a bird dog.

Sorry, mister, but I don't buy your deal.

You haven't heard all of it yet.

I'll give ya 24 hours.

Till this time tomorrow, you're free and clear.

What are ya tradin' for?

I'm takin' him back with me.

[ chuckles ]

You think he's my prisoner or something?

He's here 'cause he wants to be!

Go ahead, tell him, kid!

That's right. I don't wanna go back there.

I got no place there anymore.

Well, ya got no place with him!

He's my brother, ain't he?

Randy, listen to me.

You ride out of here now with him,

and you'll be makin' a mistake you'll never stop payin' for.

You've got a big choice to make,

and you've gotta make it right here and right now.

You didn't have to do that.

Ya! Get out of here! Get him tied up.

We got miles to make. He'll be all right.

What's the matter?

I just remembered I, uh...

I left that empty box back there.

If somebody finds it, they might wonder what was in it.

Uh, you ride on. I'll catch up with ya.

Johnny!

Get back on the trail, kid.

I can't let ya do that.

Well, I can't do anything else but.

Look, kid, I--I got a rope around my neck.

If I leave him here alive,

he's the one that's gonna tighten it for me.

I won't let ya do it.

Well, how do you figure on stoppin' me?

You gonna shoot me, Cotton?

I don't want to but...

Well, to tell the truth, kid,

I--I just as soon have you shoot me

as let him get me hung.

Come on, kid.

Come on, Johnny, can't we just go?

Uh-uh.

All right, let go if you're gonna, kid.

JOHNNY: All right, get back on the trail.

This is my life we're talkin' about! I got no choice!

Me, too, then, Johnny.

What do ya mean?

This is something I just couldn't keep quiet about.

So I reckon you're just gonna have to kill me, too.

Don't talk silly, kid.

I mean it.

No. No, you don't.

Not to your own brother.

You--you may feel this way now but--

Ugh!

Ugh!

Well, you tried, kid.

Ugh.

[ cocks gun ]

[ horse approaching ]

Randy...

That's all right, Steve.

I'm as much to blame as anybody.

Wouldn't have happened if I hadn't wanted to go with him.

Don't forget he killed Duggan, too.

There wasn't anything you could have done to stop that.

Just the same, he's the only family I had.

Should have been something I could have done for him.

Question now is, Randy--

who is your family?

Your real family?

What do ya mean?

You could have been three miles up that the trail,

if you'd let him squeeze that trigger when he wanted to.

I reckon I don't know the answer to that.

Let's go home, Randy.