Original subtitles

Driver, you said the Sherman way station wasn't much further.

She's getting worse.

Look, son, if you keep stopping me, we'll never get there.

It's just over the ridge. Do the best you can.

The way they keep stopping, she must be pretty bad off.

Maybe we better go down there

and find out what we got to know before it's too late.

Risk losing that 5,000? Not a chance.

She's just as anxious to get to him as we are.

And this is one bounty we're gonna collect.

Come on, boy.

Your ma not only saved my life, she saved my hands and my feet.

I'd been wandering around in that blizzard for 5 days

before she found me.

I don't remember you.

Ah, you were too young, Skip.

Annie was just taking care of you.

She was keeping the fire burning in that little cabin

and nursing me back to health.

Now when she needs me, there... there's nothing I can do.

Well, couldn't we be getting a doctor sooner?

The stage will get to town just as fast as we could.

If the doc's there, the driver will send him up.

She's quieted down now, Jess, she'd like to talk to you.

Skip, your mother would like some things out of the luggage.

Will you help me find them?

Annie.

Jess.

Just rest easy now.

I feel like such a fool.

When I wrote you, I was sure I could make the trip

without falling apart this way.

Boy said you've been sick for a long time.

You must have wanted to get out here awful bad.

Skip's father is out here.

Even though we've been separated 10 years,

he's got to provide for the boy now that I can't.

You were taking the boy to him?

You know the McCall Ranch?

No.

It's about 40 miles north of Butte Point.

Why didn't your husband meet you here?

Ted McCall and I are just barely on speaking terms.

But he promised to provide for the boy

if I'd take Skip to see him.

Will you help me do that?

You know I will. I'll do you one better.

You can stay here in bed and I'll take the boy to him myself.

Oh, you don't understand.

I have to go, it's the only way.

All right, you rest for a few days and then we'll see.

There's no time, Jess. Tomorrow.

Annie, you know I'd do anything for you.

I'd walk off a cliff.

I've got to see this thing done

while there's still time, please.

If that's the way you want it, that's the way it'll be.

Thanks.

ANNIE: Skip?

[ gasping ]

Skip?

I can't get my breath.

I'll get somebody.

No, wait.

If anything happens to me--

Don't talk like that, Ma.

Skip, you listen.

If something happens to me, you're not to go to your father.

Your aunt in Denver, you go there.

But I want to see Pa.No.

No, you tell Jess he's not to take you.

You promise?

You hear me?

You're not to go.

Promise?

All right, I promise.

Harper, you better come quick.

Ma is worse.

Get Daisy.

Mrs. Cooper, it's Ma.

[ rooster crowing ]

Well, it looks like they just buried our pot of gold.

There's still the kid.

Waste of time.

We might as well forget about the 5,000

the old man would have brought us.

We'll never see it.

Quit now, after what we've been through?

Not on your life.

We've put too much time and work into this.

We'll stay with the kid and see where he goes.

Slim said he'd be back by noon, Daisy.

You tell him what happened.

Slim will understand.

Taking the boy is all you can do for her now, Jess.

Yeah, I reckon so.

Tiger, do you think you can take care of things around here

until Slim gets back?

You can count on me, Jess.

Good boy.

About ready to go, Skip?

We're leaving now?

Yeah.

Your ma brought you out here to take you to your pa.

The sooner we get there, the better.

It's what your mother wanted, Skip.

Yes, ma'am.

Bye, Daisy.

Goodbye, Jess.

Bye.

Easy to get rid of that cowpoke.

Kid's bound to know what direction they're heading.

Let them get on their way.

The longer we wait, the closer we'll be to what we want.

Pull up in that clearing, we'll noon here.

Yeah, okay.

Didn't know I was so hungry.

Well, we didn't feel much like eating this morning.

Figure we both needed something sticking to our ribs.

[ horse neighing ]

Sounds like we might be having company.

Indians?

No.

Most likely some prospectors or trappers spotted our fire.

We better save some coffee.

Still could be Indians.

Maybe you should teach me how to use a gun.

That's up to your pa, Skip.

No, I suppose you think I'm not old enough to handle a gun.

No such thing.

Learning how to handle a gun is not too hard.

But who and what to aim it at, now that's something else.

Too many men use a gun instead of their head.

Whoever it is, shouldn't he be here by now?

I better take a look-see.

You start cleaning up, huh?

Well, we're getting pretty close to the camp now.

You come in from the other side and keep your eyes open.

Did you see anything?

You carrying anything that might interest two gunmen?

No, not me.

You think they mean us harm?

If a man means you well, he's got no cause

to come sneaking up on you with a rifle.

You think they want to kill us?

Why? What do they want?

I don't know, Skip.

You, me, our horses, I don't know.

This doesn't work out right,

I want you to head straight for your pa's place, understand me?

You remember the directions I gave you?

I remember.

With luck, it shouldn't be more than a two days' ride.

Now it's desert most of the way.

You better take both canteens, you're gonna need them.

Where are you going?

I don't like sitting around here waiting to be dry gulched,

if that's what they're up to.

Better get those horses under cover.

You be careful, huh, Jess.

Look, Skip, you hear any shooting,

wait 10 minutes.

If I don't come back, you take off, stay out of sight.

Now get moving.

What's your hurry, boy?

Who are you?

Me? Why, I'm a friend of your pa's.

I figured you could help me find him.

If you're a friend of his,

how come you don't know where he is?

Don't be figuring on your friend coming back, boy.

Someone's taken care of him.

I ain't playing games, kid.

Now where's your pa?

You're not gonna find out from me.

Now I got no time to waste on you, boy.

Where is your pa?

Ease off, mister, ease off.

I'll do that when you tell me what you're after.

Why were you trailing us?

He wanted to know where my father is.

There's $5,000 in it.

$2,500 for each of us.

The kid's old man is an outlaw.

You're a liar.

You ever hear of Leo McCall?

Who hasn't?

That's the kid's old man.

Looks like you made a mistake, mister.

That's not his name.

Sure it is. Leo McCall, the killer.

Wanted for everything in the book

for a dozen years or more.

So that's what Ma meant.

I thought you said you never saw him before.

We had some old pictures. That's him.

Reckon from the shooting I heard that my friend Connolly ain't with us no more.

But you and me, now we can take McCall

and split the reward money.

You're right about your friend, mister.

He's down the trail.

And you can bury him on your way back to Laramie,

but you're wrong about me.

How about my gun?

You got a long walk.

You don't need the extra weight.

And if you're figuring

on getting your friend's irons, forget it.

I threw 'em clear into the next county.

You think of everything, don't you, mister?

What I'm thinking right now

could get you buried awful quick.

Move!

Now that poster explains a lot of things I've been wondering about.

Yeah.

Why Ma left him in the first place,

and why she told me not to go to him without her.

When did she tell you that? Last night?

Yeah.

She was feeling so bad, I had to promise her.

But wouldn't you want to see your own pa, Jess?

If you never had a chance to before?

I reckon I would, Skip.

But I got to do what Annie wanted.

Now where were you supposed to go?

To my aunt's in Denver.

Well, if that's the way your mother wanted it,

that's the way it's got to be.

I'm going to my pa.

No, you're not.

You heard what that bounty hunter said.

Your pa is an outlaw.

If he is Leo McCall, he's the worst kind.

Annie knew that. She knew she was gonna die too.

She just wanted to provide for you,

you weren't gonna stay with him.

I'm gonna get to him someday.

Maybe so, but not by me taking you there.

Mount up. We're heading for Laramie.

We're going a different way than when we came.

What we know now, there's no telling what can happen.

Howdy.

What's your business, mister?

Doing a little prospecting.

Looks like you're putting something in the ground,

not taking it out.

Look at that, boss.

This is what comes from telling Annie too much

about where to find us.

A fella carries one of these around usually has a reason.

Are you prospecting for a bounty?

Now hold it, mister.

I got something to swap.

Better have more worth than your hide.

I know where your boy is.

So do we.

We're gonna meet him and his mother right now.

She's dead.

Last night at the relay station.

What about the boy?

If I tell you, you'll let me go?

Well, you tell me.

If you smile hard enough, I'll think about it.

I saw him over there less than an hour ago.

He and a cowboy are on their way back to Laramie right now.

Now wait a minute, mister.

You didn't smile, friend.

It's kind of steep here. I'll take it first.

Let your horse pick his own way.

Skip!

Skip!

Don't be a fool, Skip, ease off.

You better get some sense, boy.

You're going back to Laramie with me.

You got no right to do this.

Oh, no?

Just watch.

Boy, you better get some sense now.

Now will you hold still and listen to me, Skip?

Hold it, both of you.

Get his guns.

Turn around, slow.

Pa?

That you, Skipper?

Yeah. Yeah, Pa.

Well.

We're not strangers anymore.

Come on over here, boy. Let me have a good look at you.

Well, now.

Well, now, ain't that something?

My own flesh and blood standing right there two feet in front of me.

Looks like Annie brought you along first rate.

She passed on last night.

Yes, I heard that.

And I'm right sorry.

I'll just bet you are.

Now you were saying.

He was looking after me, Pa. Ma asked him to.

He's got a peculiar idea of looking after you,

pulling you out of the saddle.

Turnin' you every way but loose.

He was only doing what Ma wanted.

He saved me from a beating, Pa.

There was a bounty hunter back there.

Tried to make me tell him about you.

We ran across that fella, straightened him out some.

Well, now, my boy here seems to feel like he owes you something.

Suppose I turn you loose.

You're gonna come back here and try to pick up

what that bounty hunter lost out on?

I ain't interested in you, but I'll be back for the boy.

Uh-huh.

Now why would you do that?

To see he gets a fairer shake than the one you gave Annie.

It seems to me like that's up to the boy.

He's just a kid.

When he comes of age,

he can come back on his own if he wants.

I want to stay now, Pa.

That's where I was headed when he stopped me, for your place.

You're forgetting what your ma told you before she died?

He's no good for you and she knows it.

Wait, Pa! No, you can't shoot him.

He's been a good friend.

I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Jess.

Well, maybe we can work something out.

We'll take him back to the ranch.

Go get the horses.

We'll bed down here for the night.

See he don't wander off.

Come on, son, there's a few years you got to catch me up on.

It's time we got to know each other.

What are you, a born hero?

You could have lied your way out.

Out of what?

You know he ain't gonna let me walk out of this alive,

if he can help it.

He can help it. Move.

Tuck, you know where to put him.

Move.

Well, what do you think of it, boy?

It's sure big.

You haven't seen half of it.

It's just about as big inside as it is out.

Ah, it's gonna grow now that you're here.

I need you, boy.

I need to know this place is gonna keep going

after I'm gone.

Come on. Come on, I'll show you your room.

I thought I told you to clear out of here.

I'm leaving, Leo.

I was just fixing my hair.

I didn't expect you back so soon.

Oh.

No, Leo, I'm not dressed.

Leo.

Leo, don't. You're hurting me.

Now next time I tell you what to do,

remember how it feels now!

Nice place for a boy to grow into manhood.

Yes, sir, just like home.

Well, there's one thing you just learned, Skipper.

You let a woman get out of line,

they want to run your life.

Well, I don't want to trouble anyone.

Where will she sleep?

Where she always did.

There's a room good enough for her out in the barn.

You can learn everything

there is to learn about ranching.

Roping, branding, the works.

And wait till you see the horse your pa's been saving for you.

Why, he wouldn't let nobody touch it,

once he knew you were coming.

Did you really, Pa?Sure, I did.

You're gonna have a whole string of them.

Nothing too good for you, boy.

We got plenty of money, why not enjoy it?

Well, then you don't have to do what you did before?

What's that?

You know, being wanted.

Your mother told you about that, did she?

No. She didn't say anything.

We never talked about you.

She never did understand.

You'd have to know what it was like

in the west in those days, 15, 20 years ago.

There ain't nothing your pa needs to be ashamed of.

You had to shoot first to stay alive,

you took what you needed.

Stole so we could eat, so for our friends could eat.

Like Robin Hood?

Hmm?You know, Robin Hood.

He never stole from the poor, only the rich.

Yeah. Yeah, that's it.

I wasn't the only one that was doing it either.

I mean, who could count all the big spreads today

that were started on stolen cattle?

I knew you couldn't be like they said.

You had to be tough to stay alive and I was.

You're gonna be tough, boy.

I bought these special for you.

You know how to shoot?

Tried to get Jess to teach me.

He didn't seem to want to.

Well, you know what they say.

A man who's afraid of animals don't keep dogs.

He's not afraid.

Maybe not, just stubborn.

Maybe we'll work some of that stubbornness out of him.

You're not gonna hurt him, are you, Pa?

You said you wouldn't.

No, not if he doesn't try to hurt me.

I'd like to take him a plate of food.

You're all right, boy.

You got loyalty.

I'm glad to see it.

All right, go on out in the kitchen, they'll fix a plate.

Don't take that gun belt when you go out there.

Pa said he should be fed.

I brought you something to eat.

I'm glad somebody is thinking about me.

I figure I owe it to you.

You really want to do me a favor,

there's something else you could do.

And what's that?

After everybody goes to sleep tonight,

you can saddle two horses

and stake them out behind this shed.

There's no need to do that.

Pa told me he wouldn't hurt you.

He has to hurt me, Skip.

It's his way.

That's all past.

He had to do the things he did then.

He's different now.

He's an honest rancher.

Son, I reckon you're gonna have to grow up

sooner than your time, like right now.

Your pa is just like he always was, a killer.

All his life he's robbed, lied and murdered

for whatever he wanted and it ain't likely he's changed.

How do you know?

Well, you saw the way he treated that girl.

Would a decent man act like that?

She likes him.

She was at the table with us.

She hates him.

She's got to after the way he kicked her around.

Why do you think your mother left him?

All right. All right.

I'm his son. Maybe I'm just like him.

I got his blood in me.

Isn't the blood that makes a man a killer.

It's what he wants and what he does to get it.

Leave me alone.

I don't want to hear talk against my father.

All right, close your eyes and your ears.

Shut your mind to it.

A little while, you won't be able to tell the two of you apart.

Tucker.

You go tell the kid it's time for him

to learn to use that new gun of his.

I'm sure gonna break you of that habit.

What habit?

Worrying my boy.

You got a knack for making him unhappy.

Just how do you figure on doing it?

By showing him I'm a better man than you are.

What's the matter, vittles not good enough?

[ gunshots ]

Care to stretch your legs?

Work up an appetite?

You got to learn to crawl before you can walk, son.

If you get the right kind of teaching,

you'll be able to do this.

I understand you're against guns.

No, I'm not against guns,

just some of the people who use them.

That including Skip?

He's young yet. No point in rushing him.

Give me some shells.

Now how's a kid supposed to grow up to be much of a man

if he can't handle a gun?

Takes more than a gun to make a man.

You can always tell the talkers from the shooters, huh, son?

Make sure you stay on the target.

Tin cans make a pretty easy target.

Why don't you try a silver dollar?

Go ahead.

Hasn't time just about run out for that saddle tramp?

Tonight.

You're loco, Tucker. You back-shoot Harper,

the boss will land on you with both feet.

No, no, not the way I've got it set up.

When I bring him his breakfast in the morning,

I'll say he jumped me, it's as simple as that.

What are you doing up so late, kid?

Pa said I could bring him some water,

then I'm heading for bed.

I heard them trying to kill you.

Not my father, some of his men.

Help! Help! Guard, he's got me, help!

Where's the other horse?

Don't start that again.

I'm not going.

You saddle him?

No, he was already saddled.

Somebody must have come in late.

This horse hasn't been rode tonight.

It's empty.

Why did you do that?

That's why.

What are you shooting at?

There's nobody on that horse.

Funny thing just happened, McCall.

That horse you staked out for me went off without a rider.

What are you talking about?

You know what I'm talking about.

You had it set up so I'd be picked off trying to escape.

That way he could keep his hands clean in front of you.

You gonna take the word of a no-good saddle tramp?

I guess...

I lost my temper.

See, he was trying to come between us,

I couldn't let him do that.

If he had have been on that horse, he'd be dead.

Now the same thing could happen to you

or anybody else if you'd been on that horse.

My men have standing orders to cut down anybody

who tries to leave here at night.

And where would I be if I didn't?

You said that was all past.

I've got to protect what's mine.

It's yours and mine, boy.

Well, you saw how those bounty hunters were tracking you and your ma.

How long do you think I'd last if,

if I didn't stay careful?

You promised he wouldn't get hurt.

I-- I didn't set that thing up, boy.

Well, then turn him loose.

You're asking me to swap my life for his.

I turn him loose, he goes straight for the law.

Maybe I could get his word he wouldn't.

You want me to take that kind of a chance?

I'll tell you what I'll do if it means that much to you.

I don't-- I don't want you thinking

I did something underhanded.

I'll give him a 50-50 chance to get back to Laramie,

that fair enough?

You understand that waterhole is 15 miles due west.

Once you reach that, you've got it made.

You're sure pulling for me, aren't you, McCall?

You're waiting till high noon to get me started.

And maybe this will help.

Keep that in your pocket till you're out of range.

After that, it's up to you what you do with it.

I wish you luck.

You think your pa is trusting to luck?

What more can you expect?

He's being as fair as he can.

You've got a 50-50 chance.

I hate to think it's gonna take my death to open your eyes.

You ride out there in a day or so, you're likely to find me.

I doubt if you'll find a waterhole.

How do you like him, Skipper?It's fine, Pa.

Good, well, come on round back now,

it's about time you had a roping lesson.

They working you hard, kid?

I don't mind.

I've got a lot to learn.

You got nothing to worry with your pa being head man here.

Your pa takes good care of anything he...

he really wants to have around.

You don't hate him.

Hate him?

Me?

Well, Jess said you did.

Hate's something I can't afford.

Maybe I get fed up sometimes.

But there are ways to forget.

You know, you get used to living good.

When wine flows like water, why drink anything else?

I knew Jess was wrong.

Let me tell you something, sonny.

It's gonna be nice around here, Skipper,

you and your pa and me.

And you don't have to be afraid

of that cowpoke friend of yours giving us away.

You got nothing to worry about.

What do you mean?

Why, he's never gonna make it to town, not in a hundred years.

Well, you sound pretty sure of yourself.

Jess knows his way around the desert.

And if he finds that waterhole--If he finds it...

that's what's gonna stop him.

And he's not gonna be the first one

to find out that water is poisoned.

Oh.

What's the matter with you, kid?

Where are you going?Where do you think?

Oh, come on, Skipper.

It's probably too late now, I wouldn't have told you.

Kid, you got to get used to this kind of thing.

Like you have?

Was that Skip?

I don't know what happened, Leo.

I was talking to him and--

What were you talking about?

I was telling him what a nice pa you were, Leo, honest.

Well, what did you tell him?

He asked me about the waterhole.

I didn't think it mattered, Leo.

You didn't think it mattered.

Tucker! Get some horses.

Maybe he didn't find it.

Keep looking.

Hey, Leo!

Look at that.

He's getting water out of cactus.

[ gunshot ]

All right, move up, I'll cover you.

Harper?

Why drag it out?

You're not gonna get both of us with one bullet.

You might as well use it on yourself.

Hold your fire.

Keep out of the way!

What are you doing, boy?

I'm giving him a gun!

You come back here, you hear?

Your pa talking.

I'm not gonna let you do this, Pa.

Now you obey me. I said hold up.

McCall!

You were an easy target, Skip.

I reckon he could do most anything,

except shoot down his own son.

You knew him for what he was.

My mother knew him, now I know him.

Let's go, boy.

Hey, Slim, dinner's ready.

We better make tracks, come on.

What's your hurry?

I'm just now getting cooled off.

Yeah, well, Daisy wouldn't mind it

if we were late due to working.

She'll think a lot different if it's for taking a swim.

Sure wish that Skip could have stayed with us longer.

He learned to swim in that school in St. Louis.

Yeah, I know he did, tiger.

Well, he's off in Denver going to school now.

Bounty money from McCall is taking care of his education.

His aunt's seeing to that.

Guess his pa took care of him after all.

Yeah, I guess he did.

Come on, Slim, we got to go.

Oh, get out!