Original subtitles

Jess! Jess, hold it!

Let him be.

What for? He's got it coming.

And suppose you cool off and tell me about it.

One of those road agents have been killing our drivers.

I caught him breaking in here.

I didn't break in, the door was open.

Yeah, it was open, after you picked the lock.

What were you doing in here?

I saw the light and thought

the office still might be open.

I figured to get me a ticket on a stage to Cheyenne.

He's lying.

You better start remembering a few things

before I nail your mouth shut with your own teeth.

Jess! Come on now. Leave him alone.

Just what are you trying to find out?

I'm trying to find out who he works for

and where he was when Tom Clark was shot last week,

little things like that.

Honest, sheriff. I don't even know what he's talking about.

You got to lock him up, Mort.

Did you see him picking the lock to get in here?

No, but I know he did it.

Jess, I've got to have more than that.

All right, make the charge murder.

Whose?

Any driver that takes a stage out carrying a strongbox.

Mister, you don't even know my name.

You got nothing on me.

No, but I caught you in here looking at those trip sheets,

that's good enough proof for me.

Maybe so, Jess, but the law has to have some evidence

and it doesn't look like you've got any.

Mort, you can't let him go.

Clear out.

Mort, wait! You--

Jess, I can't bend the law to suit you,

even for the likes of him.

Cool off.

Mort, do you know what he is?

A two-bit gun that sells information.

So how do you prove that?

It seems to me that saving a driver

or a guard's life is worth more than

bending the law a little bit.

If you would have just locked him up even for a day, Mort.

The day those road agents get pulled in,

he'll be sharing a cell right along with them.

Till then we'll just have to wait.

Well, maybe you can wait, but I can't.

Where do you think you're going?

There's a stage leaving out of here tomorrow for Riverton,

and I'm gonna be on it.

With him on the loose, I got a feeling

his friends are gonna try for that strongbox.

If they do, I got a little surprise for them.

Jess? If you're so all-fired sure

they're gonna make a try for the stage,

why don't you postpone this run?

At least until you can hire some extra guards.

That will take a lot longer than you think, Mort.

Nobody wants the job except me.

Slim know what you're planning to do?

No, but he'll be in town in a day or so.

You can tell him.

No shotgun aboard and no passengers.

Kind of strange.

Probably no money aboard it either.

Yeah, there's something though.

It looks like freight.

Maybe some mailbags.

Let's go find out.

[ gunshots ]

How's the sermon coming?

I don't know, Amy.

An awful lot of things I feel need saying,

but I know nobody's gonna listen very hard.

- Oh, now somebody will. - Mm-hmm.

The same ones who listened last week and the week before.

The rest will stay home and sleep.

I can't say I blame them very much.

That old barn at this time of year.

I think twice about putting cows in it,

much less a congregation.

Well, it's better than having no place at all.

[ footsteps approaching ]

Johnny?

Sam Logan.

Been a long time.

I heard you married a pretty woman, Johnny.

But I never figured we'd meet this way.

Don't try to talk.

That's about the only thing left that I can do.

I never thought much about the hereafter, Johnny.

But I'm thinking hard on it now.

Isn't there anything we can do?

SAM: Don't trouble yourself, ma'am.

This bullet...

or one like it, has been looking for me for a long time.

You don't have to explain anything to us.

I know.

I'd like--

Before it's over, I'd like to do one decent thing...

make up for all the other things I've done.

Maybe...

that's possible, isn't it?

I don't know any more about that than anyone else does, Sam.

I think you do.

You've been a...

a man of the cloth for close to 4 years now.

I kept good track of you.

Yeah, I got your wedding present.

I'd have thanked you earlier but...

But you didn't know where to find me.

Not many people did.

A lot were looking though.

I'm worth 5,000 dead or alive...

and it's all yours now, Johnny.

Mine? What do you mean?

Sure.

You caught me prowling around, you see.

I tried for you and missed.

There was a fight and you shot me with my own gun.

The money will build a church, Johnny.

Big one.

Do me some good where I'm going, maybe.

No, Sam, I can't.

You got to, Johnny.

You owe me something, right?

I owe you my life more than once.

But you're asking me to--

Johnny.

All right.

SAM: Thanks.

You can read now if you want to.

Maybe that part about the green pastures.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

He leadeth me beside the still waters."

I don't think I'll be very late, Amy.

But, John, please.

If you do this, you'll regret it the rest of your life.

Well, I hope not.

But I'm going to do it anyway.

You've worked so hard for 4 years.

How can you throw it all away like this?

How can you go back to being a--

A bounty hunter?

This isn't the same.

Well, everyone will think it is.

Well, not when they find out

I don't intend to use a nickel of the money for myself.

I know how much you want a church, John,

but to get it this way...

I'll take it any way I can.

[ thunder crashing ]

Let me have a beer.

Jess.

Hello, Helen.

How are you?

I'm just fine.

I don't have to ask how you are.

You're looking prettier than $900.

- Thank you. - Will you have a drink with me?

Didn't think you were going to ever ask.

Come on.

You know, for a man who took on the whole Logan gang,

you look pretty healthy.

Well, I'm all in one piece if that's what you mean.

Millie,

bring Mr. Harper one of the good steaks.

Rare, potatoes, onions, and draw a pair for both of us.

Well, I see you made some improvements around here.

Well, if you'd drop by more often,

you'd find these things out.

I don't know why you do it.

Well, I'm not doing anything.

Oh, no. I mean, taking chances like you did today.

You know, you're a rancher now.

You're supposed to stay out of trouble.

The news sure travels fast around here, doesn't it?

I've only been in town a half an hour.

Just got finished giving the sheriff my report.

Your driver stopped by for supper.

He made quite a hero out of you.

Thanks.

To old times.

I'd hate to see you lose that smile, Jess.

You're gonna lose a lot more

if you don't stop riding shotgun in this part of the country.

You always did worry too much about me.

Well, you're one of the few decent men I know

or ever have known.

I'd kind of like you to stay alive.

Now is that such a bad notion?

No, it sounds like a pretty good one,

especially coming from you.

Then why not let the stage line hire their own guards?

Well, they do when they can get them.

Last one they hired...

they buried last week.

Next week, Jess Harper.

Come on, Helen.

You know me better than that.

I can take care of myself and...

Is that Reverend Holby?

Yes.

What's that in the wagon?

I can't tell from here.

Let me go take a look.

Excuse me, Helen.

Soon as identification is made, I guess.

I was just gonna come looking for you, Jess.

Sheriff. Evening, reverend.

You know whose body you got in that buckboard?

- He knows. - Where did you find him?

In my barn, about an hour ago.

- He's claiming the reward. - What?

I tried to take his gun away from him but it went off.

It was an accident, Mr. Harper.

I didn't want to kill him.

It doesn't matter, reverend.

He's dead and you brought him in.

Lot of people are gonna rest easy with him

out of the way, I'll tell you that.

Including me.

Then I'll telegraph the company that I made the identification.

They'll send a draft to the bank in your name.

Thank you, Mr. Harper.

Sheriff, look I--

I'm gonna make an announcement

about the money at services in the morning.

I'd appreciate your letting people know.

Glad to do it, reverend.

Now would you step in the office, I'll need a statement.

Sheriff.

I was pretty sure I hit one of them this afternoon.

It must have been one of the others.

You know, it's funny that things don't change much.

I paid the reverend a bounty 4, 5 years ago.

Only then, he wasn't wearing a white collar.

Now there's a difference.

He was doing a job then.

This was forced on him.

Well, maybe I'll see you in church.

[ whistling ]

Took you long enough.

Your brother isn't here yet.

He's not coming.

He's dead.

I saw him get clear this afternoon.

So did I.

He made his way on into Waynesville.

I just came through there.

Waynesville? What did he want to go to a town for?

I thought he had a friend there.

He turned out to be a dirty back-shooter

hiding behind a preacher's collar.

How can a sky pilot get the drop on Sam?

Because he trusted him, that's why.

They used to ride together a long time ago.

Till Holby became a preacher.

He was a bounty hunter once.

He still is.

He turned Sam's body in for the bounty.

I'd sure like to get my hands around that preacher's neck.

Just might have your chance soon enough, Harry.

Good morning, Helen.

Well, well, in all the time that I've known you,

I've never seen you in a dress shirt.

I'm not sure whether I like it or not.

Me either. I borrowed it from the sheriff.

The collar is kind of tight.

Well, if I thought you put on for me, I'd be impressed,

but I know better. Have some coffee.

Thanks.

Well, that's where you're wrong.

I did put it on for you.

I'm gonna take you to church.

Oh, not me.

Well, it can't hurt you.

Is that why you're going?

Because it can't hurt you?

Or is this a new habit of yours?

No, I got an answer to my telegram.

It means good news to the preacher.

I just thought I'd drop it by

and take in the services while I'm there.

You're curious.

You want to find out what he's gonna say

about the reward money,

just like everybody else in town.

Why not? Aren't you?

Well, it's gonna take a lot more than that

to get me inside a church again.

Who are you mad at, Helen?

Nobody.

I just don't feel like hearing the sixth commandment

from a minister who just broke it.

Now wait a minute.

That was an accident.

You can't hold him responsible for that.

I like you, Jess.

You give anybody the benefit of the doubt.

Well, you go on to church.

I'm gonna finish up here.

Never have a better chance

now that the whole town is getting religion at once.

Okay. I'll see you later.

Thanks for the coffee.

You're going to wear that watch out looking at it.

Do you know it's not even 10:30 yet?

I know.

I kind of expected folks to be a little early this morning.

They'll be here.

I hope the barn's big enough to hold them all.

That will be good, preaching to a full church.

Be better if they were coming out of faith

instead of out of curiosity,

but maybe I can convince some of them to make it a habit.

[ buggy approaching ]

There is the first.

Good morning, Laurie. How are you today?

Just fine, reverend.

Thank you. Morning, Mrs. Holby.

Oh, my, don't you look pretty this morning.

Oh, thank you.

Brides-to-be always have a special look.

You've certainly got it today.

Now where is your intended this morning?

Oh, Bob will be along in a little while.

I came around a little early

so we could talk about the wedding.

You finally set a date, huh?

Well, it's about time.

Oh, John.

You know, Bob said exactly the same thing.

But we decided on the 13th of next month.

That's 3 weeks from today.

Good.

I have an extra-special type of ceremony in mind.

It shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 hours.

Oh. If it takes more than 20 minutes,

I'll guarantee to faint.

[ horses approaching ]

[ gunshot ]

Get inside.

[ gunshots ]

Who are they, John?

One of them was Chuck Logan, Sam's brother.

Preacher Holby, come on out!

It's just you we're after.

Laurie.

She's badly hurt.

I said come on out, Holby!

All right, Chuck, I'm coming out.

John.

Is Laurie all right?

She's hurt, Bob, Inside.

Someone ride to town and get a doctor!

She's alive.

Laurie?

Help me, please.

There must have been a reason for this, reverend.

Do you mind telling me what it is?

Laurie is asleep, Bob.

The bullet's out and there's no more bleeding.

The doctor's still in there with her.

He gives her a 50-50 chance.

Now there isn't anything any of us can do now except pray.

Well, you're better at that than I am.

I'll stay with the posse.

Wait. Something I've got to tell you.

I didn't kill Sam Logan.

He was dying from someone else's bullet

when he got here last night.

You mean you lied to get the bounty money?

Sam asked me to.

I know this may sound strange,

but he wanted me to have a real church.

I wanted it too, for all of us.

- Your dirty lie might kill Laurie. - Now hold it, Bob.

- Back off, Talmadge. - Get out of my way.

Bob, will you show some sense?

Now he wasn't trying to hurt anybody.

Jumping on him isn't gonna help anything.

I'd like to tear that collar off of him and make him eat it.

All right, Bob, simmer down. We've got work to do.

Logan and his friends aren't our problem anymore.

What are you talking about? They almost killed your girl, didn't they?

They were after him.

Whatever happens now is on his head.

I want to see the doctor.

Well, he can't leave her now, Bob.

I'd be obliged if you tell him I'll be back in 20 minutes

with a wagon to take her home.

I don't think he'd want her moved quite so soon--

I'm not leaving her in this house.

Not with those killers sure to come back.

Now please, tell him to get her ready.

No matter what kind of clothes he's wearing,

he still a bounty hunter. He'd even lie to get money

and endanger the lives of every family in town.

He doesn't deserve the protection or help of anybody.

Now you just wait a minute. I got something to say about that.

I traded shots with the Logan gang yesterday.

I'm pretty sure I hit one of them.

Now I know I did.

So that makes Sam Logan my responsibility.

I'm going after him.

And I can use all the help I can get.

You do whatever you want, Harper.

I'm gonna stay as far away from this place as I can get.

And I'm gonna tell everybody else to do the same.

I don't blame Bob for the way he feels,

or anyone else who might feel the same.

I was going to announce the reward money

would build a church.

I was wrong to try to get the money that way.

All I can say now is I'm gonna pray for Laurie.

Maybe some of the others will join us.

Looks like our posse listened to Talmadge which petty good.

That don't leave too many of us, does it?

I'm willing if you are, sheriff.

Two is not enough

if we're counting on coming back alive.

They may cool off when they start to thinking.

Let's go to town and see if we can't change a few minds.

No, I think I'm gonna stick around here for a while.

There's a lot of folks in that church

and a wounded girl inside.

You'd get mighty lonesome around here without a rifle.

Logan doesn't know that.

He can find out soon enough.

I'll get back out here as quick as I can.

Take care, Jess.

That sure was good.

It's not often I get a home-cooked meal away from the ranch.

Oh. You're welcome any time, Jess.

Well, thank you.

Boy, this sure is a comfortable couch.

Hope you don't mind if I bed down here tonight.

I'll get you some blankets when you're ready.

Thank you.

Jess, you have your own home and a job to go to.

They can get along without me for a while, reverend.

If Logan and his friends come back,

they are my problem.

They'll come back, all right.

And when they do, you're not gonna stop them with that Bible.

Maybe. But I don't want you to get--

[ horse approaching ]

[ knocking on door ]

Reverend? Sheriff Mason. Open up.

Reverend, Mrs. Holby.

Here's a little something the town council drew up.

As sheriff, it's my job to see that you get it.

Well, it's full of whereases,

but what it says is for us to leave town...

thereby removing the threat to the safety

and welfare of the citizens of Waynesville.

Naturally Bob Talmadge was behind it.

Well, it's not legal, is it?

Of course not.

And it's not enforceable, which is what I told them.

But you brought it to me.

Anyone else could have done that, I guess.

But I was coming out anyway on business.

It's my job to give you and Mrs. Holby

the same protection I'd give anybody else in danger.

So if you don't mind, I'll stay here until things quiet down.

I can't tell you how grateful we are, sheriff.

Any coffee left over, ma'am?

There sure is.

How could Talmadge get so many names

on that piece of paper?

Told them women and children might get hurt unless the Holbys left.

I'm gonna take a ride into town, reverend.

Jess, I've got enough trouble now.

Don't make any more for me.

I just want a few words with Talmadge.

That's fine if you keep it to words.

That will be strictly up to him.

Thank you, ma'am. Good night.

There's no reason for him to get mixed up in this.

He was in it up to his ears

from the time he put a bullet into Sam Logan.

Hate to see you leave out there

in such a bad mood, Jess.

Couldn't you smile just once before you go?

I don't feel much like smiling, Helen.

And I'm not just ready to leave town.

Well, glad to hear that.

I thought you were just killing time

while you're waiting for the Laramie stage.

I got other things on my mind.

John Holby is not one of your problems,

if that's what's worrying you.

No, but there's three killers loose

and that's everybody's problem.

Waynesville doesn't look at it the way you do.

Yeah, I know. That's why I'm here.

I want to have a talk with Mr. Talmadge.

Well, he doesn't come in here too often.

No?

I heard he comes in every night just about this time.

Look, Jess.

And if he decides to miss tonight,

I'll go looking for him.

Talmadge isn't one of my favorite people,

but this time he makes sense.

The whole town is more important than one person.

There's more than just one person.

There's the preachers wife.

I know, and he should have thought of that

before he brought that outlaw's body in.

He was thinking of everybody in this town, Helen!

He just wanted a church.

[ footsteps approaching ]

Now there's a couple of things that I'd like to say--

Bob, how is Laurie?

Fine. She's out of danger.

- Thanks. Pardon me. - I'm glad to hear that.

Now I'm sure you've all heard

about the council meeting this morning,

and the petition that almost everybody signed there.

This is a copy of it.

There's a lot of names on it

and every one of them has agreed not to do business

with anybody that didn't sign it.

Now I see some people here

that I've done a lot of business with over the years,

and I'd hate to have to change that.

So I'm gonna leave this on the bar for you to think about.

And, Helen, if you'd be good enough to furnish pen and ink.

We're fresh out of pen and ink, Mr. Talmadge.

You'll have to take your petition somewhere else.

Fine.

Fine.

I'll take my business somewhere else too.

And so will almost everybody else here.

You didn't sign this either.

JESS: Talmadge!

That piece of paper you call a petition.

That's nothing but a public notice

that it's open season on John Holby.

You must feel mighty proud of yourself.

You're an outsider, Harper.

- Your opinion isn't wanted here. - Maybe not to you!

What about the rest of you folks?

You can't hate the preacher enough to want to kill him.

Well, that's what you're doing,

just because he made a mistake trying to help you.

You think you can live with that for the rest of your lives?

Stage for Laramie leaves in about 10 minutes.

I wouldn't miss it if I were you.

I'll tell you when I'm ready to leave.

All right, Harper.

You're wrong, Harper.

I'll tell you when to leave. You're ready now.

It's up to you whether you step on the stage

or get carried on.

Mister, it'll take more than you to put me on that stage.

You see this?

Next time you get in my way, I'll make you eat it!

I'm sorry, Helen.

Looks like I busted the place up a little--

Oh. Well, it can be fixed,

but you might have busted yourself up way beyond mending.

Sometimes you're not too bright.

Neither are you. You wouldn't sign the petition either.

MAN: They're shooting up the preacher's place!

All right, you heard him. Who's coming with me?

Reverend?

Mrs. Holby?

It's Jess Harper.

Come on in, Jess.

The sheriff's been shot.

I tried to get the bullet out, but I couldn't.

Didn't have the right tools.

He's lost a lot of blood.

This is a lucky shot.

They couldn't see and I could.

Shook them up pretty good for a while.

We got to get him to the doc right now.

They'll be back soon as it's light enough, Jess.

Looks like you found Talmadge.

Yeah.

I'll hitch up the wagon.

Get him to town as fast as you can.

Try not to jar him too much.

You're taking him, Jess, not me.

Look, with a man maybe bleeding to death,

I got no time to argue.

I agree with you. He needs a doctor fast.

But I'm not endangering any more lives by going into town.

Those outlaws won't know where you're going.

What makes you so sure?

Now just get going.

Amy, go with him.

Well, Mrs. Holby?

I'm staying here.

- Amy. - No.

I'll try and get back as fast as I can.

What's wrong with you anyway?

I love you, that's all.

I won't leave you.

I've taken enough chances on your getting hurt.

And I'm not about to take any more.

That makes my next decision pretty easy.

Mister, give me a hand, will you?

What happened to the sheriff?

He got shot.

But John Holby wasn't hurt, I'll bet.

Not yet he isn't.

Well, this has gone as far as it's gonna go.

That preacher's gonna leave here before somebody else gets hurt.

Holby?

Holby, I want to talk to you!

Morning, Bob.

That gun looks just right on you.

I wish I could say it felt that way.

I'm sure you can still use it.

I hope so, because you'll probably need it

wherever you're going.

Well, I wasn't figuring on going anywhere just now.

- Later maybe, if I'm able to. - Not later, Holby.

Now, before somebody else gets shot up on your account.

I'm sorrier about that that I can you tell you,

but I won't run.

Now you listen to me.

No, I don't think so.

Maybe you'd better be on your way

before my visitors come back.

Like you said, too many have been hurt already.

I don't want it to happen to you.

I mean that.

[ wagon approaching ]

What are you doing here, Talmadge?

Looking for more signatures?

Harper, I've had just about enough from you.

Don't tell me you're here to help.

[ horse neighing ]

- Where's your wife? - In the barn.

That's just where we're going.

Talmadge, come on!

Amy, get down on the ground behind the bench and stay there.

John, please don't these unless you have to.

- I'll have to. - Maybe not. Maybe there's some way.

Would you please do what I told you?

You be careful this time.

They're coming slow.

They can come as close as they want to.

They've got plenty of cover and nothing but time.

What made you decide to put the gun on, reverend?

You were right when you said

it'd take more than my Bible to stop them.

Put it away and took this up.

For good?

You know the answer to that.

Hold off using it for a while if you can,

like Mrs. Holby said.

Maybe between Talmadge and me, we could--

Don't count on me.

I'll fight my own defense but not him.

Here they come.

Logan!

Any score you got to settle for your brother is with me!

I was the one that jumped the bunch here

when you went after the Laramie stage!

You're lying.

Whoever you are,

it was the preacher who claimed the bounty.

Holby,

that's just to show you we can set fire to your barn

any time we want.

You've got one minute to come out!

All they have to do is drop one of those against that sidewall

and this place will go up like a torch.

Yeah, and they got too much cover out there for me

to get a clear shot at them.

I'm going out.

No, John, no, please.

No, we'll both go out, fast, stay low and hit the dirt.

That way we might have a chance at making them stand up.

And the idea is don't miss.

Talmadge, would you swing that door open?

Look, reverend, maybe there's some way that we could...

I'm sorry about Laurie, Bob.

And that I won't be marrying the two of you,

but I know you'll be happy.

Your time's about up, Holby.

[ gunshot ]

John!

Think we got him?

I don't know.

You all right?

Pretty close to it.

I better use a rifle.

I'm not too good with a six-gun.

Let's get going.

You say when.

Now!

Talmadge, get down!

Well, looks like we didn't do so bad.

Yeah, it looks that way.

Kind of different, you and me fighting on the same side.

What made you change your mind?

Well, lot of things, I guess.

You and the sheriff risking your lives,

seeing the preacher with a gun in his hand,

ready to walk out and die.

Kind of hard to explain.

I think you explained it just fine.

Wagon's all hitched and ready to go, Daisy.

Where's Slim?

Should be almost ready, I woke him.

So did I, twice.

I'll bet you a dollar it didn't take.

Slim?

It figures.

Slim!

What's wrong?

The minute I turn my back on you,

you go to sleep again, that's what's wrong--

Now let's get with it.

Everybody's ready to go to church.

A fine example you're setting for Mike.

Is the team hitched up?

The team's all hitched up. Now come on.

How about the chickens, are they fed?

I fed the chickens, I gathered the eggs and I curried the horses.

What do you think I've been doing since 6:00 this morning?

Getting everything ready.

Now let's go.

You say the teams hitched up and everything?

Yes, it's all hitched.

Well, that's real great of you, Jess.

Real friendly-like.

Well, come on, we don't want to be late for church, do we?