Original subtitles

This is Montana.

She's beautiful and rugged.

In 1863, Montana was just another frontier wilderness.

Then gold was discovered,

gold that brought with it some of the worst violence

and lawlessness the West was ever to see,

but gold that also assured

the creation of Montana Territory.

Downright trustin' of you, Magruder,

lettin' us share your camp till we're all

out of the outlaw country.

Worth a man's life

to be travelin' with gold on him.

Ain't that right, Yeager?

You're one in a thousand who didn't

strike it rich in Alder Gulch, Magruder.

Why, even drifters pan out a fortune in gold dust there.

I'm almost glad me and my boy didn't have no luck.

Probably live longer. Heh heh!

If the good Lord saw fit to keep me and my son from findin' gold,

I ain't the one to question the divine wisdom of it.

When we get to the Missouri,

we're going to get us jobs on some riverboat.

Man'd be a fool to tell anybody if he did strike it rich.

Probably a dead fool.

Wh with outlaws and road agents,

an honest feller ain't got much chance

to spend his money before it's took away from him.

Where do you keep it, Magruder?

Keep what?

The gold.

Why, I told you fellas.

We don't have any gold.

"Me and my boy didn't have no luck at Alder Gulch."

Not much, you didn't!

Someone's out there!

Just one. Let's get him!

Hold still! How can I hear anything?

Let's forget it!

Let's go back and get our stuff!

Take it easy, now, boy. You'll waterlog.

Just stand there like you was planted and throw down that gun!

Ma'am, you don't understand.

There's somebody in there.

I said drop that pistol.

Now, just who were you gunnin' for?

Nobody.

I just wanted to see who was playing that guitar.

Sure. Why, a child could have seen that

by the way you was creepin' up with a gun in your hand.

Now, get along!

I said git!

Put up that rifle or we'll both be killed.

Keep walkin'.

I tell you, there's a murderer in there!

That's the fella that was hangin' around the Magruder camp last night.

My pop's inside.

Go out the back, come around, and get him from the side.

Yeager! That's enough!

Yeager.

Oh!

Ah, get inside!

Let me go!

Oh, you let me go!

You! Ooh!

Now, watch her, Possum!

Now what'd you get mixed into?

Go get him, Choppy.

He lost his teeth.

Whoa! Whoa!

Sheriff, one of them's that outlaw, Yeager.

You stay here with the stage, Bill.

You can get up now, Possum.

Shooting's all over.

Ha ha ha!

Howdy, Mr. Landers.

On your way back from that trial in Montana City?

That's right, Possum.

Ain't a scratch on me.

Sure pays to use your head when there's trouble afoot.

Mmm-hmm. Who was causing the trouble?

Pays to keep your eyes shut, too.

Howdy, Sheriff.

Hello, Possum.

I suppose your eyes were closed all the time, too, Clair?

No, but my back was turned.

Clair doesn't know it, but she's secretly in love with me.

Sheriff, I'd like you to meet John Malvin, the son of Judge Malvin.

Not the famous Judge Malvin of Saint Joe, Missouri?

The same. It's a good thing for me

you came along when you did, sir.

Glad to have been of service to you, John.

Of course, I didn't know it was a judge's son up there on the roof.

Do you, uh, like to climb around on rooftops?

Well, no, sir. I...

Possum, help the driver put those bodies on the stage.

I'm sending them to Bannack.

Who were they, Sheriff?

Buzzard and Choppy.

I ordered them to leave Montana over a month ago.

Looks like they've left it for good now.

That's what comes of not knowin' how to prolong your life.

Now, I always say... Go on, do as I told you.

Shall I charge 'em off as passengers or just dead freight?

Ha! Get out there.

Why were they trying to kill you, John?

I guess because I saw the Magruders murdered.

Magruders murdered?

But they didn't have a chance.

Yeah, road agents again, Sheriff.

Yeager was one of them. There were two more.

The two that were trying to shoot you outside?

I don't think so. One of them had a club foot.

What about the other one?

Would you recognize him if you ever saw him again?

Well, I never got a good look at any of their faces.

Of course not. Outlaws don't have faces.

More crimes reported every day, but like Possum and Clair,

nobody ever gets a good look at the criminal.

Believe me, sir, I'm holding nothing back that might help.

I don't think you are.

Well, I'll keep on the trail of this Yeager.

John, you can do me a favor by making a full report

of this crime to my deputy in Bannack.

Why, yes, sir.

His name is Ives. George Ives.

Mr. Ives?

That's right.

My name is John Malvin.

Sheriff Plummer asked me to make a report to you.

Oh, and he said he might be a little late getting back here,

depending on whether or not he could run down Yeager.

Well, what about Yeager?

Well, he's one of the road agents who murdered

Lloyd Magruder and his son last night.

What's your connection with all this?

Well, I was there.

I saw the murderers.

How many were there?

Three. One of them was Yeager.

One had a clubbed foot, and...

And?

And the third man was,

well, about your size.

Is that the best description you can give of him?

Well, I was too far away to see him very well.

You would recognize him if you saw him again, wouldn't you?

I'm not sure.

It was pretty dark.

That's too bad.

Have a cigar. No. No, thanks.

If you're stayin' in Bannack overnight,

try Mrs. Nelson's boardinghouse.

I will.

Where are you headed?

The gold fields in Alder Gulch.

Yeah? You and a thousand others.

Well, you might as well be rich while you're still young.

Maybe. I'd rather work for Sheriff Plummer.

You know, he's something you usually only hear about.

I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him.

He saved my life.

Is that so? He sure did.

He's what I figure a lawman ought to be,

but you know him better than I do.

Go ahead. You ain't the only one who thinks a lot of Henry Plummer.

Unless maybe it's some of the outlaws.

I'll bet they do. Let's get on with the report.

You figure it's safe enough working for him,

as long as you do what you're told and divvy up on the take.

You think you can do just about what you please.

If anything goes wrong, he'll fix it. Ha!

You know how he fixes things up?

He shoots you dead, that's what he does!

That's what he did to Buzzard and Choppy.

I'm still alive 'cause I got away,

and I'm gonna stay alive.

Then you'd better stop fiddlin' with that gun,

or you'll shoot yourself. Huh!

Let him try dealin' me a crooked hand.

I'll show you what I can do with a gun.

You know why I ain't afraid of Plummer?

I ain't interested, Yeager.

Maybe Plummer himself is.

There he is now. You can tell him.

You're all right, Yeager.

I don't trust you, Plummer.

Why should you?

You don't trust me because you're smart.

You're one of my best men, Yeager.

Let's have a drink, forget the whole thing.

I like a man who's not afraid to speak out. That's you.

You got something to say, you say it.

You know what?

Uh, what?

Usually makes sense.

You half-witted, drunken sot.

Heh heh! Have another drink.

Gonna kill you for this, Plummer.

There isn't whiskey enough to give you the nerve, Yeager.

There's not country enough for you to hide in if you ever try it.

That's mighty brave talk, considerin'.

Buzzard and Choppy are dead because you couldn't take orders

and lay low after the Magruder job.

For that, I'm giving you 12 hours to get out and keep going.

Or what?

I'll come lookin' for you.

You won't have to, Sheriff.

I'll be lookin' for you.

Gallagher.

Indeed, Mr. Malvin, I consider this picture

of the President, in its beautiful gilt frame and all,

one of the nicest gifts Sheriff Henry Plummer ever give to me.

He's a wonderful man, don't you think?

Oh, yes, Mrs. Nelson, I guess Abraham Lincoln

is one of the greatest Presidents we've ever had.

Mercy me. I was speakin' of Sheriff Henry Plummer.

He give me this bowl of wax fruit, too.

Did you ever see anything look so natural?

Mrs. Nelson? Yes, Mr. Malvin?

Are most women good shots with rifles around here?

Mercy, no. I never shot one of those things

in my life, and I hope I never have to.

Well, I was wondering about a certain young lady.

Yes?

Oh, well, it's nothing, Mrs. Nelson.

She's just a darn good shot with a rifle, that's all.

Well, ain't that somethin'

to get interested in a lady about!

Oh...

I'll tell you, Landers, the job is getting too big for him.

One sheriff and one deputy can't begin to take care of everything.

It's time we took action.

I agree, but what action?

I can think of a dozen things.

Get Plummer to appoint more deputies.

Get help from outside.

Organize a vigilante committee.

Vigilantes. That's what we need.

You must be the young man who witnessed the Magruder murders.

Yes, sir. A terrible thing.

I'm Jason Waterman.

Got a store and a gold mine, and no guarantee

I can keep either one of 'em, if the outlaws decide to take 'em.

How do you do, Mr. Waterman?

I've heard of your father. Fine man.

Won't give an inch on a question of justice.

Glad to meet his son. Thank you, sir.

What would the judge think, John,

about vigilantes taking the law into their own hands?

Well, my father has said many times that the three worst disasters

that could happen to mankind

were pestilence, famine, and mob rule,

and I agree with him.

Good for you, John.

There speaks a man after my own heart.

What about Yeager, Sheriff?

Did you run him down, or can the rest of us

expect the same treatment Magruder got?

Yeager's gone into hiding.

Take a pretty big posse to smoke him out.

That's what I mean.

Why don't you deputize more men, Sheriff?

Job's open. You want it?

Talk sense. I'm a busy man.

Who'd run my store and my gold mine?

There's your answer.

Most folks are too busy making money

to spend any time protecting it.

Hang it, why won't the government send the Army in here? We need help.

We can't get any help from the government until Montana's a territory.

Meantime, Mr. Waterman,

I'll do my best to see you keep your gold.

And who knows?

I might be able to persuade some good young man

to let me swear him in as a deputy.

Supper's ready, gentlemen.

Plummer!

Who is it?

I'm comin' to get you, Plummer!

It's Yeager.

Come out with your hands up, Yeager!

I ain't takin' your orders!

Sheriff got him for sure.

He ain't afraid of nothin'.

Yes, sirree! Walked right over and shot him dead.

The best shot in all Montana! He sure was!

Whoa, whoa. Whoa.

Possum, where's Clair?

Uh, over at the stables.

Hello.

Well?

I've come to get my horse.

He's in there.

Well, how's his foot?

Why don't you go look at it?

I'd rather look at you.

Just in case you're thinkin' what I know you're thinkin',

I'm just as good an aim with this fork as I am with a rifle.

Hey! Now, now, don't get the wrong...

I know, you're different.

I ain't seen a man come through here yet that wasn't so different

I'd wind up black and blue trying to keep away from him.

Well, ma'am, what makes you... And he talked big

about makin' a rich gold strike

and buyin' me half the world for a front yard.

You came out here after gold, didn't you?

Well, yes, but I... But you'll wind up

just like all the rest of them drifters.

You better get on your... Ma'am, it looks

like you're never going to hear what I'm going to do until I do it.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear to uphold the law,

carry out the orders of this office,

and otherwise conduct yourself as a peace officer at all times?

I do.

Congratulations, John. It's an honor.

It's a good thing you think so.

The pay is $30 a month.

You receive a dollar for warrants, 50 cents for summons.

Travel expenses are five cents a mile.

John, I'm sure you'll make a good deputy. Try to, sir.

I know you'll be loyal to your oath

and to me as a matter of principle.

I'd, uh, I'd like it to mean more than that.

I want you to have these,

let's say, as a token of friendship.

Well, I...

I hardly know what to say, sir.

Don't say anything. Just take them and wear them in a good cause.

I'll try and be worthy of them, sir.

Now, son, I think you'd better get home and get some sleep.

You got a very important job first thing in the morning.

Yes, sir. Good night and thanks.

There goes a deputy whose career will probably be the shortest on record.

n from my bank, Jason,

but you know what's best for your business.

I hope I do.

And I still think you're foolhardy

carrying that much money on you.

A man has to be foolhardy these days or go out of business.

And I'm not too worried.

No stage has ever been held up

when Sheriff Plummer was ridin' gun guard on it.

Oh, the Sheriff is going with you?

Well, that's different.

If there's one man those road agents

will stay clear of, it's Plummer.

That's why I insisted he go along with me to Montana City.

Montana City?

Why, the Sheriff told me he had to ride over to Alder Gulch today.

He did? Yes.

That's mighty funny.

I'll see about that.

But I was countin' on you to go along, Plummer.

Well, I've made other arrangements for your protection.

All ready, Mr. Waterman.

Why didn't you tell me you had a new deputy?

I just got him. I've got a lot of confidence in him, Jason.

Well, a judge's son ought to be reliable enough.

Couldn't have had too much experience, though.

Let's hope you don't start gettin' it on this trip.

Good luck, son.

Come on.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Howdy, Charlie!

Have the horses in a jiffy. Hello, Possum.

Well, if it ain't the young fella again.

Hey, shoot me for a sinner if you ain't a-wearin' a deputy's badge.

I'm working for Sheriff Plummer now.

Is that right?

Well, now, that's fine.

Well, I got to get my work done.

Where's Clair, Possum? In the station.

What do you want now?

Well, this is the first chance I've had to come back here since yesterday.

I don't see what difference that makes.

Well, it makes a lot of difference when a man has had

all night to figure out what he's gonna say.

And I guess it doesn't matter if he comes right to the point,

so long as he means what he's going to say.

I don't care what you were going to say. You back-trail out of...

You know, when a man has got his feet on the ground

and he knows where he's going... I know where you're...

And suddenly everything is as clear as daylight,

well, he'd be a fool if he didn't settle down

and get himself a good wife.

Oh, you and all the others give me a pain in...

Wife?

Well, now, as I said,

I've given this a lot of thought.

Of course, I know this might sound kind of sudden to you.

I expect you to take a little time.

Miss Clair...

Ma'am, if I've gone about this thing wrong,

well, just say so.

Clair, please.

Shut up, will you? Ma'am.

I'm sorry.

It's no use, John.

You're just a drifter.

You'll drift out of my life the same way you came into it.

Oh, I've got a big surprise for you there.

Here, take a look.

I'm Sheriff Henry Plummer's new deputy.

Get a move on, young man. We're ready to leave.

I'll be right there. That's Jason Waterman.

He's carrying better than 10,000 in gold on him,

and it's my job to see that nothing happens to it.

John... So you can see that

Plummer thinks a lot of me.

I'll see you on the way back, Clair.

John, don't make this trip, please!

All loaded and...

Uh, maybe I should have knocked.

Nothing's going to happen, Clair.

Bye-bye.

Now what you gettin' yourself messed into?

Pop, we've got to warn him.

Ain't none of our business, Clair.

Besides, he's workin' for Plummer.

He probably knows more than we do.

No, he doesn't. Plummer's just usin' him.

All the more reason to stay out of it.

After what I just seen,

I might make an exception of a hard and fast rule.

Hey! Hold it a minute, Charlie!

Climb down here, young fella.

I want you to do something for me.

I promised Lem Peters over at Deer Lodge

that I'd send him over this here jug.

Them new passengers are dressed like gold miners, but they ain't.

They're road agents. Better watch your step.

There! That ought to hold it from sloppin' all over you.

Now, see that Lem gets it, huh?

I will.

I'm going to ride inside, Charlie.

Hyah!

I hadn't ought to done it.

Hold it! Raise your hands!

Mr. Waterman, take their guns.

Hurry up, Taylor. Get 'em out of there.

If that new deputy gives you any trouble, shoot him.

Tell him, Taylor.

Clear out, Gimp.

Tell him why.

He'll shoot us if you don't.

Who will? Tell him!

The new deputy.

I'm counting to five.

You'd better get going.

One, two...

Get goin', Gimp!

Three, four.

Stupid jackasses. Serve you both right.

Come on!

Whip 'em up, Charlie!

Hyah!

They're following us! I was afraid of that.

We've got to reach Deer Lodge before it's dark.

Charlie! Stretch 'em out! Let's go!

They're still comin'.

Pull the rope off that bedroll and tie their hands.

We're in for it now!

We changed their minds for 'em.

Was good shootin', John.

Charlie?

I think he's been hit.

Give me a hand, will you?

We got to get Charlie to a doctor.

Is there any other way back to town?

The Old Mill Road.

It's roundabout and rough, but it'll get us there.

Turns off in about half a mile.

Okay, hold on.

Hup! Hup, team!

Take him inside.

Joe, get the doctor.

I don't like the looks of it, Bill.

At the last minute, Plummer backs out

of going and sends his new deputy in his place.

Seems to me John did a good job.

Maybe too good, from Plummer's standpoint.

Jason, you talk as though you thought

Plummer had something to do with the holdup.

I'm not so sure he didn't.

kill Magruder.

Then Gimp is the one we're looking for.

That was fast thinking, John.

You don't usually get the drop on road agents that easy.

Possum gets the credit for that.

Possum?

Well, if he hadn't warned me about the two passengers

we picked up at the relay station,

well, I'd have been caught flat-footed.

That's very interesting.

I'll see that Possum gets the credit.

I've got an idea where I might pick up a lead on this fellow, Gimp.

You stay here and hold the fort till I get back.

Gimp and the others have had plenty of time to get here.

Possum?

Yes, sir?

This snake dish you call liquor is terrible.

Heh heh! Yeah, shorten your life, too.

I want you to have a drink with me.

Oh, Gimp, you know I don't drink.

Go on. You want to live forever?

Well, you can live dang near forever

by followin' a few simple rules.

Such as, uh,

always keepin' your mouth shut?

Yeah...that's one of the rules.

Everybody stay where you are!

One of the men who tried to rob the stage

today had a club-foot. You're under arrest.

All right, Pop.

It's all over. You can get up now.

Pop.

They killed him.

It's good to see you in town, Clair.

How's your dad going to get along without you?

What's the matter? I only asked about your father.

He was killed last night.

I'm sorry, Clair, terribly sorry.

Clair!

What's happened?

Clair, what's wrong?

Something about Possum being killed.

Oh, no. Here.

Sit down, Clair.

How did it happen?

Plummer. What about Plummer?

I'm going to kill him.

Clair.

I'm going to kill him, just like he killed my father.

Clair, you don't think that Sheriff...

Just a minute, son.

Why would Plummer want to kill your father, Clair?

Why?

I don't know why.

Of course.

You told him, didn't you?

You told him that Dad warned you about the holdup.

But that wouldn't have anything to do with it.

But you couldn't know. How could you?

Clair, now, pull yourself together

and try and tell us what happened.

Well, Plummer made it look like an accident, but it wasn't.

It was murder. He ain't that bad a shot.

The Sheriff was after an outlaw called Gimp. He couldn't have...

Gimp was in it, too.

"Don't anybody make a move," Plummer said.

"I've come to arrest Gimp for a stagecoach holdup."

And then he started shootin'.

The Sheriff was after that club-footed outlaw.

That's what sent him out there.

Well, if you won't believe that Plummer murdered my father,

will you believe that he's the one that's been givin' orders to the outlaws?

Well, that's crazy!

Maybe it isn't so crazy. What do you know, Clair?

I know what my father told me.

He knew that the outlaws were being run by one man,

and he said it was no secret to him that that man was Plummer.

But your father must have been mistaken, Clair. Why, the Sheriff is...

Did your father have any proof, any evidence we could use?

None that I know of.

Plummer's too smart for that,

but Dad usually knew what he was talking about.

Even if your father was right, Clair,

testimony like this, from a dead man,

isn't going to help us much.

There's a way of finding out everything we want to know.

Organize a vigilante committee.

Round up every outlaw we can find.

Face 'em with a rope and they'll talk, and name names!

I can give you a half a dozen right now!

Well, let's take some action on this and get started.

That's going over the head of the law, Mr. Waterman.

Maybe we can call it "helping" the law.

Are you with me, Bill?

I, uh, I'm not so sure, Jason.

I'm going ahead, with or without you,

but you're the man to organize things.

Think it over.

And you better think it over, too, young man.

If Clair's right, you're working for a dangerous man.

But Clair's not right about Plummer.

John, I know what... And it's your kind of thinking

that's dangerous, Mr. Waterman.

Will you give me those names, Clair?

Now, don't, Clair. Listen to me.

Forget this nonsense about Plummer.

If you know the names of outlaws, tell him

and let him take care of them.

Then you don't believe me?

I'm afraid I don't.

Come along, Clair.

Bill?

Well, if it means what I think

it will for Montana, I'll help.

Clair?

I thought you never was going to get back in time to defend your good name.

It's awful, the lies that hussy has started just because

her worthless father got accidentally hit by a bullet. It's shameful!

Why, Mr. Plummer, I've been giving folks a piece of my mind.

Oh, I'm sure of that, Mrs. Nelson.

Tell me, uh, what have they been saying about me?

Oh, all nonsense and poppycock, I'm sure.

No one believes for a minute that you're head of the outlaws.

Is that what Clair's been saying?

Why, she's holdin' a meetin' at her place tonight

just to spread lies like that.

If I was you, I'd arrest everyone who goes there,

Mr. Plummer, teach 'em a good lesson.

I don't understand how Mr. Waterman and Mr. Landers can go to that meetin'.

You'd think they'd have better sense. Landers?

It's because that hussy talked to 'em, Mr. Plummer.

Hello, John. I'm glad you're back, sir.

I guess you've heard about everything.

Oh, yes indeed. Mrs. Nelson's been seeing to that.

You're a very keen observer, Mrs. Nelson,

an able reporter and a good citizen.

Oh, Mr. Plummer. We've got to stop them.

They're going ahead with plans for a vigilante committee.

Clair is helping them. That woman!

Please, Mrs. Nelson.

She's terribly upset about her father.

If you'd talk to her, I think you

could make her see where she's wrong.

Well, if we left now, we could be at her place by nightfall.

Good.

You, uh, don't suppose there could be anything

between Clair and Landers, do you?

Well, of course not.

The only time my father took a stand against the outlaws, they killed him for it.

Well, they should have killed me along with him,

because I'm going to help Mr. Landers and Mr. Waterman by telling 'em all I know.

And there's a lot more of you here tonight who can name a few names.

How about it? We going to go after those killers?

Yeah! Sure!

A list of suspected criminals is being compiled.

We have some names already, and we expect more

as other people gain confidence in our efforts.

Now, there's one thing I want clear to everybody.

These names won't be given to anyone but sworn members

of the vigilante committee, who will take an oath of secrecy.

I'd like to ask a question.

There's been some pretty wild talk going around

that I'm tied in with the outlaws.

My name on that list?

There's no real evidence to support such talk, Sheriff.

No, your name is not included.

Do you have to see a rattler strike

to know that he's deadly?

A Sheriff gets called a lot of things during the course of his duty.

Gets used to it.

Believe me, I have nothing but sympathy and pity

for this young lady in her hour of grief.

But I have no sympathy and never will have

with you men who want to substitute mob rule for the law.

Do the people of a disease-ridden community throw out their doctor

just because there are too many sick people for him to cure?

Maybe not! But if they've got any sense,

they'd pitch in and do some doctoring themselves.

Yeah, and kill more people than they cure.

And that's what will happen to you people if you take the law into your own hands.

A famous judge once said

the three worst things that can happen to mankind

are pestilence, famine, and mob rule.

Tonight, the son of that judge is here.

He has joined me as a law enforcement officer

because he believes in the principles of good government.

He is willing to dedicate his life without thought

of self or safety, to the abolishment of crime.

Tonight,

I am asking that you give up the idea

of forming this vigilante organization.

Instead, give your support and your help

to your legally elected sheriff and his deputies.

Do that, and we can look forward

to the ending of crime in Montana the right way.

And we can begin by turning that list over to me.

Sorry, Plummer.

Then I ask that it be destroyed.

No, this is the first move in a fight to save Montana.

I'm in that fight,

more than most of you,

but I'll only fight with the means provided by law.

The law is for protection.

If you haven't got protection, you haven't got any law.

What are you askin' us to do, Plummer, keep on gettin'

robbed and murdered, just so you can wear a fancy badge?

Yeah!

We're cleanin' the outlaws out of Montana!

That's right! Yeah! Go ahead!

Go ahead, start your vigilantes, but I'm warning you,

every hanging that isn't a result of legal action

will be considered an act of murder.

Come on, John.

Clair, come with me.

You can stay here.

You know I can't.

You're going against everything I believe in.

"We, the undersigned, solemnly swear to make every effort

"to seek out and apprehend all criminals,

"to try them in a people's court, and should they be proven guilty,

"sentence them to the punishment they deserve.

"So help us God, as witness our hand and seal."

These were the vigilantes,

riding to clean the criminals out of Montana.

The outlaws were a hard-riding, tough bunch of men

who knew the back country like an open book.

They were tricky and difficult to capture.

Encouraged by the early failures of the vigilantes,

the outlaws staged even bolder and more daring holdups.

The vigilantes would not be discouraged.

They grew in number, and kept relentlessly on the trail

of every criminal whose name had been given them.

Theiefforts began to bring results.

The committee finds you guilty.

You're sentenced to hang by the neck until dead.

Raise your right hands.

Do you solemnly swear to uphold the law,

carry out the orders of this office,

and conduct yourselves as peace officers at all times?

Uh-huh. I do. Here.

Wear these and take plenty of ammunition with you.

Cummings has left the country,

and Taylor's been seen at Grasshopper Creek.

I know Taylor when I see him.

No, no, no! Don't hang me!

I didn't kill anybody, honest, I didn't!

Oh, sure, Mr. Waterman,

I tried to hold you up, but I didn't kill anybody.

I didn't murder anybody at all!

Who told you about the gold I was carrying?

Was it Plummer? Plummer?

No, no, it wasn't Plummer.

It was his deputy, George Ives.

Ives?

They're not stopping with outlaws, sir.

If our men hadn't got away, they'd have hung them.

I'm not surprised, John.

They're trying to destroy the law.

What about getting some of our men from up north?

That's a good idea, Ives.

Leave for Montana City in the morning

and see how many you can bring back with you.

Hold it or we'll drop you, Ives!

We'll keep him overnight where his friends can't get to him.

Hey, Sheriff! Sheriff!

The vigilantes got Ives.

When? Last night.

They followed him into Montana City.

They're bringin' him back by stage to the relay station.

They're gonna hold the trial there before they hang him.

Get Helm and Parrish.

Well, the vigilantes' home-brewed law

has blown up in Landers' face.

Can't control his men any longer, and they've picked up Ives.

Can't we do anything about it?

Well, may be a chance to save your brother deputy's life

without any bloodshed, but a lot depends on you.

You can count on me, sir.

First time I've made this trip by stage, Jason.

Not bad.

Glad you like it.

It's your last.

Oh, I don't know.

Sheriff always looks after his number-one Deputy.

Think so?

We'll be at the relay station in a few minutes,

where you'll get a quick trial and a quicker hanging.

You surprise me, Jason.

You're a rich man.

I didn't think you'd play the game of a lot of honest fools.

You're trying to tell me that honest men are fools?

The righteous are too smug and satisfied with themselves

to doubt their own judgment.

Look at young John Malvin.

He came here so stuffed full of honesty and noble ideas,

he couldn't even think for himself.

You're missin' a big point, Ives.

People are honest because they have

the courage of their convictions,

not because they lack cleverness.

You haven't got the guts to be honest,

not even with yourself.

You'll be hanging a lawman, Jason.

A lawman?

Ives, the people have always had to deal

at one time or another with your rotten kind.

Corruption in public office is an old story,

but it always ends the same way.

The people end it.

Who are the fools, Ives?

Help!

Mr. Landers, Clair.

Let me in! I've been shot!

Mr. Landers!

Landers!

Sorry, Landers. I had to be sure about getting in.

All right, Sheriff!

Where's Clair?

She's not here. She's in town.

Search the place.

Sit down, Landers.

You picked the wrong time for your surprise visit, Plummer.

I told you, I'm the only one here.

When Waterman gets in with my Deputy Ives,

you'll have plenty of company.

You and your bloodthirsty mob are through, Landers.

I'm taking Waterman into custody the moment he arrives.

You'll both stand trial for murder.

Watch Landers.

Clair!

Clair! Stop!

Sheriff, it's Gimp!

Hold it! Stay where you are, Gimp!

Catch the girl!

I was easy to fool, wasn't I, Plummer?

Do you know why?

I believed in what you said you stood for.

The right things were being said,

only the wrong man was saying them.

The worst kind of a man.

Somebody's got to kill you.

Bring him in the station.

Gallagher, you stay here and watch for the stage.

Now that you're facing trial

and I'm passing judgment, how does the shoe fit, Bill?

A little tight around the throat?

Gallagher just signaled he's sighted the stage.

Get on your feet, Clair.

Come on, hurry up.

Get over there by the door.

You, get over there with Landers.

When the stage comes, call to Waterman

that Landers has been hurt, then get back out of sight.

Run, Clair!

All right, Plummer!

This one's gonna be for Possum!

Hurry up! We can still be ready for that stage!

Let go of me!

Let me go! You let me go!

You! Ooh!

Plummer. John, what is this?

Some more to add to your collection, Mr. Waterman.

Mr. Landers has been wounded.

There's nothing wrong with me that a sight like this won't heal.

Wait till you hear the news. We've just got word.

Congress has made Montana a territory.

At last.

We have the protection of a great government now, Jason.

No further need for vigilantes.

I'd say the job is done anyhow.

If it makes you feel any better, Plummer,

we can now have you tried and hanged

by a legal, duly constituted court of law.