Original subtitles

♪♪ [ Up-tempo ][ People Chattering, Laughing ]

Mr. Leland. Oh, Mr. Leland.

This wire from the New York office, I think it's important.

It's warm. I don't like warm champagne.

I'll get you a chilled one right away, Paul.

♪♪ [ Continues ]

Now, what is it?

New York feels that this is the opportune time...

for Leland Enterprises to buy extensively into wheat futures.

Now, I agree with that.

Now, the situation in the market is this--

Mr. Grant, I wouldn't understand if you did explain about the market situation.

- Take care of it yourself. - Uh, but, Mr. Leland--

Mr. Grant, my father trusted your business judgment, and so do I.

Mr. Leland, it was your father's fondest hope...

that you'd take an active interest in the business.

Grant, you are a bore. Now, you concentrate on increasing my inheritance,

and I will concentrate on spending it.

- All right? - Yes, sir.

[ Chuckles ] Here you are, Paul. It's an excellent year.

I picked it out myself.Fine. Drink it yourself.

- Oh, but, Paul, it's-- - Get away from me, you stupid clown.

Must be nutty to own a railroad and...

throw a big party like this.

Tell me something, Kitty.

What are you carried on my payroll as?

Private secretary.[ Scoffs ]

[ Laughing ]

[ Whistle Blows ]

[ Leland ] Beautiful out there, isn't it?

[ Kitty ] I suppose so.

- You know why? - No.

Because there's nothing on it.

You like to hurt people, don't you?

You don't care what you say or what you do to anyone.

But you're nothing but a-- a little bug.

An evil, nasty little bug.

One day, somebody...

is going to squash you flat.

And I just hope that I'm around to see it happen.

- You all finished? - I'm all finished.

Then you get off the train at the next stop. I don't want to see you again.

[ Sobs ]

[ Screams ]

[ Whistle Blows ]

[ Chattering ]

Kitty. Where's Mr. Leland?

Why, isn't he here?

[ Chattering Continues ]

[ Groans ]

[ Breathing Heavily ]

[ Groans ]

[ Groaning ]

[ Chuckling ]

[ Panting ]

[ Whimpers ]

[ Wind Howling ]

[ Clopping Hooves ]

[ Horse Nickers ]

[ Gasping ] Wa--

[ Sobbing ]

[ Clopping Hooves ]

[ Mooing ]

[ Man Whistles ]

[ Cattle Mooing ]

[ Men Whistling ]

Hyah, y'all! Go on! Go on! [ Men Shouting, Whistling ]

[ Lowing ]

What is this?Son of a gun stew.

And don't ask me what's in it. It might "ruint" your appetite.

What's your name?

Hogy.

You must have discovered who I am.Huh?

Or you wouldn't have treated me as well as you have.

Here. Keep eatin'.

How's he making out?Shoot. He'll be ready to run footraces by tomorrow mornin'.

Well, good. You had a close call, mister.

What were you doing out there anyway?

Well, believe it or not, I fell off the back end of a railroad train.

Why didn't you stay with the tracks?

A train would have come along sooner or later.

I started to.

But I was so thirsty,

and I thought I saw water.

By the time I found out it was a mirage, I couldn't find the tracks again.

Where are we?

About 20 days out of Medicine Bow, Wyoming.

About the same amount out of the stockyards in Seattle, Washington.

- Where's the railroad? - It's 60 or 70 miles back.

I should be able to make that without too much trouble.

We'll talk about it in the morning. Rest easy.

Oh, uh, Dolan, you and Slater take second night herd.

Me and Slate pulled night herd last night.

How come we're pulling again tonight?

Because we're shorthanded, and everybody's pulling double watches.

You know, for two cents, we'd ask for our time.

A man's got a right to rest once in a while.

You trying to tell me you're quittin'?

Nah, I wouldn't go that strong.

Them two bellyachin' again?

They voiced a grievance. Yeah.

Told you you were gonna have trouble with 'em when you hired 'em on.

I wasn't able to pick and choose. This drive's been jinxed from the start,

losin' four men the way we did.

Well, it ain't your fault they took sick. How's the dude?

He'll be up and around tomorrow.

Why don't you hire him on?

[ Chuckles ] In that coat he's wearin'?

Why, he'd scare every cow off the range.

[ Steve ] What are you gonna do with him?

Take him on to Carter Station, I guess. He can make out from there.

Hey! Get out of them dad-blamed beans!

There's just enough there for my patient.

Why, you act like you're punishing me. You're doing me a favor.

I didn't want any more of your durn beans anyway.

All you cow nurses are alike. Go on!

[ Virginian ] Find good water in the next day or two,

we should get through with less than 10% loss.

That's a good drive for any man.

Hey!

[ Water Pouring ]

Morning.

What are you doin'?

Well, I'm, uh, going to wash up for breakfast.

Mister,

in this country, water is for drinkin', not washin'.

Yes. I can see that. But if you'll excuse me,

I don't, uh, observe the customs of the country when it comes to personal cleanliness.

Look. I like bein' clean as well as anyone,

but out in this country, a man can stand the discomfort of a little dirt...

a whole lot better than he can stand bein' thirsty.

That water's gotta carry us for several days. It's all we have.

Oh, my goodness, man. If it's that precious, I'll buy it from ya.

[ Chuckles ] You can't buy the water. I just got through tellin' ya it's all we've got.

What am I supposed to do? Go around looking like this?

You managed to stand the dirt for a couple of days. A couple of more shouldn't kill ya.

[ Chuckles ] A couple more?

You don't expect me to travel with you, do you?

Well, I don't know what you had in mind.

If you want to stay alive, you better plan on it.

- Apparently you don't know who I am. - Who are you?

My name is Paul Leland.

Ever heard of Paul Leland?

- Oh, sure. I've heard of Paul Leland. - Well, I'm Paul Leland.

All right. So you say you are. It's fine with me.

[ Leland ] You don't believe me. [ Virginian ] Look, mister. I don't give a hang who you are,

but you better get some food in your belly,

'cause we're gonna be movin' out pretty quick.Well, I'm not going with you.

Just what do you expect to do?I expect you to give me a horse and a couple of men...

to take care of my camp until we get to the railroad.

I don't think that's asking too much. I'll pay for their services.

That's all you want, huh?I think that should take care of it. Yes.

I'd like to leave in about an hour.

Oh, one other thing. I want to buy some clothes if you can spare them.

This, uh, costume is hardly fit for desert travel.

Well?No.

I told you I'd pay for it.

Well, what if you did?

Can I buy time with your money?

Can I buy a barrel of water with it?

If you're who you say you are,

you must know the eastern beef market has dropped to dead bottom.

That's why we're movin' this herd to Seattle.

If we don't get 'em there before the California beef comes up from the south,

my boss and most of his neighbors will be bankrupt.

And that's why I can't spare one horse or one man or one hour to take you anywhere.

You want to ride along in the chuck wagon till we get to Carter Station,

you can catch the stage to the railroad.

And that's the best I can offer you.

[ Chuckles ] I refuse.

You're big enough to do anything else you want.

Uh-uh-uh-uh!

Leland.

Ain't that one of them rich millionaires?

Yeah, he sure acts like it, don't he?

You don't really suppose he is Leland, do ya?

Him? Now, what would Leland be traipsing around this country...

in a pair of shoes that ain't even got bottoms in 'em?

Now get back to your pots, Hogy.

All right. Let's get 'em on their feet! Move 'em out!

[ Mooing ]

Hogy, why haven't you got your wagon moving?

'Cause he won't get in the doggone wagon. That's why.

Boss, do you want me to hog-tie him and throw him in the back?

You're holding us up.

[ Chuckles ]

Either you send me back to the railroad with a proper escort,

or I'm gonna stay right here.

[ Cattle Mooing ]

You will, huh?

Here's water.

The railroad's south. You might make it in a day or two.

Boss, you can't leave him out here in this forsaken country all alone.

Look. The man's big enough and old enough to make up his own mind,

and I'm too busy to play nursemaid.

Now you get your wagon up to the head of the drive where it belongs.

Yes, sir.

Come on, feller. Get up here in the wagon, will ya?

He's bluffing. He wouldn't dare leave me out here.

Well, now, I wouldn't bet my money on it if I was you.

Oh, please, fella. Come on and get up here in the wagon...

so I can go, will ya?

I hope you know what you're doin'.

Good luck.

Get out of here!

[ Water Sloshes ]

[ Wind Howling ]

[ Howling ]

Hello?

Hello?

Hello? [ Steve ] Hi.

What took you so long?

Man doesn't know this country, usually travels in a circle.

So I just sat and waited for you.

I knew you'd see the fire, figured you'd be a little too tired to give me any argument.

Main camp's about 10 miles' ride from here. Mount up. Take the bay.

Go on.

[ Cattle Mooing ]

Here.

Now, if there's one thing that feet wasn't made for, it's walkin'.

Now, they're fine for fittin' into a stirrup...

or for plantin' a man square on the wagon box.

But when it comes to walkin'-- I mean honest-to-gosh long walkin'--

they just ain't no good at all.

There. That ought to hold you.

Now, if I was you, why, I'd get rid of them patent leather rags you got yonder...

and get me a pair of honest-to-gosh boots.

- How you feelin'? - Well, how do you expect me to feel?

Rotten.

I'm putting you on the payroll. You'll swamp for Hogy here. Pays a dollar a day.

- [ Chuckles ] - Something funny about that?

Now, you don't-- you don't really expect me to work for you, do you?

Nobody gets a free ride.

And how many times do I have to tell you I'm Paul Leland? Have you got that?

Paul Leland.

That doesn't make any difference. You're still gonna earn your keep on this drive.

And if I refuse?

You might get awful hungry between here and Carter Station.

He's bluffing.[ Chuckles ]

Yeah. Yeah, that's what you said this mornin',

just before the herd pulled out without ya.

[ Sizzling ]

Ah!

Get you a plate.

Change your mind?

Well, since you're threatening to starve me to death, I have no choice.

When the proper authorities hear of this, you'll be severely reprimanded,

and I'll request your employer to discharge you immediately.

You know, you're probably the most useless character I've ever met in my life.

I don't think you could do an honest day's work for an honest dollar if you tried.

If I wasn't so shorthanded, I'd wrap you in a blanket...

and stuff you in the chuck wagon till we got someplace I could kick you off.

Since I'm stuck with you, I'll make the most of it.

Hogy.

Give him a good feed and then put him to work.

When you finish with that, why, you can start scrubbing up them pots and pans, huh?

Hogy.

Come here a minute.

Look, mister. For your information, you're a cook swamper.

Now, from here on out, you don't give orders. You take 'em.

And when you get 'em, why, you hop to it. Understand?

Now finish your eatin' so you can get to work.

You call that clean?

I ain't about to feed no men out of nothin' as dirty as that.

Here. Put some elbow grease into it.

When you finish that, why, go hook up the team.

Here.

Put them on. You can at least look like a man.

Now, what do you think you're doing up yonder? Get off of there!

You ain't a-gonna ride no place...

till you get that possum belly plumb chuck full of firewood.

Possum belly?Don't you know what a possum belly is?

Come here.

That's a possum belly. And you walk along beside the wagon,

and you pick up firewood or anything else that'll burn,

and you chuck it under yonder, and when that thing is plumb chuck full,

why, then you can ride.

Oh, man. I don't know when I ever seen...

one human being so natural "iggernant" as you are.

Oh, one more thing.

If we get anywhere close to the herd, why, crawl up on the wagon, will ya?

The man on foot is spooky to a bunch of range cows.

And all this herd would need is for some blame fool to start a stampede...

and run all the fat off of 'em.

Get up from there, you-- [ Screams ]

[ Groans ]

You know, the more I think about it, maybe you are that Leland fella.

You're just about stupid enough to be one of them dad-blame millionaires.

[ Mooing ]

[ Men Whistling, Shouting ]

[ Whistles, Shouts ][ Mooing ]

[ Whistles ] Carter's place-- over the hill!

Carter Station, just over the hill.

Hey, Pa! We got company!

Ho. Ho.

- Howdy. - [ Virginian ] Ah. Carter?

That's right.Shiloh Ranch.

Oh. Medicine Bow outfit. I've been expecting ya.How are ya?

Just, uh, move your herd in the flats yonder.

You'll find plenty of graze. Some sinkholes. Carry your stock, all right.

I figure you better draw your own drinking water from my well here.

If it won't short ya none.Oh, no. Plenty of water.

Ah, good. Say, uh, I'd like you to do me a favor.

I'd be much obliged if you could, uh,

put this fella up until the next stage comes through.

[ Carter ] Where'd you pick him up? [ Virginian ] You know him?

Yeah.

That's Paul...

Leland.

I'm glad somebody finally recognized me.

You in charge of this station?

I want a room, a tub full of hot water...

and plenty of clean towels.

Is that all, Mr. Leland?

Well, I don't suppose you'd have any respectable whiskey,

but if you do, I'll have a bottle.

And I don't want to be disturbed until the next westbound stage comes through here.

[ Carter ] Mr. Leland. You get away from that door.

That's my house,

and I ain't heard you ask permission that you might enter.

This is Leland Express Company property.

Not since you shut down the stage line, it ain't. It's my property now.

Duly filed on and homesteaded.

But-- [ Stammers ]

What-What-What about the-the stage? What about that sign?

There ain't no stage. Ain't been none for six months.

As for that sign, that'll make mighty good kindling wood come winter.

Oh. But I-- I'd been counting on this.

I-I-- I've gotta get to that railroad.

Well, you'll just have to take me.

I insist!

You insist?

[ Chuckles ] That favor you ask of me, well, I ain't gonna do it.

Any man who'd wipe out a stage line with a stroke of his pen--

Near ruined me and I don't know how many others.

I ain't doin' nothin' for you.

Not if you offered me a million.

You'd better get back to work, Leland. Water barrels need filling.

Well, looks like I'm stuck with him for a while.

I'm sorry. [ Chuckles ]

Come on up to the house tonight and play some checkers. [ Chuckles ]

I'll lay out the rest of your route for ya.

I'm much obliged. Thanks for your hospitality.

Steve, let's move those cattle.

[ Clicks Tongue ]

Funny you wouldn't remember closing down your own stage line.

I was busy with more important things.

Well, you can get busy with more important things right now.

Get them buckets.

[ Door Closes ]

[ Water Sloshes ]

Here.

All you have to do is pour that in yonder and this in there.

Hi, Laurie!

Hi, Hogy.

Who is she?That's old Ben's daughter.

And don't go gettin' no ideas that you can get shot for entertainin'.

Now see that you get both them barrels filled.

I'm goin' inside and jaw a spell with old Ben.

[ Water Splashes ]

[ Door Opens ]

[ Door Creaks ]

You lookin' for somebody?

Yeah. As a matter of fact, uh, I was lookin' for somebody.

You were expecting me, weren't you?

Why in the world would you ever think of a thing like that?

- Well, you were staring at me. - You were starin' at me.

I wondered what you were doing in this kind of country.

You are a very pretty child.

I ain't a child!

I'm sorry.I'm a growed woman.

I'm almost 18.

Well, please accept my apologies.[ Chuckles ]

You don't look much like a millionaire to me, Mr. Leland.

- Oh. You know who I am. - Yeah. Pop told me.

He said to stay away from you.

Hmm.

Why didn't you obey your father?

Because I ain't never seen a millionaire before.

He said you came stumpin' in here and givin' orders...

and acting like you owned the whole creation.

But I guess he took a little of the wind out of your sails.

Yes. I guess he did.

You ain't sore?

Why should I be? He was right.

I deserved it.

Well, now.

I don't know why he says you're so rotten.Did he say that?

He sure did. He said you're about the rottenest man alive.

A-And he said it was a shame...

the drovers didn't leave you out in the desert to die.Hmm.

I don't know where Pop gets some of those ideas.

- You don't seem so bad to me. - I'm glad you think so.

Your name is Laura, isn't it?

- Uh-huh. - I'm Paul. Friends?

I guess.

What are you looking at me like that for?

Oh, I was just thinking. It--

It's a pity I have to leave so soon. I'd like to see more of you. Much more.

I gotta go now.I'd like to see you later.

Well, maybe.

Here? After supper?

I'll-- I'll be waiting for you. Laura, please don't disappoint me.

[ Crickets Chirping ]

Now, your best route is across these flats.

You'll find water in the sinks.

Water ain't the best-- plenty alkali-- but it'll hold your herd.

You go through here-- through the stone dells.

You'll find easy traveling from there to the river.

Once you reach the river, you're home free.

Why go so far north though? It means you have to swing back.

That brings you to the river at Flathead Crossing.

It's a good ford and solid bottom.

Don't make no difference if the river's up or down.

You can always get across at Flathead.

[ Door Opens, Closes ]I'm pressed for time.

I'm trying to make the Seattle meat market at the peak of their prices.

Well, now, you can turn south here to the breakers.

But if the river's up, you'll have a fancy time gettin' across.

Now, the other way adds a couple of days,

but it might save you a sight of trouble.

How about some more coffee?Oh, thanks.

[ Crickets Chirping ]

If I had you in New York, you'd be the envy of every woman in society.

You'd have clothes...

and the jewels and furs.

And I would be the envy of every man.

You shouldn't talk like that, Paul.

Why not?

Laura, look at me.

It wasn't just your curiosity that brought us together, was it?

Now tell me the truth. Was it?

I don't know.Of course you know.

You're young, and you're beautiful,

and you don't want to be stuck out here in this wilderness any more than I do.

[ Sighs ] It ain't no use talkin' like that.

Laura,

you don't have to stay here.

We can take your father's horses. You can guide me to the railroad.

And once we get there, it'll mean a whole new life for you--

a fantastic new life.

We can't steal Pop's horses.

We're not gonna steal them. We're gonna borrow them. I'll pay for them.

Oh, Laura. Think of the wonderful world that's waiting for you out there.

Think of it.

[ Screams ] Pop!

Pop! Pop! He didn't do anything! Honest!

Get in the house!Oh!

Go on! Get!Oh!

Help! Help, somebody! Help!

Pop's killing Mr. Leland.

Carter.

He was in here with Laura.

Here in the dark with my girl.

Look. Let me handle him.

He's my man. He's my responsibility.

Give me that fork.

I'll take care of him.

Come on. Carter.

You go find her.

You get him out of here.

If I see him again, I'll kill him.

What'd you do to the girl?Nothing.

Just tried to get her to guide me to the railroad.

Well, what's wrong with that?

Believe me,

simple country girls aren't my kind of women.

You would have--

You would have ruined that girl's reputation just to get to the railroad?

I-- I told you. I don't have any designs on her.

I would have paid her well and said good-bye and never touched her.

Look. She's a decent girl.

She never would have been able to look at her father's face again...

if she'd made that trip with you, whether you touched her or not!

Now, you get out of here, and you stay out.

Carter sees you again, he will kill you.

And I won't even try to stop him.

[ Horse Approaching ]

Did you learn anything, boss?

I got a pretty good chart of the rest of our route.

Leland come in?Yeah. A while ago. What's wrong with him?

[ Virginian ] Carter recognized him. He's Paul Leland, all right.

Hey. Do you hear that?What about it?

Well, ain't you impressed?

We got us a real, live millionaire on the hoof. Right here in camp.

Now, you tell me how we can get our hands on a couple of them millions,

and I'll sing a hallelujah with you.

Huh.

Look. Why don't you go ahead and turn in, boss?

I'll take care of Joe.Thanks.

Good night.Good night.

Whoa, boy.

[ Exhales ]

I thought I told you to keep that fire goin'.

Well, don't just sit there. Get after it.

- What's the matter with you? - There ain't nothing the matter with me. It's you.

I heard all about you and the Carters.

Me and old Ben Carter punched cows together when I was a kid.

Him and his kind are good people."Good people."

Everybody's good people to you, aren't they?

Most everybody. Let me tell you somethin'.

Don't you realize that there ain't a man here that you'd measure up to...

if you both started in even?

I buy and sell men like that every day.

I suppose you think that that makes you better than anybody else.

Well, now, what do you really know about it?

What have you ever had or owned?

Well, I got me a way of life that just suits me to a "T."

There ain't no place else that I'd want to be.

And you know what it cost me?

Just the years that I've put into it and the few that I got left to put out.

Now, that ain't much of a price to pay, considering what I got back in return.

And let me tell you somethin', mister.

Here's where I belong.

And you couldn't buy me one thing...

if you spent every last million that you owned.

Now go on and get that fire built before I get mad.

Dolan.

Dolan.

I want to talk to ya.

[ Dolan ] Hello, Mr. Leland.

What do you boys, uh, make on a cattle drive like this?

Dollar a day. Same as everybody else.

Well, I need a couple of good men to guide me to the railroad.

I'll pay a thousand dollars.

Cash?

Well, I haven't got the money on me right now, but I'll give you a note.

I guess the name of Paul Leland's good on a note of hand.

All right?

Soon as they change night watch, we move out.

Gain a few miles, and then camp down for the rest of the night.

Good. I'll be right behind the cook wagon.

We'll be there.

Boss. Boss.

Leland's gone.

Well, good riddance.

Boss, I checked all over, and Dolan and Slater's gone too.

They took three horses with 'em.

Get my horse.

Yeah.

Steve.

[ Murmurs ] What?

I got a little chore to take care of.

If I'm not back by morning, get the herd moving and keep it moving.

Where you goin'?

We just lost three men and three horses.

I can't make the men come back,

but those are Shiloh horses, and I got a lot to say about 'em.

[ Galloping Hooves ]

Dolan! Slater! The horses!

Stop! Stop!

You can't do this!

Come back here!

You're not gonna get away with this!

[ Mooing ]

[ Men Whistling, Shouting ]

Wouldn't come back with you, huh?They'll be back.

Unsaddle 'em and put 'em in the remuda.

Hey, boss.

Look here.

Looks like we found ourselves about, uh, three thirsty strays.

Slater, you and Dolan ride nighthawk, all night. Get on it.

Oh, boss.We've been walkin' all day.

Well, then you sure are gonna enjoy your rest tomorrow night, aren't ya?

Now get on it!

Well, you can't blame a man for trying, can you?

Can't I?

I'm not through with you.

You just about cost me...

three horses and two men that I can't afford to lose,

because I need those horses and those men for this drive.

Now, so help me,

you pull one more trick, I'll stomp on ya.

Now get out of my sight.

I'm sure you've made some mistakes in your time, mister,

but none as bad as this.

I'm gonna destroy you.

Should I go get him?Nah. He ain't goin' anywhere.

Hyah! Get out of there! Come on, you stupid animal!

Get your stupid hide out of there! Get out of there! Hyah!

Go back!

Hyah!

Go back!

Stampede! Stampede!

[ Bellowing ]

Hogy?

Take a look at what you've done.

Take a real good look.

Four men down, herd scattered.

I didn't mean it.

I was angry. I-- I didn't know what I was doing.

You knew. You know, I could kill you for this.

But I can't afford to lose ya.

I need every man who can walk, ride or crawl to work the herd.

And you're gonna work, Leland.

You're gonna work harder than you ever dreamed it was possible.

[ Horse Approaching ]

They're scattered from here to breakfast. You're gonna need two days to pick 'em up.

What'd you lose?Well,

the wagon's pretty badly busted up.

Spilled a lot of the grub. Got four men hurt, including Hogy here.

Well, we might as well quit now then, huh?

We're not quittin' till we see those cattle runnin' into the stock pens at Seattle.

I think we can patch together this wagon good enough to put the injured in it.

We'll send 'em on to Flathead Crossing.

The rest of us will go on with what supplies and tools we can carry on packhorses.

Just make for the breakers.

What if the river's up?

We'll just have to take that chance.

We'll save two days that way. Once we're across the river, the drive's ended.

Let's get rollin'.Now you're talkin', boss.

Gonna be able to ride a horse?

I can ride an old pony just like he was an easy chair.

Why don't you just quit jawin' about it and get on one?

[ Men Whistling, Shouting ]

[ Coughs ]

[ Whistles ] Hyah! Come on! Get up there!

Hyah!

Hyah!

[ Mooing ]

[ Shouting ]

[ Coughing ]

Come on, boy. Keep them cattle up with the herd.

You trying to be funny?

I don't know anything about driving cattle,

and I have no intention of finding out.

He didn't put me back here to work anyway-- just to eat dust.

All I know is the job of ridin' drag is just keeping the stragglers up.

Now give that old pony his head.

He knows what he's a-doin' whether you do or not. Come on. Get with it.

[ Mooing ]

Hyah!

[ Men Whistling, Shouting ]

[ Whistling, Shouting Continue ]

Hyah!

Ho!

Hogy.

- Hogy, wake up. - Huh, huh? What's the matter? What's the matter?

You're fallin' asleep.No, I ain't.

- I-- I was just restin' my eyes a little. That's all. - Who you kiddin'?

You don't get some sleep pretty soon, you're gonna fall out of that saddle.

Look, boy. When the men start fallin' out of their saddles, I'll be the last one.

Well, that's not gonna be too long.

I've seen Belden asleep in the saddle half a dozen times.

Steve's been so tired the last three days, he can't even eat.

He never was much of a hand for eatin' on the run,

especially when it's only jerky.

Why are you guys pushing yourselves so hard?

'Cause there's a need for it. That's why.

You think I took this job just for the dollar a day? No, sir.

See them cattle yonder?

Them cows all belong to some people that I call friends.

It's been a tough year in the cattle business.

If we don't get this herd to Seattle before them California cattle hit the market,

there's a lot of them people that's gonna go under.

That's why men and time is so important.

Yeah.

Well, you're killing yourself. A friend can't be worth that.

Well, now, how would you know?

Did you ever have one?

Hyah!

Better be gettin' a little sleep, hadn't you?

Hardly pays. I go back on shift in an hour.

You know, for somebody who's being forced to work, you're sure enthusiastic about it.

You know that?

[ Hat Scrapes ]Well, I was figurin', if you want to improve your ropin',

take that right hand of yours--Are you serious?

You think I want to improve something I have to do just to keep eating?

Sorry. I thought you might want to know.

What about my right hand?

[ Mooing ]

Hyah! [ Man Whistling ]

Ho.You're doin' all right.

Make a drover out of you yet.

[ Mooing ] [ Leland ] Come on, you stupid,

slab-sided animal.

Get your stinkin' hide out of there. Come on.

Come on!

[ Grunts ]

Leland.

Leland, while you're wasting your time on that one calf, 50 others could take off.

I pulled that...

dumb animal out of a sand bog yesterday...

and almost broke my back doin' it.

I didn't save his mangy hide back there so he can die here in the brush.

Don't worry about me. I'll catch up with you as soon as I can.

[ Moos ]

[ Mooing ]

Hey!

Ho! [ Shouting ]

Whoa! Well, what do you know?

You're gettin' to be quite a drover.

You bet your boots I'm gettin' to be a pretty good drover.

Good as any around here and better than most.

Yeah, and you're gettin' pretty feisty too.

Sit on one of these 24 hours a day, you get pretty feisty.

Come on. Let's cut the talk, get these cattle movin'.

Come on, boy! Let's go!

[ Mooing ]

We aren't gonna walk 'em across that.Swim 'em.

[ Virginian ] A man on a horse could breast that current,

but those cows are too worn out to swim.

Half the herd would be carried over the rapids.

We'll have to build a raft.

Let's get started.

[ All Shouting ]

[ Shouting Continues ]

That's enough, Belden.

Easy on the rope!

[ Mooing ]

[ Mooing ]

[ Mooing ]

Keep 'em moving!

Easy on the rope!

[ Mooing ]

Not too many.

All the way!

[ Mooing ]

[ Belden ] All right. Take it away!

Easy on the rope!Well, that's it. The last load.

Another easy day, we'll have 'em in the shipping pen.

[ Man ] That does it.Well, I'm pullin' out.

You've broken the back of this drive. I don't think you're gonna need me anymore.

All right. Take the horse.

Leave him at the livery stable in town.

Oh. Just one more thing.

I've been waiting for that for a long time.

I've put up with every dirty, mean miserable job on this drive...

just to earn the right to throw that punch.

- Think you're quite a man, don't you? - I know it.

Let's just find out about that.

One'll get you 10 the dude gets stomped.

You wouldn't want to bet on a sure thing, would ya?

[ Cattle Bellow ]

Hold on to it, Steve!

[ Mooing ]

Get down. Get back.

[ Clicks Tongue ]

[ Whinnies ]

We'd have lost the whole raft, he hadn't pitched in and helped.

[ Whinnies ]

Hey. He's a little tougher than he was when he first showed up, ain't he, boss?

[ Chuckles ] Yeah.

Considerable.

All right! Take 'em off, boys!

[ People Chattering ] ♪♪ [ Piano ]

[ Laughter ]♪♪ [ Continues ]

[ Chattering ]

And when Kitty finally told us what happened, we almost went out of our minds.

Grant had dozens of men combing the desert for you.

The wind must have blown your tracks away. There simply wasn't a trace.

So you can imagine, when we got the wire that you were here, well,

it was like a miracle, Paul.

This wire just came in.Oops. Business.

Well, they've turned her loose.

May I ask why you're not pressing charges against Kitty?

Because it wasn't her fault.

You, uh, wire the money to her?

Yes. [ Chuckles ]

But I don't think she'll use any of it to take secretarial lessons.

Grant.Yes, Mr. Leland?

That stage line that I shut down--

- I'd like to reopen it. - It'll lose you money.

Well, you'll just have to show me how to make up the loss on my other enterprises.

I'll be glad to show you, Mr. Leland.

Thank you.

♪♪ [ Ends ]

[ Chattering Stops ]

Brought you your wages, Mr. Leland.

Twenty-seven dollars.

Dollar a day.

Won't you stay and have a drink, sir?

No, thanks.

The boys are waiting for me at the Drover Saloon.

[ Chattering ]

[ Door Closes ]Did he say $27?

That's right.

[ Shouting ]

[ All Shouting ] ♪♪ [ Piano: Honky-tonk ]

This is a headache trying to get born, and I'm gonna help it.

[ Laughs ]Right there. There it is.

Hey, boss. Hey. Give him a little air, boys.

Hey. Whiskey. Fresh bottle. Leave it.

I wondered when you was gonna get here.

Get your bookkeepin' "tooken" care of?

Yeah, I saw him.

Back with his own kind, where he belongs.

Yeah. Birds of a feather. [ Chuckles ]

Uh-oh. Hey, boss.

Bad news.

♪♪ [ Piano Stops ]

Cowboy, we still have some unfinished business to settle.

Won't he never get tired of this kind of thing?

When I look at you,

I'm looking at a man that took another man...

and worked him like a dog...

and wore him down and scraped away his self-esteem...

and made him realize that no matter how bad things got,

he could still survive and do a job.

And earn a dollar a day on a cattle drive.

You mean you don't want to fight?

No, I don't want to fight. I'd like to throw a party.

You mean pink champagne and all that sort of stuff?

Well, just as far as my money will take us, Hogy.

Well, that could be a powerful long way.

I don't know what we can do with $27, but, uh--

Drink up, boys![ All Shouting ]

[ Man Announcing ] Produced in color in association with the NBC television network.