All language subtitles for S03E22 - You Take the High Road

Jack.

Please.

- Give him a chance to explain.
- I'll give him a chance.

Mark.

Who told you you
could leave that herd?

Nobody.

I just left.

Mark.

You're supposed
to be ridin' flank
on a trail herd,

not propped up in a bar
in some small-town saloon.

Why, Mark?

Because
I'm irresponsible.

I thought
you knew that.

And because I am sick
of being ordered around
by some trail boss...

who is supposed
to be workin' for me.

All right.

You don't have to take orders
from me anymore. You're through.

Oh, wait.
What do you mean?

I mean, this is
as far as you go.
You're dead weight, Mark.

The outfit can't carry you
one step further.

When you get back to camp,
pack your gear and get out.

Jack, I don't think
that's necessary.Well, I do.

Peggy, I'm trying to do a job
for you and your brother,
but he keeps gettin' in the way.

You can't throw me off
my own drive.

I just did.

And you're gonna have
to make a choice.

If he doesn't go, I do.

Well, you know
I need you to get that herd--

That settles it.

Mark, you can stand there
till kingdom come.

But I'm gonna find a man
to replace you.
Does anybody here want--

- Mark!
- Go ahead.

That gun makes you just as big
and strong as anybody,
includin' me.

That's enough, mister.
He's had enough.

You want what's left?That's up to you.

[ Breathes Heavily ]

Come on.

Mark, you get yourself
back at the ranch, or you
can meet us at Fort Collins.

I don't care which.

But you keep clear
of the outfit as long as
I'm in charge of that herd.

I'm sorry.

I really am.

But you know how much
that herd means to us.

I mean, we need him.

You need him.

Take care of yourself.

We'll see you at the fort.

Thanks.

Thanks kindly.

He'd have stomped me.
[ Chuckles ]

Can I buy you a drink?

No, thanks.
I've got one.

Well, thanks.

[ Grunts ]
Ay, ay. That hurts.

That's gonna ruin my whole day.Well, you bounce back
fast anyway.

Yeah, well,
I've had lots of practice.

[ Glass Hits Bar ]

[ Breathes Heavily ]
I suppose, uh,

you're wonderin' somethin'
about that, uh--

well, disagreement
I was in, huh?

Well, I heard
most of it.[ Laughs ] Yeah.

Yeah, I guess you did.

I guess it sounded
pretty foolish, huh?

Looked that way too.

My own sister.

I wouldn't be
too hard on her.

Good trail bosses
are hard to come by.

Yeah. That's what I heard.

Say, uh,
you wouldn't happen to know...

where I can get a job
in this town, would ya?

Oh, to hear Slauson talk,
I, uh--

It don't sound very good,
but I'm really
a pretty good hand.

I just don't like being
pushed around by somebody
who really works for me.

Well, it's not in this town,
but I know where
there's a job.

Are you serious?

Shiloh Ranch,
near Medicine Bow.
I'm the foreman.

You've got a job
if you want one.Yeah. Yeah, I want one.

Get your hat. Let's go.Yeah.

The stream comes down
from the foothills
right over there.

It'd make a good campsite
if we can get there
before dark.

Nice country.

Not many places anymore
where you can, uh,
look for miles and miles...

and not see no fences.

Not even in Montana.

That where you're from?Mm-hmm.

And where
you drivin' your cattle?

Well, uh, I'm not
drivin' 'em nowhere.

I work for you,
remember?

But my, uh, sister's, uh,
trail boss is takin' em
on to Fort Collins.

Fort Collins?
They're way off course,
aren't they?

That's right.
Eastern route's
all dried up.

Slauson, uh,
said it'd be better
to take the long way...

than to try it
without water.

Sounds sensible.

See if we can make
that campsite.

[ Cattle Lowing ]

Herd's a little quiet.

Get an early start
in the morning.

Any luck at all,
we should make 10,
maybe 12 miles.

Peggy, about Mark--

it, uh--
it had to happen.

Beating him
half to death?

All right, I lost my temper.
For that, I'm sorry.

But he's been
pushing me a long time.

I'm doing a job
that isn't easy at best.

And Mark fighting me
every turn,
it's near impossible.

Well, you know what his
trouble is as well as I do.

Sure. He's spoiled.

No, it's not that.
It's not that at all.

I mean, half
of this outfit is his.
You treat him like a hired hand.

You give him every dirty job
there is. What--That's what he needs.

Your father should have
rode him hard and heavy
years ago.

There's no easy way to become
a cattleman, Peg.
You know that.

You never start
at the top, and Mark's
got a long way to go.

Well, you're right.

[ Laughs ]
I know you're right.

But he's my brother, Jack.

I love him.

- I know how he hurts.
- Yeah.

Well, he's not hurtin'
near as much as you'll
both be hurtin'...

if we don't get that herd
delivered on time.

Peg.

I kind of feel like I have
a stake in this family.
I wanna do right by it.

[ Laughs ]
I guess most of all, I--

I really wanna
do right by you.

Now, we've never
really talked about us--
you and me--

and this might not
be the time.

But after all this ruckus
with Mark, I got to know.

Do I have a stake in your
family, or am I just
whistlin' in the wind?

Is Mark's attitude gonna
spoil things for us?

He's my brother, Jack.

Yeah.

[ Drink Splashes ]That he is.

Well, I guess I'll take
another look around.

Good night.Good night.

Those cattle out there--

they, uh, from Shiloh?

Some of 'em maybe.

From any of a dozen
or so ranches
around Medicine Bow.

Yeah, that's the way it ought
to be. Open range for everyone.
No fences.

- Doesn't always work.
- Pa used to say,

"Beef's the most
important thing there is."

A lot of ranchers
feel that way.

He used to say
that the only thing
a man needed out of life...

was a good ranch,
a good trail boss...

and a good man
to leave it to
after he was gone.

Hmm. Well, at least
he got two out of three.

You know, I really wanted
to draw on Slauson.

[ Laughs ]
I really did.

Trail boss? Uh-huh.

It's one of the things
that impressed me about you--
the fact that you didn't.

Well, it wouldn't have
impressed my father.

You know why he left, uh,
control of the ranch to Peggy?

He didn't think
I could handle it.

He didn't figure
I could handle the ranch
or Slauson or anyone.

[ Chuckles ]

And you know the hard--
the hard part about it
is that he was right.

You wanna know
somethin' else?

You know why I didn't
go for my gun?

Because I cannot hit
the broadside of a barn.

That's nothing
to be ashamed of.

Well, now,
you can say that.

You just don't,
uh, carry that gun.
You know how to use it.

- What makes you
so sure of that?
- Ah, come on.

Just the way you are.
You're not afraid
of anyone or anything.

That's not so, Mark.

Yes, it is.

And Slauson, he could see it.

He could just tell it
by lookin' at you.
That's why he backed down.

Well, now, there might be
another reason for that.

Maybe he just didn't figure
he had anything against me.

Now, the way it looked to me--

he was just mad at a cowboy
who disobeyed his orders.

Now, you don't mean that.

Sure I do. And you did
hit him first or try to.

- Well, now,
I had to do something.
- Could've walked away.

Slauson did.

You know, the important
thing about a gun is...

not knowing how to use it,
but knowing when not to.

[ Gunshots ]

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunshot ]

[ Clicks ]

It's like you're pretty mad
at that piece of wood.

[ Sighs ]

[ Sighs ]
No. I'm just mad
at myself.

Hmm. Pretty fast, Mark.

[ Sighs ]

Yeah.

Pretty fast.

Takes more than that though,
doesn't it?Yeah, it sure does.

You know,
every now and then...

I can feel it.

I can draw
and I can shoot.

And I know
that I can't miss.

And I don't.

'Cause you're
shootin' straight.
Not just fast, but straight.

Yeah, that--
[ Laughs ]

that doesn't do much good
if somebody else is always
shootin' it straight and fast.

Pretty anxious to shoot
at somebody, aren't you?

No, I'm not.

Just like you said
last night,

I'd like to be able
to know when not to use it,

but know that I can
if I have to.

Simple enough.
It's good to know.

As long as you don't let
the gun handle you.

Yeah, what do you mean?

First, you have to learn
to see all over again.

I mean, a different
kind of sight.

When you really see
what you're looking at,

you forget about
everything else...

until there is
nothing else.

Just the target.

Then it's a combination
of seeing and feeling.

The target's what you see.

The gun's what you feel.

When you can see
and feel together...

without having to think
about either one,

then you can stop
worrying about it.

Well, now, there's more
to it than that,
isn't there?

That's right.

But the rest
only has to do with you--

your insides.

You have to be very still,

calm.

Everything else
may be moving, changing,

but not you.

You're all alone,
and you're calm.

Now, it isn't easy being calm
when you're mad.

You don't get mad, Mark.

Whether it's a piece
of wood in the water
or a rattlesnake on a hillside,

you just don't get mad.

Oh, wait a minute. Not yet.

Try and really see
that piece of wood, Mark--

I mean, really see it--

until there's
nothing else there.

- Not on the sides,
the front--
- [ Gunshot ]

I saw it.

That's all there is to it.

Except pieces of wood
don't shoot back.

[ Gunshot ]

[ Gunshots ]

[ Cattle Lowing ]

I wouldn't want you
to hurry.

I think we got it here.
One more ought to do it.

Yeah, that'll hold.

Howdy.Howdy.

- I was wonderin'
when you'd show up.
- Trampas, Belden.

This is Mark Shannon.
Mark's gonna work with us.Glad to meet ya.

Same here.

The judge get off to
the cattlemen's convention
all right?

Two days ago.
Took Betsy with him.

There's a trail herd
headed our way.

Owner's name is Shannon.

That's right.How'd you know?

Well, we got a telegram
from Bill Sanderson in Casper.
It's addressed to the judge--

You, uh, ride through
Casper by any chance?

That's where I met Mark.
What about this telegram?

- Spanish fever.
- Where?

Casper. Old man Sanderson's
outfit is nearly wiped out.

You got any idea
what brought it in?

Sanderson said
it was the Shannon herd.

That couldn't be.
They don't have
the fever. I know it.

All right, you boys
ride to the neighbors,
as many as you can find.

Tell 'em we'll meet
as soon as possible
at the saloon in town.

[ Mark ]
Yo.

You, uh, suppose, uh,
there could be trouble
over this?

Not if we can help it.

[ Galloping Hooves ]You wanna go back
and tell your sister, Mark?

Let Slauson do that.

He's the big man
of the outfit now.

Suit yourself.

[ Cattle Mooing ]

[ Shouting, Whistling ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Chattering ]

Gentlemen.
Thank you all for coming.

I guess you all realize
we may be faced
with a serious problem here.

That's what we gathered
from the telegram. What do you
think we ought to do about it?

Well, whatever we do,
we better do it together.

Mr. Wingate.

I haven't had any experience
with Spanish fever. Have you?

Yeah. Once. Down in Texas.

All right.
Now, gentlemen,

since Shiloh represents
the largest investment here,

I move that we have
the Virginian handle it.

- [ All Affirming ]
- All right.
I'll do the best I can.

First of all, we've
got to make up a list...

of all the ranches
that, uh, could
be affected...

if that Montana herd
is carrying Spanish fever.

Looks like about half of us
are represented here.

The rest of you are gonna
have to be responsible...

for notifying
your nearest neighbors
of the problem.

Oh, maybe this fever--
maybe it ain't as serious
as we make it sound.

I'd like to agree with you.
But it's serious, all right.

Spanish fever could go
through this valley
in one day.

Our losses could be
as much as 90%.

But that-- that Montana herd
can't be sick, or they
wouldn't keep 'em movin'.

Some cattle are immune
to the fever.

They're healthy
enough themselves,
but they're carriers.

That may be the case
with this Montana outfit.

Well, I can't take
a chance like that.

I didn't winter good.
If I was to lose 20 or 30%--

All of us feel the same way,
Mr. Dade, regardless
of the size of our outfits.

Well, you know
I'm not a man
to go lookin' for trouble,

but I think maybe
we ought to ride out there
and meet this herd...

and tell 'em
they gotta turn back.

[ Chattering ]

Do you have any idea
what might happen...

if 20 or 30 of us
went ridin' out
into that cow camp?

Those boys might
just start shootin'.

And they'd be well
within their rights.

Start a stampede
in 70 different directions.

And that'd be a fine way
to end an epidemic,
now, wouldn't it?

Well, I was just
thinkin' out loud.
Well, we gotta do something.

Sure we do.

First off,
I'm gonna ride out there
and talk to those folks.

Talk to 'em? With 20,000
to 25,000 head of prime beef
at stake, you're gonna talk?

Seems like a good place
to start to me.

Find out what they know
about this outbreak
in Casper.

Now, you're running this.
Just tell us what you want
the rest of us to do.

I don't want you
to do anything yet...

except make sure your strays
don't get mixed up
with that Montana herd.

And if they do, let 'em be.

I'll let you know
what happens tomorrow.

Right now you all better
get busy and let your
neighbors know what's going on.

- Let's go.
- Yeah. That's a good idea.

Well, you, uh--
[ Clears Throat ]

enjoy being
a leader of men?

Must be wonderful
to have such a keen
sense of humor.

[ Chuckling ] I just
thought maybe you might
need a little cheering up.

You know,
I like the way
you handled it.

They're good people.
Nobody likes the idea
of being wiped out.

Yeah, not even
those Montana ranchers.

That's gonna be part
of the problem.

The other part's
gonna be finding out...

whether that Montana herd
is really carrying
Spanish fever or not.

You got any ideas
about that?Yeah. One.

Well, that's not bad.

Not bad at all.

Thanks.

You, uh, got someone
special in mind?

What?

A man spends as much money
as you do on ammunition,

I figure he's, uh,
plannin' on the real thing.

You're wrong.

I, uh, just wanna be
able to defend myself.

Against who?

Anyone.

You know how
to handle a gun,

nobody's gonna be
pushin' you around.

Yeah.

I never gave it
much thought
when my pa was alive.

Being pushed around, I mean.

Running a ranch
is a man's job.

But your old man
didn't see it that way, huh?

No.

How big a ranch is it?

Oh, it's a good size.

Well, leastways always
seemed that way to me.

- How many head of cattle
do you have on it?
- None.

Huh? That's all of 'em-- right
out there in that trail herd.

We've, uh--

She's got to sell 'em all.

See, my pa left
somethin' else.

He, uh, left a mortgage.

Gonna take every cent of
that sale to, uh, pay it off.

This Spanish fever business
is gonna hurt that sale.

Well, frankly,

I really don't care.

She's your sister.

Well, that didn't
stop her from, uh,
throwing me out, now, did it?

You, uh,
headin' on back?Yeah.

Big meetin'?Big meetin'.

What'd you decide?Nothin' really.

I'm gonna ride out
and talk to 'em, see if I can
get 'em to hold up for a day...

till we can
figure something out.

- Want me to come along?
- All right.

See if you can find Belden
for me, will you?

Mark.

Your sister could be
in real trouble
with that herd.

- Maybe she could use
an extra hand.
- You tryin' to get rid of me?

No. Just want you to know
you have a choice.

No, I don't.

She made the choice for me.

You wanted
to see me?Yeah.

You think you could
find that Shannon herd
if you had to?

- Well, I don't see why not.
- All right. I want you
to ride out there right now.

Take about five head
of cattle with you.

Turn 'em loose somewhere
near that herd
and then stay put.

Whatever you say.

Hey, wait a minute.
I don't get it.

Now, look,
if their cattle is sick
and we mix ours in with 'em,

then our cattle are gonna die.

You'll get it.

This shavin' twice
in the same week,

a man could wear
his face out.

What's this, uh,
Shannon woman like?I don't know.

Well, you saw her, didn't you?

Well, if you wanna know
what she looks like,
I can tell you that.

- That's all I asked.
- Pretty woman,
but she's got a problem.

You mean her brother
or her cattle?

Both.

That's what
I thought you meant.

You all right?Listen.

[ Galloping Hooves ]

You lost
or something?

Uh--

No. You, uh--
You invited me, remember?

You said
I had a choice.Did you make it?

No. Not yet. But, uh--

I figure I got
a right to find out what's--
what's goin' on.

Now, if you don't want me
to ride with you, I'll, uh--
I'll just go on ahead.

Yeah, you can ride with us.
Just remember one thing.

Whatever side
of the fence you're on,
we're not lookin' for trouble.

- You find 'em?
- About a mile ahead.
Bedded down pretty good.

- Take care
of that little errand?
- Yes, sir.

All right.
Let's go pay our respects.

[ Cattle Lowing ]

You can tie him up, Sam.
I'm through with him
for the night.

Good drive today.Yeah, it sure was.

It's good
bed ground too.

The cattle are
already settled in.

Well, then maybe you can
get some rest for a change.

Yeah, maybe.

You want some coffee?

I'd like some coffee.

Thank you, ma'am.

You know,
I've been thinking.

About Mark?

About you and Mark.

Peg, when I said that
about having a stake
in your family,

I-- I was including Mark.

Just like you, I--

I want him to turn out
to be a-- a fine man
like your father.

That's for my sake
as well as his own.

The only trouble is every time
I try to teach him somethin',

I seem to go about it
the wrong way.

Yeah, what I mean is,
maybe this trail drive
wasn't the time or the place.

When we get back to the ranch,
the pressure will be off.

Yeah.

Yeah, maybe so.

Meanwhile, I sure wish
I could get him to stop
thinking of me as a rival.

Well,

that might not be easy.
[ Sighs ]

You see, in a way you are.

I mean, I'm all he's got left.

- Peg.
- I don't wanna talk
about that now.

I don't wanna be forced
into answering questions that
I don't know the answers to.

I don't want
the answers to be wrong.

All right.

But we're gonna talk about it...

after this drive is over,

after we're back at the ranch.

[ Galloping Hooves ]

Wouldn't be
our men coming in.

Not all at once.

- Mind if we come in?
- Come ahead.
Step down if you want.

Thank you.

- Mark.
- What are you
doing here, Mark?

I thought you went
back to the ranch.

No, that's what Slauson said.
I didn't say I was
gonna do it.

All right.
What kind of trouble
is he in?

Oh, I ain't in no trouble,
leastways no trouble you
didn't put me in, trail boss.

Miss Shannon.Yes?

We understand you're
headed for Fort Collins. The boy's ridin' with you.

You know good and well
where we're headed.
What about it?

- Is he speaking for you?
- He is.

Well, now--

You're a couple
of hundred miles
off your course.

Eastern route's
dried up.

Without enough water,
we'd lose 20, maybe 30%.

No outfit can stand that.
Why do you bring it up?

The other ranchers in this area
would like you to turn around
and take the other route.

Well, we can't do that.You haven't heard
our reasons yet.

Your reasons don't
matter, mister. The answer's
still the same-- no.

Well, there's a good chance
your herd is carrying
Spanish fever.

[ Chuckles ]

That's a pretty big statement.
You got anything to back it up?

Telegram from a rancher
in Casper.

The fever hit his herd
right after you moved
off of his rangeland.

Well, what else?

Is that all? A telegram
from Casper? What kind
of proof you call that?

I never said
we could prove it.

There is a big possibility.

Now, there's 25,000 head
of cattle in this valley.

I can't believe any cattleman
would take a chance
of infecting 'em.

Well, we have a contract
with the army.

And there's
a penalty clause,

a performance date
and a head count guarantee.

Considerin' all that,

it's hard for me to believe
any, uh, cattleman
would expect me...

to take those cows over a route
where there isn't enough water.

You just have to look
at our cattle to see
that they're perfectly healthy.

Miss Shannon,

some cattle are immune
to the disease.

They're healthy themselves,
but they infect other animals--

mostly cattle that have
been raised in a different
part of the country.

It spreads like wildfire.

- [ Exhales ]
- Well, just what
do you want us to do?

Like I said before,
go back where you came from.

[ Laughing ]

I guess I'm kind of slow.

All right.
How much do you want?

It seems pretty obvious
what this is all about.

How much money do you want
to let us take our cows
through your valley?

Nothing.

But I'll make a deal with you.

You agree to hold
your herd here for one more day,

I'll see what I can work out
with the cattlemen's
association...

to make it worth your while
to turn around and go back
the other way.

What if I still say no?

Then you're riskin'
a range war.

How many men you got?

Six? Eight? 10?

You wouldn't have a chance.

All right.
It looks like we'll have
to go along with you.

- But... one day.
- [ Chuckling ]

Good enough.

Miss Shannon.

Oh, by the way,

you may not believe this,

but there isn't a one
of us here in this valley...

that doesn't hope
we're wrong about your herd.

[ Cattle Lowing ]

I think you're right.

Uh, I'm needed here.

Good luck.

Our hero, huh?

I got nothing much
to say to you, Mark.

Why don't you just
ride out of here?

Big, tough,
strong trail boss.

Mark, don't
start that again. Why not?

What are you,
some kind of big hero?

Now, what did he do
that any 10-year-old girl
couldn't do any better?

You simmer down, boy.
Go join your friends.

Why is he capable
of running my ranch...

and I'm not?

Now, the only thing
that he can do
any better than me...

is, uh, backin' down
and crawlin'.

I mean it, Mark.

I think you ought
to ride out of here.

No. Well, I'm-I'm not
going anywhere.

I own half this herd.
You remember?

So, we're gonna get
back to that again?

[ Chuckles ]
No, no, no. Not again.

For the first time.

I'm stayin'.

All right.

Bert must be tired.
Why don't you go relieve him?
He's ridin' perimeter.

[ Chuckling ] Now, you still
don't seem to understand.
I said I own!

Mark, I don't think
you understand.

I got enough trouble--
especially now--
without you giving me more.

You know somethin'?

You're nothin'.

I never knew that before.

Now, maybe that's
'cause I was less.

But that was then,

and this is now.

And you're nothin'.

All right, you wanna fight.
I'll give you credit.
But this is not the time.

This is now!
And you're nothin'!

You talk to him, Peg.
I'm not gonna
listen to this.

[ Mark ] Maybe you're the one
that ought to ride
out of here.

Now, you hold on, boy. [ Mark ]
Go on!

Go and say it, Jack.
Tell me. Tell me to draw.

You tell me that this gun
just makes me just as big
and strong as any man.

Huh? Including you.

- Come on, Jack.
You just tell me that.
- [ Screams ]

[ Galloping Hooves ]

Oh!

Is there a doctor
in town?Yeah.

But he's hit bad.
I wouldn't try
to ride him in.

Then would you put him
in the bread wagon, please?

Ooh.

I'll send one
of my men for him.

It'd be faster
if I go myself.
I know where to look.

Thank you.

What happened?Just the way you said.

I-I-I was calm inside,
and I could see him.

You know, I'm-I'm--
I could really see him.
It was just him.

I meant why.Oh, well, uh, he didn't
believe I was back to stay.

Is somethin' wrong?You never heard a word
I said, did you?

About when to use a gun
and when not to.

You only heard the part
you wanted to hear--
about how to kill.

That's not true.
He-He'd have killed me.

I don't believe that.

You haven't had
anything else on your mind
since I first met you.

I just wasn't
smart enough to see that.

No, that isn't
the way it happened.
He drew on me first.

You can tell it
to the sheriff.

He'll probably be out here
with Doc Spaulding.

You, uh,
want me to go along
and make a statement?

I don't care what you do.

There's a wounded man
in there.

A man you shot.

I had to.

I thought you might
be interested in whether
he was going to live or die.

Well, I think he'll live.

He's pretty lucky.He's lucky.

You almost murdered him.

You saw what happened.
He tried to draw on me.

Oh, Mark.
Do you believe that?

I mean, do you really
believe that Jack--Yes, I believe it!

All right.

All right.

Well, have you thought
about what we're
gonna do now?

Yeah. We're gonna get
the cattle on to Fort Collins.

Well, how are we
gonna do that, hmm?

- On which trail?
- I haven't decided yet.

Oh, you haven't
decided yet.

That's right.

Or maybe you don't understand
what happened tonight.Yes, I understand.

I have taken
what's justifiably mine!

I see.

Oh.

Peg, I--

It's gonna be all right.

I promise.

Gettin' those cattle through
is just as important to me
as it is to you.

Maybe even more.

You know? Come on.

You see,
it's gonna be all right.
It's gonna be all right.

You off to the meeting
with the ranchers?Mm-hmm.

Maybe I can convince 'em
to do something to help out
the Shannon outfit.

You think Slauson's
being wounded is
gonna change anything?

The problem hasn't changed.

Uh, don't you think
you were just, uh,
a little hard on the kid?

He wanted to kill a man,
and he used me to teach him how.

And you think
I was hard on him, huh?

Oh, it might not have been
that way, you know.

I had a talk with him
the other day. He said he didn't
wanna get into a gunfight.

I believed him.Why?

Well, I don't know.
Maybe it was the--
the way he said it.

He's no killer.
He's just, uh--

just a kid in
a man-sized body,
that's all.

Yesterday afternoon
he wasn't a killer.

Last night
he almost made it.

Let's hope that's
as far as he goes.

Well, that, uh, seems like
a complete enough statement.

- And you're sure no one else
saw it but you?
- Yes.

- Your trail boss drew first?
- Well, that's what
he told you, wasn't it?

[ Door Opens ]

[ Door Closes ]

Yeah, that's
what hetold me.
But you didn't.

Well, he drew first.

And you agree with that?

Well, uh,
he tried to draw first.

But, uh, he wasn't
fast enough.

- Good for you.
- May we go now?

Yes, ma'am.

I, uh, hear you're gonna
have another big meetin'.

That's right.

Miss Shannon,
there's not a rancher
in this valley...

who doesn't appreciate
what it means to have
to get a trail herd through...

in time to meet
a contract date.

All we ask is that you
realize what Spanish fever
could do to our cattle.

While Slauson
was in charge, he said
he'd hold up for one day.

I'll honor that one day.

But that's all.

Will you let us know
what happens at the meeting?

I sure will.

And when I do, uh,
who should I talk to?

Well, it has to be Mark.
I don't have
anyone else.

He's gonna be
your new trail boss?

That's the way
it has to be.

I got a message
you wanted to talk to me.

You add anything
to that?

No. I wasn't there
when the shooting took place.

How's Slauson?Oh, Doc Spaulding
says he'll live.

He's a strange fella,
that Slauson.

- What do you mean by that?
- Well, I rode out there
last night.

Slauson swears up and down
he lost his head,

and he drew on the kid,
and the kid fired
in self-defense.

You, uh-- You think
it could have happened
that way?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Yeah. Well,
it isn't important now.

You go have your meeting.

The sooner you get
this thing settled,
the better I'll like it.

You think I won't?

Ah, it's not the same thing.

Your problem is trying
to stop a trail herd,

and my problem is trying
to keep the peace.

We may not even be
on the same side.

Now, wait just one minute.

You're talking
about this whole county--

25,000 head of cattle.

Your bread and butter and mine.
Everybody who lives here.

I'm talking about how
I'd hate to ride out there
with a badge on...

and face
all my neighbors
and some of my friends.

You know we're not lookin'
for trouble, Emmett.

I know there's been
one shooting already.

Sometimes
that's all it takes.
Now, you know that.

Now, you go have
your meeting.

I don't wanna
get mixed up in this.

I'd like to see it worked out
where I don't have to.

Believe me, so would I.

[ Chattering ]

[ Door Opens ]

Gentlemen.Glad you're back.

Sit down.Thank you.

Where do we stand?Just about the same place
we stood yesterday.

Except for one thing:
they've agreed not to move
their cattle for 24 hours.

[ Blowing ]
Did they admit to you...

that their herd
was carrying Spanish fever?

No, they didn't admit it
because they don't know
whether it is or not...

any more than we do.

Their main concern
is gettin' their cattle
to market.

Yes, and our problem
is to see that they
don't cross our range.

And we're right back
where we started.Well, not quite.

We could offer them
some kind
of a settlement.

Settlement? Why should
we make a settlement?
This ain't our problem.

Well, it's gonna be
if that herd moves
across our range.

- What have you got in mind?
- I'd like to be authorized
to tell 'em...

that we'll pay market price for
some of the cattle they lose
by going around the other way.

Uh, how much
of a guarantee
are you suggesting?

Up to what point?

Well, that's something
we'd have to work out
among ourselves.

Uh, we could chip in
according to the size
of our outfits.

Say, uh, 10%
of their losses--
$20 a head.

Well, I'm against it--
for two reasons.

It ain't our fault
that their cattle are sick.

We don't know
they aresick,
Mr. Dade. Not yet.

Second, I can't afford it.

Well, that's my problem too,

and I don't think
you'll find it any different
with any of the others.

[ Chattering ]

But, gentlemen,
Shiloh can't handle this
all alone.

No, but that don't
alter the facts none.

Now, either we stop 'em
or we let 'em through.

And I say that until they
prove that their cows won't
infect our herds, we stop 'em.

[ Chattering ] [ Man ]
Yeah, yeah!

[ Chattering Continues ]Stop 'em.

Anybody disagree?

All right,
we stop 'em.

We'll have to set up
a quarantine line.

We'll have to organize.

Now, do you wanna
take care of this?

No. But I will.

Take care of him.

Wanna tell me
about it?We're gonna stop 'em.

How? Quarantine line.

- That the only way?
- Looks like it.

Haven't got time to hire
a lawyer and go to court.

The sheriff doesn't have
any authority to stop 'em.

- I guess it's up to us.
- But you don't like it.

No, I don't like it.
Why should I?

With the judge gone,
I guess it's the only way.

Well, then,

ain't much point
in, uh, losing any sleep
over it, is there?

I'm not gonna lose
any sleep over it. That's
what I've got you around for.

[ Sighs ]
Whatever you got in mind,
I don't think I'm gonna like it.

I'm afraid you won't.
But look at it this way.

It's absolutely necessary.

Right now they're camped
just over our north line.

I'm gonna ride out
and give 'em the bad news.

If they're smart,
they'll turn around
and go back.

But there's a chance
they might try
to double back...

and come through anywhere
along a 20-mile front.

And you want me
to patrol those 20 miles.

Well, I'm sure you
could do it all by yourself.

But just to be on the safe side,
why don't you take
five men with you?

Spread 'em out
as thin as you can.

Go for the high ground--
the best visibility.

And let Dade and Wingate
and the others know too.

If each ranch patrols
as large a section
as they can,

there won't be a chance
that they can slip through.

Well, when do you
want us to start?

Same time I do--
right after supper.

He was asking about you.

Why?

You never really knew
Jack Slauson, did you?

In spite of the fact that you've
known him most of your life,
you never really knew him.

Well, I, uh, knew him
as well as I really wanted to.

Well, in that case,
there's very little reason
to tell you what else he said.

That's right.
But I suppose
you're going to anyway.

He wants to see you,
when you have the chance.

[ Grunts ]

You wanna talk to me?

[ Laughs ]

Ah.

By rights, I shouldn't care
if I ever talked to you again,

but somebody has to.

Has to what? Make you understand...

the difference between being
in charge of an outfit and
just saying you're in charge.

Now, hold on, ramrod.

That's what you are,
isn't it? Um, a ramrod?

Yeah, that's right.

You've got
a responsibility now--
a big one.

For once in your life,
try to live up to it.

I intend to.

I mean, like a man,
not like a boy trying
to prove something to himself.

Do you have any idea what
could have happened last night
when you pulled that gun?

Well, I know
what did happen.

No.

I'm talking
about your cattle.

A shot in the middle
of the night.

If those cows had been
the least bit spooky
about anything...

or if our camp had been
a quarter mile closer
to that main body,

right now your herd
would be scattered
from here to Canada.

Now, you don't
like that, hmm?

Something you never
thought about.

Well, from now on, boy,
you think about everything
all the time.

And you remember,
no matter what you feel
about me or me about you,

we're not alone on this.

The only person
really counts
is your sister.

Now, you got a job to do.
You do it right.

It's important to her.

Now, I'm gonna tell you
the same thing
that I told Peggy.

I intend to get
those cattle through
to Fort Collins.

And if I don't,
well, you can
stop worrying.

I'll be out of your way
for good.

[ Galloping Hooves ]

Hello, Mark.

- I'm alone.
- All right.

You got somethin'
you wanna say to me?

- You're running this outfit.
- Yep, I'm runnin' it.

You forgot to ask me
to come in.

No, I didn't forget.

All right. Step down.

I was, uh--
I was rough on you last night.

Maybe I was wrong.
If I was, I'm sorry.

[ Laughs ] Well, you know,
I'm not surprised
that you aresorry.

What do you mean? We're on
opposite sides now.

Uh, you've got
to deal with me.

You don't
understand, Mark.
I'm not here to deal.

Oh, well, then,
uh, make an offer. No offer.

They want you
to turn around and go back.

- No.
- You'll have to take
the eastern route.

- I said no!
- It's the only way, Mark.

No, it's not
the only way.

And you said the same
thing to Slauson.

He turned you down.
What makes you think
I'd accept?

Because I don't think
you're foolish enough not to.

I'm sorry, Miss Shannon.

I thought when you
asked for 24 hours,

you said maybe something
could be worked out.

I tried. I really did.
We just can't afford it.

All they can do
is maybe lend you a few men.

Now you're beginning
to give in. What else?

- That's it.
- Well, that's not enough.

That's just
not enough!

- Mark, maybe we--
- You stay out of this!

Maybe you ought
to listen to her.

And maybe you just
better ride on out of here.

Unless, uh, you'd like
to stay here permanently.

You'd try it, wouldn't you?

Yeah. Why not?

You figure, uh,
I owe you somethin'?

No. I owe you--
an apology,

for giving you something
you don't know how to handle.

And now I'm gonna
give you something else--
a little advice.

I don't need
to take anything from you.

Trampas asked me if I
thought you'd grown up any.
You know what he meant?

- I said that I--
- He meant a boy with a gun...

doesn't last very long
in this country.

That's lesson
number two.

I think you'd better learn it.

We expect you to move out
first thing in the morning.

He can't do this to me.

I'm not gonna
let him do it to me!

There wasn't anything personal
in what he said.

Not anymore.

I'm not sneaking away
like no whipped dog
no more.

For you or Slauson
or anyone!

There isn't
one thing in the world
that we can do about it.

We're moving out
in the morning.

Oh, yeah.

We're moving out,
all right.

And we're not moving back.

We're gonna move
straight ahead.

What do you think
they're gonna do
when they see us coming, huh?

Nothin'. They won't
have a chance.

We're gonna be traveling
too fast.

Oh, Mark, I don't know
what you're talking about.

- We're gonna
stampede 'em.
- What?

You know
your formal trail boss?

Well, he gave me the idea.

We're gonna be 20 miles
into their range before
they ever know what happened.

They won't have a chance
to turn us back.

And this way
we'll meet our delivery date.

I don't think
you care about that.

What?

I don't think you
care about the cattle
or the contract to the ranch.

You think you're involved
in a fight, don't you? And all
you care about is winning it.

Well, now,
aren't we in a fight?

They come out here,
and they tell us
they're closing the range to us.

Now, aren't we supposed
to fight back?

It depends on what
you're fighting about.

If you're fighting just
to prove that you can drive
a trail herd, then I say no.

You're defeating
your own purpose.

I promised you that I'd get
this trail herd through.

Mark, Mark, look, maybe--
maybe the best thing to do
is we'll go back to the ranch.

We'll take our losses.No!

Mark, look, there-there is
a middle ground, you know--

somewhere halfway
between with what you
call sneaking away and--

I said no!

[ Galloping Hooves ]

[ Peggy ]
Bert.Ma'am.

What are you doing here?
What's wrong?We got trouble.

- Well?
- We got some cattle down.

How many? Five.

- They're dead?
- Or dying.

But that isn't all.
They're not ours.

They're wearin'
a Shiloh brand.

All right.
You've told me.
Now get back out...

and tell the men to be ready
to ride at first light.

- But that means that--
- You heard me!

Yes, sir.

You can't mean it. [ Galloping Hooves ]

Nothing's changed.Everything's changed.

You know why those Shiloh
steers were in our herd, and you
know what their dying proves.

It doesn't
prove nothin'.

How do we know
it isn't a trick?

How do we know they
weren't sick before they
put 'em in with ours, huh?

Mark, we're wrong. Now, it
was different when we didn't
know and when we weren't sure.

But now contract
or no contract--

even if we lose
everything we have--
we're wrong.

Hmm.

And Pa thought that
I was the weak one.

No. Not weak,
just irresponsible.

Don't you ever
say that to me again.

Not ever.

Peg.

Peg!

[ Door Opens ]

[ Sighs ]

What was that all about?

Bert found five
Shiloh steers--
all sick.

Yeah, that settles it.

We turn back.

Or do we?

Peg.

Mark is gonna stampede
the herd through
in the morning.

- Well, you gotta stop him.
- I can't. I tried.

Well, then ride into town,
the nearest ranch.
Give 'em some warning.

- No.
- Peg, 25,000 head.
You've got to warn 'em.

Well, he's wrong.
I know it. I'm sorry.

But if I warn them,
they'll have guns
waiting for him.

Now, he's my brother, Jack. I
can't line guns up against him.
Can't you understand that?

[ Grunts ]

Well?The boys are all out.

The quarantine line is set.
We passed the word along.
How'd you make out?

About the way I expected.

They should be moving out
first thing in the morning.

If they decide
to double back, we ought
to know in plenty of time.

Maybe now we can round up
some of our own cattle.

[ Yawns ]
It, uh, wouldn't be
too much to ask...

if I got a little sleep
before we got started,
would it?

Not at all.
Go right ahead.

Sleep as long as you want--
till sunup if you feel like it.

Thanks.

[ Clopping Hooves ]

Whoa, boy. Easy.

You were right.
It's fever.

Mark's gonna
take those cows
right through your valley.

He'll stampede 'em
if he has to.

Trampas, get the men
mounted right away.

You boys take this man
to the bunkhouse.
Try and make him comfortable.

Now, wait. Wait.
He's not doing this
to hurt anybody.

He's just caught
in his own trap, and he--
he's too proud to back down.

Your men
follow his orders?

They're workin' for him now.
He's the boss.

They'll wanna get paid.

Mark--Now, look.

- Mark, please listen to me.
- That's been my trouble!

I've been listening
to people too long.

I run this outfit now.

That's what you've
always wanted, isn't it?

I want you
to take these wagons
up on the high ground.

And I want you to stay there
till I send for you.

Come on!

[ Gunshot ][ Shouting ]

[ Cattle Mooing ]

[ Men Shouting ]

[ Shouting Continues ]

Let's go turn 'em.

[ Gunshots ]

[ Gunshots Continue ]

[ Shouting Continues ]

- Get down.
- I told you once.

A man doesn't settle
his problems with a gun.

- I said to get down.
- No.

Now, I'm saying it
once more!

The answer is still no.

You didn't learn
anything, did you?

They say there's
a good chance of rain
along your route.

If it comes early enough,
it ought to hold your losses
to a minimum.

We'll make it all right.

The men you've lent us
will help too.

Miss Shannon,

I hope you believe
how sorry I am
about your brother.

You tried to do
your best for him.

I know that.

We all tried.

Well,

good-bye.

Hey!

Let's go.