Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

[ door rattles ]

Door's built just as strong as the window, son.

Won't do any good to rattle around in there.

Why don't you try and get some sleep?

I don't think you closed your eyes all night.

Every time I do, Gunny,

I see ten rifles pointed right at me.

Oh, you just got to make out like it ain't going to happen.

[ sighs ]

[ knock on door ]

Huh. It's your brother, Will.

Gunny.Morning, Matt.

How you making out, Will?

All right, I guess.

I'm glad to see you.

Is there-- Is there any news?

Yeah, Washington turned us down. I'm sorry.

[ grumbles ]

Clear out this stuff so you can sit and visit.

You two fellows got a lot to talk about,

so I'll leave you be.

What time are they coming for him, Gunny?

Well, not before reveille,

another hour anyway.

Uh-huh. There's not going to be anybody in here before that.

No.

Don't do it.

You wouldn't get as far as the gate.

Will, take a look out that window,

see if anybody's stirring, will you?

You just get yourself in trouble with the law.

I don't have a choice, Gunny.

The law's gone sour on us.

It's all clear, but we better hurry.

It's getting daylight fast.

All right, now, you been decent to us

ever since Will got in here, Gunner,

and I'll make this as easy on you as I can.

I can lock you in the cell--

There's no easy way. You know that.

If you're bound to go through with it, I'm bound to stop you.

[ sighs ]

WILL: Matt, we got to hurry.

Matt, please.

All right, let's go.

This way, Sarge.

Let's go!

They swallowed it.Yeah.

Time they figure it's a false trail, it'll be nightfall.

And we'll have about a day's head start on them to Canada.

Well, not quite.

It just gives us time to go back

and pick up Ellen and the boy.

Pick-- You mean go back to your place?

That's what I promised her.

If we weren't being pressed to hard,

we would take them with us.

It's the only way she'd have it.

That's the only way she'd have it?

Those men that just rode by,

they want to take me back and shoot me.

I wasn't going to say this,

but I guess I'm going to have to.

That ranch of mine is a lot of years of sweat.

Outside of Ellen and my son,

it's the only thing I ever figure having in this world,

and when we take off for Canada tonight,

I ain't going to have it anymore.

That's all right.

A man's brother's worth more than a piece of land,

but you don't mean more to me than my wife and my son, Will.

I don't go anyplace without them.

Now, if want to take off without us,

if you don't want to wait, that's all right.

I'm your brother, but I ain't your keep.

Hey, son. Come on.

I couldn't make it alone, Matt.

I never could make it without you.

Yeah, I guess that's my fault, too,

not making you try harder when you were growing up.

If it is, I guess I'm not helping you much now.

I'm innocent.

You couldn't just let them take me back.

All right, I couldn't let them.

If I'm going with you, it's going to be my way,

and my way takes Ellen and the boy.

Right, Matt. Your way.

That's the way it's always been.

Let's go.

[ clucks tongue ]

What brings you up from town, Emmett?

Looking for Matt Denning.

Seen anything of him?

No.Me either.

Didn't he go to the Fort for Will's--

Yeah, he was there all right, but early.

I just got word he just broke his brother out

and took off with him.

Listen, you've both known him just about as long as I have.

What-- Did you ever figure Matt for anything like this?

I don't know.

Figured his kid brother was guilty,

deserved being shot,

I'd have to say no, he wouldn't have done it.

The Army thought Will was guilty.

I guess convincing the Army and convincing Matt Denning

are two different things.

Long as I can remember,

he's been believing the best about Will.

That ain't always been easy.

As long as he didn't cross any Shiloh fences,

I guess I know where he's headed.

Matt's really put his foot in it, huh?

More like his neck.

Keep an eye out, huh?

Ain't that a blister,

having to track down his best friend.

I wouldn't want to wear that badge right now for anything.

I imagine he agrees with you.

[ horse snorts ]

[ whinnies ]

Just drop your rifle, boy.

Ryker.

Yeah.

Your gun, Will.

Matt told me like as not we'd run into you before we got clear.

He told me something else, too.

You don't shoot a man unless he's shooting at you.

[ grunts ]

Will, stop it!

Listen, that's enough!

[ gasps ]Emmett.

Come on.

[ grunts ]

You had him filled in pretty good about me, didn't you?

I had my gun on him, didn't even faze him.

I suppose you're wondering if I'd use this one on you, huh?

It crossed my mind.

Well, I wouldn't aim to kill you, Emmett,

just slow you down a little bit.

Yeah, well, I ain't in the market for a busted leg.

Okay, come on in the house.

Well, if you figure to--

you figure to head north for Canada,

you could run into some Indian trouble.

Huh?

Been some break-outs in reservations

on a count of that Ghost Dance ruckus.

I know all about those Ghost Dance break-outs.

It's because of one of the them the Army wants to shoot me.

Besides, who says we're heading up north, Emmett?

Matt, I'm not the only one after you.

You mean the Army?

Well, I laid out a fake track for them

before I took Will on.

I figure they spend most of the day

down at Rock Creek

trying to figure whether we went up, down, or sideways.

Might confuse them for a while,

but that's not going to discourage them. They want you bad.

They want me, you mean.

They'd be happy to see you again, all right,

but it's Matt they're really primed for.

Hurt their pride, didn't he,

coming in there,

taking me right out from under their noses?

It's a little more than that, Will.

This old man, the one you hit to keep him quiet?

Yeah.

I imagine you hit him harder than you meant to, I guess.

What do you mean? I hurt him?

Matt, you killed him.

Oh, my Lord, no.

What?

You mean that old man went and died?

I just hit him once.

I've been hit harder than that a hundred times, Emmett.

I couldn't have killed him.

Don't, Matt. You didn't mean to.

Yeah, it was just a rotten break.

He made you hit him.

Yeah, I gave him a big choice, didn't I?

Matt, it don't change anything.

We still going.

It only changes one thing, Ellen.

You and Andy are not going with us.

You're going to stay here.

No.

I want to be with you.

Andy?

I'll start loading the horse, Pa.

All right, Will, you help Andy with the horses.

All right.

[ grunt ]

Matt, I know you figure you're going to get way out of way, clear and all,

but taking Ellen and Andy, I don't think you're going to--

That's how they want it. That's how I want it.

I guess you'll be coming after us as soon as you get loose, won't you?

That's a good guess.

Well, it'll take you a couple hours

to get out of these ropes.

They won't be able to track us until daylight.

It won't make any difference.

Sooner or later, I'll be seeing you.

I hope not, Emmett.

I hope we don't ever see each other again.

WILL: Matt.

Yeah.

Emmett, that old man, did he have any family?

Just Army, I guess.

Well, you tell them I wouldn't have had that happen for anything.

[ horse neighs ]

[ horses galloping ]

What, are you out chasing Indians, Sergeant Cohane?

You know what we're chasing, Ryker,

and we just cut their trail.

Well, there might be Indians.

I almost ran into one of those Ghost Dance bunches a couple hours back.

You expect me to believe that?

I keep remembering you and Matt Denning are real good friends.

It was on your say-so we gave him run of the Fort.

Yeah, that's right. It was, wasn't it?

That gives me a special interest in bringing him back.

I saw those Indians, Cohane,

so maybe you wouldn't object

if I rode along with you now,

kind of keep me from getting massacred.

I wouldn't spit on you if you were burning up.

Oh, that's not very friendly, Cohane.

No, but it's honest.

The Gunner was a friend of mine.

He was a friend of just about every trooper in the post.

He's the one who took us in hand when he first came in,

when we were green recruits.

He mothered us through our first skirmishes,

taught us all the Army we know.

Ryker, there isn't a man in the outfit from the Colonel on down

who wouldn't have taken that rap on the skull for the Gunner,

and that includes me.

So you see,

when we do catch up to the Dennings,

you'd just be in the way.

I'll tell you what, Cohane,

maybe I better ride along with you.

I got a feeling Matt's going to give up to me

a little faster than he would to you.

After that we can figure out who's going to take him in.

Move on.

Big open flat ahead, no cover.

We can't start across till dark.

Oh, son, whoa, whoa, whoa, that's enough wood.

The bigger the fire, the more smoke, huh?

Coffee, Matt?

[ grunts ]

Hey.

You all right?

Okay.

It's all in knowing how, isn't it?

Ellen, you're doing all right.

I'll learn, Matt.

You got plenty of time to eat before we move on,

so you just take it easy, huh?

Take your time, huh?

[ horse whinnies ]

[ snorts ]

[ horse whinnies ]

Ain't you got the saddles off them horses yet?

Well, I was just tying them up.

What for?

You think they're going to run away

after being rode all day and all night?

Good horses, Will.

If not, we're going to have to kill them

riding them the way we have to.

They ain't going to suffer any more than they have to.

ELLEN: Matt.

Just hold it, Will. Hold it.

Not with Ellen and the boy in the middle.

Just ease up.

All right, Cohane.

COHANE: Leave them lay, Ryker.

Put your own down beside them.

You're covered. Clear out.

Do like I say.

They're my prisoners, Cohane.

I'm taking them in.

We'll talk that out later, Sheriff,

after you drop your gun.

Move in.

Well. What's this?

Your woman?

No, that's my wife, Sergeant, and my son.

You dragged them along with you?

ELLEN: No one did any dragging, Sergeant.

We came of our own accord.

Well, that's dandy.

Ma'am, what did you think this was going to be,

some kind of church social?

Now I've got to send one of my men back to town with you.

One wouldn't be enough, Sergeant

We'd fight him every step of the way.

RYKER: I'm not leaving either.

Too bad, Cohane.

You've got all kinds of witnesses here now.

You're going to take them back in one piece.

You, uh--

You planning to argue with four rifles?

Only if you try to take this. It's up to you.

Cohane, listen, there's something you better remember.

I am remembering, Ryker.

I remember an old man with his head split open,

and Denning, when I look at you,

I think real hard about that old man.

You got more to think about than a dead man, Cohane.

You got a whole passel of live folks here

and maybe trouble coming fast.

Your Indians again.

You're going to have to do a lot better than that.

Cohane, listen. They crossed our trail.

They'll come looking for white men to kill and horses to take.

Sure, and old Sitting Bull himself is going to lead the charge.

They had a shaman with them, all right, but it wasn't Sitting Bull.

This was Cut Hand.

Sarge, maybe we ought to--

Maybe you ought to keep your mouth shut, Corporal.

The same goes for you, Ryker.

You're wearing that badge, so I can't rightly do what I want with you,

but I don't have to listen to any scare talk either.

I might just be telling the truth.

I don't think you are.

Just on that outside chance,

I'm going to set out a couple of guards.

And I'll tell you this.

They're going to be watching what goes on in camp

just as well as out

because one wrong move from anybody,

including you, Sheriff, they'll shoot to kill, and so will I.

Jobie, give me a hand bringing up our horses.

We'll camp here tonight.

Matt.Yeah.

You're probably thinking

tonight's going to be the last chance you'll get.

Forget it.

I wouldn't even look cross-eyed at Cohane, if I was you.

Why not?

What's the difference whether they kill us here or back at the Fort?

There's a big difference, Will.

Ellen and Andy out here, they're still in the middle.

Well, that's your lookout.

I never wanted them here in the first place.

After everything that's happened,

I didn't think he'd ever get to sleep.

Just too tired to stay awake, I guess.

He's a good boy.

Why, just a few more years,

he's going to run that place of ours by himself.

The best thing would be if you sold the place,

get what you can for it and come back East.

We talked all this out before.

If you got caught, Andy and I would--

we'd hang on somehow until you--

Yeah, sure, till I served my time,

but that was before I killed a man.

Things have changed now.

No-- No, nothing--

Nothing's changed, Matt.

We may have to wait a little longer,

but it doesn't matter.

It hasn't changed, Matt.

It hasn't.Ellen.

Ellen, hey.

Come here.

Will you look at that?

The way she's taking on,

you'd think she was the one who's going back to get shot.

Her husband's maybe going back to hang.

I'd say that's a pretty good reason to carry on.

Yeah. He just had to drag her and the kid along.

What good did it do?

What good did it do to bust you out in the first place?

Only what a man figures he has to do, I guess.

Besides, with them here,

Cohane would have been just as happy to shoot first,

apologize after.

Hey, Ryker, look...

about this whole Army thing,

I'd like you to know how it really happened.

Trouble at Bitter Creek Reservation, wasn't it?

Yeah, there was a break-out.

Some of the Oglala Sioux

were trying to jump the reservation

and head for the big Ghost Dance doings

at the Pine Ridge.

They put out about five of us as picket guards that night,

and the troop bedded down for the night.

The way I heard the story

was that you took a bottle with you

to keep off the chill.

I never had no bottle with me, never.

You mean, you weren't drunk on duty?

Oh, yeah, I was drunk all right.

You bet I was.

You see, there had been this trouble.

There was a little fight over a poker game a few days before

with some of the boys in the troop,

so they had it in for me,

and that night they jumped me,

and they held me down,

and they poured rot-gut down my throat.

I-- They kept pouring until I thought I was going to drown.

Finally I just passed out.

And they ran off and left you there,

and then the Indians came.

Yeah. Oh, they came all right.

They caught the whole troop asleep.

They killed five men getting through the lines.

After a while I came around.

There was some lieutenant slapping me in the face and yelling at me,

and he said I'd as good as killed those five men myself.

I was so sick from the whiskey,

I didn't even know what he was talking about.

That's a pretty good story.

It shouldn't have been too hard to prove at the court-martial.

Oh, sure.

My trooper buddies, they couldn't wait to get in front of the court

and tell how they was the ones that should be shot.

Nobody believed me.

It was me against the whole Army,

and nobody believed me.

Not a word was said.

Looks like one man believed.

Your brother, Matt.

[ gasps ]

Shouldn't sneak up on a man like that.

Sergeant, boy, you near scared the living right out of me.

That's what I meant to do.

You been hearing anything out there?

No, nothing really, I guess.

You keep a clear line of fire

over the clearing just in case.

And remember,

there's no need to be jumpy as long as you stay awake.

Right, Sergeant.

You keep your eyes open.

[ whistles ]

Something on your mind, Sergeant?

Yeah.

I was just thinking, she's a fine-looking woman.

Sure deserves a lot better than you.

There isn't any better than him.

Oh, I don't know.

Fine-looking woman like you,

you ought to do real well...

even without a husband.

ELLEN: No! No! Matt! Matt!

MATT: Come on! Come on!

Let go of me! Let me go, Emmett!

RYKER: Get a hold of yourself.

You're doing just what he wants you to do.

You must be pretty hungry for blood, Cohane,

going at a man through his wife.

Anyway I can get him, Ryker.

I ain't going to be particular.

[ man screams ]

[ gun firing ]

Get up!

Was it Cut Hand's bunch?

I don't know. I only saw a couple of them.

One of them was wearing a Ghost shirt.

Jobie, move up there.

How bad is it?

Going to have trouble reloading,

but I can still shoot.

Good. Did you get any of them?

I got one of the two that jumped me.

What about your other man, Cohane?

He's dead. Throat's cut.

If it's the bunch I saw before,

there's still plenty of them out there.

So?

Be a good idea to let Matt and Will have their guns back.

If it is that same bunch, you said they needed horses.

Jobie!

Stay down.

Whoa, boy, whoa...

[ continue coaxing horses ]

Andy, you stay here.

I'm fine, Jobie.

You go back where you were, now.

Go on!

[ panting ]

It's couple of-- three broken ribs, huh?

Yeah, at least.

Ma'am, you don't have to do nothing for me.

Wrong, Sergeant.

I don't have to like it, but I have to do it.

[ gun fires ]

Here, let me.

You hit anything?

I'm not sure I even seen anything.

Don't worry. If you didn't, you're going to.

That's a tough shot.

Sun's in your eyes.

They say those Ghost shirts are supposed to make the bullets miss.

Now, you don't suppose this one really works.

That's what he wants everybody to believe,

especially what's left of his party,

those braves hanging back in the brush up there.

They tried sneaking in two or three at a time, and it didn't work.

Now, they're going to try it the other way.

Send them all in at once.

That's the general idea.

Get the horses tied separately.

They might get one or two.

They're not going to get the whole string.

Cohane, I'm going to give them their guns back.

No. No, you can't do that.

I can't do anything else.

I was wondering when you were going to get around to us.

Getting a little late, isn't it?

You got to give me your word, first, both of you.

If we get through this thing, you're still in custody.

You understand?

I guess the string's around now either way. You got my word.

What about you, Will?

Why should I?

They want us to do their fighting for them.

Then they're going to take us right back.

Well, I saw we can make a better deal than that.

We can't make a deal with them,

maybe we can make one of those Indians out there--

You listen to me.

We're going to give these men a hand

to keep us all from getting killed,

and when it's all done with,

we're going to say thank you for trusting us,

and that's the way it's going to be, you hear?

Answer me.

All right, your guns are in my saddle bag.

All right, let's everybody dig in!

I'll take the picket line.All right.

Andy--No, Ellen. Elle--Ellen.

Emmett, Andy.

[ rock thuds ]

[ horses whinnying ]

COHANE: Jobie!

[ yells ]

[ grunts ]

[ gun fires ]

[ gun firing ]

[ yells ]

[ gun firing ]

[ yells ]

Andy!

[ rifle firing ]

[ gunfire ceases ]

Pa!

[ panting ]

I tried to help him.

You did fine, Andy.

No man could've done better.

Look, your ma's likely shook up by all this,

so why don't you go give her a hand.

Come on.

[ moans ]

You hurt bad, Will?

No, no. No, I don't think so.

I just, uh-- Just let me sit here till I--

till my head clears.

Oh, boy.

Well, we could all use some coffee.

Come on, Andy. You help me with the fire.

Come on.

Just two of us left, Sarge, you and me.

Guess it's going to have to be enough, Jobie.

You sure you got all the weapons?

I'll look around.

[ horse walking ]

Look at him.

It's as if he doesn't even know we're here.

And doesn't care.

Just thinking the Ghost shirt thing was a lie.

The bullets killed him anyway.

Will, no!

[ gun fires ]

[ groans ]

Matt.

I'm right here. I'm right with you, Will.

I ca-- I can't-- see you--

I want to-- so good-- I want to see your face.

All right, it's all right. I'm right here.

I'm right here.

I've got to tell you

all the things you've done for me,

keeping me in line growing up.

You don't have to, Will. It's okay.

I want to, Matt.

I want to pay you back.

I've got to tell you

about the whisky the night I stood guard.

I lied to you before, Matt.

Nobody made me drink.

It was just me and my bottle,

making the night go easier.

Lied to you, Matt.

I knew you'd never help me unless I did.

Not old Matt. He's too honest.

He's too fine.

[ chuckling ]

Oh, yeah, yeah,

I can see your face now.

[ laughs ]

I can see it just as plain--

[ chuckles weakly]

[ clicks ]

Why did he tell me?

Why did he tell me?

About an hour's ride on to the Fort.

Think you can make it?

Ain't you coming with us?

No, we're headed for town.

Ryker.

You-- you going to lock him up?

That's why I went after him.

Miss Denning, all those things I said to you--

The Sheriff was right.

It was just pride talk

aimed at your husband.

Jobie...

let's move out.

Now, after you finish with the bank...

better go talk with the undertaker

about Will's funeral.

Now, you tell him nothing fancy but something decent.

Matt--

[ jail door creaking ]

why not let the Army take care of that?

Because Will is my brother. I'll bury him.

[ door continues creaking ]About the livestock and all,

I guess the best thing to do is get in touch

with that auctioneer fellow, uh, Billy.

Tell him to hold an auction sale,

and I mean you sell everything

that you don't figure on taking back East

with you when you go.

Andy, stop it. Now, stop playing with the door.

Come on.

I'm sorry. I guess we're all a little bit tired.

You better head home as soon as you can, Ellen.

Just see to those things first.

Now, come on, both of you.

Ellen, stop looking at me like that.

I need you to take care of things while I'm in here.

No, Matt, no, not today.

They ain't going to take care of anything-- nothing but themselves.

Now, you go right on home. No, come on.

I want you to go home right now, both of you.

Let's go home, all right? Please.

Please, Ellen.

You brainless wonder, couldn't you see they were both of them about to cave in?

You're acting like you've already been tried,

found guilty, and sentenced.

What, are you-- you giving up, Matt?

When Will told me what he did, I--

That doesn't change what happened.

I mean, you still broke him out thinking he was innocent.

You think I've got a chance, huh, Emmett?

Well, I don't know.

I just wouldn't quit cold.

I mean, the way you've been going on here,

you're selling the place, you're moving them East,

you likely scared Andy and Ellen to death.

I just want to keep them busy for a couple of days

so they can ease into getting by without me, all right?

Matt, I just don't think it's going to work that way.

Right now I don't think-- I don't think they can get by without you now.

Yeah?

Well, what am I going to do for them, Emmett?

What can I do for them in here?

How much did you say, 600?

He expects me to set bail for that amount?

I don't know what he expects, but I'd appreciate it,

and he'd be there on trial day

if he had to crawl to get there.

Six hundred?

And a little over $14, I think.

Your money, Sheriff?

Some of it.

Most of it came from the Shiloh crew.

They were in town. They kind of passed the hat

over at the saloon,

and Matt won't jump that kind of bail, Judge.

I'd bet everything--Your job on it

because that's what you are betting, Emmett...

just like I'm betting mine.

Then I can turn him loose?

Bond is set at $600 even.

There's your 14.

I suggest you buy that Shiloh crew a drink with it.

Pa!

Hey, Andy, come here, boy!

Oh, it's good to see you.

Matt! Matt.

Ellen, Ellen, Ellen, Ellen.Matt.

What happened? Did they just let you go?

I knew they couldn't do anything to you, Pa. I knew it.

All right, now, you just slow down.

Just both of you slow down.

I've still got to stand trial.

That ain't changed,

but I'm free until the trial starts,

and that ain't for two weeks.

Ellen, I tell you, we got friends I never knew we had.

Emmett.

Yeah, Emmett, he's right at the top of the list.

The old sour-faced old man, he--

Matt, I don't have a thing fixed for supper, not a thing--

Andy asleep?

Yeah, just about.

I still don't think he understands.

Maybe he's too young to live without hope.

I've got a lot to get done in the next two weeks.

I'll see old man Thomas at the bank first thing in the morning.

and then...

Ellen, I've been thinking about after the trial.

We have two weeks to say good-bye, and--

and after that--

Well, I just keep remembering the way he looked

when you left me in...

jail, and I don't ever want to see you look like that again,

not ever.

Two weeks.

All right,

that's 14 days,

14 nights.

I--

I want to spend every minute with you...

in town-- have to go there working around the place

and here, this room,

I want-- I want to fill up with you...

enough to last me the rest of my life.

And we shall prove that Mathew Denning,

while feloniously assisting his brother

in an escape from an Army stockade,

did willfully and maliciously

strike the blow

which was the direct cause of death

of Master Sergeant Lewis Gunnerson,

turnkey of the stockade.

It was not willful.

It was not malicious,

but the act of a desperate, driven man.

sincerely believing that his brother

was wrongly sentenced to death,

who therefore took the only course left to him

to save what he thought was an innocent life.

When I went after him, I hated his insides.

I wanted to see him dead...

but after it was all over,

I found out I was wrong.

Matt Denning's a good man.

He could've used that Indian fight to break loose

two, maybe three times, but he never did.

The medic tells me I'm crazy to get out of bed to come here to testify,

but I figure I had to.

I had to set things straight.

Well, he was my brother,

and he told me that he was innocent,

that he hadn't done it, and I believed him...

and there wasn't any other way,

they were going to take him out and shoot him that same morning.

I tried every legal means.

I've always lived by the law,

but this time I thought the law had gone sour...

so I went in there to take Will out

and the old man said he was going to stop us, and I hit him.

Now, if my being hanged could bring him back,

well, I'd help tie the noose myself.

Believe me, I--

I guess I'd give just about anything

to be able to live that morning over again,

find some other way to stop that old man.

I've got to say this--

If I could live the morning over again,

I mean, still thinking that Will was innocent,

and there wasn't any other way to save him...

God help me, I'd do it again.

I'd have to do it again.

The issue here

is a difficult, even a dangerous one.

Laws are made and enforced

because without them we would live in anarchy,

and the civilization of man

cannot survive in anarchy.

Yet there are times,

too many times in this new frontier civilization of ours,

it may seem that the law is harsh,

unjust, wrong,

then the strong, self-sufficient men who built this frontier,

men like Matt Denning,

may be sorely tempted,

but I tell you this--

to yield to that temptation

is to invite the anarchy that could destroy us all.

There are lawful means to correct a legal injustice,

and when those means fail,

then other means must be created lawfully.

To do otherwise

is to destroy the entire fabric of law and order

just because one single thread is flawed.

In the case of Matt Denning,

there can be only one basis

on which to decide his guilt or innocence.

Did he or did he not strike the blow

which killed the guard?

There are no other arguments in the opinion of this court.

TRAVIS: So he looked around, and there's nobody there,

but I mean nobody, and he says,

"Oh, no, they took the steer instead of the heifer."

[ all laughing ]

Hey, Emmett, Emmett, look,

let's send over a couple bottles.

No reason why Matt here can't have a couple drinks tonight.

Who's going to care?

[ other men clamoring ]

No, no, no, no, no, no,

now, that's where I draw the line.

There's no liquor on the premises.

Now, that's gospel.

Sure are a hardhead.

You know, I remember when he was a pretty nice fellow.

Listen, I want to thank all of you for coming over here tonight.

Uh, Matt, we were wondering on the way over...

maybe you'd like to have

some of us take that train ride with you.

Huh?

Oh...

what do you mean, go to the penitentiary with me?

Yo.

No, uh...

you know I'd rather just say good-bye here.

The fact is Emmett is--

Emmett's not going to ride on the train with me either.

I asked him not to.

Whatever you want, Matt.

Well, Matt, we'd sure make that a trip to remember.

[ all laugh ]

Yeah, I'll bet we could, huh?

Well, Emmett, if there's not going to be any drinking tonight,

how about a little poker game, huh?

Pick a card, anyone. Go ahead.

Yeah, all right, I've got a couple bucks I don't mind losing.

Taking a few from me.

I'm sorry, Matt, I just couldn't stay away.

Didn't mean to interrupt, though.

It's all right, Ma'am. we were just going.

Boys. Matt.

Take care, Matt.Trampas.

I can't leave you alone very long,

but I need some fresh air

from that bunch of wild horses.

Come here.

I'm awful glad you came. I've been wishing you would.

Oh, I know.

I know.

I won't spoil it for you, Matt.

I promise you I won't.

Oh, no, you--

You couldn't if you tried.

How's Andy?

He's your son.

He's got strength in him he doesn't even know about yet.

He'll be all right.

Yeah, I think he will.

How about you?

I'm fine.

Plans are all made.

We'll be leaving as soon as the final papers are signed.

I guess somehow I'm winding up

with more money than I've ever seen.

The auction sale was yesterday, you know.

No, I didn't know.

Oh, Matt, they came in wagonloads

from town, Shiloh, even from the Fort.

They bid ridiculous prices.

Uh, $60 for that--

that saddle you paid 12 for.

Sixty dollars?

Yes, and $25 for a broken watch.

They were just crazy.

[ weeping ] Wonderful.

With a little managing,

I'll be able to see Andy through school now.

Well... you know something?

We're lucky, Ellen.

As crazy as that sounds,

standing here saying good-bye, we're lucky.

I mean it.

We've had more in our years together

than a lot of people have in their whole lives.

Well, I--

I better get out of here, or I'll spoil it for sure.

They've been good years, Ellen.

I want to thank you for them.

All the boys gone?

Mm-hmm.

What time does that train get in?

9:05.9:05.

Marshal's going to come a half hour early to pick you up.

You and me, we say good-bye right here.

If you still want it that way.

Like to keep all the good-byes under one roof.

It's not exactly the roof I would have chosen

if I had the choosing, I'll tell you.

You don't feel like sleeping, I guess.

[ sighs ]

Boy, it seems like a long, weary wait till 9:05.

[ sighs ]

[ clears throat ]

Well, now, what have you got there?

What does it look like? It's a pint of three-dollar whisky.

Fellow says you can just naturally feel

that Kentucky corn silk caressing your throat

as it slips on down.

I've been saving this.

Now, Sheriff, you told all those fellows

that you didn't allow any whisky in here.

What's this all about?

You wouldn't drink that skull varnish Trampas buys, would you?

I mean, this is whisky.

Uh-huh.

All right, why don't you just let an expert

do a little whisky testing there for you.

All right.

[ sniffs ]

Hmm?

You know something, I think you're right, Emmett...

No, no, no, hold on there.

See, you can ride two men on a pinto all night long.

Just put her feet down real gentle-like.

See? One at a time.

You start running, she won't last the first mile.

That so?Yeah.

So watch me, huh?

[ clears throat ]

[ ticking ]

MATT: No, I mean it. You ought to have gotten married years ago.

That little red-headed girl that you squired

at the Fourth-of-July picnic a couple years back,

What was her name?

Yeah, yeah, Francine.

Francine, that was it.

Well, she took a real shining to you.

You could've taken up with her.

She was a real cute little thing.

Yeah, yeah, she was cute,

but her brothers weren't.

Had four of the biggest, meanest brothers

you'd ever, ever hope to see,

and they just dearly loved to lay for Francine's beaux...

and tear them to bits.

Yean, that Francine's awful cute,

but she's an awful good bet to wind up an old maid.

[ door opens ]

Don't do nothing. I don't want to shoot.

Nobody's moving, boy.

Easy with that thing, Andy.

Andy--

Andy, you can't do this, son.

Yes, I can. I got to.

There ain't no other way I can save you.

Matt.

Matt.

[ panting ]

Look, Andy, you just go on home now.

We can go together and take Ma like the last time.

Hey, watch out where you--Stand right still.

All right, Andy, go on home right now.

I'll see you later, Pa.

Is he really going to see you again?

You going to do it all over?

You're going to take them along with you like you did before?

Now, let me ask you something.

What would you do if it was you supposed to be taking

that train ride in the morning?

I've been thinking about that,

hoping that if it ever was me,

I'd come off half as good a man as you have--

up to a minute ago.

Emmett, I thought I was doing the right thing,

but it was a lie.

It was for nothing.

Now, I could go to whatever I got coming to me,

at least ways thinking I did what I had to,

but Will lied to me.

No, it was a mistake. You made a mistake, Matt,

for a lie, for the truth.

Either way it was still wrong,

and you made a man's mistake, Matt,

and you're bound to pay a man's price for it.

Now, I don't know why Will told you what he did.

I don't know that,

except I just think he hated your insides.

No, I raised him. I took care of him.

You had all the strength, Matt.

He had nothing.

Now he's reaching out to you again.

It's his hand on that shotgun.

You're letting Will drag you down

to something no better than he was.

Emmet, you listen to me.

I am a man in my prime.

I'm married to a woman who still makes my blood run hot when I look at her,

and I've got a boy who needs me,

and I don't want to die.

Matt, how bad do you want to stay alive,

bad enough to kill another man?

Just don't you try me.

Because that's the only way you're going to get out of here tonight--

by killing me.

Look, why, you're supposed to be my friend.

Now, why don't you just walk in the sun--

Why don't I make it just easy on myself, Matt?

Because I believe what that judge said at your trial.

It's a hard, rough road to follow, the law...

and you throw it away, and there's nothing, Matt.

There's just nothing.

I don't think you'd do it, Emmet.

You're going to have to prove it to me.

[ sighs ]

[ shatters ]

Marshal.

Morning, Sheriff.

Prisoner ready?

Just about.

Cool one, ain't he?

Steady enough to shave himself on a morning like this.

You treat him decent, I'd take it as a favor.

He a friend of yours?

A good one.

All right, Mr., uh, Denning,

this can be as easy as you want to make it.

Don't give me any grief, you won't get any from me.

Man is that good a friend,

I'm surprised you didn't take the train ride,

go with him all the way.

Marshal, I took him as far as I could go.

All right.

[ grunts ] Wait.

Ready, up.

That the last of it?

That's everything.

Someday I'll come back here and buy this place

from whoever owns it then.

No, but someday you will have a place of your own,

even better than this one.

Pa used to say this place was for me when I grew up.

Maybe,

but the most important things your father wanted you to have

you have already.

Andy, you want to drive us back to town?

Me?Yeah.

Well, sure,

but I never drove nothing but plow horses.

This is a pair of real high-steppers up there.

They're used to a man's touch on the range.

You know what I mean?

So you just take these reins

and keep your backbone straight,

you keep your head up proud,

and that's what they'll feel through that leather.

All right, let's go!

[ theme music playing ]