All language subtitles for S04E13 - The Horse Fighter

[ theme music playing ]

This is as far as you go,
gentlemen.

I'll take it from here.

We'll see you
in the Medicine Bow saloon

three nights from now,
huh, Sam?

You ain't going to change
your mind on us again,

are you, Sam?

Well, now, I'd like to see
the end of that rainbow

the same as you two.

I ain't likely to change
my mind.

See you.

Sure you going to be
all right, Jennifer?

Maybe you better
have Virginia get a woman

in here to help you.

I'll be fine.

And I want that boy
to stay off that leg

until I return,
understand?

Yes, sir.

Where's Doc Benson.

He's in the study,
putting on the cast.

I am going to be late.

Well, they'll hold
the train.

Young lady, don't get
an exaggerated idea

of my importance
to Medicine Bow.

I have been left behind
before.

And tell the Virginian
I don't want anyone else

to try to put a saddle
on that black stallion.

♪ I ride
through the highlands ♪

♪ Gonna ride
through the low ♪

♪ And I'll meet you
someday ♪

♪ Where the green waters
flow ♪

♪ And I'll meet you
someday ♪

♪ Where the green waters
flow ♪

[ whistling ]

[ laughing ]Doc'll be right down.

Didn't mean to almost run you
down, Mister.

We're having some trouble
with a wild stallion,

and I had to call a doc.

Oh, busted up
another cowpoke, huh?

You heard about him, huh?

Well, word gets around.

The way you're prancing
up and down, boy,

I'd say you have
a little mustang blood
in you yourself.

Go on, don't miss
the excitement.

This little lady'll
take care of me.

Well, it's nice to meet you.

Right.
[ chuckles ]

Hmm.

Now, little lady,
where might I find the boss?

Judge Garth
is on his way to Colorado.

Oh, gone to Colorado, huh?

Can I help you?

Not unless you're
the ramrod around here

while he's gone.

No, that would be
the Virginian.

I'm just the ramrod
of the splints and bandages.

One of our cowboys
got a cast put on,

and I'm his nurse.

Well, now, you get ready
for patient number two,

and then that'll be the last.

How can you be so sure?

Because Sam Willock is here,

and I'm going to have
a talk with your Virginian,

and then I'm going to come
to an understanding

with them wild horses.

Well, nice to have met you,
Florence Nightingale.

Easy, Buck, easy.

That snake-eyed,
son-of-a-horned outlaw.

Eat a man alive,
spurs and all.

Who's he going to bust up
next, huh?

Well, let's see here.

Don't want to move him
too much, Doc.

I'm afraid
it might be broken.

Well, you get
a lot of injuries
when cowhands are tired.

That trail drive must've taken
all the ginger out of him.

It's not the trail drive.
It's that horse.

Yee-ha!
Yee-ha-ha-ha-ha!

[ whinnying ]

I don't know
what you and that horse
have between you, Mister,

buy you sure turned him,
and we're grateful.

That black might've been shot.
That's what might've happened.

I was just going
to crease him.

Oh, that would be the day.

You would've cut him down
sure as shooting.

What was I supposed to do,

let that outlaws
skin a man alive?

Well, if you ask me,
the hide of a $30 puncher

ain't worth a chance
of killing a king

like that black stallion.

Remind me, friend,
to thank you some day

for saving
my worthless hide.

You did us a good turn.

Don't let it go to your head.

I'm the foreman here.

Yeah, I figured that.

You're one up on me.

Who are you,
and what can I do for you?

Well, I was just passing
through Medicine Bow

when I heard
about all the trouble
you were having up here

with them wild ones

that some fast-talking mustanger
must've sold you,

so I thought I'd mosey on over
and say hello.

My name's Sam Willock,
world's finest horse fighter,

so you see it's not
what you can do for me, son.

It's what I can do for you.

You're--

You're Sam Willock?

That's right,
one and only.

I see you're heard of me.

I seen you work.

I was about 15 years old,

just starting out
as a kid wrangler

on a little spread
near Omaha.

I heard about this bronc-buster
who really had the touch.

I think you were working
for an Englishman
over on the Platte.

Friend of mine and I
rode over one day off

just to see you go up
on a wild one.

It was a good many years ago.

I guess that's
why I didn't recognize you.

You were the best.
I remember that much.

I still am.

I'm sure you are.

You don't believe that,
do you?

You look at this battered old
hunk of horse fighter

and you say to yourself,
"He's had it.

Time has passed him by,"

but you're wrong.

This is one boy
time don't touch.

I'm just as good
as I ever was,

maybe better.

Well, I--

I'd like to put you on,

but the men are used to breaking
their own mounts to saddle.

I wouldn't want to stir up
any hard feelings.

It's either hire me,
or hire the Doc full time,

and I think you'll find

that I work a little cheaper
old sawbones.

You got a point there.

To tell you the truth,
I'm not sure anyone can break
that wild bunch.

Well, son, you
ain't just hiring anybody.

You got yourself
Sam Willock.

Well, how does $5 sound
for every head you bust?

Fair enough.

Randy, show Mr. Willock
to the bunkhouse.

Show him where he can stow
his gear.

It's right this way,
Mr. Willock.

Sam. Lead on.

I hear you boys just got back

from taking your cattle
to the railhead.

Yeah, 35,000 head.

That's a nice town,
Cheyenne.

I guess you're really looking
forward to that back pay, huh?

Yeah, I'm slaving
for something pretty special,

so it'll sure come in handy
for me.

Is that the wild bunch
I'm going to be working on?

Uh-huh.

Pretty to look at,
ain't they?

And devils to ride.

[ whinnying ]

You must really have
a feeling for horses,
Mr. Willock.

I told you to call me Sam.

Sam, I mean.

I mean, the way you cared
about what happened
to that black stallion,

you must really--

I don't give a hang
about horses, boy.

They're the enemy, boy.

That's all they are to me--

the enemy.

[ coaxing horse ]

Easy, boy.
Ho, boy.

Ready to pop him
in the oven, Willock?

Going to pop you in next,
boy.

The way you got him
trussed up,

I figured he must be
a Thanksgiving turkey.

You don't believe in taking
any chances, do you, Willock?

If you mean I ain't like
any of you cabbage-heads,
you're right.

I don't happen to feature
walking upside down on air

just to show my britches.

Randy, you better saddle up
that big horse.

I think he needs exercise.

There's the message
for the telegraph office.

Right.

How's it going, Sam?

Oh, smooth as silk.

You figure to bring them
all under control that way?

No two horses alike.

I do whatever I think is best
for each of them.

You follow every one of them
like that?

That's right.

Don't you think that's
a little hard on them?

I thought you only cheated
a rough, mean horse.

That's right.

Sawhorse doesn't look
so ornery to me.

Well, you take
my word for it--
Pure outlaw.

Now, you see
the meanness in him,

and you show him
who's boss real quick.

That's one way.

That's my way.

Ain't no calf chasers,
not even you ramrodders

going to tell me
how to fight horses.

I'm not trying to tell you.

Oh, yes, you are.

You're just like
all the rest of them.

You want to see me break
those horses like they did
in the old days--

pure guts and strength.

Well, let me tell you
something, Mister.

That was a stupid way

for stupid kids
who didn't know any better.

Now, I ain't
no hard-nosed kid,
not anymore.

I do it my way.

I break them
with my head.

All I said was--

I don't mean to give you
the rough side of my tongue,

but we better straighten
this out right here and now.

That's the way
it's going to have to be.

Now, I do my job,
and you do your job.

You leave me alone,
and I'll leave you alone.

Fair enough?

We'll try it that way.

I like you, ramrod.

You know what makes
a man tick.

I also know that no one,
not even you,

breaks a string of wild horses
without some help,

at least on that first saddle.

I was going to get
to that next.

Maybe you'd like
to use Buck here.

He won't be able to get
up on another horse
for a day or so.

Seeing as how he's
the top buster
here at Shiloh,

he ought to be worth
his weight in wild cats.

Well, he ain't worth
nothing to me.

It's them ones
that think they know
all about horses

that cause you
all the trouble.

No, I wouldn't have him
if you put him in a box

and tied it up
with a pink ribbon on top.

Don't worry, Willock.
I ain't yours for the taking.

I'd rather have a green hand

like that kid over there.

Least ways I could teach him
from scratch and no back talk.

Hey, Randy?
Come here, boy.

How would you like to help me
bust them broncs, boy?

Not going to let him--

Let's wait and see
how Randy feels about it.

Whatever you think
I ought to do is fine
with me.

What's the matter
with you, boy?

You want him to put
your boots on you
every morning for you?

Now, do you or don't you?

Sure, I'd like to work
for you, Mr. Willock.

Sam.

Sam, I mean.

Sure, I'd like to work
for you.

It's up to the boss.

Now, wait a minute, boy.

When me and you are in there,
I'm the boss,

and don't you forget it.

Yes, sir.

There's my man, ramrod.

He's your man.

Let's go, horse fighter.

We got two tons
of crazy mustang

just waiting to get
a lick at us.

Excuse me.

What are you trying to do,
spoil that man rotten

or give him enough rope
to hang himself?

Just trying to give Randy
a chance to learn
something new, is all.

All right, Randy boy.

Go on in there
and gentle him
a little bit.

Rub himWhoa, boy.

Let's see what you know.

That-a-boy.

You know why he wants
a green hand

that don't know nothing
about horse busting,
don't you?

He knows I see
right through him.

He's lost his guts.

That's why he's got
a mile of rope
on that mustang.

He just can't take them
head on anymore.

All I remember is...

a man a long time ago
back near Omaha

look a wild horse
in the eye

and make him dance
to his tune.

You know, if even
a bit of that man's
still alive, Buck,

he can do a big job
for us.

Hey, Sam.

That wild stallion,
just forget about him.

He can't be broke
for cow work,

and I don't want him touched,
understand?

We've had
our share of broken bones

around here.

Yeah, I understand.

You don't want me making
donkeys our of your men.

Yeah, right.
Right, ramrod.

Easy, boy.

♪ Oh, Lord, it takes
a worried man ♪

♪ To sing worried songs

♪ It takes a worried man

♪ To sing a worried song

♪ I'm worried now

♪ But I won't be worried
long ♪

Hey, Randy,

play a little
Lone Star Trail,

get us in the mood
for hitting the sack.

Yeah, I always liked
that one.

♪ I'm up in the morning

♪ Before daylight

♪ Before I sleep

♪ The moon shines bright

♪ With my knees
in the saddle ♪

♪ And my seat in the sky

♪ I quit punchin' doggies

♪ In the sweet by and by

♪ Yippy-aye

♪ Yippy-yay

♪ All along
the Lone Star Trail ♪

♪ It breaks my heart

♪ To have to go

♪ And leave my sweetheart

♪ So far away

♪ And when I'm out ridin'

♪ Up hill and dale

♪ I'll think of my darlin'

♪ On the Lone Star--

How's a man going to get
any shut-eye around here

with you tomcats howling
on the back fence?

I got a bunch of wild ones
to break in the morning,

and I need a lot of rest,
so why don't you just shut up?

Well, that old boy's got
a loud mouth on him.

Oh, the devil with him.

Go on, Randy,
play a little more
of that tomcat music.

Well, maybe
Mr. Willock's right.

It does take
a goodnight sleep

when you're breaking mustangs
in the morning.

I'm turning in.

Night, Randy.

Travis.

Sam?

I didn't mean
to get you riled
with the guitar playing.

Oh, that's all right, boy.

I guess it can get
under your skin

when you're trying to sleep.

No, it wasn't you.

It was that song you were
singing kind of brought back
memories.

I didn't mean to get
my back riled up.

Well, I guess you had
a right.

I'll see you in the morning.

Whoa, easy now.Whoa, yeah,
easy, now.

Take it easy, fellow.

Easy. It's only me.

It's only a saddle.

It ain't
the end of the world.

Yeah.That's it.

That-a-boy.

That's it, boy.

Whoa, boy.

Now, don't turn loose
of that rope, boy,
till I tell you.

Yeah--Yes, sir.
All right.

All right, boy.
Easy, now.

Easy, boy.
It's only me.

Only me.

Easy, boy.

Nobody going to hurt you.

Nobody going to hurt you.

Let him see the light.

Ho, now.

This one's all bucked out.

Oh, you got him, Sam.
He knows you're the boss.

Smart horse.

Back. Back, back, back...

Well, look who's here now,
Mr. Willock himself.

Sit down, Sam.
Sit down.

Got you all set up here.
Got your favorite.

Just the thing
to ease up on the pain
and wash away your cares.

Whoo-yeah.

I'll bet you're showing
them waddies out at Shiloh

a thing or two
about horses, ain't you?

[ clears throat ]

Well, I still got
a few tricks up my sleeve.

Why, sure you have.

Them ignorant cowpokes
out there

ain't got sense
not to appreciate

a man like you, Sam.

[ chuckles ]
That's a fact.

Well, how does it look
out there?

Mace, I don't think
it's going to work.

Now, I mean,

we figured on the old Judge
being the only man

that we had to draw down on,

but he's gone to Colorado.

What's that got to do
with it?

Well, they still got
all that money

coming in with that back pay,
ain't they?

Yeah,
but that young ramrod--

he's handling things now,

and he may draw a gun
faster than the old Judge.

Well, if he does,
we'll blast him,

simple as that.

I don't want nothing to do
with no killing.

Don't you pay no mind
to Albie.

He's always talking
about using that gun of his.

There ain't going to be
any killing, Sam.

Take my word for that.

Now, this ain't exactly
my line of work, you know!

It may have been better
if you boys tied up
with someone else.

Wait a minute, Sam.

We tied in with you
because we know

you're the man
to get the job done.

Yeah, the way
you was talking

last week when we find you
in that saloon,

you ain't exactly overjoyed
in the line of work
you been in.

What do you mean?

I got nothing against
bronc-busting.

I'm still
the best there is,
ain't I?

MACE:
Why, sure you are.

Just ain't any money
in it anymore.

There never was.

Never will be.

You just remember,

this thing out at Shiloh

could be a real
sweet little trick

if you just don't lose
your guts, Sam.

Who said I was?

Relax. I was just joshing,
will you?

All you got to do
is play nursemaid

to that bunch of mustangs
out there

till you find out
what we need to know.

Me and Albie,
we'll waltz in there and

relieve the ramrod
of the burden of
all that money

and disappear up
into Canada somewhere.

Boy, inside six months

you could buy yourself
a thousand acres somewhere,

run all the horse flesh
you ever dreamed of.

Sure.

Why not?

I deserve it, don't I?

Twenty-nine years
falling in the dust.

A man deserves something
for all that.

Now, what did you find out?

How long we going
to have to wait?

Well, day after tomorrow

Virginian going
to that Cattlemen's meeting
in Cheyenne.

He ought to be back
with all that money

about the end of the week,

first of next?

Soon as I hear
he's coming back,

I'll let you boys know.

It's good enough, champ.

How much you figure
there will be?

Well, there's
three months back pay

for more than
a hundred hands,

and there's a trail bonus.

Ought to be more than
about $20,00 a piece

split three ways.

No bad thing.

[ hoots quietly ]

I can just see the look
on that ramrod's face.

[ chuckles ]

Yeah, that's
the way to live--

wild and free--

the only way to live.

Sure are something.

Ain't no words
for a sight like that, boy.

[ chuckles ]
You know what they're doing?

They're racing with the wind,
that's what they're doing.

Makes you want to get
right out there

and race along with them,
don't it?

That's just the way I feel.

That's because you're
half horse yourself, boy.

That makes the pair of us.

[ chuckles ]

Yeah, now, these two fellows,

just a bit ago they were

running wild and free

until I put them under saddle.

Ah, makes a man wonder,
don't it?

Well, I guess
we better get back,

turn these fellows
over to their new riders.

They don't ride
like they're fresh broke.

Well, that's
because I leave them

with a little bit
of their pride left, boy.

Now, all these young
bronco twisters,

they don't know nothing.

All they know
is to bust them down
and shake them up.

Now, that ain't
no way to do it,

no way at all.

You've got to respect
their pride, boy.

You've got to learn
that they have feelings,

just like you and me.

I know.

Once thought I'd get
a place of my own one day

up Montana way,

little ranch,

and just let them all
run wild.

Eh, just a pipe dream.

I don't think much
about it anymore.

Well, here they are, ramrod.

I'll have the others ready
for you day after tomorrow.

You'll fine them
just as prime

as when you
first gave them to me.

No panther tracks
and no scariness
in the eyes.

They look good, Sam.

Now, the rest
is up to your punches.

I don't want to see
any of you waddies
jerking these mounts around

or riding with a tight rein.

That's what cuts up
their mouths,

turns them starry-eyed,

makes them
lift their head up too high,

and don't overwork them.

They need
a little time to learn.

You don't like horses
very much, do you, Sam?

Well, I guess I do treat them

like little girls
on their first day of school.

Probably all for nothing,
though.

I can't tell you
how many horses
I've seen ruined

by cowboys
who don't have the brains

of the animal
they're sitting on.

Here. Come on, Randy,
let's go.

We've got work to do.

No possible way
to talk nice to that man

without him trying to bite
your head off

like an old gray wolf

That's how much
you know about him.

What's the matter
with him?

All I said was--

Let's just forget it.

Time to get back to work.

[ men laughing ]

Spare ribs for supper,
Randy.

Yeah, I know.

I don't know about you two,

but I'm going to high-tail it
over there

before those chowhounds
lick the platter clean.

All right.

[ strumming chords ]

You're not going to start
strumming that thing

with spare ribs
waiting for us.

Hey, I've got to show you
something.

I got it out of an old copy
of Leslie's Illustrated

that the Judge gave me.

WILLOCK:
Mm-hmm.

Purely beautiful.

Kind of reminds you
of that black stallion.

You know,
these other boys

would laugh themselves silly

if they knew I had this
under my mattress.

Well, they don't know
no better.

Ever since I saw
my first horse,

I've had this--

this--this feeling,
you know?

Yeah, I know.

And then the other day
when you were talking

about someday
having a place of your own,

well, I wanted to tell you
something then, but...

I guess I thought you
just might laugh at me.

Well, go on.

Tell me now.

Well, I had the same idea--

Forty acres somewhere,

little horse farm,

just like what you said.

That's why I've been saving
this picture.

Kind of reminds you of a place
you'd like to have someday.

Well, a man's not a man
until he's got a dream, boy.

Well, I guess
I shouldn't waste your time
showing this to you.

We're liable to miss out
on them ribs.

I'm going to give you
that wild horse, boy.

I'm going to break him
for you.

I don't think
the Virginian's
going to like--

Nah...

The Virginian
don't have to know.

He won't be back
for the next few days.

He's taking the Judge's place
at that Cattlemen's meeting
in Cheyenne.

Well, you know what he said.

It don't matter
what he said.

You deserve a good horse
under you,

a horse that's worthy
of a man with a dream.

Go on, wash up.
I'll wait for you outside.

[ whinnies ]

There's only one way to handle

a proud and defiant animal
like that--

fight him man to man,

let him know that you're
just as tough and proud
as he is.

All right, now,
you stay here

and don't come in
until I give you the sign.

Hey there, Mister.

That's right, look at me.

My name's Sam,

Sam Willock.

[ chuckles ]

Yeah, I'm mighty proud
to meet you, too.

You and I are going to travel
a long way together.

Is that all right with you?

[ whinnying ]

Down. Come on, boy.

Down, down.

Come and get him.

That's it,
just a get-acquainted
hoe-down.

The real high heel stomping
ain't even started yet.

Hey, Buck,

make room in the hospital.

You're going to have company.

Mr. Willock is going to try
and ride the stallion.

It should be a few laughs.

Nothing to bother about,

just a tired old saddle
with nowhere to go.

Make him feel at home.

[ squeals ]Easy, easy, boy.

Whoa, whoa.

[ continues coaxing ]

Now we give His Highness
a chance to get used
to that saddle up there.

Easy, boy, easy.

Easy.

Easy, boy, easy.

Easy, whoa.
Whoa.

Hey, Willock,

You figure to mount up
sometime before sunup
tomorrow?

Why don't you just give up,
Willock.

Nobody's going to break
that stallion.

Listen to them,

waiting for me to fall
flat on my back,

choke on my own blood.

Well, it wouldn't be
the first time.

I had to learn
the hard way, boy,

the hard way.

A little bit of you dies
each time you get busted up.

After a while there's
nothing left to kill,

and that's when you know
you're a real horse fighter.

Ho. Whoa, boy.

Now, you get
a good hold of that rope

and don't let go
till I tell you.

Easy, now.
Whoa, whoa.

Easy, boy.

Got to get you used to me
up here, now, boy.

I'm a part of you now.
You know what I mean?

Are you ready?

Let him go.

Hah!

Stay with him, Sam!

Sam? Sam.

I'm all right.
I'm all right.

I'm all right.

Hey, let him go.No, I've got to ride him.

You told me yourself,

when you got
a real hard case to fight,
you take plenty of time,

give your wild man a chance
to think things over
before you go back in.

Yeah, that's right.

Give him a chance
to think things over.

Tomorrow will be soon enough.

Right.

Sam?[ grunts ]

Maybe I can get the doctor,
take a look at you.

Uh-uh.

I don't want no doctor!Sam, you might be hurt.

You've got a lot to learn
about fighting wild ones,
boy.

It just ain't enough
breaking them to saddle.

You've got to learn
that you can't go running
after no sawbones

every time life
knocks you down.

You've just got to get
back up again.

It knocks you down,
you get back up again,

and you keep getting up

until you find yourself
standing tall--

tall like a man
no matter what's coming
at you.

That's the way you
got to do it, boy.

Ain't no other way.

[ snoring ]

[ groaning ]

How you feel?

Huh.

Morning. Morning.

Morning yourself.

Well, I've got to get
back to work.

You don't have to
if you don't want to.

[ continues groaning ]

What am I doing all dressed?

Don't you remember?

You hurt so much last night
you couldn't take
your clothes off.

You fell asleep on the bed,

and I just threw
a blanket over you.

[ chuckles ]

Sure you feel
all right?

Yeah, yeah.

I'm all right.
I'm all right.

Just point me
to the corral.

That's all.
Let's go.

You can't just start ridding
on that stallion this morning.

What do you mean?
That buck stallion's
waiting for me.

I can't keep him waiting.

Got to show him
that I'm full of vinegar
as he is.

Listen, I promised
Miss Jenny

I'd bring you to see her
first thing in the morning.

But that black stallion's
waiting for me, boy.

He can wait.
Come on, I promised her.

Well, what's she want
to see me about?

You'll find out.

Mm-mmm.

Old Randy here's
going to have to carry me

over to the corral
in a wheelbarrow.

You don't mean
you're finished yet.

Miss Jenny,
I want to tell you
something.

You remind me of
somebody I knew
a long time ago.

She was a princess
in the kitchen, too.

Well, thank you, Sam.

Her name was Lila,

sod-buster's daughter.

She and her girlfriend

used to come over
and watch me get up
on them wild ones.

Boy, I really strutted
my stuff in those days.

Yeah, the prettiest thing
you ever saw.

I'll bet you had
lots of girlfriends, Sam.

No, just her.

What ever happened to her?

I married her.

I didn't know
you had a wife, Sam.

She died a long time ago.

I'm sorry, Sam.

Oh, I almost forgot.

I've got something for you.

Hot diggity.

No, blueberry pie.

Wow-wee.

Mm-mmm.

I'm going to have
a piece of that pie
right now.

For breakfast?

Sure, always have pie
for breakfast.

[ knock on door ]

Excuse me, Ma'am,
but I'm looking

for a man named
Sam Willock.

JENNIFER:
Mr. Willock's right here.

You remember me, Sam,

Doggie Brewster?

We had us a high old time
back in Julesburg.

Yeah, sure, how are you?

Well, I heard you
was working out here
at Shiloh.

I thought maybe
you could get me hired on.

I could use a month's wages.

Well, the ramrod
isn't here right now, but--

Excuse me, folks.
Let me straighten
my friend out.

I'll be right back.

What the red-bellied devil
you doing out here, Albie?

You want to queer
the whole thing?

No, you're the one
that's queering things, boy,

messing around
with that stallion.

What do you know about it?

Oh, every cowpuncher in the
saloon was yapping about it
last night,

crazy Sam Willock
going against orders

while the ramrod was away.

How do you explain
that one, Sammy?

I got my own reasons.

Well, listen, boy.

You stay away
from that killer horse,
you hear?

Them's orders from Mace.

We don't want to take
no chance of you getting fired.

Ain't nobody going to fire me
if I break that horse,

and I'm going to break him.

Now, listen, boy.No, you listen.

I'm my own boss,
always have been
and always will be,

so don't go trying to tell me
what to do.

When's that Virginian
due back?

Any day now.

He'll have the money
with him.

Now, you can't be sure.

Well, Mace figures
he'll have it.

That's good enough for me.

Don't either of you two boys
show your pretty faces
around here

till I send you word
the ramrod's got it.

You understand?

We'll see what Mace says.

You do what I say...

both of you.

You're getting mighty sassy
in your old age, Sammy.

Don't you push me, Albie.

If I were you,

I wouldn't mess around anymore
with that stallion.

You wouldn't want to fall
on your face

before you reach that rainbow.

Randy!

Bring my gear.
Come on, we got work to do.

Time for another waltz,
Rand.

Let her go.

Now you're getting me mad,
Mister.

[ groaning ]

Easy.

[ coaxing ]

Let her go.

Ho!

Why don't you
give up on him, Sam?

He ain't going to make
no kind of horse.

Him and I has got to come
to an understanding.

Look, Sam.Now, just one more time.

You've been saying that--One more time.

Aren't you going to rope
him first?

No, just the two of us,

two free men,
no rope, nothing,

just the two of us.

Whoa, boy.

Whoa, boy.

Ho, now.

Easy.

[ continues coaxing ]

[ horse squealing ]

Sam, you never should've
tried that.

Lila?

Lila!

Where are you?

Let me--What's the matter?

What do you mean she's dead?

I don't believe you!
What do you mean she's dead?

Don't tell me.
You're lying to me!

Why--No! Lila!

Oh...Lila.

Randy? Is that you?

Yeah, Sam

What happened?

You were calling
for your wife.

You thought--
I don't know
what you thought.

Oh, yeah.

Just a kid...

and I had a lot of dreams--

had a lot of dreams...

and I wanted to make
them all come true...

for my wife.

She was pregnant.

I was about the happiest man

you ever saw.

but I knew
I couldn't own no ranch

on a bronco-buster's wages.

Then there was this--

this wild herd of beauties

in the foothills,
in the Rockies.

I figured I could mustang them,

break them to the saddle,

sell them.

I had to do it, boy.

I had to break them wild horses
for her and the child.

Sam? Sam!

[ groans ]Sam, you can't--

I left her
for a herd of wild horses.

Maybe if I stayed with her,
she might--

Help me up, son.
I've got to ride them.

What happened to her?

She died.

When I got back,
she was dead,

and the child in her,
it killed him, too.

Wasn't your fault, Sam.

Oh, yes, it was.
I was greedy.

I wanted everything
right then and there.

I broke them wild horses.

I broke them
and took away their lives

by putting a saddle on them.

No, you didn't.

Yes, I did.
I was greedy.

Yes, I did.

I caught them, I broke them,
and I sold them for what?

For money.

God showed me.

Help me up.
Come on, now.

It was for your wife, Sam.

[ sighs ]Her.

Listen, boy.

Never put a woman
in the center of your dreams,
boy,

because if you lose her,

you lose everything.

You give up.
You don't care anymore.

Come on, Randy.
Help me up, boy.

No.

I got to ride
that horse, Randy.

I'm not going to let you
kill yourself.Help me.

Randy!

Randy.

[ groans ]

Fight him, boy.

Fight him.

Keep his head up, Randy.

[ horse squeals ]

Keep his head up, Randy.

Stay with him.

[ squealing ]

[ horse quiets down ]

I think we got him.

Boy, you got him now.

He's all through.
[ laughs ]

We did it, Sam.

Uh-uh.
You did it, son.

Oh, you had him softened up
for me already.

All I had to do
was just sit in the saddle.

No. I couldn't go
the last mile.

You went it for me.

Well...

Now, don't get down
off that horse.

You rode him, you broke him.
He's yours.

Well, Sam, I just--

Look, why don't you ride up
to the main house

and show Miss Jenny
your horse.

You mean it?

Of course I mean it.

Now, go on.
Strut your stuff.

Thank you, Sam.
Thanks for everything.

Oh...

[ inaudible ]

I told you
not to touch that horse.

You stayed away
just long enough, Virginian.

That horse is fresh broke.

What's Randy doing up on him?

He broke that horse,
Randy himself.

You're a fool, Willock,

putting a kid like Randy
up on a horse like that.

Could get that boy killed.

That boy's a man.

That stallion
will never be safe.

I told you, and I--

Look, you don't like
the way I do things,

why don't you fire me
right here and now.

I've got half a mind to.

I'm not going to let
the way I feel

change what I think
of a man's work.

You've done a job of work
for us.

We'll just forget
about that stallion

and just tell Randy
he's too dangerous.

He's not to use
that horse again.

Now, don't start telling me
what to do.

I follow my own orders.

I'm my own boss,
and devil take the hindmost.

I won't have a hand working
for me that can't be told
what to do.

You're all through,
horse fighter.

Pack your roll,
pick up your pay
at the main house.

There will be a $10 bonus
for you.

You can keep your bonus.

That's the way you want it.

That's the way I want it.

All right.

Sam, I've been looking
for you.

I want to show you
how that stallion moves now.

He's pure horse, man.

Well, you take
good care of him, you hear?

You rub him down yourself.

Don't leave him
to nobody else.

Where you going?

Oh, someplace
over the hill, I guess.

Always someplace to go.

Why?

I was fired.

Your Virginian fired me.

For what?

Wanted me to take
that black stallion
away from you,

said you couldn't ride him,
it was too dangerous.

I can't ride him?

That's right.

Well, I helped break him,
didn't I?

What does he think I am?

Hey, listen,
you ought not have to leave
because of this.

I got no choice now.

Look, I'll be back,
say so long.

I'm going over
and pick up my pay.

Shoot.

Hey, where's
that champ-een horse fighter.

I just heard about it, Rand.

I'm real proud of you.

That took a lot of nerve.

I guess
I'm going to have to say
a nice word or two

about your old pal.

I must admit,
he really taught you
how to hold on to a wild one.

Hey, what's the matter, boy?

You mooning over
some little gal?

Nah, Randy hasn't any time
for girls.

Why, he's a horse fighter now.

Sure, he's got a gal.

No fooling.

Well, when I was mopping out
the bunkhouse this morning,

tossed up Randy's blanket
to get under his bunk,

and what do you think I found?

What?

A picture
of Randy's girlfriend.

I'll be.

Yeah, about 16 hands high,
weights about 1,100 pounds

with two of the prettiest
brown eyes

and four of the loveliest
hairy legs you ever did see.

[ whistles ]

Well, that's not bad.

Well, I wouldn't mind waltzing
a night or two

with this little lady myself--

What, you want the picture
that bad, Randy, take it.

Hey, hah-hah.

Got her.

If you want the picture
that bad--

Get him off--

Trampas--what are you
trying to do?

Get up off there.

What happened?

Hey, Randy.

What did you do that for?

Randy--

Hey!

Randy, what are you--

Now, hold on.
Hold on, Randy, listen.
Hey!

I ain't going to stay down
no matter how many times
you hit me.

I'm going to keep getting up
and getting up.

What's the matter with you?
What do you want from me?

I want you to give Sam
his job back.

Means that much to you, huh?

Yeah.

All right.

You got a friend, Willock.

It's your job if you want it.

What are you doing here?

You weren't figuring running out
on us, was you, Sam,

or was you?

You know the chance
you're taking?

Anybody saw us,

we're just
a couple of old buddies

come to visit
the finest horse fighter
ever lived.

We could rot,
waiting for you
to give us a word, Sam.

Virginian came back.

Why didn't you let us know?

I was going to.

When, next year?

That money
will be in the pockets
of a hundred cowpokes

by noon tomorrow.

What's wrong
with you, Sam?

A Shiloh hand was talking about
it in the saloon,

or we would have never known

all about the run-in you had
with the ramrod

over giving some green kid
a wild horse.

Would have ruined everything,
Sam, if you would have got
fired.

Now, you know that,
don't you?

Maybe I wanted it that way.

What he means is--Wait a minute, no.

None of that.

He's not a broken-down
old bronc-buster.

That's a proud man, Albie.

Got to reason
with a man like this.

Yeah, well,
I ain't letting him--

Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

He knows what we'd do
if he up and quit on us.

That don't faze him a bit.

He don't care how he dies

just so he dies
with his boots on.

Now, come on, this is the--

this is the best horse fighter
ever lived.

This is Sam Willock,
and he don't scare.

Sam, I know you.

You'd die a slow death
trying to work and live
your life

out in a place like this.

Can't you see it now,
couple of years from now?

Why, you'd just be old Sam,
character,

just good for a laugh,

stiff-legged, crusty old
barnacle just hanging on,

nothing more
than a charity case

because you know
you ain't got it in you

to put up with any more
of that bronc-busting.

I'm just as good
as I ever was.

Oh, are you, Sam?

No, you didn't break
that stallion.

That horse broke you,

took a green kid to run in,
save you.

No, you gave that horse
everything you had left.

You can't take that no more.

I will if I have to.

You're just kidding
yourself, Sam.

You couldn't stay
around here.

Why, sooner or later

every young punk
from the ramrod on down

would be riding you.

What you need
is a place of your own,

a little place away
from everybody,
no bosses,

but to get that,
now you got to have a stake

because every man knows it.

If you ain't got a stake,

sooner or later you're going
to have to go crawling

on your hands and knees
to some boss man.

You never was meant to do
a thing like that, right?

Why, of course I'm right.

Now, here's the way
we're going to do it.

That ramrod's up there
stuffing that money

in those pay envelopes,

and we're going to go
up there,

and you're going to be
the lookout.

Albie and me
are going to waltz in there

and say a fast hello-good-bye,
and off we go.

I thought we
was going to wait

until all them cowpokes
was asleep.

No, now, he'll be
on guard later.

Now's the time, Sam...

right now.

All right.

Come on, Sam.

Well, I got me
a royal straight--

four, five, six,
eight, nine.

You're too lucky,
Trampas.

Good thing
tomorrow's payday.

Hey, Randy, you're welcome
to sit in on this hand

if you want to lose
your money.

I got me a winning streak
going here.

Look at that.
Hmm?

No, thanks.
I guess I'll just get me
some fresh air.

RANDY: Sam?

I came outside
looking for you.

What are you doing
up here?

I'm waiting
for the Virginian.

He, uh, went in
to pick up my pay.

Look, why don't you go
on back to the bunkhouse,
huh?

I got something
I want to talk to him about.

You getting ready to leave?

I haven't made up
my mind yet.

I have.

I just decided.

I'm going to quit Shiloh
and ride up north

to look for my 40 acres now.

Now, you better think
that one over, boy.

I know it's going to be hard.

That's why I wanted to ask
you to come along.

What do you mean,
be partners?

Why not?

We could ride out together,
just you and me.

Now, don't let
breaking that stallion
go to your head, boy.

What do you mean?

Well, wouldn't that
be something, huh,

you and me,

old stumble-bum Sam

and Green Kid Randy,

two of us horse breeders.

That's right.

Boy, you don't have
the pig sense

if you think a thing
like that will ever work out.

Now, you could turn
your pockets inside out
a hundred times

and still not find
enough money

to buy an acre
of prime land.

Now, besides,
what do you know
about horses?

Not a thing.

I know.
That's why I need you, Sam.

We could do it together.
We really could.

No, we can't.

Get out of here
and leave me be.
[ rumbling ]

I tried to get rid of him

when you two came
busting out that door.

He might have seen our faces.

No, he's just a dumb kid.

He don't know
what's going on.

Ought to take him
with us just in case.

Well, that would just slow us
down, wouldn't it?

Sam's right.

Look, I'll drag him
into the bushes,

tie him up, and gag him.

By that time nobody
will find him till morning.

We'll be long gone.

You make it quick.
No pussy-footing, Sam.

Right. Get the horses.

[ knocking through walls ]

Made good time.

I'd have been here sooner,

but I stopped over
to have a quick chat

with the bartender
at the saloon

just before he closed.

Willock's been in,
all right.

He lifted a few
with a couple of hard cases

out of Colorado.

That's them all right.

Got two hours
head start on us.

You know that northern country
better than we do.

You mean if I was
a payroll robber

looking to get lost in Canada,
which way would I run?

Ryker, you do have a way
of hitting the nail.

Well, due north
is too easy to trail,

and they'll be figuring us

to come sniffing
after them all the way.

Let's see now,
if I was as smart
as they are,

I'd head northwest,

and I'd cross over Boot Pass,

and zag northeast
back to the border.

That sounds logical to me.

Head due north
and pick up their trail
at the border

unless we guessed wrong.

What are we waiting for?

Getting late.
Looks like we guessed wrong.

Better camp here
for the night.

Let's give those scouts
one more turn to the west.

If there's
no sign of them then,

you can start figuring out

what you're going to tell
the Judge

about your great payroll
robbery.

I'm fresh out of alibis.

I'm going to let you
tell him.

[ gun fires ]

I saw them

about six miles west!

That's them all right,

up there in the rocks right
behind the waterfall.

Well, then, let's go.No, wait.

It'll take a half hour
at least

to get position on them

without them knowing it.

It'll be dark by then.

Why not move into position
in the middle of the night

when they're sleeping?

Then we jump them
at first light.

If I know Willock,
we'll have a time taking him.

Well, I guarantee you,

he's not going to want to see
the inside of a jail.

Yeah, lock him up
and throw away the key.

Well, it's getting
about that time
to post a night guard.

You did more than your share
last night, Sammy boy.

You get a good night's sleep.

Albie and me,
we'll split it between us.

If we need you,
we'll call you,

and you can take the trick
before daylight.

How you feeling?

Fine.

You're worrying about him,
aren't you?

So.

To tell you the truth,
I am, too.

You know,
when you try to add up

what a man's life
really means...

you can't just count
the things against him.

You can't just cancel out

all those years
of being decent,

doing a job...

for one dark night
when he runs off

with somebody else's money.

I know.

It's not that so much.

Just don't judge him
too hard.

You don't have to be
in on it tomorrow

if you don't want to.

Think it over.

Night.

Night.

Randy, what are you doing
here, boy?

I had to come.

You're going to get
yourself killed.

It don't matter.

You mean you tracked us
all the way up here?

The posse did.

A posse?

Yeah, they got you
from all sides,

getting ready to move in
at first light.

The first light?
It's about that time now.

Well, I had to try
to warn you, Sam.

I didn't want them
to shoot you down

or lock you in a cage
like some animal.

Boy, you know
what you're getting
yourself into?

You're going
against the law.

Hang it, boy.
I ain't worth it.

I'm just a lying,
thieving, cheating
horse fighter

who's at the end
of his rope.

You got your whole life
ahead of you.

You don't want
to mess it up

by tying down
with the likes of me.

You ain't
none of them things.

You don't understand, boy.

Look, I don't care
what you say.

I don't care
what you've done.

All I know
is you're a good man, Sam.

Please, boy, don't.

You are, and you're not
at the end of your rope.

You got that dream.

If we could find
a way out of here,

maybe you and I could get
that place together, huh?

There's only one way--

up and over the mountains

if we can make it.

We can sure try, boy.
Huh?

Hey, Sam, Sam,

I just got a glimpse
of somebody coming
up through the bush,

probably a whole dang posse
going to hit us about--

Hey, what's
the kid doing here?

He come up here
to warn us, Mace.

That's a real good boy.

Yeah, that's a real pal.

Hey, maybe you
can help us, huh?

Why, sure, they don't want
to see him get hurt.

Yeah, that's a good boy.

Albie.

Hey, Albie.

He always did sleep
like a dead man.

Listen to me, boy.

When I say run,
you run over that ridge,
and don't turn around.

I'll be right behind you,
but just keep running

no matter what happens,
you hear?

Albie, come on.
There's a posse down here.

Just trust me
this one more time,
huh, boy?

Right, Sam.

Go.

Mace!

[ laughs ]

A funny thing--

A heck of a way
for a horse fighter

to go out.

[ laughs ]

I should've been kicked
in the head

by a prize hunk of horse,

like that black stallion.

[ grunts ]

Lila.

Good-bye, fellow.

He'd always remind me
of Sam.

He's just like him--

born to run wild and free.

[ theme music playing ]