Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

MAN: That's it right there.

That's just how it was.

And there's his partner Banty Cade--

already shot and dying.

And there's Golden Tom Brant himself, right there.

First, he killed Wesley Harcum,

then he killed George Coe.

Amos Coe got scared and run off. Ha ha!

Oh, he was an elegant man-- Tom Brant.

He sure was.

And right here-- right here in this room,

right there at that very spot--

Tom Brant stood there.

And Wesley Harcum-- he was killed

right at this table, right about here.

And Banty Cade--

Banty Cade bled to death right about at that spot

where the boy is standing right now.

This boy's very own grandfather. Isn't that right, Willie?

Heh heh. Yes, right on that spot exactly.

How do you know exactly? Did you see it?

Well, no. I--

I was 11 year old at the time,

but I know from my Uncle Albert.

Did he see it?

I didn't get your name, mister.

Ira Lom, sir-- at your service.

This is my paper.

And that is my story.

"Golden Tom Brant set free.

Released after 35 years' imprisonment."

I'm a reporter, sir,

sent here to record the emotions,

the sentiment, the excitement of the momentous occasion

for thousands of hungry readers.

What occasion?

Why, the return of Tom Brant, sir.

Golden Tom Brant.

You mean here?

Where else would he return to?

When's he comin'?

I don't know exactly,

but I'm prepared to wait.

Well, you've certainly come to the right place.

Tom Brant's a famous man, all right.

In fact, it's right here that he became famous.

I can remember as a boy-- all of us kids

used to follow Tom Brant around all over town.

And he'd take a $10 gold piece

and just throw it into the street,

right into the street!

And we'd fight for it.Mm-hmm.

Yes, and right here in this room,

just like I told you-- right here,

right there exactly, Tom Brant--

Tom Brant fought his last battle. Yes, sir, you told me.

[ laughs ] Oh, so I did. So I did.

And that wall over there, sir--

You see that wall?

Well, there used to be bullet holes there,

where Tom Brant shot George Coe.

The bullets went right through him.

You goin' straight home after work, Sue Ellen?

I might.

I'll walk you there.

Now, ain't you gettin' bold.

Just 'cause your granddaddy had the privilege

to bleed to death in Tom Brant's company,

you reckon now you're famous, too?

Just asked.

Go sweep the floor.

Hey, Teddler! Get Mr. Teddler his beer.

Have you seen the news? What?

Your father-in-law-- Tom Brant--

your wife's very own daddy.

My wife never set eyes on him.

She was born after he went to prison...

to a woman he'd already abandoned.

He's got nothin' to do with us.

Is that for publication, Mr. Teddler?

Oh, Mr. Teddler, this here is Mr. Lom.

He's a newspaper reporter from St. Louis.

You ought to talk to him, get your name in the paper.

There's nothin' to talk about.

How do you feel about Tom Brant comin' back here?

That's right, Mr. Teddler. Back to the bosom of his family.

"Ancient outlaw embraces long-lost daughter."

You gonna write that?That...

and much more, Mr. Teddler.

All the carefully embroidered details

that my editor pays me all too modestly to invent.

He seemed shocked.

Not half as shocked as Amos Coe is gonna be.

Amos Coe?

The man in the picture? The man who ran?

The same.

He's here? He's alive?

Alive and kicking.

He's a big man around these parts.

Cattle and horses.

I wonder he's gonna feel when he finds out...

that his brother's killer is walkin' around a free man.

No tellin' what might happen.

No tellin'.

Hey, Teddler! What's goin' on?

You're like a man on the way to a fire.

Slow down. I'll walk along with you.

What's the matter?

Guess you ain't seen this yet, Mr. Coe.

They set him loose. He's comin' back here.

I don't know why-- either one.

Mr. Coe, sorry to be the one to tell you, sir.

No reason it has to mean anything to anybody, sir.

I mean, after all these years.

Is the train on time?

Good mornin', Willie.Sheriff.

Is he on this one? This train?

Who?Mr. Brant.

I've met every train for the last three days,

and all I ask-- is he on it?

Yeah, he's on it. Supposed to be, anyhow.

I tell you, I been waitin'.

My granddaddy was his partner.

You know that?

Yeah, Willie, I know that.

Makes me the nearest thing to his partner now...

you could say.

Yeah, you could say that.

What are you doin' here, Sheriff?

The governor asked me to keep an eye on him.

Heh. Like handin' you a bobcat on a short leash.

I don't know. He's older now.

Sure, he'd be older.

Good morning, gentlemen.

Well, it's a day of feast and celebration, huh?

The hero returns.

I got a telegram, Sheriff.

Very efficient--telegrams.

Yeah. Well, I tell you what.

Mr. Lom, I want to meet Brant kind of quiet-like, you know.

So I'd be much obliged if you'd just--

Sheriff, I'm a divided man.

I love and respect the truth,

but truth just doesn't sell newspapers.

I have been sent 1,000 miles

to perpetuate an old lie.

Lie, you said.

Tom Brant, sir. Golden Tom Brant.

There's your lie.

Now, just wait a minute--

Oh, I don't deny that there was a Tom Brant.

There is. There is a man.

But Tom Brant, the legend...

Oh, you're gonna see.

He's gonna be everything they say about him.

He's gonna come back wearin' fine clothes,

spendin' money,

and he'll be just like he was.

Golden Tom Brant. You'll see.

One of us will surely see.

[ bell ringing ]

Maybe he got off on the other side.

Brant?

Captain, I-- I ain't done nothin'.

Are you Tom Brant?

Yes, sir, captain.

You him? The man I'm supposed to report to?

Brant, sir. Tom Brant.

My number is 032--

No, I don't need your number, Mr. Brant.

My name is Ryker.

Mr. Brant? Willie Cade.

Banty Cade was my grandpa.

What?

Your old partner-- Banty Cade.

Cade?

Mr. Brant, my name is Ira Lom...

from the St. Louis Carrier.

Do you have any statements you'd like to make--

how it feels to be free?

how it feels to be back here again?

Does any of this bring back old memories?

Old friends, old enemies?

Banty Cade?

George Coe? Tiger Gill?

He's dead--Banty Cade.

Uh...he got killed.

We know they're all dead,

but do you recollect any of them?

Yeah, I recall, uh...

Ben Gill.

Um, he killed...

...Big Annie Hagerty with a piece of firewood.

[ laughs ]

Mr. Brant, our readers are more interested

in the romantic aspects of the story--

the legend, the exploits.

What happened to the gold, Mr. Brant?

The gold?

Now, Mr. Brant, we have all read the book

where it says that you and Banty Cade

buried $100,000 in gold coin...

before he was killed.

Before you were captured.

Book?

Yeah. A man from back east

wrote a book about you, Mr. Brant--

ten years ago.

You never read it?

No. Oh, someone told me about that.

Did you and Banty Cade

bury some money around here?

Uh...money?

Yeah. We-- We had $40 once.

Old tin pot.

Banty--he sneaked back and he dug it up.

I thrashed him for that. It was a long time ago.

I guess, you know--

I guess folks make up stories.

It's a long time ago.

Mr. Brant, I think you'd better come along with me now.

Where?! Where?! I ain't done nothin', captain.

No, I know. I just want to help you get settled.

You want a place to stay here, don't you?

Uh...yes.

Right. Well, Mrs. Crandall-- the widow Crandall--

she lives up there. She has nice, clean rooms.

Yeah. Well...

whatever you say, captain.

Yes, I--

I just want to get along.

Well, I guess that's all it comes down to after all.

Golden Tom Brant.

That's all that's left of him.

Heh. I need a drink.

I could give you a bigger room than that, Mr. Brant.

Same price.

No.

I can move some more furniture in--

I reckon he likes it bare like that, Mrs. Crandall.

What he's used to.

Looks like everything is gonna be all right.

For now, anyway.

Everything all right with you?

Uh-huh.Good.

We appreciate it, Mrs. Crandall.

I'll be around in a couple of days.

Oh.

You play chess, Mr. Brant?

Some.

Heh.

A man in prison learned me.

I played him chess for eight years.

Till he died.

Maybe we could play some evening.

Oh, I'd like that.

Maybe after I see my daughter?

Well...

Mr. Brant, I know your daughter.

I hope you haven't got your heart set on--

That is, she's a very good woman.

I never seen her, ma'am. That's a fact.

I run out on her ma before she was born.

I...I done that.

Perhaps the best thing to do would be--

I just gotta see her, ma'am.

It's all I got left.

It's all I come back here for.

Why should he even come around here?

That's what I've been saying to people.

I tell them he's nothin' to us. We've never even seen him.

Why do you even have to talk to them about him?

Well, they know about it, that you're his daughter.

Yes, all my life.

As Tom Brant's daughter.

Well, it's a fact.

I could tell you other facts.

I live decent.

I keep my kids clean, I dress them neat.

And every Sunday, I take them to church and down on their knees.

And every Sunday I see someone look at me

and nudge someone else and say, "There's Tom Brant's daughter."

It didn't stop me from marrying you.

Wasn't that a kind, good-hearted thing for you to do.

And ain't we lived grand and rich ever since!

Tom Brant's daughter and her fine, successful--

Sarah!

Stop your shoutin' and stop frettin'.

I saw him.

He passed by the store today with Ryker.

He's old. An old, used-up, harmless--

I don't want him coming around here.

Like you said, why should he?

You're nothing to him, either.

Now, go look in on Ollie.

See if you woke him up.

He'll wake up anyway.

He's getting worse.

That's what the doctor said.

He's gonna go right on gettin' worse, and there's--

Sarah, will you take care of him?!

Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen!

Your attention, please! Step right up, folks...

and look what I brought you!

Golden Tom Brant--

the famous outlaw and killer from the Old West!

In the flesh...

right in front of your very eyes!

Now, then, sir... where is the book?

My host-- the book, please.

Ah, yes, indeed.

Why'd you bring him here for?

For your edification, sir.

And the edification of all the good people of Medicine Bow,

as an event historical and informational--

the living brought next to his legend.

Now, Mr. Brant, sir--

we got the book and we got you.

Now, just give us the truth of it.

Ah, yes.

"No less remarkable

"were the young outlaw's powers of observation.

"A disturbed pebble on the trail,

"a broken twig,

were an open message to his keen eye."

That's you, Tom.Yeah.

I found him walkin' in circles in the street.

[ all laugh ]

Leave him alone, all right?

Oh, yes. Banty Cade.

Oh!

Right back here where it describes

your partner-- Banty Cade.

Yeah.

"Though small of stature, as his nickname suggests,

"Bantum Cade was powerful in frame--

"so the blacksmith Tiger discovered... Oh! Oh!

when they quarreled for an Indian maiden."

Tiger. Tiger.

I remember Tiger.

Do you, now?Yes, I do.

Tell us about that.

They actually fought for an Indian girl?

Barehanded?No, no, no.

No, it was a fry pan.

A fry pan?A fry pan.

[ all laugh ]

A fry pan. Banty claimed Tiger stole it from him.

Ha ha! And he hit Tiger

with a big stick with a nail in it!

[ all laugh ]

Well, the God-awful truth, folks!

Give me that book.

Now, Golden Tom Brant--

we want you to tell us about this right over here.

Your greatest fight of all!

You and Banty Cade...

again Wesley Harcum and the Coe Brothers.

Right here in this room!

They even got a picture to it on the wall.

BRANT: A long time ago.

But I'll read, and you authenticate it.

"Exhausted, hunted,

"they reached the tiny settlement.

"At door after door, Tom Brant sought medical aid

"for his wounded friend.

"But the once friendly houses were barred fast.

At length, they reached the tavern."

Was it like that, Tom?

Yeah, Banty had an awful thirst.

[ all laugh ]

Oh, that's comin' up here.

"But grim pursuit

"was closer than they reckoned.

"As Golden Tom bound his friend's wounds,

"the door slammed inwards,

"and they looked into the hard faces

"of three of the posse--

"Wesley Harcum, George Coe,

and George's older brother--"

That's enough!

Turn him loose.

Go on, find something better to do!

Amos?

Amos Coe?

It's been a long time, Amos.

I spent all afternoon telling myself

that you were nothing.

But you are something.

You're an old, foul taste stuck in my throat.

I see you now, Tom.

You ain't worth whippin'.

I don't know why you came back.

But I'm gonna give you two days to do your errands.

If you're still here on the third...

Tom, so help me...

as God as my witness...

I'm gonna kill you.

Come on, Mr. Brant.

That's the hotel right over there.

Maybe you remember that.

No, I'm not so sure.

It's all kind of mixed up.

Well, the blacksmith's shop is over there,

next to the station.

And the saloon, of course.

That's an old building. You must remember that.

No, I--

You see, there was just one street

in my time.

Well, I can't--

Do you--you recall a great, big old tree,

used to go out that-a-way at the edge of town?

Oh. The town has grown way beyond that.

They cut it for firewood.

It was rotted anyway.

Stump's still there.

Get right home now, Laurie.

Your ma's waitin' for you to chore.

That's your son-in-law

and your granddaughter, Mr. Brant.

There's a boy, too. He's been poorly lately.

She sure is a pretty child.

Mr. Brant, you could go back to the house

and sit in your room.

No.I'll be back soon.

Maybe we could play some chess. You said you liked--

No, I gotta-- I gotta go.

You know, I got some shopping to do.

Take care, Mr. Brant.

Thank you, ma'am.

Giddyap!

I told you, come straight home!

I raised you to do as you're told!

I don't want him to even see you.

You're to stay home tomorrow, and the day after that.

Do your chores.

I got enough to bear.

Your brother gettin' sick, and he's no use to me.

Your father healthy, and no use to me.

I'm gonna tell you the work,

and you'd better listen good.

Run to the store, Laurie. Get your pa.

Sarah?

Don't come no closer.

Mrs. Sarah.

Sarah?

Well, now...

I been 35 years afraid of you?

Better I hadn't bothered.

Come no closer.

Your little girl-- she's pretty.

I used to be pretty.

My father, they said-- he was a handsome man.

What do you want?

I, uh...

You know what I want?

Mr. Amos Coe to shoot you like a dog in the street.

I hope for that.

Say what you want and get out.

Well, I--

I reckon I...

gave your ma a bad life.

And you.

She was lucky.

She died.

I got raised by strangers.

Is that what you want to know?

The orphanage.

I'm sorry.

13 years old-- they bound me out to a hotel man.

I made beds and sold blankets.

And every night, he came pawing at my door,

saying, "Why should you care? You're Tom Brant's daughter!"

I thought to make it up to you.

Make it up?

TEDDLER: Sarah!

Oh, when Amos Coe kills you,

let them take me where your body lies,

'cause I want to spit!

[ laughing ] Make it up?!

Sarah!

What do you want? What does he want?

To make it up to me-- my life.

He wants to make it up!

Get him out of here!

I just want to tell you that--

Get him out!

And stay away!

"His friends were heroic men--

"rough, lawless, unfettered--

"but natural aristocrats."

"Mad John Monroe, for example,

"and Fred Glimp--

"who settled their gambling dispute not with words,

"but according to the frontier code of honor--

"tied together at the forearms,

"wielding silver-handed knives.

Among such men--"[ laughing ]

That what is says?

Silver-handled knives?

Yes. It wasn't that way?

Naw, Johnny found him laying drunk,

and he strangled him with a piece of fence wire.

Mr. Brant, wouldn't you rather play chess?

No, no, no.

You go right ahead. I--

I just--I gotta study it.

Why?

What you said about...

what people expect of me.

I gotta find out...

what they expect.

But you said it was all lies.

It is mostly.

I don't see why on earth you want to go on--

I--Never mind.

You just go right ahead and read, please.

Will you? Go on, read.

[ sighs ]

"Among such men as these,

"Golden Tom Brant was unequaled.

"His erect bearing, the natural elegance of his stride,

"drew the unbidden attention of all about him.

"The ease and courtesy of his manner

"were the envy of coarser men

"and the delight of countless feminine hearts.

"His choice of garments disclosed the same refinement--

"an elegance without display,

a neatness of every detail."

Afternoon.

A-A-Afternoon.

Aces.

Honey, I think I'll throw you in the next pot.

Sue Ellen?

I think you ought to play piano.

Sue Ellen is busy, boy.

Sitting on my lap, bringing me no luck whatsoever.

It's not my fault.

Look at that.

Well, now, look at that!

Mr. Brant, sir.

Don't tease him no more.

Mr. Brant, you're all dressed up new and handsome.

[ chuckles ]

Mr. Brant, we'd be honored to have you sit in...

and bring us some of that hidden treasure.

Oh, no, thank you. I'm afraid I can't do that rightly.

Rightly?

I can't rightly play for money.

Oh. I thought that's what you meant.

No. I'm afraid you don't get my exact meaning.

Excuse me.

Uh, can I?

I once became acquainted

with a gentleman named Fitzmorris.

That was before your time.

This Fitzmorris gentleman--

he used to ride the riverboats

between Saint Joe and New Orleans.

He would play cards with the passengers.

He did very well-- [ coughs ]

playing cards with the passengers.

Oh, he was a very highly educated gentleman,

this Mr. Fitzmorris.

[ chuckles ]

Highly educated and high toned.

Would you cut the cards please, miss?

Thank you.

Well, sir, along came the Civil War.

And they turned the riverboats

into gunboats.

This sort of hurt Mr. Fitzmorris' feelings.

He, uh, tried bounty hunting.

Now, I think he went to prison.

That's how I became acquainted to him.

Oh, he taught me chess and, uh...

other things.

Then I fear he, uh...

got consumption and...died.

Now, you, sir...

you have two pair.

Eights and threes.

Heh heh. Your hand is a throwaway.

Here's a small straight up to a seven.

Three to seven.

And you, sir, well...

you have a flush in clubs.

Heh heh heh. But, then...

I have a full house--

aces over kings.

[ chuckles ]

A fine gentleman, Mr. Fitzmorris.

I honor his memory.

Thank you.

Oh, um...boy?

What?

Wait a minute, now.

Your name is Willie, ain't it?

Willie Cade. Your Banty Cade's grandson?

What about it?What about it?

Banty Cade was my old true companion.

You work here, son?

I sweep up, wait tables.

Yeah, well, there's no harm in that.

The least I can do for a Banty--

Here, son. Heh heh!

You buy yourself some clothes...

partner.

Heh heh. Does wonders.

Give it to me. Laurie, give it to me!

He said I could have it! The old man said I could!

I told you not to go near him!

He's my granddaddy, ain't he?

He's nothin'!

Give me that.

And don't you go near him again,

or I'll lace you till you can't walk!

Try to raise a child decent. Try to keep her--

Sarah. Sarah, look at that.

What'd he give her?

A $10 gold piece.

Don't mean nothin'.

He came into the store today, bought a suit of clothes.

Paid with a gold piece just like that.

Don't mean nothin'.

Dirty, mean old man with his dirty money.

I'm gonna throw it out in the dirt!

I'm gonna throw it right out in the dirt.

I'm gonna throw it right out.

TEDDLER: He's already spent four or five of those today, Mr. Coe.

Take a look at that.

I see it.

According to legend,

Tom Brant robbed a gold shipment

35 years ago.

And he overpowered an armed guard of five men

hired to protect it.

Why did you bring this to me?

I've been doing some research, Mr. Coe,

and it seems that you were in charge of that armed guard.

I thought you might be wondering, like I am,

what happened to that stolen money...

and where that came from.

I know my readers are gonna be wondering about that.

I'm a reporter, Mr. Coe,

and I have to write the account of Tom Brant's return

to his old surroundings.

It's kind of tame stuff, I thought,

but it's getting livelier all the time.

What should I write about you, Mr. Coe?

You forget about me.

I couldn't do that, Mr. Coe. You're part of it.

Tom Brant's ancient adversary.

In the saloon, there hangs a picture,

and in the picture stands Amos Coe.

Runs Amos Coe, I should say.

In that picture, Amos Coe is running from Tom Brant.

Now, personally, I was inclined to doubt--

Forget about that picture.

I can't do that. The picture stands in history.

Mr. Coe, I'm a reporter. All I require is the truth.

Now, is that it? Is that picture the truth?

Amos Coe running from Tom Brant? Hmm? Is that it?

Get out.

I'm giving you a chance to correct the record, sir.

Get out!

All right, Mr. Brant, listen to me.

Listen to me.

If you do have money hidden--

from before-- it's money you robbed once. You understand that?

So, you're obliged to turn it over.

But, Sheriff, if it's money I robbed once,

well, I served a long sentence for that.

And I can't be sentenced again.

Right?

Uh...yeah. You're right, legally.

Yeah. Well, of course, it ain't money I robbed.

I'll tell you something, Mr. Brant.

If you don't have money hidden,

you've done a stupid thing.

You know a man named Ingram?

Yeah, I heard of him.He's in town.

He just sort of drifted in.

Carl Stacy?Uh-huh.

Frank Swan?Yeah.

Fat Jim Potter?

They've all been drifting in.

Because of me?

Yes, because of you! And your money!

Mr. Brant, I got a rule of thumb.

Two or three gunmen here in town--

I can stay even.

Four or five--

it's doubtful. After that, I'm in trouble.

And according to that, I've been in trouble since this morning.

You're the one who set this rumor going.

You lifted the lid off the honey jar.

Now all the flies are swarmin' around.

All right.

I haven't forgotten about Amos Coe, either.

Don't you forget him.

Mr. Brant.

Ma'am?

I admire Sheriff Ryker,

and I don't like to see him put in trouble.

No, no, no.

Mr. Brant.Yeah?

Do you have that money?

Widow, you know I got money.

I paid the rent.

I mean, that money, Mr. Brant.

That old, stolen, hidden money.

Oh, that money.Well, do you?

What?

Have it?

Oh, heh!

Well, we could finish our chess game now.

I sure do enjoy this game of chess. It's--

What are you gonna do about Amos Coe?

I don't know. I--

I hope I don't have to do nothin'.

Oh, Mr. Brant.

[ knock on door ]

CRANDALL: Willie.

Mr. Brant.

Willie, you--

you look just fine.

Like a tomcat in a tiger skin.

Ain't you late to work, Willie?

A lot of new people in town--

been askin' me about you--

some claim your acquaintance.

I reckon they'd be pleased and proud to see you.

Oh. Heh. Askin' for me?

Don't stay on my account.

Well, uh--

Well, then, uh...

if you'll excuse me a while, widow,

it's the least I can do.

Mr. Brant.

Kindly think on what I told you.

Surely, widow, surely.

Hi.

Hey, Mr. Brant.Hey.

And a good day to you, Mr. Cade, sir.

Good day.

Where the devil have you been?

Walkin'.

Walkin'.

My, oh, my.

Ain't we some pumpkins in our new suit.

Miss McKim.

[ bangs]

Be right with you, sir.

Right with you.

There you are.

Mr. Brant.Yeah.

Tom Brant.

I'm Carl Stacy. You know my pa.

Yeah. How is your pa?

Dead.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Say, Mr. Brant, now that I met up with you accidental like this,

I'd like to talk to you.

See, I have a cattle proposition goin' down south.

Thinkin' of takin' on some partners.

Uh, I need a little investment, you know.

Yeah. Well, we'll deliberate on that...

sometime.

Well, I mean... how about right now?

As long as you're here and I'm here--

Mr. Brant? Name is Ingram.

Mr. Ingram.

Care to join us in poker?

Huh?

Oh, not for money. No, I--

I know your reputation.

And I reckon you know mine, huh?

No, just for the pleasure, sir.

I don't mind.

Shouldn't neither one of us play for money, now, should we?

Mr. Ingram, I reckon that's the long and the short of it.

The long and the short of it.

[ laughs ] Hey, that's good! That's funny.

Huh? Ha ha ha!

The long and the short of it.

Right over here.

Here you go. Gentlemen, meet Mr. Brant.

How do you?

How are you?

Guess this is yours.Right.

Look at them yahoos.

Almost stickin' their hands in his pocket.

Ain't you gonna go over and introduce yourself, Swan?

When I want to skin a rabbit,

I don't walk up and pat him on the nose.

How are we gonna get next to him?

Here comes our answer now.

Have a drink?

Yeah.

Excuse me, sir. Did I hear rightly

that your name is Cade?

Yes, sir. Willie Cade.

No relation to Banty Cade?

Why, yes-- my granddad.

Well, I'll be. I'm Frank Swan.

So, you're Banty Cade's grandson.

Yes, sir.

And yonder is Mr. Tom Brant.

Banty was his partner.

Oh?

Well, I heard it the other way around.

I heard that Tom Brant was Banty Cade's partner.

Oh.

Oh, yeah. My daddy knew both of 'em.

There's no doubt which man he valued highly.

Mr. Cade, we'd consider it a great honor

if you would join us a for a drink here.

Well...when I get the chance.

You do that.

If it's my courage you're questioning,

I've served in the Civil War,

I led a battalion at Donelson,

and I got a medal for that.

And I got a citation from Ulysses Grant.

Well, Sheriff.

I'd like to talk with you, Coe.

Sheriff, I was just telling Mr. Coe here--

it's a miracle, sir. It's a miracle!

History is being recreated right in front of our very eyes.

35 years swept away.

Golden Tom Brant holding forth at the saloon

amongst his followers-- the good people of Medicine Bow--

huddled indoors.

Is there something eatin' at you?

Questions, Sheriff. Questions.

A killer returns...

spending and enjoying the proceeds of a robbery.

But the accounts of that robbery are mere vague fragments.

A murdered man's brother sits here and thinks...

and waits...for what? The sheriff--

The sheriff is getting a little tired of all your questions.

They're not my questions, Sheriff.

Life. Life asks the questions.

Mr. Coe, it was all over a long time ago.

You know that. Lom's just--

just lookin' for something to write about.

Like two old men tottering into a shootout.

No, he's right.

That man Brant did kill my brother.

Well, I don't know what to say to that.

But he spent 35 years in prison for it.

[ laughs ]

I've been lookin' at that picture in that saloon

for a long time, Sheriff.

Nobody ever talks about it in front of me.

But they'll talk. Especially now.

It's just a picture, Coe! It's a picture!

Nobody thinks anything about it.

I do.

Well, Mr. Coe,

I'm expecting you to help me keep the lid on things here.

You don't keep the peace,

you're not better than those gunmen over in the saloon.

Tell me, husband, what are you inclined to?

A job at the dry goods store

and a house that the wind blows through?

A sick child and 15 years' high ambitions gone to nothing?

Well, you wanted a respectable life.

Is this what it comes to?

I've had a lot of ideas to do things.

You never take the chance.

I don't want chances. I want what's due me!

Stolen money.

I lived in misery on his account.

My mother died in misery.

He knows that.

I believe he wants forgiveness.

He even said it to me-- that he wanted to make it up.

You wanted the respectable life.

You wanted nothing to do with him.

Well, I got that revengeful spirit.

I ain't sure that's right.

But after all... he's suffered, too.

He's an old man now.

If he wants the feelings of having a family--

I'm only thinking of his feelings.

Either you go get him or I'll go myself.

[ indistinct chatter ]

Mr. Brant?

Mr. Brant, I'm Ross Teddler.

You recall me?

Friend, Mr. Brant is busy.

Ingram, this is my son-in-law.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's all right.

Come on over here, Mr. Teddler.

Now, what is it?

I've been talking to Sarah, and she--

Well, we thought I ought to come and apologize to you.

How we acted.

It wasn't right.

After all, you're our own kin.

Uh, Sarah told me.

Well, we were wondering

if you'd take a meal with us tomorrow.

Oh, well, yes. Sure, I would, yeah.

You can see the kids-- your grandchildren.

And Sarah.

Well, she told me to ask you.

WILLIE: She's busy. She's sittin' here.

I'm delighted to sit and talk, Mr. Lom.

LOM: Well, now you can just stand and perambulate.

I don't believe she wants to.

What?

I said, I don't believe she wants to.

Don't you serve tables around here?

My, my, you've got yourself a nice new suit!

Well...

of course, that doesn't make a chore boy

into a country squire.

Or an old thief into the king of France, now, does it?

Mister, you are insulting better men.

My profession, sir.

Stand aside, boy.

You gonna stand for that, Cade?

Willie, you behave yourself!

Ha ha ha ha!

You don't laugh at me no more.

Come on, boy, lay into him!

MAN: That's Banty Cade's grandson!

Cade? You ain't no Cade! Hit him with a chair!

MAN: That a way to bust him, Willie!

Hey, boy, get somethin'!

No! No, Willie!

He's gonna cut me!

Beat his brains out!

Come on! Get him! That's it!

Willie! Willie!

You're under arrest, Willie.

Just a minute. Pure case of self-defense.

Saw it myself-- be happy to testify.

Willie, you go with him.

What about him?

He started it.

I'll talk to him later.

Come on.Hold it.

You just say the word, Mr. Cade.

That's right, young fella.

I told you to go with him.

I'll pay your bail.

That boy's just won his spurs.

I told you things like this would start happening.

Tell me, Mr. Brant--

what more have you got planned for us?

EMMETT: Pick up your gun on your way out.

Swan, make it short.

I gotta serve some papers out of town.

Mr. Cade--Willy.

Mr. Swan.

I sure hate to see you in here like this.

I reckon Mr. Brant paid my bail.

I think Mr. Brant is dining with his family.

Well, he'll come up--

Willie.

I'd like to talk to you for a minute.

Now, I liked your style yesterday.

The man's gonna be all right, I hear,

but you mashed him pretty good.

I reckon.

But I don't like the way things are shapin' up.

You're charged with aggravated assault.

Self-defense. He had a bottle.

I know that, boy. But I'm thinkin' of the political ins and outs.

Political?

The man you stomped

was a big-city newspaper reporter.

And newspapers and judges and sheriffs--

they stand in with one another.

The town gets restless, and the sheriff gets scared.

And what does a scared sheriff do?

He grabs somebody and makes an example of him.

Maybe two years in jail.

Look--

I'm not sayin' it's right, Willie.

I'm just sayin' it's what they can do.

Willie, tell me--

what's your arrangement with Tom Brant?

Arrangement?Yeah.

Your partners with him, ain't you?

There's no reason why you can't just take your half and clear out.

My half?

Swan, I'm confused.

Well, so am I, a little.

You mean he ain't shared out with you?

The money--you don't even know where he keeps it?

Why should I?

Well, the only reason I can think of

is that it's half yours by rights.

I never even thought about it.

It's only a matter of what's fair.

Tom Brant and Banty Cade were partners--

equal shares.

Banty Cade gets himself killed,

but you're his legal descendant, ain't you?

Mr. Brant's been good to me.

Nobody said otherwise.

But you've got your rights.

Talkin' against Tom Brant?

I'm saying you have got your rights.

You are in a bad situation here.

And he is obligated to help you.

Sheriff?

What?

I'd like to pay the boy's bail.

Heh heh heh.

Give your granddaddy a kiss, Laura,

and run and play.

Give him a kiss, Laura.

[ chuckles ]

It's all right. She's a mite shy of it.

I'll take Ollie his plate-- if he'll eat it--

let you two men talk.

Teddler, what is it

that the boy is sick of, huh?

Some kind of water fever, the doctor says.

Don't know exactly.

We had wanted to take him to St. Louis

A hospital in St. Louis.

Why don't you?

Sarah's--

It's a matter of what we do there.

How'd we'd earn the money to keep us.

Well, uh...

why don't you stay here and work

and send the boy to St. Louis?

Job here don't pay nearly enough.

Oh.

Well, chuck your job here.

Look for a new one in St. Louis.

Well, sir, it's--

That's what I told her.

But it's a matter of how she growed up.

Frightened of takin' chances.

And I do have the job here.

Mayhew talked of raising me to partner.

Of course, it's six years I've been there now.

Tell him, Teddler.

Tell Pa about what you were saying before.

About the opportunity.

Oh. What I was saying before.

This dray-line--

I studied it out very carefully.

Carrying freight around town--

out to the ranch--

short hauls from what the railroad brings in.

That seems like a fine idea,

but you've got more pressing problems with that boy.

I got a lot of good ideas like that.

Sound, money-makin' ideas.

Ice. We never had ice comin' into town regular.

Why? Because no one had the initiative.

And wire! I could sell a lot of wire around here.

I studied it out very carefully.

Let me ask you a questions, Teddler.

Which one?

Dray-line, ice...

wire company?

Well, I got these various sound ideas.

But the investment side--

I've never been well enough fixed to take a gamble.

But you said it didn't have to be a gamble.

The dray-line.No, no.

You said if you only had the back end.

That's right. Enough money for the equipment

and tide us over while the business took hold.

A real moneymaker.That's right.

I could return, oh, 50% on the investment the first year.

If we only had the back end--

if we only had enough to keep us going.

Teddler...

Sarah, you've got these problems.

Real problems, real things that you want to do.

But, uh...

You've got that money.

Well, I if I had the money, Sarah--

the stolen money, tainted money, they say--

would you want that kind of money?

I reckon it ain't so bad, it being stolen money.

So long as it's old money.

Well, I--

I see you lookin' at me, Sarah.

And, yes, I--

I want to help you, but--

We need it so bad.

I'm past caring where it comes from.

I'm past everything I ever said about you!

We got this one chance.

And I want it so bad.

[ knock on door ]

WILLIE: [ knocking ] Mr. Brant?

Oh.

Mr. Brant, I'm sorry. I gotta talk.

Yeah. Well, uh...

Willie, I was--

I was having a visit with my daught--

I've got to.

Get out and leave decent folk in peace!

Sarah, we could talk later.

But you ain't given us no answer!

Yeah. I understand that.

I told you everything--Sarah!

I mean, I gotta deliberate.

Willie?Oh!

Pa, couldn't you just--

Don't just stand there! Go after him right now! He'll get away!

Where are you going?!

Go after him!

Look, I need it. I need it.

Sheriff Ryker's a fair man.

You know he ain't gonna--

Just enough to get away on-- out of town.

You jump town, you got two charges against you.

Right away, two charges.

You said you was my friend.

Partners, you said.

I'm deliberatin'!

I'm deliberatin'. You gotta deliberate.

My granddad was your partner.

I got a right to share in that money.

Willie, I gotta tell you, there is--

Mr. Brant, Mr. Brant!

I gotta tell Sarah something!

I'm talkin' to him!

I ain't askin' for a straight-out yes or not.

Me, Mr. Brant. Me! I got rights!

I'm in awful trouble.

Who are you talkin' about, right?

Any trouble you got, you made for yourself!

Look, Mr. Brant... we could get that money

and light out together.

You want to run for the rest of your life?

I ain't askin' for a full half of that money.

All I'm askin' is--

You don't need money at all.

All you need is judgment.

Some kind of judgment.

You won't do nothin' for me--

CRANDALL: Stop grabbin' at that poor man's arm!

Mr. Brant, you're comin' with me.

I got a horse and cart you can use.

You've got a what?

Amos Coe just came by the house.

He's looking for you around town now.

He's got a shotgun. He's lookin' to kill you.

Well, uh...I reckon I'd better wait for him

in the saloon.

Now, now, it's all right.

It's what they expect of me.

And maybe get killed.

Widow...

don't you fret yourself none.

[ overlapping chatter ]

Hey! Here he comes!

Yes, sir. We fixed it all up for you, Brant.

We've cleared a good space.

You wait over there, let him walk in, out of the light.

With your friends all around you!

You shoot him right in the nose.

Just like you done before, Tom, just like in the picture.

BRANT: Very kind of you, gentlemen.

Now, if you'll get me a table and a chair.

And a deck of cards.

If I stand up too long,

my legs start achin'.

Get you a drink, Tom?

No.

Want some of us to play with you, Tom?

Not a one.

You go after him again!

He won't give us no answer now.

He's at the saloon, waiting for Coe.

He could get killed.

If he gets killed, where's the money?!

You go after him again! Get an answer!

Do you hear me?!

Brant? I'd be proud to have you use this.

She's light. Filed-down action.

Just the sweetest little gun--

Thanks. Thank you kindly, Mr. Ingram.

Say, after this is over,

there's that little proposition we were talking about.

Just, uh...put it here.

Brant, you could get hurt.

I mean, you got the advantage,

but all the same. Look, I'll do it for you.

Huh?

I'll kill the man for you.

I mean, not here. I'll catch him outside.

Nobody will even see.

Cost you $500.

That's a lot of money.

400.

Well, look, I've been short of cash lately.

300. What do you say?

200?

Too cheap.

Hey, man, you shouldn't come bustin' in like that.

Tom Brant'll shoot your liver out.

[ laughter ]

Mr. Brant, you've got no business in this.

Everybody... seems to expect it.

Sarah's--

She's afraid of what might happen.

That's kind of her.

She's had a hard life. Now, that's the truth.

Yeah, I know that.

And she's your own blood, your own daughter.

And if you got killed and she had no hope of that money--

I mean--

If you want to do good by her,

there ain't much time.

Teddler...

I got time to ask you a question.

How come you're so tied up?

Sarah tied up with old grievances,

and you tied up in her.

Why can't you just pick out a thing

and...do it?

Not by ourselves. We've gotta have that backing!

You've gotta stop makin' excuses.

Mr. Coe's on his way here. You gotta tell us where it is!

The money!

Get out of here.

Go on.

Mr. Brant, you want to get out of here?

Of course I do.

So does old Amos Coe, I reckon.

Well, I've got a couple of horses out back.

Like I said, we can pull out of here together.

Too late.

Then look-- afterwards...

I've arranged with a couple of friends.

If you kill him, Ryker will come after you.

You're gonna need a place to hide.

I know a place.

What couple of friends, Willie?

Mr. Swan. Mr. Potter.

You ain't a bad boy, Willie.

You just make bad friends.

You're gonna need the help.

We'll get you clean away.

Someone's coming!

Stand away from me, Willie.

Tom Brant!

Hello, Amos.

I'm here, Tom.

35 years and some days late...

but I'm here.

You'd have been better off to forget it.

Got a pistol there?

Pick it up.

Pick it up.

Amos...

I got no intention of it whatever.

Pick up that pistol!

Amos....

who are you tryin' to satisfy?

Them?

Look at their faces.

I'm aimin' to satisfy myself.

You killed my brother, Tom.

Ain't you never wondered even once

about him--your brother?

He staged that robbery, Amos.

Him and Wesley Harcum-- they got you and Danner drunk,

and the rest was easy.

That's a lie.

The only hard part was afterwards, here.

They saw Bandy hurt.

They wanted to run out and Bandy shot Wes Harcum in the back.

That started things.

Amos...

how come...

you let him draw you in that picture?

You'd rather have people think

you was here scared...

than lyin' off somewhere, drunk...

and fearless?

You had to come back, didn't you?

Hmm?

You had to come back and...

stir things all up.

I ought to blow your head off!

What for, Amos?

Your brother George?

He wasn't worth it.

The money?

There ain't no money.

Amos.

Take this thing out of my face.

And, uh...

you, uh--

you come and sit yourself down.

Sit down, Amos.

You're an old man and...

you get tired.

And so am I, Amos.

An old man.

Brant! You don't have that money?No.

Sure, you do. I seen you spendin' it.

Bags.

Burlap bags.

Prison labor.

You stitch up a burlap bag, you get half a cent

to keep for your own.

I earned over $300

stitching up half-cent burlap bags.

I come back here because I...

wanted some place for myself.

There wasn't no place.

I thought maybe if I acted

the way people expected, that it would work.

But all I'd done was to make them

come grabbin' at me.

All buzzin' around at the smell of money.

Or take notions-- like you, Willie--

to be a big man...

like your granddad.

Banty?

He wasn't a big man.

He had a mean and ugly mind.

I seen him drag a crippled cat on a string

just for the pleasure of it.

And, Ingram--

big man like him.

He got thrown out of Canada

for knifing a 16-year-old girl.

Carl Stacy.

Not bright, like his dad.

But knows how to steal cattle.

Or like your friend Swan,

who lives mostly off...

women.

You want to come with us, Willie?

He's nothin'.

Never was.

You're right, Swan.

Or you, either.

You'll end up face-down

with a mouthful of dirt,

wondering where your luck went!

Amos.

I'm sorry I took away your big show.

Go home.

Go to bed.

I'm sorry I--

I can't play it up for you folks...

no more.

Golden Tom Brant--

nothin' left of him.

Used up.

Sorry.

Teddler, what happened?

I didn't hear no shots.

Nothin' happened.

And there's no money.

What?

He says he's got no money.

Of course he's got money!

He's lyin'!

You--You let him get away!

He's got the money, and we need it--

[ gasps ]

You had that comin' for a long time.

Now, get packed to travel.

What?

We have a sick child.

We're taking him to St. Louis.

I don't know what we'll do when we get there.

The first thing is to go.

I don't know what we'll do from here on anywhere.

But we'll do with what we've got.

You get packed and come,

or...

go your own way.

Startin' now, you decide that.

Hello, Mr. Brant.

Widow.

Did you--

I heard about it.

And I come home to wait for you.

What are you planning on doing?

Oh, I don't know.

Look for work, I reckon.

Haven't had time for that so far.

I'll get a job...

cleanin' out stables or--

I don't know.

Want a basin to soak your feet?

Oh, no, no. Thank you.

Widow...you do me a great favor?

You, uh...

You take this to Sheriff Ryker for me?

It's a map, widow.

It, uh, starts at that big tree,

there on that hill I spoke of.

You tell Ryker...

the box is about man-deep

under a big, flat rock.

There is money!

Nowhere near what they said.

4,000 or so, I reckon.

Then you humbled yourself on purpose.

For Teddler's sake and--

and Willie and Amos Coe.

You let them think--

Widow, I'm an old man!

I've had a hard day full of talk!

Now, woman, you deliver that like I told you!

In the meantime...

if I feel like it...

maybe...

I'll set up a chess game.

[ theme music playing ]