Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

♪♪

You get me a lawyer yet?

Nope.

Who's gonna defend me, then?

You haven't been too popular

around Portersville, Charley,

and you sure ain't now.

They'll make somebody do it, though.

I'm afraid you could get yourself the best lawyer in the territory,

and it wouldn't do you much good.

The man you killed was well thought of.

I told you when you grabbed me, I--

Charley, I go by the facts.

Frank Crawford's almost certain he saw you near the bank.

Almost.

And you were runnin' when we caught up with you.

Ridin', not runnin'. I wasn't the one who did it.

They never are.

♪♪

Horace.

That one there is yours, Sheriff.

You get the same money for both dinners, Horace.

Get me another... like this one.

What for? That's good enough for that killer.

He's not a killer till the court says so.

Now, get a move on. I'm hungry.

You call me a killer. Why can't he?

'Cause I'm the one that had to go after you.

Never could've shot at you if I thought you were innocent.

You must have to give yourself a lot of talking to

to stay sheriff.

Every man in every job's got to.

That's not gonna help your problem any, Charley.

It's a start. Stay where you are.

♪♪

Worked smooth as pie, just like we planned.

We'll still meet the way we said.

When?

When we said-- nothing's changed.

You can trust me.

You won't run out.

What's the matter with you?

You know me.No.

No, I don't, Charley. Not really.

Just from having a few drinks together, that's all.

Then the first thing I know, I'm involved in robbing bank

where I've worked for 12 years.

Stop worrying, Harold.

Look, you're not involved. Nothing to worry about.

Well, I gotta go. I'll miss my stage.

Wouldn't want you to do that.

I'll see you soon, Charley. Right?

Right.

♪♪

Look, Stacy. New from Paris.

I don't know about French rain,

but it sure not gonna do you much good around here.

It's not for rain, it's for sun.

Oh.

You sure it won't melt?

Stacy, don't be silly. It's beautiful.

[ men shouting, horse neighing ]

Come on! Get up! Come on!

We need another horse.

Come on! Come on, get up there!

Come on! Get up there, you!

[ shouting continues ]

One horse won't pull a load like that.

He has to. My other one went lame.

Can't you lighten it up?

I got contracts to meet.

What about makin' two trips?

Is this any of your business?

Any of this stuff for Shiloh? Yeah.

Then it's my business.

You can unload the Shiloh stuff.

Now, wait a minute--

And forget about that second trip.

We'll find somebody else to carry our supplies.

[ laughs ]

[ laughs ]

ELIZABETH: Won't somebody help him?

SHERIFF: All right, that's enough!

I said hold it!

I said hold it!

Now, what's this all about? Stacy?

It's just a little misunderstanding, Sheriff, that's all.

He jumped me with no good reason.

That's not the way it happened at all.

Elizabeth, please.

Well, it's not!

Stacy saw that one horse couldn't carry that load,

so he went over to talk to this man,

and he grabbed him.

So, he tried to help Stacy and--

I think I've got the idea.

Zach, this isn't the first complaint I've had

about the way you treat your stock.

I'll treat 'em any way I please.

Not in Medicine Bow, you won't.

Hitch another horse up to that load.

But we don't have another horse.

Go the livery stable and get one!

Now, Stacy--

Aw, Sheriff, this one couldn't have been helped.

They can all be helped, Stacy.

Just remember that.

And you, too, mister.

Sometimes--I'll grant you-- it's a little bit hard.

Elizabeth, that's a very pretty umbrella you got there.

It's a parasol.

Grainger's the name. Stace Grainger.

This is my sister Elizabeth.

Charley Ryan.

Nice to know you, Charley.

What's the matter with your arm?

Oh, it's all right.

I hurt it in the fight, is all.

Where you headed?

To the next job.

You, uh...ever punched any cattle?

Some.

You, uh...

care to head out with us, Charley?

Why not?

Good.

♪♪

Quite a spread.

Best around.

Never worked on a place like this before.

Let's go find the foreman

and see what we can do about that.

Hey, Roy! Ho!

Hey, Roy, come on over

and lend a hand with the supplies.

Charley.

Thanks for helping my brother.

That's all right.

Be seeing you.

Well, they're out.

Let's see.

This one here looks empty.

That was quite a speech you made about me to the foreman.

If you ever give up ranchin', you ought to take up drummin'.

You could tell anything.

Well, it's always good

to have something to fall back on, Charley.

Tell you what. Why don't you get yourself cleaned up,

and I'll show you around, all right?

All right.

Ah!

Better have a look at that.

Here.

Take your hand off.

Right there.

Yeah, jumped the socket.

It'll give you a lot of trouble unless you take care of it.

Uh...tell you what--

why don't you sit down right over there?

It's gonna hurt a little bit. Is that all right?

Yeah, I guess so.

Okay.

Here we go.

Ah!

It's all yours.

Good as new.

That was real handy, the way you did that.

Well, I used to have an old buddy of mine

who had a trick shoulder.

It used to go out on him every so often,

and he taught me how to fix it for him.

Where you from, Charley?

Oh, here or there.

Moved around a lot. Why?

Just curious. No offense.

Oh, none taken.

Good. I'll see you later.

♪♪

♪♪

[ mooing ]

Morning.Good morning.

What brings you out here?

Just riding.

How's the new hand doing?

Charley? He's comin' along fine.

THE VIRGINIAN: All right, let's move 'em out!

Move 'em out!

Wring this out and I'll start a flood.

Wait till the summertime, when the real heat comes.

Stacy, I guess we may as well move this bunch out.

Charley, you want to make sure we don't miss any?

Right.

Hyah! Hyah!

Looks to me like your sister is taking a special interest

in the cattle business these days.

Yeah, I see what you mean.

Hyah! Hyah!

Hyah!

[ mooing ]

Hey, Charley.

Evenin'.

I wonder if you could help me.

It's the stove. All the kindling's wet,

and I promised something special for Granddad tonight.

I'll take a look.

You saving those for anything?

Nothing important.

They burn too fast.

I guarantee-- best kindling in the world.

Just roll it up like this.

Twist it.

Tie a knot on this end.

Tie a knot on this end here.

Make sure it's good and tight.

And like magic...

poor man's kindling.

It'll burn slowly enough to catch the logs?

Oh, yeah, with enough in there.

Want to try?

Where did you ever learn to make poor man's kindling?

Where wood costs a lot and talk is cheap,

you figure out a practical way to solve the whole problem.

Here, make sure that's good and tight

when you put it through there.

Evenin'.

Charley. Sorry to interrupt.

I just wanted to get a drink of water.

Charley was showing me how to make kindling out of newspaper.

Oh?

Yeah, that's-- that's real clever.

Well, I guess I'd better get.

Charley, would you like to stay for supper?

Well, uh, thank you very much,

but I got some letters to write.

Maybe another time.

Maybe.

Thanks for the kindling.

Good night.

Good night, Charley.

It was wet.What?

The kindling.

Oh.

How'd it get wet?

I haven't got the slightest idea.

Hmm.

Uh, Liz, I've never heard you

making a special point of inviting any of the hands to dinner,

except maybe the Virginian or Trampas.

There isn't any reason why I shouldn't, is there?

No. But, uh...

But what?

Well, Charley's kind of new to us, and--

And having him to supper would be a good way to get to know him.

Yeah, I--

I guess so.

♪♪

Hello.

You know the penalty for rustlin'?

Almost as bad as for dreamin'.

I was dreaming so much as I was--as--

as I was--As?

You win. I was dreaming.

I don't blame you. Perfect day for it.

Do you have to go right away?

I've been looking for this thing

for over an hour now.

Well, I guess he can stay lost another few minutes.

I come up here often.

To dream?

They'll probably never come true.

They'll come true.

You say it as though you know.

They'll come true.

How can you be so sure?

The kind of dreams someone like you have

are the kind that should.

You know what I was dreaming about?

They'll never come true if you tell people about them.

Haven't you ever told anyone your dreams?

Never had any to tell.

Everyone has.

I guess I lost mine along the way somewhere.

You've had a hard time, haven't you, Charley?

Average.

Are your parents gone?

Oh, I never knew 'em.

Checks out. I guess we can get back.

What did you do alone?

Alone? Stayed alive-- that's the main thing.

There has to be more to it than that.

What?

Than just staying alive.

Oh, you can say that and believe it.

But when you don't have anything,

just livin' is a pretty important thing.

You've never wanted anything more?

Oh, I know all about wantin'.

Heh. It's gettin' it I'm not too familiar with.

Well, Granddad says

you have to make things happen for you.

You've got to keep your eye out for opportunity,

and when it comes, you've got to see it and take it.

He's right.

I agree with him.

Well, we'd better get this little baby back to her mama.

I'll ride back with you.

All right. Come on.

Come on, let's go.

I'd hate to chop this much wood every day.

You and me both.

A new place to raise blisters, that's all.

Yeah.

You sure been doin' your share, Charley.

Well, it's a good place to work.

A good job. I mean to keep it.

I've been meaning to talk to you.

Oh, yeah? About what?

Well...

you've probably been around some.

Yeah, so?

You've had a little bit of experience probably.

Stace, what are you gettin' at?

You know, there's just my granddad,

Liz, and me.

Well...we kind of look out for her.

That's natural enough.

She's a nice kid, Elizabeth.

Yeah, I've noticed.

But she's young.

What?She's young.

Stace, you think--

Stace, look. I got no eye for your sister.

Just to say hello, is all.

Pass the time of day maybe. Doesn't mean anything.

Maybe not to you, Charley,

but she might take it differently.

Maybe it might be better if you spent your time somewhere else.

Are you saying I can't talk to her?

She talks to everybody else, doesn't she? Why not me?

I think with you it's different, Charley.

Why, is there something wrong with me?

No, but, uh--

Oh, I get it. Maybe I'm not good enough

to talk to the boss' granddaughter.

It's not that. It's just, uh--

Now, you got something to say about my work, that's one thing.

But you got no right to stick your nose into anywhere else.

Hey, I thought Charley was gonna give you a hand here.

He was. I mean, he did.

Looks like you still got some more work to do.

What happened to him?

I told him I'd finish up.

He's got enough stuff to do.

Nothing wrong, is there?

No. Charley's turnin' out just fine.

♪♪

Stace, will you please light somewhere?

I've been over this last paragraph three times.

I'm sorry.

All right, what is it?

Nothin'.

Well, I'm glad it isn't something.

Have you seen Elizabeth?

Several times.

Breakfast, lunch, supper...

a few times in between.

I meant since supper.

She went for a walk.

Did she say where?No. Why?

No reason, no reason.

No reason.

Granddad, have you met this Charley Ryan?

That new hand--yes.

Elizabeth introduced him to me.

She did?

Well, it seemed a perfectly natural thing for her to do at the time.

Well, what do you think of him?

He seems polite,

well-mannered, pleasant-looking.

Is there something else I should've noticed?

I think she's stuck on him.

That happens sometimes.

Not to her.

And she's never been involved before.

Is that what she is-- involved?

Well, I--

I wish you'd talk to her.

What about?

Well, she's young,

she's impressionable.

Are you bothered because Elizabeth

has met a young man she likes?

Or is it because we don't know too much about him?

A little of both, I guess.

Well, I'll tell you one thing.

If Elizabeth wasn't noticing or being noticed,

we'd both have something to worry about.

Maybe.

[ sighs ] Well... I gotta get up early.

The Virginian wants us to check that corral railing,

and start to work cleaning out that water hole.

Good night.

Stace.Yeah?

I'll talk to her.

Oh. Good, good.

Just as soon as I can figure out what to say, that is.

♪♪

Hey.

I thought we were holding 20 head in here

to sell to Bob Lewis.

That's right. Don't worry, though.

It'll only take me about three or four hours

to round 'em up and get 'em back here again.

That's why we keep an eye out for weak railings

when the corral is full.

Something you wanted to say?

No, no. Nothing at all.

How about that corral railing?

Well, you tell me.

I thought you were supposed to fix it.

It was up when I looked at it.

It was up when I told you about it,

except a couple of cattle came through

and broke through the weak part, Charley.

Sorry, Stace. I guess I missed it.

You look hot. You want a drink?

Well, I am hot, and I'll take one, thank you.

Looks like you got most of that water hole cleaned up.

Almost.

Look, uh--Say, Charley--

Go ahead.

Well, sorry I got so riled up

when you mentioned Elizabeth.

I can understand how you'd feel

about a stranger spending too much time with your sister.

Well, uh...

maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

Tell you what. Come Saturday,

how about me buyin' you a drink in town?

On one condition.What's that?

I buy you one.

I don't know, Charley. You drive an awful hard bargain.

It's a deal.

All right.

Hyah!

♪♪

Sorry, I--

Well, now, I've been looking for you.

Seems we got some unfinished business to take care of.

Who are you lookin' for-- Stacy Grainger?

He ain't around. Ain't that too bad?

Now, if you want to go find him,

I'll be happy to wait.

I don't need him.Fine, fine.

Now, you talk real nice, and maybe I'll let you live.

Now, wait a minute, wait a minute.

What's the matter-- no stomach for it?

Look, I didn't mean to--

Listen real good, mister.

You picked the wrong guy.

You still want trouble, I'll be happy to oblige.

I don't want any trouble, no trouble.

That's reasonable of you.

You keep clear of me, friend, you hear?

Or you're gonna have a serious accident.

And the sheriff will think you're a troublemaker

and got just what you asked for. Now get out of here.

Thought you were supposed to meet me in the saloon, Charley.

Sorry, Stace. I got held up.

Is Zach makin' trouble again?

No, no more.

♪♪

[ knock on door ]

[ knocking ]Who is it?

It's me--Harold!

Come on in.

I'm back, Charlotte.

Hooray.

Can't we get a little light in here?

Now we've got some light in here. So?

You're looking just wonderful, Charlotte.

Aren't you glad to see me?

Sure.

Can't you tell?

I missed you a lot.

I wouldn't have gone if it wasn't so important.

Did you miss me at all?

Yeah, I couldn't stop crying.

Look, Bitz, you're a nice guy.

You're just not the right guy for me.

Give up and get your fun somewhere else.

But--

But you're the first girl I ever loved.

Ow.

What I told you before I left is true.

I'm gonna have a lot of money--plenty.

I'll show you the best time of your life.

Heh. Sure you will, Bitz.

In just a couple of weeks,

I'll have more money than you ever saw.

How? Are you going to rob a--

Never mind.

But I'm going to.

For a second there, I thought you were in on robbing the bank.

But where would you ever get that kind of nerve?

Beat it now, will you? I'm gonna be busy.

I'll be back.

It's not necessary.

And with the money. You just wait.

I'll try to stand it.

Hello, Sheriff.Hello, Bitz.

I, uh... I just got back.

And I heard about the terrible news.

You were lucky you weren't at the bank when it happened.

Yeah.

How much was taken?

10,000.

Whew.

Mr. Sizer must sure be upset.

I don't think so.

I guess you didn't hear all the news.

Your boss was killed during the robbery.

♪♪

Do you know who it was?

Well, he ain't been tried.

He's the one we're after.

No sign of him so far.

But it's just a matter of time till someone spots him.

You'd better go lay down, Bitz.

You look sick.

Yeah. Yes. Yes.

Thank you.

What's bothering you, Stace?

Nothing. I--

They should've been home by now.

They've been gone all afternoon.

They?

Yeah. Liz and Charley.

He took her over to Kathy's

with some new stuff for that baby of hers.

And?

No "and". They just should've been back by now, that's all.

I thought you liked Charley.

I don't know. It's a funny thing.

He's been kind of rubbin' me wrong lately.

Nothin', uh--

Nothin', really.

Doing what?

Like I said, it's nothing I can point a stick at.

It's just, um...

just this feeling I got about him, that's all.

♪♪

You got it all wrong.

Boys bring girls flowers.

These are for the house, not you.

Well, I guess we'd better go.

Charley, tell me something.

Why do you have to leave so soon?

Got some chores to do.

No, I mean from Shiloh.

Who told you that?

Where'd they say I had to go?

I just knew it

by the way you keep looking around at things.

It's what I do when I have to leave someplace I want to remember.

Don't you want to stay?

I like our place here.

All of Shiloh, in fact.

But you're going?

Yeah, I'm goin'.

Where?

That-a-way.

Is that how it's always been for you--

just leaving and not caring where?

More or less.

I was in a home once. I ran away.

Worked my way back and forth across the country.

Almost shipped out as a sailor once.

Do you like sailing?

I don't know. I never tried it.

But I liked the idea of it...

of being free.

I'm sorry, Charley.

For what?

How hard it's been for you.

Builds character.

That's better.

On a face like yours, it's a crime

to see anything but a smile.

Then I promise never to break the law.

Good girl.

♪♪

Hyah! Hyah!

Whoa.

Thanks, Charley.

And how's my favorite granddad...

on this most perfect of perfect days?

Libby.Yes?

Do you suppose you could spare your favorite grandfather

a few minutes?

Of course I can.

Honey...

Yes?

There are a lot of things we haven't talked about since you...

since you've grown up.

I'm not all that grown.

I don't think I have to tell you

that I love you very much.

You know what you mean to me.

But there's a couple of generations--

a lot of years-- between us.

What is it, Granddad?

You're very young.

You haven't had a mother around to talk to,

to explain things.

I just don't want to see you jumping into something

without giving it a lot of thought.

You're not talking about Charley, are you?

Charley and me?

It's not only Charley.

It's things in general.

But right now--Charley.

You don't have to worry about Charley.

He's nothing but a very good friend.

[ horse approaching ]

Hello, Sheriff. Anything wrong?

Charley Ryan around?

Why are you looking for Charley?

He's not in trouble?

Afraid so. Can you tell me where he is?

The corral, I think.

This is for the sheriff, not you.

But, Granddad--You stay right here.

♪♪

SHERIFF: Don't try it, Charley!

[ knock on door ]

Sheriff.

It got dark.

I lost him near that stream in the woods.

He won't get far, though.

I must've nicked him. I found your horse with blood on him.

I'll come back in the morning. We'll flush him out.

What's he wanted for, Mark?

Robbery and murder.

I'll have some men ready.

Good night.

He couldn't kill anyone. He couldn't. I just know it.

Yeah, how do you know it?

You were his friend. You should know that.

I'm not so sure anymore.

But, Stacy--

We should leave the judging to the courts.

You mean if it gets that far.

What do you mean?

You heard the sheriff.

He said he was hit. We don't know how bad.

And if we catch up with him,

and he decides to fight...

♪♪

[ horses approaching ]

I knew you'd be here.

Did you tell anybody?

No, I was too afraid to.

I didn't want anyone hurt.

They're out looking for you.

Look, leave that stuff and go home.

Go on, I tell you.

Don't you realize the trouble you can get into?

It's enough I'm in over my head.

First I'll fix this. Then I'm taking you back with me.

I can't go back, Elizabeth. They'd hang me.

Did you really kill a man like they say you did?

No, I didn't.

I swear to you by all that's holy in this world.

I'm as innocent as you are.

One thing's for sure-- you can't stay here.

Where are we goin'?

There's an old cabin near here.

It hasn't been used in a long time.

It's at least as safe as this place this.

♪♪

It was just around here I lost him yesterday.

Let's keep on. Maybe we can pick up the trail.

Liz, you gotta listen to me.

You can't stay here.

If you're innocent, why did you run?

Go on, take a look.

Learn all about justice in the friendly West.

They had me tried, convicted, and hung

even before I had a lawyer.

You want to know why I ran?

There it is.

That's terrible. You didn't have a chance in 100.

Make that a million, you'd be a lot closer.

But you can't run forever.

You've got to stop and face it sometime.

Do you believe I'm innocent?

Yes. I know you couldn't kill anyone.

That's the point.

I know it and you know it.

But there isn't a chance of convincing anyone else.

I'll talk to Granddad.

I know he'll want to help you.

One thing's for sure-- I can't go back to Portersville.

Well, they won't send you there,

not when they know all the facts.

But if they do...

I'm as good as dead.

That's right, Liz.

If you're wrong, and they don't back me up somehow,

I'm dead.

Are you so sure?

I don't know.

I don't know.

Hold it.

Dried blood.

He was here.

So was Liz.

♪♪

Elizabeth. Elizabeth?

I'm here. It's all right.

Things aren't bad enough, I gotta dream up even worse.

Can I take your horse?

You'll bleed to death if you go.

I'll hang if I stay.

Charley, I can't help you anymore.

I just can't.

I know, Liz.

You're caught in the middle.

I don't want you gettin' in any deeper.

You've done enough already--too much.

But how can you get away?

They're all out looking for you--

the sheriff, the Virginian, everybody.

I've got a better chance against them

than some rigged jury.

It was a nice idea you had--

that maybe I could give myself up

and get a decent hearing.

But it won't work.

I was a fool even to think about it.

The trouble is...

not everybody plays the game by your rules.

♪♪

Went around back of the cabin.

Liz's horse is there.

What do you think?

It figures.

And if he's in there, we've got him.

Look, he trusts me.

I'll try to talk to him. Maybe he'll come out.

He may be planning to use Elizabeth as a hostage.

You'd be just another one for him.

You and Stacy circle around and cover the back.

I'll try to talk him out.

No shooting.

Don't do anything to alarm him,

not until Elizabeth's free and clear.

♪♪

SHERIFF: Charley! Charley Ryan!

Charley, you send Elizabeth out,

and then you come out with your hands high!

All sweet and light, aren't you?

Then you led 'em right to me.

No.

Do like I say, Charley!

Let the girl go! It's your only chance!

I must've gone loco.

I know you'd never do me in.

No! Charley, don't.

They'll kill you for sure.

Even if you could make it clear of the cabin,

you couldn't get far with your shoulder.

I know what my chances are.

I've got no other choice.

But you do.

I'll help you. Granddad will help you.

We'll make sure you get a fair trial.

Still believe in fairy tales, don't you?

No, in you.

SHERIFF: Now, Charley, or we're comin' in!

Please, Charley-- for me.

Charley!

This is John Grainger!

You're only doing yourself harm!

Let Elizabeth go!

All right, I'm comin' out.

Don't hurt him.

You all right?

I'm all right.

It's a good thing for you that she is, Charley.

♪♪

You've hardly spoken two words to me since yesterday.

At first I was very surprised at what you'd done.

Then I was afraid for you.

Afterwards, when I was sure you were safe,

I began to get angry.

And I didn't want to say anything while I was angry.

Can we talk now?Go ahead.

I want to help Charley.

You've done enough.

I've been all over this with Stacy.

And it's finished.

I've got more important things on my mind

than Charley Ryan.

But his life is at stake.

Please, Granddad.

What do you want of me?

Look at these.

"Killer to be tried."

"Killer caught."

"Lynch atmosphere."

And look at that one-- "Fast hanging predicted."

It's easy to see why he broke out of that jail in Portersville.

If they felt that way then, they must feel that way now.

I agree, it's not good.

He told me he was innocent,

and I believe him.

Why?

He's alone and frightened.

He's never had anyone he could count on before.

He didn't try to use me to get away

like you thought he would.

He let me go and turned himself in.

Oh, Granddad, there must be something we can do.

All right, honey, I'll talk to him.

Thanks.

I think his best chance

is a possible change of venue.

Change of what, sir?

Venue.

When a man's about to be tried

in a place where it's felt he won't get a fair trial,

it's possible to have that case transferred to another court

to ensure impartiality.

And you think you can get me one of those changes of venue?

I can try.

Why are you doing this for me, sir?

Because of Elizabeth?

Yes.

Elizabeth, and those clippings.

The clippings convinced me more than anything else.

You must've done something pretty drastic in Portersville

to make them prejudge you like that.

Well, I won't lie to you, Mr. Grainger.

I've raised a lot of Cain here and there,

but nothing like robbing a bank or killing anybody.

Well, I'm glad you didn't involve Elizabeth any further.

Well, she's not involved at all, sir.

She helped a wounded man, but that's all.

She isn't involved any more than that.

I'm going to do my best to get the change of venue.

You'll have a lawyer and everything else

that would ensure you your day in court.

And whatever the verdict,

you'll have to live with it.

I've live with it, sir.

Sheriff?

I'll tell you-- right this second,

there's nobody, nowhere, feeling as good as me.

I'm glad.

Incidentally, the lawyer says that, considering the evidence

and the witnesses,

there really isn't a very strong case against you.

Mr. Grainger.

I hope someday I can find a way to thank you.

It won't be necessary.

Good-bye, Mark.Mr. Grainger.

I'll tell you, Sheriff--

I just feel like I've come from the bottom of a pit

to the top of a mountain.

And if I wanted to, I could fly away.

Well, Charley, feeling something is just fine.

It's the tryin' of it gets a man in trouble.

♪♪

♪♪

BITZ: Charley.

Charley! It's Bitz!

Hey, Charley!

Cha--

How'd you find me?

Everybody in Portersville knows.

The sheriff got a telegram from here and told all of us.

You're crazy to have come.

You were crazy to shoot Mr. Sizer when you robbed the bank.

I had no other choice. He worked late.

All right, all right. Never mind.

He's dead, but I'm not, and I want what's mine.

You sure picked a great time to come and get it.

I don't want any hedging around.

I want my money now.

Will you look at where I am?

But you know where the money is.

You tell me. I'll take my share out

and leave the rest for you.

Look, you got nothin' to worry about.

I got Shiloh-- the biggest ranch in the area--behind me.

It's only a matter of a few days before I'm free.

Then we'll meet, go to where I hit the money,

divvy it up, and that's that.

But what's to keep you from just going...

without me?

Harold, you gotta trust me.

No. No, I ain't got the time.

I gotta have that money, Charley, right away.

I can't wait no longer. You gotta tell me where it is.

All right.

But I'll do better than that.

Pardon me?

I'll go with you.Wha--

That's right. You, me, and the money.

How are you gonna get out of here?

You.

That's right--you.

First you're gonna handle a few things,

and then you're gonna bust me out of here.

♪♪

Come on, Stace. What's eatin' you?

I'm just not sure.

Is it about Charley Ryan?

Yep.

Guess a lot of folks are wonderin' about him.

I put everything I know about him together,

and it keeps comin' up the same way--

one big question mark.

What do you know about him?

He's pretty handy with a gun.

And?

He's got a bad temper

when it comes to answering questions about himself.

Go on.

I don't know. I had a feeling

when he was at the ranch, he wasn't really working.

He was just working at making it look that way.

Hmm.

I know, it doesn't look like very much.

No, it doesn't.

You left out one thing, too. What?

Elizabeth. She likes him,

trusts him, believes in him.

Yeah, well...

she's pretty green-- Elizabeth.

Maybe.

I don't know. I guess what it boils down to is...

what if Charley goes scot-free,

and it turns out he's guilty?

There's another way to look at it, you know.

What if he hangs, and he's innocent?

Whiskey.

Evening, gentlemen.

Evenin'.

Steele's the name.

Jack Steele.

Nice little town you got here.

It'll do.

Not like Pueblo.

Pueblo, Colorado. That's where I'm from.

Is that so?

Yeah. Headin' back there tomorrow.

Have a nice trip.

Oh, heh. Thank you.

You remember--

Jack Steele.

If you're ever in Pueblo, you look me up.

We sure will.

Well, good evening, gentlemen.

Heh.

Remind me in case I forget

that if I ever get to go to Pueblo, not to go.

[ laughs ]

I'm fixin' to lock up, Charley.

Anything you need?

No, thank you, Sheriff.

Except for maybe 50 or 60 of the basic essentials,

I got all the pleasures of home here.

Good night.

Good night.

♪♪

What do you think you're doing?

Getting my friend out of here.

Jack, don't do it!

Now, move over to the wall.

Come on, move!

Now, stretch out your hands.

Come on, stretch 'em out!

Lean against the wall. Come on.

Now drop the keys. Drop 'em!

Don't do it, Sheriff! He's a mean one--I know.

Don't fool with him at all.

You just stay there

till I tell you different.

Don't ask for trouble, you won't get any.

Come on. Come on.

Go check outside.

Look out, Sheriff.

I just couldn't let him gun you in the back, Sheriff.

I'm grateful, Charley.

Who is he?

I used to know him in Pueblo.

Did him a favor once.

I saw him on the street the other day.

Then, when you picked me up,

he came around to my cell window,

wanting to help me.

I told him I was through runnin'.

He wouldn't listen.

He swore nobody was gonna hang me.

Now there he is, dead.

Charley here just saved my life.

He tried to shoot me in the back. Charley got him first.

♪♪

You caught me.Doin' what?

Cheatin'.

No need to cheat.

That red nine goes on the black ten.

I missed that.

Hey, I telegraphed the sheriff at Pueblo

that Steele was dead,

just in case there was someone for him to notify.

Oh?

He said there was no one in Pueblo name of Steele.

You know everybody in Medicine Bow?

They stay around, I get to know 'em.

I told you I knew him in Pueblo.

I just figured he came from there.

Must've been a big favor you did for him

to want to break you out of here.

Especially when you didn't want him to.

Funny man--Steele.

He'd get somethin' in his head, just wouldn't shake it.

Just wouldn't believe the facts.

[ door opens ]

Hello, Elizabeth.Good morning.

What brings you here?

Brought some food for Charley.

Charley's been eatin' pretty well.

Not like home cooking.

Your grandfather know you're here?

Yes. I asked him if I could come.

Good. Excuse me.

I told you it was only food.

I'm sorry. Something I have to do.

All right, you can have a few minutes with him.

Well, hello.

I wanted to be the one to tell you.

Your change of venue came through.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

I brought you some food.

Well, that's all right.

Well, that's wonderful. A celebration feast.

That's to make up for the dinner you never came to.

What are you going to do after the trial?

Well, that's if they let me go.

They will.

Well, the first I want to do

is buy you the fanciest dinner at the hotel.

Won't be as good as this, though.

♪♪

Got a minute?

I gotta have a little time off.

Charley Ryan?

Yeah, Charley Ryan.

The change of venue came through.

Trial's tomorrow.Yeah, I heard.

You just can't be sure about him, can you?

Nope. There isn't one part of him that I buy anymore.

He saved the sheriff's life.

Just doesn't add up.

I mean, he had a chance to end in the clear.

Why'd he let his friend even try it?

On top of that, the Virginian and I talked to him.

He's about as meek as they come.

He wasn't any Jack Steele from Pueblo, either.

Who was he, then?

I don't know.

The sheriff in Pueblo never heard of him.

He sent him a wire.

Now, why would he want to make so sure

that we got his name and where he was from?

It didn't make sense then, it makes even less sense now,

but he was sure layin' it on for us.

What does Mark Abbott think about it?

He says there are a couple of things that gotta be cleared up,

but he's gotta stick around here for the trial.

What would you do with the time off?

I thought I'd take a ride over to Portersville.

Well, you might as well clear the air.

Go ahead.

Yeah, I might as well.

♪♪

Hello, honey.

Stacy's been grouchy as an old bear

since that day at the cabin.

Well, he's got a lot on his mind. What?

Questions that need answering.

About Charley?Yes.

Why can't he just leave it alone?

I went to the jail today. I saw Charley.

He's hoping, making plans.

Honey, Stacy loves you,

and he's concerned about you.

He just doesn't want to see you hurt.

The only thing that would hurt me

is if Charley's punished for something he didn't do.

♪♪

You never took to Charley's charms, huh?

A while, I guess.

More?

He must have all of Medicine Bow on his side by now.

If I know him.

And with the change of venue and all,

looks like he might walk right away from the murder charge.

You kind of gotta hand it to the boy.

You think he's guilty?

I said so in my deposition.

I've seen 'em like Charley before.

Pleasant enough but kind of restless,

like there's something eating at them.

Bad blood, maybe trouble growing up.

Whatever it is, it might sit all right with you and me,

but it festers in them.

They start figuring they got things comin' to them.

And when they don't get 'em, they reach out and grab 'em.

Some get caught, some talk their way out,

some keep gettin' away with it.

You ever seen her before?

Mm-hmm. Charlotte Rivers.

Works at the saloon. Where'd you get this?

Off a dead man in Medicine Bow.

He was killed tryin' to bust Charley Ryan out of jail.

Who was he?

I don't know. Average-lookin' guy.

About 5'10", sort of thin.

Sandy colored hair, kind of balding.

And nervous.

Kind of a guy you hardly ever notice.

Said his name was Jack Steele from Pueblo, Colorado,

only the sheriff in Pueblo never heard of him.

Could be Harold Bitz.

He worked for Sizer-- the owner of the bank who got shot.

This Bitz--he around?

He was out of town for a few days,

came back.

Come to think of it,

I haven't seen much of him the last few days.

♪♪

Well, Charley, looks like you're a free man.

Charley, I'm so happy for you.

Sheriff...

best roommate I ever had.

Mr. Grainger, thank you.

Elizabeth, I don't know exactly what to say to you,

except you're probably the best thing that ever happened to me.

Charley, you've got a couple of things

to pick up at the office.

You'd better make sure word gets out

that I'm not worth all that money anymore.

Hate to have someone takin' potshots at me like I was fair game.

♪♪

Stace.Sheriff.

What'd you find out?

I covered about all the ground that I could,

talked to Charlotte.

Bitz was over to see her, all right.

Told her about all the money he was gonna have.

Charlotte Rivers and Bitz.

That's a couple in a million. Who'd have figured?

Did you hear anything from Medicine Bow?

Mm-hmm.

Trial's over. Charley was acquitted.

Lack of evidence and no positive identification.

It says here he's left town.

Sheriff, I got an awful strong feelin'

that money's gotta be around Portersville somewhere.

You think he's coming back for it?

Would you show me where you caught up to him

after the robbery?

Mm-hmm. It may be a waste of time.

I got nothin' to do for a couple of days.

Well, come to think of it,

neither have I.

♪♪

No hurry, Charley.

We got all day.Stace--

There's nothing you can do, so just get up.

Look, I'll make a deal.

Hand's played out, Charley.

Well, you can't take me in. You can't try a man twice

for the same crime-- that's the law.

I know the law, Charley.

I'm takin' you in for bustin' my jail...

and killing Bitz.Stace--

I really wanted to believe you, Charley.

Just like Elizabeth.

I'm just sorry for her sake that I turned out right.

Couldn't stand the money here and me not with it.

I waited too long.

Stace...

tell Elizabeth--

tell her--

♪♪

Stacy, what is it?

When Charley left here,

he went straight to that bank loot.

The sheriff in Portersville had to kill him.

Oh, Granddad.

Liz, he didn't have any other choice.

I trusted him.

I believed in him.

He couldn't have been all bad.

You just be glad you saw the good in him.

You did the best you could.

Remember what he said--

you're probably the best thing that ever happened to him.

♪♪

[ theme music playing ]