Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

Hey!

Huh.

Ah-huh!

Whoa.

[ laughs ]

[ laughing ]

Hey, come on. Here.

Hurry.

Come on.

That sign outside says you're from Texas, mister.

Well, I don't believe it.

'Cause he don't look like a Texan.

And he sure enough don't act like one.

And your watered-down whisky ain't fit for a Texas belly.

[ laughing ]

What do you say, folks?

Anybody here like this man's whisky?

Well, then you don't mind us putting this gent out of business.

[ laughing ]

All right, boys.

The war is over.

That sounds like Yankee talk to me.

Nuh-unh.

That's law talk, and you know it.

What outfit you men with?

You better tell him, Lou.

This here's Dan Porter,

the great Dan Porter.

LOU: He don't look so great to me.

Especially not with a holstered gun.

Sonny, when I draw it, I use it.

And I'd sure hate to trade bullets with you boys over a few broken bottles.

That's smart, Sheriff. That's real smart.

So you just stand there and watch us while we break a few more,

'cause we don't like this man's whisky.

Now hold on, sonny, hold on.

Just a minute here now.

What's wrong with the man's whisky?

Slop!

Slop?

Charlie, you feeding these gentlemen slop?

Yeah, it's watered down.

Oh, I don't know. Now it looks all right.

Smells all right.

And tastes all right.

Uhh...

Well, it looks like I arrived in the nick of time. I'm sorry, Dan.

I was clear at the other end of town when I heard the shooting.

That's all right, Frank. I don't mind fighting them alone.

But you know something? I sure do hate to carry them alone.

Now let's see. Uh...

I'll take the little one. Do you mind?

Fair enough.

Charlie.

That cowboy you hit in the head with a bottle has got quite a headache.

I think he'll live, though.

You bandage his head?Yeah.

Very considerate, Frank.

I could only wish you were a mite more cautious.

Huh?

Clear down at the other end of town alone.

The Barskin lot does most of their drinking down there.

There wasn't any trouble.Well, the fact is there could have been.

But you left half your authority here. How many times

do I have to tell you, when you walk into a trouble situation alone,

you take this scatter gun with you?

No, you'd rather walk around with a smile on your face and be known as a nice guy.

Oh, now, listen.You listen.

This is a hard job and it's a tough job.

And with that in your hands you look twice as hard and twice as tough.

It doesn't matter if people like you.

It matters that they take orders from you.

Now when we're together, it's one thing.

But when you're alone, you take this with you, you understand?

Yes, sir.All right.

That Barskin drops by to bail those two out,

you tell him $50 should cover the damages.

I'm going home to get some dinner.

Oh, and I almost forgot, Emily dropped by about 10:00 this morning,

left this for you.

Something wrong, Dan?

I never thought it would happen.

Really happen.

Frank, what time did that stage leave this morning?

Usual time, 11:00.

You just got yourself a promotion, lad.

Do a good job.

Hi, Stace. Picked up a couple of new hands in town.

Would you show 'em around, please?Certainly.

Gentlemen.

Howdy. Stace Grainger.

Wes Manning.

Porter. Dan Porter.

Nice to know you.

Now let's see.

I think we got a couple of bunks down here at the end.

Yeah, these two top ones right here.

Right.

Seems like I get the top bunk no matter where I go.

Is that a fact? Appears to me

you're not old enough to have gone that many places.

Oh, I worked for top outfits all over.

Do tell. I would have guessed it was your first job.

What about you, Porter?

What do you mean?

You take the kid here for an old hand?

Well, I guess it's kind of hard to tell a man from his looks.

Just watch me on that range, mister.

I can do the work of two men.

Just watch me out there.

I was just pulling your leg.

Just do a good job-- that's all that counts around here.

We'll see you later.

THE VIRGINIAN: Pour me a cup of that, Cecil.

Porter.Hmm?

Oh, good evening.Evening.

Everything all right?Oh, yeah, just fine.

In the morning I'm gonna put you with Stacey riding fence.

Whatever you say, sir.

What about me, boss?

Well, I'm not sure yet. Just what do you do best?

You name it and I can do it.

I got a lot of branding to do.

I was hoping you'd say that.

I can hold my own in a hot iron with the best of 'em.

Mm-hmm. Well, we'll start you out as one of the ketch hands,

sort of work your way up.

That suits me fine.

See you in the morning, boys.Good night.

Boy, they tell me he's a great one to work for.

Is that right?Gives every man an even break.

That's all I ask for, boy-- an even break.

[ sighs ] Harper, why don't you come on over here

and help me take the chill off this deck?Right.

WES: This game open?

That depends, son.

The name of this game is poker, not marbles.

Well, I can play poker.

And I got $5 to back me up, too.

Sir, you just sit yourself right down here. Sit right down.

You have aged five years right before our very eyes.

Let's cut for deal.

Hey, uh,

I'm in on that cut.

Trampas.Anybody beat a deuce?

Trampas, you have gotten back just in time to be cleaned out.

Well, just keep thinking that way, Stace.

Makes it easier for me to take your money.

Hi, Stace. How are you, Harv?

Pretty good, pretty good.

I'm Wes Manning.

Trampas.How do you do?

Wes here is one of the two new hands that we hired.

Oh.

Porter over there is the other.

Deal me out.

STACE: Here we go.

Porter.

Yeah?

You remember me?

I've seen you before, but I can't remember where.

We spent some time together, you and me.

Almost a week.Oh?

In your jail.Oh.

I see.

I never thought I'd see you without that badge,

least of all here.

Yeah.

Well, here I am.

Now let's get this straight, son.

Your face is familiar, but I don't remember

who you are or why I locked you up,

but if I did, there must have been a good reason.

Good enough, according to you.

Mister, I was never that wrong.

Maybe you and me should step outside

and discuss this.That suits me just fine.

Trampas, I want to see you alone, now.

Just a minute.

Mr. Porter and I have a little business to settle first.

I said now.

Later.

Do you have any idea who that new hand is you hired?

The man's name is Dan Porter.

Sheriff Porter, of Mason City.

Around here he's just another hand.

Maybe to you, not to me. Come here.

About a year ago I went to Mason City

and I got into this gambling game.

And it was rigged-- I could tell it was rigged.

You usually can when you're losing.

No, not this time. I knew for sure.

So I went looking for the sheriff-- him, Dan Porter.

And I said, "If I don't get my money back, I'm gonna tear that place apart."

He said, "Well, you're gonna have to start with me first."

So you tried.Tried, nothing-- I was doing it!

Halfway through the fight he drew his gun and hit me over the head with the gun barrel.

And maybe, just maybe, you were having a run of bad luck, and that's all.

Bad luck, my...

Well, you know what he did then? He threw me in his stinking jail

after he clobbered me over the head with his gun barrel,

and he kept me there five days for disturbing the peace!

Which you just said you were threatening to do.

And that's just what I got.

Look...

all I want is a chance to finish that fight

right here and now, and without guns.

No, no, no.Why?

Because I say so. And while you're at it,

I'd just as soon the other hands didn't know he'd been a sheriff.

They're gonna wonder why you hired him,

and they can tell a greenhorn when they see one,

and they're gonna wonder what he's been doing all his life.

They wanna ask him and he wants to tell them, that's fine.

But that's his business.

Well, why is he here?

Maybe because he got booted out of office.

They found out that the games were rigged and he was stealing--

Trampas, Trampas, give him a chance.

Give him a chance?Yeah.

Uh... Have...

It's your call.

Three aces.

Beats my two pair.

I'm in.

Thought you were out.

That's real clever of you, Stacey.

I was out, now I'm in.

All right, all right.

What do you know about that Porter fellow?Nothing.

Not a dad-blamed thing.

[ cattle mooing ]

Porter.

You better ride drag.

Drag?Yeah.

What does that mean, behind?Yeah, that means behind.

Yes, sir.

Go, cattle!

[ mooing ]

[ mooing ]

Need some help?

[ whistling ]

[ groans ]

[ groans ]

Hey, Dan, you got that dime book I loaned you?

What? Oh, yeah. Here it is.

I told Stacey he could read it next. Finished?

I never even started it.

You know I don't read that junk, sonny.Well, then why'd you take it?

To keep you from harping about how I should read it, that's why.

Boy, you know what you are? You're a sore-head.

That's right, I'm a sore-head.

Sore back. Sore arms.

Sore anything-- anything you name it, sonny, they're sore.

Well, you'll feel all right, come tomorrow.

It's payday! Hey, you coming into town with us?

Yeah, I'm going in early.

Well, if you want to find us later on,

we'll all be at the saloon more than likely.

I must be sure and remember that.

Ohh...

Yeah.

Here you go, Wes. Or do you wanna leave the bottle?

No, this is just fine. Well, for starters.

Well, here's looking at ya.

But for how long?

[ strained ] It's good.Good.

Well, if you say so. Two more.

You're ready, aren't you, Wes?

Sure, sure.

Only thing is, I wish there were more girls here.

Oh, a ladies man, too, huh?

I know-- you can hold your own.

That's right. But only two gals

and all of us, well...

The trick is, Wes,

if you're gonna be around here for a while,

forget the saloon gals.

You find yourself a pretty little gal in town, all your own.

Yeah.

You know, it just so happens

there's this pretty little gal down the street a ways.

As pretty as she can be.

Yeah?

Only one trouble, though--

that's the gal I'm gonna see.

So long, Wesley.

[ whistles ]

Porter!

What do you want?

I want to set you straight.

Now I don't know how you do things in Mason City,

but here we're a little more polite to a woman.

You stay out of this, sonny, or I'm gonna break your neck.

Now go on and get!

Well, you--

Hey, fellas, there's a fight out there.

[ men cheering ]

Hit him again.One more time.

Hit him, Trampas.

All right, that's enough.

All right, folks, the show's over.

Break it up.

Are you all right, Dan?Yeah, yeah, I'm all right.

I thought I told you, no fighting.

He was pushing around that woman.

That woman happens to be his wife.

His...

Leave it to you to go poking into a family quarrel.

I need a drink.

You better get washed up, too. Come on.

What?

[ music playing, indistinct chatter ]

Yeah, I got you...

His wife.

Feel better?

Oh, I don't feel a thing.

I'm numb.

That Porter hits like a mule.

Will you admit this one was a fair fight?

Fair enough, yeah.

Except for one thing--

I didn't know I was interfering with him and his wife.

You might as well know, she's unhappy with his being a lawman,

so she pulled out.Why'd she come to Medicine Bow?

She has a sister here. Porter knew that, so he followed her.

He told me the whole story when he asked for a job.

And now he's willing to be a cow-puncher?

Not quite. He has some money saved.

Not much, but enough for a small spread.

Trouble is, he doesn't know the first thing about ranching.

Signed on hoping to learn.

Takes a lot of stomach to start from scratch, a man his age.

And he can use all the help we can give him.

I didn't know.

Still believe he got rich off of crooked gambling games?

Maybe I had been drinking.Uh-huh.

Some.Uh-huh.

Hey, Trampas! That was a pretty good fight.

Only one thing-- I noticed you dropped your left an awful lot.

Yeah. Well, don't worry about it because I can give you a few pointers

that'll clear that up in no time at all. Gotta get that left up in there.

I'll bet you're a great fighter, just great.

I can hold my own.

Well, when we get back to the ranch,

you can give me some help.Anytime, partner.

Anytime at all!

All right, so now I know why Porter's here.

You tell me where you found him.

Oh, he's a handy kid.

Dan...

When I left Mason City,

I didn't do it because I hoped you'd follow me.

But I did.

For what?

I kinda think that would be obvious.

To prove that you love me?

Well, now that you mention it.

To find out if I still love you.

Dan, that's never been the question.

Em, Em, you knew what I was when you married me.

Yes. Yes, I did.

But I was still young enough to think I could learn to live with it.

And I was just old enough not to want to wait any longer to find out.

Em, why ten years? Why'd you wait ten years to leave?

You'd leave in the morning and the fear would come.

But at least when you got home at night, it went away.

So after a while, I got so I could live with it.

It was like living with a third person in the house.

I got used to having it there.

All this, then-- why this?

Three months ago, in that fight with the Carsons.

Oh, Em, that never should have happened.

I mean, I thought I had them covered.

I didn't know there was somebody coming in from behind.

And he nearly caved the side of your head in.

[ crying ]

They brought you home bleeding.

Honey, I pulled through.

It sounds so simple.

For three weeks...

you laid there,

not talking,

not moving.

And there was nothing to stop the fear.

Even when you were home

and the door was shut

and it was Frank out on the street instead of you,

the fear was with me.

Honey.Dan.

Not all of our love--

not all of our love was enough to end it.

It just wasn't enough.

Em...

I didn't realize.

I mean, if I'd have known, I--

Oh, Dan.

Would it have made any difference?

It's changed now.

I'm here.

No badge, no rounds.

Just us, the two of us.

That's for today.

And tomorrow.

And next week.

And a long time.

Morning.

Morning.

Need some help with that?

No, thanks.

Working on a saddle is one thing I do know how to do.

Yeah.

Um, we're gonna be rounding up the herd next week

and the foreman wanted me to give you a few tips on roping.

That is, unless you object.

Listen, mister, I work here. I do what I'm told.

I'm in no position to object to anything.

Mister...

I'm not ordering, I'm offering.

Fight's over, isn't it?

Yeah, fight's over.

Let's, uh, get your horse.

Hey, you know something?

You punch like a--a--A mule?

Yeah. Yeah, a mule.

[ mooing ]

Now the, uh, the important thing

about rope--roping cattle is, uh...

Yeah, they're kind of sitting quiet right now.Yeah.

That's one of the most important things.

You don't wanna run them all off the country somewhere, see?

So when you're heading, you build yourself a loop about this big,

throw it right over your head like this, see,

and throw it down over the calf's head

just like you're throwing a stone.

Throw it right down like that, see?Yeah.

Pull up your slack and take it down.Uh-huh.

Now if you're heeling, you build yourself a little bigger loop, see?

Come up like this, and as your head is turning,

you--you steer off, you go up like that

and you throw it right down at the two hind feet and you pull it up

and you take your slack and turn off.

The main thing is distance and timing

and judgment and all that.

He's the best miss, but here, let me show you if I can't...

There's a little bald-faced calf. I'm gonna try and show you.

You go in nice and slow.

Now come here. Hey, Dan, come over here, Dan!

That's it, boy. Now just take it right off.

See?Yeah.

Thanks, Dan.

Yeah, maybe I should practice on a post or something first.

Well, yeah.

Build yourself a post or get you some horns, see?

Uh-huh.

Now, that's the only way to learn

is to get out there and try.

All right.

[ coughs ]

[ whistling ]

Put it on him!

I missed.

Well...

This is it. What do you think?

It's very nice.

Well, it's kinda small,

but I think we could make it comfortable.

Bedroom over here.

And there's another little one upstairs.

How did you find it?

Oh, the--Trampas and the Shiloh foreman

suggested I come out here.

They said it'd be a real good buy.

Kitchen.

It's a fine kitchen.

The house is in wonderful condition.

We could move in right now.

Well, I'm thinking of spending at least another month at Shiloh.

And it'll take a month to stock the place.

But I'll tell you, you could move in sooner.

Here, I'm gonna show you something.

We have a hundred acres to the south of here,

all fenced in.

And north, we have another 50 acres.

Of course, I'm gonna have to do a little work up there.

But I'm planning to put in a bigger corral out back

and maybe tear down that little old barn and put up a bigger one.

And... maybe start a family.

This would make a fine home.

I'd be very happy here. You know that.

But would you?

Em...

Em, don't question it.

Well, then, see the man. Buy the house right now.

Well, wait a minute. Don't get in too much of a rush.

I'm leaving on a cattle drive tomorrow.

We're taking a herd from here down to Byesville at the railhead,

and I think it'd be a real good experience for me.

How long will you be gone?Oh, two weeks at the most.

All right, then, I'm leaving, too.

Huh?

For Mason City.

I'll take the stagecoach, and I can

pack all the dishes and have the furniture shipped.

Ah...

Honey, honey, honey, wait now.

I gotta get back, you know. I'm a working man.

[ mooing ]

[ mooing ]

[ horse approaching ]

Oh. Afraid maybe you got lost.

No, but you'll wish I had.

The water at Silver Springs is bad, polluted.

And I checked Lake Bridger, and it's sour, too.

We'll have to head south.

The only other place is Indian Wells.

Except that's a long swing south of Byesville.

We'll lose maybe three or four days.

Hmm.

Not if we go around Byesville, keep heading south.

Come on.Get Buck for me, will you?

Dan, how's the water

between Indian Wells and Mason City?

Oh, there's plenty.

What's the cattle situation

down there this time of year?

Well, it's Texas beef mostly.

Maybe a herd a month, sometimes two.

And the buyers?Oh, they're open.

Well, that settles it.

Swing south, we'll hit the railroad, and then head on to Mason City.

See you later.

Like some coffee?Yeah, it was a long ride.

Well, Dan, I reckon this is gonna feel kind of strange for you.

How's that?

Heading back to Mason City as a--

as one of us, a cowhand.

Yeah.

Ah. Boy, that's good.

How long were you sheriff there anyway?

Eight years.

Eight years. [ whistles ]

Eight years in the same town.

Uh, Dan, tell me something.

Were any of the gambling games in Mason City rigged?

[ laughs ]

No, not that I know of.

Well, you should know.

But, uh, well, I mean, uh,

wasn't part of your salary-- didn't it come from the saloon?

No, no. Town paid me a straight salary

to protect everything and everyone in it,

including the saloons, rigged or not.

Well, my mistake.You're not all that wrong, really.

I mean, I have worked for towns that couldn't afford a lawman.

When that happened, I settled for a percentage of the saloon trade.

Not many people know that. Have you ever been a lawman?

Me? Not hardly.

Uh, the closest I ever worked with lawmen

is them behind the desk and me behind the bars.

Except for maybe the last six years.

That little arrest of mine in Mason City reminded me of old times.

Well, yeah.

Guess I might have used that gun barrel a little too hard.

You know, that's the closest I've come to being whipped in a long time.

Is that right?

I do that every once in a while--

afterwards not be sure whether or not there might have been another way.

I imagine using more than a gun barrel could be worse.

It was worse.

I had to shoot a kid once.

Couldn't have been more than 20 years old.

I had to shoot him right in the belly with two shotgun slugs

'cause he had a rifle pointed at me and a payroll over his saddle.

And his mother slapped my face, all the time

raving and yelling what a good boy he'd been all his life.

[ sighs ] I don't know, Dan.

I don't think I could do that kind of job.

Well...

It's not a job every man can do.

Something that's gotta be done, nobody wants to do it.

They pat you on the back when you save them

and they curse your name when they think you've made a mistake.

So you learn to enforce the law

and at the same time try to grow a real thick skin.

Who teaches you how to do that?

Nobody teaches you, really.

It's a business you've gotta have a--

have an instinct for, a feeling for.

Like you--you know just when to toss a rope.

A good lawman knows when to bluff

or when he'd better pull a pistol.

He knows when a crowd's dangerous

or when it's just a little drunk.

Takes a few years, but you get a feeling for it.

[ chuckles ]

All right.

All right, I admit it-- I miss it.

I guess any man misses what comes easiest to him.

But once--once I get this cattle business down,

I'm sure I'm gonna feel better about it.

Anyway, like a little more coffee?

Yeah, yeah. Fill 'er right up.

Dan!Hey, Frank.

I'm glad to see you.How are you anyhow?

Fine, fine. You look great.

Well, could use a bath,

but outside of that I don't feel too bad.

Frank, this is the foreman of the Shiloh outfit

from Medicine Bow. Frank North.

How do you do?How do you do?

I came along on their cattle drive.

Yeah, well, I heard Emily came in town yesterday.

And seeing you now, I wonder if maybe things have changed.

No, nothing's changed.

Well...

So you brought your herd all the way down here from Medicine Bow.

That's right. We wanted to ask you about the market.

I'm afraid it's crowded. One outfit came in,

made a deal with Morgan, pulled out last week.

But two more came in yesterday.

You mean three herds in one month?Yours makes four.

Sounds like a buyer's market.

Afraid it is.

[ men shouting, gunshots ]

That'll be Tasker's outfit.

Sound familiar?Too familiar.

[ shouting and gunshots continue ]

Will I see you later, Dan?I hope so, Frank.

Good luck with your cattle.Thank you.

Seems like a busy job.

Well, it can be when you get this many drovers in town.

Did he say something about your wife being in town?

Oh, yeah, yeah, she came in to pack up some of our things.

You'll wanna see her. Why don't you stay in town tonight

and come back out to camp tomorrow?

No, I just want to say hello to her. I don't want any special favors.

Nothing special. I told Trampas let half the men

come into town tonight and half tomorrow.

I'm just assigning you to the first half, that's all.

All right, then, thanks.

Well, I'd better get to those buyers.

Did he say something about a man named Morgan?That's right.

Is he the best one?Well, he's the richest.

I guess you'll find him doing business out of his hotel room.

I'd introduce you, but I'm afraid it might kill the sale.

I locked up his son last year on a drunk charge.

If I pass you on the street, I'll pretend I don't know you.

So long.

See you tomorrow.

That's my top dollar, 15 a head.

We were expecting at least 18 in Byesville.

Well, this isn't Byesville.

No, it isn't.

Morgan!

You'll have to wait, Mr. Tasker.

This gentleman and I are discussing business.

Cattle business?Mr. Tasker, please.

I just, uh, brought a herd in from Medicine Bow.

You won't get a fair deal from this robber.

You told me 15 was your top price.And it is.

Then what about Charlie Brill's herd you bought last week?

One of his drovers stayed on. He just told me you paid Brill 20 a head.

It was a small herd and I had orders to fill.

You mean it was the only herd, so you had to pay a fair price.

But with my herd and Yancy's, you think you can steal from us.

Now you know the cattle business, Tasker. It's supply and demand.

Well, I'm making a demand right now.

I talked to Yancy, and you ain't getting our cattle

unless you pay what you paid Charlie Brill-- 20 a head.

Now this gentleman only asked 18.

His cattle haven't been driven as far and they're in better shape.

Now wait a minute. I said we were expecting 18.

20 sounds a whole lot better to me.

I'm sorry, 15 is my top price.

Well, maybe some of the other buyers will meet our price

once they know we're all standing firm.

Ask 'em.

I won't ask 'em. I'll tell 'em.

Now that is a violent man.

Well, it's a long way from Texas.

I guess I'd be a little hot under the collar, too, if I'd been offered

a short price after a long drive.

Well, Tasker's like that no matter what the price.

Well, about your herd--I'm sorry, Mr. Morgan.

I'm afraid I'm gonna have to talk to some of the other buyers, too.

Suit yourself. If you can get a better deal, fine.

Good day, sir.

You make a deal?

No, I didn't.

Good. Now you stand firm with us

at 20 a head, we'll have him over a barrel.

Well, I'm afraid I can't promise anything.

What do you mean?

Well, I'd like to get 20 or even more,

but I have orders to settle for 18.

Orders from who?My boss.

Well, you send a-- a wire to this boss

and tell him you're holding out for 20.

I don't tell him anything, Mr. Tasker.

I advise him.

And we decided 18 was low but fair.

I'll have to accept that if I can get it.

You need some help there, lady? I work mighty cheap.

Well, we couldn't get the herd to Byesville, so we had to bring it here.

For a minute I thought...

I don't know what I thought.

Hey, I know what you thought, and you stop thinking that way.

No, ma'am, I'm strictly a cow puncher with a day off for good behavior.

Hey, you know, you've done quite a bit around here.

Just the small things.

But, uh, you can help me take down the curtains

and the pictures.

Well, ma'am, I'd be proud to, but first of all,

do you think it'd be possible for me to take a bath?

I'll heat the water.

[ piano playing ]

[ men laughing and shouting ]

15! I never lose on 15.

What are you betting-- your age, Wesley?

Saloon's getting awful crowded.

There's three cattle outfits in town.

You can sure tell it's an end of a drive.

Well, I'm glad I found you here.

Oh, Mr. Morgan. This is Trampas, my top hand.

How do you do?Please sit down.

Thank you, thank you.

I understand that one of the buyers offered you 17.

That's right. I told him the same thing I told you-- 18 is our lowest price.

Yes. Well, I drove out and had a talk with Dave Yancy.

Tasker's bluffing when he said he had Yancy in line.

Oh? What will Yancy sell for?

I told Yancy that you had good beef at 18,

and he said he could make a profit at that price, too.

So since that seems to be the bottom price,

you're both honest men-- I'll come up.

Is it a deal?What about Tasker?

Tasker could make a profit at 18, too,

but knowing him, he'll try for more.

Well, I guess that's his business.

We have a deal, Mr. Morgan.Fine, fine.

You stop by my room later this evening

and we'll sign the papers.I'll be there.

Hallelujah. That calls for a celebration.

WES: Yahoo!

Looks like our boy Wesley's already celebrating.

You must have a relative turning that wheel for you, Wesley.

Now, let's see. I want my lucky 15

plus 27, 5,

and 9.

Why don't you bet all the low numbers, Yankee?

We hear your outfit deals in nothing but low numbers.What's that supposed to mean?

It means we drive cattle a far piece and we ask a big price for 'em.

Then you carpetbaggers come along and undercut us.

Hold on there, cowboy. We just drive the cattle, we don't sell 'em.

Now wait a minute. I don't like nobody calling me no carpetbagger.

Especially no man that most likely can't back it up.

You talk tough, youngster.I do more than talk, mister.

If your fist were as big as your mouth, I'd believe you.

I can hold my own.

Let's see.

Take it easy!

Step aside.

He's not fighting.

Come on, Wesley, let's go.

I don't like this at all-- trouble, real trouble.

Yeah. Want me to send the hands home a little early?

I guess you'd better.Yo.

Well, now all the people on the street

can look in and see how the Porters are doing.

Well, let them look.

By tomorrow, all they'll be able to see

is an empty room.

Hey, listen, by the way, did you arrange with George to pick up this furniture?

Yes, I did. He can't freight it until the first,

but he'll--he'll hold it for us till then.

Okay.

[ knock on door ]

I'll get it.

Hey.

Hello, Dan. I thought maybe I'd find you here.Hello, Frank.

Can I come in and talk a minute?Of course, come on in.

Hello, Emily.

Evening, Frank.

It's good to see both of you back here again.

Yeah, well, I, uh, I wish we were staying longer.

Yeah, so do I.

Dan, this isn't easy to say.

I've been talking to some of the townspeople and the mayor.

Well, all of us, we'd like to ask you to take your old job back.

Now, they'd be willing to raise the pay.

Oh, Frank, it's never been a matter of pay.

You look to be doing a good job.

Well, it's just too big for me, Dan.

I found that out this last month.

Now with these three outfits in town...

Well, I'm a good deputy, but I'm afraid that's it.

Frank.

You know why Dan left, don't you?

Well, yes, ma'am, but he's back now,

and I figured with me and another deputy, if he figured he needed one--

In other words, you'd guarantee his safety?

Dan?

Frank, I've decided on a new life.

Yeah, well, I owed it to the town to try.

Well, look, why don't you hire more men?

There aren't that many around that want the job,

at least not the ones that measure up.

Dan, could you give me a hand temporarily?

I mean, with this mob in town, I'm...

I'm sorry, Frank.

I mean, we got a lot more to do here

and we're leaving tomorrow.

I'd like to help you. Believe me, I really would. But...

I have a suggestion for you.

Whenever there's more than one outfit in town,

I used to insist that the men leave their guns back in camp.

Well, maybe that's the difference between us, Dan.

You could insist. I can only ask.

Good night.

Good night, Frank.

[ door opens and closes ]

Dan.

Thank you.

[ knock on door ]

Come in.

Oh, papers are all ready.

Well, good.Please, sit down.

I imagine your men are having a good time in town.

They were, but we sent them back to camp early.

Oh. Well, perhaps that's wise.

I hope your boss considers this a good deal.

A fair deal.

Well, I'm a businessman, but an honest one.

I'll have the bank draft ready for you in the morning.

Medicine Bow.

You know, I have a few friends up in your neck of the woods.

Is that right?

Where's your boss? Where's Yancy?

I don't know. Back at the camp, more than likely.

Are you sure?

Leave me alone, Tasker. I don't know where Yancy is.

Trouble, boss?Nothing I can't handle.

You know what this chicken-livered Yancy bunch did?

They threw in with that Shiloh crowd and sold out to Morgan.

There's nothing chicken about Mr. Yancy.

He made a deal, and it was a fair one.

And I say Yancy is a double-dealing polecat.

Like any man who rides for him!

He married an Eastern girl, he did.

Sold his ranch, packed up, and moved to Philadelphia.

I'll be. That's quite a ranch he sold.

That was one of the best--[ saloon fight noises ]

I wonder if Frank needs any help.

I'll go down and find out.I'll go with you.

Hey, break it up! Break it up!

I said-- I said break it up!

You and your stinking town. You want some more?!

No, this has gone far enough. I want you--

He's hurt bad. Who did it?

Who can say?

We was fighting, and all of a sudden--

Get him up to his office. I'll go for the doc.

You always leave by the back door?

Doctor's out of town.

I stopped by Dan Porter's house and told him, though.

He's on his way.

Even if the doc was here, I doubt if he could save him.

Frank.

Frank.

Can you hear me? Who did this?

Who was it, Frank?

Ramrod.

Which ramrod?

Tasker's.

All right, Frank, now you just take it easy.

You always told me to have my gun out

before I went into trouble.

I should've been with you, Frank.

No.

No. You taught me.

I just didn't listen good enough.

Frank. Frank...

He was always there to back me up when I needed him.

But tonight...

I'll go with you.

Never mind. I can handle it alone.

Frank's dead.

I found this fella trying to sneak

out the back door of the saloon after the shooting.

You Ed Tasker's ramrod?Yeah, and you--

I wish he'd never brought you in.

I'd like to have hunted you down

and put both barrels of a scatter gun right in your stomach.

Lock him up, will ya?

Are Ed Tasker and his men still in that saloon?

They were when I left.

You men stay here till I get back.Dan?

Tasker's a rough one.

Well, I guess I'd better go get a drink.

Good idea.

Well, well, look who's back in business.

I heard you was long gone, Porter.

Well, I'm back, and so are the old rules.

Take off those gun belts.

Do as he says, boys.

Old Dan's a stickler for the rules.

I thought I might have a drink.

It's all right, everything's under control here.

Hey, what about him, Porter?

Don't the rules go for him, too?

Nobody carries a gun in town except the law.

No problem.

Be sure you tell the Yancy outfit, too.

If you ask me, it was probably one of them who shot young Frank.

You think that, do you?

Well, they sure lit out of here fast.

What about your ramrod? He's not here.

Well, he had to leave. He had to check on the herd.

He didn't make it. He's locked up and he's in jail

and he's gonna stand trial for murder.

You can't hold Barney.

I can and I will.

Now you take your outfit back to camp, and don't you ever

come in this town wearing guns again.

Listen, Porter, I ain't standing still for you holding my man.

All right.

All right, he did shoot Frank.

But Frank was going for his gun. It was self-defense!

Frank was a lawman! He had every right to pull that gun

to try to stop that brawl!

But Barney thought he was going for me!

That's Barney's mistake. You can tell all about it at the trial.

There ain't gonna be a trial.

When a man looks out for me, I don't let him rot in no cell.

You better think twice, Porter.

We got other guns in camp.

Any of your men come into this town wearing guns,

they're gonna land right beside your ramrod.

You pay 'em that much, Tasker?I'm warning you, Porter!

It's 11:00. I'm giving you 12 hours

to think about turning my man loose.

But if you don't,

then I'll be in at 11:00 tomorrow morning.

Move out.

Come on!

Gimme a drink, Charlie.

Think he means it about tomorrow?

He means it.

But I'll fight.

Most of his men know that.

I don't think he can get more than a couple of 'em to risk it.

That still makes it uneven odds.

Maybe a couple of my boys could--No, no, no, thank you.

You can't make a rule for one bunch of drovers

and use other drovers to enforce it.

No, thank you.

You can have your gun back, though, if you don't wear it in town. Charlie.

I, uh, I guess you won't be coming back with us.

No, I guess not.

I belong here.

I know things that Frank could never learn.

Like he should have pulled that pistol

before he ever got into that brawl.

He should have fired a warning shot standing at the door.

Frank never learned the whole job.

Any more than I could ever learn yours.

[ tries to turn doorknob ]

Em?

[ crying ]

Emily.

[ knock on door ]

[ knocking ]

Please, Em.

Looks awful quiet, don't it?

Yeah. What time is it?

Must be after 10:00.

Folks must really be expecting that shootout.

Well, there could be one.

Dan said most of Tasker's men wouldn't risk that.

Well, most wouldn't.

All he needs is two or three.Yeah.

You give that envelope to Dan, right?Sure thing.

I'll wait for you.

[ knocks on door ]

Come in, Freddie.

Can you give me a hand with this, please?

Sure.

I thought it was the boy from the stage line.

I just wondered if your husband was here.

No, he's not.

I stopped by his office. He wasn't there, either.

He's probably out making his rounds.

Uh...

Well, I just wanted to give him this money.

Maybe you could give it to him for me.Money?

Yes, he has some wages coming from the ranch.

Foreman wanted to make sure that he gets it.

Well, I'm afraid I can't help you.

I'm going to be on the 11:00 stagecoach.

You won't be seeing him before you leave?

Just didn't work out, that's all.

Mrs. Porter, your husband tried very hard.

Oh, I know that. I saw how tired he was.

Well, it just wasn't from the work.

Well, it's hard to see someone who's half his age

do a job better than he can.

That fight you had didn't make thing any easier for him.That's right.

Well, the trouble between us, we...

we were able to straighten that out.Well, I'm very glad.

I wish he had as much success with the trouble between us.

We were able to straighten things out

because we understood each other.

Oh, I suppose you think I don't understand.

I suppose he told you it was all my fault!

No, no, no. No, ma'am. He just--

No, he just said he quit the law, and that was all there was to it.

He wasn't looking back and he wasn't griping.

Well, he never does.

He just goes out and does his job,

and nothing else interferes.That's right!

He goes out and does a lousy, thankless job

that he doesn't get paid enough money for,

and nobody cares if he gets killed or not.

And to top it all off, his wife decides she can't take it

and so she walks out on him.

And he gives up the only other thing that meant anything to him

just to get you back.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Porter. It wasn't any of my business.

But I can see why he picked a job over you.

You'd do the same thing. You and him.

Neither of you could realize what it's like for me.

No, maybe I never could.

But I know Dan thought about it, or he wouldn't have left.

No, I think the trouble is...

you never once thought what it was like for him.

You see Dan?No.

But I left his money on his desk with a note.

I sure wish he would have let us give him a hand with Tasker.

Yeah.

Well, he's made arrests before.

This one may give him a little more trouble.

That's one of Tasker's men.Yeah.

That's a mighty long bedroll.

Long enough to hold a rifle.

Why don't you see what room he checks into?

Right. I'd feel a lot better if I was packing a gun.

You want one that bad, take his.

Thanks.

It's 11:00, Porter.

I know what time it is.

I usually meet the stage about this time.

You know what I mean.

You had time to think it over.

I want my man out of your jail.

I didn't need any time to think it over.

He stays put.

You're making a big mistake, Porter.

You're the one that made the mistake, Tasker,

by wearing that sidearm into town.

Now I'm gonna lock you up.Is that a fact?

That's a fact.

Sure is hot.

That's right, it sure is hot here.

I think it's gonna be real nice and cool inside.

Now come on, get down off that horse.

You ain't locking me up!

There's a fella up over the general store with a hurting head.

I'd guess one at the hotel, too.

We can gather those fellas up for you if you'd like.

Thanks.