Original subtitles

[ theme music plays ]

♪♪

Another yearling.

That's the third one killed this month.

Cougar. Spooked off before I could get my rifle up.

A cougar? Are you sure?As sure as I'm sorry.

He was a big one. Male. At least eight feet long.

Mighty uncommon for a full-grown cougar

to come down out of the hills.

Dick, you and Harper better get some shovels and see to the burying.

Hey, look here.

Paw print.Yeah.

Maimed.

Might've got his foot caught in a trap.

I'll bet you a cold beer

he was the one that killed those other two calves.

This cat's crippled. He can't stalk wild game,

so he's turned to range cattle to survive.

Mr. Grainger's herd won't if he kills a yearling a week.

Yeah.

About a mile and a furlong to the house, right?

About right.

For three good legs, that's a bold cat.

Sure is.

Well, double the night guard?

We'll have to double the guard on everything.

Colts, the corral, the barn.

Everybody doing all that guarding, there's nobody left to do any work.

What are we gonna do?

Well, don't wait.

Chase the cat. Go after him.

Chase him clear back into Medicine Bow Range.

Without food, he'll weaken and slow down, and you can bag him.

Me?You.

Well, there's at least an hour of daylight left. Tracks are still fresh.

Good luck.Yeah.

[ snarling continues ]

[ horse whinnies ]

Whoa.

Whoa, Buck.

Hold it right there.

Morning.

You were running quite a fever last night.

Feel weak?

Well, I cooked you up some soup.

I'm not hungry.[ cougar snarling ]

I came up here for that cougar.

I didn't know anybody lived around here.

Oh.

This yours?

Uh-huh.

Why'd you pull it on me?

I wanted to get away.

Well,

I thought maybe you wanted to kill me.

[ snarling ]

That cougar shows up, use this.

Whoa, Buck.

After you load it.

[ horse nickers ]

[ rustling ]

Want some beans?

When's the last time you ate?

Three days.

Hmm.

How'd you get lost?

I'm not lost.

I figure you to be about... 16.

First time I ran away,

I was 13.

Down a river,

not up a mountain.

I didn't run away.

Morning, Harp.Hi.

How's the count?No losses.

Well, I guess Trampas must be keeping that cougar pretty busy.

Yeah.

Herd's bunched nice and tight.We're one happy family.

A calf snuggled up to me last night and called me "Daddy."

Something bothering you?

If I never told you, I'm much better at shooting than counting.

Do you think Trampas needs a hand?

No.

I think Trampas can take care of himself.

[ snarling ]

Another helping of beans?

I had two. What's left is yours.

My name's Trampas. Can I ask you your name?

Call me Seth.

Seth?

Seth.

Pour me a cup of coffee, Seth?

Thanks.

You're welcome.

You know, Seth,

well, I'd just lull that cat...

if I don't hot-track him one day.

Well, give me time to...

well, in case you needed help getting back.

I told you, I'm not lost.

Not lost?

Not lost.

And you didn't run off?

Nope.

You live up here?

No.

Hunting?

Looking for someone?

I'm here alone, and I'm not looking for anybody.

Maybe.

But I'll bet someone

somewhere's looking for you.

[ door opens ]

MAN: Hadlock?

You're a free man.

I told you I was innocent, Calder.

Free's not the same as innocent.

But I can't find any witnesses.

The name is Mr. Calder

or Sheriff Calder.

Your choice.

Well, I prefer Sheriff.

I have great respect for the law.

Your horse is at the hitch post outside.

Get on him and ride him out of here.

My pleasure.

Next time I'm in these parts, I promise you

I'll look you up.

♪♪

Well, if I've frightened that cougar out of the timber

and into those peaks,

I'm gonna have to break camp.Move far?

It's hard to say.

It's cat country clear up to the divide.

When do you think you'll pull out?

Oh...

trail's cold, tomorrow, sunup.

You know, if you stayed around for a while,

I'd have a chance to work off the debt for the grub I ate.

Well, I could always use some help.

You're welcome to come along.

Right now? Doing what? Bending smoke rings?

Minding the horses, for a start. How about that?

No, I can't.

Well, you think it over.

Thinking's your hardest chore all day.

By tonight,

you ought to be bending

horseshoes with your teeth.

Come on, Buck.

♪♪

[ hoof beats ]

Well, you're a mite late.

Calder picked me up.

Sheriff Calder.

Well, I've been marking time. Four weeks.

Me too, Cully. Me too.

You know where the kid is. I don't.

I'll take you to him.

Now, what if you didn't show, Judd?

Well, what if you'd known, Cully?

I might've missed my welcome.

Found you'd spooked off.

It's the kid you've got to worry about.

The kid does as he's told.

He'll be there.

He'd better be.

Judd?

Whoa.

No sign of the kid.

I'll have a look around.

You check the inside, Cully.

You know, Seth,

a wounded cougar's dangerous. [ whistles ]

It'll jump anything in sight,

four-legged or two-legged.

I'm gonna have to stick with that cat and find it.

I was on my way back.

If you wanted the pony, you could've asked.

You could've said no.

If you would've told my why, I might've said yes.

Well, from now on, I camp on that cat's tracks.

Well, good luck.

My offer's still open. I could use a hand.

Oh.

Maybe you'd rather stay up here alone.

Better fix yourself a more comfortable seat.

Come on, Buck.

Nothing in the cabin.

I tore it apart.

That boy's never turned tail.

He's never been tempted this sore.

"Tempted"? If he got here,

he would've waited because of Dirk.

Maybe he didn't get here.

Or he did, and something happened to him.

Well, we'll wait a spell, see if he turns up.

Well, what if he doesn't?

Then we'll turn him up, Cully.

We'll turn him up.

Yeah, he's been through here, all right.

You ride along the bank, keep your eyes open.

The gun's in the pack if you need it.

Trampas!

Here!

Down here!

I followed some tracks and found that blood on the rock.

Seth, bring that pack horse over and let Buck follow.

Bring him right in. Then Buck will follow him across.

The trail's still wet. Looks like he went in there.

Well, maybe he went on through.

No, it looks like a box canyon.

That just might be the cat's first mistake.

Hope it's not my last.

Trampas?

You stay here.

Trampas!

[ cougar cries out ][ body thuds ]

♪♪

There. That does it.

Well, we've earned ourselves a hot soak.

Did you say "hot"?Yep. When we get back to Shiloh.

I told you, Trampas, plain.

You can't stay out here by yourself.Oh, yes, I can.

What's funny?

That was the first time he ever laid a hand on me-- my dad,

when I said that.

You in trouble, Seth?

You've got to go, don't you?

Yep.

Shiloh Ranch is just outside of Medicine Bow.

When you get through with that pony,

look me up, or the foreman.

You leaving the pack horse?

Lending.

And the provisions?

Evens up the tally for you helping me with the cat.

Trampas...

I'm obliged.

So long, Seth.

Hey, Trampas, wait up!

[ all chattering ]

Heat her up?

No, not unless you want my skin hanging next to that cougar's.

I understand half the cougar's pelt's rightful yours.

Oh, no. Trampas shot him. I was scared stiff.

Never saw anybody wing a shot like that.

Did he aim or bump his elbow on a ledge?

What did you say his name was?

He just said, uh, "Call me Seth."

Didn't tell you why he was up there?No.

Or who he was with?

No, he just said he was alone.

Do you believe that?

Well...

no.

I doubt it.

Could be he...

Could be he's in some kind of trouble.

Look, he's a kid, and there doesn't seem to be anybody else.

I don't know. I'd like to help if I can.

Well, how?

Well, he must have some friends or relatives.

Maybe the sheriff can run 'em down.

That could take some time. What do we do with him meanwhile?

Oh, Seth can handle himself. He's strong, willing.

He's not a hand.No, he's a boy.

And not an easy one.

He can take care of himself.

Worth, uh, quarter wages?

Look, if he's not easy, like you say,

maybe he'll be more of a handful than a hand.

Well, I'll watch out for him.

All right. See Abbott in the morning. And take him into town

and buy him some new clothes, will you?

There's something about him that reminds me of somebody.

Yeah? Who?

Me, about ten years ago.

[ chuckles ] Make that 15.

You ever work a cavy of horses?

No, but I rode before I walked.

Well, the best way to learn anything new is to start from the bottom.

Seth, this here's a barn.

And this...

is a rake.

See?

Why don't you, uh, buy yourself some new duds here at the general store

and meet me later at the sheriff's office.

There.What for?

I'd like you to meet a friend of mine.Who?

Mark Abbott.Who's he?

The sheriff.

Why don't we catch up after right here, huh?

All right.

[ mopping ]

Oh, hi, Trampas.Morning.

Say, how's the, uh, Shiloh dead-shot?

Oh. You heard about the cat, huh?

Yeah, I sure did. Eight feet, honest measure.

Well...

Did you hear about the boy?What boy?

The kid I found.

Well, who lost him?

I don't know.Well, what's his name?

Look, Mark, I don't know his name.

I don't know if he's lost or he ran away.

I don't know if he's an orphan or he's got a family.

All I can do is describe him to you and that's all.

All right, no need to smoke your axle.

I'm sorry. The kid's closed-mouthed.

Everybody keeps asking me the same questions.

I should have the answers, but I don't.

Sounds like the boy might be in trouble.Yeah.

What do you want me to do?Find out.

Pull your slack. That's it. You learn fast.

I've had to.

You roughed it a lot?I didn't know it was rough until I came here.

Been drifting around a lot, huh?Yep. All my life.

Well, I did the same thing when I was a kid.

If I couldn't swap chores for food,

I didn't know what to do.

I stole.

I noticed. Here, I'll show you another loop.

This is the way you've got to catch a horse in a corral, see?

You don't want to twirl your rope a lot 'cause that'll spook him.

Just put it over like that, see?

What's that?

That's the Medicine Bow Banner.

Well, save it for kindling.

Oh, you'd better read that first.

Beer.

"See Sheriff Mark Abbott."

Uh-huh. The description fits the kid.

An invitation from a sheriff.

That's just not my kind of folks, Cully.

You mean this Abbott

might know you were picked up by Sheriff Calder?

Well, there's one way to find out.

Hold it good and tight, Seth.

SETH: Ow!

Bad?Nah, it's just a scratch.

Thought I told you to wear the gloves.

Trampas, the sheriff wants to see you.

Seth, keep on riding fence.

If you see any more strays, chase them back across.

There's a patch of loco weed up north of the coulee bench.

This time of year, that's green poison.

Yes, sir. I'll keep a sharp eye out.

Well, that was the only answer.

Fellow named Judd Hadlock. Claims to be the boy's uncle.

Says he ran away.

He said he didn't run away.

He must be lying.Why would he lie?

"Send the boy to Rawlins. He'll defray expenses."

That's fair enough. No reason for it to come out of your pocket.

It's fair, all right.

But is it straight?

What makes you say that?Look, Mark,

say he's my nephew.

Why would I send a wire? Why wouldn't I just come and get him?

Yeah, but he's not your nephew. He belongs to someone else,

and sooner or later, they were bound to claim him.

Their own way.

I know that. I just... I just want to make sure.

Yeah, but his uncle's come forward.

But he hasn't, Mark. Now, you tell him to do that.

You tell him to come forward and bring proof.

What's up?

Some heifers are down in the loco weed. I'm off to the vet.

That kid of yours dusted off.Where'd Seth go?

You find out.

Dirk?

♪♪

Do you know what time it is?

Late.

No. It's early.

Where have you been?

I, uh, went after a stray.

You didn't finish fixing that fence.

At least a couple head that got through are dead.

I'm sorry. I just did what I was told.

Till the crack of dawn?

I got lost.

Morning.

Morning.

Seth is back.

So I see. Saw him in his bunk.

Looks like he rode his horse a long way.

Well, he went after a stray.

Chased him all day and half the night, did he?

He said he got lost.Uh-huh. Do you believe that?

Well, you weren't with him.Do you believe it?

It's possible.Sure, it's possible.

Also possible the kid is lying to you.

You don't know that for sure.

You yourself told him about the strays, didn't you?

Trampas. Now, where do you think he went?

I don't know.

I'm not so interested in where he went as why would he lie to me.

Could be tied together.

Have you told him about his uncle?

No. I will, first chance I get.

Did he ever say anything about having an uncle?

No.

Shiloh is a ranch, not a foundling home, as you well know.

You're a top hand.

He's not your burden, Trampas.

All right, he can stay until his uncle comes to get him.

But you'd better keep a tight rein on that kid. I mean it.

Yo.

I don't like it.

What don't you like, Cully?

Sheriff Abbott making us come to him.

Maybe he's heard about Platte City.

No, not from the way he writes.

That's fine and respectful.

He just wants proof I'm the boy's uncle.

Sheriff Calder told you

the Platte City case was still open.

I was picked up and cleared.

Well, I wasn't.

Wait here then.Oh, no, no.

When you get your hands on that kid, I want to be there.

He's kin. You won't lay a finger on him.

He double-crossed us.How do you know that?

He didn't follow the plan. Why?

Well, that's what we aim to find out in Medicine Bow.

Isn't that right?

Sheriff Abbott's up at the house waiting for you.

You're the fellow who found him?

Yeah, on the Medicine Bow Range, hunting a cougar.

Well, I want to thank you for looking after him.

No thanks are necessary.

Seth's a good boy.

Oh, his name's Scott. He's my sister's boy.

She's dead now,

but she wrote towards the end asking me to look after him.

I've got a photo here.

There we are.

Who's the other fellow?

His father.

He's dead too.

I'm Scott's only living relative.

A month now, I've been looking for him.

I saw your wire,

the one that said he'd run away.

Well, you know how boys are.

He wants to be on his own.

He's just not ready.

I've missed him.

I want to take Scott home now.

Where is he?

Uh, he's overnight with Harper.

Can't he be reached?

It's a ride.

I want my nephew.

Where are you staying in Medicine Bow,

Mr. Hadlock?

The hotel.

So Trampas will ride out in the morning and bring him in to you.

Well, I guess that's fair enough.

I'll ride into town with you.

There aren't many men I dislike on sight.

Whether you dislike him or not, you have no right to judge him.

Only whether he's telling the truth.He hasn't told us much.

How much is he obliged to tell?

I don't know. I get the feeling Mr. Hadlock

is leaving something out.

Such as?

Well, he is his only living relative,

but he ran away from him.

And there's a reason, and not the one Mr. Hadlock gave us--

that he wants to be on his own.

What's your explanation?

That he just doesn't like Mr. Hadlock.

But he does like it here.

Do we have to turn him over to...Yes, we do.

Hey, Trampas, except for about a half acre,

that loco weed's all tore up.

Ugh.

You know, I think that's what we're eating.

Care to join us?Seth around?

Yeah, he's over there.Thanks.

Seth?

Something wrong?No.

Something's right.

Your uncle's come for you, Seth.Judd?

Mark Abbott located him.

What right do you have to go behind my back to the sheriff?

Why did you lie to me? You told me you didn't run away.

Is that what Judd said I did?That's what he said.

I didn't run away.

Uh, did he say anything about my father?

Seth, your father's dead.

Dead?

You didn't know?

Yeah, I knew he was sick.

Real sick.

I'm sorry, Seth. I thought you knew.

Is Judd at Shiloh?

No. No, he's in town.

I'll ride back with you.No.

What's going on?

Nothing, nothing. I just don't like Judd, that's all.

Do you have any other relatives?

No.

Trampas, I want to stay here.

You can't.

There's no way.

He's your blood, and he has the law behind him.

There's nothing I can do.

Uh, why don't you get your horse, huh?

Tell Harper you're riding back with me.

All right?

How's the coffee?Same as always.

I'm taking Seth back with me.

Where'd Seth go in such a hurry?

He just took off like a bandit.

He's out there somewhere!Then you find him!

No!

No, that was your job, Remember? You volunteered!

It was after I told Seth that you'd come for him that he took off!

Well, that's no--Now look!

He said he didn't want to be with you. I can't answer for that.

No.

No, you can't.

If he ran off.

Trampas hasn't wanted to give the boy up from the very beginning.

Have you, Trampas?

I think he's hidden him out.Now, look, Hadlock...

ABBOTT: We'll find your nephew for you, Mr. Hadlock.

We'll return him to you.

I have your word on that?

You've got it.

Then I'll put my trust in that.

That man reminds me of a steer with a bogus brand--

something hidden underneath.This isn't a personality contest.

You haven't stashed him away, have you?

No, Mark, I haven't, but maybe I should've.

Seth admits he doesn't like his uncle but insists he didn't run away from him.

Now, this time, I think he was telling the truth.

He seemed surprised when I told him his father was dead.

There's still a lot we don't know about this fellow, Hadlock.

What we do know is he's the boy's uncle.

Is that enough to turn a boy over against his will?

Why does his uncle tell one story and his nephew another?

Mark, why don't you send some wires on this fellow, Hadlock?

Find out what you can on him, huh?

All right.

Thanks, Mark.

♪♪

I can't sleep.Neither can I.

That dumb kid.

Up there all alone. No food.

Wonder what makes him so skittish.

Whatever his problem is, he won't solve it by running off again.

No, that just puts him back where I found him.

You want some company?

I don't want to spook him altogether.

I'll pack you some provisions.Yo.

[ hoof beats ]

There's enough for two.

What's the matter? You lose your appetite?

Pa used to say I was born wearing a feedbag.

Sorry about your pa, Seth.

You two ride together?

Yeah, since I can remember.

You see, Dirk was the king of the shoe leather trail.

It was fun,

except towards the end.

You know, it would sure be nice if we could stay up here

for a while like I used to with Pa.

We can't do that, Seth.

Well, then, maybe I could stay on at Shiloh. I'd work hard.

Wouldn't cut out on you again. I'd be the best hand you and the foreman ever saw.

Why don't you want to see Judd?

He seems concerned about you.

He doesn't care about me.

Doesn't care about anything but himself.

Trampas,

I want to stand on my own.

I want to cut my own trail, like you.

Before you can choose a fork in the road, you have to come to it.

Right now, you have no choice.

You have to go back with Judd.

Whoa.

Seth...

how did your father die?

I told you. He was sick.

What with?

Fever.

Did you know about it?

I knew.

Why weren't you with him?Look, it's over, Trampas!

No more questions.

[ knocking ]

That him?

Must be.

Don't let the kid skin out.

Go on, Cully.

[ knocking ]

Come in.

Hello, Judd.

Scott.

It's good to see you.

He looks fine.

Well cared for.

Trampas, I spoke sharp before.

I apologize.

There's no need to.

Scott and I are taking the noon train tomorrow.

Well, I'll be in the next room.

Well,

if you want to write, you know the address.

Seth?

Go on, Trampas.

So long, pard.

What happened to Pa?

What happened to you, kid?Shut up, Cully.

He said he wasn't hurt bad.

He said to go on, that he'd catch up later.

I rode till my horse went lame. Then I had to walk.

He died the next day, Scott.

I did all I could. I'm sorry.

I'd have gotten to you sooner, but, uh,

Sheriff Calder picked me up and penned me in for four weeks.

It's just you and me, son.

Now let's finish what your pa started.

Harper, I think you've won every hand.

I'm out.

Quiet, isn't it?Yeah.

What time are we leaving tomorrow?

Noon.

I've got a bank deposit for you to take in in the morning.

Seth and Hadlock at the hotel?

They checked out. Must be at the depot.

I had a wire from Sheriff Calder at Platte City.

Seems the bank there was held up

a little over a month ago.

One man was shot in the get-away,

but he died without talking.

Next day, a posse picked up Judd Hadlock.

There were no witnesses, so Calder let him go.

Does he have a record?

As long as your arm.

There isn't a court in Wyoming

that'd give him custody of that boy.

Bill?

Have you seen a man and a boy?No.

Are you sure?Positive.

Train pulled in, one passenger got off,

nobody got on, no tickets sold.

Checked out of the hotel,

and he didn't board the train.

That Platte bank haul's never been found.

The man that got shot in the get-away, was his name Dirk?

How'd you know?Mark, get your horse.

Right before noon.

A man and a boy. Rented a horse for the boy.

For the day, they said.

Made the usual deposit. Didn't say where they were going.

They rode out of town that way.

Thanks.

Whoa.

All right, son, show us where it is.

Trampas, you know something I don't.

This is where I found Seth, Mark.

Now, I figure he saw his father get wounded,

but Seth got away with the haul.

He waited up here like they planned someplace,

not knowing his father was dead

and Judd in jail.

Waiting, he almost died.

All right, then what?

When we first met,

Seth took my pack pony

and he came back in that direction.

Come on.

[ shovel clanging ]

Unbuckle your holster.

Seth, where's Hadlock? Where's Hadlock?

HADLOCK: You're covered!

Throw 'em away!

Keep digging, son.

All right, there's a rope on my horse.

Wet it down real good.

We're gonna bundle him up nice and tight.

You want to take them along?

Well, they're never gonna work loose.

Not this year.

Seth, you don't have to do this.

No? I'm his charge, remember?

Your pa would've told you.

Robbing a bank is one thing.

Killing in cold blood's another.

Come on, boy.

You take that bag and Cully and get out of here!

A third's yours!

I'm starting clean.

ABBOTT: It's not that easy, boy.

You help Judd get away, you're an accomplice.

HADLOCK: Sure, you're an accomplice!

Of your father's!

Now, Dirk was proud of you, boy.

Don't shame me.

Don't you be ashamed of your own father.

Dirk died before he quit.

Seth...

I know it's not an easy choice to make.

Come on, boy. Give me the gun.

Well, I guess you've come to that fork in the road, haven't you?

Don't listen to him!

TRAMPAS: He's right. Don't.

You stand on your own. Cut your own trail.

All right, Harper, you start seeding

that patch of loco weed you just dug up.

Dick, you finish the pasture count.

Trampas, where's that new hand?

Well...Right here, sir.

Oh, no. Perkins.

You ever worked a cavy of horses, Perkins?

No, sir. But I learned to ride before I could walk.

Well, with something new, it's best to start at the bottom.

Yes, sir.Are you familiar with a barn?

Yes, sir. Inside and out.

Come on, Perkins, I'll show you the ropes.

Now, this here's the barn,

and this is a rake.

It goes like this.

All right?

[ theme music playing ]