Original subtitles

You and them boys didn't get no spray in that field.

- They'll get to it first thing in the morning. - They better.

Fella said, "Why you beating on the back of that truck?"

He says, "I got a two-ton truck and four tons of canaries. I gotta keep half flyin'."

How's the whiskey business, Gator?

You make it, Mr Simms. I haul it.

Hey, boy, you ain't been drag-racin' my sedan again, have you?

Tell you what, you keep me working on that car,

you're gonna blow everybody right out of the tub.

Can I have one of those?

Boy, you better get your shirt on. You got a visitor over at the office.

- Visitor? - Your cousin. She's got bad news for you.

Hello, Louella.

It ain't your mama or your daddy, Gator.

Donny was killed.

I drove up 'cause I knew you'd wanna know.

Your mama didn't wanna come.

She sends her love, Gator.

Shoot! There's no way to make it any better.

Donny was killed down in Bogan County.

Who killed him, Louella?

They're not sure.

They found him in the lake. There was another kid from school with him.

I don't know what the hell you're talking about. Donny didn't run liquor.

Your daddy thinks it was on account of the sheriff.

- The sheriff? - He thinks it was on account of...

...kids he hung out with.

All them protesting.

All them damn hippies.

Gator! How long you gonna sit there, boy?

Five days. Mr Simms said you go and get yourself on over to the shop.

Mr Simms done give you every break there is

and all you son of a guns think you got to do

is just make moonshine liquor and don't give a damn about nothin' or nobody...

Gator, where in the hell you think you're goin'?

Look like you gonna dig me a ditch all the way to Memphis, Gator.

You did your time pretty good up to here. You only got one more year to go.

Two ways you can do it: hard or easy.

Bill, get them boys started about 50 yards on up the field.

Move it out.

Put down that shovel.

You listen to me, boy. Ain't nothin' you, I or anybody else can do.

Your brother's dead and you ain't goin' home for another year.

You can do your time easy, that's all I'm saying.

I've seen a hell of a lot of old boys come and go.

Captain.

- Federal law got me in here, didn't it? - What'd you say?

I said the federal law got me in here, didn't it?

- You reckon it can get me out? - What are you drivin' at?

Sheriff in Bogan County, what's his name?

J C Connors?

You know he's taking money from the whiskey business, don't you?

I'll get evidence against him.

JC?

Boy, he runs Bogan County.

Yeah. But I'll nail his ass.

Let those reports go for now and wait outside.

Gator, this is Mr Cantrell. Mr Cantrell, it's your wingding.

Sit down, Mr McKlusky.

Mr Simms tells us you want to cooperate with the federal department.

Is that correct?

Yeah.

Let's see. 12 months remaining in your sentence.

Second offence: making and transporting untaxed whiskey.

- As you understand... - Third.

- I beg your pardon? - Third offence.

First time I was 13.

Yeah.

If information related to federal income-tax evasion or unpaid liquor tax is obtained,

it's within the policy of the government to cooperate with state-prison officials.

We have a file on the Bogan County sheriff. He's a damn tough cookie.

He's got several unsolved homicides going for him, as well as other circumstances.

But our jurisdiction is only the manufacture of untaxed, illegal whiskey.

If you haul from an illegal steal, that's direct evidence.

If you see he receives money, that's direct evidence.

If you can testify as to money paid to the sheriff's department, that's evidence.

If you can determine the actual location of illegal, unreported income,

that is a federal case.

Do you understand?

Well? Gonna miss it, McKlusky?

Gosh, yes. I'm gonna miss all that good cooking.

Pay attention.

This is Dude Watson. He's your contact man in Bogan County.

Right now you can find him driving down at the Benton Speedway.

Read this file. All of it.

Bye, boys. Have a good time.

- McKlusky? - Yeah.

Over here.

There it is. Take a look at it.

This is the car you'll do your whiskey running in.

- Who tuned it? - D'you like it?

Doggone! Would you look at that motor!

The guy who did it's one of our boys. He used to do a little running.

Watson operates a garage.

- We've got him on federal probation, so... - Would you look at that engine...

We've got him on federal probation, therefore he'll help you.

- Is that it? - Good luck.

- See you, fella. - Yeah.

Keep that thing between the ditches.

Gator?

Gator? Gator.

Gator McKlusky. Sherry Lynne.

- Sherry Lynne, how are you, darlin'? - Hi there.

- I know you. What's your name? - I'm Becky-Jo's little sister.

Last time I saw you, you were flat-chested.

- This is Kip. - Gator's a funny name.

Kip's a funny name, too. Here's one for the kipper.

- Where have you been? - I've been saving myself, darlin'.

For what?

All right, all right!

- Gator what? - Gator anything you like.

- I'm trying to talk. - I wanna know his name.

- You get me excited, I'll eat you up. - You going to see your mama and papa?

You tell your mama...

Gator?

Hello, Papa.

Oh!

Hello, Mama.

I would have written more, Mama, but I didn't know what to say.

That's what Donny used to say...

What do you think you might do now, son?

- What happened to Donny? - Don't you go hauling no more liquor.

- I ain't. - You think you might get a job at Rexville?

What happened to Donny, Mama?

We don't know.

I don't want nothin' to happen to you, Bobby. I just can't stand it no more.

- Tell her it's gonna be all right. - Whatever you got in your head, get it out!

- It's gonna be all right. - "Settle yourself. " No.

- That's what Donny said. - Now, hush.

There's no call for that. Now quit it! Come on.

Gator's home. He had supper with us.

We're sitting out here on the porch like we always did.

I don't rightly know what happened to your brother, son.

I don't understand it. He wasn't mixed up in the law no way.

But you know what they say college kids do these days.

But it's all right.

You're home now. We can get in that crop.

When are you leaving?

In the morning.

Where are you going, son?

Where are you going?

- Bogan County. - You listen to your daddy.

Stay away from there. Don't get us mixed up in more trouble.

Know how I got out of prison, Daddy?

The law. The law let me out.

What do you mean, son?

That sheriff, he owns Bogan County. We ain't gonna get him for killing Donny.

The only way you're gonna get that sheriff... is for taking whiskey money.

Are you goin' for the federal laws?

Taking names of liquor people and turning them in?

- I'm gonna get that sheriff. - Taking names, that's...

I'm gonna get that sheriff.

It's a bad thing, Bobby.

race commentary)

Howdy.

Say, how are you?

You Dude Watson?

That's what they call me.

- I hear you're a hell of a mechanic. - Oh, yeah?

Shoot. Well, I don't know.

You wanna... tune up my old iron here?

What, today? No way.

- You got a big race today, have you? - You know it.

- Can I have a little tap of that? - What's that?

That's moon, ain't it, pard?

Is that what that is? Shoot. I was wondering.

Some old boy come by about an hour ago, just left it there.

Hell, it's yours. I don't know what the hell it is.

You think I'm the fuzz?

I don't know what you are.

Gawd!

That shine'll blind you, boy.

My name's Gator McKlusky. You know why I'm here, don't you?

I said you know why I'm here, don't you?

Last year you made $18,000,

working on cars and running moonshine whiskey to your neighbours.

Except you neglected to pay Uncle Sam the taxes.

He's pissed off about that. Man, is he pissed off about that!

Warm your cars up and get 'em ready to go and get used to the track.

So, I'm gonna help you make some deliveries, take down a few names.

Is that right? Tell me somethin'.

Why mess with an old boy who's just tryin' to make a livin' out of liquor?

I'm only gonna nail one guy's hide: J C Connors.

J C Connors? Shoot!

You might as well try to swim over to China and get old Mao Tse-tung. Bye-bye.

- You're thirsty. - You got the best shine in town, Maggie.

Fill it up.

Did you hear about James? He got so bombed on this stuff,

he put it in the chicken mash and those eggs slammed.

- They came out fried. - Give me your money.

- Here's five hot ones. - Better not be hot.

- Not any hotter than what's holdin' them. - You behave yourself.

- See you next week. - Bye, sugar.

Jeremiah!

Are you playing with that gun?

- Open the door, dammit! - That was a dumb thing to do.

- What's going on out here? - Go on back in the house.

Sharon Anne, what are you doing out here?

Give me back my gun. That's my gun. Give it back to me.

Don't ever take a man's gun. What's the matter with you?

Look what you did to the stock! And look at that.

Who the hell's gonna fix my ceiling? You?

- Will you just calm down? - Don't tell me to calm down!

- No damn federal stool-pigeon is gonna... - Don't call me that.

What are you if you ain't a stool-pigeon?

Take a bite of this. It'll make you feel better.

Get the hell away from me, man.

You know them two college boys that drowned in the lake?

You didn't have to hit me in the gut, man.

- One of them boys was my brother. - I'm sick.

- I said one of them kids was my brother. - I said you didn't have to hit me in the gut!

No sheriff is gonna kill any brother of mine.

- Well, go hit him in the gut, not me! - You didn't even know him.

Know him? I've known him since I was a kid. He's been the sheriff here.

Not the sheriff! I'm talking about my brother!

Hey, Maggie.

Henry, why don't you just bring it out in broad daylight?

I told you I want one gallon in there and the rest outsideways.

Them feds ain't comin' to get you, honey. Unless they wanna reckon with me.

Who the hell's that?

Who does he haul for?

- You better start answering my questions. - I don't have to tell you a damn thing.

- I'm on probation. - You broke probation.

You know it and I know it and so do they.

If you don't answer my questions, they'll send you back to prison.

You're not gonna see your kids or your wife no more. Now, answer my questions.

Lookee, man.

I ain't got no damn love for J C Connors.

But I can't help you. Even if I could, it wouldn't do you any good.

If I got you in to run liquor, make liquor, what good's it gonna do you?

For gettin' court proof, legal stuff like that, you ain't gonna make it.

I pay J C Connors, sure. Everybody does.

But it's cash money, man. It's in a paper sack. Ain't no cheques.

And them tax boys put me on a stand in front of a damn jury, I'm gonna lie.

I'm gonna have to.

Five years in a federal pen is no picnic, but J C Connors can put me under.

You understand what I'm saying to you?

If you wanna get that sheriff, man... you're gonna have to kill him.

- Do you want me to put that on your tab? - Yeah, if you still trust me.

Trust you? No way.

Ain't this some beautiful mess?

Five years in the pen one way, and J C Connors the other.

You gotta help me, Dude.

You gotta help me.

A court-house right in the middle of the city square.

I like that. You don't hardly see that any more.

- That is the court-house? - No, it's a pool hall.

Court-house is across the street over here.

Legalise that shit, it's gonna ruin moonshine liquor for ever.

Them long-haired hippy freaks. Pot-smoking bastards...

- What say, sis? - Hey, Dude.

Ha!

- What say, Ray, TR? - Old Dirty Dude's back in town.

- How you boys doin'? - Pretty good. How are you?

- You need anybody to do some runnin'? - Not right now.

Old Roy's out back. He may need somebody to run blocker for him.

Yeah?

Take it easy.

- Hey, Roy. - What say, Dude?

- How's that old race car? - Better than yours.

I want you to meet somebody. Gator McKlusky, this is Roy Boone.

Gator, huh? That's a mighty funny name.

Rebel Roy. Knew an old boy back home with Rebel Roy on his car. A drivin' fool.

Run old Junior Johnson off the road one time.

Bull. Ain't nobody ever rode old Junior Johnson off the road, boy.

- Wanna shoot some pool? - No, I got Sugar Puddin' waitin' out there.

Had Rebel Roy on the side of the car. Hell of a football player. Rebel Bookman.

Every time he won a race, he'd yell out the rebel yell. Yee-up!

Rack 'em up, will you?

Dude, why don't you come on outside and say hello to Sugar Puddin'?

She'd be glad to see you.

I'd kinda like to say hello to her myself.

- Rebel Roy, huh? - Uh-huh.

Roy, I understand you need somebody to run blocker for you.

No, I don't need nobody right now, Dude.

- Gator's a hell of a driver. - I know. Rebel Roy, huh?

Rebel Roy, yeah. Taught me everything I know.

That's why I'm so good.

- You wouldn't kid me, now, would you? - Uh-huh.

Hey, Sugar Puddin'. This here's Gator McKlusky.

Roy, come here. I wanna show you somethin'.

I'll be right back, Sugar Puddin'.

Rebel Roy, huh?

Good-looking rascal. Reminds me a lot of you.

Had a rebel flag, just like you got, painted right down the hood.

Doggone, that joker could drive.

You wanna look at somethin', look at that.

Wow!

- You got yourself some motor there, boy. - Sure you don't need a blocker, Roy?

Well, I don't know, Dude.

I might.

I just might. I sure will think about it.

There's your friend.

- J C Connors? - That's him.

- I wanna talk to him. - Go talk to him. I ain't botherin'.

- I want you to come with me. - Are you crazy? I'll wait here in the car.

What the hell's wrong with you, man?

You're gonna kill us. Don't act so damn crazy!

- What's your hurry, Dude? - Ain't no hurry, Sheriff.

- Hot, though, ain't it? - Yeah, it's hot.

Just don't make it any hotter than it is, now.

I won't.

I'll have somethin' for you on Friday, Mr Connors.

I'll bet this machine'd outrun about anything, wouldn't it?

Yeah.

Motorcycles and state police cars.

Just about anything on the road.

- It's a hot car. - It's tuned up fine.

- Only two things I'm scared of. - Only scared of two things? What's that?

- Women and the police. - Women and the police.

You spend all your time tryin' to hump 'em both, don't you?

You take it easy in this machine in this county.

- We'll take it easy, Mr Connors. - I know you will.

Women and the police.

Boy, that was cute. I mean that was cute.

- Ready? - I was born ready.

We'll take State 102, go in past the lumber-yard.

Think you can handle that big machine all right?

Get on with it.

You just keep your eyes on the road and your foot on the pedal.

All right, Harvey. What does that mean?

All right, JC. That means Ben Fairfield says that county records may be...

- Thank you for taking care of that matter. - My pleasure, Judge Tainey.

He says what?

The county records may be placed in investigative custody,

in which case prior investigative function

may be retained by local authorities over federal jurisdiction.

- Bogan County's still Bogan County. - That's what I'm trying to tell you.

It's not the same. It can't be the same.

That's a bunch of stuff. Ben played football with me. He puts his pants on...

- You're still coming for Sunday dinner? - Fried chicken.

Benjamin Fairfield is now a US senator and I'm down here in Bogan County

doin' the same thing his daddy did when he was sheriff here

and I had a cell downstairs 'cause I burned down the outhouse on the Fourth of July.

That was 25 years ago. Federal law and state law's not what it was.

Dammit, Harv... Excuse me, Miss Martha.

- You don't believe everything you hear? - Not workin' round here.

Now, look, JC, let me explain it to you one more time.

Federal law and state law is not what it was.

Harvey, you know, you need a haircut.

What's it the business of any income-tax federal revenuer, anyway,

if Pot Willoughby and any other old moonshiner

wants to put down his paper sack full of money, like he's being doin' for years,

and I take that money and spread it around among 25 men in my department

who do not make enough to buy their wives

a washer, drier and all them things every American family is supposed to have?

You tell me, Harvey, is it better if a man pays

seven dollars a fifth for government drinking-liquor in a dry county

or six bits a pint for shine?

Don't argue with me, JC. I'm with you. Everybody in the department is.

- But you got to pull in your horns. - Bull.

If Ben Fairfield says that Washington's sending a man here snooping around,

he knows what he's talking about, and maybe he's already here.

If that ain't a whiskey runner, I'll spit.

Hunkered down on his springs like that.

- Shall we get him? - Let's go.

Kill the tape.

Oh, shit!

What the hell we got here?

Got a whiskey transporter and a blocker car running east.

In pursuit on Farrel Road.

Son of a bitch!

Well, I'll be damned.

Hey, Gator.

Guy in the body shop wants to know what you did to the undercarriage on that car.

- I told you, I just dinged it up a little bit. - Gonna ding your pocketbook.

That's her, the one in the yellow dress up there.

- Hi. - Hi.

Court-house closed?

The sheriff's office is open, but that court is closed for the day.

- Where you get your licence renewed? - The vehicle department closes at 5.30.

Dammit!

Sorry.

They close at 5.30. It's after 5.30 now.

Gonna be in trouble now.

When did your licence expire?

February. That's my birthday.

- I guess I'm gonna catch hell. - No.

They don't even fine you or anything like that.

You just renew it and that's all.

- Do you work up in the court-house? - I work at the sheriff's office.

- That's good. - You don't have a lot of tickets, do you?

No. I just wanna get my licence renewed.

- What time does the court-house open? - Nine o'clock.

I'm gonna have to stay here all night. Do you know where I can get supper?

- Right down there at the Citadel Caf�. - Any good?

Oh, yeah. They got a real nice dining room.

I know you're gonna think this is dumb, but...

...I hate to eat alone.

You know somethin'? I hate to eat alone, too.

Yeah?

Come on.

No.

Listen, I know you.

No, you don't.

I got an idea, honey.

I just want a goodnight kiss.

- You sure? - Lay one on me.

No, I don't think so. I'm not so sure.

Oh, honey. You're too much.

Honey, I know that you want me to dig out a lot of tickets or somethin' like that.

And, honey, there ain't a chance. No chance.

What tickets?

I ain't got no tickets! What the hell you talking about tickets?

That ain't what I want at all!

Ow! Son of a...

Thank you, Maggie. When are you gonna leave that old boy and marry me?

Sugar, you ain't asked me.

Dude, don't you want another piece of pie?

No, I don't want any pie.

Well, what do you think?

I can jerk the head, but I can't give it to you before Tuesday.

Ain't there someplace around here you can find that's open?

- I gotta make a pick-up at Big Bear's. - Let Gator do it for you.

You said he's the best blocker you ever had.

I can't understand that damn pushing rod going out on me like that! Damn!

- How you doin'? - Everybody I can.

Big Bear just might kick my butt if I take you out there to make a pick-up.

- I could sure use the money. - Don't look like I got much of a choice.

- Roy, it'll be all right. - Hell, what do you know?

Damn! I hate to mess up a man's car like that.

You can fix it back, can't you?

Pick me up some new licence plates.

Come on back.

Is that Roy?

Yeah. He's got Lou and a fella with him.

- Who is it? Harry Noonan? - I don't know. Honey, be still.

You know, I never heard of no Roy Goober runnin' whiskey round Martinsville.

Yeah? He's my cousin. Everybody's heard of him.

- Who'd you say he was? Gator what? - McKlusky.

- You sure you know who he is? - Hell, Big Bear. Gator's all right.

I threw a rod on my car.

Well, you boys let that be. He'll finish it up.

Come on in and eat a bite.

That's a good idea. I'm so hungry I could eat the tail-end out of a hobby-horse.

- You got a hell of an operation here. - I got 15 men piddling around.

If I didn't give 'em something to do, they'd be sucking wind.

How many gallons do you run a month?

- 3,000 or so. - Whoo!

- We fit our stacks different. - We gotta keep 'em out of sight.

The feds have got TV doodads, helicopters and every other thing snoopin' around.

Like a bunch of old hens scratching a manure pile for sunflower seeds.

You can eat my grub. I'll let you haul my whiskey.

But don't you ever do me no wrong!

How would you like that knife shoved up your ass?

I wouldn't like that at all.

Let's go eat some greens.

But you remember what I told you.

That smells so nice, that honeysuckle.

Gator, tell me somethin'.

Was you scared back there when old Big Bear pulled that pigsticker on you?

Scared shitless.

I knew it.

- Gonna hate to see old Big Bear leave. - Why's that?

Good old boy like him. Fought in the war, like his daddy before him.

He says if the government keeps dogging him about moonshine,

he'd as soon turn communist and be a Chinaman.

I believe that old boy'd do it, too.

Another day, another quarter.

What did you do with all that money you got for singing lessons?

That isn't fair. I was imitating that old lady I was telling you about up on the float.

We was up on the float, too. They even took pictures.

In the Bogan County Star. Maybe you saw those pictures?

We had to dive in the water and go from one side to the other side.

Whoever got to the other side first won fine gifts: hair goods...

Wasn't it around here where those people were drowned?

- This where them two boys was drowned? - Just past the point.

- What boys are you talking about? - Never mind.

Anyway, I could have won that race, right, Roy?

But Bonnie Rae Slocum grabbed the back of my bra and held on to me.

It might have changed our life if I'd won.

Roy would be an engineer if he'd just gone on to school.

Ever since we were going steady I wanted him to study engineering.

We could have had children and a home and a house and everything nice.

If you keep running that white lightning, you're gonna get caught, sent to prison...

Shoot, it'd just be probation. There ain't nobody gonna turn me in, hon.

- First time's probation. - Second time.

You already had your probation that time up in Crescent County.

- That don't count. I was 16 years old. - It does too count!

- Shoot. - It does. Doesn't it count?

What's the matter with you?

You two are more fun than going to an all-night dentist.

Sowing in the morning sowing seeds of kindness

Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve

Waiting for the harvest and the time for reaping

We shall come rejoicing...

What you always writing in that little book about?

- I'm writing the story of my life, darlin'. - Yeah?

- Am I in it? - You're working on it.

The first little old boy I ever took out in back of the corn crib,

he wasn't but nine years old.

Nine years old?

I was reading this magazine article the other day.

It said your average girl doesn't start even playing with herself till she's 12.

I was early.

I sure admire them folks.

Bought 'em a damn organ outta that whiskey money. How about that?

Hey, Roy.

- You better pop, Gator. - Remember what I said.

- What'd she say? - I gave him my recipe for shaky puddin'.

- Shaky puddin'? - He said he'd like to try some.

Hey, bubba. Keep that door open, boy.

Bring it inside, Roy.

What are you thinkin' about?

Shaky puddin'.

Gonna try some?

I'm thinkin' about it.

Gator, I don't believe in foolin' around none. Never did.

If you want it, just say so. If you don't...

- What about Roy? - He's not gonna be watchin' us, is he?

- I hope not. - Keep the fires burnin'. See you.

Roy's runnin' a little late tonight, ain't he?

Who's that new guy he's got runnin' with him?

African trip?

Blank, blank, F, A, blank, blank.

Put that crossword puzzle down, see if you can act like an officer of the law.

Safari. S-A-F-A-R-I.

Pretty soon there'll be more guns than people.

- Why should anybody want a gun? - To protect themselves.

If we'd stuck it out, we could have got us one of them.

I'm gonna get me one like that, honey-bun, just like that.

- I wanna protect myself. ... TV violence, movies, the whole bit.

I wouldn't know what to do with a gun if I had one.

- That's a typical female statement. - Are you attacking females now?

The army goes round busting people for smoking dope and then they kill them.

- Do y'all go to school round here? - No. Do you?

- No, I'm out of school. - We need a woman president.

If they elected a woman president, there wouldn't be any more wars.

You don't believe me? You know the name of that stuff they put in hot dogs?

No, I don't know. Y'all know anybody who goes out to Horacebee College?

No, we're from Dowton Junior College.

- Do you have people from Horacebee? - I used to.

Let's go.

Cradle-robber.

What were you talking to them about?

- Trying to hustle up a hippy chick? - Yeah.

Why you talkin' to them draft-dodging, pot-smoking sons of bitches?

They don't know nothin'. All they do is cause dissension.

Ain't never worked a day in their lives.

Must be 50 of 'em. If it was up to me, I'd shoot 'em all.

Bringing in the sheaves Bringing in the sheaves

Bringing in the sheaves Bringing in the sheaves

We shall come rejoicing Bringing in the sheaves

Bringing in the sheaves... Bringing in the sheaves

We shall come rejoicing Bringing in the sheaves

Bringing in the sheaves

Hey.

- Mornin'. - Mornin'.

Mornin'.

- Would you like a bite? - Uh-huh.

Come on up here and get it.

Where's Roy?

He's inside. Sleeping.

- You do that all by yourself? - All by myself. Just for you.

Mm-hm.

- You like that? - Beats prison cookin'.

- You was in prison? - Mm-hm.

Doin' my time.

- You know what? - What?

I wanna thank you

from the bottom of my worthless, horny little soul.

I believe that.

- How long was you in for? - Four years.

How come is you out?

Ow!

'Cause they got tired of me.

If you keep runnin' that white liquor, you're just gonna go right back in there again.

Not this boy.

- Tell you what. - What?

You come on in here and wash my back, I'll buy you a new dress come pay-day.

- A new dress? - Mm-hm.

Sh.

Lou?

Lou!

Damn people wanderin' off.

Now I know why they call you Gator.

I have a signed affidavit here. Against my client who was issued...

JC.

There it is. Ben Fairfield got that out of the CID section.

Dude Watson and some stool-pigeon they turned loose out of state prison.

- You better start backtracking. - Dude?

It's there in black and white. The federals have got him over a barrel on taxes.

- Taxes. - They're after you, boy.

- Turnin' a man against his own people... - It don't matter to them.

Washington DC's a damn dictator.

They're gonna integrate our schools, get all our coloureds to vote,

they're gonna send all those long-haired smart-alec hippies down here.

What would we be doing if Ben Fairfield wasn't sittin' up there pulling strings?

Living in Russia. That's what you might as well be doing.

Miss Martha, excuse us. I'm liable to get heated.

- Watch your blood pressure. - Yes, ma'am.

Communism, Harvey, that's what it is. That's plain and simple.

That is plain as the nose on your face.

The communists.

That's what he said. Destroy from the inside.

What are you gonna do?

I'm gonna get mean, Harvey.

You don't understand. It can't be the way it was. It cannot be the way it was.

Don't you know there are times that your learned opinion

is about as useless as tits on a boar hog?

You know who them hog-huggers are, man? Feds.

I want 'em out of here and this whole mess over with.

- How you doin', McKlusky? - All right.

Have you got anything for us?

No, not yet.

When?

- I don't know. - Is Dude cooperating?

Yeah.

Why you gotta come around here? I told you I'd call you.

- Cool it. - What you gotta bother these people for?

Let's go.

Be seein' you, McKlusky. Take it easy.

By the way, what are you so dressed up for, Sugar Puddin'?

When I woke up I was feelin' so fine,

I just thought I'd put on a new dress for you, Roy.

Where'd you go this afternoon, Gator?

- Over to Dude's. - Did you go with him?

- No. - No.

That's mighty fine spruce and dogwood, isn't it?

Hi, Huey.

- You got my sugar? - Five sacks.

- Big Bear wanted eight. - Haven't got it.

- They been checkin' on us lately. - We'll take it.

Where'd you and him go this mornin'?

Noplace.

Big Bear hasn't paid me for the last he got, and we're not runnin' any credit.

I'll tell him. Give me some beadin' oil, too.

Buck Thurmond took my last. I won't have any till Tuesday.

- Where'd you and Lou go? - Walkin'.

- It took you long enough. - Hey.

You got somethin' to say to me, say it.

I don't want you lookin' at Lou no more.

Let me ask you somethin'. Just exactly what are your intentions?

About what?

- Are you gonna marry her or what? - What?

That's just what I thought.

Marry her? What the hell has that got to do with what we were talking about?

- Where's Dude? - I don't know.

I just want him to come down the court-house, discuss some things.

Course, you can call the NAACP first,

or the ACLU or...

...the CIO, the FBI or any other damn thing.

- Well, he's not here. - Well, he ain't here.

Maybe you'd better come with us, then.

Yes, sir. I'll just get my pocketbook.

You better go help her lock the back door, I think.

Let me go. Please don't.

Don't. Stop it.

Would you let my deputy up from there, please?

Now, where's Dude?

- Where is Dude? - He's out at his folks'.

What about that guy in that brown sedan?

Haulin' with Roy Boone.

Thank you, honey, for your cooperation.

See you later.

We're givin' him stuff as sweet as that old Hatchy River was.

If you'd sweeten this hogwash up, you'd get him up to six.

You know as much about making whiskey as a flop-eared mule.

Tell 'em to sweeten it up.

If I sweeten this up, we're gonna be fired back here.

Quit drinkin' that stuff. Get behind there and help me get this stuff outta here.

You been messin' around all day.

Take it easy on that Ford this time.

I'll let Dude work on it.

Stop nippin' on that jug.

If you don't start making it better, I'm gonna quit drinkin' it altogether.

Keep your eyes on that popper keg.

I don't care if it gets a little too short. We're not making this stuff for the government.

Take them back there. Like a pile of maggots in the outhouse.

- You better be glad you got me. - Where's that Gator?

Hell, I don't know. Shaking the dew off his lily, I guess.

I'll be back in a minute.

You get them jugs outta here like I told you.

- Hi. - What?

You really like them electric hair-driers? Must make your head hot.

With all them chemicals, you're gonna ruin your hair.

I don't care for naturally curly hair.

I like the artificial kind, with the curlers in it.

- What are you doin' in here? - Just talkin' to the lady.

Get the hell out.

Get that thing back on your head.

- What say, Frank? - What's happening?

Not much. What you makin' there, Scotch?

Bourbon.

This here's Gator McKlusky. He's gonna be makin' some runs for Big Bear.

McKlusky. I knew a McKlusky once who lived in Oleander County.

- Want another case Saturday? - Yeah.

Jim McKlusky. Made real still pot liquor, not this lead radiator poison.

Just sell it. Don't drink it, Frank.

He looked a little bit like you.

Jim McKlusky. He any kin to you?

- What'd you say? - Is he any kin to you?

- My daddy. - Well, I'll be go to hell.

You Jim McKlusky's boy? It's been a long time.

Long time ago. 1952. When I was a kid, he used to work in the shot house.

Let's go. Ain't got time to shoot the breeze.

When you see your daddy, you tell him Frank Robley said hello.

I'll tell him.

What you got in that book?

You got the wrong idea.

You better not keep tryin' somethin' with Lou.

- I ain't talkin' about Lou. - I am.

- You been writin' a love poem? - You peanut head.

You don't know your can from second base.

- I don't have to take that from nobody. - You super giant ass!

Damn you!

Goddam it! Let go of me!

You stupid...!

Punk!

Now, listen, you son of a...

Goddam it!

Shoot!

- Hey. - What?

You damn peanut head.

Don't tell me you wasn't messin' around with Lou.

I don't mind you foolin' around, but I can't let you block the alley with this vehicle.

I'm gonna have to give you a citation.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

Hey, Skeeter. Still tryin' to beat that machine?

He ain't here.

I didn't ask if anybody was here, Mrs Watson.

You was talkin' about Dude in town. He ain't here. I ain't seen him.

Howdy, Mrs Watson. What you doin'? Makin' a banana puddin'?

What I need to do, Skeeter, is ask Dude a couple of questions.

You heard her. He ain't here.

Damn near had that 75 there.

Now, you wouldn't wanna see Dude get in any trouble.

And I'm here to see he don't.

Just can't beat one of these Sears Roebuck pinball machines. No, siree.

- You gotta hit the flippers. - I hit the flippers all the time.

Where is he, Mrs Watson?

You know, don't you, Skeeter?

I believe you got a loose hinge here.

- Come here. - You tryin' to tear my clothes off?

Feel in there.

Where is he? Where's he at?

Harry... Harry Boon's place!

Get some ice water for them fingers.

JW! Boy, we got a load out here for ya!

- JW! - Roy? Is that you? Something's wrong.

There's nobody around here. Let's get the hell...

Dude!

Get your hands off of me!

You can do better than that.

Come on.

Dammit!

Attaway!

Come back here!

Damn you.

Tan her hide, Freddie. Oughta be more hide-tanning and less psychology.

Junior, go tell J C Connors to come on down here.

Put the cuffs on him there. Elmer.

You should have done your time and stayed in that prison.

It tees me off, federal sons of Yankees comin' down here, stool-pigeonin'.

- I'm sorry about what I done to you. - Get your hands off me.

You know how to put that stuff away, don't you, boy?

You know, when you first come up to my place, I knowed you wasn't right.

- I smelled it. - Sheriff's on his way.

Dagnabit!

J C Connors'll come with that rowboat now and some cement blocks.

We'll have to put this old boy away.

- Let's go upstairs. - Get your damn hands off of me!

Why, you ignorant, stupid jughead! Can't you see she ain't willin'?

Bring her back in here and sit her down.

Get your hands off!

I hope you rot and burn in hell!

I know why you're doin' that.

That's right. I'm gonna get so goddam drunk,

I ain't gonna know what's happenin' when you take me out to drown me.

You're gonna have more fun than we are, ain't you?

Bet your big butt I am.

You know what? You're a good old boy.

It's a cryin' shame you gotta be a sneakin', lyin', behind-the-back,

yellow, chicken, thievin' stool-pigeon!

Well, don't worry about it.

I'm gonna be so drunk, I ain't gonna know the difference.

- You know what? - What?

You know what she's got on her belly?

What?

Come here.

- She's got a tattoo. - Tattoo!

What?

What? I said she's got a tattoo on her belly.

Know what of?

American flag.

- You know what else? - What?

- Two eagles fightin' a snake. - Malarkey!

American flag!

I've seen it. It's beautiful.

Didn't Roy tell you about it? You don't believe me, do you?

No.

- Why don't you go take a look? - Shoot.

All right, I will.

Hey, come here.

No!

Dammit! Leave me alone!

Leave me alone!

Honey, the boys wanna take a peek at a tattoo.

It ain't gonna hurt nobody.

Come on!

No, no. Come on.

Shove the devil away, because the devil's tryin' to get you, too.

He's workin' at you. He's workin' with you. He's against you.

But the Lord's on your side,

so reach out your hand and put your hand in his hand

and don't let him go.

It pinches the saw.

Hi.

There.

- Where in the hell am I? - Are you feelin' any better now?

This is Sister Linda Fay

and over here is Annie Lou and Betty Jo,

and Vicky, and I'm Vinnie Carruthers.

You're just prattling. Everybody out of here, right now.

Go on. Out of here. That takes care of the devil's harness.

Come on, everybody. Out of here right now. Shoo. Go on.

Don't you go getting him excited. He'll tear out all those stitches.

Isn't she wonderful? Praise God!

Where the hell am I?

You're at Sister Linda Fay's Home For Unwed Mothers.

- No shit. - Lou told us all about you.

Lou here was one of our mothers. Had a girl.

What would you like for lunch? Hominy or tapioca?

Tapioca. All right.

Bet that ain't as good as shaky puddin'.

- Is your name McKlusky? - Jenny, come and feed that baby.

- OK. - Carol Cray, you come up here, too.

What... what happened to you?

I was tryin' to save these two buddies of mine from...

...gettin' knocked up by a homosexual.

Praise God.

Here comes little Dude.

- The other son of a bitch is loose. - We'll get him.

Couldn't believe it, Maggie.

I swear to God, I just couldn't believe it.

- Good old Dude. - I told him. I warned him.

Too much wooly booger, JC.

You can't go at it every night, Bear.

You know what? We ain't been fishin' in a long time.

Why don't we just take a day off and go fishin'?

Fishin'? Right now my boat ain't rigged for fishin', Bear.

Dude was a good old boy.

He was just lucky the boys didn't know what he was doin'.

Listen, Maggie, you and the little girl need anything,

you just tell me, OK?

Thanks, Roy. That wife of his in Memphis,

she's going to get every cent of that insurance money.

- You seen that McKlusky fella? - No, sir, JC. I still ain't seen him.

- Well, you let me know if you do. - Yes, sir. I sure will.

Respects and condolences to you, ma'am.

You go to hell.

How long ago was it you were in here?

I don't wanna talk about it.

Mornin'.

- Hello. - Hi.

- It's a pretty baby. - Thank you.

- What's his name? - Jimmy Lee.

Lee's a lot better than Grant.

Would you take the baby in? I think he's gettin' a little hungry.

- I sure will. Is his bottle on the stove? - No, it's up in my room coolin'.

You did say your name was McKlusky, didn't you?

Yeah. Why?

You got a brother named Donny?

- Did you know my brother? - We was good friends.

We went to school together down in Auburn.

- I saw it the night when it happened. - You what?

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything about that.

- Jesus Christ, you mean... - I didn't see when he was killed.

I was with him before.

Some of us kids, we come down from school afterwards.

There was nothing we could do.

Yeah, but why? Why'd it happen?

- What... what did Donny do? - Nothin'. I mean, nothin' bad.

- We was all just protestin'. - Protestin'?

What the hell's he got to protest about in Bogan County?

You protest up north, up in New York.

That's the beauty of it. Don't you see? It was his idea.

We take the worst county in the state to hold the demonstration.

- Why? - You know how Donny was.

No, I don't.

Ten of us come up. We had this here sit-in.

We was goin' back to school in the mornin', so we bought a six-pack.

I guess we was makin' too much noise. The manager called the sheriff.

Pretty soon, there he was.

Donny told him he couldn't do nothin' 'cause he didn't have a search warrant.

The sheriff said he wasn't gonna have a bunch of damn hippies

stirrin' up folks with all their protestin' and startin' anything in his county.

And so Donny told him everybody knew

he was nothin' but a fascist pig mother stealin' the county blind.

Then the sheriff hit him.

Then the deputy grabbed Donny and one of the other guys and took 'em away.

Next thing we knew, he was dead. That's it.

You know somethin'?

I just got out of prison.

For runnin' cars, stealin' cars, runnin' moonshine.

I ain't never...

I ain't never done nothin' good in my whole life.

And then along come Donny and...

...he's the only one that ever went to school.

Only one that ever accomplished anything.

Only one who ever did anything in the whole family.

What the hell does it mean?

Mr McKlusky. Sheriff's out there askin' about you.

Gator.

Let's go! Come on!

Get in the car! Junior, let's go!

All units. Got a man headin' down the Jackson road towards Colton. Cut him off.

Stay right on him.

Take a right.

- That's back to town. - Take a right here.

Get after him.

Dammit!

I'll get a shot at him here.

Get over to the right a little bit, Junior. Just get it to the right.

Junior, if you lose this thing, it's comin' out of your paycheck.

Got to ease in the curve, Junior.

- We're gettin' him. - Now you're gettin' him.

Where in the hell did he go?

Well, get after him, Junior.

I told you. I told you and I told you! Damn hard-head!

- You OK? - You see me walking, don't you?

Dammit. When I get my hands on him...!

Way down under Way down under

There's a place where every man finds his brother

Way down under

At the back door of hell is an old rusty bell

And it rings, it rings

Lord, it rings with the sound of thunder...

Damn. The good, they die young.

Way down under Well, I wonder

In the end you need a friend or a brother

Way down under Way down deep in your soul

- Howdy, Ben. - Good morning.

Hi Daddy.

- You were asleep when I left this morning. - I got your note.

- Did you shoot down all your clay pigeons? - Targets, honey.

Oh, you men...

Was this one of Mommy's favorites?

I think so.

Come on, come on, movie it, it's all over your head!

Come on, come on, that's it ladies.

Come on, come on, what's a little typhoid. Come on.

Hey, chief, what happened? Everybody flashing one?

Ben, the plumbing in this town went straight downhill when we

- changed over flood houses. - That's progress, Chief. Just progress.

And now with all these new people moving in.

Well safe your Sears catalogue...

Come on, come on, it's not over your head.

- Alright, I'm late. - You're fired.

- Do you know why? - Your rooster died.

I used that one too many times already, Molly.

Traffic jam. Hell I got caught in a traffic jam.

This kind of traffic in Elk Hills? This is God's country.

If this is God's country, usually there's a hideout.

Gino will be along soon to walk you to school, hon.

I know.

What you got in there?

What the hell... The market.

Hold it.

Freeze! Police! Freeze! Freeze.

The Federal always tell Empire Pacific.

You gonna open up the oil reserves. We better hire the unemployed.

- What kind of people are they? - Workers doing their job.

And it's the scum that followed them in.

Looking for that fast buck that's causing your trouble.

Homer, I bought 12 cakes last Sunday.

And you realise Mayor Bradford,

that the deposits at my bank alone

have gone up a quarter of a million since they've been here.

Ah, sheep to be sheared.

Ben, you moving any of them tractors?

Hey business isn't bothering me. What's happened to our lives has got me worried.

Oh hell Ben, you know if the defense department had open

their belts those years ago we have all been rich by now.

That's right. We've earned it, Ben. It's our turn now.

Thank God for the energy crisis.

Thank Allah.

- Chief, Ben... - Ok, let's have it.

Well, we ain't been able to walk down Front Street in months.

If I want to live with the degenerates I'd move to L.A.

Ok Harry, we know you lost a couple of rookie policemen defending this town.

I can't be everywhere at once. Ben, I'm down to a four men force.

Then what are we supposed to do?

Just walk away and let whoever wants to take this town?

Maybe we should augment our police force.

You know, I've had flyers stacked up in every police department

in Southern Califonia for the past year.

Well, can we swear in our own auxiliary police force?

You need tough trained men. Good intentions don't make a cop.

- Your brother. Aaron. - What, are you drunk Shakey?

Aaron was the biggest problem I ever had in this town.

- Till now. - Now look. He's a genuine war hero.

He must have picked up something in 3 tours of duties of Vietnam.

- Hired guns on my force? - Chief...

It ain't your force.

You the one looking for me?

- Ben, what the hell you doing here? - Wanna talk. Got a minute?

You talk fast. I'm on duty.

Do you know what's been going on in Elk Hills lately?

Same as always, I suppose. Flat nothing.

Well, we got us a problem, Big problem.

A couple of thousand oil workers and their friends showed up

when they opened up the Elk Hills oil reserves.

Indeed, they finally open that thing up man? All them rednecks want to get rich?

Yeah, maybe.

- Trouble? - Yeah.

All they can screw up our free land.

Aaron, they want you to come back and help out.

Hey Arnold, this ain't the war. You're on a coffee break, not an overnight pass.

- Be right there. - Shake it!

Nobody's gonna steal the blimp plans.

Well, hurry it up, war hero.

You know, the last time I tried to go back home they gave me a parade.

In one end of town and out the other.

Elk Hills has changed. There's a lot of strangers.

Probably some money to be made if you're interested.

Yeah, I am interested in making money.

God dammit, Arnold. I told you...

What are you do... What do you think you're doing?

Hey, your job's on the line. Hey, wait a minute.

Hey, you remember that place we had a drink at Christmas?

Bamboo Hut. See you there at 3.30.

Anybody been in here looking for me?

- Yeah, couple of angry husbands. - Thank you.

- Sorry I'm late. - Hey, grab yourself a stool.

This is my brother Ben. This here is Brian Sheldon.

Brian did two tours in Vietnam. He's been a cop four years on some force.

That is D.O. Viner, Beverly Hills Police Department.

Another wealthy millionaire. None of them widows.

Perry Beal, cadet at the LAPD.

Well, maybe until I see how much money we gonna get, and how long.

Well it's 1250 per month, a year's guarantee.

We'll give you living expenses until you get settled.

- This is Dave. - Hey, how's it going?

- Dave has done a little time in Cambodia. - On our side?

- He don't know. - Really?

Effective on this day, in this township,

for the power vested in me as mayor of this city,

I hereby I administer to you men, the... to serve as law enforcement in this district

and to perform those services under the laws and rules

of this county and to obey those regulations

to the best of my ability as a peace officer

for the city of Elk Hills, California.

I do.

Conratulations. Good luck.

Good luck Aaron. Good luck. Another committee meeting.

You'll be issued guns, badges and uniforms.

I'd like to have you shave that beard and get a haircut.

- We've been to blue camp Harry. - Hey brother, good luck.

Something tells me we got ourselves two police forces.

Oh, come on, Harry. Give him a break. Things haven't really worked out for Aaron.

He needs his chance.

Help him out. Even though we think he can do the job.

If it works out, Ben, I'm all for it.

If it doesn't, tell me. It ain't quite so hard to talk to as it used to be.

50 years ago, when I was in my prime

you would had to bring a whole case of that stuff if you're courting me.

I didn't bring it for you anyhow.

- You want a beer? - No.

Sure is cold.

Stop that cheap physical groping this instant.

Huh, shit.

What do you think I running here? This is a respectable rooming house.

Hell Boots, they are still talking about you down at the Black Rock.

This is a small town. Don't show people your business. Inside.

That child has a class tomorrow.

What is that?

Oh, that's Boots. She does the housework at the oddest hours.

I never would have turned down Shakey all these years

if I had known it was gonna end up like this.

And over here on the right you'll notice the Black Rock Saloon.

One of Elk Hills more memorable monument.

Sure you want me to clean this up?

Sure beat the hell out of the old Elk Hills.

This cowboy is looking for trouble.

I think he just found it.

Hey let me in here! Let me in here!

Leave me alone.

Leave him in there.

Get off this street.

Jeez, watch out for that motor scooter.

Hey, come here buddy. Hey pal one more huh?

I don't want anymore trouble.

Step on it. Let's get the hell out of here.

What's a fight without a little broken glass?

He started it. Kind of punch his lights out!

I don't care who started it, you're both under arrest.

- You ain't no cop. - Oh, yes I am. Into the truck.

- What for? What's the charge? - I don't know yet.

Murder, if he dies.

If he tries to run away, you knock on that glass.

If he tries anything, shoot him.

If police have a drink don't chill the fun.

Oh, he can't take him anywhere.

Oops. I'll warn him.

Hey, enough.

That's what I'm here for.

You've done wonders with the place, Ben.

There is a 140 acres here.

Sharkey used to have 75 Arabians here at one time.

- Arabians? - Horses.

Before he was killed in a war.

What war?

My war.

I love it.

You get the city to pay the rent on this thing?

Yeah, they'll do it.

Where is Iris buried?

Buried in town.

I really liked her.

Sorry I missed the funeral.

Gonna take it?

It's home.

Hey, bro.

You take care of this.

Last time Butterfield stopped in Elk Hills it had wooden wheels.

May get a come back.

- How's business? - Great in the back.

- It's dead out here. - Linda Ronstadt she ain't.

Hey, get back on the door.

I want to hear her sing.

If that happens while you're gone, I'll call you. Now get on the door.

- What the hell key are you playing in? - All the keys you were singing in.

I think you're getting it.

Give me a Rye and Ginger.

This guy's name is Pepper Cinnader.

He showed up about the same time they opened the oil fields.

I reckon he's behind most of the illegal goings on.

I hope he's in.

I'll take it from here.

Well I was going to introduce you to the head waiter. Get you a good table.

If he stakes me in a corner, I'll call you.

Take care, boy!

Action's in the background, cowboy.

Well I ain't looking for any action, cowgirl.

I remember you. The ladies room Texaco station, Tropicana, Texas, 1969.

I spent all of 69 in the orient.

You're a cop. I hate cops.

So do I.

It's a beginning.

You're crazy.

You got a great place here.

- What's this? - Fun zone.

Have fun.

- I hope you're not in a hurry. - I got all night.

Come on, let's bust this place. Aaron is waiting.

Got to feed the chickens?

I'll be back.

I don't have to be at work until 8.

Little Dee, you are out of work.

Oh, good hit.

The cops?

The rival game.

I heard of paying out the local police. This is the best.

You got time to get dressed, get your ass back out here and leave town.

I suppose it's too late to work something out?

Too late.

We're busy.

- Hurry out, let's go. - Slow down. Ok, get your hands off.

Shame on you.

Alright, all of them flushed out.

- Get inside. - What the hell are you doing?

You're on my team now.

- Now. What's next? - In the back.

Ain't I lucky.

He ain't never was much of a hunter.

That old man Shakey never misses the opening of the deer season.

Won't use nothing but one of this muzzle loaders.

- Do they work? - Yeah, accurate up to about 75 yards.

You got to be a hell of a hunter, or you won't ever get a deer.

You and Aaron hunt a lot when you were kids?

No, he did.

I never like killing. I'd rather make something.

He's frightening to me.

- Did you ever fight him? - No.

Yeah, I did once. Long time ago, for a girl. We were about seventeen.

We were seventeen or eighteen.

- Who won? - He did.

Ok, I see. She picked you?

Was it Iris?

We all ended up friends. I think she's the only girl in Elk Hills he ever liked.

Maybe that's why he hates it around here.

He don't hate nothing.

Aaron just got to have a big fuss made over him if he thinks people don't like him.

A hero.

Daddy, daddy, it's finished just in time for the parade.

How do you like it?

- You'll steal the parade, darling. - The Dodgers on.

- Want to watch? - I hate baseball.

I hate baseball.

You hate parades too?

- When is it? - 4th July.

Here we goes, purchase orders.

You wanna sign this.

Pleasure doing business with you.

Why are you doing all this stuff, Chief Lee?

You never know when a revolution's gonna happen. You got to be ready.

Gotta be.

Happy hunting.

We have firepower here to retake Saigon.

Freddie, what the hell's going on up there?

It's only Aaron, boys. Your new boss.

You are crazy.

I'm crazy? I ain't driving around a live firing range in a Cadillac.

How are you doing?

How come you still taking target practice?

You never miss.

I like staying on top, the feeling.

Hey, what is this? What do you got going?

Liquor, whores, dope.

Little Dee, this here is Freddie Howe. We gonna do some business.

- We met. - We did?

- Vegas? - Calgary Stampede, summer of '72.

I was in jail, summer of '72.

- She thinks she knows everyone. - I do.

- Hey, you got a phone in this place? - On the table.

- Wanna hear a song? - No.

- He is going to run the casino? - Yeah.

Ah, Bellew...

Listen, I want cages, tables and wheels.

Get them up here. I want them set up for the weekend.

Hey, shut up, will you.

No, not you.

Hey get a hold of Puddles Renfrew.

No, the cops are strictly keystone.

Matter of fact, I am the cops.

No, it's fifty-fifty split with Aaron.

No, I brought my own muscle. Loony, Lance and Wolf.

Thanks a lot.

I hate listenin to this fagot music all afternoon.

Hey you, that's private property.

There must be a Buddy Holly record here somewhere.

Hey, hey, that's my quarter, sweetheart.

Why don't you save your money for music lessons.

Well, come on now, please stop the fight. Come on fellas. Get it over with.

Sure glad to see you, Aaron.

Aaron, I want them all arrested.

Bad for business.

Things like you cowboys... Just at ease...

- Done about $1000 worth of damage. - Sounds fair to me.

This bar is the jail for all of you till you come up with that $ 1000.

This guy started it.

Mayor Bradford don't care which trash started, he just wants the bar fixed.

$ 1,000.

Just to let you all know that the bullshit's over.

Wanna play cowboys and indians, do it out in the pasture.

Nobody is taking over this town.

Better count this, mayor.

Now Aaron, that's what I call fast action.

Well, they don't come cheap.

It all adds up, right boys.

You know the word's out. Aaron means business.

I got to hand it to him, he's doing what he's supposed to do.

And no screwing around.

Are you cooking all these eggs with a Zippo?

Anybody in a hurry, is in the wrong dining.

Hi Ben, how you doing?

Well how do you like the way Elk Hills is turning out?

- Creative police work, huh? - You know, I think we're out of the woods.

- Shakey. Thanky. - Thank you.

How was it?

Well, you haven't learned how to burn the coffee yet.

Well, give me time. I'm working on it.

- What will it be, Ben. - I think I'll just stick with coffee.

One house speciality.

Well, I heard you ain't ready to admit yet.

Sure, he's doing a good job.

But I still don't approve of his methods.

Oh, I think he's just trying to let people know

that if they want to get to this town, they got to go through him.

Sure Ben, sure. And I'm just a tired old jello. See you. Thanks, Shakey.

Any time, Chief.

You got the feeling somethings burning?

Hell, it always smells like that around here.

Oh, get out I hear.

Aaron, good morning.

You sure have made a difference in this town.

You got my heartiest congratulations!

- This is business. - Well, how can I help you?

I'd like a personal loan, $10,000, short-term.

Well, fine.

- Alright, here we go. Excuse me. - I got one of those.

Well, there is nothing on here with your name.

Well, I figured that name ought to be worth $10,000.

- Well, bank policy requires that we... - Hey, bull squash, Homer.

What about all that difference I made in this town?

I'm sorry, Mr. Arnold, but that's impossible.

- What's impossible? - We just don't keep that kind of money.

Whatever kind you all keep will be just fine with me.

I beg your pardon?

Oh, that... well that's the payroll for Elk Hills.

See we just have that here for transport to the pay office out in the field.

So it's not impossible.

Perhaps if your brother would co-sign.

Come here, Homer.

Let me show you what kind of town you living in.

- Crazy fool. - Yeah it's crazy.

That fool could shut down AJ... and can hit a...

Don't think of that as a loan application, think of it as an insurance policy.

Are you threatening me?

Sign it!

After all it ain't your money, is it?

- Well, I'll have to know the terms. - What?

- When will you pay it back? - Oh, soon. How's that? Soon.

I'll give you the money.

I knew we could work something out.

You owe us a $100 per week.

That's right, otherwise somebody might take a little gas here.

You know what I mean? People can get poison from food.

If you can manage hold it under $10 a week, I might be interested, buddy boy.

Hit the road buster, we got a cop here that dreams of guys like you.

You see the cops here can't do it all.

So we're helping them out. I think you want us on your side.

Need I say any more?

I don't know why you telling me for, Homer. Why don't you go tell Harry Lee?

No, no. I think that would be a mistake at this time.

You did authorise Aaron's loan, didn't you?

Well, yes.

I don't know what else I can tell you.

Kick it over, Ben.

Anybody get their license?

I was born with the deck cards in my hand.

That's very unusual.

- How you doing? - Well, come on in.

I'm staying.

You won.

- You act like we never won before. - Oh, I never have.

- Hi, I'm Peaches. - Hey, watch it.

- Keep them going. - When you want me to play?

Here, play what's in the jukebox.

If you have to sing along, do it in the ladies.

- I think we better go. We've won enough. - Is she your sister?

Just friend.

Hit me.

Hit me. What's the matter? Are you crazy?

It's coming from the middle.

Pay him.

- Max. You're fired. - Just only doing my job.

You interested in some better stakes?

- No, Paul, let's go. - Hey, go ahead.

- Yeah, I'm interested. - Follow me.

Peaches, come get his drinks and his chips.

- You're good at blackjack. - Gotta warn you.

I'm on a lifetime winning streak.

It started when I was...

Get up.

Hey Aaron, how's it going?

We're on the same side.

Get him out of here.

- Aaron... - Shut up.

- What are you doing? - What are you doing? He was winning.

Listen killer, I got this place covered.

Every time you beat up some guest he's

winning, that means he ain't gonna come back.

Just let me go, Aaron, huh.

If there's another time that you feel like you got to lay in on somebody,

let the police do the hitting.

We can get away with it.

Alright that was dumb. But you hurt me, Aaron. You hurt me.

That was dumb. How much money you make tonight?

$5000 in the first hour.

See what I mean you dummy? You don't want to do that shit.

What?

I'm not doing anything with an M-66 anti-tank weapon. Why?

...like hell. I didn't order nothing.

I never signed any special order.

Police purchase order? Wait a minute.

I don't seem to have that right now, Webbs. Let me have it again, will you?

- Reuben, I ain't got all day. - Hey, lighten up man. I had a bad night.

What hit you? A cement truck?

Just they opened up a speakeasy, I don't know, Petrol Gulch. Gambling and all that.

Hell, I was winning. They pulled some shit.

Next thing I know, they cha-chaed on my head out an alley.

Who's they?

Hell, I don't know, but if Aaron hadn't showed up, I...

- Aaron? - Yeah, he stopped it.

Sally took me home.

Shoot, I'm sticking to "Let's Make a Deal".

He closed the place?

I don't know, but he sure slapped them around.

- Aaron knew what was going on in there? - Yeah, he had to.

- How fast was I going? - At least under a hundred.

Shit Harry, could you lighten up a little. It's six in the morning.

Can I speak to you a minute, Ben?

I know this is going to sound a little off the

wall, Ben, but you know my position here.

Have you got any idea why Aaron would order up a whole lot of guns,

ammos, explosives and bulletproof clothings?

No.

- Well, he hadn't even fired a shot. - I know.

But somebody ordered a whole ordnance shipment.

Did you ask Aaron?

I thought maybe if you knew something it would safe me running into with him again.

So you don't if it's him for sure then, huh.

Damn it Harry. Would you stop treating Aaron like a criminal.

If you suspect something, just ask him.

You know anything about a gambling spot opening up?

Just talk. Some kind of private club.

I don't think Aaron has reported anything.

Good shot, Ben.

Two inches high on the northeast quadrant.

I just came from the restaurant.

Somebody made a casserole out of my kitchen.

Dumped a whole week supply of groceries all over the floor.

Had to be that shakedown pimp. The guy that was trying to sell me protection.

- What guy? - The same one who gave me this.

Said if we didn't pay, we'd be in more trouble.

I ain't paying. I'll feed the place to the hogs first.

Talk to Aaron? Tell him about this guys?

Aaron is not here to protect us, Ben. He is here to protect his Honor's ass. Not mine.

- Now Shakey, you know that's not true. - Sure as hell is.

Now wait a minute. Aaron's here for all of us.

Then why don't he do something about the shakedowns, man.

Maybe you knew something we don't.

Maybe you and Aaron...

Go on. Say it. Everybody else is saying it.

- Maybe you are in on it. - In on what?

Oh Ben, don't pay any attention to them.

You gonna talk to Aaron or is it up to me too?

You talk to him, huh.

- What are you doing up here? - Hiding out. What's happening?

You know old Shakey tells me some guys been trying to sell him protection.

Shakey. Man, I talk good, man. He wanted to open a hamburger joint.

I think Shakey just wanted me to run all his competition off.

- What about Tom Cousy and the Maitlands? - What about them?

Same thing happened. Except they worked Tom over.

It's the first I heard of this. Let me ask chief about it.

Better yet. Just tell him to come and see me.

Paul tells me you saved his ass last night at the Petroluem Gulch.

Somebody opened up the old road house?

Yeah.

I think your buddy got a little hostile.

- What about the roadhouse? - What about it?

You gonna close it down?

As soon as I close one of them down another pops up.

I was thinking if we held up on this one, we might be able to bust a few behind it.

Hell, to tell you the truth, Aaron, this is kind of an official visit anyhow.

How so?

Well, I'm helping out with the 4th of July parade this year.

You're gonna be the Man of the Year for Elk Hills.

We all thought maybe you might like to be the Grand Marshall.

- Kid? - This makes it official.

You are amazing. You know that, don't you?

You still planning on fixing this place up?

Pretty soon. Thanks to Homer Arno.

You know, I still don't understand why he was so upset about that loan.

I guess I was a little impatient. You know how I can be.

Oh, don't I.

Little Dee, this is my brother Ben. This is Little Dee.

- Hi. - Haven't we met?

Wichita, Future Homemakers of America convention, 1961.

You remembered.

Think about that Grand Marshall offer, huh.

- Your brother is funnier than you are. - Shut up.

I didn't think that was possible.

I'm getting complaints about you boys.

Well I thought he was in on it.

I lied. I said I wanted to do this without screw-ups.

Keep it quiet.

Aaron, it's hard to do without somebody bitching.

Well, lean harder.

If they're scared to death, they ain't going to do nothing but pay us.

Boys, I've got some real money here that said...

you don't know the difference between... a rooster or a duck.

- Ladies? - Why spoil a beautiful clay?

Anybody having that good a time is gotta be breaking the law. Let's bust them.

You're all under arrest.

You'll ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

And on Sunday. I want all the money you're holding in a pile. Right now.

You boys want to do a little gambling, you want to get a bet down,

I think you know where you can be.

And you know where you can go.

What was that, friend?

Alright, who's next?

We're tired of you shoving us around.

Alright, killer. You and your partner just pick up all this trash here

and give it to me.

Is that what you're here for?

You're right.

Grenades.

Automatic rifles?

Bazooka?

The hell. Band uniforms.

We ain't getting in the parade.

I mean we got the band uniforms, right?

What do you say? I haven't been in a parade since high school.

No wonder you're a cop, Harry. You make a lousy crook.

I could see your flashlight all the way up down highway.

You're under arrest.

No, I'm giving myself up.

The big time knows, huh. There goes our 4th of July cover.

- We ain't blowing nothing. - Everything's cool outside.

We got it covered in here.

Okay.

What the hell you gonna do with all that stuff? Hijack the oilfields?

Wrap some, a little easier to carry off.

I'm gonna give you a chance, old man. I'm gonna let you go for your gun.

You go for it.

No, no, Aaron. No, no.

Go on. Go for it!

No, I'm not going to.

I know he's your brother, but he's not even playing cop anymore.

He walks into a place with one thing in mind: Destroy!

It sounds like the war. You know, when some guy goes crazy.

Start shooting at everything that weren't wearing the American flag.

Are we gonna just sit back and watch?

Ben! Oh Ben.

- Hey Ben. You got a minute? - No.

Half a minute.

By the way, Ben. Did you get Aaron to commit to the Grand Marshall honour?

He said he'd think about it.

Maybe he got a better offer.

You know anything about what happened at the oilfields on Sunday?

I haven't heard a thing. You know, I usually have breakfast with the Chief.

But Harry didn't show up this morning.

Probably overslept. I'm on my way over to his house right now.

Why Ben? What happened?

What happened? What's going on? What's this all about?

- What the hell have you been doing? - What's the matter, Ben?

What happened to that damn cockfight?

I closed down an illegal gambling operation.

And you let that casino stay open?

I told you about that. What is this crap?

What about killing Andre Majors and taking all those people's money, huh?

Correction. Confiscated evidence.

Aaron, I have friends here who are accusing me

of being part of whatever the hell is going on.

That's some friends.

Now you listen to me. I didn't volunteer for this.

And when you good people hired me to come take care of the garbage,

nobody was there telling me how to do the job.

Nobody wanted to know. Now you don't like it?

You tell them, fine civilians from me, brother,

that it's a little late to be wanting to get involved.

I'm the one that brought you here, and I'm the one that's going to run you out.

Could you give me a lift into town, Ben?

Where the hell are you going?

My sentence here is up.

Get your ass back into the house!

Get in the truck.

We gonna fight over another girl, Ben?

You know, it's always been me against the rest of them.

Ever since I've been born. But I thought that you were on my side.

I always was.

And you will be again.

- Happy ***. - Whoa, whoa... easy, easy.

I was afraid he was gonna kill me if I try to leave before.

He's crazy, you know?

The craziest crazy.

Where you wanna me to drop you?

Bus stop.

How did your wife die? Aaron talks about her all the time.

She died when my daughter was born.

Aaron didn't have nothing to do with it.

He killed somebody yesterday.

I heard one of those oil workers tried to hit him.

No. I meant at the ranch last night.

I think it was that cop. Lee?

Lee?

They dumped him in the creek bed.

Why did he kill him?

To stay on top of the feeling.

I've never saw anyone like him before.

He's going to do something terrible to all of you.

I'm sorry.

When is the next bus out of here?

Oh! No.

Ben, we're forming a search posse. It seems Harry is still missing.

Harry... My God!

I want his killer.

- You know, some things you ought to know. - Now don't tell me. Tell him.

Aaron, I'm appointing you interim chief of police. I want Lee's killer.

Then we gonna start with you.

What does that mean?

Little Dee said she saw Lee out at your place late last night.

That's right. He was a little concerned about the way we busted up the picnic.

- So you had to kill him? - I get it.

Did she tell you that before or after I threw her ass out?

Now hold it, Ben. Aaron gets the job done.

Like the job he's doing on us? Come on, Bradford. Wake up!

Now, you forget this family squabbling. I got a town to run. A town under attack.

Aaron, you're on your own.

I like this town. Whoever did this we'll find out.

Hope I can count on you for your help.

He's got Bradford in his pocket.

Dear Lord...

we give thanks for...

for...

Thanks for nothing. Amen.

And Boots, things aren't all that bad.

If I think of anything later, I'll call back.

What are you doing?

When your friend wakes up, tell him he's off the untouchable list.

If my third ex was still here you'll be shot in the *** with double hot buckshot.

Get only essentials. Come on.

They torched the store. Went off like a firecracker.

Gotta move the tractors.

Should have hired some vigilante firemen.

We all know who is behind these killings and extortions.

And it's time to do something about it.

I know Aaron, and if we don't face him down now, there'll be no stopping him.

Aaron knows we'll be marching that 4th fo July parade.

The plan is to leave early. That's our cover.

He'll never expect us if we hit him hard and fast.

If any of you think that

this kind of law and order is the price we have

to pay for prosperity and a decent life...

then stay in your houses... And keep the hell out of my way.

Miss Christopher. There he is.

Okay, stay right there.

What are you doing hanging around the school?

I... brought my kid his lunch.

- Yeah. Who is your kid? - All of them.

- What's these? Uppers downers? - Jelly beans.

Yeah, right. Let go of me. Let go!

Inside the car, lady.

Aaron, I didn't know what else to do with her.

Get the hell out of here.

You are really sick.

I'm going to kill you.

Why?

I don't want to talk about it, I don't want to hear about it.

I've seen and heard it all.

Ben. It can't be possible what I've been hearing?

Probably not.

To even think of some sort of vigilante action trumps the truth of conspiracy.

You've already got a vigilante force in Elk Hills, mayor.

We'll find Linda's killer. You can count on that Ben.

Uncle Aaron.

All of you go ahead and try and get changed.

I heard you've been talking about me.

Why, Ben? I've done what I was brought here for.

You screwed up, Aaron. You always do.

You know why you ain't been killed, don't you?

Yeah.

- Because we're brothers. - And that's the only reason.

And I got to find a way to do what I'm gonna do in Elk Hills without going to you.

I am Elk Hills, Aaron. And what you do here depends on what people like me let you do.

You picked a shitty town to be yours.

And as for your people, they're so full of shit and easy money, they need a squeeze.

And I'm going to be the squeezer.

Get off my property.

Stop playing the hero.

Shit, Ben, I was going to cut you in when the time is right.

It's all over for you, Aaron. You've always been pushing for the big showdown.

And now I'm gonna put an end to you.

When you do, who the hell you all gonna have to blame when everything goes wrong?

I'll take the blame it. Now get off my property.

Real sorry I didn't make it to Linda's funeral.

It's getting to be a bad habit of mine.

Bye, Uncle Aaron.

Okay. Where do you want them?

Well if we put some people up high. Say... here, and over here.

We got the whole valley covered.

Stick to the plan.

One person can get us all killed. We're all in this together.

See you tomorrow. Happy Independence Day.

Hello, folks. Howdy. Happy Independence Day.

How you doing, folks?

Happy Independence Day.

- Paul, kill it. Kill it. - Alright Ben.

Okay, let's go.

Come on guys. Let's get it out.

We know the plans working. Jump in the truck and let's get out of here.

- Everybody's back? - Go! Go!

We can be at the payroll office in 6 minutes.

Hey Aaron, where's my tuba?

We won't need it. With these uniforms they'd think we're part of the parade.

Got this payroll and gone.

Shut up. Pay attention.

Brian, you look like a fool in that outfit.

After we get there, we got 20 minutes to blast the vault.

Get back here before the parade is over.

Parade's covered.

What in the hell is that? The March brothers?

God dammit, it's Aaron.

Let's go.

Stop that damn music.

Ben! What do you want?

You got two minutes to throw down your guns and badges.

- And if we don't? - We're coming after you.

Ok, everybody get a weapon. It won't last long.

They're circling around on us.

Alright, give 'em hell!

Get inside.

- Well, I'm ready to negotiate. - Shut up!

- We enter the bridge. - Okay.

Carry on Ghost town! Come on, move. Let's move across.

Ghost town. Let's go.

Okay, okay, come on girls. Looks like it's about time to go.

Where are we going?

Well, let's just say the highway is calling us.

Give me a round.

Grenade.

- Aaron. - Here buddy. Okay, move.

Give me that!

What's *** doing there!

Find a way out of here.

Now regroup. Head for the bridge. That's just around the back.

Alright you know where you're next. Move!

Go for those wires.

Split up!

That guy is crazy.

Hey don't shoot. That tank will blow us all to hell.

You cover him from over there.

The whole field can go any time.

Aaron!

- You got to get off that tank. - The hell you say.

I ain't lost the war yet.

Okay?

What is feeding the fire? Turn it down.