Original subtitles

Lacking away helplessly, his pride shattered and his knees weak, the

littlest cowboy knew he had a choice.

He could fall down and forget everything that was ever important to him, or he

could dig deep to find the strength and courage to fight back like a man.

What would he do?

Read the next gripping adventure in the littlest cowboy series and find out.

I think that's more than enough for tonight, young man.

You don't like these stories very much, do you, grandfather?

I think I prefer Oliver Quist, if that's what you mean.

Make sure he takes his medicine.

And if there are any further episodes like last night, summon me at once. Yes,

sir, Mr. Sims.

Good night, Arthur.

Good night.

Oh, and grandfather, since tomorrow's my birthday, can we go west and meet

the Pony Express riders?

Have you any idea how far that is?

No, Arthur.

I've told you before.

We'll go as soon as you get better.

But I'm not getting better.

I won't have that kind of talk, young man. Is that understood?

Tell me, young man, can you tell me the time?

Three o'clock? I see.

Tell me, do you know where I might find Josiah Grubb's farm?

Come on, Ack, let's go.

Is that everything, Ack?

Where are you going?

Come on, I want to get out of this rain.

Cody's just trying to help.

Yeah, right.

Let go of that.

I said put it down.

Put it down.

You're just offering your ride.

I don't need one. Not from here.

It's not contagious.

Don't worry about it, Ack.

I was sure I wouldn't take a ride from you either.

Too damn ugly.

You all right?

And that lady?

I guess some people just don't know better.

Now come to think of it, Cody might have a point.

We are pretty ugly.

Thank you.

You can't keep him locked up like this.

Arthur's a very sick boy. You know that.

It's his birthday, and I came so far. Can't I please see him?

I'm afraid that would be impossible.

But he's my son.

You're young. You can have another child.

He's my only grandson, and I won't have you killing him. Like Richard?

I didn't kill your son, Mr. Sims.

I gave him the three best years of his life.

There would have been more.

If you hadn't taken him away, he might even be alive today.

Oh, you call this living?

Being locked up in this mausoleum, having doctors tell him what he can and

cannot do? What gives you the right to do this?

I'm sorry.

I didn't come here to argue. I just want to see my son.

In Arthur's condition, an unexpected visit, especially from you, could have

serious consequences.

Now I'll have to ask you to go. I have company. I talked to the doctor.

He said that he doesn't have that much time.

Please.

Here's $100.

It should see you safely back to San Francisco.

I don't want your money.

Very well, then.

Good day.

Well, Rachel, I think you're bluffing. I've been accused of worse.

I've heard it said, you can't have a heart and play this game.

But I've since discovered it's not always true, because I got five of them.

Another hand?

No?

Guess I'll call it a day, then.

Gentlemen, it's been a pleasure.

Thanks a lot, Rachel.

Where'd she learn to do that?

Kid leave for Bend yet?

Couple hours ago.

First thing tomorrow morning, one of you boys is gonna have to ride over to Pine

Bluff. Why?

Anybody here know Larson Biggers?

He's a nasty piece of work.

Owns half the town, don't he? He also owns 10,000 acres by the western pass

through the Wasatch.

And that land has only water for 50 miles around.

Wait a minute, Teaspoon. Didn't Biggers already agree to let us use it? He did,

but he conveniently forgot to sign the paper.

Now he's making noise about raising the price. But he can't do that. The company

agrees with you, Buck.

That's why I gotta send one of you boys over there and get him to sign this here

contract.

Which, more than likely, he ain't gonna be too eager to do. I'd go myself, but

with Barnett out of town, I gotta stay close.

You wanna go, Ike?

Well, hold on. Maybe that's not such a good idea. What if he wants to argue the

thing? Ike, even I ain't going.

Ike, you know I trust you. That ain't what I'm talking about.

Look, Teaspoon, I'll go with him.

Is that okay with you, Ike?

Good. Then that's it.

I want you boys to promise me one thing. No matter what happens, you won't let

him get your goat. Just get a John Henry on this piece of paper and get out.

Mother.

Happy birthday.

I knew you'd come back.

Do you still want to see those Pony Express riders, Arthur?

More than anything.

It's a very long trip.

I can make it.

But... What?

Grandfather will never let me.

Well, then we won't tell him.

Mr. Biggers, there's a fella here. Just came out of your office.

He's got something for you. Wouldn't let nobody else touch it. And there's word

of warning.

I don't know.

He don't talk.

So the Pony Express still wants to water their horses on my land.

Give me the contract.

You want me to sign this?

Take off your hat.

And the bandana.

Is there any one good reason why I should sign this?

No.

Tell me.

What's the matter,

Baldy? Cat got your tongue?

Sorry, I don't do business with freaks.

Now get out of here.

You don't hear too good, do you, Baldy? I said get out of here.

roughed you up pretty good.

My name's Mary Jane.

I work there.

Look, I'd take you to the doctor, but he's in no condition.

Is there someplace you can go?

Get yourself looked after?

Well, then why don't you come home with me, then?

You can sleep on the sofa and wash up.

Now, don't worry. I ain't being nice.

I got plenty of chores I need attended to in the morning.

Come on.

Feeling better?

Good.

My husband, he died.

Oh, that's all right.

He wasn't much good anyway.

He was a miner.

Made a pretty big stake, then went and lost it all at the saloon.

Got himself shot for the trouble.

My friends say I'm better off without him.

Between you and me, I think they're probably right.

You know, it's real easy talking to you.

Anyway, there's food on the table and your bed's made.

I'll see you in the morning.

Oh, by the way, do you like cats?

Oh, you're allergic.

All right.

I'll keep Jasper in the other room with me, then.

Night.

It's too heavy. I can't help it.

Hike! Go!

He's a dummy, Sheriff.

found Mary Jane at least I think it's her now dummy or no I want to know what

you know about that fire he can't tell you nothing well he better because I got

a feeling he started it and if he did I'll see him hang you understand

that don't you

So what he's saying is he don't know how it started.

And he ain't a dummy.

Ike?

Hardly. I mean, he may have a stubborn streak in him, but he's one of the best

riders we got.

Well, Sheriff?

Says here Marshal Hunter will vouch for him personally.

That true? Yes.

Let him go. What? I said let him go!

What's he trying to say? Nothing. What is he trying to say? Come on, Ike, it

wasn't anybody's fault. Let's go. Appreciate your cooperation. Sure.

Ike, you said yourself it was probably too late to help her, right?

Yeah, so we made a mistake. It doesn't matter now.

Excuse me, but I don't think this is the time to discuss it.

Come on, Ike, let's go.

Damn it, let's go.

Rachel, you okay?

Ike, I nearly broke my ankle on that step.

Oh, you think that's funny?

Well, let me tell you something, mister.

Either you fix that step like you promised, or you can forget about eating

until you do. You understand?

What'd he say?

Nothing. Buck, what did he say?

You gotta watch where you're going.

What?

Ike McSwain! I swear, if you were a few years younger, I'd turn you over and tan

your hide.

You understand?

I said, do you understand?

Will? He understands fine, and he's not a dummy.

What's Rachel so riled up about?

Oh.

Yo, her apology act.

She wasn't nagging. You promised to fix that step half a dozen times. She could

have hurt herself.

Yeah, so when are you gonna do it?

When he feels like it.

How's your run, kid?

It's good.

Ike, I just came back from William's station.

He says you've been running his horses too hard.

No, it isn't your fault. His stock's getting old. Matter of fact, nothing

seems to be your fault anymore.

Ike, we all know what happened to you in Palm Bluff.

But that was two weeks ago.

You gotta get over it now.

I don't know what to do, Teaspoon.

It's like he keeps getting worse instead of better.

I know.

Maybe I shouldn't have been so hard on him.

Tell the truth, Rachel.

I don't think it makes no difference one way or the other.

Right.

And what does?

Time.

Forgiveness.

Who's the hell I knew?

See, when folks start treating somebody like they was less than human, they

usually don't take too long for that person to start believing it hisself.

Hack knows better than that. Does he?

Let's say it's you.

Let's say you're walking down the street minding your own business. But everybody

you pass turns away real disgusted like as soon as they see your face.

What you gonna do about it?

I think they're crazy.

Maybe.

But I bet the next time you pass the mirror, you take a real good look just

to make sure.

What's that got to do with that, Teesma?

I don't know.

Maybe nothing.

Maybe a whole lot.

Someone's coming.

They said that you might be here.

Excuse me. Are they real pony express riders?

That's him.

Arthur was only two when his father died.

We'd just finished building a little shack up on Eagle's Nest.

By that time, Richard was pretty weak, so I did most of the work.

It's real pretty up there.

I didn't want to take Arthur back to his grandfather's house, but he was so

little and sick all the time.

And I guess I blame myself for what had happened.

You gave Richard a gift.

I hope so.

All I know is that he died after a long, hard trip.

A trip made against doctor's orders.

Because he wanted to go. Because he wanted to see the mountains more than

anything before he died.

Just like me, huh, Mother?

I sure hope you two will stay for a while before pushing on. Well, this is

Arthur's trip.

It's up to him.

I wouldn't want to be too much trouble.

No, you're kidding. You wouldn't be no trouble at all.

Thought you wanted to be a cowboy.

That don't happen in a day or two.

Cody's right.

It takes time.

And a lot of hard work. I think you're up to it.

Some some legal act action action

He's

a fine boy I Keep asking myself why I didn't get him away from there sooner

After everything you went through with Richard.

All the more reason.

Helen. Helen.

You've got nothing. Well, Mr. Sims is a rich, powerful man. Don't expect too

much from yourself.

You don't know how much I hate that man.

How angry I am that this didn't happen to him instead of Arthur and Richard.

It isn't fair.

Not bad.

They're coming, you know.

Sooner or later, they're going to find us, but I'll tell you one thing.

I'm not going to let him get his hands on my son, not while I'm alive.

Watch this, Mother.

Neither

of

you ever heard of a town called Sweetwater?

A couple days' ride west of here.

Let's go.

Keep your eyes closed.

Can I open my eyes yet?

Nope, not yet.

Okay, open your eyes.

Surprise!

Every cowboy needs a mount he can call his own.

was out for blood.

Uh oh.

You must be Samson I've got something for you

You sure are friendly.

You scared me.

My name is Arthur.

You must be Ike.

Buck told me about you.

He said you got sick when you were little.

I got sick when I was little too.

Maybe we could talk about it.

You can't talk?

You talk with signs.

Isn't that the same thing?

You want me to leave?

Okay. I'm sorry.

Be mean to little kids in your habit of yours?

Because if it is, it stinks.

No one's asking you to feel sorry for him, especially him.

I ain't gonna leave you alone. That's what I've been doing, and it hasn't

helped. You gotta stop carrying on like this.

One thing, the others are getting tired of covering for you, and so am I.

Of course you didn't ask us. Two of you are friends.

What are you talking about? You don't want any... You cause trouble and pain.

This is crazy.

I ain't gonna go until we talk this thing over.

Don't walk out on me.

You don't know what you're up against, Marshal.

The littlest cowboy never loses.

The littlest cowboy, huh?

That's right.

And this town ain't big enough for the both of us. Oh, it ain't, huh?

And what you aim to do about it, bub?

That's the way you want it.

On the count of three.

One.

Two.

Shh.

Arthur.

Arthur. Don't worry.

It'll go away in a second.

I'll be all right.

Really.

There.

It's better now.

What is it, son?

The biggest part of my heart doesn't work right.

Makes the other part work too hard.

My father had the same thing.

Well, uh, can't the doctors do nothing about it?

Maybe someday.

Marshall, can I ask you a question?

Well, of course.

After me and my mother go to the mountains, I've been thinking about

seeing the ocean.

Have you ever seen it?

Have I ever seen an ocean?

Do you know who you're talking to?

Best of my recollection, I have swum in five, fished six, and been afloat on

seven. Which one you got in mind?

The Pacific.

Pacific?

Yeah, that's a good one.

Matter of fact...

Might even be my favorite.

Hello, Mother.

Marshal Hunter was just going to tell me about the Pacific.

Well, that sounds very nice, Arthur, but it's long past the time for your

afternoon's rest.

Now, I'm sure that Marshal Hunter would be very happy to tell you all about it

later.

I hope it wasn't too much trouble.

Trouble? I tell you, this boy keeps me in practice.

Ready?

You beat me again, didn't you?

Come to think of it, if you could ever loan him out, I am in desperate need of

a good deputy.

Matter of fact, I think I will make it official.

So that says Deputy Marshal.

That's you.

I can keep it?

You wear that with honor, son.

All right, deputy.

Now it's off to bed with you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Ike, when you've sobered up, I want to talk to you.

And if you ain't got the right answers, you can pack up and leave.

Understand?

You're not going to fire him, are you, Teaspoon?

It's up to him.

Rachel, supper ready?

Yes, it is.

Good. I'm starved.

What are you all waiting for?

What about our teaspoon?

It ain't about it.

Want to rest a minute?

If you'll sit in my chair I can help.

You're pretty drunk, huh?

Is it fun?

It doesn't look fun.

Why am I doing this for you?

I don't know.

I've always had someone do it for me.

I was curious.

This is just a kid's book, but I like it.

The littlest cowboy rides around the West, and wherever he goes, he runs into

trouble.

But even though the bad guys are bigger and stronger, he always wins, because he

never quits.

At least he hasn't yet.

But at the end of the book, he's in a lot of trouble.

Do I think he'll make it?

Probably. My mother promised to buy me the next one after we go to the

mountains.

Want some water?

How am I feeling?

Pretty bad.

How about you?

What's it like having a bad heart?

I don't know. I never had a good one.

Sure, I'm scared.

I'm scared all the time.

Except sometimes when I close my eyes and I see this other place.

It's warm and bright and I'm healthy there.

And sometimes when I'm feeling really bad, I think about how good it would

feel.

But I'm not ready.

Not yet.

Are you going to talk to the marshal?

Why not? Aren't you happy here?

I don't understand you.

Excuse me. I need to rest now.

It's a lovely morning, isn't it, Arthur?

Mother, why didn't you want to go for a ride this morning?

Well, you've been spending so much time with the express riders, I just thought

you don't have to pretend.

You're worried, aren't you?

No.

It's okay.

I know I look bad.

I'm feeling pretty bad, too.

Whoa.

It's just that we've gotten to know each other.

Mother, would you hold me?

My sweet baby.

We should get going for the mountains pretty soon.

Yes.

Don't worry, Arthur.

Everything's going to be fine. You'll see.

You have no right doing this.

As his legal guardian, I have every right.

In fact, you'll be lucky if I don't press charges.

Oh, oh, there.

What's the matter?

You better get out here, Mr. Sims.

What's going on?

Well, speak up.

Get rid of him.

Stay here.

If you've come for the boy, you're wasting your time.

I'm taking him home.

So unless you're intent upon shooting me, I suggest stepping aside.

Now get out of the way.

Arthur, get back in the wagon.

Only if you turn around and go to the mountains.

You don't know what you're saying.

Yes, I do.

I may not have much time left, but it's my time, and that's where I want to go.

Arthur, you're all I have left.

I don't want to lose you.

You can't help it, Grandfather.

You're going to lose me anyway.

And until you go, I'll be right there by your side.

And even then, whisper the wind, and

she will carry up your rest.

Can't you see him?

He's down on the ground.

There's a broken wing looking low.

safe zone.