Original subtitles

(HORSE WHINNYING)

NED: Easy there, Peppy. Easy.

Easy, easy there.

Uncle Charlie?

BEN: Your name Tallon?

Yeah, Ned Tallon.

What's your kinship to John Tallon?

I'm Johnny's brother.

Where is Johnny?

Who are you?

Friend of Johnny's. Where is he?

I reckon he must be somewhere on his way here by now.

From where?

Don't rightly know.

I ain't seen Johnny since before the war.

Well, how do you know he's coming here?

We got a letter from him a while back. About the time the war ended.

Said he'd be home about a month before Christmas.

About four or five weeks then, you reckon?

Yeah. About.

Where do you know Johnny from, the army?

Yeah.

(NEIGHING)

BEN: Look out.

Get out of there.

Why didn't you get out when you had the chance?

I can't see.

You mean you got no sight at all?

What do you want to try and saddle a horse like that for?

Why not? I wasn't always blind.

NED: Uncle Charlie? Yeah.

Look here, mister. I ain't hostile to veterans.

But the best you can get here is feed and water for your horse

and a hunk of bacon for the trail.

And don't let any of our herd attach themselves to you on the way out.

Uncle Charlie, this here is a friend of Johnny's.

Friend of Johnny's?

Mister... Ben. Ben Shelby.

Oh.

What happened to you?

I was saddling Peppy.

Wasn't for Shelby here, he might've got me.

Didn't I tell you never to try and saddle Peppy unless I was around?

Oh, you was around.

I know, but in the corral.

If you want to ride, take old Doggone. Thanks, mister.

Howdy.

Howdy, strangers.

Who owns this place here?

I do.

We were just riding through and spotted some of your cattle out there.

Where you headed for, California?

Yeah.

Gold fields, huh? That's right, Pop.

Yeah, most you veterans are.

Well, you just keep heading in that direction.

If you're shoving off, Shelby, you can through in with them.

Like to buy some of your cattle, about 50 head.

What was you figuring on paying?

Fifty cents a head.

Well, if you could get it with that price,

it would be cheaper than stealing them, wouldn't it?

I tell you what you do, son. You just keep heading in that direction.

Maybe you'll find some idiot that will do that.

Be nice, Pop. You heard him!

There ain't nothing for sale here.

Look out!

I guess that's all, ain't it, boys?

You all right, Ned? Yeah. I'm all right.

The way you handle that gun, you must be a friend of Johnny's.

Never was much law here before the war.

Even less now.

Men keep coming through, don't know where they're going

and no notion what they're gonna do.

Got so used to killing that killing's the only thing they're sure of.

Oh, Johnny'll put a stop to that.

When'd you see him last, Shelby?

If you're shoving off, Shelby, I reckon we can spare you a fresh horse.

Kind of figured maybe I'd stick around and wait for Johnny.

CHARLIE: What did you figure on doing while you was waiting?

You could use a hand, couldn't you?

Well, if you want to work for grub and scarcely no wages,

that's the only kind we can afford.

I'll take it. Where's your horse?

Tied to the hitch rack. All right. Come on.

Mister, I'd appreciate it if while you're here,

you say nothing of the truth about Johnny to Ned.

I ain't got no need to talk about Johnny Tallon.

You come here for the law?

I got nothing to do with the law.

Then if you're truly a friend of Johnny's,

maybe you're running away from it.

You got yourself a hand for nothing, didn't you?

So now you're trying to tell me it's none of my business.

Seems to me like you're trying to tell yourself.

Well, I didn't exactly go looking for you, mister.

You made a proposition that was kind of hard to resist.

Well, let's get out to the range.

Ah, this Doggone's sure is a good horse.

Don't need no lead rope with him.

I wonder why you ain't got no word from Johnny.

Way past the time he's supposed to be here, ain't it?

Yeah. Wonder what's holding him?

He sure will be grateful to you when he gets here though, Ben.

Can't tell. Sure he will.

You know Johnny.

He'll be glad to see a friend of his.

I reckon he will.

Uncle Charlie says for the first time in months,

we ain't had nothing whittled off our herd.

He says you've been a big help, Ben.

Oh, it ain't me.

It's the gun that helps.

It's the way you sling that gun.

Uncle Charlie says you may be near as fast as Johnny is.

Could be.

'Course, I ain't never seen you draw,

but, oh, man, I can remember Johnny.

Them guns would come out of their holsters faster than a snake's forked tongue.

Twice as nasty.

Ben, were you there when General Sheridan gave him all them medals?

Made that speech saying how proud he was to have Johnny in his command?

I reckon I was somewhere about.

Were you there when Mr. Lincoln shook his hand?

Don't think so.

You got any brothers, Ben?

Did have one.

Did have?

Younger or older? Younger.

What happened to your brother?

BEN: He got killed in the war.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

Oh, man, I sure wish Johnny was here.

So do I.

(COWS MOOING)

JANE: My dearest. Your letter as always broke the loneliness for me.

It made the day easier, in spite of what you told me.

You, too, must feel the loneliness of the years of war separation, as I do.

Yet you're not coming home because you feel you must get vengeance.

I know you, Ben, and I'm afraid I can't change your mind,

but I pray for your return back.

Come back, Ben. My dearest.

Come back soon.

Your wife, Jane.

NED: Ben, Ben.

There's a bunch of riders coming this way.

Yeah, Indians.

How many of them are there?

Looks like about 25.

Wonder why so many?

They've rounded up the cattle.

Looks like they're gonna take the whole herd.

We always gave them a few cattle for nothing,

just to stay friendly.

Don't do it, Ben!

I know them, they know me.

Let me handle it.

Because you are with him, we did not kill you.

But if you move with gun again, we will.

Brave Bear?

It is Brave Bear who speaks.

Brave Bear, this man is my good friend.

He's my brother's good friend.

I give you my word, he won't harm any Indians.

What is it you want? We want all cattle.

All?

We've always given the Indians cattle when they needed it.

And we've always been good friends.

For you to take all my cattle is not the act of a friend.

Indians can have no white friends.

Why? We proved we were.

We will take all your cattle because we need them.

Do not try to stop us or you will be killed.

And if there ain't no letter from Johnny in Fort Defiance, ask around.

Might be somebody's heard word of him.

I will.

Ben, it might be that Johnny'll get back while I'm in Fort Defiance.

Might be.

I don't know what you come here to see Johnny about,

but you been a pretty fair shooter with Ned and me.

Are you sure you still want to wait and see Johnny?

You're pretty fast with that gun.

But I think Johnny might be a wee bit faster.

Well, I get on to Fort Defiance.

(URGES HORSE)

Ben? Is that you?

Yeah.

Never can tell. Thought it might be Johnny.

Your Uncle Charlie ain't back yet?

Ben, what do you figure on doing after Johnny gets here?

I don't know.

I've been talking to Uncle Charlie about you.

What about me?

Well, you being a friend of Johnny's.

Maybe when he gets back, we could build this place up,

spread out, be partners.

I don't know if that's possible.

Maybe you'd like to be on your own.

We'd pitch in and help you build a place. We'd be neighbors, Ben.

I wouldn't count on it. Why not?

Ain't no sense, if you're going around being a ranch hand.

Knocking around from ranch to ranch.

Ain't no sense you making plans about the future either.

Why? See, there's good grazing land.

When Johnny gets back, he'll buy cattle.

Johnny! What's he gonna do, chase out all the Indians by himself?

You sore at me or something, Ben?

Why'd I be sore at you?

I don't hardly know you. That ain't true.

We worked lots of hours together on the range.

Sometimes I get a feeling you don't wanna know us.

You don't want us to know you.

It ain't that. Well, it's something.

Just 'cause I can't see with my eyes don't mean I can't see.

Something's eating you, Ben. What is it? I'd like to know.

CHARLIE: It's me, Ned.

NED: Any news of Johnny?

Well, I guess I found out why the Indians took all our cattle.

There's a lot of rumors in Fort Defiance.

Government's going to move all the Indians to a reservation, far away.

The Indians are mad about it, too.

They're preparing to make their own moves.

Starting to raid stages and ranches and everything.

Did you hear any word from Johnny at Fort Defiance?

Well, did you?

Ah, well, yes.

A letter?

No, not a letter.

What then?

And I got to tell you this, Ned.

We can't stay here waiting for him.

I heard he was dead.

Dead?

He can't be, Uncle Charlie. He can't be dead.

He was shot down robbing a bank in New Mexico.

Johnny wasn't no robber.

I knew it all the time, Ned, but I didn't want to tell you.

Ever since he got out of the Army, he's been robbing and murdering.

Why didn't you never tell me before?

Because I couldn't bring myself to it, Ned.

I'm an old man and you ain't got much future with me here,

trying to scratch out a living.

You shouldn't have let me go on thinking like I did about Johnny,

that he was coming back and we was going to be together again.

You're right.

I'm sorry for your hurt, Ned.

You come here after Johnny, didn't you?

I ain't gonna lie to you.

Yeah. Why?

Don't matter now. Matters to me.

Why bring up something that ain't got nothing to do with you?

It don't seem like too much to tell me why you come to my house to kill my brother.

Let me go, Ned.

You're gonna tell me before I do.

All right.

I was with one of the companies of the Arizona Volunteers.

So was Johnny.

Lots of men from this part of Arizona and New Mexico.

Yeah. My company was wiped out in the battle of Tennessee Ridge,

three weeks before the war ended.

My brother was killed there.

All on account of John Tallon.

That ain't true!

He was sent by headquarters to tell Company D that we were about to be outflanked.

To pull back or we'd be trapped. He never got there.

Maybe he was stopped by the Confederates?

He gave himself up.

Only me and one other man got out alive.

And he died in a couple of days.

It don't seem...

Johnny wasn't no coward. You ought to know that about Johnny.

I never did know Johnny Tallon. He was with headquarters.

Then how could you know that he was the one?

I was taken prisoner by the same guys that got Johnny.

The captain of that rebel outfit said that Johnny gave himself up.

I'm sorry I had to tell you that, Ned.

Well, I better be going.

Well, Ben,

Ned wanted you to have this.

It was supposed to be Johnny's Christmas present.

Thanks.

Ben, if you get a place of your own, I can still do a good day's work.

I'd work mighty cheap, too,

and Ned could be of some help.

I don't have one, Uncle Charlie.

Jane had to sell it during the war.

Good luck to both of you.

Time I got left don't matter, it's Ned that need it.

You know Ned's got a lot of grit.

But all the grit in the world is a heap of difference

between a man that can see and a man that can't.

I get to thinking about it sometimes and wondering what'll become of him.

Who'll be there to give him a hand if something happens to me?

You shouldn't ask me to give you the answer, Uncle Charlie.

You're right. I reckon I hadn't.

(PIANO PLAYING)

Mind if I sit down?

Get a glass and help yourself.

Anybody got cattle for sale around here?

Best place is the feed store up the street.

Thank you, mister.

Hey.

I got a letter with the story about Tennessee Ridge for Dave Parker.

Ought to be worth something when he gets back from Tucson.

Someone's coming.

Why, it's Ben. Ben Shelby.

Where you heading for? Fort Defiance.

No sense in hanging around here anymore.

You're looking for a partner? CHARLIE: In what?

Why, ranching.

You've got a lot of good grazing land, corrals and some equipment.

I got myself a bill of sale for 250 head of cattle I bought.

You ain't just funning with me, are you, Ben?

No, sir. What about your wife?

I've sent her a letter asking her to catch the next stage.

She should be here soon. Yahoo!

Well, I still don't see any sense in bringing cattle in here

for the Indians to come around and pick them up.

Well, we got word from the Fort

the Army's going to take care of all this Indian trouble.

That's right.

Come on, Ned, let's go get a tree for Jane.

Tree?

Yeah, a Christmas tree.

Huh? What's that?

Well, it's a pine. You dress up real pretty like.

A fellow from Europe in my outfit told me about it.

Something they do in the old country.

He fixed us one last year for Christmas.

Jane would sure like it.

You're really staying, Ben?

Sure I'm staying. I ain't gonna go chop down a tree to take along the trail.

Maybe it's the Lord's way of giving each of you back your brother.

Maybe.

Come on, Ned. Mount up.

Now, hurry back, now.

(NED LAUGHING)

Hand me one of them silver tobacco papers you been cutting on.

It's sure a lot of bother, but it'll be a big surprise to Jane.

She ain't never seen a Christmas tree, either, huh?

No.

Think your wife's gonna like it here?

I think so.

Your wife pretty, Ben?

Well, what do you expect a man to say about his own wife?

Oh, someday I'm gonna find me a girl.

I can do my share running the ranch.

Sure, that's why I've been setting up for us to be partners.

Jane's bringing the money saved from selling the place.

We're gonna buy us some extra stock.

Well, it's gonna be the best darn ranch around here.

Yeah and the biggest. We're gonna spread out.

You know all through the fighting I kept dreaming that someday it would end

and we can start ranching again.

Me and Jane,

how we can be together with my brother.

Ben. Yeah.

Sure you maybe won't change your mind.

I can't.

I already got it set in my mind how we're gonna build them ranch houses.

One for me and Jane and one for Charlie and you

and your real pretty wife.

How am I sure she's gonna be pretty?

Well, you'll have to take my word for it.

How about me going into Fort Defiance with you tomorrow?

Well, I kind of figured maybe Jane and I'd stay in town for a couple of days.

Oh, oh, sure. Yeah.

I reckon we won't be getting no more pine cones today.

I'll unsaddle the horses.

Ben, there are riders.

Uncle Charlie, who's coming? I don't know.

Dave Parker.

Who's Dave Parker?

Owns the saloon in Fort Defiance.

Got one of the biggest ranches around here.

He hates Johnny. Johnny hassled with one of his brothers before the war.

That's close enough, Parker.

Tracey, is this the man?

That's him.

Tracey gave me this letter when I got back from Tucson this morning.

He says you wrote it.

Let me see it.

You don't have to. Just answer.

Is it true what it says in here about Johnny Tallon?

And what happened to the Arizona Volunteers on Tennessee Ridge?

What do you want, Parker?

I lost both of my brothers at the Ridge,

just on account of a yellow Tallon.

So I want there to be no Tallon brothers living.

You hadn't ought to blame Ned. He had nothing to do with it.

I said all Tallon brothers.

You'll have to kill me first.

Stay out of this, Charlie.

I got nothing against you, either, mister.

Considering your story, you should be with us.

In fact, I'm a little grateful to you.

Go get Ned and get out! Quick.

You all right, Ned? Uh-huh.

It will be easier on the horses if we lead them over this hill.

Go ahead.

They're headed into Navajo Canyon.

Not a very good country to be going into these days.

When was it? But we're going in after them.

Lieutenant Lucas from Fort Defiance.

Howdy, Lieutenant.

Recruiting all them civilians, Colton, Brenner, Larks?

The government's ordered the Indians to a reservation in Oklahoma.

They know about it and most of them are holed up in these canyons.

The government should send a good sized detachment of troops for a job like that.

They have, but they haven't arrived yet.

It makes good sense to wait.

If the Indians would wait, that would be fine.

But our scouts tells us they've decided on the war path.

I reckon you can use all the men you can get, then?

Well, that takes care of the Tallons.

Harry, you get back down into town.

Ed, Jake, Cheyenne,

get back to the Tallon ranch and give Charlie a Christian burial.

Then get to the west end of the canyon.

I don't hear nothing, Ben.

I reckon Parker won't follow us in here.

In where?

Navajo Canyon.

I reckon not.

Let's get off and rest awhile.

We got to find a spot to take cover and get some rest for the horses.

We got a couple hours of daylight left.

Better to travel these parts at night.

Where we traveling to?

West end of the canyon.

That'll take us a good distance from Fort Defiance.

But if we go back the same way we come in, Parker's liable to be waiting.

He'll be waiting at Fort Defiance, too.

Yeah, I know it, but we'll have the protection of the law there.

Besides, you ain't done nothing, Ned.

Got your own makings?

Yeah.

Maybe Uncle Charlie'll join us soon.

He ain't gonna join us.

It ain't right for you to have the bother of me, Ben.

It ain't no trouble. We're partners, ain't we?

Besides, I'm sure the Lord's looking out for you, Ned.

Might be. But suppose he ain't looking out for you.

Still got my rifle.

And can't nothing happen to me before I see Jane.

I ain't scared with a partner like you, Ben.

I guess it's up to me to say I ain't scared, either.

So I'm saying it.

But you and me both know we're lying, don't we, Ned?

Well, let's get going.

(LAUGHING)

I guess that will keep the coyotes away.

Yeah, sure, it's funny.

Would you mind telling me who's buried there?

I said, who's buried there?

And who wants to know?

I represent the Angel Gabriel. Did you ever hear of him?

It's my job to check up on the latest burial take.

All right, tramp, on your way.

And if there ain't enough deaths from natural causes,

sometimes it's my mission to speed up the take.

Charlie Tallon's buried there.

What was Charlie Tallon deceased of?

Sickness, old age, bullets?

Just statistics, you understand.

He was shot.

By who?

Dave Parker and...

Are you Parker's boys? Yeah.

Where's Ned?

The last we seen of them... Them?

Yeah, Ned and a hand was working here.

They rode into Navajo Canyon.

Why'd they go?

Oh, come on, boys, speak up. Don't be bashful.

Look at me, I'm not bashful. Talk up.

Dave was going to string Ned up.

Why?

'Cause he found out that Johnny Tallon was at fault

for his brothers getting killed.

So all you gents helped to kill Uncle Charlie?

Yeah, I'm Johnny Tallon.

Do I have to tell you I ain't dead?

Just can't seem to shake that rumor at all.

You can't just blame us... Shut up.

You were also going to help string up Ned, huh?

Hankey, put your gun away.

Well, if you was working for a guy...

I ain't.

There's at least two of you here who won't be working for him much longer.

Now one of you is going back with a message to Dave Parker.

You want to draw a lot to see which one of you goes back?

No, we ain't gonna do it.

Maybe my back will help steady your hand.

Please!

Please! I got a wife and kid.

That's not unusual. Be nice to them.

Tell Dave Parker, I'm still alive.

Yeah.

And tell him that's something he shouldn't expect to be for much longer.

It's gonna get real bright soon.

There's a good spot for us to bed down during the day.

We'll start again soon as it gets dark.

I think the tracks are going this way, Hankey.

Just to make sure, you go around the bluff.

I'll meet you on the other side.

You got to get some rest, Ned. We've got a tough move ahead of us tonight.

Ah, can't sleep.

Thinking about Johnny.

Forget it.

He's dead.

Yeah.

It's better he is. But he was my brother, Ben.

I keep thinking about the time in that saloon when the Parker boys come at me.

One of them with a broken bottle in his hand.

Johnny stuck out his bare fist.

Got a big scar across the back of it.

Was that when you lost your sight?

Later that night, I got dry gulched.

Never did know who it was for sure.

Oh, I was sick for months from that beating.

Someone's coming.

Who is it? A stranger.

Stay here, Ned, and don't move.

I'm going out there.

You got Ned Tallon with you?

Who wants to know?

I'm his brother, Johnny Tallon.

HANKEY: I wouldn't do that, mister.

You got Ned Tallon with you?

Yeah.

Is he all right? Yeah.

What's the idea of drawing on me?

I was going to thank you for saving my brother's life.

I ain't got no cause to thank you.

Not many have. What's your name?

Ben Shelby.

Me and my brother was on Tennessee Ridge.

I'm the only survivor.

The only survivor, eh?

You were lucky.

I thought you were dead.

When everybody thinks that about a man in my trade, he's a big success.

I've come here to kill you.

I wouldn't have guessed it in a million years.

If I get the chance, I will. You won't.

Believe me, when I say you can't be half as good at killing as I am.

I swear nothing'll stop me. Then save up on me.

But first I'm gonna get Ned out of here. Where is he?

He thinks you're dead, and he's glad of it.

Listen, mister, stop straining my gratitude.

I'm grateful to you, but ain't you getting things a little mixed up?

I'm his brother, not you.

What kind of a brother are you?

You know, if it wasn't for Ned, a fellow like me

would just naturally have to kill a fellow like you.

But for the time being, I think I'll just tear the hide off you.

Put it away.

(COUGHS)

Indians!

Indians, you darn fools, over on the hill.

Ben!

It's me, Ned. I'm all right.

I heard Indian ponies.

Didn't spot us.

Who's with you? Couple of strangers.

Traveling the same way we are.

My name's Ned. Howdy, strangers?

Riders coming this way.

Ain't white men, those horses got no shoes.

What happened? Get hold of his rifle.

(HORSE NEIGHING)

BEN: Get hold of that horse's nostrils, Ned.

Come on. Got to keep that horse quiet.

That ought to hold the sound in you.

Johnny? That's you, ain't it?

Yeah, I'm back, Neddy boy!

Why? Why'd you come back?

For you.

(GUNS FIRING) We'll talk about it later.

Did you give yourself up on the Ridge, Johnny? Did you? Did you?

Yeah. Now let me go!

You were supposed to be dead. You should have stayed dead.

BEN: Come on. They're moving in on us. Come on!

Why did you give yourself up on the Ridge, Johnny? Why?

Look, Ned, this ain't the time to talk.

I want to know why! Now tell me! Ned, look! Let go of me!

Tell me! Ned, you're making me...

Give me a gun, will you?

And let you get me in the back?

Ben?

Ben!

Ben!

Ben!

(GUN FIRING)

Ben!

NED: Ben!

Ben? Is that you, Ben?

It's me, Ned. Keep down!

(SHOUTING)

You fool. You darned, crazy fool!

Don't be in such a rush to get killed.

It might come to you soon enough.

Why did you give yourself up on the Ridge, Johnny?

You ain't a coward. Why?

'Cause I wasn't gonna get my head blowed off knowing the war was ending.

Some general sitting on his big, fat headquarters trying to make a show for himself.

Besides, the Parker boys were in that outfit and I didn't bleed none for them.

There was my brother and me and other men.

Ain't that funny?

I was thinking about my brother and me.

It was your duty.

A man who gets killed doing his duty ain't any more alive

than the man that just gets plain killed.

Of course, I ain't had an opinion from anyone it's ever happened to.

Don't make me your excuse, Johnny.

I ain't.

You asked me. I'm telling you why.

Three years of fighting. Wounded five times. I saw the end in sight.

I wasn't going to get killed for nothing.

We're going to take that coach out of Fort Defiance for San Francisco.

You ain't ever going to get on that coach, if I can help it.

Don't do it, Ben, he's fast. He's too fast.

Yeah, I know. Like a snake.

And twice as nasty.

So stop making a pest of yourself, Mr. Only Survivor.

I'm already more beholding to you for what you've done for Ned.

Now, look, let's be practical.

I've got $5,000 to get your eyes fixed.

I don't want any of it.

Where'd that rotten money come from?

Listen, mister, you're talking about the stuff I love.

Where does anyone go for money? To a bank.

Look out!

Ben? Ben? I'm all right.

Seems to me you're more worried about him than your own brother.

Hankey was a good man.

He didn't have any feelings about anything.

All he had was loyalty.

Still daylight, but we better get out of here.

There will be other Indians looking after these.

Well, we can't get out the east or west end of the canyon.

There's Indians growing out of the rocks at those passes.

Then where?

Well, there's a pass at the north that few knows about.

Now will you give me a gun?

We might need all the shooting that can be done to get out of here.

I ain't never shot a man in the back, don't reckon I could.

Not even you.

Mind if I heft it?

Go ahead.

Please, don't do nothing to make me have to kill you.

You tired, Ned?

I'm no more tired than anybody else.

We'll rest up on top here for awhile.

But we got to get out of these canyons.

I wish we dared make a fire.

Here, put it on.

Don't make me have to kill you for nothing trivial.

I don't want it.

I ain't gonna ask you again.

Put it on.

Ben? Ben?

It's nothing, Ned.

Horses stirring. They're cold, too.

Thanks, Ben.

Here you are, Ned.

Thanks.

Hey. Come here.

Guess they're gonna try to make them move out of the canyon.

BEN: Sure wish we were out.

You still set on making a pest of yourself and going for me?

Guess ever since Tennessee Ridge,

you've set yourself a date to hand me a belly-full of lead.

Oh, anyways, I'm grateful for what you've done for Ned.

And instead of lead, I'm going to hand you the ranch.

I'm gonna give you money.

You know what you can do with that?

You mean you got all you can use?

You're mighty generous with other people's money.

Well, if you can't be then when can you be?

Why don't you come to San Francisco with Ned and me?

In a little while, I'll be running that town.

How many people do you figure to kill, running it?

As many as I have to.

You're crazy.

You're a mush-head.

Look, I've got $5,000 on me.

Suppose you was to get me, what would you do about it?

I bet you'd give it back.

What else?

You're a mush-head, all right.

Anyways, I still want you to come with me to San Francisco.

Why don't you give it a try?

There's only one thing I want to try and if we get out of here alive, I will.

If you ain't just determined to pile up my woes.

Here I am trying to figure how to fix Dave Parker

and get Ned out of Fort Defiance.

Now l got to figure out how to keep you

from coming up against me so I won't have to kill you.

And if that wasn't enough of a puzzlement, on top of that,

I've got the whole darned Indian nation to contend with.

And on top of that,

it's colder than a tin-horned gambler's heart!

Well, let's get started.

If we keep moving, we'll be out of here by sundown.

Ned.

We'll be out on the plains before the sun's gone.

Hey, look there.

(INDIANS ULULATING)

(SHOUTING)

(SHOUTING)

Whoa!

Got spare guns? Behind the seats in the coach.

Load those guns. Make yourself useful.

BEN: Get up to the window.

Now hold your fire until I tell you.

Now!

Here they come again.

Wonder what they're going to do now?

Gonna get others.

The sun'll be gone in a couple minutes

and I don't believe they'll attack at night.

If they don't, there'll be a swarm of them at daybreak.

I knew this would happen when we left Willerton.

Willerton? DRIVER: Yeah, we're the first stage out in a week.

That's where my wife's coming from.

Well, there was a couple of passengers,

but they decided not to buy tickets

with this Indian showdown coming on.

Now if your wife happened to be one of those,

she can probably get out on the next stage. That's if it's possible.

How come she bought a ticket?

She didn't buy a ticket.

A committee in the town bought one for her.

She wasn't bothering no one.

They shouldn't have done it to her. Least ways, not this time.

What made you come? Mail contracts.

Got to show a good delivery or you'll lose them.

And you can't operate a stage on just passengers.

Sure wish I could've had a drink of that real Eastern whiskey

they was gonna have at the Fort for Christmas.

(DRUMS BEATING)

You were saying, ma'am?

Yeah, well, I'm on my way to San Francisco.

You got folks there?

No, I'm hoping to start a business.

Business? What kind of business?

Well, I'm not really sure.

Well, what kind of business were you in before, ma'am?

Well, I'm hoping to start a new one, maybe sewing.

Did you say your name was Julie, ma'am?

Yeah, Julie Morse.

Julie. That's a real pretty name.

I'm getting tired of this same old song.

I'm out of here. Now look, sonny!

Don't get smart just because you killed your first Indian.

You ain't got a chance out there.

Ain't no chance waiting for the dawn, either.

Anybody else want to try it with me? You?

Ben?

BEN: Yeah?

Cold, Ned?

Well, it's a couple of more hours to daylight.

Ben, is she pretty?

I reckon you'd say that.

She's nice. How old is she?

About the same age you are.

Found out she ain't married.

No, I reckon not.

There's somebody coming.

Go get him.

Better take him behind the ledge.

(INDIANS SHOUTING)

(INDIANS CHANTING)

(DRUMS BEATING)

Well, Mr. Only Survivor, I guess you won't have that distinction

by the time the sun's high.

No, I reckon everything's gonna be taken care of for us.

Pretty music, huh?

Can I have the next dance?

(SOBBING)

Let her alone, Johnny.

What is it, Miss Julie?

I'm all right.

Miss Julie?

Yeah?

There's something I've been wanting to ask you.

Sure.

You being a girl, maybe you could tell me.

Well, what is it?

Well, if a girl would get to know me...

And if she...

Well, do you think it's possible

for a pretty young girl to ever consider a man like me?

If she loved him, sure.

Could she love a fellow with my kind of handicap?

Why not?

The thing that scares a fellow like me is that maybe he ain't wanted.

Yeah, that scares a lot of people.

And being scared that way,

well, you figure maybe it's better never to find out.

You sort of feel maybe it's better to go on being scared

instead of finding out for sure that you're not wanted.

(INDIANS YELLING)

They've stopped serenading us.

It's the nosiest hunk of silence I ever did hear.

Here.

Take it, take it!

If anything happens to us, don't hesitate.

Ned and you.

You saw what happened to him.

(INDIANS SHOUTING)

We got visitors and they ain't being polite.

Here they come.

(BUGLE BLOWING)

(YELLING)

Yipee! Looks like I'm gonna get a taste of that real Eastern whiskey after all.

It's safe for you to go on now.

Is this really the big round up of the Indians?

Started yesterday, as soon as our reinforcements arrived.

We're closing in through every tributary in the canyon,

hemming them in.

They'll soon realize it's hopeless.

All right, Ned. We're on our way to San Francisco where there's doctors

that can tell you whether you can get your sight back.

Rather than take that money, I'll stay the way I am.

You're just saying that 'cause you want to get back at me.

I'm telling you now, Johnny, go away, I don't want no part of you.

If you do, I'm willing to forget everything.

Me and Ned be partners.

If I did, the Parkers never would.

We'll have the protection of the law there.

Ain't you got enough sense to understand that's hardly a guarantee

of safety for someone like me.

It's my fault Ned lost his sight

and I'm gonna see to it he has no worries for the rest of his life.

Yes or no?

Can't leave Ned with a mush-head like you.

No.

Johnny, what'd you do to him?

What's the idea?

I'm Johnny Tallon. You want to make something of it?

Uh-uh.

Where is he, Johnny? Ben! Ben! Ben.

What'd you do, Johnny? What'd you do to Ben? I'll kill you!

Just fixed him so he won't get himself killed. Come on.

I won't leave here without Ben.

Come on.

What's the matter with you? Will you come?

NED: Ben! Ben. Where are you? Answer me.

Why don't you leave him alone?

You get in that coach and stay put! Or I'll kill him!

Tie all the horses to the coach except one.

Except one?

Yeah. I'm leaving you with him.

The two of you on one horse won't get to the Fort so fast.

Give me time to complete my business and get out before he shows up.

Well, what about the stage? I'll take it.

But wait a minute... It'll be safe with me. I won't make off with it.

Now do as I tell you!

Julie, you got that gun?

Yeah.

Give it to me.

What are you gonna do with it? Give it to me, will you?

Just give it to me!

For 50 bucks I'll wait. I don't mind taking your money.

But it don't seem very smart to me to be in such a hurry

to get yourself shot at by Johnny Tallon.

Whoa! Whoa!

Where's Jed Brown, the driver?

Les and the others?

Indians got them. The driver's just hurt.

The Army boys are taking care of him.

How soon can this stage start for San Francisco?

Well, as soon as we get fresh horses and driver. About an hour.

Aren't you Johnny Tallon? Yeah.

I thought you were... I know, you heard I was dead.

And it was the Indians that got your boys.

No offense.

Thinking of running and telling Dave Parker I'm here?

From what I know of Parker, he's capable of finding out himself.

I'll let him know.

Two tickets to San Francisco.

Yes, sir.

For the last time, Johnny, go away and leave me be.

You out of your mind?

JOHNNY: Like I said, two tickets.

MAN: Yes, sir.

Were you gonna gun me down?

Would you really kill me, Ned?

I don't know. Don't make me go with you, Johnny.

You want to stay with Ben that bad, huh?

If I give you some money,

will you and Ben go someplace else and settle?

We don't want your money.

You can't stay in this part of the country anymore on account of me.

And how can you start someplace else without any money?

We don't want yours. All right! All right!

Ned. You and Ben can be partners.

You mean it?

Yeah.

Stay here.

I'm gonna go make a sale,

and heaven help the man that don't want to buy.

Do I have to tell you who I want to see?

If you mean Parker, he ain't around.

Then I'm gonna have to do business with you.

What business you got with me, Johnny?

I ain't got no bone to pick with you.

There's Parker's man.

He takes care of all his business when he ain't around.

Yeah. I'm Joe Doniger. Who are you?

Johnny Tallon.

You in charge here? Yeah.

Then write me out a bill of sale to Dave Parker.

Sale of what?

The Tallon Ranch.

Parker ain't bought no ranch.

As of this minute, he's bought it.

And I figure it's worth all the money in that register and in that safe.

I figure it's worth nothing.

I'll give you a hint, it's worth your life.

Now open that safe and that register and give me everything that's in it.

Over my dead...

Anybody else here think I can't make a sale?

And the safe.

On the table.

Now count up that money.

And get a pen and ink and write me out a bill of sale

from me to Dave Parker.

Two copies. One for him and one for me.

And a receipt which I will sign, nice and legal.

Can't get much more legitimate than that, can you?

Miss Julie. Yeah?

Would you consider maybe not going to San Francisco?

Ned, you don't know where I come from, what I am.

There might be a lot of things I don't know,

but I know what you are.

No, you don't.

Look, Ned,

I've worked in dance halls, in saloons.

Maybe you're scared to find out, like me.

We're two of a kind, Julie.

No, Ned, it wouldn't be fair.

Ain't fair for nobody to live without being wanted.

NED: Johnny?

It's me, Ned. Where is he?

Ben, Ben, you're all right?

Yeah, where is he?

I don't know. But it's gonna be all right. He's going away.

Did he say that? Yeah, and he said you and me could he partners.

Yeah, I heard him.

And your wife will be here soon, Ben.

Then we can get started.

Mr. Only Survivor.

Is it true what Ned says about your going away?

Yeah!

DAVE: Whoever's in there. I want Johnny and Ned Tallon.

And anybody else has got two minutes to get out.

All right, you get out.

If you don't mind, I'd just as soon stay.

Julie, ain't no reason for you... I got a reason.

What you just said is enough.

Well, reckon I won't need this ticket the committee gave me for San Francisco.

I'd rather live for just a few minutes being wanted.

And how about you, Mr. Only Survivor?

I ain't running out on a partner.

This is Johnny Tallon, Dave.

I'll make a deal with you.

Let Ned go and I'll give myself up.

Think of all the fun you'll have stringing me up.

I ain't making no bargains. I'll see you both dead.

Well, Mr. Only Survivor.

My name's Shelby.

I'm getting tired... Don't be a pest about petty details.

Now look, here's $2,500 legitimate.

The bill of sale, receipts, signed and all.

What are you talking about?

Well, somebody's got to see that a couple of mush-heads like you have some money.

You wouldn't take mine because it was rotten.

Well, Parker drove us off the ranch, so I got payment.

Here.

Take care of him.

Johnny.

Yeah.

It's true Mr. Lincoln shook your hand, isn't it?

Yeah, it's true, Ned.

Mr. Shelby, would you get to the door and when I say, open, open it fast?

Johnny?

You made your choice, Ned. Don't apologize for it.

I never did for mine.

DAVE: You got 15 seconds, whoever wants to come out.

Open!

(HORSES NEIGHING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(GUNS FIRING)

Well, I guess Parker won't bother us anymore.

Come on out, Ned.

MAN: Here she comes, the stage from Willerton.

Get your baggage ready, folks.

The stage from Willerton, coming in.

Hear that, Ben? The stage from Willerton. Maybe your wife's on it.

Is she here, Julie?

Yes, she's here, Ned.