All language subtitles for Gunslingers.S01E06_Enh

Hardin:
MY NAME IS JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

AND THIS IS MY TRUE STORY
AS IT'S NEVER BEEN TOLD.

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN WAS EASILY

THE DEADLIEST GUNFIGHTER
OF ALL TIME.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Bell: THAT BOY NEEDED
TO BE INSTITUTIONALIZED.

HE'S A NARCISSIST.
HE KILLS WITHOUT REMORSE.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Hardin: FROM MY EARLIEST DAYS,
I FOUGHT EVERYONE

WHO STOOD AGAINST ME
AND MY WAY OF LIFE.

Man: BELIEVES IN GOD
AND BELIEVES IN THE GUN.

WHAT HARDIN DID MOSTLY
WAS KILL.

JOHN,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Man: PUTS YOUR HANDS
WHERE WE CAN SEE 'EM!

Man 2: STICK YOUR HANDS UP,
YOU SON OF A BITCH!

EVENING, GENTLEMEN.
MR. SWAIN, IS IT?

ALL RIGHT, HARDIN.
TIME TO GO BACK TO TEXAS.

A MAN-KILLER,
A HUNTED FUGITIVE.

SOME SAY THE WORST BAD MAN
THAT TEXAS EVER PRODUCED,

YET TO SOME HE WAS A HERO.

...TEXANS I'VE EVER SEEN!

Hardin: I LEFT A TRAIL OF BLOOD
ACROSS THE MIDWEST.

MADE "WILD BILL" HICKOK WILT
LIKE A DAISY.

TAKE 'EM IF YOU DARE.

AND GALVANIZED
THE REBEL SPIRIT OF TEXAS.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

I WAS ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD
OF THE LAW.

TEXAS, MY GOD.

UNTIL THE DAY THE LAW CLOSED IN.

[ GRUNTS ]

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

[ GUNSHOT ]

WAKE UP, HARDIN.

Bell: LEGEND HAS IT THAT WHEN
JOHN WESLEY HARDIN WAS BORN,

THE MIDWIFE TOLD HIS FATHER
THAT HE'S EITHER GONNA BE

ONE OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE
OF HIS AGE OR ONE OF THE WORST.

AND SHE SAID, "HE'S EITHER
GOING TO BE YOUR STAFF,

OR HE'S GONNA BRING YOU SORROW
TO YOUR GRAVE."

AND, OF COURSE, HE BECAME
THE WORST OF THE WEST.

HE IS ABSOLUTELY
ONE OF THE DARKEST CHARACTERS

THIS SIDE OF CHARLIE MANSON.

Hardin: I'VE BEEN ACCUSED
OF KILLING OVER 40 MEN,

BUT I HAVE ZERO REGRETS.

I NEVER KILLED ANYONE
WHO DIDN'T NEED KILLING.

Alexander: WHEN THERE WAS
A CONFRONTATION WITH SOMEBODY,

UNLIKE MOST PEOPLE,
HE HAD NO RESERVATION

ABOUT PULLING HIS GUN
AND SHOOTING 'EM.

HE JUST FLAT DIDN'T GIVE A DAMN,

AND HE WAS GONNA LIVE HIS LIFE

THE WAY HE WANTED TO LIVE IT
REGARDLESS.

AND IT COST HIM DEARLY
IN THE END.

Hardin: I'VE BEEN CAGED
IN HUNTSVILLE PRISON

FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS
INSIDE THE NOTORIOUS WALLS UNIT.

IT WAS MAMMOTH.

IT HAD 25-FOOT WALLS AROUND IT,

THERE WERE ABOUT 400 PRISONERS
IN THERE.

THE CONDITIONS WERE TERRIBLE,

AND THE GUARDS
COULD GET AWAY WITH, REALLY,

ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO DO.

AND SO, BASICALLY, HE WAS PART
OF A GROUP OF PRISONERS

THAT WERE TREATED
AS MAXIMUM-SECURITY THREATS.

Hardin: THEY SAY WHAT DON'T
KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER.

WELL, AFTER 16 YEARS ON THE
CHAIN GANG, I MUST BE HERCULES.

I BELIEVE I'VE BECOME
SOMETHING OF A FOLK HERO

IN MY NATIVE TEXAS,

AND I KNOW
I WILL PROFIT HANDSOMELY

FROM TELLING MY STORY,
IF I EVER MAKE PAROLE.

Roth: UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHER
UNREPENTANT KILLERS,

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN CAME FROM
A GOOD FAMILY BACKGROUND.

HIS FATHER WAS A PREACHER,
AND HE ALSO STUDIED LAW.

SO, HE'S A WALKING SET
OF CONTRADICTIONS, REALLY.

THE NAME OF JOHN WESLEY HARDIN
IS IRONIC,

BECAUSE HE'S NAMED
FOR JOHN WESLEY,

THE FOUNDER
OF THE METHODIST CHURCH.

INSTEAD, HE TAKES THAT NAMESAKE

AND GOES OFF
ON A DIFFERENT PATH.

TO UNDERSTAND
JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT TEXAS

AND RECONSTRUCTION WAS LIKE.

Alexander: HE WAS A PRODUCT
OF THE OLD SOUTH,

HE WAS BORN PRIOR
TO THE CIVIL WAR

AND HE HAD HIS CHILDHOOD
THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR

AND WAS INFLUENCED
BY ALL OF THE THINGS

THAT HE WAS HEARING.

TEXAS WAS A CONFEDERATE STATE,

AND SO THAT'S THE WAY
HE GREW UP.

Hardin:
I SAW ABRAHAM LINCOLN BURN

AND SHOT TO PIECES IN EFFIGY
SO MANY TIMES

THAT I USED TO BELIEVE
HE WAS THE DEVIL INCARNATE.

HE WAS WAGING A CRUEL
AND RELENTLESS WAR ON THE SOUTH,

TO ROB HER
OF HER MOST SACRED RIGHTS.

[ GUNSHOT ]

I WAS A CRACK SHOT
BY THE TIME I TURNED 12.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

AND I TRIED EVERY CHANCE I GOT

TO SNEAK AWAY
AND JOIN THE REBELS.

Man: JOHNNY.

BUT I WANNA FIGHT, PA.

YOU'RE TOO YOUNG.

YOU WONDER IF HE HAD SERVED
ONE, TWO OR THREE YEARS

AS A SOLDIER ON THE BATTLEFIELD

AND EXPERIENCED
THE CHAOS OF THE BATTLE,

WOULD HE HAVE BECOME
THE MAN-KILLER DURING THE 1870s.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS
OF OTHER YOUNG MEN

WHO GREW UP
IN THE SAME SITUATION,

THE SAME ENVIRONMENT,

WHO DID NOT BECOME KILLERS
OF MEN.

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN
HAD SOME DIFFERENT SPARK IN HIM,

CALL IT CHEMICAL IMBALANCE,

SOME CAUSE CAUSED HIM
TO BECOME MORE VIOLENT.

Man: GET HIM, JOHN!
COME ON!

Man 2: COME ON NOW, BOY.
WHOO!

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN
FIRST ADMITTED KILLING SOMEBODY

WHEN HE WAS 15 YEARS OLD.

Hardin:
IT STARTED AS A WRESTLING MATCH.

ME AND MY COUSIN AGAINST
ONE OF MY UNCLE'S EX-SLAVES,

A FELLOW NAMED MAGE.

COME ON.
WHOOP SOME ASS.

GET IN THERE.
COME ON, JOHN WESLEY.

COME ON, JOHN.

GET IN THERE, JOHN WESLEY.
GET IN THERE.

Hardin:
HE WAS BIGGER, OF COURSE.

BUT WE THOUGHT TOGETHER,
WE'D TAKE HIM.

Y'ALL DONE.

WINNER, MAGE.

Boy: NICE ONE, MAGE.

WHOO!

Hardin:
HE MADE ME LOOK INFERIOR,

AND THERE WAS NO WAY
I COULD LET THAT SLIDE.

HARDIN REALLY TOOK OFFENSE

AT THE FACT THAT HE WAS BESTED
BY A BLACK MAN.

THIS KIND OF STIRRED UP
ALL OF THOSE VALUES

THAT HE HAD IN HIM.

HE HAD A CERTAIN PERSONALITY
WHERE HE HATED TO LOSE,

AND WHAT BIGGER LOSER
WAS THERE AT THIS TIME

THAN THE CONFEDERACY.

IF HE LOST,
HE SAW THIS AS AN INSULT.

HE DECIDED THAT HE WOULD ANSWER
ANY TYPE OF THREAT

TO THE SOUTHERN TRADITION
WITH VIOLENCE.

[ WHISTLING ]

HEY, JOHN.

JOHN,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Parsons: IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY,

HE MAKES IT SOUND LIKE
HE DEFENDED HIMSELF AGAINST MAGE

BECAUSE MAGE WAS GONNA BEAT HIM
WITH A STICK.

Hardin: THAT WAS THE FIRST MAN
I EVER KILLED.

MAGE LIVES LONG ENOUGH
TO BE TAKEN BACK BY HIS FAMILY,

AND HE GIVES HIS ACCOUNT
OF WHAT HAPPENED.

AND HE SAYS
HE NEVER WENT AFTER HARDIN.

WHAT IS PROBABLY MORE LIKELY
WAS AFTER WHAT HAPPENED,

WAS THAT HE STALKED MAGE.

AND THIS WOULD BE JUST,
YOU KNOW,

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN GETTING BACK
FOR THIS PERCEIVED SLIGHT,

AND KILLING HIM.

PRAY WITH ME, SON.

Parsons:
REVEREND HARDIN WAS FEARFUL
FOR HIS SON TO STAND TRIAL.

HE FELT THAT UNDER
THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION,

NO WHITE PERSON
COULD GET A FAIR TRIAL

IF THEY HAD DONE ANY INJURY
TO A BLACK PERSON.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

Roth:
WHILE MOST OF HIS NEIGHBORS

WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED
HIS ACTIONS,

THE GOVERNMENT
AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM,

WHICH WERE IN THE HANDS
OF THE UNIONISTS,

WOULD SEE THIS AS A MURDER.

AND THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
THAT HE COULD HANG.

Hardin: I BECAME A FUGITIVE
NOT FROM JUSTICE

BUT FROM THE INJUSTICE
AND MISRULE

OF THOSE WHO HAD SUBJUGATED
THE SOUTH.

I SOON LEARNED
TO LIVE BY THE GUN,

AND MAKE MY OWN LAW IN PLACES
WHERE THERE WAS NONE.

HE BEGAN TO GROW TO LIKE
BEING IN GUNFIGHTS.

I WOULDN'T DO THAT
IF I WERE YOU.

[ GUNSHOT ]

HE WASN'T AFRAID OF ANYTHING.

HE DIDN'T WORRY
ABOUT DYING, HIMSELF,

SO YOU CAN TAKE RISKS THAT
A NORMAL PERSON WOULD NOT TAKE.

HE WOULD SHOOT FIRST,
ASK QUESTIONS LATER.

WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON
IN HERE?

WHEN HE SHOT SOMEBODY,
HE RARELY WOUNDED HIM.

ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THIS VICTIMS
WAS SHOT THROUGH THE HEART

OR THE HEAD OR BOTH.

Hardin: MY FIRST ARREST CAME
TWO YEARS AFTER I LEFT HOME.

I WAS JAILED IN LONGVIEW, TEXAS

ON ONE COUNT OF FORCED THEFT
AND FOUR COUNTS OF MURDER.

THE TEXAS STATE POLICE
WERE ORDERED

TO TAKE ME TO WACO FOR TRIAL.

HE GOT ALONG VERY WELL
WITH HIS FELLOW INMATES.

HE WAS SOMEBODY THAT YOU BECAME
AN INSTANT FRIEND WITH.

HE KNEW HOW TO MANIPULATE PEOPLE
AS WELL.

HE WAS ABLE TO CAJOLE
ONE OF THE FELLOW PRISONERS

TO SMUGGLE IN A GUN TO HIM.

FOR SOME REASON, TWO OF THEM
LEFT HARDIN, THE PRISONER,

WITH ONE STATE POLICEMAN.

IN RECONSTRUCTION TEXAS,

FULLY ONE THIRD
OF THE STATE POLICE

WAS COMPRISED OF FREED SLAVES.

Alexander:
IT WAS JUST A BITTER PILL

FOR A TEXAN AT THAT DAY AND TIME

TO STAND IN ARREST
BY A BLACK PERSON.

Hardin:
MY MOMENT CAME, AND I SEIZED IT.

AFTER I ESCAPED,

THE STATE ISSUED A $1,000 REWARD
FOR MY CAPTURE,

BUT I WAS DETERMINED
TO MAKE SURE

IT WOULD REMAIN UNCLAIMED.

BY THE AGE OF 17, I HAD ENDED
ALMOST THAT MANY LIVES.

EACH ONE DESERVED TO DIE,

SEEING AS THEY ALL AIMED
TO CHEAT ME

OR TAKE AWAY MY FREEDOM.

BUT I WAS JUST GETTING STARTED.

SOON, THE ENTIRE FRONTIER
WOULD KNOW AND FEAR

THE NAME JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

Hardin:
IN 1872, I, JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

WAS ON THE RUN,
WANTED FOR MULTIPLE MURDERS,

INCLUDING
A TEXAS STATE POLICE OFFICER.

I HAD A $1,000 BOUNTY ON
MY HEAD, BUT ONLY ON TEXAS SOIL.

[ LAUGHTER ]

YOU KNOW,
I NEVER DID FIND THAT HORSE.

Hardin: I NEEDED TO LAY LOW
AND LEAVE THE STATE,

SO I FELL IN WITH MY COUSINS,
THE CLEMENTS,

WHO WERE HEADING NORTH
FOR GREENER PASTURES.

Lawrence: HE SEEMS TO HAVE
A LIMITLESS NUMBER OF COUSINS,

AND HE COULD ALWAYS GO
AND HIDE OUT WITH THEM

FOR A WHILE
UNTIL THE HEAT BLOWS OVER.

Parsons: THE CLEMENTS BROTHERS
WERE GATHERING THEIR HERDS

TO DRIVE TO THE MARKETS
IN KANSAS,

AND CONVINCED JOHN WESLEY,
"WHY DON'T YOU JOIN UP WITH US?

BECOME A COWBOY."

Lawrence: THE CATTLE INDUSTRY
IS REALLY BOOMING AFTER THE WAR

BECAUSE LAND IN THE WEST
IS SO CHEAP.

THE RAILROADS
DON'T COME INTO TEXAS,

AS FAR AS CLEAR EAST/WEST
ROUTES, UNTIL THE 1880s.

THEY, THEREFORE, HAVE TO GO
THIS LONG ROUTE

UP ON THE CHISHOLM TRAIL.

Hardin: THE CHISHOLM TRAIL
BECAME MY ROAD TO FREEDOM,

220 MILES OF LAWLESS LANDSCAPE,

BETWEEN THE CATTLE FARMS
OF TEXAS

AND THE BEEF MARKET
IN ABILENE, KANSAS.

IT WAS A PERFECT COVER
FOR A MAN ON THE RUN.

Parsons: TYPICALLY,
DURING THE CATTLE-DRIVING ERA,

LAWMEN LEFT THE CATTLE DRIVES
ALONE.

THEY DID NOT WANT TO
GO MESS WITH

TRYING TO TAKE ONE HERDER
OUT OF THE MIX,

SO HARDIN BASICALLY LOST HIMSELF
IN THE CATTLE DRIVE.

IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS WORK
FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

JUST, PHYSICALLY,
YOU ARE MOVING,

PERHAPS, THOUSANDS OF HEAD
OF CATTLE.

COWBOYS COULD BE KILLED
IN A STAMPEDE.

THEY COULD BE KILLED
BY NATIVE AMERICANS.

IT'S A PERFECT PLACE TO BE,
THOUGH, IF YOU'RE AN OUTLAW,

BECAUSE YOU'RE CONSTANTLY
ON THE MOVE.

IT'S VERY HARD FOR AUTHORITIES
TO CATCH UP WITH YOU.

Hardin:
TRAIL LIFE SUITED ME JUST FINE.

THE WORK COULD BE HARD,

BUT I WAS FAR FROM THE REACH
OF BOUNTY HUNTERS AND LAWMEN,

AND I WAS FREE TO DO
AS I PLEASED.

THE RIDE TO ABILENE
TAKES TWO TO THREE MONTHS,

AT POINTS PASSING
THROUGH TERRITORIES

STILL CONTROLLED BY INDIANS.

HEY, GIP.

YEAH?

GO SEE WHAT THEY WANT.

YOU GOT IT.

WHAT Y'ALL WANT?

YOU.

[ LAUGHS ]

Roth: SOMETIMES THE INDIANS
WOULD CHARGE A TAX.

IT WAS YOUR CHOICE
AS A CATTLEMAN, AS A COWBOY,

TO PAY IT.

SOME PAID, SOME DIDN'T.

NOT SURPRISINGLY,
JOHN WESLEY HARDIN DID NOT.

THEY WANT 10 CENTS A HEAD
FOR THAT CATTLE.

10 CENTS, HUH?

SO, GIVE IT TO 'EM,
BOYS.

Hardin: THE INDIANS THREATENED
TO START KILLING CATTLE

IF WE DIDN'T PAY UP.

BUT WE SETTLED THAT ACCOUNT
RIGHT QUICK.

[ GUNSHOT ]

WE MADE AN EXAMPLE
OF THE LEADER,

AND LET THE OTHERS LIVE
TO SPREAD THE WORD.

Roth: JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

IN THE ODD WAY THAT
HE PIECED THINGS TOGETHER,

FIGURED, "I LEAVE YOU
WITH A WARNING TO OTHERS

THAT THIS IS WHAT AWAITS YOU."

SO, THIS IS THE WAY
HE SAW THINGS

IN THE STRANGE WORLD
OF JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

HERE'S THE 10 CENTS.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Lawrence:
HE'S TURNING PEOPLE'S THREATS
BACK ON THEM A LITTLE BIT.

HE HAS KIND OF THIS FLAIR
HE PUTS INTO STUFF.

AND AGAIN,
THAT'S THAT THE WHOLE IDEA

THAT HE JUST THINKS
HE'S SO SPECIAL.

[ MAN GRUNTS ]

[ MAN SHOUTS ]

[ GUNSHOTS ]

Hardin: AFTER THE INDIANS,

WE ENCOUNTERED
ANOTHER BAND OF MISCREANTS,

THIS TIME MEXICAN COWBOYS INTENT
ON SKIMMING FROM OUR HERD.

WHAT THE HELL, JOHN?

DAMN LIAR SAID THAT WE DROVE
OUR HERD INTO THEIRS.

IT WAS THEM
WHO DONE IT TO US, BOYS.

WE BEST KEEP WATCH TONIGHT.

I KILLED FIVE MEN THAT NIGHT.

AFTER THAT,
THE NAME JOHN WESLEY HARDIN

WAS THE TALK OF THE TRAIL.

[ LAUGHTER ]

COWBOYS WHO'D HEARD OF ME

WOULD STOP BY OUR CAMP AT NIGHT
JUST TO SHAKE MY HAND.

HE'D ALREADY KILLED
AT LEAST A DOZEN MEN

BY THE TIME HE REACHED ABILENE.

HE WAS VERY PROUD
OF HIS REPUTATION.

Hardin:
AS WE GOT CLOSE TO ABILENE,

THE TALK TURNED
TO A CERTAIN LEGENDARY LAWMAN

WHO MIGHT BE
WAITING FOR US THERE.

Lawrence:
THEY KNEW WILD BILL HICKOK
WAS THE MARSHAL THERE.

Roth: WILD BILL HICKOK
WAS A LEGEND IN THE WEST,

AND SO THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT
WHAT THEY WOULD DO

WHEN THEY FOUND HIM.

THEY WERE ALL THIRSTING
FOR THIS POSSIBLE ENCOUNTER

BETWEEN WILD BILL HICKOK
AND JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

YOU KNOW, JOHN,
SHOOTING MEXICANS

AIN'T THE SAME AS FACING UP
TO BILL HICKOK.

MAYBE NOT...

BUT IT'LL END
THE SAME WAY.

YEAH!
[ LAUGHTER ]

BOYS, I SAY WE PAINT THE TOWN
OF ABILENE RED.

[ LAUGHTER CONTINUES ]

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

Hardin:
BY THE TIME MY COUSINS AND I
ARRIVED IN ABILENE, KANSAS

IN JUNE OF '71,
MY NAME, JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

WAS UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED
THERE,

THANKS TO MY INFAMOUS RUN-INS
WITH MEXICANS AND INDIANS

ON MY WAY UP FROM TEXAS.

ABILENE WAS THE END
OF THE CATTLE DRIVE,

WHERE WE GOT PAID, GOT DRUNK,

AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHER
ROWDY COWBOYS DOING THE SAME.

THESE GUYS HAD NEVER
SEEN PAYDAYS LIKE THIS,

THESE COWBOYS.

AND AS SOON AS
THEY GOT TO TOWN --

THEY'D BEEN ON THE TRAIL
FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS,

IN SOME CASES,

AND THEY WERE READY,
REALLY, TO, YOU KNOW, GO CRAZY.

Bell: YOU HAVE TEXAS
CONFEDERATES -- EX-CONFEDERATES,

COMING UP THE TRAIL
AND LANDING IN KANSAS COW TOWNS,

WHERE MOST OF THE PEOPLE
WHO OWNED THE BUILDINGS

AND RAN THE PLACES WERE YANKEES.

THAT'S JUST A RECIPE
FOR FISTICUFFS, IF NOT MORE.

Woman: HEY, HUSH UP, Y'ALL.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE SOMETHING.

Hardin:
ABILENE HAD JUST HIRED A NEW
MARSHAL TO HELP KEEP THE PEACE.

HE HAD A NAME WE ALL KNEW...

WHOO.
GO BILL!

...AND A LEGEND WE WERE EAGER
TO PUT TO THE TEST.

HICKOK WAS AN INCREDIBLE MAN
OF ACTION,

AND HE WAS ENGAGED
IN REMARKABLE DERRING-DO

DURING THE PERIOD
RIGHT AROUND THE CIVIL WAR.

Gomber:
WILD BILL LOOKED THE PART.

HE HAD LONG, FLOWING HAIR.

HE WAS TALL AND HANDSOME.

EVERYBODY WAS IMPRESSED
BY WILD BILL HICKOK.

Hutton:
AND, OF COURSE, BECAUSE HE HAD
A REPUTATION AS A MAN-KILLER.

AND BECAUSE
HE WAS ON THE FRONTIER

IN VERY DANGEROUS COMMUNITIES,

HE WAS CONSTANTLY
BEING CHALLENGED.

Hardin:
A SALOON OWNER NAMED PHIL COE

HAD A GRUDGE AGAINST WILD BILL.

COE KNEW MY REPUTATION,
OF COURSE,

SO HE ASKED ME
TO SOLVE HIS PROBLEM.

CAN'T HAVE WILD BILL
COMING IN HERE.

I'M TIRED OF IT.
WON'T DO.

I AIN'T DOING ANYBODY'S KILLING
NOW EXCEPT MY OWN.

THINK ABOUT IT, JOHN.

WE'LL MAKE IT
WORTH YOUR WHILE.

IF WILD BILL NEEDS KILLING,
WHY DON'T YOU KILL HIM YOURSELF?

NOW, I'D HAVE BEEN HAPPY
TO PUT HICKOK IN THE GROUND,

BUT I'M NOT ONE
TO DO ANOTHER MAN'S BIDDING.

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN
WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS REPUTATION

AS A TOUGH GUY,

BUT HE SEEMED TO BE IN AWE
OF HICKOK.

THEY MET ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

SHE WAS UGLIER
THAN A THREE-EYED FROG.

MAN.

Roth: THERE WAS A LAW
THAT WAS ENFORCED

THAT YOU COULDN'T
WEAR YOUR GUNS INTO TOWN,

AND JOHN WESLEY HARDIN
REFUSED TO GO ALONG WITH THIS.

I THINK HE WAS JUST TRYING
TO GET A RISE OUT OF HICKOK

TO SEE WHAT HE WOULD DO.

YOU DO KNOW
THERE'S AN ORDINANCE

AGAINST GOING ABOUT ARMED,
DON'T YOU?

LET'S HAVE 'EM.

AS HE WAS REACHING
FOR MY PISTOLS,

I REVERSED
AND WHIRLED 'EM UP OVER ON HIM,

MUZZLES IN HIS FACE, AND SPRANG
BACK AT THE SAME TIME.

Parsons: IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY,

HE WRITES
WHERE HE PULLS HIS PISTOLS OUT

TO HAND OVER TO HICKOK AND THEN
FLIPS THEM IN SUCH A WAY

THAT HE NOW COVERS HICKOK.

WHAT WE WOULD CALL
THE ROAD AGENT'S SPIN,

WHERE HE GOT THE DROP
ON WILD BILL.

TAKE 'EM IF YOU DARE,
LONG-HAIRED SCOUNDREL.

AND WILD BILL WILTED.

WHAT DO YOU SAY WE, UH,
COMPROMISE ON THIS MATTER,

AND I WILL BE YOUR FRIEND.

AND TO CELEBRATE
OUR FRIENDSHIP,

ALLOW ME TO BUY YOU
AND YOUR FRIENDS A DRINK.

IT'S A GREAT STORY OF TWO
VERY FAMOUS WESTERN CHARACTERS.

IT MIGHT WELL, THOUGH, HAVE
ENDED IN ONE OF THEM BEING DEAD.

Hardin: I WAS HAVING
SUCH A GOOD TIME IN ABILENE,

I DIDN'T KILL ANOTHER MAN THERE
FOR ALMOST A MONTH.

BUT NO HONEYMOON LASTS FOREVER.

IS IT TRUE YOU KILLED SEVEN MEN
JUST FOR SNORING, JOHN?

OH, THERE'S LOTS OF LIES
TOLD ABOUT ME.

TRUTH IS, I ONLY KILLED ONE MAN
FOR SNORING.

[ SNORING ]

Parsons: ONE NIGHT, HE AND ONE
OF THE CLEMENTS BROTHERS,

THEY'D PROBABLY
BEEN DRINKING ABILENE WHISKEY,

AND THE MAN NEXT DOOR
IS SNORING.

Roth:
JOHN WESLEY HARDIN, OF COURSE,
HAS VERY POOR IMPULSE CONTROL,

AND SO, IN ORDER
TO SHUT THIS GUY UP,

HE DECIDED TO FIRE A COUPLE
OF WARNING SHOTS

THROUGH THE VERY THIN WALLS
THAT SEPARATED THEM.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

AND THEN IT WAS DEAD SILENCE.

JOHN,
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND, MAN?

HE WAS KEEPING ME UP.

[ FOOTSTEPS APPROACH,
DOOR OPENS ]

[ WOMAN CRIES ]

WILD BILL HICKOK'S GETTING US
NOW FOR SURE.

YEP.

DO YOU EVER KNOW
WHEN TO CALM DOWN?

NOT NOW, JOHN.
NOT NOW.

Roth:
KNOWING WILD BILL HICKOK,

HE KNEW THAT THE BETTER PART
OF VALOR WAS TO FLEE.

Hutton: SO, HE SKIPPED OUT
OF ABILENE IN HIS NIGHTSHIRT.

GIP,
FORGOT YOUR DAMN CLOTHES!

Hardin: AND JUST LIKE,
I WAS ON THE RUN AGAIN.

BUT IT WASN'T LONG
BEFORE TROUBLE CAUGHT UP.

BACK HOME IN TEXAS,
IT WAS I WHO TOOK A BULLET,

FROM THE GUN
OF A NO-GOOD CHEATING CARD SHARK

BY THE NAME OF PHIL SUBLETT.

Roth:
JOHN WESLEY HARDIN LOST,

AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN JOHN WESLEY HARDIN LOSES.

THEY GET INTO THIS DISAGREEMENT,
HARDIN SLAPS PHIL SUBLETT,

KIND OF PUSHES HIM AROUND.

Hardin: YOU CAN GUESS BY NOW
HOW I TRIED TO SETTLE THE SCORE,

BUT THAT SON OF A BITCH
PUMPED ME FULL OF BUCKSHOT,

AND THEN TURNED TAIL AND RAN.

Lawrence:
HE HITS HARDIN THE SIDE,

AND SOME OF THE SHOTGUN PELLETS
END UP NICKING HIS KIDNEYS.

[ GRUNTS ]

IT LOOKED, IN FACT, FOR A LITTLE
WHILE, AS IF HE MIGHT DIE.

Hardin: I WAS ALIVE,
BUT TOO WEAK TO KEEP RUNNING.

AND THE LAW
WAS RIGHT ON MY HEELS.

SO I TURNED MYSELF IN
TO A FRIENDLY SHERIFF,

WHO WAS HAPPY TO COLLECT
THE BOUNTY ON MY HEAD

AND SPLIT IT WITH ME.

HIS CRONIES
ALSO HELPED ME ESCAPE,

LOOKING THE OTHER WAY
WHEN MY COUSIN SMUGGLED IN A SAW

SO I COULD CUT MY WAY
THROUGH THE WINDOW BARS.

ONCE AGAIN, I WAS IN CONTROL
OF MY OWN DESTINY.

I COULD DO ANYTHING.

I WAS ABOVE THE LAW.

I THOUGHT NOTHING AND NO ONE

COULD BRING DOWN
JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

BUT THAT WAS BEFORE
THE RANGERS CAME CALLING,

AND MADE ME THE TARGET

OF THE BIGGEST MANHUNT
IN TEXAS HISTORY.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

Hardin: MAY 26th OF 1874
WAS MY 21st BIRTHDAY.

I HAD PLENTY TO CELEBRATE.

I'D ESCAPED THE LAW YET AGAIN,

AND FOUND REFUGE AMONG FRIENDS
AND FAMILY UP IN COMANCHE.

Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT LITTLE
MUSKRAT-LOOKING BARKEEP?

Roth: HE WAS LUCKY HE HAD
THIS WHOLE TRAIL OF RELATIVES

ACROSS PARTS OF THE SOUTH
AND PARTS OF TEXAS

THAT HE COULD STAY WITH
FROM TIME TO TIME

THAT WOULD HIDE HIM.

SO, I SOLD A MAN A HORSE
THE OTHER DAY.

Man: YEAH.
DRUNK.

AND I DON'T ME,
I MEAN THE HORSE.

Hardin: BUT THIS WOULD PROVE
TO BE THE LAST BIRTHDAY

I SHARED WITH MY KIN,
BECAUSE THE NEXT MORNING,

I WAS THE TARGET OF THE LARGEST
MANHUNT IN TEXAS HISTORY.

I'D COME BACK HOME
WITH THE TAYLOR BOYS,

WHOSE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE
I'D BEEN A PART OF

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

AND THEY PAID ME WELL
TO KEEP THE NAME

JOHN WESLEY HARDIN
ON THEIR SIDE.

WE HAD NO TROUBLE STAYING AHEAD
OF THE LAW, AT FIRST.

BUT THAT CHANGED
WHEN A GROUP OF CATTLE RANCHERS,

WHOSE HERDS
WE'D BEEN STEALING FROM,

RESOLVED TO BREAK UP OUR GANG
ONCE AND FOR ALL.

DEPUTY CHARLES WEBB
WAS ONE OF THE POOR SOULS

CHARGED WITH CARRYING OUT
THE ORDER.

[ LAUGHTER ]

JOHN, JOHN.

2:00. 2:00.

Roth: WEBB HAD A VERY GOOD
REPUTATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

HE WAS AN UPRIGHT, HONEST GUY.

HE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE INVOLVED
IN ANY TYPE OF CORRUPTION,

AND JOHN WESLEY HARDIN
HAD A FEELING

THAT THIS GUY
WAS LOOKING FOR HIM.

HARDIN WAS WITH
A GROUP OF FRIENDS.

THEY'D BEEN DRINKING ALL DAY.

AND WEBB CAME WALKING UP
WITH ONE HAND BEHIND HIS BACK.

WHAT YOU GOT
BEHIND YOUR BACK?

AH, JUST THIS.

DEPUTY WEBB, RIGHT?

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

HAVE YOU ANY PAPERS
FOR MY ARREST?

I DON'T KNOW YOU.

Lawrence: WEBB BACKS AWAY.

HE DIDN'T COME TO TOWN
FOR ANY TROUBLE,

AND HE TRIES TO EXTRACT HIMSELF
FROM THE SITUATION.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]

THE NAME'S
JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

WELL, UH, NOW I KNOW YA,

BUT I AIN'T GOT NO PAPERS
FOR YOUR ARREST.

[ CHUCKLES ]

WELL, I'VE BEEN INFORMED
THAT THE SHERIFF OF BROWN COUNTY

IS SEEKING MY ARREST.

THE GUNS WENT OFF AS ONE.

Gomber: WEBB'S BULLET
HIT HARDIN IN THE SIDE.

AND THEN HARDIN AND HIS FRIENDS
OPEN UP.

Gomber: AS WEBB WENT DOWN,

HARDIN'S BUDDIES
PUMP MORE BULLETS INTO HIM,

SO HE WAS DEAD
WHEN HE HIT THE FLOOR.

CHARLIE WEBB
DROPPED TO THE GROUND

WEIGHING A LOT MORE
THAN HE DID IN LIFE,

BECAUSE HE WAS FILLED WITH LEAD.

Hardin:
I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME,

BUT THAT WAS THE KILLING
THAT DID ME IN.

Man: JOHN,
YOU JUST SHOT A GOOD MAN.

YOU'RE GONNA BURN
IN HELL!

Man 2: COME ON, BOYS.
LET'S GO. GO, GO.

THAT WAS THE FIRECRACKER
THAT BLEW UP ON COMPLACENCY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GENERALLY FELT

THAT HARDIN
NEEDED TO BE MADE TO BE PAY

FOR THE KILLING OF CHARLIE WEBB.

HARDIN DOESN'T REALIZE
THAT THE WIND'S BLOWING

IN A LITTLE BIT
OF A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

PEOPLE WERE NOT GOING TO STAND
FOR THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE

THAT HE WAS USED TO ANYMORE.

Hardin: BY THIS TIME,
THE OCCUPYING YANKEE FORCES

HAD PULLED OUT OF TEXAS.

THERE WAS EVEN A REBEL
BACK IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION,

RICHARD COKE,
A FORMER CONFEDERATE.

SO, PEOPLE STARTED
TO LOSE THEIR STOMACH

FOR VIOLENCE AND REBELLION,

AND CONSEQUENTLY,
THEIR FONDNESS FOR MEN LIKE ME,

WHO LIVE BY OUR OWN LAWS.

TEXAS WAS MOVING TOWARDS,
YOU KNOW,

MODERNIZATION AND PUBLIC ORDER,

INDUSTRIALIZATION
AND THINGS LIKE THIS,

BEING DRAWN INTO
THE NATIONAL ECONOMY.

AND PEOPLE
LIKE JOHN WESLEY HARDIN

WERE A DETRIMENT TO THIS.

THEIR POSITION AS OUTLAWS
DEFENDING THE CONFEDERACY

REALLY WAS A MOOT POINT.

Lawrence:
HE CAN KIND OF GET AWAY WITH IT.

HE CAN SPIN IT AS HIM
STRIKING BACK AGAINST YANKEES.

WELL, NOW THE WAR HAS BEEN OVER
FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS.

HOW LONG
ARE WE GONNA GO AFTER YANKEES?

Parsons: GOVERNOR COKE
CREATES THE FRONTIER BATTALION,

WHICH IS WHAT WE KNOW
AS THE TEXAS RANGERS.

Alexander:
THE RANGERS GET CALLED IN.

THEY STARTED BEATING THE BRUSH
FOR JOHN WESLEY HARDIN.

HARDIN REALIZED THEN THAT HE WAS
GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

HE WAS BEING CHASED LIKE
A WET RAT ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Hardin:
I HAD SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE

RUNNING FROM ONE LAWMAN
OR ANOTHER,

AND NEVER THOUGHT MUCH OF IT.

BUT NOW, I WAS TRULY HUNTED.

Parsons: HE HAD, BY NOW,
A $4,000 REWARD OFFERED FOR HIM,

AND IN THE 1870s,
THIS WAS A HUGE AMOUNT.

Hardin: TEXAS RANGERS,
BOUNTY HUNTERS, AND PINKERTONS

WERE ALL ON MY TAIL,
EAGER TO CASH IN ON MY CAPTURE.

BUT I STAYED
ONE STEP AHEAD OF THEM ALL.

Alexander: NOBODY KNEW
WHERE JOHN WESLEY HARDIN WAS.

Hardin: AND WHEN THE BASTARDS
COULDN'T CATCH ME,

THEY WENT AFTER
MY FLESH AND BLOOD.

Roth: THE SAD THING ABOUT ALL
OF THIS IS IN THE AFTERMATH,

HIS BROTHER,
WHO WAS LIVING NEARBY,

JOSEPH, HIS OLDER BROTHER,

WHO WAS A LAWYER
AND HAD AN OFFICE IN TOWN,

AND TWO OF HIS COUSINS,
WERE ARRESTED AND PUT INTO JAIL.

AND THE MOB
EVENTUALLY WOULD TAKE OUT

THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS
AND HANG THEM.

HANG THEM!

YOU BURN IN HELL!

ENJOY HELL.

BURN!

BURN!

BURN!

BURN!

Roth: JOHN WESLEY HARDIN DOESN'T
SAY A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THIS.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT
THE GUILT OR THE REMORSE.

YOU GOT TO BE SURE
THAT HE'S, YOU KNOW, REALLY SAD

BECAUSE HE WAS VERY TIGHT
WITH EVERYBODY IN HIS FAMILY.

Lawrence: HARDIN CERTAINLY
REALIZED THAT COULD BE HIM.

HE NEEDED TO
GET OUT OF THE STATE.

IT WAS BECOMING TOO DANGEROUS
FOR HIM.

HE'S BEING PURSUED RELENTLESSLY.

Hardin:
I THOUGHT IF I HID OUT
IN FLORIDA FOR A WHILE,

THE HUNT WOULD DIE DOWN
AND I COULD GO ABOUT LIVING.

BUT IT SEEMS
I MAY HAVE UNDERESTIMATED

THE RESOLVE AND THE
RESOURCEFULNESS OF MY PURSUERS.

Gomber: HE WROTE A LETTER
TO HIS FAMILY BACK IN TEXAS.

WELL, AN UNDERCOVER OPERATIVE
FOR THE TEXAS RANGERS

INTERCEPTED THE LETTER.

THE MAN WE SEEK
IS IN FLORIDA,

GOING BY THE ALIAS
JOHN SWAIN.

ALL RIGHT, HARDIN.
TIME TO GO BACK TO TEXAS.

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ GUNSHOT ]

Hardin: FOR NINE YEARS,
I, JOHN WESLEY HARDIN,

HAD LIVED ON MY OWN TERMS.

UNBRIDLED, UNAPOLOGETIC,
AND FREE.

BUT MAINTAINING MY FREEDOM HAD
COST MANY ENEMIES THEIR LIVES,

AND THE LAW WAS DETERMINED
THAT I SHOULD ATONE

FOR WHAT THEY CALLED MY SINS.

SAID HE'D BE HERE.

IS HE?

THAT'S HIM.

HE GOES BY JOHN SWAIN.

IF HE'S NOT ON THAT TRAIN,
I'LL END YOUR MISERY RIGHT HERE.

OKAY.

LET'S GO IN ON THREE,
BOYS.

I LEFT TEXAS
TO ESCAPE THE RANGERS,

BUT THREE YEARS LATER,

THEY TRACKED ME DOWN
IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.

Man: PUT YOUR HANDS
WHERE WE CAN SEE 'EM!

STICK YOUR HANDS UP,
YOU SON OF A BITCH!

EVENING, GENTLEMEN.

THAT WAS ONE TIME
I WANTED TO DIE BUT COULD NOT.

MR. SWAIN, IS IT?

ALL RIGHT, HARDIN.
TIME TO GO BACK TO TEXAS.

STOP STRUGGLING, JOHN.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING LOOSE
THIS TIME.

TEXAS, MY GOD.

JOHN, IT'S TIME.

Hardin:
I NEVER KNEW FROM DAY TO DAY

WHETHER MY INCARCERATION
WOULD END WITH DEATH OR FREEDOM.

Roth: THERE'S A DUNGEON
THAT, TO THIS VERY DAY,

IS STILL THERE
AT THE HUNTSVILLE WALLS UNIT

THAT HE WAS PUT
IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

IT'S ABOUT 6 FEET BY 6 FEET.

VERY MEDIEVAL REALLY, YOU KNOW,
AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT.

Lawrence:
HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO ESCAPE,

AND FELLOW CONVICTS
WERE ALWAYS TURNING HIM IN

AND TELLING THE AUTHORITIES
WHAT HE WAS PLANNING.

BUT HE DOES SEEM TO SETTLE DOWN,
AT LEAST,

AFTER THE FIRST FEW YEARS.

HE HAD A LAWYER
WHO IS CONSTANTLY WORKING

ON TRYING TO GET HIM PARDONED,
TRYING TO GET HIM PAROLED.

Hardin:
I HAD SPENT 16 YEARS IN A CAGE.

NOW, AT 40 YEARS OLD,
I WAS PAROLED

AND RETURNED TO THE WORLD WITH A
CLEAN SLATE AND A SECOND CHANCE.

SOME PEOPLE WERE CONVINCED THAT
PERHAPS HE'D TURNED A CORNER.

OTHERS WERE NOT SO SURE.
DOES A LEOPARD CHANGE HIS SPOTS?

Lawrence:
THERE'S A LOT OF LETTERS HE GETS
UPON THE TIME OF HIS RELEASE

THAT SAY THAT, "WE HOPE
YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE
THAT YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL."

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF HOPE
THAT MAYBE HE WILL HAVE CHANGED

BY VIRTUE OF ALL THESE YEARS.

Hardin: AT HUNTSVILLE,
I HAD EARNED A LAW DEGREE

AND PASSED THE TEXAS STATE BAR.

JOHN HARDIN, OUTLAW,
WAS NOW JOHN HARDIN, ESQUIRE.

HARDIN COULD NEVER GET
HIS LAW BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND

'CAUSE PEOPLE
WERE STILL TERRIFIED OF HIM.

BACK WHEN HE WAS AT LARGE,
WOMEN HAD TOLD THEIR CHILDREN,

"BE GOOD
OR WES HARDIN WILL GET YA."

SO, HE WAS THE BOOGEYMAN.

Parsons: HARDIN GOES WEST,

AND ULTIMATELY ENDS UP
IN EL PASO,

WHERE HE RETURNS
TO THE OLD HABITS OF HIS YOUTH,

DRINKING, GAMBLING,
THIS WILD LIFESTYLE.

Hardin:
IN EL PASO, I RESOLVE TO FINISH
A PROJECT I'D BEGUN IN PRISON --

TELLING MY OWN STORY.

Parsons:
HE HAD TIME TO THINK ABOUT,

"HOW DO I WANT TO PRESENT MYSELF
TO THE READING PUBLIC,

TO POSTERITY?"

AT THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE,
HE'S PROBABLY THINKING,

"I WAS BEING A PATRIOT."

Lawrence: HARDIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY
REALLY CEMENTS HIS LEGEND

BECAUSE IT'S HIS JUSTIFICATION
FOR EVERYTHING HE DOES.

AND THE WAY HE TALKS ABOUT IT,

EVERY SINGLE TIME HE KILLED
SOMEONE, THEY DESERVED IT.

Gomber:
HARDIN ADMITTED TO 27 HOMICIDES
IN HIS REMARKABLE AUTOBIOGRAPHY,

BUT MOST HISTORIANS
PUT THE NUMBER AT 40 TO 42,

WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

TRUE, IT IS ALMOST AS BAD
TO KILL AS TO BE KILLED.

IT DROVE MY FATHER
TO AN EARLY GRAVE,

KILLED MY BROTHER AND COUSINS,

TO SAY NOTHING OF THE GRIEF
OF COUNTLESS OTHERS.

I DO SAY, HOWEVER, THAT THE MAN
WHO DOES NOT EXERCISE

THE FIRST LAW OF NATURE,
THAT OF SELF-PRESERVATION,

IS NOT WORTHY OF LIVING AND
BREATHING THE BREATH OF LIFE.

Roth: CLEARLY,
HARDIN WAS ON THE SKIDS.

HE WAS DRINKING TOO MUCH.

AND FINALLY, ON AUGUST 1895,

HE WAS IN THE ALMOST DESERTED
ACME SALOON,

WHICH IS STILL IN EL PASO,

AND JOHN SELMAN
CAME THROUGH THE DOOR.

NOW, JOHN SELMAN
WAS A CONSTABLE,

AND HAD BEEN, REALLY,
AN OUTLAW FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE

THROUGHOUT THE WEST.

Alexander:
HARDIN MADE SOME REMARKS
ABOUT JOHN SELMAN'S SON,

SO SELMAN KILLED HIM.

Lawrence: THE PAST, REALLY,
FINALLY CATCHES UP WITH HIM

WHEN HE LEAST EXPECTS IT.

AND SO, I THINK THAT THAT'S
REALLY WHAT HIS DEATH SAYS

IS THAT LIVE BY THE SWORD,
YOU'RE GONNA DIE BY THE SWORD.

Roth:
IF YOU PUT JOHN WESLEY HARDIN

IN THE PANTHEON
OF WESTERN GUNFIGHTERS,

HE'S SURELY
AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

Gomber:
RIGHT OR WRONG, HE WAS, I THINK,

THE MOST LETHAL OF ALL
THE SHOOTISTS IN THE OLD WEST.

AND HE WAS POSSIBLY
ONE OF THE MORE HONORABLE, TOO.

HE BELIEVED
IN FACING HIS OPPONENTS.

RARELY, IF EVER, DID HE SHOOT
SOMEONE FROM BEHIND.

Alexander:
THERE WAS NO PLAYBOOK.

THERE'S NO RULE BOOK.

HE LIVED IN THE MOMENT.

WHEN HE AWAKENED ON WEDNESDAY,

HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GONNA
HAPPEN ON THURSDAY.

HE'D PULL OUT HIS GUN AND SOLVE
HIS PROBLEM AND RIDE OFF,

AND WORRY ABOUT THE NEXT DAY
WHEN THE SUN CAME UP.