Original subtitles

Along the Kansas rivers,the Texas Plains a frontier has been the land of the cattlemen.

Towns have grown up where settlement settled.

Trade and finally raise.

Building Westward into the grass.

We haven't followed the railroad West from Santa Fe into this New Mexico's desert to open a frontier.

We've been looking for good land short grass country close to the rails.

That's where the profit is.

I found it here, we're gonna take it all we need.

Well, that's the picture, boys.

Start moving our cattle down from the benches into the valley.

Not too fast, crowd them just enough to build up enough pressure.

- We got plenty of time. - Then why waste it?

Pete Lynch and the rest of 'em on Willow Creek will fight before they'll run.

Why not get it over now?

We're not gonna spend bullets till nothing else works.

Remember that, all of you.

We're building big and we're building solid with no ghosts to turn up later.

"Building big" in the middle of nowhere.

I'm your brother and I'm your partner and I got a right to some say in how you run this outfit.

Alright, go ahead and say it.

Building a ranch is only part of the plan.

We've gotta be on that railroad when it comes through.

But look where you've got us located.

20 miles South of the survey line.

20 miles ain't so far.

We'll be at the survey line by the time rails are laid down.

- Twenty miles is a lotta land. - Not for me.

You'll all understand what to do. Start moving the beef in.

Hey, kid.

'You better take it easy.'

'We had something like this started in Texas once.'

Lost it getting you out of a scrape.

That ain't gonna happen again.

Use your head instead of your gun or we're through.

Play it quiet, my way.

You'll die a rich man.

And if I don't?

I reckon, you'll just die.

Jack and me are gonna work the bench above Charlie Bissel's store. Better ride with us.

Ain't the two of you enough to run the beef on that bench yourselves?

Oh, it ain't that.

You just look like you could use a drink.

Bissel's got some mighty good whiskey.

When I want anything from you or from any of you guys I'll ask for it.

Spits poison, don't he?

Yeah, sidewinders is like that.

So fast, they strike at anything.

Roll a rock toward 'em and I'm gonna knock his brains out against it.

He shoots of his mouth once more

I'm gonna roll a rock towards him.

Yeah, forget it.

The kid riles Hal as much as he does us but he still Hal's brother.

Anything happened to Randee,Hal would never let up till he'd even the score.

I'm about fed up on this job anyway.

There's nothing in it for us.

Now, I ain't so sure.

Got an idea, Jack.

C'mon, let's get outta here.

Hey, Les..

...you said you had an idea.

Yeah.

Ain't you sorta tired of sweating to build up an other man's ranch?

I'm listening.

Yeah, we could start a spread of our own.

I know a good spot North of here where the land is cheap and the grass is long.

It takes money to buy land.

Sure it does and I know just where to get it.

Bissel's safe is full of cash.

'Stage won't be picking it up till Wednesday.'

He's apt to put up a fight.

Well, you've been in fights before.

Wait for me over in that draw.

I'll ride down and take a look.

Stranger, aren't you?

Looks like you've come a long ways.

Texas, maybe?

Santa Fe.

Well, it's a good country,if you aim to stop off here.

Might.

You know, a man that don't talk much, well, he's either runnin' away from trouble or he don't aim to get into any.

Yeah.

A man that talks as little as you do.

Well, he shouldn't have no need for them guns.

Sometimes they are handy.

Well, we're are in luck,there's a drifter in business. made to order for us.

Bissel's enough to handle it.

Look, we want an alibi, this is it.

You go in and pick a fight with that--

Wait a minute, I'm not handling this job alone.

You don't have to,I'll be by the door.

You'll take care of both of 'em?

Well, not Bissel,we don't want him dead.

You just sorta knock him out.

Then when he comes to,he'll have to blame his empty safe on the dead drifter.

Sure, and I suppose Bissel will forget us even in his place, huh?

Yeah, well, he'll wanna ask questions, alright.

But we won't be around to answer him.

You'd be a bad man,Les, if you had to stand to tackle the tough end of a job yourself.

This is the last time I'll do your sweating for you.

Eh, c'mon, let's go.

- Howdy? - Give me a drink.

I'll be with you in a minute.

Hey, uh, don't I know you?

I doubt it.

Now I get it. Seen you on some dodgers.

Cracked the bank in Abilene. Shot the marshal.

Mister, you're crazy.

Are you callin' me a liar?

The shoe fits, wear it.

Hey, you wait a minute.

Got him just in time.

- For who? - You.

- Ha. - He'd have nailed you sure.

You wasted your powder.

He'd never have touched me.

Well, add it up anyway you want but you and me better hightail it outta here.

That bartender comes to,he's gonna remember you were tangling with this one.

And I won't be around to swear you didn't put a slug in him from behind.

That's horse sense.

This rut in the mud ain't no paradise but I was figuring on eating before I moved on.

If you can show me the chuck wagon in less than a day's ride from here, I'll drift wit you.

Alright, I, uh..

I left my horse out the back in the shade.

You don't mind bringing him around, I'll see what I can do for this gent with the busted head.

He ain't hurt bad. Starting to come around already.

You're pretty cheerful for a gent that just made somebody a nasty job of grave digging.

Uh-huh, ain't no sense in lettin' another man's trouble spoil a day for me.

By the way, my name is Les McCambridge.

Well, what's yours?

Llewellyn, Steve Llewellyn.

'Where you from, Llewellyn?'

Santa Fe.

If you're so happy,why don't you try singing?

Couldn't be any worse than your whistling.

Talkative, aren't you?

First, I gotta find you chuck wagon now you want me to amuse you.

I doubt if I'd be amused.

You better tell me why you killed that man back there.

I... I've never seen him before.

You can't whistle and you lie worse.

I saw you in the doorway when he started climbing.

I don't like being pushed around as a blue chip in somebody else's game.

You don't wanna talk? Let it go at that.

'Beautiful.'

Sure is a beautiful country.

'Sharon.'

Found this horse at the ford.

It's alright, Pete. A stranger and he's badly hurt.

Turn the horses in the corral.

- How long has he been here? - Half an hour.

Onu s�rt�nda bir kur�unla buldum.

He's come a long way with it. He's sleeping now.

Unloaded, you handled 'em?

Dried it, they where wet.

No brand on his horse and no smell of powder in his guns.

I hope he can talk.

I told you he was sleeping, Pete.

He ain't sleeping, honey. He's unconscious. Out.

You mean, he's goin' to die?

With that hole through him, how ever sat saddle while he took that is beyond me.

You go by the color in the bleeding.

We're done, he's finished.

You wanna put a blue chip down on that?

Go away. I don't want a nurse with whiskers.

- Do you have water around? - Yes.

Good. Get me peroxide and a pair of scissors.

Piece of white clean clot that I can cut up and hand me what ever I want in a hurry.

Now, gotta work fast,now get the white cloth, honey.

'I want my clothes.'

Manuel, how long you think he's gonna stay here?

Who can tell?

Already, he's been here two weeks.

Well, he was very bad shot.

Ah, one little bullet.

'For the last time. Are you gonna let me have my clothes?'

No.

'Well, please,I wanna get outta here.'

He's already left for Bissel's.

Now, be quiet,you're not ready to get up yet.

Good heavens!

Get back into bed.

These are very good fit. I want to look at the sun.

Alright, but get back inside until I get your clothes.

If Diego or Manuel ever saw you like that you'd never live it down.

You're beautiful, even prettier than you were when--

I told you I'd poison you, Steve Llewellyn if you ever mention that day again.

Now go on.

Pete's back. Supper ready?

Get supper on, honey.

You look done in, Pete. What's up?

I just left Charlie Bissel,I tried to borrow some money to buy some of that rich grass I know of.

From where?

Up at Long Draw.

Up ahead waters of Willow Creek.

Year on water, scrub timber and grass like green gold.

- What did Bissel say? - He turned me down.

Said he's clean outta cash.

Why do you want more land for? You aren't running much stock.

That ain't for me. It's for her.

This place killed her mother.

It never was fit for a woman, never will be the way it is.

This grass at Long Draws is going to be worth something if I can get my hands on enough of it.

And then, maybe Sharon will get the things she's always wanted.

The things she's always dreamed about.

That's reason enough for me.

Get some bills stuffed to my saddle bag.

- Oh! It would take a lot of it. - I got a lot of it.

- You have? - Take a look.

Thirty-four hundred dollars is a lot of money, Steve.

Just what I needed.

You're full partner now.

Boys, you take orders from Steve just as you do from me.

I'll be back in three or four days when the county seals title to the Long Draw grass.

Pete, you be careful.

Sure, honey, you just see that Steve takes care of himself.

I'll take care of me, so long.

You shouldn't have let him go.

That leaves just you and me.

You heard what he said,I'm the boss.

Yeah, I heard, and all I know about you is the same I knew the day you came.

I couldn't read much in your face but something made me empty your guns when I dried them.

I never told Pete about the empty shell I found.

- Guns are made to be fired. - I know.

But that's all I know about you.

If you're worried why don't you run me off this place?

Somehow I can't.

Maybe we're both the same kind.

I reckon, I can't leave either.

Why are you staying, Steve?

You're the reason,you're not happy here.

"Happy"? Who is in this desert?

My dead mother, maybe.

This isn't a happy country.

It's wild and reckless and savage.

People weren't made to live like this.

I was.. It's a wild country, alright.

Maybe reckless... sorta wonderful, just the same.

There's room if nothing else.

Room is important.

A man's gonna grow, he needs it.

Woman too.

'Cooped up in a town,people just think whether they' threw a little shadow or a big shadow.

And they've gotta stack themselves up against the flat miles and the standing ridges 'and... wind running loose across half a county.'

'They get their size out where they can see it.'

That's something.

In town they take a man's guns off and put a Sunday suit on weekdays.

But his cussedness doesn't come off with his guns and his decency go in with his suit.

Out here storms come up.

When they've howled themselves out, the nights are quiet again.

Yes, the clean, free air.

That's right, freedom to stamp a snake if you run into one.

Men aren't diamondbacks.

Some are.

I'll never have anything to do with something that was bought with a gun.

You better call the boys up here.

Have 'em carry your things down to the shack.

Gonna stay alone in the house?

I hate being alone in this country.

Couldn't be that now that I'm back on my feet you're afraid of me.

I'm not afraid of any man alive,I never will be.

Always be a little bit afraid of everything.

Manuel, Diego, venga aqui.

You're giving out orders,seems to suit you.

Ms. Lynch wants you.

Alright, let's get this place cleaned up.

So, now we have to keep this sleeping place clean, huh?

Working in the saddle in not enough?

Maybe, Manuel and me we do not like a job with two bosses.

Specially since you have to sleep with one of them, huh?

You no like it at the boss house?

Uh, put it this way something at the boss house I like too well.

The little one, eh?

Tsk, tsk. What a great pity.

This country is no place for a woman who can fit into a small saddle.

Senor, sometimes she is so sad she break the heart of me and Diego who already have known too many women.

Too many? You don't look dead yet to me.

Pick me out a pony with a rocking chair gait and saddle him up.

A horse, senor? You're not a well man.

Well, like you're not dead either.

I wanna look at Long Draw grass the old man is buying for us.

Howdy?

I'm Hal Fenton.

This's my brother Randee.

We don't like strangers crawling in here.

Not very neighborly, are you?

- You're no neighbor of ours. - No.

I'm Pete Lynch's new partner, Steve Llewellyn.

You're tied in with old man Lynch permanent?

- That's my business. - We might make it ours.

What made you buy in with Lynch?

His girl maybe?

Maybe.

Women make a lotta trouble

when you trade for 'em.

I want this grass.

I'd have bought it but I was short of cash.

I'll give Pete a note for whatever price he pays for it.

I'll tell him.

Well, if you have any trouble making him believe it bring him out here when he gets back.

He'll have our beef grazing in here by then.

That oughta do it.

Get up on those rocks,take your rifles with you.

Hold it!

You're up early,aren't you, Llewellyn?

Had to be, figured you wouldn't waste any time.

What's this?

Qualification under the law.

It's the owner's duty to fence his land

Until he does,he's hold to trespass.

Trespass?

Is that Pete's answer to the offer I made you yesterday?

Mine, it's the same thing since Pete and I are partners now.

Pete never would have though of that.

What law are you talking about, Llewellyn?

You are the law in these ridges and so are we.

That ain't no fence,that's a scratch on the ground.

One step and we're over it.

Well, you're next and your cattle.

These is a pair of rifles up in those rocks To see whether our fence holds or not.

You've had your warning Llewellyn.

Now what good are those rifles with my gun in your belly?

Get the cattle movin', this Bucko's gonna stand still.

Those rifles will cut down anything that crosses this line regardless of what happens to me.

You haven't got a chance.

Put that iron up kid.

You've got us on the short end.

'It's your hand this time,Llewellyn.'

Remember something, kid.

There never was a fast enough gun if there wasn't a faster one somewhere.

Don't ever punch a gun in my belly again.

You should have taken my offer, Llewellyn.

If I do not see it,I do not believe it.

You turn back those lobos with their cattle.

But, uh, what we do now?

Put up a real fence so we don't have to hold the line of rifles.

So, we fight them from the benches, eh?

If that's what the Fentons want.

Our one chance is to go faster than they do.

Faster and bigger and tougher.

Me? I'm not such a tough man.

What would you have done,if young Fenton had shot me and the rest of us tried to cross the line?

Do? I had the little one on my sights from the first.

He would have died, senor.

You're tough enough, compadres.

Tell Ms. Lynch I won't be back to the ranch 'til about sundown.

I'll take a look at Willow Creek now that I own half of it.

Bueno.

You're late!

I've been waiting supper.

Sorry, had a lot of riding to do.

Your dad's gotta lot of ranch.

And he's gone to the county seat to buy some more of it.

Why? Even you know he's buying trouble.

Men don't buy trouble.

They just get their share of it

along with everybody else.

Your dad went to the county seat

to file on that land on the draw.

Fentons have no business on it.

Why not?

Do we need it?

That land belongs to your father.

To me! That's enough!

The Fentons push us off that grass pretty soon they're getting notion,they want rest of Willow Creek.

Let the Fentons have it.

All of it!

Do you think I can live here for the rest of my life?

Raise a family in this house?

Watch my men ride off, knowing they might not come back?

Afraid somebody will come at night on a grudge and burn the roof over my head?

Do you think I can keep on cooking and sowing and watching forever telling my kids this was a country God made for them?

I didn't know you had a family or a man.

I know what you want.

Same thing everyone wants.

Home, kids, neighbors, preacher, a butcher and a post office.

Trouble is, they don't see that the rough times have to come ahead of the smooth.

There'd be Fentons any place you could go.

You can't away from 'em.

Men with no lid to their ambition.

Weeds, that won't stop growing.

Sooner or later,wherever there's grass wherever there's timber,wherever there's mineral land there will be Fentons.

You're done, if you don't dig it at the beginning.

Backing up can get to be a habit.

And you can't back uphill.

The Fentons and their kind are only half at fault.

The rest of it, is that.. There's Steve Llewellyns too.

There are things in this world are worth more than being right in everything.

Come on, supper's getting cold.

Kinda cold tonight.

If I asked you to leave Willow Creek, Steve.

Would you go?

- 'With me?' - Where?

Anywhere..

so long as it's a town.

The other side of Santa Fe.

'Maybe Santa Fe itself.'

I don't get it.

Can't you see?

I'm trying to find a way out this for us.

For you, for me.

If you stay you'll have to fight the Fentons.

You'll have to kill or be killed.

And I warn you..

I could never live with the man who had killed another over this worthless grass.

You can't be judge, jury and executioner, Steve.

You've gotta go where the law has provided these things.

Whether are other ways of fighting than with the gun.

What a man fights with,isn't important.

It's what he is fighting for, that counts.

You haven't answered my question.

What?

Will you go with me?

Oh, Steve I love you.

Sharon, you've got big plans for your future.

I just don't fit into those plans.

I'm a cattleman. I guess I'll always will be.

- My past speak for itself-- - Your past..

Did I ask you about your past?

Did I ask you where you got the $3400 that you gave to Pete?

Did I tell you that was the same amount exactly that was stolen from Bissel safe.

Wait a minute.

Say that again.

That's where it came from.

Charlie Bissel's safe.

So, that's where he got the money.

Sharon..

I'm gonna talk to Fenton and make a deal for this place.

A fair deal for Pete.

Then the two of you can go to that future you've made such plans for.

But Steve,these plans include you.

They have to.

Just won't work, honey.

I know..

...I love you too.

Hello..

Anybody there?

Where's Hal Fenton?

Up at our land camp.

Who do I talk to?

Try me, name's Sam Dreen.

I just came of to a Long Draw.

We've got our fence line down there some of your beefs are on the wrong side of it.

Our cattle were hungry and the grass looked green.

I didn't see any fence.

A man needs good eyesight to live long in this country, Dreen.

You got no business here, Llewellyn.

And you're old enough to know better than to come here looking for trouble.

I'm old enough to know that the man doesn't have to root for trouble, kid.

There's plenty of just lying around.

I came here to talk business.

Well, start talking.

Your brother offered me a deal Pete Lynch and I are ready take him up on it.

'For Long Draw?'

And Willow Creek the whole layout.

You're crawling, Llewellyn?

No, I was out-voted.

I'm ready now to start talking payments.

We'll take Willow Creek.

But ain't gonna cost us nothing.

That is no way your brother told us.

My brother doesn't happen to be here right now.

Now get out.

'I warned you not to prompt me.'

That's no way to do business.

I told him that.

Will you tell Fenton we're ready making a deal?

Yeah, but you're out of it.

Hal's thought a lot of the kid for all his hungriness.

Kid cost me something too.

I've gotta long ride to make and now I've got to make it alone.

Riding won't do you any good, Llewellyn.

Hal will hunt you down like a coyote.

Pete Lynch'e adil bir anla�ma yapmas�n� s�yle.

Or I won't be hard to find.

'I'll tell him.'

Well, you're a costumer, I didn't expect to see.

Yeah, um, uh..

- Steve Llewellyn. - Yeah.

I have heard a lot about you lately.

You know I get a report on you every time Pete Lynch's girl Sharon comes in for supplies.

'She's some little lady.'

'She seems to think that you'd be you too.'

They don't come any better than Sharon.

'That's right.'

Will you take care of this?

Well, this is an assignment of your half of Pete Lynch's Willow Creek grant to me.

Why?

It's yours, I owe it to you.

I bought into Willow Creek with the money I took out of Les McCambridge's shirt.

Money lifted from your safe.

Pete know about that when he let you buy in with him?

Pete never was the one to ask too many questions.

What are your plans?

Clear out.

Clear out, uh?

Look, you been talking to Sharon?

We can't agree on what these are for.

Uh, no, I never met anybody that hated a gun so much but that's no reason for you to leave.

Maybe not, there's a reason.

I killed Randee Fenton this morning.

Oh, well, I reckon you better clear out.

And hurry.

You better finish what I've started.

With Fenton?

After you killed his brother today?

Huh..

Show Willow Creek ranch to him, he'll listen to you.

You're Pete's partner now, not me.

This is for Sharon.

I want you to be sure that Fenton gives her a square deal on the place.

Alright.

Which way are you headed?

North.

Let me leave somethin' for you then.

I'm pretty close to the express company and I've got a tip the railroad is going through a Silver Spur.

Now, there is a lot of good land up that way that might be worth something someday 'if a man got a hold of it now.'

Thanks. I'll remember that.

And if you do go that way how about pickin' me out a nice corner in town.

You know, good spot for a saloon.

Figure I'll have to move up there when the railroad goes through.

I might do that.

Here..

I'll leave these with you.

Why, are you a crazy?

Hitting the trail with no guns and a man like Fenton hunting you?

A man can always get a gun if he needs it.

If I need those I'll be back for them.

You look out for Sharon.

- You know, I will, but-- - So long

'Alright, give us another one, Mac..

I'll take that.

Silver Spur, Silver Spur.

Five years old today. Bless her little heart.

There's Sunday.

Oh! You better buy into this, marshal.

Fenton usually expects land for his money.

But I got the key to his pocket today.

Some of your men are getting pretty well loaded, Fenton.

Well, I'll take care of my men you take care of your town.

That's my job.

Hello, Ord.

Rest of the town's busy as me.

I am anyway.

Good.

Looks like there's another chore for me.

Right now,better get him outta here.

Never saw a man get so drunk.

Not so often.

If you're short of cash, bet me your cattle I'll take 'em.

I never gamble with my cattle, Doctor.

Suit yourself.

We'll have another round one of these days.

This doesn't end here.

'Hey, sure does.'

'You cantered your way all the way up' here from Willow Creek.

It's about time you stop walkin' over everybody on your way here.

You know anybody can stop me?

I might.

A lot of good folks in this town.

Yeah, a big man out there.

C'mon, let's get outta here.

Howdy, Bissel.

Steve Llewellyn.

Well, it's good to see you.

Come a long way from Willow Creek, haven't you, Fenton?

I never thought you'd come back to my country, Llewellyn.

I didn't go gunning for you because I thought Randee was little outta line.

I won't let the sun rise on you tomorrow.

I'm not looking for trouble with anybody.

I quit wearing guns a long time ago.

What's the matter,Llewellyn? Turnin' yellow?

It's gents like you that'll make me start wearin' em again.

Well, fill your hand with this.

Now, get out.

Alright, gents. It's all over.

Strike it up, Fezzard.

Doc McKenna, Steve. He's our medical.

You know, when luck doesn't give him his business, he makes it hisself.

The longest nose in Silver Spur. In everybody's business.

Steve Llewellyn, doc.

A real pleasure, son. Buy you a drink?

Later on. Steve and I have a lotta long trails to cover.

You better cash in your winnings.

Oh, I better go do that.

Glad I met you, son.

C'mon, Steve. You too, Chris.

I want you two to know each other.

Chris, meet Steve Llewellyn.

- Steve, how are you? - Good.

Sit down.

Ah, you're doin' alright, Bissel.

How could I miss with a place you picked for me?

How'd you do it?

There were some Navajos on this spot when I got here.

Leave it to the Indians to know the best trade locations.

'So I bought them up and filed the title in your name.'

I'm sure glad you did.

- What's Fenton doing here? - What does he always do?

Bought every acre of grass on both sides of the railroad 'for forty miles.'

At his own price, and in his own way.

What about you? Where have you been?

Name it.

Montana, Dakotas, Wyoming..

'Has it gotten anything?'

Same thing a drifter gets everywhere.

Lotta scenery and saddle patches on your pants.

Ah, you should'vr come back here sooner.

You got something here.

Yeah. A royal welcome from Fenton.

No. More than that, no.

You did me a turn, spottin' this place and I owe you.

So, I filed on the couple of sections of good grass.

One for me and one for you.

Christofferson here owns the section next to it 'and he looks after both of 'em for us.'

'He'd make you a good neighbor.'

It's been a long time since I had one.

- No strings to it? - No, no, no.

Deed's in your name. It's yours.

These are yours too.

I told you when I wanted them,I'd ask for 'em.

You better start wantin' 'em about now.

Fenton made you a promise he means to keep.

I've gotten by so far.

You remember Sharon Lynch and her father?

Why, sure. Where are they?

Pete is dead.

He was found with a hole in his back 'shortly after you left Willow Creek.'

I made the best deal I could on the ranch for Sharon and she came up here.

- Here? - Yeah.

- Where is she? - At the newspaper office.

Sharon.

How long are gonna put up with this?

It's part of what I bargained for when I married him.

A chance to help build my kind of town with his newspaper.

You don't have to keep this kind of a bargain.

I'm afraid I do.

It's almost quitting time, Otto.

You run along. We'll finish the run tomorrow.

Well, alright.

Sharon, I wanna help you.

This is no good. You know that.

It's the way it has to be.

We've discussed this a hundred times, Ord. It's no use.

Thanks for bringing John home again. You're a good friend.

Please let it go at that.

Oh, Steve! Steve.

Oh. Oh, this is Steven Llewellyn.

An old friend from Willow Creek.

Ord Keown, Steve. Our marshal.

I'm glad to meet you, Llewellyn

Thanks, marshal.

You gonna be with us long?

Seems to be some divided opinions on that.

Well, I'll see you later.

I know you two have a lot to talk about.

Oh, it's so good to see you, Steve.

My husband.

I guess you always wanted to be a lady and marry a big man.

Mrs. Newspaper herself.

Where's the big house and all the other things that go with it?

We had a nice home.

The other side of town.

Things made it necessary to move here.

The Prinisol Quarters.

Shattered dreams, huh?

I made the choice, Steve.

That's the way it has to be.

You wearing your guns again.

Charlie Bissel told me when you left Willow Creek that you left them with him.

That you were through with 'em.

I figured I might need them here.

I just met Hal Fenton.

Steve, don't let that begin again.

Get out, leave before it's too late.

Won't you ever understand?

'I'd rather be married to a man like that, than to a killer.'

At least, I know he'll come back.

Even in that condition.

I'll give it some thought.

Bye, Sharon.

Evening, Steve. Hopin' I'd meet you.

Hate to eat alone.

Nothing like a good steak to settle a man's stomach.

Guess it is about that time.

'Hello, Jim.'

That's funny.

Is he drunk?

Not Jim Westfall.

Hello.

Lin, I want you to meet Steve Llewellyn.

- New neighbor of mine. - Hi, Lin.

Very glad to know you, Mr. Steve.

Lin's one of the best unmarried cooks in Silver Spur.

What'll you have?

Didn't somebody say something about a steak?

Two steaks.

Two steak. Very fine steak.

Cook 'em right away.

Hello, Jim.

Buy you a drink?

Jim, what's the matter?

Is something wrong?

Me and Jennie got burned out today.

How?

With a match touched off at the right place.

Who did it?

I don't know yet.

But I aim to find out.

Say, Steve..

You haven't seen your new place yet.

Suppose we ride out and take a look at it tonight.

I reckon, you won't be around to do it tomorrow.

That's what Fenton says.

Sure, lets take a look.

Did you see the marshal?

No. You tried the newspaper office?

- He ain't there. - What's up?

Jennie Westfall is over at my place crying her eyes out.

And Jim's prowling the streets like a raging bull.

We've seen before chow. What's chewin' on him?

Grass fire. Burned 'em out this afternoon.

- Lightnin'? - Yeah.

New Mexico lightnin '.

First, they send around a couple of gents to offer him a ridiculous dollar an acre for their grass

and then,they left an unsigned letter 'at the post office threatening to run them off of it.'

And then they waited until they were in town for the celebration today to fire just enough grass to burn their house and barn.

Westfall don't like that kinda lightnin'.

'Neither do I.'

Where's Westfall now?

Oh, he's over at Bissel's drinkin' twice as much as he can hold.

Say, if Fenton's gang shows up--

'You find the marshal.'

Chris and I'll watch things at Bissel's.

Say, I thought Fenton ordered you outta town.

I'm still here. Find the marshal.

Alright.

You do oughta know better,neighbor.

Maybe I'll get my chance later.

Steve, this is like smoking a loaded cigar when you know it's gonna go off in your face.

Or maybe we can stop them, Charlie.

Let's see.

I heard what happened over at your place, Westfall.

I'd like to ride over there with you tomorrow.

Might turn up something interesting.

Place to turn things up is here.

Your wife's over at Doc McKenna's.

Suppose we all go over there.

Suppose you mind your own business.

McKenna..

Sometimes, I think you stir up trouble when there isn't any.

It's quiet here.

You got to burn yourself on a field before you'll admit it's lighted?

I tell you. Westfall's ready to explode.

The man's entitled to a drink when he needs it.

Jim's alright.

Three fingers, Charlie? Fat ones.

You see, why the rest of us can't count on our marshal?

He's a good man. Maybe he's right.

Oh, yeah?

Well, look.

Boss told me you were in town.

Remember me, Llewellyn?

I'm not gonna try very hard.

Gettin' toward a halfway to sunrise.

Seems like you don't take a warnin' very good.

Seems like.

Still wantin' to give me a dollar an acre for my grass?

I don't know you, mister.

Then you got a bad memory too.

I'm the gent you tried to buy out last week for your boss.

'The gent you burned out this afternoon.'

You're crazy.

Better crazy than dead.

Let it go, Jim.

He seems to be hurt.

Here.

- You alright? - Yeah.

Well, looks like it's my night to be coroner.

And I already got more business than I can handle.

Fenton and the rest will be looking for you now.

You better get up to my place and stay outta sight.

Chris, you go with him. See that he does what he's told.

I'll stay here and give doc a hand.

You better get outta town yourself.

Hold up on your homestead till we see which way the wind blows.

C'mon, Steve. Let's go.

Where's McKenna?

He's not here. He didn't come back last night.

Might be over at the newspaper office.

I'll find him there.

He took Westfall's wife over to stay with Mrs. Devore.

I'll just want to get his story about what happened at Brissel's last night.

You could have mine.

You might be testifying against yourself.

Couple of Fenton's men were killed last night.

And Westfall and Devore.

I suppose Fenton's men are claiming self-defense.

They lay the whole thing on you.

Fenton swore out a warrant for your arrest this morning.

Came to serve it, marshal?

It's in my desk.

I forgot it when I started my morning rounds.

Wouldn't peg you for the forgetting kind.

I won't be back to the office till noon.

That'll give you three hours to get outta town.

- Thanks. - Don't thank me.

I promised her.

Go or stay. Makes no difference to me.

Where in tarnation is that scalpel?

Oh, just gettin' up?

You've got a comfortable bed.

Where've you been?

Oh, controlling a couple of winners.

And administering to the remains of assorted deceased citizens in this Metropolis of inequity.

You've gotta be so dadgum thorough with all them things.

It kinda pays to be.

Bunions.

The curse of mankind,for walkin' on two feet instead of four.

- See the marshal? - Yep.

How much time did he give ya?

Noon.

Noon?

Hey..

...he generous, ain't he?

A man without a woman is useless. Look at that.

You know, I can sew up or rip a mile long in a man's belly but I can't don my own socks.

You uh..

You still aimin' to leave this?

As soon as a I get a buyer for my section. Today, tomorrow--

Sure, the next day the devil, Fenton..

Meanwhile, you're just like the rest of us.

Up to your ears in trouble.

My trouble's private.

Troubles are about us private as life in a goldfish bowl.

Some of us had a meetin' last night.

Somethin' gotta be done.

'What?'

Fenton's bringin' another big herd.

He-he's gonna want more land.

We don't aim to let him have it.

Where do I fit in?

We'll you can fight, can't ya?

That's what we aim to do and we want you with us.

I have my own private war.

'Alright, open the door, now.'

'Open up!'

We want Llewellyn.

And we aim to get him, doc.

Well, uh, there ain't much I can do but, uh..

..I can try.

Get 'em! Get 'em both!

Hey, wait. What's going on here?

Saving your trouble,marshal, Llewellyn's in there.

What of it? He's got until noon.

Who says he has?

- I do. - Bring him out now.

Listen, when you're the boss of this town I'll take orders from you, not before.

Out of my way, marshal--

Hold it, use your head!

Maybe you can handle Llewellyn. But what about them?

Now, get off the street.

Hell if Llewellyn can wait until noon I guess, we can too.

Now, get your men back to your camp and keep them there.

My men are kinda hard to keep anyplace, marshal.

Come on out, doc.

Thanks, marshal.

You don't owe me anything.

Well, Ord gave Fenton his orders

I reckon, we better gave him his, eh?

I hope he takes 'em in better spirit.

We've enacted us some laws, Ord.

- Laws? - Yeah.

It says that we got--

Why, this is crazy, McKenna.

How so many fools can get together in one place?

Just pouring powder on fire to put it out.

Well, anyway that's better than getting roasted one at a time.

Forbidding guns in town.

A curfew for Whiskey Row and The Gulch.

Extending the town's limit so I've got to protect every farmer out on the grass.

Afraid you can't make our laws stick, Ord?

Nobody could.

Marshaling a town is not like a doctor's practice.

When I started carving,my customers fight back.

Well, maybe you pick your customers from the wrong side of the fence, eh?

I've kept your town quiet until Llewellyn here, got his guns back from Bissel.

Now, I'll go on keepin' it quiet, but my way.

Some of us got a notion,that ain't good enough, Ord.

There's a middle road in anything that's the one I ride.

Well, uh, looks like there's a job open for a good man.

Eh, Llewellyn?

You go a long way before you find a better man the Keown.

You better keep him.

Hello, Steve.

I'm sorry about last night, Sharon.

About John?

Are you looking for grief in me, Steve?

I suppose so.

Not for John.

For a long time he's been no one I knew.

A stranger, a cowardly,drunken stranger.

You were married to him.

The man I thought I married died in the first few months of our life together.

A man died last night too.

John was lucky last night.

He escaped a life he feared and hated.

What do you do now?

'Drive Mrs. Westfall off the valley.'

Jennie wants to see what can be saved from her homestead after the fire.

That's for today. What about tomorrow?

Why, I'll go on printing the paper.

A paper free to tell the truth.

To fight now.

Believe me, Steve,it's... best this way.

Is it?

It's late, Steve. You are leaving, aren't you?

Ord promised.

The marshal kept his promise.

I suppose I owe you thanks.

No. You're own promise,you'll leave Silver Spur and not come back.

- I can't leave. - But you've got to.

If there's anymore trouble let Ord handle it.

Can he? Alone?

He's the law.

That's enough?

It is for me. It always has been.

Yeah.

Well, Steve..

Bye, Sharon.

Got a little company down at the shack Bissel built for ya.

Fenton's outfit?

A part of it. More of 'em over at my place.

Pretty well spread through the valley.

New herd must've gotten in ahead of schedule.

Seems like.

Well, thanks for the warning.

Better get over to your own place.

You think I've been sittin' here just to warn you?

It's time us neighbors stuck together.

I want a piece of this.

Let's go around that way.

Finished stocking the barn?

- There ought to be. - Take a look.

Llewellyn ain't gonna find anything usable in there

if he ever gets this far.

Just so he doesn't find us here.

Now scatter the stock and let's get out.

'Wait a minute.'

Stay down there, when we want you, we'll whistle.

You're hard man to convince that he oughta mind his own business.

My turn's comin' with both of ya.

And marshal ain't gonna be happy with this load of merchandise.

Get 'em up to horse and head 'em back to town.

They'll find their way.

I'll tag along,just in case they get lost.

Get up.

Alright, Dreen, pick up what's left of your men.

Let 'em go. Alone.

Town's no place for either one of us after last night and this.

- Well, I'll risk it. - You're crazy.

Maybe so, but there's two of us.

You don't aim to stay here?

Figured I'd ride over to that Westfall place.

You want company?

No I think, there'll be plenty there waiting for me.

You go ahead.

Alright, hurry it up.

What happened?

Oh, Steve, if you'd only been there.

Ride back to town with us and I'll tell you.

- Tell me now. - It doesn't affect you.

I'll judge that.

Fenton's new herd is here.

In the valley, covering every piece of grass.

The Westfall place too?

It's their headquarters.

You should see Jennie's fields.

Corn gone and fences down..

And then a big, ugly rider called Curly 'stopped us as we drove up to the ashes of her home.'

I've never seen anything like it before, Steve.

It was Jennie's land and..

'They killed her husband last night.'

I don't think she could even feel, she wouldn't stop.

They kept hitting me.

Yes, they knocked her down like a steer and the rest makin' side bets.

I'll kill that Curl, if he ever sets foot in Silver Spur!

- Turn around. - No, Steve.

They're too many of them,I won't let you.

Turn around!

You Curly?

Yeah.

Did you touch this woman?

That ain't no woman.

That's a genuine, razor-backed,she-sawed buster.

Comin' down on that buggy and put an ear bite on us 'before we know what happened.'

'Clawin' and scratchin'.'

Take your guns off.

Uh-uh.

Take 'em off.

Take Curly first if they start anything.

Kill him.

Kill him!

Kill him.

Get saddled.

Ride up the valley. Find the boss.

Tell him, I'm gonna take care of this Mr. Llewellyn for him.

If he wants to see it happen tell him to meet us in town.

Go on.

Ho.

Jennie, you better get down and clean up a little bit.

And listen, both of ya if anyone asked what happened to Jennie she fell out of the buck board.

Thanks, Steve. I won't be long.

I don't want McKenna,Chris or Bissel to find out what happened to Curly.

The whole town, even the marshal might tangle with Fenton's outfit now.

You don't want that to happen, do you?

Not yesterday.

Maybe not even an hour ago.

But now... yes.

I understand, Steve.

Maybe I even understand, what you tried to tell me once.

Silver Spur has to give in to Fenton or stand up to him.

I want to see it stand.

You're Sharon Lynch. Sharon Devore, remember?

A little girl who ran way from Willow Creek because there was blood on the grass.

But not me.

You married a newspaper, so you could fight with printers and letters instead of bullets.

- You're forgetting-- - I'm forgetting nothing, Steve.

Nothing.

I cleaned your guns for you a long time ago.

The day you fell into Willow Creek.

I want you to use them now, for me.

Will you get back town alright from here, can't you?

Will you do what I ask?

You're only asking out of anger at Curly.

What he did to Jennie. You're not thinking of all--

How do you know of what I think?

How I feel when I think of Steve Llewellyn?

Whenever I thought about him since he left Willow Creek?

What do you know about the loneliness and bitterness that made me marry John Devore?

And the desperation that made me stay with him?

What do you know about me at all?

What I remember.

Adios.

Ugliest hero I've ever seen.

- Hero? - Sure.

Ms. Devore and Jennie Westfall just got in about an hour ago.

Story of the big fight's all over town.

I've been watching for ya.

Any of Fenton's bunch here?

No. Scared 'em off, I guess.

Not them. Drink?

Can't. McKenna admired the prisoners I brought in town even if the marshal wouldn't hold 'em.

I'm havin' supper with McKenna later.

There'd likely be a meetin'. Better come along.

- No, I guess not. - Feed's free.

I'll buy my own.

I hear you wouldn't hold those boys Christofferson brought in.

They looked like they'd paid plenty for what they did at your place.

You've got pretty flexible laws in this town.

I guess, you wouldn't mind my forgetting that warrant long enough to get a drink and some dinner.

There's no warrant for you now.

Fenton sent in word that he's dropping all charges against you.

Looks like he wants you here.

So the way you say it. Things are working out?

Yeah. Give me a Roanoke, Charlie.

Don't let 'em trap you in here, Steve.

Go out of the back way.

Alright, close up everything.

I'm still giving orders in this town, Fenton.

What do you want?

Couple of farmers have cost me some men up in the valley today,they've got a lesson coming.

Farmers?

Yeah, Christofferson and Llewellyn.

Listen..

...you and your men have caused all the trouble around here.

And you know it.

You came into this town peaceably I'm giving you a chance to leave the same way.

You're tough man, marshal,it's too bad bad you ain't got a tough town behind ya.

Through the ribs.

Where is Sharon?

Don't know. Maybe at McKenna's.

I wish I knew.

She didn't want this.

She tried to keep it from happening.

I've got to stop it.

We've gotta try.

Nobody could do it alone. Not even you, marshal.

Most of them are at Bissel's.

We'll clean out the rest first.

You work up toward McKenna's.

I'll go down toward the post office.

Steve, I was afraid you'd gone.

I told you I couldn't.

- Where's doc and Chris? - Out there.

Fightin', like man ought to and goin' good too.

Fenton's gang isn't as big as it was when they started.

I'll find the others, send one back here to take care of you and--

Steve, don't go out there. It isn't worth it.

It is to me.

Steve!

Steve, come back this time.

Please come back.

Chris?

'Llewellyn?'

Where's Chris?

'Here.'

This was out back,we thought you went down in there with Keown out there.

Oh, the marshal's still on his feet.

That must be him workin' his way up here from the post office then.

That means he's got the street cleared down that way.

It just leaves the ones in The Spur.

You go over and stay with the women at doc's.

Cover the front of the saloon from there.

- What'll you do? - What I can.

Get over there. Make a run for it.

McKenna, you and Lin,pick up Bissel.

Shoot the back wall out of the saloon as soon as the lid comes off on the front.

Do you think I talked you into this to take a back seat for myself?

You didn't talk me into it.

I'll find the marshal.

If he's stays on his feet, maybe we'll make it.

You alright, marshal?

I will do.

It's sure quieted down there all of a sudden.

I reckon, we better find out why.

I've been waiting for you.

Sure a long way across, isn't it?

It won't be comin' back.

It looks like they were expecting us.

Cover the door.

I told you to stay with the women.

Well, I figured you needed help more than they did.

So did they.

Hang these up again, Charlie.

For good this time.

Let him go.

Steve! Steve!

You, uh, you take the marshal inside.

He can do with a bit of fixin'.

I'll give you a hand there, ma'am.

He's a might heavy for you to hold up.

You don't understand, doctor

Steve's holding me up.

He always has.

He always will.

You've got a long nose, McKenna.

Why don't you mind your own business?

Well, I'm trying to.

But how can I take care of a man if he won't lie down?

Later, doc. Later.

You know, you're almost as pretty as you were--

I told you, Steve Llewellyn,I'd poison you if you ever mention--

Marshal will be alright.

What about Steve? He looks pretty hard hit.

There ain't no prescription for that, Charlie.

Man gets over a bullet, never over a woman.

Say, how about us havin' a little somethin' out of this?

What about a little drink in your place?

You ol' Bissel, do me a lot of good, eh?

Come on, eh?