All language subtitles for Short.Grass.1950.WEBRip.vostf

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.

I found him with
a bullet in his back.

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.

You tell him to give
Pete Lynch a fair deal.

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..
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?