Original subtitles

(orchestral music)

- Trial over yet?

- No, coming out to lunch.

- Well, I better go and see if it's ready.

- Joe don't care how long the trial lasts

long as he can feed the jury.

(all laugh)

- You said it.

(jurors chattering)

- How is this trial going, Dan?

- Mills has built up a pretty strong case against Smeed.

- You catch them, Larson, and I convict them.

- Wally Smeed sure looks like a killer,

whether he is or not.

- We're proving that he is. Eating, Dan?

- Not just yet.

- Still bent on cleaning up this town, are ya?

- Yep.

And if we convict Wally Smeed of killing Pearson,

it'll be the first step toward it.

- Well, Wally's beat trials for two other killings.

And if you ask me, the blamed town ain't worth cleaning up.

- Whether it is or not, there's someone responsible

for this crooked work around here,

and I aim to find out who it is.

(jurors chattering)

- Lunch is ready, boys.

- Oh, thanks.

All right, gentlemen, lunch is ready.

(jurors chattering)

- You can't sit here. These tables are for the jury.

- You don't suspect Mills or that judge

for failing to enforce the law, do you?

- Frankly, Carl, I'm ready to suspect everybody.

It might even be Smeed's lawyer, that fella from El Paso.

Whoever it has had influence enough to try and get me

transferred out of here, but they didn't succeed.

Politics don't mix with the Ranger service.

- Getting scared of you, huh?

- Maybe.

(jurors chattering)

- How's Miss Molly standing up under the trial?

- She's feeling a little better.

Her father's killing was an awful shock.

- Staying in town, ain't she?

- Yeah, at the hotel with the judge's wife.

Molly being underage,

there is some question what they'll do with the ranch.

- There a ranger in town?

- Yeah, Dan Larson standing right there.

- Are you the ranger?

- Yep. What's on your mind?

- I'm one of the new hands out at the Pearson ranch.

This morning, I was chasing what I thought were some strays.

When I caught up, there was a bunch of men driving 'em off.

They took a shot at me, so I hightailed it to town.

- Where was this?

- You know where the Crick Road

forks off at Cottonwood Canyon?

Well, they was headed west from there.

- I'll get some of the boys and pick up their trail.

- Thanks, that'll be fine.

- I have a hunch it's a trap, Carl.

I'd be obliged if you'd keep your eye on that stranger

and see what he does next.

- Glad to for you, Dan.

(jurors chattering)

- Better find another table, friend. This here's the jury.

- Jury, huh?

No wonder you look scared.

There ain't one of you here got nerve enough

to hang Wally Smeed.

- Who says we ain't?

- I do.

- You're crazy. We all know he's guilty.

I'm voting that way, and so is the rest of 'em.

- Don't you realize that may cause a mistrial?

What's the matter with you, Hanby?

Deputy, throw that man out.

- Come on, you, get out of here.

- Who is that guy? (jurors chattering)

- What's up, Dan?

- I heard you fellas lost some stock.

- Well, if I have, we don't know nothing about it.

- Have you got a new hand,

a dark, slim fella with a scar on his chin?

- No, the only two we've taken on since the old man

was killed are short and bow-legged.

What's wrong?

- I don't know myself yet.

- Did they find Wally Smeed guilty?

- The trial ain't over.

- Well, if they turn him loose again,

there's gonna be some rope stretched around here.

- Not if I can help it.

(townsfolk chattering)

Where'd that scar face fella go?

- I don't know.

Well, he got into a ruckus with one of the jurors,

and the judge threw the case out of court.

- So they turned Wally Smeed loose, did they?

- Yeah, and he lit out of town like a scared jackrabbit.

The judge claimed the jury declared itself

before the evidence was all heard.

- Some more crooked business.

Carl, this whole thing is aimed at me personally.

Can I use your phone?

- Why sure thing, but what you aimin' to do?

- I'm quittin' the Rangers right now.

You've made your move. Now I'll make mine.

- Are you addressing me?

- Yes. And you, Burke, and Mills.

By a legal track, the three of you turned Wally Smeed loose.

- Men, there ain't no law and order in this town.

Turning Smeed loose was all a frame.

- You're right. Even Larson was in on it.

Why did he leave town just before it happened?

- Boys, when the law fails, there's just one thing to do,

and we've got to do it.

- Larson's just got back.

He's joining them other scoundrels in the judge's office.

- It's time for a showdown. Come on.

- Come on, boys.

(patrons murmuring)

- You know he killed Pearson, and you know

he'll kill somebody else because he's that kind.

People around here are getting mighty tired

of your brand of law.

- I'll have you fired out of the Ranger service for this.

- You can't do that, Mills.

- I can and will.

- No, Judge, not even you can do it.

You see, I'm not a ranger anymore.

I just phoned my captain and resigned.

I figured I wasn't doing much good behind that star.

No matter who I arrested or how guilty they were,

you turn them loose.

From now on, I'm going to be my own judge and jury.

Maybe the executioner too.

I'm going to enforce the law this country knew

before there were courts like this one.

- You won't get away with it.

- Oh yes, I will.

And Wally Smeed's the first man I'm going after.

Anybody who tries to stop me will be next on my list.

- I reckon he's on the square.

- Yeah, he sure meant what he said.

(crowd chattering)

- So you see, I figure now there's no ranger in town,

whoever's in back of this will come out in the open

and show his hand.

- Yeah, and he's liable to have a gun in it

when he shows it.

- Yeah, but as a private citizen,

I can do more than when I packed a star.

I've already found out that scar face fella

is workin' for the Circle-T outfit.

- That ranch is owned in El Paso, ain't it?

- Supposed to be, but nobody knows much about it.

It's always just over the mountain.

- Yeah, likely hangout for a bunch of rustlers and killers.

- I'm leaving my horse in the alley in back of your barn.

I might have to leave town in a hurry.

- Good idea.

- See you later.

- Oh, Dan, Miss Molly wants to see you in the lobby.

- Well, thanks, Joe.

- Sure.

- [Dan] Hello, Molly.

- Hello, Dan.

Why did you resign?

Oh, I'm so worried about you, about everything.

- Molly, why don't you let me run your ranch for a while?

I'm sure I could straighten things out.

- I'd like to really, but I can't.

- Why?

- Larson, what you ask is impossible.

Miss Pearson is a ward of the court.

I'm going to appoint Kemper Mills her guardian

until she becomes of age.

- Somebody killed Tom Pearson to get his ranch.

I'm going to find out who did it whether you like it or not.

- You get out of town or I'll--

- Are you agreeable to what he says about the ranch?

- Why yes, I'm going to run the ranch with Mr. Mills' help,

and the judge will advise me.

- I see.

Just the same, I'll be watching out for you, Molly.

- I'd rather you wouldn't. There's been so much killing.

Maybe you'd better go away.

- Dan, you're letting your head run away with your reason.

I'm willing to forget what happened this afternoon.

Pin this on again and leave town.

You can't do anything but harm here.

- The only harm I'll do is to those

who have it coming to them.

If you should need any help, Molly,

I'll come whenever you want me.

- Can't you do something, Judge? He may be killed.

- He's taken matters out of our hands, Molly.

Nobody can stop him now.

- And where was the ranger when he was needed?

Looks to me like he was part of the plot to free Smeed.

- Maybe that's why he quit before he got thrown out.

- I can't understand how a kid like that

was ever made a ranger anyhow.

- They say he's poison with a six-gun.

- Yeah? Well he ain't showed it much yet.

- There's a posse gone out after Smeed.

Do you reckon they'll catch him?

- If they do, they won't...

Did you catch them rustlers, yet?

- There weren't any rustlers, stranger.

- Funny how a man can be mistaken.

- There was no mistake. You lied.

(gunshot banging)

You're only small fry, hombre.

I am after the man who hired you,

and you're gonna tell me who he is.

Come on. (gunshots banging)

(people shouting)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

(people shouting)

(gunshot banging)

- Stand back, men! Stand back!

You're liable to get hit. - What's the matter?

- Larson's gone loco and he's shootin' up the town.

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshot banging)

- Well, looks like you got your wish

to bring 'em out into the open.

- My horse is in back of the barn.

I'll sneak out the back way.

- The front door of the barn's open.

You can get out the back window. I'll stall 'em all.

- Good.

(mob chattering)

- I just saw Larson go into Beeman's.

- Come on. - Come on, let's corner him.

(men pounding)

Open up!

- There may be a lot of shootin'.

- [Man] Open up!

- Hold your horses. I'll be there in a minute.

- We're after Larson.

- Kinda looks that way.

- Where is he?

- Well, your guess is as good as mine.

Search the place if you want to.

- He's gone out the back way, boys. Come on.

There he goes now into Beeman's barn.

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging) (glass shattering)

(glass shattering)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging) (glass shattering)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

He's staying in one spot.

Take good aim, and we'll give him a volley.

(gunshots banging)

He can't get far. I know we hit him.

Come on.

- Howdy. - Hi.

- Is this the Circle-T?

- Some say that it is and others say it ain't.

Suppose it is. What of it?

- I was thinking I might get a job.

- All hires are done in El Paso.

This is a blamed funny outfit.

- I was talking to one of your hands yesterday,

a fella with a scar on his chin.

- A scar on his shin?

- No, his chin.

- Oh, scar on his chin.

Oh, that would be Bud Cooper.

- [Dan] Is he around?

- Nope, he was here, but he went off to that cabin

up in them mountains where the boys...

Well, it's none of your business what they do up there.

If you should see any of 'em,

remind 'em to get me that skillet.

Lost my old one.

Told Fred Simms. Never could find it.

How they expect me to cook without a skillet?

- Put 'em up, Cooper.

Get down off of there.

We didn't finish our business last night, Cooper.

Who hired you to ruin Smeed's murder trial?

- I hired out to do it down in El Paso.

- Who was it, Smeed's lawyer?

- Yeah, Burke.

- Anybody else in on it?

- Not that I know of.

- Who owns the Circle-T?

- I don't know. Fred Simms is the forenan.

- Turn around.

Start walkin'.

Put your hands in back of you.

Where's that cabin you were headin' for?

- I wasn't headed for any cabin.

- My mistake.

Your boss is the one I'm after.

I'll scout around for a while and come back for you later.

You must've thought I was dumb when I left you

tied so loose, but I wanted you to get away

so you could lead me to that cabin ahead of us.

- You're liable to be sorry you found it.

- That's my luck-out. Now I'll show you some real tying.

(hooves clopping)

(someone knocking)

- Simms and the boss.

All alone, Wally?

- Yes.

- Boss told Ryan and Cooper to be here.

- Haven't seen 'em.

- Smeed, the boss here wants to know if you're gonna stay

and share with us or someplace you're not known.

- If I do leave, how about some money to go on?

- [Fred] You always got your share.

- Yeah, I've gotten more than my share of being the goat.

- Aren't you satisfied?

- That depends on what's next on your program.

- Enough to keep us busy for the next few days.

We're gonna clean the Pearson ranch of every bit of stock.

And we'll have bills of sale, so it'll make it a safe job.

- [Wally] How do you aim to do that?

- Mills will be appointed the girl's guardian,

the papers will be signed tomorrow,

and Mills will do what the boss says.

And since our only ranger friend has quit,

we're gonna clean up and get out before any more come.

- I never could understand that play of Larson's.

- He knew he was gonna be fired, so he quit.

- Put 'em up, Larson.

Open up, it's Ryan and Cooper.

We found a visitor.

He was spying on you.

He tied me up, but Ryan found me when (indistinct)

- How long you been out there?

- Long enough.

- Then you heard our plans.

- What'll we do with him?

- After what he's heard, there's only one thing we can do.

Or maybe two.

- What's the other?

- We need good men.

If he's strung up, he goes back to town.

So he might throw in with us. How about it, Larson?

- You don't mean that any more than I would if I accepted.

- Well, that's settled. Who wants the job?

- How about me?

One more shootin' won't get me hung any quicker.

- [Fred] Go ahead.

- Come on, Larson, get over there.

I'm not inviting witnesses.

What you men don't see, you can't tell about.

- [Man] Hands up, Larson.

- Get out.

- Come on, boys.

We'll meet early tomorrow.

- Larson, when I fire, you fall.

(gunshots banging)

(footsteps tapping)

Lie still.

What is it, Cooper?

- Here, I don't want to be caught carrying his gun.

- His gun? That gives me an idea.

I said there were to be no witnesses, and that still goes.

- All right, Smeed. I'll see you tomorrow.

- What's your game, Smeed?

- That's my business.

You quit the Rangers so you could settle with me

for killing Tom Pearson, didn't you?

- That's right.

- Well, you're wrong, Larson. I didn't do it.

The rest of the gang think I've killed you, don't they?

You see, you can't always believe the evidence

no matter how strong it is.

- Before Pearson died, he mentioned your name.

- Because I knew who killed him.

- Who was it?

- I'm settling that account myself.

- I don't suppose you would tell me who the boss is.

- If you can't guess,

you're not as smart as I thought you were.

- When I leave here, I'm warning the Pearson outfit.

- That fits my plans. Go to it.

But you'll find it hard to make 'em believe it.

- Maybe you could help me.

- Nope, I'm playing a lone hand.

I've got one more job to do, then I'm leaving this country.

Well, we better hole in for the night in the brush.

In the morning, you go your way and I'll go mine.

- Smeed, I believe you're innocent,

and I'll do everything I can to help you.

- Thanks, Larson.

- Hello, Molly. Have you signed those guardianship papers?

- Why no, Mr. Mills isn't here yet. What's the matter?

- Plenty.

It's all a crooked plot to rob you of everything you own.

- Well, the judge is here. We'll tell him.

- I was hoping you had left the country,

Larson, as I advised.

- It's a good thing I didn't.

- What do you mean?

- I mean there's a plot on to ruin this ranch.

I know what I'm talking about, Judge.

I was taken prisoner last night by a band of outlaws,

and I heard them say that...

- Isn't that Larson's horse.

- Yeah, it looks like it.

- That's funny. Keep your eyes open.

- All right.

- I escaped and came here to warn you.

- I don't believe a word of it.

- Why I do.

(someone knocking) Why should he...

- Larson.

- You didn't expect to see me alive, did you Mills?

- What do you mean?

- You thought I was killed in that cabin up Rock Canyon.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

I did hear you'd been shot,

but it was at Beeman's last night.

- And, of course, as state's attorney,

you took no further interest in the matter.

I heard enough last night to know that Mills

is working with the outlaws in this deal,

either as a willing accomplice

or because they're forcing him to help them.

Do you think he's the man to be appointed Molly's guardian?

- If anybody is working with the outlaws, you are.

You were seen talking to that man who caused the mistrial,

and you cleared out of town to give him his chance.

- If that is so, I hardly see why Larson

would come to warn us.

- If you're finished listening to these lies,

we'll get on with our business.

- You're not going through with this, Mills.

If you sign those papers, Judge,

you'll regret it the rest of your life.

- Larson, I am tired of your interference.

Now get out of here.

(punch cracking)

Mark! Mark!

(blows thudding) - Dan!

You might at least help me with him.

- Now let's get those papers signed.

- No, I think we better delay matters.

- Why?

- Because I'm not satisfied that things are

as they should be.

I have important business in town. I must leave immediately.

- I think you're unnecessarily alarmed

over the impossible story Larson told.

- I don't consider it entirely impossible.

We can keep Larson here.

- Keep Larson here until you hear from me.

- You're coming with me?

- No, I'll meet you in town later.

I want to ride over to the circle-T

and see Burke if he's still there.

I'm sorry this had to happen, Molly.

But when you deal with criminals, you can't use gloves.

- Dan is not a criminal.

- Someday you'll realize your mistake

and know I'm working only for your good.

- How are you feeling, Dan?

- I'm all right.

Where's the judge? Where's Mills?

- They've gone to town.

- I've got to stop them before they sign those papers.

- You ain't stoppin' nobody.

- He's fainted. Quick, get some water on the back porch.

- I'm all right, Molly.

Find some of your riders and tell them

to look out for a raid.

- Oh, all right, Dan.

- We have to hurry.

(bowl clanging)

- Find the boys, Kirk. It's an outlaw raid.

- Right.

(gunshot banging)

- Mills.

(gunshots banging)

- Well, Wally, how are you gonna explain this?

- I didn't do it, Larson. I couldn't.

You see, he's my father.

- Your father?

- He's still alive but hard hit.

- Who did it?

- The same man that killed Pearson. I reckon you know.

- He got Molly's guardianship papers too.

- We'd better get him to the closest ranch.

- That'll be the Perkins place.

Put on your gun. Let me handle this.

- Well, so Smeed got the judge, did he?

And you got Smeed. Good work, Dan.

- You're wrong, Carl.

Wally didn't shoot the judge any more than I did.

- Well, maybe you know what you're talking about, Dan,

but blamed if I do.

- Boys, you all know me, and you know I'm telling the truth.

I want you to help get the judge to Perkins ranch.

I figure I'll be needing some help there pronto.

- Why? What's up, Dan?

- I haven't time to explain now.

Only let Wally Smeed play his own hand the way he wants to.

I'll be responsible for him.

- [Carl] Lend us a hand here, Pete.

(cows mooing)

- The boss ought to be satisfied with that herd.

That's fine-lookin' beef.

- Yeah.

(cows mooing) (cowboys shouting)

- There they go, headed for the border.

Never lost a head either.

Who's that?

(gunshots banging)

A posse. Come on, let's get out of here.

- Whoa! Here's where they turned off.

- Well, let's trail 'em.

- [Molly] Let me go, I say! Let me go!

- Mills has got Molly.

They're in that cabin over there. Come on.

- [Kemper] Right over here.

- I'm afraid to shoot on account of Molly.

- Well, what'll we do?

- You draw their fire from the front.

I'll sneak around the back way.

- Right.

(gunshot banging)

(glass shattering) (gunshot banging)

- Come back here!

- Let me go!

(gunshots banging)

(gunshot banging)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshot banging)

Get over here! Come on, get up.

And don't come out!

(gunshot banging)

(gunshot banging)

(punches cracking)

- Dan.

Oh!

(punches cracking)

(punches cracking)

(punches cracking)

(punches cracking)

Oh, Dan, he's been hard hit.

- It's been Mills all along.

First man I killed was in self-defense.

I told him who I was.

That gave him a hold over me and Dad.

- What was Mills' game, Wally?

- He wanted a string of ranches clear to the border

so he could run his stolen stock through.

Pearson's was the next.

Dan, I've always been a black sheep.

Please don't tell anybody else who I was.

- I won't, Wally.

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

- Who do you suppose it is?

- I don't know, but we're gonna find out.

(gunshot banging)

They've stopped firing.

You boys rush the front.

Simms, we'll sneak around the back way.

- There's a gang out there, Molly,

and they're closing in on us.

Quick, the closet.

- You're in a spot, Larson,

taking the law into your own hands.

My word is worth more than yours in this deal.

You're not a ranger anymore.

You made a bad break when you resigned.

- That's where you made your mistake, Mills.

- What do you mean?

- You thought I resigned, but I didn't.

I just wanted to bring you into the open,

and I've sure done it.

Don't try and make a break, Mills,

or you'll be the first man I've ever shot in the back.

- Let's bust in the door.

(gunshots banging)

(gunshot banging)

(gunshot banging)

- All right, now stand back. Back up.

- Blow that.

(gunshot banging)

- The back way, boys. Come on.

Look, it's a posse.

(gunshots banging)

(gunshots banging)

- Get 'em up there! Put 'em up!

Collect these guns there.

- Get the guns, boys.

- Gimme that gun. - Take the guns.

- That's it, pull 'em up now.

- Molly, it's Beeman and a posse.

- Oh. Oh, Dan.

- Good work, Carl. You got here just in time.

- Well, don't look like you needed any help.

(orchestral music)