Original subtitles

[gunshots]

NARRATOR: The Rifleman.

Starring Chuck Connors.

Boy, three days fishing in the mountains sure can spoil you.

I've forgotten how hot it was down here.

These trout aren't going to make it back to North Fork.

We'd better have them for supper.

Good. Where do you want to camp?

Well, anywhere there's some good shelter.

And it looks like we've got company.

MARK: Isn't that Micah?

Yeah.

I wonder what he's doing here?

[suspenseful music]

Howdy, Lucas boy, Mark.

Just getting back from your fishing trip?

Yeah. What are you doing out here?

Oh, I been over to Marietta on a little business.

Tell me, did you catch anything?

A whole mess of speckled trout.

Well now, that's better than eating beans out of a can.

Got enough of them trout for me, boy?

Scully Potter.

I'm taking him back to North Fork

to stand trial before the circuit judge.

What for?

He shot and killed Ted Bennett,

the sheriff at Marietta, a couple of days ago.

Ted Bennett?

Why? - No reason.

He just hates law men and everybody connected with them.

I tell you, boy, I like my fish fried.

You know, in a pan.

Little fat back thrown in there with them.

That makes 'em taste nice and juicy.

That's enough, Potter.

A man headed for the gallows doesn't

get any special privileges until his last meal.

You ain't hung me yet, law man.

[laughs manically]

Mmm!

My oh my, that was good!

Say, how about some more?

Got some beans left if you want some.

That's all.

No.

I reckon that's enough.

Hey, that boy there, he's a good cook.

Done that fish just like I told him.

Son, uh, you want to start cleaning up?

We can ride on another half hour or so before we bed down.

Sure.

I'll get the plates, Pa.

Good.

Stay away from him, boy.

Oh, I ain't going to bite him, Marshal.

Come here.

MARK: Pa!

How do you figure that'll do you any good?

I don't like law men.

I don't like nothing about 'em!

Let me see that, Micah.

It's going to be all right.

Lucas, look, why don't you and Mark go on.

You shouldn't have stopped here in the first place.

It's not good for the boy.

Looks like a bad sprain.

That's good.

Maybe he broke it.

It's going to be all right!

Not for a couple of days, you won't be able to use it.

I have to use it.

Lucas, do like I said.

You and Mark go on.

- Go for your gun. - What?

You heard me.

Go for your gun.

[laughing]

How about that?

He can't even draw his gun.

Mark, break out the bed rolls.

We'll heat up some water so you can soak that,

and you get some sleep.

I'll stand watch.

Now, Lucas, listen to me--

I won't listen and don't you argue.

[laughing]

Now, you look after him good, Mr. Lucas.

Uh-uh.

Well, you can't blame me for trying.

How you doing?

All right.

What's the matter with you, can't you sleep?

No, not with this thing.

Night's about half over.

Why don't you turn in?

Why don't you both turn in?

You're keeping me awake.

Call me if you have to, Micah.

I will.

Good night, law man.

Morning, Mark.

Good morning, Micah.

Well, now, it looks like everybody

had a good night's sleep.

You figure to make North Fork today, Marshal?

I do.

Tonight you'll be sleeping behind bars.

Hmm.

Hey, boy.

You gonna fix breakfast?

I'm hungry!

Micah?

We get some cornmeal.

Pa makes good flapjacks.

Let your father sleep, son.

He's been up half the night.

So were you.

I'll stoke up the fire.

You brew some coffee, huh?

Sure.

How's your hand?

Well, it's-- it's pretty sore, but I

think it'll feel much better once I get him locked up.

Hey, boy.

Make that coffee strong and black.

Hey, Marshal.

Too bad you didn't get a hard night's

sleep like the boy's pa there.

He ain't moved an inch since he laid down.

He sure must be tired.

Give him his breakfast, Mark.

I'll go fill this canteen.

Hey, boy.

You know, this sure does beat it.

And when you cooked that fish last night and now

these here flaps--

Just the way I like 'em.

Hey, I tell you what.

Next time I hit the trail, I'll come looking for you.

You and me, we make a team.

Why, anybody that cooks like this--

I'd-- I'd better go wake up my pa.

Yeah.

Yeah, you better go.

Thanks.

Pa?

Pa, you better wake up, breakfast is ready.

Pa, come on, it's morning.

Aw, Pa, come on--

Pa?

What-- what's wrong?

Pa?

Pa, say something.

Pa!

[snake rattling]

What's the matter, boy?

He didn't get up?

Micah?

Pa.

There-- there's a rattler in his bed roll.

He can't move.

Hey, what are you whispering for?

He sick or something?

Keep your voice down.

You-- you sure it's a rattler?

I heard it.

Hey, come on, what's going on?

Are you going to tell me what's going on?

Please.

There-- there's a snake in my pa's bed roll, a rattler, so

just don't make any noise, huh?

Hey, how about that, huh?

Hey, law man, you gonna have your hands full,

'cause that snake don't like where he's at.

Ain't that right, Mr. Rattlesnake?

You don't like where you at!

Give me a hand, Mark.

When he comes to, I--

I want him far enough away from here

so he can make all the noise he wants without bothering

anybody, especially that snake.

Come on, grab a hold of him.

All right, let's go.

[snake rattling]

Micah, you-- you think we could shoot him?

No, we couldn't do that.

It'd have to be in the head.

We can't even tell where he is.

Well, we got to do something.

Yeah, I know.

If I just didn't have his bad hand.

You-- you suppose I could grab him?

I'll get my saddle gloves, and what with that blanket--

No, no, I can't let you do that, Mark.

Your father wouldn't let you either.

How long can he stay like that?

Who knows when that snake might--

Now, now, calm down, boy.

Just take it easy.

Hey, law man!

Come here, I got to see you.

Hurry up, it's about that snake.

What do you want?

You figured out what to do?

You called me over here to ask me that?

You know, you want some advice?

I'll be glad to give it to you.

I don't need--

I lived around these parts all my life.

Ain't much I don't know about what lives here.

People, animals, snakes.

One time I got stranded.

Lost my horse.

Had to live off the land.

Used up my bullets.

And I wouldn't have made it if I hadn't

have caught this big rattlesnake with my bare hands.

We thought of that.

You gonna try it or are you too scared?

I'll make a deal with you!

No deals.

How about one of them cigars, huh?

Why, I can sure use a smoke, law man.

Hey, Mark, you still got that knife

I gave you for your birthday?

Yeah.

Is it-- is it good and sharp?

Well, I honed it just before Pa

and me went on that fishing trip.

Good Now, do you see that bamboo yonder?

Yeah.

Well, go down and cut me a shoot and bring it back to me.

Be careful and don't break it.

How is that going to help Pa?

Go on and do what I say, boy.

Go ahead, hurry up.

[suspenseful music]

Now, Mark, you-- you figure your aim's pretty good?

Yeah.

All right.

Now, if this should happen to work and it comes out,

let him get far enough away before you let him have it.

Understand?

Yeah.

All right.

Get ready.

Here goes.

[suspenseful music]

[snake rattling]

Hey, law man!

You two playing around?

You ready to make that deal?

You feel that heat?

That sun up there is hot.

You're going to bake that man alive if you don't

get him out of that bed roll.

There ain't going to be nothing left of him to save.

You better hear me out.

I can save him.

What does he mean, Micah?

Just talk.

What do you mean you can save my pa?

Oh, did I say that?

I told you, Mark, it was just talk.

Now, wait a minute.

Yeah, I reckon I did say that.

I also said he's got to make a deal.

No deals.

Micah, please.

Go on.

Like I told him, you got to know how to handle a rattler.

Now me, I know.

The fact is that'd be easy, 'cause he's under a blanket.

It's too dangerous.

Why?

That blanket, I figured he'd have

a hard time biting through it.

I figure my chance would be pretty good.

I'm not talking about your chances.

It's him I'm thinking about.

You got any other choices?

Now, I can't do it with these here on.

Now you take these off, and I'll be willing to give it a try.

You mean set you free?

No, I didn't say that.

Once it's over, well, you can put 'em back on me.

That's part of the deal.

Go on.

For a while I figured you'd put a bullet in me.

That would be quick, easy.

That's why I've been riling.

Come on, get to the point.

I figured maybe I help save that man's life,

you'd put in a word for me to the circuit judge.

Maybe he'd go easy.

That's the deal.

You might get off with life, that's all.

That's good enough.

He ain't got nothing to lose.

Please, Micah.

All right.

Remember, I'll have a gun on you.

You try any tricks, it'll be your last.

That's fair enough.

[snake rattling]

Hey, Mr. Lucas, everything's going to be all right now.

I'm gonna help you get out from under there.

'Cause I'm gonna get that snake now.

And then I'm going to jump back.

And you better start shooting, 'cause

that snake is gonna be mad.

All right?

Are you ready, Mr. Lucas?

Here I come.

We're gonna take care of that snake.

Now, Mr. Lucas, now, this ain't going to hurt a bit.

You just lie right still.

Now, don't you move.

Now, you be sure when I get my hand

in there between you and that reptile, that you roll away.

All right?

Now, that's very important.

Now, let me see.

Well, that little son of a gun must be

right down in there somewhere.

[snake rattling]

Oh, he ain't so little.

He's a big 'un.

We'll get him, we'll get him.

Suppose, uh, I were to say to you right now, unload that gun

and throw it away, and I say the same thing to the boy?

And if you don't--

You'd be a dead man.

MARK: You made a deal.

That's right.

I did.

Mark.

Well now, now we come to the separation of the snake

from the man's blanket.

Oh, this is going to be easy.

You all ready?

'Cause I'm gonna get it now.

Now you be sure to roll away, 'cause

I don't want you to get bit.

You hear me?

All right, now.

I'm just about ready to get him.

Here we go.

Yeah, let's keep that deal!

Give me that, boy!

[gunshot]

[gunshots]

Pa?

Pa, you all right?

Pa?

Pa, I'll get you a drink of water.

All set, Pa.

Everything's ready. - Good, son.

Come on up.

Here, let me give you a hand, Micah.

Thanks, Lucas.

Do you think we can make it 15 miles to the next water

hole before dark?

Well, if you don't mind, I'd just as soon make

it all the way to North Fork.

I don't relish sleeping in a bed roll again-- not for a while,

anyway.

I'll go along with that, Lucas.

[theme music]