Original subtitles

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can you get a small glance, please?

Check in the middle.

Oh, that's how it is.

Oh, Mr. Cardright.

I wonder if we might have a few words together.

I said in the Mr. And can I see no reason why we shouldn't?

Oh, Mrs. Wright suggests that we use her study.

Oh, Mr. Cardright.

I wonder if we might have a few words together.

I said in the Mr. And can I see no reason why we shouldn't?

I wanted to meet you for a long time.

A happy circumstance that we are both invited to be Mrs. Wright's guests in our home when you and your sons were in San Francisco.

I have the distinct feeling that you might have arranged by those invitations.

Yes, well, two business.

You are aware that I own certain parcels of land in Nevada.

Mr. Endicott, I'm aware that you own half of the northern part of the state of Nevada.

I like Nevada, Mr. Cardright.

It's young, vital, growing.

I want to help with that growth, which means taking an active part in the politics of the state.

I want to ask your full and active support for an old friend of yours.

For what office?

Governor.

And your candidate?

John Faraday, your friend.

Mr. Endicott, our present governor, has served this state capably and honestly, and he wishes to remain in office.

And he has my full support.

Faraday is counting on you.

I've known John for a long time, and I admired him.

Until he became your tame judge.

My tame judge.

Then you pay for all his campaign expenses when he ran for office in Virginia City two years ago?

John Faraday has been a good judge and you cannot say otherwise.

Yes, it's true.

So far he hasn't had to rule on the legality of any of your land transactions.

That's when he begins to earn his keep, isn't it so?

Be careful how you slender me, Cardright.

I don't consider it slender to say that a man like you wants a governor who will come running whenever you whistle and do exactly what you tell him to.

Mr. Endicott, you have a reputation for corrupting everything you touch.

Now you want to control a governor so you can corrupt this state.

You're not going to do either. I promise you that.

Is this a declaration of war, Cardright?

Unless you stay out of Nevada politics.

Fighting me can be a very unhealthy pursuit.

A number of men could confirm that except that they are no longer with us.

Are you threatening me?

Make of it what you will. But don't get in my way.

When you will go back in what you were treated as part of the negative action to be

Excuse me.

Oh, Ben.

You've talked with Mr. Endicott.

I thought you might have something to tell me.

No, John.

I haven't had anything to tell you.

Mr. Endicott possibly has.

Judge Faraday.

Yes.

Mr. Endicott would like to talk to you.

Right away.

I'll see you back in Virginia City.

Good night, gentlemen.

Judge.

Both of them are all about in here.

Sam Endicott is increasing his investments in the manner.

Property of people.

Both, Joseph.

Both.

I thought you said Ben Cartwright was a friend of yours.

Well, he is a friend of mine.

I thought he was.

He will not support you.

Did he say why?

Ben Cartwright has ambitions of his own.

He wants to sit in the governor's chair.

But he's never held an elective or a point of office.

He wants to be governor.

He asked for my support.

I turned him down.

He's too arrogant, too self-seeking,

not the right man at all.

I never thought of him in that way, but yes, sir.

With Cartwright against you, it'll be a tougher race,

but you'll win.

On your way out, ask Mr. Broome to come in.

Of course.

Thank you, Mr. Endicott.

If I do win, I'll do everything in my power

to be the kind of governor.

Never mind.

Save the speeches for the campaign.

Mr. Endicott wants to see you.

We've got a fight on our hands.

Cartwright is tougher and better informed

than I thought he could be.

It's an error in judgment, Broome.

And Faraday?

Is he still in the bag?

You'll do as he's told, as long as he can convince himself

that it is for the common good.

But that's only half of our problem.

Cartwright is going to search for ammunition

with which to fight us.

If he digs deeply enough, he might discover our plans

for the development company.

If he does, we'll buy him off.

Not a chance.

Ben Cartwright is a highly moral man.

Well, that kind comes a little more expensive.

We'll make him a partner.

He wouldn't listen to that for one minute.

There's only one answer.

Not so fast.

The nominating committee meets in Carson City in 20 days.

Without Cartwright's support, Faraday

couldn't be nominated for dogcatcher.

If Cartwright endorses Faraday, no contest.

Faraday wins going away.

But then Cartwright isn't going to change his mind.

So we can't win without Cartwright's endorsement.

That means we will get Cartwright's endorsement one way

or the other, dead or alive.

As I said, there's only one answer.

You will leave in the morning for Carson City, the hotel.

Catwoman's Hotel?

You rent the biggest suite.

Whoever you need.

You start this campaign with the biggest fan for odd possible.

Done it many times before.

You have a man to take care of.

I'll get one.

Hey, from a bag down, will you, friend?

A bunch of lights, old driver.

Anytime you're in the market for a Hastings

hard, wear best of the West by test.

You remember all Wellburn White.

Drummer par excellence.

I can read your unspoken thoughts, Mr. Broome.

You're thinking that I don't look like somebody you'd hire to kill a man.

You don't look like a man, I'd hire to hold a horse.

One of my greatest assets, sir.

You just think about it for a minute and you'll see that I'm right.

You know something, I never go anywhere without these catalogs.

They're my passport.

Take me anywhere I want to go, no questions asked.

See, I sell hardware.

That's my cover.

The hardware I sell is very real.

I'll sell you one two penny nail, 40 horse collars, or 100 gross savages.

Now, I carry another little book.

I only show the special people, like yourself.

Go ahead, open it up.

Prominent Denver attorney found dead, no clues.

I'm going to turn the page.

Oh, now that's a good one.

Wyoming mourns unsolved murder of state's attorney.

And you know something?

He never went anywhere without a bodyguard.

Here's your advance.

That's $500.

Well, now that's right, it's rain.

Plus another $2,000 payment upon delivery, as you might call it.

Time is of the essence.

You mean hit quick and get out of the state fast, quick?

Not slip shot.

The, um, customer has been caught right on the ponderosa.

Now, you pick them big, mister.

Not too big for you, mister White?

No, sir.

They all fall down when they're hit by a 44.

Ben Cartwright, I have to have a whole new chapter just for him, my little book.

I'll leave on the first stage for Virginia City.

Come on, relax, mister Broome.

I guarantee satisfaction.

Has it right now, mister Ben Cartwright, is as good as dead?

I mean...

Spare a few moments?

Of course.

The court doesn't reconvene for another ten minutes.

Part of a judge's obligation to be available to the public.

Thank you, sit down.

John, I, uh, I'd like to discuss your candidacy.

Yes, I thought that would be the subject of your visit.

Well, Ben, would it help if I assured you that I did or said nothing to influence Mr. Andy Cartwright's choice

of a candidate?

I didn't come here to pass judgment on you.

Well, then why did you come, Ben?

Certainly not to offer me your congratulations or your backing.

No, wait.

I don't blame you.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably feel the same way.

You must have had your heart set on that nomination.

And then to be turned on by the man who could help you most will.

Believe me, I can understand your disappointment.

Wait a minute, Judge.

I don't resent your candidacy.

It's your backing that concerns me.

And I think it should concern you too, John.

And it's got a couple of things straight.

I never sought the nomination.

But if I did, end a cut would be the last man in the world I'd ever turned off her help.

Well, if that's your story, Ben, I won't argue.

If you want to say face, that's your business.

Only don't expect me to go along with it.

All right, John.

That's what you want to believe.

Let's talk about the governorship.

And you and Andy Cart.

Why is he backing you?

Because he's my friend.

And he knows I'll do everything I can to be a good governor.

John, I'm gonna lay it right on the line.

What's in it for him?

Oh, I see through you now, Ben Cart, right?

You'd like to get it, Andy Cart, through me.

Well, it won't work.

Andy Cart is an honest man.

Who just happens to want to pay all your campaign expenses?

Now, if you have a quarrel with Andy Cart, that's personal.

I have nothing to do with that.

But don't impune his honesty or mine.

Court convenes in two minutes.

Was there anything else on your mind, Mr. Cart, right?

No, I guess not.

The worst part of all this is you believe everything you said?

It's like this.

Well, we've got plenty of people to listen to us.

The problem is, what do we tell them?

They're telling the truth.

Andy Cart's trying to steal the state of Nevada.

What do we say when they ask for proof?

What would you do?

Just tell them what you think?

Well, maybe.

People around here been taking your word

things for a long time.

You're a delegate to the convention.

You get a chance to talk, ma'am.

Oh, yes, I plan to do that.

As you said, indicates a smart man,

and he'll be ready and waiting.

He'll tell the convention just what he told Judge Faraday

that I'd try to get him to back me, and he turned me down.

Then what?

He just sends the Anominations of Judge Faraday, don't you?

Two weeks before the convention starts on.

I won't try to talk to as many delegates as I can.

Hope that I can convince him.

Then I'll leave for a call, I guess.

Evening, Mr. Cartwright.

Yeah, I'm one of them.

What can I do for you?

Well, my card, sir.

Wilburn White Hastings' hardware satisfaction guarantee.

It's a hardware salesman, Pa.

We'll have the gentleman come in.

Right this way, so much blood.

Ah, you must be, Mr. Ven Cartwright.

That's right, I am.

Wilburn White, at your service, sir.

You're a hardware salesman?

Yes, Hastings, the best in the West by test.

Well, I hope you didn't come out from town just to see us.

Well, you're the last of four ranches in this area.

And if you had, you've made a trip for nothing.

You see, we've been buying our hardware from a dealer

in Virginia City for some years now.

And, well, actually, there's no reason to change.

Oh, well, that's the fortunes of words, you might say.

Hey, you stick around for a gumcove?

Oh, much obliged.

But I think I'll get back into town.

You know, a city man like me gets mighty nervous at night

out here in the wide, open spaces.

Well, it was good meeting all of you.

You know, it's not very often you get a chance

to meet somebody as important as Ven Cartwright

no sir read.

Good night, good night, sir.

Good night there, young fella.

It's your book, I think.

Well, I shouldn't be.

You got another one on his mind, but hardware.

You said something I had in my mind.

Well, I'd better get some rest.

I've got a lot of talking to you in the next couple of weeks.

Good night, boy.

Good night.

VIOLIN MUSIC

What?

How bad is it?

It's just grazing.

He's still alive.

Is there anything?

No.

What's getting nice?

Get your feet.

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

What's it?

It's just...

What's it?

I...

I think there'd probably be some men

who might wanna see me dead.

There's only one I can think of right now.

Handicard?

We're that night San Francisco.

Mrs. Wright's?

Mrs. Wright's.

He threatened me with murder.

I thought it was bluffing.

Well, from what I hear about Indy Cuddy's capable of anything.

What about Bushwacking when he was cashing?

All kinds of men you can hire to do some Bushwacking for you.

So how do we prove it?

Don't get in my way.

The last words he said to me.

Don't get in my way.

And I got in his way.

I got in the way.

The thing he wanted most.

Friday's nomination.

We can't let him get away with it.

Yes, we can, Joe.

We can and we will.

Or set a Bushwacker.

He wouldn't have any way of knowing whether I was dead or not, would he?

Well, no.

No recognition that we could.

Yeah.

I like that.

I wonder if you'll go into Virginia City.

And you'll announce my death.

What are you talking about your death? What for?

Dr. Wilson.

He's a man that'll help us in our kind of fight, I think.

Talk to him first.

We're gonna fix Andy Cotton once and for all.

I just can't get used to reading my own obituaries.

All this feels me with a great deal of respect.

I had no idea I was such a wonderful person.

Poor, you know, I suppose some fellows might be stretching a little.

I'm sure they were, but I sure hate to play this kind of crew

tricking some very fine people.

Well, as soon as they find out why you're doing it, they'll forgive you.

I hope so.

Hey, hey.

That's just a cat even though a batch of mail.

How is he?

Oh, he's fine. He had a bigger lunch than horse.

There's more complaining than any corp driver of men around.

At least you thought I was going to stop talking about me as if I weren't here.

Sorry about that.

There's a lot of excitement in town. They found the bushwhacker.

They did?

Coffee thinks so. It's a man named Briggs.

Briggs?

I don't know anyone named Briggs.

Well, that figure. It's a hired gun and a cop brought in to kill you.

He may be a hired gun, but he looks more like a saddle tramp.

His horse had a nick and one of his shoes, Sheriff Coffee found hoof prints to match it near the barn.

And there was a rifle cartridge there, too.

Was he confessed?

Not yet, but he had $200 in his pocket.

He admits not having worked for three months, but he claims he wanted a poker game.

Well, it should be easy to prove if it's true.

No, not so easy. It was a two-handed poker game in the hotel room.

No witnesses and the loser left town.

Convenience.

Sheriff Coffee's convinced he has the right man, so is the prosecutor.

Trial starts tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

It's all a pushing thing, they do.

Well, Mr. Cartwright was a very important man.

Towns are an ugly mood. They've got a rope and a gallows and they're looking for somebody to hang.

That sure changes things.

Well, it's a good thing.

That sure changes things.

Well, a convention starts in five days.

There ain't no way they can finish that trial, but then...

I wouldn't count on it.

All right, you men, hurry it up.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

The court is on the way.

So sorry you have to leave.

So now we have female delegates.

Some of the delegates have wives and sisters.

wives and sisters.

Some of the men have lady friends.

That happened to be one of mine.

What else have you accomplished?

I spent a lot of your money, where

I had to, I promised, State House help.

And where I could, I, yeah, I bought the votes.

We have votes enough?

Almost.

And the cartwright $2,500.

I also had to buy you a fortune.

It was another 750.

I didn't know that they were that expensive.

I always find it wiser to pay what they ask.

Otherwise, they might sign your name to a check.

Why don't you go to invite me in, mister?

What are you doing here?

Caught entire agreement, you were supposed to get out of the state

and stay out.

That was until I found out who I was working for.

You're working for me.

Not unless you're in need of a car.

I'm not going to be a good guy.

I'm not going to be a good guy.

I'm not going to be a good guy.

I'm not going to be a good guy.

I'm not going to be a good guy.

Not unless your name is Samuel Carter-Indicate.

It's all right, Broome.

Perhaps this gentleman would like to discuss matters further with me.

Well, if you're Samuel Carter-Indicate.

I am.

I'll handle this, Broome.

You took a chance coming here.

No moon tonight.

I left my horse three streets down, came up the back, stairway.

Nobody saw me.

Most commendable, mister...

White.

Well-burned white.

I take it that we are indebted to you for all the evidence leading to the rest of the cowhand Briggs.

Oh, well, you take it right, mister.

I stole a horse from every stable.

And used to ride out to the Ponderosa.

And you know something.

I played two-handed poker with him.

My hotel room, and I lost $200 to...

A stroke of genius.

And now you feel that you're entitled to more than the stipulated sum.

I agree, mister White.

Mr. Broome is inclined to watch the purse strings over carefully.

How much more would you think is fair?

One thousand? Two?

Well, man.

The way I look at it, mister...

Is sort of be worth old.

Let's say ten thousand a year minimum.

A year, did you say?

Are you saying that you expect an annual honorarium?

Well, man, as important as you.

Have a lot of people in your payroll.

I don't imagine you got anybody with my...

Particular talent?

Too shame, mister White.

I admire your business, a cumin.

You, uh, obviously have, uh...

Have studied the pros and cons.

Wait them carefully, and you have decided that I cannot afford to turn you down.

Well, that's about the size of it, yes.

So you have rightly come here, without anyone seeing you,

to make sure that I make sure that you don't talk.

And it would be...

Cherlish of me to disappoint you.

You will find his horse and get rid of it.

As to our friend there, he will fit very nicely into the steamer trunk,

which he will ship to San Francisco and load aboard one of our vessels bound for the Orient.

Fortunately, that poor double Briggs will pay for mister White's crime.

I've never seen a man convicted so quick on circumstantial evidence before.

And it sounds in an ugly mood you saw they were looking at the jury.

They'd have found a minuscent, they probably would have tarred and feathered him.

A worse.

Just can't imagine him hanging him so quick.

Tomorrow, I've never seen it set so fast.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

Tomorrow, I've never seen it set so fast.

Well, I'm no authority on hangings, but I don't know what else Judge Faraday could have done.

If you'd have kept that man in jail any longer, they'd burn down the jail any minute.

And the convention starts tomorrow.

Well, I'm gonna get back to the ranch and give Father news.

Right.

I'll see you later.

I shouldn't think they'd rush through that trial so quickly.

We need it was one more day.

One day.

And what do we do now?

The governor.

He could stop the hanging.

Yeah.

See wood?

I'd have to show myself to him.

And Andy cut wood down.

One old day before I won him too.

Everything I've got going for me is a surprise of showing up the right time.

I can mention Opus tomorrow morning.

What time?

10 o'clock.

What time's the hanging scheduled for?

10 in the morning.

Well...

We'll go right into town tonight after dark.

And get Judge Faraday to wish we a stay of execution.

He's in the cart, ma'am.

What other choice do we have?

I thought you were a ghost when you walked in.

I thank God you're alive.

So do I.

But the rest.

Ben, your accusations are wild.

Totally without foundation.

I'll say it again.

San Landicott hired an assassin to kill me.

All right.

I believe there was an assassin.

I don't believe San Mendicott hired him.

Well, also I say my father dead.

I think your father will admit he might have other enemies than Endicott.

But who else would want me dead now at this particular time just before the convention?

It's conjecture, supposition.

Ben, can you prove any of these things in court?

Not at this time.

Well, then your accusations are pure slander.

Mr. Endicott can sue you for everything you own and win.

I know that.

But given time,

I think I can force Mr. Endicott to expose himself.

I'll never believe Endicott had anything to do with it.

Well, if Paul didn't believe it, one of you suppose he pretended to be dead.

To get even with Endicott.

For what?

For backing me as a candidate in place of him.

I told you before, I'm not a candidate now and I never have been.

Endicott said you came and asked him for his support.

You've known my father a long time, Judge Faraday.

Have you ever known him to lie?

All right, Endicott exaggerated.

John.

You've been friends.

Haven't you wondered why I refused to back you?

You made it quite clear you thought I'd be bad for the state.

No. No, not you.

Endicott.

If you're elected, you'll be in his debt.

And then one day he'll ask you for a small favor for one of his friends,

or nothing important, just a matter of executive prerogative.

The next favor will be for him.

Only it'll be bigger and the one after that will be bigger again,

and then you won't be able to stop him or stop yourself.

Get out!

Get out and leave me alone.

You're going to force me to show my hand now.

Not John.

You really think that I would use my own attempted murder in self-interest?

You really believe that I could play this kind of trick on all my friends?

And if I'm wrong, if Sam Endicott is innocent,

by tomorrow night I'll be the laughingstock of Nevada, and you'll be governor.

But suppose I'm right.

Just suppose I'm right.

I came here tonight to show myself to you, to say breaks from hanging.

But if Endicott finds out about this, he'll announce to the world that I'm alive

and guilty of the worst that dirtiest political hoax ever pulled in this state.

If you issue that stay of execution now, without giving any reasons,

you'll give me time to prove to you to everybody that Endicott is everything I've said he is.

If I'm wrong, you win.

If I'm right, you lose.

But you'll have done the state a great service.

This is the biggest decision of your life, John.

Gentlemen?

Hey, Bob.

How are you?

Say hello to the wife of a week.

How are you? Good to see you.

Good? Good to see you again.

Jack Van Buren, delegate from Tonnepa. I used to work for him.

According to him, Joe, it's all but over.

The floor is going to be only a formality.

How are you?

So what the man said? That's what I heard.

Well, maybe there's something you haven't heard your name near the cart, right?

Endicott and Broome are talking to key delegates in a hotel.

Coming to make up their minds.

Yeah, I heard that too.

Hi, how are you? How's the wife and the new doctor?

Jim?

Oh, yes.

He's trying to cut like Docana.

Fine.

You doing?

Jim Porter owns the bar M. Ranch.

A wife named Mary, daughter of Penelope.

Oh, Mr. Porter. Jim, how's the wife?

No, don't tell me. I'll remember.

Mary.

Oh, it beats me. How do you do it?

We only had an opportunity to say howdy, and that was six, seven months ago.

Well, man likes to remember his friends.

Only yesterday I was talking about you to our next governor, John Faraday.

Oh, well, thank you.

Yeah, he likes you very much.

Now, what's your pleasure?

No, whatever you have, Mr. Sharklin.

I'm complimented you picked me.

I had to pick someone I could trust, Senator.

I only wish I could be of more help.

I believe everything you told me, but not all the delegates know you as well as I do.

And I can't prove a word of it.

You know the man who controls the key delegates is gonna win this battle.

Gentlemen, delegates!

Your friend and mine.

The honorable Samuel Endicott would like to say a few words.

Thank you, gentlemen.

In a few minutes, the convention will convene.

And the serious business of nominating our next governor will begin.

Before that happens, I want to read to you a very important letter from the president of the United States.

A very important letter from a very important man.

The late Ben Cartwright was my friend.

Senator, I think it's about time you got down there.

Thanks.

Do you write, Tom?

Well...

Bill, I know...

speak for Ben Cartwright.

I read to you from a letter that he wrote me the day before an assassin's bullet ended his life.

I can think of no man better fitted to Governor Nevada than our mutual friend, Judge John Faraday.

Gentlemen, Ben Cartwright never wrote any such letter.

Yes, I'm alive.

And very much alive, Mr. Endicott.

I have never written a letter to Sam Endicott.

I never put any recommendations on paper.

I've tried Mr. Endicott. He's lied to you.

He is not my friend.

He is not your friend.

He is certainly not the friend of the state of Nevada.

I told him I would not support Judge Faraday.

And when I further told him that I would support none of his nominations,

he hired that assassin to kill me.

I'd like to see that letter.

Of course.

This isn't even a good forgery.

It's not my signature.

Our gentlemen, Ben Cartwright could or could not have hired the unfortunate man

who was hanged at Virginia City this morning to play the role of assassin.

But the blame for that poor wretch's death must be forever on the conscience of Ben Cartwright.

A human sacrifice for political gain.

Gentlemen, there was no hanging in Virginia City this morning.

That man in jail is alive.

And the stay of execution was ordered by Judge Faraday himself.

Now, gentlemen, the moment of decision.

On the one hand, a governor who has served this honorably and well,

and who deserves our continued support.

On the other hand, a puppet controlled by Mr. Endicott and Mr. Broome.

Two scoundrels who have corrupted everything they've ever touched.

And it will stop at nothing, not even murder to get what they want.

The future course of our state.

The future course of the state of Nevada will be decided today in this room.

Gentlemen, you can let Endicott and Broome loot and destroy our state.

Or you can stop them in the tracks.

Your vote is the only weapon you need.

All up, Ben.

I'll be proud to walk on their convention for it with you.

Come on.

Well, Ben, how does it feel to win on the first ballot?

Glad the governor was re-nominated.

I'm glad he's sending that telegram with drawing his name from the convention.

I see you.

I'm glad it's all over.

It's already a lot more integrity than I gave him credit for.

Shame it took a man like Endicott to bring it out.

Well, a friend Endicott's finally given up the ghost.

I'm glad he's here.

The hardware salesman.

Daddy, get the sheriff.