Original subtitles

(guitar strumming)

- [Tod] Mesquite, Texas.

A rodeo arena.

Covered grandstand,

4,000 seats,

four-lane divided highway from downtown Dallas.

15 minutes away.

April through September.

The riders are gone now.

Gone till spring.

All their sun-dancing broncs are gone too.

The Dapple Grays, the sorrel mares,

and the wild chestnuts.

The bullriders are gone.

The ropers, the wranglers and hazers,

all gone.

Following the highway to other arenas,

more prize money.

Del and Jud, they're gone too.

Pulled their freight, like they say in the rodeo.

Babe.

She's gone.

And Ollie.

(car horn honks)

What did Ollie say?

A clown takes on the hurts of people.

I used to believe there was only one way

a man could become wise,

at his own expense.

But now, I'm not so sure.

Now that Buz and I are leaving too.

Now that everything that happened here belongs to yesterday.

I'm not so sure.

- Here today, gone tomorrow.

- Funny, I can still hear it.

Can almost see it.

Like it was last Wednesday all over again.

Just last Wednesday,

Buz and I were wrapping up our final week

of a 30-day job at the brick company.

It seems a lifetime.

A lot of lifetimes.

(upbeat music)

- Testing.

Testing. One, two, three, four.

- Sure this won't kill him, Del?

Now, we wouldn't wanna kill him, would we?

- Ollie?

Nothing ain't gonna kill Ollie,

don't you know that by now Jud?

- I don't know.

- Now, look you see this little thing

on the end here?

It works like a transformer.

It cuts down the juice just right

to give him a real fine ride.

A lot better ride than anyone of them

old horses out there in that corral could give him.

Hey, Babe!

You wanna us to help you hook up?!

- Thanks.

- You go get Ollie, and hurry.

- [Jud] Okay.

- Howdy.

- Hi.

- Here, just hold it while I bring in your line.

Now, don't touch the raw end

of this wire, you hear?

- Golly, Jud.

Mighty neighborly of you come tell me?

- Shoot Ollie, we know how you feel about Babe.

- Well, I'll fix it in no time.

Babe says it's the end of the wire

must've got tangled up some way or other.

Have to straighten it out,

then, hook this female socket on to it

so she can make the connection.

- Babe I got get a socket.

Maybe I oughta straighten this out first.

- Watch out, Ollie!

(electricity buzzing)

(men laughing)

(dramatic music)

(electricity buzzing)

- Stay with it Ollie!

(laughing)

- Stay with him, cowboy.

(men laughing)

- You pick it up.

- Hey, you're missing a foot or two of gorilla

to be giving a man-size order like that one.

(dramatic music)

- Hey, you pick it up.

- I don't know who you are, gunsel,

but when I get through whittlin' on you

while they'll recognize you any place.

- Yahoo! Yahoo!

Hey, Jud how about that?!

Did you see that?!

That was a twister wasn't it?!

Man, you see me ride that?!

(laughs)

Man, that was something, wasn't it?

(laughing)

- Jud.

You and Del, my office.

- Now, Joe the boys were just lettin'

off a little steam.

- Then how's come you busted, Del?

- Me?

You think I did that?

- No, I guess not.

(dramatic music)

- All you boys with a $40 thirst,

Ollie's pouring.

Well, all right, you get settled in,

and then drop by.

You hear now?

Ollie's pouring.

Babe.

- Thanks.

- Oh, it's only like this on the day before we open,

but come this time tomorrow,

once they get a little of that dust in their craw, boy.

Look, you boys coming?

You sure are welcome.

Let me buy you a drink right now.

- Thanks anyway.

We've gotta get back to work.

- I sure hope I haven't kept you from anything.

- No, just a couple of bricks.

We work right over there.

- Boy, you sure look like you were packing one

the way Del went down.

I guess I oughta thank you.

Well, now look old Del and Jud,

you gotta understand them,

they didn't mean any harm.

- Guys like you,

I don't dig, see?

Turn the other cheek,

I don't dig that either.

The scene is just loaded with cats

waiting for new cheeks to be turned

so they can clobber 'em.

And you guys make it easy,

you encourage 'em.

All you lambs, you know.

Well, I say the lambs are worse than the tigers

because without the lambs there

wouldn't be any tigers, clear?

- Buz, why don't you shut up?

- Why?

I'm sorry.

C'mon let's get out of here.

- Say, fellas.

You wanna see the rodeo?

My friend Mabel she's head cashier.

You ask for her tomorrow.

She's at the box office.

She'll save you a pair of seats.

The best seats in the grandstand, okay?

- You one of the riders?

- I'm the clown.

- Lightfoot.

That's that little horse that turns back, isn't it?

- That's him.

A real good little horse.

- 17.

Ramblin' Sam feelin' all right?

- Boy, he's poison,

bucked off Big Boy McCarty last week.

Busted him up pretty bad.

He's a real top buckin' horse,

but sure enough tough on the cowboys.

- He's a pretty bad ol' horse, Mr. Wylie.

But he can be rode.

- You're not riding my shows anymore, Del.

Neither you or Jud.

- Well, you took our entrance fee.

- I'll give it back to you.

- Now, just a minute.

Is this here rodeo on the up and up, Mr. Gay?

Can anybody enter that comes along

if they've got their association dues paid?

Well, if they can, tell Mr. Wylie.

- All right, if you're gonna go by the association rules.

That's the way it'll be,

but if I catch either one of you hazing Ollie again,

I'll see to you personally.

- It seems to me you're awful touchy

about poor ol' Ollie, Mr. Wylie.

Why?

- I finally figured out why you've

been following my rodeo.

I wondered about it in Bozeman, in Idaho Falls,

and in Roswell.

Couldn't be the prize money, I said to myself

because the Joe Wylie rodeo doesn't

have the purses to draw the big money winners

like Del McNab.

Then, in Sioux City

I got to figuring that maybe you

were sweet on Babe Hunter.

That you were just tagging around

this circuit because you had your

eye on my trick rider.

It wasn't till we hit Elko.

and Ollie got run over by that brahma,

and you gave him a swig out of your bottle

horse lineament I think it was, wasn't it Del?

It's then that I figured out what you were after.

It's then that I figured that

you were deliberately riding Ollie.

You were out to get him.

Why? What has this man ever done to you?

- Nothing.

He never done nothing to me,

but I hate him.

He's a bad omen.

Friday the 13th.

Ace of spades.

I hate him for what he is.

- I don't understand you.

- Well, you wouldn't.

- Ollie don't mind it none, Mr. Wylie.

Why, he told you so his self right out yonder.

Why, he enjoys it.

After all, ain't Ollie a clown?

- When the two of you were still

looking to see which end of a horse was which,

Ollie Crump was throwing his saddle

across broncs that you couldn't lead

to the catch pen.

Great broncs.

Like Lightning Barb,

and that crazy paint they had up north

that killed three men,

he was riding him loose,

and riding him clean,

and spurring hair at every jump.

And pulling down more top prize money

than any cowboy that ever buckled

on a pair of spurs.

And earning $25,000 in the days

when the dollar was a dollar.

Now, you leave him alone, you hear!

- You gonna put Ramblin' Sam in the hat?

- Number 18.

And I hope you draw him, cowboy.

(dramatic music)

- Howdy.

(melancholy music)

Babe?

(knocks)

Babe are you all right?

- [Recorded Voice] You'll test your understanding

of the rings' deep symbolism.

In form and substance alike they're very significant.

In form, they bespeak the endless ties

which now link you lives together.

And in substance, they tell the preciousness of love,

the human heart, and hope.

- [Announcer] And now, ladies and gentlemen

the equestrian performance of the century.

An act which has startled and entertained thousands

throughout Europe and South America.

Brought to this country for the very first time.

The famous Hunters, Albert and Babette

and their magnificent trained horses.

(crowd cheering)

- [Recorded Voice] Therefore, an ordained minister

Having witnessed your separate and your mutual vows.

- Babe?

I brought you something.

- Prince Charming.

- Go on.

- What's tonight?

- Wednesday.

- No, no, no, I mean what's the date?

- 23rd. September 23rd.

- Then, what are you doing in my trailer?

- I just brought you these, Babe.

- Nobody comes to my trailer on September 23rd.

September 24th they come.

September 22nd.

Not on September 23rd.

Now, get out!

- Babe, these'll help you they're gumdrops.

Now, I know that sounds silly,

but well the next time you feel like

having a little drink,

have one of these gumdrops instead.

You'd be surprised of what'll it do.

(laughing)

- Gumdrops.

- Babe.

Time was I drank.

I drank heavy.

But when I got off it,

I went to coffee,

and then I went to cube sugar.

I always used to carry it around in my jeans.

Me and my horses we always had plenty of cube sugar.

And then, I work myself to the gumdrops,

and well, I've been fine ever since.

- Get out!

Get out.

- Babe.

I got...

a feeling.

I feel for you Babe.

Babe.

I understand.

- Go on. Get out!

- Babe.

- Get out!

Get out!

(dramatic music)

(upbeat music)

- Del McNab up next

on horse number 18, Ramblin' Sam.

(horse whinnying)

(crowd cheering)

Pick him up.

(upbeat music)

- Isn't that the fella you had

the little problem with yesterday?

- I don't hardly recognize him.

Standing up that is.

- [Announcer] And there he is,

winner of the first go round, Del McNab,

with a marking of 180 points on Ramblin' Sam.

(crowd cheering)

- Well, at least if he comes after you,

you'll know who he is.

Del McNab.

(crowd cheering)

(crowd cheering)

(upbeat music)

- [Announcer] This is a broke cowboy

if I ever saw one.

We're going to auction off this horse.

Just what can he do?

- [Ollie] He does all kinds of imitations.

He'll do them, and you guess what they are.

- [Announcer] Now, just what do you call that?

- [Ollie] Oh heck, that's Roy Rogers's horse.

(crowd laughing)

- [Announcer] This is Rin Tin Tin.

- [Ollie] That's what he is.

(clapping)

- [Announcer] There he is ladies and gentlemen

the rodeo's greatest clown, Ollie.

- [Cowboy] Let' em go!

(crowd screaming)

(buzzing)

(crowd cheering)

(crowd screaming)

(crowd cheering)

- Listen to 'em.

- You all right, Babe?

- What'd I say last night?

- Say?

- Wasn't you that came to my trailer?

- Oh, yeah I guess it was.

- Didn't I say anything?

- [Ollie] Nothing much.

- Well, did you see anything special?

- Found gumdrops all over my trailer this morning.

- Tell you the truth, Del,

I feel kind of sorry for him.

He ain't got no friends,

and everybody's always laughing at him.

'Cause he's always acting a fool

no matter whether he's in that clown outfit,

or out of it, don't seem to make no difference.

You know, the way I got it figured.

Maybe he's got about all the trouble

that one man needs.

If we'd done some of the things

to anybody else that we've been doing to him like

is not somebody that gotten shot by this time.

- Then, that shows he ain't a man.

Just a clown.

- I guess that's about it.

Just a clown.

- How's the crowd?

- Oh, well they always love you.

- [Announcer] Presenting one of the stars of our show,

our own queen of the rodeo,

Babe Hunter.

- That's me.

(crowd cheering)

- So, let's have a little more fun.

What do you say, Jud?

Just one more go round.

- Well I don't know.

Why don't you just count me out this time.

- Oh, c'mon Jud.

I got myself a real fine idea this time.

This time it'll keep him down once and for all.

You know that old boy that got to you yesterday?

The one that caught me off balance?

- You mean that ol' jellybean kid

works across the yard yonder?

Don't you worry about him,

I'm gonna fix his wagon before the week's out.

- Tonight.

Ollie and him.

And Babe.

- Why Babe?

- Man don't go fishing without bait

now does he, Jud?

(laughs)

(upbeat music)

(crowd cheering)

- 398.

- Well, you've sure been scatting today, Del.

Got yourself a leg up on the main purse, looks like.

You take that bullriding tomorrow,

and you're home free.

It's been a pretty fair season for you,

hasn't it Del?

- Not so anybody could notice it.

Anyway, not nothing like the prizes

you used to knock down.

I guess we're not giving you the respect

that's due a man like you.

Huh, Ollie?

- Nothing to riding bulls, Del.

Just hanging on that's all.

Telling yourself your bones are gonna

stick together no matter how you feel

to the contrary.

- Well, I told the boys no more jokes on Ollie.

We're gonna give him the respect that's due him.

- Well, I ain't got no complaints, Del.

- That's right.

You never got no complaints.

You never cry uncle, do you Ollie?

Tell you what, I got a little tip for you.

It's about Babe.

Babe and me was talking

and she let slip.

You know where she went to?

Shopping to get herself a trousseau.

She told me she thought it was about time

she got herself another husband.

Woman can't go on the rest of her life

carrying a torch for a dead man,

now can she Ollie?

Told me she had eyes for you.

How about that?

All the rest of us trying to throw a loop on her,

and she picks you.

I'll tell you what Ollie,

I kind of figure that me and Jud,

and some of the other boys have been

riding you a little hard

so we're gonna make it up to you.

We're gonna make it all up to you tonight.

I'm gonna throw a big shindig.

Barbecue, and all you can drink.

Along about the middle of the party

when everybody gets real mellow,

you've got to ask her.

- Ask her?

- [Del] To marry you.

- Oh no.

- Oh now look Ollie--

- No, I couldn't do that, Del.

- Now look you don't listen good.

She's expecting it.

She told me.

You wouldn't wanna break her heart,

would you Ollie?

- Just want did she say?

Tell me exactly what she said.

- C'mon Ollie, you know I'm no good with words.

- Please, Del.

- Well, she said she loved you.

- Well, she didn't say it because

she was sorry for me?

- She never breathed a word of that.

Now, listen man you've got to strike while the iron's hot.

You understand?

Tonight, you're king.

Oh, and them two boys from the brickyard,

just to show there's no hard feelings

ask them to come along.

I kind of feel like they're my special guests.

- How about that, she went shopping for her trousseau, huh?

- That's right.

- [Ollie] How about that, Del?

Woo!

- I've seen all kinds, Jud.

But you're the most obvious I've ever seen.

If you think this can change my opinion,

you'd better send a whole case in.

I could drink till I fell to the floor,

and I'd still see you for what you are.

(laughs)

- You got so little use for me,

tell me something.

How come when I said Babe let's you and me go out

and toss down a couple,

that I never heard no protest?

- My opinion of men, and what I do,

have nothing in common.

- Well, Babe it's gonna be a long ol' night,

why rush it?

- Why not?

- Dog gone it, I clean forgot.

I promised ol' Del I'd take care

of a couple of things for him.

Shouldn't oughta take too awful long.

Suppose you'd be all right here

by yourself for a little bit?

I got a full jug in that paper bag

underneath your chair.

All right, Babe?

- Why Jud?

- Well, it's just a couple of chores.

I'll be right back.

Anyhow, you got such a bad opinion of me

that well you won't mind none no how.

I can tell that you'd a whole lot rather drink alone.

- Why Jud, nobody ever drinks alone,

didn't you know that?

It's one of the first things you learn.

The beads in the whiskey,

the eyes of old friends

smiling at you.

- Say partner,

Miss Hunter over yonder,

she's the star of the rodeo.

Well, you can see how it is with her

she's sitting there at that table with that bottle.

Us fellas kind of look after her.

I gotta duck out for a little bit,

and now if she should start to leave

I'd appreciate it if you'd kind of latch on to her,

and keep her here till I get back.

I'll be over at the rodeo headquarters.

Just ask for Jud.

I don't think she'll give you no trouble.

Well, you can see that she's settling

in for the rest of the evening.

Thanks a lot.

(mellow music)

- I caught you just in time.

Look, you fellas ain't ever lived

till you've been to a rodeo cookout.

You ever been?

- Never lived.

- Could this be an invitation?

- You know it.

- Formal?

- Well, as you are.

- Would anybody mind if we went home

and washed some of the clay off?

- No, you go and do that,

but be there by six though.

'Cause once it gets dark,

and boys bank those colts,

it's gonna take a fast man

to grab himself one of those steaks.

All right, be there.

- What's the occasion?

- Well now, that'd be telling.

(acoustic guitar music)

(people talking)

- They say you're quite a man.

- Well now who's they?

- Well, I guess they know what they're talking about.

Don't they?

- Well, what do they say about me?

- Why don't you go get another steak?

- Well, that's the way it is with the Texas girls.

They just separate the men from the boys.

Is it true what they say about

empty saddles in the old corral?

- Roped and tied.

- Hey Ollie, Babe's back.

I just seen her drive in.

Man, from the packages she unloaded

looks like she bought out half the stores in Dallas.

- Okay, okay, so you're an ace with a rope.

Now, c'mon, huh?

- What's Del doing?

- Oh, he's just having some fun

with that ol' jellybean kid.

Man, don't worry about it.

You've got enough to think about as it is.

Hey, wait a minute.

Now, don't go rushing off.

Give her a chance to get spruced up.

Don't you know nothing about women?

- You know, I've been running the words

over in my mind,

I keep forgetting what I wanna say.

- Just give her a little time.

C'mon, I'll buy you a drink.

- All right look, you said this is a joke.

Now, let's laugh once more,

then I'm gonna stockpile you.

- Tie his hands and feet real good.

- Jud.

- Now, what you got to be scared of?

- It looks like she's turned in for the night.

- Why, that's candlelight in there, boy.

Can't you see nothin'?

Now, that's a sure sign that

she's waiting in there right now

expecting you to come in and pop the question.

You know, women like things real romantic like.

Now, I'll tell you what you do,

you just ease on in yonder,

and just speak your piece now.

Like a little man.

Go on, Ollie.

- Thanks, Jud.

(knocking)

Babe, don't say nothin' till I get this said.

(dramatic music)

Well, I know how much you loved your husband.

I know I don't stack up against him.

I don't expect you to love me like you loved him.

I know how it is with things

that, used to be aren't any longer,

but I love you, Babe.

I always have.

I guess I loved you from the first minute I saw you,

and I just never let myself think things.

I said to myself,

Ollie I said,

that girl and you,

well, that's just plum impossible.

That is until my friends Del and Jud,

well they explained,

well I mean, they told me how you felt,

and well, I just didn't think you could love a clown.

Babe, Babe, can I tell you what a clown is.

Well, I put my arms up I do foolish things

to make people laugh at me

'cause when they're laughing at me

they're not laughing at themselves.

I wanna take on all the hurts of people,

all their bad ways,

that way they forget how mean and miserable they can be.

By me acting the fool, I make them feel

big and important and pure because

Babe, I love people.

I wanna take it all on myself.

We gotta help people.

While I'm out there, and they're laughing at me

well, why I feel good, real good.

Because for a little while they're

not laughing at themselves.

I ain't never told this to no one before.

I just wanted you to know.

Babe,

will you marry me?

- You bet, Ollie!

(laughing)

- [Del] I'll marry you, Ollie!

Go on, kiss her, Ollie!

Go on, kiss her, Ollie!

(laughing)

(dramatic music)

(laughing)

- Look at him.

Look at our dusty Santa taking

on all the hurt of us poor folks,

so we won't know how mean and miserable we are.

Look how he lays there just making

us pure and pure.

- Why Del?

What did I ever do to you?

- Once.

Just once I wanted to make you

kick and scratch like the rest

of us poor human beings.

Finally got to you, didn't I Ollie?

Finally got to you.

Do you wanna know the payoff?

You wanna know who rigged this whole thing?

You tell him, Jud.

- It was Babe.

Your ever-loving, Babe.

And you wanna know something?

She's sitting down at the club village

right now just having the laugh of her life.

(laughing)

- Let him up!

Let him up!

All right Ollie, what happened here?

(acoustic guitar music)

(melancholy music)

(dramatic music)

(glass breaking)

- Know what we need, Ollie?

Gumdrops.

Somebody told me,

I don't remember who,

that they were good for...

I tried 'em, and it didn't work.

- I'm gonna pay you back.

Why?

- You been drinking, Ollie?

- I'm gonna kill you.

- Thank you.

Thank you, Ollie.

The way I've been going it's so slow

and so disgusting.

But how did you know that

that's what I pray for.

- To die?

- Do it now, Ollie.

Do it now while I'm not afraid.

Nothing else works.

The tricks.

Not even the gumdrops.

Babe, don't you remember?

It was me brought you them.

You were sitting looking at your husband's picture,

and listening to some crazy record.

- It was my wedding, Ollie.

September 23rd.

We always used to play that record

on our wedding anniversary.

After I lost Al,

I played the sound right off it.

Even that's gone now.

I used to be able to hear everything, Ollie.

Even the world turning.

I remember one time at breakfast

I said to Al,

"Honey, don't put so much salt on your egg."

"How do you know I'm using salt," he asked,

"You're at the stove with your back to me."

And I said, "Why, I can hear the salt fall."

And I could, Ollie.

I really could.

But why couldn't I hear him die?

I should've even in my sleep.

When it was morning,

I slipped out of bed quietly,

so I wouldn't wake him.

I fixed breakfast,

and I called, "Al!"

You know what everybody says about me,

they say if she loved him so much

how come she goes around with all those men.

Well, Ollie I'm just hoping to find Al again.

But how can you steal hope from strangers.

Ollie, I don't know why you wanna kill me,

but I know why I wanna die.

Don't be afraid, Ollie.

- God forgive me for ever thinking.

Goodbye, Babe.

- Ollie!

(melancholy music)

(knocking)

- Yeah.

I got a train to catch.

I sure made a jackass of myself last night, didn't I?

- If you walk now, Ollie,

you'll never get your second wind again.

- I'm through trying, kid.

- Well, I suppose that's what Del wants.

To pull you down and watch you splatter.

Humpty Dumpty right off the mountain top.

Right into the omelette with the rest of us.

I sat in the dark last night, Ollie,

and I heard.

My hands were tied but not my feelings.

You thought I was Babe, and you talked.

And it wasn't dark in that trailer anymore.

It was like...

Well, like a floodlight was on you,

and I could see into you, right where you live.

It was a whole new world there, Ollie,

with decency,

with love.

I looked into the heart of a clown,

and I saw what you were doing for people.

Giving the kind of happiness that you have to give.

Mr. Wylie told me about the accident with your hand.

How you got it caught in that rope hitch.

Cheyenne, six years ago, with your horse

on one end and the steer on the other end

going in opposite directions.

That you were so afraid people would laugh at you

that you decided to become a clown

to make sure they'd laugh.

Because when you're a clown,

it doesn't hurt to be laughed at.

Can't you see, Ollie?

You found something.

I don't care what you call it.

Destiny.

Something wanted you on a different path.

Something took you from one thing,

and changed you into another,

but for the good.

If you stick now,

if you keep on giving because you've got something to give,

if you keep on being the great clown that you are,

nobody can ever get to you again.

Then, you've got it made.

Not only for yourself,

but for the rest of us

that don't know how to

to turn the other cheek and still win.

(upbeat music)

(crowd cheering)

- I love you, Babe.

- [Tod] The riders are gone now.

Gone till spring.

All their sun-dancing broncs are gone too.

The Dapple Grays, the sorrel mares,

and the wild chestnuts.

The bullriders are gone.

And the ropers, the wranglers, the hazers,

all gone.

Following the highway to other arenas,

more prize money.

Del and Jud, they're gone too.

Pulled their freight,

like they say in the rodeo.

Babe.

She's gone...

with Ollie.

(dramatic music)

("Route 66 Theme" by Nelson Riddle)

- [Announcer] This has been a Screen Gems

film presentation from Columbia Pictures.

Herbert B. Leonard, executive producer.