Tales of Wells Fargo (1957–1962): Season 3, Episode 18 - Luke Frazer - full transcript

DRIVER: Hyah! Hyah!

NARRATOR: Tales of Wells Fargo.

Budd Scanlen's dead.

And you murdered him!

He never even touched his gun.

He was trying for it.

He was going for a
sneak draw behind that hat.

That's right.

Luke had to shoot him.
There was no choice.

Ain't how I saw it.

How about the rest of you men?



We don't give a hang about what
you saw or anyone else in this town.

He was making loud talk about
us stealing his old man's horses.

Wasn't a word of truth in it.

Wait till Yance
hears about this.

Budd was his favorite.

I'm sorry about this. I
never meant to shoot the kid.

If he just hadn't come after me.

You tell that to Yance.

We know all about
you, Luke Frazer.

You'd have people believe you
never intend any of your killings.

Why you old... Let it go.

And you'd do well to get out of town
before the Scanlens hear about this.

One of you men better go
and tell Yance what happened.

And somebody come down here and
help me carry Budd inside somewhere.



We can't just leave him
lying here on the street.

Do you reckon we better blow?

The two of us can't
face that Scanlen outfit.

I need a drink. We got time.

I ain't so sure, Luke.

I said I need it.

All right.

Whiskey.

Leave the bottle.

Luke, you shouldn't be here.

I'll be gone, May, as
soon as I finish this.

Take the bottle with you,

but just get out of here before
Yance Scanlen shows up.

You want me to run
too? From an old man?

That crew of his will
shoot you to pieces.

Oh, Luke, why did
you have to do it?

I tell you, he forced
me to use my gun.

You believe that, don't you?

I think you believe it.

Well, Stass will tell
you. He was right there.

It was just like
I said, wasn't it?

Yeah. That's right.

I didn't want to kill him.
He was just a youngster.

Not a day over 19.

He was about Johnny's age.

Johnny? Who's that?

My brother.

I never knew you had a brother.

You weren't supposed to know.

Why not?

Ain't I good enough
for him? Is that it, Luke?

No. I ain't good enough!

It's been 10 years since
I laid eyes on the boy.

And it's going
to stay like that.

He's gonna have nothing to
do with gunslingers like me.

You know where he
is right this minute?

In college.

So that's why you've been
sending money regularly

to your Pa back in Texas.

That's right.

Takes a pile of it to put a
kid through one of 'em places.

But I'll have it for
him, every cent.

When I saw that youngster,

that Budd Scanlen,

laying there dead
in front of my gun,

all I could think was

that could be Johnny.

Come on, Stass.
Let's get back to camp.

STASS: Right with you.

I'll be seeing you again, Luke?

Sure. Sure, hon.

When this trouble with
the Scanlen's blows over.

Thanks for...

For telling me about
the kid brother.

I hope he grows up to be
everything you want him to be.

You take care of
the boy all right?

Yep. I took care of him.

MAN: Careful, Hardie,
I'm taking that bronco.

You trying to burn my hand off?

I don't turn my
gun over to anyone.

Didn't I see you on a
platform back at the station?

Yeah.

How did you know my name?

I talked to the station man.
He said you were Jim Hardie.

That Wells Fargo was sending
you over to Mora city looking for...

For Luke Frazer.

So what?

Luke Frazer mean
anything to you?

Hey, give me that. It's mine.

Johnny Frazer.

Mmh.

Mailed in Mora city.

I guess that's you all right.

Come to think of it,
you favor Luke a little bit.

Brother maybe?

Can I have my gun back?

That was pretty fast,
even if it is empty.

I've been practicing.

Now you're going
over to Mora city

to join up with your
brother and use that gun.

That right?

Does he know you're coming?

Of course he does.

Well, no...

He thinks I'm away
at college somewhere.

College...

He think I'd let him go and
spend his money on me like that?

When all I ever
wanted was just to...

Just to be like him,
just to be with him.

Ten years I waited for this!

Finally I decided
this was time if ever.

That's where you're wrong.

If he put you in college, that's
where he wanted you to be.

I savvy what you want.

For me to stand by and let
you go up there and take him.

Luke Frazer killed
a Wells Fargo man

in Sacaton two months ago.

Well, if he did, he must
have had a good reason.

He always manages to
have a reason, all right.

What do you mean by that?

Forget it.

I'd fix you some breakfast,
but that's all the makings I had.

I ain't interested in food.

No, just in stealing
my horse, huh?

Where's yours?

He's over there in the
trees. He went lame.

Give me a while to get my stuff
together and I'll have a look at him.

You've been
pushing him too hard.

Keep it up and he'll
be lame for good.

Let him stand for an
hour or two in cold water.

You might make it back to town.

While you ride on to Mora
City and grab my brother.

Maybe.

Leave him alone, Hardie.

Wells Fargo sent
me out to get him.

And I will, if possible.

You touch my brother, Hardie,
and you answer to me. You hear me?

Too bad you didn't get here
a little sooner, Mr. Hardie.

Then, depending
on how lucky you are,

Budd Scanlen
might still be alive.

And you might have
taken Luke Frazer

instead of having to
beat the bushes for him.

You mean to tell
me that this man

whose picture's on wanted posters
all over this part of the country

had the freedom in this
town to run around loose?

We mostly mind our own business.

We ain't heroes.

Isn't there any law?

Only what Scanlen's
crew pack in their holsters.

It's good enough for us.

But it's not good enough for me.

Or for Wells Fargo.

Frazer's got a killing in
Sacaton he's gotta answer for.

Yeah, and now he's got Budd
Scanlen's killing to settle with old Yance.

Old Yance is going
to have to wait in line.

Thank you for the beer.

By the way,

if I was gonna look
for Luke Frazer,

which direction
should I go? Ed, don't!

He and three tough friends of his
got a camp over on the Wishbone.

Claimed to be mustanging.

But more likely, it's Scanlen's good
shot horse stock they're working on.

At least according to Scanlen.

Thank you.

That's the direction
I'll be heading then.

Why did you have
to tell him? Why?

Well, it's better than having
a big gunfight in the street

and busting up the town.

Go on then. Take him.

Kill him if you can.

If he doesn't kill you first.

May is the only one around
here who sees any good in him.

That man in Sacaton had a wife.

She saw a good deal
of good in him too.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

I don't pick my assignments or
the men that I have to go after.

Wells Fargo does that for me.

I just try to do my job.

Well, there's no sign
of the Scanlens yet.

You might still have time.

That's encouraging.

Jim: Between Luke Frazer's
friends and his enemies,

I figured I had my job
cut out for me, all right.

And I wasn't forgetting that
kid I'd left back along the trail.

The boy with the gun.

With a hankering to be
a killer like his brother.

That lame horse of Johnny Frazer's
must be about ready to ride again.

But now...

Before I got
through with this one,

I had an idea that things could
sure enough be headed for a mix-up.

Nice shooting.

Put that away.

You had your six shots.

I can count.

Who are you? What
do you think you want?

You. For a murder in Sacaton.

Never been there.

You got the wrong man mister.

Whoever you are.

You better keep you
picture off of reward posters.

Throw that gun away.

You got a horse, go get on him.

And if I don't?

You wouldn't dare pull that
trigger this close to camp.

Wouldn't I? With
all the blasting

you've been doing, one more
shot wouldn't make any difference.

I won't tell you again.
Throw that away.

Stick your hands out.

You've got me.

But you ain't taking me in yet.

I ain't so sure you can do it.

There's a lot of different
ways I can take you in.

But one way or
another, I'll get you there.

Stass, get him. He's
a Wells Fargo man.

STASS: Get going.
Luke's in trouble.

Don't! You might hit Luke.

I think we've lost your friends.

Out of curiosity,

I'd like to know the
name of the man who

did this to me.

No reason why you shouldn't.

The name's Hardie.

Jim Hardie?

Mm-hmm.

I guess that figures.

Well, the man who took
the trail that I did, I guess,

always knows he
could end up like this.

Then why did you take it?

Not that I've heard the
same story a hundred times.

Maybe yours will be different.

I was pushed into it.

Just a green youngster
bullied by a drunk cowhand.

I had to kill him.
That was the first one.

In every killing since then you've
managed to find an excuse for

feeling that you were right.

You don't know what
you're talking about.

That man in Sacaton
was a Wells Fargo agent.

He died defending his property.

Now this latest one.

He was a boy of 18.
Not even a man yet.

I wonder what your brother's
going to think about Budd Scanlen.

What do you know
about my brother?

I met him. Met him?

He tried to hold me up this
morning and steal my horse.

You're lying. He's down
in Texas. In college.

No, he's not.

He's on his way to Mora City

with a gun strapped to his leg.

And he's pretty fast with it.

He says he's waited ten years

till he got old enough
to come up and join you.

You really mean this, Hardie?

You're not just stringing me?

He'll be just about
getting to town now.

You've got to take me to him.

You want him to
see you like this?

It doesn't matter.

And there's Yance
Scanlen and his crew.

I'm not too sure I can
keep them off of you.

It doesn't matter.

If Johnny's here,
I gotta see him.

It's been ten years.

Do you understand?

Maybe I do.

And maybe I'm making a mistake.

But if it will help
straighten that boy out,

to keep him turning out
like you, it may be worth it.

Get on your horse.

Wait a minute.

There's their sign.

They're heading
straight for town.

If we take the
shortcut by China View,

we can get there ahead of them.

Maybe that's what
Luke wants. Come on.

Whiskey.

I'm looking for Luke Frazer.

Who's gonna tell me where he is?

He must
really have this town treed.

I mention his name and
nobody opens their mouth.

Hey, where's my drink?

Set it right here, mister.

It's all right, Joe.

Serve him, if he
wants it that badly.

Just one.

Pour it.

Just why were you
asking for Luke Frazer.

I want to see him.

Any good reason?

The best. He's my brother.

You're not Johnny Frazer?

Well, sure, he must have
told you about me, huh?

Yeah.

He told me.

Who fired that shot?

Was it you?

Supposing it was?

You're too young
to be in a saloon.

Besides, we don't serve
kids drinks in here anyway.

That ain't
what the sign says, mister.

Ed, this is Luke
Frazer's little brother.

The one Luke said was in
college learning to be a gentleman.

Looks to me, he's mostly been
learning how to work that gun.

I bet I'm as fast
as Luke right now.

How's that? You reckon
he'd be surprised?

Yeah. He'll be
surprised all right.

Well, all I can say, kid,

is you picked a fine
time to show up here.

Yance Scanlen and his crew
were just spotted riding into town.

And the way Yance
hates your brother,

anyone wearing the name of
Frazer's gonna be poison to him.

He's right. You better get
out of here the back way.

Nothing doing.

Starting now, any
enemy of Luke's

has to be my enemy too.

And I can't begin by running.

Well, looks like we beat 'em.

No sign of Luke or the
Wells Fargo man either way.

Let's get inside and see
if May knows anything.

Oh, that's Scanlen
and his whole outfit.

Get inside just in case.

You!

Stand where you are.

You talking to me, Scanlen?

To anybody connected
to Luke Frazer.

Frazer murdered my boy.

I've had enough.

Now I'm gonna clean
out the whole pack of you.

I never had nothing
to do with that.

You ride with Luke Frazer.

It's all I need to know.

Wait a minute!

You have to count me in on this.

Because I'm Luke
Frazer's brother.

Well, what are you
gonna do about it?

You fool!

You're younger than Budd!

I don't fight youngsters,
even if Luke Frazer does.

You got no choice.
You're looking for Luke.

All right.

Have your own way.

Duck, kid!

Stass! You can't do this.

You can't turn my place of
business into a battleground.

Oh, shut up!

Hey, Scanlen!

Hold your fire!

Hold it!

What do you want in there?

Let these people out.

They're not mixed up in this.

Tell them to come ahead.

All right. Get going.

All clear.

You willing to surrender?

STASS: No!

All right.

Then it's your neck.

Luke, go away from
here. You'll be killed.

What's happened?

It doesn't matter. Have
you seen my brother?

Yes, he's in the saloon with
Stass Weaver and the others.

Hardie, I've got to help him.

MAY: He's not worth it, Luke.

He's not what you
thought he was.

He's just a punk kid with a gun,

and he's out to carve
some notches in it.

I tried to tell you that,
Frazer, but you wouldn't listen.

You lost all chance
of helping that boy

the day you decided
to strap on a gun

and build yourself a reputation.

No. It ain't too late.

Not till he kills his first man.

Then there's no turning back
any more than there was for me.

Let me go in there, Hardie.

Let me go in there and stop
the kid while there's still a chance.

Please, Hardie, unlock them!

I can't do that.

Then I'll go handcuffed, and
you'll have to kill me to stop me.

Wait a minute.

You can pull that trigger
whenever you feel like it.

I'm going in the back
way. Just a minute.

If you're bound and determined
to go in, I'll go with you.

You all right, kid?

Oh, yeah. My gun's empty.

Hey.

Luke, hey, I'd
know you anywhere.

Hey, I'm taking your
place here, Luke.

Who asked you to?

Well, I didn't have to be asked.

Ain't you glad to see me, Luke?

Take a look at these, kid.

I won't have it, Johnny. I won't
have you ending up like I did.

So you did get him.

Out of the way,
Luke. I'll get him!

Well, Johnny.

Stass Weaver was a top
gun, but he met a faster one.

Now look at him.

And look at this.

You want to end up
like this or like him?

You ready for it?

That's all I wanted, Hardie.

Now take care of him, will you?

I'll walk out there and
let the Scanlen's have me.

It might satisfy them.

Scanlen, hold it.

Stop shooting.

Hold it!

What is it this time?

You want to give up?

This is Jim Hardie.

Special investigator
for Wells Fargo.

Luke Frazer's my prisoner,
I'm bringing him out.

All right.

But this better be no trick.

This is no trick.

Here's my identification.

Looks authentic.

That man murdered
my son. I want him.

You're too late.

Wells Fargo in Sacaton want
him for a murder prior to this one.

You can't have him.

You're only one man. Look at us.

I see you.

But I hope we don't
have to have a gunfight

in the middle of the street.

Just so I can do my job.

I'm taking this man back to
Sacaton to stand trial for murder.

I'll take your word for that.

You've got it.

JIM: Luke Frazer was convicted
for the killing in Sacaton.

For once he couldn't alibi
that he'd been forced to kill.

What's more important,

He didn't try.

Johnny Frazer?

Well, he went back to Texas.

Back to an honest
and a decent life.

Maybe that was Luke's
repayment to society.

Maybe it sort of shaded just a little of
the score that he'd built up against him.

At least, I'd like to think so.