Buckskin (1958) - full transcript

Pa, isn't thereany way we can stay?

You know there isn't.

If we allgot together,

we could open upthe creek

and run marlowe'sbunch out.

There's been
too much killing.

There are plenty
of valleys,
and we'll find one.

Your mother's
crying again.

Get in the house
and give her
some comfort.

[Horse whinnies]

Jimmy,
get the rifles!



Some Indians
are coming!

How many
are there, pa?

Two of them.
Two too many.

Get in the barn
and cover me.

Is there goingto be trouble, frank?

Stay in the house,
Sarah.

I think
if we show them
we mean business,

they may
leave US alone.

They're not Indians.

At least,the man isn't.

Something
you want?

Yeah, I've been
looking for water.

Thoughti might try here.

Water?
We ain't got water.



Why do you think
we're moving out?

Sorry to bother you.

No, wait a minute.

We won't be using
the water in the trough.

There's no need
letting it go to waste.

All right,
go ahead.

I thank youfor the water,

but I'd feela lot better

if whoever'scovering mewould come out.

I almost shot him.

It's all right,
Jimmy.

A stream ranthrough this partof the country.

There was,
until rep marlowe

bought the land
north of here
and dammed it up.

Marlowe?he's a gambler,not a land baron.

You know a lot
about what's going on.

Who are you, mister?

Boy, you're liableto get a man angry,

pointingthat at him.

Mr. Marlowe
makes his money

off the cowboy
and the miners.

He thinks
we homesteaders will
bring law and order.

How many peopledepend on the waterhe's blocked up?

Seven.
We're joining them
in a little while.

We're moving
to Oregon.

Mm-hmm. Boy,
unhitch that horse,

ride and tell the others
that they'll have water.

Why should you carewhat happens to US?

I still want to knowwho you are.

My name is chaddock.

Montana
territorial marshal.

Frank, does that mean
we can stay?

But marlowe owns the
land the dam's on,
legal and proper.

You'd be
breaking the law.

A badge in my pocket
says I'm the law.

My name
is frank Cody.

This is
my wife Sarah
and my son Jimmy.

Boy, when you talk
to the others,

tell them I'll want them
to file homesteading claims.

Yes, sir.

There won't be any
trouble, will there?

When the railroadcomes through herenext year,

this place will befilled with homesteaders.

Better to register now,avoid trouble later.

Of course, marshal.

Boy, weren't yougoing somewhere?

Uh...yes, sir.

I knew the government
wouldn't let US down.

We've worked so hard
on this land.

My son's motherwas Indian.

Her people were surethe governmentwouldn't let them down.

But them Indians
never did anything
with this land.

They're nothing
but a bunch...

This is your land now.

I'll protect it for you.

Much obligedfor the water.

You'd thinkthey could at least

send a man whowas full civilized.

Rep marlowe
will civilize him.

Jimmy, ride over
and tell the others

what
the marshal said.

We'll hang around
for a while and
see what happens.

Oh, uh,howdy, sheriff.

Passenger list
in yet?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah,here you are.

Don't look likeno lawman on it.

Who's this Talbot?

Oh, he's thatfarm equipmentdrummer

came through here,oh, last spring.

Oh, yeah.

Well, this time
he ain't going
to have nobody

to sell anything
to, is he?

I'll
see you later.

Morning, tangley.

Where's marlowe,
still in bed?

Was playing cardswhen I come in.

Travis here losteverything he had...

More than 3,000.

Stupid half-wit.

Hello, sheriff.

Did you hear?
I lost all my money.

I was going home
to St. Louis.

You never donenothing to earnthat money anyhow.

Didn't I?

We was out here
before anybody.

We cleared
this land,
my brothers and me.

Indians
killed my brothers,
scalped 'em.

But I killed
six of them

for every one
of my brothers.

The sheriff
didn't mean nothing.

You'll make it
again, Travis.
You always do.

Come on now
and sit down.

Mr. Marlowe don't
want any trouble.

I'm to keep him here
till this afternoon,

and you're
to see that he's
on that stage.

Oh, sure.

Treat him real good...

The stupid crud!

Hey, Travis,
come here. Come here.

Do you see
what I see?

That's the injun
that killed
your brothers.

No.

What do you mean,
no?

I seen their
scalps hanging
from his belt.

They killed your
brothers, Travis.

And they're
laughing at you!
Listen.

They're laughing
at you, Travis,

'cause they killed
your brothers.

They're laughing.

They're laughing,
Travis!

What did youtell him that for?

That crud's
going to get what
he's got coming.

What's
this fight about?

Listen, you think
you can come
into this town

and run roughshod
over people,

you got another
think coming.

My name is chaddock.I'm the newterritorial marshal.

How'd I know?
You wasn't
wearing no badge.

Take him to jail,get him a doctor.

He don't need one.

I got business
to attend to.

You can take him
to jail your...

Do as I sayor take off that badge.

All right, marshal.

I didn't
mean no offense.

Come on, Travis.

Come on.

Sheriff, after you
get him a doctor,

wait for me.
I want to see you.

You all right?

Yeah, son,
I'm all right.

Hi.

Something I can do
for you, marshal?

Yeah, my sonneeds a haircut,

a bath, and, uh,some clothes.

Just what sort
of clothes do you
have in mind?

Oh, well, uh...

Well, what...Whatevera boy his size wouldbe wearing this year.

Sung li, get
the bath started.

O.k., sir.

Pa, I wantto go home.

Now, son,
I told you it
wouldn't be easy.

I don't like this place.

I don't likethese people.

I want to go back.

Akii,
there's nothing
to go back to.

Besides, I promised
your mother

I'd bring you up
in a...Civilized
man's world.

No. I'm an Indian.I want to go back.

Back to what,

the reservation?

Where
your mother died?

Where the people
are starving

and they won't even
allow them to hunt?

No, akii. No.

The Indian way
is dying.

It's not
happening to you.
You're my son.

But whatif they kill you?

They wouldn't
kill a marshal.

[Door opens]

Bath ready.

Indian boy take bath
with clothes on?

You take a bath now.

Let them
cut your hair.

I'll pick you up
later.

Got some more
in back.

Most of the families
with kids

moved out
a while ago.

Well, I'm surethese will be fine.

That mean
you're staying in
gloryhole, marshal?

Mm-hmm.

Why
the sudden interest
in our welfare?

Hmm?

Officials
up in Helena

never bothered
with US before.

Maybe they figuredthat some ofthe people here

deserve each other.

You think we like
living under
rep marlowe's law?

There's one wayto find out.

Could youcall a meetingof the townspeople

in front ofthe sheriff's office, say?

Marlowe
doesn't like US
to have meetings.

That's one reasonI'm calling this one.

All right.

I'll do it.

Morning, Mr. Marlowe.

Tangley...

Any sign of that marshal?

He ain't come out
of the general
store yet.

Breakfast will beready in a minute,mr. Marlowe.

Hey, patch,
I understand you
acted kind of jumpy

when you heard
the marshal's name
was chaddock.

We've met.

What does that mean?

I'm going to kill him.

You'll kill him
when I tell you.

I'll kill himthis morning.

Tomorrow this valley
will be ours

and with it, control
of all the land east
of the bitter roots.

You'll
kill him then.

I'll bet he had
something to do
with your face.

He did, didn't he?

For five yearsI've waitedto catch up with him.

I'll wait till tomorrow.

- Tangley!
- Huh?

Has chaddock gone tothe telegraph office yet?

No.

That means no onein Helena knowshe reached here.

Who in townwould say different?

Mr. Marlowe, if he'd
a-got off that stage,

we'd have
bushwhacked him.

Patch...

I shouldn't
play poker
all night anymore.

I don't
think so clear
the next morning.

Are we going
to kill him?

First we're going
to stack the cards,

be sure that nobody
sends a telegraph
to Helena.

Why don't you ride
out of town a ways

and sort of
cut the wires?

Look...there he comes
out of the store now.

See?
There he is.

Before you go
on your little chore,

find out what he's
doing in the store.

I'll be over
at the hotel.

There goes
a dead man.

You don't need
a doctor, Travis.

You just need time
to sober up.

Chaddock!

How are you, doc?

They told me in helenaI'd find you here.

That's why iasked the sheriffto get you.

I thought you could
fill me in.

Tangleydidn't get me.

I happened bywhen he draggedpoor Travis in.

Don't tell me you'rethe new marshal?

Yeah,
that's me, doc.

How'd they get youto take this job?

I thought it might
be a good place

to raise my son.

My wife
and the littlest...

They died.

Smallpox.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

Yeah, so am I.

What's his story, doc?

Why'd he jump me?

I understand it was
sheriff tangley's
idea, you know.

Travis there, he's
not quite right.

He lost all his
money to marlowe,

and he's halfway
out of his mind.

For a little sport,
tangley got Travis
all mixed up

and told him
you and your son

were the Indians
that killed
his brothers.

That sheriff's mindis just as clutteredas this office.

Who you
looking for anyway?

Oddly enough,our friend the sheriff.

There he is now.

It's time somebodytaught him some manners.

Wait for me,will you, doc?

I thought I told you
to wait in your office.

Why, you...

You try that again,
you'd never get up.

Kill him!

Kill him right now!

You'll never make it,
patch.

Sounds like
he remembers you.

Why don't you draw?

He'd kill US both.

Well, looks like
the new marshal has
won the first hand.

Oh, doc,

take a look at red,
will you, please?

Sung li,
come over here.

What did he want
in your store?

Wire cutters,
and, uh...

And he...

"And he"?

He said they're
going to kill you.

And he also say
they kill anybody

who say
you've been here.

Cut the telegraph wire,kill me, pretendi never arrived.

That the idea, tangley?

I don't need
to tell you nothing.

You tell me wherethe telegraph officeis right now.

Marshal...

Hmm?

He not pay
for wire cutters.

Give the man back
his wire cutters.

Let's go.

Send a wire...

Montana territorial
marshal's office,
Helena.

Is, uh...Is that
all right, sheriff?

He's not the
sheriff anymore.
Start sending.

Yes, sir.

The bartender's
one less gun
to worry about.

Dead?

Yeah. I'll start
a pot of coffee
in your office.

Thanks, doc.
I'll be right over.

We're readyfor the message.

Arrived gloryhole
safe and sound.

Sign it chaddock.

Yes, sir, marshal.

I got a message for
you, too, tangley.

Tell marlowe next
time I don't wait
for anybody to draw.

Make it clear.

Yes, sir.

Bring that
to the marshal's office.

Marshal.

Yeah?

You asked
for a meeting.

I wanted to meetall the townspeople.

That's all
that would come.

Hmm.

No wonder marloweruns this town.

Remember,
we have to be firm.

Gentlemen.

Marshal.

Thank youfor meeting with me.

You can pass alongto the otherswhat I say.

Soon the railroadwill be comingthrough here.

Marshal, I think
we know what you're
going to say.

The fact is,
we want you to get
out of gloryhole.

What are you saying?

This man was sent to
give US law and order

so we have a chance
to live in dignity.

What happens
when he's killed?

We'll still
have to live
with rep marlowe.

I called this meetingto ask for your help,

not your permission.

I was sentto clean up this town.

If you don'twant to help,

just don'tget in my way.

Nice town
you got here, doc.

Ah, those peopleare frightened, chaddock.

You can't blame them.

Marlowe's becomea desperate manthe last few months.

I came here
expecting gloryhole
to be wide open.

Instead I find
an almost ghost town

with a handful
of terrified people.

Well, gold'splaying out fast.

Pretty soonit'll be a ghost town.

But if the people
really believe that,

why do they stay?

Why does marlowe
stay here?

Well, marlowe,i don't know.

The others hopethat things willget better again.

Maybe when
the railroad comes.

Not a boom town,
but they'll be able
to make a living.

I wish I could
figure out

what marlowe's
trying to do.

Doc, do you knowwhy he cut off

the squatter'swater supply?

Marshal?

Mr. Marlowe offered
me $500 last week

to file on one
of those farms when
it was abandoned.

Oh?

And then what,

sell it back to him?

Yes, sir, but I
turned him down.

Didn't need
the money then.

Just waiting to
take the stage home.

Hey, doc...

Doc, I think I know

why marlowe tried
to get me killed.

Look at this, doc.

If marlowe could
get this valley,

when the railroad
comes through,

he'd control all
of eastern Montana.

Is that possible?

Yes, it is possible,

unless I can
figure out some way
to stop him.

You mean open upthe dam again?

At least that
would keep the
homesteaders here.

As soon as they gettheir water back,

won't that bethe end of it?

Not until they file
for homestead.

Marlowe could
chase them off and
file for himself.

I got to figure out
some way to do away
with that dam.

Have you seen it,
doc?

No, I haven't,

but it's too riskyto try alone.

I've seen it, marshal.

Ain't nothing some dynamite
won't bust,

if you ever
get close enough.

Thanks, Travis.

You going out there now?

No, doc. Not yet.

I want to talkwith my son first.

You thought you came
to tame a town,

but it'll be a lot
more trouble than that.

Be careful, chaddock.
Marlowe is dangerous.

Yeah.

That's far enough.

We weren't jawing justto hear ourselves talk.

You're leaving town,marshal.

Corbin,
don't be a fool.

Keep out of this, doc.

You better
listen to me.

We'll handle this.

Go get his kid.

I wouldn't do that
if I were you.

One more stepand I'll shoot.

Why don't you
put that gun away?

I told you to stay
out of my way.

The next thing I break
won't be a gun.

You're a lucky man,
Corbin.

I tried to warn you.

If we don't get thatmarshal out of town,

we'll all be killed.

We've all
been dead for years.

This whole town
has been.

Thing is,now we get buried.

He's the only chance
for life we've got!

Well, now.

Well, now,I'd say we wereall slickered up.

Sung li showed me
where they heat
the water

for the baths.

That was very niceof you, sung li.

Pa, what happened
in the street?

Well, akii,I'll tell youall about that later.

Right now,you've got to getyour haircut.

Sung li says
if anyone needs
a bath and haircut,

that's you.

He's right.

I've gotsome business first,

then I'll behis next customer.

- Really?
- Mm-hmm.

We give boy
haircut now.
Come on.

There something
I can do for you,
marshal?

How do you tella little boy

that the whole townwants to killhis father?

Not the whole town.

Oh. I know.I'm sorry.

Mr. Perkins,

I want threesticks of dynamitegift-wrapped.

You going to
use them on marlowe?

That depends on him.

You all right?

My son's laughter.

For a second there,i was remindedof his mother

on a long ago July.

What are youdoing here?

I had to see you.

Where are the others?

They're still out
guarding the dam.

We didn't see none
of the sodbusters
moving out.

We decided to
find out why.

We thought
I better tell you.

And?

There's a new marshal...

Sent word he's gonna
open up the dam.

Chaddock does know.

I don't think so.

If the people
in Helena knew what
you were up to,

they'd send more
than one man.

Chaddock's alone.

You may be right,but either way,i don't like it.

Browdie,this new marshal'sa big man,

and he wears buckskins,

but he doesn't wearany badge.

So if you see himanywhere near that dam,

you and the boys shoot,and you shoot to kill.

I'll ask you again.

Why wait?

Do you knowwhat trouble

killing a marshalhere in towncould bring?

I know
what he can bring
if we don't.

I'll make hima fair offer.

He can't be bought.

Anybodycan be bought.

Mr. Marlowe's right.

Any white man
marries an injun squaw,

why, he ain't
so high and mighty.

How do you know?

He had that kid with him, his son...

A half-breed.

A boy?

You didn't
say anything
about a boy.

Yeah, a kid about
10 years old.

He's right.

You should havetold US.

But, no matter.

We'll take careof the kid

after the father'sout of the way.

If he knows of
your plan to take
over the valley,

it's all over!

I don't knowwhat's gotten into you.

We'll use himto gather in all thosehomestead claims.

Then if he doesn'ttake my offer,

him and his kidare the losers.

I've been waitingall my lifefor this chance.

It's one potI'm going to win.

Want this?

Nah.

Pa...pa!

Now, I didn't mean tofrighten him, marshal.

You make a habit
of breaking jail?

Mr. Marlowesent me to get you.

He's stillat the sheriff's office.

Says he wants to talk.

How many guns
with him?

I think he's all alone,marshal.

You get sung li
to take you over
to doc Raymond's.

Introduce yourself.

I'll be along
in a little while.
No buts. Go on.

[Yelling
and cheering]

What's that carnival
all about?

Miners coming infor Saturday night.

That's justthe first of 'em.

Town'll be filledbefore nightfall.

They always
that noisy?

They're behavin'themselves now, marshal.

After the Wells fargoman gets here

and exchangestheir gold forspending money,

all hell breaks loose.

Not anymore,
it doesn't.

Now, marshal...

I'm really sorryabout what happenedbefore.

Guess I hadtoo much to drink.

If there's anythingi can do...

Our horses
could stand a feeding.

I'll be glad to.

Oh, marshal,

like the doc says,be careful ofmr. Marlowe.

He's tricky.

Thanks.

Not a very nice
place to meet.

Sheriff tangley
keeps a real
pigsty.

That's notvery surprising,is it, Mr. Marlowe,

consideringthe former sheriff'sfriends?

I have no friends,
marshal.

Tangley
works for me.

Everyone in this town,
one way or another,

works for me.

And now you want tohire me.

What's your price?

More than you've got,marlowe.

More than I've got.

This is my town.I own it.

I own thisvery buildingwe're standing in.

Oh. Worth about $300,
wouldn't you say?

If you're
in town next week,

drop by for a voucher.

The territory of Montana
owns it now.

You can't do that!

No? I just did.

There's another piece
of your property

I'm going to
dispose of...

Unless you want to
save me the trouble

by opening that dam
yourself.

Marshal,

there's...1,000,

2,000...

In gold.

It's yours.

Marlowe...marlowe,
those homesteaders

aren't going to
move out.

Tomorrow morning
I'm going to deliver
their signed claims

to the stagecoach
driver.

He'll take them
to the registrar's
office in Helena

for filing.

I'll add 5,000 to that.

That'll fix yourfamily up real nice.

Just ride out of townand don't come back.

What's left of
my family is
with me right now.

All the more reason,then.

Marshal, don't makethat boy of yoursan orphan.

Don't you ever
threaten my boy again,
marlowe.

Go on.
Get out of here!

Something bothering
you, boy?

That man...

He keptlooking at me.

Hello, doc.

Hi, chaddock.

You and the docbeen gettingto know each other?

Yeah, pa.

Whatcha beentalking about?

We were
just talking.

Son, run off to
the general store

and tell Mr. Perkins
I said to give you
some candy.

No, thank you.

What's the matter,you sick?

Look at
those miners.

They work hard
all week,

then
on Saturday night

they give marlowe
everything
they've grubbed up.

Why are they in the street?Isn't the saloon open?

Marlowe doesn't
start the girls
and the gambling

till after dark.

I wish I...
Look here, chaddock,

I've got to talk
to you alone.

The boy can hearanything you wantto say to me.

All right. Get out now
before it's too late.

Why doesn't marlowe?

Sure as i'm
standing here,

you'll
get yourself killed.

The boy deserves
better than that.

Yeah.

Yeah, you're right,doc. He does.

People deservea lot of things.

They don't get themby running away.

You take him
to another town,
another territory.

Marry again
and give him
a mother.

What's more
important than that?

To know that his fatherwon't back down.

Chulee! Help!

Well, looky here.We got ourselvesa pigtail.

Oh, no!

No, please!

No! No, please!

Please!

Oh...oh, no!

Please!

[Gunshot]

[Chaddock]Let him go.

We was just after
his pigtail.

And a small thinglike a man's dignity

wouldn't standin your way,would it?

This ain't none
of your concern.

I won't forget this.

You better not.

You all right?

Yes, sir.

Your son...

He very smart boy.

He say you good man.

You very brave.

Thank you.
Thank you. I go now?

Mm-hmm. Oh, sung li,i want to ask youa question.

Is therea schoolteacherin this town?

Uh...miss Johnson.

She used to
teach school.

Now she work
for Mr. Marlowe.

Works for marlowe?How'd that happen?

Long time ago,
uh, miners
come into town.

They break
into her house.

After that,

people say
she can no longer
teach children.

Where does she live?

I think she live
in hotel now.

Thanks, sung li.

I'll go clean up,then go see her.

Let's go inside.

I'm tired. Tired.

Well, you didn't
get much sleep
last night.

That chaddock...If he thinks he'sgoing to stop me now,

he's not.

The stakesare too high.

He'll try.

I've told you that.

But why?

What's this townto him?

I offered him money...$2,000.

Thinks i'llthrow in my hand.

What does he knowabout being old

and backed intoa corner?

At my age,I'll never getanother chance like this.

This whole territorycan be mine.

If he tries tostop me now,

so help me god,I'll grind himinto dust!

That pleasure's
going to be mine.

Tangley!

Tell the miners
what I said.

Yes, sir!

Howdy, boys.Boys, boys!

Boys, I gotgood news for you.

You don't have to waitfor the Wells Fargo mantoday.

Mr. Marlowe saysthe drinks is on the house.

As far as gambling'sconcerned,

why, he says he'll acceptyour personal ious.

Oh. When did marlowe
get so all-fired
generous?

He just wantsyou to know

that he knowswho his real friends are.

Now you go in thereand have a time.

I'm going to getthe women now.

Yeah. That can build
a lot of friendship.

Who is it?

My name is chaddock.I'm the new marshal.

Where'd marlowe
find you?

He didn't.

The territoryof Montana did.

Is this
an official visit?

If you like.

I don't go to work
until nightfall.

Uh, wait, wait a minute,

miss Johnson.

Miss Johnson,

I understand you're
a schoolteacher.

Ha! That wassomebody else

from the countyof once-upon-a-time.

Well, I have
a little boy.

Well, that's notmy problem.

No. No, it's mine,

but it...
Could be yours.

Not anymore.Never again.

Why not?

Why don't youget out of here?

Miss Johnson,
I don't think
you understand.

This place
is changing.

Changing around here?

The railroad
is coming through
next year.

Homesteaders
will flood in.
Homesteaders have kids.

Kids need schooling.

They won't want me.

I think maybe
they will.

Look, you don'tknow me.

You don't knowthis town...

The gossip,the filth.

I'm everythingthey say I am.

And you're
everything
you used to be.

You been hurt,
but you don't
have to quit.

And underneath
all this make-up,

I see
a schoolteacher.

[Knock knock]

All right, girls,

Mr. Marlowe wants you
at the saloon right away.

Nora.

Nora.

Nora.

Why don't you
answer your door?

[Knocking]

Nora!

What's this
all about?

Oh...i...i...i ain'tsupposed to tell.

But maybei could tell you,

if we could do itkind of private-like.

Marlowe
wouldn't like that.

Well, then...I ain't gonnatell you.

We could have
a drink together
later.

Well...now,don't you tell any ofthose girls over there.

Mr. Marlowe,

he wants the minersin a good mood today

because there'sa new marshal in town,

and he's causingtrouble,

and Mr. Marlowewants to get rid of him.

There, now, I...I...I told you.

How about you...

No!

All right,miss schoolteacher.

You ain't no betterthan the rest of them.

You better bedown there in 15 minutes

with the rest of 'em,

or i-I'll...Aw!

You forgot to tell me
you're a dead man.

You quit easy.

When I wasa little girl,

a man came to townselling watches

in solid gold cases.

Three days later,when the casesturned green,

I couldn't find him.

Now you come herewith all yourfancy talk...

Only this timeI'm not buying,

because whatyou're selling

is just as phonyas those cases were.

What I'm selling
is as good as the
person who buys it.

Get out of here,dead man.

I get paidfor talking...10 cents a drink.

Yeah, maybe
you're right.

Maybe I am
a dead man.

Maybe that's why
I came here.

[Coins jingle]

There's enough
for a hundred drinks.

If I don't come back,
talk to my boy.

What do I sayto him?

Oh...

Just let him
hold onto you
for a little while,

then send him
on his way.

Well, son,
I see that you
and Mr. Travis

are becoming
friends.

Mr. Travis
has a boy,
same as me.

My wife sent itto me last month.

Just a likenesson a piece of tin.

Haven't seen himin four years.

Too busy tryingto catch a rainbow.

Handsome family.

I got the horsesfed, marshal.

I left akii'sat the stable.

Thank you.
Wait here, will you?

Come inside, son.
I want to have
a talk with you.

Pa, I saw that man
with a patch
on his eye.

Who is he?

Oh, he, uh...
He's just a man

your pa used to know.

I want to leave here.

I'd like that, too, son.

But, akii, I want youto remember something.

When we came here,

I made a promiseto bring law and order.

Soon you'll be a man,

and when you are,you'll find out

there are certain thingsyou have to do

or you aren'ta man at all.

But doc says
they'll kill you.

Well, I supposethey're goingto try, but...

Akii, if anythinghappens to me,

get on your ponyand ride eastto fort halleck.

Pa, we can go away
from here.

We don't
have to stay.

It's a long ride, son,

but you're almosta man now.

You can hunt.You can take careof yourself.

When you get tofort halleck,

there's a tradingpost there

run by an old mannamed Aaron.

You give him this.

He'll knowwho you are, and...

He'll take careof you.

Pa...

I'm not
almost a man.

Son, you spendthe night here.

If your pa'snot back by morning,

you get on your pony,

ride east,fort halleck.

Travis...

I'd appreciate it
if you'd keep
an eye on the boy

while I'm gone.

Be glad to, marshal.

Thanks.

I understand
you lost some money
to marlowe last night.

All I had.

You'll find $2,000
over in the desk
drawer.

You mean it?

Yeah, I mean it.
But you'll wish
I didn't

if I ever catch you
gambling again.

What do you
think?

I think he's
calling your bet.

Hmm.

I got four guns
to his one
at the dam.

That's what I like
about you, marlowe...

Always give
an even chance.

Hey, what's wrongwith him?

He's got another one
of his headaches.

I'm getting sick
of 'em.

You want I shouldcure his headachesfor good?

What part
of his back would
you aim at, hmm?

Well, I...

Frank?

The marshal's coming.

Howdy.

We thought you had
forgotten US, marshal.

I haven't
forgotten you, Cody.

What about
those others?

They're staying,
just like US,

to see if you can
deliver that water.

Frankly,
we don't see how,

but we've nothing
to lose but one day
going to Oregon.

I'm getting fed up
with the hang-dog
attitude

of you
and your friends.

We're tired
of fighting
marlowe.

You were brave enough
to walk in here
behind the army

and claim this land

when the blood
of Indians

who'd lived here
a thousand years

was still wet
on the ground.

Now somebody wants it,
you're ready to run.

You can't talk
to US like that,
squaw man.

Boy, if you don't
want a mouth
full of boot,

keep it shut.

We can't farmwithout water.

You'll get your water...
If I can do it.

Might help to know
where that dam was.

6 miles north.
Ride through
a rocky canyon,

and you'll find
the creek.

How many men
you figure marlowe
will have there?

Mmm, three or four.
They'll be
expecting you.

Uh-huh. Homesteading
applications.

Tell the others
if the papers aren't
signed by morning,

the water won't
do them any good.

Marlowe's got an idea

of filing papers
in his own name.

He said that?

Yes, ma'am,
he said that...

That and a lot more.

Think he'll
make it, pa?

He's a powerful man.

What are we
going to do, frank?

Well, we'd be outof this valley right now

if it wasn'tfor the marshal.

We're gonna stay...

If only to make surehe gets a decent burial.

I'll keep himbusy from here

long enough for youto get up aroundbehind him. Go on.

All right, lawman...

Just a little bit
closer.

[Neighing]

Marshal,in back of you!

Get down, boy!

Yeager!

Sweeney!

Yeager!

Yeager, sweeney!
You down there?

Boy, that's the second
time today

you almost
got yourself killed.

Yes, sir.

When you going
to learn, boy?

I do have a name.

Hmm?

I'm glad to hear that.

People call me Jimmy.

Nice name, boy.

There's still
one of them
up behind that rock.

You stay put.

[Rattling]

Boy!

Boy,get over here!

Snake got me.

Fix me a tourniquet,quick.

Get it good and tight.

Tighter.

That's it.

- That's it.
- All right?

All right.Yeah, yeah.Tie it off.

Yeager! Sweeney!

Yeager!

Thank you, boy.

Pa would've
come himself,

except he can't ride
with that bad leg.

[Gunshot]

Besides, he hadto go into townin the wagon

to getthose papers signed.

You did wantthem signed, didn't you?

Aah!

Here, reload this.

Give me your rifle.

I'm sorry...

Jimmy.

Sarah!

Sarah!

What's the matter?

They did it...

Our son Jimmy
and that marshal!

The water?

Yeah.

I was just crossingthe fording point,

coming back from
hap kelley's.

All of a sudden,
I looked up,
and there it came.

To hear you talk,

you'd think it wasthe wide Missouri.

I know
it's just a creek,

but like this place,
it's ours!

The others?They'll stay, too?

Yes. I've got the
homestead applications
all signed.

Oh, frank!

Oh, Sarah, this
is a good country.

I guess we've
lived here so long,

well, we've never
really seen it.

I've known itall along, frank.

It's god's country.

Oh, I betterfix supper.

Shall I set a placefor the marshal?

Sarah!

Frank!

It's Jimmy!

Frank!

Jimmy!

Frank!

Frank, it's Jimmy!

Give me a hand,
Sarah.

[Crying]

Oh, be careful!

Get him up!

Oh, Jimmy!

From the shape he's in,

that arm is just
loaded with poison.

We've got to do
something more for him

than we have, Sarah.

You stay here,
Sarah.

What are yougoing to do?

We've got to get
something to draw
out that poison.

Cow's liver's
all we got.

We only got the one.

It's got to be done,
Sarah.

Your books, Jimmy.

All that working
and learning...

It's just like
everything else now...

It was for nothing.

Nothing.

[Gunshot]

Ohh...

Ohh.

All right, boys,

the wheel is spinning.

Bet 5, win 25.

Put your bets down.

Here we go.

And...

The lucky winner is...

Sweet lady
of fortune!

Number 6.

The gentleman hereis the lucky winner.

And are you ready now?

I'm sorry, sir.You're the loser.

And you are the winner.

I can't forget to paythis gentleman.

Here we go again.

And the wheelis spinning.

And...

The lucky winner...

Oh, the lucky winner,number 13.

I'm so sorry, sir.

Do try again,will you?

Oh, there'sa lucky winner!

There you are, sir.

Too bad your
luck's run out.

We wantsome change here.

Here you are.

Mr. Marlowe!

Where's Mr. Marlowe?

What happened?

Where's sweeney,adams, and Yeager?

They're dead,
all of 'em.

Now, just a minute!

I know whatyou're going to say.

The marshalblew up the dam.

Y-Yes, sir.

How did youcome out alive?

I almost didn't.

Give me another glass.

There you are.

You ain't mad?

Disappointed, browdie.

When you playfor big stakes...

You can't affordto lose your head.

Now, finish that offand go see the doc,

and he'll fix you up.

Yes, sir.

We've got tostop chaddock

before he putsthose homestead paperson that stage.

I'm gladyou're on my side.

Why don't you
let him get them
papers on the stage?

I could
take some boys...

Hey, hey!Look around you.

You know what Wells fargomeans to these miners.

What do you supposethey'd do to a man

who would ambusha Wells Fargo stage?

Better chance if youmurdered their mothers.

Maybe you're right.

People are like...

Well, they're like cards.

If you knowhow to shuffle them,

you alwayscome out the winner.

What are you
going to do?

Take two mento the general store.

Bring back enough gunsand ammunition

for every manin this room.

When you get back,

I'll show youhow to stack a deck of men.

Let's resume the spinningof the wheel.

All bets should be down.

Mr. Marlowe?

Chaddock opened the dam.

Figured he would.

You don't seemvery concerned.

Marlowe,
you pay for my gun...

Nothing more.

Open up
that gun cabinet.

What's going on here?

Never mind!
Never mind!

Break out the ammunition
for them rifles.

And do it right now!
Come on!

By what right?

By this right!

There you are.

Come on. Hurry up.

Come on.

Grab that ammunition.

After we take care
of the marshal,

I'm coming back.

I got a score to settle
with your chinaman.

He told the marshal I didn't
pay for them cutters.

I'm coming back.

Come on.

You heard
what tangley
said about you.

Yes, Mr. Perkins.

With marlowe,
patch, tangley,

and all those
miners against him,

the marshal's
come up short.

Look, sung li,

you can
take my horse

and be gone
by morning.

Maybe we all
should get out.

You go, Mr. Perkins.

I stay.

I fight with marshal.

But why?

In China,

we believethat when man die,

god pull himto heaven by pigtail.

Over here,

people laugh becauseI'm different

and becausei wear pigtail.

But marshal...

He no laugh.

It all differentto him, also.

He show me respect.

I stay, Mr. Perkins.

I stay, and I fightwith marshal.

Let me get dressed,

and we'll find
doc Raymond.

He'll know
what to do.

Lock up that door.

Oh, Mr. Marlowe,

here they are.

Good. Put them
on the bar.

All that
to kill one man?

Chaddock islikely to bring

a bunch ofhomesteaders with him.

And you'd
cut them down, too,
wouldn't you?

The next time chaddockrides into this town,

he's dead.

And that goesfor every man, woman,or child with him.

Boys...

Gather around here.

Got a few words
I want to say.

Boys...

When I look
around this room,

I see men
I've grubstaked,

men I've stood
a meal for,

the same men I play cards
with and shared a bottle.

I look around this room,

and I see my friends.

Oh, we've had good times
and bad times together,

and we'll stick
together now!

Listen to this...

The big money boys
up in Helena

have decided to give
the homesteaders

your mining rights!

What's the matter,

you and marlowecan't kill the marshal?

You need these men?

Nora...

I want to
talk to you...

In back...Now.

And thisso-called marshal...

I call hima hired gun!

And the first
thing he done

was come in
and beat up
on poor old Travis

and then
put him in jail.

That's right!
That's right!

He wants to get rid
of all you miners,

just like
he got rid of Travis.

And he will, too!

He'll pick you off
one at a time.

I tried to
reason with him.

He threatened to kill me.

He said nothing...Nothing is going to stop him

until he gets
all your claims!

He ain't going
to get mine!

He's out there...
Right now...

Trying to line up
the sodbusters against you.

I won't have any partof marlowe's plan.

Neither will I!

I'm leaving
gloryhole.

Patch, you alwayslooked out for me in there.

I'm sorry for whati said before.

A man with
a face like mine
gets used to worse.

I always thought you'dtake marlowe's partagainst the marshal.

It wouldn't
be quite right.

He saved
my life once.

The marshal?

It was
a long time ago.

I was a captain
in the army then.

I never knew that.

We were
out on patrol...

Been out
two weeks or so

searching for a band
of renegade Indians.

Chaddock
was my scout.

So that'show you knew him.

One night
we were camped.

One of my
lookouts reported
an Indian village

just over the hill.

Chaddock insisted
they were friendly.

I'd been a captain
for 10 years,

and I wanted
a promotion.

I guess I felt...

Just like marlowe does
in there right now.

I wanted glory.

I'd been small-time
for so long.

This was my chance.

Nobody was going
to stand in my way.

But chaddock tried.

I had him
placed under guard
and planned the attack.

At dawn,
we...We rode down.

The village
was just waking,

and at first,
some of the Indians...

They seemed friendly.

Why didn'tyou stop right then?

It was too late. My men
were already firing.

The...

The braves,
they ran for cover
or weapons.

The squaws
ran for the young.

And the young...

The young...

They just
looked up...

Unafraid.

Unbelieving.

Patch...

How awful.

203 men, women, and
children were killed.

I had those awful
nightmares afterwards...

Till they
finally stopped.

Until today...

Today...today...

When I saw
chaddock's boy.

You said chaddocksaved your life.

He testified
against me.

I was dishonorably
discharged.

The day
I left the fort,

that band of
renegades we'd been
chasing captured me.

And he rescued youfrom them?

Not until
I'd been tortured.

Each scar is a life.

Two days
and two nights,

and they weren't
even half through

when he found me.

For five years,
I've wanted
to kill him.

I blamed everything
that happened to me
on him.

When you sawchaddock's son,

that changed your mind?

Yeah, the kid brought
back the nightmares.

All those years,
it wasn't
chaddock I hated...

It was me.

What happenedthat makes youturn against marlowe?

Marlowe.

Marlowe, I...

I now see myself.

For the first time,

I...i know
what caused
the nightmare.

Greed...

Hate...

The...

Desperation.

I can't stay here.

And you don't
belong here, either.

Now, I'm not asking
you to be my wife

or anything
like that,

but, please, just...

Just let me help you.

Let me help someone.

Stay and help chaddock.

I can't.
That's impossible.

That's what I told him,

but he told Mei could teach again.

Before he left, he said,

"if I don't come back,

"talk to my boy.

Let him hold youfor a while."

Does the greed and hatealways have to win out?

There'll be a dozen
guns against him.

The homesteaders,won't they be with him?

Maybe.

Even so, he doesn't
stand half a chance.

Did he ever?

Well, that's the picture.

The marshal
and the sodbusters.

You can let them cheat you

and Rob you
of everything you got...

Or we can fight!

Now, I'm with you!
Are you with me?

- Yeah!
- Yeah!

All right!

Now, pick out your rifles,
your ammunition,

and the drinks
are on the house.

You sure stackeda deck of miners.

Poor dumb slobs.

Hey, where's patch?

I don't know.

I want him ready
when that marshal
rides into town.

Take two men,
post them
outside of town,

then clear
the streets.

I don't want
to see anything...

Men, dogs, horses...

Just chaddock.

Yes, sir.

Little fella...
All tuckered out
waiting for your pa.

[Door rattles]

Who's out there?

It's me...Nora.

It's open.

What do you want, patch?

We've come to help,
Travis.

I don'tneed your help.

The marshal will,
when he gets here.

I sure would hateto pull this trigger.

It might wake the boy.

He shouldn't be
sleeping over there.

I'm fixin' toput him to bed

when you two leave.

Since we're not leaving,
I better move him.

Touch him, and i'llblow a hole in you

big enough todrive a coach through.

Rep marlowe's
got a saloon
full of angry guns.

One of US better
stay on watch

to keep
an eye on them.

It'll be easier
if that boy's in bed
where he belongs.

Patch...

This is the endof the nightmare.

All right, you'vedone your good deed.

Now, get out of here.

Now, are you going
to stop pointing
that rifle at me?

How do I knowit's loaded?

See for yourself.

Now, got any coffee?

Fixin's are over there.

I'll make
some coffee.

[Clang]

What happened?

He'll be all right.

We almost lost him
once during the night.

He's a hard man to kill.

I was dreamingabout Jimmy, frank.

He was 10.

His hairwas so yellow.

I'm going out tobury him now, Sarah.

It was his birthday...

And you came home,
and he'd let
the pigs out.

He was playing with 'em
and chasing 'em.

You were so angry.

You said he'd run
good meat off of 'em.

They'd trampled
your fields.

It was his birthday...

And you strapped him.

Not without
good reason, frank.

He came to me and cried.

He came to me.

I'll come back and get youwhen I'm finished.

We'll say wordsover him together.

Mmm.

His hair was so yellow.

Thought marlowe'dmiss US before now.

Would you like me
to watch a while?

No. They've quieted downover at the saloon.

They're waiting forchaddock to come back.

How about you, Travis?

You in it to the end?

Pa!

Pa!

It's all right,
honey.

We're friends
of your father.

That's right, boy.

That man...

He tried to
shoot my pa.

It was a mistake.

A mistake I'll
never make again.

He means it, honey.

My name is akii,
not honey.

Oh, I'm sorry, akii.

And I'm miss Johnson,

your new schoolteacher.

Schoolteacher?
I don't need
a schoolteacher.

My pa taught me
to read and write,
add and subtract,

and he even taught
me some geog...

Geography?

I know that, too.

How long till
sun comes up?

Not long.

If my pa isn't
back by morning,

I'm to ride
to fort halleck.

He'll be back, akii.

May I go
back to sleep now?

Would you like me tostay with you a while?

I'm almost a man now.

I don't need anyone
to look after me.

Maybe I am only
a saloon woman.

Miss Johnson?

Miss Johnson?

Did that soundlike a saloon?

Go on, schoolteacher.

You got yourselfa pupil.

Yes, akii.

I'm here.

Marlowe will
never let you

put those applications
on the stage.

Your son died
for this land.

I wish you'd nevercome to this valley.

I take it, Cody,
that, uh,

you're not
coming with me?

What good would I be?

Yesterday I sent my sonto do my job.

With this arm and leg,I'd be in the way.

Yeah, you might be
at that.

Mr. Marlowe.

He's coming.
The marshal's coming.

All right, boys,you know what to do.

Boy, your father
will be back soon.

[Dog barks]

Oh, pa, I knew
you'd be back.

Ahh!

Not all the way back
yet, son.

Here, you carry that.

Not all the way back

until I deliver some
papers to the stagecoach.

I kind of figuredyou'd be back.

I thought you'd be bringingsome homesteaders with you.

Yeah, I did, too.

Well, I don't know
where they went,

but a minute ago,
a little rag-bag army

came out of the saloon.

Those papers
really that important?

Yeah, they are.

From the looks of things,
you'll need some help.

I figured you'd
be over there
with marlowe.

A 10-year-old
changed my mind.

He means it,
but just two of you,

you don't have
a prayer.

I'm with you,marshal.

You don't have to,
Travis.

Yes, I do.

What do
you think?

Well, I think our prayer
is getting bigger.

So marlowe's got
a rag-bag army
staked out, huh?

Like all gamblers,
he wants an edge.

We could use
an ace ourselves.

Got any ideas?

Yeah.

There's an old buckboard
out back.

You give patch a hand.

Load it up with that
whole rack of rifles

we've got inside.

Save the time it
takes to reload, huh?

Empty one gun, pick upa fresh one. Good.

We'll use the back door.

Marlowe won't tip his hand,
we don't tip ours.

Hello, Mr. Chaddock.

Oh, hello, sung li.

Do you have trouble?

Yeah.

Is there somethingi can do to help?

No, nothing, sung li.

Nothing. Just, uh...

Hang onto your pigtail.

I have idea.

Oh, I...I getmr. Perkins, too.

I thought you told me
that patch is over there

in front
of the sheriff's office.

Well, he was,with Nora and the kid.

Now he's probablyin there with Travis.

Stinking turncoat.

You fellas waiting
for somebody?

Yeah, we're waiting
to put chaddock
in a pine box.

I have to agree.

He doesn't have much
chance against you
and all those miners.

You go over and
tell that to your
friend chaddock.

Tell him to
give me those
homestead claims.

There'll be
no argument.

All right, marlowe,
I'll do it.

You ask me,

he ain't going tocome over here

and dump them claimsin your lap.

He will if he
has any sense.

What are you goingto do about him

after youget the claims?

Then? Then we kill him...

Him and patch.

And if doc and Travis
don't like it...

Marlowe,

Travis is
a friend of mine.
So is doc.

Don't ask US
to be a part of any
shooting at them.

All right.

You and your people just...

You just shoot
at chaddock and patch.

[Door opens]

Oh, you, doc.

I come tothrow in with you.

You took
your sweet time
getting here.

Marlowe told meto tell you

you haven'tgot a chance.

Maybe.

What's all that stuffout there?

That's either
an ace in the hole

or a hole in the ground...

One for each of US.

First, I'm going to
talk to marlowe.

Oh, don't risk it.

Well, maybe we canavoid this whole thing.

Just in case, doc,

see that the rest ofthese rifles get ready.

Pa...

Son, you stay
with miss Johnson.

Told you.

Doc talked some
sense into him.

Have you got the claims?

I came to talk.

Talking isall over with.

The claims.

I'll go get them.

Ah, he knows
when he's whipped.

Maybe somebodyought to tell him.

Look!

Well, they gone loco.

Chaddock just
picked out his pine box.

Get that
wagon over here.

Let's put him
in it, eh?

[Gunshots]

Must bethem homesteaders.

Homesteaders, hell!
Those are firecrackers!

Drop those guns
or you're both dead!

Drop 'em!
Now, get over here!

Cover me.

Marlowe?

Pa!

Tell that stage driver

to stop at my officeon his way out of town.

We've got toget those claims

to the registrar'soffice in Helena.

Pa!

You hurt?

No, I'm all right,
just a little shaky.

Pa,

why did ithave to happen,

sung li and allthose people dead?

Because a man
got greedy, son.

Come on, schoolteacher.

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