Cattle Empire (1958) Movie Script

Drag it!

Up and down

the street.

Drag it out of town.

Get rid of him.

Drag him out of town.

Drag him

outta town!

That ought to help

skin him up!

Drag him!

What are

they doin'?

Who is it?

It's John Cord.

They're draggin' him.

Are they

killing him?

Are they?

Yes, Ralph,

they're killing him.

Make them

stop it.

You hear? All

of you, stop it!

You make them

stop it.

What about your eyes?

That's enough!

That's all!

Who's on the horse?

Me, Mr. Hamilton.

Tom Powis.

Is he still alive?

Yes, sir.

But a couple more runs

up and down this street...

Where's

Brewster?

Right here,

Mr. Hamilton.

You're

the law here.

I put you

in office myself.

What kind of a lawman

permits a thing like

this to happen

in the streets

of Hamilton

before his eyes?

Mr. Hamilton,

do you know who

that is lying there?

My brother told me.

Maybe Douglas

didn't tell you right.

That's John Cord,

Mr. Hamilton.

John Cord.

You're right,

Mr. Hamilton.

You put me

in office.

Everybody here

owes you something,

one way or another,

for the good

we used to have.

But John Cord

came riding

down the street,

bold as daylight.

Why shouldn't he,

Brewster?

He served his time.

The town don't

feel that way.

When he wouldn't leave,

they wanted him hanged.

I told 'em

I'd let him off

with a dragging,

then strap him

to his horse

and head him out.

That's John Cord,

Mr. Hamilton.

If it hadn't

been for him,

you'd be able to see

it's me on this horse.

He's responsible for

my little daughter

never walking--

never walkin' again,

Mr. Hamilton.

You forgot?

I forget nothing.

I want Cord lifted

into my wagon.

I'm taking him

to my place.

Put him

into my wagon now.

Is that clear?

Do you

hear me?!

Do I have to

do it myself?

I will.

No, Ralph.

Don't, Ralph.

I wouldn't,

Mr. Hamilton.

Douglas.

None of you knows

what's good for you.

Help me get this man

into my wagon so I can

keep him alive.

So I can keep

you all alive.

Better let me

strap him to his horse

and head him

out of town.

If none of you will help me,

my wife and my brother will.

Janice, Douglas.

I wouldn't do that!

That goes for me,

too.

He took this from me,

Mr. Hamilton.

Up. I mean it.

I'll kill anybody

that tries to help him.

I'm with Tom,

Mr. Hamilton.

My wife's in the cemetery

because of him and his men.

My brother's

out there, too.

You can't see my store,

Mr. Hamilton.

It was over there.

His horsemen

ran through it.

They wrecked it!

Like you could see,

if you could see.

I've never been able

to get it started again.

I'm doing this

for your own good.

Go ahead, Douglas.

They won't shoot you.

I'm afraid they will,

Mrs. Hamilton.

Your husband

refuses to realize

that's John Cord.

I know who he is,

Brewster!

I sent

for him!

All right, Janice.

Lie still, John.

Otherwise, you're bound

to get dirt fever.

Janice Wilson.

You got your hair

done up.

Please lie down.

You might have

a concussion.

Seems like you're

always worried about

some kind of concussion.

Heads like mine

don't get broken.

Please lie down

till the doctor comes.

You know, you'd think

a girl so good at worryin'

about a man's health

could be able to

worry a little bit

about his spirits.

Don't. You'll

make it worse.

A man's in prison,

eatin' gall

and gettin' madder

every day for five years...

a letter from his girl'd

do a whole lot

for his spirit.

I'm not your girl.

I married

Ralph Hamilton.

A new bride?

No, we've been

married five years.

Didn't

waste any time.

I owed you nothing.

You saw to that.

I don't know

about...that.

Do you think after

what you did to Ralph

you can walk in here

and help yourself

to his wife?

You used to wear

my ring.

Should be my privilege

to kiss the bride.

When a man blinds

another man, he loses

his privileges.

You think I didn't

remember that?

Every day, every night

for five years?

I'd better go find out

what your husband wants.

Who is it?

Walk so I can hear you.

Cord?

My ears have eyes,

Cord.

So does my memory.

Douglas, get out

and stay out.

You might need

my help, Ralph.

When I need you,

I'll send for you.

No use to me any longer,

this Winchester.

I fiddle with it just

to keep my hands busy.

The territorial prison

at Yuma is underground.

Before I even got used

to the daylight,

they handed me

your message.

You still had eyes.

Did you read it?

Oil is...

It's, uh,

it's a good rifle.

Yeah, well, you didn't

ask me to ride 300 miles

to talk about your rifle.

I've got a herd

for you to move.

You've got a herd

for me to move?

I'm John Cord,

remember?

I remember.

Nobody in his right mind

would ask John Cord

to move a herd now.

Nobody but John Cord

could move a herd this size.

There are 5,000 head

of 4 ringers.

I'm lookin'

at this room.

It doesn't make me think

you're desperate.

Doesn't make me think

movin' 5,000 head of cattle

is life or death.

Rooms don't change much.

Bank accounts do.

Yeah, but a man with

5,000 head of cattle--

They're not all mine.

Almost everybody

in Hamilton owns

some of them.

That herd can

make a dying town

come to life again.

Well, that makes

my heart bleed.

It's a long time now

I've been hating you,

too, Cord.

Can't we let that

be over and done with?

Why? Because that's

the way you want it?

Because you can't find

anyone else crazy enough

to move a herd for you

at this time of year?

If you get them

to Fort Clemson,

you'll be a top

trail boss again.

I'll pay you

$15,000 in advance.

$15,000?

Your conscience

bother you that much?

I need you that much.

What's the matter

with Garth?

He began to deal

from the bottom

the year

this happened.

By the time I was able

to take hold again,

he had half my cattle

and was in business

for himself.

He'd like to see

the name of the town

changed from Hamilton

to Garthville.

Well, there's always

little brother Douglas.

He's a green kid.

He'd bring a hundred head

to Fort Clemson...

if he got there at all.

Nope.

You're the man, Cord,

if you'll do it.

The army needs beef

for the troops

and...the Indian

reservations.

They're paying good.

I'll pay you good.

I'd be in a position

to ruin you myself

without half tryin',

wouldn't I?

Yes. Yes, you would.

Well, I'm not gonna

do that to you, Ralph.

So I'll just

take my torn shirt

and my reputation--

Forget the past, Cord!

Nobody else

has forgotten it.

Nobody helped 'em

forget it.

You've got to ride

trail for me, Cord!

You got Janice, Ralph.

The score is even.

You can make it.

You try.

Mr. Cord.

Where do you think

you're goin'?

That's my business.

You turned him down?

What'd you expect?

Do you know--

Do you know what

it cost my brother

to ask you?

I know.

I hate you so much

it burns my guts.

But if you have to see

all of us Hamiltons

crawl...

well, I'll crawl,

too.

I don't care

what you Hamiltons do.

You can't turn him down,

not after what you've

done to him.

You might sleep

a little better,

Mr. Cord,

if you squared

part of your account.

I spent five years in prison

squarin' that account.

I sleep fine.

You're not goin'

anywhere!

Even?

You wasting your time,

little brother.

I can't get mad at a kid

I taught to ride and shoot.

Well, I'm not

a little kid anymore.

Then why don't

you take the herd?

I-- You know why.

You like hearin' me say it--

because I'm not good enough.

Now, take the gun.

I'll shoot anyway.

I wouldn't want

to kill you, Junior.

You've got so much

learnin' ahead of you.

Why, there's Little Johnny.

Well, Little Johnny.

Why, George Washington Jeffrey.

I ain't seen you

for some time,

Little Johnny.

Where you been?

You remember

my kid brother.

Thomas Jefferson Jeffrey.

Where he's been

is his affair.

How, uh--

how's your daddy?

Well, he's been dead

for some years now.

Oh, no. Now, I knew

he'd been ailing, but--

Well, I'm sorry,

Little Johnny.

Looks like you've

been ailing, too,

eh, Thomas Jefferson?

What

he looks like's

his affair.

Thanks, Thomas Jefferson.

Who you boys

workin' for now?

We ain't.

We just

quit Garth

and his place.

Crazy fool thinks

he can take his herd

to Fort Clemson

this time of year.

He ain't

got a chance.

Most of them rivers

is bone dry.

For once,

George Washington's

right about somethin'.

Only one trail boss

I ever heard of

might make it.

And he wouldn't try,

would he, John?

I thought when I laid eyes

on Little Johnny

that maybe that's what

he come back for.

We ain't seen you

for some time,

Little Johnny.

What he

come back for

is his affair!

You know, I was thinkin'

of havin' a drink.

Either of you boys

interested?

Interested? No.

The only thing

he's interested in

is when you're

gonna ask us.

George Washington?

Thomas Jefferson?

Gettin' worse every time

you set foot in it.

Just like everyplace

else in town,

waitin' for the undertaker

to come along and bury it.

Whiskey.

Cork the bottle.

You're not drinking

in my saloon.

There ain't no trouble,

Mr. Grainger.

These fellas

just came in.

I said,

cork the bottle.

We're fed up with

your troublemakin'.

I'm havin' a drink with two

of my friends, Grainger.

Maybe we'll have

another.

When I'm finished,

I'll leave here,

just like

anybody else.

Now, listen, Cord--

Wash off the war

paint, Grainger.

You were glad enough

to have his business

when his trail herders

were droppin' their wages

in your till.

That was before he got

his men dead drunk

and turned 'em loose

to ruin us all!

A trail town

should be prepared

to take care of itself.

Wouldn't you say?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'd say.

Heard you were back.

Glad to see you.

Hello, Garth.

Set up a bottle

for my old cooks.

Join me.

I've something

to say to you.

Just a minute.

Roughed you up

a little, huh?

Is that what you had

to say to me?

No.

You turn Hamilton down?

Maybe.

I suppose he told you

I'm movin' herd tomorrow.

He mentioned it.

A lot of trails

we rode together, Cord.

A lot of things

I learned from you.

You can forget 'em.

Some things a man

doesn't forget.

Like John Cord's rule

for a herd-drinking special.

"Always carry

your own keg of whiskey.

"Let the men break it open

in camp to let off some steam.

It keeps 'em from wrecking

an innocent town."

No one seemed

to remember that

at the trial.

My herd gets

to Fort Clemson...

Ralph Hamilton's ruined,

and the town with him.

You askin' my help?

I believe in buying insurance,

plenty of insurance.

What do you say?

No end to it, Cord.

Between us, we could build

the biggest cattle empire

this country's

ever seen.

I'm not interested

in cattle empires.

But for the Fort

Clemson drive,

you got yourself

a trail boss.

You can write

your own contract.

I'm not interested

in money, either.

Let's invite the boys

over to celebrate

the partnership.

No.

I want to keep it

quiet.

Well, we move

tomorrow.

I won't be

leavin' with you.

What are you

givin' me?

I'll join you

in about three days.

Trail boss

rides with the herd.

You hit the trail

tomorrow.

Head

for Horsethief Creek.

I'll stay behind to see

we have no competition.

Fair enough.

You going trail-herdin'

again, Little Johnny?

Look out!

Don't turn around,

John Cord...

...'cause you're

gonna get it

the way your men

gave it to my daddy...

in the middle

of the spine.

I just squeeze

the trigger...

and I'm the biggest

hero in Hamilton!

Little Johnny

ain't got a gun!

Keep pourin', Tom.

I'm gonna pick up my horse

at the sheriff's.

I'll see you.

Whoa, whoa!

Who's there?

It's Cord.

You got yourself

a trail boss, Ralph.

What changed

your mind?

You sound as if

you were followin'

a coffin, Douglas.

Garth has started

movin' his herd.

He was supposed to,

wasn't he?

We've got us a trail boss

that can feed the herd

on burned tumbleweed,

water it on dry mud,

and get us there

with more cattle

than we had to start with.

Is that all right with you,

little brother?

How many men have

you got for the drive?

Ten good men

on the ranch.

We'll need

some to tend

the homebodies.

I'll need all

the good men

I can get.

We can line up

some vaqueros.

Good.

Oh, and I'll want these men

to ride with me, too.

My husband doesn't

read anymore,

John Cord.

Let's hear

the list.

Tom Powis, Rex Cogswell,

Jim Whittaker,

Paul Corbo, Dan Quince.

These are the men that

dragged you through town.

What do you want,

Mr. Cord?

To get back at 'em?

I want those men.

Some of them

were once good men

on the trail, Douglas.

Yeah, that's right.

When Tom Powis

had both his arms,

when Whittaker--

Cord's your trail boss!

What he says goes.

You want those men,

we'll get them.

It's their herd,

too.

I want you, too,

Douglas.

Oh, you're makin'

a big mistake, Mr. Cord...

'cause I got

both my arms...

and both eyes,

and I'm still young.

I want you to ride

with us, Ralph.

I should've shot you

when I had the chance.

No.

I think it's an act

of great kindness.

Do you know how long

the months would be

waiting here for news?

I'll ride

with you, Cord.

May even be

of some use

riding night herd.

Darkness is

a great equalizer

for a blind man.

Cord--

You're going, too.

Three days be enough time

for you to get ready?

Three days?

We're not

taking our herd

for exercise, Cord!

We've got to

get there first!

Is this my show?

It's your show.

To the herd...

to the drive...

to John Cord.

Mr. John Cord.

Don't worry about him.

Trail driving is like

breathing to him.

What are you two

doin' here?

Uncle John,

don't you

know me?

Ain't she growed

and stuff some?

Sandy Jeffrey.

Well. You might grow

into somethin'

a man could be

interested in

after all.

Somethin' you could

be interested in?

Don't you remember,

Uncle John?

You were gonna wait

for me, and I was gonna

grow up real fast.

Yeah, well, I thought

you boys thought

this was too late

in the year for a drive.

With you, we'd set out

in the dead of winter.

And you know, John,

we can't leave this little

granddaughter of mine

stranded in Hamilton.

I can carry

my weight

on a drive.

That's blackmail.

You better take her on

as cook's louse.

But I'll-- I'll eat dust

all day and ride the drag.

I got somebody else

pegged for that job.

I guess you're still pretty

fond of horses, aren't you?

Oh, Uncle John.

You can work in the remuda

with the wranglers.

Just like old times,

Little John.

Ho, now!

Hold it!

Down there.

Do as he says.

Cord?

Here.

All the men you wanted.

Douglas?

Boys from our ranch.

Aruzza's vaqueros.

I am Juan Aruzza,

Se?or Cord.

My men and I have agreed

to ride with you

and will follow

your orders.

I know your people.

They'll do.

Gracias, se?or.

And these are--

[I know.

The pride of Hamilton.

All of you

know the rules

of the trail.

I'd like to say something,

Cord, for all of us.

On the trail my men

call me Mr. Cord.

I haven't thrown in

my bedroll yet, Cord.

Say your say,

Powis.

We agreed

to ride with you--

For me.

For Mr. Hamilton's

sake.

It isn't hard to figure

why you picked

the lot of us.

But we'll take anything

you can hand out...

as long as you do

your level best

to beat Garth

to Fort Clemson.

If you have

any other notions...

Finish, Powis.

The day's short.

If you have

any other notions,

we'll kill you.

Is that all?

Anybody else itchin'

to make a speech?

All right.

Let's get going.

Bedrolls in the wagon,

line up for work orders.

Mr. Cord?

Ma'am.

Will you give me

my assignment now?

You've got your assignment...

takin' care of your husband.

Butcher that one.

That's one of the finest

cows in the herd.

Shy,

a stampede-maker.

Let the chuck wagon

have him.

That's the lead

steer for us.

Ah, a most majestic

animal, se?or.

I'll take him

up to point.

All right,

get ready to move.

Just a moment, son.

You've forgotten something.

I didn't forget.

All right,

get it over with.

Almighty God...

Thou knowest these men

who bow their heads

before Thee.

Hard-working,

God-fearing,

they beseech that

Thou go with them

on this arduous journey

they are about to undertake.

We ask for guidance

and blessing

for man and beast.

Amen.

All right,

Thomas Jefferson,

let her roll!

One hundred!

Hundred it is!

You drag riders,

tighten up the gap!

Want us

to choke to death?

Move up where you can

head off trouble

before it starts.

Move up!

Well, we've got 'em

off to a good start.

Have your riders

trim the flanks.

It's widening out.

I expected

to ride drag and eat

dirt all the way.

Well, nothin' says

we won't eat dirt...

one way

or another.

Maybe he just remembered

that we, both of us,

used to ride point.

Uncle John?

I can't tell you

what it means to me.

I mean, all my life

I've dreamed about

ridin' trail with you

all grown-up.

Ridin' with me

means doin' your job.

You belong with the remuda.

You better forget

about the "uncle."

You're gettin'

too grown-up for that.

All right!

Mr. Cord?

What is it, Mrs. Hamilton?

Would you speak to Ralph?

He insists on riding.

Why shouldn't he?

A man needs to feel the wind

and the sun on his face.

That all?

Mr. Cord?

Do you think

we'll make it?

Who can tell?

Boy, you sure

picked a cozy spot

for our midday rest,

Little Johnny.

We'll bed down here

for the night.

We've hardly trailed

half a day.

If I'm not back by dark,

see that they don't scatter

or crowd too much.

Try and get 'em

to lie down.

Mr. Cord,

just how much time

you plannin'

to donate to Garth?

You, Aruzza, take charge

till I get back.

S?, Se?or.

Excuse us, boys.

Sit down.

Missed you.

Been lookin'

for you all day.

Hamilton herd's

a good three days

behind you.

Who's takin' 'em?

I am.

You?

Got your rump

in two saddles

at once, huh?

Aren't you spreadin'

your influence

a little too far?

Keep your herd

pointed due east.

You should hit

Horsethief Creek

in about 10 days.

Where you

takin' them?

Northeast.

Dismal River.

It's bone dry,

isn't it?

No. They'll be able

to smell it.

It'll be too thin to plow

and too thick to drink.

Those cows

will go berserk.

That's a sight a man

would enjoy seein', huh?

You stick with your herd.

I'll be able to join you

after the Dismal.

As I walked out

In the streets

of Laredo

As I walked out

In Laredo one day

I spied a poor cowboy

All wrapped

in white linen

All wrapped

in white linen

As cold as the clay

Ralph.

What lies ahead,

John?

Due northeast.

The herd seems

to be civil.

They still

like my voice.

John, I--

I was wondering.

Is it a starry night?

Yeah, there's

plenty of stars.

The moon's comin' up.

You better

put this on.

It's gettin' cold.

Good night.

Night, John.

Oh, beat the drum slowly

And play the fife lowly

And play

the dead march

As you carry me 'long

Take me to the green valley

There lay the sod o'er me

For I'm a poor cowboy

I know I done wrong

Wrangler?

Wrangler!

Looks like he's been

ridden hard.

Feed him.

Like he's, uh,

covered a lot

of territory.

And rub him down.

Wrangler?

That you, Little Johnny?

Thomas Jefferson,

what are you doin' up

this time of night?

Waitin' to see

if you're hungry.

No, thanks.

I put your bedroll

over there.

George Washington

built you a fire.

You wantin' to be off

by yourself like that,

we figured

you'd need it.

You know, John,

there's nothin' much

George Washington and I

wouldn't do for you.

What's the matter,

Thomas Jefferson?

We'd stick by you

till hell froze over

and you could

skate on it.

Sure.

But if you're aimin'

to do what it looks

like you're doin',

if you're plannin'

to lead them fine steers

to ruination,

we're walkin' out.

So help me.

When I need a preacher,

Thomas Jefferson,

I'll send for him.

Did you find

trouble ahead?

What are you

doin' out here?

I want to talk

to you.

Seems like everybody

has somethin' to say

to me tonight.

John, it was a mistake

for me and Ralph

to come along.

I want you

to send us back home.

Why?

I'm afraid.

I'm beginning to...

...to remember things.

And what's wrong

with remembering?

Seems like you're always

with the cattle.

Seems like they're

better'n most people

to be with.

Sounds like

the old John Cord.

When do you think

we'll get 'em to water?

You've been avoiding me.

Seems like there

aren't half enough

hours in the day.

Is that

the only reason?

Is that what Sandy

was complaining about?

She's in love

with you, you know.

Sandy?

It's hero worship.

She'll get over it.

When are we gonna

tell Ralph?

When the time comes.

It's because of John Cord.

We've just about

had enough of John Cord.

We're finished,

Mr. Hamilton.

We've cut out our cows,

and we're heading home.

Thought you ought to know.

What are you getting at, Powis?

We figured our few head

would be better off

at home, alive.

John Cord will get us

to Fort Clemson.

His herds

always make it.

Aw, he lost the race

for us before we started.

And it doesn't look like

he aims to catch up.

But he will.

Why do you think

I begged him

to ride for us?

There's never been

a trail boss like him.

Not this time,

Mr. Hamilton.

He took this job

just to get even with us.

He's out

to ruin us!

Maybe.

But he won't be able

to go through with it.

Trail driving

is his life.

It's what

he was born for.

It might be in him

to destroy us,

but not the cattle...

not the cattle.

If you believe that,

Mr. Hamilton,

you stay with him,

but we're goin'.

Aruzza!

Hold it.

Nobody cuts out

without my permission.

If you've lost

your stomach

for trail drivin',

you can go home,

but the cows stay

with the herd.

I signed to deliver

4,000 head of cattle,

and I'll deliver 'em

with or without you.

Aruzza, get those cows

back in the herd.

The food stays

with the drive.

You want us to starve?

You wanna go home,

that's your business.

All right, we can't

spend the day here eatin'.

We got a herd

to move.

Little brother,

you take charge

while I'm gone.

Direction is due north.

Due north?

We've been headin'

for the--

Keep movin' till midnight

and drive 'em.

All right,

don't anybody

get too comfortable

tonight.

We're gonna start

tomorrow before sunrise.

That's a good way

to get shot.

You were joining us

at Horsethief Creek.

I'm not gonna

join you.

Oh, somethin' up?

I'm gonna do my best

to get my herd

to Fort Clemson

before yours.

What changed

your mind?

I don't know how

to lead 5,000 head

of cattle to their death,

no matter how I feel

about the people

who own 'em.

That's mighty noble

of you.

Somebody'll write

a ballad about you.

What am I

supposed to do?

Fold my arms

and let you pass me?

If I can pass you

fair and square,

I'll pass you.

From here on,

it's up to each of us.

You got no complaints,

Garth.

With the head start you got,

the odds are all in your favor.

I guess you're still

headin' for Dismal River.

There's no water

in the Dismal.

I told you that.

We're headin'

for Horsethief,

same as you.

Thanks. Thanks for

tellin' me, Cord.

We can ride out

and cut him down.

Doesn't matter

if he gets back

to his herd.

He told me all

I need to know.

You notice how set

he was on us goin'

to Horsethief Creek?

Yeah.

That's why

he joined up with me

in the first place,

to make sure

we headed there.

And he came tonight

to make double sure.

You know

what I think?

I think he knows

that Horsethief Creek

is dry.

All right.

We're headin'

for Dismal River.

First we crawl,

then we gallop.

Makes no sense.

Agua.

We should have quit him

this afternoon

the way you wanted to.

He'll kill us all,

and the cattle, too.

As long as you're

on the trail,

he's the boss.

Well, I for one

wouldn't mind

stringing him up

and relieving him

of the job.

You flaunt a good

deal of courage

behind my back,

wrangler.

Are you callin' me

a coward?

Read your own meaning.

We hit the trail

in three hours.

Aruzza?

Se?or?

I checked the Dismal.

It's dried up

since I came through

a while back, so we'll

take 'em to Horsethief,

even though

it's a lot farther.

He's lying.

He hasn't been

to the Dismal

or Horsethief.

He's been cookin' up

some kind of a deal

with Garth.

I know...'cause

I followed him.

Next time

you leave the herd

without permission,

don't come back.

That all you got

to say, Mr. Cord?

No. There's somethin'

I think you should

all understand.

The real

tough herding's

ahead of us,

so if any of you

think it's been hard

up to now,

any of you want to quit,

now's when you speak up.

I've had all the Cord

herd drive I want.

Thomas Jefferson...

get him his bedroll.

When you get back to Hamilton,

will you tell my wife--

Hamilton's

a dead town.

I'm ridin' on

to Fort Clemson.

Maybe I can get

a start there.

At least one of us

will get there.

You were workin'

into a good man,

Whittaker.

Let him go.

Anybody else?

Could be I was wrong.

Maybe that gun I saw

in Garth's hand

wasn't an act.

Maybe it wasn't.

A beautiful sight,

se?or.

You think maybe

we got two days

to give them?

I don't know.

Remember, we got

to get the herd

to Fort Clemson first.

You notice there's

no sign of Garth

watering his herd here.

If he took 'em

to the Dismal after

I warned him against it,

we've got our

two days and more.

Come on.

Isn't she beautiful?

Very beautiful.

So, what are you

gonna do about it?

We'll talk about that

at the end of the trail.

Cord? Gettin'

so I know your horse.

Something's

worrying you.

Worryin' me?

No, nothing.

A man could be worried

about the stake claims

and not be ashamed.

The cows are fit.

They'll make it

to the Pecos.

Funny thing how

a man can't stop doin'

what he's born for.

Not a man like you, anyway.

A man like me, either.

I've been thinkin'.

When we get to Fort Clemson,

I'll keep

right on goin'.

What are you

talkin' about?

A blind man's

no use on a ranch.

You and Douglas run it.

Run it and share it.

Don't you understand?

I'm offerin' you

everything I've got.

Just make sure

the cattle get through.

There are some things

a man is born for...

...some things that don't

rightfully belong to him.

You don't have

to bribe me, Ralph.

I'll get the herd

through.

These make 27.

You want me to...

No, that's my job.

What's the matter?

Nobody hungry?

Too tuckered out.

Hang on.

We'll make it.

You, uh, mind

if I eat with you?

Sit down.

Do you see, se?or,

what I see?

The Pecos!

We made it!

The Pecos! The Pecos!

Water! Water!

I never knew

you fiddled, Cogswell.

Why didn't you

break it out before?

I didn't feel

like it before.

But I fell like it now,

you can bet!

It's only a mile

to Tumbleweed

and two saloons.

Aren't saloon keepers

entitled to some

of our money?

That's right!

They sure are!

But the orders are we give

Tumbleweed the wide bunk.

Time he stopped

givin' orders,

Mr. high-and-mighty

Cord!

Shall we tell him what to do

with his orders?

You said

the word.

It's all right

with me.

And

about time!

Hey, trail boss?

We wanna have

some words with you.

We figured that

you didn't mean

the order

that we can't

go into town.

I meant it.

You can let us

go peaceful...

or do we have to

shove you out of the way?

We'll do it.

Believe me.

For five years, you've been

rememberin' a drunken spree

that wrecked your town.

Now you want me

to turn you loose

to tear some

other town apart.

We ain't gonna

hurt Tumbleweed.

We're decent people.

Decent people

wrecked your store.

Decent people,

every one of 'em.

They didn't want

to hurt Hamilton.

They were just

blowin' off steam,

just like you.

These men

are different!

I can vouch

for every one

of 'em.

After two months

on a trail drive,

nobody's any different.

You wanna drink?

Here!

Soak up all you want.

Now, get out

of our way.

Next man that

steps forward...

All right, Cord...

we're comin'.

Wait, you crazy fools!

Listen to me!

Don't do something

you'll all be ashamed of

for the rest of your lives.

All we wanna do

is go to town.

Let Mr. Hamilton

have his say.

When I picked John Cord

as trail boss,

I told you one thing...

he'd get our herd through.

Now let me tell you

something else.

John Cord always carries

his own whiskey, special,

to keep a bunch

of worn-out, trail-crazy,

saddle-tramps like you

from wrecking a town

like Tumbleweed.

Well, he forgot

his brandy barrel

and his preacher feelings

when he hit Hamilton

five years ago!

I'll tell you what happened

five years ago.

It was a time like now,

when there were more

cows than buyers.

John Cord was driving

somebody's herd

from the south.

He camped outside

of Hamilton

after six weeks

on the trail,

broke open a barrel,

gave his men a chance

to let off steam.

There I was with a herd

of my own ready to start.

And no man who raced

John Cord stood a chance

if he raced him fair.

I was desperate.

So while his men

were having their bout

with the whiskey barrel...

and while he and I

were having a friendly drink,

I had one of my men,

name of Garth,

crack him over the head.

We scattered his herd.

And we...not John Cord...

we turned his

drunken crew loose.

He was the man that

made you blind, wasn't he?

Yes.

He was the one that gave me

the blow that cost me my eyes.

I'll tell you how.

It doesn't matter

anymore, Ralph.

It's time they

knew about it.

It's time everybody

knew about it.

John Cord came storming

into Hamilton later that night,

too late to stop

his rampaging crew.

He came

looking for me.

He was

suspicious.

I was the one

he had trusted.

Now he was suspicious.

I had to get mad

or else admit

he was right,

so I got mad.

I taunted him

about losing control

of his men, his herd!

That's what the fight

in Grainger's saloon

was all about.

You... let him

go to prison?

Yes.

I was the guilty one.

But...I felt sorry for myself.

At the time of the trial,

I'd just found out

that I'd be blind

for the rest of my life.

I was bitter,

vengeful.

He should'a

killed you.

There've been plenty

of times I wished he had.

Now, if you

want to drag me

up and down the camp,

no one will stop you.

Mr. Cord.

If you want

to belt me in the face,

I'll hold still.

What I want

is a drink.

Who'll join me?

Ralph's back there, Janice.

He...

Well, I-- I think

he needs you.

The men at least

are big enough

to say they're sorry.

You love him very much,

don't you, Sandy?

That's none

of your business.

He doesn't even

know I'm alive.

What is it?

At the beginning,

when you wouldn't

let me go home,

you wanted to hurt me,

didn't you?

That's all

there was to it.

Wasn't it?

I deserved it.

That was

in the beginning.

And later?

And now?

Mr. Cord!

Hey, somebody's comin'!

It's Whittaker!

What'd you come back for?

Changed your mind?

Mr. Cord. Where is he?

Well, Whittaker?

I made it

to Fort Clemson.

I ran into Garth

in the saloon there.

He took his herd

to the Dismal

and lost it.

Just like you said.

He's hiring

gunmen.

He wanted me

to join with him.

Join with him

for what?

He's planning

to wait for you

with 40 men

at Indian Pass.

He wants

the Hamilton herd.

I hope he wants

the small war

that goes with it.

This is gettin' to be

a real herd drive,

Little Johnny.

I take it you're back

with us, Whittaker.

Thanks, boss.

Let's get ready

for Garth.

Get down.

Get down and keep down.

Bein' real smart.

Waitin' for us

in a gully.

All right.

He wants to play games...

we can play games, too.

Let's get at it.

He's up there someplace.

I think he spotted us.

Well, I've done all I could.

I need your help, Douglas.

You know what you're

supposed to do.

Yes, sir.

Lead out!

Cut 'em down!

Senor, over there!

Garth!

Come on!

Throw your guns down.

Let him go!

Put your gun away.

Now, turn around.

Do you wanna

put your hands up

or you wanna try me?

You don't make

sense, Cord.

You're a cattleman,

not a gunman.

I've been around,

and you know it.

You wanna try me?

Yeah.

You'll live.

It's a pity you had

to figure everybody

as crooked as you are.

You could have

beat us easy

if you'd believed me

about the Dismal.

You know, we could've

had that empire.

That's

the way it goes.

Here's

the trail log, Ralph.

To date,

we've lost 182 head.

Out of 4,000?

That's the usual

Cord miracle.

But why

the formal report?

I'll let you know

where you can send my pay.

I'm leaving, Ralph.

Before the herd

is delivered?

We're almost there now.

Douglas can take you

the rest of the way.

Next year, he'll be

takin' 'em all the way.

He's a full-fledged

trail boss now.

Why the hurry

to leave us?

I hear there's

a lot of grass

in the northwest.

I offered you

a partnership, John.

Somebody's waitin' for me.

I'm plannin' to settle down.

First choice?

Well, you seem to know

what you want, John.

You know best

what's right.

Well, the end

of the trail

for us, Ralph.

Trail boss,

say good-bye

to the men for me.

Tell 'em they're

as good a bunch of boys

as I ever rode with.

Janice...

I wish you could see

what a pretty little

face she has, Ralph.

It's a good thing

for her you were

on this drive.

John Cord!

That was no way to say

good-bye to old friends.

I'm sorry, Sandy.

Someday

you'll understand.

I understand...

and so does Janice.

Only she can't do anything

about it, and I can.

I mean, you don't

play uncle to a girl

for practically all her life

and let her think...

and think about you,

and then

just ride off.

It's only proper

to give her a chance.

What kind

of a chance?

I'd like a chance to go

to the free grass with you.

I'd like a chance

to get to be first choice.

But you've got so much

growin' up to do, Sandy,

and between now and then

so much forgettin', too.

Oh, I'll never forget.

We'll see.

Will we?

Will you

come back and see?

I'll come back.

You promise?

I promise

if it gets to that.

It'll get to that.

Cattle Empire (1958) - full transcript