Montana Territory (1952) - full transcript

This is Montana.

She's beautiful and rugged.

In 1863, Montana was just
another frontier wilderness.

Then gold was discovered,

gold that brought with it
some of the worst violence

and lawlessness
the West was ever to see,

but gold that also assured

the creation
of Montana Territory.

Downright trustin'
of you, Magruder,

lettin' us share
your camp till we're all

out of the outlaw
country.



Worth a man's life

to be travelin'
with gold on him.

Ain't that right,
Yeager?

You're one
in a thousand
who didn't

strike it rich
in Alder Gulch,
Magruder.

Why, even drifters
pan out a fortune
in gold dust there.

I'm almost glad
me and my boy
didn't have no luck.

Probably live longer.
Heh heh!

If the good Lord saw fit
to keep me and my son
from findin' gold,

I ain't the one to question
the divine wisdom of it.

When we get
to the Missouri,

we're going to get us jobs
on some riverboat.

Man'd be a fool
to tell anybody if he
did strike it rich.

Probably a dead fool.



Wh with outlaws
and road agents,

an honest feller
ain't got much chance

to spend his money
before it's took away
from him.

Where do you keep it,
Magruder?

Keep what?

The gold.

Why, I told
you fellas.

We don't have
any gold.

"Me and my boy
didn't have no luck
at Alder Gulch."

Not much,
you didn't!

Someone's out there!

Just one.
Let's get him!

Hold still!
How can I hear anything?

Let's forget it!

Let's go back
and get our stuff!

Take it easy, now, boy.
You'll waterlog.

Just stand there
like you was planted
and throw down that gun!

Ma'am, you don't
understand.

There's somebody
in there.

I said drop
that pistol.

Now, just who were
you gunnin' for?

Nobody.

I just wanted
to see who was
playing that guitar.

Sure.
Why, a child could
have seen that

by the way you was
creepin' up with
a gun in your hand.

Now, get along!

I said git!

Put up that rifle
or we'll both be killed.

Keep walkin'.

I tell you, there's
a murderer in there!

That's the fella
that was hangin' around the
Magruder camp last night.

My pop's inside.

Go out the back,
come around, and
get him from the side.

Yeager!
That's enough!

Yeager.

Oh!

Ah, get inside!

Let me go!

Oh, you let me go!

You! Ooh!

Now, watch her, Possum!

Now what'd you get
mixed into?

Go get him, Choppy.

He lost his teeth.

Whoa! Whoa!

Sheriff, one of them's
that outlaw, Yeager.

You stay here with
the stage, Bill.

You can get up now,
Possum.

Shooting's all over.

Ha ha ha!

Howdy,
Mr. Landers.

On your way back
from that trial
in Montana City?

That's right, Possum.

Ain't a scratch
on me.

Sure pays to use
your head when
there's trouble afoot.

Mmm-hmm. Who was
causing the trouble?

Pays to keep
your eyes shut, too.

Howdy, Sheriff.

Hello, Possum.

I suppose your eyes
were closed all
the time, too, Clair?

No, but my back
was turned.

Clair doesn't know it,
but she's secretly
in love with me.

Sheriff, I'd like you
to meet John Malvin,
the son of Judge Malvin.

Not the famous
Judge Malvin of
Saint Joe, Missouri?

The same.
It's a good thing for me

you came along
when you did, sir.

Glad to have been
of service to you, John.

Of course, I didn't know
it was a judge's son
up there on the roof.

Do you, uh, like
to climb around
on rooftops?

Well, no, sir.
I...

Possum, help the driver
put those bodies
on the stage.

I'm sending them
to Bannack.

Who were they,
Sheriff?

Buzzard and Choppy.

I ordered them
to leave Montana
over a month ago.

Looks like they've
left it for good now.

That's what comes
of not knowin' how
to prolong your life.

Now, I always say...
Go on,
do as I told you.

Shall I charge 'em off
as passengers or just
dead freight?

Ha!
Get out there.

Why were they trying
to kill you, John?

I guess because I saw
the Magruders murdered.

Magruders murdered?

But they didn't have
a chance.

Yeah, road agents
again, Sheriff.

Yeager was one of them.
There were two more.

The two that were trying
to shoot you outside?

I don't think so.
One of them had a club foot.

What about
the other one?

Would you recognize him
if you ever saw him again?

Well, I never got
a good look at any
of their faces.

Of course not.
Outlaws don't
have faces.

More crimes reported
every day, but like
Possum and Clair,

nobody ever gets
a good look at
the criminal.

Believe me, sir, I'm
holding nothing back
that might help.

I don't think you are.

Well, I'll keep
on the trail of
this Yeager.

John, you can do me
a favor by making a
full report

of this crime to
my deputy in Bannack.

Why, yes, sir.

His name is Ives.
George Ives.

Mr. Ives?

That's right.

My name is
John Malvin.

Sheriff Plummer
asked me to make
a report to you.

Oh, and he said he
might be a little late
getting back here,

depending on whether
or not he could
run down Yeager.

Well,
what about Yeager?

Well, he's one of the
road agents who murdered

Lloyd Magruder
and his son last night.

What's your connection
with all this?

Well, I was there.

I saw the murderers.

How many were there?

Three.
One of them was Yeager.

One had a clubbed foot,
and...

And?

And the third man was,

well, about your size.

Is that
the best description
you can give of him?

Well, I was too far away
to see him very well.

You would recognize him
if you saw him again,
wouldn't you?

I'm not sure.

It was pretty dark.

That's too bad.

Have a cigar.
No. No, thanks.

If you're stayin'
in Bannack overnight,

try Mrs. Nelson's
boardinghouse.

I will.

Where are you headed?

The gold fields
in Alder Gulch.

Yeah? You and
a thousand others.

Well, you might
as well be rich while
you're still young.

Maybe. I'd rather work
for Sheriff Plummer.

You know, he's
something you usually
only hear about.

I wouldn't be here
if it weren't for him.

He saved my life.

Is that so?
He sure did.

He's what I figure
a lawman ought to be,

but you know him
better than I do.

Go ahead. You ain't
the only one who thinks
a lot of Henry Plummer.

Unless maybe it's some
of the outlaws.

I'll bet they do.
Let's get on with
the report.

You figure it's safe
enough working for him,

as long as you do
what you're told and
divvy up on the take.

You think you can
do just about what
you please.

If anything goes wrong,
he'll fix it. Ha!

You know how he
fixes things up?

He shoots you dead,
that's what he does!

That's what he did
to Buzzard and Choppy.

I'm still alive
'cause I got away,

and I'm gonna
stay alive.

Then you'd better
stop fiddlin' with
that gun,

or you'll shoot
yourself.
Huh!

Let him try dealin' me
a crooked hand.

I'll show you what I
can do with a gun.

You know why I ain't
afraid of Plummer?

I ain't interested,
Yeager.

Maybe Plummer
himself is.

There he is now.
You can tell him.

You're all right,
Yeager.

I don't trust you,
Plummer.

Why should you?

You don't trust me
because you're smart.

You're one of
my best men, Yeager.

Let's have a drink,
forget the whole thing.

I like a man who's not
afraid to speak out.
That's you.

You got something
to say, you say it.

You know what?

Uh, what?

Usually makes sense.

You half-witted,
drunken sot.

Heh heh!
Have another drink.

Gonna kill you
for this, Plummer.

There isn't whiskey
enough to give you
the nerve, Yeager.

There's not country
enough for you to hide
in if you ever try it.

That's mighty brave talk,
considerin'.

Buzzard and Choppy
are dead because you
couldn't take orders

and lay low after
the Magruder job.

For that, I'm giving you
12 hours to get out
and keep going.

Or what?

I'll come lookin'
for you.

You won't have to,
Sheriff.

I'll be lookin'
for you.

Gallagher.

Indeed, Mr. Malvin,
I consider this picture

of the President,
in its beautiful
gilt frame and all,

one of the nicest gifts
Sheriff Henry Plummer
ever give to me.

He's a wonderful man,
don't you think?

Oh, yes, Mrs. Nelson,
I guess Abraham Lincoln

is one of the
greatest Presidents
we've ever had.

Mercy me. I was
speakin' of Sheriff
Henry Plummer.

He give me this bowl
of wax fruit, too.

Did you ever see
anything look
so natural?

Mrs. Nelson?
Yes, Mr. Malvin?

Are most women
good shots with rifles
around here?

Mercy, no.
I never shot one
of those things

in my life, and I hope
I never have to.

Well, I was wondering
about a certain young lady.

Yes?

Oh, well, it's nothing,
Mrs. Nelson.

She's just a darn
good shot with a rifle,
that's all.

Well, ain't that
somethin'

to get interested
in a lady about!

Oh...

I'll tell you, Landers,
the job is getting
too big for him.

One sheriff and one
deputy can't begin to
take care of everything.

It's time
we took action.

I agree,
but what action?

I can think of
a dozen things.

Get Plummer to appoint
more deputies.

Get help from outside.

Organize
a vigilante committee.

Vigilantes.
That's what we need.

You must be the
young man who witnessed
the Magruder murders.

Yes, sir.
A terrible thing.

I'm Jason Waterman.

Got a store
and a gold mine,
and no guarantee

I can keep either one
of 'em, if the outlaws
decide to take 'em.

How do you do,
Mr. Waterman?

I've heard
of your father.
Fine man.

Won't give an inch on
a question of justice.

Glad to meet his son.
Thank you, sir.

What would the judge
think, John,

about vigilantes
taking the law into
their own hands?

Well, my father has
said many times that
the three worst disasters

that could happen
to mankind

were pestilence,
famine, and mob rule,

and I agree with him.

Good for you, John.

There speaks a man
after my own heart.

What about Yeager,
Sheriff?

Did you run him down,
or can the rest of us

expect
the same treatment
Magruder got?

Yeager's gone
into hiding.

Take a pretty big posse
to smoke him out.

That's what I mean.

Why don't you deputize
more men, Sheriff?

Job's open.
You want it?

Talk sense.
I'm a busy man.

Who'd run my store
and my gold mine?

There's your answer.

Most folks are
too busy making money

to spend any time
protecting it.

Hang it, why won't the
government send the Army
in here? We need help.

We can't get any help
from the government until
Montana's a territory.

Meantime,
Mr. Waterman,

I'll do my best
to see you keep
your gold.

And who knows?

I might be able
to persuade some
good young man

to let me swear
him in as a deputy.

Supper's ready, gentlemen.

Plummer!

Who is it?

I'm comin'
to get you, Plummer!

It's Yeager.

Come out with your
hands up, Yeager!

I ain't takin'
your orders!

Sheriff got him
for sure.

He ain't afraid
of nothin'.

Yes, sirree!
Walked right over
and shot him dead.

The best shot
in all Montana!
He sure was!

Whoa, whoa. Whoa.

Possum, where's Clair?

Uh, over at the stables.

Hello.

Well?

I've come to get
my horse.

He's in there.

Well, how's his foot?

Why don't you go
look at it?

I'd rather look at you.

Just in case you're
thinkin' what I know
you're thinkin',

I'm just as good
an aim with this fork
as I am with a rifle.

Hey! Now, now,
don't get the wrong...

I know,
you're different.

I ain't seen a man come
through here yet that
wasn't so different

I'd wind up black
and blue trying to
keep away from him.

Well, ma'am,
what makes you...
And he talked big

about makin'
a rich gold strike

and buyin' me half the
world for a front yard.

You came out here
after gold, didn't you?

Well, yes, but I...
But you'll wind up

just like all the rest
of them drifters.

You better get on your...
Ma'am, it looks

like you're never going
to hear what I'm going
to do until I do it.

Raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear
to uphold the law,

carry out the orders
of this office,

and otherwise conduct
yourself as a peace
officer at all times?

I do.

Congratulations, John.
It's an honor.

It's a good thing
you think so.

The pay is $30 a month.

You receive
a dollar for warrants,
50 cents for summons.

Travel expenses are
five cents a mile.

John, I'm sure you'll
make a good deputy.
Try to, sir.

I know you'll be loyal
to your oath

and to me as a matter
of principle.

I'd, uh, I'd like it
to mean more than that.

I want you
to have these,

let's say, as a token
of friendship.

Well, I...

I hardly know
what to say, sir.

Don't say anything.
Just take them and wear
them in a good cause.

I'll try
and be worthy
of them, sir.

Now, son, I think
you'd better get home
and get some sleep.

You got a very
important job first
thing in the morning.

Yes, sir.
Good night
and thanks.

There goes a deputy
whose career will probably
be the shortest on record.

n
from my bank, Jason,

but you know what's best
for your business.

I hope I do.

And I still think
you're foolhardy

carrying that much
money on you.

A man has to be
foolhardy these days
or go out of business.

And I'm not too worried.

No stage has ever
been held up

when Sheriff Plummer was
ridin' gun guard on it.

Oh, the Sheriff is
going with you?

Well, that's different.

If there's one man
those road agents

will stay clear of,
it's Plummer.

That's why I insisted
he go along with me
to Montana City.

Montana City?

Why, the Sheriff told me
he had to ride over
to Alder Gulch today.

He did?
Yes.

That's mighty funny.

I'll see about that.

But I was countin'
on you to go along, Plummer.

Well, I've made
other arrangements
for your protection.

All ready,
Mr. Waterman.

Why didn't you tell me
you had a new deputy?

I just got him. I've
got a lot of confidence
in him, Jason.

Well, a judge's son ought
to be reliable enough.

Couldn't have had too much
experience, though.

Let's hope you don't start
gettin' it on this trip.

Good luck, son.

Come on.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Howdy, Charlie!

Have the horses in a jiffy.
Hello, Possum.

Well, if it ain't
the young fella again.

Hey, shoot me for a sinner
if you ain't a-wearin'
a deputy's badge.

I'm working for
Sheriff Plummer now.

Is that right?

Well, now,
that's fine.

Well, I got to get
my work done.

Where's Clair, Possum?
In the station.

What do you want now?

Well, this is the first
chance I've had to come
back here since yesterday.

I don't see
what difference
that makes.

Well, it makes
a lot of difference
when a man has had

all night to figure out
what he's gonna say.

And I guess it doesn't
matter if he comes
right to the point,

so long as he means
what he's going to say.

I don't care what
you were going to say.
You back-trail out of...

You know, when a man has
got his feet on the ground

and he knows
where he's going...
I know where you're...

And suddenly everything
is as clear as daylight,

well, he'd be a fool
if he didn't settle down

and get himself
a good wife.

Oh, you and all
the others give me
a pain in...

Wife?

Well, now, as I said,

I've given this
a lot of thought.

Of course, I know
this might sound
kind of sudden to you.

I expect you to take
a little time.

Miss Clair...

Ma'am, if I've gone
about this thing wrong,

well, just say so.

Clair, please.

Shut up, will you?
Ma'am.

I'm sorry.

It's no use, John.

You're just a drifter.

You'll drift out
of my life the same way
you came into it.

Oh, I've got
a big surprise
for you there.

Here, take a look.

I'm Sheriff Henry
Plummer's new deputy.

Get a move on, young man.
We're ready to leave.

I'll be right there.
That's Jason Waterman.

He's carrying better
than 10,000 in gold on him,

and it's my job to see
that nothing happens to it.

John...
So you can see that

Plummer thinks
a lot of me.

I'll see you on
the way back, Clair.

John, don't make
this trip, please!

All loaded and...

Uh, maybe
I should have knocked.

Nothing's going
to happen, Clair.

Bye-bye.

Now what you gettin'
yourself messed into?

Pop, we've got
to warn him.

Ain't none of
our business, Clair.

Besides, he's workin'
for Plummer.

He probably knows
more than we do.

No, he doesn't.
Plummer's just
usin' him.

All the more reason
to stay out of it.

After what I just seen,

I might make an exception
of a hard and fast rule.

Hey! Hold it a minute,
Charlie!

Climb down here,
young fella.

I want you to do
something for me.

I promised Lem Peters
over at Deer Lodge

that I'd send him over
this here jug.

Them new passengers are
dressed like gold miners,
but they ain't.

They're road agents.
Better watch your step.

There! That ought
to hold it from
sloppin' all over you.

Now, see that Lem
gets it, huh?

I will.

I'm going to ride
inside, Charlie.

Hyah!

I hadn't ought
to done it.

Hold it!
Raise your hands!

Mr. Waterman,
take their guns.

Hurry up, Taylor.
Get 'em out of there.

If that new deputy
gives you any trouble,
shoot him.

Tell him, Taylor.

Clear out, Gimp.

Tell him why.

He'll shoot us
if you don't.

Who will? Tell him!

The new deputy.

I'm counting to five.

You'd better get going.

One, two...

Get goin', Gimp!

Three, four.

Stupid jackasses.
Serve you both right.

Come on!

Whip 'em up, Charlie!

Hyah!

They're following us!
I was afraid of that.

We've got
to reach Deer Lodge
before it's dark.

Charlie!
Stretch 'em out!
Let's go!

They're still comin'.

Pull the rope
off that bedroll
and tie their hands.

We're in for it now!

We changed
their minds for 'em.

Was good shootin',
John.

Charlie?

I think he's been hit.

Give me a hand,
will you?

We got to get Charlie
to a doctor.

Is there any other way
back to town?

The Old Mill Road.

It's roundabout
and rough, but it'll
get us there.

Turns off in about
half a mile.

Okay, hold on.

Hup! Hup, team!

Take him inside.

Joe, get the doctor.

I don't like the
looks of it, Bill.

At the last minute,
Plummer backs out

of going and sends
his new deputy
in his place.

Seems to me
John did a good job.

Maybe too good,
from Plummer's
standpoint.

Jason, you talk
as though you thought

Plummer had something
to do with the holdup.

I'm not so sure
he didn't.

kill Magruder.

Then Gimp is the one
we're looking for.

That was
fast thinking, John.

You don't usually get
the drop on road agents
that easy.

Possum gets the credit
for that.

Possum?

Well, if he hadn't
warned me about
the two passengers

we picked up
at the relay station,

well, I'd have been
caught flat-footed.

That's
very interesting.

I'll see that Possum
gets the credit.

I've got an idea where I
might pick up a lead
on this fellow, Gimp.

You stay here and hold
the fort till I get back.

Gimp and the others
have had plenty
of time to get here.

Possum?

Yes, sir?

This snake dish
you call liquor
is terrible.

Heh heh!
Yeah, shorten
your life, too.

I want you to have
a drink with me.

Oh, Gimp, you know
I don't drink.

Go on. You want
to live forever?

Well, you can live
dang near forever

by followin'
a few simple rules.

Such as, uh,

always keepin'
your mouth shut?

Yeah...that's one
of the rules.

Everybody stay
where you are!

One of the men
who tried to rob the stage

today had a club-foot.
You're under arrest.

All right, Pop.

It's all over.
You can get up now.

Pop.

They killed him.

It's good to see you
in town, Clair.

How's your dad
going to get along
without you?

What's the matter?
I only asked about
your father.

He was killed
last night.

I'm sorry, Clair,
terribly sorry.

Clair!

What's happened?

Clair, what's wrong?

Something about Possum
being killed.

Oh, no. Here.

Sit down, Clair.

How did it happen?

Plummer.
What about Plummer?

I'm going to kill him.

Clair.

I'm going to kill him,
just like he killed
my father.

Clair, you don't think
that Sheriff...

Just a minute, son.

Why would Plummer
want to kill your
father, Clair?

Why?

I don't know why.

Of course.

You told him,
didn't you?

You told him
that Dad warned you
about the holdup.

But that wouldn't have
anything to do with it.

But you couldn't know.
How could you?

Clair, now,
pull yourself together

and try and tell us
what happened.

Well,
Plummer made it look like
an accident, but it wasn't.

It was murder.
He ain't that bad a shot.

The Sheriff was after
an outlaw called Gimp.
He couldn't have...

Gimp was in it, too.

"Don't anybody make
a move," Plummer said.

"I've come to arrest Gimp
for a stagecoach holdup."

And then
he started shootin'.

The Sheriff was after
that club-footed outlaw.

That's what sent him
out there.

Well, if you won't
believe that Plummer
murdered my father,

will you believe that he's
the one that's been givin'
orders to the outlaws?

Well, that's crazy!

Maybe it isn't so crazy.
What do you know, Clair?

I know what
my father told me.

He knew that the outlaws
were being run by one man,

and he said it was
no secret to him that
that man was Plummer.

But your father must have
been mistaken, Clair.
Why, the Sheriff is...

Did your father have
any proof, any evidence
we could use?

None that I know of.

Plummer's too smart
for that,

but Dad usually knew
what he was talking about.

Even if your father
was right, Clair,

testimony like this,
from a dead man,

isn't going
to help us much.

There's a way of
finding out everything
we want to know.

Organize
a vigilante committee.

Round up every outlaw
we can find.

Face 'em with a rope
and they'll talk,
and name names!

I can give you a half
a dozen right now!

Well, let's take
some action on this
and get started.

That's going over the head
of the law, Mr. Waterman.

Maybe we can call it
"helping" the law.

Are you with me,
Bill?

I, uh, I'm not
so sure, Jason.

I'm going ahead,
with or without you,

but you're the man
to organize things.

Think it over.

And you better
think it over, too,
young man.

If Clair's right,
you're working for
a dangerous man.

But Clair's not right
about Plummer.

John, I know what...
And it's your kind
of thinking

that's dangerous,
Mr. Waterman.

Will you give me
those names, Clair?

Now, don't, Clair.
Listen to me.

Forget this nonsense
about Plummer.

If you know the names
of outlaws, tell him

and let him
take care of them.

Then you don't
believe me?

I'm afraid
I don't.

Come along, Clair.

Bill?

Well,
if it means
what I think

it will
for Montana,
I'll help.

Clair?

I thought you never was
going to get back in time
to defend your good name.

It's awful,
the lies that hussy has
started just because

her worthless father
got accidentally hit by
a bullet. It's shameful!

Why, Mr. Plummer,
I've been giving folks
a piece of my mind.

Oh, I'm sure
of that, Mrs. Nelson.

Tell me, uh,
what have they been
saying about me?

Oh, all nonsense
and poppycock,
I'm sure.

No one believes for
a minute that you're
head of the outlaws.

Is that what Clair's
been saying?

Why, she's holdin' a meetin'
at her place tonight

just to spread
lies like that.

If I was you,
I'd arrest everyone
who goes there,

Mr. Plummer, teach 'em
a good lesson.

I don't understand how
Mr. Waterman and Mr. Landers
can go to that meetin'.

You'd think they'd have
better sense.
Landers?

It's because
that hussy talked
to 'em, Mr. Plummer.

Hello, John.
I'm glad you're
back, sir.

I guess you've
heard about
everything.

Oh, yes indeed.
Mrs. Nelson's been
seeing to that.

You're a very keen
observer, Mrs. Nelson,

an able reporter
and a good citizen.

Oh, Mr. Plummer.
We've got to stop them.

They're going ahead
with plans for
a vigilante committee.

Clair is helping them.
That woman!

Please, Mrs. Nelson.

She's terribly upset
about her father.

If you'd talk
to her, I think you

could make her see
where she's wrong.

Well, if we left now,
we could be at her place
by nightfall.

Good.

You, uh, don't suppose
there could be anything

between Clair
and Landers, do you?

Well,
of course not.

The only time my father took
a stand against the outlaws,
they killed him for it.

Well, they should have
killed me along with him,

because I'm going to help
Mr. Landers and Mr. Waterman
by telling 'em all I know.

And there's a lot more
of you here tonight who
can name a few names.

How about it? We going
to go after those killers?

Yeah! Sure!

A list of
suspected criminals
is being compiled.

We have some names already,
and we expect more

as other people gain
confidence in our efforts.

Now, there's one thing
I want clear to everybody.

These names won't be given
to anyone but sworn members

of the vigilante
committee, who will take
an oath of secrecy.

I'd like to ask
a question.

There's been some
pretty wild talk
going around

that I'm tied in
with the outlaws.

My name
on that list?

There's no real evidence
to support such talk,
Sheriff.

No, your name is not
included.

Do you have to see
a rattler strike

to know that
he's deadly?

A Sheriff gets called
a lot of things during
the course of his duty.

Gets used to it.

Believe me,
I have nothing but
sympathy and pity

for this
young lady in her
hour of grief.

But I have no sympathy
and never will have

with you men who want
to substitute mob rule
for the law.

Do the people of
a disease-ridden community
throw out their doctor

just because there are
too many sick people
for him to cure?

Maybe not! But if
they've got any sense,

they'd pitch in and do
some doctoring themselves.

Yeah, and kill
more people than
they cure.

And that's what will happen
to you people if you take
the law into your own hands.

A famous judge once said

the three worst things
that can happen to mankind

are pestilence, famine,
and mob rule.

Tonight, the son
of that judge is here.

He has joined me as
a law enforcement officer

because he believes
in the principles
of good government.

He is willing to dedicate
his life without thought

of self or safety,
to the abolishment of crime.

Tonight,

I am asking that you
give up the idea

of forming this
vigilante organization.

Instead, give your support
and your help

to your legally elected
sheriff and his deputies.

Do that, and we can
look forward

to the ending
of crime in Montana
the right way.

And we can begin
by turning that list
over to me.

Sorry, Plummer.

Then I ask that it
be destroyed.

No, this is the first move
in a fight to save Montana.

I'm in that fight,

more than most
of you,

but I'll only fight
with the means
provided by law.

The law is
for protection.

If you haven't got
protection, you
haven't got any law.

What are you askin'
us to do, Plummer,
keep on gettin'

robbed and murdered,
just so you can wear
a fancy badge?

Yeah!

We're cleanin'
the outlaws out
of Montana!

That's right! Yeah!
Go ahead!

Go ahead, start
your vigilantes,
but I'm warning you,

every hanging
that isn't a result
of legal action

will be considered
an act of murder.

Come on, John.

Clair,
come with me.

You can stay here.

You know I can't.

You're going
against everything
I believe in.

"We, the undersigned,
solemnly swear to make
every effort

"to seek out and
apprehend all criminals,

"to try them in a people's
court, and should they be
proven guilty,

"sentence them to the
punishment they deserve.

"So help us God, as witness
our hand and seal."

These were the vigilantes,

riding to clean the criminals
out of Montana.

The outlaws were
a hard-riding,
tough bunch of men

who knew the back country
like an open book.

They were tricky
and difficult to capture.

Encouraged by the early
failures of the vigilantes,

the outlaws staged even bolder
and more daring holdups.

The vigilantes would not
be discouraged.

They grew in number, and kept
relentlessly on the trail

of every criminal whose name
had been given them.

Theiefforts began
to bring results.

The committee
finds you guilty.

You're sentenced to hang
by the neck until dead.

Raise your right hands.

Do you solemnly swear
to uphold the law,

carry out the orders
of this office,

and conduct yourselves
as peace officers
at all times?

Uh-huh. I do.
Here.

Wear these
and take plenty of
ammunition with you.

Cummings has left
the country,

and Taylor's been seen
at Grasshopper Creek.

I know Taylor
when I see him.

No, no, no! Don't hang me!

I didn't kill anybody,
honest, I didn't!

Oh, sure, Mr. Waterman,

I tried to hold you up,
but I didn't kill anybody.

I didn't murder
anybody at all!

Who told you
about the gold
I was carrying?

Was it Plummer?
Plummer?

No, no,
it wasn't Plummer.

It was his deputy,
George Ives.

Ives?

They're not
stopping with
outlaws, sir.

If our men hadn't
got away, they'd
have hung them.

I'm not surprised,
John.

They're trying
to destroy the law.

What about getting some
of our men from up north?

That's a good idea,
Ives.

Leave for Montana City
in the morning

and see how many you can
bring back with you.

Hold it or we'll
drop you, Ives!

We'll keep him overnight
where his friends
can't get to him.

Hey, Sheriff!
Sheriff!

The vigilantes got Ives.

When?
Last night.

They followed him
into Montana City.

They're bringin' him
back by stage to
the relay station.

They're gonna hold
the trial there before
they hang him.

Get Helm
and Parrish.

Well,
the vigilantes'
home-brewed law

has blown up
in Landers' face.

Can't control
his men any longer, and
they've picked up Ives.

Can't we do
anything about it?

Well, may be a chance
to save your brother
deputy's life

without any
bloodshed, but
a lot depends on you.

You can count
on me, sir.

First time
I've made this trip
by stage, Jason.

Not bad.

Glad you like it.

It's your last.

Oh, I don't know.

Sheriff always looks after
his number-one Deputy.

Think so?

We'll be at
the relay station
in a few minutes,

where you'll get
a quick trial and a
quicker hanging.

You surprise me, Jason.

You're a rich man.

I didn't think you'd play
the game of a lot
of honest fools.

You're trying to
tell me that honest
men are fools?

The righteous are
too smug and satisfied
with themselves

to doubt their own
judgment.

Look at young
John Malvin.

He came here so stuffed
full of honesty
and noble ideas,

he couldn't even
think for himself.

You're missin'
a big point, Ives.

People are honest
because they have

the courage of
their convictions,

not because they
lack cleverness.

You haven't
got the guts
to be honest,

not even
with yourself.

You'll be hanging
a lawman, Jason.

A lawman?

Ives, the people
have always had
to deal

at one time
or another with
your rotten kind.

Corruption
in public office
is an old story,

but it always ends
the same way.

The people end it.

Who are the fools,
Ives?

Help!

Mr. Landers, Clair.

Let me in!
I've been shot!

Mr. Landers!

Landers!

Sorry, Landers.
I had to be sure
about getting in.

All right, Sheriff!

Where's Clair?

She's not here.
She's in town.

Search the place.

Sit down, Landers.

You picked
the wrong time for your
surprise visit, Plummer.

I told you,
I'm the only one here.

When Waterman gets in
with my Deputy Ives,

you'll have plenty
of company.

You and your
bloodthirsty mob are
through, Landers.

I'm taking Waterman
into custody the
moment he arrives.

You'll both stand trial
for murder.

Watch Landers.

Clair!

Clair! Stop!

Sheriff,
it's Gimp!

Hold it! Stay where
you are, Gimp!

Catch the girl!

I was easy to fool,
wasn't I, Plummer?

Do you know why?

I believed in what you
said you stood for.

The right things
were being said,

only the wrong man
was saying them.

The worst kind
of a man.

Somebody's got
to kill you.

Bring him
in the station.

Gallagher,
you stay here and
watch for the stage.

Now that you're
facing trial

and I'm passing
judgment, how does
the shoe fit, Bill?

A little tight
around the throat?

Gallagher just signaled
he's sighted the stage.

Get on your feet,
Clair.

Come on, hurry up.

Get over there
by the door.

You, get over there
with Landers.

When the stage comes,
call to Waterman

that Landers has been
hurt, then get back
out of sight.

Run, Clair!

All right, Plummer!

This one's gonna be
for Possum!

Hurry up!
We can still be ready
for that stage!

Let go of me!

Let me go!
You let me go!

You! Ooh!

Plummer.
John, what is this?

Some more to add
to your collection,
Mr. Waterman.

Mr. Landers
has been wounded.

There's nothing wrong
with me that a sight
like this won't heal.

Wait till
you hear the news.
We've just got word.

Congress has made
Montana a territory.

At last.

We have the protection
of a great government
now, Jason.

No further need
for vigilantes.

I'd say the job
is done anyhow.

If it makes you feel
any better, Plummer,

we can now have you
tried and hanged

by a legal,
duly constituted
court of law.