Roughshod (1949) - full transcript
Wrangler Clay Phillips and his young brother are taking horses to Sonora when they come across four dancehall girls heading the same way, stuck with a wrecked buggy. He takes the girls on to the nearest ranch, where it turns out one of the girls is the homesteader's wayward daughter. As he already has an escaped killer after him he is less than thrilled to have to take the remaining girls on with him. But it has to be said that Mary is damn easy on the eye.
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
[gun cocks]
[gunshot]
[gunshots]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[music continues]
Now, what in thunderation..
Wait a minute!
What're you girls
doin' way out here?
Well, until you came along,
we were going to Sonora.
Sonora?
What do you know about that?
- Did you sell your place?
- Well, not exactly.
They decided that gambling
and dancing were bad for people.
Can I make it?
Depends on how good you drive.
Well, she is a little
out of practice.
- Slide over.
- I'm slidin' all the way over.
So am I. Come on, Elaine.
What's the difference
if we fall in the canyon?
Don't talk like that.
Nothin' to it
once you know how.
Trouble is
there never was a woman
knew how to handle a team.
Shouldn't let 'em loose
on the road. Uh..
No disrespect meant,
Miss Wells. Tsk.
(Graham)
'Whoa, there. Now, take it easy
and enjoy your ride.'
(Mary)
'Thank you, Mr. Graham.'
There's dead men in your wagon.
Yeah, that's right,
you had me so busy I forgot.
Come to think of it,
you girls better turn around
and drive right back to Aspen
because the men
'who've killed 'em
might still be in this road.'
Back to what?
Why, back to Aspen,
where you came from.
Mr. Graham,
Aspen doesn't want us.
- They threw us out.
- They shouldn't have done that.
We tried to point that out.
It seems it's alright
to play poker
in your own home
but not in a saloon.
I knew something would happen
when they started
puttin' up fences
and passin' laws.
Goodbye and thanks.
I don't like to see you go.
[dramatic music]
Thanks, Steve.
[metal clanging]
- How does she draw?
- Little hot.
(Sam)
'If you wanna get out of here
before noon'
maybe you should lend me a hand.
Rate you're goin',
we'll be here till winter.
Yeah, it's only now
that you and I miss out
the only excitement
Aspen's had for months.
You're too old to watch
such goings-on.
- And I am too young.
- That's right.
(Graham)
'Oh, sheriff!'
[metal clanging]
We'll both take a look.
Anything's better
than listening to Sam.
Don't forget to shoe that horse.
[indistinct chatter]
- Who are they?
- I don't know.
Graham just brought 'em in.
Clay, come up here a minute.
Hello, sheriff. Graham. Joe.
Graham has got something to tell
that might interest you.
Cal Forster and his sons.
Somebody killed 'em.
You know that cottonwood grove
on Alder Creek?
They must've been eating
breakfast the way it looked.
Just sittin' by the fire eatin'
their breakfast.
When I got there
nothin' but them lyin' dead
in their underdrawers.
'No horses or guns or grub.'
Cal Froster
never did anybody any harm.
But what's this
got to do with me?
I came into town
from the south.
This was smoldering on the fire.
I still don't see.
I got it day before yesterday.
'Now, are you interested?'
You should be.
Maybe Lednov has heard about
that Sonora ranch of yours.
Maybe he has.
We're going to look for him.
Wanna come along?
I got ten horses
to get over the pass
before the snow covers the feed.
That's more important
than looking for Lednov?
Like you said,
if he knows where my ranch is
he'll be waiting
on the front porch.
I'll drop a line to the sheriff
and send orders
so to look around for him.
Thanks.
Who's Lednov?
A man I used to know.
[indistinct chatter]
Forget somethin', Clay?
Shells.
How much for six boxes?
Six times six bits.
But wait until
I get finished here.
You might tell a fellow things
especially if the fellow
is your brother, seems to me.
Like what?
Like why're you buying
a whole slew
of 30-30 shells all of a sudden.
Don't wanna run short.
(Steve)
'Never said
this Lednov name before'
'that I can remember.'
No call, too. That jail
looked pretty safe to me.
- 'How does she feel?'
- Nice.
[gun clicks]
You should know better
than to do that, Steve.
Unless you're figurin'
on buyin' it.
One he's got,
it's more his size.
Oh, but it's leaded up,
and anyway
a .22's no good
for real huntin'.
You shoot a man with a .22
and where are you?
Things to do
to stick to rabbits.
What was he in jail for?
You sure worry that bone.
- He killed a fella.
- In a fight?
Yeah, the fella
wasn't even lookin'.
This is an awful nice gun.
Certainly comes in handy
when there's men around
who shoot people
when they aren't lookin'.
Well, I might as well
buy it for him
otherwise he'd be crying
all the way over the hill.
[chuckles]
I'll get you change.
You sure must be plenty worried
about this Lednov
sneakin' up on us.
Think he will?
- Yup.
- At the ranch maybe?
Maybe at the ranch,
maybe sooner than that.
Do you have to be
so close-mouthed about him?
I'm your brother and I'm ridin'
with you, remember?
Alright, I'll tell you.
Now say this
is the penitentiary.
Here's Alder Creek.
Here we are in Aspen.
This is Sonora.
Lednov gets out of jail here
and comes along here
to Alder Creek.
Then he moves along
toward the Sonora road.
This is Lednov.
We come along here--
- And meet him there.
- That's right.
Unless the sheriff
gets too close and he holes up.
- Thanks, Mr. Hayes.
- Thank you, Clay.
So, let's go.
Sure a lot of guys
lookin' for Lednov.
Yeah. Lednov's only lookin'
for one guy. Me.
- Why?
- He doesn't like me.
- What you eatin'?
- Lednov.
I don't like him.
[horses trotting]
[instrumental music]
Another one, Clay.
[music continues]
If this keeps up,
we can start a store.
If things get tough this winter,
you'll have somethin' to wear.
I'd look good doin'
ploughin' in this.
Come on, give me a hand.
[music continues]
- Anybody hurt?
- No.
We came down the hill
a little fast
and the wheel broke.
Can you fix it for us?
[wagon rattling]
- What's the matter with her?
- Too much excitement I guess.
Or maybe it's just the heat.
How about the surrey.
Can you fix it?
Well, there's not much
I can do about it.
Jiminy! You sure were lucky,
just bustin' a wheel.
You think that's all we busted?
You should see.
- 'Now, where are you going?'
- I lost somethin'.
Wouldn't happen to be this?
Who's the old foe?
Give it to me.
This must have been
in the family a long time.
It was a gift
from the citizens of Aspen.
I'm Mary Wells.
And this is Helen Carter.
How do you do?
I'm Clay Phillips.
This is my brother, Steve.
Pleased to meet you, ma'am.
We found your trunk.
- Were you doin' the drivin'?
- I was at first.
Then I was hanging on.
You going far?
- Yes, ma'am.
- As far as Sonora?
- Just about.
- We're going to Sonora too.
So that solves everything.
We can ride in your wagon.
There's only four of us.
I get ten horses
to get over the pass.
Morgan blood.
The best in Nevada.
Clay and me have
a ranch on the Tuolumne River
and we're gonna raise
horses like those.
They're nice horses, but..
...they won't be riding
in the wagon.
Did you ever try takin' a bunch
of horses over the Sonora Pass?
- It's quite a job.
- You can't leave us here.
No, I guess I can't.
I'll take you as far
as the first ranch.
What good is it going to do us
to get to some ranch?
You can stay here if you like.
We have to get to Sonora. There
are jobs waiting for us there.
We'll pay you for your trouble.
I'm not running a stage line,
ma'am.
I can't take a chance
on losing those horses.
That's right, ma'am, can't
afford to lose them horses.
They're very important.
You let me handle this, Steve.
Go and saddle up, will ya?
Well, let's get your stuff
on the wagon.
Like I said, I'll take you
as far as the first ranch.
I'd like to carry you further,
but it's a tough trip
and women would just
be in the way.
Our kind of women?
You'll have to drive,
except downhill.
Come on, honeybunch.
We're changing trains.
A nice, kind wrangler
is letting us ride in his wagon
as far as the first ranch.
From then on--
- What ranch?
- What's the difference?
Ask him what ranch.
There's plenty of time
for that later.
Come on, now. You've
got to lay down out of this sun.
And stop worrying. I'll find out
what ranch after a while.
Come on up onto the seat,
miss, and stretch out.
- Which ranch?
- What's that?
She's worried about where
you're taking us. And so am I.
Well, it's a nice place owned
by an old couple named Wyatt.
They'll take you in until you
can make other arrangements.
So both of you stop worrying.
[instrumental music]
[indistinct yelling]
[music continues]
There's a place down a ways,
where you and the girls
can wash some of that dust off.
Thanks, and isn't there
something we can do
about supper or making the beds?
Steve and me,
we just roll up in a tarp.
Well, you eat, don't you?
Mostly, we open a can of beans
and boil some coffee.
Well, where would I find
the can opener?
In the grub box.
Along toward morning,
the dew gets pretty heavy
so maybe you'd better make
your bed under the wagon.
Spread some bunch grass
under a tarp.
The ground won't be so hard.
[metal clanging]
[horses neighing]
Get your rifle.
[insects chirping]
(Clay)
'Hold it.'
Drop your gun.
And don't come sneakin'
around a man's camp.
Fellow sees a fire go out all of
a sudden, he don't take chances.
My name's Clayton
and I'm looking for some women.
'I found their surrey.'
So did I. They were in it.
One of them's a friend of mine.
She took off this morning.
Kind of sudden
while I wasn't around.
Glad you came along.
My name is Clay Phillips.
- My brother, Steve.
- Hello.
Here's a man says he's looking
for one of you girls.
Jim.
Oh, Jim.
[sighs]
I was roundin' up some stock.
That's why I didn't come sooner.
'What do you mean
running off without a word?'
(Marcia)
'I didn't know who to tell.'
'It all happened so sudden.'
- Jim came after me, Mary.
- I see he did.
With a milk pail in one hand
and a marriage license
in the other.
Why didn't you say you wanted
to get married back in Aspen?
I told the man in Sonora
there were four of us.
If only three show up,
he may call the whole thing off.
We've got to stick together
like we've always done.
I've got a chance
to get married.
That's what I'm gettin' at.
It never works.
Don't forget we were thrown
out of Aspen.
Well, Jim doesn't care.
Do you, Jim?
Jim isn't the only one
you're marrying.
He has folks, friends.
What are they gonna say?
How're they gonna feel?
- I tell you, it won't work.
- Of course, it'll work.
You can get another girl
to fill out the act.
Well, look at it this way.
What about Jim?
Puts him
in a sort of a tough spot.
I know what I'm doing.
My folks got nothin'
to do with this.
You've, uh,
talked this over with them?
(Jim)
'They know about Marcia.'
And they don't like the idea.
Suppose they don't.
This is his problem.
He's over 21,
he wants to marry Marcia
and she wants to marry him,
so let 'em alone.
If you were in his shoes,
would you take one of us home?
I'm not in his shoes,
so leave me out of it.
I would.
Steve, I think maybe you better
get some more wood for the fire.
Would you, Mr. Phillips?
Go on, that's a good boy.
Well, don't you want him
to hear your answer?
Well, I know what it is,
for the other fellow
it's alright, but not for you.
All you want to do
is to get rid of one of us.
(Jim)
'Wait a minute. No need of you
two arguin' about this.'
We know what we wanna do.
Nothin' else
makes any difference.
'We want to go home tonight.'
'Will you sell me
one of your horses?'
I'm sorry, I can't do that.
I went a long way
to get those horses.
Alright, we'll ride double.
Come on, Marcia.
Is that your kind of reading,
Steve?
(Steve)
Oh, I can't read, ma'am.
I just look at the pictures.
You can't read?
Your brother's always looked
after you, hasn't he?
(Steve)
'Since I was four, ma'am.'
But he just never bothered to
see that you got any schooling?
(Steve)
'Oh, it wasn't Clay's fault,
ma'am.'
'We've been movin' around
almost all the time.'
Maybe when we get to the ranch
and stay in one place
I can learn my letters then.
You don't know your letters?
No, ma'am.
(Mary)
'Would you like to learn them?'
(Steve)
I sure would.
Well, maybe I could
start you out.
Oh, that'd be swell.
You know,
you're an awful lot different
than I thought you'd be.
You're so nice.
Did someone say I wasn't nice?
Oh, no, nobody said
nothing to me.
'Only I got the idea that..'
Well, Clay and me used to be
walking through town
and there was your place
and through the window
I could see you dancin'.
But Clay always took me over
to the other side of the street.
Time to go to bed, Steve.
Goodnight, Miss Wells.
Goodnight, Steve.
There's a nice boy.
Yeah.
And I want him
to stay that way.
Is that why you always took him
to the other side of the street?
Well, maybe I don't make
the grade in some ways
but at least I know enough
to teach a kid his letters.
He doesn't know his letters, no.
But he does know
the names of animals.
And he can tell you
what roots to eat
when you're clear out of food.
He knows the difference
between a possum and a coon
just by lookin' at the tracks.
More than most trappers know.
He can tell whether
she'll rain or shine tomorrow
just by smelling
the air tonight.
Now, there's a lot of things
he doesn't know
and I hope he'll never learn.
Helen, where's Elaine?
She was here a while ago.
Elaine!
Elaine? Elaine's gone.
(Helen)
She couldn't have gone far.
I wasn't asleep long.
- What'd she run off for?
- Because she's sick.
Stay here. One woman
wanderin' around's enough.
Don't you worry, Miss Wells.
We'll find her.
Stick here by the fire.
Come on, Steve.
Look around.
She couldn't be far.
Elaine!
Elaine!
'Elaine!'
[Elaine sobbing]
Ma'am, you shouldn't have
run off like that.
I was about to give up lookin'.
Come on, now.
You can't stay here.
There're snakes
and you'll just get sicker.
[sobbing]
I don't care.
Suppose that Lednov
was to have found you
instead of me..
Why you wouldn't have
had a chance.
I said I don't care.
What's botherin' you anyway?
Runnin' off and worryin' people.
Makin' it tougher on Clay
than it is already.
What's the matter with ya?
Don't ask me
'cause I won't tell you.
[sobbing]
Go away!
Oh, don't act so...crazy.
[panting]
Alright. Let's go.
That's a good girl.
That's it.
Watch out where you're steppin'.
That oughta be..
[dramatic music]
Down!
Lednov.
[gun firing]
[music continues]
Hello, sheriff.
You let her take her
off our hands?
- Who shot who?
- Nobody.
The light was bad.
Steve's.
'What's she doin' runnin' around
the country at night?'
I don't know. Did you ask her?
All I can get out of her
is she's tired of livin'.
- Look of things, she is.
- Yeah.
Well, keep a closer eye
on her. And him.
'Shootin' going on,
we never will find Lednov.'
Alright, sheriff.
[instrumental music]
Well, Steve..
There was only three of them
at first.
[chuckles]
I guess I lost my head.
How'd you happen to miss?
Oh, they was quite a ways off
and the wind was blowin'.
I didn't have time to aim.
Good thing you didn't.
- Clay?
- Yeah.
Fella can't help gettin' excited
once in a while.
That's right, Steve.
- Can I have my gun back?
- Sure.
(Clay)
'You'll find it
under the wagon seat.'
'Like I said,
a .22's more your size.'
[instrumental music]
Try it again, Steve.
♪ A B C D E F G ♪
♪ H H.. ♪♪
I.
- Gee, I can't.
- Why not?
You went farther than that
last time.
I'm too old for it, Miss Wells.
That's for little kids.
Don't you be silly.
Nobody's too old to learn.
Okay.
♪ A B C D E F G-- ♪♪
Oh, Steve!
Get down back to the horses.
They're straggling.
He's learning his letters.
Yeah, while the horses wander
all over the country.
Do like I said.
Learnin' to read
has nothing to do
with the right
or the wrong side of the street.
The horses stragglin'
or aren't they?
They're stragglin'.
His letters will keep.
(Steve)
'Ha! Get over now.'
'Hoo-hoo!'
- Get over now!
- Ha! Ha!
(Steve)
Get over now.
[yelling]
Get over now.
[indistinct chatter]
Steve, I want you to learn
how to read.
I always meant
to teach you myself
but I never seemed to find time.
I always figured
when we get settled on the ranch
we'd get around to it.
Oh, it's alright with me
if she teaches you
but I don't want you
forgettin' your job.
I won't again.
[Clay yelling]
[whistling]
This isn't much like other trips
we've taken, Steve.
For one thing,
we've got a wagonload of women.
For another,
there's a guy wanderin' around
hopin' to put a bullet
in my back.
Okay, I was wrong.
You've been sort of
close-mouthed about this Lednov.
Yeah, I guess I have.
Remember Jeff Rawson we used
to go huntin' and fishin' with?
You were about so high.
Sure I do. Went off
down to Mexico or somethin'.
Well, that's what
I told you then.
Only he didn't.
Lednov killed him.
Oh, and that was the time
you went away.
I caught up with Lednov
just outside Nogales.
He didn't much like the idea
of comin'
back across the border,
but he came.
Maybe you should've killed him.
Maybe I should've.
But I never was much on killin'.
Anyway, he moved too fast
and I just got him
through the shoulder.
Then I turned him over to the
sheriff and that's the story.
Looks pretty peaceful
up ahead, Steve.
Yeah, it does.
But you never can tell.
Why don't you get that new rifle
out of the wagon?
And while you're up there,
you might as well find out
what comes after K.
Go on, get.
[thunder rumbling]
[rain splattering]
Elaine, stop it. Stop!
Stop.
(Mary)
'Elaine.'
She should be in bed
where it's dry.
Yes, ma'am, she should.
The nearest shelter
is the white ranch.
That's almost five hours away.
Can we get a doctor
at that ranch?
Can't get a doctor,
but we can get
a roof and some fire.
Maybe Mrs. Wyatt knows
something about
taking care of sick people.
[thunder rumbling]
[instrumental music]
Howdy.
My name is Wyatt.
You're mighty welcome.
Those all the horses you got?
(Wyatt)
'Why, yes. Two work horses
is all I need.'
Mine's gone lame.
Take a look at it.
Don't just stand there,
take a look at it.
She dropped a shoe.
You shouldn't be ridin' it.
Put another one on.
'Well, that won't help
the stone bruise any.'
'You ain't been around horses
much it looks like.'
Do what you're told.
Alright, but it won't help much.
[instrumental music]
I was up to my elbows in flour
when you boys rolled up.
That's why
I didn't come out sooner.
I hope Ed asked you
to stay the night.
All we want is somethin' to eat.
[music continues]
- Take care of that horse?
- Yes, the best I could.
- 'What are you doin'?'
- Lookin' around.
These all the shells you got?
Put my gun down
and get out of here.
Let go of him!
You listen to your missus.
She's got sense.
I asked if these
are all the shells you got.
There's a box on the shelf
over the sink.
Now, you tend
to your business.
You hurry up with the grub.
[instrumental music]
(Steve)
'Get over now.'
'Get over now.'
I'll have some more
of that coffee.
- We gotta get movin'.
- What for?
Because there's a guy
I got to see.
Hey, he can wait.
Let's stay here until morning.
I said let's go.
One night here won't matter.
Your friend'll still be there.
Anyway, I don't think so much
of the idea
of prowling around his ranch.
He knows you're out, he ain't
gonna sit still for it.
So there's a guy I gotta see
and I'm gonna see him.
He gave me something once.
So I wouldn't forget.
Come on, we're going.
[instrumental music]
I wish that I had a gun
that'd stop him.
Hush, Ed. They might come back.
[instrumental music]
(Steve)
'Slow her down.'
[bell dinging]
Mr. Wyatt.
[footsteps approaching]
- 'Who is it?'
- Clay Phillips.
(Ed)
'Light the lamp, ma.'
I'm sure glad it's you.
We were afraid those killers
might come back.
- Three men on matched sorrels.
- Well, yes. How'd you know?
The whole state's
looking for 'em.
They're lookin' for me.
Hello, Mrs. Wyatt.
You don't know how good
it is to see you.
Well, maybe you won't feel
that way when I tell you
what I stopped in for.
I picked up some women
on the road.
(Mrs. Wyatt)
'Well, tell 'em to come on in.'
(Clay)
But I'm gonna have
to leave 'em here.
And, well,
they're not exactly the sort
of people you're used to.
It doesn't matter who they are.
One of 'em is sick.
Oh, why didn't you say so?
Go right out and get her.
Ed, build the fire up.
Wrap a stove lit in dish towels
and bring it in here.
This bed's like ice.
Put that back.
Someone might as well
have some good out of it.
It isn't as if she was dead.
It stays there, understand?
[door closes]
Right in here, Mr. Phillips.
The bed's all ready and wa..
[instrumental music]
Go out and make some coffee.
Go on. You too, Mr. Phillips.
Is she very sick?
Get 'em out of here.
I won't have 'em in this house.
Didn't you know she had a father
and mother out here?
I didn't know
anything about her.
Except she wanted a job because
some man had left her stranded.
I couldn't leave her
in the street.
Well, let's go.
- Wait a minute.
- We can't stay here.
It's a long walk back to Aspen.
Oh, I don't know about you,
but I'm not
being thrown out
on an empty stomach.
I'm sorry about this, Mr. Wyatt.
I didn't know
you had a daughter.
That's alright. You didn't know.
I won't be able
to take her along with me.
Nobody asked you to.
Just get those
other two out of here.
Hello, Mr. Wyatt.
I don't think
you're being quite fair.
Where do I put your things?
Back in the wagon.
- Well, aren't we stayin'?
- No, we're not staying.
Everything's all mixed up,
so don't ask questions.
Go on, Steve.
(Helen)
'Sit down and eat,
why don't you?'
It isn't like
this was the first place
we were ever thrown out of.
That's not what's worrying me.
Why didn't she tell us?
Maybe we could've done something
gone somewhere else.
Putting a poor,
sick kid through this.
Quit worrying about Elaine.
She's home, isn't she?
We want to get to Sonora.
So worry about that.
This will be your room
until Mr. Wyatt finds time
to take you
to the nearest stage line.
[clatters]
That sounds like him.
'Just remember what you're
going out there for.'
- Coffee?
- No, thanks.
I hope we won't be
a burden to them.
I hope so too.
If you're thinkin' on asking me
to take you, it's no use.
Time like this,
people ought to be alone.
Having us around is gonna
make it sort of difficult.
I'm sorry
but that's how it's got to be.
I suppose it is.
It isn't only because
it's a tough trip.
You don't have to explain.
Did I tell you how grateful I am
for what you've done?
I could've very well leave you
sittin' there beside the road.
You could've treated us
like they did in Aspen.
But no, you wouldn't do that.
It isn't in you
to be mean or cruel.
No man who brings up a kid
like you've brought up Steve
could ever be cruel to people.
I hope you get everything
you want out of life.
- Thanks.
- You've earned it.
The horse ranch in Tuolumne
and the girl
in the spotted gingham.
- The who?
- 'You should know.'
'She's in your dream.'
'Ever since you've looked
after Steve'
'you've had the dream.'
A ranch on the river, good grass
good water, barn, corral house
that part you've shared
with Steve.
The girl in gingham
you plan to sneak in
'when he isn't looking.'
Go on. Tell me more about her.
She wears this skiing dress,
cooks popovers
makes jam in season
and makes her own soap
out of pig fat and wood ashes.
And has cheeks
the color of red apples.
- I'll make this soap myself.
- But the rest is right.
Will she be dark or fair?
Blond as a new mop
and beautiful as the girl
on the feedstore calendar.
I hope you find her.
'Cause like I said,
you've earned your dream.
Goodnight.
(Helen)
'Well, did you
make it interesting?'
I tried my best.
These things take time.
Yeah, and we're
running out of that.
There's still tomorrow morning.
[birds chirping]
- 'Those trunks look like ours.'
- They are.
Well, how long do you think
we're gonna have to stay here?
Until pa gets around
to drivin' us to Minden.
- We don't want to go to Minden.
- Oh, no. Of course, we don't.
But that's where we're going.
From Minden,
we take a stage to Reno
then another one to Auburn,
another one to Placerville
and from there,
it's a day's trip to Sonora.
Well, Clay could certainly
save us a lot of time.
He certainly could.
About a month.
Well, what are you waiting for?
Do something.
You're not giving up.
How many ways can a man say no?
Maybe I'd better start
workin' on him.
You think he'd do it
for Elaine's sake at least.
No, I guess if you can't
bring him around, nobody can.
Come on, honey,
have another try at him.
What's the use?
Maybe this time,
he'll take a good look at you
and stop thinking
so much about his horses.
You know a man only has
so many nos in him.
Somehow I think
we'll get out of this alright.
[door closes]
Look at you sitting up already.
Here, let me do this
while you get some breakfast.
- But I like to do it.
- Oh, but you're worn out.
Now, don't argue, you've got
two able-bodied girls to help
so take advantage of it.
And don't let me catch you
touching the dishes.
Well, I think it's gonna do
all of us a lot of good
having a nice, long rest here.
After all, Sonora
will still be there next month.
Helen, why don't you and Mary
go on with Clay?
He won't take us.
Don't you want us around?
Of course, I do.
But it'd be better for you and--
If you're worried about Mary
and me talking too much, don't.
No matter how many questions
your old man asks
we know how to keep
our mouth shut.
- 'It isn't that--'
- Don't talk, drink this.
We want to get you well quick
so we can all get out of here.
But I want to stay.
You might as well
be dead and buried.
Nothin' to do
but look at the mountains.
- I'm not goin' anywhere.
- Maybe..
That's what got you started
in the first place.
I'm not going anywhere,
I'm staying here where I belong.
Not if I know Mary.
When she rides into Sonora,
you'll be with her.
- Stop it. Stop it.
- 'Oh, darling.'
'Now, I've got you all upset.'
- Go away, please.
- 'Don't worry about anything.'
'Mary's gonna talk things over
with your folks.'
She mustn't do that.
- Don't you let her.
- There, there--
If she says anything
to them, I'll kill her!
I don't ever want to leave you.
- What have you done to her?
- Well, nothing.
The poor child's
worried about Mary.
[breathing heavily]
I won't let her say a thing.
[door closes]
Well, I'm off, Mrs. Wyatt.
[sobbing]
What's the matter?
Don't let them stay here, Clay.
They'll spoil everything.
Please take them with you.
Mary's gonna talk to papa
and she's gonna keep talking
and talking to me
until maybe
I won't want to stay.
Please take them.
- I'd like to, but I--
- But you got to.
Don't you understand?
They want me with them.
'And they'll fix it
so I have to go.'
No, they won't.
(Steve)
'What comes after Z?'
(Mary)
'That's the end of the line.'
'There are no more alphabets
from A to Z.'
Now, all you have
to do is figure out
what they mean
put together in words.
And that's tough, ain't it?
Without someone to teach you,
it's tough.
He knows his alphabet.
That's fine.
I bet I'd be readin' in a week--
Maybe Clay will take up
where I left off.
I don't think it's fair.
Leavin' 'em here when we could
just as well take 'em.
We got plenty of room
in the wagon.
They can cook
and drive the horses.
They don't bother anybody.
- You finished, son?
- There's only two of them now.
Throw their junk in the wagon.
[instrumental music]
It's a lot tougher
than I figured.
Knowing my letters is one thing
but making sense
out of these words
is harder than
tracking weasel after rain.
And if I do learn to read,
what use will it be?
I'm gonna live on a ranch.
There's plenty of use
for reading. You'll see.
"U-N-I-C-O-R-N."
- What in heck's that?
- Um, unicorn. A kind of animal.
Unicorn. What do they look like?
Mm, sort of like a horse
with a horn in the, uh
center of its forehead.
Horses with horns.
- Do we have 'em in Nevada?
- No.
- How about California?
- California neither.
Well, would they be good to eat?
Well, kind of tough I guess, but
you're not liable
to hunt for them.
I don't think there's
any alive now anyway and I..
I'm not sure but I don't think
there ever were.
Then if it wasn't alive,
how could there be an animal?
And if you can't hunt 'em and if
you could, they'd be tough.
What's the use
of knowing how to spell 'em?
(Mary)
'You don't learn to read
to fill your stomach.'
'Poetry for instance.'
All the poems in the world
wouldn't fill you
half as much as a..
Well, as a bowl of oatmeal.
But they make you
feel good inside.
Oh, I feel good anyway.
Don't go arguing
with your teacher.
I'm not, but there's some of it
I don't see any sense to it.
Lots of things
I don't see any sense too.
Make up your mind.
Learn to read
or go on back for the horses.
Well, Steve?
Now I know what a unicorn is.
What do we do next?
[instrumental music]
[intense music]
We'll stay in here till dark.
Pull the wagon over.
Steve, get hobbles
on all those horses right away.
Get going.
[intense music]
We'll camp up ahead.
That leg ain't good.
[horse snorts]
[instrumental music]
Where you going?
To the other side of this tree?
Are we leaving?
No, it's too bright.
You better get some more sleep.
You'll need it later on.
You're not going out
to look for them.
No.
All I wanted to do
is keep ahead of us.
A long way's ahead.
I'm going down a ways
to pick out a new trail.
Nobody's gonna catch him
sleepin'.
- Don't worry about him.
- I wasn't worrying.
I saw him saddling up
and thought he was ready
to leave.
You were worried.
Sometimes not knowin'
how to read has its points.
You can't read books,
so you look at people
and figure them out.
And you've gotten me
all figured out?
Sure.
Here, I'll fix us
something to eat.
Like when you were standing
there lookin' after Clay.
Well, I knew right off
what you was thinking
'cause I've been watching you.
You were supposed
to be reading words.
I was doing both. Here.
Thanks, Steve.
Better not let Clay
catch you waitin' on us.
Oh, I don't pay
any attention to him.
I just wait. He's sure easy
to get along with.
Oh, I don't recollect him having
hit me more than
a couple of times.
- I guess I had it coming.
- But you're his brother.
And he'll treat his wife
just as good. Maybe better.
Ever see him use a bolt whip on
the horses like other wranglers?
'No, sir. Clay is right nice
to be around.'
He don't chew much. But
when he does, he spits outside.
Well,
you make him sound wonderful.
Go on, tell Mary more about him.
Steve.
- She was only teasing.
- Oh, sure.
Here, let me take that down
to the stream.
- No, I'll take it.
- Then I'll go with you.
Yes, ma'am.
[instrumental music]
[music continues]
(male #1)
Hold it.
What are you doin'
on this trail?
(Clay)
'Followin' it.
Any reason I shouldn't?'
[indistinct chatter]
I'm Clay Phillips out of Aspen.
My name's Fowler.
Camped up up a ways.
- You've been having trouble?
- Nope.
- I don't want any.
- Neither do we.
That's why we took this trail
instead of the main road
and traveled all night.
(Steve)
'Get over now.'
You're welcome to use my camp.
Thanks.
[instrumental music]
Get over now.
[music continues]
Well, might as well
start the fire.
You go ahead. Get the trainin'
for the pioneer life.
I'm gonna find the nearest body
of water and climb into it.
Got a light?
[music continues]
[music continues]
Uh, want
the wagon unloaded, Clay?
Uh, just the grub box
and the bed rolls.
[whistling]
I think it'll be swell.
When you get older
you'll understand things
a lot better.
Like men and women.
Just because a man kisses
a girl doesn't mean he..
Well, he can kiss her
and not want
to have her around all the time.
We got a lot of work to do,
you and me.
Getting that ranch started
and everything.
And we've been gettin' on fine
all these years.
For a while,
I want to keep it the way it is.
How about taking this stuff up
and help while I get breakfast?
(Fowler)
'What are you doing down here?'
Got no business
snoopin' around here.
Me snoopin'?
I came down here to take a bath.
Is there somethin'
I shouldn't see?
No, but it's mine. I don't want
anyone foolin' around with it.
Well, what is it?
Just a thing I was workin' on.
Well, the way you act
it must be somethin'
pretty secret.
Go on, go on, have your bath.
That'll beat it.
(Mary)
'You wouldn't have
a smoke on you, would you?'
Sure.
Thanks.
- That sure smells good.
- I like it.
Up here in the hills,
a man gets a hankering
to smell powder sometimes.
Then why stay in the hills?
Is that why?
Well..
...I guess
you can keep a secret.
That's a gold rocker.
I'm doin' a little
[indistinct]
in a place nobody ever thought
to look for gold before.
Here I'll show you.
Look at it. See it shine.
That's one week's work there.
[instrumental music]
You have any cigarette, Clay?
[music continues]
Thanks.
Why didn't you wake me?
You should have.
I don't like taking things
unfinished.
Maybe it's better that way.
You don't mean that, Clay.
[music continues]
Tell me, darling.
What?
What does a man
usually tell a girl?
Tell me, please.
Alright.
You don't love me,
so let it go at that.
Would you expect speeches
I don't mean?
I didn't expect anything.
A minute ago,
I hadn't quite wakened up.
I'm awake now, go on, say
what you wanna say, I'll listen.
If it's pretty speeches you
want, you won't be hearin' 'em.
Even when I mean 'em,
they don't come easy.
Save 'em for the girl
in gingham.
Just tell me
I'm not good enough for you.
Go ahead. Tell me a woman
like me can't change.
- Alright, it's said.
- Then let's get started.
The sooner I get to Sonora,
the better I'll like it.
(Helen)
'Are you sure there's more
where this came from?'
Plenty more. Somewhere up,
there is the loot.
Trucks rotten with it.
Pretty, isn't it?
All you have to do
is shovel sand
on that thing
and the river does the work.
Give it back to him.
We're leaving.
Maybe you are, I'm not.
I'm stayin' here with Jed.
Maybe we get along just fine.
Well, cheer, why don't you?
No more responsibilities.
Marcia, Elaine, me,
all taken care of.
Down there feedin' horses,
raisin' kids
you won't have a thing
to worry about.
I'm not raisin' horses
or kids for anybody.
I'm opening up this sleekit
gambling house in California
with a crystal chandelier.
The biggest you ever saw.
And gaslights, and a dance hall,
and a big bar.
And cash registers
with bells on 'em
and a couple of boys with arm
bands just to keep 'em ringing.
- What do you think of that?
- Sounds fine.
Only that is not
what's gonna be.
'You won't open any joint.'
'I've been watching you change,
Mary, you're mad now'
and think you can
change back, but you can't.
You'll end up making beds
in a boarding house.
That's it then?
(Jed)
'That's it then.'
She stayin' here with me
for keeps.
If there were more men like you,
there wouldn't be so many of us.
Thanks.
It's nice to meet a man
who doesn't
wanna own a woman
from the day she was born
I never had the luck.
The only kind I run into
are tramps
or dirty-minded hypocrites.
She's aimin' at me,
but her aim's bad.
You wanna know why I changed my
mind about bringin' you along?
Because I talked with Elaine,
because I was afraid
to leave you with decent people.
That's why.
You'll open your joint, alright,
you wouldn't fit anywhere else.
Come on, Steve,
let's round up the horses.
Come on.
Let's not keep the people
at Sonora waitin'.
Mary, honey, I'm sorry,
I talked too much as usual.
Clay thinks you told Elaine
the things I told you--
I don't care what he thinks.
[Steve yelling]
[Steve whistling]
[cowbells ringing]
(Steve)
'Hey!'
[dramatic music]
Clay, look!
[music continues]
[screams]
[music continues]
Mary.
Mary.
Mary.
Are you alright?
No, I'm not alright, I'm soaked.
And I hit my head against..
Oh, my clothes!
That's right,
worry about your clothes.
What about my wagon?
Of all the crazy, fool things
to do
you lose a man's wagon
because you're stupid
and then you yell
about your clothes.
For the wagon. Go on, take it.
Then you can't spend
the rest of the trip
expecting to get paid!
There won't be any
rest of the trip.
Over that hills is stage road,
and when we hit
you're gonna get dumped into
the first one that comes along.
I'm fed up with you.
I was fed up with you
when we started.
Now, what are you standin'
there for?
Go out back get the packs
and the horses!
We've lost all the time we got
because of a woman.
Go on, do like I said.
[dramatic music]
We got company. Female company.
Yeah. We sure have.
[music continues]
Jed, you can put these away,
they're empty.
[music continues]
Well, what do you want?
I saw your fire,
just dropped by to say hello.
Well, say it.
What's the matter? You restless?
Yeah.
People make me restless.
Even women?
There aren't any women
around here.
I suppose that's your wagon
in the river.
Some people
who went by here lost it.
Two men and some women,
they put their..
Packed there stuff on the horse
and then they went on.
- And you're all alone, huh?
- Yeah.
Suppose I just take a look.
Lookin' for somethin'?
[chuckles]
Hold it, Mac.
Get up.
Come on.
Where did the women go?
'When I ask questions,
I like to hear answers.'
They went down like I told you.
How long ago?
Five, six hours maybe. I..
[clatters]
(Helen)
'Let go of me!'
Oh, you're all alone, huh?
- Leave him alone!
- Oh, God.
Peck on people, will ya?
You won't do any pickin'
when they come back, you scum!
You...dirty murderers!
Killin' people
when they're sleepin'!
- How do you know who we are?
- Everybody knows.
- Who brought you here?
- Oh, stop!
You said
somebody was coming back.
- Ugh, ow!
- Who's coming back?
Ow, Clay Phillips.
[groans]
Where is he?
Where is he?
Up the trail.
How far up the trail?
I don't know.
[yells]
I don't know!
[groans]
[gunshot]
[dramatic music]
[bells dinging]
[whistles]
[indistinct yelling]
(Clay)
'Steve, take the packs off'
and run the horses
in the corral.
I said take the packs off.
I figure we'll make better time
if we let the horses
rest a spell.
So you better grab some sleep
while you got the chance.
If you wanna go on ahead,
I'll be alright.
Like I said,
I was thinkin' of the horses.
Why don't you stretch out?
I'll build a fire.
Make you feel better.
Thanks, Steve.
If you want them to find us,
why don't you go up on the hill
and wave a shirt
or fire your rifle?
- I didn't stop to think, Clay.
- You better start.
Maybe you and me, we better
split up when we hit Sonora.
Alright, I hurt your feelings
but you know better
than to go lightin' fires.
That ain't why.
I just figure it's about time
to start runnin' my own life.
Maybe you're not hungry,
but I am. Come on, sit down.
Got a couple hours to eat
and grab some sleep.
I'll eat when I'm good
and ready.
Kind of feeling your oats
this morning, aren't you?
I haven't laid a hand on you
in a long while
but that doesn't mean
you're too old.
Go ahead.
You're so almighty.
Always goin' around
tellin' people what to do.
You ain't even man enough
to own up when you're wrong.
Go on, hit me.
You sit down and eat
till I say the word,
you do what you're told.
You ought to say you're sorry,
that's what you ought to do.
You keep your nose
out of my life, young fella.
Maybe I haven't lived
as long as you have
but I know a sight more
about people
'and I wouldn't talk to a mule
the way you talk to her.'
And if I did,
I'd say how sorry I was.
I'd be man enough to do that.
I said keep your nose
out of my life.
No kid's gonna tell me
how to run it.
(Steve)
'You think you're so smart.'
'Who are you
to sit up there and say'
'nobody's good enough for you?'
'Like you said yesterday'
'just because a man
kisses a woman'
'doesn't mean
he wants to marry her.'
Well, if you didn't mean it,
why did you kiss her?
You sit down and eat.
Stop it, both of you. How long
have you fightin' over me?
I'm sorry, Steve.
You don't know what it is
to be sorry.
Steve.
Mind sortin' out my things?
I'm leavin'.
'Maybe it isn't going to Sonora,
but it's going somewhere'
'which is alright with me.'
It's going to Sonora.
Fine. Maybe I'll see you
there sometime.
Just like you said,
that's where I belong.
I said a lot of things.
Some of 'em..
(Mary)
'Some of 'em you didn't mean,
but most of 'em you did.'
[galloping]
I don't blame you 'cause I
understand your way of thinking
and why you think that way.
You want your women on pedestals
but they have to be born on 'em.
If they can fall off,
they can't climb back on.
I can't help how I feel,
you're trained a certain way
when you're a kid
and you can't change.
If you're gonna catch
that stage, come on.
I can't change either,
not unless
somebody wants me enough
to give me a hand.
Come on, hurry up.
I'm fool enough to believe that
one of these days somebody will
somebody who wants me as I am.
Or maybe walk into the place
where I'm workin'.
- Take me out of there.
- Maybe they will.
Whoa. Ho.
Mind giving the lady
a lift into town?
Climb right in.
Will you be seeing the sheriff?
Depot's right next
to his office.
Have you got a pencil
and a paper I could borrow?
- Goodbye, ma'am.
- Goodbye, Steve.
And don't fight
with him anymore.
It's not his fault. Just you
remember that. It's mine.
Don't ask me why, 'cause you
wouldn't understand now
some day you will.
Thanks.
- Goodbye. Thanks for the lift.
- Goodbye, Mary.
If you ever go by
the Wyatt Ranch
have another talk with Elaine.
[whistles]
Ha.
[dramatic music]
You said somethin'
about splittin' up.
Well, you don't have to wait
till we get to Sonora.
- You can get outta here now.
- You know what she asked me?
I don't care what she asked you.
She told me not to fight
with you anymore.
She said it wasn't your fault.
Well, I figured--
I don't care what you figured.
Just saddle up and beat it.
Half those horses are mine.
You'll get your share
when we get to the ranch.
[music continues]
Come on.
[music continues]
[dramatic music]
What'd you come back for?
Like I told you,
half those horses are mine
and I'm here to see
that they get to the ranch safe.
So let's quit arguin' and do
whatever you figure on doing.
Is that the only reason
you came back?
Sure. What other reason
could there be?
I just wondered.
Get your saddle off and come on.
[dramatic music]
[music continues]
Go on down
and take a look around.
And get my head blown off?
Not me.
Call it.
Heads.
Go on down.
You get over that way.
[music continues]
[music continues]
[music continues]
[footsteps approaching]
[gunshots]
Stick here,
I'm going down the stream.
[gun cocks]
[gunfire]
[gunfire]
[gunfire]
[gunfire]
[gunshot]
[gun cocks]
[gunshot]
[gunshot]
[gun cocks]
[gunshot]
[gunshot]
[gun cocks]
[echoing]
Alright, come on out, Phillips!
[horse neighing]
Those horses down there,
they don't matter much to me.
Look at the one with the bell.
[gunshot]
[horse neighing]
Next time, I won't miss!
[gunfire]
[gunfire]
[gunfire]
[gunshot]
[gunshot]
[gunfire]
[horse neighing]
[gunshot]
[horse neighing]
[gunshot]
[bells dinging]
[galloping]
[gun cocks]
[bells dinging]
I'm here, Lednov, come on out!
[gunfire]
(Lednov)
Come and get me!
[gunshot]
[echoes]
Come and get me!
[instrumental music]
[bells dinging]
[music continues]
Hold her steady,
I'm not hurting you.
Maybe you're not,
but I'll sure be glad
when you stop pokin' me.
[footsteps approaching]
- Is it very bad?
- Of course not.
Just a scratch.
- What are you doing here?
- Holding the lamp.
(male #2)
'Well, hold it a little lower.'
Thanks for taking over.
Thanks for loading me
on the stage.
I know now why you did it.
He tried to get rid of me too,
Miss Wells.
Now you be quiet.
Put him over there on the couch.
He'll be alright.
(Clay)
Thanks, doc.
[music continues]
If you need me, I'll be at..
Where you goin'?
To the other side of the street.
Mary.
That job
you were talkin' about..
...did you get it?
Why?
You said a man had to think
enough of you
to walk in the place
you were workin'
and take you out of there.
[music continues]
Tomorrow, I figured
on doing just that.
I haven't got the job yet.
Do you wanna wait
until tomorrow..
Is there any place in town
a man can buy some gingham?
[music continues]