The Ride Back (1957) Movie Script

Bang!

Hi.

Hello.

Anybody around?

Good afternoon.

Look, I understand I gotta gets

some papers signed around here.

Look...

You speak English, because I...

- That's right.

- I speak English.

Good.

I want to go inland and

I got papers.

I want to go inland and

I got papers here.

Identification of permission,

see, to go inland.

You have to sign it or something.

I'm looking for a man who might

have come through this way...

a few months ago. A man by

the name of Kallen...

Bob Kallen, Robert Kallen.

I'm sorry.

I want to ride south...

to arrest a man by the

name of Kallen.

That's right. Has he been

through here?

Wait a minute.

You and me, we're police.

Police.

Yeah, sure.

Thank you very much.

I guess that takes care

of it. So long.

You go mucha distancia?

I'm going down to a little

place called Cerralvo.

I understand he's hiding out

around there somewhere.

- So long.

- Adiós.

Cerralvo.

You know where Cerralvo is?

Up that way?

Thanks very much.

Good morning.

Is this Cerralvo?

Good.

You speak English?

I'm looking for a man, Americano,

a gringo by the...

name of Kallen.

I just wondered if maybe...

Wait a minute!

Can I help you?

- Excuse me. I...

- Just a moment, señor.

My name's Hamish.

How do you do, señor?

I'm Father Ignatius.

How do you do, Father?

I guess the man I was talking to

didn't understand me.

That was Luis.

He does not speak English.

It is very unusual to see an

American in these parts.

You are traveling south?

That depends, Father. I'm

looking for somebody.

Someone of this village?

No. An American by the

name of Kallen.

A friend of yours?

No, he isn't, Father. You see...

I'm a lawman. I've come to take

him back to the States.

I know the man.

He is here. What has he done?

- Couple of shootings.

- Murder?

He's accused of it. He's

going to stand trial.

Kallen is a very strange man.

-I have not been happy to see him

here.

-He's caused trouble?

He has not been trouble. My

people like him.

His father was Mexican, so

they understand him.

Ordinarily, I would be at peace

with him myself...

but there is another matter.

A woman.

She has left her parents'

house for him.

You see, this is my village.

The woman is one of my own

family. A cousin.

I have searched within

myself to know...

that it would be the same degree of

sin, were it anyone else.

But what Kallen is doing has

weakened me in the eyes of my people

and it is not good for them.

Father, I wouldn't know about it.

Has he been wearing his

guns down here?

All those times I have

seen him, no.

If he has not, he'll have them on

when I go for him.

Will there be shooting? You

will have to do this?

I don't want to. He's probably

better than me.

I hear he's better than most

people with a gun.

You are afraid?

I'd just as soon be home.

God is with you.

I never thought about that, Padre.

Where does he live?

You leave here and continue

through the village...

and a little way further,

it is a place...

in the clearing. You

cannot miss it.

Thank you, Father.

- Señor Hamish.

- Yes, Father?

- I am coming with you.

- No.

There are two lives here.

The man who is in your hands, and

the girl who is in mine.

We both serve the same law.

Seems to me a dead priest is about

as useless as a...

dead deputy, Father.

It is not far. I will

walk with you.

Hold it, Father.

- You better stay here, Father.

- No.

- He might start shooting.

- I told you, not when I am with you.

Wait a minute.

Kallen.

Where has he gone?

You don't speak Spanish?

No.

We was out chasing a pig.

You looking for somebody?

That's right. I've come to take you

back to Scottsville for trial.

Elena...

Will you put on some coffee?

- Will you put on the coffee?

- No!

She ain't very hospitable.

You've come a long way.

You must be tired.

Why don't you put that thing away?

You here with him, Padre?

Roberto, Elena does not belong with

you this way. It is wrong.

Why not? She's happy.

She's really happy.

We're both happy just as we are.

You put on the coffee!

I don't think anybody

wants any coffee.

I do.

I don't recollect your name.

Hamish.

I'm going to take you back now and

I don't want any trouble.

How you going to avoid it,

Mr. Hamish?

It's a long ride back.

If we get started now, we can make

some time before nightfall.

- I reckon I better get my gear.

- Stay where you are.

A man can't travel without

his stuff.

Does that include his guns? Seems

to me I've heard about them.

Likely you're going to hang

because of them.

How come they sent you after me?

Man...

-You don't look to me like you're

much.

-I'm not.

You go. He do nothing!

Get back! Get out of my way!

- Step aside, Father!

- Give me the gun.

- You're gonna get killed!

- Give it to me!

The people like you, but they

will not let you kill me.

And I will not allow you

to kill him.

With a priest and a

woman to protect...

you, you do okay.

Why don't you get the rest

of your things?

Thank you, Padre.

Come on!

Do you mind If I say goodbye?

Not from right there, no.

You had better watch him.

He has given up, only, I think,

because of this.

- I thought it the best thing to do.

- I know, Father.

Will you stop worrying about that?

I told you I was coming back.

He's scared. Look at him.

A scared man makes mistakes.

You got a jacket? It gets

cold at night.

I won't be needing it.

I ain't going far.

I'm just going for a short ride.

You just be waiting.

They don't want me to go. If I say

the word, they'll kill you.

You going to say the word?

I can do my own killing.

Don't let the priest change you.

I like you just as you are.

Here.

Fill these, will you?

Sure.

What are you going to do

when we camp?

You going to stay awake all night?

I'll rope and shackle

you if I have to.

You'll need two hands for that.

Think you can handle

me without a gun?

Come on, hurry it up.

With all the traveling

we've got ahead...

you've got some mighty

big problems, man.

Throw me that one.

Here, fill it yourself.

Get over there. Come on.

Man, you're sure nervous.

That's right. I am.

It's gonna be a nice night.

Elena's going to be waiting.

Come on, let me go back.

This is Mexico. Nobody's

going to blame you.

You can't take me back to

Scottsville, you know it.

Come on, you're holding us up.

Just trying to make it

easy for you, man.

We'll make camp here.

You want to gather some

wood for a fire?

You afraid of the dark?

Get back!

Go on, get back.

You're lucky. I almost

got you. Next time.

There isn't gonna be a next time.

I'm going to tell you something.

I don't like any part of this job.

I've got a wife who didn't want me

to come down here.

I don't like this.

But I've got to take you back and

I'm going to do it.

I know you're a better gun than me,

but you haven't got a gun.

You try and run or jump me again

and I'll kill you.

You hear what I'm saying?

You missed.

We've got a lot of riding and

camping to do together.

You can make it easy or tough

for yourself.

That's up to you.

Do you want to gather the wood?

I'll go see to the horses.

You know, it ain't easy to

sleep like this.

That's rough.

You should have brought something,

like I told you.

Here. These here nights

can be cool.

Good night, Mother.

Good night.

That's enough! Kallen!

Tell her to get over by the fire.

Ask her if she's got anything

else on her.

Tell her to drop it, if she has.

You ask her.

Ask her, Kallen, or I'm going to

search her. It's a cold night.

- Has she got anything else on her?

- No, she's telling the truth.

Tell her to stay right where she

is. I don't want her near you.

It's going to be getting

light pretty soon.

You make her go back then.

What are you talking about?

She's worried about me.

Thinks I'm going to let you take

me away from her.

Look at that face.

What did she say?

She wonders how anybody

could love you.

Tell her to shut up.

Here. The air is cold.

Kallen, wake up.

I bet I slept better than you did.

All right, put them back on.

Tell her to get home where she

belongs. Let's get on our way.

Kallen, you tell him. I don't want

to go through it again.

Tell him the papers are in order

and I'm going to take you across.

Ask him if he's got a jacket or

something to sell, too.

And if you're thinking of saying

anything else, don't.

All right?

Mister, he says you is Mexican.

You just had to do it, didn't you?

I've shown you this before.

This is his papers.

Kallen's his name, he's

an American.

A citizen of the United States.

What?

He respects you.

Did you ask him about the jacket?

- Poncho?

- Yes.

That'll be fine. Poncho.

Here.

- How about taking these things off?

- No.

We'll make better time.

You in a hurry to get there?

Right now, I'd settle

for free hands.

Might give you ideas.

I've seen your shooting, mister.

Man, you've got me

scared to death.

How about some papers?

What are you going to do about it?

You're going to have to

stop it right now.

Can I get off my horse?

Yeah.

He go very comfortably?

I guess so. How much

for the poncho?

He wants 10, give him 5.

Here, is that all right?

Tell him to hold the girl here.

Man, when I make a mistake,

I make it good.

I should have killed you

back in Cerralvo.

My second mistake was leaving

Elena behind.

You know, I miss her already.

- Hold it. Hold up.

- What's the matter?

- Apaches.

- Yeah.

Just keep looking at them. They'll

come out in their own time.

We'll wait.

I've got plenty of time, man.

- You get a whiff of that liquor?

- Yeah.

I wonder where they've been.

You're the lawman. Why

don't you ask them?

When you ask questions, you

gotta wait for answers.

My job's to take you back

to Scottsville.

All right, let's move out

of here, slow-like.

Wait a minute.

Looks like we shook them.

You afraid of Indians?

I'm respectful of any man who's

got enough liquor...

in him to make him kill.

Seems to me I've heard something

like that about you.

- I never killed a man with liquor.

- Yeah? I heard different.

You heard lies.

How far to Scottsville?

Riding easy, another three days.

I could sure use some fresh meat.

Maybe I can get some along the way.

You do some of that fancy

shooting of yours.

Man, I'd sure like to watch that.

How do you like your rabbit,

Kallen?

Raw.

I wonder what's ailing him?

Maybe he smells that rabbit.

- Hamish.

- Yeah.

I don't think we shook

those Indians.

What are you going to do about it?

Nothing.

I know what they're like.

We're in trouble.

You afraid of Indians?

No more than you're afraid of me.

The meat's burning. Take it off.

I get in the light, they

pick me off.

Is that what you want?

That's the general idea, I guess.

Not to me, it ain't.

The meat's burning, and I don't

like my meat burnt. Take it off.

All right, that's far enough.

Come on.

It's a fine time to be suspicious.

Here.

Give me a knife to cut it.

Use your teeth.

If I decide to go back

to Scottsville...

what are my chances?

I'm not a jury.

Those two in Scottsville, that

was self-defense.

I'd taken them the night

before at cards.

They claimed I was cheating.

Next morning, I was getting a

shave, they came in.

I was faster, that's all.

You hear that?

I heard it.

You stay put.

I'm going to go out

and take a look.

You leaving me without a gun?

You just stay put, and if you get

any ideas about getting away...

if the Indians don't

kill you, I will.

- Hamish...

- Shut up!

What'd you find?

They're out there, all right.

Hamish...

I'd rather take my chances

with the Indians...

than you in Scottsville.

I'm getting out.

All right, drop your gun. Easy.

I swear I'll plug you.

You didn't think I'd leave it

loaded, did you?

You're foxy, mister.

I'm learning about you.

Take your time.

Look at that.

Guess I go first.

There's a house down there.

Come on.

You mean, you ain't going down?

It's out of the way.

You can shoot me if you want,

I'm going down.

I'm thirsty, I'm hungry

and I'm tired.

- You think I'm not?

- That's your worry.

Why don't you ask first?

Hello.

Those Apaches.

They killed a kid.

-Kallen!

- Kallen!

- What?

We'll bury them out back.

That's all they are to you.

Something dead.

You got nothing in you at all.

Shut up!

Don't tell me about the dead.

We'll bury them out back.

"Now I lay me down to sleep."

"I beg..."

"The Lord my soul to keep."

"If I should die before I wake..."

"I pray the Lord my soul..."

"I pray the Lord my soul to take."

Amen.

Where'd it come from?

Off in the trees, over

there, I think.

Let's head for the ditch.

- You all right?

- Sure.

- The horses.

- Stay down!

- I'm gonna save my horse!

- We've gotta save our skins!

You're yellow.

We're going to have to make a run

for the cabin. Go on.

Now what, General? You've

got us stuck.

You quit riding me.

I've had enough out of you.

I can't take anymore.

You quit riding me! Keep

your mouth shut!

You're brave with that gun.

Why didn't you shoot back when

you had the chance?

You could have saved the horses!

You know what? You're yellow!

You've got a streak a mile wide.

I think one of the horses is back.

It's yours.

- Where you going?

- To get my horse.

Come on.

- What are you going to do?

- He's coming in with me.

Here.

You never had it so good.

What are you looking for?

For a gun to kill you with.

Hamish.

What?

Why would anybody come to a place

like this to raise a kid?

Lots of room, maybe.

There are reasons.

I guess a kid makes a difference

in a place.

You wouldn't know about that.

That's right.

I got a wife who can't have any kids,

'cause she lost her first one.

What's the matter, you

hear something?

It's starting to rain.

I always did like the

sound of rain.

I wonder if it's raining

back at Cerralvo.

Elena's sure gonna be mad.

I never did fix the roof.

That's the second thing I do

when I get back.

Man, a bed's sure going

to feel good tonight.

What are you going to do?

I need sleep. I need it bad.

I know I won't get any...

but I don't want to worry about

you, so I'm gonna tie you up.

Come on, not tonight.

I don't trust you.

Here, put this through your feet.

I could save the law a bother by

throwing you to the Indians right

or killing you myself, but you're

going to stand trial.

If I have to drag you back at the

end of a rope...

you're gonna stand trial.

All right, lead him out.

Come on.

What's the matter?

-There's one over there, by the

woodshed. Where?

He ducked behind it now.

We're going to help you out.

Look, kid.

We're not going to hurt you.

We're your friends.

You know, for a minute, I...

Me, too.

Twins, I guess.

They ain't here now.

They've gone.

What's your name?

- What's your name, kid?

- Don't be scared of him.

What's your name?

I'm your friend.

Do you know my name?

My name's Roberto.

That means "Bob."

Come on.

Cat got your tongue or something?

Come on.

Can't you talk?

I don't know...

- You suppose she saw what happened?

- Probably.

It's a bad thing for a kid to see.

I wish she'd talk or

cry or something.

What'll we do? Three of us can't

get out of here on the horse.

- You can't leave her here!

- I know that!

Come on, have a biscuit.

Is that nag of yours any good?

He came back, didn't he?

If we hitched him to

the buckboard...

you put her in the back, and you

drove, do you think he'd pull it?

What have we got to lose

except my horse?

Come on.

All right, get some

things for her.

Here, this is for you.

Come on. You put it on.

I'll get you something to eat.

Come on!

Come on, baby. Here.

You're going to need this.

Gets cold at night.

Hey, look.

Come on.

- Hurry it up, Kallen.

- Coming.

All right, kid, you stay down.

We can't go on like this.

We'll have to drop this wagon.

I don't get it.

Why didn't they follow us when

we first left the cabin?

Why should they?

How far can we get, like this?

We're out in the open anyway. At

least we can see them coming.

I'm not worried.

You shoot real good.

I want to make some cover

before night.

Come on, let me have it.

- I gotta feed the kid.

- Feed her.

Look, kid.

Will you eat something?

Come on. You haven't eaten

for two days.

It'll make you grow big.

Come on. Get it inside her.

She ain't no hog! You don't

feed a kid like a hog!

All right, feed her then.

Kid, please eat something.

Come on, come on.

Eat this! I don't want it wasted!

Now eat it.

You have a nice way with kids.

I'm taking my problems

out on her, I guess.

Come on, now.

Will you do it for me?

It tastes real good.

Come on. That's it.

Come on, eat it.

That's a girl!

Come on. I'll let you

ride my horse.

That's it.

Tastes good?

All right.

Now, you lead him.

Go on.

Come on.

Standing still really stalled

that leg up.

Come on, boy.

How much longer you want to go?

About an hour on, there's

better country.

He's limping pretty bad.

That leg don't look good.

It's really festered.

Loan me your knife.

Got to drain it.

Easy, fella.

Easy, boy.

There.

That'll be better now.

Kid, you gotta give him a rest.

Come on.

It'll be cold tonight. I wish

we had a fire.

Not with those Indians out there.

She has to live.

Somebody will take her in when we

get back to Scottsville.

How far, after tonight?

Like we've been going,

tomorrow night.

With the kid and all,

I almost forgot.

Things haven't changed. You've

still got a trial coming.

For what? A murder I didn't do?

How come you run?

I'm a stranger.

- They got me already hung.

- You'll get a fair trial.

I wish I could believe that.

- Things might be different.

- How?

I'd...

stop all this drifting around.

Go back to Cerralvo.

It's a nice place.

Marry Elena.

Make the priest happy.

You're going to get a fair trial.

I promise you that.

We've been traveling together

four days...

I don't even know your first name.

Chris.

Chris?

Yeah.

Go on, get over by the kid.

Here, use the key. Unlock them.

I'm gonna shackle you to the tree.

Get over here.

- You don't have to do that, man.

- I'm sorry. Come on.

I know how it's been

with you and me...

but what would you have done?

Probably the same thing. Now get

your arms around it.

Don't you believe in nothing?

Nobody?

No.

What's eating you?

Why're you taking me back?

For the $20, $30 they pay you?

I'll tell you why I'm taking you

back. I'm doing it for myself.

That's why.

It's not the law, it's you?

That's right.

It's me.

I'm gonna tell you something.

I've seen an awful lot of you

in the last few days.

I'd just as soon change shoes

with you right now.

That's right.

You want to know why? 'Cause you've

got a girl that loves you.

You've got friends who would've

killed me for you.

See that kid. She hates me!

And you...

I told you before I got a wife who

couldn't have any more kids...

who didn't want me to

come down here?

She hates me, too.

I've never been a success at

anything I've tried to do.

I've been a failure. And that's

all. A plain old failure.

But I'm not going to be, this time.

I'm going to make this one. I'm

going to do this right.

That's the reason you're going

back to stand trial.

Because of me. You understand?

Because of me.

You're better off dead.

Kid.

Kid, wake up.

Kid. Look at me.

You know that man?

He's a bad man.

He wants to hurt me.

You wouldn't want that, would you?

Now look.

Easy.

Easy, now.

Easy, kid.

Don't wake him up. That's it.

That's it. Slow.

Bring it back to me.

Drop the gun.

Don't listen to him, kid.

Bring it to me.

Hear what I'm telling you.

Drop it.

Bring it back.

Drop the gun.

If you don't want the kid hurt,

you tell her...

to drop the gun, and I mean it.

Drop it, kid!

You're a big man, hitting a kid.

Yeah?

Kid, come back.

What's wrong with you,

running away?

You should get your

bottom smacked!

Don't you know you might have

been caught by the Indians?

I didn't mean to slap you,

back there. I'm sorry.

Will you forgive me, please?

Please?

All right, come on. I'll take you

back to your friend.

We'll make a fine target

if they're up there.

Why don't we go around?

I want to make Scottsville

by nightfall.

We can, by cutting through here.

Come on. Get off that horse.

Give me your hand.

- You hit?

- Yeah.

Get behind that rock!

They're on this wall.

You hit bad, Hamish?

Give me your gun.

We ain't got a chance

if you don't.

Here.

You stay with him.

Go on.

Kid, come back!

They won't bother us anymore.

I got my hat back.

Give me the gun.

You give me the gun, because

we're going to go on.

You give me the gun.

Let me look at that.

Easy, man.

I got to tell you the truth.

That don't look good.

If anything happens to you,

I'm through.

I ain't got a chance in Scottsville

without you.

I'm going back to Cerralvo.

Give me the key.

Last night, you said you've never

been a success.

That ain't true.

You done the best you

could, Chris.

That's all any man can do.

Kid, I'm going home.

My wife's waiting for

me, see, and...

Kid, I'm not running out on you...

but if I go back to Scottsville, I...

Everything that's happened in the

last couple of days...

All that you've seen, you forget.

Things are going to be

fine for you.

Honest.

You follow this road a few miles.

You'll come to Scottsville.

Now you go there and you bring

him some help.

You're going to find a

real nice home.

Here.

This'll bring you luck.

Go on, take it.

Here.

You do what I tell you.

Are you dead, too?

Mama.

Come on, let's get going, if

you want to make...

Scottsville by nightfall.

Don't get any ideas about

dying on me.

You promised me a fair

trial, remember?

Yeah, I remember.

Come on, kid.

The Ride Back (1957) - full transcript