Cimarron Strip (1967–1968): Season 1, Episode 15 - The Judgement - full transcript

Marshal Crown "sentences" a trail boss to the position of Deputy Marshal in a nearby town to run concurrently with the hard-labor sentences his men are serving for various crimes. A vindictive judge releases the hardcases hoping they will cause trouble for their former boss.

(horses galloping)

There she is!

Yeah, it looks good.

Honesty bank.

Now there she is.

All: S-A-L-O-O-N!

Man: One of the prettiest
words in the English language.

Saloon.

Sandy, you didn't
tell us you could read.

Hey, Joe, do you think here'll
be some girls in the saloon?

If not, they'll be there soon enough
when they hear you're in Hardesty.



What are we running
here, baby farm?

Yeah, I thought you
were young yourself once.

There you are, Mrs. Huff.

Next please.

- Whoo!
- (whistling)

Are you Joseph Brave-o?

(laughing)

Mr. Brave-o!

No, Bravo... Bravo.

Yes.

Can you prove
you're Joseph Bravo?

What do you mean, prove it?

Look, I'm me, Joe Bravo...
My men will tell you that.

Man: Yeah, he's Joe.



Look, just cash
the check, friend.

Stop trying to act important.

Hey, is something wrong?

Mr. Whittaker said he
had an account here.

He does, but this is quite a
sum of money and I'm not...

(gun blasting)

(men chuckling)

Now you cash that
check, give us that money

or we're going to tear this
bank apart and you with it.

(chuckling, giggling)

You better... These boys
are pretty anxious to spend it.

I will not be intimidated.

(guns firing, laughing)

Hold it!

Now you cash that check, mister.

I don't have that much.

Then get it out of the vault.

I don't know the combination.

Man: Hey... A badge!

(gun blasting)

- What's all the shooting about?
- Where's Crown?

He was gonna meet
me here this afternoon.

Will you mind giving him
this badge for me, please?

You know, I don't mind a
drunk on Saturday night,

even a little fight
now and then.

But I'm too old for
anything like this.

- Wait a minute!
- Enough... I got a wife and four kids.

I should have quit long ago.

♪♪

(men laughing)

Just ones... More ones.

Hey, it ain't locked!

Hey, will you look at that?

Will you look at that?

Francis: All right, you men.

You're under arrest.

Marshal, this ain't
what it looks like.

No... Well, just all of
you drop your guns.

I don't want to have
to hoot anybody.

(laughing)

Bang!

Bang!

♪♪

Come on, boy...
Stop playing hero.

Didn't I tell you we're
not robbing the bank?

All we're doing is
taking what's owed us.

Now I swear it.

So why don't you put your
gun away and just relax?

You tell your men to
put theirs down first.

Deputy, look.

There's seven of us.

Hey, you really do
mean it, don't you?

All right, boys, put
your guns away.

You just stay right
there and be quiet.

We'll be out of
here in a minute.

He's not backing down.

What's the matter with you?

He knows us... Now we
can't leave him around.

- Come on, Emmet.
- I ain't either.

- Emmet!
- He even knows my name!

Stop playing Jesse James.

Sandy, count out the exact
amount of that bank draft.

$500.

No... Uh-uh.

There's $50, maybe $100,000,
more than all of us could earn

in a couple of lifetimes.

Emmet, all we
got coming is $500.

Joe, all I'm asking
is for you to look at it.

Just take a look.

That's all I'm asking.

Joe?

Sandy, count out $500.

And give Emmet his share.

He's fired.

Fired?

Now get out of here.

If you got any sense, you'll
pull that trigger right now.

All right, let's
get out of here.

You sure got a lot
to learn about people.

Especially cowhands.

This oughta pay
for your windows.

You reckon we'll still be
welcome at the saloon, Joe?

Not likely, Sandy.

Let's just forget we
ever saw this town.

We're just taking
what was owed us.

Nothing wrong
with that, is there?

(honky tonk piano music playing)

Quite a collection.

An idiotic display.

Jim must be taken
with sunstroke.

Well, he must have
had a very good reason

or he wouldn't have
asked for this sign.

Personally, think
it's a splendid idea.

You won't think it's so splendid
when you start losing customers.

Men would sooner be without
their pants than their guns.

My oh my.

Now am I wrong in saying that she
is the prettiest thing in the territory

or have I been out
on the range too long?

Been out on the range too long.

Hey, Joe?

What about Emmet?

I mean, you trumped
him awful hard.

Think I was wrong?

Not like Emmet
just doesn't forget.

No, I suppose not.

You know, when I was a kid my pa
gave me a filly with just her color hair.

(laughter)

Is everything all right?

Yes, sure is.

Oh, my goodness.

Well, sit down, please.

You're all very nice
and terribly polite.

Sit down.

Excuse me.

- Jim.
- Later, Mac.

Hello, Joe.

Jim.

How you been?

Fine... Just fine.

It's good to see you.

Boys, meet Marshal Jim Crown.

What brings you to Cimarron?

Just passing through.

Going on to a new job next week.

You don't say.

You boys about
through with our supper?

All right... Stand up.

Follow me...
You're under arrest.

♪♪

Man: Call. Man: Two pair.

Not good enough...
Three little ladies.

(laughing)

Mind if I sit in?

Can you afford these stakes?

I can do even better than
that if you have a mind.

I know you from somewhere.

I hope so...

Smitty.

Name's Lloyd...

Emmet Lloyd.

Used to ride with Duke Manning.

Till the Uvalde jump.

You were the only one that
rode away from that one, I heard.

I been looking for you.

To play poker?

(chuckling)

Do we play?

What do you got?

A bank.

Little cracker box of a bank...

with more money in it than
you ever saw in your life.

What about the law?

Just one scared deputy.

That's all.

Boys?

Shall we deal Emmet in?

(laughing)

(men snoring)

Blessed be the sleep
of the innocent and loud.

They are innocent, Jim.

The cleanest, straightest bunch
of cowboys in the whole outlet.

Oh, sure they are.

Regular little lambs.

Come on now... I told you what
happened over there in that bank.

You tell it to
the circuit judge.

That's fine by me.

He'll be here in the morning.

Judge Gilroy... He's
new around this territory.

From what I hear,
compared to him,

why Sherman walked
through Georgia picking posies.

You got something on your mind.

I wouldn't be out here
and my boys back there.

How long you been
a trail boss, Joe?

Three or four years... Why?

Them days of the big
drive are just about over.

The way the railroads are
spreading through this country,

like cracks in a window,

pretty soon there won't
be any drives at all.

And no drovers.

I'll manage... I always have.

Sure you will.

You'll drift and you'll scratch.

It's about time you
planted your feet though.

Here it comes.

I got a job for you.

Well, don't string it.

Flat out... Town
marshal in Hardesty.

$30 a month to start.

Free ammunition and keep.

Me, a marshal?

Oh Jim, I tell you, you
don't make many mistakes,

but when you do oh wow,
they sure are whoppers.

Francis told me how you
handled that blow-up at the bank,

how you kept the lid on it,

kept your boys corralled.

Well, that's the right
instinct... The right feel.

Now you're a trail
boss... The best, you say.

It's the same kind of a
job, that's all a marshal is.

No, it ain't.

You're stuck in a town
pushing people around.

Everybody hating you.

How many friends you got, Jim?

I can count them on one hand.

Yeah... Look at me.

Those boys back there...

cowpunchers all
over the territory.

You know, they would spend
their last dime buying me a drink?

Put on that badge and
couldn't get their sweat.

(man snoring)

Friends of yours, huh?

Been together two years.

And worth staying together.

They can go to
jail for a long time.

I told you they didn't
mean any harm.

The folks at the bank,
they didn't take it that way.

Don't you make the charges?

That's right.

Well, then you can
go easy on them.

Why should I?

You don't plan to
do me any favors.

Hey, why don't you just
stick a gun at my head?

No, Joe, you wouldn't
take that kind of a prod.

Now why don't you try the job?

If you don't buy it, why,
you can ride right out of town.

You saying that you'd
reduce the charges?

There's only one charge
against these men, Your Honor.

Disturbing the peace.

This is an affidavit from an
employee of the Hardesty bank.

He's also present to testify.

He not only indicates more
serious charges should be preferred,

but he also states that there
were seven men involved,

including one Joseph Bravo.

I see only five defendants.

There was one man by
the name of Emmet Lloyd.

He was the real troublemaker.

The reason he's not here,
sir, is that Joe Bravo fired him.

Why isn't Mr. Bravo here?

There's no charges against him.

According to my information,
he didn't start any trouble

he stopped it.

I see.

According to my information,

the charges could
well have been rioting,

aggravated assault,
intimidation of the town marshal,

willful destruction of property,

the kidnapping of
a bank employee.

But, uh, since you choose
to accuse these men only of,

disturbing the peace,

perhaps you'd be kind
enough to give the court

the benefit of your thinking
about their sentences.

I appreciate Your Honor asking.

There's a couple of
roads in bad shape.

A bridge that's been washed
out, it needs rebuilding.

And I'll find a few more things.

Couple of weeks of hard
labor is what those boys need.

- (murmuring)
- Shh!

Uh, the judge who rode
the circuit before me,

did he customarily take
your advice on such matters?

Yes, Your Honor.

He figured I knew how
to handle most cowboys.

I used to be one myself.

I'm sure you were an
excellent cowboy, Marshal.

However, from my point of view,

there's room for improvement
in your present job.

(gavel banging)

Defendants will rise.

90 days at hard
labor in Albany prison.

Take the prisoners.

90 days!

Are you questioning me, Marshal?

I said take the prisoners!

What are you trying to start?

Another James gang?

Sending those kids
off to a penitentiary.

Do you know what they might turn
out to be by the time they get out?

If 90 days is going to turn those
young men into hardened criminals,

that's your problem.

Arrest them again and
I'll give them five years.

This court is adjourned.

♪♪

MacGregor...

take down that sign.

All set, Jim.

Mm-hmm... What for?

Hardesty... Till you
get a new marshal.

Well... Any special orders?

Francis.

You know, Jim...

I always had the feeling that you
thought I was a real clod-kicker, you know?

Couldn't even get
out of my own way.

But now with the
responsibility of this whole town

and I know I can
do a good job...

you know what I'm trying to say?

I know what
you're trying to say.

Look at it this way:

Francis, the only trouble
you've got is being young,

which is not a
whole lot of trouble.

But I hate to think that all you
wanted out of life was a badge.

No, no, it's not that at
all... It's just the idea.

You know, standing on my own.

I want you to know I really appreciate
the confidence you're showing in me.

All right.

But there's one extra
thing that goes with the job.

- What's that?
- A deputy.

- A deputy... Great... Who?

Him.

Bravo?

He's no lawman.

Neither were you
till I made you one.

Joe's the man I want
full-time in Hardesty.

I appreciate your help, Francis.

Sure, Jim... I'll
do whatever I can.

Joe, hear me out.

Francis is going along with you.

You're going to be his deputy.

You're calling it.

Couple weeks, huh?

Well, I'm sorry about
that... I did all I could.

But the new judge, well, he just
doesn't know the ways of the West yet.

And 90 days, well,
that's not too bad.

You want to back off, Joe?

Go ahead... Ride out.

No, no.

I'll serve my 90 days,
but not one minute more.

Francis?

Good luck.

♪♪

Mighty friendly town here.

Ah, I guess they need a
little time to get used to us.

Living quarters are upstairs.

Let's clean up and
go to the saloon.

What for?

What do you usually
go to a saloon for?

There's nothing else we have
to do right this minute, is there?

Well, looks like there might
be a little paperwork here.

We're here, ramrod,
paper, people.

You know what we ought to do?

What's that?

Clean up and go to the saloon.

Two beers.

Maybe we ought to
buy a round, get friendly.

20 cents.

Gentlemen, allow me
to introduce myself.

I'm Francis Wilde,
the new town marshal.

And, uh, this is my
deputy, Joe Bravo.

We'd like you to
have a drink on us.

Well, Marshal, that's
all right with me.

My name's Bellows.

Pleased to meet
you, Mr. Bellows.

Joe, say hello to Mr. Bellows.

Well, you, uh, you just
feel free to call me Clem.

Just a minute.

Have you all forgotten?

He's one of the men
who wrecked our bank.

You all know what happened.

You saw the damage
those saddle tramps did

and he was their leader.

Now he's a deputy marshal.

Well, maybe we
have to sit still for that,

but we don't have
to drink with him.

At least I don't.

- Mister, I saved you all your money...
- Why don't you use your gun?

Go ahead.

Joe, let go, let go.

This is a nice town.

We think it is.

It better be, mister...
It better be real nice.

You pass the word.

Anybody who steps
out of line gets locked up.

Let's go.

♪♪

(glass shattering)

♪♪

Stop... Stop, you thief... Stop
him, somebody... He stole from me!

All right, hold it.

He was very quiet...
He robbed my shop.

- I did not!
- Oh, yes he did!

- Is that your watch?
- It certainly is.

You little sodbuster, you!

- Hey, all right!
- Somebody ought to take care of you!

Listen, is that all that's missing
from the store, just the watch?

I don't know, I'll have
to check in the store.

There ain't nothing
in your lousy store!

Until you leave there's nothing
in my lousy store to steal.

What are you doing here?

Answer me, boy.

You know, when my pa would
want answers, he'd ask with a strap.

How old are you?

16.

(chuckling) You
ain't even seen 14.

14 and a half.

Here.

I got plenty to eat at home.

Take this and shut up.

What'd the marshal
lock you up for?

I stole a watch.

I don't believe it.

You're wagon folk, aren't you?

You know, I used to
be one myself once.

You know, whatever faults
they got, stealing ain't one of 'em.

Hey.

What'd you steal the watch for?

Tomorrow's Pa's birthday and
he don't have much of anything.

Maybe not.

I think your pa would rather have an
honest son than a watch, don't you?

Now he's got neither one.

You know what I'd
do if I was your pa?

I'd blister you.

You know that?

Still might do it if you
don't get out of here.

♪♪

All right, wake up.

Boy, I must have dozed off.

What happened...
Where's the boy?

That kid?

He overpowered me.

Very funny... I arrest
him and you turn him lose.

You arrested a 14-year-old kid.

He stole a watch... It's
up to the judge to decide...

He wanted a birthday
present for his pa.

And I suppose you believed him.

Yeah, I believed him.

Couple of my boys are only a
few years older than that kid.

And you saw what
Judge Gilroy did to them.

You want something like
that on your conscience, fine.

But don't expect
any help from me.

Listen, all I need from
you is little cooperation.

Jim sent me here to do a
job and I'm trying to do it right.

- Well, don't let me stop you.
- I won't.

Might as well get everything
said that needs to be said.

I know I'm beholden to
you for what happened

in the bank the other day.

Forget it.

I'd have done the
same or anybody.

I told Jim this, I'm
going to tell you.

I don't think you're a lawman.

Now we finally found
something we agree on.

Look, I didn't ask for this job,
but since I've got it, I'll do it.

My turn to maintain
the peace, Marshal?

♪♪

My, my, Marshal.

You're up late, Marshal.

What'd those two men do?

Well, Marshal, they were
creating a disturbance.

Now we can't have that.

You could have
broken the man's neck.

Never thought of
such a thing, Marshal.

Now excuse me a minute, Marshal.

Well, come on.

It's against the law to fight
with a police officer, Marshal.

Now come on.

Oh, no, sir.

You're still the marshal and I
have too much respect for the law

to raise my hand
against you, sir.

♪♪

Just how tough is
that deputy marshal?

You boys interested
in finding out?

(dogs barking)

Who's there?

It's just the marshal, checking
to see if your door was locked.

Why don't you mind
your own business?

(dogs barking and growling)

Even the dogs are
choosy, Marshal.

What made you change your mind?

No witnesses here, Marshal.

♪♪

Enough!

♪♪

What happened to you?

Nothing busted.

Just got bent some, that's all.

No worse than
falling down a well.

Who did it?

Oh, a couple citizens.

Maybe three.

You seem pretty happy about it.

They won't be trying
it again too soon.

Not with just three men.

Who were they?

I can't identify
anybody, not for sure.

You mean you won't.

I mean I handled it my way.

This town is gonna grow some
respect for the new deputy yet.

Changing your mind?

How's that?

Seem pretty proud of
a job you say you hate.

I still hate it.

Hey, Sandy, Jerry!

Well, if you boys ain't
a sight for sore eyes!

What are you doing in town?

Hey, you didn't bust
out of jail, did you?

No, we never went in.

Judge commuted our sentence.

- Commuted?
- Same judge that sent us up.

Just called it off.

You mean no roadwork, nothing?

Nothing.

How do you like that?

And me wearing this badge.

Well, come on... We'll
celebrate on something.

Hey, what is it...
Because I'm wearing this?

You want me to
tell you how I got it?

Yeah, Joe, tell us.

How we all busted up a bank,
but only us was gonna get 90 days.

I will if you give me a chance.

After all the time we spent
together, you boys owe me that much.

♪♪

Well, the bank
seems easy enough.

But what did you mean
only one scared deputy?

It's all right, boys.

I think we just found
us some reinforcements.

You mean he just came right
out and told you all about it?

He's got to be
punished, Marshal.

Oh yeah.

Well, but he's mighty
young to be locked up.

He's almost a grown man.

In his mind and mine too.

And he knows right from wrong.

I appreciate your respect
for the law, Mr. Wirt,

I feel the same way.

To tell the truth, I'm
pretty new at this job

and I think it was a
mistake to lock your boy up.

Like I said, he broke the law.

My deputy felt that his father
would be better at disciplining him

than a territorial judge
and I agree with my deputy.

Go on home, Arthur.

Thank you, Marshal.

I'm sorry, Mr. Wilde.

Listen, Arthur.

You didn't have to
tell your father a thing,

but you did.

I think that's a pretty good
birthday present, Mr. Wirt.

Those cowboys
are back in Hardesty.

Good afternoon, Marshal...
By all means, sit down.

You knew cowboys would
go looking for Joe Bravo

the minute you let them
go and that's why you did it.

If you wish this conversation
to continue, lower your voice.

I simply thought over
what you said, Marshal.

The prisoners
were all quite young.

Perhaps 90 days in a penitentiary
might hurt more than help.

I didn't say that they
should be let off free.

I don't understand you, Marshal.

First you accuse
me of being too harsh

and now you're saying
that I'm too lenient.

There's a lot that goes on out here,
Your Honor, that you don't understand.

You tricked me, Crown.

You appointed Joe Bravo
deputy marshal of Hardesty,

a man you knew should have
been on trial with the others.

Oh... So that's why
you're getting back at me.

You put an irresponsible
lawbreaker in a position of trust.

A wolf to guard
a flock of sheep.

In my mind, that makes
even you suspect.

You act like all the country west of
the Mississippi is conquered territory.

Well, if it is, I'll tell
you who conquered it.

It wasn't the politicians
and judges back East.

It was the Indian fighters...
The cowboys and the settlers.

Now you wouldn't be sitting here
safe and protected if it wasn't for them.

These people out
here are different

and they have to be treated differently
and that's just what I'm going to do

as long as I'm the law here.

Well.

That makes the entire problem
quite academic then, doesn't it?

Because I intend to
do everything in power

to see that you and Joe Bravo lose
your badges as soon as possible.

Good day, Marshal.

♪♪

Well, what's it gonna be... You
guys believe me or don't you?

Well, sure, Joe, we knew
there had to be a good reason.

Right, fellas?

Come on.

Hey, Jerry, reason
good enough for you yet?

Yeah, sure it is.

Joe Bravo outslickered?

I never thought I'd see the day.

Well, that Jim Crown, he's
sure got a way with him.

How much longer
you gotta be deputy?

Same sentence as yours.

That was the deal I made.

I got 88 days to go.

Why should you?

We got loose, why not you?

Hey, will you look
at who's here?

Emmet, you old horse thief, you.

Oh, am I glad to see you.

Sure hope I rate a
hello at east, Joe.

What are you doing
in town, Emmet?

Well, I heard how you got made
lawman and I come to apologize is all.

Sorry about the other day.

I don't know what got into me.

Sure good to see you
waddies running free.

You planning on staying long?

Just long enough to shake
hands and buy you a drink at least.

Hmm?

Come on, sit down here.

Anybody as ornery as
you can't be all that bad.

Come on, bartender,
keep 'em coming.

They don't like punchers
much in this town.

Maybe we ought to do
something about that.

Now there's a thought.

Might leave 'em a little
something to remember us by

so that the next bunch of cowhands'll
get treated a little bit more hospitable.

Look, as long as I'm in this town,
don't you boys worry about hospitality.

Mr. Pine, do you mind setting
up a feed for me and my friends...

with all the trimmings?

Oh, now that's the finest
notion I've heard in a long time.

Amen.

And after that, we're gonna settled
down to some serious drinking.

(laughing)

Still at it, huh?

I see you're not
planning to sleep tonight.

Like a baby.

You know, Jim.

Yeah?

Might be a good idea if we
took a ride up to Hardesty.

What for... There's
no trouble up there.

- Not yet.
- You know something I don't?

Apparently what you
don't want to admit.

What... That Joe
Bravo is the wrong man?

Those cowboys are his friends.

He's still one of them at heart.

There's fierce pressure
on the man, Jim.

Joe was my choice.

If there's any trouble up there, he's
gonna have to work it out himself.

I hope he can.

You're not being
fair to him, not really.

Dulcey, Joe is a born lawman.

If I interfere with him now,

I doubt if he'll ever put
a badge back on again.

What's so terrible about that?

I mean, he's not much
different from any other cowboy.

Some.

And out here, they don't
want to be too different.

When they put a
badge on themselves,

they separate themselves
from everybody else.

One of the reasons
why I didn't want to do it.

But I did it and
I'm not sorry for it.

You see some of yourself
in Joe Bravo, don't you?

Some, I guess.

All right.

If you believe that what
you're putting him through

can make him another
Jim Crown, then I approve.

I didn't say anything like that.

Oh well, maybe it'll
just turn out that way.

I hope so.

♪♪

Goodnight, Dulcey.

(whistling)

Come on, rise and shine!

You waddies get out of that bed.

Come on, the coffee's hot!

Hey, what...

What are we doing in jail?

(moaning and groaning)

Say, you really laid
one on last night.

Come on, get those
doggies moving, let's go!

- That was a mean and dirty trick.
- How's your head?

I've felt worse.

'Cause you had something to
eat before you started celebrating.

Come on, get your coffee.

Thanks for the sleeping
quarters, Big Joe.

Never thought I'd
enjoy a cell so much.

Hey, I thought we were
gonna tear this town apart.

You passed out before
you had a chance.

- That's a sneaky kind of law dog trick.
- I learn fast, huh?

Morning, boys.

- Morning, Marshal.
- Good morning, Francis.

Where have you been?

Out getting jobs for you boys.

Circle C started
branding yesterday.

They need all the
help they can get.

Good... For how long?

Three, maybe four days.

The owner's name is Mr. Carmody.

He's expecting you.

Road to his place starts
about four miles north of town.

Francis, if I didn't know better, I'd
swear you were trying to get rid of us.

Now I'm not sure we're ready
to go back to work so soon.

Be the best thing in
the world for you boys.

Keep you out of trouble.

Give you a little
spending money besides.

You don't want us
around neither, Joe?

Emmet, there's nothing
to do around here.

Eat, drink, get in trouble.

Get you to a town like Wichita.

Suits me... I don't
like this town much.

Well, thank you kindly, Francis.

I guess we'll be riding
out to the Triple C.

- To the north you say?
- Right.

I'm gonna go check on the
mail, Joe... I'll talk to you later.

Right.

Well, looks like you
boys got yourself a job.

Well, here's to four
days of branding.

The dirt, sweat,

ballin' steers, the
stink of burning hides.

- All for a dollar a day.
- Dollar a day.

And there's still over
$100,000 in that bank,

just ripe for the taking.

Well, I'll say one thing, Emmet.

You sure don't let
go of a notion easy.

Not a good one.

It's rotten.

Well, now, it's
easy for you to talk.

You're riding high now...

Deputy.

Pretty soon regular
Marshal, I'll bet.

Cushy job.

And you used the boys to get it.

I had to take it.

The boys know why.

Yeah, well, you
don't have to keep it.

Well, Jerry, let me
decide that, all right?

Well, you already
have as far as I can see.

And we'll just go
scratching along,

branding, droving, riding herd.

- Picking up our lousy dollar a day.
- That's enough, Emmet.

Remember how that
money looked, boys?

All stacked up nice And fresh?

You shoulda
had a feel of it too.

Smooth.

Easy.

How about the feel of steel
bars, a rope around your neck?

Right now...

you can get the feel of a
horn ripping through you,

hooves stomping you.

That worth a dollar a day?

Come on, don't listen to him.

How many, boys?

$100,000.

Listen to that.

$20, $30,000 apiece... Easy.

Shut up, Emmet.

You're not ramrodding
me now, Joe.

And not them either.

All right, boys.

Him and me's got
something to settle alone.

You boys go on down
and get some breakfast.

Breakfast... I don't want no...

Go on!

Order up anything
you want, it's on me.

Emmet, look, I can
understand you turning outlaw.

Don't drag them down with you.

Ramrod.

Trail boss.

God on a horse.

All us kissing your feet
and you slapping us down.

No.

Never.

Me.

That bank over there.

Oh, Emmet.

Is that it, Emmet?

Then let's keep it clean.

Just between you and me.

Hit a little harder, you
having to buck your friends.

They won't go along.

No... Want to stake
that claim against it?

Emmet!

Don't try it.

I'll stop you.

So help me, I'll stop you.

Will you stop them too?

Turn a gun on your friends?

Will you, Joe... Hmm?

♪♪

What are you doing here?

Well, Emmet Lloyd's got
my old outfit steamed up.

They're gonna rob
the Hardesty bank.

What are you gonna do about it?

What do you want
me to do about it?

Stand up against them?

They're my friends.

- Are they?
- No, I can't do it.

I can't do it.

How do you know they're
gonna go through with it?

Maybe you're
just buying trouble.

And if I'm not?

Then you and Francis are gonna
have to handle it anyway you can.

You mean you're not gonna help?

It's your town, your job.

The young man who just
left, is he one of your deputies?

That was Joe Bravo
and you know it.

He looked, uh, quite disturbed.

So do you.

I'm not due in Hardesty
for another week,

but, uh, I'm rather
curious about the town.

I think I'll change my
schedule and get there earlier.

That's up to you.

I know.

♪♪

♪♪

Something I can do for you?

I'd like to talk to you.

All right.

I don't keep anything
from my employees.

There's a chance your bank may
be robbed in the next day or two.

- How do you know?
- Never mind.

Oh yeah, those friends of yours.

Look, that's not important.

What do you expect
me to do about it?

Take the money out
and bury it someplace?

I want you to ship your
money to Cimarron.

Well, how do I know those friends
of yours wouldn't be out there

on that road someplace waiting?

Look, mister, I came
in here to help you.

All right, I'll accept that.

But let me tell you something.

This bank stands
for public service

and I intend to operate
just the same as always.

If I run scared, I'm
not much of a man.

So the bank stays
open with all its capital

and it's up to
you to protect us.

Mr. Bravo...

I've got an idea of what it
took for you to come in here.

Thanks.

Look, close the
bank for a while.

No... I don't run.

What are we gonna
do, Mr. Kermin?

You can't count on him.

Hmmm...

Now listen.

Get a hold of Miller,
Gregory, McQueen,

every big rancher
that deposits with us.

I want two men
from each of them.

Top guns.

Hey, you boys...

you just come straight
down the middle of the street.

Nobody'll pay any
attention to you.

They know all of you by now.

And you just hang around
the front of the saloon.

Cover us when we crack the bank.

That's all there is to it.

Clean... simple.

Why, it sounds perfect, Emmet.

Sandy?

You don't think so?

Maybe you got a better idea.

No, it's not that, just...

before it was just all talk.

Now coming right down to it,
actually thinking on robbing a bank.

Boys...

I thought it was all settled.

Why, sure it is.

Goes against the grain.

- Aw, come on.
- Wait a minute, Jerry.

I'm not gonna ask one of
my friends to do something

that rubs his conscience wrong.

Now, Sandy, you got
deep feelings about this,

I'll understand and
you can cut out.

That goes for the
rest of you boys too.

Anybody else cut out,
that's a bigger split for us.

I suppose, but I sure hate
making money off my friends.

What about Joe?

No problem.

When we get to Hardesty,

he'll either be gone or
inside the bank helping us.

Joe?

Remember when you left the jail?

Joe wanted to hash
things out with me alone?

At first he tried
to talk me out of it.

When he saw it
wouldn't work, he said,

"Emmet...

"now you tell the boys if
they're dead-set on doing this,

"I'll help 'em or nothing.

One thing for sure,
I won't hurt 'em."

That about wraps it up.

Right, boys?

Nothing to worry
about now, huh, Sandy?

No, I guess not.

♪♪

Hello, Sandy.

- Joe, they're coming.
- When?

Tomorrow morning.

You couldn't do it, huh?

I'm glad.

Emmet said maybe you'd
help... If not, then you'd leave.

Sandy, he lied.

Figured that.

They're your
friends, just like I am.

What are you gonna do?

Just one thing, Joe.

There's three extra men now.

I never seen 'em before.

They're friends of Emmet's.

They were gonna take
the bank themselves

until they found
out you were here.

And Emmet decided
to bring us in on it.

I see.

Good luck, Joe.

Take care of yourself, Sandy.

I'm proud of you.

You just relax.

I just didn't want you
trying anything foolish.

I got something to tell you.

About Emmet Lloyd and
the boys in your old outfit?

Mr. Kermin was here.

Well, that saves
a lot of explaining.

They're coming in
tomorrow morning.

They got three extra guns,
so you better wire Crown.

I already have.

I guess I don't
have to tell you why.

No.

Jim was sure counting on you.

I told him I wouldn't stand
up against my own boys.

Then you're with them.

I hoped you'd know
me better than that.

I think I do.

Joe, don't run away from it.

If you do, you'll
never stop running.

Jim was right...
You're a born lawman.

You ought to be wearing
this marshal's badge, not me.

Thanks.

But even with that, I couldn't stand
there and throw lead at those boys.

Tell Jim Crown I'm sorry.

Joe, it's out of your hands now.

The boys don't have
a chance anyway.

Kermin's brought in 20 men.

Your leaving's not going
to make any difference.

Stick it out, Joe, please.

And watch a massacre.

Coffee's hot, Marshal.

I'll have some later on.

Now, I see the home
guard's out in full.

Yep... Since before sunup.

You get everybody to
pack it in and go on home.

This is our job.

These people have
something at stake, Marshal.

They're depositors in my bank.

I should think you'd
be grateful, Marshal.

You'll be considerable
out-numbered.

Anybody does any shooting here,
it's gonna be by men with badges.

Anybody fires at a cowboy from
ambush, I'll cut them down myself.

Anybody has a right
to fire in self-defense.

The law's very clear on that.

I'm the law in Cimarron...
Don't you forget it.

Now get those men
off those buildings.

Never thought I'd
figure Joe this wrong.

He just didn't want to
shoot his friends, Jim.

He left last night.

Yeah, he's a long way
from here by now, I hope.

If we ever get a posse up to hunt
him down count me out, will you?

(whistling)

Sooner than I expected.

Cover that side of the
street in case it's just a feeler.

♪♪

Emmet said you'd
either ride out or help.

I'm helping.

Turn around and ride out.

- But you just said...
- Jerry, there's 20 men waiting for you.

- You playing tricks, Joe?
- You'll be cut to pieces.

Get out of the way.

No.

We're going through.

If you want to stop us, you're
gonna have to draw first.

Emmet and his two
men, where are they?

In the bank.

They went in the back way.

♪♪

(whistling)

The kids ain't showed up.

They must have quit on us.

It's all right... We're through.

Now move it.

Go on... I'll take
this... Go on.

Drop your irons.

All right, now!

All right, Lloyd.

Come out with your
hands held high.

Crown!

You make one move and
there's a dead judge in here!

You hear me out there, Crown?

I wonder if he thought
he could take it with him.

♪♪

♪♪

No, no... No, it's not right.

Look, you're a marshal now.

You gotta act like one,
you gotta look like one.

Show some strength,
some authority.

Do they have to be over
there watching and looking?

Hey, hold that... That's good...
Hold that pose right there.

- This?
- Yeah.

- Should I smile?
- No, no.

- Ohh...

He's about as fearsome
as a newborn kitten.

He looks too nice
to be a marshal.

I'm satisfied.

Well, here it is: Your
letter of appointment.

Countersigned by Judge Gilroy.

- Judge Gilroy, huh?
- Yeah, he finally saw the light.

You're headed back to Hardesty.

Well, does the condemned
man get a meal?

- Dulcey?
- It's hot and ready.

A few suggestions, laddie.

There's more to being a
marshal than locking up drunks.

Strength, image, leadership.

I'll give you a little advice.

You'll see me around.

If I do, you won't
be doing your job.

Here.

Oh, Jim... I forgot
to give you this.

You learn anything from the job?

Well, yeah.

But sometimes I wonder if all
I'm good for is taking pictures.

What are you feeling punk about?

Sometimes I
wonder if I fit out here.

You did a good job
up there in Hardesty.

Don't kid yourself.

Somebody's got to write the
words and take the pictures

and let those Easterners
know what's going on.

Otherwise, nobody's gonna
learn from the mistakes.

Now, you fit just fine...

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪