Police Woman (1974–1978): Season 4, Episode 22 - Good Old Uncle Ben - full transcript
Pepper meets up with her childhood mentor, now an elderly cattle rancher. The rancher, facing mounting expenses due to the illness of his wife, has linked up with a beef company that steals cows. But the rancher becomes disgusted with the operation when it murders two subordinates and when a young-punk assistant rustler, in business on his own, draws down on him in an argument. The rancher decides to break the gang on his own.
- Get against the truck!
- I if you do
you'll be deader than
that beef that's in the truck.
- You couldn't hit the
side of a barn with that...
- Ready.
Come on.
(gunfire popping)
- I already bought a
load of beef from them
and quite frankly
the price was right.
- So right that it might
have been stolen?
- So right that with these
people you don't ask questions.
- You don't want to
cooperate with us do you?
- Police officers.
Get 'em up there
where I can see 'em.
Come on let's go, get 'em up.
(gunfire popping)
- Hey, no, it's okay,
we're not armed.
Hey come on.
(upbeat instrumental music)
(suspenseful music)
- Good evening Mr. Markham.
You remember me don't you?
- Thorne isn't it?
- Yes sir.
- How did you get in here?
- The back door was unlocked.
- No it wasn't.
- There's no need
for us to argue Mr. M.
It's just a visit.
- If you've come to collect
you're wasting your time.
I told your boss yesterday.
I can't even meet the
interest payment this month.
- Business is lousy huh?
- Terrible, take
a look at yourself.
- No need to do that, I'm
the bearer of good news.
- I'm not borrowing
anymore money.
Not from you people.
- Who from then?
Let me ask you a question.
What's your most
expensive item after help?
- Beef.
- Figure 2,000, 3,000 pounds
of beef per month, right?
- That's close enough, why?
- I told you I had good news.
We can arrange for you
to buy all the beef you want
at one dollar a pound.
- Come on man that's impossible.
- Nothing's impossible.
Think about it Mr. Markham.
- Where is this
beef coming from?
- From my people, where else?
We have many interests
Mr. M, you know that.
- Well, it's a proposition
worth considering.
I've got to admit that.
- Good, you figure out
how much beef you can use
and you give me a call.
Figure three or four
days for delivery.
Right Mr. M?
Nice talkin' to you Mr. M.
- Ellen, is the
Commissioner still awake?
This is Al Markham, thank you.
- Stuart, I'm sorry to bother
you at home at this hour
but this is important.
I've just been offered
some stolen beef.
Yes, I'm sure.
Yes.
Certainly, certainly it can wait
until you get to your office.
I'll see you then.
- Hey look, Al Markham's
car is still in the parking lot.
Come on, we better check it out.
(suspenseful music)
- Come on Pepper,
you've been in there before.
- Too many times, but Al
Markham, one of the nicest people
anybody could ever meet...
- Yes he was.
- Decent, honest it just...
- Well as far as we know
he was honest, yeah.
Pepper, that was
an execution in there.
That was no hit and
run, that was no accident.
- He's closed down twice
in the past three years.
Everybody knows he,
you know had heavy
financial problems,
but don't you think he
might have tried to save it
with a big loan?
- He could have got mixed
up with a loan shark, sure.
But I tell you something,
Al had a lot of assets.
I think they would have
made a strong effort to collect
before they'd have killed him.
I mean they just
don't work that way.
No, there's more
to it than that.
- Yeah, it's gotta
be the stolen beef.
- Well, you can interview
the Commissioner.
And I want a verbatim report
of the content of
Markham's telephone call.
- Okay.
- Couple of bank loans he
was making payments on.
Lot of red ink.
I tell you if he was
in debt to anyone else
he sure didn't write
it down anyplace.
What about you Pete,
did you find anything
in last year's stuff?
- Well I don't need
to be an accountant
to figure this one out.
What comes in
here, goes out here.
- Well, this is interesting,
phone's not working.
- Hi fellas.
- Hi.
- Ray, how are you.
- Okay I guess.
- I'm sorry about Al.
- He was a good man, the best.
Took me right out of college
and gave me my first break.
- How's his wife doing?
- She's in pretty bad
shape, can't quite believe it,
but she was not involved
in the business Bill.
- I've already told Pepper
that if Al had any mob connections
I didn't know about them.
- I've been going
through those books Ray,
business wasn't good.
- Don't I know.
Had to lay people off,
close a few of the
restaurants for lunch,
things like that.
But we'd had bad times
before, always come through.
- Whose gonna be in charge, you?
- Mrs. Markham
asked me to take over,
for the time being at least.
I'll do the best I can.
Look if there's nothing
else I've got quite a lot to do.
Funeral arrangements,
telephoning relatives.
- Sure go ahead, listen,
if we got any questions
we'll get in touch,
we'll phone you.
- I want you to.
I,
I'll be in touch.
- Thanks Ray.
Nothing?
- Not yet,
- [Jim] Look at this.
- What do you got Jim?
- Wire got hooked over the
cradle, wouldn't release it.
- Bug?
- Yeah, this wouldn't
be the work of the feds,
they'd use a lease line.
No, this looks more like
something a private investigator
would do.
- Yeah, but who
would have hired him?
- Well whoever was
monitoring this thing,
sure knew about the phone
call to the Commissioner.
- Slide it over.
- Hey.
- I see you all met
with huge success.
- Hi Pepper, how about a beer?
- Yeah, thanks.
- I tell you,
whoever backed Markham's loan's
playing it very
close to the chest.
We talked to Little Jimmy,
now Jimmy knows every
loan shark in this town,
not a work about Markham.
- Well, maybe
that's not the answer.
- No, it's the answer.
We just haven't come up
with the right combination.
- Here, I'll take it, thank you.
- What about beef?
Isn't that what part
of this is all about?
- I checked through RNI.
Locally there hasn't
been a theft or hijacking
in the last three months.
- And Bill checked with CII
and he came up with something
pretty interesting.
- Strangely enough
there's been an
upsurge in cattle rustling.
Especially in
central California.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Anybody here know
anything about cattle rustling?
- You're not gonna believe this.
- You're kiddin'.
- Back in Montana?
- No Wyoming.
You rustled cattle, right?
- I can at least tell you
how it was when I was a kid.
- Yeah but it's gotta be a
little bit different now Pep.
- Just a little.
- Well it is, Wyoming
became a state.
- Thanks a lot.
- No, I understand today
that they rustle, slaughter,
dress and package
all in 24 hours.
- I do know somebody.
Yeah, an old hand
in the cattle business.
Yeah, he'd know.
I could drive up tonight.
- Why don't you.
- Hey Pepper honey...
- Uncle Ben!
- How are you baby, how are ya?
- Uncle Ben.
Great just great.
It's so good to see you.
It's so good, oh.
- Look at there,
isn't she beautiful.
They tell you that
down that wicked city?
- Only the wicked ones like you.
- I'll bet...
- How's Aunt Helen?
I sensed on the phone
she wasn't too good.
- No, she's not too
bad, not too bad.
She's just dying to see you.
She's been on pins and
needles since you phoned.
Oh and watch the tiles now,
we're trying to fix
this old barn up.
We're not gettin' any help
from the landlord you know
so really watch
yourself now, okay.
And I'll come back
and get your bags later
now watch your step.
- [Pepper] Okay, you look great.
- [Ben] Yeah I feel good.
- Oh Uncle Ben, it's charming.
- Well you can thank
your Aunt Helen for that.
- Oh it's just...
- Pepper!
- Aunt Helen.
- Dear Pepper.
It was so sweet of you to come.
- You look wonderful, beautiful.
- Now you two have a
nice visit, I'll go get your bag.
- Now you stop that nonsense
about me lookin' so wonderful.
I look awful and you know it,
but I feel better than
I look thank goodness
and that's somethin'.
- You know,
I don't believe what I smell.
- You better believe.
- Where is it?
- In the kitchen cooling
on the cupboard.
- Oh Helen.
- The bluest and the juiciest.
I remember a little
girl once in Wyoming
who used to eat blueberry pies
til' she got the worst
tummy ache imaginable.
- They were worth it.
Oh Helen.
(suspenseful music)
(chain rattling)
(suspenseful music)
- Wait a minute
wait a minute Ray.
A toast to our new and
profitable association.
- I'll drink to that.
- I'll drink to anything.
- Well Ray since you're here
I assume you're
interested in my proposition.
- That correct Mr. Galloway.
- Willie.
Sit down.
- Willie.
- Well, how many
thousand pounds to start?
- Two.
- That's not even a dozen head.
I'd suggest three.
- Okay, 3,000 pounds
dressed.
Where do I sign?
- Ah your handshake's
good enough for me.
I'll be in touch.
- It's a pleasure doing
business with you Mister, uh
Willie.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
Monk, take Mr. Roberts
back to his restaurant huh.
(phone ringing)
- Yeah.
Oh yeah Galloway.
Yeah 17, 18 head.
Yeah you got it.
(suspenseful music)
Say you know Pepper,
you rode that horse real
good for a police sergeant.
- Well look who taught me.
- Well that's true enough.
You were such
funny little thing,
all skin and bones
and eyes, and stubborn.
- Determination Uncle Ben.
- Well I guess that's the
word for it out of the book.
You'd fall off five or six times
climb right back on again,
tears streaming down
your eyes, and cussin'.
Never heard a little
girl with words like that.
Wonder where you learned em'.
- Well I could tell you that
too if you really want to know.
- Well I'm sorry I asked.
- Yeah.
- But you know, it
was real fun today
just ridin' for the hell of it.
Haven't done
that in a long time.
You know ridin'
alone isn't much fun.
- How sick is Aunt Helen?
She looks so pale.
At dinner she only said
that she had this kidney thing.
- Well now you know
she'd raise the roof if she
knew I was talkin' about it,
but I gotta tell
somebody Pepper.
You know when she
lost that kidney last year?
Well the one she's got
left ain't workin' so good
and I gotta take her down
the hospital once a week.
They put her on that machine.
- Dialysis?
- Yeah, yeah that's it.
- That's expensive.
- Yeah you know we don't
have any insurance to speak of
so I sold that spread we had
in Nevada and we moved here
and there's a little
work here and there
for an old cowhand.
So between that and the
money from the place we get by.
Now don't you look so sad eyed.
Glad to get it off my
chest, I feel better.
Now tell me about
you, about your life.
I mean what's happenin'?
- Well I'm still single if
that's what you're wondering.
- That's what I mean now look,
I promised you a
little shootin' right?
- Yeah.
- You're gonna
have a little shootin.
I mean after that boast
you were doing last night
about being in the top 20
of the police department.
- It wasn't boasting,
it's just a fact.
- Oh I see.
- Well, what will it
be, cans or bottles?
- Eh, bottles.
- Hey what are you call that?
You didn't learn that from me,
you couldn't hit side
of a barn with that...
- Come, come, ready.
Come on.
(gunfire popping)
- Maybe I ought
to try that, huh?
- No, no here let me show you.
- What you...
- Oh come on.
Hey.
- That was great.
Uncle Ben, with Helen
feeling like she was,
I didn't want to sit around
talking about rustling
at dinner, but I need your help,
mainly your expertise.
- Sure Pepper but why?
- Well I'm working
on a case right now
and our only
lead is stolen beef.
Now the crime reports indicate
that it's probably
cattle rustling.
How would a person go
about moving stolen cattle
these days and not get caught?
- Well now it seems to me
a fella would find a real
big spread you know,
someplace where they
run 20, 25,000 head.
That way a couple dozen
wouldn't be missed right away.
- Um humph.
Well then where
would he go with them?
You can't drive
a bunch of cattle
down the middle of the
highway, broad daylight
or at night for that matter?
- Oh no, well I heard tell
a couple of different ways.
One way is you put a
couple a head in a padded van
and you drive it to a
secret slaughterhouse,
you dress the meat out.
You get rid of the hides right
away cause of the brands.
Then you transfer the
meat to a refrigerator truck.
That's about it.
- Sure.
Of course.
It's very simple,
the meat goes to a
packing house in some city.
- I reckon'.
What do you then?
- You sell it to whoever
uses a lot of beef.
Like a chain of
restaurants for instance
or a lot of markets.
- Is that it?
Course that would be kind of
a hard operation to track down,
with all those beef packing
house you got down in your city.
- It's a starting point though.
- Well, it's gettin'
on to about three.
Gotta put those horses
away and get up to the house.
I gotta take Helen down
the hospital this afternoon.
- Yeah, I best be gettin' too.
- You be comin' back
real soon now you hear.
- First chance I get.
Really.
- Sure love to see and I
want to meet this Crowley
you keep talkin' about.
- You'll like him.
(cows mooing)
- Get up there, hey!
(whistling)
- Come on get,
get in that truck.
(whistling)
- [Cowboy] Come on cows.
Hey, hey, hey cattle.
Hey cattle.
Come on get up.
- Hold it Maxwell.
- The hell's a matter
with you Fletcher?
How do you know
he didn't see us?
- He didn't even turn his head.
- Listen, I know my
job and I'm gonna do it.
- You don't have a job.
Not with me.
Not ever.
Here's your money, get lost.
(ominous music)
(engine revving)
(ominous music)
- And that's it.
The meat packer's the middle
man and he sells the beef
to whoever wants to
buy it, cut rate of course.
Doesn't even have to be
a packer, probably isn't.
All he has to have is a packing
house to store the meat in.
Interesting.
- Yeah, interesting.
- Yeah, where do I start?
The California Cattleman's
Association sent me ten pages
of wholesale meat distributors.
- Why don't you start
at the top of page one.
Here Joe catch.
You found it, now what I want
to know is who manufactured it
and who purchased it.
- Yeah well that
sounds like a lot of fun.
You know there's no
name brand on this thing.
- That's why you're gonna
take it down to the sound lab
and they're gonna dismantle it
and then they're gonna tell
ya who made manufactured it.
- Yeah, okay.
Alright little fella, let's
go look into your past life
see what we can come up with.
- Well at the risk of
getting a bonus here
I'm gonna check this list
and see if anything's
changed hands.
(cows mooing)
(suspenseful music)
- Uncle Ben said that rustlers
would probably hit
the large ranches
where a few missing head
of cattle wouldn't be noticed
but I don't know.
- What are you talkin' about?
- Well with the price
of beef what it is,
I think most ranchers would
know exactly how many steers
they had.
- Sure, they probably go out
and count em' every few days.
Who do you report it to if
you come up short of steers?
- I'll call CII
and have em' check out
Bakersfield and Fresno.
- Yeah, why don't you do that.
Soon as you make
a fresh pot of coffee.
- Why do I always
have to make the coffee?
- Because you're here.
(suspenseful music)
(bandsaws whirring)
- Thank you Willie.
- It's a pleasure Ben.
You and your men do nice work.
So you canned
Ollie Maxwell, huh?
- He thinks he's Billy the Kid.
- So you made an enemy.
Better watch your back.
- Hey now that's real smooth.
How about another little dollop.
- Sure.
How's the missus?
- Oh she's fine, she's fine.
This is gonna help.
- Yeah well, we got a real
good customer now Ben.
I'll need another shipment
from you in a week or ten days
and after that more,
probably on a regular basis.
How's that sound to you?
- Anything you say.
Can I use your phone?
- Sure, go ahead.
You want a little head on it?
- No thanks.
You know, as long as I'm in
town, invite somebody to dinner.
Yeah hello, I'd like to speak
to Pepper Anderson please.
That's alright, I'll wait.
- Hey, how much
longer is this gonna take?
- It's gonna take a while.
Look, 3,000 pounds
is a lot of meat.
Just relax Roberts.
- Yeah I'm tryin' to
but there's still a
couple cops in the place.
- Cops?
- Yeah don't worry
they're friends of mine,
they come here all the time.
- Well you can say what you want
about elephant
havin' the best memory
but don't compare with a bronc.
Hard Nosed he was
called, and rightly so.
He knew me, that's a fact,
and he hated me, whew.
First time I was up
rode him right to a stop.
Nobody had ever
done that before.
I think I hurt his pride.
So everywhere after that
no matter what the rodeo was,
Madison Square
Garden, Pendleton,
when I go walkin' by the stalls
he'd start hollerin'
bloody murder.
He was cursin' at that's
a fact, and threatenin',
and I was hopin'
to draw him again,
you know, another
bronc bustin' contest,
year after year it
just never worked,
never worked.
- Folks, little more
coffee or some brandy?
- Oh no thanks.
- Oh say I'm sorry
Ray I got talkin' here
and didn't realize
how late it was.
- Don't worry about it Ben.
Now you folks just stay
and talk as long as you like.
I got some paperwork to
catch up on in the back so,
if you need anything, just yell.
- Thanks Ray.
- I'll, just leave these here.
- Sorry, you know hey
guys it's two o'clock.
Ben I'm a workin' man.
- Can't we just stay 'til,
lets hear the rest
of the story, okay?
- Well anyhow I was pretty
busted up by then you know
I figured I'd quit rodeos
all together, you know,
but there was one big one
still at Madison Square Garden.
You know I got
second in calf ropin',
I wasn't even expectin' that.
So I was walkin'
out goin' by the stalls
and I hear this big
scream, that's right,
it's old Hard Nose.
Course he was
pretty old by then,
must have been about 15
you know, just a work horse,
wasn't buck horse no more.
Kind of broken up just
like your old Uncle Ben.
So, anyway.
I got up on him,
and I'm sittin' there
on his old swayback,
he can hardly
move let alone buck,
but he tried.
You know what I done?
You know what I done?
I fell right off him.
Well you never saw a
happier horse in all your life.
He just laughed, he laughed.
Yeah, so I bought him,
I bought old Hard Nose and
I took him back to my place
and we kind of hung around
together all the time then,
'til he died.
- You know you're a
sentimental old cowboy,
that's what you are.
- We got lucky.
The bug was purchased
three or four years ago
by a company that
was obviously a front.
Pacific West Security Systems.
I went to the address,
found out they've been out
of business for year and a half.
- That's lucky.
- Recognize him?
- He looks familiar.
Refresh my memory.
- Refresh his memory Pete.
- Well you should remember him,
you busted him yourself
about five years ago.
- Sure, William Galloway.
He was the middle man in
that big hijacking ring, right?
- You got it.
- Only he took a walk because
none of his confederates
would testify against him.
This is the bug huh?
- He was Pacific West Security.
Intelligence says it was a front
for a loan sharking operation.
- Don't tell me,
Pacific West Security is now
Pacific West Meat Packers.
- You got it.
- This is harassment
Crowley and you know it.
- I'm sorry you feel
that way Galloway.
- I'm sure you are.
I told you before I don't
know anything about how
Al Markham died.
- I'm easy to convince,
all you gotta do is just
give me permission to come
in have a little look around.
- Get out of here,
go on get out.
You wanna look around
get a search warrant.
- You know somethin' friend,
I'm gonna get you one day.
I mean one day you're
gonna make a little mistake
and I'm gonna be right there.
- That's threatening and
intimidating Lieutenant.
They're laws against
that you know?
- Yeah well when you get
the state bar association
to reinstate you then
I'll let you tell me about it.
In the mean time, it's Sergeant.
- Still?
After all these
years on the force.
How about that.
- Can you imagine those
turkeys coming in here
without a search warrant?
- Well, Willie maybe you better
get out of the meat business
for a while, what do you think?
- Are you crazy?
I never saw so much
money in an operation.
Don't worry, don't worry.
I think we're smart enough
to stay ahead of Crowley
and the rest of
those stumble bums.
- Yeah where we have
trouble though is Ollie Maxwell.
- What do you mean?
- Well he went into
business on his own.
Between he and Ben Fletcher
working both
sides of the street.
It's bound to bring heat.
- Suppose, just suppose,
we get the two of 'em together
one more time.
- And?
- And, may the better
man emerge victorious.
I think that's the expression.
- Yes sir.
The Commissioner
read your followup report.
He thinks it's Galloway too.
He wants us to put
a surveillance on him.
- Not gonna be movin' now.
- Why don't you tell
the Commissioner?
- Ray Roberts,
he buys a lot of beef.
Why don't we get him
to buy from Galloway?
- Sure, so why not?
- [Ray] Just get off my back!
- [Pepper] No, I can't!
- Pepper you don't realize
what you're asking me to do...
- Yes I do.
I really, I know it's tough,
but we think Galloway
had Al Markham murdered.
- Well what can I do about it?
- You can help us.
Ray, what we figure is Galloway
was pressuring Al Markham
into buying stolen beef.
We want you to spread the
word that you're interested
in the same kind of deal.
- I already bought a
load of beef from them.
- How did that come about?
- Galloway came
in here and told me
that he and Al had a prior deal.
And quite frankly
the price was right.
- So right that it might
have been stolen?
- So right that with these
people you don't ask questions.
- You don't wanna
cooperate with us do you?
- You really think
Galloway had Al killed?
- I think we'd like to find out.
- You'll have to do it
without my help Pepper.
I've got a wife and a baby.
I'm sorry.
(phone ringing)
- Yeah.
Hello.
- Hello Ben, it's me
Willie, we got trouble.
- What kind?
- Your old friend Ollie Maxwell.
He rustled a truckload of beef.
- Well that figures.
So what?
- So what!
So what!
It was 50 head.
Besides, he's an
amateur, he'll get caught.
He'll turn over on
us in a flat minute.
You wanna spend 10
years in jail for cattle rustling?
- Hey, you know I just
might have a notion.
- Yeah, about what?
- Well I know where
Maxwell's goin' first.
Might be I could discourage him.
- Somebody has to Ben.
We both know that.
Now about that meat.
- Oh you'll get it,
you'll get it Willie.
- I knew I could
count on you Ben.
- Yeah we'll be in touch.
Goin' on young lady.
- I know, I'm supposed
to be sleeping.
Ah, doctors, can't get
enough rest in your condition
Mrs. Fletcher.
Now you gotta understand that.
There's only one trouble with
all that rest, you know Ben?
- What's that?
- It gets to be real tiring,
and I don't get to
see enough of you
as I do when my
eyes are not shut.
So I miss you that much more.
- Now darlin I see
you as much as I can.
- Don't I know that.
There's no husband better
than you Ben Fletcher.
- Hey I wasn't fishin'
for any compliments.
- Happens to be the truth.
It also happens that I'm the
luckiest woman I've ever known.
And don't tell me you don't
like a sweet word in your ear.
- Hey, I'd like
another one of those.
- Okay?
- Okay.
For now.
- Who was that on the phone?
- Oh, business.
- Serious business?
- Do I look serious?
- You did.
A little when I came in.
- Routine.
Hey darlin what's the matter?
- I was just thinkin' how
there's nothing routine
in all those medical
bills you've been paying
for the last year.
- Come on now I told you.
I don't want to hear
any more talk about that,
you understand?
- Dear Pepper.
These must have
cost her a fortune.
- Still the same
beautiful, good girl huh.
- I don't know when I've
had a better time in years.
All those stories
about her cases,
three men she works with,
and she said
somethin' about you.
Somethin' I thought that I was
the only one who saw in you.
- I'm gettin' better
lookin' every year.
- It was a lot deeper
than that Ben.
She said, he gets to be
even more of a real man.
Kinder,
more tender,
more loving.
- Hey, gettin' another turn.
What do you say we
go in the bedroom and
both of us get some of that
famous rest of yours, huh?
Hmm?
(laughing)
(suspenseful music)
Easy now.
You know you're
gonna get us all busted?
I was just lookin' in
that truck of yours.
There ain't a rancher
in the whole state
ain't gonna miss 50 head.
- Don't jump to
conclusions Fletcher.
I got that from five
different spreads.
- Alright, 50 head
in the same county.
You know Galloway
was right about you,
you're an amateur.
You put that thing down,
I'm gonna take your truck.
- Like hell you are.
(gunfire booms)
(melancholy music)
(sighs)
- Hello Helen, yeah it's me.
Yeah I wish I were.
No I gotta go
south instead, yeah.
Well there's been
some big changes.
Well I don't want to
talk business with you,
I mean that's just
a bore, you know.
Hey, how do you feel?
Good, real good.
No no no, maybe I'm
catchin' a little cold you know.
My throats a little sore
but I'm fine, I'm alright.
Yeah.
Well, I guess I better
be gettin' along now.
Say Helen, something
I want to say first.
I love you Helen.
With all my heart.
I love you.
Sure.
I'll say it word for
word when I get home.
Now did you ever know
when I didn't keep a promise?
Now don't you start that now!
I love you Helen.
I'll see you.
Yeah real soon.
- Right okay, we'll have the
suspect in custody for you.
Call you later.
That was Gainer from
the Fresno Sheriff's Office.
Well they found a body.
Guy named Ollie Maxwell.
General cowhand
in that area for years.
- So what's next?
- I think this whole thing's
gonna come together
next couple hours.
- Does Pepper know?
- No, and I don't want
to be the one to tell her.
- Who's your buyer?
- Eh, small time
hood out of San Diego,
runs a string of restaurants.
He's gonna take it.
- What'd you do with Maxwell?
- Buried him.
You want that beef at
Markham's restaurant
tonight after two, right?
- That's right.
He looks at the beef
we get our bucks,
and he's on his way
back to San Diego.
- Whatever you guys want.
(pensive music)
- 12 Y 52 to 12 Y 90.
Ben just arrived
with the meat truck.
Looks like things are just
about ready to go down.
- [Crowley] Roger 90,
Pepper and I are in route.
Let's go.
- Fresno said he was killed
with a 45 caliber revolver?
- That's right.
They got an investigator
be down tomorrow
to take him into custody.
- Yeah, if we were going
any other place in the world.
- Ben what the hell's
goin' on here tonight?
- I don't getcha.
- Galloway is out there
tonight with a couple of heavy
looking dudes from
San Diego or someplace.
Look, I never bargained
for anything like this.
- Customers all gone?
- Yeah.
- You and the
help get outta here.
Keep that back door unlocked.
- Ben, what's going on?
- Goodnight.
Parked out back.
- Oh, Doran this Ben
Fletcher, our supplier.
Here you go Ben.
As usual, cash on delivery.
- Cowboy you've
got good taste in beef.
Sit down, join us in a drink...
- No no thanks.
I go over there and
pour myself a drink
and as soon as you check
out the delivery I'll get.
- You ready to show?
- Yeah, at his pleasure.
- Go have a look see.
- It's out back.
Be quick now.
I don't want it sitting around.
- 12 Y 50.
They're in the truck now.
- [Crowley] 50,
yeah we've seen em'.
You take the truck
we'll take the inside.
- Got it.
(action music)
(tires squealing)
- Hold it right there police.
Put your hands up, put 'em up.
Get against the truck.
- I if you do,
you be deader than that
beefs that's in the truck.
Get on down.
Come on.
(tense music)
- Police officers.
Get your hands on the table.
Get 'em up there
where I can see 'em.
Come on lets go, get 'em up.
- Pepper look out!
(gunfire popping)
(groaning)
- Hey, no no, it's okay.
We're not armed.
Hey come on, easy.
We haven't got...
- Uncle Ben!
- Hey, hey Pepper.
I'm sorry.
I let you down.
- No you didn't.
We wouldn't have been here
if you hadn't called the police.
What happened with Maxwell?
- Well, it was him or me.
- Oh, come on Ben.
Ben, come on.
Come on.
It took a lot of
courage to do that.
- We're calling and ambulance.
Hang in there Ben.
- Ambulance.
Hah, I ain't gonna
need one of those.
Now Pepper, you listen to me.
When I was a little kid,
it was the worst thing in
the world a man could do
steal somebody else's cattle,
but when my wife
my Helen,
she was sick,
and I didn't have any money,
and I got desperate,
had to do somethin'.
- You did what you had to do...
- Yeah but stealin'
somebody else's cattle.
Don't you let her
find out about that.
Don't you let her.
- I won't.
I won't, she won't...
- Those insurance papers...
- She won't.
- That's all she's got.
- She won't.
She won't find out.
I promise you.
(paper rustling)
(upbeat instrumental music)
- I if you do
you'll be deader than
that beef that's in the truck.
- You couldn't hit the
side of a barn with that...
- Ready.
Come on.
(gunfire popping)
- I already bought a
load of beef from them
and quite frankly
the price was right.
- So right that it might
have been stolen?
- So right that with these
people you don't ask questions.
- You don't want to
cooperate with us do you?
- Police officers.
Get 'em up there
where I can see 'em.
Come on let's go, get 'em up.
(gunfire popping)
- Hey, no, it's okay,
we're not armed.
Hey come on.
(upbeat instrumental music)
(suspenseful music)
- Good evening Mr. Markham.
You remember me don't you?
- Thorne isn't it?
- Yes sir.
- How did you get in here?
- The back door was unlocked.
- No it wasn't.
- There's no need
for us to argue Mr. M.
It's just a visit.
- If you've come to collect
you're wasting your time.
I told your boss yesterday.
I can't even meet the
interest payment this month.
- Business is lousy huh?
- Terrible, take
a look at yourself.
- No need to do that, I'm
the bearer of good news.
- I'm not borrowing
anymore money.
Not from you people.
- Who from then?
Let me ask you a question.
What's your most
expensive item after help?
- Beef.
- Figure 2,000, 3,000 pounds
of beef per month, right?
- That's close enough, why?
- I told you I had good news.
We can arrange for you
to buy all the beef you want
at one dollar a pound.
- Come on man that's impossible.
- Nothing's impossible.
Think about it Mr. Markham.
- Where is this
beef coming from?
- From my people, where else?
We have many interests
Mr. M, you know that.
- Well, it's a proposition
worth considering.
I've got to admit that.
- Good, you figure out
how much beef you can use
and you give me a call.
Figure three or four
days for delivery.
Right Mr. M?
Nice talkin' to you Mr. M.
- Ellen, is the
Commissioner still awake?
This is Al Markham, thank you.
- Stuart, I'm sorry to bother
you at home at this hour
but this is important.
I've just been offered
some stolen beef.
Yes, I'm sure.
Yes.
Certainly, certainly it can wait
until you get to your office.
I'll see you then.
- Hey look, Al Markham's
car is still in the parking lot.
Come on, we better check it out.
(suspenseful music)
- Come on Pepper,
you've been in there before.
- Too many times, but Al
Markham, one of the nicest people
anybody could ever meet...
- Yes he was.
- Decent, honest it just...
- Well as far as we know
he was honest, yeah.
Pepper, that was
an execution in there.
That was no hit and
run, that was no accident.
- He's closed down twice
in the past three years.
Everybody knows he,
you know had heavy
financial problems,
but don't you think he
might have tried to save it
with a big loan?
- He could have got mixed
up with a loan shark, sure.
But I tell you something,
Al had a lot of assets.
I think they would have
made a strong effort to collect
before they'd have killed him.
I mean they just
don't work that way.
No, there's more
to it than that.
- Yeah, it's gotta
be the stolen beef.
- Well, you can interview
the Commissioner.
And I want a verbatim report
of the content of
Markham's telephone call.
- Okay.
- Couple of bank loans he
was making payments on.
Lot of red ink.
I tell you if he was
in debt to anyone else
he sure didn't write
it down anyplace.
What about you Pete,
did you find anything
in last year's stuff?
- Well I don't need
to be an accountant
to figure this one out.
What comes in
here, goes out here.
- Well, this is interesting,
phone's not working.
- Hi fellas.
- Hi.
- Ray, how are you.
- Okay I guess.
- I'm sorry about Al.
- He was a good man, the best.
Took me right out of college
and gave me my first break.
- How's his wife doing?
- She's in pretty bad
shape, can't quite believe it,
but she was not involved
in the business Bill.
- I've already told Pepper
that if Al had any mob connections
I didn't know about them.
- I've been going
through those books Ray,
business wasn't good.
- Don't I know.
Had to lay people off,
close a few of the
restaurants for lunch,
things like that.
But we'd had bad times
before, always come through.
- Whose gonna be in charge, you?
- Mrs. Markham
asked me to take over,
for the time being at least.
I'll do the best I can.
Look if there's nothing
else I've got quite a lot to do.
Funeral arrangements,
telephoning relatives.
- Sure go ahead, listen,
if we got any questions
we'll get in touch,
we'll phone you.
- I want you to.
I,
I'll be in touch.
- Thanks Ray.
Nothing?
- Not yet,
- [Jim] Look at this.
- What do you got Jim?
- Wire got hooked over the
cradle, wouldn't release it.
- Bug?
- Yeah, this wouldn't
be the work of the feds,
they'd use a lease line.
No, this looks more like
something a private investigator
would do.
- Yeah, but who
would have hired him?
- Well whoever was
monitoring this thing,
sure knew about the phone
call to the Commissioner.
- Slide it over.
- Hey.
- I see you all met
with huge success.
- Hi Pepper, how about a beer?
- Yeah, thanks.
- I tell you,
whoever backed Markham's loan's
playing it very
close to the chest.
We talked to Little Jimmy,
now Jimmy knows every
loan shark in this town,
not a work about Markham.
- Well, maybe
that's not the answer.
- No, it's the answer.
We just haven't come up
with the right combination.
- Here, I'll take it, thank you.
- What about beef?
Isn't that what part
of this is all about?
- I checked through RNI.
Locally there hasn't
been a theft or hijacking
in the last three months.
- And Bill checked with CII
and he came up with something
pretty interesting.
- Strangely enough
there's been an
upsurge in cattle rustling.
Especially in
central California.
- Really?
- Yeah.
Anybody here know
anything about cattle rustling?
- You're not gonna believe this.
- You're kiddin'.
- Back in Montana?
- No Wyoming.
You rustled cattle, right?
- I can at least tell you
how it was when I was a kid.
- Yeah but it's gotta be a
little bit different now Pep.
- Just a little.
- Well it is, Wyoming
became a state.
- Thanks a lot.
- No, I understand today
that they rustle, slaughter,
dress and package
all in 24 hours.
- I do know somebody.
Yeah, an old hand
in the cattle business.
Yeah, he'd know.
I could drive up tonight.
- Why don't you.
- Hey Pepper honey...
- Uncle Ben!
- How are you baby, how are ya?
- Uncle Ben.
Great just great.
It's so good to see you.
It's so good, oh.
- Look at there,
isn't she beautiful.
They tell you that
down that wicked city?
- Only the wicked ones like you.
- I'll bet...
- How's Aunt Helen?
I sensed on the phone
she wasn't too good.
- No, she's not too
bad, not too bad.
She's just dying to see you.
She's been on pins and
needles since you phoned.
Oh and watch the tiles now,
we're trying to fix
this old barn up.
We're not gettin' any help
from the landlord you know
so really watch
yourself now, okay.
And I'll come back
and get your bags later
now watch your step.
- [Pepper] Okay, you look great.
- [Ben] Yeah I feel good.
- Oh Uncle Ben, it's charming.
- Well you can thank
your Aunt Helen for that.
- Oh it's just...
- Pepper!
- Aunt Helen.
- Dear Pepper.
It was so sweet of you to come.
- You look wonderful, beautiful.
- Now you two have a
nice visit, I'll go get your bag.
- Now you stop that nonsense
about me lookin' so wonderful.
I look awful and you know it,
but I feel better than
I look thank goodness
and that's somethin'.
- You know,
I don't believe what I smell.
- You better believe.
- Where is it?
- In the kitchen cooling
on the cupboard.
- Oh Helen.
- The bluest and the juiciest.
I remember a little
girl once in Wyoming
who used to eat blueberry pies
til' she got the worst
tummy ache imaginable.
- They were worth it.
Oh Helen.
(suspenseful music)
(chain rattling)
(suspenseful music)
- Wait a minute
wait a minute Ray.
A toast to our new and
profitable association.
- I'll drink to that.
- I'll drink to anything.
- Well Ray since you're here
I assume you're
interested in my proposition.
- That correct Mr. Galloway.
- Willie.
Sit down.
- Willie.
- Well, how many
thousand pounds to start?
- Two.
- That's not even a dozen head.
I'd suggest three.
- Okay, 3,000 pounds
dressed.
Where do I sign?
- Ah your handshake's
good enough for me.
I'll be in touch.
- It's a pleasure doing
business with you Mister, uh
Willie.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
Monk, take Mr. Roberts
back to his restaurant huh.
(phone ringing)
- Yeah.
Oh yeah Galloway.
Yeah 17, 18 head.
Yeah you got it.
(suspenseful music)
Say you know Pepper,
you rode that horse real
good for a police sergeant.
- Well look who taught me.
- Well that's true enough.
You were such
funny little thing,
all skin and bones
and eyes, and stubborn.
- Determination Uncle Ben.
- Well I guess that's the
word for it out of the book.
You'd fall off five or six times
climb right back on again,
tears streaming down
your eyes, and cussin'.
Never heard a little
girl with words like that.
Wonder where you learned em'.
- Well I could tell you that
too if you really want to know.
- Well I'm sorry I asked.
- Yeah.
- But you know, it
was real fun today
just ridin' for the hell of it.
Haven't done
that in a long time.
You know ridin'
alone isn't much fun.
- How sick is Aunt Helen?
She looks so pale.
At dinner she only said
that she had this kidney thing.
- Well now you know
she'd raise the roof if she
knew I was talkin' about it,
but I gotta tell
somebody Pepper.
You know when she
lost that kidney last year?
Well the one she's got
left ain't workin' so good
and I gotta take her down
the hospital once a week.
They put her on that machine.
- Dialysis?
- Yeah, yeah that's it.
- That's expensive.
- Yeah you know we don't
have any insurance to speak of
so I sold that spread we had
in Nevada and we moved here
and there's a little
work here and there
for an old cowhand.
So between that and the
money from the place we get by.
Now don't you look so sad eyed.
Glad to get it off my
chest, I feel better.
Now tell me about
you, about your life.
I mean what's happenin'?
- Well I'm still single if
that's what you're wondering.
- That's what I mean now look,
I promised you a
little shootin' right?
- Yeah.
- You're gonna
have a little shootin.
I mean after that boast
you were doing last night
about being in the top 20
of the police department.
- It wasn't boasting,
it's just a fact.
- Oh I see.
- Well, what will it
be, cans or bottles?
- Eh, bottles.
- Hey what are you call that?
You didn't learn that from me,
you couldn't hit side
of a barn with that...
- Come, come, ready.
Come on.
(gunfire popping)
- Maybe I ought
to try that, huh?
- No, no here let me show you.
- What you...
- Oh come on.
Hey.
- That was great.
Uncle Ben, with Helen
feeling like she was,
I didn't want to sit around
talking about rustling
at dinner, but I need your help,
mainly your expertise.
- Sure Pepper but why?
- Well I'm working
on a case right now
and our only
lead is stolen beef.
Now the crime reports indicate
that it's probably
cattle rustling.
How would a person go
about moving stolen cattle
these days and not get caught?
- Well now it seems to me
a fella would find a real
big spread you know,
someplace where they
run 20, 25,000 head.
That way a couple dozen
wouldn't be missed right away.
- Um humph.
Well then where
would he go with them?
You can't drive
a bunch of cattle
down the middle of the
highway, broad daylight
or at night for that matter?
- Oh no, well I heard tell
a couple of different ways.
One way is you put a
couple a head in a padded van
and you drive it to a
secret slaughterhouse,
you dress the meat out.
You get rid of the hides right
away cause of the brands.
Then you transfer the
meat to a refrigerator truck.
That's about it.
- Sure.
Of course.
It's very simple,
the meat goes to a
packing house in some city.
- I reckon'.
What do you then?
- You sell it to whoever
uses a lot of beef.
Like a chain of
restaurants for instance
or a lot of markets.
- Is that it?
Course that would be kind of
a hard operation to track down,
with all those beef packing
house you got down in your city.
- It's a starting point though.
- Well, it's gettin'
on to about three.
Gotta put those horses
away and get up to the house.
I gotta take Helen down
the hospital this afternoon.
- Yeah, I best be gettin' too.
- You be comin' back
real soon now you hear.
- First chance I get.
Really.
- Sure love to see and I
want to meet this Crowley
you keep talkin' about.
- You'll like him.
(cows mooing)
- Get up there, hey!
(whistling)
- Come on get,
get in that truck.
(whistling)
- [Cowboy] Come on cows.
Hey, hey, hey cattle.
Hey cattle.
Come on get up.
- Hold it Maxwell.
- The hell's a matter
with you Fletcher?
How do you know
he didn't see us?
- He didn't even turn his head.
- Listen, I know my
job and I'm gonna do it.
- You don't have a job.
Not with me.
Not ever.
Here's your money, get lost.
(ominous music)
(engine revving)
(ominous music)
- And that's it.
The meat packer's the middle
man and he sells the beef
to whoever wants to
buy it, cut rate of course.
Doesn't even have to be
a packer, probably isn't.
All he has to have is a packing
house to store the meat in.
Interesting.
- Yeah, interesting.
- Yeah, where do I start?
The California Cattleman's
Association sent me ten pages
of wholesale meat distributors.
- Why don't you start
at the top of page one.
Here Joe catch.
You found it, now what I want
to know is who manufactured it
and who purchased it.
- Yeah well that
sounds like a lot of fun.
You know there's no
name brand on this thing.
- That's why you're gonna
take it down to the sound lab
and they're gonna dismantle it
and then they're gonna tell
ya who made manufactured it.
- Yeah, okay.
Alright little fella, let's
go look into your past life
see what we can come up with.
- Well at the risk of
getting a bonus here
I'm gonna check this list
and see if anything's
changed hands.
(cows mooing)
(suspenseful music)
- Uncle Ben said that rustlers
would probably hit
the large ranches
where a few missing head
of cattle wouldn't be noticed
but I don't know.
- What are you talkin' about?
- Well with the price
of beef what it is,
I think most ranchers would
know exactly how many steers
they had.
- Sure, they probably go out
and count em' every few days.
Who do you report it to if
you come up short of steers?
- I'll call CII
and have em' check out
Bakersfield and Fresno.
- Yeah, why don't you do that.
Soon as you make
a fresh pot of coffee.
- Why do I always
have to make the coffee?
- Because you're here.
(suspenseful music)
(bandsaws whirring)
- Thank you Willie.
- It's a pleasure Ben.
You and your men do nice work.
So you canned
Ollie Maxwell, huh?
- He thinks he's Billy the Kid.
- So you made an enemy.
Better watch your back.
- Hey now that's real smooth.
How about another little dollop.
- Sure.
How's the missus?
- Oh she's fine, she's fine.
This is gonna help.
- Yeah well, we got a real
good customer now Ben.
I'll need another shipment
from you in a week or ten days
and after that more,
probably on a regular basis.
How's that sound to you?
- Anything you say.
Can I use your phone?
- Sure, go ahead.
You want a little head on it?
- No thanks.
You know, as long as I'm in
town, invite somebody to dinner.
Yeah hello, I'd like to speak
to Pepper Anderson please.
That's alright, I'll wait.
- Hey, how much
longer is this gonna take?
- It's gonna take a while.
Look, 3,000 pounds
is a lot of meat.
Just relax Roberts.
- Yeah I'm tryin' to
but there's still a
couple cops in the place.
- Cops?
- Yeah don't worry
they're friends of mine,
they come here all the time.
- Well you can say what you want
about elephant
havin' the best memory
but don't compare with a bronc.
Hard Nosed he was
called, and rightly so.
He knew me, that's a fact,
and he hated me, whew.
First time I was up
rode him right to a stop.
Nobody had ever
done that before.
I think I hurt his pride.
So everywhere after that
no matter what the rodeo was,
Madison Square
Garden, Pendleton,
when I go walkin' by the stalls
he'd start hollerin'
bloody murder.
He was cursin' at that's
a fact, and threatenin',
and I was hopin'
to draw him again,
you know, another
bronc bustin' contest,
year after year it
just never worked,
never worked.
- Folks, little more
coffee or some brandy?
- Oh no thanks.
- Oh say I'm sorry
Ray I got talkin' here
and didn't realize
how late it was.
- Don't worry about it Ben.
Now you folks just stay
and talk as long as you like.
I got some paperwork to
catch up on in the back so,
if you need anything, just yell.
- Thanks Ray.
- I'll, just leave these here.
- Sorry, you know hey
guys it's two o'clock.
Ben I'm a workin' man.
- Can't we just stay 'til,
lets hear the rest
of the story, okay?
- Well anyhow I was pretty
busted up by then you know
I figured I'd quit rodeos
all together, you know,
but there was one big one
still at Madison Square Garden.
You know I got
second in calf ropin',
I wasn't even expectin' that.
So I was walkin'
out goin' by the stalls
and I hear this big
scream, that's right,
it's old Hard Nose.
Course he was
pretty old by then,
must have been about 15
you know, just a work horse,
wasn't buck horse no more.
Kind of broken up just
like your old Uncle Ben.
So, anyway.
I got up on him,
and I'm sittin' there
on his old swayback,
he can hardly
move let alone buck,
but he tried.
You know what I done?
You know what I done?
I fell right off him.
Well you never saw a
happier horse in all your life.
He just laughed, he laughed.
Yeah, so I bought him,
I bought old Hard Nose and
I took him back to my place
and we kind of hung around
together all the time then,
'til he died.
- You know you're a
sentimental old cowboy,
that's what you are.
- We got lucky.
The bug was purchased
three or four years ago
by a company that
was obviously a front.
Pacific West Security Systems.
I went to the address,
found out they've been out
of business for year and a half.
- That's lucky.
- Recognize him?
- He looks familiar.
Refresh my memory.
- Refresh his memory Pete.
- Well you should remember him,
you busted him yourself
about five years ago.
- Sure, William Galloway.
He was the middle man in
that big hijacking ring, right?
- You got it.
- Only he took a walk because
none of his confederates
would testify against him.
This is the bug huh?
- He was Pacific West Security.
Intelligence says it was a front
for a loan sharking operation.
- Don't tell me,
Pacific West Security is now
Pacific West Meat Packers.
- You got it.
- This is harassment
Crowley and you know it.
- I'm sorry you feel
that way Galloway.
- I'm sure you are.
I told you before I don't
know anything about how
Al Markham died.
- I'm easy to convince,
all you gotta do is just
give me permission to come
in have a little look around.
- Get out of here,
go on get out.
You wanna look around
get a search warrant.
- You know somethin' friend,
I'm gonna get you one day.
I mean one day you're
gonna make a little mistake
and I'm gonna be right there.
- That's threatening and
intimidating Lieutenant.
They're laws against
that you know?
- Yeah well when you get
the state bar association
to reinstate you then
I'll let you tell me about it.
In the mean time, it's Sergeant.
- Still?
After all these
years on the force.
How about that.
- Can you imagine those
turkeys coming in here
without a search warrant?
- Well, Willie maybe you better
get out of the meat business
for a while, what do you think?
- Are you crazy?
I never saw so much
money in an operation.
Don't worry, don't worry.
I think we're smart enough
to stay ahead of Crowley
and the rest of
those stumble bums.
- Yeah where we have
trouble though is Ollie Maxwell.
- What do you mean?
- Well he went into
business on his own.
Between he and Ben Fletcher
working both
sides of the street.
It's bound to bring heat.
- Suppose, just suppose,
we get the two of 'em together
one more time.
- And?
- And, may the better
man emerge victorious.
I think that's the expression.
- Yes sir.
The Commissioner
read your followup report.
He thinks it's Galloway too.
He wants us to put
a surveillance on him.
- Not gonna be movin' now.
- Why don't you tell
the Commissioner?
- Ray Roberts,
he buys a lot of beef.
Why don't we get him
to buy from Galloway?
- Sure, so why not?
- [Ray] Just get off my back!
- [Pepper] No, I can't!
- Pepper you don't realize
what you're asking me to do...
- Yes I do.
I really, I know it's tough,
but we think Galloway
had Al Markham murdered.
- Well what can I do about it?
- You can help us.
Ray, what we figure is Galloway
was pressuring Al Markham
into buying stolen beef.
We want you to spread the
word that you're interested
in the same kind of deal.
- I already bought a
load of beef from them.
- How did that come about?
- Galloway came
in here and told me
that he and Al had a prior deal.
And quite frankly
the price was right.
- So right that it might
have been stolen?
- So right that with these
people you don't ask questions.
- You don't wanna
cooperate with us do you?
- You really think
Galloway had Al killed?
- I think we'd like to find out.
- You'll have to do it
without my help Pepper.
I've got a wife and a baby.
I'm sorry.
(phone ringing)
- Yeah.
Hello.
- Hello Ben, it's me
Willie, we got trouble.
- What kind?
- Your old friend Ollie Maxwell.
He rustled a truckload of beef.
- Well that figures.
So what?
- So what!
So what!
It was 50 head.
Besides, he's an
amateur, he'll get caught.
He'll turn over on
us in a flat minute.
You wanna spend 10
years in jail for cattle rustling?
- Hey, you know I just
might have a notion.
- Yeah, about what?
- Well I know where
Maxwell's goin' first.
Might be I could discourage him.
- Somebody has to Ben.
We both know that.
Now about that meat.
- Oh you'll get it,
you'll get it Willie.
- I knew I could
count on you Ben.
- Yeah we'll be in touch.
Goin' on young lady.
- I know, I'm supposed
to be sleeping.
Ah, doctors, can't get
enough rest in your condition
Mrs. Fletcher.
Now you gotta understand that.
There's only one trouble with
all that rest, you know Ben?
- What's that?
- It gets to be real tiring,
and I don't get to
see enough of you
as I do when my
eyes are not shut.
So I miss you that much more.
- Now darlin I see
you as much as I can.
- Don't I know that.
There's no husband better
than you Ben Fletcher.
- Hey I wasn't fishin'
for any compliments.
- Happens to be the truth.
It also happens that I'm the
luckiest woman I've ever known.
And don't tell me you don't
like a sweet word in your ear.
- Hey, I'd like
another one of those.
- Okay?
- Okay.
For now.
- Who was that on the phone?
- Oh, business.
- Serious business?
- Do I look serious?
- You did.
A little when I came in.
- Routine.
Hey darlin what's the matter?
- I was just thinkin' how
there's nothing routine
in all those medical
bills you've been paying
for the last year.
- Come on now I told you.
I don't want to hear
any more talk about that,
you understand?
- Dear Pepper.
These must have
cost her a fortune.
- Still the same
beautiful, good girl huh.
- I don't know when I've
had a better time in years.
All those stories
about her cases,
three men she works with,
and she said
somethin' about you.
Somethin' I thought that I was
the only one who saw in you.
- I'm gettin' better
lookin' every year.
- It was a lot deeper
than that Ben.
She said, he gets to be
even more of a real man.
Kinder,
more tender,
more loving.
- Hey, gettin' another turn.
What do you say we
go in the bedroom and
both of us get some of that
famous rest of yours, huh?
Hmm?
(laughing)
(suspenseful music)
Easy now.
You know you're
gonna get us all busted?
I was just lookin' in
that truck of yours.
There ain't a rancher
in the whole state
ain't gonna miss 50 head.
- Don't jump to
conclusions Fletcher.
I got that from five
different spreads.
- Alright, 50 head
in the same county.
You know Galloway
was right about you,
you're an amateur.
You put that thing down,
I'm gonna take your truck.
- Like hell you are.
(gunfire booms)
(melancholy music)
(sighs)
- Hello Helen, yeah it's me.
Yeah I wish I were.
No I gotta go
south instead, yeah.
Well there's been
some big changes.
Well I don't want to
talk business with you,
I mean that's just
a bore, you know.
Hey, how do you feel?
Good, real good.
No no no, maybe I'm
catchin' a little cold you know.
My throats a little sore
but I'm fine, I'm alright.
Yeah.
Well, I guess I better
be gettin' along now.
Say Helen, something
I want to say first.
I love you Helen.
With all my heart.
I love you.
Sure.
I'll say it word for
word when I get home.
Now did you ever know
when I didn't keep a promise?
Now don't you start that now!
I love you Helen.
I'll see you.
Yeah real soon.
- Right okay, we'll have the
suspect in custody for you.
Call you later.
That was Gainer from
the Fresno Sheriff's Office.
Well they found a body.
Guy named Ollie Maxwell.
General cowhand
in that area for years.
- So what's next?
- I think this whole thing's
gonna come together
next couple hours.
- Does Pepper know?
- No, and I don't want
to be the one to tell her.
- Who's your buyer?
- Eh, small time
hood out of San Diego,
runs a string of restaurants.
He's gonna take it.
- What'd you do with Maxwell?
- Buried him.
You want that beef at
Markham's restaurant
tonight after two, right?
- That's right.
He looks at the beef
we get our bucks,
and he's on his way
back to San Diego.
- Whatever you guys want.
(pensive music)
- 12 Y 52 to 12 Y 90.
Ben just arrived
with the meat truck.
Looks like things are just
about ready to go down.
- [Crowley] Roger 90,
Pepper and I are in route.
Let's go.
- Fresno said he was killed
with a 45 caliber revolver?
- That's right.
They got an investigator
be down tomorrow
to take him into custody.
- Yeah, if we were going
any other place in the world.
- Ben what the hell's
goin' on here tonight?
- I don't getcha.
- Galloway is out there
tonight with a couple of heavy
looking dudes from
San Diego or someplace.
Look, I never bargained
for anything like this.
- Customers all gone?
- Yeah.
- You and the
help get outta here.
Keep that back door unlocked.
- Ben, what's going on?
- Goodnight.
Parked out back.
- Oh, Doran this Ben
Fletcher, our supplier.
Here you go Ben.
As usual, cash on delivery.
- Cowboy you've
got good taste in beef.
Sit down, join us in a drink...
- No no thanks.
I go over there and
pour myself a drink
and as soon as you check
out the delivery I'll get.
- You ready to show?
- Yeah, at his pleasure.
- Go have a look see.
- It's out back.
Be quick now.
I don't want it sitting around.
- 12 Y 50.
They're in the truck now.
- [Crowley] 50,
yeah we've seen em'.
You take the truck
we'll take the inside.
- Got it.
(action music)
(tires squealing)
- Hold it right there police.
Put your hands up, put 'em up.
Get against the truck.
- I if you do,
you be deader than that
beefs that's in the truck.
Get on down.
Come on.
(tense music)
- Police officers.
Get your hands on the table.
Get 'em up there
where I can see 'em.
Come on lets go, get 'em up.
- Pepper look out!
(gunfire popping)
(groaning)
- Hey, no no, it's okay.
We're not armed.
Hey come on, easy.
We haven't got...
- Uncle Ben!
- Hey, hey Pepper.
I'm sorry.
I let you down.
- No you didn't.
We wouldn't have been here
if you hadn't called the police.
What happened with Maxwell?
- Well, it was him or me.
- Oh, come on Ben.
Ben, come on.
Come on.
It took a lot of
courage to do that.
- We're calling and ambulance.
Hang in there Ben.
- Ambulance.
Hah, I ain't gonna
need one of those.
Now Pepper, you listen to me.
When I was a little kid,
it was the worst thing in
the world a man could do
steal somebody else's cattle,
but when my wife
my Helen,
she was sick,
and I didn't have any money,
and I got desperate,
had to do somethin'.
- You did what you had to do...
- Yeah but stealin'
somebody else's cattle.
Don't you let her
find out about that.
Don't you let her.
- I won't.
I won't, she won't...
- Those insurance papers...
- She won't.
- That's all she's got.
- She won't.
She won't find out.
I promise you.
(paper rustling)
(upbeat instrumental music)