Rawhide (1959–1965): Season 4, Episode 28 - Gold Fever - full transcript

- [chorus] ♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
- [whip cracks]

- ♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
- [whip cracks]

[Frankie Laine] ♪ Keep
movin', movin', movin' ♪

♪ Though they're disapprovin' ♪

♪ Keep them dogies movin' ♪

♪ Rawhide ♪

♪ Don't try to understand 'em ♪

♪ Just rope and
throw and brand 'em ♪

♪ Soon we'll be
living high and wide ♪

♪ My heart's calculatin' ♪

♪ My true love will be waitin' ♪



♪ Be waiting at
the end of my ride ♪

♪ Move 'em on, head 'em up,
head 'em up, move 'em on ♪

♪ Move 'em on, head 'em up ♪

- ♪ Rawhide ♪
- [whip cracks]

♪ Let 'em out, ride 'em
in, ride 'em in, let 'em out ♪

♪ Cut 'em out, ride 'em in ♪

- ♪ Rawhide ♪
- [chorus] ♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

- ♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
- Hyah!

[whip cracks twice]

[howling]

- Thanks.
- [dog whining]

Varmint. Sounds like a ghost.

When are we gonna get off of
this graveyard of a mountain?

As, uh, soon as
Clay gives the word.



Huh. How's it look?

The whole pass is all right, I
guess. You could lose a grown steer

down those old mine shafts,
though, and the mountain's full of 'em.

- Anybody still around there?
- No, it's like riding through a graveyard.

Busted-up machinery,
busted-down shacks...

- Get a look at the town?
- Yeah, from a distance.

I didn't see any reason to poke
around that old ghost town at night.

Yeah, once the
gold veins give out,

a town's got about as much a
chance as a sheep with its throat cut.

Howdy! Howdy,
friends, how are ya?

Howdy! [chuckles]

Well, I'm sure surprised to
find anybody around here.

Yes, sir. [chuckles]

- My name is Hosea Brewer.
- Howdy. My name's Favor.

- I'm trail bossin' this outfit.
- Pleased to meet you.

You, uh, still
prospectin' these parts?

Yeah! [laughs]

Yeah, that's right.
Everybody else moved on.

Always intended to follow
them someday, but, uh...

- Never got around to it.
- That was ten year ago.

Yeah, that's right.

Now, me and Tilly there
were... were too old,

and sort of set in our ways.

Mr. Brewer, we'd like to
sit around and socialize,

but we got a lot of work to do.

Well, sure, sure. Nobody
stays on Lost Mountain no more.

Well, let's get moving, Rowdy.
Oh, Wish. As soon as you're through

feeding the night shift, you
can move on to noon camp.

Thought you said there
was nobody left up here.

Well, ain't any
prospectors left,

except maybe ghosts.

- How do you make a living up here?
- Don't have to. Live off the land.

Except, uh, always
lookin' for an outcropping.

Might lead me
back to mother lode.

- It was here once?
- So was the Garden of Eden,

but the Good Lord hasn't seen
fit to lead us back to that, neither.

Now, see there, I was wonderin'
if you got another one of these.

You see, Tilly kicked the hitchings
loose the other day and lost mine.

No, mister, that's
the only shovel I got.

Is that so? Well, I'd uh...
I'd be willing to pay for it.

Well, that ain't the point.
How'd I dig my fire pit?

How'd I level my wagon,
dig my wheels out of gumbo?

Oh. Well, you see, it ain't so easy
for me to get off of this here mountain.

Now you? You...

Why, you could pick up another one
of these first town you pass through.

Give you... ten dollars.

- You aren't serious!
- Well, I'm a poor man.

I need this shovel right bad.

I'd double it.

I'm not the kind of a
man to take advantage.

Well, all right. That's
all right. I understand.

I know a shrewd
fellow when I see one.

Give you... 25 for it.

All I got is this
here dust, but uh...

Worth at least that much.

- More like 30.
- Is it a deal?

Sure. I'll give you the
pick, too, if you want it.

You will, huh? Hey, uh...

Well, that's fair enough!

Thank you. Thank
you very kindly.

Come on, Tilly!

These good people
have got work to do,

and uh... [chuckles]

So do we.

Yes, sir. So do we!

All that gold dust for
that beat-up shovel?

Suppose he's on to something?

Oh, no, no. That mountain's been
picked cleaner than a hound's tooth.

Yeah, these old sourdoughs, they
get a little overcooked in the sun.

Now, where do you
think you're going?

I'll eat something cold later.

You'll eat something cold.
I offered him anything cold,

he'd scream like he was bit.

Well, come on,
men. I got it all ready.

Come on, Hank. I got to get
things done here and move out!

Guess I'm not feelin'
so good. I ain't hungry.

[chuckles] First time he
ever turned down a meal.

Funny thing, my
stomach's acting up, too.

Well, I'm feelin'
fine, Mr. Wishbone.

So it can't be the grub. Those
fellas must have rusty canteens.

Come on, Tilly.
What's eating you?

Come on!

Come on.

Hey!

All right, there, Meg. I know you're
around somewhere. Where are you?

- [giggling]
- Ah.

There you are.
Come on over here!

[laughing]

I'll bet your sister's
looking all over for you.

She got them books out. I just
wanted to see where you was off to.

Why, you're sneakier
than a bobcat.

Come on. Come on.

Up! Set.

- Oh! [laughing]
- Up you go. There you are.

[chuckles]

And you, uh, stop
chewing that candle wax.

Where in the world
did you find her?

Meg! [sighs]

You're gonna have to do
something about her, Pa.

She is getting of an age
where I can't handle her.

Oh, she's all right, Priscilla.

Not much different than you and
Jessie when you were growin' up.

Oh, we didn't grow
up wild as weeds.

Ma was alive, and
there was a town here.

And there will be
again. You'll see.

- Now, don't track up the house.
- Not even with pay dirt?

I'm really on to it
this time, Priscilla.

Oh, sure, Pa.

I know, I...

I know what's pulling
you down today, honey.

Oh, let me forget it.

Next year, it's gonna
be different for you.

You're gonna get a present now,
anyway. Happy birthday, honey!

No.

Oh! What's going on down there?

Oh, Pa's just showing
me Ma's necklace.

But I want you to have it.

It's all you have in the world.

You keep it, Pa.

But I don't need it! If
this new lead pans out,

I can get a dozen
strings like these.

It'll be like it was in the old days,
when the high-grade ran 64,000 a ton.

And with your dowry, you'll
be the catch of the territory.

And Meg's gonna be
schooled in Europe,

and you, Jessie, you're
gonna have presents from...

Well, right now, I think it's more
important that we get that well fixed.

You mean...

You mean, to waste
time tinkerin' at that...

Oh, I don't care, Pa.
It's all right with me.

Jessie and I won't have to do
any more cooking and scrubbing.

And Meg can get
filthy and stay that way.

Or maybe we'll all get so thirsty we'll
just have to leave this cursed mountain.

Plenty of water
down in Dutch Flats.

Water and decent,
civilized people.

[sobbing]

That wasn't fair, Priscilla.

Well, somebody's just
got to keep reminding him.

We all get stuck up
here much longer,

- you'll be as old and ugly as I am.
- Cill!

Now, what pa meant, I'd have
to be rich to get a husband,

well, I don't mind
being an old maid.

And no dowry is worth
burying you and Meg up here.

We have time to
wait, and maybe...

If we ever do get to someplace
where we could know people,

I'm gonna tell 'em, I
don't intend to marry.

And you and Meg will be free.

You won't have to sit around
waiting for Pa to foist me off first

on some poor man.

Now you just wait a moment
before you make up your mind.

- Pa will strike it!
- Oh.

Ma believed in that
dream, too. [sniffles]

She's buried out there.

Cill, if we gave up now, and
Pa had to leave this mountain,

you know what
would happen to him.

I know.

Oh, Jessie... [sniffles]

You're a good girl.

Now you better put that
necklace back where it belongs.

Mushy, what in tarnation
did you do with the frying pan?

And the dish pail
and the rest of...

Bone, what's going on here? Why
aren't you headed for noon camp?

- And where's Clay?
- He's disappeared,

along with about
half of my pans!

- Has anybody seen Hank?
- [Mushy] Oh, I did.

He's down by the stream.

In fact, he's washing one
of your pans, Mr. Wishbone.

Washing? Pannin'
gold, more likely.

Find out who else is missing.

Rowdy, get the rest of the
men back here, and fast.

Right.

Cill! Jessie! Someone's
coming! A man!

- Meg, you stop that foolin'.
- Come look!

Hello, Mr. Brewer. Remember me?

Let me see. You're
the curious fella

wondered if I still
prospected around here.

[chuckles] Yeah, you
remember me all right.

What are you
carryin' that critter for?

Well, steep going's
a little hard on calves.

They drop out and
get lost to coyotes.

- I saw your tracks, and I thought...
- I'd like some meat, eh?

Yeah. [chuckles]

You ain't gonna kill him!

- [calf moos]
- Oh, this is my daughter, Meg.

She's right fond of animals.

Oh, well, why don't you ask your pa,
and maybe you could raise him, and you...

Well, that's my older
daughter, Jessica.

Well, I... had no idea.

And that's my oldest
daughter, Priscilla.

- [laughs]
- No idea at all, ma'am.

Pa, look! There's another one.

Well, looks like, while
you was followin' me,

that fellow was followin' you.

- Yeah.
- [calf bleats]

And another one!

What are you waitin' for, girls?
Set the table! We got callers.

Clay, Hank, Les,
Nelson and Morse.

Now, they'll be back,
boss. Tail down and crawlin'.

Everyone knows there
ain't no pay dirt up here.

Nor any gold at the
end of a rainbow.

But if any of you are
itching to go chasing,

let me know about it right now.

If any of you still got any doubts,
I'm sending Rowdy into Dutch Flats

to sign on some new drovers.

- Señor Boss...
- I got nothing more to say.

As long as we're short-handed,
we'll drive the herd real slow and easy.

Now get back to work.

Boss, Clay might have just
gone to check the noon camp.

Yeah, I mean, losing Hank
and the rest of 'em ain't so bad,

but Clay was turning out
to be a pretty fair drover.

I thought I made myself clear.

You made yourself clear, all right. That
way, they don't draw any trail-end pay.

That's their mistake. Are
you riding into town, or am I?

No, no. I'll go.

Well, I wish you fellas
all the luck in the world.

It could happen.
Yes, sir, who knows?

I've been lookin' for the
mother lode all my life.

Why, you might just
stumble onto it, yes sir.

Would you like some
more coffee, Mr. Forrester?

Oh, yes. Please.

And the name is Clay, if
I'm not being too forward.

Oh... Oh, no. Of course
not, Mr. Forrester.

- Clay?
- Clay.

- Oh, I'll see if my calf's all right.
- Yeah.

- Pa, another one!
- Oh!

Well, come in, mister.
Join your friends.

You ought to be honored,
Mr. Brewer. That's Rowdy Yates.

Our ramrod.

Didn't exactly come
here to join my friends.

Have a seat, Rowdy. Is there
some of that chicken left, Priscilla?

- I'll fetch it.
- No, I ain't visitin', Miss.

Nonsense! We have
more than enough.

Stop acting like a ramrod,
Roddy. Join the party.

I came here to talk some
sense into you people.

You know, Mr. Favor's sending me
into Dutch Flats to get replacements

for all of you... you too, Clay.

- Well, we ain't stoppin' you.
- I'm not ready to leave yet, Rowdy.

Do you realize, you're going to be
stuck out here in the middle of nowhere,

without jobs?

- It doesn't look like nowhere to me.
- [men laugh]

[chuckles] Uh, Mr. Yates...

Look, Mr. Brewer, if you're
smart, you'll get rid of them.

They're pretty rank when
they've been drinking.

Well, I wish I could
persuade you to stay.

No, I can't. I got
business in Dutch Flats.

That's a four-hour ride.

Everybody's going to be
asleep when you get there.

Can't do any business
or find food till morning.

Oh, I think you'd
better eat, Mr. Yates.

Yeah! She's, uh...
She's right about that.

Well, uh, I guess I'd
better be running along...

Jessica, get Mr. Yates
some hot coffee.

- Um, Pa.
- Yeah?

Will you play us a
tune on the music box?

Yeah, I guess some
music would be a good idea.

Oh, uh, Priscilla?

- Would you care to dance?
- Oh, well, no thank you.

- Why don't you ask my sister?
- Well, because I asked you, that's why.

She's a little young
for me, don't you think?

Jessica, why don't you ask
Rowdy to dance? He's pretty good.

- Uh, that wouldn't be proper.
- You go ahead.

- How come you ain't dancing?
- Be careful, this is hot.

Maybe she don't feel
like dancing, hmm?

Don't tell me what to do.
You ain't boss of me no more!

Drink that and
sober up, will ya?

Drink it yourself!

- Rowdy!
- Easy, Rowdy.

Come on, Hank.
Let's finish that ham.

♪♪ [music box tinkles]

- How about you, Mr. Brewer?
- Yeah, sure. Deal me in.

- I'm so sorry!
- It wasn't your fault.

You can't go out in the cold
like this. You'll catch your death.

- No, I'll be all right.
- No. You come with me.

You can wear this shirt
of Pa's while I dry yours.

- Oh, thanks.
- Oh, that's Mom.

She's a very beautiful woman.

You take after her.

[softly] Thank you.

I'm sorry. [chuckles]

I didn't mean to stare.

Well, that's all right. We don't see
too many girls on the trail drive, either.

That makes us even.

I suppose you think
we're sort of strange,

living out here alone.

Well, I didn't say that.

Well, it's not bad. We've
got everything we need.

Priscilla's got books
for Meg's schooling,

and there's nothing about
prospecting that Pa don't know.

He was here when the
town was just booming.

Yeah, I understand
it was quite a place.

And it will be again! Look.

You see this necklace?

Those are real nuggets...
Right out of the mother lode.

Whew. Yeah.

Must have been something to see.

I'll show it to you.

Whew.

There's never been
a bonanza to match it.

Mm. And your, uh... Your pa,
he says there's more of this stuff

in that land around here?

Oh, don't, Rowdy.

I'm sorry, I...

You don't belong
on this mountain.

And it was wicked
of me to tempt you.

It's feedin' time.

Would you like to come see my
animals? They're upstairs in the attic.

Oh, yeah, yeah.
You go right along.

I'll be up in a minute.

I'd say that little filly
was pretty taken by you.

She could tell you a
lot... Or has she already?

Is that why you're
buttering up the other one?

- Maybe.
- You're a real sidewinder, Clay.

You know, if you'd seen that
gold that Brewer's throwing around,

you might not be
so high and mighty.

All I'm looking
for is trail-end pay.

I don't get no gold
dust in my eyes.

Yeah, uh, maybe the
game ain't worth it, but...

there's one more
card I got to see first.

- One.
- [chuckles] I'm out.

Pop?

- Yeah, what is it?
- [softly] It's that Mr. Clay.

He's been asking questions.

You know, about
where you dig and all.

He's got a knife he
wants to give me.

- But I said nothing.
- [chuckles]

Always knew you had
the sense in the family.

Think Pris is dumb to like him?

No, not necessarily.

Honey... You remember
that old gold rocker?

- So far from the blasted creek?
- [louder] Blasted's right!

[whispers] That's where you
said all the words I gotta forget.

Yeah. Well, uh...

You could sort of keep him out
of trouble if he dug there, huh?

[suppresses laughter]

He's gonna be awful angry.

But I'll hold my ears.

There you are, Rowdy.

Oh. Well, thanks, Jessica.

It looks better than it
did when it was new.

I found out. The little one.
Meg. She told me where to dig.

Well, make it six feet
under, for all I give a darn.

I'll count you in.

Don't do me any
favors, will you, Clay?

Oh, come on. I need you. As soon
as Hank and the others find out,

- well, there'll be no holdin' 'em.
- It's gonna be your worry.

- I got business in Dutch Flats.
- Look, I give you my word.

Either we strike pay dirt
tomorrow, or we ride back together.

Now what's wrong with that?

- Well...
- We won't get back any later,

if we ride tomorrow.

- Tomorrow.
- Uh-huh.

See this? Here's the old
rocker, just like she said.

This is it! Huh?

There's prospecting holes
all over these hills, Clay.

- These diggings are all played out.
- Aw, come on. You agreed to take a look.

Howdy!

You two ain't thinkin' of
prospecting around here, are you?

Is there any reason
why we can't?

- You got a claim here, or something?
- No.

Ten years, I never found
a trace of anything here.

Reckon it was all worked out.

- Ten years, that's good enough...
- You know he can't let on anything.

He's just trying
to scare us off.

I'll bet you cowpokes
wouldn't know gold if you saw it.

Well, I've panned before.

Do tell.

I'll lend you my
shovel, and the bucket.

Look, you said
you'd give it a try.

Give it a try, huh? [laughs]

Yeah. Now I've heard everything.

Yes, sir. You got any
idea what it really takes

to wash gold up here, have you?

Well, first you got to tote your
water clear up from that crick.

Yes, sir. 'Course, you could
use that old rocker there.

When it's full of dirt,
it's mighty heavy.

It needs a lot of water.

- Crick is a long way down there.
- [chuckles]

Ain't as easy as, uh,
sittin' in a saddle all day.

Lettin' your horse
do all the work.

All right, Clay,
we'll trade off.

You dig for a while,
and I'll haul the water.

[laughing]

All right, come on.
Back him up, Mushy.

- [Mushy] Back up.
- Easy.

- Wishbone.
- Finish hitchin'.

Any sign of Clay or the others?

Well, no, but I
got an idea, boss.

So have I.

I don't want them trailing
after us looking for their gear.

- Dump it.
- Just dump it and leave it right out here.

Exactly.

All right, but somebody
better tell them.

I don't want them
holding me responsible.

Oh, I'll tell 'em.
You just dump it.

Not so fast, not so fast.

You're going to
sluice out that pay dirt.

All right, if you know so much
about it, you do it yourself.

You can do the digging,
too. I'm through with this.

You fellas don't
know from beans.

Yeah, well, nobody's
asking you, Brewer.

You had any sense, you
wouldn't shout all over the diggins.

There you are. You asked for it.

[chuckles] Look at
them, working away

like a bunch of beavers.

We thought you'd be back
at Dutch Flats by now, Rowdy.

Guess he didn't really care
about us strays after all. Huh, Clay?

Find what you're really
looking for, Ramrod?

Now, you get your... Get
your hands out of there!

Look, Hank. It's gold!

And the whole
rocker's full of it!

[Les] We got a
whole sluice of 'em!

Yes. It's gold! Look, Rowdy!

We're in! We're rich!

I told you. I told you, huh?

Hey, get out of here.

Come back with that. Come here.

[grunting]

[Brewer] All right, now!

You simmer down.

You with those nuggets,
put them back in that rocker,

less you want to trade
them for some lead.

What's the matter
with you, Brewer?

You’re burned just
because you didn't strike it?

Neither did you, Mister.

Take it easy, Brewer.

It happens we're all
friends around here.

Ain't that right, Clay?

Well, come on, Rowdy, tell them!

All right.

Now that we got that settled,

you and your three men
get up on that ledge a piece.

Lots of land there where you
can stake out your own claims.

All right, old man.

Let's go.

Now, you tell me
something, old timer.

Just what are you fishing for?

- Fishing?
- Yeah, that's right.

Me and Rowdy could've
handled them drovers.

We didn't need
any help from you.

Always looking for
a hook, ain't you?

Matter of fact, didn't want
a lot of shooting around her

because of my girls.

My daughters hadn't
taking a shine to you,

I'd have run you off
with them other fellas.

Whoa, that's mighty
big talk for an old man.

Maybe. Long as that bunch
hangs around up there,

you're going to need
all the help you can get.

Yeah, I ain't
worried about them.

Well, you should be.

You take my advice.

You get into town as fast as
you can and register this claim.

Finding gold is one thing.

Hanging onto it is another.

You know, he's
got a point there.

Well, uh, aren't we supposed
to dig some more first?

Just enough hole to
prove you worked the claim.

Uh, can we keep on
using your shovel?

Yeah, and my pick, too.

Now, you get going.

I'll have my daughters
bring you some food.

You know, that
old geezer's right.

Soon as they find
nothing up there,

they're bound to be back
here sure as shooting.

Hey, Hank, what's
this? We got it, Hank.

Wait, let's see it.

It's fool's gold again.

Don't you have enough
brains to tell the difference?

Maybe that's what we saw
down there in the rocker.

That was the
real thing all right.

Ain't never seen
nothing to touch it.

Put some right there.

Get some more water.

[Nelson] Hank, maybe if we
just keep on digging deeper.

[giggles]

Rowdy?

You... You really
should eat something.

This is awfully nice of you girls
to bring us something out here.

Outside of Pa, I don't know
who else I'd rather see strike it.

Yeah, well, you might change your mind
after we've been around here for a while

I don't think so.

I just hope that
you've hit the real thing.

What do you mean?

Pa's found colors here, too,

but it's just been tailings.

No, we found nuggets.

I think it's worth registering.

Pa says you have the
makings of a real hard rock man.

When you come back
from registering your claim,

we're going to
have a celebration.

You're coming back tonight.

Fast as we can ride.

Please be careful.

Oh, I will.

You don't think I want to
miss a celebration, do you?

Something else I've
got to do in Dutch Flats

besides file that claim.

I've got to make sure I get
those replacements for Mister...

Boss.

Oh, I was just saying,
Boss, about the replacements

I wasn't going to let you down.

Oh, no. No, no, no.

Don't bother.

I'll pick up the five
new drovers myself,

along with signing
up a new ramrod.

Boss?

Who you calling boss?

You've got more
gold under your feet

than he'll ever see
droving in a hundred years.

Yeah, but I still let him down.

I'll set up your
location marker!

You fellas better git

if what Meg tells me is true.

What's that?

- I heard them talking.
- Who?

The others.

They said Pa's helping you

and they could dig
there and not find nothing,

so two of them's going
into town to file a claim

on this place here
where you're digging.

Thanks. Let's go.

Someone coming!

It's them all right.

We can still out run them.

I'm going to make sure of that.

[horse whinnies]

[gun firing]

I'm gonna leave all my
ammunition with you.

When you run out,

circle back and help Morse
and Nelson to the diggins.

They don't need me.

There's only the
old man and the girl.

I know, but Clay and
Rowdy can walk back there

and make a fight of it.

Here, take this.

Let them think just that.

Here, you take my gun
and start shooting, huh?

Where you going?

Try to find my horse.

You'll never make it.

We ain't going to make
it much here, either.

Keep him busy, huh?

All right. [fires]

[guns firing, bullets whizzing]

[gunfire continuing]

I'm sorry. I can't
use all of you.

I just need four
drovers and a ramrod.

I did some ramrodding
for the Donahue Brothers.

Been up the Chisholm
with 'em, the Sedalia...

[hooves galloping]

[Man] Look out!

They're fightin' to get
to the Assay Office!

Look, I'm sorry about
breaking things up around here.

I'll pay for it.

You must've struck something
big to risk your life for it.

Maybe yes, maybe no.

You filing alone
or with a partner?

No, my partner is
up on Lost Mountain.

- Lost Mountain.
- Lost Mountain?

- Yeah.
- [clamoring]

[townspeople clamoring]

Oh, Mr. Clark.

We might as well get
that business done now.

It would be fine if
you want to sign up.

Haven't you heard, Mr. Favor?

There's a new strike
up on Lost Mountain.

Lost Mountain?

Yeah, I've got to lay in my
supplies before they're all gone.

But...

Oh, Mr. Hacker.

Sorry. Going out of business.

Yeah.

There.

If you only knew how much
you look like your mother.

Oh, except for the necklace.

Pa, it's gone.

What's gone?

The necklace.

It was here last night.

I was showing it to Rowdy,

Oh, you don't
think that he could...

Oh, no, of course not.

But he was the only one outside
of us that knew where it was.

Jessie...

I moved it.

[laughing] Oh. Oh, Pa.

Oh, wasn't that awful to
think that about Rowdy?

He's a fine young man.

I know. Oh, I know.

You think he's going to like me?

Yes, sir. [chuckling]

Oh, Pa, Mom's dress fits,

but the necklace would
just make it perfect.

Could I wear it?

Uh, well...

Please, just for tonight.

Just show me where
it is, and I'll go get it.

I don't rightly know
where it is. I can't say.

Well, why not?

Well, Jessie...

Oh, Pa, you never
were very good at foolin'.

Jessie, you see...

Look, I did it for Priscilla.

You did what?

I seeded the
boy's claim with it.

Oh, Pa.

Now, Jessie, I knew how
you girls was feeling, see,

and I figure it was the only
sure way of keeping 'em here.

What do you think
they're going to say

after they find out
there's nothing there?

I'll make them my partners.

I'm really onto
something, Jessie,

but, see, I'm a little old,

and I need them to
help work the place.

They'll never forgive
us when they find out.

Yes, they will.

I'll handle it.

Now, Jessica,

you keep your mouth shut.

[pats her]

Hm?

[sighs]

Better get off.

I think the horse can't
make it on this hill.

We'll walk it.

Lucky for me it was a piece of
rock that hit my face and not a bullet.

That makes us even.

Skinned my elbow
and lost my horse.

Who cares? Look,
we got this file paper,

and that's all that counts now.

- Our worries are over.
- Yeah.

Take cover!

- The law'll handle them.
- Sure.

In the meantime, they'll salt
away all those nuggets of ours

that they can lay
their hands on.

Yeah, we ain't got a
cartridge left between us.

Brewer will have some.

You know, he might
even give us a hand.

Yeah.

Oh, but those diggin's
are going to be hard to take.

I don't want no bows.

No, you like burrs and bugs.

Girls, Clay and Rowdy are here.

Get your claim all right?

Yeah, but it wasn't easy.

You got any shells to fit this?

What's the trouble?

Les and the others
are working our claim.

You want to give us a hand?

Let's not be hasty.

No reason for anybody
to get all shot up.

And it's for nothing.

Jesse, I agree.

There's other ways to do this.

How?

Well, for instance, I go and
have a little talk with them.

They've got no quarrel with me.

They ain't going to
listen to you either.

I don't mean to hand
this over to you, old timer.

This is our fight.

It's really ours, too.

What she means is shooting
can be risky for all of us.

Now, if I can't settle
this thing my way,

there will be plenty of
time for fireworks later.

Priscilla, get the
boys cleaned up.

We'd better wash that out.

Jessie, I'm counting on you to
see that they keep out of trouble,

and don't start none yourself.

Understand?

You're worried about
your Pa, ain't you?

He can take care of himself.

You know, you'd make
a real good nurse?

Oh, thank you, sir.

What's bothering you, Jessie?

All I can think about is that
you two were almost killed.

That could happen on a
trail ride just as easily as here.

Sure, I'd just as soon risk my
neck for a goldmine any day.

What's the matter, Jessica?

Nothing! I'll be all right.

[weeping]

You know, Pop, I
just can't believe it.

[horse whinnies]

Hank.

Hey, it looks like
you ran into trouble.

Yeah. What's he doing here?

Ask him if you don't believe me.

The old codger's trying to
tell us they beat you to it.

He's right. They did.

Maybe now you'll
clear out of here.

Sure, but we're going to dig
some pay dirt out of here first.

You could dig here
from now till doomsday,

you wouldn't turn
up tobacco money.

What about them
nuggets? You seen them.

Sure, I seen them.

I seen them before you.

I put them there.

All them nuggets?

- You put them there?
- That's right.

My gals took a
shining to them fellas,

and I salted this claim so they'd
hang around here a little longer.

[laughs]

That's a real good story, Pop,

and I'd believe you

if you wasn't all fired
anxious to get us out of here.

I ain't going to be responsible
for no more trouble.

Somebody's apt to get killed.

There's sure one way
to find out about all this.

That's right, Pop. Now, you dig!

Something must've
happened to him all right.

Are these the right caliber?

Yeah, great. Thanks.

- Here.
- Let's go.

Rowdy, please don't go.

Now, I don't want
Clay to go, Jess,

but if Pa is in trouble...

Pa's got only
himself to blame, Cill.

Why should we let Rowdy and
Clay take any more chances?

There isn't any gold.
There never has been.

It's all a lie.

What are you talking about?

What do you call these?

Those are the nuggets
from Mom's necklace.

But why would Pa do that?

Oh, Cill, he thought he had to.

He thought that if they struck
it, that maybe they'd stay,

and then maybe...

Maybe you'd catch yourself
a couple of prize suckers.

Is that it?

Well, Priscilla didn't know.

[Rowdy] But you did, huh?

Rowdy, don't.

She did it for me.

Would a girl as pretty as Jessica
have to cheat to catch a man?

Priscilla! Priscilla!

It's Pop. I followed him. Those
men are going to hurt him.

He said there ain't no more
gold, but they don't believe him.

Serves him right.

Rowdy, let's go. Maybe
we can get our jobs back.

You were mighty anxious for Pa's
help when there was gold involved.

Now that he's in trouble,
it's a different thing. Isn't it?

That ain't the reason.

Pa's in trouble
because of those men.

Clay brought them here, but you
were supposed to take them away.

Well, I tried.

Well, not very hard.

I warned you not to
stay, not to get gold fever.

Oh, don't ask him for help.

We can go ourselves.

No, no, we'll go after him.

But there are four of them

and only two of you.

Sure, you really taught
her to count good, didn't you.

[people clamoring]

Wait a minute. Here's all
the help we need right here.

How we get them to move?

I know Brewer got us to do it.

Yeah, come on.
Let's stampede them.

This way! [gun firing]

Nothing, not a god darn thing.

All right, Brewer, you
give us a lot of fast talk,

a lot of rich outcropping you...

Where is it?

It's, uh, up the
mountain a piece.

All right, take us there.

I can't promise nothing.

I've seen indication,
of course...

That ain't what you were
saying before. Now, let's go.

Here we are. Keep
all them horses...

They'll be back.

Gold. There we are, gold.

It's gold! It's
gold. Look! Look!

Now, look, I've found color
on this mountain lots of time,

but it never led to much.

I couldn't take you to the mother
lode if my life depended on it.

But it does, old man.

It does.

Hey, what's going on down there.

I'm taking it all from here.

Hank, they're jumping our claim.

Must've struck
something. Look at them.

They going crazy?

Dirty jumpers!

Come on!

Hi, Pop.

- Where you going?
- It's gold!

Let me go.

What's the matter? Are
you fellas out of your minds?

- No, you are.
- Come on.

Come on.

After all these years, everything
we've ever dreamed of...

People in the
streets, excitement...

And now we're leaving.

Yeah, but you wouldn't want to have
anything to do with any of them now.

They've got the gold fever bad.

Oh, I know of a few cases
that have been cured.

Uh, I hope that Clay doesn't
feel beholden or anything.

I mean Priscilla doesn't
expect anything out of him.

No, he's kind of a
sensible fella, you know.

After all, a girl's got to
think about herself, too.

Pa sold his digging
equipment and the house.

We can have all
kinds of pretty clothes,

and, well, Priscilla will have
all kinds of chances now

that we're leaving.

She can't just take
the first man she sees.

Can she?

Man would be lucky
to get a girl like that.

It's awful good of
you to rescue Pa

seeing you were so
angry at Jessica and me.

Well, you can't
exactly blame a father

for acting like a father,

especially when he's
got three girls to marry off.

You don't suppose Rowdy
took Pa's maneuvering serious.

As a matchmaker, Pa
is a much better miner.

Rowdy, nah.

He knows a drover's life

isn't anything to
offer girls like you.

Jessica's so pretty.

Prettiness isn't the only
thing a man looks for in a wife.

Are you trying to
ease your conscience

because you think that
you made a fool of me?

No, no, that's the truth.

You wait till you get to town.

You'll find a whole bunch
of solid, respectable citizens

just waiting for
a girl like you.

Oh.

Where's Pa?

Oh, he's packing some of
Ma's things. What's the matter?

Somebody says he struck
it on the other side of the hill.

We've got to get Pa going
before he hears about this,

or we'll be here
the rest of our lives.

I hitched Tilly to
the backboard.

[Jessica] Pa, we're leaving!

[Brewer] What's your hurry?

No sense dawdling.

And leave some
room for my animals.

Come on, Pa.

Can't a man take
a last look around?

Pa, you've been looking
at it for the last 30 years.

Come on.

You hear about
the strike on the hill?

[chuckles]

That's what all the
rush is about, huh?

You don't have to
worry about me anymore.

I'm through.

I've been watching those
gold-crazy people over there.

Bit like seeing myself,
looking in the mirror.

I wouldn't care if somebody said they
found golf right here in our front yard.

We're through being
ghosts. We're going.

- Oh, Pa.
- [laughing]

Hey, who's gear is that?

Uh, well, a couple
of drovers came by

and said they was experienced,

so, well, since we
were shorthanded...

You mean you found somebody
around here willing to sign on?

Any objections?

After losing two
days to gold fever

and being shorthanded,
of course not.

Where are they?

Uh, come on out, fellas.

Call these men experienced?

I know greenhorns
when I see them.

Looks like they're going
to take a lot of breaking in.

You knot-heads think
you can ride drag?

Uh, well, uh... uh...

Anything you say, sir.

All right, then git.

I've got no objection to
your cooking, Wishbone.

When it comes
to hiring drovers...

Oh, well, give them
time, boss. Give 'em time.

I don't get it, Mr. Wishbone.

Get what?

I'd have sworn those fellas
was Mr. Rowdy and Mr. Clay.

Head 'em up!

Move 'em out!

[chorus] ♪ Rollin',
rollin', rollin' ♪

♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

[Frankie Laine] ♪ Keep
rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

♪ Though the
streams are swollen ♪

♪ Keep them dogies rollin' ♪

♪ Rawhide ♪

♪ Through rain and
wind and weather ♪

♪ Hell-bent for leather ♪

♪ Wishin' my gal
was by my side ♪

♪ All the things I'm missin' ♪

♪ Good vittles,
love, and kissin' ♪

♪ Are waiting at
the end of my ride ♪

♪ Move 'em on, head 'em up,
head 'em up, move 'em on ♪

♪ Move 'em on, head 'em up ♪

- ♪ Rawhide ♪
- [whip cracks]

♪ Count 'em out, ride 'em
in, ride 'em in, let 'em out ♪

♪ Count 'em out, ride 'em in ♪

♪ Rawhide ♪

[chorus] ♪ Rollin',
rollin', rollin' ♪

♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

- Hyah!
- ♪ Rollin' rollin', rollin' ♪

[whip cracks]

- Hyah!
- [whip cracks]

♪ Rawhide ♪

- Hyah!
- ♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

[whip cracks]

Hyah!

[whip cracks]