Rawhide (1959–1965): Season 5, Episode 16 - Incident at Spider Rock - full transcript

The drovers go to town for supplies and some relation. When they see that the saloon and storekeepers are ripping them of with crooked games and bad supplies, they take the saloon apart and get new supplies - plus a saloon singer.

♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

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

♪ Keep movin', movin', movin' ♪

♪ Though they're disapprovin' ♪

♪ Keep them dogies movin' ♪

♪ Rawhide! ♪

♪ Don't try to understand them ♪

♪ Just rope and throw
and brand 'em ♪

♪ Soon we'll be livin'
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)
-♪ Cut 'em out, ride 'em in ♪

♪ Ride 'em in, let 'em out,
cut 'em out, ride 'em in ♪

-♪ Rawhide...! ♪
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

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

(whip cracks twice)

♪♪

Just how long
have you been having

these dizzy spells, Mr. Maxton?

Oh, about six months,
maybe longer.

Mm-hmm.



Recurring pain behind the eyes,

impairment of peripheral vision

and, uh, dizzy spells, huh?

Doc, you'll either
have to spell it out

or aim me
to the nearest dictionary.

I'm afraid there isn't
much doubt, Mr. Maxton.

Glaucoma, disease of the eye,

characterized with a hardening
of the eyeball

and gradual loss of sight.

How much longer?

Well, with the right care

and as much rest as possible,

maybe a year or two.

Yeah.

Of course, I could be wrong.

There are specialists back East.

Thanks, Doc.

How much do I owe you?

Oh, no, no, no, no, there's...
there's no charge.

Oh, no... I pay my own way.

Thanks.

(piano playing)

♪ Beyond the sun ♪

♪ Over the mountain ♪

♪ There's a place ♪

♪ My heart's longing to be ♪

♪ Beyond the sun ♪

♪ Over the mountain

♪ There's a face ♪

♪ My eyes hunger to see ♪

♪ The long, long road ♪

♪ Seems like
an endless thing... ♪

Are you drinking
or just thinking?

Wrong both times.

I was just leaving.

♪ Beyond the sun ♪

♪ Over the mountain ♪

♪ There are lonely arms ♪

♪ Waiting for me... ♪

Why, Gil Favor.

Now, you're the last Texas jock
I expected to bump into.

Mr. Maxton, been a long time.

Oh, come on with that "mister.”

You're your own trail boss now.

You look fine, Gil.

Same for you.

How's it going?

Oh, still got those San Antone
stock owners standing in line.

Just like the old days.

Yeah, like the old days.

How about a drink?

Oh, I'm supposed
to pick up my ramrod.

Well, he seems to have himself
pretty well tied up.

(laughs) Ever know
of a ramrod who wasn't?

Come on.

Bartender.

Two-- make it your best.

Yes, sir.

Wow.

I can still remember
your first time out.

Lanky, wet behind the ears.

- A real salty kid.
-(Favor chuckles)

And how about
those three strays you lost

just one day out of jump-off?

That I'd just soon forget.

Oh, no, no, no, this is on me.

On one condition--
you forget about those strays.

Ate you out, didn't I?

Oh, and then some.

Oh, good luck and bad memory.

Are you moving herd?

Yeah, a couple miles east.

We're heading for Wyoming.

- Oh, I just come back
from up there myself. -Oh?

Uh, trailed up a stocker herd--
1,800 head.

Are you taking
the long way back?

Why not?

There's no hurry.

It's too late in the season
to sign up another herd.

I got nothing but time
on my hand.

I know how that is.

Yeah, men like you and me,
we're hot much use to ourselves

unless we're pushing beeves,
are we?

Oh, not much, I'm afraid.

No, thanks.

Say, Harry,
I just thought of something.

What?

Would you be interested
in, uh, trailing herd up North?

With my outfit.

Of course, uh,
you'd only be riding drag,

but I need an extra hand.

Really, you'd be
doing me a favor.

Well, if you put it
that way, Gil, I...

I don't see how I can refuse.

Hey, boss.

Come here.

Hey, I... I want you to meet,
uh, Linda Lou here.

Yeah.

Say, uh, boss, ...

Yeah, I know--
you're in love again.

No.

Linda Lou, Rowdy Yates,
this is Harry Maxton.

How do you do?

He'll be riding drag with us
starting tomorrow.

Hey, you got your gear with you?

- Packed and waiting.
- Well, let's go.

Linda.

Harry Maxton?

What's the matter, honey?

Something wrong?

Yeah.

(cattle lowing)

Spoon.

(sighs)

Salt.

Mushy.

Is something wrong,
Mr. Wishbone?

Is ever anything right with you?

You've done it again.

Done what, Mr. Wishbone?

- I asked for salt, didn't I?
- Yes, sir.

And salt is spelled with an "S,”

and pepper is spelled
with a what?

A "P," I guess.

A "P,"” you guess.

What does that say?

-"P," Mr. Wishbone.
- So?

Salt, see?

Well, I handed you
the wrong shaker

so many times, Mr. Wishbone,

I thought I'd
change them around.

That way, there won't be
so many mistakes.

Okay.

Just trying to be
a good little helper.

Well, you've helped enough.

Now, go on and get out of here.

Where?

I don't care where.

Just go and count to 100-- slow.

Now, get going.

Yes, sir.

(Wishbone sighs)

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Wish.

Hey, Wishbone.

Mr. Favor, you can see I'm busy.

I haven't got ti...

You remember this fella?

Mr. Maxton, are you a sight
for sore eyes.

And you're a sight
for an empty stomach.

Well, now, there's a trail boss
appreciates me.

Now, you're going to stay
for supper,

and I won't take no
for an answer.

He's staying with us
all the way to Denver, Wish.

Yeah, it was Mr. Favor's idea.

Delivered my herd early
and was riding along,

minding my own business, when...
who do I bump into?

Yeah, I asked him
to sign up with us, Wish.

Well, you know, like I said
to Rowdy last night,

how bad we need an extra hand?

Yeah, we do.

Fortunately, he was in between,

had some time
on his hands, so...

Well, trust the boss to pick up
a real bargain when he sees it.

(Maxton chuckles)

Yeah.

Well, uh, I got to get back
to my cooking.

Oh, Harry,
here's some of the boys.

This is Harry Maxton.

Some of you may know him.

Clay Forrester.

Jim Quince.

Joe Scarlet.

And Frank Slade.

We don't need no introduction,
do we, Mr. Maxton?

It's been a real long time.

Harry will be riding the rest
of the way to Denver with us.

He'll spell Toothless on drag.

Drag?

(chuckles)

Well, now, ain't that something?

The great Harry Maxton
eating dust.

(laughs)

Well, it sure is a funny world.

Come and get it.

But the biscuits ain't done yet,
Mr. Wishbone.

They're done enough.

(men hollering and whistling)

Take off for chow, Mr. Maxton.

Is something wrong?

No. Why?

I saw you rubbing your face
with your hand...

Just some dust in my eyes.

All right.

Well, it's stew.

What a lovely surprise.

Mushy.

I got a hole in my stomach
that just won't quit.

Right now, even your stew
looks good.

Heat up your coffee, Mr. Maxton?

Why, thanks, Wishbone.

SLADE:
Mr. Maxton.

(scoffs)

Special service for Mr. Maxton.

Oh, why don't you dry up?

What are you buckin' for,
Wishbone?

He's no trail boss anymore.

He's just like
the rest of us, now.

ROWDY:
Wishbone...

I'll try a little
more of that coffee.

One more minute,
and all you would've gotten

was an empty pot.

With a new dent in it.

Mr. Maxton.

So whatever happened to
the famous Harry Maxton,

the trail boss with...
with iron in his fists?

Granite in his guts?

Get off my back.

Leave him alone.
He ain't causing no trouble.

Not causing any trouble, huh?

Well, he sure didn't mind
handing it out, did you?

Mr. Maxton?

20 days out in the plains,
and you gave me my time.

He cut me loose with
a quart of water,

a broken-down cow pony,

and a handful of hardtack.

You had it coming.

I let one stray get by me.

One lousy stray!

Now I had it coming
to me for that?

All right... Maxton.

You're down in the dirt
with the rest of us now.

You got no crew to back you up

and you got no owners
to make it stick.

It's just you and me.

Do you hear me, Maxton?

It's just you...

...and me.

All right, that's enough.

You men got a job to do,

and that job ain't finished
till we reach Denver.

You got any problems,
you can settle 'em then.

All right, Maxton.

I got time.

Got all the time in the world.

♪♪

(snap)

Who's there?

Me, Mr. Maxton.

Wishbone?

Yeah, Mr. Maxton.

What are you doing here?

Well, I couldn't sleep either,

so I just thought I'd join you.

Fine.

(sighs)

Now, then.

Just like old times, Mr. Maxton.

(chuckles)

Like old times, Wish.

Oh, these young kids today.

- What do they know?
- Ah, they're all right.

Oh, they think
they know everything.

Just 'cause they got
a few years on us,

they think they got the whole
world in their hip pockets.

Maybe they have.

Maybe that's the, uh...

part of being on
the short side of 30.

The best part.

Yeah, it puts me in mind of

the first time I saw St. Louis,
back in '47.

Oh, I tried to
take over that town

with loud talk and a thirst
that just wouldn't quit.

Must've taken the better part
of a month for my head

-to shrink back to size.
-(chuckles)

Same thing happened
to me in San Anton.

Spent a week in a local castle,

but it was worth it.

You know...

I really believed I had Texas
by the short horns.

Boys'll wear off
their edge, Wish.

Just like we did.

Oh, I gotta keep this hid away.

Never can tell who'll
get into my medical supplies.

(chuckles)

Medical supplies?

Painkiller.

Guaranteed to cure, uh...

snakebite, broken bones,
and cold nights like this.

I tell the boys
it's cooking wine.

All right, Wish.
What is it?

Uh, what's what?

You're not passing around
your cooking wine

unless you want
something special.

Well...

you just take care of
yourself, Mr. Maxton.

I mean with that fella Slade.

Now he's mighty fast
with that gun, and...

well, you, you're...

Wish.

What do you got to say?

(sighs)

Well, your reputation
can't whip him, Mr. Maxton.

And that's just about all
you got left, your reputation.

So... just don't you
mix with him, you hear?

I hear.

Drink on it?

Drink on it.

For now.

But when we hit Denver,
the drinks are on me, right?

Right.

Ah...

Ooh...

(whooping)

(whooping, whistling)

Haw!

Come on, you were losing one.

- What's wrong, Harry?
- Nothing.

How come you let it
get past you, Harry?

Just a slip, I guess.

Nobody should know
better than you

how much a few slips
like that can cost you.

Won't happen again, Gil.

Won't happen again.

Well, that does it, Yates.

Ain't bad enough
having Maxton along, no.

Now he's got to be wet-nursed.

Oh, you might put up with it,
but I won't.

Not for long.

Parallel straight, six high.

- Nah.
- Nope.

Four tens beats it.

Oh...

He holds the cards.

ROWDY:
Steady.

You feelin' kind of sorry
for him, huh, Mr. Wishbone?

Sorry?

What in Hades
are you talking about?

I mean that old man.

Old?

Well, Mr. Maxton isn't
much older than I am.

Are you calling me old?

Oh, I didn't mean that,
Mr. Wishbone.

What I meant, he's kind of old
just to be drovin'.

Now there you go
using that word again.

What makes you think
a man isn't any use

just 'cause he's
put on a few years?

Why, a man don't
hardly hit his stride

till he's mellowed out some.

You don't think I learned
this job overnight, do you?

No, sir. It took time,
and plenty of it.

The same goes for Mr. Maxton.

Doesn't anybody need to
feel sorry for Mr. Maxton.

No, sir.

Anyway, he's just doing this
to do Mr. Favor a good turn.

Well, I heard that fella Slade
talking about him.

Slade?

Now what's a saddle-itch
like Slade know

about the likes of Harry Maxton?

There isn't a better boss
on this trail,

-or any other trail.
- Yes, sir.

Any time you want to know
anything about anything,

you come to me.

Don't go around listening to
jaspers like Slade.

Sure thing.

- You hear me?
- Sure thing.

Al right.

Now, here, what are you
standing around gabbing for?

Sort those apricots and
put 'em on the fire to roast.

Now what's the matter
with you guys?

Is this a card game
or a wake?

Shut up and deal.

What we need in this game is
some new blood to liven it up.

Hey, what about him?

SLADE:
What's the matter with you, boy?

Don't you know Mr. Maxton?

He don't want to
mix with plain drovers.

- But I was just asking...
- Toothless.

Yeah, I know.
Deal the cards.

- Rowdy?
- Huh?

Come on, it's your bet.

Deal me out of this one.

Come on, sit in.

Maybe we ought to have
a little talk, huh?

About Maxton?

Tain't nothing to talk about.

Things have been going real
smooth up till now.

Why ask for trouble?

Ain't gonna be no trouble.

Well, look, boss...

it's the...
it's the share money.

The men ain't gonna walk split
with no newcomer,

especially one like Maxton.

You tell "em not to worry
about their money.

I'm taking care
of Maxton's end.

Well, all right, then forget,
forget the money.

It's, Maxton just spells
trouble, that's all.

Look at, look at the way
the men are now.

Look at Slade.
He's got a chip on his shoulder

as big as he is.

Slade. That boy, he got
a lot to learn.

Well, ask anyone. Ask anyone
who's worked for Maxton.

Maxton knows this business.

Being a trail boss
ain't running no maypole dance.

There's a job to do
no matter what.

Sure, Maxton's ornery,
sure he's tough.

More than that.

And he's not the kind
to give any quarter,

but he never asked for none
neither.

I know. I worked for him.

Well, that was a long time
ago, though.

He's the same man.

He's not the same man.

Last time out, he lost
half his herd.

And the time before that,

most of his men walked off on
him.

Every man in every cow town
along this trail knows

that Maxton's through,
he's finished.

They won't even touch him.

And now when he comes begging
to you,

you take him on.

He didn't beg. I asked him.

Why? We don't need an extra man.

Not on drag or anywhere else.

Maxton will hold up his end.

It's a long day tomorrow.

- You better...
- I know.

Better get some sleep.

(cattle lowing)

No other way.

FORRESTER: Not unless we detour
60 miles east.

How far's the nearest water?

Two days, I hope.

Beeves ain't gonna be too happy.

Then don't give 'em time
to think about it.

Keep prodding those lead
steers till sundown.

Right.

All right, Clay, go find
that water

at the end of the rainbow.

Let's hope it's still there.

(cattle lowing)

Sorry, Mr. Maxton,
I didn't see ya.

It's too bad Favor wasn't here.

He could have helped you up...

old man.

All right, Slade,
strap on your gun belt.

Let's get this done.

Christmas come early this year.

Mr. Maxton, don't do it.
Don't let him push you.

If it's not the boss,
it's a broken-down old cook.

Won't be long before there's
nobody left to hide behind.

It's suicide.
He isn't worth it.

Neither is life...

if it has to be
the way he says.

Now stand back, Wish.

You heard the man.
Now back off.

Mr. Maxton...

Wish! Back off.

Has to be this way.

All right, Slade,

you always talked a fast gun.

Let's see how fast.

Right in the belt buckle.

That's where
the first one's going.

Got to save the second one
till I hear you begging...

loud and clear.

Sounds like you, Slade.

Big man when you're on the top,

an empty bucket when
you have to root and scratch.

That's what's eating you,
isn't it?

I called you down in front
of the men

and showed 'em you don't have
no bone in that back of yours.

You ain't carrying around
a load of hate

'cause I fired ya.

Because I proved
you're nothing at all.

Just a little runny-nose
kid trying

to bluff his way
through a man's world.

Draw, Maxton.

After you, Slade.

(hoof beats approach)

Af... after you.

Hold it! Break it up!

Stay out of this, Favor.

And I said break it up, boy!

This ain't done yet!

It is until
this drive is over.

Now you got a choice.

You keep that gun put away

or you get out of here
right now. Well?

It'll keep.

Leastways for the time being.

All right, break it up,
all of you.

Wait a minute, Harry.

Now you know better.

Slade, started it.
Mr. Maxton did all he could.

Shut up!
I don't care who started it.

I want it finished now. Clear?

Clear.

Keep everybody on strict
water rations the next two days.

You already told me.

Well, I'm telling you again!

Al right.

Mr. Favor, there's something

you ought to know
about Mr. Maxton.

What?

Well, he didn't start
that ruckus with Slade.

(men yelling, whistling)

Hyah!

Aw, come on, Wish!

That's all.

But I'm a growing boy!

Then stop growing!

Oh, Quince, you'll be riding
night herd.

I was on last night.

Yeah? So?

Wish, where's Maxton?

He was here a little bit ago.
I'll go find him.

No, no, never mind.
I'll find him.

Harry.

Harry, I can't let it ride
anymore.

Ride?

I've been waiting for you
to come to me,

but I can't wait
any longer.

- There's too much at stake.
- Gil...

I didn't know what it was
before. I know now.

Your eyes.

They bothered me today.
The dust, that's all.

Harry...

All right, so it's my eyes,
but they're not so bad.

Well, look, you get
a little older,

things change a little.

Well, maybe I could use
a pair of specs,

but that doesn't mean...

How bad is it?

I got a year, maybe two.

But, Gil, I still got time.

I could still be useful.

It's a long hard drive ahead.

It's gonna be tough enough

for those who are able
to handle it.

I can still do a job.

I got a responsibility to the
crew as well as the owners.

You know that
better than anyone.

Well, just let me stay
on till we make Denver.

Any job. Let me prove
to you what I have

to prove to myself.

Remember rightly you got
a son in St. Louis.

Tain't no shame to it, Harry.

Everybody needs help
one way or another.

Then you help me.

Let's face it.

We all come to the end
of the trail sometime.

Oh, I'm not fighting that, Gil.

It's just that I can't go down

like a bowback plow horse
put to pasture.

Or a, an old man with a crooked
back and hatful of memories

that don't matter to anyone.

30 years matters, Harry.
It matters to a lot of people.

It's what matters to me.

Gil, I told ya
I can't quit now.

I can still be useful.

Harry, listen.

No, you listen.

Put yourself in my shoes.

You just think
how willing you would be

to walk away from all this.

The only real meaning
to your life.

You told me to be honest
with you before.

All right, Gil, now you be
honest with me

and to yourself.

All I'm asking is to let me
ride out the rest of this drive.

All right, Harry,

best I can do is let you
work the remuda with Hey Soos.

I won't let you down.

Gil...

uh, the others,
do they have to know?

I mean, about the eyes?

Hmm?

Pity don't go down very easy.

Oh, it isn't that I can't
handle the remuda,

know what I mean, Gil?

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Hyah!

Hyah!

FORRESTER:
Favor!

Water hole up ahead,
it's poison.

Trim the herd! Poison water!

(men yelling)

Hyah!

They must smell water!

Keep 'em turned!

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

(men shouting, whistling)

We can't hold them!

Back! Hyah!

Back! Back!

Scarlet, turn them!

Hyah! Hyah!

(cattle mooing)

Enough for two days
of quarter rations--

'less we have a rain.

Rain? Some chance.

Quarter rations then.

Right.

Well, least we only lost five
head in that poisoned water.

That's lucky.

Yeah, real lucky.

Well?

There's water here in the west,
beyond Eagle Pass.

Yeah, with our luck, by the time
we get there, it'll be dry out.

No, it's spring fed,
according to the mark.

How far you figure from here?

Mm, two days if we push
day and night.

We'll never make it.

Those beeves will be
dropping like flies.

There's water nearer.

To the east, a good stream.

Where?

The foot of Calvert Range.

You start out for that stream,

and you'll reach it
before sundown tomorrow.

Yeah, well, will you show me

on this map
where that stream is Max?

I mean, please, show me.

It's not marked on the map,
I guess.

Oh, you guess.

It's there.

I covered every square foot
of this country.

You say.

That's right, he says.

He knows this country
blind... folded.

Calvert Range.

You sure?

I'm telling you.

Oh, now, listen, boss...

We're driving east then.

Get 'em up.

Start riding.

I want a report on that stream
as fast as possible.

If there is a stream.

(men shouting, whistling)

Keep them moving!

Kick them, drag them if you
have to, but keep them moving!

I don't think you ought to quit
until you tell Mr. Favor.

You just go right on thinking,

'cause nothing's
gonna change my mind.

Going on here?

He's quitting, Mr. Rowdy.

Quit?

We need every man we got.

You know the fix we're in,
Slade; you can't quit.

Look... told the others,
and I'm telling you.

Now, Favor's crazy
for listening to Maxton.

That old man, he's leading this
herd right up a blind alley.

Look, Maxton might be
a lot of things,

but he's cattleman all the way.

He ain't gonna dry out a herd.

That's what you say.

But I know him.

They say he's trying to kill
every one of us, cows included.

Well, I want no part of it.

Yeah, keep what I got coming.

What you got coming
I couldn't keep.

Maxton was right, you're yellow
from the ground up.

Hey, now, look...

Maybe you'd like to make me
eat those words, huh?

Maybe you'd like
to draw that gun on me,

show me what a big man you are.

Just remember one thing, Slade:
I ain't an old man.

Come on,
what are you waiting on?

No.

No, not me, Yates.

I don't want no part of it.

Just want out.

Then get out.

Now, let's get going.

We got a herd to keep moving.

(men shouting, whistling)

No water.

What?

You certain?

Not a sign of a stream.

You search the area good?

I searched all of it; what do
you think took me so long?

Turn the herd in,
keep them that way.

- You help him.
- Yeah.

Whoa.

Wish, where's Maxton?

He's gone.

Gone?

That's right.
He said Clay was wrong.

Wrong?

That's right.

He said he didn't go far enough.

He took an empty canteen,
went up there,

said he's gonna fill it
with water from that stream.

Mr. Favor, he can't find
his way up there,

even with the best of eyes.

Tell Rowdy to hold the herd here
till I get back.

♪♪

♪♪

(horse neighs softly)

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

- Harry.
-(panting)

Yeah.

I'm all right.

I lost my horse.

I've got him. Take it easy.

We'll be riding back.

Now, wait, wait, wait.

- Come on.
- Wait!

- Don't worry.
- Wait. Wait.

(chuckles)

Where, Harry?

You can see it, can't you?

Yeah, Harry.

I can see it, all right.

It's there like I said.

Like you said, Harry.

(chuckling)

Well, good luck to you,
Mr. Maxton.

So long, fellas.

- Good-bye.
- So long.

- So long.
- Bye.

Oh, Harry,
you know you're still welcome

to ride to Denver with us.

It's gonna be kind of hard
to get a good man out here.

I got an idea
you're gonna do fine, Rowdy.

Real fine.

No, Gil, I reached
the end of the trail.

I mean, I reached the end
of this trail for me.

I got what I wanted.

It'll do.

Where'll you be heading,
Mr. Maxton?

Oh, first to Center City
and then the stage to St. Louis.

Been a long time
since I've seen my son.

You take care of yourself,
Wishbone.

Sure, Mr. Maxton.

Rowdy.

It's been like old times, Gil.

Like old times, Harry.

Mr. Favor?

Yeah?

Don't you think somebody
ought to go along with him?

At least as far as Center City?

Not with Harry Maxton.

He'll make it
the rest of the way,

now that he knows
where he's going.

Yeah, well...

that may be, but we might have
some mail in Center City.

I was thinking maybe
I ought to ride on in there.

You know, I'm more worried
about you getting lost.

Well... I wouldn't get lost

if I was riding along
with Mr. Maxton though.

True.

All right, get going.

I'll-I'll get my horse.

Harry!

Well?

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

Head 'em up!

Move 'em out!

♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪

♪ Keep movin', movin', movin' ♪

♪ Though they're disapprovin' ♪

♪ Keep them dogies movin' ♪

♪ Rawhide! ♪

♪ Rawhide...! ♪

Hyah!

(whip cracks twice)