Rawhide (1959–1965): Season 7, Episode 1 - The Race - full transcript

Rowdy Yates vows to beat Gil Favor's herd to Abilene, in his first shot as trail boss. The ramrod quit, because he opposed Gil's not letting their crew party down, before hitting the trail with a fresh herd. Gil recommends Rowdy for a trail boss job, and lets Rowdy take on Wishbone as cook, rather than bid up wages. When Gil sees the dirty tactics Rowdy uses, he's determined not to let his protégé beat him to the railhead, thus getting the better prices for his owner's steers.

[COWS MOOING]

ROWDY: Mr. Favor, you're wrong.

FAVOR: In the first place, I
am not about to argue with you.

In the second place, when I'm
wrong, I'm always the first to admit it.

ROWDY: Well, you
ain't ever admitted it yet.

And I'm telling
you, I just can't do it.

- You are going to round them up.
- I can't round them up.

And even if I could round them
up, I'm not gonna round them up.

They ain't available for rounding
up. You know that as well as I do.

Get moving, Rowdy.

Look, Mr. Favor, you're
not talking about cattle now.



You're talking about men.

Sometimes I think you've
gotten hard, you're forgetting that.

Well, in any case, as long as you
are working for me, your job is...

I know my job. But
the men need relaxing.

They've been three
months without it.

Now, you expect me to ride
through town like Paul Revere

- and waking them up.
- I'm not expecting nothing from you.

I am flat-out informing you.

You have got a cattle drive
to move day after tomorrow,

and you and your men are
gonna be in condition to do it.

- Well, in my judgment...
- Your judgment?

Since when in the ever
loving did you get judgment?

A man has got a big
herd for us to move,

and you're gonna walk up to him
and say, "Hey, looky, uh, we're tired"?



In this business, you move cattle
when the man wants it moved.

Well, I ain't gonna
be responsible...

Boy, you have just been
itching for a set too, ain't you?

I could smell it
way back at Brazos.

Well, I am not gonna
oblige you today.

Today, I am gonna
go sign with the man

and I'm gonna deliver
that herd on schedule.

You won't give
an inch, will you?

Of course, I will.
Only when I have to.

Well, I'm afraid you're
gonna have to this time.

Get yourself
another ramrod. I quit.

FAVOR: Again?

No, I quit.

- Ah, you don't mean that.
- Yeah.

Hey, wait a minute.

You can't really quit. You
could never make it on your own.

In the first place, uh, how
could you ever find a ramrod

as good as yourself, huh?

Now, that would be hard.

From listening to you talk,
I'd probably find a better one.

Uh...

I hope what I heard didn't mean
that I was the cause of trouble.

No, a gentleman who's
willing to do business with me

is never any trouble.

No, it was just a summer
storm we'd have to pass through.

- You'll be ready to leave on time?
- That's right.

- Hi, boss.
- Toothless.

Well, who's missing?

Longo, Parker and Rowdy.

Last we've seen
of Longo and Parker

they were chasing a couple
of twins out in the prairie.

- Nobody knows where Rowdy is.
- Yeah.

All right, gentlemen.

I know it's been a long, hard
ride back here to Yellow Fork,

but Mr. Curt Mathison here in
town and he's got 3,000 head

he wants started
day after tomorrow.

And I've agreed to move them.

I know, I'm just as tired as you

and need the day
off in the worst way.

But this is a good herd.

Is there anybody here
that thinks he can't make it?

Fine, fine. You're all good men.

Well, one last thing, um...

We'll be having a new
ramrod on this drive.

- Who's that, Mr. Favor?
- Oh, Quince.

- What? FAVOR: Yeah, you.

- Ramrod?
- Why not?

Well, I don't know why not. I just
never gave it any thought before.

Come on, think about it.

- I never thought I'd take orders from...
- Are you sure you want me?

FAVOR: That's right, sure do.

I'll do the best I can
for you, Mr. Favor.

Good enough. Thank
you, Mr. Quince.

We'll be pulling out day
after tomorrow come sunup.

Yes, sir.

- Congratulations.
- Mr. Quince.

- Goodness.
- That's the part I like about him.

What happened
between you and Rowdy?

Oh, not much.

A little misunderstanding
about the men needing a rest.

You know, I had to remind
him what business he was in.

- So you fired him?
- No.

He sort of quit.

How about you and me
go and having a drink?

Oh, no, I'm fine. Thanks a lot.

- It'd do you a lot of good...
- I said, no, thank you.

Do you know a man
named Gil Favor?

Down there.

The one drinking doubles.

- Mr. Favor?
- Mm?

I'm George Lockwood
and this is Jim Traynor,

- one of my hands.
- Gentlemen.

I know you just got
off a drive, Mr. Favor,

but, uh, I was hoping I could turn
you around and take a herd for me.

I'm sorry, I can't do it.

Well, there'd be a sizable
commission, Mr. Favor.

This herd's beautiful and
prime, over 3,300 head.

They're all beautiful when
they're ready for market.

Oh, like I said,
I'm really sorry,

but I just signed up this morning
to go back with the Mathison herd.

Oh. Well, that's too bad.

You know anybody, Mr. Favor?

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Yeah.

You might try a fella
named, uh, Rowdy Yates.

- Wasn't he with you at one time?
- Mm.

He decided to
branch out on his own.

Just this morning,
as a matter of fact.

I'm sure he's still here in Yellow
Fork, but I couldn't say exactly where.

Well, we can find him if
we have to, Mr. Lockwood.

You say this would be
his first time on his own?

Well, he was a fine ramrod.

Well, that's not quite
what I asked, Mr. Favor.

Yes, it would be his
first time on his own

and he is a fine ramrod.

Well, I'm sure he
was, Mr. Favor.

But, uh, being a good trail
boss is a different thing, isn't it?

Yeah.

Well, let me put
it to you this way.

If it were your herd, Mr. Favor,
would you hire him to move it for you?

Yes, sir. Yes, I would.

Mr. Yates is ambitious,
hardworking and reliable.

That I can guarantee.

As to his luck, of course,
I can't guarantee that.

It might be good,
might be bad for you.

But I can promise you, you'll
get a fair shake for your money.

Can he handle men?

Oh, yeah, he can be as hard and
tough as anybody when he has to.

Good. I need a man who's tough.

LOCKWOOD: Yates.

Rowdy Yates, wake up.

Wake up, Yates. I
have to talk to you.

It's business, Yates.

[GROANS]

Did I do something wrong?

Well, not that I know of.

I'm here to talk business
with you. Cattle business.

Look here, mister, I ain't
in the cattle business.

I'm in the out-of-work business.

I hate cattle, I hate
trails and I hate people.

If I ain't done nothing wrong,
there's nothing I hate more

than being waked up.

Then you're not
looking for a job?

Of course I'm not
looking for a job.

I'm a very wealthy man.

You can't see
by looking at this?

I see.

All right.

It's just that I've got a herd to
move and I need a trail boss.

I have to be loading in
Abilene in about two weeks.

A trail boss?

In Abilene?

Hell... I'm...

I'm your man, sir.

Uh, well, uh, I've got a loading
date but no way of moving the herd.

I just was told yesterday.

I know you haven't been
out on your own before,

but, well, I'm in a pickle.

You'd have to start from
scratch, even hire your own crew.

- Yeah. Good, good.
- Um...

You, um, honestly think
you can handle a job like this?

Yeah. Nothing I'd rather do.

Mind if I, um, ask you
something personal?

What's your name, sir?

Lockwood.

Well, Mr. Lockwood, I know
what's you're gonna ask.

And the answer is no.

No, I don't wear this
nightshirt on the trail.

I just bought this to go along
with renting this bridal suite.

So that I'd have the best
night's sleep a man ever had.

You can find a lot of men in
this area who can do this job,

but none of them as well as me.

Because I can't afford
not to do it perfect.

Well, all right,
we'll give it a try.

By the way, how
did you get onto me?

Oh, you were recommended
by a fellow named, uh, Gil Favor.

Favor?

Hey, you wanna make some money?

Come on now, old buddy.

You need the money?

Wait. Wait, it's all
right. It's all right.

It's just me. Come on.

Come on, you need the money?

They're hiring men for a
cattle drive over at the saloon.

Come on. Come on.

Come on, these
guys are on a toot.

They just come
off a cattle drive.

You need the money.

You're just flat broke. Come on.

- Come on. Here, get right up. Here.
- No, no, no.

- No. Agh!
- Attaboy.

That feels good, doesn't it?

Yeah. Come on.

[LAUGHS]

Boy, I ain't had a...

I ain't had a nice sleep
like that in a long time.

I sure do thank you, Luke.

Yeah? Well, a guy by
the name of, uh, Yates

is hiring for a
drive to Abilene.

Yates?

R... Ro... Rowdy Yates?

Well, it could be. You know him?

Well, he used to...

Here, hold on to that. Let's go.

He used to be a ramrod
for Gil Favor for a long time,

and I wonder what it
was that broke them up.

Morning, Mr. Lockwood.

A dollar a day,
payable in Abilene.

Yes, sir, sounds fine with me.

Okay, we'll meet right out
in front same time tomorrow.

Yes, sir.

How much experience do you have?

Well, I've been on, uh, eight drives
that covered about 3,000 miles.

Two of them I acted as ramrod.

- Ramrod?
- Yeah, that's right.

How come you're not working now?

Well, I'm a single man.

When I work, I work.
When I play, I play.

You always look for a
job with no shave like that?

You just waked up.

Not if I can help it.

Yeah, well, you look
honest. I'll give you a try.

That'd be $2 a day and
10 percent of my percent.

Um, ahem, a ramrod?

- Yeah, a ramrod.
- Hmm.

Congratulations, Weed.

Well, thank you,
Mr. Lockwood. Thank you.

Thank you.

Did you know each other?

Weed's one of the
best men around.

Well, how come you
didn't tell me that?

I didn't wanna prejudice you.

You're next. How much
experience you had?

- Oh, 10 drives. Anyway, we'd...
- Well, I'll tell you.

- A dollar a day, payable in Abilene.
- Huh.

You coming with us, Luke?

Well, I ain't just real sure.

That guy will hire anybody.

All you gotta do is walk in
front of him and you got a job.

Oh, you get out of here.

Uh, Weed.

This will be his first
time out as trail boss.

Keep an eye on
him for me, will you?

Ahem, yes, sir.

He didn't believe me when I said
the men were tuckered out, so I quit.

Why the smile?

- Want me to be honest, don't you?
- Yeah, that's right.

Well, I ran into a couple
of your men the other day

and they was telling me as to how
they get a couple of extra days off

just for crying on your
shoulder a little bit.

Well, I'd take that as a
compliment if I was you.

Ah, hmm.

Well, anyway, here's
to a new beginning.

Sure, I'll drink to that.

I guess we better
get back to hiring.

- We're still six men shy.
- Yep.

I didn't think it'd be this
tough getting the herd together.

Gil Favor never seemed
to have too much trouble.

Well, I'll tell you, Mr. Yates,

there's one thing that
Mr. Favor has that you don't.

Yeah?

Wishbone.

Wishbone.

Yeah.

You may just be 1000
percent correct, Weed.

So, uh...

We came to see him.

FAVOR: I see.
- You object?

Well, you know, I was
never one for slavery.

You don't need my
permission to talk to him.

Or, uh, offer him another job.

That is why
you're here, isn't it?

Well, Rowdy. Well, well,
well, good to see you, boy.

Wish, good to see you.

- Meet my ramrod, Weed here.
- Hi there.

Well, you're sure coming
up in the world, aren't you?

Yeah. Yeah.

That's what I
wanted to talk about.

See, I got my own herd now,
on destination and a ramrod here.

I need a cook.

Now, I can pay you the
same as you're getting here,

only with a bigger bonus
at the end of the drive.

Maybe you'll think it over, huh?

Bigger bonus at the
end of the drive. Ha, ha.

Come on, Weed.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Favor.

Isn't that nice?

I'd sure like to help him out.

That is, if I could.

Well, that'd be up to you, Wish.

Well, why not?

You'd like to see him get a leg up
the ladder of fortune, wouldn't you?

Well, so do I.

If I could help him,
I think I ought to.

Kind of owe it to
him, you might say.

Oh, I understand.

It's only a matter of
weeks. We'd be back...

Look, you don't have
to make excuses to me.

We're gonna give him a leg up
on the ladder of fortune, Mr. Favor.

LOCKWOOD: From what I've heard,
you could set your watch by Gil Favor.

He's due in the 6th,
two days ahead of us.

Well, we'll be there on
time too, Mr. Lockwood.

The railroad told me Favor's
never yet cost his owner

a train-idle penalty.

Well, just when will
our pens be ready?

On the 8th at noon.

Mr. Lockwood.

Uh...

What would you say if we'd
beat the Gil Favor herd in

and get there on the 5th?

Well, now, there's not much
point in discussing it, is there?

Favor's got a smaller, faster
herd, and he'll have a two-day start.

- I didn't say it would be easy.
- The way the market's going,

you could be talking
about thousands of dollars.

That's no joking
matter, Mr. Yates.

Yeah. Well, why don't
you just inform the railroad

that we'll be there on the 5th?

Right, Weed?

Yup. You're the boss, Mr. Yates.

That's right. Okay,
Weed, let's shake them up.

Because we got a new
brand of cattle we're pushing.

WEED: What kind is that?

Racing cows.

[MEN WHOOPING]

It's a shame to pass
that pretty grazing land,

- but we gotta keep pressing.
- Well, I'm pressing, Mr. Yates.

Yeah. Looks like we've
made about 4 miles, huh?

Yeah, at least.

Good man, Weed.

Thirty-two rough miles,
that's good herding.

We'll start out with
eight nightriders,

and then we'll cut
down to four later on.

Cut back to four?

That's playing it a little
thin, isn't it, Rowdy?

Thought I'd ride on up and try a
little of Wishbone's famous chow.

Thirty-two miles for
Wishbone's stew?

It isn't that great,
Mr. Lockwood.

Well, to be honest
about it, Rowdy, I...

I was worried you might
be pushing too hard.

Look, uh, back on your
ranch, you're the boss of things,

but out here, I'm running it.

All right, Rowdy.

But pushing back
to four nightriders...

ROWDY: Look, we
started out shorthanded.

Now, the first day's
drive is always double.

That's to shake the cattle down

and get them used to
their new surroundings.

Now, this tires the cattle.
It also tires the drovers.

Now, in my judgment, four
men on night herd is enough.

I don't agree.

That's why you're
riding back to your ranch.

He's right, Mr. Lockwood.
You don't belong out here.

That's my brand on that herd.

Yes, sir.

But he's droving them.

Well, maybe some
other time, Wishbone.

[SIZZLING]

All right, you men listen.

Gil Favor outfit's around
14 miles out in front of us.

Now, in case you haven't
heard, I plan on overtaking him,

beating him in.

Now, I figure we can pass him

maybe in Duncan
Canyon come sunup.

Now, the way we can do this
is if we take a wedge of riders,

and move them in right
next to Favor's herd,

and just gently ease
them to one side.

If those riders stay there,

they can help our herds
slide right on through.

Rowdy, can I speak
to you a minute?

Uh, later, Wish.

Please?

Now, look, Rowdy. What you're
thinking about is dangerous enough,

even if Mr. Favor knew about it,

But to spring it on him, oh, no.

Now, look, I'm not
telling you what to do,

but I think you ought to give
him a chance to set himself.

My beef's with
him, not with you.

Now, look, I joined this outfit
to help you, not to cause...

Stick to your cooking,
will you, Wish?

I will not. Now,
look here, Rowdy...

Look here, Wishbone.

As long as I'm
ramrodding this outfit,

you'll refer to the trail
boss as mister, is that clear?

Oh, boy.

That's clear enough.

Some friend you turned
out to be, Mr. Yates.

[MEN WHOOPING]

Quince!

Yo, Quince.

Yes, sir?

What do you make of that?

- Rowdy.
- Yeah.

That dirty, sneaky
little son of a gun.

You know, I bet he's
figuring on closing up on us,

have us do his scouting
and his trail breaking for him.

I heard he was shorthanded.

You gotta give it to him though.
Smart way of saving manpower.

Well, that could be.

You know, I think we ought
to go and visit him tonight.

I bet the kid's having
all kinds of problems.

Just might appreciate
a helping hand.

Well, I don't know, Mr. Favor.

The way I heard it,
his mad is pretty deep.

Ah, don't you believe it.

One thing I know is
my boy Rowdy Yates.

Yeah, by golly, we will
go over there tonight.

Just socialize.

See how the kid's making out.

FAVOR: Howdy, fellas.

- Howdy. QUINCE: Howdy, boys.

- How's it going?
- Oh, fine, fine.

Ah.

Well, we noticed your dust.

We saw the way you
was closing in on us.

Figured you were
trying to save manpower.

And it occurred to
us that about this time

you might need a
helping hand, huh?

No.

Huh. Everything's
all right, then?

Mm. Just fine,
thank you. Just great.

Good, good.

See, I...

I plan on beating you in.

You plan on beating me in?

Mm-hm.

And just how do you
plan to beat me in?

Well, by watching
every stick and stone,

driving faster, better
and smoother than you.

FAVOR: Oh, I see.

See, I got that
herd of my own now.

That you do, Mr. Yates.

You most certainly do.

You'll be eating my dust.

Yeah.

Yeah, that might be true too.

Well, um, you take care, fella.

- Take care.
- All right.

I hope you know what're
you doing, Rowdy.

Mm, heh.

Quince!

Oh, that snake in the grass.

What did I say about him
just before we come over here?

Sneaky, dirty
little son of a gun.

My exact words, right?

Right. Oh, do I know him.

I ought to take his fuzzy
little neck and wring it out.

Eat his dust.

Let's get out of here.

I don't know. Been
me, I don't think

I would've taken that
from him, Mr. Favor.

Even though he
was a friend of mine.

Don't you worry. That dumb
kid ain't getting by with nothing.

Forget it. We're
not racing anyways.

They're already
making bets back there.

I said no!

- No call to squall at me about it.
- All right, all right.

All right, I said to forget it.

He ain't got a rotten
chance of beating us.

He's still behind us, ain't he?

All we gotta do is spread
out the herd real wide.

Ain't nothing he can do
about passing us. Ha-ha-ha.

The way I understand it, though,

you want that herd pushed just
as fast as you can, is that right?

Yeah, sure.

- Well, that makes a race out of it.
- Huh?

Alrighty, everybody up.

Come on, move it
out. No sleep tonight.

Shake it up.

- What's up?
- I know that man.

He's just as sneaky
as I am. Come morning,

he'll spread that herd out all over
the place and we won't have a chance.

We'll be finished. Now,
here's what I want you to do.

You get your men on flank.

When we make contact, I'll fall
back and you take over as lead.

- Who do you want riding anchor?
- No anchor.

- Without one?
- That's right, without one.

We'll move them out easy,
smooth and with confidence.

Now, come on.

All right, you heard what
he said. Come on, boys.

There ain't gonna be no
anchor. We just drive today.

MAN: No anchor?
WEED: Wrap it up.

[MEN WHOOPING IN DISTANCE]

It can't be.

I'll be it is.

All right, let's move! I want
every man in the saddle.

I mean everybody, right now!

Let's go! Come on, move. Yah!

[MEN SHOUTING]

Hold it!

[MEN WHOOPING]

Looks like Mr. Yates'
herd is headed this way,

headed for the canyon.

Well, you know our
stock's a lot closer.

You wanna try to
block him off, Mr. Favor?

No, just keep them tight.

I'd rather he got past
us than get us all killed.

Come on, ladies, and
follow Rowdy Yates into glory.

Here they come. Let's go.

[MEN WHOOPING]

[COWS MOOING]

- Move it.
- Quince.

- You got your men in position yet?
- Yes, sir.

You better be ready for anything.
No telling what's gonna happen.

You be ready to mill
that herd at any minute.

We're ready.

Slow them down.

Hold them steady
there. Keep them down.

Sweet and steady.

Head them up and move them out.

Luke!

Fall back and take anchor.

Right!

[HORSE WHINNYING]

Steady.

Keep his head up.

- Unh.
- Man in trouble!

Keep his head up.

Steady, boy.

Man down!

Get away from him, I'll get him.

I had my doubts, but I'm
glad I didn't say nothing.

- I'm just glad it's over.
- Hadn't been for old Luke getting hurt,

everything would've
worked out perfect, though.

I've never seen such
pretty droving in my life.

Maybe, but he's
crazy, that Yates.

He's crazy as a bedbug.

Now, Luke, there's a town
called Diablo a few miles back.

I'll put you in the supply
wagon and take you in.

All right.

Ah. A beautiful job, Weed.

We're ahead of Mr. Favor
and in a canyon too.

Yep. We'll be in on
the 5th just like I said.

You're a lucky man, Mr. Yates.

Maybe so, but it seemed
like a smart maneuver.

And very stupid.

First, you shouldn't have
gone up in that canyon.

And second, there's that business
the happened with Luke this morning.

We had a man down.

Well, Mr. Favor was
closer to him than you was.

- Why didn't you let him pick him up?
- It was our man.

No. You just can't
admit a mistake, that's all.

Now, look here, Weed.

You're looking for a showdown,
you're not gonna get one.

You're hired to move cattle.

As long as you're working for
me, that's what you're gonna do.

- Yes, sir.
- Did you scout that canyon?

- I did.
- What'd you find?

That canyon splits in two.

There's an upper fork. It's
as dry as a roadrunner's craw.

There's a lower fork.

It's longer, but there's a
cold pond up the end of it.

How much longer?

Eight hours. Ten hours
with water in the stock.

Yeah. If you think Gil Favor's
gonna sit around behind us

waiting for us to get
through that canyon.

No, no, no. He'll
probably skirt east,

set his own pace, maybe
even travel at night.

We'll lose that advantage.

What's your opinion?

My opinion is that my opinion
ain't worth too much around here.

I'm asking you for it.

All right, you prodded me
for it, you're gonna get it.

Mr. Yates, you ain't driving
these men and these cattle hard

for a better price.

You only got one thing
interesting you right now.

That's whether or not you're
a better man than Favor.

Well, one man's been
hurt because of that already.

I say quit this foolishness.

Quit this race.

That's your honest opinion?

That's it.

[BOTH GRUNTING]

And one of you's just
as bad as the other.

No, you're worse.

Because you're trying
to take out on him

what you think of
your own darn self.

Why, he's just as like you
as your own mirror image.

That ever occur to you?

Must be why you hired him.

You just had to find
some way to hit out.

[MUMBLING]

Thank you.

ROWDY: You were right
about a lot of things, Weed.

I'm gonna stop by Mr. Favor's
camp on the way to Diablo

and tell him the
whole thing's off.

Well, I know we'll all
sleep better for it tonight.

Luke, have a good trip.

- Don't get too many ups and downs.
- Yeah, you're funny.

Well, there's Gil Favor's fire.

We'll ride on in there
and you can rest a while.

- I'll tell him we're calling the race off.
- We're calling this race off?

You mean you.

Yeah, I've been watching you.

I got a broken
leg, a broken arm,

maybe a couple of busted ribs.

And it's killing you
worse than it's hurting me.

Now, you listen to me.

I break legs all the time.

Arms too, and I don't... I
ain't saying I like it that way,

but don't call this race
off on account of me.

You wanna beat him to
that railhead, you get at it.

Well, I'm glad you
don't hold it against me.

Well, I've heard a lot
about this Gil Favor.

Anybody who's
supposed to be that good

don't just sit too good with
me, so you whip him for me.

Biggest favor you could do me.

You whip him real good.

You might just be right.

- How much, doc?
- That'll be $15, Mr. Yates.

Fifteen?

For an arm and
a leg and one rib?

Two ribs.

All right.

Thank you.

I'd like to send some telegrams
and wait for the answers, all right?

Mr. Favor, I just saw
the Lockwood herd

heading into the upper fork.

- Did you say upper fork?
- That's right, the upper fork.

Looks like nothing is
gonna stop Mr. Yates

except Mr. Yates himself.

I'm betting anything he's
gonna get too smart for himself.

Now, sure it's shorter.

It's so dry, it'd
choke a lizard.

And if those cows can't
breathe, they're gonna run.

Maybe they'll even
stampede them.

Hey, can't do it without rain.

That fool is going to be
taking a hundred to one shot.

Quince.

Section the herd in two.

We're gonna go
through lower fork.

We're gonna go through faster
than it's ever been done before.

All right, moving out.

Come on, boys.

[MEN WHOOPING]

Weed, hold them back!
They're going too fast.

Well, the cattle in the
back, they can't breathe.

They keep trying to get up
in front increasing the speed.

Well, then, decrease it.

All right.

Another five minutes
and I'll push on.

You give it an hour and
bring the second section in.

Mighty pretty country, ain't it?

Yeah, down here in the canyon.

Now, I'm afraid our,
uh, boy has bit off

more than he can chew
in his part of it, though.

[COWS MOOING AND MEN WHOOPING]

Still too fast. Get
some men up in front.

Yes, sir.

Sam!

Front! Front!

Tom! Front!

Up front!

ROWDY: We need more help.
WEED: We need a medicine man.

[MEN CONTINUE SHOUTING]

WEED: We're getting pressure
from the rear. Too much dust!

ROWDY: Mill them, mill
them! Don't let them stampede.

WEED: The more we mill
them, the more dust we get.

ROWDY: Hold them!
I said hold them!

Too fast. They're
going too fast.

Get over!

Herd them!

WEED: They're breaking
loose! They're close to stampede!

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

ROWDY: Say a prayer then.

WEED: I've been. I've been.

[MEN CHEERING]

Good morning, Mr. Weed.

Good morning, Mr. Yates.

- Brethren, good morning.
- Delighted, gentlemen.

Never thought I'd see the
day that cattle were smiling.

Looks like we're gonna on
time, Weed, and you'll be a hero.

Well, I got no objection, but I'd
rather be lucky like you. Ha-ha-ha.

Lucky, huh?

I spent all night in Diablo
sending and receiving these,

trying to locate a rainstorm.

I finally found one moving
west, from Harrison to Saragossa.

Weatherman here in Topeka
said it'd be here this morning.

And here it is.

Sure wish you'd told us
before you turn into upper fork.

I almost quit you.

I didn't want another
one of your arguments.

Besides you're just a ramrod.

You ain't supposed to know
what's going on on my level.

That is, until you get
a herd of your own.

[MACHINE CLICKING]

Everything is confirmed.

Your check has been deposited.

Thanks again. Nice herd.

Well, heh, all I did was
drive them, Mr. Morgan.

They're Lockwood's
cattle. He raised them.

Well, he should be
a very happy man.

Let me tell you, he is.

Now, Mr. Yates, I know of
another herd in South Dakota.

The owner's over at the hotel
now trying to find a trail boss.

I recommended you.

Well, that's very nice
of you. Much obliged.

Anytime, Mr. Yates.

- Anytime.
- Thank you, Mr. Morgan.

- Yates?
- Mm?

Are you the man that
wired me in Diablo?

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Been trying to reach
you, but you left Diablo.

Right after I wired
you about that storm,

it petered itself out
in Highland Springs.

Sorry you never got that
water you counted on.

That storm didn't
reach the upper fork?

Don't see how it could.

Well, then what rain did?

That, sir, I couldn't tell you.

Whoo! Look at that. Here,
have some of this, boys.

Forget all that beer.

Well, this is the
kind of a party I like.

MAN: Hey, did you see that?

Hey!

I'm drinking this all myself because
I ain't had nothing like this since...

Oh, this is too good. I
don't want any of that.

Mr. Wishbone, I'd
sure like to have a beer.

You'll have sarsaparilla.

Here, take two. They're free.
It's on Mr. Lockwood. Ha-ha-ha!

- Hey, here comes
Mr. Yates. WEED: Mr. Rowdy.

Yeah! Ha-ha-ha!

Hey, come over here
and have a beer, boy.

Rowdy, you can look like
you're enjoying it a little bit more.

This is on Mr. Lockwood.

- It isn't costing us a red
cent, boy. WEED: That's right.

Hey, by the way, there was a
feller in here from South Dakota

- asking for you.
- Oh, yeah, yeah.

He's got a herd of 4,000
head up in the Black Hills.

- Wanted me to run it for him.
- Oh, ha, ha.

Well...

MUSHY: Mr. Favor.

Here comes that poor,
sore, tired, and dusty loser.

WISHBONE: Oh, hey! Ha-ha-ha.

Well, go ahead and
say you'd beat us in

like you said you would.

We ate your dust
like you said we would.

Congratulations.

- Thanks.
- Any of you wanna come over

for a drink, you're welcome.

Yeah, I think I will go over
and have a chat with him.

Come on, Mushy.

Oh, uh, if you're thinking of
taking that South Dakota herd,

I'm not gonna be able to come
along. Mushy and me need a long rest.

- Sure. WISHBONE:
Come on, Mushy.

MUSHY: Mr. Quince.
WEED: Uh, ahem.

Yeah, me too.

You too what, Weed?

Well, you know me, Rowdy.
I'm kind of a rolling stone.

I had in my mind to
go out to California.

I think I just might do that.

Swell.

Well, excuse me, I'm gonna go over
and make my peace with Quince now.

[MEN CHATTERING]

MAN: Oh, boy.

You can always feel good.

- Good.
- Where's that...?

Well. Well, how was
the cooking this time out?

Fine. Just fine.

You know, we never ate better.

Oh?

Well, you old sugar-saver, believe
me, it was choking bad, Wish.

Good to have you back.

Why, you two.

Well, no wonder. I had
you all spoiled rotten.

MAN: That's right. Here.
Let me have some of that.

- This one's empty.
WISHBONE: There you are.

- Boy, this is fun, isn't it? MAN:
I'll tell you, give me some more.

Mr. Favor, I, uh... I'd like
to say something to you.

I'm glad you could join us.

That, uh...

Well, me beating you in
like this, strictly a fluke.

Just the biggest
fluke you ever saw.

Fluke? You did a
good job at droving.

A little harum-scarum at
times, of course, but good.

No. Heh.

No. You see I gambled
everything on a rainstorm.

I telegraphed all over
and finally found one.

But it fizzled out before it
reached the upper fork there.

I lucked in on some other rain
I never knew anything about.

Well, that's mighty nice
of you to up and say it.

I gotta admit we sort of
hated coming in second to you.

Especially after we broke
our backs trying so hard.

Now, some fella out
there in North Dakota

wants me to take over his herd,

- a chance to go on my own again.
- Hey, fine. Fine.

Oh, well, I'm not sure.

I don't think I'm ready for it.

Well, that's nonsense.
What are you talking about?

You did a good job for Lockwood.

Oh.

No, you might
think so, but I don't.

I don't think the rest
of my men did either.

No, I might have a rough
time getting a crew together.

I don't think I'm
seasoned enough for it yet.

But learning every
inch of the way.

I, uh...

If it's all right, I wouldn't mind
coming back to work for you, you know?

Well, I'd surely
like that, Mr. Yates,

but I already got a ramrod.

ROWDY: Oh, not ramrod, no.

Just plain working.

Well, that'd be fine, Mr. Yates,
but you'd still have to talk to Quince.

Oh, no. I won't do it.

Not again, Mr. Favor.

I never did like that
doggone job in the first place.

I hated it. It belongs
to Rowdy there.

Why, you horsehead...

- And I hope you take it back.
- You see, Mr. Rowdy?

Ah, ah. Just plain
Rowdy will do.

Just plain Rowdy?

[MEN LAUGH]

MAN: Let's get beer, hey!

How much more...?

[MEN CHATTERING]

Hey!

That's for me.

- Oh, wait.
- Hey.

Head them up!

Move them out!