Rawhide (1959–1965): Season 8, Episode 12 - The Testing Post - full transcript

♪♪

(sighs)

♪♪

You waited this long,
Lieutenant.

Maybe you'd better wait
a minute longer.

What happened to your horse?

Slipped in a gopher hole,
went lame.

They say what they want?

Cattle.

(sighs)

(cattle lowing)



I lose any more beeves,
I won't have enough money

to pay pen fees at Rail Head.

Did you tell them that?

COLBY:
I told them.

Now you better try.

(Rowdy sighs)

Mr. Yates?

That's right.

I'm Lieutenant Walker.

I want a hundred head
of your best steers.

All right, Lieutenant.

Kansas City prices,
gold on the line.

Mr. Yates,

an officer in the field is
not authorized to deal in cash.



I'll requisition
the steers I want.

Is that a fact, now?

WALKER: Your requisition will be
waiting for you at Camp Broxton.

The commander will authorize
payment to you there.

You mean, you're not gonna
give me any gold, or...

requisition now, hmm?

No.

Yet, you want a hundred head
of my prime stock?

Yes.

No, uh... no receipt,
no nothing, huh?

No.

Mr. Yates,
you don't need anything.

You have the word
of a lieutenant

in the United States Army.

Look, I've got provisions to buy
and men to pay,

and I can't do that on your word
or anybody else's.

Now, if you want
to buy some of my stock,

why don't you just run off

and come back with something
to pay for it...

hmm?

Mount up.

WALKER:
Mr. Yates?

We're going to cut
a hundred steers

from your herd.

Over my dead body
you are, Lieutenant.

(horse neighs)

You better get your lieutenant
back to your base now.

Your trail boss said
to come back

with something more than words.

We will.

You just declared yourself war
with the United States Army.

Well, if I did, it's my war,

and I'll settle it
in my own fashion.

I don't need your help.

-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
-(whip cracks)

-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
-(whip cracks)

♪ Rawhide ♪

(whip cracks)

(whip cracks)

-(whip cracks)
- Hyah! Hyah!

- Hyah!
- (Whip cracks)

(men calling to cattle,
whistling)

Hyah!

(cattle lowing)

Hyah!

- Hyah!
- Hyah!

(horse sputters)

Whoa!

There's a pretty good
graze-over spot

about a mile the other side
of that next rise.

We could make it there for camp
if we push 'em real hard.

What's the matter
with the graze right ahead?

Nothing, except the other one
would be that much further on.

What are we doing,
running from something?

No, but, uh,
maybe we ought to be.

Quince? Simon?

Bunch 'em in.
We're gonna bed down.

Man says bed 'em down.

That's what the man said.

Ah, swing 'em in!
Bed 'em down!

-(men calling to cattle)
- You heard the order.

Yeah, I heard.

All right, then,
lay out the camp.

- That's your job.
- know my job.

Any time you can dig up
another guy to do it better,

you just let me know.

I might, only you picked
a heck of a spot

for me to start digging.

(men calling to cattle,
whistling)

♪♪

Come on, Smitty.

We better get on out there

and give the boys
with the herd a chance to eat.

Wish, fix me up something,
will you?

Yes, sir.

- Quince?
- Yeah?

Now, the grass is good here,

so we're gonna bed "em down
till noon tomorrow.

Then we'll hightail it
till dark.

All right.

ROWDY: Five or six miles out,
the grass is nothing.

A goat couldn't feed there,
much less a whole herd.

I see.

Is that all?

Huh? Yeah, that's all.

All right, spit it out.
What's bothering you?

You know mighty well
what's bothering me.

You got us in a shooting war
with the Army, that's what.

As far as I'm concerned,
I didn't start it.

Oh, other than the fact
that you shot a lieutenant.

Look, I nicked a young punk
who was trying to run off

with 2 hundred head
of my steers.

Well, whether he's a punk
or not,

he's still a lieutenant
in the U.S. Army,

and you shoot a lieutenant,
you shoot the Army.

You shoot the Army,
and the Army shoots back.

What did you want me to do, let
him run off with the whole herd?

Or maybe, better yet, shoot me?

He didn't have any right
to shoot you.

That's swell; you tell him that

while I'm laying there
with a hole in my forehead.

Well...

Next time, that's just what
they're liable to do.

Because you mark it down
for yourself,

they'll be back here with enough
men to make you eat that gun.

Well, it's my responsibility.

I'll stand behind it.

That's, uh, if they'll let you.

I shot him.

Oh, boy. You expect us
to let you stand up alone?

The Army wouldn't let us do that
if we wanted to.

No, when you declared war
for yourself,

you declared war for all of us.

What do you expect me to do,
apologize to the man?

Look, lieutenant or no
lieutenant, Army or no Army,

I'm not gonna let some
young punk run off with my herd!

As far as shooting the man,

I'd do the same thing
all over again if I had to.

Fine. Only next time,

why don't you try shooting
yourself a colonel, huh?

Or maybe even a general.
Then you'd have

Custer and the whole Seventh
Cavalry hightailing it after us.

I'm not asking you
to see it the way I do.

Good, because I don't.

This is your trail herd, and
you run it the way you see fit.

Only without me,

'cause when this drive
is finished, I'm quitting.

Oh, now you've gone and done it.

He doesn't mean that.

He's just making a lot of noise.

I never saw a man
mean anything more.

You just better be glad
that he don't mean it now.

I mean, before the Army
comes down on us.

(wind whistling)

How many men did he have
with him?

15, 20. No more.

Well, it's an
unfortunate situation,

and entirely your fault.

You've got a lot to learn
about the conduct

of a lieutenant
in the United States Army

in dealing with civilians.

That man shot me.

- After you drew your gun first.
- Only after he...

Only after you blew it up into
something you couldn't handle.

Does that mean
we take no action against him?

No one shoots one of my men
and gets away with it. Jackson?

Those men ready?

Yes, sir.

That arm interfere with
your riding?

I said riding, not shooting.

I heard you, Captain.

See to it you remember it.
Mount up.

(men calling to cattle,
whistling)

Move 'em out, move 'em hard!

You figuring on running
the marble off "em?

If I have to, I'll run
the hoof rind off "em.

You ain't gonna
outrun them Army boys,

no matter how hard you push.

You see a sign
of troopers? Where?

No, no, no.
Just saying, is all.

Well, next time,
don't say anything

unless you see something.

Sure.

Only, if, uh, Mr. Yates wants to
get clear of them Army boys

by handing down orders that
by pushing the beeves, he...

Mr. Yates don't do nothing
except go his own way

and face up to it if he has to.

I'm the one that's telling you
to haze them beeves.

Sure.

Just thought you felt
the same as us

about what he done, that's all.

What difference does that make?

You just keep bunching this drag
and putting ground behind us.

(cattle lowing)

You want me?

That's why I called you,
unless you quit already.

I told you when I was quitting.

You've been running the beeves
and the men too hard.

I want you to lay 'em over
for a while.

How long?

Till I get back.

I'm gonna scout ahead for water.

Any objection?

If I offered any, would you
bother listening to them?

No.

About what I figured.

♪♪

Bates and Sims,

you take cover over there
with the lieutenant,

and the rest of you
stay with me.

Prepare for trouble.

♪♪

(gunshot)

I told you to be alert,
not ambush the man.

He's dangerous.

I got the wound to prove it.

Well, you'll
answer for it later.

You two men,
tie him on his horse.

(cattle lowing)

♪♪

Lieutenant...

follow me, and the rest
of you men stay here.

I'm Captain Jacob Masters.

Who's second in command here?

Your trail boss
has been wounded.

Not seriously,
but he needs attention.

Wish, see to Mr. Yates.

What happened?

He was grazed by a bullet.

He's lucky to be alive.

I figure that was a piece
of luck for you, too.

Thanks for bringing him in.

Just a minute.

We have other business.

What would that be?

First, a lieutenant
of the United States Army

was fired upon and wounded.

But by his own admission,
he acted foolishly,

and his wound wasn't serious.

Now, since your trail boss
was wounded,

you can either
call the account even,

or you can press charges.

I'll buy the first.
What's the second?

I'm here for that
hundred head of steer.

Mr. Yates told
your lieutenant there

that he'd have to have
Kansas City prices.

I figure he'd tell you
the same thing.

I'll pay Kansas City prices.

I think he meant in gold.

The same as gold.

I'll give you a requisition

redeemable for gold
at any Army post.

The nearest
is Camp Broxton, up ahead.

How's he doing?

He's still unconscious, Simon.

CAPTAIN:
Let me explain something to you.

The United States Army
has a legal right

to requisition provisions

or take 'em by force,
if necessary.

Now, you have a choice.

You can either
accept the situation,

or you can fight.

I suggest you don't fight.

My men are very accurate.

I'll take your requisition.

All right, men,
cut out a hundred head.

Ordinary run--
not all prime, not all scrub.

(cattle lowing)

(groans)

(grunts)

Here, you shouldn't be
getting up.

I been in there all day
and half the night,

like you said.
Now I'm all right.

You're not all right.
You hurt all over.

Just got a headache, that's all.

Figure out what happened.

You lost your temper again,
that's what happened.

Jed! Quince!

You trying to wake the beeves?

You gave 'em a hundred head
of our beeves?

How could you have done that?

It was either let 'em go or
start another war with the Army.

And you can't fight the Army.

That crease on the side of
your head ought to prove that.

A hundred head of beef

that I same as carried on
my back all the way from Texas.

And for what?

That requisition for gold,
that's for what.

For all I know,
this requisition is

just a worthless piece of paper.

No, it's just as good as gold.

Captain said so.

Turn it in to Camp Broxton,
40 miles ahead.

Well, I'm gonna find out
if it's as good as gold,

and it better be.

Oh, boy, if he don't
get gold for that paper,

he's really gonna come back here
raging and storming.

Aiming it right at us, too.

At me, you mean.

Only, you're wrong,
both of you. So is he.

Just so happens
I forgot to tell Rowdy

I wasn't staying on
to finish the drive.

I'm pulling up stakes right now.

Why don't you two
tell him for me, huh?

♪♪

Hold it, there.

Now, look, I'd like to talk
to your commanding officer.

Yeah? What about?

Well, it's about payment
for some cattle

that I sold to the Army.

He never bought no cattle.

Yeah, yeah, I know that.

Uh, there's another outfit about
50 miles or so south of here.

Well, what'd you
come here for, then?

My business is with
your commanding officer,

not with the guard at the gate.

Now, will you
let me through, huh?

Sergeant of the guard!
Post number one!

Oh...

What's going on here, Sentry?

He wants in.

That so?

I got some business with
your commanding officer.

Yeah, what kind of business?

It's, uh, about payment on some
cattle that I sold to the Army.

We never bought no cattle.

You see, it was
this other outfit...

We never bought any cattle.

I know that!

Then why bring this to me?

Here, now, you can't do that.

- What is this? What is this?
- I want my pay.

Pay? Pay for what?

For cattle I sold to the Army.

Cattle? I bought no cattle.

I know; it was another outfit
50 miles south of here.

- Another detachment
south of here? -Right.

They must be newly assigned.
Let go of that man.

But he broke in
without permission, sir.

I'll ask you later
how that was possible.

Now, leave him here with me.

Sergeant.

Now, I don't like to keep people
out on legitimate business,

but there are just
a handful of us here

and we have to keep
on the alert.

Yeah, what happened
to the rest of you?

Well, one company is out
rounding up a band of Indians

that strayed off
the reservation.

Another is chasing a paymaster
that ran off with the payroll

of the Tenth Regulars.

Another is hunting
the Denner Brothers,

some white raiders,
pillagers, looters.

Worse than Indians
and very elusive.

What can I do for you?

It's about this
requisition here.

Oh, requisition.

Did this, uh,
Captain Masters say

what he was
assigned to in this area?

Well, you see,
it wasn't me that, uh,

made the deal with him;
it was one of my men.

But he said something
about, uh, surveying

and mapping, uh... some dams
or some project in the area.

Oh.

Well, that explains the lack
of communications between us.

They're engineers
and we're cavalry.

I'm sorry, I can't help you.

- You can't? -No, this is
an engineers' requisition.

I doubt if any cavalry post

in the United States
would honor it.

The simple truth is,
we have no gold.

No gold?

No. Even buttons seem to be
in short supply.

- Well, why?
- Well, the regular shipment

from the Quartermaster Depot
is overdue.

Long overdue.

It seems that even
the paymaster's forgotten us.

But tell me something.

Why did you accept a requisition
from this Captain Masters?

Why didn't you insist
that he pay you in gold?

He had gold?

Newly assigned to the area--

it means that he had
ample funds for provisions.

Yeah, but if he had gold,
why didn't he just pay me off,

rather than to send me
up here to you?

Well, you're on the frontier
and money's scarce.

Sometimes it's better
to spend somebody else's.

What it amounts to is
he's robbed me.

Now, wait a minute,
you can't talk like that

about a captain
in the United States Army.

The heck I can't.

He knew you wouldn't pay me
even if you had the gold.

- Didn't say that.
- He knew that I got this far

up the trail, it'd be
too late to turn back.

Are you too far?

Well, I would've been if
I'd have stayed with the herd,

but I rode on ahead.

That's what's crossed him up.

I'll have the gold
or my cattle back,

or Captain Masters dead on
the ground, you can bet on that.

♪♪

♪♪

How do?

What do you want?

Uh, I want to see,
uh, Captain Masters.

He ain't here.

Yeah, when do you
expect him back?

Couldn't say.

What about the lieutenant?

He's gone, too.

And you don't know
where he is, either?

No, I don't.

By any chance, would they be
out surveying or mapping?

Couldn't say.

Well, if you'd give me sort of
maybe an idea where they are,

I could run out and meet them.

Don't know where they are.

You don't mind
if I wait here, do you?

It's your time.

(Rowdy sighs)

- Howdy.
- Howdy.

Am I too late to get a bite?

Nope. I'll dish you up
something.

Looks like it could...

boil up your liver.
(chuckles)

- Could.
- Yeah.

Mmm. Good.

- It won't hurt you none.
- Tell me, how many men

do you have to feed around here
during the day?

COOK:
Oh, a dozen, sometimes more.

What'd you ask for?

Mm. Just making conversation,
that's all.

It don't pay
to ask a lot of questions.

ROWDY: Maybe I'll just wander
around then, stretch my legs.

Can't get in trouble that way.

You can if you get
too close to them tents.

- ROWDY: Why?
- Never mind why.

Just stay away from them.

I'll do that.

(Rowdy whistling a tune)

(cook coughs)

♪♪

What are you
snooping around for?

Huh? Oh.
(chuckles)

No, I'm not snooping.

I just, uh, tied my horse
in the shade there.

If you had any sense, you'd get
on that horse and start riding.

No, no, no, I...
I came to see the captain.

That's what I got to do.

Suit yourself.

(sighs)

Tell me, that tie down there--
is that regulation?

I'm wearing it
that way, ain't I?

- Yep.
- Then it must be regulation.

Where are you going?

Thought I'd try
some of your cook's coffee,

if you don't mind.

(sighs)

♪♪

Jackson.

Just couldn't keep
your nose out, could you?

Couldn't help it.
The smell was too bad.

And it's gonna get worse
before it gets better.

Couldn't get much worse.

All right, on your feet.

Up.

Over there.

Hold it right there.

Tie him up.

If I told you once,
I told you a hundred times,

don't tangle with the Army.

You know,
if there's one thing I hate,

it's a trail boss
who just won't listen.

For a man who's long on advice,

I don't see that
you've done any better.

Difference between us is,
I fell into this bear trap,

you walked into it.

To think of it, you must've
heard me out there--

how come you didn't sing out?

The results would
have been the same.

I just wanted to see if you
had sense enough to walk out.

- MASTERS: Jackson!
- Yes, sir.

MASTERS:
You men hold it here.

Lieutenant.

(footsteps approaching)

Well, you couldn't stay away,
could you?

ROWDY: I came
to get paid for my cattle.

They'll pay you at Camp Broxton.

There's no gold at Camp Broxton,

and they wouldn't give it
to me if they had it.

LIEUTENANT:
They're required to pay.

ROWDY: Not according
to the major who's there.

You just, uh,
you just give me my gold,

and I'll be on my way, hmm?

You'll get nothing now.

ROWDY:
Why don't you drop the pose.

You're no more a lieutenant
in the Army than I am.

No?

What am I, then?

ROWDY:
Nothing but a rotten thief.

What'd you do to the men that
you took those uniforms off of?

Just what are you
saying, mister?

COLBY: You know what he's
saying, just as well as I do.

If you were mapping and
surveying, you'd be engineers.

But there are quartermaster
insignia on your wagons

and cavalry insignia
on some of your men,

and one of your men
is wearing a tied-down gun.

Hardly Army regulations.

Took a hundred head
of our cattle to feed

what your cook says is 12 men.

At ease, Lieutenant.

Well, you boys have sharp eyes.

But then, maybe
you've heard about us.

Yeah, you're probably the ones

who robbed the supply train
headed for Camp Broxton.

Which Denner are you, huh?

I'm Joseph Denner.

This is my brother Karl.

How do you do?

ROWDY: Major told me you two
were loose in this territory.

He'd love to know
you were the ones

are holding up his supply train.

Unfortunately,
you won't be able to tell him.

Prime pair of thieves you are.

JOSEPH:
You used the word "thieves.”

I like the word
"soldiers" better.

No matter what you call it,
it still smells.

At one time,
General Sam Houston

led what they called
a "pack of thieves."

They ended up by forming
the Republic of Texas.

You figuring on doing the same?

I'll own this country
or die in it.

ROWDY:
Likely by the end of a rope.

JOSEPH:
Aside from that,

I'm holding you
for a summary court-martial.

Now, if you're convicted,
you'll be executed.

In the meantime,
I'm impounding your herd.

You're what?

Karl.

Get the men ready.

That uniform you stole must've
really put you out of your head.

My men won't let you
near that herd.

Well, they will when they hear
it's either that or your life.

- And his, too, now. -You won't
get away with it, Denner.

By now, they already know
you're not Army.

Besides, they can match you
gun for gun.

Well, let's see what their guns
can do against a cannon.

Cannon?

JOSEPH: Make sure these men
are here when we get back.

Yes, sir.

You're really
gonna have to do something

about that temper of yours.

That's another thing
that's gonna get worse

before it gets better.

We're gonna have
to get out of this place.

♪♪

Make sure those charges
ride steady.

Sergeant, you're in charge
until I return.

Make sure
the prisoners are secure.

Yes, sir.

Take a position
in the rear, Lieutenant.

Yes, sir.

♪♪

Jackson, isn't it?

That's right.

I had a cousin named Jackson
once in Texas.

He was about
as snarl bit as you.

Yeah? What happened to him?

He was out in the fields one day
and bent over and...

...someone came along
and threw a brand on him.

Last I heard of him,
they took him off

with a load of beef
to Kansas City.

Why, you...

(grunting)

(gunshot)

Let's get out of here.

So, you lost your temper again,
huh?

Afraid so. Here.

Let's see what a couple
of borrowed guns can do

against a cannon.

Lieutenant.

You men, now hold it here.

Lieutenant, you follow me.

Good.

Good.

They put the cattle
in the valley,

and they made camp in
a handy place to train a cannon.

That way,
if we shell their camp,

we won't hurt any cattle.

KARL:
Money on the hoof.

- Enough money to...
- Enough money to buy that spread

south of the Rio.

Let's get back, Lieutenant.

Lieutenant...

position the cannon up there.

(cattle lowing)

(men calling to cattle,
whistling)

Hyah!

The herd guard's all on.

How 'bout some chow?

You know, there's times
when you come up

with some mighty smart ideas,
Simon.

(laughs)

Cannon's in position, sir.

Line up, Lieutenant.

When I raise my arm...

...that'll be the signal
to fire.

(cattle lowing)

Hear Rowdy ain't turned up yet.

You heard it right.

Well, we got something
turning up now.

♪♪

Send a man out here!

That's the Army for you;
always in time for chow.

- Looks like a powwow.
- Yeah,

with guns behind it.

Looks like I'm elected.

Do you recognize
this requisition?

Yeah, I recognize it.

I only show it to you as proof

that Mr. Yates came to my camp.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have it.

Just where is Mr. Yates now?

I'm holding him prisoner,
along with the other man Colby.

What for?

If you want
to see them alive again,

you'll turn your entire herd
over to me.

Aw, you want the cook pot, too?!

What's he mean, ransom?

He means he's a cattle rustler.

The United States Army
doesn't hold people for ransom.

Rustlers.

Just dressed up in Army clothes,
that's all.

Rustlers?

We're men of vision,
courage, skill,

with nerve to see
what they want and take it.

You call us rustlers
if you like.

Now do you understand?

You can see how accurate
my cannoneers are.

The next one will land right
in the middle,

unless several of your men
go with my troops

out to the herd guards and
have them lay their arms down.

You have your orders.

Have four men step out here
and drop their gun belts.

Pick off
those two men on the hill!

Let's get out of here!

Let's go!

(horse neighing)

Joseph.

Joseph!

♪♪

ROWDY:
Good job of cleaning up.

Now, if you could tell me
who's minding the herd?

I clean forgot.

That's my job.

Hey, I smell coffee
boiling over.

Who was it said
they didn't get any?

And I'd like to congratulate you

on getting
your herd back together.

Well, thanks.

We lost a little time,
but I think we can make it up.

I want to thank you for all
the things you've done for us.

I appreciate the new uniform,

even though it does have
a bullet hole in it.

You're welcome, Major.

Uh, you could do me
a favor, if you would.

Yeah?

I'd like to buy ten head
of your best steers.

Well, we'd be glad
to let you have 'em

at Kansas City prices,
gold in hand.

Well, I, uh... I have no gold,

but I have something here
just as good.

A requisition?

U.S. Army? Uh... we'll be paid

at any camp or, uh, fort
in the country?

Yes.