Rawhide (1959–1965): Season 8, Episode 13 - Crossing at White Feather - full transcript
A rattler spooks trail-guide Jonas who falls over a cliff as does Rowdy trying to rescue him. Jonas' son Aaron throws a rope to save Rowdy, not his father, because Jonas has become an embarrassing slacker. Jonas fakes injuries from the fall to weasel out of leading the herd across a dangerous river, which Rowdy dares to cross, rather than venture a pothole-ridden mountain pass urged by Jonas. When Rowdy finds a blotto Jonas malingering with liquor stashed under his bedroll, he fires both father and son. Back home Aaron eloquently prophesies that Rowdy will need them to forge the river quicksand. Jonas bolts onto a bender, proving he's neither saint, nor Nephite, selling a third of Rowdy's herd to a conman. Childless Rowdy's Oedipal abandonment issues surface via his brotherly concern over Jonas' motherless son when Rowdy describes his own history to Aaron which is similar. Aaron tries to find a crossing but has to be rescued from quicksand while the Sheriff arrives wanting one third of the herd. Jonas' bluff is called by his embarrassed son who outs Jonas as a drunk. A sober Jonas finds a crossing allowing Aaron to regain respect for him.
(cattle lowing)
(rattling)
(rattling continues)
Here you are, Mr. Yates.
Like I said,
sure save you a lot of time.
You don't expect me
to take a herd
through there, do you, Jonas?
If it was my drive, I-l just
guess I'd get 'em through.
You shut your mouth, son.
Ain't your drive.
Ain't even your horse.
I bet you I'll earn him
before we're through.
You don't even earn
your keep, Aaron Bolt,
so you mind your manners
with Mr. Yates.
All right, let's get back.
Hey, but wait a minute.
-(rattling) -I want
to show you something here.
-(Jonas cries out)
- Pa!
-(gunshot)
- Pa.
(horse whinnies)
Aaron, boy. Help, boy, help.
Get me up. Get me up.
The rope, Aaron.
(grunting):
Help.
Aaron!
(straining):
Get the rope. You hear me?
Chuck it down.
No, boy, not yet.
JONAS: You throw that rope
down here to me, you hear?
Look, Aaron, take that rope,
go back and get my horse.
Cinch that rope
around the saddle horn.
I'm gonna fall.
Make sure it's nice and tight,
now, huh?
JONAS (grunts):
Get a rope, Aaron.
Y-You move now.
Help.
Aaron, help, boy.
Hurry!
(grunting)
Chuck it, Aaron.
Mr. Yates.
(cracks)
(grunting)
(breathing heavily)
(panting)
Pa.
Pa? Pa?
Thank you, boy.
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
-(whip cracks)
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
- (whip cracks)
♪ Rawhide ♪
(whip cracks)
(whip cracks)
-(whip cracks)
- Hyah! Hyah!
- Hyah!
- (Whip cracks)
Coffee ready, Wish?
Well, see for yourself.
Where do you think you are,
at the Palmer House?
They're coming in, Wish.
Might need some help.
-(Jonas grunting)
- ROWDY: Help him down.
- What happened?
- Oh!
Take it easy, he might
have something broken.
Get him down
over here by the wagon.
(groans)
- Oh. -Let me in here,
let me in here.
Sure appreciate your
kindness, gentlemen.
I reckon I'll be up
on my feet by... by morning.
- Try to, anyway. -Yeah, now,
where's it hurt you, Jonas?
Well, I ain't a man to complain,
but I hurt all over.
I feel like I been
trampled by a buffalo herd.
Don't look like
he's broke anything.
- I'm...
- Think he better rest up.
Yeah, don't worry
about me, Mr. Yates.
I'll be right as rain tomorrow.
Good.
(whispers):
Aaron, come here.
Come closer.
You unappreciative,
murderous young whelp.
I didn't do nothing.
You throwed a rope to a
stranger. You call that nothing?
Mr. Yates ain't no stranger.
We-We've been traveling
with him for over a week, Pa.
He ain't your flesh and blood.
Don't you know we got nobody but
the two of us left in the world.
You're still here, ain't you?
Ooh, you young jackleg.
Sometimes I'm sorry
I promised your mother
I'd look out for you.
You didn't promise her nothing.
Night she died, you was out
in an Injun village
with fur trappers
getting stinkin' drunk.
(smacks)
You can thank your lucky stars
I'm in no condition to whup you.
G-Get your hands
off my chill tonic.
That's corn likker.
And if Mr. Yates
finds out that you're...
He ain't gonna find out.
You understand?
Now get,
and make yourself useful.
And remember,
don't disgrace the good name
of Jonas Bolt.
Ah.
(indistinct conversations)
Heaven's sake.
You two.
Well...
how you feeling?
A mite better.
Been feeling poorly.
I had the shakes
something fierce
in the middle of the night.
Well, Jonas, uh,
I hired you to get us
across this land
and over the river.
It's kind of important I know
when you get on your feet.
Oh, start right away,
if'n I got the strength.
-(groans)
- No, no.
No, no, take it easy.
Don't strain yourself.
Oh...
What's nibbling your gizzard?
(coyote howls in distance)
You ain't ailing
any more than Mr. Yates.
That your medical opinion, hmm?
You're faking, Pa.
You know it and
I know it, but why?
What makes you do it?
Yates' own fault.
He wouldn't take my advice
about the shortcut.
"Cause he's scared.
Man's got to take a chance
if he's a man.
I'd have taken them cattle over
that trail if'n they were mine.
All right, he thinks
he knows better than me?
Hmm.
Let him find out for himself.
But what good'll that
do you or him
or anybody else, Pa?
What good it'll do?
Two things.
He's got to learn
to respect my service.
He needs me.
He don't know
what he's up against
when he gets to that river.
And second, I got a little
resting time due.
(sniffs)
(whistles)
Ho.
Everything all right, nipper?
Giving you any trouble then?
Nothing wrong here.
How's the paterfamilias, eh?
What?
(chuckles)
Your father.
Oh.
Oh, don't worry about Pa.
Takes more than a little fall
to get him down.
Oh, I see.
(cattle lowing)
No luck?
No.
We're gonna have
to head them northwest.
Take us three or four more days
to reach the river.
Ain't no way that trail
could be used?
No chance.
How's Jonas doing?
Useful...
as a dry canteen in the Mojave.
Yeah, about all we've got
out of him so far
is two extra mouths to feed.
Well...
(dishes clinking)
♪♪
(clattering)
Suffering from snakebite, Jonas?
(Jonas coughing)
(chuckles)
A-All I needed was
one little nip.
I ain't touched a drop
since the day
you hired me on in town.
You're a liar.
How many of these
you polished off
on the way?
That's Dr. Groves
Tasteless Chill Tonic
for my nerves.
It's rotgut.
I say as far as I'm concerned,
you can drown yourself in it,
but not on my time or my drive.
Now, get off this wagon.
(Jonas groaning, muttering)
You saying
I'm all liquored up, huh?
I'm saying I can't trust you,
old man.
I was figuring to tell you,
I feel spry again,
and I could lead out the drive
if you want first thing
in the morning.
No, you can't.
Look, I-l swear to you,
before sunup if you want.
Get yourself packed, Jonas.
JONAS: Well,
you're making a great mistake.
You're going to be getting
to that river soon.
And...
I reckon you've forgotten that.
I already made a mistake.
I'm just correcting it now.
On your way.
Oh, you don't know
what that river's like.
It's got more tricks
than a trail boss can handle.
You can't begin to get across
that river without a good guide,
and I'm the best scout
in the whole territory.
You got ten minutes
to get your stuff together.
I'll pay you off then.
Wait till he gets to the river.
You'll see him
come crawling to me.
You'll see.
(pump squeaking)
(blowing air)
(sighs)
AARON:
Pa?
I wish it was you took sick
instead of Ma.
I wish it was you laying
in the ground.
I got half a mind
to skin you alive!
Time you get back from town,
you ain't even gonna be able
to stand straight!
You wait, boy.
I'm toting it up.
One of these days,
I'm gonna pound all that sass
out of you.
Don't go this time, Pa, please.
(whipping)
Aaron!
Oh.
You all right, boy?
Oh, Lord, you... you scared me.
I ought to whip the daylights
out of you.
Pa, please don't go into town.
Let's spend that money on...
on shoring up some timber
and-and wood jakes.
Wood jakes?
For that... for that ferry barge
you used to talk about
across the river.
Let's start on it now, Pa.
You-you crazy, boy?
You know what it would cost
to build a ferry
to cross that river?
I don't have money for that.
But we got a start.
And-and if you went back
to Mr. Yates
and got his cattle
across that river,
why... why, we'd have
a good deal more.
You expect me
to go crawling back to him
after the things he said?
(quietly):
Even if I was willing
to hunker my pride down to it,
I don't think it would work out
as good as I...
as I once figured.
Pa?
Y-You can easy make ten cents
a head to cross, Pa.
Why... why, that'd be $300
for one drive.
Oh, you can do it, Pa.
I know you can.
I'll think about it, boy.
Now, when I get back,
we'll talk about it, huh?
-(horse whinnying)
- Come on.
Sure, Pa.
(galloping hoof beats)
Only, time you get back,
I ain't gonna be here.
(cattle bellowing)
All right, what part
of the sky's falling in now?
Nothing. Mr. Yates thinks
you were a mite heavy
on the saleratus
in the biscuits.
Oh, he does, does he?
We got us a real epicure
for a trail boss now, don't we?
Well, you just tell
Mr. Rowdy Yates for me...
You tell him yourself, Wishbone.
I'm planning on keeping out
of his way today.
-(clicks tongue)
- Giddup. -Hyah!
Giddup.
(cattle bellowing)
We're moving along in smashing
good order, Mr. Yates.
It's a rather splendid day,
don't you think?
- Mr. Yates?
- Hmm?
You know I've been thinking...
about Jonas Bolt and his nipper.
Do you think you did
the right thing, Mr. Yates?
What are you talking about?
Well, it's rather difficult
to explain, really.
I mean, when one considers
moral questions,
you know, what is truth
and all that sort of rubbish,
you see, what is right
for one man may not be...
Ian, what are you talking about?
I swear, sometimes,
I don't even think
we're speaking
the same language.
What I'm trying to say is
that I disagree with the
decision you made last night.
Well, I'm paid
to make that decision.
They can be wrong.
Not when the drovers
and the cattle suffer.
I had to fire that old man.
Well, what about his lad?
I'm not running
a kindergarten here.
I'm in the cattle business.
So you are, Mr. Yates.
So you are.
Now don't you start in.
- About what?
- About that river.
We'll worry about that
when we get to it.
Well... well, I just came
from that river,
and, Rowdy,
we'd better get to worrying.
It's just up ahead.
Nothing but quicksand
and potholes.
Trouble as far
as the eye can see.
Trouble for us, maybe.
But not for somebody
who knows this river.
I fired Jonas for good.
Well, he does know the river,
Rowdy.
I can be made a fool out of
once, Quince, but not twice.
You been watching that sky?
Them clouds are still
gathering up.
If they break while we're still
on this side of the river,
we'll be drowning in trouble,
and I mean drowning.
We'll make it across.
Not too much daylight left.
We'll bed down over here,
and in the morning, we'll start
looking for a crossing.
(crickets chirping)
(horse whinnies)
Blind stubborn.
A man who'd rather choke
on a bone
than give up the fish, right?
What are you talking about?
That's about the way
you have me figured, isn't it?
(Quince sighs)
Well, you're the one
that said it. Hmm.
You think I ought
to hire the old man back on?
Well, it's like I told you
before, Rowdy.
Uh, well,
he-he does know that river.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, but I don't think
that's enough.
(Rowdy sniffles)
I got to get over 3,000 head
of cattle into that river,
and you saw it yourself.
Probably just loaded
with quicksand.
They'll start twisting
and milling
and drowning
and taking us with them.
What Kind of a trail boss
would I be,
risking everything
on a man like Bolt?
(coyote howls in distance,
rustling in brush)
(crickets chirping)
It's all right, chaps.
You're asking for a bunch
of trouble, boy,
sneaking into a man's camp
like this.
I didn't want to wake nobody.
How did you get by
the night guards?
Wasn't hard.
They just rode right on by
without even seeing me.
Your old man send you here?
No.
I was... I was figuring
you'd need some help.
For what?
Well, crossing that river.
That's the main reason
you hired my pa on as guide.
That's right,
but your pa's out now.
I'll manage without him.
Hire me, Mr. Yates.
- You?
- Well, as guide.
I've been all through
that country with Pa.
I know it as good as him.
Better.
Look, I made one mistake
with your old man.
I don't plan on doing
the same mistake again with you.
You owe it to me!
I don't owe you any...
Oh.
I can get you across that river.
I helped you once, didn't I?
I can do it again.
You, uh... you get some sleep.
We'll talk about it
in the morning.
Yes, sir.
(lively piano music playing)
JONAS: Yes sirree,
there was a time in San Antone
when I was free as a bird
and twice as high.
Yeah! Yeah-ooh!
(man laughs, Jonas coughs)
(crowd chatter,
lively music playing)
Bartender, I-I believe we can
stand another round here.
The, uh, paper's ready
for your signature, Mr. Bolt.
Well, now...
Harry,
bring that bottle up here.
Mr. Bolt may want
to pour his own.
- Hmm.
- Some problem, Mr. Bolt?
No, it's just that I-l don't see
too clear without my specs.
"Jonas Bolt transfers title
of 1,000 head prime J.B. cattle
to Samuel Clayton
in exchange for value."”
"$50 down, the rest when
the cattle are in my hands.”
Now, that's the deal you've been
drinking on, isn't it?
Mm-hmm.
Harry, a pencil for Mr. Bolt.
(chatter and laughter)
Hmm.
Yeah.
Here you are, Mr. Clayton.
M-My mark.
Here.
Everything legal.
Oh, Harry, this last bottle is
on me to, uh, clinch the deal.
Drink up, everybody.
Do you really believe
that old coot owns
a thousand head of cattle?
What, him? (chuckles)
No, but I'll tell
you what I do believe.
I believe there are 3,000 head
of cattle at the river,
and 1,000 of 'em have
the J.B. brand.
(crowd chatter, laughter)
You and Matt round up
a dozen men.
We're going to go after my beef
first thing in the morning.
(Rowdy sighs)
You sure this is the crossing
your old man uses?
Yes, sir, this is it.
We've been upstream
and downstream, Mr. Yates.
There's nothing better
anywhere else.
ROWDY: Yeah, we're gonna be in
for some rain pretty soon.
Then we'll really have trouble.
Better get the herd across
as soon as possible.
Well, what do we do?
My pa says a man's got
to take chances if he's a man.
Yeah? What kind of chances?
Try and drink more rotgut
than some small-town rummy?
Oh, what do I prove
by risking the herd and the men?
Look, Mr. Yates, I'll show you.
Come back here, Aaron.
(wind whistling)
(grunts softly)
(breath quivering)
Mr. Yates?
Aaron, come on back in here.
(panting)
I can't. I'm caught!
What's wrong?
Quicksand.
(panting)
Mr. Yates, help!
Here.
Here. Grab this belt.
(grunts)
(Aaron panting)
Pull, Aaron, pull!
(Aaron panting)
(Aaron groaning)
(Aaron groaning)
(panting)
There you go.
Now you're all right.
...I guess we're quits now,
huh, Mr. Yates?
Is that all you got to say, kid?
Could've happened to anybody.
Anybody or just you?
It wasn't my fault. H-How did I
know there was quicksand there?
You don't know a lot of things,
Aaron.
You don't know this territory,
you don't know this river.
And you lied to me
just like your old man did.
- That ain't so.
- It ain't, huh?
I acted like a greenhorn
with the two of you.
Took his word for everything,
then made the same mistake
with you.
Maybe I bragged on
what I don't know,
but nobody knows this country
like my pa.
Nobody knows the saloons
in this territory
like your pa, you mean.
He knows every inch
of this river.
Just like you do.
You can say what you want
about me, Mr. Yates,
and it's all true,
but you're wrong about my pa.
He does know it better
than any man alive.
And if he wanted to, he could
get you across that river
-without losing a single steer.
- BLAKE: Yates!
Yates.
You better get on quick
down to the herd.
(cattle lowing)
It's about time you got here!
Grunts)
Yeah, what can I do for you?
- You the trail boss here?
- That's right.
- Yates is the name.
- I've got an order
to cut 1,000 head
of J.B. cattle out of your herd.
You what?
Legal bill of sale, Mr. Yates.
Legal bill of sale?
From who?
Uh, Jonas Bolt.
Jo..
(sighs)
J.B., hmm?
Well, Sheriff,
suppose I tell you
that that's
the Jeremy Brothers out
of Del Rio County.
You'll get a chance
to prove that.
Prove it?
I haven't got time to prove it.
I got to get that herd
across the river
before the weather turns bad.
I'm afraid you can't do that
until this is settled.
No reason why Mr. Yates can't
move his other beef across.
All I've got is a claim
on 1,000 J.B. head.
You mean you want me
to leave a third of the stock
on this side of the river?
I'm just trying to be helpful,
Mr. Yates.
Mm-hmm.
CLAYTON: I don't see
that you have much choice
until my claim is settled.
I think I see
what you're getting at.
In other words, uh,
you could be persuaded to, uh,
make a settlement on your claim,
maybe half.
I'm not an unreasonable man.
No. Conniving, maybe,
but not unreasonable.
Look, Sheriff,
this whole thing's a fraud,
and you show me
where I can find Jonas Bolt
and I'll get him to tell you so.
What's to keep this man
from taking his cattle
across the river
while we're all sitting around
talking to Mr. Bolt?
Mr. Bolt? Why, that flea-bitten,
scroungy, good-for-nothing.
He'd sell the hide
off a cootie if he thought
he could get a drink for it.
Sheriff, this man's a crook,
and he's trading on the fact
that I'm pressed for time.
Now, he or no one else
is gonna get anything from me.
You get me to Jonas Bolt, we'll
settle this thing peacefully.
Otherwise, you're gonna have
a hard time keeping me
and the cattle
on this side of the river.
- Let's go.
- Sheriff...
Mr. Clayton, if you've got
a legitimate claim,
I can't see any objection
to having Jonas Bolt confirm
this deal.
Your men can see that none of
the J.B. cattle are moved across
until this is settled.
Mr. Yates,
you object to one
of your hands trailing along?
Wishbone, you're in charge.
WISHBONE:
Yes, sir.
(blacksmith hammer clanging)
Uh, you could be waiting a week
for that old coot.
Chances are he's wallowing
in a ditch somewhere.
It was your notion
to talk to him.
Yeah, well, I got another notion
that will be a little quicker.
(sighs)
Will you get out of my way?
You make me nervous.
Mr. Yates ought
to have been back by now.
Hasn't been gone long enough
to tree a polecat.
You talking about my pa?
Well, if the shoe fits.
Wasn't for him,
we wouldn't have all
this extra company over here.
You got a sour tongue,
ain't you? Like your cooking.
Well, I just say
what I think, boy,
and when it comes to Jonas Bolt,
that's not near enough.
- And another thing...
-(cocks rifle)
What in tarnation
do you think you're doing?
Chuck down that cleaver.
Behind you!
(cleaver clatters)
You're being mighty foolish,
boy.
You're just plain asking
for trouble.
Anybody comes after me,
there'll be trouble.
What do you think
you're gonna prove?
That you're a man now?
That you're all growed up
and eight feet high,
just like your pa?
Don't you rile me, old man,
or I'll...
Just don't you rile me,
you hear?
Lad's out for trouble.
You should have stopped him.
With what?
My cleaver?
Sorry, Mr. Cabot, I'm not
in the head-chopping business.
- Come on.
-(moans)
Found him sleeping upstairs.
Stinking scissorbill.
Now, you tell the sheriff
what right you've got
to sell part of my herd.
Well, it's a little hard
to see things clearly, sonny,
but as-as near
as I can recollect...
Before we go on, Sheriff,
I want it clear where I stand.
What happens if this man signed
a false bill of sale?
Big empty jail
across the street.
ROWDY:
Go ahead, Jonas, tell 'em.
Now, look, Yates,
you know I was never one
to stretch the truth.
He'd stretch
his own grandmother's neck
for a pint of whiskey.
Now, come on,
you tell the man right now.
Well, there's no need
to carry on like that.
Now, when I hired you
to be my trail boss...
When you hired me?
What kind of 100 proof rotgut
you been drinking?
JONAS: Did you show
these gentlemen my brand?
All they want to do is cut out
my J.B. cows.
- I'll kill you.
- Yates.
You try that again,
and you'll be the one occupying
-that jail cell.
- Well, look at this
flea-bitten, walleyed rummy.
Does he look like some big
Texas cattleman to you?
I've seen worse.
All my capital is
on the hoof just now,
but when we get to market...
Look, you're worse
than just a liar, Jonas.
In fact, you're the worst piece
of nothing
- ever got messed up with.
- Yates.
That's enough.
I've given you every chance
to clear this thing up.
Now I guess it'll have
to be settled in court.
In court? I got to be
across that river today.
I'm sorry. That's it.
Nobody leaves town until court
meets in the morning.
Let's go.
Well, if you want to keep me
on this side of the river,
-you're gonna have
to hold me here. -Stop him.
(grunting)
Hold it right there.
(grunts)
(grunting)
Pa!
Go on home, boy.
This is no place for you.
Nor for you.
Your pa's put his mark
on a document that's gonna
cause a whole mess
of unpleasantness, boy.
Now, he's saying that the J.B.
cattle with my herd is his.
I want you to tell the sheriff
the truth.
That's right, boy.
You tell the sheriff
how much of that herd is ours.
1,000 head or more,
isn't that right, boy?
The truth's gonna come out
sooner or later.
The longer it takes,
the deeper your pa gets.
Sort of like quicksand.
JONAS:
Pay him no attention, boy.
It's your pa you listen to, son.
Why, Pa?
'Cause you're such a big man?
Why, everybody knows
y-you got cattle
all up and down the territory,
herds and herds.
More than a man can count.
Why, you get more respect
than the governor--
more than the president--
and everybody loves you, Pa.
Is that what you want me to say?
Or do you want me
to tell them the truth?
Aaron...
You want me to tell them
that you're everything
that Mr. Yates says you are
and more?
You're a worthless deadbeat.
A good-for-nothing,
no-good drunk that lies and...
(panting)
I hope you rot in jail
for the rest of your life!
♪♪
How much further, Jonas?
Not much.
These horses are getting tired.
I ain't.
What are you going to say
to the boy if we find him?
Ain't no "ifs.”
I know where he'll be.
Yeah? How can you be sure?
He's my boy, ain't he?
Where else would he go but home?
I knew someone
just like you once.
That so?
Yeah.
You were right, Jonas--
he came straight to the house.
Now what?
I reckon that's between...
(gunshot)
JONAS:
Aaron!
Is that you, boy?
Could have killed me.
Listen to me, sonny!
I know you're down there,
and I'm coming down!
Don't come any closer, Pa!
I don't want any truck with you.
You hear that?
My own kin...
him trying to kill me.
Son!
I want to talk to you now, boy.
Just keep talking to him.
(gunshot)
Call yourself a man?
A varmint that takes
another man's horse
ain't a man in my book!
Pa! Do you hear me, Pa?
Don't you fix to out trick me.
I aim to go my own way how.
I-I'm 15, almost 16, Pa!
You don't need me, Pa!
You said so yourself.
Well, I don't need you!
I don't need anybody!
All right, take it easy.
- Take it easy, boy.
- Keep him away from me.
I don't want to see him.
Why did you come after me?
Well, I got my reasons.
And your pa's got his, too.
Now, there's something been
bothering me ever since that day
your pa and I
fell over the rocks.
How come you threw the rope
to me that day instead of him?
No special reason.
You don't do something like that
without a reason.
Now, your pa could have died.
How come you threw
the rope to me?
It was the only way to save him.
Hmm?
He was too scared
to help hisself.
First time I've...
I've ever seen Pa like that.
I wanted to chuck
the rope to him, but...
but-but I knew if he grabbed
at it and missed, I...
so I threw it to you.
It was... it was either you
or nothing.
You thought all this out
while we were clinging
on that cliff?
I reckon not.
I was thinking how much
I hated Pa for being scared
and-and how much I...
I kind of respected you.
I've kept all that
tight inside me till now.
Well, I'll tell you
something, boy.
(Aaron panting)
There's something I've
been keeping tight inside of me
for a long time, too.
What?
My pa.
He never went to school
a day in his life.
Never carried more
than he could throw on his back
and never stayed in one place
longer than he could help it.
Sounds like... my pa.
That's right.
Then one day
I told him I hated him.
Ran off.
Just like you're doing today.
I reckon I never let myself know
what he was really like.
I always thought
he was something.
I thought that there...
there was nothing he couldn't do
if he only wanted to.
I thought my pa
could lick the world.
(exhales)
How dumb can you be?
He's dirty and he's mean,
and he's low, and...
he's miserable.
I reckon the only thing
in the whole world he...
he ever could lick was me.
I reckon I can't do that either
now that you're
growed up enough.
I reckon I can't do nothin".
I... guess I deserved that.
The truth is, ll...
I ain't much of a pa.
And I ain't blaming you, son.
Take me with you, Mr. Yates.
Please? I'll... I'll work
for nothing if I have to.
Take him with you.
He'll make you a strong hand.
He's mighty skimpy
around the shoulders now, but...
he'll fill out.
All right.
I'll get my horse.
He'll work out for you,
Mr. Yates.
You see if he don't.
What about you, Jonas?
I'll be all right once
I get myself straightened out.
You owe me something, remember?
Yeah, sure. You let me know
whatever it is, whatever he...
I'm not talking about the boy;
he'll pay his own way.
I'm talking about you...
and cold, hard cash.
...must have missed the...
- The bail, remember?
- Oh.
-$50?
- Oh.
Disturbing the peace,
disorderly, drunk...
and, let's see,
there's court costs, $12.
That's $62 in all.
I'm figuring a way
to pay you back.
Y-You'll get the money.
Well, I want it
all back right now.
Sure, I'd be glad to, but...
you can't squeeze blood
out of...
I'm not worried
about squeezing blood,
but there's something else
I might be able
to squeeze out of you.
...I don't know what.
Work.
I want to get that herd of mine
across that river.
I don't mean you no disrespect,
but... are you plumb crazy?
I might be-- but I hear tell
that no man alive
knows that river like you do.
Reckon I see what you're doing,
and it'll sure pile you up
a lot of credit in Heaven,
giving an old rummy
a chance, but...
it ain't gonna work.
Are you telling me no?
I can't do it, Mr. Yates!
Was a time once,
back a ways, when...
maybe I could, but...
n-no more.
Y-You don't know that river.
That... that river bottom
is-is mean and treacherous.
I-I'd rather trip
over a nest of sidewinders
and fall into a cactus patch
than set two feet off that bank.
Now, you listen to me.
You're talking like a man
who's got a choice.
Well, let me tell you,
you ain't.
Now, you owe me money,
and you can pay me back
by getting that herd
across the river.
Otherwise, I'm gonna
dump you back in that jail
so fast your head'll swim.
Are you doubting me, mister?
(sighs):
No. I...
reckon ...
reckon I ain't, Mr. Yates.
♪♪
Well, Jonas?
♪♪
(horse snorts)
A little while back
I told somebody
I wouldn't trust the herd
with a man like you.
Well, I figure
enough's happened now
that maybe things are different.
Come on, Jonas, mark it off.
I want to get
those cattle moving.
♪♪
(lowing)
All right, Blake, move them out.
(drovers shouting, whistling)
(lowing continues)
All right, keep them rolling!
Keep them moving across.
Hyah! Move them out!
Move them out! Hyah!
Hah! Hah! Ho!
♪♪
(drovers shouting
and whistling)
Push them across!
Hyah!
(shouting, whistling continue)
(whistling continues)
(cattle lowing)
Well, Aaron, you did a good job.
In fact, you earned yourself
that horse you're riding.
He sure did, didn't he?
Jonas,
I've got something here for you.
No.
I've already been paid.
Think I'll be going home.
Now,
you take real good care
of yourself, son,
you hear?
Hmm?
(drovers shouting, whistling)
Mr. Yates, where's your pa now?
I don't know that, Aaron.
Well, what ever happened to him?
Don't know that either.
You ever think about him?
Think about him?
Yeah.
Yeah, I think about him.
Try to forget the past,
but once in a while
you find yourself
wondering where he is,
what's he doing.
You know, I don't even know
if he's alive?
That's when you know
you're alone.
But... try not to think
about it too much.
Where's the boy going,
Mr. Yates?
He's going home.
(rattling)
(rattling continues)
Here you are, Mr. Yates.
Like I said,
sure save you a lot of time.
You don't expect me
to take a herd
through there, do you, Jonas?
If it was my drive, I-l just
guess I'd get 'em through.
You shut your mouth, son.
Ain't your drive.
Ain't even your horse.
I bet you I'll earn him
before we're through.
You don't even earn
your keep, Aaron Bolt,
so you mind your manners
with Mr. Yates.
All right, let's get back.
Hey, but wait a minute.
-(rattling) -I want
to show you something here.
-(Jonas cries out)
- Pa!
-(gunshot)
- Pa.
(horse whinnies)
Aaron, boy. Help, boy, help.
Get me up. Get me up.
The rope, Aaron.
(grunting):
Help.
Aaron!
(straining):
Get the rope. You hear me?
Chuck it down.
No, boy, not yet.
JONAS: You throw that rope
down here to me, you hear?
Look, Aaron, take that rope,
go back and get my horse.
Cinch that rope
around the saddle horn.
I'm gonna fall.
Make sure it's nice and tight,
now, huh?
JONAS (grunts):
Get a rope, Aaron.
Y-You move now.
Help.
Aaron, help, boy.
Hurry!
(grunting)
Chuck it, Aaron.
Mr. Yates.
(cracks)
(grunting)
(breathing heavily)
(panting)
Pa.
Pa? Pa?
Thank you, boy.
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
-(whip cracks)
-♪ Rollin', rollin', rollin' ♪
- (whip cracks)
♪ Rawhide ♪
(whip cracks)
(whip cracks)
-(whip cracks)
- Hyah! Hyah!
- Hyah!
- (Whip cracks)
Coffee ready, Wish?
Well, see for yourself.
Where do you think you are,
at the Palmer House?
They're coming in, Wish.
Might need some help.
-(Jonas grunting)
- ROWDY: Help him down.
- What happened?
- Oh!
Take it easy, he might
have something broken.
Get him down
over here by the wagon.
(groans)
- Oh. -Let me in here,
let me in here.
Sure appreciate your
kindness, gentlemen.
I reckon I'll be up
on my feet by... by morning.
- Try to, anyway. -Yeah, now,
where's it hurt you, Jonas?
Well, I ain't a man to complain,
but I hurt all over.
I feel like I been
trampled by a buffalo herd.
Don't look like
he's broke anything.
- I'm...
- Think he better rest up.
Yeah, don't worry
about me, Mr. Yates.
I'll be right as rain tomorrow.
Good.
(whispers):
Aaron, come here.
Come closer.
You unappreciative,
murderous young whelp.
I didn't do nothing.
You throwed a rope to a
stranger. You call that nothing?
Mr. Yates ain't no stranger.
We-We've been traveling
with him for over a week, Pa.
He ain't your flesh and blood.
Don't you know we got nobody but
the two of us left in the world.
You're still here, ain't you?
Ooh, you young jackleg.
Sometimes I'm sorry
I promised your mother
I'd look out for you.
You didn't promise her nothing.
Night she died, you was out
in an Injun village
with fur trappers
getting stinkin' drunk.
(smacks)
You can thank your lucky stars
I'm in no condition to whup you.
G-Get your hands
off my chill tonic.
That's corn likker.
And if Mr. Yates
finds out that you're...
He ain't gonna find out.
You understand?
Now get,
and make yourself useful.
And remember,
don't disgrace the good name
of Jonas Bolt.
Ah.
(indistinct conversations)
Heaven's sake.
You two.
Well...
how you feeling?
A mite better.
Been feeling poorly.
I had the shakes
something fierce
in the middle of the night.
Well, Jonas, uh,
I hired you to get us
across this land
and over the river.
It's kind of important I know
when you get on your feet.
Oh, start right away,
if'n I got the strength.
-(groans)
- No, no.
No, no, take it easy.
Don't strain yourself.
Oh...
What's nibbling your gizzard?
(coyote howls in distance)
You ain't ailing
any more than Mr. Yates.
That your medical opinion, hmm?
You're faking, Pa.
You know it and
I know it, but why?
What makes you do it?
Yates' own fault.
He wouldn't take my advice
about the shortcut.
"Cause he's scared.
Man's got to take a chance
if he's a man.
I'd have taken them cattle over
that trail if'n they were mine.
All right, he thinks
he knows better than me?
Hmm.
Let him find out for himself.
But what good'll that
do you or him
or anybody else, Pa?
What good it'll do?
Two things.
He's got to learn
to respect my service.
He needs me.
He don't know
what he's up against
when he gets to that river.
And second, I got a little
resting time due.
(sniffs)
(whistles)
Ho.
Everything all right, nipper?
Giving you any trouble then?
Nothing wrong here.
How's the paterfamilias, eh?
What?
(chuckles)
Your father.
Oh.
Oh, don't worry about Pa.
Takes more than a little fall
to get him down.
Oh, I see.
(cattle lowing)
No luck?
No.
We're gonna have
to head them northwest.
Take us three or four more days
to reach the river.
Ain't no way that trail
could be used?
No chance.
How's Jonas doing?
Useful...
as a dry canteen in the Mojave.
Yeah, about all we've got
out of him so far
is two extra mouths to feed.
Well...
(dishes clinking)
♪♪
(clattering)
Suffering from snakebite, Jonas?
(Jonas coughing)
(chuckles)
A-All I needed was
one little nip.
I ain't touched a drop
since the day
you hired me on in town.
You're a liar.
How many of these
you polished off
on the way?
That's Dr. Groves
Tasteless Chill Tonic
for my nerves.
It's rotgut.
I say as far as I'm concerned,
you can drown yourself in it,
but not on my time or my drive.
Now, get off this wagon.
(Jonas groaning, muttering)
You saying
I'm all liquored up, huh?
I'm saying I can't trust you,
old man.
I was figuring to tell you,
I feel spry again,
and I could lead out the drive
if you want first thing
in the morning.
No, you can't.
Look, I-l swear to you,
before sunup if you want.
Get yourself packed, Jonas.
JONAS: Well,
you're making a great mistake.
You're going to be getting
to that river soon.
And...
I reckon you've forgotten that.
I already made a mistake.
I'm just correcting it now.
On your way.
Oh, you don't know
what that river's like.
It's got more tricks
than a trail boss can handle.
You can't begin to get across
that river without a good guide,
and I'm the best scout
in the whole territory.
You got ten minutes
to get your stuff together.
I'll pay you off then.
Wait till he gets to the river.
You'll see him
come crawling to me.
You'll see.
(pump squeaking)
(blowing air)
(sighs)
AARON:
Pa?
I wish it was you took sick
instead of Ma.
I wish it was you laying
in the ground.
I got half a mind
to skin you alive!
Time you get back from town,
you ain't even gonna be able
to stand straight!
You wait, boy.
I'm toting it up.
One of these days,
I'm gonna pound all that sass
out of you.
Don't go this time, Pa, please.
(whipping)
Aaron!
Oh.
You all right, boy?
Oh, Lord, you... you scared me.
I ought to whip the daylights
out of you.
Pa, please don't go into town.
Let's spend that money on...
on shoring up some timber
and-and wood jakes.
Wood jakes?
For that... for that ferry barge
you used to talk about
across the river.
Let's start on it now, Pa.
You-you crazy, boy?
You know what it would cost
to build a ferry
to cross that river?
I don't have money for that.
But we got a start.
And-and if you went back
to Mr. Yates
and got his cattle
across that river,
why... why, we'd have
a good deal more.
You expect me
to go crawling back to him
after the things he said?
(quietly):
Even if I was willing
to hunker my pride down to it,
I don't think it would work out
as good as I...
as I once figured.
Pa?
Y-You can easy make ten cents
a head to cross, Pa.
Why... why, that'd be $300
for one drive.
Oh, you can do it, Pa.
I know you can.
I'll think about it, boy.
Now, when I get back,
we'll talk about it, huh?
-(horse whinnying)
- Come on.
Sure, Pa.
(galloping hoof beats)
Only, time you get back,
I ain't gonna be here.
(cattle bellowing)
All right, what part
of the sky's falling in now?
Nothing. Mr. Yates thinks
you were a mite heavy
on the saleratus
in the biscuits.
Oh, he does, does he?
We got us a real epicure
for a trail boss now, don't we?
Well, you just tell
Mr. Rowdy Yates for me...
You tell him yourself, Wishbone.
I'm planning on keeping out
of his way today.
-(clicks tongue)
- Giddup. -Hyah!
Giddup.
(cattle bellowing)
We're moving along in smashing
good order, Mr. Yates.
It's a rather splendid day,
don't you think?
- Mr. Yates?
- Hmm?
You know I've been thinking...
about Jonas Bolt and his nipper.
Do you think you did
the right thing, Mr. Yates?
What are you talking about?
Well, it's rather difficult
to explain, really.
I mean, when one considers
moral questions,
you know, what is truth
and all that sort of rubbish,
you see, what is right
for one man may not be...
Ian, what are you talking about?
I swear, sometimes,
I don't even think
we're speaking
the same language.
What I'm trying to say is
that I disagree with the
decision you made last night.
Well, I'm paid
to make that decision.
They can be wrong.
Not when the drovers
and the cattle suffer.
I had to fire that old man.
Well, what about his lad?
I'm not running
a kindergarten here.
I'm in the cattle business.
So you are, Mr. Yates.
So you are.
Now don't you start in.
- About what?
- About that river.
We'll worry about that
when we get to it.
Well... well, I just came
from that river,
and, Rowdy,
we'd better get to worrying.
It's just up ahead.
Nothing but quicksand
and potholes.
Trouble as far
as the eye can see.
Trouble for us, maybe.
But not for somebody
who knows this river.
I fired Jonas for good.
Well, he does know the river,
Rowdy.
I can be made a fool out of
once, Quince, but not twice.
You been watching that sky?
Them clouds are still
gathering up.
If they break while we're still
on this side of the river,
we'll be drowning in trouble,
and I mean drowning.
We'll make it across.
Not too much daylight left.
We'll bed down over here,
and in the morning, we'll start
looking for a crossing.
(crickets chirping)
(horse whinnies)
Blind stubborn.
A man who'd rather choke
on a bone
than give up the fish, right?
What are you talking about?
That's about the way
you have me figured, isn't it?
(Quince sighs)
Well, you're the one
that said it. Hmm.
You think I ought
to hire the old man back on?
Well, it's like I told you
before, Rowdy.
Uh, well,
he-he does know that river.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, but I don't think
that's enough.
(Rowdy sniffles)
I got to get over 3,000 head
of cattle into that river,
and you saw it yourself.
Probably just loaded
with quicksand.
They'll start twisting
and milling
and drowning
and taking us with them.
What Kind of a trail boss
would I be,
risking everything
on a man like Bolt?
(coyote howls in distance,
rustling in brush)
(crickets chirping)
It's all right, chaps.
You're asking for a bunch
of trouble, boy,
sneaking into a man's camp
like this.
I didn't want to wake nobody.
How did you get by
the night guards?
Wasn't hard.
They just rode right on by
without even seeing me.
Your old man send you here?
No.
I was... I was figuring
you'd need some help.
For what?
Well, crossing that river.
That's the main reason
you hired my pa on as guide.
That's right,
but your pa's out now.
I'll manage without him.
Hire me, Mr. Yates.
- You?
- Well, as guide.
I've been all through
that country with Pa.
I know it as good as him.
Better.
Look, I made one mistake
with your old man.
I don't plan on doing
the same mistake again with you.
You owe it to me!
I don't owe you any...
Oh.
I can get you across that river.
I helped you once, didn't I?
I can do it again.
You, uh... you get some sleep.
We'll talk about it
in the morning.
Yes, sir.
(lively piano music playing)
JONAS: Yes sirree,
there was a time in San Antone
when I was free as a bird
and twice as high.
Yeah! Yeah-ooh!
(man laughs, Jonas coughs)
(crowd chatter,
lively music playing)
Bartender, I-I believe we can
stand another round here.
The, uh, paper's ready
for your signature, Mr. Bolt.
Well, now...
Harry,
bring that bottle up here.
Mr. Bolt may want
to pour his own.
- Hmm.
- Some problem, Mr. Bolt?
No, it's just that I-l don't see
too clear without my specs.
"Jonas Bolt transfers title
of 1,000 head prime J.B. cattle
to Samuel Clayton
in exchange for value."”
"$50 down, the rest when
the cattle are in my hands.”
Now, that's the deal you've been
drinking on, isn't it?
Mm-hmm.
Harry, a pencil for Mr. Bolt.
(chatter and laughter)
Hmm.
Yeah.
Here you are, Mr. Clayton.
M-My mark.
Here.
Everything legal.
Oh, Harry, this last bottle is
on me to, uh, clinch the deal.
Drink up, everybody.
Do you really believe
that old coot owns
a thousand head of cattle?
What, him? (chuckles)
No, but I'll tell
you what I do believe.
I believe there are 3,000 head
of cattle at the river,
and 1,000 of 'em have
the J.B. brand.
(crowd chatter, laughter)
You and Matt round up
a dozen men.
We're going to go after my beef
first thing in the morning.
(Rowdy sighs)
You sure this is the crossing
your old man uses?
Yes, sir, this is it.
We've been upstream
and downstream, Mr. Yates.
There's nothing better
anywhere else.
ROWDY: Yeah, we're gonna be in
for some rain pretty soon.
Then we'll really have trouble.
Better get the herd across
as soon as possible.
Well, what do we do?
My pa says a man's got
to take chances if he's a man.
Yeah? What kind of chances?
Try and drink more rotgut
than some small-town rummy?
Oh, what do I prove
by risking the herd and the men?
Look, Mr. Yates, I'll show you.
Come back here, Aaron.
(wind whistling)
(grunts softly)
(breath quivering)
Mr. Yates?
Aaron, come on back in here.
(panting)
I can't. I'm caught!
What's wrong?
Quicksand.
(panting)
Mr. Yates, help!
Here.
Here. Grab this belt.
(grunts)
(Aaron panting)
Pull, Aaron, pull!
(Aaron panting)
(Aaron groaning)
(Aaron groaning)
(panting)
There you go.
Now you're all right.
...I guess we're quits now,
huh, Mr. Yates?
Is that all you got to say, kid?
Could've happened to anybody.
Anybody or just you?
It wasn't my fault. H-How did I
know there was quicksand there?
You don't know a lot of things,
Aaron.
You don't know this territory,
you don't know this river.
And you lied to me
just like your old man did.
- That ain't so.
- It ain't, huh?
I acted like a greenhorn
with the two of you.
Took his word for everything,
then made the same mistake
with you.
Maybe I bragged on
what I don't know,
but nobody knows this country
like my pa.
Nobody knows the saloons
in this territory
like your pa, you mean.
He knows every inch
of this river.
Just like you do.
You can say what you want
about me, Mr. Yates,
and it's all true,
but you're wrong about my pa.
He does know it better
than any man alive.
And if he wanted to, he could
get you across that river
-without losing a single steer.
- BLAKE: Yates!
Yates.
You better get on quick
down to the herd.
(cattle lowing)
It's about time you got here!
Grunts)
Yeah, what can I do for you?
- You the trail boss here?
- That's right.
- Yates is the name.
- I've got an order
to cut 1,000 head
of J.B. cattle out of your herd.
You what?
Legal bill of sale, Mr. Yates.
Legal bill of sale?
From who?
Uh, Jonas Bolt.
Jo..
(sighs)
J.B., hmm?
Well, Sheriff,
suppose I tell you
that that's
the Jeremy Brothers out
of Del Rio County.
You'll get a chance
to prove that.
Prove it?
I haven't got time to prove it.
I got to get that herd
across the river
before the weather turns bad.
I'm afraid you can't do that
until this is settled.
No reason why Mr. Yates can't
move his other beef across.
All I've got is a claim
on 1,000 J.B. head.
You mean you want me
to leave a third of the stock
on this side of the river?
I'm just trying to be helpful,
Mr. Yates.
Mm-hmm.
CLAYTON: I don't see
that you have much choice
until my claim is settled.
I think I see
what you're getting at.
In other words, uh,
you could be persuaded to, uh,
make a settlement on your claim,
maybe half.
I'm not an unreasonable man.
No. Conniving, maybe,
but not unreasonable.
Look, Sheriff,
this whole thing's a fraud,
and you show me
where I can find Jonas Bolt
and I'll get him to tell you so.
What's to keep this man
from taking his cattle
across the river
while we're all sitting around
talking to Mr. Bolt?
Mr. Bolt? Why, that flea-bitten,
scroungy, good-for-nothing.
He'd sell the hide
off a cootie if he thought
he could get a drink for it.
Sheriff, this man's a crook,
and he's trading on the fact
that I'm pressed for time.
Now, he or no one else
is gonna get anything from me.
You get me to Jonas Bolt, we'll
settle this thing peacefully.
Otherwise, you're gonna have
a hard time keeping me
and the cattle
on this side of the river.
- Let's go.
- Sheriff...
Mr. Clayton, if you've got
a legitimate claim,
I can't see any objection
to having Jonas Bolt confirm
this deal.
Your men can see that none of
the J.B. cattle are moved across
until this is settled.
Mr. Yates,
you object to one
of your hands trailing along?
Wishbone, you're in charge.
WISHBONE:
Yes, sir.
(blacksmith hammer clanging)
Uh, you could be waiting a week
for that old coot.
Chances are he's wallowing
in a ditch somewhere.
It was your notion
to talk to him.
Yeah, well, I got another notion
that will be a little quicker.
(sighs)
Will you get out of my way?
You make me nervous.
Mr. Yates ought
to have been back by now.
Hasn't been gone long enough
to tree a polecat.
You talking about my pa?
Well, if the shoe fits.
Wasn't for him,
we wouldn't have all
this extra company over here.
You got a sour tongue,
ain't you? Like your cooking.
Well, I just say
what I think, boy,
and when it comes to Jonas Bolt,
that's not near enough.
- And another thing...
-(cocks rifle)
What in tarnation
do you think you're doing?
Chuck down that cleaver.
Behind you!
(cleaver clatters)
You're being mighty foolish,
boy.
You're just plain asking
for trouble.
Anybody comes after me,
there'll be trouble.
What do you think
you're gonna prove?
That you're a man now?
That you're all growed up
and eight feet high,
just like your pa?
Don't you rile me, old man,
or I'll...
Just don't you rile me,
you hear?
Lad's out for trouble.
You should have stopped him.
With what?
My cleaver?
Sorry, Mr. Cabot, I'm not
in the head-chopping business.
- Come on.
-(moans)
Found him sleeping upstairs.
Stinking scissorbill.
Now, you tell the sheriff
what right you've got
to sell part of my herd.
Well, it's a little hard
to see things clearly, sonny,
but as-as near
as I can recollect...
Before we go on, Sheriff,
I want it clear where I stand.
What happens if this man signed
a false bill of sale?
Big empty jail
across the street.
ROWDY:
Go ahead, Jonas, tell 'em.
Now, look, Yates,
you know I was never one
to stretch the truth.
He'd stretch
his own grandmother's neck
for a pint of whiskey.
Now, come on,
you tell the man right now.
Well, there's no need
to carry on like that.
Now, when I hired you
to be my trail boss...
When you hired me?
What kind of 100 proof rotgut
you been drinking?
JONAS: Did you show
these gentlemen my brand?
All they want to do is cut out
my J.B. cows.
- I'll kill you.
- Yates.
You try that again,
and you'll be the one occupying
-that jail cell.
- Well, look at this
flea-bitten, walleyed rummy.
Does he look like some big
Texas cattleman to you?
I've seen worse.
All my capital is
on the hoof just now,
but when we get to market...
Look, you're worse
than just a liar, Jonas.
In fact, you're the worst piece
of nothing
- ever got messed up with.
- Yates.
That's enough.
I've given you every chance
to clear this thing up.
Now I guess it'll have
to be settled in court.
In court? I got to be
across that river today.
I'm sorry. That's it.
Nobody leaves town until court
meets in the morning.
Let's go.
Well, if you want to keep me
on this side of the river,
-you're gonna have
to hold me here. -Stop him.
(grunting)
Hold it right there.
(grunts)
(grunting)
Pa!
Go on home, boy.
This is no place for you.
Nor for you.
Your pa's put his mark
on a document that's gonna
cause a whole mess
of unpleasantness, boy.
Now, he's saying that the J.B.
cattle with my herd is his.
I want you to tell the sheriff
the truth.
That's right, boy.
You tell the sheriff
how much of that herd is ours.
1,000 head or more,
isn't that right, boy?
The truth's gonna come out
sooner or later.
The longer it takes,
the deeper your pa gets.
Sort of like quicksand.
JONAS:
Pay him no attention, boy.
It's your pa you listen to, son.
Why, Pa?
'Cause you're such a big man?
Why, everybody knows
y-you got cattle
all up and down the territory,
herds and herds.
More than a man can count.
Why, you get more respect
than the governor--
more than the president--
and everybody loves you, Pa.
Is that what you want me to say?
Or do you want me
to tell them the truth?
Aaron...
You want me to tell them
that you're everything
that Mr. Yates says you are
and more?
You're a worthless deadbeat.
A good-for-nothing,
no-good drunk that lies and...
(panting)
I hope you rot in jail
for the rest of your life!
♪♪
How much further, Jonas?
Not much.
These horses are getting tired.
I ain't.
What are you going to say
to the boy if we find him?
Ain't no "ifs.”
I know where he'll be.
Yeah? How can you be sure?
He's my boy, ain't he?
Where else would he go but home?
I knew someone
just like you once.
That so?
Yeah.
You were right, Jonas--
he came straight to the house.
Now what?
I reckon that's between...
(gunshot)
JONAS:
Aaron!
Is that you, boy?
Could have killed me.
Listen to me, sonny!
I know you're down there,
and I'm coming down!
Don't come any closer, Pa!
I don't want any truck with you.
You hear that?
My own kin...
him trying to kill me.
Son!
I want to talk to you now, boy.
Just keep talking to him.
(gunshot)
Call yourself a man?
A varmint that takes
another man's horse
ain't a man in my book!
Pa! Do you hear me, Pa?
Don't you fix to out trick me.
I aim to go my own way how.
I-I'm 15, almost 16, Pa!
You don't need me, Pa!
You said so yourself.
Well, I don't need you!
I don't need anybody!
All right, take it easy.
- Take it easy, boy.
- Keep him away from me.
I don't want to see him.
Why did you come after me?
Well, I got my reasons.
And your pa's got his, too.
Now, there's something been
bothering me ever since that day
your pa and I
fell over the rocks.
How come you threw the rope
to me that day instead of him?
No special reason.
You don't do something like that
without a reason.
Now, your pa could have died.
How come you threw
the rope to me?
It was the only way to save him.
Hmm?
He was too scared
to help hisself.
First time I've...
I've ever seen Pa like that.
I wanted to chuck
the rope to him, but...
but-but I knew if he grabbed
at it and missed, I...
so I threw it to you.
It was... it was either you
or nothing.
You thought all this out
while we were clinging
on that cliff?
I reckon not.
I was thinking how much
I hated Pa for being scared
and-and how much I...
I kind of respected you.
I've kept all that
tight inside me till now.
Well, I'll tell you
something, boy.
(Aaron panting)
There's something I've
been keeping tight inside of me
for a long time, too.
What?
My pa.
He never went to school
a day in his life.
Never carried more
than he could throw on his back
and never stayed in one place
longer than he could help it.
Sounds like... my pa.
That's right.
Then one day
I told him I hated him.
Ran off.
Just like you're doing today.
I reckon I never let myself know
what he was really like.
I always thought
he was something.
I thought that there...
there was nothing he couldn't do
if he only wanted to.
I thought my pa
could lick the world.
(exhales)
How dumb can you be?
He's dirty and he's mean,
and he's low, and...
he's miserable.
I reckon the only thing
in the whole world he...
he ever could lick was me.
I reckon I can't do that either
now that you're
growed up enough.
I reckon I can't do nothin".
I... guess I deserved that.
The truth is, ll...
I ain't much of a pa.
And I ain't blaming you, son.
Take me with you, Mr. Yates.
Please? I'll... I'll work
for nothing if I have to.
Take him with you.
He'll make you a strong hand.
He's mighty skimpy
around the shoulders now, but...
he'll fill out.
All right.
I'll get my horse.
He'll work out for you,
Mr. Yates.
You see if he don't.
What about you, Jonas?
I'll be all right once
I get myself straightened out.
You owe me something, remember?
Yeah, sure. You let me know
whatever it is, whatever he...
I'm not talking about the boy;
he'll pay his own way.
I'm talking about you...
and cold, hard cash.
...must have missed the...
- The bail, remember?
- Oh.
-$50?
- Oh.
Disturbing the peace,
disorderly, drunk...
and, let's see,
there's court costs, $12.
That's $62 in all.
I'm figuring a way
to pay you back.
Y-You'll get the money.
Well, I want it
all back right now.
Sure, I'd be glad to, but...
you can't squeeze blood
out of...
I'm not worried
about squeezing blood,
but there's something else
I might be able
to squeeze out of you.
...I don't know what.
Work.
I want to get that herd of mine
across that river.
I don't mean you no disrespect,
but... are you plumb crazy?
I might be-- but I hear tell
that no man alive
knows that river like you do.
Reckon I see what you're doing,
and it'll sure pile you up
a lot of credit in Heaven,
giving an old rummy
a chance, but...
it ain't gonna work.
Are you telling me no?
I can't do it, Mr. Yates!
Was a time once,
back a ways, when...
maybe I could, but...
n-no more.
Y-You don't know that river.
That... that river bottom
is-is mean and treacherous.
I-I'd rather trip
over a nest of sidewinders
and fall into a cactus patch
than set two feet off that bank.
Now, you listen to me.
You're talking like a man
who's got a choice.
Well, let me tell you,
you ain't.
Now, you owe me money,
and you can pay me back
by getting that herd
across the river.
Otherwise, I'm gonna
dump you back in that jail
so fast your head'll swim.
Are you doubting me, mister?
(sighs):
No. I...
reckon ...
reckon I ain't, Mr. Yates.
♪♪
Well, Jonas?
♪♪
(horse snorts)
A little while back
I told somebody
I wouldn't trust the herd
with a man like you.
Well, I figure
enough's happened now
that maybe things are different.
Come on, Jonas, mark it off.
I want to get
those cattle moving.
♪♪
(lowing)
All right, Blake, move them out.
(drovers shouting, whistling)
(lowing continues)
All right, keep them rolling!
Keep them moving across.
Hyah! Move them out!
Move them out! Hyah!
Hah! Hah! Ho!
♪♪
(drovers shouting
and whistling)
Push them across!
Hyah!
(shouting, whistling continue)
(whistling continues)
(cattle lowing)
Well, Aaron, you did a good job.
In fact, you earned yourself
that horse you're riding.
He sure did, didn't he?
Jonas,
I've got something here for you.
No.
I've already been paid.
Think I'll be going home.
Now,
you take real good care
of yourself, son,
you hear?
Hmm?
(drovers shouting, whistling)
Mr. Yates, where's your pa now?
I don't know that, Aaron.
Well, what ever happened to him?
Don't know that either.
You ever think about him?
Think about him?
Yeah.
Yeah, I think about him.
Try to forget the past,
but once in a while
you find yourself
wondering where he is,
what's he doing.
You know, I don't even know
if he's alive?
That's when you know
you're alone.
But... try not to think
about it too much.
Where's the boy going,
Mr. Yates?
He's going home.