Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001): Season 7, Episode 5 - Code of the West - full transcript
Good morning, boss.
Work.
I'm workin', boss. I'm workin'.
Hey, Wilson, get to work.
You.
Hey, Morgan, this is a
work program, not a vacation.
Let's move it.
Morgan, wait for me.
Not your ride, cowboy.
Go. Go.
Commander. Ranger.
Ranger.
How many escaped?
We got 19 out, 14
still on the loose.
Do you have a chopper?
In five minutes.
Can we borrow it?
Just bring it back.
Hopefully with some prisoners.
Please.
Come on. Faster. Move.
Faster.
He's yours, Trivette.
How many are still on the loose?
We've all but one, Dirk Morgan.
Morgan's a bad one.
In for armed robbery and murder.
Okay. Thanks, commander.
Hey.
Morgan.
You remember me.
Good.
Come on.
Oh, you really think
you're somethin', don't you?
Foreman of the jury that
convicted Dirk Morgan.
I still remember the
way that you stared at me
after you read that verdict.
But tonight I got somethin'
that's gonna bug your eyes out.
You ought to be honored.
You're the first one on my list.
Let's go.
All right. Ha-ha.
♪ In the eyes of a Ranger ♪
♪ The unsuspecting stranger ♪
♪ Had better know the truth ♪
♪ Of wrong from right ♪
♪ 'Cause the eyes
Of the Ranger ♪
♪ Are upon you ♪
♪ Any wrong you
do He's gonna see ♪
♪ When you're in
Texas Look behind you ♪
♪ 'Cause that's where
The Ranger's gonna be ♪
Hey, Mary? Yeah?
Oh, Walker, Trivette.
Hey. Hi.
What we got? A bit of a puzzle.
Uh, the victim was a partner
in a downtown accounting firm.
He was found hanged in the
parking garage of his building.
Suicide? No.
His hands were
duct-taped behind his back.
Hm. So the question is if
you want to kill somebody,
why hang them?
Like I said, it's a puzzle.
And... we're rolling.
Welcome to our Positive Profile
Person of the Week segment.
We're here at
C.D.'s Bar and Grill,
where Mr. C.D. Parker
is hosting a book signing
for Judge Art
McSpadden's latest novel,
Code of the West.
But this series of
best-selling western books
is only part of the story.
Here to introduce
Judge McSpadden
is assistant district attorney
and the director of the Help
Our People Excel Center,
Alex Cahill.
Thank you.
Judge Art McSpadden
is not only one of the
best-selling authors in America,
but he is a real-life
Good Samaritan.
He is using the
profits from his books
to help benefit a very
special group of children.
Children of incarcerated felons.
McSPADDEN: Thank you, Alex.
Now, in this film, taken at my
ranch a couple of weeks ago,
you can see for yourselves
the program in action.
McSPADDEN: In all the
years that I've served as judge
in Tarrant County,
my heart has gone out
for those innocent children
that were left behind by
the people I sent to prison.
Too often I've seen
those very same children
follow in their
parents' footsteps
and get into serious trouble.
Now, at the ranch, we want
to help those youngsters
before they head
down the wrong road.
Well, I'll be.
McSPADDEN: Many of these
youngsters have never been out
of the inner city
in their entire lives.
Sometimes just the
chance to explore nature
gives them a leg up.
This the first time you ever
played poker with me or what?
McSPADDEN: When
these children realize
someone truly cares about them,
they feel worthwhile.
Hey, shut up.
Lighten up, Dirk.
Shut up and watch this!
Bunch of snot-nosed
rug rats. So?
Yeah, what's the deal, Morgan?
You soft on kids
all of a sudden?
That's it, Cole. Dirk's
thinkin' about his own brat.
Shut up!
McSPADDEN: We need your help.
So come on down to
C.D.'s and pick up your copy
of Code of the West.
With your help, these
children will become
worthwhile citizens
of our community.
I promise you, it'll
make you feel good.
That's the judge
that put me away.
He's gonna die real soon.
To Angela.
There we are.
Thank you. Thanks.
Well, hello, Earl,
good to see you.
Thanks for coming
down. There we go.
I really liked your
book Code of the West.
Thanks, Earl. I appreciate that.
Hey, judge. Hey,
Cordell, how are you?
Fine. Jimmy. Good to see you.
Thanks for coming
down. How'd it go?
Oh, it was great. So
many people turned out.
Big crowd, huh? Yeah.
Oh, he's been charmin'
'em all day long.
I think everybody
had a good time.
Yeah, everybody except for one.
- Who's that?
The judge's
granddaughter. Katie.
She moved in with him
about six months ago.
Where's her parents?
They were killed in
an automobile accident.
Hit by a drunk driver.
That's tough.
Yeah, really tough.
It's been tough on both of 'em.
That little girl has a
lot of anger stored up.
Come on. Let me introduce you.
Katie, I'd like you
to meet my friends.
This is Ranger Walker
and Ranger Trivette.
Hi. Hi.
Hi.
Katie's gonna go
with us on the trail ride.
It's gonna be her first time.
Oh, you'll have a good time.
Yeah. It'll be a lot of fun.
Yeah, right. Tons of fun.
Nice meeting you.
And here it comes.
Here's your map to
McSpadden's ranch.
Who is this guy anyway?
That would be...
Judge Art McSpadden,
which is soon to be
the late Judge McSpadden.
Ha-ha. Yeah.
Well, I see you boys
found a few things
you could use.
Oh, yeah.
See? What'd I tell you?
No background
checks, no waitin' period.
Whether it's info or
ammo, Grissom's your man.
I'm gonna have to say...
you were right, Lyles.
Uh, aren't you forgetting
something, Mr. Morgan?
I don't do business on credit.
Oh, then, I guess I'll
have to pay you right now.
C.D., you got enough food here
to feed an army for a week.
It's only a weekend
camping trip.
Ha-ha-ha. Well, now, listen.
You guys told me that you
wanted these kids exposed
to real Western cuisine.
Well, brother, that's
what I'm gonna do,
and it doesn't include
bologna sandwiches.
Give me a hand with
this, will you, Rudy?
Oh. Good lord, C.D.
What do you got in this
box? It feels like iron.
It is. Cast iron.
The finest cast
iron pot in the world.
That's what you make
your best chili with.
We'll be the judge of that.
All right. Let's pack 'em up.
Katie, honey,
now, you can't
go on a trail ride
with that hair blowing all
over your eyes like that.
Maybe you ought to go back
in the house and pin it up, huh?
You wouldn't even be happy
if I had pigtails
like Annie Oakley.
According to his file,
Morgan had an old cellmate,
Stanton. Rodney Stanton.
Do you have an address?
Yeah, 1126 Preston
Road. It's probably no good.
He's got three outstanding
warrants for credit card fraud.
Any known associates?
He has a girlfriend,
Brenda Williams.
She's on parole for
possession with intent.
She's staying at a
house in Oak Cliff.
Let's go check
it out. All right.
Who is it?
Texas Rangers. Open up, ma'am.
Rodney, it's the cops!
Get him, Trivette.
Come on.
Get up.
Get up!
Oh, boy.
When is it ever
your turn to get 'em?
Well, when they don't run.
Put him in the bed
of the truck, will you?
Uh, you don't mind
getting back there, do you?
Heh. Only kidding.
Take a joke.
Okay.
Roderick, you all set to go?
Yeah. All right, buddy.
Peter, my cowboy.
All cinched up? All cinched up.
Watch that foot.
Hey, Cindy. How you doing?
Hey. I'm okay.
Having some trouble?
Yeah, I guess so.
Here. You want to get
the cinch tight enough
so the saddle won't
move and fall down,
but the horse can still breathe.
Remember how Ranger
Walker taught you?
Yeah. I'm sorry
for making trouble.
You're no trouble. What
are you kidding me?
Where's Jason? There you are.
Listen, buddy, I
wanted to let you know
that Walker's not gonna
be able to make this trip,
but I'm going to be in
your back pocket, okay?
Okay. All right.
Come on, you guys. I'm
giving it to you straight.
Did I used to share a cell
with Dirk Morgan? Yes.
Did he call and ask me
to help him escape? Yes.
Did I do it? No.
And why didn't you?
Because Morgan's crazy, man.
Scary crazy.
I don't wanna have
anything to do with him.
Yeah. Trivette.
We'll be right there.
Another hanging.
Walker, Trivette.
Hey, doc. Hey, Mary.
Hi. Know who he is?
Yeah. Jim Edelson.
Prosecuting
attorney, Jim Edelson?
I'm afraid so.
Hey, take a look at this.
It's duct tape, like
the accountant.
Yeah. MARY: Mm-hm.
Trivette, why don't
you check and see
if there's any connection
between these two guys?
You got it.
Do you know the
approximate time of death?
We're still working on it,
I figure in the last
couple of hours.
You guys ready
to go? Yeah, Dirk.
I'd say we got
enough firepower here
to take down an army.
Let's go kill us a judge.
This thing's rough as
a cob. Dagonnit, Art.
Gonna hit every rock
between here and there?
Oh, no, no, no.
I'll try and miss one
or two before nightfall.
Now, see. I don't remember
you being so sensitive.
Couldn't have anything to
do with old age now, could it?
So you having fun? Oh, yeah.
It's like being on a wagon train
in one of Judge
McSpadden's books.
Oh, you like his
books, huh? Sure do.
What do you like best about 'em?
They make me feel good.
The hero always wins,
and the bad guys
get what they deserve.
Hm.
Not like in real life.
McSPADDEN: Katie, honey,
you got to keep
up with the others.
I didn't want to come
on this stupid trip
in the first place.
C.D., I swear,
I-I just don't know
what to do with her.
Well, just keep loving her, Art.
That's all anybody can do.
Yeah.
I've been waiting
five years to get a rope
around that judge's neck.
And today I'm
gonna hang him high.
Easy, easy.
Easy, girl. Take it easy.
Wow. What's that?
Hey, look. It's a deer.
Okay. That a girl.
What do we got here?
Oh, look. It's Bambi.
Aw, neat.
Shh. Shh.
Easy, kids. We don't
want to scare her.
Looks like she's
got a bum leg, C.D.
Are you gonna shoot him?
We could have
deer soup for supper.
Hey, we're not gonna
shoot her or cook her.
Oh. We're gonna patch her up.
So she's got an
infected cut. Yeah.
Art, let's put her on
the back of the wagon.
Alex and I will
look after her. Okay.
Is there anything I can do?
Yeah, there sure is, Cindy.
Uh, Katie, would
you like to help too?
Yeah, I guess so. Great.
Why don't you hop on
the back of the wagon?
Then you can help hold her.
Come on, kids.
Good job. Excuse me.
Now, I'm gonna need some help.
Katie, why don't you
come around here?
We're gonna try to hold her down
so I can work on her leg.
Okay, boys. We got a job to do.
What kind of job?
We got to try and
find her mother.
What if she's, you know, dead?
Well, if we can't
find her mother,
we'll just have to take her
to the Wildlife Rehab Center.
We can't keep her?
No. I'm sorry.
You see, a wild thing
belongs in the wild,
not in somebody's back yard.
Now, let's spread out and
see if we can find her, okay?
Let's go.
There we go. That's it. Okay.
Hold her.
McSPADDEN: Any
sign of the mother?
No, we didn't find her.
Hello, sweetie.
That's a girl. How's she doing?
She's doing much better.
Find the mother?
Afraid not, C.D.
Man, we looked everywhere.
Okay, okay, okay. We
got to head down the trail.
Why don't you girls help Alex
get the fawn into the
wagon? You guys mount up.
Let's go. Come on.
I wish I could live out here
and have my own
horse like you do.
Then I could ride every day.
Where do you live?
In a foster care group home.
What happened to your parents?
My mom's dead.
Where's your dad?
He's in prison for murder
and robbing a bank.
Do you miss him?
Uh-uh. He was always real mean.
He used to hurt my mom a lot.
You know, you're
real lucky, Katie.
Lucky?
Yeah. I mean, your
grandpa really loves you.
I wish I had someone
who loves me.
If I had pigtails
like Annie Oakley.
Pigtails like Annie Oakley.
Hey, Walker, your
hunch was right.
Edelson prosecuted Morgan.
Boyd Davis, the accountant,
was the foreman
on Morgan's jury.
That means Morgan's
out for revenge.
Who was the judge at his trial?
"Arthur McSpadden."
Art was the judge.
Let's get out to his ranch.
Can I help you boys?
Where's the judge?
Well, he's not here right now.
Where is he?
Well, he's out
on the river trail,
and he won't be back
for a couple of days.
Why don't you leave your names,
and I'll tell him
you stopped by?
Why do you want
to see the judge?
Well, nothin' real important.
I just wanna kill him.
Hyah.
That showed him.
So the judge is
on the river trail?
Let's find him.
Okay.
Put your stirrup
up over the horn
and let out the cinch
so these guys can
breathe a little bit.
While we go get
something to eat.
What's cooking?
You're gonna love this.
It's C.D.'s famous chili.
Morgan?
Yes, my man,
you're in for a treat.
Yes, siree.
This chili will make a
hound dog hug a bear.
Thank you.
McSPADDEN: I guess you were
right after all, C.D. Take a look.
Katie seems to be
getting along all right.
Of course I was. She's
going to be just fine. Here.
Still the best
chili in the world.
Hm. I never lost it.
Judge McSpadden?
Will you tell us a story?
Aren't you a little
too old for fairy tales?
Unless it's getting
close to your nap time.
I'm older than anybody here,
and I wanna hear a good story.
So do I. How about that?
Come on, judge, tell a story.
Okay, well, now, this is a
story about a Bo Claxton.
He lived in the
Oklahoma territory
back in the late 1800s.
Bo's father was an outlaw,
and he abandoned
Bo and his mother
when Bo was just
a little fella, like you.
Hm. Sounds familiar.
Now, when the
town's people found out
that Bo's father had
turned to a life of crime,
they ran Bo and his
mother out of town.
Bo's mother took him
and went to another town.
She found work
in a boardinghouse.
Now, Bo's mother
worked long and hard
to support herself and Bo.
But the kids at school
started to tease Bo
and make fun of him
because Bo didn't have a father
and Bo helped his
mother do women's work.
Is this a true story?
Now, the sheriff in town
was kind to Bo and his mother,
and when Bo was old enough,
he gave Bo odd jobs
to do around the jail.
One day, a gang rode
into town to rob the bank.
Now, the sheriff and the deputy
caught two of the gang members,
but three of them got away.
Well, Bo was
sweeping out the jail
and prisoners
started to talk to him.
During that conversation,
they found out that
the leader of the gang
was Bo's father.
Now, the prisoner told Bo
that his father had
been looking for him
because he wanted
Bo to ride with the gang.
And he said, "Now, if
you bring me the keys
to this jail cell, we'll
take you to your father."
And then what'd Bo do?
Well, Bo thought
about it long and hard.
He took the key
ring off the peg.
And he thought, "Now,
if I ride with my father,
"no one would
dare make fun of me
or tease me ever again."
Did he let him out?
No, no.
He put the keys back on the peg,
and he ran to tell the sheriff.
Now, you see, Bo
had to make a choice.
Now, it wasn't an easy one,
but he knew down
deep in his heart
it was the right one.
What happened to Bo's father?
Well, they captured
Bo's father, put him in jail,
and, uh, he died behind bars.
Well, whatever happened to Bo?
Bo grew up and he became
sheriff of that very same town.
Yeah, but that's just a story.
In life, things don't
always turn out okay
just 'cause you do what's right.
McSPADDEN:
Well, that's right, son.
But if you do wrong,
there's never a happy ending.
Take it from a judge.
There we go.
McSPADDEN: Come on.
Good lord.
Hey, are you all right,
son? Yeah, I'm fine.
I guess I forgot to
tighten up the cinch.
Yeah, you see,
that's why you leave
the stirrup on the saddle horn,
so you'll remember.
You sure you're all right? Yes.
Okay. Well, look, cowboy,
if you're all right, let's
get this saddle cinched up
and let's, uh...
Oh, my goodness.
Look it here.
- Well, I'll be darned.
- It's the mother.
McSPADDEN: Well, how about that?
That's a beautiful reunion.
Yes, it is, hon.
We should be close now.
Oh, look.
Well, how's it going?
Well, we're just about ready.
How was that chili?
Oh, yeah, it was great.
McSPADDEN: All
right, listen up, kids.
We got another hour or two
of riding before we set camp
and, uh, we want to get
there before it gets dark, so...
let's get ready.
Mount up. Come on.
Get the kids in the woods!
Kids, go! Go, run, run, run!
No, no, no, hey, stop!
C.D.!
C.D.
C.D. Hey.
You remember me, judge?
Yeah, I remember you, Morgan.
I got a good memory
for yellow-bellied scum.
Get the rope.
You know what they
call you in prison, judge?
The hanging judge.
'Cause it seems like
half the guys on death row
came through your courtroom.
Yeah.
I reckon you might call this
poetic justice, huh, judge?
Come on.
Get down.
Grandpa!
Katie, get back.
Get out of here.
Morgan, you get
your hands off of her.
Who is that?
Dad!
Dad, you can't do this.
Cindy?
Oh, you're just
like your ma, weak.
Time to toughen you up.
You got any last words, judge?
Yeah, Morgan.
Don't let the kids see this.
Why? It's good for 'em.
They get to see what
the real world is like.
Do it.
No, stop it! Kids, get down.
Get back here. You're going up.
Grandpa, I was so scared.
I thought I'd lost you.
Oh, no, no, no, honey.
It takes more than a
bunch of varmints like that
to break us apart.
Medics said you're
going to be fine, Big Dog.
I feel like I was
run over by a truck.
Well, you were, C.D.
Now, tell me the truth.
You ran out in front of that
4-by-4 'cause you didn't wanna
ride back on that wagon
with me, didn't you?
Ha-ha-ha. They won't be hitting
every damn rock in the
road when we go back.
Oh, you're getting
to be an old softy.
Okay, guys, let's get
him to the helicopter.
I'll see you back...
Back in town.
I'll buy you a drink. Okay.
Fellas, could I have
a shot of something?
Watch your back.
Well, thank you, Cindy.
You're welcome.
Just wanted to say I'm sorry.
Sorry for what?
For what my pa tried to do.
Well, you don't got
nothing to be sorry about.
That was your pa
that did a bad thing.
But that was him, not you.
Now, what you did
was try and save my life,
and I'm mighty
grateful for that.
You know, I've been thinking.
I bet I could pull some strings.
How would you like to
come and live at the ranch
with me and Katie?
You mean it? Very sure.
What do you think, Katie?
Would you like a
sister at the ranch?
I sure would, if it's Cindy.
There we go.
You okay?
Yes, I'm fine and
so are all the kids.
Good.
By golly, that's
just great, Art.
Yeah, it just goes to show you
that there's somebody
left in la-la land
that's got a brain working.
You bet. Well, listen,
give my regards
to Katie and Cindy.
And the best to you, ol' buddy.
O-o-okay. All right. Thank you.
Well, you're not
gonna believe this.
You know Art's new book?
It's not even released yet.
A high-powered
Hollywood producer
has bought the rights to it.
That's great, C.D. It is, Alex.
Because he's gonna take
the money from the book
and start a foundation
to continue his work
all over the country.
Well, that'll
help a lot of kids.
Yes, it will. Wait a minute.
You guys.
Art's new book, that's
the one about the judge.
Right? He takes a bunch
of kids on a trail ride.
And then the bad guys show up
and then they try
to hang the judge?
Yeah, yeah, that's
right. And two Rangers
come in and save the day.
Hey...
We're gonna be famous.
Huh. Well,
I never thought about that,
Jimmy. I guess you're right.
Oh, I wonder who they'll get.
What are you talking about?
The cast to play
us in the movie.
Well, I'm easy.
Paul Newman.
Huh.
Paul Newman?
Do you have any
other suggestions?
No.
Alex, who's gonna play you?
I have no idea.
Helen Hunt.
Helen Hunt.
Really? Yeah.
She's beautiful.
She's intelligent.
She's you, baby.
Mm. And what about you, Jimmy?
Well, I was... I was
thinking about Denzel.
Denzel Washington?
No, Denzel Smith.
Yes, Denzel Washington, Paul.
And what about you, Walker?
Who do you think they're
gonna get to play you?
How would I know? I do.
Chuck Norris.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
That's perfect.
Jimmy, you're a genius.
Chuck Norris?
C.D., you get Paul Newman,
who's an Academy Award winner.
Alex, you get Helen Hunt,
who's an Academy Award winner.
Trivette, you get
Denzel Washington,
who's an Academy Award winner.
And I get Chuck Norris?
Now, what has he won?
How about six-time
World Karate Champion?
Hm. That'll work.
Let's go call him right now.
I wanna talk to you
about this Paul thing.
Yeah, I wanna hear about that...
♪ 'Cause the eyes
Of the Ranger ♪
♪ Are upon you ♪
♪ Any wrong you
do He's gonna see ♪
♪ When you're in
Texas Look behind you ♪
♪ 'Cause that's where
The Ranger's gonna be ♪
Work.
I'm workin', boss. I'm workin'.
Hey, Wilson, get to work.
You.
Hey, Morgan, this is a
work program, not a vacation.
Let's move it.
Morgan, wait for me.
Not your ride, cowboy.
Go. Go.
Commander. Ranger.
Ranger.
How many escaped?
We got 19 out, 14
still on the loose.
Do you have a chopper?
In five minutes.
Can we borrow it?
Just bring it back.
Hopefully with some prisoners.
Please.
Come on. Faster. Move.
Faster.
He's yours, Trivette.
How many are still on the loose?
We've all but one, Dirk Morgan.
Morgan's a bad one.
In for armed robbery and murder.
Okay. Thanks, commander.
Hey.
Morgan.
You remember me.
Good.
Come on.
Oh, you really think
you're somethin', don't you?
Foreman of the jury that
convicted Dirk Morgan.
I still remember the
way that you stared at me
after you read that verdict.
But tonight I got somethin'
that's gonna bug your eyes out.
You ought to be honored.
You're the first one on my list.
Let's go.
All right. Ha-ha.
♪ In the eyes of a Ranger ♪
♪ The unsuspecting stranger ♪
♪ Had better know the truth ♪
♪ Of wrong from right ♪
♪ 'Cause the eyes
Of the Ranger ♪
♪ Are upon you ♪
♪ Any wrong you
do He's gonna see ♪
♪ When you're in
Texas Look behind you ♪
♪ 'Cause that's where
The Ranger's gonna be ♪
Hey, Mary? Yeah?
Oh, Walker, Trivette.
Hey. Hi.
What we got? A bit of a puzzle.
Uh, the victim was a partner
in a downtown accounting firm.
He was found hanged in the
parking garage of his building.
Suicide? No.
His hands were
duct-taped behind his back.
Hm. So the question is if
you want to kill somebody,
why hang them?
Like I said, it's a puzzle.
And... we're rolling.
Welcome to our Positive Profile
Person of the Week segment.
We're here at
C.D.'s Bar and Grill,
where Mr. C.D. Parker
is hosting a book signing
for Judge Art
McSpadden's latest novel,
Code of the West.
But this series of
best-selling western books
is only part of the story.
Here to introduce
Judge McSpadden
is assistant district attorney
and the director of the Help
Our People Excel Center,
Alex Cahill.
Thank you.
Judge Art McSpadden
is not only one of the
best-selling authors in America,
but he is a real-life
Good Samaritan.
He is using the
profits from his books
to help benefit a very
special group of children.
Children of incarcerated felons.
McSPADDEN: Thank you, Alex.
Now, in this film, taken at my
ranch a couple of weeks ago,
you can see for yourselves
the program in action.
McSPADDEN: In all the
years that I've served as judge
in Tarrant County,
my heart has gone out
for those innocent children
that were left behind by
the people I sent to prison.
Too often I've seen
those very same children
follow in their
parents' footsteps
and get into serious trouble.
Now, at the ranch, we want
to help those youngsters
before they head
down the wrong road.
Well, I'll be.
McSPADDEN: Many of these
youngsters have never been out
of the inner city
in their entire lives.
Sometimes just the
chance to explore nature
gives them a leg up.
This the first time you ever
played poker with me or what?
McSPADDEN: When
these children realize
someone truly cares about them,
they feel worthwhile.
Hey, shut up.
Lighten up, Dirk.
Shut up and watch this!
Bunch of snot-nosed
rug rats. So?
Yeah, what's the deal, Morgan?
You soft on kids
all of a sudden?
That's it, Cole. Dirk's
thinkin' about his own brat.
Shut up!
McSPADDEN: We need your help.
So come on down to
C.D.'s and pick up your copy
of Code of the West.
With your help, these
children will become
worthwhile citizens
of our community.
I promise you, it'll
make you feel good.
That's the judge
that put me away.
He's gonna die real soon.
To Angela.
There we are.
Thank you. Thanks.
Well, hello, Earl,
good to see you.
Thanks for coming
down. There we go.
I really liked your
book Code of the West.
Thanks, Earl. I appreciate that.
Hey, judge. Hey,
Cordell, how are you?
Fine. Jimmy. Good to see you.
Thanks for coming
down. How'd it go?
Oh, it was great. So
many people turned out.
Big crowd, huh? Yeah.
Oh, he's been charmin'
'em all day long.
I think everybody
had a good time.
Yeah, everybody except for one.
- Who's that?
The judge's
granddaughter. Katie.
She moved in with him
about six months ago.
Where's her parents?
They were killed in
an automobile accident.
Hit by a drunk driver.
That's tough.
Yeah, really tough.
It's been tough on both of 'em.
That little girl has a
lot of anger stored up.
Come on. Let me introduce you.
Katie, I'd like you
to meet my friends.
This is Ranger Walker
and Ranger Trivette.
Hi. Hi.
Hi.
Katie's gonna go
with us on the trail ride.
It's gonna be her first time.
Oh, you'll have a good time.
Yeah. It'll be a lot of fun.
Yeah, right. Tons of fun.
Nice meeting you.
And here it comes.
Here's your map to
McSpadden's ranch.
Who is this guy anyway?
That would be...
Judge Art McSpadden,
which is soon to be
the late Judge McSpadden.
Ha-ha. Yeah.
Well, I see you boys
found a few things
you could use.
Oh, yeah.
See? What'd I tell you?
No background
checks, no waitin' period.
Whether it's info or
ammo, Grissom's your man.
I'm gonna have to say...
you were right, Lyles.
Uh, aren't you forgetting
something, Mr. Morgan?
I don't do business on credit.
Oh, then, I guess I'll
have to pay you right now.
C.D., you got enough food here
to feed an army for a week.
It's only a weekend
camping trip.
Ha-ha-ha. Well, now, listen.
You guys told me that you
wanted these kids exposed
to real Western cuisine.
Well, brother, that's
what I'm gonna do,
and it doesn't include
bologna sandwiches.
Give me a hand with
this, will you, Rudy?
Oh. Good lord, C.D.
What do you got in this
box? It feels like iron.
It is. Cast iron.
The finest cast
iron pot in the world.
That's what you make
your best chili with.
We'll be the judge of that.
All right. Let's pack 'em up.
Katie, honey,
now, you can't
go on a trail ride
with that hair blowing all
over your eyes like that.
Maybe you ought to go back
in the house and pin it up, huh?
You wouldn't even be happy
if I had pigtails
like Annie Oakley.
According to his file,
Morgan had an old cellmate,
Stanton. Rodney Stanton.
Do you have an address?
Yeah, 1126 Preston
Road. It's probably no good.
He's got three outstanding
warrants for credit card fraud.
Any known associates?
He has a girlfriend,
Brenda Williams.
She's on parole for
possession with intent.
She's staying at a
house in Oak Cliff.
Let's go check
it out. All right.
Who is it?
Texas Rangers. Open up, ma'am.
Rodney, it's the cops!
Get him, Trivette.
Come on.
Get up.
Get up!
Oh, boy.
When is it ever
your turn to get 'em?
Well, when they don't run.
Put him in the bed
of the truck, will you?
Uh, you don't mind
getting back there, do you?
Heh. Only kidding.
Take a joke.
Okay.
Roderick, you all set to go?
Yeah. All right, buddy.
Peter, my cowboy.
All cinched up? All cinched up.
Watch that foot.
Hey, Cindy. How you doing?
Hey. I'm okay.
Having some trouble?
Yeah, I guess so.
Here. You want to get
the cinch tight enough
so the saddle won't
move and fall down,
but the horse can still breathe.
Remember how Ranger
Walker taught you?
Yeah. I'm sorry
for making trouble.
You're no trouble. What
are you kidding me?
Where's Jason? There you are.
Listen, buddy, I
wanted to let you know
that Walker's not gonna
be able to make this trip,
but I'm going to be in
your back pocket, okay?
Okay. All right.
Come on, you guys. I'm
giving it to you straight.
Did I used to share a cell
with Dirk Morgan? Yes.
Did he call and ask me
to help him escape? Yes.
Did I do it? No.
And why didn't you?
Because Morgan's crazy, man.
Scary crazy.
I don't wanna have
anything to do with him.
Yeah. Trivette.
We'll be right there.
Another hanging.
Walker, Trivette.
Hey, doc. Hey, Mary.
Hi. Know who he is?
Yeah. Jim Edelson.
Prosecuting
attorney, Jim Edelson?
I'm afraid so.
Hey, take a look at this.
It's duct tape, like
the accountant.
Yeah. MARY: Mm-hm.
Trivette, why don't
you check and see
if there's any connection
between these two guys?
You got it.
Do you know the
approximate time of death?
We're still working on it,
I figure in the last
couple of hours.
You guys ready
to go? Yeah, Dirk.
I'd say we got
enough firepower here
to take down an army.
Let's go kill us a judge.
This thing's rough as
a cob. Dagonnit, Art.
Gonna hit every rock
between here and there?
Oh, no, no, no.
I'll try and miss one
or two before nightfall.
Now, see. I don't remember
you being so sensitive.
Couldn't have anything to
do with old age now, could it?
So you having fun? Oh, yeah.
It's like being on a wagon train
in one of Judge
McSpadden's books.
Oh, you like his
books, huh? Sure do.
What do you like best about 'em?
They make me feel good.
The hero always wins,
and the bad guys
get what they deserve.
Hm.
Not like in real life.
McSPADDEN: Katie, honey,
you got to keep
up with the others.
I didn't want to come
on this stupid trip
in the first place.
C.D., I swear,
I-I just don't know
what to do with her.
Well, just keep loving her, Art.
That's all anybody can do.
Yeah.
I've been waiting
five years to get a rope
around that judge's neck.
And today I'm
gonna hang him high.
Easy, easy.
Easy, girl. Take it easy.
Wow. What's that?
Hey, look. It's a deer.
Okay. That a girl.
What do we got here?
Oh, look. It's Bambi.
Aw, neat.
Shh. Shh.
Easy, kids. We don't
want to scare her.
Looks like she's
got a bum leg, C.D.
Are you gonna shoot him?
We could have
deer soup for supper.
Hey, we're not gonna
shoot her or cook her.
Oh. We're gonna patch her up.
So she's got an
infected cut. Yeah.
Art, let's put her on
the back of the wagon.
Alex and I will
look after her. Okay.
Is there anything I can do?
Yeah, there sure is, Cindy.
Uh, Katie, would
you like to help too?
Yeah, I guess so. Great.
Why don't you hop on
the back of the wagon?
Then you can help hold her.
Come on, kids.
Good job. Excuse me.
Now, I'm gonna need some help.
Katie, why don't you
come around here?
We're gonna try to hold her down
so I can work on her leg.
Okay, boys. We got a job to do.
What kind of job?
We got to try and
find her mother.
What if she's, you know, dead?
Well, if we can't
find her mother,
we'll just have to take her
to the Wildlife Rehab Center.
We can't keep her?
No. I'm sorry.
You see, a wild thing
belongs in the wild,
not in somebody's back yard.
Now, let's spread out and
see if we can find her, okay?
Let's go.
There we go. That's it. Okay.
Hold her.
McSPADDEN: Any
sign of the mother?
No, we didn't find her.
Hello, sweetie.
That's a girl. How's she doing?
She's doing much better.
Find the mother?
Afraid not, C.D.
Man, we looked everywhere.
Okay, okay, okay. We
got to head down the trail.
Why don't you girls help Alex
get the fawn into the
wagon? You guys mount up.
Let's go. Come on.
I wish I could live out here
and have my own
horse like you do.
Then I could ride every day.
Where do you live?
In a foster care group home.
What happened to your parents?
My mom's dead.
Where's your dad?
He's in prison for murder
and robbing a bank.
Do you miss him?
Uh-uh. He was always real mean.
He used to hurt my mom a lot.
You know, you're
real lucky, Katie.
Lucky?
Yeah. I mean, your
grandpa really loves you.
I wish I had someone
who loves me.
If I had pigtails
like Annie Oakley.
Pigtails like Annie Oakley.
Hey, Walker, your
hunch was right.
Edelson prosecuted Morgan.
Boyd Davis, the accountant,
was the foreman
on Morgan's jury.
That means Morgan's
out for revenge.
Who was the judge at his trial?
"Arthur McSpadden."
Art was the judge.
Let's get out to his ranch.
Can I help you boys?
Where's the judge?
Well, he's not here right now.
Where is he?
Well, he's out
on the river trail,
and he won't be back
for a couple of days.
Why don't you leave your names,
and I'll tell him
you stopped by?
Why do you want
to see the judge?
Well, nothin' real important.
I just wanna kill him.
Hyah.
That showed him.
So the judge is
on the river trail?
Let's find him.
Okay.
Put your stirrup
up over the horn
and let out the cinch
so these guys can
breathe a little bit.
While we go get
something to eat.
What's cooking?
You're gonna love this.
It's C.D.'s famous chili.
Morgan?
Yes, my man,
you're in for a treat.
Yes, siree.
This chili will make a
hound dog hug a bear.
Thank you.
McSPADDEN: I guess you were
right after all, C.D. Take a look.
Katie seems to be
getting along all right.
Of course I was. She's
going to be just fine. Here.
Still the best
chili in the world.
Hm. I never lost it.
Judge McSpadden?
Will you tell us a story?
Aren't you a little
too old for fairy tales?
Unless it's getting
close to your nap time.
I'm older than anybody here,
and I wanna hear a good story.
So do I. How about that?
Come on, judge, tell a story.
Okay, well, now, this is a
story about a Bo Claxton.
He lived in the
Oklahoma territory
back in the late 1800s.
Bo's father was an outlaw,
and he abandoned
Bo and his mother
when Bo was just
a little fella, like you.
Hm. Sounds familiar.
Now, when the
town's people found out
that Bo's father had
turned to a life of crime,
they ran Bo and his
mother out of town.
Bo's mother took him
and went to another town.
She found work
in a boardinghouse.
Now, Bo's mother
worked long and hard
to support herself and Bo.
But the kids at school
started to tease Bo
and make fun of him
because Bo didn't have a father
and Bo helped his
mother do women's work.
Is this a true story?
Now, the sheriff in town
was kind to Bo and his mother,
and when Bo was old enough,
he gave Bo odd jobs
to do around the jail.
One day, a gang rode
into town to rob the bank.
Now, the sheriff and the deputy
caught two of the gang members,
but three of them got away.
Well, Bo was
sweeping out the jail
and prisoners
started to talk to him.
During that conversation,
they found out that
the leader of the gang
was Bo's father.
Now, the prisoner told Bo
that his father had
been looking for him
because he wanted
Bo to ride with the gang.
And he said, "Now, if
you bring me the keys
to this jail cell, we'll
take you to your father."
And then what'd Bo do?
Well, Bo thought
about it long and hard.
He took the key
ring off the peg.
And he thought, "Now,
if I ride with my father,
"no one would
dare make fun of me
or tease me ever again."
Did he let him out?
No, no.
He put the keys back on the peg,
and he ran to tell the sheriff.
Now, you see, Bo
had to make a choice.
Now, it wasn't an easy one,
but he knew down
deep in his heart
it was the right one.
What happened to Bo's father?
Well, they captured
Bo's father, put him in jail,
and, uh, he died behind bars.
Well, whatever happened to Bo?
Bo grew up and he became
sheriff of that very same town.
Yeah, but that's just a story.
In life, things don't
always turn out okay
just 'cause you do what's right.
McSPADDEN:
Well, that's right, son.
But if you do wrong,
there's never a happy ending.
Take it from a judge.
There we go.
McSPADDEN: Come on.
Good lord.
Hey, are you all right,
son? Yeah, I'm fine.
I guess I forgot to
tighten up the cinch.
Yeah, you see,
that's why you leave
the stirrup on the saddle horn,
so you'll remember.
You sure you're all right? Yes.
Okay. Well, look, cowboy,
if you're all right, let's
get this saddle cinched up
and let's, uh...
Oh, my goodness.
Look it here.
- Well, I'll be darned.
- It's the mother.
McSPADDEN: Well, how about that?
That's a beautiful reunion.
Yes, it is, hon.
We should be close now.
Oh, look.
Well, how's it going?
Well, we're just about ready.
How was that chili?
Oh, yeah, it was great.
McSPADDEN: All
right, listen up, kids.
We got another hour or two
of riding before we set camp
and, uh, we want to get
there before it gets dark, so...
let's get ready.
Mount up. Come on.
Get the kids in the woods!
Kids, go! Go, run, run, run!
No, no, no, hey, stop!
C.D.!
C.D.
C.D. Hey.
You remember me, judge?
Yeah, I remember you, Morgan.
I got a good memory
for yellow-bellied scum.
Get the rope.
You know what they
call you in prison, judge?
The hanging judge.
'Cause it seems like
half the guys on death row
came through your courtroom.
Yeah.
I reckon you might call this
poetic justice, huh, judge?
Come on.
Get down.
Grandpa!
Katie, get back.
Get out of here.
Morgan, you get
your hands off of her.
Who is that?
Dad!
Dad, you can't do this.
Cindy?
Oh, you're just
like your ma, weak.
Time to toughen you up.
You got any last words, judge?
Yeah, Morgan.
Don't let the kids see this.
Why? It's good for 'em.
They get to see what
the real world is like.
Do it.
No, stop it! Kids, get down.
Get back here. You're going up.
Grandpa, I was so scared.
I thought I'd lost you.
Oh, no, no, no, honey.
It takes more than a
bunch of varmints like that
to break us apart.
Medics said you're
going to be fine, Big Dog.
I feel like I was
run over by a truck.
Well, you were, C.D.
Now, tell me the truth.
You ran out in front of that
4-by-4 'cause you didn't wanna
ride back on that wagon
with me, didn't you?
Ha-ha-ha. They won't be hitting
every damn rock in the
road when we go back.
Oh, you're getting
to be an old softy.
Okay, guys, let's get
him to the helicopter.
I'll see you back...
Back in town.
I'll buy you a drink. Okay.
Fellas, could I have
a shot of something?
Watch your back.
Well, thank you, Cindy.
You're welcome.
Just wanted to say I'm sorry.
Sorry for what?
For what my pa tried to do.
Well, you don't got
nothing to be sorry about.
That was your pa
that did a bad thing.
But that was him, not you.
Now, what you did
was try and save my life,
and I'm mighty
grateful for that.
You know, I've been thinking.
I bet I could pull some strings.
How would you like to
come and live at the ranch
with me and Katie?
You mean it? Very sure.
What do you think, Katie?
Would you like a
sister at the ranch?
I sure would, if it's Cindy.
There we go.
You okay?
Yes, I'm fine and
so are all the kids.
Good.
By golly, that's
just great, Art.
Yeah, it just goes to show you
that there's somebody
left in la-la land
that's got a brain working.
You bet. Well, listen,
give my regards
to Katie and Cindy.
And the best to you, ol' buddy.
O-o-okay. All right. Thank you.
Well, you're not
gonna believe this.
You know Art's new book?
It's not even released yet.
A high-powered
Hollywood producer
has bought the rights to it.
That's great, C.D. It is, Alex.
Because he's gonna take
the money from the book
and start a foundation
to continue his work
all over the country.
Well, that'll
help a lot of kids.
Yes, it will. Wait a minute.
You guys.
Art's new book, that's
the one about the judge.
Right? He takes a bunch
of kids on a trail ride.
And then the bad guys show up
and then they try
to hang the judge?
Yeah, yeah, that's
right. And two Rangers
come in and save the day.
Hey...
We're gonna be famous.
Huh. Well,
I never thought about that,
Jimmy. I guess you're right.
Oh, I wonder who they'll get.
What are you talking about?
The cast to play
us in the movie.
Well, I'm easy.
Paul Newman.
Huh.
Paul Newman?
Do you have any
other suggestions?
No.
Alex, who's gonna play you?
I have no idea.
Helen Hunt.
Helen Hunt.
Really? Yeah.
She's beautiful.
She's intelligent.
She's you, baby.
Mm. And what about you, Jimmy?
Well, I was... I was
thinking about Denzel.
Denzel Washington?
No, Denzel Smith.
Yes, Denzel Washington, Paul.
And what about you, Walker?
Who do you think they're
gonna get to play you?
How would I know? I do.
Chuck Norris.
Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
That's perfect.
Jimmy, you're a genius.
Chuck Norris?
C.D., you get Paul Newman,
who's an Academy Award winner.
Alex, you get Helen Hunt,
who's an Academy Award winner.
Trivette, you get
Denzel Washington,
who's an Academy Award winner.
And I get Chuck Norris?
Now, what has he won?
How about six-time
World Karate Champion?
Hm. That'll work.
Let's go call him right now.
I wanna talk to you
about this Paul thing.
Yeah, I wanna hear about that...
♪ 'Cause the eyes
Of the Ranger ♪
♪ Are upon you ♪
♪ Any wrong you
do He's gonna see ♪
♪ When you're in
Texas Look behind you ♪
♪ 'Cause that's where
The Ranger's gonna be ♪