Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958–1961): Season 1, Episode 17 - Drop to Drink - full transcript

Thieves are lying in wait to ambush mail carriers and eventually Josh is hired to help insure that the mail will get through. The thieves have news about a $20,000 Diamond Ring that is being delivered which they are waiting for. The trail is through desert country with no water for miles.

Mailman's coming!

Why kill him?
There's no need to!

You close his eyes...
you close his mouth.

DROP TO DRINK

- John Bascomb?
- Right.

I'm Randall.

Nice to meet you. Sam
Jarvis, one of our riders.

- Hello, Jarvis.
- Didn't take you long to get here.

Sooner you go after a man on
the run, the sooner you get home.

This man might
not be on the run.

We had another rider killed
Monday, the telegram has just arrived.



The mailbox was stolen.

- Same man who killed the other men?
- Might be, it's on the same trail.

I'll show you...

The trail runs north,

from Tucson to Flagstaff.
There's a mail stop at Tipton.

A mining town.

Both men were killed
just South of Tipton.

- Did you get a description?
- No, nothing.

Nobody's seen him
or even heard a shot.

There must be some signs.

Yeah, footprints, plenty of
them: men, mules and moccasins.

Both holdups were
on the main trail.

Can't make anything
out of signs like that.

Not much to work on.



That's why we want
to pay you to do the job.

Let me show you something...

This package contains a
15-carat diamond worth $20,000.

It's addressed to Rufus
Teller, Tipton, Arizona.

A miner who struck rich.

Been bragging all over
town that the ring was coming.

It cost the rider his life.

It was supposed to go on
last week's trip, it got delayed.

I wired Denver

and sent for Sam to
deliver it next week.

I want you to patrol
the trail ahead of it.

Our company is willing to pay
$1000 for that robber, dead or alive.

I might as well tell you, I
think it's a waste of money.

I never needed a bounty
hunter yet to deliver mail.

Got something
against bounty hunters?

I've never met
one you could trust.

Then we'd better start all over.

I'm Josh Randall.

A stranger on the trail.

He's got a cut-down
carbine on his belt.

A bounty hunter!

What's his name? Randall!

Probably scanning
ahead for the rider.

Maybe we ought to fix it so the
mailman takes the wrong fork.

Here he comes!

What's he stopping for?

He's checking his bearings!

There goes your
diamond. He's turning back!

No, he's not!

You move up on him,
I'll keep him pinned down!

Get some water.

There oughta be a
canteen on his horse.

Not a gun shot.

Half-way up the mountain.

I'll take that canteen
and go after him.

No, Frank, let him go. Bring
the mule, get me out of here.

Where to, Tipton? It's the only place
we can make without more water.

Go back to the fork,
put those signs back.

Not without that diamond!

Not without water either.

You can't live on that mountain.
I'm keeping that canteen here.

Throw your gun over, Frank!

Now!

I thought we were partners!

There's only water for one.

I can't ride for more, you can.

You gotta be back to town before
everybody knows that rider's lost.

You load up on
water and get back.

One question: what's
to bring me back?

The diamond.

They're gonna spot
the canteen on a rock.

When that rider gets thirsty,
he'll come down and I'll finish him.

I don't like it, not at all!

You don't have to like it!

Get on that mule
or I'll kill you!

Give me one drink for the road!

Sorry, you'll
ride faster thirsty.

Now keep going!

- What happened?
- Where's the mail?

The mail won't be
coming in tonight.

The rider left his
last station on time.

I covered the whole
trail, most of it twice.

He's not there. The horse, the
mail and the rider just disappeared.

Now you listen, Randall!

My diamond ring was in that
mail pouch, worth $20,000.

I've heard that, Teller.

As everybody else within 50
miles, including the mail thief.

But the Express
guarantees delivery!

If you're hired, what are
you doing here in town?

Because it's got to
be reported to the law.

While that thieving mail
carrier gets a 50-mile start!

Accusing Sam Jarvis of
stealing your diamond?

I never knew a horse or a rider
to just disappear off a main trail

unless it was on purpose.

Now you listen,
wherever your diamond is,

Sam Jarvis is
protecting it, or he's dead.

Sheriff, you mean ain't
gonna head up a posse?

Mr. Randall is paid to find that
mail, I'm paid to police the town.

My budget don't
include deputies.

I'll find somebody
to ride out with you.

If I have to pay him myself!

Mr. Randall...

My name's Elder Boone.

I'm leader of the Gospel Wagon Train,
we're camped out at Sunday Springs.

Can I have a talk with you?

Glad to know you, Elder.

I'd like to have that talk but
I've got a lot to do right now.

It'll only take a moment.

In that stolen mail pouch,

there's something more
precious than diamonds.

My congregation has crossed this
wild country to settle at Sunday Springs.

We're building a church.

Our bishop has sent us holy water
from the River Jordan to dedicate it.

That flask of consecrated water
was entrusted to the Express company.

- It was due on this run?
- Yes, it was.

We had a telegram.

May God have
mercy on that thief.

And may He grant you
the will and the strength

to bring that consecrated
water home to us.

Elder, I'll do what I can.

Randall, I found you a man!

This is Frank Parish, the
smartest mountain goat around.

Next to me.

He's gonna ride with you as
my personal representative

to see that you don't disappear along
with my diamond and that mail rider.

Do you know this man?

Everybody knows Frank Parish.

He's been prospecting this
territory since the Apache days.

Why he knows
every trail and ledge.

Since I'm too lame to go, Frank
is the best guide you can get.

I've got no call to stop you,
I'm leaving in a half-hour.

Fine, I'll be ready.

Beats me, no sign for 30 miles
between town and the relay station.

This is the only side trail?

That's right.

Buzzards!

Waiting for something to die.

Horse prints, and they're fresh!

Take cover!

Throw your gun out,
there's two of us here!

Come out with your hands up!

Sorry, old friend.

That'll teach you to pull
a gun on your partner.

Now where's that diamond?

Frank!

Come here!

Footprints leading from that horse
right up here to this steep pitch.

Knowing Jarvis, I figure he
took that mail pouch with him.

Steep climb, we
can't use the horses.

No, we'll climb. You'd
better leave that rifle here.

Why?

It weighs about 15
pounds. If Jarvis is injured,

we're gonna pack him down off
that mountain. Too much weight here.

You're taking your gun.

I've dragged this up steep trails.
I don't feel dressed without it.

Blood.

He's been wounded,
couldn't get very far.

Jarvis!

The mail pouch, he hung onto it!

You remember that too.

Your friend Teller
called him a thief.

When you get back to town,
you tell him how Jarvis died.

I'll tell him.

- What about the diamond?
- I'm looking.

"Rufus Teller, Tipton, Arizona,
from Jacks & Co, Jewelers, St Louis"

$20,000 wrapped up
in a little paper box.

Let's see!

That ring was
handed over sealed up.

That's how we'll give
it back to Rufus Taylor.

We'd better bury Jarvis
and ride on back to Tipton.

Frank!

Better give it up while
I've still got water left.

Water?

You've got water?

Enough to get me back to town.

Randall...

I'm burning up.

Just one swallow.

What is it worth, Frank?

For a drop to drink,
would you trade $20,000?

He done it! He done it!

Josh Randall brought
back my diamond.

Look at her! Ain't she a beauty?

The Lord heard our prayers
and brought you safely home.

Blessed be the Lord.
Where is the water?

Right over here.

What's left of it.

It's been opened, there
are only a few drops left...

I'm John Bascomb, inspector
for Continental Express, Tucson.

You say that you
and your congregation

have been praying
for Mr. Randall.

- Of course.
- The Lord was listening.

That robber left Mr. Randall
in the mountain to die of thirst.

He found your flask
and it saved his life.

That's real miracle water.

Sent by God to save life.

Those last few drops will
doubly consecrate our church.

Mr. Randall, how can we ever...

Mr. Randall?

He figures he's the one
who should be thanking you.

He asked me to give you this.

A bank grant for $1000.

Randall's reward for
bringing him that diamond.

He risked his life,
that's enough...

He just didn't think
he'd enjoy spending it.

Without your water, he wouldn't
have been here to collect it.

Subtitles-TELETOTA