Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958–1961): Season 1, Episode 24 - Secret Ballot - full transcript
At the request of his friend's wife, Randall comes to assist and protect a war buddy in his bid for the town's mayoralty, quickly running afoul of the established political machine and its corrupt mayor and wanted sheriff.
Think Barney will
like them, Steve?
He'll like them alright.
Steve!
Wasn't there a while ago.
Kinda clutters up the view.
Loopy.
Tell Barney I'll see
him after the rally.
Tell me, why did
you pull that down?
Be a good fella and
put it back up again.
You're a registered voter?
Can't say as I am.
Then this banner and this
election doesn't concern you.
Why don't you just move on?
D'you figure Easter's hired
a gun to run his campaign?
If he did, it's the greatest
mistake since buttermilk.
SECRET BALLOT
- Josh Randall!
- Good morning.
- Josh!
- What a wonderful surprise!
It's been years!
What brings you to Crater City?
- I tell ya, Carole here...
- You got a speech to make.
I'll make sure Josh
doesn't get away!
D'you mind?
Not at all.
Good luck, darling.
You go on!
I don't want him to
know I sent for you.
He'd be furious, he thinks
he can beat them alone.
Can he?
This election's filthy, worse than
anything I described in that letter.
Sounds pretty good from here.
Ned's worked hard
for those cheers.
Too hard!
He deserves to win this
election more than anyone alive.
I want him to win.
Who's gonna stop him?
Our honorable mayor Barney Pax
has got this town under his thumb.
He won't let a schoolteacher
like Ned put him out of office.
If the people want Ned Easter
in office, they'll vote for him.
If they vote at all.
Barney makes
things happen his way.
He'll create convenient
little accidents.
The kind that scare people away.
Won't the people do something?
What can they do? Barney's
made his brother Sheriff
just to keep their murderous
tricks fresh and sweet and legal.
That's why I sent for
you. Maybe you can help.
Maybe.
Ned's the first man who's ever
had the courage to challenge Barney.
He's gonna need more than that.
Where in heaven's
name did you get this?
It's my living, remember.
Nobody has ever
seen this before.
Steve Pax is wanted
in the state of Colorado.
His brother won't let this
poster be circulated round town.
This could win the
election for Ned!
Might just do that.
I'm alright.
Look out!
I don't want that,
Steve, you hear?
Wasn't my idea, Mr Pax. Steve
said we should break up the rally.
- You almost took my arm off.
- I should have!
Scaring these nice people!
Put this coyote in jail.
- What?
- That's where he belongs.
Go on!
Ned, I sure apologize.
This'll never happen again.
Those fools might
have hurt someone.
Now listen to me, all of you!
Anybody hurt, anything broken,
charge all the damages to me.
D'you hear?
Whatever it costs,
charge it all to Barney Pax.
Come over to Dolly's
and I'll buy the drinks.
That hypocrite!
Buying votes,
that's all he's doing.
They come mighty
cheap in this town.
Takes a special kind of
man to do a thing like that.
What?
A heart like ice and a
little luck, you know?
Barney Pax has them both.
One slip and he could
have killed his own brother.
For some votes,
he'd have done it.
The time has come for you to
demand and get clean government.
It's time to sweep
corruption out of city hall,
to challenge this vicious
and arrogant administration
that has cheated
and exploited you...
Hiya, fellas!
Hi, come on over here.
Meet three beautiful new
dancers from Denver City.
Come and get better acquainted!
Excuse me, you didn't bring the girls
just to heckle up Easter's campaign.
I didn't say that at all.
If you're from Denver you
must know Steve Patrick.
He shot up half of Colorado
before skipping across the state line.
They're not interested.
At least I think
that's his name.
Yes, Steve Patrick.
Says so right here.
If you don't get
out of my way...
- Where did you get this?
- I collect 'em. Got trunks full.
This is Mr Easter's party.
Don't you go away now, hear?
Mr Easter, read that real loud
so the whole town can hear.
"Wanted for murder. $1000 reward
"for the capture, dead or alive,
"of Steve Pax
alias Steve Patrick."
Ned!
Darling, it's marvelous! You
ought to hear the people talking!
You showed them how to call
Barney's bluff. They're not afraid of him!
It was Josh's doing.
Thanks to you, I may soon be
hanging new drapes in the Mayor's office.
Or a wreath on Josh's grave.
I want you to leave town.
Ned, we've been through
this, you're almost in city hall.
Because you exposed the
Mayor's brother as a killer.
You Steve Pax is our sheriff.
He can shoot you in
the back and call it legal.
I don't get into any
trouble I can't get out of.
Speaking of trouble, I remember
Corporal Ned Easter during the war.
He got me out of
trouble a couple of times.
- Is that why you came?
- No, that's not...
Come in!
Barney Pax wants
to see you, Randall.
What does he want?
Business, I guess.
Coming?
- I'm going with you.
- Ned!
It's alright, Ned.
No, I won't have
you... Do me a favor
and just relax.
- Honey, I can't let him...
- Listen to me.
Barney won't let anything happen
to Josh, everyone would know.
He knows they won't
stand for that now.
I hope you're right.
Not open today, huh?
Decorating for the election.
Only two days away, you know.
He's back there.
After you.
After you.
Where is he?
You wait here. I'll get him.
Doesn't look good for you.
Pretty bad, shooting
a lawman in the back
in front of witnesses.
I'm sorry. You can't
change the facts, Ned.
Four witnesses saw Randall
shoot my brother in the back.
He wouldn't even
shoot you in the back!
- So I'm charging him with murder.
- Murder?
Your brother's
wanted in Colorado
dead or alive!
She's right, Barney.
Your murder charge
won't stand up in court.
Court in this town's
got imagination.
This poster might
appeal to your court.
There's a printer downtown
owes me a few favors.
He swears he faked that poster
for Randall to smear Steve and me.
Won't do any good.
All we need is a
letter from Colorado.
You know, mail
travel's mighty slow.
Randall could be tried and
swinging from a tree before it got here.
I wish it had been you.
You, instead of Steve.
So, since you're not interested
in helping your friend...
How can I help him?
- Pull out of the campaign.
- Are you talking about...?
Just take your
name off that ballot.
Do it and I'll change that
murder charge to self defense.
What a dedicated
statesman, Mr Mayor!
You'd bribe, blackmail, even
shoot your brother in the back
just to get elected.
You got your ways, I got mine.
Suppose...
that Ned refuses to
withdraw from this campaign.
Randall dances at
the end of a rope.
Think it over.
Barney, wait...
I wanna see Josh first.
Why?
For all I know, you may have
killed him like you did your brother.
Come on.
Ned, please!
You were right, Ned.
I shoulda left town.
I'd like to talk to him alone.
Let's go, boy,
let's get outta here.
We haven't got time...
You're gonna be mayor
in two days, you hear me?
We can't be sure of that!
Barney Pax is sure! That's why
he wants you out of the running.
Put your weight against that
door for as long as you can.
Don't be a fool.
I was never meant to hang.
Where is he?
Where'd he go?
Where'd he go, Easter?
Sorry, I just didn't notice.
Find him.
It's no use, Easter.
I'm gonna put a price on his
head and a target on his back,
post his face on every
tree in the territory.
He won't be able
to travel ten feet
without some bounty
hunter shooting him.
He'll live like a gopher
and die like a coyote!
Alright, Barney.
You can have the whole
ballot. The election's yours.
I want it in writing.
A nice, flowery quitting notice
to post up in all the voting places.
You pick it up in an hour.
Ned, it's wrong to
throw it all away like this!
Listen to me.
You're letting Barney Pax chase
you out of your career, your whole life!
What about Randall's life?
He'll get along. He'll
always get along.
Honey,
I can't turn a good friend into
a fugitive for the rest of his life!
I just can't do that!
Your good friend...
Did your good friend ever
tell you why he came here?
What brought him to
Crater City. Did he tell you?
No... I guess he has a
right to his own personal life.
Does he have a right to yours?
What are you saying?
Your good friend
came here for me.
Honey, you're imagining things.
It's the truth!
He's been writing
to me for months.
I've burnt the letters to keep
from being embarrassed.
While you've been out
making speeches at rallies,
he's been here with me, trying to
to talk me into go away with him.
I don't believe it!
Ned, don't you
see what he's like?
He's vicious, he's trying to
ruin our lives, your career!
He ought to be smashed!
Come in.
I'm collecting quitting notices.
- It's ready.
- No!
Sorry, girl. A deal is a deal.
Anything you need in a civic
way, you know where to find me.
I'll have these
printed up tonight.
At my expense.
You're a fool, Ned.
I guess I am.
Was that the truth about Josh?
What difference does it make?
Where are you going?
To find Randall.
You don't even know where he is.
The town's not
that big. I'll find him.
- I wanna see Barney.
- He's busy.
Not that busy.
I want Ned's
resignation, Barney.
It's at the printer's.
You haven't had time.
Alright. That Derringer
only holds one shot.
Think you can you make it count?
You'll know in a minute.
Do I get that resignation?
That notice is keeping a
noose from Randall's neck.
I'm not interested
in Randall's neck.
D'you want him to hang?
That's his worry, not mine.
What d'you think, Dolly?
Give it to her and get her out.
One move, Pax, and I kill you.
Here's the resignation.
Josh, I...
I almost killed you.
Yep...
You almost killed me.
Josh!
I've done everything wrong.
Everything.
I even lied to Ned about you.
Speak a little clearer.
I told him you came
here because of me.
That you wanted me to...
What the devil did
you tell him that for?
I couldn't bear to see him quit.
Being mayor was Ned's dream.
My dream.
I turned it into a nightmare.
If he finds out...
Carole told me why you came.
Was she telling
the truth or not?
Yeah, she told you the truth.
Subtitles-TELETOTA
like them, Steve?
He'll like them alright.
Steve!
Wasn't there a while ago.
Kinda clutters up the view.
Loopy.
Tell Barney I'll see
him after the rally.
Tell me, why did
you pull that down?
Be a good fella and
put it back up again.
You're a registered voter?
Can't say as I am.
Then this banner and this
election doesn't concern you.
Why don't you just move on?
D'you figure Easter's hired
a gun to run his campaign?
If he did, it's the greatest
mistake since buttermilk.
SECRET BALLOT
- Josh Randall!
- Good morning.
- Josh!
- What a wonderful surprise!
It's been years!
What brings you to Crater City?
- I tell ya, Carole here...
- You got a speech to make.
I'll make sure Josh
doesn't get away!
D'you mind?
Not at all.
Good luck, darling.
You go on!
I don't want him to
know I sent for you.
He'd be furious, he thinks
he can beat them alone.
Can he?
This election's filthy, worse than
anything I described in that letter.
Sounds pretty good from here.
Ned's worked hard
for those cheers.
Too hard!
He deserves to win this
election more than anyone alive.
I want him to win.
Who's gonna stop him?
Our honorable mayor Barney Pax
has got this town under his thumb.
He won't let a schoolteacher
like Ned put him out of office.
If the people want Ned Easter
in office, they'll vote for him.
If they vote at all.
Barney makes
things happen his way.
He'll create convenient
little accidents.
The kind that scare people away.
Won't the people do something?
What can they do? Barney's
made his brother Sheriff
just to keep their murderous
tricks fresh and sweet and legal.
That's why I sent for
you. Maybe you can help.
Maybe.
Ned's the first man who's ever
had the courage to challenge Barney.
He's gonna need more than that.
Where in heaven's
name did you get this?
It's my living, remember.
Nobody has ever
seen this before.
Steve Pax is wanted
in the state of Colorado.
His brother won't let this
poster be circulated round town.
This could win the
election for Ned!
Might just do that.
I'm alright.
Look out!
I don't want that,
Steve, you hear?
Wasn't my idea, Mr Pax. Steve
said we should break up the rally.
- You almost took my arm off.
- I should have!
Scaring these nice people!
Put this coyote in jail.
- What?
- That's where he belongs.
Go on!
Ned, I sure apologize.
This'll never happen again.
Those fools might
have hurt someone.
Now listen to me, all of you!
Anybody hurt, anything broken,
charge all the damages to me.
D'you hear?
Whatever it costs,
charge it all to Barney Pax.
Come over to Dolly's
and I'll buy the drinks.
That hypocrite!
Buying votes,
that's all he's doing.
They come mighty
cheap in this town.
Takes a special kind of
man to do a thing like that.
What?
A heart like ice and a
little luck, you know?
Barney Pax has them both.
One slip and he could
have killed his own brother.
For some votes,
he'd have done it.
The time has come for you to
demand and get clean government.
It's time to sweep
corruption out of city hall,
to challenge this vicious
and arrogant administration
that has cheated
and exploited you...
Hiya, fellas!
Hi, come on over here.
Meet three beautiful new
dancers from Denver City.
Come and get better acquainted!
Excuse me, you didn't bring the girls
just to heckle up Easter's campaign.
I didn't say that at all.
If you're from Denver you
must know Steve Patrick.
He shot up half of Colorado
before skipping across the state line.
They're not interested.
At least I think
that's his name.
Yes, Steve Patrick.
Says so right here.
If you don't get
out of my way...
- Where did you get this?
- I collect 'em. Got trunks full.
This is Mr Easter's party.
Don't you go away now, hear?
Mr Easter, read that real loud
so the whole town can hear.
"Wanted for murder. $1000 reward
"for the capture, dead or alive,
"of Steve Pax
alias Steve Patrick."
Ned!
Darling, it's marvelous! You
ought to hear the people talking!
You showed them how to call
Barney's bluff. They're not afraid of him!
It was Josh's doing.
Thanks to you, I may soon be
hanging new drapes in the Mayor's office.
Or a wreath on Josh's grave.
I want you to leave town.
Ned, we've been through
this, you're almost in city hall.
Because you exposed the
Mayor's brother as a killer.
You Steve Pax is our sheriff.
He can shoot you in
the back and call it legal.
I don't get into any
trouble I can't get out of.
Speaking of trouble, I remember
Corporal Ned Easter during the war.
He got me out of
trouble a couple of times.
- Is that why you came?
- No, that's not...
Come in!
Barney Pax wants
to see you, Randall.
What does he want?
Business, I guess.
Coming?
- I'm going with you.
- Ned!
It's alright, Ned.
No, I won't have
you... Do me a favor
and just relax.
- Honey, I can't let him...
- Listen to me.
Barney won't let anything happen
to Josh, everyone would know.
He knows they won't
stand for that now.
I hope you're right.
Not open today, huh?
Decorating for the election.
Only two days away, you know.
He's back there.
After you.
After you.
Where is he?
You wait here. I'll get him.
Doesn't look good for you.
Pretty bad, shooting
a lawman in the back
in front of witnesses.
I'm sorry. You can't
change the facts, Ned.
Four witnesses saw Randall
shoot my brother in the back.
He wouldn't even
shoot you in the back!
- So I'm charging him with murder.
- Murder?
Your brother's
wanted in Colorado
dead or alive!
She's right, Barney.
Your murder charge
won't stand up in court.
Court in this town's
got imagination.
This poster might
appeal to your court.
There's a printer downtown
owes me a few favors.
He swears he faked that poster
for Randall to smear Steve and me.
Won't do any good.
All we need is a
letter from Colorado.
You know, mail
travel's mighty slow.
Randall could be tried and
swinging from a tree before it got here.
I wish it had been you.
You, instead of Steve.
So, since you're not interested
in helping your friend...
How can I help him?
- Pull out of the campaign.
- Are you talking about...?
Just take your
name off that ballot.
Do it and I'll change that
murder charge to self defense.
What a dedicated
statesman, Mr Mayor!
You'd bribe, blackmail, even
shoot your brother in the back
just to get elected.
You got your ways, I got mine.
Suppose...
that Ned refuses to
withdraw from this campaign.
Randall dances at
the end of a rope.
Think it over.
Barney, wait...
I wanna see Josh first.
Why?
For all I know, you may have
killed him like you did your brother.
Come on.
Ned, please!
You were right, Ned.
I shoulda left town.
I'd like to talk to him alone.
Let's go, boy,
let's get outta here.
We haven't got time...
You're gonna be mayor
in two days, you hear me?
We can't be sure of that!
Barney Pax is sure! That's why
he wants you out of the running.
Put your weight against that
door for as long as you can.
Don't be a fool.
I was never meant to hang.
Where is he?
Where'd he go?
Where'd he go, Easter?
Sorry, I just didn't notice.
Find him.
It's no use, Easter.
I'm gonna put a price on his
head and a target on his back,
post his face on every
tree in the territory.
He won't be able
to travel ten feet
without some bounty
hunter shooting him.
He'll live like a gopher
and die like a coyote!
Alright, Barney.
You can have the whole
ballot. The election's yours.
I want it in writing.
A nice, flowery quitting notice
to post up in all the voting places.
You pick it up in an hour.
Ned, it's wrong to
throw it all away like this!
Listen to me.
You're letting Barney Pax chase
you out of your career, your whole life!
What about Randall's life?
He'll get along. He'll
always get along.
Honey,
I can't turn a good friend into
a fugitive for the rest of his life!
I just can't do that!
Your good friend...
Did your good friend ever
tell you why he came here?
What brought him to
Crater City. Did he tell you?
No... I guess he has a
right to his own personal life.
Does he have a right to yours?
What are you saying?
Your good friend
came here for me.
Honey, you're imagining things.
It's the truth!
He's been writing
to me for months.
I've burnt the letters to keep
from being embarrassed.
While you've been out
making speeches at rallies,
he's been here with me, trying to
to talk me into go away with him.
I don't believe it!
Ned, don't you
see what he's like?
He's vicious, he's trying to
ruin our lives, your career!
He ought to be smashed!
Come in.
I'm collecting quitting notices.
- It's ready.
- No!
Sorry, girl. A deal is a deal.
Anything you need in a civic
way, you know where to find me.
I'll have these
printed up tonight.
At my expense.
You're a fool, Ned.
I guess I am.
Was that the truth about Josh?
What difference does it make?
Where are you going?
To find Randall.
You don't even know where he is.
The town's not
that big. I'll find him.
- I wanna see Barney.
- He's busy.
Not that busy.
I want Ned's
resignation, Barney.
It's at the printer's.
You haven't had time.
Alright. That Derringer
only holds one shot.
Think you can you make it count?
You'll know in a minute.
Do I get that resignation?
That notice is keeping a
noose from Randall's neck.
I'm not interested
in Randall's neck.
D'you want him to hang?
That's his worry, not mine.
What d'you think, Dolly?
Give it to her and get her out.
One move, Pax, and I kill you.
Here's the resignation.
Josh, I...
I almost killed you.
Yep...
You almost killed me.
Josh!
I've done everything wrong.
Everything.
I even lied to Ned about you.
Speak a little clearer.
I told him you came
here because of me.
That you wanted me to...
What the devil did
you tell him that for?
I couldn't bear to see him quit.
Being mayor was Ned's dream.
My dream.
I turned it into a nightmare.
If he finds out...
Carole told me why you came.
Was she telling
the truth or not?
Yeah, she told you the truth.
Subtitles-TELETOTA