01x08 - Challenge of the West

[bunniefuu]

♪ Champion the wonder horse ♪

♪ Champion the wonder horse ♪

♪ Like a streak of lightning
flashing cross the sky ♪

♪ Like the swiftest arrow
whizzin' from a bow ♪

♪ Like a mighty cannonball
he seems to fly ♪

♪ You'll hear about
him everywhere you go ♪

♪ The time'll come when
everyone will know ♪

♪ The name of Champion the wonder horse ♪

[dramatic music]

[sweeping music]

[Champion whinnying]

[whistling]

[whinnying]

- I brought you a present.

[whimsical music]

[dramatic music]

[whinnying]

- Champ, stop it!

- I threw that rock, but
didn't mean to hit you.

You ain't hurt are you?

- Well no, I guess not.

Say, you're Les Parker, aren't you?

Living with the Baxters?

- Yeah, that's where I've been living.

- Well I'm Ricky North.

- Yeah, I know.

- Now don't be scared.

[whinnying]

He was protecting me.

But it's all right now.

Say howdy to him, Champ.

There, you see?

What were you throwing that rock at?

- A rabbit.

- Oh, I saw him.

I throw at 'em too when they
get in our vegetable patch.

But I never hit one yet.

- I wasn't doing it to chase him.

I was trying to get me something to eat.

- Oh, you like rabbit?

- It ain't a question of liking.

I ain't had nothing to eat
since yesterday morning.

- You haven't?

- Been out there in the hills since then.

- Gee willikers, all night?

- It wasn't so bad.

I ran away from the Baxters.

- You did, well why?

- I guess you know my pa's in prison.

Well, I took all I could stand

having them remind me
about it all the time

and saying I'd wind up the same way.

Guess I'll mosey along.

- Wait, Les.

How 'bout coming home with me?

- What for?

- Well, it's almost time for dinner and--

- I can get my own food.

Anyway your uncle would
boot me right off the ranch.

- Not Uncle Sandy, he's the best there is.

- Well...

- Aw, come on.

- Well, okay.

- Swell.

See you tomorrow Champ.

You can go back to your herd.

Come on, Les.

Come Rebel.

[gentle music]

[dramatic music]

- Would you like another
glass of milk Les?

- I've had enough.

Thanks.

- Well there's plenty
more here if you want it.

I'd better get back to work.

Ricky, take care of the dishes, will ya?

- Sure Uncle Sandy.

Didn't I tell you he's the best there is?

- He's sure been all right, so far.

- Excuse me a minute
Les, something I forgot.

Don't you feel sorry for Les, Uncle Sandy?

- Yeah, he's had a pretty rough time.

- He's all right, no matter
what they say about him.

- Well, it'll take time to tell.

- You mean you think he'll
turn out to be like his father,

the way the Baxters told him?

- No, not necessarily.

But if people insist on
giving him a bad name

he might be prodded into it.

- That's what I'm worried about.

Why can't he stay with us a while?

- He might not want to.

- Well I think he would.

Anyway, can I ask him?

- Don't see why not.

- Gee, thanks, Uncle Sandy.

There sure are a lot of
chores around the ranch.

Say, how 'bout you staying
here and helping me with mine?

- Listen Ricky, if you're
feeling sorry for me forget it.

I don't need anybody's charity.

- But who said anything about charity?

Uncle Sandy believes in every man

earning his own keep, even me.

- I work for what I get.

- Sure, just like you already
started with the dishes.

Come on, let's finish 'em up.

[playful music]

- Gosh, 30 cows cost a heap of money.

- Well sure, but when we get the new ones

they'll improve the herd and our ranch

will be one of the best in the state.

That's why Uncle Sandy's drawing

the $5,000 out of the bank.

- $5,000.

- Yeah.

- Ready?

- All set.

- Anything you want us to
bring you from town, Les?

- Nothing that I can think of, thanks.

- Say, wait a minute.

Where's Rebel?

- I think he went out to see Champion.

I'll look around for him.

- All right.

- You know it wasn't
very wise of you, Ricky,

to tell Les about our getting that money.

- It wasn't?

But you trust Les, don't you Uncle Sandy?

- Yeah, but it's a good
policy to keep a tight lip

where money is concerned, with anybody.

- I'll remember that.

[gentle music]

[dramatic music]

- There don't seem to be nobody around.

- Maybe we'd better keep moving Duke.

- If I want your advice I'll ask for it.

That kid of yours happens
to be on the ranch

he can rustle us up some grub,

and grub's just what we need.

[dramatic music]

- Pa!

- Les, you're sure lookin' fine.

This is Duke.

- Howdy boy.

Your dad and me heard you was here.

We figured we'd drop by for a visit.

- But Pa, you get paroled?

- Paroled? [laughing]

Yeah, I guess I sort of paroled him,

just like I paroled myself.

Even if he did wanna serve his time.

No questions though boy.

Tell me, you alone around here?

- Yeah.

- Good, in that case you
can fix us some grub, huh?

Well go on boy, move.

[dramatic music]

Well, 45 slugs.

You can sure use these.

Any money around the place boy?

Anything else worth taking?

- Ain't nothing you'd want.

- I think you're lying.

- Leave him alone Duke.

- Where's the fella who owns this spread,

this Sandy North?

- Went to see Mr. Jessup.

- Jessup.

Ain't that the name we
seen on the bank window--

- There's another
Jessup, the horse doctor,

to get some liniment.

He and his nephew Ricky.

- They're riding, I suppose.

- In a buckboard.

- Frank, I figure it's
time for us to mosey.

- I wouldn't try anything if I were you.

Mr. North sh**t mighty straight.

- Well boy, I sh**t
pretty straight myself,

and I make a habit of sh**ting first.

Don't you worry though,
nothing's gonna happen.

I figure daytime holdups are too risky.

Come on.

[foreboding music]

- There, man and a kid on a buckboard.

That must be them.

There won't be nothing to it.

[suspenseful music]

- Hang on Ricky!

[g*n f*ring]

[dramatic music]

[Rebel barking]

[g*n f*ring]

[g*n f*ring]

[dramatic music]

- Hyah!

[g*n f*ring]

[g*n f*ring]

[g*n f*ring]

- Aren't you gonna fight
for the money Uncle Sandy?

- And risk you getting sh*t?

All the money in the world
isn't worth that Ricky.

- All right, let's have a
look, see what's in that bag.

Hurry up!

Eh, some horse liniment, huh Frank?

[dramatic music]

- Champ, Rebel, come on!

- Let's get out of here.

- Go get 'em, Champ!

[g*n f*ring]

[g*n f*ring]

[dramatic music]

[Rebel barking]

[Champion whinnying]

[Rebel barking]

- Take care of them once and for all.

[Rebel barking]

- Whoa!

- You'd better call Rebel and Champ

before they get sh*t.

And you wait here.

[Rebel barking]

- Champ, Rebel, come here!

[g*n f*ring]

[g*ns f*ring]

[b*ll*ts ricocheting]

[g*ns f*ring]

- Les.

[dramatic music]

- Look, Les!

[g*n f*ring]

- Stay right where you
are and put your hands up.

- Hey Ricky, look!

- Les, go open that shed door.

Ricky, take the money up to the house

and put it in the safe.

- Come on Les.

- Ricky, these two ranahans
will be safe in the shed.

I'm going into town and get the sheriff.

- All right, we'll keep an eye on 'em.

- They can't get out.

Besides, you've got Rebel.

Thanks again Les.

Go ahead, move you two, in there.

[grunting]

- Well you're a big help.

Should have left you in jail

and taken a chance on you squealing.

- And when I saw you up
there on those rocks,

gee, I almost didn't believe my eyes.

- I just couldn't let your
uncle lose that money.

- Sure took a lot of
gumption to do it too Les.

Well, whatsamatter?

Don't you feel good?

- All that running I guess.

But I'll be all right.

- Good.

Gee, just wait'll I
tell the kids at school.

And the backstory.

- Just as soon forget it.

- Sure something wrong with you Les.

- Time to water the
stock and it's my turn.

- I'll do it, you rest up a while.

Come on Rebel.

- Pa?

- Yeah.

- I'm sorry, right sorry
for the fix you're in.

But I just had to do what I did.

- That's all right son.

- It ain't all right.

Listen boy, you know what's gonna happen

to your dad now?

He's going back to prison
for the rest of his life.

- No!

- Yeah, most of the time
he'll be in solitary

with nothing but bread
and water to live on.

He won't last long, you can bet on that.

And you'll have a hand in the blame.

- No, don't say that!

- Now listen boy, listen close.

If you want your dad to live you'd better

cut us loose, let us
out of here right away.

You do I promise we'll never come back.

- That's right son.

- Will you promise to leave right away?

- Sure I promise, just cut us loose.

Ah, good boy.

You get us cut loose, we'll
hightail it out of here.

Hurry up boy.

Yeah, now get me.

There, there, that's better.

Now, where's that safe?

- But you promised that--

- I don't care what I promised.

You show me that safe

or your dad's gonna get hurt real bad.

- All right.

- I'd better make sure Ricky
and the dog ain't in there.

- Open it son, open or I'll break it down.

[banging on door]

Let's try the front door.

Come on.

[dramatic music]

- From your description Sandy
there's no doubt about it.

Frank's the boy's father.

He and Duke broke prison a week ago.

- But that doesn't prove that Les

let them out and opened up the safe.

- The door bar couldn't be touched

from inside the shed Ricky.

What's more, he knew where the
key to the safe was hidden.

- But why would he do such a thing,

after saving the money?

- That's what puzzles me Ricky,

I just can't understand it.

- Well, blood's thicker than water.

Could be Frank talked the boy into it.

- No sir, there's got to
be a different reason.

There's just got to be.

- Ricky sure sticks by his friends Sandy.

- Yeah he sure does.

- Well how 'bout mountin' up
and coming on a posse with me?

We gotta find them buzzards.

- Be right with you Sheriff.

[dramatic music]

- Les wouldn't do a thing like that.

Not unless he had a good reason.

[Rebel barking]

I wonder where they could have gone.

Tracks, Rebel, they must have left tracks.

Come on.

Look Rebel, their tracks.

We'll get Champion, come on.

[suspenseful music]

[Rebel barking]

- What is it Rebel?

You see them?

[Rebel barking]

[Champion whinnying]

Let's go Champ.

[dramatic music]

- Well, what'd you do with it?

Where's that money?

Come on and talk.

- Leave him alone Duke.

- You're gonna talk to me or--

[Rebel barking and growling]

- Get him Rebel!

After him Champ, don't let him get away.

[Rebel snarling]

[Champion whinnying]

Are you hurt?

- Just bushed I guess.

Ricky I took the money out...

- I'll be all right son,
don't you worry about me.

- I'm glad Dad.

I buried it.

[Rebel snarling]

[Champion whinnying]

[Rebel barking]

[Champion whinnying]

- Get away!

Get back!

Call him off!

I give up, call him off!

- Throw up your hands.

- Call him!

- Champ, Rebel, watch him, keep him there.

It's Uncle Sandy and the sheriff.

- I didn't want Pa to get hurt.

I couldn't let Duke get
his hands on the money

so I grabbed the satchel and ran for it.

But Duke spotted me, and
well, you know the rest.

- So you see Sheriff, I told you

there had to be a different reason.

- You did at that Ricky.

And I'm apologizing son.

Time we left partner.

- I sure thank you for looking
after my son Mr. North.

- You gotta fine boy, Parker,

you can be proud of him; I am.

- I ain't been much of
a father to you Les,

but when I get out, and if you're willin',

I'll do my best to make a home for you.

- I'd sure like that Pa.

- You'll most likely find
him over at my place Parker.

I've got plenty of room
for a boy like you Les.

Let's go.

[gentle music]

- Hyah.

[Rebel barking]

[Champion whinnying]

- But you had your apple
this morning Champ.

And you had your bone.

[Rebel barking]

Oh well, I guess both
of you deserve a reward.

- I'll get it Ricky.

[sweeping music]

♪ Champion the wonder horse ♪

♪ Champion the wonder horse ♪

♪ Like a streak of lightning
flashing cross the sky ♪

♪ Like the swiftest arrow
whizzin' from a bow ♪

♪ Like a mighty cannonball
he seems to fly ♪

♪ You'll hear about
him everywhere you go ♪

♪ The time will come
when everyone will know ♪

♪ The name of Champion the wonder horse ♪

♪ Champion the wonder horse ♪