01x03 - Bill Thompson Gives In

[bunniefuu]

♪ [humming]

♪ Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp

♪ Brave, courageous,

and bold ♪

♪ Long live his fame

and long live his glory ♪

♪ And long may his

story be told ♪

♪ [humming]

[Narrator]

A major problem

for Wyatt Earp,

now that he was Marshal

of the cattle-owning town

of Ellsworth, Kansas,

was the Thompson brothers.

They were g*n-slinging

terrors of the frontier,

and brother Bill was wanted

for the m*rder of a sheriff.

Unless Wyatt Earp could rid

Ellsworth of these K*llers,

and alone,

he faced complete loss

of influence as a Marshal.

Morning, Wyatt.

Oh, good morning, Judge,

Mr. Masterson.

What's the matter?

You look a little worried.

He sure is, Mr. Earp.

A lot of Sheriff Whitney's

friends want to

organize a posse.

I don't want a posse.

They figure the Thompsons

have had time

to join their g*ng.

They figure if you're

going after them,

you'll need help.

I don't like posses, Ed.

You can't go up against

the Thompson outfit

all by yourself, Mr. Earp.

A posse only raises dust.

They're only as fast

as their slowest horse.

I don't think Bill and Ben

will want to join up

with their g*ng.

My hunch is that

they're hiding out

in Bushwhacker section.

Bushwhacker?

You mean where the Indians

used to hide for ambush?

That's right.

How you ever going to find

the Thompsons in there?

I think you might have

something there, Wyatt.

I can explain your theory

to the men who signed up

for posse work.

Ought to satisfy them

for a day or so.

Thanks, Ed.

Do me another favor,

will you?

Sure.

I'm expecting two

Indian friends of mine.

They're about the best

trackers I've ever met,

and I'd like for you

as a judge and mayor

to meet them.

Indians?

That's right.

Mr. Brother,

the w*r chief Many Battles,

and his partner, Mr. Cousins

of the Chief Yellahan.

Oh, and be sure to call them

Mr. Brother and Mr. Cousins.

All right. What else do I do?

Give them the key to the city?

No, Ed. just decent respect

will be enough.

Sure, Wyatt.

As soon as they hit town,

I'll do the honors.

Thanks.

Bat will tell you

there's a lot of mean talk.

It adds up to the feeling

that you'd better arrest

Bill Thompson quick,

or a posse will do it for you.

I don't want a posse, Ed.

I'll arrest Thompson myself.

I hope you do.

Aren't you putting too much

faith in those Indians?

No. They're good men.

So you and the judge

think I ought to turn

my job over to a posse

before they take it

away from me, huh?

Well, what if the Indians

do find Ben and Bill?

You can't go into that place

all alone, Mr. Earp.

You'd better

take me with you.

You still want to be

a marshal someday?

Yes, sir.

Well, then, you'd

better start learning

what the job means.

It's lonesome work,

Mr. Masterson.

You can't let a bunch

of hotheaded citizens

tell you what to do.

Use your own head,

get into your own

brand of trouble,

and think your own way

out of it when you can.

But always be ready

to sh**t your way out,

but you go it alone.

Into Bushwhacker?

Well, now, that's just

a section of country

full of rocks and brush.

Good old Bushwhacker,

one of the nicest hideouts

we ever found, huh, Bill?

Aww, we should've

brought the boys with us.

Nah.

Why don't you drink

some water for a change?

Now if Earp comes

in here after us,

you're going to wish

we had more g*ns.

Earp ain't going

to come in here.

Even if he guesses

which direction we headed,

he ain't gonna come in here--

he's got more sense.

And what if he did?

Hey.

You hear anything?

If you'd stop drinking

that whiskey,

you wouldn't hear

so many things.

Clayhiya.

Clayhiya.

Clayhiya.

Mr. Brother, Mr. Cousins.

Shut the door. Come in.

Mr. Brother, you sit there.

Mr. Cousins,

you take that chair.

[speaking in native language]

Mr. Brother crack joke?

He says Mr. Earp, first time

we treated like American.

You tell him

that's a good joke,

but it's a little sad, too.

[speaking

in native language]

[grunts]

As I mentioned before,

it's a good bet

that the Thompsons are

holed up in Bushwhacker.

You and Mr. Brother

know this country.

Bushwhacker?

Yes. Good ambush.

Got many good scalp there.

[speaking

in native language]

Bushwhacker.

[speaking

in native language]

He says he guide

soldiers to White Cap.

Johnny Reb camp one time.

[speaking

in native language]

He says,

"Soldier lose fight."

I heard about that.

I'll explain about these

in a moment.

I want you to find Ben

and Bill Thompson for me.

I want you to move

like dead men's ghosts.

I don't want you

to be heard or seen.

And you'll be very careful

not to get hurt.

The Thompsons are K*llers.

They're very quick

with their g*ns.

As to these loops of rope,

I want you to take

these with you...

[chatter]

You men wait here.

I'll go talk

to Marshal Earp.

Earp's just stalling, Ed.

We want Bill Thompson.

[men murmuring

in agreement]

[Man]

The posse can

bring them in.

There's a delegation outside.

I know, I see them.

They don't trust those

Indian friends of yours.

They want a posse,

and they're pretty

bad-tempered about it.

How's your temper, Ed?

Well, I think you're being

unreasonable about this.

It's no good just to say

that you don't like posses

and want to handle

the whole thing by yourself.

They knew Sheriff Whitney,

and they were fond of him.

I was fond of him, too,

and I want Bill Thompson

for his m*rder

just as bad as they do.

I know that, Wyatt,

but you're being

high-handed and arbitrary.

This is my business, Ed,

and you hired me to run it.

Well, at least go out there

and explain your position.

All right.

Judge Miller tells me

you gentlemen want to go

after Bill Thompson.

[Man]

We can't trust

a couple of Indians.

We want real action, Earp.

All right, Mr. Davitt.

Then you can lead the posse.

[murmuring]

But before I deputize you,

I think it's only fair

to tell you what

you'll be up against.

Now, my Indian friends

have already sent word

that Ben and Bill Thompson

were spotted yesterday

going into

the Bushwhacker section.

Just the two of them, Wyatt?

That's right.

But I want to remind you,

men, that Ben Thompson

is one of the best hands

with a g*n I know of.

He's already k*lled

men in gunfights.

Now, his brother Bill is not

nearly as good, but he--

They don't scare us, Earp.

Well, they're

enough to scare me.

Have any of you men ever gone

in that tangle of brush

and rock before?

[Man]

No.

[Second man]

No.

Well,

a whole union outfit

went in there

a couple of years ago,

as Judge Miller may recall.

They were cut to pieces

by a handful

of Confederate soldiers.

Now how many men

does your posse

expect to lose,

Mr. Davitt?

Well, I'll give you

an estimate.

In my opinion,

Ben and Bill Thompson

sh**ting from ambush

could k*ll

about ten of you.

But Wyatt, if you

lead the posse--

I won't do that.

I don't believe in the idea,

and I won't be responsible

for good men being

k*lled unnecessarily.

All right, you refuse

to do your duty.

It's not my duty to lead

inexperienced men like you

into a m*ssacre.

Well, we certainly got

a long way with that,

didn't we?

He could be right,

you know.

Aww, he's lost his nerve.

He's treating us like

a passel of greenhorns.

[murmuring]

Now, whoa, here.

I'm sure that Wyatt--

You'd stand up for Earp,

no matter what.

Come on, men.

We'll report back

to the others at the meeting.

Ellsworth may have

a new marshal,

and a new mayor,

in about three days.

[men murmuring]

Hey, Ben. Ben.

Wake up, Ben.

Lookit.

It's Earp. He's found us.

Judge Miller wants you

to come to the meeting

right away.

They're talking

him down, Mr. Earp.

Oh?

It's nip and tuck.

Sam Davitt's trying

to get them to fire you

and appoint him

as leader of the posse

if they're not found

in three days.

The judge says if you'd

explain to the whole meeting--

I've explained it once.

I'm not going

to explain it again.

You don't care

if they fire you?

Nothing much I can do

about it, Mr. Masterson.

I've said all

I'm going to say.

Well, you can't

just sit there

and let things happen.

They're calling you a coward.

They say you owned up to being

scared of the Thompsons.

Sit down, Mr. Masterson.

You're seeing the worst

of the peace officers, Bat.

You sit still and wait.

It's going to be dark

before I hear from

Mr. Brother and Mr. Cousins.

In the meantime,

I'm a coward,

or I'm fired,

or that town meeting

will just sit and talk.

It just isn't fair.

Well, what would you do,

lead the posse

into an ambush?

Let a couple of them

get their heads shot off?

Well, what else?

What if the Indians

do find Ben and Bill?

It'll still take a posse

to get them out.

You can't go in there alone.

Yes, I can.

Well, here she is.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Is that all you got to say?

Could you give me

more credit than that?

Well, you're the smart one

of the family.

You'd be smart, too,

if you didn't

lather your brains

with that whiskey.

It took me half a day

to find this place.

That means it'll

take Earp six days,

even if he knew

it was here.

How about a swig of whiskey

to celebrate, huh, Ben?

That'll settle your nerves

quicker than whiskey.

I don't know why

I string along with you.

All right, then.

Go ahead and leave me.

I would.

But you're my dear,

crazy little brother.

Now let's get inside.

Still got

some coal in it.

Where are the matches?

In your pocket.

Find them, you're so great

about finding things.

Ahh. It's the first time

we've been in here

since the w*r, huh, Bill?

What's the matter with you?

Look, Bill, look!

It's Earp! I'm getting

out of here!

[Ben]

Wait a minute!

Moccasin tracks.

Couple of Indians.

Earp must be

hiring them.

Well, we can't

stay here, Ben.

They'll tell him

just where we are.

That Earp.

Of all the sneaky,

under-handed tricks.

He's trying

to work on me.

On you?

That's for me!

And I ain't staying here

and being cornered

by Earp and his posse!

Bill!

Use what few brains

you got left.

Yeah, maybe I better.

And maybe you'd

turn me into Earp!

Turn you in?

Look, haven't I always

kept the law

off your neck?

You're my brother!

And I'm stuck with you!

Just the same, I'm

getting out of here.

Bill!

Earp's not coming

in here after us.

And why ain't he

coming after us?

'Cause I know him.

I know how he thinks.

The rope trick is...

just to scare me into

turning you in.

Scare you? It's me

he aims to hang!

And that wouldn't make

any difference to me?

I've had to k*ll

a lot of men

getting you

out of trouble.

Besides, what would

Mom think if I...

Eh.

That's enough!

[murmuring in sleep]

Oh, for gosh sakes, Bill.

What's the matter now?

I've been having

a bad dream!

I saw Mom.

[yawning]

Why don't you go

back to sleep?

No, no, no, Ben.

Honest.

I saw her.

She came to warn me.

I ain't lying.

It ain't the whiskey.

Mom don't trust

Wyatt Earp.

She told me he'll make a fool

out of you if you trust him,

and he'll put me

on the gallows!

How did Mom look

in the dream?

Just like in her coffin.

She was wearing

the white silk dress

that you bought her,

just after we held up

the Abilene states.

Please, Ben! I can't

stand it here no more!

Let's go hide in

the old stale.

All right, fine.

We'll go.

Starting now?

Yeah, yeah, I'll get--

Here, gimme that.

Bad news, Wyatt.

The time is up.

The posse forms in

the morning, Mr. Earp.

If you won't lead 'em,

I'm ordered to.

Won't you reconsider?

No.

I know what they're doing,

and they don't.

Thanks for standing

by me, Ed.

I'm very sorry, Wyatt.

This town's losing

a good marshal.

Hey, it's Mr. Cousin!

Let him in!

Oh, Mr. Cousin, it's good

to see you alive.

Where's Mr. Brother?

He-- He stay near

still, Mr. Earp.

Thompson's moving

to still after dark.

Which still?

I make picture.

Moon, here.

River, here.

Whitecap, North.

Still, here.

Johnny Reb make

whiskey in it.

Yeah, Buzzard's roast.

The old Ku Klux Klan

hangout.

Good work, Mr. Cousins.

Mr. Masterson?

See that he gets a fresh

horse, and a good one.

Yes, sir, but what

are you gonna do?

Just get the horse.

Thank you, Mr. Cousin.

and you can tell

Mr. Brother

that your debt

to me is paid.

Thank you.

Those Indians must

have owed you a lot.

Well, I sent

a telegram

to the colonel at

Fort Leavenworth

vouching for 'em so they

could sell the army horses.

Cost me a dollar

and a quarter.

You mean they tracked

the Thompsons

just for that?

Oh, Ed, I also

call 'em "mister."

You're not going

out now?

It'll take over an hour

to round up the posse.

Ed, I told you,

no posse.

But the time is up.

I don't care whether

it's up nor not.

Wyatt, it's suicide

to in there alone.

Maybe.

Mr. Earp.

Mr. Earp, please,

let me go with you.

Not this time.

But if something

happens, and...

If you're hurt, or...

Oh, don't worry

about that.

I have friends who'll

bring home the remains.

Cheer up, Mr. Masterson.

I don't think

Ben Thompson

will be any faster in

the draw than usual.

♪ [theme music]

[Bill]

Ben?

What you got there?

Nothing, nothing.

That's Indian for

the last message.

Well, let him come.

I'll splatter him

all over these hills.

Yeah, we'll

both g*n him.

I want him alone,

in a fair fight.

Oh, Ben,

what's the sense

in talking like that?

We can pick him

off with r*fles.

Because he's mine,

that's why!

He's tormented me

and hounded me

like a wild dog.

It's me he's trying

to drive crazy.

Well, he ain't gonna

get away with it.

I'm a better man

than he ever was.

But you stay out

of it, you hear?

That's fine, Ben. Fine.

I can't trust you.

Ben, I swear...

[crunching]

What's that?

That could be him.

So you get on your horse,

ride down to the river

and wait for me there.

No, Ben, I--

I've got a good mind

to put an end to

this whole thing!

Don't, Ben.

I'll go, I'll go.

Ben!

Ben Thompson!

[Ben]

That you, Wyatt?

That's right.

I want your brother!

Bill ain't here.

You got a posse

with you?

No.

I came alone.

That's just

the way I want it.

I'll be right out.

I don't want you.

I want your brother.

You ain't gonna get

either one of us.

Hold it!

You're not very fast

with your left, Ben.

I don't wanna

have to k*ll you.

Bill got away.

Go sit on that rock.

You got a cut artery.

No sense in your

bleeding to death.

I don't understand

you, Wyatt.

Guess not.

You had a chance

to k*ll me, and...

you didn't take it.

Won't even let me

bleed to death.

Why?

I want Bill.

To hang him?

The law doesn't

hang a crazy man.

The people down in Ellsworth

don't know that.

They're not the law.

If you had any sense,

you'd bring Bill

in yourself.

Sooner or later, he's

bound to be k*lled.

Maybe you'll go

down with him.

Maybe I won't.

Then he'll turn

hopelessly insane.

A babbling lunatic

on your hands.

Nah, he wouldn't do that.

Well, that's the deal

I offer you, Ben.

You bring Bill

into Ellsworth,

and I promise he'll

be treated fairly.

I don't take

your promise.

Wyatt.

All right.

All right, you've

made yourself a deal.

I'll bring him in.

See you at the jail, Ben.

♪ [humming theme]

Wyatt.

You didn't find

the Thompsons?

Yeah, I found 'em.

Well, what happened?

Did you...

No, I didn't have to.

Ben's bringing Bill in.

You took his word?

Yes, I did.

Ben's never

lied to me yet.

Well, maybe the posse

will get him.

Now, Mr. Masterson,

you still wanna be

a peace officer?

Well, yes, sir, but...

But not a plain

fool like me, huh?

I don't think you should

have trusted Ben, Mr. Earp.

No?

Take a look behind you.

Well, you're right

prompt, Ben.

Would've been here

sooner, but...

he got a little violent

about the deal.

Now, Bill, Bill!

You're sick in the head,

and this is

the best thing for you.

I give the marshal my word,

and he give me his.

Put him in a

clean cell, Mike.

Make him real comfortable.

♪ [theme]

So long, Wyatt.

So long, Ben.

You were right all

the time, Mr. Earp.

Sure.

I could've been just as

right and got k*lled

or just as right

and got fired.

Yes, Mr. Masterson.

I'm now a great

marshal again.

Well, that's the end

of school for today.

♪♪ [theme]

♪ Well, he cleaned

up the country ♪

♪ The old wild

west country ♪

♪ He made law

and order prevail ♪

♪ And none can deny it

♪ The legend of Wyatt

♪ Forever will live

on the trail ♪

♪ [chorus] Wyatt Earp

♪ Wyatt Earp

♪ Brave, courageous

and bold ♪

♪ Long live his fame

♪ And long live his glory

♪ And long may his

story be told ♪

♪ Long may his story

♪ Be told