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01x14 - Trail's End for a Cowboy

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "The Life & Legend of Wyatt Earp". Aired: September 6, 1955 – June 27, 1961.*
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Series is loosely based on the life of frontier marshal Wyatt Earp.

01x14 - Trail's End for a Cowboy

Post by 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]

The summer of '

was Wyatt Earp's second year

as deputy marshal

in the trail's end cow town

of Wichita, Kansas.

During that first

violent summer,

Wyatt had grabbed

the town by the tail

and held it on the ground

while hundreds of armed

and defiant cowboys

from the cattle trails

tried to keep it on the prod.

But even though Wichita

had learned to keep

its hair slicked,

Wyatt still liked

to spend his mornings

near the cattle pens

watching what might have

drifted in overnight.

Hey, you, uh,

seen Old Man Cullen

around lately?

No, and it ain't

like him, either.

All summer long he's been

meeting his herd.

Always here to beat me

for the best price.

Been getting it, too.

Well, after all,

he's my best customer.

You might as well be honest

about it, Mr. Santell.

Cattle kings don't

come any tougher

than Old Man Cullen.

Good morning, Brad.

Where's your father?

Selling the herd

to the army over at Dodge.

He'll be back in a few days.

Does anybody know Mr. Santell?

I'm Santell, boy.

What's on your mind?

Well, uh, I'm Brad Cullen,

and I'm trail boss

of that herd, there.

I'd like to talk

some business.

You?

Yeah, that's right, me.

He's one of Cullen's sons.

He's got authorization

to sell the herd,

why doubt him?

Well, no offense, kid,

but I just couldn't imagine

your old man letting anyone

handle a sale for him.

Am I forgiven?

Guess you want to ride

into town, get washed up.

Well, after I talk business.

You fellas go ahead.

I'll ride back with you

when you get all done.

How many?

.

Looks closer to .

No, no, I said .

The lame and

the blind ones, hmm?

What's that?

They've come a long way

over grazed out lands

and dried streams.

I wouldn't call them

prime beef.

I'm offering you

prime beefs

at a head.

The market's flooded.

Prices dropped at $ a head.

You can take it or leave it.

Now look, mister.

Are you trying to take

advantage of me?

Because if you are--

Your old man will come

gunning for me, hmm?

Look, kid, your pappy

don't scare me one bit,

at least so long

as Wyatt Earp's

close by somewhere

to help me out.

I don't happen

to be so lucky.

Oh.

All right. Seeing as it's

Cullen beef I'm buying,

I'll make it .

It's got to be .

Believe me, kid.

I'm not bluffing,

and I'm not gouging.

Buying season's over.

I'm being as generous

as I can,

and I'm doing it for you,

not for that great hard rock

who happens to be

your old man.

Give me an hour

to think it over?

An hour to see

some other brokers?

Sure.

You won't get

a cent over ten.

I'll tell you what I'll do.

I've give you three hours.

All righty?

How'd you make out

with Mr. Santell?

He said the price is down.

That's true.

Oh, then I'm in for it.

If I sell the herd short,

Pop will like to k*ll me.

If I don't, he'll rag me

and hound me

until I feel

like k*lling him.

He can be a miserable man

over money.

How old are you, Brad?

Going on .

Got you that buffalo,

why don't you just

pack up and get out

like your older brothers did?

Well, I'm the only one left.

It's just me and Ma.

I guess I'm the reason

that she's staying around.

She asking you to?

Well--

Well, you're

fooling yourself.

You're afraid

of your old man,

that's all that's

troubled you.

You're still a kid.

All right,

I'll admit it.

So I'm a kid.

Okay, suppose I have

your advice, Mr. Earp.

What would you do

if you were me?

Well, if I was you,

I'd go into town,

get myself a square meal

and I'd make up my mind

and stand pat in my decision.

Oh, just as simple

as that, huh?

Yup. Make up your mind

of something.

Being a man is

just that simple.

Come on, we'll go

into town.

How'd you make out?

Made up your mind?

Yeah.

Oh. That's a heavy

piece of paper

that you're carrying around

all by yourself.

Better ride out to your camp

and Cowskin Creek,

where you'll be

among friends,

What's the matter?

Aren't you my friend?

That goes without saying,

Brad, but that stuff's not--

You, uh, want me

to hang onto it for you?

You know,

the more you talk,

the more you sound

like my old man.

The more you sound like him,

the less I like you.

Now you just go ahead

with your business,

I'll take care of mine.

[groans]

Okay, Brad.

I guess you're the boss.

I'll see you around.

Cards, please.

For you.

Three, please.

One.

Two to the dealer.

Wyatt.

Thanks.

How long has that

been going on?

It started a couple

of hours ago,

right after you left.

Has he been buying?

No, them's

his original chips.

For a kid,

he's doing real good.

Your bet.

I call.

better

than you, mister.

I can't.

You took, uh,

one card, I believe,

didn't you, son?

You're supposed to follow

the play, mister,

not ask questions.

Young man raised you .

Either put up or drop out.

You're too young

to bluff, kid.

In case you are,

I'm willing to pay

to teach you not to.

What have you got?

Hard flush.

You lose. Jacks full.

All right.

And I'll call.

It's over.

Sevens and fours, you win.

Ahh.

[slurring]

Would you care to join me

for a drink, Mr. Earp, huh?

No thanks.

How'd you come out?

I came out with nothing

but my name,

Mr. Earp, sir.

Then you lost

the whole check, $ ?

Yup.

But I admit to that

with a certain

pardonable pride.

[sighing]

What'd you figure you'd do?

Get lucky and run

that check up

to what your father

expected?

Yeah.

Then you would've

lied to him

and told him you got

more for the herd

than you really did,

is that it?

Yeah.

You're even more scared

of the old man than I thought.

Well, now what'll

you tell him?

The truth.

Just tell him the truth.

In other words,

you'd rather admit

to being a bad gambler

than a bad businessman,

is that it?

Uh, well, that's

about it, Mr. Earp.

Bad luck, that's all,

can happen to anybody.

But a bad business deal,

well, that's stupid,

unforgivable.

Don't you ever darken

my door again, son.

Aah.

You'd better

face up to it, Brad.

Your father isn't going

to believe that gambling story

any more than I do.

You've been played

for a sucker.

A sucker?

That's right, sucker.

I know your father

would rather

admit to a bad business deal

than being

played for a sucker

by two tinhorns.

What are you talking about?

Those two gamblers,

they play it

like a partnership.

Either one of them gets

a good hand, they bet it up.

You get a good hand,

they fold.

Their winnings are big,

yours are small.

Percentagewise,

they got all the edge.

Even you ought to be

able to see who's gonna

come out the winner.

You-- You mean

they work together?

They split afterwards?

That's right.

They've--

Well, that means

I've been robbed.

Well, what are you going

to do to get back my money?

Nothing.

Foster and his friend

didn't break any laws.

I got no legal grounds

to make an arrest.

But what they did was wrong,

and you know it.

The whiskey's

gone to your head.

You'd better go back

to Cowskin camp

where you can sleep it off.

Come on, I'll take

you there, myself.

Oh, you're

a coward, Mr. Earp.

You're a protector

of cheats and robbers.

You're a big man

with a six-g*n, too,

aren't you?

Well, would you just

show me how good you are?

Huh?

That's not a very

smart play, Brad.

Throwing down on a man

with a g*n you're not used to.

Now let me have it.

Come on.

[all laughing]

Come on, straighten up

like a man.

Take a look at Brad, boys.

He sure tied one on.

Yeah, and that ain't all.

I was robbed, cheated,

beaten up,

and thrown in jail.

Robbed?

Yeah, that's right.

Robbed, I was cleaned out.

They took the check,

the payroll, the money,

everything.

Didn't you go

to the law?

Of course I did.

And I'm the one that

gets thrown in jail.

I'm going to put it

to you straight.

I'm for going back into town

and getting what's mine,

and yours

But I need help.

Anybody want to volunteer?

My mammy always told me

the good Lord helps those

that help themselves.

I'm with you, kid.

Always did want a chance

to tree Wichita.

Count me in, too.

Okay.

[all talking at once]

Okay, come on,

let's go, then!

Come on.

They're still here.

Everyone, keep your hands

on the table.

This is not a holdup.

I was cheated

at cards last night

by these two men.

All I want is

the money I lost.

Give me my check, mister.

I don't have it here, son.

It's locked up

in the house safe

in the back room.

Well, get it in cash--

, .

I don't have

that much on me.

You get it, Foster.

I'm telling you, you get it

from the other tables.

I want , or I'm

going to k*ll you.

That's , , mac.

Consider it a loan.

How much you got, Hal?

Let's see.

Here's five.

This will make up

the rest of it.

Make it quick, gamblers,

or you'll lose some

of them clever fingers.

There you are.

[g*nf*re]

We gonna let him

get away with this?

[g*nf*re]

The charge is armed robbery.

Is that right, Mr. Foster?

Armed robbery,

attempted m*rder.

Mr. Havershim was seriously

wounded, you know?

Now, there's no need to be

so self-righteous, Mr. Foster.

Your neck's not as clean as it

could be either, you know.

You cheated that kid

the same as if

you'd stacked the deck.

If you think I've done

anything ill*gal,

why don't you arrest me?

Well, sometimes

there's a better way

to take care

of men like you.

What are you up to, Earp?

Well, I'll tell you

this much, Mr. Foster.

I'll arrest Brad Cullen

and his punches as you request,

and bring him to trial.

But by the time this is over,

the whole town will know how

you and your friend operate.

I may not be able

to touch you legally,

but the average citizen

still has a sense

of fair play.

These warrants are ready

to sign, Mr. Foster.

Right on this line, please.

How many more men

will we need, Wyatt?

I'll make

the arrests myself.

You can't go into

that cow camp alone.

I'll tell you, Sam,

Brad Cullen and his men

aren't hardened criminals.

The best way to handle

a thing like this

is to treat it

like a family quarrel.

All right, Mr. Foster.

Let me have the warrants.

It'd be mighty convenient

if one of Brad's cowboys

dropped him, wouldn't it?

Are you out

of your mind, Foster?

No, but I am thinking.

I'm thinking about

who'd be getting blamed

if Earp was found dead

between here

and Cullen's ranch.

We made it.

He's still

a couple of miles

from camp.

Between us,

we'll get him.

[hoof beats approaching]

[g*nf*re]

Please, Wyatt, don't!

We just wanted to help.

Well, then,

head back to town!

We'd better

do what he says.

If Earp didn't want us alive,

to make a point,

he'd drop us here.

We'll do what you say.

When you get to Wichita,

keep on going!

Hey, Brad.

[hoof beats approaching]

Who is that, son?

That's, uh, Wyatt Earp.

You stay where you are.

I'll talk to him.

Morning, Mr. Cullen.

Morning, Wyatt.

I see you got here

a little ahead of time.

An hour ago.

We're, um, just about

to pack and head south.

What's on your mind, Wyatt?

I got warrants for the arrest

of Bradshaw Cullen

and six John Does

for the cowhands

who helped him hold up

the Texas House this morning.

Why, he was just

taking back

the money that

he'd been robbed of,

seeing as how the law

wouldn't give him

a helping hand.

How did Brad tell you

he lost the money

in the first place?

Well, he had a few drinks,

played some poker.

He said he'd lost

quite a sum of money

before he found

he was being cheated.

He said you wouldn't

even listen to him.

You're not arresting anyone

from this camp, Wyatt.

I'm arresting your son

and six cowhands, Mr. Cullen.

Now get out of my way.

Brad, tell him the truth.

You'll never get another

chance like this one.

What's he talking

about, son?

Yeah, he's just

stalling, Pop.

You watch him, now.

Your son's a liar,

Mr. Cullen.

Get him, boy! Get him!

You had the drop, you fool,

why don't you sh**t?

Couldn't sh**t me last night

when he was drunk,

and he can't sh**t me now,

when he's sober

because he knows he's wrong.

It's hard to k*ll a man

when you're wrong, isn't it?

Thanks.

Pop?

I lied, Pop.

I sold the herd short

of what you wanted,

and tried

to make it up gambling.

The rest is like I told you.

[Old Man Cullen]

Sold the herd?

That's right.

The funny thing is,

I'm not afraid to admit it,

not now, not anymore.

I was a coward,

a liar, and a thief.

I was all that

just to please you.

What kind

of a son are you?

What are you talking about?

You'll never do this

to me again, Pop.

I'm not coming home anymore.

Mr. Earp, I'll go

saddle me up a horse,

and then, we can go.

You don't have to take

the other boys in.

They didn't

know the truth.

I'm the only one

you want.

I don't understand, Wyatt.

My sons,

three of them now,

gone.

I work my fingers to the bone

to give them a future,

and they leave.

Tell me why, Wyatt,

I don't understand.

I guess that's been

the trouble, Mr. Cullen.

There comes a time

when a young fella

has to move out,

learn to be somebody

all by himself.

I guess you just never

learned when to let go.

Where's Foster

and his friend?

They rode out for Dodge

early this morning.

They left this for you.

That check of young Cullen's.

They said they wouldn't

hold any charges against him

if you'd return their money.

And they wish you

to return the compliment

and leave them alone

if you ever meet up

with them again.

Left their forwarding

address on the back.

Oh?

Thank you, Jud.

Wait, I'll have one

with you.

♪ 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 ♪

♪ 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