01x26 - Hour After Dawn

[bunniefuu]

Get inside, old man, quick.

[ knock on door ]

Something wrong?

Easy, boys, ride out slow.

Hey, wait a minute.

Hold it!

Don't try it. Freeze.

He's dead.

Come on.

Whoa. See anything
over there?

No.

They couldn't have
disappeared; keep looking.

Sheriff!
Over here.

Take a look.

Well, that's them,
all right.

No, it can't be.
That trail would take them
right back to town.

That's probably just
where they're headed,
along the north rim.

Not likely; if they
doubled back that way,
we'd have seen 'em.

I got a feeling
Jess is right.

There's not much cover up there
but there's enough to get by

if they're smart enough
to use it.

What makes you think
they'd take a chance like that

when there are
a lot easier ways out?

'Cause you got
their pal in jail.

They probably figure
on breaking him out.

How many men did you leave
back at the lockup?

Tooey.

Tooey?

He couldn't keep tracking
of a cowbell

if you hung it
around his neck.

We better forget
about this trail

and get back to town.

[ raucous laughter ]

Tooey!

Oh, howdy, sheriff.

If he aint' a card.

I swear, he's kept me
in stitches

the whole time
you've been gone.

Well, of course, I ain't forgot
how he shot Tom.

No, sir.

Tom was a mighty fine
deputy, too.

Nice comfortable little jail
you got here, sheriff.

How's the food?

See anybody
around, Tooey?

No, should I have?

I know your face.
I've seen it on wanted posters.

Now what do you suppose
the law would be wanting

with a nice, peaceful
fella like me?

Pardee...

Billy Pardee.

Now don't you go tellin'
bad things about me, sheriff,

you hear?

Last thing,
I heard about Pardee,

he was serving time
some place in Texas.

He busted out
a couple of months ago.

He's one of Con Creighton's
men, isn't he?

You bet he is.

He's Creighton's half-brother,
I think.

It's not likely he's gonna
let him hang for m*rder

if he can help it.

He can help it all right.

Seems like about half
the men in the territory
take orders from him.

There's only one thing

we've got to worry
about right now

and that's the three men
we were trailing.

They'll probably make a try
for Pardee sometime after dark.

Yeah.

How many of us are there?

Ah, there's six of us,
seven counting Tooey.

Well, that's more than enough
to handle three of them.

Unless Creighton's got
more men close by.

Seems to me if he had,
he'd have used them

in the robbery
in the first place.

Yeah, I guess so.

Seven to three,
that should do it.

What's eating on you,
sheriff?

You don't know
Con Creighton like I do.

I just wish we were
in better shape
to handle him.

Right now, it's seven to three
in our favor.

I could get rich overnight

walking into a poker house
with those odds.

It's not just the odds
I'm thinking about.

There are only three winners
in the jail.

We don't all have
to be inside.

We'll set up an ambush,
some across the street,

some up the street,
some down the street.

Yeah, it might work.

I guess that's the best
we can do.

Slim, you better check
the r*fles, one for each man.

Tooey and I'll be inside,

the rest of you men,
pick your spots.

Hello, Maud.

Hello.

Hey, what's for supper
tonight?

- Wednesday, pot roast.
- Good.

Jonesy's cooking is making
an old man out of me.

You figure mine's
gonna make you any younger?

Can't tell.
I'll let you know tomorrow.

I was just gonna go
see the sheriff.

He's gonna feed the prisoner,
isn't he?

I don't know.

If it was up to me,
I'd feed him nothing

but bread and water
and not much of that.

Well, I hope our lawman
doesn't feel the same way.

County pays me 50 cents each
for prisoners' meals.

Maud...

if you feed him,
do it before dark, huh,

and stay indoors afterwards.

Oh, you're expecting
more trouble?

I don't know.

Just do me a favor
and stay inside tonight.

All right, Jess.
Thank you.

- Sheriff?
- Hello, Slim.

Do you want some food
brought in for the prisoner?

Oh, yeah, I guess so,
Maudy, thanks.

Prisoner thanks you too,
ma'am.

If you cook as good
as you look,

it'll be hard for me
to leave here.

You're not going anywhere,
Pardee,

except maybe
to the gallows.

Now don't you believe it, ma'am.
No rope will get me.

Well, I'll get the food.

[ dog barking ]

Looks like we got a scared
lawman running things tonight.

Yeah, he's edgy, all right.

Can't hardly blame him though.

Con Creighton's treed
a lot of lawmen in his day.

Sure, but I figure if a man's
gonna pin a star on his vest,

he shouldn't have any doubts
about his nerve.

Don't be too hard
on him, Jess.

That's a rough job.

And he's not rough enough
to hold it down.

Oh, I don't mind
standing out here

in the cold
waiting to help,

but I don't
much like the notion

our law is gonna run
like a rabbit

the minute somebody starts
throwing lead at him.

[ carriage approaching ]

Kind of late
for traveling.

Keep an eye on it, Jess.

Sheriff, it's Sherman.

Looks like we might
have some company

arriving out in the street.

Yeah, it could be them,
all right.

And let's not make
any mistake.

Wait till they're in close,
I'll give the word.

I count two pair of horses
traveling behind that wagon.

I know.

Look out,
they're waiting for you.

Clear out.

Come on, get 'em.

[ g*nshots ]

[ horse whinnying ]

How bad is it, Mort?

I don't know.

You better get me
to the doc.

How is he, doctor?

I took about a dozen
leaden stingers
out of him, Mrs. Corey.

His wounds
aren't too serious.

He'll be back on his feet
in a week or so.

Right now, he seems
to be suffering from shock.

Oh, he wants
to see you both.

Sheriff.

Slim...

Listen, I want you
to take over my job.

Jess can be your
top deputy.

Now wait a minute,
I'm-- I'm no sheriff.

Well, I'm out of action
and there's got to be somebody,

somebody I can count on.

If Tom Worth was still alive,
it would be different.

But with him gone,

there's got to be somebody
like you to take over.

Yeah. Wait, there's a whole
trial to see to out there.

And Con Creighton.

What about it?

I don't know.

Just till I get back on my feet,
it can't be too long.

What do you think, Jess?

It's up to you.
I'm along either way.

One thing's sure,
there's gonna be trouble.

Maybe not.

For all we know, it might have
been settled tonight.

Yeah, like putting kerosene
on a fire.

If there is any trouble,
you boys can handle it,

probably as good as me...

or even better.

Put it on, sheriff.

One good thing
came out of this.

We sure been eating
high on the hog.

It's gonna be kind of tough
getting used to Jonesy's
hash again.

More pie?

No, thanks.

Mmm, he's speaking for himself,
Maud, not for me.

Did you lose your appetite?

Yeah, I guess so.

You can give mine
to the cat.

That's what happens to a man
when he puts a badge on.

Gets so mixed up
he almost forgets to eat.

MAUD: Didn't have
to take the job.

Somebody had to.

I suppose so.

You know what happened
last night, don't you?

It can happen
again any time.

All I heard was some men rode in
and the sheriff shot at 'em.

Yup.

Expect them back?

With friends.

Yeah, probably a lot of friends,
maybe even Con Creighton.

Hey, Maud, you know
Billy Pardee, don't you?

Who?

Billy Pardee,
the man in jail.

Oh, no.

Well, yesterday,
I-- I thought

I used to know him,
but I was wrong.

[ dog barking ]

Stage is in.

Sure hope
Judge Oliver's on it.

I'd like to get
this trial business over with.

I didn't know there was so much
paperwork involved

in getting a man
hauled in to court.

Thanks.
Take care of yourself.

I'll do that.

Slim, I mean it.

Thanks, Maud.

[ horses approaching ]

What, you got
some kind of hidden charm?

She never talked to me
like that.

Well, me either
until I put this badge on.

I guess it's like they say,
it pays to advertise.

Morning, Judge Oliver.

Now who are you, sir?

My name is Sherman,
I'm acting sheriff.

This is
my deputy, Jess Harper.

Howdy.

Well, where is the regular
peace officer?

He's in bed,
wounded in a g*n fight.

I'm just taking over
temporarily.

[ knock on door ]

SLIM: Tooey, it's me, Slim.

Coming.

Hmm, what have we got here?

We got a whole packet
of trouble, judge.

Just waiting on you
to get here.

This is Billy Pardee,
friend of Con Creighton's.

He's up for m*rder
and armed robbery.

Ah, you made yourself
a man-size catch.

That's right.

Now all they got to do

is figure out
how to hang onto me.

Judge, I'd like to set the trial
as soon as possible.

We've had a lot of
strangers driftin' in.

Well, I've got a ticket
on the 5:00 stage.

We can hold the trial
this afternoon

if the court papers
are in order.

Well, I hope you
can carry 'em.

Took me half the night
to fill 'em out.

Pardee, you want
a jury trial?

Suit yourself, judge.
It's all won to me.

All right,
I'll try the case myself.

We need an affidavit.

The defendant's going
to waive jury trial.

Not another one.

Now we can hold the trial in

about an hour
at the usual place.

And I want you to have
your witnesses there

at least 15 minutes
before court time.

They'll be there.

Deputy, I want you please
to carry these for me.

And don't forget
the suitcase.

I sure hope that deputy of yours
don't stub his toe.

I wouldn't want
nothing messin' up my trial.

I wouldn't worry
about that.

Oh, I ain't worried about it,
not even a little bit.

I guess you got
no reason to.

After all,
you can only hang once.

Nobody's gonna hang me.
You want to know why?

No.

Because hanging's
too good for me.

Hey, you're kind of nervous,
ain't you, sheriff?

Strangers in town
make you jumpy?

Hard job being a sheriff,
ain't it?

Well, I wouldn't trade places
with you even now.

No, sir,
I sure wouldn't.

Prisoner,
rise and face the court.

Sure, judge.

Billy Pardee,
I find you guilty of m*rder

in the first degree
as charged.

Sheriff, step up here,
please.

Billy Pardee, I remand you
to the custody

of the sheriff
of this county,

who will, within the first hour
after dawn tomorrow,

take you from the jail
and hang you by the neck

until you're dead.

And may the Lord
have mercy on your soul.

Your prisoner, sheriff.

Those some of your pals
over there, Billy?

Could be,
a man never knows

when his friends
is gonna come calling.

Need any more help?

No, thanks,
just about finished.

Beats me
why they're going

to all this trouble
for a convicted k*ller.

If you ask me,
a rope, a horse

and a tree would do
just as well.

According to territorial law,

that's just not
civilized enough.

This is, I suppose.

Hanging a man
right out in the middle of town.

Maybe we ought
to sell tickets.

Looks like some more
of Billy Pardee's friends.

He's getting
a little too
popular to suit me.

Slim, the bridge on the Cheyenne
stage road has been wrecked.

The eastbound's
almost 4 hours late.

That means Creighton's men
must be turning the stages back.

Nobody's coming in or going out
except his g*n slingers.

Yeah.
Well, can you prove it?

How much proof do you want?

I've seen at least a dozen
hard-looking characters around.

- There's probably
a lot more.
- [ banging ]

So what do you want me
to do about it,

take 'em all
because they're strangers?

Listen, Slim,
you know right well

they're here
to stop the hanging.

Besides me
and my deputies,

there must be close to
a hundred citizens in Laramie
that can pull a trigger.

I figure that
this is their problem too.

I wouldn't count on too much
help from the citizens.

Why not?

Because you're wearing
a star, not them.

My guess is they'll give you
all the moral support you need

by locking themselves indoors
till it's over,

one way or another.

Just get this thing finished,
will you?

It'll be finished, sheriff.

I'll get it, Maud.

Little early for supper,
isn't it?

Yeah, this is lunch.
I just around to fixing it.

Kind of short on manners today,
ain't ya, sheriff?

Least you could do
is hide your mistrust
till the little lady's gone.

Open the door, Tooey.

Move back, Pardee.

All the way.

Thank you kindly,
sheriff.

Hey, sheriff,
how about tonight's meal?

I'll buy it.

A condemned man's supposed
to have anything

he wants his last meal,
ain't he?

What's on the menu, Maud?

Chicken and dumplings.

Say, a man couldn't ask
for more than that.

Thank you kindly, ma'am.

All right, boys,
that oughta do it.
Thanks a lot.

You can pick your pay up
at the sheriff's office.

Must take a lot of know-how
to build a gallows.

What do you want?

Oh, just a little conversation.
That's all.

Some other time.

Just back up that way, deputy.
And no noise.

We got a message
for the sheriff.

Jess been by?

Haven't seen him.
Maybe he went to eat.

Jess, you all right?

I don't know.

There're no bones broken.

They just gave me
a going-over.

Who did?

Couple of visitors
I never saw before.

I'll know 'em
the next time I see 'em.

Jess,
there's a lot of 'em.

Yeah, I know.

They gave me a message
to give to you.

Yeah?

Two words: get out.

You better go up
and see the doc.

No, I'll be all right.

All right,
I'll see you later.

Well,
where are you going?

I want to find out why anyone
would want to wear this badge.

Hello, Slim.

I tried to tell him, Mort.

It's all right, Sarah.

What's on your mind,
Slim?

Mort, I can't do it.

You got to come back
and take charge.

I just wasn't cut out
for this job.

Making trouble for you?

I'm not afraid of trouble
for myself,

you ought to know that.

It's the responsibility,
it's worrying about the others,

it's not knowing what to do.
It's your job,

and look, I'll stay
on as your deputy.
I'll fight for you,

but you got to come back
and take charge.

Not now.

You're wearing the star.

Here, take it.

No, no, he can't.

Why not?

If he can sit here,
he can sit down at the jail,

tell us what to do.

I won't let him.

He's not going back
to that job, Mr. Sherman.

Not ever,
if I can help it.

Now, Sarah.

Anyway, not now.

Not now.

Now, Mort,
this is your job,

this is what you get
paid for.

I don't want it!

I'm sorry, Slim.

I can't.

I want to send a message
to the marshal in Cheyenne.

Well, I'm sorry, Mr. Sherman,
I can't do it.

What do you mean,
you can't do it?

I can't raise anybody.

The lines seem to be down
on both sides of town.

My guess is
somebody cut 'em.

Tell the men
to go get supper.

I'll lay you six to five
they won't be back.

What's wrong, Slim?

Oh, nothing.

Nothing's wrong.

The roads are blocked,
telegraphs wires are cut.

Con Creighton's
got a couple dozen men

drinkin' up in town.

Our sheriff's
got a scratch in his shoulder

and a bad case
to the shakes,

and I've got to take a man
out in a few hours and hang him.

Other than that,
there's nothing wrong.

You sound like a man
who just tried to resign.

Yeah,
I did but didn't work.

I'm not cut out
for this kind of a job, Jess.

Sure.

Creighton and his hard cases
are a big problem.

But that's not
really what's bothering you.

No, it's not.

It's the execution.

No man
should have to do that.

They haven't invented
a machine to do it yet.

You know, I never really
thought about it before.

Not until that judge says,
"You take him.

You hang him."

Me.

Oh, I've been in the w*r,
been in gunfights,

but I've never k*lled a man
who wasn't trying to k*ll me.

Well, it's men like Pardee
that make executions necessary.

I'm gonna get word
to the marshal in Cheyenne...

ask him to come over
and perform the execution.

How're you gonna do that?

Send a rider
across country.

It's time to get there
and back before dawn.

Sure, if he can
get past Creighton's men

and if the marshal
will come

and if he's not shot
to pieces on his way back.

It's worth a try.

There you are.

[ Tooey laughing ]
King me.

Say, you're mighty good
at this game.

Well, been at it
a good many years.

I never had the chance
to play it much.

Even when I was a kid,
I was always too busy.

What doing?

k*lling folks.

Why, when I
was 12 years old,

I had 11 notches
on my g*n.

You mean it?

Of course, I mean it.

All us Pardees
were in the same business.

My pappy,
bless his old soul,

he still got
the record-- 132.

Still living?

Of course,
he's still living.

Just like a young colt;
retired though,

don't do no more k*lling.

Except maybe on birthday

and 4th of July,
something like that.

I'm getting
a little sick of this.

Why don't you
send Tooey home?

I'd rather have him
talking to Tooey than to us.

Hey, sheriff,
what time is it?

What do you care,
you ain't going anyplace.

Well, I'm getting hungry,
that's all.

My stomach's telling me
it's getting late.

Your supper will get here

when the lady in the restaurant
gets around to bringing it over.

Waste of food,
if you ask me.

Say, you're getting
a little touchy there, deputy.

Someone's coming.

[ knock on door ]

What happened
to the extra deputies
you had outside?

Never came back
from supper.

You're gonna
try to hold 'em off, 20 g*ns,

just the three of you?

Should be able to
from in here.

Come morning,
it'll be a different story.

That's right.

Slim, a bunch of us
have been talking.

We're gonna help you.

Glad to hear that, Sam.

I was wondering
what happened to everybody.

It's liable to be
a little rough tomorrow.

Oh, we're not talking
about tomorrow.

We're talking
about right now.

There's a dozen more of us
out back.

We'll take him out
up the hill.

We got the tree
all picked out.

It'll all be over in 10 minutes,
nobody'll get hurt.

Except the one
that's got it coming.

You think
Creighton and his men

wouldn't tear
this town apart?

What for?

There'll be no point
with Pardee dead.

I've been only a sheriff
a short time.

I'll admit
there's parts of the law

that I'm not too clear on,

but what you got on your mind
is lynchin', plain and simple.

The judge sentenced him
to hang.

What difference does it make
how or when it happens?

The difference is
due process of law.

Now we start fooling around
with that,

we might as well go back
and live in the caves.

You're not turning us down,
are you?

Because
if you are, we'll...

I never could abide a man
that didn't finish his sentence,

especially if it's a threat.

All right,
we'll take him ourselves!

Hold it, boys.

We don't want to make
the undertaker rich overnight.

Sherman,
you're a fool.

I ought to throw you
right in that cell with him.

Now get out!

All right,
but remember this,

come tomorrow,
don't expect any help form us.

You had your chance for that
today and turned it down.

Nice work, boys.

Thanks.

Ah, don't you go hurtin'
a prisoner now, sheriff,

not after all that talk
about due process of law.

Slim.

Hey, I know
how you feel but...

maybe it's the right way
what they wanted to do.

If you want out, Tooey,
I don't blame you.

Oh, I didn't mean it
that way, Slim, I'm staying.

Thanks.

[ footsteps approaching ]

[ knock on door ]

Who is it, Jess?

It's Maud.

I brought some extra chicken
and coffee

for you
and your deputy.

Thanks, Maud.
I'll walk you back.

Oh, I'm safe enough.

Don't you want to
inspect it?

I'll do it.

Oh, look at that chicken.

I'm partial to drumsticks,
if nobody minds.

Well, chicken
and derringer.

It's a nice meal
you dish up, Maudy.

You can turn her loose now,
sheriff.

You don't need
to break her wrist.

Well, you had me fooled.

I didn't think
you wanted me dead.

Oh, I don't, Slim, I...

I just,

I just didn't want to see
Billy hang.

What's he mean to you?

He's my husband.

That's right.

Mrs. Billy Pardee.

Don't worry, honey,

Creighton and the boys
will get me loose.

Come on, there're some questions
I need answering.

Jess,
I'll be across the street.

Oh...

Maudy,
thanks for remembering

how well I like chicken
and dumplings.

Slim, I'm sorry.

I know how it looks,
but I didn't mean you any harm.

Yeah, that's a little hard
for me to believe right now.

But it's true.

Supposing it'd worked
and Billy escaped?

Do you realize
it might have saved your life?

Then you do know
Creighton's coming in.

The only thing
I don't know is when.

Oh, Maud, how did you ever
get mixed up with Billy?

I met him at a dance
in Cheyenne.

Well,
he was different then.

That's what they always say.

I suppose so.

Anyway,
I left him over a year ago.

Never expected
to see him again.

We were married 5 years,

and some of them
were good years.

You still love him?

No.

No, I don't think so.

I wouldn't have been
surprised

if I heard
he got k*lled somewhere.

But this really hit me
hard...

knowing he was gonna
hang right here.

I'm sorry for you,
Maud.

For him, too,
in some ways.

There's nothing
I can do about it.

Good night.

MAN: Sheriff?

I'm unarmed, Mr. Sherman.

I don't think we've met.

I think
you may have heard of me.

My name is
Con Creighton.

Oh, yeah,
we've been expecting you.

You know, one of the things
I've heard about you

is that you're suppose to be
a good businessman.

Get to the point,
Creighton.

One thousand dollars.

For what?

For getting a good night's
sleep, you and your deputies,

and leaving
a couple of doors unlocked.

Creighton.

On the other hand,
let's say, $2,000.

No deal.

First of all,
I'm a light sleeper,

and secondly,
unlocked doors make me nervous.

You're not as smart
as I'd been led to believe.

Either are you.

All you're gonna get walking in
like this is a cell,

right next to Pardee.

I wouldn't do that,
Sherman...

unless you want to argue
with them.

JESS: Hold it!

Creighton!

There's a 30-30 pointed
right at your head.

Now you and your men
back off.

Move!

Call it, Creighton.

No hurry.

We'll be seeing you.

It's dawn, Jess.

How about some coffee,
Billy?

No, thanks.
I'll wait.

It's your last chance.

I'll wait and have breakfast
with Creighton.

Suit yourself.

You really gonna try,
are you, sheriff,

take me out there?

You guessed it.

You better smarten up.

Creighton and the boys
are out there.

You won't have a prayer.

Speaking of praying,
might not be a bad idea

if you tried
some yourself.

Looks like that marshal
from Cheyenne couldn't make it.

Yeah.

You ready, Billy?

Sure, I'm ready.

Question is are you?

Ready as I'm gonna get.

Ouch.

Little rough there,
ain't you, sheriff?

Your b*llet finished him,
Mort.

Creighton's wasn't enough.

He was right.

He said he'd never hang.

Slim, I don't know
what to say to you.

You don't have to say
anything.

You were here
when you were needed.

So were the rest of you.

Well, come on, boys,
we got work to do.

I'm sure
glad to get rid of this.

Likewise.

I don't know
what Sarah's gonna say,

but it'll be plenty.

Pin it back on,
Sarah.

Where can I find a sheriff
named Sherman?

Well, I'm Sherman,
marshal,

but...

I'm not wearing the badge
anymore.

You're what?

Look,
I got an urgent message

from a sheriff
named Sherman.

I rode all the way
from Cheyenne.

Yeah,
well, I sent the message,

but I'm not the man
to talk to now.

Go in the office
over there.

Hello, marshal,
I'm glad to see you,

what can I do for you?

What can you do for me?

What are you talking about?

I rode half the night
to get here and I--

Really?
You must be tuckered out.

Come on inside
and have a cup of coffee.

Yeah, sure.

Jess, let's go home.

Yeah,
that's what I'm gonna do.

Why don't you ride over
to Indian Wells?

What for?

I hear they need
a new sheriff over there,

somebody with experience.