03x04 - The Mountain Men

[bunniefuu]

Feeding time.

Oh.

Oh, wow, a waiter
with my breakfast. [ chuckles ]

You sure treat your guests
right here in Laramie.

Well, enjoy it
while you can, Vance.

It'll be a lot tougher up
at Fort Leavenworth.

Ah, so they tell me.

Oh, I'd just leave to serve
my sentence out here

if it was up to me.

Well, it's not.

If I was
in your spot,

I'd consider myself lucky to be
spending the next few years

just as far away from here
as I could get.

Hmm.

Even if it's behind bars,
huh?

Especially behind bars,

where the Sanfords
can't get at you.

You mean those scarecrows
from up in the hills?

Listen, a jury should've
given me a medal

for sh**ting one of them
instead of--

[ g*nsh*t ]

Someone's coming, Pa.

Been coming
for quite a spell.

It's Carl.

What kept you?

I stayed around long enough
to throw a shot at Joe Vance.

I almost got him too
right through the bars.

I didn't say for you
to do that.

Well, didn't anybody
follow me, Pa,

didn't nobody
even see me.

You know I got my mind set
on seeing Joe Vance

at the end of a rope.

Well, I just figured

I could save everybody
a lot of trouble as well--

Shut up.

Did you find out
what I sent you to find out?

Yeah, they're shipping him
to Leavenworth

Tuesday afternoon.

Tomorrow.

The stagecoach?

Yeah,
just like you figured.

Then come tomorrow noon

we'll be riding into
the Sherman Relay Station.

We'll take Mr. Joe Vance
off that stage

and hang him to a tree.

Sounds good, Pa.

Mmm. Well, you really know
how to start a morning off,
Miss Daisy.

Well, thank you.

I certainly enjoy
cooking

for the good appetites
around here.

Milk?

I beg your pardon,
Mike.

May I please have
some more milk, Miss Daisy?

You know, if you could
draw a g*n that fast,

you'd have
quite a reputation.

Oh, I'm sorry, Slim.

Did you want this?

There'll be plenty more
for supper

if you hardworking men
can ever

tear yourselves away
from the breakfast table.

Mmm, I reckon.

I'll have to do a lot of riding
to work off this breakfast.

You're gonna
check those strays

in the canyon,
aren't you, Jess?

Yeah.

Bout time I work Bess again.

Uh, we'll be back
around noon, Miss Daisy.

Slim, you haven't forgotten
our discussion, have you?

Of course not.

We better check and see
if that bottom line's dry enough

before you turn those
strays loose too.

I mean, our discussion about
what has to be done.

Why, I know,
Miss Daisy, yeah.

We're gonna
tend to it too.

Uh, when?

We've got more important things
to do now.

What's going on here?

She means painting,
Jess.

And I can help.

I'm real good
with a brush.

Oh, yeah.

Well, that's right, Daisy,
I agree with you.

But if Slim doesn't
get those fences fixed

and don't round up
those strays,

we'll all be
in a lot of trouble.

Oh-oh,
what will happen?

Uh, poor animals are liable to
wander off and die.

From what?

There's no sense in
standing here talking about it

when there's so much
work to be done.

Well, now don't you worry
about the place, Miss Daisy.

We'll get that paint
done.

Come on, Jess.

Why are they against
painting so much?

Oh, they're not
really against it, Mike.

They just need
a little push.

I think I know
how to give it to them.

Howdy, part.

[ Slim laughs ]

Those fences
are in real good shape.

Yeah.
They sure are.

Dad-gum I found a lot of
strays in the canyon though.

You did? How many?

Three.

You know, Jess?

We're gonna have to get
at that painting chore

one of these days.

You bet.

Sometime when we ain't got
nothing else to do.

You know what
the trouble is,

well, this is the busiest time
of year around a ranch.

Yeah, that's right.

We've got to hustle plenty
for the next 2 or 3 months

to keep that ranch in shape,
you know, before the rainy
season starts.

That's right.

You know man would be
plumb loco to try anything then.

Yeah.

You know, Slim, we got to
do it sometime now.

Miss Daisy's got her
heart set on it.

Yeah, I know, Jess.

She's right.

But doggone it...

a man ought to decide

when he's gonna
paint his own place!

You know,
that's a funny thing.

You start letting a woman
make the decisions for you,

first thing you know,
you can't think for yourself.

Sure isn't the work
out of it.

I don't mind working.

Shucks, me neither.

Work keeps a man
in shape.

Truer words
never spoken, Jess.

Pa is looking for you.

We're getting ready
to ride.

I'll be along as soon as
I put the seed out.

Seems to me you ought to be
working over your r*fle

instead of messing around
with these here birds.

I said I'd be ready
when the time comes and I will.

I guess you know
it was Pa's idea.

I mean, you're coming with us
to nail Joe Vance.

If it was up to me
I'd leave you out.

Look, Carl,
I'll tell you something.

I'm not all that
fond of you either,

especially when you spent
the last couple of hours

nipping out of a jug.

Come on, boy,
let's see how good you are.

Come on.

What's going on?

Well, uh, nothing.

Nothing, Pa, John boy here
just tripped himself

over a bucket, that's all.
[ chuckles ]

Sure he's wet, ain't he?

You've been
fighting him again?

Why, of course not.

Well, go on and ask him.
Have I?

Well.

Let's get saddled up,
we got a long ride ahead of us.

JESS: Slim, look.

Easy, Mike,
now be careful.

Look, what you
made me do.

Come on, Mike.

Daisy, what are you
trying to do, k*ll yourself?

What'd you say?

Come on down,
Miss Daisy.

Nice and easy now, huh?

Uh, what'd you want to
talk to me about?

Uh...

isn't it about
time for lunch?

Oh, my goodness.

Well, I was so busy
I'd never given it a thought.

But I've got some nice
cold pork and beans.

I can rustle up
in a hurry.

Cold pork and beans.

[ smirks ]

I'm gonna call you
old painter.

How are you doing,
Jess?

Not too good.

[ horse snorting ]

Hey, you're doing
real well.

I bet
you're enjoying it, too.

Sure we are!

I can't wait
to see it finished.

I'll go along
with that, Daisy.

We'll bring you back
enough paint

to do the house, too.

Well, that's fine!

Anything else
you want from town?

No, thanks.

All right.

Goodbye, now you be
careful up there.

Bye, Slim.
Bye, Jess.

Bye, Mike.

Slim, I want you to
explain me one thing.

What?

What are we doing up here
with paint brushes in our hand?

We're painting!

Now shut up and paint.

I figured it was
something like that.

Things are gonna be
a lot simpler

than I counted on.

They ain't
wearing their g*ns.

They could have 'em
close by, Pa.

I could pick 'em off real easy
from here

just like squirrels
on a pine branch.

Put it down, Carl.

You keep your hands
off my g*n

or I'll lay it alongside
your head, boy.

There'd be no more squabbling,
you hear?

You're old enough to quit
playing games with that r*fle,

or do I have to take it
away from you?

If there's any sh**ting
it'll be on my say so,

you hear, Carl?

Yeah, I hear, Pa.

Ha.

[ horses neighing ]

We got company,
Slim.

Ben Sanford
and his boys.

Let's take a break.

Howdy, Ben.
Boys.

Just climbing down
to rustle up some coffee.

Just stay where you are
for spell.

Yeah, until
the stage comes in.

What's the joke?

Hold it now.

No joke, Sherman.

They're moving Joe Vance
to Fort Leavenworth

on the afternoon stage.

Only he ain't gonna
get there.

This is as far as
he goes.

You planning on
bushwhacking him?

Call it whatever
you want.

I say he's gonna hang
for k*lling my son.

He was tried in court and
found guilty of man slaughter.

He'll pay for it,
Ben.

Five to ten years,
he'll be free

before the grass is green
on my boy Warne's grave.

There were witnesses,
Ben.

Folks said Warne was drinking
and he started that fight.

Vance k*lled him.

That's enough for me.

After today, if his kinfolk
come gunning for us,

we'll be ready for them.

I'm coming down.

Carl, if he
touches that ladder,

you give him a b*llet
in his leg.

Better ease off, Slim.

Old trigger-happy there
looks like

he'd enjoy sh**ting you.

I would,
I purely would.

Now listen to me, Ben--

I listened to you once.

"Let the law handle it,"
you said.

And I was right
and I'm still right.

Now you sh**t Vance
and the law will hunt you down

like snakes.

The law can try.

It'll take
a powerful lot of 'em

to fetch us down
out of them hills.

What about you, John?

You going along
with this?

Tell him, son.

Warne was my brother and
Pa says we got to do it and...

and he's right.

You know
better than that.

[ horses neighing ]

Riders coming.

See if we can make out
who it is.

Two men with badges,
Pa.

You know what's the most
powerful influence

in the west --

A six-g*n?

A woman.

You couldn't get those
two up there

with a whole regiment
of g*ns.

What's on your mind,
Mort?

You know that pigpen
out at my place,

lately the hogs
have been complaining

about the way it looks.

Why don't you let 'em
move in the house?

Tried that,
they moved right out.

Now the whole place
needs painting, boys.

I figured maybe you'd give me
a little estimate on the job.

Sorry, Mort.

We're retired right
after we finish this.

Like to chat with you
but this isn't the time.

Kind of edgy,
aren't they?

Maybe they ain't happy
with their work.

Sure they are.

Why, these boys were born
house painters.

You can see it
all over 'em.

Yeah, I noticed that.

A real colorful pair.

Anymore wisecracks and
you're gonna be using this

paint brush
for a toothpick.

You see anything
of the Sanfords?

Can't say I have.

Somebody took a shot
at Joe Vance.

I've been looking for
Carl Sanford.

You try their cabin?

They've let out.

Maybe they're trapping.

Maybe.

Something else you boys
ought to know,

Joe Vance will be
passing through here

this afternoon by stage.

They're moving him
to Leavenworth.

Good for him.

I ain't expecting
any trouble here,

but no way of figuring when
it comes to those mountain men.

You see any signs of them,
you better let that stage know,

it could get
a little rough.

Yeah, John is kind of
civilized.

But old Ben, he's tougher
than a chuck wagon steak.

Ben's a good man,
just kind of set in his ways.

Carl, now there's
a sidewinder

I wouldn't
turn my back on.

We'll keep
our eyes open.

Like I say I'm not expecting
any trouble.

But if there is,

the guards ought to be
able to handle it all right.

There's guards
on the stage?

Four of them, come in from
Leavenworth yesterday.

I'll see you, boys.

Keep up the good work.

Get back to work
till they're out of sight.

We should have
done something, Slim.

Like what?

Get Mort and Cal k*lled?

Quiet up there,
that could still happen.

All right, Sherman...

you come on down, slow.

Bring your bucket.

John, collect all those g*ns
in there, you hear?

Yeah, Pa.

Watch Harper.

Let me know
if anyone turns up.

Go on in the house.

I'll be
right behind you.

Hold it.

It won't work, Harper.

Now toss that g*n away
and come on out.

You want this g*n,
you come and get it, Ben.

I don't have to.

There's a rig coming from
Laramie way,

With a woman
and a boy.

No need for anybody
to get hurt, is there?

Now get shucking
that g*n.

That's enough, Harper.

Get up
and get your g*n.

I'm gonna k*ll him.

You're gonna
leave him be.

If'n you kept your
eyes open,

nothing would have
happened.

Inside.

Go on, Carl.

Seems like I got to keep my eyes
on you too, huh?

Go on in there.

And keep your g*n
on these two,

take their iron
with you.

Help him, Carl.

Sit over there
and lean your r*fle

against the fireplace
candlelight.

DAISY: Slim, Jess,
we're back.

They'd be expecting us
to unload the wagon.

Stay where you are.

They're coming in.

Daisy let me drive
most of the way home.

Oh, hello.

Oh, I didn't know
we had company.

Well, I hope you'll stop
for a cup of coffee

and a piece of pie.

Pie was baked fresh
this morning.

No, thank you,
ma'am.

Oh, nice, no trouble at all,
Mr. Sanford.

Uh, Slim, Jess, would you
bring in the other packages

from the wagon,
please?

You can do that
later.

I was so sorry to hear about
what happened to your son,

Mr. Sanford.

I know
how you must feel.

Afternoon, Mrs. Cooper.

All right for her
to go in the kitchen, Pa?

What's going on?

Mike, you better
go in your bedroom.

Why?
What'd I do?

Nothing.

But go on in your bedroom
and close the door.

But I don't want to
go into my room.

I've got things
to do out front.

Mike!

Go on, better
do as you're told.

We'll explain
all about this later on.

That's the trouble
with grownups.

They don't give you credit
for knowing anything at all.

[ screeching ]

If we had a g*n we'd show 'em,
wouldn't it, Chip?

They're waiting
for the stage, Daisy.

Joe Vance
will be on it.

Joe Vance.

The man who is
going to prison

for what he did
to your son?

Yes, ma'am.

Only he ain't
going to prison.

We're gonna take him
off that stage

and put a rope
around his neck

and hang him to the highest
cottonwood we can find.

Ain't nobody gonna stop us,
Miss Cooper.

Nobody.

You and Harper,
get back up on that roof

and keep painting.

Have 'em put the buckboard
in the barn out of the way.

There's sh**ting
to be done.

Move!

There's no need to
upset yourself, ma'am.

I don't mean you
no harm whatever.

What you are
planning is cruel,

deliberate m*rder,
Mr. Sanford.

Not to me.

I realize that.

But in the eyes
of the law--

The law's eyes looked
on my boy's k*lling

like it didn't matter.

Just another
mountain man...

eye for eye, burning
for burning, life for life,

that's the law
I believe in.

The book
you are quoting has

a great many other things
in it, Mr. Sanford.

For example,
"Do unto others

as you would
they should do unto you."

Joe Vance should have
read that part.

[ screeching ]

Shh!

You want to
spoil everything?

I'd take you along,

only you might get bad
and bite somebody.

Pa, come on out
a minute!

No, no, boy.

This cub must have come out
through the window, Pa.

And just where was you
heading, boy?

To get help.

Rest easy, ma'am.

He ain't hurt.

Nail the boy's
window shut, John.

You can't blame
the young one for trying.

Now everybody does
just as they're told

and nobody gets hurt.

You understand?

Yes, sir.

Stage is coming, Pa!

Inside with the boy,
ma'am, and no noise.

John, stay with these folks
and see they keep quiet.

Sherman,
you keep painting

till that stage
turns off the road,

then get a fresh team.

Harper, stay right
where you are.

Come on, get going!

I see no guards.

They're probably inside.

Take it easy, Jess.

Carl's just aching
to put a b*llet in you.

I got kind of an
ache myself.

Whoa!

Hiya, Slim.

Mose.

MOSE: Sherman
Relay Station, folks.

Like to stretch.

Hey, Slim, get them crowbait
out of the customers' way.

Hank, you take
care of the team.

Our boss and barn painter
don't seem to know

what to do with them.

This is all the passengers
you got?

Yeah.

Almost had another one

but there wasn't room enough
for him and his friends.

You know who it was?

I better give Hank
a hand with the team.

Joe Vance.

They're sending through
a special stage at 5 o'clock

for just him
and his guards.

You know something?

I sure do.

Elby King's driving
and he's getting double pay.

Well, he can have it.

I wouldn't trade places
with him for triple pay.

I got a bad feeling when it
comes to shipping prisoners

and especially that one.

You know why, don't you?

No, why?

The Sanfords.

I wouldn't put it past them
to make a try to take Vance.

You better keep your eyes
peeled too, Slim.

Yeah, I'll do that,
Mose.

You all set there, Hank?

Yeah.

All right, folks!

Let's go, get aboard.

Stay where you are,
Harper.

Hey, Jess!

That looks
real pretty!

Hyah!

Come on, Jess,
let's finish this.

What's your hurry?

Since we get through
they're gonna have to

let us get off of here.

It'd be kind of strange
if they didn't.

Yeah, you're right.

We're sitting
ducks up here.

On the ground
or in the house,

we might have a chance.

That's a general idea.

Sit down!

Don't you dare
speak to me like that.

I'll speak to you
anyway I want to.

Carl!

If you lay a hand
on Miss Cooper,

you won't have a tooth
left in your head.

Thank you.

Would you care for a cup
of coffee, Mr. Sanford?

No, thank you
kindly, ma'am.

Would it be safe for me
to ask a question?

If'n it's one
I can answer.

How long ago did you come
to this part of the country?

Forty years, closer to
forty-one, I reckon.

Why, you must have been
among the very first settlers.

Yes, ma'am.

Me and my wife
was the first whites

to live on the mountain.

Before us, there was
just the Cheyenne.

You must have been
very young.

Nineteen.

Them was good days.

What courage you and
Mrs. Sanford must have had

to be among the first,
I mean.

Maybe it was that,
maybe just foolhardiness.

It ain't easy to tell 'em
apart at that age.

The day I felled the first
tree for our cabin,

it was her


You miss her,
don't you?

I do, ma'am,
very much.

But it's good she ain't here
to see this day.

Perhaps she knows
about it anyway.

For her memory's sake,
couldn't you--

She didn't like k*lling no more
than I do, Miss Cooper.

But if she was here,
she wouldn't try to stop me.

She'd know it was something
that had to be done.

You don't understand why,
do you, ma'am?

No.

And I can't believe
either that a good man

would throw away his life
and his sons' lives

with a single act of vengeance
that can't help anyone.

Thank you for the name,
ma'am.

I've tried to be a good man,
in my own way,

and a just one.

Is this your idea
of justice?

It is.

John's bringing in
Sherman and Harper.

All right,
let them come.

They finished the job,
Pa.

I figured it'd look funny
if they stayed up there.

Light over yonder
and stay put.

DAISY: Slim?

Something
I can do for you?

Thanks, Miss Daisy.

You've done plenty.

John, you're getting a might
careless with your iron,

watch that.

Yeah, Pa.

Sit down, Harper!

You don't hear
so good, do you?

[ Jess groans ]

What's wrong
with you, Carl?

I'll tell you
what's wrong with him.

He's a dirty yellow coward.

Hold it!

All right, before you
ruin things for me,

I'm gonna let you work off
some of that steam.

You inclined toward
a plain old fashioned set-to

with my boy Carl?

Anytime.

I don't think that's a good idea
at all, Mr. Sanford.

I think it's a fine idea,
Daisy.

Just fine.

Outside.

I'll take that knife.

You're being watched close,
Sherman.

Don't try
nothing foolish now.

Tear his head off, Jess.

You bet.

[ grunting ]

Go get some water
for your brother.

It was a good match,
you whooped him fair.

Oh, Jess.

I'm all right,
Daisy.

Carl ain't hurt bad
either, ma'am.

Fact is he's happiest
when he's fighting.

[ groans ]

Rather pointless though,
wasn't it, Mr. Sanford?

Hasn't really
changed anything, has it?

No, ma'am.

Coming on close to


time it was tying
you boys up.

Inside.

Thanks.

You want a drink, John?

Uh, no.

Thank you kindly.

What are you
thinking on?

Nothing much.

Me, I'm thinking about
Joe Vance.

He never was
much of a man.

Maybe he isn't
even worth saving...

but I know a man
who is.

Who's that?

You, John.

You could amount
to something

if you just
set your mind to it.

Don't you
worry about me.

I can't help it.

Now your pa could stop this
at anytime.

Your brother Carl isn't worth
as much as a b*llet

that's likely
to finish him.

But you...

makes me feel kind of sick
about the way

you're gonna be wasted.

That's enough of that,
Sherman.

John's gonna be
all right.

Is he?

He'll spend
the rest of his life

running away
from a m*rder charge

and that's the best
he can hope for.

He's full grown
and a Sanford.

He wouldn't know more
thinking letting

Joe Vance get away
than I would.

That's so,
ain't it, son?

I'm gonna do
what you want me to do, Pa.

That's not exactly
what you meant, is it, Ben?

John?

You never lied to me.

I'm gonna ask you
a question,

I don't want you
lying to me now.

I won't lie, Pa.

You are doing this
'cause it's the right thing,

ain't that so?

I better spell
Carl outside.

Wait!

I asked you a question.

No.

It ain't right, Pa.

But I'll do it
because you want me to.

Mr. Sanford,
you can't do this to him.

Oh, please, forget this
terrible thing.

He's soft,
all the way through.

I never knew that.

He's good.

He's trying to be
a civilized human being.

Civilized?

It's my fault.

I let him spend too much time
in the town, spoiled him.

There's one
you didn't spoil, Ben.

You proud of him?

Don't be crowding me,
Harper.

Pa, I've been
thinking on the way

we're gonna
go about this.

The thinking's been done.

We can lay low
while that stage pulls in

and Sherman
unhitches the team.

We're gonna get the drop
on the guards

and run off
all the horses.

Then we deal
with Joe Vance.

And we high tail out,
leaving half a dozen people here

could put a rope
around our necks?

Just what are you saying
exactly?

You know.

I reckon.

Now you listen to me.

Joe Vance gets what the law
should've given him.

Anybody tries to stop us
gets shot, that's all.

Ain't enough, Pa,
you know it ain't.

There's a good country
in the north, Canada,

where there's still fur to be
trapped and buffalo to hunt.

It ain't overrun with towns
and people yet.

Pa, listen to me,
it's too late.

For me, oh, no, boy.

I got a good many years left,
enough to straighten out John

and make a Sanford
out of him.

Pa, you're dreaming.

It ain't like it was no more and
never will be again anyplace.

The law will track us down
no matter how far we run.

You ain't saying
we should give up?

No.

What I'm saying is we don't
have no chance at all

if then we leave
one single witness here

who could testify
against us.

Now you quit
talking like that, boy.

Let me worry
about the law following.

I'll lead you places
where no lawman

will find you
in a hundred years.

I told you, Pa, there ain't
no such places no more.

All right, you told me!

Now there'll be
no more talk about

k*lling innocent folk,
you hear?

I ain't running
the rest of my days,

I'm not leaving behind
any witnesses!

As long as I'm alive,
you will do as I say,

you understand?

John!
Inside!

You'll be out there
waiting for the stage.

Get over by that window
and keep it covered.

See anything, Chip?

See any sign
of the stage?

Don't, Jess.

Don't make me
sh**t you.

Don't make
any difference

whether it's you
or your brother.

Carl don't want to leave
any witnesses anyway.

Pa wouldn't let him
do that.

BEN: John, look sharp,
stage is coming.

Don't try to warn them,
Sherman.

If you do, a lot of lives
are gonna end right here.

[ g*nsh*t ]

If John sold us out,
I'm gonna get him.

Leave him be.

Go get the horses.

Are we going
after the stage?

No.

Just going.

Get the horses
like I told you.

Pa.

Stay in here,
Miss Daisy.

[ g*nsh*t ]

You all right?

Yeah.

You got him?

Yeah.

Not before he had a chance
to crease you, though.

I'm just glad that's all
he had a chance to do.

Jess?

Yeah, Mike?

How long
are they gonna keep

John Sanford
and his pa in jail?

Oh, I reckon they'll keep
Mr. Sanford in

for quite a spell.

But young John,
he's all healed up

and back on the farm.

Judge gave him
a suspended sentence.

I'm glad.

Yeah, so am I.

If it hadn't been for him,
we wouldn't be here right now.

Come to think of it, I wish
I weren't here now anyway.

What?

Nothing, Mike,
just complaining.

It's a little messy
over there, Jess,

better go over it again.

You think so, huh?

Yeah.

That little scratch you got
has been healed up for 3 days.

Why don't you take that
phony bandage off

and come out here
and help me?

Sorry, Jess, you know
I can't do that.

Why, I'm confined
to bed.

Miss Daisy'd be
mighty upset

if she even knew
I was on my feet.

Yeah, that's right,
I reckon she would.

Hey, hey!

Hey, Daisy!

You called me, Jess?Slim, you better
come out here

and show Miss Daisy that stuff
you got all over you.

SLIM: Never mind,
I'm getting dressed.Getting dressed?

Oh, yes, ma'am,
old Slim's all better.

I think I'll get
a paintbrush for him.I brought one.

Way ahead of me
again, huh?

[ chuckles ]

You know, Miss Daisy,
I'm not sure

whether I want to grow up
like Slim or Jess.

Well, look here,
you could do a lot worse.

I could do
a lot better too.

I could grow up
smart like you.

Why you--[ Mike tripping ]