01x03 - Rustlers

[bunniefuu]

ANNOUNCER: Previously

on Elkhorn

MERRIFIELD: I’d say

that 26,000 got you

one heck of a herd,

Mr. Roosevelt.

I’ve never been more sure

of anything in my life.

MARQUIS: Allow me to

introduce my wife.

Medora.

There are always

consequences here,

Mr. Roosevelt,

even for the published word.

MEDORA: See to it that

is never published.

PADDOCK: Your move, newsboy.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[CATTLE LOWING]

BLAIRE: Hold it right there!

Hands up!

Turn around, slow.

There you go. Put it down.

Easy.

Go!

[g*nf*re]

Go! Go! Go!

[g*nf*re]

COWBOY: Don’t worry.

I’ll run ’em down.

He’s wasting his time.

I know where he’s going.

[THEME MUSIC] ♪

[THEME MUSIC] ♪

[THEME MUSIC] ♪

[THUD] [PANTING]

Blast it!

MERRIFIELD: All right,

steady him, boys, steady him.

Don’t be too hard on

yourself, Mr. Roosevelt.

Plenty of seasoned cowboys

can’t hold a calf by themselves.

Well, I very much had to try.

MERRIFIELD: Yes and now I’m

very much gonna help you,

so come on in here.

Okay boys, let’s take him down.

Nope. There we go.

MERRIFIELD: Get on in here!

Alright, you get around.

Hold ’em steady.

Alright.

Well, whatcha ya waitin’ for?

SEWALL: I prefer

to do the holding.

Are you serious?

Don’t tell me you don’t

have the stomach for it!

Ah, I got stomach aplenty!

I just don’t care for

this part all that much.

Come now, Bill!

Find your mettle!

Yeah, come on Sewall,

find your mettle.

We can’t hold ’em here all day.

Keep ’em steady, boys.

Okay. Hold ’em, hold ’em.

Hold ’em down, hold ’em down.

[COW BELLOWS] [BRAND

SIZZLES] There we go.

[COW BELLOWS]

MERRIFIELD: Okay, let ’em up.

Get ’em up.

There you survived.

Buncha cryin’ over nuthin’.

I just don’t care for it.

Ah, the elk’s horn.

A quality brand for

a quality product!

How are the rest coming?

MERRIFIELD: Well,

brandin’ a thousand

head of cattle

ain’t no easy task,

Mr. Roosevelt, but

last couple days

Sylvane and new boys

been doin’ a good job with them

steers up on the northern pasture,

workin’ ’em as fast as they can.

What say we join them?

Should be the perfect

practice before the

round-up in the

fall, wouldn’t it?

MERRIFIELD: Yeah, it

may be that, but uh,

well, let’s just say

them cowhands, they can be a bit

of a wild bunch,

Mr. Roosevelt.

I would expect nothing less!

MERRIFIELD: I guess what

I’m trying to say is we

hire ’em for their hard work,

okay, not necessarily

their manners. And uh

yeah, them boys, they don’t have

such a great reputation for uh

respect for proprietors,

such as yourself.

Bill,

if I cannot earn the

respect of working men,

what business have I here?

MERRIFIELD: Fair enough, but

don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

TEX: Hold down a runner.

Yah!

That’s how it’s

done. Did ya see it?

Ha, ha! Nice!

[COW BELLOWING]

ROOSEVELT: How magnificent!

Do you mind?

This ought to be good.

ROOSEVELT: Hasten forward

quickly there, boys!

SEWALL: I don’t think this

is a good idea, Theodore.

ROOSEVELT: Someone

grab me a hot iron,

and come hold ’em! Quick!

TEX: ’Fraid we ain’t

gonna hold ’em.

ROOSEVELT: I beg your pardon?

Say, we ain’t gonna hold ’em

’cause we ain’t gonna brand ’em.

I believe you are

under my employment-

And I believe I ain’t gonna

brand this cattle TWICE.

Blast it!

[LAUGHTER]

TEX: Best leave it

to us, Mr. Employer.

Cattlemen don’t do nuthin’

but get in the way out here,

especially the four-eyed ones, who

can’t spot a brand from the saddle.

Let’s have at it, then!

I will not be spoken to as such!

Let us fight or be friends!

Hey!

Ain’t no respect to be gained

by you intervenin’.

Just gotta let this play out.

I see. Unafraid to insult me,

but too afraid to

back your words.

[PUNCH MISSES] [PUNCH HITS]

Alright, then, Cattleman.

Must be nice wearin’

them storm windows

when the rain comes!

[PUNCHES LANDING]

[PANTING]

[PUNCH MISSES] [PUNCH HITS]

Whoo boy! Got some fire in ya!

[PUNCH] [PANTING]

[PANTING]

SEWALL: Watch that right

hand, Mr. Roosevelt!

[PUNCH]

[THUD]

MERRIFIELD: Come on. Get

up now, Mr. Roosevelt.

[PANTING]

TEX: Alright, alright. I yield.

[PANTING]

[BLOWS ON GLASSES]

[PANTING]

Let us be friends then.

Well, I’ll be.

TEX: Most o’ you

flatfoots come out

just trying to

make a quick buck.

Sittin’ pretty while

we break our backs.

I dunno if you’re smarter

but you’re different.

[ROOSEVELT SIGHS]

ROOSEVELT: An extraordinary day!

I cannot remember the last

time I was so exhausted!

MERRIFIELD: Yeah, and some much-merited

sleep to come, Mr. Roosevelt.

ROOSEVELT: Yes, indeed.

[HOOFBEATS]

Can I help you, gentlemen?

BLAIRE: Mr. Roosevelt,

I take it?

Yes. BLAIRE: My name

is Emmett Blaire.

I own the Prairie Falcon

Ranch, ten miles up the river.

And I’ve come here today

to seek satisfaction.

For what?

BLAIRE: For the

cattle you’ve been

stealin’ from my property.

[OMINOUS MUSIC] ♪

MERRIFIELD: This ain’t

our brand, Emmett.

It’s made to look

like it, sure, but

you can see here how it’s

been done one point at a time.

That ain’t ours.

Come on, Emmett, you know

how these rustlers work.

If we were stealin’,

which we ain’t,

why wouldn’t we just use

our own brand to do it?

Instead of making a fake iron,

try to pass it off as our own.

Figured so your boys wouldn’t get

caught with it on my property!

That’s hogwash.

ROOSEVELT: Mr. Blaire,

if you know my name then

you know my reputation.

BLAIRE: I’ve heard

of your reputation,

back east.

I don’t know a thing

about you out here.

What I do know for certain

is that I caught

your man in the act.

That is preposterous!

We have no need for thievery!

Why, Elkhorn is as honest

an enterprise as they come!

Well then, perhaps

we should ride out on

your range tomorrow

to see how many more

of my stock you got?

Well then, perhaps we should!

Sir

may we have the week

to investigate your claim?

I’ll give you three days.

Then I’ll come back here,

and I’ll sort it out myself.

SEWALL: It just doesn’t

make much sense.

If someone’s gonna rustle, why

not keep ’em for themselves?

Sell ’em off quick?

Why brand ’em as ours?

And out here, Mister Roosevelt,

as I’m sure you’re

aware, a rancher’s

reputation is his livelihood.

Well then, perhaps

someone

is intent on ruining

my reputation,

someone

who would benefit

from our failure.

SEWALL: You suggesting

the Marquis de Morés?

He tried taking the

property mere days ago

on the ridiculous claim

of his sheep grazing.

Surely, he’s willing to try

an even less savory approach.

That may be, but how are we

gonna prove it to Emmett?

I’ll visit Arthur

Packard tomorrow.

See if he has any further

insight on the Marquis.

It’s quite a scheme.

ROOSEVELT: Yes.

Seems the Marquis is

intent on controlling

the entire territory

and likely much beyond

and

by any means necessary.

[DOORS SQUEAK]

MANAGER: Rosie! Mister

Bartholomew in room 5

asked for fresh bath

water half an hour ago!

ROSIE: Well, not to me, he

didn’t. MANAGER: And the couple

staying in 8 need new linens.

They said that theirs are dirty!

I told you to wait for

the washin’ to come back

before you started making beds!

MANAGER: What do you

think you’re doing?

Did ya not hear

what I just said?

ROSIE: Of course, I did. Look

if you had sent the laundry

out yesterday like I asked,

we’d have fresh linens

right now, but we don’t.

MANAGER: What a pleasant

surprise, Miss Medora.

Rosie, would you

please get some tea.

Oh, I’m not here for leisure.

Oh, you’re not?

How can I help you?

This hotel

is now officially the property

of my dear husband, the Marquis.

You are now standing inside

the Hotel de Morés.

We were not made aware.

I am making you aware.

And starting now, we will

be catering to a more

upstanding clientele.

We will show them that hospitality

in the Badlands can exist.

And that requires more

sophisticated service than what

has previously been offered.

Rosie, was it?

- Hm hmm.

Yes, missus.

Any thoughts?

ROSIE: Ah,

new management is a good start.

MEDORA: Done.

You’re fired.

ROSIE: Uh Miss Medora,

we still have a

hotel full of guests.

Surely we need a manager.

And in you,

it has one.

ROSIE: (Stammers) Um, we um,

I’m sorry. Me? Wha-

TEX: Whatcha readin’

there, Mister Roosevelt?

"King Olaf."

Cover says "Wayside Inn."

TR: Oh well, that’s the book.

The story is a

poetic sequence.

A what, now?

Think of it like a

a musical story.

Much like a campfire song!

Well,

alright now!

It’s about a real Viking

king from long ago.

He avenges his father,

reclaims his kingdom,

and he seizes his destiny.

Lots of action, then?

Sure. Yes, it’s very exciting,

but more than that,

well, it’s inspiring.

One could only hope

to demonstrate such

fortitude and bravery

in their lifetime.

I think on it often

to give me courage when

it would otherwise fail.

Well, you might wanna

use some of that courage

next time ya gotta heel a calf.

That’s fine advice, Tex.

[GIGGLING]

d*ck: Theodore?

Hellooooo?

[GIGGLING]

Oh. That’s just

my cousin, Alice.

[GIGGLING]

As long as I live, Richard,

I will never forget

such a sweet sound.

d*ck: Well, you best

go talk to her, then.

Hello, I’m-

ALICE: The boy with

mice in his pockets.

I beg your pardon? ALICE:

That’s what Richard says.

He can hear them

squeaking during class.

It must be quite a scene.

TR: I enjoy studying

the natural world.

I don’t always have

mice in my pockets.

Sometimes I have a frog

or several.

You don’t have any critters

with you now, do you?

I do not, but

perhaps I could find

some in the brush.

Good heavens, no!

I just wanted to make sure.

I’m Alice Lee.

What are you reading, Miss Lee?

Austen.

You know, I find her

to be a plain read.

Am I plain if I enjoy it, then?

Oh, no! My apologies.

You are

well, you are

anything but plain.

I could be plain.

You don’t know me.

Well, perhaps we could

have dinner sometime

or go for a walk,

so that I could.

If I said yes,

how would you ever

learn perseverance?

Ask me again sometime.

Perhaps by then I’ll

have swapped this

wretchedly plain book for

something enthralling.

The Saga of King Olaf

by Henry Longfellow.

Just a suggestion.

SEWALL: Mr. Roosevelt?

Best be on your way.

[HOOFBEATS]

Arthur.

Arthur.

What happened?

ARTHUR: How much more

explicit did I need to be?

That was only meant

for your eyes,

so you could understand

the kind of men

you’re dealing with out here.

I hardly needed another

lesson myself, but

Paddock felt

obliged to teach it.

Arthur,

this was safe at Elkhorn.

The Marquis.

Medora.

She must have taken it!

And right under my nose!

Perhaps you do need it spelled

out then, Mister Roosevelt.

There are men out here,

and women,

who you must not trust,

especially those in the fold

of the Marquis de Morés.

This act of violence

cannot stand!

I will not allow the

town’s newspaper editor

to be assaulted so brazenly!

We’ll wire the

sheriff in Deadwood

There’s nothing to be done.

Even printed, it’s

my word against his.

Funny thing about

getting all bruised up,

it makes it hard to sleep.

And when you’re not sleeping,

you’re thinking.

I’ve been thinking.

Perhaps I’m not as cut out for this

venture as I previously thought.

No.

That’s nonsense.

Utter nonsense!

I thought some honest reporting

might bring some

civility to Dakota.

Perhaps I came too soon.

Maybe if I pack it

up, came back in

five, ten years

if I even come back at all.

If honest men do not

find their courage,

that time will never come.

Those are fine words

indeed, Mr. Roosevelt,

but courage doesn’t have

quite the same appeal

when you’re getting

kicked in the face.

Come to Elkhorn

for just a few days

while you rest up

under our watch.

Then you can decide what part

you want to play in all of this.

Alright.

A moment,

Medora.

- Ah,

what a pleasant

surprise, Theodore.

How was your morning?

- Did your husband have Arthur Packard beaten?

A severe accusation to make to

a woman so early in the day.

Then you’ll forgive me one more.

Was the order given to

put the Elkhorn Brand

on Emmett Blaire’s cattle?

I’m afraid rustlers are as common

as flies in the Badlands, Theordore.

If you can believe it, I’m on my

way to deal with one just now.

Good luck as always

in your endeavors.

Rosie.

Yes, Ms. Medora.

Sit.

Touch.

Feel it.

[ROSIE SIGHS]

I can’t say I’ve ever felt

anything quite as soft.

It’s from Paris.

Luxurious.

- Hmm.

- Expensive.

- Hmm.

I’ll have some ordered

for you as well.

It’s important that a manager

gets her beauty sleep, too.

Thank you.

I’m sure you could’ve

found someone far more

qualified.

I know quality when I see it.

But I also need someone

who will always do what’s

best for the business.

Oh, well, you can

count on me, Missus.

Come now.

Medora.

Now then,

what do you think?

[ROSIE LAUGHS UNCOMFORTABLY]

Well, I gotta say I prefer

the Parisian sheets.

It was stolen.

The cow, I mean.

Do you see how the brand

differs on the inside?

The deeper one that’s

from Longcross Butte.

But, you can see

where extra marks

were added to change its design.

These cows were

sold to my husband

by the guest in room 3.

And I believe he is

reselling pilfered cattle.

Now, if Longcross

Butte and others

made a claim against us? Well,

that would make us

complicit in a crime.

Oh. MEDORA: But

if he’s a thief,

we need to be sure.

So tomorrow,

I will stall our guest

and you will search

his room for proof.

Oh, uh,

I, I’m sorry Miss-

Medora-

It just

seems a bit dishonest is all.

Aren’t our guests

entitled to their privacy?

Guests are entitled.

Thieves are not

and certainly not thieves

that risk our good reputation.

What’s good for

my cattle business

is good for our hotel.

You can see that.

Right, Rosie?

Yes.

Good.

Better get that beauty sleep.

SEWALL: Well?

Merrifield’s setting

the trap as we speak.

It’s happening tonight.

ARTHUR: You really think

this plan will work,

baitin’ that rustler

with a fresh calf?

I haven’t the slightest idea.

Mr. Roosevelt’s

trying to do right,

place that ain’t easy to do it.

Those are fine words

SEWALL: It ain’t words.

It’s courage.

[GRUNTING]

I got it.

MERRIFIELD: Morning,

Mr. Roosevelt.

Plan’s all set.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[UNLOCKS DOOR]

[OPENS DOOR]

[DOOR UNLOCKING]

FRED: What is going on here?

ROSIE: Well, I, I was just

coming in here to, um,

I left-I had to.

- You better start talking.

ROSIE: I, um, well,

I was just, um-

MEDORA: Rosie?

You forgot the clean sheets.

Begging your pardon, Sir.

The girl is just

settling into her duties.

There’s simply no excuse-

your room should have

been turned over already.

I am so sorry. I

should have just

brought the clean ones

up with me. I would’ve

saved myself a trip

down the stairs.

Sir, I’m terribly sorry

to keep you waiting.

It’s uh-

It’s quite all right.

Oh, don’t forget your coat.

[DOOR SQUEAKS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

It’s him.

The branding iron’s

in the trunk.

Good girl.

But you must be

smarter next time.

Hm?

Hm?

[g*nsh*t]

Whew!

Don’t go startlin’ me like

that, Mister Roosevelt.

Not while I’ve got

hot iron in my hands!

Tex,

were you about to put

my brand on that calf?

TEX: I put on all

my boss’s brands.

That’s my job, ain’t it?

Not on Prairie Falcon

stock, it isn’t.

What is this?

Tex,

you best make your way

out of town before someone

takes justice into

their own hands.

Now hold on a minute.

I know my business.

I ain’t doin’ this for me.

I’m doin’ this for you,

for the ranch!

My friend,

if you steal for me,

you will steal from me.

Mister Roosevelt,

I’m doing this for you.

I’m sorry, Tex.

But don’t come back this way.

[c*ck r*fle]

You heard him, Tex.

ROOSEVELT: And to think

it was one of our own,

not the Marquis.

SEWALL: Yeah.

You did the right thing.

MEDORA: You did

the right thing.

Doesn’t quite feel like it.

That guest

was a notorious rustler.

Turns out he came

up this way to hide.

But it was only a matter of time

until he caused trouble.

And with him gone, the

integrity of our business

has been restored.

So,

where’d he go?

Oh, he checked out.

I think you’ll find

it exceedingly common,

the deceptions of men.

And doubly so when you’re

an enterprising business woman.

But you showed great

resourcefulness.

You did real good.

And who knows,

maybe tomorrow, you’ll

even do something

great.

ROOSEVELT: Mr. Blaire. Here’s

one of your missing calves.

We’ll send the

rest home tomorrow.

Additionally, I’d be

happy to send a few more-

reimbursement for your troubles.

BLAIRE: That’s mighty fair

of you, Mr. Roosevelt.

Graciously accepted.

And what of the perpetrator?

He won’t be back this way.

BLAIRE: Well then, seems

you’ve got things sorted.

If and when the time ever comes,

you can call on Prairie

Falcon as an ally.

That’s much appreciated.

My men will help you

get the rest home.

Thank you, Mr. Roosevelt.

Gentlemen.

TEX: Well,

ain’t that somethin’?

Glad y’all got it

all worked out.

Happy endings, all around!

Have a drink, my friend.

All I did was try to help.

And now I ain’t got a cent or

even a good word, to my name.

I was quite clear Tex.

You were not to return.

Now

I don’t much care about

your clarity Cattleman.

I was right about one thing.

You are different

than the others.

You’re worse.

What was it you told me?

"Let us fight or be friends?"

Well what say you now?

I’d say our friendship

is concluded.

That slims it down

real easy, doesn’t it?

ARTHUR: Mr. Roosevelt, let us just

escort this man off the property.

TEX: C’mon, Cattleman!

One more round for

old time’s sake.

What do you say, huh?

I’d say-

you’re right.

Our options have slimmed.

So let us fight.

TEX: Ehh, that’s the spirit.

[THROWING PUNCHES]

[THROWING PUNCHES]

[PANTING]

[YELLING]

[PANTING]

[YELLING]

[PUNCH]

[PANTING]

[PUNCH]

[PANTING]

What’s the matter?

Tired?

Need a nap, huh?

I’ll rest when you do.

[THROWING PUNCHES]

Sewall, put a stop to this now.

He knows what he’s doing.

I think I’ve had about enough.

[THROWING PUNCHES]

ROOSEVELT: Enough, Tex!

Leave!

Please!

Please.

I yield.

MERRIFIELD: You heard him, Tex.

You had your say.

Now get out of here!

That was some courage,

Mr. Roosevelt.

It didn’t feel like it.

ARTHUR: I don’t think feeling

like it is the point, sir.

If honest men don’t

find their courage,

civility will never

come to Dakota,

now will it?

No,

it won’t.

ALICE: It’s a tragic

story, isn’t it?

ROOSEVELT: How so?

ALICE: Well, Olaf wins.

He should be happy and content.

But then he tries to reclaim

his wife’s kingdom as well.

Keeps reaching,

and it costs him his life.

I don’t find that sad.

Why not?

Well,

he gives everything

for what he loves.

And to give everything,

even if it costs you,

what’s sad about that?

Well,

perhaps it wasn’t

his battle to fight.

Perhaps she can fight

her own battles, Teddy.

You know, I can’t remember the

last time someone called me Teddy.

- Oh, I’m sorry- - No,

no, it’s, it’s quite alright.

Teddy is great.

Teddy’s perfect-

Alice.

Okay,

back to work.