02x25 - Rope of Lies

[bunniefuu]

[ theme song ]

[ whistle blows ]

[ train whistle blows ]

Well, right on time!

Now what do you know about that?

I gotta tell Herbie about this.

Right on time!

Come on, Herbie.

How can I tell him
if he don't answer?

[ whistle blows ]

Slim!

Hey, Slim.

Get out there and give them
a hand with that baggage.

What do you think you
get paid for around here,
anyway?

[ train brakes squeal ]

Never happened before.

[ clears throat ]

Howdy, sir.
Are you stayin'
or are you passin' through?

That all depends.

Tell me--this person
ever come through here?

A lot of people
come through here.

Can't expect me to remember
every passenger that steps up--

yes, sir,
I do remember this one.

How long ago was she here?

Huh? Oh, about a month or so.

She went on West.

To where?

Well, there's a lot
of stations

a person could get off at
if they had a mind to.

There's Cheyenne Flats,
Sioux Falls, Laramie,
Medicine Bow...

I'll check them out.

Fella kinda gives you
the shivers, don't he?

[ chuckles ]
Not you, I reckon.

Wonder if Herbie woke up yet.

Right on time.

Hold it.

You think I need a haircut?

You always need a haircut.

Well, I like it a little long.

STEVE: Who's that?

Old Mr. Makely, Steve.

He's the town banker.

The lady.

That is Miss Alva Lowell...

from back East somewhere,
I understand.

She just bought
the Lazy K ranch last week.

I heard a woman bought it.

I didn't know it was one
that looked like that.

Oop, comin' this way.

Must be your famous
charming personality.

Without a haircut.

Maybe she'll
trim it for ya, buddy.

A lady barber?

Ever hear of a gent
called Samson?

Mornin', boys.

Mr. Makely. Miss Lowell.

Hello.

Miss Lowell,
this is Steve Hill.

How do you do.

How do youdo.

How's the ranching business,
Miss Lowell?

I'm afraid the Lazy K hands

can't get used to the idea
of a woman boss.

Are they givin' you trouble?

Not really,
just taking advantage
of my ignorance.

Do you know them?

Some of them.

The boys that work
around Medicine Bow

sorta get to know each other
on Saturday nights, Miss Lowell.

Well, gentlemen,
I better pick up my rig
and drive back home.

Well, I'll let you know
as soon as the papers

are ready to be signed,
Miss Lowell.

In fact, I might even
bring them out myself.

Well, thank you.
Well, it's been very nice.

Miss Lowell, is your rig
at the livery stable?

Yes.

It's a long walk.
I better carry those for ya.

They're really
not very heavy.

It's all right.

Well,
I would appreciate it.

Well, he did it.

What?

Got to meet the pretty lady.

She wanted to meet him, too.Oh?

It was her idea
to cross the street
and say hello.

You don't say.

You know, I think some tea
would be very nice right now.

Will you join me?

Tea?

Well, you do drink it?

I'd be delighted.

Oh, Miss Alva.Yes?

I just wondered if there
wasn't something else

we could take back
to the ranch for ya.

No, there's nothing else.
Uh, you know Mr. Hill.

Sure now,
we know Mr. Hill real good.

How do you do, Mr. Hill.

Gentlemen.

Well,
shall we have our tea?

Tea?

[ laughs ]

Tea.

Oh, Miss Lowell...

being you're not goin'
right back to the ranch
yourself,

uh, I was thinkin'
maybe you wouldn't mind

if the boys and me
took an hour off and--

You're very far behind
in your work already.

Ah, don't worry about it.
We'll catch up.

See you around, uh, Mr. Hill.

I'm sure.

Tea?

[ chuckles ]
That's what he said.

[ all laugh ]

How is it?

Hot.

[ chuckles ]

I don't really see you
as the tea-drinking type,
anyway.

Well, that's encouraging.
What typedo you see me as?

Well, let's just say...

I like what I see
and what I've heard.

I didn't know
I was that well-known.

I ask questions.

So do I.

What, uh, typeare you?

Confused, right now.

To put it simply,
I bought a ranch,

but I have a problem--
I don't know the first thing
about running it.

You still have
the same ranch hands

that Mr. Crowder had
when he sold ya the Lazy K.

With one
very important difference.

Mr. Crowder
was his own foreman.

Mm-hmm.

You saw for yourself
out there in the street

the kind of respect those men
show for my authority.

Well, like you said,
they're not used to
takin' orders from a woman.

Oh, they make that point
very clear.

They sure sat up and whistled
for Mr. Crowder all right.

That's what you need--
a foreman.

I agree, Steve,

and that's why I decided
to offer you the job.

I've got one,

but I'll look around
for somebody for ya.

I'm serious.
I want you to be my foreman.

I've never bossed a ranch.

I've never owned one before.

Well,
that's a little different.

[ chuckles ]
Well, you know everything
that has to be done

and how to do it.

Yeah, but planning the work--
being in charge--

that's...
that's something else.

Well, it's a step
you're going to take some day,
isn't it?

Look, Miss Lowell...

I admit that's
a very interesting offer,

and I appreciate it,

but I'm probably doing you
a favor by saying no.

You know what I really think?

What?

You're just like
those others.

You don't want
a woman boss either.

I've thrown better harness
than that in the campfire
many a time.

The judge
likes to make things last.

Yeah, some of this
looks like it's been lastin'

since about the time
I was born.

[ horse approaching ]

Here comes
the prodigal son.

A little late for
the harness mendin' chores,
aren't ya, fella?

Well, I had a little business
in town.

Business?

Ranch management business,
Bill.

Of course, you wouldn't
know anything about that.

Would you?

Well, enough to give
Miss Alva Lowell

a few suggestions
on how to run a ranch
a little bit better.

Just how many ranches
have you run?

Well, not too many.

What you mean is none!
Zero!

I sure hope
your suggestions don't tend
to bankrupt Miss Lowell.

So do I.

You know,
you're the nice,
friendly type.

Somehow I don't see you
bossin' a spread.

No offense.

You know, that's exactly
what I told Alva.

I said,
"I just don't see myself
doin' that kind of a job."

Hey, wait a minute.
Let me get this straight.

You mean to tell me
she offered you the job?

That's right.

As foreman?!

Well, wait a minute.
That's not such a wild idea,
you know.

Boy, that poor woman
must be sufferin'
from sun stroke.

Boy, I wish I'd heard
what led up to that.

I bet a young boy like me
could've learned something.

Oh, yeah...
but not about ranchin', huh?

Very funny.

You know, I heard she
was lookin' for somebody,

but I never thought she'd--

You didn't think she
got quite that desperate,
is that it?

Now, whoa, Steve.

All I meant was that
runnin' a big outfit

like the Lazy K requires a lot
of know-how, that's all.

And you figure even
a greenhorn from the East

isn't gonna be dumb enough
to hire somebody like me.

I hear it's the paperwork
that gets you down.

Well, yes, sir,
it's all that brainwork.

Steve, boy,
I give you maybe two weeks
on a job like that.

Three maybe...
if he can keep a tight rein
on that friendly temper of his.

You makin' sure
I don't run out on ya?

Oh, simmer down, will ya.

You're not really thinkin'
about takin' that job, are ya?

Yeah, I'm beginnin' to.

Well, I wouldn't let myself
get kidded into doin' something

I might regret later on,
if I were you.

It's something
I thought about before.

Well, that's fine,
but you got plenty of time
for that.

You took your chance
when it came along.

What's wrong with me
doin' the same thing?

Nothin', Not a thing,

but I had fallen on my face
a time or two before I got
to Shiloh, Steve.

Fine, then I got a chance
or two comin'.

To fall on your face?

Why not?

Look, I'm tryin' to tell ya--

when a man takes on
this kind of responsibility,

it, uh, it sometimes
weighs a little heavier

on his shoulders
than he banked on.

No, what you're sayin'
is I should stick

to chasin' steers
and patchin' harness.

Things I can do, is that it?

It's not that at all.

It's not what you can do.
It's what you're ready to do.

Well, Miss Lowell
thinks I'm ready now.

I think I'll take
that first chance--
find out if she's right.

Steve,
you've got a good job here.

Now get back down
off your horse
and forget it.

I'll send one of my hands
after my gear.

Say, you fellas
ever need a job, well, uh...

Us workin' cowboys
better get back to work, huh?

Well, there you are.

You know as much about
this place now as I do.

I'll know more as soon
as I talk to the men

and see how they take
to the idea of a new boss.

You'll do just fine.

Steve...

I'm glad you changed your mind
about taking the job.

I'll try not to make you sorry.

Better stand at attention, men.
It's our new foreman.

How are things in the house,
Steve boy?

[ all laugh ]

Supposed to be workin',
aren't ya?

Is that what
Miss Lowell says?

That's what I say.

Sure.
You're all mixed up, Toby.
Steve here is the boss.

All right, outside, all of you.

If you're a ranch foreman,
I'm the son of Abe Lincoln.

[ all laugh ]

I'll say one thing, though.

You do all right
when it comes to women folk.

I don't want that kind
of remark in here ever.

What's that doin' here?

Well, just sittin',
far as I can see.

Whose is it?

It belongs to me,
but I reckon you can have
a drink, if you like.

Get rid of it.

Well, that's just
what I'm aimin' to do...

over about the next hour
and a half.

[ all chuckle ]

I don't think
it'll take that long.

Wait a minute.

All right, boy,
you done asked for it.

[ grunting ]

Now I'm foreman here,
and I'm gonna stay foreman!

You just spread the word.

You figure to whip us all?

If I have to.

Steve.

Something wrong?

No.

I just didn't feel like
listening to all that chatter
in the bunkhouse.

What are you doin' out here?

Being lonesome, I guess.

Oh, I don't mean
just being alone.

I mean...
all of this...

doing something
I've never done before...

being somebody
I've never been before.

That kind of lonesomeness.

I know the feeling.

We're sort of in this together,
aren't we?

You know, I've always imagined
having something like this...

really being someone.

Then if you're
lonesome this way,

why, it really doesn't
matter at all, does it?

Does all this
mean that much to you?

Oh, yes.

See, I was a very hungry
little girl.

Then I filled an empty stomach
and an empty life

with wonderful dreams
of all the things I'd have

and what I'd grow up to be.

[ chuckles ]

Next I'll be
frightening you away.

No, I don't think so.

Are you lonely, too?

We're all lonely...
in different ways.

Well, we don't have to be,
you know...

you and me.

Think about it, Steve.

Mornin', Betsy.

Why'd you
let him do it?

Who? Steve?
Yes.

Well,
I didn't let him do anything.
He just up and went.

It won't seem
the same around here.

I know.

[ sighs ]

Howdy.
Mornin'.

Why would Miss Lowell
hire Steve anyway

when he's never had
any experience as a foreman?

As a matter of fact,
we sorta pointed that out
to Steve ourselves.

Like--like friends,
of course.

Thought you two
would be mixed up in this.

Where you two friendly types
think you're goin'?

We're gonna bring those
yearlings up from the pasture.

Uh, just like you told us.

No, Steve and I
had an awful lot of fence

to ride
on the south boundary today.

Now you'll have to do it.

I'll take care
of the yearlings.

Yes, sir.

You know,
I miss him already.

Who?

Steve.

Take a deep seat, Jack.

Ah, get him, Jack.

[ all cheering ]

[ cheering continues ]

[ cheering continues ]

[ cheering continues ]

[ cheering continues ]

Better get a deeper saddle,
Jack.

Why don't you practice
a couple years on colts?

[ laughs ]

He's gonna be all right.
Bring him on over.

Get up on him, Jack.
You can ride him.

Bring him around.

[ all cheering ]

[ cheering continues ]

Goin' again, buddy?
Want a deeper saddle, partner?

[ laughs ]

You havin' a little trouble,
Jack?

Ah, we just like
to wear them down
a little at a time.

You think
you could do any better?

I'll take him.

[ horses approaching ]

[ horse whinnies ]

You know,
this is the first time

I ever seen the foreman
doin' all the work himself.

I guess we just hooked up
with the wrong outfit.

Hey, boss man,
that was sure a great ride.

Well, good, I'm glad you
learned something from it.

Because by tomorrow,
I want that animal tame enough
for a baby to ride.

Hey, wait a minute.

You heard him, fellas.

Well?

Something sure must happen

to a man's disposition
when he gets to be foreman.

I don't know.
Maybe we better get out of here
before he puts us to work, too.

Change might do you good.

You know,
I could have sworn
you was gettin' ready

to do some bronc bustin'
when we rode up.

All right.

Anything wrong with that?

No. Reckon we could talk
our boss into bein' like
old Steve here?

Sure would save us
a lot of aches and pains,
wouldn't it?

You made your point.

How's it goin'?

You saw.

BILL: You, uh,
you gonna stick it out,
Steve?

Is that what you
came by to find out?

Oh, heck no.
What a man does
is his own business.

We--we were just ridin' by.

We just--look, Steve,
we just stopped by
to say hello.

Yeah, I know you did, Bill.

Just a little edgy,
that's all.

Well,
I can sure understand that.

Tryin' to get work out
of a fella like that Bard

or Squeaker's
enough to get anybody edgy.

Well, I guess we
better be gettin' back, huh?

You take it easy now.

I'll give you a holler
if I fall on my face.

Okay, Steve.

We'll see, hear?

[ all cheering ]

Was someone here, Steve?

Just a couple of boys
from Shiloh. They're gone.

What did they want?

Just to say hello.

Probably to see if the big job
had broken my back yet.

Glad they
didn't see this mess.

Well, I hired you
to boss the ranch,
not add up the accounts.

That's part of the job,
isn't it?

Well, if things
get in too much of a mess,
we'll hire a bookkeeper.

Oh.

What are ya
gonna do with that?

Mr. Crowder gave it to me
when I bought the ranch.

Said a lady
had to protect herself
in this part of the country.

It's not gonna do ya much good.
It has a special bore.

Gunsmith in town's
gonna have to make
special cartridges for ya.

Oh, well, it looks loaded.

Oh, would you
drive me into town?

I have to go to the bank
and a couple of places.

That an order?

Yes, it's an order.

All right,
then I'll do it.

I'll get my hat.

Ooh.

Steve!

Betsy!

How are ya?

Fine.

You look beautiful.

Thank you.

How have you been?

Fine.

Oh.

Uh, Miss Betsy Garth,
this is Miss Alva Lowell.

Hello.
How do you do.

Well, I--I wasn't sure
I'd ever forgive you

for taking Steve
away from Shiloh.

Oh, I hope you do, Betsy.

But, well, after seein' ya,
all right.

Do come
and visit us sometime.

Thank you.

You, too, Steve.

I will.

Bye.
Bye.

She seems very sweet.

Yeah, she is kinda nice.

What's the matter?

[ gasps ]

What's wrong?

Nothing.
I'd just like to go inside.

Feel all right now?

Yes, I'm fine.
Steve, I wanna talk to you.

All right.

Do you think you're up
to drinking a little more tea?

All right.
I'm gettin' used to it.

You know, this stuff
kinda grows on ya.

[ sighs ]

It's easy
to get used to nice things.

[ sighs ]

It's not so easy losing them.

What are you afraid of losing?

Everything.

Why don't you tell me
what's bothering you?

[ sighs ]

A little while ago
out there in the street,

I saw a man--
someone out of the past.

Mm-hmm.

It's been over a long time
as far as I'm concerned,

but he won't have it
that way.

He swore he'd find me
no matter where I went...

and k*ll me.

Well, he won't do that.
I promise you.

Did he see you?

I--I don't know.
I don't think so.

All right, come on.

Where?

Tell the sheriff.

Oh, no, Steve.

This is not the kind
of thing that I want
anyone here to know about.

Well,
if he swore to k*ll you...

Oh, I don't wanna get
the sheriff.

I don't want anyone--
I don't want anyone
involved in this.

Please try to understand.

All right.

What are ya gonna do?

I don't know exactly.

Steve, I...

I'd like to think
that I could depend on you...

no matter what happens.

Sure you can but...

Thank you.

Will you take me home?

All right.

[ footsteps approaching ]

Come in.

Were you expecting me?

Well, you might say that, yes.

Before you
did anything foolish,
I wanted to talk to you.

Just as cool as ever,
aren't ya, Alva?

Jess, I can explain...

About the 50,000?

Ugh!

You've always paid
for hitting me, but you
never learned, have you?

Never mind that.
You were just about
to do some explaining.

Do you know why
I took that money?

With you,
money's always its own answer,
Alva.

Sacramento, San Francisco,
Yuma--all the same.

And what happened to every cent
we got the last time?

And the time before that?

It disappeared...
right across the poker table.

Well, the same thing
would have happened
to this money.

And what did happen to it?

[ chuckles ]

I invested it...

in a ranch
that's worth half again
what I paid for it.

I got it cheap from an old man
who wanted to retire

because I could pay him cash.

And what did you have in mind?

Settling down with that cowpoke
I saw you with on the street?

Don't be a fool.

[ chuckles ]

I knew you'd find me
sooner or later.

Jess, I planned all this
for you and me.

I'll bet you did.

First, I needed someone
to help me with the ranch,

but he got out of hand.

Maybe he doesn't like
the ring you're gonna put
in his nose.

It's the other way around.
He's got one in mine.

I hired him as foreman
because I thought I could
manage him.

Well, I was wrong.
I couldn't.

[ sighs ]

He became...
infatuated,
insanely jealous.

Jess, I'm afraid of him.

You? Well now,
that is a new one.

That's not all.

I'll bet not.

The deed to the ranch,
all the legal papers--

he's got them.

How did you
ever let that happen?

I don't know.
He found the strongbox.

I suppose I could force him
to give them back,

if I could stand
the publicity...

and if I wasn't afraid
he'd k*ll me.

So you finally
let your foot slip.

Yes. I admit it...

and I'm glad you're here.

I'd have written you
in a few days.

Sure you would have.

I mean it, Jess.

I haven't forgotten
the old days...

not some things.

Things like...

Like that?

Like that.

You know,
you're a liar
and a devil,

but you're the only woman
I ever really wanted.

Jess, we've made
enough mistakes--you and I.

This is our chance
to make up for all of them.

Don't you see that?

Now suppose I agree...
what next?

We have to do something
about Steve.

That shouldn't be too hard.

Well, it's not that simple.

We wanna stay here this time.

What then?

I don't know exactly.

Listen, it's too risky for me
to stay here--

Nobody can see through
these walls.

My buggy is right outside--

You've got an excuse
for everything, haven't ya?

Jess. Jess, tonight,
come out to the ranch.

Make it late,
say about 10:00,

and we'll plan
what we have to do, hmm?

All right, I'll be there.

I'll leave the side door
to the office open.

[ door closes ]

Whoa.

Thank you.

Alva?

Oh, yes, Steve.

I was ridin' out
to check the day's work
at the line camp.

I heard you drive in.

I didn't know
you'd gone anywhere.

I went back to Medicine Bow.

I'd rather not talk about it.

Was it about that man
you saw in town?

If you want me to help you
like you asked,

I'm gonna have to know
what's goin' on, Alva.

I'm sorry, Steve.
I--I did drag you
into this, I know.

I wish I hadn't.

Will you answer my question?

Yes, I went to see him.

Jess Carver.

Why?

Because I thought
it was the best thing to do.

I thought if we
met face to face
and talked things out...

What happened?

Well, he seemed to know

all about the ranch
and everything.

First, I thought
he wanted money.

So I offered it to him.

Then I offered him the ranch
and everything I own.

I begged him to go away
and leave me alone!

And?

And I made a mistake.

I told him about you.

At first, he just laughed,

and then he became furious.

He hit ya?

He said
I'd never be rid of him.

No, Steve,
he's not in town anymore.

Where is he?

I don't know.

He--he said that now
that he knew where I was,

he'd just turn up sometime

when I'd forgotten
all about him.

Oh, Steve, I'm afraid!

Don't be afraid.
Nothing's gonna happen to ya.

I promise you that.

It's not just for me.
I'm afraid for us.

You do believe that?

Yes.

How long will you
be at the line camp?

I can put it off till morning.
I don't have to go.

No, we still
have a ranch to run.

Get back as quickly as you can,
will you?

Three or four hours all right?

I'll be waiting.

[ door closes ]

[ knock at door ]

Come in.

Hey,
we got some female company.

Well, I must say none of you
flatter a girl too much.

Betsy.

I guess we're just used
to how pretty and all you are.

[ sighs ]

Something on your mind,
Bets?

Well, I met that woman
in town today.

Miss Lowell?

[ whistles ]

[ chuckles ]

Anyway, I was all set
not to liker her,

but after meeting her--

You decided she
wasn't so bad after all, huh?

Well,
what's so all-fired important
about that?

Well, anyway,
I was in the bank,

so I asked Mr. Makely
about her.

And he told ya that
she's a very unusual woman.

Paid cash for her ranch

and has told several
conflicting stories
about where she came from.

I found out
one more thing, too.

There was a stranger in town
asking questions about her.

When was that?
Today.

I'm afraid Steve's
getting mixed up
in something

he doesn't know
anything about.

Come on, boys.

If it'll make you
feel any better,

I'll ride over to the Lazy K
and see what I can find out.

Come on.
I'll walk you back
to the house.

It's like old times, Jess--
together like this.

Ready to scratch and claw
each other at any minute,
just like old times.

I don't feel
like clawing tonight.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

Now what about
this foreman of yours?

Well, I told you.
He's gone to town
for the evening--

probably the whole night.

No, that's not what I meant.

I mean what are we
gonna do about him?

I was hoping you
had a solution to that.

Maybe I have.

Maybe I'll do something
about it

as soon as you
get the deed away from him
and sign it over.

Jess...

Well now,
that was very nice,

but it still won't get you
off the hook.

What's the matter?

I don't know--
my nerves, I guess.

I--I keep hearing things.

That's what Steve's
done to me...

and that's why
I keep a g*n handy.

Jess...

My glass is empty.
How 'bout yours?

No, no, I'm fine,
and I suggest you
slow down a little.

[ horse whinnies ]

[ horse approaching ]

Listen.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

One of the riders
rounding up strays
has just come in.

I'll, uh,
have to go and meet him.

He'll come in to report.

I'll meet him in the office.

I don't think the men
should see you here.

ALVA: Help! Please!

ALVA: Aah! He's here!

He tried to k*ll me!

Hold it!

You all right?

Yes, I'm all right.

I just had to know if he was...
if it's all over.

Yeah, it's over.

Cover him up, will ya?

This is no place for you.
Take her inside, Bard.

No, Steve,
I don't wanna be alone.

I'll be in
as soon as I can.

I heard the shots.

Looks like
I'm a little late.

He tried to k*ll Alva,
and then he came for me.

I had to stop him.

Better send somebody
for the sheriff.

Squeaker.

Anything I can do?

I guess
I've done all the doin'.

What's wrong, Steve?

Nothin'.

Well, if I can help
in any way at all, I...

I'll call out.

Thanks.

All right.

I'll be in the bunkhouse
if you need me.

Steve.

Mark.

Bad go-around
you had here tonight.

Yeah.

Miss Lowell
filled me in on
everything I need to know.

Looks like this
Carver fellow's

been botherin' her
for a long time.

So I've been told.

Far as we know,
the only business he had

in Medicine Bow
was lookin' for her.

He sure found her,
didn't he?

Yeah, worse luck for him
he did.

Well, no need
to bother you anymore.

Is that his stuff?

Yeah.

Can I see it?

Yeah, no reason why not.

Where'd you get this?

Next to the body.
Where else?

One shot fired.
Shouldn't surprise you any.

No.

According to Miss Lowell,
Carver drew down on you,

you fired in self-defense.

That's the way it'll go down
in the report.

Night, Steve.

Good night, Mark.

[ door closes ]

Steve.

I haven't had a chance
to thank you for what you did.

Just what did I do, Alva?

You saved my life.

Hold me, Steve.

Where's Crowder's g*n?

In the desk. Why?

No. No, it isn't in the desk.

Then I don't know where it is.

Jess could have picked it up,
I suppose.

He--he got into the house
through the office door.

What difference does it make
where it is?

That's what I'm tryin'
to figure out.

Well, well, well,
you're up bright and early,
Mr. Hill.

Been doin' some thinkin'.

All night?

Yep.

Wanna talk about it?

[ sighs ]

You saw the g*n layin'
next to Jess Carver's body
last night, didn't ya?

Mm-hmm.

Well, it wasn't his.

It was an old g*n
Mr. Crowder left there
when he sold the ranch.

Carver had been in the house.
He must have picked it up.

Could have, but he wouldn't--
not if he looked at it.

No shells for it. It was empty.

Well, it was too dark
for you to tell

what kind of a g*n
he had in his hand, Steve.

No, no, it isn't just that.

First of all,
Jess was supposed to have
just fired the g*n at Alva.

Second, when the sheriff
showed me the g*n that he
found layin' beside the body,

it wasn't the empty g*n at all.

It was Jess' g*n this time.

Are you sayin'
they were switched?

I'm sayin' that Alva Lowell
set it up for me to k*ll a man.

Spell that out, Steve.

All right.

Jess comes into the ranch
while I'm out roundin' up
strays.

Now somehow,
Alva manages to switch
the empty g*n for his.

She hears me ride in.

She goes to the office,

shoots out the lamp
with Jess' g*n,

runs out the door
screamin' for help.

Jess gets all excited,
grabs what he thinks is his g*n,

follows her out the door,
sees me and...

Yeah, go on.

Afterward,
before the sheriff gets there,

she watches for her chance,

sneaks back,
and switches the g*ns again.

Why would she do that?

To get rid of somebody
she thought was gonna spoil
things for her--

somebody out of...
out of her past.

You guessin' some of this,
Steve?

Only part of it.
She told me some of it.

All the little things
begin to add up.

Steve Hill--
Lazy K foreman.

Boy, she sure picked
the right man

for the job she had.

You wanna hear the topper?

All right.

I found a newspaper
in her desk

about the sh**ting contest
I won last year.

Remember they gave me
the gold b*llet?

Talk about man's conceit.
I was--I was flattered!

Anybody would have been
flattered, Steve.

She had me figured out
right down to the last item--

sh**ting ability,
quick temper,

conceit,
and short on experience.

Question now is--
what are you gonna do about it?

I don't know.

Better talk to the sheriff.

I will, but I wanna talk
to her first.

If I can be of any help...

I'll let you know.

See ya.

Where have you been?

I've been thinking.

[ chuckles ]
Not about that silly g*n?

About that and about
a few other things, yes.

[ sighs ]

Steve...

I understand that no matter
how much they may deserve it,

it must be a terrible shock
to k*ll someone.

k*ll...
or m*rder, Alva?

There's a difference.

What are you trying to say?

That you wanted a man dead...

and you needed somebody
to do it for ya, that's all.

Steve...
it wasn't that way at all.

It won't work, Alva.

The hungry little girl
has lost her magic touch.

You're imagining
all these awful things.

I was imagining things
when I thought I was a foreman.

You didn't want a foreman.

You wanted a hired k*ller.

That's a very dangerous thing
to say.

Isn't it?

If we're going
to talk about m*rder,

there's something
you better remember.

If a m*rder
has been committed,

you're the one
who committed it.

That's right.

I pulled the trigger, Alva,

but you pointed the g*n.

That's not true.

Maybe we should let the law
decide if it is or not, huh?

[ sighs ]
Oh, Steve, the law
has already decided!

Why do you
have to stir things up
this way?

Because the fact remains
that a man is dead!

The fact remains
that you k*lled him.

Exactly!

Where are you going?

I don't know.

[ door closes ]

He should be here any minute,
Miss Lowell.

This is as difficult for me,
Sheriff, as it is for you.

I hope you understand that.

Good morning,
Sheriff.

Frank.

I thought the sh**ting
last night was all settled.

Now your deputy tells me
there are complications.

Miss Lowell,
this is Mr. Giles--
our prosecutor.

How do you do.
How do you do.

Sit down, Frank.
Thank you.

Miss Lowell,
would you please tell
Mr. Giles

exactly what you told me?

All right.

Last night,
I didn't tell the sheriff
exactly what did happen.

Go ahead.

Well, Mr. Carver and I
were in the living room talking

when I heard someone
enter the office.

I went to see who it was.

It was Steve.
He was very angry about
Mr. Carver being there.

Angry?

Perhaps jealous
is a better word.

I told him
I was in no danger at all.

I--I even pointed out
that Mr. Carver's g*n belt

was hanging over the chair
right there in the office.

I let him in through that door.

[ sighs ]

He said all right
and acted as if he
were about to leave.

I started back
to the living room.

[ sighs ]

There was a shot.

Last night, you said Carver
fired that shot at her.

I was trying
to cover up for Steve.

Actually,
he fired at Mr. Carver.

Anyway, the shot missed.

Steve ran outside,
I ran out after him,

and then Mr. Carver came out.

[ sighs ]

Please tell him
what you saw later.

Just before
the sheriff arrived,

I went to the door
to look for Steve.

Go on.

Well, he was standing
over the body.

I started
to call out to him,

but, well,
just at that moment,

he bent over
and laid a g*n down
on the ground,

and then he
picked up the one
that was already there

and walked away.

This is the g*n
she saw Steve pick up.

Miss Lowell kept this
on her desk in her office.

Takes a special kind of shell.

Been empty for a long time.

I see.

You're saying,

if Steve switched g*ns
after the sh**ting,

it's logical to assume that he
also switched g*ns before.

Calling a man out
knowing he was carrying
an empty g*n

would make it m*rder.

Yes, it would.

I have two questions.

One--how does this g*n
happen to be here?

And two--is there any
corroborating evidence?

Bard?

I was over by the bunkhouse,
and I saw Steve switch
those g*ns, too.

Sheriff,
you have only one choice.

You heard the news?

Steve's been arrested
for m*rder.

He's in jail.

No!

Are you sure?

Sure as I'm talkin' to ya.

Well, but you said that--

I said it was self-defense.
That's what the witnesses said.

All I know is he's
bound over for trial.

Hmm, somebody must have
changed their mind.

We've got to do something.

You bet we do.
First off, he's gonna need
a lawyer--a good one.

What's the name
of that lawyer friend
of your father's up in Laramie?

Packis? Ebberly Packis?

That's the one.

Look,
I'll wire Laramie right now
and try to hire Packis.

That's exactly the way
Steve told the story to me

and exactly the way
I told it to Mr. Packis.

He told me the same thing.

Well, you both know Steve.
Don't you believe him?

The sheriff
isn't judge or jury,
and neither am I.

Whether or not
we believe him
isn't pertinent.

Sorry,
there's nothing I can do.

Hey, where is this
Mr. Packis of yours, anyway?

He's over at the hotel
gettin' cleaned up.
He'll be along any minute now.

Well, I said
I'd hear you out,
and I have.

Now I'm late
for an appointment
at my office

with Miss Lowell,
as a matter of fact.

We're going over
a few details--

Oh, Mr. Giles.
They said I might--

I--I hope
I'm not interrupting anything.

Oh, that's perfectly all right,
my dear. I was just leaving.

Well,
Good mornin', ma'am.

Mr. Packis,
this is Mr. Giles--
the prosecutor.

MR. GILES: How do you do, sir.

Sheriff Abbott...
and this is Miss Alva Lowell.

Well, Miss Lowell,
this is indeed a pleasure.

Thank you.

You know,
it ain't every day

I get to meet
a fine-lookin' woman like you,

and I ain't sure
I ever met one as pretty.

Mr. Packis is going to be
the defense attorney.

Uh, this is the woman
I told you about.

Well, I ain't never seen
a woman rancher before

that didn't look like
an old battle-ax.

[ chuckles ]
Well, I'm glad
I'm a surprise to you.

Well, I think
we better be leaving.

My pleasure, sir.

You the same.

Ma'am.
Bye.

Hey,
mighty fine-lookin' woman.

Mm-hmm. For a minute there,
I didn't know if you

were gonna be
Steve's lawyer or hers.

Son, when ya
get to be my age,

you learn to treat
every woman

like she was pretty
as a picture,

clever as sin,
and tough as an old boot.

Always pays in the long run.

I'll try and remember that.

Well, good, good.

Now tell me--
where is this client of mine?

Right back here.

Thanks, Mark.

Steve, this is your lawyer--
Mr. Packis from Laramie.

Howdy, boy.

Your friend here
told me the whole story,

but I wanna hear it again
from you--in detail.

All right.

First, though, I think
we should concentrate

on that lovely lady.

You know, I got a feelin',

when a female is that pretty
and with all that money,

she must have
an interestin' past
some place.

Yes, sir,

and I've got an idea
I'm gonna keep

the local telegrapher
plenty busy

between now and trial date.

Which isn't too far off.

Uh, tell me something,
Mr. Packis...

how do you know how lovely
Miss Alva Lowell is?

I met the lady outside,

and I don't need
to wonder none

how come you got yourself
in such a mess.

Come now, boy.
Don't get discouraged.

It's just that
I enjoy doin' business
with a pretty woman.

Well, that's fine.

That's fine!

If I found out
she's the kind of woman
I think she is,

I'll get just as much enjoyment
out of tryin' to hang her.

Well, gentlemen...

shall we get down to business?

You better draw
another dozen of those.

You know folks
that have been in court

get twice as hungry and thirsty
as anybody else--

especially at a m*rder trial.

If I know old Judge Bradford,

he'll recess
straight up at noon,

and they'll
come flockin' in here
like a pack of starved--

[ crowd clamors ]

Holy smoke,
he let them out
three minutes early.

Oh, hurry up.

Come and get it, men!
Help yourselves.

[ all clamor ]

Plenty for everybody.

Bet this sure beats the food
that Betsy's gettin' down there
at that tearoom.

Yeah, it's cheaper, too.

What are Steve's chances?

Hard to tell yet.

Spent the whole morning
on preliminaries.

All those whereto's
and wherefore's and whereas's

just add up to the fact
that Steve's bein' tried
for m*rder,

no matter which way
you look at it.

The biggest mistake we made
was hirin' that big-time lawyer.

Why, he didn't even
pay no attention to what
was goin' on this mornin'.

RANDY: Most the time,
he just sat there
with his eyes closed.

And the only question
he wanted to know

was if the sheriff
thought Steve was guilty
as charged.

And then the judge
wouldn't even let
the sheriff answer.

Mr. Packis is no fool, boy.

I sure hope you're right.

We'll soon know.

After lunch,
they ought to start gettin' down
to some cold, hard facts.

Prosecution ready to continue?

It is, your honor.

And the defense?

Oh, yes, your honor.

Proceed.

We call Mr. Bertram Arden.

Why, it's old Bard.

Well, there's not much to tell.

I was in the bunkhouse
when I heard the shots.

By the time I got outside,
it was all over.

By all over,
you mean that one man
was lyin' on the ground dead.

Yes, sir.

Then what happened?

Well, one of the boys
covered the body

with a blanket,
and then Steve--

The defendant.

That's right--Steve hill.

He told me to take Miss Lowell
into the house.

Now, Mr. Arden,
when was the next time
you saw Steve Hill?

Well,
after I did what he said,

I--I was goin' back
to the bunkhouse,

and then I saw him again.

Was this before
the sheriff arrived?

Yeah.

Now tell us exactly
what you saw Mr. Hill do.

Well, uh...

he was standing by the body
with a g*n in his hand,

and then he put it down
next to the dead man

and picked up the g*n
that was laying there.

He switched g*ns.

[ all murmur ]

Uh, what did he do next?

Well, he went around the house.

Did you follow him?

I sure did.

He was actin' so suspicious,

I--I wanted to find out
what he was up to.

And what was he up to?

He hid the extra g*n
in some rocks behind the house.

When he left,
I picked it up,

and after
thinking about it,

I decided I better
tell Miss Lowell.

Thank you.
That is all.

Your honor,
I'd like to pass up

examinin' the witness
until later on.

That'll be all for now.

Proceed.

Miss Alva Lowell.

Raise your right hand.

You swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?

I do.

Tell the truth,
the whole truth,
nothing...

She doesn't know
the meaning of the word truth.

Sure you don't want
some of this food, son?

Alva makes up this story,
and then she talks Bard
into backin' it up,

and you--
you don't ask either of them
a single question!

I asked the judge
to give us this recess.

Fine,
what good's that gonna do me?

Sorry, boy,
but we do need the time.

What for?!

To get back some answers
to all those telegrams
I been sendin' out.

In the meantime,
they're gettin' ready
to hang me!

You know, boy,
they serve mighty tasty food
in this here jail.

Well, I think
I'll just mosey on down

to the telegraph office
and see what's come in.

Oh, Sheriff!

I'll see you in court.

Miss Lowell's testimony

completes
the prosecution's case.

Mr. Packis,
are you ready to cross-examine?

I am, your honor.

Well, proceed.

Miss Alva Lowell--
that's your real name?

Yes, of course.

Well, let's see now.
Where was I?

Oh, yes. Yes, the man
who got himself k*lled--
Jess Carver.

How long had you known him?

Oh, about three years.

How'd you get along with him?

He seemed very nice at first.

Then he started forcing
his attentions on me.

So you came here,

and just about the time
you thought you'd lost him,

he turned up again?

Yes.

Miss Lowell,
you bought a ranch--
the Lazy K--

and you paid $35,000
in cash for it.

Now tell me--
where did you get that money?

Well, I, uh,
inherited some money
from my grandmother...

and I also made
a few fortunate investments
on my own.

Well, your honor,
I'd like to introduce
at this time

a telegram I got today

from the marshal
of the Arizona territory.

Your honor, I object.

Now don't get yourself
in an uproar.

I intend
to piece everything together.

See that you do.

It states
that Jesse Ray Carver...

is wanted
for robbery and m*rder.

It seems that he made off
with about $50,000

from the Bank of Arizona
less than six months ago.

The marshal
also stated that Carver
had a woman accomplice--

someone presumed
to be his wife.

Your honor,
I have here another telegram.

This one from San Francisco,
California.

It states that seven years ago
the District of San Francisco

issued a marriage certificate
to Jesse Ray Carver

and one Alva Lowell.

There's a copy
of the certificate
comin' through the mail.

[ all clamor ]

Quiet. Quiet in this court!

Now would you care to change
any part of your story,
Miss Lowell?

I'm not on trial here,
and I'm not the only witness!

Say, that's right.

Well, your honor,
at this time,

I should like to recall
Bertram Arden,

better known as Bard,
to the stand.

JUDGE: You're still under oath.

Mr. Arden,
do you know what the penalty
for lying under oath is?

No, sir.

Five years
in territorial prison.

Now, of course,
five years isn't so bad

compared to what they give
an accessory to m*rder.

Now you just heard Miss Lowell
or Mrs. Carver

or whatever her name is
get herself caught up

in some mighty interesting
contradictions, didn't you?

Now I ask you
to think about it this way.

Jess Carver probably
k*lled a man for Alva
somewhere along the line,

and Jess gets himself k*lled
by Steve Hill.

Now you're killin' Steve
by puttin' a rope
around his neck.

Now who do you suppose...

is next in line, my friend?

Now Steve is hung
by a rope of lies.

Jess Carver died
holdin' an empty g*n.

Now how are you
gonna get yours, Mr. Arden?

Framed for a m*rder
committed by her?

Now tell me--
what did she promise you
to lie for her?

This is your last chance, boy.

What did she pay you
to lie for her?

Five thousand--
she offered me $5,000.

[ all clamor ]

[ gavel bangs ]

Quiet. Quiet in this court!

Your honor,
I hereby petition this court
for a dismissal of charges.

Granted. The defendant
is released from custody.

This court stands adjourned.
[ bangs gavel ]

I want you,
and you'll have to come
with me.

See ya back at the ranch.All right.

Steve.

Mr. Packis,
I wanna apologize

for bein' a little edgy
in the cell this afternoon,

but I didn't know
what you were doin'.

You know, Alva
could've gotten away
with this whole thing,

no matter what you
told the sheriff you thought,

if she hadn't gotten scared
and tried to pin it on you.

Now let that be a lesson
to ya, son.

Never run scared.

Thank you.

Mr. Packis.
Thanks very much.

My pleasure.

Hey, are you ready
to go back to work?

Let's go.

Mr. Packis,
now I know what Daddy meant

when he used to call you
an old fox.

Well, it takes one
to know one, Betsy.

Steve, still think
you need a haircut?

That's how
this whole thing started.

[ laughs ]

Well, it's good to be back.

[ theme song ]