02x11 - The Iron Box

[bunniefuu]

Boy, howdy. That sure is
a lot of animal.

It's about
the best I've seen.

Don't tell him
our name's Barkley or
the price is gonna go up.

Well, uh, he's a looker,
all right. I'll give
you that, MacGowan.

Look here, son.
Can't hardly buy an animal
fair as that for less.

If you're aiming
to dicker me down--

$300, a nod of your head,
you got a deal.

-300?
-We'll pay for the shipping,
save you the cost.

I-- I might consider 325--

$300. Not a penny more.


You got the money?

-In gold.
-All right, Rodrigo.
Bring him out.

-You got a bill of sale?
-A bill of--

About that,
I feel plumb foolish.

I'm fresh out. I've been
doing a lot of business
since I started placing ads.

Any piece of paper
with your name
will do just fine.

No, no, no. We made
a proper deal, and you're
entitled to a proper receipt.

Wouldn't hear of it
any other way.
I'll tell you what--

I'll have my foreman Rodrigo
ride into town. He can pick up
a couple of sales forms.

That would be just fine
except waitin' for Rodrigo
would make us late...

-for that cattle auction
we're headin' for.
-Hmm.

Tell you what.
I'll have him catch up
on the trail with it.

-Fine with me.
-Then it's settled?

-You're very considerate,
MacGowan.
-My pleasure.

I thought I lost 'em
for a minute.

They'll have to take
the old Campbell trail.

-Go tell Sheriff Barnes
he's got a couple of customers.
-Yes, sir.

♪ [theme]

Nick, these beans
are gonna get cold.
Better get a move on.

Be right there.

I was hoping I didn't
hear you right.

[sighs]
Beans again, huh?

Heath, you've got
a mean streak in you
a mile wide.

You know,
I was figuring.

If we can get out
of that sale by noon tomorrow,

be at the railhead
in Brazos by sundown,

we could ship
the old boy out from there.

Well, that's pushin' it
a little bit, isn't it?
What's your hurry?

Oh, mostly selfish, I expect.
I hear they got some good
cooks in Brazos.

-What's wrong with them beans?
-You've gone through a half
a dish of yours already,

you got the guts
to ask me that?

Just give me a cup of coffee,
help ease the pain.

[twig snaps]

Well, go on. Pour.
I've been through drought,
flood and five years of--

[rustling]

Close enough
for a handgun.

-[rustling Continues]
-If they're Apache,
they're gonna save ammunition.

If they're Apache,
we wouldn't have heard 'em.

They'll come in
on both sides.

-Ready?
-Mm-hmm.

What are they
waitin' on?

MAN:
Hello! You men in the camp.

Hello in the camp!

This is Sheriff Barnes.

Now, we know
where you are.

I'd like to do this
friendly if I can.

Sneakin' up on a man in the
middle of the night, I wouldn't
call that too friendly.

-It's just that we had
to be sure.
-Of what?

That you wouldn't go to shootin'
first chance you had.

Now, uh,
give up them g*ns, huh?

As soon as we can see plain
that you're the sheriff.

You walk in real slow-like,
and freeze your g*n hands!

Well, now, I'm glad
you're bein' so sensible.

It would be a pity
if men died over so little,
now wouldn't it?

I'll trouble you
for those g*ns now.

Sheriff, I got a strong feelin'
you're mistakin' us
for somebody else.

Oh, no mistake.
No mistake.

Now, boys,
we've gone this far
without any bloodshed.

Let's keep it
that way, huh?

Now, as sheriff,

I'm ordering you
to surrender those weapons.

Now, what is
all this about?

That bull you got
staked out over there.

Rancher named MacGowan
reported him stolen.

Oh, he did?
Well, he's lying
or drunk or both.

-We paid good money
for that animal.
-You paid for him?

-In gold.
-You got proof of that?

-Well, not exactly, no.
-No bill of sale?

-He didn't have
any on hand.
-Oh, come now.

Man who moves as much
cattle as Mr. MacGowan?

-Well, maybe you got some
other record of a deal like--
-He shook hands on it.

You dirty saddle tr*mp, you.

Now, now.
Now, wait a minute.

We've been on the trail
a week, week and a half.
We probably look it.

But we're not tramps.
We're the Barkleys.

Heath and Nick Barkley
of Stockton, California.

Your name
and where you come from
don't prove nothin'.

-Now, look. We're on
a cattle-buying trip.
-Uh-huh.

A Mr. Riley,
we did some business
with him. I have a receipt--

-I am not interested.
-It's proof of what
I'm sayin'!

The one has nothin'
to do with the other.

You can fetch up
a hundred receipts
if you want to,

but if the name
of Mr. MacGowan doesn't
appear on one of them,

I am not interested, huh?

Rodrigo, go and fetch
that bull home.

Wait a minute. Rodrigo.
He's MacGowan's foreman.

-He said he would bring us
the bill of sale.
-Is that right?

Rodrigo,
any truth in that?

No, señor. Never seen them
before in my life.

Now, I don't wanna hear
any more palaver
out of either one of you.

Get along, Rodrigo.

I think you better
hold it right there, Rodrigo.

-You all right?
-I think so.

Now, before anyone
really gets hurt,
let's go.

His leg!
His leg needs dressing.

They'll be a doctor
where you're going.
Now, get mounted!

Get up.

All right,
get off.

-Just arrived, Captain.
-Bring them in.

Two new men, Captain Rizely.
If you'll sign for 'em, huh?

Well, am I expected
to read your mind, Sheriff?

Oh, oh. Oh, they--
they rustled a steer.

-They say their
name's Barkley.
-RIZELY: Peterson.

Uh, serial number 370
is open, sir. He died
of the fever a while back.

-597 is also open.
-Assign them.

No, no, no. Wait a minute.
You accuse us of
stealing that bull.

Accuse us
in a court of law
where we can tell our side.

Peterson, I don't remember
giving 370 permission to speak.

No, sir.

But he just
asked a question!

Prisoners do not speak
without first
obtaining permission.

Prisoners do not
argue with their superiors.
Prisoners--

if they wish to survive
their period of confinement--

think and do exactly
what they are told.

How's a man to know
if he can speak without
getting full of splinters?

By requesting permission
in the following manner--

"Sir, permission to speak."

-I'm sorry I asked.
-Take them away.

Wait.

Permission to speak.

"Sir."

Permission to speak, sir.

-Granted.
-Now, when do we get
a chance to tell our side?

When the circuit judge
comes to town.

You'll be
taken there under arrest,
accused of your crime,

and brought back here
to serve your term
of imprisonment.

-When does
the judge get here?
-Approximately two months.

Two months? Putting aside
the fact that this whole thing
is a pack of lies,

even if we were guilty, we'd be
entitled to stay in the regular
town jail for trial.

Awaiting trial in the regular
town jail, you'd accomplish
no useful purpose.

Purpose?
That's our right.

You dare to speak
about rights?

What about Mr. MacGowan's right
to be protected against
the abuse of thieves?

Nobody mentioned
his name.

How did you know it was
MacGowan's livestock?

-Peterson!
-Come on.

MAN:
Welcome.

[cackling]

Welcome.

All present,
Captain.

Prepare the men
for inspection.

All personnel stand to
for the captain's inspection.

-Good morning, 945.
-Good morning, sir.

A beautiful morning,
yes, sir.


like it here?

Like it here?

Green fields,

trout swimming pretty
in the water,

all my friends around,

my rocking chair.

All that a man
could want for.

It's quite simple.
He's gone into a world
of his own making,

a world in which
he is quite happy.

He does not resist.
He obeys.

And that is what I demand
from every man here--
obedience.

Obedience.
It's your only hope.

Hope for what?

To survive.

-Peterson.
-Detail, move to the wagons.

Rizely-- Uh, Captain Rizely.

The prescribed way
or not at all.

Permission to speak, sir.

-Granted.
-My brother-- He, uh--

You said he could
see a doctor today.

Well, you should have
spoken up before
the formation was dismissed.

Now he'll just have to
wait until tomorrow morning.

You take it easy.
I'll hold up your end.

You do and you'll both
wind up in the sweatbox.

I'll make it till I see
the doctor tomorrow.

All right, you men.
Quit the stalling.
Let's move.

Get these rocks
outta here.

Come on. Come on.

You said tomorrow, son.

There's no tomorrows here.

[chuckles]

I'm not as loco as you boys
might have thought.

It's, uh, just a place
I go to...

when bein' here
gets to be too much.

Only thing is,
you know, uh,

I'm liable to go there once
and not be able to come back.

-This federal or state land?
-Neither.

-Belongs to a rancher
name of MacGowan.
-MacGowan?

Now it all
begins to figure.

His way of getting labor
regular hire.

What little he does pay
goes into Rizely's pocket.

Mm-hmm.
And if work slows down
or men die,

they have to be
replaced.

One way
or another.

Didn't anyone
ever break out of here?

Yes, and it can work.

I was here
that time too.

There's something
you're holding back
about that time.

-But they didn't make it, huh?
-[laughs]

Shut up, Billy.
Shut up!

Now, there's
no call for that.

I wasn't
hurtin' anybody.

Not hurtin' anybody.

Keeps talking
about that break
a couple of years ago.

-Got every man scared
to throw in with me.
-What happened then?

Rizely somehow
got word.

The first five men
were cut down before
they got to the gate.

But I got it
figured this time.

You two go along,
there will be enough
of us to get it done.

Mm-mmm.

I'll wait for
that circuit judge.

We don't wanna give 'em
any legitimate reason
to keep us here.

[groans]

How's the leg?
Gettin' worse?

Some.

Here. Piece of cheese
I've been savin'.

-[mouths words]
-BILLY: Oh, go on. Go on.

With your leg
hurt like that,

you need all you can get
to keep your strength up.

Thanks, Billy.

You know, if that
prison commission was made up
of men instead of snakes,

they'd see to it
that we had food enough
to live on.

Commission?
You mean to tell me
the prison authorities...

have been here
and seen this
and done nothing about it?

We're dirt.
Haven't you heard?

Dirt don't deserve
no better.

-How long you been here, Billy?
-I don't-- I don't know.

I honestly don't know.

I got no years.

Just hope.

Hope that...

someday I'll walk out
in green fields again.

And that when I die,
it'll be someplace where--

where a cool breeze
blows across the land like--

like the smile
of a pretty woman.

Yeah,
but that's foolish.
It'll never happen.

Good morning, Jarrod.

I'm glad
you're back, Audra.

I'm gonna have to be
away on business
for a couple of days.

Since when do you
need a g*n to go
on business?

All right.
It's Nick and Heath.

-What happened?
-They're three days late
gettin' back from Haysville.

I sent a telegram
to a Mr. Riley over there,

a cattleman
they did business with.

He said the last
he saw 'em, they headed
off into a county...

where the sheriff
arrests strangers just
because they're strangers.

He went over there
and asked a few questions...

and found out that
two men who fit their
description had been arrested.

Mother will be home
from Denver this afternoon.
What do I tell her?

Don't tell her anything.

I'll send you a telegram
just as soon as I know
anything at all.

Doctor?

Doctor?

Actually, he's rather
a competent physician,

when sober.

From what I can see,
that's never.

I won't trouble you
any more with my leg.

Trouble? Men like you
cause me no trouble.

However,
you're quite right.

There's no excuse for
a professional man being
derelict in his duty.

The way this prison is run,
he's reacting the way
any other doctor would.

You're making
excuses for him.

-He's trash.
Anybody can see that.
-Why do you let him stay?

What reputable physician
would take this job?

A prison is
the final reservoir
for the scum of this world.

And yourself included?

No, you're wrong.

You're absolutely wrong.

It took me 17 years
to get my own ship.

Seventeen years.

Not one black mark.
Not one single reprehensible
incident. Not one.

Honorable,
distinguished service.

And then-- then they
conspired against me,
my crew.

My crew--

they weren't men,
they were pigs!

Or were they men
treated like pigs?

Silence.
I order you be silent.

What really happened, Rizely?

Given the power to command,
you weren't able to use it?

-Isn't that right?
-I said be silent.

You said it was your men.

But it was you
who got thrown out
of the Navy.

Isn't that right? Isn't that
what you're taking out
on the prisoners here?

I ordered you silent.

And you disobeyed my orders.

Peterson!

Get him out of here.
I want him punished.

Get him out.
Get him out!

-Heath!
-I don't know what it's for,
but it don't matter.

Interfere and it
can only go worse for him.

Believe me.
Much worse.

All present,
Captain.


found guilty of
a breach of conduct.

Direct your attention
to the administering
of punishment.

Heath!

-[whip cracks]
-Heath--

[whip cracks]

[whip cracks]

[chewing]

Well, now--

Well, they seem to
fit that description,
now, don't they?

There's one way
to find out for sure,
isn't there?

-Let me see them.
-Oh, they ain't here.

They's being held
down at the farm.

Now, by "farm,"
I assume you mean
the road g*ng.

Uh-huh.

When was the trial,
Sheriff?

Oh, there wasn't any.

-No trial?
-Well, what I mean is,

not yet.

When do you think
it might be?

Well, that-- that judge be
around here sooner or later,
I expect.

We'll get around
to it sometime.

When men are accused
of a crime, you don't
get around to trying them.

Well, that's the way
it is around here.
I'm sorry.

You denied these men
a trial by jury...

and committed them
to a road g*ng,
and you're sorry.

Where you going?

I'm going to telegraph
the circuit judge
for a writ...

releasing those men
into my custody and demand
an immediate trial.

Then I'm riding out
to the prison.

And when I get there,
Sheriff, you'd better
be there.

Are you Rizely?

I'm Captain Rizely.

My name is Jarrod Barkley.

I've come here
to see my brothers,
Heath and Nick Barkley.

Oh, yes.

Those were
the two thieves you arrested,
weren't they, Sheriff?

-That's right, Captain.
-Well, I'm sorry,
Mr. Barkley,

but their privileges
have been suspended.

They're not permitted
any visitors, unless of course
you have some, uh,

official document
overruling my authority.

I wasn't able to find
the circuit judge,

so I don't have a writ
right at the moment.

Well, then things will just
have to remain as they are.

I'm very sorry,
Mr. Barkley, you had to make
that long journey for nothing.

Rizely, I didn't take
this long journey for nothing.

I refer you to
the federal code,
chapter eight,

paragraph 12,
subsection 9.

"Any official, federal,
state or territorial...

"who impedes in any manner...

"a qualified attorney
in the practice
of his profession...

"is guilty of
committing a crime...

punishable by fine
or imprisonment or both."

Now, Mr. Rizely,

as an attorney,
licensed to practice law
in a number of states,

this one included,

I don't have to
ask you to see my clients,

which my brothers
have just become.

I have an unqualified right
to see them.

[horses, coaches approaching]

Well, the fact that
you're an attorney
does alter the situation.

Naturally, sir,
you have my permission
to consult with your clients.

-Here, just a minute.
-Peterson!

Allow Mr. Barkley
to visit his clients.

Your g*n,
Mr. Barkley.

Heath--

Jarrod?

-He's very sick, Jarrod.
-How did it happen?

For one thing, a burned leg,
no doctor to attend it,

they won't give him
any good food so he can
get his strength back,

-and they whipped him.
-All right.

The circuit judge
should be in Brazos by now.

I'm gonna ride there
and bring him back here
just as fast as I can.

In the meantime,
whatever you do,
don't antagonize Rizely.

-I'm gonna have to stop
breathin' to guarantee that.
-Nick--

You're gonna have to ride
that horse into the ground
to make it back on time.

-I'll make it.
-Peterson!

Your time is up,
Mr. Barkley.

Hang on, Heath.
It'll only be
a little while longer.

-Hang on.
-Yeah.

-Rizely--
-Yes, counselor?

I'll be back
with a circuit judge.

The California Barkleys.

Now, how could have
MacGowan been so stupid
as to pick them?

Well, the point is he did.

And we weren't much smarter
waitin' till now to place them.

Now, I'm for getting
out of this thing
while we still can, Captain.

And abandon
this entire operation?

-Never.
-Look, these ain't saddle
bums we're talkin' about.

They're Barkleys.
When they talk to the judge,

and then after him
the prison commission,
they'll be listened to.

Well, they can't do
much talking if they're dead.

-We could never get
away with that now.
-m*rder, no.

-But if they attempted
a prison break?
-You mean force 'em to try?

How?

There are ways.

Many ways.

Captain.

Now all we have to do is wait.

Your attention!

Now, it'll be hot enough
today to k*ll a man
standing still,

let alone pounding rock.

Therefore, there will
be no work today.

After inspection,
you'll return to your quarters.

Peterson, prepare them
for inspection.

Stand to for
the captain's inspection!

Button your shirt!

He's making it plain.

In his condition,
the box will k*ll that boy.

Arms down.

He hasn't had any water.

Did you
say something, 370?

I said he hasn't had
any water.

Do you wish to speak?

Permission to speak, sir.

Granted.

He hasn't had
any water.

Excuse me, sir,
but the guards are ready
to leave for town.

I was wondering if you
could sign this order.

It takes five guards
to pick up one wagonload
of barbed wire.

That's quite a bit
of wire, sir.

We'll be undermanned.

Very well,
provided they'll be back
by morning call.

Yes, sir.

Now, you were saying?

Captain,

please.

Peterson, dismiss.

You men are
confined to quarters.
Detail, dismissed.

You're confined
to quarters, Barkley.

[sighs]

You heard Rizely.
He's understaffed.

The guards won't be back
until tomorrow.

This is our chance.
Take it.

Nick, I can take
the door off the hinges...

in 10 minutes.

Then all we need
is the wire clippers
from the toolshed.

Look!

This is our chance.
Take it!

What kind of a man
are you?

That's your brother out there
and you don't care.

Now, look,

don't you ever
say that to me again.

We, uh--

We've gotta wait
for Jarrod to get back.

All right.

But while you're waiting,

your brother--
he could die.

[door opens, closes]

Captain, I checked
with Frank in town.

Barkley's brother
and the judge may be here
sometime tonight.

And Barkley still
hasn't taken the bait.

Bring him in here.

You look tired.
Sit down.

Aren't you gonna
ask me about 597?



That's a man you have
out in that sweatbox.

Heath Barkley,
not a bunch of numbers.

-Aren't you gonna
ask me about him?
-Would it do any good?

You're still full of
your own pride, aren't you?

Well, that doesn't
surprise me. I know you
well enough by now.

We're even.

I've k*lled enough
corn pigs in my time
to know enough about you.

-You want to k*ll me?
-I do.

-And given the opportunity,
you'll try?
-I will.

Well, in view of
this situation,

I'd say the distance between
the intent and the deed...

-may prove an impossible
journey for you.
-I'll work it out.

Oh, really? How?

I don't know... yet.

Oh, yes.

Patience. Patience.

The way of
the intelligent man.

Wait until you're free,
then pick your own time.

Meanwhile, of course,


At this very moment,
I warrant, his flesh
is being burnt raw.

His tongue is so swollen
that it chokes him.

No doubt he is gradually
losing his sanity.

That explains
the mumbled sounds,
the incoherent noises--

What do you want?
Tell me!

What kind of a price
does it take to buy you?

Anything you want.
Any price,

but just let him
outta there.

There is one thing
I might accept.

Yes?

Now, you said anything.
You really care
that much for him?

Any price.

Money? No.

That's really
not quite so rare
a commodity.

But your dignity,
your precious Barkley dignity,

now, that does
command a value.

Now, what is the price
of your brother's life?

What is the only thing--
the only thing that will...

take that key to the sweatbox
and give it to you?

Well, it's simple.
Very simple.

Your dignity.

I-- I don't--

Will you beg?

Will you beg...

from a man you hate?

Will you get down
on your hands and knees
and beg?

Men don't beg.

Exactly.

I'm...

begging!

[laughing]

[laughing continues]

Get him out of here!
[laughs]

[breathing heavily]

Tonight.

Good. We'll be ready.

-You're not goin'!
-What?

-I can't take
the responsibility.
-Wait a minute--

I can't take the responsibility
of you gettin' k*lled. You're
gonna wait here for that judge.

-But you listened--
-Look, I have no choice.

I gotta get my brother
outta that box.

All right.

-But you'll need help.
-No.

-I can take care of that fence.
-All right.

All right.

[groans]

Now, do you understand?
Your men are to
hold their fire...

until the Barkleys are outside--
outside the wire.

There must be
unmistakable evidence
of an escape attempt.

I'd better get
out there with 'em.

-You ready?
-Just about.

[wires snapping]

-Nick, it's a trap.
-What?

It's a trap.
That swine Rizely--

Those guards never left.
They're waiting the
other side of the fence.

All right.
All right, now, look.

The first thing we gotta do is
get Heath outta that sweatbox,

get back to the hut,
barricade ourselves in and--

and pray that Jarrod
and the judge
get here on time.

Come on!

[door opens]

I wouldn't.

I should have figured
you'd be around to watch.

Well, your little trap
didn't work.

It doesn't really matter.

Actually, I prefer you know
what you're walking into.

You think I'm gonna
go through that fence now?

Oh, you are.
Oh, yes, you are.

You're out of your mind.

On the contrary.

I'm behaving
quite logically.
Start walking.

-Just keep walking.
-What about my brother?

First you
and then him.

Well, now, you're
gonna need the key...

if you want that judge
to find his body outside
the fence with mine.

Stop!

Thank you...

for correcting
my oversight.

Now,

hand me the key.

No. No, no, no.

[gagging]

Heath. Heath!

-[horses approaching]
-Heath!

This is Judge Bentley!
Open the gate!

Heath.

Heath, everything's
gonna be all right.
I brought a doctor.

Who's responsible
for this?

That's the man there, Judge.

That is, if you can
call him a man.

-The, uh, doctor brought
you around okay, huh?
-Yeah.

Well, I guess
you'll be goin' home now?

Lobo, there's gonna
be some changes.
Lots of them.

For instance, the camp has
been turned over temporarily
to a federal marshal.

Rizely, the sheriff and
MacGowan will be made to
answer for what they've done.

And every one of
your sentences is going
to be reviewed.

Now, that's more
than we could have
hoped for before, huh?

Billy, you know that place
you were talkin' about,

where the earth is rich,
and the breeze blows
over the land...

like a pretty woman's smile?

Well, there is such a place.

And there's a job there
waiting for you
when you're free.

You write me
at this address...

when it's time,
and I'll come for you.

-Well, Lobo.
-Yeah.

Billy.