04x14 - Joshua Watson

[bunniefuu]

MAN: Ya-haa!
Whoo!

-Yee-haw!
-Whoo-hoo!

Hey, Barkley!

Hey, are you
Barkleys ready?

[scoffs]
Now, don't you worry
about us.

-Oh, we ain't, are we, J.R.?
-[chuckles]

No, we ain't worried
about them Barkleys
at all, Zack.

Three years runnin'
our ranch has won
the rodeo.

We're gonna do it again
just to keep you Barkleys
humble.

Well, now, I wouldn't
count on that.

I mean, you Mortons
may be in for a little
surprise.

Uh, it seems to me
I recollect you saying
the same thing last year.

[laughs]

[mocking chuckle]
You just keep on laughin'.

-Nick?
-Yeah?

My papa says you Barkleys
are sportin'.

Well, now,
your papa is right.
What is your sport?

Well, I got
a thousand that says
we win the rodeo.

And I got five
says you don't.

-Thousand?
-Thousand.

We got a bet?

You got you a bet.

Ah-ha!
Ha ha!

Whoo-hoo-hoo!

[Nick whistles]

-What was that all about?
-Hmm?

-Oh, you mean--
you mean the Mortons?
-The Mortons.

Yeah, well, that was just
a little sportin' proposition
on the rodeo, is all.

-Uh-huh, how much?
-Oh, five.

-Hundred?
-Thousand.
Want a piece of it?

You gotta be outta
your mind.

You don't want
a piece of it.

Well, somehow I have
a little feeling
about this rodeo.

You had a little feeling
about last year's rodeo,

-and how much did that cost?
-Oh, well, now,
that was different.

This year,
the Mortons are gonna--

The Mortons are gonna
walk all over us,
and you know it.

Zack baited you,
and you bit.

-What would you have done?
-Passed.

-Passed?
-Nick, will you
use your head?

They're even stronger
this year,

and two of our hands
are laid up.

-Well, now, whose side
are you on?!
-Ours, ours,

but we haven't
got a prayer.

-They've recruited every cowboy
between here and Waco.
-Oh...

MAN: I can win
that rodeo for you.

Joshua Watson...
for hire.

♪♪ [theme]

It was about time
you got back.

I just got a little
busy in town, is all.

-Thank you.
-You always get busy in town

when there's work
to be done here.

You're gonna thank me
for it this time.

-For what?
-For Joshua.

Joshua Watson,
meet my brother
Heath.

-Howdy.
-He's gonna win that rodeo
for us single-handed.

-Well, that's a pretty
big chore.
-Uh-huh.

-Can you rope?
-Better than most.

Ever do any bull-doggin'?

Won more than my share.

Can you ride a bronc?

That's my best.

That's your best,
huh, Josh?

Well, now, let's see.
Charlie?

Nick, wait a minute.

Charlie?

Yeah, Nick?

Saddle up Abaddon
and bring him here,
will you?

Uh, Charlie...
I said saddle up Abaddon
and bring him here.

-I'll give him a hand.
-All righty.

-Nick, what are you
tryin' to prove?
-Oh...

just takin' the man's word.
He said that was his best.

But you know Archie
and Dale both

got busted up trying
to ride that horse.

Mmm.

-You going to ride
that horse?
-Yep.

Do you know what
you are doin'?

I know.

They call that horse
"Abaddon."

The name means...
devil.

Got him?
Hold him in there.

-That horse has got
a lot of spirit.
-I would say, yeah.

You know, I never
rode a horse before
to prove a point.

-Oh?
-What do I get
for breakin' him?

-Name it.
-How 'bout the horse?

[laughs]
All right.

You break him,
he's yours.

All right.

You don't have
to ride him.

Well, I been ridin' the devil
all my life, Heath.

He ain't throwed me yet.

Mister, you gotta
be the best to ride
this horse.

Or crazy.

Turn him out!
Hah!

Stay with him,
Joshua!

Ride him, Joshua.

Hold him, boy!
Hold him!

Ha ha!
Eat him up!

-You all right?
-I'm all right.

Where do you think
you're goin'?

-To ride that horse.
-Haven't you had enough?

Ain't a man
can't be throwed,

but ain't a horse
can't be rode.

All right.

Easy, horse.
Easy, boy.

Ain't no need to fight,
'cause I'm gonna break you.

All right,
stay with him, Josh!

Attaboy, Josh!

[horse neighs]

Ride him, Joshua!

[chuckles]
I think he's got him.

You got 'im!
You got 'im, Josh!

Whoopee!

He did it!
I think we just won
ourselves a rodeo.

Walk, horse.
Walk proud for the people.

Walk on, boy.
Good boy.

And ride?
Why, this man's gotta be
the greatest mustanger ever.

Well, is there anything
this Joshua Watson
can't do?

[chuckles] Well, he can
rope, bust broncs-- why,
he can even bulldog.

Did he really
ride Abaddon?

He had that horse
eatin' out of his hand

two minutes after
he stepped on him.

-Well, how does he measure up
to the Mortons?
-Better!

You ask Heath
when he comes in.

Then we have a chance
of winning this year.

Well, with Joshua
ridin' for us,
we have a chance.

You sure you wouldn't
like to make a little
bet, Jarrod?

No, I wouldn't like
to make a little bet.

As a matter of fact,
I'd feel a lot better

if we called this
whole thing off.

For the first time
in four years,

we have a chance
at winning this rodeo,

and he wants
to call it off. Why?

Because it's stopped
being just a contest
between two ranches.

The whole thing's
gettin' outta hand.

-Because I made a bet.
-No.

And all the hands
out there have made bets,
too, you know.

Nick, it has nothing
to do with the betting.

Now, you remember what
happened last year--

that fight with the Mortons
in the saloon?

Oh, the boys were just
lettin' off a little steam
is all.

Uh-huh, and then what
followed that?

They salted our water hose.
We had to spook their cattle.

-We should've done worse.
-Nick, can't you see
what's happening?

This isn't a rodeo anymore.
It's turning into a feud.

Wait a minute,
wait a minute.

Four years ago,
we started this rodeo

as a constructive way
of handling the rivalry

between us and the Mortons.
Now, if it hasn't worked out,

perhaps we shouldcall it off.

Mother, this rodeo
is my responsibility.

I'm not about
to call it off!

Nick, what if somebody
gets k*lled?

That is also
my responsibility!

You sure you wouldn't
like to make a little bet?

-Oh, you hard-head.
-[laughs]

[laughs]

Are you gonna keep
laughing like a blamed
hyena all night long?

I can't help it, Pa.
I keep thinkin' about
Nick Barkley.

You know, he ain't
ever gonna learn his lesson.

The man's got pride.
You can't fault him
for that.

I ain't faultin' him.

It's his money that's
gonna buy us that new
breedin' stock in Denver.

And, uh,
I guess...

You plan to, uh--

go to Denver
yourself and pick up
those critters.

Yeah, me and J.R.

It's a pretty long
trip to Denver.

A couple of young fellas

could get into trouble
in a wild town like that.

Well, we sure aim to try.

-You know something?
-What?

The Barkleys got
no monopoly on pride.

You boys have done
everything...

that I've asked of you,
and more.

And you raised up
just like I hoped you would--

tough, skilled...

and you don't know
the meanin' of the word "lose."

[door opens]

Hey, Pa?
Hey, Zack?

RUFUS:
in here, son.

Oh, boy.

Am I glad
you're up.

-Hey, where you been?
-Well, I been in town.

I was with a bunch
of them Barkley hands.

First off,
I thought they
was all drunk.

-They try and jump you, son?
-No, Pa.

They all wanted
to bet on the rodeo.

Well, did you tell 'em
to line up?

Well, yeah, sure.

Told 'em they could bet
any amount they wanted.

I didn't figure it out
till later.

And then I found out they got
this new hand out there--

a black man by the name
of Joshua Watson.

Talk is he's
the greatest rodeo rider

that ever got up
into a saddle.

-Did you see him?
-No, I didn't see him, but--

Well, now,
one black man ain't
gonna scare us off.

I got three champions
riding for us,

and paying 'em more money
than they've ever seen.

Well, Pa,
that's what bothers me.

They knowwho we got
ridin' for us,

but they're bettin'
on this Watson fella.

They ain't any smarter
than Nick Barkley.

I know every good rider
in the country,

and I never heard
of a Joshua Watson.

-You?
-No.

[chuckles]

Well, you can just stop
your worryin', J.R.,

and just tell 'em to keep
sendin' in the bets.

-Pa, I ain't worried.
-[snickers]

Well, okay, okay.

Anyway, I-- I figure
if he's as good
as they say he is,

we can always hire him
for ourselves, right, Pa?

[laughs]
Like I was tellin'
your brother...

a Morton doesn't know
the meaning of the word "lose."

Hey, easy, man.

Save some
of that vinegar
for the rodeo.

Work and me
get along fine.

I'll be fit
come rodeo time.

-You know, me and you is pretty
much the same, Joshua?
-And how's that?

Oh, I come from
a sharecroppin' family.

Hard work's all I've had.
Most of it without pay.

Well, like you--
Before the government
cut you free.

This rodeo means everything
to me, Joshua.

I got a wife and two boys
back home,

and I been saving
every penny I earned

for the past two years
to bring 'em here.

I bet every bit of it
on you.

I'll do my best.

Yeah...
be ready in a minute.

You know, Joshua,
we never had anyone like
you around here before.

I guess my kind's
rare in these parts.

Oh, no, no,
I didn't mean that.

We-- We've had a lot
of negroes working
on this ranch.

It's just that--
Well, you know--

Freed men come west,
finding a new start.

But we never had a hand
that could do it all.

Where'd you learn all this
about ranchin'?

Just comes naturally,
I guess.

-Where you from?
-Lots of places.

[chuckles]
Well, most cowboys are.
Where's your home?

The place I'm at.

Oh, I see.

[rattles]

Hey, Charlie...

found a friend
of yours.

Why, you...!

[laughs]

I think he likes
you better.

[laughs]

Catch.

[laughs]

Catch, Charlie!

Hey, Charlie!

Right back at you,
Charlie!

Whoa!

Ow.

-Thanks.
-It was nothin'.

Nothin'?
That was about the best
shootin' I ever saw.

All I did
was pull the trigger.

-The snake did the rest.
-How's that?

Well, when a rattler
sees a b*llet comin',
he strikes out at it.

Oh, I...

[mumbles]
I guess.

[music plays]

[hums]

♪ Swing low

♪ Sweet chariot

♪ Comin' for
to carry me home ♪

♪ Well, I looked over Jordan,
and what did I see? ♪

♪ Comin' for
to carry me home ♪

♪ I saw a band
of angels ♪

♪ Comin' after me

♪ They were comin'
for to carry me home ♪

♪ Swing low,
sweet chariot ♪

♪ Comin' for
to carry me home ♪

♪ Swing low,
sweet chariot ♪

♪ Comin' for
to carry me home ♪

♪ Mmm, sweet chariot

♪ Comin' for
to carry me home ♪

♪ Swing low,
sweet chariot ♪

♪ Comin' for
to carry me home ♪

That was beautiful,
Joshua.

Thank you, Nick.

From the sound of it,
I'd say your father
must've been a preacher.

No, he was a sl*ve, Nick--
A field sl*ve.

[footsteps]

Nick!

-Bert!
-[groans]

Bert, what happened?

-[gasps]
-What happened?

I was...

I was chasin' strays.

They bushwacked me.

Well, who did it?

Bert, who did it?

The Mortons.

The Mortons, huh?

Joshua, take Bert
to the ranch.

Charlie, go on into town
and get the doctor.

-What are you gonna do?
-I'm gonna go call
on the Mortons.

You're not goin'
out there in the dark?

By the time I get there,
it'll be mornin'.

Hey, Zack.

Here he comes.

Yeah...
just like you said.

-You shot Bert.
-Well, he was spookin'
our cattle.

You're a liar!

You be careful
who you callin'
a liar.

Well, if that wasn't
an invite to a fight,
I--

Ah!
Aah!

[yells]

[grunts]

[snickers]

[chuckles]

[both laughing]

[groans]

[giggles]

[laughs]

[Nick groans]

You all right, Nick?

Of course I'm all right.
I'm just fine.

-How'd you know I was here?
-Charlie told me.

-Oh.
-Sure you're all right?

I don't need your help.
I'm fine.

Leave me alone.

Oh...
[grunts]

You help me,
and so help me, I'll hit you.

Oh.

[chuckling]

Oh...

Heath?

You keep your brother
away from here,

or next time
he'll get it worse.

All right.
I'm ready.

Ooh...

Oh...

-How's the eye feel?
-Fine, just fine.

Sure you don't
want a cold towel?

Oh, no,
this'll do nicely,
thank you.

Okay.
Just tryin' to help.

What happened
to him?

Ask him.

What happened?

Nothin'.

Nothin'?

You heard what I said.
Nothin'.

Ooh.

[laughs]

I'd say that's the best
one I've ever seen.

They don't come
any better.

Uh, Nick, if you don't
mind a little suggestion,

I think the best place
for that beef steak

is on a plate
with some mashed potatoes.

Who did it?

The Mortons.

Ah, the Mortons.

Well, you've just
been itchin'

for a fight with them,
haven't you?

And you finally
got it.

They haven't heard
the last of it, either.

Now, look,
with that eye,

you're not exactly ready for
a beauty contest as it is,

much less go back--

Look, Jarrod, I'll worry
about my eye.

But they shot Bert.

And they said that he
was spookin' their cattle,
and it's a lie!

-Where you going?
-Goin' up and
have a hot bath.

I'll be as good
as new in an hour.

Here.
All you need now is
the mashed potatoes.

[sighs]

-Forget it.
-What?

What you're thinkin'.
Won't do any good.

Then maybe I better have
a little talk with Rufus--
Try and reason with him.

The reason things are
the way they are

is because Rufus
can't be reasoned with.

Bert's shot,
and they stomped
on Nick.

They've gone too far.

I saw we go over
to their ranch and
crack a few heads.

[murmurs of agreement].

Are you with us,
Josh?

Yep,
I'm with you.

Well, then, come on.
Let's go.

Where you boys headin'?

To the Mortons'.

Nobody leaves this ranch.
Is that understood?

We got a right
to even things up.

Any man that rides out
to fight the Mortons
is fired.

-Is thatunderstood?
-And the Mortons?

That's where I'm headin'
right now-- To have
a little talk with 'em.

JARROD: Rufus,
for the last time,

I came out here
for only one reason--

To get you
to call this rodeo off.

Then you rode out
here for nothin'.

Yeah, what do you
wanna call the rodeo
off for?

We hear you got
a man who can

win it for you
all by himself.

Yeah, yeah.
Ain't he as good
as they say he is?

Listen, J.R., why don't
you go open the front door
and, uh--

Let this man
and his smell outta here?

I'd like to remind
you gentlemen

that a man's already
been shot-- Badly wounded.

He was lucky.

I told my boys
to sh**t to k*ll

any one of your hands
that crossed my lines.

And can't you see what
a tragic mistake that is?

Call it off,
before someone iskilled!

My boys have been lookin'
forward to this for a year,

and I'm not gonna be the one
to spoil their sport.

I never thought I'd
live to see the day

when a Barkley would
ask me to back off.

Rufus, I'm not asking you
to back off.

I'm asking you to do
what makes sense!

RUFUS: It all adds up
to the same thing--
Mortons backing down.

If you don't back down
this time, it means a fight.

So be it.
Then we'll settle this thing
between us once and for all.

You're just itching
for a fight, aren't you, Rufus?

Well, all right!

The Barkleys
don't back down, either,

so if it's a fight you want,
it's a fight you're gonna get!

Dang!

Hang in there, Jim!
Come on, boy!
Hang in there!

Stay with him, Jim!
Let the horse do the work!

-How's he doin' on time?
-Five seconds.
He's almost there.

Come on, Jim!
Hang in there!
Hang in there!

Seven seconds.
Well, he almost made it.

Seven seconds ain't enough.
Almost ain't good enough.

He's got to stay
on the animal eight seconds.

All right, Jim,
that'll be enough for today.

Go get yourself a hot bath.

How do you do it, Joshua?

I just stay loose, Nick.
I let the animal do the work.

You see,
stayin' on the horse
eight seconds is important,

but what's more important
is makin' it look good.

You see, the easier
you make it look,

the quicker you catch
the judge's eye.

-[sighs]
-Hello, Jarrod.

-How's Jim doin'?
-He's doin' pretty good.

Joshua here is
workin' with him.

If those Morton boys
had any sense,
they'd start worryin'.

I think they
already are, Nick.

Charlie tells me
he saw Zack and J.R.
up on the ridge

watchin' Joshua with
a pair of glasses.

NICK [laughs]:
You don't say.

Well, you tell Charlie--
Next time he sees
those two poor boys,

invite 'em on down here.
It's a shame for them

to stand all the way
back on that ridge
and strain their eyes.

And I think maybe
I'll treat your eyes
to some fancy ropin'.

Nick's roping's
pretty fancy, ain't it?

Yeah, yeah,
it sure is, Joshua.

Beggin' your pardon, Jarrod.
You look a little worried.

It ain't the rodeo, is it?

No, no, no, it's...

well, I guess it's
just a lot of things
all together.

But I guess
if nobody panics,

everything will
work out all right.

Silas?

Silas?

Oh, yes,
Miss Audra?

-Oh, are you looking
at the almanac?
-Yes, ma'am.

Well, if you're checking
on the weather for the day
of the rodeo,

it'll be sunny and warm,
temperature in the high 80s.

-I checked it yesterday.
-That's good, Miss Audra,

but I wasn't checkin'
on the weather.

The almanac has all
the famous rodeo riders
in it.

Oh, that's right.

And if anybody can
ride rodeo like Joshua can,

he just might
be a champion.

Well, is his name
mentioned in there?

No, it doesn't
seem to be.

But of course,
after we beat
the Mortons,

I'll bet they write
a whole page on him.

You're proud of him,
aren't you?

Yes, Miss Audra.
He's somethin'.

You know, Silas,
we don't really know
very much about him.

Have you had a chance
to talk with him?

We've talked...
once in a while.

Well, did he say anything
about himself?

No, ma'am.

I guess that
surprises you?

A little.

Joshua and I are the same
in one respect.

We are both black men.
But we are different,
Miss Audra.

Different as day
is to night.

In what way?

I've always worked
in a big house
like this one.

I was treated special,
because I belonged
to the house.

All my life,
I've been indoors.

-And Joshua?
-He's from the fields--

From the outdoors.

He's never known
nothin' but hard work
and the whip.

He's a new breed.

He's restless,
he's proud,
and he's searchin'--

Searchin' for a place
that he can call home.

A place where he can
stand up as a man.

Joshua, I gotta
drop this by the bank.

Have yourself a beer.
I'll join you in a minute.

Okay, Heath.

Gimme a beer.

You must be
Joshua Watson.

You must be
Rufus Morton.

You know me?

Everybody around here
knows you Mortons.

You people don't exactly
walk around on tip-toes,
you know.

[chuckles]
Well, we have no need to.

The truth is,
you're not exactly a secret
around here, either.

Can I talk to you?

Talk? What you want
to talk about?

-How would you like
to work for me?
-I got a job.

RUFUS: I'll pay you
double what the Barkleys
are paying you.

JOSHUA: Nobody can best
what the Barkleys
are payin' me.

Well, we'll see about that.
I'll buy you a drink
and we can talk.

-Bartender?
-I got a drink.

Hey, boy.

Are you refusin'
to drink with my Pa?

A man has a right
to pick his own
drinkin' company.

Beggin' your
pardon, Heath--

The man asked me
the question.

And the answer is,
yes, I'm refusin'.

Oh, you think
you're too good
to drink with us?

You think what you want.

You almost made it...

to the other world.

What-- What are you
thinkin', Pa?

Only two kinds of men
handle a g*n like that--

Outlaw...
or a lawman.

And he's no lawman.

You know, there
is such a thing
as quittin' time.

Hiya, Nick.

-How you doin'?
-Oh, just fine.

You know,
I had a...

an idea that you just
might be in town with
the rest of the boys.

No, not tonight.

Me and my saddle got
a lot of work to be done
before rodeo time.

Mm-hmm.
You know, uh...

old Heath
was tellin' me

that Rufus Morton
offered you a job.

Twice your pay.
You turned it down.
How come?

Well, your foreman's
retirin' at the end
of the month.

I'd like his job.

Oh, now,
wait a minute, Josh.
That, uh--

That foreman's job--
Why, that wouldn't pay

half the money
old Morton would.

Well, you see,
the way I look at it,

it pays better.

Well... you know somethin',
Joshua?

You might just be
the man for the job.

[chuckles]
Good night.

Good night, Nick.

Still having trouble
with the Peterson case?

No, no, I'm...

I'm havin' trouble
with my own stupid case.

You know what
I did today?

I went over to the Mortons'
to see if I could talk 'em
out of this rodeo.

NICK: You what?

Oh, you don't
have to worry.

I-- I let that Rufus
get me so mad,

I told him we'd meet 'em
head to head if that's
the way they want it.

Oh, that's better.

-No, it isn't better.
-Huh?

Nick, let's talk
about this rationally.

Let's talk about what's
best for the Barkleys
and the Mortons.

-Oh, now, come on, Mother.
-Just think about it.

Suppose we did cancel
the rodeo.

Well, we can't!
The men have bet
a full month's salary.

They'd have to forfeit
their money.

All right.
We can cover that.

-Is there another reason?
-Yes!

What, your ridiculous
bet with Zack?

-No!
-Well, then what?

-[knocks on door]
-For three years,

the Mortons have
stomped us at rodeo,

and this year,
thanks to Joshua,

we have a chance
to stomp them,

-and I'm not about
to pass it up.
-Oh, Nick...

Well, now, what is
all this about?

J.R., take off
your hat.

-What do you want?
-Your new hired man--
Joshua Watson.

Oh, yes, Heath said
you offered Joshua a job,

and he turned you down.

I didn't come here
to hire him, Victoria.

I came here
to take him in.

-What?
-You mean arrest him?
What for?

-I think he's an outlaw.
-You think.

If I could
get him to Phoenix,
I could prove it.

Joshua turned you down cold.

You never could stand
to be turned down.

Turning me down
had nothing to do
with it, Victoria.

I do business
in Phoenix.

The last time I was there,
the law was looking

for a black man who rode
with Coleman's raiders.

And you think that
Joshua's the man that
they're looking for?

-He fits the description.
-Of all the dirty--

You show me an outlaw
that would turn down the
money you offered Joshua.

What makes you think
Joshua's the man
they want in Phoenix?

After what I saw
in the saloon,
I'm sure of it.

Rufus, that's a pretty
serious accusation.

I trust you have
the evidence
to back it up.

There's plenty of evidence
in Phoenix.

I came here tonight
to ask you to do
the right thing.

Oh, and, uh,
what was that?

Turn Joshua Watson over
to the law in Stockton.

Well, now, Rufus,
I thought I knew

how much this rodeo
meant to you,

but I had no idea
how low you'd stoop
to win it.

You either turn
Joshua Watson over
to the law tonight...

or I'll come back
in the morning and
take him by force.

[hums]

♪ The streets of Laredo

♪ As I walk out
in the street one day ♪

♪ I saw a poor cowboy
all wrapped in white linen ♪

♪ All wrapped in white linen
and cold as clay ♪

[hums]

♪ Take me to green valleys
and lay the sod on me ♪

♪ For I'm a young cowboy
and I know I've done wrong ♪

Things are gonna
be different for me
and you, horse.

The Barkleys
offered us a home,
and we gonna take it.

You seem to have a way
with that horse.

Oh, we got
an understandin'.

You're some man,
Mr. Watson.

The Barkleys are
mighty proud of you,
and so am I.

Why, thank you, Silas.

They're countin'
on you to win
the rodeo.

I won't let 'em down.

Course, if you wasn't here,
there wouldn't be no rodeo.

-And no trouble, huh?
-Yes.

You askin' me
to ride out?

I don't wanna see none
of the Barkleys hurt.

There's been a lot
of trouble already,

and there's a lot
more comin'.

This rodeo means
everything to Nick,

and he's been good to me.

He gave me a job
here at the ranch--
Gave me a home.

There ain't no way
I'm gonna ride away
from that.

-Joshua.
-Ma'am?

Rufus Morton says
you're an outlaw,

and unless we turn you
over to the sheriff,
he'll take you by force.

-We turned him down.
-Thank you, ma'am.

No thanks are necessary
if you're not the man
they want in Phoenix.

However, there's
going to be trouble.

It might even start
a range w*r.

And there's something
I have to know before
the fighting starts.

-What's that, ma'am?
-Did you ride
with Coleman raiders?

-No, ma'am.
-And you're not the man
they want in Phoenix?

No.

Where are you from,
Joshua?

Well, I'm from lots
of places, Mrs. Barkley.

Places with bad memories.
Places I'd like to forget.

Get the men posted?

Half on the north range,
the rest on the east.

Maybe he ain't comin'.

Morton's never backed away
from a fight yet.

He'll be comin'.

Nick.

That's far enough,
Rufus.

Back off, Nick.
You don't have a chance.

Just try us!

They're lookin' for a fight.

We'll give it to 'em.
Circle to the left.

Hyah!

You're running away,
aren't you?

I guess Rufus Morton
was right.

You did ride
with Hardy Coleman.

I was another man then.
That was a long time ago.

Why?

I was set free,
but that was all.

I had no home, no family,
no place to go.

Hardy took me in,
taught me to ride,
use my g*n.

Gave me a chance
to be a man--

Or so I thought
at that time.

We're offerin' you a chance--
A realchance--

But if you run,
it's all over for you.

And if I don't run,
there's three years
waiting for me in Phoenix.

We're offering you
a lifetime right here
on this ranch!

Three years might not
sound like a long time
to you,

but for a man
who's been a sl*ve,
it's eternity.

I'm not saying
it's going to be easy.

It ain't no use.

I appreciate all you've
tried to do for me,

and I thank you for it.

But ain't no way
I'm gonna give up
my freedom now.

-Then you're a coward.
-No, Mrs. Barkley.

It's easy for you
to judge me, ain't it?

You with your fine ranch
and your big, fine family.

It wasn't always this way.
When my husband brought
me here,

this was wasteland.
Barren land.

-We worked hard and suffered
to make it what it is.
-Suffered?!

Suffered?
You and your family?

You don't know
what sufferin' is.

Sufferin' is watchin'
your mother and father

bein' sold
on the auction block.

Sufferin' is workin' hard
all day till your body aches
give out and drop.

Sufferin' is watchin'
the world from the outside,

knowin' nobody
wants you in.

-But times change.
So do people.
-Not fast enough.

Joshua, we've got
to start somewhere!

I'm sorry, Mrs. Barkley.

Tell 'em I'm gone,
and ain't no need
fightin'.

-Where'd you get hit?
-I'm all right, Pa.
I'm all right.

It's just my shoulder,
that's all.

How bad is it, Pa?

Bad enough.
sh**t 'em outta there!

I don't know if I
can hold out much longer.

I'll go get some help.

-Cover me.
-All right.

Whoa, whoa.

-Heath!
-The Mortons...

They got Nick and
Charlie pinned down.
They need help.

Get the men
on the north range.

You all right?

Go on, git!
I'll be all right.

Abaddon, sl*ves used
to travel by the stars.

They'd find the big dipper
and follow it north
to freedom.

Which way is freedom now?

Which way do I go?

How you fixed
for ammunition?

Low.
How's yours?

I got about six rounds
left, is all.

Hold your fire!
Hold it!

Hold your fire!

Wait a minute!
Wait a minute!
Hold it!

Joshua,
get outta here!

Ain't no need
in fighting 'em, Nick.

I'm the man they want
in Phoenix.

-You're what?!
-They had me right.

I'm givin' myself up.

-Pa, maybe it's a trick.
-We'll soon find out.

Watson!
Did I hear you right?

You're turning yourself in?

Yeah, that's right.
I'm turnin' myself in.

Let's go!
It's all over!

Come on.

Joshua.

Sorry to cause you
all the trouble, Nick.

Well, why didn't
you run?

Well, I started to,
but then I changed my mind.

Changed your mind?
What about?

Yeah, I got to figure
there ain't no way I can

make a new life for myself
till I find the right star.

-Yeah.
-Do I get a job
when I get out?

It'll be waitin'
for you.

All right.

JARROD:
Hang on, Nick!

Stay with him, Nick.

Got him, Nick!

Yee-hee-hoo!
Ha ha!

Attaboy!
Ride him!

Do you think he's
got a chance?

Well, maybe, if he
stays in one piece
till the rodeo starts.

That's my boy.

Ain't you had enough,
Nick?

Ain't a man
that can't be throwed,

and ain't a horse
that can't be rode.

Yeah!

[all laughing]

Hang on, Nick!

♪♪ [theme]