02x11 - No Second Chance

[bunniefuu]

Oh.

Driver and shotgun on top.

Looks like
only one passenger.

It's a woman.

We got no problem there.

There's two men
at the station.

Yeah, they could be
a problem.

But that's what
we collect our pay for.

Let's go earn it.

Looks like
an old grizzly bear

with your head
stuck in a pot of molasses.

Boy, you gonna think
a grizzly is after you.

[ horse whinnying ]

Hey, Daisy,
leave Tiny alone.

Just like a dadgum woman,
always spoiling for a fight.

Smudge, how long
you've been driving them wagon

for Stevens anyway?

Nigh on 20 years.

When you planning
on quitting?

You know that
half a mile upgrade
leads into Tampa springs?

Yeah.At the bottom,
iron hits the rig

and let the animals
walk up.

That's right, son,
that's right.

It happens
every Saturday.

And when I can't push
that load up

to the top of that grade
I'll pack it in.

Yeah, food will be on the table
in about five minutes.

Two things I ain't
slow gettin' to...

a meal or a fight.

Used to be three.

Well, the courtesies
our stage line

extends
to all the female passengers.

One of their few services
I approve of.

May I?

Thank you.

Hello, Fran.

It's been long time.

The name is Miss Ericson.

And it hasn't been long enough.

Sounds like
you two have met.

Yeah.What did you ever do to her?

She gave you a look
that'd froze a polar bear.

Maybe I deserve it.

You're new here,
aren't you?

About a year and a half.

You enjoy
working for this line?

No complaints.

Besides, look at the nice people
I get to meet.

You're pretty fast
with an answer, aren't you?

About the same speed
as you with a question.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to pry.

No harm done.
Besides I was going to
ask you a few myself.

Why don't you just
let it lie, Jess?

When I need your help,
I'll ask for it, Mr. Sherman.

You need a special invite?

Oh, I wasn't hired
for the kind of work

you're gonna do in there.

Keep that driver and shotgun
outside until we finish.

Now, that's more like it.

Soft as jelly.

Without that g*n
he's a nobody.

With it, he's about as big a man
as I ever run across.

You married, engaged
or got a fella?

Yes.

You're married?

No.

Must be something wrong
with my hearing.

Every time
I ask you a question,

I wind up with less
than I started with.

Good afternoon.
May I help you?

You the cook?

Among other things.

Set up for me and my men.

Be glad to,
as soon as we finish.

Jib, you hear the cook?

Here, finished.

No concern of yours,
gentlemen.

Finish up your work.

Any questions?

Drop it right there.

You do pretty good
for a country boy.

Ah!

Gonna be a man
by to see you.

Best you listen him
unless you want this
to happen again or worse.

Easy does it, Jess.

Sorry, Lonnie.

Last time I waited
for an introduction

I darn near
got my jaw busted.

Yeah, he's as skittish
as a cat on a slippery roof.

Draw on me twice
since yesterday.

Driver told me
what happened

and I thought I'd ride out
and get the whole rundown.

Ah, I figured as much.
How about some coffee?

Thanks.

I'm listening, Jess.

Nothing much to tell.
We just got roughed up some.

Not gonna happen again.

One of them
a big fella with a scar
over his right eye?

That's right.It's the same bunch.

They sure know their trick.

They should, they've
been working at it
steady for the past month.

Around here?

More or less.

Jumped half a dozen
stations in that time.

I wonder why
they're doing it.

I haven't been able
to get much out of
the station owners either.

It seems like
they're afraid to talk.

You got anything
to add that might help?

Yeah, except that he said a man
was coming out to talk to us

and we better listen.

Did they say when?

No.

When he comes, listen,
and then come tell me.

If they come around
this way again

we're gonna
do more than listen.

Oh, no, you're not.
That's what I get paid for.

Besides one of you gets k*lled,
might cost me my job

and a chance
to nail those sidewinders.

Do me a favor,

if there's any trouble
you come tell me, agreed?

Agreed.All right.

Good.

Thanks for the coffee.

Stay loose.

Good man
to have on your side.

No argument there.

Where are you going?

Do like the man says,
stay loose.

[ g*n shots ]

That's a fair piece of firing
but not up to my mark

when I was in my prime
a couple of years ago.

Yeah, I heard you were
a real destroyer, Smudge.

That's right, son,
that's right.

You can believe it.

Folks used to walk
a big circle around me

when I got stirred up.

What happened to make you
mellow down so sudden-like?

There's the faulty one,

frosted my finger
so I can't curl a g*n button.

Yeah?
I thought that got that way

from hanging on
to all them beer glasses.

Ah, dadgum it.

Howdy.

You the owner here?

No, but maybe
I can help you.

I am afraid not.
Call him out.

You, uh..
left a couple.

[ g*n shots ]

Be best all right
if you do like he said.

I knew a fella once
who tried to draw lying down,

against somebody who had
the drop on him.

Is that right?Yeah.

Well, this fella
who was lying down,

never knew what hit him.

They just dug a hole
right next to him

and rolled him into it.

Stand clear, Jess.

You want to see me?

Well, we got some business
to talk over.

I got to move out.

I'll be late with my load.

I'd like to see you
do that again.

Let's move up
the canyon apiece.

What do you want?

I prefer to talk inside.

This wouldn't have anything
to do with some visitors

we had here yesterday,
would it?

I don't follow you.

I think you do.

But we'll let it ride
for now.

Come on in.

I'll introduce myself.

Name is Backer, Kem Backer.

Mine is Sherman.Please to meet you.

Hope you're gonna give me
some reason to say the same.

I'll come right to the point,
Mr. Sherman.

In two weeks a new stage line
goes in operation.

Another line?

There's not enough traffic
to support two outfits.

I didn't say two,
just one, mine.

My contract
is with the Overland line.

Well, here's a new contract.

It says you do
business only with me.

You'll notice there's
a raise in pay that
goes along with it

and better protection.

I suggest you sign it.

No deal, Mr. Backer.

Take your contract
and leave.

You don't learn too quickly.

What happened
the other day could get worse,

a lot worse.Is that a threat?

I am just stating the facts,
you can call what you want.

Have you been
giving the same proposal

to the other station owners?

Yes, and they seem to know
a good thing when they see it.

They've signed with you?

All but you.

Backer, I am letting you
walk out of here.

But you come here again
and reach inside your coat,

don't pull out
a piece of paper.

I'll go from the left,
we'll work to the center.

But there's seven bottles.

Why the odd one?

Faster one gets to break it.

Whenever you feel lucky.

Who you figure got
that odd bottle?

Toss-up.

Could be.

Where did you learn
to draw that way
without stopping to aim?

Same place you did.

Any clay bank
I can fire into

as often as I got money
to buy cartridges.

They cost.

Used to save the casings
and use them three, four times.

I still load my own.

I don't have to anymore.

Why give up a trade

you can live good at
to work at this?

A man can live good at this.

Maybe die because of it.

You don't figure
a piece of ground is worth it?

Not to me.

Of course
I was born fiddle-footed,

too late to change.It's never too late.

That's where you're wrong.

Sometimes a man
is running out of time

before he even knows it.

[ g*n shots ]

Tracy, I am not paying you
to sh**t at cans.

Now get on your horse.

I'd call it a standoff.

Next time
we'll have to break the tie.

Whenever you say.

Slim, you think
Lon will have an answer?

We'll know
after we talk to him.

Supposing he hasn't?

Then we look for one.

Slim, Jess,
glad you're both here.

Lon, we ran into something
that you ought to know.

It can keep.

Right now you both
better come with me.

You mind tellin' us
what this is all about?

[ woman crying ]

Easy, Mary,
I'm almost finished.

It's all done.

Garth, go out
and get a breather.
I can finish up here.

Pour yourself a drink,
it's in my desk drawer.

Want to talk about it?

I came home, found her.

Mary's always feared
doctors and medicine,

she wouldn't let the doc
put her to sleep

when he sewed up
the cuts.

She's a strong woman.

I wish to God
she hadn't been.

What the doctor have to say?

He said
she would be all right

except for the scars.

Might take a long time
for them to go away.

Maybe never.

Who did it?

I don't know.

Was it Backer?

No, no, it wasn't Backer.

I told you,
I don't know who it was.

Tell Lon what you know.

We can put the whole rotten
pack behind bars.

It won't work.

They'd have witnesses
swear that

they were in town all day.

You're gonna let them
get away with it?

I tried to fight 'em.
I tried!

And that was their answer.

I got two kids.

I don't want anything
happenin' to them.

Slim, your company leasing
my place saved it for me.

But I am not going to
sign with them this year.

I got to get back to Mary.

Who is this Backer?

That's what I wanted
to see you about.

Came out and talked to us.

He's starting to
operate a new stage line.

He wants the ranch
for his station, exclusively.

That's what
this is all about, huh?

Well,
it seems to be working.

All the other outfits
are signing with him.

You're not going to?

We like the people
we're signed with now.

Where is he?

He's probably
in town somewhere.

He shouldn't be too hard
to find.

Then let's get to it.

Well, don't you want to know
what happened?

Or doesn't owning a stage line
interest you?

You've done it?

Almost.
Just one more station.

Slim Sherman's place.

How'd you know?

I was there
when your men dropped by.

And I knew Slim Sherman.

He'll fight.Well, we'll see.

And speaking of my men,
they haven't been paid yet.

How much?

Five hundred.

Two more weeks,
the contracts

we have with the stage owners
will take effect.

We'll be in business
for keeps.

Suppose we don't get
the Sherman station.

Oh, we'll get it.

Just leave that to me.

You love to run things,
don't you?

Better than being run.

And what about taking money
from a woman?

That's an effort
but I'll get used to it.

[ knocking on door ]

Well, come in.

Sheriff,
my name is Backer.

This is Fran Ericson.

I understand you've met.

What do you take?

We're not taking anything.

We're giving advice
and you better listen to it.

Well, if it's free,
go ahead.

It amounts to this,
stop what you're doing.

Mr. Backer
and I are partners.

I think you ought to know that
before you go any further.

Before you go any further

you should know
you're in over your head.

I am perfectly capable
of taking care of myself

as you'll find out.

Is your name Ericson?

Yes.

Any relation to Dan Ericson?

My father.

Wasn't he the founder
of the line Slim works for?

He was.

Why destroy it?

Because it destroyed him.

He took his own life.
Ask him why.

Dan Ericson helped me
get started, I owed him a lot.

If it wasn't for him,
there wouldn't be a stage line.

And his partners,

men that he trusted,
stole it away

from him in a court of law.

You ought to know that,
you were there.I remember that trial.

I remember that Slim offered
to mortgage his place
to help your father.

Do you know that?

My father didn't need money,
he needed his stage line back.

When he lost that case
he seem to lose

all his reason for living.

And you continue
to work for the men

who were responsible
for his death.

Just to get evidence
to reopen the case
and I got it.

Well, you got it too late.
One life too late.

Those men who
were in on the swindle

are either in jail
or been replaced.

Try to replace a father.

He left me some money,

and I am willing
to spend every cent of it

if necessary to see that
your company is destroyed.

Even if it means
beating up women?

What are you talking about?

Well, we can't prove it,

but a woman
was badly beaten

because her husband
wouldn't sign with you.

Is that true?

Not a word of it.You're a liar!

Hold it, Jess.
Not that way.Sheriff's right.

You lay a hand on me,
I'll have you thrown in jail.

Until you get proof
to back up your accusation,

just leave me alone.

I met your stripe before.

You'll wallow in dirt

and then you use the law
as a tool.

But you make one slip,
I'll nail you up tight.

Don't get your belt
in a knot, Sheriff.

You wouldn't be the first lawman
to find yourself out of a job.

Fran, you're way out
on a limb.

Don't wait
till somebody sews it off.

When we first started this

you said you might have to
take care of a few hard heads

and that's the way Dad started
so I went along with it.

But there was no mention made
of k*lling or of hurting women.

Now, I've got to know,
is that the truth?

I am telling you
the truth, Fran.

They're just trying
to scare you.

Kem, if you're lying
to me, don't.

Lon, we know Backer
is behind this whole mess.

Why don't we sign a complaint
and have him locked up?

We know it;
could we convince a jury?

Slim's right.
Be laughed out of court,

and probably sued.

If we can just get one witness
to tie Backer in

and be willing to testify.

People who could testify
are too scared to.

I can't say
I blame them much.

Sure. While we sit back
and watch him steal
the whole stage line.

Where's he from?

Fran is from Denver.

She could have
met him there.

Probably got a record
as long as my arm.

I'm going there.
See what I can dig up
on him.

No guarantee
you're gonna find anything.

I got to start someplace.

Don't worry. I won't be gone
more than a couple of days
or so.

Don't go looking
for trouble, you hear?

Hey, Lon,

trouble comes looking for us,
we're not backing away from it.

I got a bad taste
in my mouth.

I'm gonna try
and wash it out.

I wish it was that easy.

Whiskey.

Our dancing partners
are here.

You want to continue
the waltz?

Not unless they do.

Slim, I know
we can sign a complaint

and get them thrown in jail.

On what charge, Jess?

Disturbing the peace?

It's a $10 fine
at the most.

Ah, that taste is
getting worse.

Bring that bottle.

[ men laughing ]

Like to buy you boys a drink.

Oh, about yesterday,
there's nothing personal.

Just the work I get paid for.

Now we're in the same stable,

there's no point
in having bad feelings.

What makes you think
we're in the same stable?

Well, you signed a contract
with Backer, didn't you?

Take some advice, friend.

Find yourself a hole
and crawl in it.

Real hard heads.

Why, the deal we offer you
will make you more money
and a lot less trouble.

Why hold out?
You got to lose.

Come on, I'll buy

and then we'll go over to
Backer's office and sign you up.

What did you do?
Have your men hold her
while you marked her?

You step away
from that g*n

and I'll give you a chance
to find out.

Keep your hand
where it was.

You'll do better there.

Day started out
poor and got worse.

At least, now I don't
feel so bad about it.

Let's go home.

Go get the horses,
this ain't the end of it.

This is for now anyway.
Sit down.

I'm all right.

I don't like taking a beating,
not for any reason.

What about $2,000?

That's your end of the deal
when this is finished.

You want to pass it up,
go ahead.

There's lot of easy money
in this town.

I want a part of it
so I'm branching out.

You know that wagon outfit
that hauls our logs to
the sawmill?

Mm-hm.

Well, I talked to them
about buying protection

against accidents
and Indian raids.

What did they say?

They won't buy.

Well, maybe they need
a little convincing.

That's where you come in.

A wagonload
will be halfway

between Tappa Falls
and Laramie in an hour.
Now convince them.

Whoa.
Whoa.

From the looks of you,
I'd say you had an argument
with the wrong woman, son.

No, it's the other
way around, Smudge.

It was her sister
that got after him.

Very funny.
Can I tell you my side?

Wouldn't be near
as interesting.

Had to borrow
one of your animals.

Mine took lame.
I'll get him back
to you tomorrow.

No strain,
just talk to him nice,

he's been reared...

He'll think he's at
a revival meeting.

h*, get along
you rib shank hunk of cow bait.

Move out!

Catarankus
old goat, ain't he?

Catarankus?

Well, I don't know
what it means,

I just heard it today
for the first time myself.

Slim,
what's going to happen

if Lon can't dig anything up
on Backer?

Offhand I'd say
things are gonna be
a little rough around here.

[ horse whinnying ]

It's the gelding Smudge took.

We better go look for him.

I'll saddle us up.

About time.

Get me out of here.

Got me wedged in
tighter than new boots.

Maybe we can roll 'em off.

If we roll the wrong one,

the whole load
will come down on him.

Well, what are we going to do?

We need equipment, Jess.

Can you hold on
a little longer?

I ain't got no other choice?

Not much.

Well, ain't you gonna ask me
how I got here?

Right now I'm more concerned on
how to get you out.

'Tweren't my doin'.

Backer's men spooked the team
and wouldn't let me jump.

Hit that bend there,
flipped over.

I landed here.

Now, you rest easy now.

We'll get you out
as soon as we can.

Jess, get the block and tackle
and our strongest team.

Right.I'll get the doc.

Make it fast.

Here's your canteen.

Take it easy, Smudge.

FRAN: Who is it?

Fran, there's been trouble.
Put your clothes on
and meet me downstairs.

I'm in bed.

Are you going to get out
of there under your own power

or do you need some help?

I can have you
arrested for this.

Yeah, if you don't wind up
in jail yourself.

What are you talking about?

That bunch
you've thrown in with,

they've just come close
to k*lling somebody.

I'm going to get the doc,
we'll be outside
in five minutes.

And if you're not down there

I am coming back up here
and drag you down.

You go ahead, doc,
I'll catch up with her.

How is he?

Not so good.

Well, obviously I can't tell
if any bones are broken,

but he's in shock.

We got to get him
out of there fast.

You got an idea, Slim?

This log look like it's
supporting the rest of them.

If we can tie it off

then use the team
and the tackle, we can
lift the whole mess.

One thing, though.
Smudge hasn't got
enough strength to crawl out.

He won't have to.

If those logs slip
I'll be taking two men

back to town
for the undertaker.Don't worry about it.

Last time
I had my fortune told,

they said,
I was going to die in bed.

But don't you worry about it,
you work on the team.

Now wait a minute.

You can handle 'em
better than me, we both know it.

May mean the difference.

Maybe so.

Let's get started.

Get this load line
over that limb, Jess.

Take it up, Jess.

All right, hold it.

Come on.

Better get out
of the way, doc.

That's about it.

Keep them pulling steady,
less they jerk, the better.

When the logs start to lift,
tell me.

All right, Jess,
start 'em moving.

All right, big fellas,
go steady.

Oh, oh, be gentle,
Robin, h*.

Come on, easy now.

Steady, Robin,
steady, pull steady.

Come on, fellas,
you can do it.

Steady, steady.

Is it easing off any?

Can't tell.

No feeling there.

Steady, Robin, steady.

All right, try it now.

Steady, Robin,
you can do it boy, come on.

Hold steady, Glenn, hold.

Steady, Robin, steady.

Little more, Jess.

Just a little more.

Easy, Glenn.

Easy, fella.

Come on, fellas,
you can do it.

Steady, steady.

Steady, Robin, steady.

Steady, Robin, steady

[ horse whinnying ]

You did a good job.

So did you.

I hope
there's no bones broken.

I'll know more
after we get him back to town.

We have to be careful
how we move him though.

Why don't you take him
to our ranch?

It's closer.Uh, that will help.

We'll put him in the wagon.

I'll get a blanket
to lift him.

Smudge,
I know you're hurting,

but tell her
what you told us.

It was Backer's men.

They done it.

Can you swear to
that in court?

Up, down and sideways.

A lot of nice people
are paying a big price

just because you want revenge.
I hope it's worth it.

I didn't know about this.
That's the truth.

You think that makes it right,
just because you didn't know?

I've been a fool, Slim.

So whatever you say,
I know I have it coming.

You take my horse,
you ride back to town.

You tell Backer that we've got
a witness who will talk.

I'll tell him that
and more.

Do you think
she'll do it?

She'll do it.

You know something?

We're just liable to have
company at our place real soon.

Let's get him
rolling out on this.

Careful.

Do you think Backer
and his men will show up?

They might
liable to be some k*lling.

Chance of it.

You looking forward to this,
aren't you, Slim?

Jess, we've had
our heads kicked in,

we've seen a woman
d*sfigured,

we just pulled a harmless
old man out of a wreck

that can cr*pple him
for life.

The way it stacks up,
there's good cause
for a fight.

Yeah, well, it's not like you
to take the law into
your own hands.

Backer doesn't have to show.

He can run and let the law
try to find him.

He won't do that.

That's his choice.

[ knocking on door ]

Where are they?

Where is what?

The contracts.Why?

I want them.

Something's wrong,
what is it?

I'll tell you what it is.
It's you.

You lied and cheated
right from the start.

What brought all this on?

I saw what your men
did tonight.

If they did anything, they did
it without my knowledge.

It's no use. I've been
a very foolish woman,

maybe even been a stupid one,
but that's all over now.

Now where are
those contracts?

What do you want with them?

I saw two men almost die
tonight because of me

but that's finished,

just like you and I
are finished.

Finished?
Just like that?

All the work and sweat
I put in this down the drain

because you saw something
you didn't like.

I don't want to
talk about it.

You don't want to
talk about it?

When this started
you came to me.
It was your idea.

You wanted revenge.
Well, you got it.

Now I want to get
something out of this.

Those contracts are no good
unless I sign them.

Oh, aren't they?

Maybe you better
read them again.

I think you'll find
there's only one owner.

You made the same mistake
as your father.

You trusted people.

All right.

I'll buy them from you.
Name your price.

I don't need your money.
Not at all.

In fact I don't need you.

Now, get out.

That's about the only thing
I'll miss.

Think about it,
while you're rotting in jail.

You heard what happened
to that woman

who tried to make trouble
the other day.

What makes you think you won't
get the same kind of treatment?

Because it isn't only me.

Slim and Jess have a witness
who will testify.

Oh, who is it?The wagon driver.

You didn't k*ll him but his
testimony's going to hang you.

Where are they?

I don't know.

I said, where are they?

[ woman screams ]

Easy.

What happened?

Backer is--

The rest will keep.

Don't try to say
anything more.

No, I have to tell you.

He's after Slim.

Is she dead?

No.
But get Doc over here.

Excuse me.

Now, you know what to do,
so get on with it.

Right.

You take the back,
and don't miss.

That fast g*n comes your way,
leave him for me, huh?

Over there looks good enough.

We can cover the front.

What's keeping them?

That place
should be burning by now.

Give it time.
It will be.

When they come out,
we'll have a turkey sh**t.

[ g*n trigger c*ck ]

I had you figured
for something better than this.

Now raise 'em real easy.

Now, with one hand, unbuckle
your g*n belt and let it drop.

Then what?

Ten years.

When you get out,
you can buckle it on again.

Not for me.

In a cage,


You got no choice.

You go for your g*n,
I'll k*ll you.

Oh, I'm gonna try, all right,
but real slow.

So if you sh**t
it will be almost like m*rder.

Of course you can holster
that iron of yours

and we'll draw even.

Then we'll know for sure
who's best.

And if I don't?

You g*n me down
like I say.

Only you won't like yourself
very much after that.

[ g*n trigger un-c*ck ]

Whenever you say.

[ g*nsh*t ]

That extra bottle,
I guess it was yours.

That was two g*ns.

Steve!
Gib!

Tracy!
Answer me!We better get out of here.

And let 'em hang us?
It's not a chance.

It doesn't matter anyway.

You run out of chances.

Don't sh**t,
I'm unarmed.

Everything all right, Jess?

It is now.

Get away from him.

Don't k*ll me,
give me a chance.

Kind of shrunk a little,
didn't he?

No,
he's just his right size.

Fran.Hello.

I understand
you're leaving.

Tomorrow.

Can you ever forgive me?

We did that the night
you got hurt.

I'm afraid
I had that coming.

I hear Smudge is going back
to work next week.

Yeah.

Mean and ornery as ever.

Garth and his missus
thank you for the check.

It will help out a lot.

Only trouble is I owe a lot
more than I can pay.

Everyone carries mistakes,
Fran.

They just learn
to live with them.

[ carriage approaching ]

All ready, Fran?Yes.

Thanks for everything,
boys.

Good-bye and good luck.

Like I keep telling you boys,
stay loose.

Now, there's a girl
that got purt near everything.

Looks, brains, money,
except she's unlucky.

How's that?

If she played her cards right,
she could have had one of us.