02x21 - Mark of the Manhunters

[bunniefuu]

Go ahead, Craig.

Make it easy for you.

We've come too far to
let you get away now, Spanner.

That's the only thing
that's keeping you alive.

Oh, and here
I thought it was only

because I was a key witness.

You look like
you're hurt some, marshal.

Don't count on it.

No, it was Farrell's men
that I was thinking about.

They won't stop me from
taking you back to Cheyenne.

You don't sound like
you believe that much, marshal.

Just enough
to make it happen.

Are you gonna tell me?
Do I have to ask?

It's them all right,
Miss Farrell.

The way I make it,
Spanner tried to make a break.

And the shot?

Changed his mind,
I guess.

Be about an hour's ride
ahead of us.

Isn't there a quicker way
into Laramie?

No, ma'am, there ain't.

Don't you worry about it.

We'll get them in time,

we'll hit them trailing
west out there to Cheyenne.

Don't try it, Spanner.

Next time there won't be
a warning shot.

Got a feeling you're never gonna
make it to Cheyenne, marshal.

I'll make it, so will you.

[ g*nsh*t ]

[ g*nshots ]

[ gasping ]

You try to get away
one more time,

so help me, I'll sh**t you
into little pieces.

No, you won't,
marshal.

Your job is to get me
to Cheyenne alive.

I will!

I'll sh**t you in the leg
so you'll never walk again,

but you'll be in Cheyenne,
you'll be alive.

Mount up.

[ gasping ]

You better get those ribs
tended to, marshal.

I'd hate to have you
on my conscience.

Sheriff around?

No, sir, he's gone to Cheyenne
for the big trial.

Most folks hereabouts have.

Oh, I'd sure hate to see
all those people disappointed.

Who's he, marshal?

You never mind.

Here's $2, I want you
to do something for me.

Sure.

Take our horses
over to the livery stable,

get them fed and watered.
You can have what's left.

Thanks.

Oh, no need to hurry now.

Don't worry about me.

Get in there.

You know, it's bad giving
a youngster money like that.

Easy money will send a lot of
folks on the wrong trail.

You're gonna tell me
that's what got you started?

No.

You know, some people
just can't win for losing.

I reckon I'm one of them.

Uh, aren't you gonna
untie these?

Why, you want to write a letter
or something?

Yeah, I thought I'd write you
a little goodbye note.

I may not be here
when you get back.

You'll be here,

and you'll testify
at Chad Farrell's trial also.

You really think
I'll do that, marshal?

I think you agreed to it

to get out of territorial prison
and try for a break.

The governor said,
bring you.

I'm bringing you.

Well, that's a mighty loyal
thing for you to say, marshal,

especially when you get yourself
all shot up in the bargain.

Well, Cheyenne
or no Cheyenne,

I never saw a place empty
out as fast as this one.

Why, you'd think
they was giving away money.

Well, Charlie,
you know Farrell's trial
is about the biggest thing

to hit Wyoming
in a long time.

If I'd known
it was gonna be this quiet,

I'd have gone myself.

Yeah, and if I wasn't doing
the work of three

at the ranch,
I'd have gone with you.

To hear him tell it,
you'd think Lincoln never
freed the sl*ves.

At least Chad Farrell will
get what's coming to him.

He's been cheating
the rope long enough.

He could still cheat it,

unless that witness
they're counting on shows up.

What witness?

It's all here in the paper.

Fellow
by the name of Spanner.

It's his testimony they're
counting on for a conviction.

Yeah, well,
Farrell's men are likely

to have something
to say about that.

They're probably
turning this territory

upside down hunting him.

Hey, you can bet
the law's guarding him plenty

right about now.

More than likely just a man
or two, throw off suspicion.

Whoever he is,
I sure don't envy his job.

[ horses approaching ]

No, nothing.

I saw two men, I--
I think they came out of here.

Well, if they didn't,
I wish they had.

Business is terrible.

You ain't gonna help it none
unless you want to order.

One of them is named Sherman,
do you know him?

Slim Sherman?
Of course I know him.

Does he live here
in Laramie?

Few miles away.

You a friend of his?

Aye.
We rode a posse once together.

Where's his place?

What's the law
want with Slim?

The law doesn't, I do.

He runs a stage relay station
west of town,

first one you come to.

Much obliged.

Hey, you better have a shot,
mister,

look like
you can use it.

It's a...

it's on the house.

Let's go, Spanner.

Well, the doc get you
all fixed up?

Shut your mouth
and get going.
Back door.

If I didn't know you better,
marshal,

I'd say you were
in a big hurry.

Closing in already,
is that it?

[ horses approaching ]

Morning, marshal.Howdy.

Didn't I see you
and Slim Sherman

in town a while back?

Could be, we were there.

Is he around?

He's inside.

Who's your prisoner?

His name is Spanner.

Oh, the prize package.

That's right.

Get down.

What the marshal means is
if he gets me to Cheyenne,

judge is gonna ask me
a few questions,

and if I answer them right,
they're gonna hang Chad Farrell.

Now that's a couple of
pretty big ifs, I'd say.

You got nothing to say
about anything.

You hurt?

Yeah, some.

Nothing personal,
marshal.

It'll be nothing personal

when I clout you over the head
with a g*n butt

if you don't keep
your mouth shut.

I'd like to see Slim.

Come on.

[ yelling ]

You can't get me down!

Now hold on!

How many times do I have
to tell you to settle down?

Sorry, Mr. Sherman.

Now look, why don't you and your
brothers go outside and play?

But don't chase
the chickens.

Can we ride the burro?

I don't care if he don't.

Last one out
is a dirty rustler.

Now I thought
I told you--

Well, Jim Craig,
how are you?

Good to see you, Slim.

What brings you
this far south?[ gasps ]

Who's he?

That's Spanner, Slim.

The witness.

Yeah, well, everyone seems
to think so but me.

It's my job
to deliver him.

Slim, I need your help.

Farrell's men
are all over the place.

I just shot one
back on the trail.

How many others there are,
I don't know.

They're supposed
to have a small army with him.

Even his wife
is in it with him.

I just saw her with two
of his men back in Laramie.

So that's why
we took out of town so fast.

And I was wondering
why you--

Shut up.

It's likely
they're not far behind me.

It's close to
a showdown, Slim.

I had no other place to go,
so I came here.

Jim, if there's gonna be
sh**ting,

you got to
get him out of here.

Slim, I'm in trouble,
I need your help!Jim, I know it, I know!

We got three kids
playing out in back though.

Folks brought them over here
for us to take care of them.

You're gonna have to
hide him out in the hills.

Oh, I can go with him,
Slim.

I can't ride any further.

My ribs are stove in.

All right, I'll take Spanner
to Cheyenne for you.

No, no, that's my job.

Say, Jess,
if you can get the kids
over to Donahue's place,

they'll be safe there.

And maybe we could bluff this
Farrell woman if she comes by.

If not, at least the youngsters
will be out of the way.

Save you all
a whole lot of trouble

if you just cut me loose.

[ kids chattering ]

Go out and round up
those wild ones, Jess.

What about him?

Gonna tie him
to this chair for now.

All right, I'll be back
from Donahue as quick as I can.

Would you mind putting
our horses in the barn for us?

Sit down.

Get your hand.

You know, like I said,
all of this is a waste of time.

They'll be here
to bust me loose.

If it comes to that, Spanner,
I'll see you dead.

Take your coat
and shirt off, Jim.

Better give me a hand
with this.

[ groans ]

Take it easy.

Just put it up over here.

I'll bind you up
till the doc come out

and take a look at you.

Here, hold this.

Just so it holds me together
till I can get to Cheyenne.

Maybe Farrell's men
won't stop by here.

Stop or not,
it's still a long way

between here and Cheyenne.

There's plenty of time
and plenty of help
along the way.

Feel pretty important,
don't you,

bein' one of
Farrell's sidekicks.

He's small time.

He's not
in Farrell's class.

He's just a two-bit owl
who'd happened to be around

when Farrell gunned down
a bank teller last year.

That makes him
the star witness.

He'll never be this
important again.

What happens
after the trial?

They turn him loose?

Yeah, that's the deal.

[ groans ]

You feel any better?

Yeah, some.

[ groans ]

Inside, Spanner.

[ horses approaching ]

It's a woman and two men.

That's Farrell's missus.

Get out of sight,
I'll handle it.

I'll keep you covered.

You sh**t,
we're as good as dead.

Afternoon.

Go ahead, Spanner.

Call out to them.

You know, marshal, every now
and then I get the feeling

you don't like me
very much.

It's just like I said.

There's no one here
by that name.

Look, mister,
we rode too far and too hard.

Don't you try to
lead us round.

Forget it, Colby.

I know Gil Spanner's here.

Unless I'm very much
mistaken,

that's who you were fighting
with when we rode in.

There are four g*ns
aimed at your men right now.

You're not in much a position
to calling me a liar.

Look,
my only interest in Spanner

is to see that he reaches
Cheyenne in one piece.

Sure, so they can put a rope
around your husband's neck?

No matter
how it might sound to you,

it happens to be the truth.

I want Chad Farrell
ex*cuted.

Only one thing
wrong with that.

It's kind of hard to believe.

Speaking of believing,

I find it a little hard
to swallow

what you said about having
all them g*ns around.

Place looks
a mite empty to me.

One way to find out.

Colby, no!

Looks like you lose,
mister.

Them four g*ns
ain't making much of a noise.

VALERIE:
Well, now we know.

What does it prove?

That you don't want us
to go in the house.

I think it's about time
we went inside.

Well, where are they?

Beats me, Mrs. Farrell,
looks like you were wrong.

Yeah, while you were
stalling us out front,

they probably got away
through the back.

You fool!Hold on a minute.

I didn't hear any horses.

That's right.

All right, mister,
where are they?

Drop it, marshal.

We don't want
anybody to get hurt.

Much obliged, Mrs. Farrell,
I'm Gil Spanner.

Yes, I know.

Well, I guess
I'll be leaving here.

No hard feelings I hope.

Not at all, Spanner.

You just make one move

and you're likely to be
walking around without a head.

Now you all mind
raising your hands?

Come on!

All right,
get over by the fireplace.

I ran into Sam Donahue
on the way to his place,

he took the kids.

Lucky, huh?

Yeah.

Put Chad Farrell right back
in line for the gallows.

Kinda spoiled
his wife's plans though.

Yeah, maybe I should
apologize to the lady.

What I said outside I meant.

I'm not here
to help Spanner escape.

It's a nice try,
Mrs. Farrell.

I'm not blaming you.

When your bluff
failed outside,

I could have had you shot.

And just now
I could have had my men

do what my husband
wants done...

k*ll him!

Would you mind
saying that again, lady?

Marshal, Chad's men aren't
trying to rescue Spanner.

That man
you shot on the trail,

he wasn't sh**ting at you,
he was aiming at him.

Why?

Because Spanner's
the only man alive

who could send Chad
to the gallows.

You seem awful anxious
to see your husband
strung up, lady.

You know what he is,
what he's done.

Sure, we know what he is,
so do you.

Only difference is you've known
for a long time.

What made you turn on him
all of a sudden?

There's nothing
sudden about it.

I've felt the same way
about him for years.

Yeah, well,
I don't recollect

ever hearing about you
walking out.

Nobody walks out
on Chad Farrell.

I know, I tried.

When they caught him,
it was the first chance

I had to breathe in almost
as long as I can remember.

What do you think, Jim?

Hard to say.

Telling you the truth,
marshal.

She paid Finch
and me $100 apiece

to help deliver Spanner
to the trial.

You know, if it's true,
these two fellas

could be a lot of help
getting him into Cheyenne.

There is more help
coming.

From where?

Sam Donahue
told me about 'em.

There's three deputies looking
for Spanner and the marshal.

They've been combing
the country for them.

With all of us,
that makes nine.

We ought to be able
to get him through

without too much trouble.

Now hold on.
I'm still not that sure of you.

Well, you better
take the gamble.

I happen to know that
Chad has more than 20 men

spread out
along the Cheyenne trail.

Nine of us could
cut those odds down quite a bit.

They can't all be
in the same place.

They wouldn't have to be,
Jess.

Not if they hit us
with an ambush.

If Spanner doesn't get to
that courthouse to testify,

they'll throw the case out.

Our standing here doing nothing
is exactly what Chad wants.

Well, if Spanner
doesn't show up for the trial,

won't they postpone it?

They'll try
but I doubt it'll happen.

Farrell's got
a pretty smart lawyer.

Yeah,
if Farrell gets out of jail,

he'll twist the tail off
this territory just to get even.

All right,
we'll wait for 2 hours,

if the lawmen don't show up
by that time,

we'll try it ourselves.

But this time
you're gonna stay tied.

He got loose before, huh?

Yeah.

Well, tying a snake ain't easy,
but we'll manage.

Ow!

You know, one of these days
I'm gonna be a free man too,

I might just come
dropping by!

You do that.

Thanks.

I'm getting tired
of this waiting.

It can't be much longer before
those deputies find this place.

It'll be dark
in a couple of hours.

Better for us,
help us slip by Farrell's men.

Yeah, if his wife
doesn't give us away.

Forget it, Jess,
we made our decision.

No matter how many times
we changed our minds

we'd never be sure.

You figure
she's talking straight?

I mean about Farrell wanting
Spanner dead.

I don't know, Jess.

Oh, I can't say
as I blame Farrell too much.

I don't cotton much to the idea
of risking our necks

for a lousy informer
anyway.

No matter what he is,

just think what he means
to that trial.

Yeah, I'm trying,
but it's uphill all the way.

[ horses approaching ]

Hey, we got company.

If it's who I think they are,
they sure are welcome.

Is that the deputies?

I don't know.
You all wait inside here.

I'll go out
and talk to them.

I'm going with you.

You stay in here
and cover me, Jess.

Finch,
you come with me.

Howdy.

Afternoon.

My name is Devon.

deputy U.S. marshal,
this is Price and Reeve.

Sure glad you showed up.

We were kind of sitting on pins
and needles waiting for you.

Had a long ride.

It's the only trouble
with being a law man.

Folks think you should be
everywhere at once.

Marshal Craig
and his prisoner are inside.

You don't have
any coffee on, do you?

Sure could use some.

It won't take long to fix it.

Tie up your horses to the rack,
come on inside.

They're Chad's men,
look out!

Get back!

Bad?

Not bad enough.

I guess deputy badges
are easy to come by,

mighty neat way
to travel.

[ g*nshots ]

Let's go.

Where's Finch?

He took one for keeps.

It's a rough break.

They'll be going to fetch
the rest of Farrell's men.

That you can count on.

We're gonna have to get set
to move out fast.

You reckon we can make it
to the hills?

I think so, Jess.

Cut Spanner loose.

Get him set to ride.

Jim, you think
you can make it?

I won't be staying here,
you can bet I'll make it.

Good.

Colby, come with me.

Sorry.

I was wrong about you.

I guess you would've been
sorrier if I had been lying.

Can I fix that?

Oh, thanks, in a minute.

Colby.

Go out to the barn,
saddle the horses.

[ g*nshots ]

I should have known Chad
would do something like this.

Yeah, well, it looks like
you saved yourselves
another hundred dollars.

One more word out of you!

Go ahead!
I can't do anything about it!

Jess,
check the back of the house,

see if they got us
covered from there.

If you want a gag in your mouth,
just keep talking.

Mrs. Farrell,

I'm sorry,
I didn't mean it.

Just getting convinced
so suddenly

that Chad wants to k*ll me
is kind of...

[ g*nsh*t ]

They had our backs
covered all right.

It's only a matter of time
till the rest of them get here.

Now, look,
if I'm going to
get shot at,

I'd like to have something
to sh**t back with.

How about a g*n?

I wouldn't trust him
from here to Sunday.

It may come to that
but not yet though.

There might be one chance.

Like what?

One of us get into town,
we could get some help.

No chance.
One out front's
too good with a r*fle.

If we could draw his fire,

I might be able
to make it to the barn.

I might be able to make it
to the barn but not you.

With my arm winged this way,

I wouldn't be any use
in a gunfight.

But nothing is wrong
with my legs.

How do you figure
on doing it?

Come on over here.

Open the door, Jess.

[ g*nshots ]

You know,
if we time it right,

I can make it through this
broken window into the barn

while he is
firing at the door.

Jim, you watch out
the window,

see where he's firing from.

Now if I make to the barn,

when I ride out, pour plenty
of lead, keep 'em down.

You said
if you make it to the barn.

Quickest way
I know to go broke is

start banking
on your luck.

You ready?

Yeah.

[ g*nshots ]

Did he make it?

Yeah.

I know where the firing's
coming from.

He's behind that big tree
on the right.

We got to keep them down
when Slim rides out.

He's moving, Craig,
fire to your right.

[ g*nshots ]

The horses are gone.

Don't get any more ideas,
Slim, we're runnin'
out of bandages.

There you are.Thanks.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Just trying to
keep us honest.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Another county
heard from.

You reckon we ought to
give the star witness a g*n?

Well, before you do,

there's one thing
you ought to know.

Now if we get
out of this alive,

and you people somehow get me
to Cheyenne and that trial,

don't expect me
to give any kind of testimony

that'll hang Chad Farrell.

What's wrong with you,
Spanner?

Farrell's been out
to k*ll you

ever since you and Jim
started out for Cheyenne.

Well, that's between me
and Chad.

If I live through this,
I'll settle with Chad, personal.

I'm indebted to you,
Mrs. Farrell.

For what?

Well, for saving my life.

But why, I don't...

Don't flatter yourself,
Mr. Spanner.

Oh, I'm not.

This is the first time
I can remember

that anybody went out
of their way

to do something for me.

And you still won't testify
against Chad?

No.

I guess I'm not made
that way, Mrs. Farrell.

What about the bargain
you made with the law?

I didn't make
any bargain with the law.

They said your sentence
was going to be commuted

if you testified.

That was a proposition.

Spanner never said
he'd take it.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Now Chad's men,
they wouldn't hurt you,

would they, Mrs. Farrell?

You don't know him
very well, do you?

No.

Is that why you're so set
on seeing him hanged?

Out of fear?

What difference
does that make now?

It makes
a lot of difference to me.

See, I rode with Chad
a few times.

Yeah,
I guess a lot of men did,

but I never got to
really know him.

And there's a few questions

that I'd kind of like
to get straightened out

in my mind like,

what would make a woman
like you marry a man

like that
in the first place?

And then what would make
her start hating him?

The story of my life

isn't a particularly
interesting one, Mr. Spanner.

[ g*nsh*t ][ glass shattering ]

Oh!

Give me a r*fle?

You better
get some shells.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Now you stay right here.

They are sh**ting blind,
ma'am.

Now you're safe
if you stay right here.

See anything?

How are you feeling?

Oh, just fine.

No, I mean your ribs,
are they...

Why don't you go over
and sit down for a while?

I'll keep watch for you.

Well, we-- we got enough shells
for quite a while.

One good thing,
they have to come across

an open yard to rush us.

After the sun goes down
it won't make much difference.

It's funny how the chances
of dying can change a man.

Spanner?

Yeah.

He's lost a lot
of his thunder.

He gets out of this,
he'll change back fast enough.

You reckon?

Well,
the way things are now

I don't think we stand
a change of finding out.

Go get yourself some coffee.

Much obliged.

Don't thank me,
it's Slim's idea.

Harper, once you
climb down off it,

we're gonna be
a long time dead.

You know, you're right.

Thank you, ma'am.

I don't know
which is worse...

waiting for those slugs
to come in every now and then

or just waiting
for them.

There hasn't been any
for about half an hour.

Could be low on shells.

Not low enough.

What do you think
our chances are?

Well, there are more out there
now than there were.

You can add
the rest of it up.

You think it'd do any good
if I went out there

and tried to talk to them?

What are you gonna tell 'em?

You're not going to testify?

You think
they're gonna believe you?

I don't know,
might work though.

Spanner, what do you think
we're fighting them for?

To keep you alive.

You're not going out there.

[ chuckles ]

You know,
this is another first for me.

People willing to do
what you're doing.

We're not all that willing.

Yeah, well,
I get that feeling, all right

but you and Harper,
you're doing it anyway.

Most people get their backs up
when they're driven to it.

For what it's worth,
I'm grateful to you.

I got to tell it to somebody.

I've been way out wrong
about a lot of things,

mostly people,
some of them anyway.

It happens.

I hope you live long enough
to use what you've learned.

[ g*nsh*t ]

You all right, ma'am?Yes.

Looks like
the waiting is over.

Spanner,
get the front door.

They're pulling back.

Well, if you're counting on them
quitting, save it.

My guess is they'll wait
till dark now.

[ g*nshots ]

Save it, Jess.
Save it.

They don't want us to forget
they're out there.

Well, if it'd do any good
I'd sure like to try.

[ g*nsh*t ]

You hurt?

It's not too bad, marshal.

[ g*nshots ]

Take a look at
Spanner's wrist, will you?

Is he hurt?

I don't know, I think so.

Don't you know better than
to put something like that on

an open wound.

That Harper's human
after all, isn't he?

What are you talking about?

Oh, nothing.

Some people that act tough

aren't really tough at all,
are they?

I wouldn't know.

You tough, Mrs. Farrell?

I try to be.

I'm afraid
I'm not very successful.

You know, maybe
this is a weird time for me

to be asking.

What's your first name?

Val, short for Valerie.

I like Valerie better.

So do I.

I haven't heard that
for a long time.

Chad hurt you pretty bad,
didn't he?

Yes, he did.

I'd like to hear about it.

I was 18
when I got married.

I didn't know
he was an outlaw then.

When I found out,
I couldn't leave him.

I loved him.

But he didn't feel
the same way about you?

No.

He's not capable of love.

He had other women,
quite a few.

I found that out
before I was 19.

Funny how you can
stop loving a man,

just like that.

I started hating him.

Enough to want him dead?

There's just
one thing more.

I managed to get a letter
into the mail to my family.

My two brothers came after me
to bring me home.

He k*lled them both.

MAN: You in the house,
now listen.

There's no need
for any more sh**ting.

You just send Spanner
and that woman out,

that's all we came for.

We're waiting.

What do you say?

[ g*nshots ]

Either way
it would've been the same.

Think they'll rush it
from the front?

Yeah.

Back is too steep,
will make too much noise.

Besides,
Jim will have plenty of time

to warn us if they tried.

Look, there's a man
at the haystack.

Wait, hold your fire.

I don't see anything.

I didn't see anything
either.

I'm sorry, I guess
it was just a shadow

from the haystack.

Haystacks.

Yeah.

Kerosene's
in the cupboard.

I'll get it.

What are you thinking about?

Just an outside chance.

They're the only ones
worth taking.

What are you up to?

We're gonna
burn the haystack,

light up the yard so we can see
what we're sh**ting at.

It will help them
just as much.

No, not the way
we got it figured.

We'll wait till we get them
between the haystacks

and the house.

Get them on a crossfire.

Me and Slim out there
and the rest of you in here.

You don't look like
you're in such good shape,

Sherman, to...

Good enough for this.

[ g*nsh*t ]

I don't think so,
I'll go with Harper.

Wait a minute, Spanner,
if this works,

what's gonna keep you
from running off?

That don't seem too important
right now, Slim.

What counts is
Spanner and me

are the two best
able-bodied men here.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Let's go.

Bailey?

Yeah.

[ g*nf*re ]

Gil, I got to
reload this thing.

If you're going anyplace,
you better start now.

I ain't going no place,

except maybe to Cheyenne
in the morning.

All right, Val?Yes.

I hear you're going to Cheyenne
in the morning.

I hope this time
you're going willingly.

I am.

Does that mean
you changed your mind

about testifying
against Chad Farrell?

I reckon.

They let him loose,
might be a while

before I caught up
with him.

Might have a chance
to hurt some folks.

Maybe some folks I like.

Thanks, Gil.

This job is enough to make
an old woman out of a man.

Kinda hard to say
what's on my mind.

Well, don't try.

I think we all kinda know
what it is.

Good luck, Gil.

That goes for me too.

Thanks.

I want you to come back
and see us.

Next time, make it
so we'll have a little more time

to sit down and talk.

All right.

You know, Slim, I'd say
quite a few lives got changed

in a mighty short time.

Yeah, Jess.

Yours too.

Yeah?
How do you figure that?

Well, you're gonna be
doing twice

as much work
around here now.

That's--
That's kind of a change.