03x24 - Justice in a Hurry

[bunniefuu]

[ glass breaking ]

JUDGE: I wouldn't
do that if I were you.

What's going on here?

He started a ruckus.

Ruckus?

Arney Jackson
poisoned my water hole.

Five of my beef
are stone dead.

Who wouldn't
make a ruckus?Let him go.

Now, Keleher,

that's a pretty serious
charge you're making.

You have any proof?

My cattle are dead,
what more do I need?

That it was
Jackson's doing.

I know
it was Jackson.

If I get my hands
on him, I'll--

I'd suggest that
you don't get hold of him.

If you're so sure that
Jackson caused your troubles,

sign a complaint.

I'll have
the sheriff investigate

and you can bring him
into court.

Thanks, Judge, but I think
I'll handle this myself.

All right, but see that
you don't do anything

that you'll be
sorry for.

You've been in trouble
before.

This is
a law-abiding town now

and I intend
to keep it that way.

All right, Judge,

thanks
for the warning.

I'll remember it.

See that you do.

And thanks again
for dinner.

Oh, it was a pleasure
to have you.

Goodnight.

[ g*nsh*t ]

[ gasps ]

Don't move,
mister.

I got a g*n
on you.

Now let's see
those hands.

Slow, put 'em up.

All right,
on your feet.

Now turn around
so I can see

who Arney Jackson's got running
his dirty errands for him.

What?

I said
turn around.

You're making
a mistake, mister.

Uh-uh.

You are, working
for the likes of Jackson.

I've never
heard of Jackson.

Sure.

You just happen to be within


to keep it
from running dry.

Well, I didn't know
it was yours.

But I'm not doing it
any harm.

Already done.

Judge says,
"Where is proof?"

You're proof
and you're gonna talk.

About what?

About Arney Jackson.

Now just walk
your horse up that path.

If you'd only listen.

Later.

All right, hold it.

Now on your feet.

Now it's my turn.

I work
for Arney Jackson.

You're feuding
with him.

And here's
where you get a b*llet

right
through your head.

No, wait.Oh.

Suddenly you're not
in such a hurry, huh?

Now if things
were the way you say,

you'd be a dead man
right now.

Then get it over with.

Now maybe that'll prove
I don't work for Jackson.

I don't know him,
I've never heard of him before.

Then what are you
doing out here?

What does it look like
I'm doing?

I had to make camp
somewhere, didn't I?

I've been in the saddle
for 2 days.

I got a half a day's ride
ahead of me.

Just wanted
some rest, that's all.

I'm sorry,
mister.

I reckon
I made a mistake.

I reckon you did.

You make
many more like this

and you're liable not to
walk away from one of them.

I'm going into town
this morning, Father.

Is there anything
you want?

Father?

If only I could've got
my hands on Jackson.

I'm glad
you didn't.

What do you
want me to do, Julie?

Just let him
walk all over me?

It's not a case of that
and you know it.

[ knocking on door ]

Hurry it up, Ev,
as soon as you're finished,

I'm taking you in.

Taking me in?
What for?

You know.

Not till you tell me,
I don't.

What is it, Sheriff?
What's wrong?

Your Pa k*lled
Arney Jackson.

Jackson?
Dead?

You know he is.

When? How?

Last night
a little after 7:00.

Where?

Edna Holtzhoff's.

No use, Sheriff.

I was nowhere
near Edna's at 7:00.

Got two witnesses
who say you were.

Well,
they're lying.

And I can prove
they're lying!

There, that's where
his fire was.

Where is he?

Said he had a half-day's ride,
probably left at sunup.

But he was here
and I was with him.

So I couldn't have been
at Edna Holtzhoff

when Jackson
was shot.

Ev, anybody
could've built that fire.

Specially a man
who's been behind bars,

looking for an alibi.

But if you'd only
find the stranger.

Where?

Within a half-day of here,
he said it himself.

Half a day.

Which direction?

I don't know.

What's his name?

I don't know.

Come on, Ev,
the Judge is waiting.

Laramie?

Why Laramie?

It has to be.

If the stranger
had been going east or west,

he'd have had to come
through town.

No one saw him.

Maybe there was
no one to see.

Now if he'd been
going north or south,

he could've crossed

right where my father
saw him outside of town.

Now there's
nothing to the north

except mountains.

That leaves the south.

Laramie,

half a day's
ride away.

I have to admire
your logic.

Still, every criminal
has his alibi.

My father
is not a criminal.

You're quite right.
I beg your pardon.

Ex-convict,
I should've said.

That's all over
and done with.

He's served
his sentence.

True, but the fact
is an important one

and has definite bearings
on this particular case.

As I'm sure
you'll recall,

his prior conviction was
as*ault with intent to k*ll.

All I'm asking
is a delay of a few days.

Would only be
a waste of time.

For all your
fine reasoning,

we can't be sure
that there is a man

such as
this stranger.

If there is,

we can't be sure
he's in Laramie.

If he is,

we can't be sure
he'd testify.

Your father admits it was
hardly a friendly meeting.

But even if he did testify
on your father's behalf,

we have two other
witnesses to refute it.

Now added
to all this

is your father's
past conviction.

So I'm afraid that doesn't
leave me much choice.

Your petition
is denied.

Sorry,
can't help you, miss.

Any of you seen anybody come
to town from the north today?

Sorry, miss.

Now wait a minute.

Slim Sherman
delivered some horses

over to Fort Henry
last week.

He'd be due back
about today.

Did anyone see him?

He could have went
straight to his ranch.

How do I get there?

I don't even know it was
your father I was with.

But you agreed he fit
the description I gave you.

Yeah.

I know
you've had a long ride.

Father admits he gave you
plenty of reason

not to like him.

Well, there is
nothing personal, I...

just get a little edgy
when somebody sticks a g*n

in my back.

He wouldn't
k*ll anyone,

unless he was
pushed to it.

If he were
a m*rder*r,

do you honestly think
you'd be here now?

And you say they're sure
about the time of the k*lling?

Yes, exactly when you admit
he was with you.

And your camp
was over 5 miles

from Edna Holtzhoff's house,
so he couldn't have done it.

And the trial's
tomorrow?

Yes, I tried to get
to them to postpone it,

but I couldn't.

I told Father's lawyer to take
as much time as possible.

So if we
ride fast--

Look, I've been riding fast
for nearly a week.

Mike, will you get out
a couple of blankets

for the spare room?

You might as well
stay here tonight.

Slim, why don't you
get along to bed?

In the morning, you'll be
wanting to start at sunup.

Oh, I will?

Of course.

I'll get you something
to eat.

Then you can have
a good night's sleep.

Thank you.

I'd like to help.

Ooh, come along.

It'll be a treat to have
someone in the kitchen

that doesn't try
everything I cook
by sticking a finger in it.

[ laughs ]

And what are you
looking at?

I don't know
how you do it, part.

Every time I let you
out of my sight,

you get tangled up
with a pretty girl.

And he grabbed me
and he shook me.

He was hollering
and yelling

that he was going to get
my uncle, Arney Jackson.

One look at him and I knew
there'd be trouble

if I fought back.

You can ask anyone,
they all saw it.

We'll get around
to that.

Right now
we want your testimony.

Ask me
anything you want

and I'll answer it
just as directly as I know.

And then
there was a shot...

and he fell
to the ground

and lay there
like he was dead.

And he was dead.

All right, Edna.

Regis, do you wish
to question this witness?

I most
certainly do.

Now,
Mrs. Holtzhoff,

you testify
that Arney Jackson

had dinner with you
just before he was k*lled.

That is right.

Now tell me,
do you make a habit

of entertaining gentlemen
in your home?

I would not entertain anybody
who was not a gentleman.

Well,
what I mean is,

isn't it true
that Arney Jackson

was a regular and the only
male visitor to your home?

What's the purpose
of this line of questioning?

I am trying
to bring out

that Arney Jackson
was courting this witness

and she responded.

That true, Edna?

Of course,
I liked him.

He was a gentleman.

All right,
it's brought out.

Let's not waste time.

Well, if you liked
Arney Jackson,

you must have hated
his enemy, Ev Keleher.

Ev Keleher
was a mean,

ornery, evil-minded man
and he always was.

[ murmuring ]

Order in the court.

[ judge strikes gavel ]

Then you admit bias?

I don't know
what you mean by that.

But I admit
I never liked Ev Keleher

if that's
what you mean.

That is exactly
what I mean.

I was
right across the road.

Saw the whole thing.

It happened
just like she said.

It was Keleher
all right.

Sure as sh**ting.

Were you
a friend of Arney Jackson's?

I hardly knew him.

Ever had any trouble
with Ev Keleher?

Nope.

Regis?

No questions.

Sure,
I hated Arney Jackson.

Always making trouble,

wanted my land
so he tried to drive me out,

but I didn't k*ll him.

Yeah, just like
you didn't beat Hank Tomkins

half to death.

[ murmuring ]

Order in this court.

That was years ago.

Got nothing
to do with this.

Besides,
I paid for it.

Five years in jail,
I learned my lesson.

The jury
will decide that.

Right now
we're more interested

in the testimony
we've heard.

That you threatened
to get Jackson.

I said I was gonna
settle with him.

I wanted him to pay
for the cattle he k*lled,

that's all.

You claim that you were
up in the hills

at the time
of the sh**ting.

What were you
doing there?

Looking for proof that Arney
poisoned my water hole.

And if you'd
give me a chance,

I'd prove that
I was tending to that,

not k*lling anybody.

The jury's
heard your story

about this stranger
up in the hills.

We'll let them
make up their minds

where you were.

You may step down.

All right, Regis,
you may sum up.

We made
good time.

It's only
about noon.

Let's get over
to the court right away.

Sheriff?

Julie, I'm sorry.

I really am.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

No, no.

[ crying ]

Please try to control
yourself, Miss Julie.

Well, what was
the great hurry?

Why couldn't you wait?
Why?!

I'm sorry for you,
Miss Julie,

but justice
firm and swift.

Absolute necessity.

Now you claim

that your father
didn't get a fair trial.

Let's look
into that.

Well, how far do you
have to look?

I was the witness
for the defense,

you didn't give me
a chance to testify.

Do you think it would've
made a difference?

We had two witnesses
who saw the sh**ting.

Were they lying?

Or mistaken.

I wasn't
mistaken.

Keleher shot down
Jackson,

I saw him do it.

Miss Edna Holtzhoff
saw it too.

What are we trying
to prove, Judge?

It was a fair trial.

Even Keleher's
own lawyer agrees to it.

Then he's not
much of a lawyer.

Now see here.

I worked very hard
in my client's behalf.

I did
everything possible.

But the balance
of evidence,

well, no one
can change that.

Then you're satisfied that
your client got a fair trial?

Yes, sir.

And in your opinion,

the testimony
of this young man

wouldn't have
altered matters?

No, I don't think
it would.

Well,
how do you know?

If the jury had a chance
to hear me--

They'd decide
just what we do.

That you're lying
your fool head off.

Now why should
I be lying?

I don't even know
you people.

You know Julie

and she's
right pretty.

Simmer down, boys,
both of you.

It's no use, Slim,
they won't listen.

Their minds
are made up,

they were made up
before the trial.

But I'm not finished,
Judge.

I'm gonna write
to the territorial governor.

I don't see what you hope
to gain by that.

It's too late to do
your father much good now.

But it's not too late
to clear his name.

I'm going
to expose this...

this hair-trigger
justice of yours.

All right,

but as far
as your father's name goes,

he had a blot on it long
before I ever knew him.

And you couldn't
forgive that, could you?

I thought judges
were supposed to be unbiased.

I'm willing to stand
on my record.

Everybody knows
that 2 years ago

this was
one of the wildest,

most lawless
pestholes in the west.

Why, decent folk were afraid
to leave their homes

for fear they'd
get robbed, m*rder*d.

Well,
we put a stop to that.

We put a stop to that
by letting the lawbreakers

see that
they'd get caught,

tried, sentenced

without a lot of
stalling around.

We have
a clean town now,

a law-abiding town.

So write your letter.

We've got
nothing to hide.

Nothing to hide?

You're murderers!

Every last one
of you,

but I'm not gonna let you
get away with it.

I'll show you.

Easy now,
Miss Julie.

You,

you swore
to a lie

and you know it,
Sam Norris!

You m*rder*d
my father

and I'm going
to get even with you

if it's the last thing
I do!

I'm going to get even
with the whole lot of you!

Are you trying to tell me
those witnesses were honest?

Maybe.

A shadowy figure
in the dark.

People only saw
what they expected to see.

Why did they have to be
in such a hurry?

I'm still going to write
the governor.

You do that.

If he investigates
and you want me to testify,

you know
where to find me.

Yes.

Thank you, Slim.

Thank you
for everything.

I'm only sorry
it didn't do any good.

Goodbye, Julie.

Goodbye, Slim.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Tell me,
what do you think?

Just between
the two of us.

Did we
make a mistake?

About what?

Keleher.

Well,
we moved pretty fast.

He was given
a trial,

attorney for his defense,

opportunity
to cross-examine.

True, we did move
pretty fast,

but what kind of law
would we have here

if we went on
every wild goose chase

that any suspect
sent us on?

No.

No.

The only way
to keep the law

is to make it clear that
the penalty for breaking it

is sure and swift
punishment.

Yeah.

We cleaned up
this town, you and I.

We did
a good job.

Job
to be proud of.

So no apologies.

Besides,

that Sherman
was obviously lying.

Probably was.

As Marv Jackson said,

Miss Julie
is a mighty pretty girl.

A young man would be
more than willing

to do her bidding.

Sure,
it wouldn't be the first time

something like that happened.

Well,
I've got to be running.

Now don't you worry.

We did our duty,
that's all,

our duty.

Take a look at that.

So?

So somebody
tried to k*ll me.

Is that a fact?

Don't you know a b*llet hole
when you see one?

Hmm, generally.

You sure you didn't
do that yourself?

Myself?

Trying to get me
to believe you.

Well,
you better believe me.

The judge said it was too late
to do anything,

but not any more.

By hanging the wrong man,
you let the real k*ller loose.

That's not likely.

What do I have to say to you
to make you listen to reason?

There's a m*rder*r
in this town.

He k*lled Jackson,
he tried to k*ll me

and he's liable
to try it again.

Now why would
he want to k*ll you?

So I can't testify
if this case reopens.

Well, what do you
want me to do?

Well, you can question
those witnesses again.

You and the judge claim
you cleaned this town up.

Well, if you're
gonna convince me,

don't let a m*rder*r
around loose.

All right.

Now you want to
ask questions.

Well,
we'll ask questions.

But I'm telling you now,

you're going to end up
with the same answers.

Sam Norris
been in here?

No, I haven't seen
him all day, Sheriff.

Got a room upstairs.

Maybe
he's up there.

Sam, open up.
It's me Ben.

We're not gonna get
any answers from him.

Somebody
made sure of that.

Now don't worry, Julie,
we'll get you out of here.

They got no proof
that you k*lled Norris.

They say he was blasted
with a shotgun.

I own a shotgun.

They found
a handkerchief near him

that's supposed
to be mine

and I threatened to get
even with him, didn't I?

For them,
that's plenty of proof.

No,
not even for them.

There weren't
any witnesses this time.

If they need witnesses,
they'll get them.

I don't think so.

I agree
with the minister.

This isn't a frame-up,

this is a cover-up.

What's the difference?

Most of the people
in this town are honest,

but they just
won't face up to the fact

that they hanged
the wrong man.

What does that have to do
with arresting me?

Don't you see?

The second m*rder

has got to be tied in
with the first.

That means
that either you k*lled Norris

or the man who really
k*lled Jackson did it.

If that back-sh**ter
is still on the loose,

that means
your father was innocent.

They prove
my guilt by my father's

and my father's by mine.

Kind of a tight circle.

And we've got to
find a way to open it up.

But we will.

Anyway,
thank you for trying.

Don't thank me,

I'm not just trying
to clear your father's name

and get you
out of here.

Whoever tried to sh**t me
is going to answer for it.

Sheriff?Yeah?

You don't have enough evidence
to hold her and you know it.

Enough to hold her
on suspicion.

Just as long as it's not enough
for one of those

jack rabbit
trials of yours.

If we get
enough evidence on her,

we'll try her.
If not, we'll let her go.

You ought to be out
trying to find evidence

of the real k*ller.

I'm a little tired of you
telling me

what I should
and shouldn't be doing.

Now you haul
your freight out of here

before you find yourself
dusting a jail bunk

with the seat
of your britches.

And don't worry
about Miss Julie.

If we decide to try her,

I'll let you know
in plenty of time.

All I'm asking
is for you to think back.

There might have been some
small detail you overlooked.

I didn't
overlook a thing.

I'm sick and tired
of your suggesting

I mishandled
this case.

Well, somebody
slipped up somewhere.

A man's been hanged
like it didn't matter.

Now you
wait a minute.

Ev Keleher
was a friend of mine.

He was
a good friend.

I'd have given
my right arm to save him.

But there's only so much
that a man can do.

Will you face it?
Ev was guilty.

I can't
change that.

He wasn't guilty,
he was with me.

Well, now that
won't wash, friend.

The jury
wouldn't buy it,

I don't believe it,
no one does.

It happens to be
the truth.

Well, if you'd
have been there,

you'd have seen
I did all I could.

I really undermined
Edna Holtzhoff's testimony,

but there was Norris
and Ev's threats.

Now Ev never should have
made those threats in public,

but that's
the Kelehers.

They're hot-headed,
they're hot-tempered.

Now Julie's gone and done
exactly the same thing.

Like father,
like daughter.

It's a shame.

I suppose
she'll want me to help--

You win, forget it.

Beg your pardon?

If I ever
get in trouble,

maybe you can
recommend a good lawyer.

You see, if I'm right,
Miss Holtzhoff,

the m*rder*r
k*lled Norris to keep him

from changing
his testimony,

and you could be
next.

Young man, there is no reason
to try and frighten me.

Nobody is going to try
and shut me up.

Because it was Ev Keleher
who shot Arney.

I saw it
with my own eyes.

So there is
no other k*ller.

And nothing for me
to be afraid of, is there?

Good day.

[ door closes ]

Look at that
broken shoe.

Well, it stands out
like spots on a $2 shirt.

So?

So you find the man
that owns that horse

with a broken
right front shoe

before he gets it
reshod,

because he tied
his horse right here.

What does
that prove?

Well, why back here
with all those hitching rails

out in front?

Well, that don't prove
he was a k*ller,

because these prints could
have been made anytime.

Yeah, but he better have
a good answer where he was

when Norris
was k*lled.

I suppose.

There are a lot of
horses hereabouts,

ain't going to be easy.

Well, you can try,
can't you?

You telling me
how to do my job again?

No.

No, you'd rather stand here
and argue with me

rather than check out
the first decent clue we've got.

Now don't get
your feathers up.

I just said
it ain't going to be easy.

Well, you could start
by looking for anyone

who had any trouble
with Arney Jackson.

That ought to narrow
the field down some.

Narrows it
plumb out of sight.

Nobody had any trouble
with Arney except Ev Keleher.

He must have had
some other enemies.

No.

Everybody liked
Arney Jackson.

You know,
the way you sound,

you're going
on the idea

that whoever k*lled Arney,
k*lled Norris.

That's right.

And there's one way
to find out.

Yeah.

What do you think
that gate's for, mister?

Cattle.

And trespassers.

What are you
afraid of?

Just careful.

You looking
for anything special?

Maybe you.

This is Arney Jackson's
spread, isn't it?

Was, until Ev Keleher
shot him.

Didn't Jackson have
any other enemies?

With Keleher again,
what more do you need?

You can close that gate now
from the outside.

I want to talk
to Marv Jackson.

Who says he wants
to talk to you?

[ horse neighing ]

That's him coming now,
isn't it?

Suppose
he decides it.

I thought
you left town.

That brought me
back.

I take it unkindly

when somebody
tries to k*ll me.

Maybe it wasn't
meant to k*ll you.

It could have been
a warning.

If that was supposed
to scare me off,

whoever did it is in
for a big disappointment.

Well,
that's up to you.

But if somebody put
a b*llet through my hat,

I'd figure it
this way.

He could just as easy
put it through my skull

if he had a mind to.

And I wouldn't be
offering him a second chance.

I'll think about it.

Yeah, do that.

But not here,
this is private property.

Yeah, it belongs
to you now, doesn't it?

Now that
your uncle is dead.

Mine.

And nobody comes on
unless I invite them.

Thanks
for the hospitality.

What do you think
you're doing?

Hold it!

You going
to sh**t me, too?

Get out of here.

Out!

We'll meet again.

What now?

I found
that broken horseshoe.

Where did you
find it?

On Marv Jackson's
horse.

Well, it looks like you also
found something else.

You want to hear about
that broken horseshoe or not?

Sure, go ahead.

Well, it's simple,

everything falls
into place.

Who had more to gain
by Arney Jackson's death?

Marv, because
he inherited the ranch.Yeah.

So he took advantage
of Keleher's threats

against his uncle
and k*lled him,

knowing that Keleher
was going to get blamed.

But just to make sure,
he bribes Norris

into saying he saw
Keleher sh**ting.

And then kills Norris
to shut him up.

That's it.

You reckon I didn't
think of all that?

Well, you sure
don't act like it.

There's only one thing
wrong with it.

And what's that?

It couldn't have been
Marv.

Why not?

Marv Jackson
has a solid alibi

for the time of
each m*rder.

It's true, Julie.

Both of his alibis
stand up.

When his uncle was k*lled,
Marv was in the casino

in plain sight of more than
two dozen people.

And when
Sam Norris was k*lled?

Well, Norris' room
was right over the casino.

Now if it was open,

everybody would have
heard the shotgun blast.

So he must
have been k*lled

while it was closed,
is that it?

Yeah.

But Marv went down
to the casino last night,

he got drunk,
he got in a fight

and the sheriff
threw him in jail.

He was released this morning
when the casino opened.

That means
that he was locked up

all the time
the casino was closed.

[ g*nshots ]

Yahoo!

What's going on
out here?

Hey, Miss Holtzhoff,
it's only me!

Who are you?

You know me!

Evening, ma'am.

Who in heaven's name
is that?

Oh, it is you.

And I was right
where you testified

Ev Keleher was
when he shot Jackson.

And yet you couldn't
recognize me in the dark.

I knew Ev a great deal
better than I know you.

Well, even so,
how--

I saw what I saw.

Now you got to
believe me.

I know now
how Marv Jackson did it.

He figures whoever
k*lled Arney k*lled Norris.

That's enough,
young man.

Well,
now hear me out.

I saw
Edna Holtzhoff again.

She says she only saw one man
the night of the k*lling,

the m*rder*r.

But if Norris
was there,

why didn't
she see him, too?

Depends on
where he was standing.

And it was dark.

But if he was close enough
to see the k*ller,

she should have
seen him.

Are you trying to tell us
that Norris wasn't there?

No, no.

No,
Norris was there

but not as a witness,
as the m*rder*r.

m*rder*r?

That's right.

He's about Keleher's size,
he's the one she saw

and thought
it was Keleher.

Norris had no call
to k*ll Arney.

He was hired.Hired?

Hired by
Marv Jackson.

That way
he gets rid of his uncle,

he's in the casino
the time of the k*lling.

Maybe.

And then he has to sh**t
Norris to shut him up.

Marvin couldn't have
k*lled Norris,

he was in jail.

Unless
you're trying to suggest

he used
a hired g*n, too.

Then he'd have to hire
someone else

to k*ll the second g*n.

You'll have to do
better than that.

Now
wait a minute.

Marv Jackson
k*lled Norris.

Impossible.Why?

Because no one
heard the shot?

And just suppose that
he was k*lled someplace else,

brought back here.

Now Jackson comes down
here in the casino,

gets drunk,
gets thrown in jail.

Even if you're right,
you got no proof.

Marv invited Norris out
to his ranch and k*lled him.

If we could just find
bloodstains--

If we could just find,
if we could just find.

If we could just find
some stranger

wandering around
in the hills.

If we could find a horse
with a broken shoe.

If we could find
bloodstains.

There was a stranger
in the hills. That was me.

And we did find a horse
with a broken shoe

and it belonged
to Marv Jackson.

And there were two witnesses
who saw the sh**ting.

Now Keleher
got a legal trial

and he was
legally ex*cuted.

And I'm not going to tolerate
any more of your attempts

to undermine authority
in this town.

Keleher was
a hardened criminal,

a jailbird.

Town's better off
without him.

And that's
your defense?

Well, if your
verdict was right,

there would be no need
for a defense.

Not from you
or anybody!

Now you just get this
straight, young man!

I'm giving you exactly
one hour to leave this town.

It's 7:15,

if you're still here
at 8:15,

I'm ordering the sheriff
to lock you up

for obstructing
justice.

Now
is that clear?

Yeah,
I'd say so.

And I'm going to do
the same.

You talk about a legal trial,
a legal hanging.

Well, maybe you know
more law than I do,

but I have heard
something about due process

and Ev Keleher
didn't get it.

The law is not set up
just to punish criminals,

it's supposed
to give honest people,

innocent people a chance
to defend themselves.

And Ev Keleher
didn't get his chance.

You're
wasting time.

Well,
you're cutting corners.

When you tamper
with the law, mister,

you're tampering with
something bigger than you

and bigger
than this whole town.

And don't tell me
your intentions were good,

because we know
where the road

that's paved
with them leads to.

[ knocking on door ]

Come in.

I thought
you'd gone to bed.

Thought about it.

Only I knew
I couldn't sleep

until I got
one thing settled.

If it's about
the Keleher trial,

I don't want to hear
anything more about it.

Yeah, I know.

That's why I figured
you'd want that.

You afraid to wear it
anymore, Sheriff?

I guess that's one way
of putting it.

I'd...

I'd have
preferred you to wait

until after
this trouble was over.

And I'd have preferred
someone else

to put the rope
around Ev Keleher's neck.

But it was me
that had to do it.

And on the strength
of a trial

that now I'm ashamed
of being a part of.

You did your job
just as I did mine.

There's more
to the law than that.

It ain't just a job,

something you can hide
behind like a barn

when the wind's blowing
the wrong way.

I never knew you were all
that sensitive before.

There's a lot of things
about me you don't know, Judge.

I was raised
in these parts.

I had a stake
in this town.

That's why
I took the job

of getting
rid of the wild bunch

that was here.

Your fast law
was fine then

because it had
to be fast.

But that job was over
more than a year ago.

I'll be the one to decide
when it's over.

You decide
a lot of things.

Only you don't know
when to quit.

If it hadn't been for that
young fellow Sherman...

I might not have
known either.

[ horse neighing ]

[ door creaking ]

Like
I told you before,

whoever put that b*llet
through your hat

could just as easily put one
through your skull.

And who ever heard of anybody
being hung

for gunning a prowler?

Keleher
was hung for less.

Keleher was hung for having
the brains of a hog,

and a man could get shot
for the same thing.

Won't do you
any good.

I found out
the truth,

somebody else is
bound to sooner or later.

Yeah.

Nobody else wants to,

and you know it.

That's where
you're wrong, Marv.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Keep going.

Glad you finally
believe me.

I more than half-believed you
right from the start.

You think you can let Julie
out of jail now?

I reckon
she'll be safe enough,

now that we got this
back-sh**ter all wrapped up.

I imagine
she'd be pleased to know

her pa's been
proven innocent.

Be more comforting

if the proving had been done
before you hanged him.

I made a lot of mistakes
in my life, Sherman,

but honestly, I don't believe
I ever hung an innocent man.

What are you saying?

Come on
and I'll show you.

All right,
let's go.

I'm sorry it had to be
done this way, honey,

but the sheriff
convinced me.

Well, maybe I was wrong
in causing you grief, Julie,

but I figured
it was the only way

to keep
the pot boiling.

See, if you'd known
your pa was alive,

you mightn't
have pushed so hard.

Of course, I didn't figure
on Slim's temper.

That helped
a might.

Well, maybe
I'll get mad later

when I have time
to think it over.

Right now
I'm too happy.

And you,
Slim, I...

I don't know
what to say to you.

Well, the little treatment
I got says quite a bit,

seems to me.

Ev, you figure you and I
were ever that young?

Ah.

There iss something
I'm curious about.

What was
in that grave

you were filling
in the other day?

Coffin
full of rocks.

Say, that reminds me,
you owe the county $10.

You put it
on my bill.

Come on.

Mike, I wouldn't
hold that marshmallow

so close
to the fire.

You know, that burns
just like anything else.

I like
mine charred.

Well...

Well, you get it
any darker

and you're going to be
eating ashes.

Slim?Yeah?

You know that judge
you was telling me about,

the one that quit?

What about him?

Well, was he a judge
like the one

that let me stay here
with you, Jess and Daisy?

Well, I guess so.
Why?

Well, aren't
all judges good?

Oh, they try to be,
Mike,

but they're people
just like anybody else.

And now
and then there's...

well, there's bound to be one
that makes a mistake.

Well, what if
that happened to the one

that let me
stay here?

What are you getting at,
Mike?

Suppose he made
a mistake

and quit...

would that mean I couldn't
stay here anymore?

Mike,
this is your home

for as long
as you want to stay.

But there is
one thing

you're going to have to
watch out for.

What's that?

Your marshmallow's
on fire.

[ blowing ]