03x01 - The Gunfighter

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

[male narrator] In the beginning, there were the mountain men

who pushed deep into an untamed wilderness.

And by so doing, marked the trails

that millions would have followed.

But hard on the heels of these fierce and solitary giants

came another breed of men of equal courage

and perhaps greater vision.

Men who saw verdant valleys and sweeping prairies

and dreamed dreams of empire.

Men who before the West was mapped

or land titles thought of set their mark

on huge sections of wilderness and decided it was their own.

For decades, there was no one to challenge their claims.

Then came the settlers

who refused to accept the right of any man

to claim half a million acres

merely because he had seen them first.

The conflicts which followed

as fierce as any the West had known

were to last half a hundred years.

[male #1] Get out there, boy. Come on, go!

You gonna hang, boy.

Almost get the feelin' he don't wanna be hung.

[crying] Oh, no! Don't do this, please.

By God, please don't do it.

- Bring 'em along, Dave. - 'No!'

[sobbing] No!

- Let me go! - Stop!

- Let me go. - No.

- Let me go! - No.

- Let's do it, boys. - Oh, no.

[male #1] Get that rope around his neck.

[dramatic music]

- No. - No, don't. Stop.

- No! - Let me go!

Let me go!

- Ma! - Let go of him.

- Let my brother go! - Please don't do this.

- Ma! - No, please don't!

- Let my brother go! - Oh, this is m*rder!

Ma!

[screaming]

Let him go.

[sobbing]

- You alright? - I think so, ma.

Now you know what could happen will happen

'if we gotta come back here again.'

You sure are brave with widows and children, ain't you?

Mr. Coe's been real patient with you.

That man's offered you top money for your homes.

He doesn't own the whole valley.

- We know our rights. - Wrong, lady.

This valley's part of the Coe spread

and you've been told enough times.

Now you listen to me and you listen good, woman.

Mr. Coe's patience is just about all waited out.

'So it'd be a good idea for you and your pig litter'

just to pick up and get

or we're gonna burn you out.

Might be a good idea for the Macahans

to keep their noses in their own business too.

[men chuckling]

Goodbye, Mrs. Ferguson. Goodbye, Cathy.

[Mrs. Ferguson] Goodbye, Laura.

How can some folks be so mean?

I don't think they are mean. It comes by them natural.

And Mr. Coe hires people like that.

And I heard you say you like Mr. Coe.

I did like him at one time.

[horse trotting]

There's a rider comin'.

- Do you know who it is? - Unh-unh.

Ma, rider comin'.

[dramatic music]

- Afternoon, ladies. - What do you want?

I'd like to water my horse, if it's possible.

Right behind ya.

Ah! You stay up there.

Yes, ma'am.

[thunder rumbling]

- How's that boy doin'? - He'll be alright.

How'd..

You seen 'em?

Up on the ridge. I was too far back to help.

Looks like they was throwin' the scare.

Yeah, and scare enough.

They want us out of this valley.

Bullyin' scum.

It'd be a different story if my husband was alive.

You can get down now if you want to.

Thank you.

- Awful pretty, ain't he? - Cathy!

[whispers] It don't matter. He can't hear.

Besides, Laura Macahan, I saw you lookin' at him.

- I was not. - I saw him lookin' at you too.

I wished a man would look at me like that.

Well, he isn't bad-lookin'.

How'd you like a cup of hot coffee?

Well, that will be right neighborly of you, ma'am.

- Cathy? - Yes, ma'am.

[Mrs. Ferguson] 'Get a cup of coffee for the gentleman.'

- I told you he was pretty. - Go on, girl.

Let's get out of this rain.

[thunder rumbling]

Well, ma'am, that sure was good.

Ladies.

You know, I was just wonderin', uh, Laura's gotta go home alone

and it's clear at the other side of the valley.

Coe's men are out there.

That's alright, Mrs. Ferguson. I don't need--

Oh, Miss Laura, it'd be my pleasure.

- Well-- - Now, never you mind.

I'll feel a lot safer if somebody else is with you.

'I'm much obliged to you, mister, uh..'

Grayson.

Frank Grayson.

I reckon by your expression back there

Luke must have mentioned me.

Care to tell me what he said?

Oh, just that you've met once and..

...it almost came down to a gunfight between you.

That about covers it.

Do you feel you're Luke's enemy?

No.

His friend?

I'm not sure if I have enemies..

...or friends.

Oh, now, don't they look nice and ripe?

- Thanks, Aunt Molly. - Supper's ready, Josh.

[horse trotting]

Hello, Laura, I was wondering where you got to.

Aunt Molly, this is Mr. Grayson.

'Mr. Grayson, this is my Aunt Molly.'

- Mr. Grayson. - Aunt Molly.

Uh, there was some trouble at the Ferguson's and, uh

Mr. Grayson was kind enough to escort me home.

Well, that was very nice of you, Mr. Grayson.

In fact, we're just about to sit down to supper.

Would you care to join us?

- Well, if it's no bother then. - No, it's no bother.

In fact, you'll find some fresh hay for your horse in the barn.

Thank you.

Well, Grayson?

Grayson. Now that name has a very familiar ring to it.

It should.

It's the same Frank Grayson who had set out to hunt Luke down.

- Wanted to k*ll him. - What?

But I thought I remember Luke saying

that that ended in a truce between them.

He did, Aunt Molly.

Uh, what I'm wonderin', what's he doin' here?

We thank Thee, Lord, for this food we eat

and for Thy guidance and love

which is the only true protection we receive

under Your name. Amen.

[all] Amen.

[Josh] So what happened today over at the Ferguson's place, Laura?

Somethin' happened?

[sighs] Not during supper, Josh.

I think after supper may be too late.

What do you mean?

[Josh] 'Well, I mean, uh, if it happened'

'that close to this ranch'

and it was bad enough for Laura to need Mr. Grayson's help here

I wanna know about it.

In case that bonehead Coe shows up here.

Josh, don't call Mr. Coe a bonehead.

'It's disrespectful.'

You want me to be respectful about a man

who's trying to run everybody out of this valley?

[sighs] What I want you to do, Josh, is eat your supper.

And don't bother Mr. Grayson with our problems.

I'm not botherin' him. Am I, Mr. Grayson?

My name is Frank, Josh.

Are you sure those men were Coe's?

Yes. Do you know Mr. Coe?

We've never met.

You know, Frank, sometimes when I watch

uh, Luke practice the fast draw

you know, he's so quick, it's a blur.

I mean, you can't even see his hand move.

Luke was tellin' me there's, uh, nobody faster than you.

Oh.

There comes a day when you find a man who's just a hair faster.

Will you be around for a while?

It's possible.

Well, Aunt Molly says you're always welcome here.

Well, I'll remember that.

Of course, if I do come back, it wouldn't just be

to see Aunt Molly.

That berry pie

it would take a ribbon in any fair.

[clicks tongue]

And then the one called Cory threatened to come by here

if the Macahans interfered.

Well, I say let 'em. Yeah, let 'em!

They start any trouble here, they're gonna get

more than what they bargained for.

But, Josh, you don't really believe

that Mr. Coe would use force against us?

[sighs] I don't know.

But if he does, he's gonna have Luke

and he's gonna have Uncle Zeb to contend with too.

Except for the fact that Uncle Zeb is out

scoutin' for the fort and Luke's up in the mountains

helpin' Mr. Hanson with his horses.

Right, that's true. Zebulon might be weeks away.

But, you know, the Hanson mountain pasture

is only a half-day's ride.

Well, I could ride out there and fetch him.

But I don't like the idea of leavin' you women here alone.

Oh, I don't think we're in any immediate danger.

Don't worry, Josh. We'll be alright.

Yes, of course, we will.

You know, if you were to leave at sunup

you and Luke could be back here by tomorrow night.

Possibly even sooner.

- I'll leave right now. - Right now? But--

Yep. I'll saddle up.

I'll be back with Luke tomorrow mornin'.

Sure, they grow up so fast.

[dramatic music]

He's here, Mr. Coe. Just comin' into town.

Get out, all of you.

Bring me another glass and a fresh bottle.

Mr. Coe?

Frank Grayson.

- You're late. - I took supper.

Sit down.

Drink?

I think you better hear what I have to say first.

I come here to pay a debt, Mr. Coe.

The man I work for, Bug Julian

has been like a father to me

and he asked that I come up and look into the problems

you've been having up here.

Mm-hmm.

Well, let's just say it's a couple of old friends

returnin' favors.

Manner of speakin', that puts you in the middle.

Well, I've been in the middle on more than one occasion.

Just what are my services to be, Mr. Coe?

Drive 'em sodbusters out of my valley.

Your valley?

My valley.

My blood mixed with its dirt.

My heart poundin' through its rivers.

My soul whistlin' on its wind.

And I don't want no mud-level pig sweaters

foulin' it up for me.

My valley.

There's one thing.

I work alone, Mr. Coe.

I don't work with any hollow-gutted range baits

throwin' scares.

Now just what the hell's that supposed to mean?

Three of your men playin' out a mock hangin' with a boy

who was hardly old enough to shave.

A hangin'?

My boys?

- Couldn't be. - Could and was.

- 'Where?' - At the Ferguson place.

Them Nealson brothers.

Are them your kind of rules?

And if they are?

Debt or no debt, contract's off.

Alright.

Now you hear me.

I want them squatters off my land.

That's all I care about.

All I want's a free hand.

You got it.

I've made arrangements for you to..

...stay at a boardin' house across the street.

It's just a short ride to my ranch.

Alright.

Said you done already ate your supper, huh?

At the Macahans.

The Macahans?

You friends with the Macahans?

Man of my business, Mr. Coe..

...comes by a few friends.

Then?

There was this girl who was at that hangin'.

Mrs. Ferguson said she oughtn't ride home alone.

What about the Macahans?

I see what's on your mind now.

But you see, I've known

Zeb Macahan for over ten years and..

...I just ain't about to lock horns with him.

I don't have to.

His ranch is set way off up in the corner of the valley.

I just ain't interested in it right now.

Right now?

Meanin', when I clean out this valley

the Macahans will move on.

'Ain't no way they can get their stock to pasture land'

exceptin' across my valley.

I'll buy 'em off then.

And what if they don't want to sell?

I'll sweat on that when the time comes.

Everything clear to you now?

There's one last thing.

The man that owes you, Buck Julian..

...he's a man that I'd give my right arm for.

- So? - So don't prod me too hard.

Maybe I'd as soon give that right arm.

Now, I'll have that drink.

[g*nshots]

[laughter]

[Cory] Hey, little brother, what about that there right there?

[laughter]

[Cory] Yee-haw! Ha-ha!

Oh, hey, come on over here.

Let's put some of these corn out now.

- 'Yee-haw!' - 'Ah!'

[g*nshots]

[laughter]

Hey, come on, little brother, let's do it cool.

Well, Cory, get out of the way. Clear out the way.

'No, you get out of the way, little brother.'

Yeah! Come on.

[grunts] Ha!

- Yee-haw! - Yeow!

[hooting]

Ears boxed!

[clamoring]

[men hooting]

- Stop that! Get out of there! - Damn it!

Do you hear me? Stop it or I'll sh**t.

Yeah.

[g*nshots]

[g*nsh*t]

Well.

I'm warning you. Don't think I won't sh**t.

[c*ck g*n]

Hold on there a minute, lady.

Maybe you ought to talk to the lady, Cory.

Now, lady, look, we really ain't out

to make no trouble for anybody, but you know what..

[grunting]

Aunt Molly!

Aunt Molly, are you alright?

Yes, I, I'm fine, thank you.

Well, well, well, well, well, if it ain't Miss Purty.

[g*nsh*t]

You alright?

Yes, Luke, but our garden isn't.

Ain't too neighborly.

Eh? That was a mistake.

- Just horses got spooked. - That's a lie.

- They did it deliberately. - Horses don't sh**t tomatoes.

Josh, take your Aunt Molly and the girls inside.

Ladies.

You two got a reason for bein' here?

Yeah. We brought you another offer from Mr. Coe.

Well, I told you before, we're not interested in sellin'.

- You ain't heard the price. - At any price.

- Reckon we'll be goin' then. - Now you just hold up here.

Now drop your g*ns.

Well, think I might just..

If you'd been a hair faster, friend, you'd be dead.

Come on, g*n belts on the ground.

Now your boots.

What are you talkin' about?

Your boots and socks, get 'em off.

Of course, I could sh**t 'em off

but you might lose some toes.

[coughs]

Josh, come out here.

Ease them horses.

You betcha.

[screams]

[screams] Go on!

[g*nsh*t]

[screams]

Get.

'Hey.'

Thataway.

No matter how long it takes, Macahan, we'll even this.

If I was you, I'd do less talkin' and more movin'.

Coe's ranch is 12 miles.

No matter how long it takes, Macahan, we'll even this.

We ain't through yet, Macahan!

We ain't through yet.

Well, you got rid of them in a hurry.

Hm. For now.

You think they'll be back?

They just might be, Aunt Molly.

Henry Coe's startin' to look our way.

Oh, dear.

Tomorrow I'll ride into Teton and telegraph the fort.

See if they can get word to Uncle Zeb.

[Coe] Why, you hay-brain, simple..

Damn! Didn't I tell you I brung Grayson in here

to cut out all this cuffin' and scuffin'?

I'm responsible for the men who work for me.

Can't you understand that?

You make fools out of yourself, you make a fool of me.

Hasslin' the Macahans.

Didn't I tell you they weren't none of your concern?

Well, we just thought we'd swing down by there

and, well, see if they've been thinkin' over your latest offer.

You ever act on your own again, embarrass me

I'll whoop the skin right off your back.

Get the hell out of here.

[both groaning]

[Coe] 'Now you see why I needed you?'

Not only surrounded by empty skulls

but I got this crazy Luke Macahan to deal with.

'Man's a wild case.'

Causes trouble wherever he goes.

Wanted down in New Mexico for killin' a judge.

Except he didn't k*ll him.

How would you know that?

That judge was shot in the back.

That's not the way I know Macahan I ever met.

Seems like you know a powerful lot about a family

you ain't even friendly with.

Meanin'?

Just hope it won't influence you none when it comes time

'to run 'em squatters out.'

It won't.

Just hope it won't be too long before that time comes.

Waiting's a game I never dealt aces in.

Patience, Mr. Coe.

Patience and timin'.

Them's your whole cards.

Without them

comes down to the g*n every time.

We don't want that.

Do we?

Whoa, there, mule. Whoa.

- Thank you. - Alright now.

I'll be back after I get the telegraph off.

- Alright, there's no hurry. - Alright.

- Well, mornin', Miss Laura. - Good mornin', Mr. Beecher.

How are all the Macahans lately?

Well, we're just fine. We got a list

of the things we'll be needin'.

Alright. I'll have it filled for you in a jiffy, huh?

Alright.

[Frank clears throat]

- Hello, Mr. Grayson. - Good mornin', Miss Laura.

The way this town is all decked out

it looks like it's gonna be a real wingding

come Saturday.

Will you be in town for the celebration?

- Will you? - Of course.

Well, then I'll see to it.

It's amazing what a berry pie does

to a man's traveling instinct.

Well, if that's true, maybe now you'll accept

Aunt Molly's invitation. Have supper with us again?

Well, I could consider that question

if I knew that it was coming from you.

I think you know it does.

- Then I accept. - Well, good.

About supper, I'll let you know what day.

- Um, how do I reach you? - I'm staying in Old Town.

Fine. Maybe sometime next week.

Fine.

Luke, our order should be ready.

Frank.

Luke.

Is there somethin' I can do for you?

Uh, yeah.

You stay away from my sister.

Oh, I see.

Let me ask you somethin', Luke.

Don't you think your sister's old enough

to make her own decisions about who she talks to?

Frank, I was older than Laura when I took a dead man's horse

to get myself home from the Battle of Shiloh.

If I had any idea what takin' that horse was gonna cost me

I'd still be walkin'.

Meanin', you didn't know what you were gettin' into?

That's it.

You will leave her alone.

No, I still say the decision belongs to the lady.

Maybe you ought to talk to her?

I'll do that.

You're angry with me, aren't you?

For talking to Mr. Grayson?

I just think you could show some better sense.

Well, why? I mean, what has he done?

Whoa. Whoa, mule.

Laura, you can ask me that.

I know he's a gunfighter, but so..

But what?

A lot of people consider you a gunfighter, too, Luke.

But you're not. Not really.

Well, maybe it's the same with Mr. Grayson.

Laura, there is a big difference between me and Frank Grayson.

His g*n is for sale to the highest bidder. Mine isn't.

And sooner or later, any man whose g*n is for sale

has to k*ll or be k*lled.

Let's go. It's-it's gettin' chilly.

Hyah, mule! Come on!

...and they near hung my boy.

[sobs] I've been havin' nightmares ever since.

All of us have been sore put upon, threatened.

Just ain't right, none of it.

- 'Yeah!' - 'You're right!'

God created this land, not Henry Coe.

- 'Yeah!' - 'That's true.'

The question is, what are we going to do about it?

Wonderin' if somebody is going to put a flame to our homes

'or hooves to our fields?'

Fight is what we do. k*ll the first Coe man

you see set foot on your land.

- Yeah! - Hold off.

k*lling won't solve anything.

k*lling begets k*lling.

[crowd murmuring]

[dramatic music]

It's Grayson.

- Who? - It's Frank Grayson.

He's a gunfighter.

I've heard of him.

Well, what's he doing here?

That's Coe's men over there. Every one of them.

Grayson's working for Coe?

Are you ridin' with them saddle tramps of Coe's?

Hush, Josh.

[clicks]

My name's Frank Grayson. I've come to give you a message.

We're not interested in any messages

especially from Henry Coe.

Well, you better listen to this one.

No, you better listen.

We know who you are. Know your reputation too.

But it ain't gonna work this time.

There's too many of us here.

Olaf's right. You can't k*ll us all.

Not before one of us kills you, anyway.

That's true.

But the difference is are you ready?

Ready?

To die?

You see, that's what I'm paid for.

Dying's as much a part of my business

as plantin' is yours.

You're wasting your time trying to scare us, Mr. Grayson.

We've traveled too far, suffered too much to scare now.

- Yeah. - Yeah. That's right.

That's good.

Does that go for the wives and the young'uns too?

'Which one of 'em you wanna see left without a man?'

Which?

[dramatic music]

Now this is just business.

All of it.

Is it gonna be unpleasant business..

...or pleasant?

Which?

He ain't bluffing me.

He don't wanna die no more than the rest of us.

[g*nsh*t]

I admire your courage, mister

but only a fool draws against a stacked deck.

Now, all of you

you got exactly a week to pack up and leave this valley.

- All squatters. - Squatters by whose definition?

The meeting's over.

[Luke] 'There's one more matter of business, Frank.'

What's on your mind, Luke?

You're gettin' out of here and leavin' these folks alone.

This ain't no picnic and you weren't invited.

Well, I always figured a man had a right

to move about as he pleased.

So do they.

They've got a choice.

Move or get buried, that it?

That about covers it.

I'm givin' you the same choice, Frank.

Now get out of here.

Think twice, Luke.

I was hopin' you would.

Give me that g*n, Aunt Molly.

No, Luke, I am not going to let you k*ll that man or be k*lled.

Aunt Molly, I am tellin' you, give me the g*n now.

No, Luke! Violence never solved anything

and it won't solve this situation.

'Look what violence has done to your life.'

Has it helped you? Has it helped anybody?

Lady that keeps the sun shinin'.

I'm not without thunder, Mr. Grayson.

You can count yourself lucky Luke got stopped.

Mr. Grayson!

A man as low as you gets his pleasure out of hurtin' folks.

Seein' 'em crawl, makin' cowards out of themselves.

And I mustn't forget, you get paid for it too.

You get paid for doin' other men's filth.

[dramatic music]

[sobs]

Remember, folks..

...you got one week.

Are you sure now you won't take a shawl, Laura?

Yes, I'm fine.

Well, don't be too late at the Ferguson's

but have a very nice time.

- Here. - Alright.

And drive carefully, dear, won't you?

It looks like there might be a storm brewing.

I'll be fine, Aunt Molly. Now may I, please, go?

Ha!

[sighs] I hate to say this, Aunt Molly

but with the way she's been snappin' at everybody lately

I'm glad to get her out of this house.

[scoffs]

[Cory] 'It's been three days, Mr. Coe.'

Three days?

Since Grayson told 'em what for.

And not a one of them sod jabbers

is makin' a move to get.

Where's Grayson?

He ain't out movin' 'em squatters along

that's for sure.

Nichols saw him in town earlier.

[Cory] 'Mr. Coe, if you'd just give me and Glen the word'

we'd, uh, we'd be glad to do some coaxin'

that'd make you real proud.

You know I can't do that.

[sighs] I done give Grayson my word

he'd have a free hand.

I wouldn't haze the little folks no more.

Now, Luke Macahan's out there givin' 'em some backbone.

'If there's some way'

we could think out to bring him down

I figured the rest of 'em would move on

with their tails 'twixt their legs.

Yeah, but I thought that's supposed to be Grayson's job.

Yeah.

But you see, he likes the Macahans.

He keeps tellin' me it ain't gonna make no difference

to him, but..

...I ain't too sure of that no more.

Luke Macahan's the one who made Cory and me eat dust, boss.

Yeah.

Sure was him, wasn't it?

Mr. Coe, I think your problem is close to bein' over.

[dramatic music]

Ha!

Ha!

h*! Hold there, gal.

Whoa there!

Cory, will you stop the horses?

Away from her now!

There now, purty.

That wasn't so bad, was it?

Luke will k*ll you for this!

That Luke get all riled up if he knew

we was messin' with his little sister, wouldn't he?

If you don't let me go, there won't be a rock

flat enough for you to hide under.

Rock? Who said anything about hidin' under any rocks?

We want him to know about this.

We're even gonna send this here wagon home

just to get his attention.

Your brother, uh, he showed us a little trick about boots

and we ain't forgotten it.

Get 'em off, lady.

[thunder rumbling]

[dramatic music]

That nice dress gonna be a sorry sight, purty

if you don't get up.

Meaning, you walk or you get dragged.

[Glen] 'Come on now.'

'Oh, now.'

Oh, now, get up, purty.

You don't want these folks to see you bendin', do you?

[Glen laughs]

[dramatic music]

[Glen] 'There now.'

You just make yourself real comfortable there, purty

while we wait on your brother.

[laughs]

How you figurin' on taking care of Macahan?

Well, Cory here's gonna pretend he's just havin' a drink

while I'll be hidin' back with the r*fle.

[dramatic music]

Brandy.

What the hell do you think you're doin'?

[Glen] You got no right to interfere in a plan of ours.

[grunts]

Now you got two choices.

You either die in here or out there.

- Now hold on. - Which?

Please, Frank, we didn't know how you felt.

But she ain't hurt. Just wet and footsore maybe.

[g*nshots]

Now, both of you, get on your feet and draw.

Mr. Grayson, please don't k*ll them.

Please, Frank, don't.

Alright.

The lady just saved your lives.

Now crawl outside..

...if you wanna keep breathing.

Now crawl out into that street.

Go on, crawl into that mud. That's where you belong.

[grunting]

Now roll around it.

'Keep rolling till I tell you to quit.'

'Now crawl.'

Please, Frank, they've paid.

Alright.

Get on your horses, both of you

and ride out of this town.

I never wanna see your ugly faces again.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir. We're goin'.

- Right away. - We're-we're goin'.

- Come-come on. - Let's get out of here.

[Cory] 'Oh, God.'

[sighs]

[Glen] Come on, come on. Let's go.

[instrumental music]

What the..

Whoa. Whoa, whoa.

Whoa now.

That's her wagon, alright, but where's Laura?

I don't know. Go saddle my horse. I'll tell Aunt Molly.

Luke, now somebody's gotta stay here and look after the women.

'Now just keep 'em inside the house'

until I find out what's goin' on.

Alright.

[Laura] 'I called you a lot of ugly things.'

'Now you've helped me. Why?'

[Frank] 'You're very pretty when you're mad.'

- Frank, be serious. - I am.

Very.

Alright, if you're truly serious

will you tell me why you work for a man like Coe?

I owe somebody. I work for a livin'.

It's people like Coe who hire me.

But he's trying to steal other people's land.

Well, Laura, if I go into the rights and the wrongs

of what I do, they are squatters on Henry Coe's land.

Well, if you come to think about it

even Mr. Coe was a squatter once.

Excepting one thing.

He was here first.

[sighs] I guess for a hundred years that will never be resolved.

Those first seein' the land and those coming later.

Who has the right to work that land?

You know, Luke has told us quite a bit about you, but..

...somehow I just don't seem to know you

if that makes any sense.

Maybe 'cause there's not a whole lot to know.

I had a brother. He's dead now.

You know about that?

We grew up alone mostly.

Leanin' on each other.

That's about it.

About it? What..

- About being a gunfighter? - I'm sorry.

There are a few parts of my life that I don't share with others.

Especially Laura Macahan.

I better be gettin' home.

Frank, would you stop, please?

I wanna ask a favor..

...not to mention what happened tonight to my family.

My brothers would, uh..

Well, you know how brothers are.

They'd set out trackin' those two men and try and k*ll them.

They won't hear it from me.

There's somethin' else.

The Macahans..

Well, we're not gonna sit by while Coe drives all our friends

out of this valley.

Go on.

So where does that leave you?

[mellow music]

[sighs]

Laura, get down.

Now, Luke, what happened here is not Frank..

...Mr. Grayson's fault. I got caught in that storm.

- Save it till we get home. - Now listen, Luke--

Now do as I say. Get down off of there

get up on your horse and wait up ahead for me.

Goodnight, Mr. Grayson. Thank you for helping me.

Laura.

I don't like you seein' Laura.

But I reckon I'm obliged to you for takin' care of her.

- You needn't be obliged. - 'Even so I am.'

But you ought to know.

This won't change a thing.

The settlers are our friends, Grayson.

You push them, you push the Macahans.

[Luke] 'Laura, hold up.'

- I told you to wait. - I didn't choose to.

You're not my father, you know.

I'm not tryin' to be.

What are you doin' wearin' men's clothes?

It's none of your business.

You order me about, treat me like a child.

Stop actin' like one. Maybe I won't.

[Laura] 'And when the storm broke'

you couldn't see a foot ahead of you.

The horses were shy and they were

they were tryin' to break free of the wagon.

But, Laura, where did you get the clothes?

Mr. Grayson.

You talked to Frank Grayson?

And after what happened at that meeting?

Now, now, you two, please, let Laura go on with her story.

There's really not much to tell.

I got caught in the storm.

Lightnin' jumped the horses at the edge of town.

Well, I lost control. I had to jump off.

And that's when Mr. Grayson helped me.

How do you mean he helped you, dear?

Well, I was wet and muddy, my dress was torn

so he gave me these clothes.

Where?

In his room at the boardin' house.

You were in Mr. Grayson's room?

He was a perfect gentleman.

Go on, Laura.

That's about it. He was bringing me home..

...and that's when Luke ran into us.

- Laura, did some-- - Aunt Molly, I'm really tired.

Could we, please, talk about this in the mornin'?

[chuckles] Yes, of course, dear.

With all the excitement and everything

I'm sure we're all tired. We should go to bed.

[sighs]

[knock on door]

- You asleep? - Hm?

No, no. Come on in.

I just want to thank you.

- For what? - For not sayin' what you saw.

It's like you said. I'm not your father.

You're old enough to..

...well, you know, do what you want.

I know.

But I still love you for not sayin' anything.

Enough for me to speak my mind?

Yes.

Look, Laura

Uncle Zeb says that a family should be proud of each other.

And I am. I-I'm real proud of all of you.

But most of all..

...I think I'm the proudest of you.

Of me?

Laura, God gave you so much and we all want so much for you.

And I think we'd..

...we'd all be pretty hurt if you decided

to throw away your life on a man like Frank Grayson.

I know Frank's everything you say he is

but there's another side to him, Luke.

It's kind, a warm, a gentle side

that he keeps locked away.

It's almost like he's afraid to let anyone know it exists.

That doesn't change what Grayson is, Laura.

A hired g*n and a man I don't want my sister

fallin' in love with.

Thank you for carin'.

I'm-I'm, I'm really very tired.

I gotta go to bed.

Goodnight.

[sighs]

- Luke. - Hm?

No girl ever had a better father.

[Josh] Whoa, h*.

[sighs] Now, don't all go wandering off on me.

We have so much to do to get ready for tomorrow.

Now, no dilly-dallying and don't go hanging around

the cob corn stand, please.

Josh, I think you could probably help

Mr. Potter pull out the picnic tables.

- Hey, Luke. - What else?

I'll be at the street, Aunt Molly.

Alright, Luke. Oh, dear, there's so much to be done.

Had this little argument about

how far away the glasses should be.

- You sure ought to know. - About 25 feet.

I'd say it's a fair distance for a handgun.

[Frank] 'How about 30?'

In the air.

One glass in the air at 30.

How about two?

Luke.

[exhales] Charlie.

[g*nshots]

[indistinct chatter]

Go.

[g*nshots]

- 'Wow.' - 'That's good.'

Wanna try for three?

It's the next best thing to two.

[male #2] 'Easy shootin', Luke. You can do it blindfolded.'

Here, Charlie.

[g*nshots]

[male #3] 'Nice goin, Luke.'

Well done, Luke!

[applause]

Go.

[g*nshots]

[indistinct chatter]

Now, what do you say we try for..

...six?

- 'Six?' - 'Six?'

[indistinct chatter]

[male #4] 'That's gonna take some shootin'.'

Oh, I think Luke can do it.

[male #2] 'Luke can sh**t six.'

He can do it.

Charlie.

[g*nshots]

[cheering and applauding]

- 'Not bad.' - 'Okay!'

[sighs]

Go.

[g*nshots]

[indistinct chatter]

[applause]

Well, that about covers it, Luke.

Why don't you go back to Mr. Potter's, dear?

Mister, you think if I keep practicin' enough

you think I could sh**t like that?

Only if you're unlucky, son.

Hold it!

Listen to me, all of you.

I know there's them among you who thinks I'm a vengeful mayor.

Ain't true.

[Luke] Come on.

- Can't hurt to listen. - Come on, Luke, we need you.

[Olaf] Go on. We're listenin'.

[Coe] When I first come here back in '42..

...there wasn't another white face

within ten days' ride of this valley.

Didn't bother me none.

'Cause I knew right then, come hell or hailin' blizzard

this was where I was gonna spend the rest of my days.

Well, hell did come.

I fought Injuns, wolves, hunger

but I never give up. I didn't quit!

What are you tryin' to say, Coe?

What I've been tellin' you all along.

It's my valley.

[indistinct chatter]

Listen to me, folks. Listen to me.

What I'm tryin' to tell you is..

...I know how you feel about this valley.

On account of that

I'm gonna double my offer for your land.

[indistinct chatter]

You heard me true.

I'm gonna pay you twice what I offered you before.

And remember..

'...that was a more than fair price.'

All of you, don't listen to him.

Double the price, think I'll listen.

Now that kind of money, I can buy other land

good land, better even than what I got now.

Hold up!

I'll give you all one very good reason for not leavin'.

'Cause you're bein' forced to leave.

You're bein' told to tuck your tail

between your legs and get

or Henry Coe will make you get.

It's my valley.

Get out right now.

You said they had a week.

I'm saying I'm losing my patience.

Now the only way you're gonna stop being pushed off the land

that you worked and that you built your homes on is to fight.

'You stand up to the Henry Coes'

make 'em see that you can't be pushed!

You're gonna stay, no matter what.

Alright, I done already had my say.

Now he's havin' his.

But you've got my final words on it.

It's out of my hands.

[dramatic music]

[Dave] There's a lightnin' storm comin'.

While you folks are here hangin' fancy doodads

there could be lots of barns burnin'.

'Maybe even houses.'

You best be thinkin' where you'll sleep tonight.

[indistinct chatter]

Frank.

What is it, Laura?

I'm afraid.

For Luke?

He won't give up. He can't.

Yeah, I know.

Well, sooner or later

it's gonna come down to you or him.

Well, Laura, there's nothing that I'm gonna bring about.

Wou..

Would you do something for me?

Well, I'm tempted to say anything, but..

...I've gotta ask what it is.

Would you leave this valley, please?

If I leave this valley, will you come with me?

[Luke] Laura.

Come on, we're headin' home.

What about the decorations?

Folks are all headin' back to their farms.

Don't think there's gonna be any celebration.

Let's go!

Just maybe we'll have that celebration another day.

[dramatic music]

I don't take no pleasure in what we're gonna do today.

[g*n c*ck]

Like I said, I ain't a vengeful man.

Burnin', killin' ain't my way.

I sure would have bought 'em out.

But there just ain't no other way.

The men are ready, Mr. Coe. Just waitin' for your orders.

I'll be right out.

You a religious man, Grayson?

Yes, sir.

Guess that's the way it is with me too.

You know, religion's a funny thing.

Most folks don't never use it

till they get scared or want somethin'..

...doin' somethin' wrong.

I'll be outside with the men.

This here's gonna boil into a real w*r.

So any of you ain't up to it, better draw your rages now.

I done already sent for the other boys.

They're gonna meet us in Old Town about noon

and we'll ride for the Macahans'.

Macahans?

Coe, you said you weren't interested in the Macahans.

That is before they brung this on theirselves.

Coe, that's a wrong move.

You're gonna have open warfare in this valley.

The Macahans are leadin' the squatters.

That the only reason you don't wanna ride on the Macahans?

- You've got another one? - I have.

Laura Macahan.

When did they get back?

Or just maybe we never left.

Coe, you knew about this all along, didn't you?

About what they did to the girl?

- I heard about it. - You ordered it maybe.

It ain't none of your business what I ordered

or who rides with me, clear?

Coe, I told you once before.

Don't prod me too hard.

Prod you all I please and you better get used to it.

'You're outnumbered, Grayson.'

And I ain't one of your skeer, bellied sodbusters

you can bluff neither.

You ride on me, Grayson, I'll k*ll ya!

[g*nshots]

I'll take five of you before I'm down, Coe.

You'll be first.

Get out.

My brother's dead, Mr. Coe.

You want us to go after him, Mr. Coe?

No. It's the Macahans I want.

Let's ride.

[dramatic music]

Ma, look, that's Mr. Macahan.

h*, boy. h*.

Miss Ferguson.

You've come too late, Zeb.

Too late?

Molly sent word to the fort two weeks ago

to let you know what was going on here.

Well, I ain't been by the fort in over a month.

I've been up with the survey party.

I just come here, uh, straight from Bowie Peak.

Well, the way I figured, it wouldn't matter much, anyway.

There ain't no one man can stand against Coe.

Luke tried it.

Miss Ferguson, maybe you better just, uh

start from the beginnin', tell me the whole story.

Coe! He's been leaning' on all of us

since a couple of days after you left.

Almost hung my boy. He's got his hired gunfighter out there

to threaten to k*ll any of us who won't pack up and leave.

You say Luke tried to stop him?

Why, there was nothin' he could do.

He'd got hisself k*lled hadn't been for Molly.

Mr. Macahan, they even dragged Laura--

Shh, child.

Now wait a minute, what's that about Laura?

I wanna hear about that. Now go on.

Luke don't know about that, Zebulon.

I told you, he near got hisself k*lled

tryin' to help all of us, but..

...if he'd knowed what happened to his sister..

Miss Ferguson, I'm not Luke

and I wanna know what happened.

Cathy.

Well, we heard they dragged Laura barefoot

through the mud, Mr. Macahan, all the way to Old Town.

Who dragged her?

I don't know, sir. Just two of Coe's men.

Miss Ferguson, your man, Jethro

he k*lled himself buildin' what you just left there.

Now supposin' you turn this here wagon around and head back home.

I appreciate your concern, Zeb.

This is one battle even you can't win.

Tim.

Goodbye, Mr. Macahan.

Giddy up there. Come on.

[instrumental music]

[Laura] Uncle Zeb!

Uncle Zeb.

Oh. Oh!

We thought you'd never get here.

How are you, gal?

I'm fine.

I heard about the two men that drug you.

- How did you know that? - Well, that ain't important.

The only thing that's important is who they were.

Uncle Zeb, I'm not hurt.

They were just using me to get back at Luke.

I know, honey, but I'm gonna need their names.

Uncle Zeb, Luke doesn't know.

None of the family knows.

Now as far as I'm concerned, they don't have to.

I don't want 'em to know it any more than you do.

All I have to have is the two names.

No.

Now listen to me, gal.

The world I was brought up in, the lowest form of life

would be a man that struck a woman.

Now the world may have changed, but I ain't.

I gotta have those names.

I can't.

Alright.

Then I reckon I'll have to get it from Henry Coe.

Uncle Zeb.

Now look, honey, I know you don't want your brothers

mixed up in this any more than I do.

So just make sure that they don't know I've been here

and where I'm headed.

[sighs]

Frank.

[gasps] What happened?

Just a little misunderstanding with Mr. Coe.

Well, come on, I'll get you in the house.

That's very kind of you. I don't think

that I can make it that far.

- How bad is it? - Went through. I'm lucky.

- Where's Luke? - He and Josh are moving horses.

- When are they getting back? - They'll be back anytime. Why?

Listen, Coe's men are gonna hit this homestead.

What? How soon?

As soon as he gets his men together.

Most of 'em are in Old Town right now.

- Oh, my God. Uncle Zeb. - Zeb?

He's gone to force Coe to tell him who the two men were

who dragged me behind that horse.

You see, if Zeb follows Coe to Old Town

he's gonna be facing a dozen men.

All of them prime and ready to fight.

I've got to tell Aunt Molly.

I'll be right back with some bandages.

What else does it need?

Well, when Laura comes with the milk, we put a drop in.

Ah, put another egg in, anyway.

Jessie, get a horse, go find Luke and Josh

and get 'em back here as fast you can.

Laura, what is it?

Uncle Zeb's in terrible danger.

- What? - Uncle Zeb isn't even here.

He was here just a little while ago.

Jessie, I haven't time to explain.

Will you just find Luke?

- I'm goin'. - Laura, what is this about?

- We need bandages. - Bandages?

Frank Grayson, he's in the barn. He's been shot.

My God. There's hot water on the stove. Bandages.

But Mr. Coe not here, Mr. Macahan.

- Where is he? - He go to Old Town.

When?

Oh, maybe one hour, maybe little more.

[horses neighing]

That must be the boys.

What's all this about Uncle Zeb being in danger?

I lied to you that night about

what happened to me in the storm.

'Two of Coe's men dragged me to Old Town behind a horse.'

Well, somehow Uncle Zeb found out about it.

Now he's gone to find Mr. Coe.

You said he was in danger. He can handle Coe.

Luke, you don't understand.

Mr. Coe is plannin' on attacking this ranch.

'He's gathering all his men in Old Town now.'

Uncle Zeb is walking into a trap.

Well, hold on. Now how do you know all this?

Frank Grayson is in the barn. He's been shot.

He came here to warn us, Luke.

I'm afraid for Uncle Zeb.

Will you go?

Josh.

Hyah!

Mr. Grayson.

This is the damnedest family I've ever seen.

Somebody fetch me my horse.

[dramatic music]

Mr. Coe, Zeb Macahan's coming.

[c*ck g*n]

Close enough right there, Macahan.

I'm all done talkin', if that's what you come for.

That ain't what I come for, Henry. We can do that later.

Right now, I'm looking for a couple of your men.

Hauled my niece out on into the street

and dragged her through the mud.

I aim to return the favor.

You're just gonna do that all by yourself, are you?

Ain't nobody lives forever, Henry.

Don't much like the thought of going by myself

so maybe I'll just take you along with me

on that road to hell.

I don't wanna k*ll you, Zeb.

Don't feel like killin' you neither, Hank.

I always admired your style. Up till now.

It's my valley.

Not no more, it ain't. Maybe once.

Ain't no room anymore for..

...old buffaloes like you and me.

Maybe our breed is dyin'.

But if I'm an old buffalo, I'm gonna die by the wolves.

I'm damned if I'm gonna be pulled down by them squash bugs

out there ripping up a land I bled for.

We can talk about that later.

Right now, all I want is 'em two men out here.

Now do I get 'em

or you and I start bleedin' each other right now?

We gotta let 'em be old ones, Zeb.

[Luke] 'Count again, Mr. Coe.'

[dramatic music]

Still poor odds, Macahan.

I don't know about that, Coe.

I figure between the four of us, we'll take most of you

before anybody even clears leather.

Well, think about that, Henry.

Lot of men gonna die here..

...all over a couple of worthless skunks

that had to drag a helpless woman

through the dirt.

You.. What?

You ain't gonna give me to 'em, are you, Mr. Coe?

Get out here, mister.

'I said get out here, mister.'

We done it all for you, Mr. Coe.

We done it all for you.

[g*nshots]

[g*nsh*t]

[intense music]

- 'Hold your fire.' - 'Stop, stop your shootin'.'

Henry..

...you can live in this valley

or you can live in some other one.

That's up to you.

[instrumental music]

Ah.

Frank.

[groaning]

Oh, you're bleedin' again.

- Sure sign of life. - Here.

This is the first time I ever realized

there's a good side to getting shot.

Thank you.

I was wrong.

Bet it's not what I thought.

Meanin'?

That was a sisterly kiss if there ever was one.

No. It was a let's-be-friends-forever kiss.

It's the same thing.

Listen, if you came by to tell me

about seeing your sister again

it's alright.

She just told me goodbye.

Really grateful to you, Frank.

All of us are.

Well, I guess that's some consolation.

Come on, we gotta get you back to the ranch

where we can take care of you properly.

Frank, I wanna thank you.

Well, Zeb, I'd like to tell you something.

Considering my occupation, I've led a reasonably quiet life

until I met the Macahan family.

I don't think I've drawn a peaceful breath

since that time.

[laughing]

Alright, boys, it's time to go home.

Let's put him in the wagon.

Yeah, well, come on.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]