Light of Western Stars, The (1940)

[bunniefuu]

[music playing]

[train rolling]

Where's the station master?

Probably home in bed.

The very idea.

This is just a flag station.

The limited ain't

supposed to stop here.

Well, where's the city?

Over there.

Is there a hotel?

Yes, but you wouldn't like it.

Well, is there a--

Lady, you're holding

up the limited.

Well, well, wait a minute.

Uh, where shall I go?

What shall I do?

I haven't got the

least idea, lady.

Well, hold the train a minute.

I might want to go with you.

Good night.

Well, [inaudible].

Do you know who I am?

You see Signore Gene?

Oh.

[clicking]

[men whooping]

Hey, Jose.

Hey, Sam.

Oh, Bernando, how are ya?

Well, kids, hiya, Denny.

We're not riding

tonight, are we, Jim?

I should say not, kid, it's

just the shank of the evening.

[speaking spanish]

Why, Bonita, you little rascal,


you look pretty enough to kiss.

Well, why don't you try it?

And get shot?

Oh, Signor, Gene, he

flirts with all the girls,

but he never kissed any.

Is that so?

Ha, there you are, Danny.

That's what I do to 'em, kid.

You better practice up.

Let's have a drink--


three whiskeys.

Hey, Stewart.

Yeah?

I hear you're going across the

border to fight for the rebels.

Those big ears of yours

hear everything, don't they?

Filibustering is a high crime


against the Mexican government.

They'll stand you

in front of a wall,

send you to jail for life.

Maybe we'll meet socially

in the Mexican calaboose.

What are you hinting at?

Just this, if I


do ride south, I'll

be [inaudible] of my own g*ns.

I won't be carrying those rotten

sh**ting tools you're running

across the border these nights.

MAN: I'll have three whiskeys.

I'll take three, too.

Go get Sheriff Hawes.

Say, Gene.

Yeah?

You seen plenty of


fighting everywhere.

Why is it they got to go

start a w*r across the border?

Well, I'm darned if I

know, Nels, unless it's just

that over there they think the

world's getting a little too

crowded to live in.

You know, gentlemen, I think


that humans are greater fools

than animals or even bugs.

Now we'll will take

bugs, for instance.

They don't fight each other.

They believe in

live and let live.

Of course, nobody's ever given

bugs r*fles or got 'em drunk

or-- that reminds me.

I'm not going any further

with this conversation

unless I get a-- thanks.

Now to continue, it's

always been my idea

that if you give children

cap pistols to play with,

when they get older, they want

real g*ns, real g*ns that sh**t

real b*ll*ts and k*ll real

people, and the sad part of it

is there's always someone who

will sell 'em to 'em, someone,

for instance, who wants to run

everything and boss everybody.

You know, gentlemen,

there's other things

besides this to make men drunk.

Yes, sir, power does.

Power makes men lie

and cheat and steal

and betray their friends.

It even makes them give

their best friends this.

Will you shut up?

They do k*ll each other

across the border.

Who cares?

Not you, Hayworth.

You don't care, not as long

as each poor devil k*lled is

another dirty dollar

in your pocket.

I make allowances for

a whiskey-soaked brain.

Well, you don't ha--

[applause]

Shall I lock him

up, Mr. Hayworth?

Not now, give him about an

hour, and then I want you to--

Poco, didn't I tell you not

to follow me here tonight?

Oh, didn't I?

Oh, Signor Gene, when you

are drunk, you are loco.

Where you go, Poco

should go, too.

You fall down, I take you home.

Well, that may not be long.

Well, let's have some more.

[music playing]

Stillwell rider,

dancing with your girl.

Take care of him.

Hey what is this?

I'm cutting in.

You are not.

Oh, yes, I am.

Hey, Bonita doesn't

want to dance with him.

Who says she don't?

-Take a walk.

-Hey, wait a minute.

She hasn't done anything.

Aw, shut up.

[screaming]

Keep your shirt on, Danny.

You ought to know no Stillwell

rider has got a chance

with the law in this town.

Get out of here.

Go on, Danny.

Get out.

Why don't you two big, bad boys

pick on someone your own size?

Be a sport.

Give those kids a break.

Why, Danny intends

to marry Bonita.

Since marriage is so

sacred to you, Stewart,

I'm surprised you don't try it.

I would it.

I would if I could make up

my mind which one to take.

Honest, there are so

many women after me,

I positively have

to fight 'em off.

As if any woman who

thought anything of herself

would tie up with a booze hound.

Yeah?

Yeah.

Well, you look

like a gambling man.

I'll just make you a

little proposition.

This says that I'll marry the

first girl that hits town.

The liquor's talking.

Mr. Narrow is talking louder.

That's easy money.

Put up.

Take care of that, Eddie.

All right, Stewart.

Funny, Sheriff, that'll be

mine before the week's out.

Keep an eye, Eddie.

Yeah?

You sure?

Magnifica.

Poco, wait a minute.

You-- you don't by

any chance mean fat?

Oh, no, no, no, fat.

[speaking spanish]

Poco, you rascal, if

you're lying to me,

I'll trim your ears

like a bulldog.

Come on.

I'll be back for that dough,

Sheriff, and with a bride.

[SINGING] Here comes

the bride, [inaudible].

Well, hello.

Now look here.

You don't look like

the sort of person

who would deliberately make

matters worse for yourself.

Excuse me.

Are you married?

Are you married?

[speaking spanish]

Come on.

Come on.

Hurry up.

[speaking spanish]

[g*nf*re]

Come on.

Come on.

Hurry up.

[speaking spanish]

Don Manuel, she wants the ring.

You've gotta have a ring.

Excuse me, have you got a ring?

I say, have you-- never mind.

Give me your hand.

Give me your ha-- look, I don't

want to be rough with you.

Now give me your hand.

Thank you.

Go on.

[speaking spanish]

Say, si, lady, and say it quick.

Si.

Si.

[speaking spanish]

Now your name, miss.

You'll be branded pretty,

and it won't even sting.

So what is it?

Madeline Hammond.

Says her name is

Madeline Hammond.

She-- Madeline Hammond?

You're not Al Hammond's sister?

Yes.

Well, uh, you--

get him out of here.

[speaking spanish]

You go on.

I know your brother.

A matter of fact, I--

I think a lot of him.

Ms. Hammond, I don't

know how to explain this.

It was just a fool bet that I--

Take me to my brother.

I can't do that.

He's up in the

mountains with my boss.

Well, then, get me out

of this horrible place.

Yes, yes, certainly.

[speaking spanish]

What?

What is it?

Oh, Signor Gene, I am

so glad I found you.

Now wait a minute, Bonita.

Just a minute, Bonita.

Well, you must help me.

Uh, just-- just

a moment, please.

Now, Bonita, Bonita,

what's the matter?

Danny, he k*lled a man.

Was it Sneed?

Si, they fight

again after you go.

What am I going to do?

Well, where is Danny now?

He ride.

I don't know where.

Look, Bonita, you take my horse

and ride across the border.

I'll get word to Danny to

join you in [inaudible].

The sheriff can't get him there.

Oh, gra--

No, no, no, no, you

save that for Danny.

Come on, Bonita.

I'll get you right out of here.

A man's been shot, and they're

searching for the k*ller.

Hurry, please.

I'm staying here.

Where do you think you'd

ring up with that drunken mob?

Ms. Hammond, Ms.

Hammond, please,

don't-- don't-- don't you

think you could, uh, uh, yeah.

Tie your horses around there.

Hey, Sheriff, look here.

[knocking]

[knocking]

Come in.

Good morning.

I hope you slept well.

I just brought your

bags from the station.

What would you

like for breakfast?

I hope I didn't appear

disagreeable last night.

That didn't matter.

I had been warned.

I bet your pardon?

I am Florence Kingsley.

Ms. Kingsley, so

your the reason

I had to make this

miserable trip.

Yes.

You're not going

to marry my brother.

You can't stop it.

I'll take him home.

I'll keep him here.

I'll stop his allowance.

That will be the best thing

that ever happened to him.

He'll have to get a job.

A job?

Out here, we work and like it.

You wouldn't understand that.

My brother work, that's funny.

Why don't you laugh then?

Work at what?

Punching cows, he's

been doing it for fun.

Now he'll get paid for it.

How dare you interfere

in my affairs?

Because your brother

happens to be my affair now.

Perhaps I had better tell

you what I think of you.

If I returned the compliment,

I could be arrested.

You're a scheming,

impertinent, conniving little--

This is my house.

If you don't like it,

you know what you can do.

I wouldn't stay

here another minute.

If you go out like

that, you'll get

sunburned, to say nothing

of what the cowboys

might do if they saw you.

That's my nightgown

and my robe, too.

Get my things.

My bags, where are

they, my clothes?

Get out and let me alone.

Oh, why did I come

to this awful place?

I made Alfred write

to you about us.

I knew that would bring you.

You seem to forget that the

doctor sent him out here.

You didn't care

anything about him.

You gave him all

the money he wanted,

and that ended your

responsibility.

You were off somewhere in

Europe, having a good time.

I didn't want to

fall in love with Al.

I felt sorry for Al.

That would be for

anything that was sick.

If only for me,

he would have been

sent back to you in a pine

box, but I threw a robe on him.

I've got a claim on him, and

I'm going to hang onto him

in spite of you and high water.

I'm not after your money.

We don't want it.

The best thing that

ever happened to Al

as to have to fight for his

bread and butter, for me.

Please, Majesty,

don't try to rob

Al of his chance to be a man.

You're rich.

You've got everything, and I--

[sobbing]

Come on.

Here, I am sorry I let go.

You have a terrible temper,

but maybe it's a good thing.

I mean for Alfred.

Where is he?

Gene road to get

him last night.

Gene?

Oh, that's the gentleman

who-- who brought me here.

Yes, he borrowed my horse.

Stillwell's ranch is

high up in the mountains.

It's a hard and dangerous

ride, worst at night.

You let him go

in that condition?

Tired or sober, I'd

like to see anyone

who can stop Gene

Stewart when he makes

up his mind about anything.

He's a fighter.

You'd better get dressed.

I'll go start breakfast.

They'll be here any minute.

All right.

Uh, give me one of those, too.

Doc says Sneed will

come out all right.

Only the good die young.

Did you get anything out of

that Mexican justice of peace?

Oh, he's got a mouth

like a [inaudible].

All he says, [spanish].

And I can't find hide

or hair of Bonita.

Get your mind off women.

I pay you for protection, and

you stand around with a mouth

full of [inaudible].

Those cracks Steward made last

night about g*n running have

a smelly echo, but,

my good friend,

if I land in a

federal pen, you'll

be inside looking out with

me, and all because of one

loud-mouth, drunken cowboy.

Where'd you get these?

Down at the railroad station

last night, there were tracks

there, too, Gene Stewart's.

He bet me he'd marry the

first girl that hit town.

Well, here's wishing him a

honeymoon, alone, any place in

the desert across the border.

There they are.

Welcome to our

city, your majesty.

Alfred, how well you look.

Hello.

Oh, stop, you

smell like a horse.

Oh, you'll get used to that.

Alfred, I-- I can't get

over the change in you.

Whom do I thank?

Well, who do you think?

Of course, I've had

a horrible example.

Boy, I wouldn't have

your head this morning

for a million bucks.

Oh, Majesty, this

is Bill Stillwell.

This is my sister, Bill.

She holds the money bags.

I aim to be right

nice to her, then.

We all try to.

I've been trying to sell your

brother the purdiest piece

of land in the Southwest.

I guess I'll have to

go to work on you.

He said you were tough, but

you don't look hard to me.

Well, we'll talk

about that later.

I don't aim to

help sin along any,

but, Gene, you look as

if you need a drink.

Come on into town with me.

Oh, wait a minute.

Uh, he'll be right along.

Oh.

I want to thank you

for getting my brother.

Yeah.

You better put on your hat.

Do you want to get sunstroke?

Well, if I get it, I

guess I got it coming.

Men are such fools.

I choose to overlook what

happened last night because you

were not wholly accountable.

It's very kind of you

to put it that way.

Of course, I shall depend

on you to keep it quiet.

I certainly will.

Don Manuel is my friend,

that is, when I'm sober.

Not so much for

your sake as that

of your pretty,

little Mexican friend.

I feel sorry for her.

For-- for Bonita?

Bonita?

That's a very pretty name.

Well--

Oh, what a beautiful animal.

Hello, Poco.

Hello, Signor Gene.

What's his name?

Pal, that's short for palomino.

He's bred straight through

from the old Moorish Barbs,

aren't ya, pal?

If for no other

reason than the love

of this beautiful

creature, I should

think you'd want to be decent.

That's all.

You may go.

I've stood a lot

from you, Gene,

more, I guess, than I would from

a son, but after last night--

What have you heard, Bill?

About you and Ms. Hammond,

it's all over town.

Where, for instance?

The Adobe Saloon.

Well, I won't worry

ya anymore, Bill.

Thanks for everything you done.

You better get a new foreman.

Gene, wait.

Leave me alone, Poco.

No, no go in.

Someone k*ll you.

Let go of me, Poco.

Do you hear?

Please, Signor Gene.

Snake eyes.

Yeah, snake eyes.

Hello, Stewart.

Come in to collect that bet?

No.

Where is Bonita?

Where you'll never

lay hands on her again.

Have you helped her

cross the border?

Yeah.

For a rum hound, you're

getting to be quite a spark.

You met a woman on

that midnight train.

I met a lady.

You met Al Hammond's sister.

I know because I saw

her bags at the depot.

You took her over

to Flo Kingsley's.

What did you do, carry her

all the way in your arms?

There were only

one set of tracks,

or maybe you've took to

wearing these [inaudible]

and losing them on the trail.

Aw, come on.

Don't be bashful.

Open up.

We're all listening.

Don't make me go over there

and ask the lady what happened.

Well, this is one bet

I don't mind losing.

Beating up an officer carries

a heavy penalty, Stewart.

Gene, you better ride.

That bad?

He won't have a posse for

a month, but he has friends.

I'll go over the river.

What about your mail?

Just mark it, address unknown.

I won't be coming back,

at least not right away.

Thanks, Nels.

Did I hurt you, Poco?

It's not hurt here,

but you hurt me here.

Everything is all right now.

Nothing hurt Poco anymore when

you smile at him like that.

Come on, Poco.

All right, I'll buy

your ranch, but I'll

expect you to remain in charge,

at least until my brother

learns the ropes.

I'll be glad to stay.

All right, we'll make

that part of the deal.

Thank you very much.

"I cannot take Pal

where I am going,

nor can I sell a thing I love."

"Nor can I sell a thing I love.

Won't you accept him as some

small apology for the trouble

I have caused you--

Gene Stewart."

Take him to the stable for me.

Where is Mr. Stewart now?

Hopefully, he not know.

Signor Gene no tell me.

But I ride and ride,

and someday I find him.

Adios, senora.

That's strange.

What?

Poco called you Senora.

Yes, he did.

In Spanish, that

means married woman.

Does it?

That's odd.

Yes, isn't it?

Alfred, Alfred, what happened?

Somebody shot me, sis.

Did it happen this

side of the border?

Yes.

Were they Americans?

Must have strong

reasons for not

wanting their presence known.

This is the 20th century.

There are supposed to

be no more frontiers

where men can sh**t

their fellow creatures

without being punished.

Bill, I want something

done about this.

I wish Gene Stewart were here.

So do I, if it

would do any good.

[speaking spanish]

It's Poco.

Better get your cutters.

Take it easy, Poco.

[speaking spanish]

What, Poco?

He wants to see [inaudible].

Si, you take me [spanish].

Get him up here and help him.

Oh, I wish we'd

never seen this place.

For all I care, they can

give it back to the Indians.

You are going with me to Boston,

and when you are married,

it will be in Saint Stephen's

with civilized decency.

Sis, these last few months

haven't taught you a thing.

In a crisis, you revert right

back to type, nothing but a New

England starched skirt.

Sorry for coming

in this way, miss,

but Poco here is in a pretty bad

way, says he's got to see you.

Poco.

It is el capitan, senora.

Captain?

Si, el capitan Gene.

Yes, Poco.

El capitan is in bad

fight, soldiers all k*lled.

Was Captain Steward k*lled?

Oh, no, el capitan no k*lled.

El capitan--

[speaking spanish]

He means Gene is

alone, deserted,

sick in heart and mind.

[speaking spanish]

El capitan die soon if

someone no take him away.

Which means he's

drinking himself to death.

Being shot at ain't so bad,

but for a man like Gene to be--

You go to [inaudible].

[spanish], only you can

say the words to bring

el capitan back to life.

Did Captain Stewart send you?

Oh, no, oh, no, he

k*ll me if he know,

but-- but I don't

care if-- if he live.

You go, please.

Poco, he die for you if you go.

I'll try, Poco.

I'll try.

I'll go to Mexico.

Oh, oh, gracias, gracias.

[oinking]

Captain Stewart,

Gene, Gene, look at me.

Oh, Gene, when you've lost your

pride, you've lost everything.

I haven't got any

time for pride.

Go away, will ya?

Go on.

I'm going to take

you home with me.

Oh, no, you're not.

Uh, stay right here, but--

Come on, Gene.

Oh, Stillway, well now

it is quite a party.

Let's have a bottle, and we'll

all have-- hey, wait a minute.

Come on.

Wait.

Don't be pushing.

Come here.

Come here.

Why did you bring me here?

To talk to you, sit down.

Thanks.

I'm not worth the trouble.

Probably not, the

doctor tells me

there is no physical

treatment that

ever really cures a drunkard.

The desire to change

must come from within,

and because my own life

has been somewhat useless,

I have decided to try

my hand at being useful.

So you'll become, shall

we say, a-- a sort

of biological experiment.

Look, Ms. Hammond, do

you realize that south

of the border, I'm a criminal?

Well, I am.

I'm a filibuster, and

that's practically

a professional k*ller.

There is imprisonment or

worse hanging over my head.

You see?

You do know right

from wrong, so you

can stop k*lling

your fellow beings

just as you can stop

drinking if you choose.

I'm afraid if I tried to

stop, it would k*ll me.

So sorry for

yourself, aren't you?

Yes, I guess I am.

You see, what comes after

death is so uncertain,

and down deep I'm

really pretty yellow.

Could death be worse than

what we're both going through?

No.

Then why don't you try to stop?

Well, at least

make an effort to.

Other men have quit,

men who have fallen

lower, men who are weaker.

I have faith in

you, Gene Stewart.

If I could believe that--

Without faith,

we are only dust.

I'll quit.

You-- you won't fail me.

I've done a lot of bad things

in my life, Ms. Hammond,

but I've always tried

to keep my word.

I won't fail you.

[music playing]

This is your horse, Helen.

Oh.

Oh, and this is Monty.

How do you do?

Howdy, miss.

Majesty, where on Earth

did you ever get that?

That's my foreman,

Gene Stewart.

Oh.

Now I know why you didn't

come home to Boston.

Oh, Helen, stop it.

If he looks my way, I'll faint.

Well, I haven't seen much

of you in the last few days.

My job is to keep your cattle

this side of the border.

In these times,

that's quite a chore.

Well, who's the little

girl with the pretty eyes?

A friend of mine.

Oh, social error.

You're looking very well today.

Thank you.

Do me a favor, will you?

Please don't take your friends

that way, towards the border.

Something there

I shouldn't see?

Plenty.

That's perchance the reason

for your long absence, or maybe

your little Mexican

friend, Bonita.

Thank you.

All ready?

Nels, Monty, Bill, boys, quick.

-What's the matter?

-I found the trouble.

The man who shot Al?

Maybe, anyway, he

had a reason to.

-Where?

-Up on the Ghost Rocks.

-The Ghost Rocks.

-Si, si.

We're riding up there, Bill.

Maybe Ms. Hammond

wouldn't like it.

We'd better get Sheriff Hawes.

We don't have to

get the sheriff.

He's right there.

-What?

-Did you see him?

-You bet.

Poco saw him riding

about an hour ago.

-Si, I saw him.

-He's in with the g*n runners.

-g*n runners?

-You bet.

Nat Hayworth and his

g*ng are using this ranch

as the headquarters to

shove their rotten g*ns

over the border.

-You lead, Gene.

We'll follow.

-Well, come on.

-Come on, fellas.

-Well, let's go.

I've paid you enough.

We've checked on you.

I know how much of this junk

you moved over the border

in the last month.

You're getting more

out of this than I am.

So what?

[whistling]

Who is it, boss?

Who is it?

So Stewart's back.

I told you there would be

trouble when you [inaudible]

young Al Hammond.

I'll take care of Stewart.

No, you don't.

Stewart's got enough men

with him to clean you out.

Let me handle this.

This is the

boundary of my ranch.

On the other side of those

rocks is the land of the Aztecs.

So romantic, but not half

so interesting to me as that

booted Adonis we left behind.

Where ya heading?

Guess.

Now can it be that you don't

know about those nesters

up there?

Uh, as a matter of fact, I--

I just warned them to get out.

And it's taken you since

daylight to do that?

Uh, you get the

owner, Ms. Hammond,

to swear out an eviction

notice, and I'll serve it.

No, we're not going in

for any legal red tape.

We're curious to know what your

friend, Hayworth, is hiding,

and we're riding up

there to find out.

And if he fires at us on this

property, we're sh**ting back.

I'm warning you.

Don't take the law

in your own hands.

You're not soldiering

for some foreign nation

now, Stewart, or are you?

Come on, Sneed.

Well, what are we

waiting form, Gene?

When we get to that

next clump of rocks,

spread out, take advantage of

cover, and don't sh**t first.

Let's go.

[music playing]

[g*nf*re]

Get them back to

the ranch quickly.

Come on, folks.

[g*nf*re]

Hold it.

There's a woman.

Are you crazy?

Let go.

-You're not going up there.

-No, but you could.

Well, those are the men who

tried to k*ll your brother.

They'd have k*lled you.

And what of it?

I can't trust you

out of my fight.

Liquor, women, g*n

fighting, that's all you

ever think about.

-Majesty, please.

Never thinking about those who

love you, those who never know

what you're doing or when you'll

be brought home dead-- what you

need is some of

your own medicine,

and I'm going to give it to you.

Let go.

Majesty, listen.

I command you, let go.

[music playing]

[g*nsh*t]

Now who do you suppose could

have plugged a fine citizen

like Mr. Hayworth?

Gene Stewart?

That's right.

[happy chatter]

Good luck.

Good luck, Al.

Bye.

Bye.

Goodbye.

Gene.

Who hurt you, Poco?

I got that warrant

for you, Stewart,

and it covers

everything in the book,

including the m*rder

of Nat Hayworth.

Signor Gene, make

them let me go.

Hold it, Gene.

Take it easy, Bonita.

You'll have a chance

to take care of him

in jail, just like you did on

his big drunk in [inaudible].

They k*ll my husband, Danny.

He resisted arrest.

And they say they'll

k*ll you, too.

Don't give him an

excuse to get you.

See this?

It's a request from

military authorities

across the border to deliver

you for court-martial.

I hope they stand you

against an adobe wall.

You're coming, or

we gotta take you.

[speaking spanish]

You, you cut

Bonita loose, quick.

You, posse, you turn around

and ride straight out.

No look back.

Not you, Signor Hawes, not

you, Signor Sneed, you no move.

Get down from your horses.

Poco.

So you would turn el capitan

Stewart over to be k*lled, huh?

You know, you know what?

I don't think you'll live

long enough to do that.

You are the kind

of Americanos who--

who kick us and beat us

and call us creatures.

Even a poor, little

girl like Bonita,

you make my people think

all gringos bad, like you,

not kind and good

like Signor Gene.

But I-- I've learned now.

I've learned much from

my capitan, so I--

I give you a chance.

Now you go for your g*ns.

Oh, you must no feel bad

for Poco, Signor Gene.

Everything, she--

she's all right now.

Always I've-- I've prayed to

Santo Guadalupe that someday

you no think that-- someday you

find a lady who make you good.

So I-- I'm pretty happy now.

Adios, Signor Gene.

Adios, my friend.

I'm going to leave

you here, dear.

Are you going to be a brave

girl, keep your chin up?

I don't know.

I don't know if anyone can be

brave when the time of parting

comes.

I love you, Gene.

I'm afraid to let you go.

The things I've done

must be explained,

and that's why I'm

riding south, even

if it means a jail sentence.

Don't throw away love and

happiness for something

you've done in the past.

It's our future that count.

That's all.

I can't let you go.

Our future is

here on the border,

and it must start with a

clean slate, not with me

as a fugitive.

Surely, you understand that.

Yes, yes, I do.

Have faith, dear.

[music playing]

We'll wait.

[music playing]