02x10 - Stopover in a Western Town

[bunniefuu]

[ theme music playing ]

Would you like
to see Godey's?

I've read Godey's twice.

I have some cards
in my reticule.

We could play
old maid.

Stop trying to
amuse me, Aunt Grace.

Oh, you don't have to
be unpleasant, dear.

After all, San Francisco
isn't the end of
the world, you know.

Isn't it?

Your father thought it best to
take you away from New York.

I know, I know.

Father doesn't like
my friends.

Perhaps I'll find some
low friends in San Francisco.

I'm sure there must be
some low people there.

Oh, Caroline.

What would you do,
Aunt Grace? Send me
back to New York?

[ whistle blowing ]

[ piano playing ][ people whooping, chattering ]

Stop the train!You're gonna miss
your train!

Well, I certainly wouldn't
want to do that.

Oh, sisters,
it's been grand!

Do you love me, honey?

Sure, I do!How about you, sweetheart?

[ whistle blows ]

Don't forget to write!

Oh, a souvenir!Come back! Bye!

[ all shouting goodbyes ]

[ man shouting drunkenly ]

[ chuckling ]

[ gasps ]

Uh, beg your pardon,
sisters.

I done got throwed.

Young man, will you
please get up?

Uh, yes, ma'am.
No intention to
offend, ma'am.

Uh, you understand,
I just heard the owl.

I beg your pardon?

I seen the elephant.

I have no doubt of that,
considering the condition
you're in.

Yes, ma'am.

Looks like we've got
a nice, long trip
ahead of us.

Do you plan to sit here?

Good a place as any.

There are plenty of empty
seats where I'm sure

you'll feel much
less crowded.

Well, don't you worry
about me, ma'am.

I've got plenty of room.

Besides, there's nothing
like charming company

to help pass the time.

Well, I'll be dogged!

If you ain't the spitting image
of c*ck Annie Doyle!

Caroline!

Well, I'll tell you, sisters,
c*ck Annie Doyle

was the finest old heifer
you ever done see.

Why, she had herself
the fanciest layout
in Deadwood

till the Law and Order
Society came along
and run her out.

But that woman had a heart
as big as a barn!

[ gasps ]

When the conductor comes
through, I'll speak to him
about changing our seat.

I wouldn't think
of changing now.

For the first time,
the trip doesn't seem so dull.

Good morning, sisters.

Guess I made a howling jackass
out of myself last night.

Uh,

I'll bet you ladies think
I'm a drinking man.

That was quite obvious.

Yes, ma'am.

Uh, my name's Tolliver.
Jefferson Tolliver.

My name's Caroline Witman,
and this is my aunt,
Mrs. Van Ryder.

Well, I'm pleased
to meet you.

Uh, well, you see,
ma'am, I, uh...

I attended prayer meeting
last night, and afterwards

the ladies passed around
a little blackberry cordial.

Well, I never could handle
anything like that,

but I had to be
polite, you see.

And the ladies who
brought you to the train,

were they at prayer meeting?

Them...

Oh, yes, ma'am.

They're sisters
of the choir.

[ whistle blowing ]

Oh, good heavens!

Young man, is this
becoming a habit?

Whatever are we
stopping here for?

Cattle blocking
the tracks.

I'll just go
give them a hand.

You've got a weak
bridge up ahead.

I didn't have time
to get a warning
into town.

I drove those steers
on the track so you'd
stop the train

and not k*ll yourself
and the passengers to boot.

A flash flood washed out
the center bridge support.

You're lucky one of
my hands spotted it.

Why didn't you just
flag the train down?

Mister, you wouldn't have
stopped for a bunch of armed
cowhands, and you know it.

Well, could you
get a message into
Medicine Bow for me

and tell them I need
a work crew out here?

I'll take a message in.[ Tolliver whooping ]

[ whooping ]

[ laughing ]
What are you doing here?

Well, that's
a long, sad story.What happened?

Well, you're looking
at a busted flush.

Well, I'll be.
Boys, look who's here.

Corbie.Thought you was in Kansas City.
They run you off?

Hi, Steve, Trampas.Howdy.

No, they didn't run me
out of Kansas City.
They said to me,

"Mr. Tolliver,
you come back anytime.

You just bring
more money with you."

Well, none of you look
like you've changed
too much.

Get the steers off
the track and take them
over to the river.

Let them water
and rest for a while.

Then the cold, hard trail.Jeff, you gonna be
around for a while?

I got nothing
better to do.

Why don't you lend us
a hand, Jefferson?

Unless you're afraid
one of them cows is
gonna bite you.

Well, why don't you
just lead on, Corbie?

[ whooping ]

But you can
at least tell us
how long we'll be here.

I'm sorry, Miss Witman.
I don't know.

Depends on how much
damage there is
to the bridge.

Maybe 12 hours.
Maybe more.

Excuse me, ma'am.

Do you expect us
to spend 12 hours

in this...
wilderness?

We'll try to make
you comfortable,
Miss Witman.

Anything else I can
do for you in town?

Yes, there is.
Would you ask
the station agent

to send out some more
food and comforts
for these people?

Sure, I'll tell him.Thank you, sir.

You. You there.

Cowboy.

Would you come here, please?

Yes, ma'am?

I would like to go
to the nearest town.

Well,

you strike off
in that direction,
keep heading northwest,

and in about 14 miles from now,
you'll be in it.

I want you to
take me to town.

All right, I'll make it
worth your while.

Say, uh, $5?

Oh, all right, $10.
Not a penny more.

Now, wait a minute!
What are you doing?

What do you think
you're doing?

You wanted to go
to town, didn't you?
You're on your way.

Now, I-- I didn't
mean like this.
Now, wait a minute!

Put me down
at once!Hey!

Hey, where are
you going?Going to town.

Not without me!

Let's go!

First time I ever had
to ride on the back
of my own horse.

Here you are, ma'am.
Medicine Bow.

Hotel, bank,
saloon's over here,

and the railroad station's
right up the street.

Take your pick.
Jeff, I'll see you
later at the saloon

after I finish playing
messenger for the railroad.All right.

So long, now.Just a minute!

That is the rudest, most
arrogant excuse for a man
I have ever met!

Oh, he was just having
a little fun with you.

He's all right once
you get to know him.

I'll see you later.

I'd like a room, please.
The best you have.

Yes, ma'am.

Do you have baggage?

My baggage is on
a miserable train

which is stuck in the middle
of this miserable wilderness.

That's $2.

In advance.

How ridiculous.
I left my purse
and money on the train.

It certainly is
ridiculous, isn't it?

Surely you can
trust me until--

Ma'am, I don't
make the rules,
I just work here.

Well, Mr. Tolliver.

Don't you worry
about a thing.

I'll take care of it.

Now, listen,
this lady--Two dollars.

"Two dollars."

How much?

Two dollars.

Do you really
need a room?

I was thinking
maybe we might see
the town together.

There are lots of things
to see-- opera house,
stock pens, new jail.

No.

I'm really very tired.

Just give the little
lady a room.

That's only
a dollar and a half.

Lucky piece.

It's all set.

Oh, I don't know
what I would've done
without you.

Thank you.

Uh, uh, uh!

I was just taking
the lady to her room.

No visitors for
single ladies
in their rooms.

Goodbye, Mr. Tolliver,
and thank you so much.

[ chattering ]

So, there I was
with $1,500.

So I said to myself,
"Jefferson,

no more riding fence
when it's sizzling hot,

no more feeding hay
when it's freezing cold.

Go east, young man,
and make yourself
a fortune."

So I went.
To Kansas City.

How was it?

Corbie, you ain't never
seen a town like that.

They got buildings there
that are so tall

that a man could
stand on the roof
and kick off his boot

and count to 100 before
it reached the ground.

I don't believe that.

Well, it's
the truth.

Ain't it?

True as gospel.

Well, how about
that fortune you
was gonna make?

Well, I looked around,

kind of testing
the financial climate,

as they say back there,

and, uh, well, I was
showing them fellows
a thing or two.

Well, uh,
they just picked me

right down to
the pinfeathers.

And when they started to
singe those, I decided

to come on back here
where I belong.

Broke, huh?

Busted.

Well, except for this.

Paid a man $75
for that watch.

That's solid gold.

[ wolf whistles ]

Oh!
Excuse me.

Hey, boss man,
are you gonna give him
his old job back?

We'll find something
for him to do.

Good evening.Good evening.

Miss Caroline,
you shouldn't
be in here.

Is it against
the law?

Well, no, ma'am, but it
ain't decent. If anybody
was to see you in here--

I was on my
way to dinner
and thought I'd see

if you gentlemen
would mind joining me.

Well--I'm afraid we've
already eaten.

As a matter of fact,
I was going to dine
at Murphy's,

but I understand
they frown on
ladies dining alone.

THE VIRGINIAN:
Hmm.

That's a new one.
Never heard that before.

But it didn't bother you
to come into this here saloon,

so that shouldn't
matter too much to you.

Or did you just come
in here to get somebody
to buy you dinner?

Miss Caroline.

I'm sorry. I forgot.
She ain't got a cent on her.

Oh, well, why
didn't you say so?

Here.

I wouldn't accept
a meal from you

if I were
starving to death.

I've never met a man
so insulting and crude as--

You'd better take this
because they're both
flat broke.

And you wouldn't have
come in here if you
weren't hungry.

Now, that's a nice way
to treat a lady.

Yeah.

Go find the lady
and feed her.

Just call this
an advance on my wages.

Call it anything
you want.

Miss Caroline?
Miss Caroline...

Why, Mr. Tolliver.

Hey, I thought
you was mad.

Oh, of course not.

Well, what I wanted
to say was...

Well, most people
get along with him
just fine,

but I guess you just
rubbed him the wrong way.

Oh, not that you've
got any reason to
like him much.

Well, I'm sure if
a person got to know him...

Oh, that's right.

Oh, what I, uh,
wanted to say, uh...

I'd like to ask
you to dinner.

Why, I'd be delighted.

And, later, well,
I'd love it

if you'd show me around
this wonderful little town.

Yes, ma'am.

[ whistling ]

Thanks.

Are you the man
around here?

I'm foreman, yeah.

Name's Cassidy.
I could sure use
a riding job.

Well, I'd like
to help, but, uh,

we've got a full crew.

Same thing all over.

Stay and eat.

That's kindly of you.
I don't mind if I do.

GRACE:
Caroline! Caroline!

Where have you been?
I've been so worried!

Hurry up, Aunt Grace.
Get our baggage
and get off.

Get off here?
You're out of your mind!
Why should I get off here?

Because we're staying.
I've already wired Father.

Well, I feel that
little kids are now
safe to play with me.

Where are you from?

Jackson Hole country.
They got trouble out there.

What kind of trouble?

Stealing whole herds of cows,
running them over to
the mining camps in Montana.

Where would you hide
a whole herd of
rustled beef?

Oh, well, there's plenty
of places to hide 'em if
a man takes time to look.

You sound like you know
quite a bit about it.

Oh, I just hear things,
that's all.

Well, thanks for
the grub, mister.

Say, uh, we're starting
a roundup around here
pretty quick.

One of the other spreads
might need an extra hand.
You could ask.

Thanks a lot.
I'll try.

I don't understand
your interest in this town.

There's absolutely
nothing that...

Whatever have
you got on?

It's a riding costume.

Like it?

It looks indecent.

No lady ever
rides straddle.

They do out here.

Well, I suppose
it is, uh, practical.

Aunt Grace, I'm going
to buy a horse.

Buy one?

A wild horse with spirit.

That's half the fun--

making a spirited
animal obey.

Caroline,
wild horses

can be dangerous.

It's the danger that makes
the animal exciting.

Thought you went
out with the boys
this morning.

I was on my way.
Uh, are we in
the business

of selling
saddle horses
these days?

Sure, if we've got
a customer. Why?

Well, we got one.
Won't talk to nobody
but the foreman.

Wants a horse, huh?

Good morning.

Good morning.

I guess you must've
missed your train.Deliberately.

Father always told me
land was a good investment,

so I figured as long
as I was out here,
I'd take a look around.

And if I'm going
to look around...

You'll need a horse.Exactly.

Any one of my men
could've picked out
a good mount for you.

You're not going to make it
easy for me, are you?

How do you mean?

All right.

I'm a little ashamed.

I was rather rude to you
the other night
for no reason at all.

Well, I guess I figured
this would be the best
way to apologize.

Accepted?

Accepted.Good.

We got off to
a bad start.

I think with a little
extra effort, we can
be good friends.

Well, let's see
about that horse.

Thank you.

[ whinnying ]

How do you like
this one?

Well, I want to make sure
I get a horse with spirit.

Well, this one's got enough
spirit for two of you.

I don't know much about horses,
so I'll have to depend
on your judgment.

I'm completely
at your mercy.

Well, you never want to
admit a thing like that
in a horse trade.

What, then?

Well, you should
look wise.

Walk around the horse.
Make a few remarks.

Just what kind of remarks?

Well, you might say, uh,

"He looks a little
sway-backed, doesn't he?"

or, uh, "Doesn't he sound
a little heavy?"

Things like that.

I'd say this is a good
hundred-dollar horse.

Looks a little,
uh, sway-backed.

Doesn't he?

[ chuckles ]
Did I do it right?Just perfect.

Come on. I'll put
a saddle on him
and we'll try him out.

It's almost frightening,
isn't it?

What?

This country.

It's so big
and empty.

Why does anybody
stay here?

Why do you stay here?

It's where
my work is.

I mean besides that.

Maybe because
it is big.

A man feels free,
I guess.

Does freedom mean
so much to you?

Doesn't it to you?

I don't know. I've never
had much freedom.

Poor little rich girl.

I wasn't looking
for sympathy.

But it isn't
as easy as you think.

There are so many things
that I want

and never can have.

Things other girls take
as a matter of course
are impossible for me

because of family position
and money.

Things like love and romance

with the kind of man
I'd select for myself

rather than one
picked for me.

Could get to be a problem.

We'd better get back.

[ whinnying ]

I can't hold him!

[ whinnying ]

Good runner,
isn't he?

Do you realize
I could've been k*lled?

Do you realize I'm not
quite as big a greenhorn
as you thought I was?

I'll try to keep it
in mind.

Good.

I thought we were
going to be friends.

You don't think much
of me, do you?

It's not important
what I think about you.

I want to know.

All right.
You asked for it.

You are reckless
and headstrong,
young lady.

You never think
about consequences.

I think you were
the kind of little girl

that'd burn her hand
on a hot stove

and then touch it again
to see if it was still hot.

You're the kind of a woman
a man would have to beat.

Regular.

Keep on a Spanish
curb bit.

Kind of enjoy playing
games with people.

And right now, you're
trying do it with me.

You know, it, uh,
could be nice.

So very nice.

[ whistling, shouting ]

Hello, Wainwright.
Come on down.

How's your tally
coming out?Down from last year.

They've been beefing
my breeders.

Something ain't done about
this rustling, we'll all be
out of the cow business.

Well, we've all got guards
out, and the sheriff's
doing everything he can.

Even if he catches
some of them, that
won't stop anything.

Putting them in jail
a few months won't
teach them a thing.

Well, I don't see
what else he can do.

If I wanted to keep crows
out of my corn patch,

I'd hang me up
a dead crow or two
to scare the others off.

I don't aim to
stand still while
they rob me blind.

We've got to form
an association.
Take some action.

Let's wait till we
finish the roundup.
Then we'll talk it over.

It'll take more
than talk.

Something's down.

Is it one of ours?Yeah.

Look at that.
Fresh k*ll.

Butchered out
the best cuts.

What do you
make of it?

Somebody's butchering
beef for market.

Take care of that.
I'll try to pick up
a trail.

Now, why?

Why would a man risk
all the trouble there was

just to beef one
little old steer?

Different men got
different reasons,
I guess.

If the butchers didn't leave
the carcass laying around,
a rancher wouldn't miss it.

Well, miss it or not,
stealing's stealing.

Stealing depends on
who gets caught and which
end of the rope you're on.

Corbie, I never
heard such talk.

Well, that's 'cause
nobody talks about it.

How do you think all
these big ranchers got
started around here?

They went out and got
themselves some ranch land

and set about with
a wide and careless loop
in their rope and stocked it.

If they got caught
the first year,
they hung 'em.

If they lasted five years,
they got big,

and they became a member
of the stockmen association.

Then they set about to
hang all the poor devils

out stealing their beef.

Well, I still don't
see it that way.

Well, it's like
I said--

It all depends
on which end of
the rope you're on.

Mail's in.
Come and get it.

Cook.

Combes.

Brown.

Tolliver.

Right here.

You, uh,

get anything important
in your mail?

Nothing much.

You, uh, planning
on doing anything

after roundup?

I imagine I'll take
a good rest. Why?
You planning something?

Well, uh, I thought

I might attend
a soiree.

Uh, this came
in the mail for me

from Miss Caroline Witman.

Hmm.
It's engraved.
Real high class.

Sure is.

You got one too?

Why, sure.
So did a lot of
the other fellows.

That girl's planning
one big party.

I can see absolutely
no reason for this party.

All this fuss and bother
for a lot of townspeople
and cowboys.

I don't know what
your father will say.

That's tight enough.Ooh, I want it tighter.

Good heavens,
you'll suffocate!

I want the tiniest
waist ever.

Very well.

Oh! Enough, enough!

I thought you were
saving that gown

for a special
occasion.

Oh, this is a very
special occasion,
Aunt Grace.

Why?

You didn't answer me.

Why is this
a special occasion?

There's a man,
isn't there?

Not exactly.

Not the way
you mean it.

I intend to teach
someone a lesson.

Caroline, I think
you're making a mistake.

The men out here aren't
at all what you've been
accustomed to.

They... They take things
quite seriously.

I don't like it,
Caroline.

I don't like it at all.

[ waltz playing ]

Miss Witman, it's
a magnificent party.

Medicine Bow has never
seen anything like this.

Thank you.
I hope you enjoy it.

I do indeed.

Good evening,
Miss Caroline.Oh, hello, Jeff.

May I have this dance?

Not right now,
thank you.

Well, may I
serve you some punch?

No, thank you.

Excuse me, please.

I'd almost
given you up.Never fear.

Do you waltz?

Badly.Shall we try?

Of course.

Mm, we're terribly close.

Are we?

Ooh, we'll set
tongues wagging.

No. Do you?

Not at all.

Just the same,
I think

we'd better go outside.

For some air.

You certainly have
beautiful nights
here in Wyoming.

Mm-hmm.

We certainly do.

Do you still think
I'm the kind of woman
that needs to be beaten?

Well, only with
a very light switch.

And kept on
a Spanish curb bit?

I'm afraid that'd be
the only way to keep you.

I have to get back
to the other guests.

Got a few minutes?

Can it wait, Sheriff?It's important.

Wainwright's got up
a meeting of the ranchers.

They're over at the saloon
talking about forming
a stock association.

You sitting in on it?Trying to keep
the lid on.

I could use
another sober voice.

All right.

Um, I've been
looking all evening

for a dance with you,
Miss Caroline.

Why, Jeff, I've been
wondering where
you've been hiding.

WAINWRIGHT:
That's the way it's got to be.
We'll make up our minds,

decide here what we're gonna do
and how we're gonna handle it.

We'll stick together.
Hello, boys.

Wainwright.Sit down.

Mark, I want you to
understand one thing.

Nobody's trying
to criticize you.

We just got too big
a job for one man
to handle,

and we aim
to help you.

You're talking about
organizing vigilantes,
Wainwright.

Well, they tried that
up in Johnson County.
Know what it led to?

Stopping a lot
of rustling.Yeah.

And they got nesters,
saddle tramps,

everyone they even suspect
of rustling dangling
from hanging trees.

Somebody's got to be
taught a lesson.Some lesson.

Those ranchers have lit
a fire under a powder keg,

and some of these days,
it's gonna blow up
in their faces.

They're heading
for a range w*r.

We got a right to protect
our property, ain't we?

No.
Not with hangings,

barn burnings,
and shootings
from ambush.

That's what it leads to.
I've seen it.

Mark, maybe Wainwright's
got a point.

Maybe a range association
would help.

That's vigilante action.

Not if you deputize the members
of the range association.

And we'd be working
under the law, and we'd
be bound by the law.

No, that won't work.

You arrest a cow-stealing
nester, and a jury'll
turn him loose!

The idea's worth trying.

All right.
I'll go along with it.

For a while.

[ waltz playing ]

May I?

I'm sorry.
It's already promised.

Perhaps later.

[ music resumes ]

Good night,
Miss Caroline.

Good night, Jeff.

Good night.

Did you have
a good time?

Oh, it was all right.

Do you think
you're being wise?

I don't know
what you mean.

Caroline, sometimes
you must think I'm
a silly old woman,

but I have eyes in my head
and I can add two and two
and make four,

and... you're in love

with that ranch foreman.

Oh, Aunt Grace,
that's ridiculous!

Is it?

Well, he's conceited,

unmannerly and insufferable.

I stayed here to
teach him a lesson,

and I'm going to
do just that.

I'm going to put
a ring in his nose

and teach him
how to heel.

What an interesting idea.

I wonder if

you believe in it
yourself.

A man ain't never danced
till he danced with
that Miss Caroline.

You know, it ain't
so much like dancing.
It's more like floating.

Why, she's as light
under your arm as
a puff of thistle down.

You'd better get off
your high horse, Jeff.

You're gonna get
bucked off, boy.

Who's gonna get throwed?

Don't you understand?
She's just leading you on.

Look, Corbie, there ain't
nothing in this world

that pure love
can't overcome.

That's including
a big bank account.

And that's what I got--

pure love.

You're not going to town
again, are you?

Well, uh,

I ain't wearing this
new $20 hat

just to punch cows in.

Whoo-ee!
That's the second time
this week, ain't it?

Yep.

Oh, uh, say,
where's the boss?

He's down at the corral.

[ whistling ]

Again?

Well, I've got
a little business
in town.

You've sure been having
a powerful lot of
business in town.

Well, I get my work
done, don't I?

Yeah, you get
your work done,
all right.

Well, then it doesn't matter
if I go to town, does it?

Not a bit.
Have a nice time.

Oh, uh, speaking of time,

ain't I got a little
something coming?

"Coming"?
You're already into me

for four months'
pay in advance.

Well, this is
kind of important.
Let's go for five.

Jeff, I just can't do it.
It's not my money.

Well, all I need's
$15, $20.

That's almost half
a month's pay.

What do you do
with your money?

I don't ask you what you
do with your money, do I?No.

I'm not asking you for
any loans, either.

Jeff, I'm sorry.
I just can't do it.

Well, all right!

If that's the way
you feel about it.

I thought you was
going into town.

A man can change
his mind, can't he?

How about that?

What about it?

Corbie, here's your chance

to buy yourself
a solid gold
watch and chain.

I paid $75 for that.

I'm gonna let you
have that for $15.

Jeff, I've been putting off
telling you something
about that watch.

That watch ain't gold.

It ain't?

No, it ain't.

A ton of them watches
wouldn't assay out 15 cents.

Besides, I ain't seen
$15 since payday.

I just don't have it.

[ whistling, shouting ]

Just hold it
right there, friend.

I've seen you before,
ain't I?

That's a nice way
to pay for a meal--
butchering Shiloh beef.

I never knew
it was Shiloh.

If you was hungry,
why didn't you just ride in?
You didn't have to do this.

A man needs more than
a full belly once in a while.

A man needs to know
he's got a few dollars
in his pocket

for a drink or a girl
or something.

Or just to feel
he's got a little money.

You was butchering
for market?

Well, I got to
take you in.

You know what
they'll do to me.

It's only a steer.

It ain't right to send
a man to prison for a steer.

It ain't up to me.It is now.

If you let me go, I'll drift
out of this country and never
come back, and that's a promise.

Start drifting.

What are you gonna
do about that?

You never mind about that.

Well, it's dead.

It ain't no use to
nobody laying there.

Get on your horse!

Mister, that's $70
worth of beef.

That's $35 apiece.

It ain't gonna hurt nobody
if I sell it now.

"Halfers"?

[ laughing ]

[ gasps ]
Murphy's, Jeff?

Well, sky's the limit,
honey. I just came
into a little money.

They took
ten head.

What do you got there?

Nothing.

I'll send a roll
of wire out.
String it tight.

You sure picked
a good time to
go into town.

We was out riding
till sunrise.

So I heard.

Uh, you boys
find anything?

Nope. They got
clean away.

Daggone fools.

"Fools"?

Sound pretty smart to me
if they got clean away.

Well, we'll catch 'em
sooner or later.

What for?
Chicken feed.

"Chicken feed"?
Ten head of steer--

that's worth
a lot of money.

Look, Jeff, that's
still chicken feed.

Now, if you're talking
about 300, 400 head,

chance for a man
to get rich,
that's different.

If you're gonna put
your head in a noose,

you may as well
get caught as a lion
instead of a sheep.

Well, that's easy
enough to say,

but first of all,
you got to get them cattle

and you got to figure out
what to do with them.

I don't see that
that's any problem.

If it was me,
I'd locate me
a big herd,

stampede 'em in
the middle of the night,

and while everybody
was busy, I'd run off

400 or 500 head.

Then I'd drive 'em across
the Montana border,

change the brands,
and I'd have
no more worries.

I'd be a rich man.

Yes, sir.

Well, you make it
sound easy.

Mm! That's a nice
pair of boots.

Forty-dollar boots.Oh, that's a whole
month's pay.

But I got 'em real cheap.
Fellow going out of business.

Oh, where? I might like
to get a pair of boots
like that myself.

Sorry, friend.
That's the last pair
he had in stock.

Why, that's--
that's my watch.

Mm-hmm. Found it.
I've been saving it
for you.

Where'd you find it?

Well, don't you remember
where you lost it?

No, I don't remember.
That was over a week ago.

Oh.Thank you, though.

Mm-hmm.
Going to town again?

Yeah, I'm going to town.

Must cost you a pack
of money to go into
town so often.

Well, I tell you,
it would purely
break a man

if, uh, there weren't
such bad poker players
around that hotel.

I never saw such fellows
that could draw into
inside straights.

It's like... just like
sh**ting chickens to
take their money.

Doesn't it, uh,

bother your conscience some
to take money like that?

Well, if I didn't take it,
somebody else would.

I suppose so.

Good night.Good night.

I'll see you
in the morning.

Corbie?

Yeah?

You been, uh, making
any of these poker games

in town with Jeff?

What poker games?

The way he tells it,
he's been going into
town every night

to play poker with
the boys at the hotel.

Well, the part about
him going to town,
that's true enough,

but it's not
to play poker.

You see, that boy's
kind of sick,

if you can call love
a sickness.

About the only thing
he's interested in
these days

is going into town
to see Caroline Witman.

[ knock at door ]

Well, this is
a surprise.

It's been at least
a week, hasn't it?

I want to talk
to you alone.

I'll be in the other room,
Caroline.

Was that necessary?

I want to speak
to you about Jeff.

What about Jeff?

Are you serious
about him?

That's rather personal,
isn't it?

And besides,

what could it possibly
mean to you?

Jeff just happens to be
one of the best friends
I've ever had,

and you're driving him
right out of his mind.

He thinks he's
in love with you.

Is there anything
wrong with that?Sure, there is.

For you,
everything's just a game,
but Jeff is serious.

He should hardly take the fact
that I've seen him a few times

as meaning anything.

I haven't
encouraged him
in any way.

Oh, you couldn't help
encouraging a man

any more than you
could stop breathing.

The point is,
you'd better make it
clear to him

just how you feel about him
or you're gonna shove that
fellow into serious trouble.

More serious than you
can possibly imagine,
young lady.

Well, hey.
What are you doing here?

I just left
Caroline, Jeff.

Oh? You want to
tell me about it?

Sure, I do,
but not here.

Here's as good
a place as any.

You been seeing my girl?
You been sneaking around
behind my back?

Look, let's go on
back out to the ranch.

We can sit down
and talk it over.

I don't want to talk.
I want some answers.

So do I, Jeff,
and I don't like the ones
I'm coming up with.

You're getting into trouble
over that woman.

Deep trouble.That's my business.

And mine
and Wainwright's

and maybe even
the sheriff's.

We can't talk
about that here, so--

No, you finish
what you started.

You just tell me what
right you've got to be
calling on my girl.

Jeff, what makes you think
she belongs to you?

A girl like Caroline Witman
belongs to any man--

[ knock at door ]

Hey, you're
all ready.

I'm not going out
tonight, Jeff.

Are you all right?I'm fine.

A little tired.

Come in, please.
I want to talk to you.

Jeff, we've been seeing
a lot of each other lately.

We sure have.

Possibly too much.

I wouldn't want you to
get the wrong impression.

"Wrong impression"?

Jeff, you're
a dear, sweet man--

charming and amusing.

And I've enjoyed
your company.

You don't have to
tell me that, Caroline.

Yes, I do,
because you still
don't understand.

I never intended for...

our association to
ever become serious.

Is that all?

Isn't that enough?

Well, sure,

but I knew that.

I even felt
the same way myself.

You did?

Sure, but all
that proves is that...

well, things just don't
always turn out the way
you think they will.

Now, you just
let me do the talking
for a while, will you?

Jeff, please--Please, just let me
do this my way.

Now, I don't know how
they do it in New York
or San Francisco,

but..

Oh, Jeff,
you didn't understand
a word I said.

I understand
I love you, Caroline.

But I don't want you
to love me.

I never wanted that.

Well, maybe so,
but it's happened.

And you can't
change that.

Jeff, listen to me.

And try to understand.

You took things seriously
that I never intended
to be serious,

because I'm not
a serious girl.

I'm not a cowhand's
girl, Jeff.

For me, Medicine Bow
was a stopover,

a few weeks
in a Western town.

And no matter
what you think,

you were nothing
more that someone

who made those few weeks
a tiny bit more interesting.

I don't believe that.

Then believe this.

My father is
a very wealthy man.

How much do you make?

I make $40 a month.

Forty dollars.

That's not even
enough to keep me

in dresses
for a week.

Doesn't that
tell you anything?

Yep.

That tells me something.

Jeff,

I'll be leaving
Medicine Bow.

Write me a letter
once in a while.

I think that'd be best
for both of us.

No, I won't
have to write you.

I'm gonna find you.

And when I do,
I'm gonna have more
money in my pocket

than you've ever seen
in your life.

You know four
or five good men?

Why? You got
something in mind?

Something that's gonna
take four or five
good men.

Have them out
at the line shack
tomorrow morning.

Wainwright's moving
his main herd
to new grass.

They're mostly feeder stock.
I figure we can take
half of them.

That's an awful
big job, Tolliver.

They hang a man
just as high
for 100 cows

as they do
for one cow.

[ all shouting ]

[ hoof beats ]

Who's there?

THE VIRGINIAN:
Shiloh Ranch coming in.

How bad did
they hit you?They split up my herd.

Stampeded half of them
over a cliff.
Got away with the rest.

Over 200 head.
k*lled one of my men.

I said all along
this day was coming.

Take it easy, Wainwright.

I'll take it easy
when we catch up
with those rustlers.

Let's get started.How are we gonna pick up
their trail in the dark?

Best we can do is wait here
and start out in the morning.

By that time they'll be
30 miles gone,

hid up so's we'll
never find them.

We've got to get
started tonight.
Split up.

Come daylight,
we'll have a chance
to pick up their trail.

Fair enough.
I'm sending Corbie with you.

I'll get my bunch
into their saddles.

Corbie.

You ride with him.
He's so mad
he can't see straight.

He catches up
to those rustlers...

Well, I don't want any
necktie parties, understand?Yep.

They're heading north
toward the Montana border.

Shouldn't be hard
to follow this one.

A broken horseshoe's
as good as a signature.

Wainwright!

Good.

What are you trying to do?
Tell the whole country
we're here? Put it out!

The boys just
want some coffee,
that's all, Jeff.

That kind of wanting
will get you hanged.
I said put it out!

Now, come on, Jeff!

Cut out, boys!

[ hoof beats retreating ]

Go get him!

Bring 'em up!

Anybody got anything to say?

Anybody want to tell me
who it was that got away?

Santa Claus.

Hoist 'em up.

[ hoof beats ]

Put down those
ropes, Wainwright.

I took 'em. They're mine.You're wrong, Wainwright.
They belong to the sheriff.

Take 'em down!

Take 'em down, boys.

Where's Corbie?

One of 'em got away.
I sent Corbie after him.

You got a g*n
at your back, mister!

Jeff?Corbie!

[ laughs ]

Well, what you
doing out here?

Whoa, boy.

Look at that shoe!
It's busted!

Jeff, you may
as well hung a sign
around your neck

that said "rustler."

I never noticed that.

Whatever put a fool
notion in your head
to pull a stunt like that?

Now I got to
take you in.

Take me in?
Corbie, I thought
you'd understand.

I was only doing
what you were always
talking about doing.

You said if a man
was gonna be anything,

he had to steal big.

Well.... Well, I-I
didn't mean that.

Don't you know the difference
between doing and talking?

Well, then, what
are we gonna do?

Well, I can't
take you in. I...

And I just can't
turn you loose either.

They're looking all over
this country for you.

They're trailing you
because of that
busted horseshoe.

Look, uh,

maybe you could go into town
and let on like you'd
been there all day.

But what about those
fine friends of yours?
Are they gonna talk?

I don't think so.

All right, then,
you do that.

You go into town
and get drunk,
get throwed in jail.

I don't care.
Do anything.
But just...

just let people know
that you ain't left town,
you understand?

But what are
you gonna do?

I don't know.

Well, I can take your horse
and make a false trail.

I can turn him loose,
and when they find him

I'll just tell them
that the man I was
following jumped me.

Now, go on.
Get out of here,
will you?

Corbie, I always knew
you was a good friend.

Oh, shut up, will you?
Go on.

Go on!
Get out of here!

Just ride!

That way.

Don't sh**t!

This is the horse that
that outlaw was riding,
all right.

What was Corbie
doing on him?

If you'd kept your head,
we might've found out.

Now you see what's wrong
with hanging out a couple
dead crows, Wainwright.

Awful lot of sparrows
get caught in the birdshot.

Put him on
his horse, boys.

Whoa.
Easy, boy.

Jeff.

Hello, friend.
Where you been?

Out trailing
cow thieves.

Is that a fact?
I ain't heard about it.

I've been here in town
last couple days
getting, uh...

liquored up,
one thing or another.

Ain't kept up
with the news.

Whose herd got rustled?

Corbie's dead, Jeff.

Well, I'm sorry
to hear that.

He was shot by accident.

He was riding
the rustler's horse.

I, uh...

I figured to let you
turn yourself in.

Somehow things got
all messed up.

I'll be at the sheriff's.

I ain't gonna
turn myself in.

Don't be a fool, Jeff.

Well, you've got to take me
or I'm gonna take you.

You're not fast enough
or straight enough, Jeff.

I got nothing more to lose.

You k*lled him!

I think that's what
he wanted me to do.

I don't understand.

Well, you think about it.

Think about it
long and hard!

Wait.

You blame me,
don't you?

I never meant to
cause any harm.
I just...

I know.

You were just
playing games.

But I had a reason.

I didn't know it
at the time,
but Aunt Grace did.

Was it worth this?

[ theme music playing ]