Lightning Raiders (1946)

[bunniefuu]

Yessiree, mr. Loren,

When the stage rolls in

I'm gonna be one of

The biggest landholders

In this part

Of the country.

My partners comin' in

To help me run cattle, too.

We're gonna show this town

What a big ranch looks like.

I hope you're luckier

Than I am, fuzzy.

Don't worry, I'll lend you

A herd till you're on your feet.

How's your wife,

Mr. Murray?

She's ailin'

Pretty bad, fuzzy,

And the doc can't

Get here for a week.

But he's sendin'

Some medicine in

On the stage.

Well, that'll

Help her.

Say, I heard you

Struck it rich

Up on law's creek.

I wish I could

Find me a gold mine.

I hope it's

A rich strike --

I'm expecting

The assayer's report

On this mail.

If it's what

I think it is,

Everything will be

All right with me.

I got an important letter

Comin' in, too --

It's about

My land deal.

Too bad we only get mail

Just twice a month.

Seems like

Everybody in town's

Depending on this mail.

Here she comes, now!

Where did it

Happen this time?

In that wooded spot

On the upper flats road.

Joe threw down the strong box

Just before they got him.

Then you got

The mail through?

Nope, they didn't

Stop for the box.

The three of'em made me

Throw down the bag.

Why, them dirty

Lowdown polecats --

I'd like to

Get my hands on 'em!

Ed, take care of joe.

Hit you hard,

Too, loren?

Yes. I had hopes

Of gettin' word

From my brother.

This thing will

About finish me.

Something wrong, fuzzy?

Sure is,

Mr. Wright.

The stage was

Held up again

And them bandits

k*lled joe hawkins.

Did the driver

Save the mail?

No, those coyotes

Got everything.

Something's gotta be done

To stop these holdups.

It's hurting

Too many people.

I'll say it is,

And I'm one of 'em!

Talk to me, fuzz --

You just don't look right!

I'm all right.

You're all right?

I guess it must be

The new pants.

Aren't you

Glad to see me?

I am, I am --

What about

That ranch of yours?

Come on, you can

Show me the spread.

Billy, I ain't

Got no land now.

Things have been

Happening around here.

What do you mean?

I expected my papers

On that stage,

And it got robbed.

Where's the sheriff?

Seems like anytime

These things happen,

He's out of town.

Anyway, he couldn't

Catch a fly in a bucket.

If he had been

On the job,

This wouldn't have happened

To my land deal.

They went right past

The strong box

And grabbed the mail.

Grabbed the mail?

Doesn't seem like

Any ordinary holdup.

Usually they grab the gold

And leave the mail alone.

Not the breed

We got around here.

Everybody in town

Was waiting for that mail!

I'd like to

Get my hands on --

No use standin' there

Yellin' about it --

Where'd it happen?

On the upper flats road.

Come on, maybe we can

Pick up their trail.

Who's that stranger

With fuzzy?

I don't know.

Must be the partner

He was waiting for.

This looks like the spot

Where it happened.

Yeah. Looks like they

Turned off this way.

What's over

In that direction?

Nothing but

An old mining camp.

We'll have a look.

That's funny --

That cabin's been

Deserted for years.

Not now.

( g*nshots )

Hey, what are you

Gonna do?

Flush 'em out.

Suits me.

We've gotta

Make a break for it!

Burn that stuff!

All right...

Let's get

After 'em!

Wait a minute --

Let 'em go.

I want to see

What's in that cabin.

Ha! We outsmarted 'em

This time!

You mean

This mail sack did.

Billy, see if you can

Find my letter.

Suppose you

Were a bandit --

What would

You go after?

Gold, silver, jewels.

That's what makes

This holdup so different.

Somebody wanted these letters

Bad enough to k*ll a guard.

It weren't the valuables

They were after,

It was information.

This is just

What I mean.

This man was

Pretty hard hit --

"Dear mr. Wright,

"I hope this

Reaches you in time

"To get you

Out of your trouble."

I saw him this morning

And he looked awful worried.

I'm sorry

You didn't

Receive word

From the bank,

George.

I'd be glad to give you

A little more time.

Thanks, but that would

Only add to the burden.

I'd like you

To take over now --

It'll ease my mind.

It seems a shame to

Lose the hotel, dad.

Mr. Hayden's

Willing to wait.

What's the use?

I want to settle

The matter right now.

Then I can

Start over.

All right,

If you insist.

What are we

Stopping here for?

Let's go back and try

To get the drop on 'em.

We can't afford to

Let 'em find that evidence.

Let's go.

Does it say anything

About a check in there?

Yeah. "Enclosed is

The wells fargo check.

"This loan is covered

"By the note

You forwarded to our bank."

Ain't nothin' in it.

Of course not --

What did you expect?

Whoever's got the check

Can't cash it --

But they could

Keep it

And close down on wright,

Couldn't they?

You've figured it out --

Except somebody in town

Beat you to it.

Any idea

Who it could be?

It's as plain as

The nose on your face --

Those stagecoach robbers.

I don't think so.

You don't?

Nope.

Then who is it?

That's what I'm gonna

Have to find out.

That's where

You need me --

I'm a ferret

When it comes to

Finding out things.

"I'll never forget

The sweetness of your kisses,

"And the love in your eyes

"The night we were together

Under the stars.

"I was so choked up,

"I didn't say what I wanted to

All the weeks we were together.

"Will you marry me?

"I'll meet every stage

Waiting for your answer.

"Please, jane, say yes.

"I hope I haven't

Been too bold..."

Tsk tsk, fuzz --

Shame on you.

I-i didn't mean

To read this,

It's jane rice...

I gotta get it

To her some way.

I can't have her believin'

She's been jilted.

Wait a minute,

We can't tip our hand

Until we work this thing out.

Do you know a man

By the name of loren?

Yeah, yeah...

Has he been jilted, too?

No, of course not,

He's got four children.

He's been

Pretty hard hit.

"Dear brother paul,

"Hannah and me are sorry

About the loss of your cattle.

"We scraped together $200

And enclose it.

"Hoping all will be all right.

Your brother, harry."

Don't tell

The children, paul.

Let them think the money

Is coming on the next stage.

But that ain't

For two weeks.

Meantime, how are

We gonna eat?

We'll manage somehow --

You'll see.

I just ain't got words

To express my opinion

Of a sidewinder

Who would steal $200

Out of a man's letter.

Thanks, fuzz.

What are you doing?

I'm gonna make it look like

All them letters are burned up,

Just in case those outlaws

Come snoopin' around.

Now you're

Using your head

For something else

Besides growing whiskers.

Can we get to your cabin

Without being seen?

Sure can.

Good. We gotta find a place

To hide these letters.

I got just the spot.

Lend me your knife.

Hurry up.

Okay.

There ain't

Nothin' wrong here.

Let's get out of here.

Only one thing wrong --

The boss ain't gonna like you

k*lling that guard.

Don't try to pin

That k*lling onto me!

I seen you

Pick him off.

Hold it,

You two!

We're all

In this together.

What's he trying to

Hang that k*lling on me for?

There ain't gonna be

No accusin' one another,

Or somebody's gettin'

Their trap shut with lead.

Come on, throw what you got

On the table.

The boss

Will want this.

Wasn't much

In that fargo box

This time.

Yeah, but this haul's

Givin' us some nice deals

The boss'll be able to grab.

What's the idea

Of stopping here?

You see this place?

Yeah, it's big enough.

This is where we'll meet

If we ever get separated.

You kiddin'?

From now on,

I'm gonna stick

So close to you

They'll think

We're twins.

Don't wish that on me.

Let's drop by your cabin

And hide this stuff.

We'll go by murray's

Afterwards. Come on.

Here's murray's letter --

We'll drop it in the mailbox

On the way into town.

Hey, billy --

Come here!

I wonder how come

Murray gets a letter

When everybody knows

All the mail's been stolen.

The county assayer's office

In mainville.

This letter's been opened

And resealed -- look at that.

I'll betcha

Those outlaws

Delivered it.

I wonder why?

If there was any value,

They would have kept it.

You hit the nail

Right on the head --

If it's valuable,

They keep it --

No value,

They deliver it.

Maybe murray can

Clear it up --

Come on.

Hello, fuzzy.

I want you to meet

Billy carson.

Glad to know you.

Howdy.

Sit down.

Too bad about

That stage holdup.

Yes, I was expecting something

From dr. Norton.

I was also hoping

To get some good news

From the assayer.

Well, maybe

This is it.

It was in

The mailbox.

How did it

Get there?

Whoever held up the stage

Must have delivered it.

What's the matter?

Is it bad news?

Yes. I thought

I struck it rich,

And I sent some samples in

To be assayed.

But it's nothing

But low-grade ore.

Keep digging --

Maybe you lost the vein.

It's no use.

I'll see if mr. Hayden

Will take the claim

Off my hands

For the land value.

It'll give me

Another grubstake.

I wouldn't be

In a hurry, mr. Murray.

Mind if I have

A look at that?

Go ahead.

I've never seen

An assayer's report

Written --

They always come

In a printed form.

That's right, jim.

If you can hold on...

I'd say hold.

Fuzz, let him

Have the medicine.

Oh yeah,

I forgot.

Where'd you

Get that?

You can bank on it

We didn't hold

Any stagecoach up

To get it.

I'm mighty grateful --

My wife was

Depending on this.

You can be

A lot of help,

Mr. Murray,

By keeping this quiet.

Yeah, we're going into town

To find out what we can.

We're bankin' on you.

You can depend

On me, boys.

Bye bye.

Goodbye.

Who are the gents

Playing poker, fuzz?

I'll bet a hundred.

I'll call it

And raise you

A hundred.

Gents is right.

The one with

The knife is caine,

The other two

Are gibbs and gordon.

Never worked a day

In their life,

The ornery hounds.

I'll raise you

Another hundred.

Never worked a day?

They seem to have

A lot of money.

How do you

Account for that?

You don't, and you don't

Dare ask 'em, either.

Don't tangle with 'em --

Leave 'em strictly alone.

Whaddya got?

Beats me.

( Loudly slurping )

What's that

You're eating, fuzz?

Sounds good.

Parched corn.

Sure makes this soup

Taste good.

Did you say

Parched corn?

Yep.

Better have

Another look.

Hey! Hey!

What have I

Been eating?!

Mexican jumping beans.

Now anything

Can happen, fuzz.

Oh, tarnation!

Don't do that!

Drinking water'll

Really make 'em hop!

Here they go!

Here they go!

Hey! What are you

Jumping about?!

I-i-i --

Mexican jumping beans!

If you don't quit,

I'll give you something

To jump about!!

Come over here, fuzzy!

Oh, boy...

I'm glad

That's over.

I wouldn't be

So sure about that.

You're gonna be jumpin'

From now on!

They multiply --

Especially when

You drink water.

Oh...

Where you goin',

Miss jane?

What's happened?

We're moving into a cabin

On twin oaks road.

What's the matter

With your hotel?

Don't you

Like the service?

Mr. Hayden's

The new owner.

You mean you don't

Own this place no more?

No, fuzzy,

I'm afraid not.

Let me help you,

Miss jane.

No thank you,

Mr. Caine.

Why you always

Turning me down?

To be perfectly honest,

I don't like you.

I wish you wouldn't

Bother me anymore.

Give yourself

Half a chance --

I'm not bad company

After you know me.

Seems you didn't

Understand the lady --

She asked you not

To bother her anymore.

Sheriff:

Hold it!

What's going on?

No more rough stuff --

I'm running this place now!

Miss jane,

Meet my pal,

Billy carson.

How do you do?

And jane's father,

George wright.

We've got a lot

In common, sir.

Glad to know you.

Mr. Hayden, I want you

To meet my partner, too.

Billy carson,

Frank hayden.

Mr. Hayden's the most

Important citizen in town.

He owns the bank.

Always pays

To know a banker.

Sheriff:

I've been out

Trailing those bandits.

Look what I found

In the old shack

Near stony creek.

All the letters

Were burned.

They oughta be shot

For destroying

People's property!

There's a m*rder charge

Against 'em now.

We've got to

Put a stop to this.

Sheriff:

I'm doing my best.

It doesn't seem

To be good enough --

Folks are

Being ruined!

Mr. Hayden,

You could help

By not clamping down on those

That have been robbed.

Well, I'd like to,

But business is business.

Good luck,

Frank.

I'll need it.

I don't know much

About running hotels.

If you need any help,

George, let me know.

Sheriff, let's see if we can

Make plans to stop all this.

Mr. Wright, mind if I

Ask you a few questions?

I guess not.

What caused you

To sell out?

I couldn't

Carry on anymore.

I don't blame frank --

It was a just debt.

I suppose you're right.

You know, hayden's gathered in

Quite a bit of property lately.

Has it occurred to you that

He might be mixed up in this?

If you're thinking

Along those lines,

You're wrong --

Frank's my friend.

It was just an idea.

Fuzz, let's help your friends

Out to their cabin.

In the morning,

We'll do a little

Scouting around.

I'm kind of suspicious

Of that friend of fuzzy's.

You may have something --

He don't look right to me.

Any of you men ever

Seen him before?

Keep an eye on him.

That's just what

I intend to do.

I'll call you men

When I need you.

( All snickering )

You did a swell job, boys.

The hotel is ours,

And I'm pretty sure

We'll get loren's ranch.

And murray's claim

Out of this haul.

Yeah...

You know, I like getting

My hands on that gold mine,

But I don't like

Your k*lling that guard.

When it comes to m*rder,

I want no part of it.

Yeah? Well, we're

Counting you in.

I just told the boys,

We're all in this together,

And that goes

For you, too.

Phillips didn't

Come through last week.

Maybe I'd better

Pay him a visit.

Don't get rough.

Fuzz, you hang out

In the saloon.

I'll keep my eye on caine.

You missed

Last week's payment.

What about it?

I can't afford

To give you any money now.

I'm about to

Go out of business.

Maybe I ought to

Pay a little visit

To the sheriff.

No, no --

Not that.

Wait a few days,

I'll give you some money.

See that you do.

Hayden:

Wouldn't be smart

To bleed him.

I'm for getting

All we can.

Let phillips get

Some new stock in his store,

Then we'll get

All the more.

Now I know

Who's who around here.

You're a dirty

Bunch of blackmailers!

I don't care

What happens to me --

I'm goin' to the sheriff!

I saw it all, boys --

It was a plain case

Of self defense.

Whaddya mean,

I was standing --

What'd you say,

Mr. Hayden?

I said it was

A plain case

Of self-defense.

Yeah, a plain case

Of self-defense...

For somebody.

All right, boys,

Break it up.

Gibbs, go call

The sheriff.

What happened, fuzz?

Phillips called hayden

A blackmailer,

And caine

Shot him in the back.

In the back?!

Where did phillips live?

He used to live

In the back of his store.

Keep your eyes open

And your mouth shut.

I'm gonna have a look

In phillips' room.

Give us

A couple of drinks.

Hayden:

Get over to phillips' store

And see what you can find.

Hey, where you goin'?!

Nobody leaves here

Till I say so!

I saw it all --

Plain case of

Self-defense.

Maybe so,

But I don't like what's been

Going on around here.

You're in quite a hurry

To get out of here.

Them jumpin' beans.

What?!

Where's that friend

Of yours, fuzzy?

Who? Well, uh...

He was around here

A minute ago.

Maybe he's outside --

I'll go get him for ya!

Sheriff:

We'll have to have

A coroner's jury,

And you men will

Have to testify.

Hayden:

That's the thing

To do, sheriff.

Find anything?

I'll say I did --

Somebody was in there.

He bagged me with a curtain

So I didn't see him,

But I've got a pretty good

Idea who it was.

I just about had him

When fuzzy smacked into me.

Only man he'd want to help

Would be that stranger.

Do you think he's a lawman

Sent here by the stage company?

Well, whoever he is,

We're onto him.

The sheriff believes

That phillips went for his g*n,

But he wants to ask you

Some questions -- come on.

Good thing you

Kept your mouth closed

In the saloon, fuzz.

How could I

Do anything else

After you kicked me

In the shins?

Did you find anything

In phillips' store?

Sure did -- this.

I want to have a talk

With some of your friends.

That's good

Enough for me.

You say that phillips

Was shot in the back,

Yet there was

Four men in that room

That says he was

Shot in self-defense.

No jury would

Believe you, fuzzy,

When one of the men

Is an upright citizen

Like frank hayden.

Phillips called him

A blackmailer.

He must have

Had a reason.

Maybe you can

Tell me what it is.

Maybe I can.

I can't believe it!

Al phillips

An escaped convict?!

So phillips was our man.

Looks like

These robberies

Are stopped now.

You're wrong

There, sheriff --

It's a smarter man

Than phillips.

Can't you see why

Phillips accused hayden?

Are you implying

That frank hayden

Had anything to do

With these robberies?

That's what it

Looks like to me.

That's impossible!

Mr. Hayden has helped

Everybody in town.

Just like he's

Helped your father

And a lot of other

Hard-pressed people.

By taking everything from 'em --

He sure is a kind-hearted man.

You're supposed to get these,

Aren't you, sheriff?

Certainly.

Have you received any

Since the holdups?

No.

Hayden has.

I wouldn't be accusing him

Of things you can't prove.

He's a generous man --

He paid for the jail.

Has he ever

Been in it?

Certainly not!

I'm afraid

You boys

Are wrong.

Of course they are!

You know so much?

Maybe we should be

Investigating you!

I'm afraid you

Made a bad move,

Tippin' your hand

To the sheriff.

No, I didn't.

I still think hayden

Wants to take over this town.

If what you say is true

And the sheriff tips off hayden,

You're liable to be

Dodging hot lead!

So long as

I keep dodging.

We could lick

The whole bunch of 'em!

Yeah, if they don't

sh**t billy in the back.

If they do, we'll know

The sheriff's in with hayden

And the rest of 'em. Ha!

No, I mean, well...

That wouldn't be a good way

To get evidence, would it?

I think the sheriff

Is honest enough.

He wants more proof,

And that's what he'll get.

Fuzz, I want you

To throw a scare

Into those three fellas

That hang around the saloon.

And be sure

You watch where they go.

You comin'?

Not this time.

I ain't gonna go

Sticking my neck out alone,

Not for you

Or anybody else,

Not even the u.s.army!

I'm stayin' right here!

I will not go alone!!

How do you suppose

This got here?

This is murray's letter!

Caine:

Look what I found nailed

To the door of the shack.

I thought the mail

Was all burned.

We thought it was.

The sheriff said --

I know what he said.

This was to throw

A scare into you.

I lost 'em, billy.

They're inside.

Everything's

Working out perfectly.

I saw caine

Hand that letter

To hayden.

Where you going?

To get 'em!

We gotta have

More proof than that!

Well, let's

Go get it!

You gotta stop

Handing out

Those letters.

Aw, now, billy --

I know you want to

Help your friends --

We will when

The time's right.

When we

Get more proof?

That's it.

I'm going out to your cabin --

I'll meet you here later.

Yeah --the sheriff

Made a slip.

From what he said,

I gather it's fuzzy's partner.

What are we waiting for?

Let's pick him off.

They might

Expect that.

No, there's a better way

Of handling him.

But if they got one letter,

They got 'em all!

I was wondering when

You'd figure that out.

Imagine if they were

Caught with that mail.

We could

k*ll 'em

On sight!

Let the sheriff do it --

Honest john law

Already suspects carson.

Yeah, that'll keep us

Clean out of it.

All right, boys,

Get goin'.

Did you see

What I saw?

Yeah, looks like

We're gonna get a break.

Hello, miss jane.

Hello, fuzzy.

What are you

Doing here?

I just dropped by

For a glass of water --

It's mighty hot outside.

It sure is.

How you been?

Oh, we're

Getting along.

How about a nice cold

Glass of milk?

That'd be fine.

I'll get it

For you.

Thanks, miss jane.

You're welcome.

Mighty soothin'.

Even before

You drink it?

You know,

Love makes people

Act might funny, don't it?

Just pining away,

Waiting to hear

From your sweetheart.

Why, fuzzy!

Are you in love?

Who, me?

I ain't got

No use for women,

I mean, I --

Aw, shucks.

Nobody'd look at me.

I'm looking at you,

And I think you're grand.

Stop joshin' me,

Miss jane.

What do you hear from that boy

That left town a while back?

Oh, you mean gary?

That's him.

Did you ever

Get a letter from him?

No, I haven't.

Don't worry --

You will.

Well, I gotta be goin'.

Bye, now.

Oh, thanks for

The refreshments.

He gave the letter

To jane wright.

That's evidence.

Let's get it,

Then we'll

Pick him off.

What do you want?

We saw one of the bandits

Come in here.

That was no bandit --

That was fuzzy.

Did he

Give you this?

No! I found it

On the table.

That's what

You say.

I'll thank you to

Return my property.

Ask the sheriff

For it.

He was headin'

For his cabin --

The mail sack

Must be there.

Give this to the sheriff

And bring him to fuzzy's cabin.

All right,

Mister, reach!

Did you hear

A shot?

Yeah. Came from

Over that hill.

Fuzzy's cabin

Is over there!

I'm arresting you

For stagecoach robbery

And m*rder.

Hang onto him!

I'm sorry, sheriff,

I tripped.

You just tripped yourself

Right into jail.

And for life,

If you don't hang.

You and your pal trying to

Put the blame on hayden --

Smart,

Wasn't you?

Giving that letter

To jane wright

Was a mistake.

What happened

To you?

Somebody conked me!

I'll bet you

Had something

To do with that.

Honestly,

I didn't.

I'm taking you to jail.

Hang onto him

While I collect this mail.

Hey, wait a minute.

How you gonna sh**t me

When your g*n ain't loaded?

You can't hold me!

What do you

Think I'm doing?

Lock him up --

That's one of

The stagecoach robbers.

We're going over

And have a talk

With mr. Hayden.

All right,

Get in there.

Aw, look, I didn't know

That stuff was in my cabin!

Oh, no?

Get in there!!!

All right, get up!

( Whistling )

There he is!

Come out of there, carson,

With your hands up!

What in the blazes

Are you doing here?!

I put you in jail!

The jail's

Got a hole in it.

A hole?!

Yeah, the door.

Take him in,

And this time,

See he don't get away!

Carson must be

Around here somewheres,

We'll scour these hills.

Let's go!

Billy:

All right,

Stick 'em up!

Tie him up --

Get that rope.

I'll feel better

When carson's captured.

I hope they k*ll him --

I don't like loose ends.

Whatever happens,

We're all set for a getaway.

We'd better find

Another town to milk.

Plenty of money

In silver city.

And the stages

Don't run too often.

* ( Barrelhouse piano ) *

Hey!

Are you the two coyotes

That said I wasn't

A dead shot?

See the bottle

Over there?

Well, watch this.

Hey, I thought

You were in jail.

The sheriff ain't

Got nothin' on me.

He's out chasin' carson.

Hope he catches him,too.

What's all

The sh**ting about?

These coyotes don't believe

That I'm "dead shot" jones,

And I'm provin' it to 'em.

See the candle

In that bottle over there?

Well, watch this.

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

You couldn't hit

The side of a barn.

This money here

Says that

I can outshoot

Anybody in the place.

Looks like

Easy money.

I'll take him on --

Fifty dollars a shot.

I'll hold

The stakes.

I'll sh**t first.

Ha ha!

Hey...

You can't win every time --

I'll bet you another fifty.

You're on.

( g*nshots )

Surround the place!

How did you

Get out of jail?

So you lied --

What is this,

A trick?

( expl*si*n )

Sheriff:

Hold it!

The sheriff's

Got him!

Get around front.

Take care of

These two, sheriff.

Get up on your feet!

I found enough evidence

In that safe

To hang you, hayden.

You can't pin

A m*rder rap on me --

He did the killings.

Now, wait a minute --

If I don't miss my guess,

You'll all swing!

Bart, lock 'em up!

Just a minute.

Go ahead.

These are the papers

That billy gave me outside.

Here's the check

You've been expecting,

George.

I got a little

Worried, billy --

I thought your plan

Wasn't going to work.

This assayer's report

Says you struck it rich.

Did you find the papers

To my land deal?

No, fuzz.

Doggone it, what'd I do

All that hard work for?

For us, fuzzy,

And what you did

Is wonderful.

Ah, it weren't nothin'.

My pal here

Helped a little bit.

Oh, you're

So sweet, fuzzy!

Fuzzy...

You're blushing!