Navajo Kid (1945)

[bunniefuu]

[ Laughs ]

White bear wrestle

better than navajo.

Don't forget, you and gray wolf

taught me all I know.

That's right.

You more navajo than navajo.

Me navajo.

[ Laughs ]

That looks like gray wolf.

White bear,

come quick to the agency.

What's the matter,

gray wolf?

They no tell me.

Tell me tell you come quick.

There was nothing

I could do, Tom.

What happened?

Robbery.

Cleaned the safe.

Cold-blooded m*rder.

They even took his ring

and his watch.

Tom, I've got

to tell you something.

Don't quite know

how to break this to you,

but, uh, kirk was not

your father.

What?

What do you mean?

When you were a baby,

your real folks

were wiped out by apaches.

Friendly navajos found you

and brought you up

until you were about five.

Then kirk became

Indian agent.

Took you in and raised you

as his own son.

Been meaning to tell you this

for a long time.

Always told me he dreaded

the day he'd have to.

When the navajos found you,

this was in your basket.

That's all there is

that connects up with your past.

Probably your mother, Tom.

Tom. Tom kirk.

That's not even

my real name.

But kirk's

a mighty fine handle,

unless you can find

a better one.

What do you aim to do?

Find out who k*lled

the only father I've ever known.

Gray wolf, saddle up for me.

[ Speaks navajo ]

Good navajo never forget.

Good navajo find men

that k*ll.

Men?

What did you see?

Maybe two,

maybe three.

Three navajo

better than one navajo.

We go with you.

Not this time, blackhawk.

This is a job I do alone.

If this is a holdup,

mister,

we're carrying

nothing but passengers.

Well, you're takin' on

another one.

[ Whistles ] Go!

Got the time, mister?

Much obliged.

Heading for canyon city?

Uh-huh.

Doing business there?

Maybe.

You must have walked

quite a ways, son.

What happened

to your horse?

He went lame.

I left him at a ranch.

When a man walks

in this country,

he must be mighty anxious

to get someplace, eh?

I am.

I'm lookin' for someone.

Oh.

Got the time, mister?

Much obliged.

What are you doin' up there?

Hopalong, if you could jump

in a straight line

like you jump straight up,

you'd win

the El dorado sweepstakes.

Yes, sir,

that's what you'd do.

He sure is a jumper.

What do you feed him?

Mexican jumping beans.

Ha ha ha!

Oh, I got to get back

to the telegraph ticker.

Yes, sir, he's the jumpingest

jumping frog

a man ever got ahold of.

Why, he can make this

whole counter in one leap.

Come on, hopalong,

now show them what you can do.

Go on, now. Jump.

Are you loco,crandall?

We don't want

any gunplay in here.

You darn fool,

what are you trying to do,

make frog soup

out of yourself?

You stay right here

at your own end of the counter,

and don't you even wiggle.

Give US a hunk of pie.

I got peach, apple,

pumpkin, strumberry,

lemon meringue,

chocolate meringue,

Berry huckle--

huckleberry.i didn't make any today.

I got some apple.

Strawberry.they're out of season.

I got some apple.

All right, make it apple.

Just like

in the blue moon saloon.

They put the bottle on the bar

and you help yourself.

Say, I'm gonna

let you gents in on something.

Now, if you've got

enough money,

you can clean up here

in canyon city,

'cause my frog here hopalong

can jump farther

than any frog

they got around here.

Of course, I gotta put him

through more training.

Are you interested?

Son, you'd better

come with me.

Who are you,

telling me what to do?

I'm Roy Landon,

sheriff of canyon city.

Well, what do you want

with me?

I'd like to have a little

friendly chat with you,

if you want it friendly-like.

My office is just

a piece up the street.

Take care of that saddle

for me, will you, please?

I'll pick it up later.

[ Laughing ]

Hello, murdock.

Well, honest John grogan.

Where have you been?

John!i thought the boys had

cleaned you out for keeps.

Did you ever see the day

I couldn't come back

with a new bankroll?

The game's open, boys.

No limit.

All right,

name your game, boys.

What'll it be?

Hey, folks,

I've got the red-hot news

you've all been waiting for

right off the telegraph ticker.

Grover Cleveland

has been elected

president of the United States.

[ Cheering ]

That was a foregone conclusion.

I voted for him.

Yeah?

How many times, grogan?

Once, murdock.

Only once.

And I don't deal

from the bottom of the deck.

No, sir.

Honest John grogan--

that's what they call him.

Yes, sirree.

By the way,

did you hear?

The Indian agent in rock Springs

was k*lled and robbed.

The K*llers got away

with 20-30,000.

Government money, too.

Government money?Yes, sirree.

Well, roll me out one

seeing as I'm here.

Give him a little whiskey.

All right, now,

what's your name?

If it means anything to you,

where I come from

they call me the navajo kid.

Navajo kid, eh?

Nope. I can't find you

in here.

Did you expect to,

sheriff?

You never can tell.

This little book lists

the names and descriptions

of K*llers, gunfighters,

horse thieves and such--

outlaws wanted in Texas

and not wanted here

in canyon city.

All right, now, navajo,

let's have it--your real name.

Kirk. Tom kirk.

Kirk?

You mean Joe kirk's son?

You were raised

with the navajos.

That's right.

And here I was looking for you

in the outlaw book.

So many strangers

in town lately,

it keeps me hopping

to check them all.

Say, you said you were

looking for somebody.

Why?

For a good reason, sheriff--

my father

was m*rder*d and robbed.

I had a hunch

you were trailing somebody.

You're right, I am.

Now you listen to me,

Tom kirk.

I know you feel

pretty bad about what happened.

So do I.

But let me warn you,

don't take the law

in your own hands.

Maybe I won't have to,

with a little help from you.

That k*lling took place

in Indian territory.

That was a job

for a United States marshal.

You should have sent

for one.

And let a hot trail

get cold?

How hot?Red-hot.

Now look here.

I represent the law

in canyon city.

You step out of line,

and you'll wind up in a cell.

From there,

you may end up on a rope.

Do I make myself clear?

Clear enough.

You understand

the white man's law, sheriff,

but do you know

the law of the navajos?

Hey, what's the idea

of ruining those shells?

I'm gonna make a chump

out of that jumping frog.

I'm gonna feed him

these buckshot,

and he'll be so heavy,

he won't be able

to jump over his own shadow.

Hey there,

what do we owe you?

Oh, just a minute.

Now, let's see.

What's the idea?

I sell my pies

by the inch.

I charge

what the tape measure says.

Mm-hmm.

Now let's see.

Coffee and soup is 15.

15...30...45.

And yours was...

Seventy.

Yours was--

let's see...

[ Chuckling ]

Yeah, now I got it.

$2.80.

$2.80.

Keep the change, pardner.

Thanks.

Oh, fellas,

don't forget to put your money

on my jumping frog.

He's a humdinger.

I'll bet he is.

[ Laughing ]

Go.

[ Croaking ]

Why, hopalong,

what's the matter?

Don't you feel well?

[ Croaking ]

Are you sick?

[ Croaks ]

[ Player piano playing ]

I'm sorry, boys.

Well, Matt crandall.

Back for another cleaning,

are you?

At cards, yeah.

Lee hedges and Bo talley--

pals of mine.

Howdy, boys.

Give me a stack

of blues.

All right. Green money

gets blue chips.

Don't worry.

We got it.

I'll take a stack

of those blues myself.

Give me

a couple of reds.

You're just

a tinhorn, grogan.

It'll take more than you've got

to bank this game.

Maybe you're right,

crandall.

Pardon me.

I dropped a card.

Well, the ace of spades.

There it is--

my hole card.

New deal, grogan.

Just as you say, crandall.

Oh, by the way,

did you boys hear

that the Indian agent

over at rock Springs

was m*rder*d

and robbed?

Yeah?

No, we didn't hear

nothing about it.

Got the time, mister?

Nighttime, I reckon.

Dark outside, ain't it?

I ain't got no watch.

Once the sun goes down,

I have to wait till sun comes up

before I find out

what time it is.

What'll it be, mister?

Pie and coffee.

Help yourself.

I don't know

what's wrong with hopalong.

He never acted

this way before.

You don't think

he's gonna die, do you?

Well, I wouldn't know.

No wonder he's sick

if that's what you feed him.

Lead poisoning usually is fatal,

even to a bullfrog.

But I never--

oh, now I know.

That fella that was sitting

right there.

Say, if you see a stranger

that's got a face

that looks like hopalong,

he's a no-good cheat.

You know, I-I bet

he was trying to frame

the jumping sweepstakes.

How about some coffee?

Oh, yeah, sure.

You know where a man

can buy a good horse?

You're looking at a man

that owns one.

You want to sell him?

Well, maybe,

all things being equal.

What's he like?

Mister, he's beautiful.

His coat is as sleek

and as shiny

and as nice and as sweet

as a chocolate pie.

And his tail and mane

are lemon meringue.

And his eyes

are like blueberry tarts.

And just as gentle as a lamb,

except when I try to ride him.

If he's all you say his is,

you've made a deal.

Good.

Quitting so soon, crandall?

Don't tell me

you're broke already.

Look, grogan, you ain't even

dented our roll.

We'll be back.

Right now I'm thirsty.

Talley and me will

look after the horses.

What'll it be, stranger?

Make it anything.

How about a little bourbon?

The first one's on the house.

Much obliged.

You got the time, mister?

I don't go in

for timepieces.

Uh, here's the time.

Thanks.

Where'd you get that ring?

That, my friend,

is none of your business.

I asked you a question.

Where'd you get that ring?

Say, what is this?

I'm doing things

your way, sheriff--

legal-like.

I want him

charged with m*rder.

m*rder?

For the m*rder of Joe kirk,

the Indian agent

at rock Springs.

You're all wrong.

Grogan couldn't have done it.

He was on the stage

with me. Remember?

You joined US later.

He couldn't have been

within 50 miles

of the Indian agency.

Maybe not, but he's mixed up

in it somewhere,

or he wouldn't

have had this.

Whoever k*lled my dad

took this ring from his finger.

Are you sure

that's the same ring?

I made it myself.

Hammered it

out of a piece of silver.

Well, I don't know

just what to say.

Neither does grogan...

Right now.

Hey, grogan,

are you in there?

Yeah, I'm here.

Hey, I hear

they want to hang you

for the agency m*rder.

That was the old man's kid

you tackled with.

I'm not worryin'.

I wasn't anywhere near

the Indian territory.

The sheriff's my alibi.

No, I'm not worried,

crandall.

You see, I happen to know

who did k*ll Joe kirk.

Yeah?

Yeah, and I could talk.

Yeah? Go on,

keep talking.

What else?

Well, if you boys

would cut me in

on, say,

half of what you took

out of that agency safe,

my mouth

would be shut tight.

Sure. We'll cut you in,

grogan.

Thanks, Matt.

Right now.

Hey, you want

to take a look at coco

and see how nice he looks

all dressed up

with that saddle

of yours on him?

Bring him over here.

Oh.

[ Laughs ]

Is this the way

you always cinch up a saddle?

Sure. It hurts his breathing

when it's tight.

Sort of hurts your, uh, head

when it's loose, doesn't it?

You wouldn't want to wear

a size 15 collar

on a 17 neck,

would you?

Aw, that's hurtin' him.

There's room

for one more, happy.

Climb aboard.

Oh, no, not me.

It might take me

a little longer,

but I'll take the wear and tear

out on my two feet.

All right.

I'll see you in town.

Hey, kid, what are you

running away from?

That hot lead

you've been threatening.

What's the idea?Quit bluffing, kid.

I'm taking you in for the m*rder

of honest John grogan.

Grogan?yeah, grogan.

Let's go, and don't try

any of your fancy Indian tricks.

All right.

Looks pretty bad

for you, kirk.

You picked a fight with grogan

in the saloon over the ring.

You dragged him here

and you locked him up.

You still have the key.

I'll take it.

Why don't you listen

to reason, sheriff?

Maybe grogan

didn't do the actual k*lling,

but it's just like

I told you--

him having that ring proves that

he was close to whoever did.

Why, him being dead

is the last thing I wanted.

I'd have been crazy

to k*ll him.

Dead men can't talk.

Your argument's

got a lot of weight,

but no one was in this office

after you left last night.

That doesn't prove anything.

No, that's right.

Come with me.

During the night,

grogan was called to the window

and shot through the bars.

How about that, kid?

I told you,

I wanted him alive

so he could talk.

Hey, what's that?

Buckshot.

Buckshot.

Well, how about it, sheriff?

Are you gonna hold me?

No.

Can I have my g*n?

Be careful how you use

that hardware, kid.

I'm careful about everything.

Morning, winifred.Hi, happy.

If you're going my way,

I'm going yours.Sure, jump in.

What you going into town

so early for?

I'm having a birthday soon,

and I want a cake

with candles on it.

Mom's making the cake,

but I gotta get the candles.

I'll bake you a pie, and you

can put the candles on that.

Oh, thanks so much, happy,

but I've tasted your pies.

Huh? Oh.

I never saw him before.

You haven't?

Why, he's bunkin' with me.

That's my coco I sold him.

Jumpin' Jupiter,

what you burnin' up leather for?

I came back to get you.

What you nudging me for,

winnie?

Oh, miss winifred mcmasters,

this is the navajo kid.

Glad to know you.

Climb up

behind me, happy.

Oh, no, I'm satisfied

with this seat right here.

I'll see you in town.

Happy tells me

that you're bunking with him.

If you haven't anything else

to do,

I'd like to have you come

to my birthday party.

I'd be glad to.

Oh, fine.

Listen, we'll both be there,

even if I have to ride

sidesaddle on a mule.

Say, happy, I want you

to show me the man

who fed that buckshot

to your bullfrog.

Oh, sure, I will,

but right now I gotta get

some breakfast for hopalong.

You'd remember him,

wouldn't you?Who, hopalong?

No, the man who fed him

that buckshot.

Oh, sure,

you bet your life I will.

Hey, how about some coffee?

Well, you'll have to wait

for it to boil first.

I just got here myself.

But it won't take long.

How long?

J-Just a couple of minutes

and I'll have it for you.

How's your bullfrog,

pardner?

How far can he jump

this morning?

Yeah, you're the fella

that fed my bullfrog

buckshot, aren't you?

Now how'd you guess that?

Morning.howdy.

I'll be back.

Coffee, happy.

Yes, sheriff.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Looks like I broke

some of the candles

for your birthday cake.

That's all right.

There's still plenty left.

I'm, um, counting on you

coming to my party.

I'd sure like to, but--

now, no buts about it.

There aren't many young people

in canyon city,

and old people

aren't much fun.

I hope you won't

disappoint me.

I'll try not to.

Oh, Mr. Landon.

Mother wants me to remind you

to come to my birthday party.

I didn't know you were

giving a party, winnie.

It isn't really a party.

Cake and a few friends--

the usual thing.

I just invited Mr., um...

I can't think of his name.

You mean the navajo kid,

Tom kirk?Yes.

Maybe you shouldn't

have done that, winnie.

I've already

had a run-in with him.

He seems to bring trouble

wherever he goes.

Well, then, sheriff,

you must come to my party--

to protect me.

How long's that navajo kid

gonna stick around here?I never asked him.

He bunks with you,

don't he?

Sure, but if he talks

in his sleep,

I never listen

because I'm asleep myself.

Say, are you

as dumb as you look?

Oh, n-no. Dumber.

Excuse me.

I think my pies are burning.

We gotta get that kid,

and no missing this time.

Crandall: If you're so fancy

on the draw, you get him.

I will.

I-I gotta deliver a pie

in a hurry.

Well, who's stopping you?

N-Nobody, nobody.

We wouldn't have

nothing to worry about

if you hadn't lifted that ring

off the agent, crandall.

Well, I did.

Now you go on out and lift

that kid out of his boots.

You gotta be back here

in five minutes.

Less than that.

I don't know

what they're framing,

but that sidewinder Bo talley

was checking his g*n.

I tell ya,

he's out gunnin' for ya.

I heard

you were looking for me.

You heard right, talley.

I'll take that g*n.

Well, kid,

what have you got to say?

I was standing there

at the bar talking to happy.

That's right, sheriff.

I was telling him that talley

was out gunnin' for him.

I saw the whole thing,

Landon.

Self-defense I'd call it.

Anyone else

got anything to say?

The big feller

knocked the little feller

for a tail-twister,

then was gonna blast him

with his g*n

while he was on the floor.

Yeah, but look who's

on the floor now.

You seem to have plenty

of witnesses backing you up,

but the law says

you've got to stand trial.

Come along.

Hey, that's the navajo kid

with the sheriff.

I wonder what happened

to Bo talley.

Kind of slow on the draw

if you ask me.

I don't like this.

We'd better get out of town.

Sure, we will.

But we'll be back

to get our dough

out of the blue moon's safe.

This time

I'll keep the key.

But you heard

what they all said, sheriff.

I shot him in self-defense.

Yeah, I heard it,

but you're still

going to stand trial.

I'll bet you would put

your own grandmother in jail.

Maybe, if she

committed a crime.

And I'll tell you

something else--

I'd see

that she got a fair trial.

So will you.

Happy: Hey, navajo,

are you there?

Sure, I'm in here.

Where'd you think I'd be?

You gotta be somewhere else

in an awful hurry, too.

Come on.

Come on, come on.

Come on, coco.

If you don't pull

on that rope,

I'm gonna put hopalong

in your feed bag.

Thataboy!

Whoa, now.

Nice going, happy.

Come on,

you gotta hurry now.

See if you

can find my g*n.

I think it's

in the sheriff's office.I'll get it.

Here it is.

You gotta get out of here.

Wait a minute, happy.

I don't know what's gonna happen

or when I'll be back.

I want you

to take care of this for me.

Sure. What is it?

There's some things in there

that belonged to my mother.

Hey, look,

there's the sheriff.

Get your horses, men!

The navajo kid broke jail.

I want him.

Well, he's pulled off the trail.

Start searching both sides.

I want that kid,

dead or alive.

You seen murdock?

He ain't here

to give US that dough.

You're right, hedges.

I shouldn't have given it to him

to keep for US.

I told you that.

And I'm telling you now,

we came back here too soon.

It ain't healthy for US

around here, and you know it.

The kid got Bo talley.

How do we know who's next?

Why, it might even be you.

It ain't gonna be me.

His horse isn't here,

but that doesn't mean

that he isn't inside.

You cover

the back door, Steve.

Come on, winnie, hurry up

and blow out the candles

so we can eat the cake.

Good!

Here we go.

Winnie:

I get the first cut.

I want

to make a wish.

Oh, sure.

Happy birthday, winnie.

Oh, thanks,

Mr. Landon.

Sorry to spoil your party

by taking so many of the boys

out of town,

but it couldn't be helped.

We're having loads of fun.

You want a piece of cake?

No, thank you,

not right now.

I want to talk to happy.

Oh, of course.

You wouldn't by any chance

be knowing where

the navajo kid is, would you?

Why, he's in jail,

isn't he?

No, he's not in jail.

Of course, you didn't have

anything to do

with helping him break jail,

did you?

Oh, no, sheriff, you know

I wouldn't do anything--

look, you don't need to worry.

He'll be back all right.

What makes you think

he'll be back?

Well, because he gave me

a little package

and told me

to take care of it for him.

You mind letting me see it?

Well, I guess it's all right.

You be sure

and give it back, now.

He said that

it belonged to his mother.

He left this

with you, happy?

Yes, sir.

I gave this to my wife

just before we were married.

Happy, if you know

where the navajo kid is, talk.

I've gotta find that boy

before my men do.

You mean he's your son?There's no doubt about it.

Come along with me, happy.

I'm telling you, Matt,

I don't like this hiding out.

There's no telling

where that infernal kid is.

If it wasn't

for that dough,

we could put distance

between US and canyon city.

Oh, stop bellyaching.

We'll get that dough

out of murdock's safe and blow.

Shouldn't have been in there

in the first place.

We should have kept it

on ourselves.

Yeah, well, don't worry.

We'll go get it--

as soon as I find out

we've lost the kid.

Hey, your horse

must have wandered off.

You better go find him

if you don't want

to walk back to canyon city.

It wouldn't be me.

Now start talkin'.

Which one of you

k*lled kirk?

I ain't gonna say nothin'.

No? The navajo showed me a way

to make a man talk.

Well?

All right, I'll talk.

It was Matt crandall.

Matt crandall fired the shot

that got him,

and talley and me

robbed the safe.

That's all I want to know.

[ g*nshots ]

[ g*nshots continue ]

Whoever they were, their horses

are headed for town.

I've come

for that little package

you put in the safe for me,

murdock.

Come back tomorrow, crandall.

I'm closed for the night.

I won't be here tomorrow.

Open that safe.

Say, what is this,

a holdup?

You heard what I said.

Open that safe.

Got the time, crandall?

I'm over here, crandall.

You missed me

by six feet.

Your time's run out,

crandall.

Don't get the wrong idea,

mister.

This money belongs

to the government.

Hey, kid!

Put up your g*ns.

That's an order.

The kid is mine.

Drop your g*n, kid.

I want you.

It's the other way around,

sheriff.

Drop yours.

Do as I tell you.

I've got to talk to you.

Go ahead.

If you've got something to say,

I'm listening.

D-Don't do it.

Don't do it, kid. You can't.

He's your father.What?

What did you say, happy?

I was trying to tell you

that he's your old man.

He's right, kid.

I didn't mean to wing you.

I was trying to get your g*n.

I had to tell you this.

Happy showed me that locket

that you left with him.

I gave that locket

to your mother

just before we were married.

Look, those are our pictures--

your mother and myself.

It all ties in now.

You are my son.

Crandall:

Take your hands off me.

You got nothing on me.

Well, you're

a pretty good shot, kid,

but you didn't figure

on my watch stopping it.

This is the watch

he took from Joe kirk

after he k*lled him.

Strange that this timepiece

should have saved you

from k*lling him.

Got the time,

mister?

Where he's going, happy,

he'll have plenty of time.

I'm holding him

for the United States marshal.

You know, winnie,

if it hadn't been

for that birthday party

of yours that I spoiled...

You mean if the kid

hadn't given happy

that locket and the ring,

we might never have known.

Son, if you ever need

a wedding ring,

you couldn't find

a better one than this.

Folks.

Oh, folks.

What are you

doing here, happy?

I thought you had taken

hopalong to the sweepstakes.

Hopalong

has been scratched.

He's got too many

responsibilities now.

And if you don't believe it,

just take a look at this.

[ All laughing ]