03x20 - A Grave for Cully Brown

[bunniefuu]

[ g*nshots ]

[ g*nshots continue ]

Look out, over here!

[ g*nshots continue ]

Just plain nosey

or don't you care
about your hide?

I care.

What's going on anyway?

Can't you see?

They're throwing me
a little party.

Looks like
you're the guest of honor

right along with me.

Hope you have
a good time.

[ g*nshots ]

How'd you get
into this mess?

Oh, just riding along
minding my own business.

Suddenly
they jumped me.

Tried to outrun them,
but my horse threw.

Lucky I found
this place to hole up.

Some luck.

Backed into a blind corner

with no more cover
than a skinned bear.

They still can't get at us
without going out in the open.

How many of them are there?

Two as far as I know.

They got what you might call
a tactical advantage.

Yeah, well, if we can get
one of them to show himself,

we might be able to cut
them odds down some.

You reckon if one of us
heads for them

rocks over there, one of them
would show himself?

Yeah, that'd give me
a real good shot.

I'm elected, huh?

You look like
you could run faster.

Besides, it was
your idea, wasn't it?

You all right?

Not by much.

Listen, if we circle south
we'll be at their backs.

You circle south,
I'm circling north.

Wait a minute.

That Cully Brown is
worth $1,000 bounty.

Fine,
you can collect it.

And if they got a price on
that friend of his,

you can have that, too.

I'm leaving.

Thanks for pitching in.

Name's Cully Brown.

Jess Harper.
Glad I could help out.

Might ask another
little favor of you,

if you could spare it.

It's a long walk
into the next town.

Yeah,
we can ride double.

Thank you.

Then I quit that job
and headed north.

Made a little
mistake though.

I stopped off in Denver
figuring I could double

the 6 months' pay
I had in my pocket.

It lasted me
about 6 hours.

Oh, them cards.

Well, here's to you,
friend.

If I didn't say it
proper before, thanks.

Yeah, that's some drink.

Hardly enough
to wet my back teeth.

Hey, let's try it again.

After I've seen the color
of your money, mister.

Oh, yeah, well, uh...

That's all right,
Cully, I'm buying.

Thank you, Jess.

Bring the bottle, huh?

That's a lot of money
you're carrying.

Well, I just sold some cattle,
taking the profits back home.

Be safer to send it home
with Wells Fargo, wouldn't it?

Why? I figure I'm as good as
any Wells Fargo shotgun.

Besides, you're the only one
that knows about it.

I owe you a man-size debt.

You figure
I'd pay it that way?

No.

Where's that gal?

Come on,
let's have that bottle.

Coming.

You know, Cully,
I was thinking,

since you're just drifting
and you're looking for a job,

why don't you ride back
to Laramie with me?

Maybe I can set you up
with a stage line.

Ah, tell you, Jess,

I ain't much
for lightening one place.

Job like that, stage line,

don't see much future in it.

A fellow like me,
I got to hit it big

and hit it rich
all of a sudden like.

Just starting from
the bottom and working up,

that's not for me.

As a matter of fact,

I'm working on an angle

right now down
in the Sand River Valley.

You ever been there?

No.

A place called
the Bar BJ Ranch.

Bryan James' place,
big spread, horses mostly.

Cully, look out!

He's still alive.

Somebody get the doctor.

I hate to tell you, mister,

doesn't look like
he's gonna last.

Now don't nobody ask you.

Now get me a clean towel.

All right,
let's have it.

What happened?

Well, he started sh**ting,

didn't turn out
the way he expected.

Who was he?
Why was he gunning for you?

I don't know.
I didn't bother to ask him.

Anyway, he drew first,
everybody saw it.

That's right, Sheriff.

Now where's that doctor?

He won't be back
before morning.

Anybody else?

Bert might be able
to do something for him.

He's going to have
to one way or the other.

What do you mean by that?

Well, Bert's
our undertaker.

Nothing doing.

Bert's as close to a doctor
as you'll get tonight.

I'll have him send
a buckboard around.

Might as well move them
both together.

Move them where?

To Bert's place.

That's where he's gonna
wind up anyway.

I don't know, Bert,
seems to me

you're going out of your way
to drum up business.

What's your hurry?

You'll get all of it
sooner or later anyhow.

Well, hang it all, Doc.

I thought sure
he was a goner.

Well, when a guy gets
shot in the head.

That's alongside the head,
makes a heap of difference.

Yeah? Well, he still don't look
too healthy to me.

Yeah, that's shock
and loss of blood.

He'll get over it.

But I want to move him.

If he wakes up here
he'll think that he's being

measured for one
of your pine specials there.

Still alive, huh?

Yeah.

You know where we can
bed him down for a few days

till he can get on his feet?

In jail.

Jail?

I found out what all
the sh**ting was about.

The fella that was k*lled
was a bounty hunter

going after this one.

Cully Brown.

$1,000!

Hmm, sort of answers
the description, all right.

Of course, anybody would
from one of these.

Oh, he's Brown, all right,
no doubt about that.

I found an envelope
in his wallet

with his name on it.

His initials were burned
into his g*n butt.

Too bad you went through
so much trouble, Doc.

Because when I get him
to Denver,

they're gonna do the job
all over again.

Permanent.

Hiya, Doc.

Hiya.

How's our patient tonight?

He better be
healthy enough to travel

or I'm going
to give him a relapse.

Still squawking
that he isn't Cully Brown.

Louder than ever.

Good sign,
means he's getting healthy.

Well, let's have
a look at him.

You get an answer?

No, I didn't.

I'll bet you didn't even
send that wire.

No, it's a waste
of time and money.

A waste of time
and money?

Now you shut up
and get back there!

Go on!

Doc, if you ever wanted
to do me a favor, do it now.

Okay him to travel.

We'll see.

Doc, will you
listen to me?

My name ain't Cully Brown,

and I ain't wanted
by anybody.

My name's Jess Harper,
and I come from Laramie.

I work for the
Overland Stage Line.

Will you
sit down, son?

I want to get rid
of that bandage.

Doc, will you please
listen to me?

Sit down!

Now hold still,
I don't want to cut you.

You want the fella
that was with me, Cully Brown,

he took my wallet.

Will you hold still?

You got to believe me, Doc,

and you got to make him
believe me, too.

He just wants to take
somebody in

for that reward money
and he don't care who.

But the law
in Denver does.

If you're really who you say
you are or ain't,

they'll prove it for you.

Yeah, and by then Cully
will be clear

out of that territory
with my $500.

Well, I'd give that much
anytime to keep my neck

from being stretched.

Now let's see.

Hmm, nice and clean.

Not much more
I can do.

The rest of the healing
is up to you.

Give you much pain, son?

No.

All right, Sheriff,

you can take him to Denver
in the morning.

It'll be a pleasure.

I'll put on a little bandage--

Don't bother!

Hold it, Sheriff!

Turn around.

Now get in here.

You've got a g*n.

How far do you think
that'll get you?

Far enough to find
Cully Brown

and bring him back here

and ram him
down your throats.

Well, feeling better?

I was wondering
when you'd wake up.

It's a little late for that.

I helped clean you up
and put you to bed.

Thanks.

Looks like you had
a hard time getting here.

Yeah, kinda.

Well, I'm sorry
you're hurt, Cully,

but I'm awful glad to see you.

Now wait a minute.

You know you're my
only hope, don't you?

He wouldn't let anyone else
even set foot on this ranch.

That's why I wrote to you,

I knew you were
coming here anyway.

Cully, can you do it soon?

Well, I don't know.

Oh, sure.

Whenever you're ready.

You must be hungry.
I'll bring you a tray.

Don't bother,
I'll get up.

All right, your clothes
are in the closet.

And please, Cully,
don't make me wait too long.

Can I help you, sir?

Leave me alone!

Just 'cause
a man's in a wheelchair,

don't mean
he can't do for himself.

Sure.

Well, Cully,

you look a lot better than
you did last night.

I feel better, too.

Thanks for everything.

Nothing to thank.

You were no use to me
in that condition.

How soon
can you get to work?

Well, I'd like to get something
straightened out first.

Nothing to straighten out.

I don't care what kind
of scrape you're in.

I don't care if every
law man in the territory

is after you.

I'll protect you so long as
you're ready to get to work.

James,
I just got back,

found about a half a dozen
of them at Granite Canyon.

Why didn't you
bring 'em back?

I can't do everything
all by myself.

Appears to me you can't do
nothing by yourself.

This here is Cully Brown,
man I've been expecting.

Now you'll have
more than enough help.

Show him where he bunks.

Cully, supper's at 6:00.

Linda!

Linda, where are you?

If you're looking
for your daughter, sir,

last time I saw her
she was in the kitchen.

Thanks!

Kinda feisty, ain't he?

I don't imagine
it improves his temper none

to have his wife
called his daughter.

Take your pick.

One is just
as hard as the next.

Well, looks like
you had a pretty good size

crew here once.

It was a decent place
to work once.

Sobey, I don't like
walking into something blind.

So?

So how about letting me know
what's going on around here?

Think a man that raises horses
should know better than

to bring a filly
around a bunch of colts.

Meaning Mr. James
and his wife?

m*rder, 2 years ago.

I don't know
where he found her,

just come riding in one day.

Then on there's been
nothing but trouble.

Came riding in?

Then he hasn't been in that
wheelchair all the time.

It was about 6 months.

Found her down
by the river.

Pete...

one of the wranglers,
big g*n fight,

people was k*lled,
and he wound up in that chair.

What about Mrs. James?

[ chuckles ]

Poor Linda,

she was trying
to fight Pete off

and the boss found him.

I bet
you don't believe that.

Not for me to believe
one way or the other.

I wasn't there.

Well, she wasn't scared enough

not to start hanging
around the river again.

It was enough for the crew.

They packed up and let out.

Maybe the boss couldn't walk,

but he still could
handle a g*n.

What about you?

You're still here.

Ah, I needed the work.

And I knew enough to keep
my nose out of places

where I wasn't wanted.

You?

[ door closes ]

So it's staring
all over again, huh?

What is?

Her kind of trouble.

She's nowhere
near the river.

Well, give her time.

I'll tell you one thing,

I ain't gonna hang around
to watch it this time.

[ door opens ]

Good morning.

Did you sleep well?

Fine, thanks.

Sobey's gone.

I know.

I saw him ride out
just after sun-up.

No, I mean
he's gone for good.

He took his gear with him.

Small loss.

Your husband
won't think that.

My husband is really
depending on you, and so am I.

Well, I can't do
this job alone.

Will this be enough help?

Where did you get that?

From the desk drawer
where Bryan put it.

When are you gonna
do it, Cully?

Now?

Please, Cully,
don't wait.

We're all alone, so everyone
will have to believe our story.

Just what is our story?

Exactly the way
I wrote you.

My husband
tried to k*ll you

and you had to sh**t him
in self defense.

And why did
he try to k*ll me?

Because he was
so insanely jealous,

just like before with Pete.

Please, Cully, do it now.

He's out at the corral.

I don't know...

maybe it's not such
a good idea right now.

You're not going
to back out on me now.

No, I just want
to get things straight.

A man in my position,
he can't take any chances.

He has to pick his spots.

Sure, I understand.

How did you latch on
to me anyhow?

You never knew me before.

I know your reputation.

When I found out

Bryan had written you
to come to work here

I thought you'd be interested
in a more profitable job.

Believe me, Cully,
the $100 I sent you

is only
a small down payment.

There can be lots more.

Well, a job like this
needs lots more.

It'll be there
for the taking.

Haven't you seen how everything
I wrote you is true,

how cold he is,
how cruel?

Please, Cully,
you've got to help me.

You're the only person
I can turn to.

Please.

All right, but you got
to let me do it my way

and in my own time.

Soon, Cully,
please, do it soon.

Mr. James.

Morning, Cully.

Ready to ride out?

I'd like to talk
to you first, sir.

What about?

What we should have
talked about last night.

Me and about your wife.

One thing at a time, Cully.

Let's take my wife first.

Well?

She's hired
Cully Brown to k*ll you, sir.

You're lying!

But I'm ready for you.

Don't even bother reaching.

I wouldn't have left that g*n
to be found so easy

if I hadn't loaded
the chamber with duds.

Now what else do you want
to talk about?

First off, I'm not Cully Brown.

I know that.

Cully Brown used to work
for me years ago.

Well, why didn't
you say something?

'Cause I wanted to see
how far you'd go.

Anything else you want
to talk about?

Look, I don't know
what's going on around here,

and I don't much care.

All I know is Cully Brown
owes me $500.

Besides that, he's got
to square me with the law.

You came here looking for him
while posing as him?

I didn't.

You were the one who thought
I was Cully Brown.

I only went along with it

so I could stay here
and wait for him.

And make a deal
with my wife to k*ll me.

She'd already made
that deal with Cully.

You'd be more convincing
if you weren't so confusing.

Confusing or not,
it's true.

I think the truth is that
you bushwhacked Cully.

And when you found my letter
offering him a job here,

you took advantage of it.

Well, you're wrong.

You're a m*rder*r,

and I'm well within my rights

in gunning you down right now.

CULLY: Easy, Boss.

I warned you
about that temper.

Cully!

Like I keep telling you,

it can get you
into a lot of trouble.

Well, I can't believe it.

I thought, when he came here
with your--

Well, I ain't no ghost,

which makes him
no k*ller, right?

Cully, you old polecat.

Am I glad you're back.

No more than I am, Boss.

Good to see you,
too, Jess.

I'll bet it is.

Now don't start frying until
you hear my side of it, huh?

I'm listening.

Wait a minute.

What's this
all about anyway?

Well, it's a long story, Boss,

and like you said,
kind of confusing, but true.

You heard that?

Heard it all
from back there.

Getting kinda leery
in my old age,

I like to know what's happening
before I walk in anyplace.

Well, get on with it, Cully.

Stop crowding me, Jess,
I'll level with you.

I just got you squared away
with the boss, didn't I?

Not yet, you haven't.

Now wait a minute,

I can't handle you both
at the same time.

Jess, why don't you wait for me
back at the bunk house?

I want to talk
to the boss first.

Why?

Well, because he's got
a Carbine and a temper

and a hair trigger on both.

Now go on, will you?

Now wait a minute,
I'm not convinced--

That make you
feel better, Boss?

Oh, I know
it ain't loaded

and as long as I have it,
it won't be.

He can't bite
with no teeth.

No, but you two can.

Jess boy,
let me look at you.

I can't tell you how glad I am
to see you alive.

Try, Cully.

Try real hard.

While you're at it,
tell me about switching g*ns

and wallets
and about my $500.

All right, Jess.

I guess you got
good cause to be sore.

But try to look at it
from my angle.

You were as good as
dead anyway.

They said you wouldn't
last till morning.

You felt real bad about that,
too, didn't you?

Yes, I did, believe me.

Well, you picked a funny way
of showing it.

Well, it was my one chance
to get the law off my neck.

Now what difference
would it have made

if you'd have been buried
as Cully Brown?

Well, if things would have been
turned around the other way,

I'd have been real glad
to do you the same favor.

All right, Cully.

What about my $500?

Well, I got it right here.

That is
what's left of it.

What's left of it?

Stopped off in a little town
just west of here.

They dealt me worse cards
than Denver.

$200.

I'll pay you back every cent,
I swear, Jess.

As soon as we round up
them horses--

What do you mean "we"?

Well, I talked the boss
into keeping you on.

You'll get paid.

Look, I got a job, Cully.

Why don't you just give me
my $200 back

and let me
get out of here?

I can't, Jess,
I don't have it.

Well, get an advance
from Mr. James.

He don't have it
either right now.

He'll be paid as soon as

he delivers them
horses to the army.

Then I get my share.

Well, I'm sorry,
Jess, real sorry,

but I'll work my head off

and we'll get this job done
in no time flat.

Which job, Cully?

The one for Mr. James
or for his wife?

Oh, that.

Yeah, that.

Hold on now.

You don't think I'd do anything
to hurt the boss, do you?

I wouldn't know.

Well, he gave me
my first job years ago.

He's like--
like a father to me.

You saw how glad
he was to see me again.

Sure, I got that letter
from his wife.

I didn't pay
no attention to it.

Matter of fact,
that was one of my reasons

for coming here.

See if I could, well,
maybe straighten things out.

Make it right
between them again.

You got to believe me, Jess.

I've done a lot of
shady things in my time,

but I've never
crossed a friend.

And Bryan James is my friend.

All right, Cully.

Now that's more like it.

Now you'll stick and help me
bring in them horses?

Well, I reckon I got to
if I want to get my $200 back.

You'll get it back.

Everything that's coming
to you and more.

You can start by giving me
my g*n back.

Sure, Jess.

Uh, only I'd keep out of sight
of the boss for a while.

He don't trust you
too far yet.

Him or you?

Come on, Jess,
you know how I feel about you.

Relax.

Everything's gonna
work out real fine.

We'll get this job done
with no trouble at all.

Well, Linda...

things didn't turn out
as expected.

Two Cully Browns.

Well, it certainly
was a surprise.

And I don't understand
why you let Harper stay

if you knew all the time.

I wanted to find out
what he was up to.

And I did.

You don't believe him,
do you?

You wouldn't take his word
against mine?

Six months ago I took
your word against Pete's...

and ever since I've wondered.

What do you mean
wondered?

You know what he tried to do.

I know what you told me.

Bryan, do you realize
what you're saying?

You can't mean all this.

I wish I didn't.

With everything that's in me,
I wish I didn't.

What are you going to do?

Nothing.

Someday, someday soon,

I'm gonna get
out of this chair,

I'm gonna stand
on my own two feet again

and you won't need
any other man.

You're the only man
I've ever needed.

And now with Cully here,

everything's
gonna be all right.

I know.

You've been gone
a long time.

Big job.

I sent you some money
for another kind of job.

Yeah, I remember.

Kind of cheap price though
for what you wanted.

It's only a down payment.

I like my whole fee
in advance.

Look around.

Is all this enough?

Might be.

Keep looking.

More than enough I'd say.

When?

One job at a time.

Let me bring these horses
in first.

What about Harper?

Harper?

Oh, you mean
Cully Brown, don't you?

That's who
the sheriff thinks he is.

Cully Brown wanted.

So when I go into town

and tell about the boss
being k*lled by Cully,

and how I gunned
Cully down myself,

ain't anybody
won't believe me.

You were gonna do it
all the time.

Sure.

Just had to do some
figuring ahead, that's all.

Say,

I understand something
happened around here

about 6 months ago,
down by the river.

What was it exactly?

I don't know
what you're talking about.

[ horses neighing ]

How many does that make?

About 280, 290.

Well, the boss said 300.

I guess that's close enough.

Sure ain't gonna be easy
rounding them up

and driving them in.

Not the way
they're scattered out.

We'll drive them on down
to a point on the river,

there's water on three sides

and an old log fence
and brush blocking the fourth.

Get them all together there

and then drive them
on over the ranch.

Good idea.

Another 2 or 3 days, Jess boy,

I'll be able to pay you back
and we'll be square.

Not quite.

There's still a matter
of a sheriff

that's looking for me.

You got to square
that for me, Cully,

tell them who I really am.

Stick my neck in the rope?

Come on, Jess.

So mine goes in?

You'll be cleared the moment
you got to Denver.

You mean if I get to Denver.

Don't forget
I broke out of jail.

I'm willing to do anything
to help you, Jess,

but you can't expect me
to give myself up.

I expect you to do
something, Cully.

Well, I'll write a letter
to the sheriff

explaining the whole thing.

I'll even get the boss
to sign it.

He's a big man around here.
They'll believe him for sure.

I don't know.

Well, I'll even get the boss
to take you there personally.

That'd square it for sure.

Yeah, it might at that.

Don't you worry
about anything, Jess.

Everything's
gonna be all right.

What are you gonna do
after we wrap this up, Cully?

Oh, mosey along, I guess.

You know me.

Yeah, I reckon.

Just keep drifting, huh?

One step ahead of the law.

Not forever.

I plan on settling down
pretty soon.

How are you gonna do that?

There are ways a man can cut
his trail, get lost.

Law won't be on my back
much longer.

You know, it's funny
being here with you, Cully,

working with you
these past few days,

knowing that you're wanted
for m*rder.

A lot of difference between
being wanted and being guilty.

Sure, I gunned the man,

but only to keep him
from gunning me.

But nobody
believed you, right?

That's right.

The other fella had friends
and I didn't.

May not sound very original,
but it's true.

I'd like to believe that,
Cully.

You do believe me, Jess.

You never did think
I was a k*ller.

If I hadn't been sure of that

you think I'd have
given you that g*n?

Well, I'm gonna tell you,

you're a mighty
persuasive fella.

I trust you, Jess.

You're my friend.

You know how I feel
about a friend.

Well, that's the last
of them, Cully.

We got them all.

You better not start
cheering too soon.

Let's check along the river,

see if any of them
might try to swim for it.

Well, they're all right.

Looks like they'll stay put.

I don't blame them.

That current looks
mighty rough.

Deep along here, too.

Stay close to the bank.

Be careful of the potholes.

[ horse neighs ]

Cully!

Here!

Can you climb up?

I can't!

My belt's caught on something!

Hold still, I'll help you.

Cully, what are you doing?!

I'm sorry, Jess.

Afraid I can't help you
after all.

Cully!

Well, like I said, I got to cut
my trail someplace.

That's a good a place as any
down there in them rapids.

Cully!

We'll keep the switch the way
it was in the beginning.

Save everybody
a lot of trouble.

Cully!

Too bad.

Nice try.

So long, Cully!

Cully!

[ knocking on door ]

Cully.

Evening, Linda.

I thought I heard someone.
Come on in.

Hello, Boss.

Linda, what did I tell you?

He said he'd be here tonight
and here he is.

Everything go
all right, Cully?

Fine, fine.

Got all the horses
penned up in the corral,

every last one of them.

I knew you could do it.

This calls for a celebration.

Linda,
bring out the bottle.

Where's Jess?

Well, that's the bad part.

Bad? What happened?

His mount threw him,
spilled him in the river.

Before I could get to him,

well, you know those rapids
around there...

He drowned?

Saw him go down myself.

How awful.

I wanted them
horses rounded up,

but not at the cost
of a man's life.

Risks in every kind
of work, Boss.

No need to take it so hard.

Well, it takes the edge off
the occasion.

Not for me, it don't.

Where's that bottle, Linda?

I hope you're getting
good money

for them horses, Boss.

The usual.

Government money is always
shorter than open market.

Might be a better deal
to sell them someplace else.

I got a contract.

Break it.

You know I can't do that.

If you can't,
maybe somebody else can.

What are you talking about?

Your widow don't have
to honor your contract.

My widow?

Ain't that right?

Whatever you say, Cully.

What?

What's going on here?

Come on, Boss,

it's easy enough
to figure out.

I ain't Cully Brown no more.

I'm Jess Harper.

Now Cully Brown,
he came in here

and gunned you down
while he was robbing you.

I went after him,
caught up with him

just in time to see him drown.

Pretty good, huh?

They'll find you out
someway or the other.

Never.

Linda and me,
we will live here nice and cozy.

Like they say in them
story books, happy ever after.

You deserve each other.

Oh, that we do, that we do.

Two of a kind, huh, Linda?

Please, Cully,
will you get it over with?

Ain't no rush.

We got all the time
in the world.

Cully, look out!

Get him, Cully, get him!

Don't worry, I will.

[ horse neighing ]Cully, someone's coming.

[ horse approaching ]

Who is it?

JESS: Over here, Cully.

Jess?

What's the matter, Cully?

Weren't you expecting me?

How did you get out
of that river?

How I got out don't matter.

But I found out
what a friend means to you.

Well, so now you know.

Yeah, I reckon I do.

Well, I tell you, Jess...

Please, Bryan, please,
it was all his fault.

He made me do it.

I love you, Bryan.

Please, you've got
to believe me.

[ crying ]

It's the way she came.

I never thought
she'd leave the same way.

Well, it's better than the way
Cully left.

Yeah.

Sorry you've got
to leave so soon.

I'd like to get
to know you better.

Same here.

But they're gonna be wondering
what happened to me back home.

Besides,
I got to backtrack

and take that letter
you gave me to the sheriff.

Dadgum,
I sure hope he can read.

Well, if you have any trouble,
send him out to see me.

You bet I will.

I'll send you money

as soon as I get it
from the government.

Oh, now wait a minute,
that ain't your debt.

You've got some pay coming,

and Cully won't be
able to spend his.

I reckon not.

All right, thank you.

Good luck.