01x08 - Jim Bowie Comes Home

[bunniefuu]

[knife thuds]

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was a bold adventurin' man ♪

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ Battled for rights with a powerful hand ♪

♪ His blade was tempered and so was he ♪

♪ Indestructible steel was he

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was a fighter, a fearless and mighty adventurin' man ♪

♪ He roamed the wilderness unafraid ♪

♪ From Natchez to Rio Grande

♪ With all the might of his gleaming blade ♪

♪ He fought for the rights of man ♪

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was a fighter, a fearless, and mighty adventurin' man ♪

♪ Onward Christian soldiers

♪ Marching as to w*r

- Get him outta town, bust him.

- Why are you so worried about one little preacher, Curley?

- 'Cause he's always preaching about me.

- The subject of my sermon for today is personal salvation.

- Preacher, I think it's time you stopped this little show.

- Yeah, whatever you're sellin', this town don't need any.

- If a man is looking for salvation,

he doesn't have to travel far.

All he has to do is search his conscience.

- Folks around here don't want their consciences searched.

It's again' the law.

- Now, ain't it about time you started to travel, Preacher?

- Uh, gents, would you mind not making so much noise?

I can't hardly hear the preacher.

- I tell ya what, Preacher,

you come across the street to Curley's, I'll buy ya a drink.

- Every time Pa comes to this town,

you saloon people try and cause trouble.

- He has a right to preach, so get out and leave us alone.

- Ah, now you talk mighty big for such a little boy.

- Go on, get back, get back.

[punches thudding] [men groaning]

Well, now, look at this.

[men humming]

- Cousin Jim. - And that's the knife.

- Matt, Paul.

- Jim Bowie?

- That's right.

Now why don't you two fellas just put those knives away?

Come and stand here, nice and quiet,

and listen to the parson.

Little preachin' will do us all good.

Wait, wait a minute, I got a better notion.

Cousin Homer, before you start preachin' again,

I think now would be a good time to take up a collection.

- It's a good idea, Father.

- Can we, Pa?

- Very well, boys, take the collection.

[man chuckling]

- Jim always did believe in switchin' things around, Ma.

- Jim's the one that needs the switchin'.

- Oh, Ma.

- Fightin' in the street during the service.

- You got it all wrong.

- Shh.

- Well, he-- - Shh.

- Oh now come on, gents.

You must have more on your conscience than that.

Go ahead and search.

Search hard.

Search way down deep.

Deeper.

Well, now, that's more conscience

than I've seen in a long time.

It does you gents proud.

Get along now.

And tell Curley not to try anymore tricks.

This is a decent town, and we aim to keep it that way.

[choir humming]

- Thank you very much for coming.

I'll see you all again in a couple or three weeks.

- Rezin.

- Glad to see ya.

- How are ya? - Fine.

- Hey, why'd you shave off your sideburns?

- Oh, ask Ma. - Huh?

Hello, Mama.

Aren't you gonna give me a kiss?

Aren't ya feelin' well?

- You makin' an exhibition of yourself

in front of Cousin Homer.

How do you think I feel?

[Jim laughs]

- [Homer] Thanks for the helping hand, Jim.

Best collection plate I've had in years.

- You're more than welcome, Cousin Homer.

I don't believe Mama appreciates what I did.

Her feathers are all ruffled up the wrong way.

- Well, we discuss that privately, Jim.

I enjoyed your sermon, Homer.

Why don't you drop by the house and have supper with us?

- Thanks, Elvie, but the boys and I have

to get started for home.

- Well, I hope you can get back this way soon.

Our town needs more than one sermon to set it straight.

You get for home, I got some talkin' to do to you.

- Yes, ma'am, I'll be right there.

- Ma's got that look in her eye, Jim, you better hurry.

- Yeah. [chuckles]

- Show us the knife, Jim. - Yeah, can we hold it?

- Well, if your father says so.

- I see no harm in showing the knife, Jim.

It's becoming quite famous.

- Funny thing is, I can't think why.

Now don't cut yourselves.

- Isn't that a beauty?

Man, what a knife.

- So this is the knife we've all been hearing about.

Jim, my boy, do you mind if I make a fast drawing of this?

I can sell all the copies I can make of it.

- [Jim] Some other time, Mr. Wells.

- It'll only take a minute, Jim Bowie.

- Well, I'll bring it down to your smithy tomorrow.

- Well, much obliged to ya, Jim.

Any of you boys want Bowie knives, see me next week.

- Well, I have to be goin'.

Goodbye, Cousin Homer, it's been nice seein' ya.

- Bye, Jim. - Bye, boys.

- Bye, Cousin Jim. - Bye.

- Why'd ya let him do it?

- 'Cause I ain't a knife fighter, that's why.

I'll go up against any man alive with my fists

any day of the week.

- Sure, except Sunday.

[women laughing]

- Ah, cut it, Curley,

why ya so worried about this Jim Bowie?

- 'Cause he's just like his old man was,

and if he has the same notion, I might as well close up.

Preacher used to come into town,

and old man Bowie would ride up and down the street

with a squirrel g*n over his saddle, threatenin' to sh**t

anybody that came in or out of my place.

Had the whole town so scared, nobody would come near me.

Then the old man died, and I got a breather.

Now the town's just kinda gettin' used to me again.

- Well, then what are you so worried about?

- The Bowies are looked up to, respected,

and if they get the idea

that they're runnin' things around here,

they may just get the idea to run me outta town,

just like their old man done.

- [chuckling] Wait till he finds out you've taken his girl.

You won't be run out, you'll be carried out.

- Yeah, I've been thinkin' about that too.

But don't worry, I'll find a man who can beat him.

- Yeah, doin' what?

- Knife fightin'.

I know a man that'll make Jim Bowie eat dirt.

[choir humming]

- You know, Mama,

folks are gonna think we've picked up a saddle tr*mp.

[men chuckling]

Ah, no foolin', Jim, it's awful good to have ya home.

Heard a lot about ya.

- You have, huh? - Uh huh.

- Yeah, been hearin' too much.

- [Jim] Come on, Mama, Cousin Homer was real grateful.

- I don't mean today, that was scandalous enough.

- [Rezin] We heard some tall stories about you, Jim.

- You did, huh?

- Where is that awful blade that people are talkin' about?

- This is it.

Same one I used to scare off those hecklers.

I give ya my word of honor,

I never use it except in self defense.

- Jim, that is a beauty.

[knife tings]

Well, that's better steel than my razor.

- [Jim] Well, Mama, now that you know the truth,

how 'bout a little kiss, huh?

You haven't given me one yet, come on.

[man chuckling]

- You watch yourself.

- Yes, ma'am.

- What you really do is bad enough.

I don't want folks makin' up stories.

- No, ma'am.

- Are ya hungry?

- Haven't eaten in a week,

just been waitin' for one of your meals.

- Well, then get washed up, and for heaven's sake,

take those whiskers off.

[man laughing]

- You could shave with this, Jim.

- I have.

How's the cane crop?

- Oh, it's fine, Jim, just fine.

Say, did you see any land up north you like?

- Yes, I did, 2,000 acres up around Memphis.

Bought it from General Jackson.

General's goin' out of business,

'cause he's running for president.

The fact is I may do a little campaigning

for the general myself.

- You bought 2,000, what are we gonna do

with 2,000 acres, Jim?

- Nothin', I already sold 'em.

[man laughing]

- You want to borrow my new tie?

- [Jim] Huh?

- I got a new tie you can wear.

Hey, what's the matter with you?

- Nothin'.

- [Rezin] Ooh, must be somethin'.

- Rezin, I'm in love.

- [laughing] That's nothin' new.

- Well, this girl's new.

Greatest girl you ever saw.

Blonde hair, big blue eyes,

quite a woman.

- What about Sybil Kane?

- Yeah, that's just it.

I gotta see her tonight

and I'd sooner take a beating.

- Well, just tell her.

- You think it's that easy? - Sure.

- Oh, no, Sybil thinks she's in love with me.

Last time I saw her, she said she was crazy about me.

I don't wanna hurt Sybil.

- Look, you might just as well get it over with, Jim.

- Yeah, I suppose so.

Hey, don't tell Mama, she'll think I'm fickle.

- Why you don't look like the same man.

Now you look like a real boy.

- And who's the prettiest girl this side of Memphis?

- Jim Bowie, you're not leavin' this house with that knife.

That's no way to go courtin' a girl.

- It's the only protection I got.

- Well, Jim, tell her about the bear.

That's why he wears it, Ma.

- That's right, you see, one day--

- I know, you had it made to protect you on the trail

from bears and things.

I've been traveling that road, from here to Opelousas,

for many years, and I have yet to see a bear.

You know, a knife is like a g*n,

if you're carryin' one,

there's always the temptation to use it.

Now, Jim, you leave that knife home.

- All right, Mama.

If I get eaten alive, you'll be sorry.

- Well, I'll be surprised, that's for certain.

- Well, here I go.

- Good luck to ya.

- Thank you.

♪ Ah, ah

[men humming]

- Howdy, Terrance. - Hi, Jim.

- Will you take Jezebel over to the warehouse

and check my furs for me?

- [Terrace] Sure, Jim.

- Thank you.

Here ya are.

- Bowie's in town.

Just went in to Katie's place.

- Well, now you watch how you pick a fight with Bowie.

He's smart and he's tough.

- Don't let it worry ya, Curley,

I learned to knife fight against the Indians.

I'll take care of this Bowie like he was a little papoose.

How ya gonna get him over here?

- Don't worry.

I'll get him over here.

- Hello, Sybil.

- Hello, Jim.

Been gone a long time, Jim.

- Yeah, must be four, five months, maybe.

- Seven months.

- Oh, yeah, I guess it is.

- It's almost a wonder you remember me.

- Couldn't forget ya, Sybil, couldn't forget ya.

- Jim, there's something-- - There's something I--

- [Sybil] Just gotta tell ya.

- Yes, Sybil?

- I'm engaged to be married.

- Engaged?

- Well, I just got tired of waitin'.

- Who is this gentleman?

- Curley, Curley Lambert.

- Curley Lambert, why,

you deserve better than Curley Lambert.

- Meaning yourself, Mr. Bowie?

- Yeah, uh, no, why, hello, Curley.

Well, uh, congratulations.

- Thanks.

Maybe we oughta buy Mr. Bowie a drink,

just to show him there's no hard feelings.

- Well, the drinks are on me, Curley.

After all, I'm the loser, aren't I? [laughs]

- Why it's mighty sporting of you, Mr. Bowie.

Shall we go to my place?

- Yeah, fine, fine.

Oh, uh, well, uh, goodbye, Sybil.

Sure hope you'll be happy.

- Thank you, Jim.

Wish the same to you, too.

- [Curley] A bottle of Monongahela

from under the bar there, Pete.

- Ah-ha.

Well, Curley, here's wishin' you a happy married life.

- Well, that's mighty friendly of you, Bowie.

Here's luck to you, too.

- Uh, that bottle's taken, Mister.

- [Bellotte] Ah, so you think I'm not good enough

to drink out of the same bottle, huh?

- That's exactly what I think.

[blow thudding] [man groaning]

- All right, Bowie, you asked for it.

Now I'll give you a real lesson with a knife.

- Nice reception party you planned, Curley.

- Well, this sort of thing happens in any bar, Bowie.

You hurt Bellotte's feelings.

Why don't you apologize to him?

- All right, I apologize.

I'll buy ya a drink, Bellotte.

- [Bellotte] No you won't, Bowie.

I've been hearing what a great knife fighter you are.

All right, draw your knife.

You have the honor of fighting with me, Bellotte.

- I'd like to oblige you, but I'm not carryin' a knife.

- [Bellotte] Don't try any of your tricks on me, Bowie.

- It's no trick.

I haven't got a knife.

- Grab him!

Take a look, Red, I don't trust him.

- He hasn't got a knife on him.

Well, what do ya know.

[blows thudding]

[table clattering]

[Jim groans]

- You're paying me to do the job, let me finish it.

- No, take it easy.

Your turn will come.

That's enough, Red, let him up.

Let's get him on his feet.

Now let me give you some advice, Bowie.

Don't try to be a big man in this town,

and don't try to interfere in my business.

Now get outta here and stay out.

- Thanks for the drink.

[men humming]

[man laughing]

- And if you come back, Bowie, bring your knife.

I'll be waiting.

[men humming]

- Jim, what is it, what happened?

- Jim, what happened, son?

- Oh, nothin' much, Mama.

I, uh, just ran into that bear.

- Come on.

[man humming]

- Why don't ya eat somethin', Jim?

You haven't eaten enough to keep a bird alive

for the last two days.

- I'm not hungry, Mama.

- All right.

It's my fault, I know what you're thinkin'.

- I'm not blamin' you.

You just gotta realize it's raw country.

It's not fair to ask a man to go around unarmed.

- If you'd been carrying your knife, you'd a used it.

Instead of a fistfight, it'd a been a knife fight.

He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.

- Well, there's one thing that's worse

than one man being k*lled,

that's the whole town being k*lled.

We've always been looked up to in this community.

Papa helped make it a good town, and he died for it.

Now you're askin' me to turn the other way

while a lot of riffraff run decent people off the street.

- Oh, sorry I'm late for dinner, Ma.

- [Ma] We didn't wait for ya, son.

- Hey, Jim, that, uh, new steam piston,

I left it in the barn.

- Huh?

- If you need my help.

- Oh, oh, yeah, yeah.

Thank you, Rezin.

- We'll be right back, Ma.

- Don't be long now.

- [Jim] Well?

- Curley's knife man is still struttin'

up and down the main street

tellin' everybody what he's gonna do to you

if you show your face in town.

- Look, Rezin, Opelousas's our home town,

it's where we live.

I let him chase me out, he can chase everybody out.

Then him and Curley Lambert can run this town

to suit themselves.

- I understand, Jim, but I'm afraid Ma doesn't.

- Well, I know what Papa would've said.

He'd a said, I gotta face this man right now,

or else crawl on my hands and knees the rest of my life,

and I don't like crawlin'.

- Neither do I, Jim.

Bowies never made a practice to crawlin'.

Maybe you'd better ride into town

and have a showdown with this fella.

- [Jim] That's more like ya, Mama.

- Jim, I think I'll ride along,

just to see you get fair play.

- Rezin, saddle my horse, too.

[man humming]

- Hey, now, I've been waiting for you, Mr. Bowie.

I see ya have your knife with ya.

You ready for that little fight now?

- Yeah, I'm ready.

You hear that everyone?

This man has challenged me to a fight with knives

which I accept, providin' as the injured party

I can choose the conditions under which we fight.

- Is that all right with you, Bellotte?

- He can name any conditions he wants.

It's all right with me.

- All right, let's go to the mill pond.

- Mill pond?

- Why the mill pond?

- You'll find out.

[man humming]

- Understand now, you're not to draw your knives

until your logs are pushed away from the shore.

Are you ready, Bowie?

- Ready.

- Ready, Bellotte? - I'm ready.

- Then go!

[people chattering]

[people shouting]

- [Rezin] All right, hold it, Curley.

[people chattering]

- That's good. - You got him?

[man humming]

- [Man] That's it.

- You all right, Jim?

♪ Ah, ah, ah

[hammers tapping]

[man humming]

- Why, Sybil you gonna make this a honeymoon,

you'd better hurry.

- Why, I'd just die an old maid,

before I'd marry a man like Curley Lambert.

[men chuckling]

- [Jim] Well, Curley, you heard the lady.

Now get goin'.

And as long as there's a Bowie in Opelousas,

don't you come back, any of you!

[man humming]

♪ Ah, ah, ah, ah

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was fighter, a fearless and mighty ♪

♪ Adventurin' man