02x21 - A Matter of Destiny

[bunniefuu]

Whoa.

Hello, Mr. Lawrence.
How's business?

What business?

You won't mind if I steal
your daughter for an hour
or so.

Oh, so that's why she's
so dressed up today.

You two got a date, huh?

Sort of.

Well, she's inside.
Oh, Janet!

How's things at Shiloh?

Just fine.

Things is bad there too, huh?

No, sir.
What makes you think that?

Well, a cowhand that's off
in the middle of the day,
I just figured...

No, this is my day
to come into town
and pick up the mail.

I asked Janet
to the barn dance Saturday.

Well, you look real pretty.

Well, I should.

I've had an extra hour
to get ready.

You said 2:00.

Oh, uh, Judge Garth
needed my advice

on some big business deal.

Well, come on.
I want to see what
that big surprise is.

Oh, I'll be back to help you
close up... won't I?

Sure.
Ain't that big a surprise.

Besides, I only rented
the buggy for two hours.

Hmm. You sound
very mysterious about this.

I'm a very mysterious fella.
It's part of my charm.

[ whistles ]
Hup, son.

Whoa.

What are we stopping
here for?

It's the end of the line.

I think you have
a very good idea.

Now, how did you know
what I was thinking?

Oh, the best of reasons.

You ever heard of
female intuition?

Wait a minute.
What about that
surprise of yours?

What is it?

Come.

Well... there it is.

What?

Well, some of the richest
grassland in the state.

Perfect drainage,
hillside springs,

and topsoil that seems
to run a mile deep.

You mean you bought it?

It's still public land,
but I've decided

that someday
it's gonna be mine.

A man has a way
of knowing that...

that there's something
just meant for him.

You'd better be
careful, mister.

Don't get in over your head.

I'd be an awful hard
girl to shake.

[ chuckles ]

[ hammering nearby ]

What is it?

That old Marshall place,

that one
that fellow Gaynor bought.

They're putting up
a fence.

Well, what about it?

What about it?

That land's been
open range for years.

Let's go see what
it's all about.

Howdy.Howdy.

You must be new
around here, huh?

Name's Norris.

Mr. Gaynor hired me on
as foreman,

a week ago
when he took over.

I'm from Shiloh Ranch.

Has Mr. Gaynor
arrived in town yet?

No, he's not due in
for another day or so.

I'll have to talk to you
about it then, I guess.

All this land through here
is open range.

All the ranchers around here
use it to graze their herds.

I guess things
are gonna have to change.

I got orders
to put up fence.

The only thing
that's gonna change
isthat fence.

It's coming down, right now.

Look, Mr. Gaynor wrote
that he wanted his land
fenced in.

Now, why don't the two of you
back out of here.

We got work to do.

Mister, you take
that fence down,

or we're gonna take it
down for you.

You're too skinny
to talk that talk.

I wouldn't.

This a private fight,
or can anybody join?

All right, Randy,
pull her down.

Have we made our point?

Yeah.
Till Gaynor gets here.

That's enough, Randy.

Keep an eye on 'em,
Randy.

Hello there, Janet.

Sorry we interrupted
your buggy ride.

Oh, that's all right.
I...

Who'd be dumb enough
to pull a stunt like that?

The new owner, I guess.

Don't he know he can't
fence open range?

The man's used
to writing his own rules.

[ chuckles ]

Well, better get back.

My two hours with the buggy
is just about up.

[ whistles ]
Hyah.

Pretty girl.

You think he's getting
serious about her?

Will you keep it
under your hat if I
tell you what I know?

I won't tell a soul.
What do you know about it?

Not a thing.

Get the buggy
back on time?

Yeah.

Fred stopped me in town.

Wanted me to deliver
this telegram to you.

Just came in today.

Seeing as how you're busy,
I'll just read it to you.

I'm not quite that busy.

Hmm.

Bad news?

No. Just kind of
puzzling is all.

"Arriving on Six.
Please meet my train.

Urgent business.
Robert Gaynor."

[ chuckles ]
Guess he heard about us
tearing down his fence.

He couldn't have.

His foreman hasn't had time
to send him a message yet,

let alone get an answer back.

I wonder
what he wants, then.

I don't know.

I'm kind of curious
to find out, though.

Want me to go along?

What for?

I'm kind of curious too.

I never met a real
eastern tycoon before.

You got plenty of time
for that.

Maybe he'll take
a shine to me,

sort of adopt me
like a son.

Or if he don't
want to do that,

maybe he'd just like
to get into a nice,
friendly poker game.

Hmm. Maybe getting into
nice, friendly poker games

is how he got to be
a big eastern tycoon.

[ laughs ]
Yeah.

Train pulled out
about ten minutes ago.

If I'd known
you wanted to catch it...

I was supposed to meet
Mr. Gaynor here.

Do you know where he went?

Oh, sure. Right over
on that siding.

Mr. Gaynor really
travels in style.

Rode in
in his private car.

Wire Creighton
to firm up this deal.

Notify the committee
I'll try to be back

on the 30th
for the meeting.

Oh, and tell Holmes
to open suit

on Regency Meatpacking
if they don't immediately

cease and desist on their
infringement of our brand names.

[ knock on door ]

Come in.

Yes?

I'm looking for Mr. Gaynor.

I'm Mr. Gaynor.

I'm Judge Garth's
ranch foreman.

You asked me to come
down here to see you.

Oh, of course.
It's a pleasure
to meet you.

I'm sorry I had to ask you
to come down here,

but I knew there'd be
some business

that would keep me
tied up here for a while.

That's all right.

That'll be all, Andy.

I can't seem to get
away from business

no matter where I go.

Please, sit down.

Would you like
some coffee, drink?

No, thanks.

You, uh...

you look surprised
when I identified myself.

Well, frankly,
I had expected to see
a much older man.

[ chuckles ]
I'm used to that.

Nobody expects
a man of my age

to be able to hold his own
in the world of finance.

Personally, I think
it's an advantage.

How's that?

Because I'm not bound
by the traditions of the past.

I can try out new ideas,
experiment.

Is this ranch you bought
one of them?

Frankly, yes.

You see, I make
a lot of money

out of processing
other people's beef.

I figured it was
about time I got in
on where it all starts.

That's why I asked you
to come down here.

Before we go into that,
Mr. Gaynor,

I think I'd better tell you

that I had a little run-in
with your ranch foreman
yesterday.

Oh?Mm-hmm.

He was putting up
a barbed wire fence

on land
that was open range.

I had the fences
torn down.

You mean the fences
were not on my land?

Your land adjoined it,
all right,

but if you intend
to fence your property,

you'll be the first rancher
out here to do so.

All the rest of us
run our herds together
on a common range.

Then there
will be no fences.

Anything else?
That was it.

All right.

So now we come to why
I asked you here.

What does Judge Garth
pay you?

Oh, no, no.
I'm not trying to pry.

I just want you to
multiply it by two,

because that's what
you're making from now on.

What do you mean?

Well, I'm after a...

a vertical cattle
and packing industry,

controlling everything
from the source of the product

right on through
to the kitchen table.

That's why
I bought the ranch.

What's that got to do
with me?

I work by one principle--
to learn everything
there is to know

about each business
I invest in, and to
learn it from the best.

I've made inquiries,
and you are the best
foreman in this area.

That's why we have a deal.

I'm sorry, Mr. Gaynor.

I'm afraid we don't
have a deal.

Well, come on.

Everybody has his price.

It's only the currency
that differs.

Money, fame, power--

what is it that youwant?

To stay right where I am.

I've been with Judge Garth
for a long time.

Hmm. Loyalty.

That's a rare commodity
in my circles.

All right, we'll
forget it for now,

but I warn you,
you're only delaying
the inevitable.

Meaning?

Meaning that
when I want something,
I don't give up easily.

What I want right now
is what you can teach me.

Thanks very much
for coming down.

We'll be seeing
a lot of each other.

I hope so.

We could start that
tomorrow night at
Judge Garth's party.

Party? Fine.

Judge always has a little
get-together just before
we leave for the roundup.

I'm sure he'd
like you to come.

You can count me in on both
the party and the roundup.

I'll see you tomorrow night.

Good.

[ crickets chirping ]

[ playing guitar ]

♪ I'll give to you
a paper of pins ♪

♪ And that's the way
that love begins ♪

♪ If you will marry
me, me, me ♪

♪ If you will marry me

♪ I'll not accept
a paper of pins ♪

♪ If that's the way
that love begins ♪

♪ And I won't marry
you, you, you ♪

♪ And I won't marry you

BOTH: ♪ Paper of pins,
paper of pins ♪

♪ That's no way
for love to begin ♪

♪ I'll give to you
a little lapdog ♪

♪ To sit in your lap
when you go abroad ♪

♪ If you will marry
me, me, me ♪

♪ If you will marry me

♪ I'll not accept
your little lapdog ♪

♪ To sit in my lap
when I go abroad ♪

♪ No, I'll not marry
you, you, you ♪

♪ No, I'll not marry you

BOTH: ♪ Paper of pins,
paper of pins ♪

♪ That's no way
for love to begin ♪

♪ I'll give to you
the key to my heart ♪

♪ That we may lock
and never more part ♪

♪ If you will marry
me, me, me ♪

♪ If you will marry me

♪ I'll not accept
the key to your heart ♪

♪ That we may lock
and never more part ♪

♪ No, I'll not marry
you, you, you ♪

♪ No, I'll not marry you

♪ And now I see
that money is all ♪

♪ And a woman's love
is nothing at all ♪

♪ So I'll not marry
you, you, you ♪

♪ I'll not marry you

♪ And I'm determined
to be an old maid ♪

♪ Take my stool
and live in the shade ♪

♪ And marry no one,
no one at all ♪

♪ And marry no one at all

BOTH: ♪ Paper of pins,
paper of pins ♪

♪ That's no way
for love to begin ♪

♪ Paper of pins,
paper of pins ♪

♪ That's no way
for love to begin ♪

[ applause ]

Nice going, you two.

Thanks. Do you like
my new dress?

Looks beautiful.

Looks better
when I'm dancing.

You know,
that gives me an idea.

It's about time.

[ chuckles ]

Sorry, honey.
Later, hmm?

Guess you'll have to
settle for me.

All right, but watch out
for my shoes.

They're new too.

Mr. Gaynor,
glad you could come.

Nice to be here.

Good. Come on
and meet the Judge.

All right.

Excuse me, Judge.

This is Mr. Gaynor
from Chicago.
Judge Henry Garth.

I've been looking forward
to meeting you, Mr. Gaynor.

Judge, very kind of you
to invite me.

Meet a couple of
your new neighbors.
Barney Wingate.

Evan Barnes.

Hello, there.
Mr. Barnes.

You going on the roundup?

Well, I wouldn't miss it.

Unfortunately, I've got
business in Denver.

This'll be the first one
I've missed in years.

Well, Mr. Gaynor,
is it too early to ask you
how you enjoy Wyoming?

I like both the country
and the people.

I think the country
is beautiful,

and the people seem
to be genuine, honest,
and hardworking.

Is that so different
from the people
back in Chicago?

The men I do business with
in Chicago are hardworking,
all right,

but as far as
their honesty is concerned...

well, let's just say
I make it a rule
after shaking hands

to sort of count my fingers.

[ all chuckle ]

We don't have to stay
if you don't like it.

We can sneak out anytime.

Don't be silly.
I love parties.

You look pretty, Janet.

Thank you, Betsy.

Hmm.

Why didn't I think
to say that?

Well, shall we show 'em
how it's done?

You arebeautiful.

'Course, all I know
about a cow

is how it dresses out
at the packing plant,

but I intend to learn.

Come on, let me
introduce you around.

Who is that beautiful
young lady?

Janet Lawrence.

Father owns
the general store.

Could I meet her?Why of course.

Uh, excuse me.

Janet, I'd like to present
Mr. Robert Gaynor.

Janet Lawrence.

Miss Lawrence.

This is one of
my top hands, Trampas.

Trampas.How do you do?

May I have your permission
to dance with Miss Lawrence?

Well, uh...

Of course.

Nice man.

If you say so.

We must be getting
pretty good.

People are stopping
to watch.

Um...

[ applause ]

That's the first time
anybody ever applauded
my dancing.

Must be my partner.

I've never been
applauded before either.

Well, then,
we must make a good team.

Isn't he the most
divine dancer?

You know something.

I don't think you'll
be needing to rent
that buggy anymore.

[ knocks on door ]

Trampas. I thought you
were going on the roundup.

Well, I--

well, the boss and I
had to stop into town
to get some extra supplies,

so I thought I'd
drop over and say hello.

Well, come in.

What's the matter?

Looks like somebody died.

Oh. The flowers.

Did you ever see so many?

Don't tell me
who they're from.
Let me guess.

I don't know where
Mr. Gaynor got them.

I didn't know there were
that many flowers in town.

Well, a man with
his kind of money

can do just about anything.

So he bought some seed
and said,

"Here's a hundred dollars.
Grow!"

Oh, Trampas, that isn't nice.

Or maybe he charmed 'em
into growing,

like he did last night
at the party.

We went all through that
on the way home.

He was a stranger in town,
and when he asked me to dance--

Yeah, yeah, I know.
You had to be polite to him.

All evenin'.

It's a wonder you even
let me take you home.

As a matter of fact,
he did ask me to ride
home with him,

and if you keep going
like this,

I'll be sorry
I didn't accept.

Maybe you are anyway.

Maybe I am.

[ knock on door ]

Good afternoon,
Mr. Gaynor.

Please, come in.Thank you, Janet.

Trampas.
Glad to see you.

Mr. Gaynor asked me
to show him around
the country.

I thought I'd like
a guided tour

before we go out
on the roundup.

Sure.

Well, uh,
I gotta be going.

Would you
like to come along?

No, thanks.

I know the country
pretty well.

I'll get my shawl.

[ horse whinnies ]

Hi.Hi, Danny.

Seen Trampas today?No. Ain't been in here. Why?

We came into town together
and I lost him.

That's Trampas.
Have a drink?

No, I'd better go
look for him, I guess.

Even money says he'll
show up here.

Maybe you're right.
Make it a beer.

Sure.
How do the cattle
look this year?

Pretty good, pretty good.

Ought to get top prices
for them, if we get them
to market on time.

Ah. Thanks.

Mmm.

Uh-oh. Should have
made the bet.

His nips.

Where you been?

I had an errand to do.

Whiskey.

Little early in the day
for that, isn't it?

Got any better ideas?

We could go on back out
to Shiloh and get some
work done.

Hmm.

Big, fat showoff.
That's all he is.

Who's that?

Mr. Gaynor. Chicago's
gift to Medicine Bow.

They can have him back,
for my money.

Still sore about his
dancing with Janet
last night, huh?

If you think he gave her
the rush last night,

you should have seen
what he did today.

He's got her house
so full of flowers

that you can hardly
get through the front door.

Flowers all over the place.
'Scuse me.

You're still as clumsy
as ever, aren't you?

Pat.

Pate Wade!

Been a long time, huh?Well, I guess.

Well, let's see,
not since...

Billings.

We were both working
on the same ranch,

until the boss's wife

started rolling her eyes
here at Pat.

That's when he lit out.
Remember, Pat?

Oh, this is my boss.
Pat Wade.

Don't worry.
He ain't married, Pat.

Danny, another glass
for my buddy Pat Wade here.

Well, any friend of Trampas'
is a cash customer to me.

Don't worry, Pat.

Danny's always joking...
I hope.

[ all chuckle ]

Oh, good. Mmm.

Here's to whatever
brought you here.

All right.

What did bring you here?

Nothin'. I was just
passin' through, that's all.

I see you're traveling
kind of light.

Well, I give up wearing
a g*n a long time ago.

Seems like an invitation
to trouble,

unless a man was
fixing to use it.

Mm-hmm.

Why don't you stick around
for a while?

You couldn't find
a better man if you threw
a net around Wyoming.

Looking for a job?
I can always use an extra
hand at roundup time.

What do you say, Pat?
You'll like it at Shiloh.

And, uh... it's time
you settled down.

Well, I can't promise
how long I'd stay.
I'll give it a try.

Good. Let's get started.

Yo.

Danny, I'll take care
of this at payday.

Pat, it's good to see you.

I'lltake care of it
at payday.

Let me tell you something
about Pat here.

There's only two things
he's afraid of--

a decent woman,
and being left afoot.

I remember one night
we road into Bozeman,
and this--

That's no way for you
to be looking at a pretty girl.

I'm not looking
at the girl.

I'm looking at
the mighty Mr. Gaynor.

Gaynor?

That's right, Gaynor.
Know him?

I've heard the name.

Judging by your expression,

you and Mr. Gaynor had
a little bit of a run-in.

No run-in yet.

Not yet.

Hey.

Whoa.

Well, there she is.
I hope you like it here.

What do you mean?
He's gonna love it here.

Probably turn out to be
a regular Shiloh hand.

What do you say
to that, Pat?

Never try to outguess
fate, Trampas.

[ all chuckle ]

RANDY: Y'all sure took
a long time. What kept you?

Ran into an old buddy.

Randy, meet Pat Wade.

Hi, Pat.What say, Randy?

He's gonna be riding with us.

RANDY: Here,
I'll give you a hand.

Thanks just the same.

Trampas, you and Randy
take care of the horses.

I'll show Pat around.

Barn, tack room.
Store your gear in there.

Breaking pen's
right down there.

Feed lot's up over
the top of the hill.

That's the Judge's house.

This is the bunkhouse.
Come on in.

Pick out any spot
you like.

Thanks.Oh, uh, Pat.

Trampas says it's been
a couple of years
since he saw you.

You been working
the ranches since then?

That's right.Any one in particular?

Just here and there.

Trampas sure seems
to think a lot of you.

It works both ways.

Can I go in now?Sure.

Nice fella, ain't he?

Mm-hmm. Just a mite
short on conversation.

Yeah.

You ride with him long?

Long enough
to know he's a good man
to have on your side.

Pat don't talk much.
He likes to be left alone.

But if you give him
a good reason,

he'll fight you till
the Devil's ovens freeze over,

then skate with you
on the ice.

My, my. I didn't know
you could talk so fancy.

I read it somewhere.

Hey, men, gather round.

We're gonna handle the roundup
same way we did last year.

Worked out pretty well.

Well, now,
Mr. Gaynor's new here.

Maybe you'd better
explain how it works.

Well, Mr. Gaynor,

the cattle have been
spread out on the open range
all winter now.

Not only Shiloh cattle
and your cattle,

but everybody else's
around here.

Now, our job is to get them
together in one spot,

separate them,
ship them to market.

Why don't you and your crew
join up with Mr. Wingate

up on the west ridge.

My crew can get along
just fine without me.

If there's no objection,
I'll assign myself to you.

If you'll remember,
I mentioned the first thing
I wanted to do was learn.

All right.
Let's get started.

As I said,
I don't give up easily,

especially when it comes
to learning from the best.

So, where do I begin?

Well, Mr. Gaynor,

I don't know of
any better place
for any man to begin

than right
at the bottom.

Come on.

Hey, stock boy!

I'll need a couple
of hundred feet of
that rope over there,

and ten sacks of that feed.

And make it pronto.

Mr. Gaynor, we'll need--

No, no. No Mr. Gaynor
around here.

I'm just
plain stock boy too.

It's hard to get used
to seeing you working
a dirty job like this.

There's nothing wrong
with dirt on a man's hands,

long as it's the kind
he can wash off.

What can I do for you?

I'll need six bridles
and some rawhide strips
for the Bermuda.

Coming right up.

Howdy.

Boys tell me you're
working out real good.

Well, still a few things
I don't understand.

Your distribution methods,
for instance.

Such as?

The way I get it,

you set up these out camps
where the men bunk

while they're gathering in
the herds from the mountain
pastures.

Then, whenever they need
extra supplies,

they have to come in here
to the central camp
to get them.

Right. This is where
we store the stuff.

I wonder if it might
make some sense

to set up some
auxiliary supply dumps

a little more centrally
located to the out camps.

Might save a lot
of everybody's time.

You know, you might just have
a real good idea there.

I'll look into it.

Meantime, I think
you've earned a promotion.

Good.

Whoa.

We're ready to separate
the cows with pinkeye.

Who you got around
to give me a hand?

How 'bout me?

Well, I don't know,
Mr. Gaynor.

It's pretty tricky work.

First of all, you have
to learn how to rope.

Oh, by the way,
this is a rope.

Um...

this here's what you
call a honda.

You put the rope
through the honda,
like that,

and you build yourself
a loop.

Then you take the loop

and twirl it around
your head a few times,

and rope yourself a calf...

like that.

Oh, by the way,
the calf's the little one.

Who you got around
to give me a hand?

Trampas, can I borrow
your rope?

Let's see.
Slim is busy.

What about Randy?

Randy's all right,
and Lefty,

and, uh...
and take Ballard too.

Good.

Found out right away
that if a man really
wants to learn his work,

some parts of it
need a lot of practice.

All right
if I help you now?

There's a little more to it
than just learning to rope,
Mr. Gaynor.

That's all right.

Smart man like Mr. Gaynor
ought to have no trouble.

I'll teach him
a few tricks.

All right,
take a crack at it.

Pick yourself a horse
from the remuda.

Nothing to it.

Pick yourself out a calf,
rope him,

then get off
and throw him.

Here, uh, watch me.

See? Nothing to it.

Why don't you start with
that one over there,
that big one?

The bigger they are,
the easier they fall.

All right.

What's Trampas
trying to do,

sending Gaynor
after a yearling?

Pretty good idea
what he's doing.

[ laughing ]

I don't know,
Mr. Gaynor.

Maybe we better
put you on something else.

Roping seems to be
a mite too rough for you.

Maybe that's because
you forgot to tell him

to snub his rope
on his saddle horn,

and not to take on
yearlings.

Oh. How could I be
so forgetful?

No, no, no. That's--

It's all right.
I came here to learn.

I'm learning fast.

[ Trampas laughing ]

[ laughing ]

This must be a real
letdown for a man
like you, Mr. Gaynor.

Hmm? What's that?

Sleeping on the hard dirt,

eating tough beef
and sourdough
out of a tin plate.

I'll bet you're used to

living in
mighty fine style.

Have you
heard me complaining?

No. But I'll bet
you miss it.

Those big hotels
and fancy ba*ls,

and escorting them
pretty eastern women around.

I find my time is quite
pleasantly taken up
in Medicine Bow.

Just what do you mean
by that?

Trampas, I want you
and Pat to get started

on that forward
shipping corral this morning.

Just a minute.

Get moving!

What are you looking at?You.

You sure like
the Lawrence girl,
don't you?

What makes you say that?

The way you've been
riding Gaynor.

Trampas,
you sure have changed.

You're settling down
to ranching.

You're giving serious
thought to a lady.

Since we're on the subject
of a man changing,

let me say I haven't
noticed much in you.

Huh? Why not?

Before you got here,
you told the boss man
you were working ranches.

I don't buy it.You don't? Why not?

Let me see your hands.

Blistered, aren't they?

What kind
of work on a ranch

lets a man's hands
get so soft?

Trampas, the boss said
to get this corral up.

Let's do just that.

All right, next man.

I'll take your turn
this time, Mr. Gaynor.

As you found out,
it's a mite dangerous out there.

Thanks, but I'll
take my chances.

Be sure to cut yourself
a small calf this time.

Trampas, I do
appreciate your concern,

but I think I'll try
that one right out there.

You're next, Trampas.

Well, there's one thing
about your kind of work,
Trampas.

It's easy to learn.

Trampas, I'm surprised.

A man of your experience

forgetting to cinch
his saddle.

It was cinched.

And you were the only one
near my horse.

So I was.

I figured we'd better
get it over with,

so I can get on
to more important matters.

VIRGINIAN: Hey! Hey!

You want to fight,
do it on your own time.
Both of you.

What are you standing
around for?

Get on back to work!

He don't even know
how to fight.

Dances around
like a kid at a party.

Why didn't he stand still
so I could...?

I'd say he did all right,
his way.

Ah, that's a beautiful sight.

Yeah.

Your cut comes to almost
a thousand head of prime beef.

Now all that's left
is to get 'em to market.

The sooner the better.

Prices start out high
and go down fast
as the stock comes in.

I want to thank you
for all your help.

My pleasure.
You learn fast.

You won't have any trouble
taking care of that
ranch of yours now.

From now on,
I'll hold my own.

Man, is this bunk
gonna feel good.

Hey, Trampas,
come here a minute.

I was getting down
something from the shelf,

and I accidentally
knocked down Pat's
bedroll,

and this g*n
fell out of it.

Looks like it's been
used plenty.

Wonder why
he keeps it hidden.

I don't know.

I enjoyed every minute
of that roundup.

Well, almost every minute.

I missed you, Janet,
very much.

At least the roundup
gave you the chance to learn
more about the country.

How do you like it now?

This is a terrible admission
for a city boy,

but this place
kind of gets to you.

Well, I'm glad you like it.

You know, the ranch
you bought is one of
the best in the state.

That's only a beginning,
just the beginning.

You know, there's so much
that modern methods
can do here--

breeding a better
quality of beef,

developing better grasses.

I want to make this country
come alive,

realize its full potential.

I really believe you will.

At least I'm going to try.

That sounds as if
you're going to stay here.

No.

No, I couldn't do that,
even if I wanted to.

Just too many business
commitments back east.

Besides, I am a city boy,
Janet.

I like the excitement,
the life, the comforts.

You would too.

That sounds wonderful.

When I get things moving here,

I'll be going back east.

When I do, maybe you...

Robert...

Janet.

I know I don't meet
the usual requirements

of having carried on
a long courtship,

but what I'm trying
to tell you is that I've
fallen in love with you.

I want you to marry me.

Oh, Robert.

Now, wait.

A man would be a fool
to press for such
an important decision

unless he were sure
it'd be favorable.

I can wait.

I can wait.

Uh...

I've got a little
private errand to run.

You mean you don't want me
to go along with you,
is that it?

I can do my courting
without your help, thanks.

Not very sociable of you.

I'll buy you a drink
at the saloon, later.

All right, I'll be there.

Hello, Janet.

Well, hello, Trampas.

Won't you come in?

Thanks.

Well...

looks a lot better
than last time I saw it.

More like a home,
less like a funeral parlor.

Just joking.

Well... how you been?

Oh, just fine.

I, uh...

I could hardly wait
for the roundup to be over

so I could come by
and see you.

I heard you were
quite busy.

Sure was.

Teaching Robert Gaynor
how to rope calves.

Did he tell you about that?He didn't mention it.

Mr. Wingate told his wife
when he got back,
and she told me.

It was, uh...
all in fun.

That bruise on your cheek--
that was all in fun too?

Mr. Wingate's quite
a talker, ain't he?

Well, I'm glad I found out.

Now, look, Janet.

So I played a trick
on Gaynor

and we got into a fight.

What's so terrible
about that?

Well, I-I didn't mean
I was really angry.

I just meant that it
helped me to make my mind up
about something.

About you and me.

What are you trying to say?

Well, it's not just you,
Trampas. It's...

It's the whole country
around here,

the way people live,
the way they think.

There's a violence
always under the surface.

You didn't mind it before.

I never hand a chance before

to get to know much
about anyplace else.

In other words, Gaynor.

What's he been telling you?

It's not what he's
been telling me.

It's what he is,
the way he lives,

the way all people live
where he comes from.

What's wrong with Wyoming?

Seems to be a nice enough
place to me.

Oh, it's fine--

until somebody's cattle
strays in another herd,

or there's an argument
over water rights,

or a hundred other things.

It's not that way
all the time.

You're making too much
out of it.

Too much of it, Trampas?
Remember Johnny?

What happened to your
brother was an accident.

An accident?

I thought what happened
to Johnny was conversation--

one part talk,
and one part whiskey,

and Johnny ending up
shot to death

in the middle of the street.

Well, maybe it was
meeting Robert Gaynor,

getting to know
a different kind of man.

Maybe it was
a combination of things.

All I know is that,
well, it just isn't
the same, Trampas.

Now, Janet...

You always reminded me
of Johnny.

Maybe that was what
I liked about you.

But...

Somehow I get the feeling
you're walking around

what you really want to say.

What I'm trying
to tell you is that--

is that Robert Gaynor
has asked me to marry him,

and I'm going to accept.

I love him, Trampas.

I don't know how it happened.
I don't even know when it
happened, but it did.

I know the feeling.

Once you get it,
it's pretty hard to shake.

Oh, Trampas, I...

It's all right.

Good luck, Janet.

I was afraid you might not
get my letter

to meet the train.

I'm here.
Is our deal still on?

Mr. Wade, I wasn't sent
all the way from Chicago
just for a chat.

Five hundred dollars.

As I said in my letter,
to be split between
you and Crandall.

The price has gone up.

Since when?

Since I found out
how big a man Gaynor is.

It's gonna cost you
a thousand now.

A thousand dollars
for two men to do a little--

I never asked you
to hire the other man.
You did that on your own.

My employer doesn't want
any slip-ups.

With me, there's
never a slip-up.

One thousand dollars.

Why didn't Crandall
come with you?

He's not here.
I just checked the hotel.

I was told
he was reliable.

Risky business.

One more thing--

I usually know
who I work for.

Mr. Wade, it should be
apparent that's why
I was sent--

so your employer
could remain anonymous.

At least you could tell me
why he wants my services.

If Robert Gaynor
remains alive

long enough to reach
Chicago,

he'll consummate
a business deal

that will wipe out
our mutual employer.

You go on back
and you tell our...

mutual employer
that he can rest easy.

[ locomotive whistle blows ]

I'll let you work out
the details with Crandall
when he gets here.

You do that.

[ whistle blows ]

[ laughing ]

Hey! Where'd you find him?

Oh, he was just
wandering around out there.

Looking for his ma,
I guess.

Poor little fella.
Ought to be pretty hungry now.

That's the third stray
you've brought in.

You're gonna have to
sign on regular,

so you can get 'em
taken care of right.

I'll just pass 'em on
to Randy when I check out.

Still don't feel like
getting tied down, huh?

I like to play it
one day at a time.

[ approaching hoofbeats ]

Well. Mr. Wingate.
Gentlemen.

To what
do we owe the honor?

Robert Gaynor.What about him?

We just went into town
to see about shipping
our combined herds back east.

We can forget it.What do you mean?

Gaynor's already reserved
every cattle car

in this section of the country
for the next five weeks,

just to ship his own herd.

By the time we get
our herds shipped,

the price may be
cut in half.

Looks like the wonder boy
from Chicago

opened his pocket,
and we jumped right in.

Well... let's go
talk to him about it.

Come here.

Come on.
[ laughing ]

Yes.

Yes, gentlemen.

What about it?What about it?

You come out here
spreading sweetness
and light,

and all the time,
you've got one plan--

cut our throats.

You knew by tying up
all that shipping
equipment,

we'd be late getting
our herds to market.

Oh. Oh, I see.

I'm supposed to have
tied up

all the shipping
facilities

just so I could freeze
you out, is that it?

That's about the size
of it, isn't it?

You don't need all that
equipment to move your herds,
and you know it.

When I came here,
I told you I wanted to learn.

What I learn,
I put to use.

Such as?

Such as the makeup
of beef on the hoof,
for one thing.

When we were rounding up
the cattle,

what was it you kept
telling us?

Drive 'em slow,
keep 'em spread apart,

keep down the loss of weight.

What about it?

You taught me that
the flesh of a steer

is highly susceptible
to activity, pressure--

that those things can cause
a great weight loss.

Get to your point.

Well, it gave me
an idea about some of
your shipping methods.

I had my Chicago office
run a survey.

The results prove
that your method

of stuffing twice as many
cattle as you should

into each railway car
causes a great loss of weight,

plus a high mortality rate.

That, in my mind,
far outweighs the expense

of added railway cars.

No, gentlemen, I wasn't
trying to freeze you out,

just protect
my own interests.

I'm going to need
all that rolling equipment.

Which mean
you get things your way

while we just sit and wait.

Well, let's just say
that you've paid
for a good lesson.

My guess is that next year

you'll all decide
to ship the same way.

Maybe for you, Gaynor,
there won't be a next year.

That sounds like a threat.

What do you expect us to do?

Sit around here
and let you break us?

You'll get away with this.

But maybe you're starting
to push a little harder
than you should.

I'd think about it
while there's still time,
if I were you.

Does that implied threat
include you?

No.

But only because
I run the Garth place

and do things
the way the Judge wants.

If I had a place of my own,
mister,

I'd already have put
some slippery rocks
under your feet.

I say that we make Gaynor
give us some of those
cattle cars,

even if we have to turn him
inside out to do it.

[ shouts of agreement ]

Hold it, hold it.

Gentlemen, look,
we're not going to get
anywhere this way.

Gaynor reserved those cars.
There's nothing we can
do about it.

Well, how 'bout us
getting our herds
to market?

Maybe there's another way.

You got any ideas?I got a couple.

First of all,
you and Mr. Martin

could contact the Wyoming
Central Railroad.

They've got a spur line
40 miles west of here.

Maybe they'd be willing
to consign some cattle cars
to our use.

Meantime, I'll wire
Judge Garth in Denver,

see if he can't put some
pressure on our own railroad

to make some more
cattle cars available to us.

How's that sound to you?

All right. Fine idea.

All I've got to say is,
something's gotta work.

It will, don't worry.

You got a problem
with your back?

They say all a cowboy does
is use his saddle
for a workbench.

They didn't say nothing
'bout putting a pitchfork
in his hand.

Good exercise
keeps your back loose.

Is that enough, Randy?

Fine.

[ chuckles ]
You'll get used to it.

You're just spoiled,
that's all, Pat.
Yeah.

[ Pat chuckles ]

Hey, you really do
like this life, don't you?

Sure I do.

Mm-hmm. I can see
it all now, Trampas.

You settling down,
a nice piece of land,

you and Janet raising
a bunch of kids.

Too bad, too.
You had promise.

Only one thing wrong
with that picture, Pat.

She's going to marry
Gaynor.

I wouldn't be too sure
about that.

Cheer up, Trampas.

I've got a feeling everything's
going to turn out

just right for you.

Pat, I know you mean well,
but I'd rather not
talk about it.

All right, I'll drop it.

Hello, Sheriff.
What brings you out here?

Your friend Gaynor.

He's no friend of mine.

Yeah, that's what I hear.

Is it against the law
not to like him?

Trampas, you ever hear
of a fellow named Ross Crandall?

I don't believe I have.

Why?

He's a professional g*nman.
'Least he was.

I got a wire from
the sheriff

over at Beaver Falls
this morning.

Seems this Crandall
got himself k*lled last night
in a saloon brawl.

What's that
got to do with me?

He had a piece of paper
in his pocket.

It had Robert Gaynor's
name on it,

and the name of this town.

So?

I hear you had a fight
with Gaynor up at the roundup.

Yeah, I got
into a fight with him.

Oh, now,
wait a minute, Mark.

Are you trying to tell me
you think I hired a gunslinger

to k*ll Gaynor
just because I got
into a fight with him?

Mark, if I wanted
to get rid of somebody,

I'd do the job myself.

What job?

Ask Mark.

Professional g*nman
was k*lled yesterday
over at Beaver Falls.

They found Gaynor's name
in his pocket.

Mark thinks he's
working for me

on account of the fight
Gaynor and I got into.

I didn't say that.

Just how sore
are the ranchers at Gaynor?

Not thatsore.

You know 'em as well
as I do, Mark.

They wouldn't pull
a stunt like that.

No, I don't
think they would.

Have you told Gaynor
about this?

I'm on my way
over there now.
You want to come along?

No, thanks.

Lot of bookwork to do.
For once, I'm gonna enjoy it.

Oh, Mark, you say
this gunslinger

got k*lled
in a saloon brawl?

Yeah, that's what
the telegram said.

Some gunslinger.

You ever hear of him, Pat?

No, can't say that I have.

I wouldn't want to be
in Gaynor's shoes.

Any idea who this
Crandall's employer might be?

That's what I came
to ask you.

You know the people
around here better than I do.

You don't have to worry
about them.

What about back east?

Anybody there might
have it in for you?

By the dozen I suppose,
but if this Crandall
was k*lled--

They could always
hire another.

Then there's nothing
I can do about it.

Care for a drink?

No, thanks. I've got
to be heading back.

I thank you for your interest,

but I learned to ignore
things like this
a long time ago.

Well, when you have
as many enemies as I do,
you just get used to it.

Thanks a lot.

WINGATE: Here he is.

We contacted
the Wyoming Central,
as you said.

Yeah?

And all their
cattle cars are taken.

Did you hear
from Judge Garth?

Sure did.
Just got the telegram back.

"Contacted railroad.

"No rolling stock
available.

"Handle problem
best way you can.

Judge Henry Garth."

Gaynor's not leaving us
any choice.

Either we take over
those cattle cars by force--

We can'tdo that.
It's not legal.

We may not like what he did,
but it's not ill*gal.

You think we're gonna
take this sitting down?

Or standing up.

But you'll take it.

He's right, you know.

Gaynor may have
double-crossed you,

but he hasn't
broken the law.

And the first man that does
is gonna answer to me.

May as well face it,
gentlemen.

We learned a lesson
the hard way.

Next year,
we'll turn it around.

[ indistinct muttering ]

You hear any more
on the Crandall thing?

Well know tonight.Tonight?

Gaynor's leaving
for Chicago this evening

with the first shipment
of his herd.

There was an item about it
in today's paper.

If anyone's really
interested in k*lling him,

we'll know before
he gets on that train.

I'll see you later.

Hey. You're so quiet,

I almost mistook you
for part of the woodwork.

I was just doing
a little thinking.

I'd say you were doing
a powerful lot of it.

Pat...Yeah?

I was thinking
about the old days.

Like when you and me
was riding together
up in Montana.

Yeah. That was a long
time ago, huh?

They were good times.
Good times.

Man get to missing
times like that.

Maybe when you leave,
I'll be going along with you.

Who are you kidding?

You're all set up here.

You got a real good job,

everything that makes
for a real solid future.

Like I said, I might be
going along with you.

No, Trampas.

Those were real good
times, all right,

but I'm used to traveling
alone now.

You pulling out now?

Yep.

Kind of sudden,
isn't it, Pat?

You know me, Trampas.
I never stay too long
in one place.

You go back to your girl
and your job,

forget about
all this foolishness.

This here's where you belong.

I told you,
there is no girl.

Not anymore.

I told you,
you give up too easy.

I don't want to argue
about it, Pat.

Just tell me where you're
going, I'll join up
with you later.

No, you wouldn't.

You'd change your mind.

I think I'm a better
judge of that than you are.

Not this time, Trampas,
'cause I've got a deep feeling

that you and Janet are going
to get back together again.

Fact is, I'd be
willing to bet...

a thousand dollars
on it, huh?

Till next time, Trampas.

So long, Pat.

Get in there, son.

How'd the meeting go?

Fine. Just fine.

No way we can
get our herds to market

for at least ten days.

By that time,
the price of beef
will be way down.

Meantime,
Gaynor goes out tonight

with his first
shipment of cattle,

right on schedule.

Gaynor's
leaving town tonight?

He's leaving, all right.

Unless whoever that fellow
Crandall was working for

decides to hire somebody else
to do the job.

Who knows Gaynor's leaving?

Anybody that can read.
It was in the paper today.

By the way, I picked up
the payroll money
at the bank.

Tell Pat if he's short,

I can give him
a little advance.

Yeah, I'll do that.

[ horse whinnies ]

Pat.

What do you say?
What are you doing here?

I was abut to ask you
the same thing.

My horse got a little stone
underneath his shoe.

I just now got it out.

Did you have to put on
your g*n to do it?

Well, you never do know
who you're going to run
into on the trail.

I guess not.

You haven't told me
why you were following me.

Told you back at the ranch
I was thinking of pulling out.

When you left,
I decided to make my break
right then and there.

Without even a saddlebag?

I travel light.

Trampas,
you're a rotten liar.

Come on, tell me,
what are you following me for?

To keep you
from k*lling Gaynor.

What are you talking about?

It all adds up, Pat.

The cracks you made
about me and Janet
getting back together,

you leaving Shiloh
without even drawing out
your pay,

how you got those blisters
on your hands the first
day you got there.

How long you been
hiring out?

What difference
does it make?

None, I guess.

As long as you don't
practice your trade here.

Just this once,
then I'm off.

No, not even this once.

I don't get it. This man,
he stole your girl, didn't he?

You don't want her back?

He didn't steal her.
She chose him.

When he's gone,
she's gonna choose you again.

I don't want to argue
about it, Pat,

but you're not
gonna k*ll him.

You'd better beat it,
Trampas,

'cause he's gonna be here
in a few minutes.

You'd just better pretend
you didn't get here in time.

I wish I could, Pat,
but I didget here in time.

Look, Trampas, I've been
paidfor this already.
A thousand dollars.

Do you realize
how long you've got to work
to makea thousand dollars?

I don't care how much
you got for it, you're
not gonna k*ll him.

You realize, then,
what you're asking me
to do, don't you?

Sorry, Pat,
but that's the way it is.

I just don't get it.

I'm sure not going to get
into a fight with my best
friend over it.

If this man means
that much to you,

he's all yours.
You can have him.

[ g*nshots ]

[ horse neighs ]

I always did wonder
which one of us...

was faster.

Oh, you're a lucky,
lucky man, Gaynor.

Very lucky.

What did he mean?

I don't know.

Cattle are about loaded.

Equal lot from each ranch.

Good, fine.

I'd like you to know,
and the other men would too,

that we really
appreciate your letting us
off the hook like this.

Well, it would have been
pretty hard not to,

after what Trampas
did for me.

Got any idea
who might have paid Wade

that thousand dollars
they found on his body?

I can guess.

Somebody else I was
pushing too hard
back in Chicago.

Gonna let them
off the hook too?

I've already sent
a telegram to that effect.

You know, old habits
are hard to break.

All I can do is try
the new ones on for size.

I think they'll
fit just fine.

Well, goodbye,
Mr. Lawrence.

Goodbye, Robert.
Take good care of her.

You can be sure of that.

Goodbye, Daddy.Goodbye, hon.

Come along, Mrs. Gaynor.

[ locomotive whistle blows ]

[ locomotive whistle blows ]

Are you just gonna
sit there all day?

Come on.
We got work to do.