Buckskin (1958)

[bunniefuu]

Pa, isn't thereany way we can stay?

You know there isn't.

If we allgot together,

we could open upthe creek

and run marlowe'sbunch out.

There's been

too much k*lling.

There are plenty

of valleys,

and we'll find one.

Your mother's

crying again.

Get in the house

and give her

some comfort.

[Horse whinnies]

Jimmy,

get the r*fles!

Some Indians

are coming!

How many

are there, pa?

Two of them.

Two too many.

Get in the barn

and cover me.

Is there goingto be trouble, frank?

Stay in the house,

Sarah.

I think

if we show them

we mean business,

they may

leave US alone.

They're not Indians.

At least,the man isn't.

Something

you want?

Yeah, I've been

looking for water.

Thoughti might try here.

Water?

We ain't got water.

Why do you think

we're moving out?

Sorry to bother you.

No, wait a minute.

We won't be using

the water in the trough.

There's no need

letting it go to waste.

All right,

go ahead.

I thank youfor the water,

but I'd feela lot better

if whoever'scovering mewould come out.

I almost shot him.

It's all right,

Jimmy.

A stream ranthrough this partof the country.

There was,

until rep marlowe

bought the land

north of here

and dammed it up.

Marlowe?he's a gambler,not a land baron.

You know a lot

about what's going on.

Who are you, mister?

Boy, you're liableto get a man angry,

pointingthat at him.

Mr. Marlowe

makes his money

off the cowboy

and the miners.

He thinks

we homesteaders will

bring law and order.

How many peopledepend on the waterhe's blocked up?

Seven.

We're joining them

in a little while.

We're moving

to Oregon.

Mm-hmm. Boy,

unhitch that horse,

ride and tell the others

that they'll have water.

Why should you carewhat happens to US?

I still want to knowwho you are.

My name is chaddock.

Montana

territorial marshal.

Frank, does that mean

we can stay?

But marlowe owns the

land the dam's on,

legal and proper.

You'd be

breaking the law.

A badge in my pocket

says I'm the law.

My name

is frank Cody.

This is

my wife Sarah

and my son Jimmy.

Boy, when you talk

to the others,

tell them I'll want them

to file homesteading claims.

Yes, sir.

There won't be any

trouble, will there?

When the railroadcomes through herenext year,

this place will befilled with homesteaders.

Better to register now,avoid trouble later.

Of course, marshal.

Boy, weren't yougoing somewhere?

Uh...yes, sir.

I knew the government

wouldn't let US down.

We've worked so hard

on this land.

My son's motherwas Indian.

Her people were surethe governmentwouldn't let them down.

But them Indians

never did anything

with this land.

They're nothing

but a bunch...

This is your land now.

I'll protect it for you.

Much obligedfor the water.

You'd thinkthey could at least

send a man whowas full civilized.

Rep marlowe

will civilize him.

Jimmy, ride over

and tell the others

what

the marshal said.

We'll hang around

for a while and

see what happens.

Oh, uh,howdy, sheriff.

Passenger list

in yet?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah,here you are.

Don't look likeno lawman on it.

Who's this Talbot?

Oh, he's thatfarm equipmentdrummer

came through here,oh, last spring.

Oh, yeah.

Well, this time

he ain't going

to have nobody

to sell anything

to, is he?

I'll

see you later.

Morning, tangley.

Where's marlowe,

still in bed?

Was playing cardswhen I come in.

Travis here losteverything he had...

More than 3,000.

Stupid half-wit.

Hello, sheriff.

Did you hear?

I lost all my money.

I was going home

to St. Louis.

You never donenothing to earnthat money anyhow.

Didn't I?

We was out here

before anybody.

We cleared

this land,

my brothers and me.

Indians

k*lled my brothers,

scalped 'em.

But I k*lled

six of them

for every one

of my brothers.

The sheriff

didn't mean nothing.

You'll make it

again, Travis.

You always do.

Come on now

and sit down.

Mr. Marlowe don't

want any trouble.

I'm to keep him here

till this afternoon,

and you're

to see that he's

on that stage.

Oh, sure.

Treat him real good...

The stupid crud!

Hey, Travis,

come here. Come here.

Do you see

what I see?

That's the injun

that k*lled

your brothers.

No.

What do you mean,

no?

I seen their

scalps hanging

from his belt.

They k*lled your

brothers, Travis.

And they're

laughing at you!

Listen.

They're laughing

at you, Travis,

'cause they k*lled

your brothers.

They're laughing.

They're laughing,

Travis!

What did youtell him that for?

That crud's

going to get what

he's got coming.

What's

this fight about?

Listen, you think

you can come

into this town

and run roughshod

over people,

you got another

think coming.

My name is chaddock.I'm the newterritorial marshal.

How'd I know?

You wasn't

wearing no badge.

Take him to jail,get him a doctor.

He don't need one.

I got business

to attend to.

You can take him

to jail your...

Do as I sayor take off that badge.

All right, marshal.

I didn't

mean no offense.

Come on, Travis.

Come on.

Sheriff, after you

get him a doctor,

wait for me.

I want to see you.

You all right?

Yeah, son,

I'm all right.

Hi.

Something I can do

for you, marshal?

Yeah, my sonneeds a haircut,

a bath, and, uh,some clothes.

Just what sort

of clothes do you

have in mind?

Oh, well, uh...

Well, what...Whatevera boy his size wouldbe wearing this year.

Sung li, get

the bath started.

O.k., sir.

Pa, I wantto go home.

Now, son,

I told you it

wouldn't be easy.

I don't like this place.

I don't likethese people.

I want to go back.

Akii,

there's nothing

to go back to.

Besides, I promised

your mother

I'd bring you up

in a...Civilized

man's world.

No. I'm an Indian.I want to go back.

Back to what,

the reservation?

Where

your mother died?

Where the people

are starving

and they won't even

allow them to hunt?

No, akii. No.

The Indian way

is dying.

It's not

happening to you.

You're my son.

But whatif they k*ll you?

They wouldn't

k*ll a marshal.

[Door opens]

Bath ready.

Indian boy take bath

with clothes on?

You take a bath now.

Let them

cut your hair.

I'll pick you up

later.

Got some more

in back.

Most of the families

with kids

moved out

a while ago.

Well, I'm surethese will be fine.

That mean

you're staying in

gloryhole, marshal?

Mm-hmm.

Why

the sudden interest

in our welfare?

Hmm?

Officials

up in Helena

never bothered

with US before.

Maybe they figuredthat some ofthe people here

deserve each other.

You think we like

living under

rep marlowe's law?

There's one wayto find out.

Could youcall a meetingof the townspeople

in front ofthe sheriff's office, say?

Marlowe

doesn't like US

to have meetings.

That's one reasonI'm calling this one.

All right.

I'll do it.

Morning, Mr. Marlowe.

Tangley...

Any sign of that marshal?

He ain't come out

of the general

store yet.

Breakfast will beready in a minute,mr. Marlowe.

Hey, patch,

I understand you

acted kind of jumpy

when you heard

the marshal's name

was chaddock.

We've met.

What does that mean?

I'm going to k*ll him.

You'll k*ll him

when I tell you.

I'll k*ll himthis morning.

Tomorrow this valley

will be ours

and with it, control

of all the land east

of the bitter roots.

You'll

k*ll him then.

I'll bet he had

something to do

with your face.

He did, didn't he?

For five yearsI've waitedto catch up with him.

I'll wait till tomorrow.

- Tangley!

- Huh?

Has chaddock gone tothe telegraph office yet?

No.

That means no onein Helena knowshe reached here.

Who in townwould say different?

Mr. Marlowe, if he'd

a-got off that stage,

we'd have

bushwhacked him.

Patch...

I shouldn't

play poker

all night anymore.

I don't

think so clear

the next morning.

Are we going

to k*ll him?

First we're going

to stack the cards,

be sure that nobody

sends a telegraph

to Helena.

Why don't you ride

out of town a ways

and sort of

cut the wires?

Look...there he comes

out of the store now.

See?

There he is.

Before you go

on your little chore,

find out what he's

doing in the store.

I'll be over

at the hotel.

There goes

a dead man.

You don't need

a doctor, Travis.

You just need time

to sober up.

Chaddock!

How are you, doc?

They told me in helenaI'd find you here.

That's why iasked the sheriffto get you.

I thought you could

fill me in.

Tangleydidn't get me.

I happened bywhen he draggedpoor Travis in.

Don't tell me you'rethe new marshal?

Yeah,

that's me, doc.

How'd they get youto take this job?

I thought it might

be a good place

to raise my son.

My wife

and the littlest...

They died.

Smallpox.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

Yeah, so am I.

What's his story, doc?

Why'd he jump me?

I understand it was

sheriff tangley's

idea, you know.

Travis there, he's

not quite right.

He lost all his

money to marlowe,

and he's halfway

out of his mind.

For a little sport,

tangley got Travis

all mixed up

and told him

you and your son

were the Indians

that k*lled

his brothers.

That sheriff's mindis just as clutteredas this office.

Who you

looking for anyway?

Oddly enough,our friend the sheriff.

There he is now.

It's time somebodytaught him some manners.

Wait for me,will you, doc?

I thought I told you

to wait in your office.

Why, you...

You try that again,

you'd never get up.

k*ll him!

k*ll him right now!

You'll never make it,

patch.

Sounds like

he remembers you.

Why don't you draw?

He'd k*ll US both.

Well, looks like

the new marshal has

won the first hand.

Oh, doc,

take a look at red,

will you, please?

Sung li,

come over here.

What did he want

in your store?

Wire cutters,

and, uh...

And he...

"And he"?

He said they're

going to k*ll you.

And he also say

they k*ll anybody

who say

you've been here.

Cut the telegraph wire,k*ll me, pretendi never arrived.

That the idea, tangley?

I don't need

to tell you nothing.

You tell me wherethe telegraph officeis right now.

Marshal...

Hmm?

He not pay

for wire cutters.

Give the man back

his wire cutters.

Let's go.

Send a wire...

Montana territorial

marshal's office,

Helena.

Is, uh...Is that

all right, sheriff?

He's not the

sheriff anymore.

Start sending.

Yes, sir.

The bartender's

one less g*n

to worry about.

Dead?

Yeah. I'll start

a pot of coffee

in your office.

Thanks, doc.

I'll be right over.

We're readyfor the message.

Arrived gloryhole

safe and sound.

Sign it chaddock.

Yes, sir, marshal.

I got a message for

you, too, tangley.

Tell marlowe next

time I don't wait

for anybody to draw.

Make it clear.

Yes, sir.

Bring that

to the marshal's office.

Marshal.

Yeah?

You asked

for a meeting.

I wanted to meetall the townspeople.

That's all

that would come.

Hmm.

No wonder marloweruns this town.

Remember,

we have to be firm.

Gentlemen.

Marshal.

Thank youfor meeting with me.

You can pass alongto the otherswhat I say.

Soon the railroadwill be comingthrough here.

Marshal, I think

we know what you're

going to say.

The fact is,

we want you to get

out of gloryhole.

What are you saying?

This man was sent to

give US law and order

so we have a chance

to live in dignity.

What happens

when he's k*lled?

We'll still

have to live

with rep marlowe.

I called this meetingto ask for your help,

not your permission.

I was sentto clean up this town.

If you don'twant to help,

just don'tget in my way.

Nice town

you got here, doc.

Ah, those peopleare frightened, chaddock.

You can't blame them.

Marlowe's becomea desperate manthe last few months.

I came here

expecting gloryhole

to be wide open.

Instead I find

an almost ghost town

with a handful

of terrified people.

Well, gold'splaying out fast.

Pretty soonit'll be a ghost town.

But if the people

really believe that,

why do they stay?

Why does marlowe

stay here?

Well, marlowe,i don't know.

The others hopethat things willget better again.

Maybe when

the railroad comes.

Not a boom town,

but they'll be able

to make a living.

I wish I could

figure out

what marlowe's

trying to do.

Doc, do you knowwhy he cut off

the squatter'swater supply?

Marshal?

Mr. Marlowe offered

me $500 last week

to file on one

of those farms when

it was abandoned.

Oh?

And then what,

sell it back to him?

Yes, sir, but I

turned him down.

Didn't need

the money then.

Just waiting to

take the stage home.

Hey, doc...

Doc, I think I know

why marlowe tried

to get me k*lled.

Look at this, doc.

If marlowe could

get this valley,

when the railroad

comes through,

he'd control all

of eastern Montana.

Is that possible?

Yes, it is possible,

unless I can

figure out some way

to stop him.

You mean open upthe dam again?

At least that

would keep the

homesteaders here.

As soon as they gettheir water back,

won't that bethe end of it?

Not until they file

for homestead.

Marlowe could

chase them off and

file for himself.

I got to figure out

some way to do away

with that dam.

Have you seen it,

doc?

No, I haven't,

but it's too riskyto try alone.

I've seen it, marshal.

Ain't nothing some dynamite

won't bust,

if you ever

get close enough.

Thanks, Travis.

You going out there now?

No, doc. Not yet.

I want to talkwith my son first.

You thought you came

to tame a town,

but it'll be a lot

more trouble than that.

Be careful, chaddock.

Marlowe is dangerous.

Yeah.

That's far enough.

We weren't jawing justto hear ourselves talk.

You're leaving town,marshal.

Corbin,

don't be a fool.

Keep out of this, doc.

You better

listen to me.

We'll handle this.

Go get his kid.

I wouldn't do that

if I were you.

One more stepand I'll sh**t.

Why don't you

put that g*n away?

I told you to stay

out of my way.

The next thing I break

won't be a g*n.

You're a lucky man,

Corbin.

I tried to warn you.

If we don't get thatmarshal out of town,

we'll all be k*lled.

We've all

been dead for years.

This whole town

has been.

Thing is,now we get buried.

He's the only chance

for life we've got!

Well, now.

Well, now,I'd say we wereall slickered up.

Sung li showed me

where they heat

the water

for the baths.

That was very niceof you, sung li.

Pa, what happened

in the street?

Well, akii,I'll tell youall about that later.

Right now,you've got to getyour haircut.

Sung li says

if anyone needs

a bath and haircut,

that's you.

He's right.

I've gotsome business first,

then I'll behis next customer.

- Really?

- Mm-hmm.

We give boy

haircut now.

Come on.

There something

I can do for you,

marshal?

How do you tella little boy

that the whole townwants to killhis father?

Not the whole town.

Oh. I know.I'm sorry.

Mr. Perkins,

I want threesticks of dynamitegift-wrapped.

You going to

use them on marlowe?

That depends on him.

You all right?

My son's laughter.

For a second there,i was remindedof his mother

on a long ago July.

What are youdoing here?

I had to see you.

Where are the others?

They're still out

guarding the dam.

We didn't see none

of the sodbusters

moving out.

We decided to

find out why.

We thought

I better tell you.

And?

There's a new marshal...

Sent word he's gonna

open up the dam.

Chaddock does know.

I don't think so.

If the people

in Helena knew what

you were up to,

they'd send more

than one man.

Chaddock's alone.

You may be right,but either way,i don't like it.

Browdie,this new marshal'sa big man,

and he wears buckskins,

but he doesn't wearany badge.

So if you see himanywhere near that dam,

you and the boys sh**t,and you sh**t to k*ll.

I'll ask you again.

Why wait?

Do you knowwhat trouble

k*lling a marshalhere in towncould bring?

I know

what he can bring

if we don't.

I'll make hima fair offer.

He can't be bought.

Anybodycan be bought.

Mr. Marlowe's right.

Any white man

marries an injun squaw,

why, he ain't

so high and mighty.

How do you know?

He had that kid with him, his son...

A half-breed.

A boy?

You didn't

say anything

about a boy.

Yeah, a kid about

10 years old.

He's right.

You should havetold US.

But, no matter.

We'll take careof the kid

after the father'sout of the way.

If he knows of

your plan to take

over the valley,

it's all over!

I don't knowwhat's gotten into you.

We'll use himto gather in all thosehomestead claims.

Then if he doesn'ttake my offer,

him and his kidare the losers.

I've been waitingall my lifefor this chance.

It's one potI'm going to win.

Want this?

Nah.

Pa...pa!

Now, I didn't mean tofrighten him, marshal.

You make a habit

of breaking jail?

Mr. Marlowesent me to get you.

He's stillat the sheriff's office.

Says he wants to talk.

How many g*ns

with him?

I think he's all alone,marshal.

You get sung li

to take you over

to doc Raymond's.

Introduce yourself.

I'll be along

in a little while.

No buts. Go on.

[Yelling

and cheering]

What's that carnival

all about?

Miners coming infor Saturday night.

That's justthe first of 'em.

Town'll be filledbefore nightfall.

They always

that noisy?

They're behavin'themselves now, marshal.

After the Wells fargoman gets here

and exchangestheir gold forspending money,

all hell breaks loose.

Not anymore,

it doesn't.

Now, marshal...

I'm really sorryabout what happenedbefore.

Guess I hadtoo much to drink.

If there's anythingi can do...

Our horses

could stand a feeding.

I'll be glad to.

Oh, marshal,

like the doc says,be careful ofmr. Marlowe.

He's tricky.

Thanks.

Not a very nice

place to meet.

Sheriff tangley

keeps a real

pigsty.

That's notvery surprising,is it, Mr. Marlowe,

consideringthe former sheriff'sfriends?

I have no friends,

marshal.

Tangley

works for me.

Everyone in this town,

one way or another,

works for me.

And now you want tohire me.

What's your price?

More than you've got,marlowe.

More than I've got.

This is my town.I own it.

I own thisvery buildingwe're standing in.

Oh. Worth about $300,

wouldn't you say?

If you're

in town next week,

drop by for a voucher.

The territory of Montana

owns it now.

You can't do that!

No? I just did.

There's another piece

of your property

I'm going to

dispose of...

Unless you want to

save me the trouble

by opening that dam

yourself.

Marshal,

there's...1,000,

2,000...

In gold.

It's yours.

Marlowe...marlowe,

those homesteaders

aren't going to

move out.

Tomorrow morning

I'm going to deliver

their signed claims

to the stagecoach

driver.

He'll take them

to the registrar's

office in Helena

for filing.

I'll add 5,000 to that.

That'll fix yourfamily up real nice.

Just ride out of townand don't come back.

What's left of

my family is

with me right now.

All the more reason,then.

Marshal, don't makethat boy of yoursan orphan.

Don't you ever

threaten my boy again,

marlowe.

Go on.

Get out of here!

Something bothering

you, boy?

That man...

He keptlooking at me.

Hello, doc.

Hi, chaddock.

You and the docbeen gettingto know each other?

Yeah, pa.

Whatcha beentalking about?

We were

just talking.

Son, run off to

the general store

and tell Mr. Perkins

I said to give you

some candy.

No, thank you.

What's the matter,you sick?

Look at

those miners.

They work hard

all week,

then

on Saturday night

they give marlowe

everything

they've grubbed up.

Why are they in the street?Isn't the saloon open?

Marlowe doesn't

start the girls

and the gambling

till after dark.

I wish I...

Look here, chaddock,

I've got to talk

to you alone.

The boy can hearanything you wantto say to me.

All right. Get out now

before it's too late.

Why doesn't marlowe?

Sure as i'm

standing here,

you'll

get yourself k*lled.

The boy deserves

better than that.

Yeah.

Yeah, you're right,doc. He does.

People deservea lot of things.

They don't get themby running away.

You take him

to another town,

another territory.

Marry again

and give him

a mother.

What's more

important than that?

To know that his fatherwon't back down.

Chulee! Help!

Well, looky here.We got ourselvesa pigtail.

Oh, no!

No, please!

No! No, please!

Please!

Oh...oh, no!

Please!

[g*nsh*t]

[Chaddock]Let him go.

We was just after

his pigtail.

And a small thinglike a man's dignity

wouldn't standin your way,would it?

This ain't none

of your concern.

I won't forget this.

You better not.

You all right?

Yes, sir.

Your son...

He very smart boy.

He say you good man.

You very brave.

Thank you.

Thank you. I go now?

Mm-hmm. Oh, sung li,i want to ask youa question.

Is therea schoolteacherin this town?

Uh...miss Johnson.

She used to

teach school.

Now she work

for Mr. Marlowe.

Works for marlowe?How'd that happen?

Long time ago,

uh, miners

come into town.

They break

into her house.

After that,

people say

she can no longer

teach children.

Where does she live?

I think she live

in hotel now.

Thanks, sung li.

I'll go clean up,then go see her.

Let's go inside.

I'm tired. Tired.

Well, you didn't

get much sleep

last night.

That chaddock...If he thinks he'sgoing to stop me now,

he's not.

The stakesare too high.

He'll try.

I've told you that.

But why?

What's this townto him?

I offered him money...$2,000.

Thinks i'llthrow in my hand.

What does he knowabout being old

and backed intoa corner?

At my age,I'll never getanother chance like this.

This whole territorycan be mine.

If he tries tostop me now,

so help me god,I'll grind himinto dust!

That pleasure's

going to be mine.

Tangley!

Tell the miners

what I said.

Yes, sir!

Howdy, boys.Boys, boys!

Boys, I gotgood news for you.

You don't have to waitfor the Wells Fargo mantoday.

Mr. Marlowe saysthe drinks is on the house.

As far as gambling'sconcerned,

why, he says he'll acceptyour personal ious.

Oh. When did marlowe

get so all-fired

generous?

He just wantsyou to know

that he knowswho his real friends are.

Now you go in thereand have a time.

I'm going to getthe women now.

Yeah. That can build

a lot of friendship.

Who is it?

My name is chaddock.I'm the new marshal.

Where'd marlowe

find you?

He didn't.

The territoryof Montana did.

Is this

an official visit?

If you like.

I don't go to work

until nightfall.

Uh, wait, wait a minute,

miss Johnson.

Miss Johnson,

I understand you're

a schoolteacher.

Ha! That wassomebody else

from the countyof once-upon-a-time.

Well, I have

a little boy.

Well, that's notmy problem.

No. No, it's mine,

but it...

Could be yours.

Not anymore.Never again.

Why not?

Why don't youget out of here?

Miss Johnson,

I don't think

you understand.

This place

is changing.

Changing around here?

The railroad

is coming through

next year.

Homesteaders

will flood in.

Homesteaders have kids.

Kids need schooling.

They won't want me.

I think maybe

they will.

Look, you don'tknow me.

You don't knowthis town...

The gossip,the filth.

I'm everythingthey say I am.

And you're

everything

you used to be.

You been hurt,

but you don't

have to quit.

And underneath

all this make-up,

I see

a schoolteacher.

[Knock knock]

All right, girls,

Mr. Marlowe wants you

at the saloon right away.

Nora.

Nora.

Nora.

Why don't you

answer your door?

[Knocking]

Nora!

What's this

all about?

Oh...i...i...i ain'tsupposed to tell.

But maybei could tell you,

if we could do itkind of private-like.

Marlowe

wouldn't like that.

Well, then...I ain't gonnatell you.

We could have

a drink together

later.

Well...now,don't you tell any ofthose girls over there.

Mr. Marlowe,

he wants the minersin a good mood today

because there'sa new marshal in town,

and he's causingtrouble,

and Mr. Marlowewants to get rid of him.

There, now, I...I...I told you.

How about you...

No!

All right,miss schoolteacher.

You ain't no betterthan the rest of them.

You better bedown there in 15 minutes

with the rest of 'em,

or i-I'll...Aw!

You forgot to tell me

you're a dead man.

You quit easy.

When I wasa little girl,

a man came to townselling watches

in solid gold cases.

Three days later,when the casesturned green,

I couldn't find him.

Now you come herewith all yourfancy talk...

Only this timeI'm not buying,

because whatyou're selling

is just as phonyas those cases were.

What I'm selling

is as good as the

person who buys it.

Get out of here,dead man.

I get paidfor talking...10 cents a drink.

Yeah, maybe

you're right.

Maybe I am

a dead man.

Maybe that's why

I came here.

[Coins jingle]

There's enough

for a hundred drinks.

If I don't come back,

talk to my boy.

What do I sayto him?

Oh...

Just let him

hold onto you

for a little while,

then send him

on his way.

Well, son,

I see that you

and Mr. Travis

are becoming

friends.

Mr. Travis

has a boy,

same as me.

My wife sent itto me last month.

Just a likenesson a piece of tin.

Haven't seen himin four years.

Too busy tryingto catch a rainbow.

Handsome family.

I got the horsesfed, marshal.

I left akii'sat the stable.

Thank you.

Wait here, will you?

Come inside, son.

I want to have

a talk with you.

Pa, I saw that man

with a patch

on his eye.

Who is he?

Oh, he, uh...

He's just a man

your pa used to know.

I want to leave here.

I'd like that, too, son.

But, akii, I want youto remember something.

When we came here,

I made a promiseto bring law and order.

Soon you'll be a man,

and when you are,you'll find out

there are certain thingsyou have to do

or you aren'ta man at all.

But doc says

they'll k*ll you.

Well, I supposethey're goingto try, but...

Akii, if anythinghappens to me,

get on your ponyand ride eastto fort halleck.

Pa, we can go away

from here.

We don't

have to stay.

It's a long ride, son,

but you're almosta man now.

You can hunt.You can take careof yourself.

When you get tofort halleck,

there's a tradingpost there

run by an old mannamed Aaron.

You give him this.

He'll knowwho you are, and...

He'll take careof you.

Pa...

I'm not

almost a man.

Son, you spendthe night here.

If your pa'snot back by morning,

you get on your pony,

ride east,fort halleck.

Travis...

I'd appreciate it

if you'd keep

an eye on the boy

while I'm gone.

Be glad to, marshal.

Thanks.

I understand

you lost some money

to marlowe last night.

All I had.

You'll find $2,000

over in the desk

drawer.

You mean it?

Yeah, I mean it.

But you'll wish

I didn't

if I ever catch you

gambling again.

What do you

think?

I think he's

calling your bet.

Hmm.

I got four g*ns

to his one

at the dam.

That's what I like

about you, marlowe...

Always give

an even chance.

Hey, what's wrongwith him?

He's got another one

of his headaches.

I'm getting sick

of 'em.

You want I shouldcure his headachesfor good?

What part

of his back would

you aim at, hmm?

Well, I...

Frank?

The marshal's coming.

Howdy.

We thought you had

forgotten US, marshal.

I haven't

forgotten you, Cody.

What about

those others?

They're staying,

just like US,

to see if you can

deliver that water.

Frankly,

we don't see how,

but we've nothing

to lose but one day

going to Oregon.

I'm getting fed up

with the hang-dog

attitude

of you

and your friends.

We're tired

of fighting

marlowe.

You were brave enough

to walk in here

behind the army

and claim this land

when the blood

of Indians

who'd lived here

a thousand years

was still wet

on the ground.

Now somebody wants it,

you're ready to run.

You can't talk

to US like that,

squaw man.

Boy, if you don't

want a mouth

full of boot,

keep it shut.

We can't farmwithout water.

You'll get your water...

If I can do it.

Might help to know

where that dam was.

6 miles north.

Ride through

a rocky canyon,

and you'll find

the creek.

How many men

you figure marlowe

will have there?

Mmm, three or four.

They'll be

expecting you.

Uh-huh. Homesteading

applications.

Tell the others

if the papers aren't

signed by morning,

the water won't

do them any good.

Marlowe's got an idea

of filing papers

in his own name.

He said that?

Yes, ma'am,

he said that...

That and a lot more.

Think he'll

make it, pa?

He's a powerful man.

What are we

going to do, frank?

Well, we'd be outof this valley right now

if it wasn'tfor the marshal.

We're gonna stay...

If only to make surehe gets a decent burial.

I'll keep himbusy from here

long enough for youto get up aroundbehind him. Go on.

All right, lawman...

Just a little bit

closer.

[Neighing]

Marshal,in back of you!

Get down, boy!

Yeager!

Sweeney!

Yeager!

Yeager, sweeney!

You down there?

Boy, that's the second

time today

you almost

got yourself k*lled.

Yes, sir.

When you going

to learn, boy?

I do have a name.

Hmm?

I'm glad to hear that.

People call me Jimmy.

Nice name, boy.

There's still

one of them

up behind that rock.

You stay put.

[Rattling]

Boy!

Boy,get over here!

Snake got me.

Fix me a tourniquet,quick.

Get it good and tight.

Tighter.

That's it.

- That's it.

- All right?

All right.Yeah, yeah.Tie it off.

Yeager! Sweeney!

Yeager!

Thank you, boy.

Pa would've

come himself,

except he can't ride

with that bad leg.

[g*nsh*t]

Besides, he hadto go into townin the wagon

to getthose papers signed.

You did wantthem signed, didn't you?

Aah!

Here, reload this.

Give me your r*fle.

I'm sorry...

Jimmy.

Sarah!

Sarah!

What's the matter?

They did it...

Our son Jimmy

and that marshal!

The water?

Yeah.

I was just crossingthe fording point,

coming back from

hap kelley's.

All of a sudden,

I looked up,

and there it came.

To hear you talk,

you'd think it wasthe wide Missouri.

I know

it's just a creek,

but like this place,

it's ours!

The others?They'll stay, too?

Yes. I've got the

homestead applications

all signed.

Oh, frank!

Oh, Sarah, this

is a good country.

I guess we've

lived here so long,

well, we've never

really seen it.

I've known itall along, frank.

It's god's country.

Oh, I betterfix supper.

Shall I set a placefor the marshal?

Sarah!

Frank!

It's Jimmy!

Frank!

Jimmy!

Frank!

Frank, it's Jimmy!

Give me a hand,

Sarah.

[Crying]

Oh, be careful!

Get him up!

Oh, Jimmy!

From the shape he's in,

that arm is just

loaded with poison.

We've got to do

something more for him

than we have, Sarah.

You stay here,

Sarah.

What are yougoing to do?

We've got to get

something to draw

out that poison.

Cow's liver's

all we got.

We only got the one.

It's got to be done,

Sarah.

Your books, Jimmy.

All that working

and learning...

It's just like

everything else now...

It was for nothing.

Nothing.

[g*nsh*t]

Ohh...

Ohh.

All right, boys,

the wheel is spinning.

Bet 5, win 25.

Put your bets down.

Here we go.

And...

The lucky winner is...

Sweet lady

of fortune!

Number 6.

The gentleman hereis the lucky winner.

And are you ready now?

I'm sorry, sir.You're the loser.

And you are the winner.

I can't forget to paythis gentleman.

Here we go again.

And the wheelis spinning.

And...

The lucky winner...

Oh, the lucky winner,number 13.

I'm so sorry, sir.

Do try again,will you?

Oh, there'sa lucky winner!

There you are, sir.

Too bad your

luck's run out.

We wantsome change here.

Here you are.

Mr. Marlowe!

Where's Mr. Marlowe?

What happened?

Where's sweeney,adams, and Yeager?

They're dead,

all of 'em.

Now, just a minute!

I know whatyou're going to say.

The marshalblew up the dam.

Y-Yes, sir.

How did youcome out alive?

I almost didn't.

Give me another glass.

There you are.

You ain't mad?

Disappointed, browdie.

When you playfor big stakes...

You can't affordto lose your head.

Now, finish that offand go see the doc,

and he'll fix you up.

Yes, sir.

We've got tostop chaddock

before he putsthose homestead paperson that stage.

I'm gladyou're on my side.

Why don't you

let him get them

papers on the stage?

I could

take some boys...

Hey, hey!Look around you.

You know what Wells fargomeans to these miners.

What do you supposethey'd do to a man

who would ambusha Wells Fargo stage?

Better chance if youmurdered their mothers.

Maybe you're right.

People are like...

Well, they're like cards.

If you knowhow to shuffle them,

you alwayscome out the winner.

What are you

going to do?

Take two mento the general store.

Bring back enough gunsand ammunition

for every manin this room.

When you get back,

I'll show youhow to stack a deck of men.

Let's resume the spinningof the wheel.

All bets should be down.

Mr. Marlowe?

Chaddock opened the dam.

Figured he would.

You don't seemvery concerned.

Marlowe,

you pay for my g*n...

Nothing more.

Open up

that g*n cabinet.

What's going on here?

Never mind!

Never mind!

Break out the ammunition

for them r*fles.

And do it right now!

Come on!

By what right?

By this right!

There you are.

Come on. Hurry up.

Come on.

Grab that ammunition.

After we take care

of the marshal,

I'm coming back.

I got a score to settle

with your chinaman.

He told the marshal I didn't

pay for them cutters.

I'm coming back.

Come on.

You heard

what tangley

said about you.

Yes, Mr. Perkins.

With marlowe,

patch, tangley,

and all those

miners against him,

the marshal's

come up short.

Look, sung li,

you can

take my horse

and be gone

by morning.

Maybe we all

should get out.

You go, Mr. Perkins.

I stay.

I fight with marshal.

But why?

In China,

we believethat when man die,

god pull himto heaven by pigtail.

Over here,

people laugh becauseI'm different

and becausei wear pigtail.

But marshal...

He no laugh.

It all differentto him, also.

He show me respect.

I stay, Mr. Perkins.

I stay, and I fightwith marshal.

Let me get dressed,

and we'll find

doc Raymond.

He'll know

what to do.

Lock up that door.

Oh, Mr. Marlowe,

here they are.

Good. Put them

on the bar.

All that

to k*ll one man?

Chaddock islikely to bring

a bunch ofhomesteaders with him.

And you'd

cut them down, too,

wouldn't you?

The next time chaddockrides into this town,

he's dead.

And that goesfor every man, woman,or child with him.

Boys...

Gather around here.

Got a few words

I want to say.

Boys...

When I look

around this room,

I see men

I've grubstaked,

men I've stood

a meal for,

the same men I play cards

with and shared a bottle.

I look around this room,

and I see my friends.

Oh, we've had good times

and bad times together,

and we'll stick

together now!

Listen to this...

The big money boys

up in Helena

have decided to give

the homesteaders

your mining rights!

What's the matter,

you and marlowecan't k*ll the marshal?

You need these men?

Nora...

I want to

talk to you...

In back...Now.

And thisso-called marshal...

I call hima hired g*n!

And the first

thing he done

was come in

and beat up

on poor old Travis

and then

put him in jail.

That's right!

That's right!

He wants to get rid

of all you miners,

just like

he got rid of Travis.

And he will, too!

He'll pick you off

one at a time.

I tried to

reason with him.

He threatened to k*ll me.

He said nothing...Nothing is going to stop him

until he gets

all your claims!

He ain't going

to get mine!

He's out there...

Right now...

Trying to line up

the sodbusters against you.

I won't have any partof marlowe's plan.

Neither will I!

I'm leaving

gloryhole.

Patch, you alwayslooked out for me in there.

I'm sorry for whati said before.

A man with

a face like mine

gets used to worse.

I always thought you'dtake marlowe's partagainst the marshal.

It wouldn't

be quite right.

He saved

my life once.

The marshal?

It was

a long time ago.

I was a captain

in the army then.

I never knew that.

We were

out on patrol...

Been out

two weeks or so

searching for a band

of renegade Indians.

Chaddock

was my scout.

So that'show you knew him.

One night

we were camped.

One of my

lookouts reported

an Indian village

just over the hill.

Chaddock insisted

they were friendly.

I'd been a captain

for 10 years,

and I wanted

a promotion.

I guess I felt...

Just like marlowe does

in there right now.

I wanted glory.

I'd been small-time

for so long.

This was my chance.

Nobody was going

to stand in my way.

But chaddock tried.

I had him

placed under guard

and planned the attack.

At dawn,

we...We rode down.

The village

was just waking,

and at first,

some of the Indians...

They seemed friendly.

Why didn'tyou stop right then?

It was too late. My men

were already firing.

The...

The braves,

they ran for cover

or weapons.

The squaws

ran for the young.

And the young...

The young...

They just

looked up...

Unafraid.

Unbelieving.

Patch...

How awful.

203 men, women, and

children were k*lled.

I had those awful

nightmares afterwards...

Till they

finally stopped.

Until today...

Today...today...

When I saw

chaddock's boy.

You said chaddocksaved your life.

He testified

against me.

I was dishonorably

discharged.

The day

I left the fort,

that band of

renegades we'd been

chasing captured me.

And he rescued youfrom them?

Not until

I'd been tortured.

Each scar is a life.

Two days

and two nights,

and they weren't

even half through

when he found me.

For five years,

I've wanted

to k*ll him.

I blamed everything

that happened to me

on him.

When you sawchaddock's son,

that changed your mind?

Yeah, the kid brought

back the nightmares.

All those years,

it wasn't

chaddock I hated...

It was me.

What happenedthat makes youturn against marlowe?

Marlowe.

Marlowe, I...

I now see myself.

For the first time,

I...i know

what caused

the nightmare.

Greed...

Hate...

The...

Desperation.

I can't stay here.

And you don't

belong here, either.

Now, I'm not asking

you to be my wife

or anything

like that,

but, please, just...

Just let me help you.

Let me help someone.

Stay and help chaddock.

I can't.

That's impossible.

That's what I told him,

but he told Mei could teach again.

Before he left, he said,

"if I don't come back,

"talk to my boy.

Let him hold youfor a while."

Does the greed and hatealways have to win out?

There'll be a dozen

g*ns against him.

The homesteaders,won't they be with him?

Maybe.

Even so, he doesn't

stand half a chance.

Did he ever?

Well, that's the picture.

The marshal

and the sodbusters.

You can let them cheat you

and Rob you

of everything you got...

Or we can fight!

Now, I'm with you!

Are you with me?

- Yeah!

- Yeah!

All right!

Now, pick out your r*fles,

your ammunition,

and the drinks

are on the house.

You sure stackeda deck of miners.

Poor dumb slobs.

Hey, where's patch?

I don't know.

I want him ready

when that marshal

rides into town.

Take two men,

post them

outside of town,

then clear

the streets.

I don't want

to see anything...

Men, dogs, horses...

Just chaddock.

Yes, sir.

Little fella...

All tuckered out

waiting for your pa.

[Door rattles]

Who's out there?

It's me...Nora.

It's open.

What do you want, patch?

We've come to help,

Travis.

I don'tneed your help.

The marshal will,

when he gets here.

I sure would hateto pull this trigger.

It might wake the boy.

He shouldn't be

sleeping over there.

I'm fixin' toput him to bed

when you two leave.

Since we're not leaving,

I better move him.

Touch him, and i'llblow a hole in you

big enough todrive a coach through.

Rep marlowe's

got a saloon

full of angry g*ns.

One of US better

stay on watch

to keep

an eye on them.

It'll be easier

if that boy's in bed

where he belongs.

Patch...

This is the endof the nightmare.

All right, you'vedone your good deed.

Now, get out of here.

Now, are you going

to stop pointing

that r*fle at me?

How do I knowit's loaded?

See for yourself.

Now, got any coffee?

Fixin's are over there.

I'll make

some coffee.

[Clang]

What happened?

He'll be all right.

We almost lost him

once during the night.

He's a hard man to k*ll.

I was dreamingabout Jimmy, frank.

He was 10.

His hairwas so yellow.

I'm going out tobury him now, Sarah.

It was his birthday...

And you came home,

and he'd let

the pigs out.

He was playing with 'em

and chasing 'em.

You were so angry.

You said he'd run

good meat off of 'em.

They'd trampled

your fields.

It was his birthday...

And you strapped him.

Not without

good reason, frank.

He came to me and cried.

He came to me.

I'll come back and get youwhen I'm finished.

We'll say wordsover him together.

Mmm.

His hair was so yellow.

Thought marlowe'dmiss US before now.

Would you like me

to watch a while?

No. They've quieted downover at the saloon.

They're waiting forchaddock to come back.

How about you, Travis?

You in it to the end?

Pa!

Pa!

It's all right,

honey.

We're friends

of your father.

That's right, boy.

That man...

He tried to

sh**t my pa.

It was a mistake.

A mistake I'll

never make again.

He means it, honey.

My name is akii,

not honey.

Oh, I'm sorry, akii.

And I'm miss Johnson,

your new schoolteacher.

Schoolteacher?

I don't need

a schoolteacher.

My pa taught me

to read and write,

add and subtract,

and he even taught

me some geog...

Geography?

I know that, too.

How long till

sun comes up?

Not long.

If my pa isn't

back by morning,

I'm to ride

to fort halleck.

He'll be back, akii.

May I go

back to sleep now?

Would you like me tostay with you a while?

I'm almost a man now.

I don't need anyone

to look after me.

Maybe I am only

a saloon woman.

Miss Johnson?

Miss Johnson?

Did that soundlike a saloon?

Go on, schoolteacher.

You got yourselfa pupil.

Yes, akii.

I'm here.

Marlowe will

never let you

put those applications

on the stage.

Your son died

for this land.

I wish you'd nevercome to this valley.

I take it, Cody,

that, uh,

you're not

coming with me?

What good would I be?

Yesterday I sent my sonto do my job.

With this arm and leg,I'd be in the way.

Yeah, you might be

at that.

Mr. Marlowe.

He's coming.

The marshal's coming.

All right, boys,you know what to do.

Boy, your father

will be back soon.

[Dog barks]

Oh, pa, I knew

you'd be back.

Ahh!

Not all the way back

yet, son.

Here, you carry that.

Not all the way back

until I deliver some

papers to the stagecoach.

I kind of figuredyou'd be back.

I thought you'd be bringingsome homesteaders with you.

Yeah, I did, too.

Well, I don't know

where they went,

but a minute ago,

a little rag-bag army

came out of the saloon.

Those papers

really that important?

Yeah, they are.

From the looks of things,

you'll need some help.

I figured you'd

be over there

with marlowe.

A 10-year-old

changed my mind.

He means it,

but just two of you,

you don't have

a prayer.

I'm with you,marshal.

You don't have to,

Travis.

Yes, I do.

What do

you think?

Well, I think our prayer

is getting bigger.

So marlowe's got

a rag-bag army

staked out, huh?

Like all gamblers,

he wants an edge.

We could use

an ace ourselves.

Got any ideas?

Yeah.

There's an old buckboard

out back.

You give patch a hand.

Load it up with that

whole rack of r*fles

we've got inside.

Save the time it

takes to reload, huh?

Empty one g*n, pick upa fresh one. Good.

We'll use the back door.

Marlowe won't tip his hand,

we don't tip ours.

Hello, Mr. Chaddock.

Oh, hello, sung li.

Do you have trouble?

Yeah.

Is there somethingi can do to help?

No, nothing, sung li.

Nothing. Just, uh...

Hang onto your pigtail.

I have idea.

Oh, I...I getmr. Perkins, too.

I thought you told me

that patch is over there

in front

of the sheriff's office.

Well, he was,with Nora and the kid.

Now he's probablyin there with Travis.

Stinking turncoat.

You fellas waiting

for somebody?

Yeah, we're waiting

to put chaddock

in a pine box.

I have to agree.

He doesn't have much

chance against you

and all those miners.

You go over and

tell that to your

friend chaddock.

Tell him to

give me those

homestead claims.

There'll be

no argument.

All right, marlowe,

I'll do it.

You ask me,

he ain't going tocome over here

and dump them claimsin your lap.

He will if he

has any sense.

What are you goingto do about him

after youget the claims?

Then? Then we k*ll him...

Him and patch.

And if doc and Travis

don't like it...

Marlowe,

Travis is

a friend of mine.

So is doc.

Don't ask US

to be a part of any

sh**ting at them.

All right.

You and your people just...

You just sh**t

at chaddock and patch.

[Door opens]

Oh, you, doc.

I come tothrow in with you.

You took

your sweet time

getting here.

Marlowe told meto tell you

you haven'tgot a chance.

Maybe.

What's all that stuffout there?

That's either

an ace in the hole

or a hole in the ground...

One for each of US.

First, I'm going to

talk to marlowe.

Oh, don't risk it.

Well, maybe we canavoid this whole thing.

Just in case, doc,

see that the rest ofthese r*fles get ready.

Pa...

Son, you stay

with miss Johnson.

Told you.

Doc talked some

sense into him.

Have you got the claims?

I came to talk.

Talking isall over with.

The claims.

I'll go get them.

Ah, he knows

when he's whipped.

Maybe somebodyought to tell him.

Look!

Well, they gone loco.

Chaddock just

picked out his pine box.

Get that

wagon over here.

Let's put him

in it, eh?

[g*nshots]

Must bethem homesteaders.

Homesteaders, hell!

Those are firecrackers!

Drop those g*ns

or you're both dead!

Drop 'em!

Now, get over here!

Cover me.

Marlowe?

Pa!

Tell that stage driver

to stop at my officeon his way out of town.

We've got toget those claims

to the registrar'soffice in Helena.

Pa!

You hurt?

No, I'm all right,

just a little shaky.

Pa,

why did ithave to happen,

sung li and allthose people dead?

Because a man

got greedy, son.

Come on, schoolteacher.