01x21 - Company Man

[bunniefuu]

Want to say anything?
Say it.

Your being Jack Slade
about covers it.

Talking to you is
just a waste of time.

Anything else?

There will come a day

when you're gonna have
to stop playing God.

Come a day when you are
gonna have to face Him.

That's about it, I guess.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Well, I never saw such a tidy
bunch of horse thieves.

You'd think those
horses were run off

by a bunch of
chamber maids.

I just don't understand
how we could've all slept

right through the whole thing.

They must have been
awful quiet.

Well, there are experts
in every profession, Andy,

including horse stealing.

Come on, we better
start getting this
corral put together.

Hey, maybe, Jess and Slim have
caught up with them already.

I wouldn't bet on that.

You know, fellas smart
enough to pull a stunt

like this aren't gonna
be easy to catch.

Wonder who he is.
You recognize him?

Uh-uh.

Where are your
fresh relay teams?

They were run off
last night,

along with some of our
best quarter horses.

And where is Mr. Sherman?

He rode out to try
to round them up.

- Now look here--
- Who are you?

They call me Jonesy.

And just who
might you be?

What's your name, boy?

Andy Sherman.

A man named Jess Harper
work here?

Why?

I asked you a question.

You get no answers
from me

unless I know
who I'm talking to.

You're talking
to the new superintendent

of the Overland Stage Line,
Slade is the name.

Jack Slade.

How would I know that?

Because I'm telling you,
because I figured a man your age

ought to be able to read.

I see.

Jack Slade?

That's right.

Now this man
Harper is listed

as an employee
of this relay station.

Is that still the case?

Yes, and at the moment
he's out with Slim,

trying to round up
the horses.

What do you want
with him?

Nothing,
I don't want him at all.

Neither does
the Overland Stage Line.

What are you
talking about?

Jess Harper happens to be--

He has a record.

He's been in trouble in Abilene,
Fort Worth, Emporia,

a few other places.

As far as the company is
concerned, he's a dr*fter.

Saddle tr*mp
with a bad reputation.

He is not.

He told us what he did
when he was a young wild kid,

but now he's grown up.

He settled down here
with us.

We trust him
and he trusts us.

That so?

Well, if you see him
before I do,

tell him he's fired.

Tell him yourself.

I'll do that, mister,
you can count on that.

Oh, and you might pass
on a little information

to your friend Harper.

In case he hasn't heard,
I only warn a man once.

Jess isn't afraid of you
or anybody else.

That doesn't show much
good sense now, does it, boy?

And who do you think
you are?

The Almighty Himself?

Funny you should
mention that.

Another man said about
the same thing to me yesterday.

I hanged him
from a tree.

What do you think?

Yeah, they came
through here, all right.

You know what else?

Yeah.

It's a perfect place
for a bushwhack.

We'd be crazy to try it.

Out of our minds,

but we need those horses
and we need them now.

We could ride into Laramie
and get some help.

Some of us could come in
from the other side

and leave the rest here
to bottle them up.

Only trouble is
they might be someplace else

by the time we get back.

Yeah, you got a point.

You feel crazy enough?

From head to toe.

We got company, Skinny.

And just when I was
getting comfortable.

Like sh**ting fish
in a rain barrel.

Ten bucks says
I get mine first.

You got a bet.

Which one is yours?

The one that goes down first.

[ g*nshots ]

I wouldn't want anything
much closer than that.

Me neither.
Now what?

Ride back to the ranch,

go into Laramie
and get some help.

It's gonna take some doing
to get to them.

They're coming, Ben.

Well, what was it?

A couple of riders came in,
we shot at them.

They turned
and ducked out.

It was too fast for us
to stop them.

Too fast
for a r*fle slug?

Well, they were sh**ting
back too, Ben,

and they weren't exactly
bad at it.

Well, they certainly
weren't as bad at it

as you two,
that's for sure.

All right, let's pack up.
We are moving out.

Six to one, both of them
was half asleep.

Do you think
you could have
done any better?

I got a 70-year-old grandma
could've done better.

All right, all right.

Skinny, now you've caused
enough trouble,

now you get cracking.

You lay off, Tex.

Ben, maybe
they won't come back.

Oh, they'll be back,
this time with a posse.

They were probably just
a couple of farmers, Ben.

Why run from them?

For two reasons.

One, because they know this
country better than we do.

And two,
because I say so.

Now, Ben,
I want to talk to you.

Later, Johnny.

No, it's important.

Nothing is more important
than for us

to get out of here
right now.

Well, that's just
what I want to do.

Get out.

Look, Johnny,
now you're not going to start

talking about
quitting again now,
not at a time like this.

Yeah, Ben, I am.
I wrote to Caroline,
and she and her mom

are meeting me
at Laramie.

Look, Johnny,

now you want to get
married now, that's okay.

You want to quit,
that's all right, too.

But when I say so.
Now is not the time.

Why not?

Well, we haven't finished
our little campaign yet.

Look, Johnny, we make
two or three more good hits,

then we build up a sizeable herd
and we sell them.

Sure, we sell them,
who to?

All that horse flesh
is branded.

Well, you think
the army cares?

The way the Sioux
are whippin' em?

Well, they'll pay most
anything for a good remount

and with your share
of the profits,

you could set up housekeeping,
you ever think about that?

I don't much care
about that, Ben.

I thought I would,
but I don't.

No, I'm all through.

No, Johnny,
for a couple of reasons.

One, you're liable
to run right into a posse,

and two,
because I needed a man I got.

Oh, not me, you don't.

I'm gonna decide that.

Look, Johnny,
now you leave it up to me.

Maybe later,
I'll even ride with you,

you know,
be your best man.

Now that's a brother's
privilege, isn't it?

Oh, sure, it is.

But Caroline's old lady,
she's not gonna buy that,
is she?

You know, you'd think
I was an outlaw

or something, the way
she's always tearing into me.

I guess it's still
the Leach boys against
the world, huh, Johnny?

I tell you, 2 days,
maybe 3 at the most,

now I promise you that.

Take care of the fire,
will you?

- Jonesy?
- Yeah.

- We found them.
- Oh, good.

They holed up
in Bartlett Canyon.

- Jess and I--
- A man was here
looking for you.

You know, I told him,
you weren't afraid of him.

But you know
what he--

Whoa, Andy, now
who is looking for me?

A man named Slade.

Jack Slade?

Jack Slade,

he's the new superintendent
of the stage line.

He's got papers
to prove it.

He told me
to tell you that...

That's him.

According to the description
I have, you're Jess Harper.

That's my name.

Did you get my message?

Not yet.

Suppose you deliver it
to me in person.

You are through working
for the Overland Stage Line.

Pick up your gear
and get out.

I'll do that when I'm told
by the man who hired me.

This is my ranch, Slade.

I do the hiring
and the firing around here.

Not when it affects
the company.

You just stay out of this,
Mr. Sherman.

In plain language,

I want you out of here,
Harper,

and I don't much care
which way you go.

I like it here, Slade,
I'm staying.

You want to change that,
go ahead and try,

whenever you're ready.

I hear
you're good with a g*n.

Go ahead, draw.

Hold it.

Don't you ever step
between us again,

Mr. Sherman.

He's right, Slim.

You better figure on taking us
both out, Slade,

because that's the only way
you're going to get Jess.

It's not your fight,
Sherman.

JONESY: Make it three,
Mr. Slade.

All right, gentlemen.

This will cost you
your franchise, Sherman.

I doubt that,

but if the stage line needs
men like you to help run it,

I won't miss their business.

Just to prove a point,

I could probably k*ll
all of you,

if I thought
it was necessary.

There are more pressing problems
at the moment.

You find your stolen horses?

Well, did you?

Yeah.

We trailed them
to Bartlett Canyon.

The men who took them
fired at us.

What do you plan
to do about it?

Go into Laramie,
get a posse,

enter the canyon
by a different route.

I'm familiar
with this territory,

but I never heard of another
entrance to Bartlett Canyon.

Well, you just have
to take my word for it.

Where is it?

It's about 6 miles
southwest of here,

an old trail
on my property.

Well, Laramie is 12 miles,
no point wasting time.

So since you refused
to fire Harper

and Harper here
refuses to be fired,

three of us might as well
get started on that trail.

We only have two mounts
left and they're caved in.

Rest them for an hour.

That won't be long enough.

Look,
we'll take a chance.

The stage company
has to have

those relay teams
to stay in business.

Well, now
if you don't mind

I'd like to have
something to eat.

Last service of yours
will be to the company

when you help recover
those missing horses.

That is
if you have no objection.

No. No objections,
but one condition.

You ride in front of me
all the way.

Fair enough.

Only if you ever get
one of my b*ll*ts,

it will never be
in your back.

Well, will I have a problem
getting my meal?

The company will pay for it.

Jonesy,

fix Mr. Slade up a plate.

Eastbound's coming in.

We might as well
all eat together.

Yeah.

There.

They're 10 minutes early,
I think I'll meet the stage,
Mr. Sherman.

Go ahead.

Thanks, Slim.

Don't thank me.

The privilege of firing you
belongs to me

and nobody else.

Well, he's not through
with me yet.

Nor me with him.

What happened
to your relay horses?

Ask the new superintendent.

Huh?

How do you do, Mr.--

Just Mose, that's what
everybody calls me.

My name is Slade, Mose,
but to answer your question,

the Sherman horses
were stolen last night,

so you'll have
to give the horses

you have here a rest
for a few hours.

Stolen, huh?
That's too bad.

Don't think my passengers
are gonna like waiting though.

Slade, did you say?

Yeah, that's right.

Well, I'll talk
to the passengers.

Good morning, ladies,
I'm sorry,

but there's going to be
a slight delay.

How slight?

Well, about an hour or two,
but the company will do

its utmost to make you
comfortable during that time.

May I assist you?

I was told
there would be no stopovers.

Beyond our control, ma'am.

Thank you.

Now just what is
the trouble?

Horse thieves, ma'am.

This way, please.

I knew it.
I knew we should have
never come out

to this godforsaken country.

Well, on the contrary,
Mrs. Clark,

God hasn't forsaken
this country.

Rather He's blessed it
with mountains and rivers.

And wolves and rattlesnakes
and horse thieves.

Ah, the evils can be
controlled, ma'am.

It just takes time

and the right kind of men
to do it.

Well, that's very true,

and you're looking
at one of them right now.

I don't think
we've met.

No, we haven't, but
I've heard you described.

Ladies, may I present
Mr. Jack Slade.

Mrs. Clark, sir,

Miss Caroline Clark,
her daughter.

I'm Samuel Clemens.

Well, please make
yourselves comfortable.

The dinner will be
ready soon.

You coming to lunch?

I'm not hungry.
Thanks anyway.

We might have a lot of riding
this afternoon.

Gets kind of tough
on an empty stomach.

I'm not so sure
I'll be going along.

What's the matter?

You sick?

Yeah, some.

Men like Slade always did
affect me that way.

Look, Jess,
I meant what I said to him.

Not Slade or anyone else
is going to tell me

who can work on this ranch
and who can't.

You can talk to him all day,
but he won't listen.

He wants me
out of here, Slim.

I want you to stay.

It's not that simple.

If I stay,

Slade will keep after me
until one of us are dead.

I've never seen
you act this way before.

Maybe it's 'cause
I never felt this way before.

You're not scared.

I know you too well to
believe anything like that.

Well, there's a first time
for everything,

including being scared.

Maybe I'm just man
enough to admit it.

You know, Jess, you might be
good at a lot of things,

but lying isn't one of them.

What are you getting at?

You're not worrying
about Slade k*lling you.

You're worried
about k*lling Slade.

Now what kind of talk
is that?

You know what kind of
a reputation he's got.

A lot better men than me
have tried to--

I know the real reason
you're acting this way.

You figured if you get into
any more trouble with Slade,

especially a shootout,
and you win,

the stage line is gonna
take it out on me, right?

It sure won't
do you any good.

Why don't you let me
worry about that?

Look, Slim, I know what you're
up against on this ranch,

you need
that stage line money.

Not enough
to let a friend ride off

and maybe not come back.

Just in case
that's what you're thinking on.

Maybe that's what
I was thinking.

It'd save a lot of trouble
all around.

This place wouldn't be the same
without you and your troubles.

You really mean that?

Yes, I really mean it.

Now come on, let's eat.

Okay, boss.

Very possibly
the worst cup of coffee

I have ever tasted.

Mother.

I liked it, Mr. Jones,

and I thought the rest
of the meal was delicious, too.

CLEMENS: I agree
with the young lady.

Thank you.

What would a writer know
about food?

Well, not a great deal
I suppose

but missing
as many meals as I have,

I'd like to think
I'm at least impartial.

You in the habit of arguing
with ladies, Mr. Clemens?

Well, I don't recall asking
your opinion, Mr. Slade.

Maybe the ladies
will forgive us

if we step outside
to discuss the matter.

You dropped
your napkin, Slade.

Thank you.

I think I can reason
with Mr. Slade,

but I prefer
to do it here.

I assure you I have no intention
of stepping outside

with someone
who's ex*cuted 27 men.

Oh, for goodness
sakes, all--

All I said was that
I didn't like the coffee,

and he said that he did.

Do you sh**t people
for that out here?

No, hardly, ma'am.

I'm sorry,
I'm just a little edgy today.

We all are.
My apologies.

And you too, Mrs. Clark.

Oh, since everyone
is being so polite,

I've changed my mind,
Mr. Jones.

I like your coffee.

Have some more.

All right,
hold them up here.

Johnny, you and Tex
and Skinny and Bob, you--

you watch out after the horses
and keep your eyes open.

We're probably
being trailed, Ben.

Yeah, probably.

But they can't travel
as fast as we did.

If they do show up,
it will be after dark.

Then we'll be long gone.

If they should show up
before I get back,

you'll be able to spot them
before they can see you.

Where are you all
going, Ben? Scoutin'?

That's right,
this herd of horseflesh

ain't big enough
for me yet.

All right, let's go.

There they are.

Yeah.

Good work, Sherman.

Get your r*fles.

We'll leave the horses here
and continue on foot.

Catch you sleeping, I'll light
a fire right under you.

It appears like
you forgot something, kid.

Thank you.

How long has it been
since you've cleaned that iron?

It'll fire, all right.

- You're sure
of that, huh?
- Yeah.

You want
to be a professional,

you've got to learn to look
after your tools, Johnny boy.

Sometimes,
I get the feeling

you just ain't cut out
for this kind of work.

I'm not, I'm quitting just
as soon as we sell the horses.

You do that,
don't you let your brother

talk you out of it either.

Otherwise,
you might get to liking it

the way he does.

Do you like it, Tex?

Sure, I like it fine.

I always was a fiddle-foot.

Don't move, any one of you.

Drop those irons now.

No, Johnny.

[ g*nsh*t ]

Hold it, they're not even
firing back.

We could've taken
the whole bunch of them alive.

You're sure of that,
of course.

They're just kids,
all of them.

You didn't even give them
a chance.

A rattlesnake can be
poisonous at any age.

Nobody but a fool
would give one a chance.

All right, Harper,
go get our horses.

I wouldn't turn my back
on you for anything.

Go ahead, Jess,
it's all right.

I've seen you spill
enough blood for one day.

And I hope you've got
some answers ready.

You've probably made yourself
an accessory to m*rder.

That boy you let
get out of here,

he could live
to k*ll ten times.

And one of those times
might even be you.

All right,
let's round up the horses.

There's a stage line to run,
remember?

Mose.

Thanks, Jonesy.

Bye, Mose.

Bye.

Good-bye.

Bye.
And thank you.

Mr. Clemens, what are you
gonna call your book?

I think I'll call this one,
Roughing It.

You like that title?

Oh, maybe,
but it sounds kind of tame.

Andy!

All right, son,
this is a free country.

and don't you
ever forget that.

I'll send you a copy,
that is if I ever get
it printed.

Oh, gosh, thanks.

Let her roll, Mose.

Hyah! Hyah!

Hey, Jonesy, look.

Johnny!

Driver, stop!

Whoa, boy.

- What's the matter, son?
- Help me.

All right, easy.
Take it easy.

Hide me, please, hide me.

Hide you? To the barn, Andy.
Take it easy.

Whoa!

What's wrong, miss?

Caroline!

Right here.

Johnny!

Caroline, oh, no,
get her away.

You got to make her
go away.

You get some
clean cloths, Andy.

Johnny.
What's happened?

Looks like
he's been shot.

Go away, Caroline.
Please, go away.

Oh, don't say that.

I mean it.
I don't want you around.

How badly is he hurt?

I can't tell yet.

I'll be all right.

This ain't the first time
I've been shot.

And it won't be the last.

Don't you see
what I'm trying to say.

I changed my mind about us.

You don't mean that.

I do mean it.

Now go on,
get out of here.

Johnny!

Forget you ever knew me.

I'll do the same.
Now get out.

Thanks.

Is he dead?

No.
But he's hurt bad.

Just a boy,
not much older than you are.

We got to get him
to a doctor quick.

MOSE: Hyah! Hyah!

See if you can stop
that stage, Andy.

Mose! Wait, Mose!

Hey, Mose!

Stage has gone, Jonesy.

Ah, we'll just have to do
the best we can.

Get my kettle
of hot water, Andy.

And, Andy, hide his horse
behind the barn.

Skinny!

No, let me lie, Ben.

Let me lie.

I ain't going nowhere.

It was Jack Slade.

He cut us up
into little pieces, Ben.

I'm sorry.

Where's Johnny?

I don't know,
gone to get married, maybe.

I hope so, Ben.

You got a cigarette?

Sure, Tex.

Ben!

Come, look here.

It's blood, Ben.

Looks like
Johnny was hit, too.

We'll dig some graves,
then we'll ride.

Maybe Johnny's trail
will lead us to Slade.

That would be nice.

Yeah, real nice.

There's no use
botherin' with me, mister.

He is gonna make it,
isn't he, Jonesy?

Maybe.

Hyah! Hyah!

Open up the corral gate,
Andy.

Slim, don't let him go
into the barn.

Your relay horses
look all right to me,

but you better check them over
carefully before you use them.

Oh, thanks.

Anybody else?

Cut yourself, boy?

Oh, yes, he snagged himself
on a wire we hung out back.

Better take care of it.

Well, I'll be riding on,
Mr. Sherman.

There's a little matter
we haven't settled yet.

Oh, it's settled
as far as I'm concerned, Harper.

Because you help
bring the horses back,

I'm giving you
one week's notice.

See that you're gone
by the 12th.

Slim, there's a boy in the barn.
He's shot up pretty bad.

Ben!

It's Johnny's, all right.

He's headed
for the relay station.

If he's still there,
we'll take him out.

I don't care
who we have to k*ll to do it.

We don't dare move him.

Andy, put my saddle
on one of the relay horses,

I'll get the doc.

A doctor
won't be necessary.

All that's needed
is a length of rope.

Now look, Slade, if you want
to testify against this boy,

you can in the court,

but you're not hanging him,
not while I'm around.

That boy is a horse thief,
he'll hang eventually anyway.

That's for a jury to decide,
not you.

Yes, we'll argue
about that later.

What I came back for was
to tell you I spotted Ben Leach

and a few more
of his g*n pullers

heading in this direction.

That boy of yours left
a nice, clean trail.

[ horses approaching ]

That's Andy.

Andy, come back here!

Those boys, they grow up fast,
don't they?

Looks to me like
we could make a trade.

You come in unarmed
and we'll talk.

Yeah, we'll talk,

like you talked
to Johnny and the others.

Now you get rid of your g*ns,
we'll get rid of ours.

I'm figuring
on making the trade.

What about you, Slade?

All right, Leach.

Get rid of
your hardware, men.

All right,
turn the boy loose.

Slade, look out.

[ g*ns firing ]

All right, Andy?

Yeah.

How bad are you hurt?

Bad enough,
I need a drink, mister.

I better look at this.

No, a drink.
Better hurry.

You all right, boy?

Yes, sir.

Mr. Harper.

Yeah.

The Overland Stage Line is proud
to have you as an employee.

You're all right.

Thanks.

I hated to do it.

k*lling, I mean.

It had to be done though.

For somebody
with nothing to lose.

Maybe so.

Guess I timed it just right.

Whoa!

Hi, Jonesy.

Hi, Mose.

Andy,
got a package for you.

Oh, thanks, Mose.

Roughing It
by Mark Twain.

"To Andy Sherman,
hope you enjoy it.

Samuel Clemens."

- Well.
- I don't understand.

I'm going to get me
some coffee.

When you two get around
to changing teams,

let me know, huh?

You know,
that must be his real name.

Well, which one?

Mark Twain.

Funny thing, I don't blame him
for not using it,

except when he has to.