03x28 - Old Cowboy

[bunniefuu]

[ Footsteps ]

Gramp! Gramp! It's there!
Over there! See?

Of course I see.

Well, sure you do, only I
just seen it now myself.

Come up, Gramp!
It's a town, all right,
but what town is it?

Is it Medicine Bow yet?

It's Medicine Bow,
all right.

Got to be Medicine Bow.

Another mile or so,
and we've made it.

Oh, boy!

Mind if we rest up a while
before we go, Gramps?

Now, that's a good idea,
Willy.

Old cowboy like me
forgets a young fella...

needs to get his wind.

I wonder what it's like--
Medicine Bow.

Oh. It's a fine town.

Yes, sir, it'll be fine
for both of us.

Yeah. We're gonna
do fine there.

Tell about it, Gramp.

Well, first off,
I'll land us with
some big outfit...

that'll pretty quick
appreciate...

they're dealing with a man
of superior capabilities.

They'll see
you're a real top hand,
won't they, Gramp?

They'll see
you know your stuff.

Well, it wouldn't
surprise me a bit if
inside a couple of weeks...

they'd up and ask me
to take over as foreman
or something like that.

How can you tell?

Might-- Might be
no time at all...

'fore some smart cowboy
could work hisself into
a share of the business.

A share, Gramps?

Yeah. Ownership, son.

Partners.

Yeah.

That town down there
may be the town we've
been looking for all along.

Sure could be.

Come on, Gramps.
Let's go!

Hey, hold on there.He wants to talk to you!

Afternoon, sir.

Good afternoon.

Can I do something for you?

What would you say
is the biggest and best
ranch hereabouts?

You have to be talking
about Shiloh.

Shiloh.

About this time of year,
they could be taking on
help at Shiloh.

Wouldn't you say?Mm-hmm.

Now, suppose
I was to tell you where they
could find theirselves...

one tough, hard-working
son-of-a-g*n cowhand?

Well, it's gonna be
a real shorthanded winter.

I guess if a fellow
like that came along--Don't you see, sir?

It's Gramps here.
He's the son-of-a-g*n cowboy.

Oh, well. Eh--

See, the problem is,
what I have in mind...

is 12 to 18 hours a day,
month in, month out.

Well, what's that got
to do with anything?

Come on, boy.
We're wasting our time here.

Where could I find
the boss man?

Well, the ranch is owned
by Judge Henry Garth,
but I'm his foreman.

I do all the hiring
and firing.

Sorry, I'd like
to help you out, but--

You're all mixed up, mister.
I don't need nobody's help.

Sorry. I-I meant a job.

Uh, tell you what.
The manager of the hotel's
a good friend of mine.

Why don't I take you
over there and introduce you?
He always needs help.

Sure. Waitin' tables,
dish washin',
moppin' floors.

[ Chuckles ]
Old ladies' work.
Thanks just the same.

Some people got
no danged sense,
and that's a fact.

Don't you listen
to him, Gramps.

It's an insult,
but I guess I...

got to put it down
to pure ignorance.

That fella wouldn't know
a cowpuncher if he saw one.

Fool dough head.Fool dough head!

Now, don't you let it
worry you none, Willy.
We'll straighten that out.

You mark my words.

Won't be no time at all
till that fella's back here
beggin' me to work for 'im.

Bet he will too.
Besides, there's a lot of other
places, aren't there, Gramps?

Plenty.

Smells like
beef mulligan,
don't it, Gramps?

Must be clean on
to suppertime, I bet.

What? You gettin' hungry,
are you, young fella?

Well, what'll it be?

Dish of watery mulligan
or a thick T-bone steak?

But we only
got enough money left
for stew, unless--

You thinkin' on spendin'
the gold coin?

What are you sayin', boy?

My Double Eagle
$20 gold coin...

I got for makin' the first run
through the Chisholm Trail
back in '66?

Only joshing, Gramps.I should think.

You know what
that coin means, Willy.Sure I do.

It was given in recognition
when you was the big
trail boss in charge.

Thousand head of cattle
we run through there
in the dead of winter.

2,000 more likely.

And the snowdrifts
piled nine feet high
in places.

Froze my feet
in the stirrups.

But I didn't
let that stop us.

They said I was
the only trail boss
could've done it.

On top of the regular pay,
Mr. Goodnight hisself...

took that Double Eagle
$20 gold coin...

off his own watch chain
and give it to me.

And he wouldn't have
done that for nothing,
would he, Willy?

Sure not.Well, like a medal.

That's what it is.

You don't go spending
medals, do you, Willy?Should say not.

You keep it safe
in your boot,
don't you, Gramps?

♪♪ [ h*nky-tonk Piano ]

Of course,

if there was
an emergency--

It could be spent
on an emergency.

Anyhow, I like
beef mulligan.

[ Chuckling ]
Now you hold on a minute.

Didn't I say we were
havin' steak for dinner?

But how, Gramps?Easy, son, easy.

Now, you just watch
your old gramps
make this grow.

Come on.

♪♪ [ Piano Continues ][ Chattering ]

Little old straight.Where?

Hee, hee, hee.

Saloon's
no place for kids.

Besides, you've got
to guard that.Sure, Gramps.

I won't be long.

Had to break it up
at the wrong time.

Well, now!

What do we have here?

Friendly little game
of cards, I see.

Murdock's the name.

Well, Mr. Murdock, that's--
All depends on what
you call "friendly."

[ Jingling ]Friendliest sound
in the world, ain't it?

Money talks, man.
My money.

[ Chuckles ]
And I just heard it.

If this man wants to stack
his coins on this table,

we can always use a little fresh
blood-- I mean, new player.

Mr., uh--
Mr. Murdock.
Murdock.

Why don't you drag a chair
up right over here and get in
this friendly little game?

Yes, sir!

♪♪ [ Continues ]

Penny ante, Mr. Murdock.
Jacks or better open.

Three raises.

I'm in.
Deal the cards.

♪♪ [ Ends ] [ Murdock ]
Yeah.

[ Murmurs ]

All right.

Well, I'll open
for a dime.

Hmm.

Hmm. I'm out.

Up 20 cents.

Hmm. I'll call ya
and raise a dime.

I can see that.

Now, if you don't have 'em,
now's the time to get out.

That's good advice, mister.

♪♪ [ Piano Resumes ]Last raise.

Call.

Yeah. Call that.

Cards?

Uh, yeah.
Uh, three.

Just, uh-- Just one.

And the dealer?

- Two.
- Check.

I'll check too.

Well, now, I'll just, uh--
I'll just bet the pot.

Lets me out.

[ Clears Throat ]
I'll see you.

With what?

I got a $20 gold coin
in my boot.

If you ain't and you lose,
you're gonna have to
hock those boots,

and you're gonna
look awful funny
running around barefoot.

Could be, mister.

Well, can you beat
three kings?

A flush.

A beautiful,
red, diamond flush.

I just had a feelin'
this was my lucky day.

Swell, Gramps! Swell!
Let's go eat that T-bone!

- Stop now when I'm
on a winnin' streak?
- But, Gramps!

Now, let's ante.

Eh? In or out?
Better quit
while you're ahead.

You see? I got 'em
scared already, son.

- Where are we sleeping tonight?
- Like last night--
under the stars.

No, sir.

Tonight we're sleeping
in a fancy hotel...

on a mattress
with sheets.

Now, you just wait over there
like I told ya.

Sure, Gramps.

Well, can you beat
a full house?

Well, now,
you ain't got no full house.
You're bluffin' again.

Just like the last hand
and the hand before that.

I say the straight I got here
will beat you.

You can't be sure,
can you, mister?

- No.
- That's what poker's
all about.

You put up or shut up.

Well, I'm puttin' up,
and I got a straight
right there.

[ Laughing ]
Yeah!

Lovely game. Lo--

Let's go, Gramps.

Ah, now,
you wait a minute.
I gotta feed you.

I still got a dime.
Waiter! Bowl of soup
for the kid.

No, thanks!
That's all right, Gramps.

I ain't hungry.
I kind of got past
being hungry.

Why don't you buy yourself
a glass of beer?

Uh, I'll tell you.
We've been partners
a long time, haven't we?

Yep.Well, supposin'
we go 50-50?

Is that all right
with you?Sure, Gramps.

A nickel bowl of soup
and a nickel beer.

Sit down here.

Two pair I had.
Two pair!

With any kind of luck,
I could have filled.

That's right, Gramps.

We can't let that old man
leave like that.

That dime's probably
all he and the kid have.

Well, he's got a $20
gold piece in his boot,
he says.

So he said.

What do you think?
We are shorthanded
at the ranch.

I don't know, Trampas.
He's a pretty old man.

That's his problem.
Who'd want to hire
an old man like that?

Well, I can't argue
that with you.

Come on.
Let's play poker.

Anyway, what if the foreman
did say hire him, and he's
too old for the work?

We can't afford
to wet-nurse him,
let alone take on a kid.

Yeah, you're right.

Who needs that kind
of responsibility?

That's right.That's right.

I'm gonna go hire him.

Uh, Mr. Murdock.

Hi there.Hi.

Uh, we were just wondering
if, uh, you might like to
have a job on a ranch.

A ranch job?Mm-hmm.

Well, now, I tell ya,
I just might.

What ranch
would this be?Well, it's called Shiloh.

Shiloh? Uh--

What did I tell you?

I thank you.

Here you are.

You took it on yourself
to hire him?

No. I-- Well--
Well, no, not exactly.

I, uh-- Well,
what I said was, uh--

Well, I said I was sure
I could fix it
with the foreman.

Mm-hmm.

And after you fix it
with the foreman,

have you thought how you're
gonna fix the old man so he'll
be fit to work this job?

I'll keep an eye on him.

Now, listen.
He, uh-- He may be old,

but he claims he's had
plenty of experience.

He's worked
a lot of ranches
down in Texas.

When-- 20 years ago?
Well, what about the boy,
Trampas?

Can you tell me
what we're gonna do
with a kid around here?

We have plenty of bunks.

School's out right now,
and he can always
go back if--

if the old fella
lasts out the job.

Ifhe lasts out the job
is right.

Trampas, I know how you feel,
but it's just plain impractical.

What that old man needs
is an easy job with no
muscle in it at all.

Well, now, I tried that
on him for starters.

I suggested
he work for the cook.
You know what he said?

Yeah.
"Old ladies' work."Yeah.

All right. You win.
But remember one thing.
He's your headache.

Right.

Hmm. Well, I knew
you'd see it my way.

Maybe we'll learn something
from the old fella.

Sure. [ Door Opens,
Closes ]

Hear that, Gramps?
It's comin' down in buckets.

Sure nice to have a roof
over our heads again,
ain't it?

[ Grunts ]
Are you getting
homesick, boy?

Homesick, Gramps?
Are you kiddin'?
Homesick for what?

Well, your Aunt Hester
weren't all that bad.
She meant well.

Ain't what you said
when we snuck off, Gramps.
Remember what you said?

That she was a mean old witch
and you were never gonna let her
put her hands on me again.

That's true. I never am.

Trouble with that woman
is she got a sour streak
in her.

She doesn't understand kids.

Nor an old man neither,
I guess.

You ain't old, Gramps.Of course not.

Funny thing
about that woman.

Your own mama's sister,
and yet your mama...

was the sweetest thing
this side of a daisy patch.

Was she, Gramps? She sure was.

Till that flu epidemic
took her off.

It's too bad
you can't remember her...

nor your pa.

A real shame-- kid havin'
to grow up without he
remembers his parents.

But I got you, Gramps,
and you're all I need.

We're gonna make out fine
on our own, you said.

Well, uh--
That's right.

You just bet, Willy.

You got the job
like you said.

I got it, all right.

And you'll show 'em
what a great cowboy you
still are, won't you, Gramps?

Doggone if I don't
do just that.

Why, you and I got nothing
to worry about, Willy.

I've seen plenty
of ranch work in my day.

Worked on places
twice the size of this.

Why, what I could
tell them all about
runnin' a ranch like this.

It's gonna be real fine,
ain't it, Gramps?

Sure. Come on.
It's your bedtime.

Now, up you go.

Good night, Gramps.

[ Shouting ]
Hyah!

Hyah!

[ Mooing ]Hee! Hyah!

Hyah! Get over there!
[ Whistles ]

Hyah!

Hyah! Get over there!

[ Whistles ]
Hyah!

[ Whistles ]
Hyah.

[ Mooing ]

[ Whistles ]
h*! Hey!

Get back in there.
Get back in that herd.

You could have
spooked him, running
down the hill like that.

Spooked him? If he'd have got
in that brush, it'd take us
a week to get him out.

[ Men Whistling, Shouting ]

Hey, Murdock!
Murdock! Hey!

Put that r*fle down,
you hear?

Put that r*fle down.

What are you doing?Can't you see?
That steer's sick.

Another one
t'other side of the creek.
Looks like pneumonia to me.

Can't have disease
spreading through the herd.

Put that r*fle down.
Those cattle
aren't diseased.

Don't you have any eyes
in your head?

He's bloated from eatin'
water hemlock.

Water hemlock.

Come on.
[ Whistles ]
Get up. Get up.

Come on!
[ Whistles ]
Hold, son.

[ Chattering ]

[ Man Exclaims ]

You never
make it. [ Murmurs ]

[ Plates Clattering ]

[ Chattering ]

[ Trampas ]
Well, looks pretty good.

[ Crows ]

[ Snoring ]Gramps!

Wake up!
You'll miss breakfast!

Come on! Wake up!

Well, don't get excited.
I'm dressed, ain't I?

[ Both Laughing ]Come on, Gramps.

[ Grunts, Groaning ]

[ Mooing ]

[ Bawling ]

[ Laughing ]

What'd you butt in for?
I could handle it myself.
I didn't need any help!

Why'd you rope him for
in the first place?

I found him up in the brush.

I wanted to see
if he was branded before I
turned him back to the herd.

Well, he isn't branded.
You should have seen that.

Now go on.
Go find your mama.
[ Whistles ]

I was throwin' steers
before you fellas was born.

I was here when the West
was openin' up.

I seen real cowboy work
in my day.

Here's your rope.

[ Men Laughing ]

[ Trampas ]
Get goin'.

You know, I bet that calf
didn't weigh 120 pounds.

That's bad enough, but,
well, if he'd just learn
to keep his big mouth shut.

Poor old buzzard.You should have
heard him yesterday.

He was tellin' everybody
how, if it was up to him
to pick out the remuda,

he'd sure have got together
a better string of horses.

Come on.
Let's get going.

[ Utensils, Plates
Clattering ] [ Man Clears Throat ]

Uh-- Uh, Trampas
sits there,
Mr. Murdock.

Uh, all right, all right.
I'll eat later.

Anybody would think
you'd save a place...

for a cowboy who'd done
a hard day's work.

Harder than any of you done
in a month of Sundays, I'll bet.
Twice as hard.

Whoa. Now, just a minute,
Mr. Murdock. We know
how good a cowboy you are.

We've been talking it over,
and what we decided was...

that a top hand
like yourself--

you ought to be sittin'
head of the table.

Well, thank you very much.

Now, that's
more like it.

And there you are.

[ All Laughing ]

Don't you laugh at him!
He's no one for you
to laugh at!

He's the greatest cowboy
ever was!

Uh, hey, Willy.

Uh--
[ Clears Throat ]

You know,
I'll bet I can beat you
at a game of checkers.

I'll bet you can't.All right.
I'll take you on.

Why don't you go set up
the board, and I'll be right
with you after I have dinner.

All right.
What's so funny? Hmm?

Well, it was just
a little joke, see?

He was braggin' about how he
used to ride buckin' horses like
he's sittin' in a rocking chair.

So we--Yeah, yeah. I know.

Well, Belden, your hide's
a little tougher
than his is.

He's old,
and he's sensitive.

Hey, Trampas!
That was real neat!

Did you see
that fancy mount, Gramps?
Did you see it?

I see'd it, son.

So long, Willy.
Don't get into any trouble.

Hi, Gramps!
How'd it go today?
What happened?

What happened?
What should happen?
Nothing happened.

Cattle, cattle everywhere.
Not a drop to drink.

What?Nothin', I say.

You let me be.Sure, Gramps.

Hey. I got
the checkerboard
all set up.

I'm sorry, Willy.
I'm just plumb tuckered out.

You let me rest my eyes.

Hey, you! Trampas!

Don't you "Hey, you" me.

Hey. Hey now. Wait.[ Laughing ]

No, wait! Look. Wait.Hey, Will! Will!

Get him, wee Willy!
Hit on him there, boy!

Beat on him
a little more!
Hit him again! One more!

You get--
Let him have it! All right, Willy.

Let him have it!
[ Laughing ] Give you-- One--

Whoa. Whoa.Hit him, Willy!
Hit him one more, Will.

Wait. Now wait a minute.
Give me time to check
my breath here.

He ain't out of breath.
He's just getting old.
Let him have it.

Get him! Hit him!
Hit him! Hit him.
Hit him.

All right, Willy.[ Grunts ]

[ Belden Laughing ] How do you like that,
Belden?

Go get him, Willy!
Hit him now!

[ Grunts ]
Stop it!This'll get him!

What? Look what you've
done to my hair!

Hey. Now, wait a minute. [ Belden Laughing ]

Hit him, Will! Yeah!
Get him, wee Willy!

Hit on him there, boy!
Beat on him, boy!
Hit him again!

One more!
Let him have it! All right, Willy.

Right there, Willy. Let him have it!
Hit him one!

Give you-- [ Laughing ]

Hit him, Will!
Hit him one!

[ Blusters ]Mr. Murdock?

Uh, how far apart you think
those fence posts are?

[ Cattle Mooing ]

What I was wondering is, uh,
think the wire will hold up?

You're telling me
how to put up fence posts?

Why, I put up
enough fence posts
in my time...

to go around this ranch
50 times.

Mr. Murdock, I think you've
got me all wrong.

What I wanted to say
is that--

Well, the foreman's got
strict rules about fence posts.

No more than 15 feet apart.

Fifteen feet apart?

Fifteen feet? Why, that--

That'll take twice the work
and twice the time!

All right. I'll put 'em
15 feet apart.

Well, I'll help you. You will not.

I'll do it myself.
I don't need you around here
trying to make trouble for me.

Hey, Trampas.
How'd it go today?
What happened?

[ Chuckling ]
Well, I'll tell you, pard.

I saw me a jackrabbit today.
He was sittin' right there
on a fence.

We must have been
no more'n 10 feet
away from him.

He sure was tame.

- I almost like to
have him for a pet.
- Really, Trampas?

Gee. What color was he?

Hey, Trampas. Can I sit next
to you at the table tonight?

Sure. But just don't go
eatin' any of my food.

[ Sighs ]

He's lyin'. There weren't
no jackrabbit.

Why, sure there was,
Mr. Murdock.
We all seen him.

[ Chattering ]

Lyin'.

Makin' up interesting things
for the boy to listen.

Fool kid.

This'll take most
of the soreness out.

You're gonna
have to freshen it about
every hour or so though.

Hey, you know that north ridge
where the creek takes a bend?Yeah.

We just found some tracks.
Think it's that
same old wolf.

It's gonna be the devil
to get him out of
that brush though.

Oh. Here.

Better get some--
some riders up there
with r*fles.

Where's Trampas?Brandin'.

Better get Trampas on it--Got them fence posts all put up,
15 feet apart. Right?

Yeah.
Figured you'd agree.

Now what you want me
to do, boss?

Randy, get on back up
to the north ridge.

- Pick up whoever you want
to help you on the way.
- Right.

You go on out to that corral
where Trampas is branding.
Take over for him.

Take over from Trampas?
You bet I will.

You can count on me, boss.
I'll handle that brandin'.

Uh, tell Trampas I want
to see him right away.I got ya.

[ Blusters ]

[ Mooing ]

Hey there, Trampas!

The foreman sent me
to take your place.

He did?Yeah. He says he wants
to see you right away.

All right. Um, Belden,
you come down here
and do the branding.

You're fast at it.
Murdock here can help
run 'em through.

What are you talking about?
He told me to take over
from you.

I'm running
this operation.
I understand.

I don't need you to tell me
how to do a simple
little branding job.

Well, go on. Git.
You got your orders.

The foreman's
waiting to see you.

All right now.
Run them critters through here
as fast as you can.

Won't be fast enough
for me.

Gonna show him
what fast brandin' is.

I hope they don't fire
the poor young fella.

Why, I've handled
more cows in my day
than he'll ever see.

Now, come on now!
Run 'em through!

Yes, sir, Mr. Murdock.

[ Cattle Mooing ]

Has to be a mistake.

What about all them others
I found down in the valley?

Twenty-three so far,
Mr. Northrup.

Twenty-three?
You sure?Yeah.

Kind of too many
for a mistake,
wouldn't you say?

Bring him along.

Glad to see you,
Mr. Northrup.

Can't say I'm happy
to be here.

Didn't believe it myself
till I saw the evidence.

What's that?Shiloh brand, right?

Uh-huh.Northrup earmarks.

You want to tell me why
you've been branding my stock?

Well, now, I'm sorry, sir.

I-- Must be
some sort of slipup.
That's all I can say.

More than
two dozen slipups?

- That's hard to believe.
- It's not hard to prove.

- Now, I'm a patient man, but--
- I know you are, sir.

If you say so,
I'll take your word for it.

I guess the only thing you
can do is take a runnin' iron
and put your brand over ours.

You know what'll happen.
They'll start accusing us
of changing brands.

Some trouble
about the branding?

Wait a minute now.
Mr. Murdock, you were
branding today, weren't you?

I been branding all my life.

Nobody can tell me nothin'
about branding.

Did you check
the ear notches?

I must have branded over
300 critters this afternoon.

[ Chuckles ] I'd like to see
anybody else do it any faster.

I never missed a one.

But did you check
the earmark?

Don't you know that
Northrup cattle and ours
are all mixed together?

Nobody told me they wasn't
all part of our herd.

I never looked
at any earmarks.

Mr. Northrup,
you have my apologies.
It won't happen again.

Just you make doggone sure
it doesn't happen again.

Well, it's-- it's not
his fault. He didn't know
the stock was mixed.

Well, if I didn't, because you
didn't tell me-- on purpose!

You keep trying
to get me fired.

Well, you were right.
Hiring the old man
was a bad idea.

Look.

Just keep him away
from the livestock,
will you?

Find him something to do
that he can't mess up.

Yes, sir.

Hi, Gramps.
I didn't know
you was here.

Yeah, it was
Trampas's idea.

I'll help.

Can I, Gramps?
It'd be fun.

Yeah. Fun.

What?

- Go ahead.
- Thanks, Gramps.

Did you hear about the lobo
they shot the other day?

What lobo?A big wolf hanging
around the ridge.

Blam! Blam! Got him
in two easy shots!Who did?

It was Trampas, I think.

You think?

Well, I was shootin' wolves
'fore he was born.

Uh, Mr. Murdock, uh--
Let it go for a while.

I've been thinkin'
about something.

You need me out to ride herd
with the boys maybe?

Well, what you could do
is ride into town
and pick up the mail.

Might be an important letter
from Judge Garth.

Need someone I can trust.

Why, sure, boss.

You hear that?
Somethin' important
come up.

You finish up in here.
Uh, that stall's
the only thing left.

Sure, Gramps.

[ Horse Nickers ]

[ Whinnying ]

Hey, Mr. Murdock?

Hey, don't you know
that's Big Boy?

You don't want to try
to ride that horse.

Why not?

Well, he's mean.
He won't let nobody
ride him but Trampas.

Any horse Trampas can ride,
I can ride backwards.

No, Gramp, no!

Whoa there!
Now, boy, now--

[ Gasping ]

Whoa! Whoa.

Hey. Whoa!

[ Cattle Bellowing ]

Head 'em off!
Stampede!

[ Bellowing ]

Hyah!

Hey, boss!

[ Nickers ]

Whoa, son. Whoa.
Whoa. Whoa.

Get the saddle off him.
Whoa, son.

Now, Willy, don't you worry.
Your grandpa's all right.

We're gonna go look
for him right now.

Whoa! Whoa!

Good afternoon,
Mr. Northrup.
See you had an accident.

- That's right.
- Uh, we're looking for
one of our hands.

The old man.
You see any sign of him?

Yeah, he's riding
this big bay horse.

A big bay, you say?

He must have thrown him
'cause he come running back
to the ranch without him.

That big bay just ran
through our whole herd.
Stampeded 'em.

Must have cost us
53 head at least.

[ Northrup ]
Yeah, and it cost me
a broken arm.

I had enough trouble
with you Shiloh people!
I'm taking you to court!

Now, wait just a minute.

Shiloh's liable,
we can settle this fairly.

Settle nothin'.
I'm taking you to court,
you understand?

I'm gonna sue you
for triple damages!
Get goin', Roper.

Let's go!

A lawsuit.

That's all we need.

♪♪ [ Whistling ]What's that?

♪♪ [ "Oh! Susanna" ]

Yep.
It's him, all right.

Hi, fellas.

You didn't need to
come looking for me.
No, sir.

You hurt, Mr. Murdock?

Me? No!
Just a little tumble.

If you want my advice, boss,
I'd have double-cinch saddles.

If it was me, I wouldn't have
a single-cinch on the ranch.

But no harm done.
Oh, I went down into town,
got you the mail.

All right.
Take him back to the ranch
and give him some supper.

And I want to see you.

What's the trouble?
I got the mail for him,
like he asked.

Come on. Get on.

I went into town
after I left you.

I talked to the fella
owns the livery stable.

He's willing to give
the old man a try.

Place in the back
for the kid to stay too.

Better for both of 'em,
school startin' up soon
and everything.

Mm-hmm.
He won't accept it.

Well, he'll have to,
Trampas!

Come on now.
You know he's gotta go.

[ Exhales ]
All right.

Do me a favor.
Let me break it to him.

Durned stuff's cold.

Cat got your tongue?

No, Gramps.

If that horse was mine,

I'd have him
broke proper by now.

Well, that's Trampas for you.
Can't even break a horse right.

Trampas can ride him
all right. He's just not
used to anybody else.

I'll bet you think
that poor cowpoke
can ride better than me.

Course not, Gramps.

All right!
So it's a lie.

I can't ride near
as good as Trampas.

Can't handle a lariat
anymore like he can.

All right.
You're right.

And he's one fine specimen
of a cowboy.

And you can have him,
is all.

That Trampas is all yours!

That's all right with me,
you hear?

- Gramps.
- It's just fine.

Oh, Gramps.
I wish you didn't
feel like that.

I wish we three
could be friends--

you and me and Trampas.

Trampas
is no friend of mine.Sure he is.

Uh--

Uh, Mr. Murdock?
I'd like to have
a talk with you.

You're talking to me
right now.

I'd rather talk
to you alone.

I'll wait outside.

Now, Willy,
the wind's comin' up.
It's getting pretty cold.

You better get
a good night's sleep
for tomorrow.

I'll talk to you
in the barn.

Trampas. Why before
tomorrow especial?

Uh, your gramps will
explain it to you later.
Good night, Willy.

Good night.

[ Men Chattering ]

If you've come
to give me the sack,
forget it.

I was leavin' anyway.

[ Exhales ]
Yeah. Well, I--

Foreman said
he found you a job in town
at the livery stable.

- I don't want
to hear about it.
- Now, now, just--

Now, just listen to me
for a minute.

It's gonna be winter.
It's no time for you and the boy
to be sleeping outdoors.

I hate to see you leave
with just a week's pay, so,

well, let's just, uh--
let's just call it a loan.

Keep your money
to yourself. I don't
need no handouts.

I got money.

I've got that $20
Double Eagle gold coin
in my boot...

I'm savin' for emergencies.

Yeah, I, uh-- I know.

Willy, uh--
That's what Willy
tells me.

But when I asked him again
about it later, he, uh--

well, he had to admit
he'd never actually seen it.

I keep it in my boot
is why.

What durned business
is it of yours anyway?

Because I don't believe
there is any gold piece.

Mr. Murdock. Mr. Murdock,
will you calm down and get
some sense into your head?

Mr. Murdock.

No, I don't believe
you have a gold coin...

any more than I believe
you got anyplace to go.

You're about
at the end of your rope,

and you better let go
of some of that dumb pride
and take some help,

if not for yourself,
then for the boy.

Don't you worry none
about Willy.

That boy don't need
to see the gold coin.
He knows I got it.

He trusts me. [ Flames Crackling ]

- The window!
- [ Horse Nickers ]

[ Trampas ]
We better get
these horses out!

Get some help! [ Murdock ]
Fire!

Fire!

[ Nickers, Whinnies ]

[ Whinnying ]

The wind's
carrying it!Come on!

[ Whinnying ]

Belden!

Get all the horses
and warn the other ranches!

Tell 'em we can't hold it
with this wind!

Burns?Hmm?

No, no. It's just a--
It's a scratch.

You're lucky.
Old Slim got some
pretty bad burns.

[ Men Chattering ]

West range gone?

Burnt to the ground.

And the north valley--
burnt to the ground.

That's practically half
the winter grazing shot.

Where we gonna feed
2,000 head of cattle?

Not here at Shiloh.
That's for sure.

[ Exhales ]

[ Trampas ]
It was as much
my fault as his.

Well,

gotta do somethin'.

In case you can't read,
that sign says "No Trespassing."

Yeah, well, right now
I'm going in to talk
to your boss.

You're smart,
you'll come along
and cooperate.

[ Cattle Mooing ]

[ Virginian ]
Mr. Northrup, we're both
in the same kind of trouble.

We don't wanna move our cattle
out of here before they're
fattened up for spring market.

So I say let's move 'em
somewhere else
for winter feeding.

Where in blazes you gonna find
pastures big enough?

Well, no one place,
that's the truth.

Gotta split 'em up
into small groups.

Herd 'em off to 10, 15, maybe 20
different patches of graze,
wherever we can find it.

We don't have time to hold a
roundup to separate our cattle,

so we're just gonna
have to work together.

Winter's settin'
in hard already.
Temperature's dropped to--

Boss, if he's making trouble--

No, he isn't.
He's making sense.
Go ahead.

The first thing we have to do
is make a list of all the places
we know that are still green.

There's Eagle Pass, of course,
and Glenn Rocks.

What about Willis Turn?
It could winter
a hundred head or more.

[ Virginian ]
Uh-huh.I see the idea.

How about
Summerhill Pass?

We can move
200 head over there.That isthe idea, you see?

We split 'em up
into many small drives--

two or three hands on each
depending on the size
of the herd.

I think it'll work,
Mr. Northrup.

Cook said we should leave
with our stomachs full.

It's porridge.

Oh, Gramps.
Do we really have to go?

You're right.
I shouldn't have asked.

But I was just thinkin',
you're not mad at me, are you?

I mean about last night.

Honest, Gramps, I'm sorry.

What you got
to be sorry about?

Well, I was
just thinkin',

maybe I done somethin'
or said somethin'...

to upset you, Gramps,

and maybe
that's what happened
to cause... the fire.

Oh, please, Gramps. I know
how bad you must be feeling.

And I just want you to know,
I don't blame it on you.

I know it was an accident.

Go on. Leave me be.

What do I care what you think?

Didn't you hear me? Git!

Let's see now.
That takes care of the Bar X,
old John Mays's place,

and we've sent big herds
on to Hunter's Crossing.

What's next?Well, what about
right here?

[ Virginian ]
Barham Bend, huh? Mm-hmm.

It's a good 50, 60 miles
over the pass. Yeah.

[ Trampas ]
If the weather holds up,
Andy and I can move 200 head.

Just the two of you?

Well, Slim's too badly
burned to go. Andy and I are
the only ones you got left.

- Better get started, I guess.
- All right. We'll make it.

Trampas, I just came
to say good-bye.

What do you mean
"good-bye"?
I'll be seeing you soon.

Trampas, I heard
what you said about
Slim getting burned.

How about lettin' Gramps
take his place?

[ Scoffs ]
No, Willy, I can't do that.

Gramps could do it.
Honest, he could.

Why, in his day, he drove cattle
over some of the worst mountains
in the country.

Over the Chisholm Trail even.
Why, in his day--

Yeah.
Yeah, Willy, uh, I know.

In his day, he--
he was a fine cowboy.
He sure was.

But I wouldn't want him
to go on this trek.

It's gonna be rough,
especially with the bad
weather comin' on.

I-- I couldn't let him go
even if he asked.

Don't you see?
Gramps would never ask now
after all that's happened.

He's just so proud.
You'd have to ask him.

Look, Willy, um--

[ Sighs ]
Well, your gramps is just
getting too old...

to brand and herd cattle
with us young fellas.

He's got himself
a good job in town, and you
can be a lot of help to him.

I just-- I couldn't
ask him to come along
if I wanted to.

That's right, Trampas.
Don't ask him. Tell him.

Tell him he's gotta go with you.
Tell him you need him.

Willy. Go on and tell him,
Trampas.

You know you need
that third man.

All right, pard.
Let's go.

Thing is, I wouldn't
do it for him...

but that he is
in a spot.

How's a greenhorn
like Trampas gonna make
a cattle push like that...

without he's got along
some trail-toughened fella...

with plenty of cow savvy?

The fact is,

must be
the top hand's orders.

The Virginian?Trampas never would've
thought of that hisself.

Gramps?
Are you on your way?

Looks like, don't it?

Foreman says you'll be gone
most part of a week.

Suspect so.

Well, hurry back, Gramps,
and lots of luck.

Who needs luck?

Luck is for greenhorns,

not for cowboys
that knows their trade.

I'll get
them cattle through,

or--

or I won't be back at all.

Gramps.

He's gotta come back.
He's gotta.

Don't worry.
He'll be back.

[ Mooing ]

[ Man ]
Whoa!
[ Whistles ]

[ Wind Howling ]

[ Trampas ]
We'll be in
the line shack by tonight.

[ Wind Continues ]

Boy, listen to that wind.
We're only halfway there.

Think that corral will
hold them till morning?

It's pretty rickety.

Some more coffee?

Hey, you didn't
eat nothin'.

[ Sighs ]
Truth is, Randy, I--

I don't feel much
like eatin'.

I believe
my hand's worse.

Let's have a look
at that. Here.

Hand getting worse?Well, it's sure sore.

What's these red lines
running up here?

Can't be but one thing--
blood poisoning.

Are you sure?

You'd better
let me lance that palm,

cut deep into that infection.

Hey, now wait a minute.
We don't know anything
about this.

You're not gonna let him
do it, are you, Trampas?

Well, maybe, uh-- maybe
the pain will be better
by tomorrow morning.

And if not,
we'll have to cut it open.

You could lose
your whole arm.

[ Wind Howling ][ Mooing ]

[ Groans ]

What ya doin'?I'm getting
this knife ready.

I've been watchin' him
the last couple of hours.

Tossin' and turnin'.
The longer we wait,
the worse it's gonna get.

I don't know.
Operate on him,
you mean.

Yeah.Only a doctor
oughta do that.

Well, we ain't
got no doctor.

Makes no difference.
I cut into plenty of
cattle and horses.

There's nothin' to it,
if you got a steady hand. All right.

[ Randy ]
Trampas.All right!

Let's get 'er done.Get him over here.

Anything
to stop this pain.

Now hold
that arm steady.

[ Groans ]
I'll hold it. I'll hold it.

And get
that candle closer.

It's no use.

I've done it
plenty of times
in my day,

but I just don't see
good enough anymore.

I might have known it.

Then what's your answer?

Get a doctor is what.

You can ride into
Medicine Bow and be back
with a doctor by mornin'.

- What about the cattle?
- I'll stick around here
and keep an eye on the herd.

One man can't hold a hundred
head of cattle. They're hungry
and they're ornery.

All we need now is some wolves,
and they'll be scattered
from here to kingdom come.

So, it's them cattle
or his life.

I'll get the doctor.

You'd better get back
to bed, Trampas.

Now, easy. Take--
Take it easy, son.

[ Cattle Bellowing ]

[ Whining, Howling ]

[ Howling ]

[ Howling Continues ]

[ Labored
Breathing ]Wolves.

[ Howling ]

[ Howls ]

[ Bellowing ]

[ Bellowing ] [ Howling ]

[ Wind Howling ]

[ Howling ]

No.

No. No, it's not
your fault.

It's no use.

No one man can hold
those cattle. Not now.

You forget 'em.
Just forget 'em.

[ Willy's Voice ]
I just wanted to wish you
lots of luck, Gramps.

Hurry back.

[ Murdock's Voice ]
I'll get that cattle through,

or I won't be back at all.

I can't go back now.

Can't never go back.

No. No.
It's not your fault.

It's-- It's not your fault.
It's-- I told you.

[ Gasping Breath ]

Listen to 'em go.

Murdock?

[ Shouts ]
Murdock?

Murdock!

Murdock!

Mr. Murdock!

Whoa.

Doc?

Wake up, Doc!

[ Pounding On Door ]

I'm not worried
about him anymore.
Now, the fever's passed.

Soon as he wakes up,
give him some of that soup
and then get him home.

Sure will, Doc.

Uh, on your way back,
could you stop by Shiloh
and tell 'em what happened?

Yeah, sure.Well, thanks a lot, Doc.

Ah, forget it.

[ Door Closes ]

Murdock! Murdock?
[ Groans ]

Take it easy, Trampas.Oh!

Doc was here,
took care of your arm.

[ Sighs ]

I sleep all night?

Two nights and two days,
and you were out of your head
most all the time.

What about the herd?

Yesterday when Doc
was takin' care of you,
I spent the whole day lookin'.

All I found
was a few dead ones.

And the old man?Not a sign of him.

It'll take 20 men or more
to comb them mountains.

All I remember is...

he was gonna try
and save the herd.

I told him
it couldn't be done.

But he was
determined to try.

With them wolves
and that storm,
there's not much chance.

Best thing we can do
is eat that soup
and get back to Shiloh...

and try to get up
a search party.

What am I gonna
tell that kid?

Trampas is back!

Hi, Trampas! Hi, Randy!
Boy, am I glad to see you.

- Willy, how are you?
- I'm fine.

Doc Spaulding told us
what happened.
How's the hand?

Oh, it's all right.Mmm, good.

You'll both be happy to know
that all the drives
are doing fine.

'Cept ours, huh?

- Well, as a matter of fact--
- Let me tell him.

Go right ahead.

Gramps done it!
He got the herd through.

- He got it through?
- Well, that's nigh on
impossible.

Got a telegram
from Barham Bend
just this morning.

You know he only
lost five head?What?

Well, how?Sheer determination
and grit, I guess.

I'm gonna
go wait for him.

They sure don't make cowboys
like that anymore, do they?

No, Willy, they sure don't.

Yeah, that's
the last of 'em.

That'll be the last of him.
Darn fool. He's headed
straight back here.

He should have stopped
and rest up.

He'll never make it.

[ Murmurs ]

Almost suppertime, Willy.
You better go wash up.

I'm not hungry.

Look, son. You wanna
have enough strength...

to say hello to your gramps
when he comes home, don't you?

Sure do.

Come on. You gotta eat.

[ Horse Approaching ]

Oh, Willy. Willy!

You, uh-- You got
yourself a caller.Yeah, Trampas? Who?

Why don't you
go take a look?Gramps!

Gramps!

Gramps!

Gramps. Gramps,
what happened?

Easy, easy.

Willy.

My boot.

Look in my boot.

For you, Willy.

I've been...
saving it for now.

Find it?
Find the gold coin?

You got it?

Y-You got it?

Got it, Gramps.
Twenty-dollar gold piece.

Won by the greatest,
toughest cowboy ever.

Oh, Gramps.
[ Sobbing ]

[ Door Closes ]

Doctor says he's
gonna be all right.Oh, boy, oh, boy.

He has to rest
for a few days.
He wants to see you.

Willy.

When we, uh,
put him to bed,

we took off
his other boot.

We found this.

Double Eagle
gold piece.

I knew it.
I knew it all along.

[ Exhales ]