04x04 - Run of the Cat

[bunniefuu]

[cattle mooing]

You know,
I just decided something.

I just decided that
there's no bigger waste
of man hours

than chasing down
a spooked herd.

You know what I think?
I'll tell you what I think.

I think them stinkin'
Murphy boys are the ones
that scattered 'em.

You want to know why?
I'll tell you why.

Because they happen to know
we're in the middle
of a roundup,

and they're just mean enough
to spook 'em out on us.

-That's what you think, huh?
-That is what I think.

I also think I oughta go
over there and bash a couple
of Murphy heads together.

You're getting so heated up,
I think you oughta do that.

I just mightdo that.
You want to come along?

-No, thanks.
-Well, I'll go alone, then.

You know, Nick,
sometimes you get so brave
you scare me.

Yeah, well--

Now, what are you
staring at?

I wonder what
those buzzards
are staring at.

There's one way
to find out, isn't there?

-I know, let's go look.
-All right, come on.

[screeching]

[firing]

[firing]

Easy, Nick.

♪♪ [theme]

Sorry, Nick.

I know that's painful.

Here now. Drink this.

-[coughs]
-Now lie back.

Don't twist around.
Best to leave those
scratches uncovered.

All right, Nick?

Good night, Nick.

Well, you've been talking
about having a vacation.

Here ya are.

You can sleep all day, and...

have your meals
served to you in bed...

I'll get you a bell
and you can ring it
when you're hungry.

What?

I've been trying to tell you
how lucky you are.

Nick?

Are you all right?

I'm fine. Fine.

Sure you are.

How is he?

Well, he's got
three broken ribs

and some nasty lacerations
on his legs and chest.

That cat did
quite a job on him.

Quite a job.

Knowing Nick, however,
he'll probably decide

the whole thing
was nothing at all

and be trying to
kick up his heels
in a day or two.

But don't let him.

Keep him in bed
for three days at least.

Then slowly let him
get up and move around.

He'll be all right,
if you don't let him push it.

Doctor, he seemed so strange.

Yes, what is it?
He looks at you,

but it's as if
he isn't seeing you.

Well, that's only natural.
He's still in a state of shock.

He'll pull out of it,
all right.

I'll look on in him tomorrow.

Maybe around lunchtime,

if you still have
some of that pickled goose
in the cooler.

-You've just gotten
yourself an invitation.
-Good.

In the meantime, Victoria,
get yourself some sleep.

-Good night.
-Thank you.

Don't you worry.
Doc's right.

If I know Nick,
he'll be up and around
in no time.

Well, I'll never complain
about his hollering
around the house again.

Be careful.
In a day or two you might
have to eat those words.

Come on,
let's get some sleep.

[screeching]

No! No!

No!

-Get him off of me!
-Easy!

-Get him off of me!
Get him off of me!
-Nick!

-Get him off of me!
-Easy!

Take it easy.
Just relax.

Just relax, Nick.

[panting]

It'll be all right.

I must have been--

I must have been dreaming.

Well, you raised me
about a foot off the floor.

Sorry, I--

Sorry.

-Can I get you anything?
-No. No. You--

You go back to bed.
I'll be fine.

Go on back to bed. It's okay.

You rest easy, you hear?

-Yeah.
-Okay.

JARROD:
Well, well, look at him.

I'd say he's practically
ready for a foot race.

A short walk to
the breakfast table
will do for today.

He might be
a little stiff
on the outside,

but his belly
must be workin' all right.

Empty sack won't stand up,
you know?

Spoken like a true Barkley.

Take more than
a little old pussycat
to keep Nick down, huh?

Personally, I think
he's too tough and stringy.

The cat's probably
got indigestion.

Well, if that cat
does have indigestion,

I think the best thing
we can do is put him
out of his misery.

Tanner
should be here today.

-Who's tanner?
-Professional hunter.

I wired him yesterday.

-Why?
-That cat hit another
steer yesterday, Nick.

Well, that's no reason to
call in a professional hunter.

We're shorthanded
on the roundup now.
We can't spare anyone.

I planned on
getting that cat myself.

Oh, Nick,
you can't be serious.

You get up on a horse,
you'll shove those busted ribs
right through your lungs.

Not likely.

Besides, I'm only
bossing that roundup
so you can rest.

Fine. You boss the roundup,
I'm gonna get that cat.

Sorry, Nick,
you can't have him.

♪♪

Mr. Tanner?

My name is Jarrod Barkley.
They told me at your hotel
I'd find you here.

If you don't mind,
I'd like to have a talk.

Shh.

Mr. Barkley,
I paid very good money
for this private performance.

Why don't you drink your wine...
and enjoy it?

Uh, thank you very much,

but if you don'tmind,
I would like to get
right down to business.

I never mix business
with pleasure, Mr. Barkley.

And this is my pleasure.

Tell me, Mr. Tanner,
how much longer does
this performance last?

Another two hours.

Well, if you don't mind,
I have some other things
I'd like to take care of,

so maybe you could
meet me at my office
after this is over with.

Now, relax, Mr. Barkley.
Culture is good for the soul.

If you'll just try
a little of this rice wine,

I'll explain to you
what's going on.

That girl has just found
a beautiful jade bracelet

and is caught in the dilemma
of whether to find the owner
or keep it.

What she does not know is

the bracelet was left
outside her door

by a handsome young suitor.

She couldn't accept
an outright gift from him,

so he has chosen
this subterfuge
to get it into her hands.

She cannot resist it,

and the young man, of course,
can now announce

that it is his gift.

You can see the subtlety
of the oriental mind,
Mr. Barkley.

Oh, yes, perfectly.

Good.

Jarrod tells me
you're quite a fan
of the Chinese theater.

Well, I enjoy in life
what I can afford--

good wine, good art,
good people.

You hardly seem like
a professional hunter.

Hunting is my business.
Living is my pleasure.

Well, you come
highly recommended.

And you are even
more gracious and lovely
than I had been told.

Oh, Mr. Tanner,
you are a charmingliar.

I would be if I had to,
Mrs.. Barkley.

But in this case,
lying is totally unnecessary.

Now, Mr. Tanner,
just when it is
you plan to get started?

-before dawn.
-good.

If you'll excuse me,
I'm off to Sacramento
in the morning

so I have to
turn in early.

Good night, mother.

See you at breakfast,
Nick.

And I think it's about time
for you to turn in, Nick.

-I want to say
something first.
-Oh?

-I'm going with tanner
tomorrow morning.
-Nick!

Mr. Barkley,
I think you'd better
understand something.

You can't come with me.
I work alone.

I think you better
understand something, tanner.

I was against hiring you
in the first place.

Now, there's nothing
personal in that.

Even if I allowed you
to come along, Mr. Barkley,

you're in no shape for it.

I'm the best judge of that,
don't you think?

Well, there's no point
in pursuing this any farther.

You hired me
to hunt down the cat,

and that's what
I'm going to do.

Alone.

Good night.

Nick, I thought
we settled all this
at breakfast.

You were going to
stay here and rest. Now--

Mother, I'm a fast mender.
Probably a medical marvel.

-Nick--
-What do I have to do
to convince you?

Would you like me to run around
the house a couple of times
holding my breath?

Or maybe you'd like to see me
jump the corral fence.

Come on, mother,
stop frowning!

Look at this smiling face--
I'm the picture of health!

Nick...

I won't buy it, Nick.

Mother, that cat hit at me,
and I'm gonna hit back.

Revenge.
Oh, for heaven's sake, Nick,

that cat is a dumb animal.

You're a man with
intelligence and reason.

You don't need revenge!

It's getting late,
and I gotta get up
pretty early in the morning.

I'd best get some sleep.

Good night.

Nick.

There's more to it,
isn't there?

It's just something
I have to do is all.

Good night, mother.

What do you think
you're doing?

I told you last night
I'm going with you.

-I said you weren't.
-And here I am,
right beside you.

Barkley, that is
not an ordinary cat.

A man wounded him once
or he wouldn't have attacked.

And he'll attack again
at the first smell of you.

I'll take my chances.

Oh, well and good,
but there's the matter
of me, also.

I've done this all my life.
I know more than most,

and that edge keeps me alive.

Well, I'm not about
to take away that edge, tanner.

Trying or not, you will.
You're a cr*pple--
and an amateur.

I won't risk
taking you along.

Then you best
go back to the ranch
and pick up your fee,

because I'll go it alone,
anyway.

All right, Barkley,
you want to track cat,
come on.

[gasps]

Tired, Barkley?

Not too tired to realize that

you've been traveling
in circles for the past hour.

Well, it's only a little over
three miles back to the ranch,
you could make it before noon.

If I was to turn back,
but I'm not about to.

Why?

Will you quit stalling,
Tanner?

Let's get on with this.

I couldn't keep you
from coming along with me.

Doesn't mean I have to
explain my moves to you.

Uh-huh. Well,
the way I got it figured is

since that cat's been fired
at the last three times
it's been near the herd,

he's probably going up high,
let things cool off a bit.

Well, that's pretty
fair figuring, Mr. Barkley.

Glad you see you're aware
of what's happening.

Well, I was just checking to see
that your thinking was correct,
Mr. Tanner.

Since you're so knowledgeable
on the subject,

maybe you could tell me what
my next move should be.

I'd say since wethink
that the cat is in this area,

it'd be wise to
stake out some fresh meat.

Not bad.

As soon as I decide
the right place to do that,

I'll just give it a try.

[accordion playing]

[Tanner singing opera
in Italian]

[continues singing opera]

Blahh!

[stops playing]

You don't like Mozart,
Mr. Barkley?

It's just bad coffee,
and I don't like waiting.

First rule of the hunter,
Mr. Barkley--
learn how to wait it out.

We staked fresh meat out
for that cat two days ago,
and he ain't showed up.

I don't think he's anywhere
in this area.

Well, I hope that cat
isn't as impatient
to get to you, Mr. Barkley,

as you are to get to him.

[resumes playing, singing]

[mountain lion growls]

[screeching]

[continues firing]

Barkley, what the devil
do you think you're doing?

The cat!

Right up on that rock!
The cat!

That cat won't
come near this fire,
and you know it.

But I tell you
I saw him!

The only cat around here
is the one in your head.

Still say I didn't see that cat
in the camp last night?

Well, since he supposedly
was standing on the rocks
where he couldn't leave tracks,

you'll never know,
will you?

You mean you'llnever know.

He came down to feed
from up there.

Yep.

Heeya.

[horse whinnies]

-You okay?
-Yeah, I'm fine.

-Sure, you're in great shape.
-I said I'm fine!

You're caving in.
Why don't you sit down
before you fall down?

[groaning]

His leg's hurt.

How bad?

He won't be carrying you
for a while.

That meadow we came through
a ways back, I saw a cabin.

I'll take you there.

Hello there.

What happened to him?

Fate played a cruel trick
on my brave young friend here.

His horse took a fall
and went lame.

He's got a couple
of busted ribs.

That so.

Yeah, a roof and bed
would...

...be most appreciated.

He does look
in a bad way.

I only need a couple hours
of rest, ma'am.

This is my wife Beth.

Howdy.

Tanner's my name.
This is Nick Barkley.

Maybe we should
ask him in, tom.

See what you can do for him.

Something wrong?

You, uh....play poker?

Well, yes.

A little.

Once in a while.

Low stakes, of course.

Yeah.

Twenty dollars.

Well, now, I...

I...I think I'll call.

Straight.

Yes, let's see now,
you have a straight,

and I have...
all hearts.

Now, let me think.
Um...

that's right, a flush
beats a straight,
doesn't it?

I gotta get some money
out back.

-Ah.
-Here. Try a little
of this, Mr. Barkley.

What-- What is it?

It's a special broth
I fixed for you.

Well, it's very good.
Thank you.

You're a generous and sweet
angel of mercy, Mrs.. Giles.

I'm not really Mrs. Giles.

-You're not?
-No.

Mr. Giles won me
from the saloon keeper
in a poker game.

I just thought you might be
interesting in knowing that.

Now, drink your soup.

Ready?

Now, let's say we raise
the ante, Mr. Tanner.

You mean play
for more money?

That's the general idea.

Well, if you really
want to, Mr. Giles.

-VICTORIA: Jarrod.
-Good evening, Mrs. Barkley.

I didn't hear you ride up.

How did everything go
in Sacramento?

Once again,
I must modestly admit

that my brilliance
as a barrister

saved the Barkley family
from total destruction.

Total destruction?

Well, maybe just
a minor annoyance.

-Heath still on roundup?
-Mm-hmm.

-How's Nick?
-He's gone.

What do you mean gone?
Gone where?

After the cat.

He went after that cat?
When?

Shortly after you left
for Sacramento.

Well, why didn't you
try and stop him?

I didn't see him go.

Then how do you know
he went after the cat?

Because I know.

The least you could have done
is send somebody after him.

It wouldn't have done
any good, I'm sure.
He's with tanner.

What the devil
has gotten into him?

What suddenly is
so almighty important
about hunting down a cat?

What was so important
when you went out
to ride lightning

during the middle
of winter last year?

What's that
got to do with this?

He doesn't see
the comparison.

That's odd.
I see it very clearly.

You wanted to break the horse;
instead, the horse
broke your leg.

Well, that--

So at midnight,
with your leg in splints,

you sneak out of the house and
climb on the poor animal's back.

Maybe I was just
trying to prove that I--

and maybe I see
the comparison after all.

We'll just have to wait
until he gets back.

We'll just have to wait.

Beth.

You keep staring at me.

I'm sorry.

I keep getting the feeling
that maybe we've met before.

We haven't.

I don't usually
forget a face.

You never forgot mine...
because you never saw it before.

This is my hand, Tanner.

This time I got you beat.

Well, now, Mr. Giles,
I've got your money,

your horse, your saddle,
your cabin--

-I'll bet you two hundred.
-But you haven't got
two hundred.

I'm good for it.

Sorry, Mr. Giles,
I never play on credit.

However...

it wouldn't seem fair not to
give you a chance to recoup.

So I'll tell you
what I'll do.

I'll call your two hundred,

against your...

wife.

Ifthe lady is agreeable.

Well, if you're sure
you've got him beat.

All right.

All right.

Three aces.

I have three queens.

And...

two nines.

Oh, you...

you stinkin'--

You cheated me!

Mr. Giles,
what makes you say that?

You made me think
you didn't know much
about poker!

Mr. Giles, I never said
I didn't knowpoker,

I just didn't say how much.

All right, Mr. Giles.

Now, even though
you are a very poor loser,

I am going to be
very kind to you.

I'm gonna let you
go over there
and get that horse.

Just the horse--
I'm gonna keep the saddle--

and I'm gonna let you
ride out of here,
all right?

[c*ck p*stol]
All right?

All right.

What's happening?

Well! There he is.

All bright-eyed
like a hungry fox.

Did you sleep well,
Mr. Barkley?

What's going on?
What was all that
fighting about?

The evils of gambling.
He was a very poor loser.

Well, we best
get movin'.

Right you are.
But you have got
to do one thing first.

What's that?

You have got to
put your boots on.

Oh, uh, well--yeah.

You kinda like him,
don't you?

Yes.

Good.
Then keep him here.

-You're leaving him with me?
-Mm-hmm.

He keeps chasing that cat
in his condition,
he'll k*ll himself.

Ain't you gonna
say good-bye to him?

No, it's best I don't.

He can be a little
stubborn sometimes.

I'll stop on my way back
down the hill.

If you hear three shots
put the skillet on,
'cause I'm gonna be hungry.

Oh, uh...

Have fun.

I got a berry pie
in the oven.

Where's he goin'?

After the cat.

What are you doing?

Saw a couple of wild horses
in the meadow.

I'm gonna get me one.

But you're not well.

And Mr. Tanner said for me
to take care of you.

You tell Mr. Tanner
that you tried.

When I catch up with him...

Nick.

Now...

Just what do you plan
to do with that?

Mr. Tanner said for me
to keep you here.

Berry pie wouldn't work,
so you figure the g*n will, huh?

Well, it's for your own good.

And you're the judge
for what's best for me?

Well--

but you're not
thinking clear,

on account of you're sick.

Beth, if you're gonna
use that g*n, you best
go ahead and do it...

'cause I'm walking out of here.

Well...
I guess my pa was right.

What about?

He always said
that I was uglier
than a mud fence.

Well, I'd say your father
was either half-blind or...

or crazy.

I don't hardly remember.

Ran off when I was eleven.

And...

I seen a lot of
ugly things since.

Beth...

I don't know what you've seen,

but you've gotten
a lot prettier
than a mud fence.

Then why you
want to leave?

Well...

I just have to finish
what I've started.

Stop on your way back?

[horse whinnying]

Leave it.

Mr. Giles, where did you
find that r*fle?

There's more than one cabin
in these hills.

Pays to know the territory.

I suppose you want
your money back.

Mostly...

I want your hide.

You know that feeling I had
about knowing you before?

Now I know where
I saw your face.

They say a man's memory
improves sometimes...

just before he dies.

Stanton. Ted Stanton.

And your face was
on a wanted poster
in Stockton.

You'll recall...

I used this on
more than one man.

You know, the law
has thought you dead
for a long time.

I was living a quiet life.

You took my comforts.

Shamed me
in front of my woman.

I hope you're ready
for yourcomforts.

NICK:
Put that r*fle down.

Put down that r*fle!

How long were you
standing there?

Long enough for him
to put a slug in you.

Why did you stop him?

That's a very
interesting question.

Think I'll take
a few seconds to think of
a very interesting answer.

[horse whinnying]

Barkley.

You're asking for trouble.
You know that, don't you?

You don't hunt a cat
with a spooky horse.

-Nothing wrong
with this horse.
-Well, sure.

Saddle on its back
for a couple of weeks,
it'll be fine,

-but right now you two
are strangers.
-we'll get acquainted.

There's no time--
that cat's pretty close.

If you can't control
that animal, we could
get in trouble.

That's my worry.
Let's move out.

You know, Barkley,
you're not a coward.

[horse whinnies]

[whinnying continues]

Whoa. Whoa.

The cat's close.

I guess you're right
about this horse.

I'll tie him off
down below.

[cat snarls]

[horse whinnies]

[cat snarls]

[snarling]

[snarling]

[snarling]

[cat hissing]

[cat screeches]

Well, now that you've
satisfied your soul,

you up to filling
your belly?

I promised that
angel of mercy
I'd fire three shots

so she could put
the skillet on for us.

Jammed.

It's jammed.

How long has it beenjammed?

I guess we'll never know.

Well, I suppose
it was meant to be, Nick.

-What's that?
-It was your cat.

Yeah...

it was my cat.

♪♪ [theme]