Face of a Fugitive (1959) Movie Script
[]
[BELL CLANGING]
[]
[TRAIN HORN BLARES]
[]
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
[BELL CLANGING]
We'll be in Porter
for a few minutes.
Want some air, Jim?
Why don't you get off
without me?
Heh, I'd be lonely.
I don't mind hunting a man
down when he needs hunting.
Kind of like it, in fact.
Don't like this part
of my job, though.
Locking a man
away from the land.
Even if his name's,
Jim Larson.
Nothing personal
about it, huh?
That's right.
Nothing personal.
Don't worry
too much about it.
It'll give me some time
to think things over.
What sort of things,
for instance?
Banks, for instance.
We'd get you again.
No.
You only got me this time
because I was fool enough
to work with a partner.
By myself, you never even
came close and you know it.
You want some advice?
No.
You got five to 10 years.
Use that time to smarten up.
Yeah.
Maybe I can smarten up enough
to figure a way to break out.
There're a lot more
permanent places, like graves.
There must be a lot of other
things a man like you can do
and do well.
And live real good?
Good enough.
Better than this.
Got a match?
Yeah.
[]
Give me the key.
Get away from the door.
You're only making this...
Give me the key.
All right.
JIM:
Hurry it up.
I'll be seeing you.
Danny!
What are you doing here?
Jim!
I came to help.
I don't need your help.
Can't you see that?
Now get out of here.
Go on, beat it.
Jim, I've got horses.
[BLARING]
All right, come on.
[]
[WHINNIES]
[BOTH GROAN]
Can you make it?
Sure.
[]
Whoa.
Here, let me look at it.
Well, that's great.
Just great.
I could use a doctor,
I guess.
Yeah, keep it covered.
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
We're going back
to riding trains, Danny.
We can't do that.
They must've telegraphed
every railroad station.
You're not gonna make it far
on horseback.
I can try.
Yeah. You'd try anything.
We're brothers, Jim.
Yeah.
That makes everything fine?
If we get caught, just tell
everybody we're brothers.
I don't feel good.
Don't chew at me.
Jim, I'm sure sorry
how this turned out.
Don't feel sorry, kid.
Don't ever feel sorry.
It's like poison to a man.
We'll try to make
the freight car.
Come on. Hyah!
Hyah!
You never did have too much
sense when we were kids.
Now look at you.
Do you hurt bad?
Something awful.
I've never been
scared like this.
Jim, you think I'm gonna die?
No, don't talk like that.
That's not the worst
bullet hole I've ever seen.
I might've killed
that deputy.
Yeah. You just might've.
If I did?
I got you mixed up
in a murder.
You never were before,
were you, Jim?
A murder? No.
A couple of killings, yes,
but ones I couldn't help.
It was either me or him.
None of them were lawmen.
I should've
stayed out of it.
You'd have gotten clean
away, probably.
Even if they'd
caught you again,
it'd still only be
a jail sentence.
You're in more trouble now
than you were before.
You're in a trouble,
yourself.
Oh, it's my own fault.
[SIGHS]
Guess I haven't
changed much.
Still what you used
to call me.
A dumb punk kid.
Well, I've seen brighter.
DANNY: Some dumb
things you just gotta do
sometime, Jim.
Nobody's gotta do
what you did.
I didn't ask for your help.
I never asked
anything from anybody.
You, Ma, Old Man, nobody.
I never gave
anything to anybody, either.
That's the way it's
always been between me
and everybody.
Here.
I brought you some
clothes, Jim.
And some money.
Not much.
That's Pa's old suits.
I never did get around
to getting rid of his
clothes after he died.
It ought to fit you
pretty good.
Yeah.
The old man's suit.
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
You know, Danny,
long as I can think back,
I can never remember
Ma having a dress
that cost more than
3 or 4 dollars.
This suit must have cost
the old man 50 bucks, anyway.
He always managed
to have enough money for him.
No point in hating Pa now.
No.
I learned a lot
from the old man.
How the world's put together,
how to take it apart.
How to reach out and grab
what you want from it.
Ma didn't mind
the way he was.
No.
Where'd it get her?
Old and tired.
Dead before her time.
I never really knew before
why you run off the day
after she died.
I used to ask Pa.
He never would say.
Now I know.
I had me to take care of.
That's all anybody's got.
Except now I got you.
I'm sorry, Jim.
What did I tell you
about being sorry?
Now let me try to think
a way out of this.
DANNY:
Think out loud, Jim.
Call me names if you want.
It's a lot...
It's a lot easier hearing
you talking than being quiet.
All right.
Now we're heading
due north this way.
The tracks dead end
in a town called Tangle Blue.
It's a pretty fair sized town.
I've been there.
There are only three ways
in or out of the town.
One's the railroad.
The other's this pass
heading east.
The only other way out
is this pass going west.
About three miles before
we get into Tangle Blue
we go through an old
abandoned mining village.
We'll drop off the train there
and we'll hole up.
I'll sneak into town and try
to get a doctor out to you.
After we get
you patched up,
we'll get ahold
of some horses and...
Danny.
[]
Danny.
I didn't ask you to help me.
I never asked anybody.
Dumb punk kid.
[]
[HORN BLARING]
Best I can bury you, Danny.
I'm sorry.
[WATER SPLASHES]
So long, boy.
[]
[INAUDIBLE]
Well, here we are.
Goodbye, Grandpa.
Goodbye, honey.
Have a nice trip.
Goodbye, Alice.
Goodbye.
[TRAIN HORN BLARES]
JIM: Do you mind if I sit down
here, little lady?
No, I don't.
Thank you.
I'm going all the way home
to Tangle Blue alone.
Well, that's quite a trip.
Oh, I travel a great deal.
I have ever since
I was a child.
Is that so?
I'm 13, you know.
Well, that's a nice age to be.
Don't you think I look
a little young for 13?
No, not especially.
Actually,
I'm 6 and three-quarters.
You don't say.
Yes. Everyone thinks
I'm a great deal older.
I wish I was.
Six is a very awkward age
and 7 isn't much better.
What's your name?
Uh, Kincaid. Ray Kincaid.
You know what, Mr. Kincaid?
You need a shave.
Yes, I know.
You don't live
in Tangle Blue.
Yeah, that's right.
I know everybody there.
And you don't work in
the mines over at
Enterprise either
unless you're an inspector.
Well, that depends on
what you mean by an inspector.
My grandpa calls them
blasted company men.
Your, uh, Grandpa Bailey?
Yes, he's the only grandpa
I've got left.
I've been visiting him
and Grandma in Enterprise.
He's retired now.
Used to be a mine foreman.
Oh, sure.
Now, let's see.
What was his first name again?
Joshua. Joshua Robert Bailey.
That's right. Josh Bailey.
Nice man, your grandpa,
even if he doesn't
like us company men.
Do you know him?
Oh, I think everybody
in the mining business
knows Josh Bailey.
[TRAIN BRAKES SCREECH]
Pull up, Johnson.
Pull up, Johnson.
Whoa, boy.
It's my Uncle Mark.
He's sheriff.
He's talking
to the engineer.
You know what,
Mr. Kincaid?
I'll bet he's looking for
somebody on this very train.
A robber or something.
Oh, I wouldn't say that.
Never can tell.
He'd be crazy to get
on the train. Any train.
You're probably right,
but I wanna check it anyway.
You're gonna
make me late.
I'm sorry.
Don't worry, nothing's wrong,
folks. Just relax.
Could I ask your name,
mister?
Morgan. What's going on?
Any identification?
I think so.
Here.
I can't see them.
They must be
on the other side now.
Hi, George.
Who are they looking for?
Hello, Alice.
Did you have a nice trip?
Yes, thank you.
George, who is it?
That's a secret.
I'll tell you later, Alice.
May I ask your
name, mister?
Kincaid. Ray Kincaid.
Any identification?
Yeah, I think so.
He's a mine inspector.
Enterprise mines?
That's right.
Oh, I think I've got my papers
here in the bedroll.
Grandpa calls him
a blasted company man.
[CHUCKLES]
Ooh, that's all right,
Mr. Kincaid.
We're not after mine
inspectors this trip.
See you later, Alice.
Goodbye, George.
GEORGE: Goodbye.
[]
ALICE: Hi, Uncle Mark.
Hi, honey.
See you in a little while.
Nothing but baggage
in there, Mark.
All right, Mr. Johnson,
take her away.
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
Al, you and Mel stay
by the cut and keep
your eyes open.
I'll get some grub
and bedrolls out
to you before dark.
George, you ride
back with me.
Hey, George, this way.
Something else
I wanna look into first.
I told Reed Williams that
fence had to be down by today.
Williams won't take that fence
down ever, and you know it.
It looks like
I'll have to do it for him.
Mark, you're looking
for a lot of trouble.
That's public land
Williams has fenced in.
That means anybody's entitled
to use it. Not just him.
All right, come on.
[BELL CLANGING]
There she is.
Hello, sweetheart.
It's good to see you.
Hi, Mother.
This is Mr. Kincaid from
the Enterprise company.
He's been very
nice to me.
How do you do, Mr. Kincaid?
How do you do, Mrs. Bailey?
Mighty nice little girl
you've got here.
Thank you. Thank you
for looking after her.
No thanks needed.
Well, goodbye, Alice.
That's the nicest train ride
I've had in a long time.
Goodbye, Mrs. Bailey.
It's nice to have met you.
We have a buggy, Mr. Kincaid.
Can we drop you somewhere?
Thank you, but I've been
sitting a while.
I think I'd like to
stretch my legs a little.
Thank you, anyway.
Awfully nice for
a blasted company man.
Handsome too.
[]
Williams.
Hello, sheriff.
How are things with you?
Your fence is still up.
I knew there was something
I forgot to do.
Well, it'll just
have to wait.
MARK:
For how long?
I don't know.
Five or 10 years,
maybe.
[CHUCKLES]
Well, that fence
comes down today,
one way or another.
You just run along,
Mark.
Mr. Williams and me have
got work to do. Now beat it.
For the last time,
Williams...
I told you we're busy.
You're under arrest.
I'll take your gun.
You just try that, kid.
No, no, you know
better than that.
Do what the sheriff said.
Huh?
Give him your gun.
I'm surprised at you,
Graham.
You can't go around
insulting officers of the law
without being
punished for it.
Now you run along to jail,
and don't make
any more trouble.
Tell the sheriff
you're sorry.
Well, now, I'm downright
sorry, sheriff.
Uh, I reckon I just lost
my head. That's all.
[LAUGHING]
[]
Drop your roll, mister.
Be with you in a minute.
There you are, sir.
Ah.
Well, see you
later, Jake.
JAKE:
All right, Ben.
Well, how have you been
keeping yourself, Jake?
Fine, fine, heh.
You don't remember me,
do you?
Why, uh...
Yes, of course,
I remember you, heh.
Uh, let me see. You're uh...
You're, uh...
Kincaid. Ray Kincaid.
That's it, heh.
Kincaid. I remember.
Well, what will it be,
Kincaid?
Just take the whiskers
off, Jake.
And leave a little
blood inside me this time.
Oh, ho, ho. I never cut a man
yet, and you know it.
Come on now, Jake.
You almost cut
my chin off last October.
You know, Jake,
it's sign of old age
when your memory starts
to rot like that.
My memory's just as
good as ever, heh.
Last October, huh?
Yeah.
I remember Ben Caldwell
and another fella came
into my place
just about closing time.
That wasn't you, was it?
Yeah, that was me, Jake.
I thought so, heh.
Yeah, but it was
Ben I cut, not you,
and it wasn't my fault,
either.
No, sir.
Ben was so drunk
he couldn't sit up straight.
Heh. That's right.
Yes, I remember
you and Ben all right, heh.
You were having
yourself a real time.
That was all right as long
as old Mason was sheriff.
But since he died, they've got
Mark Riley under the badge.
He's the young one,
isn't he?
Yeah, he's just a kid.
Filling out old Mason's term,
but he didn't ask for the job.
The people put it on him.
All he wants to do is
just study his law books,
and that's what he goes by.
Same as most folks
go by the Bible.
He stopped the train about
three miles out of town.
Do you know
what he's looking for?
Oh, some fellow
on his way to prison.
A friend of his got on,
and they pulled
an escape at Porter.
Killed the deputy.
Killed him, huh?
That's what came
over the telegraph.
There's a real
manhunt going on.
All over the area.
We'll have the reward
posters here tomorrow morning.
Posters?
Yep.
There's something coming over
about a fellow called Larsen.
Be on tomorrow's train.
We'll have his face
all over town.
I'm gonna put
one up myself right here.
[]
Yes, sir?
Howdy.
I want to buy a horse.
I got several for sale.
Depending on how far you
want to ride and how hard.
Well, I need a good one.
Uh-huh.
How much
for the bay here?
Well, I've got some
that are cheaper.
Don't you wanna
sell this one?
Well, I don't know.
I sort of grown to like him.
How much do you want for him,
including the tack?
Forty-five dollars, sir,
including everything.
Well, that's a little
steep for me right now.
How much for the sorrel here?
Twenty-five dollars.
All right.
I'll take him.
Uh, now why don't you
take the bay here?
You can owe me
the difference.
Well, why would you
wanna do that?
Because you look
at a horse fine, and, uh,
well, I think
you'd be kind to him.
Wait a minute.
I'll get the gear.
I understand that the sheriff
is offering $5 a day
for extra deputies.
To look for
those two killers.
You might get yourself
a week's work.
Don't worry, I'll see that you
get the rest of your money.
And thanks for
letting me owe it to you.
There you are.
Thank you.
Hello, Mr. Kincaid.
What can I do for you?
Hello, Mrs. Bailey.
Your girl didn't tell me
you had a store.
I don't.
I only work here.
Oh.
I'm a widow.
Oh, I see. I'm sorry.
Now, can I help you?
Yes, I need some clothes.
We don't carry anything
as nice as the suit
you're wearing.
No, I need
some work clothes.
Oh.
I'll need a jacket.
A shirt and these
trousers ought to do.
Well, this looks like
it might fit.
You can try them on
in there if you like.
Oh, thanks.
Ellen, you've got
to tell your brother
to stop being such a fool
about that fence of mine.
He's only trying
to do his job.
That fence protects
my land.
It's been my land
for more than 20 years.
But the law says
that the land belongs...
The law's wrong.
That's not for
you to decide.
I've decided
just the same.
Nobody's going to take my
land away from me, Ellen.
I'll kill the man
who tries.
You'd kill Mark?
REED:
If I have to.
I like Mark. I don't
want to see him dead.
Will you talk to him?
He won't listen to me.
That's it, then.
Reed, please.
There's nothing more
to be said. I'm sorry.
[]
Well, these will do fine.
How much for the clothes?
Five dollars.
And I'll need a gun.
Help yourself.
They scare me.
I guess they scare
everybody a little.
That's part
of the general idea.
Now, how much for the,
uh, gun and the belt?
Eighteen dollars.
I need some shells. Better
give me a couple of boxes.
It's a dollar
and half each.
Now, what does
that come to altogether?
Um, $26.
Twenty-five, 26.
Thank you.
You look different.
Bigger.
Well, maybe it's the gun.
They make
anybody look bigger.
Perhaps that's it.
I don't care much for
guns myself, Mrs. Bailey.
Not many men do but, well,
they're kind of necessary.
Why?
Why?
Yes, why are
they necessary?
Well, uh, I'm gonna
be traveling for
the next few weeks and...
Well, I'll need
a gun for food.
Whatever I eat,
I'm gonna have to shoot.
You're going away?
Yes.
Give my regards to your
daughter, Mrs. Bailey.
I envy you.
I wish I could go away.
I will too, someday.
Goodbye.
[]
Howdy.
Sorry, mister,
but we got orders
not to let anyone we don't
know go through the pass.
No, don't tell me that.
What's happened?
There's a couple of escaped
killers loose in the area.
Well, what do you know.
You know something,
it's taken me 10 years
to get up enough nerve
to quit my job.
I was gonna head out to Sonora
and the gold country.
I would have
to pick today, heh.
What kind of job
you walking away from?
Oh, I'm an inspector over
at Enterprise. Name's Kincaid.
Don't sound like
such a terrible job to me.
Oh, the job's not so bad.
It's just dull, that's all.
You know,
a man gets kind of tired
of being called a blasted
company man all the time, heh.
[CHUCKLES]
How long do you think it'll be
before I can get through?
When those posters get in
on the train in the morning
then we'll know for sure
who to let through
and who not
to let through.
By that time, I'll probably
change my mind again.
You get to thinking about
those three square meals a day
and that paycheck every month.
Heh, makes a man kind of soft.
Let's let him through.
First company man I ever met
talked like a human being.
Mm. No, we'd
better not.
Mark hears about it,
we'll be looking for jobs
two minutes later.
Yeah, you're right.
Sorry, Kincaid.
Ah, another 24 hours
ain't so much
and Sonora
will still be there.
Keep your nerve up.
I'll try. So long.
[]
Like some coffee?
No, thanks.
[]
Good morning, sheriff.
MARK: Morning.
My name's Kincaid.
What can I do for you?
The stableman tells me
you could use a spare deputy.
Uh, Deputy Allison,
Mr. Kincaid.
Oh, yeah. We met on
the train this morning.
Planning to stay
in town for a while?
No, not for long.
I see you bought the bay
from Old Jackson.
JIM:
Yeah.
Mighty good trail horse
for a man who needs one.
Yeah, I rode him out a way
this morning. He's all right.
What makes you
wanna be a deputy?
I could use the money.
There, um, wouldn't be
anything personal about it,
would there?
I mean, like, you, uh,
knew the deputy who
was killed at Porter?
No, there's nothing
personal about it.
Jake just told me he was dead.
That's all I know.
Jake?
JIM: The barber.
The truth of the matter is,
sheriff, I'm just about broke.
A horse and new gun,
hard on the bankroll.
Yeah, heh.
As Allison here
can tell you,
I've been working
for the Enterprise company.
I've decided I'd had
my fill of that
so I was starting
out for Sonora today.
But you've got
the pass closed and...
I just thought maybe
I could make myself useful
and earn a little eating money
at the same time.
Well, I didn't mean
to needle you, Kincaid,
but I don't like my men
to have personal reasons
about things like this.
A job's done because
the law says it has
to be done.
JIM: Well, hello.
Hello, Kincaid.
You getting anywhere?
Well, it's hard to tell.
MARK: You two know each other?
It's a short acquaintance.
We met out on the pass
when I thought I was
heading for Sonora.
Well, sheriff,
can you use me?
I won't know
until tonight.
I'll check with you then.
There's a dance
at the town hall.
I have to be there.
Expecting trouble?
Well, only from my girl
if I don't take her.
I'll see my deputies there.
Find out if they'll
be working.
Why don't you drop by?
Well, maybe I'll go dance.
See you tonight, sheriff.
Fine.
Did he give you
any trouble at the pass?
No.
Said he finally got up
gumption enough
to leave Enterprise
and he wanted to ride out
before he lost his nerve.
I felt kind of
sorry for him.
He doesn't look much
like a man you have
to feel sorry for.
[PLAYING SOFT MUSIC]
Hi, Mr. Kincaid.
Hello, Alice.
Nice to see you again.
I almost didn't recognize you
in those clothes.
I'm glad you did.
That's a pretty dress
you're wearing.
Thank you.
Mother made it.
[CHUCKLES]
Evening,
Mrs. Bailey.
Good evening.
Don't she look pretty,
Mr. Kincaid?
I mean, doesn't
she look pretty?
She certainly does.
You'll dance with him,
won't you?
Run along, Alice,
and find the other children.
Oh, Mother.
Go on, now, Alice.
Will I see you later?
I hope so, Alice.
I, uh, imagined you'd be out
in the hills somewhere by now
shooting your supper.
I changed my mind
for a while.
I didn't think I was
going to see you again either.
I don't usually come
to these dances
but my brother insisted.
He just wants you
to have a good time.
I suppose that's part of it,
but I think he'd like it
if I met another man
and became interested in him.
He worries about me.
Well, that's natural enough.
I took care of him
when he was little.
Now that he's grown up
he thinks he has
to look after me.
But he doesn't.
Nobody does.
I had a kid brother once
who thought he had
to look after me.
Had?
Yeah, he died
a while back.
I'm sorry.
[PEOPLE CLAMORING]
I didn't mean
to keep you.
Perhaps you'd like to join
your friends from Enterprise.
From Enterprise?
You're not keeping me
at all, Mrs. Bailey.
As a matter of fact, I was
about to ask you to dance.
Thank you, and it's Ellen.
All right, and I'm Ray.
[PLAYING SOFT MUSIC]
Enjoying yourself, Kincaid?
Fine, Jake.
Why didn't you
leave today, Ray?
Oh, I just couldn't
seem to get started.
I've heard men say that
the first part of the journey
is often the hardest.
Yeah, I guess it is.
Why is that?
Oh, I don't know.
Different reasons.
Is it ever
because you're afraid
to start out
from one place to another,
to try to change something
even if it's bad?
That could be it.
In the store today,
you said you envied me.
Going away, I mean.
This doesn't seem
to be such a bad place.
It is for me.
Too many memories, maybe.
Maybe.
Too much trouble.
Well, there's always trouble,
everywhere for some.
For you?
I've had my share.
There's your brother
over there.
I came here to talk to him.
You didn't tell me
you knew Mark.
I just didn't get
around to it, I guess.
I see you're playing
politics, Kincaid.
I'm not going
to be influenced
because you're dancing
with my sister.
Janet, Mr. Kincaid.
Miss Hawthorne.
How do you do?
Miss Hawthorne.
Any word for me,
sheriff?
I'm sorry. I'm afraid
I won't need you, Kincaid.
I was counting on it.
What were you
counting on, Ray?
On picking up a few
extra dollars as deputy.
Seems he used all his cash
buying a horse and a gun.
Well, something else
will come up.
Thanks for the dance,
Mrs. Bailey.
Riley.
Somebody outside
wants to see you.
I'll be in my office
at 6 in the morning.
Someone wants
to see you right now.
Are you coming out
or you want him coming in?
I hate to intrude
on your fun, Mark.
I know you don't get time
for much of it.
I manage to keep busy.
You didn't happen
to busy yourself
around my land this
afternoon, did you?
That's not your land.
You're mistaken,
sheriff.
It's been my land
for 20 years, and it's
gonna stay my land.
Well, that's public
grazing ground.
Nobody has a right
to put a fence around it.
Nobody has the right to cut
the fence I put around it.
I do because
I wear this badge.
And as long as I'm sheriff,
I'm going to do it the way
the law's laid out.
That fence will be up again
at 9 tomorrow morning
and I mean to have it
stay that way.
The law says that land
belongs to everyone.
It's not yours
to take from them.
If it were,
I'd fight for you.
If that fence is cut again,
I'm holding you
personally responsible.
Then I guess
you'll have to
because I'm the one
who has to cut it again.
Riley, if I have to kill you
I don't much care
whether it's tomorrow
or now.
You can save us both time
by starting the trouble now.
I've no cause for trouble
until that fence is up again.
And I'm telling you
it'll be up tomorrow.
Then whatever happens
will happen tomorrow.
Good night.
Riley.
A man insults me when he
turns his back and walks away.
We're not waiting for
tomorrow, you and me.
The sheriff said
tomorrow, Williams.
There's a dance going
on in there.
A lot of people enjoying
themselves, having fun.
You wouldn't want to spoil
it for them, would you?
Mister, you're butting in
on something
that doesn't concern you.
Either you're extra good with
that gun or you're bluffing.
All you gotta do
is figure out which it is.
You're pretty
worked up now, Reed.
Why don't you go home
and think this thing out?
You can't win no matter
what you do to me.
And no man is important enough
to walk wherever he wants.
He's bound to run into
something that'll stop him.
Why don't you get
along now, Williams?
If that fence
is cut again, Riley,
I swear I'll kill you.
And if you're still eager
to back him up, mister,
you'll be more than welcome.
Mark, Reed meant
what he said.
A man can't take what
they want with guns anymore.
Reed knows it too.
You're wrong, Mark.
You're wrong.
I know you believe
what you're saying,
but it isn't true.
Janet, you know
how I feel.
Men can take
what they want with guns.
Men like Reed Williams.
You can't stop him.
I can try.
And you can die trying.
Is that what you want?
Mr. Kincaid,
please tell him.
I don't know what to say.
Except you got more than
just yourself to think about.
I know that.
I didn't ask
for any of this.
What's the use
of having anyone?
You try to belong
and then a mine caves in
or a gun goes off.
What's the use?
I'm going home.
MARK:
She doesn't understand,
she doesn't even try to.
And neither do you.
She loves you.
I love you.
What neither of us
can understand
is why that doesn't mean
something to you.
Janet, let's go back
to the dance.
No. Just take me home,
please. Please.
All right.
Oh, Kincaid.
I owe you something.
If you still
want that job,
be at my office
at 6 in the morning.
I'll be there. Thanks.
Hello, there.
Mr. Kincaid.
Mr. Kincaid, are you
coming home with us?
I thought I might see that you
get there, if you don't mind.
That's very nice
of you.
Did you and Mother
dance together?
Yeah, for a while.
[]
She's had a busy day.
Haven't we all?
That was quite a thing
you did, Ray,
and I want to thank you.
Why did you do it?
Oh, for obvious reasons.
I wanted that deputy job
and I got it.
Any other reasons?
No, not really.
I don't believe you.
Why should I lie?
I don't know,
but you are lying.
No man would risk his life
just to get a $5 a day job.
You're good, Ray.
With a gun?
Enough.
No, I didn't mean that.
I mean
you're a good man.
I don't know
why you try to hide it.
Let's not talk about me,
if you don't mind.
All right.
[]
What is it, Mr. Eakins?
Evening, Ellen.
Is that Mark with you?
ELLEN:
No.
What's wrong?
Nothing you'd want to see,
Ellen. Where's Mark?
He's still at the dance
as far as I know.
Sam, ride in and get Mark.
Somebody hurt over there?
Worse than that.
My kids was
walking along the bank
and they seen this
bundle bobbing along
and fished it out.
Bundle?
Yeah, a mail sack.
Only there wasn't
no letters in it.
The canvas must've held
some air inside so it floated.
Makes you wonder.
Nice looking boy
like that.
Somebody stuffing him
into a mail sack.
Let's go, Ray.
You know,
I can't help thinking.
He was just a boy,
like Mark.
Yeah.
Just a boy.
Would you like
some coffee, Ray?
I could use something
a little stronger,
if you have it.
I hate to wake her.
This way.
Well, you'd better
take over from here.
I'll go put up
your horse.
[]
I'm not going to
apologize for that.
I didn't expect you to.
[]
I'll get your drink.
No, never mind.
I'd better be going.
You're afraid of something,
aren't you?
Everybody is.
I mean of getting involved.
Is that what's
worrying you?
Maybe.
Don't let it bother you.
It wouldn't do either of us
any good, Ellen. Believe me.
Good night.
Give me a bottle.
Your gun, mister.
My gun, why?
We got a new sheriff in town,
so we got a new set of rules.
Reed.
Ain't you going to say hello
to your friend, Mr. Williams?
I didn't even hear him.
He must have tiptoed in.
Why, he looks like a very
quiet man, Mr. Williams.
Most of the time.
They say that's
the kind to look out for.
Do you think
he forgot how to talk?
Oh, no. No, Purdy,
he's just the quiet type.
[ALL CHUCKLING]
Why he's one of the
quietest men I've ever seen.
You can almost
hear him being quiet.
He wasn't so quiet
at that dance.
Maybe he's just
quiet in saloons.
Is that right,
mister?
Well, maybe he's just quiet
when he's not wearing his gun.
Williams, why don't you
put your monkeys
back in their cages?
Mister, I think you made
a mistake coming to this town.
You made a mistake
at the dance
and you made your biggest
mistake coming in here.
I didn't come here to get
rousted by you and your men.
I came in here
to get a drink.
REED: Well, maybe I'll
have to have one with you.
Don't you touch my whiskey
unless I invite you.
You just invited yourself
a lot of trouble, quiet man.
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[PIANO NOTES PLAYING]
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[PANTING]
PURDY: Guns, Charlie.
[JIM PANTING]
This town's sure no place
for you now, mister.
[]
Hello, Kincaid.
Hello, sheriff.
I'm trying to get
an identification on a body
that was found
in the river.
Maybe you know him?
No, I saw him
earlier
when I was taking
your sister home.
I didn't know him.
Just about my age.
Dead.
You smoke?
No, thanks.
Mark,
why don't you let Williams
have his fence?
It's nice of you
to see Ellen home.
Ray.
You backed me against
Williams.
Was that just to
get the job?
I thought
it was.
You ever married, Kincaid?
No.
I never knew a woman
I felt that way about.
I do.
Well, you could've
fooled me.
What do you mean?
I thought you were
the kind of man that,
well, if you felt that way
about a girl you'd marry her.
Would you?
Sure I would.
Even though you might make
a widow out of her any day?
Tomorrow,
for instance?
Look, I'm no expert
when it comes to women
but I saw that girl's face
when she looked at you.
She'll marry you or she'll
never marry anybody.
Are you trying
to tell me
I should ask her to
marry me now? Tonight?
That's what
I'm trying to tell you.
Don't you realize I might be
killed in the morning?
Anybody can be killed.
Any day.
Anybody is me.
Any day
is tomorrow.
If it isn't Williams,
it could be somebody else.
The posters on this man
you're looking for
are coming in on the train
in the morning.
He might be right
here in town.
He might have to kill you
if he wants to stay alive.
Williams is the only
one I'm worried about.
If it isn't Williams, it
could be the other fellow.
It could be
a poisonous snake.
What you got to do is make up
your mind to do something
and then go do it.
No matter
what the situation is.
I couldn't
ask her.
All right,
then don't.
Do you really think
it's right, Ray?
I'm sure of it, kid.
Come with me.
No, you don't need me.
I need a best man.
Go get somebody else.
One of your friends.
No, please.
All right.
And before God
and this company,
I now pronounce
you man and wife.
You're supposed
to kiss me now.
I know.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
God bless you.
Thank you.
Oh, Janet.
Mark, I'm so glad.
MARK:
Me too, sis.
Oh, no.
No tears.
Janet.
Goodbye, Ray.
Good night.
[]
ELLEN: Ray.
I wanna thank you.
For what?
For talking Mark
into getting married.
Oh.
Well, I just hope
they'll be happy.
Ellen, I've been wondering.
If you do leave here,
where will you go?
San Francisco,
I think.
The chances are I might be
getting up that way
myself someday.
I'd like that.
Goodbye, Ellen.
Until San Francisco?
When I'm gone, you'll
find out things about me.
Maybe.
But it doesn't matter.
I don't care
what you've been.
I think you'd try to believe
that but it would matter.
It might be all
right at times
but other times
I'd touch you
and you'd want
to pull away.
Maybe.
But not right now.
[]
[BELL TOLLING]
Oh, uh, Mark, that body
that came down
the river last night,
nobody's been able
to identify it
and don't look like
nobody will either.
Then you and Mel
better bury him.
Right. Oh, and Mark,
you'd better take it
easy today.
[]
Williams said he'd have
that fence back up by 9:00.
I imagine
he will have.
Then I'll come down from
the pass and cut it again.
That'll leave me
at the pass alone.
That's right.
MARK: Train will be
due in 10 minutes.
I'll go into town after
I check the fence.
I wanna pick up
those posters.
Yeah,
you do that.
Then we'll all know
who we're looking for.
I, uh...
I never did thank you.
If it wasn't for you,
I wouldn't be married.
As long as
you're thanking me
and not blaming me,
you're welcome.
Congratulations.
Well, it's a strange
and wonderful thing,
having a wife.
I hope I live long enough
to have a family.
You could be sure of that
if you'd hang up that gun
and quit playing sheriff.
This is my job right now
and I'll wear this gun
until it's over.
The way things are going
I doubt if you're going
to make it
but if you live through
the next few weeks
without somebody
shooting your head off
you're going to
be a lawyer.
You might even be trying
to free some man
you put in jail
the week before.
Innocent or guilty, I want
a man to have a chance.
What if those two men
you're looking for
came through here
right now?
What kind of justice
would they get?
A fair trial.
A better chance than
they've given others.
They've got to make
their own chance.
Anyway they can get at it.
Nobody can take us by surprise
coming through here.
Nothing is a surprise
if it comes from
where you're looking.
A good man with a gun could
shoot his way through here.
Be free as a bird.
I man like that can
never be free, Ray.
You may understand
some people.
But you don't
understand them all.
What if I told you these
two men you're looking for
were split up some
place along the line?
And I was
one of them.
I'd say it didn't fit.
You could have just about
anything you wanted
without stealing it.
You don't say.
I know what
you're up to, Ray.
You're trying to take
my mind off my other problem,
that fence.
But it won't work.
[]
[TRAIN APPROACHING]
I better get going.
If I'm not back,
somebody will be along
to relieve you.
All right.
Aren't you gonna
wish me luck?
Sure.
Good luck.
Thanks.
[]
Mark!
Do you know
how to use a gun?
I wouldn't wear it
if I didn't.
I don't mean on buzzards
and rattlesnake.
I mean on a man.
Have you ever shot a man?
No.
You're gonna
have to now.
Well, that's up to
Reed Williams.
I know men
like Williams
and I'm telling you
he's not bluffing.
You cut that fence
and he'll gun you.
Maybe right then, maybe on
the road back to town.
Maybe tonight or tomorrow
or next week but he'll do it.
That leaves you
only one way out.
Now don't tell me again to
leave that fence alone.
I won't.
You're too stubborn for that.
But I'll give you
some good advice.
Don't let Williams set
the time and the place.
You go after him.
Hunt him down
and force him to it.
But get him
and get him first.
Don't wait around
for a fair fight,
just get him
any way you can.
I couldn't do that.
That's the only way
you've got a prayer.
If you have to cut that
fence, go all the way.
I have to cut it
and you know it.
Yeah, I know it.
Dumb punk kid.
[]
What about the fence?
Somebody ought to go fix it.
Forget it.
Purdy is doing it.
[COWS MOOING]
Now, hold it, Riley.
You stay
out of this, Purdy.
This is something between
Reed Williams and me.
I work for Reed
and his business
is my business.
Besides, I just spent
a lot of time fixing this.
Sorry.
Hold it, Riley.
Now, I got no big
yen to kill you
but I will, so help me.
You take one step more
and this thing is going off.
You put that
gun away, Purdy.
[PURDY GROANING]
Sounded like it came
from the fence, Reed.
Get moving.
[]
[PURDY GROANING]
MARK: I told you
to stay out of this.
Don't thank me.
It was no trouble at all.
Look, he wouldn't
have shot me.
You don't think so,
huh?
Give me those.
I'll cut him loose.
Look, now, you're supposed
to be guarding the pass.
Those were your orders.
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
Your train ought to
be about pulling in.
You'd better get going.
Get those posters.
When you're through,
get back to the pass.
Sure.
Thanks.
Now take it easy.
[GROANS]
Kincaid, you look like
a man with too much sense
to get mixed up
in this.
Aah!
Shut up.
[]
[WHINNIES]
[]
[GUNFIRE]
PURDY:
He's on the roof.
[]
[GROANING]
[SPURS JANGLING]
Burton!
Better go up there.
[GUN CLICKS]
Purdy!
Purdy!
[PLAYER PIANO PLAYING
UPBEAT MUSIC]
[MUSIC SLOWS THEN STOPS]
[PANTING]
[GUNSHOT]
[PANTING]
He's alive, Ellen.
He's the man we're
after, all right.
He's Larsen.
You might say
he's the same man.
Then again
you might not.
Get him into the buggy
and be careful with him.
[]
Take my horse.
I'll drive this.
All right.
All right?
What will they
do to him, Mark?
I don't know.
But I'll be in court to
tell them what he did here.
We'd never
have found him.
He could have been a free man.
Free as a bird.
[]
[BELL CLANGING]
[]
[TRAIN HORN BLARES]
[]
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
[BELL CLANGING]
We'll be in Porter
for a few minutes.
Want some air, Jim?
Why don't you get off
without me?
Heh, I'd be lonely.
I don't mind hunting a man
down when he needs hunting.
Kind of like it, in fact.
Don't like this part
of my job, though.
Locking a man
away from the land.
Even if his name's,
Jim Larson.
Nothing personal
about it, huh?
That's right.
Nothing personal.
Don't worry
too much about it.
It'll give me some time
to think things over.
What sort of things,
for instance?
Banks, for instance.
We'd get you again.
No.
You only got me this time
because I was fool enough
to work with a partner.
By myself, you never even
came close and you know it.
You want some advice?
No.
You got five to 10 years.
Use that time to smarten up.
Yeah.
Maybe I can smarten up enough
to figure a way to break out.
There're a lot more
permanent places, like graves.
There must be a lot of other
things a man like you can do
and do well.
And live real good?
Good enough.
Better than this.
Got a match?
Yeah.
[]
Give me the key.
Get away from the door.
You're only making this...
Give me the key.
All right.
JIM:
Hurry it up.
I'll be seeing you.
Danny!
What are you doing here?
Jim!
I came to help.
I don't need your help.
Can't you see that?
Now get out of here.
Go on, beat it.
Jim, I've got horses.
[BLARING]
All right, come on.
[]
[WHINNIES]
[BOTH GROAN]
Can you make it?
Sure.
[]
Whoa.
Here, let me look at it.
Well, that's great.
Just great.
I could use a doctor,
I guess.
Yeah, keep it covered.
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
We're going back
to riding trains, Danny.
We can't do that.
They must've telegraphed
every railroad station.
You're not gonna make it far
on horseback.
I can try.
Yeah. You'd try anything.
We're brothers, Jim.
Yeah.
That makes everything fine?
If we get caught, just tell
everybody we're brothers.
I don't feel good.
Don't chew at me.
Jim, I'm sure sorry
how this turned out.
Don't feel sorry, kid.
Don't ever feel sorry.
It's like poison to a man.
We'll try to make
the freight car.
Come on. Hyah!
Hyah!
You never did have too much
sense when we were kids.
Now look at you.
Do you hurt bad?
Something awful.
I've never been
scared like this.
Jim, you think I'm gonna die?
No, don't talk like that.
That's not the worst
bullet hole I've ever seen.
I might've killed
that deputy.
Yeah. You just might've.
If I did?
I got you mixed up
in a murder.
You never were before,
were you, Jim?
A murder? No.
A couple of killings, yes,
but ones I couldn't help.
It was either me or him.
None of them were lawmen.
I should've
stayed out of it.
You'd have gotten clean
away, probably.
Even if they'd
caught you again,
it'd still only be
a jail sentence.
You're in more trouble now
than you were before.
You're in a trouble,
yourself.
Oh, it's my own fault.
[SIGHS]
Guess I haven't
changed much.
Still what you used
to call me.
A dumb punk kid.
Well, I've seen brighter.
DANNY: Some dumb
things you just gotta do
sometime, Jim.
Nobody's gotta do
what you did.
I didn't ask for your help.
I never asked
anything from anybody.
You, Ma, Old Man, nobody.
I never gave
anything to anybody, either.
That's the way it's
always been between me
and everybody.
Here.
I brought you some
clothes, Jim.
And some money.
Not much.
That's Pa's old suits.
I never did get around
to getting rid of his
clothes after he died.
It ought to fit you
pretty good.
Yeah.
The old man's suit.
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
You know, Danny,
long as I can think back,
I can never remember
Ma having a dress
that cost more than
3 or 4 dollars.
This suit must have cost
the old man 50 bucks, anyway.
He always managed
to have enough money for him.
No point in hating Pa now.
No.
I learned a lot
from the old man.
How the world's put together,
how to take it apart.
How to reach out and grab
what you want from it.
Ma didn't mind
the way he was.
No.
Where'd it get her?
Old and tired.
Dead before her time.
I never really knew before
why you run off the day
after she died.
I used to ask Pa.
He never would say.
Now I know.
I had me to take care of.
That's all anybody's got.
Except now I got you.
I'm sorry, Jim.
What did I tell you
about being sorry?
Now let me try to think
a way out of this.
DANNY:
Think out loud, Jim.
Call me names if you want.
It's a lot...
It's a lot easier hearing
you talking than being quiet.
All right.
Now we're heading
due north this way.
The tracks dead end
in a town called Tangle Blue.
It's a pretty fair sized town.
I've been there.
There are only three ways
in or out of the town.
One's the railroad.
The other's this pass
heading east.
The only other way out
is this pass going west.
About three miles before
we get into Tangle Blue
we go through an old
abandoned mining village.
We'll drop off the train there
and we'll hole up.
I'll sneak into town and try
to get a doctor out to you.
After we get
you patched up,
we'll get ahold
of some horses and...
Danny.
[]
Danny.
I didn't ask you to help me.
I never asked anybody.
Dumb punk kid.
[]
[HORN BLARING]
Best I can bury you, Danny.
I'm sorry.
[WATER SPLASHES]
So long, boy.
[]
[INAUDIBLE]
Well, here we are.
Goodbye, Grandpa.
Goodbye, honey.
Have a nice trip.
Goodbye, Alice.
Goodbye.
[TRAIN HORN BLARES]
JIM: Do you mind if I sit down
here, little lady?
No, I don't.
Thank you.
I'm going all the way home
to Tangle Blue alone.
Well, that's quite a trip.
Oh, I travel a great deal.
I have ever since
I was a child.
Is that so?
I'm 13, you know.
Well, that's a nice age to be.
Don't you think I look
a little young for 13?
No, not especially.
Actually,
I'm 6 and three-quarters.
You don't say.
Yes. Everyone thinks
I'm a great deal older.
I wish I was.
Six is a very awkward age
and 7 isn't much better.
What's your name?
Uh, Kincaid. Ray Kincaid.
You know what, Mr. Kincaid?
You need a shave.
Yes, I know.
You don't live
in Tangle Blue.
Yeah, that's right.
I know everybody there.
And you don't work in
the mines over at
Enterprise either
unless you're an inspector.
Well, that depends on
what you mean by an inspector.
My grandpa calls them
blasted company men.
Your, uh, Grandpa Bailey?
Yes, he's the only grandpa
I've got left.
I've been visiting him
and Grandma in Enterprise.
He's retired now.
Used to be a mine foreman.
Oh, sure.
Now, let's see.
What was his first name again?
Joshua. Joshua Robert Bailey.
That's right. Josh Bailey.
Nice man, your grandpa,
even if he doesn't
like us company men.
Do you know him?
Oh, I think everybody
in the mining business
knows Josh Bailey.
[TRAIN BRAKES SCREECH]
Pull up, Johnson.
Pull up, Johnson.
Whoa, boy.
It's my Uncle Mark.
He's sheriff.
He's talking
to the engineer.
You know what,
Mr. Kincaid?
I'll bet he's looking for
somebody on this very train.
A robber or something.
Oh, I wouldn't say that.
Never can tell.
He'd be crazy to get
on the train. Any train.
You're probably right,
but I wanna check it anyway.
You're gonna
make me late.
I'm sorry.
Don't worry, nothing's wrong,
folks. Just relax.
Could I ask your name,
mister?
Morgan. What's going on?
Any identification?
I think so.
Here.
I can't see them.
They must be
on the other side now.
Hi, George.
Who are they looking for?
Hello, Alice.
Did you have a nice trip?
Yes, thank you.
George, who is it?
That's a secret.
I'll tell you later, Alice.
May I ask your
name, mister?
Kincaid. Ray Kincaid.
Any identification?
Yeah, I think so.
He's a mine inspector.
Enterprise mines?
That's right.
Oh, I think I've got my papers
here in the bedroll.
Grandpa calls him
a blasted company man.
[CHUCKLES]
Ooh, that's all right,
Mr. Kincaid.
We're not after mine
inspectors this trip.
See you later, Alice.
Goodbye, George.
GEORGE: Goodbye.
[]
ALICE: Hi, Uncle Mark.
Hi, honey.
See you in a little while.
Nothing but baggage
in there, Mark.
All right, Mr. Johnson,
take her away.
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
Al, you and Mel stay
by the cut and keep
your eyes open.
I'll get some grub
and bedrolls out
to you before dark.
George, you ride
back with me.
Hey, George, this way.
Something else
I wanna look into first.
I told Reed Williams that
fence had to be down by today.
Williams won't take that fence
down ever, and you know it.
It looks like
I'll have to do it for him.
Mark, you're looking
for a lot of trouble.
That's public land
Williams has fenced in.
That means anybody's entitled
to use it. Not just him.
All right, come on.
[BELL CLANGING]
There she is.
Hello, sweetheart.
It's good to see you.
Hi, Mother.
This is Mr. Kincaid from
the Enterprise company.
He's been very
nice to me.
How do you do, Mr. Kincaid?
How do you do, Mrs. Bailey?
Mighty nice little girl
you've got here.
Thank you. Thank you
for looking after her.
No thanks needed.
Well, goodbye, Alice.
That's the nicest train ride
I've had in a long time.
Goodbye, Mrs. Bailey.
It's nice to have met you.
We have a buggy, Mr. Kincaid.
Can we drop you somewhere?
Thank you, but I've been
sitting a while.
I think I'd like to
stretch my legs a little.
Thank you, anyway.
Awfully nice for
a blasted company man.
Handsome too.
[]
Williams.
Hello, sheriff.
How are things with you?
Your fence is still up.
I knew there was something
I forgot to do.
Well, it'll just
have to wait.
MARK:
For how long?
I don't know.
Five or 10 years,
maybe.
[CHUCKLES]
Well, that fence
comes down today,
one way or another.
You just run along,
Mark.
Mr. Williams and me have
got work to do. Now beat it.
For the last time,
Williams...
I told you we're busy.
You're under arrest.
I'll take your gun.
You just try that, kid.
No, no, you know
better than that.
Do what the sheriff said.
Huh?
Give him your gun.
I'm surprised at you,
Graham.
You can't go around
insulting officers of the law
without being
punished for it.
Now you run along to jail,
and don't make
any more trouble.
Tell the sheriff
you're sorry.
Well, now, I'm downright
sorry, sheriff.
Uh, I reckon I just lost
my head. That's all.
[LAUGHING]
[]
Drop your roll, mister.
Be with you in a minute.
There you are, sir.
Ah.
Well, see you
later, Jake.
JAKE:
All right, Ben.
Well, how have you been
keeping yourself, Jake?
Fine, fine, heh.
You don't remember me,
do you?
Why, uh...
Yes, of course,
I remember you, heh.
Uh, let me see. You're uh...
You're, uh...
Kincaid. Ray Kincaid.
That's it, heh.
Kincaid. I remember.
Well, what will it be,
Kincaid?
Just take the whiskers
off, Jake.
And leave a little
blood inside me this time.
Oh, ho, ho. I never cut a man
yet, and you know it.
Come on now, Jake.
You almost cut
my chin off last October.
You know, Jake,
it's sign of old age
when your memory starts
to rot like that.
My memory's just as
good as ever, heh.
Last October, huh?
Yeah.
I remember Ben Caldwell
and another fella came
into my place
just about closing time.
That wasn't you, was it?
Yeah, that was me, Jake.
I thought so, heh.
Yeah, but it was
Ben I cut, not you,
and it wasn't my fault,
either.
No, sir.
Ben was so drunk
he couldn't sit up straight.
Heh. That's right.
Yes, I remember
you and Ben all right, heh.
You were having
yourself a real time.
That was all right as long
as old Mason was sheriff.
But since he died, they've got
Mark Riley under the badge.
He's the young one,
isn't he?
Yeah, he's just a kid.
Filling out old Mason's term,
but he didn't ask for the job.
The people put it on him.
All he wants to do is
just study his law books,
and that's what he goes by.
Same as most folks
go by the Bible.
He stopped the train about
three miles out of town.
Do you know
what he's looking for?
Oh, some fellow
on his way to prison.
A friend of his got on,
and they pulled
an escape at Porter.
Killed the deputy.
Killed him, huh?
That's what came
over the telegraph.
There's a real
manhunt going on.
All over the area.
We'll have the reward
posters here tomorrow morning.
Posters?
Yep.
There's something coming over
about a fellow called Larsen.
Be on tomorrow's train.
We'll have his face
all over town.
I'm gonna put
one up myself right here.
[]
Yes, sir?
Howdy.
I want to buy a horse.
I got several for sale.
Depending on how far you
want to ride and how hard.
Well, I need a good one.
Uh-huh.
How much
for the bay here?
Well, I've got some
that are cheaper.
Don't you wanna
sell this one?
Well, I don't know.
I sort of grown to like him.
How much do you want for him,
including the tack?
Forty-five dollars, sir,
including everything.
Well, that's a little
steep for me right now.
How much for the sorrel here?
Twenty-five dollars.
All right.
I'll take him.
Uh, now why don't you
take the bay here?
You can owe me
the difference.
Well, why would you
wanna do that?
Because you look
at a horse fine, and, uh,
well, I think
you'd be kind to him.
Wait a minute.
I'll get the gear.
I understand that the sheriff
is offering $5 a day
for extra deputies.
To look for
those two killers.
You might get yourself
a week's work.
Don't worry, I'll see that you
get the rest of your money.
And thanks for
letting me owe it to you.
There you are.
Thank you.
Hello, Mr. Kincaid.
What can I do for you?
Hello, Mrs. Bailey.
Your girl didn't tell me
you had a store.
I don't.
I only work here.
Oh.
I'm a widow.
Oh, I see. I'm sorry.
Now, can I help you?
Yes, I need some clothes.
We don't carry anything
as nice as the suit
you're wearing.
No, I need
some work clothes.
Oh.
I'll need a jacket.
A shirt and these
trousers ought to do.
Well, this looks like
it might fit.
You can try them on
in there if you like.
Oh, thanks.
Ellen, you've got
to tell your brother
to stop being such a fool
about that fence of mine.
He's only trying
to do his job.
That fence protects
my land.
It's been my land
for more than 20 years.
But the law says
that the land belongs...
The law's wrong.
That's not for
you to decide.
I've decided
just the same.
Nobody's going to take my
land away from me, Ellen.
I'll kill the man
who tries.
You'd kill Mark?
REED:
If I have to.
I like Mark. I don't
want to see him dead.
Will you talk to him?
He won't listen to me.
That's it, then.
Reed, please.
There's nothing more
to be said. I'm sorry.
[]
Well, these will do fine.
How much for the clothes?
Five dollars.
And I'll need a gun.
Help yourself.
They scare me.
I guess they scare
everybody a little.
That's part
of the general idea.
Now, how much for the,
uh, gun and the belt?
Eighteen dollars.
I need some shells. Better
give me a couple of boxes.
It's a dollar
and half each.
Now, what does
that come to altogether?
Um, $26.
Twenty-five, 26.
Thank you.
You look different.
Bigger.
Well, maybe it's the gun.
They make
anybody look bigger.
Perhaps that's it.
I don't care much for
guns myself, Mrs. Bailey.
Not many men do but, well,
they're kind of necessary.
Why?
Why?
Yes, why are
they necessary?
Well, uh, I'm gonna
be traveling for
the next few weeks and...
Well, I'll need
a gun for food.
Whatever I eat,
I'm gonna have to shoot.
You're going away?
Yes.
Give my regards to your
daughter, Mrs. Bailey.
I envy you.
I wish I could go away.
I will too, someday.
Goodbye.
[]
Howdy.
Sorry, mister,
but we got orders
not to let anyone we don't
know go through the pass.
No, don't tell me that.
What's happened?
There's a couple of escaped
killers loose in the area.
Well, what do you know.
You know something,
it's taken me 10 years
to get up enough nerve
to quit my job.
I was gonna head out to Sonora
and the gold country.
I would have
to pick today, heh.
What kind of job
you walking away from?
Oh, I'm an inspector over
at Enterprise. Name's Kincaid.
Don't sound like
such a terrible job to me.
Oh, the job's not so bad.
It's just dull, that's all.
You know,
a man gets kind of tired
of being called a blasted
company man all the time, heh.
[CHUCKLES]
How long do you think it'll be
before I can get through?
When those posters get in
on the train in the morning
then we'll know for sure
who to let through
and who not
to let through.
By that time, I'll probably
change my mind again.
You get to thinking about
those three square meals a day
and that paycheck every month.
Heh, makes a man kind of soft.
Let's let him through.
First company man I ever met
talked like a human being.
Mm. No, we'd
better not.
Mark hears about it,
we'll be looking for jobs
two minutes later.
Yeah, you're right.
Sorry, Kincaid.
Ah, another 24 hours
ain't so much
and Sonora
will still be there.
Keep your nerve up.
I'll try. So long.
[]
Like some coffee?
No, thanks.
[]
Good morning, sheriff.
MARK: Morning.
My name's Kincaid.
What can I do for you?
The stableman tells me
you could use a spare deputy.
Uh, Deputy Allison,
Mr. Kincaid.
Oh, yeah. We met on
the train this morning.
Planning to stay
in town for a while?
No, not for long.
I see you bought the bay
from Old Jackson.
JIM:
Yeah.
Mighty good trail horse
for a man who needs one.
Yeah, I rode him out a way
this morning. He's all right.
What makes you
wanna be a deputy?
I could use the money.
There, um, wouldn't be
anything personal about it,
would there?
I mean, like, you, uh,
knew the deputy who
was killed at Porter?
No, there's nothing
personal about it.
Jake just told me he was dead.
That's all I know.
Jake?
JIM: The barber.
The truth of the matter is,
sheriff, I'm just about broke.
A horse and new gun,
hard on the bankroll.
Yeah, heh.
As Allison here
can tell you,
I've been working
for the Enterprise company.
I've decided I'd had
my fill of that
so I was starting
out for Sonora today.
But you've got
the pass closed and...
I just thought maybe
I could make myself useful
and earn a little eating money
at the same time.
Well, I didn't mean
to needle you, Kincaid,
but I don't like my men
to have personal reasons
about things like this.
A job's done because
the law says it has
to be done.
JIM: Well, hello.
Hello, Kincaid.
You getting anywhere?
Well, it's hard to tell.
MARK: You two know each other?
It's a short acquaintance.
We met out on the pass
when I thought I was
heading for Sonora.
Well, sheriff,
can you use me?
I won't know
until tonight.
I'll check with you then.
There's a dance
at the town hall.
I have to be there.
Expecting trouble?
Well, only from my girl
if I don't take her.
I'll see my deputies there.
Find out if they'll
be working.
Why don't you drop by?
Well, maybe I'll go dance.
See you tonight, sheriff.
Fine.
Did he give you
any trouble at the pass?
No.
Said he finally got up
gumption enough
to leave Enterprise
and he wanted to ride out
before he lost his nerve.
I felt kind of
sorry for him.
He doesn't look much
like a man you have
to feel sorry for.
[PLAYING SOFT MUSIC]
Hi, Mr. Kincaid.
Hello, Alice.
Nice to see you again.
I almost didn't recognize you
in those clothes.
I'm glad you did.
That's a pretty dress
you're wearing.
Thank you.
Mother made it.
[CHUCKLES]
Evening,
Mrs. Bailey.
Good evening.
Don't she look pretty,
Mr. Kincaid?
I mean, doesn't
she look pretty?
She certainly does.
You'll dance with him,
won't you?
Run along, Alice,
and find the other children.
Oh, Mother.
Go on, now, Alice.
Will I see you later?
I hope so, Alice.
I, uh, imagined you'd be out
in the hills somewhere by now
shooting your supper.
I changed my mind
for a while.
I didn't think I was
going to see you again either.
I don't usually come
to these dances
but my brother insisted.
He just wants you
to have a good time.
I suppose that's part of it,
but I think he'd like it
if I met another man
and became interested in him.
He worries about me.
Well, that's natural enough.
I took care of him
when he was little.
Now that he's grown up
he thinks he has
to look after me.
But he doesn't.
Nobody does.
I had a kid brother once
who thought he had
to look after me.
Had?
Yeah, he died
a while back.
I'm sorry.
[PEOPLE CLAMORING]
I didn't mean
to keep you.
Perhaps you'd like to join
your friends from Enterprise.
From Enterprise?
You're not keeping me
at all, Mrs. Bailey.
As a matter of fact, I was
about to ask you to dance.
Thank you, and it's Ellen.
All right, and I'm Ray.
[PLAYING SOFT MUSIC]
Enjoying yourself, Kincaid?
Fine, Jake.
Why didn't you
leave today, Ray?
Oh, I just couldn't
seem to get started.
I've heard men say that
the first part of the journey
is often the hardest.
Yeah, I guess it is.
Why is that?
Oh, I don't know.
Different reasons.
Is it ever
because you're afraid
to start out
from one place to another,
to try to change something
even if it's bad?
That could be it.
In the store today,
you said you envied me.
Going away, I mean.
This doesn't seem
to be such a bad place.
It is for me.
Too many memories, maybe.
Maybe.
Too much trouble.
Well, there's always trouble,
everywhere for some.
For you?
I've had my share.
There's your brother
over there.
I came here to talk to him.
You didn't tell me
you knew Mark.
I just didn't get
around to it, I guess.
I see you're playing
politics, Kincaid.
I'm not going
to be influenced
because you're dancing
with my sister.
Janet, Mr. Kincaid.
Miss Hawthorne.
How do you do?
Miss Hawthorne.
Any word for me,
sheriff?
I'm sorry. I'm afraid
I won't need you, Kincaid.
I was counting on it.
What were you
counting on, Ray?
On picking up a few
extra dollars as deputy.
Seems he used all his cash
buying a horse and a gun.
Well, something else
will come up.
Thanks for the dance,
Mrs. Bailey.
Riley.
Somebody outside
wants to see you.
I'll be in my office
at 6 in the morning.
Someone wants
to see you right now.
Are you coming out
or you want him coming in?
I hate to intrude
on your fun, Mark.
I know you don't get time
for much of it.
I manage to keep busy.
You didn't happen
to busy yourself
around my land this
afternoon, did you?
That's not your land.
You're mistaken,
sheriff.
It's been my land
for 20 years, and it's
gonna stay my land.
Well, that's public
grazing ground.
Nobody has a right
to put a fence around it.
Nobody has the right to cut
the fence I put around it.
I do because
I wear this badge.
And as long as I'm sheriff,
I'm going to do it the way
the law's laid out.
That fence will be up again
at 9 tomorrow morning
and I mean to have it
stay that way.
The law says that land
belongs to everyone.
It's not yours
to take from them.
If it were,
I'd fight for you.
If that fence is cut again,
I'm holding you
personally responsible.
Then I guess
you'll have to
because I'm the one
who has to cut it again.
Riley, if I have to kill you
I don't much care
whether it's tomorrow
or now.
You can save us both time
by starting the trouble now.
I've no cause for trouble
until that fence is up again.
And I'm telling you
it'll be up tomorrow.
Then whatever happens
will happen tomorrow.
Good night.
Riley.
A man insults me when he
turns his back and walks away.
We're not waiting for
tomorrow, you and me.
The sheriff said
tomorrow, Williams.
There's a dance going
on in there.
A lot of people enjoying
themselves, having fun.
You wouldn't want to spoil
it for them, would you?
Mister, you're butting in
on something
that doesn't concern you.
Either you're extra good with
that gun or you're bluffing.
All you gotta do
is figure out which it is.
You're pretty
worked up now, Reed.
Why don't you go home
and think this thing out?
You can't win no matter
what you do to me.
And no man is important enough
to walk wherever he wants.
He's bound to run into
something that'll stop him.
Why don't you get
along now, Williams?
If that fence
is cut again, Riley,
I swear I'll kill you.
And if you're still eager
to back him up, mister,
you'll be more than welcome.
Mark, Reed meant
what he said.
A man can't take what
they want with guns anymore.
Reed knows it too.
You're wrong, Mark.
You're wrong.
I know you believe
what you're saying,
but it isn't true.
Janet, you know
how I feel.
Men can take
what they want with guns.
Men like Reed Williams.
You can't stop him.
I can try.
And you can die trying.
Is that what you want?
Mr. Kincaid,
please tell him.
I don't know what to say.
Except you got more than
just yourself to think about.
I know that.
I didn't ask
for any of this.
What's the use
of having anyone?
You try to belong
and then a mine caves in
or a gun goes off.
What's the use?
I'm going home.
MARK:
She doesn't understand,
she doesn't even try to.
And neither do you.
She loves you.
I love you.
What neither of us
can understand
is why that doesn't mean
something to you.
Janet, let's go back
to the dance.
No. Just take me home,
please. Please.
All right.
Oh, Kincaid.
I owe you something.
If you still
want that job,
be at my office
at 6 in the morning.
I'll be there. Thanks.
Hello, there.
Mr. Kincaid.
Mr. Kincaid, are you
coming home with us?
I thought I might see that you
get there, if you don't mind.
That's very nice
of you.
Did you and Mother
dance together?
Yeah, for a while.
[]
She's had a busy day.
Haven't we all?
That was quite a thing
you did, Ray,
and I want to thank you.
Why did you do it?
Oh, for obvious reasons.
I wanted that deputy job
and I got it.
Any other reasons?
No, not really.
I don't believe you.
Why should I lie?
I don't know,
but you are lying.
No man would risk his life
just to get a $5 a day job.
You're good, Ray.
With a gun?
Enough.
No, I didn't mean that.
I mean
you're a good man.
I don't know
why you try to hide it.
Let's not talk about me,
if you don't mind.
All right.
[]
What is it, Mr. Eakins?
Evening, Ellen.
Is that Mark with you?
ELLEN:
No.
What's wrong?
Nothing you'd want to see,
Ellen. Where's Mark?
He's still at the dance
as far as I know.
Sam, ride in and get Mark.
Somebody hurt over there?
Worse than that.
My kids was
walking along the bank
and they seen this
bundle bobbing along
and fished it out.
Bundle?
Yeah, a mail sack.
Only there wasn't
no letters in it.
The canvas must've held
some air inside so it floated.
Makes you wonder.
Nice looking boy
like that.
Somebody stuffing him
into a mail sack.
Let's go, Ray.
You know,
I can't help thinking.
He was just a boy,
like Mark.
Yeah.
Just a boy.
Would you like
some coffee, Ray?
I could use something
a little stronger,
if you have it.
I hate to wake her.
This way.
Well, you'd better
take over from here.
I'll go put up
your horse.
[]
I'm not going to
apologize for that.
I didn't expect you to.
[]
I'll get your drink.
No, never mind.
I'd better be going.
You're afraid of something,
aren't you?
Everybody is.
I mean of getting involved.
Is that what's
worrying you?
Maybe.
Don't let it bother you.
It wouldn't do either of us
any good, Ellen. Believe me.
Good night.
Give me a bottle.
Your gun, mister.
My gun, why?
We got a new sheriff in town,
so we got a new set of rules.
Reed.
Ain't you going to say hello
to your friend, Mr. Williams?
I didn't even hear him.
He must have tiptoed in.
Why, he looks like a very
quiet man, Mr. Williams.
Most of the time.
They say that's
the kind to look out for.
Do you think
he forgot how to talk?
Oh, no. No, Purdy,
he's just the quiet type.
[ALL CHUCKLING]
Why he's one of the
quietest men I've ever seen.
You can almost
hear him being quiet.
He wasn't so quiet
at that dance.
Maybe he's just
quiet in saloons.
Is that right,
mister?
Well, maybe he's just quiet
when he's not wearing his gun.
Williams, why don't you
put your monkeys
back in their cages?
Mister, I think you made
a mistake coming to this town.
You made a mistake
at the dance
and you made your biggest
mistake coming in here.
I didn't come here to get
rousted by you and your men.
I came in here
to get a drink.
REED: Well, maybe I'll
have to have one with you.
Don't you touch my whiskey
unless I invite you.
You just invited yourself
a lot of trouble, quiet man.
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[PIANO NOTES PLAYING]
[BOTH GRUNTING]
[PANTING]
PURDY: Guns, Charlie.
[JIM PANTING]
This town's sure no place
for you now, mister.
[]
Hello, Kincaid.
Hello, sheriff.
I'm trying to get
an identification on a body
that was found
in the river.
Maybe you know him?
No, I saw him
earlier
when I was taking
your sister home.
I didn't know him.
Just about my age.
Dead.
You smoke?
No, thanks.
Mark,
why don't you let Williams
have his fence?
It's nice of you
to see Ellen home.
Ray.
You backed me against
Williams.
Was that just to
get the job?
I thought
it was.
You ever married, Kincaid?
No.
I never knew a woman
I felt that way about.
I do.
Well, you could've
fooled me.
What do you mean?
I thought you were
the kind of man that,
well, if you felt that way
about a girl you'd marry her.
Would you?
Sure I would.
Even though you might make
a widow out of her any day?
Tomorrow,
for instance?
Look, I'm no expert
when it comes to women
but I saw that girl's face
when she looked at you.
She'll marry you or she'll
never marry anybody.
Are you trying
to tell me
I should ask her to
marry me now? Tonight?
That's what
I'm trying to tell you.
Don't you realize I might be
killed in the morning?
Anybody can be killed.
Any day.
Anybody is me.
Any day
is tomorrow.
If it isn't Williams,
it could be somebody else.
The posters on this man
you're looking for
are coming in on the train
in the morning.
He might be right
here in town.
He might have to kill you
if he wants to stay alive.
Williams is the only
one I'm worried about.
If it isn't Williams, it
could be the other fellow.
It could be
a poisonous snake.
What you got to do is make up
your mind to do something
and then go do it.
No matter
what the situation is.
I couldn't
ask her.
All right,
then don't.
Do you really think
it's right, Ray?
I'm sure of it, kid.
Come with me.
No, you don't need me.
I need a best man.
Go get somebody else.
One of your friends.
No, please.
All right.
And before God
and this company,
I now pronounce
you man and wife.
You're supposed
to kiss me now.
I know.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
God bless you.
Thank you.
Oh, Janet.
Mark, I'm so glad.
MARK:
Me too, sis.
Oh, no.
No tears.
Janet.
Goodbye, Ray.
Good night.
[]
ELLEN: Ray.
I wanna thank you.
For what?
For talking Mark
into getting married.
Oh.
Well, I just hope
they'll be happy.
Ellen, I've been wondering.
If you do leave here,
where will you go?
San Francisco,
I think.
The chances are I might be
getting up that way
myself someday.
I'd like that.
Goodbye, Ellen.
Until San Francisco?
When I'm gone, you'll
find out things about me.
Maybe.
But it doesn't matter.
I don't care
what you've been.
I think you'd try to believe
that but it would matter.
It might be all
right at times
but other times
I'd touch you
and you'd want
to pull away.
Maybe.
But not right now.
[]
[BELL TOLLING]
Oh, uh, Mark, that body
that came down
the river last night,
nobody's been able
to identify it
and don't look like
nobody will either.
Then you and Mel
better bury him.
Right. Oh, and Mark,
you'd better take it
easy today.
[]
Williams said he'd have
that fence back up by 9:00.
I imagine
he will have.
Then I'll come down from
the pass and cut it again.
That'll leave me
at the pass alone.
That's right.
MARK: Train will be
due in 10 minutes.
I'll go into town after
I check the fence.
I wanna pick up
those posters.
Yeah,
you do that.
Then we'll all know
who we're looking for.
I, uh...
I never did thank you.
If it wasn't for you,
I wouldn't be married.
As long as
you're thanking me
and not blaming me,
you're welcome.
Congratulations.
Well, it's a strange
and wonderful thing,
having a wife.
I hope I live long enough
to have a family.
You could be sure of that
if you'd hang up that gun
and quit playing sheriff.
This is my job right now
and I'll wear this gun
until it's over.
The way things are going
I doubt if you're going
to make it
but if you live through
the next few weeks
without somebody
shooting your head off
you're going to
be a lawyer.
You might even be trying
to free some man
you put in jail
the week before.
Innocent or guilty, I want
a man to have a chance.
What if those two men
you're looking for
came through here
right now?
What kind of justice
would they get?
A fair trial.
A better chance than
they've given others.
They've got to make
their own chance.
Anyway they can get at it.
Nobody can take us by surprise
coming through here.
Nothing is a surprise
if it comes from
where you're looking.
A good man with a gun could
shoot his way through here.
Be free as a bird.
I man like that can
never be free, Ray.
You may understand
some people.
But you don't
understand them all.
What if I told you these
two men you're looking for
were split up some
place along the line?
And I was
one of them.
I'd say it didn't fit.
You could have just about
anything you wanted
without stealing it.
You don't say.
I know what
you're up to, Ray.
You're trying to take
my mind off my other problem,
that fence.
But it won't work.
[]
[TRAIN APPROACHING]
I better get going.
If I'm not back,
somebody will be along
to relieve you.
All right.
Aren't you gonna
wish me luck?
Sure.
Good luck.
Thanks.
[]
Mark!
Do you know
how to use a gun?
I wouldn't wear it
if I didn't.
I don't mean on buzzards
and rattlesnake.
I mean on a man.
Have you ever shot a man?
No.
You're gonna
have to now.
Well, that's up to
Reed Williams.
I know men
like Williams
and I'm telling you
he's not bluffing.
You cut that fence
and he'll gun you.
Maybe right then, maybe on
the road back to town.
Maybe tonight or tomorrow
or next week but he'll do it.
That leaves you
only one way out.
Now don't tell me again to
leave that fence alone.
I won't.
You're too stubborn for that.
But I'll give you
some good advice.
Don't let Williams set
the time and the place.
You go after him.
Hunt him down
and force him to it.
But get him
and get him first.
Don't wait around
for a fair fight,
just get him
any way you can.
I couldn't do that.
That's the only way
you've got a prayer.
If you have to cut that
fence, go all the way.
I have to cut it
and you know it.
Yeah, I know it.
Dumb punk kid.
[]
What about the fence?
Somebody ought to go fix it.
Forget it.
Purdy is doing it.
[COWS MOOING]
Now, hold it, Riley.
You stay
out of this, Purdy.
This is something between
Reed Williams and me.
I work for Reed
and his business
is my business.
Besides, I just spent
a lot of time fixing this.
Sorry.
Hold it, Riley.
Now, I got no big
yen to kill you
but I will, so help me.
You take one step more
and this thing is going off.
You put that
gun away, Purdy.
[PURDY GROANING]
Sounded like it came
from the fence, Reed.
Get moving.
[]
[PURDY GROANING]
MARK: I told you
to stay out of this.
Don't thank me.
It was no trouble at all.
Look, he wouldn't
have shot me.
You don't think so,
huh?
Give me those.
I'll cut him loose.
Look, now, you're supposed
to be guarding the pass.
Those were your orders.
[TRAIN HORN BLARING]
Your train ought to
be about pulling in.
You'd better get going.
Get those posters.
When you're through,
get back to the pass.
Sure.
Thanks.
Now take it easy.
[GROANS]
Kincaid, you look like
a man with too much sense
to get mixed up
in this.
Aah!
Shut up.
[]
[WHINNIES]
[]
[GUNFIRE]
PURDY:
He's on the roof.
[]
[GROANING]
[SPURS JANGLING]
Burton!
Better go up there.
[GUN CLICKS]
Purdy!
Purdy!
[PLAYER PIANO PLAYING
UPBEAT MUSIC]
[MUSIC SLOWS THEN STOPS]
[PANTING]
[GUNSHOT]
[PANTING]
He's alive, Ellen.
He's the man we're
after, all right.
He's Larsen.
You might say
he's the same man.
Then again
you might not.
Get him into the buggy
and be careful with him.
[]
Take my horse.
I'll drive this.
All right.
All right?
What will they
do to him, Mark?
I don't know.
But I'll be in court to
tell them what he did here.
We'd never
have found him.
He could have been a free man.
Free as a bird.
[]