The Jack Bull (1999) Movie Script

1
Come on, boys!
Let's go!
Look at them, Cage.
Ready to bust loose!
Pretty soon
they'll be jumping fences.
Tomorrow we'll let them run,
not today.
Little rustle in the air, boys.
Time to get inside.
Ain't they something, Billy?
Have you ever seen horses like them?
Not quite.
Come on! Get inside!
Let's get into town and out
before this hits.
Jacob, how's the missus?
Glad to see you.
Fellas, Mr. Ballard.
Howdy.
My God!
Looks like half the association
has shown up.
We appreciate it, gentlemen.
Mr. Ballard,
we're going to win this fight.
Thank you.
Good luck to you, Ballard,
cutting Carey Sartin off from water.
You just bought that tract
to spite him.
Morgan! Pete! All of you.
You didn't need it.
Hope it makes you feel good.
You saying a man can't buy land
when he wants to?
I'm saying Carey's hard-working.
I think you've gone a little bit
too far this time, Ballard.
Now, come on, Shelby.
Let's be friends.
Nobody wants
that old rock garden of yours anyway.
Be friends.
Come on.
Kermit Dover! Get out of here.
- Excuse me.
- On a sweet Sunday...
when I ought to be home resting
my poor old bones...
and you making a fuss
over a petition for statehood.
- Where did you get this idea?
- It's in from Cheyenne.
- All official, Henry.
- Who says it's official?
Judge Wilkins has seen it.
That good enough for you?
There's a delegation coming in
from Washington in a month...
to make Cheyenne the capital city.
- Look who signed up, Slater.
- Hunter Jarvis.
- Big and bold like John Hancock.
- That Slater Morrison...
looks like sideways on alcohol.
Now you suppose he just forgot
the good turn we done him...
when he got flooded out last spring
and the bank said "No"?
Hunter! I need to remind you
of something, Hunter!
Hunter has gone.
He probably heard I was going
to come and reason with him.
What do you think about that, Ollie?
Look like a three-dollar bill to me,
Mr. Ballard.
Myrl, how about you?
You're a smart young man
with a future. Where do you stand?
Statehood ain't worth fussing over.
- Cora, let me help you.
- Thank you.
- Is that so?
- It's going to happen.
No matter what.
Next year, five years from now.
I wouldn't waste your sweet Sunday
worrying about it...
- wait it out is my thought.
- And the vermin will sweep in...
like a grass fire.
The only people I see around here
are hard working.
Eye sores and riff-raff.
You talking about me?
What do you say, Cora?
Do I look like an eyesore?
No, Sirree. You're a handsome man
and my sweetheart forever.
Smart little lady.
Honey, Cage is waiting for us.
We got to get moving.
Hey, you're a horse trader?
You pull your weight in town,
unlike some other folks.
But I don't need
no strangers from Cheyenne...
come in and tell me
who I got to neighbor with...
where to put my road, my fence,
tell me what's mine and what ain't.
I founded Rawlins.
I made it.
I thought Indian traders
and trappers come here first.
I put my roots and my law down here,
boy, when you was still just a pup.
I got a wife and two sons
in the ground.
Now, your being new
to the territory...
maybe you ought to plant your feet
and take a stand.
Well, to say the truth...
I wasn't going to sign
the petition for statehood.
I didn't think it was that important.
But since you put my character
to the test...
you hand me that paper you got there,
Kermit, and a pencil?
Sure.
- There you go.
- I'm a free man like you, Ballard.
I can say "yes," and I can say "no".
I say "yes" to statehood.
I bought a lot of horses
from you, boy.
From now on, maybe you ought to try
to sell them in Cheyenne...
if you can get there.
Doesn't matter one way or the other
where I sell them, Mr. Ballard.
I give you the same fair price
I give everybody.
Now, if you've got some other stand
you'd like me to take...
I'd be more than glad
to accommodate you.
Let's go, Myrl.
Will you please? Let's go.
Good afternoon.
Thanks, Myrl.
See you, Myrl.
Bye, Cora.
You didn't sell no horses today.
I said what was true.
You don't always have to say
what's true.
I'll do better
at the auction in Casper.
That man's sure
got a bug up his twirl.
He's running for something, isn't he?
You showed him up in front of town.
He ain't going to forget that.
He'll get over it.
Come on, boys!
Right over here.
I know how you feel.
But that's the way it is
with the horse trade, Cage.
You grow to love
the animals you raise.
But there comes a time
when you got to sell them.
I need cash to run the farm,
pay wages, you know?
That's the way it is.
You got it. That's the way it is.
But be happy with
what you and Billy did.
These are beautiful stallions,
beautiful horse flesh.
You're going to make
Clay Williams happy...
and we're going to earn a profit
to buy the land we need.
- Right?
- Yeah.
Okay.
Come on. Let's load them up now.
You see that dog?
You wash him, or I'll sell him too.
Safe trip.
Be back in a few weeks,
sooner if the weather holds.
- Take care of your mama, Cage.
- Sure, Pa.
- Surprise me with a present, Myrl.
- Like what?
Like...
some nice soap,
maybe something sweet, and...
a bicycle!
And some of those fancy bloomers
from the Sears Roebuck catalog!
And Otis elevator like they have
at the world's fair in Paris.
- And don't forget lamp oil!
- What?
- Don't forget lamp oil!
- Lamp oil!
Otis elevator.
Come on now. Step up.
- Step up, young boy.
- Here we go, step up.
Hey, Myrl! Has Woody always been
a dusty old cuss?
As far as I know.
See, Billy, I was thinking
when I get to Casper...
I just might grab me a bath.
Come on, now, step up.
Here we go.
Step up now. Come on!
Straight on through.
Come on, now. Step up!
On time, straight on through.
Step up!
Come on, get on up there!
How you figure that, Myrl?
Come on!
Good-looking fence you got, Slater.
What's it for?
Keep rustlers out, Mister.
I didn't know Ballard
owned this land.
Yeah, I just bought a new parcel.
It's all official. Papers and all.
Cost you ten dollars to come through.
Ten dollars?
- Yes, Sir.
- This pass is closed, Mr. Redding.
- You ought not go too far, Ballard.
- How's that?
Putting up a fence and charging.
Well, rustlers like to slip in,
pick off strays.
I get the fence, all right,
but what about the ten dollars?
- Keeps the riff-raff out.
- You're making trouble, is all.
Look, I got no cause
with you horse traders.
You come and go as you like.
Where are you headed?
Casper, for the auction.
Mind if I take a look
at what you got?
Looking's free.
- How much for these blacks?
- They're sold.
Little knot-headed, but put a pistol
to my head, I'd give you fifty each.
- What do you think, Ollie?
- We need work horses.
Yeah, we do. And since you ain't
heard the new rules until now...
I'd be willing to let you
come and go two...
No, three times
for one of them blacks.
No sale.
Then it'll cost you
ten dollars to pass, Pay Slater.
I ain't got ten dollars to give
cause I got to pay for food...
- and lodging in Casper.
- Then go around.
I go around and the auction is over
before I get there!
That ain't my doing. Ten dollars.
I near forgot.
You're going to need a permit.
You got to have one.
Got to be official.
I must have crossed here 50 times
without a permit.
Where am I supposed to get a permit?
Well, you can see Judge Wilkins
in Rawlins...
or you could get one in Casper.
Yeah, Elmo Whitaker in Casper.
He'll write you one up.
You know Elmo, don't you?
I'll give you five now and the rest
when I come back. Good enough?
How do we know
you're coming back this way?
Because I said I would.
Maybe the horse dealer
could put up some security.
Now, that is a good thought, Ollie.
You know...
I try to be a reasonable man.
I'll go along with you.
Just leave the two blacks
and pick them up on your way back.
Take it or leave it.
I ain't got all day.
Billy, cut the blacks off the string
and leave them.
Don't leave the stallions here, Myrl.
You can put up the roans
if you have to.
The blacks is promised
to Clay Williams.
Leave them...
or go the long way around.
- Don't do it, Myrl.
- I ain't got no choice.
I ain't got the money,
and the auction's in a week.
You stay with them, Billy.
We'll pick you up on the way back.
- I ain't feeding no Crow.
- No, he got to sleep in the barn.
Take what you need
from the pack horse.
Been a real pleasure doing business
with you, Mr. Reddings.
Let them through, Slater.
- Son of a bitch!
- Hey, come on, now!
Let's turn this thing over
and get this out of the way.
Mr. Reddings has got to come through.
No way. He's gone too far.
Pretty soon we'll be going around
the Rio Grande to get to Casper.
- I mean, if he thinks...
- Hey, Myrl?
What?
You know, there ain't no use
paying attention to that old man.
- What do you make of all of this?
- Like a church with no roof.
Got the Almighty
bragging His head off.
Yeah. What do you figure He's saying?
Remember who did this.
Don't get to big for your britches.
I guess.
Fair enough.
Now at 71, 80. Look at this.
Now 80. Now 90.
And now 200 dollars.
Howdy, Browder.
- Myrl.
- Seen Elmo Whitaker?
He's over there somewheres.
- What do you say, partner?
- Woody!
- Good to see you.
- Good to see you.
Here we go, there it is.
- Yes, indeed.
- Yes!
- Where's the stallions?
- Henry Ballard got them.
I thought Myrl promised them
to Clay Williams.
Ballard's holding onto them
as security until Mryl pays him...
a toll for crossing his property.
I heard about that gate.
Ballard's crazy
trying something like that.
- Yeah. Myrl's pretty angry about it.
- I don't blame him.
Say, Browder, you...
you ever hear tell of one of them
English dogs...
one of them
Jack Russell Terrier dogs?
- Can't say I have.
- Well, they say...
if you get them riled up enough
and they sink their teeth into you...
well, now you're just going to have
to saw their jaw apart...
before they let go.
And that right there is
Myrl Redding right about now.
A man with a bull head
and a Jack Russell jaw.
Quite a sight. I'll see you, partner.
- Come on!
- See you later.
I got him at twenty, now five...
- He told you to see me?
- That's what he said.
He's fucking the dog on you, Myrl.
There ain't no such thing
as a pass for a pass.
He owns the land, alright.
He's been buying land
like it's going out of style.
But I don't know
what this permit crap is all about.
Including that parcel
around the pass?
And he can do what he wants
with the land?
Unless the Governor steps in,
that's a long wiggle down the road.
- How's business, Elmo?
- Pretty good.
Cheating the hell out of them,
are you?
Only them that tries to cheat me.
Take care.
At 25 now, one at 70.
A 50 now, 60, 70.
Now at 70, now 80.
One hundred,
two hundred and fifty.
- That's it, and I got mine.
- Okay.
- What will I tell Clay Williams?
- Tell him I'll be back in spring.
I'll have the horses for him
if he still wants them.
- He still wants them, all right.
- Tell him I mean to keep my word.
- All right.
- Pleasure doing business with you.
Have a safe trip.
- Take care, Woody.
- Browder.
Ma'am, do you realize that
you are bidding against your husband?
"My foot's in the stirrup"
"My bridle in my hand"
"Good-bye, old Sue"
"I'm leaving Cheyenne"
"Good-bye, Old Paint"
"I'm leaving Cheyenne"
Slater!
Slater!
I come for my horses, Slater.
- You owe me five dollars!
- Pay him.
Billy!
Billy!
- Where are they?
- They're around.
Billy! They ain't in here, Slater!
I said they're around!
Woody, check the corral.
Billy!
Easy, now. Easy.
Easy now, boys.
Bastards.
Easy, now, boy. Easy.
Easy, easy.
It's going to be all right.
It's okay, all right.
It's all right.
Easy now, boy.
Easy now, boy.
Come on. It's okay.
Come on.
It's okay.
Oh, Christ.
It's okay.
Slater! Come out here, boy.
I want to talk to you!
Those are not my horses!
What did you do to my horses?
- What did you do to my horses?
- I didn't do nothing!
Why don't you ask your Crow?
I will when I find him. Where is he?
Jesus, I don't know.
He was making trouble!
They have sores on them!
Tied to a pig sty!
Cause your Crow took off!
I can't take care of them by myself.
You've been working them
in the field, Slater.
What's the trouble here?
Listen, I should have
put the dogs on him, boss!
What did you do to my animals?
He's bitching about me
working his horses too much.
He says they ain't his.
Maybe he wants you to buy them.
- I wouldn't sell you a coyote!
- Did you get his five dollars?
- Yeah, he's paid up.
- Then get your horses and git.
I can't move them
cause they can't walk.
And I ain't going to injure them
any more!
I left you with well-fed
and healthy horses, Ballard.
And I want them back that way!
- Them is all you're going to get.
- These are not my horses!
I don't even recognize them!
You got two weeks
to put them back into condition.
Two weeks, two years.
I ain't going to condition nothing.
Two weeks, old man!
You got something
you want to say to me?
Yeah.
I'm tired of your statehooding mouth.
In your spitting image, Ballard.
Healthy and fat!
Git!
Myrl.
Where's Billy?
- He's inside.
- Where is he?
He's in the kitchen.
- Billy.
- Myrl, sorry about the horses.
- What happened?
- Slater...
- Slater run me off.
- Why?
Long as I was there
he couldn't work the blacks to death.
I told him they were young
and they'd never been in harness.
He tied them to a pig sty in the mud.
Wouldn't take the harness off.
After a week, they were filthy.
And one day I came out,
he had them hooked up to a log pull!
Come on, now!
- For Christ's sake!
- What the hell is going on here?
Then that old Slater and Ollie,
they beat me.
Then they set them dogs on me.
They might have killed me
if I'd went back there.
You did right, leaving.
Why don't you let Billy eat?
I ought to kill them.
Boy.
- What?
- Why don't you let Billy eat?
Yeah.
Rest easy.
Damn it!
What are you going to do?
Get my horses back
the way I left them.
And damages for Billy.
Ballard ain't going to do that
cause you tell him to...
and pay Billy to boot.
He'd be the laughing stock
of Rawlins.
You're setting yourself up
for a fall, Myrl.
Ballard ain't going to do
what you want him to. He just won't.
Yes, he will.
You got chores to do, boy?
- Yes, Sir.
- Then get to them!
I don't know, Myrl.
Ballard's got a lot of friends.
I want to know
what the law says I can do.
Well, you could sue him.
- Then I want to sue him.
- It's not as simple as that.
Why not?
Well, you got to figure on things
like how much it's going to cost you.
- Can you win?
- I don't care what it costs.
Myrl, you go up against Ballard
in this town...
you're going to go
through Judge Wilkins.
Now, Wilkins has got shares
in Ballard's cattle association.
I want my horses back
in the condition I left them!
And damages for Billy!
Do you want to handle it?
Jesus, Myrl.
You're asking Wilkins to rule for you
against Ballard...
in an Injun against the white man?
I believe that God is to man
as man is to animal.
You treat them with respect.
You set dogs on a man,
you pay for it.
Now, the law upholds these ideas.
And I mean to see
the law has its day.
- Do you want to handle it?
- I'm trying to tell you...
something here, if you'll listen.
- You're wasting your money!
- Yes or no?
I'll file if you want me to file.
It will cost you
20 dollars in advance.
- Twenty dollars?
- In advance.
Half now and the rest
when I see what you come up with.
Now, you file it.
Sure.
Two boxes. Here we go, Myrl.
It's good having you back.
I think you paid up last time,
so we're going to start fresh.
- Okay.
- Mr. Redding!
You got two swaybacks
stinking up Mr. Ballard's stable.
I'd appreciate it if you would
pick them up real soon, you hear?
Otherwise, we're liken to...
chop them up for slop or something.
All right, Slater.
You want to take it on
back to the room?
Kermit, next time Ballard
or one of his fools comes in...
tell them the law
will take care of Ballard.
And if the law
don't take care of him...
I'm going to take care of him.
One way or the other,
there's going to be justice.
I will have it.
Ballard himself is going to feed
and groom my stallions...
make them shiny and beautiful,
just like I left them.
And no matter what it costs me,
that's going to happen...
sure as sunshine.
Will you tell Mr. Ballard that
if you see him?
Hear me. I speak the truth!
And poker as usual
at my place Tuesday night.
- I appreciate the help, Judge.
- You're welcome.
Judge! Judge Wilkins!
I was just coming up to see you!
I don't have time for you today,
Rayborn. Come around next week.
We're waiting on your decision,
Judge!
It's been a couple of weeks now.
It's been a couple of weeks now,
Judge.
My client's getting awful nervous
about this.
Sit down, Rayborn.
You make me nervous.
Yes, Sir, Judge.
I'm just waiting
for your decision, Judge.
I...
I hope the petition
was in proper legal form.
The way a justice of your integrity
is used to seeing.
Nothing special. It was okay.
You talked this petition over
with Redding?
- Yes, Sir.
- Seems like a pissy-ant fuss to me.
Redding wants to file that suit,
or is that your idea?
Well, no. I give him counsel
to the contrary, Judge.
His mind's made up.
Tell him to take his horses home
and forget it.
Well, you see, my client views them
as prize stallions, Judge.
"Prize" is in the mind, Counselor.
Ballard don't want them,
so what's Redding going to do?
- Leave them there?
- Well, it's like the charges says...
- I know what the charges say.
- Yes, Sir.
Foolishness,
prideful foolishness is what this is.
If I was you,
I'd talk sense into him.
I got five towns to cover, Counselor,
and you bring me this?
I don't have time for a hearing.
Fifty dollars for Billy Redwood?
A Crow? Jesus H.
Yeah, well, I give him honest,
realistic counsel on that.
You did?
He wants it filed.
Just... just wondering
when you want a hearing. That's all.
Well, you don't have to decide
right now.
Just when you get a chance.
Ain't going to be one.
I'm throwing the case out.
Lack of evidence.
I advise you to tell Redding
to pick up his horses...
- and get on with his life.
- Yes, Sir, Judge.
And I advise you to pick your clients
more carefully...
if you want to do business
in this town.
Yes, Sir.
You're hauling shit up a mountain,
Rayborn.
Careful, it don't spill on you.
Shit up a mountain. Thank you, Sir.
Hey, Myrl.
Word is Ballard's still working
them horses out in the field.
Where did you hear that?
Mac Turnerage coming through Casper.
Says he saw them.
Thought they were yours.
Maybe not, though.
Just take him longer
to put them back into shape.
Well, there ain't nothing more
I can do, Myrl.
Except, maybe...
Billy, leave the room, would you?
I want to say something private.
Anything you got to say to me,
you can say in front of Billy.
Well, word I get is Ballard
wants to do business with you.
He wants to settle with you
on the horses.
- But he won't pay Billy.
- Why not?
- Billy give him trouble and run off.
- Billy didn't run off!
Ballard's fools run him off!
- The suit stands the way it's writ.
- Well...
Then he won't settle with you.
It's going to be a stand-off.
Not to my mind.
Well, what else you going to do?
Whatever it takes.
- Cage, you want more stew?
- Please.
Are we ever going to get
our horses back?
I don't know, Cage.
Now, you sleep tight.
You let me worry about it.
I'm going to Cheyenne
to see the Governor...
before any of this happens.
You know, or whoever runs the law.
If that don't work...
I'm thinking about it.
- Doing it all over again, ain't you?
- Don't you know me?
Know there's no way I can let a man
do what that man did.
- That it's not possible.
- I know you.
If people are going to kick me,
I'd rather be a dog than a man, Cora.
So if justice is to be done...
don't deny me
the freedom I need to get it!
No! This is not just about you
and what you think is right.
I'm a part of you and so is Cage.
- We just get thrown in? Is that it?
- Cora, please, keep your voice down.
- Cage is listening.
- I'm not saying...
you shouldn't go after Ballard,
but...
you're doing exactly
what he wants you to do...
to scare people away.
Let me try something, Myrl.
My way.
If, if it don't work,
then you do what you have to do.
- I'll stand with you no matter what.
- What are you talking about, Cora?
You know I'm better at politicking
than you are.
Let me go to Cheyenne for us.
I know the Attorney General's wife.
Judith Metcalfe.
I met her at the Statehood Rally
last year in Casper.
I spent the whole afternoon with her.
She will get the petition
to her husband.
That will be the end of it.
You get the horses back
the way you want them...
and something for Billy.
- Cora, this is not your fight.
- It is my fight! It's my family!
Look out that window.
If you don't stay here
and fix the barn...
we're going to be living
hand to mouth before you know it.
I've been praying for a miracle.
So there would be peace
between Ballard and me.
But nothing comes back.
No answers, no ways to go, nothing.
I'm your miracle.
I'm what you prayed for.
What sort of woman is she,
the Attorney General's wife?
- She's a fine woman.
- And her husband?
I'm sure her husband is fair.
I don't know, Cora.
What you're asking...
The truth is, I got a terrible fear
if you go off chasing Ballard...
I'll never see you again.
You're getting sassy
with your old man...
is what I'm hearing.
You better watch that.
So it's all decided.
I'll be back in two weeks.
I'll take Woody with me.
I'll see the Attorney General.
And I'll get the lamp oil
you always forget.
Two weeks is a long time.
Nothing like a little separation
to make the heart grow fonder.
Also, I'm smarter than you
when it comes to politicking.
Or did I say that?
Yeah, I think you mentioned that one.
You're a miracle, all right.
- Take care of my bride, Woody.
- You bet, boss.
If I meet a handsome cowboy,
I may go right on to Philadelphia!
Well, if you do, send Woody back.
I need him for the roofing.
Wouldn't be jealous, would you?
No.
Better come back, hurry up,
lose my man.
Get down off of there, son.
Cage, kiss your mother
and get off there.
Cage, go on, now. Get out of here.
Go on, now.
You working on that barn.
Bye, boys.
Come on, come on.
That's right, folks.
Come on in and see it all!
Haul it in before you let go!
Push it up again!
Cora, I'm going to go
over the blacksmith.
- All right.
- I'll come find you.
I'll be here.
These are the original documents
in the case?
Excuse me a moment.
Mr. Crawford, you're next!
Now, okay, I will take these
under consideration...
for the Attorney General.
You are Mr. Wakefield,
is that correct?
You might want to take a seat.
We'll get to you as soon as we can.
- Look.
- Well, he started to...
He started to go off to the one side
as we came up over the last hill.
Hey, I think, we got to go visit
an old neighbor of ours.
- Mr. Metcalfe, please.
- Do you have an appointment?
No, I don't.
All these folks have appointments,
Ma'am.
You need to write ahead
so we can give you a time.
Mrs. Lipton, you're next!
I come from Rawlins
to see Mr. Metcalfe.
Do you think you could make
an exception in my case?
This week is out of the question.
He's across town
with the statehood people.
Judith Metcalfe said
anytime I was in Cheyenne...
to come look her up.
Sorry. There's nothing I can do.
My name is Cora Redding,
from Rawlins.
My husband is Myrl Redding,
the horse dealer.
- Maybe you know him.
- No, Ma'am, I surely don't.
Well, Mrs. Metcalfe does.
And she would want to know
that I'm in Cheyenne.
So, could you please see
that she gets this?
I'm staying at the Wainwright Hotel.
It's important
that she get this message.
Thank you, Captain.
No end of them.
Yes?
Boy, we rode that up a little way,
didn't we?
You okay there, Hoss?
Hey! Hey, get the hell out of here!
Woody!
Someone get a doctor!
She's still breathing.
Cora?
- Call Doctor Patterson.
- What happened?
- She got run over.
- Who is she?
Her name is Cora Redding,
from Rawlins.
She come here to see
the Attorney General.
Well, Sir, I am the Attorney General.
She come here...
to give you this.
- Handsome woman.
- Okay.
Crazy bastards out there!
It hurts awful, Woody.
I know.
I'm sorry I let you down, Cora.
I'm so sorry.
Don't let me die here.
No. You ain't going to die.
I ain't going to let you die.
We got to go home.
Hang on, and go home.
Everything's going to be okay now.
The Attorney General
got Myrl's petition.
Everything's going to be okay now.
This petition doesn't belong here.
It's under, send it to Wilkins,
Judge Wilkins in Rawlins.
Yes, Sir.
- Private!
- Yes, Sir.
Put that in the pouch to Rawlins.
Hey, everybody! Mama's coming!
Hey, yeah! Look at that!
Right on time!
I swear your mother clocks
better than Union Pacific, Cage.
What happened to my wife?
Cora...
Cora...
What happened?
I'm so sorry I wasn't there for her.
I'm so sorry.
I should never have left her.
- It's all right.
- I'm so sorry.
You weren't looking for trouble.
I'm so sorry.
"Be, be praised, my Lord, for those
who forgive through Your love...
and bear sickness and tribulation."
"Blessed are those
who endure in peace...
for they will be crowned
by You, Most High."
"Be praised, my Lord,
for our sister, bodily death...
from whom
no living thing can escape."
"Blessed are those
whom she finds doing Your holy will."
"For the second death
cannot harm them."
Ante up. Nickel ante, Mr. Ballard.
Five card draw.
Then what happened, Ollie?
Woody started it.
He said I smelled like pig slop.
I stroked him a good one.
It would have pleasured me
to have been there to see that.
You take my advice,
you steer clear of Redding.
Sent his own woman to Cheyenne
to beg for him.
What kind of man
would do a thing like that?
Keep buying as we been doing.
And next year, there'll be nothing
but pasture from here to Landers.
No way they can stop us,
even with statehood.
- Quarter to you, Mr. Ballard.
- Keep the land rolling in.
That's the ticket.
Calm everybody down.
That means you, Ollie.
You and Slater.
Good things are happening.
We don't need trouble.
Is that a quarter to me or the judge?
- Your quarter.
- A quarter to you, Judge.
Another one?
Shelby!
How are you?
Shelby, this is your change.
I know you been wanting to expand.
- You want to sell out?
- Maybe.
After all you put into it?
Yeah, I'm interested, Myrl.
I'd be a fool not to, but I got to...
I got to think about it.
You come on me all of a sudden.
The whole lot. You seen this,
so you know what I'm talking about.
- I know it's prime, all right.
- The whole lot.
Give me a hand.
All right, Hattie.
- You're serious?
- I got Rayborn...
working up the papers now.
You been a good neighbor, Shelby.
I want to give you first crack.
You're talking the whole spread?
And what's on it.
Well, I got to tell you up front.
I don't have a need
for all them horses.
No, the horses
ain't part of the deal.
I got plans for the horses.
So what we're talking
is the price of the land.
And what's on it.
I come up with three dollars an acre.
Three dollars an acre?
That's a fair price, Myrl.
You bet, that's awful good.
As long as you understand.
Cash on signing.
Why are you doing this, Myrl?
I mean, you got water.
You got one of the finest tracts
of land in Rawlins.
I mean, if it's all
because of Ballard, hell.
I mean, that land is your future.
There are bigger things than land.
I'll help you out.
- You want a cup of coffee?
- That would be nice.
- Myrl.
- Edsel.
- Hello, Mr. Rayborn.
- Cage.
- What did he say?
- Well...
Attorney General
sent your petition back.
I mean, he's awful sorry
about Cora and everything...
but he had to turn you down.
He says it's a local matter.
And it's up to Judge Wilkins
to decided.
That's the law, see,
and he's got to obey it.
Just like you.
What are you telling me?
Well, Wilkins already ruled, so...
that's it.
I...
I put in a lot of time on this, Myrl.
Have you?
Yeah.
- How much do I owe you?
- Twenty-five.
Plus what you already owe.
Hi, boys.
That's all I got.
I'll give you the rest later.
I won't be needing you anymore.
I'm awful sorry
about what happened to Cora.
That's an awful thing to happen.
Just awful.
The whole town's upset about it.
If there's anything I can do, just...
I wrote something I want you to read.
Tell me what you think.
"I, Myrl Redding, by authority
inborn in me as a free man..."
A free man
living in a free territory...
demand that Henry Ballard,
within 7 days of receiving this note.
Bring to my stables
the horses he took from me...
groom and fatten them
with your own hands...
to the condition I left them!
And to injuries
caused to Billy Redwood...
who did nothing to you
pay him 50 dollars!
It is signed Myrl Redding,
owner of the horses!
Let the law take care of it, Myrl.
There's no way Ballard's going to do
what you tell him to do...
just because you say so.
Yes, he will. And if he don't,
I got plans to convince him.
Anyone want to hear the particulars,
come to my spread at sundown...
and I'll spell it out for you.
I hold no man responsible
for the death of my wife, but me.
I let her go.
And I got to live with that
the rest of my life.
Judge Wilkins.
In a town where there is no law,
a man is obliged to make his own.
Isn't that the way it works
around here?
Wouldn't you say, Judge Wilkins?
Seven days.
Henry Ballard!
Come talk to me!
I'm delivering
a notice of law on you.
You got seven days to read it
and answer.
Seven days, and I'm coming for you.
I should have killed him.
Now, Shelby will deposit
the rest of the money in your name...
in the bank in Casper.
If I need any, I'll come to you.
But remember, it's your money.
Why can't I just go with you?
Well, I need you to stay here with
Mr. and Mrs. Dykes so I don't worry.
All I want is to go with you, Dad.
It's your job now to hold down
the fort until I get back.
I mean, somebody's got to take care
of the spread.
Now that's a big responsibility.
Do you understand?
Sure.
- Cage, do you understand?
- Wel, but all I want is to help you.
I know.
I know.
Hell, we all know it.
- Ballard's gone too far.
- Yes, he has.
Putting up a toll gate,
deciding who's to pay and who ain't.
If he can get away
with what he done to Myrl...
then he can do
whatever the hell he wants.
It's time we all woke up.
I know you're all real busy,
so I'll get right to the point.
I'm inviting you to ride with me
against Henry Ballard.
No. What Ballard did to Billy
and your horses sure was bad.
Now, I'd like to help.
But this ain't my quarrel.
You're right, Dewey.
It ain't your quarrel.
But there'll come a time
and this toll gate...
is just the start of things.
When Ballard decides to box you
in some more...
maybe take some of your land...
or cut you off from water
like he did Carey Sartin.
Then you'll come and say,
"Look here, Myrl.
Look what Ballard's doing.
I need your support."
And I could say to you,
"Dewey, it ain't my quarrel.
I run a horse farm.
I live over there. Two-hour ride."
But until statehood comes along,
all we got is Ballard's law!
That's right.
And there's no future in it!
And I did not come 1,500 miles
to tolerate that!
- I ain't looking for a shoot-out.
- Well, neither is Myrl.
- That's right.
- Overpowering them with numbers.
That's the idea.
Scare them into doing right.
Folks like you and me
coming after them.
- No bloodshed.
- What if he runs?
Let him.
We'll follow until we find him.
- How long's going to take, Myrl?
- Maybe a day, maybe two...
maybe longer. I don't care.
I'll provide the horses and grub.
- As long as it takes!
- That takes money, Myrl.
My spread's for sale.
Shelby and I worked out a deal.
Every man Jack of you
gets 15 dollars a month...
for as long as it takes
to bring that man in alive...
and working in these stables!
Myrl means business!
I'm for it.
I'm sick of Ballard beating us!
- I know men who'd ride against him.
- Bring them along.
Now, if you don't want to go,
it's okay with me.
I'm going after Ballard anyway.
And if you don't want to go
on principle, then go for money...
because I pay cash
on the barrel head.
He ain't coming.
Who's he going to come with?
Well, he's got Woody, and an Injun.
If he shows,
he goes home in a pine box.
Hey! Hey, hold up there!
Mr. Ballard! It's Redding,
and he's got a whole army with him!
He's got a hundred men with him,
Mr. Ballard. Get out of here! Go!
Get them up in the bunkhouse!
Tell them to get their guns on!
Hurry up!
Get the hell out of my way!
Git! Git!
Hey, get back! Get back here!
Get back here, you sons of bitches!
Where are you going?
Get on back there.
See? Nothing here.
Come on, son. Come on now!
Get up there. That will do.
- Anything?
- Nothing, Myrl.
- Slater and Ollie?
- They high-tailed it.
Any man who treats an animal
that way...
he don't deserve a stable.
Wouldn't you say, Billy?
Get the other animals out.
And burn it.
Straight on through.
- There you go.
- What have you done?
There you go, that will do.
Myrl.
Ballard's keep.
Ma'am, where's Ballard?
I don't know.
Cause of what your boss did,
my law's now the law.
If you hide him or help him
in any way, I'll burn you out.
Do you understand?
Whatever's done, mend it.
- Where's he going?
- I don't know.
Don't lie.
Maybe headed for Cheyenne.
That's a long haul.
He's got to stop somewhere,
doesn't he?
Please don't burn me out.
I've got nowhere else to go.
Maybe headed for Medicine Bow?
Medicine Bow?
Who does he know in Medicine Bow?
Tub Weller, his brother-in-law
owns a feed store there.
We leave for Medicine Bow tonight.
Let's go!
Who are they?
Ballard! Henry Ballard, you in there?
- Come out!
- Get off my property, Redding.
Check inside.
We ain't been introduced.
How come you know my name?
I don't want no trouble.
You been hiding a fugitive.
That's a crime according to my law.
- Where is he?
- Gone.
Where did he go?
I got nothing to do
with your grudge against Henry.
Where and when did he go?
Come on!
While you're thinking about it,
Billy, light me some fire.
I'll ask you one more time.
Where and when did he go?
You get the hell off my property,
Redding.
To back where you come from.
You're riding with Crow.
If I knew where he was,
I'd hide him to spite you!
Would you?
Burn him.
Come on!
Fire!
I'm looking for a man named
Henry Ballard. Do you know him?
Is there a printer around?
I got a job for him. I pay cash.
Pardon me, Ma'am.
Miss.
- You a printer?
- Yes, Sir.
I do print.
This is what I need printed.
Two-hundred copies.
How much?
- Ten dollars.
- I'll give you 15.
I need it right away.
- I'll see what I can do.
- Big, as big as you can make it.
Yes, sir.
Yes, that's what I do.
Big. Always.
As I said before, I'm looking
for a man named Henry Ballard...
who cheated me out of my horses,
injured them and beat up my man.
If you hide him or help him
in any way, I'll burn you out.
"I, Myrl Redding,
by authority inborn in me...
as a free man
living in a free territory...
demand that Henry Ballard within
7 days of receiving this notice...
bring to my stables
the horses he took from me."
"Groomed and fattened them
with your own hands in my stables."
"And to injuries
caused to Billy Redwood...
who did nothing to you,
pay him 50 dollars."
"It is signed Myrl Redding,
owner of the horses."
Yeah, he's over at the barber's.
Hey!
Hey! I need a room.
All right, men, let's mount up.
You better leave some men
at Redding's place, Sheriff.
Ballard ain't going there.
He went to
his brother-in-law's house.
If Redding finds Henry,
he's sure as hell coming back.
Maybe, but I ain't splitting my men.
I need all I got
if you expect me to get Redding.
Let's go, men.
Terrible situation, Judge.
I tried to control it
as best I could.
Just no turning him.
You know, he tried to pay me
for my work.
I wouldn't take his money.
No? There's a funny smell
around here.
Governor, I think
you should look at this.
Henry Ballard.
- Where is he?
- He was at the Wainwright Hotel.
He keeps moving.
Myrl Redding?
He's outside of town somewhere.
- Clear him out.
- I can't.
I've got a hundred men
on escort duty.
So go with what you've got.
And what I've got is ten men, Sir.
Redding's got 40, 50 guns and Crow.
Every out of work drifter in Cheyenne
is signing on with him.
- So I need at least a company.
- Great.
Just what we need.
With a statehood delegation
coming in from Washington.
What's the Attorney General doing
in all of this?
Mr. Metcalfe sent Redding's petition
back to Judge Wilkins.
And?
Well...
Wilkins kind of works for Ballard
is what it comes down to, Sir.
Got shares in his association.
I hear this is what caused
the trouble.
Ballard don't sing our song
on statehood.
I don't care where he stands.
He's entitled to protection
until the matter's cleared up.
Tell Metcalfe I want to see him
on Redding's petition.
Yes, Sir. It's a mess.
When do your troops get back?
Two, three days.
Find Ballard.
Tell him
we can't guarantee his safety.
Tell him he's on his own.
Tell him for his own good,
he ought to leave Cheyenne.
Is there anything you can do
to calm things down?
About the only way
to calm Redding down...
is to shoot him down.
Follow the Sheriff.
Let me know where he camps.
Wake up, Sheriff!
Strip him!
Now quit, Myrl.
You've gone too far.
Far enough is
when I get satisfaction, Sheriff.
No animal's worth what you're doing.
- In your opinion.
- Well, you're going to jail...
for torching Ballard's spread.
As long as he's in there with me.
You'll get these back
as soon as I find him.
You remember me, coward?
Remember me?
Damn!
You stinking savage!
Hey!
You all seen what happened.
Slater drew first.
And he was going to shoot Billy
in the back.
You all seen it, right, Sheriff?
Slater moved,
but Billy had the upper hand.
Slater drew first!
Right?
Slater moved first.
You all heard the Sheriff.
Don't forget what he said.
Damn it!
Ollie. Ollie, listen to me.
You got to get to Judge Wilkins.
Tell him that Redding shot Slater
and he burned down Ballard's barn.
Tell him to file charges.
Go on. Go on, get going.
I know.
When the statehood delegation
arrives...
we will all show them
the hospitality and friendliness...
that Wyoming people are known for.
Yeah.
We are not separate ranchers,
farmers and settlers...
of the Wyoming territory
but united today...
as citizens of the future
Great State of Wyoming!
Yeah!
Where's Ballard?
Apparently he's still holed up
in a hotel, Sir.
Refuses to leave town.
Do I have that correct, Colonel?
Yes. I posted two soldiers with him.
That's the best I could do.
It's just a matter of time
before Redding finds him.
- This has gone too far. Jail him.
- Who?
- Thanks for your support.
- Jail who, Governor?
- Ballard.
- On what charges?
Any charge you want.
Any charge he'll agree to.
Disturbing the peace.
See if he'll buy it.
If he wants protection,
jail is the safest place for him.
Thank you.
Colonel, find Redding and tell him
if he quits going after Ballard...
the Attorney General
will reopen his case.
I don't know, Governor.
People are upset.
The delegation arrives in two days.
- I want the streets clear.
- Yes, Sir.
Amnesty for what Redding's done
if he quits going after Ballard.
Put it on paper.
Colonel, find him and give it to him.
This is nonsense.
The Statehood of Wyoming
will not be held up...
by a piss fight over two horses
and a Crow Indian.
Understand me?
I want this settled now!
Do you understand?
Governor! Let's get a picture.
- You know the ladies.
- Yes, I do.
All right, smile, everybody!
Great!
Thank you for coming, everyone!
Let's go eat!
Billy!
Billy, come with me!
Woody, go on around.
We'll catch up later.
Git!
Hold your fire!
Hold your fire!
Hold your fire! Don't shoot!
Hold your fire!
Hold your fire!
Daisy.
Daisy.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
It's getting so I don't recognize
none of these guys anymore.
Yeah.
Hey.
I didn't think it out.
I should've known you'd draw fire
coming out of nowhere.
It was wrong to kill Slater
for what he did to us.
And I still can't believe
Cora's dead, Billy.
I keep hoping a miracle will happen
and she'll come back to life.
God forgive me for letting her go.
I'm coming after you anyway, old man.
I'm coming.
What day do you suppose it is?
I don't know.
Riders coming!
Governor wants to make a deal.
- I'm listening.
- You lay down your arms...
come in peaceably, he'll reopen
your case against Ballard.
You do this, and we'll drop
all charges against you.
- Where's Ballard?
- He's going to jail...
for disturbing the peace.
Maybe your boss don't read too good.
I don't want him in jail.
I want him working in my stables.
Well, that's something
I can't negotiate.
Governor promises
a hearing right away.
- And if I say no?
- Well, then I go after you.
With the army, and you lose.
Billy's part of this.
I got to talk it over with him.
They say they'll drop the charges
if we come in.
I don't trust them.
That's what they say.
Rivers are not to be trusted.
Neither are white man's armies.
It's a trick.
Maybe.
You decide for you.
And I'll decide for me.
Take care, my brother.
We'll see each other again.
Just not on this road.
- Good bye, little brother.
- Good bye, Billy.
Good bye.
Hold it!
Stop the work!
Take it outside, boys.
I got a hearing to run.
Hear you, hear you! The court
of the territory of Wyoming...
is now in session. The honorable
Joe B. Tolliver presiding.
- Judge, it is a real honor...
- This is a legal hearing.
And you will get your chance
to be heard when you are addressed.
Be seated, Redding and Ballard,
remain standing.
- Everybody take your seats.
- Raise your right hands.
Do you swear to tell the truth...
the whole truth and nothing
but the truth, so help you, God?
- Yes, Sir.
- Please be seated.
Are all the parties
in this dispute here?
All but Billy Redwood.
- Where is Billy Redwood?
- He left Cheyenne, Your Honor.
- He refused the offer of amnesty.
- Murdering bastard!
Keep your mouth shut! Or I will
have you jailed for contempt!
We'll get to the bottom of this
in two hours or less of my time.
Now, Mr. Redding,
this is your petition.
- Do you wish to change any of it?
- Is that the one from my wife?
- Yes.
- No.
Will you accept cash for the horses?
No. I accept what the words say.
Since Billy Redwood
has refused amnesty...
you may drop him from this petition.
The suit stands the way it's written,
Judge.
So be it.
Mr. Ballard, let's start with you.
What's your side of this mess?
Well, Your Honor,
this troublemaker Redding...
come on my land on his way to Casper
to sell some horses.
And I made a neighborly offer
that he could pass...
pay me 10 dollars.
Well, he had a near fit,
said he didn't have no 10 dollars.
Now, still trying to be helpful,
I told him...
Sir.
I can understand you from over there.
That, if he would just leave
two of his animals...
when he came back, he could pay me,
pick them up, it'd be all right.
And he left me
two swaybacked old bones, you know.
When he did come to get them,
he said, "These are not my horses."
I said, "Of course they are."
He cursed me and left.
Now, that's all there was to it.
You can ask Ollie
cause he was right there.
And poor old Slater...
Slater ain't part of this hearing,
Ballard.
Now, even before we hear
Redding's side of the story...
I got to tell you
I don't believe the part...
about the two swaybacked old bones.
But that's what they was.
Ain't no dealer I know would travel
100 miles to sell a five-dollar nag.
- I know horses...
- So do I.
Now...
you put up a toll gate
on your property?
- It's my land.
- Did Redding know...
it would cost him 10 dollars
for the crossing?
Whether he did or not
is nothing to me.
You charge everybody
the same 10 dollars to come and go?
- You bet.
- You're under oath, Mr. Ballard.
Some do and some don't. Is that it?
Well, I am a cattle rancher.
Judge Wilkins over in Rawlins
just filed two counts of murder...
and one count of insurrection
against Myrl Redding.
Anything you want on your property,
including a damn toll gate...
Excuse me, gentlemen.
Would you take it
outside of my courtroom, please?
Sorry, Judge.
Apologies.
Thank you.
Although putting up a toll gate,
to my mind, is a hostile act.
And if it happened to me
in my travels...
you would feel the lash of my tongue.
He said the Governor
didn't have the power...
- to grant amnesty for murder.
- Murder, what murder?
A rancher's wife
named Daisy Mathes...
and one of Ballard's men,
Slater Morrison.
What's relevant here is the law.
I judge cases on law.
Law is the king with me,
cause if it wasn't, this territory...
even if it becomes a state,
wouldn't be fit for a prairie dog.
Now, Redding, what's your story?
He's lying.
Hold it.
Hold it!
Order in this courtroom!
Please, take your seats!
- Continue.
- Wilkins claims...
Redding shot them both
and burned down Ballard's barn.
He says all this happened
before the amnesty agreement.
Before the amnesty?
Goddamn, we didn't know anything
about any shootings.
- Does the Governor know about this?
- I thought I should tell you first.
We need to figure out
how best to take this to Governor.
"Come in peaceably,
and all charges will be dropped."
- Who wrote this? You?
- No, Sir.
- I did, Sir.
- You did?
What the hell is he doing
writing a legal document?
Well, that's the way
it just worked out, Sir.
He doesn't know the first damn thing
about law, much less amnesty!
Francis, I've been attending
the statehood delegation.
You are the Attorney General!
And you allowed this, this... him
to write an amnesty agreement.
Sir, there was no one else.
If I didn't do it,
it was not going to get done.
Do you realize the position
you've put me in, Hoyt?
I am on public record
forgiving murder.
We were unaware of that
at the time, Sir.
When did these murders happen?
As near as we can figure, Sir...
a couple of days
before Redding's amnesty.
So, we covered him.
Is that what you're saying?
Well, that's a legal question.
If a legal mind
had prepared the amnesty...
- we wouldn't be in a legal mess.
- You're right, Sir.
This is all your fault, Hoyt.
Get Judge Tolliver.
- Well, he's in court, Sir.
- I wouldn't advise...
bothering Judge Tolliver right now,
Sir.
Get him anyway!
Now!
Yes, Sir.
And them horses were promised to me.
And I went to Casper to pick them up.
But was told that Myrl
didn't bring them.
That surprised me.
Myrl, he don't do business that way.
Myrl gives his word, and that's it.
What, in your judgment,
was the value of these horses?
Well, they was matched stallions,
Your Honor.
I was willing to pay
200 dollars each for them.
- You ever seen them before?
- Yeah, when they was yearlings.
- You're dismissed.
- Thank you, Your Honor.
Anyone else have an opinion
in this matter?
Anyone?
All right, Mr. Redding,
you will have a guard with you...
at all times until this case is over.
I don't need a guard, Your Honor.
There's angry people all over
Cheyenne about this business.
You can either have a guard, or you
can share a cell with Mr. Ballard.
It's up to you.
I'll take the guard.
Hearing is adjourned.
That's everything, Mr. Baron.
Well, you're all set.
Good.
Burn him out!
You know,
all this is over two horses!
Two horses, and I think...
three men, four people dead.
Now, this is madness. Excuse me.
And this man Redding is threatening
to burn down the Wainwright Hotel.
This place is not ready
to be a state.
I can tell you that right now.
Well, we can talk all night long,
but the people want something done.
Something will be done, Conrad.
But it's got to be
according to the law.
The question is,
can Redding's amnesty be revoked?
You signed an executive agreement
forgiving a man...
for something he had already done
and you put a date on it.
I gave my word. I'll honor it.
But if Redding violates
the terms of his amnesty...
you can revoke it
and try him for murder.
But you've got to do it legal.
If he doesn't violate his amnesty,
you've got a problem.
You've got to prove in court
what you knew when it was granted.
In the meantime, gentlemen,
if you will excuse me...
I got to go pee.
I think it's time for me
to retire, Francis. Thank you.
Good evening, Hoyt, Colonel.
Small thing, if you don't mind.
Good night, gentlemen.
Good night, Conrad.
Ballard wants to see you.
No, not with the trial coming up.
Well, if he feels wronged, Sir.
He does own a lot of land.
Just a word, Sir.
He ain't going to plead his case.
Just a word, moment, no more.
Governor.
- Show him in.
- Yes, Sir.
Mr. Ballard,
the Governor will see you now.
Sir, this is Henry Ballard.
- Mr. Ballard.
- What the hell is going on here?
You got a murderer running loose
in Cheyenne, free as a jaybird.
I ain't done nothing,
and I'm locked away in jail.
Now, I'm one of the biggest cattlemen
in this territory.
I ain't getting no respect.
I ain't getting no protection.
Now, you're talking
about statehood...
for this tin-horn shanty
ain't worth a shit city.
The hell with that!
Where's my protection?
Where is the Army?
We don't have an army.
- What?
- The army we have...
is on escort duty protecting
the folks from Washington...
coming here
to take this tin-horn shanty...
ain't worth a shit city...
and turn it into the capitol
of the State of Wyoming.
Under the circumstances...
you can hightail it out of town
and take your chances on the road...
which would suit me fine.
Or you can cool your ass in jail
until things blow over.
Either way...
git!
Yeah.
Conrad.
Well, that wraps up
a good productive day.
Hell, he can't just go
in somebody's house...
and burn down their barn!
He can't just ride up
and shoot somebody's wife!
Where's the army?
That's what I want to know.
Where's the army?
He's just going around...
He needs to be stopped.
Billy wants to know
how the trial's going.
Judge ain't decided yet.
How is it for you?
It's bad for us.
If we get caught, they'll hang us.
Billy wants to know
if you will join us.
I'm keeping after Ballard.
I better spell it out for him.
Sit down.
Take this to him.
Good luck, friend.
Judge, how does this
affect the amnesty?
"I don't know how it will go with me,
but if I lose...
God willing, I have the strength
to continue my fight.
And with your help
and friendship, I will."
If Redding wrote this...
it means he intends
to break his part of the agreement...
and continue his fight with Ballard.
You can revoke the amnesty.
I say we arrest him
and announce it to the crowd.
- That'll be the end of it.
- There's a trial coming up...
in which you, as chief legal officer
of this territory...
will have to consider
all the facts...
including murder
and armed insurrection...
and not just part of it.
That will be the end of it.
Sir.
Somebody owes you an apology.
I never quit, old man. Remember that.
You'll find out, boy.
Order!
Order!
Let's get on with this.
The Injun moved first.
I seen it with my two eyes.
Billy stalked Slater with a knife
while Slater was on the ground.
Redding, watching all the time,
he didn't say a word.
Didn't say, "Hold on, Billy Redwood.
What, what are you going to do?
What are you up to?"
See, Redding knew that it was Slater
who beat up the Indian.
It was Slater who got in the fight
with Woody...
on the day
that Redding's wife was killed.
So when Slater moved
to defend himself...
Myrl shot him dead.
It was premeditated murder.
Billy come riding up all of a sudden.
The Injun out front.
Well, I winged the Crow
pretty good...
and then for no reason,
Redding started firing.
And then Daisy...
She...
God have mercy on her. She...
She heard the shooting, and then...
she came running out to protect me!
And, and then that man...
That man shot her.
I didn't know nothing
about a quarrel.
All I know is, Daisy and me
had nothing to do with it.
And now she's gone.
I'm sorry for your wife.
But you're a liar.
Mr. Redding, I have here in my hand
a letter...
which may seem familiar to you.
Did you write this letter
to Billy Redwood?
Yes, I did.
Would you do me the favor, sir
please, of reading it aloud
to the jury?
If you like.
"Dear Billy,
I'm sorry I got you into this.
It doesn't look good for you.
The judge says you have no claim
because you didn't show up.
I don't know how it will go with me,
but if I lose...
God willing, I have the strength
to continue my fight...
and with your help
and friendship, I will."
"With your help
and friendship, I will."
Will what? Continue to burn
people's barns and property?
Continue to murder innocent people?
Is that what you're saying?
No, that's not what I mean.
I said I will continue the fight
against Ballard, and I will.
But I didn't say how.
And I never said
I done everything right.
And I take responsibility for that.
But Grady is lying
when he says I killed his wife.
And the Sheriff is lying
about how I killed Slater.
I didn't go looking to kill anybody.
It's justice I'm looking for,
and it's justice I'll get.
I'll track it
as long as I'm breathing.
And even if it costs me my life.
Hear you, hear you! The court
of the territory of Wyoming...
is now in session.
The honorable Joe B. Tolliver
presiding.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?
We have, Your Honor.
Thank you, Miss Hayden.
Myrl Redding, please rise.
Mr. Foreman.
On the charge
of killing Slater Morrison...
we find that the defendant,
Myrl Redding, not guilty.
On the charge of two counts
of armed insurrection...
in the killing of Daisy Mathes...
we find the defendant, Myrl Redding,
guilty as charged.
Order. Thank you, Mr. Foreman.
Myrl Redding, Henry Ballard,
please approach the bench.
We got him. I told you we'd get him.
How do you like this justice, boy?
Wipe that smile off your face,
Mr. Ballard.
This is serious business.
You first, Mr. Ballard.
The petition of grievance against you
by Mr. Redding has been upheld.
You are to, with your own hands...
restore the health and good condition
of the two horses...
left in your care by Myrl Redding.
Further, in your testimony
to this court...
you lied when you described
the condition of the horses...
as swaybacked old bones.
Nothing could be further
from the truth as testified...
by those who knew
the value of the horses.
Lying under oath
is a serious offense.
I therefore sentence you
to two years in jail for perjury...
three months of which will be spent
working in Myrl Redding's stables.
- Get your hands off me!
- Order!
Myrl Redding.
You've been found guilty
of armed insurrection and murder.
Do you have anything to say before
this court passes judgment upon you?
I took the law into my own hands.
I did it because
there was none in Rawlins.
I wrote my own law,
but I didn't create it.
I used what was there all along...
in my mind.
That law was there
before we were born.
I am sorry for Daisy Mathes.
When we rode off...
we never knew she'd been shot.
For my part in it,
I beg her husband's forgiveness.
I'm a horse trader, Your Honor.
All I was doing
was taking my horses to market.
That's it.
You wanted justice.
You got justice coming to you.
Ready.
The horses misused
by Henry Ballard...
will be restored
to their former condition...
and to your satisfaction.
- Following that...
- Aim.
It is the sentence of this court...
that you be taken
to a place of execution.
And hanged by the neck
until you are dead.
Fire!
And may God have mercy
on your soul.
- Court is adjourned!
- Die, you son of a bitch! Die!
He's coming, son.
You're okay.
You're okay.
Quit.
Can I just take
a moment with my son?
Yeah.
Hey, come on, now.
Hey, you're the man of the house.
Come on.
Your mother and I
will always be with you.
You're just going to have
to make it on your own for awhile.
Why are they doing this to you, Pa?
Two people died, me chasing Ballard.
Somebody's got to pay.
But why? You didn't kill nobody.
I killed Slater, all right,
but I didn't kill Daisy.
It's important to me
that you know I didn't.
Her husband must've shot her
by mistake.
But I caused it.
Did you see the horses?
How do they look?
Great.
Promise me something, son.
Sure, Pa.
Don't ever sell them.
I'll never sell them. Never.
They're the best two
you and Billy ever raised.
A lot of pride in those stallions.
They come from a great line.
You can build on them.
So, how much money
you got in the bank?
Maybe 200 dollars.
Well, you've got the rest
of the money Shelby owes.
He's a good man. You can trust him.
He'll take good care of you.
Shelby says that there's...
We could bust out.
There's a lot of folks in town,
and they're talking about...
No. It's time to put an end to this.
There's still time.
We could do it together.
Cage, they'd find me sooner or later.
I don't want
any more killing in my name.
Do you understand?
Now listen to me.
Somebody steps on your rights,
go after him.
Never give up. Never.
Just be smarter than I was.
All right?
Come on. Let's go look at the horses.
Mr. Redding, here are your horses.
Well, Sir?
These are my horses.
Beautiful animals,
wouldn't you say, Judge?
You want them?
You got them!
Hell, you'll burn in hell!
You son of a bitch!
- You got nothing from me!
- You did what I said you'd do.
You got nothing!
Nothing!
That's all you got! Nothing.
I did what he said, anyway!
Want a cigar?
I worry about you and me,
Judge Wilkins.
Swear to God, I do.
Cause if this country gets ruined...
it'll be ruined
by people like you and me.
It's a territory
of unimportant people.
Most folks around here...
can't even write their name.
You and me...
we're the important people.
Trouble is, there's not enough
of us important people to go around.
We're spread thin, so sometimes...
important things get ignored
or don't get said.
Like...
take care of the little fellar.
See to it that he don't get ignored
or cheated or insulted.
Make sure that his dignity
does not get trampled on.
Now, you're feeling bad right now,
and by God, you ought to...
seeing as what just happened
to a decent man.
Myrl Redding did not fail the law.
The law failed Myrl.
Just so you'll know who's behind it.
This is a copy of a letter
that I wrote to the Governor...
asking that a committee be called...
to evaluate your fitness
as a sitting judge.
It is my earnest hope and desire
that that committee finds you...
wanting and that articles
of impeachment be drawn...
to remove you from the bench.
I'm doing this out in the open.
Everything's on the table, up and up.
So you'll know
who the son of a bitch is...
that is gunning for your ass.
It's me,
the Honorable Joe B. Tolliver.
We're closed, Judge,
out of respect for the condemned man.
For you, Judge, I'm willing
to make an exception.
Ten bucks a shot...
if you got a permit.
Got to have a permit, Judge.
Good bye, Cage.
Be strong, as I know you are.
I love you.
I love you, Pa.
Come on, Cage.
It's okay.
Take care of my son.
I know you will.
Don't want to quit.
I'm sorry for the pain I caused.
But so help me God,
I could not have done otherwise.
In my heart, I am just.
Let's do it.
Come on, Cage.
"You created the moon
to count months."
"The sun knows when it must set."
"The truth is subtle,
His law complete."
"His justice, absolute."
"Let my words be rooted in honesty...
and my thoughts be lost
in Your light, unnameable God."
"My essence...
my origin...
my lifeblood..."
"My home."
Cover this.