[horse galloping] that man hangs, you alalhang. back away from that horse, boy. easy. cheyenne. marshall, that man's a killer. he killed d son. let him hang now. what difference does it make? the difference is, every man's entitled to a fair trial. you don't have to try a man who admits he's guilty! i admitted rustling, but, that's alal r and a killer. most of you men are ranch owners. it's in your interest to support the law. and the law says he gets a fair trial in santa loma. you stay out of this, marshall. cheyenne, shoooohim. not before i get you. (len) 'shoot him.' makes no sense, len. he'll get you, too. afterwards, take the prisoner to the jail in santa loma. shoot him. cheyenne, you and lou take the prisoner. [horses cantering] the prisoner admits to rustling.g. you say he's a killer. he'll be held for trial. you'll be notified, mr. roden. you'll be expected to appear in santa loma to press charges. there's only three of 'em, what are we waiting fofo no man from my ranch, rides against a federal marshall. let it go. the law will take care of the killer. i'll bury my own dead. [dramatic music] - let's go, dad. - i'll bring him in alone. why can't i help? he was my brother. - he w w my son. - well, so am i. [dramatic music continues] i guess we can cut you loose. maybe he can't lick the three of us. how come you boys showed up at the hangin'? not that i'm kickin', you understand. we come up here looking for sam jethro. found him dead. killers don't have many friends. i suppose i'd be wasting time trying to tell you - i never killed young roden. - save it. jury will decide whether you're innocent or guilty. ck there. marshall, it'll be dark in about an hour. 'we'd better find us a camping spot.' if you boys wanna sleep off the ground my place ain't far from here. i sure wouldn't mind a roof over me. maybe i wouldn't, either. that's the place where they say i killed young roden. chececthe body. where'd you say this hacienda of yours was? due west. two pointed rocks right side of the trail. - just beyond them. - i'll catch up with you. [orchestral music] [slow music] [dramatic music] [horse galloping] you saved his killer. what more do you want? i'm sorry about your boy. so, you're sorry. how can you know what it means? he was worth any five men on the range. (ed roden sr.) 'there wasn't a horse, he couldn't tame.' nor a man, he couldn't handle. he was everything i wanted in a son. - shot in the back by a rustler. - let me help. keep your hands off of him! the marshall's not here to cross you, mr. roden. your son's killer will get whata's coming to him. but according to law. i don't want law. i want justice. i want to see that murderer hanging from a limb. [dramatic music] roden! roden! [horse galloping] [gunshots]s] [gunshots] ha-ha. [gunshots] well.. you wanna keep fighting, it's all right with me. you make it right pleasurable. let her gogo - friend of yours? - she's my daughter. your manners need improving, ma'am. when you want something, say "please." - that any way to treat guests? - no cattlemen are guests. we ain't cattlemen, we're the law. (marshall) 'your father's under arrest.' - what for? - for rustlin'. - you call that rustling-- - that's the charge. now that we're all friends maybe you would like supper. mary's a real good cook. if she's as good at cooking as she is at ambushing what do we got to lose, huh? only our lives. there you are, honey. it's as clean as i can get it. what about that supper? i'm hungry. set the table. [dramatic music] marshall, i wonder if you'd give me a hand with my last will. (marshall) i guess you know, if you need a will. (pop keith) 'roden's had a rope around my neck. he knows my size.' you want to make a will, what do you wanna say? whereas i hereby bequeath my homestead y dauger, mary. in the first place you don't need "whereas" and "hereby." i never heard no legal document yet without "whereases" and "herebys." alright, alright, it's your will. where you going? to get some liniment, do you mind? those spurs of yours aren't made of rubber. where you goin'? that's a bad cut, you might need help. now, i suppose we'll have to cook our own supper. alright, pop, what else? - dark in here. - scared? not yet. how's the leg?g? it's better. i think it'll be alright. oh, you can't be too careful with a cut like that. spurs are rusty. you better use that liniment. oh, i'll get it. i can reach it. this, what you wanted? - yeah. - sit down. - pull up your dress. - what? pull up your dress. higher. say, t tt looks bad. it'll be alright. you wanted liniment, you're gonna get it. ooh, stop. ooh, quit! stop! quit! why'd you cut yourself like that? cut myself? i don't wear that kind of a spur. why'd you do it? i wanted to get you alone. alright, you got me. mister, let my pop get away. the marshall won't get mad at you. he likes you. that why you wanted to get me alone? you don't know these cattlemen. i do. i've got good cause. the first year, they burned our house. three years theyeyurned our crops because they don't want homesteaders on the range. - why didn't you go to the law? - the law. the law's got no use for homesteaders. we've got to fight for everything we get. so, pop took a few steers. we've got more than thth coming to us. now, these cattlemen caught him at rustling. you think they'll stop till they've lynched him? give him a chance, please. the marshall will see that he gets his chance in santa loma. santa loma? with cattlemen for jury? you may as well haha him yourself and be done with it. you sure got a one-track mind. mister, i got nothing personal against you. but, my pop's not gonna be hung. [dramatic music] - marshall merrick? - yes. roden has decided you're not going to santa loma. we wouldn't ride with him. so he's lining up his own ranch hands. you were part of the mob. what changed your mind? i don't want no trouble witnessed by a federal marshall. and if i was you, i'd get going. right away. rather have a run-in with roden? he'll never figure us to take the long way. wouldn't think anybody would care about leaving this place? if you're not guilty, you'll be back. wanna' bet? roden wants me dead. son, do i look like a killer to you? they say, young roden, caught you rustling. - if you were trapped-- - trapped? that lad was shot in the back. how do you figure that out? this old neck and this place ain't much but i like 'em both. and there's her. where do you think you're going? i go with him. mary, you keep out of this. you can meet us in santa loma. - i'm not leaving you. - oh, this new generation. well? if you think you can take it get your h hse. [orchestral music] (ed roden sr.) 'there they are.' hold it. we'll rest 30 minutes. lou, breakakut the grub. you know, i don't figure pop killed that boy. oh? that trial bothers me too. suppose, most of the jury are cattlemen? thth ain't our worry. our job is to bring him in. that's all. the rest i iup to the judge and jury. i got to figure they'll do their part same as we do ours. you sure got a lot of faith in the law. someday everybody'll have faith in the law if we can keep good men behind these badges. - cheyenne, why don't-- - len. it's not for me. not as a aegular thing. - maybe lou there, you might-- - lou? lou's a gun. oh, a gun's useful sometimes if you can keep it clean and be careful. sometimes the law needs guns. i figure the law's got a man. yeah, but i'm 58. who am i fooling? i'm 62. len. [dramatic music] - it's roden. - mount up. your choice, merrick. give us the killer or you die with him. i'll tell you again, roden. if my prisoner dies, you all die! thata's the law! think it over. take cover. pop, what'd they mean, "killer"? they say i killed young roden, honey. but i didn't. alright, let him have it! [gunshots] [horse neighing] [water gushing] [gununots continue] i i t their water bag. that'll change their minds about the desert. i want the killer. i'll get him. [gunshots continue] give up, merrick! you're done for anyway! [gunshots continue] cheyenne. [gunshots continue] another trigger finger would do no harm. you, stay down. [gunshots continues] [gunshots continues] drop it fast. get your hands up. get on up there and call 'em off. move. [gunshots continues] there's only ononman shooting. let's move in! [gunshot] alright, start talking. dad, stop! hold 'em, dad! stop, hold 'em, dad! stop, dad, hold 'em! - let my son go! - it's your turn to go, roden! we'll leave! you can have the killer, but let my son go! y won't give us anymore trouble! you've lost one son, you could lose another. [dramatic music] come on. [intense music] put the handcuffs on him. len. where'd they get you? son.. 'get him to santa loma.' first, we're gonna take care of you. we ain't got enough water now to get throughghhe desert. - water hole. - don't try to talk. he's telling you about the water hoho halfway across the desert. - i know where it is. - you sure? cheyenne...alone. 'i want to talk alone.' it's all over with me. don't try to tell me different. like it or not, you gotta take over for meme mighty hard thing you're asking me to do, len. i don't even think he's guilty. i swear you asas deputy. you've gotta do it for me. no matter what you think, no matter what happens get the prisoner to santa loma. i want your word on it, cheyenne. alright. you'll stand by thth, won't you? i give you my word. [gasps] roden, there'll be a murder charge waiting for you in santa loma. you and your father. cheyenne. you thought a lot of him, didn't you? i've drifted all over the west, met a lot of men but nobody like him. i only knew him maybe six months. it was like knowing him all my life. i never met a better man. now you're taking over for him? it's what he asked you, wasn't it? that's about it. take my chances with you. you didn't want me to knono pop was charged with murder. he didn't want you to know. i thininyou know he couldn't have done what they say he did. - he just couldn't have-- - i'm gonna take your pop in. i've got to. i know. but i've got to try to s se my pop. i guess that's how it is. we're enemies. only, we don't want to be. do we? i wish it wasn't my pop that was between us. you and me, we're in the same boat. - we gotta stick together.r. - me and you? huh. you tried to kill me, remember? - well, maybe i made a mistake. - mmm. we've gotta do something. i don't wanna go to santa loma. all allowing, you've got a point there. what are we gonna do about it? they've got guns. what have we got? she can handle him. they've been out there a long time now. [laughs] go on, kill each other off! leave them alone! let them finish it! - what happened? - who knows? they got in a fight. it was your job to see they didn't. you get the horses saddled. i'll take care of f em. you couldn't take care of nobody. where's your gun? lower your gun belt. throw it this way. [mellow music] i'm taking my father with me. you've got to understata. well, i guess i can't say you didn't warn me. like i said, i've gotta try to save my pop. now we're even. are we? [dramatic music] ho. [dramatic music continues] well, it ain't my fault he went lame. take the girl's. - double up with your father. - don't tell me what to do.. come on. [gunshot] the rest of these horses give out before we reach water? then we walk. he's asleep, but i'm not. 'let me see that watch.' 'it's your brothere's. i found it where he was shot.' well, you got no right to that watch. give it to me. 'it was my brother's watch. what's his is mine now.' all you need to know about the time bud is it's running ouou 'i thought you were asleep.' i'll get plenty of that in santa loma. what's gonna happen to her if i hang? pop, shut up talking like that. i i tta talk like that. it's what i'm thinking and i don't like what i'm thinking. mister, we ain't in town yet. if i get a chance before we get there to take off.. mary and me is hitting' the trail. so don't you turn your back on me being as you so set on talking', we might as well be ridin'. on your feet. [wind howling] [mellow music continues] there it is! wet, cool and waiting! nobody drink. it's polluted. it's polluted? he did it. he's poisoned it. he wants to kill me! that's why he did it! my father wants to kill me! sun's got him. you'll never make it to santa loma, mister. we'll make it. half a day's ride will bring us to the guadalupe river. he's right. it's straight south. on the border. that's your big idea? we're headed for santa loma. that's what you say. you've had your way long enough. you led us into this. well, i'm leading us out. we're heading' south. the marshall gave me a job to do. the marshall's dead. [gunshot] take his handcuffs and put 'em on him. you had three against you yesterday, misisr. now you got four. when's the last time you slept? you got none yesterday. none the day before. i'm not the only one that has to sleep. we'll sleep in t t saddle, one at a time. just waiting for you to close your eyes for one second. - get mounted. - why, i'm glad to oblige. sweeeedreams, mister. 'cause the next time you go to sleep you ain't never gonna wake up. wait a minute. you ride with me. why? why, i'm just thinking of your pop. your talking might keep him awake. [mellow music] he can't last mucuclonger. yeah. i thought hed cave in before now. when he does, what are you gonna do? let him close his eyes. cheyenne, take us to the river.. when you do, they'll kill you. worried about me? the marshall's dead. that's enough killing. go to the river for water and theneno santa loma. another day of staying awake and i'd never r ke it. you won't make it anyhow. roden didn't quit. he went the other way. he'll be waiting for us. if pop runs, it's like confessing. then the law would get him for sure. alright then, sleep against me. i can hold you. i had sleep. they wouldn't know. they wouldn't know, you would. i kissed you once, remember? cheyenne. - cheyenne, get up. - we got him! this is what we've been waitin' for! honey, we're free. pop, what are you gonna do? pop, you can't. - give me that gun. - don't crowd me. you can't shoot him and leave him here either. what are you talkin' about? get it through your head.. i'm trying to save your father. no one will argue with me. (dan roden) 'i'll be boss of the roden ranch.' you ain't much on mourning, are you? [gunshot] [horse neighing] [horses galloping] now him. (dan) 'drill him too, and then we'll leaea.' what are you waitin' for? you got the gun. here, take it. some things a man can't do. you had your chance and let it pass. - it was either him or you. - - shot lou to save your life. why? well.. up till now, i don't deserve hanging. if i shoot you while you're down or let him shoot you i do deserve it. you're the law, mister. you got the gun. what are y y gonna do? first, we'll bury lou. then.. then, thth we go to santa loma. what kind of man are you? you know he isn't guilty now. you know he's not. he even saved your life i've got to. but, i promise you this. if we make it, i'll do everything i can to see that the law sets you free. [dramatic music contntues] we made it. what am i cheering for? for water. easy. easy. not too much. [horses galloping] [dramatic music] - cheyenne. - hold it or i'll shoot. [dramatic music continues] get behind the well. no. first, we get the killer. bring the rope. you could have let him go. but you're so high and mighty you had to bring him in.n. let's see the law save him now. [gunshots] no use, mister. i don't want her to do no fighting. it's your neck they're after. he's right, pop. we'll fight them. [gunshots] get down. [gunshots] that's all! alright, roden! you wanted to hang me? (pop keith) 'come on, get it over with.' no. pop, i'm alright. i'm not hurt bad. roden, fighting's over! all i'm asking you as a father, get my girl to a doc. you with the badge, comemeut with your hands up! - do as he says. - no, pop. [dramatic music continues] - you two, get the old man. - you gonna be alright, honey. there's somebody in town to get the bullet out. give me that key. get me out of these. you could have saved yourself a lot of trouble, mister. - string up the killer. - no! roden, i'll tell you again what the marshall told you. if my prisoner hangs, you'll all hang. 'i'll follow you the rest of my life.' think what you're doing. i know what i'm doing. your son's watch. is the law stealili watches? take your watch, dan. this is your watch? no. roden, i found this where your son was shot. don't listen to him. i aint been near that place in a year. (cheyenne) 'i found it where the body was lying.' . he lost his watch and i gave him mine. you lie. ed's watch was in his pocket when i bururd him. [dramatic music] give me that gun. it's your fault! you gave him everything! nothing left for me! [gunshot] let the law have him. [dramatic music] [dramatic music continues] [gunshot] [gunshot] [thud] - we a a't far from a doctor. - i'm alright, pop. [horses galloping] [gunshot] [dramatic music] (cheyenne) 'roden.' i guess i'm the one to go to santa loma. you'll have no trouble with me. stay in the saddle, misterer put your hands where i can see them. now, what are u doing here? got a note. from who? a man named hagen.