howdy. what are you doing on this range? just passing through. running these ponies up to montana. not across my land, you're not. i didn't know this was ranch. looked like open range to me. - be glad to. - that way. you've gone far enough across my land. you want me to double-back? i don't like saddle-tramps that drive herd across my range. - 'now get moving.' - you heard mr. storm. [dramatic music] scatter 'em. [gunshots]

[music] dad. stay up there till you're told. hush now, johnny, that's no way to talk. - put that gun up, y'hear? - but, he rode in-- this man's been hurt. what is it, john? a stranger. looks like he's had an accident. fix the spare room.

lie back here now. easy. unfasten his gun belt, johnny. don't worry, it'll be right here. where'd you have this accident? on your neighbor's land. fellow named storm. only it wasn't any accident. no, i don't guess it was. lift up. ttle tender. guess i must have busted a couple of ribs. - oh, my. - johnny, you're all thumbs. let me. now, just relax. we'll have this off in a jiffy. oh, johnny, dear, you'd better ride into town for the doctor. i should say it's a little tender. look at that bruise.

h as losing my stock. how many ran off? twenty head. you better bring his saddlebags in. and light a fire under that too. sure, honey, i'll see right to it. [horse galloping] what's that? my stepdaughter's gone for the doctor. now, just relax. you'll feel better once you're clean and that side's bound up. can't tell you how kindly i take this, ma'am.

than the small ranchers, so he hires all our help away. more riders than he needs. he knows we can't operate without hands. what if a fella doesn't wanna be hired away? storm's pet gunslinger convinces him. that'd be the fella i came up against. yeah. name's swallow. he's picked fights with three cowhands all legal, all self-defense and all dead. just like rabbits fighting a rattlesnake. he's that fast. you were mighty lucky to get off with just some busted ribs. mr. bodie looks like he can take care of himself. johnny, are you coming to breakfast? by the way, me and my wife was talking last night. you lost your stake and can't travel much for a while. now, if you wanted to stay on here the pay wouldn't be much. - what do you say? - well, i.. you don't have to feel obligated to say yes.

no. i got some unfinished business near here. i'd like to stay around for a while. you're welcome as long as you want. then you've hired yourself a hand. good. [chuckles] (johnny) 'oh. oh, darn.' (john) 'what's the matter, honey?' my heel caught in the hem of my skirt. aren't you going to help me with my chair, marty? huh? oh, oh, yes, ma'am. what's got into you, girl? what are you doing in that rig? your breakfast is all dried out. i don't mind. just a piece of bread and a cup of coffee. i always eat light. i thought you are gonna ride fence with me today. she'll be a pretty sight riding fence in that outfit. i can change back, can't i? do you like to ride, mr..? - mr..? - cheyenne, miss. i love to ride in the early morning when it's just turning pink in the east, don't you?

i knew you'd feel that way. 'now, drink a toast, marty.' looks like i lost a cowhand and found me a daughter this morning. [both laughing] hello. mind some company? not at all, ma'am. [metal clanging] ma'am. i thought that's what you called old ladies you had to be polite to. i sure didn't mean it that way. do i look like an old, worn-out lady to you?

[soft music] sorry you took this job, son? tell you one thing, never worked any harder in my life. but we seem to be holding our own. i'll take 'em, boss. only man been working here for months. he's old and should be on easy chores but he rides just the same as i do. all day and hours after supper. what if the small ranchers were to join together? couldn't they fight storm then? don't think i haven't tried to convince them. but they're independent. they wanna go it alone or not at all. so, storm squeezes them out one by one. one by one. this ranch is the key.

maybe i'm foolish not to sell. cheyenne, don't you ever stop working? it's past 9. - i just this minute finished. - i brought you some coffee. you never come up to the house for a cup anymore. there's coffee at the bunkhouse. no need to bother you and john. - but thanks. - bother him? couldn't wake him up with a cannon. he works himself pretty hard. i don't care how hard he works. he still could be decent. he don't even wash his face. he don't even say goodnight. well, i'll say goodnight. and thanks for the coffee. cheyenne. why do you always run off when i come near? well, if you don't know, i can't tell you. don't you ever get lonesome? now and then. so do i. awful lonesome.

got your man. you married him. because i didn't know any better. i thought i was getting a good life. instead i got a little man with big ideas. - i don't want him anymore. - tell him then. - i'm telling you. - alright, you've told me. now you'd better go back to your husband. what are you, a saint? far from it.

ten thousand's a fair price. you mean for the whole spread? you wait too long and the price might go down, mr. dembro. - well, i don't know-- - well, look at it this way. you got a pretty wife, a pretty daughter. they want things out of life. now they can have them. ten thousand dollars is a lot of money. johnny rode out to tell me you had company, mr. dembro. well, if it's not our friend with the horses. thought you were going to montana. he working for you, dembro? you see him. you going to sell to him, dad? storm made me another offer. better than last time. $10,000. why, your ranch is worth three times that amount. circumstances make it worth considerable less. you think i can be of any help? i'm offering to. i'm watching you this time.

no quarrel, swallow. there's no need for it. sign the paper, john. we'll hand you over the money and--' no, i think, maybe i'll hang onto it for a while. oh, dad. yes, i think, maybe i'll just do that. does your hired hand make your decisions for you? no more than yours does for you. you'd better take this, storm. storm...you owe me some money for the horses you run off. well, my foreman here carries the small cash for me. come over and collect it. anytime. i expect to, before i leave this valley. you sure told 'em. you gave me some of my fight back. i'm gonna take another crack at banding the small ranchers. we'll beat storm yet. johnny, saddle up. we're gonna round up our neighbors.

'there's something to be said for having an alliance.' 'now over in porterville they've done a pretty good job of it.' o'brien's right. i never did like the idea of joining together. it makes everybody carry somebody else's troubles. i've got enough of my own. but this way everybody'll help you carry 'em. i'm with john dembro. what storm's up to is nothing but intimidation. my spread's losing money every day for lack of working hands. cheyenne stood up to him today. let's see how much longer he lives. no, count me out, gentlemen. i'm not looking for any range war. i'm getting by. i guess i've gotta go along with jeffries. storm's got the people in town on his side. and the lawmen too. i don't believe in fighting a losing battle. sorry, john. me too. how long can you run your spreads without hands to help?

storm's hired killer'll scare 'em off, just like always. well, i've had my say. goodnight to you, john. goodnight, ed. - goodnight. - night. i'm sorry, john. well, we tried. - you heard? - uh-huh. st plain scared. i can't blame them. you aren't gonna sell, are you? i thought you wanted me to. don't i have the right to change my mind? why, of course, honey. i guess it's about time i was collecting for those ponies. - don't try anything like that. - storm's gunfighter is waiting. i saw it in his face this afternoon. i'm only gonna get what's owed me. takes two to make a gunfight. and one to make a killin'.

i think i'll turn in. - goodnight. - goodnight. i'll walk you to the bunkhouse, if it's alright. i'd like a breath of air. sure. it's not fit for a girl to go traipsing at night with a man. - she's safe enough. - she's only a baby. she's 17 and grown. she wants to nuzzle around some with cheyenne i ain't gonna interfere. a man could get stomped to death. well, up early again tomorrow. you coming to bed? later. [soft music] the indians say that if you look down a well when the moon is full, you can see the face

maybe that's what they mean. indians don't know everything. i guess we'd best be getting in. just another minute. do you ever look at the stars? sleep under them more often than not. don't you ever get tired of wandering? - some. - and think of settling? sometimes. you've been here awhile. how come? well, i can't say for sure. because of me? i wish you'd beat around the bush a little more. you'll be going one of these days. i haven't got time to beat around the bush. cheyenne, please stay. well, i wish i could. but i've got places to go and things to find out before i light for good.

you're not too old for me. a wandering man's too old for most everybody some ways. this time next year, you'll hardly remember me. i-- johnny, you'd better come in. it's getting cold. alright. you're wrong, cheyenne. i could never forget you. did you try to have him make love to you? do you think a man like him would want a child like you? you were only 19 when you married my father. there's a lot of difference between 19 and 17. just like the difference between cheyenne and your father. i never expected you to come out with it. i thought you were better at sneaking behind his back. shut up!

you're half-crazy wanting something you've no right to. shut up! don't raise your voice and wake dad up. don't let him find out about you. make it light. - hello, miller. - that big fella find you? big fella? yeah. he's here looking for you. you mean the one that works for dembro? [gun barrel ticking]

i've been looking for you. your boss said that i was to collect from you for the horses. (swallow) 'sure.' what do you figure we owe you? twenty head at $10 a piece. two hundred. plus time on the trail. i figure 300's about right. i'd say you and your horses together ain't worth more than a plugged nickel. you're entitled to your opinion but i got my mind set on $300. it's right here.

[gunshots] - that was good shooting. - had to be. i never seen anything like it in my life. - 'me either.' - 'he asked for it.' you're witness that i took just $300. that's right. - just a minute. - 'let's get him out of here.' joining together. all we small ranchers. well, i'm for it. and me. let john dembro know it. tell him we'll meet in the cattleman's hotel tonight. he'll be glad to hear that. guess i'd best go find the sheriff. [chattering indistinctly] (male #2) 'things are gonna be different now.' anybody who hasn't signed up? not only that but six old hands came back to work today

good. one man quit riding for storm and came to work for me. - they'll all be back. - sure they will. anybody want a drink just follow me into the bar. john dembro's offering a toast to the new alliance. 'let's everybody drink to the alliance.' everybody, come on in and have a drink. john, don't you think you've had enough? i've been waiting a long time for this night, honey. i just gotta drink to the alliance. keep it up and they'll have one less member. sheila, stop picking at him. he's not hurting anything. that's right, honey. old john dembro wouldn't hurt a fly. come on, boys, the drinks are on me. [everyone chattering indistinctly] belly up to the bar, gents, and state your pleasure. come on, cheyenne. you too, miller. you're welcome to join us. be glad to. give the storekeeper a drink, too. everybody drinks with john dembro. we got an alliance now and a fella to help us

mebody mention my name?' so you're all one big happy family now, huh? yeah, we ain't alone anymore. and you're all gonna stick together, no matter what. that's right. - i wanna do you a favor. - don't bother. i don't wanna have to like you. i made you an offer for your ranch. i'll double it. twenty thousand. that's mighty nice of you. but i think i'll hang onto it. have a drink with john dembro to the alliance. the alliance. you run together like a pack of mongrels because you think it makes you strong. well, keep out of my way. just keep out of my way. maybe you'd like to try that with me. you know, you're gonna cross me once too often.

well, cock-a-doodle-do. [everyone laughing] i guess that'll hold him for a while. - john, take it easy. - you alright, fella? you alright? help me get him in the wagon, cheyenne. - take it easy, now. - goodnight, john. hope you feel better in the morning. isfied. every men in this town is laughing at you. - dad! - we'll take care of him. [singing indistinctly] let's put him in the back. easy does it, john. oh, bodie, you're coming back, aren't you? yeah, we still got some things to settle. - be right in. - good.

sheila doesn't seem too happy. she wants things. things too hard to get. come on, we're home. get out. aw, don't get mad at me-- you've got to unhitch the horse. rm-- come on, help yourself some. you've got to unhitch the horse. [mumbling indistinctly] alright, stay there. did you see his face? [chuckles] cock-a-doodle-do.

john, john, please get out. john? come on, john, move yourself. you fat pig, get out of there. john. [fire blazing]

l? no. maybe when he woke up and saw where he was he lit the lantern to unhitch the horse. then he probably forgot about it you know, he'd been, you know, celebrating. yeah, we know. from the way it looked the horse could've kicked the lantern. yeah. well, that's about it, mrs. dembro. sorry about the accident. awfully sorry, miss dembro. if you need any help-- i'll be around for a while. i'll take care of things. thank you, cheyenne. it's such a comfort to know.

thank you, sheriff. [screaming] sheila, what's the matter? [sheila sobbing] you must have been having a nightmare. come on, get back in bed. [horse galloping]

close the door. sit down. i can't stay long. i've got to get to the alliance meeting. that's what i wanna talk to you about. why have you got your horse saddled? - it's a long walk. - you know what i mean. why haven't you harnessed the buckboard? are you telling me to stay at home? no, i hadn't thought about you going. no reason for it. i'll tell you anything that happens. "no reason for it?" you and johnny. but i run it and you work for me. you work for me. - isn't that so? - in a manner of speaking. then take orders from me. i wanna go to that meeting. i think you'd best stay here. they wouldn't be expecting you not with your man just two weeks under the ground. you do as i say. i'm staying around here to see that john's wife and daughter are taken care of.

now, if you'll excuse me. cheyenne, i'm sorry. i don't know what to do with myself. johnny's out riding all the time and-and i'm alone. you do see that, don't you? i appreciate what you're doing for me, but at night i-- you've gotta learn to live with it sometime. i know. but there's something else. you're more than just a foreman here. come and live at the house like i've asked you. - there's a spare-- - the bunkhouse is close by. i want you to stay here. i need you. - i get frightened. - of what? why do you wanna stay away from me, cheyenne? - i told you once. - but my husband's dead now. i'm sorry you didn't understand. it wasn't just your husband. that's untrue. you were holding back because of john. admit it. i've gotta leave if i'm going to-- don't go, cheyenne. come back here. cheyenne, come back.

- hi, marty. - howdy, johnny. - did you have a good ride? - it was dandy. come along. what's the matter? sheila? nothing. just a little headache. you going someplace? cheyenne wanted me to go to the alliance meeting. but i couldn't. this headache. besides, it wouldn't be right for me to be seen in public. no. no, it wouldn't. why don't you leave here? you've always hated it. why don't you leave? i could run the place. you'd like that, wouldn't you? leave the ranch to you. the ranch and him. him? - you know who i mean. - oh...you poor woman.

don't go. stay here. it's getting dark. i'm not afraid of it. light a lamp. [horses neighing]

[floorboards creaking] [door creaking] were you looking for me? yes, but the house was dark and i.. may i come in? well, i don't know. i'm alone. a friend can certainly offer condolences.

- shall i light the lamp? - would you? please sit down, mr. storm. i am sorry about john. he was a fine man. it'd be a shame to see this ranch go to seed. he set a lot of store by it. go to seed? well, it takes a man to run a ranch. cheyenne runs this one. cheyenne and me. it's not for sale. sheila...i'm a man that's misunderstood by most. i came here like the others with little more than a horse

and where they were satisfied with a house in the open range i dreamed of owning the land myself. building an empire from the river to the mountain range. and almost managed it until cheyenne rode in. he lives here now, you know. - lives here? - yes. upstairs. that isn't wrong, is it? no, of course not. cheyenne is going to marry me. a woman can always tell a thing like that. oh? he doesn't impress me as the kind of a man who'd give up his freedom to take himself a wife. you don't know him. i do. we're close. very close. man like him wants nothing more than a saddle with a horse and an open road in front. he wants me. told me he's been waiting for me all his life. - it's johnny he wants. - you're lying! he's a man.

i bandaged his side and washed the blood off his face. i even killed for.. you killed for him? what? you said you killed for him. no. no, i didn't. i'm your friend, sheila. you need a friend. somebody to talk to about what's troubling you. there's nothing troubling me. cheyenne will be home soon. we have to wait awhile before we get married. metimes it helps talking to someone. but they've left you here all alone. and they've gone off together. together? they're not together. next thing, they'll be accusing you of murder.

and bandaged his side, he held me, and he whispered to me. he said that we should kill my husband and then we'd be together, him and me. and then he said, and then-- sheriff, he used her to kill dembro because he wanted the ranch. a man like that gets a hold on a woman. look what it's done to her. what are they going to do to me? i just don't know.

sheriff. what's this all about? you're under arrest, bodie, for murder. - for what? - take him away. lock him up. this way. still got time for a drink before court opens. that's a good idea. i haven't got much stomach for it. there's no need to feel squeamish, ben. it's only right he gets what's coming to him. don't you worry none. we'll have him hung all nice and legal...before dinner time. they say this judge crandell's a pretty fair-minded man. fair enough. see, johnny? there's nothing to worry about. - when do they start the trial? - maybe sooner than you think.

somebody. - what's the trouble, sheriff? - you'll find out. come on, let's hear this. alright, everybody, might as well go home. - what's that? - just what i said. - isn't gonna be any trial. - 'what do you mean?' bodie's to get off scot-free. - who says? - the judge says. he's been over there talking to mrs. dembro. here it is, men. law can't touch bodie, because there ain't no witnesses. - what do you mean, no witness? - what about mrs. dembro? 't let her. - why not? she's insane. [all chattering indiinctly] now, just a second. you men listen to me. who drove her insane? are we letting a murderer ride away without lifting a hand? what kind of men are we? [all talking at once] you can't condemn a man without a trial. now, wait a minute, ben. this is no lynch town. it never was. but we can't give him no trial.

e committee, you never hung back. (all) yeah. come on, come on. [indistinct chattering] - what are you doing? - letting him go. you heard what i said. he's free. you can't send him out. don't you hear them? can't hold him either. he ain't my prisoner. - got a back door? - nope. (male #3) 'come on out, bodie.' where's my gun? over in the courthouse. why don't you go get it? well, how about you coming along with me? i've got an awful lot of work here. (male #4) 'are you coming out, or do we come in?' you can't go out there.

alright, what have you got to say for yourself? i say i had nothing to do with john dembro's death. - what else would he say? - you're making a big mistake. you made the mistake, and the people of this town are not letting you get away with it. [everyone talking at once] don't let storm stampede you. bodie stopped you from getting the dembro ranch. blocked you in everything you tried to do. he's a better man than you are, storm. well, i got no hate for bodie. but he killed john dembro, and we know it. - and he's got to answer for it. - miller's right. he's right and you know it. we got no other choice. i got a rope. who's got a horse? we'll drag-hang him.

let me have the end of that rope. give me that horse. alright, out of the way, out of the way, everybody. wait a minute! wait. why are you bringing that poor woman out here for? why not? it's her doing. hasn't she suffered enough? take her away, somebody. - come on-- - leave her alone. afraid she'll say? - i'm not afraid of anything. - then let her face me. sheila. gonna live in the house. gonna live in the spare room. he's gonna marry me. sheila, why did you lie about me? why did you do it? she don't even know where she is. he did that to her. come on, get out of the way.

i know why you lied, sheila. because you thought he loved me. because you couldn't bear his not wanting you. she's the one. she made me do it. she made me kill him. she's the one. she's the one. she made me do it. does anybody believe that? somebody set him loose. storm, let go of that rope. [screaming] [gunshot] is she dead? poor sheila.

- now she won't slip on you. - thanks. - so long, cheyenne. - goodbye, marty. there's some chicken in here. don't try to keep it too long. thanks. i won't. look, johnny, if you'd like for me to stay to help those new cowhands get started i.. that wouldn't be why i wanted you to stay. but it's alright. i mean that. everything's alright. you've done a lot of growing up in a real short time, johnny. goodbye, cheyenne. (marty) 'good riding, cheyenne.' (johnny) 'bye, cheyenne.'

got some homemade apple pie. it's still hot. i'd love a nice-- how much do i owe you so far? it's $1.00 even. you know, i don't think i'm gonna have that pie. thank you very much. you probably don't like apple pie anyway. no, no.