i beg your pardon. no harm done. could you use $300? why, i don't know anyone who couldn't. well, could you meet me in the church in an hour? and if anyone should ask, you haven't seen me. ? tall, blonde hair, blue eyes, a figure like so? sounds like i should have. clerk.

you're late--i was afraid you weren't coming. you overlooked something. there's two other churches in town. oh, i'm sorry... i need help. those two men are after me. i kind of got that idea. they're murderers. they tried to get some information from my brother in santa fe. when he wouldn't give it to them, they killed him. information about what? w. but they think i have it. i'm afraid you need the sheriff. i wired the sheriff in santa fe. he'll be here on the morning stage tomorrow to arrest them. and you're offering me $300 to keep them away from you till then. no, to hold them until the sheriff arrives. well, i don't have any right to hold anybody. that's a job for the local law. there isn't a sheriff or a deputy in town. they're all out with the posse,

it isn't just for me. those men mustn't be allowed to get away with what they've done. i'll give it a try. oh, thank you. and when i see you tomorrow morning, i'll have the $300 with me. you better let me leave first. oh, all right. i think they're staying at the other hotel. and one of them's named powell. that ought to help. by the way, we forgot to introduce ourselves. my name's cheyenne bodie. i'm samantha crawford. you got a middle name? it's thorena. thorena... samantha... i'll just call you sam. ? got a match?

turn around and keep your hands where i can see 'em. this a holdup? might as well sit down and rest your feet. we'll be here awhile. what do you want from us? just the pleasure of your company till morning. you mind telling us what it's all about? the santa fe sheriff will be on the morning stage. that answer your question? it sure don't, we live in santa fe-- hold it, dave... now, don't you get it? we've been took again. we just ain't in her class. holy... what kind of a story she hand you?

what kind of a story have you got? it won't be as good as hers. she took us for $2,000. you see, dave and me run a saloon in santa fe. she come in one day looking for someone to help her sell a mining claim. she said her brother died and left it to her. and we looked at the claim and decided to cheat her out of it. what do you mean cheat? we gave her $2,000. we figured it was worth $20,000, didn't we? ah, she salted it. yeah, dust in just the right places you boys tell a pretty good story. to do about it? maybe your story's too good. anyway, it's after midnight. the stage will be here in a few hours. she'll be gone by then. she's already gone. in that case, it can't hurt to wait. ? sheriff? ain't no sheriff on this stage.

don't seem enough just to apologize. no, it don't. if there was any law in this town, i'd do something about it. take it easy, dave. she took us in, too. i reckon we can't blame you. well, thanks. i'll be looking for her. she owes me $300. want to come along? a real temptation. but she's a long way from here by now, and we got a business to run. if you find her, give her a big kiss for me. i'll do that.

excuse me, ma'am, i was wondering if we shouldn't bed the cattle down here for the night. well, i suppose that's up to mr. lattimer, jamie. there's water a few miles ahead. the minute the cattle get the scent, they're gonna make a beeline for it. what's wrong with that? near dark, ma'am-- they start runnin' now, we could lose half the herd.

oh, well, mr. bodie, where did you come from? from right where you left me, sam. we do have things to talk about, don't we?

where are those two men? one thing's sure: not with the sheriff from santa fe. i do owe you an explanation. all you owe me is $300. i don't have it. every dime i own is in these cattle. you must have had a lot of dimes. only $2,000. i took an option on the herd, and my partners put up the rest of the money. f sale wouldn't be in your name only, would it? well, yes. well, it-- it's only because i found the herd and made the deal. sam, you'll be pleased to know there's a way you can pay me. i'll cut out 60 head. at $5 a piece, i'll have the $300 you owe me. mr. bodie, wait. have you ever worked a cattle drive? yeah, why?

please, mr. bodie-- i need help. not again? we need a trail boss. you mean you haven't got one? lew--mr. lattimer-- felt it wasn't necessary. he's been a ranch foreman for years. that won't get your cattle to kansas. i know, i've made four drives. trail bosses make a hundred a month. i'll pay you twice that. sam, i'm about to try the impossible: to take advantage of you. i'll join your drive, but the terms are a dollar for every head i deliver in kansas. -well, that's-- -robbery? yes. you know how many herds have been lost on this trail 'cause the trail boss made a little mistake? three hundred a month. no.

but i, i suppose there's nothing i can do about it. i'll introduce you to my partners. oh, and please, you wouldn't say anything to them about, well, about what happened back in town, would you? you never did get around to explaining that. those men were trying to cheat me. when i found out the truth and wouldn't pay them, they tried to force the money from me. you believe me, don't you? i heard you. opie, put out another plate for mr. bodie, our new trail boss. oh, and cheyenne, i'd like you to meet my friend and partner, lew lattimer. maybe i didn't hear that. you say something about a trail boss? well, lew, mr. bodie's bossed trail drives before. i just thought that--

es to a little more than that. the deal was a dollar for every head i deliver. a dollar a head? there's 1,700 beefs out there. you're crazy to think i'm agreeing to that. lew, we've all got our money in this. we need an experienced man to protect our investment. i've sold my brewery. everything i have is in this cattle drive. and i put in $4,000, that's more than anybody here. i'm telling you right now, i'm not gonna pay a dollar a head to some fast-talking drifter. n as a rider. well, that's more like it. we can always use an extra rider, at $30 a month. but if it turns out later that you do need a trail boss, the price is gonna be a lot higher. when you start counting your profits, you better stop at $90. i rather doubt if you're acting wisely, old boy. not that i question your ability

g sum for this, this gentleman's services. the duke's right, lew. anybody else got something to say about this? how much money i got in, i know. and how much money i got coming back, i also know. what about you, opie? well, all i know is i'm getting my 40 a month either way. and the grub's gettin' cold while y'all stand here jawin'. you get 30 a month, bodie.

[speaking spanish] [speaking spanish] speak english, padre? but of course, with the greatest of the precision. permit me to make the introduction. i am the padre juan de cordio. this is samantha crawford, and my name is cheyenne bodie. my pleasure, se?orita. looks like your congregation is kind of shrunken, padre. maybe you need a new bell. ah, much more than a new bell, my son. there are many such as these erected long ago. perhaps some can be restored as monuments to the brave and holy men who have fashioned them. my task is to locate these missions and determine which can be rebuilt. you are moving your cattle to the north? kansas. a place of much sin, i am told. there are many such missions along the way.

heaven will reward you, my child. that is the reason why i rang the bell when i saw your herd. perhaps i could be some use to you, too, if not with the cattle, with the souls of your men.

dreaming? oh, you startled me. having trouble sleeping, huh? overtired, i suppose-- must be getting soft. now, who'd want you hard? well, i guess i'll turn in, i'll see you in the morning. hey...it's too nice a night to waste sleeping. let's talk for a while. ut? about you and me, that moon up there. lew, please, i'm really very tired. ha-ha, no you're not. lew, stop it, please. look, i didn't want to quit my job, but i did, and you know why-- and it wasn't money. -but, lew, i never meant to-- -yes you did. what's the matter with you? got your eyes on that big guy you tried to make trail boss? will you let go of me-- somebody will see. good.

stop it, quit--let me go, somebody will see. lew, stop it, please--lew! you owe me another one for that, honey. you looking for a little action? try me. lew, he's just a boy. then let him learn not to fool with a man. ? better take your boots off first. maybe you'd like some of the same. in that case, i'll take 'em off for you. i have a wonderful idea: let's wake everybody up and have a real free-for-all. i guess you're entitled to one mistake. don't make another one. that goes for you too, bodie.

what caused the trouble? se?or lattimer was interrupted at a tender moment. can't blame him for being upset. i hope you don't think i encouraged-- women and gold, se?or. both can bring out the best and the worst in men. well, we're a little short on gold, but with the se?orita around, we'll never miss it. well, my turn with the herd. see you chaps later. somebody better wake up that dawson kid.

he'll have tougher days. come on, kid, it's sunup, pile out of there. i said get up.

[speaking latin] ? what's the matter?

well, go on, say it. you think i killed the kid. no one has accused you, my son. no? then look at their faces and tell me that. they're all itching to say it, and none of them's got the guts. last night, the boy you tried to kick to pieces this morning is dead. this is enough guts for you, mein herr? go ahead, try your luck. first one to pull a gun gets a finger shot off. is this your business, my young friend? we lost one man, we can't spare another. so, you are letting a killer go, is that it? he's a killer when you prove he's one, not until. no one else had reason to kill the boy. cheyenne's right, we have no proof. someone could have sneaked in during the night and killed jamie. not likely. an indian would have taken the kid's hair. there's nothing missing, so it wasn't a thief. if, as you say, my son, the killer is one of us.

i'll give you the reason, the real reason: the smaller the number of partners, the bigger the split for the rest. you make it sound as though there'll be more killings. maybe there will. me, i'm taking no chances. if i see anybody sneaking around camp nights, i'm shooting first and talking later. a hasty gun, se?or lattimer, can bring death to the innocent. padre, you tell that to the dawson kid. now, we got a herd to move, a long way to go. let's get started. cheyenne, um, are you sure jamie wasn't killed by someone outside the camp? yeah, i'm sure. sam, why were you up prowling around the camp just before sunrise? you're mistaken. don't tell me that, sam, i saw you.

whoever you saw, it wasn't me. and this is one time i'm telling you the unvarnished truth. ? ha, move along...ha!

ha! ho! ? you're not going to tell me this is the river. it don't make sense. i made out this drive every foot of the way. just don't make sense. what are we gonna do? well, the only thing we can do: go on to the next river. how far? forty miles.

it's three days. they'll make it, they... they have to. the cattle won't make it. you know how long it's been since they've had water? bodie, you're the expert. maybe you can tell us why there's no water here. it's august. you mean to tell me you knew all along this river was dry and you didn't say anything about it? it's trail boss' job to find water. besides, you wouldn't have listened to me anyway.

i've had enough if you have. shall we make it a one-round fight? i'm sure this solves everything. now, what about water? there's water further on. i know, 40 miles further on, the herd will never make it. there's a river seven miles from here, half a day due east. well, why didn't you say so? nobody asked me. all right, bodie. i guess it is the trail boss' job to get water. it's your herd.

look here, i'm utterly fed up with being poisoned. this man is no cook-- he's the last of the borgias. well now, maybe your lordship ought to drop in at buckingham palace for tea and crumpets. none of your insolence, my man, i happen to be your employer. my what? well, you sidewindin' son of a broken-down limey. i'll show you- we have a rule here, mr. wells.

i ain't seen the limey yet i couldn't take. i do my way! stand aside, sir. i intend teaching this man to respect his betters. betters we do not have here, mr. wells, sit down. blimey, i ought to slit your bloody gizzard. so, a duke i have never heard talk like this. pure cockney, that was. i, i haven't the slightest intention of bandying words with you, sir. this i can understand. i spent a few years in london, and you know something? lood you are not. a cheap cockney four-flusher, that is what you are, mein herr. you mean to say the duke ain't no duke at all? look at him. does it really matter what a man's background is? you are forgetting what happened to the dawson boy? what are you getting at, heinzy? you heard what he said about slitting my gizzard. this is the talk of a knife user.

i'm really not a criminal, you know. i say you are. a couple of weeks ago, it was lattimer you were accusing. now, it's this man, with about as much sense. you seem powerful anxious to pin it on somebody. look, my friend, for three weeks now, i've been sleeping with one eye open. a knife in the ribs i did not want. so, we settle this one way or other, now. settle it how, by gunning him down? put that gun away-- we had one murder, we're not going to have another. you know, you could be wrong about that, bodie. about not having any more killings, i mean. one of my knives has been missing for a week.

another one. i'm leaving, i'm getting out of here. you ain't going to find me sticking around with no crazy killer. hold on, opie. well, who's going to be next? we've still got eight days to go. what are we going to do about it? what we should have done before. if i'd have used good sense, he'd still be alive. from now on, we're posting a night sentry. and who keeps us alive while the killer is on watch? at least we'll know then. there is a dark rider among us.

stopping at that ranch sure paid off. yes sir, we're gonna have a real feast tonight. none of that old stringy beef, no sirree. -real fresh ham and eggs. -good god, i'm hungry. pick up any news? well, yeah, the rancher did say that we ought to hit town about noon tomorrow, that's saturday. anything else? yeah, they heard about the bank holdup back home, but they ain't caught nobody yet. but, i reckon about the best news is cattle prices. -yahoo! -twenty-two dollars? what did i tell you? twenty-two dollars a head, ha-ha-ha! well, tomorrow's the big day. sure am glad we're getting in there on saturday. it's always a big day in town. -there ya are, padre. -thank you. you know, after two months on the trail,

ing i don't like. tomorrow we get into town, sell the cattle, make a nice profit, and then split up. we're still not gonna know which one of us is a dirty, low-down sneaking killer. that's where you're wrong, lew. i know who it is. remember, sam, i said i saw you moving around the camp the night jamie was knifed. but you didn't. i know. i saw what i thought was your skirt. your robe, padre. surely, you do not say of me that i, a priest, am a killer. that's what i'm saying. just because you saw his robe that night? that's only part of it. you know tomorrow's saturday, and you know what day this is,

priest, mister. ? now it makes sense-- you're barrado, the bank robber. si, se?or i am mike barrado. if you know me at all, you'll be careful not to make me use this gun. it will be necessary for you to turn your backs, now! the order includes you, too, se?or. i make it a rule never to turn my back on a man when he's pointing a gun at me. you will force me to shoot you, se?or? you will turn around. i think you know i will not hesitate to shoot you. that's why i'm not going to turn.

your fame is now assured, se?or. you have killed mike barrado. maybe it's not that bad-- sam, we'll need bandages. no, se?or, i'm finished, this i know. it is the boy that lies heavy on my conscience. i did not like to kill him. i had to kill him. the englishman, to kill him, i did not mind. he saw me kill the boy. for half the money, he would say nothing. mike barrado does not make the business with the crooks.

? mighty fine-looking herd, ma'am. better than 1,600, i'd say. around 16 and a half-- we lost a few on the way. should have an exact count by 3:30, we'll meet at the bank. well, i don't know about the rest of you, but i aim to spend some time leaning against the nearest bar. i'm going back to the hotel and soak in a tub until 3.

rr well i-- i don't know. we don't have much time if you're gonna catch that train. it leaves in an hour. i simply must be on it. a little over 1,600 head, i understand. well, i'm willing to settle this on the basis of exactly 1,600. there are at least 50 head more. being on that train is worth that much to me. well, i guess i'm too much of a businessman to turn down a deal like this. see, that amounts to 30...$35,200. i suppose you want it in cash.

oh, surely. well, if you'll just sign over your bill of sale to me, i'll get the money for you. all right. ed, let me have $35,200, will you? i'll give you a check for it in a few minutes. yes, mr. sawyer. at a time like this, it's mighty handy to have your office in a bank, eh? uh--oh, oh, yes, yes, thank you. there you are, miss crawford, $35,200. to be carrying around. oh, i'm sure i'll manage, mr. sawyer. -you've been so kind. -no, not at all. -thank you. -you're welcome. -goodbye. -goodbye. oh!

pretty good wages for a trail boss. i figure i earned it, and not just for keeping an eye on the herd. here you are, opie. that's the easiest money i ever earned, even if i didn't get everything i expected. you've been a good friend, lew. i'm going to miss you, all of you. [speaking german] you are a wonderful lady. you sure are. now, i have some good beer. i'll go along with you we'll drink to the next cattle drive. -good bye, miss. -good bye, opie. and thank you-- so long, bodie. opie, don't spend it all in one place. yes, sir. -heinz? -goodbye. lew, i buy you a beer. yeah, i'm coming. -goodbye, bodie. -good luck, lew. you made out real well-- that and the money you found on barrado. that 20,000 went to the sheriff. want to see the receipt?

pect for money. how about having dinner with me? i still haven't had that bath. want one myself. afterwards, i'll meet you in the hotel dining room. fine. i though opie was a bad cook. at least the coffee was hot. well, i guess this is where we say goodbye. i'm afraid so. sam, why don't you come back to texas with me? we'll put together another cattle drive. i'm glad you asked, but no thanks. it's still montana for me. you know how i feel about gold. i guess i should by now. -so long, sam. -goodbye, cheyenne. you know, somehow i feel i'm a different woman for having known you.

here, this ought to take care of it. what's your hurry, mr. bodie-- texas will still be there. not going to texas, going to montana.

( bell dings ) yes, sir. you have a miss ryan-- miss tracy ryan registered here? yes, she's here. the missouri queen, huh? - sounds like a riverboat. - the room number, please. nothing like a riverboat. you know, last time i was on a riverboat, i saw-- oh, sorry. miss ryan's in number 207. thank you. ( knocks on door ) just a minute.