Thieves Highway

MAN (OVER RADIO): Hey, Bill.

I'm somewhere off 288 in Shelby.

Out about 10 miles past the Armstrong spread.

I got half of moving beef.

Three trailers, engines runnin'.

BILL (OVER RADIO): Why don't you wait for backup?

You ain't even supposed to be on the clock.

I wait for you, these boys will be in Texas.

BILL (OVER RADIO): Okay, we'll notify local PD.

Here, here.

Move it.

Nice and...

Don't put them cows in that trailer.

Put 'em in the second trailer.

No!

Hold that damn gate!

Come on now boy, use your head.

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

I'm gonna need your boys

to stop doing what you're doing right now.

No problem, officer.

We're just loading up our livestock

'cause it's the best time of day to do it.

Is it?

It's too damn hot in the morning, hotter now.

Well I'm sure you got some paperwork to confirm that.

Yes, sir. Right here. No problem.

Hey, hey.

Stop right there.

Sure thing.

Boy, don't you be pissing on my boots

and telling me it's raining.

- Now, sir... - Get a move on.

No, no, no, no, no!

Stop! What are you doing?

Stop!

Let's go to the back.

Let's go.

Let's go.

You're just south of 200.

Well.

That ain't no bear or lion or pack of wolves.

Telling you, Frank, you ought to take a look around these parts.

Things just ain't adding up in the books.

You expect a few critters to go missing.

Maverick here or there.

But this's been systematic.

Charlie, you don't have to call me up

every time you need an inspection.

They got a self-inspect system online now.

If I don't give you a call,

when would we get together to shoot the shit?

That's right.

I don't know if I ever told you...

I wasn't the original owner of this ranch, Frank.

I inherited it from a feller named George Fletcher.

There were rustlers, outlaw Chickasaw,

rode onto the property one night.

Any other night it would have been fine.

George would have seen to it.

But he was in Fort Gibson for work.

The only ones here, his wife and son.

The rustlers seen an opportunity,

made off with all his livestock.

Almost 400 head of cattle.

After... they killed Mary Fletcher and her boy.

That's terrible, Charlie.

George buried his little family out back there.

Came out to my place the next morning,

asked me to look over the ranch.

Said if he didn't never come back,

I should take on the deed.

Five years went by.

Fletcher was just here one morning.

Almost standing where we are now.

He set out to hunt down

all those that had paid a visit to his place.

Told me he hung each one of them at gunpoint.

Threw a rope up over a branch and

watched the fight get squeezed out of 'em.

Fletcher never asked anybody for help.

He did what he had to do, and when he was done,

he was done.

That was the last I ever saw him.

Frontier justice.

Don't go getting any ideas, Charlie.

Fight left me so long ago I don't recall the taste.

I just want to go into my house justified, Frank.

That's all.

Good to see you, Charlie.

Oklahoma Department of Agriculture confirmed concerns

that an uptick in livestock theft is likely due to a single,

highly-organized criminal outfit

and should be considered armed and dangerous.

They believe the same gang was responsible

for an attack on a cattle inspector last autumn

that's left him crippled for life.

Anything else I can get for you, hon?

Oh no, that'll do it, Carole. Thank you very much.

That can't be you.

Frank Bennett?

Sylvia...

- Holy cow. - You remember.

Yeah, of course, I remember. How could I forget?

You want to sit down?

Oh, I ordered takeout.

Oh, okay.

I heard about Hannah. I'm really sorry.

Yeah. Yeah, thank you.

It's...

We have all these dreams and struggle

and then just like that...

It doesn't seem right.

Yeah.

But you, uh... moved away, you got married?

You guys back visiting?

Uh, not you guys. Just... just me.

Dad got ill and needed help with the ranch.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. About your dad.

You guys still got the spread out by 288?

Yeah, exit at the truck stop.

Pa and I, we're whipping it into shape.

It's a little overgrown, but...

- Yeah. - Uh, here's your order, ma'am.

Oh, thank you.

You're back for good, or?

Well, as long as Dad needs me.

He always said you were his best hand.

Did he really?

- He did. - (CHUCKLES)

Well, tell him I said hello. And give him my best.

I will.

I'm surprised they let you in here.

Well, they... It's new ownership.

- Oh. - They don't know about me.

They don't have like a mugshot of you on the wall or something?

I hope not. I'm a cop, so...

Specifically, I'm a... I'm a cow cop.

I mean, I'm at the... livestock officer.

Not a cow cop.

Fighting Frankie.

Fighting Frankie.

I haven't heard that for a while.

Well, um... I've got my ranch stuff and...

You look great.

So do you.

I don't normally do this, but, uh... what the heck.

Anyway, if you're curious...

I'll call you.

Try to not get in any fights.

That's not who I am anymore.

Oh, really? That's too bad.

I kinda liked that guy.

Fighting Frankie.

The kid ain't dead yet.

Hey, partner.

Cup of Olive's finest.

And can you believe Stone Camp's old ma

had his nurse bring him out here?

Today?

Yeah, brought him up from that assisted living place.

Thought it might be good for him to be around the yards.

I mean, he did love it here, but...

I'll go see him.

Yeah, well, I'm gonna leave that to y'all, Frank. Too depressing.

Got to make a call home anyway.

How goes, partner?

I'm guessing you heard.

Yeah.

Cattle breeders got together. They're going to the capitol.

Promise to fund a task force.

I don't give a shit about that, Frank.

I can't remember anything anyhow.

I shit myself this morning.

I was eating breakfast, and...

I knew what was happening,

but I just couldn't remember what to do, you know,

what I... what I was doing.

Fucking decorated law enforcement agent,

crying like a baby.

Hey, it ain't your fault.

Four baldy calves worth maybe 500 apiece.

Caved in my skull for...

two grand change.

We're gonna get the guys that did this to you, Stone Camp.

We'll get 'em.

I won't quit till we do.

I got to turn in some papers. All right?

You're in my prayers, Stone Camp.

Now she's up in Glacier working cows.

- All the way there? - Yeah.

Jesus.