The Rowdy Girls

Get comfortable now, people,

and a story I will tell about a group of women

who were rowdier than hell.

Out there in the rugged west where men are dumb as dirt,

trying just to stay alive and keep from getting hurt.

Rowdy girls.

Sit tight and watch the story of the rowdy girls.

While preparations were making for his departure,

the Roman ladies take a step, which was a perfect novelty

in the Republic.

About 20 years before when Hannibal was ravaging Italy

and when the treasury was very low, a tribune of people

named Opius had got a law passed that no woman should

wear above half an ounce of gold in ornaments,

or wear purple, or ride in a chariot,

either at Rome or within a mile of it,

unless she went to assist at public sacrifice.

The ladies had conformed themselves

to this law in a time of general distress,

but they thought it intolerable to the

under the restraint of it now when the Republic

abounded with riches.

And they made a great stir to get it repealed.

The consulship of the austere Cato

seemed a very improper time for moving this affair,

but their passion for finery would brook no delay.

They prevailed with Valerius and Fendanias, two of the tribunes,

to present their request to the comeechia.

And contrary to custom, ran thither themselves.

Neither the orders of their husbands,

nor the rules of decency, nor public authority

could keep them at home.

But there is no mischief of which that sex is not capable

if you allow them to hold amongst themselves assemblies,

private parties, and gossipings.

This yarn spins back to 1886,

where we meet a desperate woman tired of turning tricks.

She'd do most anything to make a break from that bordello

and head out west to find herself a decent fellow.

Velvet was raised inside a house where

the beds creaked till dawn.

But her mama gave her hope and pride

that kept her spirit strong.

Rowdy girls.

The rough and tumble story of the rowdy girls.

Go away.

I'm sending another one up.

No, you're not.

Velvet.

Now you know you can't keep doing this.

You know you're Monsieur Walkins' favorite.

Well, tell Mr. Walkins that I'm under the curse.

Now move on.

I can't just go down there and--

I said move on!

Now the meanest girl around could put you 6

feet underground or any other man

or woman who provokes her will.

When Billy Poke led the gang, they all were doomed to hang.

But Mick was meaner still, and she always shot to kill.

Rowdy girl.

Rowdy girls.

Oh, Mick, you know what that does to me.

Yeah, Billy, I do.

Oh yeah.

I am the Brahma bull.

Oh, come on, Mick.

You know I hate when you do that.

Come on, Billy.

You know you need the practice to be a famous outlaw and all.

Reflexes.

See?

Take it.

Why don't you come on over here, Billy.

See what a real woman tastes like.

Come on.

Yes.

Oh yeah.

Oh yeah.

You're one hell of a woman, Mick.

You could say that again.

Don't forget.

I'm Billy Poke.

You certainly did.

Sarah was arranged to wed a Texan Calahan.

But her heart was crying out for the San Francisco Bay.

So she begged her beau, Rory, to take her there by hand

and left a tear-stained

SARAH (VOICEOVER): Dear Father, I am sorry to leave

without saying goodbye.

I cannot marry Mr. Calahan as you have arranged.

My intention is to go to San Francisco.

I know you don't approve of Rory, but he is a good man.

I know he will take care of me.

Your dearest daughter, Sarah.

Tell me about San Francisco again.

Do the ladies really stay out all night there?

Don't worry, Sarah.

You know I'll send for you.

Well, if you love me, you'll take me with you now.

If you don't, I'll have to marry some old goat

I don't even know.

No, I can't.

I got business to attend to.

Now you know that.

I didn't want to go with you anyway.

I'll get to San Francisco by myself.

Hey.

Come on.

Hey.

It went just like you said it was gonna go.

Hand me the keys.

I didn't lose them.

OK.

Did anybody see you?

Hell no.

And it was a hell of a lot easier than storming

in there in broad daylight. -Let me see the money.

It's all there.

We're rich.

You done good, Cole.

Oh, I'm telling you, honey.

It was so easy.

I slipped the keys in, and the safe opened right up

just like you said it would.

No guards, no nothing.

Velvet, I love you.

Take off your clothes.

Honey.

You almost as smart as me.

Now you know how excited bank robbing gets me.

I want to teach you something new.

All right now.

You catch your breath.

Tell me everything that happened, OK?

I went inside.

Mm-hmm.

There was nobody there.

Yeah?

Shut the door.

Place was all dark.

Keep talking, honey.

I crawled on my belly to the back.

I put the two keys in the safe.

That's a little tight.

Sorry.

Safe opened right up.

There was the money, just sitting there,

waiting for me to take it.

Are you sure you closed the safe?

Yeah, yeah.

I locked it.

And nobody saw you on the street?

No.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

I done told you.

Tell me you're my girl.

Tell me.

I ain't your girl, Cole.

I ain't nobody's girl.

I told you that.

You know why I ain't your girl, Cole?

'Cause you're stupid.

Maybe someday, I'll be somebody's girl.

I don't know who.

Sure ain't gonna be you.

Had so many men, I can't remember them all.

But I gotta tell you, out of all of them,

damn, you're the worst.

Now settle down, Cole.

I'm taking all my money, do you hear me?

I love you, Velvet.

Damn, Cole.

Now see, this is what I'm talking about.

That's so stupid.

How many times do I have to tell you to think ahead?

But I love you, Velvet.

And you hurt me real bad.

No.

I don't have time for this.

Now Sweetwater is a friendly and fairly quiet old town.

Though some of the husbands around here

wish that Joe Pepper would tame that friendliness down.

The Pepper Brothers, Joe and Sam,

well, they're Sweetwater law.

But Sam's doing all the work while Joe fools around

back there behind the stalls.

That's just boredom talking though.

Someday, he'll learn to fight against hate.

Hopefully, for Sam's sake, it doesn't happen too late.

Oh yeah.

Mrs. Wheeler.

Joe.

Sam.

No, no, no.

No, Sam, this isn't what it looks like.

Uh-uh.

Look, I-- I was just helping Mrs. Wheeler find her--

Don't explain to me, little brother.