Shane

somebody's coming, Pa.

- Hope you don't mind my cutting through your place.

No, I guess not.

I'm heading north.

Didn't expect to find any fences around here.

Hello, boy.

You were watching me down the trail

quite a spell, weren't you?

Yes, I was.

You know, I ...

I like a man who watches things going around.

It means he'll make his mark someday.

Been a long time since I've seen a Jersey cow.

Well, you'll see a lot more,

Jerseys and Holsteins and the like.

Can I offer you some water?

Thanks.

You're a little touchy, aren't you?

Joey.

You know better than to point guns at people.

I wasn't pointing at anybody, Mother.

Sure had me snorting, son.

I just wanted you to see my rifle.

Bet you can shoot.

Can't you?

A little bit.

Giddy up!

- Looks like your friends are a little late.

What are the Ryker boys up to this time?

Rykers?

That's what I said.

- I wouldn't know a Ryker from your Jersey cow.

- Don't forget to close the gate on your way out.

Would you mind putting down that gun?

Then I'll leave.

What difference does it make?

You're leaving anyway.

I'd like it to be my idea.

Howdy, Starrett.

Expecting trouble?

I don't want no trouble, Starrett.

I came to inform you.

I got that beef contract for the reservation.

- Did it take this many of you to tell me that?

I mean business.

Then tend to your own.

That's just what I'm doing!

I'm telling you now I'm gonna need all my range.

Now that you've warned me,

would you mind getting off my place?

Your place?

You're gonna have to get out before the snow flies.

And supposing I don't?

You and the other squatters...

Homesteaders you mean, don't you?

I could blast you out of here right now,

you and the others.

Now, you listen to me.

The time for gun-blasting

a man off of his own place is past.

They're building a penitentiary right now--

Joe. Joe, that's enough.

Take care of...

Who are you , stranger?

I'm a friend of Starrett's.

Well, Starrett,

you can't say I didn't warn you.

All right, you've told me.

Now you get off of my claim.

- Supper will be ready in a little while, Joe.

Won't be very long.

Wait, Mister, I ...

I swear, I ...

Wait a minute, please.

I take that back what I ...

Well, look, this...

This thing ain't even loaded.

Not loaded?

No, no, Joey's too young to go loaded.

That's his gun.

If this don't beat all.

My name is Starrett, Joe Starrett,

and this here is Joey.

You heard what my little woman said.

Come on in, please.

I feel like eating.

You can call me Shane.

I guess I spook kind of easy these days.

Hello, Joe.

My place ain't very much yet,

but I'll tell you one thing,

my wife sure can cook.

But it won't be long till supper.

Here, you can ...

You can wash up right here.

In case you wanna know, that's, uh ...

That's Ryker's spread all that over there.

He thinks the whole world belongs to him.

These old-timers they just can't see it yet,

but running cattle on an open range

just can't go on forever.

It takes too much space for too little results.

Those herds aren't any good.

They're all horns and bone.

Now cattle that is bred for meat

and fenced in and fed right that's the thing.

You got to pick your spot,

get your land , your own land.

Now a homesteader he can't run but a few beef,

but he can sure grow grain and cut hay.

And then what with his garden

and the hogs and milk,

well, he'll make out all right.

We make out, don't we, Marian?

Of course.

Oh , it's that calf again.

Joey, you run and chase her out of there.

Joey, run on , son.

And don't forget to shut that gate.

Joey?

Come on , shoo!

I wouldn't ask you where you're bound.

One place or another.

Someplace I've never been.

Hmm.

I know one thing the only way they're gonna

get me out of here is in a pine box.

What do you mean, Pa?

- Well, I mean, son, they'll have to shoot me

and carry me out.

Joe, I wish you wouldn't talk like that.

Well, that's the truth.

You love this place.

We've got our roots down.

- I know, but I wish you wouldn't talk that way.

The first real home we've ever had.

What did you mean when you said--

Joey, be quiet the men wanna talk.

The only thing is there's just

more work here than I can do.

If I could hire me a man that...

Had one once,

but the Ryker brothers roughed him up a bit,

so he lit out, cussing me.

They knocked his teeth out.

Ready for pie?

- Well, if nobody else is gonna eat this last biscuit,

well, I guess I'm gonna have to.

Say, we're kind of fancy, aren't we?

What is, Pa?

Our good plates and extra fork.

What about me, Ma?

What's the matter, Marian?

Nothing.

- That was an elegant dinner, Mrs. Starrett.

Excuse me.

Where's Mr. Shane going?

He didn't even say goodbye.