Old Yeller

Old Yeller, Old Yeller

Old Yeller

Here, Yeller

Come back, Yeller

Best doggone dog in the West

Old Yeller was a mongrel

An ugly lop-eared mongrel

Fancy-free without a family tree

But he could up and do it

And prove there's nothin' to it

And that's how a good dog should be

Here, Yeller (WHISTLING)

Come back, Yeller

Best doggone dog in the West

Best doggone dog in the West

Old Yeller was a hunter

A rarin', tearin' hunter

In any chase he knew just how to run

And when he hunted trouble

He always found it double

And that's when Old Yeller had fun

Here, Yeller (WHISTLING)

Come back, Yeller

Best doggone dog in the West

Best doggone dog in the West

Old Yeller was a fighter A rootin', tootin' fighter

In any scrap he knew just what to do

Knew what to do

A rough and ready feller

Although his coat was yeller

His bold Texas heart was true blue

True blue

Here, Yeller (WHISTLING)

Come back, Yeller

Best doggone dog in the West

Here, Yeller

Come back, Yeller

Best doggone dog in the West

Best doggone dog

In the west

- What's Pop gonna sell our steers for? - For money, of course.

- What's money? - It's what you buy things with.

What do you mean by "buy things"?

Well, if you got money, you give it to people for stuff.

They say you can get anything for money.

Anything? What's it look like?

Well, I never seen but one piece,

a dollar bill Papa had. It's paper.

- What'd Papa get with this dollar? - Nothin'. It wasn't no good.

But you just said you could get anything with money.

Well, ya can. But Papa's was Confederate.

- What's Confederate money? - Confederate money?

Well, it's...

- Well? - Don't you ever run outta questions?

I wish you didn't have to go.

Right now I feel sorta the same way, but...

I put 100 head of our steers in that pool herd

and in Kansas, we can get, maybe, $4, $5 a head for 'em.

- Cash money, too. - I know, but...

Ain't nothin' to be sad about, Katie girl.

When you think on it, we're lucky.

There's us and the young 'uns, good land,

plenty of water, game for the killin'.

Cash money is all we need to get a tight tail-hold on the world.

Will you really be gone three months?

All of three months, maybe four.

Now, honey, it ain't nothin' to cry about.

It's just that we've never been separated before.

You know what I'm gonna do when I sell them steers?

What?

I'm gonna get you a store-bought dress.

The first one you've had since we come to Texas.

Let's see.

Is this about the right size?

Papa! I aim to go with ya!

You better stay here and take care of your mama.

Aw, gee, Papa.

But I wanna go. I tell ya, I wanna go!

- I wanna go! Wanna go! - Arliss.

- You ride a piece with me, Travis. - All right, Papa.

I wanna go! (GRUNTS) But I wanna go!

I can ride them old cows same as you.

You can't go on no cow drive, boy. Them Injuns would scalp you for sure.

- You think so, Papa? - I'm certain.

Good-bye, Katie.

Good-bye, Jim dear.

Well, son, while I'm gone, you'll be the man of the house.

Yes, sir.

There'll be the pigs to mark, fresh meat to shoot.

And mainly, there's the corn patch.

If you don't work it right, we'll be without bread this winter.

It's sure enough a man-sized job.

Think you can handle Old Jumper when he's hooked to a plow?

I'll handle him, or I'll bust his jawbone with a club.

Well, all right, boy. I'll see you this fall.

- Papa, you ain't forgettin' the horse? - What horse?

Now, Papa, you know I've been achin' all over for a horse to ride.

I told you time and again.

Well, what you're needin' worse than a horse is a good dog.

Yes, sir, but what I'm wantin' worst is a good horse.

All right, boy. You act a man's part, and I'll bring you a man's horse.

Wanna shake on it?

Whoa.

- (DOG BARKING) - Whoa.

Whoa!

Whoa, Jumper! Whoa!

Whoa! Whoa, Jumper!

Get away from that mule!

Let that mule alone!

Papa ain't gone a full day and look what a mess.

- It's not your fault, son. - Maybe not, but...

Get, you crazy fool dog! Get!

I know one thing.

That old dog better not come around here while I got me a gun in my hands.

- Who busted down the fence? Where have you been?

Bear huntin'. Who busted the fence down?

- Danged old stray dog. - Dog? Where is he?

You won't ever see him. I done rocked him clean off this place.

But I need me a good huntin' dog.

Arliss, go wash up before supper's all cold.

- Aw, Mama. - Go on!

- What do you got in that pocket? - Nothin'.

- Let's see what you got this time. - Aw, Mama.

Come on. Come on.

Oh, Arliss! How can you even touch those ugly things?

They aren't ugly.

Look it here at his belly, how soft and smooth and pretty it is.

I know. Everything you catch is pretty. But take him outta here.

You can't keep him in the house.

You mean I gotta throw him away?

And everything else you got in those pockets.

- My frog, too? - (CROAKING)

Arliss, what all have you got in those pockets?

Aw, Mama, it's just a little old garter snake.

I don't care. Get it out of here!

Arliss, if you don't stop catchin' things and bringin' 'em into the house,

I'm gonna switch you good.

And don't you ever, ever pick up a snake again.

- Ya understand? - Yes'm.

Now, go out there and wash up for supper.

Little old garter snake ain't harmful.

If he'll pick up one kind of snake, he'll pick up another.

Next time it could be a rattler.

I wish he did have a good dog, like Old Bell.

When you were little, Old Bell wouldn't let you near anything harmful.

Ain't another dog in this world like Old Bell was.

Sure would've made short work of that old, yeller stray.

- Mama. - (SIGHS)

I was just thinkin'.

About your papa. I guess he's eaten his breakfast by now.

Probably wanted to get an early start.

I wonder how far they got yesterday.

Oh, I don't know. Papa says 15 mile a day

is a long haul for a trail herd.

I guess he made about 10 mile.

Mush is about ready. If you want middling meat with it,

better go out and cut some down.

All right.

Mama, what happened to the middling meat?

Why, you no-account, thievin' rascal!

- Get outta here! - (BARKS)

A dog!

All right!

You hit my dog and I'll wear you to a frazzle.

Travis, Arliss, whatcha doin' out there?

Let go of my stick! - Arliss! Arliss.

Don't you dare hit your brother.

He was tryin' to kill my dog.

He's not your dog, and I never even touched him.

Where on earth did he come from?

He's that same stray dog that wrecked the fence.

Stole that big side of middling meat there too!

He's my dog. Ain't nobody gonna try to hurt him.

Well.

Looks like we've got us a dog.

Mama, you don't mean we're gonna keep that old, ugly yeller dog

after what he done?

He isn't a ugly yeller dog. He's a pretty yeller dog.

Come on now.

- (BARKING) - Come on.

Why not let Arliss claim him?

And have him stampedin' Jumper again?

You could break him of that.

He's a thief, Mama! He'll steal us blind.

Most creatures will steal when they're hungry enough.

All right, but I still don't want him!

Now, Travis, you're not bein' fair.

You had a dog when you were little, and Arliss has never had one.

He's too little for you to play with. He gets lonely.

After breakfast, you can take to the woods and get us a deer.

And, Travis, do some thinkin' on what I said

about Arliss and that old, yeller dog.

Come on, boy.

Jumper, you jug head!

A bunch of bobwhites, and you act like you ain't got the brains

of a blind goose in a hail storm.