The Violent Men

Hey, Jed, take a look at his left hind shoe, will you?

- Morning, Sheriff. - Good morning.

- Mr. Parrish. - Yeah?

I'd get off the street if I were you.

And I'd stay off while that Anchor outfit's in town.

- How goes it, Elena? - Is Cole coming to town?

I don't think so. But I'm in town.

- When he come? - Who knows? Maсana, maybe.

What are you doing today?

When you see Cole, tell him...

No, you no tell him anything. I wait till he come.

So, you're itching to get married and start on your honeymoon.

I've always considered honeymoons barbaric.

Throwing two people together on a trip before they've become properly acquainted.

You're lucky that Confederate bullet went clean through you.

There's nothing so deadly as a Yankee surgeon probing around.

- The war's over, Doc. - You can put your shirt on.

Men always find reasons to avoid living in peace.

Take this valley.

You wouldn't think there'd be any cause to put blood on the landscape, would you?

It's not my war.

It's been my observation that a man's appetite grows by what it feeds on.

And there's no hunger like the hunger for land.

It swallows everything and everybody.

Men like Wilkison: land-eaters.

Understand you're losing another neighbour.

Your friend Mahoney, forced to sell, like all the rest.

I suppose it's your turn next.

You'll either have to run like they did, or stand and fight.

That's not what I came here to find out, Doc.

If it's your health you're concerned about, don't be.

With reasonable care, you'll outlive most of us.

Then it's safe for me to go back East?

You can tell Caroline Vail there's nothing to stop you from marrying her now.

She's asked me often enough how you were getting along.

I never saw a girl more concerned.

- So, you're going east? - Yeah, I'm going for good.

What are you going to do about your ranch?

Well, Lew Wilkison wants to talk to me about it.

So he's forcing you out, too.

Now, nobody's forcing me out, Doc. I'm going because I want to go.

I can't spend my life raising cattle. It's not my business.

Besides, I'm a stranger around here, Doc. Always have been and always will be.

All that grass and sand ever meant to me the past three years...

was a place to regain my health.

Now I've got it, there's nothing to hold me here any longer.

Except what you owe the land and your neighbours.

I don't owe anybody anything.

You came out here to die, Mr. Parrish. This country gave you back your life.

And you still owe it nothing?

What happens in this valley is no concern of mine.

- Thanks, Doc. - Goodbye, Mr. Parrish.

No, I was only joking.

I didn't really mean that Mr. Wilkison stole my land.

We don't like them kind of jokes, Mahoney.

But honest, I didn't mean it that way. Honest.

I ain't complaining. Mr. Wilkison gave me a good price.

- I ain't complaining. - Not much.

Don't.

Mr. Parrish, better keep out of this.

You can't do anything without a gun.

Matlock, that's enough.

You keep out of this. This is Anchor business.

What happens in this town is my business.

You boys get back to your cards and liquor, or get out of town. One or the other.

For a man old enough to know better, you pick the dangdest places to get drunk.

Get out of here.

Stay put.

You're all primed for trouble, aren't you?

Go ahead, pull that gun or hand it here.

Well, I'm a patient man, but don't keep me waiting too long.

Pay my respects to Mr. Wilkison.

Tell him I recommend he sends you packing. Because if he don't, I will.

Mahoney, get out of here.

Stay where you are.

Stay where you are until these witnesses get done talking.

I intend to get justice done fast.

Now, who's seen what happened?

They weren't after Mahoney.

They used him as a decoy to murder the Sheriff.

You mustn't go around saying things like that about Mr. Wilkison's men.

- Caroline's right. - Why look for trouble?

That Deputy Magruder, he let the killer go because he works for Wilkison.

Maybe the Sheriff forced his hand, like they said.

That's the first time I've ever seen one man shoot another man in the back...

just to protect himself.

And I just stood there.

John, you're just upset from seeing a man killed.

Mr. Vail, I saw too many men killed in the war for just one more to upset me.

There's something big building up in this valley.

In the Army, we used to call it enemy pressure.

First, Wilkison's brother Cole comes back from Texas to help him run Anchor.

Then a tough kid with a fancy gun shows up on the Wilkison payroll.

Then all the small ranchers are forced out, one by one.

Anchor riders tearing up the fences, stampeding, shooting.

Well, you got to expect that in cattle country.

The farmers to the south of me are getting the same kind of pressure.

The same kind of offers, practically nothing for their land.

Now Mahoney's out, the Sheriff's dead...

and I'm invited to Anchor to talk business.

You mean Mr. Wilkison wants to buy your place?

That's wonderful, honey. We can get married and go east right away.

You can't deal with a man who sends six killers to shoot an old man in the back.

- But that has nothing to do with us. - Of course not.

You can't let that stand in the way of Caroline's happiness and yours.

Wilkison's the only one here who can afford to pay you a decent price.

Doesn't give him the right to push people around.

You can't argue with a man who started with a few acres of land...

and now owns practically the whole valley. You must go see him.

Please, John, for us.

I'm sorry, Caroline. I just can't.

- I'd better be getting back to my place. - Aren't you staying overnight?

No, I want to make sure my men don't get into any trouble.

I've got a couple of hotheads who'd like to take a shot at a Wilkison rider.

Good night.

- Good night. - Good night.

You'd better think it over.

I'd sooner sell now, than to be forced later.

I've thought it over, Mr. Vail.

John.

I'm sorry, not even saying goodbye.

Honey, you hurt Mother's feelings, leaving like that.

But then, they are kind of silly, aren't they?

The way they keep at us.

I guess I'm out of the habit of taking advice.

I've been running my own affairs since I joined the Army.

The Army.

The way you talk, anyone would think it was the one big thing in your life.

Well, perhaps it was, until I met you.

I like you to say things like that, even if you don't mean them.

I do mean it.

Honey, talk to Mr. Wilkison. Please.

I know how you feel about it, but try to understand.

Don't you think that I want to sell out, marry you, and take you East with me?

You don't understand.

I'm afraid of what will happen to you if you stay here.

You once told me you were tired of fighting.

I just won't deal with Wilkison.

Honey, please, for my sake.

I don't want to lose you.

I love you. What do I have to do?

Promise me you'll go to Anchor. Promise me.

Good evening, Miss Vail.

Or should I say good morning?

You're drunk again, George.

A man has to console himself when his girl strolls off with somebody else...

into a stable.

I'm not your girl, and leave me alone.

Go back to the saloon, where you belong.

- Decent people don't want you around. - Decent? Caroline?

I don't have to account to you.

You had your chance, and you gambled it away.

I'll get more money.

You'd be surprised how many rich relatives I have in Boston.

They don't want you around, and I don't, either.

- Don't you? - You'll never take me out of this town.

What do you want? A man or a railroad ticket?

I want to get out of here. And nothing's going to stop me.

Martin, Davis, and Tony are riding herd, Captain.

I had McCloud get you together because I want you to know in advance...

that I'm selling the ranch and going east just as soon as I can.

- The doctor say you could? - That's right, Jim.

Anybody that wants to can start packing for another job...

with an extra month's pay just as soon as roundup is over.

There's no need for you to wait around for the new owner.

Why not? Don't you think he'll want us?

Well, you may not want him. I'm selling out to Wilkison.

You're going to hand over your place to Lew Wilkison?

I'm not handing it over. He wants to buy, and I want to sell.

- I guess that's all Mr. Parrish has to say. - No, it isn't.

It may take a little while to get the deal worked out.

In the meantime, I don't want anybody running any risks.

I don't want any heroes on my payroll.

I may not be much of a cattleman, but so far nobody's been hurt working for me.

I want it kept that way. Is that understood?

None of us wants to get hurt, Mr. Parrish.

But I ain't hightailing it from any Anchor riders who come picking a fight.

I know what you mean, Bud.

I ain't forgot how they smashed my pa's fences, and tried to ride him down.

My pa says never go looking for trouble. Try to talk your way out of it.

But it didn't work with Wilkison's bunch.

I know, Bud, but I must do it my way.

Sure, Mr. Parrish.

- Saddle my horse. I'm going to Anchor now. - I sure hope you have some luck.

Thank you, Bud.

Mr. Purdue.

I came to learn if it's true you're selling to that bunch of vultures over at Anchor.

- Do you know a better buyer? - Only Wilkison's got that kind of money.

Mr. Parrish, for what it's worth to remind you...

my dad and mother helped you that first winter you came out here.

When you were near to dying.

I haven't forgotten.

Then don't sell to Anchor. We are the last of the small ranchers.

We can't count on those farmers to fight back.

I'm sorry, but you can't count on me. Has nothing to do with my being ungrateful.

- I'll never forget your help. - Then show it.

I had nothing to do with starting your feuds, and I'm not going to become involved.

Twelve years ago, Anchor riders killed my oldest boy.

They beat him up so bad, he died in his mother's arms.

It was their way of trying to drive me out of this valley.