Badman's Territory

In the building of the great American

empire of the West,

first a big section of land

was given over to the Indians,

then Texas was annexed in 1845.

New Mexico became a territory

of the US,

then territories became states,

but a mistake was made and a strip

of land was completely overlooked,

left without law or sheriff.

This strip had no legal basis

for government of any kind,

and became a hideout for the outlaws

who infested the West.

No United States marshal

dared venture there.

It was called Badman's Territory.

Its metropolis was a prairie town

called Quinto.

There, one bygone day, a quiet band of desperadoes

set forth on one of their periodical missions.

Satisfied with local conditions

were Ben Wade, the hotel keeper,

and his boisterous helpers.

The merchants, many of them slightly reformed

characters themselves, watched with approval.

Successful outlaws

meant heavy spending.

Wealthy Colonel Farewell, president

of the Livestock Association,

and Tahlequah, chief of the plains

tribes, cared little about outlaws.

Yes, Quinto was thriving and everybody

liked things the way they were,

except possibly Henryetta Alcott, an

English girl transplanted to the West

on the death of her father,

publisher of the Quinto Citizen.

She had long resented

the town's notorious guests,

and now she decided

to do something about it.

Unaware of being honoured

by editorial notice,

the subjects of her headline turned

south toward Texas and their mission.

Sure that'll get through

all right?

Don't worry.

Some of them train robbers

are smarter than a coyote.

Them James brothers could be laying

for the train that's going on.

They don't operate this far west.

Never yet, maybe,

but supposin' they did?

They'd be fools. The car locks from inside and

the messenger won't open without the signal.

Is that so?

Well, I'm glad to know that, son.

All the same, I'll stick around and make sure

my stuff gets away. It's my 30 years' savings.

HE PLAYS "OH, SUSANNAH"

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

BELL CLANGS ON TRAIN

HORSE WHINNIES:

Whoa! I ain't going to hurt ye!

Stand still, doggone your hide!

HE LAUGHS:

RAT-A-TAT-TA How are you, Johnny?

Fair to middlin'.

Take care of this. The old boy's

afraid someone'll steal it.

Throw your guns in the wagon.

Don't raise your hands.

Do it.

Now get inside.

All aboard!

BELL CLANGS:

Hey! I think the train's been robbed!

You do?

Halt!

We'll fan out here. Chances are the

bandits will come through that cut.

Patton, spread your men east. Wake,

yours west. We'll camp for the night.

Captain Hampton -

three riders coming up, sir.

Rowley! I told you to cover Cherokee Flat! I

don't think the outlaws are coming that way.

What do you think? They'll use

Eagle Creek. 50 miles north? Yeah.

The state police are running this. County

sheriffs follow my orders. Understand?

No. I never could understand you.

If a messenger comes from the Kiowa

tribe, send him on to Eagle Creek.

Who's the young fella

with Rowley?

His brother. He's his new deputy. Together,

they wouldn't make one good officer!

Whoa!

Here!

It's a Kiowa pony.

I wonder how he lost his rider?

The James gang? Might explain why we didn't

get the message. And that confirms it.

That's Hampton's posse! They must

have intercepted the messenger.

It all adds up. Mercer, swing around

and meet me below the cut.

Right, Mark. Come on, Johnny.

If you were an outlaw camped by the creek

and saw that posse, what would you do?

I'd head up to open country. Right. And if you're

a deputy who's figured out the outlaws' next move?

I'd hide in the trees. Right.

And pump lead into them. Wrong.

Every man

has a right to a fair trial.

Outlaws? Train robbers? No-one's guilty

until convicted. Try to take your man alive.

What if he shows fight? Shoot and don't miss. I

didn't bring you here to lose you. Yes, teacher!

Sorry. I was talking to my big

brother, not my little one. Thanks.

If they come through,

they'll be surrounded.

They're closing in on three sides!

That leaves us just one.

I'll make sure that's clear!

Told you we shouldn't stop here.

Shut up, Hank!

Git, Buck!

You young whippersnapper!

Where'd you drop from - a balloon?

Take it easy, Pop. Come on, get up!

HOWLS LIKE A COYOTE

CLICK:

- What have we here, Rowley? -

Prisoner. - One of the James gang, eh?

Me?

Then who are you, pardner?

Huh?

Tell me, and talk fast.

Can't talk fast. No teeth.

I got nothing to say to you.

- Hey!

- Keep out of this. I'll wring the information out of him.

No, you won't. Come on, old timer. Sure hate

to cause friction in the ranks of the law.

- Carson, take him.

- No, he's my prisoner!

- Rowley!

- My orders are to take him alive!

All right, Frank,

pick up their hardware.

Now get down and hand me his gun.

Sure glad to see you, Jesse.

I was depending on you.

All right? Nothing a little distance

'twixt me and the law won't cure.

Who's that?

Friend of mine. We'll take him.

We can't! He'll slow us up!

He got hurt on my account. I ain't

leaving him with that varmint.

He goes with us. Come on!

Come on. We'll find Patton.

Have you seen Patton and my men?

No, but I saw the outlaws. Why'd they

take my brother? He went of his own accord.

I don't believe that.

And he looked like he was wounded.

He was. I shot him. What?

I had to. John did that?

He turned on me. Why?

To help the outlaws escape.

We had them covered but he...

Did you try to take his prisoner?

You can't justify him, Rowley.

I'll get the truth

when I bring John back to face you.

He's a fugitive from justice. If he

faces me, it'll be at the end of a rope.

You're even a bigger coward

than I thought you were.

Rowley, it's a good thing

I'm not armed.

Yes, it is. Get off that horse.

Get off.

This is robbery!

Yes. Highway robbery!

Who are you? Mark Rowley.

What are you doing? Hunting.

Rabbits?

No. Quinto. Oh.

Who are you?

Belle Starr? Maybe.

Cimarron Rose? Maybe.

Sureshot Stella? Maybe.

Talkative, aren't you? Not with

strangers. You were following me.

No, five riders. One on a chestnut.

Have you seen 'em?

The James gang? Yes.

They passed half an hour ago.

Thanks.

Friends of yours? One of them was fairly

close to me. Don't get close to them.

You a sheriff? Yes, ma'am. Sorry.

That's all right.

I doubt if the civic body of Quinto will

greet you. I hope they pay me no attention.

If you represent the population, I won't worry. I'd

remove that star. Sheriffs don't live long in Quinto.

Thanks. I think I can take care

of myself. You seem well able to.

In my business, I have to.

I understand.

Is that the way to Quinto? Yes. I'll be on

my way. If you don't mind, I'll join you.

It's a pleasure, Miss...

Alcott. Henryetta Alcott.

You're not Belle Starr.

No. Not Cimarron Rose nor

Sharpshootin' Stella either.

Say, what is your business?

I'm a printer. Uh-huh.

Well, this is Quinto.

BANGING:

It's Ben Wade's crowd.

It's the Citizens' Committee.

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