Chisum

1

They say that you can't make it.

Will you hark to what they've said?

Or will you move your beeves

from Texas across the river red?

They're betting you can't make it,

but you bet your life they're wrong.

So keep riding toward the Pecos

to find where you belong.

Can you still keep going on?

Well, you've crossed beyond the Brazos,

fought Comanches, rain, and sand.

You brought your cattle westward,

but is this your promised land?

You made it to the Pecos,

carved your empire 'neath the sun.

You won a hundred battles,

but the fight keeps going on.

Can you still keep going on?

You two go ahead.

I'll ride up and fetch him.

He's been up there over an hour.

What's he do on that hill?

I don't think you'd understand.

Thinking about the beginning?

And before.

Everything's different now.

Not everything.

Most everything.

Comanches all penned up. Buscaderos

staying on their side of the Rio Grande.

Yankee Army prodding around,

people crowding in.

Too many changes.

Things usually change for the better.

Let's go meet the stage.

Just what we don't need around here,

some scrawny, milk-drinking...

- What are you mumbling about, Pepper?

- You heard me.

I didn't hear you.

There's an old Comanche saying

about females.

This female's no Comanche.

I guess she doesn't have

nowhere else to go.

- She does.

- Then what's she coming here for?

Because she wrote and said she was.

It has been a long ride, you know.

- All of this belongs to Chisum.

- All this and much more.

Much land, much horses, and much cattle.

Too much. No?

Neemo, here's your pay.

And now I collect a bonus...

from Chisum.

He thinks he's going to a picnic.

He ain't met Chisum yet.

- I wanna be elsewhere when he does.

- We will be.

Come on. Giddyup.

Come on.

"L.G. Murphy and Company."

I told you Murphy was throwing

a wide loop.

There's no law against a man

going into business...

or businesses.

There's more of it.

One day he's gonna take over...

Quit picking on him.

He hasn't bothered us.

Wait and see. He'll rue the day.

Why the hell they call it the noon stage?

Half the time it don't get in

before sundown.

Had to call it something.

Might as well wet our windpipes.

That's the most sensible thing

I've heard all day.

- Amos, what's going on here?

- Pulling out, John.

I hadn't heard you'd sold the place.

Didn't sell. Lost it. New owner.

If you needed money, I'm sure...

All the credit you've given around here.

No, John, it's not just the money.

It's, well...

I don't know.

Lincoln just ain't the same no more.

I'm heading for Yuma.

Mr. Chisum!

Jim and Tyke's been shot.

They took the remuda.

How many are there?

A dozen, heading south,

over at the Tunstall spread.

Let's go get 'em back.

Chisum's again. Another jinglebob, sir.

- Turn him loose.

- Yes, sir.

Another jinglebob. Big old calf on her.

No brand.

He belongs with his mother.

Turn him loose.

Turn him loose, Charlie.

I don't see why we can't keep the calf.

Probably born on your land.

William, "Thou shalt not covet

thy neighbor's property."

That calf's out of a Chisum cow.

Yeah, but she's probably sired

by a Tunstall bull.

- You know 'em, sir?

- Yes, William, I do.

As a matter of fact,

it's the owner of those cows.

- Henry.

- John.

Thought you were meeting

your niece today.

I aim to.

First I gotta get some horses back.

- Trouble?

- Horse thieves.

- Could you use some help, Mr. Chisum?

- William.

See you later, Henry.

Mr. Tunstall,

I know you don't believe in guns...

but I got a feeling

Mr. Chisum's gonna have need of his.

- Well...

- Well, what?

He didn't say no.

- How do we work this?

- I'm going down there.

The rest of you cover me

with your long guns.

- I said...

- I heard you, Mr. Chisum...

but I ain't the rest of 'em.

Welcome, my friend.

My name's Chisum.

Those animals are mine.

- There must be some mistake here.

- You made it.

No, Chisum. You make the mistake.

You don't bring enough men with you.

Mr. Chisum said to stay here

and cover him with our long guns.

Never was much good with a long gun.

But I tell you what.

We have a long way to go,

and a horse is a lot of trouble.

So if you want these horses,

I sell them to you.

Did you bring some gold with you?

No.

Silver?

Just lead.

No. You can't buy anything with lead.

I guess I have to kill you

and take your horses, too.

Let 'em go, mister.

We got what we came after.

Pretty good shooting, young fella.

- You three all right?

- You bet we're all right. American.

You go and meet your niece.

We'll take care of things around here.

Thanks, Henry.

About that reception for Sallie,

bring this young fella along.

I will, and it's about time

you two were introduced.

This is William Bonney.

- Bonney?

- Came to work for me last month.

William Bonney from up Silver City way?

Sometimes.

You also called Billy the Kid?

Sometimes.

Does that change your mind, Mr. Chisum?

An invitation's an invitation.

Thanks, John.

Letting the fox into the henhouse,

that's what it is.

- Pepper, what are you mumbling about?

- Nothing.

It didn't sound like nothing.

You invited him.

Yeah, I did.

But, seor, we have always watered

our herds at Muddy Creek.

As I explained to your friends,

Muddy Creek's private now.

Bourbon.

But, seor, our herds are small.

There is more than enough water

at Muddy Creek, and yesterday...

I know all about yesterday.

Now listen, Delgado.

I told them then, and I'm telling you now.

And if you don't understand plain English...

maybe there's something else

you will understand.

Dolan, just a minute.

I'm sorry, Seor Delgado?

S, Seor Murphy.

I'm gonna be running a lot of beef,

and I need every drop of water I can get.

I'm sorry.

- Juan.

- S, Seor Chisum.

You and your compadres

can water your herds along the Jicarilla.

It's not much farther,

and it's a whole lot cleaner.

Gracias.

- What are you waiting for?

- Gracias, seor.

John, that's very generous of you.

Buy you a drink?

You've been buying a lot of things

around here lately.

Yeah, I just acquired some land

that's contiguous to your spread.

But, what the hell?

Half of New Mexico territory

is contiguous to your spread.

Let me have my bottle.

John and I are gonna have a drink.

- Nope.

- Why not?

- I don't like you.

- You don't know me.

I know Amos Patton.

We may have to be neighbors...

but I don't have to be neighborly.

I heard you ran into some trouble today.

Can I do anything for you?

Brady, aren't you standing

on the wrong side of that badge?

I'm the new sheriff, duly appointed.

Noon stage got in, Mr. Chisum.

What do you think, Pete? 4:30 p.m.

Old Jeb made good time. Whiskey.

- Mr. Chisum, if I can do anything for you...

- Not likely.

Sheriff.

Your name John Chisum?

- That's right.

- I thought so. My name's Alex McSween.

My wife and I came in on the stage

with Sallie.

That's very nice. Where...

She went over to that stable over there.

Much obliged. Pepper. Pardon.

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