Day of the Outlaw

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I never figured Hal Crane would

have the nerve to string up barbed wire.

It's more than barbed wire.

It's a thousand head of my steers, dying for feed and water.

You just have to drive your herds across his land once a year.

You could still work out something reasonable.

I'm through being reasonable.

I told Crane what would happen if he strung that wire.

Blaise...

We've pulled over some hard hills together

and I've rode behind you all the way.

A wire fence is a poor excuse to make a widow out of Crane's wife.

What have you been thinking about all winter?

Crane's barbed-wire fence or Crane's pretty wife, Helen?

Oh, hi, strangers. It's good to see you.

- Hi, Ernine.

- Ernine.

Be with you in a minute, Blaise.

I didn't think you men would get out in this weather.

Ernine, put up some coffee.

You boys must be eating pretty good at your place.

Sure ran through that last batch of supplies awful fast.

I didn't come to town for supplies. I came here to get a shave.

Look, Blaise, these farmers got a right to live too.

Never saw so much stock on your shelves.

You're doing a pretty brisk trade with them, aren't you Vic?

They're decent, hard-working folks.

All they ask out of life is a break from the weather

and a chance to work their lands in peace.

Ever known me to break the peace, Vic?

No, but I've seen you put away some who tried to.

- I don't hold for killing.

- You don't have to.

As long as you got somebody to do it for you.

I'm beholden to you for what you've done in the past

but things has changed and we got to change with them.

I don't object to change, just fences.

Barbed-wire fences.

I warned Hal Crane he was foolish for ordering that load of wire.

Still ordered it for him, didn't you, though?

Well, a man has a right to spend his own money as he sees fit.

You've declared yourself, Vic. That's all I want to know.

Crane's a proud man. He won't knuckle down.

But he's a farmer. That gun he carries is mostly bluff.

You call his hand, it will be plain murder.

Hello, Mrs. Crane.

Why, hello, Vic.

Dan.

Mr. Starrett.

If you'll just give me a list, I'll get right to it

so you can leave town before dark.

We're not leaving. Hal wants to stay overnight to settle some business.

Coffee's on, boys.

Oh, hello, Mrs. Crane.

Won't you join us for some nice hot coffee?

Why, thanks, Ernine. I don't know if I should.

This is the first time we've been away in months.

I promised Mrs. Preston that we'd come over.

Come on, boys.

I make much better coffee than that ranch mud you've been drinking.

Go ahead. Have a nice friendly cup of coffee the way neighbours do.

Won't you sit down, Mr. Starrett?

You know, I'm glad your husband is stringing up those barbed-wire fences.

We want more farmers around here and less cattle.

That's not a very friendly thing to say, Ernine.

Oh, I'm friendly enough, all right.

It's just that you and Blaise are keeping me from getting married.

I want a husband and not some ranch hand

that makes $30 a month with a bed in a bunkhouse.

I want a young farmer, homesteading a quarter section.

I'm afraid Mr. Starrett's more concerned with keeping the range open

than your getting a husband.

You've got the best excuse I've heard yet.

Ernine, where did you put the shortening?

Oh, father, just when we were getting sociable!

Excuse me.

How's the winter at your place?

Oh, it's been colder and harder than most.

Excuse me, Mrs. Crane.

This coffee made me think how good whiskey would taste.

Excuse me.

See you at the Wyoming.

Do you want to tell me something, Helen?

I don't love you anymore, Blaise.

- I want you to understand that and believe...

- I don't.

- Can't you see how wrong it was?

- I can see what's true.

I don't care what's wrong or right.

Loving you has made me a stranger in my own family.

It's made me feel cheap every time Hal looks at me.

It's not a nice feeling. It's better not to love at all.

You met him first, you married him. Right now you can't even remember why.

Spending the rest of your life with him, that would be the cheap thing to do.

When Hal and I first came here, you could have had me for the asking.

I'd come to a new country with a new husband.

I would have given up anything if you'd only taken me then.

I made a mistake.

- I'm not proud of what we did, Blaise.

- I'm not proud I let you stay with him.

I could have been stronger and faithful with your help.

I'm only concerned with what's going to be.

We're going to meet in town once or twice a year.

I'm going to call you Mr. Starrett and you're going to call me Mrs. Crane.

That's what has to be.

That's easy to say,

not so easy to do.

I was more lonely this winter than I've ever been before.

But I had time to think.

I'm gonna be Hal Crane's wife forever.

I'm sorry you had to say that, Helen.

Everything has to be on Blaise Starrett's terms.

You don't want the farmers to fence their farms.

You back your orders with guns. You want another man's wife

but the man has to be dead before you'll take her.

You don't have much mercy, do you, Blaise?

You won't find much mercy anywhere in Wyoming.

(Door closes)

Funny weather we're having.

If that warm wind keeps blowing, the road will be belly-deep in mud.

You might have to stay in town a few days.

I wouldn't count on that.

Hey, George.

My horse seems

to be favouring her left foreleg.

Give it a good rub-down before you turn in tonight, will you?

You might not be needing a horse tomorrow.

He's coming.

I see you brought the kerosene.

Five gallons, like you ordered.

We've been having a meeting.

- Doesn't look like a prayer meeting.

- It wasn't.

I'm speaking for all present, Blaise.

We're not going to stand for any gun play in Bitters.

I won't start it, Vic.

I'd like that tin of kerosene back, Blaise.

- Didn't you pay for it?

- It's paid for.

Take good care of it.

I'd like to have a word with you, Mr. Starrett.

You must have passed my wagon on your way in.

I did.

Soon as the road's in shape I'm moving that wire up to my place.

- And I'm stringing it up.

- That's what I thought it was for.

(Hal) What do you intend to do about it?

It's going to be cold riding home tomorrow.

I thought it'd be nice to stop and make a fire.

I hear kerosene is the fastest way to burn up a wagon.

- (Hal) You burn my wagons and I'll...

- Hal...

Hal.

Please.

(Hal) What do you intend to do about it?

I intend to go upstairs and get a good night's sleep.

I asked you a question, Mr. Starrett.

(Blaise) When I wake up I'll know what to do.

- I usually do.

- I've got to know.

You want to know the future, Mr. Crane. That's wanting too much for any man.

I'm not afraid of you, Starrett.

Mr. Starrett and I have some business to discuss.

Would you excuse us, please?

I'm sure Mr. Starrett doesn't object to my presence here.

Mrs. Crane being with you doesn't influence me.

I'll fight for what I believe, Mr. Starrett.

I'll die if I have to but I'll fight. I want you to know that.

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