The Big Country

For those that are gonna go on,

one hour to eat, folks,

while we change the horses.

- Let me help you, ma'am.

- Thank you.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, Mr. McKay.

Hey, look at that.

All right, Clint. Turn 'em around.

Mr. McKay?

Yes.

I'm Steve Leech,

foreman at Ladder Ranch.

I brought Pat's buckboard and team for

you. She's waiting at a friend's house.

Thank you. That's very kind.

I was beginning to think

I was in the wrong town.

This your gear?

That's right.

I don't know as I'd wear that hat

too long around here, Mr. McKay.

Oh? Why not?

One of these wild cowboys might take it

into his head to shoot it off ya.

Thank you, Mr. Leech.

How do you do, Mr. Leech?

Boys, don't you know to tip your hats

when the foreman of Ladder goes by?

Come on, let's get outta here.

Pat! Hello, Pat!

Jim!

Darling, I can't believe

you're really here.

You don't know how long it's been.

Don't I, though!

If I'd known how much I'd miss you,

I'd have made you marry me in Baltimore.

- You haven't changed your mind?

- Do I act as if I had?

You must've wondered when

I wasn't at the hotel to meet you.

I declare, I wasn't gone

more than a minute!

We're gonna be a public scandal.

My hair's still not the way I planned it.

And I know that my nose is red from

waiting in the sun without a hat on.

I'm so glad to see you I could cry!

Thanks for bringing him to me, Steve.

You're welcome.

Anything else I can do for you?

No. If you're through in town,

go on back to Ladder.

- Not ride back with you?

- Oh, heavens, no!

We'll take our time.

We'd only hold you up.

The reason I mention it is that

the Hannassey boys are in town.

They've been drinkin'

We'll be all right, Steve.

Just as you say, Miss Terrill.

Thank you, Mr. Leech.

Well, who lives here?

My friend Julie Maragon.

She's the local schoolteacher.

- Am I still your girl?

- You'd better be.

All right, Julie, you can come out now.

I've finished kissing him,

for a minute or two.

Julie?

She's gone.

You know, I think I'm gonna like Julie.

Don't mind me, I'm just passing through.

Oh, Julie, you idiot! Come on back here.

This is Jim.

Well, I certainly hope so.

- Hello, Jim.

- Hello, Julie.

Well, what do you think of him?

You don't look like a sailor.

- You don't look like a schoolmarm.

- I didn't say he was a sailor.

I said he was a ship's captain.

His family owns a whole shipping line.

But honestly, darling, you do look

funny out here in those clothes.

That's what Mr. uh... Leech said

when he saw me in that hat.

Hey!

We shoulda stayed in town.

Got some girls and more liquor.

Maybe we got us somethin' better.

There's Pat Terrill and her eastern dude.

Let's give him a welcome.

Cracker! Get up outta there.

The Hannassey bunch.

Local trash. Keep on driving, Jim.

Looks like they want to talk.

Well, don't stop.

Go right on through 'em.

Let's go after them.

Whoa, boy!

Whoa! Whoa!

Whoa, boy!

Whoa, boy! Whoa!

Yee-hah!

Whoa! Whoa!

Howdy, Miss Terrill.

That wasn't very social back there.

Well! Whaddaya know?

We got a gentleman with us.

Don't it make you boys feel kinda dirty

to look at such a handsome gentleman

all dressed up in a fancy suit?

Miss Terrill, ain't you gonna

introduce me to your intended?

I wouldn't introduce you to a dog.

The name is McKay.

Polite, too.

Neat, clean and polite.

I sure do like your hat.

- All right, that's enough.

- Pat!

Cut her off there, Rafe.

Look what I got!

Let me try that!

- Hey, Buck, I got me a young one.

- Stop it! Let me out of here!

Don't you lay a hand on him,

Buck Hannassey!

Give me that hat!

Buck Hannassey!

Don't you touch him! Don't you touch him!

You let me out of here!

All right. Turn him loose.

Miss Terrill, he ain't much of a man.

Better send him back

where he come from.

Jim, are you hurt, darling?

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

I'm all in one piece, I guess.

I'm so humiliated, having this

happen to you your first day here.

Don't worry about it. Greenhorns always

have to get knocked around a little.

Why did you take the rifle from me?

I didn't even know

that you had a rifle.

Why did you take it?

Why? Well, I didn't think that

you really wanted to shoot anybody.

The Hannasseys! I'd just as soon

shoot 'em as look at 'em.

You don't mean that.

They were just showing off.

I didn't want to let it get serious.

Jim, you didn't think that was serious?

Not really, no.

Aren't you even angry?

No.

I wish you hadn't taken my rifle.

Well, it's over now.

We're both all right.

Hey...

Not very good shots, are they?

Or maybe this is a better hat

than I thought.

- Glad we're getting there.

- Oh, yeah. We'll be there before dark.

- Where are you goin'

- I'm in a mood to go courtin'

The schoolmarm?

How are your lessons comin'

You gonna get promoted?

Surprised you, didn't I?

You shoulda seen yourself.

You jumped like a shot deer.

- Knock before you come in.

- I knocked. You didn't hear me.

Well, don't come in until I hear you.

- What do you want?

- I just dropped by to see how you was.

You oughta keep your door locked.

Why?

Why, ma'am, a pretty woman livin' alone?

That's kind of a temptation

in a land of men.

That's soup, ain't it?

It's kind of thin. Don't stick to

your ribs like beef and beans.

But it ain't bad.

You're a good cook for a schoolmarm.

Thank you.

You know, Julie, I can just picture

us together out in the Big Muddy.

The lamp lit.

You cooking, me eating.

Happy as two little dogies

at a waterhole.

I'm enchanted.

That's another thing I like about you,

teacher. All them words you know.

And the way you sashay down

the street, smilin' when we meet.

Passin' a word or two.

You been leadin' me on, teacher.

You're crazy! I've been pleasant

to you, that's all.

You ain't foolin' old Buck.

By the way, I just stopped

to pass the time of day

with your high and mighty friend

Pat Terrill and her intended.

He sure is a dude.

That the kind of a man you want?

With a bow tie, a fancy hat

and no nerve to hold a gun?

That's enough, Buck Hannassey.

I think you'd better leave.

You know something, Julie?

If we was to join your Big Muddy

with our place,

- the Terrills'd dry up like jimson weed.

- Will you get out of here?

I talked it over with Pa.

He likes the idea.

So do I.

Let go of me!

You're scared, ain't ya?

I like a woman that's scared of me.

If a woman was to tell the truth,

she likes a man who scares her a little.

You must be drunk!

All right, teacher.

But, remember, the Terrills

ain't no friends of ours.

I'll choose my own friends.

No, that won't do. You gotta

be on one side or the other.

You can't have it both ways.

School's over for today, teacher.

But I'll be back.

- Morning.

- Howdy.

- Morning.

- Howdy.

- Howdy.

- Good morning.

Morning.

My name is Ramn Gutirrez.

How do you do? My name is McKay.

Pleased to meet you. But I knew that.

Girls, this is Mr. McKay, who is

going to marry Miss Patricia.

Tell me, how many head of cattle

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