The Big Country Page #3

gonna pull you off.

Tell Rufus, the next time

I'll burn the place to the ground.

- Buck ain't around here, Major.

- We looked all over. Can't find him.

Ramn.

Yes, Mr. McKay?

Yes?

No.

- Come on.

- No...

- Come on!

- No!

No...

I'll give you some help, Ramn.

Una...

Dos...

Tres!

Why you want to ride him now,

if you don't ride him before?

Don't ask me why, Ramn.

But, Ramn, whatever happens,

this is strictly between you and me,

and the horse. Right?

But... maybe if the seorita...

Even the seorita.

No one must know. All right?

All right.

- Any advice?

- Yes.

Don't do it!

Thanks.

Cast off. I'm aboard.

No. No.

Pig!

Pig! I hope they get you!

Here's one of 'em. They've been

braggin' about it all over town.

Where are the others?

Well, there's Rafe.

That's two of 'em.

Now there's Blackie...

- Don't forget Buck.

- I'm not forgettin' Buck.

What you gonna do with us, Major?

We didn't mean no harm.

We were just havin' a little fun.

What do you think you're doin' here?

You got no call to treat us like this!

Pick him up.

Where's Buck?

- Where's Buck?!

- He lit out early this mornin'

He's probably halfway

to the canyon by now!

What you gonna do with us?

We didn't mean no harm!

Shut up! Don't crawl to him!

There are women and children here.

Take them down to the livery stable.

Let's go.

You wait till Rufus hears about this!

You ain't gonna feel so damn big then!

We didn't hurt Miss Terrill

or the dude none.

Let us go!

You gonna let 'em get away with this?!

You gonna let 'em ride into town

and take it over like they owned it?!

Whoa, boy.

Mucho! Bravo!

Arriba los buenos jinetes!

That's enough, Steve.

- Let's go.

- All right, Major.

Good day, Mr. Griggs.

We're civilised now, Mr. McKay.

I hope you'll stay around.

I'm thinking about it.

There's plenty of room out here.

It's a big country.

Rope him and hogtie him, Henry.

- Major...

- Jim, about what happened this morning.

I know exactly how you feel. I don't like

violence one bit better than you do.

What we did today had to be done.

I've tried my hand at talking to the

Hannasseys and it just doesn't work.

Jim, just stand on what I tell you.

Let's close the book on it.

It's gonna be a great evening

for you and Patricia.

Julie, my dear.

Now the evening can begin.

Jim, if I were 20 years younger,

this would be the girl for me.

- Make it ten. You've met, haven't you?

- Yes, indeed.

- Julie was my welcoming committee.

- The best horse trader in this country.

Major, I just walked in! You can't be

starting on Big Muddy so soon!

Listen to that girl!

I've offered her a bale of money

every year for that ranch.

Maybe she's like you - she considers

money a corrupting influence.

Where's Pat?

Oh, don't tell me. I know.

She's waiting till everyone's here

so she can make a grand entrance.

- Well, everyone's here.

- I'll see what I can do.

Julie, I promise, not another word

about Big Muddy...

- Good.

- Until we have a glass of champagne.

Come in.

Oh, Jim, I love you.

I've been so miserable

every minute without you.

What have you been doing all day?

Oh, I just sort of poked around

the ranch and said howdy.

Then I...

I... sort of got the feel of the country.

- Everybody's waiting for you downstairs.

- Good. That's just what I intended.

Hey, you all!

You've already met Jim, so there's

no need for an introduction.

My daughter Pat was born

and raised among you.

When she made her trip East, I had no

idea she'd meet the man of her choice.

And I want you to know that

I heartily approve of that choice.

And so I say welcome, Jim McKay.

Welcome to Ladder,

to this state, and to this house.

Thank you, Major.

Here you are, Jim. It's your party.

May I?

Certainly.

You're hurting my hand, Steve.

Well, Mr. McKay,

how do you like this country?

I like it very much.

Did you ever see anything so big?

Well, yes.

- You have? What?

- A couple of oceans.

Well, I declare!

Excuse me.

- May I have the pleasure, Major?

- Certainly, Jim. Thank you, Julie.

Well? How do you like the major?

I'm not marrying the major.

Oceans... huh!

May I have the privilege of dancing

with my beautiful daughter?

- I reckon you've got a right, Major.

- Thank you.

I still think you're the

handsomest man in this room.

You know what makes it nice?

I think my little girl really means it.

Happy?

Happy as you should be tonight?

Almost.

Almost?

What'll I do if he decides

not to settle here?

I don't think I could stand

being away from you.

Don't you worry about that.

I'll make a Terrill out of him yet.

What do you want, Hannassey?

I'm just payin' back the call you and

your men made on my home this mornin'

Sorry I wasn't there

to give you the proper welcome.

Let him speak his piece.

Take it easy, boy. I've got me somethin'

to say. It's about 30 years overdue.

It's a mighty fine house, Major Terrill.

Gentleman's house.

Them's mighty fine clothes

you're wearin'

Maybe you got some of these folks

fooled, but you ain't got me fooled.

The Hannasseys know and admire

a real gentleman when they see one.

And they recognise a high-toned

skunk when they smell one.

Now I'm not here complainin'

about 20 of your brave men

who beat three of my boys

till they couldn't stand.

Maybe they had it comin'

Anyways, they're full growed

and can take their lickin's.

And I'm not here complainin' because I

know you're tryin' to buy the Big Muddy,

to keep my cows from water.

It galls me sore to see the granddaughter

of a gentleman like Clem Maragon

under this roof.

I'll tell you why I'm here,

Major Terrill.

When you come a-ridin' roughshod

over my land,

scarin' the kids and the womenfolks,

when you invade my home,

like you was the law or God Almighty,

then I say to you:

I've seen every kind of critter

God ever made,

and I ain't never seen a meaner, lower,

more stinkin' yellow hypocrite than you!

You can swallow up a lot

of folks and make 'em like it,

but you ain't swallowin' me!

I'm stuck in your craw, Henry Terrill,

and you can't spit me out!

Ya hear me now?

You rode into my place

and beat my men for the last time.

And I give you warnin' You set foot

in Blanco Canyon once more

and this country's gonna run red with

blood till there ain't one of us left.

Now, I don't hold mine so precious,

so, if you want to start, here!

Start now.

What's the matter?

Can't ya shoot a man a-facin' ya?

I'll make it easy for ya.

Here's my back!

Well! He certainly said a beardful.

If there's anything I admire more than

a devoted friend, it's a dedicated enemy.

But I must apologise

for this interruption...

for Mr. Hannassey's bad manners.

Please don't let it spoil your evening.

I promise you that this sort of thing

will never happen again.

Music!

Well, Jim, now you see what I mean.

Let's have a glass of punch.

With a savage like that,

it's dog eat dog.

Excuse me.

The old man's lookin' for ya.

You want me, Pa?

Before you was born, I did.

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