Narrator/Actor (Lone Ranger Story and Other Ads) (3:43)
One evening, nearly every rancher in the Coronado Valley had gathered in the cafe. Bart Kimball spoke to the man. Yeah. Friends? Maybe. Maybe I am just an old fool. Sure, that's likely it. I'm getting so old, I'm kind of set in my ways and I ain't got the sense to know when I'm licking. The fact is, I've heard a few of you say that very thing. Some of you even to my face. But would you like to hear how I feel about things? Sure, Mr. Kimball. Sure. Well, it's been close to four years now since we settled the valley here. Most of us come from back east. We was farmers there. Such cows we might have owned was milk cows, not longhorns. We come here knowing nothing about the country and little about the job we had to do. And what's happened to us since we come here. Open range, free grace. They told us we could reach rich. No rain, the ground baked to brick. Water getting so bitter you can't hardly drink it. Cows dying like flies. I've seen them come down to the pools in the morning, fill up with water, then lay down and die. Too weak to get on their feet again. I ain't seen him in a cloud in the sky for six months. The only thing you can see there is buzzards. Buzzards getting fat while we're starving, going broke. Tom. Tom, listen to me. What I'm trying to say is that this is cattle country, not farming land. If it rained when and how you wanted it, then it'd be the other way around. The rains will come. When they do, you're going to be mighty glad you stayed on. You, Tom, and you, Mace, Rick, Bill, all of you. We got something here worth fighting to keep. You'd fight a man if he tried to take what belonged to you. Well, fighting. The weather ain't no different. The weather can be beat just like men can. Now, let's stay on and prove it, eh? Let me hear you say you ain't give up. I'll stick it out, Bart. Well, me too. I'll give it another whirl. You staying on too, Tom? Oh, I might as well. But I'm a fool for doing it. It's only fools in a God gumption. Smart folks always can see trouble from some fur off. They spend most of the time turning tail and running. Why don't you listen to this old fool? For you got mine to your own. Ten minutes ago you had a little sense. It was ready to pack and get. And you listen to his. Better than act like a flock of sheep. One second, mister. Just step over this way, will you? Don't try holding me around. Let me see you. Ain't you D. Quigley? Ain't you got the big Sped over by Willow Crossing? Good. If I have them two fellas you were sitting with ain't one of them Brophy of the Bar B and the other Sam Connor that owns a hash knife outfit? You had anything to say again, my friends? No, not exactly. I was just wondering what you was doing here. Ain't many folks outside the valley come to Coronado. Ain't no law says we can't. You got business here? Hardly. I'm to visit with friends. You got to have friends to visit a place. Oh, you just rolled over cause you like the looks of the town, eh? I ain't seen any place. I like lace and clutter spell. And just what are you doing here? That's our business. Sure, sure. But would you mind if I kind of made a guess at it? Sure. I've been watching things. That's why I come here tonight to have my say. You and your pards have been in town the past two days. You've done quite a bit of talking. It doesn't be what you do. If you clear that, you'd just be showing good sense. It wouldn't be so that you and your friends could throw your cattle in here after they left, would you? Cattle in this Big Evan? Yeah, that. Fellas, the old fool thinks we're local enough to want range cows here. That's a good grandpa. We was in this country a long time before you ever heard of it. Like it's been said, the range is open and grass is free. If we'd have wanted it, we'd have took the valley long afore it was settled. On the other hand, maybe you got more critters to graze now and you had then. Or maybe you're just looking ahead. Or maybe it's still another reason we don't know nothing about. Yes, you're too strange. You can't bother us then, I reckon. Well, just take a word of advice, will you? Me and my friends here in the valley can get plenty of discouraged without no help in hand from outsiders. So hereafter, just let us alone. Personally, I'd rather go broke having my own way than get rich and advice the folks that don't like. All right, friends, step up for the bar. I'm buying for the house. Barbara. Hey, come on. I told you how to be. Well, I'll get back to J. That old fool. He spoiled everything. Yes, when we had moose. Lampoo is about ready to pack up again. We won't have to have the valley after all. Well, that's something we'll know more about in the morning once we find out we do have to get the valley. Bart Kimball or no Bart Kimball, we get it. Get up. Get on there. Quickly. Brophy and Cotter rode a short distance out of town and made camp in a draw the following morning as they prepared breakfast over their campfire. Pass me that bacon, will ya? Wasn't your foreman to send us word sure way. Well, whoever he's gonna send should have been here by this time, shouldn't he? Don't get anxious. We'll be here. You told your foreman where we'd be camping, didn't you? Let's. You too, Brody. I took care of them twins. Woody, you'll get word to me just as soon as the court hands down its decision. I'll quit worrying about it. Yeah, I think you hear Hoops. Right now, listen. There he comes. I see him. A geek. That ain't one of your men. That's a redskin, huh? So it is now. Why? Nowhere to come. Maybe Woody done some hinds since I've been gone. Or maybe he didn't want to spare one of the regular hands. Head agent bound. Ho ho. Oh, you got business with this injun? You. You Deke? That's me. Oh, here you read. Get your note. Is it from Woody? Deke? What's it say? Well, fellas, it's bad news. Alberta millionaires the court. He said it again. How come you to bring this? T give Tont a note. Say, you wait for it. You handles Tonto. Would he pay you for bringing this? That all right? Look, Dick, if the court decided against us, then that means that we do have to have the valley. There just ain't no other way around it. They sure can't wait till we're forced out afore we move. I knew the dead come when sheep would be brought into this country. The Sheepman's association, as strong as it is, and the court holding the range has opened the sheep. The same with cattle. The only thing left for us is to get range where the sheep want bodies. And that means this here valley. And it means that Bart Kimball will have bullets. Engine, huh? We owe you anything for bringing this message. Oh, you're not old, Tonto. Been on your way. If you're looking for a steady job, go back and tell my foreman I said to put you on the payroll. Get him up, Scout. Get him up. What's the matter, Deke? Why the rush to get the engine away? What he don't know won't hurt him or us, huh? We've been around here long enough to savvy how the land lays. These fellas in the valley with their measly outfits don't savvy the cattle game. They don't know what to make of the spell of dry weather like this. They're just about convinced the only thing they can do is to clear out. You mean they are. Except for Kimball. And that's one chance they listen to. Yeah, that's what I'm getting at. He's the only hombre in the valley with any real backbone. But if they couldn't listen to him. Yeah. Then I got a hunch it wouldn't take much talk to make the others full stage. Meaning? Meaning that if something happened to Kimball. Oh, accidental, of course. But then I figured we got ourselves some mighty fine rage. Otto did not leave the valley. Instead he made his way to a small, well hidden camp where two men were waiting for him. One was masked. The other's hands were tied behind his back. You hombres are going to be mighty sorry you tried this stunt. We'll take our chances on that. What are you going to do with me? Ain't always going to keep me prisoner, are you? Tada. Did you learn what that message meant? All it said was they had lost us on me. Learn good. All right, pike, you can go now. We don't need to hold you any longer. Then untie my hands and turn around. If I were you, Pike. Huh? I'm not sure I'd tell you, boss. What happened, you might not understand that you couldn't help yourself when we took that message from you. I don't need none of your advice. Suit yourself. There you are. You're free now and your horse is saddled. Mister, things are going to be so hot for you around these parts, you'll wish attended to your own affairs perhaps. And I'll see to that same myself. Get up. Maybe better you not let him go. He's done us no harm yet. Other he was just as bad luck. He carried a message that we had to have. What did you learn? The courts say sheep use their range. Them want new range. Just as I thought. I knew they had some reason for coming here. Kimasabe. And from the things I've heard, there's no question but what they mean to take over this valley. If they can. That's right. One man stands between them and what they want. Who? That Bart Kimball. What him do? Bart's from the East. I doubt that he understands the character of the men he's dealing with. It would be hard for him to believe those fellows would stop at nothing to get their way. And he probably doesn't know that D. Quigley and his friends elected the sheriff to office. He can't depend upon the law for protection. No law here. None to speak of. Here, Silver. We ride. We'll find where Bart lives. Warning there's danger ahead. That good idea. Let's go. T. Get him up. Come on, Silver. Sarah Kimble, old Bart's wife, was washing the dishes from the noonday meal when she saw two men riding toward the house. Oh, God. Oh, land sakes alive. Where's my musket? Keep on going. Don't come no closer. I'll drill you to do. We mean no harm. I won't. Give me that musket. I told you we meant no harm. There's no need to be frightened. And why'd you grab my gun? Prevent your shooting. But you can't. We came to see your husband. Where is he? Link here. Well, that doesn't answer my question. That's all the answer you'll get. Besides, we ain't got nothing worth the stealing anyhow. Mrs. Kimball, if we were outlaws, there's nothing that could stop us searching the house. You've got to believe we're friends. Means a lot to your husband to about Tutto. And I happen to know certain men are scheming to get this valley. Your husband is all that stands in their way. We think he should know that the danger threatens him. Danger? Oh, no. There'll be no real danger if he follows our advice. Now, tell us where he is. I don't know if I should. You'll have to trust us. After what I said. Do you think it right for you to take the chance? He'll be harmed if we don't find him. I wish he knew what to do. Trust us. You won't regret it. You don't talk like crooks. I will tell you. Yes. A man come after him to fetch him over to Ms. Brown's place. Ms. Hurt herself bad chopping some wood. And Bart went to help him. That's not what we talked to Mrs. Kimball. Mace was the man who told us how to reach your place, who came for your husband. How long ago was it? Why, the man was a stranger. Yes. Must have been almost an hour ago now. We talked to mace less than 30 minutes ago. But what I think the men I spoke of have struck already. If Bart's come to hunt. Try not to worry, Mrs. Kimball. If your husband can be found, we'll do it. Come, Tunder. Please find him. Please. We shall. And when we do, we'll let you know. Come on. Get him off. Scone. Oh, so Silver away. The curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger story. Before the next exciting scenes. Please permit us to pause for just a few moments.
