The Gun and the Pulpit (1974)
TV-PG | 1h 14min | Action, Western | TV Movie 3 April 1974
A young gunslinger on the lam impersonates a preacher, brings hope to his parishioners, and law-and-order to a town terrorized by a strongman's bunch.
Director: Daniel Petrie
Writers: William Bowers (teleplay), Jack Ehrlich (novel)
Stars: Marjoe Gortner, Slim Pickens, David Huddleston
TV-PG | 1h 14min | Action, Western | TV Movie 3 April 1974
A young gunslinger on the lam impersonates a preacher, brings hope to his parishioners, and law-and-order to a town terrorized by a strongman's bunch.
Director: Daniel Petrie
Writers: William Bowers (teleplay), Jack Ehrlich (novel)
Stars: Marjoe Gortner, Slim Pickens, David Huddleston
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:00Ernie Parsons, have you been found guilty by a jury of your peers?
00:00:08I didn't see any jury.
00:00:10Well, they was around.
00:00:12Anyway, what difference does it make?
00:00:13You gunned down Wendy Jones, and he was one of our most beloved and respected citizens.
00:00:19I heard he was the town drunk.
00:00:20Well, now that he's dead, he's one of our most beloved and respected citizens.
00:00:26I don't care who he was.
00:00:27I didn't kill him.
00:00:28You've got the right to hear a few words from a preacher.
00:00:31Unfortunately, our preacher's out of town, but luckily, we got Farley Mallard here, and
00:00:36he's a feed and grain salesman, and he owns a Bible.
00:00:40No thanks.
00:00:41Now, what does that mean?
00:00:42I don't want any feed and grain salesman praying over me.
00:00:45I don't want anyone praying over me.
00:00:47I don't believe in that stuff.
00:00:49You ready, Max?
00:00:53You got one more inalienable right to speak a few last words.
00:00:58And I mean a few.
00:01:01We don't want one of them things where the chem takes off with a declaration of independence.
00:01:06Well, go on.
00:01:09Well, I'd just like to say that this is the lousiest town that I've ever been in.
00:01:13Well, I've met a better class folk in a San Francisco opium parlor.
00:01:18Drunken pool hall bum would be considered too high tone for these parts.
00:01:21And as for your system of justice, well...
00:01:25That's enough!
00:01:26You see what I mean?
00:01:28He was just one breath away from the declaration.
00:01:34All right, Max.
00:01:36Don't do it!
00:01:38Don't do it!
00:01:40Don't do it!
00:01:42Don't do it!
00:01:44Ed Lose just confessed.
00:01:46He killed Wendy in a drunken barroom brawl about a pregnant Indian squaw.
00:01:50Ed claims Wendy was the father and that he was acting as the avenging angel.
00:01:54Wendy was going to be the father or something?
00:01:57That's what Ed says.
00:02:00All right.
00:02:02On time.
00:02:04Give him his gun.
00:02:13Now...
00:02:15That's the way out of town, son.
00:02:17Take it, keep on going, and don't you never come back.
00:02:21You heard her. I'm not guilty.
00:02:23No, we don't want no fast guns in this town.
00:02:26Fast guns right alongside with lepers in this law-abiding community.
00:02:30Can I ride back to town long enough to get some food?
00:02:33That's the way out, son. Don't press your luck.
00:02:43Thanks. Bye.
00:02:45I'm going with you.
00:02:47You don't have to. I'll be back.
00:02:49When?
00:02:50Whatever you do, don't leave town.
00:02:53See you.
00:03:01If I'd have known he was going to act like that, I never would have lied for him.
00:03:05You would have never what?
00:03:07I don't care. I thought he was cute.
00:03:09There ain't a man around here I'd have as a gift.
00:03:12And he took a bath every so often besides.
00:03:16After him!
00:03:23Ah!
00:03:33Ah!
00:03:39Ah!
00:03:50Ah!
00:03:53Ah!
00:04:03Hey!
00:04:05Ah!
00:04:10Ah!
00:04:13Hey!
00:04:16Ah!
00:04:26Ah!
00:04:45Ah!
00:04:51Ah!
00:04:53Ah!
00:04:59Ah!
00:05:01Ah!
00:05:03Ah!
00:05:15Ah!
00:05:17Ah!
00:05:29Ah!
00:05:34Ah!
00:05:42Ah!
00:05:50Ah!
00:05:52Ah!
00:05:54Ah!
00:06:03Ah!
00:06:10Ah!
00:06:27Ah!
00:06:33Ah!
00:06:53Easy, boy.
00:07:03Yeah.
00:07:09Ah!
00:07:11Ah!
00:07:33Ah!
00:08:03Ah!
00:08:34Ah!
00:08:43Reverend Frank Flemming.
00:08:46Pleased to know you, Frank.
00:08:49Dear Reverend, everybody in Castle Walk is real excited about you coming here.
00:08:55We ain't had a preacher here in over three years.
00:08:58When our last one left in such a hurry, he didn't even say good-bye.
00:09:02He was a pious man, but he had a yellow streak down his back.
00:09:06We're all looking forward to meeting you for the first time.
00:09:10We're all looking forward to meeting you for the first time? Hmm.
00:09:14I don't know how long you'll be willing to stay, but you'll be welcome every minute of it.
00:09:26Hear the preacher's horse?
00:09:33Let's see what you got, pal.
00:09:51Frank, if ever I catch the guy who did you in, I'll take care of him.
00:09:55I'll take care of him.
00:09:58Frank, if ever I catch the guy who did you in, I'll take care of him for you.
00:10:03In the meantime, I'm going to need your clothes and your horse.
00:10:07I got a posse after me for something I didn't do.
00:10:10I'd say a prayer for you, Frank, but coming from me, I'm afraid it's liable to do you more harm than good.
00:10:41All right, pull up. This is a hold-up.
00:10:47Why, it's a preacher, Percy.
00:10:49Sorry about that there, Parson, but we live a little too far off to catch that there caller.
00:10:54Is there anything we can do for you, Reverend?
00:10:56Either of you boys ever heard of a preacher?
00:10:58No, sir.
00:10:59No, sir.
00:11:00No, sir.
00:11:01No, sir.
00:11:02No, sir.
00:11:03No, sir.
00:11:04No, sir.
00:11:05No, sir.
00:11:06No, sir.
00:11:07No, sir.
00:11:08No, sir.
00:11:09Either of you boys ever heard of a town called Castle Walk?
00:11:12Why, yeah, it's in Arizona.
00:11:14Sure ain't much of a town, though.
00:11:16How far is it from here?
00:11:18Oh, about 150 miles.
00:11:20It's over yonder in that direction.
00:11:22How's your church attendance been lately, boys?
00:11:27You boys see that branch over there?
00:11:29Uh, yes, sir.
00:11:35That was four for the Lord, boys.
00:11:37He loves you, but he hates your profession.
00:11:39Yeah, I can see how he would.
00:11:41I want you boys to go and sin no more.
00:11:43Uh, we surely won't, Parson.
00:11:45Uh, as soon as we can afford not to.
00:11:47Uh, preacher, you being so good with that gun and all,
00:11:51how come you didn't just kill us as we was riding up here?
00:11:53Because you boys are children of the Lord, just as much as I am.
00:12:03Children of the Lord, huh?
00:12:07Stop!
00:12:37Let's go.
00:13:08Sorry, Sadie.
00:13:10Didn't have the time to dig it no deeper.
00:13:14Well, I guess we better just put him in the ground
00:13:18and get it over with.
00:13:20All right.
00:13:22Without even a few words?
00:13:24Mr. Ross didn't say nothing about nothing.
00:13:26He said he was going to kill us.
00:13:28Well, I guess we better get going.
00:13:30Yeah, let's go.
00:13:31Let's go.
00:13:32Let's go.
00:13:33Let's go.
00:13:34Come on.
00:13:35Mr. Ross didn't say nothing about no words.
00:13:38Said we could have a burying.
00:13:40Mr. Ross didn't say nothing about no words.
00:13:46But Sam was a Christian man.
00:13:48You can't just bury him like a wild dog.
00:13:50Can't we stand up to Mr. Ross just this once?
00:13:53You're leaving here after the burying.
00:13:55We gotta stay here and live with him.
00:13:58All right, let's get going.
00:14:05Wait a minute.
00:14:09Is it one of Mr. Ross' men?
00:14:11Looks like a preacher.
00:14:12Well, what do we do now?
00:14:17I wrote him myself not to come.
00:14:26Thank God you're here, Reverend.
00:14:29I've got many receptions in my life, ma'am.
00:14:32Yours is almost unique.
00:14:33We were going to have to bury my husband
00:14:35without any proper words being said.
00:14:37But now that you're here...
00:14:38You're the Reverend Frank Fleming?
00:14:40That's right.
00:14:41I wrote you a letter telling you not to come.
00:14:43No, you wrote me a letter welcoming me to Castle Walk.
00:14:46I wrote you that letter.
00:14:48Yeah, but things changed.
00:14:50First, Mr. Ross said it was all right for us to have a preacher,
00:14:53and then Mr. Ross changed his mind.
00:14:55Gentlemen, what the hell is going on here?
00:14:57Reverend!
00:14:59The hell is the word that came straight from the Bible, folks?
00:15:02All I know is we've got a heartbroken little widow here.
00:15:05You did say you were the widow?
00:15:07And these are my children.
00:15:14That's a child?
00:15:15She's 18.
00:15:18Oh, she certainly is.
00:15:24Ma'am, first order of business as I see it
00:15:26is to get this poor man put decently into the ground.
00:15:29Oh, thank you, Reverend.
00:15:33I don't know what Mr. Ross is going to say about this.
00:15:37I haven't been here five minutes,
00:15:39and I'm already sick to death of Mr. Ross.
00:15:42Come on, let's bow our heads.
00:15:45Don't you have a Bible, Reverend?
00:15:47Oh, I probably do in my saddlebag.
00:15:49Here, you can borrow mine, Reverend.
00:15:51The deceased was probably a simple man,
00:15:53so I'll just say a few simple words of my own
00:15:55and not bother to dip into the Bible today.
00:16:03As you all know, it's ashes to ashes and dust to dust.
00:16:06It may not sound like the best deal in the world,
00:16:08but it's the only deal you're ever going to get,
00:16:10so you might as well learn to live with it.
00:16:13I didn't know the late deceased,
00:16:15but some of the works he left behind are mighty impressive.
00:16:25Well, what did he die of?
00:16:27He was shot in the back.
00:16:29May the full wrath of the Lord
00:16:31fall on people who shoot other people in the back.
00:16:33It's a rotten, sinful way to make a living.
00:16:35Amen.
00:16:36Amen.
00:16:39I can't thank you enough, Reverend.
00:16:41I'd like to say more, but Mr. Ross only gave us
00:16:43half an hour to get out of town after the funeral.
00:16:46You're leaving town?
00:16:49You taking her with you?
00:16:51Mr. Ross said we all had to go.
00:16:55Who is this Mr. Ross?
00:16:57He's a mean, miserable, murdering thief,
00:16:59and he runs everybody in this part of the country.
00:17:02There ain't a soul of us that had a single, solitary,
00:17:05happy day since he rode in here and took over.
00:17:08He's going to hear every word that you said.
00:17:11Yeah, and he'll probably kill me.
00:17:13But at least I got to say something
00:17:15that should have been said before I died.
00:17:17Why is he running this woman out of town?
00:17:19My husband, Sam, was the only man in these parts
00:17:22to stand up to Mr. Ross.
00:17:24So he had Sam killed.
00:17:25He let us take one wagonload of our things.
00:17:28We'd better get started.
00:17:30Ma'am, the only place you're going is back to your ranch.
00:17:33I'm sure with the help of all these fine citizens
00:17:35that we can make Mr. Ross see the error of his ways.
00:17:38Reverend, you don't understand the situation around here.
00:17:42Mr. Ross is a powerful, powerful man.
00:17:45He's got money and influence,
00:17:47and he's got 20 top gunfighters working for him.
00:17:50Before I tell you people what I really think of you,
00:17:52I'm going to tell you something about gunfighters.
00:17:55Now, Ross doesn't have 20 top gunfighters working for him
00:17:58because there ain't 20 top gunfighters
00:18:00in the whole U.S. of A.
00:18:02Now, what Ross probably does have
00:18:04is about 15 cowboys that wear guns for ornaments.
00:18:08They'd do just fine at shooting up a saloon
00:18:10or making some terrified dude dance a little jig.
00:18:13But they don't do it in the U.S. of A.
00:18:17Ross has probably got about three men
00:18:19who are pretty good at getting their guns out of their holsters,
00:18:21but no good at hitting anything once they do,
00:18:24which leaves about two or three men
00:18:26that might honestly be called gunfighters,
00:18:28not top gunfighters,
00:18:30more like second- or third-raters.
00:18:32So you see, you folks have been letting yourselves
00:18:34be rousted around by a bunch of two-bit yahoos.
00:18:37How come you know so much about gunfighters, Reverend?
00:18:42The Lord's Word says
00:18:44the Lord's work takes one to many places in many climes.
00:18:48Matthew 31.
00:18:50There ain't no Matthew 31.
00:18:52Well, there ought to be.
00:18:55Widow, I want you and your family to get in the wagon.
00:18:57I'm going to drive you home.
00:18:59You're going to sit next to me.
00:19:01Oh, I don't know, Reverend.
00:19:03Ma'am, you don't look like the kind of woman
00:19:06that would back away from a little fight.
00:19:08Where's your faith?
00:19:10My faith is in good shape, Reverend.
00:19:13And if you're willing to take the risk, so are we.
00:19:16Get in the wagon, kids.
00:19:18Us and the Reverend are going home.
00:19:36The lives of this family will be on your soul, Reverend.
00:19:39Reverend.
00:19:41Yeah.
00:19:45A couple of Ross's men are in town,
00:19:47and they're pretty liquored up.
00:19:50That was their first mistake.
00:19:56You ride my horse, son.
00:19:58Okay.
00:20:12Hey.
00:20:14Let's go have some fun.
00:20:42Remember the children, Reverend.
00:20:44Those are just two of the cowboys, ma'am.
00:20:46Ooh.
00:20:48So where do you people think you're going?
00:20:51Where is the place that Ross would least like us to go?
00:20:54I'd say her ranch.
00:20:57Well, that's exactly where we're going.
00:20:59Wait till Mr. Ross hears about this.
00:21:02Mr. Ross is a skunk of doubtful parentage.
00:21:05He's a man of his word.
00:21:08Mr. Ross is a skunk of doubtful parentage.
00:21:11Mr. Ross is so low,
00:21:13he could walk under a rattlesnake's belly wearing a high hat.
00:21:16And that's what I think of Mr. Ross
00:21:18without ever having met the man.
00:21:21Now, that was indecisive, cowboy.
00:21:23Could have very easily cost you your own important life.
00:21:32Those could have just as easily been your ears
00:21:34flying off your head, boys.
00:21:38Well, that's a terrible way for a preacher to act.
00:21:51When the Lord wants someone to move, he wants them to move.
00:21:59Reverend, my husband Sam would have followed you to hell and back.
00:22:03Don't talk about hell to a sinner, ma'am.
00:22:06You a sinner?
00:22:08Yeah, we're all sinners.
00:22:10About to be.
00:22:30All right, kids, as soon as we stop, I want you to get the wagon unloaded.
00:22:33I want to get this family settled in before dark.
00:22:36You don't mind if I order your kids around a little, do you, ma'am?
00:22:39Reverend, you can do anything you want to.
00:22:46Reverend?
00:22:50Reverend?
00:22:52Yes, ma'am.
00:22:53Reverend, this hole in the back of your coat looks like a bullet hole.
00:22:58Well, that'd be my guess, ma'am.
00:23:00Your guess? How could a man be shot in the back and not know it?
00:23:04Well, I was carrying that coat over my arm when the shooting took place.
00:23:13Well, tobacco's one of the Lord's works, too, ma'am.
00:23:16I'll get my things and fix your coat.
00:23:20Do you think Mr. Ross and his men are going to come down and get us tonight?
00:23:24No, not tonight, honey.
00:23:26I'd imagine that Sunday in church would be where he makes his first play.
00:23:29Aren't you scared at all?
00:23:31I'm scared all right, Sally.
00:23:33But not the kind of scare that'd make me knuckle under to the likes of that Ross.
00:23:48Thought of a text for your sermon tomorrow, Reverend?
00:23:51Tomorrow?
00:23:52Tomorrow's Sunday.
00:23:54I've lost all track of time the last few weeks.
00:23:58What do you think I ought to preach about?
00:24:00I thought you said the sin of cowardice.
00:24:02Yeah, that's not bad, either.
00:24:04Thought you probably had some favorite passage from the Bible to illustrate your point.
00:24:08Oh, I do. Several of them, as a matter of fact.
00:24:11But what's your favorite passage from the Bible that would illustrate that point, ma'am?
00:24:15I think it would be Luke 12.
00:24:18Christ says, do you think I have come to give peace on earth?
00:24:22I came to cast fire upon the earth, and would it were already kindled.
00:24:27It says that in the Bible?
00:24:29I told you, Luke 12.
00:24:31Oh, Luke 12.
00:24:33Yeah, that Luke, he really knew how to turn a phrase, didn't he?
00:24:43Clean your clothes up for the services.
00:24:46I'd appreciate that.
00:24:49You don't happen to have a bottle around, do you?
00:24:55I seem to have misplaced my glasses.
00:24:59Could you turn to that spot in Luke that your mother was talking about?
00:25:05It's right here.
00:25:09You don't wear glasses.
00:25:13You know something, you're right.
00:25:15I don't know what got into me.
00:25:17I don't know what got into me.
00:25:24Well, good night.
00:25:36Good night.
00:25:38Good night.
00:25:47Good night.
00:25:50Good night.
00:26:11Folks, I'm going to read you from Matthew chapter 10 and verse 34.
00:26:18Although Luke says pretty much the same thing in his 12th.
00:26:22Think not that I am come to send peace on earth.
00:26:26I came not to send peace, but a sword.
00:26:31Now, I don't know what that means to you, but I know what it means to me.
00:26:36It means that while God loves peace, when the occasion arises, he's not reluctant to use the sword.
00:26:43Matter of fact, when the occasion calls for it, he might become downright irritated if you don't use the sword.
00:26:50Or the gun, or the rope, or whatever's handy.
00:27:14You folks have had a cross to bear here lately, and his name is Ross.
00:27:20They say that people get the kind of lives they deserve, and I guess they do.
00:27:25But when men won't fight for their wives, women, and children, and when their women won't make them fight for what's right,
00:27:31then these people don't deserve any kind of lives at all.
00:27:36That's exactly what you've got.
00:27:44Get his gun.
00:28:00You've never done it?
00:28:02Don't think you could possibly realize what an awful thing it is to kill a man.
00:28:08I don't know who God must be mad at the most.
00:28:12That man for wasting his life at the order of some tin horn dictator.
00:28:17Me for having to do this thing in his own house.
00:28:20You people haven't quit before the fight even got started.
00:28:27I haven't got the heart for any more church today, that's all.
00:28:38Mr. Ross and a couple of his men are outside.
00:28:43Take care of yourself, son.
00:28:46Every second.
00:28:52Bring that body outside.
00:29:08You've had a couple of fun days here, Preacher.
00:29:11Well, I tell you, Ross, you...
00:29:13The name is Mr. Ross.
00:29:15The name was Mr. Ross.
00:29:20Now, you hear me good, Ross.
00:29:22Either those two men go for their guns, I'm going to go for you first.
00:29:26They think I can take them, Mr. Ross.
00:29:28Don't think.
00:29:29Here's your chance, boys.
00:29:31If we go together, we can get him.
00:29:34Before or after he killed me.
00:29:36You don't look all that fast to me.
00:29:38Shut up.
00:29:45Friend of yours, Ross?
00:29:49I don't know.
00:29:50I don't know.
00:29:51I don't know.
00:29:52I don't know.
00:29:53I don't know.
00:29:54I don't know.
00:29:55I don't know.
00:29:56I don't know.
00:29:57I don't know.
00:29:58I don't know.
00:29:59I don't know.
00:30:01All right, Preacher.
00:30:02You pulled yourself off a nice little grandstand play for the folks.
00:30:07Now, I want you out of town.
00:30:10Who killed Sam Underwood?
00:30:11You or one of your men?
00:30:14I'm going to find out if I have to take a whole bunch of you to pieces.
00:30:17Give me the word.
00:30:18I'm sure I can beat him.
00:30:19Go on back to the ranch.
00:30:20I'll be there in a minute.
00:30:21You sure?
00:30:22Now.
00:30:30That's the way I like it.
00:30:32Man to man.
00:30:36Do I make the first play or do you?
00:30:43I just changed my mind, Preacher.
00:30:45I don't want you out of town.
00:30:46I want you right here where I can get you anytime I want you.
00:30:50Service is next Sunday at 10 o'clock and there's a four-bit fine for being late.
00:30:55You wouldn't shoot me in the back, would you, Preacher?
00:30:59Like that.
00:31:18Any of you folks think your Preacher doesn't deserve a drink after the events of this morning?
00:31:21Well, we just don't believe in the same God.
00:31:23That's all.
00:31:26Some of you boys plant him, will you?
00:31:32Don't you feel a little strange having a drink with your Preacher on a Sunday morning?
00:31:36No.
00:31:39How come?
00:31:41You know, about 10 or 12 years ago, I took a trip up to Cheyenne
00:31:46to come across this altercation here.
00:31:48Cheyenne.
00:31:49To come across this altercation between a 19-year-old kid and one of the top gunslingers in that part of the country at that time.
00:31:57This kid, he didn't want no part of the fight, but this gun, he was drunk.
00:32:01He kept at it.
00:32:03Finally, the kid had to go for his gun or get blasted right there in his tracks.
00:32:09It was plum pitiful.
00:32:11How?
00:32:13This kid was the fastest thing I ever seen.
00:32:15Caught that gun, he flat-footed.
00:32:17Why, he was dead before God got the news.
00:32:21I inquired around, found out this kid's name was Ernie Parson.
00:32:28Ernie, what are you doing here in Castle Walk dressed up in that Preacher's outfit?
00:32:34It's a wrong guess, Billy.
00:32:35You know, once you've seen a top man handle himself in a gunfight, you never forget one little detail.
00:32:42What are you on for, anyway?
00:32:45It doesn't matter. I didn't do it.
00:32:48They'll hang me just like I did if they catch me.
00:32:50Did you kill Frank Clement?
00:32:52Oh, of course not.
00:32:54Came across his body in the hills and he was already dead.
00:32:57I was half-starved, no place to go, so I took his clothes and horse and came here.
00:33:03All right.
00:33:05I'll ride back to the ranch, tell the widow and the kids goodbye, and then I'll move on.
00:33:09Why leave? You're the answer to our prayers, Ernie.
00:33:13No, I'm not, Billy. Don't let these clothes fool you.
00:33:16God moves in mysterious ways, boy.
00:33:20Not that mysterious.
00:33:23Look, Billy, what I'd like to know is if I do stick around here,
00:33:26how much help can I count on from these God-fearing people?
00:33:31Almost none.
00:33:33Almost none?
00:33:35Uh, none.
00:33:37It's just God moving in His mysterious way to get me killed.
00:33:42God will smite the sinners of Castle Walk just as surely as He smote the Philistines.
00:33:53For the time is at hand when you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
00:33:58Be not afraid.
00:34:00For the time is at hand when you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
00:34:05Be not afraid.
00:34:07For this must first take place.
00:34:09Nations will rise against nations.
00:34:13Kingdoms against kingdoms.
00:34:16Not a head on your hair or a hair on your head will perish.
00:34:21And I quote Luke, chapter 21, verse...
00:34:29Luke, chapter 21, verse 23.
00:34:33For there shall be great distress in the land.
00:34:36Wrath upon His people.
00:34:43I brought you some lunch.
00:34:46I didn't know preachers had to practice.
00:34:49Well, it's either that or watch the collections fall off.
00:34:54Oh, that's a real bad joke I stole from the Methodists.
00:34:57Oh.
00:34:59Does your mother know you came out here alone?
00:35:01I don't know. Why?
00:35:03Well, you're a very attractive young girl.
00:35:06Almost too young, as a matter of fact.
00:35:09Most of the girls around here are married by the time they're 13 or 14.
00:35:1413, huh?
00:35:16Well, I'll have to look into that.
00:35:18Why? They had the lucky ones.
00:35:20Even if they don't get a trip to Phoenix out of it.
00:35:22Is that the price of marriage around here, a trip to Phoenix?
00:35:24No, but it sure doesn't hurt.
00:35:25Look, do I have to keep on calling you Reverend?
00:35:28Oh, no. Call me Ernie.
00:35:30Ernie?
00:35:32My full name's Frank Ernest Fleming.
00:35:35All my good friends, they call me Ernie.
00:35:37Is there anything in your faith against marriage?
00:35:40No, not in my faith.
00:35:46Look, Sally, uh...
00:35:49Sit down.
00:35:50Sit down.
00:35:53This conversation isn't going in exactly the direction I planned.
00:35:57I mean, you know, marriage is just fine.
00:36:00I was real glad that my parents believed in it.
00:36:03But, uh, there's other things, too.
00:36:10You don't know what I'm talking about, do you?
00:36:13I know what you're talking about.
00:36:17Let's see.
00:36:21What's the matter?
00:36:23Oh, it's these clothes and this collar.
00:36:25It's just, I'm not going to get anywhere dressed like this.
00:36:28I don't see that it makes much difference.
00:36:31You would if you were dressed like a nun.
00:36:33It's just the wrong outfit for what I had in mind.
00:36:42Hey, preacher! I've got to talk to you!
00:36:45Hi, Sal.
00:36:47Hi.
00:36:48It's real important.
00:36:56You know a gunfighter named Jake McCoy?
00:36:59Yeah, I know of him.
00:37:01He's in town.
00:37:03My blessings on him.
00:37:05And he's working for Ross.
00:37:08Is he really good?
00:37:11Yeah, he's the best.
00:37:13You can take him, can't you?
00:37:14You're sure he's working for Ross?
00:37:16Yeah, and he's looking for you.
00:37:19Although he don't know who you really are.
00:37:22That doesn't matter.
00:37:24Or does it?
00:37:26Where's he at now?
00:37:28He's at the Mint Saloon, where I left down.
00:37:38You're going to have to ride back to the ranch alone.
00:37:40We didn't get very much accomplished today, did we?
00:37:52Can't you just feel the ice breaking all around us?
00:38:10Well, if this is your last chance to ride on out of here, forget about the whole thing.
00:38:40I can't. I don't know why, Billy, but I just can't.
00:38:52The table will be under the table.
00:38:56He's already spotted you.
00:39:06Hello, Jake.
00:39:11I was just about to go looking for you.
00:39:21You ever run into Ernie Parsons anymore?
00:39:33I've never run into Ernie Parsons.
00:39:35Any time, any place at all, ever.
00:39:41Oh.
00:39:46You have now?
00:39:51You?
00:39:59You going to the church?
00:40:02In the hiding for the winter.
00:40:04Oh.
00:40:07I always heard you were kind of smart.
00:40:11I never heard that about you.
00:40:20Look, are we really going to have to go through with this thing?
00:40:24I got a thousand dollars in my pocket.
00:40:28And a girl waiting for me in Boulder City says I gotta go through with it.
00:40:32You all that sure you can beat me?
00:40:34You all that sure I can't?
00:40:36Anything I hate is a stupid, senseless fight.
00:40:39Come on.
00:40:52Well, how do you want to do this?
00:40:57Billy, when we get in position, flip a coin.
00:41:01When it hits the ground, we go for our guns, all right?
00:41:04All right.
00:41:06Jake?
00:41:08One of us is going to die and it's not going to prove a thing.
00:41:13Sure it is, Ernie.
00:41:16It's going to prove which one of us is a fool to call himself a gunfighter.
00:41:35You boys ready?
00:42:06Are you hit?
00:42:10You?
00:42:17Did you ever miss from this distance before?
00:42:20Never.
00:42:24Me either.
00:42:27Want to try again?
00:42:28No.
00:42:32You know, I think somebody's trying to tell us something.
00:42:36You put your gun away.
00:42:40I'm going to get on my horse and get out of this place.
00:42:50I beat you. You know that, don't you?
00:42:52Oh, no, you didn't. And you know dang well you didn't, Jake.
00:42:55You going to give Ross his thousand dollars back?
00:42:58No, I'm late for my date.
00:43:06You folks see those bullets hit?
00:43:08I don't think it hit anywhere, Trevor.
00:43:12That's just plain silly.
00:43:21Hold on.
00:43:30This is how those stupid legends get started.
00:43:32Jake and I have an off day in the gunfight.
00:43:34Miss each other.
00:43:35Wish there could be a thousand explanations.
00:43:38It's because a bunch of rummies standing around don't see where the bullets hit.
00:43:42All of a sudden, you've got the miracle of Castle Walden.
00:43:46Now, this whole miserable little town is going to think that God's on their side.
00:43:50Well, you got me convinced, son.
00:43:54But somehow or other,
00:43:57you just don't hardly believe me.
00:44:00You just don't hardly believe what you convince yourself.
00:44:04Now, let me point out a couple of things to you.
00:44:06Like what?
00:44:07Well, for instance, you're back yonder in that town and they're about to hang you.
00:44:12And right at the last minute, in rides this gal and saves your neck.
00:44:16She and I have been fooling around a little bit.
00:44:18All right. Well, then you're out there in the brush.
00:44:20The posse's are chasing you.
00:44:22And all of a sudden, you come across this here preacher's body.
00:44:25You find this letter that brings you right here to this here town.
00:44:28It's supposed to lead him.
00:44:30Yeah, but you was the one that wound up here.
00:44:32Right here where you're needed more than anybody's ever been needed before.
00:44:37Now, does all this make you want to stop and think just a little bit more?
00:44:41No.
00:44:43I don't want to talk about it.
00:44:58Hold it!
00:45:07You should have listened to me when I told you to get out of town.
00:45:10You shouldn't have backed out in front of me the other morning either.
00:45:15I'm sorry.
00:45:18I'm sorry.
00:45:19I'm sorry.
00:45:20I'm sorry.
00:45:21I'm sorry.
00:45:22I'm sorry.
00:45:23I'm sorry.
00:45:24I'm sorry.
00:45:25I'm sorry.
00:45:26I'm sorry.
00:45:28Now, this whole town's going to have the idea that you're just a little less than the tin god you pretended to be.
00:45:35Just tell me one thing.
00:45:37What really happened between you and Jake McCoy?
00:45:40I chased that bum out of town.
00:45:42And he's not going to give you your thousand dollars back either.
00:45:46He said to tell you that's the price he charges for shaking hands with a scum like you.
00:45:52Get on with it.
00:45:54Prayer man, you drop that rope real slow.
00:46:04Drop it!
00:46:11You ain't getting out of town fast enough, preacher.
00:46:24Ah!
00:46:33Ah!
00:46:54You get the point now, preacher?
00:47:24You're in the bunkhouse of our ranch.
00:47:27I thought it would scare the kids if they saw you like this.
00:47:30How'd you find me?
00:47:32When you didn't come home last night, I set out to look for you.
00:47:39You stripped me down?
00:47:41I'm a ranch girl with brothers.
00:47:43Don't make a big thing out of it.
00:47:46You're something brand new in my life, Sally.
00:47:50Are you strong enough to get up and get dressed and get out of here?
00:47:53It doesn't matter whether I am or not, I've got to do it.
00:48:00Turn your back, Sal. I'm not as advanced in my thinking as you are.
00:48:07Will I ever see you again?
00:48:09Sure, why not? I'm not going far.
00:48:12Well, you have to.
00:48:14Well, then I don't get your body. Mr. Ross will never stop until I do.
00:48:18Yeah, and this is the first place he'll look.
00:48:21I want you and the kids to go out and dig a grave.
00:48:24Put some kind of a marker on it with my name.
00:48:26Tell Ross you found my body and buried it in the hills.
00:48:29Can I turn around now?
00:48:31Sure.
00:48:35Sally, I don't want anyone to know that I'm alive.
00:48:38I want it to come as a horrible shock to Ross.
00:48:43I want to start giving him trouble in ways he never dreamed of.
00:48:47I'm going to need plenty of food, water and ammunition.
00:48:50I'll get you everything you need.
00:48:56Where will you go?
00:49:00I'll hide out in the hills for a while.
00:49:02Well, Ernie, in this part of the country, if a girl undresses a man,
00:49:06it's customary for the man to make an honest woman out of her.
00:49:13I'm sure that's true in every part of the world.
00:49:16I'm sure that's true in every part of the country.
00:49:18If I left you the next little while,
00:49:21we'll have a serious talk about that.
00:49:27What's the matter?
00:49:29Well, just look at the way I look.
00:49:31Well, it's always something, isn't it?
00:49:33You don't like the way you're dressed. You don't like the way you look.
00:49:46Let's go.
00:49:49Let's go.
00:49:51Let's go.
00:50:14You know, I got a hunch there's a bunch of outlaws operating up in these hills.
00:50:19Probably scared old Chet and Harley half to death.
00:50:22Blew up the well, too.
00:50:48Let's go.
00:51:19Let's go.
00:51:42What was that?
00:51:44What was that?
00:51:49I don't know, boss, but there must have been 15 or 16 of them.
00:51:52Well, maybe there weren't nobody there at all.
00:51:58What do you mean?
00:52:00Dragging a preacher through the cactus.
00:52:03Them people don't have to stay dead unless they want to.
00:52:11Everybody in town keeps talking about the preacher's ghost
00:52:14riding through the hills and shooting at every one of Ross's men that sticks his head in them.
00:52:19I keep telling them it's a whole doggone idea.
00:52:27Sally, didn't you tell Billy?
00:52:29You told me not to tell anyone.
00:52:31Billy, I'm sorry.
00:52:33It's sure good to see you alive, boy.
00:52:35Are you sure it's safe for you down here?
00:52:37Honey, it's been a long time since I've been safe anywhere.
00:52:40Lately, it's been getting worse.
00:52:44Isn't tomorrow Sunday?
00:52:46It sure is.
00:52:48Billy, I want you to ride into town and tell everyone
00:52:50that we're having church services tomorrow morning at 10.
00:52:53I'll do it right now.
00:53:00Sally told you our plans, ma'am?
00:53:02Yeah.
00:53:05You have any objections?
00:53:07No.
00:53:09Ma'am, has it occurred to you that
00:53:11I will end up one of the youngest widows in these parts?
00:53:13Uh-uh. Mary Mertz is only 14.
00:53:15She's been a widow two years.
00:53:17Besides Mary Mertz?
00:53:19No. Grace Dorothy only been married a week and a half
00:53:21when her husband fell down a mine shaft.
00:53:24You know how old she is.
00:53:26Sally, uh...
00:53:28could we take a walk outside?
00:53:30Yeah.
00:53:32Excuse us, ma'am.
00:53:37Sally, uh...
00:53:40The reason I brought you out here is...
00:53:42well, one of the reasons.
00:53:44If we're going to be husband and wife,
00:53:46then you've got a right to be in on the decisions
00:53:48that affect the both of us.
00:53:50You understand?
00:53:52Now, if I stay here and fight it out with Ross and his men,
00:53:55the chances are very good that I'll be killed.
00:53:58But on the other hand,
00:54:00we could leave here tonight,
00:54:02get married the very first town we come to,
00:54:04go someplace we both like and settle down
00:54:06and just have a wonderful life for ourselves.
00:54:09It's all up to you, Sally.
00:54:11You just say the word.
00:54:13Well, Mom always said,
00:54:15never throw yourself in between a man
00:54:17and what he thinks he's got to do.
00:54:22Well...
00:54:24I won't kid you, Sally.
00:54:26I'm a little disappointed in that answer.
00:54:28Oh.
00:54:30No, it's all right.
00:54:32I got the strangest feeling
00:54:34that I've been pointed straight toward this shootout
00:54:36ever since the day I was born.
00:54:39I don't know about it.
00:54:41Billy says it's God moving in his mysterious way, me.
00:54:45Well, I just don't know.
00:54:49You very religious, Sally?
00:54:52Wait a minute.
00:54:53After talking talk,
00:54:55can't you be quiet and get on with what you're supposed to be doing?
00:55:00Yes, ma'am.
00:55:09Folks, I'm here today
00:55:11as your preacher
00:55:13and as God's representative.
00:55:15As your preacher,
00:55:17I've stood up to your enemies for you,
00:55:19and all it's gotten me so far
00:55:21is a lot of bruises and a bunch of cactus spines.
00:55:24Now, I understand that a lot of you thought I was dead,
00:55:27and that my ghost was raging through the hills,
00:55:29wreaking my vengeance on rocks and hills,
00:55:31and that I was just a little boy
00:55:33who had just been born,
00:55:35and that I was just a little boy
00:55:37who had just been born,
00:55:39and I want to ask you something.
00:55:41What were your feelings?
00:55:43Were you scared
00:55:45that you might have an angry ghost
00:55:47raging in your hills?
00:55:49Or were you ashamed
00:55:51because not a single one of you
00:55:53came out to see if I was alive
00:55:55or if I might not need some help?
00:55:57Well, I'm warning you, people.
00:55:59While you're sitting around
00:56:01waiting for God and me
00:56:03to do your work for you,
00:56:06God just might have some plans of his own.
00:56:08Maybe he's not as angry at Ross
00:56:10as he is at you.
00:56:28I'm not armed.
00:56:30Billy, go outside.
00:56:32Take a look around.
00:56:34Leave him alone.
00:56:36Go on, Billy.
00:56:40I just thought it was time
00:56:42that all this foolishness came to an end.
00:56:44We got a new country to build here.
00:56:46We ought to be getting on with it
00:56:48instead of indulging
00:56:50in all this senseless killing.
00:56:52I won't deny that you've hurt me
00:56:54since you've been here.
00:56:56Several of my men have been killed or wounded.
00:56:58Several more have run off
00:57:00because you scared them half to death.
00:57:02I didn't know I was doing that well.
00:57:04What do you want, Ross?
00:57:06A truce.
00:57:10A chance to get on with our lives.
00:57:14Ross, if you were sitting
00:57:16on a stack of Bibles 10 feet high,
00:57:18I'd bet money that you were lying and I'd win.
00:57:20Well, just a minute, Reverend.
00:57:22If Mr. Ross is sincere
00:57:24and I believe he is,
00:57:26this may be just the moment
00:57:28we've been waiting for.
00:57:30Loser, how could you believe that?
00:57:32I don't believe him for a minute.
00:57:34You are going to believe this man
00:57:36after all he's done to you?
00:57:38Gee ho, it's a fact, Reverend.
00:57:40Anybody can make a mistake.
00:57:42If Mr. Ross is man enough to come here...
00:57:44Please, please, please.
00:57:46I didn't mean to create
00:57:48any dissension amongst the preacher's flock.
00:57:52Now, you've all heard what I have to say.
00:57:56Think it over.
00:58:12Well, I think we ought to accept the proposition.
00:58:14Well, I think you're right.
00:58:22I have an announcement to make.
00:58:26Miss Sally Underwood and I
00:58:28are going to be married tomorrow morning at 11.
00:58:30You're all invited.
00:58:32The second the ceremony is over,
00:58:34my wife and I will be leaving
00:58:36this God-forsaken town for good.
00:58:38The ceremony won't take place here at the church.
00:58:40It'll be at the Mint Saloon.
00:58:42Say what you want about those people at the Mint,
00:58:44but they know why they're there
00:58:46and they'd do something about it.
00:58:58Howdy.
00:59:12Where's Sally?
00:59:14She's out back getting drenched.
00:59:16Now, why are we here?
00:59:18We can't take all day with this thing.
00:59:20What's your rush, boy?
00:59:22One of my feelings, and I'm never wrong,
00:59:24that I should get out of this place.
00:59:26I was hoping you'd say that. Huh?
00:59:28Oh, nothing.
00:59:30Hey, yonder she comes down.
00:59:36Oh, you're beautiful.
00:59:40Come on, everybody.
00:59:46Don't you get the feeling that
00:59:48maybe something's missing here?
00:59:50I mean, who's going to perform the ceremony?
00:59:52You're the only preacher around here.
00:59:56I don't approve of any law that says
00:59:58I can't delegate my otherworldly powers.
01:00:00You marry us, Billy.
01:00:02I don't know about the legality of all this.
01:00:04Oh, don't remind the legality.
01:00:06It's the spirit that counts.
01:00:10Now, I take Sally to be my wedded wife.
01:00:14You go on from there.
01:00:16Well...
01:00:20Dearly beloved,
01:00:22we're gathered here today
01:00:24to celebrate your wedding.
01:00:30Reverend, you were right.
01:00:32Ross and his men have bypassed the town,
01:00:34and they're circling around, and they're coming in that way.
01:00:36Well, he's let us down again.
01:00:38Hold it down, hold it down.
01:00:40How many men?
01:00:42I counted 14, including Ross.
01:00:44How long before they get here?
01:00:46Not more than five minutes.
01:00:48Well, five minutes is plenty of time.
01:00:50Go on with what you were saying, Billy.
01:00:52We'll have to finish this thing later.
01:00:54All right, folks, this is it.
01:00:56Now you see how much his word means.
01:00:58Ross and his men are coming into town
01:01:00for just one reason,
01:01:02to get me.
01:01:04Because he knows if he kills me,
01:01:06there won't be enough fight left in the rest of you
01:01:08to hold off a bunch of sick old ladies.
01:01:10This thing works two ways.
01:01:12Now, if I can get Ross first,
01:01:14then his men won't have any reason
01:01:16to go on with the fight.
01:01:18So all I'll need is some of you
01:01:20to keep his men pinned down
01:01:22while I take care of Ross.
01:01:28But the women and the children...
01:01:30You don't even have to come out in the open.
01:01:32You can shoot from the windows or from the roofs.
01:01:36You don't even have to hit anything.
01:01:38Just shoot fast and make a lot of noise,
01:01:40but keep his men pinned down.
01:01:50I can't believe it, Reverend. I'm with you.
01:01:52Give Ma and me a couple of rifles.
01:01:54Well, you said we didn't have to hit anything,
01:01:56just make a lot of noise.
01:01:58You don't think I'd take a chance with you, do you?
01:02:00Come on, Billy. Give me the keys to the hardware store.
01:02:02Barbershop.
01:02:06I don't hate you people.
01:02:08I guess you just can't help the way you are.
01:02:14Well, I ain't gonna be that easy on you.
01:02:16Ernie, there's something else that you ought to know about.
01:02:18I'd have told you sooner,
01:02:20but, well, I didn't want to spoil the wedding.
01:02:22Now, that sheriff that wanted to hang you,
01:02:24he's here in town.
01:02:26Where?
01:02:28Over at my place.
01:02:30I told him I was the sheriff here.
01:02:32It's one that I got off our last late sheriff.
01:02:34Anyhow, I told him if he'd wait there
01:02:36while I had a round of gin, I'd bring you in to him.
01:02:38How'd he find you?
01:02:40Oh, him and that posse
01:02:42come across Frank Fleming's body.
01:02:44One of them old boys knew Frank.
01:02:46They figured that you'd switch clothes with him.
01:02:48Well, if he wants me,
01:02:50he's just gonna have to get in line
01:02:52behind Ross and those other 13 men.
01:02:54You take the barbershop.
01:02:58Ernie, when this thing's over with,
01:03:00though, you gotta get out of town.
01:03:02That's all there is to it.
01:03:04Billy, what the hell makes you think
01:03:06we're gonna live through this thing?
01:03:14♪♪
01:03:24♪♪
01:03:34♪♪
01:03:44♪♪
01:03:54♪♪
01:04:04♪♪
01:04:14♪♪
01:04:20I want that preacher!
01:04:22If he's not out here in two minutes,
01:04:24I'm gonna burn this town to the ground!
01:04:28Drop your guns, boys!
01:04:31♪♪
01:04:39♪♪
01:04:49♪♪
01:05:03We're with you, preacher.
01:05:05♪♪
01:05:15♪♪
01:05:25♪♪
01:05:35♪♪
01:05:45♪♪
01:05:55♪♪
01:06:05♪♪
01:06:15♪♪
01:06:25♪♪
01:06:35♪♪
01:06:45♪♪
01:06:55♪♪
01:07:05♪♪
01:07:15♪♪
01:07:25Listen, all you Ross's men.
01:07:27Ross is dead.
01:07:29Anyone who keeps on fighting is gonna have to stand trial.
01:07:31How do we know he's dead?
01:07:33Because I'm alive.
01:07:39All right. You heard the man.
01:07:45Sheriff's gonna be down here to find out what this is all about.
01:07:49Yeah, I know.
01:07:52Billy, get my horse and meet me out back, huh?
01:08:01Go over to the Mint Saloon and tell Sally to meet me back at the ranch.
01:08:04We'll take off from there.
01:08:06No, I ain't gonna do it.
01:08:08I'm a dang fool for going along with this thing as far as I have.
01:08:11It ain't gonna go no further.
01:08:13What are you talking about?
01:08:15I ain't gonna let you run away with that kid.
01:08:17Her not knowing who you are or what you are
01:08:19or what kind of a life she's letting herself in for.
01:08:22You think if I told her everything, she still wouldn't ride away with me?
01:08:25Well, of course she would, Ernie,
01:08:27because she's 18 and you're her first love.
01:08:30Well, that's good enough for me.
01:08:32Ernie, when that sheriff finds out you've left town,
01:08:35do you suppose that he's just gonna give up?
01:08:37I can take care of him.
01:08:39Yeah, you can take care of him with one hand
01:08:41while you take care of Sally with the other.
01:08:43And if something goes wrong,
01:08:45she can just stand around with your baby in her and watch you hang.
01:08:52You think I could just ride off without telling her why?
01:08:55I'll tell her.
01:08:57Yeah, then what happens to her?
01:08:59Oh, she'll be tore up for a while, but she's young.
01:09:03She'll get over it in a month or two.
01:09:06Yeah, but I won't get over it in a month or two.
01:09:10I'll get your horse.
01:09:12I'll get it myself.
01:09:16Ernie?
01:09:21This town owes you a whole lot,
01:09:24but it don't owe you Sally.
01:09:28Can't make any promises.
01:09:46He's all right. He's not hurt, and he'll be here any minute.
01:09:54Damn it, Billy.
01:09:57You're right.
01:10:15Come on.
01:10:45Come on.
01:10:47Come on.
01:11:12A blessing's on you, Ernie.
01:11:14Oh, thank you.
01:11:16No, I don't think so.
01:11:18How come you know me?
01:11:20Because I know every preacher in this part of the country,
01:11:22and you're not one of them.
01:11:24And I've been hearing about a gunfighter named Ernie Parsons
01:11:27and some interesting goings-on in a town called Castle Walk.
01:11:30I don't believe everything you hear, Reverend.
01:11:32I don't. That's why I'm on my way to Castle Walk right now,
01:11:35to investigate these wonderful stories.
01:11:38Maybe you should get them a real preacher now.
01:11:40They seem very happy with the one they had.
01:11:43They had a gunfighter, not a preacher.
01:11:45He moves in mysterious ways.
01:11:49You boys sure do have a way with that phrase, don't you?
01:11:53Are you really going to Castle Walk?
01:11:55I sure am.
01:11:58When you get there,
01:12:00would you give these to a girl named Sally Underwood?
01:12:03Tell her they're just from an unknown admirer
01:12:06that thinks certain girls should have a trip to Phoenix,
01:12:08even if they don't get married.
01:12:10All right.
01:12:12Ernie, did you ever think that
01:12:15the things that happen to you in Castle Walk
01:12:18might be your call to the kind of work you've been destined to do?
01:12:23Reverend, I didn't solve the problems at Castle Walk by praying them away.
01:12:28I did it the way I always do, with a gun.
01:12:31Had you ever heard of a call coming that way?
01:12:34But you left it a better place than it was when you arrived.
01:12:37You're a nice guy, Reverend, but no thanks.
01:12:42I'll be seeing you, Ernie.
01:13:12Castle Walk, Phoenix by TravelPod member jimandlou
01:13:17Castle Walk, Phoenix by TravelPod member jimandlou
01:13:22Castle Walk, Phoenix by TravelPod member jimandlou
01:13:27Castle Walk, Phoenix by TravelPod member jimandlou
01:13:34Castle Walk, Phoenix by TravelPod member jimandlou
01:13:41Castle Walk, Phoenix by TravelPod member jimandlou
01:13:48Castle Walk, Phoenix by TravelPod member jimandlou