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Scene opens with a woman (Belle Jordan) leading the
wagon down the road. The boys go up to her.
Kid: Whoah, Ma'am.
Belle takes out a riffle and aims it at them.
Belle: Step back off the road boys or I'm gonna have to let fly with both barrels.
Heyes: Now ma'am, don't do that, least not 'til we explain.
They tell her a story of how they lost their horses to poison water and now they are out there
with no horses or water. She offers them a ride.
Belle: Just leave the hardware up here boys.
Heyes gets into the back and Kid gets up front. Kid offers to take the reins, but Belle says
not yet.
Belle: We still have a half a day's ride before we get where we're going.
Heyes: (pleased) Half a day, well!
They ride off.
In scenes detailing the Posse still riding and looking for them, the title comes up: THE
POSSE THAT WOULDN'T QUIT. Scenes continue to show the posse as the credits roll.
The wagon comes up to two rough signs: "J RANCH" and "FOR SALE" nailed to a
rough looking post. They come up to a house and stop. They get out and Belle returns
their guns. She calls out to her husband that they have company.
Heyes: Sure is a nice isolated place you got here.
Belle: Maybe you'll change our luck. Make people start dropping by.
Kid: (to Heyes) Well now, that is a possibility.
Heyes: Uh-huh.
There are two little girls in hats laying on there bellies on the ground concealed below the
porch. They smile at each other as they overhear the guys comment.
Belle goes inside the house and greets her husband, Jesse (who is laid up with a broken
leg). She asks him about her daughters and he tells her that they are out chasing a mountain
lion. Heyes and Curry follow inside the house bringing in supplies. They are introduced
to Jesse by Belle. They explain the problem they have with their horses being poisened and
all. Jesse explains that they don't have any spare horses. They offer to put them up
until Belle goes to town again in two weeks. The boys offer to work for them fixing fences.
The boys go outside to bring in supplies and Belle calls for her girls. She spots them hiding
under the house and tells them to come out.
Belle: Now say 'How do you do' so they know you're little girls and not wild animals.
The girls introduce themselves.
Kid: Well they seem like real nice little girls.
Belle: Girls? Cowboys! They run so wild out here. All they can think
of is riding horses and shooting riffles.
The boys laugh and go into the house.
The posse is still search for them.
It is evening. Heyes is playing the guitar and
singing "Simple Gifts." The girls look at
them with puppy love in their eyes.
A quick scenes shows that the posse is still riding.
Heyes finishes the song and they clap.
Belle: You sing well.
Heyes: Well, it used to settle the long horns on those drives from Texas.
They send the girls to bed. The posse is still riding. Kid and Heyes join Jesse
in a smoke, while Jesse explains that that he was a schoolteacher that felt tied down, so he
bought the ranch. But, they are worried about the girls. He would like to move back
to Denver but need a stake to get started. That is why the ranch is up for sale.
Beth: We don't want to go, papa. Not anywhere.
Belle: Yes you do. Now go back to sleep.
Kid: You can't be a drover all your life fellows.
The sun rises and the posse is still riding.
Heyes and Curry are asleep in a bunkhouse. They hear shots, jump out of bed, grab their
guns and run to the window. Kid is in a red Henley and Heyes is in a white one.
They see the girls shooting riffles at cans on a fence. The girls continue to shoot and
miss the cans while taking glances towards the bunkhouse. Kid starts to get dressed.
Heyes: What are you doing?
Kid: Can't let a lady shoot alone, can I?
Heyes: I can.
Kid comes out dressed with his gun on. He says good morning to Belle and goes towards
the girls.
Kid: You ladies always start your day off this way.
Beth: Unless we're bull dogging or swamping or something
Bridget: Think you can do any better.
Kid: I never said a word
Bridget: Yeah but I know what you were thinking.
She tries to hand him her riffle.
Kid: Naw, I'm not very good with a riffle.
The girls propose a contest. Ten cents a can for every can Bridget hits.
She shoots and hits every can.
Beth: You owe us a dollar.
Kid forks over the money. They ask him if he is any good with his handgun. They explain
that their mother won't let them use handguns because it's not lady-like.
The girls propose another contest, twenty cents a can for every one Kid can hit.
 Bridget:
Go ahead try.
Kid: All right, what have I got to lose?
Beth: A dollar twenty.
Kid fast draws and shoots all six cans, spins his guns and holsters it - much to the surprise of
the girls. They give him the dollar back
Kid: You owe me 20 cents. From now on listen to your mother. Girls
shouldn't fool around with handguns.
Kid walks back to the bunkhouse passing Heyes who was watching the whole thing.
Kid: Aw come on
Heyes: I didn't say a thing.
Heyes follows the Kid into the bunkhouse laughing.
The posse is still riding. (This scene, until
the sun rises, is omitted from most syndicated versions)
We see Heyes and Curry fixing fences. Beth and Bridget ride up with a picnic basket.
Bridget: It's too hot to eat here. Get on.
Heyes rides with Bridget, Kid rides with Beth.
A scene intercut shows the posse is still searching for them.
Heyes, Curry, Beth and Bridget stop at a creek for lunch. While Beth hangs upside-down from
a tree, Bridget talks to Heyes.
Bridget: Have you ever been to Denver?
Heyes: Why Denver?
Bridget: Mom wants us to move there. She says it's beautiful.
Heyes: She's right. Got the greatest hotel there you've ever seen. It's
called the Brown Palace. You can look right up through the center of it and see the top floor.
Then, Bridget asks Heyes to teach her Simple Gifts. Heyes sings and she joins in. Then,
Beth joins and the Kid joins too.
It's night. They are back in the house. The
girls are singing Simple Gifts while Heyes plays guitar.
The sun rises. The posse arrives at the ranch and get into position.
Sheriff: Hey. Hey in there. Come on out. We want to talk to you.
The Jordan's and Heyes and Curry are eating breakfast. As soon as they hear the shouting, Heyes and
Kid grab their guns and go to the window. Belle goes outside.
Belle: Good morning. What can I do for you?
Sheriff: I'm Sheriff Morrison from Diablo Wells. We've been watching your house with
binoculars. We know you have two outlaws in there. We want 'em.
Belle: What outlaws are you talking about?
Sheriff: You know who we're talking about, Kid Curry and Hannibal Heyes.
In the house, the girls look frightened and the boys look concerned.
Belle tells them to wait and goes inside.
Belle: Are you Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry?
Kid: (looks at Heyes and says) Ma'am it's a real temptation to lie to you and tell
you we aren't, but then we'd have to convince that posse and they know better. He's Hannibal
Heyes and I'm Kid Curry.
The girls want to hide them but Jesse says he will have to turn them in. Heyes tries to
talk them into telling the sheriff that they are their prisoners.
Belle: Why would I do that?
Kid: Because we're worth $10,000 apiece.
Heyes: We'd feel a little better if you got the money.
The Jordans are reluctant but agree to do as Heyes suggests. The girls tie up Heyes and
Kid. The sheriff is angry but is stuck. He wants to check to make sure that she is
telling the truth. The sheriff and deputy go inside and see the boys tied up.
Heyes: Sheriff, just one question. Did you have an Apache with you?
Sheriff: How did you know that?
Girls are on the porch with their father. Heyes and Curry are in the wagon, their hands
still tied. Belle is in the wagon with the Sheriff and the deputy is riding along side.
Heyes: Bye Bridget. Write me a letter sometime.
Kid: You too Beth.
They leave and we hear a harmonica play.
The wagon is rolling down the road when shots
ring out. One shot takes the deputy's hat off. They two lawmen jump off the
wagon. Heyes and Curry jump out of the back. The sheriff tries to shoot them, but
can't get a shot off because of the unknown shooters. Belle backs the wagon away. Heyes
and Curry run a ways, sit back to back to untie each other and get up to see if they can escape.
Heyes: Kid, do you get the feeling that those people up there are on our side?
Kid: I get the feeling that if we made a run for that horse, they
might just cover us.
Heyes: Let's see if you're right. Come on.
The run for the horse, jump on and ride off.
Sheriff and deputy are still pinned down.
Sheriff: Must be the entire Devil's Hole Gang!
It isn't. Bridget and Beth are on top of the hill shooting their riffles. The sheriff
decides to run around to get behind them.
Heyes and Curry come upon a railroad track and follow it.
The girls, still shooting, look frightened. Belle looks up the hill curiously. The
Sheriff comes up behind the girls.
Sheriff: All right girls. That will be enough.
A train is talking on water. Heyes and Curry enter a boxcar and sit down.
Kid: Heyes.
Heyes: What?
Kid: I don't suppose there's any question as to who was firing those riffles.
Heyes: No.
Kid: I don't suppose there's any question but that they're in trouble.
Heyes: No.
Kid: Should we do something about it?
Heyes: Nope, I don't think we should.
Kid: Fortunately, your wiser, calmer mind prevails on such
occasion.
Heyes: I hope so. After all they aren't going to hang those little girls.
Kid: Are you sure?
Heyes: And after a month or so they won't be in any more trouble than they're in right
now. So, we'll just stay on this train until we get to a decent town, then we'll get a
stake. Then, we'll come back and see just how much trouble they're in.
(laughs) Hang little girls.
Train going one way. Heyes and Curry are in
a casino winning money.
Train goes the other way. A stagecoach goes by
and then we see the boys riding horseback.
It's night at the Jordan house when we hear banging on the door.
Belle: (gets out of bed and asks) Who is it?
Heyes: Thaddeus and Joshua.
Belle smiles and lets them in. Bridget hugs Heyes.
Bridget: Joshua, oh I thought I'd never see you again.
They sit and the Jordans explain how the girls and Belle got arrested. They will have to stand
trial once Jesse can walk without crutches. They say they know no one is going to do anything
to Bridget and Beth since they are so young and Belle thinks they will go easy on her too.
Jesse: Belle decided she wasn't willing for you to give up 20 years apiece just to save
her a few months.
Belle: It's not worth it.
The boys agree and the girls make them a welcome home breakfast.
In town, inside the courthouse the prosecution is summing up.
Prosecutor: There can be no doubt in your minds that these ladies are guilty, guilty, guilty!
He goes on to ask the jury not to deal harshly with the girls but says they must find
the mother guilty. Judge tells jury to get a verdict.
In the saloon, deputy walks in and says the jury is back.
Drunk: Hey, the jury is back.
He shoots his gun in the air. Deputy takes him off to jail. The deputy arrives in the
courtroom just as the jury comes in.
Judge: Jury, what's your verdict?
Foreman: Your honor, because of their ages, we find the girls innocent of all
charges. But, their ma, she's guilty as charged.
Judge agrees and sentences Belle to three years in the state women's prison. The girls cry
and there is lots of noise in the courtroom. Suddenly Kid Curry stands up.
Kid: Your honor, can I say something?
Sheriff: Your honor, this is Kid Curry.
Deputy: All right, you're under arrest.
Judge: That true? You Kid Curry?
Kid: Yes sir, your honor. I am. I'm here to turn myself in and testify
for Mrs. Jordan.
Judge: Well you're too late. The trial is over.
Kid: I should have spoken up sooner, I know, your honor. But, I must admit
I wanted to wait and see what you decided and I'm ready now to tell the true story.
Judge: All right, swear him in.
Bailiff swears him in with Kid stating his name as "Jedidiah Curry."
Kid: Well your honor, I happen to know because I was there, that Belle Jordan was
completely unaware of what her daughters intended to do. She truly and honestly meant to
turn us in. And when the girls started shooting, she was as surprised as
anybody else. So, I feel the jury has come to the wrong verdict.
Judge: In view of the fact that this young man has given himself up and is going to
spend the rest of his life in prison for it, I think we have to believe what he says.
The judge sets aside the verdict dropping all charges against Belle.
Judge: By the way, young fella, what states are you wanted in?
Kid: Only in Wyoming, your honor.
The Judge tells Sheriff to put Kid in jail and adjourns the court. The girls run up to
hug him, still crying.
Bridget: Thaddeus, where's Joshua?
Kid: Well, we figured that since we both wouldn't have to turn ourselves
in that we'd flip a coin. Here I am.
Sheriff takes him to jail, passing the drunk asleep in a cell and locks him up.
The Jordan's are traveling back home.
At night in jail, two deputies are playing checkers.
Kid: I bet I could beat you.
Deputy: You'd just love to get that close to one of us, wouldn't you, so you could try one
of your tricks.
Kid: Fellows, its my partner Hannibal Heyes that does the tricks, not me.
The drunk sits up. He reaches into his boot and removes a gun. Goes to the cell door and
points it at the deputies.
Drunk: Don't move a hair boys… (he removes his mustache to reveal that he is really
Hannibal Heyes)
Heyes: …Cuz I don't want to kill ya.
Kid: Ah, that's my partner boys, Hannibal Heyes that does the tricks.
The Jordans arrive home. Belle lights a lamp and sees a note.
Belle: (reading) "By the time you read this we hope we'll both be on our way south
or maybe north. We want to make up for all the trouble we've caused. Go look in the cookie
jar. There should be enough to get the four of you to Denver before it's too
late. Joshua and Thaddeus."
The girls look in the cookie jar and find money.
Bridget: Mama! There's almost a thousand dollars here.
Belle: (reading) "P.S. We came by the money fairly honestly."
At the jail, Kid locks up the tied up lawmen
and goes outside where Heyes in on his horse waiting for him. Kid gets on his horse.
Kid: What's the matter?
Heyes: I got rid of my moustache. Why don't you get rid of yours?
Kid: (stroking his moustache) I'll think about it.
They laugh and yell for the horses to go. They ride off.
Closing Theme and Credits |
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