 It's Hop along Cassidy With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all Hop along Cassidy starring William Boyd The ring of the Silver Spurs heralds the most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West hop along Cassidy This famous hero thrills his 60 million fans with action and dangerous adventure In the role of hop along Cassidy is the popular star of the motion picture series William Boyd and appearing as that laughable old character, California is Andy Clyde Now to our story order of nowhere Only a few minutes before the saloon had been filled with laughter the easy batter of cow punchers lined up at the bar Now a silence has settled over the room and there is tension in the air The sheriff a ready-headed giant rolls a cigarette strikes a match his eyes never leave in the man across from him All right, Mr. C.A. Round here man's gently entitled to his own opinion, but he's got to back it up with a six-gun That means right now outside Meanwhile down the street Lucy Marriott the widow Marriott now is getting ready to close up for the night Taking the trays of meat from the display counter back to the icebox at the rear of the store What in the world you're gonna do with all that Mr. Garvey offered three cents a pound and I We're not that hard every little bit counts more I You're fucked up. Well, I know how hard it's been on you since Paul was Since Paul died We'll make out I Wish I was bigger. It ain't right. What lady like you having to run a meat store It won't be long mom. I'll be big enough to run it by myself before you know it Sorry to bust in the back door that away. I'm sorry, but we're closed for the day What do you want right now? I want you to shut up, sonny that goes for you too. I told you we're closed I didn't come here to get no meat Please not the kind you are selling you get out of here. Mr. You ain't gonna stay I'll get this both of you. I ain't as sensitive as some I just as soon kill you as look at you I'll get behind that counter and stay there Come on Down at the saloon Just answering some man out in front What is it a door? That's why he's here with a Winchester. Yes, he's gonna You want to die? You shot him in the back when words see just one word about me being here ship him too Mom don't think about me. I go on get out of here And don't worry. We won't say anything But good with it, too. What good put it through two riders burned by the sun And covered with the red dust that lay deep on the trail behind them Mounted the ridge and looked down for the first time on velvet valley With a little town of Cherokee nestled at its northern end It was an unbelievable sight behind them miles of sunbaked desert then the ridge then directly ahead The rolling green of the valley the lush cottonwoods and willows strung along the creek down its center I'll be yeah, California minor per se just one little word. I'm too tired to fight back go ahead She's a lovely spot ain't never seen a prettier valley But it still don't make sense to beat me down to the size of a dried up horny toad and put saddle sores all of them I was riding the halfway across the country to pick up a hundred head of cattle. We could have bought at the ranch next door And the speech why the mouthful appeal 10 pounds life And as usual your tongue is going at a high canter while your brain still got the hobbles on Okay, here. Hoppy. Ah, don't get riled now. I might not have told you we're after a special kind of cow It's not we're buying from Ed Allison or Aberdeen Angus and you can't find them on the ranch next door Why we going fancy? What's wrong with our white faces nothing? But I want to see how this breed will do on that flat land south of the ranch house and besides Try sure what? Peaceful looking town, isn't it? Yeah? But it's up to its ears and trouble. Oh What do you mean coffee? I'm not sure yet. There's no more after I talk to Ed Allison. Good on Cassidy. Thanks I look Allison I want you to understand one thing. I'm not questioning your price But I know what you're gonna say 21 dollars a head $2 trail insurance. Yeah And if you just had 23 and left out the rest I'd have paid it and gone home with my cattle But sure only if I put it down that way, I wouldn't be telling the truth Who gets the $2 peasley the mayor of Cherokee City? He's gone into the insurance business as a sideline You pay him your two dollars a head and then if your herd gets rustled on the drive home He buys you a new one You had rustler trouble around here lately this town was born with a cat We're sitting on the edge of a Of nowhere out here Everything what's the town is outlaw country nearest United States Marshall is 150 miles away. You got a sheriff Yeah Yeah, we got a sheriff. What does that mean? Anything I've said enough. I don't go on. We got a sheriff. We got a man. We got a judge Three biggest crooks from Peace River to the Rio Grande everything about electing a set of new one We tried it once nice peaceful election. Everybody voted what happened? They lost huh sure the mayor counted the ballots Well the people around here will put up with that kind of thing. They're pretty much deserve what they get Oh, I felt like you do Cassidy. So did someone else Helen ain't married. He used to run the meat store down the street About a year ago. He decided to do something about it How far did he get about as far as the dry ghost west of town they found him face down with a bullet in his back And there was a little ruckus in front of the gym saloon last Sunday Oh, see a man blew in a town cattleman's association special investigators something and snooping around in the hills for a couple of weeks That right down with Sheriff Fancher in the saloon and accused him of heading up the rustin operation around here So the sheriff walked him out from the street and brought daylight and stood him up for a duel While one of his boys laid for the CA man down the street with a winchester They buried him Monday at poplar Grove Cemetery So I paid my trail insurance and take my cattle home safely is that it? That's it. Have there been a trail herd rustle yet that paid first a level on every herd passing through Got every man jack in the territory shaken in his boots afraid his ranch house will be burned his wife and children killed if he opens His mouth Hey, where you going to see Mayor Peevely or insurance broker Peevely. I want to talk to him about my Policy see now mr. Cassidy 100 head of Aberdeen Angus for the trailer yourself. That's right $200 cash in advance and what does that buy me mr. Peevely 100 head of cattle if you lose these you think that's likely Powerful out of rustling going on around here lately Want to pay now Cassidy? I think it'd be kind of extravagant. Don't you oh? Why do you say that I mean since I already got rustler insurance and I didn't pay any at $200 to get it Either you all ready. Yeah cost me $50 To six guns at $25 a piece This is a mr. Cassidy Fred Howdy, Cassidy. I try to explain to Cassidy that we've got the powerful problem on our hands with the rustlers Yes, you have the um don't think you'll take out trail insurance Oh Want to take a chance Cassidy you think I'm taking the chance sure sure do the hills west here full outlaws Last heard that went through without paying. I mean without taking out insurance How many was it they killed easily or from the herd off to about 500 head must have made you both pretty mad Oh, I was fed to be tied Stand Marriott. He was alive then come in with a couple of gun slingers He claimed was behind the rustling and we stood him up before judge Corson for trial jury. No You see we couldn't find no one willing to serve on the jury. So judge Corson had a triumph as self They was acquitted for lack of evidence Yeah, it seems to go that away every time must be pretty discouraging for you Thank you pulling crooks in only to have them acquitted enough to break a man's heart. Yeah What about the two dollars ahead? I've never had to buy a protection yet easily and I don't think I'll start now. Well, it's your funeral. Thanks, oh Yeah, take another look at the name on the coffin never can tell it might be yours Mountain Downs in Palace, honey. Oh, that's right My name's Chip Maria. Glad to know you. I'm hop along Cassidy 420. Yeah. How did you know I'm pretty far from home? My dad used to talk about you Don't reckon you know him, but he knew you all right. He told me once you was the kind of man. He wanted me to be I I'd like to have known you're a bad chip You got here a year too late. Yeah Yes, yeah Maybe we're too late to save your dad, but maybe we can finish the job. He started out to do He'd like to hear that Wherever he is I keep promising him mr. Cassidy. I keep telling him I'll do it for him when I get big enough. You're big enough now chip for a size count You think so? I know it and I'll tell you another thing Wherever your dad is. He's so proud of you. He's ready to put We're coming. Come on chipper. Let's win. Talk to your mom But I tell you I'm tired of fighting and killing I don't want any part of it I don't like it either mrs. Marriott, but there's no choice You have to fight them or stand back and take it. He's right. Let's see Oh the pick and stand from me. No, I've got left this chip and I'm gonna keep him. Do you hear I'm gonna keep him? And don't you start talking like your father? Ma He'd be ashamed of us. That's why he'd be ashamed of here's talk this way after he Done what he's done. Maybe we won't win ma maybe they'll lick us again But I'd rather fight him and lose and go on like this. You're right chip ma. Yeah Get the petition petition. What you're talking about sonny go get it All right This is why they kill Stan mr. Cassidy the petition Got 50 ranchers here to sign us demanding a new election and they backed out after Stan was killed They knew their names on that thing it'd be their death war. I promised them I'd destroy it, but I didn't it's still good Then that's 50 names here. They can't all be coward all they need is someone to unite him Cassidy Sanchez gun them thought alone. I know they have no recourse to law This is one time they got to take the law into their own hands. I don't think they're afraid of that punch out in the Hills, I think they're afraid of Fancher and Mayor Peeley and judge Corson. That's what Stan said and he was right There's only one way to unite the people and that's to force a showdown with those three crooks right in front of their eyes I hear that's what they see a man tried to do. Yeah, maybe I'll be luckier than the see a man Put that petition in a good safe place. Mrs. Marriott. It might come in handy before long Happy is determined now that there's only one way to break the iron grip that Sheriff Fancher and his henchmen hold on the people of Cherokee City to gamble everything on a public showdown with Fancher himself As he listens to Hoppy's story the next day There Peeley acts vaguely as if he'd heard it before Hmm a petition a referendum if you want to be proper There are 50 names on it more than enough to call for a new election got it with you I'll haul it out when the time comes You come in Sheriff. I asked you question Cassidy. When do you propose to haul out this here petition? Well, we'll need a few days to get organized here. How about Saturday afternoon? Maybe you would understand one thing Cassidy Man in my position is only human the legal angle is not with standard This here thing kind of hurts my pride. Don't blame you a bit sir. I can sympathize with you Fancher I can't help feeling it's a scheme. Someone's engineering to blacken my reputation Know what I mean. I'm not sure but go on anyway when I figure someone's out to give me a bad name I can't help looking on it as a personal insult. I get you now Just like the CA man a that's right. What do you want it out in front's good enough for me good Now's as good a time as any let's go. Oh, I wouldn't be in a rush Cassidy Folks will want to see this. Let's give him a chance to spread the word around and Maybe give you a chance to work out the preparations a like you did with the CA man Get your hand off that gun sheriff kill you Cassidy. I'll cut you down You'll have your chance at three o'clock Saturday afternoon when we have a public reading of the petition How'd it go? That's all set three o'clock next Saturday afternoon. Where's Allison? Oh, he's taking Mrs. Marriott out of town to Ranch of Apprentice. He says Fancher knows who got that petition figures She'd be safe out of the way till it's over. What about ship? Oh I didn't see you there chipper. Good boy. Well, what's your next move? We got four days to Saturday between us. We got to talk to every rancher in the county Convince them that they got a be in town Saturday. They'll back down. They can't back down. They won't fight now They're all washed up. We've got to convince him of that. We'll do our writing at night I don't want Fancher to know too much about what we're doing When's Allison do back about an hour or so good? It'll be dark around eight. We'll move at 8 30 Cassidy, they're living on the trail herds now first thing you know They're levy on your grazing stock then on your house, then who knows what are you gonna take it or you're gonna fight back Well, what that fan sir? He'll do anything. I ain't got no defeat. Listen now get this I'll take care of Fancher. All I'm asking is for you to show up Saturday afternoon to back me up All you've got to do is be there All right, Cassidy. You can count on me It was the facts, ma'am. It's put up a shut up next Saturday afternoon. I got you Carlson My old man will be there for after dragging the town by the hair Mr. Jenkins, you've got a promise to be there Saturday The chip if you've got sand enough to fight Sheriff Rancher at 14. I reckon I ought to have it at 73 I'll be there loaded for bear. What's that? It's covered the county every rancher in the district will be in town tomorrow afternoon Good I always play better to a full house Chef We're riding a spooky brawn tomorrow. You know that no, I don't know that You know much else besides that winch has to do it. That's what I'm paid for. That's enough better be enough Tomorrow they're gonna call in the boys sure all 12 of them This is a poker game we've been playing mr. Man We've been sitting up to the table for five years now with a pair of deuces play in our hand like it was a royal flush They figured we get a hundred men in the hills ain't gonna give them a reason to think different that engine sign You got on them ain't gonna last forever. You'll last as long as I need it. They're still afraid of me After I cut Cassidy down tomorrow. There won't be no more backtalk If there is we handle it like we did Marriott a couple of night rides Maybe a corpse or two and they all fall back into line. What about tomorrow? You you'll use the meat store again while you look oh, they'll be expecting its last thing They'll be expecting the woman's out of town the stall be closed up You can break in through the back door go out the same way Online Cassidy up so you get a clear shot Oh, there's only one thing. What's that that winchester? I don't want you seen around town with a rifle ditch it somewhere back of the store tonight. I understand. Okay, Patrick Yeah, that does it then Yeah, yeah, bust out a bottle. Let's have a drink to the common festivities I'll do you he wouldn't be the first one Well, sorry, I'm late fancier had some trouble getting through the crowd you were all packed for the long trip I'm ready if that's what you mean. What about the petition got it right here. Let me look at it I'll keep it until after we satisfy your honor Better stick it in your boot He's shame to put a hole in it. I'm about to talk and how do you want it now? Yeah, the mayor explained the procedure ain't nothing to it Cassidy 40 paces both of you free to draw when the handkerchief hits the ground. That's fair enough. Let's go Again chef not the same one. Shut up kid. I'll blow you up Oh, no you won't they'd hear the shot up there plenty shoot except the one big one chef The one fanciers paying you you shut your mouth. You're here look it off up there You better forget about me Cassidy ain't the kind of a gunslinger you can miss more in one ship He's sure death as far as a 44 show a reason There they go Take miss Cassidy. I Won't miss not at this range Okay, mr. Cassidy Here's your boss and as the board warps of Jericho's main street Tense every eye on hop along Cassidy as he steps off his 20 paces and there is a gas as a shot rings out Go ahead mad drop that handkerchief. We're ready. Yeah, wait a minute mayor. What's the matter fancier? There's something wrong do what I told you mad drop that handkerchief, or I'll let you have it I had Cassidy no Pick up your gun you're you're not coyote pick it up for peach pick Cassidy Oh, no, no, no first one just dust it off your hand. Sheriff number two is the big one go ahead Reach for that gun. Oh, I'm through fighting. I'll talk. I'll do anything. Just let me live Why everyone why please I Don't have to say much you can see for yourself what you've been afraid of yeah He's big and he talks loud, but he's yellow and you all of you are as much to blame for fancier and the whole crooked tribe as they are You were yellow, too You laid down and took it. You let a brave man like Stan Merritt get down fighting a year ago while you ran for cover That's right. I got a piece of paper in my hand here The petition he died for Gonna give you a new set of officials a fresh start Something that's worth fighting to keep Allison Read on the petition you can hold the election right here now And your first duty as a new sheriff will be to string up those three crooks and send a posse after the henchmen in the hills Gotta get down to meat store. I think the kids heard Chip chipper what happened? You all right? Yeah Where is he? Where's ship on the floor next to the door something almost blue. He said oh, he was set to do it again That's why a fancier. Yeah, I know he was coming when I found his gun last night. So I waited here What happened to him the breach exploded in his face. I know it. Well, I was afraid he'd find it I'm what the barrel of the gun. I filled it last night with hot towel. Well, I'll be golden. Oh shit Well, you did me a mighty big favorite ship Thanks. I Did it partly for you mr. Cassidy But mostly for my pa Good boy from hop along Cassidy and California These partners will be riding out again soon into a threatening episode and we hope you'll be with us Hop along Cassidy star and William Boyd is transcribed and produced in the West by Walter white Junior Order of nowhere was written by Harold Swanton All stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence E. Molton. This is a Commodore production