 With action and suspense out of the Old West comes the most famous hero of them all, Hapalong Cassidy, starring William Boyd. The ring of the silver spurs heralds the most amazing man ever to ride the prairies of the early West. Hapalong Cassidy, the same hoppy you cheer in motion pictures and the same California you've laughed at a million times. Raw courage and quick shooting have built a legend around this famous hero. Hapalong is a name to be feared, respected and admired. For this great cowboy rides the trails of adventure and excitement. William Boyd as Hapalong Cassidy and Andy Clyde as California. Well, Hoppy, what about our story? It's one I called Death Comes Invited and it began one day in eastern Nevada near the town of Franklin. California and I were on our way back to the bar 20 with nothing more on our minds than where to stop for the night. Then California decided things were too quiet. Oh, bury me not on the lone prairie where the coyotes are and the wind... And they shoot people for singing like that. Oh, now Hoppy, what's wrong with my voice? Nothing, except it sounded like you gargle with tags. Oh, but I feel to blame good, I just got to let off some steam. Don't this year country smell good? You can plum taste the peace and quiet. Yeah, well old Sheriff Cullerman Franklin has burned a lot of gunpowder to get it this way. Yeah, I reckon folks think I heap of them up there. He sure get a whale of a reputation. Yeah. Yes, sir. Hey, look. A bunch of riding mighty hard. And a hard-looking bunch they are, too. Oh, my God, hold it! Honest strangers, make us a horse trader. Sorry we're not in the... Not no time to argue. Two of my men are riding double, as you can see. Their horse has winded but not killed. You can have him, but we'll take yours. Quick now. You have five seconds. Get off or be shot off. That's better. Vic, you and Cash take these horses. Mister, we'll be coming after our horses, even though we have to chase you to Texas. Oh, he's a stranger. Jack Venno's got no grudge against you, and I reckon I understand a man's regard for his horse. We'll send him to you and Franklin a day or so. Adios! Turn thieves, watch. No, put it away. Oh, but doggone, I could have bored one sure before they rounded that bend. Yeah, and maybe hit one of the horses. I'd rather have Topper back safe and take revenge. Come on, we'll ride that horse double in the town. He sure is a tired horse. We won't go fast. That's better than walking. Uh-oh, more company. Hey, hey, the old geezer's wearing a badge. It's a posse. Well, well, huh. Howdy, gents. I'm Sheriff Cullum. You see, a bunch of hard cases riding fast and led by a tall gent wearing two gunflow butts forward for cross-draw. Right ahead of you, Sheriff. You're lying. Ike, we're getting a bum steer. You noticed? My eyes ain't that poor yet, Johnny Mark. Sheriff, I don't know who your deputy is, but I don't like being called a liar. By anyone. Don't blame me, not at all. My dagger written at insult. What are we waiting for? You, shuck those guns. Again? Getting so old, we're seen as guns. Yeah, just sent easy, Johnny, sent easy. Tellers, reckon you'd best drop them guns like Johnny asked you to do. Don't want you to get excited when I arrest you for robbery and murder. Now back to Hopalong Cassidy and our story. Death comes invited. Riding through eastern Nevada near the town of Franklin, Hoppe and California are held up and forced to trade their horses to a fleeing gang of men led by Jack Venno. The gang leaves them a tired horse, the presence of which causes the arrest of Hoppe and California on a charge of robbery and murder. All right, Johnny, you take these two armies back to town. We'll just... Sheriff, can you read tracks? I know, you used to get sarcastic, son. I'm just doing my duty. Well, before we get hanged by a mistake, you better read the sign in front of you. We were held by Venno's gang, forced to change horses. They left this one and... Ike, let me handle him. I'll teach him to keep quiet. Shut up, Johnny, shut up. I'm reading. Pretty messed up with tracks, Richard. Well, bust me. Give them their guns back. Why, you're out of your mind, Ike. No, you ain't the sheriff just yet, bucko. I said give back their guns. Strangers, reckon the sign bears you out. Thanks, and you've lost your chance to catch that gang. Maybe, maybe not. Better let the old fella ride. He looks a little feeble to me. All right, let's get going. Feeble? Feeble? Why, you dirty old fool, I can out-ride, out-walk, out-fight you, out-shoot you. And I'll talk him six ways to Sunday. He's gone. We might as well head for Franklin. I'll bet he is a worse time getting up of a cold morning than I do. Why, he must be 90 if he's a day. Nice parallel for both of us. You mean straight, sass parallel? That's right, but don't worry, we can handle it. What's the matter, mister? Bucko, I've given you trouble. No, no, not me, Sherry, not me. Back the way you stand up. Name? Apollon Cassidy. My partner, California Carlson. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm plum pleased to meet you. What man isn't? I'm Sherry King. Born Maggie Bates, if you're the curious type. Say, you are a good-looking one, aren't you, Cassidy? Uh, I think we better get our rooms at the hotel. I'll do it, Bobby. No use, both of us. Oh, wait, California. Nah, nah, we'll be better off alone. Come on, let's try a table. See, you can tell me how you'd like to take me out of all this. I won't even ask for a drink. Well, maybe you can tell me who Jack Venno is and what happened here this afternoon. Venno? He's a gunfighter who had brought a gang into this county a few months ago. Been raising cane. Robbed the bank today and one of the tellers got in his way. The teller is he, uh... They'll bury him tomorrow. But let's not talk about Venno. A share of Cullum here. I think this would be the last place a bandit gang would start operating. Cullum's getting old. Even Johnny admits it. That's Johnny Mark, a bow of mine. He's Cullum's deputy. I've met him. I wish Cullum would catch Venno and get it over with. Every week or so, a stage gets held up or a payroll stolen. Then for days, Cullum has Johnny out riding on those darn posseys. Why? I don't know. They never find Venno and his men. Well, that's... On your way, cowpoke. Sherry, I want to talk with you. This is Washington. My friend, Mr. Cassidy. Didn't you hear me? I sit on your way. Yeah, I heard you, but I feel kind of lazy. So maybe a bullet between your feet will... Well, what? Get it out, Washington. What's your beef? Uh... Maybe I made a mistake. You sure did when you reached for a gun. He beat you a mile, Paul. Shut up! Why you... No, Sherry, don't hit him! Shut up! No man tells me to shut up. Uh-huh. Yeah. Well, so long, Miss Sherry. Nice to have met you. Come again, Cassidy. Buckeye! Yeah, Miss Sherry. Out back. Buckeye? Do you think I scared him off? Cassidy. Yeah. He didn't look like the scaring type to me. Yeah. I bet he hasn't got much money. The nice ones never do. Do they? Hi, Sheriff. I saw you come back. Any luck? Now he respects. Seems those critters are up in the hole and pull it in after him, huh, Johnny? Yeah. Three stage hold-ups, two payrolls stolen. Now the bank. Town's getting awful riled up, Ike. Thanks for telling me. But they put up with me, Sheriff, for 20 years. What can I do for a bit longer? I'll fix Reynolds' wagon as soon as I figure out who's in Coot's with his gang. Coot? Uh, somebody here in Towntips is going to payroll shipments and what stage is to rob? Has to be. Ain't nobody lucky enough to be right every time. Who's in charge of the stage office in Wells Fargo? Uh, a man by the name of Paul Weston. Oh, he's tough one. But I reckon he wouldn't throw in with no outlaws against his own company. Uh, it wouldn't seem likely, unless he needed money bad. Who don't? Could use a little misadventure with the town getting itchy to kick me out of office. Well, if my partner and I can help call us. Thanks. Let me know when and if those horses yours are returned. Maybe we can backtrack. I will. Uh, good. Johnny, my legs stiffening in. Rub it out for me, will you son? Now, the track seemed to come from up there, Sheriff. Whoever brought our horses back last night came from those rocks. Uh-huh, I reckon so. That's the same country the gang hides in. You know, this could be a little dangerous. Now, let's scatter out as we head up. No point in asking for numbers. Sure you can make it all right, old timer. Old? Why, you really gang could be your son. Not while I was sane. How'd you like a poke in the snuff? Hey, break it up. Yeah, yeah, I got enough trouble ahead of us, maybe. We better save our scrappin' for those outlaws. Don't pray, wee. That don't sound so bad to me. Uh, wish I could see the others. I'm getting spooky. Uh, wonder if I should. Uh-oh, get a going, horse, get a going. Hoppy, hoppy! Here, California. Watch, watch the show. Oh, where Johnny Mark is. Let's go a foot. Where's that old scallywag, Cal? He fall behind? He was on the other side of Mark. Mark? Lay back, up on the ridge. Rifleman, you got the sheriff and the land. Keep that ambusher busy. We'll get around back of him. Just wait, California. Come on. Wee, not so fast. The guy's not far. He's up around that big rock. I hope there's only one man there. Careful now. There's the rock. Don't hear no shots. Maybe he's out of cartridges. Then maybe he ain't. Freeze, mister! Get his gun, California, and signal Mark to stop firing. We've got him. I'm very old-plug-dike, huh? Yeah, but he's not sayin' anything. Well, maybe you didn't ask him right. You. What's your name? Smith. Lots of people named Smith. I'm one of them. Where's Venos hideout? Who's his spy? Hey, lay off. That hurts. That's enough, Mark. Stay out of this, Cassidy. This one's my meat. Aren't you, Smith? Wait, I... No, you don't. That's all of that. Don't want me? Now stay away from him, Mark. Come on, California. Let's get that prisoner on a horse. Wake up. Get him on his feet. He can stand some more. I don't see him. Can't stand some more? I don't see how. He's dead. Now, back to Hoppillon, Cassidy, and our story. Death comes invited. Trailing a bandit gang, Hoppy and California, with a sheriff and his deputy, are ambushed on a rocky hill. The sheriff is shot through the leg, but the ambusher is captured and killed as he fights with the deputy. Now, Hoppy and California and the deputy are back in town, watching the sheriff being patched up. Blast it, Dad. Blast it, clumsy docks. You want a bullet to chomp on old holler? No, I don't want no dead-blasted bullet to chomp on. I fixed up wash wounds on myself with a jackknife and a bottle of ouch. Oh, doc, you think you're digging for gold? See, I... about what happened to that prisoner, Smith. We'll talk about it later, Johnny. Recognize it was an accident, but you've been warned plenty about getting rough. Sure, I'm sure, but... I was mad about him shooting you. Town needs a sheriff now. With me laid up, that means you. If Venno ain't stopped soon, we ain't neither one gonna have jobs. Sheriff, have you ever thought of trying to track Venno? How do you mean, Cassidy? Sending out a fake payroll for bait. You could have your pasta ready and trailing the stage. If Venno hits it... Sounds like a good... ouch, gamble. Try it, Mark. All right, I'll check with Washington tomorrow. Sooner than... ouch! Mark, before you go, give me a bullet, will ya? And shoot that old goat if he cracks a smile. I say Mark's got only one asset. This is his big feet. They can always hear him coming. It'll be years before he gets promoted. Well, you're a big man now, eh, Worsten? Hey, where'd you get the bump? Tell him, Paul. Guess he's modest. Sit down, Johnny. You too, Cassidy. There's one thing I like. It's lots of men around. Sorry, we're after Washington. Me? Now, look, I was just buying her a drink. On business. Oh. Let's go to my office. See you later, Sherry. Think over what I said. You can have everything you want if you just... You're wasting your breath, Worsten. I'm what she wants. Oh, are ya? Times come when you're due for a surprise, Johnny Mark. Mm-hmm. A big surprise. Hi, California, how's it coming? Just finishing topper's rub-down. He sure is a great horse. You betcha. Uh, the trap all set. Yeah, for tomorrow night. Hope it works. There. There does it. You know, it's a shame everyone don't take care of his horse. See that bale over there? Been rid hard, but didn't get a rub-down. Nah, some riders are thoughtless. Whose horse is it? One on Johnny Mark's screen. Uh, but he was with us today. On our own. Then someone else was riding one of his horses. I wonder. Maybe the ombre didn't want anyone to know he was out, so he rode that bane instead of his own. Uh-oh. We got company. Well, then oh. Stand quiet and lift the gruff hooks. I'd assume, boy, you was not. I thought I was doing you a favor when I sent back those horses. I didn't figure on you crossing me. By a back trail on them? That's right. I reckon we didn't have no agreement, but it was still a mighty on-friendly return. I forget that for now, though. I've come for Smitty. He in jail? Smitty? Oh, Smith. I'm afraid he's through with you, Venno, permanently. He's caged? Oh, no. Not Smitty. He ambushed us and we caught him. He had kind of an accident and hit his head on a rock. Killed him. Smitty tripped. He fell off his hulls? Well, not exactly. Who did it, then? Who was responsible for Smitty's death? Not us. That's for sure. And who? Tell me. It's not our place to tell you, Venno. Sorry. What if I threaten to kill you? I see. You got nerve, I'll grant you that. But I'll find out who did for him when I do. Smitty's gonna have company. I guess it is that Venno won't be satisfied to let Smith's death go unpunished. Can he looks that way? With Johnny Mark in a bad spot, if Venno learns the truth. Well, the stage with the fake payroll is about to leave. I'd better join the party. Sure, sure. Go on, good luck. If Venno's bunch get to the rocky country, you'll never catch him. Seems queer how easy they duck the posse. Second sight, that's what Venno's got. Washington ride with your posse? Sure, sure. He's handy with a gun. See, you got a hunch about him, haven't you? Perhaps. I think I know how part of this thing fits together. After I search some saddlebags, I may have the rest of it. Stage just left, Johnny. Everything all set. Aren't you coming with us, Washington? No, I think I'd better stay with the payroll. Want some guards? That's not necessary. I got a shotgun. Okay. Let's go, but take it easy. Be a big fella in your account if we can pull this off one. Huh? Yeah, I guess so. I got a feeling this thing ain't right. I wish Ike was along. It appears to me that Washington was mighty willing to be alone with that payroll. Yeah. You two getting the same hunch I am? Very possibly. A few minutes ago, while I was at the livers table, I found out that it was Washington who took your bay yesterday. What? Well, that settles it. We'll set a trap for Venner, all right? Around Washington's office. Slim, pass a word. Shoot to kill. Poppy, you think we guessed right? Maybe we... We guessed right. There comes the proof of it. Horses and riders. It's him. It's Venner. Hmm, they're sure acting at home. Not even hurrying. Why should they? They had an invitation. Venner, you're surrounded. Give up or die. Hey, it's another close. There's two way out there. What a haul. The town'll make you the sheriff for this, Johnny. Not one of them outlaws escaped. Five of them are done for, Johnny. Poppy's got Washington inside the shack. Venner's over there cashing in. He's not dead. Well, he ought to be, but he's dying hard. Quick, give me a hand. We'll take him inside. You men take those prisoners to the jail. I'll join you there later. At least Washington will lift to get hung. Yeah. Put him down here. Mark, Mark, what's the meaning of this? I'm no criminal. Be quiet. And then no tongue, Johnny. No. I guess he'll never regain consciousness. It's too bad. Well, maybe Washington will talk. He saw who shot Cullum. He saw. You mean he's shot? He's Venno's partner. No, only an accessory after the fact that Cullum's getting shot. He withheld information. That's what he was surprised with to be, Johnny. He was going to blackmail you to get the girl, Sherry. You're nuts. We got proof tonight that he tipped Venno to where the real payroll was. No, you did that. You double-crossed him deliberately. You shot the sheriff. You were Venno's... Shut the guns and stand with Washington faces to the wall. Don't be stupid, Johnny. You can't kill us all. We'll see about that. The curtains are down. Now when I lock this door, it'll just be the four of us. In private. Great Popeye and rattlesnakes. I think he means street. Yeah. At first I want to know a few things. I've got to know if I made any mistake someone else might catch. You made your biggest when you invited Venno to come here. He served his purpose. I got half the loot from his jobs. He discredited the sheriff. And now I'll be made sheriff and get the reward for the capture of Venno's gang. You should have gotten rid of that mirror in your saddlebag, Johnny. It gave you away. How? Simple. You used it as a heli, I grant, to let Venno know the posse's position when you began searching the rocky section. With no trail to follow, the posse was hunting blind. All Venno had to do was keep circling around you. Pretty smart. Go on. What tipped you to me? The way you tried to shut up that outlaw, Smith. I didn't mean to kill him. Just knock him out to keep him quiet. He was the only one besides Venno that knew I was Venno's partner. I'd have let him escape later. Oh, sure. And tonight you'd have killed him with Venno. When you called on them to surrender, you knew they'd fight. I did. Venno and Smith had to die. It was a necessity. Cullum knows Smith didn't shoot him, Johnny. The wound in his leg is horizontal. Smith was above him. If he'd shot Cullum, the wound would have been slanted downward. I could have killed Ike, but I didn't. No credit to you. You knew if Cullum was killed, he'd have been a martyr to the town. And you'd have been a kid trying to fill a man's boots. This way... This way I did what Ike failed to do. And the town thinks I'm a hero. They'll elect me, Sheriff, before tomorrow. Well, that's enough. Got anything funny to say before I finish you three off? Yeah. You heard the one about the man who was hanged for murder? You kill me, Cassidy. Now I'll do the same for you. Now back to hop along, Cassidy. Venno, can you hear me? Thanks for getting Johnny. He heard him. He killed Smithy. Dirty. What was Smithy to you? My...my sister's kid. I promised her I'd look after it. I'm sorry. My...my sister's kid. I promised her I'd look after it. Venno, he's gone California. He was the stubbornest dying hombre I ever saw. Lucky for us. Yeah. He was a killer, but there was good in him. Well, we'll send someone back to take care of him. Come on, Washington. You're going to jail. Funny. Johnny's invite to Venno brought death to both of them. Uh-huh. Being a crook is mighty unhealthy work. Ain't that the truth? You know, I'm so happy. I'm honest. I...I could sing. Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you. There's Sheriff Cullum up on crutches. He'd run you in for disturbing the peace. Maybe he's got more of an ear for music than you got, huh? That's what I mean. Oh, just listen anyway. You know, something I've been practicing. Yeah. Oh, bury me not on the long prairie Hey, you Carlson, come here. Uh-oh, I warned you, California. Hey, just what's the big idea, you old grizzly? No, no, no, Sheriff. I didn't mean to disturb. That is, we're just leaving. Why didn't you tell me you could sing? I ain't had no wonder harmonized with him years. Try a chorus of the old middle stream with me, huh? Well, I'll be delighted. But we best get away from hobby. He ain't got no appreciation of fine singing. Uh, one, uh, two, down by the old middle stream. Oh, no, where I first knew. Well, it looks like California and the Sheriff are going to hit it off fine from here on out. Providing California doesn't get off key, that is. In our next adventure with those two lovable cow folks, we find them in their usual share of danger. It happens on the trail from New Mexico back to the bar 20, where many a surprise awaits Hoppe in the story we call Bullfight. Apollon Cassidy, starring William Boyd, is transcribed and produced in the West by Walter White Jr. Death Comes Invited was written by Herb Purdom with original music under the personal direction of Albert Glasser. All stories are based upon the characters created by Clarence Mulford. This is a Commodore production.