- 5 hours ago
In the episode, Hopalong Cassidy (William Boyd) and a young minister work together to reform a young boy, Johnny Bolton (Ron Hagerthy), who has committed his first holdup and idolizes a notorious, long-dead outlaw. They try to convince the boy that his hero was a bad person with "feet of clay".
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TVTranscript
00:00Here he comes, here he comes, there's the trumpets, there's the drums, here he comes,
00:10Hopalong Cassidy, here he comes.
00:30Johnny Bolton was a subdued boy when Red Connors and I rode him back to Twin Rivers to answer charges of robbery and horse stealing.
00:39Mighty serious crimes for a 17-year-old, but we had all the evidence and young Johnny didn't even try to deny his guilt.
00:47In fact, he was almost proud of it, and defiantly boasted that if he'd stolen a faster horse, we never would have caught him.
00:54And yet, despite his belligerent attitude, it was hard to feel anything more than pity for this youngster who rode between us.
01:00Age was in his favor, and I felt if given another chance, Johnny Bolton might still get started on the track to the right kind of living.
01:10As we rode into town, I could tell what the folks were thinking.
01:13Their repeated warnings that Johnny Bolton was headed for a life of crime had finally come through.
01:18And now they watched smugly as the boy came back to face his medicine.
01:23Ed Garver, the town's newspaper owner, was probably the happiest of all to see us ride in.
01:31It was his money and horse that young Johnny had stolen.
01:35Maybe Ed was a little disappointed, too, because he'd given Johnny his first chance,
01:39taking a homeless boy who'd been nothing but a scrapping troublemaker
01:42and provided him with a job and a place to live and back with a newspaper office.
01:48Howdy, Hoppy.
01:49Hi, Ed.
01:49Well, not so important now that the Marshal's got you in tow, are you, Johnny?
01:55Did you get in trouble?
01:56None at all.
01:57Did you get all my money back?
01:58Yeah, I got it all. Come on inside.
02:09There's your money, Ed.
02:11Thanks, Hoppy.
02:11All right, Johnny. Now, what do you got to say for yourself?
02:16Come on, look at me.
02:18I ain't got nothing to say. Now, let me alone.
02:20Let you alone.
02:21I ought to put you across my knee and paddle your hide.
02:24But paddling is for kids.
02:26And you're a big man now, a real tough outlaw.
02:29You're going to have to pay the price for being one, Johnny.
02:32Throw him in jail, Hoppy.
02:33Ed, why don't you give the boy a chance to explain?
02:36Don't do me any favors, Cassidy.
02:38Go ahead, lock me up.
02:43Why did you do it, son?
02:46I took the money, you got it back. It's as simple as that.
02:49Looked like easy pickings.
02:51A lot of guys thought that.
02:53And the every one wound up with a bullet in their hide.
02:55Not all of them, Red Top.
02:58Well, you whipperset easy, Red.
03:01May I have a word with you, Marshal Cassidy?
03:04Oh, hello, Reverend Adams.
03:05I see you've already heard about Johnny.
03:07Yes, I thought maybe he could use someone on his side.
03:10No point in wasting your gospel on him, Reverend.
03:13He's too wild for the good book.
03:15Plato once said,
03:16Of all wild animals, a boy is the most difficult to manage.
03:19Johnny's still a boy, Ed.
03:21And if I'm not wrong, a good one.
03:24Yeah, that's what I thought once.
03:25And look what happened.
03:26And it'll happen again, Red.
03:29Let the Reverend have his say.
03:31Thank you, Hoppy.
03:33Ed, I'd like to ask you a favor.
03:35All right, go ahead and ask it.
03:37Drop your charges against the boy.
03:39What?
03:40Turn this young thief loose to prey on all the rest of the Amish folks in Twin Rivers?
03:43I'll be responsible for him, Ed.
03:45Besides, he can live with me.
03:47Would you like that, son?
03:49Did Plato also say any old port in a storm, preacher?
03:52The first thing you're going to have to learn is some manners.
03:55What do you say, Ed?
03:57Well, I guess it'll be all right.
03:59But you're sure going to have your hands full.
04:01I think it'll work out all right.
04:04All right with you, Marshal?
04:06It's your responsibility.
04:08How about it, son?
04:10It suits me.
04:11Well, I ain't going to give him his job back.
04:14Well, he'll have plenty to do around my place.
04:16Come on, Johnny.
04:26Hey!
04:27Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean...
04:28Watch who you're bumping, rich boy.
04:30I didn't mean to do anything.
04:35Johnny!
04:39Johnny!
04:40Johnny!
04:42Please!
04:43Stop it!
04:44Let him go, Reverend.
04:45If anybody can teach that boy some manners, it's Ralph Higgins.
04:51Reverend, wouldn't you hate to be that young again?
04:59Go on, Ralph!
05:00Pound him good!
05:00Go on a decent track!
05:10Good job!
05:11Good job!
05:12Done!
05:13Good job!
05:23Go on, Ralph!
05:25Go on, Ralph!
05:25That's enough, Johnny.
05:53You all right, Ralph? Sure, Mr. Cassidy. Johnny's not half as tough as he makes out. That's enough, Johnny. No hard feelings, Johnny. Say hello to your dad when you see him. Sure will. I thought you might get some sense pounded into you, but I guess I was wrong.
06:23The boy's got the devil in him, Hoppy. There's a little of the devil in all of us, Red. It's just a matter of keeping the old boy in his place. Come on, son.
06:36Red, you go back to the bar 20. I'm going to stay here in town and see if I can help the Reverend get Johnny settled.
06:41Well, that'll take a lot of doing. It's worth a try.
06:45Hoppy, someday that kid's going to get his hand on a gun. When he does, the devil in him will come out and there'll be nothing that'll save him.
06:51As hard as I tried, I couldn't be too optimistic about the Reverend's plan to help straighten out Johnny Bolton.
07:07Red was right. There was something inside of the youngster that kept pushing him to mean this.
07:13We only want to keep you out of trouble, Johnny. Real trouble. It'll bring harm to a lot of people.
07:28Look, if I came here for a sermon, I'd as soon be in jail.
07:31Fighting the law never got a man anyplace.
07:33Oh, yeah? What about the sundown kid? He did okay.
07:41The sundown kid? What do you know about him? That happened 30 years ago.
07:48I read all about him in the back copies of the newspaper when I worked for old man Garver.
07:52And believed every word, I suppose, because it was on the printed page.
07:56Sure, why not? It's right there in black and white.
07:59The sundown kid outsmarted them all.
08:01He's doing all right now, too. Living like a king somewhere.
08:05Newspapers can be wrong.
08:07Not about the sundown kid.
08:08I read every word.
08:10All about how he gunned down Rock Matchett and everything.
08:13Nobody ever caught him.
08:15You're wrong, son.
08:16A man catches himself the minute he pulls that trigger to kill.
08:20The Reverend's right, Johnny.
08:21You can't get away from yourself.
08:23You can talk all you want.
08:25The sundown kid got away.
08:27And with all the dough a guy could use.
08:31Well, maybe you'll change your mind about a few things, being here with the Reverend.
08:34I hope so.
08:36Don't count on it, Cassidy.
08:39See you later.
08:40Well, Reverend, you've cut yourself out quite a chore.
08:52Looks that way, Marshal.
08:53But the boy and I will get along fine.
08:55Just need a little time to get acquainted.
08:57Well, if anybody can straighten him out, you can.
09:00Good luck to you and keep in touch with me.
09:02Maybe I can help.
09:02Thank you, Holly.
09:03Johnny's knowledge of the sundown kid had come as quite a surprise.
09:22Of course, all the older folk in Twin Rivers remembered the kid.
09:26When he was about Johnny's age, he joined up with Mattson, a feared gunslinger.
09:30But the kid wasn't used to taking orders.
09:33He and Mattson settled their differences with a gun duel at sundown.
09:37Mattson was killed and the kid came out with just an arms car that he'd carry for life.
09:42From then on, every crime in the territory was attributed to the kid's fast gun.
09:47Johnny Bolton had gone way back to find an idol to pattern his life after.
09:52And I hoped that somewhere along the line we'd find a way to stop him before a bullet did.
09:56Brett and I were kept pretty busy at the Bar 20 for the next few days.
10:03Then we decided to ride into town and see how the Reverend and Johnny were getting along.
10:07Oh, come in, Jeff.
10:34How are you, Reverend?
10:36Fine, thank you.
10:37How's your boy doing?
10:39Oh, he's doing fine.
10:40What?
10:41Well, he's still a little arrogant, but up until now he's behaved himself very well indeed.
10:47Ah, I'm glad to hear that.
10:48As a matter of fact, I just sent him to the bank to deposit funds for the church building account.
10:53What?
10:54You gave that thief money?
10:56Certainly, Red.
10:57I thought it very important to show my trust in him.
10:59Well, that's just like giving raw meat to a lion and expecting him not to eat it.
11:04You'll never see that money again.
11:06Oh, slow down, Red.
11:07Why not just wait and see if he comes back?
11:09Well, I'm sure he will.
11:11You know, Red, if I were a betting man, you'd lose your saddle.
11:15Yeah.
11:16I hope I'm around to see him walk in with that deposit slip.
11:20How would you gentlemen like a nice glass of cold lemonade?
11:23Oh, that'd be fine.
11:24Hiya, kid.
11:48Hi.
11:49I see the preacher's making a regular little errand boy out of you.
11:53What you see don't bother me none, mister.
11:56Oh, now take it easy.
11:57No offense.
11:58I'm just surprised you're making his deposits for him on me.
12:02You mean this?
12:03Yeah.
12:04Listen, mister, I'm through with this chicken feed.
12:07Next time I make a strike, it's going to be a big one.
12:11You, um, got anything special in mind?
12:14Not just yet, but I will have.
12:17I'll keep you in mind if I need any help.
12:19Yeah, kid.
12:20You do that.
12:29Well, well, wonder's never seen.
12:32What's the matter with the red top?
12:33Looks like he's about to lose his teeth.
12:36He was just about to lose his saddle.
12:39A little private joke, Johnny.
12:41Everything go all right at the bank?
12:42Oh, yeah, fine.
12:44What are you doing, Marshal?
12:45Checking up on me?
12:46Call it that if you like.
12:48We just drop by to see how you and the Reverend are getting along.
12:51All right, I guess.
12:52Not much excitement around here, though.
12:55Excitement?
12:56Ain't you had excitement enough?
12:58A young man needs something to keep him busy, Red.
13:00It is a little dull around here, I must admit.
13:02Hey, wait a minute.
13:06I got an idea.
13:07Come here.
13:09How would you like to go out to Bar 20 and spend a few days?
13:13Bar 20?
13:14It's a fine idea, Red.
13:16What do you say, Johnny?
13:18Makes no difference to me.
13:20Well, let's get out there, then.
13:21What are we standing around here for?
13:23I cut a saddle pony from the corral and told Johnny if he wanted it, it was his.
13:32Johnny wasn't used to being given anything.
13:34For the first time, I'd penetrated his shell of toughness,
13:38and I felt sure that underneath the shell there was still a boy of 17
13:42with normal, human 17-year-old emotions.
13:49He learned fast, and from what I could tell, he seemed to be enjoying himself.
13:54A couple of times, I even caught him smiling, and the smiles were sincere.
14:06Little by little, Johnny seemed to loosen up.
14:09He was a different person from the sullen, belligerent, roughneck Red
14:12and I had known just a few days before.
14:17But he still had his quiet moments.
14:23There was a puzzle trying to figure out just what he was thinking.
14:27It was like he was on a borderline,
14:29and the slightest action could send him either side of the border.
14:32I just hoped when the time came, he'd be on the right side.
14:35By the time we wrote back to the reverends, even Red was more optimistic about Johnny's future.
14:47The few days on the ranch seemed to do the boy a world of good,
14:50and it looked as if the sundown kid was finally playing second fiddle to common sense.
14:54And my father's agreed to give you 10% of the profits.
15:01That's fine, Ralph.
15:03Hello, Hoppy.
15:04Come in, yeah.
15:06How are you, Reverend?
15:07Greetings.
15:08Hello, Ralph.
15:09Good to see you, Johnny.
15:10Looks like the outdoor life has agreed with you.
15:12Ah, we've had a lot of fun together.
15:14He's turned into a pretty good rider, too.
15:16Maybe we can go riding together sometime, huh, Johnny?
15:19Yeah, sure.
15:21You in town with your father, Ralph?
15:22No, I...
15:23Ralph's bought me some good news, Hoppy.
15:25It looks as if I'm going to have that church I've dreamed of for so long.
15:28Oh, that is good news.
15:30Ralph's father sold a big herd of cattle,
15:32and he's donating 10% of the profits to my church building fund.
15:35That's bringing in the money tomorrow, Marshal.
15:37Over $15,000.
15:39That's a lot of money to be carrying on a trail.
15:41Yeah, that's another reason Dad sent me in.
15:42He thought maybe you'd be kind enough to escort us.
15:45Oh, I'd be glad to.
15:47Johnny, how about it?
15:47You want to come along?
15:50Yeah, I'd like to.
15:51Ralph, when I see your dad, I'll thank him personally.
15:54You don't know what this means to me and to Twin Rivers.
15:57And maybe when the church is built,
15:59Johnny will be my first congregation.
16:03Yeah, maybe so, River.
16:07So, if you're still interested, Ramsey, this is it.
16:10$15,000 spit right down the middle.
16:13Sounds like a fair deal, kid, but...
16:15But what?
16:16What are you afraid of?
16:18Nothing.
16:20I was just thinking, Cassidy's going to be riding with him.
16:22Don't you worry none about Cassidy.
16:24I'll take care of him.
16:26It's the deal, kid.
16:27I thought it would be.
16:29Now, you'll be there tomorrow.
16:31The right place, the right time.
16:32Because I don't want any slip-ups.
16:34Sure, kid.
16:35Sure.
16:36Sure.
16:36Sure.
16:36Sure.
16:36Sure.
16:36Sure.
16:36Sure.
16:36Sure.
16:36Sure.
16:38Sure.
16:38Sure.
16:38Sure.
16:38Sure.
16:40Sure.
16:40Sure.
16:40Sure.
16:42Sure.
17:33Help! Help!
17:52That kid's on a runaway!
18:03Help! Help!
18:19Help!
18:25Help!
18:26All right. Drop that gun. Quick!
18:37You. Hand me the money.
18:42What money? What are you talking about?
18:44I'm talking about $15,000. I'll hand it over.
18:49I'll hand it over.
19:04Help!
19:05What happened, Johnny?
19:18Snake, Hoppy. Booped my horse. Couldn't stop him.
19:22You all right?
19:24Yeah, I guess so. Kind of shaken up.
19:27I think I'll ride on into town.
19:30All right, but take it easy.
19:32I better get back to the Higgins. They're carrying a lot of money.
19:35Yeah.
19:36Yeah, the Higgins were carrying a lot of money.
19:49But by the time I got back to the buckboard, the masked bandit had ridden off with every cent.
19:55It all seemed too pat. I figured Johnny was too good a rider to have a spooked horse run away with him.
20:01And when Red told me the bandit knew exactly how much money the Higgins were carrying, I had to agree that somewhere behind the robbery was the influence of the sundown kid.
20:10Telling the Higgins to meet us in town, Red and I rode out fast on the trail of Johnny Bolton.
20:19We tracked Johnny right back to Twin Rivers and spotted his horse in front of Carney's livery stable.
20:25Red recognized the other pony as the one used by the masked bandit, and our suspicions turned to harsh reality.
20:36When we heard what had happened, even the Reverend had to agree that the devil's idol within Johnny was stronger than any of us had imagined.
20:43The youngster was doing his best to be another sundown kid.
20:48Come on, we better get over there.
20:52There you are, kid. Two thousand bucks.
20:55What do you mean, two thousand? I said we'd split right down the middle.
20:58You'll take that or nothing, kid.
21:01Maybe you're forgetting I can put the finger on you.
21:04I'm not forgetting that thing.
21:07If I go to jail, you go right along with me.
21:26I thought you said Cassidy wouldn't catch on.
21:28I didn't think he would.
21:29Well, he tagged you right back to the barn.
21:32I knew I should never come back to town.
21:44What are we gonna do?
21:45Shoot our way out.
21:50Red, keep me covered.
21:51Come on, kid. We're getting out of here.
22:00Good work, Hoppy.
22:01All right, Red, take him to jail.
22:02All right, come on, get up, you.
22:03No!
22:04Good work, Hoppy.
22:05Good work, Hoppy.
22:06All right, Red, take him to jail.
22:07All right, come on, get up, you.
22:08Right now, get up.
22:09Hoppy.
22:10I think it's about time we kicked the props out from under the sundown kid.
22:13I was hoping you'd say that.
22:15Let's go.
22:16OK, let's go.
22:17OK, let's go.
22:18I saw it.
22:19All right, you.
22:20OK, let's go.
22:21Let's go.
22:22Yep, that's the day.
22:23Oh!
22:24Oh!
22:25Good work, Hoppy.
22:26All right, Red, take him to jail.
22:27All right, come on, get up, you.
22:29Run now, get up.
22:31Hoppy, I think it's about time we kicked the props out from under the sundown kid.
22:36under the sundown kid. I was hoping you'd say that.
22:48Hold up!
22:52Come any further and I'll shoot.
22:55Throw in that satchel of money.
23:06Don't be a fool, Johnny. You'll never get away.
23:09The sundown kid got away.
23:11You're wrong, Johnny. The sundown kid didn't get away.
23:14What are you talking about? I can read. I read all the stories in the newspaper.
23:18Not the complete story. Sundown did kill Rockmatson in a gun duel, but it was self-defense.
23:24Later he turned himself over to the law and was cleared of all charges.
23:29But the kid could never clear himself on the fact that he'd killed a man.
23:32He disappeared from the territory, but his reputation grew.
23:35From then on, every crime that was committed in the southwest was falsely attributed to him.
23:40There's only one other man in Twin Rivers that knows the true story of the sundown kid.
23:46He entered the ministry and came back to Twin Rivers many years later as the Reverend Edward Adams.
23:53Yes, Johnny, I was the sundown kid.
23:56And I've carried this scar on my arm for over 30 years to remind me every day of how wrong I was to kill, regardless of the circumstances.
24:09Johnny is not what a man is or was. It's what he can be that's important.
24:29I hope the rest of the town feels that way about it, Hoppy.
24:32I'm sure they will, Reverend. About everything. Come on, son.
24:39Hi there, little partners.
24:54I think you know your mummy is the nicest and the most beautiful woman in the world.
24:59And that she loves you very dearly.
25:01So when she asks you to do anything, don't fuss about it. Just do it.
25:07For instance, when she asks you to have a glass of milk, drink it.
25:12And then surprise her by asking for another one.
25:15You try that and see how much better you both feel.
25:19Now, until next week, so long.
25:22And in the meantime, watch yourself at the crosswalks, will you?
25:26There he goes, on his way, down the moonlet trail to where Cowboy's Red.
25:37Hop along, Cassidy.
25:41Hop along, Cassidy.
25:44He'll return soon again.
25:47There's no use to say goodbye until then.
25:52Hop along, Cassidy.
25:55So long, hop along.
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