Your honor, this news comes as a shock
and surprise.
I am very disappointed.
Counselors proceed in your seats please.
This morning, a prison van traveling from Huntsville
to Austin was exploded at a truck stop near Roane's Prairie.
Two deputy sheriffs and Mr. Delbert McKitrick were killed.
The cause of the explosion is unknown,
no suspects have been apprehended.
Since Mr. McKitrick was the prosecution's chief witness,
the state has no choice but to withdraw all seven charges
of murder against the defendant.
It is with the deepest and the most profound regret,
Mr. Slate that I am obligated to set you free.
Now get your despicable butt out of here.
You killed my daughter,
I want you dead, dead, dead!
Order in this court!
Order in this court, bailiff, remove this man!
Get that man out of here!
Stay low, I'll get you out of here, come on.
The coffee's thick as 40 weight oil,
tastes like it to.
Here look out.
You know I don't eat breakfast.
Now listen to me, son, breakfast is the cornerstone
of a man's day, that's what Mama always said.
You ain't my mama, Jack.
I wouldn't take the job if they served dinner afterwards
but someone's got to worry about you
because you have been abandoned by every woman in your life.
- Abandoned. - That's right, abandoned.
Jewel's gone to L.A.
With my blessings.
Well, Debbie's run off to El Paso.
For college, kids leave home, Jack.
Well, Rose ain't kin, she's the finest woman
you'll ever know and she's up and gone to Del Rio,
what the hell's in Del Rio?
Her daddy needs her.
He ain't the only one who needs her.
Family's important.
Ain't nothing more.
That's exactly why I'm bunking here.
I'm just trying to help fill up some of the empty spots
in your life.
Free room and board don't hurt nothing, does it?
That just ain't right.
I was just kidding, Jack.
No, I'm talking about this.
Everybody knows that Slate had McKitrick killed
so he wouldn't testify.
Now Slate's out free as air.
It's a sad story.
It's a story that wouldn't have been
written 100 years ago.
Justice would have been served.
Yeah, well things change.
That's because too many people are afraid
to stand up for what's right.
Thank god, there's some of us who ain't afraid
and never will be.
You want some more potatoes?
Just drive over
to Hoffner campaign headquarters, they're.
Hell, Colonel, I hate politicians worse than taxes.
So do I, rip but Hoffner's making a big stink.
He claims he's had threats against his life.
That comes with the territory in politics, don't it?
That's true enough but Chief,
Vernan asked us to lend a hand
while Hoffner's campaigning in Austin,
it makes him feel safe.
He could be governor and we're gonna have to
take him seriously.
Vote for Bud Hoffner,
Texas can ride tall in the saddle again.
Vote for Bud Hoffner in the capital as governor.
He'll stop the rising crime rate
and he'll turn on his
and then the.
My friends and fellow Texans, it's been four years now,
the governor's been sitting out there in the capital.
- Excuse me Mr. Hoffner. - What do you want!
Can't you see I'm rehearsing.
Get that away from me.
My friends and fellow Texans.
Pardon me sir.
Not now you idiot!
My friends and fellow Texans, it's been four years now,
the governor's been, not while I'm rehearsing dialogue.
Hoffner, we're ready for you on camera now,
ready for you please.
All right, all right, don't push me.
Okay, here he comes, stepping in.
Who's the idiot that go the 16 hand horse?
That's all I need.
All right, we're ready to roll, please,
get ready to slate.
We have speed now and slate it.
Ready please and action.
My friends and fellow Texans.
It's been four years now the governor's
been sitting up there.
What will we do with the horse, John.
That's all right, it happens all the time.
Here we go.
My friends and fellow Texans,
it's been four years now, the governor's been sitting up
- there in the capital. - This is not a commercial
about a microphone!
Here we go.
My friends and fellow Texans,
it's been four years now,
the governor's been sitting up there
in the capital in his big office.
Stop, stop, stop,
that's all right, Mr. Hoffner, it happens, it happens
to the best of them.
This is Rip, Colonel, you remember a hired gun
from Tyler named Danny Schmits?
Wasn't he doing time in Huntsville for attempted murder?
Was, they cut him loose in October,
time off for good behavior, why?
Well, he just showed up, I'm gonna go have a look.
It's four years now the governor's been sitting up there
in the capital in his big office behind his.
Okay, ready for another take,
now can we please have it quiet on the set?
He's got a gun!
I can't shoot like this,
now quiet on the set!
All right, action.
Well, now that things are under control,
only if it ain't the cavalry, how are you doing, Captain?
What the hell are you doing here?
Lying and by god cheating.
We've been playing dominoes four days running
and he ain't lost but two times.
Now that ain't luck and that ain't skill,
that's yellow dog cheating.
And that's a damn lie and you know it.
You all are just bad losers, I'm a good winner.
They even brought the National Guard in here
to steal my money.
They're here because we got a belly full
- of this sidewinder. - Cheating us blind!
I wouldn't do nothing like that, Captain,
I'm a man of integrity and certain spiritual inclinations.
Spiritual my butt.
Check his inside pockets.
Why he even stole my diamond-studded money clip.
Oh, horseshoes.
Let's have a look at that belt buckle, Ace.
I'm really disappointed in you, Captain,
I thought we were a little closer than that.
Okay, boys game's over, get out of here, go home.
- What about our money? - My money, you're both wrong,
it's evidence.
Not so fast, Rodriguez.
Last time around, I told you I never wanted to see you
in Texas again.
Hmm-mm.
Well, why am I seeing you?
Because these gentlemen over here brought me
all the way up from Mexico
to teach them how to play dominoes.
As a true son of Texas, how could I refuse?
Just say no.
Next time I will.
Too late.
You gonna arrest me for playing dominoes?
Well, what the hell am I supposed to do with you?
You're an escaped felon.
Oh, you cleared me of all that stuff.
And you lied to me.
You have been selected to uphold the tradition
begun 150 years ago in this great state.
Then as now the legal system failed the people
and the people joined together to uphold law and order
to ensure justice was done.
What rough beast, it's hour come round at last,
slouches towards Bethlehem to be born.
The beast is alive again and we must stop its progress.
Do you accept this responsibility?
I do.
This body has found Richard Slate guilty of murder
and has sentenced him to death.
Now back to Mister Radio,
the Stanley Aldridge Show.
Speaking of old Sug Campbell,
when I was visiting yesterday
with a favorite football coach,
Sug came from one of.
So, Sug tells me he's got a bunch of young players
coming up size 15 feet, shoulders about the size
of your motorcycle.
God, I hope they can just read numbers good enough
to find their locker, just kidding Sug.
But hey, if you need a helmet for one of them boys.
And in other political news today
both candidates for governor were in the capital city
looking for votes.
Gary Bud Hoffner told the.
Hi.
Life's sweet as new corn when you're living ain't it?
What the hell are you doing here?
I'm the angel Gabriel, there's gonna be a new face in hell
in about a second here
and you ain't gonna be happy about it.
- Stay down! - Get down.
Come on get in the back!
You two get in the house!
All right, I'm going in!
Stop!
It ain't right taking me to Fort Worth,
I thought we was friends, I stayed at your house,
I know your kids, I thought I was part of the family.
- Ranger unit six. - Stand by for Boone.
Rip, we've got a problem, a big one,
a shootout at the Dinemark cottages in Man check,
a ranger's involved, Jack Parsons.
Has he been shot?
The report I got says he's been doing the shooting.
One dead, one wounded, you get on over there.
Take her away.
You know I don't recall asking for anymore rangers.
I don't recall needing an invitation.
Is that right?
Well, I don't need the aggravation.
I've already got one dead and another deputy
with a bullet hole in his lung,
both compliments of Jack Parsons.
Who's the body?
Richard Slate, been free about 48 hours
before Parson's found him and put a bullet hole
in the back of his head.
Is that frontier justice ranger style?
There ain't been a ranger born
that'd shoot a man from behind.
I saw Parson's run out, there wasn't anyone else in there.
You see him pull the trigger?
I heard the shot close enough.
This ain't horseshoes.
Captain, this is a nice, clean hole going in there,
looks like a nine millimeter to me.
Who the hell are you?
Technical consultant, sir.
Nine millimeter, Parson's wore a 45
and his rifle's been hanging on the wall
since his eyes blurred.
Let me tell you fellas something, I don't care
what he was carrying or where his rifle was hung,
I saw him, I'm gonna find him.
All right, let's go, excuse me.
Where's your cuffs?
I got sensitive skin, Captain, I really do,
but I love the scene of the crime, don't you?
That's Ricky Slate over there,
spent some time together in Huntsville.
Why are you taking me back to Hanson?
You're gonna hate yourself when you do.
Can we talk?
Talking's exactly the last chance you've got, Ace.
You tell me everything you know about Slate,
I might not turn you over to Hanson.
Might even give you back some of your domino winnings.
You try to run, even a step, I'll shoot you myself.
He was born in Falfurrias, Texas, 1957, 58,
I believe it was.
We spent a lot of time together in prison,
got to know him pretty well, you know.
I think he was a Capricorn, I'm not sure,
but I'm sure I have it written down somewhere
and I'll be glad to look it up for you
as quick as we get somewhere.
Boy, this is a big old empty house without the girls,
I bet you get lonesome.
There's worse things than being alone.
True story, have to put up with a lot of small talk,
people in your ear are all the time bugging you.
Bothers me worse than anything,
somebody right up in your face when you
I've heard too, though that man's made bigger
by a positive female presence, have you ever heard that?
Dr. Ruth, give it a rest.
The press is gonna have a field day when they hear
about that Slate story, also I can see it now,
accused murderer shot dead by revenge-crazed Texas Ranger.
I knew that guy was a psycho the minute I saw him.
He's loonier than a coyote in heat.
Jack Parsons ain't crazy.
He's wily, too, he offed that guy with a nine millimeter
just to cover his tracks.
He didn't kill anyone.
Captain, the sheriff saw him coming out
of the building, you think he was just
passing through the area?
Listen, if I want anymore crap out of you today,
I'll squeeze your head.
Excuse me, I knocked at the front door
but there wasn't an answer, so I came around back.
I hope I'm not interrupting anything.
I'm Susan Davis.
Oh, hi, I'm Billy Roy Barker, nice to meet you.
This is Captain Elvin Cecil Metcalf,
the gentleman that just said he's gonna kill me.
Captain Metcalf, I'm with the FBI, Boston office,
temporarily assigned to San Antonio
to handle the Slate case.
I'd like to ask you a few questions about Jack Parsons
if I could.
I happen to understand that you and Parsons are friends.
You do, huh?
Captain, everyone is convinced that Parsons killed Slate.
The police, the papers, my colleagues.
Now based on what we have, I'm not convinced
that he did or didn't.
I'm just looking for the truth, that's all.
The truth is he didn't kill Slate.
Then maybe he knows who did
and if so he could be in great danger out there.
We can offer government protection for him.
Look, you want what's right and so do I.
It takes him awhile to warm up.
I'll tell you one thing, Captain,
getting busted by a cop like that
could be a spiritual experience.
I ain't planning on getting busted.
Well, I wouldn't be too hasty.
A little of that might take some of the thorns
out of your cactus.
Rooms are eight dollars a night, sheets 50 cents,
towels a quarter.
You make your own bed and no women on Sunday.
Don't need a room, I'm looking for Jack Parsons.
No Parsons here, you might
check the Metropolitan Baptist Church.
Mother of grace, is that safe a Harin Hall, Marvin.
Nothing less.
Built in Dallas, about 65.
Close, but no cupid doll, built in 64.
Once held a fortune in Confederate gold.
You mind if I take a closer look.
Feast your eyes, son.
She's a grand old baby.
Got a triple lot serial number.
- No. - Fact.
Hey wait a minute.
Now hold on, you can't go up there.
Are you hard of hearing?
Jack, it's Rip, open up.
What the hell are you doing here?
Parson's is in there, isn't he?
Captain Parson, Susan Davis, FBI.
A foot or two lower and we'd all be dead.
- That was warning. - A warning,
you're his friend.
But you ain't.
You said he was living with you,
why would he be keeping a room here, friends, family,
maybe a woman?
Not likely, Jack ain't the social type.
He's only got two friends, Rip and Jack Daniels.
Nobody asked you, prisoner.
You're a prisoner?
Only of life's little whimsies, the
and my own foolish heart.
God knows what he's up to.
Hold it, there's one little stone left unturned.
Can't open the safe, it's against company policy.
- I'm company policy. - And I'm with the FBI.
I wouldn't open that safe for the ghost of Elvis.
And you two ain't even close.
Just relax, darling, I'll be real slow and gentle.
What are you, Jesse James?
Don't talk to a man while he's making love.
You'd have better luck finding a virgin in a whore house
than getting into her.
It's not luck, it's skill.
You can't take that evidence, this is a federal case,
- the FBI has jurisdiction here. - Not over me.
You're unbelievable, just because you carry a badge
and a gun doesn't make you God.
This isn't the wild West anymore.
It's still Texas.
May I use your phone?
Give me that.
I bet you don't care that I've seen that brand before.
I knew it rang a bell but I couldn't remember where.
And all of a sudden there it was.
There it was where?
Uncle Hall's house, a picture, I was nine-years-old,
he beat me half to death too, 'cause I saw it.
What was it a picture of?
That's William Matthews Barker,
Billy Roy's great granddaddy.
He got stretched for stealing a dozen eggs
to feed his family.
He was hung for taken eggs?
That and the chicken and the farmer's wife as well.
What's the flag draped on it?
Oh, it's an ad for the bunch that killed him.
Regulators, they always left a calling card,
so you'd know who to give the credit to.
The Regulators were vigilantes.
Yeah, and a bunch of citizens
who made it their civic duty to keep the law and order
in east Texas.
There wasn't much separating them from the crooks.
Some folks finally got mad enough to start shooting them.
Called themselves the Moderators,
there wasn't a damn thing moderate about them,
they started a civil war,
lasted till the end of the century, blood flowed like wine
and ow it went straight to their head.
Is this a Regulators sign?
Yeah, it is, where'd you get that?
You mind if I borrow this book and this picture?
All right.
- Did you get that? - Huh?
- Right in here. - Oh.
You sure you don't wanna ride over to the church?
No, no, Cissy Lane's gonna get me,
we're going to pictures later and then the dancing maybe.
Well, don't you overdo it.
Oh, I ain't aiming to overdo it,
at my age, I'm just happy to do.
Well, you take care of yourself, okay.
Yeah.
I love you, Uncle Hall.
Let's go Ace.
I'll see you soon, be careful.
- Bye. - Bye-bye.
Family's important, Captain, you ought a remember that.
Uncle Hall gave me my first pair of boots,
my first drink of whiskey.
He was more like a daddy to me
than my real daddy really was.
Funny how you start out fighting the men in your lives
and wind up being just like them.
Your daughter tells me that your dad was killed
by his father.
How'd all that happen?
Jewel talks too much.
My granddaddy was a Ranger, caught his son, the sheriff
taking money from gamblers.
So, he killed him for breaking the law a little.
That's pretty strict.
Breaking the law's like getting pregnant, Ace,
you can't do it just a little.
I guess he got what he earned.
You figure you got what you earned?
Listen your father's pretty hard, did you ever forgive him?
Holding stuff like that inside it really eats at your heart.
Who are you, Dear Abby?
Seven o'clock at my place,
don't bother calling Colonel Boone
about this, Harvey, thanks.
Parsons had clippings on nine guys
and they all had slipped through the cracks
of the legal system and walked but not too far.
This map shows where they died,
all of them murdered but one.
Now, Captain, it don't Sherlock Holmes
to figure this one out.
The line between upholding the law and breaking it
is might thin.
If Jack Parsons was guilty of murder,
I'd run him down, slip the rope around his neck myself.
Go on, get out of here, I'm tired of looking at you.
The truth is blinding light.
I'm gonna get my money and go to Mexico.
You go, the money stays.
Captain, I can't go nowhere without money.
There's $20,000 in there, I can live like a king in Mexico
for two years and you're just running me off
'cause you're afraid I'm right about Parsons.
There's some things I'm afraid of, Ace,
but you being right ain't one of them.
Well, we ain't gonna know till we find him, right
and I'll bet you every dollar of my domino money in there,
that I can find him before the law does.
I'd like to be on the chasing side just one time,
especially if we can bag one of them Regulators,
maybe it'll even up the score for my kin.
And if you'd wear a Rolex, I'd already be in Mexico.
Hell, this whole damn thing's just a cloud of hot air.
Jack Parsons is no criminal.
Of course he's not, he's one of the best we ever had.
Ever will have and we're gonna find him, no one else.
We're gonna bring him in and we're gonna make sure
he gets his chance to tell his story.
You know I've known Jack Parsons
since I was four-years-old.
He brought me into the rangers.
He's kinda like family to me, Rip.
Me too, Zeke.
Hasn't even called.
He's gonna to cover without a clue.
I guess he figures this is his cart to hall.
Can't pull it by himself.
No, but I'm afraid he'll try.
- Hi there, come in. - Hello.
I bet you're looking for Rip.
Yes.
I guess I should have phoned first.
Nobody's phones first around here.
- You ain't from around here. - You ain't from around here.
I came by to apologize for the other day at the hotel.
It wasn't very professional or effective.
Stupid's what it was and dangerous.
I made a very stupid, dangerous mistake and I'm sorry.
I can live with that.
Good.
I'd ask you to stay but I got company, business.
That's too bad, I wanted to make my apology official
by taking you both out to dinner.
I'm dining to taste this Austin barbecue
everyone's raving about.
I know a place where the barbecue is better than sex.
Come on baby, let's go to Salt Lake.
If it ain't too late for you, come on out.
Bye you all.
♪ Well I went to see my doctor ♪
♪ I was feeling kind of low ♪
♪ I asked him to examine me from my head down to my toes ♪
Anyway, I hope I'm not boring you with this story.
- Mm-mm. - Me and my daddy
fought every day, it wasn't as though we fought one day
and skipped a day, I mean, it was every day we fought
until finally one day he said this house ain't big enough
for the both of us, one of us has got to go.
So, guess who had to go.
- You. - You got it.
Out on the streets, get my higher education.
It must have been hard.
Well, it wasn't easy but you pick up a few basic truths
along the way.
Money, for instance, money's always changing pockets
and the trick is to make it wind up in yours.
♪ Feel the pain that's where it hurts that's where it hurts ♪
♪ That's where it hurts ♪
♪ We met in Minneapolis and married in St. Paul ♪
♪ Honeymooned in Pittsburgh and toured Niagara Falls ♪
Oh good, I wasn't sure you were gonna make it.
Have a seat, Captain, I was just going on
to chapter three of my life story.
Oh, I'm sure sorry I missed that.
Well, I'll go back to the front and start all over again.
Oh, don't bother.
What's a girl from Boston doing out here in Texas?
The FBI transferred me down here a few months ago,
I'm kinda still adjusting.
Yeah, well stick with me, I'll have you thinking
just like a Texan in no time.
How about that, you think that's a good idea, Captain?
No, Captain's my rank, my name's Rip.
Rip, is that a family name?
No, he said rest in peace over so any outlaws,
that he just kinda shortened it to Rip.
♪ Everything looked fine ♪
♪ But just outside of Houston ♪
♪ Done break this heart of mine ♪
Well, the next thing you gotta learn
is how to dance with the natives.
I don't know.
Come with me.
No, what if, I don't don't how to dance.
Okay, now this is part of the Texas two step,
all you do is step off, step off, step, step, got it?
Step off, step off, step, step.
That's it, eat your heart out Ripper.
♪ I don't know where I went wrong everything looked fine ♪
♪ But outside of Houston ♪
♪ Done break this heart of mine ♪
Now you got it, now you got it.
Come on, let's dance.
She's a natural, Captain.
Light as a feather and sure on her feet.
Come on.
I ain't light or sure.
I can live with that, come on.
♪ That's where it hurts that's where it hurts ♪
♪ That's where it hurts ♪
You're a tough act to follow, ha use.
♪ I love you so much it hurts me ♪
♪ Darling that's why I'm so blue ♪
Is that really why they call you Rip?
Does it matter?
I don't know, should it?
♪ At night I'm afraid ♪
I'm really worried about Captain Parsons.
I don't think he killed Slate.
Why not?
♪ And there's nothing I can do ♪
'Cause I don't think a man like you
would care about a murderer.
♪ I wanna hold you my dear forever and ever ♪
♪ I love you so much it hurts me so ♪
Well, for someone who don't dance,
you sure took to it like a hog to slop.
Ray Charles could have seen the sparks fly.
I tell you what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna back off here
out of the way and let you rock and roll
but if you need any pointers.
- Pointers? - On women,
you're a little rough around the edges.
The side window's open, did you open it?
No.
Let's go.
Parsons' envelope's gone.
Well, I didn't think Jack would come here to steal the TV,
did you?
You're dying to make it Jack, aren't you?
Well, if you can smell it, the rotten egg
ain't far away.
Now there's one man still left on Parson's list
that's alive.
And I bet he finds him and I bet he uses him
to clear his name.
Or he shows up wearing one of them bandanas.
Rip, my phone keeps ringing, Sheriff Sheaty
is on the other end.
That man ought a get a day job.
He thinks you're making this too personal.
Letting it cloud your judgment.
Maybe even hiding Jack.
Well, he's half right, I am making this personal
and I ain't about to stop.
I can't have this, Rip.
You keep on, I'll do some stopping, you hear?
May I help you?
Where's Agent Davis's offices?
Is she expecting you?
No, we're just dropping by.
Well, I'll see if she's available.
Before I do, though firearms aren't allowed in the building.
I wore this on my honeymoon,
I'm not taking it off for the FBI.
- It's in reception. - Let's go!
- Hold it right there. - Hold it.
Looks like the OK Corral, Captain.
It's too bad you ain't Wyatt Earp.
That firearm has to be checked.
The state of Texas made me swear to die
before given up this gun.
Relax, everybody, I'll keep an eye on these desperadoes.
What do you think you're doing,
you can't just come barging in here like this.
I got the idea from you.
Touché, so what are you doing here?
I need some help.
What kind?
Well, Jack Parsons ain't gonna let nobody chase him down,
so we gotta figure out where he's gonna surface.
There's one guy on the list who's alive,
his name is Boltinghouse
and Jack's gonna be watching him real close
to see who comes after him.
I wanna know where he is.
Can't the rangers help you on this one?
I've been asked to stay off it.
I'm asking for your help on this, not the FBI's.
Understood, I'm kind of the lone ranger on this one
around here myself.
Boltinghouse is living in San Marcos,
he's been working the night shift
at the Central Solvent Warehouse.
Been quiet as a mouse for months though.
Some mouse, him and his old lady stole a car,
running all over Texas shooting and killing
like Bonnie and Clyde.
I'll get it.
Yeah and then some jerk in Waco forgot
to read them their rights.
It's the law, Rip.
I worry about that sometimes.
We all do and then we spend the rest of our lives
trying to make the law work.
Isn't that why you're a ranger?
The neighborhoods going to the dogs, Sheaty's here
and he's got a warrant.
Howdy, Ms. Davis.
Let's make this as easy as possible, Captain.
Nothing hard about it,
you're not putting a foot in my house.
Well, now the search warrant says that I am.
Am I talking with my mouth full?
No but maybe you'd better read my lips,
I'm legally authorized to search these premises,
Actually, you're not, Sheriff,
this warrant is for Sims Lane in Austin,
you're in Dripping Springs.
I believe you have the wrong house.
Who's side are you on?
Who's side, aren't we all in this together, Sheriff?
Boy, she sure handled him, huh, Captain?
Thanks for the hand.
Happy to lend it.
Keep that up, we'll make you an honorary Texas.
My mom would love that.
Her family, the Jackson's settled near Shelbyville
in 1820.
East Texas, my great grand-daddy
you never did seem like east coast to me.
You know I can feel Texas in a person.
Yeah, but I never lived here,
the family moved back east in 1900.
It don't matter, once you get Texas in your blood,
it's always there.
Well, I can see the barometer rising.
So, I think I'll check it out.
I can see what he means by getting Texas in your blood.
I love it here.
It gets under your skin.
I like being in your house, it feels lived in.
It should, I raised three kids here.
Nice family, your wife's very pretty.
She was, I lost Pauline and my boy, Sonny
in a car accident a few years back.
- I'm sorry. - Me too.
I had the girls living here with me till just recently.
That helped a lot.
And so does time.
I never kissed a Texas Ranger before.
Well, I sure never kissed an FBI agent.
This can get under your skin too.
It can be dangerous.
I'm with the bureau, I can handle myself
in dangerous situations.
I'm not worried about you.
There's Boltinghouse.
Midnight, every night at midnight he clocks out,
goes to the bar, gets a beer,
a bag of Tom's toasted peanuts,
goes over to the jukebox and plays "Misery and Gin."
Every night it's the same.
He's a man of routine.
I got my feel of that in prison.
I walk around it every chance.
Still there is something nice about the right routine.
Something you depend on, like a family and job and a woman.
There ain't nothing you can depend on, Ace,
not for sure.
No, I guess there ain't.
You miss your wife and son something terrible, don't you?
Terrible don't come close.
Don't you ever get tired of that?
Tired of what?
There's Jack.
Stay in the car.
- Rip, Rip. - I told you to stay put.
There's a couple of buzzards circling around the back.
Come on, they'll be waiting for Jack too.
Hi.
- It's Boltinghouse. - Was Boltinghouse.
- Bullet through the head. - That's the same way Slate
was killed.
- Jack, wait a minute. - You better get.
Damn it Jack wait up.
Jack?
- Grenade! - Jump!
- Amen. - Amen.
Amen.
Jack Parsons never could tolerate a lot of talk,
so this is gonna be short.
He walked tall and he spoke the truth.
His life made our lives special
and his death blows out a candle that's long shed light
on a dark road.
We're gonna miss him but we'll never forget him.
Excuse me.
Are you all right?
Yeah.
I promise we'll do everything we can
to find who killed him.
And if there's anything I can do, please call.
Thanks.
You know, I'll tell you that we discovered
another body in the ashes.
Any idea who that might be, Captain?
Not yet.
You know I'm curious just what the hell
you were doing out there at that warehouse.
Halfway expecting you.
Seems like every time I turn around lately,
you're breathing down my neck.
Yeah, well that's my job, I'm looking for a murderer.
Now I've got two more dead and I'm still looking
for a murderer.
Well, you do what you have to
but stay out of my way or I'll take you out myself.
You know a remark like that doesn't surprise me at all
coming from you, Metcalf.
Going after sheriffs sort of runs in the family, don't it?
You don't mind if I cut in here, do you, Sheriff?
Colonel Boone.
That was a fine eulogy, Rip,
Jack would have really liked it.
There's something I'd like to,
why don't you take off for about a month or so
and go fishing and get all this pain out of your system.
Jack Parsons was the closest thing I had to a father.
He's been taken before his time
and someone's gonna answer to that to me.
You answer to me, Captain.
You're like a lightning rod,
you're making things harder on everybody.
I'm not gonna allow that, Rip.
I never thought I'd find something more important
than being a Texas Ranger.
There is nothing more important than.
Come on, Maurice, let's go.
I don't know if it means anything or not
to you, Captain, but I'd done the same thing as you,
of course I'm extremely crazy.
Now the same people that killed Parsons
are coming after you.
I'm going to Mexico and I know it'd be a strange pair
to draw to but you're welcome to come along.
I've got my hands full here, Ace.
You know me and Parsons spent a lot of time together
and we didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things.
In fact, we didn't see eye to eye on nothing
but we did have a lot in common and he's gone.
Oh, it's hot in there
and I know what hell's gonna be like.
Hey.
Come on, help me get him out of here.
Not me, I wouldn't touch him, that's blasphemy.
Blasphemy, hell, this is reincarnation,
I got blown out from way to Copeland.
Rip here thought I should stay dead,
that warehouse was like a cinder,
there wasn't enough left there for big buzzard bacon.
Well, spic and span, where were you when it hit the fan?
Why, you with that hair, you should have been blown up there
like a sky rocket.
Well, Rip, I'm ready to go.
Captain, close the lid.
Thanks for pairing me for this old 38,
you give me some bullets, I'll be ready to go.
I don't need nothing, you got Parsons,
just give me my money and I'm gone.
Neither one of you are going anywhere.
What the hell are you talking about?
The people who want you dead think you're dead,
let's keep it that way.
Well, you can't go this alone.
I ain't planning to.
Ace here's gonna help me.
He'll guard you if it's necessary.
Him, that low life sore rat of a felon.
I wouldn't spend 10 seconds with that crazy man,
he'd kill me.
You will if you want your money.
Besides Jack never shot a deputy Ranger.
A deputy, you've been pounded nails by your forehead, Rip.
Billy Roy Barker, a deputy Texas Ranger,
how does that sound?
Like a cow making flop.
I don't even like talking to a skunk like you
but the Captain told me I had to tell you everything,
so here it goes.
You know a guy named Nate Tillman?
Yeah.
Yeah, you were busted there when you were 14, weren't you,
juvenile offense.
He's a difficult man to get to know
but it didn't take me long to get onto him.
I sat his around his bar soaking up beers,
talking like an old ranger longing for the days
of real law and order, I was so convincing I almost
believed it myself.
Tillman finally asked me
if I'd ever heard of the Regulators.
I say they was a brave bunch,
it was a damn shame they'd ever gone out of business.
He smiled.
About a month later I got a note inviting me
to a get together.
The signal was a stuffed armadillo
that Tillman put in the front window of his bar.
They're real clever folks.
I went to three or four of their meetings.
Was it three or was it four?
It was four.
I never saw a face, 'cause they had a light in my eyes.
Just this big Texas voice talking.
I'd heard that voice before.
I still can't place it.
Finally they gave me an assignment,
you're old cellmate, Richard Slate.
But the whole thing was a damn setup.
Two men come into that cottage, put a gun to my head,
one of them took a nine millimeter killed Slate
and then picked up a rifle
and then shot that deputy sheriff outside,
then they knocked me in the head.
I guess they figured when I come stumbling out,
the police would shoot me on sight.
They're a powerful people.
They don't let nobody get in their way,
not even a Texas Ranger.
But this old ally cat's got a lot more lives left.
Hey, wake up!
What the hell you doing, don't be hitting me.
You're on guard, I'm gonna have to shoot you.
Hey man, I'm a deputy.
I'm just passing the Whitler Fog Ranch.
Good, now their meeting house
is a mile past Red Creek Crossing, you can't miss it.
We headed to Slaw Tillman's place?
- That's right, why? - We're being followed.
Pickup truck, picked us up a couple of miles
down the road.
Probably one of Sheaty's boys.
Well, I don't wanna drink with him.
Pull into the store over there.
- How you doing? - Fine.
What the!
♪ Was a jack ♪
♪ Trying to make it legal making music around the clock ♪
Give me a beer as cold as your ex-wife's heart.
♪ And now we got the suit ♪
♪ Every time I think I'm getting closer to the top ♪
♪ It's just another beer another bar and just another round ♪
♪ I want a honkytonk menu honkytonk menu ♪
I think I'll throw this egg right through my head.
♪ Honkytonk menu ♪
♪ Wanna be a star but now I'm just another ♪
You're crazy.
You're probably right but I'm gonna throw that egg
right through the front of my head right
through the brain area and it's gonna come out
right in the back right there.
I'll bet you five dollars.
♪ To Nashville Tennessee ♪
♪ Miss the bus in Georgia had to hitch to ♪
You're on.
You watch real close, keep an eye on the egg.
Still there, the egg has not gone anywhere,
we still have an egg in the hand
but don't take your eyes off of it, okay.
Oh, I won't.
Because this egg is going right through
the front, look here, it's gonna go end up
right back here.
One, two, three.
How'd you do that?
Practice, lots of practice.
What are you doing here?
Looking for you, is everything all right?
You never know nowadays, come on in.
I called several times to see how you were doing.
There was no answer, I kind of.
I know you cared about Captain Parsons,
I was concerned that, I don't know what actually.
You don't have to worry about me.
I know, it's not you I'm worried about.
You're a ranger, an experienced lawmen, I know that.
I know what can happen too.
This isn't standard bureau procedure.
I don't have the right to come just barging
into your life like this.
Sure you do.
♪ I love you so much it hurts me ♪
♪ And there's nothing that I can do no ♪
♪ I wanna hold you my dear forever and ever ♪
♪ I love you so much it hurts me so ♪
That's a mighty handsome critter over there,
is that the bar mascot or something?
Oh, hell no, the wife ran that over out near Hogg.
She said if she ever caught me crossing the road,
she'd do the same thing to me.
What, run over you or stuff you?
Both.
Hey, Zeke.
I know how you did it, it's a trick egg.
You brought that egg in here with you.
Well, that's a good guess but that ain't it.
I'll give you 10 bucks for it.
But it's not a trick egg.
$20, I could make a lot of money with an egg like that.
It ain't a trick egg.
50, but that's all I'm paying,
that's all the trick egg's worth, I ain't no fool.
If you insist.
Watch this, one, two, three.
Keep trying, you'll get it, Leon.
Three hours.
I had to time to go get the money
and be halfway to Mexico by now.
That sounds like a death wish.
Where you been?
Taking care of business.
What kind of business?
None of yours, what'd you find out in there?
That I can still drink for nothing
and I saw the armadillo and Zeke Henshaw.
Zeke, what's he doing in there?
I don't know, when he saw me he split.
But he seemed to know Tillman.
What's that I smell?
Smells like Susie's perfume.
I've been shot out of the saddle by a Texas Ranger.
Shot out of the saddle, you hardly know her.
Yeah, I must be right.
She softened your face, though a little bit I think.
Maybe she'll improve that sunny disposition.
Okay, you got an ace high, I got a king high,
the last card coming, pair of queens.
And the dealer gets a pair of kings.
A pair of kings check.
Check's in the bank, I bet all.
You bet all, how much is all,
one, two, three, four, five, matchsticks and one bottle cap.
Call one, two, three, four, five matchsticks
and no bottle caps.
What do you got?
Read them and weep, queens, a pair of aces.
Wait, wait, wait, that's a nice hand
but let's see what Billy Roy has in the hole here.
Three of a kind.
You play cards just like you play dominoes.
I'm going crazy hanging around here.
You were born crazy, it just stands out
in closed quarters.
Where are you going?
You gonna stop me?
Not me, Jack, have a nice trip.
You wanted me to go, didn't you?
You're up to something.
Wait, what are you doing with el fiasco?
I just added a little ketchup.
It don't need none.
It needs something.
I really do want you to go, Jack.
I know you do, that's why I'm gonna stay,
sit down eat that chili.
I've had chili seven days running.
It's just getting good.
Let me tell you something,
el fiasco has won the chili cookout
in Terlingua three years in a row.
There are people who'd die for just a taste
of el fiasco.
Well the Constitution gives me the right
to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
and all three are violated in just one bite.
That's zippy hog wash, give me some of them bottle caps.
Play some more cards.
Hey. Yeah, Rip.
Yes, sir.
Armadillo's in the window, tonight's the night.
We have no society.
We have a jungle.
The very fabric of society is being.
And we'll protect it at any cost.
Every day we read of crimes committed on my people
free almost as soon as they've been arrested.
Therefore, let's dedicate ourselves to continue
our noble efforts as long as the need exists.
Thank you and God bless you.
Without the law and people willing to fight for it,
we have no society, we have a jungle.
The very fabric of society is being threatened.
We must and will protect it at any cost.
The recording's bad but that's him.
At any cost is pretty scary.
You know what's scary, who some of these folks are.
Zeke Henshaw, all that hurts my heart.
What about Sheaty?
What the hell's a matter with them, they're lawmen?
Well, some lawmen have been abusing the law
ever since they first pinned the badge on their shirt.
Not the good ones.
Don't you think these guys are convinced they're good guys
protecting the law
like every God-fearing mother-loving.
Hold it, I've been talking to Zeke about this,
he keeps bringing up the vigilantes.
I told him I thought they was nothing but common crooks
pretending they ain't.
That sorry, low-life son of a pup,
he's snitched on me.
I'm gonna rip his black heart out.
Yeah, well write if you find work.
You're going with me, come on, skunk.
Deputy skunk.
Sheep, sheep, sheep, sheep, sheep, sheep, sheep, yeah,
come on in here, there you go, there you go.
A whole bunch of lambs here, you kinda like that huh son.
Hi, Zeke, just drop that bag and put your hands
on the gate.
Anybody come back from the dead, it'd be you.
Huh, that's right.
Turn around.
Look who you been running with, boy.
How could you betray your friends and your badge?
At least I ain't running with criminals.
That's right, he's a skunk.
Careful, Jack, don't kill him.
I ain't gonna kill him, we're just gonna talk.
- Here. - That's enough Jack.
Back off, Rip, this is personal.
Beating up Zeke gonna right any of them wrongs?
Give me that.
How'd you find us, Captain?
You weren't at the cabin, I figured you'd be here.
- Take these to pathology. - Right away, doctor.
He's out of danger and he's safe.
His danger's just starting, when can I talk to him?
Hour or two.
Parsons is alive, Metcalf's got him.
No!
You know, I've been thinking.
Well, don't think, don't talk, don't do nothing,
just stay out of my way.
You think this damn rig will work?
I try to mind my own business,
I suggest you do the same thing.
Well, if it was mine, I'd use 30 weight motor oil,
paint that string black.
Of the six plates you gave me,
I came up with names on five.
They're still working on the other one,
something to do with the change in registration.
Now if I knew where these came from
or why you were interested, maybe I could help.
I think they might have killed Jack Parsons.
Henshaw's a Texas Ranger and Sheaty, are you sure?
No.
What do you think is going on, Rip?
What do you know about the Regulators?
- Colonel. - Rip,
someone just put three bullets through Zeke Henshaw
in the hospital, it's probably the same character
that killed Parsons.
They'll be coming after you next.
I hear that.
What's even crazier is that the governor thinks
I brought Zeke Henshaw into the rangers,
taught him everything I know,
I must have left something out, 'cause he's dead.
Henshaw, Sheaty Tillman, George Lockwood,
Billy Lee Brunner.
Billy Lee Brunner, he owns half of Pflugerville,
I used to fish with his dad.
Money and power, some heavy hitters.
More rattles, we gotta find the head of the snake.
There's something seriously rotten in the great state
- of- - Him!
That's him, that's the head of the snake, that's the voice!
The governor's office
I've heard this campaign ad
so many times I stopped listening to it.
Nobody pays any attention to campaign ads anyway.
That's right, that's why I couldn't place this voice.
Without the law and people willing to fight for it.
We have no society, we have a jungle.
A little too much.
Right out of the mouth of the snake.
Paid for by the Committee
to Elect Bud Hoffner governor.
Come on, let's go get him, I know how
to skin a rattlesnake.
Not yet, a tape and a hunch ain't gonna hold up in court.
Well Hoffner and his bunch don't care about courts.
Well, we're not them.
That's what this is all about.
Oh, hell, Rip, who put that morality bug in your ear.
You did.
The license plate Susan couldn't find must be Hoffners.
That would put him at the farmhouse
and then that tape would be worth something.
Susan's working on it.
Well, let's give Susan a hand.
This license plate is part of a classified sequence
assigned by the federal government.
- What part of the government? - FBI.
It ain't necessarily her, Captain,
there must be 10 or 15 agents in Austin alone.
In the middle of the picture, what do you see?
A man who died for no reason.
No that sign.
Shelbyville Liberty, well he's from Nacogdoches,
that's not far away.
Susan's family's from Shelbyville.
Uh-oh.
The Regulators started in Shelby County.
The base operation was Shelbyville.
The leader was named Charles W. Jackson.
Jackson's Susan's family name.
Well ain't you slicker than soap on a door knob.
Of course she couldn't trace that car, it was hers.
It looks that way.
FBI agent dancing cheek to cheek with Hoffner,
using whatever she could to get close to you
so she could pick your brain.
You should have known better.
Well, Rip, that's spilled milk, so to speak.
Now look here, let me tell you one thing.
Hoffner's gonna have this big fundraiser tomorrow.
Let's get over there and stick a pistol in his ear
and make him sing like Julio Iglesias.
There goes my perimeter tent system.
What?
Beer bottles and bailing wire but it's working.
Captain we got bogies.
Sure do, Rip, about maybe five, maybe six,
the more the merrier, beats the hell out of "Kojak" reruns,
well I got the front, you cover my back, okay.
Deputy skunk here will pass the ammunition.
Hell with that, I'm a deputy, throw me a gun.
I'm here, come on, come to Uncle Jack,
let me give you the hot kiss of death!
Ha, it don't get no better than this, does it, criminal!
Yeah, this is a real piece of heaven, Jack!
Ha, I love it.
- Who's driving? - You.
- Ah-yeah. - Damn!
I bet this road was rough before they taped it.
Boy you just drive.
What's going on?
Rip, what are you doing?
Billy Roy, what's going on here guys, come on?
Will someone tell me what's going on?
Sit down.
Just say something, anything, what the hell is going on?
Me, for one.
And a couple of other things,
I've been reading up on the Regulators,
Charles Jackson made quite a name for himself
over in Shelbyville.
We traced those license plates you couldn't seem to find.
It isn't what you think it is.
You don't wanna know what I think but I want the truth.
All right, the truth is, I'm working with Hoffner
and the FBI.
I've been undercover inside Hoffner's group
now for three months.
No one knows, not even the bureau.
Oh shoot.
I didn't know who I could trust, not even you.
I met Hoffner at a fundraiser,
somehow the family name came up and he recognized it
and started talking about the Regulators.
I could tell he was fishing so I nibbled.
We stayed in touch and he finally told
and invited me to join.
He loved the fact that the great-great granddaughter
of Charles Jackson was involved.
He trusted me, I got close to him fast.
Henshaw knew Parsons was undercover.
Slate's murder was a set up.
Where were you?
I got word to Sheaty about the set up
through an informant.
I figured that would protect Slate and Parsons.
It was only later that I found out that Sheaty
was one of them.
- And when Parsons got away. - Oh, call me Jack.
When Jack got away, Hoffner was furious.
It was everyone's job to find him.
So, you snuggled up to me hoping I'd take you to him?
Yes before they found him.
I needed you alive, you're the best witness I've got.
Hell, I ain't had so much fun since the hogs
ate my little brother.
That's why I went to the hotel to try to warn Parsons
without blowing my cover with Hoffner.
You could have told me.
No I couldn't, I didn't know who was involved.
I couldn't take that chance for Jack's sake.
I had to protect him.
I'm an agent and a good one
but I'm a rotten liar when it comes to things
that matter to me.
And if I was working for them
you would have known I was pretending when I was with you.
You know I wasn't pretending.
Hoffner's the only one that knows everyone involved.
He keeps the whole membership list
in a 25 cent three by five purple spiral notebook.
It has a TCU insignia on the front.
He's a big Froggies' fan.
Do you know where it is?
I've seen it several times in his hotel suite.
He hides it somewhere in the library.
Now how to get it is another question all together.
Well, it's a good thing
you all got a criminal like me around.
It's so good to see you, so good to see you.
I appreciate that, Sweetie.
How are you, how are you?
- Mr. And Mrs. R. - Johnson, $100,000.
Jobeth, how are you?
Okay you all go on, I'll see you later,
I'm gonna find a limb to perch on.
What is that?
Crab soufflé on marinated hearts of palm, delicious.
No thank you.
What's that?
This is quail egg wrapped in seaweed.
And how's that cooked?
Well, it's not, it's supposed to be raw.
How are you, good to see you.
Looks like Tiffany's Christmas catalog,
Captain, I think I'll browse around.
- No you won't. - Five minutes.
- Four minutes. - Forget it.
This is like locking Trevino on a golf course
and not letting him play.
What a lovely outfit.
Hoffner's has a suite on the ninth floor,
I'll get you in the private elevator, follow me.
Here, this will get you into his suite,
now use the back entrance, 'cause there's always a guard
by the front.
- Be careful. - Nice dress.
I'll check out the guard.
He's right outside the door.
You know sometimes you gotta let the room
tell you what you're looking for.
Ego is an amazing thing.
It was just one of them old Wrigley's,
I don't know why they bothered
hiding a piece of tin like this.
He's here.
Let's go.
There it is.
Let's get out of here.
Gun belt, cowboy.
Well now, isn't this a sad site, right now,
another Texas Ranger gone bad.
Seems like an epidemic lately.
Hmm-mm.
You're smoother than 14-year-old whiskey.
Thank you.
Isn't she, though.
Sold you on that idea about being a double agent.
And then set you all up to come over here
looking for that, just so you could get caught
with your fingers in the cookie jar.
Law and order is the issue of this campaign gentlemen.
You've proven my point.
No, you proved it.
We know all about the Regulators,
Boltinghouse and the Slate and the others you had murdered.
And we know you killed Zeke Henshaw.
Yes, yes and I'm proud, we're all proud
to be the instrument of justice in a lawless time.
You won't be able to hide the truth.
Truth, who's gonna believe a couple
of petty criminals, hmm?
Maybe no one but they might believe a Texas Ranger
and FBI agent and you.
Stop him fool!
Watch her.
Hey!
Read this.
Damn.
Break his damn neck.
Hold it, let go!
Excuse me, sir could I have that gun please, thank you.
- Thank you, deputy. - You're under arrest.
- Well, Rip, it's over. - Not yet.
Nice left.
We got the main honchos, Hoffner and Sheaty.
Yeah, without that notebook, the rest of those crazies
stay free.
Let's keep our chin up, we'll get them all.
You all wait a minute.
What in the hell's this?
Susie, you got a lot to learn about women.
Hell all a ranger needs to be happy
is a horse with a smooth gait and a gun that don't jam.
Hey that's good, because the thought of you procreating
with anybody scares me to death.
It should.
My cowboys.
I'm starving to death, ain't you?
We ate a half an hour ago.
Oh yeah.
Those are very thoughtful.
It was Billy Roy's idea.
- It don't matter. - It don't matter?
It's the Texas in my blood.
It's the drugs.
I've been promoted, supervisory special.
It's what you deserve, is it what you want?
It's what I wanted.
Well, give it a try.
If it don't work out you could always come back here,
get a pickup truck, a pair of boots,
see if you're a real Texan.
Yeah.
Where's Jack?
Watching TV over in the waiting room,
"The Wild Bunch" is on, said he'd meet you at the house.
You okay, Captain?
Susan's being transferred to Pittsburgh.
Well, that invitation to Mexico is still open
if you wanna go down there with me,
it's a good place to relax.
I'll keep that in mind.
- Bus station. - Bus station?
Bus station, last time you run me out of Texas, I flew,
this set a precedent.
Don't get comfortable with it, you ain't coming back.
Well, it's gonna be hard to leave without money.
You earned it this time, Ace.
I earned it the first time.
Good-looking money clip, ain't it?
Looks even better when it's full of money.
Oh, one thing.
I slipped that up my sleeve the other night
over at Hoffner's, I had a backup that I brought with me.
You could at least say thank you.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
I need a favor, one more thing that needs taken care of.
Cecil Merritt Metcalf, your middle name is Cecil, isn't it?
It's a good thing they call you Rip.
Of course when it's family
you gotta take the good with the bad.
Needs some tending.
I'll park it in the white zone, Captain
with the keys under the mat.
You're a piece of work, Ace.