Zane Grey Theater

[explaining the origin of the Texas Rangers]

Himself - Host:
They were formed to fight the Comanches and in order to qualify, a man had to ride like the wind, trail like an Indian and shoot like an outlaw. They were called 'The Western Minutemen.' Of course, the Texans put a stop to that when they learned that Paul Revere had to ride for help. A Ranger was armed with a rifle, a brace of pistols, a hunting knife and fifty rounds of ammunition. He was literally the B-17 of the desert.

Himself - Host:
Texas history records some fantastic stories about the Rangers. For instance in 1907, James Dunaway was sent to Groverton to stop a riot... one Ranger, mind you. In the fight that ensued, he was shot 19 times. Nevertheless, he sent a wire to the governor which read, "Riot stopped. Shot to pieces. Nothing serious." In our story this week, we'll learn more about the courage of the Rangers.

Will Gorman:
Now, listen to me boy. When you start with a gun you become something that people hate and fear. And they're just waitin. Waitin' for someone to come along just a little bit faster than you. Then they'll spit on your grave and buy drinks for the winner.

Will Gorman:
Don't try it, boy. Don't try it.

[first lines of Episode 2.11]

Host:
These were among the last weapons of Bill Longley, a gunman credited with killing 32 people. Bill retired to become a farmer - I guess he figured it was time to stop raising Cain and start raising a few beans. It didn't last long, though, so he was hanged October 11, 1878. His newspaper epitaph read, "Bill Longley got the rope today / Gave up the farm for gunplay. / Should have stayed behind the plow / He's pushing up the daisies now." In the story we have chosen for you this week, "Gift From a Gunman", we'll see how difficult it is for a gunman to retire.

Johnny Ringo:
I never killed a man for money! Never!

Cason Thomas:
Sorry, Johnny. You hear stories.

Johnny Ringo:
You ever face a man, Case, knowing you were the last person he was ever going to see before he died? Not his wife, not his kids, but you... A man ought to be surrounded with love when he dies.

Cason Thomas:
What started it, son?

Johnny Ringo:
I don't know, it just grew. First time you felt like a big man, everybody congratulating you... Then you try it again, just to see how good you really are. One day you find you're like a turkey in a shoot. Everybody wants to try their luck. You can't stop it. You wanna, but you can't. You run, they catch you. You hide, they find you. Sometimes you think it'd be better to lose. Be a little slower and get it over with. You think so, but you just can't slow down that hand. It's not even a part of you. It's learned its job too well.

Seth Larker:
[Questions why Julie is going after her husband's killer] Julie, I don't mean to step out of line but I've known you and Sid ever since you first came here. I watched you fight the land for Sid and you lost. Now, I don't know what you had before, but these past few years, you didn't love him. Not really.