Provided by explosiveskull https://twitter.com/kaboomskull
The U.S. Marshals assigned
to the Indian Territories
spent months away from their families.
Frontier life often took a toll on young mothers.
After two years raising their five children alone,
Isabel Gray was no exception.
Marshal Henry Thomas,
known only by his nickname Heck,
chose not to chase after them.
Isabel shed no tears, and Heck only a few
for the children he would never see again.
Though his parents desired him to become a Baptist preacher,
the residue of which would haunt him in years to come,
Heck's talents shifted less paternal and less godly.
Despite his focus and his faith,
his depression was deep.
He chose neither the bottle nor the madams
who would pursue him.
Instead of succumb to the melancholy,
Marshal Thomas committed himself to his work.
Whoa!
Heck Thomas split the $1,400 reward
with his six compatriots that day.
After the countless bounties
he'd accumulated through the years,
it was neither the money nor the articles
written about him that he was after.
With his death, Bill Doolin provided the Marshal
the beautiful finale to his life's opus.
Papa?
Dalton!
Come on out!
We know the girls are in there with ya.
Nobody has to get hurt.
Dalton!
It's your last chance.
How many more times I gotta kill you?
Bill Dalton, leader of the Wild Bunch.
First cousin of the Younger-Jesse James gang.
Last outlaw brother of the Dalton Gang.
Most wanted criminal in America,
killed right here in Ardmore!
Paula's funeral home
barely contained the circus.
Patrons shoved in for the final glimpse
of the prairie's most infamous outlaw kingpin.
Long after expiration,
Bill Dalton's celebrity would survive.
The newspapers would circulate coast to coast.
His artifacts would become collectors items.
The dime novels would sell for decades.
Within years, the lines between legend and history blurred.
With each breath of his name,
the authentic ghost of the man would dim
one shade at a time into nothingness.
The myth celebrating his crimes
often diminished his violent nature.
The lore behind his robberies
often misplaced his gang's tenacious joy
for killing lawmen.
Those who knew him best would lament that
neither brutality nor leadership was germane
to his personality.
Those who knew him longest would lament that
he never wanted this life at all.
That they missed his soft demeanor
and clever sense of humor.
Those that loved him most would lament that
he preferred the background and supporting roles
to the leading one he played at the end.
In truth, the heralded "King of Western Outlaws"
was not born to a throne at all.
The genesis of Bill Dalton's royal outlaw lineage
began quietly only a couple years before.
Really?
It'll work.
Damn thing's itchy, do we really have to use horsehair?
You'll survive.
It looks ridiculous, we'll get got right away.
So then don't get got then.
You don't need this no more.
Ow!
Glad you think it's funny.
Do it again.
Fuckin' dipshit.
Nerves?
I ain't know.
What are we gonna do with him?
Nothin'.
He's staying back with you.
Just the two of us covering the First Arkansas?
Yup.
I can step in.
You ain't ready.
Doolin can handle more.
Not yet!
We can wait.
Hit the banks in a few days, let it settle.
Heck's been on our asses ever since Southern Mississippi.
Genie says he was Dearing yesterday.
I ain't your nanny.
You'll be on sittin' duty for a bit, son.
I ain't your son.
You ain't my brother neither.
They brought a power stay back then.
You walked away from this gang once.
You want back in, you'll do whatever job I tell you to.
Bob.
We need to talk about the beards.
Damn it!
Emmett, they know your face.
They know your face too!
They probably know all our faces.
So why ain't you wearing one?
Some people give two shits, some people give none.
If you don't want to wear it,
grow a beard by tomorrow.
It'll take him a year.
I can grow a beard.
Grab you some milk and let the hens peck it off.
Hey, bring him over here, I'll milk him.
Gotta have tits for that.
Hey.
Broad and me been fixin' to ask you something.
Yeah?
Isn't you the oldest brother?
Yeah.
Why ain't you leader then?
Pa always told us to follow our God given talents.
Truth is, some men are born leaders,
some men are born for whorin'.
You know, the Condon don't work without Bill.
Grat can handle it.
Grat's running the team?
Yeah.
And you think that's a good idea?
Those are the only kind of ideas I got.
I'm serious, Bob.
I ain't worried about Grat.
Bob?
Emmett!
You're mighty uppity all of a sudden.
Trade us.
No!
That ain't a bad idea.
I said no!
Well, Grat can't do it.
The kid's right.
I ain't remember asking for your input, Doolin.
No one needs to get hurt.
He'll probably show up drunk,
hit somebody in the noggin.
You remember what happened with-
- You hear what I said or is you too dense?
You ain't listening.
Shut your God damn mouth!
Bob.
Don't "Bob" me, boy!
Oh, poppycock.
I guess we're back at this again already.
Bob, just-
- Step down, Emmett.
I'm tired of this leech leeching.
Suckin' and going, suckin' and going.
Who are you calling leech?
You.
You want to reminisce again
on why I left in the first place?
You mention one more word and-
- Then you'll what, Bob?
Pull out your knife?
Try me.
You were trimmin' the take and we all know it.
Bill and I pulled 2,500 from that train,
where'd the other 500 go?
Shut it!
What'd you spend it on?
That's enough.
What was it, Bob?
The booze, the cards?
Don't.
Or maybe that whore.
Walk it down.
I said walk it down now.
She ain't no whore.
You all know it's true.
He pinched the cut, got some of all of y'all's money.
Enough.
You know it's true.
I ain't give no shits.
You should.
You best hobble your lip.
Bust your head open,
see if candy falls out of there, amigo.
Doolin, please.
Fine.
Blood always, it's bullshit.
Just focus on the banks, nothing else.
He ain't no Jesse James.
Whoa.
Damn right about that.
It's best you remember,
only reason you is here
is because my brother trusts you.
Blood, always.
Shit.
What?
I think I'm sober.
How about this?
You take Grat, I'll handle the Condon.
Grat will be fine.
He's probably gonna show up drunk,
bang somebody over the head.
It's a no gun town.
He ain't gonna hurt nobody.
I can lead.
What part of no you ain't pick up on?
I ain't need you watching over me.
You taking a kerfuffle now?
I'm tired of the mistakes.
Mistakes?
Please, enlighten me.
If we only got 5, I can handle the Condon.
You ain't ready.
Stop treating me like a God damn kid!
You seems to got a big opinion
all of a sudden, baby brother.
And that's another thing,
don't call me baby brother no more neither.
Seems like someone buttoned his britches this morning.
I ain't scared of you, Bob.
That would be your mistake then.
You're starting to slip,
and I'm trying to clean it up.
You think you can run this gang better than me?
Guys...
The beards is awful.
Don't start.
- They look stupid as shit. - You don't start!
We're already one man down!
We might be one more if you don't watch
your God damn tongue with me, boy!
Come now, boys.
That's no way to treat a lady.
Miss me?
Maybe.
You boys at it again?
No, ma'am.
Emmett?
You're getting handsomer every minute.
Well?
Just like Mr. Doolin said.
No guns?
No guns.
Not even the Marshal.
Deputies?
Far as I can tell, just the one.
Rumor is, he's retired and become
a school principal or something.
Rifles?
Keeps 'em on the wall in the office.
That's good.
That's real good.
Heck Thomas?
No sign that I can tell.
That's good.
That's real good.
You bring it?
Ooh!
Ow, ow, ow!
Oh, Grat.
Yeah?
You ain't think I forgot about ya?
You want to tell him or me?
What?
Well, what is it?
Oh, ladies.
This for me?
You can all share in on that.
Fun's on me.
Pretty enough.
Now, boys.
Sunrise, boys.
Sharp.
Well?
You was right, Miss Moore.
He is awfully cute.
Careful, Bunny.
He's a stone cold killer.
Finally upright, are we?
The things they make us do.
They.
Wouldn't know.
Did I ever tell you about Doolin and I's first pickup?
No.
Stole our first wagon,
this broad comes running out,
jumps in the back of the board
as we was gettin' gone.
Farmers comes out and blasts off two shots and yells,
"Bring her back and nobody gets hurt!"
Doolin yells, "We ain't want your missus!"
Farmer says, "Not her, the horse!
I can always get me a better wife."
Right.
You don't believe me?
I suppose so.
All I'm saying is,
you could find yourself a better horse.
'Cause that one?
She's already found her wagon.
I know.
Do I really gotta stay back?
Yup.
Is that your call or his?
It's good to be the king.
It ain't right.
Maybe not.
Are you gonna be okay?
I'm sure we'll manage.
I hope so.
Shut up!
Oh, man.
What?
You said sunrise.
Whoa.
What?
Bob?
What the hell?
The post.
What post?
The hitching post is gone.
We should go.
No.
We're already down one,
we can't leave one more out for the horses.
I said no.
Excuse me.
Where's the hitch?
Pulled it out last night.
Town gonna curb up the main street in a few days.
Does he seem like a tough guy to you?
Everybody's a tough guy until you put a gun in their face.
We should settle.
This is a bad idea.
We'll find another spot.
Bob.
Emmett.
Mount up.
Get on the floor!
Manager, now!
Please, I'll cooperate!
No one needs to get hurt.
The vault.
Hands up!
You want to be a tough guy?
No.
Hands on the damn counter, now.
Do what he says!
All of it.
What you waitin' for?
He said to put my hands on the counter.
The money's down below,
how am I supposed to fill up these bags
with my hands on the counter?
Use them hands for anything
other than fillin' them bags,
and I'll blow your eyeballs
all over that back wall.
Hurry up!
Where's the gold?
Dalton Gang.
Cyrus.
You all right?
Dalton Gang's robbing the bank.
What the hell's wrong with you?
They're stealing your money!
Oh, yeah?
Which bank?
Both!
The Dalton Gang!
Oh, shit.
Hungry or hungover?
A bit of both.
Best way to cure the latter is to never stop drinking.
So, you thought more about it?
About what?
What you're gonna do with the money?
Don't know yet.
I'm gonna buy a gravestone.
A real nice one.
Gravestone?
Yup.
Already know what I'm gonna put on it.
What's that?
Secret to life.
Figured that out, did you?
I did.
Well then, do tell.
The secret to life is finding a good woman.
One that can cook, one that can clean,
one that can make love.
Then you make sure none of the four ever meet.
You're a piece of art.
Yeah.
Modern day Shakespeare or something.
We're gonna have to talk about Bob.
Yeah, I know.
It's getting worse.
Grat's just a grunt.
Did I ever tell you they used to be lawmen?
Bob and Emmett?
Bob and Grat.
Emmett was too young,
he just kind of followed them around.
Grat the lawman?
Yeah, that only lasted a week.
They didn't get paid,
so they just robbed a horse instead.
Sounds about right.
They wanted to avenge Frank.
They decided they liked the money
a bit more, I guess.
Frank's a good man.
Yeah.
Not all Daltons is like us.
You ain't like most of them neither.
Frank came in and told pa
that he was gonna be a marshal.
Pa had this expression on his face,
and I'll never forget it.
You ain't gotta say nothin'.
Frank and his partner went to catch a bounty
near Fort Smith.
Posse saw 'em coming and set up.
One of them shot Frank in the chest.
His whole insides was opened up, they said.
His partner thought he was dead,
so he tailed out quick-like.
Frank sat up and took 18 more shots.
Took him 12 hours to bleed it all out.
But pa used to have a saying, "Daltons die slow."
I guess he was right.
Damn.
Blood, always.
Come on!
Hurry, come on!
Who the hell was that?
The manager.
Fast.
Faster!
Cover the windows, now!
Cash.
Fill 'em up.
I didn't come for no damn silver.
You're gonna take me to the vault.
Sit down!
Hurry up!
That would not be wise.
Hell yeah!
I told you!
Yes you did, big brother!
Yes you did!
Let's go.
Isham, what's going on?
The Dalton Gang is in the banks right now
trying to run off with your money.
Bullshit!
They're in the Condon and the First right now.
Both?
Yup.
At the same time?
I didn't believe it neither at first.
We ain't armed!
I got rifles for three or four,
hardware gots about 10.
Jeb.
You wasn't supposed to have that there.
Arrest me then.
What am I supposed to do with that?
Stop them from getting out of town
with our damn money.
Yeah!
I didn't fight for no Union army
to let some sons of bitches take my town like this!
Yeah!
Well, we need cover!
I got the top!
Me too, let's go!
Do you hear that?
Hear what?
Listen.
Calm yourself.
No, really, listen.
Let's go.
I ain't going nowhere.
Probably just Grat being a dung again.
Yeah, okay.
Bill, you're the smartest Dalton-
- Come with me!
If we ain't get out of here
and protect what's left of the money-
- This ain't about the money!
If any of them make it,
they know where to find us.
Yeah, and if none of them make it-
- They ain't Frank!
And I ain't his partner.
They knew what they were walking into.
Yeah.
And I ain't never leaving any of my brothers behind again.
Bill, please.
Blood, always.
Just 'cause we ain't blood
don't mean we ain't brothers.
If I ain't back in an hour you get to the caves,
you wait for me there.
Get up.
Yeah!
Woo!
Oh, yeah!
Damn it, damn it!
Emmett?
What?
No, no, you must be mistaken.
Emmett.
Hot damn, Emmett.
And that must be your brother Grat, or Bill.
Leon, do you know these men?
Oh, yeah.
They used to scrap with the Baldwin boys.
I think they're members of that gang,
the Youngers or something.
- No, wait a minute. - Bob.
Now hold on a second!
Bob.
Now hold on.
Leon!
Daltons!
The God damn Daltons!
Say it!
Say it so we can hear ya!
Say it!
Daltons...
That's right.
We're the Dalton Gang.
Don't you forget it.
Please, just stay down.
Please.
Come, ladies.
Lively now.
Hurry, hurry!
Just the gold.
What the shit you waitin' for?
The vault's on a timer.
What the hell does that mean?
The safe's got a timer,
it can only be opened up every 30 minutes.
Is that so?
How long?
Can I check my watch?
Nothing funny.
No, sir.
9:20.
The vault only opens on the 30s,
and we opened at 9.
What the hell does that mean?
I'm sorry, sir, but it's gonna be at least 10 minutes
before I can open it.
Is there any other way in?
No, sir.
Only this one.
Fine.
We'll wait.
Go, go!
We're the Dalton Gang, don't ever forget it.
We're the God damn Dalton gang.
What the hell was that?
Emmett, get your ass down!
Over there, get down!
Or else the people out there will kill some of you!
I'm hit!
Bob, not the baby.
I said get down!
I can't move my arm!
Bob, let the girl go.
Put the gun down.
Let 'em go.
You want to die in this damn place?
If I gots to.
Now you're some saint all of a sudden.
We both know I ain't,
but I ain't living on me or the baby.
You ain't got the balls, baby brother.
I told you to stop calling me that.
Grat, almost out!
Hey!
When will it open?
What?
The damn safe!
You said 10 minutes, how much longer?
What?
Shit, shit, shit!
Come on!
Go, go, go!
There's a backdoor.
Tommy!
You let her go, I'll show ya.
Stay low, stay low.
We got the baby coming out!
What's behind it?
A tree row.
How far out?
A quarter mile.
I don't know, there's a creek.
From there, which way?
Follow the bed east a couple miles,
you'll reach some verdigris.
We hit it running,
don't stop 'til we cross the river.
Open it.
Get in, get in!
I'm sure you think you're so damn smart.
We'll see how smart you is.
No, no, no, no, no, no!
You're crazy!
Go, go, go, go, go!
Stay low, take top, take top!
We're coming up.
Don't try nothin'.
Don't shoot, I ain't armed.
On the ground.
Face down, hands up.
Nobody's gonna pop up and try nothing, is they?
It's just me, I swear it.
Out of the way!
Frank!
Bob, you okay?
You want to catch me on what's so damn funny right now?
Bill.
Bill?
I told him not to eat that shit.
There's no such thing as oysters in Kansas.
He kept blaming the whisky!
Doolin thought it was the nurse.
Doolin can pucker my ass cap.
Why are you telling me this now?
'Cause we're gonna die today, little brother.
We ain't gonna die.
We is.
We ain't.
I shoulda listened.
Bob, not now.
Doolin was right.
Bob, not now!
I skimmed the take.
I know.
How?
I always know.
It ain't what you think.
She's pregnant, ain't she?
I'm so sorry, Emmett.
I didn't mean for none of this.
And you was gonna leave today, wasn't you?
Was you really gonna shoot me?
Hell yeah.
Is there a back exit?
There's a side door that goes to Walnut Street.
You got enough to run for it?
I got a choice?
Good enough.
They're in the bank.
When that door opens,
don't stop 'til we get to the horses.
Come on.
For the inconvenience.
I'm gonna be an uncle.
She's a peach, ain't she?
She is.
Don't know what she sees in you though.
Me neither.
You think they're gonna write about us
in the Star tomorrow?
Bigger story than Jesse James ever got.
Fuck Jesse James.
They're coming in.
That they is.
Where do you want to go?
I only remember one gun out back.
Hey.
Hey, you!
No, no, no!
I ain't gonna hurt you, I ain't gonna hurt you!
Where's that boardwalk around back go?
The general store.
Alley there head up street?
If we clear past the agent,
we can get straight to the alley
and run like hell for the horses.
Yeah, it'll be hell, all right.
Any luck, we'll blow past the rifles,
maybe take a few nicks.
Hopefully just a few.
I think it's all we got.
I always looked up to you, baby brother.
Blood, always.
There they is!
Aw, damn, Grat!
Here's our chance!
Gun.
Halt, halt!
He said halt!
God damn it, Bob.
I have to get that man.
No, Luscious!
Marshal!
Easy.
Easy, easy, easy.
Bob, let's go!
Get the horses, or we're solidly through by now.
Bob!
Oh, God, no, no, no!
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Get to the horses.
I ain't leaving.
Get to the God damn horses, now!
Yah, yah, yah!
Bob, no!
Goodbye, Emmett.
No!
No surrender.
We got you!
No more!
Go to hell, Heck.
We're gonna need a doctor.
Surrounded by federal marshals,
auditors examined the monetary damage of the incident
the next morning.
The Condon Bank reported a loss of 20 dollars.
The First Arkansas reported a surplus
of a dollar and 98 cents.
Let the wicked forsake his ways,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts.
And let him return unto the Lord,
for he will have mercy upon him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Where are my brothers?
When I was 13, my brother Henry ran off
to fight with the Rebels.
He had a stubbornness about him.
He always found some way to get his way, you know?
Pa didn't worry when Henry told us
he would find his way back home one way or another.
His calvary crossed Sherman's boys in Georgia,
and, well...
Ma asked if we could carry him home
so we could bury him on the farm.
The Bible was the only part of him that made it back.
I believe he knew he did not break his promise
to us after all.
My brothers, they dead?
I believe so.
I'll kill them.
Every last one of them.
The book teaches us to forgive.
But not in the way we have come to believe.
Forgiveness is not condoning the actions of others,
but in not allowing our past to dictate our present.
I believe you are gonna need this more than me.
I ain't know how to read.
I suppose you'll have time to figure that out now.
Trust in the Lord.
Accept the grace of his mercy.
Learn to forgive, and you will find peace someday.
God has a plan for you yet, Mr. Dalton.
23 gunshot wounds would not be enough
to end his life.
After 3 months in the infirmary,
a limp and several scars would be the only keepsakes
the youngest Dalton would take out of the Kansas town.
Lansing Penitentiary would barely be able to contain
the outpouring of support
for their most famous inmate.
Fathers would name their sons after him.
Bachelorettes would write to him daily.
Labeled a model prisoner,
after only 14 years into his life sentence,
the governor, garnering favor among his constituents,
would pardon him.
A year later, Emmett would wed Julia,
a childhood sweetheart, and relocate to California.
The fresh scenery would prove fruitful
to the young Dalton.
After early success in real estate,
he would eventually acquiesce to the request
to tell his story.
He would begin by writing two books
about his family legacy,
join a public lecturer's circle
speaking to sold out crowds,
and eventually became an actor.
First on stage, and then on screen,
even playing himself in a film about the gang.
Because his notoriety would follow them
wherever they would go,
the couple would often pine for a quieter life.
To Julia's chagrin, the two would travel the country,
accepting the spotlight.
And city after city,
the routine grew stale, and at times, torturous.
But he would accept the circle as penance
for his past sins.
Julia could do little to absolve him of his guilt,
and often wondered if this pattern
would carry them to their end.
But in the spring of 1931,
the youngest Dalton, now the oldest by many decades,
surprised even his dutiful better half
by accepting an unconventional invitation.
Today we recognize the historical significance
of what the Dalton Gang did for our community.
This day in Kansas forever shall be known
as the Coffeyville Defenders Day.
Commemorating forever this section of our town,
herein known as "Death Alley".
He spoke nothing about his brother's deaths,
or the haunting faces of the sons and grandsons
in the crowd.
He spoke only about his faith,
reciting scripture, and performing his famous phrase.
The biggest fool on Earth
is the one who thinks he can beat the law.
With no animosity in either direction,
the town offered only gratitude,
welcoming the couple with open arms.
In its own paradox, the town would fulfill
his third and final act.
For Emmett, this gesture would prove to be
the beautiful missing finale
to the Dalton Gang's opus.
In the summer of 1937, just before his 67th winter,
the youngest Dalton would be the only Dalton
to exit the stage peacefully.
In his bed, holding Julia's soft, wrinkled hand,
he prayed, and took his final bow.
Now, you all didn't think we were gonna leave you
with a happy ending, did you?
Now ain't that pretty?
Burn in hell now, boys!
A little bit of blood!
Come on, now!
String him up!
Yah!
Blood, always.
Provided by explosiveskull https://twitter.com/kaboomskull