Open Range

MAJESTIC MUSIC

THUNDER ROLLS

Think she'll get over this way?

Might.

Best bed them down.

SWEEPING MUSIC

THUNDER CRACKS

Come on, Tig.

THUNDER

THUNDER CRACKS VIOLENTLY

HORSES WHINNY

WHIMPERS

There she goes.

Looks like we're in for it.

You see 'em?

I can't see 'em. I can't hear 'em.

You ever seen one this bad?

Not since Noah and the flood.

Well, you should know, Boss. Since you was there.

What did you say?

He said, "You should know since you was there."

Even that wasn't this damn wet.

One thing's certain,

Noah never shovelled as much bull from them he had aboard.

Let's rustle up some grub.

Mose!

Hey!

-That hurt?

-Yeah.

Mose. Still got them cards?

Yeah, I got them.

Yeah? Get them out. Let's have us a game after breakfast.

THUNDER CRACKS

-BOSS:

-Button!

Pull them plates under here.

You going to play them cards, Mose,

or stare a hole through 'em?

Don't rush me.

I'll take four.

Oh, for pity's sakes. "Take four."

All right, that's it.

I'm out.

Hey, kid...

A man's trust is a valuable thing, Button.

You don't want to lose it for a handful of cards.

BIRDS CHIRP

Well, at least it ain't raining.

Get yourself dressed, Button.

Help Mose get things cleaned up around here,

then walk out and look for them horses.

-MOSE:

-Looks like you could use a little muscle there, Charley.

You just keep on like you are.

You'll get your chance soon enough.

No need to ask for more chores, Mose.

Every man's got to pull his weight, Button.

Yeah, but my weight is half of yours.

You know, it's hard to figure Charley sometimes.

I ain't even sure if he likes me.

He likes you.

You know, Boss had some pause about hiring me on.

Too big to get around on horses and work them cows.

Afraid I'd eat too much.

Charley there talked him into it.

I ain't one to take a man's confidence lightly.

-You know I ain't either.

-I know.

It's best to keep remembering it

if you want respect

when you're riding with men like Charley and Boss.

GENTLE MUSIC

Button, pull!

GROANS: Pull.

Button!

Button!

Quit playing with that dog and pull the wagon!

DOG BARKS Pull it!

-Pull!

-Oh, yeah.

Hey! Hey! Look at that!

ROUSING MUSIC

Old Boss sure can cowboy, can't he?

Yeah, broke the mould after him.

Main bunch is working its way towards water.

We'll go up country, find the rest of them, push 'em back.

-BUTTON:

-I'm waiting, come on!

Look at that.

Goddamn kids.

Anyway, once we get them together,

we can start driving them back, closer to camp.

Could be a while before we see another town.

Could use supplies, coffee and such.

MOSE AND BUTTON LAUGH

Mose!

Mose!

You'll have to ride back to that town we passed a way's back.

-When do you want me to go?

-Tonight.

-BUTTON:

-I'll go.

I can go.

How long you figure, Charley?

Without cows slowing things, maybe one day there, one back.

That sounds about right.

Come on, Boss. I can do it.

Sure you can, boy.

I'm just not sure that town's ready

to have you turned loose on it just yet.

-HE SWEARS IN SPANISH BOSS:

-English!

-BUTTON:

-Damn! Shit! Bullshit!

CATTLE BELLOW

STIRRING MUSIC

By God, if you're going to pick your feet like a monkey,

you do it downwind.

I swear to God, old Tig takes better care of herself.

It was a mistake

not getting you on to some town to learn a trade.

I don't like towns. Never liked them.

You're just saying that cos you heard me say it.

Get yourself a trade in a town,

you'll always have a roof over your head,

bed off the ground and food as close as a cafe.

Ain't that so, Charley?

That was a big goddamn help.

Might as well talk to this horse.

Put your boot on, Button. Let's go to work.

Of course, if you was to live in a town...

..you'd have to clean up some.

Otherwise no-one could stand the stink.

What you do that for?!

Cheatin' at cards.

Ch...?

Ch...but...

I apologised to you for that!

Hey, Boss, I apologised to him for that.

Evidently, he ain't over it yet.

It's getting dark, Boss.

He could have got hurt between that town and the camp.

Probably just taking his time.

Don't suppose he got into a poker game, do you?

Wouldn't gamble your money, Boss.

-BUTTON:

-What if he's lying out there

waiting for us to come along?

We'll never find him at night, Button.

Come on down from there.

He's worried.

-Are you worried?

-Yeah, I'm worried.

Been worried since yesterday.

You should have sent me.

Mose can look out for himself.

Then why ain't he sitting here with us?

You never wanted to go to towns - this or any other.

I don't want to go now, neither.

But we better find him, wherever he is.

All right.

You and me strike out early. Button can watch the outfit.

Button, come on down from there and get supper a-workin'.

-BOSS:

-Most likely be back before suppertime.

-BUTTON:

-Three sets of eyes is better than two.

You stay with the wagon.

Come on, Boss. No-one is going to bother it.

We haven't seen a single person since we set up the camp.

I always feel better about leaving a wagon

if someone's close around.

You've been workin' hard. You deserve some loafin' time.

Stay right here.

TIG BARKS

-Stay, Tig.

-Wants to go.

She acts like she does, but she don't.

Still got the heart, not the legs.

You keep that rifle close.

DRAMATIC MUSIC BUILDS

MUSIC INTENSIFIES

-MAN:

-Get up.

MYSTERIOUS MUSIC

I always liked me a side-arm with some heft.

Took this off a man

who couldn't pay all he owed for some cows.

Damn fine weapon.

Always noticed you favour something light, don't you?

GENTLE MUSIC

Hello!

Howdy!

Howdy.

Feed and water 'em?

Curry 'em down with saddles on.

OK. That'll be four bits each.

Not planning on staying long?

Long as it takes to find who we're looking for.

Well, maybe I can help you, gents.

I've been here since Harmonville was Fort Harmon

and we still had soldiers to chase off the Indians.

I know everybody in town and for miles beyond.

Big man, needing a haircut. About 30.

Uh...

That's his rig right there.

Oh, yeah.

Know who you're talking about.

Very friendly young fella.

Looks like he's been living out of saddlebags most of his life.

Got his horse in the corral.

Ride with you, does he?

-Know where we can find him?

-Yeah.

Yeah, he's up in the jailhouse.

He got into it with some... with some cattlemen

over at the general store.

-Cattlemen?

-Yeah.

They busted him up pretty bad,

before Marshal Poole came up back of him,

hit him with his gun barrel.

Yeah, he's lucky he didn't get shot in the back,

if you know what I mean.

You might want to keep that in mind

when you're talking to Marshal Poole.

Saddle his horse.

That cover what he owes?

Oh, yeah.

Name's Percy, if you should need anything else.

-Much obliged.

-Let's go, fellas.

Hold on.

-MAN:

-How long you had him here, then?

I brought him in here yesterday afternoon

and I tell ya, it wasn't easy getting him in his cell.

Why's that?

Goddamn bear, the size of him.

Evening.

Name's Boss Spearman.

This here's Charley Waite.

Evening.

Believe you have a friend of ours in your jail.

Name's Mose Harrison.

Yeah, I got him here.

He started a fight in the general store.

Oh, Mose don't start fights.

Just finishes them.

I just said he started it, you said he didn't.

Maybe you're calling me a liar.

You got a charge against him?

I got plenty.

Inciting a fight, disturbing the peace,

creating a public nuisance - take your pick.

Hear tell he got hit over the head.

He'll be fine.

Well, I come to get him.

Well...

You pay the fines and you can have him.

How does 50 each offence sound?

Like robbery.

Lot of money.

Oh, yes. A lot of money.

I've been waiting for you, Mr Spearman.

My name's Denton Baxter.

Be your men Mose tussled with.

That's right.

You know, folks in Fort Harmon country

don't take to free-grazers or free-grazing.

They hate them more than they used to hate the Indians.

I expect by 'folks', you mean ranchers like yourself.

I got the biggest spread round these parts.

Bigger than any three or four put together.

Built it up with my own two hands,

piece by piece.

Along with this town.

And there ain't no free-graze cattle

going to take the feed off my cattle on this range.

Free-graze is legal.

Times change, Mr Spearman. Most folks change with them.

A few hold-outs never do.

Now, a few years back, a free-graze outfit came through.

One night, the cattle got stampeded,

the wagons caught on fire, and one of those boys

was shot off his horse in the middle of it all.

Shot in the back, was he?

Your man's horse and rig are at the livery barn.

You can take him with you when you leave tonight.

And come sunrise, you hitch up your wagon

and get your damned free-graze cattle moving

and keep them moving

till you're out of Fort Harmon country.

Now, you let Mr Spearman fetch his man

so he can be on his way.

DRAMATIC MUSIC

Charley...

HE SIGHS

-WHISPERS:

-Oh, it's...

-Boss? Boss?

-Uh-uh.

-Ugh!

-HE SIGHS

Looks like someone's put the boots to him after he was down.

Does it?

-Mose?

-HE MUMBLES

-Gotta get up.

-Charley.

I'm glad to see you.

-MOANS:

-I don't much like this town.

Here you go.

Boy, they really laid into him.

You got a doctor in this town?

Yeah. Doc Barlow.

It's the house up behind the barn by the church.

Look for a picket fence.

He's got a sign out front.

Oh, my. Bring him right in.

Lay him down in there.

I'll fetch the doctor.

Get his legs, Boss.

Easy. MOSE GROANS

Good.

I'm Dr Barlow.

Boss Spearman.

Charley Waite.

Patient there is Mose Harrison. He works for me.

These wounds are a couple days old.

Easier if you bring them in right away.

Your marshal had him, and he don't keep a friendly jail.

Is this the man in the fight with Baxter's men?

That's right.

He certainly gave as good as he got.

Broke the arm of one.

Knowing them, they had it coming, I expect.

See what we got here.

HE GROANS PAINFULLY

-Easy, Mose.

-Easy, Mr Harrison.

Nobody's trying to hurt you on purpose here, Mose.

You got a couple of broken ribs.

Need to get this shirt off.

Sue, I'm going to need some soap, some water, some alcohol.

Mm-hm.

I want you to drink this, Mr Harrison.

That's it.

MOSE COUGHS

Let's clean up these cuts on his face.

He's got a nice gash in his scalp there.

I'd say, "To good health," gentlemen,

but then I'd probably be out of business, wouldn't I?

We'll drink to good health for them that have it coming.

Yeah.

The two of you can wait in the parlour.

TRANQUIL MUSIC

-DOC:

-Be better he didn't travel.

BOSS: Well, he'll have to.

How much I owe you, Doctor?

We're even.

I've made enough off what he did to Baxter's men.

I wish he'd made you wealthy.

Ma'am.

BOSS: Doc Barlow's got him a pretty wife.

Noticed that, did ya?

Well, I ain't dead.

Glad to hear it.

Sweet too.

Treated us good as anybody. A real lady.

Woman like that

makes a man think about setting down roots, hey.

Doc looks like a real hard working fella.

Probably working away on making some little ones too.

Creates quite a picture now, don't it?

Yeah. Heard they're worth a thousand words.

SWEEPING, DRAMATIC MUSIC

TIG BARKS

Now, where do you suppose he is?

HE SIGHS

Goddamn kid.

Button's all right, Boss.

Anyone done him harm, they'd have gone through the wagon.

Reckon you're right.

Here he is.

If you're awake, Mose, you might want to see this.

-BOSS: Where you been?

-I seen it before, Charley.

-BUTTON:

-Out with the herd.

I thought I told you to stay with the wagon.

-What happened to...

-Did you hear what I said?!

Yeah, but what happened?

He ran into a little trouble in that town.

It looks like more than a little.

Are we moving on?

We always do, don't we? Once we've grazed off a place.

Did I do something wrong, Charley?

Just leave him be for a while.

Here. Have some coffee.

Made fresh for a change.

There was three riders scouting out the herd this morning.

Where?

Maybe half a mile out.

Just sitting there, looking at the cattle.

DRAMATIC MUSIC

BOSS: Same ones?

Four this time.

Country's filling up.

Maybe we should push on.

Do no good, Button.

I've seen them like Baxter before.

He means to have this herd or scatter it to the wind.

-BUTTON:

-If he was going to take the herd,

why not just keep you in that town?

Marshal already had Mose.

-CHARLEY:

-Wants us all in one place.

Far from there when it happens.

Don't make no sense, him telling us to move on, and all.

Weren't the only thing he said.

Most of the time a man will tell you his bad intentions

if you listen, let yourself hear.

"Few years back, free-graze outfit come through..."

That weren't no idle story.

BOSS: Let's find out for certain.

TENSE MUSIC

CATTLE LOW

BOSS SIGHS

Beautiful country.

A man can get lost out here.

Forget there's people and things that ain't so simple as this.

How long we been riding together, Charley?

Nigh on ten years.

Mm-hm.

You know what they call that? They call it a decade.

Long time.

Been a lot of change since then.

What's on your mind, Boss?

BOSS SIGHS

Way I figure it, we can leave the cattle behind and run,

or you and me can go out there in the dark

and stop them before they scatter the herd.

You reckon them cows are worth getting killed over?

The cows is one thing.

But one man telling another man

where he can go in this country is something else.

That rancher sat in that jailhouse sort of sneering

and letting his lawman lay down the law,

till he figured it was time to show us

that he gave the orders around here.

Ooh, it sticks in my craw.

Well, we sure as hell owe 'em for what they done to Mose.

Yeah.

I'll saddle the horses.

You two keep a sharp eye out.

Got the scattergun. We'll be watching for them.

-Yeah.

-You'll want to douse that fire.

Button, you keep to the wagon for cover.

I don't want to see you out in the open. OK?

I got some sugar in that town.

It's in the wagon.

THEY LAUGH

CRICKETS CHIRP

-MAN:

-I wouldn't want to have him

coming down on me like these cowboys.

What the hell's the matter with you, Gus?

You're twitching all damn night.

Damn back's so sore from being flung into that stove.

-SIGHS:

-I feel like I been humped by a 300-pound whore.

Well, Gus, I'd say you got off easy.

Look at my face.

You can bet Butler will square things with that big man.

Breaking his arm and all.

Did you hear it snap?

I heard it snap.

Lucky for him, he shoots with either hand.

GUN COCKS

BOSS: One twitch and you're in hell!

Now get on your feet, all of you!

Now throw them guns on the ground.

GUN COCKS

HORSE NEIGHS SOFTLY

I ain't going to say it again.

And kick 'em away.

Which one of you has got a sore back?

Which one?

Him.

-You Gus?

-Yeah.

Ought not gang up on a man three to one.

HE GRUNTS

Wait a minute, mister. It wasn't our idea to jump him.

-Shut up, Wylie.

-Get up, you son of a bitch.

-What's your name?

-Vince.

Mighty nice tie-down you got there. You a gun hand, are ya?

-You fast?

-No.

Uh-huh. How many riders does he have?

I said, how many riders?

The rest are on their way to your wagon.

MAN CRIES OUT

You want to smile now? Go ahead.

Be a while before he's of use.

Charley, throw me them saddlebags.

HORSE WHINNIES

Put your spook hats on.

The ones in your belt - put them on!

Now get your britches off.

I'm not taking my britches off for nobody.

HE GRUNTS

You listen out of your good ear, now. Now get 'em off!

Pretty scary bunch, eh, Charley?

Get belly-down. Flat out! HE GRUNTS

Get your peckers in the dirt.

-SHOUTING:

-Hah! Hah!

HORSES WHINNY

If I hear so much as a twig break...

..I'll come back and kill you all.

BOSS: Charley?

Charley!

DRAMATIC MUSIC

DRAMATIC MUSIC

No Tig come to meet us.

Ooh, the bastards.

They shot the boy, but he's alive.

Is that Mose?

He's dead.

Shot him in the head.

Charley. >

DARK MUSIC

Charley.

Charley. Get the lantern and the whisky.

Despierta. Despierta.

Come on, wake up. Charley.

They shot him here

and cracked him in the head here.

We'll have to dig that bullet out.

COW MOOS

You done good, Boss.

Him going in and out like that.

I don't know. He lost a lot of blood.

A whack on the head

can make a man strange for the rest of his days.

Well, you done all you can.

He needs a doctor now.

If Button lives through morning,

you take him in a wagon and move on.

Are you just going to sit out here waiting with them cows?

That's right.

And I'm going to kill

every son of a bitch that comes to take them.

For one man on open ground,

you sure got a lot of killing in mind.

You know I've never gone against you, Boss.

I always let you do most of the talking.

But he needs that doctor back in that town and I aim to take him.

If you want to come along, fine, we'll go together.

Otherwise...you do what you have to do. I'll do the same.

You think they'll just let you waltz in there,

pretty as you please and waltz out again?

That don't figure into it.

Button deserves every chance we can give him.

All right.

But I aim to kill Baxter and those that done this

and if that marshal gets in the way, I'll kill him too.

So you best get your mind right about what's got to be done.

I got no problem with killing, Boss.

Never have.

GENTLE MUSIC

METAL CLANKING

Looks real nice, Charley.

Well, a man ought to have something to show he was here.

It'll be gone in another big storm.

It don't matter none. He's got your dog for company.

He'd like it you put old Tig with him.

Yeah, well, he was more Mose's dog in the end than he was mine.

You right to say some words?

BOSS SIGHS

If you want to speak with the man upstairs, do it.

I'll stand right here and listen, hat in hand.

But I ain't talking to that son of a bitch.

And I'll be holding a grudge for him letting this befall

a sweet kid like Mose.

Well, he sure as hell wasn't one to complain.

Woke with a smile.

It seemed like he could keep it there all day.

Kind of man who'd say "Good morning" and mean it,

whether it was or not.

HORSES NEIGH

To tell you the truth, Lord,

if there was two gentler souls in this world,

I've never seen them.

It seemed like old Tig wouldn't even kill birds in the end.

You got yourself a good man and a good dog

and I'm inclined to agree with Boss

about holding a grudge against you for it.

I guess that means amen.

SPITS: God!

-BOSS:

-Charley, are you all right?

I'm fine.

Seems like you was, you know...

I said I'm fine, just...

CHARLEY SIGHS

..Just got some old feelings coming up.

-Yeah.

-CHARLEY SNIFFS

You know, Charley, we never asked each other much.

It's always been OK with me.

I figured it was always OK with you.

But you said some things the last couple of days,

things that seemed like they had kind of a history to them.

CHARLEY SNIFFS

-Eh, Charley?

-Don't stand behind me, Boss.

CRICKETS CHIRP

When I was a kid,

a bunch of us would go to the woods with our peashooters.

Nothing fancy,

just enough to kill a bird or a squirrel, maybe,

something larger if we was lucky.

I killed my first man in them woods.

He held the paper on our farm and after my pa died he...

he'd come round

and get payment from my mom any way he could.

Not much older than Button when I shot him in the throat.

I knew there'd be more killing,

so I ran off and joined the army.

The war was on, they was...they was only too happy to have me.

My first skirmish

was pretty much like hunting in them woods with my friends.

We just sat up in some trees and they came marching right at us.

Must've been 100 of them lying dead

after the smoke cleared.

We went around and shot the rest who weren't.

Those of us with the knack was made into a special squad,

so we could travel light and on our own into enemy territory.

Orders were pretty simple - make trouble wherever we could.

With room like that, it wasn't long before we was killing men

who weren't even in uniform.

It seemed like that went on the rest of the war.

After that, I come west.

A lot of call for men with them skills

and I put them to work for men just like Baxter.

And every once in a while,

I almost get through a day without thinking about who I am,

what I'd done.

HORSES SNORT

He drifted off again.

No better, but no worse, either.

You're a real honest man, Charley.

Well, I ain't going to lie to you about Button.

It's not Button I'm talking about.

DARK MUSIC

-Mr Spearman.

-Doctor in?

No, he's not here.

We've got a boy who's hurt bad.

Here. Put him in the examining room.

Ma'am.

Oh, God.

WIND HOWLS

It's not his hearing, ma'am.

He hears real well when he's awake.

I'm checking to see if there's blood in his ears.

It could mean a fractured skull.

MOUTHS SILENTLY

Are you the boy's father?

No, ma'am.

His name's Button and he works for me.

It appears that's not very healthy.

Oh, you know the way to the parlour.

Sit down.

I'll be a while.

CLOCK TICKS

THUNDER ROLLS

SHE SIGHS

Well, I don't think it's a fracture.

Concussion's more likely, but it's bad.

DOGS BARK

I have to admit, we don't see a lot of people shot.

I cleaned and dressed the wound as best I could.

-It doesn't look infected.

-What about the fever?

He needs to lay still and let his body do its work.

No offence, ma'am, but we come a long way

to see that the boy gets looked after proper by Dr Barlow.

Now, where's he at?

One of Dent Baxter's hands

came and fetched him out to the ranch.

Some men there had an accident night before last.

You must tell me what happened, Mr Spearman.

Baxter sent his men to stampede the herd

and I figured we would stop them before they could do it.

Surprised them where they was hiding in some trees

and we had at 'em.

Them's the ones Dr Barlow is putting back together.

We got back to camp.

Others had shot Mose in the head,

shot Button, left him for dead.

Oh.

Shot our dog.

SHE SIGHS

-SIGHS:

-I'll be getting money from the wagon.

-It's not necessary.

-THUNDER ROLLS

We pay our way, ma'am.

Please.

Sit, Mr Waite.

Button - is that his real name?

Please, sit.

Yeah. Sorry.

Only one we've known.

He's just a boy.

Yeah.

Picked him up in a Texas town a few years back.

Living off cafe garbage.

Couldn't speak a word of English.

I thought we was doing him a favour.

What about you?

TENSE MUSIC

Hmm? You know that the marshal works for Baxter.

People saw you ride in.

Well, there's payment to be made

by them that done this.

I don't intend to run.

We could wire for the federal marshal.

If he started riding today, he wouldn't make it for a week.

With the storm coming, maybe longer.

We're obliged to deal with the marshal and Baxter ourselves.

Well, what about Button?

Well, he's fighting for his life.

We're going to do the same.

DOOR OPENS

Whatever's needed for Button,

you do it.

If he wakes, he'll need to stay here a couple of days,

so we can watch him.

Whatever's best for him.

-PERCY:

-Can't stay away from my little paradise, gents?

I believe Satan says the same at the gates of hell,

old timer.

-LAUGHTER

-We'd like to put the horses up.

They've had a tough trail.

I'd like to set the wagon yonder.

Help yourself. Hurry up though.

I've seen it like this before. Big 'un is coming.

Yah, yah, yah.

Son of a bitch.

Sorry, Charley.

Yeah.

Jesus Christ.

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Maybe you should've built it in another spot.

Oh, mercy.

THUNDER CRACKS

MAN YELLS

-MAN:

-Get the dog!

Get the dog!

DOG YELPS

It's a...it's a dog there, Charley.

DOG WHIMPERS

Take this!

There he is! Back here, Charley!

To your left. To the left.

Get it! Get it!

Ah! HE CHUCKLES

Are you all right, Charley?

Yeah.

Considering I've just been swimming!

I owe you, mister.

A sweet pup you've got there.

Remind you of anyone, Charley?

Small version. Too small to be let out in this weather.

Belongs to my daughter.

I tried to grab him but the water was too fast for me.

If you're going into the cafe,

I'd be proud to buy you both a cup of coffee.

Coffee would be good about now.

GENERAL CHATTER

This is like the storm

that washed away Gunnison 10, 12 years back.

Water come down from the mountains.

Nowhere to go but straight into town.

Killed a lot of folks.

The town's been here a long time, Mack.

And will be here a lot longer.

That's right, Papa.

Every once in a while, a good storm washes through

and leaves her as clean as a baby's bottom.

Got to look on the bright side, gents.

Marshal.

Meat and spuds, Les, as always.

This cover our meal?

Worth a man's life to walk across that road tonight.

Thanks for the coffee.

Well, appreciate what you've done.

That'll be two bits. Two bits.

I'll be having words with you two!

We'll be having more than that with you, Marshal.

No need to make the cafe messy. But folks...

I've got a warrant sworn out for your arrest

for assaulting Baxter's men.

We've got a warrant sworn for them that tried killing the boy

who's laying at the Doc's trying to stay alive.

Swore out another one

for them that murdered the big fella in your cell.

Only ours ain't writ by no tin star,

bought and paid for, Marshal.

It's writ by us. And we aim to enforce it.

Is that so?

We got no quarrel with none of you folks.

Baxter's men bushwhacked our friend, shot him dead.

Shot a 16-year-old boy too

and clubbed him so hard...

..he might not live!

Tried to take our cattle.

Your marshal here ain't going to do nothing about it.

You don't like free-grazers in this town

and we don't much like being here.

But a man's got a right

to protect his property and his life.

And we ain't letting no rancher or his lawmen take either.

We've got no intention of harming bystanders.

Anyone who helps or comforts

these goddamn law-breaking free-grazers

is going to have to deal with me.

SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC

Your call, Marshal.

We don't have to settle this here and now.

You ain't going nowhere in this weather.

But I'll be seeing you gents real soon.

You can count on that.

SOMBRE MUSIC

That marshal ain't going to wait.

That son of a bitch is going to get some men to look for us.

He'll need us locked up in jail by the time Baxter hits town.

If we ain't, Baxter will start to think

that maybe Marshal Poole ain't worth what he's paying him.

If you've got something on your mind, just spit it out.

Well, I say we take him right at his jail.

Lock him up, wait till Baxter comes riding in.

Hell, Charley,

why don't we just ride to Baxter's ranch

and go straight to him too?

Well, I'll fight wherever you want, Boss. Just make the call.

-Goddammit!

-Now, hold on, Charley, hold on.

Well, you asked me. I told you.

Charley, come on in out of the rain, would you?

Come on!

Come on!

Just getting testy in my old age. It's not a bad idea.

Just roll it around is all I ask.

What'd you think of my speech in there?

Liked it.

Maybe I ought to run for mayor.

Yeah, well, I believe he's got to be living, Boss.

HE CHUCKLES

KNOCK AT DOOR

BOSS: Come to see about the boy.

He's asleep.

-Please, come in.

-Are you sure, ma'am?

We're a mite rank.

We don't want to mess your house.

No, no, no. Please. It's all right. Come on in.

Thank you, ma'am.

There we are.

-WHISPERS:

-I can't get my fingers in.

BOSS CHUCKLES

Can't get our big fat fingers in these holes.

GIGGLES: Too many broke knuckles.

-Let me get something bigger.

-No, ma'am. We can make do.

No. No, it's all right.

It's just nice to be sitting at a table

set with fine china.

Those were my mother's.

They're the only things of hers

that survived the trip out here.

I don't know why I bring 'em out. I can't hold 'em either.

I guess it just makes me feel good.

SHE CHUCKLES

I just say what's on my mind, good or bad.

I admire that.

Try living with it.

See that? No need for a wife or home.

We're just like an old married couple.

So is it marriage that scares you two?

-Putting down roots?

-No.

Who'd have him, old and mangey? Like a rough old dog.

How about I just hold your head under water for a while?

I married once.

Never know that, did you, Charley?

Had a wife and child.

Sweet little spread too.

Nothing fancy, but we was young.

Loved each other.

Never had a cross word.

They caught the typhus and died,

and after that, home didn't seem a place to spend time.

Believe I've changed my mind on that

now that I'm getting on in years.

If Button lives, and we survive Baxter,

I swear I aim to see to it there's a home he's sleeping in

instead of the cold prairie.

Have yourself the last cup of tea, Charley.

I'd like to see Button again, Miss Barlow. I know the way.

Ooh...

Been riding with him ten years.

Never said nothing about being married.

Where are you and Mr Spearman spending the night?

Don't rightly know.

It depends on circumstances.

You mean Marshal Poole?

We have a spare room. It's yours if you want it.

Couldn't do that, ma'am.

We'd be putting you in a spot with the Marshal and Baxter.

Besides, it's a small town.

It wouldn't look right for us to spend the night,

particularly with the Doc away.

TENDER GUITAR MUSIC

I'll take those.

Do you know where they go?

I think so.

BOSS: It's been raining like hell ever since we got here.

Water washing right down Main Street.

Charley saved a pup from being washed away.

Looked a little like old Tig.

Now, if you can, you've got to listen and pay attention.

Cos I've got something important to say.

I haven't been looking after you for you to go out this way.

The world ain't a perfect place, Button.

But you've got unfinished business here.

So you come back. You hear me now?

WHISPERS: You come back.

Kind of dumb talking to him, I guess.

No. No, it's good.

You all right, Mr Spearman?

I'm as right as a man can be under the circumstances.

'Circumstances' - that's just what Mr Waite called 'em.

I asked him to reconsider and I'm asking you.

By 'reconsider', you mean tuck tail and run?

I mean save your life and his.

He'll listen to you.

Charley thinks for himself, Miss Barlow.

He's a good man. He knows what has to be done.

Mm-hm.

We'll pay you now for whatever else Button needs.

In case things go bad for Charley and me,

maybe you and Doc will see to it we're taken care of properly.

I'd like to put pen to paper, if you have 'em.

Yes. Of course.

THUNDER CRACKS

THUNDER CLAPS LOUDLY

-SUE:

-Mr Waite?

-INTRUDER:

-Look at my face!

CRASH!

I'm sorry!

SUE GASPS

I'm sorry.

-Oh!

-It's all right, Charley!

OK? It just be us!

It's all right, Charley!

It's all right, Charley.

CHINA BREAKS

It's all right. I'll get it.

WISTFUL MUSIC

Jumpy is all.

She ought not sneak up like that.

She weren't sneaking.

I scared that woman half to death.

Yeah.

Scared me a bit too.

Well, that's how it is, Boss.

Ain't a pretty picture.

Got your wits about you now?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-Weren't as bad as it looked.

-I'll bet.

MAN YELLS: Go on! Ya!

BOSS: Two whiskeys, barkeep.

Barkeep, two whiskeys.

See that sign?

Round these parts, free-grazers is the first.

Ow!

GLASS SMASHES

Now, he asked you twice. Ain't going to ask again.

Hey, Bill. It's all right.

These are the fellows that saved my dog.

I couldn't serve them if they saved Jesus himself.

Mr Baxter would have my job.

-Baxter the owner?

-That's right.

Give me a bottle. I'll serve them myself.

You know I can't do that.

GLASS SMASHES

Now we'll have our drinks.

I'm going to have me another.

Yes, sir.

Well, looks like the rain's let up a bit.

If it don't, there'll be trout fishing right on Main Street.

ALL LAUGH

I'd like you to meet my boys.

-Ray, Cory.

-How are you doing?

We run a freight outfit when the weather cooperates.

Boss Spearman. And the marksman here is Charley Waite.

Is all that true, what you said in the cafe?

Yeah.

This kid over at Doc's house

was put on death's doorstep by Baxter.

Doc's wife's caring for him

until he comes back after the storm.

-Doc's wife?

-Yeah. Miss Barlow.

You mean Sue?

That's right.

She'll make somebody a fine wife, but she ain't the Doc's.

That's his sister.

-His sister?

-Ain't his wife.

-Good evening, Mack.

-Ralph.

Ray, Cory. Whisky.

This is Ralph Petersen. He runs the general store.

That's where I was when the dog got free.

And you fellows the free-grazers, I expect?

Oh.

No offence.

Personally, I don't stand with others round here

about free-grazers.

There was a fight in your store about a week or so back.

Some of Baxter's men jumped our friend.

-He was a big fellow.

-Yeah, I saw the whole thing.

That big fellow drubbed the hell out of them other three.

Broke one's arm.

Be a gun hand named Butler, would it?

That's what they say.

CLEARS THROAT

Felt bad about your friend. Is he all right?

He's dead.

That's too bad. He seemed like a nice young fellow.

It's a shame what this town's come to.

You could do something about it.

What?

We're freighters.

Ralph here's a shopkeeper.

You're men, ain't you?

I didn't raise my boys just to see 'em killed.

Well, you may not know this,

but there's things that gnaw at a man worse than dying.

DRAMATIC MUSIC

Hey!

-Evening, gents.

-Evening.

Better get out of this weather

or your bones will be stiffer than mine come morning.

Heading into the saloon to do just that.

Come looking for you boys.

Would have bought you a drink earlier.

Well, then, turn around and do it now.

Marshal's got men waiting back at the livery.

Another one's in your wagon

and then there's another in the shed across from it.

-Marshal with them?

-No.

He's sitting up there all by his lonesome

in that warm, dry jailhouse with his feet up

waiting for them to bring you in.

Or kill you.

Well, thanks for the warning.

Well, like I told you,

I've never been partial to the marshal's ways.

Dent Baxter's either.

You're nearly the only friend we've got in this town.

I'll be buying a drink or two if you keep it quiet.

All right?

Time's come. How you want to play it?

Well, I work for you, Boss. I play it however you want.

Nobody works for anybody here, Charley.

Now, the name Butler mean anything to you?

You hear names when you're on the other side of things.

Is he as fast as they...they say?

He's a killer.

You'd know him if you saw him?

He ain't hard to recognise

if you know what you're looking for.

Yeah.

Too bad we could get shot off tonight

before getting a chance at him and Baxter.

Sure as hell is.

I'd like to sit some place dry

while the marshal's men sit out in this rain.

Won't be so steady come morning.

It's a small town.

Hard to hide even at night in this weather.

What do you want to do?

Yep. Heard me an idea that sounded pretty good.

You did, did you?

Well, all right.

VIOLIN MUSIC PLAYS

He's alone.

CHARLEY: Get your hands up.

-You must be plum-crazy!

-Shut up.

CHAINS RATTLE

HE GRUNTS

You're dead men.

Didn't he tell you to shut up?

HE GROANS

-What's that?

-Chloroform.

Stole it from the Doc's.

You going to arrest me for that, Marshal?

HE GROANS

Jesus!

HE PANTS, THEN FALLS SILENT

GENTLE MUSIC

THUNDER CRACKS

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

DRAMATIC MUSIC

Well, looky here.

He's asleep.

No.

Looky here.

Put 'em down.

This way.

THUNDER CRACKS

-BOSS:

-Do you like it?

-CHAIN RATTLES

MAN GROANS

Wasn't no call to leave me sitting out like that.

-There wasn't a lot of time.

-I ain't thick, Charley.

I hear you.

Best you remember it.

Well, I guess you ain't going to let me forget, are you?

You're starting to enjoy that part, aren't you?

KNOCK AT DOOR

-Sorry if we woke you.

-No, no, no, you didn't.

-Come to see if...

-Come see for yourself.

BUTTON GROANS

Hey.

-Hey, Boss.

-You gave us a fright, pard.

Thought we were going to lose you.

Just taking a little nap, that's all.

It's good to have you back.

We owe you, Miss Barlow, and we thank you.

No, you best thank God instead.

Yes, ma'am. We'll...we'll give that a try.

Well, I expect you men are hungry.

Button just ate. I thought I'd make myself some breakfast.

Two more mouths wouldn't be any bother.

I'm just going to change.

You...you should try to sleep.

He will.

You do as she says, now.

Yes, Boss.

All right.

-Boss?

-Yeah?

Mose?

I'll be along in a minute, Charley.

Be seeing you, Button.

THUNDER RUMBLES

HE SIGHS

GENTLE STRING MUSIC

If you don't mind my saying, ma'am, you look...

..tired.

Oh. It's been a long night.

Why don't you sit?

Let an old cowpoke cook up some breakfast.

No, I couldn't let you.

Sure you could.

Well, thank you.

Want to apologise for...earlier.

Oh, no, no. There's no need. You were startled.

No, it was... it was more than that.

I'm trying to put some bad times behind me

but sometimes they don't...stay put.

It always makes me feel better

to let things breathe a little, not bury 'em.

I'm learning that. Trying anyway.

Well, that's all any of us can do.

I'm just glad Button's getting better.

I don't believe I've ever seen Boss so worried.

Well, the doctor will be on his way home

as soon as the storm's passed.

By the doctor, you mean your brother?

It's just that we've been thinking

that you and the Doc was...

husband and wife.

Oh.

You did?

Didn't find out until last night.

Thought you was married, Sue.

-Why, no, I'm... I'm not, Charley.

-SHE GIGGLES

Well, that's good.

I mean, that's good to know,

otherwise we'd...otherwise we'd been thinking wrong.

We wouldn't want to do that.

No. No. Of course not.

GENTLE MUSIC

Much obliged to you, ma'am.

You're very welcome, Mr Spearman.

Thank you, Sue.

Take care of yourself, Charley.

Are you just going to go off like that without saying nothing?

Ain't nothing to say.

I seen how you both look at each other.

Ain't right to walk away without a word.

What do you want me to tell her, Boss?

"We probably ain't going to make it"?

It'd be a big, fat comfort.

I don't know what you should tell her, Charley.

I wish I'd have said more to my wife before she passed.

This may be the last time she sees you, Charley,

or you her,

so tell her whatever you can, cos she's entitled

to more than just your backside walking away.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Charley.

I'm, er... I'm not sure what's worth saying or not.

You don't have to say anything, Charley.

Yeah, I do.

Boss is right about that.

He's, er...he's right about a lot of things.

It's just...

I'm not who you think I am, Sue.

I... I've been places, I've done things.

Most of them, I'm not proud of.

You know,

I always hoped somebody gentle and caring might come along.

Years pass and... small town and all and...

..your hopes begin to fade a little every day

until you hardly remember what they were.

I've seen who you are, Charley.

The way you looked after that boy.

And the respect you give Boss.

They might be little bits,

but they're enough for a woman who looks.

Men are going to get killed here today, Sue.

And I'm going to kill them. You understand that?

Yes.

Um, I want you to have this.

It's always brought me luck.

I... I can't...take your locket.

It's not your choice when it's a gift.

It's a good likeness of you.

-LAUGHS:

-It's my mother, When she was young.

She's beautiful.

I want you to know that if I don't ever see you again

that I meant everything I said to you.

And I appreciate everything you said to me.

Ain't nothing that happened in this old town been a surprise.

Except you.

SOLEMN MUSIC

I'll be seeing you, Charley Waite.

SENTIMENTAL MUSIC

-Happy?

-Yeah, well, if you are.

ROOSTER CROWS, BIRDSONG

VIOLIN STRINGS SQUEAK

Good morning, boys.

Brought you breakfast.

MEN GROAN

-MAN:

-Hey, kids, come away from there. Come on.

You kids head home.

BOSS HAMMERS NAIL INTO WALL

What do you suppose this looks like?

It don't matter.

Whole town knows there's a fight coming.

They just hope it don't spill over to them.

TENSE MUSIC

BOSS: Well, if I'm going to get killed,

I got a hankering to soothe my sweet tooth.

Morning.

Morning.

What could I do for you fellows?

I'm thinking about some candy.

-Candy?

-Yeah.

Yes, sir. Candy.

Got anything you want.

Got, um, jaw-breakers, gumdrops,

candy canes, liquorice,

caramel, honeycrisp, jujubes, lollipops, milk chocolate...

I'm looking for something special.

Now, what's the most expensive you got?

Uh...well, um...

Ooh! I got just the thing.

-This is dark chocolate.

-Yeah.

It comes all the way from Switzerland, Europe.

That's near France, see.

They call it bittersweet. Melts in your mouth.

-You tried it?

-No.

How do you know it melts in your mouth?

Uh, well...truth is... we can't afford it ourselves.

I'll take two.

-Don't you want to know how much?

-No.

Yes, sir.

And three of your finest cigars.

My friend and me got a hankering for Switzerland chocolate...

and a good smoke.

Now, these come all the way from Havana, Cuba.

Thank you.

-Anything else?

-No, that'll do.

How much I owe you?

It's...it's 5.

Charley. Go on.

Believe I'll enjoy these later, Boss.

You ought to do yourselves a favour

and ride on while you still got time.

We tried minding our own business, hey.

Hell, this is good. Worth every penny.

You can get yourselves killed.

Try that.

Oh.

Sitting right here in front of you

and never even tried it.

Shame to go forever without taking a taste of something.

Charley, let's go.

TENSE MUSIC

-Percy?

-Up here.

I brought you a cigar.

-All the way from Havana, Cuba.

-You don't say!

I've heard about them, but I never had one.

Much obliged to you.

SNIFFS: What do you think?

Better than them crappers I usually smoke.

You're going to make your stand down here?