The Falcon Out West

BIG-BAND MUSIC

BALLOONS POP

-WOMEN: Oh!

-Better get used to it. It isn't half as bad those six guns in Texas.

The worst part for you will be picking up a magazine and seeing US modelling all the new clothes!

From now on, all I wanna be is a model wife.

Where is this cattle king with a pastureful of steaks? I'm hungry.

From her that's a 64 question.

-YA-HOO!

-Sounds like he's bringing the steaks in on the hoof.

# Texas spurs and cockle birds

# And bucking broncs and prairies

# A pied-faced roan

# A campfire home

# Where the owls sing like canaries! #

LOUD LAUGHTER

YAHOO!

Litter-bug!

Hello, darlin'! How are you?

Hi there, everybody! Well, hello, Eagle Feather. How's the ol' round-up coming?

It's not Eagle Feather and you're not at your ranch.

Eh? Oh, sorry, Eagle Feather.

Well, whaddya know? A party going on, huh?

Let's have some... C'mon!

-Cigarette?

-No, thanks.

I was afraid you wouldn't come. I have a table over here.

Thank you.

Here you are, Tex, your tickets.

Tickets? Oh, railroad tickets.

Anybody like some nice, fresh railroad tickets?

Please, Tex.

All right! Come on, let's dance, huh? Come on, honey.

That's why I called you. He must be stopped from marrying that girl.

You know, YOU divorced HIM.

-If you're playing by old rules, you're not supposed to be jealous.

-I'm not!

She's after his money and I won't let him make a fool of himself.

You've got to help me.

-Miss Drake, how about a picture?

-Pictures?

-Sorry, Four-eyes. No pictures.

It's a new one when SHE turns us down.

You overestimate me, Mrs Irwin.

I'd be glad to help if it were a simple matter, say, a murder maniac.

But marital troubles? Frankly, I haven't the courage.

Then I'll have to find someone who HAS.

You should know better than to drink so much.

It's not the liquor. My leg's been hurting.

It's like I've been hit by a rattlesnake!

Come on, a little fresh air will fix that.

Oh, I need a doctor.

Hey, what's the matter, Tex?

EVERYONE TALKS AT ONCE

-Sorry, pard.

-That's all right.

Tex, pull yourself together!

I tell you, I've been hit by a rattler.

Hey! Look out for that rattler!

Someone get me a knife, will you? I'll take care of it myself.

Is he stiff? Whoopee!

LOUD LAUGHTER

All right, all right. Please. Don't get excited.

The Americans have got a couple of drinks too much. That's all.

Get him an ambulance!

He's not drunk. He's dead! Apparently, he WAS bitten by a rattlesnake!

GUESTS: A rattlesnake!

See...if it's a pink one about that long,

he's MY snake!

-BALLOON POPS

-Oh!

Please give me Suicide... No, no, give me Homicide, please, please.

TELEPHONE RINGS

Bates. Homicide.

Yeah? You don't say?!

Oh, sure(!)

We'll be right over.

Rattlesnakes!

-Who does he think he's kidding?

-What's that?

Some wise guy trying to kid the department.

Trying to tell me somebody just kicked off from a snake bite over at the Flamingo Club.

-We better check on it.

-Oh, Chief!

-I said we'd check it.

-OK, but you're gonna feel awful foolish!

Oh, Doc...what's all this talk about a rattlesnake?

It's true. I've seen 'em shot, strangled and stabbed, but a rattlesnake in a nightclub...

We searched the whole place.

-Every corner, but no snakes.

-The actual snakebite might've happened any time in the last two hours.

He'd been drinking. Probably didn't notice when it hit him.

His lawyer said the victim was carrying more than 3,000 in 100 bills in his wallet.

-It was empty when it was picked up.

-Who found it?

A friend of yours - the Falcon.

-The Falcon? Where is he?

-Inside, interviewing the witnesses.

Come on.

-Get the name and address of everyone in the joint and make sure that nobody leaves.

-OK, Chief.

-Good evening, Timothy.

-Hello.

-Let me bring you up to date.

This is Mrs Irwin. Formerly married to the murdered man.

And this is Vanessa Drake - Tex Irwin's fiancee.

She was dancing with him when he collapsed.

These are the dead man's effects.

Do you mind if I conduct my own investigation?

-Certainly not, we have the same interests at heart.

-Thank you.

So you were dancing with him. Let's hear your story.

Well, I... I didn't think much at first.

You see, he...

he liked to drink.

-And... And...

-Inspector, perhaps you could question Miss Drake later.

Oh yes, any time. Any time at all.

-Who are you?

-See what happens when you won't let me introduce you?

-Stephen Hayden.

-Mr Irwin's attorney.

Oh, Hayden. I'm sorry, I didn't recognise you.

It's perfectly all right, Mr Hayden, if you'll be responsible.

Thank you. I'll get your coat.

Mrs Irwin, how did you know your ex-husband was gonna be here tonight?

Becoming an ex-husband doesn't make a man change his habits.

He often came here when he was in town.

That doesn't answer my question. How did you happen to come here?

She had an appointment with me.

Is that so? That reminds me, what were YOU doing here?

I had an appointment with HER.

-I'll get to you later. Now then, did you see your ex-husband - talk with him?

-No, I didn't.

-But that's why you came here tonight, isn't it? You knew he'd be here. You had some reason.

-Certainly not.

-Donovan wants you right away.

-Right.

He's already confessed. He admits the snake was his.

Oh, ask him, ask anybody. It's a free country.

A man is entitled to as many snakes as he can support. Hey, let go of me!

Yes, Inspector?

-Why aren't you on the door?

-Mr Lawrence said you wanted to see me.

-Oh, he did?!

Check his apartment, check his club,

-check all his girlfriends' apartments.

-Check!

-Thank you.

-Yes, ma'am and I wish both of you all the happiness there is.

-BOTH of us?

-Good evening, darling.

I was afraid you might have been, er...detained.

Shall I make up your berths?

-I'll ring for you.

-Yes, sir.

I think you'd better explain.

It's simple. I got my tickets at the same place and in the same way that you did.

It was my ticket. It was bought for me.

I had to get away and I didn't have the money.

Had to? Why?

I couldn't stand all those questions about...about Tex.

Donovan does get a bit rough sometimes.

He won't find out anything. He can't.

The real answer's at the ranch. I'm sure it is.

I agree. I had the same idea. That's why I took the other ticket.

You're working with Inspector Donovan, aren't you?

Don't ever let Donovan hear you say that.

We've been on opposite sides of the fence for years.

-Well, in that case, I've had such a trying day, if you don't mind...

-But I DO mind!

I'm trying to help you...

and believe me, you need help whether you know it or not.

I suppose you're right.

They're all against me - Hayden, every one of them.

And they tried to stop your marriage.

They just didn't take a liking to me, that's all.

I'll admit I've kicked around a lot.

Showgirl, model, but that was an accident.

The agencies decided I was photogenic.

The answer to a photographer's prayer.

They say you changed your personality with each dress.

And I hated it. It was always someone else's dress, someone else's personality.

When I met Tex, I was out near his ranch on a vacation.

My clothes were a mess and I had a disposition to match. But they were my own.

-And he loved them.

-And YOU loved HIM.

Yes, and I never want to go back East again.

It won't be the same on the ranch but...at least I won't feel so lost and alone.

I suppose you'll stay at the ranch.

-Mrs Irwin said Tex has put it in your name for a wedding present.

-I don't know.

He said something about it but I don't remember just what it was.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-Come in.

Did you ring?

Yes, get me a lower, will you?

-Did you say a "lawyer", sir?

-What's the matter? Haven't you got any?

Yes, sir. Only they don't usually bust up till we get to Mingo Junction.

Good night, darling.

Thank you.

I thank you, sir.

Is there something wrong with me?

Not a curve out of place.

Friends of the Greeter's Club. No matter where you go, they meet every train.

This is as far as I go without a compass. Where is this ranch?

Just five miles beyond civilisation.

Oh.

Even that isn't far enough. It seems they still have planes and landing fields and things.

Chalk one up for the amateur detective. You sure had me fooled.

-Believe me,

-I

-didn't send for them.

Congratulations, Timothy.

I see the department finally gave you a vacation.

-Just long enough to take Miss Drake back.

-Sounds serious!

No, just her fiancee's been murdered. 3,000 is missing

and she skips the state on a stolen ticket. Not serious. But you know how the DA is. Just a whim.

Yeah, whim, wham, clink! HE WHISTLES

You made a lot of trouble. I told the Inspector I'd be responsible for you.

I don't like to bring up technicalities, but aren't extradition papers customary?

That's been taken care of.

If it isn't too much trouble, Miss Drake would like to see them.

She'll see them the minute they get here.

We're in no hurry.

CLATTER OF HOOVES

That's our taxi, isn't it?

Tex's idea. He always believed in greeting a guest in Western style.

Well, Timothy, don't feel that your meeting us isn't appreciated, but we'll be getting along now.

-Care to share the ride, Mr Hayden?

-Oh, thank you.

You're forgetting something, aren't you?

-I don't think so.

-I could be induced to forget about

that other stolen railroad ticket if you insisted on inviting us along.

Oh. ..By all means.

That's all potential evidence.

Well?! Get it aboard.

Hey, Shortie! Where do you want these?

-In the back.

-Bates...

-Sorry, pard.

-Bumping into you is getting to be a habit.

Yes, isn't it?

Me for upstairs. Just like riding atop a Fifth Avenue bus!

GUNFIRE

-Do they do this for all the tourists?

-Only on payday.

GUNFIRE CONTINUES

Yippee!

What's the matter with that man?

Dusty's a very good driver.

From the Ben Hur School.

Oh-h-h-h...

What's got into you guys up there?

I'm the only "you guys" up there!

The cigars are on me, pardner.

Thanks, pardner.

-Mr Hayden!

-Marion!

Frankly, I've never been so happy to see anyone in my life.

Miss Colby, Mr Donovan. Mr Lawrence.

-How do you do?

-How do you do?

-And you know Miss Drake.

Quite well. ..What happened to your driver?

That's what I'd like to know. He got left back at the station.

Some of the boys just staged a little reception for us.

And one of them was a 45-calibre comic.

-That might have hit any one of us.

-Who'd have any reason to shoot at us?

I'll be able to answer that when I find out who killed Tex.

That may not be so easy to do.

What makes you say that?

-Things are different out here.

-Yes, of course,

-the wild and woolly West!

-How are you going to manage? Think you can handle them?

Well, they're the first horses I've seen in years, but I'll try.

Aren't you forgetting something?

There does seem to be something missing. ..Oh, thank you.

A lot of them, aren't there?

Here, let me show you!

First you take the reins and you...

Are you sure you don't know anything about horses?

There are three things one can never be sure about - horses, the weather and women.

Hmm! At least you might have put women first. ..Giddy up!

Come on, boys!

You're pretty young to have a town named after you.

Colby was named after Dad. It was Uncle Tex's idea.

-Uncle?

-Courtesy uncle.

He was Dad's partner. ..Come on, boys!

-Do they own all this land?

-Most of it. But to men like Tex and my father,

their real holdings are in their partnership.

I don't think they even know how much they own -

packing houses, franchises, contracts...

And Dad's always said they ran more cattle than they could ever stop to count.

Tell me, is the Irwin home ranch really so valuable?

That depends. To someone who's never owned a ranch, it might look like a fortune,

-but we'll let you judge for yourself when you get there.

-I, er...

hope it's a long way.

It is.

Modest little shack, isn't it?!

Uncle Tex didn't go in for modesty, even in his women,

or hadn't you noticed?

Hello there!

Place looks deserted.

That's strange. There's usually half a dozen Indians around.

-Indians?!

-House servants. Wonderful but unpredictable.

Off to the hills you never know when.

You mean we're stranded here without no cook?

-Why don't you take dinner with us? I'll send a station wagon over.

-We'd be delighted.

It's been a long trip and we're all tired. Couldn't we make it some other time?

Yeah, make it half an hour!

-We'll be ready!

-Good.

Well, go on.

I bet somebody cut the wires.

They have their own power plant. I'll turn it on.

-This place gives me the creeps.

-RATTLING

Rattlesnake!

-Where is it?

-Over there where I was standing.

RATTLING

-There's a lamp.

-Fine.

It's following me around!

Oh, Chief! Chief!

-There. Right back there.

-Must have been a hearty jump.

Yeah, I know.

-Here it is.

-Where?

Right here.

BALL RATTLES

Put that thing away.

-Hayden's sure taking long enough with those lights.

-Bates, find out what happened to him.

Hey, the coach and horses are gone!

I just drove them round to the side.

-Why didn't you turn on the lights?

-We tried that, but it...

We're short-handed. The boys are branding. When the Indians heard about Tex, they lit out.

They think this place is bad medicine.

Them Indians are smart characters.

Inspector.

I thought you went to turn on the power.

I did. I came back through here and I found all this.

So, you just stopped to see if anything was missing.

You didn't come across a deed signed by Tex Irwin, giving the ranch to Vanessa?

It's not here now, if it ever was.

-Who has the combination?

-Why,

-I

-have, and Mr Irwin's partner, Dave Colby.

It was locked when I went to town.

I found it exactly the way you see it.

Maybe the Indians picked it before they scrammed.

No, I doubt it. Although we have had some trouble with them.

-This was Indian land and they've never admitted that anyone else has any right to it.

-By the way,

did you always go East with Mr Irwin?

Dusty was Tex's right-hand man. They often went on trips together.

He took me along to handle the cattle shipment.

-At the Flamingo Club?

-I only stopped in there to pick up my return ticket from Mr Hayden.

I don't know about you, but I have an invitation to dinner.

Me, too. At the Colbys'.

I hope they have one of them barbecues.

COWBOYS: # But remember the Red River Valley

# And the cowboy that loved you so true

# Come and sit by my side if you love me... #

Coffee, Dad?

Yes, but not in one of those eye droppers! Bill?

I've got it, sir.

# But remember the Red River Valley

# And the cowboy that loved you so true... #

Thank you, dear.

You admit that you know how to open the safe?

Also how to close it.

I see Mr Hayden has brought you right up-to-date.

Taking a little too much for granted, aren't you?

I handle Mr Irwin's legal affairs, not Mr Colby's.

I'm going to check on everyone who knew Tex. Every move they made.

Go right ahead. I've nothing to hide. If you're trying to drag me into this, you'll have to get a new rope.

I'm just doing my job.

-Will you excuse me?

-If I didn't, would it stop you?

Instantly.

Oh!

You startled me.

I'm sorry.

Your father is quite a collector.

When it comes to south-west Indians, there's no better.

I seem to have lost my touch.

Do you collect these, too?

Oh, sorry.

-I didn't mean to interrupt.

-Not at all.

As an old student of palmistry, I was just reading Miss Colby's hand.

I hope he told you to beware of a tall dark stranger.

Baggage checks, dated the day of Tex Irwin's death.

Quite a coincidence, isn't it?

But just a coincidence.

Tex and my father both had some business to settle.

We left long before anything happened.

That can very easily be verified.

I think I'll have a talk with your father and Inspector Donovan.

Just a minute. I'd rather you wouldn't have the police in on this.

They might not understand.

We WERE with Tex in his hotel room, but he was all right when WE left him.

Then why not tell me the real reason for you going East?

Tex wired Dad he was getting married. Dad felt he ought to stop him.

He's hot-headed, and, well, they had an argument and we left. Immediately.

Did you?!

You believe me, don't you?

I'd like to.

Just, er, when did you leave his hotel?

In time to catch the 9 o'clock plane.

You should have left earlier. By 9 o'clock the poison had been in his system a full hour.

< SCREAM

Miss Drake, what's the matter?

-Vanessa, what's wrong?

-Somebody take care of her.

Here, let me see.

-A knife cut, huh?

-Dad, have you got a handkerchief?

-Here.

Is it very bad? No, I don't think so.

It's right in the hairline, so it's hard to tell.

I'll take that. ..We'll check it for fingerprints.

-The handle seems a bit rough for fingerprints.

-Maybe.

Did you see who did it?

No, I was just coming out.

All I s-saw was the flash... of the blade.

You'd better look after that cut.

Let's take you in the house.

Come out of there.

What, me, Chief?

-Get started. I want to know where everyone was.

-When?

What's up, Chief?

Pretty smart.

Everybody with an alibi, all paired up in couples like it was a waltz.

Looks as though the old homestead has taken on new life.

Thank you.

-How!

-Very well, thank you.

-How are you, Tony?

-Fine, Mr Hayden.

Good.

How did the Indians happen to come back?

Nobody ever knows what an Indian does or thinks.

Where are you going?

Those are mine.

Just a minute.

Eagle Feather?

Eagle Feather!

-Put those back where you got them!

-This has always been my room, Miss Drake,

-and I intend to keep it.

-You gave up Tex and this house.

-That can't be settled until the deed is found.

This house is part of the estate. Mrs Irwin has a perfect right to be here.

Mrs Irwin,

isn't that a blood stain?

You didn't happen to visit the Colbys tonight, did you?

I don't know what you're trying to imply.

I scratched myself opening my trunk.

End of round one.

Back to your corner.

Got a match?

Seven...six...

Good morning, gentlemen.

-How's the graveyard shift doing?

-What do you mean, busting in here like this?!

I couldn't make out what you were saying out there.

This is a private affair between Mr Colby and myself.

A public affair. There's been a murder, remember?

I'm only interested in settling the Irwin estate. I asked Mr Colby to come over.

-And of course you had to have him here in the middle of the night.

-Yes. Any objections?

-No.

-Well, as long as he knows you're here, we might as well tell him the rest of it.

Colby was Tex's partner. There are business affairs to be straightened out. They owned a packing company.

-Control now goes to Colby.

-That was the deal we made.

If either party died, the other was to buy out his share.

-You can't expect to keep that a secret.

-For a while, yes.

The trouble is they fought all the time. Both tried to run the company.

-People all know that.

-And they like to talk. Gossip travels like wildfire round here.

It'll look bad if it gets around that I'm taking over the company.

That's why we tried to get together, privately.

-Who is it?

-Donovan.

-There's a man who has no respect for privacy.

-I hope he doesn't hear about this.

-Not unless you men object to poker.

-Poker?!

Come in.

Bet five.

Possible flush. King high.

And another ace.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Who are you kidding? Three-handed poker in the middle of the night! What are YOU doing here?

Mr Colby is getting an Eastern slant on an old Western game.

-Had enough, Colby?

-Yes. Too much.

-Goodnight, Hayden.

-Good night.

Inspector.

Hey, you had a full house.

-Ah, a pinochle deck!

-We always use a pinochle deck. Makes a faster game.

Yeah? Huh-h-h!

You know,

things aren't shaping up any too well for you, Mr Colby.

If you don't tell me about your trip East, you may have to explain it to the police.

I'll take that gamble.

Hey, Falcon, come here - quick!

PEOPLE MURMUR >

There it is! On YOUR door.

-Do you know what that is?

-Comanche scalp lock.

Grizzly little present, isn't it?

Whom have I to thank?

-You can joke, but I know these Indians.

-That ain't no scalp lock.

That's hair off a human being.

Yeah, a death warning.

Ride him!

Get on with it, cowboy!

-I spent two hours interrogating them Indians.

-What did they say?

Ug.

-Tom?

-Good morning.

Tom, I've got to talk with you, but not here.

-Will you come for a ride with me?

-In these?!

-It's important.

-All right, but give me time to dig up some riding clothes.

I'll have Dusty saddle a horse for you.

An old one.

'I had to get away and I didn't have the money.'

I'm not so sure Mr Lawrence can ride.

That makes it even. Powder Keg hasn't been ridden much either.

Look out! Look out!

-Whoa! Here you are, Miss Drake.

-Thank you, Dusty.

-Is this my horse?

-All set.

-Hey, you're on the wrong side.

-But on the right horse.

HORSE WHINNIES

You shouldn't have horses like that around. Somebody might get hurt.

This is the first time I've ever believed anyone's duplicity.

You really do change character with your clothes.

If I've changed, it isn't because of my clothes. I need help.

You've needed that for some time.

But in this outfit, you're frank enough to ask for it.

I thought I'd better tell you, when I unpacked my riding things,

I found a stack of 100 bills.

You should go riding more often.

Please, this is serious. I'm sure it's the same money that was taken from Tex's wallet.

-Any idea how it got in your luggage?

-My things were moved last night.

There was plenty of opportunity.

-Yes, I thought of that, too, when

-I

-saw them.

-You saw them?

I checked all the rooms this morning. I hope you don't mind.

Of course not.

As a matter of fact, that money turned up much sooner than I expected.

Confidentially, I think someone's getting worried.

-Any ideas?

-A few.

Tell me, you could have talked to me easily back at the house.

-You didn't really want to go riding.

-Didn't I?

-I thought you were being honest.

-I am.

HORSE WHINNIES >

We seem to have company.

You wait here. I'll take care of the introductions.

Hello there.

Good Lawrence, Mr morning. I mean..!

Good snooping, Miss Colby.

I just stopped to fix my saddle. My horse broke the girth.

You fixed it very quickly.

And you're the man who hasn't seen a horse in years.

Maybe we'd better start over.

Did I frighten her?

Nothing's more frightening to a beautiful woman than another beautiful woman.

Well, you start over, Mr Lawrence, where most men stop.

You seem to go riding alone quite a bit.

Don't you get lonely?

Every now and then. Why?

Such desolate country.

Just miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles.

That's the trouble with you nightclub frontiersmen. If you don't see a floor show, you don't see anything.

-Oh, I don't know.

-I'm speaking about the scenery.

See those rocks over there?

Depressing. They look like a graveyard.

It's the Comanche burial ground. It's been there since Coronado's time.

Every stone has its legend or superstition.

And the Indians still believe them, even today.

Did your father put you up to telling me this?

-What d'you mean?

-I found one of his Comanche scalp locks hanging on my door as a death warning.

Do you think that he...?!

Perhaps you'd better tell him yourself!

Aren't you forgetting something?

RIFLESHOT

Somebody been riding through a stream?

Is Mr Colby here?

He's inside.

Someone to see you, Mr Colby.

-What's on your mind?

-I don't know if Marion told you, but, er...

I was out riding and somebody took a shot at me.

It couldn't have been one of your men, could it?

Might have. I'll promise you this - when I find out who did it, I'll fire him for missing.

Oh, I wouldn't be too hard on him.

It was a good 100 yards and a moving target.

For your information, I just asked my father.

And he doesn't even own a Comanche scalp lock.

Then I'll sell him this one at a bargain. It's only been worn once.

Well, that is from my collection all right, but it's not Comanche.

Mr Lawrence is slightly misinformed.

He thinks Comanches use death warnings.

-Don't they?

-Never.

The eastern tribes did, but not the south-west Indians.

They based their attacks on surprise.

The same approach someone's been using on me.

CAR APPROACHES

Uh-oh! I feel one of Donovan's meetings coming on.

-Hello, Bob.

-Hello, Dave.

-They got you or you got him?

I'm just keeping it legal.

The Inspector wants you and Marion to up over the Irwin ranch.

This afternoon at 3 o'clock.

-Sure, I'll be there to help you out.

-Thanks for the invitation, Timothy.

-I'll be there.

-I was afraid of that.

-Remember, 3 o'clock.

-Yes, I heard you.

See you later, Dave.

Well, I guess I'd better get going.

Next time you come over here accusing one of my men, you'd better bring the man with you.

I'll remember that.

-If Hayden's not here in two minutes you're gonna find him.

-How?

Very well, thanks.

-I was asked to be here at 3 o'clock.

-We'd better get started, Inspector.

All right.

We're here to clear up an important point in the Irwin case.

Aren't you interested, Mrs Irwin?

Thank you.

These papers are from Mr Irwin's safe.

I want you to pick out everything in his handwriting.

I never saw his writing.

Mrs Irwin and Miss Colby!

Oh.

RHYTHMIC DRUMBEAT

What's that?

BIG-BAND MUSIC

# Texas spurs and cockle birds... #

Why, it's Tex!

# A pied-face roan, a campfire home

# And owls sing like canaries!

# Freezing lakes and rattlesnakes... #

Stop it! Somebody, please stop it!

Where is that coming from?

It's only the phonograph. One of Tex's home recordings.

If you'll be so kind, Mr Bates, you can turn it off at the remote-control box.

# A pied-face roan, a campfire home

# And owls sing like... #

What I'd like to know is who turned it on.

What difference does that make - let's get on with those papers.

That's enough, Mrs Irwin.

I'm sorry to have bothered the rest of you.

I noticed that a number of the papers had been dog-eared, exactly the way Mrs Irwin picked out these.

Very neat, Timothy.

I'm perfectly willing to admit that I went through those papers, but that does not prove anything.

You knew Tex had signed over the ranch to Vanessa.

And that very important paper is missing.

-Well,

-I

-didn't take it.

-Mr Colby?

You saw Mrs Irwin yesterday. What time did she leave your ranch?

Sometime in the afternoon, about 4 o'clock I'd say.

4 o'clock?

You went to a lot of trouble to try to make us believe that you arrived a lot later in the evening. Why?

-Well, I...

-Because you went back to Colby's.

You were there at the same time somebody tried to knife Miss Drake.

-No, I'd already left!

-You admit you know about the knifing?

No, I didn't know. What I mean is...

-I-I had been there earlier.

-I won't need the rest of you.

We'll be at the ranch.

Mrs Irwin, you've made a lot of moves. They're going to take a lot of explaining.

Mrs Irwin, Mrs Irwin, come quick! Mr Hayden, he hurt!

AGONISED GROANING

Take it easy, Mr Hayden.

If you have a first-aid kit for snake bites, you'd better get it!

Look at his arm!

-Yeah, two marks. The same way Tex Irwin got it.

-Let me through.

Listen, listen.

Tell me what happened.

I-I should have told you.

Last night at the club...

he told me this before, before he...

Well, we won't need any extradition papers on this one.

-Don't look at me.

-I

-had nothing to do with it!

Lady, you're gonna do some tall talking to get out of this one.

You had the most to gain with Tex out of the way.

You knew the combination of the safe and for some reason, the Indians only came back when YOU showed up.

It all adds up. ..Sheriff, you'd better take over.

Let's go, sister.

Thanks for your help. We solved this a lot quicker than I thought we would.

-I don't think it's solved yet.

-We've got the name...

-He got away.

-Maybe that's because he never left here.

-I don't get you.

-If I'm not mistaken, slapping a horse

-to lead the pursuit in the wrong direction is an old Western trick.

-Search the place!

HENS SQUAWK

There he is!

Help, somebody!

Wait a minute. Let go of that.

One of Colby's men.

Hello, Red. How did YOU happen to miss?

You'd better have a talk with Colby.

-If he's been back East...

-He was.

-What?

-He was in Tex Irwin's hotel room the night before he died.

What's the idea, holding out on me?

-Well, you see, I...

-Oh, I get it. His daughter.

Well, she's not going to stop me. ..Bates, bring him along.

What's the trouble, Red?

He's been playing Jesse James.

What are they after this time, sheriff?

-Red took a shot at Mr Lawrence.

-I took your advice.

You told me to bring the man in next time.

Well, Red, what's behind all this? I just let him in close

trying to run him off.

I guess we all figure in this. We weren't trying to kill anybody.

You know how good Red is with a rifle.

We just thought we'd back you up on account of what happened with Tex.

-- You don't think

-I

-killed him? - We don't care if you did or not.

We just know you're the boss, and the boss needed help.

You all think I'm guilty?

-That's why you're here.

-That's right.

Well, you're wrong!

I have a notion to run you out of here!

Easy, Dave. You're in a tight spot.

Hayden's dead, too.

I didn't kill either one of them.

Tex was my partner.

Partner? You've been trying to get rid of him for five years.

When Hayden found out you'd knocked off Tex, you murdered him, too.

Hope you don't mind.

There's something fascinating about this room.

Wouldn't be Miss Drake's deed, would it?

That's part of it.

Maybe I can help you.

Thanks.

You really believe Dad has it, don't you?

Yes. Don't you?

Why no, of course I don't.

Now I seem to have lost MY touch. Is there a key?

-Yes, but it's never...

-It is now.

I'll see. Maybe it's in here.

Oh, I'm sorry. So clumsy of me!

I just keep on doing it! I don't know what's the matter today.

-What's going on in here?

-That lance just fell down and broke the glass.

-Put that down!

-Certainly.

Dad, it was an accident!

I don't think anything's been damaged.

-Indian medicine bag, huh?

-Leave that alone!

-Do I have to stand for this?

-You do, Mr Colby.

-A man should have rights in his own home.

-What's that?

-Should be the much-discussed deed.

That belongs to Miss Drake.

-It's yours all right.

-Dad!

Yes, I put it there.

Tex didn't want her to have it.

He found out she was playing him along but she was in love with some other man.

-That's a lie!

-Did he mention any names?

I only wish he had.

Well, here's a rarity in any collection.

A ring with a bite to it.

Evidently, it holds more venom than three live ones.

-So that's what happened to Tex!

-And Hayden.

And we thought it was rattlesnakes!

Pretty clever. Who made that for you?

One of Coronado's men.

Sheriff, pick him up as an accessory.

He's been dead 400 years.

Dead, huh? ..400?!

Sure! Everybody knows that.

That explains your trip east. You used this on Tex.

That's where you're all wrong.

-I was afraid somebody might try to get that ring and I had a duplicate made.

-Yeah? Where is it?

It was stolen from this room two months ago.

-Why would anybody want to steal it?

-It's a very valuable ring, far more valuable than it looks.

That was made in the 16th century by one of Coronado's followers.

The Indians around here make plenty of this stuff!

Coronado brought the finest silversmiths to America with him.

That's how the Indians first learned to work silver.

Eagle Feather's ancestors got hold of that ring.

-Probably as a bribe for information concerning the seven golden cities, which were...

-All right.

-How did YOU manage to get hold of it?

-It took me 10 years, but I wanted it and I got it

and it's never been out of that bag since then.

Fast thinking, Colby, but I've been up against that duplicate alibi before.

Sheriff, you know what to do.

Come along, Dave. ..Marion, you'd better ride into town with us.

I know I shouldn't feel sorry for him, but I do.

Oh, they'll never convict him.

Colby was telling the truth. The real murderer has the other ring.

What makes you so sure there IS another ring?

Marion?

Oh, I might have known.

You're not going anywhere, sheriff.

Take their guns.

All the above and any future earnings to Vanessa Drake.

All properly signed and witnessed.

This must mean a great deal to you.

The least I can do is thank you for everything you've done for me.

You know, this is the first time I've seen you in a dress that really suits your personality.

Sophisticated, dangerous.

It isn't a dress.

Now why don't you tell me what you're really thinking?

There's only one conclusion that makes sense.

You killed Tex.

-What possible reason would

-I

-have for killing him?

We were going to be married.

That's what puzzled me at first.

But it's almost inescapable.

The attempt on your life with that Indian dagger,

those 100 bills you so conveniently found in your suitcase.

You think I put them there?

I'm sure of it.

Not only that,

you're the one who turned on that phonograph record.

It's the only logical explanation.

And the scalp lock you hung on my door, only an easterner could have been so wrong.

Hayden might have done it,

but Hayden was eliminated.

I should have known better than to try and fool you.

Everything I did was to call attention to Colby and Mrs Irwin.

I knew they were guilty. I knew you would go after them.

May I have another light, please?

I might believe that.

Thank you.

There's another mistake you made.

I thought it strange at the Flamingo Club when the most photographed girl in America

wouldn't allow her picture to be taken with her bridegroom-to-be.

You stopped them because you knew Tex was going to if you didn't.

Whatever gave you that idea?

Tex wasn't going to marry you. That's what Hayden tried to tell me before he died.

But before Tex found out what you were really like, he'd signed over his ranch to you.

You had to act quickly to keep him from changing that.

Part of what you say is true.

Tex was never really in love with me.

He still loved his former wife.

He was only going to marry me out of spite because she left him.

So you turned to someone else, too.

-Dusty, if I'm not mistaken.

-How could I help it?

Dusty gave me attention.

He really cared for me.

There's no sense going into all that.

Listen, I know all about you.

But you don't really.

If I didn't I would never have got this.

Let go of her!

You'd better put that away, Dusty. You're in enough trouble already.

This lady friend of yours is a murderess.

You see, that's what I've been telling you.

They're all trying to turn things against me.

Don't let her get you mixed up in this, Dusty.

You were at that club, you saw what she did to Tex.

That's what you'd like me to believe, isn't it?

I've watched you all hound her.

Well, I'll see she gets an even break. ..We're getting out of here.

We can't leave him here. He'll send them after us.

I've got a car out front.

All right, Lawrence.

I'm not afraid to stand trial, boys.

You're only making matters worse for me.

We don't see it that way, boss.

Back inside. You heard me!

Look!

It's nothing. Just the ring they took as evidence.

You got that one in your pocket.

Now how do you suppose that got there?!

That's what we've gotta find out. OK, boys?

-Give 'em your guns.

-Couple of you go round that way!

-Get in there!

-Dusty!

Get in!

Sheriff, I think Vanessa is the one you want.

Better hurry!

-What kept you?

-INDISTINCT RESPONSE

Be careful of that Lawrence guy - he'll double-cross you!

How? Very well, thanks(!)

-Well, take good care of the Falcon.

-We'll make a Texan out of him!

So long, partner.

You are the Falcon?

-Yes.

-Oh, Mr Falcon, you've got to help me!

He didn't do it. Please!

I love him!

Who is this "he"?

-Senor Carlos Rodriguez.

-Your husband?

No, senor, my brother. I have no husband.

Oh-h!

-Muchas gracias, Senor Falcon!

-SPEAKS IN RAPID SPANISH

Forward my mail to Havana!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd