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The Law and Jake Wade (1958)
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Don't turn around. Keep your hands to your side. I'll move with you while you get those keys off the desk. Come on, move. Alright, now open that center cell. What if I don't? If you don't, I'll kill you, take your keys, and open it myself. Yeah, I guess you could. Well, who'd have thought? Don't dawdle, Fred. I know this man. He gets kind of jumpy in a crisis. How far do you think you'll get, Clint? I'm not going to ask you once more, mister. Yes, sir, who would've thought? Turn around. Now, Fred, about them runny eggs you've been giving me for breakfast... Sure couldn't have picked a worse time to come walking in, could they? Hope I haven't woke the whole town. That's enough shooting for today! Mind if I get down and stretch? Help yourself. You, you living somewhere around here these days, Jake? Nope. Then how'd you know about my little predicament? I was just riding through, heard about it. Lucky for me. Yeah, isn't it? Hay! There they go. How come you didn't let them hang me, Jake? You think we got time to talk this all out now, Clint? Just the same, I think you'd have been way ahead if you'd let them hang me... Although I won't pretend I was looking forward to it too much. When I was the one they wanted to hang, I got downright resentful. Well, this is where I leave you. Which way are you heading, Jake? Maybe we could ride together a ways. Not a chance, Clint. Hey, you know, this is a real nice little horse. Gonna take him with you? The horse is yours. No kidding? Well, thanks, Jake. Thanks very much. That's real generous of you. 'Course, I don't suppose... I don't suppose even you'd suggest that he was worth anything like... Oh, say, $20,000? I didn't keep that money, Clint. You didn't? What did you do with it, give it to some deserving family? I buried it, and after I did, I never went back there again. As far as I know, it's still there. Now, that seems a peculiar thing for you to do, Jake. Whatever come over you to do a thing like that? You wouldn't understand, Clint. I might. I kind of doubt it, but... I might. I guess you figure this squares us up? You pulled me out of exactly the same spot one time. Now I've done it for you. To me, one cancels the other. But if you don't feel that way about it... You know, Jake, you could save yourself a lot of sleepless nights if you just tossed me a gun and we had this out right here and now. Not a chance. What's the difference whether it's now or later'? A lot of difference, Clint. In the first place, I don't think it has to be now or later or anytime. But if it does... I'll pick the time and the place myself. No, you won't, Jake. Don't try to follow me, Clint. If you remember, I'm pretty good with one of these. Yeah. Yeah, I remember. But you're not as good as me. Just... Just pretty good. Glad to see you back, Jake. Hi, Jake. Hello, Luke. When did you get here? Just now. Hi, Avery. Hi, Jake. Get all your business attended to? Yeah, I sure did. Anything important happen while I was gone? Well, nothing much around here, but did you hear what happened to Clint Hollister? No. What about him? Well, you knew he'd been tried for murder and convicted over in Morganville. Some of his gang broke him out. Shot up a couple of men pretty bad. How bad? Well, they're going to live. Haven't caught him yet? No, and they ain't gonna, I'll bet. He's probably 5 states away by this time. Well, the old town wasn't the same without you. It's always nice to be missed. Thanks, Avery. Say, what happened to that little gelding of yours? The one you took with you. I sold him to a fella. See you later. Want to get caught up on this? No, that can wait till tomorrow. Look, do you mind hanging around a little while longer? I'll relieve you early tonight. Why, sure. Say hello to Peggy for me. Who's the young fella holding up the post? Just a kid who drifted in yesterday looking for a job on one of the ranches. I'll say one thing for him: He's not looking very hard. See you later, Jake. Right. The, the rig I rented from the livery stable. The suit's mine. I'm overwhelmed, but what's the reason for all this elegance? You've already proposed. And I'm glad I accepted. Dinner ready? Ready and getting cold. Where's your uncle? He had to go into town late this afternoon for some supplies. How come every time I come out here that's the day he has to go into town for supplies? I hope you don't think it's easy to arrange. Jake? Peggy, did you find it a big wrench when you pulled up stakes in Philadelphia to come out here? No, not nearly as much as I thought it would be. Why? Suppose the same thing might apply again? I mean, if we suddenly left here and moved on further west. If we left here? Why should we, Jake? We've built a real place for ourselves, both of us. And, you know, the job you've done as marshal here in the last year, why, it can lead to anything. We could do the same thing somewhere else. Yes, we could, but why should we? We're here, and we've already done it. Don't you have any curiosity about what it's like further west? No. And I don't think basically you do, either. Oh, Jake, you're not a drifter. You love it here. You couldn't have fooled everyone about that. No, and I wouldn't have, anyway. Then why do you want to leave? Supposing it wasn't that I wanted to leave, but that I felt it might be better for both of us to get a fresh start somewhere else. Well... then I'd say that since this concerns me so much, I should know why so that I can judge for myself. And if I couldn't tell you? Then I'd say you were asking an awful lot. Alright... I'm asking a lot. Jake, I never ask you anything about your past life because I didn't care about anything that happened before we met each other. But what you're asking me to accept on faith now concerns our future, and I just can't be casual and haphazard about a thing like that. Alright, forget I said anything about it. Forget it? Oh, Peggy... Peggy. I'm... I'm sorry, Jake. I know. It's just that the way you talked, it sounded as if you'd already decided. That's not true. You're only guessing when you talk like that. Well, what else am Ito do but guess when you won't tell me anything? Oh, Jake, can't you tell me? No, Peggy, I can't. Not yet. Alright. Well, when you can, you let me know. Marshal Wade'? Yeah. I've been kind of waiting for you to get back to town. Is that so? I've been trying to find me a job around here, and then Al the bartender over at the saloon said that you might be able to steer me onto something. Where are you from? Kansas. Well, I sure haven't got anything for you, but I can give you a letter to somebody who might have, if you don't mind hard work. Well, well, I ain't exactly crazy about it. I can see the necessity for it. Pretty neat, Jake. Hold it! Better drop your gun belt, Jake. How you been, Ortero? No complaints. How about you, Jake? Don't go blaming your deputy too much for me having this gun, Jake. Who'd have thought a fat, sloppy drunk lying in the gutter would have a pistol hidden in his boot? Hello, Jake. Put him in a chair. How do you feel? How do you think? I can remember a time when all you'd have done for a clout like that was scratch it. How'd you stay so close behind me? I backtracked a dozen times. I'd have sworn I wasn't being followed. You wasn't. How'd you find me? Easy. When you left me, I joined up with the boys, and then we just turned loose that nice little horse you give me and followed him home. We've been here since early yesterday while you was... Doing your backtracking. And I must say, Jake, it was worth the whole trip just to find out that you're the marshal here. Hi, Wexler. Don't talk to me, Jake. Wexler, my boy, how many times have I told you if you let your hate get the upper hand, it will throw your timing off? What was it we used to try to tell him, Jake? Something there we used to say. Oh, yeah. Yeah, we used to say, "wexler, you go ahead and kill anybody you want to." "It's a free country." But if you do it with hate in your heart, "you'll end up with nothing but an upset stomach." I don't think he ever understood what we was talking about. Do you, Jake? What do you got in mind, Clint? What are your plans for me? I'm going to kill you. But not for a while, so you don't have to try nothing desperate just yet. Let go of me! Take your hands off me!! She didn't want to come along, Clint. Persuading somebody don't usually take you so long, kid. Some old man came out of a house with a shotgun. That took me a little time to work around behind him. What did you do to him? What do you care? You his lodge brother or something? Jake, what is all this? Say, Clint, she was a little slow getting dressed, so we had to help her along a little bit, on account of she was so slow. I'll kill him! That's enough! You try to. You know why we're taking her along, don't you? I just know you're not going to! But we have to. You see, if you know something might happen to her if you try to play it too smart, then maybe you'll take us right to the money instead of leading us all around the hills for days and days. Look, Clint, just let her stay here. I promise to take you wherever you... Oh, come on, Jake. You know better than to try that with me. We better not hang around here too long, Clint. Is that a fact, Burke? She going to ride in that getup? No, I grabbed some of her stuff. Alright, let's go. Jake, do something, Jake, don't let them! Please, Jake! Now, listen, miss... You better get it through your head we ain't playing games. You three ride out of town ahead of us. We'll meet you at the canyon. Jake, I... I think it will look better if you ride out of town alone. We'll see you at the end of the street. Wait a minute. What makes you think he's just going to ride out to the end of the street and wait for us? Wexler... Jake's in love. He'll play along with us. Won't you, Jake? Alright, get moving. Hey, Jake! Jake! - You want to hear something funny? - Yeah. You know that little gelding you said you sold to somebody? - Yeah. - Well, I was going past ed Hurley's place, and you know something? I thought I saw that gelding in his corral. You know something? I know you saw him. Evening. Evening. Alright, Jake, let's go. Giddup! I was afraid that when you... Changed out of that dress, maybe you wouldn't look too good. But even in them old things, you're about the best-looking gal I've ever seen. Say... was you really going to marry that Jake guy? Why? Because maybe I'm kind of interested in why girls do some of the crazy things they do. You see, I never had a whole lot to do with girls. I wonder why. Because my old man thought he was a preacher, that's why... And because he used to whale the daylights out of me if he even saw me look at a girl... Or a girl look at me. Your father was a preacher? Kind of a phony evangelist. I tell you... He was about the meanest man I ever met in my life. He just naturally would like to beat up on anything that was smaller than him. And, of course, he could always say he was beating the fear of god into you. Well, where is he now? Well, I... I hope I know where he is. You see, he was the first man I ever killed. Hey, Burke, you better cook up more stuff. Some of the other guys are coming. Yes, master. Any trouble, Clint? No. Get him something to eat, and tie his hands behind him. From now on, he stays tied. Why don't you just leave him to me? Sonny, I can see we ain't going to have you around long enough to get tired of your company. He ain't that tough. He ain't? Well, let's put it this way... Let's just say 'cause... I'm getting old and hearing noises in the night... Would you mind tying him up for my sake? I see the kid didn't waste much time getting your clothes changed. Well, now, Burke, what tasty little dish have you cooked up for breakfast this morning? Take a stretch, Jake. I told you, there's no use fighting them ropes. If I'm showing any strain, it's from hanging onto that horse for 8 hours with nothing but my knees. No kidding? I did it once for a whole week. They caught me up in the Dakotas. Rode me clear back to Kansas. All that way, just for a stage holdup. 'Course, I busted loose before we got there. Killed one deputy with a rock. Killed the other one with a rifle. Maybe something like that will happen to you, Jake. Trouble is, you got one problem that I was never saddled with. The girl. Well, it just goes to show no matter how pleasant they are to have around, a woman does slow a man up. But then, so does a busted leg. How much further we going today, Clint? Well, that depends on how much further we got to go altogether, Jake. You know, you haven't been exactly what I'd call explicit about where this place is. You haven't satisfied me about what happens to her after I do take you there. It's what's gonna happen to her if you don't take me there. And as you know, I ain't a great one for patiently waiting. I don't want you to think I'm rushing you into anything, Jake. You... You just think it over. You got a little time left. Boost him up. Now, come on, miss, cheer up. We'll stop and camp when it gets dark. Maybe tonight we'll sing a few songs around the campfire. Move out! Jake... when you left to take care of that personal business, was it to get him out of jail? Yeah. How long have you known him? Don't let me interrupt. You in much pain, Jake? You ever been up in these mountains before, miss? No. Really? Well, you've missed some of the most breathtaking scenery in the whole world. You know, I heard a foreigner say once that there wasn't nothing in the Swiss alps that could beat the rocky mountains when it come to scenic grandeur. Kind of made me proud to be an American when he said that. You ever been to the Swiss alps, miss? No. Jake and me, we... We always figured on going, but something was always coming up at the last minute. You know how it is. Remember how we was always talking about pulling out and taking a trip to the Swiss alps, Jake? Yeah, I remember. The places we was gonna go... The things we was gonna see. Then it was always the next job we'd pull that was gonna get us the money to do it. Something always happened. Then one day, Jake wasn't around no more... And I didn't figure it would be much fun by myself. All of which should have a moral to it someplace. Maybe it's... Maybe it's them that robs too many banks "never gets to see the Swiss alps." That stuff ready yet? It's as ready as it's ever gonna be. Come on, let's eat. Peggy, don't get that close to me again. Get back over there. We're not going to have much chance to talk anyway, but if he figures you're trying to untie me, that will be the end of it. I know how you must feel about all this and what you must think of me for getting you into it. That's not it. Well, I should have told you. Aside from all that, if we've got any chance at all, it's going to be from working together. Jake, you saved his life. He wouldn't kill you, not after you take him to the money. You don't think he's bluffing, do you? Peggy, listen to me. He's going to kill me. There isn't a chance he won't. Believe me, I know. But one thing's sure, sometime, at one point, there's going to be a split second when we'll have a one-in-a-million chance. There always is. Clint knows that as well as I do. So do the others. Now, get back where you were. Alright. Hold it! What happened? He fell off, almost landed on his head. But not quite, I don't know how he's stuck up there this far, Clint. Well, he can keep falling off till he breaks every bone in his body, and he still ain't gonna get his hands untied. That's real smart, isn't it? You keep saying you want the money so badly, yet the only man who knows where it is you'll let break his neck! Now, wait a minute, miss. That falling off a horse is a real moldy trick. I ain't about to let him take me in with that. Supposing it isn't a trick. Oh, come on. There's something in what she says, boss. We could tie his hands in front of him so he could hang onto the saddle horn. He stays the way he is! Get him back up there! Clint! He can't stay on this way, Clint. Alright, tie his hands in front. And get him back in that saddle! Cut him loose. I'll get some more rope. Come on with that rope, Rennie. Clint! Clint! You boys get back down to the bottom of the draw. Back that way. Come on! We're alright now, Peggy. We made it. Almost. Just... Toss up the gun, Jake. How long you been waiting up there? I've been around here for a couple hours, anyway. Why didn't you go to the head of the canyon? That would've been the easy way out. Yeah, but I've never known you to do anything the easy way. Ortero! What a slide. Whoosh! It was a good try, Jake. Must have been quite a shock to you, miss, thinking you'd gotten away safe and all. 'Course, if Jake had been alone, might've been different. But then, he wouldn't go without you, would he? Well, I was guilty of that kind of weakness myself once. Remember the time I just couldn't bear to leave you behind, Jake? You seem kind of puzzled, miss. Ever tell her how you happened to get mixed up with somebody like me? Why are you so interested? I'd kind of like to hear it. You wouldn't like my version. Probably wouldn't. Jake, what's he talking about? We were in the same outfit in the war, all of us except Rennie. It was a guerrilla unit raiding northern border towns. We'd shoot our way in, loot the town, and then shoot our way out. I was doing it as a soldier. Clint did it because... Well, that's the same thing he'd always done. The war hadn't changed his life a bit. Just made it legal. After the war, we kept right on with what we'd been doing... Robbing banks, holding up stages... Of course, you can guess that this didn't seem to bother Clint at all. Well, why should it? During the war, the... Hey... during the war, they made me an officer and a gentleman for doing the same things they was gonna hang me for a few days ago. Now, you can't tell me that makes any sense, Jake. There's a difference, but you'll never understand it. I suppose you're talking about something like honor, ain't you... Which is supposed to be too deep for me to understand. All I know is, if you got honor, you don't run out on a friend, right? Why did you run out on me? You know why. No, I don't. I didn't like killing kids. Jake, what are you talking about? We'd held up a bank. During the getaway, a young boy got caught in the crossfire. I killed him. And that's what made you run out on me? Just killing that kid? That was it. Well, it could've been an accident. Yeah, it could've been, but the boy was killed. I got caught, and they threw me in jail. There was a lynch mob within 10 minutes. That's when Clint, as he says, just couldn't bear to leave me behind. He broke me out. In a mix-up, I wound up with Clint's horse. And the money from the bank. Yeah. And then I knew I'd had enough. I buried the money and kept right on going. And I waited for you a whole week. Took me a whole week to get it through my thick head that he'd run out on me. Alright, friend... When do we get to that money? What are you really after, Clint... The money or me? When do we get to the money? Tomorrow. We'll be there tomorrow. We're gonna have some company! Cavalry patrol. Have they seen us? I don't know. Cut the ropes. What are we gonna do now, Clint? What do you think we should do... Turn and run? Now, listen, miss... Whatever happens when we meet them, it ain't gonna do you or Jake no good. You try anything, you'll both be dead. You understand? Relax, Mr. Hollister. I'm quite convinced you'd kill me without a qualm. You got that? Yeah, I got it. Now, don't act jumpy. They got no reason to suspect us, so don't give them none. I'll do the talking. Howdy, lieutenant. Well, we sure weren't looking to see any of our brave army boys around here. You're no more surprised than we are, mister... Bricker, lieutenant. Morgan bricker. And this is Jake Wade. He's the marshal over at Coldstream. Where are you headed, marshal? Up into the San Marcus range. Why? There's been some bad trouble with the Indians, and I don't think, Mr. Bricker... marshal... That this is any place for a woman right now. I'd suggest you let us escort you back to the fort. You can make it for home from there. I think we can handle this alright, lieutenant. I have the authority to order you out of here, you know. Yes, I know you do, lieutenant, but I sure wish you'd leave the decision up to us. Well, I certainly hate to tell you your business, Mr. Bricker, but I think under the circum... Lieutenant, could we talk to you alone for a minute? Alright. Marshal. You see, lieutenant... We got a little problem here. The young lady's father took off to go prospecting in these mountains. He's about a month overdue. Well, I guess we all know what that means. I was a good friend of her father's, so when she was about to start off on her own to look for him, we decided we'd better come along. I see. I tell you, lieutenant, since we know the situation now, we'll just circle around here in the foothills for a couple of days like we was looking, see, but really going no place where we might be putting her in any danger. How's that? You go along with that, marshal? Yeah, that's the thing to do, under the circumstances. You sure you wanna go on, miss? Yes. Alright. Good-bye, miss. Good luck, Mr. Bricker. Thank you, lieutenant. Marshal. Sergeant, forward... Thanks, Jake. Tie him up. You wanna have every Comanche for 100 miles on our necks? What's the matter with you? Don't try to make anything out of this, Jake. I may not have to. I'm sorry, Clint. It's just that I can't stand them filthy coyotes. I didn't stop to think. We'll chisel that on your tombstone! I said I was sorry. Right about now, I guess Jake's sorry, too, but that ain't gonna keep him from getting killed. What do you mean by that? What do you care what I mean? I don't like people to talk to me like that! You don't? So what are you gonna do about it? Some more of that doing without thinking? I'll do plenty. You gonna draw on me, Rennie? I oughta shoot your ears off. What are we going to do now, Clint? About what? You ain't just gonna keep riding right into a massacre, are you? Why, no, Burke. I thought we'd avoid that if we could. And how are we gonna do that? You don't think a single Comanche for 20 miles missed those shots, do you? Now, get this... There's a lot of money buried around here that belongs to me, and what belongs to me, I get. Now, anybody that don't want to go along is perfectly free to just turn around and start riding back down the canyon. 'Course, anybody that does will get a bullet in his back. Ain't nobody turning back, Clint. Alright, boys. Just a little difference of opinion, miss. Happens in the best-run organizations. Lead off, Jake. This is it? This is it. Go ahead. Clint, some tracks there. How many, you think? There's 6 or 8 here. Not over two hours ago. It could've been 10 minutes. What do you think, Jake? They're still right around here. Now, just how do you read that from the tracks? I don't have to. I can see one of them from here. Don't move, anybody. Building's got you covered. I don't think he's seen us yet. Where is he? If you step out, he'll be just to your left on top of the Ridge. Hold it, Clint. Can I get him with a rifle? Well, I know I could, but... I haven't seen you shoot lately. Rennie, my rifle. Is he still there? Yeah, but you'll only have one shot, Clint. He's going to see you the minute you move. How far? About 100 yards. You missed him! Yeah. And, Clint, there's another thing I forgot to tell you. What? There's two more. You're real smart, ain't ya? You're wasting a lot of time if you're going after them. So that's it. You think with me out of the way, you'll be... You hear that, boys? Well, I am going after them, 'cause they're riding off to tell the rest of that hunting party about us. But that ain't gonna help you a bit, Jake. It will be dark in an hour. Hole up here. Can I go with you, Clint? No. I want you all right here when he pulls whatever it is he's got in mind. Get the horses out of sight. This might take a little longer than I figure. Wait for me, but if I'm not back by midnight, the money's all yours, boys. And kid... I hope you and the girl will be very happy. Let's get out of sight. After you, marshal. Keep an eye on Jake. He ain't going nowhere. Don't worry. No? Like yesterday in the canyon, maybe? Let's see how long we can hold onto him this time. Sit down, Jake. Get a long piece of rope, wexler. Burke... if you see any Indians, don't tell me till we get some food. Rennie! You see anything? Nothing! You got an extra smoke, ortero? Hey, wexler! Maybe we ought to send Burke on a little scouting expedition? Shut up, rennie! What's the matter with that kid rennie? He's crazy. Where did Clint find him? In Las Cruces last June. He was looking for you. I'm going to kill him one of these days. Remember those first days when we were riding together, ortero? Yeah, I remember. I know what you're getting at, Jake. I'm not getting at anything. You want me to remember how we fought a whole war together... How you took me with you when you went to join Clint... The number of times we saved each other's lives. On that basis, I always figured we came out just about even. I hope you mean that, Jake, 'cause there's nothing I can do for you now. You can get her out of here. Not even that. I found out what happens when you cross Clint. What are you guys doing in here? We want to eat. Untie Jake so he can eat. Think we better? Sure... let him loose. Then if he tries to make a break for it, we can kill him. He's the only one who knows where the money is, so we can get out of here and the Indians won't get our scalps. Clint wants him alive... And don't either of you forget that. You untie him. The kid give you an idea, wexler? I wouldn't cross Clint. You know that, Jake. Maybe Clint ain't coming back. You hope. No... you hope. He'll be back. Don't worry about that. Clint always comes back. Who said we didn't want him to come back? Well, if I had been Clint and I really wanted to find myself some Indians, I'd have stayed right here. What do you mean? We've probably got more Indians surrounding us right now than Custer had to fight at bighorn. So what? We don't have to worry till it gets light, and we'll probably be out of here by then. Who says you don't have to worry until it gets light? Indians don't attack at night. Everybody knows that. Apaches don't attack at night, but they're the only ones who don't. These are Comanches. Get back outside. You're wasting your time working on them, Jake. You think so? Jake, I wish I could help you. Yeah, I know. This much I can do. Jake, you didn't kill that kid. What? Who did kill him? Jake didn't do it. 'Course, Clint always wanted him to think that he had. You know what Clint's like... Always likes to have something on everybody that's with him. Well, who did kill the boy? I do know that Jake didn't. The boy was already dead when Jake and Clint come out of the bank. Thanks, ortero. The trouble is, Jake, Clint always liked you better than anybody he ever met. Yeah, I know. What about you and Jake, ortero? That doesn't make any difference. I didn't ask you for anything. I just asked you how you felt about Jake. That's the end of this talk. Now, look... I said that's the end of this talk! Now, get over there. Sit down. Alright, Mr. Ortero. Leastways, them coyotes' howling is over. You really think them's coyotes, don't you? Sure, they are. I heard enough of 'em up in... You mean... I mean they're Comanches. They're Comanches... And what are we doing about it? We're sitting around here like customers in a barbershop, waiting our turn to get a nice, close haircut. Yeah, but Clint said we should... Clint said! Clint said. You notice that Clint got out of here, didn't you? Rennie's right. Let's go tell ortero we're getting out of here. You want to stay here alone? Not me! Jake... We're getting out of here. I feel like a sitting duck! For all we know, we're being lined up in the sights of some Comanche right now. Nobody's happy about it. We're leaving. Fine. That way or that way? I suppose you know just where the Indians are. What about the money? I don't know how you feel about it, but that money don't mean a thing to me anymore! - That goes for me. - You, Burke? I don't want any part of it. What about them? Leave them here with some food and a couple of canteens, but no horses. If they make it, fine. If they don't... They had their chance. That's right. Wexler? Leave 'em here... Or shoot 'em-. It don't make no difference to me. Alright. They stay. I think maybe I'll stay, too... Keep going for the money, now that I've come this far. By yourself? Sure... That way, he ain't got nobody to split it up with. Let him stay to get hisself killed. Thanks. Come on, let's get out of here! That's alright with me. But it ain't alright with me. You boys seem to be gettin' a little jumpy. You can stay if you want to, Clint, but we're goin'. You are? We don't want the money. You can have it! I can? We're goin', Clint! Let's see if you are. Stop it! There ain't gonna be no shootin'! We're in trouble enough! You got us in a real mess, Clint, now, I'm tak... I guess you boys ain't goin' far now, so get down to the end of the street. We can cover the Ridge and this end of town, and get him out of here! Watch them. Alright, Jake, get in that chair. Let go of him! Let go! Ortero! Move over to the house... Cross cover there. Stay there! You ain't gonna be needin' this, are you? Oh, Jake, I can't! Oh, Peggy, get a knife. Where? Burke... there's one in his belt. Stay low! You ain't gonna hit nobody that way. Stay close behind me. That's far enough, Jake. Inside. Ortero! That's the last of 'em. Move. Well, did you say a few words over the boys? Yeah... good-bye. Very touching. Alright, Jake. Now's the time. Where is it? Right up there. I should have known. Now, look, Jake, if you're stalling again... Wouldn't be much of a stall. Let's go. This is it. Here? How long is it gonna take you? I buried it pretty deep. How deep? 3 or 4 feet. Well, get goin'. What'd you bury that in, or is all that money going to be rotted? I buried your whole saddlebag. Well, dig it up! Toss him the shovel. Just... Just what did you hope to accomplish by... Runnin' off and buryin' this? Why didn't you just come to me and say, "Clint, I'm quittin' "? Why didn't you do that? Got to loosen this up with somethin'. You never give up, do you? Now, there's the chance you've been waitin' for, Jake. The only question is... Do you want to die now... Or in a few minutes? How you doin' there? Go ahead... You might pull it off. You sure couldn't have been in much of a hurry that day, burying it down that deep. I don't understand it. How come you buried it so... Get 'em up, both of you. I guess I forgot about that one. Guess you did. Drop your gun belt, Clint. You too, ortero. Now, wait a minute. Not so fast, Jake. That thing's been buried for over a year. You don't really think it's going to shoot, do you? We can find out if you want to. Now, look, Jake... You're bluffin' and we both know it. Am I? Alright! So it does shoot! All you'll win is a tie for first place. You know I'd get you before I'd die. Neither of us know that. You ain't sure it'll fire. You're not sure it won't. How about those gun belts? Alright, ortero. Pick 'em up, Peggy. Ortero, go get the horses. Peggy, you go with him. What are you going to do? Come on, Peggy. Please, Jake, don't bother with him. He can't hurt us now! I just want to talk to him alone. Start walking, ortero. What do I do, Clint? He's holdin' the gun. Do what he says. Hey, Jake, you ain't gonna keep me in suspense, are you? What about? About whether... That thing would have fired or not. Well, on the other hand, it might have gone off like a Cannon. Then think how silly I would have looked. Go on, Peggy. I'll be down in a minute. Jake, please be careful. Go on, Peggy. Well... What happens now? Are you gonna shoot me down like a dirty dog? I wouldn't do it like this and you know it. Yeah, that's what I always liked about you, Jake. You're real fair and square. Now that I'm holding the gun, you're willing to give me my honor back, Clint? That makes us even again. Should be easy to settle the rest. Wait here until I get back. Let's settle it now. Wait here. Sure, Jake... Seein' as you got my gun, my knife... You're pretty safe to leave me sittin' on my honor, and you take your time, Jake. Take your time. I'll be here. We are leaving now, aren't we, Jake? That's right, Peggy. Ortero! Pick up some loose guns. Mount up, Peggy. Ortero... You've got to get her back home for me. If he was dead, would that make any difference to you? A threat? A promise? I don't know. Alright, Jake. I'll take the chance. Leave Clint's horse there. No! No, Jake. You can't go back. We're safe now. Trust me to do what I have to do, Peggy. If you go back there, he's going to kill you. No, Jake, please! Please don't go back! Well... I see she's on her way. How about a smoke? Oh, come on... It might be your last... Or mine. Either way, you can't lose? Tell me somethin', Clint. Sure. If things had worked out the way you planned, were you going to give me a gun or just... Shoot me in the back? Well, that's, that's an interesting question, Jake... I'd say I was going to give you a gun. Alright. There's your gun. I was gonna hand you yours. Well, you like me a lot better than I like you. |
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