Apache Junction (2021) - full transcript

Miss angel?

Camp's packed up
and ready to hit the trail.

We should reach the outpost
by dusk, ma'am.

Thank you, Mr. Foliet.

I've traveled hundreds
of miles from my home

to a place some has referred to as hell.

A beautiful hell, if you will.

And tucked away into this corner
of the world that few have ever been

is a world that might only be fit
for the devil himself.

This is a land full of violence

where outlaws, pistoleers,
deserters and murderers



have been calling home
for the past few years.

But now that the great war has ended,

the east has vowed to end terror
and lawlessness across the land.

And so the capture and the execution
of evil men begins

as bounty hunters,
scalpers and even the army

move in to exact their view
of law and order

upon these expansive yet bloody lands.

We close?

The outpost is just right up ahead.

All right.

Man's idea of civilization
has arrived.

Arizona is what they call it.

- Thank you.
- Yeah, of course.

All right. Captain's up ahead here.



- Captain.
- More lambs to the slaughter?

This here is Annabelle angel.

I know who she is, ebb.

You arrived a bit earlier
than we originally expected.

Apologies, sir,
but I had a wonderful guide.

I do hope I'm not intruding.

Intruding? No.

But I have a question to ask, miss angel.

Do thoughts of death visit you often,

or are you just simple minded?

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

Simple minded would be the answer, then.

The reason I ask is because
no respectable woman in her right mind

ventures to these parts.

In fact, the only women
who ever come around here

are looking to spread their legs
for a few pennies.

You understand my meaning now?

I do, and my response
is quite simple, indeed.

You are here to do a job,
if I'm not mistaken?

Get to the point.

I am as well, sir.

It's the job that's made me
travel all these miles.

Writing an article for... what is it?

- The San Francisco examiner.
- Right.

And this stupid article is worth possibly
being raped and murdered,

shot, out,

or othennise maimed
in this godforsaken desert?

And this article, it's gonna be on the men
we're chasing down out here,

and the good job that my men are doing?

- Yes.

Well, I don't have time
to dig deeper into your logic, miss angel,

but please know that I cannot afford

any type of protection for you while
you're here,

so you'll be on your own.

I understand.

And if any harm should
come to you while you're here,

it will not be the fault
of the United States army,

and I better not read that
in any newspaper.

The responsibility of some crazy woman

that wants to immortalize herself in print
will not be on my head.

I'm not trying to immortalize myself.

Sir.

Pardon?

You say "sir" when you address me.

I've earned it.

Ebb, show her the lay of the land.

You write your article true, miss angel.

You write about the cutthroats
and savages

that we're trying to exterminate
from this land.

Well, sir,

I guarantee you that's exactly
what I'll be doing.

Then I expect to see you soon,
I should think.

- Sir.
- Ebb.

Crazy woman.

Well, I'm sure that could've gone
a bit better.

Is he always that inviting?

Miss angel, listen here now.

Hensley ain't one to go
crossing around here.

He's the whole show.

He's just as dangerous as any Joe, John
and Harry out here, if not more so.

The man has eyes and ears all over.

So walk lightly in his presence
if you want to avoid trouble.

Are those words sticking
with you, miss angel?

Right then.

We should go get you outfitted.
Get you a place to stay.

Hell, we leave now, we can get
to the junction by nightfall.

What's junction?

Just the place you wanted to write about.

See, those of us who call this place home

refer to it as a neutral patch of land,
if you will.

Now, come on.

Howdy.

Well, this here's the only supply stop.

There's nothing north of us
but injun territory.

Now, most people around here
call this place home.

Mostly because everywhere else
there's a price on their head.

Well, right over there, that's a saloon.

Or what we call one, anyway.

It's a rough place.

You want some answers
or to find someone,

that'd be your best bet.

Right next to it
is churtle b's bathhouse.

Nice hot mineral water comes
straight from the hot Springs.

Also plays home to most
of the whores in town.

Right around, trading post.

Lanterns, wood, sheets, you name it.

Man who runs it,
his name is Deacon sparry.

Been here since the camp's inception.
Also one you might want to talk to.

Now...

There's one thing
to remember here, miss angel,

is that this place don't
quite like the army much.

They make a lot of coin
off them soldiers.

Interesting sight,
seeing some of these boys in blue

wandering around with the likes
of men you see here.

Were it anywhere else, would be
at the other end of a rope.

But they can't touch them here
in the junction.

You mean this place is considered
a safe haven for criminals, Mr. Foliet?

Well, miss angel, you catch on quick.

Why hasn't the army raided it?

Listening to captain hensley back there,
you'd think this place would be in ashes.

The army needs this place just as much
as everyone else does.

It's an interesting arrangement.

Which is why anywhere else
outside this place is dangerous.

Army's been putting bounties out,

attracting folk from all over the country.

They show up looking to shoot the man

whose face is printed
on that piece of paper.

And the others?

Ha! They're looking to shoot
the new faces that show up,

'cause they figure they're only here
for one reason... those bounties.

Sounds like a very violent type of life.

Yup, yup.

No truer statement's
ever been made, ma'am.

Right over there,
that's your lodging.

Go on in and talk to vern.
He's got a room arranged for your stay.

I suggest you get your essentials
in the morning,

seeing it's getting to be dark now
and, uh, well...

This town can get a bit rowdy at night.

You be real careful now, miss angel.

I'd hate to see anything happen to you.

Oh, no.

All right.

Thank you.

- Good night, ma'am. Night.
- Good night.

That's it now. Who do you want?

What you got in there? You got going...

Jericho Ford.

I don't think we'd had the pleasure
of meeting, good sir.

All right, gentlemen.
Looks like we're in time for a tussle.

Who's taking bets?
We got corn and Jericho.

Who's got what? What do you got?

Oh, more to Jericho.

Who do you want? You got gorn?

Right.

Speak up, kid.
I think you're going for corn.

I believe you want gorn.

You, sir, are an idiot going for Jericho.

You want gorn or Jericho?

We got one for corn and Jericho.

How about you pour me
a little shot there, baby?

One for Jericho. That's a bad bet, son.
What do you got?

All right. All right, gentlemen,
good luck. You know I'm good for it.

What are you looking at me for?

Darn.

Come on, Jericho.

I've heard a lot about you.

I'm gonna enjoy this.

Come on now, gorn!

Come on, Jericho.

All hot air.

No brass balls.

Come on, Jericho! Get him! Come on!

Take him down! That's it!

Come on!

Not a bad little tight.

Looks like we got ourselves a round two!

Thanks for that.

Well, that could've been
a bit more graceful.

Graceful? I'm trying not to get
my head knocked off in there.

You know, big things fall hard, Jericho.

Didn't know you were in
for dinner and a show.

All right.

All right, here we go.

Round two.

Let's go!

That's what I'm talking about.
Finish him off! Get in there, gorn!

Oh!

Whoo!

Get up there! Come on, get up!

Ain't no one ring the bell yet?

Come on!

Use your head!

- Come on!
- What are you doing?

Ante's on you, Jericho!

Oh!

He's on the ground!

Finish him off!

Don't let him get up! Come on!

Oh!

I felt that.

Come on! Get up now! Come on!

Well...

That is, as they say, that.

You gonna be at the longfellow?

- I'll see you.
- All right, good.

You best be careful around here, lady.

You might make a man awful nervous,
following him around like you're doing.

She ain't following you, Ford.

Don't flatter yourself.

She got better taste in men than that.

I do.

I mean, I don't... I mean, I wasn't...

Wait, let me get my words about me.

I wasn't following you.

I just heard the commotion outside.

Hey. How'd we do?

- Good, boss. Better than most nights.
- Yeah?

- And it's all here?
- No skimming.

- No, sir.

Here's what I want you to do.

I want you to find us a couple
of bruisers for next week.

- All right? Keep it coming.
- Yes, sir.

And here, put this in the till.

- Yes, sir.
- No skimming.

You did good, Ford.

I ought to give you more free booze.

Now, don't let Jericho here fool you.

He's just spent a little too much time
in the sand with the snakes,

and he's forgotten how to treat
a respectable woman.

- Says who?
- Says me.

Now, um...

I don't seem to remember you around,

and I know pretty much every face in town.

Yours is not a face I'd forget.

My name's Annabelle angel, sir.

- Ah. The reporter lady.
- That's correct.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, ebb told me about you.

Said, uh...

He says some fair-haired,
light-skinned woman

might come in here with a set
of legs and ask for stories.

Is that what you're doing?
Looking for stories?

What can I get you?

- You want some water or tea or milk?
- Whiskey.

Whiskey it is.

Forgive me if I am mistaken, but you're
who this establishment belongs?

Well, that's an interesting way
to put it, but...

I am who this establishment belongs.
Yes, ma'am.

The name's Albert longfellow.

This is indeed my spot,
and you can call me al.

Please, Mr. Longfellow,
join me for another.

Certainly. Yes, ma'am.

- So how long you been here?
- Oh, since the beginning.

Since the beginning.
The beginning of time.

Since Eve gave Adam the apple.

You know, it wasn't long after that
that the army moved in,

and then they started poking
their nose around these parts.

You're a reporter lady.
You might maybe look into that.

Cheers.

Well, what are we cheersin'?

To you being my first friend
in this place.

Annabelle angel.

- Is that a pseudonym?
- No.

So, what kind of paper would bring you
around here, check out us forgotten souls

here in the most desolate part
of the new United States of America?

- San Francisco examiner.
- Oh.

George hearst's publication?

You know your press.

They sent a lady reporter?

They actually weren't going to send
anybody. I volunteered.

That's the fifth hand in a row, pike.

Ain't nobody that goddamn lucky.

No need for all the commotion, boys.

Everybody here, just let's have
an honest game and a nice stiff drink.

I'm sure ai would appreciate it
if you took this outside

before it escalates any further.

Fewer words, buck.
What are you implying?

I'm calling you a two-bit hack
of a gambler who cheats at cards.

Now, then...

What do you suggest we do?

I assume you have some sort of plan,
being that you're calling me a cheat.

Or am I wrong,

and you are just a man with loose lips
who cannot hold their liquor?

You are really a scurvy bastard,
ain't you, pike?

What kind of a name is Oslo pike anyway?

Jesus. Al!

I don't believe this is
any of your concern, woman.

Hey!

Y'all know the rules, boys.

That sign ain't up there for decoration.

Well, would you like me to walk him
all the way to the river

before I shoot him there?

Would that make it so your night
is no more interrupted, Christine?

You ain't shooting nobody.

"Dost thy ferryman seal our souls
to heaven or hell?" Asked the reaper.

"To hell," responds god.

And hell was filled with
a thousand screaming voices.

You're quite the poet.

I think you've done enough here tonight.
You can just take your money and go.

Now, you saw that. They drew first.

I'd consider that justified.

Wouldn't you, ai?

For the mess.

Hello, Ford.

Heard you were scrapping outside.
How'd that turn out for you?

Well, I'm still here, ain't I?

No bite marks or bullet holes.

Yeah. Yet.

Well, uh...

What are you carrying there?

Oh, I got $5 says I could put
all six rounds in you

before you can even pull that
out of your holster.

Want to make a wager?

Gee, that sounds like
an awfully good time,

but, uh, I'm gonna have to decline
your generous offer.

Too much of a yellow belly, huh?

You know, I'd call it...

Smart, tired and drunk.

And I can only assume that you'd
want me at my best, pike.

Or would I be mistaken?

All right.

You've had your pound
of flesh for the night, Oslo.

And my hospitality for you
has run out for the night, so...

Why don't you go slither away?

You're the boss, al.

Be seeing you, Ford.

Sometimes you need two shotguns.

Well, well, well.
What we got here, boy?

Good morning.

And good morning to you too.

What's a pretty little thing like you

doing all the way out here
by yourself, miss...?

Angel. Annabelle angel.

I was just taking a walk, is all.

Trying to find the river, actually.

Is that so? Angel?

That's a last name, ain't it?

Well, the riverbed's
just over yonder there.

Kind of dry this time of season, though.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

I'll be on my way.

What's you in such a hurry for?

I'm writing this story for the newspaper.

Story?

On how well the army's doing
to keep this place safe.

We are doing a good job, ain't we, boys?

- We are.
- For sure.

You know, it's nice to be
rewarded every once in a while.

You know, for providing our services.
Wouldn't you agree?

I'm sure you could find plenty of reward
in this place you call a town.

Gets a little boring
seeing the same faces...

Over and over and over again.

You know, I asked the good lord...

I did, I asked him

if he would send me a real little angel,
just like you.

Fair to say you think my prayers
have been answered?

Come on over here, darling.

Come here. It's all right, darling.

Lower that damn gun and we'll be
gentle with you now.

Get back! Get back!

Get back, I said.

Look at you.

By the looks of it,
you trembling with that gun.

You ain't never shot a gun
a day in your life.

Ain't that right?

Oh, Jesus!
She shot me in the ear!

Does anybody else not want
to listen to a lady?

Whichever way this ends, you die today.

Are you boys lost?

Can't you tell you interrupting
something here, mister?

Mr. Ford, thank god.

Stay back. Drop the gun.

I'm gonna take the girl
and we're gonna be on our way.

Go on, keep moving.

I got a tickle telling me
I'm gonna smoke your friend here.

And I'm gonna take your ear with me.

Look, there's no need for violence here.

Let the lady go and we'll all
be the better for it.

You ain't in no position
to be giving me orders.

It wasn't an order. It was a suggestion.

Well, what's the damn difference, then?

Well, if it was an order,
it would sound like this.

Let the girl go and you can walk
out of here alive.

You're him.

He's on the captain's wall.

Well, then what the hell
are y'all waiting for?

Stay there. Stay there.

Stay back, goddamn it.

I'll cut her from one ear to the other.
I swear, I will.

Then I'm gonna ask you again.

Please, let the nice woman go.

If I let her go, you're gonna kill me.

And if you's really on the captain's wall,

that makes you a murderer, you no-good...

Mr. Ford.

Oh, the wanderer awakes.

You are safe here.
No harm will come to you.

Good thing we came along when we did.

The white soldiers care not
for anything here.

You were the one firing at the soldiers.

Thank you.

Thanks are no good here.

Anybody who values life
and has compassion

would've done the same thing.

I'm not sure I believe that.

Why does a white woman walk
alone in a place such as this?

Well, I was looking for the river.

The river runs dry.

So I was told.

Where is Mr. Ford?

He's outside indulging himself
in some firewater.

Morning.

What the hell are you still doing here?

Thought you'd be on your way
back to the junction by now.

This ain't no place
for you out here, lady.

Well, I do want to say thank you.

What?

You both live here?

Yes, this white buffalo
and I share company together

when he's not living
in the bottom of a bottle.

Who are you calling a white buffalo?

Well, now that you've met wasco here
and he's seen you to wake,

you can be on your way now,
leave us to our rather simple life.

Hosting company
is not a strength of yours.

Well, I like my peace and quiet.

Mr. Ford, if it's okay,

I'd love to ask you a few questions.

For what?

Oh, that fancy article
you're writing, huh?

The one where you paint us out to be
all murderous thieves living in caves,

slaughtering women and children?

That's a lot of assumptions
as to what I might write.

I've seen quite the opposite, have I not?

He will answer questions.

I swear, if we weren't friends...

Then you'd have been dead
a long time ago.

Come, sit by the fire.

Warm we must keep,
for the snow will be here soon.

Fire, fire, fire.
Fire makes the world go around.

White man made fire, you know.

He did not.

Captain?

What is it?

We, uh...

Spit it out.

What happened, private?

We was ambushed, sir.

Ambushed?

Ambushed by who?

Speak, son, and be detailed.

We was escorting that reporter lady
through the junction,

down by the barn...

And a man jumped us.

And how many of you were there?

Three, sir.

So one man took on three military-trained
individuals and came out the Victor?

No, sir. I'm certain that he had help.

Rifle fire came from somewhere else.

So two men did this, then?

That'd be my guess, sir.

Well, what about the girl?

They, uh...
They absconded with her, sir.

Stay away from big words, private.
They don't agree with you.

Did you get a look at these men?

I got a real good
up-close look at one, sir.

And what did he look like?

It was him.

This man?

Muster an escort for me.
I'm going to apache junction.

- Sir.
- What is it?

He killed your boy, sir.

John's dead?

Yes, sir.

Sorry, sir.

Boy never was too bright anyway.

Go on.

But he was a soldier.

And justice will roll like a river,

righteousness like a never-ending stream.

How'd you both find this place?
How'd you come to meet?

One question at a time, lady.

I was born here, me and my people.

And where are they now?

I came out from the plains.

Drove cattle out there
for a while until the war hit.

And then?

You're just a mighty bit nosy, ain't you?

That's my job.

Well, I'd be looking for a more
respectable occupation, if you ask me.

Says the outlaw.

Who said I'm a wanted man?

Alas, what would a respectable occupation
be for me anyways, Mr. Ford?

Gander a guess that you come here
because you've done something awful bad.

Unlike your compatriot wasco,
who was born in this land,

you had to migrate here.

And from my understanding, the men
that learned to call this place home are...

Murderers and thieves.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Like I said, lady, you is nosy,

and exactly why no one
respects a person of your occupation.

Jericho came out west because he did not
want to fight the great war.

So you left before it started?

Well, it didn't make sense to go fighting
other people's battles.

The white man's drink
does funny things to the mind.

All right, that's enough.

No, it's important that she knows
how this relationship was forged.

Jericho took a bad fall hunting one day.

Me and my people took him in,
saw that he was healed.

The army offered a reward
for any Indian brought in, dead or alive.

You know, I know I got a bottle
around here somewhere.

Army men arrived one day.
Began to do what they do best.

I know I have a bottle
around here somewhere.

Murder.

Jericho decided to respond back with lead.

And that was
the end of the story.

These lands
have seen enough bloodshed

to last a lifetime, miss Annabelle.

It's never in our best interest
to spill more.

We all have a history
that brought us here.

But like my people before,

we've all been written to be the devil
in a land that's not theirs to give.

Well...

Would appear to be quite
the party, then.

Mary, what the hell are you doing
out here all by yourself?

I am a grown woman.
I think I can handle myself.

Oh, yeah, that's what this one
thought earlier today,

till hensley's troops tried
to raise her skirt.

Are you okay, darling?
They didn't hurt you, did they?

No, they didn't...

Thanks to Mr. Ford and Mr. Wasco here.

What happened?

Well, I might've had
to shoot one of them.

Three?

Yeah, that does sound more accurate.

Those military boys
will be up in arms, Jericho.

You know it as well as anyone.

I'm afraid we haven't
had the chance to meet yet.

Yeah, this here is the newspaper lady.

Annabelle angel.

Mary... primm.

I brought some fresh vegetables...

And something to drink.

Mwah! Sweet Jesus.

What about you, Annabelle?

- What you like?
- Some bread, please.

- I got you covered.
- Thank you.

It's horrible, you know?

All those women and children,
just defenseless,

slaughtered in the middle of the night.

No badge could help that.
They'd have needed their own army.

I guess you can't change the past,
now can you?

Evening, ai.

Captain.

What the hell did we do for him
to grace us with his presence?

Should I fetch the scattergun,
miss Williams?

No, al's got it behind the bar.
Just go about your business.

Place looks good.
Business looks better.

What the hell are you doing here?

Is that any way to greet an old friend?

We got rules. You're breaking them.

Oh, yeah.

We don't come looking
for wanted men here at the junction,

and our outpost continues
to receive goods and services.

An honorable agreement,

yet beyond counterproductive
to my work, ai.

It's kept you fed.

Kept you clothed.

You here to balk at that agreement?

Miss Williams,
the mouth that never closes.

Don't you have a brothel to run?

You don't have a dog in this fight.

Well, it's worked so far,
so I'm gonna ask you one more time.

What are you doing here?

Well, it appears,
and, of course, I'm just guessing here,

that one of your customers dispatched
some of my soldiers this morning.

Well, that's unfortunate.

However, it did not happen
within the confines of my walls,

so it doesn't make it my problem, does it?

So I'm guessing it's out of the question
to ask you if you've seen this man.

- Out of the question.
- Out of the question.

Christine... let me to my business.

Al, if I wanted to, I could gather
all the men at my disposal

and march them in this shitty little town
of yours and burn it to the ground.

Meat and grain and women,
all those things are replaceable.

So all these many years that I've let you
keep these walls standing

and keep me from the one step
that I need to make

to completely obliterate
the lawlessness in this territory,

I'm asking you to do
one thing for me now.

You tell me the next time
you see this man.

And for the rest of you...

I know there's many men in here
that I'd love to show the noose

and see them ride the pine
straight to the devil.

But I lost soldiers today.

And an innocent civilian in the form
of that reporter from San Francisco

got kidnapped.

So I'm offering a bonus of up to $200

for the man or men
that bring me Jericho Ford.

I want him dead or alive.

Dead would be preferable.

What about that girl
you were talking about?

Extra $50 if you find her.

If not, I'll consider her
a casualty of war.

It's been fun, al.

I know I'll be hearing from you very soon.

Let's go.

No way Ford done what he said, ai.

He's not that kind of man.
You know it, I know it.

Yeah? Are you sure about that, Christine?

With all the trash and hooligans
running around this town?

I know a good man when I see him.

You certainly do.

I'll tell you what's more important
thaninnocence.

Survival.

- Hmm.
- The way I look at it,

we got a lot more outlaws than army boys
around these parts.

So if you're starting to think that you
might want to turn Ford in, well...

You don't think these hooligans
might start thinking

the honorable ai longfellow
might do the same thing to them

if the opportunity presented itself?

If it was me, I'd start
sleeping with one eye open

and my hand clutched around my pistol,
if I was gonna head down that road.

- You're a smart woman.
- Hmm.

That I am.

Thank you.

It's different, right?

What's that?

It's different from what you thought
you'd find here?

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.

Society has this place pegged
as a ruthless land full of criminals.

And captain hensley and his agenda
clearing out the rabble

to make way for a "proper" civilization.

At least, I am assuming that is
how the rest of our newfound United States

views our little corner of the world
that we've carved out for ourselves.

They never had a chance
to think any different.

You can be that chance.

There are people here that are
just trying to live their lives.

They like having a small piece of earth...

Where they aren't judged every day.

We all may be misfits,

but it helps it go down
a bit smoother, you know,

when society ain't inflicting its view
of law and order upon us.

What about the ones that actually
have done the unspeakable in their past?

How does one justify the continued freedom

to the loved ones who have had someone
or something taken from them?

Honey... I have learned that bad people

get what they deserve
in some form or another.

Whether that be now
or ten years from now,

the lord and the devil alike
see that justice be done.

You can't let bad people go unpunished.

There has to be some sort
of law and order, Mary.

Yeah, I suppose there does.

Don't let the view fool you.

This place has its disadvantages.

Like what, exactly?

Look at me, Annabelle.

I'm a whore.

As long as I stay here,
I'll always be a whore.

But that's your decision, is it not?

There's nothing else here. Not for women.

I'm not sure I believe that to be true.

You've seen it.

The looks you get.

No one can believe
someone like you is here.

They haven't seen a woman
with freedom of expression.

You could leave.

Not without him.

You love him?

I think I do.

I'm gonna put that in my story.

- What's that?
- That this place isn't lost.

That there's warmth here.

Kindness and love exist.

- Have you told him yet?
- No.

Why not?

A man like Jericho Ford doesn't want to
spend the rest of his life with a whore.

Well, my observations tell
quite a different story, Mary.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Don't burn the camp down
while I'm away.

Stay away from the drink, my friend.

It's okay. You're okay.

You're okay.

Goodbye, Mary.

Oh, I'm sure I'll be seeing
you soon enough, Annabelle.

I'm gonna walk miss primm
back to her residence.

If you like, you're welcome
to follow me back when I leave.

What? Wasco likes the company, is all.

She's educated.
He likes that sort of thing.

Gives him someone to talk to.

I would love to, Mr. Ford.

I'll just grab a couple things
from my room.

Yeah, take your time.

I got to go to al's
and get me a bottle or two.

Go to the store. Wasco needs spices.

Since when did you get a heart?

Woman, I've always had one.

It's been sitting right here,
beating away each and every day.

- Is that so?
- That's a fact.

You're a good man, Jericho Ford.

I'm a lucky girl to have
someone like you in my life.

No, you ain't, Mary. I...

I should be doing a hell
of a lot better by you, Mary.

Someday.

Someday, we'll leave this place.

We'll leave this place,
and all the baggage that comes with it.

I guess we all got to stop
running sometime, right?

The blood-soaked
lawless sands of Arizona

are not what they would appear.

I have found the beginnings of friendship
in a few of the residents here.

Upper-class society will condemn them
as criminals, traitors, savages, even.

But I have now witnessed
the blossoming buds of love and hope

in a place that before
I never would've thought possible.

This place still has many faces
that it has not yet shown,

but if the hospitality
I have received so far

is any indication of this place
and its people,

it is not what the modern world
would have everyone believe.

The only real monsters
I have encountered

were the ones that were put
here to protect people like me.

Irony weaves a winding road.

It's a little empty in here, ain't it?

We closed today.

Five years I've been coming to this joint,
and I never seen you close.

The captain came and paid us a visit.

He said you shot some of his boys...

And you kidnapped that reporter lady.

Yeah, those boys were gonna rape her.

But she's here right now
in her hotel room.

By her own free will.

If I don't do something,

they're gonna burn it all down, Ford.

I known you a long time, friend.

And I said to myself,

"no, I don't think Jericho
kidnapped no woman."

But I had to give him something,
you understand?

Not really, ai.

I had to break my own rules, Jericho.

That's the best I can do for you, Ford.

You're gonna have to shoot your own way
out of this one. Go on.

Give 'em hell, Ford.

For all of us.

[Gunshofl

sorry.

Come on.

All right, I think we lost them.

We got to get back to wasco.

Mr. Ford?

We'll go out the back.

I think I've been shot.

Okay. It's okay, Annabelle. We just need
to get you back to camp, all right?

Wasco's gonna fix you up.
He's gonna fix you up.

It's okay, it's okay.

Hello, Mary.

Wasco! Wasco!

Wasco!

Wasco!

- What happened?
- They were waiting for me.

- Who?
- The soldiers, Higgins boys.

They attacked you while you were in camp?
That's not part of the agreement.

There's no more agreements.

The bullet went through.

We'll need some clean water, some cotton,

either from your shirt
or from your pillow. I do not care which.

Well, is she gonna be okay?
Is she gonna live?

As long as you move quickly,
we can save her life.

You'll be okay, my dear. I promise you.

Sir?

This man claims to have
information about Jericho Ford.

Information, huh?

Oh, I never claimed
to have the information.

What good are you to me?

She is the one with the information.

I say again, what good
are you to me, then?

I am the hilt in which the hand
holds to do its bidding, sir.

I don't have time for riddles.
Speak plainly.

I just watched Jericho fend off
an infamous gang

known as the Higgins boys.

Now...

I am confident that I am the only one
who can kill Jericho Ford.

Othennise, you can keep sending
your men to do the job,

but your bill to the undertaker?

Well, that's gonna keep getting
more expensive as the days wane on.

The men out there are speaking
as if this Ford cannot be killed.

But I say,

"if a man can bleed, he can surely die."

You. Who are you in all of this?

I'm no one.

Well, clearly you're somebody
of importance in this situation.

If I may.

I do believe I can extract the information
out of her, given my methods.

Who are you?

Won't matter somewhere.

The name's Oslo pike.

And what do you want out of all this?
The money?

Two things and two things only.

First, I want my name free and clear.

I believe you can do that with a simple
letter over to a Mr. Wells in Nebraska,

explaining how my services were exemplary

in the catching and killing
of a notorious criminal in these parts.

And the second thing?

I want the honor of killing Jericho Ford.

How do you plan on doing that?

I am faster than he is.

You make this sound like
a dime novel, Mr. Pike.

Oh, there have been plenty of them
written about me, sir.

Oslo pike.

Bellevue, Nebraska.

And you don't want any of the money?

Fame and fear will
buy you the world, captain.

I have tasted both,

and clearly the killing of Mr. Ford
is surely gonna bring me more,

therefore, I do not require
your physical currency.

You're an interesting character, Mr. Pike.

Do we have a deal?

Now...

Have you ever seen an eyeball pop?

It is a most interesting sight.

You see...

When a sharp object punctures it,

it just deflates like a balloon.

Some say that there is no pain.

You see, but the fear
is not losing the eyes.

It's more complex.

When you're plunged
into complete darkness...

There's no telling
where the blade might out next.

Hmm.

They say a person can
withstand a thousand cuts.

Surely that would be painful.

Close your eyes.

Go ahead. Close them.

Go on. Close them.

- I said close them!
- Ewmm

Now I'm gonna give you one chance to tell
me where Jericho's camp is,

and if you do not,

not only will I take your eyes
and shroud you into eternal darkness,

but I will make sure you are so disfigured

that even dogs will walk away
at the very sight of you.

Mwmm

open your eyes.

You look at me.

Where is he?

She will live.

I've seen that look in your eye
many times before.

Jencho.

Jericho, where are you going?

- Jericho, where are you going?!
- What do you think?

- To kill someone?
- Is it so obvious?

That will solve nothing.

I don't need any of your preaching today.

Just let me get it done.

You know, you start coming into these odd,

sort of bivouac shantytowns.

Sometimes you want a break.
I was gonna take a vacation.

Take some days off for myself.

I got a kid at home.

Shelby.

A man's still gotta make a living,

and I am just well within my lawful rights

to pursue the type
of living that I'm doing.

Pour that drink, Jose.

You know, you took the lives...

Of a few folk who were quite dear to me.

Turn around.
I don't like to shoot a man in the back.

Well, I wouldn't give you
the satisfaction.

Be a shame to waste it.

This seems familiar.

Is it bad?

You'll live to fight another day.

Where's Mr. Ford?

Returning soon. Try to get some rest.

Where are you, boy?
Come home now. Come home.

[Gunshofl

Where is he?

I do not know.

Suppose you don't have any idea
when he'll be back, then?

Do you?

You know, I've killed
a lot of people before.

But I've never killed no injun before.

It's no more pleasurable
than taking any life.

Oh, I doubt that very much.

You see, I think your death

is gonna contribute greatly to my cause.

Evil men live only long enough
to see their end.

Well, I guess we must all die sometime.

You tell Ford to meet me
at the thoroughfare.

Wasco. Annabelle.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

It ain't your fault.
It ain't your fault.

I should've been here.

I should've been here.

It was that man.

Pike.

Jencho?

What are you gonna do?

I'm gonna see if the devil can bleed.

You take up refuge near al's.

Now, once Mary's free, you two stay
by each other's sides, all right?

You know how to use one?

Okay, then.

Off you go.

Good to see you, Ford.

I'm very glad you could join us.

You see, Mary here...

She was getting a bit lonely.

And I thought I was eventually
gonna have to put her out of her misery.

Glad you showed up when you did.

I see you brought
your own personal autobiographer.

You talk too much.

Been accused of that, yes.

Let her go, pike.

Go on, Mary.

Go give one last goodbye to your love.

Are you okay?

Annabelle's over there. You go join her.

Anything happens,
you both take the horses and get.

I love you, Jericho Ford.

Go on now.

I've been waiting a long time for this.

It's often hard you find someone you think
is worthy of something like this.

Goes back hundreds of years, you know.

Dueling, that is.

Oh, I'm familiar with my history.

What do you propose?

Simple, really.

Each round, we draw.

Each round, we get one shot.

First man to fall is the loser.

Perfect.

He'll win.

He has to win.

Nothing is certain in this life, honey.

All we can do is pray
that Jericho's faster.

Ah!

[Gunshofl

That's for my friend.

It was exactly
like I had read about...

A showdown between two men
to see who was the fastest.

But as most would seek fame,

I found one who was seeking
salvation and love.

A different type of gunslinger
than one would think.

A different kind of an outlaw altogether.

Goodbye, my old friend.

Just any other place
in the world,

loss was a factor of life here,

a consequence of violence by violent men.

But still, life goes on.

And like Mary primm once told me,

"bad people do get what they deserve."

What is it?

Leave me.

Some men aren't
made for the wild,

and those that believe
that they can tame it

might lose more than
they can ever possibly gain.

Hello, miss angel.

Do you know who I am?

Yes, Mr. Hearst.

Splendid.

Quite the extraordinary story.

But then, you're quite
the extraordinaryjournalist, aren't you?

Can you give me more of that?

I can certainly try, sir.

What this country needs
is more stories like that.

Stories that our children's
children can recite

and remember for years to come.

Someday, outlaws such as this
will be remembered as heroes.

They may even become something
of myth and legend.

And it will be up to people like you

to catalog and chronicle
and express their stories,

regardless of public opinion.

For that is true journalism, my dear.

The west is wild.

And her name is freedom.