Scandalous John (1971) - full transcript

?s aqui?

Si, si, aqui ?s.

I don't like this place.

Mira, you ask
about a job, huh?

I don't like this place.

The patr here,
he will welcome you.

He don't care
if you are a wetback

or a caballero grande.

Adi?s.

If the job is so good

and there will be
no trouble...



why don't you keep it
yourself?

Caught you red-handed,
didn't I?

Now I got you, Whittaker!

Now!

No, no, no.

I gotcha! Gotcha!

Now I got you,
Whittaker.

Caught you red-handed,
didn't I?

Hold still, I tell you!

Time!

Whittaker, you mangy
vagrant hound dog,

I got you this time.

I'm going to put
a California double
buckle on you,

a real necktie--



McCanless,
stop this, you hear?

Ah, you stay
out of this, Amanda!

Whittaker,
get back here.

McCanless!

That's
a mortgage monkey,

and he's going to do
a Texas cakewalk today.

Get over there!

You aimed yourself
under a cottonwood,

and I say you're going
to dance on thin air.

McCanless!
He's not the man!

Can't you see
he's not Whittaker?

My, you ain't Whittaker.

You're
some kind of Mexican.

Who are you anyway?

Ah, never mind.

Come on to the house
and have some bread and gravy.

Could have swore
you was Whittaker.

Just like him--

skulking around here

disguising himself
as a Mexican.

Oh, you poor thing.

Are you all right?

Come on. No one's
going to hurt you.

Come on. Come on.

Come on.

Look, I'm awfully
sorry about this.

I'm afraid my grandfather
mistook you for someone else.

A bad person--
Un malo hombre--

that he was trying
to frighten away.

What's your name?

Habla ingl?s?

Come in the house.

Look,
let's iron this out.

I'm Amanda McCanless,

and that's my grandfather
John McCanless.

I am Francisco.
Francisco Torrez Mart?nez.

Mucho gusto.
Put her there, Paco.

Glad to meet you.

Glad to have you with us.

No, no, se?orita.

Thank you, but I got to go.

Get in here!

I got to--
I got to meet my cousin.

Come on.

His name's Paco.

What?

Oh, yeah.

I'll tell you
what I need around here, son.

Got to have a good
all-around hand, see?

There's not going to be
too much for you to do:

just doctor the stairs
when they get wormy

and pail up the cows
when the weather pours,

bust the green horses
for riding, you understand,

and I want you to dig
a string of post holes

on the ridge back there.

No, it's over here.
Never mind.

And cook potatoes for me.

I like both kinds:
Mexican and plain.

Both kinds, got that?

What he means is
you'll do the cooking

and a few odd jobs
around the house.

That's all.

I hope you ain't adverse

to letting a little air
into an interloper

every now and then.

I think he's just the man
for the job.

Yes, you'll do fine.

No, thank you, se?or,
but, you know--

Room, board, $20 a week.

Not a dime more.

Come on.

This is the kitchen.

This is the hallway.

Long distance to walk.

And this...

is going to be your room.

Not bad.

I'm glad you like it.

It's a good job.

You have plenty
of free time,

good food, and you don't
have to work hard at all.

But what about
he said

I put air
into people?

What does this
mean?

Hogwash.

Hogwash?

He likes to pretend

he's a tough old gunslinger.

Once in a while, he does
get sort of excited,

but all you have to do is
just stay out of his way.

Come on,
help me take the bed.

Sometimes he does get
sort of moody,

and he locks himself
up in his room.

You make sure he gets
his meals, okay?

But, se?orita,
you do not live here?

Well, that's
the problem, you see.

I teach at the college,

and I can't get out here
every day.

Comprende?

Si.

You can always reach me
at the state college,

Department
of Animal Husbandry.

I'll write it down.

The main thing is
if McCanless gets sick

or anything goes wrong,

you come and get me
right away. You hear?

But no tel?fono here?

Well, we did have one,

but, um, McCanless hated it.

Says the Apaches
cut the wires.

You have Apaches here?

Well, not very many,
and they won't hurt you.

Look, give us a chance.

I think you'll like it here.

Bye-bye.

I'm glad you like it.

House.

Food.

And $20.

That's 250 Mexican pesos
every week.

Not bad.

...stream, not the river,
but the stream

Old hand's still got
a tickle in it.

Good thing, too.

Never know when you're going
to get bushwhacked these days.

Interlopers.

When are we
going to eat?

In a minute.

Quit acting like a old woman.

Told you I thought that Mexican
was a land grabber.

Yeah, he sure did look
like a land grabber.

Anyway, what if he had been?

I'd have strung him up
higher than a mountain goat.

Then they'd have
put you away for sure.

I ain't in your behold,
girl.

I ain't behold
to nobody.

Well, you can't hang
a paper mortgage.

Got to do what I got to do.

Whittaker's got
half the land in the state

all corralled and hogtied.

Let him have his way...

he'll flood the whole place,
build up a big dam,

make it into some kind
of a fish pond for dudes.

He ain't going to do that.

He ain't going to turn
God's good grazing land

into that kind of a mess.

First thing you know, there
wouldn't be nobody here.

No orchids, no arbors,
no alleys, no trees,

no people, no animals,
nobody, nothing.

Forever, all gone.

Come on, sit down,
eat your supper.

I don't want no supper.

Sick at my stomach.

I ain't going to let nobody
whittle me down

to where I'm going to spook
at my own spit.

I told you before,
I ain't afraid of no man.

No man, no beast,
no denizen of the jungle.

I sure ain't afraid
of no purple-tongued lawyer,

courtroom coyotes,

crooked bankers
and politicians.

Progress, they says.

Gonna build
theirselves a city.

Ah, put up
a great big beehive

all made out
of cement and glass.

Neon signs, parking meters.

Real estate developers,
they call theirselves.

Night crawlers and buzzards
is what they are.

Eh, insurance agents.

Oh, I, uh, see you found
something to eat.

Ice cubes.

The...
in my town

has one of these things
in his house.

Want some?

Uh, no, thank you.

Look, I have to go.

Uh, his dinner's here.

Would you see that he eats it?

And don't leave him
by himself too much.

I'll look in on him
Friday.

Adi?s.

You eat now, Se?or McCanless?

The senorita says
you have to eat something.

Uh, you know how to play
one of them things?

A little bit.

Come on over here and see
what you can do, son.

Here you go.

You know
"Poor Howard"?

Poor Howard's
dead and gone...

Play anything.
Play one of them--

Yeah.

All right. You really move
the mail on that thing, boy.

You know any more
of them pieces

kicks up in the middle
like that, packs double?

Plenty, se?or McCanless.

Well, we're going to have us
some high old times,

entiendes?

Senor Juan, okay.

Okay, hombre, okay.

Senor Juan, where do you
wish me to put this thing?

Well, you put that thing
anywhere you want.

That's all yours now,
cowboy.

Go on and play it.
Play all you want to.

Well, think about
a Western monument,

an historical landmark
to mark your father's project.

Now, wouldn't your father be
proud of a thing like that?

McCanless, you've been
living in the sun too much.

What do you mean by that?

I mean my old man
won't buy it.

As Whittaker International
Incorporated's

brand-new special
representative

in the New Mexico region,

Mr. Power Elite's
little errand boy,

I know what I say.

He should be here.

Is el senor aqui?

He's gone
to ride the fence.

He's coming back
soon.

This is Paco.

It's nice, isn't it?

I mean, sort of
warm and rustic?

Don't you think so?

Too soon to tell.

What do they say about us?

The townsfolk?

No, your papers
and reports.

Your grandfather's the son
of old Pistol Pete McCanless,

who carved out a cattle empire
in the last century.

He's a born pigeon,

long on generosity.

Tends to give his land away.

Grub stakes every tramp
looking for a handout,

any neighbor who's in trouble.

So lately no more empire.

Also, he flipped out
when he lost his wife.

Still thinks
he's bossing a big spread,

fighting Indians.

Flipped out.

What's that, city lingo?

Smart talk for a man
who loves the West

and gets confused
because he's lonely?

He married her
when she was 15.

You might flip out, too,

if you'd lost
somebody you loved.

What's supposed
to happen to him

if he loses this ranch, too?

Give me one reason

why your property
deserves special treatment.

I'm not looking for charity,
Mr. Whittaker.

You still haven't
given me a reason

why I should try and sell
my dad on your idea.

I mean, in classic Western
land foreclosures,

customary payment for
the burning of the mortgage

is some measure of
the victim lady's gratitude.

Know what I mean?

You've got to be kidding.

Maybe not. Don't you feel
the chemistry at work?

Well, I don't know if I should
shoot you full of holes

or just run you off the place.

Doing that would be the same

as running your grandfather
off, wouldn't it?

Think about that.

Hell!

What are you doing
in my house?

Whittaker's the handle.
Jim Whittaker.

This
is my grandfather.

Whittaker?

Ah, yeah.

You're the sprout,
ain't you?

Well, this is old
Judge Sam Walker here.

Oh, I don't think
things are that bad.

Not yet.

The little lady here
and I have been talking.

She's been telling me
about a scheme of hers

just might save your neck.

She thinks
my dad should turn

what's left of this
little spread of yours

into the McCanless
Western Museum.

What? What?

That's right.

You stinking louse.

A kind of monument,

with you in residence
to tend the place.

A monument?

You mean you want
to turn my ranch

into some kind
of public picnic ground

with a brass pigeon roost?

I'd sooner get a tin bill
and peck with the chickens.

Ah, you tell your daddy

he sends any more of his
purple-tongues lawyers

tapping around here,

they're going to meet up
with the old judge.

Carrion pickers.

Night crawlers.

Ain't no toady going
to turn my ranch

into a dude-run.

Mr. McCanless,
you have 40 days grace

when your time here's up.

40 days? That's
all the time I need

to turn my hidden assets
right into coin.

40 days, you say?

What are you
cooking up now?

In 40 days,
I can get my top hands

toughened up hard as horns.

What hidden assets,
McCanless?

Take more than any land
grabber to plow me under.

Our office knows what shape
your credit's in, sir.

Miss McCanless' salary
is your only income.

Hmm, you're real tricky,
ain't you?

I'm tricky myself.

See that?

Curly Bill, we call it.

There. Curly Bill.

The road agent's spin.
Ha ha!

I hope for your sake
that thing isn't loaded.

How is that?

Want me to dance now, right?

Excuse me.

Whittaker! I ain't
through with you yet!

I'm reloading, you hear?

Here I come, Whittaker!

And get off my land,
you wet-eared whelp!

Well, sir.

Got some sand
in his craw, hasn't he?

As well as shifty eyes.

What assets
were you referring to
in there, McCanless?

Desert air?

Desert air, yeah.

They'll be putting that
in bottles

and selling it, too,
if I let them.

They ain't going to do it.

No, sir. They ain't
going to do it.

Who's that?

Hey, there,

you belly-crawling
son of a horse thief!

Qu? pasa, hombre? Qu?--

All right, you red devils.

You asked for it.
Now you're going to get it!

All right,
you belly crawlers!

Here I am!

Come and get me!
Ha ha ha ha!

There you are, son.
Take them guns,

and we'll lift us some hair.

What happened?
Seen one right there

a minute ago.

I think I winged
the gut eater.

But that was me,
Don Juan.

Here they come! Apaches!

But-- But, se?or--

- There they go!
- Where?

There they go right there!

Thieves of horses!
Let's go after them.

No, no, no, no.

No, hold it, hold it.

No use cut and sighing now.

We dig in, and they
got to make the first move.

Get down there. Get down.

Will you?

That was good
shooting, compadre.

Here. You can keep that.

It's a good gun for you.

Now, then...

Have a little of that.

Old Horse Hide.

One good way to die.

Don't try talking
there for a minute

till you get used to it.

Hell, by the Billy-O,

we fanned their tails,
didn't we?

Senor Juan,
we scare them.

Yes, yes.

Yes,
you're all bone, grit,

and p'ison, ain't you?

Come on in the house,

and we'll do
some serious drinking.

All right.

I ride an Old Paint

I got ya!

It's fun, ain't it?

Sure beats playing
Pee Wee golf

and burning them
Indian heads

into them leather
cushions.

Here you are, son.

Here, get going on that

while I dig us out
a couple of more here.

Let's settle down,

have us a good talk.

There you are.

Getting used to it,
ain't you?

That's a fine drink
for a man.

There. Look there.

See them horns?

They came off
of old Blue Lightning.

That was our first
seed bull.

Granddaddy to half
the cows in the West.

Had to bullfight.

Oh, yes. Pert near
broke my daddy's heart

when he died.

There he is.
Pistol Pete McCanless.

Greatest trail boss
ever took steers and all

to the rail head.

Yeah. After old
Blue Lightning died,

my dad went and had this
made out of a horn

off one of the cows.

He used to stand
out in the pasture

and blow taps.

Tears rolling down his face.

Oh, he was a great man,
he was.

He was a real man.

He didn't spend his life

messing around with women
and books, the way I did.

Nope.
He didn't real full span

and then look back
over the long trail of life

and see nothing but a lot
of half-baked dreams

in his day.

Well, did he or didn't he,
I asked?

No, no. I don't think so.

Ah, I bet he didn't.

He had them all dancing
to his tune in them days.

They was all scared of them.

Know why?

Because he was crazy.

Now,
just between you and me,

it don't hurt none
to let them think

you're a midge
out of your head.

They they stay
out of your way. Savvy?

There's a drink in there.

There you are, boy!

Let's shut off
and start again.

I took a liking to you.

Listen, I'm going
to reveal to you

my secret plan which I
ain't told a soul.

You blather at your peril.

No, thank you, Don Juan.
I don't want to hear.

Listen to me!
I'm talking to you.

Now here's what
we're going to do.

We're gonna go on
a cattle drive, you and me.

I'm going to take
my herd up north,

and I'm going to sell them,

and I'm going to pay off
the mortgage on this place.

Now, that'll put us both

in almighty King Whittaker's
will, won't it?

We strike the trail
like in the cowboy movies?

Yeah, No, you hit the trail.
Hit the trail, amigo.

We're going to hit the trail
to Warbag.

Warbag?

Warbag.

That's Blackjack Ketchum's
home town, ain't it?

Who is Blackjack?

Blackjack, who is he?

He's bad news,
that's who he is!

I never knew his real name.

It don't make
no difference no how.

Everybody's got
a Blackjack in his life.

Me, too?

Yeah, you, too.

Everybody's
got a Blackjack.

It don't make no difference
who he is.

I owed that lizard
too long. I surely did.

I owed you too long,
Blackjack, you lizard!

You hear that?

Oh, that--
that don't make no difference.

You and me are going
on a trail drive, my boy,

and I got to get you
outfitted proper now.

Here. You got a pistol.

Now, that's a real good one.

That's a real Mexican pistol.

And there's a chihuahue?o.

How do you like that?

Quiero no m?s.

That used to belong

to one of Pancho Villa's
Dorados.

The revolution?

Left it right here.

Now, tomorrow I want
to get you outfitted

with a real spirited mount
and a saddle for you.

And we're going to sing
our way north, my boy,

right under the stars,

and when we get there,

we're going to find us
a heaven

of tall green grass
and clear, cool water

and solid gold.

That's Quivira,
the golden city.

What?

The golden city
of Quivira.

Oh, Quivira!

Yeah, that's what
you fellas call it.

I like the sound of that.

Quivira,
the golden city.

All right.

Well, when we
get to Quivira,

we got to grass-fatten
the herd first,

and then we'll sell them.

Top market price,
of course.

And you know what
we're going to do?

We're going to get us
a couple of scarlet
sweethearts,

and we're going
to honky tonk with them

till the sun comes up.

San Anton, Virginia City,

all them places.

We're gonna burn down
the notch house

and tie a knot
in the devil's tail,
ain't we?

And what day of the week
do you pay me, Don Juan?

Why? Why do you
want to know?

What's that mean?

A full belly,
happy heart.

Fully belly, happy heart.
I like that.

That's got
a nice ring to it.

Those are
words of wisdom.

Ah, you don't have to worry
about that, Paco.

Why, you're going to get
paid a thousand-fold...

of gold, glory,
everything you want.

Know why?

When we left that last
dust storm behind,

forded that last river,

and we topped
that final rise,

and we look down there,
what do we see, hmm?

Quivira.

Quivira!

Quivira.

No.

I ain't
going to spend it all

just to move around
towns, you know.

I'm going to come
back here,

and I'm
going to get this old
spread working again.

Herd me out a full crew.

Get some real
honest-to-God cowboys.

Top hands.

None of these truck-driving
rodeo dudes.

Feed them good,
pay them good.

Don't pay them too good.

You pay them enough

so they can
stomp and jingle

on a Saturday night,

and they respect you,
you know.

Because they're going
to respect me anyhow.

You know why?
Because they'll know.

They'll know, boy,

that you and me
took that herd

and drove it out over
that dust-devil desert

and up through them
mountains passes

where the chinook howl

and over
them swollen rivers

and down through
the blood-drenched
state plains.

Blood-drenched
state plains!

Hear that?

Uh, hear that, Fern?
Where are you?

Fern?

There you are.

There you are,
sweetheart.

Now it's chow time again.

I don't want you
to worry none

because I ain't going
to be gone too long.

Yeah.

She was very beautiful.

Oh, yes, indeed.

Yes.

I ride an Old Paint

Lead old Dan

Goin' to Montana

To show a houlihan

Yeah, right there.

Right there.

Yeah.
Yeah, I seen it happen

over and over and over
a thousand times.

You can't trust
none of them!

Not a one.

They ought to be
stomped out,

men like that.

Poisoned.

Let me know
the poison wells.

Yeah.
I seen their tracks.

Think they fooled me.

What are you doing
laying in bed there?

Come on, son,
get out of there.

Big round-up today.
Big round-up.

Got to raise dust
and move beef.

What's wrong with you?

A little touch
of Mahoney Brothers,
have you?

Oh, curse
on gringo whiskey.

Now, now, now.

Just get a little
hot sun on you.

That'll liven you right up.

There you are.
Put your hat on now.

Get sweat to rolling.
It'll leech out the pain.

Come on. We got to go
check the herd.

Come on.

Catch up, hombre.

Ah, let's get a look
at them here.

Ah. No, you ain't a bit
wormy here.

Yes, sir.
No, they're all fitter

than a fiddler's elbow,
every one of them.

Come on now.

But, Don Juan,

this is the herd?

Oh, yes, of course.

- The herd.
- Come on.

Yeah.

Yeah, sure as my mood
that every one of them

is sound as a dollar.

Old Whiskey Pete there,
that's my personal mount,

but I'm going to let you
have this little mule.

He's as gentle as a lamb,
and he's a sweetheart.

He's a mite peaked
this morning.

He got to eating
some jimson weed.

The only critter
I ever seen to like it.

- Well--
- Fine animal.

Yes, indeed.

And safe.

Low to the ground.

There we go, cowboy.

Fit you on to that.

Now you're going to be
the first man

to sit in that saddle
since Pancho Villa

fought the Battle of Torreon.

Put it right on him,
Paco.

What's wrong with you?

Get that saddle on there
and round up.

I better ride with
the bare back, okay?

Yeah? If that's the way
you want to do it,

all right with me.

There you are.

It's a mite old,

but it's a genuine

hand plaited in Mexico
Peter Maggay.

I use a Plymouth whale line
myself.

Got a hard twist to...

V?manos.

There, head him off.
What's the matter with you?

Get mounted up there.

Get out of that barn,
you poly longhorn!

Quit going in there now.

All right.

I'm gonna catch you.

Head him off there!
Round him up!

What's the matter
with you, Paco?

Get out of there.

Ah, I'm going to get
this rope on you.

Wait!

Heart-breaking rut wolf, you.

Whoa up, you!

Ah, you slick side--

Just for that,
I'm going to bulldog you!

You hear?

What happen, Don Juan?

You all right?

Don't move me.
Don't move me.

I think I broke
something.

It's all right.

Go and take care
of your mule.

Who's that laughing?

Well, sweet Mary Ann.

Looks like somebody's
deck's shy a joker.

Where did you get them chaps,
off a dead dude?

Something wrong with them?

Nothing wrong with them.

Looks like they weigh
about 40 pounds

with all that tin on them.
Run you bowlegged

just standing up in them.

How do you like my hat?

That what it is?

I was hoping
you might hire me up

- for a cowpoke.

Afraid I can't do that.

Couldn't afford it.

Folks would start to talk.

Say old John's

got a fella out there
working for him.

Got a suit of clothes that
weighs more than he does.

See you're packing
a pig iron, too.

Yes. Curly Bill.

Look there,
the road agent's spin.

Doesn't work. It's a fake.

Mighty pretty, though.

What can I do for you?

Got business with you.

Well,
hunker right down there,

and we'll make medicine.

Hunker
right down there.

Ain't too limber,
are you?

Have a little of that.

Drink her right down,
cowboy.

It'll loosen you right up.

Go ahead,
drink her right down.

Atta boy.
Now you can talk.

There.

I plan to see
your granddaughter,

but I don't like
getting shot at.

Nobody does.

- So, uh--
- What's that?

What are you
figuring to do?

You think you can
buy me off with money?

Maybe.

Uh, does she know about this?

No, not yet.

Oh, boy, you are
a glutton for punishment.

I got to tell you
something.

You picked out
the meanest little filly

this side of heaven
string sweetie-pies.

We had a rodeo fella
come through here
about a year ago.

He was tooken with her
like you,

and he like to bust
his back bull riding,

just trying
to get her attention.

She wouldn't
even smile at him.

There was another one
up there in town.

He got to moon calfing her
so bad,

he swore he was going
to hang himself.

Tried to do it, too.
Hung hisself.

Of course we cut him down
before he choked to death.

Didn't do him no good,
not a bit.

Son, I'd say that you
have put your stake

on the wrong number.

Sounds pretty special.

McCanless
women always was.

Are you
going to take this?

I don't say it don't
come at a good time.

What do you want me
to do for that?

Just sort of ease back

and give you a little room,

see if you can rope her?

Yeah, something like that.

Something like that, huh?

Yeah.

What if I
took that money

and used it to fight
your old man?

Tell you what.

Old Dad will be
out in these parts

- in a few days.
- He will? Where?

In the flesh.
Santa Rosa, Four Rivers,

Horse Thief Junction,
and Warbag.

Warbag? What for?

He's got his own precious
antique railway car

full of tame politicians.

They're coming out to look
over their land deal

before they move in
for the kill.

Yeah, I bet they are.

I'll just take that,
son.

I'll just take that,
and I'll use it

to move me some beef.

And barring an Apache
raid and a stampede,

I'll get my herd to Grillhead,
and I'll sell him.

I'll get me some real money,

and I'm going to pay off
that mortgage.

It's just a loan, you know.

I'm going to pay you back

once I pay the mortgage
to your old man.

And it's going to tie
a knot in his tail

he ain't going to get
undone in a hurry.

All right with you?

It's all right with me.
I got my own plans.

Have you?

All right, son.

We'll just
have us a drink
to the long trail.

I'm going in town tomorrow,

and I'm going to buy me
a mess of supplies,

and I'm going to drive
that herd of mine

right out across
that dust-devil desert.

clean up there in that
blood-dripping Injun country

and down through
them mountain passes

where the chinook
howls like a banshee

and the bones
of the mountain men

are stacked up like cord wood.

Go on there.

Drink her right down,
cowboy.

Go on, drink her
right down.

Now wait a minute.
Here, here.

Hey, John! Scandalous John!

The only kind
of human beings
worth trusting,

- every one of them.
- Si.

Scandalous John!
Scandalous John!

Long, long ago

Here,
that's what they want.

Hey, little fellas,
come here.

Catch up here now.

Everybody ready?

There you go.

Bye, Scandalous John!

Hi, there, Scandalous.

Ah, a pile of--

Dollars to doughnuts,
they stole them ponies.

Ah, right on in there.

Whoa.

Oh, it's you, Mr. McCanless.

Well, it's nice to see you,
Mr. McCanless.

And how have you been,
Mr. McCanless?

I want a pair of boots
for my friend here.

Uh, this gentleman?

Buenos d?as, se?or.

Put that hat
back on your head!

You don't take your hat
off to no man.

I said boots. A plain pair
of black leather boots.

Go on, look around
that dude stuff.

Must have some honest
boots in there.

Well, I'm not
so sure that I--

Quit that, Whiskey Pete.

He don't like that perfume
you got all over you.

It's not perfume.
It's Lilac Tweed,

a man's cologne.

Eh, it smells like
geranium water to me.

One of them sissies.
The woods is getting
full of them.

Jump down there
and get your boots, son.

Come on, boy.

All right,
stick your feet in them.

Ai, chihuahua.

How's that? Pinch you any?

Ahh, what's pain
next to such beauty?

Yeah, you're some
apples now, lad.

All you need
is a red silk shirt

with some of them silver
doo-bobs on it,

and you'll be better
than any of them.

Well, come on, amigo.
Let's get out of here.

Ah, there's a rare
old echo in here.

Yeah.

To the river!

Now, Paco,

I want you to go down
to the general store,

just before
you get to the corner.

Give the man that list.

Tell him you want
everything on it.

There you are.

I'll meet you in an hour.

A little business
down the street here.

Hey, what are you
doing?

I want these things
for se?or McCanless pronto.

McCanless? Oh, yeah.

Yeah, this way, please.

Louis, take care
of this gentleman.

I'll be right back.

Did he say
John McCanless?

Si.

You know, this Mendoza

who work for McCanless
before you.

She says paper are no good.

The law will catch him.

You know where he live?

The sun is hot today.

I knew this Mendoza.

She say Se?or McCanless
is crazy.

Perhaps you like
being locked up

in Fort McCanless
with a madman.

or perhaps you have
some reason

to seek such privacy.

Peon, you talk too much.

I need my stuff.

Si, senor.

Have no fear, my son,
of Paco:

the kind of heart,

the doer of great deed,

the friend
of Don Juan McCanless.

Let's have your name, chico.

I'm sheriff
of Delgado County, son.

Hector Pippin is my name.

Now won't you tell me
what your name is?

Francisco Torrez Martinez.

Where are you from,
chico?

Abilene.

Place of residence.
What street?

Main Street.

They always say
Main Street.

I would like to see
any papers

you have with you.

I want to speak
with Mr. McCanless.

Now, now. We don't
mistreat wetbacks here.

I'll process you,
give you a few tests

to locate you on
the sociometric scale,

fingerprint you,

and set you gently
across the line.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

You got business here,
Pippin?

Good afternoon, John.

Hey, you old
nickel-plated law,

what do you think
you're doing

holding up my top hand
and my supplies?

Yo, get them things
out there

to pick up and deliver
to my ranch.

Come on, jump!

Now, now, I know
most folks around here

are in your debt,
myself included,

but you're headed
for the lockup or worse.

Go catch a steer.

As for your man here,

I'm afraid you're going
to have to find another.

This one's got to go back
where he came from.

That boy ain't going nowhere
unless I tell him to.

That's the best man
in my outfit.

Rode fence
with that boy.

Fought Comanches with him.

He's a wetback, John.

Mount right up.

Mount-- Get right on
your animal there, son.

You're out of touch
with reality, John.

You want reality?
Just start slapping leather.

You know perfectly well
I don't carry a gun.

I go unarmed in emulation
of the London bobbies.

Best watch out you don't get
a hole in your emulation.

John, I'm going to have to
ask you

to turn over your man here
and give me all your firearms.

You make one fancy move,

and you're going to get
dusted, fore and aft.

You're making a mistake
again, John.

Don't come around
saying I never warned you.

Paco, v?manos.

Well...

we got John Law on us now.

Looks like we're going
to hit the trail tonight.

I heard that.

Why don't you come along
with us, son?

They got room out there
for a man to breathe.

Thanks, but no, thanks.

I'll put my time in here.

Maybe they just went
out for a ride.

Oh, sure.
With a broken-down
old longhorn?

Old John's no fool.

He won't
be easy to track.

Well, that's
all the more reason

not to stand around here
talking about it.

He may have
his crazy spells,

but on a trail--

I must ask you not
to use the term "crazy"

until I've had an opportunity
to speak with him.

Certainly, doctor. I want
to give John McCanless

the benefit of any doubt.

A great name
in these parts.

And I do
want to apologize

for dragging you
all the way down here

from the county seat.

That's what I get paid for.

Now, Mr. Whittaker,
you were here.

Which way did he go?

South toward the border.

All right,
let's see here.

Doctor,
you know these parts

about as well
as any--

Well, not too well.

Well, here's my
thought on this.

You know why
they never caught up

with Mangus Coloradus,
the great Apache warrior?

Greatest escape artist
of his time.

First move,
he always said,

get your enemy afoot.

Viva Mangus Coloradus.

What are you doing with that
red light and "sireen"?

It were coming loose,

and I didn't want it
to fall off

and hurt someone.

Sure. Well, we'll just
bury them toys

in the desert
where they belong.

Look at that. They even got
a machine for howling.

You know coyote's
the only one

got a right to howl
out here.

Don Juan.

Do you think the police

will catch us?

You think
that wind-up sheriff

can track a man that growed up
with a Comanche?

Ha ha ha!

Cover our tracks.

Hee hee hee hee hee hee!

I'm sorry, Miss Amanda.

I won't protect him
any longer.

It's up to Doc Kropak here
and the state authorities.

But he hasn't hurt anyone.

Miss Amanda,
you know I'm on John's side,

but look at that.
Taking my siren.

Do you know how long it took

to get a first-class piece
of equipment like that

out of Kansas City?

Look, I promise you

he won't cause you
any more trouble.

I can
take care of him.

Yeah, you promised that
before. Good night.

Don't you worry.
We'll find him.

All right,
where'd they go?

North, straight
across the desert.

North by northeast,
actually.

How could you let them
just take off like that?

A helpless, proud old man
who thinks he's--

Come on, they're probably
on a cookout.

They won't go far.

The days are gone

when you can disappear
in the trackless desert.

Oh, that's what you
know about the desert.

Do they have water
or food or anything?

They packed, took the works.
I grub staked them

so we could have a little
time for ourselves.

You low-down,
belly-rich snake!

Hey, wait a minute.

They'll come back.

Look, at least
wait until tomorrow.

What, and let the sheriff's
men find him first?

Why don't you
butt out of this?

By now McCanless
sees himself

a hunted man upon
a "Wanted" poster.

One sight of a uniform,

and the shooting
will start,

and it's the Alamo
all over again.

And it's your fault!

Hey.

Maybe I goofed.

It's possible.

Can I go, too?

Cougar!
A cougar out there!

Get out of here!

Head back to town,
I tell you!

He just frightened
the herd.

Get out of here, you!

There's a cougar
out there!

I see him.

Looks like
he's all right there.

He's settled down,
and he's going to eat
then corn things.

Never mind.

There's a cougar out there
somewhere lurking around.

Vicious "preditators,"
I tell you.

They-- They can
desecrate a herd.

Well,
and he's all right now.

He's settled down there.

Uh, finish up that song.

My horn.

We were just getting
to the sad part there.

Oh, yes.

That was the cougar,
Don Juan?

Looked
like a cougar to me.

I swear
it was a cougar.

Go on.

Report.

What?

What do you mean, what?

I want a report.

Ah, I got to learn you
everything.

All right, you're riding
in position here.

It's called a drag.

I'm riding
up in the front there.

That's called the point.

Every now and then,
I'm going to ride back here

and find out how everything
is at the drag.

All you got to do is tell me.
Well?

It's okay at drag.

That's more like it.

I wonder if you can help us.

We're looking
for Mr. McCanless,

John McCanless.
Has he been by here?

John McCanless?
No, he hasn't,

but Lordy knows
he'd be welcome any time.

He's a regular saint on earth.

Hold on. I'll ask my husband.

Alvin! You seen
John McCanless?

No, he says he ain't seen him,

but you tell Mr. McCanless
he's to come by

any time he wants to.

Lord, if it hadn't been
for that kind, generous man,

we'd have lost this place
long ago.

Well, good luck to you, Mr.--

Whittaker.
James Whittaker.

Whittak-- Whit-- Whit--

Alvin! There's a Whittaker
on the premises!

You miserable wretch!

You scabby--

You get out of here,
you hear me?

Go on! Get out! Get out!

Out! Out!

Sic 'em!

Right in the middle of--

Welcome to the real West,
pardner.

Good morning,
Mr. Whittaker.

Hiya, Senator.
Glad you could make it.

I came the moment
I got your message.

I appreciate it.

Come on. The others
are waiting.

Any problems?

Nothing that isn't
being handled.

That's what I like
to hear.

Some poor homesteader had
that band in his wagon.

This is one of
the stopping spots

on the great trail, Paco.

Regular monument
to the daring and the brave.

This is one of them places

where tragedy struck
over and over and over,

just like at the Donner Pass.

They had to lighten
their load, you see?

Had to leave
their things behind.

And sometimes they fell
by the wayside theirselves,

with Comanche arrows
sticking out of them,

buried where they fell.

Covered over by the winds.

Mingled their bones
with the bones of their oxen.

Well, what's that?

Huh, what's this?

Stay there.

Why, it's a dainty
little dancing slipper.

Look there.

Bright as a pair
of laughing lips.

Where is she now,
you suppose, Paco?

Who was she anyhow?

Buried out there under
the sand, more than likely,

wrapped around
in the charred tarpaulin

from her daddy's
Calistoga wagon.

No.

No, I think I can see her

setting on a buckboard,

bouncing over Raton Pass,

gritting her pretty
little teeth

against the tug
of them leather guidelines

and cussing.

Yes, sir.

Ladylike, of course.

But cussing the bad luck

that made her leave
her party things back here.

Qui?n sabe?

I didn't ask you nothing.

What are you doing
with that stuff?

Put it down there.
Shame on you.

Ain't you got no respect
for nothing?

Why, shame on you.

Oh, maybe she's got herself
a new pair of red boots now,

and she's strutting
for 10 bucks

at some tent honky tonk
up in Carson City.

Ah,

no, maybe she's way up
Sacramento way...

sitting there all alone
in some little cabin,

waiting for her mining man
to come home

and take her out
to the stomp and holler.

here's to you, dearie,

wherever you are.

You and all them other
brave little girls

that come by here.

All honor to you.

Bless your little hearts.

well...

they're all gone now,
them kind.

Now a bunch of flappers

running around...

these days.

Why,
them bloodthirsty thieves.

Look at that.
That's a lady down there,

standing her ground
against a whole circle
of drink-mad savages.

Oh, ain't that a sight
to make your blood run cold.

Keeping that poor woman
captive

and force her
to serve them the liquor.

Forcing her.

Well, she ain't so
friendless as she thinks.

Se?or McCanless,
let's get out of here.

No, Paco.

I never invited you
to this game.

Never was a day
when John McCanless
wasn't a match

for five drunk renegades.

Whatever happens, don't
let them take you alive.

Charge!

Don Juan! Stop!

Who's the old nut?

Search me.
I'll tell you.

Some of the dingalings
that come through here
sometimes.

Are you okay?

Yes, I'm all right.

Gust of wind come along,

tore my loop out of my hand,

just when I was
gonna fling it at them.

All right, now you can
tail me up here.

Again?

We're gonna get them
this time.

Don Juan, you will
kill yourself.

Shut up and push me
up on my horse.

Now come on. Atta boy.

All right.

Now, then, Whiskey.

You crazy old coot!

Don't you move.

Time!

Hey, Slugs, that old man
is freaked out.

Let's get out of here.

Come on.

What are you doing?

Keep your iron on them.

I'm going to see
to the lady.

John McCanless, ma'am,
at your service.

- You--
- Whoa, now.

What do you mean service,
you cr-creep!

You ruined my place!

Oh, my dear, don't
take on like that now.

I'm your friend.
I'm here to help you.

You just
set right down there,

and don't-- whoa.

What do you mean,
you old goat?

Oh, what a terrible ordeal
they put you through,

haven't they?

Don't you worry.
I'm going to deal

with these rowdies
for you.

Why, I--

Why, that-- that's Cochise
hisself

sitting right over there.

He'll know
what to do with them.

Pardon me, ma'am.
I'll only be a moment.

I don't get it.

You mean you don't know
your own language,

my brothers?

Well, now listen, Chief,

them braves there
drinkum plenty fire water.

Savvy? Get drunk.

Do bad thing.
Bad Indian.

Now you takem
back reservation,

sober them up,
be good Indian.

Savvy?

They not Indians.

For Little Big Horn, okay.

For massacre
of wagon train, okay.

But we no take rap
for white weirdo.

Well, I'll tell you
what we do, Chief.

There.

Now listen,
get them out of here.

I don't want them
bothering

that plucky little
lady again. Savvy?

What are you going
to do, scalp us?

You can't do this to us.
What's going on?

You hear of civil rights, Sag?

You're interfering
with our civil rights!

Run along.
On out of here.

It ain't your fault,
my brothers.

It's all ours.
All ours.

Never a cop around
when you need one.

You crazy old coot!

Look what you done
to my place!

Now don't worry your
pretty little head

about your place.

Here you are.

I'm sure that'll pay
to restore it

to its former grandeur.

But, Don Juan,
that's our money.

Mount right up there,
pard.

We got other things
to do.

I've got to bid you farewell
now, little lady.

However, I always want
you to think of me

as your personal
protector.

If you need me,
all you got to do is holler.

Just holler,
and I'll come running.

By your leave now.

There you go.

There you go,
right around there.

No one.

Nothing but the desert.

Man, I never knew
it was that big before.

I didn't think he'd go.

Beat-up longhorn

and a wetback
for a saddle pal.

He dreamed himself
into a cattle drive.

And he went and did it.

When I was a little girl,

his imagination
was the best toy I had.

He used to tell me
all kinds of stories.

And a lot of them
were true, too.

There was
this little town...

all deserted
and falling down.

He used to take me
up there in a wagon.

It was
a real ghost town.

We could climb out

over those busted
old wooden sidewalks,

right up into
the Red Dog Saloon.

Then we'd kind of saunter
on over to the bar,

pretend like we were
ordering drinks.

And McCanless

would twang
like a banjo

to the tune
of "After the Ball."

Sometimes
I was the schoolmarm.

And other times, I was
the dance hall queen

with a heart of gold.

Then McCanless...

would get those guns out
and strap them on

and pretend like he was
having a walk-down

on that...
empty old street

full of ghosts
and lost dreams.

Ah, you don't
have to tell me

McCanless was
a great man, Whittaker.

He is, in the eyes
of a child.

But we all have to
grow up, don't we?

For all the hurrah,

he's just a lonesome,
weary old man.

That's all.

He believes
in what he's doing.

And he has the guts
to follow it

to hell and gone.

That's more than with
a lot of us.

All right, crank it up.
Let's try it again.

Paco?

Hey, Paco.

Come on, boy.

Any life in you?

Get out of there.

There you go.

How are you?

Look there.

That was a real,
sure enough Oklahoma sandy.

Rubbed everything
real smooth.

Here you are.
Get your eye open.

First I think
I would not live.

Second...

I remember
you do not pay me yet.

Oh,
yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Well, I tell you.

I ain't carrying anything
smaller than a 50.

That stuff
clutters up your pockets,

jangles around.

Yeah, but--

Oh, listen, Paco,

tell you what I'm
going to do with you.

I've been thinking
about this.

How'd you like to be
a full partner?

Share and share alike
in the whole enterprise.

I don't cotton to the idea

of a man of your
kind of caliber

being a plain ordinary
common employee, see?

So what I'm going to do,

I'm going to make you
a full partner.

We'll sell that herd,

and we'll split the tally
right down the middle,

and we'll go
on a real stem-winder.

Just you and me.
How'd you like that?

Want to call yourself
a rich man, huh?

- Okay.
- Okay.

I like this fine.

I like that, too.

Shake on that, pard.

Let's gather them up.

Oh, thanks.

Got to watch that there.

Well, then, Whiskey.

Get going.

Move 'em out!

Look, Don Juan!

Don Juan, a city!
A city, Don Juan!

A city, a meal, and water!

Look, Don Juan, a--

and-- and beer.

Cold beer!

Ain't nothing there, pard.

That's a mirage.

What?

A mirage-- espejismo.

Ain't nothing there.

Just a trick
of the imagination.

But, compadre, look.

Uh, it's one of the desert's
most subtle tortures.

Half optical illusion

and half the deluded
slaverings of the thirst-mad.

You'd best get a hold
of yourself, boy.

They're going
to be barring you
for a hollow horn.

Look, Don Juan, helado.
Ice cream!

Ice cream.

Paco, I can't let you
do it, pard.

Sooner shoot you dead myself

than set here
and let you topple over
the brink of madness.

Now come on, son.

Ain't nothing there.

Espejismo.

Si, Don Juan.
Another mirage.

Turn them critters!
They're gonna fry themselves!

Get out of there,
you white-faced--
ah, you--

Get out of there!
Let's go to the water!

Yes, patr?n,
that's our water!

Ah, drink up, boys!

Beef tea!
Drinks is on the house!

This is no mirage
this time, huh?

Each man

Must find

A pasture green

Somewhere beyond

The western wind

Out where a man can hear

Freedom singin'
in his ear

Where love,
like lightning

Touches him

Some men were born

To live each day

Fenced in by pavements
cold and gray

But some men
can never wait

Locked outside
freedom's gate

They need to find

A pasture green

Some cool, gentle

Pasture green

All right, fellas,
break it up.

We got some live ones
coming.

Come on. And take off
those Hush Puppies.

Put on sandals.

Now come on. Snap into it.

There it is.
Warbag, pard.

Had some high
old times here.

Come the first time
with my dad.

The end
of the trail, eh?

Yes, indeed.

I have an appointment here,
you know,

a long time coming,

way overdue.

Well, howdy, yourself.

You nasty old Gomorrah, you.

Oh, this is terrific.
A real Indian.

Ah, excuse me.
Sorry.

Keep your hand
on your wallet.

It's a raunchy-looking
outfit they've got here.

Well, now I need
your poison, gents.

Old Horse Hide,
two of them, double.

Old Horse Hide.

Say, that's
a pretty good name.

I'm sorry
I don't have it.

I could let you have,
oh, a Tom Mix

or a Jack Hawksley
or a Hoot Gibson.

Or, if you prefer,
a Boot Hill Belt,

a Sagebrush Swizzle,
or a Joshua Tree Julep.

Heh heh heh. You're
full of fun, ain't you?

I said I want some whiskey,
mister, straight whiskey now.

Now you're getting it.

Now, then,

can you tell me
when Blackjack's train

comes into town?

- Blackjack's train?
- Yep.

Well, the next train
gets in at 5:10,

if that's what you're
talking about,

but who's-- who's--
who's Blackjack?

Don't go pretending you don't
know who Blackjack is.

Blackjack's got the whole
town in his pocket,

including you.

Is that so?

I'm going to bury
the buzzard.

Hello, there, cowboy.

Well, hello, yourself,
there, little--

Come here. What--

What's the matter
with her?

Uh, take it easy,
fella.

What do you mean,
take it easy?

I'd just like to remind you
the girls here aren't paid.

They're volunteers.

What? Volunteers?

They do what they do
out of, well,

social responsibility
and civic pride.

Worst-sounding thing
I ever heard.

Well, amigo,

let's try bagging the tiger.

Which way's
the faro game?

Pardon me.

Help yourself.

Place your bets,
ladies and gentlemen.

Place your bets.

Lay 'em down
and take a chance

to lose and win
as the case may be.

Place your bets.

Pardon me, ma'am.

Howdy, cowboy.

Howdy.

I greet you
with lion heart.

Oh, do you?

There.

Well, well. Ha ha ha!

It takes one to know one.

I seen
this article before

up around Cheyenne,
maybe Mile City.

He's a shark.
Watch him.

He's fixing
to copper me.

Hey! Get your hands
off of that pile.

I know a rigged deck
when I see it, slick.

You been dealing
brace, ain't you?

Are you calling me
a cheat, sir?

Ha ha! Sounds familiar,
don't it?

You wouldn't shoot
an unarmed man.

Got a Hyatt, ain't you?

Go for it
if you got the sand.

A Hyatt?

Oh, you mean a sleeve gun.

Yeah, well, uh...bang.

Bang? Bang, is it?
I'll give you bang.

There's bang?
How do you like
that for bang?

And bang?

Hey, that's good.

It's excellent.

I've never seen
the card game scene

played that well before.

Glad you liked it.

Both of them have been
smoking loco weed.

Harry, go over
the the prop shop

and get a sleeve gun.

It's those little
details that make

for a better
characterization.

There's the train, Paco.

The big man is
rolling into town.

Where's that--

Get back here
with that money, you!

Give me that!
Look out, lady!

I'm trying to...

Get back here!

You card sharp!

Stop, thief, stop.

Paco, reload.

What is this?

What fool did that
to my train?

Blackjack hisself.

Shh. Don't say nothing.

I'm saving him for sundown.

Over here, old timer.

Let's go.

Oh, don't worry
about him, Sheriff.

I took care
of that card shark.

He won't be back
to bother you no more.

Sheriff, take that old man
in and lock him up.

He's a menace
to the public safety.

Are you addressing me,
sir?

I'm sorry
about your train there,

but I happen to be serving
the interests of justice,

making a citizen's arrest,
so to speak.

Citizen's arrest?

Let's go.

You're another one
of them flunkies

for Blackjack, ain't you?

Get your hand
off my arm, boy,

or one of us is gonna
lose our dignity,

and it ain't going
to be me, either.

McCanless!

You leave him alone.

Put that gun away.
Now put it away.

Where'd you come from
anyhow?

You look terrible,
McCanless.

McCanless? My name
ain't McCanless.

It's Slade.
Slade, I tell you.

Come on. Come on.

Come on.

No, amigo.

Get out of here.
You haven't done anything.

All right. It's all over.

I done something.

Well, look who's here.

Looks like the two of you
might stop

what was going to be
in the report.

I wish I hadn't.
Might have been fun.

Jimmy.

Hi, Dad.

I want you. Get in here.

Listen, I'm just going
over to the jail.

I'll be right back.

Now.

Bit of excitement,
eh, gentlemen?

Well, remember you're
in the Wild West now.

I don't think
it'll get much wilder.

All right, as you know,

due to the nature
of our business,

we've always been
a closed circle.

I'm going to presume
on your good will

and invite my son
to take part
in the proceedings.

Are there
any objections?

If you say so, B.J.

His generation doesn't
think the way ours does.

I know.
I got a son of my own.

That's your son, Murray.
I happen to know mine.

What I'm saying
is that Jim, here,

will be taking over
some of my interests

one of these days.
He's been of great service

in putting
this project together.

I'd just like to see him

get his feet a little wetter.

It's all right.

Any observations so far, Jim?

A couple.

200,000 acres of ranch land
flooded out,

two towns wiped out.

Let's see.

I...

Six rivers gone forever.

Personally, Jim,
I want to commend you

on the fine job you did

in lining up those ranch
properties down south.

The price was right.

I understand there's still one
tough nut we have to crack,

but we'll steam roller him.

He's the man who
shot up your train.

That old saddle bum?

It wasn't accidental.

Is that what you're
trying to say?

No, sir, I don't know.

I don't know
what he might do.

That's a fact.

Gentlemen, the meeting
is adjourned

until 10:00 tonight.
Thank you.

Jim, stay here, will you?

Why are you against me?

What's your angle?

I'm not sure.

You win all the time.

Maybe I'd like to see you
lose just once.

Me?

You expect me to lose to him?

I think you will.

For three days
on the trail,

he did not eat.

He was drinking
Old Horse Hide,

but he did not eat.

I know, Paco.

Stubborn old jughead.

There's nothing
anybody can do.

Leave them boots alone.

Oh, it's you.

Well, as long
as you're in town, Amanda,

why don't you go over

to the dry goods store
with me

and help me pick out
some bolts of cloth

for your grandma?

And, uh,

find that little
gold chain she wanted,

as slick as-- as silk.

Go nice with
that brooch of hers.

Grandma would like that,
McCanless.

I'm sorry to intrude,
Miss McCanless,

but I really must get
a couple of matters settled.

I'm Barton Whittaker.

I'm prepared to help you

find a small home
for your grandfather,

some place where he can spend
his last years confidently.

I understand
he needs medical help.

Now, Miss McCanless,

your property is vital
to the Four Rivers Dam,

a project that will
bring prosperity

to the people in this area,

more industry,
more jobs, et cetera.

We don't want to have to have
him declared incompetent.

No deal, Blackjack.
No deal.

My name is Whittaker.

Don't give a hoot what kind
of alias you're using.

You're Blackjack Casem.

They told me

the Daltons bushwhacked
you outside Coffeeville.

That was a dirty lie.

McCanless,
listen to him, please.

Oh, Amanda, I told you

you got nothing
to worry about.

I brung the herd up here.
We're gonna sell them all.

I've got bad news
for you, Mr. McCanless,

about your herd.

Don't you tell me

the price of beef's
gone down

because I won't
believe a word of it.

I have in my possession

a report from
the Health Department,

dated today,
late this afternoon.

They made an inspection,

and they found that your
herd is tainted.

Now, you're a responsible
cattleman, Mr. McCanless.

You can understand that.

You've got me covered,
haven't you, Blackjack?

I'm not here to play
games, McCanless!

Stop it, both of you.

I don't want you
tearing around the country

and tearing down your health

and getting into trouble
all the time.

I love you, and I can't take
what's happening to you,

not anymore.

The ranch is for you.

It doesn't mean
the same thing to me

as it does to you.

Well, I didn't know that.

Well, let's look
on the bright side.

Getting rid of such a burden

may help save your--
-- well, your reason.

You think I'm crazy,
do you, Blackjack?

Well, I got you
fooled there.

That's a trick I learned
from my daddy.

He used to always tell me,

"Keep them guessing,"
he said.

"Keep them guessing."

That's what I done,
Blackjack.

See?

Hey, Walter Sheriff.

Come here.

Run all these people
out of here now.

I'm tired
of all this talk.

What kind of jail
you running?

I'll have my lawyer
bring the papers by.

What are you doing
out here?

It got so crowded there,
I came out for air.

You get back in there.

Go on.

Sheriff,
keep them in there

until I get
those papers signed.

I don't want him
straying.

Here's the key.
They'll be here.

Fine.

Don Juan.

Pss pss pss pss pss.

I got them both.

We go now?

No, no.
We'll go later on

when it's quiet.

Okay.

Somebody's got to stop him.

He'll grab up the whole world
and pave it with cement.

Why does it have to be
McCanless?

Because he's the only one
with the courage

to stand up to them.

All your life you read
and hear about men like him.

When you don't
come across them,

it's very-- it's very
easy to become cynical.

I have, I guess.
But there's hope, you see?

Because there are men
who are not phonies:

John McCanless,
for example.

Oh, stop it.

You're so hungry for
something to believe in

that you'd let him fight
all by himself--

your father, the banks,

the politicians,
the government,

the whole world.

Well, he just can't do it.

So it comes down
to you and me.

You and me, Amanda.

But how?

How?

I don't know yet.

Come on.

What are you doing
with our herd?

Thieves! Stop!

What do you mean, shh?

That's our herd out there.

It's going down the street

with a bunch of rustlers
dressed like mariachis.

You say we are partners.

Half of that herd is mine.

They're not going
to steal my half.

Oigan!

Savages!

Comanches!

Nice shooting, pard.

All right, throw them
guns over here.

Get that door open.

Whittaker has the key.

McCanless.

Oh, what's that?

McCanless.

What do you want?

Shh! I got horses out here.

Here. Help me put this
through the bars.

Think you know
what you're doing?

You're trying to tell

the granddaughter
of Scandalous John

how to bust somebody out
of a one-horse county jail?

I wouldn't do that

if I were you,
Miss McCanless.

Shut up, tin star.

Whap-horse.

There's your jail, Sheriff.

Come on.
They're getting away.

There.

- Jimmy.
- I know.

I turn off here to throw
the posse off the track.

Now you got the idea,
pilgrim.

Come on, Paco.

Get on.

Gotcha, pard.

Good evening, gents.

Gonna have to ask you
to get over the side.

Go on, get!

You know how to-- to steer
this machine, Don Juan?

Why, shoot, anybody can
drive one of these things.

You get into trouble,

you tie down the whistle.

I'll come a-running.

I'm going back
in the boxcar now.

Go on in there
and drive it.

- Me?
- That's all.

You can go to it.

All right.

Drink up.

Come on.
Don't be a party pooper.

I guess he just doesn't
like bourbon.

Wait here.

Here's
looking at you.

It's not that kind
of a party.

The olive is the best
part, Wendell.

Stick 'em up.

Take 'em up, I say,
all you dudes.

Get your hands in the air.

No, not you, muchachos.

Just keep on a-playing.

Set right there
an keep playing, boys.

Hey, yo, curly,

What do you think you are,
some kind of exception?

Get your hands up in the air.

Nicely staged, Barton.

Only one thing.

I don't think
the old duffer's

quite the desperado type.

Get out of there, son.

Aren't you in enough trouble

with the law now, McCanless?

Yes, I am in trouble

with the law, Whittaker,

trouble being I can't
get none of it.

What do you mean?

What do I mean?

Go on, play them guitars.

What I mean is that's
my herd right there.

That's my herd, and I
caught you red-handed.

You rustled him,
didn't you?

Your herd is tainted,
remember?

Mr. Abernathy,
Department of Health.

How do you do?

Yes, sir.
It's all right here,

right on that
piece of paper.

I'd be careful, Abernathy.

Remember,
I'm mentally unstable.

Anybody will tell you that.
I don't like to be crossed.

Is that there herd
diseased or ain't it?

It wouldn't be sanitary

to have him here
in the parlor car

if he was.

I'll tell you what.

Gather up
your trinkets here,

turn around,
open that door,

and jump off the train.

Come on,
do like I tell you.

Now, go on playing, boys.
Go right on playing.

I could get killed.

Go on, jump.

That's the way.

Here she comes.

What are you doing?
Get out of the way!

Hey, that's Paco.

Hey, Jimmy!

Hey, Miss Amanda!

Come on! Get a ticket!

McCanless, you stubborn,
muley old bull!

None of you
courtroom coyotes

can sing worth a hoot.

Just gather up
your gear there

and open the--

open the door
there, barkeep.

Just jump right off
the train now.

Go ahead.

Do like I tell you!

Oh, no, not you, muchachos.

Now set down there
and play us a little tune.

That's the way.

If that's the 12:02
from Topeka,

she's two days early.

Jimmy, he's gone.

There's no one in the cab.

Hey, what are you doing
there, pard?

How come you ain't
driving the train?

She don't need driver,
Don Juan.

She right on track.

That's impossible.

There's nothing due
from your side

for two days.

I've got the next train
from Albuquerque

coming the other way
in two minutes.

Just thought you ought
to know about it,

that's all. Nobody ever
tells me anything.

The old mine switch.

Oh, it's an awful mess.

The line's broken
in several places.

There's no choice.

Hey, Paco, go on up there
and gentle her down some.

There's Paco.

Paco! Stop!

Hey!

What are you doing?

Come on, get out.

Hey! Get out of the way!

He'll have to stop now.

What if he doesn't?

That.

Much as I'm obliged to you,

we've come to the parting
of the ways.

I've got some private business
here with Mr. Whittaker.

Here you are, sir.

Mighty fine instrument
you got there.

Much obliged to you.

Here you are.
Here you are now.

There you are, pard.
Mighty beholden to you.

Keep that door
open there.

All right,
young fella.

?Muchas gracias!
?Viva M?xico!

Well, Blackjack?

That just brings it down
to you and me, don't it?

You ain't got your private
army with you no more.

Let's see what kind
of man you are.

Tell you what we're
going to do, Blackjack.

You and me are going to have
a combat to the death.

That's what them old
Comanche chiefs used to do,

just have it out between
the two of them, see?

That way, the young braves
can stay out of it.

They wouldn't
get killed off.

The squaws and the young'uns

wouldn't have to starve
for the winter.

Makes a lot of sense
that way, don't it?

Don't you make any
mistakes, McCanless.

I don't bluff,
and I don't scare.

All right.

There you are, Blackjack.

Now stand up there.

Get your hands over
against your belt.

Then we can play.

You're even wilder
than they say you are.

Make a grab for it,
you shoot it up, dude.

Come on. Let's see
if you got the guts.

Where does this
track end?

At the mine. They should
be getting there about now.

Don Juan!

Help!

Don Juan.

Don Juan!

Juan!

Don Juan!

Don Juan!

Yeah.

Ah, Paco.

Who did this?

We ran out of track.

I see.

Are you all right?

Sure, I'm all right.

Look out. I got...

unfinished business here.

McCanless?

Haah! Here I am.

I'm ready when you are,
Blackjack.

Give me that pistol, boy.

No, no, no, no, Juan.

Give me that pistol now.

Get out of here. Go on.

Bullets are going to be
flying in a minute.

They're going to be
shipping you home

in a hog hide, Blackjack.

Start slapping leather.

McCanless, no!

No, Wendell! No!

- Don Juan!
- McCanless!

You fool!

Looks like you win the pot,
Blackjack.

Why don't you pick it up?

No.

No, John.

You can keep the ranch.

I'm a mite trail worn
for that now, Blackjack.

Them two can handle
that for me.

And you, uh, Paco.

You're the best partner

I ever tied up with at drag.

Look, Don Juan.

We made it. Quivira.

Sure. Why, it says...

Why, that sure enough is,
pard.

It says Quivira.

We-- We made it.

- Yeah.
- Quivira.

The golden city.

That's a--

Juan.

Paco.

Please don't go away,
McCanless.

Oh, please don't go...

McCanless.

I'm going to miss you.

Goodbye, Paco.

Be careful crossing
the Rio Grande.

Don't worry, se?orita.

I could swim over,
I can swim back.

Good luck, compadre.

Thank you for the animal.

Bye.

Hey, pard.

Paco, how are you getting
along back there?

Is okay at drag!

Everything's okay
at the point.

Now, Paco, tell you what
we're going to do here.

I'm going to cut us
a notch in the wind.

We're going to jounce
this herd of ours

down across that
dust-devil desert.

We're going to swim them
across the Rio Grande, see?

Clean into old Mexico.

Then we're going out across
them Sierra Madre mountains,

get us a whole mess
of tequila

maybe a couple
of them se?oritas,

and dance with them

till their eyes
shine like diamonds.

Tell them all kind
of glorious lies

about the gold in Quivira.

You and me, pard.

We're going to leave us
a trail of houlihans what am.

Yes, sir, pard,

you and me.

Each man must find

A pasture green

Somewhere beyond

The western wind

Out where a man can hear

Freedom singin'
in his ear

And love,
like lightning

Touches him

I know each hill

Is high and wide

But green pastures
fill the other side

And so I'll travel
each trail

And ford each stream

And lie down in peace

In a pasture

Cool and green