Silver City (1951) - full transcript

( dramatic theme playing )

( men indistinctly
chattering )

MAN:
Hey, you guys, over here.

Haven't you finished
the McKinley assay yet?

Yeah.
I just want to make sure.

They really struck
high-grade ore this time.

Yeah.

CHARLIE: - Larkin?
- What?

What's the matter
with you lately?

Nothing.

Oh, come on, we've been friends
too long for that.



You're jumpy.

I don't hold a grudge
against you.

No woman's worth it.

Listen, Charlie, you leave
Josephine out of this.

Heh. She's a very expensive
girl. I ought to know.

What are you going to use
for money?

Don't worry, Charlie.

I'll make out.

That's just it, you won't.

All right, up with them.

Don't try any funny stuff.

What the devil?

That's better.

All right,
let's have it, mister.



There's only a little
payroll money left.

Who said anything
about money?

Go on, take it. It belongs
to the afternoon shift.

Who's talking to you?

Break it out.
The McKinley assay.

I don't know
what you're talking about.

What is this?
How do they know about that?

Always thought
it was a secret, huh?

Well, it ain't, see. We haven't
got all day. Where is it?

It isn't made up yet.

No?

I'll just have a look
at this.

Keep out of that!

So ain't made out yet, eh?

Assayer's report
on McKinley mining properties.

Hey, that's no good to you.
Let it be.

Easy, mister.

Well, if it's no good,

then it won't hurt
if I take it along, will it?

Let's have a look at what
you got in that tin can.

- What?
- You heard him, Moffatt.

- No.
- Yes.

Unless you want a couple
of holes in your stomach.

Now get going.

Larkin, you can't.

I told you
to keep out of it.

- Leave him alone.
- Hold it, Jim.

We made a deal.
No shooting.

Unless we got to.
Now pack it up.

LARKIN:
You won't get away with this.

MAN: Oh, you're gonna tell
the sheriff you made a deal

to have us hold you up, huh?

LARKIN: I made a mistake.
That I'll pay for.

Cut the gab.
Now let's go.

( dramatic theme
playing )

That Moffatt will sure be
in hot water

when Storrs comes to.

( train whistle blows )

He's following.

( tense theme
playing )

( train whistle blowing )

( train whistle blowing )

( train whistle blowing )

( train whistle blowing )

( train whistle blowing )

( romantic theme
playing )

Forget him, Charlie.

I can't forget him, Josephine.
We've been friends too long.

Somehow I never thought
he'd turn crooked.

You know, it's not so long ago
that you and he were--

That's over.

If you really must know,
Charlie,

it was always you.

I know one thing.

I'll see that he never gets
another chance.

( dramatic theme
playing )

The boss wants to see you.

( upbeat theme playing )

RECRUITER: - Your name?
- Bob Scott.

Your name?

Larkin Moffatt.

Next man.

( knock on door )

Just in time,
Miss Surrency.

Is it good?

Dad!

The good Lord love us.

Two thousand ounces
of silver to the ton.

Baby, we're rich.

Are you sure
you haven't made a mistake?

Never ask an assayer
if he made a mistake.

He'll shoot you dead.

We've got the world
to move, Dad.

Send Fuller
down to the Silver Bell

to pick up a crew.

I'll meet you
at the house later.

Goodbye, Moffatt. Thanks.

Now we'll talk,
Mr. Moffatt.

And you know what about.

I can guess.

You're getting 15 percent.

No, just my assay fee.

Who told Dad the stuff
was at the crossed fault?

I guess I did.

You can fool
some of this town, Mr. Moffatt.

Why you want to
is your own business.

But you're a mining engineer,
and a good one.

I'm an assayer.

Among other things, yes.

But a mining engineer first.

No jackleg miner or assayer

could have told Dad
where that stuff lay.

A lot of them tried.

You know what we're
bucking now, don't you?

Yeah, you've gotta get out
a lot of ore in a hurry.

Dad took out a six-month lease
on the Big Jay.

He agreed to pay Jarboe
7 percent royalty

on everything he took out.

He worked like a dog.
Didn't even make expenses.

Dad put everything he had
into the Big Jay.

Yeah, but now
he's struck it rich.

And there's only 12 days
to take out the pay dirt.

After that,
it reverts back to Jarboe.

Are you listening, Mr. Moffatt?

I heard you.

If every hour is so precious,
why waste time on me?

Because it's partly
your money.

I told you
I want no part of it.

Then why did you tell Dad
where to look?

You've made us a fortune.

All right, we can't swing it
in the time we've got.

Dutch has been mining longer
than I have.

Mining, yes,
but not fighting.

What's fighting got to do
with it?

There's maybe a half a million
in that pocket.

Do you think Jarboe
would rather take

7 percent of it
or all of it?

He owns the only mill
in the neighborhood.

After he moves our ore
and sees the figures,

do you think he'll let us
take that out?

There are ways around that.

Name one.

Keep your assay secret.
Don't mill your ore.

Lease a patch of ground
next to the Big Jay

and dump your ore on it.
Run four, six-hour shifts

of the best miners
you can find in Silver City.

Pay them anything they want.
Drive them till they drop.

No. They won't take orders
from a woman.

How about your foreman?

I need a partner.

I've been in this town
three months.

Nobody pays much attention
to an assayer.

But if I went to work
for you,

somebody might start
checking up on me.

If they did, you wouldn't
want me around your place.

Oh, I see.

If you do,
then leave me alone.

We pay our way.

You'll get a check
for your share.

You can burn it
if you want to.

Good night.

( piano playing
western music )

MAN 1: Hi.

MAN 2: Hi, Larkin.

- Hi.
- Whiskey.

Did you hear about Dutch?

Yeah.

All right, all you miners.

If you want a job, step up.

Dutch hit it, huh?

Right where it feels good.
It was at a slip fault.

Jarboe just plain missed it.

Who spotted it?

( chuckles ):
I don't know. Dutch, I reckon.

How are you, Moffatt?

Hello, Taff.

Some luck, huh?

Tough for Jarboe.

That's the way it happens.

Maybe Dutch will leave
some for old RB.

How much did it run
to the ton?

Dutch bought the assay.
Ask him.

Maybe I will.

I'm making the same deal
as I did at Mile High, gents.

I'm Dutch's foreman.

I'm hiring any man who wants
$5 for a six-hour shift.

- Six hours?
- Six hours.

But the way I'll work you,
you'll wish it were four.

Let me see your hands.

Yeah, you'll do. Name?

- Templeton.
- Templeton.

Next.

Take a look at these.

No souses on this job.

Stay sober a couple of days,
then come and see me. Next.

( indistinct shouting )

That's gonna get you
a couple of broken ribs.

( indistinct shouting )

MAN 1: Come on, Arnie,
let him have it.

MAN 2:
Kill him!

MAN 3:
That's it! Let him have it!

MAN 2: Get up.

MAN 4: Hit him, Arnie.

MAN 5: Look out, look out!

MAN 6: Look out, Arnie!

All right, throw him out.

Go tell Dutch Andy Freed
will get a crew together.

This may hurt a little.

Oh.

Ah, you'll be all right.

Yeah. Two or three months.

Some of you boys
take him home.

Get Mrs. Shocking for him.
She's a good nurse.

( knock on door )

Oh, come in.

I just left Spence Fuller.

How badly is he hurt?

He's got some cracked ribs.
Three at least.

Well, he'll be all right
if it's only ribs.

Sure, in a couple of months.

Yeah. It's a fine time
for that to happen.

- Who did it?
- A drunken miner.

Fuller was hiring...

when he told a man to sober up,
the trouble started.

- Have some coffee.
- Thanks.

Any other time but now.
He couldn't wait a week.

Twelve days.

Afraid to ask him, Dad?

What?

I will if you won't.

Dad's wondering
what I'm wondering.

This accident of Fuller.

Couldn't it make you
change your mind?

No.

Well, you said
it wasn't the money.

So it must be
whatever you're hiding from.

How bad is it?
Did you kill somebody?

No. Just that
I can't handle the job.

It's out of my line.

Dad says not.

Candace and I
have talked about it,

and we think you have
the experience we can use.

I'm an assayer.
Good night.

- Good night.
- Good night.

( door slams )

( dramatic theme playing )

How much were you paid
to beat up Spence Fuller?

I don't know
what you're talking about.

How much?

- Two dollars.
- Who paid you?

Bill Taff.

You work too cheap.

( upbeat theme playing )

MAN 1:
Whoa.

MAN 2:
Ho.

Let's have those bags,
will you, driver?

You call this a city?

They do, I don't.

They call it Silver City.

And how long
are we staying here?

Oh, a couple of days.

- A week at the outside.
- A week?

I couldn't stand it a week.

JOSEPHINE:
And they call this a hotel.

CHARLIE:
Let's go.

Lucky we caught you
still up.

Evening, Moffatt.

- Hello, Jarboe.
- Heh.

I never could understand
this assaying business.

You make a living from it?

Only when I keep busy.

Moffatt, I never
beat about the bush.

I prefer to beat it up.

To make a long story short,

I want that assay
of Dutch Surrency's.

How do you propose
to get it?

- Buy it.
- Mm-mm.

Put yourself in my place.
The Big Jay is my mine.

I leased it to Dutch,
and he struck it rich.

Now, what sort of a mine
have I got?

Rich or only middling rich?

I got to know
if I'm being bled white

or just a dirty grey.

So you think it's worth it

to keep Dutch from moving
that ore, huh?

Now, whatever gave you
that idea?

Spence Fuller got a couple
of broken ribs tonight.

That's too bad, huh?

And cheap. Just $2.

You're a real son of a gun.

What's your price?

The same as Dutch's.
Ask him.

I did. His price is
another six-months lease

- on the Big Jay.
- That's your answer.

How would a thousand dollars
sound to you, Mr. Moffatt?

Good night, gentlemen.

I've bought better men
for less.

He's got a hungry look, RB.
Double the offer.

Well, there are other ways.
Dutch has got to mill that ore.

You got a long nose.

It gets longer
when I smell something rotten.

Keep your nose
out of my business.

Hmm.

( ominous theme playing )

( knock on door )

Is Dutch around?

He's gone up
to the Big Jay.

Tell him to watch
Bill Taff and Jarboe.

They paid that miner
to beat up Spence.

They're gonna fight.

What are we gonna do
about it?

Just keep your head up.

And another thing.

Jarboe offered to buy
that assay from me

a little while ago
for two thousand dollars.

And?

Dutch will have to guard

his dump,
search his miners,

so they won't smuggle out
ore for an assay.

He can keep it
from Jarboe for a week.

Well, you've got this all
figured out.

Oh, yes.

Well, have you figured out
a way a sick man and a woman

can do all that?

You can hire men.

But not you. I know.

I'm leaving town. I'm sorry.

I'm sure you are.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( upbeat theme playing )

Candace Surrency.

Hello, Mrs. Barber.

- Is Tim around?
- No.

He said to tell you
he'd have those timbers

at the Big Jay
this afternoon.

- He's gone after them.
- Good.

Excuse me, Miss Surrency.

I couldn't help hearing
your name.

You are the daughter
of the man

who made the big strike,
aren't you?

Dutch Surrency
is my father, yes.

I'm Charles Storrs.
I represent

the Coronet Metals
and Mining Company.

I just heard
about your father's strike.

But I don't recall running
across the name Surrency

in the claim office files
at Apex.

It's the Big Jay mine,
Mr. Storrs.

Oh, yes.

We only lease it.
Mr. RB Jarboe owns it.

I've heard
about the Big Jay.

You have a long lease on it,
I hope.

A short one.

What is the assay?

That's our business,
Mr. Storrs.

How do you keep a secret
like that?

By milling our ore
when the lease is up.

Mr. Jarboe's the man
you wanna see.

Quite a girl.

The best.

Now, madam,
about breakfast.

My wife isn't feeling
very well,

and she's appreciate
having it served in the room.

She looked all right to me
last night.

Well,
she's a little delicate.

If she's too delicate
to come downstairs,

she's too delicate to eat.

I'll lug no breakfast
up those stairs.

- I'll carry it up.
- You won't neither.

Breakfast is over
two hours ago.

Anything else troubling you,
Mr. Storrs?

Yes, your stubbornness.

That troubles me too.

Sometimes.

( slow theme playing )

( door opens )

Might as well go back to bed,
sweetheart.

Stoneface will bring you
no breakfast this morning.

Probably couldn't eat it
if she did.

How long
are we staying here?

Till my business
is finished.

Hurry it up.

You were the one that wanted
to come along, weren't you?

Ah, go away.

( dramatic theme playing )

Mr. Jarboe.

Huh?

I'm Charles Storrs.

- That's Taff.
- Howdy

Howdy.

You Coronet fellas
shopping around here now?

We like to pick up
any missed bets.

Heh. You've come
to the right place.

Thanks.

What's Surrency turned up?

Wished I knew.

It's your mine, isn't it?

Can't keep you
off your own property.

They can keep me
from taking out enough ore

to make an assay.

Do you want to sell?

Why, yesterday morning
I would have sold,

but now I don't know.

I'd sell anything
at the right price,

but I don't know
what the Big Jay is worth now.

You Coronet fellas
want to buy?

We'll buy anything
at the right price.

But I won't buy a mine
that I can't look at

or whose ore I can't assay.

Well,
we tried to buy the assay,

but the fellow who made it
wouldn't sell.

Maybe if we offered him
all the Coronet work

for the next two years,
he'd change his mind.

I don't know.
He's a funny fellow.

Every man has his price,
Jarboe.

I know that, but I don't
know what his price is.

If you let me try this,
I'd soon find out.

Let's go over and see him.

Yeah.

It isn't right.

It's my mine,
and I have a right to know.

Of course you have.

If Moffatt skipped,
he's sold out to Surrency.

Did you say Moffatt?
Not Larkin Moffatt.

TAFF: Know him?

Yeah, I know him.

So this is
where he came, huh?

Josephine will never
believe it.

That man's a crook, Jarboe.

I wouldn't let him assay
a tin cup for me.

And how is Moffatt a crook?

How?
I worked with him a year ago.

We had a report
on a rich piece of property.

One day, a couple of men
walked in with guns

and held us up.
They took that report.

Now, what's wrong with that
if they got the drop?

They didn't. I mean,
they had the drop all right.

But they knew
about that report.

There's only one man
that could have told them.

- Moffat.
- Or you?

It wasn't me.

And it wasn't me
who sold the assay

to Pacific Shares
for 40,000.

Hmm. Not bad, not bad.

It looks
like he's run again.

Yeah, he probably saw us
come into town last night.

Well,
maybe he left the assay

- around here somewhere.
- Hold it.

Was the Surrency assay
the last job that Moffatt did?

Yeah, I guess so.

You wouldn't know the size

of the sample that Surrency
brought to Moffatt, would you?

I heard Spence Fuller tell.
A fifth assay ton.

Wait a minute.
Don't touch a thing.

Three point seven

nine-six milligrams.

You know anything
about assay work?

Not a thing.

No, never could
understand it.

You see this?

That's the weight
of a gold button.

Here he's written down

the weight of the silver
and the gold button combined

that he cooked
out of the ore.

Moffatt dissolved the silver
in nitric acid,

which doesn't touch gold.

Now, subtract the weight
of the gold

from the total amount,

and we'll find out
just how much silver

was dissolved by the acid.

Is it good?

Good? Two thousand ounces
to the ton.

Your Surrency is a rich man,
Mr. Jarboe.

Now don't do that, Bill,
these things cost money.

( ominous theme playing )

It does a man good

to let off a little steam
sometimes.

( upbeat theme playing )

( horse snorts )

I'll have two pounds
of ten-penny nails, please.

Deal me out.

It's no use,
I'm not going back.

I didn't follow you here.

I just happened to be
riding this way.

How'd you know
I'd be here?

A trader from Apex said
he passed you last night.

Your Coronet story is out.

All of Silver City knows it
by now.

Any opinion?

No opinion.

Being a crook
doesn't necessarily mean

a man's not good at his job.

What I really wanted
to ask you about is,

what do you want done
with your assay stuff?

Your place is wrecked.

Wrecked?

Completely.

Everything inside smashed.

Who did it?

Bill Taff, Jarboe,
a man name Storrs.

Charlie Storrs, yeah.

Wasn't satisfied
with hounding me.

He's gonna break up
everything I own.

Miss Surrency,
you got yourself a foreman yet?

Yeah, I think so.

Who is he?

Larkin Moffatt.

( upbeat theme playing )

Something
I can do for you?

You know now who I am?

Get out.
Go tell Taff and Jarboe.

Hello, Larkin.

Have you got a Charlie Storrs
here, Mrs. Barber?

Take your trouble outside,
Larkin.

Besides he isn't here.

But there's his fine wife,
just come down for breakfast.

( romantic theme playing )

How are you, Josephine?

Used to be worth a kiss,
Larkin.

Charlie said
you'd run away again.

Not this time.

How long has it been
since we've seen each other?

Since I ran away
from the Coronet.

How's the world
treated you?

I haven't seen
very much of it.

I've looked
at a lot of it.

You knew
about Charlie and me.

You have my best wishes.

( suspenseful theme
playing )

Stand up, Moffatt.

Hello, Charlie.

Are you in on this too
or are you just tagging along?

Get his gun.

You better move, lady.

- Shall I, Larkin?
- Yes.

Bill Taff,
you take your fight outside.

Shut up.
He won't fight, he'll run.

You did all right against Donny
with a chunk of ore.

But I don't think
you're so good.

You wouldn't take a chance
on that, would you?

All right, boys,
let's make it even.

- The-- I--
- Sit down!

You too.

All right, take him.

( indistinct chattering )

Jarboe,
you'll pay for this.

( glass breaking )

I wanna talk to you.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Maybe now
we can get to work.

( chuckles )

( upbeat theme playing )

It's 12:00.
You must be hungry.

I was never hungrier.

Ah.

Thanks, I've eaten.

How's the work going?

The chute will be finished

by the time the midnight
shift gets here.

Then we can start moving ore.

Good.

Thanks for the help
yesterday.

You're an employee.

If you got hurt, you wouldn't
have been much good to us.

That's right.

Strictly a matter
of business, huh?

You've got a grudge
against Charlie Storrs.

That's why
you took this job.

Dad and I
are fighting Jarboe.

That's why we hired you.

I think
we understand each other.

By now everybody in Silver City
has heard the story

that Charlie Storrs
has been spreading about me.

But he didn't say
that I sent back the money

the two hold up men took.

No, he didn't.

And I never got any part
of the $40,000 for that assay.

( knock on door )

- Hello, Miss Surrency.
- Hello.

How are you, Mrs. Storrs?

I came here on business.

Before we discuss that,
I wanna say

I resent what you said
in the hotel yesterday.

Since when have I ever
tagged along with three men

to watch them beat up
one man?

I guess you're right, Charlie.
I apologize.

I think you had other things
on your mind.

I did.

One was how to face a town
after the story you told.

Did I lie about anything?

No.

It's what you left out
that makes it so tough.

Did you come up
to look over the Big Jay?

Legally you can't keep me out.

Go ahead.

Well, I thought since you were
keeping the assay a secret...

We've got no secrets from you.
Especially the assay.

Here's written permission
from Jarboe

to examine the property.

Do you mind if Josephine
stays with you?

Not at all.

I don't think
she'd enjoy the mine.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

I think most of the arguments
start because of Charlie.

This one did, anyway.

Because of what he told
about Larkin?

Yes.
That's unforgiveable.

Can't a man make a mistake

without having it haunt him
all his life?

That was the trouble.
It haunted him too long.

Now it doesn't
since it's out in the open.

Larkin can be dangerous
at times.

I came along because I thought
he might try to fight Charlie.

Oh, I don't think you have
to worry about that anymore.

You don't know Larkin.

Mrs. Storrs,

I'm interested
in Larkin Moffatt

only as my father's foreman.

But that well I do know him.

You don't know him
as well as I do.

That's what you keep
telling me.

How well did you know him?

Figure it out for yourself.

He asked me to marry him.

Really?

I wonder what could have
made him change his mind.

You won't be buying that.

Here's what you want.

This is going to take
a little time.

I wanna mark out some ore
for mill tests.

How much?

Two on the first level,
three here.

Two on each level,
let us say.

Let's not say. That's 10 ton.
How will you move it?

Same way you move it.

This mine was leased
with all its equipment.

That means track cars,
hoist machinery 24 hours a day.

You put any men down here,
I'll run over them.

I'm not moving any ore
for Jarboe.

If I can't move it,
how am I going to test?

That's your problem.

Oh, I see.

Letting me in here
didn't mean a thing then.

Did you think it would?

If I wanna test,
then I'll have to wait

until the lease is up.
Is that it?

I'll send back
no recommendation

to buy up property
or put up a mill

on the results
of a 40-pound assay.

Suit yourself.

Goodbye, Larkin.
It's been like old times.

Bye.

Open for business?

Man, oh, man. Ha-ha-ha.

You ought to be in bed.

I'm all right.

Well, did you get
into the Big Jay?

Just about.

What's he got, a pocket?

A big one,
as far as I can see.

Is he robbing it?

Gutting it. Who wouldn't?

He'll have the chute
finished by tomorrow.

What chute?

Didn't you know?

He's building a chute
to slide the stuff

to the next property.

But that's 250 feet.

All of it.

But don't you see? He'll
stack it there and won't mill it

until the lease is up.

Oh, he must be building
a trestle over the wash.

Heh. He better hope
he don't get a good rain.

Ha.

Of course, you know,
this cools our deal,

don't you, Jarboe?

I was afraid of that.
You leaving?

No, I think I'll stick around
until Dutch's lease is up.

Do that.

Good night.

You better get some sleep.

Well, how you feeling?

Ah, not very good.

Look, RB,
I'm not scared of him.

I'm not scared of any man
that walks on two feet.

But the next time
he comes after me,

I want a finger free
to go inside a trigger guard.

Yeah,
I'm getting poorer every hour.

Well, you won't get
any richer beating up Moffatt.

Yeah, but he's taking out
my ore.

If it would only rain.

Maybe we can make it rain.

( suspenseful theme playing )

You think so, huh?

( upbeat theme playing )

You won't have to do this
much longer.

Oh, I don't mind it.

What do you do
once you're rich?

Buy myself
some chickens.

( both laugh )

I'm glad you didn't let
Storrs bait you.

When you didn't get mad,
he lost his advantage.

Something he doesn't like
to lose.

His wife doesn't like
to lose it either.

What happened between you two
when we were down in the mine?

Just talk.

And she told you
we were to be married?

Yes, she mentioned it.

I ran out before the marriage,
Candace.

I made the deal to sell
the McKinley assay

because of her.

I wanted to give her
everything she never had.

But I couldn't go through
with it.

I knew that if I did,
I'd do anything for her.

Can you understand that?

Yes, I guess I can.

I would have stolen for her,
lied for her, killed for her.

And I think
she would have let me.

Could it--?

Could it happen to you again
if she weren't Mrs. Storrs?

No.

Well, then it turned out
all right.

Go on, say it, Larkin.

Say what?

There ought to be a law
against meddling women like me.

New shift didn't show up.

- None of them?
- Not a single one of them.

Jarboe.

( ominous theme playing )

( piano playing
and men indistinctly talking )

( indistinct chattering
and laughing )

( indistinct shouting )

( man laughing )

MAN:
Good one.

MALONE: You're at Big Jay,
aren't you?

I'm at Big Jay too, Malone,
what does it get me?

- Free drinks.
- Who's paying?

Bill Taff.

He made a bet.

Bought a barrel of booze
from me.

Said pass it out
to the Big Jay crew.

Of course you know
this is my noon shift

you got soused.

Fire them.

Plug up the barrel.

Look, Moffatt,
you run your mine,

I'll run my saloon.

( piano playing
and indistinct chattering )

Ed, what can you rent me
that will hold 10 to 12 men?

You want something
with style?

Something with high sides
for a bunch of drunks.

And I'll need
a good driver too.

An oil wagon
is what you want.

And I'm your driver.

Hitch it up.

How much for the lot?

Two dollars.

( Ed laughing )

( indistinct chattering
and piano playing )

( men indistinctly
speaking )

Looking for trouble?

I wanna speak to Andy Freed,
my hoist man.

What for?

I don't wanna spoil
their fun,

so send him outside alone,
will you?

Here.
Buy yourself a cigar.

You want me?

I don't.

The fellow inside said
you wanted me.

Sounds like Tim Malone
is trying

to ease you boys out, huh?

What's he wanna do that for?

Bill Taff paid
for a barrel of whiskey.

If Malone can ease you out

with only a quarter
of a barrel, or half a barrel,

he can sell the rest
of the whiskey again.

- Ah, dirty--
- Wait a minute.

Malone's got a couple
of bouncers in there,

and they use clubs.

Here,
better take one of these.

There are a lot more clubs
here.

Better send the rest
of the boys out one at a time.

Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

( indistinct shouting
and glass breaking )

Take your money
and throw you out, huh?

That's a fine business.

Throw me out, will he?
Give me that club.

Come on, fellas.

MAN:
Give me one of them club.

There you are. There
it is, boys. Get to work.

( indistinct shouting
and glass breaking )

( whistles )

Why, you...

This is some of your work.
I'll kill you for this.

( men indistinctly
shouting )

What's going on in there?

Just a friendly fight, Ed.

LARKIN:
Come on-- Go.

Better get aboard.

( dramatic theme
playing )

Boiled potatoes again
for lunch?

Yeah, good ones too.

There's no such thing
as a good boiled potato.

You're gonna be as big
as a moose

before we get out of here.

Where are you going
this afternoon?

I'm going up near the Big Jay
to look at some property.

You wanna come along?

No.

What'll you do?

Oh, I can use up an hour
in the dining room

pushing those boiled potatoes
around my plate.

Then I can go look over
the mops, pans and axes

in both stores.

Then I can walk
till I'm out of breath.

Then I can sit in the lobby
for an hour.

You have a tough lot.

Why don't you meet
some women?

Mrs. Barber?

How often can I get insulted
in a day?

There's that Surrency girl.

Charlie, really.

You wanted company,
didn't you?

Not that kind.

Bye.

I'm not your cousin,
sweetheart.

Put some catsup on those
boiled potatoes. It helps.

( romantic theme playing )

Afternoon, dearie.
Have a nice sleep?

On that bed?

Hello, Josephine.

You better hurry up
if you want some lunch.

Oh, I'm not a bit hungry,
really.

In fact,
I've got an errand to run.

Come along?

I lied, Larkin.

I haven't got an errand,
I was just bored stiff.

Charlie's gone off
for the afternoon.

Can I tag along with you
wherever you're going?

I'm sorry, I've gotta
go over to my shack.

Clean it up,
get a few things.

I'll help you.
I'll be good.

Charlie should be ashamed
of this.

Maybe he is.

I won't be more
than a couple of minutes.

What kind of people
are they?

- Who?
- The Surrencys.

Who else?

The best.

How old is she?

Candace?
She's about 21, I guess.

Just a baby.

There are no baby women,
like there are no baby tigers.

Yes, I'd noticed that
about her too.

She's hard and catty.

She can take care of herself,
if that's what you mean.

Well, I don't like her.

That's your privilege.

- Larkin.
- Yeah?

Just wondered if you'd
forgotten I was here.

How could anyone
forget that?

Charlie does, often.

Charlie concentrates
too hard.

On everything but me.

I made a mistake, Larkin.

A terrible mistake.

- And so did you.
- Take it easy now.

Why did you run out on me?

I had to.
You were no good for me.

Oh, Larkin.

Larkin.

It's that Surrency girl.

You fool.

( suspenseful theme playing )

- Who are you men?
- We're new.

Dutch told us
to report for work.

All right, come on.

This way.

We'll be along in a minute.

Now. If you're taking orders
from me.

Well, maybe we ain't
taking orders from you.

Stand back and keep quiet.

Andy Freed!

MAN 1: Is that you, Larkin?
LARKIN: Come a-runnin'!

MAN 2:
Look out, dynamite!

LARKIN: Come on, men!
They're trying to blow us up!

Hurry up!

Get out of the way!
Run, run for cover!

MAN 4: Look out!

Go on, get out!

MAN 5:
All right, get out of here.
Come on!

All right, come on, men.

( suspenseful theme playing )

MAN:
What you fellows want?

TAFF:
Nothing that concerns you.

I wonder how much ore
they'll move tomorrow.

( gunshot )

MAN: Come and get us
if you want lead.

You won't get away
with this.

He's bluffing.
They won't shoot.

Rush them!

( dramatic theme playing )

( indistinct shouting )

- It's gone.
- We'll build it again.

It'll take two days.

We drive that much harder,
that's all.

All right, men.
Come on, let's start moving.

Get this thing cleaned up.

Well, where have you been?

I sleep once in a while.

Oh, when you knew
I was waiting to hear.

It's all around town.

All right, so you heard.
Saves me telling you.

Yes. And I also heard
that Moffatt has rounded out

a timber crew.

They're working
on a new chute.

They can't get enough timber.
Not soon enough.

They got it.

There isn't that much timber
in town.

They'll have to get it
from the Miller place

at Cedar Flat.

I'm telling you they got it.

They tore down the bunk house
and cook shack

at my Mile High Mine.

I'm getting poorer
every hour.

Ah, your brains are getting
softer every hour too.

And how was your brain?
Firm, hard, cold.

Put it to work.

I have.

When I said a good rain
would wash out the ore chute,

you said you'd make it rain.

You did, with dynamite.

It won't set them back
for 24 hours.

There are still seven days left
on the lease.

At the end of seven days,

there'll not be enough
silver left to fill your teeth.

There's just one thing
left to do.

Kill him.

( suspenseful theme
playing )

Oh, no. I don't like that.

For a million dollars,
you can learn to like it.

No, I'm an old man, Bill.

A rich old man.

I don't even own a gun.

A rich man
who never owned a gun.

I-- I wouldn't know
how to use it.

A rich man who wouldn't know
how to use it.

What are you getting at?

Just that you're rich.

A rich man
doesn't make his own clothes.

He doesn't cook
his own food.

He buys it done.

I see. Yes.

And how much would it cost
a rich man for that?

A thousand dollars?

How much?

Half of what you get out
of Dutch's strike

after Moffatt's dead.

And what if I didn't pay
after it happened?

You'll pay.

I wouldn't want to know
anything about it.

- That's my word.
- No, I forbid you to do it.

I won't give my permission
in any way, shape or form.

Still if something did
happen to Moffatt

and Dutch had bad luck,

well, that would leave you
open to be my partner

in mining out
the Silver Pocket.

That's right.

This is gonna hurt you more.

I'll need some money now.

I'll need more than $5.

There's 200 there in gold.

How are you today,
Mrs. Storrs?

Been walking?

Is there any law against it?

I'll tell you more about it
when I get your ore samples.

TAFF:
Hello, Mr. Storrs.

Oh, hello, Bill.
Have a drink.

- No, thanks.
- You know Mark Dacy.

I'm trying to steal
his claim.

I wouldn't call it
stealing.

That is unless, uh,
you pull a gun on me first.

Hear about the bad luck they
had at the Big Jay last night?

Yeah. Tough on Moffatt.

I've known him
for a long time.

Yeah. Mrs. Storrs
has too.

Yes. Mrs. Storrs has too.

Just saw her
coming from that way.

The Big Jay?

No. Moffatt's shack in town.

- I say something wrong?
- Did you?

Not that I know of.

I just said I saw her
coming from Moffatt's place.

Guess maybe
I'm talking out of turn.

Are you talking
out of turn?

Well, Charlie,
I'll be seeing you.

What's the matter?

You said yourself
you'd know him for a long time.

When I seen her yesterday,
I...

You saw my wife yesterday?
Where?

Same place.
Coming out of Moffatt's.

All right. I apologize.

I don't wanna fight you,
Storrs.

- You're a liar.
- All right, I'm a liar.

( indistinct chattering )

If a man
can't trust his wife,

why don't they lock her
in a room?

( all laughing )

( romantic theme playing )

Just going down to lunch.
Didn't think you'd be back.

We're going to have
a scene again.

All right, sweetheart.
Tell me.

What have you been up to
while my back's been turned?

If you're trying to scare me,
you can stop it!

I just slapped down Bill Taff
in the Silver Bell Saloon

for insulting you.

How brave you are.

What'd he say about me?

You don't know?

I passed him on the street--

Where were you coming from?

From Larkin's place.

Didn't you see enough of him
yesterday?

As a matter of fact,
I didn't.

- We quarreled and I left.
- Quarreled?

About Candace Surrency.

I teased him about her
and he got angry and so did I.

So I went back this morning
to apologize.

Why should you apologize
to that crook for anything?

Charlie,
are you jealous of Larkin?

Should I be?

I'm trying to tell you you saw
him twice behind my back.

Why shouldn't I?

You never pay any attention
to me. You're always away.

Here we go again.
So now you're neglected then.

- All right, I'm neglected.
- Well, go home then.

I'm neglected at home too.

- Look, Josephine, I'm trying--
- I know.

I'll never speak
to Larkin Moffatt again.

If I see him,
I'll spit in his face.

I'll sit here in my room,
and I'll darn your socks.

If anybody knocks on the door,
I'll hide under the bed.

Shut up!

Louder! They can't
hear you downstairs!

Are you through
scolding me now

for what some
dirty-minded miner made up?

If so, I'm still hungry.

( suspenseful theme playing )

- You, Bill?
- How you feeling?

I don't feel so good.
My head hurts.

You're lucky
to have a head left.

That chunk of rock Moffatt
hit you with in the Saloon

weighed 11 pounds.

Sure gonna fix that Moffatt,
when I feel better.

There's $200 in that.

I'll have another 200 for you
tomorrow

at the lumber mill
in Cedar Flat.

What's all the money for?

I want Moffatt
out of the way.

If I could do the job myself
without hanging for it,

I'd do it.

And me?
I don't hang for it?

Uh-uh. Another man does.

- Who?
- Charlie Storrs.

Suppose he can prove
he didn't do it?

He can't tonight.

Tonight? Why not tonight?

Because I'm getting him
out of town with a note.

What's in the note?

It'll tell him that
if he really wants to find out

what's going on
between Moffatt and his wife,

he'd better be waiting down
at the bridge.

Only I won't show up.

Well, show me
a hole in it.

Once they got Storrs,
I'll ride over to Cedar Flat,

pay you the rest of the money
and you drift along.

Well, go on.
Show me a hole in it.

Sure need the money.

Sure do.

But I wanna fix Moffatt.

All right, Candy.
What's bothering you?

Nothing, Dad. Nothing.

Come on now. What is it?

I said nothing.

Look at me.

I ran into Mrs. Hostetter
before supper.

Ha. Worst old gossip
in Silver City.

Was it about Larkin?

Yes.

Do you care?

I've never cared more about
anything in my whole life.

All right, Puss.

I'm going to tell you
some things you heard

and some things
you probably didn't hear.

Storrs came up to the mine
this afternoon wild mad.

Wanted me to leave
so he could talk to Larkin.

Did you?

Well, not exactly.

I went outside
and around to a window.

By that time, Storrs
was threatening to kill Larkin

if he ever talked
to Mrs. Storrs again.

He also said she admitted

quarrelling with Larkin
over a woman.

A woman? What woman?

You.

( knock on door )

Come in.

Come in, Larkin.
Come in.

Pull up a chair
and sit down.

Hello, Candace.

Hello.

Well, we got the arm
moving down the chute again.

Great. I didn't think you'd get
that fixed under two days.

Oh, yeah. That's fine.

Oh.

Candace is
a little upset.

Say, I just remembered.

I've got some bills I've just
gotta get figured up tonight.

( romantic theme
playing )

So you heard the talk
about me and Josephine?

Yes, I heard it.

- And you believed it?
- Should I?

I told you
she means nothing to me.

You might have changed
your mind.

So you do believe it.

Well, she did go with you
to your place.

Why should that upset you
when you know what I told you?

Maybe it's because
what she said is true.

That I'm after you too.

How do you know
she said that?

Well, I don't know.

But it's not hard to guess
what she said.

There's nothing much one woman
can hide from another.

And I'm not thanking you
for making me say it.

Why do you care
whether I believed it or not?

I guess I don't care
what anyone thinks

except you, Candace.

( romantic theme playing )

Oh, Larkin.
I tried not to love you.

( clanging )

There's someone
prowling around outside.

Here. Give me that.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( horse snorts )

( horse neighing )

( suspenseful theme playing )

( rustling )

Hello?

What you want?

Are you the man
who wrote me?

Why should I write you?

I'm Charlie Storrs.

Yeah.

You ain't see me none.

Did a rider pass you hear,
Charlie?

- No.
- You're lying.

That's just about all
I'll take from you.

Is it?
What are you doing here?

That's my business.

Think, Charlie.
Did a rider pass you here?

Yes. Ten minutes ago.

A big fellow named Arnie
took a shot at me tonight.

I hope he didn't ride this way
to meet you.

If I wanted to shoot you,
I wouldn't a hire it done.

I'll find out.

( knock on door )

Who is it?

CANDACE:
Candace Surrency.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Your husband isn't here?

He had to go out.

- Do you know where?
- He didn't say.

Why do you want him?

Someone shot
at Larkin Moffatt.

Is he hurt?

No.

Was it Charlie?

That's what I came
to find out.

No. It wasn't Charlie.
He wouldn't do that.

You thought so a moment ago.

And he threatened Larkin
this afternoon.

Mrs. Storrs,
why don't you leave?

Haven't you done
enough harm here

without getting Larkin
killed?

- Don't say that.
- Why not?

If your husband kills him,
whose fault will it be?

Charlie didn't try
to kill him.

After you've humiliated him
in front of the whole town

when he's half out of his mind
with jealousy,

when he's threatened
already to do

what he tried to do tonight.

I've given him no cause
for jealousy.

That's a lie!

You're in love with Larkin,
aren't you?

If you do love him,
then why don't you leave?

So you can have him?

So Charlie won't kill him.

Get out of here!

( suspenseful theme
playing )

That Surrency girl
just left here.

She said someone shot
at Larkin Moffatt.

Pity he missed.

Did you think
you could hide it from me?

Did you think
you could come back to me

with his blood on you hands?
Just get--

This is Larkin
you're talking about?

If you hurt him,
I'll kill you.

I'll see you hang
and I'll dance on your grave.

Now I know.

I don't need to wonder
anymore.

( suspenseful theme playing )

What are you going to do?

I'm going to clean up
this business.

Yes, your Larkin too.

I didn't shoot at him.
A man named Arnie did.

Everybody in town knows it
by now except you.

There's some money.
Go home.

I don't wanna see you
anymore.

I wanna call it quits,
Jarboe.

You?

I'm talking for my father.

He knows you're here?

No, but he'll back me up
in any deal I make.

We wanna give up the lease.

Now?

Now.

You're offering to sell?

No.
I mean we'll tear it up.

I've got nothing
against Moffatt

except
that he's quarrelsome.

Did you bring the lease
with you?

Well, there's a string
tied to it.

Oh, I knew
there was a catch in it.

The lease will be torn up

when Moffatt's back
safe and sound.

Back from where,
Miss Surrency?

I don't know where he is.

I think
you tried to kill him.

Maybe you have.

Maybe he's lying
in the brush somewhere.

Slugged or stabbed or shot.

All I know is you better
bring him back here

standing and breathing.

I don't know
where he is.

How can I bring him back
if I don't know?

That's the string
to the lease.

No.
Just a minute, Candace.

Do I have
to bring him back?

If he just comes back himself,
will you tear up the lease?

Yes.

Well, is he still alive?

You made a bargain with me
and you'll keep it.

Not if he's alive.

I keep the whole pocket
if he's alive.

If Arnie's got him,
you'll keep your bargain.

Well, call Arnie off.

I know nothing about it.

I told you I wanted
nothing to do with it.

I warned you.

You'd sell me out.

You're going to keep
all of the Big Jay

one way or another.

No, Bill.

No. It's all right, Bill.
You...

- Sure.
- I stick to our bond.

No, it's all right, Bill.
It's all right.

( suspenseful theme playing )

Sure, RB. Sure.

What are you so jumpy
about?

Where's Jarboe?

He just left.

Went down
to his Mile High Mine.

All right.
I'll have to see him later.

( suspenseful theme playing )

( machine whirring )

Hey, get off there!
Get off! Get off there!

( train whistle blowing )

( dramatic theme playing )

I guess this is it.

Yes, it is, Charlie.

I'm sorry for everything,
Larkin.

If Josephine hadn't
interfered in it...

I guess
she couldn't help it.

( romantic theme playing )

Larkin.

Larkin.

Hello, Candace.

Oh, I was so afraid.
So afraid.

( chuckles )

It's all right.
It's all right now.

You're back, boy.
That's good. I--

I got some figuring to do.
I'll talk to you later.

( romantic theme playing )

Subtitles: Kilo