Stagecoach (1986) - full transcript

Story follows a stagecoach ride through Old West Apache territory. On board are a cavalry man's pregnant wife, a prostitute with a broken heart, a Marshal taking in his prisoner Johnny Ringo, a crooked gambler, and the infamous Doc Holliday.

[WILLIE NELSON'S "STAGECOACH"
[PLAYING]

* We crossed
The burnin' desert *

* In the Arizona sun *

* The thunderin' desert dragon
Watch us run, watch us run *

* We carry precious cargo
We got precious little time *

* And there's trouble up ahead
And close behind *

* Stagecoach *

* Stagecoach *

* Rollin' on the glorious
Stagecoach *

* Geronimo is waiting *

* There's Apaches on the hill *



* Starin' at the cavalry *

* Out to kill, out to kill *
Hyah!

* We've gotta get to Lordsburg
And we've gotta be on time *

* But there's trouble up ahead
And close behind *

* Stagecoach *

Hyah!

* Stagecoach *

Yee-haw!

* Rollin' on the glorious
Stagecoach *

* Stagecoach *

* Stagecoach *

* Rollin' on the glorious
Stagecoach *

Well?

Apaches, sir.
You're certain?



My sidekick here
is Cheyenne.

If he says he seen Apaches,

ain't likely he's describing
no sunrise, sir.

[TELEGRAPH CLICKING]

It's Lordsburg, sir.
It's urgent.

[SCREAMING]

The line's dead.

Give me what you have.

It's Apaches, all right.
And it's Geronimo.

He attacked a mining camp
at Salt Creek.

He killed 14 men and six women,
and he's taking scalps.

And Salt Creek is between here
and Lordsburg.

Lordsburg stage just came in.

Warn the driver.

Yes, sir.

Whoa!

For those of you folks
that are going on,

we're gonna be here in Tonto
for exactly 30 minutes.

You can get coffee
in the hotel there,

something more substantial
in the saloon.

For you gentlemen,
private business is out back.

Oh. Ma'am, if there's anything
at all I can do for you?

Thank you.
I'll be all right.

Uh, ma'am,

if your time comes before we get
where we're goin',

I'm gonna have to charge
that baby half fare.

Is that supposed to be funny?

Oh, uh-- No, ma'am.

I've always been kind of known
as a poor wit.

I can vouch for it.

So this is Tonto.

Charming little mud puddle.

If you're lookin'
to save souls, preacher,

here would be
a dandy place to start.

Preacher? No.

Mother wanted me to be an actor.
Father wanted me to go to hell.

So I compromised.
I became a whiskey salesman.

"Trevor Peacock."
Uh-huh.

Uh, "Western Rep--
Representative,

"Old John's
Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey."

Old John,
smooth as a mother's kiss.

Why don't you
join me in the saloon?

I'm just about to make
my sales pitch.

Two fingers of Old John
will make this place

seem like Chicago
on a Saturday night.

Uh...
No, sir. No, sir.

Worth more than my job to be
caught with that on my breath.

When we get
to Lordsburg--

"When we get to Lordsburg."
Magic words indeed.

Young man, if the good Lord
had meant us

to travel by stagecoach,

he'd have made the roads
a little softer

and our backsides
a little larger.

Hey, once you get that money
to the bank,

I want you to get back here,
pronto.

I'm on schedule,
I'm gonna stay on schedule.

Hey, would you watch it
with them horses, now?

BANKER:
Here's your receipt.

Thirty thousand dollars.

Much obliged.

I've asked you not to come here,
Martha.

Where were you last night,
Henry?

I waited until after midnight.

There was just no way
I could get away from my wife.

When we first started
seeing each other,

that was never a problem.

You aren't growing tired of me,
are you?

No, no, no, Martha.
Not at all.

Say that with a little more
conviction, darling.

A woman scorned
can be messy.

And a banker
who's been bleeding his assets

can't be too careful.

What do you mean by that?

A dozen accounts
in eastern banks

under a dozen names.

That's what attracted me to you
in the first place, Henry.

Your imagination.

Oh, by the way,

have you told her?

Have you told her yet
that you're leaving her?

No. You see there--

[CHUCKLES]

There's just...
been no time.

I think the time
is never right

for a man
to tell his wife the truth.

I suppose that's why
so often the job falls...

to the mistress.

[CHUCKLES]
Oh, you sweet thing.

Come here. Come here.

You wouldn't dare do that,
would you?

Oh, but I would.

What I won't do is grow old
waiting...for a wife to die.

[*]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[PIANO PLAYING
SOFT, SWEET MELODY]

You're gonna miss me, Dallas.
Sure.

Sorry to see you go, Dallas.
Thanks.

Want to sit in,
Dallas?

Not likely, Hatfield.

I'm here to sit on that stage,
that's all I'm gonna sit on.

One way
to the end of the line.

Lordsburg.

Right.

[COUGHING]

Going bye-bye, Doc?

Got business
in another town, Dallas.

Oh, it must be serious
if you're wearing your iron.

Well, a friend of mine
in Tombstone

said I should travel light
and come well-balanced.

Where are you going?

I don't know.

Far away. As far away from here
as I can get.

Yes, sir, you are talking
to a lady in retirement.

No more hot sheets
and $5 on a chest of drawers.

Oh, you must
have found religion.

Mm-mmm.
I found love.

Can you believe that?

Oh, yes, sir, he talked
about white picket fences,

and rose bushes outside
the kitchen window, and the...

...pitter-patter
of little feet.

And I can't fool,
I bought it all.

Every word.

There was this problem.

See, his wife
already had all that.

Stinking liar did me a favor,
though.

I realized once and for all
no woman's gonna find

a million-dollar dream
in a $2 room.

Most don't have
a million dollar dream, Dallas.

Doc, every woman's
got a million dollar dream.

She ain't never gonna find out
where she might be

if she don't get away
from what she is.

Think you'll find it
on that stagecoach?

I don't know.

It's the only thing in my life:
going someplace else.

See you, Dallas.

Tombstone.

This stage is going
to Lordsburg, mister.

I know that.
But you said--

I know what I said.
I wanna go to Tombstone.

But this isn't
the Tombstone stage.

Well, is there a stage
that leaves Lordsburg

going to Tombstone?
Yeah.

Is it possible to get on
the stage to Lordsburg

and get off of that stage
and then go in to Tombstone

on another stage?

Is that possible?

Oh, you wanna go to Tombstone
by way of Lordsburg?

Now you got it.

There's a stage here tomorrow,
goes directly to Tombstone.

Well, which one
gets there first?

The one leaving today going
to Lordsburg to Tombstone,

or the one leaving tomorrow
going directly to Tombstone?

Well, that depends
Lots of things can happen.

Wheel fall off,
axle break, horse--

But which one is supposed
to get there first?

The one through Lordsburg.

That's the one I want.

Why didn't you say so?
That'll be 50 cents more.

Thank you very...

What I'm trying
to tell you is,

this is sneaking liquor
you're selling.

And I don't get many
sneaking drinkers in here.

My customers
are mostly honest drunks.

My dear friend,
before you can pluck a turkey,

the railroad is going
to be coming through this--

This wilderness.

And city folks are gonna demand
something a little more refined

for their taste
than that bottled moonshine.

Now, if you'll give me an order
for just one case of Old John,

I'll throw in a bottle
for yourself

free, gratis, and for nothing.

But it's sneaking liquor.

You wanna explain it to him,
Doc?

Sneakin' liquor?

Well, it's sort of
a social comment.

It's liquor that
little old ladies hide

down in their petticoats
and their corsets.

And in books that you won't find
in a Christian store.

Hypocrite liquor.

Nothing like a little bracer
before prayer meeting.

My dear friend, you can't
compare Kentucky bourbon

with the spirits old ladies hide
in their knickers.

But it's prescription.

It's to help their nerves
and to help 'em sleep.

It's sneaking liquor,
for medicinal purposes only.

Doc knows
what he's talking about.

He's a dentist.

Oh, really?

Well, you may know
your gums and teeth, sir,

but I know my whiskey.

The name's Trevor Peacock.

May I have the honor of knowing
to whom I'm talking?

Holliday. Doc Holliday.

Give me a shot of bourbon,
Billy.

[WHINNIES]

This your stagecoach?

I'm the driver. Why?

Geronimo's between here
and Lordsburg.

It could get nasty.

I never heard it tell
it didn't get nasty

when Geronimo is around.

How come you tell me this
like it was news?

We're thinking about
your passengers.

Apaches cut the telegraph line.
I suggest you lay over and wait.

Wait for what?

You guys ain't never caught
Geronimo,

and you ain't never
gonna catch Geronimo.

He's as much a part
of this desert

as the cactus
and sunset shadows.

Still,
we thought you might

have consideration
for your passengers.

Mister, I'm paid to take
this stagecoach through.

That's with or without
passengers.

They can listen to you
cavalry men

and sit here in town
till doomsday if they want to,

but this here stage
is going through.

Is that your final word?
Yes, sir it is.

No man can say a gun
got put to his head

to get him on an Overland stage.

Now, I ain't heartless,
but I got me a job to do,

and I'm gonna do it
with or without passengers.

I ain't goin'.

You ain't what?

I ain't never met nobody

who run across Geronimo
and lived to talk about it.

Walt, you wait
just a second now.

Look, Walt, I need you with me.
You know that.

I'll pay. I'll pay you double
salary out of my own pocket.

I never yet seen a dead man
give a damn about money.

Hey, Buck.
Curly.

How are you doing?

I've been better.

I lost my shotgun guard
just now.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to
borrow one of your deputies

for a run to Lordsburg.

What happened to your guard?

Oh, some cavalryman mentioned
how Geronimo and his Apaches

had cut down
the telegraph wire.

So my guard colored himself
yellow

and stepped down
from his responsibilities.

You got any coffee?

On the stove.
Thank you.

Look, just because a man
doesn't want to die

doesn't mean he's yellow.

Curly, you know as well as I do,
when a man takes this job,

he hires on to die.
Goes with the territory.

Well, I can't supply guards
for the Overland Stage Company.

Well, I can't go nowhere
without one.

I got passengers on that stage.
One of them is a pregnant woman.

Her family's got something
to do with the cavalry.

How pregnant?

Do you ever thump a watermelon
and get an echo back?

She shouldn't be here.

Well, she is here.

Well, all my deputies are out
looking for the Ringo Kid.

Ringo Kid?

Mm-hm.

Last I heard Ringo Kid
was in Yuma Prison.

He broke out.

My guess is he went looking
for Luke Plummer,

since it was Luke Plummer
that killed his brother

and the Plummers' testimony
that put him away.

Well, shoot, Curly,
he's up in Lordsburg.

I seen him there on my last run.

You saw Luke Plummer?

He and his brothers.
Looked like a family reunion.

That puts a different light
on it.

Yeah, I figured it might.

I want Luke Plummer worse
than I want the Ringo Kid.

You got yourself a shotgun guard
to Lordsburg.

[PIANO PLAYING CHEERFUL MELODY]

Your attention, please.
May I have your attention?

I address myself
to those of you

who are passengers
on the Overland stage.

y commanding officer
has asked me to inform you,

you travel
at your own risk.

Excuse me, what appears to be
the difficulty, lieutenant?

To put it simply: Geronimo.

I have a group of cavalry
to accompany you.

Excuse me,
should I know this...Geraldo?

Geronimo.

I have a detachment
of cavalry to accompany you

as far as the noon station
at Dry Forks.

A group of cavalry there will
take you on to Apache Wells.

From Apache Wells,

you'll have another escort
of soldiers into Lordsburg.

But our best advice
is don't go.

Are there any questions?

I have one.

Yes?

Did he show you his title?

What?
Geronimo.

He and his people own title
to all this land around here.

At least they think they do,

they've been here
for a thousand years.

Whose side are you on?

I'm on my own side.
That's why I'm still alive.

You'll excuse me, sir, but you
sound like an Indian lover.

You'll excuse me,
but I see no virtue

in hating a man who's fighting
for his country.

I myself have no quarrel
with this, uh...

Geronimo.

I don't either,
but he don't care.

Excuse me.

Aren't you Colonel Armstrong's
daughter, Lucy?

Colonel James Armstrong
from Fairfax, Virginia?

I am.

I served under your father,
Mrs...

Mallory. Captain John Mallory.
Perhaps you know him?

LIEUTENANT:
I know him well.

He's expecting me
at Apache Wells.

He's a lot closer than that.

He was posted at Dry Forks
last month.

But in light of what I've said,

I don't really think
it's advisable to continue on.

Perhaps not.

But I intend to be with my
husband when our child is born.

I understand, but--

I'm going, lieutenant.

I appreciate your concern,

but I'm going.

As you say, Mrs. Mallory.

Where you going?
I'm out.

Hoss, you got our money.

You gonna give us a chance
to win it back?

Now, when you men came in here
you surely didn't believe

that you was in
some Boston gentlemen's club.

I'm a gambler.

I play for money,
and I don't give it back.

Now you boys can understand
that, can't you?

Here.

Mallory?

Do I know you?

No, but I knew your father.
May I sit down?

My name's Hatfield.

I was paymaster
in your father's regiment.

You know,
he actually saved my life.

You know if you responded
in some way,

we might actually call this
a conversation.

It would also signify
that I was interested

in conversing with you,
Mr. Hatfield.

Well, excuse me, Mrs. Mallory.

I didn't know that pregnancy
was an excuse for rudeness.

Mr. Hatfield.

Forgive me, I--

I'm not myself.

I haven't been myself
since I left Virginia.

Please sit down.

Are you gonna be all right?

You know, if you don't mind
me saying so,

Arizona's not the best place
in the world

to give birth to a baby.

I don't think my husband
has thought about a baby.

What he wants is a horse soldier
in the United States Cavalry.

Fully outfitted, powder dry,
and ready to ride.

Well, then maybe you have come
to the right place, after all.

Thank you, Mr. Hatfield.
You've been awfully considerate.

Well, I intend to stay with you
until you reach your husband.

That really won't be necessary.

Oh, but I'm afraid
you have no choice.

You see, it's between me
and your father.

Here you go, ma'am.

Sir.

You can just throw that
up on top.

Don't worry about it, ma'am.
I won't break nothing.

Honey, how you
gonna break a silk dress?

Hallie! Cybil!

Now what in the devil
does he want?

Hello.

Whoa!

I need to go to Lordsburg.

You couldn't have got on
in town with everybody else?

Well, I got a telegram.

There was no way to pack
and get there on time.

Well, all right, hop on in.

You can pay me
when you get there.

Here, I'll take that bag.

Hm?

Oh, no, no, no.
That's all right.

I'll just keep the bag with me.
Thank you.

I thought you said
the telegraph line was cut.

You caught that too, huh?

Come on!

Does anybody know why this stage
has a Cavalry escort?

The Cavalry's here for
our manifest destiny.

Our what?

To protect us from the Indians.

You may have noticed that we
white people take what we want

without regard to what
the present owner might think.

Some people could call that
"stealing."

We call it "manifest destiny."

You know, I'd hate to think
you're calling us thieves.

What else? We come with a gun
in one hand, a jug in the other.

We weaken 'em with the jug and
finish 'em off with the gun.

All I asked is why
we have a Cavalry escort.

I didn't ask for a sermon.

Well, if you wanted one word,
that one word is Geronimo.

That Apache butcher?
That Geronimo?

In the whole wide world,
there's only one.

Do you suppose he loves his kids
and does charity work?

Yes, and he's kind
to small animals.

I've heard that.

BUCK:
Hyah!

Hyah! Hyah!

Take this a minute,
will you?

Yeah, sure.

You know, don't you,

that if Geronimo
decides to get serious,

10 or 12 soldiers
don't mean nothing?

Yeah, I try
not to think about it.

You don't mind if I do,
do you?

What's that?

Think about it.

No, you go right ahead.

Well, they say that God
protects fools and drunks.

We got the biggest fool
in the whole Southwest territory

riding right here
on this coach.

Who, besides me?

Well, me.

Do you know anybody else
that'd drive a six-horse team

through hostile Apache territory
for $8 a month?

["STAGECOACH" THEME PLAYING]

LIEUTENANT:
Water your horses.

[HORSE WHINNIES]

[*]

I didn't know it was
gonna be this easy, Ringo.

Drop the Winchester.

I only half-figured
on the stagecoach, Curly.

I didn't figure
on you at all.

Drop the rifle, Kid.

I'm giving you a free ride
into Lordsburg jail,

and I'll take care
of the Plummers.

I get paid for it,
you don't.

Now, hand over the rifle.

You got some mighty heavy
backup, Curly.

What do they cost you
by the hour?

Do I have to ask
what's going on here?

Yeah, I told this man
to hand over his rifle,

and he's still got it.

I guess he never saw
what double-ought buck can do

to a $2 shirt.

Are you placing this man
under arrest?

I certainly hope so,

because it's a bad place
for a funeral.

There's not a choir nor a flower
within three hundred miles.

Now, what's it gonna be, Ringo?

And the pistol.

The pig sticker.

CURLY:
I said the pig sticker, Ringo.

Do I get to ride on the coach,

or do you want me
to run along up front

so you can keep an eye on me?

You shut your smart mouth
and get inside.

BUCK:
Hyah!

Excuse me.

So you're the Ringo Kid.

No, sir.

What do you mean,
"No, sir"?

I heard the marshal say
that you are--

Ringo Kid's somebody
you read about

in the penny dreadfuls.

Somebody thought him up
so they could sell stories

to people dumb enough
to believe 'em.

All right.

If you aren't the Ringo Kid,
then who are you?

My name's Bill Williams,

but they call me "Ringo"
since I was a little boy.

But nobody ever called me
"The Ringo Kid."

You wouldn't be Williams
from Santa Fe, would you?

I would.

You got a brother named Coy?

I had a brother named Coy.

I played poker with him.
Whatever became of him?

He was murdered.

I'm sorry.

Not as sorry as the man's
gonna be who murdered him.

Who might that be?

His name is Luke Plummer.

He's in Lordsburg.

Ever kill a man before,
Mr. Williams?

Not yet.

I didn't catch your name.

Well, his name
is Doc Holliday.

Is that right?

I heard you were pretty handy
with a gun.

I'm still alive.

Is that the deck you play with?

One of them.
I have several.

May I see it, please?

I must say I admire your guts.

Does that mean you wouldn't
play cards with me?

That means
I'd shoot you on sight.

[CHUCKLES]

[*]

Where are you headed?

I knew the answer to that
when I was about 14.

Then I hit 15, ran head-on
into that thing called reality.

Been walking with a lantern
ever since.

I mean where are you going now?

I don't know, where you go
when you've been everywhere?

Nobody's been everywhere.

Maybe you're right.
It just feels like it.

Where do you wanna go?

I don't think
I've ever seen it on a map.

Don't light that.

Did you say something?

A gentlemen doesn't smoke
in the presence of a lady.

I wouldn't like to think
you're implying

that I'm anything less.

I may be, you understand,

I just wouldn't wanna
hear you say it.

Do you mind
if I smoke, Dallas?

Hell, no, Doc.

Smoke's been one of
the biggest parts of my life,

I wouldn't know what to do
with fresh air.

Breathe it or bottle it.

And you, ma'am.
Do you object?

If you want to smoke,
Doctor,

it's perfectly all right
with me.

Although I may have things
to complain about

tobacco is not one of them.

In that case.

Thank you.

What are you looking at, friend?

It's a filthy habit, smoking.
Just filthy.

I have a lot of filthy habits.
Most I find very enjoyable.

Don't you have good ones?

You mean something to be admired

and held up to children
as an example?

Yes. Something like that.

No, sir.

Children despise
that kind of person.

There's nothing a child hates
more than a good example.

Curly, you ain't said a word
in over 20 miles.

I was thinking about
that banker

running down the street
like that.

Well, how else is he supposed
to stop the stage?

That ain't the point.

It's almost like somebody
was after him.

If that were the case, he'd
probably said something to you,

don't you think?

He was carrying nothing
but that black bag.

And why did he lie
about getting a telegraph wire?

I don't know.

It's just that when a banker
runs out in the street

and jumps on a stage
leaving town

without so much
as change of clothes...

MAN:
Hyah!

[CHICKENS CLUCKING]

Hyah!

Ma?

Ma, the stage is coming.

Well, they're gonna have
to be satisfied with venison.

I'm all out of beans.

There's soldiers with them.

Nothing in my contract
says I got to feed the army.

Hyah!

Hyah!

Come on! Hyah!

BUCK:
Whoa!

Billy, where's our soldier
escort into Apache Wells?

Gone, all gone.

Had to light out
pretty quick.

Well, who the devil
is here?

Just me, Ma, and the hostlers.

I should've known not to
volunteer for anything.

Well, you did. It's too late.

MRS. MALLORY:
Captain Mallory isn't here?

No, ma'am. He was here, but he
was ordered off to Apache Wells.

Are you Mrs. Mallory?

Yes.

I-I was expecting him.
I was counting on it.

Ma'am, you can't count
on nothing out here.

BUCK:
All right.

We're gonna change
teams here, folks.

So I suggest you go inside.

Mrs. Pickett's got
some food on the table.

Thank you.

And you got 30 minutes,
so make it quick, all right?

Well, what's it
gonna be, lieutenant?

You and your boys gonna take us
on to Apache Wells?

I'm afraid not. My orders
were Dry Forks and return.

GATEWOOD:
I'm sure,
under the circumstances,

your commanding officer
will understand.

He might, but there's no way
to reach him.

I can't just change my orders.

You can't send us out there
alone with them Indians.

I'm not sending you anywhere.

Lieutenant, it seems to me
there could come a time

when common sense
would override army orders.

Common sense has never
overridden army orders.

When our horses
are watered and rested,

we return directly to Tonto.

I strongly suggest you use
common sense and return with us.

He's right, you know.

Well, the passengers
can go back to Tonto

with them if they want to.

But I started on this trip
on the way to Lordsburg,

and I'm gonna get to Lordsburg,

even if it's just me and one
horse that drags into town.

How about you,
Mr. Gatewood?

Want to drag into Lordsburg
with Buck and one horse?

I'm certain
it will never come to that.

But yes. I stay.

[SIGHS]

Hi.
Hello.

It looks like we're eating
all alone, Kid.

It's me they don't wanna
sit down with.

No, it ain't.

It's nice of you to say so,
but I'm accustomed to it.

I've known men
who bare their souls

and everything else
before midnight.

They don't know my name
the next morning.

And you're
accustomed to it?

Being accustomed to something
don't mean you like it.

I guess you've seen all kinds.

Every kind, but me.

Well, that makes
you pretty special.

If I am, I'm the only one
that knows it.

Where you from?

Virginia.

You must be a tough little lady.

If there's anything at all
I can do for you,

you let me know.

Thank you.

[BIRDS CHIRPING,
CHICKENS CLUCKING]

[*]

What's a handsome lady like you
doing in a pigpen like this?

When I married,
my husband promised me adventure

and colorful surroundings,
and this is it.

Where's he at now?

He never made it
through the first winter.

Well, there's another winter
coming on. You got any plans?

[COUGHING]

Think you can
make it to spring?

Ah, I don't think so.

What's wrong with him?

Consumption.

Did you eat?

I ate a lot
when I was a kid.

[CHUCKLES]

[METAL JINGLING]

[*]

You're scared.

Nah. You?

Yeah.

Yeah, me too.

Tell you the honest
truth, Curly,

I'm always semi-scared,

even without Geronimo.

That never
stopped you before.

Nah. I think if I wasn't
a little bit scared,

I'd probably quit.

The job would be too boring,
you know, like, uh...

taking kids back
and forth to church.

What do you think
the passengers are gonna do?

Besides Gatewood, I mean.

He's really scared,

but he's scared of something
worse than the Apaches.

Well, I don't know. If you was
a passenger, how would you vote?

I am a passenger,
and I'm going.

Even without soldiers?

Buck, you know as well as I do

that if Geronimo decides
to get serious,

he can run
through 12 horse soldiers

like grain through a goose.

Yeah, but you're forgetting
one thing, Curly.

I got a pregnant woman on that
stage and she's about to pop.

Won't be the first
white baby born

between a cactus
and a prairie-dog hole.

First one born
on my stagecoach.

But you got a doctor
onboard this time.

Doc Holliday?

If he's the only one you got,
he's the best you got.

Doc Holliday's a dentist.
I don't know many women

who'd wanna have their babies
delivered by a dentist.

I don't know any.

I'm glad you're telling him,
not me.

He's your passenger.

Yeah, but you're
the U.S. Marshal.

You got more authority
than I do.

I think you're afraid
to tell him.

I ain't afraid
to tell nobody nothing.

I don't see you trying to be
no hero, busting down no doors.

I ain't afraid
of Doc Holliday.

Well, I ain't either.

Well, it don't take
a hero to tell him

he's gotta deliver a baby.

What does it take?

Two men.

Curly Wilcox, are you saying
that you want me

to be with you
when you tell him?

Want has got nothing
to do with it.

I am the U.S. Marshal.

You're gonna be with me,
and we're gonna tell him.

[SIGHS]

Listen up, everybody.

We don't have
a Cavalry escort

to Apache Wells
like we thought we did.

The soldiers that came
this far with us are going back.

We either go back with them,

or we go ahead. It's up to you.

Where do you stand?

I move that we make the run
to Apache Wells.

From there we have
a cavalry escort to Lordsburg.

Where I go, you go, Kid,
so that makes two.

How about you, Doc?

Dallas?

Oh, I'm in.

Um, marshal,

y-you understand
I'm not concerned for myself,

but I would hate to see good
whiskey wasted on Geronimo.

I must insist
we return to Tonto.

Sorry, mister,
in this court, majority rules.

That means,
if there is three people

and two of them vote to die,

the third one
has to die with them.

Under the circumstances,
I think the lady has two votes.

My life is where my husband is.

I have every reason to go ahead,
and no reason to go back.

Does that mean we go ahead?

Yes, sir.

I'm with Mrs. Mallory.

[QUIETLY]
Thank you.

Well, I've made
my case clear.

I boarded this stage
to go to Lordsburg,

and I see
no reason to return.

You don't?
Mm-mm.

There's a band
of wild savages out there

waiting to separate
us from our hair,

and you see no reason
to turn back?

Majority has it, mister.
We go ahead.

If you know your history,
marshal, you'll remember

that majority decisions have not
always been the smartest ones.

I don't know much
about history, mister,

but I do know
if we'd listened to you British,

we wouldn't have
any history at all.

[LAUGHS]

Touché, marshal. Touché.

Billy, you got a spare horse
you can loan this man?

Well, I could if I thought
I'd ever get it back,

but under
the circumstances, uh,

I'd sell it to him.

There you go, mister.

Billy will sell
you a horse,

and you can go back
with the soldiers.

And if we're wrong,
you'll have the satisfaction

that comes with knowing
you were right.

Thank you.

I shall see that your widow

receives a complimentary
case of Old John.

Meanwhile, we have five men
that can shoot.

A driver
with six running horses.

Okay? Load them up.

Mr. Gatewood?

Yes?

Any reason that bag
can't ride on top?

Well, I'm carrying
valuable bank paper.

The stage has a strongbox.

Well, I just can't
let it out of my sight.

Don't you think you ought to
give me back my Winchester?

Now, why would
I think that?

Well, I'm
a pretty good shot.

That's why I think
giving it back

is the poorest idea
I ever heard of.

Did you think it up
all by yourself?

Don't tell me you believe

all those stories
you heard about me.

I heard you were
in Yuma Prison,

and I heard you broke out.

And I know it ain't idle gossip

because you're standing
here talking to me.

You really gonna let me go
through Apache country naked?

If I see one Apache,

I'll give you back
your Winchester to hide behind.

Well, you probably
won't see him.

And if you do, he'll probably
have all his uncles

and his cousins
and his brothers with him.

If he does,
I'll probably beg you

to take back your Winchester.

Probably.

Hey, Buck.

Miss Pickett.

Hey, Doc.

You know anything
about babies?

About what?

Babies. You know,
little...babies.

Yeah, the kind
that women have.

Well, I think I know
how they're made,

and I've heard rumors
about where they come from.

And I believe
they grow up to be people.

That's all you know?

I know they're messy,
and they make a lot of noise.

What else?

Well, I wouldn't play
poker with one,

and I wouldn't have one
in the house.

Oh, come on, Doc,
we're serious.

You don't see me smiling.

Look, a doctor
is supposed to be

both responsible
and helpful.

Would you gentlemen
come to the point?

Okay, I'll come
to the point.

Can you deliver a baby?

No, sir.

Well, a woman does all the work.

Unless she gets
in some kind of trouble.

That's right. And if-if she was
to get herself

into some kind of trouble,
now, she'd be real good off

if she had a doctor around,
wouldn't she?

Wouldn't be
a bad idea.

You're it.
I'm what?

It.

If Mrs. Mallory
gets into trouble,

I'm sure you'll be
helpful and responsible.

Well, I've done everything
else for a woman.

He didn't say
he's gonna do it.

He didn't say he wouldn't.

Much obliged, Miss Pickett.

[*]

Hyah!

I wish I was going
somewhere on that stage.

Why?

It was a stage
that brought us here.

I don't care.

I just wish I was goin'.

[*]

BUCK:
Peaceful, ain't it?

CURLY:
I'm not admiring the scenery.

Well, you ain't gonna see
no Apaches looking forward.

What they like to do is let you
pass, then they let you have it.

I know.

Treat you kind of
like you was a buffalo:

sneak up
from your backside.

I know that.

While I'm thinking
about it,

that shotgun of yours
ain't gonna do no good.

It's only good
for close-up work.

Why do you keep telling
me things I know?

What you wanna get
a hold of is something

where you can shoot 'em as far
away as the next territory.

Anything else
you wanna tell me

that I already know?

Curly,
I got me two rifles

right underneath
that seating area.

You always keep
two rifles under the seat?

Yes, sir.

My wife cleans 'em
and loads 'em for me.

Now, a lot of men
get fried chicken.

You got
a good wife.

Yeah, I know it.

She used to ride
shotgun for me.

Then she said it got, uh...

Got too hard
on her ovaries.

What's an ovary?

Well, near as I can tell,
it's, uh...

you know,
part of her machinery.

Sight of blood
bother you much?

Only if it's mine. Why?

Well, because there ain't
no way we're gonna get

clean through to Lordsburg

without getting into
a fight of some kind.

You can take
my word for that.

Mind looking somewhere else
for a while?

I hear you're good at robbing
banks, is that right?

I wouldn't know.
I never robbed a bank.

Oh. Oh, I see.

And where do you suppose
I got the idea

that's what you do for a living?

Probably one of them books
you read.

Well, what do you do?

I mind my own business.
You ought to try it sometime.

Why?

It's not near as dangerous
as the way you're living now.

[*]

How do you feel, Mrs. Mallory?

How do I feel?

I mean, you got any...twinges
or unexplained discomforts,

or anything like that?

I have a great many
discomforts, doctor.

I'm sure that they can all
be explained.

Well, you see, I'm only asking
in a professional capacity.

You're not Mrs. Mallory's
kind of doctor.

I know that.

But she doesn't have
a lot to choose from,

now does she, Hatfield?

Well, I don't know
about Mrs. Mallory,

but under the lady's
circumstances,

I'd be real happy to see
any doctor I could get.

And that's me.

[*]

You said you were the paymaster
in my father's regiment?

Yeah. I was the most
popular man in the Army...

once a month.

How did he save your life?

Well, they were
gonna hang me.

Who was
gonna hang you?

My fellow soldiers.

You know, I never felt
I belonged in the Army anyway.

Never could respond
to bugle calls.

It's a hateful thing,
a bugle call.

Now, I wake up
when I want to,

and I go to sleep
when I want to,

and I sure don't need
a bugle to tell me when.

But why were they
going to hang you?

I lost the payroll.

You misplaced it?

You know, they used
a lot of words,

but I don't think "misplaced"
was one of them.

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

You see, I lost the payroll
in a game of seven-card stud.

The more I lost,

the more certain I was
I was gonna win,

until finally
there wasn't nothing left.

You gambled away
the regimental payroll?

Don't make it sound so easy.
It took me 17 hours.

You know, I believe that was
the hardest work I ever did,

the coldest deck I ever saw,

and the biggest mistake
I ever made.

I didn't believe
it was possible

for a man to play poker
for 17 hours,

and never hold
a face card.

I don't know anything
about gambling.

I didn't either.

But your father
saved me from hanging.

He had me
court-martialed,

and I spent two years
at hard labor.

But when I came out of prison
I knew how to crimp, mark,

deal from the bottom
and double-deal.

And I haven't worked
a day since.

Are you saying that you win
by dishonest means?

No, ma'am.

I win by any means.

[*]

Whoa!

How long ago?

Less than an hour.

We were told
there'd be soldiers here.

Well, there was,
but not enough.

Where'd they go?

The detail took the wounded
back to Lordsburg.

The rest is out chasing.

Might as well have all went
back for all the good it'll do.

Is a Captain Mallory here?

Who are you?

This is Mrs. Mallory.

She was told
she'd find her husband here.

He's a captain in the cavalry.

Ma'am,
you shouldn't be here.

I am here.

The question was,
where is my husband?

They took him back to Lordsburg.

Took? Did you say "took"?

Yes, ma'am.

Is he wounded, or is he dead?

He's wounded.

How badly?

Not as bad as it could be.

That tells me precisely nothing.

He's alive. That's all I can
tell you, that's all I know.

Now, ma'am, there's only
one bed in this station,

and it's got your name
writ all over it.

If I was you, I'd take to it.

I'll try and find you
some blankets.

Where's Buck's fresh team?
Where's the hostlers?

Your team was the first thing
the Indians took.

My help went south.

You're gonna have to
let this team rest

and use them again tomorrow.

If you make it to Lordsburg,

you tell them
I'm closing this station.

I'd say the Apaches
closed it for you.

[*]

You know, they say
Geronimo has two virtues:

He can kill
without being killed,

and steal without
getting caught.

Those don't sound
like virtues to me.

Well, it would
if you were an Apache

with a white man coming out
from under every rock.

You know, you actually sound
like you admire him.

I do. I admire anybody
that'll fight for their survival

against odds that they know is
gonna overwhelm them in the end.

[GASPS]

Mrs. Mallory, you better
sit down. You look tired.

Please, let me help you.

Where's that bed?
It's there.

Careful, easy now.
All right.

I envy you.

Why?

Why?

Why do you envy me?

You fixing to give birth
to a new best friend.

I never thought
about it like that.

Well, I think that's
the only way to think about it

if you're gonna have a baby.

And make no mistake about it,
you are gonna have a baby.

Here you go.

Right here.

Good girl. Good girl.

I think that's the only way
to think about it.

I mean, you give it life.

You teach it to walk
and to eat

and to take care of itself.

And then, when it hurts,
you hold it.

When it feels good,
you laugh with it.

And wherever you live,
that's its home too.

Until it grows up
and leaves you.

No, ma'am.

Wherever you live
is that baby's home,

forever and forever.

Have you ever been married?

I gave that thought my last shot
in that town back yonder.

But the gentleman was a liar,
but beautiful.

He painted these
magnificent pictures

with these empty words,

but you wouldn't know
nothing about that.

Pretty fan.

Isn't that pretty?
I love it.

Belonged to my mama.

Oh, Miss Mallory, I was
brought up to be a lady.

Just kind of sad, all the things
that happened along the way.

Where are you going?

I don't even care anymore.

Maybe that's the saddest part.

Not caring.

[GASPS]

Oh! All right, all right.
Relax. Relax.

Thank you.

Head up--

I think it's coming.

It's all right.
Don't you worry.

It's gonna be fine.

Get that doctor.

Mm.

What if something
goes wrong?

Darling, don't you worry.
I'm here.

Do you know about such things?

A little bit.
And that'll be plenty.

[*]

[COYOTES HOWLING]

DALLAS:
Doc, Miss Mallory wants you.

Doc, Mrs. Mallory wants you.

We're almost to Lordsburg.
Can't she wait?

It's the baby
that's not waiting.

That's how it is with babies.

They want what they want,
when they want it.

[COYOTE HOWLING]

[OWL HOOTING]

[COYOTE HOWLING,
OWL HOOTING]

DALLAS:
What about your hands?

What about 'em?

Ain't you gonna
wash your hands?

The baby won't know
the difference.

What about Mrs. Mallory?
You think she wants

your fingerprints
all over everything

when she sees her husband?

[SIGHS]

Your hands, doc.

[COYOTES HOWLING]

Anything else?

Yes, don't slap
the baby.

Okay.

Why would I slap the baby?

I don't know,
but most doctors do.

It's a custom
I'm not in favor of.

Nobody comes into this world
looking for a fight.

You go get her.

[GASPS]

Dallas tells me
your time is near.

I think my time is here, doctor.

[GROANS]

[GASPING]

Those...twinges
you told me about,

are considerably
more than twinges.

Well, I'm sorry about
my choice of words there,

but I've never really
done this before.

You've never delivered a baby?

No, ma'am.

Not even one.

But-- But everyone
calls you "doc."

Yes, ma'am. There's something
else I should tell you too,

and I realize this is not
the best time to do it...

but I'm not a doctor.

I'm a dentist.

A dentist?

Yes, ma'am.

[GASPING]

It's all right.
Just relax.

It's okay, Mrs. Mallory.
It's okay.

Just lay down. Relax.

It's okay. Just relax.

It's gonna be all right.

[MUTTERS SOFTLY]

A dentist?

Yes, ma'am.

Do you know anything at all

about what is gonna happen
here tonight?

Oh, yes, ma'am.

A lot of good things are gonna

happen here tonight,
great things.

You can count on that.

You know, one time I delivered
a foal for my mare.

Prettiest little filly
you ever saw.

Filly?

Really.

[OWL HOOTING]

Can I help?

No.

[*]

But you can ask your question.

I mean, I've been looked at
by a lot of men.

I don't have to ask.
I know what the look means.

You said something
that stuck in my head.

You said you'd met
every kind, but you.

Yeah, so?

What kind are you?

I never met
one of a kind before.

If you had, you think it'd
have changed your life any?

Might have.

One of a kind and one of a kind
make a pair of a kind.

Cowboy...

if we knew each other at all,
which we don't,

I have to call that about
the worst proposal I ever heard.

Proposal?

Well, what am I supposed
to think,

you talking about us
as a pair and--?

Well, I didn't say
a pair of what.

That's true.

You didn't.

You keep the thought.

I like long running stories.

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

[SPURS JINGLING,
GRAVEL CRUNCHING]

It looks peaceful
in the moonlight, don't it?

Hm.

You don't expect the Apaches

to come back
here tonight, do you?

Wouldn't surprise me.

Nothing the Apaches
do surprises me.

It shocks me sometimes,

but the shock's
never a surprise.

Did you ever know
an Apache?

Never did.

Me neither.

They're not much
for hanging around forts.

They burn 'em down,
but they don't hang around 'em.

Listen, Curly,
tell me one thing:

Why are you
taking me back in?

That's quite a question

for an escaped convict
to be asking a lawman.

It's not me that wants you,
Ringo, it's the law.

You see, they seem
to have some opinion

that if you murder
a member of society,

that you owe
society something.

I didn't murder anybody.

His name was Dan Curtis.
He was the Plummers' foreman.

I was at my ranch
across the border

the night he was killed.

Not according to Luke Plummer
and his brothers,

and it was their testimony
that put you in Yuma Prison--

They lied.

I think you said that
at the trial.

And you're gonna have
another chance

to debate that with them
back in Yuma.

What do you mean?

I'm going into Lordsburg
to satisfy a wanted poster.

Three of 'em robbed
a bank in Santa Fe.

Killed a teller
and two innocent bystanders.

And you're going into Lordsburg

all by yourself
to take on all the Plummers?

That's what you
were gonna do, ain't it?

Well, you're gonna need
some help.

If I deputized
an escaped convict,

I'd be run out
of the territory.

It's better
than being carried out.

[SPURS JINGLING,
GRAVEL CRUNCHING]

[COYOTE HOWLS]

Is the team
gonna be ready?

Yeah, they got to be ready,
the only one we got.

You think we'll see the Apaches
between here and Lordsburg?

I think they know the schedule
better than the front office.

Wonder why they haven't
hit us already.

Ah, you know the Apache.

Probably sitting around
thinking about it.

I believe sometimes
thinking about it

is better than doing it.

Did you ever know an Apache?

No. I never did.

I think I'll go on inside.

You want somebody
to relieve you?

No.

What I really want

is a look in that banker's bag.

Keeps that dang thing
closer to him

than his belt buckle.

That's why
I want to look in it.

The bag.

[COYOTE HOWLING]

DALLAS:
What's the matter, Kid?
You can't sleep?

I thought you were
with the lady.

She don't need me now.

It gives me time to think
about what you could have meant.

A pair, you said.

Hm?

A pair of what?

You told me you didn't know
where you're going.

Oh, does anybody?

I do.

Hm.

As soon as I take care
of some business in Lordsburg...

me and my brother

were building our little
ranch over in Mexico,

about four miles
from the border.

But then your brother
got killed?

But my brother got murdered.

And that's what I have
to take care of in Lordsburg.

Keep talkin'.

Well, this little ranch

is the prettiest place
you ever saw.

Plenty of water.

Grass and cottonwood trees
around the house.

Mm-hm.

Lots of rosebushes,
I bet?

Never seen a rosebush.

Listen, uh...

what I thought was,

well, since you don't know
where you're going,

I thought you might like
to take a look at it.

And if I liked it,

I could just stay
and live there?

If you like it.

And we could just live
happily ever after?

No, just live together
and take what comes,

like everybody else.

What's the matter
with you, Kid,

don't you believe
in fairy tales?

I live in a real world,
Dallas.

Just like you do.

Uh-uh. You don't know
anything about me.

You don't know
one thing about me.

I know everything
about you.

You're the woman
my mama warned me about.

Well, I can't say
I know anything about a man

until he kisses me.

[GASPING]

DOC:
You're doing real good,
Miss Mallory.

Doing real good. You couldn't be
doing no better

if you was in one of 'em fine
bedrooms with a brace of nurses

and one of them
$50-a-day doctors.

[GROANING]

Miss Mallory, I gotta look now.

Look?

If that baby don't come out
straight and head first,

we could have a real problem.

It's gonna be all right,
but I do have to look.

Do you mean, look?

Yes, ma'am.

[MOANS]

You gotta help me.

You gotta turn over,
if you will.

Would you put out
your cigar first,

please?

Now then, you gotta turn over
on your back.

[MOANING]

Not too fast.
[PANTING]

Spread your legs
just as far as you can.

I am never gonna be
embarrassed again.

Look what I found.

[SNIFFS]

You want a slug of this?

Nope.
I don't drink.

You don't like whiskey?

I like it, all right.

I like it too much.

That's the reason
I don't drink it.

I always wanted to meet
a man of character.

Character has
nothing to do with it.

I'm a gambler.

Yeah, I guess whiskey and
gambling is poor mix, ain't it?

Whiskey and anything
is a poor mix.

You ought to be
a preacher.

The day when I can't find
an ace in a haystack,

I might just do that.

Here,

shuffle and spread 'em.

What hand do you favor?
A flush or a straight?

Maybe a full house.

I'm partial to a straight.

So am I.

[SIGHS]

You're missing the ace.

Hmm.

I always save the best
for last.

You ever been caught?

The day when I'm caught,

then I'll start preaching.

Because nobody
can save souls

better than a man
that's lost his own.

Amen.

[BABY CRYING]

It's here.
He did it.

She did it.

Here you are, Mrs. Mallory.

So this is what
you look like.

I've been wondering
for nine months.

I wanted you to look
like your father.

She looks exactly like you.

She?

Yes, ma'am, she.

For a job well done,
sir.

Thank you, nurse.

My husband wanted a boy.

Why?
I don't know. He--

He just always talked
about a boy.

He's gonna take what he gets,
and he'll like it.

Honey, men don't know
what they want

till you give it to them.

Then, when they get it,

it's exactly what
they've always wanted.

[GURGLING]
Oh.

Miss Mallory wanted me
to introduce her daughter,

so don't nobody cut and run.

RINGO: Oh, look at that.
Oh.

DALLAS:
I think this little girl's had

just about as many shocks
as a lady can take

for one evening, so she's gonna
say goodnight now.

RINGO: Hmm, she is.
Good night.

Whew.

That looked just like a baby.

Hmm.

If you get back
to Lordsburg,

don't forget to tell them
this station's closed.

Ain't gonna be nobody here.

Well, where are you going?

I'd give worlds to know,

but not knowing's
a whole heap better

than hanging around here,

getting butchered
to move on a stage company.

Well, Chris, we're going on
to Lordsburg.

You're more than welcome
to join us if you want to.

You ain't never gonna see
Lordsburg.

[SIGHS]

Yeah.

There are some who say
we don't have a chance

to make it to Lordsburg.

What we don't have is a choice.

There'll be rifles up on top
for everybody.

Hatfield?

I work better with this.

Mr. Gatewood,
how would you feel

about giving up that bag
for a rifle?

Give it up?

Well, I don't quite know
what do you mean

when you say "give it up."

Store it up on top.
You can have it back

when we get to Lordsburg.

You keep insisting on that,

but I've already told you
that I won't do it.

Besides, I...can't shoot.

I've never handled a rifle
in my life.

Best time to learn is when
it might be your last chance.

If what you got
in that bag

is more important
to you than your life,

then you got a right
to hold on to it.

But we got two women
and a baby onboard.

Hmm.
That don't move you?

They're not my responsibility.

Doc?

You finally come
to me.

You're the prettiest,
so I saved you for last.

Since these are yours,

I imagine you know
how to use them.

I imagine.

All right, let's load up.

Curly, what about Mrs. Mallory?

Yeah, Doc,
I know she had a baby,

and she shouldn't travel.
Thought about that.

But how is she?

Well, she's all right.

How's the baby?
Baby's fine.

You know we can't
leave 'em here.
No, sir.

You get the women.

CURLY: All set?
BUCK: Yeah.

Folks, there's a couple of
things you ought to know.

Ride to Lordsburg
is 30 miles.

We'll be going as slow as we can
for as long as we can.

These horses are the same ones
that brought us here

and they're plumb wore out.

If there's trouble,
you men know what to do.

Take your time,
squeeze off your shots,

make every shot count.

What are the chances
of not seeing any Indians?

Mr. Hatfield's
better qualified

to give you the odds
than I am, ma'am.

Well,
if anyone asked me,

I'd say our chances
are good.

I'd sooner draw
to an inside straight myself.

[*]

[HORSE WHINNIES]

BUCK:
Hyah!

Come on.
Come on!

Eight dollars a month.

I told them it wasn't enough.

They told me they could get
somebody else to do it

a lot cheaper than that.

Hey.
Hmm?

[KNOCKS ON ROOF]
Look sharp.

[CRYING]

Faster.

Not yet.

[BABY WAILING]

CURLY:
Hold your fire.

Wait till they're closer.

[BABY CONTINUES WAILING]

Now.
Hyah!

BUCK:
Come on!

[CRYING]

Hyah!

Hyah!

[GROANS]

Curly, get the lines.

CURLY:
I'll get 'em.

[YELLS]

Curly!

Ringo, get Curly.

[BABY CRYING]

[PLAYING "CHARGE"]

[APACHES SHOUTING]

[GURGLING]

CURLY:
You know I gotta go with Ringo.

Yeah, I figured you would.

I can't say
I enjoyed the trip,

but I know what you mean,
$8 dollars a month ain't enough.

Tell 'em for me, would you?

They should at least
make it nine.

You hurting?
Nah.

You?

Yeah.

[CHUCKLES]

Yeah, me too.

Buck.
Marshal.

That's probably good
as I can do

with what they got
to work with, Curly.

Yeah, I guess so.

Goodbye, Mrs. Mallory.
Goodbye, marshal.

When she grows up,
she's gonna be asking questions

about where she was born
and everything.

I suppose.

You gonna tell her the truth?

Of course.

Every girl needs something
to live up to.

And every lady
needs something to remember.

Oh, Dallas.

Thank you, Doc.

Miss Mallory.

Thank you, sir.
Yes, sir.

Mr. Hatfield, you can consider
your debt to my father paid.

It's been a long time owing,
Mrs. Mallory.

CAPT. MALLORY:
Is the dead man's name Gatewood?

Yeah, he's the banker
from Tonto. Why?

He robbed his own bank.

You don't seem surprised.

Captain,
when a banker runs out

and flags down a stage
leaving town

without so much as a change
of underwear,

nothing he's gonna do
surprises me.

What about the money?

Turn it over to the sheriff
in Lordsburg.

There's no civilian law
in Lordsburg.

None?

Marshal, if you go
into Lordsburg,

you're the only civilian law
there.

[*]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[PIANO PLAYING PEACEFUL MELODY]

Mr. Plummer,

could I talk to you?

Go away. Luke don't talk
when he's playing cards.

Ringo's in town.

Ringo's in prison.

Not no more. Uh-uh.

He just come into town,
drivin' the stage.

Marshal from Tonto
beside him.

You trying to tell me

he came into Lordsburg
with the law?

I'm telling you what I seen,
l-like you told me to.

How's your arm?
Worthless.

Can you manage?
I'll manage.

[*]

[SIGHS]

Stay here.
I won't be long.

That was
a nice thought.

One of a kind, one of a kind
making a pair and all.

It was nice.

You gonna be here
when I get back?

What makes you think
you're coming back?

You.

Too bad
you're still worried

about getting run out
of the territory.

I ain't worried
about that anymore.

I'm deputizing you.

I'm trying to figure out
how we're gonna do it.

Luke Plummer's got a saloon
full of brothers.

Since you don't look
like you're up to nothing fancy,

I suspect I'm gonna be
pretty busy.

We can probably take
a little pressure off.

Huh, Mr. Hatfield?

Your flanks
will be covered.

I can't use this.
You might need it.

And since I'm
the U.S. marshal,

I'm gonna tell them
they're under arrest.

[PIANO PLAYING PLEASANT MELODY]

Would you gentlemen
care for another drink?

CURLY:
Whiskey.

Your last drink, Mr. Plummer.
Try to enjoy it.

[PIANO STOPS PLAYING,
CHATTERING SILENCES]

I reckon that's supposed
to mean something?

These must be your brothers
and your gang.

Nice to have family
with you when you die.

Well, if you're interested
in writing my family history,

I reckon you should get
in touch with my old man.

He's mostly to do
about it.

If these are
your brothers,

you're all three
under arrest

for bank robbery
and murder.

That's a mighty fancy speech

for a one-armed marshal
with no gun.

My gun is on loan
to Bill Williams at the moment.

You might know him better

as the Ringo Kid.

Yeah, we heard a tale
he was out of prison.

Took a job driving a stage.

How'd they found out
he didn't do it?

They don't.

You just told me.

Now either give up your guns
or take your chances outside.

Ringo's out there?

Ringo's my deputy.

A fine, upstanding young man,
shoots straight,

sings in the choir.

LUKE:
You with us on this?

The way I see it, Luke,
it's not my fight, yet.

Bartender,
keep this whiskey waiting.

I'll finish it
when I get back.

[*]

Drop that gun,

or you'll never have
another toothache.

Move.

Now, what you're planning
is not nice.

Let me hold that for you.

Chilly night out tonight,
ain't it?

Yeah, I think
it's fixing to get hot.

Don't have to be this way,
you know.

Let's say I'm doing this
for my brother Coy.

The marshal tell you
you're under arrest?

He might have mentioned it.

You're not sure, though?

Well, now...

I never really paid
much attention

to what the law had to say.

LUKE:
Did hear tell, though,
you're his deputy.

Yeah, well,
good help's hard to find.

Now you lift your gun
and drop it.

Sure.

Anything you say.

[GUNSHOT]

[*]

[CROWD MURMURING]

[EXHALES]

I don't reckon either one
of you brothers wanna say

a few words about
how badly he was abused

and mistreated in this life

but is gonna get his reward
in the next.

Mr. Hatfield,
marry them to the post

until I'm ready to go.

HATFIELD:
Get over there.

Get over there.
Grab that post.

CURLY:
Doc, you can ask Ringo
to come in.

If they move, shoot them.

[CHUCKLES]

It don't look like Ringo
wants to come back inside.

CURLY:
Where do you think
you're going, Ringo?

Me and my partner

got some business
across the border.

I deputized you

and the job
ain't done yet.

Wasn't much of a job,
Curly.

I don't know. A man breaks out
of prison one day,

and gets deputized
the next?

I'd call that
a pretty good job.

Too regular.

Luke Plummer cleared you.
As far as I'm concerned,

you're on the right side
of the law.

Except for those horses
you're stealing.

These horses been stole
so many times

they can't give
their own right names anymore.

You sure you're doing
the right thing?

I'm doing like you, Doc.

Traveling light,
coming well-balanced.

[*]

You know, a woman could do
a lot worse, Curly.

What? Running off
with Ringo?

No. Traveling light
and coming well-balanced.

[WILLIE NELSON'S "STAGECOACH"
PLAYING]