Have Gun - Will Travel (1957–1963): Season 1, Episode 25 - The O'Hare Story - full transcript
Paladin is hired by Henry Ritchie, the leading citizen of the town of Ashley to stop a dam building project financed by Central City and an engineer named Mike O'Hare. The dam will cost Ashley its water supply. Other less sophisticated gunslingers are also vying for the job. Paladin's first attempt to stop the project is a simple act of sabotage that is not direct enough for Ritchie who wants O'Hare stopped by any means necessary. Paladin soon comes to realize that O'Hare is not the unreasonable man he was led to believe he is and that he could be working for the wrong side.
[GUN COCKING]
THE GREATEST CALAMITIES IN HISTORY
WERE MADE BY WORDS SAID IN ANGER.
IF YOU CAN'T BACK IT UP,
DON'T SPEAK IN ANGER.
[DOOR CLOSES]
YOUR GUNMEN ARE HERE.
GOOD, BRING 'EM IN.
YOU STILL HAVE A MINUTE TO
CHANGE ALL THIS. ONE MINUTE.
MY MIND'S MADE UP.
WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE
UP YOUR MIND ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH?
THE YEARS I'VE SPENT IN
THIS TOWN, AND THE SWEAT.
SO YOU HIRE A FILTHY GUNMAN
TO SAVE THE FRUITS OF YOUR LIFE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT HE IS,
SO LONG AS HE DOES THE JOB.
IF THIS GUNMAN WON'T HELP,
THERE ARE OTHERS ON THE WAY.
THEY'RE NOT HARD TO FIND.
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY I'M
ASHAMED OF MY OWN FATHER.
[DOOR CLOSES]
WELL, HELLO.
NICEST SCENERY SINCE I GOT HERE.
I WANT TO TALK TO RITCHIE.
HE'S IN THERE.
THANK YOU.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
[DISTANT EXPLOSION]
OH, THANK YOU.
IT'S ENTIRELY MY PLEASURE. A PRETTY
GIRL COMPLETES A BEAUTIFUL MORNING.
YOU SOUND AS THOUGH
YOU'VE SAID THAT BEFORE.
I HAVE, AND I'M JUST AS
SURE YOU'VE HEARD IT BEFORE.
MAY I HELP YOU?
I BELIEVE MR. RITCHIE'S
EXPECTING ME. MY NAME'S PALADIN.
OH.
SAME BREED, DIFFERENT FEATHERS.
THERE'S ANOTHER MAN
WITH A GUN TO SEE YOU.
OH? IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR IF
I DIDN'T TALK TO HIM, MARSH.
HE'S COME A LONG WAY.
THAT'S ALRIGHT,
MR. RITCHIE, I UNDERSTAND.
ME AND MY BOYS WOULD
LIKE TO DO THE JOB.
THE MAN NEEDS CALMING
DOWN, WE'LL CALM HIM.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE
SITUATION I DON'T WANT.
YOU'LL STEP OUTSIDE A
MINUTE, I'LL GET RID OF HIM.
SEE YOU LATER. THAT'S
ENOUGH OF THAT, MARSH.
WHAT'S A'MATTER?
[DOOR CLOSES]
YOUR TURN, MR. PALADIN.
THANK YOU.
MR. RITCHIE.
YUP.
MY NAME'S PALADIN.
SIT DOWN.
WAS THAT JOE MARSH
WHO JUST LEFT HERE?
THAT'S WHO IT WAS, YOU KNOW HIM?
NOT VERY WELL, BUT
AS WELL AS I'D CARE TO.
IS YOUR TOWN DOING
BUSINESS WITH HIM?
WE'LL DO BUSINESS WITH
THE DEVIL IF WE NEED HIM.
YOU WERE JUST INTERVIEWING
ONE OF HIS ASSISTANTS.
MAYBE I SHOULD BE
PLEASED ABOUT THAT.
YOU READ WHAT'S
BEEN GOING ON HERE?
A FIGHT OVER THE
WATER IN THIS AREA.
CENTRAL CITY WANTS THE
WATER FOR THEMSELVES.
THEY DON'T CARE WHAT
HAPPENS TO OUR TOWN.
[EXPLOSION]
HEAR THAT? DYNAMITING
TO BUILD A DAM.
AND LOOK THERE.
EVERY SPRING, THE SNOWS
MELT IN THOSE MOUNTAINS,
FILL THE LAKE, RUN
OVER INTO THE STREAMS,
AND IRRIGATE OUR LANDS.
WE LIVE BY THAT WATER.
WITHOUT IT, WE'RE DONE.
THE NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW
QUOTED YOU QUITE FULLY.
BUILDING A DAM ACROSS OUR
LAKE, AQUEDUCTS TO THEIR CITIES,
STEALING OUR WATER.
LET'S SAY WITH THEIR POLITICAL POWER AND
INFLUENCE THEY'RE USURPING YOUR WATER,
SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE
REASON TO BE ANGRY.
YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SITUATION?
IT'S AN UNFORTUNATELY
COMMON CONDITION IN THE WEST.
TELL THE TRUTH, I'D JUST
ABOUT DECIDED ON JOE MARSH.
OH, YOU WANT SOME KILLING DONE?
NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ALL I WANT IS TO STOP THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THAT DAM.
I WANT TO MAKE IT SO
HOT FOR MIKE O'HARE,
HE'LL TAKE HIS MEN BACK
TO CENTRAL CITY. WHO?
AN ENGINEER, VERY TOUGH MAN.
IF SO, YOU WON'T BEAT HIM BY SCARING
OFF SOME CONSTRUCTION HANDS.
MAYBE NOT.
BUT WE'LL MAKE THE COST OF THE
PROJECT SO HIGH, THE CITY'LL GIVE IT UP.
IF YOU HIRE JOE MARSH, IT'LL BE BY
THE GUN. HE DOESN'T THINK ANOTHER WAY.
DO YOU?
MR. RITCHIE, I NEVER USE
THIS GUN UNLESS I HAVE TO.
THAT'S WHY YOU'LL FIND
MY FEE SOMEWHAT HIGH.
HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?
SHALL WE SAY $1,000?
HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?
WELL, I HAVEN'T
THE FAINTEST IDEA...
YET.
YOU UNDERSTAND, IF IT DOESN'T
WORK OUT THE WAY YOU SAY,
I'LL EXPECT YOU TO USE YOUR GUN.
IN TWO WEEKS, CENTRAL CITY SHOULD
BE LOOKING FOR A NEW SOURCE OF WATER.
I DON'T KNOW.
WORRIED ABOUT JOE MARSH?
SUPPOSE YOU LET ME
DO THE EXPLAINING?
YEAH. YEAH, WHY DON'T
YOU SETTLE IT BETWEEN YOU?
MM-HMM.
[MEN LAUGH OUTSIDE]
[LAUGHING CONTINUES]
MR. RITCHIE, UH...
WHEN ARE ME AND MY BOYS
GONNA WORK FOR YOU, HUH?
MARSH, YOU'RE GONNA BE
TERRIBLY ANGRY WITH ME.
REALLY? YES, REALLY.
IT SEEMS I CONVINCED MR. RITCHIE
THAT I'M THE MAN FOR THE JOB.
YOU? THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU BETTER CHANGE YOUR
MIND, MISTER, AND FAST.
THINK YOU CAN MAKE US RIDE OUT
HERE AND SAY, "NOTHIN' DOIN'," LIKE THAT?
HE'S RIGHT, MR. RITCHIE.
YOU SHOULD PAY THESE MEN
FOR THEIR TROUBLE. $50 IS FAIR.
$50?! FOR THE LOT.
THERE YOU ARE.
YOU DON'T MIND IF WE
HANG AROUND AWHILE,
JUST IN CASE THE JOB TURNS UP
AGAIN? BOYS, LET'S GET A DRINK.
O'HARE.
WELL, HE'S NOT
AFRAID TO RIDE ALONE.
HE'S CARRYING A GUN, THOUGH.
I TOLD HIM IF HE OR HIS MEN SET FOOT IN
THIS TOWN, THERE COULD BE SOME SHOOTING.
WHAT A BLOODTHIRSTY
IDEA. HERE, HOLD THIS.
NEVER MAKE A THREAT YOU
DON'T MEAN TO CARRY OUT, RITCHIE.
EMBARRASSMENT COULD
BE THE LEAST RESULT.
IT WAS JUST SAID IN ANGER.
THE GREATEST
CALAMITIES IN HISTORY
WERE THE RESULT OF
WORDS JUST SAID IN ANGER.
I'M HERE FOR THE
MAIL, MISS MAE RITCHIE.
I'LL GET IT FOR YOU.
RITCHIE, MY MEN WANT
TO COME TO TOWN.
THEY WANT TO BUY THINGS.
I'LL SELL 'EM NOTHING.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE POST OFFICE,
I WOULDN'T LET YOU IN THE STORE.
OUR NEEDS ARE
STRONGER THAN YOURS.
IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH A
STUBBORN FOOL, YOU'D KNOW IT.
FROM NOW ON, THINGS
ARE GONNA BE DIFFERENT.
REASON WON'T MAKE A DENT ON YOU,
MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE WILL.
OH, I SEE. I WARNED YOU.
A GUNFIGHTER?
I DON'T CARE FOR THAT TERM.
WELL, WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
A SENSITIVE GUNFIGHTER.
WELL, TAKE ADVICE, IF YOU WILL.
IF YOU WANT YOUR
THIN SKIN UNBROKEN,
KEEP AWAY FROM MY
CONSTRUCTION AREAS.
NOW, YOU WOULDN'T SHOOT A MAN
WITHOUT DUE CAUSE, WOULD YOU?
DON'T GIVE ME CAUSE, THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU, MISS. YOU'RE WELCOME.
RITCHIE, IF JUST ONE
OF MY MEN GET HURT,
YOU BETTER RUN FOR THE HILLS.
WELL, DON'T LOOK AT ME,
MISS RITCHIE, I JUST ARRIVED.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL
MORNING, MR. PALADIN,
UNTIL YOU PUT CLOUDS IN IT.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR YOUR
APPROVAL, GENTLEMEN.
I WANTED YOU TO MEET PALADIN
AND KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING HERE.
YOU PULL THIS OFF
WITHOUT KILLING,
THE REST OF US WILL DOUBLE
WHAT RITCHIE'S PAYING YOU.
NOW, DON'T CINCH
HIM IN TOO TIGHT, ED.
HE'S A GUNFIGHTER. WHAT'S HE
GONNA USE IN CASE OF TROUBLE?
BRAINS, MR. GARDNER.
THAT CAN HAVE KIND
OF TEMPORARY EFFECTS.
BUT IT DOES LEAVE PEOPLE ALIVE AND
THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE WHEN THE DUST SETTLES.
PASS THE WORD TO KEEP CATTLE
AND SHEEP OUT OF THE SOUTH WASH.
PALADIN'S GONNA BLOW ONE OF
THE DAMS AND FLOOD O'HARE OUT.
JUST A MINUTE, RITCHIE,
I SAID I'D LOOK INTO IT.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO GET DIRECT
RESULTS WITHOUT DIRECT ACTION?
YOU HIRED ME TO DO A JOB,
NOW LEAVE ME ALONE TO DO IT.
WHEN YOU GONNA START?
WHEN I'M READY.
GENTLEMEN.
[THUNDER]
[HORSE NEIGHS]
ANYTHING?
NOTHING BUT RAIN.
LET'S HOLD IT DOWN TIGHT.
ANY WATER TOUCHES THAT CEMENT
AND O'HARE'LL GO UP LIKE A ROCKET.
RITCHIE, YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR
THE DESTRUCTION OF MY SUPPLIES.
SUPPLIES? DESTRUCTION?
COMPLAINT
DEPARTMENT'S OVER THERE.
YOU'RE MY KIND OF
FELLA, NO QUESTION.
MAYBE I'LL HIRE SOME GUNSLINGERS
TO PUT YOU AGAINST
YOUR OWN KIND.
THAT OUGHT TO BE INTERESTING.
OH? DO YOU HAVE TO
HIRE FROM THE OUTSIDE?
I WAS TOLD YOU AND YOUR CONSTRUCTION
GANGS WERE VERY TOUGH MEN.
I'M AN ENGINEER. I SPENT
MOST OF MY LIFE BUILDING,
NOT DESTROYING.
THE LIKES OF YOU HAVE BEEN
AROUND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.
YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED
THE WORLD ANY.
AND IN REGARDS TO BEING TOUGH,
LET ME TRY AND
SEE IF THAT'S TRUE.
I'D RATHER NOT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF YEARS BETWEEN US.
WHAT'S A'MATTER? CAN'T
YOU FIGHT WITHOUT A GUN?
[CHUCKLES]
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
DON'T YOU, POP?
IT'S SIMPLE.
THERE'S A MAN IN TOWN.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
HE HAD O'HARE COLD,
RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM.
HE COULD'VE SETTLED THE WHOLE
MESS RIGHT THERE, WITHOUT GUNPLAY.
WHY DIDN'T HE?
DID YOU EXPECT HIM
TO BEAT UP AN OLD MAN?
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU?
[PALADIN:] O'HARE!
PALADIN. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
[COCKS GUN]
ALL RIGHT, COME ON IN.
THAT COFFEE SMELLED
SO GOOD LAST NIGHT
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT
BE WORTH A TASTE.
GIVE HIM A CUP OF COFFEE.
IF YOU COME HERE TO
START A RUCKUS, MISTER,
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT HANDLING
THESE THINGS IS NOT MY BUSINESS.
BUT AT THIS DISTANCE,
I COULDN'T MISS.
THIS DISTANCE, YOU'RE TOO CLOSE.
COME OVER TO MY TENT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
A LITTLE CIVILITY
MIGHT BE A GOOD START.
I'M YOUR GUEST.
WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE A
SLUG AT ME THIS MORNING?
I WAS OUTCLASSED.
OH, THAT'S A LOT OF HOGWASH.
YOU COULD'VE MOPPED THE
STREETS WITH ME. WHY DIDN'T YOU?
I'VE ALWAYS LIKED MEN WHO BUILD.
ONE OF MY GREAT IDOLS
WAS THE EMPEROR HADRIAN.
HADRIAN? WHAT DO YOU
KNOW ABOUT HADRIAN?
WELL, HE WAS AN
EMPEROR, GREAT BUILDER.
IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK
YOU ARE, MR. O'HARE?
YOU SEEM TO BE MAKING
THE DEMANDS OF AN EMPEROR.
WHAT ELSE COULD I DO FOR THOSE
STIFF-NECKED JUG HEADS OF ASHLEY?
I OFFERED THEM TWICE
THE VALUE FOR THEIR SOIL.
I EVEN CONVINCED LEGISLATION TO
SET ASIDE FERTILE LANDS UPSTATE,
TO BE GIVEN TO THEM
AS EXTRA COMPENSATION.
HE SAID, "UNFAIR."
DO THE PEOPLE OF
ASHLEY KNOW THIS?
OF COURSE THEY DO.
THEY WERE NOTIFIED
FOR TWO MONTHS.
NOTIFIED HOW?
BY LETTER FROM
THE STATE CAPITAL.
MR. RITCHIE HAS ONE HIMSELF.
DO YOU HAVE A COPY?
NO, I HAVEN'T, BUT I CAN
GET ONE FROM CENTRAL CITY.
HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?
OH, ABOUT TWO DAYS.
MAYBE SOONER. I'LL GET
ONE AND I'LL BRING IT TO YOU.
I'M A BUILDER.
I WANT TO MAKE THIS BEAUTIFUL
PLACE, WELL, A NEW ATHENS.
A ROME.
BUT THE FIRST
NECESSITY IS WATER.
YOU'RE BACK EARLY TONIGHT.
I THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE
A LITTLE CHAT, MR. RITCHIE.
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?
A LETTER, THE CONTENTS OF WHICH
YOU SEEM TO HAVE KEPT TO YOURSELF.
LETTER? I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE
IN ASHLEY KNOW THE TERMS
FOR SURRENDER OF THE
TOWN'S WATER RIGHTS?
THAT'S NO CONCERN OF YOURS.
YOU'RE HIRED TO DO A JOB, DO IT.
O'HARE'S GIVEN ME HIS VERSION OF
WHAT GOES ON, NOW I'D LIKE YOURS.
YOU'RE BEING PAID
FOR ONLY ONE VERSION.
MINE.
I BUILT THIS TOWN.
I WATCHED IT GROW
FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS,
AND IT'S GONNA GROW EVEN MORE.
EVERY YEAR, MORE FARMERS AND
RANCHERS COME OUT HERE TO SETTLE.
WHY WOULDN'T THEY BE WILLING
TO SETTLE ON THE NEW TOWN SITE?
THE NEW TOWN SITE? NO, SIR.
NOT AFTER THE YEARS OF SWEAT AND
LABOR THAT WENT INTO MAKING THIS VALLEY.
NOBODY'S GONNA
TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME.
NOBODY'S GONNA PUSH ME
OUT AND TELL ME WHERE TO GO.
WHAT I DID WHEN I WAS
YOUNG, I CAN'T DO AGAIN.
I WON'T EVEN TRY.
I'VE GOT A PLOT OF GROUND
NEXT TO MY WIFE'S GRAVE
AND I AIM TO BE HERE IN THIS
TOWN WHEN MY TIME COMES.
THAT'S A HIGHLY
PERSONAL OUTLOOK.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER
PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN?
PEOPLE HERE HAVE ALWAYS
DONE WHAT I ASKED THEM.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE LETTER?
I TORE IT UP.
RITCHIE, THIS IS AN OLD FIGHT.
THE RIGHTS OF THE MANY
AGAINST THE RIGHTS OF THE FEW.
AND I DON'T AGREE YOU HAVE
THE RIGHT, MORAL OR LEGAL,
TO DECIDE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS.
I'LL SEE THAT YOU'RE PAID
FOR YOUR EXPENSES, PALADIN.
YOU'RE NO LONGER NEEDED HERE.
THAT'S YOUR PRIVILEGE.
GOODNIGHT, SIR.
I WISH YOU HADN'T.
HE'LL TURN TO JOE MARSH NOW.
I'M AFRAID SO.
WHY DON'T YOU TALK
TO JOE MARSH FIRST?
GET HIM TO MOVE ON, LEAVE TOWN?
THEN YOU REALLY DON'T
MIND A LITTLE SHOOTING?
THAT WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW.
GOODNIGHT.
[DOOR CLOSES]
I'VE GOT TEN SQUARE
MILES TO COVER.
I CAN'T DO IT WITH MY MEN.
YOU SAID SO YOURSELF.
I TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE.
WE KNOW JOE MARSH IS COMING,
IT WON'T BE THAT EASY FOR HIM.
WE PRACTICALLY
HAVE NO AMMUNITION.
THAT'S TELLING YOU NO SECRET.
HOW MANY ROUNDS?
TWO OR THREE TO THE RIFLE.
UNLESS YOU'D LIKE TO PICK
SOME OUT OF THAT CEMENT.
I'M AFRAID WE HAVEN'T TIME.
HEY, WHAT MADE YOU CHANGE SIDES?
EDUCATION.
DIDN'T THAT SAME EDUCATION
WARN YOU TO GET OUT
WHEN YOU KNOW MARSH
AND HIS GANG WILL ARRIVE?
YOU KNOW, I MUST'VE
SKIPPED THAT CLASS.
[LAUGHS]
[HORSES APPROACH]
[LANTERN SMASHES]
BLAST POWDER.
[RIFLE FIRES]
THAT'S NORTH, NUMBER THREE DAM.
GET MOUNTED, MEN!
COVER ME. EVERY TIME A
HEAD SHOWS, TRY AND HIT IT.
[FIRING]
[FIRING CONTINUES]
[GUNSHOT]
[FIRE SIZZLING]
[SIZZLING STOPS]
[SHOOTING CONTINUES]
LET'S GET HIM.
ALRIGHT, HOLD IT.
[BARREL CLICKS]
[CHUCKLES]
THOUGHT YOU'D LEFT TOWN?
I DID. I HELPED MR. O'HARE.
HE GAVE ME A COPY OF A
VERY INTERESTING LETTER.
I'M JUST DEBATING WHETHER TO
POST IT ON THE TOWN BULLETIN BOARD
OR LET THE PEOPLE HEAR IT
FROM THEIR LEADING CITIZEN,
WHO ALWAYS HAS THEIR
BEST INTEREST AT HEART.
I DO.
I DON'T DOUBT IT.
BUT I DON'T LIKE TO SEE ONE MAN
CONTROL THE LIVES OF AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WELL, MR. RITCHIE?
YOU'VE RUN OUT OF
GUNFIGHTERS, POP.
OH, SMILE, MR. RITCHIE.
YOU AND YOUR TOWN CAN HAVE A
PROSPEROUS YEAR BEFORE WE LEAVE.
ME AND MY MEN NEED AN
ABUNDANCE OF SUPPLIES.
ALSO FRIENDS.
MR. PALADIN EXPLAINED
HOW YOU FEEL.
BE HARD STARTING AGAIN.
NEW PLACE AT MY AGE.
NO, THANKS.
[DOOR CLOSES]
GOODBYE, MARSH.
RIDE FAR.
THE GREATEST CALAMITIES IN HISTORY
WERE MADE BY WORDS SAID IN ANGER.
IF YOU CAN'T BACK IT UP,
DON'T SPEAK IN ANGER.
[DOOR CLOSES]
YOUR GUNMEN ARE HERE.
GOOD, BRING 'EM IN.
YOU STILL HAVE A MINUTE TO
CHANGE ALL THIS. ONE MINUTE.
MY MIND'S MADE UP.
WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO MAKE
UP YOUR MIND ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH?
THE YEARS I'VE SPENT IN
THIS TOWN, AND THE SWEAT.
SO YOU HIRE A FILTHY GUNMAN
TO SAVE THE FRUITS OF YOUR LIFE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT HE IS,
SO LONG AS HE DOES THE JOB.
IF THIS GUNMAN WON'T HELP,
THERE ARE OTHERS ON THE WAY.
THEY'RE NOT HARD TO FIND.
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY I'M
ASHAMED OF MY OWN FATHER.
[DOOR CLOSES]
WELL, HELLO.
NICEST SCENERY SINCE I GOT HERE.
I WANT TO TALK TO RITCHIE.
HE'S IN THERE.
THANK YOU.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
[DISTANT EXPLOSION]
OH, THANK YOU.
IT'S ENTIRELY MY PLEASURE. A PRETTY
GIRL COMPLETES A BEAUTIFUL MORNING.
YOU SOUND AS THOUGH
YOU'VE SAID THAT BEFORE.
I HAVE, AND I'M JUST AS
SURE YOU'VE HEARD IT BEFORE.
MAY I HELP YOU?
I BELIEVE MR. RITCHIE'S
EXPECTING ME. MY NAME'S PALADIN.
OH.
SAME BREED, DIFFERENT FEATHERS.
THERE'S ANOTHER MAN
WITH A GUN TO SEE YOU.
OH? IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR IF
I DIDN'T TALK TO HIM, MARSH.
HE'S COME A LONG WAY.
THAT'S ALRIGHT,
MR. RITCHIE, I UNDERSTAND.
ME AND MY BOYS WOULD
LIKE TO DO THE JOB.
THE MAN NEEDS CALMING
DOWN, WE'LL CALM HIM.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE
SITUATION I DON'T WANT.
YOU'LL STEP OUTSIDE A
MINUTE, I'LL GET RID OF HIM.
SEE YOU LATER. THAT'S
ENOUGH OF THAT, MARSH.
WHAT'S A'MATTER?
[DOOR CLOSES]
YOUR TURN, MR. PALADIN.
THANK YOU.
MR. RITCHIE.
YUP.
MY NAME'S PALADIN.
SIT DOWN.
WAS THAT JOE MARSH
WHO JUST LEFT HERE?
THAT'S WHO IT WAS, YOU KNOW HIM?
NOT VERY WELL, BUT
AS WELL AS I'D CARE TO.
IS YOUR TOWN DOING
BUSINESS WITH HIM?
WE'LL DO BUSINESS WITH
THE DEVIL IF WE NEED HIM.
YOU WERE JUST INTERVIEWING
ONE OF HIS ASSISTANTS.
MAYBE I SHOULD BE
PLEASED ABOUT THAT.
YOU READ WHAT'S
BEEN GOING ON HERE?
A FIGHT OVER THE
WATER IN THIS AREA.
CENTRAL CITY WANTS THE
WATER FOR THEMSELVES.
THEY DON'T CARE WHAT
HAPPENS TO OUR TOWN.
[EXPLOSION]
HEAR THAT? DYNAMITING
TO BUILD A DAM.
AND LOOK THERE.
EVERY SPRING, THE SNOWS
MELT IN THOSE MOUNTAINS,
FILL THE LAKE, RUN
OVER INTO THE STREAMS,
AND IRRIGATE OUR LANDS.
WE LIVE BY THAT WATER.
WITHOUT IT, WE'RE DONE.
THE NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW
QUOTED YOU QUITE FULLY.
BUILDING A DAM ACROSS OUR
LAKE, AQUEDUCTS TO THEIR CITIES,
STEALING OUR WATER.
LET'S SAY WITH THEIR POLITICAL POWER AND
INFLUENCE THEY'RE USURPING YOUR WATER,
SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE
REASON TO BE ANGRY.
YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SITUATION?
IT'S AN UNFORTUNATELY
COMMON CONDITION IN THE WEST.
TELL THE TRUTH, I'D JUST
ABOUT DECIDED ON JOE MARSH.
OH, YOU WANT SOME KILLING DONE?
NO, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ALL I WANT IS TO STOP THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THAT DAM.
I WANT TO MAKE IT SO
HOT FOR MIKE O'HARE,
HE'LL TAKE HIS MEN BACK
TO CENTRAL CITY. WHO?
AN ENGINEER, VERY TOUGH MAN.
IF SO, YOU WON'T BEAT HIM BY SCARING
OFF SOME CONSTRUCTION HANDS.
MAYBE NOT.
BUT WE'LL MAKE THE COST OF THE
PROJECT SO HIGH, THE CITY'LL GIVE IT UP.
IF YOU HIRE JOE MARSH, IT'LL BE BY
THE GUN. HE DOESN'T THINK ANOTHER WAY.
DO YOU?
MR. RITCHIE, I NEVER USE
THIS GUN UNLESS I HAVE TO.
THAT'S WHY YOU'LL FIND
MY FEE SOMEWHAT HIGH.
HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?
SHALL WE SAY $1,000?
HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?
WELL, I HAVEN'T
THE FAINTEST IDEA...
YET.
YOU UNDERSTAND, IF IT DOESN'T
WORK OUT THE WAY YOU SAY,
I'LL EXPECT YOU TO USE YOUR GUN.
IN TWO WEEKS, CENTRAL CITY SHOULD
BE LOOKING FOR A NEW SOURCE OF WATER.
I DON'T KNOW.
WORRIED ABOUT JOE MARSH?
SUPPOSE YOU LET ME
DO THE EXPLAINING?
YEAH. YEAH, WHY DON'T
YOU SETTLE IT BETWEEN YOU?
MM-HMM.
[MEN LAUGH OUTSIDE]
[LAUGHING CONTINUES]
MR. RITCHIE, UH...
WHEN ARE ME AND MY BOYS
GONNA WORK FOR YOU, HUH?
MARSH, YOU'RE GONNA BE
TERRIBLY ANGRY WITH ME.
REALLY? YES, REALLY.
IT SEEMS I CONVINCED MR. RITCHIE
THAT I'M THE MAN FOR THE JOB.
YOU? THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU BETTER CHANGE YOUR
MIND, MISTER, AND FAST.
THINK YOU CAN MAKE US RIDE OUT
HERE AND SAY, "NOTHIN' DOIN'," LIKE THAT?
HE'S RIGHT, MR. RITCHIE.
YOU SHOULD PAY THESE MEN
FOR THEIR TROUBLE. $50 IS FAIR.
$50?! FOR THE LOT.
THERE YOU ARE.
YOU DON'T MIND IF WE
HANG AROUND AWHILE,
JUST IN CASE THE JOB TURNS UP
AGAIN? BOYS, LET'S GET A DRINK.
O'HARE.
WELL, HE'S NOT
AFRAID TO RIDE ALONE.
HE'S CARRYING A GUN, THOUGH.
I TOLD HIM IF HE OR HIS MEN SET FOOT IN
THIS TOWN, THERE COULD BE SOME SHOOTING.
WHAT A BLOODTHIRSTY
IDEA. HERE, HOLD THIS.
NEVER MAKE A THREAT YOU
DON'T MEAN TO CARRY OUT, RITCHIE.
EMBARRASSMENT COULD
BE THE LEAST RESULT.
IT WAS JUST SAID IN ANGER.
THE GREATEST
CALAMITIES IN HISTORY
WERE THE RESULT OF
WORDS JUST SAID IN ANGER.
I'M HERE FOR THE
MAIL, MISS MAE RITCHIE.
I'LL GET IT FOR YOU.
RITCHIE, MY MEN WANT
TO COME TO TOWN.
THEY WANT TO BUY THINGS.
I'LL SELL 'EM NOTHING.
IF IT WASN'T FOR THE POST OFFICE,
I WOULDN'T LET YOU IN THE STORE.
OUR NEEDS ARE
STRONGER THAN YOURS.
IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH A
STUBBORN FOOL, YOU'D KNOW IT.
FROM NOW ON, THINGS
ARE GONNA BE DIFFERENT.
REASON WON'T MAKE A DENT ON YOU,
MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE WILL.
OH, I SEE. I WARNED YOU.
A GUNFIGHTER?
I DON'T CARE FOR THAT TERM.
WELL, WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
A SENSITIVE GUNFIGHTER.
WELL, TAKE ADVICE, IF YOU WILL.
IF YOU WANT YOUR
THIN SKIN UNBROKEN,
KEEP AWAY FROM MY
CONSTRUCTION AREAS.
NOW, YOU WOULDN'T SHOOT A MAN
WITHOUT DUE CAUSE, WOULD YOU?
DON'T GIVE ME CAUSE, THAT'S ALL.
THANK YOU, MISS. YOU'RE WELCOME.
RITCHIE, IF JUST ONE
OF MY MEN GET HURT,
YOU BETTER RUN FOR THE HILLS.
WELL, DON'T LOOK AT ME,
MISS RITCHIE, I JUST ARRIVED.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL
MORNING, MR. PALADIN,
UNTIL YOU PUT CLOUDS IN IT.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR YOUR
APPROVAL, GENTLEMEN.
I WANTED YOU TO MEET PALADIN
AND KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING HERE.
YOU PULL THIS OFF
WITHOUT KILLING,
THE REST OF US WILL DOUBLE
WHAT RITCHIE'S PAYING YOU.
NOW, DON'T CINCH
HIM IN TOO TIGHT, ED.
HE'S A GUNFIGHTER. WHAT'S HE
GONNA USE IN CASE OF TROUBLE?
BRAINS, MR. GARDNER.
THAT CAN HAVE KIND
OF TEMPORARY EFFECTS.
BUT IT DOES LEAVE PEOPLE ALIVE AND
THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE WHEN THE DUST SETTLES.
PASS THE WORD TO KEEP CATTLE
AND SHEEP OUT OF THE SOUTH WASH.
PALADIN'S GONNA BLOW ONE OF
THE DAMS AND FLOOD O'HARE OUT.
JUST A MINUTE, RITCHIE,
I SAID I'D LOOK INTO IT.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO GET DIRECT
RESULTS WITHOUT DIRECT ACTION?
YOU HIRED ME TO DO A JOB,
NOW LEAVE ME ALONE TO DO IT.
WHEN YOU GONNA START?
WHEN I'M READY.
GENTLEMEN.
[THUNDER]
[HORSE NEIGHS]
ANYTHING?
NOTHING BUT RAIN.
LET'S HOLD IT DOWN TIGHT.
ANY WATER TOUCHES THAT CEMENT
AND O'HARE'LL GO UP LIKE A ROCKET.
RITCHIE, YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR
THE DESTRUCTION OF MY SUPPLIES.
SUPPLIES? DESTRUCTION?
COMPLAINT
DEPARTMENT'S OVER THERE.
YOU'RE MY KIND OF
FELLA, NO QUESTION.
MAYBE I'LL HIRE SOME GUNSLINGERS
TO PUT YOU AGAINST
YOUR OWN KIND.
THAT OUGHT TO BE INTERESTING.
OH? DO YOU HAVE TO
HIRE FROM THE OUTSIDE?
I WAS TOLD YOU AND YOUR CONSTRUCTION
GANGS WERE VERY TOUGH MEN.
I'M AN ENGINEER. I SPENT
MOST OF MY LIFE BUILDING,
NOT DESTROYING.
THE LIKES OF YOU HAVE BEEN
AROUND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.
YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED
THE WORLD ANY.
AND IN REGARDS TO BEING TOUGH,
LET ME TRY AND
SEE IF THAT'S TRUE.
I'D RATHER NOT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF YEARS BETWEEN US.
WHAT'S A'MATTER? CAN'T
YOU FIGHT WITHOUT A GUN?
[CHUCKLES]
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
DON'T YOU, POP?
IT'S SIMPLE.
THERE'S A MAN IN TOWN.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
HE HAD O'HARE COLD,
RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM.
HE COULD'VE SETTLED THE WHOLE
MESS RIGHT THERE, WITHOUT GUNPLAY.
WHY DIDN'T HE?
DID YOU EXPECT HIM
TO BEAT UP AN OLD MAN?
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU?
[PALADIN:] O'HARE!
PALADIN. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
[COCKS GUN]
ALL RIGHT, COME ON IN.
THAT COFFEE SMELLED
SO GOOD LAST NIGHT
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT
BE WORTH A TASTE.
GIVE HIM A CUP OF COFFEE.
IF YOU COME HERE TO
START A RUCKUS, MISTER,
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT HANDLING
THESE THINGS IS NOT MY BUSINESS.
BUT AT THIS DISTANCE,
I COULDN'T MISS.
THIS DISTANCE, YOU'RE TOO CLOSE.
COME OVER TO MY TENT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
A LITTLE CIVILITY
MIGHT BE A GOOD START.
I'M YOUR GUEST.
WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE A
SLUG AT ME THIS MORNING?
I WAS OUTCLASSED.
OH, THAT'S A LOT OF HOGWASH.
YOU COULD'VE MOPPED THE
STREETS WITH ME. WHY DIDN'T YOU?
I'VE ALWAYS LIKED MEN WHO BUILD.
ONE OF MY GREAT IDOLS
WAS THE EMPEROR HADRIAN.
HADRIAN? WHAT DO YOU
KNOW ABOUT HADRIAN?
WELL, HE WAS AN
EMPEROR, GREAT BUILDER.
IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK
YOU ARE, MR. O'HARE?
YOU SEEM TO BE MAKING
THE DEMANDS OF AN EMPEROR.
WHAT ELSE COULD I DO FOR THOSE
STIFF-NECKED JUG HEADS OF ASHLEY?
I OFFERED THEM TWICE
THE VALUE FOR THEIR SOIL.
I EVEN CONVINCED LEGISLATION TO
SET ASIDE FERTILE LANDS UPSTATE,
TO BE GIVEN TO THEM
AS EXTRA COMPENSATION.
HE SAID, "UNFAIR."
DO THE PEOPLE OF
ASHLEY KNOW THIS?
OF COURSE THEY DO.
THEY WERE NOTIFIED
FOR TWO MONTHS.
NOTIFIED HOW?
BY LETTER FROM
THE STATE CAPITAL.
MR. RITCHIE HAS ONE HIMSELF.
DO YOU HAVE A COPY?
NO, I HAVEN'T, BUT I CAN
GET ONE FROM CENTRAL CITY.
HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?
OH, ABOUT TWO DAYS.
MAYBE SOONER. I'LL GET
ONE AND I'LL BRING IT TO YOU.
I'M A BUILDER.
I WANT TO MAKE THIS BEAUTIFUL
PLACE, WELL, A NEW ATHENS.
A ROME.
BUT THE FIRST
NECESSITY IS WATER.
YOU'RE BACK EARLY TONIGHT.
I THOUGHT WE MIGHT HAVE
A LITTLE CHAT, MR. RITCHIE.
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?
A LETTER, THE CONTENTS OF WHICH
YOU SEEM TO HAVE KEPT TO YOURSELF.
LETTER? I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE
IN ASHLEY KNOW THE TERMS
FOR SURRENDER OF THE
TOWN'S WATER RIGHTS?
THAT'S NO CONCERN OF YOURS.
YOU'RE HIRED TO DO A JOB, DO IT.
O'HARE'S GIVEN ME HIS VERSION OF
WHAT GOES ON, NOW I'D LIKE YOURS.
YOU'RE BEING PAID
FOR ONLY ONE VERSION.
MINE.
I BUILT THIS TOWN.
I WATCHED IT GROW
FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS,
AND IT'S GONNA GROW EVEN MORE.
EVERY YEAR, MORE FARMERS AND
RANCHERS COME OUT HERE TO SETTLE.
WHY WOULDN'T THEY BE WILLING
TO SETTLE ON THE NEW TOWN SITE?
THE NEW TOWN SITE? NO, SIR.
NOT AFTER THE YEARS OF SWEAT AND
LABOR THAT WENT INTO MAKING THIS VALLEY.
NOBODY'S GONNA
TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME.
NOBODY'S GONNA PUSH ME
OUT AND TELL ME WHERE TO GO.
WHAT I DID WHEN I WAS
YOUNG, I CAN'T DO AGAIN.
I WON'T EVEN TRY.
I'VE GOT A PLOT OF GROUND
NEXT TO MY WIFE'S GRAVE
AND I AIM TO BE HERE IN THIS
TOWN WHEN MY TIME COMES.
THAT'S A HIGHLY
PERSONAL OUTLOOK.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER
PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN?
PEOPLE HERE HAVE ALWAYS
DONE WHAT I ASKED THEM.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE LETTER?
I TORE IT UP.
RITCHIE, THIS IS AN OLD FIGHT.
THE RIGHTS OF THE MANY
AGAINST THE RIGHTS OF THE FEW.
AND I DON'T AGREE YOU HAVE
THE RIGHT, MORAL OR LEGAL,
TO DECIDE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS.
I'LL SEE THAT YOU'RE PAID
FOR YOUR EXPENSES, PALADIN.
YOU'RE NO LONGER NEEDED HERE.
THAT'S YOUR PRIVILEGE.
GOODNIGHT, SIR.
I WISH YOU HADN'T.
HE'LL TURN TO JOE MARSH NOW.
I'M AFRAID SO.
WHY DON'T YOU TALK
TO JOE MARSH FIRST?
GET HIM TO MOVE ON, LEAVE TOWN?
THEN YOU REALLY DON'T
MIND A LITTLE SHOOTING?
THAT WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW.
GOODNIGHT.
[DOOR CLOSES]
I'VE GOT TEN SQUARE
MILES TO COVER.
I CAN'T DO IT WITH MY MEN.
YOU SAID SO YOURSELF.
I TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE.
WE KNOW JOE MARSH IS COMING,
IT WON'T BE THAT EASY FOR HIM.
WE PRACTICALLY
HAVE NO AMMUNITION.
THAT'S TELLING YOU NO SECRET.
HOW MANY ROUNDS?
TWO OR THREE TO THE RIFLE.
UNLESS YOU'D LIKE TO PICK
SOME OUT OF THAT CEMENT.
I'M AFRAID WE HAVEN'T TIME.
HEY, WHAT MADE YOU CHANGE SIDES?
EDUCATION.
DIDN'T THAT SAME EDUCATION
WARN YOU TO GET OUT
WHEN YOU KNOW MARSH
AND HIS GANG WILL ARRIVE?
YOU KNOW, I MUST'VE
SKIPPED THAT CLASS.
[LAUGHS]
[HORSES APPROACH]
[LANTERN SMASHES]
BLAST POWDER.
[RIFLE FIRES]
THAT'S NORTH, NUMBER THREE DAM.
GET MOUNTED, MEN!
COVER ME. EVERY TIME A
HEAD SHOWS, TRY AND HIT IT.
[FIRING]
[FIRING CONTINUES]
[GUNSHOT]
[FIRE SIZZLING]
[SIZZLING STOPS]
[SHOOTING CONTINUES]
LET'S GET HIM.
ALRIGHT, HOLD IT.
[BARREL CLICKS]
[CHUCKLES]
THOUGHT YOU'D LEFT TOWN?
I DID. I HELPED MR. O'HARE.
HE GAVE ME A COPY OF A
VERY INTERESTING LETTER.
I'M JUST DEBATING WHETHER TO
POST IT ON THE TOWN BULLETIN BOARD
OR LET THE PEOPLE HEAR IT
FROM THEIR LEADING CITIZEN,
WHO ALWAYS HAS THEIR
BEST INTEREST AT HEART.
I DO.
I DON'T DOUBT IT.
BUT I DON'T LIKE TO SEE ONE MAN
CONTROL THE LIVES OF AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WELL, MR. RITCHIE?
YOU'VE RUN OUT OF
GUNFIGHTERS, POP.
OH, SMILE, MR. RITCHIE.
YOU AND YOUR TOWN CAN HAVE A
PROSPEROUS YEAR BEFORE WE LEAVE.
ME AND MY MEN NEED AN
ABUNDANCE OF SUPPLIES.
ALSO FRIENDS.
MR. PALADIN EXPLAINED
HOW YOU FEEL.
BE HARD STARTING AGAIN.
NEW PLACE AT MY AGE.
NO, THANKS.
[DOOR CLOSES]
GOODBYE, MARSH.
RIDE FAR.