Maverick (1957–1962): Season 1, Episode 1 - War of the Silver Kings - full transcript

Will you listen to me, you
mule-headed Maverick?

- I'm listening.
- He hates you.

It was him that tried
to kill you, and he'll

do it again. You've
got to get out of here.

It took me a long time
to get a coat like this.

It's a small rip. A few
stitches, it'll never show.

I'll send you the new one
as soon as it's finished.

- Mike, you've convinced me.
- Well, have I now? I'll get your horse.

I'll even ride to the
end of town with you.

I'm staying.

What?



A man like King has gotta be
stopped. I'm gonna stop him.

I don't know how, but
I'm gonna stop him.

Well, the coat will never be
finished in time for the funeral.

Thank you, sir.

Don't bother to sign,
we haven't anything.

I'd like something comfortable in
the front, with a view of the street.

We're completely out
of accommodations.

I suggest you try one of
the miner's boarding houses.

I wonder if you'd mind, uh,
keeping this safe for me, please.

We'll take care
of it, Mr. Maverick.

Oh. Oh, certainly.

Well, now.

You broken-down moocher.

Beat it.



Mr., uh...?

Thayer, sir. Joshua Thayer.

It's against my principles to drink
alone. Would you care to join me?

I'd be delighted, sir.

Double it is, one dollar.

Walter? Ahem, whiskey, my boy.

How many times have I
tried to throw you out of here?

My guest ordered
whiskey. I'll have the same.

- That's very kind of you, sir.
- Maverick. Bret Maverick.

It's extremely kind of you,
Mr. Maverick, but why do you bother?

No one else does.

Percentage. I'm a gambler.

Then you ought to be able to recognize
an ace-deuce when you see one.

There's always a
natural on the bottom.

I understand there's usually a
big game here Saturday nights.

Upstairs.

- What's the matter? Rigged?
- Doesn't have to be.

People in this town are so used
to losing to Mr. Phineas King...

they do it instinct...

Ahem, instinctively.

Phineas King, the one
who owns the mine?

And everything else
in Echo Springs...

including this, uh...

That very excellent whiskey.

Would you give my
friend another drink?

Thank you, sir.

None for me. Double or nothing?

- Good night, Mr. Thayer.
- Good evening, sir.

Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.

Now, if any of you think I was trying
to run one, just look at the cards.

We all know you
never bluff, Phineas.

Oh, incidentally, Stoller
was in the bank again...

trying to raise money
on that mine of his.

- Did you give it to him?
- Of course not. You told me...

All I said was that his
mine is worthless, and it is.

If it weren't, I would
have absorbed it long ago.

But you run the bank, continue
to make your own decisions.

- But be careful how you handle my money.
- Ha-ha-ha.

What's your business,
Mr. Maverick, mining?

- Grass inspector.
- You inspect grass?

The kind that's always
greener in the other fellow's yard.

And you stop to do a little mowing
too, occasionally, I presume?

When it's green enough.

Well, we can't say he didn't warn us.
- Ha, ha.

Anybody open?

Maintain.

I'll, uh, bet 10.

- Call.
- Call.

- Cards?
- Two.

Give me one.

I'll have three, please.

Three.

Ahem, well, nothing
ventured, nothing gained.

Three for me. Ahem.

Ah.

- Richard?
- I'll check the bet.

Check.

I bet 300. Ahem.

Uh-uh.

- Too rich for me.
- I'm out.

Anybody argue with a 10 full?

On a three-card draw.
How do you like that?

Oh, excuse me, I, uh...
Folding on three aces?

Why, you're a very conservative
poker player, Mr. Maverick.

I just hate to be
second best, Mr. King.

The boy will
have his little joke.

Well, I'll keep the
opener moving.

I bet 500.

I've had it.

Cards, Maverick?

Three. I'd like a cut.

Three for me.

Your bet, Mr. King.

I bet $1000.

I'm out of money.

Oh, that's too bad.

I didn't say broke,
Mr. King, I said out of money.

I've got $4000
in the hotel safe.

I'll settle up after the hand.

I've heard that story before.
I prefer to see the money.

Oh, Mike, get me a piece
of paper and a pencil.

Go downstairs and get
the money, if there is any.

Write the clerk a
little note, please.

You know, just to keep everything
open and aboveboard. Thank you.

- Here it is. It says 4000.
- Thank you.

One thousand,
do you call or not?

I call and raise 3000.

Do you call the bet, Mr. King?

Oh, ha, ha. Well, if you don't
mind, I'd like to see the money.

You call the bet and
I'll open the envelope.

By Jonathan, Mr. Maverick,
I gotta hand it to you.

You're a very
smart poker player.

Looking right down
my throat, weren't you?

I could almost see what
you had for lunch, Mr. King.

Ha, ha. Well, Mike, uh, settle up
with, uh, Mr. Maverick, will you?

I think I've had enough tonight.

Ha, ha. It's been a
very interesting evening.

Whatever you're drinking,
lad, is on the house.

First time anyone
tucked King's tail between

his legs and tickled
his chin with it.

Tell me, lad, was the money
in the envelope or wasn't it?

Mike, there's two things a
gentleman doesn't discuss.

The ladies he's
known and his poker.

- Be seeing you.
- That you will, lad.

You dropped something, mister.

Who was that?

I never saw him before.

What'd he give you?

I'll be right back.

Anyplace in town I can
get a bite to eat this late?

The only place open is that
Chinese joint down the street.

What do you think
about this, Maverick?

It's a heck of a way to
ruin a good deck of cards.

Did you check out?

No, I guess I should have,
but I got a serious vice, curiosity.

I'd like to find out why anyone
would want me out of town.

- But you were at the desk.
- Just paying two weeks rent in advance.

Maverick?

I'd have been mighty
disappointed in you if you hadn't.

- Oh.
- Oh, you're awake. Good.

Water? You got a drink of water?

Who are you?

Edie Stoller.

Papa and I found you
in the ditch last night.

In case you're
wondering who you are...

your name's Bret Maverick
and you come from Chicago.

It's printed on the
inside of your coat.

Thanks. That clears up a lot.

Now, if you'll tell me where I
am and what I'm doing here...

Where else would you be
in the condition you were in?

Honestly, I thought
you were gonna die.

Papa said if you woke up, I wasn't suppose
to ask you questions till you felt better.

But you do feel better,
lots better, don't you?

Now, tell me, what happened? You
were set upon by thieves, weren't you?

- Thieves?
- Outlaws.

Big hairy men with
bandannas over their faces.

No. They were attacking
her, weren't they?

- Her?
- Your fiancée.

The girl you came west to marry.

- Are you married?
- No. No, I'm...

Good, then they
were after your money.

- My money? My money. Ooh.
- Oh, they didn't take it.

Papa's got it for you.
Thousands of dollars.

Wait a minute.

If you were robbed, why
wouldn't they take the money?

You did the robbing, that's it.

What? MR. STOLLER: Edie?

That's Papa back from the mine.

Scooch down and
cover up and go to sleep.

You're sure you're not married?

Good, go to sleep.

Besides, educated women
don't make good wives...

unless you make their
feet small like the Chinese...

so they can't run away with a French
duke, isn't that right, Mr. Maverick?

It's logical.

You wouldn't marry that
kind of woman, would you?

Edie, clear the table.

Well, I just bet you that Mr. Maverick
would much rather have a woman...

who could cook and sew and
keep house and clear the table.

- Edie.
- All right.

Send me to Boston, let
me marry a French duke...

and lose my citizenship.
He doesn't care.

Well, if I'm gonna drive you
to town, we'd better get started.

- If you're still of a mind to go.
- Oh, thank you.

I never had a town pulled out
from under me before. I don't like it.

There are lots of other towns.

And vengeance is a poor
reason for doing anything.

You weren't robbed, what
are you going back for?

Answers, Mr. Stoller. If someone's
that mighty anxious to get rid of me...

I'd like to know who and why.

All right, out.

Close the door.

- You, say "ah."
- Ah.

I'm gonna ask you just one time,
mister. Who paid you to bushwhack me?

- Mike. Big Mike.
- Big Mike?

Ah.

Why, Mr. Maverick, uh...

Well, Bret, my boy,
it's good to see you.

That anger looks almost real.

It's good and real.

Come now, Mike, your boys
were much rougher on me.

My boys?

Pinky and I just came
to an understanding.

Why'd you have me bushwhacked?

I'll make a bargain with you.

I'll tell you why if you'll
forget who told you.

Then it doesn't end with you.

Now, would I be beating you
up for any purpose of me own?

Is it a deal?

All right, go ahead.

Well, do you mind putting
that thing down first?

I talk better when I'm not
expecting to get a bullet in me chest.

I gave you my word.

I'll keep it.

I don't know why
but I believe you.

Oh, I'm sorry, laddybuck...

but I just had to return that
lovely greeting you gave me.

I'd have been disappointed
in you if you hadn't.

However, it makes
me feel sort of stupid.

Any man who can make his
way this far back ain't stupid.

Now...

as to who wanted you out
of town, it was Phineas King.

Phineas King?

Don't go busting in on him like you did me,
he'll kill you. Or have it done for him.

Sure, Phineas King.

Well, if you know why,
I wish you'd tell me.

Because your Mr. King is a card
cheat, and he knows I know it.

Oh, you're crazy. He owns
the town and $5 million.

Maybe so, but he still cheats...

the way some men drink,
because they have to.

I don't believe that.

Cut.

You're holding three
10s to my pair of queens.

Hmm.

Remind me not to
play poker with you.

You play with King.

He does it even better.

- There's a Mr., uh...
- I know, Maverick. Tell him to come in.

Sit down, sit down. Ahem.

- Have a cigar.
- No, thanks.

Well, Mr. King, you've
gone to considerable

trouble to have me
moved out of your town.

What are you talking about?

A man doesn't have to be bright to figure
that when he's dragged into an alley...

beaten up and dumped into a ditch,
somebody doesn't want him around.

- And you think I did that?
- That's right.

Now, look here. I don't know whether
you've gotten in any trouble or not...

- but please don't come into my office...
- I know why you did it.

You have to win at
everything, don't you?

The town is yours,
the mines, $5 million...

but you can't stop
there, now it's poker.

- Oh.
- You gotta win at that too.

Not for the money, just win.

What are you trying to say?

That you're a cheat, Mr. King,
and you know I know it.

You've got me all wrong.
Now, I don't know...

I'm not leaving,
Mr. King, not yet.

Not till the tailor
fixes me a new coat.

I'll have him send you the bill.

- You mean kill him?
- I didn't say that.

There's only one way to
get rid of a man permanently.

Do what you're getting paid to do
and don't bother me with the details.

You listen to me, I don't
mind doing your dirty work...

when there's a profit to be
made and nobody's hurt too bad.

But I've never murdered a
man and I'll not start now.

Not for you or all the
silver in this territory.

If you want Maverick killed, you
get somebody else to do it, not me.

That place you run may be
called Big Mike McCombs...

but bear in mind, I can
always hire someone else.

Well, now, maybe that
might not be too bad either.

The sawdust has been getting
awful dirty around the joint anyhow.

Oh, no. Ugh.

Kind of wandered off the
trail a little, haven't you, Josh?

What are you doing here?

- Well, you're in my room.
- So are you.

I mean, I...

I thought you left town.
The word got around you...

You're all right.

- I'm all right.
- Yeah.

Well, the room was paid for and
I didn't like to see it go to waste.

Well, I mean, I...

- Oh, you understand.
- Sure.

Well, I'll get out of your way.

- Better stay where you are.
- You want your room.

- It's your room. I'll get another one.
- Oh, you're too decent, Bret.

You'll never make
it in this town.

You're a lamb among wolves.

That your trouble?

Part of it.

You know what I was?

I was a judge once.

A judge.

Could have gone far...

if I'd learned to say yes to the
right people and no to the bottle.

Trouble is, the right people
are always the wrong people.

I thought I saw an 11
under that acey-deucey.

You shouldn't have
come back, Maverick.

Phineas King is wrong people.

See you, Josh.

- Where have you been all afternoon?
- Getting measured for a new coat.

Come on, I'll buy you a drink.

Not here, we'll go
someplace else. Come on.

- Where's your horse?
- At the livery stable. Why?

I'll get it. Go pack and meet me here
in 10 minutes. You're leaving town.

Who says so?

I say so. I hate funerals
and love postcards.

Drop me one, I'll write
back and tell you about...

Look out!

Are you all right, lad?

You set me up for a target.

Oh, no, not again.

Will you listen to me, you
mule-headed Maverick?

- I'm listening.
- He hates you.

It was him that tried
to kill you and he'll

do it again. You've
got to get out of here.

It took me a long time
to get a coat like this.

It's a small rip. A few
stitches, it'll never show.

I'll send you the new one
as soon as it's finished.

- Mike, you've convinced me.
- Well, have I now? I'll get your horse.

I'll even ride to the
end of town with you.

I'm staying.

What?

A man like King has gotta be
stopped. I'm gonna stop him.

I don't know how, but
I'm gonna stop him.

Well, the coat will never be
finished in time for the funeral.

"Notice. I want everyone in the
town of Echo Springs to know...

that Phineas King did not
make any attempt to kill me today.

Bret Maverick."

Sue him, you nincompoop!
Drag him into court.

- On what grounds?
- Libel, defamation of character.

Libel? What Maverick says
in that ad is absolutely true.

You did not make any attempt
to kill him today, did you?

Why, certainly not, but...

And you'd better make it your business
to see that nothing does happen to him...

because the day that ad
doesn't appear in the paper...

you're gonna have the whole town on
your doorstep demanding to know why.

By heaven, you're right.

But I still control this newspaper.
I can have that ad refused. Hmm.

Can you?

Well, can't I?

Hmm.

I'm worried about
old Josh over there.

You know, I've been thinking.

Election's coming up.

Supposing a couple of us were
to write his name in for judge...

throw him a vote or two...

make him feel important,
like somebody cared.

Wouldn't influence anything...

but it just might give him
a reason to stop drinking.

It's a nice thought.

It's a real nice thought.

- I'll give him my vote.
- Good.

- Don't tell anybody about it.
- Oh, no.

- Wouldn't want him to think it's a gag.
- No.

Just between you and me.

You and me? Funny.

We'll keep it between you
and me, just the two of us.

All right.

- Why not? Just you and me.
- Why not?

- Between you and me.
- Sure.

You and me?

- You and me, huh?
- Sure.

Oh, well, this is your
night again, Richard.

Ha, ha. I anticipate
a very close election.

- Here's to you, judge.
- Well, another election, same old thing.

- Could be worse.
- Yeah? How?

Ha. The fools, they actually
think they're electing somebody.

- Maybe they are.
- Wishful thinking, laddybuck.

They might as well print it in
the X's alongside Bixby's name...

- and save the trouble of writing.
- Ah, you're right.

- Here. Here he is.
- Well, gentlemen, here it is.

Let's see what it is. - Open up.

Post it up there.

Come on, open it up.

Go on, put it up there.

Let's show Judge Bixby
what the town thinks of him.

Josh! How about that?

All right. Quiet
down. Quiet down.

- Here, let me say something.
- Thank you very much. I didn't know I...

Men, men, I know you
made a good choice.

Josh here knows the
law and how to use it.

I believe Echo Springs has
elected a wise and honest judge.

Thank you. Thank you.

I'm a drunk, Bret.

A busted miserable vagrant.
A no-good polluted bum.

And you made me a judge. Why?

- You're none of those things...
- Oh, don't con me.

I got mind enough left to know
that there's got to be an angle.

Well, whatever it is, there's
something you've got to know.

No one has ever bought
me, no one ever will.

I didn't buy you, Josh.
You're on your own.

Strictly?

You don't owe me a thing.

By the way, how good are those two
books on mining law you loaned me?

Oh, they're not very up-to-date.

One of them goes back about 16
years and the other one about 25.

Pretty obsolete, huh?

Well, I don't know.

Law has been around
as long as human nature.

Neither of them have
ever changed very much.

- Yeah, well, good night, Josh.
- All right.

You were a judge from
the moment I met you.

I'm glad they finally
made it official. Good night.

- Then your mine, Stoller, is here.
- Yeah.

- Yours, Kriedler, here.
- Mm-hm.

And this is yours, Jackson.

- And, Lawson, this is yours.
- That's right.

- You're all adjacent to King's holdings.
- Sure, it's all the same hill.

Only, King gets the corn
and we get the shucking.

What's your
proposition, Maverick?

- I know how you...
- Anybody want some cake?

Uh, later, Edie, when
we're through talking.

Oh, you can eat and
talk too, you always do.

- Let's have it, Maverick.
- I know how you can beat King.

I know how you can increase
the yields of your mines...

to equal, if not
out-produce, King himself.

How do we do it, Maverick?

Well, first, we form a company.

Then when the...

They wouldn't have the nerve.

- They're mining your ore.
- And stealing my money.

Wholesale, judging by the
deposits in the bank last month.

I told you so. I've got
an instinct about people.

That Maverick's a crook.

I'll have them all behind bars.

Mining my silver, the thieves.

And you, what am I paying you for?
You're supposed to be my lawyer, stop him.

Get an injunction out
against every one of them.

Take them into court. Hang them.

Then, as the result of your
professional exploration surveys...

soundings and et cetera, you
are certain beyond any doubt...

that the New Hope
interests are, in actuality...

mining through
Mr. King's property?

Obviously.

Thank you. That
is all, Your Honor.

You may question the
witness, Mr. Maverick.

No questions, Your Honor.

Ahem, you may take your seat.

Mr. Maverick, are you
certain you do not need...

to be represented
by trained counsel?

Quite certain, sir.

But so far, Mr. Maverick...

you have not challenged the
statement of a single witness.

I can't, their statements
are unchallengeable.

Well, then, call your witnesses.

I can't do that either.
We haven't any.

Then you admit you're
stealing Mr. King's ore.

Now, hold on there. Stealing means taking
something that you have no right to...

and we have every
right to mine that ore...

regardless of whose
property we go through.

You have the right to legally penetrate
into land owned by Phineas King...

remove the ore from that land...

smolder and pocket the silver
extracted from that ore? Mr. King's ore?

Mr. King has no claim
to the silver we mine.

According to the
law, the answer is yes.

According to the law, you say?

The federal mining laws of this
country, specifically the apex law.

The apex law.

"To any prospector who first
locates an outcropping mineral vein...

such surface indication of the ore
to be known as the apex of the vein...

said owner is guaranteed the
right to follow that vein downward...

even when it leads unto the
holdings of claims located beside it."

I knew he'd do it.
- He told him.

That's all we're
doing, Your Honor.

Following our original veins, which
according to this law and that map...

we have every legally
guaranteed right to do.

Your Honor.

Your Honor.

Your Honor...

this is as foul and deliberate
a piece of legal hocus-pocus...

as I have ever witnessed.

Veins are never continuous.

They're always broken or cut off
and terminated by worthless rock.

This shabby charlatan is using
a ridiculous archaic conception...

disproved by every mining
authority in existence.

The apex law is outmoded.

It's a useless piece of legal shale,
absolutely and utterly obsolete.

But never repealed. We
stand on the law, Your Honor.

This court is recessed until
10:00 tomorrow morning.

- Come in.
- Evening, judge.

Hello, Phineas.

You know, I got a
little bit worried, Josh.

Hmm.

Your decision tomorrow can
cost me an awful lot of money.

It's costing me an
awful lot of sleep.

Well, of course, I realize that you're
obligated to Bret Maverick but, uh...

Oh, no offense, no
offense, it's perfectly natural.

- After all, he did get you elected.
- And a lot more.

And if ever I can do
him a favor, I'll do it...

outside a courtroom.

You know that claim of his is as asinine
as the law he's evoked to support it.

I'll acquaint you with what I know
tomorrow morning at 10:00, Phineas.

I see.

Well, that's a long time to
wait considering what's at stake.

Josh.

No, thanks.

Well, suit yourself.

Ah.

You know, I'm liable to lay
awake all night, worrying.

I'd give almost anything
to get a good night's sleep.

Maybe even $100,000.

A hundred thousand dollars?

Mm-hm.

Think it over.

Just keep running with
your research. Good night.

Please rise.

Be seated.

It is the decision of this court
that there is no legal cause...

for an injunction against the operations
of the New Hope Mining Company.

We won!

Don't worry.

- On King's face?
- Yeah. Ha-ha-ha.

I've done dang a few
smart things in my life...

but when I pulled this young fellow
out of the ditch, I sure did us a favor.

- You sure did, all right. Ha, ha.
- Excuse me.

- Yeah.
- Sure, go ahead.

I believe you did.

- What's the trouble?
- I just came from the railroad station.

Guess who just boarded
the train for the territorial seat?

- Bixby.
- How'd you know?

King's bound to appeal to higher
courts to reverse Thayer's decision.

- Bixby's out to put the pressure on.
- Ah, fat chance they got.

Very fat, Mike. They'll win it.

Any news from Bixby on
the mail train this morning?

- No, Mr. King.
- No.

Sitting here helpless while Maverick
and those crooks are robbing me blind.

Not only that, they're
stealing all my miners.

Ten hours a day instead of 12...

and 10 cents more an
hour, and with my money!

Well, until we get a decision,
we could meet the competition.

- Raise wages.
- Raise wages.

- Reduce hours.
- Reduce hours? Me? I will not.

It's bad enough being robbed
without giving money away.

- Besides, it's immoral.
- Immoral?

Working 10 hours a day.
You can only sleep eight hours.

What do they do
with the other six?

I've got it, Fennelly.
We've got them licked.

Harris!

And your total profit thus far is
slightly in excess of $600,000.

And not a word from
Phineas, not a peep.

- What can he do?
- That's against me, what can he do?

- Ha-ha-ha.
- Six hundred thousand.

Oh, that's trouble. Big trouble.

The mines. They're flooding the mines.
The water's coming down in sheets.

- Coming down from where?
- The Silver Lady, all King's tunnels.

- King flooded his own mine?
- Right into ours.

There's your answer. Now
we know what he can do.

Flood our mines and keep them
closed until he gets that court decision.

Listen to this one. The lady said,
"No, I ain't going buggy riding..."

- You read that one yesterday.
- Yeah, yeah, I guess I did.

You've been hanging around
here so much lately, why, I forget.

Not much else to do. Mine shut
down, town wearing black crepe.

Yeah, it's getting
ugly. A lot of bad feeling

building up towards
your friend, Maverick.

Well, why Maverick?
King flooded the mines.

Maverick started it
and they blame him.

It don't take long for
hungry men to get violent...

and when that happens,
they'll go after his scalp first.

Bad news, Mike. Listen.

"Verdict today assured.
Maverick and New Hope finished.

Returning noon train
tomorrow. Bixby."

Willy? Willy?

Ah, where is that Willy?

Willy!

"Verdict today assured
Maverick and New Hope.

Finished. Returning noon
train tomorrow. Bixby."

So help me, well, the next time
I find you asleep, you're fired.

Now, you get that message
over to Mr. King's office right away.

Come on down!

We've got him, boys.

Bret Maverick will be lucky
to leave this town alive.

Bret! Bret!

- Don't shout, you make me nervous.
- You've got reason to be nervous, boy.

That mob's meat eaters
and you're the meat.

You gotta get out of this town.

I tried. They got the
place surrounded.

Did they get a
wire from Bixby yet?

I couldn't snatch it like you
wanted, but I did fix it a little.

- King won all right.
- Fix it? How?

Well, now it reads
like maybe King lost.

Are you sure he'll think that?

Oh, he'll think it, but only till
tomorrow till Bixby gets here.

I thought it'd give you
time to pack up and get.

Mike, did anyone ever
tell you you were beautiful?

- Huh?
- Come on.

- Come on down!
- Quiet!

There he is. They got him.

All right now. All right now.

All right, boys,
what's the problem?

- Don't con us, you're leaving town.
- You got yours, now we're gonna take ours.

Who closed the mine
and threw us out of work?

- You're getting rich and we starve!
- Here, look at this.

It's a thousand-dollar bill.

Listen to me and when I get
through, if there's a man among you...

who doesn't like what I said, he
can come up and claim this bill.

Go on, Maverick! Tell us what
suckers you made out of us...

while you were getting rich
enough to wave that in our face!

I'm not rich. I've never
been in this for the money.

This started out as a battle for
rights. Yours, mine, everyone's.

But it's gotten out of hand, and
both Phineas King and I realize it.

And I'll tell you something else.
I was wrong about Phineas King.

He's a fine man.

Me?

Wait. He fights,
and he fights hard.

But not at the expense of
defenseless employees...

whose interest is always
the first consideration.

I'll tell you something even more
important. The mines are going to open.

What does he mean, the
mines are going to open?

As you all know, the
issue is still in the courts.

How long it will take to get a
decision is always unpredictable.

You men have to work
and you're going to work.

Because Phineas King and the New
Hope Company of independent miners...

are about to merge.

Merge? What's he
talking about merge?

Yes, sir, we're
gonna be partners.

And that's not all.

At Mr. King's insistence...

all the reforms innovated
by the New Hope Company...

including the
10-cent-an-hour raise...

and the shorter hours, are to
be included in the agreement.

He wouldn't have
it any other way.

I'm going over to Mr. King's
office now and draw up the papers.

When you see us together in
that window, you'll know it's official.

I got your horse
waiting around the back.

Mergers, raises, shorter
hours, and I'm to agree to that?

Oh, if he asks me...

if he dares to come up here and
ask me, so help me, I'll kill him.

- No, Phineas, stop.
- No, Phineas, you can't do that.

- Come in.
- Telegram, Mr. King.

Now, wait a minute. I'm sorry I'm
late. I didn't know it was that important.

- Here.
- What does it say? Read it.

What do you think I'm
gonna do, you nincompoop?

"Verdict today assured Maverick
and New Hope. Finished."

- They upheld Maverick?
- We're finished?

"Returning noon
train tomorrow. Bixby."

- Enjoying the show, Phineas?
- Why you...?

- You heard. How does it sound?
- Like the rattle of a diamondback.

If you think you can
blackmail me into that kind...

Wait a minute, I've
just given those men out

there a mighty glowing
description of you.

You wouldn't wanna disillusion them. If
I were to tell them you backed out now...

Backed out? I promised them
nothing. I'd just as soon merge...

with a nest of rattlesnakes as
you and your thieving conspirators.

You lose more every day those mines
remain closed than this agreement...

- would cost you in a month.
- It's worth it.

Worth it?

To see men out of work?
Families going hungry?

Your fortune is built on their discoveries,
they're entitled to some consideration.

Yeah, sure. Half of
everything I own, I suppose.

Nothing of what you own.

All they ask for in this contract
is just enough to get along.

Five percent of the future profits
of the combined companies.

What? Five percent?

Oh, and who gets the
other 95 percent, you?

I'm pulling out of Echo Springs tomorrow.
Thought that might be an added inducement.

Ha, ha, I wish I
could believe that.

Well, what'll it be,
Phineas? Do you sign?

Or do we go out there and
tell those men you refuse...

and wait for the decision
of the higher court?

Ahem, well...

The decision. Oh, yeah.
Yes, yes, of course, I'm...

Hmm. Yeah.

What do you think
we ought to do?

- For once, it's imperative that you...
- Oh...

Five percent isn't such a
bad proposition after all.

I knew you would
see it that way.

- Oh, yes.
- Here he is.

Here he is, men. Here's our man.

I'm sure sorry to
see you go, Bret.

Thank you, John.

I kind of hate to leave.

- I'll take that, Maverick.
- Thank you, Lawson.

I'll be leaving too in a
few days, Mr. Maverick.

Nothing to keep me here now.

Think you'll ever be in Boston?

I might, Edie. I just might.

Here's where I'll be.

Doggone it, Maverick, now that
you're leaving, I don't want you to go.

Stay here and take care
of things for me, will you?

I'll make you a big man.

Thanks, no, Phineas. The bigger I'd
get, the smaller the town would get.

I'd like to leave it
the size I found it.

But a lot better than
you found it, Bret.

- Goodbye, Bret.
- Good luck, Josh.

- So long, everybody.
- Bye, Bret.

So long, Bret. - Goodbye.

If you see Big Mike,
tell him goodbye for me.

Right. MAN 3: We'll do that.

Good luck, Bret. - So long.

Phineas!

Well, I see you
got rid of Maverick.

No trumpets for
the returning hero?

- You're fired.
- Fired? Ha, ha, very funny.

After I got that apex decision
reversed in your favor.

- Reversed?
- Certainly. Didn't you get my telegram?

Sure, I got your telegram, you
blockhead. Here it is. Read it.

"Verdict today assured.
Maverick and New Hope finished."

That isn't the way I read it.

Well, there are a couple of
misplaced punctuation marks.

Well, I'll be a son of a gun.

Remember that poker game where
he raised me with the envelope?

- Yeah.
- What do you think he had in it?

- How would I know?
- No, you wouldn't.

It was guts. Nothing but guts.

And you're still fired.

Mind if I ride along with you?

- How far?
- Wherever you're going.

Any particular reason?

Whatever it is, something's
bound to be happening.

I just couldn't bear to miss it.