Maverick (1957–1962): Season 1, Episode 18 - Diamond in the Rough - full transcript

A San Francisco tycoon takes a dislike to Bart and has him beaten, robbed and thrown on board a sailing ship bound for New Orleans. Maverick vows revenge and with the help of a pair of charming, but broke, French countesses, returns to the City on the Bay to extract the $17,000 that was stolen from him. Maverick discovers that his nemesis is plotting a multi-million scam by fleecing his fellow millionaires by selling stock in a phony diamond field and is determined to protect his friends and recover his money at the same time.

Notice anything unusual?

No.

Yes.

Yes, it looks as if
it had been broken.

Look at it again.
Look at the break.

That is a diamond in
its natural state, right?

That's right.

One thing you never find
in nature is a straight line.

It's been cut, Mr. Roland.

Why, that doesn't make sense.

It is a diamond, isn't it?



It's a diamond.

Hello. It's nice
to see you again.

This week's story
is based on fact.

The great diamond swindle
that shook the financial world...

of San Francisco in the 1870s.

I think you're
going to enjoy it.

It's called "Diamond
in the Rough."

Who the devil is it?
What do you want?

Open the door, you fool.

Well, if it isn't
Mr. Kingsley himself.

You can always tell a
gentleman by his manners.

Is that the stuff?

McCLURE: Don't look
like no diamonds I ever saw.

Diamonds in the rough
don't look like diamonds.



Look at the size of
the bloody things.

Hey, they must
be worth millions.

There's not a man in San
Francisco who'd tell you any different.

Fortunately.

Your share of this enterprise, gentlemen,
will come to ten times what they're worth.

So bear that in mind if either of you is
tempted to take the bait out of the trap.

Mr. McClure and I ain't
exactly crooks, you know.

Besides, we keep a pretty
shrewd eye on each other.

But still, do we have to stay in the
desert all of six months? That is to say...

Not a day less. You'll be
investigated when you come back.

Investigated?

I want to be certain that no one knows
you've had contact with civilization...

for that length of time.

Six months is an
awful long time.

- We shall need money. Supplies.
- That we will.

Money?

What happened to
the money I gave you?

Well...

Well, San Francisco ain't exactly
the friendliest town, you know.

We had to spread
around to get acquainted.

Now, you listen to me.

I'm short of cash or I wouldn't
be involved in a scheme like this.

I've only my good name
and reputation to sustain me.

- It'll take more than that to sustain us.
- It will.

All right, all right.

I'm going to my club.

I can usually pick up a
little cash there at poker.

You'll have the money before
you leave town in the morning.

Stop getting acquainted
with San Francisco.

Stay in this room
and don't leave it.

Now, whose turn was it?

I think it was mine.

Well, this is where I turn off.

Roland, your guest
seems to be slowing down.

When Mr. Maverick slows
down, it's only to pick up speed.

- Ha-ha-ha!
- I'm not picking up much of anything else.

Ah! Here comes more money.

Oh, anytime Mr. Kingsley's
late to the table...

that's a bad omen
for the stock market.

- I don't believe I've had the pleasure.
- Oh, Mr. Kingsley, Mr. Maverick.

Perhaps Mr. Maverick would
care to see the club library?

Mr. Kingsley, I make it a point to
always look in on the club library...

just the minute the
card room closes.

Oh, now, look here, Kingsley,
Mr. Maverick is my guest tonight.

May I speak to you privately
for a moment, please?

Of course.

- Excuse me.
- Certainly.

No, it's all right.

When I play poker, I often win or lose
a hundred thousand dollars at a sitting.

In my own club, I can be
sure the men I play with...

can afford the same stakes.

I can appreciate that, sir.

It must be a great comfort.

I mean no offense,
Mr. Maverick, but it's simply that...

well, I don't know you.

Can you afford to lose a
hundred thousand dollars?

If you can't, I suggest
you find another game.

Mr. Kingsley, I've got $10,000
already invested in this game.

Seven thousand more to play.

Normally, I'd leave
when that's gone.

I think you'd better leave now.

I'd love to oblige, just
as a graceful gesture...

but there is money involved.

Holmes, does the
gentleman have a hat?

Mr. Kingsley, I think...

So you got it all pretty
tough, eh? Ha-ha-ha.

Who are you?

David Steeger, I'm the captain.

Captain? Of what?

Of the Silent William.

How did I get here?

Ha, ha, not by your
own steam, I tell you.

They had to carry you
aboard by the body.

Oh, were you drunk.

- They pull, they tug, they shove...
- All right, all right. That's...

They had to work hard,
but they got you aboard.

- Who got me aboard?
- Well, your friends.

They tuck you in nice.

They paid your passage money...

and they made sure
you didn't miss the boat.

Where's my coat?

Your coat? Your
coat is all right.

Where's my wallet?

Wallet, you didn't bring.

Must have been a very
good party. Ha-ha-ha.

Well, don't worry for money.

Your friend stuck you in
the coat pocket a surprise.

A thousand-dollar bill.

I stuck me in the coat
pocket a thousand-dollar bill.

If my friends had known about it,
they would have taken care of that too.

What?

They were no friends?

- They were not friends.
- Ha, ha!

Oh. And I was not drunk.

What did these friends
of mine look like?

Oh, drinking companions.
Not to have dinner with.

Wasn't shaved, wasn't washed.

Just talk like
Irish. Both of them.

Wasn't there a third man?

Distinguished-looking?
Well-dressed?

- Short-cropped mustache...
- Yeah, yeah, he was there too.

But wasn't as helpful as the
others, he stayed in the carriage.

- How soon can I get off this boat?
- Oh, soon.

We'll be in New Orleans
in four months, maybe five.

Wha...? Oh...

Five months is a
long time anywhere.

But aboard the Silent William, surrounded
by thousands of miles of nothing...

it got to seem like years.

But I had something
pleasant to think about.

Mr. Kingsley of San Francisco.

And all the fine
plans I had for him.

I don't usually go in for vendettas, but
I could make an exception in this case.

By the time the Silent
William reached New Orleans...

I had figured out just
what Kingsley owed me.

And only part of it
was payable in cash.

I needed time to get the roll out my
walk and another roll into my pocket...

and the races seemed
the quickest way to do it.

If the tip I got on that
white-faced gray gelding was right.

Four nights later, I
had the cash I'd need.

In the morning, I'd say
goodbye to the captain...

and be on my way
to San Francisco.

Overland, of course.

I'll not tolerate it
a moment longer.

I sympathize, madame.

Why do you not fling
yourself into the river?

Do you forget how
one of us is aristocracy?

Madame la comtesse, an
aristocrat does not shriek...

like a Pullman porter
about her wages.

Madame, you have
smashed your last plate.

My last?

Madame, have the goodness
to depart. You are fired!

To the pleasure of seeing
you again, General Beaujean...

hanging from a lamppost.

Good evening.

And you've got a little
of everything in here...

except your wages.

Is it that you laugh
at me, monsieur?

I wouldn't think of it.

And do not condescend.

I will not be addressed like
a waitress in a cheap cafe.

Ah-ah. Ex-waitress.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

I'm sure I'm addressing the
fairest flower of Creole aristocracy.

Monsieur, there is no
aristocracy among the Creoles.

Well...

And who are you, honey?

I'm Henriette De Colbert,
Comtesse De Vavasseur.

I'm sorry. Countess of what?

Vavasseur.

And who are you?

I'm the Count of
Monte Cristo. Shh.

That's enough.

Have the goodness
to depart, monsieur.

I, uh... I think I'd better
walk you home, countess.

Otherwise, you're liable
to destroy half the city.

And here we are.

Thank you. Good night.

Countess, I'm really
sorry you lost your job.

No, no, really. Is there
anything I can do?

Thank you, no. It
was nothing, really.

Well, Henriette.

Will you stand in the street
all night, like a hitching post?

Good evening, ma'am.

Monsieur.

Grandmama, I was
discharged from my employment.

Good.

And this gentleman
brought me back home.

Do we stand here with the
door open to heat the street?

Come in, come in.

Monsieur Bart Maverick...

my grandmother, Madame
la comtesse DeChauvrier.

Uh, countess, I'm honored.

Please be seated,
Monsieur Maverick.

- Thank you.
- Please.

- Henriette, the coffee is ready.
- Yes, grandmother.

The funny thing is,
every now and again...

I got the feeling they
were countesses.

They probably were.

Yeah.

Every few years, the French people
decide they want to be republic again.

And what happens?

Eighty-four of their dukes and
duchesses got no place to go.

Right now in New Orleans,
there is eight or ten dukes...

a dozen countesses, maybe...

two field marshals
and five generals.

You fall over them in
the street. Ha-ha-ha!

Doesn't anybody
try to help them out?

Oh, New Orleans is bad place
for countesses and such like.

People here already got
their own aristocracies.

If I were a duke
or a countess...

I would go someplace where
they need dukes and countesses.

You know, someplace
where they got no aristocrats.

You mean, someplace
like, uh, San Francisco?

San Francisco, yeah.

No aristocrats there.

It's the perfect
place for countesses.

San Francisco, on the other
hand, is young and alive.

It's more your kind of a place.

And we refer to it as
the Paris of America.

You're beginning to
repeat yourself, young man.

What is it precisely
that you propose?

- I propose to adopt you.
- Monsieur.

A whole new wardrobe.

You see, they have to dress
more warmly in San Francisco.

And what will be there?

We'll be wined and dined...

go to parties and
balls every night.

What is your return
on this investment?

Two beautiful and
charming countesses...

in a city that's hungry
for countesses...

and an entrée into some
of the wealthiest homes.

Monsieur is a jewel thief.

Afraid not, madame.

Are you a card cheater?

I've got a score to settle.

And you are gonna help me.

Are we? How?

Well, the gentleman I have in
mind travels in the highest circles.

And I can't fight him unless I can
move freely inside those circles.

Ah.

Well, yes.

And for us...

a whole new wardrobe, huh?

And a suite of the best rooms
in the Great Western Hotel.

And my own
carriage to ride about?

Oh, come on, Hank, don't be so greedy. I'll
tell you what I will get for you, though.

A husband. I guarantee you at
least three proposals from bachelors.

Young, handsome...

and a minimum of $33
million apiece. All right?

How dare you, monsieur.

I am French and the
French do not think of money.

They think only of love.

Henriette, do not talk nonsense.

My boy, I assure you, the
French are not like that at all.

Well?

Never.

I ask myself, Maverick...

are there any old millionaire
bachelors in San Francisco?

"Among those who graced the
audience with their presence...

was Governor and Mrs.
So-and-So and so-and-so, and so...

And the Countess DeChauvrier...

and her granddaughter,
the Countess De Vavasseur...

and, uh, Mr. Bart Maverick."

And a lot of Nob Hill nobodies.

Fifth place in the Examiner.

That's a promotion. We were
nine places down in The Chronicle.

- Is that so important?
- Hank.

Honey, it's not important
till we're in first place.

And when will that be?

Well, all the elegant ladies
started about a half hour ago...

to write their friends in Paris and
New Orleans to check our credentials.

They'll figure two, three
weeks for the replies.

By the first of the month, at the
latest, we should be up to here.

In debt, Maverick?

In invitations, madame.

- Do you think they'll come?
- Oh, yes, indeed, they'll be here.

- Just think of it, two of them.
- It's really going to make the season.

Countess DeChauvrier.

Countess De Vavasseur.

Mr. Bart Maverick.

Good evening. Mr. and
Mrs. Shelbourne...

Madame DeChauvrier,
Madame De Vavasseur.

Countess DeChauvrier, is it not?

And Countess De Vavasseur?

Excuse me, madame.

Madame.

May we introduce
you to our guests?

Very well, yes.

Well, back in town so soon?

I just can't seem to get enough,
somehow, of San Francisco.

You always have to come
back for more, is that it?

Not exactly.

You're here on business?

Business and
pleasure, Mr. Kingsley.

I came here to collect a debt.

And the pleasure?

That's the pleasure too.

Last time I was here,
you were kind enough...

to have me blackjacked
during a poker game...

and tossed aboard
an eastbound ship.

Besides the loss
of time and pride...

there's also the matter
of $17,000 plus interest.

And you hope to collect
it while you're here?

You might say I'm, uh,
dunning you for it right now.

Heh-heh. It's interesting.

The least I can do is give
you a run for your money, eh?

Certainly, Mr. Maverick.

- Gold?
- No, paper is lighter.

What can I do for you?

We'd be obliged and behoven to you if we
could stash these somewheres for safety.

I'm sure that can be
arranged. What's in them?

What the devil
business is it of yours?

I'm sorry, then.

We can't take
responsibility for them.

That's the rules of the bank.

We can't carry the blithy
thing around with us.

Well, you better tell
them what they are then.

Are they diamonds?

Well, it isn't exactly
rock candy, is it now?

Say, where did you
find those, friend?

If we told you that much, mister,
you'd know as much as we blithy well do.

Mr. Leverette. Mr. Leverette.

Would you wait just a minute?

Mr. Leverette is president of
the bank and he'll wanna see.

Couldn't have struck
diamonds, could they?

Why not?

They've struck everything
else around here except water.

Hello.

- Well, what's that?
- Embroidery.

I emboss pictures with
a needle and a thread.

- You do not have it in this country?
- Oh, yes.

I see little old ladies
doing it all the time.

Perhaps it is because the little old
gentlemen are busy doing other things.

Well, that can't
be your trouble.

Being out in society every night
having everybody fuss over you.

Feel good being
a countess again?

Suddenly, it doesn't seem
that important anymore.

In Paris, it did.

And in Louisiana, even more so.

But in San Francisco, no.

You're finding out
you really don't need it.

Countess or no, you're the
prettiest girl in local society.

You're the belle of the ball.

Do you know, Maverick...

I do not even care to
be the belle of the ball.

What do you wanna be?

I want to have the
nicest husband...

the pleasantest home...

and the most beautiful
children in San Francisco.

Now, that takes time and money.

I'm still shopping
around for you.

Do you ever want such things?

Well, I've been lucky so far.

Perhaps what I say
seems silly to you.

Not at all, Hank.

Whatever you want,
I want you to have it.

I know what I want.

Just name it.

Now, that is silly.

A town full of solid, respectful
types, good husbands...

and what do you drag
in? A loafer, a gambler...

an irresponsible bachelor.

A man who needs the right wife.

You will not recognize yourself
when I'm finished with you, Bart.

When it comes to marrying you
off, we want nothing but the best.

Ah, ah! You'll see.

Goodbye, Henriette.

Oh, Bart.

Grandmama?

Oui, Henriette?

Where did you put
Maverick's list of millionaire?

- Can't I buy you a drink, Bart?
- No.

- Shall we look in on the game upstairs?
- Some other time.

I'm not keeping you
from choir practice, am I?

So what Hallidie proposes to do is
to hook cables onto those horsecars...

and haul them up and down
Clay Street with steam power.

- So I said to him, "Look here..."
- Never mind what you said to Hallidie.

What did you say to those
two prospectors today?

Three people saw Leverette
dragging them over to your office.

What are you talking
about, Vincent?

Oh, stop stalling, Van.

- The story is all over town.
- What story?

Two desert rats showed
up in Leverette's bank...

with sacks full of
rough diamonds.

One of them as large
as a pigeon's egg.

And in no time at all...

they were across the street
having pink tea with Mr. Kingsley.

Diamonds?

Nonsense. They
were quartz crystals.

All right, then, why were they
in your office for 45 minutes?

And then, where did
they disappear to?

How would I know?

Come on, now, Kingsley.

You're holding out on us.

There's nothing to it.

Look, two miners came into my
office and wanted to rent a box.

To store quartz crystals?

They were diamonds. My
brother-in-law saw them.

Come on, Kingsley, tell us, where
did they find those quartz crystals?

I wouldn't know.

- I just bet you wouldn't.
- Hey, close the door, someone.

We'll have to pry it out.

- All right, all right.
- Tell them.

All right, gentlemen.

Now, the nearest I can figure out is
that they found a field somewhere...

or said they did.

Probably in Nevada.

And they claim it
bears real diamonds.

Now, I, for one,
do not believe it.

Oh, what did you offer them?

Well, they weren't
interested in selling anything.

All right, all right,
all right. I confess.

I did mention the possibility
of perhaps buying in...

or perhaps putting
up some of the capital.

But only...

only if they sent someone out to
see the actual field beforehand.

Now, gentleman, I do not
believe in diamond fields...

nor do I believe in
sugar plum trees.

Kingsley was sounding
more and more...

like my old friend Dandy Jim
Buckley selling a goldbrick.

Suddenly, I remembered...

two men with Kingsley, the
night I was put aboard the ship...

unshaved, unwashed,
talked like Irish.

The two prospectors
in the bank today.

Why, you are just being
pigheaded about the whole thing.

It is possible, monsieur, that
you are being too skeptical.

You connect the diamond
with Monsieur Kingsley...

and you do not like
Mr. Kingsley, and therefore...

He saw Kingsley
when the story got out.

Kingsley tried to pretend that
the whole thing never happened.

Roland, that is the first rule.

Whenever you sell a goldbrick
or an old Spanish treasure map...

you never tell the sucker about
it, you let them overhear you.

Then, look very
distressed when he does.

That is true.

Bart, you saw the
diamonds yourself.

Anybody can go out
and buy diamonds.

That many?

Oh, why, Selby, the best jeweler
in town evaluated those stones...

at more than a
half a million dollars.

I know.

That is the one
part I can't figure out.

Well, let's talk of
more pleasant things.

I promised Henriette a choice of
three millionaire bachelors to marry.

Would you care
to join the group?

Grandmama, he
becomes insufferable again.

One must adjust to it.

Don't listen to him, countess.

Make him find you
some young millionaires.

Eh, countess?

Look, Bart, I've investigated
the two prospectors...

Murphy and McClure.
They're legitimate.

They've both been scrabbling
out there in the desert for 20 years.

I know Kingsley too.

How well? A hundred shares?

A thousand?

Oh, don't be silly. Nobody
is organizing anything.

Nobody is selling stock.

Just forgetting the
whole thing, huh?

They're investigating it,
thoroughly and sensibly.

Kingsley's made the
prospect as an offer...

based on their taking somebody
out to look over the field.

Oh, sure.

The prospectors find something, they can't
wait to tell somebody else where it is.

Oh, there's a way of doing it.

They could take Kingsley's
man out to the desert...

and then lead him
blindfolded the rest of the way.

Ha, ha, ha. Who will
they show it to? You?

Benson? P.T. Barnum.

General George B. Marvin.

The sanest and most highly-respected
businessman in San Francisco.

With a blindfold.

And what did you
like best, madame?

To go through Montgomery
Street and spend money.

I saw it. I saw it.
Acres and acres of it.

Uh, we can't talk here.

- Let's go upstairs.
- All right now, Van, no more secrets.

Yes, let's hear the whole story.

Gentlemen, please. I...

All right.

Diamonds, acres of
diamonds there in the desert.

The ant hills.

You'd see an ant hill
powdered with diamond dust.

When you dug
into the ant hill...

in the heart of it, a great
big beautiful diamond.

That's not possible.

These fantastic precious stones, uncut
but valuable, lying around everywhere.

In the rock crevices, in the sand.
Worth millions and millions of dollars.

I believe he's drunk.

Look.

Look at that.

Good Lord, look at
the size of those stones.

And you were trying to keep
this from us, man? Or would you?

In other words, gentlemen...

only men of the highest
business and personal standing.

Men whose integrity
is beyond a doubt.

And how do we proceed?

First, we'll send a
representative collection...

of these stones to New York...

for examination and
estimation by Tiffany & Co.

This lot alone, the local
jewelers say, is worth $1 million.

Let's find out exactly
what it is worth.

Then?

Then we'll set up a fund of
$2 million for initial expenses.

Now, we'll need 300,000 for a down
payment to Murphy and McClure.

We'll need to hire mining engineers,
rough laborers for the field...

a cutter from Europe to keep the
whole operation here in San Francisco.

Get a bill through congress
to protect the diamond fields.

Kingsley, I think these
details are obvious.

Just tell us how much you
think the whole thing will take.

Twenty million dollars.

Seems reasonable.

Yes. Twenty million
dollars isn't bad.

Oh, madame.

Ah.

Oh.

- Good.
- See?

Very good.

Now, what do you
know about diamonds?

What do I not know
about diamonds? Ha, ha.

When I was young and
ravishingly beautiful...

I made a study of them.

I collect diamonds.

Where did you pick
up this sack full of stuff?

Oh, well, I...

Oh, souvenirs...

from a stockholder's meeting?

You might say that.

How much did they take from you?

A hundred thousand.

You still think it's a
con game, don't you?

If anybody is stealing, it's us.

We capitalize for 20 million...

and there's a hundred times that
much lying out there in the desert.

I'm a little nearsighted where
Mr. Kingsley is concerned.

I have trouble
recognizing him...

with the red costume
and the eight tiny reindeer.

I'd advise you to buy some of that
reindeer stock while it's still going.

We'll see.

Dear countess.

Good night, Bart.

You are disturbed, Maverick.

No, not at all.

Now, where is Henriette?

Who knows? Out with
the millionaires, no doubt.

When something is on your
mind, it is never Henriette.

Alors, what is it? The diamonds?

Well, it still smells
of a con game.

Except there's too much
money in the come-on.

So?

Madame, there isn't a grifter alive
who puts real gold in his goldbrick.

Not over a million
dollars' worth.

I'm beginning to
think I was wrong.

Mm-mm. You are
not wrong, Maverick.

I studied those
diamonds closely.

- They are quite unusual.
- How?

These stones lie in the desert
for thousands of years, huh?

Unseen, untouched by
mankind, n'est-ce pas?

That's the story.

The littlest diamond
was the prettiest.

Except for one tiny flaw.

The mark of a
diamond cutter's tool.

Being a jeweler himself...

Mr. Selby was just itching to
get another look at the stones.

I was sure you wouldn't
mind showing him yours.

Well, of course not.

Sit down, Mr. Selby.

Nice.

Fine.

Uh, rather shabby-looking
things, aren't they?

Just like they'd come
out of the ground.

Diamonds in the rough.

You're right.

- You're absolutely right.
- Right about what?

Notice anything unusual?

No.

Yes.

Yes, it looks as if
it had been broken.

Look at it again.
Now look at the break.

That is a diamond in
its natural state, right?

That's right.

One thing you never find
in nature is a straight line.

It's been cut, Mr. Roland.

Why, that doesn't make sense.

It is a diamond, isn't it?

It's a diamond.

Mr. Selby, what do you
think that whole lot is worth?

Maybe, uh, $25,000.

Why maybe?

They're raw stones.

I'm not an expert
on uncut jewelry.

Who is?

Nobody in San Francisco, really.

Only diamond dealers
know raw diamonds.

And there is no diamond
expert in San Francisco?

Oh, wait a minute.

Scharff got into town last week.

He knows rough diamonds.

Scharff?

Yeah, Scharff of Scharff
and Company. Philadelphia.

One of biggest dealers in
diamonds on the East Coast.

Does he come out here often?

As far as I know,
it's his first trip.

Came into town last
week. Nobody knows why.

Hasn't done any
buying or selling yet.

Hasn't got in touch with
anybody in the business.

Could he possibly be
here to appraise this stuff?

No, he couldn't be.

Tiffany in New
York is doing that.

Would he be trying to set
up a diamond cutting center?

No. They bring their
cutters from Amsterdam.

Then there's actually no reason
for him to be in San Francisco?

No apparent reason.

Diamond stocks, huh?

A thousand shares of nothing.

No, I wouldn't say that.

You're a hundred
thousand dollars wiser.

A hundred and sixty-eight
thousand at the close of trading today.

Could I play with this for a while?
I think I can make you a profit on it.

Oh, you can't sell that stuff.

Oh, Roland, it's
hotcakes you can't sell.

Well, I may be a hard businessman,
Bart, but I'm not a swindler.

Fraud like this would be on my
conscience for the rest of my life.

Well, it isn't a swindle if you
give the buyer value for his money.

Men who sell cut stones don't
know what uncut stones are worth.

Do they, Mr. Scharff?

I suppose not.

But a man who specializes in
diamonds, who processes them...

he knows what they're
worth, doesn't he?

It stands to reason.

You, for an example...

you knew how much those stones
were worth when you sold them.

When I sold them?

Let me try to guess
how it happened.

Someone comes to you in
Philadelphia and says, "Mr. Scharff...

I wanna buy uncut jewels,
diamonds, all you can spare."

Nobody comes to
me with such an order.

So you sell them to him.

You know something's fishy
about it, but you don't know what.

So you decide to
sit back and wait.

Word comes to Philadelphia that
diamonds have been discovered out west.

You know it's a
big practical joke.

But you figure with that money
flying around San Francisco...

you should have some of it
for just keeping your mouth shut.

Mr. Maverick...

the House of Scharff has been in the
diamond trade for three generations.

It has a spotless reputation.

I don't doubt that
for a moment, sir.

But I'd hate to see both you and
the reputation vanish overnight.

Believe me, I have no idea
what you're talking about.

Men who play for stakes like these
don't buy people off, Mr. Scharff.

They kill them off.

Your friend who sprinkles
diamonds over the Nevada Desert...

has floated $20
million worth of stock.

He's buying heavily
himself to push the price up.

Now, when the stock gets as
high as it will, he figures to sell out...

become the richest man in California
before it has a chance to go down.

California Diamonds
closed today at 168.

Before it hits 200,
you'll be dead.

Mr. Maverick, you're
talking to the wrong man.

You saw Kingsley and some of his
men twice since you came to town.

- Now, Monday was payday, wasn't it?
- How did you...?

I mean, why do you think...?

Before Monday you stayed in a
cheap boarding house on Stook Street.

But Monday night, you
moved into this expensive hotel.

That has nothing to do with...

with anything.

Gentlemen, please. Let's
not talk about diamonds.

We're ruining a very
good poker game.

- Good evening, gentlemen.
- Mr. Maverick.

Oh, Mr. Maverick. Care to play?

Still only takes $100,000.

With you, Mr. Kingsley, I
think I need more than that.

Well, what do you
figure you'd need?

Oh, a strong stomach
and trusting heart.

Don't be subtle, Maverick,
you're going right over my head.

I'll be blunt then, Kingsley.

Your diamonds are a swindle.

Swindle? MAN 2:
What does he mean?

What swindle?

That's a very irresponsible
statement, Mr. Maverick.

Would you care to
explain it here or in court?

I'll explain it
here, Mr. Kingsley.

You can explain it in court.

Your diamond field is salted.

- Salted?
- What is he talking about?

Gentlemen, this is one
of your ant hill diamonds...

just as it came
from the desert...

by way of Amsterdam?

What do you mean
by that, Maverick?

Mr. Pyne, this is
a processed stone.

You can tell
where it's been cut.

Well, of course it's
been cut, gentlemen.

We cut into three or four of
those. Just to test the quality.

Oh, well.

Well, I'm certainly relieved.

I'm sure the stockholders
are relieved too.

I'd hate to think that
stock was worthless.

I don't think you have to worry
about the stock, Mr. Maverick.

A half hour after the
market opens tomorrow...

California Diamond will
be selling at $200 a share.

And I will be
leading the buying.

Would you be interested in
buying a thousand shares right now?

I'll buy your thousand.

I'm sorry, I offered
them to Mr. Kingsley.

Two hundred dollars a share?

Two seventeen.

Well, that's a jump
of $17,000, why?

For old time's sake.

You'll have my
check in the morning.

I'd prefer the cash tonight.

Very well. Would you
cash my chips in, please?

A hundred and ninety-six
thousand dollars, Van.

There you are.

I think that settles
us, Mr. Maverick.

Almost.

Is Mr. Roland in the hall?

Gentlemen, this is Mr. Gerhardt
Scharff of Philadelphia.

Mr. Scharff is a diamond dealer.

I believe you've
already met Mr. Kingsley.

Six months ago in Philadelphia.

I sold Mr. Kingsley...

a large lot of uncut stones.

Over a million dollars' worth?

I didn't put that value on them.

The whole lot is
worth only $48,000.

What?

That's what I
charged Mr. Kingsley.

Have somebody go for the police.

You know, Maverick...

it would have been cheaper
to let you stay in the game.

It will be a gloomy day in
the exchange tomorrow.

I suppose.

You know, I feel strange.

I'm the only man in San Francisco
who made a profit on diamonds.

I wish you'd take a split, Bart.

That was your stock, not mine.

And I did take a split, $17,000.

What do you do now?

Move on? Looking
for the next game?

I suppose.

Well, you've certainly
ruined this one.

Why don't you just marry
and settle down, like I'm doing?

Ha, ha. You?

To madame?

I'm not a bad catch.

Neither are you.

Uh, I promised
her a millionaire.

I think she'd settle for less.

Hank?

Hank?

Maverick, I've wonderful news.

About madame and Roland?

- Oh, no.
- I heard about them.

- I'm here to talk about us.
- Us, Maverick?

Remember, you told me I wouldn't
know myself when you've finished with me?

I'd like to find out
if you were right.

- You see, I'm...
- Wait, Maverick.

That's the mistake I've
been making. Now...

Please.

The news I wanted to tell you was
not about grandmama, but about me.

I'm sorry, Bart.

The other day when you
left me, it was the end for us.

I met someone.

I'm in love with him.

Who is he?

He should be here now.

Hank, you...

Uh...

Hank, you sure
he's the right one?

I'm sorry, Bart.

You gave me no hope and I...

Excuse me.

Jimmy...

I want you to meet
a dear friend of mine.

Bart, this is James
Grayson. Bart, my boyfriend.

- How do you do?
- How are you?

Uh, $30 million, Mr. Grayson?

Ha, ha. No, I'm afraid
not, Mr. Maverick.

And what little money I
have is tied up in land...

- back home in Texas.
- Uh-huh.

A friend of mine told me
she'd settle for a lot less.

Well, good luck, Hank.

Goodbye, Bart. Thank you.

- And congratulations, Mr. Grayson.
- Thanks.

Cattle?

No, uh, oil.

Well, as long as
it isn't diamonds.