Maverick (1957–1962): Season 1, Episode 22 - The Burning Sky - full transcript
Travelling across the Arizona desert, the stagecoach conveying Bart Maverick and his companions is attacked by what appear to be Apache Indians. The passengers manage to reach the ruins of an adobe house and soon discover that the men besieging them are actually Mexican bandits who want something that one of the passengers possesses. As the broiling heat takes its toll, Bret attempts to discover which one of his fellow wayfarers is protecting a secret worth fighting, and possibly dying, for.
Hey, it's wonderful.
It's wonderful to find someone
in the middle of nowhere...
who speaks my language.
And it's almost too
much for one man.
But to smell that...
Oh, amigo.
Don't get too
comfortable, amigo.
Oh, I...
I do not rob you, amigo.
I need your horse.
Please, take off
the gun belt, huh?
Hello. I'm glad to see
you with us once again.
This week's story is about
six people with 48 hours to live.
And one of them
holds the answer.
The way out for the other five.
It's called "The Burning Sky."
Here you are, Mrs. Baxter,
just hold it over your mouth.
No, thank you, Mr. Braus.
I can spare it. I bought a
dozen of them in St. Louis.
Well, anytime you
want it just say so.
Are you going all the way
to Yuma, Mr. Connors?
- That's right.
- You live there?
Yes. I have a ranch there.
Shouldn't we be stopping
somewhere pretty soon?
There's a way station up ahead.
Whoa.
Two-hour layover,
folks, to rest up and eat.
- You're late, boy.
- I ain't late till it's tomorrow.
- Mrs. Baxter.
- Thank you.
- Watch your step, now. That's it.
- Thank you.
I'll take this for you?
No, thank you.
What will you folks
have? We have stew.
Well, that's all right, I guess.
And coffee?
Coffee, Mrs. Baxter?
BAXTER: Yes.
Coffee for me. - Three coffees.
- The señorita will do me the honor...
- Oh, no, I have...
Oh, please.
We're both riding on
the same stage together.
- We should know each other.
- Really, I...
Oh, I'm lonely.
You come sit by me.
That's better. I am Juan Bolero.
I see you get off the stage...
and I say to myself, "Johnny
Bolero, you are one lucky fella."
How do you mean?
Well, does the señorita
not have a mirror?
Ha-ha-ha. Oh.
- The señorita has come a long way, huh?
- Yeah.
- From the East?
- Uh, yeah, from the East.
You gonna eat? You
better order something.
- My pleasure is yours, señorita.
- Oh, just some coffee.
Two coffee, por favor.
- The señorita is traveling alone?
- Yeah. Mm-hm.
It's dangerous.
Very dangerous, this country.
I've been traveling
alone since I was 12.
- It's too bad.
- Is it?
Mm-hm.
I was about to offer you
my services for nothing.
Seems to me you're awful
anxious to be friendly, mister.
- You got some reason?
- But of course.
You sure you don't want
anything else but coffee?
No, thanks.
Yes, sir, San Francisco is a great
town. City of opportunity, I always say.
- You'll like it, Mrs. Baxter.
- Thank you.
- Have you ever been there, Mr. Connors?
- Yes. Once or twice.
Like it?
No. I prefer my ranch.
Well, everybody to his own
taste. Difference of opinion.
That's why we have
horse races and juries.
Will you excuse me, please?
- Certainly.
Braus, buy you a drink?
Well, not right
now, Mr. Connors.
Thanks anyway.
I hope you're not feeling ill, Mrs.
Baxter. Riding a stage can be real tiring.
I'm quite all right.
Do you know anyone in
San Francisco, Mrs. Baxter?
No, I'm afraid I don't.
Well, then, maybe I can be some
help to you when we get there.
I'm sure you think of yourself
as being very subtle, Mr. Braus...
- but it's not one of your virtues.
- Doesn't seem to be one yours either.
I thought it would
be lost on you.
You've made repeated
references to St. Louis and juries.
That's only because I wasn't real sure
that your name was Banning, Mrs. Baxter.
Well, now you know.
What do you want?
You're going to need a friend.
Someone who can keep a secret.
For a price?
I'd like to help you in
an advisory capacity.
Help you make
investments, turn a profit.
Naturally, I'd expect
a small commission.
You're a blackmailer.
You're a filthy, cheap,
little blackmailer.
Not at all. I'm an
investment counselor.
You know, a woman like you
needs to be accepted in society.
You're a wealthy woman, a
lady. You should live like one.
You can as Mrs. Baxter
but not as Mrs. Banning.
Oh, you don't have to
make up your mind right now.
- When we get to San Francisco, you...
- Are you all right, Mrs. Baxter?
Yes, thank you.
- Been west very long Mr. Braus?
- No, why?
When a man offers to
buy you a drink, you accept.
Not unless you're thirsty.
And when we arrive at
Yuma, señorita, I would...
So the horse's leg
was not broken, huh?
Oh, it was broke.
I had to shoot it.
But there is no
reason to shoot me.
Maybe I'll break your leg.
That would be a reason.
I can understand your anger...
but my need was
greater than yours.
And I am gonna stay right here until
I see what you're going to do about it.
All right, Johnny,
you can get up.
Señor Maverick,
your horse is outside.
Yeah, I saw my horse. It will
take about a week for it to rest up.
If señorita will permit, I'd be glad
to take care of your so heavy bag.
No, thanks.
Thank you. It isn't that heavy.
Oh, I'm sorry. You
should have awakened me.
It's all right, honey.
You had a nice little nap.
- What is it, Maverick?
- Take a look.
It's not like Apaches
to chase a stage.
They usually hit
patrols and ranches.
There's an adobe ruin not far up the road.
If we can make it, it will give us cover.
Where are they?
Probably cut across to
pick up the road further on.
Get those women
out of there in a hurry.
- Señorita.
- Hold on.
You all right, Mrs. Baxter?
Hey, amigo.
We are... Easy now.
All right, stay right there.
- He's dead?
- Yeah, he's dead.
- Connors, get those women out of here.
- Yeah. Come on.
- My bag. My bag.
- Come back here.
My...
Look, if you're gonna die, do it for
something more than a couple of dresses.
Hey, amigo...
it looks like there's no
place to go from here.
I'd say if we did go,
we'd never get there.
How many of them did you count?
- Twelve.
That's what I got.
Eleven.
Why don't they rush us?
Why should they, Mr. Braus?
There's a better way to do it.
They let the sun work for them.
How much water we got?
That's it.
That's all of it.
They're as bad off as we are.
- Too bad that's not true, Mr. Braus.
- Yep.
Their horses are probably
behind the high rock.
They could send somebody
for water whenever they need it.
Well, we could go out the other
side. Keep low, they won't see us.
You could do that, Mr. Braus, but it
wouldn't be long before they did see you.
Then where would you go?
They'll jump on a horse
or two and run you down.
There wouldn't be anything
you could do about it.
You better just make yourself
real comfortable, Mr. Braus.
You know how hot
it can get out here?
No, and I don't wanna learn.
We'll last one, maybe
two days, the most.
There's a return stage due from
Yuma. It's gotta pass right by here.
A couple of shots from us,
they'd know we need help.
If it comes.
- If?
- Look, it may be two, four, eight days.
That stage only runs when there's mail
or enough passengers to make it pay.
You keep cheering
me up, Connors.
Look what three hours
has done to us already.
Yeah.
We can last out today...
I'm not so sure about tomorrow.
- What do you want from me, a rain dance?
- No.
No, I was thinking we ought
to get out of here tonight.
I thought of that too...
but I keep coming back
with the same answer.
They won't let us.
No. They'll stick pretty close
behind those big cool rocks all day...
and at night, they'll
be all around us.
- I still think we should try it.
- If we did get away, where would we go?
Oh, not we, just one of us.
Now, one of us could circle
around behind that high rock.
Get their horses, grab one,
drive the rest of them away...
and bring back help.
Connors, as long as you're
not asking for volunteers...
I think that's a great idea.
Amigo.
What's that for, Johnny?
He's carrying a white flag.
Sí, he was carrying a white flag,
but he had a gun attached to it.
I know these Apaches.
He'll kill as many as he
can even if he get killed too.
No Apache would wave a flag
of truce and then start shooting.
That was no Apache.
Didn't even look like
one. Didn't walk like one.
I've lived around them
for more than 20 years...
and that was no Indian.
Well, whoever they are,
they wanted to parley with us.
He killed any chance we had.
I do what is best for all of us.
Uh, Johnny, seeing as how you
have our best interests at heart...
we're gonna let you
do something about it.
One of us has to get out of
here tonight to get to their horses.
I know how anxious you are to make
up for that little mistake you just made.
Oh, no, amigo, I not
anxious. I think we vote, sí?
- Good. I vote for you.
- So do I.
Maybe the others, they vote?
Oh, I think they'll
vote for you too.
You're the leading
candidate, the people's choice.
Johnny, don't
pass up a good bet.
I think the man who gets out of here
might be the only one to get out alive.
It's sure quiet out there.
- Johnny.
- Hmm?
You've got just
five minutes left.
Amigo, they must have
a guard on those horses.
- I'll get killed for sure.
- True.
Any last words...
like, uh, who those nice,
quiet fellas out there might be?
- I, Johnny Bolero, should know this?
- Mm-hm.
I agree with Connors, Johnny. I
don't think they're Apaches at all.
And I think you had some other reason
to shoot that fellow with the white flag.
What was it?
Amigo, you're talking puzzles.
What a beautiful night.
I hope it's not my last.
So do I.
I think we've got a
very good chance.
Mr. Connors...
are you always this
kind and thoughtful...
or have I earned some special
consideration without knowing it?
Well, let's...
Let's say that I think you'd find a
hard time convincing my ranch hands...
that I'm always so
thoughtful and considerate.
Oh, speaking of the ranch...
that's something
you ought to see.
Oh, it's as green
as all this is barren.
If we get out of this,
and I think we will...
you ought to stay there a while and
rest up before you go on to San Francisco.
My sister lives there with me...
and I think you and
she will hit it off just fine.
That's very kind of
you, Mr. Connors...
but I'm afraid I have to say no.
I see.
I reckon I got little carried
away there for a minute.
Sorry.
Johnny, the night will be
over before you get started.
I'm willing it should be.
I could get killed
out there, I told you.
Better go, Johnny.
- Are you hit?
- I don't know. I'm too scared to find out.
But, amigo, this I do know. They all
around us, we don't get out of here.
One thing left to do.
We gotta talk to them.
Talk about what? About how
we got two swallows of water left?
- That the stage might come?
- They wanted to talk.
- They don't. You don't understand...
- Shut up. Go ahead, Maverick.
Well, it's pretty plain
they want something.
Anybody in here know what it is?
Well, somebody will have to go
out of here under a flag of truce.
Who?
I go tonight, tomorrow
somebody else go.
All right, we'll draw lots.
Think they'll honor our flag after
the way Bolero shot their man?
It's sure death. I
don't see why any
innocent person should
have to risk his life.
Which one of us
knows who is innocent?
Somebody in here
knows what they're after.
Which one of us is it?
It's Bolero. That's why he shot
that Indian or whatever he was.
I begin not to like you.
- I think I kill you too.
- Johnny, Johnny, take it easy.
Now, look, one more day under the
sun and we'll all be dead and they know it.
If no one here wants to give us the answer,
we'll have to find it out from them.
As for me, I'm willing to take
my chances and drawing lots.
All right, might as
well get it over with.
Mrs. Baxter, you got
anything that we could use?
I have some paper.
Good. Would you mind
tearing it into four strips?
Three long and one short.
Connors, why don't you go first?
All right. Ahem.
After you, amigo.
Why don't we make
it two out of three?
It would seem the birds
have gone back to their nests.
- All of them.
- Where else would they be?
That's the only place they
got to hide in the daytime.
Well, if I'm not home before
dark, don't wait up for me.
Amigo!
Come back! Come back, amigo!
Amigo, come back!
What was that for?
They would kill him.
You were right, Señor Connors.
Those men out there are not
Apaches. They are my compadres.
A fine time to tell me that.
They would kill you. I
don't want you killed.
- That means it's you they want.
- No. They don't want me at all.
I only say they
are my countrymen.
Believe me, Señorita Letty,
it pains me to say this...
but it is the
señorita they want.
You're a liar.
Forgive me, señorita...
but they are after the money.
What money?
A half-million dollar.
Hey.
Told you he was a liar.
He just wants to
save his own skin.
It's your turn, Johnny.
Amigo, when Señorita
Letty leave Mexico...
she take with her almost
half a million dollar.
This I know.
She couldn't carry that much.
It was in paper money.
United States paper money.
Then where is it?
You don't see it, do you?
Go on, rip open the bag.
Maybe you think I got it on me.
Maybe you'd like to search me.
Now, look, lady...
you've been hanging onto that
bag like it was part of your arm.
It's hard to believe a few
costumes would be that important.
The money was in
the bag then, wasn't it?
No.
She could have
buried it last night.
Where was she?
There. That's where
she spent most...
Aah! Get away
from that. Get away.
Let go of me. Let go of me.
No.
Let go.
Let go.
That isn't mine. And
it isn't yours either.
Letty.
It belongs to the
Benaris family.
The Benaris family?
Sí, when the Juaristas take over my
country, the Benaris have to get out.
And they leave
their gold behind.
It was very sad.
About a year ago, Señorita
Letty come to Mexico.
And pretty quick, she's
changing gold into dollars.
I did it for the Benaris family.
They're in San Francisco
now living like beggars.
You couldn't believe
that, could you?
You couldn't believe
anybody could be that honest.
Sí, it is hard to believe.
They don't care whether
you believe it or not.
I know the Benaris.
I love them like they're my own.
Better than my own.
All right, Letty, go
on with the rest of it.
When they heard I was gonna work
in Mexico City, they come to me...
told me about the gold.
Asked me to get it out for them.
Dolores Benaris went with me.
They killed her.
I know they did.
The ones that wanted
the gold killed her.
One night, I went backstage in
the cantina to my dressing room...
Dolores was gone, they took her.
You're one of them! You did it!
- Let me go.
- They killed her, sí.
But when I find out about it, I
leave them. I want no part of them.
I'm a greedy man, sí. I love money. But
I don't torture or kill a woman to get it.
That's why I'm not with them.
So it's the money
that they're after.
Well, they're not gonna get it.
I'm gonna take it to San Francisco
with me and nobody is gonna stop me.
Now, hold on just a minute.
Let's be reasonable about this.
They want the money, we want
our lives. So give them the money.
You're not gonna get it
to San Francisco anyhow.
Letty, how much money is there?
- Quarter of a million.
- There should be more.
Much more.
There's only 300,000.
I left 60,000
behind, still in gold.
Where?
We're wasting time. We know
we can't last a day without water...
so I say give them the money.
Look...
you all voted on
everything before...
vote on this too, please.
I can't go back to San
Francisco to the Benaris...
and then tell them Dolores is
dead and take them nothing else.
Well, maybe the stagecoach
will come by today.
I vote we give them
the money. Connors?
Give them the money.
Johnny?
No.
I vote no.
How about you, Mrs. Baxter?
You better vote
with me, Mrs. Baxter.
Or what, Mr. Braus?
Just say yes.
Or you'll tell everyone
that my name is Banning?
This isn't the first time
you've tried to blackmail me...
but it's the last.
What Mr. Braus is trying to
say is unless I vote with him...
he'll tell everyone that I was
on trial for killing my husband.
I knew that, Mrs. Baxter.
You were also acquitted.
I saw some of the newspapers
on my way through St. Louis.
And you still...?
I'm sorry, Mr. Connors...
I'm gonna have to
see it Letty's way.
How do you vote, Mr. Maverick?
Well, somehow I can't
bring myself to vote...
for giving away a
quarter of a million dollars.
- It's against everything I believe in.
- Think a minute, you'll die here.
Well, I hope not, Braus.
So I'd like to reserve
my vote for a little later.
Maybe something might turn up.
Maybe even that stagecoach.
Thousand dollar bills.
They're just the
kind I'm partial to.
What do you think, amigo?
Mm-mm.
And it's hot.
It's not yet the middle
of the afternoon.
Maybe it's better we
give them the money.
Maybe.
We'll never make it.
There's no water left.
The heat will get to 110 or
better if it's not there already.
There's still a chance that
stagecoach will come through.
Give it up, Maverick.
If the stage does come,
they've got to go back for help.
Sorry, Letty, looks like
we'll have to give it to them.
- No.
- There's nothing else we can do.
But it isn't ours to give.
It might buy our lives.
Oh, no, you're wrong. It won't.
Listen, everyone thought
the Benaris fortune
is worth over half
a million in gold...
but it wasn't.
That's all there was except for
something I left back in Mexico.
- So?
- Do you think those men will believe you?
When you tell them
that's all there is?
They'll wanna know
where the rest is.
You know, she tell the truth.
Mi compadres out
there are bad men.
Everybody in my country heard
that the fortune is over a million dollar.
They'll never believe it.
We'll make them believe it.
You're a fool if you think that.
They kill before to get it.
They'll kill again.
Braus, get back here.
Here it is, the money.
Get back here, you idiot!
Here's the money. The money.
Here's the money. BART: Braus.
Here it is.
Well, Letty, now
nobody's got it.
All they have to do is wait for
the sun to bake us to a crisp.
Hey, amigo.
He is closer to us than to them.
We could get it.
What good will it do
you? Die wealthy?
A man could do worse.
But if I go out there, I
will not do it for nothing.
I will be a brave man
because I am a greedy man.
Señorita, for $10,000, I go
bring you back the money.
That's all you'll take?
I never lie.
Steal, yes, but I never lie.
Amigo, you need a little help?
- For half my 10,000?
- If you insist.
Bueno, I need a little help.
The sun has got you both.
What good will it do you?
That stage comes by now
with that money lying out there...
those boys will stop waiting
They'll rush us for sure.
Amigo, look.
- Señorita, you are one lousy shot.
- You ready, Johnny?
Oh, give it up, Maverick.
Let him give them the money.
I wish I could, Connors...
but I'll never get another
good night's sleep again.
All right, go ahead.
We'll cover you.
Señora Baxter,
here, have a little fun.
Ándale, amigo.
Did I kill him?
He's dead.
Then I killed him.
That's something
you'll never know, Letty.
He picked up
another shot just now.
Mr. Connors?
Hmm?
This must be even worse for you.
You're so near home.
Almost close enough to
smell the dew on the grass.
It's such a beautiful place.
The whole valley is
as green as springtime.
Now, if some miracle
should get us out of here...
I still want you to
stop with us a while.
You're a strange
man, Mr. Connors.
The whole city of St. Louis thinks
I deliberately shot my husband...
and claimed I thought
it was a burglar.
And that doesn't
disturb you one bit.
The jury acquitted you.
The jury thought there
was a reasonable doubt.
The whole city of St. Louis didn't
get a chance to know you as I do.
- You see, I think...
- Please.
The whole city was right.
I knew he was no burglar.
I knew he was my
husband when I shot him.
Hey, amigo. BART: What?
Once in Mexico City, I see
a gun, a very strange gun.
It's made in your country.
I don't know how it's called.
But it goes:
I sure wish we had it now, huh?
It make all the difference.
- It's called a Gatling gun.
- That's right. A Gatling gun.
While you're at it...
why not just start wishing
for a troop of cavalry?
I'm wishing.
Yeah, you do that.
- Letty.
- Yeah?
About that 60,000 in gold
you said you left in Mexico City.
- What about it?
- You think it's still there?
I'm sure of it.
If I get you out of here, would
you tell me where I could find it?
Mister, you get me out of
here, I'll get it for you myself.
You got a deal.
Johnny, we're gonna use
that Gatling gun of yours.
- Connors, how many bullets you got?
- Just what I got in my belt.
- Good. Toss them over, will you?
- All right.
- Your revolver fully loaded?
- Yeah.
- Mrs. Baxter, you got any more paper?
- Yes.
Bring it over.
Johnny, give me that canteen.
I'll need a knife.
- I got one.
- I always got one too.
That's good.
Pry the slugs off of the
top of these cartridges.
Pour the powder right on
top of this piece of paper.
And don't you spill any.
Drop the slugs in
the canteen, Johnny.
I figure it'll take five seconds
for this fuse to burn down.
I'm gonna have to be close to those rocks
to make sure I toss the bomb over them.
Amigo, a very unpleasant
thought occur to me.
Yeah, well, maybe you better
not tell me about it, Johnny.
You're gonna be out there alone
and they're gonna be shooting at you.
Maybe I better
go shoot at them...
so then they cannot
shoot too good at you.
You know, you've got a long way
to run before you throw the bomb.
And you'll get
half of my 60,000.
If you insist.
I insist.
We're gonna need all
the cover you can give us.
You'll get it.
I await your command.
Let's go earn that money.
Watch them.
Well, we got our miracle.
I wanna ask you a question.
There's more to your story
than what you've told me.
I was pretty sure I was right.
- Yes, you were.
- Would you like to tell me about it now?
It might be important
to both of us.
He wanted a divorce
to marry someone else.
I agreed...
and then he learned she
wouldn't marry a divorced man.
The night he died...
he came home drunk
and he tried to kill me.
We struggled...
I see.
Mr. Connors...
I love his family very much.
I could never tell
what really happened.
I never have till now.
Mrs. Banning, have I ever
told you about my ranch?
Not nearly enough.
Feeling better, Letty?
Yeah.
Señorita, how about the money?
I left it in a hotel
in Mexico City.
It's called the La Paloma.
In the patio is a well...
and I put the gold in a canvas
bag, dropped it in the well.
You know the hotel, Johnny?
Amigo, I not only know the
hotel, I know the well well.
- Think the gold is still there?
- Who's gonna fish in a well...
except you and me?
Here.
- Very easy at first.
- Thank you.
You want Johnny and me to
ride along with you and the lady...
- before we head south?
- Won't be necessary, Bart.
Johnny, we better go.
- Connors, good luck.
- Same to you.
Mrs. Baxter.
- Thanks, Letty.
- Thank you.
- Good luck. BART:
Let's go, Johnny.
It's wonderful to find someone
in the middle of nowhere...
who speaks my language.
And it's almost too
much for one man.
But to smell that...
Oh, amigo.
Don't get too
comfortable, amigo.
Oh, I...
I do not rob you, amigo.
I need your horse.
Please, take off
the gun belt, huh?
Hello. I'm glad to see
you with us once again.
This week's story is about
six people with 48 hours to live.
And one of them
holds the answer.
The way out for the other five.
It's called "The Burning Sky."
Here you are, Mrs. Baxter,
just hold it over your mouth.
No, thank you, Mr. Braus.
I can spare it. I bought a
dozen of them in St. Louis.
Well, anytime you
want it just say so.
Are you going all the way
to Yuma, Mr. Connors?
- That's right.
- You live there?
Yes. I have a ranch there.
Shouldn't we be stopping
somewhere pretty soon?
There's a way station up ahead.
Whoa.
Two-hour layover,
folks, to rest up and eat.
- You're late, boy.
- I ain't late till it's tomorrow.
- Mrs. Baxter.
- Thank you.
- Watch your step, now. That's it.
- Thank you.
I'll take this for you?
No, thank you.
What will you folks
have? We have stew.
Well, that's all right, I guess.
And coffee?
Coffee, Mrs. Baxter?
BAXTER: Yes.
Coffee for me. - Three coffees.
- The señorita will do me the honor...
- Oh, no, I have...
Oh, please.
We're both riding on
the same stage together.
- We should know each other.
- Really, I...
Oh, I'm lonely.
You come sit by me.
That's better. I am Juan Bolero.
I see you get off the stage...
and I say to myself, "Johnny
Bolero, you are one lucky fella."
How do you mean?
Well, does the señorita
not have a mirror?
Ha-ha-ha. Oh.
- The señorita has come a long way, huh?
- Yeah.
- From the East?
- Uh, yeah, from the East.
You gonna eat? You
better order something.
- My pleasure is yours, señorita.
- Oh, just some coffee.
Two coffee, por favor.
- The señorita is traveling alone?
- Yeah. Mm-hm.
It's dangerous.
Very dangerous, this country.
I've been traveling
alone since I was 12.
- It's too bad.
- Is it?
Mm-hm.
I was about to offer you
my services for nothing.
Seems to me you're awful
anxious to be friendly, mister.
- You got some reason?
- But of course.
You sure you don't want
anything else but coffee?
No, thanks.
Yes, sir, San Francisco is a great
town. City of opportunity, I always say.
- You'll like it, Mrs. Baxter.
- Thank you.
- Have you ever been there, Mr. Connors?
- Yes. Once or twice.
Like it?
No. I prefer my ranch.
Well, everybody to his own
taste. Difference of opinion.
That's why we have
horse races and juries.
Will you excuse me, please?
- Certainly.
Braus, buy you a drink?
Well, not right
now, Mr. Connors.
Thanks anyway.
I hope you're not feeling ill, Mrs.
Baxter. Riding a stage can be real tiring.
I'm quite all right.
Do you know anyone in
San Francisco, Mrs. Baxter?
No, I'm afraid I don't.
Well, then, maybe I can be some
help to you when we get there.
I'm sure you think of yourself
as being very subtle, Mr. Braus...
- but it's not one of your virtues.
- Doesn't seem to be one yours either.
I thought it would
be lost on you.
You've made repeated
references to St. Louis and juries.
That's only because I wasn't real sure
that your name was Banning, Mrs. Baxter.
Well, now you know.
What do you want?
You're going to need a friend.
Someone who can keep a secret.
For a price?
I'd like to help you in
an advisory capacity.
Help you make
investments, turn a profit.
Naturally, I'd expect
a small commission.
You're a blackmailer.
You're a filthy, cheap,
little blackmailer.
Not at all. I'm an
investment counselor.
You know, a woman like you
needs to be accepted in society.
You're a wealthy woman, a
lady. You should live like one.
You can as Mrs. Baxter
but not as Mrs. Banning.
Oh, you don't have to
make up your mind right now.
- When we get to San Francisco, you...
- Are you all right, Mrs. Baxter?
Yes, thank you.
- Been west very long Mr. Braus?
- No, why?
When a man offers to
buy you a drink, you accept.
Not unless you're thirsty.
And when we arrive at
Yuma, señorita, I would...
So the horse's leg
was not broken, huh?
Oh, it was broke.
I had to shoot it.
But there is no
reason to shoot me.
Maybe I'll break your leg.
That would be a reason.
I can understand your anger...
but my need was
greater than yours.
And I am gonna stay right here until
I see what you're going to do about it.
All right, Johnny,
you can get up.
Señor Maverick,
your horse is outside.
Yeah, I saw my horse. It will
take about a week for it to rest up.
If señorita will permit, I'd be glad
to take care of your so heavy bag.
No, thanks.
Thank you. It isn't that heavy.
Oh, I'm sorry. You
should have awakened me.
It's all right, honey.
You had a nice little nap.
- What is it, Maverick?
- Take a look.
It's not like Apaches
to chase a stage.
They usually hit
patrols and ranches.
There's an adobe ruin not far up the road.
If we can make it, it will give us cover.
Where are they?
Probably cut across to
pick up the road further on.
Get those women
out of there in a hurry.
- Señorita.
- Hold on.
You all right, Mrs. Baxter?
Hey, amigo.
We are... Easy now.
All right, stay right there.
- He's dead?
- Yeah, he's dead.
- Connors, get those women out of here.
- Yeah. Come on.
- My bag. My bag.
- Come back here.
My...
Look, if you're gonna die, do it for
something more than a couple of dresses.
Hey, amigo...
it looks like there's no
place to go from here.
I'd say if we did go,
we'd never get there.
How many of them did you count?
- Twelve.
That's what I got.
Eleven.
Why don't they rush us?
Why should they, Mr. Braus?
There's a better way to do it.
They let the sun work for them.
How much water we got?
That's it.
That's all of it.
They're as bad off as we are.
- Too bad that's not true, Mr. Braus.
- Yep.
Their horses are probably
behind the high rock.
They could send somebody
for water whenever they need it.
Well, we could go out the other
side. Keep low, they won't see us.
You could do that, Mr. Braus, but it
wouldn't be long before they did see you.
Then where would you go?
They'll jump on a horse
or two and run you down.
There wouldn't be anything
you could do about it.
You better just make yourself
real comfortable, Mr. Braus.
You know how hot
it can get out here?
No, and I don't wanna learn.
We'll last one, maybe
two days, the most.
There's a return stage due from
Yuma. It's gotta pass right by here.
A couple of shots from us,
they'd know we need help.
If it comes.
- If?
- Look, it may be two, four, eight days.
That stage only runs when there's mail
or enough passengers to make it pay.
You keep cheering
me up, Connors.
Look what three hours
has done to us already.
Yeah.
We can last out today...
I'm not so sure about tomorrow.
- What do you want from me, a rain dance?
- No.
No, I was thinking we ought
to get out of here tonight.
I thought of that too...
but I keep coming back
with the same answer.
They won't let us.
No. They'll stick pretty close
behind those big cool rocks all day...
and at night, they'll
be all around us.
- I still think we should try it.
- If we did get away, where would we go?
Oh, not we, just one of us.
Now, one of us could circle
around behind that high rock.
Get their horses, grab one,
drive the rest of them away...
and bring back help.
Connors, as long as you're
not asking for volunteers...
I think that's a great idea.
Amigo.
What's that for, Johnny?
He's carrying a white flag.
Sí, he was carrying a white flag,
but he had a gun attached to it.
I know these Apaches.
He'll kill as many as he
can even if he get killed too.
No Apache would wave a flag
of truce and then start shooting.
That was no Apache.
Didn't even look like
one. Didn't walk like one.
I've lived around them
for more than 20 years...
and that was no Indian.
Well, whoever they are,
they wanted to parley with us.
He killed any chance we had.
I do what is best for all of us.
Uh, Johnny, seeing as how you
have our best interests at heart...
we're gonna let you
do something about it.
One of us has to get out of
here tonight to get to their horses.
I know how anxious you are to make
up for that little mistake you just made.
Oh, no, amigo, I not
anxious. I think we vote, sí?
- Good. I vote for you.
- So do I.
Maybe the others, they vote?
Oh, I think they'll
vote for you too.
You're the leading
candidate, the people's choice.
Johnny, don't
pass up a good bet.
I think the man who gets out of here
might be the only one to get out alive.
It's sure quiet out there.
- Johnny.
- Hmm?
You've got just
five minutes left.
Amigo, they must have
a guard on those horses.
- I'll get killed for sure.
- True.
Any last words...
like, uh, who those nice,
quiet fellas out there might be?
- I, Johnny Bolero, should know this?
- Mm-hm.
I agree with Connors, Johnny. I
don't think they're Apaches at all.
And I think you had some other reason
to shoot that fellow with the white flag.
What was it?
Amigo, you're talking puzzles.
What a beautiful night.
I hope it's not my last.
So do I.
I think we've got a
very good chance.
Mr. Connors...
are you always this
kind and thoughtful...
or have I earned some special
consideration without knowing it?
Well, let's...
Let's say that I think you'd find a
hard time convincing my ranch hands...
that I'm always so
thoughtful and considerate.
Oh, speaking of the ranch...
that's something
you ought to see.
Oh, it's as green
as all this is barren.
If we get out of this,
and I think we will...
you ought to stay there a while and
rest up before you go on to San Francisco.
My sister lives there with me...
and I think you and
she will hit it off just fine.
That's very kind of
you, Mr. Connors...
but I'm afraid I have to say no.
I see.
I reckon I got little carried
away there for a minute.
Sorry.
Johnny, the night will be
over before you get started.
I'm willing it should be.
I could get killed
out there, I told you.
Better go, Johnny.
- Are you hit?
- I don't know. I'm too scared to find out.
But, amigo, this I do know. They all
around us, we don't get out of here.
One thing left to do.
We gotta talk to them.
Talk about what? About how
we got two swallows of water left?
- That the stage might come?
- They wanted to talk.
- They don't. You don't understand...
- Shut up. Go ahead, Maverick.
Well, it's pretty plain
they want something.
Anybody in here know what it is?
Well, somebody will have to go
out of here under a flag of truce.
Who?
I go tonight, tomorrow
somebody else go.
All right, we'll draw lots.
Think they'll honor our flag after
the way Bolero shot their man?
It's sure death. I
don't see why any
innocent person should
have to risk his life.
Which one of us
knows who is innocent?
Somebody in here
knows what they're after.
Which one of us is it?
It's Bolero. That's why he shot
that Indian or whatever he was.
I begin not to like you.
- I think I kill you too.
- Johnny, Johnny, take it easy.
Now, look, one more day under the
sun and we'll all be dead and they know it.
If no one here wants to give us the answer,
we'll have to find it out from them.
As for me, I'm willing to take
my chances and drawing lots.
All right, might as
well get it over with.
Mrs. Baxter, you got
anything that we could use?
I have some paper.
Good. Would you mind
tearing it into four strips?
Three long and one short.
Connors, why don't you go first?
All right. Ahem.
After you, amigo.
Why don't we make
it two out of three?
It would seem the birds
have gone back to their nests.
- All of them.
- Where else would they be?
That's the only place they
got to hide in the daytime.
Well, if I'm not home before
dark, don't wait up for me.
Amigo!
Come back! Come back, amigo!
Amigo, come back!
What was that for?
They would kill him.
You were right, Señor Connors.
Those men out there are not
Apaches. They are my compadres.
A fine time to tell me that.
They would kill you. I
don't want you killed.
- That means it's you they want.
- No. They don't want me at all.
I only say they
are my countrymen.
Believe me, Señorita Letty,
it pains me to say this...
but it is the
señorita they want.
You're a liar.
Forgive me, señorita...
but they are after the money.
What money?
A half-million dollar.
Hey.
Told you he was a liar.
He just wants to
save his own skin.
It's your turn, Johnny.
Amigo, when Señorita
Letty leave Mexico...
she take with her almost
half a million dollar.
This I know.
She couldn't carry that much.
It was in paper money.
United States paper money.
Then where is it?
You don't see it, do you?
Go on, rip open the bag.
Maybe you think I got it on me.
Maybe you'd like to search me.
Now, look, lady...
you've been hanging onto that
bag like it was part of your arm.
It's hard to believe a few
costumes would be that important.
The money was in
the bag then, wasn't it?
No.
She could have
buried it last night.
Where was she?
There. That's where
she spent most...
Aah! Get away
from that. Get away.
Let go of me. Let go of me.
No.
Let go.
Let go.
That isn't mine. And
it isn't yours either.
Letty.
It belongs to the
Benaris family.
The Benaris family?
Sí, when the Juaristas take over my
country, the Benaris have to get out.
And they leave
their gold behind.
It was very sad.
About a year ago, Señorita
Letty come to Mexico.
And pretty quick, she's
changing gold into dollars.
I did it for the Benaris family.
They're in San Francisco
now living like beggars.
You couldn't believe
that, could you?
You couldn't believe
anybody could be that honest.
Sí, it is hard to believe.
They don't care whether
you believe it or not.
I know the Benaris.
I love them like they're my own.
Better than my own.
All right, Letty, go
on with the rest of it.
When they heard I was gonna work
in Mexico City, they come to me...
told me about the gold.
Asked me to get it out for them.
Dolores Benaris went with me.
They killed her.
I know they did.
The ones that wanted
the gold killed her.
One night, I went backstage in
the cantina to my dressing room...
Dolores was gone, they took her.
You're one of them! You did it!
- Let me go.
- They killed her, sí.
But when I find out about it, I
leave them. I want no part of them.
I'm a greedy man, sí. I love money. But
I don't torture or kill a woman to get it.
That's why I'm not with them.
So it's the money
that they're after.
Well, they're not gonna get it.
I'm gonna take it to San Francisco
with me and nobody is gonna stop me.
Now, hold on just a minute.
Let's be reasonable about this.
They want the money, we want
our lives. So give them the money.
You're not gonna get it
to San Francisco anyhow.
Letty, how much money is there?
- Quarter of a million.
- There should be more.
Much more.
There's only 300,000.
I left 60,000
behind, still in gold.
Where?
We're wasting time. We know
we can't last a day without water...
so I say give them the money.
Look...
you all voted on
everything before...
vote on this too, please.
I can't go back to San
Francisco to the Benaris...
and then tell them Dolores is
dead and take them nothing else.
Well, maybe the stagecoach
will come by today.
I vote we give them
the money. Connors?
Give them the money.
Johnny?
No.
I vote no.
How about you, Mrs. Baxter?
You better vote
with me, Mrs. Baxter.
Or what, Mr. Braus?
Just say yes.
Or you'll tell everyone
that my name is Banning?
This isn't the first time
you've tried to blackmail me...
but it's the last.
What Mr. Braus is trying to
say is unless I vote with him...
he'll tell everyone that I was
on trial for killing my husband.
I knew that, Mrs. Baxter.
You were also acquitted.
I saw some of the newspapers
on my way through St. Louis.
And you still...?
I'm sorry, Mr. Connors...
I'm gonna have to
see it Letty's way.
How do you vote, Mr. Maverick?
Well, somehow I can't
bring myself to vote...
for giving away a
quarter of a million dollars.
- It's against everything I believe in.
- Think a minute, you'll die here.
Well, I hope not, Braus.
So I'd like to reserve
my vote for a little later.
Maybe something might turn up.
Maybe even that stagecoach.
Thousand dollar bills.
They're just the
kind I'm partial to.
What do you think, amigo?
Mm-mm.
And it's hot.
It's not yet the middle
of the afternoon.
Maybe it's better we
give them the money.
Maybe.
We'll never make it.
There's no water left.
The heat will get to 110 or
better if it's not there already.
There's still a chance that
stagecoach will come through.
Give it up, Maverick.
If the stage does come,
they've got to go back for help.
Sorry, Letty, looks like
we'll have to give it to them.
- No.
- There's nothing else we can do.
But it isn't ours to give.
It might buy our lives.
Oh, no, you're wrong. It won't.
Listen, everyone thought
the Benaris fortune
is worth over half
a million in gold...
but it wasn't.
That's all there was except for
something I left back in Mexico.
- So?
- Do you think those men will believe you?
When you tell them
that's all there is?
They'll wanna know
where the rest is.
You know, she tell the truth.
Mi compadres out
there are bad men.
Everybody in my country heard
that the fortune is over a million dollar.
They'll never believe it.
We'll make them believe it.
You're a fool if you think that.
They kill before to get it.
They'll kill again.
Braus, get back here.
Here it is, the money.
Get back here, you idiot!
Here's the money. The money.
Here's the money. BART: Braus.
Here it is.
Well, Letty, now
nobody's got it.
All they have to do is wait for
the sun to bake us to a crisp.
Hey, amigo.
He is closer to us than to them.
We could get it.
What good will it do
you? Die wealthy?
A man could do worse.
But if I go out there, I
will not do it for nothing.
I will be a brave man
because I am a greedy man.
Señorita, for $10,000, I go
bring you back the money.
That's all you'll take?
I never lie.
Steal, yes, but I never lie.
Amigo, you need a little help?
- For half my 10,000?
- If you insist.
Bueno, I need a little help.
The sun has got you both.
What good will it do you?
That stage comes by now
with that money lying out there...
those boys will stop waiting
They'll rush us for sure.
Amigo, look.
- Señorita, you are one lousy shot.
- You ready, Johnny?
Oh, give it up, Maverick.
Let him give them the money.
I wish I could, Connors...
but I'll never get another
good night's sleep again.
All right, go ahead.
We'll cover you.
Señora Baxter,
here, have a little fun.
Ándale, amigo.
Did I kill him?
He's dead.
Then I killed him.
That's something
you'll never know, Letty.
He picked up
another shot just now.
Mr. Connors?
Hmm?
This must be even worse for you.
You're so near home.
Almost close enough to
smell the dew on the grass.
It's such a beautiful place.
The whole valley is
as green as springtime.
Now, if some miracle
should get us out of here...
I still want you to
stop with us a while.
You're a strange
man, Mr. Connors.
The whole city of St. Louis thinks
I deliberately shot my husband...
and claimed I thought
it was a burglar.
And that doesn't
disturb you one bit.
The jury acquitted you.
The jury thought there
was a reasonable doubt.
The whole city of St. Louis didn't
get a chance to know you as I do.
- You see, I think...
- Please.
The whole city was right.
I knew he was no burglar.
I knew he was my
husband when I shot him.
Hey, amigo. BART: What?
Once in Mexico City, I see
a gun, a very strange gun.
It's made in your country.
I don't know how it's called.
But it goes:
I sure wish we had it now, huh?
It make all the difference.
- It's called a Gatling gun.
- That's right. A Gatling gun.
While you're at it...
why not just start wishing
for a troop of cavalry?
I'm wishing.
Yeah, you do that.
- Letty.
- Yeah?
About that 60,000 in gold
you said you left in Mexico City.
- What about it?
- You think it's still there?
I'm sure of it.
If I get you out of here, would
you tell me where I could find it?
Mister, you get me out of
here, I'll get it for you myself.
You got a deal.
Johnny, we're gonna use
that Gatling gun of yours.
- Connors, how many bullets you got?
- Just what I got in my belt.
- Good. Toss them over, will you?
- All right.
- Your revolver fully loaded?
- Yeah.
- Mrs. Baxter, you got any more paper?
- Yes.
Bring it over.
Johnny, give me that canteen.
I'll need a knife.
- I got one.
- I always got one too.
That's good.
Pry the slugs off of the
top of these cartridges.
Pour the powder right on
top of this piece of paper.
And don't you spill any.
Drop the slugs in
the canteen, Johnny.
I figure it'll take five seconds
for this fuse to burn down.
I'm gonna have to be close to those rocks
to make sure I toss the bomb over them.
Amigo, a very unpleasant
thought occur to me.
Yeah, well, maybe you better
not tell me about it, Johnny.
You're gonna be out there alone
and they're gonna be shooting at you.
Maybe I better
go shoot at them...
so then they cannot
shoot too good at you.
You know, you've got a long way
to run before you throw the bomb.
And you'll get
half of my 60,000.
If you insist.
I insist.
We're gonna need all
the cover you can give us.
You'll get it.
I await your command.
Let's go earn that money.
Watch them.
Well, we got our miracle.
I wanna ask you a question.
There's more to your story
than what you've told me.
I was pretty sure I was right.
- Yes, you were.
- Would you like to tell me about it now?
It might be important
to both of us.
He wanted a divorce
to marry someone else.
I agreed...
and then he learned she
wouldn't marry a divorced man.
The night he died...
he came home drunk
and he tried to kill me.
We struggled...
I see.
Mr. Connors...
I love his family very much.
I could never tell
what really happened.
I never have till now.
Mrs. Banning, have I ever
told you about my ranch?
Not nearly enough.
Feeling better, Letty?
Yeah.
Señorita, how about the money?
I left it in a hotel
in Mexico City.
It's called the La Paloma.
In the patio is a well...
and I put the gold in a canvas
bag, dropped it in the well.
You know the hotel, Johnny?
Amigo, I not only know the
hotel, I know the well well.
- Think the gold is still there?
- Who's gonna fish in a well...
except you and me?
Here.
- Very easy at first.
- Thank you.
You want Johnny and me to
ride along with you and the lady...
- before we head south?
- Won't be necessary, Bart.
Johnny, we better go.
- Connors, good luck.
- Same to you.
Mrs. Baxter.
- Thanks, Letty.
- Thank you.
- Good luck. BART:
Let's go, Johnny.