Maverick (1957–1962): Season 2, Episode 10 - Shady Deal at Sunny Acres - full transcript

Bret is picked clean & stranded in Sunny Acres by the burg's arrogant banker, so he puts together an M Team of con artists to take down & embarrass the handle-barred buzzard in Denver, while Bret sits whittling & rocking in a chair on a shady Sunny Acres porch, poor-mouthing all by-passers that he's "just working on" a plan. The small-town banker is way out of his league in silver-rich Denver with seductive Sam Crawford, intimidating Big Mike, slicksters Gentleman Jack & Dandy Jim etc. as Maverick's operatives in this classic episode.

Mr. Mansfield, uh, did you
ever meet Mr. Maverick?

I'm afraid I don't have time for it
right now. I'm in a bit of a hurry.

From the entertainment
capital of the world...

produced for television
by Warner Bros.

Bank's closed.

I said, the bank is closed.

I got something for you.

State your business.

I've come to put money
in the bank, not take it out.

- I told you the bank...
- The bank's closed.

They usually are just
when I need them the most.



Say, aren't you, uh, Mr. Bates?

I am.

Well, I'm sorry to bother you after hours,
but would you put this in the safe for me?

- I'd be glad to pay you a service charge.
- What is it?

Fifteen thousand dollars.

How did you get $15,000
in the middle of the night?

Faith, Mr. Bates.

And the friendly
laws of probability.

Poker.

Would you deposit it for me?

Receipt?

- What's your name?
- Bret Maverick.

Mr. Maverick, no banker gives a man
a receipt for money until he's counted it.

Not if he expects to remain
a banker for very long.



I'll get you a receipt.

There you are.

Thank you, sir. I'm sorry to
bother you while you're working.

It's quite all right. There'll
be no service charge.

- Good night.
- Night.

Hello, Mr. Bates. Good morning.

I'd like to draw a couple
of thousand of that money.

Well, now, I thought I
knew all of our depositors...

but your face
isn't familiar to me.

Maverick.

The man that left
$15,000 with you last night.

Well, maybe you'll
remember this.

It has your signature on it.

I've never seen that
or you in my entire life...

and I certainly don't know
what you're talking about.

Well, you not only
saw it, you signed it.

On second thought, I think
I'll take the whole 15,000.

I have a coffee can in my hotel
room where I think it might be safer.

Something wrong here?

I haven't the
slightest idea, Ben.

Maybe you can make more
out of what he's saying than I can.

I'm Ben Granville,
co-owner of the bank.

I deposited $15,000 in your
bank last night, Mr. Granville.

I got this receipt
from Bates for it.

Well, I'm sorry, but this
was not signed by Mr. Bates.

That's his name but it's
certainly not his signature.

Now, this is my signature,
not that scrawl you showed me.

That isn't even an
official bank receipt.

I don't know what you're trying to
bring off, but you won't get away with it.

Now I know why you didn't
insist on a service charge.

You owe me $15,000, Mr. Bates.

Before I leave Sunny Acres,
you're gonna give it to me.

That fellow is up to something.

Oren, go get the sheriff.

Tell him I wanna see him.

This is the man, sheriff. At
least a dozen people heard him.

Good afternoon, Mr. Bates.
Good to see you again.

- Hello, sheriff.
- Your name Maverick?

That's right. Bret Maverick.

- Yeah, we met in the saloon the...
- Shh.

Mr. Bates tells me you made certain threats
of bodily harm to him. Is that right?

Why, there's no truth
in that at all, sheriff.

I'm surprised at you, Bates.

If this was a private matter,
I'd take care of you myself.

But you've got half the town
believing that I stole money from you.

Well, now, that's strange.

I haven't spoken to
anyone but you about it.

All I said was he owes me $15,000 and I'd
be staying in Sunny Acres till I get it.

There, that's all
you need, sheriff.

The accusation of theft.

That's slander.

Maybe it is.

But that ain't no jail offense.

I ain't heard him saying
nothing but you owe him $15,000.

But, uh, we like to have things
pleasant at Sunny Acres, Mr. Maverick.

And being that you're
a transient anyway...

maybe you'd just as soon pack
up your things and mosey on.

You don't live here, no
reason for you to stay.

But I do live here, sheriff.

I just paid two weeks in
advance on my hotel room.

I like Sunny Acres.

Well, I can't run you out
of town for doing nothing.

But let me give
you fair warning.

If anything happens to Mr. Bates,
and I mean anything at all...

you're the man
I'll be looking for.

You understand me?

I'll just be sitting here
on the porch whittling.

- Oh, sheriff, this man is just trying...
- Mr. Bates.

Wonder if I could
talk to him alone.

- What you got against him?
- Well, not a thing, sheriff.

He just owes me $15,000.

That you say he stole from you?

No, I'm just saying
he owes it to me.

You know, I did have
$15,000 last night.

I haven't got it today.

Folks around here
got a theory about that.

Unwritten rule in poker.

Big winner plays
until the losers quit.

Folks figure you were
real anxious to quit...

while you was 15,000 ahead...

and that you cooked up that
story about losing the money.

And accused an
innocent man of stealing it?

You have a grudge against
him for some reason?

Yeah, you might call it that.

He owes me $15,000.

Look, mister, for your own good, pack
up your things and move out of here.

Even if that yarn of yours is
true, which it probably ain't...

you aren't gonna get
15,000 out of Bates.

Nobody ever got a
nickel out of him...

let alone any fool
sum like $15,000.

Well, sheriff, by the
time my room rent's up...

I'll have my 15,000
and be on my way.

All right.

You remember what I warned.

If anything happens
to him, anything at all...

you are in trouble
no matter what.

Well, then, let's both take
good care of him, shall we?

Hi, Mr. Maverick.

Got your 15,000 yet?

I'm working on it.

- Getting anywhere?
- Well, it's hard to say, hard to say.

I'm working on it.

Mr. Maverick, may I
speak to you a moment?

My name's Susan Granville. My
daddy owns the bank with Mr. Bates.

I've heard what you said about
Mr. Bates. He stole from you...

and you intend to get it back from
him before you leave Sunny Acres.

Well, what I'm trying
to say is I believe you.

If you say Mr. Bates stole $15,000
from you, well, I think it's probably true.

I don't think he's
a very honest man.

I'd be happy if you could get
your $15,000 back from him.

But you don't seem to be doing anything
but just sitting, rocking, whittling.

Well, I'm thinking
too, that's important.

Well, what I mean to say, or to ask...
Is there anything I can do to help?

Just because you
don't like Mr. Bates?

Well, no, it's more
important than that.

My daddy doesn't trust
Mr. Bates very much.

Several months ago,
he made him an offer.

He told Mr. Bates that he'd
buy him out for $30,000...

or Mr. Bates could
buy him out for $30,000.

Either way. Well, since Mr. Bates
didn't take Daddy up on his offer...

we're sure he intends to do the buying.
If he really did steal $15,000 from you...

that's gonna make it sooner
and easier for him to do it.

That sounds logical.

And, Mr. Maverick, this town
needs my daddy and that bank, and...

Well, I think my daddy
needs the bank too.

I think it'd be a terrible thing
if Mr. Bates bought him out.

Well, I'm working on it.

Whittling?

And thinking.

Well, Mr. Maverick, if you need any help,
anything at all, I hope you'll remember me.

Susan, I'll never forget you.

- Good afternoon, Mr. Maverick.
- Good afternoon, Mr. Bates.

Think you've got me
worried with this maneuver?

Sitting here, whittling
and watching the bank.

I hadn't given it much thought.

Do I?

Sorry, no.

And let me add a little warning.

I carry a gun.

And I haven't had a real good
fight since I got to be a banker.

I'm kind of looking forward
to whatever you have in mind.

Now, how will a fight
get me back my 15,000?

It won't.

Got any other way in mind?

I'm working on it.

Maverick, you're a real clown.

Sunny Acres hasn't had such a belly laugh
since Eddie Foy was here two years ago.

Well, it's nice to know I'm bringing
a little sunshine into people's lives.

You ought to try it
yourself sometime.

Good afternoon, Mr. Bates.

Hey, Maverick.

You got your 15,000
out of him yet?

I'm working on it,
folks, I'm working on it.

- Evening.
- Evening.

I was wondering, is that by
any chance gonna be a wolf?

I'm not sure myself,
Mr. Granville.

- Mind if I sit down?
- No, please do.

Did the bank look any different
to you today, Mr. Maverick?

Well, no, should it?

It became the sole property
of your friend Bates today.

He bought me out.

Some time ago, I
offered him a deal and I...

Yeah, your daughter
was telling me about it.

He gave you $30,000?

- In cash?
- Yeah.

Is there any way we can prove
that 15,000 of that came from me?

I'm afraid not.

My former partner paid $7 for
the suit he's wearing this season...

and he lives in the cheapest
boarding house in town.

He has no family and I've never
known him to have a generous impulse.

I'm afraid there's no
way we could prove...

that he hadn't accumulated
$30,000 quite legitimately.

No.

Well, the real reason I
came by was to tell you...

now that I'm free
to, that I believe you.

And, in a way, I
feel responsible.

Your money was misappropriated
while I was still with the bank.

Well, thanks, but Mr. Bates
owes me the 15,000.

Mr. Bates isn't
only dishonest...

he's tough, shrewd
and intelligent.

Do you really think you're gonna
get that money back from him?

Well, as I have been saying
all week, I'm working on it.

And as my daughter Susan
kept asking all week, how?

We've decided you're not
planning to rob the bank.

Hep!

Welcome to Sunny Acres.

Coach stops overnight. You're
looking at the best hotel in town.

Glad to hear that. I may
be stopping over for a week.

Brent Wiggins at your service.

I'll take that, Herb.

- Here you are, sir.
- Thank you.

Hey, Maverick.
Still working on it?

Yup, still working on it.

Excuse me, sir.

Sunny Acres flour mill, could
you tell me how to find it?

Could, but it wouldn't do you much
good. Mill's been closed for over a year.

I know, but I'm interested
in it just as it stands.

You sure enough now?

Well, you take the east road out of
town, stay on it for about a half a mile.

It's on the right out
there. Can't miss it.

And if you want a horse,
there's a stable just down yonder.

Well, thanks very much.

Evening, Maverick.
Still spreading sunshine?

Cast thy bread upon the waters,
for thou shalt find it after many days.

Ecclesiastes 11:1.

Mr. Mansfield, I'm sorry to
disturb you at your dinner...

but I'm John Bates, owner
of the Sunny Acres Bank.

- I'd like to welcome you to our city.
- Very kind of you, Mr. Bates.

I feel quite flattered.

Won't you sit down?

- Would you care to join me for dinner?
- Thank you, no.

Waiter, another glass
for Mr. Bates, please.

You have a fine little town
here, sir. It's got a great future.

Well, we think so.

Mr. Mansfield, I won't
try to deceive you.

I had two reasons for coming.
First was to make you feel welcome...

- and to offer my services.
- Thank you.

The second was to ask what your
interest is in the Sunny Acres flour mill.

How did you know about that?

Well, you weren't trying to
make much of a secret of it.

No, I guess I wasn't.

It's a banker's business to know
what goes on in his own town.

Especially in a case like this.

The bank has a lien on the
property and controls any sale of it.

Obviously, you're the type of man
who likes to get to the heart of things.

Here's to good
business, Mr. Bates.

For both of us.

I did look over the mill.

I'll be as direct with you
as you've been with me.

I'd be interested in
hearing the asking price.

- Do you plan to operate it yourself?
- No, no.

I represent a group of British
financiers with heavy commitments...

in Wyoming cattle lands
and Nevada mining properties.

They'd like to be more
broadly diversified.

So they commission
me to invest for them...

in other kinds of
enterprises in the West.

Their optimism about the
future of the American West...

is fantastic, Mr. Bates. It's
a wonderful thing to behold.

Well, of course, they
couldn't be more right.

Are you prepared to
make an offer on the mill?

- I'm prepared to hear one from you.
- I see.

Well, there is a
price on the property.

One hundred thousand dollars.

That's out of the question. I
just can't agree it's worth that.

Ah, that means you've been doing
some close thinking about its value.

Right, Mr. Mansfield?

I can see you're not
one to be easily fooled.

Of course, you are right again.

I did have a price in mind. One I
feel my principals would accept.

Yes?

Seventy-five thousand dollars.

You have a deal, Mr. Mansfield.

By George, you're a
man after my own heart.

I can't remember when I've transacted a
business deal more pleasantly or quickly.

I'll draw up a report on the
mill, send it off by telegraph.

We'll get an answer
in a day or so.

Tomorrow evening, you will
be my guest here for dinner.

- Seven o'clock all right with you?
- Just fine.

Maybe you could tell
our readers how you...

Just quote me as
follows, Mr. Hibbs.

I'm working on it.

Nothing else?

Well, Mr. Watts, he's the editor
of the Sunny Acres Sentinel...

- he asked me to find out how you...
- Not today.

Is whittling your hobby?

No, no. Money.

Morning, Henry.

- Morning, Maverick.
- Morning, sheriff.

You look like a
man with a burden.

I am. You.

Run along, Henry.

- Oh, but I'm interviewing Mister...
- Run along, Henry.

Folks around here are telling me
that you're a real comical fellow.

I ain't had no laughs
out of you at all.

You've got three more days
left on that two weeks' room rent.

You aiming to leave
when that's up?

I said I was.

Without your $15,000?

I didn't say that.

I'll have my 15,000, sheriff.

How? What you got in mind?

Well...

I'm not quite sure about that.

But I'm working on it.

- That all you've got to say?
- That's all.

If only you'd give me some
reason to run you out of town.

But I'm keeping an eye on you.

And just you
remember that warning.

It goes double now.

Mr. Mansfield.

I mean, Bartley.

May I ask you a
personal question?

Of course, John.

Has something gone wrong?

You haven't had bad news
from your principals, have you?

Now, what makes you ask that?

You were feeling
fine this afternoon...

but now you seem to be
worried about something.

Preoccupied.

My apologies, John,
I have been rude.

All my life, I've
worked on a salary.

Oh, living well but
getting nowhere.

Now I finally got the
opportunity every man looks for...

right in the palm of my hand.

Within a few weeks, I'll begin
to accumulate my own capital.

The delay's a
little nerve-racking.

Please, forgive me.

You're coming into some money?

No. I'll be earning the money.

In every man's lifetime,
he gets one big opportunity.

I feel fortunate that mine is
coming while I'm in the prime of life.

What sort of an opportunity?

I'm sorry I can't tell you that.

It's a highly-confidential
matter.

I see.

But you had a hand in it.

You see, all I'm waiting for is my
commission on the flour mill deal.

Seventy-five hundred dollars.

Now, I'm gonna take that 7500, and
within a few weeks, at least a million.

Bartley, I don't know what you have in
mind, but as a banker let me warn you.

There's no way in the world
a man can take $7500...

and turn it into a
million in a few weeks.

If it wasn't so
confidential, I'd tell you

all about it just to prove
how wrong you are.

I am your banker. At
least for the moment I am.

And I think that... No,
I know that you need...

some coolheaded
banker's counsel.

Counsel?

The West is full of
clever confidence men.

"Thieves" is a better word.
Now, I'm not trying to press you...

but it would be wise if you told
me what you had on your mind.

Let me advise you.

After all, if you can't trust
your banker, Bartley...

who can you trust?

Will you give me your word
you'll never repeat what I tell you...

and you'll never act on it?

- At least not without my permission.
- That goes without saying.

Have you heard of the
Nevada Empress Silver Mine?

Of course. A worthless mine.
At least the stocks are worthless.

Correct. The stock is worthless.

But my principals own the Britannia
Mine located next to the Empress.

A month ago, their geologist reported two
of the most valuable veins had folded...

and now lie inside the
claim area of the Empress.

My principals commissioned me
to buy up, gradually and quietly...

all of the Empress
stock I could get.

As a protection for themselves,
and of course as an incentive to me...

they agreed to allow me to
buy the stock with my own funds.

And they made arrangements
with a brokerage house in Denver...

to buy the stocks from
me at a dollar a share.

Now, you've heard of the
firm Schaffer-Hill and Ferris?

It's the largest
brokerage firm in Denver.

Know anything about Ralph
Schaffer? Ever meet him?

- Don't know a thing about him.
- He's a personal friend of mine.

Hmm.

Well, that's it in
a nutshell, John.

I believe I can buy literally
hundreds of thousands of shares...

of Nevada Empress stock
for only a few cents a share...

and sell them at a
guaranteed dollar a share.

Can you see the
possibilities? They're unlimited.

Well, the story sounds good,
but there's a flaw in it somewhere.

It's too good to be true.

Well, I'd stay away
from it just on principle.

Well, as my old pap...
Father used to say...

there are times when a
man must rise above principle.

I doubt if this is the time.

Can you get away from the
bank for a few hours tomorrow...

- and ride up to Denver with me?
- Why?

There's a widow there
named Carrie Watson...

has 15,000 shares
of Nevada Empress.

She's on my confidential
list of stockholders.

Now, if I'm lucky, I'll be
able to buy her stock...

with what cash I have on hand,
and show you this is no pipe dream.

I thought you had to wait
for your commission money.

Not if I can buy her stock
for five cents a share or less.

If she wants any more
than that, I'll have to wait.

I'll get right to the
point, Mrs. Watson.

I'd be interested in purchasing
your Nevada Empress stock.

Why?

What, has the stock
suddenly become valuable?

No, I'm afraid it hasn't.

Oh, heh.

Well, you know, I've never
been much of a businesswoman.

I guess I've always held to the
belief that honesty is the best policy.

I think it's only fair
to tell you I've tried

to sell that stock
just a few days ago...

and I found, as I found
every time in the past...

that it's worthless.

No one would pay
me half a cent for it.

We know that, Mrs. Watson.

But you see, I happen
to be a speculator.

I buy up worthless stock in the hope
that some of them will become valuable.

Oh, it's a risky business, but
sometimes we show a good profit.

I'd be willing to pay you as high
as, say, uh, oh, five cents a share?

Oh, well, that would be $750.

That's right.

Oh, well, I never expected to come
into that much money all of a sudden.

Well, it's yours right now,
madam. I have it with me.

I don't know. I'm
not sure I should.

Why not?

Well...

It's dishonest. I mean, the
stock isn't worth anything.

Well, that's the risk
we take, Mrs. Watson.

Well, it almost seems as
though I'm cheating you...

but I'll sell.

We certainly admire your
honesty and forthrightness.

Thank you very much.

And I hope neither of us will ever
regret this little business transaction.

Well, I'm sure I won't.

- And thank you, sir.
- Good day, Mrs. Watson.

- Good day, Mrs. Watson.
- Good day, gentlemen.

Whoops, I forgot my
hat, John. I'll be right back.

Excuse me, I forgot
my hat, Mrs. Watson.

Oh, you haven't changed,
have you, Samantha love?

I had a feeling you wouldn't quite
manage to slip 600 back into my pocket.

There's only 3 here.

Oh, Bart, I'm sorry, but, you
know, I had to count it so quickly...

I couldn't let him
notice and I...

I guess I made a teensy mistake.

The other 300, Sam.

Mm-hm.

Sir, could you tell me if Mr. Schaffer
is in his downstairs office right now?

- What was that?
- I was wondering about Mr. Schaffer.

Is he here or up in
his private office?

Never downstairs this
time of the afternoon.

Too much noise around
here. Much too much noise.

Saw him go out about,
uh, 10 minutes ago.

Oh, well, thank you very much.

The whole building must
belong to the brokerage firm.

- Thought they just had the bottom floor.
- They do.

Ralph rents this private office
just to get away from the confusion.

- Yes?
- Is Mr. Schaffer in?

He's quite busy.

Would you tell him
Mr. Mansfield is here?

Mansfield. Come in, come in.

- Ralph, how are you?
- How are you, Bartley?

Mr. Bates, Mr. Schaffer.

- How do you do, Mr. Schaffer?
- How do you do, Mr. Bates?

You can transcribe the rest
of those notes downstairs.

Have Ferris get that
telegram off to New York.

Yes, Mr. Schaffer. And
what about the Ogden deal?

Oh, I'll take care
of that myself later.

Well, gentlemen,
sit down, sit down.

What could I do for you?

Cigar?

I've got some good news.

I managed to get hold of 15,000 shares
of Nevada Empress Mining stock today.

Mansfield, wasn't that matter
supposed to be highly confidential?

Oh, I'm sorry, Ralph.

I didn't mention that
Mr. Bates is my banker.

- Naturally, I've confided in him.
- I see.

After all, Mr. Schaffer, if
you can't trust your banker...

- who can you trust?
- Of course.

You understand,
if it ever got out...

that Mr. Mansfield's principals are
acquiring that stock, it'd go sky-high?

- You can see that, can't you?
- Of course, of course.

May I see the certificates?

Yes.

Ah, very good.

Very good.

- Did you want a draft or cash?
- Well, I'll need cash.

Heh. There's one other person
here who owns some of the stock.

In fact, he owns a hundred thousand
shares. On dealings like this...

- cash makes all the difference.
- Yes.

Well, then...

One thousand, 2000...

3000, 4000...

5000...

6000...

7000...

8000, 9000...

10,000, 11,000...

12,000...

13,000...

14,000...

and 15,000.

There you are, Bartley.

Thank you, Ralph.

Fifteen thousand shares
at a dollar a share, $15,000.

By the way, you didn't tell me how
much you had to pay for those shares.

If I told you that, you wouldn't
stay in the brokerage business.

I couldn't have that, could I?

Glad you were able to
get in on a good thing.

Well, gentlemen, I have
a busy day ahead of me.

- Nice to have met you, Mr. Bates.
- My pleasure, sir.

I may see you sooner
than you expect, Ralph.

With this 15,000, I might be
able to pick up Callahan's stock.

- Callahan?
- Well, he has the hundred thousand shares.

The Callahan who owns
the Denver Plaza Hotel?

The same.

Ah, I wouldn't be too
hopeful about him.

- Goodbye, Mr. Bates.
- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, my friend Mansfield.
- Thank you, Ralph.

I'd never believe it.

If I hadn't seen it with my
own eyes, I'd never believe it.

Cindy, you gave rather a
good performance, actually.

Thank you. Tell that
to Gentleman Jack.

He's waiting for us
across the street.

Jim.

You're about to earn that $10.
They're coming down the street in a rig.

Here.

Who is it?

Mr. Callahan.

What do you want?

Me name is Mike McComb.

Speaking as one Irishman to another,
I'm in need of a job. You might...

As one Irishman to another,
I'm not in need of any help.

And if I was, I wouldn't
hire another Irishman.

And, besides, me manager
handles employment.

Now, you'll find the
door opens just as easy

from this side as it
did from the other.

Good day, sir.

Oh, boy.

Can you tell me if
Mr. Callahan is in today?

Yes, sir, he is.

Well, in fact, that's him coming
out of his office right now.

Thank you.

- I beg your pardon.
- Yes?

I wonder if we might
speak to you, sir.

Sorry, I've got a supper appointment.
Got no time to talk to anyone now.

Mr. Callahan, what I have to say to
you, sir, is a matter of great importance.

How is that?

I understand you're the owner of a hundred
thousand shares of Nevada Empress stock.

Oh, you do, do you? And where
do you understand that from?

I'm a speculator. I make it my
business to know these things.

And what else might
you be knowing about me?

I know you're a
good businessman.

If I were, I wouldn't be holding a
hundred thousand shares of that stock.

You'd be glad to hear
I'm interested in taking it.

Why? The stock's
worthless, isn't it?

Absolutely.

Then why would be wanting
to buy it if it's worthless?

I told you, I'm a speculator.
I buy up worthless stocks.

On the law of averages, some
of them eventually prove out.

How much would you be offering?

- I was thinking of...
- Five cents a share, Mr. Callahan.

The stock isn't worth
anything, you know.

Five cents. I'd paper me
walls with the stuff first.

And believe me, I
got enough to do it.

I was thinking of offering
you 10 cents a share.

Mr. Callahan.

Fifteen cents?

I check my stocks regularly.

If I hadn't just today checked on that
one, I'd think something happened to it.

I'll tell you what
I'll do, gentlemen.

You want that stock
so bad, I'll sell it to you.

For 30 cents a share.

Well, I'm sorry, that's
out of the question.

Good, that settles
that, doesn't it?

I don't have enough money to
buy all your shares for 30 cents...

but I can buy half.

- Fifteen thousand dollars for half...
- I'm sorry, it's all or none.

If you want the hundred thousand
shares, I'll sell 30 cents a share.

But I'm not interested
in selling just half.

How long will you
keep that offer open?

Till the end of the week.

What are you going to do
if you can't get the money?

I'll have it.

The commission
on the flour mill sale.

Plus, the commission they still owe me on
another deal. I'll have more than enough.

Oh.

We'll go back to
Sunny Acres, John.

Fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty
dollars closer to that million. Ha-ha-ha.

- Good evening, Mr. Bates.
- Evening.

Any more profound
quotations for me?

Yeah. You can fool all of
the people some of the time...

and some of the people all of the
time. Those are very good odds.

My old pappy said that.

- Who is that fellow anyway?
- Oh, every town has its odd character.

That one's ours. He's harmless.

- John.
- One minute.

- I just got a telegram. Bad news.
- They haven't canceled the stock order?

No. They don't like the flour
mill deal, don't like the price.

That's no great tragedy.

Perhaps 75,000
was a bit generous.

Well, offer it to them for 60?

Well, that's fine, but it
delays the commission.

I won't get the money
to buy that stock.

Don't worry about it,
Mansfield. It doesn't matter.

- Doesn't matter?
- Not a bit.

Didn't you wonder how I happened to
know Nevada Empress stock was worthless?

It's pretty well-known.

Not that well-known.

And I kept trying to remember
how I knew, and this morning I got it.

We had some in here for
collateral five years ago.

Ernest Plunkett. Nevada
Empress Silver Mine, 40,000 shares.

He has a little rundown
farm southeast of town.

Um, and we could probably
pick up his stock on consignment.

Pay him a few hundred
dollars after we collect 40,000...

- from your friend Schaffer.
- Sounds great.

Uh, it's real lucky, uh,
finding 40,000 shares like that.

Yes, well, since I found him,
we'll go into this on a fifty-fifty basis.

- Well, let's get started.
- Where?

- Well, Plunkett's farm.
- Oh.

Uh, I'd like to change
first, John, stiff collar.

- Uh, it won't take but five or 10 minutes.
- But, Bartley, the...

Now, let me get this straight.

You're offering me cash
right now for them shares?

No, no, no, Mr. Plunkett.

After I find a buyer, I'll
then give you the cash.

Maybe as much as
a thousand dollars.

- No cash right now?
- It'll only be a day or two.

After all, if you can't trust
your banker, who can you trust?

Darned if I know.

- Sure is a pity about that stock.
- A pity?

Yeah, I ain't got it no more.

I gave it to my granddaughter
when she left for Californy.

Where in Californy?
Uh, California?

Well, she's not there anymore. She's
moved, uh, up to Oregon somewheres.

I ain't heard from her
for a couple of years.

Oh, say, don't
rush off, Mr. Bates.

Stay and have some
blackberry wine.

- We can still buy Callahan's shares.
- How?

You buy half, I'll buy half.

You'll still come out
with $50,000 in cash.

And I don't mind telling you,
you'll be winning a loyal friend.

No. No, John, I don't think so.

I'd rather find some other way.
Maybe Callahan will extend the time.

You're being hoggish, Mansfield.

I was willing to share
Plunkett's stock with you.

You don't mean... You'd take
advantage of my confidence?

I wouldn't have. But now that
you're taking this selfish attitude...

I might even say greedy...

I'm not so sure.

Looks like you're not giving me much
choice but to let you come in with me.

I wouldn't have put it that way
myself, but I guess that's about it.

What about it, Mansfield?

I guess that's
how it'll have to be.

Well, we might as well
get on up to Denver.

That's the spirit.

You can come out now.

You did just fine, Mr. Plunkett.
That's a hundred dollars well-earned.

You're sure that stock I've got
in the house ain't worth nothing?

You can try to sell it anytime. My brother
bought over a hundred thousand shares...

at less than the cost
of having some printed.

- Goodbye, Mr. Plunkett. Good luck.
- Thank you.

Oh, by the way...

you'd never have seen any
thousand dollars from your friend Bates.

Ha, ha. Oh, yeah, I
believe you there, son.

And two more for 10,000 each
makes 50,000 shares for the pair of you.

Now that's over with, join me for lunch.
This is the finest restaurant in Denver.

I can say that with authority. I
got two restaurants in me own hotel.

Thank you, but we
won't be able to join you.

- We have to...
- What? I'm hungry, aren't you?

No, I am not hungry, and I do
have to get back to the bank.

I don't suppose you
have to be with me for...

No, I guess I don't,
come to think about it.

You go on ahead. At least one of us owes it
to Mr. Callahan to accept his invitation.

Oh, of course.

Mr. Callahan.

Maverick, did me heart good
to see him running for the bait.

And all the time, thinking
he's doing me out of a fortune.

Sorry I can't stay
for that lunch...

but I've gotta get back to
Sunny Acres before he does.

Now, you get that 15,000
back to Dandy Jim for me.

And don't forget to
thank him for the loan.

Glad to do it, laddie.

- I better show you where I put your horse.
- Good.

I beg your pardon.

Is Mr. Schaffer in his office?

- Mr. Schaffer?
- Yes, Mr. Schaffer.

Mr. Schaffer retired
five years ago, sir.

- But Mr. Ferris is in.
- Retired?

Mr. Schaffer is a young
man. Not more than 35.

Mr. Schaffer is 81.

Ralph W. Schaffer?

Ralph W. Schaffer.

Fifteen thousand dollars.

He did it.

I'll let you know where to send
my suitcase soon as I get settled.

Thank you, Mr. Mansfield.
And come again.

Oh, Mr. Mansfield.

Excuse me for asking, but, uh,
there's a rumor going around...

the old flour mill might open
again. I was wondering...

- Are you Mr. Granville?
- Yes, I am.

I was planning to stop by your
place on my way out of town.

I don't have time
to explain, but I'd

suggest you have a
check on the bank's funds.

You may find Mr. Bates
guilty of a slight embezzlement.

About $15,000.

Fifteen th...

Mr. Mansfield, uh, did you
ever meet Mr. Maverick?

I'm afraid I don't have time for it
right now. I'm in a bit of a hurry.

"Mystery in embezzlement
by banker Bates.

John Bates, faced with
evidence of a $15,000 shortage...

today admitted
embezzling the money...

but refused to state why
he had embezzled it...

or what he had done with
the missing bank funds.

Mr. Ben Granville who has
resumed the presidency of the bank...

was unable to shed
any light on the myst..."

- Allow me, Mr. Maverick.
- Thank you, sir.

Remember me, Mr. Maverick?

Henry Hibbs of the
Sunny Acres Sentinel.

I was wondering if you have
any statement to make for us.

A statement? HIBBS: Yes, sir.

The stagecoach agent
that sold you the ticket...

he says that you paid for your
ticket from a roll of bills that...

Well, he declares it
was at least $15,000.

Well, all right, Henry,
I'll give you a statement.

I like Sunny Acres and
I'm sorry to be leaving it.

But my business
is finished here.

Bye, folks.

Bye, Susan.

- Goodbye, Bret.
- Mr. Granville.

Goodbye, Mr. Maverick.

Maverick.

You ain't leaving till you
tell me how you done it.

I didn't get this finished, but if you have
anyone in jail with time on his hands...

- well, maybe he can finish it for me.
- Are you gonna answer my question?

Sheriff, it isn't
often I can say this.

I feel like I'm leaving Sunny
Acres a better place than I found it.

Ha!