Maverick (1957–1962): Season 2, Episode 24 - Two Tickets to Ten Strike - full transcript

Now, Frankie, you haven't
been thinking about marrying me?

I should have known
you're just leading me on.

Let's get one thing
straight, Frankie.

I have not been leading you
on. I haven't done one thing to...

Well, maybe just
one thing, but...

Well, I never knew
you felt like this.

I mean, so soft.

[ANNOUNCER READS ON-SCREEN TEXT]

ANNOUNCER: Starring
James Garner and Jack Kelly.

Produced by Warner Bros.

From the entertainment
capital of the world.



Produced for television
by Warner Bros.

DRIVER: Whoa.

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Well, well, so
this is Ten Strike.

San Francisco's got
nothing to worry about.

One thing to be said
about traveling by stage.

By the time you get
there, you don't care where.

Ha, ha. Guess I didn't
help your trip either,

the way I talked your
ears off all the way.

Huh?

Anyway, we're gonna be
neighbors, so don't be a stranger.

I wasn't planning to
stay very long, you see.

Hey, I've got a great idea.

Take my baggage to the Cattleman's
Hotel while I check in there.



I was planning to
stay at the other hotel.

Ain't no other hotel.

There, that settles
it. Thanks, lover.

Yeah, don't mention it.

All right, bigmouth.

I'll take the lady's
luggage too.

- You and who else?
- Just me. Why?

The lady who just checked
in, these belong to her.

No fooling? What's she
got in all them hat boxes?

That's something to
think about, isn't it?

- You wouldn't be with her?
- No, I wouldn't.

And I say that after miles and
miles of careful consideration.

Single room's $1.50, $9
for the week, in advance.

- And a bath. A hot bath.
- That's free.

But if you want hot water, I
gotta haul it up from the kitchen...

and that'll be another
dollar, in advance.

There's 10 even. Start hauling.

I've been thinking about that bath
all the way from Tucson, in advance.

CLERK: That's the last of it.
Kitchen's closed down for the night.

One bath will do the job.

One more thing. No
splashing and no singing.

I'll just be soaping
and soaking.

- Hey, who's in there?
FRANKIE: None of your business.

- Frankie?
- Oh, howdy, lover. That you?

What are you doing in there?

Well, if you must
know, I'm taking a bath.

Well, don't. That's
my bath you're taking.

Your bath?

Heh. My, my. You mean to tell
me you're the thoughty thing...

who put the essence
of roses in this water?

Shh, shh.

Yes, now get out of there.

Really, lover, I'm
surprised at you, really I am.

A grown man like you making such
a fuss over a little old tub of hot water.

The last tub of hot water,
and I paid a dollar for it.

Really?

Here I thought the hotel had
gone and done it just for me.

Frankie, are you coming
out or am I coming in?

See here. If you don't start acting like a
gentleman and get away from that door...

I'm gonna stop
acting like a lady.

I can scream this whole place
down around your ears in 10 seconds.

All right, if that's the way
you want it, I'll be back.

Don't skid.

- Give me your passkey.
- Huh?

I said, give me your
passkey, and no arguments.

- It ain't regular.
- One of your tenants has me locked out...

and is in there robbing
me. Is that regular?

No. No, sir.

- I'll go for help.
- I don't need any.

FRANKIE: Who is it?
- Who do you think?

I'm a little disappointed in you. Thought
you were such a nice clean-cut fellow.

You carry on like you've
never had a bath in your life.

Let's get one thing very clear. It isn't
a question of who needed the bath.

It goes deeper than that.

There's no way I can get my
bath back, but I can get my dollar.

Well, not from me. I only
have $2.50 to my name.

Correction. You have $1.50.

Oh, all right.

Here, take your old dollar.

What a surprise, you
inviting me to breakfast.

No one's more
surprised than I am.

If you hadn't taken
my dollar last night...

I might be able to
buy my own breakfast.

I didn't take your
dollar. I took my dollar.

I forgive you anyway, since
you're trying to make up.

I'm not trying to make up.
I'm trying to eat my breakfast.

You couldn't because you
had a guilty conscience.

I didn't have a...

Frankie, let's get
one thing straight.

I've haven't had my coffee yet.

And I just don't wanna talk
before I've had my coffee.

And I won't want to talk
after I've had my coffee.

What did you invite
me to breakfast for?

Toast, start eating. Keep
you busy till the waiter comes.

Look, I may be hungry, see, but I'm
not begging for any scraps off your table.

I'd rather starve.

[IN MUFFLED VOICE] After
all, a girl has to have her pride.

Don't talk with your mouth full.

MAN: Excuse us, ma'am.

FRANKIE: What for?
- Just like a word with the gentleman here.

- Your name is Maverick, ain't it?
- Yes.

- Bret Maverick?
- Yes.

- Came in a stagecoach last night?
- That's right.

And you're leaving on
the stagecoach tonight.

- That's wrong.
- Beg pardon, but that wasn't a question.

- Well, what was it?
- The friendliest kind of advice.

You're advising me to
leave on the stage tonight?

And our very best
wishes go with you.

I didn't think anyone in this town
knew me well enough to ask me to leave.

It's just our way of making
your stay a pleasant one.

BRET: And a short one.
- The shorter, the pleasanter.

Well, I appreciate your hospitality,
but what have I done to deserve it?

It's a friendly town. We'd like
you to leave with that impression.

Well, I couldn't be
more flattered, really.

But I still want to know why.

"Ours not to reason
why. Ours but to do..."

Never mind, I've heard the poem.

Well, guess that's about
all. Enjoy your breakfast.

And have a wonderful trip.

Ma'am.

[FRANKIE CLEARS THROAT]

- You make friends
fast, lover. BRET: Don't I?

- What's it all about?
- You know as much as I do.

Well, all I got to say is it's
a pretty funny coincidence.

BRET: Coincidence?

Somebody's going to a lot of
trouble getting you out of town.

Somebody's going to a lot of
trouble getting me into town.

How's that?

FRANKIE: Remember
I told you about that

red-cent saloon I used
to work in, in Tucson?

- I didn't tell you how I got this
nutty note. BART: What nutty note?

I think I have it
here someplace.

Yeah, see what you make of that.

"My dear Ms. French,
buy a ticket to Ten Strike...

and register at the
Cattleman's Hotel.

It will be to your everlasting
advantage to do this immediately.

Signed, a benefactor."

And you did it on
the strength of this?

Oh, no, on the strength of
the $100 that came with it.

You mean, you got $100 in this note
and came to Ten Strike last night...

and you only have a
dollar and a half left?

- I bought some hats. BART: Oh.

- I always buy hats when I'm confused.
- I believe it.

- I've seen some of them.
- I didn't say I had good sense.

What about that note? Think
there might be a connection...

between those two well-wishers of
yours and that nutty benefactor of mine?

- Who do you know in this town, Frankie?
- Nobody.

- Somebody knows me, though. You too.
- Could you have relatives here?

Lover, I'm all alone, on my own.

Pa went off looking for some
gold when I was in pigtails.

Died someplace in some mining
camp. Lost my ma last year.

No brothers, no sisters.

And if that benefactor of mine
doesn't show up soon, I don't know...

You wouldn't be him by
any chance, would you?

Me?

FRANKIE: No, I don't
think you would be.

- Quitting so early, Mr. Maverick?
- Yeah, I've learned my lesson.

- That mean that you're not coming back?
- I'll be back, all right.

That's what I was
learning my lesson for.

Well, hello. I'm Mae Miller.

- This is my place.
- It's a nice place.

- I'm Bret Maverick.
- No luck tonight?

Why, ma'am, luck's got
nothing to do with poker.

I was right, you
are a professional.

Just a serious student.
It beats working.

The way you play,
that isn't work?

It's a delicate point. I
try not to think about it.

MAE: No need to leave now.

Anyway, there's no place
else to go, not in this town.

- Well, I'll be back after dinner.
- I'll send out for a steak.

Anything you want in Ten
Strike you can get right here.

Well, that's very neighborly
of you. I appreciate it.

But, well, I just can't.

I've got sort of a little
stray cat over in the hotel...

and by now the poor critter
has probably starved to death.

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

- [MOUTHS] Hi.
- [MOUTHS] Is that him?

Is that the young man
you were telling me about?

Yeah, that's him. What
do you think of him?

- Well, he seems quite tall.
- Yeah, good-looking too.

Of course, the main thing about
him, though, is he's got character.

Like taking away that dollar
from me, that took character.

Of a type, I suppose.

It wasn't the dollar at
all, it was the principle.

Of course, you'd know all about
the principal, being a banker and all.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Guess what he was asking
me through the window...

- before you looked up and caught him.
- What?

FRANKIE: Ha, ha. If
you were my benefactor.

- Ha, ha.
- Imagine.

I think he was kind of jealous.
What do you wanna bet?

Of an old man like me? Ha, ha.

I'd like to believe that,
but I'm afraid I can't.

Why, don't you
feel that way at all?

Lots of girls take a real interest
in a more mature type of man...

especially if he's got
money, but not me.

Of course, present
company excepted and all...

I don't care if a man's got
money, long as he's got character.

- Like this Maverick boy?
- That's right.

You think a lot
of him, don't you?

I just about made up my
mind to marry him, is all.

- And how does he feel about you?
- Pretty friendly. Heh.

After all, those men did
tell him to get out of town.

So why else would
he be hanging around?

You have a wonderful gift
for simplification, my dear.

Why, thank you, Mr. Scott.

VIC: Evening, Mr. Maverick.
- Well, hello, there.

EDDIE: We sure did
miss connections tonight.

We went to the stagecoach
depot to see you off.

- Couldn't imagine what happened to you.
- Oh, really?

Did I say I was taking
the stage out tonight?

Not in so many words, but since
you are leaving, that's the easiest way.

Oh, now, really, boys, you
shouldn't fuss over me like this.

I'm not planning a trip at all.

VIC: But aren't you forgetting
our conversation this morning...

- when we said goodbye?
- Oh, sure, I remember that.

- But you didn't tell
me why. VIC: Well...

guess you gotta be told, then.

- Unh! VIC: This is
why, Mr. Maverick.

[BRET GRUNTING]

Oh, that's better. You had
us worried, Mr. Maverick.

Don't try to do too much at
first. You're not a well man yet.

I won't forget the message this
time, boys, you can depend on that.

That's the way to talk, because if
something serious happened to you...

something fatal maybe, and Eddie and me
hadn't done all we could to prevent it...

- I think we'd both feel responsible.
- I guess you would at that.

Well, sure.

Now, as you can see, Mr. Maverick,
we've come to a kind of crossroads here.

This road here
leads to Prairie Flats.

This one goes to Faro City.

And this one here
goes back to Ten Strike.

So you still got two
choices out of three.

You didn't wanna go
back to Ten Strike anyway.

Why not?

- I thought we went into that.
- I still want to know why.

Mr. Maverick, don't you remember
how much trouble you caused...

all three of us by asking
that question before?

Now, I'm gonna
remind you once more...

and I sure hope this
will be the end of it.

Frankie?

Oh, you poor dear,
and it's all my fault.

If only you hadn't
stayed on account of me.

I didn't stay on account
of you. I stayed...

Hey, how did you get here?

I saw them taking you out of town
on a horse. I thought they killed you.

I think they're
working up to that.

- Why?
- Shh.

I keep asking that question,
they keep knocking me out.

Well, you don't have to
take that from anybody.

You see, I got the hotel's
horse and buggy right here.

Our baggage and room rent will cover
that. We don't have to go back at all.

- We?
- Sure, I'm going with you.

No sense staying
where you're not wanted.

[BRET GRUNTING]

Frankie, I'm the one who's not
wanted. You're the one who is.

Oh, I just about got
that figured out too.

You see, somebody's
been making a fool out of me.

- Not that it took too much doing.
- How do you figure?

The way I bet on
that note and all...

guess I thought some nice
fellow had sent it to me...

like a secret
admirer or something.

Maybe somebody I met at that
dance hall who was too shy to speak up.

Maybe he had marriage on the mind
and didn't know how to break it to me.

I don't know, I guess I still get
some pretty silly romantic ideas.

Well, what happened
to change them?

I had time to think about them.

That big benefactor of mine hasn't
turned up yet, see, and I think I know why.

There was this girl in that
dance hall where I used to work.

Her name's Clara. Boy,
she was pretty jealous.

She thought her boyfriend
was making eyes at me.

Of course, I couldn't
say he wasn't. Ha, ha.

But I'll just bet pretty old Clara thought
it was worth $100 getting rid of me.

Just to keep a boyfriend?

Well, they just aren't exactly
falling out of trees for old Clara.

[CHUCKLES]

I don't mind, though.

I sort of like traveling,
and especially with you.

- You feeling up to it now?
- I'll force myself.

Okay, let's see. Sign
says "Faro City, 18 miles."

- How's that?
- Too close.

- "Prairie Flats, 20 miles," then?
- Too far.

Hold it, lover, you wouldn't be
thinking about going back to Ten Strike.

- Wouldn't I?
- You just can't go...

Frankie, Frankie,
my Papi used to say...

there's just about three reasons
why most men do anything:

greed, curiosity and anger.

And I don't think he
really meant most men...

because he was looking
right at me when he said it.

He was right.

I lost nearly $200 tonight finding
out how they play poker in Ten Strike.

So much for the greed.
And then there's curiosity.

I still wanna know why.

But for the anger, well,
I'll leave that to you.

- Back to Ten Strike?
- Yup.

FRANKIE: Come on.

I don't think anybody saw us come in here,
but you still can't stay in your own room.

Because if those hard cases
found you in here, oh, boy.

You better stay in my room, because
you're in no condition to defend yourself.

- And you are, huh?
- Big talk.

But you don't scare me, lover.

Not if anger, greed and curiosity
is the only thing that gets you going.

- It's possible Papi left something out.
- Come on.

Okay, easy.

There. Now, you
lay right down here...

because I can make do with that
footstool and chair in there, okay?

Okay.

Hey, what's that?

Oh, I've got the
spookiest feeling.

- See, just like in Tucson.
- Huh. Another 100?

No stopping that Clara
when she's out for revenge.

Mm. Listen to this.

"My dear Ms. French, you've done
well. Stay where you are. Signed..."

- A benefactor?
- All right, so I was wrong.

He's in town.

Which reminds me, the
man with the whiskers?

- Oh, he's not my benefactor.
- How do you know?

- I asked him.
- Oh.

- Well, who is he?
- His name is Mr. Scott.

He runs a bank here in town.

He's sort of sweet,
but he's awfully strange.

He keeps talking about money
and business and investments.

Like what to do with
your dollar and a half?

Oh, don't get smart.

Like this is a great place to
settle down and get married...

and build a home
and raise a family.

Where did you meet him?

I smiled at him when he tipped
his hat low about noon today.

- And don't get so jealous.
- Me, jealous?

Yes, you, jealous.

Let's get something
straight, Frankie.

I am not jealous. I'm
not the jealous type.

And if I was, I wouldn't
be jealous of you.

Well, I'm not even
attracted to you.

Well, I mean, you're very attractive, but,
well, you're just not the type that I...

There's something about you.

Well, you can't
win every argument.

FRANKIE: Mm.

Now, you just better relax, because
you're still in critical condition.

Well, if you think I'm in bad
shape, wait till you see the other two.

I didn't know you
landed a punch.

I don't mean tonight, I
mean tomorrow night.

Good night.

- Sweet dreams, Frankie.
- You too, lover.

Shave and a haircut, mister?

No, thanks. I'm looking
for a friend of mine.

- I thought I saw him come in here.
- You mean Eddie Burke?

He's in there taking a bath.

- Well, you mind if I join him?
- Tub ain't hardly big enough.

He'd wanna see me. I'm an
old friend of his from out of town.

- Well, I'll tell him you're here.
- No, you'd spoil the surprise.

You think this is enough to
see that we're not disturbed?

- Until Thursday, if you say so.
- Ten minutes ought to do it.

Hey, this water's getting chilly,
Joe. How about a fresh bucket?

[EDDIE YELLS]

- Now, as I was saying, why?
- Why, what?

I can't tell you.

Same old question, why?

- I did it for Vic, Vic Nolan.
- I remember him fine. Why?

He didn't tell me. I was
just doing a favor for a friend.

You know, I've
noticed that about you.

Always going out your
way to help somebody.

- If you don't believe me, ask Vic.
- Oh, I will.

But I'm sure glad I
asked you first, because

if he'd told me the
answer right off...

we might never have
had this little visit.

Now, where's Vic?

He's over at the blacksmith's shop
getting some new shoes for his horse.

Ten minutes is all we'll need.

Get, get.

Get.

Let go. Let me down.

- Burke tells me you put him up to it. Why?
- I can't talk upside down.

You can't talk right-side up, but
you'll talk even if it's inside out.

- You do remember the question, don't you?
- Don't ask it.

I did it for you,
for your own good.

You'd be surprised how
much good I'll get out of this.

No, wait. I did it
for Mae, Mae Miller.

- Mae Miller?
- Yeah.

- Of course you wouldn't think to ask her.
- Ask her what?

Guess.

Couldn't see how it
was any of my business.

Maybe it won't seem so
crude coming from me.

Now, you know why
I'm not gonna kill you?

Why?

You keep asking yourself that.

If you can't think of any
reasons, maybe I can't either.

[THUD]

- Where's Mae Miller's office?
- Upstairs.

- But you ain't allowed up.
- I'll tell her you said so.

BARTENDER: Hey, we're
closing up in five minutes.

Well, hello. You've taken
a long time getting back.

- But not as long as you thought.
- Am I to know what that means?

Well, your boy Vic and
his pal Eddie say they don't.

They ran me out of town and
beat me up as a favor to you.

They're pulling your
leg, Mr. Maverick.

Twisting my arm,
yes. Pulling my leg, no.

Somebody sicced them on
to me and they say it was you.

Why not? Folks in this town
blame me for just about everything...

from wandering
husbands to smallpox.

I'm a woman and I run a saloon.
That makes me wrong even if I'm right.

Wanna blame someone,
blame Mae Miller.

Well, in all fairness to the boys,
I will say they told me reluctantly.

I'm very fond of
Vic and Eddie...

but what they're up to, I
haven't the slightest idea.

If they told you that
I put them up to it,

it's only because they
couldn't say who did.

What would they gain
by sending me to you?

I gather you had the upper hand.

Maybe they figured you wouldn't do
too much even if you didn't believe me.

I'm still a woman.

Would you beat me up?
Would you shoot me?

Maybe I'd be satisfied
just to know why.

And I'd like to ask
you the same question.

Why would I want to
run you out of town?

I don't know you and
you don't know me.

Not that that wouldn't be nice.

It can't be your poker
playing, not while you're losing.

And it certainly couldn't
be the way you look.

So will you give me one reason
why we shouldn't be friends?

Maybe Vic was lying, but I
think I owe him one more chance.

I think that's only fair, if
you can find him again.

If I do, I'll come back.

Come back even if you don't.

[GUNSHOT]

You killed him.

He was trying to kill me, ma'am.

Can you prove that, mister?

He shot twice before I did. You'll
find the slugs across the street.

Maybe, but this is Eddie Burke
here, and I don't know you.

Well, my name's Maverick.

Now tell me why Eddie would
have any reason to start it.

Forget it, sheriff. The
boy is telling the truth.

- Mr. Scott, you saw it?
- I was passing by.

Burke tried to kill him.

Well, that's good
enough for me, Mr. Scott.

- Any idea why?
- No, but I hope you'll try to find out.

Well, I'll do everything
I can, Mr. Maverick.

Some of you boys give me a
hand. This ain't no place for Eddie.

BRET: Mr. Scott.

It's lucky you happened along.

Or maybe you just go around
being a benefactor, is that it?

I won't pretend I don't
know what you mean.

Ms. French has told me about your problem
and about her mysterious benefactor.

Perhaps it's natural for
you to connect the two...

but, please, not with me.

I assure you, it's a matter of complete
indifference to me whether you stay or go.

What about Frankie? Or
doesn't that matter either?

I'm an old man,
Mr. Maverick, not an old fool.

I like her as a
person. I like her spirit.

I know she hasn't had an easy life,
but she's got qualities, good qualities.

She's the kind of person
this town needs and wants.

That doesn't seem
to be true in your case.

Funny, I was just about to
come to the same conclusion.

And when I start getting
shot at, I stop caring why.

Does that mean
you'll be moving along?

As my Papi used to say:

"A coward dies a thousand
deaths. A brave man, only one."

Thousand-to-one is a
pretty good advantage.

- I have to see Mae.
- Little late for a visit, Mr. Scott.

MAE: Let him in.

SCOTT: Eddie Burke is dead.
- Vic's just been telling me.

SCOTT: You want him
in on what I have to say?

You can say it up
here if you'd rather.

Wait, Vic.

Must be a shock for
you, Mae, about Eddie.

- Yes, it's terrible.
- Especially when you blame yourself.

- Blame myself?
- He's dead because of you.

The man you sent
him to kill is still alive.

Did Eddie say anything?

- No.
- Then why do you come to me?

Because I warned you, Mae, years
ago when you had Stoner killed.

- If that happened again...
- Who are you to warn me?

Since when are your hands clean?

I killed a man in anger in a fight,
but you had Stoner killed deliberately.

- Tonight you tried it again.
- Whatever I did, I did it for you.

I paid you for silence
and nothing more.

What is my silence
worth if you're recognized?

I've talked to Maverick,
looked right into his eyes.

- He doesn't know me.
- I don't believe it.

But if you're
willing to chance it...

he's still alive and Burke's
dead, let's leave it at that.

Simple, isn't it? And now
another man's been killed.

And it's all my fault because
I didn't stop you before.

- Now I'm going to.
- Are you ready to die?

There's something I
haven't told you, Mae.

Several months ago, Doc Steely
gave me less than a year to live.

I've been putting my life in order.
That's going to include you now.

And you'd go to the sheriff and tell
him who you are and what you've done?

- And what you've done.
- And you think that settles it?

They'll hang you.

But I'm a woman. They
never hang a woman.

You just don't
understand, do you?

I'm not out for revenge, Mae.
If I were, I'd kill you myself.

- Vic, he's gone to the
sheriff. VIC: About Stoner?

What do we do? Start running?
I'm willing to give all this up if you are.

VIC: Isn't there an easier way?
- That's up to you, Vic.

There's no use talking, Frankie. I'm
just not that greedy, mad or curious.

What happens to me? You
just run out and leave me?

Did you ever hear of a scared
jackrabbit asking a friend along?

What about my plans to
get married and settle down?

You don't need me for tho...

Now, Frankie, you haven't
been thinking about marrying me?

I should have known
you're just leading me on.

Let's get one thing
straight, Frankie.

I have not been leading you
on. I haven't done one thing to...

Well, maybe just
one thing, but...

Well, I never knew
you felt like this.

I mean, so soft.

Now, that doesn't prove a thing.

Well, that's all right, lover.

I'd want the man I marry to
be braver than you anyway.

He'd have to be.

Well, if you ever run out
of towns to be run out of...

you might come back
here and try again.

So long, lover.

So long, Frankie.

[CHATTERING]

Think me and my money
might get into this game?

- If you don't mind being separated.
- Ha, ha.

Hey, didn't I see you
over in Ten Strike?

Well, I was in and
out of there for a spell.

I was passing through there
just a couple of nights ago.

You got in a shooting scrape
with some fella, killed him too.

Well, that was just kind of a
general all-around misunderstanding.

Well, just the same, I had
my fill of that town in one night.

First off, he kills a
man out in the street.

Then some girl kills a man right
in the hotel where I'm staying.

- How's that again?
- Stabbed him. Stabbed him dead.

Very big man in the
town too, the banker.

Imagine a man like that getting
mixed up with some no-good gal...

from a dance hall in Tucson.

Did she say why she did it?

Well, she says she didn't, but,
oh, they got her dead to rights.

And I seen her myself.

She's a real kind of...

Kind of a tigress that...

You know? Hey, where you going?

GUARD: You got 10
minutes, Mr. Maverick.

I'm so glad to see you. I just knew
you couldn't run off and leave me.

Yeah, well, I've tried.

How do you like this fix
I've got myself into now?

- Some mess, huh?
- How bad is it, Frankie?

They found out about
Mr. Scott giving me money.

Yeah, it was him,
just like you figured.

I told them all about my benefactor,
so they looked in his books.

And they found out that he'd
taken $100 two different times...

both times I got those notes, so
they figured he was keeping me.

- So why would you wanna kill him?
- There's more.

They found a letter he left,
supposed to be opened after he died.

Guess what.

That poor old man left
me everything he had.

The whole works, the bank
and all. Of course, there's a catch.

There'd have to be.

The letter says that if I die before he
does, everything goes to the citizens...

of this fair community, which
have been so good to him.

I don't quite know what he means,
but that sheriff keeps telling me...

that the town's gonna get all
the money if I'm proven guilty.

So I know there's not too
many people in this town...

breaking their elbows
to prove I'm innocent.

You see, that was eight years
ago when he come to Ten Strike.

I don't know beans about him
before that, but he did have money.

Yeah, he had money
enough to open up a bank.

Fine man. Too bad he got
mixed up with a girl like that.

Man of his age and social standing.
Well, you see what come of it.

What about Mae Miller?
When did she come to town?

Mae? Oh, couple years later.

She came through
with a traveling show.

Mm. Lots of nice legs,
and hers was the best too.

Ha, ha. Whew.

But when the rest of the girls left,
she stayed on, bought the saloon.

We figured she'd come
into money somehow.

Do you remember the
name of that traveling show?

No, not right off.

I printed their programs, though.
Yeah, see, I do all the printing here.

Newspapers, posters,
handbills, you know.

Six years ago. Hmm.
Let's see. Six years.

Ah.

Ah. Okay, here, now.

Oh, yeah, here it is.

"The Pink Lady Sextet.

Fresh from triumphs in
Leadville, Cedar City..."

Virginia City, Montana.

"Virgi..." How'd you know?

Because I used to play
cards in Virginia City...

in the same saloon where
those girls were dancing.

I wouldn't remember their faces, and Mae's
dresses are a little longer these days.

But she was lying, Frankie.
She does know who I am.

You must have made some hit with her. Six
years later, she takes one look at you...

- has you beat up and tossed out of town.
- But now I know why.

You see, I got in a scrap
with a man in that saloon.

He said I was cheating.
Of course I wasn't.

But I got six days in jail
anyway for disturbing the peace.

The man in the next cell
was waiting to be hanged.

He killed his partner in
a fight over a gold claim.

We got to playing cards through
the bars. I got to know him pretty well.

The day before he
was supposed to hang...

he got a gun away from one
of the guards and escaped.

But if I hadn't started
remembering Virginia

City, I don't think I'd
have remember him.

Not 20 pounds
heavier with a beard.

A beard? Do you mean, Mr. Scott?

Well, his name wasn't
Scott then. He changed it.

Have you ever changed your name?

Well, sure.

After all, I couldn't go around
with a handle like Frankovich.

- Neither could Scott.
- What do you mean?

His name was Frankovich
too. Nick Frankovich.

He was my pa?

I don't know how to take this.

My pa.

Now, easy, Frankie. You thought
he was dead eight years ago.

But I never knew for sure.

Who did kill him?

I don't know.

But Mae Miller knew who he was.

And I'm pretty sure she was
squeezing money out of him.

Well, welcome back, Mr. Maverick.
Mae said you might be around to see me.

Oh, well, it doesn't
matter anymore.

I'm a little sorry about
our mix-up the other night.

Not at all, my faulty entirely.

- May I come in?
- Please do.

MAE: Well, I see you
boys finally got together.

Well, it was really you I came to see,
Mae, but Mr. Nolan is certainly welcome.

- Fine, fine, have a chair, Mr. Maverick.
- Thank you.

Well, shall we talk or sit here and
bore each other like civilized people?

MAE: Try talking.

Well, I have a bone to pick.

You've been a naughty
girl, Mae. You told a fib.

MAE: Oh, and what was that?

When you said you never saw
me before. What about Virginia City?

Well, I've been there. Have you?

At the same time you
and Scott were there.

- Scott?
- Frankovich.

Oh, it's all right. I
understand, Mae.

You were absolutely
right to try to get rid of me.

You fell into a pretty good
thing just by knowing who he was.

- And I would have tried to cut myself in.
- Cut yourself in?

Oh, well, I've been catching
up on all my old newspapers.

Seems there was a man named Stoner
turned up dead here about five years ago...

- fresh from Virginia City.
- Stoner?

Oh, you remember Stoner.
Played very bad poker.

He knew Frankovich too.

You're putting words together that
you seem to understand, but I don't.

It's a shame you couldn't wait
for Scott to die a natural death.

I thought that little blond
from Tucson had killed him.

Something you
don't know about her.

In fact, she doesn't
know it about herself yet.

But her story will make a lot more sense
if it gets out that Scott was her father.

- Her father?
- Her real name is Frankovich.

You say...

- she doesn't know about this yet?
- And she doesn't have to.

I figure it's not too late to
slice myself a piece of cake.

Now, what's it worth if she never
finds out? A thousand dollars?

You'd love to have me
say yes, wouldn't you?

It would prove you
were guessing right.

But you wouldn't leave that girl in jail
if you believed what you were saying.

But that's part of my price.
You have to get her out.

- Get her out, how?
- Well, give the sheriff someone else.

Give them the one who really
killed Scott. It was him, wasn't it?

- That's not very polite,
Mr. Maverick. MAE: Hold it, Vic.

- He's joking. He's got to be.
- I'm not.

If you're worried about him
talking after the sheriff gets him...

we could always have
him shot resisting arrest.

Why don't you stand up,
see how easy that would be?

Come on. You're wearing a gun.

Please, Vic, we're talking
business here. Try not to interrupt.

- Well?
- It's no good. It's all a bluff.

No, I'm afraid it isn't.

You see, the sheriff's got a letter of
mine in his safe, but I can get it out.

If anything happens to
me, he's gonna read it.

MAE: What if we do go
along with you? VIC: What?

Hear me out, Vic.

Supposing I did go to the sheriff
and tell him it was you who did it?

And after all, it
was both times.

But we'd give you a head
start. A couple of days, a week.

They'd never catch you.

And if I get my thousand
now, I might even go with you.

Nobody's cut you
in yet, Maverick.

And nobody's selling me
out. Not even you, Mae.

- I'd kill you both before I...
- I wouldn't. Not in front of witnesses.

- Witnesses?
- Would you do me one last favor, Vic?

Would you open the
door and let the sheriff in?

Drop the gun, Vic.
Don't move, Mae.

I'm sorry, Vic.

I really did tell him to
wait outside the door.

It's getting so you
can't depend on anyone.

You're positive there's
no other passengers?

DRIVER: One ticket, one
passenger. Climb in, let's go.

FRANKIE: Hold it. Hey,
hold it. I've got a ticket too.

Hi.

Well, what could be sweeter?
We got the whole thing to ourselves.

Easy with those hat boxes, hear?

Aren't you proud of me, lover?

Got $500 advance on my new
estate, didn't buy me one single new hat.

Guess I'm all through
being confused.

Frankie, you can't
leave Ten Strike now.

Well, you belong
here. You're an heiress.

You're even a banker.

Well, I'm not quite ready
to settle down yet, lover.

Besides, I know why you tried
to sneak off without seeing me.

Because I have that money,
you think I'm too good for you.

- I do not.
- And after all you did for me.

Why, you shouldn't be so proud.

There's nothing wrong
with marrying money.

Not if you're really in love.

Frankie, there's couple of
things we gotta get settled.

I am not proud and I'm not
in love, especially with you.

I have no intention of getting married
and if I did, it wouldn't be to you.

I mean...

Anybody ever tell you,
lover? You talk too much.

[English - US -SDH]