Maverick (1957–1962): Season 2, Episode 7 - The Judas Mask - full transcript

- Elliott.
- Karen.

Stop him, please. That man
in there, he's trying to kill me.

From the entertainment
capital of the world...

produced for television
by Warner Bros.

Silver City, New Mexico, is a
quiet little town devoted to the arts.

For example, there's
the art off the dance...

as practiced nightly in the
concert hall of the Bella Union.

Large numbers of citizens
less interested in the arts...

devote long hours
to self-improvement.

Altogether, Silver City is a fine
little town. If you have the strength.

They also play
poker in Silver City.



And as in any other town,
they hate to see a winner quit.

Well, gentlemen,
that's all for me tonight.

I'm down 1000, Maverick.

- You're into me for 500.
- You can't quit now.

Gentlemen, as my
pappy used to say...

he who plays and runs
away lives to run another day.

You're a foolish man, Maverick.
You're on a winning streak.

- That's right.
- That's just why I'm quitting, boys.

It wouldn't be fair to keep
playing with you gentlemen.

Willy.

Let me have the
order for Number 6.

- Now, Willy, right away.
- Not so loud.

Over here.

- What's the big hurry?
- He stopped playing.



Here's your money.

No.

$10 is what you said.

I changed my mind.

$20 is what I want.

All right.

Thank you, gentlemen,
and a pleasant good evening.

Good night.

- Oh, hello, Walter.
- Everything all right?

Just fine. Say, what was
that time, 12 noon tomorrow?

- That's definite then?
- It sure is. Good night.

Nothing could change
your mind, could it?

What, for instance?

Good night, Bart.

$20,400.

Four hundred more than I needed to
become a full-fledged businessman.

Half owner of the Bella Union.

I wonder if I should have
business cards printed.

It only made sense one way. My
door was bolted from the inside.

Whoever took the money had
been in my room when I came in.

That meant a key.

The desk clerk was cooperative.

Only two people who'd been on duty the
night before had keys to all the rooms...

the clerk's two brothers.
Both were asleep now.

One was the night clerk,
the other the night bellhop.

One was as crooked as the other,
but the bellhop's room was closer.

You say someone got in
your room, Mr. Maverick?

And they got away with
a lot of money, Willy.

- Now, what do you know about it?
- Me?

Why should I know
anything about it?

You wouldn't shoot,
would you, Mr. Maverick?

It was Karen Gustavson.

The cancan girl? The Swede?

Norwegian. Didn't think she'd take
anything. She said it was a joke...

Where does she live?

Adele's rooming house.

Honestly, Mr. Maverick,
I didn't think she was...

You've got no right busting in this way. I
don't run a very respectable place here...

but gentlemen can't call on ladies in
their rooms without being announced.

- Ma'am...
- Besides, Karen works late.

- She has to sleep.
- Is this it?

- Did you hear what I said?
- No, ma'am.

Well! I'll just get the sheriff.

Yes, ma'am.

Miss Gustavson isn't in there.

Who are you, her trainer?

- I said, Karen's not in there.
- Well, how do you know?

I waited up all night for
her. She didn't come home.

You're a dealer at the
Bella Union, aren't you?

- Temporarily.
- You got a key?

Of course not.

Look, I don't know who
you think you are, but...

She's gone.

Where did she go? Who are you?

- How long you known her?
- You haven't answered my questions.

Why are you looking for Karen?
And why did she leave here?

You need a drink.

There was a good chance
Karen Gustavson had left town...

on the southbound morning stage.

Until I talked to the
man who sold the tickets.

The only woman who had bought
a ticket on any outbound stage...

in the last 24 hours
was one Mrs. Murphy...

a seamstress who took care of
the cancan girls at the Bella Union.

Oh, Mrs. Murphy.

You didn't leave town after
all. Where was it you didn't go?

- El Paso.
- Thank you, Mrs. Murphy.

After I got a ticket on
the afternoon stage...

I kept my noon appointment
with Walter Osbourne...

the man I was supposed to go
into business with $20,000 ago.

I don't care why you
don't have the money.

Take it easy, Osbourne. After
all, I was the one that was robbed.

Besides, I'm wanna get that
money back. All it means is a delay.

- A delay will mean no deal.
- Why?

Getting this place from Mitchell for
$40,000 is like getting it for nothing.

You said he had to sell Bella Union because
his doctor told him he had to get out.

- Sure. And the sooner the better.
- So?

He snapped at my offer...

because he didn't wanna waste
any time bargaining with people.

But if he has to wait now to give us a
delay, he'll do some shopping around.

There's a man in Santa Fe who'd
pay $60,000 for the Bella Union.

Probably more than one.

I can get a delay from Mitchell
with a deposit on the deal.

You can catch up with the girl and be
back here with the money in five days.

- Four maybe.
- Maybe.

I can't guarantee it, Walter.

It's too late for me
to find anyone else.

You'd better not let me down.

A pretty girl with a Norwegian
accent shouldn't be too hard to find.

I intend to find her. But don't put
any money on it. You might lose.

I'll depend on you
to see that I don't.

I'll ask Mitchell to take $5000 to
hold the deal open for four days.

I'll let you know at the stage.
- All right.

But it's your money.

All aboard, folks.

You get your bet down?

Mitchell made me
leave a $10,000 deposit.

And all he'll delay
is three days.

Mitchell seems to be
getting healthier by the hour.

- And your odds shorter.
- Let's go, mister.

- Coming.
- Maverick.

If you're not back here in three days,
I lose $10,000 and the Bella Union.

Do you have any idea what
owning that place means to me?

- I do now, Walter.
- Good.

I never learned
to lose gracefully.

You're young yet.

I'm all set to go,
where's that mare?

Well, what do you know?

I've been following
you, Mr. Maverick.

I know now why
you're following Karen.

You wrong about her.
She's honest and good.

- And rich.
- This is nothing to joke about.

We'll look for Karen together.
And nothing is gonna happen to her.

We're gonna make quite
an interesting team, Mr...

- Elliott Larkin.
- Larkin.

You're gonna be looking
for Karen to protect her.

And I'm gonna be looking for
her to wring her pretty little neck.

Elliott Larkin spent the
next three hours telling me...

what a wonderful girl
Karen Gustavson was.

How being in love with
the Norwegian beauty...

had made him stop
feeling sorry for himself...

and start making
something of his life.

After a while, I didn't
quite catch every word.

I'd been right about Karen. She
didn't go unnoticed anywhere.

Hey, shotgun, toss
my bag will you?

Elliott Larkin proved to be an
alert and constant companion.

Always at my elbow to
give me a helping hand.

And pick up any information
I might get on Karen.

I didn't shake brother
Elliott a minute too soon.

At the next town I came to, Las Cruces,
I found that Karen had left the stage...

rented a carriage and
had headed for Mexico.

That meant her next stop had
to be the village of San Miguel.

The only stop across the border.

I hadn't exactly shaken
brother Elliott at that.

Who is it?

It is me, Señorita
Collins. The proprietor.

Pardon me for disturbing
your privacy, señorita.

But I have good news for you.

You are no longer the
only American in the hotel.

- A man?
- A man and a woman, señorita.

What does the man look
like? Is he tall? Handsome?

Oh, no, no. They
are two old people.

Turistas, eh?

I think you will like
the lady. She is very...

I don't want to see anyone.

I'm sorry, señor.

I do not feel very
well. I would like to rest.

Si, señorita. I understand.

I will see that you are not
disturbed. Carlos will give orders.

You must be in good
health for tomorrow.

- Tomorrow?
- Si, have you not heard?

The fiesta, señorita.
Sábado de Gloria.

It is the day before
Easter Sunday.

And it marks the death
of the betrayer, Judas.

And it is a magnificent
day, Madre de Dios.

All over the village is
paper statues of Judas.

Some are as big as a man. One
is the size of a house, even bigger.

You have never seen
anything like it in your life.

Everyone has a...

How do you call the
gun powder in the sticks?

- I mean firecracker.
- Yes, firecrackers. Everyone has them.

And then at night they will
burn the big statue of Judas.

Madre de Dios, what a sight.

And the masks, oh, the masks,
they are something to see.

Everyone wears one.

I will wear one that looks
like my sister's husband.

He is fat like a pig.

And he has got chins
all the way down to here.

That sounds like fun,
Carlos. Is there dancing?

Everywhere. In the streets, in
the houses, in the village square.

We will have a fiesta
right here on our own patio.

Naturalmente,
señorita, you are invited.

Thank you, Carlos. I accept.

Bueno, well, I will leave you now
so that you may rest up for tomorrow.

- Buenos dias, señorita.
- Good day, Carlos.

- Hasta la fiesta, señorita.
- Hasta la fiesta, Carlos.

Señorita Collins.
Señorita Collins.

It is me, Carlos.
You feel better today?

- You will join us then?
- Just as soon as I change my clothes.

- I just bought some Mexican ones.
- Bravo, señorita, bravo.

Buenas dias, Señorita Collins.

I sure hate to spoil your holiday
fun like this Miss Gustavson.

But there is a little
matter of my money.

I don't have it.

- Yes, you do.
- No.

I took it.

But I didn't keep it.

I only took your money to keep
you from buying the Bella Union...

with that Osbourne. He is
an evil man, a corrupt man.

Look who's throwing stones.

- You stole $20,000, remember?
- That's different.

It is only money I steal.

Walter Osbourne
steals honor and dignity.

- We'll get to the speeches later.
- No, now.

Walter Osbourne is
a devil among men.

Amen. Now where's my money?

He's a corrupt man, he would...

If I don't get that
money, I'll shake you until

you come apart at
the joints. Where is it?

- Stop it, please!
- When I have the money.

All right. I'll tell you.

That man is...

Over there, in my wardrobe.

- Walter Osbourne is the devil, huh?
- On the top shelf.

- Señorita Collins.
- Let me go, please.

- Elliott.
- Karen.

Stop him, please. That man
in there, he's trying to kill me.

What kept you, Elliott?

Buy him a drink, will you?

No. Have you seen a lady...?
A señorita, with blond hair?

She came through...

- I don't have the money.
- That's what you told me the first time.

- Then you told me you did.
- I lied.

You?

The money is
back in Silver City.

- At a Wells Fargo office in your name.
- Sure it is.

I am telling you the truth.

What does that mean?

"Upon my honor."

I only stole your money to keep you from
going into business with that pig of a man.

- Osbourne.
- He's worse than a pig, he's...

- Listen, Karen, I'm through with this.
- My arm. It's growing numb.

- You're very strong.
- The money, the money.

Do you know what
Osbourne did to Anna Bergen?

Is that the cancan
girl that killed herself?

She took her life
because of him.

No, not because she loved him.
She was terrified of Osbourne.

Couldn't escape him.

He wouldn't let her.

Her real name was
Anna Gustavson.

My sister.

You don't believe me?

Karen, if what you
say is true, I'm sorry.

If it's Osbourne you're after,
why don't you go after him?

I tried and failed.
More than once.

But owning that place is
the biggest thing in life to him.

If I could stop you from
helping him get it, I'd be satisfied.

For Anna.

And there was something else.

- This way I could be helping you too.
- Helping me?

What makes you worry
about me, anyway?

I like you. You are
young, handsome, honest.

And broke, and for the last
time, where is my money?

I've told you the truth.

I can prove it to you.

I wrote you a letter.

I was gonna mail
it to you tomorrow.

You'd get it too late for
your deal with Osbourne.

But it explains why I took your
money, and where you can find it.

- Show it to me.
- I don't have it with me.

- It's in my room.
- Fine.

Let's go see the letter.

No, I mean, isn't it
too late for you now?

No, we got a delay.

- How long?
- Three days...

Look, what difference does it make?
We got it delayed. That's enough.

If you've got the letter,
you can do anything.

But if you don't have it and
you're lying to me again...

I'm gonna make you tell me where that
money is, one unpleasant way or another.

Did you steal the
money to hurt Osbourne?

Or to help him?

Perhaps it was both, a little.

What did you expect him to
do, sweep you off your feet?

Maybe.

I know I expected
him to do something.

- I don't think he's quite up to it.
- What do you know about him?

- He drinks a lot.
- He should.

It helps him to forget.

He was a prisoner in your Civil
War. Spent two years at Andersonville.

I'm sorry. I talked out of turn.

But I still wanna
see that letter.

There is no letter.

- I lied.
- You'd think...

I'd be used to that by now, but I'm
not. Is the money here in your room?

That's the first honest
answer you've given me.

Now do you believe me?

No.

We're going to
the police station.

- Are you going to have me arrested?
- Now, that's a pleasant thought.

The telegraph office
is in the police station.

We're gonna send a telegram
to Wells Fargo in Silver City...

to ask if my money
is there, and if it isn't...

you and I are gonna have a little
session, but much less friendly.

But you won't have an answer to
your telegram until tomorrow morning.

And you won't get out of
my sight till I get that answer.

I like that.

You what?

I think you are a very,
very nice man, mister...

May I call you Bart?

- Put that on the wire right away, please.
- Bueno, señor.

- Oh, I'd love some.
- No, no, no, Karen. Not now.

I'm starving.

Gracias, gracias.

- Bite?
- Only when I'm mad enough.

Señor, señor.

Telégrafo, señor?

Yes.

"Walter Osbourne.

Bella Union, Silver City,
New Mexico Territory."

I learned my good
English in El Paso.

I lived there since 2
and one half years.

- Drop the message, huh?
- Yes, sir.

"Maverick here in
San Miguel with the girl.

Has money, but not returning.
Has new investment plan.

Signed, a friend."

Send it as fast as you can.

Si, señor.

It's fantastic, Bart.

- I've never seen anything so interesting.
- Hold on.

- We've been on our feet for six hours now.
- Look.

Beautiful.

A whole city
celebrating together.

Just like in Norway's St. Hans
Aften. That's Midsummer's Night.

I wish I could make
up my mind about you.

You're either the sweetest
girl I ever met in my life...

or the slyest, shrewdest
thief in the world.

- Come on.
- Where are we going?

To your hotel room. It'd be too
easy for you to get away in this crowd.

Bart, I told you I would
not try to run away.

You also told me you
had a letter in your room.

- Señorita, ha, ha. Señor.
- Viva la fiesta, Carlos.

Gracias. I see the señorita
has regained her health, no?

- You and the señor must dance with us.
- Me? No.

No, thank you very
much. But, no. I'm sorry.

- You better give in, Bart.
- One dance, señor.

- I don't know the dance.
- I will teach you, señor.

This is tiring.

Thank you. Would you
hold that, please? Thank you.

Karen!

Karen, if you think I'm fooling,
you're in for a big surprise.

- I've got a good mind to take...
- Señor.

- You like to dance with Chiquita?
- No, I can't...

Oh, señor, come back
to the party. We miss you.

Viva la feista,
señor. I'm sorry.

- What's your trouble? What's the matter?
- Enrico?

Who's Enrico?

He's the man who drove
off with your señorita.

- Carriage driver?
- No, he's the carriage driver.

- Well, who's Enrico?
- A bandit.

That makes two of us.
Carlos, can you get me a horse?

Si, señor.

Why are we stopping here? I
told you there's a man following me.

Please drive on.

Horse is tired, señorita.
Better we stay here, huh?

But I've got to get
away. Out of town.

I'll pay you well.

But you will be safe here, señorita,
from the man that follows you.

This is the home
of a friend of mine.

Come.

- Please, I don't think I'd better...
- I want you to meet my friend Manuel.

His house is your house.

Manuel.

No, thank you I...

I cannot believe such
good fortune, señorita.

I didn't even have to kidnap you.
You walked right into my arms.

I think it's the fiesta that
brought me such luck.

Do not be alarmed, señorita.

This is my profession.

The people that I kidnap,
they are never harmed.

Sometimes they even enjoy it.

We'll have Manuel ask
from your friends $500.

And $50 for you, huh?

Hey, Manuel.

Manuel, wake up.

Karen, do you make it a
habit to go to parties...?

Thank you, Bart.

If you don't tell me
where my money is...

- I'm gonna give you back to him.
- No!

Yes! Now, I really know you're a liar. If
you weren't, you wouldn't have run away.

I ran so you'd think I'd
still did have the money.

I wanted you to have to follow
me deep into Mexico for days.

Away from telegraph wires and
Osbourne and your precious three-day delay.

- What's wrong?
- My foot's caught.

Well, what are you waiting for?

You could run all the
way to South America now.

Suppose he wakes up.

I'll bark at him.

- Are you hurt?
- No, just stuck.

I'll never let you go
if I get hold of you.

You do believe me
now, don't you, Bart?

About why I stole your
money, and what I did with it.

Well, let's say I'm just a little
more confused than I had been.

He'll be so unhappy if he
misses the burning of Judas.

- Shall I wake him?
- I don't think you could.

Still confused, Bart?

A little.

I'm wondering how such a
nice girl could be such a thief.

And you still don't believe me.

No, but I am
beginning to like you.

- I always liked you.
- What about your friend Elliott?

Oh, I could love him, I guess,
if I were as sure he was a man.

Maybe I love him anyway.

Would you like
to see that letter?

You mean the one you
said you wrote to me.

The letter I did write to you.

"Dear Mr. Maverick, By
the time you receive this...

it'll be too late for you to be
any help to Walter Osbourne.

Your money is at
the Wells Fargo office.

Maybe someday I will be able to
tell you why I have done this thing.

Karen Gustavson."

If I'd shown it to you before, you
would have gone back to Silver City...

and, well, I'd have
accomplished nothing.

What makes you think you have
now? There's still time for me to go back.

But you won't.

No, I won't.

Even if Osbourne is half
as bad as you say he is...

I'd better start shopping
around some more.

Have you been waiting long?

A while. I got here
as soon as I could.

Why?

Your $20,000.

I got a telegram which said
you weren't coming back with it.

A telegram from whom?

It was signed "a friend."

Elliott.

Take off your gun belt.

Now, where's your money?

You're not gonna believe this.

- I'll try hard.
- Tell him, Karen.

The money is
back in Silver City.

At the Wells Fargo office
where I left it in his name.

- What?
- I told you, you wouldn't believe it.

You know something, Osbourne,
she isn't terribly fond of you.

She stole the money to keep me
from going into business with you.

- I warned you to stay out of my way.
- I am not afraid of you.

Now, Karen, always
be afraid of a gun.

How about it, Maverick?

Changing horses, I got
down here in 11 hours.

We could still
make it back in time.

I don't think Miss Gustavson
would like that, Walter.

I'm out $10,000 if you
don't come in with me.

And I don't intend
to let that happen.

That gun won't help.

You wanna bet?

Walter, you could take
me back at gunpoint.

You'd never get the money
out of Wells Fargo that way.

You'll get the money out
of Wells Fargo. I'll have her.

When you turn the money
over to Mitchell, I'll let her go.

How about it,
partner? Yes or no?

You still can't make me believe
you'd kill her for a few thousand dollars.

I've got a better reason
than a few thousand dollars.

Karen, I know who you are now.

And I know you won't give up
until you think you're even with me.

So if you do it my way, Maverick,
maybe I won't have to kill her.

- I'll leave that up to you.
- He'll do it, Bart.

We'd better go back with him.

He sounds like
he'll do it anyway.

That's a chance
you'll have to take.

There are some horses out back.

What's the gun for, Osbourne?

Qué pasó?

Qué pasó?

- Carlos, can you get a doctor here?
- Si, señor.

How is he?

He's gonna be all right.

Both of us.

Yeah, I guess you will at that.

Maverick.

I got Osbourne down here.

I'm sorry.

I know.

You made up for it just fine.