Maverick (1957–1962): Season 2, Episode 9 - The Thirty-Ninth Star - full transcript
After getting off a stage and checking into a hotel room, Bart is tricked into slipping out of his room just long enough for the suitcase he is carrying with $2,600 to be stolen. Looking for the men on the stage who knew he was carrying the money, he finds one of them dead and another has left the hotel. But then another, a town judge, returns Bart's suitcase with the money intact. The suitcase Bart left the stage with was the judge's identical looking one which held a valuable document in it that many believe Bart has hidden, and are willing to kill for.
Marshal. Mr. Bigelow, the
man who stole the suitcase.
He can give you some details
on how Farfan was killed.
- Who was killed?
- Farfan.
- The man whose room I was slugged in.
- When was all this?
What do you mean "when was all this"?
You saw it. You told me not to leave town.
Mister, I have never before
in my life laid eyes on you.
From the entertainment
capital of the world...
produced for television
by Warner Bros.
I enjoy a good Fourth of July...
as much as any other
fun-loving American boy.
But when you're three days late for
an appointment in Denver, Colorado...
I predict that this will be the last
time that we will ever celebrate...
the Fourth of July in this
territory and under this flag.
Next year at this time...
that glorious old banner will
be replaced with a new one...
a flag with 39 stars.
Thank you. Marked by the...
The stagecoach is sure
taking its time getting into town.
Well, what's the difference? It'd take
even longer to beat its way out again.
One man's name personifies...
the vigor, the integrity
and the soul of this territory.
It has been his efforts and his spirit that
are belatedly bringing statehood to us.
It is a sad thing to me that on
the very threshold of his triumph...
his great heart
should have failed him.
The new star in the new
flag will serve forever...
as a memorial to Charles
Sanderson Stewart.
Yes, that's great. You betcha.
- Oh, small world, Mr. Maverick.
- Room for everyone.
Glad you could be with us,
judge. You too, Mrs. Kilmer.
Come see us again.
Always a pleasure, Mr. Dixon.
DIXON: Thank you, sir.
Come on!
I reckon it's good to be
home again, Mrs. Kilmer.
Do you find the
territory changed much?
Many things have changed,
Mr. Farfan. Others not at all.
I didn't like you when you
were hanging on to Stewart...
and I don't like you now either.
You're, uh, new to the territory,
aren't you, Mr. Maverick?
Just passing through.
Just passing through like
a Kansas twister, judge.
Mr. Maverick here cleaned out the
poker game in Grantsville last night.
That's somewhat of an
exaggeration, Mr. Farfan.
Don't you believe it, judge.
Why, he exaggerated
me right out of $600.
Well, you see, Mr. Maverick, the
territory is the land of opportunity.
When you decide to settle down with
the rest of us, this is the place for it.
I try not to think of that, sir.
My old pappy used to say
work is all right for killing time...
but it's a shaky
way to make a living.
Capital City, folks.
That one.
Just a minute.
- Mr. Maverick?
- Who else?
- You have a visitor in the lobby.
- Well, sorry, I don't need any.
- Yes, sir. But what will I tell her?
- Her?
- Yes, sir?
- The lady that wanted to see me?
Lady? I haven't seen any lady.
The bellboy told me there
was a lady waiting for me here.
Bellboy? Well, that would
have been some time ago.
That would have been
three minutes ago.
Well, I ought to know.
The bellboy's been off
duty for the past 45 minutes.
I let him off to go
see the parade.
I had the unpleasant feeling
when I got back to my room...
the $2600 I'd left in my
suitcase would be gone.
It was gone all right.
And the suitcase with it.
This bellboy, what
does he look like?
Well, uh, like a bellboy.
About 17 years old and...
Hey, you can't do that.
"Charles W. Farfan," the
loudmouth on the stagecoach...
who not only knew about my money but
seemed to have a personal interest in it.
I didn't really think
I'd find him in...
but then I didn't have anything
else to do at the moment.
Farfan was in, all right,
but my suitcase wasn't.
All I know is that somebody stole
my traveling bag with $2600 in it.
This fellow Farfan, he knew I had
the money so I went looking for him.
And when he didn't answer
my knock, I pushed in his door...
and there he lay, dead.
How did he know you had
money? Friend of yours?
We were playing together in
a poker game in Grantsville.
- He won?
- I won.
I'm gonna do my best to
find my man and your money.
And while I am doing it...
don't you make any plans
that involve leaving town.
No, you better just
lie back and rest.
Now, it's dangerous
to be moving around...
when there's possibility
you may have concussion.
Thanks, doc.
Oh.
They took all your money?
Say, maybe I didn't read down
far enough on your guest register.
You got a Mr. Bigelow
here? A Quincy Bigelow?
- Yeah, Room 210.
- Two...
Now, now, no violence, Mr. Maverick.
We've had enough violence.
Mr. Bigelow was another
of my fellow passengers...
the quiet, chubby one.
He knew about the money too, and
he had a sneakier look than the judge.
Looks like Mr. Bigelow
stepped out.
No luggage. He skipped out.
And owing me a
whole night's room rent.
He owes me a lot more than that.
- My suitcase.
- I hope you haven't been inconvenienced.
I hope not, judge.
Won't you come in?
I must apologize, Mr. Maverick.
I had to make another
Fourth of July speech.
I didn't discover we'd switched suitcases
until I got home just a little while ago.
Well, everything's
just dandy, judge.
You, uh, seem to find that
astonishing, Mr. Maverick.
Forgive me, Judge Somervell.
So much has happened today,
I'm afraid I'm a little bit sour.
It was kind of you to
bring this up yourself.
Not at all.
Now, if I may have my own
bag back, I'll be on my way.
I hate to tell you this, judge,
but your bag has been stolen.
- Stolen?
- From this room, while I was out.
I don't believe you.
Judge Somervell, you, uh,
seem to be calling me a liar.
I'm afraid I am.
In which case, you're
also calling me a thief.
That would logically follow.
Would you like to explain your
logic or go ahead with shooting?
Whichever you
prefer, Mr. Maverick.
If you're planning on something
clever, I won't hesitate to use this.
We were talking about logic.
We have one coincidence when
you get on the same stagecoach as I...
carrying the same
type of suitcase.
We have another coincidence when we
get off the stagecoach at the same point...
and you take the wrong bag.
And we have a third, when
some sneak thief turns up...
before you've had a chance
to discover the difference.
All this goes a step
beyond plausibility.
It goes a step
short of logic, judge.
It doesn't explain what I'd want with
a whole satchel full of your dirty shirts.
You and I know perfectly well
we're not talking about shirts.
Do we know what
we are talking about?
We're talking about something
of great personal value to me.
Something you have taken
and I'm going to get back.
By whatever methods
you force me to use.
That's a fascinating riddle,
judge. But I need one more clue.
If this thing is of value only to you,
why would I go to trouble to steal it?
And why would I leave
$2600 in my suitcase for you?
When you figure that one
out, tell it to the marshal.
He's out looking
for your suitcase too.
- You went to the marshal?
- No. He came to me.
I don't understand.
While I was swiping your laundry,
somebody was tapping me over the head...
and killing our mutual
friend, Mr. Farfan.
Oh, but you hadn't heard
about any of that, had you?
No. Uh...
- No, I hadn't.
- Well, that's very interesting, judge.
I'm almost tempted to stick
around, see how it turns out. Almost.
If you should get an answer...
please let me know at the
Brown Palace Hotel in Denver.
Good night, sir.
Mr. Maverick. What
a pleasant surprise.
Mrs. Kilmer.
I was expecting to meet somebody
here but I can't seem to find him.
Well, this is a great little
place for that sort of thing.
Perhaps he'll turn up yet. Join
me for coffee while you're waiting?
- That's very kind of you.
- Not at all.
You must have thought
me quite rude this afternoon.
It's just that these last few days
have been rather exhausting for me.
I can imagine. The territory is
a surprisingly lively little place.
Something going on all the time.
Well, it's certainly
not like Philadelphia.
No, it isn't.
Are you from the
east, Mr. Maverick?
East Texas.
- You miss Philadelphia?
- Only a native could miss Philadelphia.
And you're not a native?
I'm a native of right
here, Mr. Maverick.
I went east to school.
I married there.
I was widowed there.
Oh, I'm sorry.
At least now you're
back with your own family.
I have no family
anymore, Mr. Maverick.
- Oh, I assumed that Judge Somervell was...
- He's an old friend of the family.
That's strange, Mr. Maverick.
I somehow got the impression that
you and the judge knew each other.
Only instinctively.
He's a very pleasant man.
He's a very shrewd man.
Well, that's a great help.
- Is it?
- Isn't it?
It's your move, Mr. Maverick.
I don't even know what
we're playing, Mrs. Kilmer.
I'm really not interested in who
you are or whom you're working for...
but I want that suitcase back...
and I'm willing to pay you
quite handsomely for it.
That's very generous
of you, but I'm afraid
when you report back
to Judge Somervell...
you're gonna have to tell him my answer
to you is the same as my answer to him.
Whatever it is he's
looking for, I haven't got it.
Very well.
I'm also ready
to fight you for it.
I'd like to oblige
you there too.
But I'm holding up a very
important poker game in Denver.
I'm surprised that your
friend hasn't shown up yet.
Mr. Maverick, you were the
friend I was expecting to find.
It seems that this will be a dirtier
game than I was prepared for.
Oh, how nice. We're neighbors.
- Did you see it?
- See what?
I'll show you. You go into
all that work behind the line...
without ever seeing
what goes on up front.
- What?
- What indeed, Mrs. Kilmer?
Now we know where your friend
was while you were giving me business.
I don't know anything
about any of this.
Of course. You were spending
all that time being charming...
which is your true nature,
but let me tell you something.
I don't know who you
think I am, but I'm not.
I'm an easy-going, fun-loving sort of boy
up to a point, which we have just passed.
I don't like being knocked on the
head and having my room ransacked...
and my clothing strewn
all over everywhere.
I'm not neat, but I'm lazy.
You listen to this, Mrs. Kilmer. I
want you to pass it on to the judge...
and any other playful friends
you might have around here.
I'm going down to the stagecoach office
to make sure of getting a ticket out.
And I hope to be leaving
your city in the morning.
But if any more of this holiday
festivities come anywhere near me...
I'm not gonna be responsible
for anything I do to you people.
Good night, Mrs. Kilmer.
Hey.
Go!
Let's try it again,
Maverick. Where is it?
Where is what?
You're not really trying. That's
the one you used last time.
This is taking up
an awful lot of time.
I don't even know
what you're after.
I can't tell whether you're
stubborn or just stupid.
But either way
you're not thinking.
All right, Tiny.
I don't know how he
feels, but I'm wore out.
Well, maybe he's already
passed the stuff along to his friends.
- Yeah, maybe he hasn't got it.
- He's got it.
You're a tough boy, aren't you?
I'm not tough, but I'm not
stupid either. If I knew what...
I wanna give you cooperation, my friend,
but you're making it awfully tedious.
- Back to work.
- No.
We're going to
try something else.
I'm going to let him go and
see what happens that way.
Here's what we're
going to do, Mr. Maverick.
We're going to give you 24
hours to dig it up and hand it over.
Twenty-four hours.
I'm not going to follow you,
we're not going to watch you.
Wherever you are this time tomorrow
night, we're going to be there too.
If you haven't got that
package to hand over to us...
we're not gonna bother
you with any more questions.
We're going to kill
you. Is that clear?
Nothing is clear.
- Well, get this one thing very clear.
- I...
What you're thinking about right now won't
work because you can't run far enough.
When you run, we'll catch you.
When we catch you, we'll kill you.
I need help.
- Ah. Good morning, Mr. Hazelton.
- Good morning.
- What's the news from Washington?
- What's ever the news from Washington?
Well, they didn't even
mention the statehood bill.
They're going to pass a
bill against grasshoppers.
Well, I'll tell you one thing...
if we still had Governor
Stewart as our delegate...
he'd get action
out of those people.
- He was a fine man all right.
- Well, he certainly was.
And forceful too. If we had him
working for us in Congress, it would be...
If you'll campaign for me,
I might take the job myself.
- Are you a forceful man?
- No, no, but I could learn.
I called to see if my, uh, friend,
Bart Maverick, had checked out yet.
Well, unfortunately, he hasn't.
His luggage is
still up in his room.
But, uh, well, he didn't
come in last night.
Yes, he did.
Put this in his box, will you?
This isn't my room.
It's mine. You fell in on
your way home last night.
- Who beat you up?
- I don't know.
Who knew I was going out?
Tell me, who did you blame all
your troubles on before I came along?
Miss Kilmer, before you came
along, I didn't know what trouble was.
Go on with your story.
Well, by some
strange coincidence...
just 10 minutes after I
told you I was going out...
four strange men ti...
- Strangers to both of us, of course.
- Of course.
Tied me up in a basement
and tried to beat me to death.
- For no reason at all?
- They wanted something from me.
- Wanted what?
- They didn't say.
Maybe they wanted
the judge's laundry.
Which, of course,
you don't have.
No.
They gave me 24 hours to deliver
it. If I don't, they promised to kill me.
And they said it so sincerely
that I just had to believe them.
What are you going to do?
I'm gonna do my level best to
give them whatever it is they want.
Mrs. Kilmer, what's in
the judge's suitcase?
- I can't tell you.
- You're gonna have to tell me.
I'm very sorry but I can't.
When my life's at stake,
that's not a substantial answer.
I'm in something deep
and you're a part of it.
Mr. Maverick, I don't have
people beaten up nor killed.
Then who do you know who does?
Do you feel up to going out?
If there's a good reason.
I think there is.
It's not the same basement.
Judge.
I can't tell you how
happy this makes me.
That was a pleasant
break in the monotony.
At any rate, I'm glad Judge
Somervell wasn't involved.
- Oh, we don't know that at all.
- We don't?
No, we just know his
basement wasn't involved.
You know, I've been assuming through
all this that you don't have a basement.
Not with me.
That's him, Bigelow.
Where's the nearest stable?
- Other end of town.
- Who's rig, the judge's?
- Yes.
- Good. Tell him I borrowed it.
You're not going.
You'll make better
time if you don't argue.
You're right, I got no time
to argue. Now step off.
You really expect me
to believe you'd use that?
Whoa, hey, whoa! Whoa, whoa!
He got off.
Got off where?
Well, about the middle
of nowhere, ma'am.
I let him off back at the old wagon
road. He headed north on foot.
- North?
- What's north?
Nothing.
Thanks.
Hup!
Since Bigelow was on foot...
his tracks were easy to follow.
That is, till it got too
dark to go any further.
There's nobody up here.
Tired, huh?
A little bit.
Eiderdown.
It's the first nice thing that's
happened to me since Grantsville.
You're very kind.
It's as good a
place to stay as any.
Of course, the dining room isn't much,
but then I won't be sleeping on a table.
It's been a long afternoon.
Yeah, but it can't
get too long for me.
- Well, you're not discouraged, are you?
- No. If you can be optimistic, so can I.
You have twice
as far to go as I do.
Have I?
Well, all I have to do
is find the Easter egg.
You not only have to find it,
you gotta take it away from me.
- That's right.
- And I'm bigger than you are.
I sure wish there was some
way for us to go partners.
Yes, but there isn't.
It's hard work
going around circles.
Mm.
- Miss Kilmer...
- Janet.
All right. Janet.
Tell me something.
If you grew up back there in the
capital, why are you staying in a hotel?
I was staying at Judge Somervell's.
We had a difference of opinion.
But you did have a home
when you were growing up?
- You didn't live in a wigwam.
- No.
I was a spoiled
child of the rich.
I was a spoiled
child of the poor.
It was a big, white house...
with a big green lawn.
And a big, dark basement?
Yes, but you've never seen it.
All right.
But if I had a house like
that, that's where I'd stay.
I went back there.
It was spooky.
Nobody there but me.
What about Philadelphia?
Nobody there but me.
Feel better?
Mm. Much better.
Bart.
Mm-hm?
This doesn't change anything.
It doesn't?
We're both searching for the same
thing and only one of us can get it.
And no matter how
I feel right now...
I'll double-cross
you when I have to...
because I have to.
Try not to be surprised.
Didn't I close that door?
Yes, you did.
A friend of yours?
- I bet it was Bigelow.
- Bigelow doesn't know we're following him.
And he doesn't have a horse.
Good morning.
Where is the suitcase?
Suitcase?
The suitcase you stole
from my room. Where is it?
- I don't have it.
- Don't tell me you don't have it.
I get a little angry when
everybody thinks I'm stupid.
Well, what would I
want with your suitcase?
Why'd you send a message up to my room
asking me to see a lady down in the lobby?
I didn't.
- No, I swear, I didn't.
- What did you do?
Well, I was in my room.
It's between your room
and the other gentleman's...
and I just happened to overhear
the bellboy give you a message.
Yeah?
I heard you leave your room and
then I heard you come back and lock it.
I knew you had to be
leaving your money in there.
So I went out my window,
along the ledge to your window.
Climbed in and helped
yourself to my suitcase.
- That's right.
- Come on, Bigelow.
There's more to
the story than that.
Yes.
I was only in your room for a little while
and I heard Farfan come out of his room.
Came down the hall to your door
and started trying keys in the lock.
- Go on.
- Well, I could barely get out in time.
He wasn't in there very long and I
heard him rush back to his own room.
Then he started arguing
with somebody. Very loud.
Then there was a fight.
And all of a
sudden it was quiet.
Then I heard a noise.
It was like something dropping
on the floor, like a body.
Then what?
I waited for a while.
I didn't hear a sound.
- Then I went out the back way.
- With the suitcase?
- I didn't know what I was doing.
- When did you know?
I stopped down in the alley and looked
through the suitcase for the money.
- But it wasn't there.
- What was there?
In the suitcase. What
was in the suitcase?
Clothes and papers.
A bundle of papers
about that thick.
Letters?
Letters, documents, marked
deposition, some canceled bank drafts.
- I didn't stop to read them.
- Where are they?
I got rid of them.
I threw the suitcase through a
window in a vacant warehouse.
What warehouse? Where?
The one in back of the hotel
with the "for sale" sign on it.
Let's go.
Well, can I get my
things together?
Well, take your time.
Janet.
Janet!
Mr. Bigelow wasn't built
for walking far or fast...
and it was late afternoon
when we finally limped...
back into Capital City.
Not finding it wasn't
really a surprise.
My little friend, Janet,
had been here and gone.
Well, it should have
landed right here.
I don't know where it could have
gone. Nobody ever uses this warehouse.
Well, I think I know
where it could have gone.
But, uh, if it's all right with
you I'll drop you off first.
Marshal. Mr. Bigelow, the
man who stole the suitcase.
He can give you some details
on how Farfan was killed.
- Who was killed?
- Farfan.
- The man whose room I was slugged in.
- When was all this?
What do you mean "when was all this"?
You saw it. You told me not to leave town.
Mister, I have never before
in my life laid eyes on you.
Uh, what about the local
doctor and the hotel clerk?
How's their memory?
About same as mine.
Bart, what are you doing
here? You're in danger.
- Where is it?
- I don't know. I haven't got it.
I rode straight to the warehouse.
I've searched it from top to bottom.
The suitcase wasn't
there. Please believe me.
Don't I always believe
everything you tell me?
You don't believe me.
Bart, I didn't want you to
walk all the way back to town...
but it was the only way.
And I told you I
would do it if I had to.
I'm sorry I had to.
You have anything
else to tell me?
It wasn't in the warehouse.
Now if you'll excuse
me, I'm half a day late
for an appointment
I'm still trying to duck.
What do you want?
You are looking for something?
Yeah. I'm looking for a wagon
that used to be right here.
You are, uh, thinking
of shooting it?
I'm sorry, I guess I'm
just a little bit jumpy.
What do you want
with Louie's wagon?
Uh, I wanna talk to Louie.
Well, you don't need
an appointment for that.
He is living down in an old
red shack, two streets down.
Thanks.
Hey, mister.
When you see Louie, you tell him to
keep his wagon out of my warehouse.
And you too.
It's just papers and things.
Is that what you
was looking for?
I sure hope so.
Some of your kinfolks, eh?
Hey, Louie, you know a good bank
around here with safe deposit boxes?
The First National, I think.
It's next door to Rupert's Café.
Thanks.
Bart.
Bart. Bart, you found it.
- I found it.
- And what are you gonna do with it?
I'm gonna find a little
nest and I'm gonna sit on it.
- You don't know. It's dangerous.
- No, not for me, not if I play it right.
Bart, please give it to me.
That's very kind of you, Mrs.
Kilmer, most self-sacrificing...
but I couldn't impose upon you.
Whatever this is, for better or worse,
it's mine. I went to a lot of trouble.
Beaten, tracked down, bullied,
threatened, and I still came out ahead.
Anybody who wants this
one little possession of mine...
is gonna have to ask me for it, pay
me for it, pay a handsome price at that.
You are gonna sweat the way I
sweated, the whole pack of you.
- Bart, listen to me.
- Now, don't follow me.
You start trailing along behind me,
I'm gonna punch you right in the teeth.
Drop it, Maverick.
Drop it and
nobody will get hurt.
This is your last chance
to get out of this alive.
This is my only
chance to get out alive.
Well, sounds like somebody is
celebrating July the sixth ahead of you.
Yeah. I'll catch up with them.
Had a few left over, folks.
Had to get rid of them.
Everything all right, Hazelton?
Get in here, quick.
Drop it.
Drop it, marshal.
I've just been
reading this stuff.
Somebody gave a lot
of time getting it together.
A private citizen over at
Grantsville. He gave it more than time.
The day he turned it over
to me, he was murdered.
Shouldn't be hard to
figure out who did it.
You know something, judge, that
Charles Sanderson Stewart fellow...
you said personified the spirit
and integrity of this territory...
he was really
something, wasn't he?
Good thing for him his great
heart failed him when it did.
Folks would have hung
him if all this got out.
Tell me something, judge.
Why did Mr. Stewart's great
heart fail him when it did?
Because a lady's husband
put a bullet through it.
Well, it's nice to have friends.
If a lady's husband had done that
to me, it would've got into the papers.
Are you the lady in
question, Mrs. Kilmer?
Hardly.
Governor Stewart was my father.
You've done a splendid job in
trying to protect your father's memory.
I'm confused as to what
you're trying to protect, judge.
This little dossier could
send a dozen men to prison...
and yet it ignores
you completely.
I had no connection
with the Stewart machine.
Judge Somervell is a federal
judge. You might keep that in mind.
Will you put that gun away?
I might at that, marshal.
I'm always respectful to
the force of law and order...
especially when they're honest and
upright public servants like you two.
Mr. Maverick, I wish
you'd give me those papers.
Oh, no. I don't know who went
to all the trouble of collecting this...
but by this time, I
feel awful close to it.
As I told Mrs. Kilmer, I've been
robbed, chased, shot at, and beat up...
all for this little
bundle of papers.
And now I'd like to see
what I can get for my pains.
If money is your weakness...
I can tell you where you can get
perhaps $50,000 for what you have.
The people who put those four
men on you, to beat you, to kill you...
- to get those papers from you.
- Who are these people?
The rottenest, most vicious
element in the whole west.
What's left of the
Stewart machine.
They'd give anything to get
those papers and destroy them.
What do you plan to do
with them, Your Honor?
That's a strange
thing, Mr. Maverick.
Those people, Janet and I,
all working against each other...
and yet we all wanted the same
thing. To hush the whole mess up.
You wanted to save
your family name...
they wanted to save the
corrupt Stewart machine.
- What did you wanna save, judge?
- I'll tell you what he wanted to save.
Uh-uh.
Your Honor.
I wanted to save a hundred thousand
people, the population of this territory...
from having statehood withheld
from them because of scandal.
That's why he came
to see me yesterday.
But as Janet suspected,
I've been changing my mind.
What changed it?
The sight of kidnapping,
violence and murder.
And the realization that if
we couldn't get into the union...
without bringing the whole
Stewart machine in with us...
we weren't ready for statehood.
All right.
But what are you ready for?
I'm ready to do what I wish I
could have done 10 years ago...
drag this whole mess
out into the sunlight.
Then we can go back to
Congress with clean hands.
I'm sorry, my dear.
There will be notoriety.
Sometimes innocent
people must be hurt.
You're spoiling a
beautiful speech, judge.
I can be sad about my
father but I can't be hurt.
Not anymore.
This is yours, marshal.
And I guess this is
yours, Your Honor.
Mr. Maverick, I'd still like to
have you settle down with us.
If I ever settle down, judge...
it won't be in a place where I can
lose $50,000 in just five minutes of play.
Miss Kilmer,
marshal, Your Honor.
I'm disappointed in you.
You are the last person I'd ever expect to
show such a shameless streak of decency.
You don't have
enough faith in me.
I had it all figured out.
If I'd sold the papers to those people,
they would have burned the papers.
And then burned me.
Well, just so the whole thing won't be
a total loss, I'll let you buy my dinner.
man who stole the suitcase.
He can give you some details
on how Farfan was killed.
- Who was killed?
- Farfan.
- The man whose room I was slugged in.
- When was all this?
What do you mean "when was all this"?
You saw it. You told me not to leave town.
Mister, I have never before
in my life laid eyes on you.
From the entertainment
capital of the world...
produced for television
by Warner Bros.
I enjoy a good Fourth of July...
as much as any other
fun-loving American boy.
But when you're three days late for
an appointment in Denver, Colorado...
I predict that this will be the last
time that we will ever celebrate...
the Fourth of July in this
territory and under this flag.
Next year at this time...
that glorious old banner will
be replaced with a new one...
a flag with 39 stars.
Thank you. Marked by the...
The stagecoach is sure
taking its time getting into town.
Well, what's the difference? It'd take
even longer to beat its way out again.
One man's name personifies...
the vigor, the integrity
and the soul of this territory.
It has been his efforts and his spirit that
are belatedly bringing statehood to us.
It is a sad thing to me that on
the very threshold of his triumph...
his great heart
should have failed him.
The new star in the new
flag will serve forever...
as a memorial to Charles
Sanderson Stewart.
Yes, that's great. You betcha.
- Oh, small world, Mr. Maverick.
- Room for everyone.
Glad you could be with us,
judge. You too, Mrs. Kilmer.
Come see us again.
Always a pleasure, Mr. Dixon.
DIXON: Thank you, sir.
Come on!
I reckon it's good to be
home again, Mrs. Kilmer.
Do you find the
territory changed much?
Many things have changed,
Mr. Farfan. Others not at all.
I didn't like you when you
were hanging on to Stewart...
and I don't like you now either.
You're, uh, new to the territory,
aren't you, Mr. Maverick?
Just passing through.
Just passing through like
a Kansas twister, judge.
Mr. Maverick here cleaned out the
poker game in Grantsville last night.
That's somewhat of an
exaggeration, Mr. Farfan.
Don't you believe it, judge.
Why, he exaggerated
me right out of $600.
Well, you see, Mr. Maverick, the
territory is the land of opportunity.
When you decide to settle down with
the rest of us, this is the place for it.
I try not to think of that, sir.
My old pappy used to say
work is all right for killing time...
but it's a shaky
way to make a living.
Capital City, folks.
That one.
Just a minute.
- Mr. Maverick?
- Who else?
- You have a visitor in the lobby.
- Well, sorry, I don't need any.
- Yes, sir. But what will I tell her?
- Her?
- Yes, sir?
- The lady that wanted to see me?
Lady? I haven't seen any lady.
The bellboy told me there
was a lady waiting for me here.
Bellboy? Well, that would
have been some time ago.
That would have been
three minutes ago.
Well, I ought to know.
The bellboy's been off
duty for the past 45 minutes.
I let him off to go
see the parade.
I had the unpleasant feeling
when I got back to my room...
the $2600 I'd left in my
suitcase would be gone.
It was gone all right.
And the suitcase with it.
This bellboy, what
does he look like?
Well, uh, like a bellboy.
About 17 years old and...
Hey, you can't do that.
"Charles W. Farfan," the
loudmouth on the stagecoach...
who not only knew about my money but
seemed to have a personal interest in it.
I didn't really think
I'd find him in...
but then I didn't have anything
else to do at the moment.
Farfan was in, all right,
but my suitcase wasn't.
All I know is that somebody stole
my traveling bag with $2600 in it.
This fellow Farfan, he knew I had
the money so I went looking for him.
And when he didn't answer
my knock, I pushed in his door...
and there he lay, dead.
How did he know you had
money? Friend of yours?
We were playing together in
a poker game in Grantsville.
- He won?
- I won.
I'm gonna do my best to
find my man and your money.
And while I am doing it...
don't you make any plans
that involve leaving town.
No, you better just
lie back and rest.
Now, it's dangerous
to be moving around...
when there's possibility
you may have concussion.
Thanks, doc.
Oh.
They took all your money?
Say, maybe I didn't read down
far enough on your guest register.
You got a Mr. Bigelow
here? A Quincy Bigelow?
- Yeah, Room 210.
- Two...
Now, now, no violence, Mr. Maverick.
We've had enough violence.
Mr. Bigelow was another
of my fellow passengers...
the quiet, chubby one.
He knew about the money too, and
he had a sneakier look than the judge.
Looks like Mr. Bigelow
stepped out.
No luggage. He skipped out.
And owing me a
whole night's room rent.
He owes me a lot more than that.
- My suitcase.
- I hope you haven't been inconvenienced.
I hope not, judge.
Won't you come in?
I must apologize, Mr. Maverick.
I had to make another
Fourth of July speech.
I didn't discover we'd switched suitcases
until I got home just a little while ago.
Well, everything's
just dandy, judge.
You, uh, seem to find that
astonishing, Mr. Maverick.
Forgive me, Judge Somervell.
So much has happened today,
I'm afraid I'm a little bit sour.
It was kind of you to
bring this up yourself.
Not at all.
Now, if I may have my own
bag back, I'll be on my way.
I hate to tell you this, judge,
but your bag has been stolen.
- Stolen?
- From this room, while I was out.
I don't believe you.
Judge Somervell, you, uh,
seem to be calling me a liar.
I'm afraid I am.
In which case, you're
also calling me a thief.
That would logically follow.
Would you like to explain your
logic or go ahead with shooting?
Whichever you
prefer, Mr. Maverick.
If you're planning on something
clever, I won't hesitate to use this.
We were talking about logic.
We have one coincidence when
you get on the same stagecoach as I...
carrying the same
type of suitcase.
We have another coincidence when we
get off the stagecoach at the same point...
and you take the wrong bag.
And we have a third, when
some sneak thief turns up...
before you've had a chance
to discover the difference.
All this goes a step
beyond plausibility.
It goes a step
short of logic, judge.
It doesn't explain what I'd want with
a whole satchel full of your dirty shirts.
You and I know perfectly well
we're not talking about shirts.
Do we know what
we are talking about?
We're talking about something
of great personal value to me.
Something you have taken
and I'm going to get back.
By whatever methods
you force me to use.
That's a fascinating riddle,
judge. But I need one more clue.
If this thing is of value only to you,
why would I go to trouble to steal it?
And why would I leave
$2600 in my suitcase for you?
When you figure that one
out, tell it to the marshal.
He's out looking
for your suitcase too.
- You went to the marshal?
- No. He came to me.
I don't understand.
While I was swiping your laundry,
somebody was tapping me over the head...
and killing our mutual
friend, Mr. Farfan.
Oh, but you hadn't heard
about any of that, had you?
No. Uh...
- No, I hadn't.
- Well, that's very interesting, judge.
I'm almost tempted to stick
around, see how it turns out. Almost.
If you should get an answer...
please let me know at the
Brown Palace Hotel in Denver.
Good night, sir.
Mr. Maverick. What
a pleasant surprise.
Mrs. Kilmer.
I was expecting to meet somebody
here but I can't seem to find him.
Well, this is a great little
place for that sort of thing.
Perhaps he'll turn up yet. Join
me for coffee while you're waiting?
- That's very kind of you.
- Not at all.
You must have thought
me quite rude this afternoon.
It's just that these last few days
have been rather exhausting for me.
I can imagine. The territory is
a surprisingly lively little place.
Something going on all the time.
Well, it's certainly
not like Philadelphia.
No, it isn't.
Are you from the
east, Mr. Maverick?
East Texas.
- You miss Philadelphia?
- Only a native could miss Philadelphia.
And you're not a native?
I'm a native of right
here, Mr. Maverick.
I went east to school.
I married there.
I was widowed there.
Oh, I'm sorry.
At least now you're
back with your own family.
I have no family
anymore, Mr. Maverick.
- Oh, I assumed that Judge Somervell was...
- He's an old friend of the family.
That's strange, Mr. Maverick.
I somehow got the impression that
you and the judge knew each other.
Only instinctively.
He's a very pleasant man.
He's a very shrewd man.
Well, that's a great help.
- Is it?
- Isn't it?
It's your move, Mr. Maverick.
I don't even know what
we're playing, Mrs. Kilmer.
I'm really not interested in who
you are or whom you're working for...
but I want that suitcase back...
and I'm willing to pay you
quite handsomely for it.
That's very generous
of you, but I'm afraid
when you report back
to Judge Somervell...
you're gonna have to tell him my answer
to you is the same as my answer to him.
Whatever it is he's
looking for, I haven't got it.
Very well.
I'm also ready
to fight you for it.
I'd like to oblige
you there too.
But I'm holding up a very
important poker game in Denver.
I'm surprised that your
friend hasn't shown up yet.
Mr. Maverick, you were the
friend I was expecting to find.
It seems that this will be a dirtier
game than I was prepared for.
Oh, how nice. We're neighbors.
- Did you see it?
- See what?
I'll show you. You go into
all that work behind the line...
without ever seeing
what goes on up front.
- What?
- What indeed, Mrs. Kilmer?
Now we know where your friend
was while you were giving me business.
I don't know anything
about any of this.
Of course. You were spending
all that time being charming...
which is your true nature,
but let me tell you something.
I don't know who you
think I am, but I'm not.
I'm an easy-going, fun-loving sort of boy
up to a point, which we have just passed.
I don't like being knocked on the
head and having my room ransacked...
and my clothing strewn
all over everywhere.
I'm not neat, but I'm lazy.
You listen to this, Mrs. Kilmer. I
want you to pass it on to the judge...
and any other playful friends
you might have around here.
I'm going down to the stagecoach office
to make sure of getting a ticket out.
And I hope to be leaving
your city in the morning.
But if any more of this holiday
festivities come anywhere near me...
I'm not gonna be responsible
for anything I do to you people.
Good night, Mrs. Kilmer.
Hey.
Go!
Let's try it again,
Maverick. Where is it?
Where is what?
You're not really trying. That's
the one you used last time.
This is taking up
an awful lot of time.
I don't even know
what you're after.
I can't tell whether you're
stubborn or just stupid.
But either way
you're not thinking.
All right, Tiny.
I don't know how he
feels, but I'm wore out.
Well, maybe he's already
passed the stuff along to his friends.
- Yeah, maybe he hasn't got it.
- He's got it.
You're a tough boy, aren't you?
I'm not tough, but I'm not
stupid either. If I knew what...
I wanna give you cooperation, my friend,
but you're making it awfully tedious.
- Back to work.
- No.
We're going to
try something else.
I'm going to let him go and
see what happens that way.
Here's what we're
going to do, Mr. Maverick.
We're going to give you 24
hours to dig it up and hand it over.
Twenty-four hours.
I'm not going to follow you,
we're not going to watch you.
Wherever you are this time tomorrow
night, we're going to be there too.
If you haven't got that
package to hand over to us...
we're not gonna bother
you with any more questions.
We're going to kill
you. Is that clear?
Nothing is clear.
- Well, get this one thing very clear.
- I...
What you're thinking about right now won't
work because you can't run far enough.
When you run, we'll catch you.
When we catch you, we'll kill you.
I need help.
- Ah. Good morning, Mr. Hazelton.
- Good morning.
- What's the news from Washington?
- What's ever the news from Washington?
Well, they didn't even
mention the statehood bill.
They're going to pass a
bill against grasshoppers.
Well, I'll tell you one thing...
if we still had Governor
Stewart as our delegate...
he'd get action
out of those people.
- He was a fine man all right.
- Well, he certainly was.
And forceful too. If we had him
working for us in Congress, it would be...
If you'll campaign for me,
I might take the job myself.
- Are you a forceful man?
- No, no, but I could learn.
I called to see if my, uh, friend,
Bart Maverick, had checked out yet.
Well, unfortunately, he hasn't.
His luggage is
still up in his room.
But, uh, well, he didn't
come in last night.
Yes, he did.
Put this in his box, will you?
This isn't my room.
It's mine. You fell in on
your way home last night.
- Who beat you up?
- I don't know.
Who knew I was going out?
Tell me, who did you blame all
your troubles on before I came along?
Miss Kilmer, before you came
along, I didn't know what trouble was.
Go on with your story.
Well, by some
strange coincidence...
just 10 minutes after I
told you I was going out...
four strange men ti...
- Strangers to both of us, of course.
- Of course.
Tied me up in a basement
and tried to beat me to death.
- For no reason at all?
- They wanted something from me.
- Wanted what?
- They didn't say.
Maybe they wanted
the judge's laundry.
Which, of course,
you don't have.
No.
They gave me 24 hours to deliver
it. If I don't, they promised to kill me.
And they said it so sincerely
that I just had to believe them.
What are you going to do?
I'm gonna do my level best to
give them whatever it is they want.
Mrs. Kilmer, what's in
the judge's suitcase?
- I can't tell you.
- You're gonna have to tell me.
I'm very sorry but I can't.
When my life's at stake,
that's not a substantial answer.
I'm in something deep
and you're a part of it.
Mr. Maverick, I don't have
people beaten up nor killed.
Then who do you know who does?
Do you feel up to going out?
If there's a good reason.
I think there is.
It's not the same basement.
Judge.
I can't tell you how
happy this makes me.
That was a pleasant
break in the monotony.
At any rate, I'm glad Judge
Somervell wasn't involved.
- Oh, we don't know that at all.
- We don't?
No, we just know his
basement wasn't involved.
You know, I've been assuming through
all this that you don't have a basement.
Not with me.
That's him, Bigelow.
Where's the nearest stable?
- Other end of town.
- Who's rig, the judge's?
- Yes.
- Good. Tell him I borrowed it.
You're not going.
You'll make better
time if you don't argue.
You're right, I got no time
to argue. Now step off.
You really expect me
to believe you'd use that?
Whoa, hey, whoa! Whoa, whoa!
He got off.
Got off where?
Well, about the middle
of nowhere, ma'am.
I let him off back at the old wagon
road. He headed north on foot.
- North?
- What's north?
Nothing.
Thanks.
Hup!
Since Bigelow was on foot...
his tracks were easy to follow.
That is, till it got too
dark to go any further.
There's nobody up here.
Tired, huh?
A little bit.
Eiderdown.
It's the first nice thing that's
happened to me since Grantsville.
You're very kind.
It's as good a
place to stay as any.
Of course, the dining room isn't much,
but then I won't be sleeping on a table.
It's been a long afternoon.
Yeah, but it can't
get too long for me.
- Well, you're not discouraged, are you?
- No. If you can be optimistic, so can I.
You have twice
as far to go as I do.
Have I?
Well, all I have to do
is find the Easter egg.
You not only have to find it,
you gotta take it away from me.
- That's right.
- And I'm bigger than you are.
I sure wish there was some
way for us to go partners.
Yes, but there isn't.
It's hard work
going around circles.
Mm.
- Miss Kilmer...
- Janet.
All right. Janet.
Tell me something.
If you grew up back there in the
capital, why are you staying in a hotel?
I was staying at Judge Somervell's.
We had a difference of opinion.
But you did have a home
when you were growing up?
- You didn't live in a wigwam.
- No.
I was a spoiled
child of the rich.
I was a spoiled
child of the poor.
It was a big, white house...
with a big green lawn.
And a big, dark basement?
Yes, but you've never seen it.
All right.
But if I had a house like
that, that's where I'd stay.
I went back there.
It was spooky.
Nobody there but me.
What about Philadelphia?
Nobody there but me.
Feel better?
Mm. Much better.
Bart.
Mm-hm?
This doesn't change anything.
It doesn't?
We're both searching for the same
thing and only one of us can get it.
And no matter how
I feel right now...
I'll double-cross
you when I have to...
because I have to.
Try not to be surprised.
Didn't I close that door?
Yes, you did.
A friend of yours?
- I bet it was Bigelow.
- Bigelow doesn't know we're following him.
And he doesn't have a horse.
Good morning.
Where is the suitcase?
Suitcase?
The suitcase you stole
from my room. Where is it?
- I don't have it.
- Don't tell me you don't have it.
I get a little angry when
everybody thinks I'm stupid.
Well, what would I
want with your suitcase?
Why'd you send a message up to my room
asking me to see a lady down in the lobby?
I didn't.
- No, I swear, I didn't.
- What did you do?
Well, I was in my room.
It's between your room
and the other gentleman's...
and I just happened to overhear
the bellboy give you a message.
Yeah?
I heard you leave your room and
then I heard you come back and lock it.
I knew you had to be
leaving your money in there.
So I went out my window,
along the ledge to your window.
Climbed in and helped
yourself to my suitcase.
- That's right.
- Come on, Bigelow.
There's more to
the story than that.
Yes.
I was only in your room for a little while
and I heard Farfan come out of his room.
Came down the hall to your door
and started trying keys in the lock.
- Go on.
- Well, I could barely get out in time.
He wasn't in there very long and I
heard him rush back to his own room.
Then he started arguing
with somebody. Very loud.
Then there was a fight.
And all of a
sudden it was quiet.
Then I heard a noise.
It was like something dropping
on the floor, like a body.
Then what?
I waited for a while.
I didn't hear a sound.
- Then I went out the back way.
- With the suitcase?
- I didn't know what I was doing.
- When did you know?
I stopped down in the alley and looked
through the suitcase for the money.
- But it wasn't there.
- What was there?
In the suitcase. What
was in the suitcase?
Clothes and papers.
A bundle of papers
about that thick.
Letters?
Letters, documents, marked
deposition, some canceled bank drafts.
- I didn't stop to read them.
- Where are they?
I got rid of them.
I threw the suitcase through a
window in a vacant warehouse.
What warehouse? Where?
The one in back of the hotel
with the "for sale" sign on it.
Let's go.
Well, can I get my
things together?
Well, take your time.
Janet.
Janet!
Mr. Bigelow wasn't built
for walking far or fast...
and it was late afternoon
when we finally limped...
back into Capital City.
Not finding it wasn't
really a surprise.
My little friend, Janet,
had been here and gone.
Well, it should have
landed right here.
I don't know where it could have
gone. Nobody ever uses this warehouse.
Well, I think I know
where it could have gone.
But, uh, if it's all right with
you I'll drop you off first.
Marshal. Mr. Bigelow, the
man who stole the suitcase.
He can give you some details
on how Farfan was killed.
- Who was killed?
- Farfan.
- The man whose room I was slugged in.
- When was all this?
What do you mean "when was all this"?
You saw it. You told me not to leave town.
Mister, I have never before
in my life laid eyes on you.
Uh, what about the local
doctor and the hotel clerk?
How's their memory?
About same as mine.
Bart, what are you doing
here? You're in danger.
- Where is it?
- I don't know. I haven't got it.
I rode straight to the warehouse.
I've searched it from top to bottom.
The suitcase wasn't
there. Please believe me.
Don't I always believe
everything you tell me?
You don't believe me.
Bart, I didn't want you to
walk all the way back to town...
but it was the only way.
And I told you I
would do it if I had to.
I'm sorry I had to.
You have anything
else to tell me?
It wasn't in the warehouse.
Now if you'll excuse
me, I'm half a day late
for an appointment
I'm still trying to duck.
What do you want?
You are looking for something?
Yeah. I'm looking for a wagon
that used to be right here.
You are, uh, thinking
of shooting it?
I'm sorry, I guess I'm
just a little bit jumpy.
What do you want
with Louie's wagon?
Uh, I wanna talk to Louie.
Well, you don't need
an appointment for that.
He is living down in an old
red shack, two streets down.
Thanks.
Hey, mister.
When you see Louie, you tell him to
keep his wagon out of my warehouse.
And you too.
It's just papers and things.
Is that what you
was looking for?
I sure hope so.
Some of your kinfolks, eh?
Hey, Louie, you know a good bank
around here with safe deposit boxes?
The First National, I think.
It's next door to Rupert's Café.
Thanks.
Bart.
Bart. Bart, you found it.
- I found it.
- And what are you gonna do with it?
I'm gonna find a little
nest and I'm gonna sit on it.
- You don't know. It's dangerous.
- No, not for me, not if I play it right.
Bart, please give it to me.
That's very kind of you, Mrs.
Kilmer, most self-sacrificing...
but I couldn't impose upon you.
Whatever this is, for better or worse,
it's mine. I went to a lot of trouble.
Beaten, tracked down, bullied,
threatened, and I still came out ahead.
Anybody who wants this
one little possession of mine...
is gonna have to ask me for it, pay
me for it, pay a handsome price at that.
You are gonna sweat the way I
sweated, the whole pack of you.
- Bart, listen to me.
- Now, don't follow me.
You start trailing along behind me,
I'm gonna punch you right in the teeth.
Drop it, Maverick.
Drop it and
nobody will get hurt.
This is your last chance
to get out of this alive.
This is my only
chance to get out alive.
Well, sounds like somebody is
celebrating July the sixth ahead of you.
Yeah. I'll catch up with them.
Had a few left over, folks.
Had to get rid of them.
Everything all right, Hazelton?
Get in here, quick.
Drop it.
Drop it, marshal.
I've just been
reading this stuff.
Somebody gave a lot
of time getting it together.
A private citizen over at
Grantsville. He gave it more than time.
The day he turned it over
to me, he was murdered.
Shouldn't be hard to
figure out who did it.
You know something, judge, that
Charles Sanderson Stewart fellow...
you said personified the spirit
and integrity of this territory...
he was really
something, wasn't he?
Good thing for him his great
heart failed him when it did.
Folks would have hung
him if all this got out.
Tell me something, judge.
Why did Mr. Stewart's great
heart fail him when it did?
Because a lady's husband
put a bullet through it.
Well, it's nice to have friends.
If a lady's husband had done that
to me, it would've got into the papers.
Are you the lady in
question, Mrs. Kilmer?
Hardly.
Governor Stewart was my father.
You've done a splendid job in
trying to protect your father's memory.
I'm confused as to what
you're trying to protect, judge.
This little dossier could
send a dozen men to prison...
and yet it ignores
you completely.
I had no connection
with the Stewart machine.
Judge Somervell is a federal
judge. You might keep that in mind.
Will you put that gun away?
I might at that, marshal.
I'm always respectful to
the force of law and order...
especially when they're honest and
upright public servants like you two.
Mr. Maverick, I wish
you'd give me those papers.
Oh, no. I don't know who went
to all the trouble of collecting this...
but by this time, I
feel awful close to it.
As I told Mrs. Kilmer, I've been
robbed, chased, shot at, and beat up...
all for this little
bundle of papers.
And now I'd like to see
what I can get for my pains.
If money is your weakness...
I can tell you where you can get
perhaps $50,000 for what you have.
The people who put those four
men on you, to beat you, to kill you...
- to get those papers from you.
- Who are these people?
The rottenest, most vicious
element in the whole west.
What's left of the
Stewart machine.
They'd give anything to get
those papers and destroy them.
What do you plan to do
with them, Your Honor?
That's a strange
thing, Mr. Maverick.
Those people, Janet and I,
all working against each other...
and yet we all wanted the same
thing. To hush the whole mess up.
You wanted to save
your family name...
they wanted to save the
corrupt Stewart machine.
- What did you wanna save, judge?
- I'll tell you what he wanted to save.
Uh-uh.
Your Honor.
I wanted to save a hundred thousand
people, the population of this territory...
from having statehood withheld
from them because of scandal.
That's why he came
to see me yesterday.
But as Janet suspected,
I've been changing my mind.
What changed it?
The sight of kidnapping,
violence and murder.
And the realization that if
we couldn't get into the union...
without bringing the whole
Stewart machine in with us...
we weren't ready for statehood.
All right.
But what are you ready for?
I'm ready to do what I wish I
could have done 10 years ago...
drag this whole mess
out into the sunlight.
Then we can go back to
Congress with clean hands.
I'm sorry, my dear.
There will be notoriety.
Sometimes innocent
people must be hurt.
You're spoiling a
beautiful speech, judge.
I can be sad about my
father but I can't be hurt.
Not anymore.
This is yours, marshal.
And I guess this is
yours, Your Honor.
Mr. Maverick, I'd still like to
have you settle down with us.
If I ever settle down, judge...
it won't be in a place where I can
lose $50,000 in just five minutes of play.
Miss Kilmer,
marshal, Your Honor.
I'm disappointed in you.
You are the last person I'd ever expect to
show such a shameless streak of decency.
You don't have
enough faith in me.
I had it all figured out.
If I'd sold the papers to those people,
they would have burned the papers.
And then burned me.
Well, just so the whole thing won't be
a total loss, I'll let you buy my dinner.