MAN 1:
How'd that look?
MAN 2:
All right. Seems to work.
MAN 1:
Yeah.
STEELE:
This is terrific. For me, that is. You see, I've written about four hangings But I've never actually seen one. What's it like?
JUDGE:
Short rope, long drop.
STEELE:
"Short rope, long drop." Wonderful. Judge Travis? Judge Travis? Tell me about this man.
JUDGE:
Name's John Blackfox. Part Indian, drifter, horse thief. Got caught one too many times.
STEELE:
And you sentenced him to hang? This may be just the story I'm looking for. I don't believe this. I tell you, it is hard writing my books in New York having to make it all up. Although, 'Twin Guns Of Death' did real well-- about 10,000 copies. Probably read it.
JUDGE:
I missed it, I'm afraid.
STEELE:
I'll get you a copy.
JUDGE:
I'm not much for fiction, Mr. Steele.
STEELE:
That's okay. Let me just, uh... Yeah.
JUDGE:
JD
JD:
Sorry to bother you But the prisoner said he'd only speak with you.
BLACKFOX:
Judge, I didn't know if you'd come.
JUDGE:
And why am I here?
BLACKFOX:
I want to trade, Judge.
JUDGE:
Trade?
BLACKFOX:
I got information. I give it to you, you call off the hanging. I'll sit in a cell but I don't want to be at the end of no rope.
JUDGE:
Doesn't work that way. You know that.
BLACKFOX:
Judge, this is about a murder. Three years ago, east of here out past Eagle Bend. I was there.
JUDGE:
You took part in a murder? You think that's going to get you leniency?
BLACKFOX:
No, no, you don't understand. I was there, yeah but I didn't do nothing.
JUDGE:
Information about a three-year-old murder doesn't count for much.
BLACKFOX:
It was two murders, Judge. A woman and a boy.
JUDGE:
How'd they die?
BLACKFOX:
They burned... in a fire. Their name was Larabee.
CHRIS:
JD
JD:
I was, uh, just about ready to take a break.
CHRIS:
I hear you're interested in making a deal. You an eyewitness to the Larabee killings?
BLACKFOX:
Yeah. Who are you?
CHRIS:
Chris.... Chris Larabee.
CHRIS:
The woman's name was Sarah. She was my wife. The boy's name was Adam, my son.
BLACKFOX:
I didn't kill them, Mister.
CHRIS:
Who did?
BLACKFOX:
I don't know that neither. But I was... I was there.
CHRIS:
Tell me.
BLACKFOX:
I was hired. Me and two other cowboys. One night in a saloon. We was all pretty much drunk. A man comes in, offers us $50 apiece. Said it was to scare some folks off their land.
CHRIS:
Go on!
BLACKFOX:
We rode out... the four of us. By the time we got to the spread I was sobering up and I didn't like it. So I told the others I'd stand guard and watch the horses. When I seen the flames I I got scared and I took off.
CHRIS:
You're lying!
BLACKFOX:
No, I'm not... ( gasping )
CHRIS:
Everybody around here knew about that fire you're telling me nothing but jailhouse lies to save your miserable skin. You're going back to jail!
BLACKFOX:
No, no, I'm telling... I'm telling the truth. I seen it happen. The house and the porch with the windmill beside it.
CHRIS:
You see a corral?
BLACKFOX:
I think so.
CHRIS:
Where was it?
BLACKFOX:
I don't remember. It was three years ago. No, no... it was... it was past the windmill... maybe 50 yards? It was empty. I could tell you more if I was standing there.
CHRIS:
Yeah. I bet you could.
STEELE:
May I ask how long you guys been riding with Larabee?
JOSIAH:
You mean with his killer outlaw gang?
STEELE:
Yes, yes, that's it. I've heard Larabee's A very formidable man.
JOSIAH:
Formidable? That don't tell it by half.
NATHAN:
Chris asked me and Josiah to ride along because it's good to have backup especially when lead starts flying.
STEELE:
Oh. What do you do when you're not helping Larabee?
JOSIAH:
I look and I listen.
STEELE:
Uh-huh. For, uh... what?
JOSIAH:
Daily confirmation of the hand of God in all things.
NATHAN:
Josiah's been fixing up that church here in town.
STEELE:
Well, I've never seen a "man of the cloth" carrying a gun before.
NATHAN:
Josiah can get very "Old Testament" on occasion.
STEELE:
That's good, that's good.
CHRIS:
You ready?
NATHAN:
Just about.
STEELE:
Chris Larabee, right? Jock Steele, Steele Publishing from New York. Mister Larabee, I'm going to make you a very famous man by coming along. I am going to chronicle your search for justice. 'Larabee's Bloody Revenge'. See, I'm all packed... even brought the camera and the developer.
CHRIS:
You're not coming with us.
STEELE:
But I have to. I'll miss the story. Whoo!
CHRIS:
Won't stop you from writing it.
STEELE:
But... now, wait a minute. Guys? If you just hold on... um... hold on one m... wait a minute. Come on, mule, mucho pronto, right now... so I can get on... ho-hold on.
CHRIS:
Tell me about the two men you rode with that night.
BLACKFOX:
Not much to tell. Never seen 'em before, ain't seen 'em since.
CHRIS:
Big? Little? Fair? Dark?
BLACKFOX:
We rode at night and I didn't pay 'em much mind.
CHRIS:
Well, think.
BLACKFOX:
Only thing I remember is one of 'em had a single silver spur in his boot. Leastwise, he said it was silver. Claimed it was his good luck charm.
CHRIS:
What about the man who hired you?
BLACKFOX:
Hard man... not the kind you want to stare at. I remember his horse though... maybe 16 hands high. One of the cowboys said it looked a lot like Robert E. Lee's horse, whatever the hell that means.
CHRIS:
Big gray.
NATHAN:
Rider coming up fast. It's Buck.
BUCK:
Whoa, whoa.
CHRIS:
You out for a ride?
BUCK:
Heard you were going back.
CHRIS:
No need for you to come along.
BUCK:
Yes, sir, there is. I'm the man that talked you into staying down in Mexico that night... and I keep thinking if we'd have just rode back...
CHRIS:
I could have come back alone. You didn't keep me there. Let it go.
BUCK:
Sarah was my friend, too, Chris and I think you know how I felt about that boy of yours. So, if it's all the same I think I'll ride this one out with you.
CHRIS:
Suit yourself.
BLACKFOX:
Any chance of unlocking these here cuffs? They get to chafing pretty bad.
CHRIS:
You run, I'll hang you myself.
( gunshot )
CHRIS:
Anybody got him?
BUCK:
I think.
CHRIS:
Buck... Nathan, Josiah, watch Blackfox.
JOSIAH:
Now, that there's divine intervention. Me, I was going to shoot your hand off.
( distant howling ) ( gunshot )
CHRIS:
Boo.
STEELE:
( gasping ) ( relieved sighing ) Thank God you're here.
CHRIS:
You just about got yourself killed.
STEELE:
Sorry I followed you, but I have to have this story. I, uh, got a little lost and then I heard something.
( distant howling )
STEELE:
There. Coyote? Maybe a wolf! Okay, then.
BUCK:
Who is this guy?
CHRIS:
Nobody. Leave him.
BUCK:
You mind if I just shoot him?
STEELE:
What? Now, wait a minute.
BUCK:
Wait.
STEELE:
What?
BUCK:
What's that?
STEELE:
Where? Coyote, I told you. Coyote.
BUCK:
Run. Run away.
STEELE:
Was I right?
( child laughing )
ADAM:
Come on, Buck. Come on, Buck.
SARAH:
Adam?
ADAM:
Come on, Buck. Give me a ride. Come on, Buck. Give me a ride.
BUCK:
Get on board, pardner. Come on. You'll be riding like your daddy real soon.
SARAH:
I'll miss you.
CHRIS:
Hey, buddy. Big smile, huh? Come here, you. Buck give you a good ride there? Did he? Listen... I'm going away For a little bit. Take care of your mommy, okay? You promise?
ADAM:
Uh-huh.
( beckoning whistle )
ADAM:
Good-bye, papa.
CHRIS:
You're going to tell me exactly what happened that night. You understand me? From the moment you set foot on my property till the moment you took the lives... of my wife and son.
BLACKFOX:
I told you I didn't do...
NATHAN:
Chris! We found something.
NATHAN:
Came down here to refill the canteens. Looks like there's been a lot of heavy flooding down here the last few years. The soil's all washed away.
CHRIS:
Single spur.
JOSIAH:
Looks like we found the other two fellas Blackfox was riding with.
NATHAN:
Those men were shot from behind-- in the back of the head.
CHRIS:
Executed.
JOSIAH:
They didn't leave anything to providence either. Big bore gun, probably a .44.
NATHAN:
Chris, I think our man's left-handed.
CHRIS:
How can you tell that?
NATHAN:
Come at me like you was going to shoot me. Where's the barrel?
CHRIS:
Base of your skull.
NATHAN:
Right in the middle?
CHRIS:
Slightly to the right.
NATHAN:
Mm-hmm. See, Josiah's left-handed and when he did it he pointed slightly left of center-- same place where those men were shot. It's just a guess, but...
CHRIS:
It's a good one. Left-hander, big, gray horse. We're going up to the saloon in Eagle Bend.
BUCK:
Hold up. Hold on. Right here.
CHRIS:
Get off the bar.
JOSIAH:
Thank you.
BARTENDER:
Something for you?
CHRIS:
I'm looking for some answers.
BARTENDER:
I serve whiskey, not talk. Better go somewhere else. Take him with you.
CHRIS:
I'm interested in a man who rides a big gray, may be a lefty. Hired some men out of here a while ago.
BARTENDER:
Things go on in here are private. Now, I want you out of here before you're thrown out.
CHRIS:
Just tell me if you know the man.
BARTENDER:
My God. You don't hear very well.
JOSIAH:
Nice trip?
BARTENDER:
( groaning )
CHRIS:
Want to try this one more time?
BARTENDER:
Yeah. Yeah, sure.
CHRIS:
Know the man I was talking about?
BARTENDER:
I think so. He comes around once in a while. I don't know from where.
CHRIS:
What's his name?
BARTENDER:
I don't know, I swear.
CHRIS:
Describe him.
BARTENDER:
He's about your size, um, smokes thin, little cheroots had them special gloves.
CHRIS:
Special? How?
BARTENDER:
Well, one was kind of different. I figured 'cause his hand was crippled or withered or something.
CHRIS:
What else?
BARTENDER:
Not much. Yeah, 'cept he was real clean, like. He always brushed his clothes. He'd even wipe his glass out before he'd drink.
CHRIS:
We're taking rooms in the boarding house next door. If this man shows up, I'd appreciate you letting me know.
BARTENDER:
Yeah.
CHRIS:
Coming?
JOSIAH:
Figure I'll stick around a while. The service should be pretty good from here on out.
SHERIFF:
If you got Judge Travis's permission, you can keep your prisoner here. The cells are empty. Anything else you need you just let me know.
BLACKFOX:
Larabee... I didn't have no idea what was happening that night. It wasn't until the next morning that I heard people died in that fire. I'm sorry about your wife and boy.
FOWLER:
You sing a sweet song, John. Damn near brought me to tears.
BLACKFOX:
What the hell are you doing here?
FOWLER:
What are you doing in there?
BLACKFOX:
Trying to save my neck. They was going to hang me for stealing horses.
FOWLER:
So you dragged Larabee back here?
BLACKFOX:
He's dragging me. Look... he ain't found out nothing. He can't get close to you.
FOWLER:
Can't be sure about that, can we?
BLACKFOX:
Then kill him. Kill him and I'll take off and then we'll both get what we want.
FOWLER:
I don't know about you, John. I hired you to be my dog. We go to work, you turned into a mouse. You were useless. Now it seems you've turned into a rat. I love most animals, John. I hate rats.
CHRIS:
The bartender.
MAN:
One, two...
SHERIFF:
I hear there was a dust-up over at the saloon earlier.
BUCK:
Yeah. Chris killed the bartender and then he hung him up in his own room.
SHERIFF:
I'm not suggesting that but trouble seems to follow you around like a bad cold. Avoid it for the rest of your stay.
CHRIS:
You send word?
JOSIAH:
I had to drag the telegraph operator out of bed. That poor soul supposed to be our invitation to leave? Not very hospitable.
BUCK:
Really. Good reason to stick around; teach him some manners.
Where are you going?
JOSIAH:
Saloon.
CHRIS:
The son of a bitch is close enough to kill a man in my hotel room. Why are we sitting here eating breakfast?
JOSIAH:
It's the most important meal of the day.
CHRIS:
You think this is a joke, preacher man?!
BUCK:
Easy, partner. Easy.
NATHAN:
Calm down now. Calm down.
JOSIAH:
Nobody thinks This is a joke, Chris.
BUCK:
Our search party's going to get bigger real soon, and that's going to help, Chris. We're going to find him.
CHRIS:
Great.
STEELE:
Morning, boys.
BUCK:
You picked a bad time. Mister, you're like a piece of something a man can't scrape off the bottom of his boot. Did you follow us?
STEELE:
I had no choice. You left me out there wandering around for a day without any food. You going to eat that?
JOSIAH:
I'm going to go down to the dry goods store. Maybe this man orders his gloves custom-made.
NATHAN:
I'm going down to that horse livery, see if I can find big gray.
STEELE:
Mr. Jackson, Mr. Jackson I heard you're a doctor of sorts.
NATHAN:
No, sir. I ain't no doctor. I'm just interested in healing folks.
STEELE:
Interested. May I ask you a few questions? Please step outside with me for one second. From 'Slave To Surgeon,' you know, there's a story in your life, Mr. Jackson. If you'd just allow me to...
BUCK:
Chris, one in the wagon!
BUCK:
Steele, are you crazy?! Get down, you fool!
STEELE:
Hey, it's all right. They're not shooting at me. Ah! ( yells )
BUCK:
Chris, get down here. We'll cover you.
BUCK:
They're all over us!
JOSIAH:
What in heaven's name is that?
( donkey braying )
MAN 1:
Let's out of here!
MAN 2:
Come on!
EZRA:
Whoa!
CHRIS:
Now that was good timing.
EZRA:
Sorry for the delay.
VIN:
JD, Ezra, you'd best get down.
VIN:
Let's get after them.
VIN:
Figures their tracks would lead here. Back under the rock they crawled out from. Welcome to Purgatory, boys. A real hellhole.
BUCK:
Might want to take them alive-- find out who's paying them.
VIN:
Three men... one of them was on a paint.
STEELE:
Howdy, boys.
BUCK:
Good God almighty.
STEELE:
Go, mule, go.
( braying )
STEELE:
Purgatory. A Mexican bandit town. I've heard about it all my life and now I get to see it. Come on.
EZRA:
Mr. Steele my compatriots tell me that you're a servant of the muse-- a literary man?
STEELE:
Why, yes. I write about this.
EZRA:
High adventures in the untamed west.
STEELE:
Precisely. My books sell very well.
EZRA:
And the characters who people your books...if one were to, say, figure prominently in the narrative might there be some manner of monetary remuneration given to such a person?
STEELE:
Perhaps. Uh... royalties and such.
EZRA:
Royalties. Yes. You and I really must discuss the financial aspects of your business.
STEELE:
Why, I would be happy to Mister... um...?
EZRA:
Standish. Ezra Standish.
STEELE:
You wouldn't happen to have a card would you, Mr. Standish?
EZRA:
Matter of fact, I would.
CHRIS:
Come with me. We'll meet back at the cantina in an hour.
BUCK:
Nathan.
NATHAN:
Mm-hmm.
BUCK:
Hard to tell What he's going to do. Keep a good eye on him.
NATHAN:
All right.
STEELE:
Yep. Cantina. That's where I'm going.
EZRA:
That, I believe, would be imprudent.
STEELE:
Huh?
EZRA:
The local residents have a rather marked predisposition against people of your, uh... geographical origins.
STEELE:
Uh-huh. Oh, really? Well, if I heard right half the wanted men in the west are in this town-- men with stories to tell. Now, this is my first visit here and I'm goingto meet some of them.
EZRA:
Well, if you do, I can almost guarantee it'll be your last visit here.
CHRIS:
Nathan, there's our paint.
CHRIS:
Who's riding that paint out front? I said, Who's riding that paint?!
MAN 1:
Hold on here!
CHRIS:
Where is he? Where is he?!
MAN 2:
Number three-- right there. Number three.
CHRIS:
Who you working for?! Tell me!
( woman screaming )
CHRIS:
Who hired you?! I want a name!
MAN:
I'm not working for anybody.
CHRIS:
Is that your paint your horse out front?
MAN:
Yeah, it's mine.
CHRIS:
You tried to kill me. Why?
MAN:
It wasn't me. No! No!
CHRIS:
You tell me or I'll blow you all over this bedspread.
NATHAN:
Chris, it ain't him! That horse is fresh. It ain't been rode hard. Not in a while, at least.
MAN:
It's true. I haven't been out of town in over a week.
BUCK:
Oh! Oh!
JD:
What's the matter, Buck? Act like you never seen a man in a coffin before.
BUCK:
I've been that man in this town. Memory's hitting a little too close to home for me.
JD:
You look a little better than he does.
BUCK:
Thank you.
VIN:
JD, take a look. See if there's a hole in his left shoulder. Go on.
BUCK:
Go. Go.
JD:
It's the one on the paint pony. You are one hell of a shot, Vin.
( gunshot )
EZRA:
Well... Welcome to the festivities.
JD:
We heard the gunshot.
VIN:
Thought maybe somebody killed the little feller.
EZRA:
Kill him? Hell, they're about ready to elect him president.
STEELE:
Howdy, boys. Be with you in a minute.
EZRA:
He said he that he was a writer who was willing to pay for anyone's story as long as it was about murder and mayhem.
JOSIAH:
Of course, that appealed to the congregation. After that, the only fight was to see who was going to be first in line.
STEELE:
This is fantastic. Better than I ever dreamed. Do you know who that is I was just talking to? Dan Barnes. Uh-huh, the Dan Barnes.
VIN:
"Bloody-hand" Barnes.
STEELE:
He told me how he got his name. Ooh! Story's going to sell a million.
EZRA:
Congratulations.
MAN:
Hey, Steele! Come take another picture over here!
STEELE:
Oh. Let me see, here. My photograph should be dry by now. I took a shot with me and the boys.
CHRIS:
Find them?
BUCK:
I found one. Dead.
CHRIS:
Every time we get close to someone they end up in a pine box.
STEELE:
Here it is. That's me.
EZRA:
Lovely.
STEELE:
Thank you.
STEELE:
How you like that?
JOSIAH:
Nice likeness.
STEELE:
Thank you.
VIN:
Right there in the corner.
STEELE:
That's me.
VIN:
Notice the glove and the cheroot.
CHRIS:
Where was this taken?
STEELE:
Uh... here. About an hour again.
CHRIS:
Look at it. Is that him?
BLACKFOX:
Yeah. That's the man who killed your family.
CHRIS:
You know him?
BUCK:
Answer him.
OUTLAW:
Yeah, I seen him.
CHRIS:
What's his name? What is his name?
OUTLAW:
Fowler. Cletus Fowler.
BUCK:
That name mean anything to you?
CHRIS:
Never heard of him.
JD:
Two days of looking and nothing.
VIN:
Anything?
BUCK:
Some of the ranchers recognized Fowler's description. Nobody's seen him though.
STEELE:
What do we do now?
CHRIS:
I need a drink.
STEELE:
Ah, you know, this is for the birds. We have to do something. Come on, everything's going to grind to a halt if Larabee starts wallowing around inside of a bottle.
JOSIAH:
I'm going to assume your concern is for a man who lost his family.
STEELE:
Uh, yes. Of course.
VIN:
We're ready to keep looking. Sheriff and some of the local boys have agreed to help.
CHRIS:
Where do you think he is, Vin?
VIN:
I don't know. After that brush in Purgatory he knows that there are seven men going to hunt him down. Hell, he's probably long gone.
CHRIS:
My gut tells me different. Back when I was ranching I had some trouble with a mountain lion. Kept coming down at night and killing my stock. So I went after him. Tracked him for seven days up in the mountains. Fifth day out, I woke up, my pack horse was dead. Cougar had gotten him during the night. See, I was tracking that cat. All the while he was behind me... Watching me. That's how I feel about Fowler.
VIN:
Fine line 'tween hunter and hunted. All the more reason for us to go get him first.
CHRIS:
Wait. Have a drink.
VIN:
Okay, we'll meet back up here in three days.
STEELE:
I can't believe Larabee's not coming.
VIN:
Let's head out.
STEELE:
Come on. Go, mule.
JD:
Sure you don't want to ride with us, Buck?
( spurring horses on ) ( gunshot )
CHRIS:
Fowler!
( gunshot )
CHRIS:
Where are you?! Fowler!
( glass breaking ) ( hammer clicks )( grunts )( door squeaking ) ( door closes )
FOWLER:
Get up, you drunk. You found me.
CHRIS:
You killed my wife and son. Why?!
FOWLER:
It seemed like a good idea at the time. At least the money was right.
CHRIS:
Who hired you?
FOWLER:
Son, I'm a professional. I guarantee the anonymity of my clients. What I can tell you is... I was hired to go after you. Your little family was just unlucky. I do apologize for killing them but... I have to admit I enjoyed it. I'd have enjoyed killing you, too... But you ran off.
CHRIS:
You ran off! I've been looking for you for three years! You ran off!
FOWLER:
However... It was good enough for my client. But now you're back and I'm back on the payroll.
CHRIS:
What about Blackfox?
FOWLER:
Blackfox? He's local talent. Hard to find good help these days. I had to eviscerate him in his cell. I see you've got a symbiotic relationship going with that bottle. Too bad. Makes a man sloppy. Could get him perforated.
CHRIS:
You look like you brought an awful lot of men to kill one drunk.
FOWLER:
Yeah. Well, I have no problem delegating authority.
CHRIS:
Hey, Cletus. You sure do use big words for somebody so stupid.
CHRIS:
Buck! Don't kill him! Cover me!
CHRIS:
Where you going, boy?
Come on, Cletus! Get up! Get up!
Now you tell me who hired you. Tell me!
FOWLER:
I will. It was, uh... Let me think now. It was, uh... His name was... No. On second thought, go to hell.
CHRIS:
No!
JOSIAH:
"And so it ended in that as the cruel ironic hand of death encircled the killer in flames as it had done to Chris Larabee's wife and child so many years before. Yet, was it the end or would Chris Larabee ride again with the hard, complex men he'd come to know? Gunmen like Buck Wilmington and Vin Tanner, the bounty hunter with the price on his own head. The gambler Ezra or the greenhorn JD, Nathan, both healer and destroyer and Josiah, placing his faith only in God and his gun."