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The scene is of two riders on horseback with the sunset
behind them as credits flash across the screen. The scene changes to a busy and
prosperous looking town. A man lights a street lantern. H&C ride into town
at night.
It is night outside a saloon and the sound
of a piano in the background as a few men enter. Inside the saloon a roulette wheel spinning,
patrons placing bets, cards being dealt, drinks being served, a piano playing,
and all manner of games.
A poker game is in progress with H&C seated beside each
other at the same table. They lose the hand after a gentleman uncovers the
cards of another player.
Man: Well at least let the rest of us get a look at it.
H&C say that they will sit a few hands out and leave the game. They get up from
the table and are walking to the bar.
Heyes: What do you want to do about it?
Kid: I don't know; let's find out how much trouble we'll find first.
They approach the bar and are greeted by a humorous and friendly bartender.
Mike (bartender): What'll it be gents?
Mike goes on to explain the difference between the real good whiskey and the regular.
Mike: Good whiskey comes in a clean glass.
Heyes: The owner around?
Mike: Back yonder in the office.
H&C knock and enter the office.
They are unexpectedly greeted by a woman. She is the owner. Heyes explains
that there are two poker players using a trick called "The Spread."
He says that if it is house policy that they have learned not to fight it.
The woman doesn't understand and claims the games are honest. They thank her and
leave the office. She follows to the door and opens it to watch.
H&C return to the same poker table, the winning
gentlemen ask if they are back to donate some more. Heyes responds that they
are going to try their best not to. The hand plays out. At the end of the hand,
Heyes has 3 tens. The gentleman reaches
up, puts his cards on the table and replies that it is no good because he has 3
kings. Heyes reaches forward to put his hand on the edge of the cards as the
other gentleman begins to say lets show 'em.
Heyes (with a wink): I hope you're not counting the King in his hand.
The second gentleman begins to draw his hand back.
Kid (gun drawn and he slowly cocks it): Move your hand
another inch and I'm gonna blow a hole in it.
The saloon is silent and all eyes are at their table. Heyes
says that unless the rules have changed you're each supposed to be playing with
your own hand. He turns the other man's hand over to reveal a card hidden.
It is a King. He throws it on the table. Two of the cowboys from the table angrily
push back their chairs and begin to rise.
Kid: Easy boys. Easy.
They sit back down.
Heyes (smiles and draws the pot towards himself): I guess
this belongs to me.
Heyes pays everyone at the table out of the conmen's stash
all the money that was lost during the game and keeps the rest.
(Aside) The owner waves Mike at the bar over to her office.
The gentlemen protest that some of that money is money that they started with.
Kid responds that they should consider it the price of being delivered from sin.
One of the angry cowboys adds that the men ought to get out right now.
After the excitement is over, the bartender, Mike approaches H&C.
Mike: If you gents have a minute Ms. Cunningham would like
to see you in her office.
There is a quick scene outside the saloon into the night
street. Then, back to the office where H&C are properly introduced to the
owner, Mary Cunningham. She says that she really admired the way they handled
the situation at the poker table. She asks if they are planning to stay long in
town. Kid says that they are passing through on their way to Clearwater because
there is a cattle drive forming up there. She wonders about cattle herding, it
doesn't seem like it would pay much. $20 a month. It seems like hard work.
18-20 hours a day in the saddle. She asks why they don't look for better work.
Heyes says they try. Kid glosses over the job, fresh air, sleeping out under
the stars, canned tomatoes. (Heyes looking at Kid) She thinks it might be better
than spending the evening in a smoke-filled room, watching tables all night and
maybe $40 a piece a month. The guys look at each other. She explains that she
is recently a widow and is having trouble with the saloon. She doesn't understand
why the saloon is doing business but not making the profits it used to for her husband.
Kid asks what kind of problems is she having. She doesn't know. She has tried to sell
the place, but she can't find a buyer. She says that she is desperate.
Heyes: Desperate enough to make it $50 a month?
Yes, she is that desperate.
The scene again outside the saloon shows it is nighttime.
Inside the saloon, the guys are watching everything, more scenes of gambling
and drinking with the piano going in the background. Heyes goes up to the blackjack table,
taps a guy on the shoulder, and whispers in his ear.
 The
guy gets up and leaves the table. Heyes motions the blackjack dealer to side.
Heyes: Like your job?
He tells the dealer that he can keep the job until he is
spotted bringing in another agent. The dealer acts surprised. Heyes says he
knows what an agent is and that he can spot the action from across the room.
He asks the dealer if they understand each other. The dealer says that they do.
At closing time, the guys are at the end of the bar. Mike is counting money.
Heyes: How did we do Mike?
Kid: How are you doing?
Mike: Pour you fellas a drink?
Kid: No, pour yourself one. I think you are going to need it.
Heyes: We figure you're stealing about $15 a night.
Mike: That's a dang lie.
Kid removes his gun from his holster and puts it on the bar. Mike watches.
Mike takes a drink, but protests that it is still a lie.
Heyes: All right, maybe it's 20 a night.
Mike asks if he is going to get fired. No, they just don't
want him stealing anymore. Heyes says he has been bartending a long while and
it is only their 3rd night of saloon managing. He tells Mike that he is going to
pay for the privilege of working there, $15 a night, starting tonight.
The scene is daytime outside in an alley, Kid practices shooting, firing at a can.
Heyes: You mind doing that someplace else; I'm trying to figure out these bills.
Kid: Gotta keep my hand in it, don't I?
Heyes: Why? A little luck and you won't have to use that anymore.
Kid: You keep saying that and I keep believing you, but we never seem to get that lucky.
Heyes looking at the bills mumbles that she is overcharged for cards and chips.
Mrs. Cunningham comes with two young children. She doesn't
know how to account for it but they did better last night than the night before.
Her boy says to kid that he can draw that real fast, but he bets the Kid can't draw
faster than the sheriff. Kid draws. The boy says that the Sheriff is not that
fast and asks if Kid would teach him.
Kid: Yep, I could but I'm not gonna. You saw how fast I was, didn't you?
You know there is someone out there who is a lot faster, always is, and I guess that someday I am
gonna find that out. And so will you if I teach you to fast draw.
Mary: Come on Tommy time for lunch. Thank you.
Mary and kids leave.
Heyes: Thought you were just telling me how handy it is
knowing how to use one of those things.
Kid: When that kids grows up, people won't even be wearing
these things much less shootin 'em. But in the meantime people just goin'
around doing both. So, I guess I'll just keep carrying my life right around
with me in a holster.
The scene is another night in the saloon.
Outraged cowboy: What are you trying to say mister?!
Kid: Give me the deck.
Outraged cowboy: Why should I?
Kid: Want me to tell you right here.
Cowboy says that he better. Kid says he saw him crease the
corners of four cards, probably the Aces. The cowboy stands and the table
clears. The cowboy says Kid is gonna have to back that up. Kid would be glad to
if the cowboy will give him the deck. The cowboy says he did not mean with a
deck of cards or his mouth. He is talking about the gun Kid is wearing.
Kid responds that he doesn't want to kill him. The cowboy asks if he is done
talking. There is a pause and then the Fast Draw. WoooooWeee!
The cowboy collects his money from the table and leaves. Kid
reaches out to retire the deck. A man responds sure thing Mr. Jones.
Heyes (approaches Kid and whispers): Forget I said anything this afternoon.
The scene is about midday outside the busy main street with wagons, horses and
people crossing. Then, inside the saloon the guys are eating. Mike is
sweeping in the background. Mary enters the saloon.
Mike: Mornin’ ma'am.
Heyes: Care to join us?
She is preoccupied. Heyes asks her if anything is wrong. Mary asks to see
them both in her office. She tells them that she has to let them both go.
Heyes asks why. Mary says she can manage on her own. Kid argues that she
cannot manage without them or someone like them. She becomes set and says that
she is letting them go and that is all there is to it. Heyes says all right.
She pays them the full $50 as agreed. Heyes says that they haven't been there a
week much less a month. She says they earned the money and to please take it.
They will take it, but Heyes says that they would rather have an explanation.
Mary says she can't talk anymore, so goodbye. They leave her office.
 H&C
walk outside of the saloon and step into the street.
Walking down the street they talk.
Kid: The lady's in trouble.
Heyes: I know. But, remember trouble is one thing we gotta stay away from.
Kid: But I like her and I like her two kids.
Heyes: Shut-up.
Kid: Aren't you even curious?
Heyes: About what?
Kid: About why she's so anxious to get rid of us.
Heyes: Now listen. That's her problem.
That's not our problem. (pause) All right. All right. I'm curious.
Kid: Enough to stick around.
Heyes smiles (almost).
 The
guys are outside working on a building during daylight.
They are hammering into wood. Kid hammers into his thumb.
Mr. Finrock (a poker player from the game with the conmen) approaches and expresses
his surprise to see them still in town. Heyes asks why. Finrock said
he heard they weren't working at saloon. Heyes says that they like this town and
there may be a future there for them. Finrock says that he thinks that they
could find something better. Heyes says how happy they are building something
with their hands. Kids inputs thumbs. Finrock leaves.
Kid: Get the feeling he didn't just happen by.
Heyes begins to respond but hits his thumb with his hammer.
The scene is of the town from the outside street looking to be about dusk.
Inside the restaurant the guys are eating.
Heyes: Sure does feel good to put in a good solid days work on an honest job.
Kid: Not especially.
Heyes: Look at appetites we've worked up.
Kid: I don't need to work to do that.
Finrock enters the restaurant and asks if he may join them. He says that he really likes
the fellows because they did him a big favor when they saved him a lot of money at
the poker game. So, he will tell them that they are wrong about the town.
There isn't any future for them there. Heyes asks if he has a reason for thinking
this way. He does, but he is not going to tell them. Heyes says they are just
going to up and leave town. Finrock responds with why not? After all he gave
them good advice.
Kid: Well, you're gonna to have to do better than that.
Finrock says all right, let me try this. Your real name is not Jones and you’re not
Smith, so now they should know why it is smart for them to leave. He is still
beholden to them about poker game. He asks if there are any hard feelings.
He really is fond of them both.
 Finrock exits.
Kid: That's the nicest I've ever been asked to leave town.
Heyes: He was polite about it, wasn't he?
But, he's bluffing.
Heyes says that Finrock may know they are not Smith and Jones, but doesn't know
their real names or else he would be leading them to the sheriff’s office to collect
the reward. Kid wonders how he knows they are not Smith and Jones. Heyes says maybe
he is just guessing.
Heyes: Can't leave that building half finished.
Kid: Sure can.
Heyes: But we're not are we?
The scene is daytime in town again at the construction site.
The guys are hammering again. Kid hits his thumb.
Kid: Good chance of running out of thumbs before this building is finished.
Finrock is watching from across the street.
The scene is night in town. H&C are coming out of the restaurant.
A man comes from alley and clubs Heyes in back of head. Two guys jump Kid and
knock him out. The scene is of a wagon coming up the road outside of town.
Two men are unloading the guys from the wagon and carry them to the side of the road.
They are still groggy.
Man: Can you hear me?
The man slaps Heyes in the face.
Man: Can you hear me? And you can understand what I am
saying? You know, you had a nice, friendly warning to leave town while you were
still ahead. We had to stay up half the night and bust our knuckles bare to the
bone just because you two can't seem to understand when people are tryin' to be
nice to ya.
Heyes: Sorry to inconvenience you.
Man: Well, I do hope you’ll understand; take a kindness when
it's offered to you. We brought your horses; everything from your hotel room is
packed in your saddlebags. This is a real good road to Gila City. Take it!
The men leave.
Kid: What was all that he was saying?
Heyes: He was telling us how nice he's been to us.
Kid: I sure would like to pay back some of this kindness we
got tonight. Are you sure they don't know who we are?
Heyes: I'm sure. I am sure it is a good idea to go to Gila City too.
Kid: But, we're not gonna are we?
The scene is daylight. H&C walk into the saloon.
They are dusty and beat up.
Mike (bartender, very cheerful): Looks like you run into
somebody did not fold quite as easily as I did. Here (pours drink) all on me.
Tell me who done it to you I would like to buy him a drink too.
Heyes: I think he’s a customer here.
He’s a big fellow, mustache, brownish hair and scar on his right cheek.
Mike: I know him; works at the BarT.
His name is uh, Al Gorman.
Heyes: You remember you owe him a drink.
Mike says that is right and cackles.
 Outside
the Bar T at daytime, a bush hides the guys as they watch the scene with binoculars.
They are watching the men attending the cattle. They spot Gorman riding to a calf
tangled in the brush. A lasso is thrown and lands around Gorman’s neck. He is
pulled off the horse. Show H&C, Kid is holding the rope. They approach
Gorman and Kid draws his gun. He removes Gorman’s gun.
Heyes: Can you hear me? And you can understand what I am
saying. Well, first of all we'd like to apologize for causing you and your
friends to lose sleep last night.
Kid: ...and making you beat your knuckles all sore on our heads.
Gorman: Wasn’t nothing personal, just doing a job.
He says Sam Finrock hired him. They want to know more. Gorman says he doesn't
know about nobody except Finrock. He says it is all he knows. Heyes says they
have a problem.
Heyes: We're afraid we might not be able to be as kind and gentle with you
as you were with us.
Kid: There is even a chance that we might get a little mean.
Heyes says that they are fighting it as hard as they can, but there is a chance.
Gorman insists that he doesn't know about anyone except Finrock. Kid grabs the
rope and takes it over to the horse and Heyes ties the other end around Gorman’s ankle.
The threat is to drag him.
Kid (with a stick raised to slap the horse): Do you want to do the honor or should I?
Heyes: No. You do it, I can't get used to all that blood and those broken bones.
Gorman: All right, all right. Somebody did hire Finrock and then me.
Heyes (smiles): Who?
Gorman: Mary Cunningham.
The scene is Mary Cunningham's office. Heyes is yelling. He says that crying
is not going to soften them up. They have been threatened, beaten up and dumped
outside of town like two sacks of bad feed. He asks her what she is afraid of.
He says they are not leaving until she tells them.
Mary: I can't tell you anything.
She asks why they could not just leave town when she let them go. She was trying
to help them. Kid asks why she did not tell them when she let them go. She says
that she could not. Heyes pours her a drink. He says that they know when
we are licked. They are not going to ask her any more questions. They
collect their hats and leave the office. Mary collapses in the chair sobbing.
The scene is outside at night. A sign indicates they are inside Sloane House.
The scene is inside a dark room. With their backs to the camera, Heyes lights the
lantern. Kid turns around and then taps Heyes on the shoulder. Finrock is on
the bed with his gun drawn.
Heyes: Pay $2 for a room you hope to get a little privacy.
Finrock orders that they unbuckle their gun belts, drop them to the floor and kick
them out of the way. He is going to try one last time.
Finrock: Why didn't you ride on to Gila City like you were told to do?
Heyes: No one would tell us why we should.
Kid: We didn't like the way we were asked.
Finrock says he knows they went to see Mary. He asks what she told them.
Heyes: Everything.
Finrock: No. She didn’t tell you anything. Poor girl, you
must have upset her something awful.
He says that he can't keep giving them warnings and if they
don’t get out of town real soon they are both going to end up dead.
Heyes: Don't we get to discuss it a little?
Finrock: I don't think that you heard what I just said.
If you insist on being stubborn, someone is going to have you killed. Now, did you
hear me good that time?
Finrock is leaving. The guys move to the side as he exits.
Finrock: I really hate to see people I like getting themselves killed.
Finrock leaves.
Kid: You know, Heyes I’ve been thinking.
Heyes (sighs): Kid, we've had a pretty fair arrangement so far, let's keep it that way.
Kid: Finrock wasn't hired by Mary Cunningham and neither was Gorman.
Heyes: All right, who was he hired by?
Kid: I don't know.
Heyes: Well, think some more. About how important it is to
know when you've had it. Let's get a good night's sleep. Ride on to Gila City
in the morning.
Kid: I was getting a little tired of this town anyway.
Heyes: Yeah.
Morning H&C are coming out of a hotel with a sign next to the door calling it
Sloane House with their saddle bags. They are putting the saddlebags on their horses
tied outside. Heyes is looking around town.
The signs "W.R. Sloane" are everywhere.
Heyes: You know Kid, I didn't sleep very well last night.
Thinking about what you said, you know about Finrock and Gorman not working for
Mary Cunningham. Who are they working for? That's what kept me awake.
I think I just got the answer. What's the name of this hotel and the name of that land
office and the name of the general store? How many times have we heard the name
Sloane since we been in town?
Kid: Quite a few times.
Heyes: How many times have you seen this man Sloane?
Kid: How do I know? I don't even know what he looks like.
Heyes: Right! Now a man as important as Mr. Sloane all he
would have to do is come walking down the street and all the bowing and
scraping would whip up a pretty fair size dust storm.
Kid: OK, you got a point, what else you got?
Heyes: What else do you need?
The guys are inside the outer office talking to a female secretary with their hats in hands.
Heyes: Is Mr. Sloane in?
Girl: May I ask who is calling please?
Heyes: Joshua Smith and Mr. Thaddeus Jones.
Girl: On business?
Heyes: Very important business.
Girl: Just a moment please.
The secretary enters the inner office leaving H&C alone in the outside room.
Heyes: At least we finally found out what office he uses in town.
The secretary returns.
Girl: This way please.
She motions them inside the inner office.
Heyes: Thank you
The door shuts. The lettering outside the door reads "W.R. Sloane Private."
The scene changes to the inside of the inner office.
Sloane: You wanted to see me.
Heyes: Mr. Sloane, I realize you're a very busy man and I thank you for taking
the time to see us.
Sloane: I had to. You've been asking for me at my land
office, at my hotel, my general store. If you meant to get my curiosity up, you
sure did a good job.
Kid: You got a pretty good little spy system going there for you, Mr. Sloane.
Sloane: Just one of the benefits you enjoy when you own half the town. Well...
Heyes: I had an idea Mr. Sloane, I just decided it wasn't one of my better ones.
Sloane: Well, tell it to me anyway, maybe I can help.
Heyes: We had pretty good jobs over at the saloon and we were fired for no reason.
Then, we didn't leave town fast enough and people've been beatin’ on our heads and threatenin’ our
lives ever since.
Sloane: And you think that I had something to do with that.
Heyes: Well, like you said, you own half the town.
Sloane: Well, if someone has threatened your life, that's against the law.
If I were you, I'd go to the sheriff. He's a good man. I handpicked him myself.
Kid (very fidgety and hurriedly): Thank you Mr. Sloane, but no reason to bother
him with our little troubles. Besides we're all ready to leave.
Heyes: Thanks for taking the time to see us.
They leave Sloane’s office.
 They
enter the saloon.
Mike: Well, I hear you boys is leaving town. It's too bad, I
shore hate to see you go.
Heyes: Figured you would. (Points motion for drink.
Heyes turns and faces the street view. He taps Kid on the shoulder.) Been in this
town a week and don't see the man who owns half of it, then in one day we see
him twice.
Mike: Man that owns the town!
Heyes: Yeah, Sloane just went by in a hurry.
Mike: Mr. Sloane don't hurry nowhere.
The guys turn and face Mike.
Mike: That was Warren Epps, his bookkeeper.
H&C turn and face each other.
The scene is night; the guys are sneaking around behind a large house. They open
a back window and climb inside the house. The hallway is dark. Kid's gun
is drawn. They see a light under a door at the end of the hall.
Heyes draws his gun.
The scene changes to inside the room with the light, a man is sitting at a desk.
He looks up. He hears something, then, opens the right upper drawer of his desk and reaches
inside.
Back to H&C, they open the door and bust inside the room. They are still, and
then surprise appears on Heyes face.
Heyes: Look who is callin’ himself Willard R. Sloane.
Plummer: I don't keep a gun in there Heyes. If you killed me
now it would be murder, flat out murder.
Kid steps up and checks out contents of the drawer. Looks at Plummer disgustingly, and
then takes out a gun and shuts the drawer. Kid steps back
to lean against the door crossing his arms across his chest.
Heyes: I have always wondered what happened to you Plummer,
Me and 12 other guys. Remember (motion to Kid) remember I told you about my old pal Jim Plummer.
Kid: Uh-un
Heyes: About 10 years ago. It was first bunch I ever rode with.
(Crosses to sit in leather chair in corner of room) Ahhhhh. We robbed a
payroll train. Got jumped by a posse. Had to split up. Ole Jim here was our
leader. So, he had the haul. All 30,000 of it. And that was the last anybody
ever saw of him. Until now. Some of the gang are dead and some of ‘em are in
jail. But, there are still 4 or 5 of them riding around. Jim, Can you imagine
the pleasure they would get findin’ you after all these years?
Plummer: Heyes, you never killed anybody in your life, but you sure would
be killing me if you let out where I am.
Heyes: Yeah, I guess I would. Maybe I'll just get word to the law.
It wouldn't be killin’ then, huh Jim?
Plummer: The statue of limitations run has out on all the robbin’ I ever did.
I'm in the clear now. I'm not wanted for anything.
Heyes: Yeah you are. Running in luck again. We're not clean
like you are yet. But, we gotta walk straight and narrow for a year or so before
we can collect on it. And hope that nobody grabs us in the meantime.
Plummer: I coulda done that. Tipped the sheriff off about ya. But,
I didn't Heyes. You gotta take that into account. Right?
Heyes: Jim, please, don't try to chump me again. You didn't
go to the sheriff because you don't want him asking you how you know me.
Plummer: If you give me your word not to say anything to anybody, I'll make
it up to you. I got 4 or 5 thousand right here, in cash.
Heyes: Can't do it. That would be uhh, what extortion,
blackmail. Anyway, it’s against the law. I just got through telling you we
don't do that anymore.
Plummer: So, you'll kill me. Let Buck, and Crusher, Longville find me.
Heyes: Uh-uh, (pause) But, then maybe not. What’s Mary
Cunningham got to do with any of this?
Plummer: Nothing. I loaned her some money when her husband died.
And when I told her to fire you. She finally agreed.
Kid: You know Heyes, I think we oughta tell those boys where he is.
Heyes: Sure we should. But, we're not. Because you're going to buy
Mary Cunningham's saloon.
Plummer: All right, sure. Just a give me your word and its a deal.
Heyes: For 30,000 dollars. I feel sentimental about that figure.
Plummer: 30,000!
Heyes: Why not? It’s a good saloon. It’s the best one in town.
Plummer: I'm not sure that I got 30,000. (Pause, no one is buying it) …in cash.
Heyes: Well, raise it Jim. Because that's the deal. We’re letting
you off easy because you didn't tell the sheriff about us.
It is dark outside. The guys are walking in town heading for the hotel.
A man is hanging out of the second floor window. He fires a gun at H&C.
Ambush, more guys fire on them. They get down and take cover while firing back.
The men run off.
Kid: You think Sloane double-crossed us?
Heyes: Naw, I just don't think that he had time to call them off.
They walk into the hotel.
The next morning, Finrock approaches H&C packing up their horses to leave.
Finrock: Smith, Jones, I see you're finally leaving. About that shooting,
I do hope that you realize it was just a small error.
Heyes: Yes, we finally figured that out for ourselves.
Finrock: And you know the boys had orders not to hit you because as I said...
Kid: ...yeah I know, you really do like us.
Finrock: Goodbye. (He exits)
Mary Cunningham enters the scene, running out of the saloon.
Mary: I am really sorry you have to leave like this.
Kid: Well, we thought we might try to find a town that's a little less exciting.
Mary: But, you know now that I had nothing to do with any of this.
Except for letting you go. And I was told...
Heyes: Mary, you don't have to apologize to us. We know the whole story now.
Which is more than you know, right?
Mary: Well, there are a few things that I don't quite understand.
Something happened this morning. Something wonderful and strange. I can take
my children back east now. And I think that you two had something to do with it.
Kid: Really, what happened?
Mary: Willard Sloane bought the saloon.
Heyes: What's so strange about that?
Mary: The price. He paid me 30,000 dollars for it.
Kid: Well, why not? The building alone is worth that much.
Mary: I know. But, I don't own the building, Mr. Sloane does.
(The guys get on their horses.)
 Heyes:
Well that is strange...
Kid: …and wonderful.
Heyes: Good-bye Mary.
Kid: Kiss the kids good bye for me, OK?
They ride up to a signpost for Gila City, 35 miles.
They ride off down the road.
Closing Theme and Credits |
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