| |
Through a wide open plateau country, a stagecoach riding hard.
The stagecoach pulls into a town. A chalkboard sign reads
"STAGECOACH ARRIVES 2:30 TUESDAY FRIDAY." There is a clerk sitting at his desk peering through the window
at the oncoming stagecoach. He gets up and greets the stagecoach.
Clerk: Ain't you folks a bit previous?
A man sitting up with the driver responds as he gets down.
Man: To what, sir?
Clerk: Well, the stagecoach ain't due here for a couple of days yet.
Man: Oh, this is a chartered stagecoach.
The man knocks on the door to the coach.
Man: Garden City, Mrs. Phillips.
A well dressed, wealthy looking lady steps out of the stage and looks around.
Mrs. Phillips: Where's the hotel?
Clerk: Right over there where it says Hotel.
Man: Would you like all your things brought in, ma'am?
Mrs. Phillips: You just see to the horses Carlton and worry about my things when I tell you to.
Carlton: Yes ma'am.
The clerk looks over the private stagecoach as Mrs. Phillips heads in the direction of the hotel and
Carlton head towards the direction of the horses.
In a hotel, the desk clerk sees Mrs. Phillips approaching from behind him through a mirror.
He smiles at her approach.
Desk Clerk: May I be of service, Madam?
Mrs. Phillips: Yes, you have a Mr. Smith staying here. Would you tell him Mrs.
Phillips is waiting in the lobby?
Desk Clerk: Yes indeed, ma'am. That would be Mr. Bernapold Smith?
Mrs. Phillips: That would be Mr. Joshua Smith.
Desk Clerk: We don't have a Joshua Smith.
Mrs. Phillips: Well, I was told he was staying here at this hotel.
Desk Clerk: I'm terribly sorry.
Mrs. Phillips: He usually travels with a Mr. Jones. A Mr. Thaddeus
Jones, I believe.
Desk Clerk: Oh. (disappointed) That Mr. Smith.
Yes, we had them for a while. They said they
were looking for work. Mostly, they spent their time playing poker.
Mrs. Phillips: And they left? For where?
Desk Clerk: I can't tell you exactly. It was the middle of the night.
They just paid their bill
and left. They were, shall we say, a most unusual pair.
Mrs. Phillips: Have you any idea which way they went?
Desk Clerk: West. They rode off heading West.
The stagecoach rides hard out of town. Additional scenes as the stagecoach moves through the countryside.
The credits continue to roll across the screen.
The scene focuses in at another town. Carlton is outside near the door of a hotel.
Mrs. Phillips voice
can be heard as another front desk clerk turns around toward the camera.
Mrs. Phillips: Joshua Smith
Desk Clerk: Well, he might be staying here, then again he might not.
Mrs. Phillips hands the clerk a coin. He examines it. He
clearly would like to take it, but regretfully returns it to Mrs.
Phillips.
Desk Clerk: Oh. Well, that's very generous of you ma'am,
but it's a rule of the house
to regard folk's privacy. Especially, when they ask for it special.
Mrs. Phillips: Well, I respect that regard, sir, but Mr. Smith is my brother and I've just
traveled 100 miles to see him.
Desk Clerk: Well, uh, in that case, he's usually across the
street at the saloon, playing cards.
He glances at the coin again as he puts it in his vest pocket.
Mrs. Phillips: Thank you, thank you very much.
Mrs. Phillips turns and is leaving the lobby. She pauses and returns to the desk.
Mrs. Phillips: Forgive me.
Desk Clerk: Yes?
Mrs. Phillips: But, it has been such a long time since I have seen my dear brother.
What does he look like?
The clerk is putting messages in the room slots. He stops and turns
slowly to Mrs. Phillips with a puzzled look.
Outside of the saloon, Heyes exits, pulling on his gloves and is approached by
 Carlton.
Carlton: Mr. Smith, you are Mr. Smith, Mr. Joshua Smith?
Heyes: Who would like to know?
Carlton pulls from his inner jacket pocket a folded note and hands it to Heyes.
He accepts
the note and opens it.
Heyes: C.R. Phillips. I don't know him.
He smells the note.
Heyes: I'm not sure I want to.
Carlton: Mrs. Phillips is most anxious to have a few words
with you. I'm authorized to offer you $100 gold if you accompany
me right now.
Heyes: Where to?
Carlton: *Mrs.* Phillips's suite at the hotel.
They exchange looks. Heyes looks curious.
Heyes: You wouldn't know anything about this?
Carlton: I am not authorized to discuss it, sir.
Heyes: I presume you are authorized to lead the way.
Carlton: Yes.
Carlton is relieved and smiles as he directs Heyes toward the hotel.
The camera pans up to see Mrs. Phillips has
been watching the scene from her second story room. She closes the curtains.
The doorknob from the inside
of the room turns as Carlton knocks and opens the door with Heyes following him
into the room.
Carlton: Mr. Smith, Mrs. Phillips.
She is sitting in a chair in the far corner of the room.
Mrs. Phillips: Thank you, Carlton. I won't be needing you anymore this evening.
Carlton: Are you quite sure, madam?
Mrs. Phillips: Quite sure. Goodnight.
Carlton: Thank you.
Carlton leaves, closing the door. Heyes and Mrs. Phillips are alone in the room.
Mrs. Phillips: This may come as a surprise to you, but to save time,
let me tell you that I know you.
Heyes: Well, ma'am, if we'd met before, believe me I'd remember.
Mrs. Phillips: Well, what I meant to say is I know of you.
You're Mr. Heyes,
Hannibal Heyes and you're wanted by the law.
Heyes laughs and backs away.
Heyes: Well, that explains a lot. I knew you had me mixed up with
somebody else, but everyone makes mistakes. No harm done.
Mrs. Phillips: Mr. Heyes, I need you desperately. Lom Trevors,
the sheriff at Porterville
told me where to find you.
Heyes backs up, draws his gun and cocks it. The grin is gone from his face.
He opens the
door and steps into the hall looking around. He closes the door and crosses
the room to another
door. He opens that door, steps inside and looks around. Finally, he closes the door and returns
to the room with Mrs. Phillips. She stands behind him with her hands on her hips.
Heyes opens her case and looks through her things.
Mrs. Phillips: If you're looking for a gun, you won't find any.
Heyes crosses to the table, opens a bag and dumps the contents. He finds a large package of
bills. He picks it up.
Mrs. Phillips: Now, that should convince you that I'm not
interested in the 10,000 on your head.
Heyes holsters his gun and hands the money to Mrs. Phillips.
Heyes: Mrs. Phillips, Lom Trevors doesn't know where I am and if he
did, he wouldn't go spreading it around to every passing stranger. So, unless you have a very good
reason for taking up my time, I'll just be
on my way.
He turns to the door. Mrs. Phillips runs in front of him and blocks the door.
Mrs. Phillips: Mr. Heyes. Mr. Heyes. I want you to save my husband's life.
Heyes: How's that?
Mrs. Phillips: Well, it started with a shooting. A business quarrel between my husband and
his partner. My husband ran away to escape the charge of murder,
only the partner he thought he killed didn't die. And so, all the charges were dropped.
Heyes: Well, that sounds like real good news.
Mrs. Phillips: Well, except that he's still running. He still thinks
he's a fugitive. I must get word to him before he does something desperate.
Heyes: Well, I appreciate your problem, but I don't see how I can....
Mrs. Phillips: Mr. Heyes. My husband has taken refuge in Devil's Hole.
Heyes swallows as the statement sinks in.
Heyes: Oh.... You have got a problem. If your husband is in Devil's Hole, the United
States Calvary couldn't get to him, let alone a woman.
Mrs. Phillips: But, it is a well know fact that Sheriff Lom Trevors was once on the
other side of the law. Now, I reason that if anybody wanted to penetrate an outlaw stronghold, it would
have to be someone who knows outlaws.
Heyes: Yes and he knows some of the worst.
Heyes grins and turns to the door.
Mrs. Phillips: Yes, I know. He sent me to you.
Heyes turns back around and faces
 her.
Heyes: Mrs. Phillips, I don't know what you or Lom expect, but even if I could
get a message into Devil's Hole....
Mrs. Phillips: Mr. Heyes, there is only one way we're going to
convince my husband that he is free to come out. You're going to have to
take me to him.
Heyes: Do you have any idea what you are asking? Devil's Hole is a hide out for
outlaws. Some of those....
Heyes is distracted by the large pack of money that Mrs. Phillips holds up.
Mrs. Phillips: I can make it well worth your while.
Heyes continues to stare at the money.
 Heyes
and Kid are outside talking while Heyes is saddling his horse.
Kid is standing behind Heyes sorta leaned up against the hitching post.
Heyes: Because we need the money that's why.
Kid: Now, the law's watching every trail into that place.
Heyes: You know me Kid, any sign of trouble and I move like a whip snake.
Kid: Heyes, there's only one thing that's been keepin' you alive all
this time.
Heyes: And what's that?
 Kid:
Me. Instead of lettin' me help, you gonna be draggin' a woman along with ya.
Heyes breaks into a grin.
Heyes: Well, that's an improvement, isn't it?
Kid: All right. I see. You're set on goin'.
At least let me go along with ya.
Heyes: Kid, may I remind you, the only reason we came to this town is to meet up with
Colonel Harper. If one of us isn't here when he shows up, he's goin' to give those
two high paying jobs to
someone else.
Kid: You ask me, he ain't even comin'. I think he was half drunk when he made us that offer
in the first place.
Heyes: Kid, I'm goin' and you're stayin'. It'll be the easiest thousand we ever picked up.
Kid: All right. Suit yourself, Heyes. It's your neck.
Heyes mounts his horse and digs into his pocket. He hands Kid some money.
Heyes: Kid, she gave me this money to bind the deal. You
might as well hold it.
Kid doesn't want to take the money.
Heyes: Go on. It won't do me much good between here and Devil's Hole.
Kid nods as he reluctantly takes the money. Heyes and Kid look at each other,
then Heyes turns to ride off.
The camera centers in on Kid's worried face.
Begin Musical Interlude.
Heyes and Mrs. Phillips are seen on horseback at a distance, crossing through a green valley.
Mrs. Phillips: This can't be the best trail?
Heyes: No ma'am. The law uses the best trail.
There are nature scenes such as a flock of bird that fly into the sky,
flowers, countryside, trees, and wooded areas. Heyes and Mrs. Phillips
are riding through countryside.
Just take a look around, all around. All your answers are
waitin' to be found.
Look around. No one tells a bird how to leave the ground. To fly around.
Or which way the wind blows. He knows. He just knows.
Mrs. Phillips: What do they call this part of the country?
Heyes: To tell you the truth, I've always passed through here in such a hurry,
I never had time to ask.
Scenery shots of trees, open country, a beautiful waterfall, and a bubbling stream.
Just take a look around. Use your eyes. When you can figure where you're path
relies. Use your eyes. No one has to tell rivers how to rise.
To grow to size. Or a stream where to flow. They know.
You don't have think for days. You're smarter right
now than you dream. If you...
Heyes and Mrs. Phillips are riding through a valley. There is a beautiful sunset.
Mrs. Phillips: Why did you become an outlaw?
Heyes: As long as this trip is ma'am, I still wouldn't have time to explain that to you.
Or even me.
They are seen as two riders on horseback at a distance riding at dusk along the crest of a hill.
Heyes: What did Sheriff Trevors tell you?
Mrs. Phillips: What makes you think he told me anything?
There is a campfire with a coffepot over the fire. There is a night sky with a full
moon and winds whipping the trees. The scene shows a starry night sky.
Heyes: I figure a woman doesn't ride off alone with a desperate outlaw, unless
she's got a wild card tucked away someplace.
Mrs. Phillips: He said I could trust you. I decided that I didn't have any other
choice. I'm desperate too.
Heyes: Both desperate. And I was beginning to think we didn't
have anything in common.
The sunrise breaks over several hills.
Just let your heart be free. Let it be. You'll soon see your
heart knows. It knows.
Heyes: Now we are getting into what they call Devil's Hole.
He owns it, but he don't live here.
Heyes and Mrs. Phillips come to a land that is rougher with dead leaves and animal bones.
Mrs. Phillips: How interesting?
Heyes: Well, a lot of people like it this way.
Mrs. Phillips: I can't imagine why.
Heyes: Well, they figure if it was any prettier it would attract a
decent element.
End musical interlude.
Heyes and Mrs. Phillips are on horseback as they come to a stop.
Mrs. Phillips: Why have we stopped here?
Heyes: So I can point out this is your last chance to turn back.
Mrs. Phillips: I have no intention of turning back.
Heyes: I know.
Heyes pulls his gun and fires three times into the air.
Mrs. Phillips: Why'd you fire your gun?
Heyes: So, they won't fire theirs.
Kyle and another outlaw are positioned high above the valley on some rocks.
Outlaw: Who is it?
Kyle (with binoculars): Well, I can't tell yet.
Heyes and Mrs. Phillips are at the entrance to the Devil's Hole Hideout.
Mrs. Phillips: I don't see anybody.
Heyes: And you won't. That doesn't mean they aren't there.
From here on, you do exactly as
I say. Don't make any sudden moves or do anything that might be misunderstood.
Is that clear?
Mrs. Phillips: Clear.
Heyes: All right.
Heyes and Mrs. Phillips ride on into Devil's Hole. Kyle and the outlaw are still positioned above
the scene watching.
Kyle (with binoculars): Somethin' don't smell right.
You better flash Lobo.
The outlaw using a mirror to reflect the sun sends a signal to another group of outlaws.
Outlaw (also looking through binoculars): Lobo
Lobo: What?
Outlaw: Somebody's comin'
Lobo: Well, it's just Monahan with supplies.
Outlaw: Uh-huh. Kyle's flashing. Maybe it's
some more of them new boys Big Jim sent for.
Lobo: That can't be. The likes of them rode in yesterday.
The outlaw hands the binoculars to Lobo. He focuses in on Heyes.
Mrs. Phillips: Mr. Heyes.
Heyes: Shhhh.
Mrs. Phillips: Aren't you being slightly melodramatic?
I mean they know you.
Heyes: Yeah. And they know I went to make peace with the law too.
I figure they'll treat me kinda cautious. I don't blame 'em. (pause)
You shouldn't worry over it too much. They never shoot ladies.
Mrs. Phillips: You mean outlaws do have a code of honor?
Heyes: No, they have a shortage of ladies.
Kyle finally makes Heyes.
Kyle (with binoculars): Can't be! It's Hannibal Heyes
hisself. And he brung a woman with him.
Outlaw: All I kin say is... he don't know Big Jim is back.
Lobo: Big Jim ain't gonna like this.
Heyes and Mrs. Phillips continue to ride slowly and carefully into the hideout.
 Heyes pauses and speaks to a figure behind him and out of his sight.
Heyes: Good to see ya, Kyle.
Kyle: Good to see you, Heyes.
Mrs. Phillips and Heyes turn around to see Kyle standing on a rock behind them.
Kyle has
a rifle resting against his shoulder and he adjusts his hat with a smile.
Kyle: Got yourself a real nice woman there, Heyes.
Heyes: She's here on business, Kyle.
Kyle puffs up and moves his shotgun off his shoulder.
Kyle: Well, ain't we all. (to an outlaw) Get their firearms.
(to Heyes) You know the rules. Faces change, but the rules stay the same.
Heyes removes his bandana and begins to roll it up.
Mrs. Phillips: What do you plan to do with that?
Heyes: Trying to cover your eyes.
Mrs. Phillips: What for?
Heyes: For your own good. Hold still.
Kyle is enjoying the show very much.
Heyes: Does my heart good to see ol' Wheat's keepin' up my standards of discipline.
Kyle: Wheat ain't here, Heyes.
Heyes: Well, if Wheat's gone, who's runnin' things?
Kyle: Well, same man who ran things before you did. (dramatic pause) Big Jim Santana.
Heyes seems unnerved and surprised.
Mrs. Phillips: What does he mean? Who is he?
A cabin door opens and a large man exits with Lobo behind him. Heyes and the blindfolded Mrs. Phillips
ride into the camp with Heyes holding the reins for Mrs. Phillips horse.
Kyle and the other outlaw are
right behind them. (Who's guarding the pass?)
Heyes: You can take the blindfold off now.
Mrs. Phillips removes her blindfold and watches as Big Jim steps down off the cabin porch.
Several outlaws are gathered around watching what will happen. Heyes rides closer with a smile
on his face. He dismounts and walks across a small bridge. The outlaws come in closer, surrounding
the area. Heyes steps up to Big Jim and tilts his hat back on his head.
Big Jim cuts the tense scene
with a greeting to  Heyes.
Big Jim: AahHaHa, Amigo! HaHaHa. HaHa. Hey boys, Hannibal Heyes is back.
Heyes: Jim, I don't think you understand.
Big Jim: When I got back and you weren't here, you just don't know how disappointed I was,
but we'll talk about that later, eh? ...just the two of us. Boys, head for canteen.
We have something
to celebrate and the drinks are on me.
Heyes: Jim, now look, I don't think you under....
Big Jim (forcefully): Heyes, I said we'll talk about it later.
Just now, we have to attend to your
lady friend's comfort. After all, she is here. There's nothing we can do about
that. ...not just now. Miss uhh?
Heyes: Mrs. Phillips. Mrs. Phillip, Jim Santana.
Mrs. Phillips: How do you do?
Big Jim: Very pleased to meet you, Mrs. Phillips.
(calls to Lobo) Lobo, see that the lady gets set up in the back room.
Lobo: Sure thing
Heyes: Go, I'll join you soon. I have a couple of things to talk over with Jim.
Lobo leads Mrs. Phillips away.
Heyes: I'd like to explain to you why I broke the rules and brought a
woman up
here, Jim.
Big Jim: Hannibal, that is one of the questions on my mind.
Let's go inside and talk about it.
Big Jim leads Heyes inside the cabin and shuts the door behind him.
Heyes looks around at the interior
of the cabin, smiling sweetly as if he is happy to see the place.
Big Jim: All right. Let's get down to business, heh?
Big Jim pulls back and hits Heyes across the face with a mean right hook.
 Heyes
crashes into the door and falls in a heap on the floor. Jim goes to him and removes his hat.
Big Jim: Hey. You all right? Hey, Heyes.
Heyes: Yeah. Yeah. What was that for?
Big Jim: For not letting me know you were coming here.
Heyes: Did it ever occur to you I might not have know you were here,
Jim?
Big Jim: Yeah, yeah. It occurred to me, but you know how I
operate. I want to know things for certain. Well, now I know
for certain that you know who is once again running things in Devil's Hole.
Now, when you feel better, we'll talk about you bringing the woman here.
Jim helps Heyes to stand.
Heyes: If you'd let me explain about that woman outside
like I wanted to, we'd have saved both of us a lot of pain.
Jim is pouring a drink. Heyes is rubbing his jaw.
Big Jim: Both of us? I don't feel any pain.
Heyes accepts the drink from Jim, while Jim pours one for himself.
Big Jim: Unless, of course, you mean the mental anguish of....
Heyes punches Jim in the gut with a left jab and then lays a right hook across Jim's face.
 Jim falls over against the Victorian sofa and lands on his bottom on the floor.
Now, Jim is the one rubbing his jaw and Heyes is handing him the drink.
Big Jim: Thanks.
Heyes: You're welcome. Now, why don't we get down to
business like you were saying, so I can get outta here.
Big Jim: What do you mean out of here? You just got here.
Heyes: I came here on account of the woman, Mrs.
Phillips. We're here to take her husband home.
Jim looks up at Heyes.
Mrs. Phillips is sitting on the Victorian sofa giving a description of her husband.
Heyes and
Jim are standing in front of the fireplace.
Mrs. Phillips: Tall, dark haired, broad shouldered, blue eyes and very handsome.
Jim: And you're sure he came here?
Mrs. Phillips: Well, the Bannerman Detective Agency tracked him for eight months. They're
certain he came here.
Heyes: Mrs. Phillips, if everybody was here that Bannerman claims, Devil's Hole'd be the
biggest state in the union.
Mrs. Phillips: You mean there's no one here answering that description.
Jim: Oh, on the contrary, I can think of nine, maybe ten of my men just off hand.
Arty Johnson, Marty Hoyt, Hamilton, ....
A man is standing outside firing his gun at bottles on a log. He is walking to reset new bottles and
reloading his gun as Kyle approaches.
Kyle: Hamilton?
Hamilton: Yeah?
Kyle: Hannibal Heyes just rode in (pause as Hamilton nods
and tosses his cigar) ...and he brung you a surprise.
Hamilton: What kind of a surprise?
Hamilton sets up empty bottles on the ledge.
Kyle: Your wife.
Hamilton: Yeah, that is a surprise. I don't have a wife.
Hamilton walks away. The scene ends with close-up of a confused Kyle.
Mrs. Phillips is standing nervously in front of the fireplace.
Heyes and Jim are off to the side talking.
Jim: Those stories about you giving up are not true, are they?
Heyes: They're true. Times have really changed since you've been gone.
Jim: Well, I know times change. We change with the
times. It's part of progress.
Mrs. Phillips glances at the door.
Heyes: That's what I did. I progressed right out of the business.
Jim: No, amigo. To leave a sanctuary like this one that no lawman was ever able to
enter to wander around the country one jump ahead of every posse, every sheriff in the
state. That's not progress, that's insane.
 Heyes
slaps Jim on the shoulder.
Heyes (smiling): I can see we are going to have to have another talk.
Jim (chuckling): Yes, I think so.
There is a knock at the door. Jim opens the door. Hamilton followed by Kyle enters the cabin.
Jim: Hamilton, this is your lucky day.
Jim steps aside revealing Mrs. Phillips. She has a pistol and fires
twice at Hamilton.
He collapses backwards and
onto the porch. Heyes lunges for Mrs. Phillips and grabs the gun from her hands.
Jim: Now, take him to the bunkhouse. See what Haller can do for him.
Kyle and another outlaw pick up Hamilton and carry him off the porch.
Jim closes the door.
Heyes: (to Mrs. Phillips) Well, it looks like you accomplished what you set out to.
Jim (shouting): Heyes, you know I would rather she would have
shot me than any of my men. Can you give me a good reason why I should not let
them deal with you?
Heyes (shouting back): Yeah, I can only think of one. I'm not stupid
enough to have known what she was gonna to do.
Jim: Still, it's your responsibility. You brought her here.
Heyes: For a good reason! At least I thought it was a good
 reason.
Jim: Oh, you thought so, heh? Well now let me tell you something....
Mrs. Phillips: Mr. Heyes is innocent. (pause) And so am I.
He isn't my husband. He was
a man who came to San Francisco nearly a year ago. And there he met a very
lovely, innocent, seventeen
year old girl. And she thought he was a storybook knight in shining armor and
she ran off with him.
And then he left her with a child. Abandoned her. She was my daughter.
And she took her own life.
Mrs. Phillips begins to cry.
Jim: Why didn't you tell us this in the first place? Why do you think you
have to lie to us?
Mrs. Phillips: Because I was afraid someone would warn him and I wanted to kill
him. I don't care what you do with me now.
Jim: Heyes stay with her. Make her as comfortable as possible.
I'll be back.
Jim leaves Heyes and Mrs. Phillips alone in the cabin.
Mrs. Phillips: I'm sorry, but I would do it again if I had to.
Heyes: I believe you. Would you like a drink?
Mrs. Phillips: No, thank you.
Heyes: If you don't mind, I'll have one.
Mrs. Phillips sits down in an arm chair and dries her tears. Heyes pours himself a drink.
Mrs. Phillips: What's going to happen now.
Heyes: I thought you said you didn't care.
Mrs. Phillips: Well, I mean, what's going to happen to you.
Heyes: You pick a fine time to start worrying about me.
Mrs. Phillips: Would you have come if I told you the truth?
Heyes: Noooo. You may not believe this, but outlaws, most of them
anyway, have a pretty
high regard for the jury system.
Mrs. Phillips: It's too easy for a jury to be fooled by a man as good with words as
Matt Hamilton was.
Heyes downs his drink in one gulp.
Heyes: You're not bad with words yourself.
Mrs. Phillips: You don't believe me?
Heyes: I didn't say that. I just haven't had time to stop believing the first story you
told.
They both look to the door as Jim returns.
Jim: We've been fortunate. Hamilton is not dead. We'll be able to hear his side of the story.
Mrs. Phillips: You don't believe me either?
Jim: Oh, I believe you Mrs. Phillips, but I want to hear Hamilton's story from
his own lips before I finish what you started.
It is night outside the bunkhouse in the Devil's Hole Hideout. There is a light on in one of the windows.
From the inside of the bunkhouse, an outlaw walks to a table to play some cards with a few others
who are drinking. Big Jim enters the bunkhouse followed by Heyes.
They pause inside and look back at Hamilton who lies supine on a bunk.
They approach a man (Haller, Hideout Doc) who is drying his hands on a towel.
Jim: How is he?
Haller: He's comin' around, but that is quite a bump he's got.
Jim: A bump?
Haller: Yeah, one shot missed him clean and when he took the other one in his shoulder,
he must've hit the wall and knocked hisself out.
They walk away from Haller and head in the direction of Hamilton.
Heyes (aside to Jim): Maybe he just fainted.
Heyes and Jim approach Hamilton. Heyes pulls a chair and sits in it backwards
facing Hamilton.
On the other side of the bunk, Jim kicks the lower frame hard to get Hamilton's groggy attention.
Jim: Feeling all right?
Hamilton: I will when you've convinced me that you've got that crazy woman put away.
Jim: From what I hear, she may have cause to be a little crazy.
Hamilton: Cause? To go wandering around with a sleeve gun,
shooting up innocent
strangers?
Heyes: You may be innocent, but you're no stranger. She came here looking for you.
Jim: Before she goes back, you may wish she had killed you.
Hamilton: What are you talking about? What kind of a story did she tell you anyway?
Heyes: She says that you seduced her seventeen year old
daughter and then treated the girl so bad she killed herself.
Hamilton: She doesn't have a daughter. Never did. She was
married to one man for twelve years. They
never had any children.
Jim: You calling the lady a liar?
Hamilton: You bet that's what I'm calling her. The whole story's a pack of lies from start to finish.
(pause) I met her in San Francisco. I spent a lot of time with her, but then I got tired of
her and I left town.
Jim: Go on.
Hamilton: That's it.
 Heyes: That was the end of it?
Hamilton: That was the end of it.
Jim: Hamilton. I came here to give you a chance to tell the truth.
That's the best you can do?
Hamilton: I'm telling you the truth.
Jim: You don't know me very well, do you? When I say I demand honesty from my men above all
else, that
is exactly what I mean. Now, I've heard two stories, yours and the woman's.
If you expect me to believe she
came all the way here to kill you just because you denied her your charms, I think you have another
bullet coming. C'mon Heyes, let's give the lady her gun and go on to more important
things, huh?
Heyes nods his agreement and turns as if getting up to leave with Jim.
Hamilton: Wait, wait, there is a little more. When I left her, I took $25,000
of her jewelry with me.
Heyes
and Jim look at each other. Jim laughs.
 They
walk out of the bunkhouse. At the door, Jim turns back to look in the direction of Hamilton again.
Jim (aside to Heyes): One of them is lying.
Heyes: Oh, at least one.
They exit the bunkhouse and close the door. Hamilton still lying on his bunk, looks toward the door.
It is still dark. Outside the leader's cabin there is a light in the window.
We hear the voice of Heyes.
Heyes: He says your a liar.
Mrs. Phillips: What do you expect a man like that to say?
Inside the cabin, Heyes and Jim confront Mrs. Phillips with Hamilton's side of the story.
Jim: Mrs. Phillips, someone is lying. That leaves me with a problem.
You see, in my business
I have to have faith in my men and my men must have faith in me.
Without it, we don't have a chance. Now, Hamilton is gonna be working for me.
I must know if I can trust him.
Mrs. Phillips: Honor among thieves?
Jim: You could say that. The point is I want the truth
and I'm going to get it.
Mrs. Phillips: Is he threatening me, Mr. Heyes?
Heyes: Jim is not the kind of man who'd threaten a lady, Mrs. Phillips.
Unless he
really means it.
Jim: That's right. Now, a lady as sentimental as you are, surely you must have a photograph
of your daughter.
Mrs. Phillips: Yes, Mr. Heyes told me though to leave everything
behind at the hotel I didn't need and that's what I did.
Heyes: I do recall saying something like that.
Jim: Then you do have a photograph in your hotel.
Mrs. Phillips: Yes. It's in a large leather trunk inside a very small cameo broach.
Jim: I'll send for it. Heyes?
Jim turns to face Heyes.
Heyes: No Jim.
It is still night. Jim and Heyes are sitting outside on the cabin porch.
Jim is in a large chair while
Heyes is sitting on the porch railing. Jim pours them both drinks and makes a toast.
Jim: To a swift and safe return.
Heyes: Thanks.
Jim: Now look, I'm serious. If there is some misfortune,
you get yourself killed while you're away, this will
delay my plan by several days.
Heyes: You don't have to be so emotional about it.
Jim: Well, you're the one who thinks riding around the countryside
being an honest man is smart.
Heyes: I didn't say it was smart. I said it was a whole lot better than
this. Besides, it's only temporary.
Jim: Hannibal, I'm going to talk some sense into that young head of yours.
I hope you have enough brains to listen.
Heyes: Now, the whole point of our having this little talk was
*me* talking some sense into your head.
Jim: That amnesty arrangement, how long do you have to continue hiding from the
law, living like a gypsy?
Heyes: Until I prove to the governor that I can lead an honest
life and look who's talking.
Jim: Haa! This is different with me. Soon, I am going to be in one of those beach
countries in South America. Sun. Music. Women. Wine.
And more money than I can spend in a lifetime.
Heyes: If you're so smart, why did you waste your seven years in prison?
Jim: I didn't.
Heyes (surprised): You learned a trade?
Jim: Planned a job.
Heyes: You're hopeless.
Jim: Now, wait a minute. This is not just a job. This is *the* job.
Yeah. You see, I knew things had changed outside. I also knew
that when I came out, I had to do one big job. One big one. The
biggest the Devil's Hole Gang ever did, then I could retire. And
that's what you should do.
Heyes: By the time you get through splitting with all the extra men you brought
in on this job,
you won't have enough money left for boat fare. I don't care how big the job is.
Jim: You think there is enough money at the Well's Fargo Clearing House?
Heyes (stunned): The Well's Fargo Clearing House? The big one in Denver?
Jim: Right. Interested?
Heyes: I am not interested!
Jim: You're not, then you're crazy. That's what you are.
You're loco.
Heyes: Oh no. No, I am not crazy. You're crazy, Big
Jim and you wanna know why? I'm gonna tell you
why? Because if I walk around on eggshells for better than a whole
year, if I manage to duck out of the way of every passing lawman, and if,
just if, nobody up at the state capital happens to change their mind, then and
not until then I will have worked my way up to where you are right now.
Jim: Aaaaaa.
Heyes: Oh, no. Good Night. Don't bother to see me off in the morning.
I believe you need the rest. You're not thinking too clearly.
Heyes leaves the porch. The scene focuses on Jim looking thoughtful.
It is morning. Kyle is up on some rocks at the pass into Devil's Hole.
Three gunshots are fired. Heyes is riding off, he stops to wave
his hat to Kyle. Kyle removes his hat and waves back.
Mrs. Phillips is picking a lock on a desk. She opens the drawer and removes a small gun.
As she holds it in her hands, the gun is grabbed away from her. Big Jim grabs Mrs. Phillips by the
upper arms and gives her a shake.
Jim: You know that is what I like about you, Clara.
You're so stubborn, so determined. You listen to me. I'm
not gonna to let you kill that man. Understand? Not here.
A lone man on horseback riding along the crest of a hill at twilight. He rides into town.
The front of the hotel is shown as the camera pans up to the second floor.
A light goes on
behind the shaded window. Heyes is shifting through clothes.
Heyes: I appreciate your cooperation, Carlton.
He finds what he was looking for in a small box.
 He
removes a locket and looks at it.
Heyes: You know, I had a feeling the first time we met that you didn't trust me and I didn't know
whether you'd go along with Mrs. Phillips note or not.
The camera pulls back to reveal Carlton in a chair with Kid holding a gun on him.
Kid: You find what you are looking for?
Heyes: Yeah, I guess you could say I found it.
Heyes snaps the locket shut, takes it with him and hands Carlton the box.
They exit the room. The camera pans in on Carlton's shocked face.
The scene is out of focus. Jim's voice is heard in the background.
Jim: Relax, you're too tense.
Mrs. Phillips: You seem to be far more patient than I.
Jim: One thing a man learns in prison is patience.
They are sitting on the bank of a lake. Mrs. Phillips is holding a fishing pole and Jim is smoking
a cigar.
Mrs. Phillips: Why'd you become an outlaw?
Jim: Something to do with my family being cheated out of our lands in
New Mexico. I suppose
I inherited a certain disregard for the law.
Mrs. Phillips: You're father must have been a hot-blooded Latin.
Jim: Oh, no. He was a very gentle man. It was my mother who could out yell the Apaches.
She was Irish.
Mrs. Phillips: Did prison change your regard for the law?
Jim: It changed my regard for prison.
Mrs. Phillips: Well then, why don't you leave this life?
Jim: No, no. It's not easy for a man to start all over again.
I'm not getting any younger.
Mrs. Phillips: Well, my husband started at a very late age.
Jim: Your husband?
Mrs. Phillips: Yes, he died two years ago. He was very
successful. We used to travel everywhere together.
Jim: You mean you and your husband and your daughter, huh?
Mrs. Phillips: Yes. He was a wonderful man. Almost like a father to me.
Jim: Your husband was like a father to you?
Mrs. Phillips: In many ways he was. He was older than I
am and I was only sixteen when we were married. I was quite lost when he died.
Jim: Then, you were alone when this thing happened with Hamilton.
Mrs. Phillips: Very much. I feel like I've been half out of my mind until now and these last few
days. I'm sorry if I've caused you any grief. You've been very kind and I don't deserve it.
Jim: I guess you bring out the father in me too.
Clara gets a bite on her line.
Jim: Haha. That's it. Now, easy.
They stand up and Jim instructs her about how to bring the fish in. She pulls the pole out of the water
and the fish goes over her head as she falls back. Jim falls with her.
They land on the grass with Jim
leaning over her.
Jim: Lady, you have a most unusual way of catching fish. You really do.
Jim leans in and kisses her. She pushes him back and he stops. They look into each other's eyes and
Jim leans in to kiss her again.
Brief musical interlude as Jim and Clara kiss.
Just let your heart be free. Let it be. You'll soon see your heart knows.
It knows. Your heart knows.
Heyes is firing his gun at the entrance to the Devil's Hole Hideout. An outlaw watches through binoculars
as Heyes rides in. Heyes waves and continues riding in. He rides into the hideout to Kyle who is polishing
a saddle.
Kyle: Howdy, Heyes.
Heyes: Howdy, Kyle.
Kyle: I see you're back.
Heyes: Yep.
Heyes hands the reins of his horse to Kyle and walks away.
Mrs. Phillips is sitting down inside the cabin as Heyes enters. She looks up.
Jim greets Heyes.
Jim: Have any trouble?
Heyes: No. The lady's real good at giving directions.
I found the trunk. I found the
broach inside.
Jim: The picture? Did you get the picture?
Heyes: Yeah, I got the picture.
Heyes walks over and hands the broach to Mrs. Phillips. She takes it as Heyes goes to sit by the
window. Jim approaches Mrs. Phillips.
Jim: May I see it?
She smiles and hands it to Jim without looking him in the eye. He opens the locket to find a small
portrait of a man in his 50s. He closes the locket and looks at Mrs.
Phillips and then Heyes.
Jim: I don't get it.
Heyes: You haven't been paying attention. Mrs. Phillips has been lying to us like a Shanghai sailor.
Jim: You don't have a picture of your daughter?
Mrs. Phillips: I have four pictures of her. They're very precious to me.
They're
in the safety deposit box in San Francisco.
Jim: Then, why didn't you say so? Why do you have to go on lying to me?
Heyes: To buy time, of course. She wanted to get herself another shot at Mr. Hamilton.
Mrs. Phillips: Mr. Heyes is right. I did want another shot at
him and since I've lost,
I'm now ready to go.
Jim: You're still saying that the story you told about Hamilton is true?
Mrs. Phillips: Yes it is.
Jim sighs and walks away, rubbing his hands together. He seems uncertain of how to proceed.
A gun is fired several times at a log with empty glass bottles lined up.
It misses every one of them.
Heyes: Let me know when you want me to set up a fresh log.
Jim: Funny, very funny.
Jim takes off his hat and wipes his brow with his sleeve. Heyes is sitting behind him.
Heyes: You still planning on goin' through with it?
Jim: Listen, the secret of my job has always been the planning not the shooting.
Heyes: I was hoping you might have had time to think over what I'd said.
Jim: As a matter of fact, I did.
Heyes: And?
Jim: I hate to admit it, but you made a lot sense. Now, the woman made a lot of sense too.
We had a chance to talk a while, while you were gone. Now, what's a woman for if not to influence a man, huh?
Heyes: Did she influence you?
Jim: I made a decision. I don't wanna go back to jail.
You know, I would like to see what James O'Finn Santana can accomplish in his remaining years.
Heyes: You know, I'm proud of you already, Jim.
Jim: Unfortunately, I have to do this job. I brought a lot of men here with a promise
of, of a big fortune. Without me, they couldn't do the job.
Heyes: Jim, they're all good men. (pause) Well, they're all men anyway.
Now, if you level with them, I'm sure they'd understand.
Jim: Now tell me Amigo, if you'd ridden a thousand miles with a promise of a fortune, would you be understanding,
huh?
Heyes (sighs): Let's not give up. Maybe I can think of something.
Jim: Yeah, and it better be good.
Jim puts his hat back on.
It is night outside of the bunkhouse. A light is on inside one of the windows.
Inside the bunkhouse,
Kyle smiles as he looks at his hand of cards, then frowns.
Outlaw: I'm out.
Kyle: By me.
Kyle throws his cards in. He turns as Heyes enters the bunkhouse.
Kyle: Well, I was just wonderin' when you'd get by and join our little game, Heyes.
Lobo: Yeah, pull up a chair, Heyes. I'm busted out anyway.
Heyes: No, no thanks, Lobo. Tell you the truth boys, I just
come to talk to ya.
Kyle: Sure thing. What's on your mind?
Heyes: Well, ...
Lobo interupts the guys over on the other side of the room.
Lobo: Hey, listen up over there. Heyes is got somethin' to tell us.
The room is now silent and everyone is looking at Heyes.
Heyes: Well, I might as well come right out with it. You
all know that Big Jim has spent seven years
gettin' even with the law. Now, most of you are still wanted, so you haven't got that much to lose.
But, Big Jim's got everything to lose. So, if you're gonna get mad at anybody, you might as well get mad
at me. I talked Big Jim into quittin' and he's gonna be leavin' with me tomorrow.
Outlaw: Well, I hope you're jokin', Heyes?
Heyes: No, I'm levelin' with ya because I know that's how you'd
want it, boys.
Hamilton (trying to talk over his cigar): I think you
miscalculated.
A big outlaw gets up from his chair and stands threateningly in front of Heyes.
Dakota Outlaw: I came all the way from Dakota for this job and I think I want to hear what
Big Jim has to say about this before I get feelin' real mean.
Heyes (getting tough): Well, as a matter of fact....
Jim walks into the bunkhouse.
Jim: As a matter of a fact, it's a good idea.
Apparently, I got here just in time to clear up a big misunderstanding.
Yes, it is true that I plan to quit.
Kyle: It can't be.
Other outlaws begin to protest.
Jim: After. After we empty the Well's Fargo Clearing House in
Denver, Colorado.
All the outlaws laugh and cheer.
Jim: I want everyone here first thing in the morning to discuss the plan.
Now Lobo, I hold you responsible to see that these men get enough sleep. I want everyone
sharp because we are ready to move. Now, is that clear?
Lobo: Well, they'll be in bed by ten o'clock if I take an axe handle to 'em.
Jim: Good. I have some bad news. My friend, Heyes here,
won't be able to join us.
He's got to remove a certain lady from our camp. If not, we're gonna have to take her
with us on the job.
Everyone laughs.
Jim: All right, good night gentlemen.
Heyes: Good night, boys.
Heyes and Jim leave the bunkhouse. Hamilton who has been watching quietly
and suspiciously now approaches
the men at the card table.
Hamilton: You boys see what I see?
Lobo: Well, what do you see?
Hamilton: About the biggest double cross ever.
Heyes and Jim are walking away from the bunkhouse in the night.
Heyes: So, you're not goin' to listen to me. You're
really determined to just throw it all away.
Jim: Yeah. The plan I spent seven years working out in infinite detail.
I'm gonna throw
it all away.
Heyes is surprised and happy. He turns to Jim and grabs hold of him.
Jim: But, the way I saw it, there was no chance those boys would send me off into my
new life with anything but a bouquet of bullets.
They turn and continue to walk away from the bunkhouse.
Jim: We have to find some other way to get out.
Back inside the bunkhouse, the outlaws are scheming.
Outlaw: Well now, we can't make him tell us the plan if he don't want to.
Hamilton: Unless we use the woman as a hostage. Big Jim seems to have a special interest in her.
Kyle: That's the dirtiest trick I've ever heard of.
The outlaws turn to look at Kyle.
Kyle: But, I like it.
They all laugh.
 It
is still night outside the cabin. The camera pans across the area to the bunkhouse and the stable.
Then, to Heyes who appears to be watching out for something. All the outlaws come stumbling out of
bunkhouse, over the bridge to the cabin. It appears to be what Heyes was waiting for.
The outlaws enter
the cabin and light a lantern. Someone indicates the location of
the girl's room. They separate and
approach different rooms. Outside, Heyes approaches Jim and Mrs. Phillips who are on horseback.
Heyes: They're all inside. Let's go.
The outlaws find the rooms empty.
Heyes, Jim and Mrs. Phillips ride out of camp. The outlaws hear the horses and run out of the cabin.
They mount up their horses and give chase. Heyes, Jim and Mrs. Phillips reach one of the outlaws on
lookout. Jim speaks to him.
Jim: Have you seen Hamilton?
Outlaw: Matt Hamilton, no, he ain't been by this way.
Jim: Well, keep your eyes open. I want him stopped.
They continue to ride. The chasing outlaws approach the lookout.
The outlook outlaw aims his rifle to fire. The outlaws tell him to hold it and ask if anybody came that way. He says nobody but Heyes, Big Jim and
the woman. They hear shots being fired. Heyes, Big Jim and Mrs. Phillips are riding hard.
Kyle: They done passed Deadline Point. There's no sense in us going on now.
The outlaws turn back towards the camp. We see three riders at a distance on the ridge of the hill.
It is daytime in a busy town. Mrs. Phillips and Big Jim come out of the hotel.
Jim: Look, I know you have to go, but there is something I
must know. It's of no great importance other than, well, it'll drive me crazy if
you don't tell me. Now, what about you and
Hamilton?
Mrs. Phillips: Oh, Jim. I'm sure Mr. Hamilton is a terrible
liar because I know he's a terrible
man and a thief. I met him in San Francisco a few months after I lost the only man
I ever
loved. I guess I was what they call vulnerable, but I thought I'd fallen in love with him and then one day
he vanished with $25,000 worth of my jewels. I guess that makes me a liar
too because I never did have a daughter.
Jim: Yeah, well that's good. That makes me feel better.
Now, I can be at peace.
Mrs. Phillips: Now, you can be at peace?
Jim: That's right.
Mrs. Phillips: Standing here knowing I'm going to get on that stagecoach and ride out of your life,
you can be at peace? I'm disappointed.
She turns her back on him. Jim comes up close behind her.
Jim: What are you trying to say to me, Clara?
Mrs. Phillips: Nothing. Except a man like you... Have you ever been to San Francisco?
Jim: San Francisco? No. No, I never got that far west.
Mrs. Phillips: Well Jim, I think you and San Francisco are made for each other.
Jim: Well now, do you know of any transportation heading that way in the next couple of minutes?
They are both smiling. Mrs. Phillips takes Jim's arm and they turn to walk towards the stagecoach.
Heyes and Kid smile as they approach.
Mrs. Phillips: Joshua, here's your money. Thank you very
much.
Heyes: You're welcome.
Mrs. Phillips (to Heyes): Good-bye.
Heyes: Goodbye.
Mrs. Phillips: Goodbye, Mr. Jones.
Kid: Ma'am.
Jim: Gentlemen, I'm leaving too. Mr. Smith, thank you.
You did me a big favor. I won't forget it.
Heyes: You're welcome, Jim. Good bye.
 Heyes
opens the stagecoach door for Mrs. Phillips. Jim follows her inside.
Jim: Bye now.
Heyes: Goodbye.
The stagecoach rolls out of town.
Kid: You know Heyes, I think we did a whole lot better by Big Jim than we did by ourselves.
Heyes: I don't know. I think we have a very good and important friend in San Francisco now, if
we ever get into serious trouble.
Just let your heart be free. Let it be. You'll soon see your heart knows.
The stagecoach disappears down the road.
Closing Theme and Credits |
|