Home   Season One   Season Two   Roger as Heyes   Season Three

Accompanied by a few bars of an instrumental rendition of "San Francisco, open your golden gate..." followed by our familiar theme, we see scenes of San Francisco at night, including carriages traveling along busy streets.  A buggy stops in front of a mansion. Hannibal Heyes climbs out.
Heyes:  "What's the fare from the train station?"
Driver:  "A dollar.  I sure hope you're good friends with Mr. O'Sullivan.  He don't even take to visitors in the daytime."
Heyes digs in his pocket.  We hear a door open.
Heyes:  "I've only got six bits and a twenty dollar gold piece.  Got change?"
Driver:  "For twenty dollars?  No sir."
Heyes:  "Well, we'll get old Silky to help us out."
Driver:  "Silky?"  He looks over his shoulder.  "I'll take the six bits and be on my way."
Silky:  "Speak of the devil."
Heyes grins.  Silky walks up on the far side of the carriage.
Driver:  "Make it four bits."
Heyes:  He reaches across the driver to shake Silky's hand.  "Hi ya, Silky."
Silky:  "I can't believe my eyes."
Heyes:  "Nothing wrong with your eyes.  You wouldn't happen to have some small change on you?"
Silky:  "Well now, for you, the sky's the limit.  How much you need?"
Heyes:  "Man says the fare's a dollar."
Silky:  "A dollar!  Where'd he bring you from, Wyoming?"
Driver:  "No sir, the train."
Silky:  To the driver, "Boy, do you realize that you're trespassing on private property in the dead of the night, and if I wasn't a gentleman and in every way opposed to the use of firearms you'd never make that gate without a load of buckshot in your britches.  Now here, now take this and consider yourself fortunate that I'm in a generous mood."
Driver:  "Mr. O'Sullivan, just one question.  How did an ornery man like you get the name of Silky?"
Silky:  "On account of my lyrical voice, you young squirt.  Now you get off before I call the police.  Do you hear?  Git!  Git!"
The buggy leaves.  Heyes and Silky laugh.
Heyes:  "You gave him a dollar.  Didn't you?"
Silky:  "I did no such thing.  Anyways, it's none of your business.  How are you?"
Heyes:  "Good as ever, Silky."
Silky:  "I see the Kid's not with you."
Heyes:  "Naw.  We ran into a little trouble up north.  Had to split up."
Silky:  He turns serious.  "When was that?"
Heyes:  "'Bout ten days ago."
Silky:  "You haven't heard from him since?"
Heyes:  "No, we planned on meeting here, in San Francisco, at your place."  He's beginning to wonder what Silky's getting at.
Silky:  "Oh, I see."  He turns away.
Heyes:  Worried.  He puts a hand on Silky's arm.  "Silky, what is it?"
Silky:  "It's not good."
Heyes:  "Kid?"
Silky:  Nods.  "I'm afraid so, Heyes."
Heyes:  "He's not..."
Silky:  "No, but maybe something just as bad.  He's going on trial for... for murder."

A train is steaming across the countryside.  The first of the credits appear "PETE DUEL BEN MURPHY in"
We travel down a rope with a noose at the end for the title "THE DAY THEY HANGED KID CURRY" followed by the rest of the opening credits.

We're in Red Rock, Montana.  We see a gallows under construction and Hannibal Heyes standing in the street next to gallows.
Heyes:  To the carpenters, "Little premature, isn't it?"
Carpenter:  He stops hammering and looks at Heyes.  "Huh?"
Heyes:  "I say, it's a bit premature."
Carpenter:  "Green wood's good enough for hangin'."
Heyes turns and walks on down the street towards the courthouse.

Heyes goes up the steps of the courthouse.  From inside we hear...
Bailiff:  "Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, Court will please rise.  Superior Court of Red Rock, Hancock County, Montana.  The Honorable Judge Carter presiding."
Judge:  "All right, Mr. Hansen, you may proceed."
Inside the courtroom, Tom Hansen, the prosecuting attorney, is addressing the jury.  He is a man of sixty, confident and determined.  During his speech we hear the spectators muttering.
Hansen:  "Yes, Your Honor.  The prosecution will prove that Jed Curry, otherwise known to every law enforcement officer in these United States as Kid Curry, did on the night of June fifteenth willfully gun down in cold blood Warren Boggs, husband, father, and beloved member of our community, and it will be my duty and yours to demand that Jed Curry be found guilty of murder and hanged by the neck until he is dead."
While he talks, he turns from the jury and walks toward the defendant who sits at a table, his back to the gallery.  We can't see the defendant's face; from the back he appears to be Kid Curry.  Heyes enters through the doors at the rear of the courtroom.  On either side of the aisle are benches where spectators may sit to watch the trial.  They are full.  Heyes pauses to look toward the front of the courtroom, where the defendant is sharing a brief word with his defense attorney.  Heyes' expression is sad, worried, and a little sick.  He finds a seat next to an older woman, Miss Buckley.
Hansen:  "The people now call Miss Penelope Roach to the stand."
Penny Roach, a pretty young woman with long dark hair, walks to the witness stand and sits.  She's wearing a yellow dress and hat and white gloves.  The judge sets a Bible on the edge of the bench next to her.
Judge:  "Penelope Roach.  Put your hand on here.  Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
Penny:  "Yes, sir."
Hansen:  "Miss Roach, you are acquainted with the defendant, Mr. Curry.  Is that right?"
Penny:  "Yes, sir.  That's right."
Buckley:  Whispers to Heyes, "Lovely girl."
Heyes:  "Yes, ma'am."
Buckley:  "But stupid."
Hansen:  "Miss Roach, do you by any chance have any off hand knowledge of what the defendant does to earn a living?  Did he not admit to you that he was in fact an outlaw?  Kid Curry, to be precise?"
Penny:  She is uncomfortable.  "Well, no, not at first..."
Hansen:  "Miss Roach..."
Penny:  "All right.  Yes.  Yes.  He... He said that he was Kid Curry."
Hansen:  "And did this man who's accused of attempted robbery and murder, did this man even go so far as to boast about his exploits, his skill with a six-gun, his great bank and train robberies?"
Penny:  "In a way."
Hansen:  Impatiently.  "Well now, did he or didn't he?"
Judge:  He bangs his gavel.  "Mr. Hansen, we're not here to judge this young fella on what he may or may not have done hundreds of miles away from here in some other state.  He's on trial here for his alleged participation in a murder and he will be judged strictly on the basis of evidence in connection with that charge.  It makes no difference if his name's Kid Curry or Martha Washington.  Is that clear?"
Hansen:  He is indignant.  "Your Honor!  I object!"
Judge:  He bangs his gavel again.  "You have my decision.  You want more time to consider the case, I'll give it to you.  Court's adjourned 'til ten o'clock tomorrow morning."  And he bangs the gavel.
Heyes:  To Miss Buckley, "The Judge is a fair man."
Buckley:  "If you believe in coddling criminals."
Heyes:  "Oh, I do."  He gets to his feet and tries to make his way through the crowd to the front of the courtroom.  He gets to within a few feet of the defendant's table and whispers, "Hey, Kid."
The defendant turns.  He's dressed like Kid Curry would be, in a blue shirt and brown vest, and has similar curly blond hair, but the defendant clearly is not Kid Curry.  A Deputy Sheriff escorts him from the room.  Heyes, startled, stands wondering "Who was that?"  He turns and gets another surprise.  Kid Curry, in his gray suit, is standing against the wall of the courtroom.  He smiles and tips his hat.

Outside, Heyes and Curry walk down the steps and away from the courthouse.  The town is crowded.
Heyes:  Upset.  "No matter how hard we try, things just seem to keep going against us."
Curry:  "Against us?  I never felt so lucky in all my life."
Heyes:  "Lucky!?  They're fixin' to hang a man in your name."
Curry:  Happily.  "And when they do, I'm gonna be a free man, Heyes.  The law stops chasin' me forever.  Now if that ain't good luck, I don't know what is."
Heyes:  "You'll be a free man!  Of all the unappreciative, miserable, no-account, self-centered, opportunistic..."  He stops and turns to face Curry.
Curry:  "Who we talking about?"
Heyes:  "You, you ingrate.  It never occurred to you that a good friend of yours might be in trouble.  I mean serious trouble."
Curry:  "Now who we talking about?"
Heyes:  "Me, that's who, in case you haven't read the papers.  There are two men involved in the killing in this town.  The one that got away is described as a smooth talking, brown haired, brown eyed fella who works with Kid Curry.  Does that sound familiar?"
Curry:  "Heyes, I apologize.  You are in trouble."
Heyes:  "Partners six years and that's all you've got to say to me?"
Curry:  He thinks about it.  "Good luck?"

Heyes and Curry are standing at the bar in the saloon.  Two glasses of beer slide down the counter and stop in front of them.
Heyes:  "If I can't get that kid to change his story, my life won't be worth a paper dollar."
Curry:  "All right.  If you're really determined to see 'im, I think I got a way figured out."
Heyes:  Defensively.  "I do the figurin', remember?"  Curry doesn't challenge that statement.  Both drink another swallow of beer.  Heyes gives in.  "What is it?"

Inside the Sheriff's office, Heyes, now in his brown suit, is leaning with his hands up against a wall while Deputy Hollis searches him thoroughly.  Sheriff Whittaker watches.  Both the Sheriff and Hollis are a little older, a little paunchy.
Sheriff:  "All right, Mr. Curry.  You say that you're the prisoner's cousin?  What may I ask do you do for a living?"
Heyes:  "Well, sheriff, I'm from the honest side of the family."
Sheriff:  "Oh, you are now?!"
Heyes:  "Yes, sir.  We figure ole Jed's caused enough trouble for the whole rest of the family put together."
Sheriff:  "Well, if you feel so poorly about him, what are you doin' here now?"
Hollis:  He's finished searching Heyes.  "He's clean."
The Sheriff bends down by a safe and starts turning the combination.  Heyes watches intently.  The Sheriff straightens and moves Heyes to the side of the safe, then crouches in front of it to finish.
Heyes:  "Well, he is my blood cousin.  I mean we have the same grandparents and all.  And their hearts are nearly broken in two over this terrible trouble."
Sheriff:  "Come as a real shock to 'em, did it?"
Heyes:  "Well, no.  We expected it sooner or later.  As grandma tells it, 'he who lives by the sword, has got to expect to die by the sword.'"
Sheriff:  "Well, your grandma has showed some real sense.  It's a shame that some of it didn't rub off on the Kid."
Heyes:  "Amen."
The Sheriff opens the safe and removes some keys.  He tosses the keys to Deputy Hollis.
Sheriff:  "Keep it short, will ya?"

Hollis leads Heyes to the cell and unlocks the door.  Fred, the Kid Curry imposter, is sitting on his bunk drinking from a tin cup.
Hollis:  "Look alive, Curry.  I brought ya some kin!"
Fred looks at Heyes curiously.  Heyes speaks quickly, before Fred can say anything.
Heyes:  "Jed, old buddy.  How are ya?  I got here as fast as I could.  You know those golldarn trails outta Utah."
Fred:  "Utah?"
Heyes:  To Hollis, "You don't mind if we talk alone do you?  Kind of for old times sake.  You understand."
Hollis:  "Ya got three minutes an' I'll be close by."
Heyes:  "Thank you."
Hollis locks Heyes inside and walks away.  Heyes sits on the other bunk opposite Fred.
Fred:  "Who are you?  What're you doin' here?"
Heyes:  "If you were Kid Curry you'd know."
Fred:  "I don't think we've got anything to talk about."
Heyes:  "No.  No, it seems we don't have much in common.  I don't believe in killing people, but then neither does Kid Curry."
Fred:  "I didn't kill that man and I never said I did."
Heyes:  "Well, you did say you were Kid Curry and I know that's a lie, so I don't see any reason for believin' the rest of your story."
Fred:  "Mister, look, they're planning on hangin' me, so it doesn't matter to me what you believe.  Or, are you tellin' me you've come to get me out of this?"
Heyes:  "No, but you're not doing yourself any good by lying."
Fred:  "Friend, look, you just don't get the picture.  I mean, I'm as good as dead right now, and if you know you're gonna have to go, well, you might as well go in style."
Heyes:  Puzzled.  "What does that mean?"
Fred:  "I'll tell ya.  A few months ago, I was stopped in a small town, by a sheriff.  He thought I fit the description of Kid Curry so he locked me up.  Had one of them photographs taken of me and he sent it out to someone by the name of... Lom... Travers.  I guess he knew what the Kid looked like because they let me go.  But, I found out that things changed when I was Kid Curry.  I mean, people, they showed me a respect.  Even the ladies.  Especially the ladies.  So, I started lettin' on here and there that I just, you know, I might be him.  You'd be surprised how it changed my life."
Heyes:  "It doesn't seem hardly enough to die for."
Fred:  "Judge said who I am, it won't make a difference whether they find me guilty or innocent.  And if they find me guilty, I'm gonna walk out of here and up to the gallows as a... well, as a somebody."
Heyes:  He looks at Fred for a long moment.  "What's your real name?"
Fred:  "Oh, no, I can't tell you that.  It's bad enough I've messed up my own life without ruining my folks and family, too."
Heyes:  "If you're so worked up about other people's reputations, what about Kid Curry's?"
Fred:  "Why should I worry about a known outlaw?  Look, what's he gonna do, ride in here and complain to the Sheriff?"  He laughs.
Heyes:  "No, but maybe I will.  Maybe I'll tell him you're not my cousin and I hadn't seen you in a few years and it took me a while to figure out you're an imposter."
Fred:  "Well, you know, I think if you would have done that, you'd have done it when you first came in, you know.  There must be some reason why you don't want the Sheriff checking you out too close."  He pauses.  "I wonder what that reason is?"
Heyes and Fred stare at each other.

Kid Curry is in a hotel room, sitting in a large bathtub, smoking a cigar.  He hears the sound of a key in the door.  He pulls his six-gun from a holster beside the tub, cocks it, and aims it at the door.  Heyes lets himself in.  Curry releases the hammer and puts the gun away.  Heyes is clearly upset.  He crosses the room and takes a bottle and glass from the dresser.  He sits in a chair and pours himself a drink.
Curry:  "You see him?"
Heyes:  "I saw him."
Curry:  "Well, what'd he say?"
Heyes:  "He said he doesn't mind dying with his boots on... as long as they're yours."
Curry:  Amused.  "Did he say that?!"  Warmly.  "Bless his heart."
Heyes:  "Kid, you're gonna have to take this whole thing a lot more serious, 'cause you're in almost as much trouble as I am."
Curry:  "Yeah?  How do you figure that?"
Heyes:  "What happens the first time you run into some lawman who recognizes you on sight, an' sees you up and prancing around after you've been legally hanged?"  Kid slides down a little in the tub, his good mood spoiled.  "More'n likely that lawman gets to thinking that maybe you had something to do with getting some poor critter hanged in your place."
Curry:  "Heyes, why would I do that?"
Heyes:  "To be a free man."
Curry:  "Who'd believe that?"
Heyes:  "I'll tell you who just might believe it.  The Governor of Wyoming."
Curry:  His attitude has changed from amusement to concern.  "Heyes, we gotta get help.  We can get Lom.  He could tell 'em that isn't Kid Curry.  At least he'd know we wasn't involved in it."
Heyes:  "Lom's in Mexico, remember?  Even if we could get word to him, he couldn't get here in time.  There's another way."
Curry:  "What is it?"
Heyes:  "Acquittal.  If that kid gets off they'll send him back to Wyoming.  Soon as he gets there they'll know he isn't you.  End of problem."
Curry:  "That kid's a long way from a free trip to Wyoming."
Heyes:  "Well, we're just gonna have to help him on his way."

It's night, and the saloon is doing a brisk business.  We see Penny, now in a gold sequined dress with a plume in her hair, standing at the roulette table.  Kid Curry walks up to the table and looks at her.  She notices him.
Curry:  "Twenty dollars on the lady's age."  He takes a twenty dollar gold piece out of his pocket.
Penny:  She hesitates.  "Twenty-one."
Curry puts the gold piece on the table.  The wheel spins.  Stops.
Croupier:  "Eighteen, red.  The winner."
A startled look crosses Penny's face.  The croupier rakes in Curry's twenty dollar gold piece.  Penny smiles.
Curry:  "Twenty-one, huh?"
She shrugs.

Penny and Curry are strolling side by side in the dark.
Penny:  "...and then this man comes into town calling himself Jack Brown.  I don't know how he got together with Jed.  Well, but anyway, one night they rode out to this ranch to play a game of poker."  They stop walking.  "I guess they planned on robbing the game because they come sneaking up from the back and this ranch hand came and took them by surprise.  Well, the man with Jed shot the cowhand and killed him.  Jack Brown got away but Jed didn't."
Curry:  "Didn't Jed ever tell you his side of the story?"

In the courtroom, Fred is on the stand, being questioned by the Defense Attorney.  Heyes and Curry, both in their suits, are in the gallery.
Fred:  "The man said his name was Jack Brown.  We met at a saloon.  I guess we'd both been having a little bad luck at the tables and he told me about a poker game outside of town."
Defense:  "He said nothing about holding up the game?"
Fred:  "No, he didn't.  He just said he knew a lot of big ranchers who like to play poker, and they played it terribly, and like to get drunk, and could afford to lose money.  He'd been invited to play poker with them and he just wanted me to come along."
Defense:  "So you went?"
Fred:  "Well, I was pretty low on money and I play poker pretty good, so I thought it was a good bet."
Defense:  "Then what happened?"
Fred:  "Well, we were riding up through a short cut, and a rancher came out of nowhere and before I knew what was happening, Jack had shot him and he was riding off."
Defense:  "Thank you.  Your witness."
Heyes and Curry exchange looks.  The Prosecutor has moved up beside Fred.
Hansen:  "That's quite a story, Mr. Curry.  Now, you're asking us to believe this man invited you to join a poker game to which you had not been invited, a game played for big money, and yet by your own admission you had very little money.  Is that right?"
Fred:  "Yes, sir."
Hansen:  "And you accepted this total stranger's story and approached the ranch house by a back way, never suspecting it might be a surreptitious way of approaching the ranch for criminal purposes, and when the ranch hand stopped you and got shot, it was all a great big surprise to you.  Is that right?"
Fred:  "Yes, sir.  That's true."
Heyes and Curry exchange looks.
Hansen:  "Your honor, the people have no more questions for Mr. Curry."

Heyes and Curry are again standing at the bar in the saloon, mugs of beer in front of them.
Curry:  "Do you believe his story?"
Heyes:  "Yes.  Nobody would make one up that bad."
A man charges in excitedly.
Man:  "The jury's back!  They got a verdict!"
Heyes and Curry watch the saloon empty, then continue drinking their beers.

Back in the courtroom, the Judge bangs his gavel.  Fred and his attorney stand in front of the bench.
Judge:  "Jed 'Kid' Curry, you have been found guilty of the charge of murder.  You will be remanded to the custody of the Sheriff until Friday morning nine o'clock when you will be removed to the steps of the courthouse where you will be hanged by the neck until dead.  The jury's dismissed, and the court stands adjourned."
The Judge bangs his gavel.  Penny puts her hand to her eyes.  Heyes puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.  Fred turns, a dazed look on his face, and sees Penny.  He's escorted away by a deputy.

We see the main street of a ghost town, windows boarded up, dust and tumbleweeds blowing.  Three of the Devil's Hole Gang are sitting around a table playing a game of poker in the abandoned saloon.  Another man is lying on a bench.  Wheat enters with Kyle right behind him.
Wheat:  "Boys, we got us a problem.  And I mean it's a real one.  It's Kid Curry, boys.  They done arrested him, convicted him of murder up in Montana, an' they're gonna hang him come next Friday morning."
Lobo:  Laughs.  "Well, now, that is a problem.  But it's the Kid's, it ain't ours."
Wheat:  "That's just the kind of thinkin' I'd expect out of you, Lobo, but let me tell you somethin'.  The rest of us remember just how much the Kid did for us and we're gonna want to show him how much we appreciate him by goin' up there and blastin' him out of jail.  All right, now, let's saddle up and get riding.  Let's go."  He turns and marches out the door.  No one else moves.  Kyle stands beside the door.  Wheat reappears and looks over the top of the swinging doors, then enters the room.  He tries his best to motivate them.  "All right, come on now.  Let's go.  It's a long ride but we can make it if we start right now.  Let's saddle up an' let's go.  Let's get ridin'."  Wheat turns and moves back to the door, but doesn't exit.  He looks back into the room, then walks back to the table.  "That the way it's gonna be, huh?  You're just gonna sit there an' let this ungrateful no-account excuse of a saddle tramp do your thinkin' for ya?  Is that it?"
Lobo:  "Look, Wheat, if they're fixin' on hangin' the Kid, me an' the boys feel real bad about it.  But not bad enough to ride in and bust him outta jail."
Griffin:  "'Sides, some of us might wind up getting' killed."
Lobo:  "That's right."
Wheat:  "The rest of you feel the same way?"  He walks to the door and turns on Kyle.  Kyle looks down guiltily.  "What about you, Kyle?  You just gonna turn your back on the Kid, huh?  Just walk right away from him, huh?"
Kyle:  "Well, I did just ride a long way.  My horse is about to give out, Wheat."  But Wheat has walked out.
Griffin:  "Lobo, I believe it's your deal."
Lobo:  "Yup."
Kyle still stands in the doorway, undecided.  We hear the sound of a horse loping off.  Kyle turns and goes after Wheat.

It's night.  Inside the jail office, the Sheriff is handing rifles and shotguns to three of his deputies.
Sheriff:  "The closer we get to the hangin', the more dangerous he is to us."
Deputy:  "You think the Devil's Hole Gang'd show up here in Red Rock?"
Sheriff:  He takes a double-barrel shotgun off the rack, breaks it open, and drops a shell into each barrel.  "Well, you can bet that them friends of his ain't gonna let us hang him without a whimper.  Maybe we can just improve our catch."
Outside, the gallows trapdoor springs open and a heavy sack drops with a thump.  We watch Kyle and Wheat riding by, alternating with scenes of the Sheriff handing out boxes of ammunition.
Kyle:  "Kinda leaves a lump in your throat."
Wheat:  "We're the ones gonna be givin' the lumps."
Kyle:  "Wheat..."
Wheat:  "Yeah?"
Kyle:  "Maybe this ain't such a good idea."
Wheat:  "Kyle, good ideas is the only kind I ever have.  'Course some of 'em are more good than others."
The Sheriff and several deputies are outside as they ride past the jail.

Inside the saloon, Heyes is at the blackjack table.  Wheat and Kyle enter and scan the room.  They're dusty and dirty.
Wheat:  To Kyle, "What'd I tell ya.  I knew the Kid couldn't be in trouble an' ole Heyes wouldn't be around someplace."
Kyle:  "You were right."
He walks towards Heyes with Kyle right behind him.  Heyes rises from the blackjack table just in time to come face to face with Wheat.  He steps back, startled.
Heyes:  "What're you boys doing here?"
Wheat:  "The only thing two friends could do, Heyes.  We've come to help you."
Kyle:  "Some of the boys kinda got tied up, but me an' Wheat came just as fast as we could."
Heyes:  "Well, it looks like we're gonna have to sit down an' talk... private, private."
Wheat:  He looks around.  They're in danger of being overheard where they stand.  "Oh, yeah, we getcha."
Heyes:  "You haven't done anything yet, have you?"
They find an empty table and sit.
Wheat:  "No, but we just got here.  See?  Let me tell you somethin'.  You ain't got nothin' to worry about.  I figured out a plan.  Didn't I, Kyle?"
Kyle:  "Wheat brung a full load of dynamite."  He breaks into a grin.  "The good stuff."
Heyes:  "Well, that's real considerate of you, Wheat.  However, the situation isn't quite the way it seems."
Kyle:  "Yeah, we seed all the deputies over at the jailhouse."
Wheat:  "Yeah, well, that didn't scare me none."
Curry enters the saloon.  He spots the boys, and starts walking towards their table.  Kyle sees Curry coming.
Wheat:  "Ya see, the way I figure it, we may have to blow up 'bout half this town just to get within a block of the Kid."
Curry:  "H'lo, boys.  Wheat.  Kyle."
Wheat:  "Hey, Kid.  We was just talk..."  He stares at Curry, then turns to Heyes.  "What is this, some kind of a joke?"
Curry:  He pulls up a chair and sits.  "No joke.  There's a kid over in the jail who's gonna hang for murder, and he's claimin' to be me."
Wheat:  "Now, why would he do a fool thing like that?"
Heyes:  "For the glamour and glory of being a real outlaw."
Wheat:  "Oh, well, that makes sense.  I mean, we clean forgot about the glamour.  Didn't we, Kyle?"
Kyle:  "Yeah."
Curry:  "We didn't say it made sense, but it's the truth, and it's got Heyes and me sitting smack dab under a rope."
Wheat:  "How's that again?"
Heyes:  "Look, it's a long story, Wheat, but there were two of them involved in the killin'.  One of 'em got away, and his description sort of fits me.  Now, sooner or later, somebody's gonna come to the conclusion that it was me."
Wheat:  "Just between the four of us here, Heyes.  I mean...  Was it...  you?"
Heyes:  "Wheat, we're talking about murder."
Wheat:  "Yeah, that's a fair question.  I mean, for a couple of boys with ropes over their heads you look in pretty good spirits to me."
Curry:  "That's because Heyes has come up with a plan."
Wheat:  "Well, if it don't involve dynamite, it ain't gonna work."
Heyes:  "This one involves a lady."
Kyle:  "I like it."
Curry:  "She's the only person in the whole world that we know of that's got any kind of hold over the kid.  So we're gonna have her go in, talk to him, see if she can get him to tell the truth."
Wheat:  "Shoot... You expect that to work?"
Heyes:  "If you only had eight hours to live, and the most beautiful lady in the whole town was gonna spend those hours with you all alone..."
Penny walks up to the table.  She's in a simple blue dress.
Penny:  "Excuse me.  Thaddeus, can I speak to you a moment?"
Curry:  "Sure."  He gets up and moves off with Penny.
Wheat:  "I suppose that's the most beautiful lady in town?"
Heyes:  Concerned.  "Uh-huh."
Curry walks back and sits down.  He exchanges looks with Heyes.
Curry:  "He refused to see her."
Heyes slams his hand down on his hat and flattens it.

It's morning.  A crowd is gathering for the hanging.  It's a festive mood, with a calliope, popcorn vendors, and balloons.  Curry, Wheat, and Kyle stand in the middle of the crowd.  Penny, in a red plaid dress, dark blue hat, and gloves, stands alone.  She's clearly upset.  Heyes works his way through the crowd and joins the group.
Curry:  "Well, did you have any luck?"
Heyes:  "They wouldn't let me in!"
Wheat:  Indignantly.  "You mean they wouldn't let you see your own cousin?  If I was running things, I'd take this town apart."
Curry:  "Take it easy, will you, Wheat.  Heyes isn't his cousin, an' you aren't running things."
Wheat:  "It might be better for you if I was, Kid."  He grabs two bags of popcorn from a passing vendor and hands one to Kyle.
A cheer goes up from the crowd as Fred exits the jail escorted by three deputies, the Sheriff, a Minister and the Judge.  Another cheer as Fred starts up the steps to the scaffold.  He waves to the crowd.  Penny moves forward.  The Sheriff puts the noose around Fred's neck.
Heyes:  Positively.  "I'm not worried.  He'll do the right thing.  A man always likes to clear his conscience at the end."
Fred waves to the crowd.  The crowd calls out "We'll remember you, Kid," "You're the best, Kid,"  etc.
Wheat:  "Well, he's putting on the best show I've seen since they hung ole Black Jack Ketchum down in Waco."
Kyle:  "He seems to take to crowds."
Heyes:  "It's a man's last words that are important."
Judge:  "Son, these are the last few minutes of your life.  Now I'm gonna ask you a question, and I want you for the good of your soul to give me an honest answer."
Heyes:  "I'm not worried.  He'll do the right thing."
Judge:  "This man who was in with you on the crime, this man with the brown hair and the brown eyes...  he was really Hannibal Heyes, wasn't he?"
Wheat:  "If he don't do the right thing here, Heyes, you two better take up Spanish lessons."  He laughs.  Kyle grins.
Sheriff:  "It won't do you any good to lie, son.  Ever'body knows that Heyes was in on every crime you ever committed.  You might just as well make a clean breast of it."
Man:  Shouts, "We'll remember ya, Kid!  You and Heyes!"
Fred:  He puts up his arms.  "Yes!  It was Hannibal Heyes.  He and I are the best!"
The crowd cheers.  Fred grins.  Heyes turns and slips off through the crowd.
Kyle:  He frowns.  "Where's he goin'?  He's gonna miss the hangin'."
Curry:  Exasperated.  "Kyle, if there's any point to this life, you're gonna miss it."
Sheriff:  "You want a blindfold?"  Fred grins, shakes his head.  "All right, Judge, we might just as well get on with the hangin'."
The Judge moves up the steps.  Fred is smiling.
Kyle:  "Hey, I like this part the best."
Judge:  "On this fifteenth day of June, in the city of Red Rock, Hancock County, in the great state of Montana, Jed 'Kid' Curry..."
Heyes:  He's on horseback, galloping up through the crowd, shouting.  "Stop the hanging!  Stop!  Hold it!"
Kyle:  "What, is he crazy?"
Heyes:  "Stop the hanging!"
Wheat:  He starts to leave.  "I been tellin' you that for years.  Let's get out of here while we got a chance."
Curry:  Stops him.  "Wait a minute, Wheat.  Stay right where you are."
Heyes:  He stops his horse at the gallows.  "Your Honor, you've got to stop this hanging!"
Judge:  "You from the Governor's office?"
Heyes:  "No, I just got word from my kin from out of state."
Judge:  To the Sheriff,  "You know him?"
Sheriff:  "Well, in a roundabout way."
Heyes:  "I don't know if the Sheriff's told you, but I'm Jonathan Curry, the Kid's cousin, Your Honor."
Judge:  "What do you want?  You're holding things up and that's not legal."
Heyes:  "Well, it may not be legal, but it's moral.  Jed's grandmother's comin' in here.  She wants to see him before he dies!"
Sheriff:  "His grandmother!?"
The crowd boos.
Heyes:  "Now, wait a minute.  I don't think there's a man or woman in this town who's so stony they'd... they'd deny an old woman a chance to see her grandson one last time.  Huh?"
Sheriff:  "Judge, it's dangerous to keep him alive and in this town."
Judge:  "Well now, if somebody's gonna break him out, they sure would've tried before we got the noose around his neck, wouldn't they?"
Sheriff:  "Yeah..."
Judge:  He calls out to Heyes.  "When's his grandma getting' here?"
Heyes:  "She's comin' as fast as she can, Judge, on the train!
The crowd has been alternately booing or cheering.  They yell, "We want a hangin'!"  "Did he let the man he killed see his grandmother before he shot him?"  "String 'im up!"  etc.
Curry:  "Let his grandma come!"
Wheat:  "Amen!  Let the old lady see her kin!"
Judge:  He holds up his hands.  "Wait, wait, just quiet down!  Now this man is gonna hang."  The crowd cheers.  "But there is no earthly reason why justice can't wait a day or two until his poor old grandmother gets here."  The crowd boos.  "You all go home.  The hanging's postponed.  Now, I know how important a grandmother can be, because I'm married to one."  The crowd laughs.  "So you all get yourself over to the saloon, 'cause the drinks are on me."  The crowd cheers.

Heyes is in the jail office being searched by Deputy Hollis.  The Sheriff opens the safe and hands the keys to Hollis.
Hollis:  "He's clean."
Sheriff:  Hostile.  "Three minutes!  No more."
Hollis follows Heyes to Fred's cell.  He unlocks the door, lets Heyes in, then closes it after him.  Another deputy is sitting nearby.
Hollis:  "Two minutes."
Both deputies leave.
Fred:  He grabs Heyes by the lapels and shakes him.  "I oughta tear you apart for what you did to me.  Now I've got to live through this all over again!  I was all prepared!  I was ready to go!"
Heyes:  Throws Fred on the bunk.  "Well, that made one of us.  Because I wasn't."
Fred:  "You talk like it was your neck up there."
Heyes:  "Friend, when you decided to die as Kid Curry, that was your neck.  When you decided to take Hannibal Heyes along with you, then it became mine."
Fred:  He stares at Heyes, and slides backward on the bunk.  "You...  You...  You're..."
Heyes:  "Yeah, my friend, you're beginning to catch on."
Fred:  Stunned.  "I don't know what to say."
Heyes:  "Oh, you've said enough.  Now it's my turn.  You're gonna tell the Sheriff that you lied about me, that you lied about Kid Curry, about everything."
Fred:  "Mr. Heyes, I'm deeply respectful of who you are, what you are, and what I've done to you, but I can't do what you say.  Now, you get out of here and you leave me alone, or I'm gonna tell the Sheriff who and what you are."
Heyes:  "You wouldn't dare."
Fred:  "You wouldn't want to take that chance, would you?  Deputy?  Deputy!"
The Deputy approaches.  Heyes and Fred stare at each other.
Deputy:  "Yeah?"
Fred:  "My cousin was just leaving.  Weren't you, cousin?"

Heyes and Curry are again standing at the bar in the saloon, Kyle and Wheat on the far side of them.  Heyes is the only one without a mug of beer in front of him.
Curry:  "I guess there's no use in askin' how it went."
Heyes:  He is quietly furious.  "I'm gonna save him if it kills me."
Wheat:  "If you keep goin' the way you've been, it probably will, too."
Curry:  "Wheat, unless you've got a better idea..."
Wheat:  "Well now, it's about time we get around to askin' for a little professional advice, ain't it.  I've been tellin' you there ain't but one way you're gonna keep that boy from hangin', an' that's bust 'im out of jail."

Kid and Wheat are on the balcony in front of Heyes' and Curry's hotel room, looking down at the jail across the street, where two deputies are guarding the front door.  Heyes and Kyle are inside the room.
Curry:  "Two men in front, one in back, one inside.  It'd take an army."
Wheat:  "I brung me an army of dynamite."  Kid and Wheat go into the room.
Heyes:  He turns from the wash basin, holding a towel.  "Look, Wheat, I agree we gotta bust him out, but it's gonna take finesse."
Kyle:  "Wheat didn't bring any of that."
Curry:  "You got somethin' in mind, Heyes?"
Heyes:  "I think I have, yeah.  Now look, Wheat, you and Kyle won't do us any good here in town."
Wheat:  "You ain't gonna bust that jail without us.  I'll tell you that."
Heyes:  "We're not gonna hit it head on.  We're gonna hit it by way of Hillsdale.  You an' Kyle can save me and the Kid a day's ride if you'll stop off in Hillsdale on your way back to Devil's Hole."

We're inside the Hillsdale Telegraph Office.  HILLSDALE TELEGRAPH is painted on the window.  Through the window we see Wheat and Kyle ride up and dismount.  They enter and lean on the counter.  Wheat pulls a note out of his pocket and tosses it on the counter.
Telegrapher:  "Gents?"  He picks up the note and reads.  "To Silky Sullivan, 400 Grand View Place, Nob Hill, San Francisco.  Urgent Grandmother Curry come to Red Rock within week.  We remind you of great favor you often mentioned you owe us.  This is a matter of life and death.  Thaddeus Jones and Joshua Smith."  He counts the number of words.
Wheat:  "How much?"
Telegrapher:  "A dollar six bits, please."
Wheat:  Outraged.  "A dollar six bits!  That's highway robbery!"
Telegrapher:  "That's the rate."
Wheat:  "Well, ain't there no cheaper way to send it?"
Telegrapher:  "Try the mail."
Wheat:  "How 'bout collect?"
Telegrapher:  Amused.  "You two fellows have identification?"
Wheat:  He digs into his pocket and comes up with a coin.  He puts it on the counter.  "A dollar..."
Telegrapher:  "...six bits."
Wheat:  He digs deeper, and finds a few more coins.  "Six bits."
The telegrapher takes the money and puts it into a cash box, the puts the box under the counter.  He taps out the message.  Wheat turns to find Kyle is drawing on a wanted poster on the wall of the office.  It is a picture of Wheat to which Kyle has added a mustache.  Kyle grins.  Wheat rips it down, crumples it, and throws it on the floor.  He snatches the pencil out of Kyle's hand.  The key stops tapping.
Telegrapher:  Annoyed.  "Well, was there something else?"
Wheat:  "Uh huh."  He turns, drawing his six-gun, which he points at the telegrapher.  "A dollar six bits."  He cocks the gun.  "Please."

Silky is standing in front of his mansion.  He's dressed in a fine gray suit with a black velvet collar, and is reading the telegram.
Silky:  "Urgent Grandmother Curry come to Red Rock within week.  We remind you of a great favor you often mention you owe us.  This is a matter of life and death.  Thaddeus Jones and Joshua Smith."  He looks up.  "Grandma Curry??!!"

Back in Red Rock, Heyes and Curry watch the train approach the station.  They walk to the platform.  As they go up the steps, they come face to face with Deputy Hollis.
Hollis:  "The Sheriff sent me down.  I'm the official greeter.  Who's this?"  He eyes Curry suspiciously.  "Another cousin?"
Curry:  "No, the name's Jones, Thaddeus Jones.  Just a friend of the family."
Hollis:  "Oh.  Well, there better not be too many friends of the family on that train, or I got orders not to let 'em off."
Heyes:  "We're just expecting Grandma."
Hollis:  "Grandma."
A handful of passengers disembark.  Among them is an elderly woman in a shawl and bonnet who's slowly climbing down from the train assisted by the conductor.  A black net is over her face.
Grandma:  She giggles.  "Thank you."
Curry:  To Heyes.  "I do believe your grandma's arrived."  He and Heyes move up to Grandma.  "Grandma Curry?"
Grandma:  Sotto, in Silky's normal voice.  "What are you doin' here?  If this isn't a case of life and death I'll personally turn you the both of you in!"  Silky embraces Curry, and switches to a higher octave.  "It's just wonderful to see you, grandson."
Heyes:  Sotto.  "I'm your grandson."
Grandma:  "Oh, these eyes.  You'll have to excuse me."  Silky turns, bringing him face to face with Hollis who has moved up.  "And who are you?"
Hollis:  Takes off his hat.  "Oh, I'm from the Sheriff's office, ma'am.  I guess you'll want to go over to the jail and see your other grandson."
Heyes:  Sotto.  "You look awful tired."
Grandma:  "Young man, I've been on that train for two days, and I'm not going to see my grandson looking like this.  Come along, boys, the first thing I want to see is the hotel room and bath."  Grandma orders Hollis, "You, get my bags."
Heyes and Curry help Grandma down the station steps, leaving Hollis to carry the bags.
Hollis:  "Yes, ma'am.  Yes, ma'am."  He picks up the bags and follows.

Heyes, Curry and Silky enter the hotel room.
Grandma:  "Well, isn't this homey."  As soon as the door closes, off comes Silky's bonnet, then the wig.
Heyes:  "Silky, you're beautiful."
Curry:  "Lovely, Silky."
Silky:  "Now listen, you two.  Anything I ever owed you has been paid in full.  You understand?"
Curry:  "Silky, you pulled it off, didn't you?"
Heyes:  "Sure did.  Boy."
Silky:  He pours some water from a pitcher into a basin and washes his face.  "Don't flim flam a flim flam man.  This was the last resort.  I tried everybody, even Emma Holstem, and she refused to play anybody's grandmother.  And she's eighty-eight years old!"  He picks up a towel to dry his face.
Heyes:  "We're glad you came, Silky.  We can trust you to stay in there if it gets rough."
Silky:  Lowers the towel.  "Rough?"

Over at the jail, a deputy unlocks Fred's cell.  Hollis enters and hands Fred a plate.
Hollis:  "Well, she's here."
Fred:  "Who?"
Hollis:  "Your grandmother.  Who else you expecting?"
Fred:  "My grandmother!?"

In the hotel room, Silky's sitting in a chair.  Curry lights his cigar.  Heyes pours him a glass of whiskey.
Heyes:  "So, if he's hanged tomorrow without changing his story, I'm wanted for murder."
Curry:  "And to top it off, we think he's innocent.  A little mixed up maybe, but innocent."
Silky:  "Well, the situation is serious, all right.  But what do you figure to do about it?"
Heyes:  "We have a plan.  You go to the jail tonight to visit your grandson..."  He hesitates.
Silky:  "Yes?"
Heyes:  "You'll be carrying a six-gun strapped to your leg."
Silky:  "Goodbye, gentlemen."  Silky gets up, and hands the cigar to Curry and the whiskey to Heyes.  He grabs his wig and begins putting it on in front of a mirror.
Curry:  "Ah, now, Silky, come on, listen..."
Silky:  "Now, you listen.  You both know that in all my life as a con man, I never carried a gun.  I was against it.  That's why I was a con man."
Heyes:  Trying to convince him.  "You won't have to touch the gun, Silky."
Silky:  "I won't have to?  I wouldn't know how.  Probably shoot myself."
Heyes:  "Oh, there won't be any shooting.  And I'll handle the gun after you smuggle it in."
Curry:  "Nobody's gonna get hurt, Silky.  We've got it all worked out."
Heyes:  "Yeah, that's a promise."
Silky:  "What happens to me?"  He finishes tying his bonnet.
Curry:  "Silky, we got a way out for you that's foolproof."
Silky:  "Foolproof!?  Don't ever use that expression around me.  It's a jinx, a guaranteed jinx."
Heyes:  "This time it's the truth, Silky.  Now, just listen.  You get out of those clothes, you put on your own clothes, and we sneak you out the back of the hotel.  You walk around the front, you come in the front door, and you register as Silky O'Sullivan."
Curry:  "And when the jailbreak is over, you get rid of the dress and the wig and go back out on the street.  'Cause they're gonna be looking for Grandma Curry, but you're gonna be back in the hotel registered as Silky O'Sullivan, safe and sound.  You don't even have to hide, Silky."
Heyes:  "You've got the best getaway of all of us.  All you have to do is just check out in the morning and catch the train for home."
Silky:  "If they think they have Kid Curry in that jail, they surely aren't gonna let Grandma Curry in there without a thorough search."
Curry:  "Silky, there's only one thing in the world we're better at than breaking into banks.  That's breaking out of jail."

Inside the Sheriff's office.  He pulls a rifle and a shotgun out of a rack and hands one to each of two deputies, followed by boxes of ammunition.
Sheriff:  "This is the last night you boys'll have to work late, so stay awake, will ya."
Deputy:  "Same orders?"
Sheriff:  "Yes sir.  Anybody tries to take the Kid, why, shoot and shoot to kill.  Let's go."
The deputies go out the door.  The Sheriff locks it behind them.  He goes to the gun rack and takes down a shotgun.

Heyes and Grandma walk down the street.  A man on the boardwalk bows and removes his hat.
Silky:  "Wait."  He stops.
Heyes:  "What's the matter?"
Silky:  "My gun.  It's slippin'."
Heyes crouches down and reaches under Grandma's skirt to adjust the gun.  Silky notices the man on the boardwalk watching.
Grandma:  "Don't be disgusting, young man."
They continue down the street to the jail.  Hollis and the other deputy are standing in front of the jail.  As Heyes and Grandma approach, Hollis pounds on the door.
Hollis:  "Grandma Curry's here, Sheriff."
Sheriff:  The door opens and the Sheriff steps out.  He takes off his hat and greets Grandma with a warm smile.  "Welcome to Red Rock, ma'am.  I'm Sheriff Whittaker."
Grandma:  "I'm pleased to meet you, Sheriff.  May I see my grandson now?"
Sheriff:  He's embarrassed.  "Well, yes, ah, in a minute, but ah, well, ah, first off, ah, I don't know exactly how to put this but, well, we just can't let anybody inside without bein' searched."
Grandma:  Incensed.  "Well, no self-respecting, God-fearing gentleman would suggest such a thing!  The idea of a man's hands touching my person!"
Sheriff:  "Ma'am, I'd like to make an exception, but, ah..."
Heyes:  "Sheriff, could I make a suggestion.  What if we got one of the girls from the saloon?  Now, perhaps Grandma wouldn't mind being searched by a girl."
Grandma:  Indignant.  "A saloon girl?!"
Heyes:  "Grandma, they're nice girls.  Aren't they, Sheriff?"
Sheriff:  "Oh, yeah, sure.  They're real nice."
Heyes:  "Would that be all right, Grandma?  I mean, seeing as how the Sheriff's on the spot and all."
Grandma:  "Well, I suppose you do have your rules."
Sheriff:  "Hollis, maybe you better run over to the saloon and get one of them gals."
Hollis:  "Yeah, sure, sheriff.  I'll get Big Bess."
Heyes:  "Big Bess?  Sheriff, maybe I'd better go along.  I don't think Grandma'd be happy at all with Big Bess."
Sheriff:  "All right, all right...  Just get one of 'em."
Hollis:  "'Scuse me."
Heyes and Hollis head for the saloon, leaving Grandma alone with the Sheriff.  Grandma flirts with the Sheriff.  He looks down, embarrassed.  Both giggle.

Heyes enters the saloon with Hollis.  They stand looking around.
Hollis:  "I wonder if Flossie's workin' tonight?"
He moves off.  Heyes waits next to a divider.  Curry walks up on the other side of it.
Heyes:  "Where's Penny?  We're all set up!"
Curry:  "Heyes, I don't know."
Heyes:  "What do you mean, you don't know!  We only have a few seconds."
Curry:  "I know that.  She was playing the wheel a few minutes ago.  I looked up, she was gone."
Heyes:  "You better get moving and find her.  This whole thing's gonna blow up right in our faces."
Heyes walks away and crosses the room to meet Hollis, who's heading towards him with Florence, a girl in a low-cut black sequined dress.
Hollis:  "This is Florence.  Florence, this is Mr. Curry.  Let's go."
Heyes:  Stops him.  "Uh... Wait a minute, Hollis.  Could I speak to you for a moment in private?"
Hollis:  "In private?  Sure."  To Florence, "You wait right here."
Hollis and Heyes move a few steps away.
Curry is still standing next to the divider.  He sees Penny start down the stairs.  She spots Curry, turns, runs back up.  He goes after her and catches her near the top.  He grabs her by the arm.
Curry:  "All right, where do you think you're going?  You said you were gonna help us.  We're depending on you."
Across the saloon, Hollis and Heyes are having their discussion.
Hollis:  "What's the matter with the dress?"
Heyes:  "Don't you think it's a bit... revealing?"
Hollis:  "Are you kidding?  That's nothin'.  She's got one..."
Heyes:  "That's not the point.  The problem is, I'm afraid my grandmother is most likely to be offended by the way she's dressed."
Back to the stairs...
Penny:  She's scared.  "I...  I...  don't think that I can do it!"
Curry:  "We can't do it without you"
Penny:  "I'm sorry, but there must be another way!"
Curry:  "There no other way, and if you don't move, it's gonna be too late."
Back to Hollis and Heyes.
Heyes:  "No."
Hollis:  "No?"
Heyes:  "No."
Back to Penny and Curry.
Penny:  Holding back.  "Well, I want to help him!  But I know that I can't make it, and I'll just ruin it for all of you."
Curry:  "Penny, if you don't come right now, and I mean right this minute, your friend's already as good as dead."  He lets go of her and walks down the stairs.  He stands next to the piano player, his back to the room.  Penny continues to stand on the stairs.
Hollis and Heyes walk to the bottom of the staircase.  Hollis motions her down.
Hollis:  "Hey, cutie."  She descends.  Hollis heads for the door.  "Let's get outta here."
Heyes escorts Penny out.  Curry turns.  He picks up his watch off the top of the piano and checks the time.

The Sheriff is waiting outside the jail with Grandma Curry.
Sheriff:  "Well, yes, ma'am, I reckon I have caught me a passel of outlaws in my time."
Grandma:  "My, my, Sheriff, you must be terribly brave."
Sheriff:  "Oh, I wouldn't say that."
Heyes, Penny and Hollis arrive.
Hollis:  "Here's the girl, Sheriff."
Sheriff:  "Well, good.  Now, honey, don't let all these guns bother you.  It's just routine.  Now, if you'll just step over here to Miz Curry we'll get this thing over with right now."
Grandma:  "Sheriff, surely you aren't suggesting I be subjected to this humiliation on the public street?!"
Sheriff:  "Now, ma'am, it's like I told you..."
Heyes:  "Isn't there something you could do, Sheriff?"
Sheriff:  "Well, I reckon I can make an exception and take Grandma inside, but Mr. Curry here and the little lady'll have to be searched on the outside.  Come on.  This way."  He knocks on the door.
Grandma:  "Thank you, Sheriff.  It's very kind of you."  The door opens and the Sheriff escorts Grandma in.
Sheriff:  "Bill, you check him over real good, will ya.  Hollis, you look after her, huh?"
Curry is walking down the street, carrying a carpet bag.  He looks to the jail.  Heyes has his arms up and is being searched.  Hollis steps behind Penny and extends his hands.  He starts to put them on her but can't quite figure out how to search her without offending her.  As the Sheriff comes back out, Hollis looks at him, embarrassed.  The Sheriff shoves Hollis's rifle into his hands.
Sheriff:  "Oh, dang it, go on, I'll take care of it myself."  He doesn't quite know how to search Penny either.
Curry checks his watch, then moves off down the street.
Inside the jail, a deputy unlocks the door when the Sheriff bangs on it.  Grandma is inside, sitting on a chair.  The Sheriff enters, followed by Penny, Hollis, and Heyes.
Sheriff:  "Miz Curry, ma'am, if you'll just step over into that alcove.  You too, young lady."
Grandma and Penny move to the alcove.  Penny begins searching Grandma.
Grandma:  "This is not a girly show."  Grandma gestures for the men to turn around. The Sheriff puts his hand over his eyes.  Hollis and Heyes turn around.  The other deputy looks at the ceiling.
Penny reaches Grandma's legs and her hand stops for an instant as she feels the six-gun.  She looks under the skirt, then stands.
Outside, Curry checks the time, and watches the livery stable.
Penny:  "She's all right."
Hollis:  "She's clean, Sheriff."
Grandma:  Indignantly.  "I beg your pardon!"
Hollis:  "That's just a figure of speech, ma'am."
Sheriff:  "Miz Curry, I guess you can see the prisoner.  I'll get the key."  He moves over to the safe and crouches down.  He works the first number of the combination, then the second.  Heyes watches intently.  The Sheriff pauses.  "Hollis, whyn't you take the girl back across the street. Huh?"
Hollis:  Nods.  "This way."  He escorts Penny toward the door.
The deputy at the door is having trouble opening the lock.  Heyes glances at Silky.  They'll have to move now, before the Sheriff has opened the safe.  Heyes signals Grandma with a slight jerk of his head.  Silky moves next to Heyes.  Heyes eyes the Sheriff, then Hollis and the deputy, who are still trying to unlock the door.  Heyes waits until the last possible moment.  As Hollis reaches for the doorknob, Heyes crouches and pulls the six-gun.  He aims it at Hollis.
Heyes:  "All right, Hollis.  Don't."  Hollis freezes, his hand suspended over the doorknob.  The Sheriff reaches for his gun.  In a flash, Heyes spins to point his gun at the Sheriff.  "You too, Sheriff."  To Penny, "All right now, get their guns."  Hollis puts his hands up.  Penny takes his gun.  The Sheriff raises his hands and stands up.  "You just keep on doin' what you're doin', Sheriff."
Sheriff:  "I'm afraid you made your play just a little too quick."
Heyes:  "You're right, Sheriff, it isn't going exactly according to plan, but we couldn't let you take Penny out that door.  See, we promised to take her with us."
Sheriff:  "I can't for the life of me remember the rest of that combination."  He looks at Heyes, who's holding a gun aimed at him.  "Go ahead.  You might be able to shoot your way out of here but it'll be without Kid Curry.  Ain't no way that you can get back into that cellblock without them keys."  Penny has a gun in each hand aimed at the two deputies.  She and Silky glance at Heyes.
Heyes:  "I hope you're wrong, Sheriff.  For all our sakes."
The Sheriff is now standing with the two deputies.  Penny is holding guns on them.  Heyes moves to the safe and crouches down.  He glances at the safe, sets his hat on top of it, then turns his attention back to his captives.  His gun is aimed at them.
Sheriff:  "I'm warnin' you folks, aidin' an' abettin' a condemned prisoner is a hangin' offense.  Now, I'm willin' to go easy on you if you'll give up now before somebody gets hurt."
Heyes presses his ear against the safe but he keeps his eyes and his gun leveled on the Sheriff and the deputies.  He starts to slowly turn the dial.

At the livery stable, Old Man Willis is running a heavy chain through the handles on the sliding doors.  Curry approaches and stands behind him.
Curry:  "I'm sorry to see you close the stables."
Willis:  "To you it's early.  To me it's late."
Curry:  "I don't suppose you'd consider staying open a few more minutes, would you?  It's kind of an emergency."
Willis:  He gives Curry a glance over his shoulder.  "Mister, you don't hear so good.  Nothin' keeps me open past ten."
Curry:  "Nothing?"
Willis:  "Nothing."  Curry draws his pistol and cocks it.  Willis looks over his shoulder at the six-gun in Curry's hand.  It's pointed at his back.  "Sometimes I do make exceptions."  He starts pulling the chain from the door.
Meanwhile, back at the jail...
Sheriff:  "You're makin' an awful mistake.  Why, it'd take blastin' powder to blow that safe open.  Then you'd have the whole town down on ya."
Heyes continues to work on the safe.
Inside the livery stable, Willis is sitting against a post, tied there with a rope wrapped around him several times.
Willis:  "You can't get away with this.  You'll live to regret this."
Curry:  Curry leads a horse out of a stall and starts to saddle it.  "Quiet."
Willis:  "You'll live to hang."
Curry:  "I said be quiet."
Willis:  "Look, you can't get away with this kind of thing.  You just can't go on around tying people up an' stealin' their horses."
Back at the jail...  Heyes is still working on the combination.
Sheriff:  "Son, I might be willin' to make you a pretty decent sort of deal, if you'll just..."
Heyes stops.  He hits the door of the safe with his fist and turns the handle.  It opens.  He reaches in and takes out the keys, holding them up for Penny to see.
And back at the livery stable...  Curry is finished saddling the second horse.
Willis:  "They put that rope around your neck and then they tighten it behind your left ear and the trap door swings out and you dangle 'til your face turns blue."
Curry walks to where Willis is sitting and stands in front of him.  His puts his hand on his gun.
Curry:  "Are you gonna be quiet?"
Willis:  Defiantly.  "Go ahead.  Shoot.  I dare ya.  You ain't got the nerve.  You'll bring the whole town down on ya."  Curry picks up a wooden bucket.  "Well, what're you gonna do with that?  Now, don't..."  Curry puts the bucket over Willis' head.
At the jail, Heyes, gun in hand, follows the Sheriff and the two deputies to Fred's cell.  Fred is lying on the bunk.
Heyes:  "Come on.  Move it."  He hands the keys to the Sheriff.  "All right, open that cell.  Kid, your grandma's here."
Fred:  He gets up.  "What's happening?"
Heyes:  "We're leaving.  All right, you two get in there."  Heyes shoves the deputies into the cell and tells Fred, "Gag them."  He takes the Sheriff to the back door of the jail.  "All right, open this door, Sheriff.  Call in your deputy."  We're now seeing Heyes the outlaw leader, and he's keeping an eye on everything.
Sheriff:  Unlocks the door.  "Hey, Collie!"
At the livery stable...
Willis:  (under bucket)  "Hey, get this thing off my head.  Help!"
At the jail, Heyes and Grandma are in the cell, tying up and gagging the Sheriff and Collie.  Fred and Penny stand outside the cell.
Fred:  "Penny, why did you get mixed up in this?"
Penny:  "Don't you know?"
Heyes:  "Let's go, grandma."  He and Grandma come out of the cell, and Heyes locks the door.  "Out that door."
In the livery stable, Curry is waiting by a smaller door.
Willis:  "Off my head!"
Two knocks and Curry opens the door.  Heyes enters.
Heyes:  "Everything all right?  Where is it?"  Curry points to the carpet bag he brought from the hotel.  Heyes opens it and pulls out his gunbelt.
Willis:  "Who's there?  Now talk.  Get this bucket off my head!  Come on.  Somebody, help!"
Silky is quickly making the change from elderly lady to distinguished gentlemen.
Curry:  "Silky, we sure do appreciate what you're doin'."
Silky:  "We'll talk about it later.  If there is a later."  Heyes hands him his hat.
Heyes:  "There'll be a later.  We'll see you at your place.  Let's go."  Silky dashes out the small door.  Curry, Heyes, Penny and Fred move toward the horses.
Willis:  "Come back!  Get this bucket off my head!  Come on back here!  Get it off!"

We see galloping horses, then we hear the town bell sounding an alarm.  A posse is forming.  The Sheriff leads the posse out of town at a gallop.  As they pass the hotel, we see Silky on the veranda holding a tall mint julep.  He watches as the huge posse thunders by, and salutes them with the glass.

Curry reins up in front of the other three riders.  They all dismount.  Heyes and Curry slap the horses and send them galloping off down the trail.  Heyes helps Penny down a path and Curry pulls Fred along.
Fred:  "Why are we stopping?  They're gonna be after us with every gun in town."
Curry:  "That's why we're stopping.  Come on."
They all run down the slope of a hill away from the trail and stop under a tree.  A waterfall is in the background.
Penny:  Breathless.  "Oh, I think my heart's going to explode."
Fred:  To Penny, "I'm sorry I had to put you through all this..."
Heyes:  "Shhhh.  Quiet."
Fred:  Turns to Heyes.  "Look, I'm only trying to..."
Heyes clamps his hand over Fred's mouth.
Heyes:  "Do you hear it?"
Curry:  "Yeah.  It sounds like a nice size posse."
They all crouch down in the darkness.  A large posse passes by and continues on.  Curry, Heyes, and Penny sit up.
Curry:  To Heyes,  "I think you're cuttin' off his air."
Heyes releases his hand from Fred's mouth.  Fred gets up.
Penny:  "Well, what happens next?"
Heyes gestures toward the waterfall.
Heyes:  "It's not much, but it's ours."
Fred and Penny turn to follow his gaze.  There's a mine shaft next to the waterfall, partially obscured by boards and brush.
Penny:  "Is there anything you haven't thought of?"
Curry:  "Well, if there is, we'll all find out about it together."
They start for the shaft opening.

Down the trail...
Collie:  "Sheriff!"
Sheriff:  "Hold it, there."  The posse stops.
Collie:  "Sheriff, we found two more horses up there."
Hollis:  "If that's the case, they're on foot.  We can spread out an' get 'em."
Sheriff:  "Hollis, these are not a bunch of trail hands who we're chasin'.  These are hardened, organized criminals.  You think these fellers'd turn their horses loose unless they had some fresh ones stashed out along the trail somewhere?"
Hollis:  "Well, if that's the truth, they could've went in any direction.  They could've doubled back an' went that way."
Sheriff:  "You know, somethin' like this sure gives a feller a whole lot more respect for the law down in Wyomin'.  Well, come on, let's see if we can pick up their tracks."
The posse heads back.

It's morning.  Inside the mine shaft, Penny is standing and working at a table of sorts.  Curry, Heyes and Fred are sitting on boxes, eating.
Curry:  "I'd like some more, ma'am."  Penny takes his bowl and spoons something into it out of a can.  "Girl puts together a pretty good meal, Fred, in case you're interested."  She hands the bowl back to Curry.
Heyes has finished eating, and sets his bowl on the ground.  He picks up a canteen and unscrews the cap.
Fred:  "We're gonna get caught."
Heyes:  Takes a drink from the canteen, screws the cap back on, and puts it down.  "Fred, for a fella who was just plucked from the arms of a hangman, you show a certain lack of appreciation."
Fred:  "I guess I didn't mind much about hangin' before.  Now I do."  Penny looks at him with a little smile.
Curry:  Glances at Fred over his shoulder.  "What changed your mind?"
Fred:  "Well, last night while you two were sleeping, Penny and I, we did some talking."  Penny smiles at him again.  "I should have listened to you fellas.  It's bad enough I messed up my own life without ruining Penny's and yours too."
Penny has been trying to open a can, but hasn't been able to.  Heyes gets up to help.
Heyes:  "Here.  I'll get this."  He takes the can opener from her.  "You know, Fred, I think I resent all this talk about getting caught.  I'd love to point out to you that most mine shafts don't come stocked with food and water.  And in case you haven't noticed, what we've been working on here is plan...  a Hannibal Heyes plan.  Which incidentally includes your setting the record straight with the Sheriff about me an' the Kid."
Outside, a small boy and girl are coming closer.
Heyes sits down with the can and opener.
Heyes:  "By sundown that posse will've run itself out.  We just grab the first freight that comes along."
Curry:  Matter-of-factly.  "Eleven forty.  Eastbound.  It stops for about three minutes, more or less."
Heyes looks up from the can, and gives Curry a smile.
Curry:  "Least it did last night."
Penny:  Horrified.  "You listened to every word we said?"
Curry:  "No, ma'am.  But while you were talkin' and he was sleepin', I was countin'."
Fred:  "I don't mean to be disrespectful of your plan, but what happens if someone spots us on the way to the train, I mean the four of us.  I mean, it's not gonna take a genius to figure out, you know, who we are."
Heyes:  Getting annoyed.  "Fred, I know you don't mean to be disrespectful, but that's the way it's coming out, so I'm gonna tell you one more time, and I want you to listen.  First of all, there isn't anybody within sixty miles of this mine shaft."  He hits the top of the can with the opener several times, with no success.  "And second, we're leaving after dark."
Outside, the children are still there playing.  They hear the banging on the can echoing down the shaft.  They stop playing, peer into the dark tunnel, and hear the faint sounds of voices.  They both turn and run back the way they came.
Inside the mine, Heyes is still working on the can.  He sets down the opener in disgust.
Heyes:  "So you see, we have nothing to worry about." 
He picks up a hatchet and whacks it into the can.  He puts the hatchet down and hands the can to Penny.
Outside, the children have run up to a man, Aaron, and his teenage son, John, chopping firewood.  They have already piled some wood on the back of a wagon.  The two children come running towards them, excited.  Their father and brother stop working to listen to them.
Inside the mine...
Fred:  "I guess your plan is foolproof."
Heyes:  He and Curry exchange looks.  "Why did he have to say foolproof?!"
Outside, Aaron picks up a shotgun and heads off into the woods.
Aaron:  "Go to town an' get the Sheriff, an' I'll keep an eye on the cave 'til he gets here."
John puts the children into the wagon, climbs in, and drives away.  It's dark when they get to town.  John shouts to get the Sheriff, they've got the outlaws.  He stops the wagon at the Sheriff's office and they go inside.  The town's bell rings and the posse gathers again.  We hear enthusiastic comments about getting those outlaws and stringing them up.  A huge posse gallops out of town.
Back at the mine, Heyes is supervising Penny and Fred while they put some supplies inside knapsacks.
Heyes:  "Don't make those too heavy.  Remember, we gotta run to the train."
The posse is getting closer.  Kid Curry stands looking out the mine entrance.  He hears a horse snort, then other sounds.  He turns back into the mine.
Curry:  "Heyes?"
Heyes:  "Huh?"
Curry:  "Can I see you a minute?"
Heyes:  "Yeah."
Heyes turns, looks at Curry, and follows him down the tunnel.  They both stand at the mine entrance looking out.
Outside, the Sheriff has found Aaron still watching the mine.  Startled, Aaron swings his shotgun towards the Sheriff, who grabs it.
Sheriff:  "It's just me, Aaron.  Don't get excited."
At the mine entrance...
Heyes:  "What is it?"
Curry:  "Thought I heard somethin'."
Heyes:  "Probably an owl."
Curry:  "Yeah?  Well, he's drivin' a wagon."
Heyes:  "Maybe it's just a drifter... or miner."
Curry:  "Or a posse."  Heyes is beginning to take Curry seriously.  They turn and move back up the tunnel.
Outside, the wagon is being unloaded.  A dozen or so men pass buckets along a line like a fire brigade.
Inside the mine, Penny and Fred close the last of the knapsacks.  Heyes and Curry enter.
Fred:  "We're all finished."
Curry:  "You may be right."
Penny:  "What is it?"
Heyes:  "There's something out there."
Curry:  "Come on, Heyes.  We don't have time to sugar-coat it.  We've got some choices to make."
Fred:  "What kind of choices?"
Heyes:  "Well, we could stay put and hope whatever's going on out there has nothing to do with us."
Outside, shadowy figures move out of the brush and begin surrounding the small lake at the mine entrance.
Sheriff:  "If they start to make a break for it, bust 'em."
Inside...
Curry:  "Our best chance is to slip out one at a time.  Meet up at the water stop."
Fred:  "And leave Penny and let her make her way alone?"
Outside, the men are still passing buckets along a line.
Inside...
Penny:  "Maybe if there is a posse out there, we could surrender?"
Curry:  "What're you thinking, Heyes?"
Heyes:  He looks at his pocket watch.  "11:30.  I'm thinking we've got less than ten minutes before our train makes its stop."
We hear the sound of a train whistle.  They all move down the tunnel to the entrance.  They stop just inside the entrance, staring out into the darkness.  The train is getting closer.
Curry:  "Three minutes from the time they drop the spout."
Back at the posse...  Torches are being dipped into one of the buckets and passed down the line of men.
The train stops at the water tank.
Heyes:  "Wait until she's ready to roll, then we'll run for it.  If she's moving good when we get to her, they'll never catch us."
Fred:  "What about Penny?  She can't run that fast or that far!"
Heyes:  "She won't have to.  She's stayin' here with you."
Curry:  In response to Fred's puzzled frown, "Fred, once we get moving they're not gonna know how many of us there are."
Heyes:  "Once they see we're heading in the direction of that train, there won't be a man who isn't on our tail, trying to get off the lucky shot."
Penny:  "You're doing this for us, aren't you?"
Curry:  Flatly,  "No, ma'am, savin' your necks is incidental.  It's ours we're gonna be duckin' lead for."
At the train, the water spout is lowered.
Heyes:  Checking his watch.  "Three minutes.  We'll spot 'em two."
Outside, the men are unloading more buckets and dumping them into the water.  The train whistle signals two blasts.
Collie:  "You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"
Sheriff:  "I sure am."
Bill:  "That must be what they're waitin' for."
Collie:  "Want me to send a couple a men down by that train?"
Sheriff:  "No.  If they're comin', they'll have to come this way an' we'll be ready for 'em. Hey, Bill, take over here, will ya?"
The train is still taking on water.
Heyes:  Checking his watch.  "Two minutes.  One to go."  Curry has his gun in his hand.
Sheriff:  To the posse, "Get back an' get set, boys.  Get back an' get set."
Heyes:  To Fred, "Now, when we draw 'em off, take off in the opposite direction and don't stop."
At the train, the water spout is raised.
Penny:  Whispers.  "We won't forget it.  And thank you, Mr. Heyes."
Fred:  "If we do get away, we'll look you up to thank you proper.  That's a promise."
Curry:  "Fred, your heading in the other direction is thanks enough.  Don't bother lookin' us up."
The train whistle sounds three short blasts.
Heyes:  "That's it.  Ready?"
Curry:  "Yeah, ready."
Heyes:  "Let's go."
Heyes and Curry dash out of the mine.
Sheriff:  "Now!"
The men in the posse light their torches and toss them into the water.  The torches hit the water and ignite the coal oil they've poured there, creating a wall of fire, sealing off escape from the mine shaft.  Heyes and Curry are brightly lit.  They stand there for a moment, guns drawn.  On the other side of the burning oil, the posse has them surrounded, and every man has a gun pointed at them.
Collie:  "Hold it right there!  One wrong move an' you're dead!"
Curry tips his gun barrel up, then both drop their guns.  They raise their hands, defeated.
Sheriff:  Triumphantly.  "Don't shoot, men!  We got 'em!"

Heyes, Curry, Fred, and Penny are escorted into the cell block.  Deputy Hollis locks Penny in one cell, the Sheriff locks Heyes, Curry, and Fred in another.
Sheriff:  "You guys don't get away this time."  He walks away.
Curry:  He taps Heyes on the shoulder, points.  "Heyes..."
Heyes looks.  Silky is standing in the cell across from them.
Heyes:  "What happened?  I know your part of the plan was foolproof."
Silky:  He's not happy.  "Don't speak to me, Heyes.  Don't say a word."

Inside the courtroom, the Judge bangs the gavel.  A man with brown hair and brown eyes is standing before the bench in the custody of a deputy.  Hollis enters the courtroom.
Judge:  "I've heard your statement.  It's officially on the record."
Hollis:  "Your honor?"
Judge:  "Yes, yes.  What?"  Hollis whispers something in his ear.  "Is that so.  That's very interesting.  Bring 'em in here.  I'm most anxious to see 'em."
A few minutes later, Heyes, Curry, Fred, Penny and Silky enter and line up in front of the Judge.
Judge:  "Well, well, well.  Hmmm.  Now I've got you all back here, what am I gonna do with you?"
Fred:  "Your Honor, if I may set the record straight..."
Judge:  Bangs the gavel and cuts Fred off.  "Out of order.  The last gentleman in this courtroom set the record straight.  In case you're interested, his name is Jack Brown.  He made a full confession, and he cleared you completely."
Heyes smiles.  Curry doesn't.
Penny:  She happily throws her arms around Fred's neck.  "Fred, oh, you're free!"
Judge:  "Hold on, young woman."  She tightens her grip.  "I mean let go."  She does.  "Nobody said anything about anybody going free.  He has to go back to Wyoming to serve out a twenty-year sentence that's waitin' for him there.  There's a sheriff named Hawkins on his way here and he knows Kid Curry personally."
Heyes and Curry exchange worried looks.
Fred:  Steps forward.  "Your Honor, I'm not Kid Curry from Wyoming.  I'm..."  He leans forward and whispers, "...Fred Philpotts... from Minneapolis, Minnesota."
Judge:  "Well, son, it ought to be simple to set the record straight just as soon as the lawman gets here.  If you do get a second chance, I advise you to let this little lady help you to make the best of it.  Okay, take him away, deputy."
Hollis and Fred walk out of the room.  Penny starts to move off with him.
Judge:  "Not you, little lady.  You're not through here yet."
Penny stops.
Judge:  "I suppose you all knew he wasn't Kid Curry.  Hmmm?"
Heyes, Curry, and Silky:  "Yes, Your Honor."
They come forward and lean on the bench.
Silky:  "And we knew he was innocent, too.  That's why we did the terrible thing that we did, Your Honor.  And I for one regret it."
Curry:  "Me too, Your Honor.  I am deeply sorrowful."
Heyes:  "We all regret everything we did, Your Honor."
Judge:  "Those are admirable sentiments, but you all give me a big problem."  Bang.  "One that no Judge likes to face."  He waves them off his bench.  "The decision between justice and the law.  Lucky for you, when there is such a conflict, I generally tend to favor justice.  And I suppose you did this community a favor when you kept us from hangin' an innocent man, so we owe you a debt.  So I'm just gonna say one thing to you.  Get out of here.  Get out of Red Rock.  I never want to see one of you again, whoever you are.  So just... go."
They turn and walk toward the back of the courtroom.  As they walk away from the Judge, Silky passes the gavel back to Heyes, who passes it back to Curry, who hides it under his vest.  They go out the door.
Judge:  Looking around.  "Deputy, where's my gavel?!"

The train is pulling into the station.  Heyes and Curry step up onto the platform and walk past the station.  They're each carrying a carpet bag.
Curry:  "I've been thinkin', Heyes, someone must even watch over the likes of us."
Heyes:  "Catching that Jack Brown when they did sure seems like a lot more than luck."
Wheat:  "You bet it was a lot more than luck.  That wasn't nothin' but just pure-dee skill.  Wasn't it, Kyle?"
Kyle:  "That's right."  He giggles.
Heyes and Curry turn to find Kyle and Wheat next to the depot.
Curry:  "I thought you two boys went back to Devil's Hole."
Kyle:  "We never got no further'n Hillsdale, where we sent that telegram fer ya."
Wheat:  "You know those small town clip joints.  Yeah, well, we got caught in a poker game, lost all our cash."
Heyes:  "What you come back here for?"
Wheat:  "We had to come an' turn in our prisoner, Jack Brown."
Curry:  "Jack Brown?"
Kyle:  "Yeah, we run acrost him holed up in Hillsdale."  Giggles.
Wheat:  "It was his misfortune to be sleepin' in the same barn that we wuz."  Kyle giggles.
Curry:  "You boys came all the way back here with him just for us?"
Wheat:  "We came all the way back here with him just for the ree-ward."  Conspiratorily.  "Hey, ah, listen, long as we're all gonna be on this train together, I mean, it'd be a shame not to rob it.  What d'ya think?"  Heyes and Curry simply stare at him.  "I mean, just for old times sake?"  He looks from Heyes to Curry.  Silence.  "Well, it was just a thought.  Come on, Kyle."
Wheat and Kyle climb on board.  Silky is approaching, carrying two bags.  Curry and Heyes each take one of his bags.
Silky:  "Get away from me.  Don't touch me."
Curry and Heyes:  "Silky!"
Silky:  "Don't even talk to me!"
Curry:  "Silky, everything turned out beautifully."
Silky:  "Any debt I may have owed you two has been paid in full.  I hope that's clear."
Curry:  "If that's the way you feel about it."
Silky:  He goes up the steps of the last train car and turns around.  "And I'll tell you somethin' else.  If either of you ever come to me and ask for anything more than the time of day or a glass of sherry, I personally'll turn you in and collect the reward and sleep very well after having done it."
Heyes:  "Silky, wait..."
Silky goes into the car and slams the door.  Heyes and Curry are left outside, holding their bags and Silky's.
Heyes:  "Something's got into old Silky."
Curry:  "It's true, he ain't been the same since he became a woman."
Heyes:  "I think there's a lesson to be learned there someplace, Kid."
Curry:  "Never turn a good friend into a lady."
Heyes:  Considers for a moment, then, "Never turn a lady into a good friend."
The train pulls out.

Closing Theme and Credits