5 Card Stud Page #5

He's last because I want him to die|once for every man in that game,

and once for himself.

Besides,|he'll be the toughest to take out.

Wouldn't like you hurt|before your job is done.

I killed those men|because they killed my brother.

What about you?|Why did you want them dead?

Because they were alive|and I didn't want to be dead.

Any one of them could've found you.

They could be doing to me|what I'm doing to them.

I see. "Do unto others. "

I've got just one rule:

me first, nobody second.

Name me somebody|who don't feel that way.

You had to do it,|if you're to keep up with Poe.

They say competition's the life|of trade. It'll be the death of me.

Don't complain,|it's closing time and we're still full.

You'd better turn in so you can|clean up this mess in the morning.

That is if you can sleep|for the racket.

I was born in a bass drum|and raised in a brass horn.

George!

Get up! Get out here|and clean up this sinkhole!

Oh, my God!

Pete, get someone|from the Marshal's office, quick.

- What for?|- Just get him. George's room.

Stand you for a cup of coffee.

- What's the matter?|- It's George.

I found him dead when|I opened up this morning.

- Pete, will you get Dr Cooper?|- Yes, sir.

Somebody shot a hole|right through George's gut.

Must've been from close up.|There's powder burns on his vest.

What bastard would do|a thing like that?

He was a mean one.

Who'd shoot a man that|was begging for his life?

He was no beggar. He wouldn't have|said "please" to live 1,000 years.

It sure looks like he's begging,|with his hands like that.

Or maybe praying,|which comes to the same.

Praying?

Not George.

The man they dug that one for|ought to be buried over there.

- In Strangers' Corner.|- George was no stranger to you.

- He sure was a strange colour.|- We all look alike to the worms.

I took you for a fool.|I made a mistake.

Big mistake. Forty-five calibre.

There had to be trouble|before I got the last name.

Sure, once you got it,|you'd kill me before you killed him.

- So instead you're going to kill me.|- It's bite or get bit, Reverend.

And I'm biting.

There's one thing you forgot.|Who'll take care of the last man?

- Van Morgan will be my pleasure.|- Van Morgan.

I've had to believe you. But I don't|believe you tried to stop that hanging.

Stop it? Hell, I led it,|just like I've been leading you.

Any last wish?|Would you like a smoke?

Would you like to say a prayer?

I would like to pray.|Not for myself, for my brother.

Go ahead.

If you can find one|to fit that card cheat.

Oh... but first, get rid of the gun.

Unknown,|found hanged March 1, 1880.

It said that in the papers, too.|Did you know that?

Get praying.

This man was lynched in Rincon,|Colorado, that's what it said.

- Then it said what he looked like.|- He looked like every second man.

Height, weight, colour of eyes, hair.

That's not what brought me|here, though.

Marshall Dana wrote something else.

Old knife scar, right shoulder.|That made it Frankie Red.

Well, Frankie. I guess they didn't|bury you with any gospel.

I'll try to make it up to you now.|This might be good for you, too.

Oh, come on,|Frankie's waiting for you in hell.

I just had a thought.

When they find you, my old man|will offer another thousand.

Only this time it'll be for me.

- Here it is.|- Come on.

Something for you... from the Book.

"'Vengeance is mine,'|sayeth the Lord. "

But this day I am the Lord,|and I repay.

I sure wouldn't want your job.

I heard about George, Van. I'm sorry.

But we've got two US marshals coming|in a week. Anything else happen?

I've got some real bad news|for you, Mr Evers. The worst.

But I don't like to tell you|on a street corner.

I think you just told me, it's...

- It's Nick, isn't it?|- He was shot.

- Nick's dead?|- Yes, honey.

- Where is he?|- Over at Doc's house.

Come on, honey.

I talked to Mr Evers|before he went home.

He'd like you at his son's funeral.

- I'll see him at the graveyard.|- The burial's gonna be at the ranch.

I'm taking the casket out there now,|the family asked me to.

If you'd like to ride along with me,|you're welcome.

I'll go by myself later on.|Catch up with you, maybe.

One for you, Nick.

Stoney.

Tinhorn.

Carson, Mace, Hurley.

And me.

I hope you win.

Can't miss.|I'm playing with six dead men.

Where are you going?

For a horseback ride.|Wanna do me a favour, Mama?

Depends.

If I'm not back by dark,|will you flip that last chair up?

- What if you do get back?|- We'll sit down and play some cards.

About time. If a man don't work,|he ain't respectable.

- Mr Rudd.|- Mr Morgan.

Last time I came to the Evers ranch,|I thought Nick was a lucky man.

"For every beast of the forest|is mine. "

You've preached a lot of funerals|lately. Got anything new?

The funeral's for the living.

I'll say that he was a good son|and brother,

a loyal friend and a good citizen.

- Won't you gag on all that?|- Why should I?

I'm a gambler, and I don't always|bank on my cards or I'd be broke.

Like your opponents.

Every once in a while,|something comes out of the air,

and says something in your ear.

- An hour ago it landed.|- What did it say?

It said, "This is it, play it. "

Well, then, play it.

You're the killer of Nick Evers|and all the rest.

Make that executioner,|of the criminals who killed my brother.

They hanged him for just|some fast work with some cards.

George wasn't in the game.

Nick Evers swore|he held that rope and so did you.

George wasn't there,|and neither was I.

So Nick was the one who talked.

Looking back, he was due to go bad.|I thought he was too smart to get killed.

Nobody's too smart for that,|not even you.

And not even you, Mr Rudd.

You left George for dead, but he lived|to say something with his hands.

It didn't come to me till you turned|that last chair over at the card table.

George wasn't praying,|he wasn't begging.

He was trying to show|who killed him, a man who prayed.

You won't be reading over Nick|'cause I'm taking you in.

There'll be no trouble,|Mr Morgan. But...

...if you don't mind, first I'd like|to read the rest of that psalm...

...about the thousand hills.

Well, read.|Or can't you read upside down?

If that's a Bible, read it.|If not, drop it.

Mr Rudd's the man we've been|looking for, Mr Evers, the killer.

Of Nick, too? But why?

I don't know about the others, but|I think Nick got onto him like I did.

I won't see your father again,|so would you say "so long" for me?

I will, Van. But I don't think|he'll ever get over Nick.

- You'd better, though.|- I'll try.

But it's not like a bullet.|A bullet kills you or you heal up.

- It's the first time you didn't say it.|- Say what?

That I'd be back.

That's right. Do you know why?

'Cause you don't give a damn|any more.

I do. But this is the first time|I haven't been sure you'll be back.

Cards, dice and anything else,|you're never sure of it.

One thing is:
|I give a damn about you.

A big damn.

Strange about Rudd.|He could've kept this place going.

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