Broken Lance Page #5

---

If I didn't I've told you so...

...but I want you to be protected

against any eventuality.

You insure yourself against

accident and death.

No.

What is it, Mr. Lawton?

If he splits the property

between you...

...he won't be the sole owner.

- You're wasting your time...

...because he doesn't trust any of

us with more that 40 a month!

Sit down!

What about Ma, couldn't she...?

No, Joseph.

Well...

You see, Joe, it's...

The government doesn't allow

an Indian to hold land.

What about me?

That's different, you can.

He won't turn a thing over to us.

- I'll make decisions around here!

Get out of here! I'll think it over.

Joe!

Come here, will you?

There's something I want to ask you.

Yes, Pa?

Never mind. It's not important.

I take it the death of these 40

cattle was important to you?

The death of one cow is important

to a cattleman, sonny.

Important enough to send

you to the mine...

...where 12 men were injured?

Yep.

You consider 40 cattle more

important than the lives...

...of 12 men occupied in making...

- Objection.

Prosecution is trying...

- Let him go.

I'm willing to answer any questions.

That sound like pure

nonsense, sonny...

...but I know the difference

between cattle and people...

...as any man can tell you.

Thank you.

How many head of cattle have you

at this time, Mr. Deveraux?

45,000 or 50,000.

You don't know exactly?

There're the books of my Ranch.

Why don't you look it up?

I don't want to look it up.

I want you to tell me.

Then you'd better change

the tone of your voice, sonny.

Will you ask for a directly answer?

- I already have.

Mr. Van Cleve, unless you have a

a specific reason for pursuing...

...the book...

- I've a specific reason.

The defense has stressed

the importance of 40 animals.

Yet the witness can't tell me...

- Objection.

Prosecution wants to discredit the

witness by indirect examination.

Sustained.

Your Honor, I don't understand

this legal hocus-pocus...

...but I'm willing to tell this

fellow about my cattle.

I don't keep any books

in my head but...

...every cow on my Ranch

is important to me.

Important to other people too.

I ship 10,000 head to Kansas

City every year.

My cows goes into every

city in the East.

It feeds over 200,000 people.

That's may line of work, sonny.

We're all very grateful for

this additional information.

But could we confine ourselves

to specific answers? Thank you.

You've stated you built up you

ranch over a period of 25 years?

Approximately.

During this time you've had

other disputes over...

...prior claims and water rights?

- Plenty.

Were they settled in court?

- No.

This is the first time

I've ever been to court.

Usually the men I had to deal with...

...were men enough to stand

up and argue it out.

I see.

Do you happen to remember the

name of Lucius Hennaberry?

Yes, I remember him.

Do you remember shooting

him in White's saloon?

In a fair fight.

Objection.

Your Honor, I can see no reason

for this line of question.

I demand.

- It's an integral part of the case.

If the Court allow me to proceed

I'll so demostrate.

Proceed.

Thank you, Sir.

The dispute between you and

Hennaberry was over a water right.

No. Not over water rights

just over water.

Luke said he was going to

water his herd on my ranch.

He didn't.

Judging from the results,

that seems obvious.

Water seems to play a important

part in your life.

I don't quite understand this.

Seeing as how you came here

on a train, all nice...

...and comfortable like, why,

I can understand that.

But you see, I didn't.

I packed in here with a

wife and three kids.

The first year I lost my herd and

the second I lost my wife...

...because there was no water.

Water's important to me like it is

to everybody else in the state.

Without water there'd be no state!

Your Honor, please...

- You asked me, I'll answer.

You can bet your hat water's

important to me...

...as it is to everybody

else in the state.

Every drop on my ranch I either

dug for or channeled in.

When you're back on that train

riding out of here...

...over the right of way

that I gave'em...

...think it over.

I concede Mr. Deveraux's

contribution to his state...

...but that does not give him

the right to flout the laws...

...of this state.

- Object.

Sustained.

Just keep to direct questioning.

I'm sorry.

Do you remember the names

of Charlie Munger...

...Red Dog Johnson,

or Carlos Ramirez?

No.

The incident may be

too trivial to recall.

But isn't it true that you summarily

hanged all these men...

...on June...

- They were stealing cattle.

Did you just remind'em?

- I didn't ask'em their names.

You just hung them.

- They were thieves.

I see.

Wasn't Charles Malone

sheriff at that time?

I guess he was.

- Did you try to contact him?

No.

- Why not?

He was 40 miles away and drunk.

Do you know this for a fact?

- I knew Charlie Malone.

Have you ever, during your

years on Deveraux Ranch...

...called in legal authorities?

- Lf I've needed them...

...l've asked for them.

- Why didn't you ask for 'em...

...two weeks ago?

- It wasn't necessary!

Order! Order!

If there's any more of this,

I'll see you in my chambers.

If you can't restrain yourself,

I hold you in contempt.

Proceed.

You say you've asked

for the authorities.

That's right.

- Did you attempt...

...to notify the present

sheriff this time?

No.

- Why not?

I didn't think it was necessary.

You stated that it was

your intention...

...to discuss with McAndrews and

arrive at a sensible solution.

Do you still say that

this was your intent?

Yes.

- Then how it happened...

...that 20 minutes after

you arrive at the mine...

...your formal appear

with 30 armed men?

Maybe he thought there

was any trouble.

Did he know there was any and

you warned to be there?

No, I did not.

I see.

Is it customary on Deveraux Ranch

to proceed without orders?

It isn't customary but...

- Yes, Mr. Deveraux?

I didn't have to say anything to him.

I see.

Suppose I didn't believe that.

Suppose I say that you

deliberately caused the trouble...

...to bully and force McAndrews

in a opened fight.

Suppose I say to the jury you're

lying, aren't you?

Then I would tell you to get

a gun or leave town...

...because when I leave here I'll

chase you until your heels smoke!

Got get'em

- Thatta boy, Matt.

Order! Order!

Mr. Deveraux, I hold you in contempt.

This court will be in

recess for an hour.

One more disturbance...

...and the rest of the proceeding

will be made to closed door.

Matt, come on.

That did it. He hasn't got a chance.

What're we going to do?

What can we do?

Lawton said they'd to prove

him solely responsible.

He was, wasn't he?

- We were all with him.

I never asked to go.

- Me neither.

They'll put him in jail.

Look, Joe...

...l'd do anything to help him...

- So would l, Joe...

...but we can't just say...

- They'd arrest us for perjury.

That's right.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes