Copper Canyon

Now, if the young lady

will open her eyes

and examine

the spots on the card.

They're gone!

But not your fingers, I hope.

No...

Ladies and gentlemen,

any of you can shoot the spots

from playing cards,

given a steady hand,

keen eyes, iron nerves...

and 12 years of practice.

My gratitude

for your assistance.

And to show my appreciation,

I'd like to present you

with these beautiful earrings.

I was told that

they once belonged

to the grand padishah

of Hindustan.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Carter.

Thank you.

You're very welcome; thank you.

Now, would another intrepid soul

step forward

to assist in a demonstration

which has astounded the crowned

heads of 11 countries?

Anyone will do.

No harm can possibly

come to you.

Aha, I see I have a candidate.

That's the spirit, young fellow.

Up the steps

right onto the stage.

Bring your feet with you.

Stand there.

Take this deck of cards.

While my back is turned,

choose one...

any card will do.

Do you have it?

Yes, sir.

Show it to the audience.

What do you think?

Sure enough resembles him.

Exceptin' the time I seen him,

he had whiskers.

Well, the best thing is

to catch him outside.

Now put it back in the deck.

Now watch closely.

In my left hand

I have the deck of cards,

in my right, the personal

throwing weapon

of the late Colonel James Bowie.

With its help, I shall endeavor

to discover the card

in question.

Well, I'll be!

The ace of hearts.

Here he comes.

Colonel Desmond?

Colonel Desmond?

You gentlemen speaking to me?

We were.

Afraid there must be

some mistake.

The name is Johnny Carter.

Ah, no it ain't.

I couldn't forget you, Colonel.

Our outfit fought

right alongside of you

at Forest Ridge.

Just a minute, Scamper.

Maybe introductions

are in order,

Mr., uh, Carter.

This is Mr. Newton,

Sergeant Joad,

and I'm Jeb Bassett.

All formerly of

the Ninth Virginia.

How do you do?

You were in the Confederate

Army, Mister... Carter?

Why, yes.

Yes, I was.

Good.

We want to make you

a proposition.

We need a man like you

where we live... Coppertown...

to keep us from losing

our claims.

I know nothing about mining.

The mines are all right.

There's something else.

We're being frozen out

because we're Southerners.

Coppertown's smelter

won't buy our ore.

We've had accidents

in the mine.

Three men killed already.

When one of us tries

to take ore to Mesa City,

something always happens

to him or his wagon.

What about the law?

Get away from me,

you overgrown jackrabbit.

The law's against us, too,

won't raise a finger to help.

That's why we need a man like

you, Colonel... er, Mr. Carter...

as a leader and...

Law breaker?

Let's say someone

who can face up to the law

if it isn't doing right.

What in tarnation do you want?

Chewing tobacco, Sergeant.

Chewing tobacco?

Why-why, I never heard

of anything like...

What brand?

Here you are.

Well, gentlemen,

it's true I was in the war,

but as a corporal.

But now I'm a peaceful man,

following a peaceful occupation.

I'm sorry, but I must refuse

your invitation.

Good night.

Colonel?

We were told to give you

a special message

from the man who brought us

out here...

Mr. Theodosius Roberts,

formerly of

Beardsville, Virginia.

Name's unfamiliar.

We got the wrong man, Jeb.

I guess you're right.

Nothing on earth could

keep Colonel Desmond

out of the fracas we got.

Let's mosey.

Keep away from me, will ya?

Hi, Travis.

Why aren't you fellows

working?

Ain't you heard?

Show people coming to town.

Pretty gals!

Figurin' on greetin' them,

make them feel at home.

I'll bet they'll

feel at home with you.

It's all right, Ma.

You done nothing

against the law.

Some people are kind of fussy

about ladies smoking.

Where you been all day?

Riding.

You look it.

Where's Lisa?

In the saloon,

playing cutthroat

with the sheriff.

Again?

You'd think he'd

know better by now.

Hey...

Um, want to take a peek?

Travis?

I want to ask you something.

Go ahead, Cora.

How about treating a girl?

- On the 31st of February.

...31st of February.

She's in there.

Thanks.

Howdy, Miss Cora.

Five.

I'm compelled

to raise you ten, Lisa.

I'll call you.

Hello, beautiful.

Pick it up.

Three.

Fine way to treat me.

Next time ask permission.

I will.

Next time.

How many?

Two to the dealer.

Check.

Have a nice ride?

Three went and three came back.

Oh, Sheriff?

Well, hello, Mr. Balfour.

I hope I'm not interrupting.

Not at all.

What can I do for you?

Today is payday at the smelter

and I'd like your protection.

Now, Mr. Balfour,

there ain't gonna be

any trouble.

The Southerners have been

acting strange

the last few days.

Secretive and arrogant.

They're planning something,

maybe robbery.

Robbery?

You better go hold

his hand, Sheriff.

Who, me?

I'm no man for robberies,

I don't even carry a gun...

can't stand the noise!

You go, Travis, and take

Bat here with you.

You're my deputies,

ain't you?

All right.

But I'll tell

you this, Balfour,

the Rebs is done for.

I disagree.

They're like wolves...

vicious, desperate.

They're just a defeated people,

Mr. Balfour.

And rightfully so!

Slavers, secessionists,

lawbreakers and murderers!

They're like anyone else...

human beings.

I never could understand

why you won't deal with them.

Perhaps you would, ma'am,

if you lost a son at Gettysburg!

Seems we had the wrong man,

Mr. Roberts.

Some fly-by-night

vaudeville actor.

Name of Johnny Carter.

That's strange...

He must look mighty like

Colonel Desmond

because Scamper was fooled.

Still am, 'ceptin'

it couldn't be,

not after the way he acted.

We put it straight to him;

mentioned your name,

like you said,

and told him that...

Who could that be, Caroline?

I'll go see, Gramp.

Oh, it's you.

I'm afraid so, ma'am.

You see, I've got

orders to find out...

Same old orders, Lieutenant,

or some nice, fresh, new ones?

Well, it's just that

I have to make inquiries

as to whether you've

had any news of...

Oh, no, not again?

Sorry, ma'am.

My dear Lieutenant,

I may not look it,

but I'm quite grown up.

I can count up to ten

and I can even remember

as far back as a week ago.

I feel awful about this,

ma'am, but...

Oddly enough,

I can even remember

the questions you asked me.

Now, since you've obviously

forgotten my answers,

I'm going to repeat them

to you again very slowly

and maybe it will save you

another visit.

Now, about my brother-in-law,

Colonel Desmond.

One.

I haven't heard from him.

In fact, I've never

heard from him.

Two.

I've never seen him

in my whole life

and I wouldn't know him

if I did see him,

because he was in

one of your prisons

when Tom and I were married,

and he was still there

when Tom was killed.

Three.

And if I had him

right here in my pocket,

I certainly wouldn't

tell you!

Now...

do you think you can

remember all that?

Uh, yes, Mrs. Desmond.

Wonderful.

And isn't it enough

that he's a defeated soldier

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