Cowboy Page #3

---

Joe, tell the boys about the time

you ate them Indians.

I ain't ate but one

Indian my whole life.

Even then it was just a haunch.

Being a town marshal...

...I figured that was

a pretty good job.

What made you give it up?

Same old story.

You know.

Man gets a reputation with a gun...

...he's just got to do

too much killing.

Last time in Wichita...

...two of them jumped me in the dark

and I had to shoot them.

Later, I found they were just

young, drunken saddle bums...

...looking for excitement.

That's when I quit my job as marshal.

That's no way to live.

I can't understand,

something smells good.

To hear you trail hands talk,

you'd think you were being poisoned.

You've got a visitor!

Snakes. I found one

curled up in my boot yesterday.

No, wait!

I ask you. Did you ever see a more

comfortable picture in your life?

Come to think of it,

I don't believe I ever did.

Harris, want to see a prairie eel?

Shoot him, Slim.

- Shoot him, Slim!

- Ain't my snake!

Cut it out.

- Here, Charlie, it's a girl.

- I like them with bigger hips.

I said to cut it out.

It got me.

It got me.

Go get him.

I got his legs. I got him here!

- Let go of me!

- Wait a minute!

You trying to pump that poison

to your heart?

Leave me alone.

Must have got him in the vein.

He's bleeding enough.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

Someday there'll be fences

up and down this trail.

I'd rather fight Indians than

cut my way through fences.

Joe would rather be fighting Indians.

- Makes him hungry thinking about it.

- Cut it out.

I was near starving to death.

Besides,

I didn't even know that Indian.

Anyway, I threw away

everything but one haunch.

- Which one did you keep?

- The left one, of course.

The right one is the working haunch.

They're always tough.

How long do you figure to Guadalupe?

Eight or nine days,

something like that.

I've been dreaming every night

about them Mexican gals.

I wouldn't take $400

for what I dreamed last night.

You've been talking in your sleep too.

I wish you'd dream something else.

You think of something better

to dream about...

...Ill dream about it.

Looks to me like he's dead, boss.

Slim, you, Capper, Harris.

Get some shovels.

Make it deep,

so the coyotes can't get at him.

Keep away from there.

You killed him, aren't you satisfied?

You have to steal his boots?

- I killed him?

- Put it down or I'll bust you open!

You're not busting anybody.

Someone did something stupid.

No reason to make more trouble.

You don't like what goes on here,

that's too bad.

Nobody said you were gonna like it.

Now get out there and start digging.

Anybody know the right words?

All right.

When something like this happens...

...people ask how come it happened.

I mean...

Was it his fault?

Was it somebody else's fault?

It isn't for us to say.

We don't know all the answers.

All we know is a man's dead,

and that's that.

It wouldn't have made a difference.

If it hadn't been a snake,

it would've been a steer.

Or a Comanche.

His horse might even have stumbled...

...in a prairie dog hole

some dark night.

He was a good man with cattle.

Always did the best he knew how.

I hope somebody

can say the same over me.

All right, fill her up.

After seven weeks, it will be good

to have chicken again.

- What are the decorations for?

- Some kind of fiesta.

Ask him where the Vidal ranch is.

He says when we leave this town,

there ain't nothing else but.

We're going to Vidal's

to pick up a herd.

I'm going too.

- What for?

- I'm your partner.

You mean you've got personal business?

I forgot about Miss Vidal.

You men drink now,

we'll be branding tomorrow.

Any man that starts a fight

will have to finish it with me.

- Welcome.

- We're glad to be here.

This is Paco Mendoza.

Frank Harris.

Yes, I know Senor Harris.

He writes poetry.

- He does?

- I used to.

Come in, please.

- May I present Senor Reece...

- How do you do?

...Senor Harris...

...Senor Mendoza.

My sister Dona Luisa,

my daughter Maria...

...and her husband, Manuel Arriega.

Would you gentlemen care for a drink?

If you don't mind...

...I thought we might

look over the beef.

As you wish.

Manuel, please bring our horses.

This way, sir.

How long will this take?

We'll stay till the job is finished.

I hope you're satisfied.

- Looks good.

- Best there is.

By the way, we're having a fiesta.

There will be much amusement.

I hope you all will come.

After the branding. The boys

could stand a little amusement.

- You did not get my letter?

- I left Chicago the day after you.

I wrote to explain the whole thing.

I never expected to see you again.

- Why didn't you wait?

- Please, you must leave now.

- I'm not permitted to see you alone.

- Why didn't you wait?

I should explain, Manuel...

...that Senor Harris is a friend

from Chicago.

And I should explain to you, Maria,

that you are my wife.

You will of course not wish

to see her again, alone.

I believe Senor Reece

is waiting for you.

That's all I could

grab hold of, honey.

You can't win all of them.

The final event,

ladies and gentlemen...

...is the game of the cattle.

- Mendoza, what's this about?

- It's a crazy game. Stay out of it.

That bull in there is a real killer.

See? The horns are painted red.

Man has to put a ring over his horn.

Some do it, some get killed.

That's not for me.

Manuel Arriega challenges anyone

who wishes to compete against him.

Perhaps one of the Americanos

would like to take a chance?

I wouldn't go in there for a whiskey

and a woman to pour it.

Now for the American caballero!

I'll bet 10 on the American.

- Who wants to make a real bet?

- $100!

You got it!

Anybody wants an advance,

go ahead and make your bets.

Harris, come here.

I'm playing this one myself.

- Why didn't you say so before?

- I didn't have money up before.

- Trying to show off?

- Protecting my bet, that's all.

Getting killed for money

is one thing...

...doing it to impress a girl

is stupid.

Paco. Take him away,

I don't want him.

- You crazy?

- I don't want to get him cut up.

The next contestant is

Don Thomas Reece.

Open it up, son.

I could not let you go without

seeing you once more.

Without talking with you, alone.

You know my father was

troubled about us in Chicago.

As soon as we returned here,

Manuel and I were betrothed.

Here, children have nothing to say

about these things.

Do you love him?

I am not a child anymore.

I cannot have everything...

Tell me. Do you love him?

- What's the matter?

- I need a drink.

Better stay out of there.

Charlie's inside asking for trouble.

He'll get himself carved up.

- Doesn't he need help?

- You want to help him? You help him.

Get knifed in the belly, you won't

be able to hold your guts in.

- I'm not gonna run out on him.

- You're a good boy.

Joe, wake up! Charlie's in trouble!

- He's gonna get his throat cut!

- That's his problem.

- You gotta help.

- I told you to stay out of it.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes