Decision at Sundown Page #3

Come on in.

Fix him up.

A lot of people hoped

this would be more serious, Spanish.

Including you, Doc?

When a man takes a hand in something

that's no concern of his,

he ain't usually so lucky.

Take your hand away.

Here, bite.

Stand up, Spanish.

Ain't it lucky you brought the iodine, Doc?

Now, you just go on about your business,

and tell everybody else to do the same.

This here thing's

between Kimbrough and me.

You had your chance to kill Tate.

You won't live long enough to get another.

Come on, Spanish.

You'd better move along, too, now, Doc.

Spanish is right, Allison.

It's a pity,

but when a man is bent on revenge,

he has a one-track mind.

He seldom accomplishes

what he sets out to do.

You sound like you wouldn't mind

seeing Kimbrough killed yourself, Doc.

No, I guess I wouldn't.

I don't believe in violence,

but maybe that's the only way Sundown

can get rid of Tate Kimbrough.

- What did he do to you?

- Never did anything to me, personally.

After the war,

I came out west to set up practice.

I fell in love with Sundown

the first time I saw it.

After I got to know the people,

I fell in love with them, too.

When Kimbrough came to town

a couple of years ago,

things changed, people changed.

I don't imagine I have to tell you how it

feels to see something you love destroyed.

- Who's Mary?

- She was Bart's wife.

You got what you came in here for. Now git.

Bart, when you told me to check Sundown

for a fella named Tate Kimbrough,

you didn't tell me you was aiming

to kill him because of Mary.

Now you know.

Yeah.

- I'm sorry I drove off and left you, Dad.

- I know you were terribly upset.

First that woman has the colossal gall

to show up at my wedding.

And then that beast of a man

interrupts the whole thing

and tells me that I'll be a widow

before the day's over.

I was there, dear, I know what happened.

And do you know

what happened in Sabine Pass?

- And about a woman named Mary?

- You know I don't.

Well, I haven't heard any shooting

for a few minutes.

Maybe that means they've gotten him.

No, he's holed up in the livery stable.

He won't come out

and nobody'll go in and get him.

Darling, Tate expects you to be

at the church at noon.

Will I tell him you'll be there?

Now, now, in spite of everything

that's happened,

I see no real reason why you shouldn't

go through with the wedding.

Lucy, I have to tell Tate something.

Well, when I've made up my mind

what I'm going to do, I'll tell him myself.

One shot at those Texans every half-hour

ain't getting us no place.

I bet Tate's really fuming

having his wedding held up like this.

Now you get this straight.

I pay you a notch higher than the rest,

so I expect more from you.

You pay for my services, Tate,

but you haven't got enough money

to buy my life.

A man can't storm that stable

without getting himself killed.

Spanish is still alive.

How about it, Spanish?

You willing to try again?

Not alone, but I'll try it again

if you'll side me, Swede.

Well, what about it, Swede?

Well, Spanish has never been too bright.

Maybe he doesn't mind

getting a belly full of lead, but I do.

Maybe he isn't too bright,

but it don't look like

- he scares as easy as you do.

- I'm not scared, Tate.

I'm just using good sense.

He's right, Tate. All you have to do is wait.

You'd like that, wouldn't you?

Well, I'm not going to wait.

So, Swede, stop telling me

how much sense you got

and start living up to that reputation

you've been bragging about.

Now, go on down there

and blast them out of that hole

and stop acting like a scared kid.

You know that last part

could go for you, too.

Maybe you're not scared enough

of the right people.

Well, if you're in such a hurry

to take care of them,

why don't you go tackle the job yourself?

Come in!

Tate, I don't...

- You don't what, Charlie?

- Well, I...

Yes, Charlie?

I doubt very much if Lucy

will go through with the wedding.

That is, at least until

this man Allison is...

There's no reason for Lucy

to concern herself about Allison.

But I think there is.

This "widow by sundown" thing

is hardly a happy thought

for a girl to have on her mind

when she's taking her marriage vows.

No, I don't suppose it is.

I don't think Allison can be feeling

quite as sure of himself

as he did when he sounded off

at the church.

He must realize he'll never

get out of that stable alive.

Now, if I was in his spot,

I'd jump at a chance

of riding out of this town in one piece.

- Wouldn't you, Charlie?

- I certainly would.

So you go on down

and give him that chance.

Me? Why me?

I don't want the rest of the town to think

that I'm willing to let him go

after that threat he made this morning.

Of course, Charlie, I couldn't go in

the stable and tell him myself.

I think you can understand that.

Well, of course, but how about Swede here?

Swede, go down and tell the boys

to hold that fire in case Allison agrees

to accept Mr. Summerton's offer.

Are you willing just to let him

ride out, Tate?

Sure.

- What's worrying you, Charlie?

- Well, I...

Well, this puts me in an awkward position.

Well, what about me?

A thing like this can start barreling,

start people talking.

Once Allison is out of the way

and Lucy and I are married,

the talking will taper down

and things will drop right back into normal.

We wouldn't want anything to change,

would we, Charlie?

No, no, I guess not.

You and I have always understood

one another, haven't we, Charlie?

Well, at least I've always understood you.

I'll speak to him.

Well, I'll be.

Next to Kimbrough, that's about the last

fella I'd figure on coming to pay us a visit.

Allison!

Mr. Allison, I'd like to speak to you.

Then start!

I'd rather come inside.

I can hear you just fine from where you are.

You must realize

you men are trapped in there,

unless you forget that foolish threat

you made at the church.

- I ain't going to.

- Then you're a complete fool.

That ain't no way to talk to a man

who saved your daughter

from making an awful mistake.

I came down here to offer you a chance

to ride out of Sundown.

The sheriff is willing to let you leave town.

You mean Kimbrough's willing, don't you?

I can't much blame him.

You go on back and tell Kimbrough

we're staying.

Be reasonable, man.

Save your life and ride out of town.

You'll be better off than when you rode in.

How would we?

To be very blunt,

I'll make it worth your while.

How much?

Five hundred dollars.

That ain't very much money

for three years' work.

We've got a lot of traveling expenses

tied up in Kimbrough.

Hey, Bart, how do you like this father

offering money to save Kimbrough's skin,

so his daughter can marry up with him?

And Lucy always looked like

a pretty good-looking girl to me

to have her father going around

trying to buy her a husband.

I'm not trying

to buy my daughter a husband.

I don't know

what else you call it, Summerton.

Charlie!

Bart, I think you've done a fool thing.

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