El Dorado

Toms.

A big fellow,

riding that Appaloosa stud out there,

he came in here a little while ago?

He in the washroom.

He shaves, he cleans up.

Thanks.

Hi, Cole.

That's a voice I'd know anywhere.

J P Harrah. Wait till I get

some of the soap out of my eyes.

I heard you were made sheriff...

- What's the idea of the gun?

- I don't know which side you're on.

- What do you mean?

- I heard you work for Bart Jason.

Nothing's set yet.

He offered me good money,

but I don't know what I have to do.

- Would you like to hear?

- Yeah, go ahead.

Cole,

that's close enough to that gun.

I just wanted to see

if you'd slowed down any.

Not that much.

What were you saying about Jason?

He showed up here around the end

of the war with a pocketful of money.

Nobody can find out where he got it,

but everybody else

around here was broke.

- You know how it was.

- Yeah, all over Texas.

Having money, he started to grow.

But now he needs more water.

There's only one place to get it.

Trouble is, somebody was there

ahead of him. About 20 years ahead.

A man named MacDonald got here

when there was nothing

but Indians and coyotes.

Mr MacDonald's got four boys

and a girl, all worked real hard.

They hung together through the rough

times, and now things are looking up,

MacDonald's in no mind to sell.

So he's holding and Jason's pushing,

and I'm standing right in the middle.

It's not the way it was told to me.

That's the way it is. I guess

you're supposed to take care of me.

Not that I couldn't do it, Harrah,

but I don't think I'd like that.

I'm glad to hear you say that.

Not that I couldn't handle you,

but I wouldn't like that either.

Suppose I tell that Jason that

I had a long talk with you,

and you scared me off.

- Good enough?

- Good enough.

You can put that thing down now.

Something familiar about that gun.

I just had it fixed like yours.

You got lucky with it,

I thought I'd try it.

Cole Thornton, you decent? You'd

better be, 'cause I'm coming in.

Good to see you.

I didn't believe you were here.

I thought you'd forgotten

all about me, I thought...

Hi, JP.

- What's so funny?

- This whole thing.

Do you know what

she's laughing about?

I gather you knew him

before you knew me.

- I knew her when she was a kid.

- Didn't you know that, JP?

You never mentioned that. Until now,

I thought you had good taste.

Until now,

I thought she had good taste.

I'm awful glad you two are friends.

We may not be

when we think this over.

- Then I'm through with you both.

- We better get ourselves a new girl.

- Yeah.

- You better not.

I'm girl enough for you both.

Can I buy you a drink?

I'd like that, but I promised JP

I'd do something for him, didn't I?

- You did.

- If you want to do my errand...

No, you do your own work, Cole.

- Will you buy us that drink later?

- Sure will.

Where is this Bart Jason's place?

You take the main road

north out of town.

You cross the creek,

and you come to a big rock.

- Big rock.

- Right. That's MacDonald's boundary.

MacDonald's?

Ride east from there about 3 miles

and you get to Bart Jason's ranch.

Maudie, remember, I'm coming back.

- I left some things...

- I'll take care of it.

Thanks.

- You mad at me, JP?

- You know better than that, Maudie.

You must like that man.

- Want me to tell you about him?

- You don't have to.

I know I don't.

That's why I want to.

I met Cole right after my husband

was killed. I did tell you that.

- Yeah, you told me.

- There I was, stranded...

A gambler's widow,

not a chip to my name.

Cole was awful good to me. Gave me

a stake, helped me get on my feet.

Never would take a...

I don't know, JP.

With Cole and me, I guess it's a...

- I'll always think of him as a...

- He's a top hand.

- I guess so.

- Well, Cole always was pretty lucky.

- Have you known him long?

- Yes, since before the war.

- We've travelled some together.

- Sure, I know what that means.

It means either you saved his life,

or he saved yours, or both.

And neither of you

will talk about it. Men!

Would you like it set to music,

with a full orchestra?

- I'll see you.

- Don't forget to come back.

- I won't leave you alone with him.

- You're not a friend.

Hell.

MacDonald. Kevin MacDonald.

Howdy, Roy. Something wrong?

Doc Miller said to tell you

Bart Jason hired himself a gunhand.

Cole Thornton. He rode

out there about an hour ago.

Doc wanted you to know.

He said be careful.

Thanks, Roy. Tell Doc

I'm much obliged to both of you.

Matt, you and Saul help me

take these horses back to the ranch.

Joey, go to the West Fork and tell

Jared to get back to the ranch.

OK, Pa.

- Luke.

- Yes, Pa.

Get onto that rock. If you see anyone

coming, fire in the air to warn us.

- All right, Pa.

- Wait a minute, I ain't finished.

As soon as you fire that shot,

jump on your horse and hightail it.

I hear you, Pa.

All right, let's go.

- Where can I find Mister Jason?

- He's up at the main house.

Mr Jason, you got a visitor.

- Cole Thornton?

- That's right.

I'm Bart Jason.

I've been expecting you. Get off your

horse, make yourself comfortable.

I won't be here long enough for that.

Here's what's left

of your expense money.

Sorry about the rest of it,

but that's the chance you take.

I've decided against working for you.

Before you even talked about it?

No, you wouldn't do that.

You must've talked to somebody.

I did. The sheriff.

His story is a little different

from yours

Well, perhaps the law

doesn't quite see it my way.

Since when did hired guns get choosy?

- You're paid to...

- I'm paid to risk my neck.

I'll decide where and when

I'll do it. This isn't it.

I've got an idea you just don't want

to go up against Sheriff J P Harrah.

You know, you're just about right.

- You think he's that good?

- I tell you he's that good.

And, Mr Jason,

I see you don't wear a gun.

So I guess you always hire it done.

I'll give you

a little piece of advice.

If this bunch is all you've got,

don't tangle with Harrah.

'Cause they don't look tough enough

to me to stomp a stringy jackrabbit.

Well, Thornton, if that's

the way you think, I don't want you.

That's good enough for me...

Fancy vest, go ahead

and pull that rifle if you want to,

but you better speak to your boss

before you use it,

'cause he'll be dead

before I hit the ground.

Don't be a damn fool, Joe.

Go over there where he can see you.

I'll remember what you said,

Mr Thornton.

You do that.

Don't shoot no more, mister.

Please.

I won't.

Let me have a look at it.

- It's bad, isn't it?

- It isn't good.

My insides feel like they're on fire.

- Can I make you more comfortable?

- No, don't touch me, please.

- What's your name, son?

- MacDonald.

Luke MacDonald.

I can't stand it.

- Kevin MacDonald's boy?

- One of 'em.

I'm gonna have to get you home.

No, don't move me.

Please don't move me.

It's no use. I know it ain't no use.

Pa told me. Just don't touch me.

Well...

- There were two shots, Pa.

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