Fort Worth Page #4

if anything.

I wish I could believe you, Ned.

It's been a long time

since anyone has said...

I've been living in New Orleans,

and I just got back.

I wanted to see you

first of anyone.

How'd you know I was here?

I read about you

in the Picayune.

You're big pumpkins now, Ned.

Your articles get quoted

way over in Louisiana.

Makes me mighty proud

to know you.

Fort Worth will seem

pretty dull to you

after New Orleans.

Not to me.

Most I've seen of it was through

a millinery shop window.

I bet you hold with the idea

a girl shouldn't work.

Mm-mm.

Even knew a woman who

worked on a newspaper once.

She wrote a column on cooking.

Oh.

I... I was wondering

how to ask you...

About a job?

No, Ned, I...

I was just hinting

a-about supper.

Walking into a hotel

dining room all by yourself...

I just wouldn't know how.

Suffering catfish,

I forgot all about it.

I'm sorry, Amy, but I'm booked

for supper. Late too.

Here's proof that I'm

not even making excuses.

"Miss Flora Talbot

will entertain

the staff of the Star at dinner

with Mr. Blair Lunsford."

I'm sorry, Ned.

If I'd known, I wouldn't

have suggested it.

Wait a minute.

There'll be an extra place

at Flora's table.

This will give us a real chance

to talk about old times.

Blair and Flora and...

You're sure they'll want me?

They'll be delighted. Come on.

Get ready. All right.

[]

Give him a drink of water

and tie him up, Lu.

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Brought you a little

surprise, Flora.

Amy's sitting in for Ben.

Why, Amy, I'm delighted.

Same here.

Thanks for smuggling me in, Ned.

This is all I wanted you for.

Just a chance

to throw a dead cat

in Blair Lunsford's lap.

Get her out of here.

Ned wouldn't do that.

Not my old flame...

your friend.

More likely he'd shoot

your head off, Blair,

for cutting his fences

the minute his back

was turned on us.

Flora...

Don't believe her.

She was heading

the wrong direction

long before she left Fort Worth.

If I was,

it was in your direction.

Tell her, Blair.

Tell Flora how it was me

you were going to marry.

Tell her how Hardy Talbot died,

and you saw all those

dollar marks in her eyes.

Tell her how you put me

out to pasture in New Orleans.

Goodbye, Flora.

And thanks again, Ned.

And so long, Fort Worth.

Thanks for all the hayrides.

Why did you bring her here?

Not that it matters,

but I didn't

know this about Amy.

You're in love with Flora.

I never said so.

That's why you dug up

that woman.

Believe what you want.

Let it go at that.

You've got a paper

to use against me.

To take Flora, you will use

every dirty card in the deck.

I won't use the newspaper

for a personal fight.

Then you'd better

get yourself some guns.

[]

Thanks for the ride.

Okay.

Giddyap.

He's fallen asleep.

No.

Someone ran out the alley door

just as I came in.

Send out the word.

[RUSHING

FOOTSTEPS]

[DOOR OPENS]

There's the knife killed Ben.

There's the one aimed at me.

Two peas out of the same pod.

Both from Clevenger's killers.

But Gabe ain't been

in town for over a week.

Heh. It don't seem fair

to blame...

Sheriff. Some of

his boys are.

Joe Castro's with 'em

over by the Chuckaway

Saloon right now.

They done it,

they'll answer for it.

I'll bring 'em in.

I got me a real deputy now.

Come on, Walter.

You didn't know Ben.

He meant nothing to you.

You want a deputy, you got one.

Any objection?

Glad to have you, Mr. Britt.

Right glad to have you.

I can handle it.

I've heard that song before.

[CHAMBER CLACKS]

[CHAMBER CLACKS]

Who is it?

The sheriff, maybe.

Funnier than that.

Inkpot Britt,

bowleggin' a pair of guns.

No. Don't

scare him away.

Let him walk into it.

Castro's right.

Nobody can

target a pistol at that dist...

Did he say nobody?

That bird's a ringer.

[GUNSHOT]

Here's your gun, sheriff.

I've done your job for you.

You keep the guns, Ned.

And you keep the badge too.

You done good,

Mr. Britt.

But you didn't need to.

Suppose I should have let 'em

ride out of town again?

Didn't say that.

Didn't mean it, either.

I said I could handle it.

And I aim to.

You remember that libel

you printed

about the panther

asleep in the street?

Well, you made us

all-fired mad.

It's no libel. And

my partner's dead.

But not mad at you, Britt.

Mad at ourselves...

shameful mad

for letting Clevenger

and his gang

run the monkey show around here.

We're calling in our bunch

the Panther Club,

Mr. Britt.

And it ain't gonna be

no joke to Clevenger.

I didn't know different,

I'd swear I was back

in Fort Worth.

I mean the town I used to know.

[ALL MURMURING

INDISTINCTLY]

[]

LUTHER:
"Our most eminent

citizen stands in the rays

"of the Star today.

"Is he a man worthy

of the governorship...

"or another hero in muddy boots?

"Here are facts for

the people of Fort Worth.

"The terrorism of

Gabe Clevenger's drovers,

"added to the financial panic,

"has decreased

our population from 5000

"to less than 1000

discouraged souls.

"Blair Lunsford has capitalized

"on this discouragement

"by buying property options

"from sellers reduced

to utter poverty.

"Though he has shown his faith

"in the future of Fort Worth,

"he has failed to take any steps

to ensure that future.

"Never, that is,

until April 18th, when,

"having acquired

the last available

"piece of city property,

"he made

his now-famous stand

"against Clevenger's assassins,

"when they attempted

the life of Ned Britt

at the offices

of the Daily Star."

M-Mis... Mr. Garvin never

even got to proof it.

Railroad comes in, and...

Lunsford will own everything.

Well, he won't strut so big

when he reads this

in tomorrow's issue.

He won't read it.

We won't print it.

But we got to print it,

Mr. Britt.

Mr. Garvin wrote it.

He's dead.

I'm running the paper.

Lu...

Yes, sir?

Listen. I'll tell you

what I'm up against.

Why?

Like you say...

Mr. Garvin's dead.

It's your paper.

I have a personal fight

with Lunsford.

I can't use the paper

against him.

It'd be hitting foul.

Lunsford ever makes governor...

it'll foul the state.

[DOOR OPENS]

What do you want?

Not a thing...

Except to say I'm sorry

about Garvin.

He wouldn't want your sympathy.

Read it. Your hands

won't make it any dirtier.

[CHUCKLES]

Print it.

What?

You've got no obligations to me.

Print anything you like.

You hog-tied me when you figured

I'd use the press to take Flora.

I wasn't thinking

about her, Ned, or me.

I was thinking

about you and Ben.

About how you'll sleep better

if you think you've done

what he wanted.

But he was wrong, Ned.

Wrong about me.

This is my town.

And I'm building it.

It'll take more than words.

Who do you think

organized the Panthers?

Who do you think

they'll benefit?

Fort Worth.

I'm burying this...

for now.

So far your sins

against this town

have been sins of omission.

But I find you've

committed just one,

I'll lay it above you or Flora.

I'll break you in this state.

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