High Sierra Page #8

The scene is 60 miles

from Ballard.

I must go back the way we came.

Is there another soon?

Yes, there's one that leaves

from here in about 10 minutes.

Just like all dames. She don't know

whether she's coming or going.

It's infernally cold up here.

Maybe it's nerves.

The rock above, where Earle is hiding,

looks like a huge iceberg.

Whenever the flares are lit,

the faces of the crowd...

...look like white masks of snow.

They look dead, all but their eyes.

- Where you going?

- I'm Healy, of the Bulletin.

Let's see your police card.

Okay.

There have been rumors.

One is, Earle's about to give up.

Another, they've sent for Army

bombing planes to blast Earle out.

And the sheriff and his men

hold conference after conference.

Nerves of everyone are getting taut.

The crowd is getting very restless.

Spotlights are on Earle's fortress.

They're planning something new.

- Howdy, sheriff.

- Hello, Charley.

- Hey, Slim?

- Yeah?

- See that peak up there?

- Yeah.

Reckon you could work your way

up above where that fella's hiding?

Ain't never been done before.

It's a straight 1000 feet.

I don't know.

I'll take a try at it.

There's the sheriff talking with a man

with a queer-looking rifle.

Any minute now, it may be curtains

for Roy Earle.

This seems to be the coldest place

in the world tonight.

One is awe-stricken

by this rendezvous with death.

The onlookers standing by

as if they watched a game.

The tall pine trees,

clustered around like a silent jury.

Officers waiting for the kill,

and up above, a defiant gangster...

...from a simple farm on the flats

of Indiana, about to be killed...

...on the highest mountain peak

in the United States.

What's the idea, you?

Get back where you belong!

Anybody else tries that will

get run in! See?

What are you up to?

Why'd you try to get through this line?

What'd you mean to do?

Have you a little dog in that basket?

A little, gray-white dog?

Boy!

Hey!

- What's the matter with her?

- Roy Earle's been traveling with a Marie.

- Sure, I know. What about it?

- Meet Marie.

Hey, sheriff!

Sheriff!

I guess Slim couldn't make it.

Listen, you. For the last time,

I'm telling you to call Earle.

- Lf you don't get wise, I'm gonna...

- Wait a minute.

Look, Marie. It's dawn now,

and we can't wait any longer.

We don't wanna kill your man

unless we have to.

Why don't you tell him to come down

and surrender peaceably.

You know, if you help us now,

it'll go easier with you.

- I'm not thinking of myself.

- Be smart.

Just yell up to him and tell him to put

his gun away and come down.

Otherwise, we'll get him, sure.

All right.

Go ahead and yell.

- No, I won't!

- What's that?

- I won't!

- We'll get him, then!

He's gonna die anyway. He'd rather it

was this way! Go on, kill him!

Kill him!

Kill him!

Okay, lady, we're through.

Earle! Come down!

It's your last chance!

Come and get me,

there's plenty of you down there!

I'm telling you,

it's your last chance!

That's what you say, copper!

Marie!

Marie!

Marie!

Marie!

Big-shot Earle.

Well, well.

Look at him lying there.

He ain't much now, is he?

Mister.

What does it mean...

...when a man...

...crashes out?

- Crashes out?

That's a funny question

for you to ask now, sister.

It means he's free.

Free?

Free.

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