Jesse James Page #6

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this amnesty offer by the governor.

- What amnesty offer?

- Haven't you heard?

Well, sir, it's an outrage.

In Jefferson City a friend of mine -

a banker - told me about it.

The governor has promised amnesty, a clean

pardon, to any member of the James gang

that will kill Jesse.

And that's in addition to the reward.

- Are you sure of that?

- Positive, sir.

But that makes the state a party to murder.

- Exactly what I said.

- Why, the dirty rotten, filthy...

- Thank you, sir. Thank you for the news.

- Not at all, sir. Not at all.

I'll just get it into this week's edition.

- Zee...

- And an editorial!

Please. He might have got it all wrong.

It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter to me.

That's all over now.

- Roy, you started that editorial on dentists?

- Yes, sir.

Change it from dentists to governors and

finish it like last week's one on horse thieves,

except this time it's governors.

Morning.

- Nice day, isn't it?

- I don't wanna buy nothin'.

I'm not selling anything.

You're Mrs Bob Ford, aren't you?

I'm Mrs Ford, but iffen it's about my husband

I don't know anything.

I ain't seed him in months.

He rid off with them James boys

and I ain't seed hair nor hide of him since.

It's not him I was looking for, Mrs Ford.

It's you.

I got this here Liberty paper yesterday and

it's got some news that might interest you.

And here's my card.

That's all.

- Here.

- What is it?

You know I can't read.

What's it say?

Well?

The bank of Northfield, Minnesota,

is the strongest bank in the Northwest.

It's wide open for us.

They've got $50,000 in gold in the safe.

All we gotta do is walk in with a shovel

and help ourselves.

So that's what we're gonna do.

Well?

Well, as a matter of fact, Jesse...

- Well?

- Well...

What is this anyhow?

For more than a month there's been

something funny going on here. What is it?

Well, to tell you the truth, Jesse,

we don't exactly know

if we like this idea or not.

For one thing,

that's a mighty strong bank at Northfield

and it's a long ways away.

- And for another...

- Go on.

Well, I've been talkin' it over

with some of the boys and...

Well, you're taking chances, Jesse,

that we don't like.

I ain't no coward and you know it.

But some of the things you got us into,

it scared the livin' daylights out of me.

- You're takin' too many chances.

- Shut up! Go on.

- We all know you got your troubles...

- Forget that.

Maybe you don't care

if you get shot full of buckshot or not.

But the way we feel about it...

We got a lot of respect for you, Jesse,

and you know it.

But the way you're goin' on is just like

you was tryin' to commit suicide.

- Just who do you think you are?

- Listen, Jesse...

Go on. Reach.

So you talked things over, did you?

And who are you? The captain of this band?

Who's handling these jobs?

You, me or somebody else?

Well, I'll tell you if you don't know.

It's me. I'm doin' it, see?

And I'll ride up the Capitol steps

if I feel like it.

So you talked it over, huh? Without me.

Well, I don't like it.

And it ain't the way I aim to have things.

If that's the way you want it, I give you

leave now - all of you - to talk it over again.

Now... outside.

Go on. Get out!

- Now, listen here, Jesse.

- Yes, and you too.

You talked it over with them.

Think I need you? Any of you?

You think I can't get a thousand men

to come in with Jesse James?

Well, if you don't, you're crazy.

Now get out!

He acts like he's goin' crazy.

He gets worse every day.

I'll kill him for that if it's my last act.

Wait for me down at the creek.

I wanna talk to him.

Well?

First, Jesse, I want you to understand

I ain't a-scared of you or your guns.

So if you feel like shooting,

you just start drawing.

- I'll start drawing too.

- Is that what you came back to tell me?

No, that's to clear your conscience

if you get ornery.

I'll remember.

What I come back to tell you was,

you're a skunk.

Wanna draw?

Go on.

You're mean, Jesse.

You're gettin' meaner every day.

I don't know if you're goin' crazy,

but sometimes it looks like it.

Ever since you come back from St Joe

it's been lookin' like it.

There ain't enough money in the world

to take the chances you've made us take

the last year or two.

And you wouldn't be slappin' an old friend

like Tom, and him a slow draw,

if you was in your right mind.

So you're either crazy or you're a skunk.

Go on. Draw if you feel like it.

You go on.

You're my brother, Jesse, my kid brother,

and I reckon I love you.

But it ain't proving anything to let you

get my head blowed off - or your own.

I know how you feel about

what happened after the baby was born.

And I know you don't like

to get talked to this way.

But it's either this or see you

get blammed right outta your pants.

Somebody had to tell you

before it was too late.

So what do you figure

you wanna do about it?

I'm sorry, Frank.

Want me to fetch 'em back?

- Can you?

- Sure I can.

Frank...

Much obliged.

You're welcome, kid.

Jesse.

- Bob?

- It's me.

Come in.

- Where's everybody?

- They'll be back after a while.

- What's the matter with you?

- Nothing.

Sit down.

Nothing's the matter.

- I've been to see my wife.

- I know.

- Hi, Bob.

- Hi, fellas.

Hi, Bob.

- I'm sorry.

- It's all right, Jesse. I understand.

- Northfield's all right with us.

- Good. We'll get going at daylight.

Northfield's 450 miles from here.

We'll make it by Friday.

We'll hole up outside of town

and jump the bank about noon on Saturday.

If it's as rich as they say it is,

why, maybe we can all retire then.

Sound all right to everyone?

That's fine. Very fine.

- Thank you.

- You're welcome.

- Mr Layworth?

- Over there, sir.

Thank you.

Come in.

- Mr Layworth?

- Yes.

My card.

I'm glad to meet you, Mr Runyan.

- What can I do for you?

- First, read this.

- What does it mean?

- It's the James gang.

- They're on their way here.

- Here?

The James gang?

- The James gang! To rob my bank?

- That's it.

Great thunderin' hallelujah!

That's ruin. They'll take everything.

- I've got $50,000.

- Easy, easy.

There's no danger. Don't you see?

- I'm here.

- But...

- Why, Cousin Bushrod.

- Well, if it ain't Cousin Beauregard.

- Howdy, Cousin. How are you?

- Well, I'll be doggone.

I ain't seen you in a coon's age.

Come in the bank. I gotta change some

money. How's Aunt Mary Lou and the twins?

Change this for me, Colonel?

I'll get the money from the safe.

Will you wait, please?

- Holy smoke.

- Come on.

- Come on, Tom.

- It's no use.

Come on, Jesse.

We gotta keep goin', son. Hold on.

Hold tight, Jesse,

cos there's only one way outta here.

Are you holdin' on?

Giddap!

Jesse.

Jesse.

Hurry up, boys. Hurry up.

He's in here somewhere.

"Of the eight bandits who attempted

the raid on the Northfield bank,

two are dead and four are prisoners,

but of the two leaders

there is less definite news."

"Reports yesterday indicated that

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