Joe Dakota Page #3

I figured there'd be rules.

It's real easy, it goes like this.

First, I try to knock Adam off his stool.

But I only get one punch.

That's a rule.

And I can't hang onto

nothing with my hands.

That's a rule.

If Adam falls off, he's gotta buy.

But I didn't, so now it's my turn

to try to knock Aaron offa his stool.

(Aaron grunts)

But neither one of you fell off.

Yeah, that's a tie.

So we keep on going 'til somebody wins.

I understand why you

have a limited membership.

Well, it's a small town.

We don't get visitors very often.

Well, I don't join many clubs.

When a visitor does come to town,

he's too busy trespassin'.

Or pokin' his nose into

somebody else's business.

Or takin' baths.

(laughing)

Or maybe he's just yella.

Yeah.

Couldn't I just buy a round

of drinks for the house,

and let it go at that?

Not without joining the club.

No, we couldn't drink

with you, if you're yella.

Well, sounds like a

harmless little game.

I'll join your club.

Please, mister, why don't

you just leave town, huh?

[Stranger] What do we do first?

First, we have the initiation.

You just turn around and face Adam.

My younger brother's still a growin' boy.

Probably doesn't have

his full strength yet.

I thought he did pretty

good for a young fella.

My turn, now?

Looks like it.

[Adam] Yes, it is.

[Stranger] Ready?

[Adam] Yeah.

We're ready.

[Stranger] Who's first?

[Adam] I guess I am.

Looks like you fellas buy.

You boys really like to fight, don't you.

Yeah, we sure do.

And we get awful tired

of fightin' each other.

(dramatic orchestral music)

That was a very

impressive demonstration.

[Stranger] Thanks.

But it doesn't mean a thing.

There isn't any place for

you to stay in Arborville.

And that includes the street.

Well, don't worry about me.

I own a little piece of

property around here.

It's got a shack on it.

I'll spend tonight at my place.

(whimsical orchestral music)

Wait a minute, mister.

It's about time you stopped bluffing.

We know every piece of land

in this area, and who owns it.

Which piece do you claim is yours?

You're drilling an oil well on it.

You're getting unfunnier by the minute.

Who do you think you are?

Thought you'd never ask me.

The name is Joe Dakota.

That's right.

And the Recorder's Office, County Seat,

shows clearly that the property

is registered in my name.

Since I don't remember

selling it to anyone,

I figure it still belongs to me.

You're wrong, mister, that's my land,

the old Indian sold it to me.

Frank, get my envelope outa your safe.

Sure, Cal, we can put a

stop to this mighty quick.

Joe Dakota?

How could his name be Joe Dakota?

Could be the old man's son.

No, he couldn't, he's not an Indian.

Could be a half-breed.

He looks enough like an

Indian to be a half-breed.

Sure fights like a savage.

[Frank] Here you are, Cal.

This paper's worthless.

Worthless, just because

I haven't had time

to get it recorded doesn't mean a thing.

It's legal here as it would

be at the County Seat.

Except that the Indian

didn't make this mark.

I say he did.

I doubt if he's ever seen it.

He saw it and he made the mark.

Then there's only

one way to settle this.

Let's get him.

Bring him back here, find out from him.

We told you, the old Indian is gone.

That's your problem.

(crowd murmuring)

And you can forget about

any more drilling out there

until we get this thing settled.

I told you, we don't know where he went.

Well, then we'll just have

to wait until you find out.

Or until one of you...

Remembers.

(somber orchestral music)

Frank, you better put

this back in the safe.

(crowd murmurs)

[Tom] I wonder what

Cal's gonna do about this.

[Myrna] What does it mean,

what is he trying to do?

Oh, he's just some wildcatter

trying to bluff his way in.

I had him spotted right the first time.

How can we be sure he's bluffing, Cal?

That's right, he seems to

know more about this Indian

than a stranger should.

Look, I didn't say he wasn't

smart, he's proved that.

With one quick trip to the County Seat,

he gets just enough information

to make it sound like

he knows more than he really does.

Maybe we should ask him

to prove he's Joe Dakota.

My guess is, that he can do it.

And a lot easier than we

can prove that he wasn't.

Right now.

You think he's telling the truth?

No, of course not.

But you can be sure that he

took the trouble to get some

kind of evidence, just in

case we did ask for it.

Could have been anything

with Joe Dakota's name on it.

Phony letter or something.

I don't know, Cal, he

seemed awful sure of himself.

Wait a minute, Jim,

what are you getting at?

Well, nothing, Cal, I was

just thinking that maybe.

Thinkin' what, that he's right?

Because if you are, you

know what that means.

Means you think that I'm wrong.

He as much as said that I stole

that land from the Indian.

Is that what you believe?

Oh no, Cal, no!

Nobody thinks that, Cal.

Nobody here believes

anything that fella told us.

We all know about the paper.

Jim, you saw it go into the safe.

Yeah, I did.

Bud, you were here in the store.

Yeah, I remember.

Myrna opened the safe, I put

the paper in, and locked it.

And we all know when it was done.

Nobody doubts you, Cal, not

after what you've done for us.

For all of us.

I know, Myrna, I know.

But that's not what concerns me.

Well, what is it, then?

Well, it's something I

should have thought of before.

There is a chance the Indian

sold me a piece of land

that he didn't really own.

Something he had no right to sell.

(dramatic orchestral chords)

You think such a thing is possible?

Well, the well this close to coming in,

and him sitting out there.

We need to find out.

I'm going to County Seat.

(somber orchestral music)

I'm scared, Cal, I'm afraid

it's all gonna fall apart.

I couldn't stand that.

I wanna walk down a

street that isn't dirty,

where everybody's different,

not always the same.

It means a lot to me, too, honey.

That surface oil pot, as shallow as it is,

will be the stake to get

us started on the next one,

and the one after that, I

don't wanna lose that stake.

I don't wanna lose you.

You won't lose me.

I used to pray that somebody

like you would come here.

I was so grateful when you

did, even before I knew you.

Ever since you've been here,

it's been wonderful and exciting.

I don't want anything to

happen to our plans, Cal.

Nothing is gonna happen, Myrna.

If I find that the Indian

really owned that land,

we'll have very little trouble

with the new Joe Dakota.

Supposing you find something else?

The worst that I can find

out is that this fellow

really owns the land.

I figure that if he does, he's

the only one who knows it.

(romantic violin music swells)

(dramatic orchestral chords)

(dramatic orchestral music)

Hold it, right there.

(rifle cocking)

And I don't think you'll

have any need for that rifle.

[Cal] I didn't come

out here for any trouble,

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