Justice Page #4

When the world was at its

cruelest, he preached compassion.

That ain't me.

There's no

forgiveness here.

Thomas was a good man.

Guess what I'm trying to say is,

I'm not gonna end up like him

because I am not like him.

Do you want to try

and stand up?

Take a few steps?

Use me, all right?

Take your time. Go slow.

Go slow.

There you go.

There you go.

You all right?

And who knows what David used

to bring the giant down?

April?

A rock.

MELISSA:
That's right.

You are so smart.

MAYOR:
You're blocking

my light.

Hey, Reb, you are

familiar with this book,

Democracy in America

by Alexis de Tocqueville?

Can't say I am.

Oh. Well,

it's damn fascinating.

I mean, this man,

Frenchman, he...

Well, he traveled all across this

country after the revolution

and he wrote just the most

marvelous words about America.

You don't say?

I don't say what?

That a Frenchman

traveled the country

and wrote good stuff

about America and all.

No, I did say that.

Never mind.

I got news. There was a

shootout up at the old mine.

And a few of my boys

got cut down.

Really?

Yeah.

My condolences.

Who did it?

Can't say for sure.

Let me rephrase that. Do you

think that the Marshal did it?

Can't say.

You just said that.

Anything missing?

Don't look like

anything's missing.

You know, you are

head of security for me

and I got to tell you

I'm not feeling

all that damn secure

these days.

If the Marshal is behind this, it puts

us in a damned unfortunate situation.

With my hands tied, there's

only so much that I can do.

Well, for once,

you're right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

This town cannot afford

to have another martyr,

particularly not

a U.S. Marshal.

Raise your right hand.

Now, do you

solemnly swear to uphold the rightful

duties of sheriff of our town?

Definitely not.

Just say, "Yes, I do."

You shittin' me?

Say yes, or you're fired.

Fine. I do.

But this here is just temporary.

I got a reputation.

Congratulations, Sheriff.

I think you might wanna deputize

a few of your colleagues.

If you do harbor dreams of

becoming the next head of security

for the first president

of the Western Republic,

you will deal with this

Marshal situation pronto.

Will do.

I'm counting on you.

JAMES:
I had been a U.S.

Marshal for a couple of years.

I was up in Massachusetts,

so I joined up

with the 12th Mass

and marched off

to fight evil.

He chose to head out west

and preach the Word.

His version of fighting

evil, I reckon.

But at the time

I thought it was cowardice.

Running away

from the hard work

of putting the country

back together.

Putting an end to slavery.

Oh!

Got a splinter.

May I?

Found it.

(SPITS)

All better?

Yeah.

What is it?

When I was reading

Thomas' journals

I came across

some passages

about you.

I thought there might be.

What would you like to know?

Were you close?

The two of you.

Why do you ask, Marshal?

Are you warm on me?

(HORSES APPROACHING)

Get behind me.

Please, give me a reason.

What do you want?

Sorry to break up

your little moment.

There was a moment, right?

But you are under arrest

for the attempted rape

of one Miss Ginny Post.

What are you

up to now, Reb?

Well, the other night

we stopped your man here

from having his way with a respected

maiden of this here community.

There is no way.

Melissa, are you

suggesting that because

Miss Ginny used to be a prostitute,

that that makes it okay?

She never said that,

and I didn't touch her.

Way she tells it,

you roughed her up a bit.

You did all sorts

of things to her

that even my delicate ears

can't handle.

Come to think on it,

your brother, the scum sucker that

he was, he tried the same thing.

Runs in the family,

I guess.

Now, you're going to jail.

Tie him up.

Oh, my... My, my, my...

This is a sad thing.

(SIGHS)

Ain't this ironic?

You wanna save a n*gger, then

you get to take his place.

I'm a U.S. Marshal.

You'll catch hell for this.

Already been there.

Wasn't impressed.

SLIM:
You ready, boy?

(WHIP CRACKS)

(GRUNTS)

Not sharp enough

for you?

(GROANS)

Please, sir.

This is a mistake.

He is innocent

of these charges.

Is he?

Ahh!

I can't be certain

of that, ma'am.

(GROANS)

No, no. Women are

to be cherished.

Now, what kind of

a message would it send

to the God-fearing

people of this town

were I to allow a crime

to go unpunished?

Not to mention the

hooligans in this town.

(WHIP CRACKS)

(JAMES GROANS)

I shudder

at the thought.

(GROANS)

(WHIP CRACKS)

This is your doing?

Yeah, well, you never really

know someone, do you?

(WHIP CRACKS)

(GASPS)

I suppose the accusations

could be false.

But, of course, that's

for a judge to decide.

In the meantime,

I am obligated to protect

the women of this town.

And of course...

That includes

you, Miss Collins.

(WHIP CRACKS)

(GASPS)

Ain't that right, Ginny?

(JAMES GROANS)

(WHIMPERS)

(WHIP CRACKS)

(GROANS)

(SNIFFLES)

You know,

I've never noticed

before what a...

Remarkably fine

figure of a woman you are.

You stop this right now.

This territory is about to

experience a new beginning

and I'm gonna lead it.

(WHIP CRACKS)

I'm an ambitious man,

and it sure would be fine

to have a smart, strong...

Beautiful woman at my side.

(WHIP CRACKS)

Your words are of

the Devil's tongue.

(CHUCKLES) Well, don't you go

flattering me, Miss Collins.

(CHUCKLING)

(WHIP CRACKS)

(JAMES GROANS)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

(WHIP CRACKS)

(JAMES GROANS)

You know what happens

to rapists in this territory?

We hang 'em.

See, if he was to be

cleared of these charges,

well, he'd be free to just go on

doing what he has been doing,

and I got to tell you, that

just doesn't work for me.

(WHIP CRACKS)

(GROANS)

Hey.

Aren't you gonna

invite me in?

Of course, baby.

There you go.

Thank you.

You know,

you're missing the show.

Why don't you come

on back outwith me?

Let me just

clean myself up for you,

and I'll meet you

out there, baby.

Please, I'll do anything.

I'll make him leave.

Well, I guess I could

drop the charges.

After all, they were

leveled by a whore.

(WHIP CRACKS)

(CHUCKLING)

Revolting profession.

(WHIP CRACKS)

(GROANS)

That's enough.

Cut him down.

You, uh...

Want something

before you go?

(GASPS)

(GASPS)

You know...

You really would

make a fine first lady.

You don't

f***ing leave me.

(WHIMPERING)

Reb, no.

Sorry, Ginny.

(CHOKING)

Yeah.

(MELISSA SOBBING)

It's over, okay.

It's over.

No.

I beg of you.

(MELISSA CONTINUES SOBBING)

We have to get James out of jail.

He didn't do anything.

What do you expect me to do?

Break him out?

They're going

to kill him, Daddy.

We're gonna meet

by the old church.

I'll be there.

STRATTON:
I'm gonna

need your help.

You got it.

So a group of us are meeting

up by the old church.

Thank you.

STRATTON:
Now y'all know

my daughter Melissa.

And I'd like you

to hear her out.

Good morning.

There's no stage.

There's no church.

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