Justice Page #5

No minister.

All that remains

is tinder and ash.

A good man did

stand here once,

right here,

where I stand now.

His name was

Reverend Thomas McCord.

He wasn't born here.

He owed us nothing.

He only dreamed

to see this town,

to see the people in it,

reach their full potential.

That's why he died.

But you know that.

Damn us!

Yes, I say damn us!

Where were we

when he stood up

against the tyranny

of our oppressors?

Where were we when

he pointed his fingers

at the men

who steal our homes,

take food from

our children's mouths?

Where were we?

Reverend McCord

gave his life for us,

and none of us had the

backbone to stand with him.

We let him down.

We let our children down,

and I'm ashamed of that.

Mayor Pierce and his former

Confederate soldier colleagues

intend to claim this

territory as a new republic,

and overthrow

our president.

Right now, he is compiling

an arsenal of weapons,

and he expects more men

to arrive here shortly.

How do you

know this?

We've seen the weapons.

And Marshal McCord

has been working

with the Army to uncover

their operation.

Marshal McCord's gonna

get himself strung up.

He has the backing

of federal troops,

and he's the only man

willing to take on our Mayor.

He needs our help.

We are strong enough, right

now, to do what needs doing.

But, when the Mayor's reinforcements

arrive, we will be outnumbered,

and if the Army intervenes,

then our town

will become a battlefield.

I'm not gonna

be a slave again.

I moved out west with my boy to

start a new life as free men.

It ain't been easy, but it's

damn sure better than it was.

The Marshal, he clone save my

boy, Abraham, from a lashing.

He come to my aid, too,

when Reb's boys

was trying to burn my hand,

and shake me down.

And his brother,

God rest his soul,

has been there for all of us

one way or another.

Count me in.

Thank you, Benjamin.

There's some scripture the

Reverend used to quote often,

Proverbs 21:
15,

"It is a joy to the just

to do judgment,

"but destruction shall come

to the workers of iniquity."

Justice is present.

We just have

to let him loose.

It's time we take a stand.

Let's get those

sons of b*tches.

Anyone willing to help me get

James out of jail, step forward.

Howdy.

What you got

in the bag'?

Well, let's have

a little look see.

My daughter Melissa put together

some things for the Marshal.

You do it nice

and slow like.

Yes.

Looky here, fried chicken...

Sounds like your girlfriend's

done brought us some dinner.

We just might even

toss you a bone to suck on.

(LAUGHS) STRATTON:

Looky here, apple pie.

Her mother makes

the best apple pie.

STRATTON:
Boiled eggs...

Oh. There's some more

boiled eggs.

Just put it all back in the

sack there and hand it over.

STRATTON:
Oh, she didn't.

What?

Put this big

ol' gun in here.

You back it up, right now.

Right now.

Go on, back in there.

Put that gun on the table.

Give me the key.

Give me the damn key!

I ain't got it.

"First of these duties

is to educate democracy.

"To reawaken

its religious beliefs,

"to make an awareness to..."

Sir, there's a ruckus

at the jailhouse.

What kind of a ruckus?

And you're here?

I came to tell ya.

Get back over there.

(URGES HORSE)

Reb, you get on

down to that jail

before they break

the Marshal out.

Won't be that easy

without these.

Just, get on down there.

STRATTON:
Where are the keys?

I ain't got it.

Someone better start talking.

I ain't asking again.

Reb has it.

Thought these

might come in handy.

Well, hello, there, young lady.

Come take a seat.

There's no time for that.

James is in jail.

Some pretty nasty charges

against him.

All false.

Right now my father

is trying to break him out.

He needs your help.

You're asking me to help you

break a man out of prison?

Yes, I am.

(LOCK BREAKING)

Thank you.

(DISTANT GUNFIRE)

Please, help them.

Men, stand to horse!

How many of them

you got out there?

Two, three, maybe four.

In other words,

you don't know.

No, I do not.

(GRUNTS) If we stay

here, we're dead.

I'll draw their fire.

When I open that door,

you guys run like hell.

Unload everything you got.

That's suicide.

Have a little faith.

Hold your fire.

No one shoots

the Marshal.

He's mine.

Hold your fire,

God damn it!

Gave me all the excuse I need

to put a bullet in your head.

Rapist.

Holding two Sheriff's

deputies hostage,

breaking out of jail.

No, sir, don't get

much better than that.

There's good men in here.

Look, you can have me,

just let them go.

Sorry, can't do that.

Accessory to the crime,

and all.

If I come out shooting, a lot

of your men are gonna die.

Maybe you, Reb.

Maybe.

But I've seen

enough death,

I've took enough lives that

if it's my time, so be it.

JAMES:
Don't have to

be that way.

Give me your word

as a soldier

that you'll let

these men go,

and you can have me.

You win.

This is Mayor Pierce.

You have my word.

You walk out of there peacefully,

I'll honor your request.

I have your word, Mayor?

As a gentleman.

(LAUGHS)

Well, that makes me feel better.

(LAUGHS)

Listen...

I'm going out there.

f they drop me,

you come out firing.

Don't look back,

get to your families.

I'm coming out!

(C*CKS GUN)

That's far enough, McCord.

Drop your rifle.

Undo your belt strap,

drop it to the floor.

What now?

Your brother was brave,

like you.

Until he wasn't.

He kept pushing,

and pushing,

until he pushed

a little too far.

You shut up.

He squealed like a sow

as he burned to death.

(HORSE WHINNYING)

(URGES HORSE)

(GUNFIRE)

Stratton,

you still with me?

You bet I am.

It's over for you, Marshal.

You're outgunned by 20 men.

(GROANS)

Eighteen.

(GRUNTS)

Ben!

Ben?

(GUNFIRE CONTINUES)

Look after my boy.

My Abraham.

(GASPING)

(TRUMPET PLAYING)

(SOLDIERS SHOUTING)

Engage!

(GASPS)

This ain't over yet.

Get your father home

and stay there.

Wait, I'm coming with you.

No, sir.

This is something

I have to do alone.

You keep her safe.

Be careful.

JAMES:
Captain.

Marshal.

Reb?

No sign of him.

This map will lead you

to the cache.

It's where

you'll find the Mayor.

I'm going after Reb.

You got a handle on him?

I got an idea.

Thank you.

(COINS CLINKING)

Took you long enough.

I was busy.

Why didn't you run?

Men like you and me,

we don't run.

Why is that?

There's nowhere to run to.

It's all the same.

Blue, gray...

It really don't matter

at the end of the day.

We're born,

we buy this, sell that...

We die. It's that simple.

You came here to die?

We'll see.

This was a nice church.

I used to see folk

come in and out of it.

Never understood

what they found.

Your brother,

for a guy

who never carried a gun,

he was a tough son of a b*tch.

I admired him.

Funny way of showin' it.

(C*CKS GUN)

Where's the compassion?

Wrong McCord.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Now, I am but one man,

but I will not

look the other way.

And we will rid

the town of this evil.

(GUN CLICKS)

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