Lust for Gold Page #5

---

- Oh, dear. Not that one.

- Here, wait a minute.

I keep meaning to take it out of there.

It's so embarrassing.

You grew up fine.

Let me see.

I was born and raised in Milwaukee.

This is the house we lived in.

And this is my mother's uncle.

He's in Dresden now.

- And this is...

- When did you come here?

About four years ago.

Why did you come here?

After my mother passed away,

I just didn't want to stay there anymore.

I thought this was as good a place as any

for a woman to make her own way.

Now, this is...

- Herr Walz, do you like music?

- Who doesn't like music?

Herr Walz.

- I'm sorry.

- Good night.

Please.

I didn't want to make you angry.

It was just that you are so very beautiful.

Good night, Herr Walz.

Don't assume you can take liberties...

simply because

I'm a businesswoman living alone.

- May I call upon you again?

- Good night.

- You may use this door.

- Please, may I call upon you again?

Tomorrow?

All right.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Good night, Frulein.

That's her husband sitting over there.

You think that Dutchman would've

found out about him by now.

Walz doesn't even know she's married.

Folks are scared to tell him.

Walz would shoot your head off,

if you said anything.

How many trips has Walz made to that mine

since he met her?

Five. Maybe six.

Next.

How long will it be?

Let me see. I've got this gentleman here.

He can have my place.

What's so funny?

- Give me a shave.

- Yes, sir.

Just got back into town?

Only been gone five days.

Who is that fellow?

Him?

He's the fellow that gave you his place.

Pete, what are you doing here?

I told you not to come back

unless I sent for you.

Everybody in town knows what's going on

but him.

- And they're laughing at me.

- Stop acting like a child.

- Why'd I do it?

- Do what?

Get up and run out of that barbershop

like a scared rabbit.

And all the time I wanted to...

- What are you so dressed up for?

- He said he'd be back today.

And I don't want him to find you here.

You've seen him nine or 10 times.

How long will this go on?

- What difference does it make?

- Julia, don't see him anymore.

- You're a fool.

- You're the smart one.

Only not as smart as you thought you were.

Not smart enough to get any of his money

or to find out where his mine is.

I know what I'm doing.

He'll be here any minute.

Have you told him yet?

Have you told him you're married...

that you're somebody else's wife?

- Pete, I want you to leave.

- Somebody will tell him.

Maybe somebody in the barbershop

already told him.

He'll find out.

He'll find out you're after the same thing

everybody else is after.

Get out.

I won't stand for you fooling around

with that Dutchman.

Let go of me. You're mussing my dress.

Let loose of me.

I'll send for you when I want you.

That's him.

Go out the back door. Go on.

This is it.

He pays off tonight, or it's the last night.

And when I come back

it'll be through the front door, Julia.

Jacob.

Every time I see you, you are more beautiful.

All the way to and from the mine...

I keep practicing

pretty speeches to say to you.

When I see you, I forget them.

Do people talk to you about me, about us?

- No one would dare. Why?

- There's something I must tell you.

What is it?

I should have told you a long time ago,

but I never thought it would be necessary.

I'm married. I have been for five years.

I couldn't lie to you, not now.

I don't love my husband.

Now I know I never have.

All I want is to be free of him.

- You don't care for him?

- No. I love you, Jacob.

- What's his name?

- Pete Thomas.

- Will he give you a divorce?

- Divorce?

For money. Will he give you a divorce?

I don't know.

Here's $2,000. We'll set a limit, say

$5,000. Will that be enough for him?

Perhaps.

But he must sign a paper

giving you a divorce.

I know about these things.

I was married once myself.

My wife divorced me,

took my daughter away from me...

all because my wife didn't sign a paper.

So he must sign that paper

before he gets a penny of money.

Will you make the arrangements?

- No, I'll do it myself.

- No, Jacob. I know I can.

Good. When did he get back?

Tonight.

What is it, Jacob?

I'm going back to the mine tonight

to get more money for us.

I love you.

I love you, Julia, and I want to marry you.

Soon, there will be just you and I.

Yes, Jacob. Just you and I.

Hey, everybody, I just saw the Dutchman.

He woke up old man Parsons.

Made him open up his store to get his grub.

I saw him head for the corral.

He's on his way back to the mine.

I don't know. Go after him.

Give me a drink, one for the road.

You and your big mouth,

you wreck our business.

We got to find that mine.

Come on. Wake up.

What is it?

- I want you to get my burros ready.

- It's you.

What for? You just got back.

It ain't decent waking a man

in the middle of the night.

- Not for burros.

- Do you know a Pete Thomas?

I ain't no gossip. I mind my own business.

I didn't ask you for any gossip.

I asked you if you knew him.

We say howdy when we meet.

I haven't seen him much lately.

He ain't used no animals for a spell.

- How long has he been here?

- I don't know. Three or four years.

Ever since him and his wife

came here from Milwaukee.

I'll start rounding up them dang burros

for you now.

I don't see why you can't wait

until morning, though.

Where did he go?

Must be getting old.

I can't seem to remembering him going.

Corral, I guess.

It's safe to go home now.

The Dutchman's gone.

Did you have a nice evening?

Did he pay off,

or do you have to see him just once more?

I'm glad you're back.

He gave me this. $2,000 and there'll be more.

This is for you, Pete,

and the rest is coming.

- More than that if you want it.

- I don't want his money, understand?

- Let go of me and listen.

- No, you listen to me for a change.

You're through with him,

and this time I'll make sure of it.

What do you mean?

When he comes back from the mine

he'll find me here, where I belong.

I'll tell him how you played him for a

sucker. You're like the rest, only worse.

You pretend to be decent.

I'll tell him the whole rotten story,

from beginning to end.

The whole story, Pete?

Yes, including the murder.

It won't matter if you turn me in.

It won't matter at all...

because when I'm through with him

I'll have a second one to my credit...

Jacob Walz.

- You've got to listen to me.

- Try to buy me off, would he?

He can't do it.

Wait a minute. Whose idea was this?

- Did he think it up all by himself?

- No, he didn't.

It was my idea, all mine.

I don't like those kinds of ideas.

I'll kill him before he gets out of town.

Don't be silly.

The only way I could get the money

was to tell him you could be bought off.

You're still my wife.

I'm not lying to you.

He thinks you'll give me a divorce

for money.

There was no other way of getting it.

Don't you understand?

Could it be that it isn't just his gold

you're interested in...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes