Once Upon a Time in the West Page #2

And a fired-up Cheyenne...

...ain't a nice thing to see.

Especially for a lady.

But you're too smart to make him mad.

So this here's where I was

supposed to do all the killing?

Yeah. Uh-huh.

Don't seem the place is worth a sh*t.

Now, if somebody gets dressed up

to look like me...

...so they can hang this thing

around my neck...

...I don't like it none.

But I can understand it.

Hmm.

What I don't understand is why.

Neither do I.

But I see you looked a lot

for the why.

Yeah.

What if there were

a whole heap of whys?

Round. Yellow.

You know the kind.

You rap 'em on a stone...

...and they go ''ding''.

Maybe.

But I didn't find them.

Hmm.

By the way,

you know anything about a man

going around playing a harmonica?

He's somebody you'd remember.

Instead of talking, he plays.

And when he'd better play, he talks.

You know, when you've killed four,

it's easy to make it five.

Sure. You're an expert.

Ma'am, it seems to me

you ain't caught the idea.

Of course I have.

I'm here alone in the hands

of a bandit who smelled money.

If you want to, you can lay me

over the table and amuse yourself.

And even call in your men.

Well, no woman ever died from that.

When you're finished, all I'll need

will be a tub of boiling water,

and I'll be exactly

what I was before.

With just another filthy memory.

You make good coffee, at least.

Not bad.

Congratulations.

Tell me, was it necessary

that you kill all of them?

I only told you to scare them.

People scare better

when they're dying.

And can you tell me

what good was your stupid massacre?

Now, a Mrs McBain has turned up.

So, I didn't expect that.

It happens in business.

Let's say

this is something I didn't plan on.

I have no time for surprises, Frank.

You know that.

I got on board

in sight of the Atlantic,

and before my eyes rot,

I want to see the blue of the Pacific

outside that window.

I know where you got on board.

I was there, too, remember.

To, erm...

...remove small obstacles

from the track, you said.

Well, there were a few.

But we travelled a long way,

just the same.

And fast.

Even tuberculosis of the bones

travels fast.

Don't play the sick man with me,

Mr Morton.

I knew you

when you were just barely limping.

I watch that dry rot

rise a little more every day.

Any normal man'd

put a bullet in his brain.

But you,

you just got a little more hasty.

Otherwise you ain't changed any.

I'd say you've changed, Frank.

A lot.

You used to take care

of certain things personally.

Now, you're keeping

in the background.

You'll end up giving orders.

It's because, now, I don't want

to leave you alone too much.

You're gonna need somebody more

and more every day to stay near you.

- Like a friend.

- Or like a partner.

Hmm?

How does it feel

sitting behind that desk, Frank?

It's almost like holding a gun.

Only much more powerful.

You see, staying with you, I...

...I'm beginning to think big, too.

This McBain business...

...has given me ideas.

I'm sorry for you, Frank.

You're doing your best.

You'll never succeed

in becoming like me.

Why?

Because... there are many things

you'll never understand.

This is one of them.

You see, Frank,

there are many kinds of weapons.

And the only one

that can stop that is this.

Now, shall we get back

to our little problem?

My weapons might look simple to you,

Mr Morton,

but they can still shoot holes

big enough for our little problems.

Pretty soon the widow McBain

won't be a problem no more.

You wake up one morning and say,

''World, I know you.''

''From now on,

there are no more surprises.''

And then you happen to meet

a man like this,

who looked like a good man.

Clear eyes, strong hands.

And he wants to marry you.

Which doesn't happen often.

And he says he's rich, too,

which doesn't hurt.

So you think,

''The hell with New Orleans.''

''Now I'll say yes

and go live in the country.''

''I wouldn't mind giving him

half a dozen kids after all.''

''Take care of a house. Do something.

What the hell? ''

Well, God rest your soul,

Brett McBain.

Even if he's going to have a job

pulling you out of the devil's grip.

Still, I swear

he'd left money around someplace.

If you can find it,

you're welcome to it.

Mrs McBain goes back to civilisation.

Minus a husband

and plus a great future.

Hmm.

You deserve better.

The last man who told me that

is buried out there.

You know, Jill,

you remind me of my mother.

She was the biggest whore

in Alameida

and the finest woman that ever lived.

Whoever my father was,

for an hour or for a month...

...he must have been a happy man.

Hey! Hey!

What do you want?

Cheyenne's right. Once you've killed

four, it's easy to make it five.

This isn't the time to leave.

Give me some water.

From the well.

I like my water fresh.

When you hear a strange sound,

drop to the ground.

A sound? Like what?

Like that.

He not only plays, he can shoot, too.

Morning, Mrs McBain.

- What brings you to town?

- Good morning.

Maybe you don't remember,

but yesterday at the funeral...

I remember very well.

Is there something I can do for you?

Yes.

See Frank.

And tell him I know everything.

Why is everybody hounding me

about this guy Frank?

I don't know him.

I've never heard of him.

I got my own worries, and all I want

is to be left in peace.

Tell Frank I want to negotiate

with him. Personally.

You were told

not to come here for any reason.

Whatever business you have with

Frank, keep it far away from here.

I know, but when I heard that woman

say she knew everything,

I thought I should come over here

and tell you about it.

You never thought it wasn't a trick?

Sure, but you know

I'm mighty careful.

No one could have followed me.

That's the first thing I learned,

working for you.

To listen unseen

and to watch unheard.

You should learn

to live as if you didn't exist.

You've known me a long time, Frank.

You know you can trust me.

Wobbles.

How can you trust a man who wears

both a belt and suspenders?

The man

can't even trust his own pants.

Let's get out of here.

The end of the line.

Yeah.

Get him on board.

Tie him up.

Wait, Frank.

I didn't...

So, nobody followed you?

No. You gotta believe me.

So, this is the way I can trust you.

I can explain.

I didn't know that he...

- Get out.

- No. No. No, Frank.

Get out.

Shh!

Frank, wait!

I told you to keep quiet.

Did Logan and Jim

take care of the woman?

Someone took care of them.

We found them out at McBain's place.

Stone dead.

And the woman was gone.

Your friends

have a high mortality rate, Frank.

First three, then two.

So you're the one

who makes appointments.

And you're the one

who doesn't keep 'em.

What do you want?

Who are you?

Dave Jenkins.

Dave Jenkins is dead a long time ago.

Calder Benson.

What's your name?

Benson's dead, too.

You ought to know better than anyone.

You killed him.

Who are you?

- Who are you, you...

- Frank!

The woman.

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