Open Range Page #5

I'll be paying you now|for whatever else Button needs.

In case it goes bad|for Charley and me,

maybe you and the doc will see|we're taken care of properly.

I'd like to put pen to paper|if you have them.

Yes. Of course.

Mr. Waite?

Look at my face.

- Oh! Sorry!

I'm sorry.

It's all right, Charley.

Okay?|It just be us.

It's all right, Charley.

It's all right, Charley.

It's all right.|I'll get it.

Jumpy is all.

She ought not to sneak up|like that.

She weren't sneaking.

I scared that woman|half to death.

Yeah.|Scared me a little bit, too.

Well, that's how it is, Boss.

Ain't a pretty picture.

Got your wits about you now?

Yeah.

Yeah.

It weren't as bad as it looked.

I'll bet.

Go! Hyah!

Two whiskeys, barkeep.

Barkeep!|Two whiskeys.

You see that sign?

Around these parts,|free grazers is the first.

Now, he asked you twice.

Ain't gonna ask again.

Hey, Bill, it's all right.

These are the fellows|that saved my dog.

I couldn't serve them|if they saved Jesus himself.

Mr. Baxter would have my job.

Baxter the owner?

That's right.

Give me a bottle.|I'll serve them myself.

You know I can't do that.

Now we'll have our drinks.

Believe I'll have me another.

Yes.

Well, looks like the rain's|let up a bit.

Well, if it don't,

there'll be trout fishing|right on Main Street.

I'd like you to meet my boys.

Ray and Cory.

How you doing?

We run a freight outfit|when the weather cooperates.

Boss Spearman.

And the marksman here|is Charley Waite.

Is all that true,|what you said in the caf?

Yeah.

There's a kid at the doc's house

put on death's doorstep|by Baxter.

Doc's wife's caring for him

until he comes back|after the storm.

Doc's wife?

Yeah.|Miss Barlow.

You mean Sue?

That's right.

Well, she'd make somebody|a fine wife.

But she ain't the doc's.

That's his sister.

His sister?

Ain't his wife.

Good evening, Mack.

Ralph.

Ray, Cory.

Whiskey.

This is Ralph Peterson.|He runs the general store.

That's where I was|when the dog got free.

You fellers the free grazers,|I expect.

No offense.

Personally, I don't stand|with others around here

about free grazers.

There was a fight in your store|about a week or so back.

Some of Baxter's men|jumped our friend.

He was a big feller.

Yeah.|I saw the whole thing.

That big feller drubbed the hell|out of them other three.

Broke one's arm.

Be a gunhand named Butler,|would it?

That's what they say.

Felt bad about your friend.|Is he all right?

He's dead.

That's too bad.

Seemed like|a nice young feller.

It's a shame what this town|has come to.

You could do something|about it.

What?

We're freighters.

Ralph here's a shopkeeper.

You're men, ain't you?

I didn't raise my boys|just to see them killed.

Well, you may not know this,

but there's things that gnaw|on a man worse than dying.

Hey!

Evening, gents.

Evening.

Better get out of this weather,

or your bones are gonna be|even stiffer than mine.

Heading into the saloon|to do just that.

Come looking for you boys.

I'd have bought you a drink|if you was earlier.

Then turn around|and do it now.

Marshal's got men waiting to|waylay you back at the livery.

Another one's in your wagon.

And then there's another|in the shed across from it.

Marshal with them?

No.

He's sitting up there|all by his lonesome

in that warm, dry jailhouse|with his feet up

waiting for them|to bring you in.

Or kill you.

Well, thanks for the warning.

Like I told you, never been|partial to the marshal's ways.

Dent Baxter's either.

You're near the only friend|we got in this town.

I'll be buying a drink or two.

You keep it quiet, all right?

Time's come.|How you want to play it?

Well, I work for you, Boss.|I'll play it however you want.

Nobody works for anybody here,|Charley.

Now, the name Butler mean|anything to you?

You hear names when you're on|the other side of things.

He as fast as they say?

He's a killer.

Know him if you saw him?

He ain't hard to recognize

if you know|what you're looking for.

Yeah.

Too bad if we get|shot up tonight

before we get a chance|at him and Baxter.

Sure as hell is.

Tell you what,|I'd like to sit someplace dry

while the marshal's men|sit out in this rain.

Won't be so steady|come morning.

Small town.

It's hard to hide even at night|in this weather.

What do you want to do?

Yep.

Heard me an idea|sounded pretty good.

You did, did you?

Well, all right.

He's alone.

Get your hands up.

You must be plumb crazy.

Shut up.

You're dead men.

Didn't he tell you to shut up?

What's that?

Chloroform.|Stole it from the doc's.

You gonna arrest me|for that, Marshal?

Jesus.

Well, looky here.

He's asleep.

No.

Looky here.

Put 'em down.

This way.

What do you think?|Do you like it?

You like it,|you son of a buck, you?

- Huh?

A little bit more?|A bit more?

A bit more.

Wasn't no call to leave me|setting out like that.

- There wasn't a lot of time.|- I ain't bait, Charley.

I hear you.

Best you remember it.

Well, I guess you ain't gonna|let me forget, are you?

Starting to enjoy that part,|aren't you?

Sorry if we woke you.

No, no.|You didn't.

- Come to see if...|- Go see for yourself.

Hey.

- Hey, Boss.|- Hey.

You gave us a fright, pard.

Thought we was gonna lose you.

Just taking a little nap,|that's all.

It's good to have you back.

We owe you, Miss Barlow,|and we thank you.

You best thank God instead.

Yes, ma'am.|We'll... give that a try.

Well, I expect you men|are hungry.

Button just ate.

I thought I'd make myself|some breakfast.

Two more mouths wouldn't be|any bother.

I'm just gonna change.

You.|You should try to sleep.

He will.

Now, you do as she says now.

Yes, Boss.

Okay.

Boss?

Yeah?

Mose?

I'll be along in a minute,|Charley.

Be seeing you, Button.

Aah.

If you don't mind my saying,|ma'am, you look...

Tired.

Oh.|It's been a long night.

Why don't you sit?

Let an old cowpoke cook up|some breakfast.

No, I couldn't let you.

Sure, you could.

Thank you.

I want to apologize|for earlier.

Oh, no, no.|There's no need.

You were startled.

No, it was more than that.

I've been trying to put|some bad times behind me.

But sometimes|they don't stay put.

Always makes me feel better|to let things breathe a little.

Not bury them.

I'm learning that.|Trying, anyway.

Well, that's all|any of us can do.

Just glad Button's|getting better.

Don't believe I've ever seen|Boss so worried.

Well, the doctor will be|on his way home

as soon as the storm's passed.

By the doctor,|you mean your brother?

It's just we've been thinking|that you and the doc was...

husband and wife.

Oh.

You did?

Didn't find out|till last night.

Thought you was married, Sue.

Why, no.|I'm...

I'm not, Charley.

Well, that's good.|I mean that's good to know.

Otherwise,|we'd been thinking wrong.

We wouldn't want to do that.

No.|No, of course not.

Much obliged to you, ma'am.

You're very welcome,|Mr. Spearman.

Thank you, Sue.

Take care of yourself,|Charley.

Are you just gonna go off like|that without saying nothing?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes