Rancho Notorious Page #5

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- We'd better leave.

I'll bring everybody back

tomorrow night. Go to bed.

Nobody'll get lost this time.

That's threading a needle!

I once saw Bat Masterson shoot the

toe off a fella with his boot on.

I'll be glad to duplicate that.

Stick out your foot.

What's up? That wasn't personal.

- Harbin, hang up another rein.

Lately, I see you

trying everything I do.

He's good at that kind of a stunt.

I don't know how he'd be

drawing against a man.

That would depend on the man.

- I call that fair shooting.

If I keep on,

I might even outdraw you some day.

Don't ever try it.

You only stayed six weeks this time.

I came back empty-handed the last.

I need income.

- Going tonight?

I'm riding to Clay Springs

in the morning with Star.

There's a bank I wanna look over

before doing some other jobs.

I'm hoping six men can handle it.

It'll take about two or three days.

That's what the shooting was about?

- Target practice.

Vern's handy with a. 45.

- You're not taking him?

And why not?

- He's...

He's not...

- You mean he's not an outlaw?

That never bothered you about me.

You were chin-deep in this life. You

couldn't go back if you'd wanted to.

He can.

- Maybe. It's not how he acts.

His draw is as fast as you'll find.

There's always gonna be someone faster.

- That's right. Me.

Some day you won't come back.

Or you'll come back full of lead.

You're not talking about me.

You're talking about him.

- No, Frenchy.

I think you're lying.

Maybe I am.

Look, Altar, once in a lifetime,

a woman means something to a man.

I know, Frenchy.

- Time holds us together.

Time is stronger than a rope.

We buy your horses,

work your ranch. Now this.

Just send back my ten per cent of

that bank robbery before you go on.

Why the change in rules?

- If you land in jail, I get nothing.

You took that risk before.

- Not now.

Don't you trust us? Lately...

- Lately what?

We ought to worry about trusting you.

- Then find another Chuck-A-Luck.

That's like finding a potato tree.

When's Frenchy back?

- Later today.

What's he got to do with it?

- We'll talk this over with him.

I'm the boss of this ranch, Kinch.

I make the rules.

I told you to saddle my horse.

What is the other one for?

- For me, ma'am.

All right. Come along if you want to.

That's who! I knew I'd seen him

before! The way he gets on a horse!

Got him placed?

- A town in Wyoming.

What'd he do?

- It ain't what he did.

Never mind. But the sooner he gets a

bullet through his head, the better.

I was working with your horse. Soon

he'll be able to read and write.

Yes, I've been watching you. I don't

want him to learn stupid tricks.

Sorry. I'm moody these days.

- It's been a dry summer. The earth's hard.

Gets people out of sorts,

the weather. My father told me that.

How long do you intend to

stay at the ranch?

- Till the rains come.

If a girl won't blow out the candle,

the rain'll dowse it sometimes.

Did your father tell you that?

- No, I just sort of made that up myself.

Whenever I should be angry at you, I laugh.

- You think I'm funny?

- I do.

And I only met one man in my life

who didn't want something

behind his pretty talk.

What I want, if I'm allowed to ask,

is to know a thousand things

about you.

Where you were born,

how you came out west,

where you got that dress,

where you got your jewellery,

what stories are true

and what aren't.

The dress is from New Orleans,

and I can tell you what isn't true...

I never wore green hair!

Did they name a parlour car after you?

- Mm-hm.

Kansas Pacific Railroad...

the Altar Keane.

That diamond, famous in four states,

big as a doorknob.

- It wasn't real.

The fella who gave it to me was like

you. Fresh, honest around the mouth.

Anyway, you've got a girl somewhere.

- No, I haven't.

Then you've got five of them.

- No.

No, I have no girl.

I'd wish you'd go away...

and come back ten years ago.

Go, Vern. I don't want you any more.

Get off my ranch and leave me alone.

Suppose this is the main street

of Clay Springs. Here is the bank.

Next to the bank is a store. Next

to that is the Primrose Theatre.

Down a bit is the saloon.

- Where's the sheriff?

- Asleep, I hope.

But there's our worry. Across from

the bank is the marshals' office.

If anything goes wrong,

some of us'll get sawed off.

How many men will we need?

- Nine.

Five in the bank,

three in the street

and somebody, who's not known in

town, on the balcony of the theatre.

He can draw a bead

on the marshals' office.

I never been in Clay Springs. I'll go.

- Right.

You, Star, Jess and me makes five.

Comanche?

- I go.

I'd like to make it.

Sorry, Harbin. No deal for a man

who can't move fast.

- But I...

Red?

- No, I'm heading out tomorrow myself.

I got a little matter down in Mexico.

Preacher?

- Praying for Mammon has

always been my infirmity. I'll ride.

I'm number eight. We're one shy.

Vern's gun would be worth a lot.

- No, he doesn't belong in this.

Leave him here?

That won't make Altar unhappy.

I get your point,

but I'll make up my own mind.

I forgive you for being so foolish,

but not for being wrong.

- Am I wrong?

Frenchy, he's young and handsome.

It's easy to take a fancy to him.

He makes you remember yourself a long

time back, but there's been nothing.

I told him to leave this afternoon.

He's riding with us tomorrow.

- Did he ask to go?

No. I'm telling him. We need him.

He'll go along whether

he likes it or not. Do you mind?

No, I don't mind.

They hit me in the shoulder.

Star's hit.

I never saw anything so messed up.

- The shot came from across the street.

It missed me by inches.

- Don't blame Jess and me,

we done just what Frenchy said.

Where is he, anyway?

He knows we're meeting here.

- Frenchy'll get here.

If the next job goes like this...

- We got what we went for!

Who's gonna take Altar's cut back?

She shouldn't get a cut.

I'm fed up with her.

- We're safe at Chuck-A-Luck...

You are here two hours.

You don't talk to me. Come and dance.

In a minute.

See you in a minute, honey.

Somebody's gotta take Altar's

ten per cent back.

Not me!

- Me neither. I'm not riding

half the night to cater to Altar.

Well, I'm occupied here.

I've got some dancing to do.

That leaves you three.

Low card fair?

- That's all right with me.

King.

Seven of diamonds.

Five of diamonds.

I expected you a little sooner.

I knew you were coming. The lookout

saw you. I told you not to come back.

No matter how often you tell me,

I'll come back.

I expected you to.

How did it go this morning?

- No difficulties.

A few of us got to Margy's saloon

first. The rest'll be along later.

Tomorrow we're all gonna go to Langsey.

- Then why are you here?

Somebody had to bring you your cut.

- Why you?

I happened to draw low card.

- Happened to?

- I'm lucky at cards.

And I aim to get slapped again.

If I can...

I knew you would.

Sometimes I like a man who doesn't

believe what a woman tells him.

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