Rio Lobo Page #7

Would you rather walk?

- Anybody following us?

- Didn't see anyone.

Let's talk a bit. You want your boy

out of jail, don't you, Mr Phillips?

Damn right I do.

- How do we get him out?

- We use Ketcham.

And how long do you think

before Hendricks will have us too?

You and your military mind. You gotta

know the answer to everything.

- What'll we do?

- All right.

Us civilians ain't

the fools you Yanks think.

- There's a fort at Longhorn Springs.

- That's right.

- We'll take him there.

- What'll Hendricks be doing?

He'd rather see Ketcham dead

than the army get him.

- You got something in mind?

- Yeah.

We don't take Tuscarora out of jail,

we join him there and fort up. You...

I go into Longhorn Springs

and bring in the cavalry.

- That's smart for a captain, Frenchy.

- Thank you, sir.

You ought to be back

by late tomorrow afternoon.

If we run into trouble,

we can hold out till then.

Stay on this trail till you hit

the stage road, then take the west fork.

Good luck, Colonel. Sir.

Don't forget my thumb is gettin' tired.

Don't go over rocks. My horse might

stumble and we'd have an accident.

Let's go.

- What are you doin' here?

- We went to Phillips' ranch.

Barter's dead,

Minton had a broken shoulder,

and Chester had been cold cocked

pretty bad.

He said a girl drove

in that medicine show wagon.

He was lookin' it over

and that's all he could remember.

It coulda been three of 'em. The wagon

was gone and so was Phillips.

- Anybody see where the wagon went?

- Couldn't find any tracks. Too dark.

Spence, you take five men

and guard the north road.

Morton, you take a few more.

Leave some on the south road close in.

The rest of you go to the west fork.

Stop everybody going out and in.

Shoot anybody that tries to get by.

Now move.

- What are we stopping here for?

- Tuscarora's girlfriend.

Maybe I can find out how things stand.

Can you handle Ketcham?

If you hear a loud noise,

it'll be Mr Ketcham dying.

You got him! I'm glad.

In case you don't know,

that's Spanish for "pig", Ketcham.

Much has happened tonight.

The men came from the Phillips ranch

and told what you had done

and the Sheriff was very angry.

Would you like to see

what he does when he's angry?

Amelita, show him.

Amelita?

Take a look.

Go on, take a good look.

The Sheriff did it.

- Why?

- To make me talk. To punish me.

He did it and then he laughed.

- Someday I'm gonna kill him.

- You'll have to beat me to it.

I'm gonna kill him someday.

Be careful. The Sheriff has

many men outside hunting for you.

And others waiting for you in the jail.

We've got the edge on him.

We got their boss.

- I will pray for you.

- Good night.

They don't know we got Ketcham yet,

but they know

we've been to your place and got you,

so they'll probably be waiting for us.

- You still wanna try?

- With or without you, Colonel.

That's good enough for me.

Move.

We're gettin' near the jail, Mr Ketcham.

My rheumatism is bad,

so don't put a strain on my finger.

You in the jail!

Tell Hendricks to step out.

Blue Tom, we've got

your friend Ketcham here.

And there's a sawn-off shotgun with

the triggers tied back right behind him.

He wants to tell you something.

Sergeant Major, you louse this up

and you won't live to know it. Talk.

Hold your fire, Tom.

Do anything he says. Don't try anything.

- You hear him?

- I heard.

Get all your men out of the jail.

You heard him. Come on out.

Now, everybody drop their guns.

- What d'ya say, Mr Ketcham?

- Do it. For God's sake, do it.

All right, drop 'em.

Everybody ease over and keep going

till you're in front of that hotel.

Hendricks, you hold it.

There's still somebody in that jail,

Ketcham.

Tom, don't try it.

Get whoever's in there out.

All right, Barney, come on out.

Drop your gun

and get over with the rest of 'em.

You wanna step down, Mr Phillips?

Hope this thing don't go off

while I'm climbing down.

Step off, Sergeant Major.

Let's go to jail.

Don't worry, Mr Ketcham,

we'll get you outta there.

That's a good idea, Sheriff.

Why don't you try it? Please try it!

No, Tom, forget it. He wants you

to try something. He's crazy.

He's right. Got another barrel left.

Get in there.

We'll be here a day, maybe two.

Then the US Cavalry will be here.

- I should have taken you this morning.

- You should have tried.

I couldn't say hello this morning,

but I'm glad to see you.

- How do you feel?

- Fine. Except for some sore ribs.

I'll stay back here with Ketcham

in case his friends try something.

Don't you worry none, Ketcham.

You're gonna be the first to die.

- Where's Captain Cordona?

- He's gone for help.

How long are we gonna be here?

Till he comes back with the cavalry.

Douse that light.

Mr Phillips,

is that the only tune you know?

I don't know this one,

that's why I keep practising it.

Colonel, you have any trouble

gettin' back into town?

They had men out,

but we had Ketcham.

You suppose they have men

watching the roads too?

Hendricks is not stupid.

What if they catch the Captain

before he gets help?

Then we're in more trouble

than we've been in since the start.

Mr Phillips, is there any way

of getting you to stop that?

Yeah, I'd stop for a drink.

Well, if there's one, I'll get it for you.

Where are you going?

In the jail.

This is Doc Jones, the dentist.

Can I come in?

Let him in.

You're taking a chance coming here.

I don't think so.

They're not watching the place.

Don't bet on it.

I brought some food and beer.

- Better see Ketcham gets a bite.

- He don't get no beer, does he?

Neither do you, unless you promise

not to play that harp.

I'll stop.

- Who's there?

- Shasta.

- What are you doing here?

- I couldn't stand waiting, not knowing.

I took one of Mr Pryor's horses.

Nobody saw me.

Hey, you in the jail.

- What d'ya want?

- I got a message.

I don't wanna

get shot delivering it.

Here it is.

See what it is.

- They got Frenchy.

- Is he all right?

Evidently.

They wanna trade him for Ketcham.

- So there'll be no soldiers.

- Where do they want the trade off?

There's a barn by a creek

at the other end of town.

I know where that is.

They'll be at the barn

with Frenchy an hour after sun up.

- We're to bring Ketcham.

- Is that all it says?

- That's all.

- What will they do after the trade?

There's more of them than us.

What do you think they'll do?

- What's it gonna be, Colonel?

- Looks like we have no choice.

You that delivered the message,

you out there?

I'm here.

Tell Hendricks we'll be there

after sun up.

And if we see anybody

on the way over there,

he's gonna lose his boss.

I'll tell him.

Anybody got the time?

Two hours to sun up.

Anything I can do?

He ought to take

all that stuff Ketcham signed,

and get them back to the owners.

They won't know Ketcham signed these

till after the trade.

Thanks.

Thanks, all of you.

I wish you luck.

Luck, he says!

We need more than luck.

We need a miracle.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes