Scorched Earth Page #3

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Well, how'd he get it?

What happened exactly?

Shot in the back.

Shot in the back.

That's real funny, because

my medic took a look at him.

He said cause of death

was knife to the heart.

I asked myself, how

the f*** does he end up

getting knifed in a gun fight?

Maybe he upset someone.

You seem to get

upset quite easily.

You're lying.

I want the truth.

You don't want the truth,

you want an excuse.

I don't need an

excuse with you, Chavo,

or whoever the hell you are.

You really are dumb.

He was raping me.

He dragged me in the

alley and I shived him

before he got what he wanted.

I used his body to save my skin.

He was already dead.

What did he care?

Wait a goddamn minute,

this does not change a thing.

Let it go.

Sleep well, Ms. Chavo.

We'll talk tomorrow.

Morning.

So did you have a little

trouble sleeping last night?

Not at all, I slept like a baby.

You had one eye on the door all

night just hoping I'd drop by.

Am I right?

Somebody was snooping

around the office there.

You know, if you keep

staring at me like that,

I'm going to start thinking

you're sweet on me.

If you plan on sticking around,

you better start

showing some respect.

To who?

You?

I could fake it, if you'd like.

You're probably used to that.

You know, you hang your

balls out there like that,

they're going to get busted.

What did you

think was going to happen?

Jackson, you and

me need to talk.

From the spring at Valley Gorge

and you agreed that I could

use that water for my farm.

Yeah, don't pretend

you don't remember.

I'm not stupid.

So tell your pissants to

stay away from my gorge,

or there'll be a couple

less people sucking in air?

Do you understand me?

Look, it's none of my business,

but you're coming

across very aggressive

and I'm a little concerned you

haven't thought this through.

Who the hell are you,

his f***ing mother?

And yeah, it is none

of your business.

Thank you, Ms. Chavo,

but the man is right,

I do need to deal

with this personally.

Oh now, Mr. Bradshaw, I

sincerely hope we don't have

to resort to violence here.

Stay right there.

I mean it.

Now clearly, you have the

upper hand here, Mr. Bradshaw.

I'm not dumb.

So I have a proposal.

I promise that my men will stay

away from your land from now

on if you promise not to come

here again making threats.

Do we have a deal?

OK, deal.

I won't come by

here making threats.

No, you won't.

I appreciate the back-up.

Have dinner with me tonight.

Wow, that's-- you look great.

Thank you.

I had this uniform handmade.

It's a replica of

Simon Bolevar based

on a painting I saw in a book.

What do you think?

It's impressive.

Do you know who Bolevar was?

Some guy, I'm guessing.

He was a nation builder.

He was a man with far

reaching vision, unafraid

to forge his own destiny.

He's my inspiration.

Apparently, he was particularly

adept at recognizing

loyalty amongst his underlings.

He was also very

good at ferreting

out traitors in his midst.

New blood trickles in

every day, any one of them

could be secretly

gunning for me.

It's the law of averages.

Are you sure you're

not just being paranoid?

No, far from it.

Find Mr. Lear,

tell him I'll meet

him in my office in an hour.

Goddamn it.

I've met a lot of men like you,

but they never lay down roots.

Ms. Chavo, I'm certain

you've never met a man like me.

You see, I have hopes,

dreams, aspirations.

I have a vision for the future.

Have you ever used one of these?

I can't say that I have.

It was the preferred

close combat weapon

on earth for nearly 2000 years.

Could you imagine?

Perfect heft, balance--

I could slice someone

clean through.

I wonder what's for dessert.

Gage!

Gage!

Hey, here.

And that's the

entrance right there.

Good morning.

He has something to say to you.

Go ahead.

I apologize.

Apology accepted.

Good, done.

Well, that was some evening.

Very exciting.

Anything to do with that

abandoned silver mine

eight clicks east from here?

I was out for a ride the

other night and there it was.

That's when I knew why

you guys were here.

Smart move.

But hey, it's none

of my business.

Have a seat.

There are some

open silver mines.

Must have been active

before the cloud fell.

And they're right there,

ripe for the picking.

So why not start digging?

Those old excavators

are out of commission,

can protect our interests from

attack like the other night.

From some smaller settlements,

but it won't be enough.

However, Mr. Lear--

For the last three

weeks, a group of pilgrims

have been traveling

across the plains.

On their route tomorrow, they're

going to hit a brickyard.

It's the perfect

place to snatch 'em.

But it won't be easy.

These pilgrims are

getting smarter.

Once word gets out

that we have an almost

unlimited supply

of silver, everyone

will be gunning for us.

So let's make it your business.

I'm prepared to cut you

in as a token of my thanks

for that night.

One of your considerable talents

could prove very useful to us.

Isn't that right, Mr. Lear?

Sure.

Well, I'm flattered, but I'm

not sticking around that long.

You keep saying that,

but you're still here.

Best of luck, gentlemen.

5%.

20%.

Mm-- now we're negotiating.

This is exciting.

Never pegged you for greedy.

Would you accept 10%?

No, but I'd do it for 15%.

Oh, this is exciting.

Let's break out the good

stuff, the real stuff.

Ah!

Gage!

Gage!

A toast to new friends.

Hi, you wanted to see me?

Look, Melena, I've seen

the way Jackson treats you

and you need to get as

far away from this place

as you possibly can.

This scarf is the only thing

I have left from my other life.

I wanted to give it

to you to thank you.

What do you have

to thank me for?

You're the only person here

who doesn't treat me like I'm

someone else's property.

What is it?

Mr. Jackson

says it's time to go.

I have to go.

They're coming.

What is that?

Told you it wasn't

going to be easy.

No!

Well, obviously we need

to take the turret out.

Suggestions?

Where the hell are you going?

Where is she?

Oh, that took care of that.

Round 'em up.

Get your ass in there right now.

Credit where credit's due.

Well, I have a

vested interest now.

Keep your mouth

shut and be patient.

This is just the beginning.

Once that silver starts to roll

in, everyone in the territory

will be crawling to us to

recharge their filters.

I have the Sheriff of New

Montana dangling from my gates.

If we need more people, we

know where to find them.

We will rule this territory.

Ah, that's disappointing.

Thank you, Ms. Chavo.

Serenade us, my dear.

I'm OK.

Love is a

madness, I can't get away.

It hurts me to love you,

and it hurts me to stay.

This sweet sadness is this all

I get for picking the dark horse

and placing my bet.

Well, if I can't

make you love me,

and if I can't make

you pretend, no, no, I

can't make you want

me, baby, then there's

nothing else to recommend.

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