Station West Page #2

Why did you come back?

If you invited me to sit down,

I might find out.

It might be better if you

found another table.

And another girl.

Oh no, it wouldn't. I looked.

- Could that be Charlie?

- No.

His eyes follow you around

like a couple of flies.

They follow me around to see

that strangers don't annoy me.

- Only strangers?

- No one else would be so foolish.

Waiter, bring me

a bottle of wine, will you?

First you are beautiful.

Then I like the way you sing.

And now you're a woman of mystery.

I don't want to be a stranger.

So I'll have to be foolish.

- You like to take chances, don't you?

- If I feel lucky.

I advise you to try the dice table.

I'd rather get lucky here.

Every man has a right

to his own funeral.

I could be your cousin

from Waxaharchie.

His cousin John.

A missionary on his way to China.

So Charlie probably runs the town?

What do you care?

I'm going to spend some time here.

I just like to know who winds the clock.

It's been a nice conversation.

I hate to have it end.

Who is this?

- Mick, this is my cousin John.

- From Waxahatchie.

Cousin John is a missionary

on his way to China.

What's keeping him?

I think he's wondering if he

couldn't do more good here.

You ain't too friendly, are you?

I like to pick my friends.

You ought to learn not to pick them

so easy like you do your cousins.

Ask her.

I never saw him before in my life.

You're too little to

make that big a mistake.

You gonna correct me or

just bleed at the mouth?

Bring him outside.

- What happened?

- I wanted to be my cousin.

And she hasn't any aunts or uncles.

Good boy, Mick.

Look out!

Kill him, Mick.

- Mick will kill him.

- That's ten to one.

Always bet on the champion.

Then you can only lose once.

Ten to one? I'll take it.

You're down. A thousand to a hundred.

Come on, Mick!

Way to go!

Come on, Mick!

That is, Mick!

It's the first time Mick ever got it.

You done a fine job, stranger.

I can't believe this.

Mick Marian losing a fight

and me winning a thousand.

Give it to him, Prince.

In chips.

Care for some coffee?

Yeah. Thanks.

They told me who was fighting.

I was getting ready to rent you a room.

- Sugar or cream?

- Cream.

Myself I'd rather buy a forest fire.

So would I.

When a fights a man

because of a woman

it means that the woman

has made the man bold.

But fighting is no good.

Because it just lead to trouble.

And a man can't grow old

where there's women and gold.

No, a man can't grow old

where there's women and gold.

Come in.

How do you feel?

Like a million dollars.

You just cost me a thousand.

I brought your hat and coat.

Are you always this sweet

to the men who fight over you?

Only the winners.

- Tell me something.

- What?

That fella could have killed me.

Where do you bury the losers?

You talk too much.

What do you want? The next dance?

I think you better sit this one out.

- Have some coffee?

- Yeah, thanks.

The way you run this place, I knew

you must be good at something else.

Some folks call me the town poet.

Others, village idiot.

Who am I to question either?

How do you feel today?

Like I crawled from Kansas City.

Figures to make you pretty famous.

A lot of folks have been

asking for you already.

- Who?

- That gold mine lady, Mrs. Caslon.

- That's nice.

- Couldn't do better.

And Charlie.

- Charlie?

- No less.

You seem impressed.

Why not?

Charlie owns a piece of everything.

Including the undertaker

and the sheriff.

Stage line too?

Everything but the windy Bible class.

Even owns a piece of me.

Gets your money while you're here

and makes you pay for leave.

Well, when you get next verse

of that song, I'd like to hear it.

I can't find a word to rhyme

with "Mick Marion."

- Try "carrion".

- Sure, yeah. Carrion.

Doesn't he ever stopping playing?

Sam? It don't bother him. He's deaf.

Where do I find the boss?

First door. Top of the stairs.

Mick been around?

He's indisposed.

Come in.

- You wanted to see me?

- I did.

- They said Charlie?

- Yes.

You're Charlie?

Right.

This is Prince.

Don't ever gamble with him.

You mean with his equipment?

She means either.

See you later, Charlie.

You surround yourself

with very affable character.

It makes me feel at home.

No. You're not that sinister.

Last night you were

Florence Nightingale in silk stockings.

Ouch!

Tell me something.

Why did you start that fight?

- I thought you did.

- Oh, really?

You could have insisted

I was your cousin.

Maybe that's not the

way I felt about you.

Why did you get the name of Charlie?

It was my father's.

My name is Charlene.

Charlene? I like that better.

This will be the first time

I ever worked for a woman.

What makes you think

you're going to work for me?

You sent for me.

All right. I sent for you.

I was doing

a nice quiet little business.

Because everybody was afraid of Mick.

Now every time a man has enough

drinks in him to feel rugged,

he'll try to do what you did.

- Oh, I wouldn't.

- They will.

It's not the kind of job I want anyway.

I don't intend to start at the bottom.

Been there. It's too crowded.

Where do you want to start?

Where the money is.

What would you do for it?

Anything. Except hang.

- How's this?

- Beautiful.

Where'd you get all this?

From my father.

He taught me one thing.

A lot of men think they

can beat the tables.

All you have to do is get a table.

Sometimes they run out of cash and I

find myself with new responsibilities.

- Such as?

- A couple of stores.

Naw.

I can't see myself behind a counter.

A sawmill and the logging camp.

The logging camp is a

long way from town.

Oh. No.

I own the stage line from here

to West Rim City but that's a dud.

- Why?

- Outlaws.

Money went in gold shipments.

Now the mines won't ship it.

I'll take that job.

You mean ride shotgun?

Let me run the line.

What do you expect

to get out of that?

A commission on

all the gold I get through.

We should buy you a small beer.

Glad to get it.

It's pretty dangerous.

Even Wells Fargo locked up

that station and quit trying.

Give me a letter of authorization.

I can't bet against you twice, can I?

- Who steals the gold?

- Who doesn't?

All they have to do is put on a mask

and they all look like Black Bart.

I forgot to ask you one thing.

I'm working for you now.

You can ask me anything.

How do I know I can trust you?

You don't.

I can?

Only with money.

Okay, boss?

What's your business with me?

I'm the new manager.

Hey, wait a minute. You're not fired.

I gotta be. There ain't work enough

here for one man, let alone two..

Two can loaf as easy as one.

Whitey!

This is the new boss, just took over.

Whitey here runs the freight

up to the sawmill.

This is Jim Goddard,

the regular stage driver.

- Hello, fellas. I don't need the keys.

- Oh.

I saw that fight last night.

It was sure a beauty.

Let's not talk about that.

Right now, it hurts my hand to listen.

I'm supposed to leave here

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