Terror in a Texas Town

You're too far away for a fair throw, Hansen.

Come a little closer.

Just a little closer in.

You wouldn't want

to disappoint your friends.

They all came here to see blood.

Why don't you bring them in a little closer?

Close, so they can see it.

Please, Hansen.

Five steps.

Two steps.

One, Hansen.

Just one step.

Just close enough so you can get

a fair chance with that meat hook.

How about it, Hansen?

No. That fire was not any accident.

That was arson.

Are you trying to say somebody

here had a hand in it?

I don't think you'd have the guts.

I don't think you've the guts to admit

this fella McNeil had me burned down.

- Take it easy, Brady.

- Take it easy, Matt?

What are you talking about?

Didn't we agree to stick together?

Well, I stuck.

Whose house got burned down? Mine.

Whose barn went up in smoke? Mine.

Whose livestock burnt up? Mine.

No. I'm taking what I got and clearing out.

I thought we all had a clear title here.

Then this McNeil stepped in

and took over half the valley.

I don't know what we're arguing about.

I've got nothing to claim.

This is a matter

that the courts will have to decide.

I say we hold the land any way we have to.

I don't know about you...

but I have over a thousand rounds

of ammunition and I promise you this.

The first McNeil man that steps

on my land, stays there.

Permanent.

Just a minute, gentlemen, please.

If McNeil wants to fight us with the law,

we'll use the law, too.

If he comes at us with guns,

we'll defend ourselves.

Make no mistake about that.

But the important thing is,

are we still going to stick together?

Johnson, how about you?

I just don't know, Mr. Holmes.

I'd sure hate to go up against the law.

That is, if McNeil's title is really good.

- What do you say, John?

- I got four kids, Matt.

I have to think it over.

Mr. Hansen, what do you say?

When everybody wants to stick together,

I stick with 'em.

But when nobody don't want

to stick together...

I stick alone, by myself.

Not all by yourself. I am your friend.

I stick too, and my family.

That's quite a layout. For him?

Came packed in ice,

all the way from the Gulf.

- Not bad.

- Please.

He ain't gonna miss just one of these, is he?

Please, Mr. Baxter.

You know how Mr. McNeil is.

All right, Shorty.

- Anything for you.

- Thank you.

You just get me some whiskey, will you?

Coming right up, Mr. Baxter.

- Drink heartily.

- I will.

Shorty!

Yes, Mr. Baxter.

Johnny Crale come in yet?

He just got in. He's up there now.

- Thank you.

- Yes, ma'am.

An event like this calls for a toast.

Will you join us, Johnny?

Anything calls for a toast.

- Have you any particular toast in mind?

- I do.

Let's drink to Johnny...

and the success of his mission.

Very good.

You realize conditions have changed a lot

since you and I last worked together?

I can see that.

You've got drapes on the doorway

and lobster on the table.

And 75 pounds more on your belly.

And a new secretary.

Private?

Your wit is as outdated as your profession.

We've moved into a new era.

Killing on the scale you're accustomed to

isn't fashionable anymore.

As long there are men like you,

there'll be plenty of work for men like me.

Especially me.

This is not Waco, and it's not 20 years ago.

I'm in business here. I own this hotel.

Hold title to a 120 sections of land

in this area.

Some of it is occupied by squatters

who've lived here 10 or 15, even 20 years.

I'm trying to get them

to leave as peaceably as possible.

I've even paid some of them to get off.

You paid them?

You must be pretty desperate.

No.

In this instance,

I'm quite willing to pay them.

However, some of them proved

extremely reluctant to follow my suggestion.

Time presses,

and I've run out of means of persuasion.

So you thought of old Johnny Crale.

Precisely.

I want all land grants

legally signed over to me within a week.

For this, we need an example.

Just one, mind you.

I've no taste for a massacre.

Just what business are we in?

My business.

You mean it will be

when you get your example.

You mean it will be

when you get your example.

You'll find the usual envelope

on the bureau in your room.

Is there a sheriff in this town?

Actually, there isn't.

But I have one.

The town likes him and I pay him.

So there'll be no trouble from there.

That takes care of everything

but the example.

What's his name?

You know I never discuss examples

when there are three people in the room.

I'll talk to you later.

You mean, you don't even trust

your own secretary?

I don't even trust you, Johnny.

You're becoming quite the dandy,

aren't you?

Wearing two guns instead of one.

And gloves.

I never saw you wear gloves before.

Tell me, do you eat in them?

Got a rash on the back of my hand.

Doctor gave me some salve

and told me to keep them covered up.

Couldn't be the rash is permanent, could it?

What are you trying to say, McNeil?

Nothing.

I just wondered if you'd changed

in any other ways, too.

Tell me, you still a fast draw?

Faster, if anything.

Show me.

Let me see you draw.

Draw, Johnny.

You were always a right-handed gun.

What happened?

This is the hardest fist in Texas.

This is solid steel.

Somebody blew the old one off,

and I've shot left-handed ever since.

I use the right to slug guys

who ask too many questions.

Got any objections from you?

No, none at all.

I like skill like that.

But I wouldn't spread it around,

if I were you.

Some people might take advantage

of a cripple.

If I've got any letters to write,

do you mind if I borrow your secretary?

I keep her occupied 24 hours a day.

Make sure he pays you overtime, ma'am.

Don't pay any attention to what he says.

He does what I tell him to do.

He seems so strange.

I don't think I've ever met

anyone like him before.

That's because you've never seen death

walking in the shape of a man before.

That's right.

Death, it's in his blood.

Are you still in bed?

Sure.

Can you think of a nicer place to be?

Come on, Johnny. Sit down.

If somebody ever opened up your head

to see what was inside...

he'd find only one thing.

Why don't you get dressed?

- Did you see him?

- I saw him.

We may stick around this town a long time.

McNeil's got something pretty good going.

I may go into business with him.

What kind of business?

I don't know yet.

My retainer.

It's not that kind of business again, is it?

- What else?

- Not again.

Your big days are all over.

One man with a gun

just can't make it anymore.

We're in Texas now.

They've got the state police, the Rangers.

You just can't walk into a town

and walk out of it the way you used to.

Please.

Let's get out of here, out of this town.

Let's go away.

Shut up and get back into bed.

Please. You've got to talk to me

once in a while.

If you'd only let me help.

If you'd only listen.

If you'd only let me belong.

You're where you belong right now.

Look. I'm digging in the well,

and this comes from the walls.

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