The Ballad of Cable Hogue Page #3

Cable Hogue.

Cable, with an L-E.

So, Mr. Cable Hogue...

...is $35 all you want?

Will a hundred get you started?

Hey, Hildy, you got a new customer.

Go on in, mister.

She's just waiting for you.

Go on in.

Standing like a jackass eating cactus.

Yes?

Hello.

Did you want to see me?

Well, come on in.

Honey, you was smelling bad enough

to gag a dog off a gut wagon.

I smell a lot better right now though.

Hey, look at that. Inside plumbing.

As good as anything you'll find

in Kansas City.

Sweet glory, love.

Well, I had to get you rinsed off,

didn't I?

I swear I never seen a man so dirty.

You know, you must have had

a pound of dirt on you.

Well, feel a lot lighter now, Millie.

My name is Hildy.

Well.

Now, don't you be mixing me up

with them other ones.

Don't worry. I won't.

You know, honey...

...if you're ever thinking

of quitting this job...

...I'm building myself a place.

It's gonna be something.

No.

I've had enough of this damn desert.

Not me. Not yet.

I'm on my way up.

Undo me.

San Francisco is my next stop.

San Francisco?

- And when I hit Frisco...

- Noisy, god-awful, claptrap town.

...I'm gonna hit it in style.

- Two days and you're tired of it.

- Tired of it?

I ain't even got there yet.

Oh, you'll get there, all right.

You bet your sweet life I will.

One way or another, love.

And when I do hit Frisco...

...I'm gonna be the ladiest damn lady

you ever seen.

I'm gonna marry me the richest man

in San Francisco.

Maybe the two richest men.

It's just a question of time.

Well, if you ever need any help...

- You remember my name?

- You remember mine?

Come here.

God's pure and natural elements

are being threatened by the devil, yes.

Sinners.

What's wrong?

The devil seeks to destroy you

with machines!

Ask me how I know.

There are those of us who talk to God.

God talked to me the other day.

He said:

"Inventions are the work of Satan.

Tell them how it is, James."

I gotta go. That pious son of a b*tch

could have sold me out.

- What?

- Taking the stage to Gila. Sold me out.

Hogue.

Hogue.

- Come here.

- "Turn your backs.

And gather by the river

with me, James."

That's what the Almighty said.

Lost it. No good.

Trouble is, I... I forgot

to mark my boundaries.

Build me a claim monument.

- What in the hell are you talking about?

- Just know it.

- Bother me.

- Bother you?

All the way through it.

Keep thinking of that damn preacher

out there.

- Maybe come here to cheat me.

- Hogue.

Hell of a time to hold a goddamn

prayer meeting!

What is the matter with you?

Hey!

What?

- Ain't you forgetting something?

- What?

Well, what about me?

- Me. Me and my money.

- Money?

For what?

Well, if you don't want me here.

Easy. Easy.

Whoa, hold up there, now. Careful.

- Didn't take you long, mister.

- Just a damn minute.

Hildy, listen to me. I told you.

He's gonna take the stage to Gila.

Sold me out.

- I'll be back.

- Back, hell. You'll pay me now!

Look at him go!

Where's he going?

Attagirl, Hildy.

- There you are, you son of a b*tch.

- I told you I'd be back.

- You call yourself a man?

- Well, of course I do.

- I got business at the springs.

- You got business with me.

Now, get up here and settle up.

- Later, Hildy.

- Later, hell!

Well, you know how it is, folks. Women.

Just a damn minute, Cable!

- Peace. Everything will be all right.

- Take your hands off of me.

- Not you. You!

- Will you get off my face?

Is that you, Robert?

What are you doing?

Get ahold of him, Frank.

He's getting away.

Get him! Get him!

Go get him, Frank!

Nasty man, we'll never see you again.

- Hope he breaks his neck.

- Get the hell out of here!

- Come on, let's ride him out of here!

- Why, you son of a b*tch.

It's all right, folks.

Yeah, it's all right.

Hey, come back here!

Cable Hogue, you're no damn good!

- I'll be back!

- You aren't either!

You hussy!

Welcome back to the fold, brother.

Drink up, preacher.

Gonna get spruced up.

Going back in amongst them.

I got unfinished business in Deaddog.

Amen.

Thank you.

That collar comes off as easy

as it goes on.

Of course. If I cannot rouse heaven,

I intend to raise hell.

You see?

I told you. Went clean through.

She took her.

Children, we are gathered here under

the sight of the Lord Almighty...

Not now, Josh.

Hildy...

Now, Josh.

Children, we are gathered here under

the sight of the Lord Almighty...

Cable Hogue, take off your damn boots.

Now, that's better.

Well, the Lord giveth

and the Lord taketh away.

Good evening.

Just passing through.

Yes?

My apologies for intruding

in your time of obvious grief...

...but being a man of the cloth

I could not pass your door...

...without at least offering you

the solace of my services.

I am Reverend

Joshua Duncan Sloane.

Reverend, thank you for coming.

Come, child, take my hand.

The Lord works in many ways.

Sometimes, when he has dealt too much

for one to bear...

...he sends a messenger

to comfort and love.

- He does?

- Yes.

Such a messenger am I.

Come, child, lay your head

on my shoulder.

This is a shoulder for the grieving...

...a hand to be gripped in despair...

...a vial to pour one's heart into.

My only mission in life

is that of comfort and love...

...which I humbly offer you now.

- Oh, thank you, Reverend.

Now...

...what great weight can I lift

from your tortured soul?

It's Frank.

Frank? Frank. Where?

He's dead.

I just got the telegram today.

- Happened in Gila.

- How terrible.

He's been gone two days

and two weeks.

How pitiful.

Weep your heart into mine, child,

for it is weeping with you.

I will be the reservoir for your sorrow.

And your guide for a brighter tomorrow.

Reverend Sloane, it's so good to know

that somebody cares.

Thank not me, I am but an emissary

of the kingdom of heavenly love.

Out of the depth of your sorrow...

...we shall find the beauty of his love.

Even now as we stand here

in his shadow...

...feel your grief subside...

...as I absorb it through my palm

and into my hand.

I do, Reverend.

Feel your pain...

...flowing freely...

...out of your heart...

...and into my hand.

I feel it.

Come, child.

Together we shall purge this grief

from your soul...

...and release your true spirit

as we search a path to righteousness.

Claudia, it's me.

It's my husband.

- But he's the telegram.

- No, that's Frank, my brother.

- Clete doesn't know yet.

- Clete?

Claudia. Open the goddamn door!

Would you help console Clete

like you did me?

- Claudia!

- They were very close.

- What the hell is going on here?

- Silence.

There's been a death in the family.

It's Frank. He's dead.

Kneel.

Bow your heads.

In this, your moment of need,

I will comfort you.

Yea, I will comfort you.

And bring you to a better understanding

of the mysteries of life...

...and death...

...and love.

Thank you, Reverend.

I loved that kid, Reverend.

Crazy loon that he was.

I know.

I know.

She was a treasure waiting to be found.

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