The Big Country Page #8

His way!

You had me fooled for quite a while, Mr.

Hannassey, with your self-righteous talk.

What's the difference

between his way and your way?

How many of those men out there

know what this fight is really about?

This isn't their war.

This is nothing but a personal feud

between two selfish, ruthless,

vicious old men:

Henry Terrill and you.

You gonna stand there and take that?

I've had enough of...

You're mistaken, Mr. McKay.

I came to visit for a few days.

There's no need for anyone to worry.

I suppose I... I should've

left word with somebody.

I don't care what you think.

- I didn't ask you to bother about me!

- Julie, you've got to come with me.

If you don't show yourself

at the entrance to the canyon,

a lot of men are going to be killed.

I can't help that.

There's nothing I can do about it.

This trouble's not about me, so...

so why don't you just go away?

What is it that you're afraid of?

Nothing.

Nothing. I'm... I'm not afraid.

I come here all the time.

Everybody knows that.

Don't you know?

Me and Julie's old friends.

Now, why don't you just get goin'

while you still can?

Now wait a minute.

I'm not leaving here without her.

You're tryin' to protect him. Why?

Guess there's no need to answer that.

And you...

You come a-brazin' in here, unarmed,

takin' a mighty tall chance,

tryin' to stop a fight

that ain't your fight.

Now why?

Well, Buck, are you blind?

Jim, you should never have come here.

Please go and leave me alone.

Well, don't just stand there! Go!

Oh, please go, Jim! Please!

Buck!

Look out, Jim!

You don't shoot an unarmed man.

Not while I'm around.

Then give him a gun, Pa!

Give the dude a gun and let him

stand up and draw like a man.

- I'll fight him any way he likes.

- You heard him, Pa! Give him a gun!

Come on up here, both of ya.

Why do you carry these?

You a dead shot with 'em?

I haven't fired any pistols

for ten years.

Give him one of his own, Pa.

Quit this talkin'

Shut up! I'll handle this.

You're a great one for hittin' women

and beatin' slower men to the draw.

- Mr. Hannassey...

- You stay out of this!

Yeah, you love a fight your style.

But I wonder if you've got

the stomach for it, gentleman style.

What about you? Talk's cheap.

You're crazy, Pa.

Me use one of them single-shot toys?

I've stood up with nothin' but

one shot between me and damnation.

How would you like to start fightin'

fair and square for a change?

Lookin' down the barrel of a gun,

where your fast draw

won't do you any good, huh?

Why should I?

Because I say so!

Now give me that gun belt!

And, for the first time in your life,

try to be the man that

I'd like you to be.

Give it to me!

Take care of that.

Hey, you up there! Let me know

if there's anything stirrin'

- Are these guns loaded?

- All but the caps.

They haven't been fired for a long time.

The vents will have to be cleared out.

I'll do it for you, if you like.

Teach your grandmother to suck eggs?

I've been handlin' guns like this,

flintlock and caplock,

since before you were born.

Follow me,

gentlemen.

Jim...

Come on, Steve.

Major, we haven't heard a single shot.

Do you suppose McKay got through?

That's no concern of ours.

What's the matter with you? Come on.

This is bound to cost us half our men.

What if it's not necessary?

What did you expect? A taffey pull?

Anybody'd think you were scared.

Suppose he's ridin' out of there with her

right now and we start a lot of shootin'

I'd walk into hell after you, Major. Not

much you could ask I wouldn't try to do.

I just don't hold with you on this.

I just can't do it, Major. I can't.

By damn, you are yellow!

You call me whatever you want, but I'm

not beatin' up any more men for you,

I'm not running off any more cattle

or shootin' any more Hannasseys for you.

You ride on in there if you want to.

I'm finished.

You're finished all right.

I don't need you on this trip.

All right, men, mount up!

I said mount up!

I see.

I'm all alone in this.

All right.

I've been alone before.

Major...

Major!

Clear the line of fire.

I forgot all the fancy rigamarole

that goes with this,

so I'll just say "ready", "aim", "fire".

Cock your hammers on "ready".

There's one thing I do remember.

If either man tries to beat the signal,

it's my duty to shoot him down like

a dog, and I'll do it, so help me!

This thing's gonna be done

right and proper. Understand?

Here.

Your choice.

Now, back to back.

And keep your fingers off of the trigger.

Clear the way there!

I can feel you sweatin'

right through my shirt.

Now, I'll count to ten.

Now, you turn on "ready".

Fire when I tell ya.

Walk!

One, two, three,

four, five, six,

seven, eight, nine,

ten.

Ready...

Aim...

Fire!

- I warned you, you dirty low...

- All right!

Now it's my shot.

Go ahead!

Fire!

Go on, shoot!

Buck!

I told you.

I told you I'd do it.

I told you, but you wouldn't believe me.

Damn your soul!

I told you!

Pa...

Let them pass.

Get my horse.

Take cover! Take cover!

Get back here! Get off those horses!

McKay!

McKay!

You said Henry Terrill and me.

You were right.

Come on! Keep movin'

Hold your fire!

Hold your fire!

Hold your fire!

Keep 'em covered, but hold your fire!

Henry Terrill!

Come on out!

Henry Terrill?

Do you hear me?

I hear you!

This is you and me!

I'm a-comin' down!

Here I come, Hannassey!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes