The Duel Page #2

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Thank you.

- And Marisol?

- She's tired, resting.

If she's unsatisfied,

i could drop off

another blanket,

keep her warm.

Well, it's a large bed.

I doubt you'd have a blanket

big enough.

Isaac, you go on

without me today.

Mr. Locke is going

to join me for breakfast.

Well, i-- I thought

we was going to go down--

do I need to hold

your hand, boy?

Forgive my friends, David.

Their charming qualities

don't shine through

at the outset.

You strike me

as an educated man.

I've managed to fool you.

You hide it

from your eyes well,

but it sits

on your shoulders

plain as day.

You are a man

in search of something.

Perhaps absolution.

You don't strike me

as the type

to hide his meaning

in vocabulary.

Indeed.

We don't get a lot

of uninvited guests this way.

So why are you here?

There's no real plan to it.

I inherited my father's

mercantile in San antone.

I ran it for some years.

Things got rough.

I was robbed, shot.

Both of us felt

it was time to move on,

head nowhere particular.

My wife's family

are in Ciudad Victoria.

We figured we'd strike out

in that direction,

stop in a place

if we took to it.

Not so strange,

is it?

Welcome

to nowhere particular.

Can't say

it's the warmest welcome

I've ever received.

We're protective

of our little oasis.

How long

will you be staying?

Long enough to rest,

a few days.

Perhaps I can convince you

to stay awhile.

Why?

You've only just met me.

I know people.

And I can tell

that you're a man

one can tie to.

Perhaps I can help you find

what you're looking for.

I'd have no trade

in this town.

Well, let's just say

a spot for town sheriff

just opened up

at this very moment.

I get the feeling

there's not a strong

demand for law here.

- No.

- And I have no experience.

Well, what do you

need to know?

Just let your moral compass

be your guide.

You're obviously

strong, capable.

You're actually

being serious.

Look, David,

I like you and Marisol,

and I'd like to see you

stay awhile.

Not so strange.

No.

No, it's not.

Well, then,

it's settled.

Gentlemen,

meet your new sheriff.

Thought I might

continue my ride, take in

some of your countryside.

Splendid idea.

As it happens, I have

my own fond recollections

of the San antone area

from after the war.

Small town...

Name of Helena.

Might have

passed through her

on your way here.

Don't seem

to recall it.

Wild place

is what I recollect.

Hard to forget.

Well, sheriff,

pick yourself

a direction.

Welcome to

mount hermon,

Marisol.

We brought you both

some food.

And we just had to meet

the wife of the new sheriff.

- Sheriff?

- Did you have

a long journey here?

- Yeah, but--

- you are more beautiful

than was spoken of.

Who spoke?

You live round here?

I from tamaulipas.

Why have you come?

To pray for the dead.

You know about

the bodies?

Was it white men?

They knew things, David.

Who came?

Women from the town.

What did they want?

They said you were

the new sheriff,

that Abraham

foresaw us coming.

He did ask

that I be sheriff.

- But why on earth?

- I have no idea.

But I thought about it.

Really, it's the ideal cover

until I can figure out

what's going on here.

He frightens me, David.

He's a man, Marisol,

not a crystal gazer.

- No one knew

we were coming.

- Yeah.

These people, they're just

a bit off the reservation.

Make sure

you remember that.

Woman:

Stop it.

- Get away from me.

Now, now, wait.

Don't you walk away.

Come on.

Don't you walk

away from me.

Where are you going?

Come on, have a drink.

Naomi.

I'm terribly sorry

to have frightened you,

Marisol.

You're not feeling well.

No, I feel fine.

No, no, you have

the fever.

It's natural.

You're run down.

It will pass.

Can I give you a hand

with anything?

Are you married,

Abraham?

My wife died many years ago

birthing Isaac.

She left him

with many of her talents.

I'm sure

she was beautiful.

She could back the buzzards

off a gut wagon.

But truly, she was lovely.

There was never a more pure

heart to wreck a man.

So tell me,

how did you

come to wreck David?

My father was a drunk

and a swindler.

He was shot and left for dead

after cheating at cards.

David saw him

back to health.

As a show of gratitude,

i was betrothed to him

by my father.

Betrothed by debt?

That must have been

very difficult for you.

I'm sorry.

Any children?

I'm afraid I'm unable.

Mmm. My wife was told

the very same thing

before I met her.

Dark eyes.

They say the eyes

provide a direct window

to the soul.

Yours have seen a good deal

of man at his worst.

You hold tight to it.

But are we not all

born into sin,

anger, violence,

jealousy, desire?

We cannot separate

ourselves from sin

any more than we would sever

a limb from our bodies.

Besides,

anger is instructive.

Jealousy, understandable.

Lust, perfectly natural.

I can see that my words

are not lost on you, Marisol.

It is refreshing.

So few these days possess

any openness of mind.

But if I may, Marisol,

this veil that you wear

offers only false comfort.

Remove it.

God knows

who you really are.

Ah, deputy Dave!

What are you doing here?

Thought I might

get a drink.

Aw, you wouldn't

like it in here, David.

The beer tastes

like day-old piss.

Well, I guess

I'll drink the whiskey.

I don't think

you're hearing me, sheriff.

I'm telling you no.

I've tried to be

cordial with you.

You choose

your next words

carefully.

I heard the beer here

is excellent.

I've no complaints.

Might I join you?

Be my guest.

Hoot, let's have a shot

for the gentleman.

I'm Naomi.

David.

I know who you are.

Hoot his real name?

That's what I hear.

What else do you hear?

Whatever falls earshot.

You have an honest face.

I'm not soliciting you.

I know about your wife.

News travels fast.

This town echoes every word

Abraham breathes.

Stay here long enough

and you might start

resounding him, too.

What about you?

Not yet.

How long have you

been here?

Almost a year.

My second husband

was a lieutenant

in the army.

He was shot and killed

by his own men.

I had no money,

no family, nowhere to go.

Until hoot here

rides into town,

offers me a job.

Perhaps naively,

i didn't ask for specifics.

My condolences

for your losses, ma'am.

Thank you.

I've tried to make

the best of it.

Save a little money,

maybe move

to San Francisco.

Well, you're a long way

from California.

Believe me,

we're a long way

from anywhere.

Like these fellows?

Just rode in?

- Hello, gentlemen.

- Ma'am.

You're not safe.

I've tried

to leave this place.

Naomi, you gonna sit there

yabbering on my time,

head on back, help mailene

with the washing.

Be careful.

Hello there, gentlemen.

How are you?

Money's no good here, sheriff.

Abraham's pardoned

your expenses.

Abraham visited me

this morning.

Was he alone?

Yes.

What did he want?

Nothing.

We talked about his wife,

his travels.

We talked for hours.

What's wrong?

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