The Electric Horseman Page #5

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honest buck, tell an honest tale.

I don't want to make up

a story about you.

What have you got to lose?

What's the big secret?

Everybody wants to know. They're wondering

where you're going, why you did it.

You know, the truth about the great American

cowboy and the world champion horse...

riding together into the sunset.

Boy, are you full of sh*t!

With all due respect, ma'am. And

you're standin' in poison sumac.

Oh!

Come on, son.

Come on, boy.

If you think you're getting

away from me, you're not.

'Cause I'm

gonna follow you.

I'm gonna follow you 'til you tell me

what you're gonna do with the horse.

What are you doing?

Oh, my God!

It shouldn't take you more than

about 15 minutes to change that.

Goddamn you!

You're absolutely nuts!

I'm gonna call the cops, 'cause I

got your license plate. No, you won't.

- Yes, I will!

- No, you won't. I know what you'll do.

You'll milk this story

for all it's worth.

You don't want me

to be captured.

A captured horse thief

ain't no story.

It was from this hotel...

that Rising Star, greatest money winner

in the history of American racing...

and presently corporate symbol for one

of the world's largest conglomerates,

was taken late Friday night.

Yesterday I was able to uncover information

which allowed me to locate Sonny Steele.

Now to raise

the old Stars and Stripes.

Where's that blasted

flagpole?

Good gracious.!

A bird's nest.!

Hee-hee. How clumsy of

me. I hope I didn't step...

on your eggs,

birdie.!

You got any shoelaces?

- What?

- Shoelaces?

Anita,

get rid of that stuff!

Over here by

the cash register.

...by the dim glow of

a shrouded campfire,

I saw Rising Star, and I

encountered Sonny Steele himself.

- What? What?

- What?

- We talked together for many hours.

- What?

As a result of our wide range in

conversation, I formed these impressions::

Mr. Steele, in my opinion, did not

take the horse for monetary gain.

He has no intention

of ransoming-

- Where is he?

- I don't know.

- Where was he?

- I forgot.

How were you able to

find him? That's my job.

What did he tell you, Hallie? Nothing.

Miss Martin, if you want a story, we could

put you right in the middle of the story.

We could guarantee that you

get first crack at everything.

I've already had

first crack at everything.

Suppose we made it exclusive?

How 'bout if we gave you...

exclusive footage

on the capture?

When are you

planning that?

And you want to tell me about that confrontation

you had at the reception, Mr. Sears?

- What was that all about?

- Miss Martin, we could take you to court.

You could try.

Aiding a felon during the

commission of a felonious act?

Concealment

of a felony?

Misprision of felony,

that's what the law calls it.

Well, you're not the law. If Ampco wants to

take on the First Amendment Right, be my guest.

That oughta sell America

a whole lot of breakfast cereal.

I'll be around if you want

to handcuff me later.

We could take her to court.

We could have her locked up.

And gain what? Last thing

we need is a female martyr.

At least he didn't say anything

about mistreating the horse.

- Do we know that?

- I think she would've said something on the air.

You think? That's a chance

we can't afford to take. Well-

Do we have a choice?

We could make sure that if he speaks

to anyone, he won't be believed.

Can you get to the media

by the 11:
00 news?

How the hell'd she find him?

We ain't even heard from him.

I know how she found him. We sent her

over there, that's how she found him.

Well, she buddied up to me.

She tried to buy me drinks.

She said she liked my ring.

Yeah, she liked your ring.

She liked my watch.

I liked her eyes.

That's how those people are. They tell

you they're your friend, and they use you.

What are we gonna do?

I don't know what

you're gonna do.

I'm gonna get me a bottle of

tequila, one of those Keno girls...

that can suck the chrome off a

trailer hitch, then kinda kick back.

It's 10:
:59 here

at KLSG, St. George.

Here's Harvey Del Rio

for Rudolph Brothers-

If I could drive sleepin'

the way you sleep standin',

we'd have this thing licked.

In Las Vegas, investigators

still have no leads...

to the whereabouts of Rising Star,

the great thoroughbred stallion...

whose abduction by Sonny Steele

Friday triggered a massive search.

Ampco officials are now expressing

alarm over the welfare of the horse.

According to one official, Steele has a

long history of alcoholism and drug abuse.

In the past year, he's appeared before the

public intoxicated on several occasions,

and has been abusive

to both press and public.

They believe that if the horse is to

survive the ordeal, time is of the essence.

Telephone call for Mr. Martin.

Mr. Alan Martin, please.

Excuse me. Miss Martin,

I'm Charlotta Steele.

I was married to Sonny. Yes, I know.

I don't mean to bother you, but I

was wondering if he was all right.

He isn't hurt?

No.

Are you gonna be

seein' him again?

We haven't made

any plans. Why?

Just wondering.

Why do you think

he did it?

I don't know.

I don't know.

He gets ornery,

and I guess it takes him a long time

to admit he's got a horn in his gut.

What is the horn

in his gut, Mrs. Steele?

Alls I know is,

he must've had a good reason,

or else he would've

been back by now.

He's no thief by nature.

I mean,

it takes your breath.

You know, they only said

those bad things about him.

They didn't say what's decent,

even though it is...

hard to find it sometimes.

How'd you meet Sonny?

Hallie Martin, please.

What?

You alone?

Who is this?

Are you alone?

Okay, fella.

Say your dirties.

Get it over with.

I think it's about time for

another wide-ranging conversation.

Hello?

Is it you?

Right from the dim glow of the

shrouded campfire. You maniac.

I broke three nails

changing that tire.

- You want a story?

- Yes.

Can you get outta there

without anybody knowin'?

If I can't,

I won't come.

Who saw him?

Some little shopkeeper

in southern Utah,

near St. George,

about 5:
00 last night.

He must've gotten a vehicle

somewhere. He's been heading northeast,

so if he stopped for the night, he should

be somewhere within 150 miles of St. George.

Who knows this? Local police are

all taken care of. Nobody else.

The press? No, not yet. Not yet.

We'll take care of it.

Can we cover the surrounding towns

in time? Taking care of it right now.

I think we should concentrate on

Liberty and Cedarville. All right.

You and Toland take the jet.

Take the security people with you.

You can organize this from St.

George. Ifhe stopped for the night.

We've got to assume that he sleeps

sometimes. He's crossed the state line.

The F.B.I. will want in.

Can you keep them out?

They know he's been spotted. They'll

be crawling all over the place.

Then get to him first. Offer

him whatever you have to.

Tell him we won't prosecute.

Do whatever you have to do!

Don't let him start up with

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