The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Page #2

Yah, coffee, and aquavit.

Swedish brandy. Good for you.

No, l don't care for that.

Here, you must drink.

That make you feel better.

lt ain't mannerly out west

to let a fellow drink by himself.

- All right if l smoke, ain't it?

- Sure. Go right ahead.

- Good. Now you will feel stronger.

- Thank you, ma'am.

Took my watch. My money's gone,

every cent l had in the world.

Don't fret about that, pilgrim.

You can eat here

until you get back on your feet.

- My credit's still good, Nora?

- Yah, Tom.

- Lie down. Please lie down.

- No. No, not now.

Not now.

l've got something to do.

Got something to do.

What did you say his name was?

The man with the silver-knobbed whip?

l said Liberty Valance,

but if that's what you got to do,

you better start packing a handgun.

A gun? l don't want a gun.

l don't want a gun.

l don't want to kill him.

l want to put him in jail.

l know those law books mean a lot

to you, but not out here.

Out here,

a man settles his own problems.

But do you know

what you're saying to me?

You're saying just exactly

what Liberty Valance said.

What kind of community

have l come to?

You all seem to know Liberty Valance.

He's a no-good, gun-packing,

murdering thief,

but the only advice you give me

is to carry a gun.

Well, l'm a lawyer!

Ransom Stoddard, Attorney at Law.

And the law is the only...

A little law and order around

Shinbone wouldn't hurt anyone.

All right, Hallie.

Arrest this man! Arrest him!

Nobody seems to want...

Well.

Here comes Mr Law and Order himself.

- He's hurt bad.

- What are you dragging me here for?

Ain't being up all night on account

of this hold up business...

- Who's this?

- From the hold up.

- l knew l shouldn't come over.

- Wait a minute, Marshal.

Tom, if he's got a formal complaint

to make, he should make it to me.

He just wants you

to put Liberty Valance in jail.

Liberty Valance? Do you think

l'm crazy? Tom, let me out of here.

Hallie thinks he's right.

You'd better listen. He's a lawyer.

Somebody better listen to somebody

about him!

Mamma, Liberty Valance

rides into town...

lf he behaves himself in this town,

l ain't got no...

Jurisdiction.

What he said.

l ain't got none of it.

You all know

l'm only the town marshal.

What Liberty does out on the

road ain't no business of mine.

Ain't that right, Mr Lawyer?

Technically, l suppose

it is a territorial offence.

- You mean l'm right?

- Yes, Marshal, you're right.

l knew it! l knew we'd be friends

the minute l stepped in here.

You folks all know that,

well, the jail's only got one cell,

and the lock's broke,

and l sleep in it.

l should have known nothing would

happen when you came in here.

Now get out,

you big old fat water buffalo!

- We got work to do!

- Hallie, l ain't ate yet.

l could sure use a snack

of six or seven of those hen's egg

and maybe a side order of bacon,

and is that flapjack batter?

On the cuff. Sit down.

Papa, get your pants on!

Get out of the way! Sit down!

You know, you look mighty pretty

when you get mad.

Like l say, you can eat here

till you get back on your feet.

- May l have your name?

- Doniphon. Tom Doniphon.

Forget what l said about buying

a gun. You're a tenderfoot.

Liberty Valance is the toughest man

south of the Picketwire, next to me.

- Mr Peabody!

- Evening, Marshal.

Did you know that Liberty Valance

is in town tonight?

l'd be a poor newspaperman indeed

if l didn't know

what everybody else knows.

l don't know what to do,

Mr Peabody, l swear.

Do what you're paid to. Run him out!

Run him out... Liberty Val...me?

- My advice to you as...

- Coroner.

- And your personal pos...

- Physician!

ls to get supper and go to bed.

No charge.

Sound advice, Marshal. Sound advice.

Hallie, my love, where are you?

l await you, my dear.

Good evening.

Saturday night, Mr Peabody.

Better order early before those

drunks come from across the street.

Hallie, please. The proprieties

concerning the cutlery.

How many times have l told you,

the fork goes to the left

of the plate, the knife goes...

You superstitious or something?

What are you having to eat?

The usual.

Steak, beans, potatoes

and deep-dish apple pie.

- Three steaks with a lot of black.

- All right.

- Lot of black-eyes, Hallie.

- All right, Kaintuck!

Three steaks,

burnt black for the Lazy ''J'' boys.

Heavy on the beans.

Usual for Mr Peabody with fixings.

- Steak, beans, potatoes.

- And deep-dish apple pie.

Someday, he'll order something

different, and we'll all faint.

Goodness, Rance,

aren't you finished yet?

No wonder if your mind isn't on it.

Let me help.

Hallie, l found it. l'll show...

No, my hands are wet.

Get the book.

Come on, take the book a minute.

Nora, Peter, come here and hear this.

Now, get the book.

That place right here where it says,

''Under the law of this territory.''

Hallie, you read it out loud.

l got Liberty Valance exactly where

l want him. Exactly where l want him.

What's the matter? Go ahead. Read it.

- l can't.

- What? You... Well, why not?

l never had the schooling,

that's why not.

You mean you can't read at all?

No, l can't read, and l can't write.

Here, take your book.

For heaven's sakes,

isn't Mr Peabody's order ready?

- Hallie...

- Not enough beans on it.

Hallie, l'm sorry.

l could teach you.

What for? What good has reading

and writing done you?

Look at you. ln an apron.

Be right with you, boys.

l do look funny in this.

l didn't mean to hurt her.

She'll get over it. What is

reading and writing for a girl?

She'll make a wonderful wife

for any man.

And if Tom Doniphon is smart,

he pops the question

before some busybody l am married to

upsets his bag of apples.

Aw, you!

Eat supper before come the drunks.

- But l'm not finished.

- Go sit down! Eat!

What you cooking, steak and potatoes?

l'm hungry. Could l impose

upon your hospitality?

Just a couple of those steaks

and no beans.

Marshal.

You're the man l'm looking for.

Not so loud.

And double on the potatoes.

One steak for one marshal

on the cuff.

Marshal, l was wrong the other day,

but l've been reading up,

and there it is.

l'll draw up the complaint,

take care of the details,

but you do have jurisdiction,

it says so right there.

The next time he sets foot

in this town, you arrest him.

Anything you say, Mr Stoddard.

l'll be tickled to death to...

- What was that? Arrest who?

- Liberty Valance.

Arrest Liberty Val...

You mean Liberty Valance?

Just when l was starting

to get my appetite back.

A lot of black-eyes.

Steaks for the Brophy boys

with black-eyed peas. Burn 'em.

- They're sober tonight, too.

- Burn four.

Here's the supper for Rance.

- Thank you, Hallie.

- Sit down!

You pop up

every time a girl speaks to you.

- You get in the habit.

- Rance, do you think l could?

l mean, grown-up and all?

Could l learn to read?

Sure you can, Hallie.

There's nothing to it.

lt'd be... Can you learn to read?!

Why, l can teach you.

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