The Return of Frank James Page #2

buzzard. Talk, talk, that's all he can do.

Yeah, that's about all I can do.

But thoseJames boys are mighty

peculiar. Mighty peculiar.

Jesse's gone, that's true.

Maybe Frank's gone too.

And then again, maybe he ain't.

The boys always had a mighty

peculiar way of turning up...

just when you least expected them.

Mighty peculiar.

What are your plans?

I'm going out West to see a friend of mine.

When?

Now.

Now read it back to me, Roy.

"If we're ever gonna have law and

order in this part of the country...

"we gotta take vipers like those Fords...

"and that slimy railroad detective Runyan...

and shoot 'em down like dogs. "

Right. Now, paragraph.

"Furthermore, we've got to

abolish the pardoning power"-

[Rhythmic Whistling]

[Chuckles] Better go back

and get your supper, Roy.

Yes, sir.

[Quietly] Come in, Frank, come in. Come in!

I knew you'd be along this way

soon, but you're a wee bit late.

- Late? Ain't they here?

- No. They's gone out of town a few hours ago.

Yeah, yeah, get away from this window.

Now, now, come on. Sit down and tell

me all about yourself and your folks.

Here. Here. Have a drink.

- Well, family's all right. They're in Kansas City.

- Yeah?

About me? There ain't nothin' to tell.

I've been hiding out down in the

Ozarks, farmin'. Heard aboutJesse.

Frank, it was the dirtiest,

rottenest, sneakiest that ever was.

Oh, Jesse may have had killin'

comin' to him. I ain't denyin' that.

But to be shot in the back by a couple

of fellas that was like brothers to you...

with a weapon you give them yourself.

- I know, but about this pardon-

- All part of the same piece.

McCoy put the Fords up to the killin',

then got 'em the pardon and the reward.

- McCoy, huh?

- Yeah.

Got no idea at all where the Fords went to?

None whatever, exceptin'

they took the cars west.

What you aimin'to do?

Sure like to meet up with Bob and Charlie.

Old friends of mine, you know.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. I know.

Well, I'll be movin' along.

Well, good huntin', Frank.

- I'll let you know where I am.

- All right.

- Good night, Major.

- Hold on. Hold on, son, hold on.

Wait.

Come on. Come on.

Bye, son.

Roy!

- Yes, sir.

- Get out them obituaries of the Fords...

- and set 'em up in type.

- Yes, sir.

[Hoofbeats Approaching]

Giddap! Giddap!

Pinky. What are you doing here?

- That boy Clem done run away.

- Run away? When?

Just after you left. He

hopped on his horse and scat.

I tried to stop him, but

he nearly knocked me over.

That boy's harder to hold

than a handful of bumblebees.

Y'all find what you're looking for, sir?

No, Pinky, they ain't here. They

lit out for the West somewheres.

Mm, must have got a feeling.

You goin' out after them, sir?

Yeah, but not for a while

maybe. I gotta get me some money.

You ain't figurin' on no robbin', is ya?

No, Pinky, them days is far behind me.

Praise the Lord, Mr. Frank. Praise the Lord.

- Pinky, I'm a-thinkin'.

- About what, Mr. Frank?

It was McCoy money that putJesse

in his grave back there, wasn't it?

Then ain't it fittin' I use

McCoy money to get the Fords?

What'd you say, Mr. Frank?

Yeah, that's right.

- Tomorrow's the 15th, ain't it?

- Yes, sir, it's the 15th.

St. Louis Midland pays

off the first and the 15th.

- Money oughta be in the express office tonight.

- Oh, Mr. Frank.

- Pinky, go back to the farm right away and stay there.

- Yes, sir, sir.

If Clem shows up, tell him I'm gonna

brush the britches right off of him.

- Yes, sir, Mr. Frank.

- Good-bye, Pinky.

Good-bye, Mr. Frank. And God bless you, sir.

[Door Opens]

Good evenin'.

Kinda chilly for spring, ain't it?

Yeah, a nip in the air.

What's on your mind, friend?

Well, I got this to send out.

- Can't you send it in the mornin', can't ya?

- No. Wanna get it on the 4:15.

Oh, all right. Can you write?

Yes, sir, after a fashion.

All right.

Then fill out this blank.

- Reach, brother.

- I-I'm a-reachin'.

I got a notion when I come

in you was kind of sleepy.

- Suppose you lay down and rest a while.

- Huh?

Down!

Flat on your face.

Now lay there still and don't

let me hear a peep out of you.

You'll hear nothin' from me, brother.

I wanna be around for breakfast.

Go to sleep. I'll wake you up before I go.

- Get down.

- Yes, sir.

[C*cks Gun]

Clem!

- What are you doin' here?

- I've been followin' ya. I was watchin' outside.

- And when you didn't come out-

- You fool, I almost shot you.

Now get outta here and back to the

farm before I skin you alive. Git!

- [Gunshot]

- Bolt the door.

Keep your eye on the watchman.

Where'd that shot come from?

Down here, Sid. Come on!

- What's up?

- There's a shot!

- Seemed to come from in there.

- You and you, get a ram, break that door down.

A couple of you men get around to the rear.

Come on, the back way.

Come on, boys, break 'er down! Get in there!

- Come on.

- [Men Clamoring]

[Pounding Continues]

Shh.

- You afraid?

- No.

Come on.

[Pounding Continues]

[Clamoring]

Hyah! Giddap! Hyah!

I'm sorry about what I done, Frank.

You might have been killed.

Well, I guess there ain't

nothin' to be done about it now.

They'll be wanting me too.

I tell you, there isn't the

slightest doubt about it.

I know a James boy job when I see one.

[Chuckles] I ought to,

I've seen enough of them.

It was Frank James...

and I'm offering another reward of $10,000.

I'll wipe him out, just

like I did his brother.

Mr. McCoy, with your permission...

I should like to leave at once for the West.

- What for?

- To see if I can locate Charles and Bob Ford.

What have they got to do with it?

If I can find the Ford boys...

I've got a very good idea that

FrankJames will not be far behind.

- Then go on, by all means.

- Thank you.

[Door Opens, Closes]

- There were two of them, weren't there?

- Yes, Mr. McCoy.

Yes. One of them was Frank,

but who was the other?

Frank's got a lot of friends.

- Where's Jesse buried?

- Just outside of town.

You can laugh if you want to, but I'm

going out and have a look at that grave.

I don't trust anything about thoseJames boys.

Well, if it ain't Mr. Woodson.

- How are ya?

- Fine, sonny.

Where are you and your father

been keeping yourselves?

Well, Pa got him a ranch down in

old Mexico, just below the border.

- Like it down there?

- Oh, fine cattle country.

But you sure gotta be handy with a

gun. Shootin' scrapes all the time.

Guess who I seen killed in

a fight just before I left.

- Who?

- FrankJames.

Has he been down there?

[Clem] Yes, sir, and he's gonna stay

down there, six feet under the ground.

They must have pumped 15 slugs into him.

Well, he had it comin' to him, I

reckon. Let's go and have a drink.

I need one. I'm spittin' sand

hills. Wait till I get my saddlebags.

So, they finally got Frank.

Appears that way.

[Chattering]

I done all right, huh?

Fine. I once seen Booth, and

he couldn't acted it better.

Thanks. You think the news will get around?

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