The Return of Frank James Page #3

Hope so. Once the Fords find out I'm dead...

maybe they'll come out of

their hole, wherever they are.

- Well, the Fords aren't

the only ones- - Shh.

The Fords aren't the only

ones you gotta play dead for.

- McCoy's got a reward out.

- I know. I got a letter from the major.

McCoy's got an idea I had something

to do with that express job.

Suspicious cuss, ain't he?

- Major write you they found out about the farm?

- No.

Well, they have. McCoy's

got a flock of men...

watching every road and

cow path around there.

I think it's all right

though. Pinky won't talk.

No, Pinky won't talk, but

it's just as well I'm dead.

- What'll it be?

- Beer.

- And what for you?

- Make his sarsaparilla.

Right.

Now what'd you do that for? I've tasted beer.

Mr. Woodson, sir. Lady wants to see you.

- A lady?

- Yes, sir. She's waiting in the parlor.

Give me half a dollar to fetch ya.

- All right.

- This way, sir.

- Mr. Woodson?

- Yes, ma'am?

I'm sorry to bother you, but

I'm looking for the man...

who saw FrankJames killed in Mexico.

And they told me he was

talking to you on the porch.

It was me that seen the killing, ma'am.

- Oh, then it's you I wanna talk to.

- Just a minute, miss.

Who are you, if you don't mind?

My name's Eleanor Stone.

I'm a newspaper writer.

I was passing the hotel,

and somebody told me that-

A writer? You mean you

write pieces for the paper?

Yes, a reporter for the Denver Star.

A lady reporter?

Mind if I sit down? It'll be

easier for me to take notes.

Sure do beat all, a lady newspaperman.

Well, I'm not really and

truly a reporter, not yet.

But I'm going to be. My

father's the owner of the Star.

Maybe you've heard of him

- Randolph Stone.

Well, can't say I have.

But if he owns the paper, I should

think he'd be doing well enough...

so his daughter don't have to work.

Oh, I don't have to work.

And, if you must know...

my father's very much opposed to it.

He thinks I should finish college...

and then sit around with my hands folded...

waiting for someone to

get around to marrying me.

I'll do nothing of the sort.

Women are awakening.

- They wanna do things.

They- - Not where I come from.

Women figure they're doing plenty feeding

a dozen farmhands and raisin' kids.

We can't all feed farmhands and have babies.

Everybody to their taste.

I wanna be a newspaperwoman.

Now tell me about Frank James.

If I can get a good story, maybe my father

will be convinced I can be a reporter.

Won't you help me?

Sure, we'll help.

Go ahead. Tell her everything, son.

[Clears Throat] Well, it all

happened about six weeks ago.

We'd been down in

Hernandez herdin' longhorns.

And that night we went into

town to do a little drinkin'.

- A boy like you?

- Ma'am, I ain't no boy.

Down in Mexico, I do a man's

work and a man's drinkin'.

When we got to WhiskeyJoe's, there was a

drunken crowd there from another ranch...

a

- roughin' things up.

FrankJames- Oh, I've seen

him a couple times before-

he was up at the bar, drinkin'

quiet and mindin' his own business.

You taking this down in

that newfangled shorthand?

Oh, no, just making notes as

I would in classes. Go ahead.

So, this crowd from the other ranch was a

- whoopin' it up...

especially the foreman,

a fella they call Red-

Oh, like this

- when a girl comes in the place.

Oh, a little girl, maybe 10

or 12, lookin' for her pa.

Red makes a grab for her, and

she starts cryin' and a-screamin'.

And that plumb annoys Frank.

He comes over from the bar...

and he pulls the girl away from

Red and knocks him a-kickin'.

Right away I knows there's

gonna be trouble in bushel lots.

Everybody exceptin'Red's

gang runs out of the place.

It bein' none of my ruckus,

I ducks behind the bar.

But Frank don't scare any.

He pulls his gun and stands

with his back up against the bar.

It's one against 12 or 15. Red

and his crew start blazin' away.

And Frank's blazin' right

back. He knocks off two guys...

and then gets hit himself in the left arm.

Well, to make it short, he finishes off Red.

Good. Good!

Better be takin' all this down, miss.

- It's all right. I'll remember.

- Uh, where was I?

Oh, yeah. He finishes off Red

and five or six of his gang.

By this time, Frank himself

is leakin' like a sieve.

He's down on the ground,

dyin', but still fightin'...

when a slug gets him in the heart.

Then the fellas that are left

empty their guns into him.

- Oh, the cowards!

- This belonged to Frank.

See, it's marked F.J.

I picked it up figuring I could give it

to his kinfolks if I ever run into them.

Oh, what a wonderful story for the paper.

Oh, yes, wonderful story.

Thank you. Thank you ever so

much. Oh, I must have your name.

Uh, Grayson. Tom Grayson.

Did you say this happened six weeks ago?

Then he couldn't have been mixed up

in that Missouri express robbery...

that I've been reading

about, where a man was killed.

Oh, no, Frank had been in Mexico over a year.

FrankJames never killed nobody.

Of course, I ain't countin'

that Mexico business.

He and his brother must have been

wonderfully colorful characters.

I wish I could have known him. Well,

I must hurry along to the paper.

Good-bye, and thank you so much.

I, uh

- Sometimes I... might have news.

- Could I see you?

- I'd be glad to see you anytime.

You'll always be able to

reach me at the Star... now.

Well, it's very good. But I still think

a newspaper is no place for a woman.

- Now, now, dear, please don't be so severe.

- Edna, don't interfere.

But, Papa, you've got to admit...

this is the biggest scoop

you've had in six months.

Been telegraphed all over the

country, and I got it for you.

No, my dear, you just stumbled

on it. That can happen to anybody.

- But I do go on the payroll, don't I?

- Thank you.

I don't know. I don't know.

I've got to think that over.

No, thank you.

~~[Orchestra]

Take the horses out by the side

entrance and don't leave 'em.

- We may need them in a hurry.

- You goin' in?

Looks like a show I oughta see.

You gonna shoot 'em right on the stage?

No. First I'm just gonna scare 'em to death.

~~[Orchestra]

~~[Ends]

~~[Resumes]

Well, it's time I was a-leavin'.

Where is that dratted valise of mine?

Here it is, Father.

All packed.

And I didn't forget your

rheumatism medicine neither.

I hate to go leaving you

alone, Nellie, but I got to.

UncleJoe's a-dyin'.

Don't worry, Pappy. I'll be safe.

Nobody suspects the farm money's in this box.

And anyhow, I know how to use this.

[Applause]

May God keep you safe, my daughter.

~~[Resumes]

[Audience Laughing]

[Wolf Whistles]

[Knocking]

Go away. There's nobody home.

[Knocking Continues]

[Man] Open the door, or we'll break it down.

Go away.

[AudienceJeering]

- We want the farm money.

- Take another step and I'll shoot.

- Oh, no, you won't. You know who we are?

- No, and I don't care.

I'm JesseJames. This is my brother, Frank.

- Now, do we get the money?

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