The Shootist Page #4

Call the marshal.

He got both of them.

They came in through

the windows... guns blazing.

Close your robe.

He's so damn fast,

he killed them both.

John Bernard Books

in a shootout right here.

Son of a b*tch!

I will not have that

language in my house.

Sorry, but this

is a great day.

Our house is

a part of history.

You've got

to know that.

That's nothing

to be proud of.

I love that old man.

Gillom! All right!

It's time you knew.

He's dying.

Who?

Mr. Books.

I don't believe it.

He has a cancer.

You're lying.

He would have told me.

But he didn't tell you!

He told me.

He's dying.

Ma.

Ma.

You do understand?

That's the last of it.

Thank you,

Mr. Hutchins.

My position

as a teacher,

as a maiden lady,

I'm obliged to move

to another place.

Of course.

I apologize.

We're ready to go!

Bye.

Some coffee?

Don't mind if I do.

Did you know those two?

Nope.

They sure knew you.

Who were they?

Ben Shoup,

the one you killed

trying to get out

the window.

The other

named Norton...

Two no-goods, not

from around here.

I've never heard

of them.

Quite a night.

Your bedroom looks like

a slaughterhouse.

Oh, Mrs. Rogers.

I'll post a man

outside nights.

That'll cost the taxpayers

$3.00 a night

and $ 10 apiece to

plant two corpses.

Death and taxes,

Books.

Keeping you alive

to die natural

is costing us

a pretty penny.

There's no need

of any man outside.

I'd appreciate that,

Marshal.

Thank you.

L... I can't tell you

how sorry I am

about what happened

last night.

That won't help.

Two men are dead.

I was defending myself.

How are you feeling,

a little more poorly

every day?

You've got a streak of

kindness a mile wide.

That I do.

Tell you what...

Maybe I can help

speed things along.

Did you read about the shooting

the night before last?

No.

Whooee! That

was some shooting.

Pulford, he's

the faro dealer,

got off one round

under fire,

straight

through the heart,

and it measured 84'3".

Maybe I'll just

send him here,

let him deal you

a little faro.

You do that,

Marshal.

This is 19-aught-1.

The old days are gone.

You don't know it.

We've got waterworks,

telephones, lights.

We'll have our streetcar

electrified by next year,

and we've started

to pave the streets.

We've still got

some weeding to do.

Once we're rid

of people like you,

we'll have a goddamn

Garden of Eden here.

To put it in a nutshell,

you've plain plumb

outlived your time.

You couldn't put it in

a barrel without a bottom.

You're the longest-winded

bastard I ever listened to.

I may be windy,

but I ain't ornery.

When my time comes

to die,

I won't drag it out.

I'll just do it.

Why don't you?

Thibido...

I don't scare anymore.

Neither did Shoup

or Norton.

You wouldn't gun down

a police officer.

What'd stop me,

fear of dying?

#John Bernard Books #

# Lies amolderin'

in his grave #

#John Bernard Books #

# Lies amolderin'

in his grave #

#John Bernard Books #

# Lies amolderin'

in his grave #

# But his horse keeps #

# Gallopin' on ##

Moses?

Would you care

to do business

with a voice

from the grave?

Mr. Books!

It's pure pleasure

to groom your horse!

And even

a greater pleasure

to do business

with you!

Would you kindly

step into my office?

Lt'll be a pleasure.

Right this way, please.

Yes, sir.

Now, let me see

where I put

my spectacles

because I wouldn't

want to make no, uh...

financial mistake.

Yes, sir.

Here they are, Mr. Books.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

$ 100.

That's a lot

of money, Moses.

Who do I have...

What's this for?

What's it for?

For your horse.

My horse? I want

to sell my horse,

but this wouldn't

buy my saddle.

But, Mr. Books,

you done agreed.

When?

When you sent Gilly...

I mean, when Mr. Rogers

said this morning

$ 100 would be

just fine with you.

I'll have to have a talk

with Mr. Rogers.

As far as

the horse goes, it's 3.

300?

I might maybe

can go 200.

You might maybe

go more than that

'cause you'll get more than

that 'cause it's mine.

3, and I'll throw

the saddle in for cash.

What about my bill?

You throw that in.

I ain't made of money.

Are we going to stand

here and haggle all day?

Mr. Books, you the most

famous man I ever seen

and the second-best

haggler.

Who's the best?

Here I stand.

Well, let's get

to haggling.

Let's get to haggling.

All right.

Let's get to haggling.

1, 2, 3, 4.

That's 200. 200.

200 there.

20, 40, 60,

80, 90, 295.

No.

296?

No.

97?

98?

Sold.

You mean I did it?

Mr. Books, that makes me

the best haggler!

The best

in the world, Moses.

Yes, sir.

Gillom!

Gillom!

Where's Gillom?

In the woodshed.

That's appropriate.

Why?

You stay out of this.

Gillom!

I'm in here.

You'll account to me.

Sir?

You were trying

to cheat me,

and Moses was trying

to cheat you.

I'm sorry.

I'm glad of that,

but it doesn't...

it doesn't tell me

very much.

She, uh...

She cried on my shoulder

this morning

on account of you.

I had to comfort her.

And then the lodgers

moved out.

Your room is a mess...

and now Ma's worried

about losing the house.

Well, I just thought

that...

that maybe you might

want to do something

to try and make it up

to her.

I thought you might

be interested

in selling your horse

since you're...

Since I'm what?

You're dying.

How did you

find that out?

Ma told me.

Guess I'm the last one

in town to know about it.

Don't you think you

should have talked to me

before you tried

to sell my horse?

Yes, sir.

I suppose.

But I just wanted

to see first

if Moses would buy it,

that's all.

I'm not a horse thief.

A man's emotions can...

tangle him all up

sometimes.

I've been operating on

the raw edge lately, Gillom.

Guess I just jumped

too far too fast.

But, son, I never thought

you were a horse thief.

And I hope I can

hang around long enough

to make it up to you.

Sir...

do you think...

Would you give me

a shooting lesson?

A shooting lesson?

Well, a man should know

how to handle a gun,

use it with discretion.

But, uh...

you going to tell

your mother?

Well... do I have to?

Come on, I'll get us

something to shoot with.

It's beautiful.

See that tree

on the left

with the divided trunk?

You take the right side.

Aim well and put

five slugs in it.

Why not six?

You keep your hammer on

an empty chamber for safety.

And if you're going out

to face somebody?

Load six if your insides

tells you to.

Now, take your time.

That's good shooting,

Gillom.

Hey, Mr. Books,

my spread's not much

bigger than yours.

You did well.

Where did you learn

to shoot like that?

Jay Cobb lets me practice

with him by the lake...

when he's not in jail.

Day before yesterday, he

smashed some salesman's jaw.

Nice employer

you have.

Well, it's just

temporary...

till I find

whatever's right for me.

Yeah.

Wouldn't I like to see

him and Jack Pulford

go at it.

Did you hear about

what Pulford did?

I did.

Mr. Books.

Yeah?

How did you ever kill

so many men?

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