The Tin Star

Just getting the feel of these guns.

Where's the sheriff?

Sheriff?

- What's wrong, Mr. King?

- Who's that man?

I don't know.

Hickman. Morgan Hickman.

Better take his gun,

he's killed someone.

You won't need to take my gun.

Won't need this anymore either.

"Luke Jameson, murder and robbery.

$500 reward. "

- A bounty hunter.

- Yep.

I tracked down Jameson.

He tried to shoot it out.

A fair fight. You won't find

any bullet holes in his back.

Don't like outlaws brought in dead?

Our officers bring in

their prisoners alive.

Your officer didn't bring in

Jameson at all.

I'm not the law.

I work inside it for money.

Same as you do

if you're in a legal business.

I believe the banking business is legal.

I'm also mayor.

My friends are businessmen,

except for Judge Thatcher

and Dr. McCord.

You got a bone to pick

with a freight company.

They put a hunk of money

on Jameson's head.

He robbed the freight office,

killed the agent.

Wanted him dead or alive,

which is kind of a hint, sounds like.

We're not here to argue.

This is a law-and-order town.

- Collect your money and get out.

- Suits me fine.

- How soon can I collect?

- Soon as I can manage it.

I gotta mail in your claim, and I can't

take your word it's Jameson.

I wouldn't know him from Adam.

There's one man in town ought to

recognize the corpse. Bart Bogardus.

- Jameson's his cousin. Or was.

- Get an affidavit from Bogardus.

I'll have to sign the claim, so will you.

When will it be ready?

First thing tomorrow morning.

You can unload my packhorse, sheriff.

I gotta find me a place to stay.

I'd like a room.

Haven't got a room.

Maybe you can find me one.

I said, I haven't got a room.

Any other hotel in town?

Nope.

Where can I put up my horses?

Livery barn's that way.

Can't miss it on your way out of town.

Now, don't be scared,

I'm not gonna hurt you.

I'm gonna take you home.

Got a real nice coop.

- Howdy.

- Howdy.

- What are you up to, son?

- Catching pigeons.

Get out of that hayloft!

Ain't I warned you to keep out?

Now get out of here and stay out.

I don't want your kind around here.

- What do you want?

- Put up my horses.

- You know who I am?

- I didn't ask.

Bogardus is the name.

Bart Bogardus.

Jameson was kin of mine.

Well, every family's

got one black sheep.

- Some of them got two.

- Take your horses and get out.

It's your barn.

Hey, mister, can I ride your horse?

Big enough to get on, are you?

Better get off.

It's a long walk back.

- I live here.

- Where?

- Kip, where have you been?

- The barn.

- You promised to keep out of there.

- I ain't afraid.

Well, I am.

Thanks for fetching him home.

Wouldn't know anyplace a man

could put up, would you?

Well, you'd have to share

a bedroom with my son.

- I don't mind if he don't.

- I don't mind. Come on.

More coffee?

If you don't mind.

Get up, Kip. You've finished.

- You live here all alone?

- I have my son.

Why don't you live with us.

Then I can ride your horse.

Kip.

Fact is, I would like to stay,

if your mother would put up with me.

She'd be glad. Wouldn't you, Mom?

If Mr. Hickman wishes to stay,

he can stay.

You wanna see my pigeons?

Not tonight.

Don't bother Mr. Hickman.

I just asked. I catched them

in the livery barn.

- You have enough pigeons.

- No, I haven't.

I'm raising them.

Two have laid eggs already.

- You wanna see my pigeons?

- Be quiet.

- I better look at my horses.

- I'll go with you.

I hope you don't mind.

Bet he shows me his pigeons.

Wanna see my pigeons?

Lead away, captain.

- Can you see them?

- What are you gonna do with them?

When I raise enough,

I'm gonna sell them and buy a horse.

Maybe a dog too.

- Take a long while, won't it?

- Yeah, but I'll do it.

- Mom?

- You go to sleep now.

Nice boy you got.

Well, I hope he doesn't pester

you with all his talking.

- I like kids.

- They like you.

I had a boy once.

You lost him?

Him and my wife both. Same time.

I guess what got me

remembering was...

...watching you make your own dress.

I used to sit and watch her

the same way.

It was nice.

This isn't mine.

It's for a lady in town.

The way you make your living?

When I can find the work.

Well, I'm afraid that's all for tonight.

Getting late.

- Say, am I keeping you up?

- Oh, no, no.

I'm gonna sleep out here

on the bunk.

You can go to bed anytime.

I don't like to take your bed.

Why don't you let me bunk here?

Because I'll be up before you.

You'll need a light to find

your way in the bedroom.

- I'm sorry, I forgot your name.

- Nona Mayfield.

Mayfield?

You heard my name

mentioned in town?

No, but...

Mayfield, I mean...

Your boy looks part Mexican.

- I got nothing against Mexicans.

- Well, how about Indians?

Kip's father was an Indian.

Very well, you can move out

in the morning.

There's no use arguing, Ben.

You told me when you took that badge

it was gonna be only temporary.

Look, Millie, I guess

I might as well tell you.

What I'm hoping for, if...

Well, if I can show them,

if I can make good...

You'll make good.

In the graveyard.

What do you want, Ben,

me or that badge?

- I can't quit until they want me to.

- I won't be around.

Oh, well. Morning, Millie.

What's the trouble?

She wants me to give up my badge.

How do you like that?

Well, Millie,

that's your papa's badge.

We'd hate to see

it on any man

who didn't keep it clean

and bright like he did.

As for Ben here, young as he is,

he's the only one we could find.

Would you rather see it

pinned on Bogardus?

I don't care.

I only know there's not gonna be

any tin star in my life, never.

Where would you be

if your mama had said that?

I saw what Mother went through,

never knowing what was gonna

happen. Well, finally it did happen.

I'm gonna be a wife, not a widow.

I read something once,

sticks in my mind:

"From this nettle, danger,

we pluck this flower, safety. "

Your father plucked that flower.

Folks felt safe to raise their babies,

not be afraid.

But somebody had to walk

through the nettle patch.

Let someone else do it.

So nobody does it.

That's how the wrong men

get hold of things.

Well, here's a man walks

through the nettle patch,

takes all the flowers for himself.

- I have no use for bounty hunters.

- Well, that makes it unanimous.

Miss Parker's father

was sheriff here for 20 years.

If you find it too chilly in here,

you can wait outside.

I don't mind the chill,

I'm after money.

Oh, that reminds me.

The coroner's certificate,

my formal affidavit

that Jameson died suddenly,

but thoroughly, of one gunshot.

Well, I'm riding out

to look at a bird's nest.

Abe Pickett's already got 11 kids.

All girls.

Now his Annie is as big

as a barrel again.

There's the kind of woman, Millie,

to build up this country.

Stay here and witness our signatures.

My claim ready?

Yeah, you can sign it.

No good unless you sign it too.

You don't have to tell me my job.

I've gotta check it over first.

I'll just wait,

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