The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Page #2

you couldn't be dragged away.

Even the threat of death wouldn't

keep you from adding $10,000 more.

$10,000, you'd want $25,000.

$25,000, you'd want $50,000.

$50,000, $100,000. Like roulette.

One more turn, you know.

Always one more.

It wouldn't be that way with me.

I swear, it wouldn't.

I'd take only what I set out to get.

Even if there was still $500,000 worth...

lying around, waiting to be picked up.

I've dug in Alaska

and Canada and Colorado.

I was in the British Honduras,

I made my fare back home...

and almost enough over

to cure me of the fever I'd caught.

Dug in California and Australia.

All over the world practically.

Yeah. I know what gold does

to men's souls.

MAN #2:
You talk as though

you struck it rich sometime, pop.

How about it?

Then what are you doing in here,

a down-and-outer?

That's gold. That's what it makes us.

Never knew a prospector yet

that died rich.

Make one fortune, he's sure to blow it

trying to find another.

I'm no exception to the rule.

Sure I'm a gnawed old bone now

but don't you guys think the spirit's gone.

I'm set to shoulder a pickaxe

if anybody's willing to share expenses.

I'd rather go by myself.

It's best to go alone.

But you got to have a stomach

for loneliness. Some guys go nutty with it.

But going with a partner is dangerous.

Murder is always lurking about.

Partners accusing each other

of all sorts of crimes.

[Sighs]

As long as there's no find,

the noble brotherhood will last.

But when the piles of gold begin to grow,

that's when the trouble starts.

I wouldn't mind

a little of that kind of trouble.

DOBBS:
I think I'll go to sleep...

and dream about piles of gold...

getting bigger and bigger.

Do you believe what the old man...

who was doing all the talking

at the Oso Negro...

said the other night...

about gold changing a man's soul

so that he ain't the same kind of a guy...

that he was before finding it?

Guess that all depends on the man.

That's exactly what I say.

Gold don't carry any curse with it.

It all depends on whether or not

the guy who finds it is the right guy.

The way I see it...

gold can be as much of a blessing

as a curse.

CURTIN:
Hey, Dobbsie?

DOBBS:
Yeah.

CURTIN:
Look who's coming out

of the Hotel Bristol.

Is that Pat McCormick

or am I seeing things?

It's him.

CURTIN:
Let's get him.

DOBBS:
Let's get him hard.

Why don't you and me

go and buy me something?

I could use a new pair of shoes.

Hello, fellows, how are you?

Glad to see you.

- Mr. Dobbs and Mr. Curtin, Seorita...

- Lpez.

Lpez. I want you guys

to come and have a drink with me.

I've got business

to attend to with these men.

You go back up the hotel and wait.

I won't be long.

[Speaking Spanish]

LOPEZ:
Okay.

Fellas, let's have that drink.

Where have you been?

I've been looking all over for you.

Three shots of rye.

CURTIN:
Make mine brandy, Three Star.

DOBBS:
Two brandies.

McCORMICK:
Rye is good enough for me.

I suppose you're wondering

about that money that's coming to you.

The fact is I haven't been paid off

on that contract myself.

If I had the money, you'd get it first thing.

I'll put you both on my next contract.

It will come through by Monday

and we can set out Friday.

Here's mud in your eye.

CURTIN:
We want what's coming to us.

We want it right now.

McCORMICK:
I told you...

CURTIN:
Better come across.

I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll give you 25/o.

I guess I can make it 30/o.

And the balance, say,

the middle of next week?

Nothing doing. Right here and now.

Every cent or you won't walk out of here.

You'll be carried out.

Let's don't stop being friends.

How about another drink?

Two more brandies.

Put the bottle on the bar.

If you want to get us liquored up...

McCORMICK:
No, I'm just inviting you

to have a friendly drink with me.

[Glass shattering]

[Both groaning]

[Dobbs grunting]

[All grunting]

[McCormick panting]

McCORMICK:
I'm licked, boys.

CURTIN:
Give us our money.

DOBBS:
Yeah, give us our money.

[Groaning]

I can't see.

[Sighing]

$50. $100.

$200.

$300.

DOBBS:
That's it, ain't it, Curt?

CURTIN:
Yeah, that's it.

CURTIN:
Let's beat it

before the law arrives.

DOBBS:
Here's for the drinks

and the use of the cantina.

DOBBS:
You know something, Curt?

CURTIN:
What?

We ain't very smart,

hanging around Tampico waiting for a job.

Money's getting shorter every day...

and soon we'll be right back

where we were, on the bum again...

pushing guys for dimes,

sleeping around in freight cars.

CURTIN:
That's right. Got any ideas?

Yeah.

That old man in the Oso Negro

started me to thinking.

What about?

Why not try gold-digging for a change?

It ain't any riskier

than waiting around here for a break...

and this is the country where the nuggets

of gold are crying for you...

to take them out of the ground,

make them shinin' coins...

on the fingers and necks of swell dames.

One thing, living in the open is cheaper

than it is here in Tampico.

Our money'd last longer.

The longer it lasts, the greater our chance

of digging something up would be.

We'd have to have equipment, all right.

Picks and spades, pans, burros.

Wonder how much it would all cost.

- That old man would know.

- Yeah, he could give us some pointers.

DOBBS:
He's too old to take along.

We'd have to pack him on our backs.

You can't tell

about some of those old guys.

It's surprising sometimes

how tough they are.

I don't know what gold looks like

in the ground.

I've only seen it in jewelry store windows

and people's mouths.

You know anything about prospecting?

Not much when you come right down to it.

We might have real use

for an experienced guy like that old-timer.

Let's go hunt him up right away.

Will I go? What a question.

Of course I'll go.

Any time, any day,

I was waiting for somebody to ask me.

Out for gold? I'm always at your service.

I got $300 ready cash in the bank.

$200 of it all set to invest.

Last money I got.

When it's gone, I'm finished.

If you don't take a risk,

you can't make a gain.

How much dough you guys got to put in?

I've got $150 and Curtin's got the same.

$500 ain't hardly enough to buy tools,

weapons and essential provisions.

What do we need weapons for?

Meat's one thing and bandits another.

Bandit country's where we'd be going.

We need $600 between us.

DOBBS:
That much?

HOWARD:
Can't you dig up any more?

DOBBS:
Not a red cent.

[Boy calls Dobbs in Spanish]

Give me my money, seor!

10/o I get for selling the winning ticket.

Get away from me, will you?

Please, seor.

Whoever draws the lucky number...

gives a present to the seller...

I don't want any lottery ticket!

If you don't, you have bad luck

the rest of your life.

DOBBS:
What? Wait a minute.

What did you first say?

Why, he's trying to tell you

he sold you the winning ticket.

DOBBS:
Hey, wait a minute.

This what you mean?

DOBBS:
You say it's the winner?

BOY:
200 peso prize.

CURTIN:
Where?

[Boy speaking Spanish]

- That's my number.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes