True Grit Page #4

"One white foot, buy him,"

"two white feet, try him,"

"three white feet, be on the sly,"

"four white feet, pass him by."

But I don't hold with that.

I just heard that a young girl fell

head first into a fifty-foot well.

I thought perhaps it was you.

No, it was not I.

What do you hear

from the soap man?

- Nothing.

- I'll take one of the ponies.

The black one with the white

stockings. I'll call him Little Blackie.

- What is your offer?

- The market price.

The soap man offered you

$10 a head...

That is a lot price. I paid you

$25 a head only this morning.

- That was the price then.

- Tell me this...

Do you entertain plans

of ever leaving this city?

Yes, I'm off early tomorrow morning

for the Indian Nation.

Marshal Cogburn and I are going

after the murderer Tom Chaney.

Cogburn...

How did you light

on that greasy vagabond?

They say he has grit.

- I wanted a man with grit.

- I suppose he has that.

He's a notorious thumper. Not a man

I would care to share a bed with.

- Nor would I.

- I wouldn't trust him too much.

I paid a token payment. The balance

is paid when the job's done.

It may prove to be

a long, hard journey.

A Christian does not flinch

from these difficulties.

Neither does he rashly court them.

He is not wilful or presumptuous.

- You think I'm wrong?

- I think you are wrong-headed.

I'll pay $12 for that pony...

...if you shoe him for me.

I will not ride a barefoot pony.

- Good morning.

- Good morning!

Howdy!

- What are you doing here?

- Having a chat with the marshal.

Sit down, sis, have some taffy.

This jaybird says

he's on the track of the same man.

I told him we're not interested.

He's gone behind my back.

A fella that carries a big-bore carbine

might come in handy,

if we get jumped

by elephants or buffalo!

We don't need him.

- Everything ready?

- All but the grub.

I must have the wrong man.

- You let little girls hooraw you?

- Mind repeating that, jaybird?

The marshal's working for me.

- How much is she paying you?

- Enough.

Is she paying you $500?

No.

That's what the Governor of Texas

is paying on conviction of Chaney.

$500? Very little for a man

who's killed a senator.

Bibbs was a little senator.

I guess I'll just stick with sis.

The Bibbs family's put up

another $1,500 for Chaney.

- What are the terms?

- Just deliver Chaney, alive or dead.

That's more to my liking.

How will you split up the money?

If we take him alive, I'll split

the $1,500 and keep the state's $500.

If we kill him, I'll give you $500

of the Bibbs' money.

I don't want Chaney

taken back to Texas.

- He wants him punished, so do you.

- I want him to hang for my father.

I don't care about senators in Texas.

You can tell him to his face.

You can make him eat sand.

You can shoot him in the foot,

but first we gotta catch him!

- You can't have it all your own way.

- I've paid for it so I'll have it my way.

I don't understand at all.

She ain't going anyhow.

Go home to your mama.

- I told her she could go.

- No. She'll make trouble.

Maybe I'll catch this Chaney

by myself and take all the money.

You might deliver him,

but I'd see you didn't collect a thing.

- How'd you do that?

- I'd dispute your claim.

Do that, and I'll kill you.

Don't count on shading someone

you don't know, fella.

I ain't seen no one from Texas

I couldn't shade!

La Beef, you cross me and you'd think

a thousand bricks had fell on you.

You'll wish you was back

at the Alamo!

Knock him down, Rooster!

That reward's just La Beef's talk.

I've given you good cash.

He'll cheat you!

A fella's gotta think about himself

sometimes, sister.

We'll get your man,

that's the main thing.

Give me my $25 back. Hand it over!

I spent it.

- You sorry piece of trash.

- I'll get it for you.

If you think you can cheat me,

you're mistaken.

You may well hear from my lawyer!

Lawyer? What lawyer?

Don't worry about him.

Worry about our business at hand.

- Red.

- Morning.

- River looks kind of high.

- It's been raining up-country.

- Who are you looking for this time?

- If I told you, you might tell him.

Well... you're well enough armed.

I'd say, "Tom Chaney, look out!"

Can't you get anything through

your head? You're not going!

Forget about the freight

and take us across.

You're not getting on this ferry!

This is open to the public.

I've paid my 10 cents.

Take this girl to the sheriff.

She's a runaway.

- There's a $50 reward.

- That's a big story!

- Ask the marshal.

- She's a runaway all right.

- Bound to be paper on her.

- They're in this together.

I've got business across the river.

If you stop me, I'll see you in court!

I've got a good lawyer.

- That lawyer again.

- She draws him like a gun!

I will not walk up that hill!

I'm not going to let $50 slide.

Get on that horse.

Wait a minute.

I ought to fix my hat.

By God!

She reminds me of me!

Then we might just not get along.

Well, you were a little slow

getting across.

- I said you weren't going. Go back!

- I'll do no such thing!

La Beef...

Those horses can't get away

from Little Blackie.

They're loaded down

with fat men and iron.

Now we'll see what tune you sing!

- I'll raise welts on you like worms!

- See what good it does you.

You're not hurting me. I'm just mad!

- Are you gonna let him do this?

- I don't believe I will. Drop the switch!

Put it down.

You're enjoying it too much.

I go ahead with what I start.

You do, and it'll be the biggest

mistake you ever made!

You've taken her part all along,

but you ain't doing her no kindness.

Just leave her alone.

This has given me a plan.

When we locate Chaney, we can

jump him this way and knock him out.

Then we can tie him up

and take him back alive.

- What do you think?

- You don't want to know what I think.

Get on your horse.

It's not dinnertime?

Dinnertime'll come and go without

notice on this trip. Get on your horse.

Presbyterian, huh?

Southern or Cumberland?

- Southern.

- My folks are Cumberland.

I was raised in the Episcopal Church.

I figured you

for some kind of kneeler!

What did you learn?

Ned was sighted at McAlester's store

about three days ago.

He goes there from time to time

to see a lewd woman.

A thief named Haze is with him and

a Mexican on a round-bellied pony.

Chaney wasn't seen, but he was in

on that mail hijacking job.

Stew?

- This is worse than a pig trail!

- Shortest way to McAlester's.

- How far is it?

- Around 60 miles.

We'll make 15 today

and get an early start tomorrow.

How do you like this coon-hunt?

Don't be looking around for me.

I'll be right here.

You look like a hog on ice!

The bucket's heavy.

I'm stronger than I look.

- What did you bring to eat?

- Salt.

Red pepper.

Taffy.

- Carry those in your pockets?

- Yeah. Along with...

...cartridges and skinning knife.

- What are those things?

- Corn dodgers.

- How many have you got in there?

- It must be 175.

I can scarcely credit that.

Chen Lee must've thought

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