True Grit Page #5

it was for a wagonload of marshals.

That tastes like iron.

You're lucky to be

where water's so handy.

I've drunk out of a filthy hoofprint,

and I was glad to get it.

If ever I meet one of you Texans

who ain't drunk from a hoofprint,

I'll shake their hand or

buy them a Daniel Webster cigar!

How long you boys down there

been mounted on sheep?

Have your little joke,

but I'll tell you one thing:

That little fella'll still be running

when your big stud is collapsed.

Sheep!

That fire's a little big

if we're going to pass unnoticed.

Small fire is Ranger policy.

Listen, I have an idea.

I'll tell you the story

of the Midnight Caller.

One of you plays the caller,

I'll tell you what to say,

and I'll play all the other parts.

Fine. Go ahead and tell it.

- I'll tell it if you stop drinking.

- Let it go.

That, baby sister, is no trade.

At least Little Blackie

likes the corn dodgers.

It's the salt in them.

We won't get to McAlester's by dark.

We'd better head

for an empty dugout I know.

- We can eat your turkey there.

- How? It's all ripped up.

Yeah, pretty chewed.

Too much gun!

I thought you said it would be empty.

Who are you? What do you want?

We're looking for a place to sleep.

There's no room for you here.

Try that on the chimney.

I'm a federal officer!

Speak up, who's in there?

None of your damn business.

Keep riding!

- Is that Emmett Quincy?

- We don't know Emmett Quincy.

Emmett, this is Rooster!

I got five more marshals out here.

- We got a bucket of coal oil!

- Drink it!

One more minute

and you're gonna drink it!

Chuck your guns out and

follow them with your hands high!

If that coal oil goes down the chimney,

we'll kill everyone that comes out!

There's no five marshals out there.

Don't you bet your life on it!

Moon can't walk, he's hit.

- Drag him out.

- What papers you got on me?

I got no papers on you.

You better move!

Tell those others to be careful

with their guns. We're coming out!

Hit the dirt! Belly down!

Spreadeagle!

I forgot they were there.

Get inside, both of you.

Wrap that around your leg.

Put the horses in the lean-to.

- Cuff them.

- Get up.

Sit down. Get down there.

You fellas are way too jumpy.

What have you been up to,

besides stealing stock?

- You ain't got no papers on us.

- No, but I got some John Does.

Resisting a federal officer,

that's a year right there!

- My leg hurts!

- I bet it does, sonny boy.

You sit still

so it won't bleed so bad.

- When did you last see Pepper?

- I don't remember any Pepper.

Short, feisty fella, nervous,

with a messed-up lower lip.

That don't bring nobody to mind.

A funny lip?

It wasn't always like that.

I shot him in it.

The lower lip?

What was you aiming at?

His upper lip!

Ned's got a new boy with him,

a black mark on his face.

That don't bring nobody

to mind either.

- You don't know anything, do you?

- If I did, I wouldn't blow.

How about you?

I always help the law,

if it don't harm my friends.

Pretty good idea,

otherwise I'll turn you in at Fort Smith.

By that time your leg'll be swollen up

tighter than Dick's hatband!

Mortified and they'll cut it off.

If you live, I'll get you 3 or 4 years

in a penitentiary.

- You're trying to get at me.

- If you talk, I'll take you to McAlester's.

They'll get that ball out of your leg,

and I'll give you...

...2 or 3 days to get out

of the territory.

Moon, I'll do the talking!

Listen to him,

you'll lose your leg or your life.

- Quincy ain't hurting.

- He ain't got nothing on us.

- Been looking around. Six horses.

- What kind of horses?

Right good mounts. All shod.

- They're waiting for somebody.

- You don't say!

If you won't talk, you can keep busy.

Cut that up for frying.

What are you looking at?

Who are you?

I'm Mattie Ross of Yell County.

What's she doing here?

She's after the man

that killed her father.

His name is Chaney, a whisky drinker

like you. It led to killing in the end.

Answer the marshal's questions,

he'll help you. My lawyer'll help, too.

Don't jaw with these people, Moon.

- I don't like the way you look.

- Talking to me, runt?

And I don't like the way

you're cutting up that turkey.

- He's making a mess of that turkey!

- Do it right, or you'll eat the feathers.

I hope you go to jail.

Shame a kid like Moon losing his leg.

Too young to be hopping around

on a willow peg.

Loves to dance too much

and sports.

- You're trying to get at me again.

- With the truth!

- We saw Ned two days ago...

- You go on, I'll kill you!

Quincy, I got to have a doctor.

I'll tell what I know.

Lord, I'm gonna die! Help me.

I can't do a thing for you.

Your partner's killed you,

and I've done for him.

- Don't let the wolves get me!

- I'll see you get buried.

Where's Ned Pepper?

They're gonna rob the Katy Flyer.

They're coming here for remounts.

See a fella with a powder burn

on his face?

No. My brother...

...George Garrett, Methodist

circuit rider out of Austin, Texas.

When's Pepper due here?

Sell my traps and send

the money to my brother.

Shall we tell your brother

what happened?

It doesn't matter. He knows.

I'll meet him later,

walking the streets of glory.

Don't expect to see Quincy there.

Quincy?

He never played me false

until he killed me.

Let me have a cool drink of water.

It felt as though I still

had fingers there.

Let me have that.

- It's one of Papa's gold pieces.

- You sure?

It was minted in California.

It's worth over $36.

Grandpa gave Papa two

when he married.

- Looks like we're on Chaney's trail.

- At least we're on Ned's.

Gimme the key to these cuffs.

Now go saddle the horses.

Moon said they were coming here.

You aim to run?

I aim to do what I came here to do.

Saddle the horses.

Straighten up the place.

Take your horse

and find a position over there.

I'll be on this side.

Don't shoot unless I do.

We want them in that dugout.

I'll shoot the last man in the door

and we'll have them.

- You'll shoot him without a call?

- Then he'll know we're serious.

I'll holler down after I shoot,

see if anyone wants to be taken alive.

But when they won't, we'll shoot them!

- I want Chaney alive.

- So does the Governor of Texas.

All I know is there's a lot of them

and only two of us.

Why don't I nick Chaney

before he gets inside?

Any shooting before they get inside,

and they'll break.

We're apt to come up

with an empty sack.

All right, but if they break,

I'll nick Chaney.

If you hit Chaney with your rifle,

you'll kill him!

- Remember the turkey!

- Yeah.

You go after Ned,

I'll take care of Chaney.

- What does Ned look like?

- Short, feisty, doing all the talking.

- Where does she go?

- I go where Rooster goes.

Stay here and keep the horses quiet.

- I can't see anything from over there.

- You've seen enough killing today.

I'm not staying by myself.

Wait, I'll get my revolver.

What for?

So you can shoot your own foot off?

Why do you keep

that one chamber empty?

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