True Grit Page #7

afoot. Less mischief that way.

Fewer horses, fewer horse-thieves!

How's your hand?

Both rifle and hand

are ready to shoot again.

Straighter than before, I hope!

Well, sister!

The time has come

for me to ride hard and fast.

You stay here with the McAlesters,

and I'll be back soon with Chaney.

- You can't get shed of me.

- She's come this far.

- It's far enough.

- I won't quit when we're so close.

There's something in what

she's saying. She's won her spurs.

Let it go. I've said my piece.

- No more talk of "winning spurs"!

- I'm going.

Not because you say I can or can't.

I paid good money to be here,

and I'm on my own business.

We'll have no more talk about it!

Let's eat!

What are you doing?

Looking for a sign.

You couldn't see it if you saw it!

We'll walk a ways.

You looking for a sign again?

It was Bo.

He put his foot wrong.

He's tired.

This is no grade.

I've freighted iron stoves up

harder grades than this.

We'll camp here.

Here...

I was a pretty fair hand with a jerk-line

when I was freighting in Colorado.

I worked for a fella that was

always down with something.

He was carrying a 21-foot tapeworm

with his business responsibilities.

That aged him!

His wife commenced running things.

I wasn't about to work for her,

so I told her so.

Women have no generosity.

Lord God, how they hate to pay up!

A man will never work for a woman

unless he's got clabber for brains!

What about the $25 I paid you?

What $25?

I will not bandy words with a drunkard!

That's real smart. You've done

nothing when you've bested a fool.

We have come nearly 50 miles

from McAlester's.

We're close to Ned Pepper's camp.

Tomorrow we'll take him.

If we're as close as you say,

I don't think you should make a fire.

Nobody asked you.

Where are you going

with that canteen?

Wash the sleep off me.

We got no water to spare for that.

Just take a drink!

I'd say there's a stream down below.

You wash and you'll get no breakfast!

We'll waste no more time.

Shouldn't one of us go down with her?

It might not be safe.

It's safer for her

than whatever she meets...

...man or beast!

I know you. Little Mattie.

And I know you, Tom Chaney.

What are you doing? There's

no money for you to squeeze here.

- I came to fetch water.

- That was not my meaning.

I'm here to take you back

to Fort Smith and hang you.

I won't go.

How do you like that?

There's a posse of officers

up the hill that'll force you to go.

- How many officers?

- I'd say 50, and they mean business.

So you just walk

right in front of me up that hill.

I think I'll oblige

those officers to come after me.

If you refuse, I'll have to shoot you.

Is that so?

You'd better cock your piece.

All the way back until it locks.

I know how to do it.

You're saying you won't go

with me of your own free will?

You just got it the other way around.

Now you follow me!

- I didn't think you'd do it.

- Sis!

- Where are you?

- I'm down here. I got Chaney!

I just didn't think you'd do it!

One of my short ribs is broken!

You killed my father,

when he was trying to help you.

You're just a piece of trash.

You also killed a senator in Texas,

when he was sitting on a porch swing.

Everything happens to me.

And now I'm shot by a child!

I'll shoot you again if you don't get up!

My father took you in

when you were hungry.

Little busybody! I'll teach you

a lesson you'll never forget.

Sis! Sis!

Hurry up! Down here!

Take her and go!

Up the hill with the horses

and don't stop!

Who holds out there?

Marshal Rooster Cogburn

and fifty other armed officers.

Tell me another lie

and I'll stove in your head!

The truth! Who's out there?

Marshal Rooster Cogburn

and a Texas Ranger.

Rooster!

Rooster, can you hear me?

You better answer or I'll kill this girl!

You know I'll do it!

You want me to kill her?

Do what you think is best, Ned!

Why, you...

She's nothing to me!

Nothing but a runaway!

You and that ranger

get moving double fast!

If I see you riding over

that north ridge, I'll spare the girl.

You got five minutes!

- We'll need more than five minutes.

- I won't give you any more.

There'll be a party of marshals

coming soon.

You give me Tom Chaney,

and I'll mislead them for six hours.

Throw in that spitfire of a girl, too.

Too thin, Rooster, too thin!

I won't trust you.

Your five minutes are running.

You better move!

All right, we're moving,

but we need more than five minutes.

I never busted a cap on a woman

or nobody under sixteen. But I'll do it.

I'm Mattie Ross of Yell County.

My family has property.

Why am I being treated like this?

Well, it's enough that you know

I'll do what I have to do.

I saw you shot.

Where are your wounds?

My wounds heal by themselves

from inside.

You and Harold stay here,

keep a watch out below.

Keep this turkeycock quiet

or we'll have him for supper.

Why don't you shut up?!

Is he simple-minded?

They're all touched,

but Harold's the worst.

No, their ma's the worst, then

his brother. But they're all good shots.

Get down!

I'll wring your scrawny neck!

No, you won't.

Go and get those horses saddled!

Lend him a hand.

You sit there and be still.

Your five minutes is up,

they better show.

- What are you doing here?

- Chaney shot my father to death.

I was told Rooster Cogburn has grit.

I hired him to go after the murderer.

I shot him myself.

If I'd killed him, I wouldn't be in this fix.

My gun misfired.

Well, they will do it.

Most girls like to play pretties,

but you like guns.

If I did, I'd have one that worked.

I'll give them a little more time.

- Did Rooster waylay us last night?

- Yes.

- Did he take Quincy and Moon?

- They're both dead.

It was terrible to see.

Do you need a good lawyer?

I need a good judge.

That man called Haze, he's dead, too.

And the boy that saved your life.

I'm happy he did what he did, but

he should've looked out for himself.

That goes for your good friend,

Rooster.

Hey, Ned!

Rooster Cogburn

is no good friend of mine.

He's a drunken, gabbing fool.

He led us right into your hands

and left me with a gang of cut-throats.

They call that grit in Fort Smith?

We call it something else

in Yell County.

I was shot from ambush

by one of those officers.

How can you tell a big story like that?

We're five men and four horses.

Chaney stays. You lost the horse.

I'll send someone to get you

with a fresh mount.

I'm not staying with Chaney.

He won't harm you. Understand?

Rooster gave us six hours

if we keep her safe. If you don't...

...you don't get paid!

- Let me ride with you, Farrell.

- No!

- How about you, Bob?

- No!

- Harold?

- Cock-a-doodle-doo!

- Do it again, Harold! Do a goat!

- Baa! Baa!

We'll see you tonight at Maw's.

- What are you doing?

- I'm getting water to wash my hands.

A little smut won't hurt you.

True. Or else you lot

would surely be dead!

Don't provoke me.

There's rattlesnakes in that pit,

and I'll throw you in it!

Ned Pepper said if you molest me,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes