True Grit Page #3

Why Mr Wharton was found immediately by his

wash pot, one arm in the fire.

His sleeve and hand smoldering.

Did you move the body after you shot him?

Why would I do that?

You did not drag the body over to

the fir? Fling his arm in?

- No, sir.

- Two witnesses.

Who arrived on the scene will testify

to the location of the body.

You do not remember moving the body.

So it was, a cold blooded bushwhack,

while poor Mr Wharton was tending his campfire.

Objection.

If that's where the body was,

I might have moved him.

I do not remember.

Why would you move the body, Mr Cogburn?

Them hogs rooting around,

they might have moved him.

I do not remember.

Pencil-neck son of a b*tch.

- Mr Cogburn.

- What do you want?

I'd like to talk to you a minute.

What is it?

They tell me you're a man with True Grit.

What do you want, girl?

Speak up, It is suppertime.

Let me do that.

Your makings are too dry.

I'm looking for the man who shot and killed my father,

Frank Ross in front of the Monarch boarding house.

The man's name is Tom Chaney.

They say he's over in Indian territory,

and I need someone to go after him.

What's your name, girl.

My name is Mattie Ross.

We're located in Yell county.

My mother is at home looking after my

sister Victoria and my brother little Frank.

You best go home to them.

They'll need help with the charges.

There is a fugitive warrant out for Chaney.

The government will pay you $2 for bringing

him in plus ten cents a mile for each of you.

On top of that, I will pay you a $50 reward.

What are you?

What you got there in your poke?

By God! A Colt's Dragoon!

You're no bigger than a corn nubbin,

what're you doing with a pistol like that?

Well I intend to kill Tom Chaney with it.

- Kill Tom Chaney?

- Well, if the law fails to do so.

Well, that piece will do the job for you.

If you can find a high stump to rest it on

and a wall to put behind you

Nobody here knew my father and I'm,

afraid nothing's going to be done about

Chaney except I do it.

My brother is a child, and my mother is

indecisive and hobbled by grief.

I don't believe you have $50.

I have a contract with Colonel Stonehill which

he will make payment on tomorrow or the next day

once a lawyer countersigns.

I don't believe in fairy tales or sermons or stories about money,

baby sister. But thank you for the cigarette.

Isn't your Mama expecting you home, dear?

My business is not yet finished.

Mrs. Flor, have any rooms opened up?

Grandma Turner... the bed is quite narrow.

The second floor in the back did open up.

But uh, that gentleman on the porch,

has just taken it.

Oh but don't worry yourself, dear.

You're not disturbing Grandma Turner.

My name is La Boeuf.

I just come from Yell county.

We have no rodeo clowns in Yell County.

A saucy line will not get you far with me.

I saw your mother yesterday morning.

She said for you to come right on home.

What was your business there?

This is a man I think you know.

You called him Tom Chaney.

I believe. All the months I've been tracking

him he has used the name Theron Chelmsford.

John Todd Andersen,

and others.

He dallied in Monroe, Louisiana, and Pine Bluff,

Arkansas

Before turning up at your fathers place.

Then why did you not catch him at,

Pine Bluff Arkansas or Monroe Louisiana?

He is a crafty one.

I thought him slow-witted myself.

That was his act.

It was a good one.

Are you some kind of law?

That's right

I'm a Texas Ranger.

That may make you a big noise in that state

in Arkansas you

should mind that your Texas trappings and title

do not make you an object of fun.

Why have you been ineffectually pursuing Chaney?

He shot and killed a state senator

named Bibs in Waco Texas.

Bibs family have put out a reward.

How came Chaney to shoot a state senator?

My understanding is there was an argument

about a dog.

You know anything about the

whereabouts of Chaney?

He's in the territory, and I hold out

little hope for you earning your bounty.

- Why is that?

- My man will beat you to it.

I've hired a deputy Marshal -

the toughest one they have.

And he's familiar with the Lucky Ned Pepper gang

that they say Chaney's tied up with.

Well, I will throw in with you

and your Marshal.

No, Marshal Cogburn and I are fine.

It'll be to our mutual advantage.

Your Marshal, I presume, knows the Territory.

I know Chaney. It's at least a two man

job taking him alive.

When Chaney is taken he's coming back to

Fort Smith to hang.

I'm not having him go to Texas to

hang for shooting some senator.

It is not important where he hangs, it is?

It is to me.

Is it to you?

It means a great deal of money to me.

It's been many months work.

I'm sorry that you are paid piecework not on wages

and that you have been eluded the winter long by a halfwit.

You give out very little sugar

with your pronouncements.

When I sat there watching, I gave some

thought to stealing a kiss.

But you are very young and sick, and

unattractive to boot, but

now I have a mind to give you

five or six good licks with my belt.

That wouldn't be as unpleasant as the other.

You wet your comb, you might tame that cowlick.

(Lawyers voice)

Mattie, I wish you would leave these matters

entirely to me or at the very least

give me the courtesy of consulting me before

entering such agreements.

I am not scolding you, but I am saying your

head strong ways,

will lead you into a tight corner one day.

I trust the enclosed document

will let you conclude your business and

return to Yell County.

Yours, J. Noble Daggett.

I was as bad yesterday as you look today.

I was forced to share a bed with Grandma Turner.

I'm not acquainted with Grandma Turner.

If she's a resident of the city, it does not

surprise me that she carries disease.

This malarial place has ruined my health.

As it has my finances.

I owe you money.

You have not traded poorly.

Oh, certainly not.

I'm paying you for a horse.

I do not possess.

And I brought back a string of useless ponies.

Which I cannot sell again.

You're forgetting the grey horse.

- Crowbait.

- You were looking at the thing in the wrong light.

I am looking at it in the light

of God's eternal truth.

Your illness is putting you down

in the dumps.

You will soon find another buyer for the ponies.

Well I have a tentative offer

for $10 per head.

From the Pfitzer Soap Works of Little Rock.

It would be a shame to destroy such spirited horseflesh.

So it would. I'm confident the deal

will fall through.

Look here, I need a pony and I will

pay $10 for one of them.

Now that's a lot price, no, no, I...

Wait a minute.

Are we trading again?

This one is beautiful.

He don't know he got a rider.

You're too light.

He think he got a horsefly on him.

He's very spirited.

I'll call him 'Little Blackie'.

That's a good name.

What does he like for a treat?

Well ma'am, he's a horse.

So he likes apples.

Thank Mr Stonehill for me.

No ma'am, I ain't supposed to utter your name.

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