Vera Cruz Page #4

All right, Joe. You saw her.

I'd have stopped her on her tracks... dead.

For stealin' a dress?

You and Ace Hanna wouldn't

have lasted long as partners.

I don't figure Ace

would have had much choice.

By joining the ship in this cove here,

you won't have to worry

about the garrison at Vera Cruz.

- I shall be there by sundown tomorrow.

- You and all these Americans?

Only two.

The others will be lost along the way.

- The longboat will be on the beach.

- But one thing must be understood:

When I come aboard with the gold,

I come alone.

- But the two Americans?

- I repeat:
I come aboard alone.

Very good. I have a well-trained

and well-armed crew.

- Shall I leave this, or can you remember?

- I can remember.

- Who is it?

- Open up!

Joseph! I was just going to send for you.

Joseph!

This is Capitaine Lecroix. Monsieur Erin -

the gentleman I mentioned.

A pleasure, monsieur.

- Until tomorrow, then.

- Of course.

What's your hurry?

But, Joseph, everything's arranged.

He has a long journey.

You wouldn't want to delay him.

To Paris!

- You forget who I am.

- I don't forget a thing.

- He looked at me like I was a dead man!

- Ridiculous!

I've seen that look

too many times not to know it.

- If you trust me so little...

- I don't trust you at all.

All you want is that gold.

You won't get it without me.

I'm takin' over that boat

before you ever set foot aboard her.

That's why you'll take anything

I hand out and learn to like it.

See? Because you and me is the same.

Sale brute! I should have made

my deal with Monsieur Trane.

Old Ben Trane...

He's quite a feller.

Aide to General Beauregard.

Whipped his weight in Yankees.

And a gentleman.

A real Southern gentleman!

Colonel Ben Trane, ma'am,

at your service.

I don't trust him. He likes people and

you can never count on a man like that.

Do you mean... it would be

just the two of us, Joseph?

I was wonderin'

if that captain could swim.

I've always wanted to sail my own boat.

But, Joseph,

you will have a million and a half

and I'll have a million and a half.

And... we will have each other.

But Monsieur Trane...

how will we slip away from him?

Funny... runnin' my fingers through

your hair, I feel it way down in my toes.

But, Joseph, we have so little time,

and Monsieur Trane knows our plans.

Part of our plan.

How much of your plans do I know?

Chrie...

You are wondering why

I should share anything with you.

But, chrie, you know where the boat is.

But afterward... we must be careful

one doesn't push the other overboard.

Ace Hanna'd be proud

of the way you think.

So am I.

Joseph,

you are born American,

but at heart you're French.

- Take it off.

- The countess has missed it?

Don't worry about that. Hurry.

I am hurrying. Do you want me to tear it?

There'll be no time for any fiesta tonight.

Look. Isn't it magnificent?

And feel. It is silk.

The first silk I ever wore.

I wanted you to see me in it, just once.

- Found the gold in there, didn't you?

- Gold?

The gold you've been looking for

since you joined this outfit.

- You can't believe that.

- You knew the carriage was guarded.

You wouldn't have sneaked in for a dress,

not if it was made of all the silk in China.

All right. You knew I was a thief.

Not only a thief - a Juarista.

How can you say that? I drove the wagon

out when the Juaristas attacked.

Sure - after the attack. Don't try to lie

to me. All you people are Juaristas.

Then why did you help me?

Because I need your help - now.

You're not like these other men,

these hired killers.

You know Maximilian

has no right to this gold.

That gold belongs to the man who gets it.

Joe Erin or me.

You like that dress.

How would you like a dozen of 'em?

A hundred, with hats and shoes

and parasols to match?

How can you even say this?

Because that gold belongs

to both of us together.

You and I both know that no cause

is worth three million dollars.

Wait here!

- The horses!

- What's it about?

Round up the men and get the horses!

They got the carriage!

Hold it!

We'll get the carriage back,

but we'll get it back together.

Now cut this lead out!

- Why weren't you sittin' on that gold?

- What were you doin'?

Never mind that now. Cut that bullet out!

A pleasure!

- What's up?

- Don't pester him! The man's sufferin'.

Hold it!

We all wanna see what's in there.

It's kinda funny the way you two

been takin' care of this carriage lately.

And not sayin' nothin' to the rest of us.

You boys sobered up mighty fast.

A few gunshots'll do it

every time, Mr Trane.

If what we think is in there,

we'd just have to figure you two

was crossin' us, wouldn't we?

Now open it up!

Looks like the marquis beat us to it, Joe.

Nothin'!

Still a fool for luck, ain't ya, Joe?

Man, oh, man!

- Pittsburgh! The Winchesters!

- He'll never make it!

He gone crazy?

Wait a minute.

- You were right, General. We meet again.

- You are wise to surrender, seor.

Surrender? Hardly!

But why waste lives over nothing?

There's no gold there to fight over.

Pedro.

We've all been tricked.

I've an idea that gold is in a wagon,

headin' for the garrison at Vera Cruz.

You did not walk out here

just to tell me that.

I suggest we join forces and get it back.

No. That gold belongs to Mexico.

It cannot be shared with anyone.

We don't ask a share, only fair payment.

$100,000.

- A lot of money.

- A lot of us will die earning it.

Very well. Payment to be contingent

on the capture of the gold.

I take your word, seor.

And we will keep the bargain.

Sure gotta hand it to ya, Colonel.

Robert E Lee himself never

made a smarter manoeuvre.

For 100,000...

Maybe I should have doubled the ante.

Why worry about the ante

with three million still in the pot?

You know somethin'? You're gettin'

more like Ace Hanna every day.

From now on,

it's me and you right down the line.

Just like it's always been, Joe?

- You ain't sore, are ya?

- Now, what have I got to be sore about?

All right, Ben. I was a fool

to even think of crossin' ya.

How'd you figure it out so fast?

Old crocodile teeth

switchin' the gold to the wagon?

Old crocodile teeth and I had

the same idea... only he got to it faster.

Well, I'll be a dirty...

- You managed to precede me, Captain.

- My route was more direct, sir.

- And I had good reason for haste.

- No doubt. But the ruse was successful.

The emperor will be pleased.

Is the ship waiting?

Yes, sir.

The captain is sending an escort

to take you and the cargo aboard

- in time to leave with the morning tide.

- Good. Now...

I am sure you will enjoy

sending me to a dungeon, Henri.

Certainly not.

The countess has lived

a most comfortable life so far.

See that she enjoys the brief remainder.

Yes, sir.

This way, madame.

Gracias.

- They're more friendly than I expected.

- What do you mean, "friendly"?

They're playin' us for suckers. They figure

we're gonna get that gold back for 'em.

Hey, Ben... I didn't know

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes