Provided by explosiveskull https://twitter.com/kaboomskull M_I_SForEver
We all agree that this gold stays in the ground
until I get word that it's time to go to Mexico.
What about the folks who live here, Zeb?
The owner of this manure pit was killed
in General Sibley's actions last year.
No one will be back here for any reason.
This place gives me the heebie jeebies.
We bury it, we split up until I give the word
and we all three come back here together, agreed?
- Agreed. - Agreed.
My regiment leaves in the morning.
Words cannot express my gratitude
for what you have done for my little family.
This year was so hard on us.
Without you, we may never have survived
as this conflict raged.
Thanks to you, we may return to St. Louis
and my little one has a chance at a real education,
and this nightmare will be left behind us.
I love you, the both of you, and I will come back for you.
When you come for us,
you swear you'll never leave us again?
With all my heart.
I believe you.
We deserve a place of peace.
For all time.
I know you cherish this.
Spencer, you're leaving us again.
You've changed our lives.
I can only repay you with my eternal and undying love.
That is all I wish.
Zeb, if there ain't nobody living on this spread,
why do I see people moving in the house?
There's a woman's face there in the window.
Oh hell, you two stay here with the gold.
I'm gonna have me a looksie.
Promise, run, run!
Oh hell, lady, you gotta be kidding!
Ouch, oh, Jesus Christ!
Run, Promise, run!
Well, look what we have here.
You ignate wretch.
This isn't a pleasure palace.
Well, what about her?
Let's just leave the little darling to her memories.
I thought I told you jacking ape to stay with the gold.
Zeb, my legs are hurting, I need to go see a saw bone.
You shut your mouth, I was shot four times
in Lawrence, Kansas, and didn't complain about it
half as much as that little scratch.
You tie that off,
and let's get the hell out of here.
You sure do take your time with them damn cards.
I picked up the habit of exercising caution,
almost a lifetime ago.
Yeah? Well, to hell with your caution, I'm down $50.
Don't play if you can't afford it.
Saloon-keeper.
What will it be?
Well, it's after nine in the morning,
I believe I'll have a tequila.
Oh, and my friend here looks hungry,
bring him the house special, and maybe a beer.
Right, kind of you.
What did you pitch your name as again?
I didn't.
Oh, Christ, I needed that.
I've been riding since Yuma, no time for a meal.
I know, you'd be one Zebediah Scurlock, from Missouri.
There's a territorial warrant out of Yuma for your arrest.
The warrant stipulates choice of delivery to authorities.
And the choices are?
Alive or dead.
You got some nerve, shit heel.
I'm giving you a choice, you can make this easy,
or you can make this hard.
Why the hell would I surrender to you?
Well, I just bought your sustenance.
Fiddly, I don't care much for your deal,
you son of a bitch.
You know who the hell you're fucking with, jack ass?
I do.
You shouldn't have done that.
You witness that?
I don't get it, you knew you were gonna kill him,
why did you buy him a meal?
I didn't want the son of a bitch to go to hell
on an empty stomach.
Sheriff, are these all the bills for the past six months?
Every one of them.
You looking for anyone in particular?
Indeed, I am.
It seems to me a little peculiar,
a young lady perusing handbills.
I'm not what you'd expect, Sheriff. Thank you.
Okay.
I don't understand it.
Of course, he aint been in the right mind
since the surrender 12... No, 13 years ago.
What the hell are you talking about, Wild Eye?
My brother, Zebediah.
I was in Tucumcari last night,
I read in the Tribune Express that he got himself
all shot to hell by a bushwhacking shootist.
Poor son of a bitch got slung over his own saddle.
Man, all down to Yuma for a territorial reward.
A goddamn shame.
Yeah, a goddamn shame.
You know, he rode the Cowan trail.
Who's Cowan trail, Wild Eye?
Brick, your brains are like a gelding's balls, missing.
Forget it.
You know lots of folks thought him shameful,
for riding with all those vermin.
Hmm, but they suited him.
And after all the scrapes he been through,
all that killing, all the women and children
they sent to their maker and he never got a scratch
and now he comes to an end like this.
You know, I served my time in the regiments,
and look at me, goddamn battle of Chickamauga,
goddamn Johnny Reb, took my eye,
and gave me this throw, nothing!
Nothing,
is ever even in this world.
Well, I guess that's just the way the Lord intended,
I reckon.
Well, I intend to even things out to a fair degree.
How so?
When I was reading the Tribune Express,
it said personal effects may be collected
by the next of kin at the Grissom Brothers Undertakers.
So I paid that establishment a visit,
you know what I found?
He's Cold Navy and hide away smith, $2.43, and this.
Seems that mother Scurlock's dearest oldest golden boy
kept himself a personal record of his exploits in 61.
Now that opportunistic son of a bitch,
he probably thought he could sell all these
to the penny dreadfuls.
Whatever,
most of it is a load of shit.
But one story intrigued me, about a certain cash box.
Dear, stupid, older brother,
you just may have made one thing successful
out of your wretched life.
Brick, forget about them two smithy jobs down in El Paso,
how would you like to make some real money.
I've missed you, something terrible.
How long's your stay gonna be this time?
I hadn't really thought about it,
I'm too busy enjoying the scenery right now.
Oh, come on, bastard, you can't fool me.
You always know your next move.
You know me too well.
If I were you, I'd never leave me.
And I never argue with logic, Francesca.
Then how come you do leave?
And how come you ask so many fool questions?
Hmm, goddamn Ransom, honey.
There's two compelling reasons why you should stay.
You know in your heart
that you bring to me all the joy in my life.
It does a woman good to hear things like that.
Tell me, what is that void in your soul?
What do you mean?
We've been together, a good long time now,
when you're here.
And I know all of you, your strength, your loyalty,
your passions.
And I know about that canyon in your soul,
that place no one can enter.
Don't make with fancy words, Francesca.
There is a sadness inside of you
and you won't even admit it.
You certainly weren't confronted.
You're wrong about that.
I confront it every day, some days I wish I didn't have to.
Well, lover, tell me.
What do you know about loss?
A little bit.
I miss my daddy, now and again.
There was someone in my past,
when I should have been there, I wasn't.
It was many years ago.
She hurt you.
No, nothing like that.
But if I had been there, I could have made a difference.
Is she dead?
Yes, every day I think what could have been.
You can't blame yourself for a turn of fate.
I don't know if I blame myself,
but I still should have been there.
I don't even know exactly what happened,
only partial details.
What is in your heart?
In the years since, I've learned that a man
can be responsible for someone,
and if he abdicates that responsibility, he's no good.
It's like he's dead.
Come on, you, you gloomy bastard.
You are the finest man I've ever known.
I've lived with this for too long.
So is this the-
- The reason I can't give myself completely?
But I am learning.
Confront your past.
You may be right about that.
What was it you taught me?
Hello.
Hello?
Afternoon, how can I help you?
Just came by to check out the old place,
I used to know the people here.
Been over 10 years.
Would you fancy some coffee? I got fresh water too.
That's all right, but thanks.
Sir, listen, can you tell me what happened here?
Well, I just picked up this property at County auction.
Oh no, you mean that bad business
that happened here at the end of the war.
Yes.
Well, I lived in town then,
but that Sawyer woman and that little girl, they were here.
And what happened after that?
One day, the Marshal came into town
delivering an escaped Indian and he saw them.
And?
There was a woman, she was half stripped,
and she was shot right in the chest.
And the little girl,
she was just wandering around in a daze.
Tell me more.
The story was, that these fellows,
they buried a cash box somewhere around here,
and the woman came in and saw them digging it up.
There was a lot of that thievery after the war,
with Johnny Reb on the run,
those that hadn't surrendered to the blue coats officially,
they picked up whatever they could find
and they took off to Mexico.
Some of them even joined up with the oysters.
What happened to the girl?
Some say she went to St. Louis,
well, that's where the mother was from.
I know.
The County filed a lien on the property,
and I picked it up at County auction.
Do you fancy some coffee?
It's colder than I expected.
Name is Zacharias.
If I remember my Bible schooling,
he was the father of John The Baptist.
Yes sir.
A fine name, mine's Ransom.
Pleasure.
How long did you know the people that I spoke of?
The woman and the little girl, they were my life.
You were not there
during that bad business that happened, were you?
I was a trail scout for the union back then,
my regiment had shipped out.
You see, this woman had a husband who had abandoned her.
He served with General Sibley,
he was reported as dead long before I came into the picture.
Why didn't you return to her?
We were taking the last surrender,
of the last of Johnny Reb's outfits.
I heard that the husband may have been alive,
so I set out for this place to find out.
En route I came upon an official casualty list,
turns out I was wrong, there was his name right there.
I continued on, met up with a newspaper man I knew,
he knew about this woman and me.
He showed me a newspaper clipping,
it reported her death,
no real details, no mention of the little girl.
Well, what did you do?
I don't remember, I was in a daze.
I drifted, where? I don't even recall.
All I know is I was set out to come back here
and then we ran into that last regimen of gray coats,
but I was bound and determined to come back here.
It sounds like you're blaming yourself.
I should have delivered those sons of bitches to Satan.
Mister, a lot has happened in my life.
I remember when I was serving with General Franklin Pierce,
he was a New Hampshire militia,
and we were down in Churrobusco, Mexico.
Those days there was no way to get word to us
because we were so far down into Mexico
that nobody could get in touch with us.
And?
Well, let's just say I had a big surprise
when I returned home, and find that my pretty little wife
had skidaddled off with my best friend
who had a Cooper train.
What are you saying?
That you cannot control life, life controls you.
I don't know if I've ever believed that.
Do you have someone now?
My second wife was my great love.
She's not here now in person,
but she's always here by my side and in my heart.
Should a man be allowed to grieve?
For as long as he wishes.
You have a woman now?
Yes, she's beautiful, fiery, loving.
Don't you waste that.
Thank you for the coffee,
gave me something to ponder.
Sometimes it's a long journey to get home.
That coffee hit the spot, warmed me up some.
Mister, I sure hope you find what you're looking for.
Howdie, gentlemen.
Would you care for a little coffee and fresh water?
Not interested, gramps.
We're looking for some information, though.
How long has this shit hole been abandoned?
It ain't no more, I own it,
I intend to spend my twilight years here.
You know, I've been most things in this life,
I've worked on the Mississippi river,
I sold farm implements-
- We're not interested in your life story, old toad.
Now what happened to them people here before you, years ago?
It's funny you should ask that, there was a fellow
who went through here a couple of days ago
who was asking what happened to the people
who were here back in those days.
If you ask me, he knew the widow in the biblical sense.
Who was this man?
He was a professional man, a shootist, probably military.
He carried a Mason Richards Conversion,
rare measure type of fellow,
the collector type, you know, he had it all together.
And where did he run off to?
Las Cruces, maybe, I don't know
And, uh, he didn't take nothing? He just rode away?
What would he take from here?
It's not here.
And what's it say in that book?
Well that's the problem, my ever loving brother
was more dedicated to penning his war exploits
than simple bit of thievery, goddamn him.
All right, hey, um...
Hell, let's get out of this cow pie.
Look here you mixed sparrow,
I've had enough of you thumbing your nose at my spread.
Now, get the hell off of my land.
Oh, easy there, old spider.
Do you want me to take care of this old man, Wild Eye?
Take that pecker pawn you got there with you,
and get a wiggle on.
We're going.
Now!
We're due elsewhere, on business.
You loathsome sodomites.
Well, tell me what this avenger of justice looks like?
This son of a bitch who shot Zebediah Scurlock down.
Tall, dark hair, professional demeanor.
Is he a Pinkerton?
No sir. He carries a Richard Mason Conversion,
he seemed like ex-military maybe.
That's him, that's the rounder.
That old man, the one I just told you about,
that's the one he spoke to.
Well, he can flat shoot, I'll give him that.
Meet Bill Gristy, he hails from Abilene.
Occasionally I come here and help Sheriff Meldin
with a problem or two.
So you saw the whole thing.
I did, I was sitting at a corner, way back,
I don't think anybody saw me in the saloon.
Fact is I was looking for old Zeb myself,
saw the same handbill down in Yuma,
I suspect that's what brought the other gentlemen up here.
Well, he got him fair and square,
you can't get them all, not in this business.
So this Mason Richard sucker, he
killed my brother.
I only knew
when he brought him we knew something about that box.
Now, don't get anything started here, boys.
Oh no, not to worry law man.
I mean, I'm just tracking down a family heirloom.
Well, good day gentlemen.
So what's the low down, Wild Eye?
I figure that man hunter must be about a week's ride
ahead of us, in any direction.
And that old man, now he said he was headed to Las Cruces.
Zeb was always a flapjack, so maybe he let loose
with the location to this bastard,
to where that cash box was,
you know, in a plead for his life.
Well, that there dandy might cause us some despair.
Despair?
Now why the hell do you always look down
the dark side of the road?
You illiterate bastard.
Let's go get the horses.
My God, it really is you.
I'm sorry, young lady, you have me at a disadvantage.
I never thought I'd see you again.
Have we met?
The little ranch outside of Santa Fe,
12 or more years ago?
It was the happiest time of my life, brief as it was.
The Sawyer place?
Are you-
- I am Promise Sawyer.
I was just out at the old place a few weeks ago.
Tell me, where have you been all these years?
We have much to discuss,
meet me in the parlor of the Elysium hotel in an hour.
That day you left, I asked mama when you would return,
she said you were a man who lived on his own terms.
Why did you leave us?
I don't, I don't know what was in my heart at that time.
I'll never forget the beautiful cross you gave to mama.
Yeah, it was in my family for years,
it was all that was left of a life long ago.
I was a contract scout for the union
before I met your mother.
The war was at its end, we were mopping up
the final remnants of the Rebs that had not yet surrendered.
I was looking forward to a life of peace and tranquility,
I found it on that little place of yours.
Then I drifted, like a damned fool,
I've known very little peace since then.
It was as if God had sent you to watch over us.
I believed you truly cared about us.
I did, and I do now.
You read to me, from Sutonia's, as I recall.
Well, I was always interested in historical subjects.
Your mother had one of the finest libraries
I have ever seen.
So what happened to you in the years leading up till now?
I stayed on for about two years,
mama had a stash of gold coins which had belonged to Papa.
The ruffians never found them when they tore
through the house.
I had some help from some of the folks in town,
but when the money ran out and the debts could not be paid,
I abandoned the property.
To make my way in this world
I had to make certain compromises,
which young ladies of moral conscience would never accept,
but I made them, and I survived.
I thrived.
Do you understand?
Due to the world I inhabited,
I've learned salient facts about the underbelly of society.
I catalogued this information and used it to find
these men who scarred my soul.
They left a trail of slime like wet snails
from here to New Orleans,
and spent the years dedicated to treachery,
and double crossing each other.
None of them ever made it to Mexico as was their intent,
eventually two of them were hanged in San Antonio
for horse rustling.
You wish to know the final irony?
Yes.
I was in Tucumcari recently,
and there was a news periodical report about you.
The man you shot,
was the leader of that gutter trash that night,
Zebediah Scurlock.
I never forgot their faces.
I have spent too long chasing this, living this,
it appears you're still my guardian and protector,
whether you know it or not.
This man had a reward on his head,
and $50 I took from him in a poker game.
No gold, no fortune, nothing,
your journey is at an end.
Not quite, there's the cash box.
Why flirt with danger?
Those three vermins have been sent to hell,
you've made a good life for yourself.
There's nothing to be gained by chasing the past,
you'll only find heartbreak.
There is something in that cash box that I must have.
And there's nothing wrong with chasing the past,
so long as the past holds the key to one's freedom.
Maybe.
I just may have a scrap of information
which may prove valuable.
Come with me and help me complete my journey.
Tell me,
why must we ever give up our innocence?
You know, I've been thinking.
No shit.
I've been thinking that maybe we really don't need
to be doing all this.
Oh, there you go.
You wanna spend a lifetime chewing stock or selling nails?
There's a fortune sitting in that cash box,
and all we gotta do is find it.
And that little girl might still be alive,
that man on her probably knows where she's at,
we'll follow them.
In some ways I think, you not being able to read,
gets in the way of your brain pan
from seeing the big picture,
like you is dimwitted.
All right, now you cut that talk, all right?
I've shot men for lesser insult.
I'm smart, dammit, I ain't no fool.
All right, all right,
I forgot you were such a little panty
All I'm saying-
- It seems like we're chasing windmills, that's all.
Windmills? Well, aint you the literary scholar.
Listen, what I'm saying is,
I've had it with being on the tail end of the draw.
This is my chance to even up the bad deck I've been dealt.
My dear departed brother, he went through a life time
with a marauder mean stream than a kindler one,
but he made...
Well, he didn't make big coin, but he did all right.
Maybe it's time I learnt from his ways.
Inn-keeper, two beers.
One other thing,
I need some information.
We be looking for a gentleman
who may have rode through this way.
Senor, I do not interfere
with matters that do not concern me.
It can prove to be unhealthy.
What may prove to be unhealthy is your indifference.
I'm looking for a tall, dark, quiet son of a bitch,
carrying a Mason Rich.
Perhaps you should try the Sheriff's office,
or the hotels perhaps? I do not know him.
All right then.
But I will remember whether or not you told me the truth.
Inn-keeper, dos mas.
Now, I'm gonna go over there, you stay here.
Howdie friend, what brings you to town?
What I mean is that it sure is good to see
somebody new ride through.
Aint that right, Brick?
We're heading to Tucumcari.
On business, ever been there, friend?
Listen, I don't mind a little small talk to pass the time,
but I don't see that my travels are any concern of yours.
Well, I happen to know you've been there, friend.
Fact is, you made use
of that fancy hog leg of yours in Tucumcari.
You fetched yourself a handsome reward
further down in Yuma, all for a few minutes work.
I think I understand why you fellows do it.
Hell, I've man hunted a few times myself, since the war.
Everything all right over here, Wild Eye?
Yes sir. Me and this gentleman are just get an acquainted.
Allow me to venture a guess
as to who you two gentlemen might be.
You'd be one, Brick Logan, AKA, the stone mason.
You had a lucrative business reselling the same
rebranded herd three or four times back in West, Texas.
Before that, you had a pretty fair turn
with those traveling, sporting ladies.
Unfortunately, every customer got clubbed and picked clean,
not to mention a dose.
The Rangers got close to you,
right after the rape charge was filed.
When they eventually got you, you beat a night guard
within an inch of his life,
that's when the judge issued the warrant
and the price on your head.
Don't worry, I don't fancy a trip to Texas right now.
I have no clue who you are, except you must be some relation
to that dead meat I dropped in Yuma.
Now, if you'll excuse me, gentlemen,
I think that's all we need to know about each other.
Adios.
How the hell we know he ain't gonna come back here
and get me?
How the hell is it you never told me you was a rapist?
I like rape.
Oh shut your yap.
It's becoming clear why your face
is pinging on a wanted poster in.
Come on.
Let's go see where that fellow go.
This is senseless.
Fugitive?
You coming out?
You are wearing on my patience.
You will only succeed in arousing my deeper anger,
and when that occurs, hell follows.
I hold here, a handbill stating you are wanted for robbery
in Santa Fe, New Mexico territory,
it concludes you may be armed and dangerous.
Are you coming out?
All right, I'm coming out.
No tricks.
No tricks, I pride myself on those I keep alive.
That's right, nice and easy.
Kiss God's creation.
Spread out.
You are wise.
You know, in some parts I am more feared than the almighty.
All right, get up.
Where's your mount?
Down the street, the telegraph office.
Well, that don't matter.
Let's take a walk.
It's at moments like this,
where I can truly appreciate the wonder of God's works.
The sublime nature of the topography,
the blue overhanging firmament, makes you wonder.
Makes you wonder.
It makes you happy to draw his breath, does it not?
What's gonna happen to me?
Well, I suspect, straight to the territorial prison.
I can't go back there.
I do not believe you have a say in it.
Listen, friend.
I'm not your friend.
Listen, I have some information
which may prove more to your liking than turning me in.
And what would that be?
Well, before you tracked me,
I was making a trail to a veritable fortune.
See, I rode with this fellow for a few months,
quite a bit older than me, ex quantro man.
Well sir, he had the most goddamn amazing tale to tell.
It seems that there was this cash box of Confederate gold,
that was heisted in the last days of the late war.
These fellows buried it and they dug it up again.
Years went by and no one knew of its existence,
well, I know the location of this cash box.
In fact, my late partner and I were headed to get it
when he got killed in Tucumcari.
I was headed there myself before you caught up with me.
Why are you telling me this?
How much do you stand to gain from the bounty on my head?
$250.
What if I could guarantee you thousands.
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,
it is through this craving that many have wandered away
from the faith, pierced themselves with many pain.
Damn it, man. What I'm saying is I know the whereabouts
of an untraceable fortune.
All right, well, if you want to tell me this tale,
it may ensure a more interesting ride to our destination.
A cash box of unregistered Confederate gold
waits in a church not far from here.
No one knows of its existence.
Now for the last six months, I rode with a man
who spoke up nothing but this gold
and the efforts to find it day and night.
Then there were the tales of those who rode with him,
also promised a part of this gold
and how he betrayed them.
Damn it man, what I'm saying is I can lead you
to this cash box.
If I do not turn you in.
Well yeah, that's the general idea.
Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation,
into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires
that plunge them into destruction and ruin.
Mr, I can't go back to that jail.
Believe me, a pot of gold awaits,
give me the chance to show it to you.
All right, all right, all right. Satisfy my curiosity.
But do not insult my intelligence.
What was the name of this devil you rode in with?
Zebediah Scurlock.
I know this man you speak of,
I was after him myself, whoa.
Tell me more of what you know.
Whoa, whoa.
Location of this booty is a certainty?
Absolutely.
You would not be leading me into a trap?
I know my future, friend.
I'm just trying to buy off the inevitable.
I'm resigned that I am hell bound.
You are so right.
Goddammit!
Fact is, partner, you are only worth $250.
Now, I've been known to be a gambling man on occasion,
and I've entered a gamble
that what you're telling me is the truth.
Therefore, I stand to reap a more sizeable reward this way.
You were not wanted for murder,
so I did not shoot you through the heart.
Consider this your debt paid to society,
for your peace with God.
You might get thirsty out here.
You bastard!
♪ Lay down to sleep, child ♪
♪ Lay down with the Lord ♪
♪ If the devil finds you ♪
♪ Send him back to hell ♪
Oh hello, I have told you some of my life
in the last dozen years.
Yes.
Now, the details.
To survive I was forced to make certain hard choices,
most of the women my age in this territory
are married with children.
A reason that no respectable man would take me
once he knew my true story,
so I never let a man get that close to me.
As a whore I thrived,
so I never had any reason for a man in my life
longer than a day, a week.
I grew to accept this.
I would never cast judgment on-
- I am certain that you would not,
you know how to read a person's true soul.
This life brought me money, and some degree of respect
from the men who knew me.
One of the girls in the house with me,
she knew a man, older, tough, ex-army,
he rode through town every six weeks to see her.
One evening he told her about a cash box
that had been hidden during the war,
it was to be his stake for the future,
and it remained hidden for years.
He betrayed the men who rode with him
and he held it for himself.
This man carried a journal which chronicled his exploits
over the previous 20 years, and in that journal,
there was a page indicating the location of the cash box.
He tore it out and gave it to her,
I guess he had planned to run away with her at some point.
When she described the man and the cash box,
I knew it could only be him.
She showed me the page.
Where's the page now?
Here,
and here.
This man, had the bad luck of meeting you
in Tucumcari, six months later.
I knew the others were dead,
I was on the trail of this Scurlock
when you stepped back into this story again.
You intend to find this cash box?
Naturally.
I was hoping I could talk you into coming along.
I don't have much, but I can pay you a by the mile fee.
I'll go, and you owe me nothing.
Besides, I might prove useful in something like this.
Are you certain this is what you want?
I know they've been in there quite a while,
they must be up to something.
Yeah, from now on, we'll keep a close eye on them,
see whether they've been splitting up or not.
Go, go, follow him.
I'll see what I can find in that little woman's hotel room.
Go!
Dumb son of a bitch.
I know you're still here
but it seems like you already left.
I fear that this is going to be a good long absence.
However long it takes.
That's what I treasure, a man who is specific.
Please, Francesca, ever since I learned the story
of Tess and the little girl-
- But you are with me now.
I wanted to confront your past, not live in it.
It is important to me.
I once read a book when I was a school girl,
it was about a man who descended the circles of hell
to find the truth.
I know it.
I never finished it, so I don't know how it ends.
Shall I tell you?
No, I'm sure it ends sadly.
But it doesn't.
Promise me one thing.
Yes?
Don't let all we have end sadly.
That even if you decide never to come back to me,
that you're gonna let me know that you are alive and safe.
I once thought you were free,
it seems so irrelevant now.
They might try to jump us if we get this cash box.
What do you say we go to the edge
of what's left of this town, and just observe?
If you think that's best.
I do, let's go.
They stopped again, the hair might be standing up
on the back of that stranger's neck.
He'd be the type to know he's bein' tracked.
Aint no question they're heading for that cash box.
Since we know their destination, we gotta...
I'm gonna figure a way to get there before them.
We approach from the North side, come on let's git.
Wild Eye, I got an idea, what-
- I gotta take a shit but we aint got time for neither,
now come on, let's git.
When you arrive at the church,
go to the crypt named Carson.
Inside it you'll find a panel below a small panel,
now remove the panel and you will find
the cash box hidden inside.
Who's there? I heard a noise.
My name is Father Thomas,
I'm the last of our faith in this house of God,
and as you may have surmised I'm blind.
I thought the place was abandoned, seems the town is.
Cholera visited the town last year,
all those not afflicted by the plague left.
I decided to stay with this house of God,
blindness afflicted me some months ago.
Where are your candles, your crosses, your relics?
The parish sent two priests to remove
all the church valuables after blindness set upon me.
They offered to take me to a monastery
but I chose to stay where God chose me to be.
So there's nothing else here?
Myself, a few robes, one Bible,
all the rest was taken away.
Where did they take everything?
To the monastery in Santa Rio?
Excuse me, Father.
Do you wish to pray with me?
I am a God-fearing man, Father,
but right now I have much business,
maybe next time.
I understand my son, death is all that is left here.
I knew it, they knew right where to go.
Something I forgot to mention,
yesterday when we set off I noticed
the journal page was missing from my velice.
Perhaps I left it in the hotel room.
Or perhaps those two have it.
Oh, son of a bitch.
No.
Sweet Jesus!
Shit, that son of a bitch got here first.
My dear God, what is happening here?
I heard a crash, is there more than one of you?
Sorry, padre.
Look, Father, I'm just leaving.
Are you associated with a man who was here earlier,
ransacking what is left at my church?
Oh, empty, you've been here ready?
Si padre, a with a tiny woman?
It was just one man.
Well, I'm looking for him.
You see he's uh, he's wanted by the law.
I fear this once noble village
has become a haven for brigands.
It seems they like its emptiness,
if only these souls would come here to be saved.
Yeah, this fellow say where he was headed?
I had the impression he was headed for Santa Rio.
I don't know this for certain, but once I relayed to him
that this is where the artifacts from my church were taken,
he left suddenly.
He didn't exude an evil aura,
but one never truly knows the nature of a man's soul.
Yeah.
Hey!
Stand and deliver, you bastard.
Oh hell, you gotta be kidding me.
We all being in a tight spot here,
we aim on taking every last red cent from you.
A ghost town like this,
is a right hide away from ne'er do wells.
I ain't got time of this.
I was worried about that.
Goddamn, I can't stand amateurs.
Oh, what's gong on?
My God, have you finally forsaken me?
Wu!
You see that? Damn!
Dumb bastard, he was a priest.
Oh, hell, that could've been anybody.
No, you're an illiterate bastard,
and you're also a half wit with an itchy trigger finger.
I warned you, Wild Eye,
aint no cause for that talk.
Oh, shut the hell up.
We gotta high tail it outta here.
Santa Rio, Santa Rio, tell these men,
to let this town finally die.
What about those fellas?
To hell with them fellas.
Good morning my son, can I help you?
Oh yes. My family were some of the plague victims
down in Malsecco last year, name's Carson.
There was a rather large family crypt,
in the most sacred church, been there for some years.
Crypt contained a number of family heirloom,
and it seems when the town was beset by the tragedy
your priests retrieved the precious objects from the church.
Well, it was after Father Thomas's blindness set in,
the church felt that the town would be exposed
to any element of transient wickedness.
As you know, Montesecco is completely abandoned,
and we asked Father Thomas to join us here but he refused.
Oh, forgive my rudeness and my poor manners,
I am Father Raymond.
I've seen Father Thomas,
and he still presides over his church proudly.
Now, Father, is it possible that my family's belongings
might have been transferred to this location?
It's possible, I can look at the inventory list.
Yes, yes, it appears as though we have a blocked strong box
with a Confederate Army seal on it.
Yes, yes. Yes, that would be it.
One of my family members served with distinction
in the late war between the States.
Oh yes, I'm sure.
Well, I will retrieve your box for you, my son.
Well, my son, is this what you seek?
Lord in heaven, my family's legacy has been preserved.
Oh yes, I'm sure.
Ha ha!
For the last two weeks, every time my leg sings with pain,
I think of you, you son of a bitch!
I'll refill the canteens,
we better get a damn early start tomorrow.
You best turn in.
There's a good chance any one of these characters
could have beaten us to this thing.
Well, I wonder you may be chasing up a dead trail,
just as your pursuit of revenge was ultimately unsatisfying.
Then why do you stay with me?
The Chinese say that a man or a woman
can sometimes be responsible for another human being.
Are you responsible for me?
Let's just say I have a vested interest.
You speak in vagueries.
It's part of my charm.
Ransom?
Get up here.
Go to hell!
I'm already there, lady.
Before I do this and search all your belongings,
maybe you're gonna start talking.
As far as I'm concerned. this whole business has gone far enough.
I never wanted any part of this.
The way I figure, you gotta know something
that you ain't saying.
So you're gonna move that sweet little ass of yours,
and you're gonna start talking.
Come on.
What in the hell?
Partner, I got me this filly here,
'cause I'm tired of you always be behind the eight ball.
So this little bitch here is gonna talk,
so we can end this chase.
Tiny woman, what do you know?
I like me a woman with enthusiasm.
Now why in the hell did you involve her?
I always figured she knew more than she let on.
I think she's just leading on that man hunter.
Wild Eye, trust me, she knows.
You brick!
All right, if you think you can get something out of her,
you're welcome to try.
I gotta take a piss.
So are you gonna talk? I'm tired of all this business,
so just talk so we can put end to this,
so we can be on our way.
What makes you think
I'm gonna give you two any information.
This has nothing to do with you,
you're just a couple of crazy greasy gnats,
feeding off what aint yours.
It ain't healthy to give me sass.
You don't scare me!
You and your half blind partner are nothing.
You know, I have never met a lady
who didn't find me appealing.
I'd rather swap spit with a pig.
Well lady, looks like today.
It's your chance to swap spit with this pig.
Paper romance little lady.
Get the hell off of her.
I oughta kill you right now.
Sometimes, it's just too much.
I know.
You dumb bastard.
I figured a hunch, the ladies would be your undoing.
Oh, I wouldn't wiggle around too much if I were you,
that'll make them ropes tighter, just relax.
I've got plans for you,
similar to the plans that you had for me.
You see, friend, I knew where you was headed.
I rode with Scurlock, he told me everything,
I just hadn't expected our little fortunate move.
That's where this gentleman comes in,
thank God there's still a saw bone to that hell hole, huh?
Also a good thing, my friend here overheard
where them priests moved everything.
Ah, yes, good fortune,
and blessed be our quick healing paths.
You do realize, now I'm gonna have to kill you both.
Oh my friend, I do not think
that you will have that opportunity.
And I told you, I'm not your friend.
That's a shame.
The world would be a better place
if everyone was just friends.
Forgive me that I have such high moral fiber
that I did not kill you when I had the chance.
Is there something we can help you with?
Where in the hell are you boys going in such a hurry
and with such an unusual cargo.
Well, we gotta deliver-
- No, I'm most interested in the man you have hogtied
back here than your pay load.
I'm Ben Wright, County Marshall here, and I know this man.
He's a professional, he occasionally brings me a fugitive.
So just what in the hell are you boys up to?
He's a wanted man.
The hell you say.
Come on, what in the Sam Hill is going on here?
I think we wound up with more than we bargained for.
Right you are, Sheriff Danburry from Santa Rio,
round them all up, we're taking them in for questioning.
Throw the bodies in that.
I never should have involved you in this,
I thought we'd never get out of there.
I can't believe that Sheriff couldn't find anything
to hold that stinker, he just let him walk.
Well, you can't blame that Sheriff,
would you wanna be under the same roof as him?
Again, I never should've involved you.
I'm here because I want to be.
Spoken with true enthusiasm.
What is it inside that cash box?
What else, besides the gold?
My past, my future, I hope.
Something I can't really define.
Well, I reckon.
The sheriff said he'd be holding that cash box
pending the judge's ruling,
which means he might be planning on turning it in
to a wartime confiscation.
Oh, and there's one more thing.
Yes?
I've crossed paths with that dandy of a shootist before.
How many people know about this?
How many times must I relate my story before it is true?
I told you, there is a hearing scheduled for next week,
if your story checks out, you'll be free to go.
And my property?
Your horses, wagon, and personal effects
are in safekeeping.
You make no mention of my strong box!
Yes, well that will remain here
until I get a decision from federal authorities.
Why is that? That's my property!
Listen, Mr. Christie, I served in the war,
and I recall the seal of the old CS of A.
I know what that box is and what it was used for,
this should have been surrendered to the union in 65.
You should not try my patience
any further in this matter, sir.
Just relax, you have a week till the hearing.
Hey, old man.
What's the status of this man?
It's really not at my discretion to opine.
Well, what the hell does that mean?
It means I have no jurisdiction
as to the outcome of this matter.
The judge will oversee the proceedings next week.
Well how about this proceeding?
Are you joking?
Do you have any idea what you're up against?
Yes, I do flannel mouth,
your deputy has left town.
See him leave, now!
Let me have that strong box, and open up that cell.
You realize this is a capital offense.
Well, you're absolutely goddamn right, it is.
Now move it, blatherskite.
Now you let him come out, you take his place.
And hand him the key,
I'll have you know-
That's for the inconvenience you two-bit peckerwood.
Grab your rig, and get whatever else,
I suggest we get ourselves the hell away from here.
What about the Telegraph?
Oh, tickety tack, tickety tack.
Now can we get out of here?
I shall offer you my gratitude on the road.
There'll be time enough for blabbering,
when we put some distance between us
and that man huntering son of a bitch.
Hey!
You'll pay for this.
Not today!
Did you see that?
Where might they go from here?
My guess is West, fewer settlements,
fewer watering holes, fewer people.
Then let's go.
You wanna continue?
No question.
You know it's liable to get fairly dicey here on out.
That dandy is right dangerous with a pistol.
I'm not worried.
Hmm?
You're with me.
Oh, that's real nice.
I'm big Bully Bryant.
That's wonderful,
you have a very unfriendly mode of introduction.
You don't remember me, do you?
With a face like that, I should, but I don't.
I didn't always look like this.
And?
El Paso, three years ago.
What about it?
Two slugs from this cannon,
carved these creases in my face.
Look at me when I talk to you!
You ran with Salice Cook.
You nailed him coming out of Hogan, Rhyolite,
a week before you picked me up.
Your face...
As I said, two cartridges from this iron
Shit, my shooting must have been off that day.
You know what it's like to look like this?
People turning their heads, children scared,
no proper doctor in that territorial prison.
Shouldn't you still be there?
I'm smart, I got out.
I figured the weakness and I got out.
Took a guard with me too,
and then I paid a visit to that petty fogging judge.
He won't sentence anybody no more.
Now it's my turn.
Yup.
You know, there are a lot of witnesses around here.
You think these chinks and Mormons care?
Mormons are too busy looking after all those wives,
celestials, they know what happens when you come up
against a white man.
Now, I intend to take my time with you.
It was years in that hell hole,
what you did to me.
How's the thought of being a cripple
for the rest of your life?
What if I staked you to the ground, Injun style,
let the buzzards to pick out your eyes.
You killers for hire, you gotta learn,
you ain't the Lord almighty, more like Judas
'cause it's all about the money.
Ain't it, bounty whore?
I hate verbose people.
Thanks, he was a mic bidder.
I get that from time to time.
Did I do the right thing?
Oh yeah.
What about the sheriff here? He might not like this.
No sense in bothering him,
those two probably locked him in his cell.
We don't have time for this son of a bitch.
Whoa.
What are you doing? Why are we stopping?
We've gotta make like lightning.
That jail cell was infested with fleas
and I am a fastidious gentlemen.
Oh for God's grace.
Why did you do all that back there?
Well, I had a partner of recent,
not a very smart fellow, but he stuck with me.
I figured if I can work this up with a dimwit,
I might as well make my new partner
a smart professional like yourself.
At least the way I look at it,
there's enough in that box for the both of us,
Being as such I'm not gonna contest, we'll go 50%.
Think of it this way, it's a new partnership
with money for two.
There's one thing you're not considering.
What's that?
I did not set out for this thing with a partner.
Well, all right, I went to a lot of trouble for you.
And I'm grateful for that.
Fact is, I may not be welcome
in that peckerwoods jurisdiction for some time.
Say on that note for safety sake,
why don't we divide the booty now?
No, we need to put some distance first
between ourselves and that man hunter and his tiny bitch.
Well besides, that Sheriff has probably got himself
sprung from that cage by now.
Well, get a move on!
Oh for God's sake, any day now.
Ya!
You know, those two are going to assume
that we will follow them,
and this could turn dangerous.
I am not frightened,
and I certainly do not wish to turn back.
You remind me of your mother.
Tell me, why do you men have such trouble
committing to people or things?
That's a rather broad condemnation.
Actually, I've committed to a number of ideals and causes
over the years.
It's with people that I have a problem.
That is obvious.
Haven't you had enough of wandering?
Well, sometimes I believe so,
but it's difficult to accept something
that you know nothing about.
What would that be?
Peace.
You could have it.
Can we ever actually have peace?
I intend to.
There you go, sounding like your mother again.
What is this?
Oh, it's a remembrance of an old wound.
Whoa.
You know how to use this?
Good, you'll find it more convenient
than that cannon you carry.
I have a hunch, they have to be on this trail somewhere.
You maybe right, look over there.
I figured you two would catch up sooner or later.
You know why we're here.
Well, possession is 90% of the law,
besides I got myself a new partner.
And, where is he?
Well he's tied up at the moment,
so he won't cause us trouble.
Go on and get off your mounts.
Why don't you go to hell?
No.
I figured you for a wise ass bitch.
Get off your mounts.
Do as he says.
Guns, please.
I do not want any accidents.
I said, guns please!
You know, it's not wise to surrender one's weapon.
You get the picture now, jack ass?
Move the fuck along.
Ya! Go!
This will be a life-changing moment
that you will live to regret.
Well, sure.
Careful now, there's quicksand all around these parts.
He's gonna betray us all.
Here's how we play this;
I'll leave the three of you here,
and take your guns and the wagon.
At some point due west, I'll leave,
said guns in the ground, and I disappear.
Where I will never look upon the likes of all you again.
Kill him!
I've been too far
to let this bush wacker get the best of me.
You, sir, are a twitchy, nervous wild card,
which is why you're tied.
Now is the jack of diamonds and the queen of hearts,
gonna give me any trouble?
Good, you two have more sense.
Is this your man?
I said, is this your man!
You just signed your death warrant.
Well, no matter who this whore shares her bed with,
little sister you're coming with me.
I'm taking you as an insurance policy,
but you might find me interesting.
I'll get you, bastard, I promise.
I just saved you from the wages of sin.
Money is the root of all kinds of evil!
Know that you go forth in this life with untarnished souls.
Now I bid you adieu, you'll find your weapons
a mile or so down the road,
after all I am a Christian, and a man of my word.
Yeah, right.
Well, don't just stand there, untie me.
My hunch is to leave you tied.
Oh, listen, I know we've been on the opposite sides
of this thing all along.
Well, now's the time to forget all that,
if we don't, we'll never see the contents of that box,
and you'll never see your woman again.
She's not my woman.
Okay, but do you still wanna see her go off
with that depraved bastard?
All right, I will untie you, but no tricks.
You are a wild card.
Aint we all.
Much obliged.
We need a plan.
Fine, what do you figure?
Do you intend to release me?
Whoa.
As I said, do yo intend to release me?
I have not yet decided, pretty flower.
Will you release me when you drop the guns?
I'm a man who has needs,
except my needs are quite different from other men.
My tastes run to adventurous sport with the ladies,
that is when I allow myself to consort with your sex.
You see, I find most women to be filthy creatures,
little brains, not much to offer
but carnal comforts.
After partaking in a woman, I have little use for her.
Most of them don't live long after the act is completed.
You may be in for a surprise.
Well, I welcome the challenge.
You may have misjudged me.
Did I, pretty flower?
I think he's dead.
Yeah.
Let's get the hell out of here.
Now it's the time to see what all the fuss is about.
Thank you.
All right, let me in there.
Whoa!
Damn!
No one touches anything!
Little sister, you have my.
That derringer may have knocked the wind out of me,
but it did not penetrate deep enough, I've been shot before.
You'd been better off to kill me.
See, after I murder your man here,
and possibly Mr One Eye,
you and I are gonna have a party.
There's a great deal of money in there.
You are so right.
It was in here all along.
Maybe your journey is at an end.
Maybe.
Maybe you found that peace we talked about.
What about the rest of it?
I don't care about it,
whatever's left in here came from an evil place.
I am glad of one thing though.
Yes?
That I saw you on your way to that place of peace.
They say there's wonderful country in Montana,
we could go together.
After all, we make a good team.
You should start a new life on your own terms.
Forget the past, find a good man,
settle down, raise a family.
Well now, aint this touching.
Now this is little drawing room romance is over,
let's get to it.
I almost forgot about you.
And what's the story with my gun.
I removed all the percussion caps.
Are you deaf? I could've been killed, you bastard.
You think I trust you with a loaded gun?
Well, forget about that.
What are we gonna do about that?
Well, I'm glad you asked me.
What the hell?
I've had about enough of the chaos
this damn box has created.
You're taking it for yourself, you pig!
Nope, I'm letting you have the whole damn thing.
No!
Untie me you bastard.
Only thing is, I'd figure out a way
to get out from under those ropes
before the damn thing sinks.
Untie me!
I never could stand quicksand, dirty stuff.
I swear if you don't cut these ropes,
I'll kill you if I ever see you.
What would life be without a little challenge, adios.
I'll be back to see you, wherever you settle,
and I will be there for you forever.
I almost believe it this time.
I mean it.
Despite your wandering ways, I know that you will be.
You are the most decent man I have ever known,
I love you with all my heart.
You know something?
What?
I think I may be ready for that place of peace now.
I may not be far behind you.
Be strong, young lady.
I will be back someday.
I know you will.
I know you will be.
I swear to Christ if I ever find you,
I'll cut you from ear to ear you son of a bitch!
Nobody does this to me, you double dealing wrangler.
Nothing in this world is ever even!
Provided by explosiveskull https://twitter.com/kaboomskull