Original subtitles

A Warner Brothers television production.

One card?

Two, please.

One.

And out.

First.

Cost you $1 ,000 to see that, Mr. Maverick.

I always keep a little in reserve for just such emergencies, gentlemen.

What do you have, Mr. Mayor?

That is a diamond flush.

Well, let's...

Almost a good hand, sir.

Full house.

It's all yours, Mr. Maverick.

Thank you.

I'd like to cash in now, if it's all right with you gentlemen.

No objection.

It'll be a pleasure to have you out of the game.

A man spending his first night in town, you're mighty lucky.

Well, it's beginner's luck.

Beginner's?

Well, I haven't played before in this town.

How long you intend to stay in this town, Mr. Maverick?

Long enough to give you a chance for revenge, Mr. Mayor.

Of course, at this rate, I may decide to become a permanent resident.

And you gentlemen recommend a good hotel?

Well, with the size of your row, I'd say that the best hotel is the nearest one.

George here wouldn't say so himself, but he owns the best hotel in town.

It's right down the street, the Fairview.

Oh, it's fine.

$5 ,000.

You don't mind my saying so, sir.

You should have banked this.

I will in the morning. It seems bankers don't keep poker players' hours.

Well, don't worry, sir.

It'll be safe here.

Good.

You'll find your room upstairs to the left, sir.

Number 13.

13?

We can change it to 12A if you like, sir. No, no, no. This is fine. Just give

the receipt.

Morning,

Maverick. Morning.

You slept well, I trust?

Like a $5 ,000 winner.

And you?

No, I stayed up and tried to recoup my losses last night been better off in

What can I do for you?

I Left my money in your safe last night a better place to leave it next to the

bank. That's where I'm heading now

There's

no money here what Are you sure you saw Joe put it in here?

You bet I did. In a brown envelope.

I stood here and watched him while he locked the safe.

Let's go ask him about it.

When he was in this envelope, I put my initials on the back.

Let's start from the beginning.

The poker game.

There were three of us at the table with him.

You mean there are three suspects?

I do not mean that.

A winning like yours would be noised around town in no time.

At one o 'clock in the morning, Sheriff?

At any hour.

I guess that makes me about the only one in town without a motive for the

killing. I'm afraid you're right, Maverick.

All we got to go on is a knife.

And the knife belonged to Joe.

Two people without a motive.

We'll do what we can to get your money back, Maverick, but I don't know.

Well, thank you, Sheriff.

I wish it weren't so, Mr. Maverick, but it looks like that you were last night's

big loser.

Seems to me like last night's big loser was your hotel clerk.

Sheriff?

I'm sorry. Now, the sheriff recommended my hotel.

This wouldn't have happened. It could have happened anywhere.

Well, I'd like to take you to some cash, but a good share of that $5 ,000 was

mine. I don't suppose your clerk's signature is worth much now.

Well, I realize that the hotel should be responsible, Maverick, but what's the

old saying about squeezing blood from a stone?

I'm close to broke.

Well, it's not blood I'm after, Mr. Manton. It's cash.

Well, for what it's worth, board and room with the hotel is yours for as long

you want.

I appreciate that, but I still need a stake to get back into a game.

What about the bank over there? Any chance?

Well, you could try. You'd have to have pretty good collateral.

What would I see?

Well, try the president.

That might be your best bet. And use my name, if you like.

Thank you very much.

Morning.

May I help you, sir?

Well, I was going to ask to speak to the president, but I'd much rather speak to

you.

I'm sure the president will see you.

Go right in.

Thank you.

Shall I wait?

You won't have to.

I'm the president.

You're...

I can safely say you're the prettiest president I ever saw.

Thank you.

Sit down, won't you?

Thank you, Miss... It's Mrs.

Oh. Mrs. Wilma White.

They call me the Widow White.

Oh. I mean, I'm sorry.

My husband ran the bank.

He was killed three years ago, accidentally.

Shall we talk business, Mr. Maverick?

How did you know my name?

Anyone who wins $5 ,000 around here in one night gets well -known in a hurry.

How about somebody who loses $5 ,000 the same night?

I heard about that, too.

Anything can happen in this town.

It only took me a night to find that out.

I assume you're here for money, Mr. Maverick.

Well, I could use $2 ,000.

What can you offer as collateral?

I'm considered an excellent poker player.

I'm sure you're an expert poker player, Mr. Maverick.

And I'm sure you could probably charm your way into a loan if you stayed here

long enough.

But you won't be here that long.

So if you'll excuse me, I... Oh, now me.

I shouldn't have been reading this, I suppose.

But is that what you meant by anything can happen in this town?

I'm sorry you saw this.

It's been a secret I've kept to myself until now.

It looks like something the law would find worth reading.

It was on my desk when I got here this morning.

What about the other people who work here?

There's just one man, my teller.

Did you ask him about it?

I can't. I'm afraid.

And besides, this isn't the first one.

I've been getting them for over a month now.

Here, at home, everywhere.

You must have told the sheriff about them.

No one knows. No one but you and me.

And whoever's writing them.

Why can't you tell the sheriff?

Because I can't trust anyone.

Is there an envelope with this note?

Postmark or anything?

That's just it, Mr. Maverick.

These notes, these horrible warnings, they never come by mail. They just

Do you know what it is to feel helpless?

On occasion.

Tell me, is there anyone in town with reason for doing you in?

Absolutely no one. I don't have an enemy that I know of.

So I have to be afraid of everyone.

It's gotten so I only feel safe with strangers.

You know, Mr. Maverick, that gives me an idea.

I'm glad you saw the note.

You are? Why?

Because you can help me.

Well, I'd be only too happy to try.

You're the only one in town who can.

You came in here for money.

That's right.

Here's $2 ,000.

I want you to be my bodyguard.

That's the kind of work I'd be flattered to do for nothing.

I'm not a hired gun.

Well, your job, as far as anyone in town is concerned, would be a hired hand at

my place outside of town.

The money alone?

If you don't stick it out, it's a loan.

Payable on demand.

What if I don't have it?

Then I'd call the sheriff.

You know, jails never have appeal to me.

But if you stay on the job, see me through, I'll regard the $2 ,000 as a

Well, as my old pappy used to say, son, so long as you stay away from women and

temptation, you're no son of mine.

Bankers certainly do live well.

I just hope they live long.

Your bodyguard will do the best he can.

You know, I feel better just having you in the house.

I hope you won't find it dull.

I have a distinct feeling that I won't.

Excuse me, senora.

Oh, good evening, Pilar.

This is senor Maverick. He will be staying with us for a while. Then I will

a place at the table for the senor. Well, first show him up to his room.

be the one next to mine.

Pilar will be on the other side of you.

She and I could chaperone each other, Mr. Maverick.

Or, uh, hadn't the thought crossed your mind?

We crossed it, ma 'am, but it didn't stay.

One thing I don't understand.

With all this, why you don't carry a gun?

Coffee, senora?

No, thank you, Pilar.

Senor?

No, thank you, Pilar.

Mr. Maverick doesn't care for any Pilar.

I told you my husband died accidentally.

It happened right here, in this room.

Right where you're standing.

He was cleaning a hunting gun and... Well, since then, I haven't been able to

touch a gun of any kind.

So there's nothing I can do but wait.

But at least I don't have to wait alone.

You said that you don't trust anyone in town. Does that include her?

Who knows?

But she's been with me since my husband died.

I couldn't stand being alone out here.

I'll keep an eye on her anyway.

That won't be much of a chore.

You're being paid to keep an eye on me.

So if you see me to my room... It's just up the stairs.

So is yours. You can drop me off.

I found this on my bed.

Soon you'll have your last sleep.

What am I going to do?

Senora, I heard you scream.

Oh, I beg your pardon, Senora, Senora.

Hilar.

Hilar, could anyone have gotten in while I was gone today?

No one did, Senora.

All day long I was here.

Except for a short siesta in my room.

How long was that siesta?

Oh, not very long, senora. A half hour, perhaps.

That would be long enough.

All right, Pilar, that would be all.

Senora, will you not tell me what troubles you? That's all, Pilar.

From now on, I try to have siestas only at night.

You don't trust her, do you?

Bart, the girl can't write English.

How do you know that?

Well, every time she leaves me a note, it's in Spanish.

She could be delivering these death notes for someone.

I've never seen her with anyone else. Her whole life is right here.

I don't distrust her.

You should distrust everyone.

Even you?

It's a little late for that now, isn't it?

Let's just say it's a little late.

Good night, Mrs. White.

Wilma.

Good night, Wilma.

Something bothering you, Wilma.

What do you mean, Ben?

You don't seem yourself lately. Sort of all tensed up.

Probably working too hard.

That's work a man should be doing.

Don't they say women's places are on the home?

Thanks for your concern, Ben.

And thanks for coming in. It's always a pleasure doing business with you.

Speaking of pleasure, Wilma, might I drop by some evening?

We were speaking of business, Mr. Mayor.

Mayor Cosgrove.

Congratulations, Maverick.

I hear you're working for Wilma here.

Did Mrs.

White tell you that? She didn't have to.

Word gets around fast in this town.

Yes, I found that out, remember?

I'm sure you'll enjoy your work.

You didn't sound too friendly.

A disappointed beau?

It's a one -way trail. I never could see anything in Ben.

You know, it's just... possible that uh it's possible but i

don't think ben has the gumption you don't need gumption to do what our

is doing just a twisted mind see a thought just occurred to me and i hope

appeals to you what's that not to get you out of the bank for a while change

will do you good you may be right i'll get my bag

Like it?

It's beautiful.

It's all mine, Bart. I own it.

You see the sky and all those clouds in it?

Uh -huh.

They're all mine.

I own them.

Well, shall we get down and have a look at our joint property?

Your property and mine go well together.

Yeah, they make a good -looking couple.

Bart, after this is over, I mean, if nothing happens, had you ever

thought of staying longer?

Sure, at least until I get my money back.

No, I mean longer than that.

I mean settling down here.

Oh, I don't settle too well, I'm afraid.

Give me a horse and saddle under me and a nice clean $1 ,000 bill pinned to the

inside of my coat, and I'm rich and happy.

But what if something happens to that $1 ,000 bill?

Uh, poor and happy.

I'm not used to being turned down.

Oh, I didn't mean it to sound that way.

Oh, I know you didn't, and I shouldn't have brought it up.

But you know what? Your $1 ,000 bill is gone.

And all you have is the money I loaned you.

That's a fee.

And I'm staying, no matter how long it takes.

I wish it could be forever.

Well, I guess it's the closest I ever came to proposing to a man.

Forgive me.

There's nothing to forgive.

Besides, that's the best offer I've ever had.

From a banker.

I don't feel at all like a banker.

But I am on it. I have a bank to get back to. Whoa.

As one of your clients, I'd like to say I enjoyed that last transaction.

You think I could negotiate for renewal?

This one's for me.

Maverick, whether you stay around or not, she dies.

Bart, that means that whoever wrote this note knows why you're with me.

Now I'm afraid for you.

Now let's save all our worrying for you, shall we?

you

Whoever did it is gone.

I better get you back home.

No, take me to the bank.

Bart, not a word of this to anyone.

We better get it on the record.

We ought to tell the sheriff.

You might just possibly be reporting it to the man who fired that shot.

You're the boss.

a lot of book work to do, Bart. Cough me that eleven.

You sure you'll be all right?

I always feel safe around money.

Just the same, I'm going to have a look around.

Evening, Mrs. White, Mr. Maverick. Just closing up. I'll take care of that,

John.

Everything all right while I was gone?

Oh, fine, fine.

Mayor came by, only for a second, though.

He don't stay around when you ain't here.

Well, see you in the morning.

Good night.

Good night.

Why don't you have your teller do your books?

John's too slow.

Anyway, I've always done them myself.

I like to have first -hand information about what I'm doing.

Another one?

No, just a deposit slip this time.

Well, that's the kind of note I like to get.

Well, now, you run along.

I'll be all right. I'll lock the door behind you.

All right, but I still wish you'd keep a gun around.

Then I'd really be frightened.

Eleven o 'clock.

Thanks again, gentlemen. I...

Supposed to hang on to it this time.

Well, keep it away from my safe, will you?

Oh, don't worry.

Mr. Maverick has made a new connection.

A business connection, Mr. Mayor.

Now, did I say it wasn't?

No, sir.

The mayor's unlucky at cards.

I don't know whether the rest of the old saying holds true or not.

Good night, gentlemen.

Good night, Sheriff.

Coming along, Maverick?

No, uh...

I think I'll just stay here a while and play some solitaire.

Solitaire?

There's a game for a lonely dog.

Sometimes a man likes to sit down and play cards and know he's not going to

his shirt, Mr. Mayor.

Or offend the man he wins from.

You've been away for a while, my friend.

How did I get here?

I found you in the alley near the bank.

You were sleeping like a baby.

How did I get up?

I mean, who put me to bed?

We did.

A small -town banker learns to perform many services.

Even imitating Florence Nightingale.

Oh.

You really hired yourself a top -ranking bodyguard.

I came across this last night when I was going over the accounts.

We don't get many thousand -dollar bills in the course of a month, Bart.

Well, this is the thousand -dollar bill I had in the poker game.

How do you know?

You see those holes?

I made them with this pin.

They just fit.

It's the one you told me about.

Where'd that come from? Who brought it in, do you know?

I wanted to be sure it was yours before I did anything about it.

Let's go see what we can find out.

John, you remember this?

Well, now, don't get a look at many of these.

Yes, I do remember.

A man came in here, said he wasn't used to carrying this kind of money around

one honk, so I gave him ten hundreds.

Who was the man?

Well, I don't rightly know.

Wasn't any town feller.

I sure remember if I was to see him again, though.

Stubby little feller in a checkered suit wearing a chin whisker.

Goatee, they call him.

Any help?

I'll look around.

Can I borrow this?

Of course, Bar.

Sign a receipt.

Let me see. A stubby little fellow with a checkered suit and a goatee.

Sounds like something you'd see after you took on one too many.

Yeah. I remember him.

The drummer he said he was. He stood down at the end of the bar.

Just killing time waiting, he said.

Waiting for what?

Stage out of town.

Thanks.

Have one yourself.

Checkered suit and a goatee. Right.

Took the stage west.

You know what he was doing here in town?

Know what he was doing here at the station?

He was bragging.

Dragging? He just collected on a shipment of furniture.

Thousand dollars, he said it was.

Who got the furniture, did he say?

Well, let me think. He did mention it.

It was George Manton over to the Fairview Hotel.

Thank you very much.

Oh, hello, Maverick.

Checking back into the Fairview, I hope?

No, I heard about your new furniture and thought I'd drop over and take a look.

Well, you have to keep up with the town, you know. Yeah.

Beautiful furniture.

Must have set you back quite a bit.

Oh, not too much. Everything considered.

I heard $1 ,000.

You heard just about right.

You know, Manton, I'm kind of proud of that furniture.

Almost as though it were mine.

I don't know what you're talking about.

You paid for it with my thousand dollars.

This is the bill, isn't it?

How should I know?

Well, it was your bad luck to pay the thousand with my original bill, the one

with the holes in it.

Look, Maverick, I have no idea what you're talking about. Well, I'm talking

about the $5 ,000 you owe me.

Pretty handy with that knife, aren't you?

Your night clerk found it out.

You better drop it because you've used it for the last time.

All right.

Who wants to talk first?

I can make it short, Sheriff.

I found the man who stole my poker money.

He's a liar.

Let's start from the beginning.

How do you know George Manton is your man?

I showed him the $1 ,000 bill I had in that pot.

He tried to pass it off a couple of days ago.

The whole thing's a lie, Jim.

How can you be sure it's the same $1 ,000 bill?

Because of the holes in it where I kept it pinned inside my pocket.

Can I see the bill?

It's in there.

In where?

This is ridiculous.

In the stove.

Look, Jim, you have known me for years.

Would I burn up $1 ,000?

You'd burn up evidence.

You claim George here threw your money in the stove.

That's right.

Any witnesses?

Afraid not.

But, Sheriff, I can prove that... I never saw the $1 ,000.

I was sitting in my office minding my own business.

This wild man came in and started wrecking all the furniture.

Let's go see Mrs. White.

The bill came into the bank. She loaned it to me.

I'll be glad to hear what the widow White has to say.

But unless you can produce that $1 ,000 bill with the holes in it, it's gonna be

hard to convict a respected property owner on the word of a roving gambler.

Sheriff, you sound mighty convincing.

For the moment.

I'm going to be seeing a lot more of you, Manton.

Of course I'll swear I saw the holes in the $1 ,000 bill, Bart. I'll back

everything you said.

But without the bill itself, I don't think they'll do anything about it.

You sound unpleasantly like the sheriff.

Well, I'm sorry, I don't mean to, but I think it's a matter of evidence.

Has it occurred to you that Manton may be our note writer?

Not until now, but... But if you're right... If I'm right, it means he

his clerk and stole my $5 ,000.

In my books, that makes him a pretty likely candidate for what's being worked

you.

I can't believe George would kill me.

Well, maybe he wouldn't. But self -interest seems to be what makes George

That last note of all may be asking for a big hunk of money in return for

sparing your life.

Where are you going?

Oh, knock my head against a stone, Sheriff, I suppose. I'm not going to

without another talk.

Be careful, darling.

Remember, I need you.

And besides, you owe me $3 ,000 now.

I'm going to take my kiss back.

Well, I have to agree with you.

Did no good at all to talk to the sheriff.

Senora, I found this.

Another note here by the door just a few minutes ago.

You have an appointment with death tomorrow at midnight.

It's getting definite at last.

Pilar, you said another note. Do you know about these?

I heard you and the senora talk about them.

Why didn't you tell us before, Pilar?

I was afraid.

Afraid of you, senora.

But also afraid for you.

You said you found this.

Are you sure you didn't write it?

Senor, please.

I do not write in English.

And I would do nothing ever to hurt the Senora.

Tomorrow at midnight.

What are we going to do?

Senor, please, whatever it is, let me help.

I beg of you.

I will do anything, anything you say to help protect the Senora.

All right, Pilar, I'll take you up on that.

Three hours to go, Pilar.

You wait up in Mrs. White's room.

Lock the door and don't be afraid. I'll be right outside.

I'm afraid only for the senora.

Will she be safe there at the bank?

She'll be all right. And no harm will come to you either.

Go on now.

Well, I hardly see you anymore.

Then you're liable to see less and less.

George, dear, I always knew you were a scoundrel, but I never quite believed

were such a colossal fool.

What are you talking about? A man named Maverick.

Oh, I see.

And his, uh, thousand dollars. My thousand dollars.

So? I'll see you get it back.

Out of the money you stole from Maverick? All right, all right. It was

something that happened. You wouldn't understand. I understand stupidity.

Stop it.

I'll get your thousand dollars. I don't want it.

Why did you come here?

To ask you one question. Why?

Perhaps it was because I was getting tired of you.

At least tired of being your slave.

You see, you own the hotel.

You own me.

I saw a chance to get some money on my own and... And I yielded to temptation.

And you killed a man to do it.

Doesn't that give us something in common?

The dog that scared himself by snarling at his master.

George, I wonder what I ever saw in you.

You needed me.

You hated your husband. You were frightened of him. You said he was too

And I had to pick the weakest man in town.

Now you've got Maverick. Is he weak too? Never mind what he is. I need him for a

while. But he won't be around forever.

And I will.

Forever's a long time, George.

I could kill you.

You only kill for money, George, remember?

Don't turn your back on me. It's not polite.

And besides, it might be dangerous.

Don't worry.

You'll be around just as long as I need you.

I have a plan, George.

And you're a part of it.

A very important part.

All right, Manton, come on down over there.

Thank you.

All right, into the house.

In the house.

The killer?

Made a good try at it, anyway. Get some brandy.

All right, why'd you try to kill me?

Wilma said you were coming in town tomorrow to kill me.

Wilma said that? That's right.

She said you'd be alone here with Pilar tonight. This is my chance to get you.

You're lying, Manton. You know it.

Why should I lie?

That pot shot on the road the other morning.

Wilma's orders.

I did it. I didn't ask any questions.

What about the notes?

What notes?

You were trying to kill her tonight at midnight.

Me kill Wilma?

Yeah, sometimes I think I'd like...

You were waiting here for someone to come out and kill Wilma.

You?

She set a trap for me.

She wanted to get rid of me.

She knew you'd be waiting. She knew you'd shoot me.

Here, drink this.

Keep an eye on him.

Where are you going?

I'm going to town.

I'll send a doctor back for him.

Shall we do a little business, Wilma?

Ever since Fred died, every month you've been around for your handout.

Well, that's the arrangement.

No use being unpleasant over a business transaction.

as usual.

Bulma, no.

Here they are. The notes you've been writing me.

I never wrote you a note in my life.

I have a witness that someone has been writing them.

Mr. Bart Maverick.

And when you're gone, he'll be glad to testify for me.

He'll tell how I've been terrorized by your poison pen notes.

And I'll say how I had to shoot you in self -defense.

Wilma, I didn't write you.

I know you didn't. I wrote them myself.

Wilma, let's talk a new deal.

Forget about tonight.

I'll not ask for another cent.

That's a handsome offer, a real handsome offer.

And what about all the money you've bled me of already?

The money that I had to take from the bank to pay you off?

I'll put it in writing.

Not one cent more.

Midnight.

That's the hour you're going to kill me, Jim.

This won't do you any good.

They'll have you for murder.

It'll be self -defense.

Tonight you came here to kill me.

I'll tell Maverick I discovered it was you who was sending the notes.

You do that. Hold it, Sheriff.

Back up.

Put your hands up.

All right, turn around and back up there.

Bart, I can explain.

I doubt that.

I had a reason.

Would it hold up in court?

You're writing those letters to yourself.

Trying to kill the sheriff here and make me think he was planning to kill you

all the time.

Oh, and you're setting up your friend Manton for me to kill.

That didn't work either.

You've been overdoing it, Wilma.

You need a good long rest.

Bart, I had to do it.

The sheriff was blackmailing me, bleeding me, all because of Fred, my

That gun accident of his was no accident.

She murdered him so she'd be free to take up with Manton. That's a lie.

No point in you two telling me all this.

What you both need is a good judge and jury.

Cosgrove. Ah, good morning.

Morning, sir.

I just dropped in to say goodbye.

And to get your money.

Well, that is true.

I had it impounded when Matton confessed.

Thank you.

Is it all here?

I think you better count it.

Oh, that goes on your vest.

Oh, thank you.

You seem to be pretty busy.

Yeah.

Mayor and acting sheriff so far.

You know, it's quite a town I'm running here.

We have the bank president in jail for embezzling, the sheriff for extortion,

and the leading hotel owner for murder.

It's a good town to be from.

Far away from.

Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor.

Oh, Maverick.

Yes, Mr. Sheriff? I wish you'd change your mind and stay around for a while.

See what happens. I wouldn't dare.

We could use some new blood around here.

I'm, uh, not bleeding.

Who is the tall, dark stranger there?

Maverick is the name.

Riding the trail to who knows where. Luck is his companion.

Gamble is his game.

Smooth as a handle on a gun.

Maverick is the name.

Wild as the wind in Oregon, blowing up a canyon, easier to tame.

Riverboat, ring your bell.

Fare thee well, Annabelle.

Luck is a lady that he loves the best.

Nice as to New Orleans,

living on Jackson, Queens.

Maverick is a legend of the West.

Maverick is a legend of the West.

Maverick is a legend of the West.