Original subtitles

- Elliott. - Karen.

Stop him, please. That man in there, he's trying to kill me.

From the entertainment capital of the world...

produced for television by Warner Bros.

Silver City, New Mexico, is a quiet little town devoted to the arts.

For example, there's the art off the dance...

as practiced nightly in the concert hall of the Bella Union.

Large numbers of citizens less interested in the arts...

devote long hours to self-improvement.

Altogether, Silver City is a fine little town. If you have the strength.

They also play poker in Silver City.

And as in any other town, they hate to see a winner quit.

Well, gentlemen, that's all for me tonight.

I'm down 1000, Maverick.

- You're into me for 500. - You can't quit now.

Gentlemen, as my pappy used to say...

he who plays and runs away lives to run another day.

You're a foolish man, Maverick. You're on a winning streak.

- That's right. - That's just why I'm quitting, boys.

It wouldn't be fair to keep playing with you gentlemen.

Willy.

Let me have the order for Number 6.

- Now, Willy, right away. - Not so loud.

Over here.

- What's the big hurry? - He stopped playing.

Here's your money.

No.

$10 is what you said.

I changed my mind.

$20 is what I want.

All right.

Thank you, gentlemen, and a pleasant good evening.

Good night.

- Oh, hello, Walter. - Everything all right?

Just fine. Say, what was that time, 12 noon tomorrow?

- That's definite then? - It sure is. Good night.

Nothing could change your mind, could it?

What, for instance?

Good night, Bart.

$20,400.

Four hundred more than I needed to become a full-fledged businessman.

Half owner of the Bella Union.

I wonder if I should have business cards printed.

It only made sense one way. My door was bolted from the inside.

Whoever took the money had been in my room when I came in.

That meant a key.

The desk clerk was cooperative.

Only two people who'd been on duty the night before had keys to all the rooms...

the clerk's two brothers. Both were asleep now.

One was the night clerk, the other the night bellhop.

One was as crooked as the other, but the bellhop's room was closer.

You say someone got in your room, Mr. Maverick?

And they got away with a lot of money, Willy.

- Now, what do you know about it? - Me?

Why should I know anything about it?

You wouldn't shoot, would you, Mr. Maverick?

It was Karen Gustavson.

The cancan girl? The Swede?

Norwegian. Didn't think she'd take anything. She said it was a joke...

Where does she live?

Adele's rooming house.

Honestly, Mr. Maverick, I didn't think she was...

You've got no right busting in this way. I don't run a very respectable place here...

but gentlemen can't call on ladies in their rooms without being announced.

- Ma'am... - Besides, Karen works late.

- She has to sleep. - Is this it?

- Did you hear what I said? - No, ma'am.

Well! I'll just get the sheriff.

Yes, ma'am.

Miss Gustavson isn't in there.

Who are you, her trainer?

- I said, Karen's not in there. - Well, how do you know?

I waited up all night for her. She didn't come home.

You're a dealer at the Bella Union, aren't you?

- Temporarily. - You got a key?

Of course not.

Look, I don't know who you think you are, but...

She's gone.

Where did she go? Who are you?

- How long you known her? - You haven't answered my questions.

Why are you looking for Karen? And why did she leave here?

You need a drink.

There was a good chance Karen Gustavson had left town...

on the southbound morning stage.

Until I talked to the man who sold the tickets.

The only woman who had bought a ticket on any outbound stage...

in the last 24 hours was one Mrs. Murphy...

a seamstress who took care of the cancan girls at the Bella Union.

Oh, Mrs. Murphy.

You didn't leave town after all. Where was it you didn't go?

- El Paso. - Thank you, Mrs. Murphy.

After I got a ticket on the afternoon stage...

I kept my noon appointment with Walter Osbourne...

the man I was supposed to go into business with $20,000 ago.

I don't care why you don't have the money.

Take it easy, Osbourne. After all, I was the one that was robbed.

Besides, I'm wanna get that money back. All it means is a delay.

- A delay will mean no deal. - Why?

Getting this place from Mitchell for $40,000 is like getting it for nothing.

You said he had to sell Bella Union because his doctor told him he had to get out.

- Sure. And the sooner the better. - So?

He snapped at my offer...

because he didn't wanna waste any time bargaining with people.

But if he has to wait now to give us a delay, he'll do some shopping around.

There's a man in Santa Fe who'd pay $60,000 for the Bella Union.

Probably more than one.

I can get a delay from Mitchell with a deposit on the deal.

You can catch up with the girl and be back here with the money in five days.

- Four maybe. - Maybe.

I can't guarantee it, Walter.

It's too late for me to find anyone else.

You'd better not let me down.

A pretty girl with a Norwegian accent shouldn't be too hard to find.

I intend to find her. But don't put any money on it. You might lose.

I'll depend on you to see that I don't.

I'll ask Mitchell to take $5000 to hold the deal open for four days.

I'll let you know at the stage. - All right.

But it's your money.

All aboard, folks.

You get your bet down?

Mitchell made me leave a $10,000 deposit.

And all he'll delay is three days.

Mitchell seems to be getting healthier by the hour.

- And your odds shorter. - Let's go, mister.

- Coming. - Maverick.

If you're not back here in three days, I lose $10,000 and the Bella Union.

Do you have any idea what owning that place means to me?

- I do now, Walter. - Good.

I never learned to lose gracefully.

You're young yet.

I'm all set to go, where's that mare?

Well, what do you know?

I've been following you, Mr. Maverick.

I know now why you're following Karen.

You wrong about her. She's honest and good.

- And rich. - This is nothing to joke about.

We'll look for Karen together. And nothing is gonna happen to her.

We're gonna make quite an interesting team, Mr...

- Elliott Larkin. - Larkin.

You're gonna be looking for Karen to protect her.

And I'm gonna be looking for her to wring her pretty little neck.

Elliott Larkin spent the next three hours telling me...

what a wonderful girl Karen Gustavson was.

How being in love with the Norwegian beauty...

had made him stop feeling sorry for himself...

and start making something of his life.

After a while, I didn't quite catch every word.

I'd been right about Karen. She didn't go unnoticed anywhere.

Hey, shotgun, toss my bag will you?

Elliott Larkin proved to be an alert and constant companion.

Always at my elbow to give me a helping hand.

And pick up any information I might get on Karen.

I didn't shake brother Elliott a minute too soon.

At the next town I came to, Las Cruces, I found that Karen had left the stage...

rented a carriage and had headed for Mexico.

That meant her next stop had to be the village of San Miguel.

The only stop across the border.

I hadn't exactly shaken brother Elliott at that.

Who is it?

It is me, Señorita Collins. The proprietor.

Pardon me for disturbing your privacy, señorita.

But I have good news for you.

You are no longer the only American in the hotel.

- A man? - A man and a woman, señorita.

What does the man look like? Is he tall? Handsome?

Oh, no, no. They are two old people.

Turistas, eh?

I think you will like the lady. She is very...

I don't want to see anyone.

I'm sorry, señor.

I do not feel very well. I would like to rest.

Si, señorita. I understand.

I will see that you are not disturbed. Carlos will give orders.

You must be in good health for tomorrow.

- Tomorrow? - Si, have you not heard?

The fiesta, señorita. Sábado de Gloria.

It is the day before Easter Sunday.

And it marks the death of the betrayer, Judas.

And it is a magnificent day, Madre de Dios.

All over the village is paper statues of Judas.

Some are as big as a man. One is the size of a house, even bigger.

You have never seen anything like it in your life.

Everyone has a...

How do you call the gun powder in the sticks?

- I mean firecracker. - Yes, firecrackers. Everyone has them.

And then at night they will burn the big statue of Judas.

Madre de Dios, what a sight.

And the masks, oh, the masks, they are something to see.

Everyone wears one.

I will wear one that looks like my sister's husband.

He is fat like a pig.

And he has got chins all the way down to here.

That sounds like fun, Carlos. Is there dancing?

Everywhere. In the streets, in the houses, in the village square.

We will have a fiesta right here on our own patio.

Naturalmente, señorita, you are invited.

Thank you, Carlos. I accept.

Bueno, well, I will leave you now so that you may rest up for tomorrow.

- Buenos dias, señorita. - Good day, Carlos.

- Hasta la fiesta, señorita. - Hasta la fiesta, Carlos.

Señorita Collins. Señorita Collins.

It is me, Carlos. You feel better today?

- You will join us then? - Just as soon as I change my clothes.

- I just bought some Mexican ones. - Bravo, señorita, bravo.

Buenas dias, Señorita Collins.

I sure hate to spoil your holiday fun like this Miss Gustavson.

But there is a little matter of my money.

I don't have it.

- Yes, you do. - No.

I took it.

But I didn't keep it.

I only took your money to keep you from buying the Bella Union...

with that Osbourne. He is an evil man, a corrupt man.

Look who's throwing stones.

- You stole $20,000, remember? - That's different.

It is only money I steal.

Walter Osbourne steals honor and dignity.

- We'll get to the speeches later. - No, now.

Walter Osbourne is a devil among men.

Amen. Now where's my money?

He's a corrupt man, he would...

If I don't get that money, I'll shake you until

you come apart at the joints. Where is it?

- Stop it, please! - When I have the money.

All right. I'll tell you.

That man is...

Over there, in my wardrobe.

- Walter Osbourne is the devil, huh? - On the top shelf.

- Señorita Collins. - Let me go, please.

- Elliott. - Karen.

Stop him, please. That man in there, he's trying to kill me.

What kept you, Elliott?

Buy him a drink, will you?

No. Have you seen a lady...? A señorita, with blond hair?

She came through...

- I don't have the money. - That's what you told me the first time.

- Then you told me you did. - I lied.

You?

The money is back in Silver City.

- At a Wells Fargo office in your name. - Sure it is.

I am telling you the truth.

What does that mean?

"Upon my honor."

I only stole your money to keep you from going into business with that pig of a man.

- Osbourne. - He's worse than a pig, he's...

- Listen, Karen, I'm through with this. - My arm. It's growing numb.

- You're very strong. - The money, the money.

Do you know what Osbourne did to Anna Bergen?

Is that the cancan girl that killed herself?

She took her life because of him.

No, not because she loved him. She was terrified of Osbourne.

Couldn't escape him.

He wouldn't let her.

Her real name was Anna Gustavson.

My sister.

You don't believe me?

Karen, if what you say is true, I'm sorry.

If it's Osbourne you're after, why don't you go after him?

I tried and failed. More than once.

But owning that place is the biggest thing in life to him.

If I could stop you from helping him get it, I'd be satisfied.

For Anna.

And there was something else.

- This way I could be helping you too. - Helping me?

What makes you worry about me, anyway?

I like you. You are young, handsome, honest.

And broke, and for the last time, where is my money?

I've told you the truth.

I can prove it to you.

I wrote you a letter.

I was gonna mail it to you tomorrow.

You'd get it too late for your deal with Osbourne.

But it explains why I took your money, and where you can find it.

- Show it to me. - I don't have it with me.

- It's in my room. - Fine.

Let's go see the letter.

No, I mean, isn't it too late for you now?

No, we got a delay.

- How long? - Three days...

Look, what difference does it make? We got it delayed. That's enough.

If you've got the letter, you can do anything.

But if you don't have it and you're lying to me again...

I'm gonna make you tell me where that money is, one unpleasant way or another.

Did you steal the money to hurt Osbourne?

Or to help him?

Perhaps it was both, a little.

What did you expect him to do, sweep you off your feet?

Maybe.

I know I expected him to do something.

- I don't think he's quite up to it. - What do you know about him?

- He drinks a lot. - He should.

It helps him to forget.

He was a prisoner in your Civil War. Spent two years at Andersonville.

I'm sorry. I talked out of turn.

But I still wanna see that letter.

There is no letter.

- I lied. - You'd think...

I'd be used to that by now, but I'm not. Is the money here in your room?

That's the first honest answer you've given me.

Now do you believe me?

No.

We're going to the police station.

- Are you going to have me arrested? - Now, that's a pleasant thought.

The telegraph office is in the police station.

We're gonna send a telegram to Wells Fargo in Silver City...

to ask if my money is there, and if it isn't...

you and I are gonna have a little session, but much less friendly.

But you won't have an answer to your telegram until tomorrow morning.

And you won't get out of my sight till I get that answer.

I like that.

You what?

I think you are a very, very nice man, mister...

May I call you Bart?

- Put that on the wire right away, please. - Bueno, señor.

- Oh, I'd love some. - No, no, no, Karen. Not now.

I'm starving.

Gracias, gracias.

- Bite? - Only when I'm mad enough.

Señor, señor.

Telégrafo, señor?

Yes.

"Walter Osbourne.

Bella Union, Silver City, New Mexico Territory."

I learned my good English in El Paso.

I lived there since 2 and one half years.

- Drop the message, huh? - Yes, sir.

"Maverick here in San Miguel with the girl.

Has money, but not returning. Has new investment plan.

Signed, a friend."

Send it as fast as you can.

Si, señor.

It's fantastic, Bart.

- I've never seen anything so interesting. - Hold on.

- We've been on our feet for six hours now. - Look.

Beautiful.

A whole city celebrating together.

Just like in Norway's St. Hans Aften. That's Midsummer's Night.

I wish I could make up my mind about you.

You're either the sweetest girl I ever met in my life...

or the slyest, shrewdest thief in the world.

- Come on. - Where are we going?

To your hotel room. It'd be too easy for you to get away in this crowd.

Bart, I told you I would not try to run away.

You also told me you had a letter in your room.

- Señorita, ha, ha. Señor. - Viva la fiesta, Carlos.

Gracias. I see the señorita has regained her health, no?

- You and the señor must dance with us. - Me? No.

No, thank you very much. But, no. I'm sorry.

- You better give in, Bart. - One dance, señor.

- I don't know the dance. - I will teach you, señor.

This is tiring.

Thank you. Would you hold that, please? Thank you.

Karen!

Karen, if you think I'm fooling, you're in for a big surprise.

- I've got a good mind to take... - Señor.

- You like to dance with Chiquita? - No, I can't...

Oh, señor, come back to the party. We miss you.

Viva la feista, señor. I'm sorry.

- What's your trouble? What's the matter? - Enrico?

Who's Enrico?

He's the man who drove off with your señorita.

- Carriage driver? - No, he's the carriage driver.

- Well, who's Enrico? - A bandit.

That makes two of us. Carlos, can you get me a horse?

Si, señor.

Why are we stopping here? I told you there's a man following me.

Please drive on.

Horse is tired, señorita. Better we stay here, huh?

But I've got to get away. Out of town.

I'll pay you well.

But you will be safe here, señorita, from the man that follows you.

This is the home of a friend of mine.

Come.

- Please, I don't think I'd better... - I want you to meet my friend Manuel.

His house is your house.

Manuel.

No, thank you I...

I cannot believe such good fortune, señorita.

I didn't even have to kidnap you. You walked right into my arms.

I think it's the fiesta that brought me such luck.

Do not be alarmed, señorita.

This is my profession.

The people that I kidnap, they are never harmed.

Sometimes they even enjoy it.

We'll have Manuel ask from your friends $500.

And $50 for you, huh?

Hey, Manuel.

Manuel, wake up.

Karen, do you make it a habit to go to parties...?

Thank you, Bart.

If you don't tell me where my money is...

- I'm gonna give you back to him. - No!

Yes! Now, I really know you're a liar. If you weren't, you wouldn't have run away.

I ran so you'd think I'd still did have the money.

I wanted you to have to follow me deep into Mexico for days.

Away from telegraph wires and Osbourne and your precious three-day delay.

- What's wrong? - My foot's caught.

Well, what are you waiting for?

You could run all the way to South America now.

Suppose he wakes up.

I'll bark at him.

- Are you hurt? - No, just stuck.

I'll never let you go if I get hold of you.

You do believe me now, don't you, Bart?

About why I stole your money, and what I did with it.

Well, let's say I'm just a little more confused than I had been.

He'll be so unhappy if he misses the burning of Judas.

- Shall I wake him? - I don't think you could.

Still confused, Bart?

A little.

I'm wondering how such a nice girl could be such a thief.

And you still don't believe me.

No, but I am beginning to like you.

- I always liked you. - What about your friend Elliott?

Oh, I could love him, I guess, if I were as sure he was a man.

Maybe I love him anyway.

Would you like to see that letter?

You mean the one you said you wrote to me.

The letter I did write to you.

"Dear Mr. Maverick, By the time you receive this...

it'll be too late for you to be any help to Walter Osbourne.

Your money is at the Wells Fargo office.

Maybe someday I will be able to tell you why I have done this thing.

Karen Gustavson."

If I'd shown it to you before, you would have gone back to Silver City...

and, well, I'd have accomplished nothing.

What makes you think you have now? There's still time for me to go back.

But you won't.

No, I won't.

Even if Osbourne is half as bad as you say he is...

I'd better start shopping around some more.

Have you been waiting long?

A while. I got here as soon as I could.

Why?

Your $20,000.

I got a telegram which said you weren't coming back with it.

A telegram from whom?

It was signed "a friend."

Elliott.

Take off your gun belt.

Now, where's your money?

You're not gonna believe this.

- I'll try hard. - Tell him, Karen.

The money is back in Silver City.

At the Wells Fargo office where I left it in his name.

- What? - I told you, you wouldn't believe it.

You know something, Osbourne, she isn't terribly fond of you.

She stole the money to keep me from going into business with you.

- I warned you to stay out of my way. - I am not afraid of you.

Now, Karen, always be afraid of a gun.

How about it, Maverick?

Changing horses, I got down here in 11 hours.

We could still make it back in time.

I don't think Miss Gustavson would like that, Walter.

I'm out $10,000 if you don't come in with me.

And I don't intend to let that happen.

That gun won't help.

You wanna bet?

Walter, you could take me back at gunpoint.

You'd never get the money out of Wells Fargo that way.

You'll get the money out of Wells Fargo. I'll have her.

When you turn the money over to Mitchell, I'll let her go.

How about it, partner? Yes or no?

You still can't make me believe you'd kill her for a few thousand dollars.

I've got a better reason than a few thousand dollars.

Karen, I know who you are now.

And I know you won't give up until you think you're even with me.

So if you do it my way, Maverick, maybe I won't have to kill her.

- I'll leave that up to you. - He'll do it, Bart.

We'd better go back with him.

He sounds like he'll do it anyway.

That's a chance you'll have to take.

There are some horses out back.

What's the gun for, Osbourne?

Qué pasó?

Qué pasó?

- Carlos, can you get a doctor here? - Si, señor.

How is he?

He's gonna be all right.

Both of us.

Yeah, I guess you will at that.

Maverick.

I got Osbourne down here.

I'm sorry.

I know.

You made up for it just fine.