Original subtitles

You're a very dishonest man.

You've been cheating me, Mr. Martin.

With marked cards.

Cheating you? Well, Doc, you've been winning all night.

I'm gonna leave town in the morning...

but before I do...

I'm gonna complete the business I came here to transact.

And if, Mr. Martin...

I happen to see you here on the streets...

or anywhere I happen to be...

I'll deal with you exactly as I intend to deal with your friend.

And if I don't happen to see you...

I'll just ride out of town and forget about you.

And that, Mr. Martin...

is a better deal than you've been giving me here tonight.

His name was Parker.

I didn't know about much him...

except that he could lose a poker game with good cards...

and pay off with bad money.

My name's Maverick.

He didn't know much about me, either.

Not even that I was standing about 10 feet away...

with a gun in my hand.

Parker...

don't move, don't turn and don't holler.

Who is it? Who's there?

Don't think about me.

Think about yourself.

Think how careful you can be when you set down that bucket.

Now take out your gun...

and put it in the pail.

That's good thinking.

- You alone? - I was.

- Nobody inside? - Not now.

Let's have a look.

- Ask me in. - Ask yourself.

After you.

- Can I turn around? - Slowly.

Maverick.

- So you remember. - I remember the $500.

Not used to losing that kind of money.

I'm not used to winning that kind of money.

Ain't no more where that come from, if that's what you're after.

Just where did it come from?

I got a rich uncle.

You're gonna have a dead one if you got it from him.

What is that supposed to mean?

A man was killed when that money was taken from the coach.

- Somebody's gonna hang for it. - Not me, I wasn't on that job.

Mister, those five big bills you lost to me had five big numbers on them.

All of them consecutive...

all of them from the June issue of currency...

out of the Independence Bank.

Part of a $10,000 take from that holdup.

All right, I did know it was stolen money, but I didn't steal it.

I hope you can prove that.

But all you have to do is prove that I didn't.

You?

You see, the marshal in Quallary...

didn't like my having those bright new bills around.

Didn't like my story, either.

Heh, "Won them in a poker game."

- How did you get away? - Glad you asked.

Hand's quicker than the eye. Showed the marshal a card trick.

While he's taking a card, I'm taking his gun, this one.

Lost the posse in a couple of hours, found you in a couple of days.

Now I'm going back.

Now with me, you ain't. My story's no better than yours.

That's your problem. Get your hat.

The three men who did that job came here to cool off.

I never saw them before that.

Don't tell me, tell the marshal. Now let's go.

Look, you don't want me, you want them three men.

They're the one you're after.

I'm not trying to solve the crime. I'm trying to get out from under it.

They headed for Bandera, you can find them.

They call themselves Shields...

Cane and one of the fellas was named Johnny.

He's the one give me the money.

He's tall, dark and he wears a gold ring around his little finger.

Oh, and he'd twist it every time they started to play cards.

Thanks.

Now let's move.

I ain't moving.

Look, Parker, just because I can't afford to kill you...

that's no sign I can't take you. Even if I have to drag you.

Well, you just gonna have to try, because I ain't moving.

Well, there went my story to the marshal.

Five days later I was in Bandera, the town Parker had mentioned.

He had mentioned three names too:

Shields, Cane and a man called Johnny...

with a habit of twisting a gold ring on his finger.

Hey, ain't I seen you someplace?

It's possible, I've been there.

Sure, Ponca City, that's where it was.

You was the customer that didn't drink.

And you're the bartender who did.

Heh-heh-heh. Yeah, that's me.

Hey, you're a gambling man.

There's an opening for a dealer at the Red Front Casino.

What happened to the old dealer?

He found a new opening.

- Too bad. - Uh-uh.

Too slow.

Well, I gotta catch up. So long, Mister, um...

Maverick, wasn't it?

Yeah. Uh, say, can you keep a secret?

For a dollar.

Well, ugh...

you know how it is with a gambling man.

Moves from town to town, sometimes looking for a cooler climate.

Oh.

- Traveling for your health, huh? - Yeah.

Well, I'm not using the name Maverick.

I'm calling myself Martin, Bret Martin.

That's fine with me.

I'm calling myself Ponca.

It didn't take a long to find out that nobody in town...

knew anybody named Shields or Cane.

Checking up on Johnny took a little longer.

There were six Johnny's in town. Two were old men, three were boys...

and one was a little girl.

I thought I'd follow the signs...

and try to change my luck at the Red Front Casino.

That'd be the place to look for strangers in town.

- Hello, Mister... - Martin.

I know, heh.

Somebody here I want you to meet.

Miss Cora?

Yes.

This here's the boss.

This is the fella I was telling you about.

Well, you didn't tell me near enough.

His name's Martin.

I'm Cora Beth.

All right, Mr. Martin, you'll do.

- Do what? - Attract a better class of people.

I pay $50 a week and tips.

Well, I'm sorry. I'm not looking for a job.

Oh?

- What are you looking for then? - A game.

Well, if you change your mind, come and see me.

Do I have to change my mind?

Not necessarily.

Hey, don't look like that.

- Like what? - Like you're looking.

That's the way the other dealer starting looking.

The one who left town in the box.

Who put him there?

Him.

Don't like nobody looking at her or talking to her...

or even thinking about her.

- Who's he? - Meanest man in town, fastest too.

Three men thought they was faster, they wasn't.

- Big reputation, huh? - The biggest.

That there's the fella that backed down Doc Holliday at Fort Griffin.

- No. - Fact.

Called him a cheat to his face.

Would've shot it out then and there, Doc Holliday backed down.

I take it we're talking about the same Doc Holliday.

You know him?

I played cards with him once in Wichita, ahem.

Didn't figure he'd back down from anybody.

- Doesn't care that much about living. Well, he did.

And it took that there fella to do it, so don't get him grouchy.

Well, thanks for the tip.

Tip's worth a dollar.

Oh, at least.

I'm in for 200.

I like a sociable game. My name's Martin, Bret Martin.

- Fred Turner. - Jim Elkins.

- Yours? - Stacey.

Oh, let's stick to first name.

That is my first name. Cards?

I believe we have a mutual card-playing friend.

- Who's that? - Doc Holliday.

- Did you say friend? - Not a good friend, though.

He's a cheap tinhorn.

He's a sick man.

But I understand you made him look sicker in Fort Griffin.

Well, he asked for it.

Funny, just can't picture it somehow.

Doc Holliday backing down.

Are you saying maybe he didn't?

Oh, no.

- Then why mention it? - I'm sorry I did.

Hit me.

Oh, now, boys, play nice.

When you're through here, I wanna see you upstairs, Johnny.

I thought you said your name was Stacey.

It is. Stacey Johnson.

But only my good friends call me Johnny.

Too much.

- I'll be back. - No hurry.

This was Johnny, all right. No doubt of it.

And nothing I could do about it, not yet.

I wasn't about to risk another dead lead like Parker...

or even a dead Maverick.

No, I had to wait and watch. Hope I'd learn something...

to help me sell my story to the marshal.

Come in.

So soon.

Why delay? I'll take the job.

Just like that?

You're changeable.

Flexible.

Did someone downstairs influence you?

Someone upstairs.

All right.

You're on the payroll.

Just like that?

As you say, why delay?

I've never seen a woman run a place like this before.

I like the way you do business.

- My husband did it better. - Oh?

- He's dead. - Oh.

Cora Beth's my given name, his name was Creighton.

Creighton?

You've heard of him?

- Can't be the one. - I think it could. Cole Creighton.

He was killed while robbing the bank at Rio Bravo.

That's the one.

This place is all he left me.

It isn't what I wanted.

But I'll use it to get what I want.

Well, when do I start?

Right now.

Go tell Johnny he's relieved.

Do you really think he will be?

Ten days later, I was still no closer to the answers I was after.

I still had one plus: Johnny.

I was still minus two: Shields and Cane...

and anything I could take to the marshal at Quallary.

But I had managed to mend my fences with Johnny.

And I'd even joined the select circle...

that called Stacey Johnson by that name.

- Boss lady wants to see you, Johnny. - Thanks, Bret.

But in 10 days, the man who said he backed down Doc Holliday...

hadn't said much of anything else.

And then a very funny thing happened.

Hello, Doc.

I was just thinking about you.

Say you're glad to see me, dealer man.

I'm glad to see you.

He ain't as big as I thought.

Yes.

That face of yours.

I place it now.

I was trying to recall it...

but, uh, faces look pretty much alike over a card table.

Oh, I don't know. I didn't forget yours.

So I've heard.

- You have? - Oh, yes.

I've heard a lot about you.

About me?

About the game we played in Fort Griffin.

- Oh, Wichita. - Fort Griffin.

I heard it so often I know the place.

But the face didn't fit until now.

Well, just what have you heard, Doc?

Careless talk.

Gossip, mostly.

But it's invidious.

Distasteful. Depressing.

I think I know what you talking about, but...

Then you do see my point.

The most precious thing to a man is his reputation.

If he loses that, he loses everything.

Including sleep.

That's why I had to look you up.

To play another game.

Heh. Well, why didn't you say so? Sit down.

By another game, I mean a different game.

Drop the Handkerchief.

- I don't think I know that one, Doc. - Oh, it's easy to learn.

I hold the handkerchief like this.

When I drop it, you go for your gun.

- I do? - Yes.

Now let me see you back me down again, dealer man.

Like you did in Fort Griffin.

Wichita, Doc.

I've never been in Fort Griffin.

He's telling the truth, Doc. He ain't the one you want.

He ain't the regular dealer.

Stacey Johnson's the one you're looking for.

And that wouldn't be you?

It wouldn't.

But I've seen you somewhere.

Wichita, Doc. In Wichita.

It's possible.

This one spoke very well of you.

It's the other one that done the knocking.

And where is the other one?

Up them stairs and through the door.

- Is that right? - That's right, Doc.

- Yes, sir. - Right up the stairs.

My mistake, sir.

We all make them...

that's why we have erasers, huh?

Apropos.

Maybe prophetic.

Is there any other way out to there except down those stairs?

Not unless he wants to jump out of the window and break a leg.

Would you go up those stairs and tell Mr. Johnson...

that Doc Holliday is waiting to see him about some unfinished business?

Would you do that?

I'll do that.

Saved your life. Ain't that worth a dollar?

No.

My life wasn't worth 5 cents more than Johnny's...

if he kept his date with Doc Holliday.

I saw myself with a second lead just as dead as the first...

when Johnny came marching down those stairs.

Keeping him alive was my only chance to keep my own neck out of a noose.

Don't ever do that, Bret.

Don't ever open a door behind my back without knocking first.

I'm sorry, Johnny. Cora.

Don't apologize.

The only thing worse than making a mistake is apologizing for it.

- I hope you don't mean that. - Why shouldn't I?

I think you've made a mistake.

And an apology may be your only way out of it.

- What are you talking about? - Man downstairs with a grievance.

- What man? What's his name? - Doc Holliday.

Holliday here?

- What does he want? - To see you.

What about?

About playing Drop the Handkerchief.

Looking for trouble, huh?

Not looking for, he brought it with him.

Well, I can take all he's got.

Johnny, you're not going down there.

Why not? I'm not afraid of him.

- He not afraid of you either. - Backed down on me once, didn't he?

I've heard you say so.

That's right. And he'll do it again.

And if he doesn't?

I can take him.

You know, I'm beginning to believe...

that you really did stand up to Doc in Fort Griffin...

and back him down.

If anybody ever doubted it, let him watch me now.

- Just one question first. - What's that?

- Was Holliday gambling at the time? - We were gambling together.

- Was he winning? - That's two questions.

Answer me, Johnny.

He was winning, wasn't he? Quite a lot.

Too much. That's what led to the argument.

That's what I thought.

What are you driving at?

Johnny.

You know that little habit you have of twisting the ring on your little finger.

Why do you do it?

- Why, for luck. BRET: Right. It's a superstition.

Every gambler has one, even Holliday.

He doesn't like to kill a man while he's having a winning streak.

He thinks it'll break his luck.

- Are you trying to say that...? - I'm saying...

that if you'd started talking tall to Doc while he was losing...

or just breaking even...

you'd be dead right now in Fort Griffin.

Well, maybe so.

But now it's looks like I've gotta find out for sure.

- Johnny, don't be a fool. - Maybe I was a fool.

Maybe I did push my luck in Fort Griffin.

But now I've gotta prove that I wasn't bluffing.

To who, a bunch of tinhorns and rum pots?

To me, Cora. To me.

Well, I can't have you satisfying yourself at my expense.

What have you got to do with it?

I happen to have an interest in your future.

If nothing else, a business interest.

This has got nothing to do with us.

This is between me and Holliday.

I think there's another way out.

And what is it?

Could I speak to you alone, Cora, outside?

- Hey, what is this anyway? - Cool off, Johnny.

What's your hurry?

Holliday won't run out on you.

Well, Cora? Only take a minute.

All right, Bret.

And, Johnny, please for my sake, will you sit down and think it over?

All right. But not for long.

Cora, is keeping Johnny alive worth $1000 to you?

Do you think you can buy him off?

Not for 10 times that much.

- Doc isn't here for profit. - Well, what then?

That superstition of his.

If I can get him into a game, start him winning and keep him winning...

maybe you'll have time to talk sense into Johnny.

Maybe get him out of town for a few days.

Can you do it?

If you happen to have a marked deck and don't mind losing $1000.

I'll get the money.

Doc Holliday's particular brand of poison was double deadly...

because Doc himself really wanted to die.

To die quick instead of slow from a sickness that had no cure.

Doc hated the world because he knew it'd go on living after he was gone...

and it made him mad to see anybody healthy.

These cheerful thoughts passed through my mind...

as I prepared to cheat him at cards.

What's taking him so long?

Mr. Johnson regrets the delay...

but he's in the middle of a meeting. Can't break away.

- Of course, if you can't wait, Doc... - I can wait.

Half the pleasure's the anticipation, you know.

I'm sure he's looking forward to seeing you.

- Who's up there with him? - The boss.

- Who's the girl you were with? - The boss.

You said it was a business meeting.

Well, business has its brighter side.

He's a lucky man.

Uh, speaking of luck, Doc...

ahh, would you like to try yours? Kill time.

Never kill time, friend.

Or it'll end up killing you.

Well, there's a difference between wasting it and spending it.

Who knows, a few minutes here might even be an investment.

- Not for me. - Might make a killing.

How true.

But no thanks.

I've been having a brutal losing streak.

Is that a fact? Me too.

Why, my luck's been so bad...

I'll bet that it's worse than yours.

And I'll just bet it isn't.

One time, dealer man.

Blackjack.

- What'd I tell you? - What'd I tell you?

You were betting on the losing hand. You win, Doc.

Why not.

I'm not going anywhere.

- He's going for it. - Three cheers.

Stop it!

I'm paying $1000 to give you time to cool off...

not to build up a head of steam.

- I want my money's worth. - And you always get it too. Plenty of it.

Now, listen.

Shields and Cane will be back tomorrow.

If they have the information I sent them out for, we'll all have plenty.

- Juicy pie, hmm? - Mm-hm.

Like mother used to make.

If this setup's as good as I think it is...

I can take my half and set myself up in a place in Frisco twice this size.

Your half.

That brings up another small point...

I don't like cutting the second half three ways with Shields and Cane.

- Is that a fact? - That's a fact.

I take all the chances and for what? For one third of half, it's not worth it.

What would be worth it, Johnny?

Half for me...

you can cut the other half any way you want.

- That's generous. - All you do is set them up.

I do the job.

You sit back and grow long fingernails while I'm ducking a short rope.

I had to kill a man the last time out.

Seems to be a difference of opinion on that.

You can't know how it was. You weren't there.

- No, but Shields and Cane were. - Then let them handle the next one.

- You know they can't. - I know.

That's why I want half, Cora.

You want a lot, Johnny.

You always thought I was worth it.

Not now.

Give me time to think.

Eighteen.

Four winners on a double split.

- You're a hard man to beat, Doc. - I've never seen such luck.

Just can't seem to lose tonight.

- You're on a winning streak, all right. - Hmm.

At a time like this.

You wanted to see me, Doc?

Yes, Mr. Johnson.

I believe we have some unfinished business.

If you say so.

No hurry.

I'm getting some lucky cards here tonight.

We can settle up later.

If it's all the same to you, let's settle up now.

It's not all the same to me.

I said, later.

Whenever you're ready, Doc.

Never fear, Mr. Johnson.

I'll be around till I ride out this winning streak.

But before I leave town, I'll make a special point of checking with you.

Anytime, Doc.

Anytime.

Pick up your cards, Doc. I think I've got you beat.

Give the boys what they want and put it on my tab.

I sure will. Come on, here.

Blackjack.

Oh.

I could take him on myself...

if I had a mind to.

Deal.

You hush up, Ponca. You've had enough.

Enough? I ain't never had enough.

When you start talking about taking on Doc Holliday...

- that's the legal limit in this bar. - No, sir.

You heard what my old friend Stacey Johnson said.

I'm drinking up on him and I ain't even started.

Yes, sir.

It was me that did it.

Me, Ponca Brown.

Shot it out with Doc Holliday right there in Bandera.

After the smoke cleared away...

there was just one man standing where two stood before.

Me, Ponca Brown.

- Ponca. Ponca, go home now. - Hmm. Hmm.

It's all over and you've won. What more do you want?

All right.

Keep the newspaper boys away from me until after I rest up.

Sure. Sure, I'll do that. Now you go on home, hmm?

Stand.

Push.

Are you a bad shot or what, mister?

Take a look over your shoulder, Doc. - No.

No, Doc, you got it all wrong.

I wasn't aiming to shoot you.

Heh, not me, I wouldn't do a thing like that.

I wouldn't shoot you in the back.

Not me, Doc, honest.

Why didn't you kill him?

Well, he's kind of a friend of mine.

You're wrong. You have no friends.

Only two kinds of people in the West, Mr. Martin.

The quick and the dead.

You seem to have saved my life.

Why?

Well, I was afraid he might miss you and hit me.

- Shall we finish our game? - Let's call it a night, I've had enough.

Let's just fold up this lucky deck and come back to it in the morning, huh?

Very disappointed in you.

- Disappointed, Doc? - Yes.

It isn't often I think enough of anyone to be disappointed in him.

But you've done it.

You're a very dishonest man.

You've been cheating me, Mr. Martin, with marked cards.

Cheating you? Doc, you've been winning all night.

That's how you've been cheating me.

You've been playing on a personal weakness of mine...

to cheat me out of what I came here to do.

You and your friend, Mr. Johnson, who had everybody laughing at me...

when he walked out of here tonight.

All right. So I kept you two from killing each other.

- Seemed like a good idea at the time. - Cash my chips, dealer man.

We'll call my winning streak officially over.

- Even though it never really began. - Real or not...

you're nearly a thousand dollars richer.

Too bad you've wasted it.

You know, it really doesn't matter why a man cheats me.

Does it matter that he saved your life?

For that dubious favor, I'll grant a small bonus.

I'm going to leave town in the morning.

But before I do...

I'm gonna complete the business I came here to transact.

And if, Mr. Martin...

I happen to see you here on the streets...

or anywhere I happen to be...

I'll deal with you exactly as I intend to deal with your friend.

If on the other hand I don't happen to see you...

I'll just ride out of town and forget you.

And that, Mr. Martin...

is a better deal than the one you've been giving me here tonight.

- You can go now, Gus, it's all right. - Yes, ma'am.

You play a cool game, Bret.

- Then why am I sweating? - You're cool when it counts.

Not like Johnny. He's a hothead, reckless.

I'll admit he overplayed his hand.

It's typical. That's why I want you to take his place.

I told you this job was only temporary.

Oh, this job means nothing.

I want you to take his place in the things that matter.

What are the things that matter?

- What's important? - Money?

Say, $10,000?

Cut that in a half, split it three ways, and that's Johnny's cut of our...

last outside deal.

The next one's even bigger.

- Are you intrigued? - Who do I have to rob?

- Does it matter? - No.

Then Johnny's share is your share. If you're in, Johnny's out.

I'm in.

I'm glad.

We have two other partners.

I'll give you the details when they get back into town.

- When will that be? - In the morning.

- There's just one thing I regret. - What's that?

Spending $1000 to keep Johnny alive...

before I found out I didn't need him.

Lady Macbeth was an ingénue compared to this one...

and now everything clicked.

Chances were that her office safe was stuffed with the same kind of money...

that had nearly put my neck in a noose.

Lock the door on your way out, Bret.

One hour later, I let myself into Cora's office.

She was asleep by now.

Looking as sweet and innocent as a newborn vulture.

I once spent three days in a Tucson jail...

with a man who claimed he could crack any safe ever made.

If I'd known then that I'd ever have to crack one...

I'd have listened more closely when he told me how.

Now I was wishing I had.

Three hours later, I had the first two digits.

And the sun was already up.

People were walking around on the street out there...

and maybe one of them was Doc Holliday looking for me.

But worse yet...

I could hear Cora stirring around in there.

I just have to take my chances on that.

Then I had it.

The money was there.

Same serial numbers issued by that same Independence Bank...

in packs of 10s, 20s and 5 0s.

All I needed for evidence was one bill of each denomination.

She'd never miss them.

What are you doing here?

Why, just coming in to see you, Cora.

How did you get in?

Gus let me in.

He's already opened up downstairs.

Stand over there.

Morning.

Hello, Gus.

- Anything wrong, Miss Cora? - No.

Everything's all right.

It's a little early for a visit, isn't it, Bret?

Why not.

Thought we'd start the day right...

celebrate our new partnership over breakfast.

All right. I'll send Gus over to Harvey House.

- Oh, I'll go. - You can't.

Do you mean because of Doc Holliday?

He's out there, looking for you and Johnny.

Well, he won't be up yet. That's why I'm here so early.

What'll it be, steak and eggs?

Fine.

Why don't you tell Gus to give you a bottle of champagne.

This is beginning to be a beautiful day.

Let's give it a good send-off.

I'll be right back.

All I had to do now was to get my horse, ride for Quallary...

and give my evidence to the marshal. It was easy.

If I didn't happen to run into Doc Holliday on the way.

Maverick.

Where are you heading in such a hurry?

Marshal, you're not gonna believe this...

but I was heading for Quallary to find you.

- Now, why would you wanna do that? - Oh, to clear myself.

- I've got proof now. - So have I, you're already cleared.

What?

Picked up two men last night. Shields and Cane.

Told us all we had to know.

We came for the other one, Stacey Johnson.

And the girl, Cora Beth. Bring her down, boys.

Way I hear it, we'll find the rest of the money up there too.

Just so it comes out even...

here's the bills I was bringing to you to back up my story.

You've been a busy boy, Maverick.

Yeah, uh...

Marshal, is there any reason why I have to wait?

See, I'm in kind of a hurry to leave town.

You in some new kind of trouble?

Yeah, and I don't think I'm gonna have time to tell you about it.

Oh.

I've given you trouble enough.

You're free to go.

Marshal, anybody ever tell you you're a very handsome man?

- So I was wrong about you. - I'm sorry, Cora.

I was wrong about another thing.

This isn't a beautiful day.

Take her away, boys.

Just leave your hands where they are. Now step out.

Slowly.

Now unbuckle your gun belt and drop it.

I knew I didn't like you, but I didn't know why.

But now I know. You're a lawman.

Does it make any difference that I'm not a lawman?

Don't waste your time. I saw those tin stars take Cora away.

What are you gonna do about it?

We're gonna take a little ride together. Just out of town.

Just far enough where nobody will hear this gun when it goes off.

Now mount up.

Mr. Johnson.

I'm surprised at you, Mr. Johnson.

You aren't thinking of leaving town before our business is completed.

Well, aren't you even gonna look at me, Mr. Johnson?

There, you see?

I don't have a gun in my hand.

But you have one in yours.

Just turn it toward me.

How about it, Mr. Johnson?

Aren't you gonna back me down again?

Like you did in Fort Griffin?

Just turn the gun and pull the trigger.

That's all you have to do.

Well, Mr. Johnson. I'm waiting.

Now, dealer man, pick up your gun belt.

Well, aren't you gonna put it on?

I just knew you would.

I didn't know I had any choice, Doc.

I was wrong, wasn't I?

- To think you and he were friends. - You were wrong.

I remember now. Your name's not Martin, it's Maverick.

That's right.

Well, my business in Bandera seems to be finished.

- How about yours? - It's finished too.

Which way?

Well, I figured I'd ride on toward Dodge City.

I hear they got a pretty good game going on up there.

Mind if I ride along with you?