Original subtitles

[ theme music playing ]

[ dog barking in distance ]

He's here.

Pay him.

Times change.

Two days ago I'd have shot him on sight.

Now I'm working for him.

But he's gotta go some to make up for all the years he's hounded me.

Caught you a couple of times, too, didn't he?

How about you?

Did he ever have you behind bars, Augustin?

Augustin, Beal.

Hello, Marshal.

Or is it mister now?

Mister.

Somebody came up with your price, huh?

You're the one man I would have said didn't have one.

And you're the last man I wanted to share it with.

[ laughs ]

Where's Harmon?

He's up in the hotel room with the coffin.

Just what is it we're supposed to do for all this money?

Kill. That's what you do best, isn't it?

Who would know better than you, Marshal?

I mean mister.

You got the uniforms?

Yeah.

7th Cavalry, out of Fort Bliss.

How about telling us just who it is we're supposed to kill?

An American senator and a Mexican governor.

Is that all?

Augustin.

Remember, you're second gun to me.

You got your bank drafts?

Then you're as good as paid.

When can we cash them?

In about three weeks.

If the weather holds.

I'll clear you to the border, Mr. Starr.

You'll ship here to El Paso by rail, I take it.

That's right, General.

Then Trampas will lead the cattle drive

from here down through Mexico.

Fine, Morgan.

If you and Trampas are satisfied with the arrangements,

there's nothing left to do but to go on to Gato Rojo for the formal signing.

Hadn't we better discuss some security arrangements?

There will be no security arrangements, General.

Well, now, wait a minute. Do you think that's wise?

If we expect to carry programs of development

directly to the people of other lands,

it can only be self-defeating to mar them

by conducting business under the guns of armed guards.

Well, Senator, I was merely recommending prudence.

I must warn you, Senator,

conditions in my country

cannot exactly be called stable.

All the more reason.

The presence of troops could only prove disquieting.

Well, gentlemen, I think

that concludes our business for now.

I feel as though I hadn't slept for two days.

I don't think any of us have.

Till later, gentlemen.Adios.

Adios, governor.

[ whistles ]

Sure throwing those $10 words around.

You were in on a piece of history today, Trampas.

In fact, Trampas, you helped make it.

Now you've got something to tell your grandchildren.

I don't feel all that important, but if you say so.

It's been a trying week, Morgan.

I think we could all use a rest.

Senator, I have to admit

General Howard has a point--

about your security, that is.

The most important contribution this treaty can make

depends on trust and faith, and I can't tamper with that.

Right, right, right.

But now suppose some crackpot comes along

and tries to create an incident.

Now that'll just destroy everything that you and Delgado

have spent your lives trying to build.

You know as well as I do there are always a few mad men

who actually prefer deriving their profits from destruction.

What do you suggest?

It's a short ride.

I can get into Gato Rojo a day early,

look things over,

sort of get the feel of the place.

I'll meet you there.

As good as your intentions are, Morgan,

and probably as sound, I-I won't endorse them. I can't.

Not publicly, at least.

I understand. I didn't expect that you would.

Ahem. Um, how about me going with you?

What's her name?

I haven't met her yet.

To the optimism of youth.

No, no, I have seen him at work, Senator.

I must admit, it's not optimism.

Sure, you can come along if you like.

I just want you back here in time to help the senator with the drive schedule.

Then to the wisdom of age--

may it ever prove a poor substitute

for the optimism of youth.

You know, this is the deadest town I've ever seen.

And I've seen a lot of towns.

It's going to be a lot deader tomorrow.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

I've been wanting to talk to you.Good morning, Padre.

I heard that you were traveling with a coffin.

I thought perhaps there was some service

I could offer you through my church.

That's very kind of you, Padre.

Mr. Beal is bringing a friend of his back to the United States,

but I'm sure he can manage it by himself.

Yes, that's right, Padre.

Uh, besides, my friend was not of your faith.

Uh, no offense.

I see.

Well, it would make no difference.

I am Father Carlo. Should you need any assistance,

please don't hesitate to call on me.

At any rate,

you have my condolences.

Thank you, Padre.

Perhaps we should take the padre up on his offer.

What?

Church is a better place for a coffin than that hotel room.

Better view.

Quicker exit.

You got a point, Mason.

You're staring to think like a real bandito.

Plenty of water. Maybe too much.

This lake is no place to be around during a heavy rainfall.

Must really flood its banks.

Yeah, it does.

Part of the treaty calls for the Mexicans

to build irrigation

and flood control channels.

That'll help both sides of the Rio Grande.

And in return they get cattle,

farm machinery, fertilizer.

Will it work?

Yeah, it'll work if the right people help to make it work.

I never heard of a treaty that kept itself.

Who are they?

The tall one's Morgan Starr.

The other one's called Trampas.

He's the one that's supposed to

ramrod the cattle drive from Wyoming.

The rich ranchers whose hearts bleed for the poor.

Maybe they've come to have a good time in a border town.

No, not Starr. The other one maybe.

Do you know them?I know who they are.

Nothing's been left to chance on this.

Oh. Two more won't matter, huh?

[ door closes ]

What's wrong with him?

Oh, we're lucky, Beal.

The devil has got to us early.

It hasn't caught up with Mason yet, but it's gaining.

Afternoon, ma'am.

How's the beer?

Wet.

Two, please.

Two pesos.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

There you go.

Americans.

Morgan Starr.How do you do?

Trampas.How do you do? Cleve Mason.

I know that name.

Well, don't strain your memory to drag it up.

It's not worth the effort.No, wait a minute.

Weren't you once the marshal of Cimarron?

Yeah, a long time ago.

Trampas...

Mason was once the terror

of the Silver City trail.

I once made a drive through there.

I'll bet you remember this.

Some of my boys tried to hurrah Cimarron.

Mr. Mason got all ten of them into a cell

without firing a shot-- I heard all about it afterwards.

Well, at the time it seemed like a story hardly worth telling.

Nah, they never do. What are you drinking?

I'll have what you got, thanks.Another beer, please.

It's wet.

Thank you.

What brings you to an out-of-the-way place like this?

Well, that's just it, Starr-- it is out of the way.

A man gets tired of being hated and feared,

and down here they couldn't care less, and that's the way I like it.

Hmm. Come on, let's sit down.

Well...

What's a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?

I own it.

What I meant to say is,

what's an ugly fella like me doing in a place like this?

Anybody else beside yourself come to town lately?

Oh, I stopped noticing that kind of thing when I turned in my badge.

Yeah, enjoying yourself.

Looking for a job-- something new to me. I can't say I like it.

Oh, I shouldn't think it'd be too hard

for a man with your background to get a job.

You'd be surprised how quick people can forget me.

Yeah.

How come there's hardly anybody around?

Every place I've been,

the cantina's the liveliest place in town.

Business bad?

There is no business.

That's because the local housewives are afraid

their men come in here, they won't wanna go home.

I'm not interested, cowboy.

I know all about you.

You come from saddle soap and you're headed for paradise.

You won't make it.

You got $3 in your pocket

and the most you'll ever have is ten.

Unless you rob a bank, in which case I'm not interested.

So you can't possibly win,

so why don't you just run along, hmm?

[ knock on door ]

Who is it?

BOY: It's me, Golindo.

It's the clerk's son.

What do you want?

I got your towels.

I bring you something if you want.

GOLINDO: Food, maybe? Water?

I don't know about you, but I'm getting thirsty.

Hey, now that you mention it.

Just a minute, kid.

You taking him home, huh?

Hmm? Oh, yeah, that's right.

Uh, look.

You, uh, you get us some tequila, okay?

I don't know.

Maybe the padre see me.

He tell my father. I get in terrible trouble.

Well, uh, how does 50 cents sound to you?

50 cents? American?Mm-hmm.

Maybe I take a chance.

Okay. Here's a quarter.

And I'll give you the rest when you come back.All right, soldier.

Beal.

What's that boy doing here?

He brought the towels.

And did he see you like that?

Sure, he did.

What do you think about our visitors?

I don't know.

If I was that senator, I'd send someone ahead of me.So would I.

Hey, not bad, huh?

Oh, boy. I sure would like to see the face

of that commander of the 7th Cavalry

when they ask him why his men killed a senator and governor.

[ chuckles ]

Hey, why don't you put your uniform on, too, huh?

Maybe the marshal doesn't believe in short-term enlistments.

Trampas, you better get on back.

I'm just gonna wander around town and turn in early.

See you tomorrow?

I'll be here.

Not doing so well, huh?

Is she too mean for you?

No.

She's just got so much heart, it keeps hurting.

She's scared of it, that's all.

So that's the secret, huh?

Well, that's a gem of wisdom for a starter.

I never knew there was a secret to it.

This town look all right to you?

Yeah, so far.

I've got another place to go.

Whatever you wanna know about a town,

there are usually two places where you can find it--

the cantina and the church.

I'll remember that.

See you in the morning.

That's one of them out of the way.

Good afternoon, Padre.

Good afternoon. Welcome to Gato Rojo.

I thank you.

You are a man with a mission.

No.

Just a question, Padre.

Missions are more in your line.

I believe that every man's life is a mission.

But you didn't ask for a sermon.

I was wondering if there have been any strangers in town.

Anybody you think might be a troublemaker?

Then there is a mission.

Yes, I suppose there is.

And on whose behalf is this mission?

Well...

Let's say on behalf of Gato Rojo.

That sounds worthwhile enough.

No, I am unaware of any troublemakers

in Gato Rojo.

This is a quiet place, my friend.

Morgan Starr.

Anyway, noisy though Gato Rojo's beginnings have been,

thusly peaceful does its old age promise to be.

Hmm.

Unless sudden prosperity livens things up a bit.

An ancient dream.

We pray it will come true.

Whoever fears for his safety here,

you may tell him that this is a place of prayer.

This is... Golindo.

Come here.

What do you have there?

It is not for me, Padre.

I would not drink it.

It's for the soldier, the American soldier.

He give me a quarter. It belongs to him.

He's gonna give me another quarter.

I was gonna put it in the poor box. Honest, Padre.

Ay, Golindo. What has become of you?

First you traffic in sin,

then you lie.

What American soldier is in Gato Rojo?

There is a soldier, Padre, honest.

I would not lie to you.

Son.

Are you sure about that?

Yes, sir, I saw his soldier suit.

All blue with yellow scarf on it.

And he's got a muertoin his room.

A muerto?

There's a...dead man?

These men are taking the body of a friend back to the United States.

Strange.

I did not know they were soldiers.

You often have American soldiers passing through here?

No.

This is not the sort of town soldiers choose to spend their time in.

Son, how would you like to earn a dime?

He has earned quite enough for a day.

I think God has earned a free favor from you, Golindo.

May I, Padre? Thank you.

What do you want me to do, mister?

I want you to tell him

that I'd like to meet him,

that I'll be at the cantina.

At the cantina?

That's what he said.

Okay. Thanks, kid.

You couldn't wait to put that uniform on.

You think he suspects something?

Well, what difference does it make?

All we gotta do is play it out.

What does it matter whether I'm a soldier today or tomorrow?

It's all gonna come out the same.Tomorrow makes no difference.

Between now and then a lot of mistakes can be made.

Well, I could go down there like he said,

let him buy me that drink, and find out.

And make another mistake.How could he know anything?

One thing is for sure-- if he is scouting,

we had better deal with him, and do it now.

I don't like it.

You always were a loner.

If you didn't trust us, why did you bother to hire us in the first place?

Beal is right, Mason.

We gotta find out, and do it fast.

Hey, mister, I told him.

[ dog barking in distance ]

What did he say?He just shut the door.

Mm-hmm.

Well, thank you, son.

If I can help you, you let me know, will you?

Well, maybe you wanna buy an arrowhead?

Genuine Aztec, from señor Montezuma himself.

Look here.

The next time you make one of these...

If you heat the chisel,

you know, get it real hot before you strike the flint,

you'll get a much sharper edge to the chip.

See?

You just keep practicing now. We'll see.

To better times?

Wouldn't take much.

The, uh, boy said you wanted to see me.

Yeah. Morgan Starr.Ed Beal.

How are you? Sit down, sit down.Thank you.

Yeah, I've been hearing about your difficulty.

I thought I might be able to help.

Well, that's, uh, that's really good of you, Mr. Starr.

It's always a pleasure to meet another American in a strange place.

What, uh, what brings you down here?

I'm in the cattle business.

I might be selling some stock down this way.

Oh, I see.

Well, I wish you a lot of luck with it.

Thank you. What'll you have?

Tequila.

Now listen, can you use some help with that coffin?

I might be able to arrange some transportation if you need it.

No. No, that's--that's really nice of you, but we've got a wagon.

Well, I just thought I'd ask.

Hey, 7th Cavalry, huh?

Good outfit.

General Howard's a friend of mine.

Maybe you know him.

General Howard?

How would I get to know a general?

Mason, come on, sit down.

This is Ed Beal. Cleve Mason.

Oh, yeah, Ed Beal-- he's in the room next door to me.

What did happen to your friend?

Um, he--he had an accident

down in Chihuahua.

That's too bad.

Well, at least he has a friend to take him home.

I guess it's pretty tough to be alone in a strange country.

Nobody to even bury you when you die.

Well, he must have been with the consular detachment.

I heard they came out of the 7th.

Uh, yeah, as a matter of fact he was.

I hope when I go,

there's somebody to take me home.

STARR: Where you from?

BEAL: Illinois. Carthage, Illinois.

How about you?

Medicine Bow, Wyoming.

Medicine Bow.

It's a funny thing how-- how Americans always manage

to find one another in a foreign country.Yeah.

Funny.

Get 'em up, soldier.

If you are a soldier.What's this for?

If you haven't got any identification,

you're gonna have to explain this whole thing

to the first federale we can find.What's it all about, Starr?

He's lying.

Right now there is no consul in Chihuahua.

So? Maybe he's a deserter.

What business is it of yours down here?

Any other day it wouldn't be.

Today it is. All right.

That's far enough.

That's a fine performance, Beal.

Now we're going outside of here and across to that church.

And we're going to do it quietly.

You, too, lady.

What for? I can't do anything to you.

Don't make me force you.Leave her alone, Mason.

Marian, you come along. I'll keep an eye on you.

Since when have you cared what happened to me?

Old friend?

Hardly know her.

Get going, Starr.

[ kids playing ]

It won't work, Mason.

You can't stop what's going to take place here tomorrow.

Neither you or anybody else can do that.

There's a man with a lot of money in it says you're wrong.

What was your price?High enough.

Hmm.

You've come a long way from Cimarron.

It's as far away as heaven.

[ cocks gun ]

Get going.

[ playing organ ]

[ music stops ]

To raise your gun in church,

you must be on a very holy mission.

Let's save the talk, Padre.

You do as I tell you and stay out of the way.

Out of the way of what?Of this.

Now you and that woman are hostages.

If our plans go wrong tomorrow, we might make very good use of you.

But that doesn't mean to say we won't kill you today if we have to,

and that goes for you, too, Starr.

You try very hard to stay alive, my friend.

I promise you, it won't be easy.

Tell me something, Mason.

How can you stop the signing of the treaty

without killing those who intend to sign it?

Well, if you can think of a way, I'll use it.

I guess I can't.I guess you've got your answer, don't you?

Will somebody please tell me what's going on in my church?

Padre, United States Senator Mills

and your Governor Delgado,

they are coming here tomorrow to sign an economic treaty,

and Mr. Mason here wants to kill them.

Kill them?

Wearing American uniforms. By the way,

do you have any idea what will happen,

what this means?

I'm doing a job, Starr. I don't care what happens.

Well, let me tell you what's going to happen.

It'll discredit two governments.

It'll surely start a counter-revolution right here in this state,

and very possibly start a war.

One more thing--

you're in church.

Take that hat off.

Augustin.

Go get your uniform on.

Beal, you go with him, too. Help Harmon.

Are you sure you can take care of 'em alone, Marshal?

My marshal days are over.

Don't make any mistakes.

You make one wrong move and you're dead.

What happened, Mason?

What made you sell yourself

to treason and murder?

I had a revelation, Starr,

an insight into humanity.

May I share this wonderful truth?

I don't think you'd enjoy it, Padre.

Lead me not into temptation,

deliver me from evil.

Sometimes the devil wins the game, you know.

Has he won, Mr. Mason?

Well, let me put it this way.

He's able to thank me for my efforts

in a much louder and clearer voice than his competitor.

You're not the first man to discover that guns are louder than dewdrops.

Louder than dewdrops?

Well, you won't be the last man to drown in those dewdrops, Padre.

I've found a quicker way, that's all.

What really happened, Mason?

If I happen to live and you don't,

a lot of people are going to want to know the answer.

Is that so, Starr?

Well, they should have asked me for the answers

during the 18 years I had one for them.

Did you ever stop to think that they paid you to be strong?

That's right, Starr, strong--

strong enough not to care when you get no thanks for doing a good job,

strong enough not to care when a father comes to you

and tells you his son is innocent of what he got hanged for,

and strong enough not to care when the good citizens of your town don't back you up

and turn you out because you try to arrest their mayor

for running a crooked gambling house-- that's 18 years, Starr.

18 years of building something that you thought was good,

only to find out it was rotten inside all the time.

That's your humanity for you.

You've got-- what is it, Padre-- your dewdrops?

Well, I got my corruption.

And we'll drown together, you and me.

I have seen prayer keep many drowning men afloat.

Forget it, Padre.

I've gone in head-first. I'm looking around on the bottom now.

Stay where you are.

Don't wanna hurt you, now. Don't want any trouble from you.

That's very decent of you.

Decent? It's hardly that.

Mason, you're afraid.

You're afraid of this church, you're afraid of the town.

You're not quite sure just how far you're ready to go with all of this

and you're afraid to find out.

Well, it isn't too late to pull out.

And go where, Starr?

Go back to Cimarron.

Arrest that mayor, consequences be hanged.

The good people of that town turned me out.

I'm never going back there.

Did they turn you out,

or did you abandon them?

Well, I'm glad somebody showed some sense

in at least putting out a probe.

It's basic military strategy.

It's the scout principle.

You know, Senator, reconnaissance is the heart of surprise.

It's very hard for the layman to understand

the approach of the military mind.

The professional soldier is trained that caution is the way to survival.

He is constantly shown that power is the key to survival.

So when statesmen like you, Senator,

come along and ask us to expose ourselves

to the risks of trust and faith,

it requires a whole new view of life.

So forgive an old soldier

if he seems less than noble.

General Howard, someday both of us will be obsolete.

And I trust the world will be a better place for it.

That's it, huh?

BEAL: She's all right?

There's no problem.

Hey.

That sure is something, all right.

How'd you get it?

Same way I've gotten everything else.

He killed for this gun.Yes, I killed for it.

We'd better change.

Hey.

What's it like to kill a whole lot of people at once?

They all run together.

It's the same as one.

You know,

a man with a gun like this could--

could own the world.

What are you praying for, Padre?

The understanding and wisdom of forgiveness.

You find it?

I hope so.

For your sake or mine?

In God's eyes, there is no difference.

[ softly ] Ma'am.

Do you have any friends in town, any...

family, anybody who will miss you?

No, nobody.

What about this Augustin?

What about him?

Before you get upset, you'd better realize

that we've gotta get out of here alive.

And we've got to do it before morning.

Now I have to know about anything that'll help us,

anything at all.

You've come to the wrong place, mister.

Leave me alone.

Is there a bell,

any way we could, uh,

arouse this village?

There is a bell here.

A very ancient bell

that has not been rung in 200 years.

The rope has long since crumbled to dust.

The old bell would not ring even if there were a rope.

If we were able to arouse the village,

wouldn't we then be placing their lives in danger also?

Are our lives more precious than theirs?

Well, it isn't a matter of our lives.

It isn't even just theirs.

I was once the chaplain of what I thought

a noble and pure revolutionary army.

The flush of victory, they became as savages.

They became bandits,

ravaged many villages which resisted them.

And I blessed them in their evil.

For I was persuaded to bless them

when it was in the name of God.

I...

I am a man as well as a priest, Mr. Starr.

I could not stand another mistake like that.

But if you gave your blessings in good faith...

But I was wrong.

I could not bear to be wrong again.

What if you're wrong now?

A fair question.

I will ask it of you.

If the people were to come here

and see guns in their church, they would fight.

They would come with muskets and pitchforks

and they'd be slaughtered.

You might escape the carnage.

But the village would be empty.

Mr. Starr.

If there were a way

to arouse the village...

would you really do it?

If there were no other way, yes.

Then...

let us both pray that we may find one.

[ door opens ]

They're moving in as soon as it's dark.

Here are your clothes.

Look, it wasn't...

it wasn't my idea to...

bring you into all this.

I don't see you doing anything to get me out of it.

[ cocks gun ]

What do you want, Starr?You say you're doing this for money.

Will you take money to call it off?Whose, yours?

I'll give you a note that will be honored by the bank in Medicine Bow.

And I'll stay in your custody until you have the cash.

You still don't understand, do you, Starr?

I prefer to make the money this way.

What are you so noble about? What are you protecting, a beef contract?

No? Your life? Don't think that's the reason

why you're begging to pay a ransom. What is it?

To stop you from starting a war, I'll do anything I can.

You're destroying a lot of innocent people, Mason.

Innocence or guilt

is decided by the man who's in charge.

Then who's in charge?

Who?

Let me deal with him.

[ laughing ]

It's my hand, Senator.

Very shrewd play, General.

My congratulations. That's $3 I owe you.

Why don't we settle up when you get back?

We'll play another game, double or nothing.

And now, gentlemen, if you'll excuse me,

I have much to do.

I'll say goodbye, Senator, and wish you a safe journey.

Thank you.

Señor.Adios.

[ speaks Spanish ][ speaks Spanish ]

Gracias.

I tell you, Senator, I held a confusing hand.

That's what we're paid for, Juan.

I sense I should have overruled you

and insisted on protection tomorrow.

Juan, I've been jumping at shadows ever since I realized

we must conduct this treaty away from the specter of armed force.

I, too, have seen treachery in every face.

In the general, in Starr, even in you, my dear friend,

even as you must have wondered about me.

We're doing something worthwhile. We both know it.

Let's not darken it with our fears.

Let's get on with it, and if it kills us,

why, maybe it was meant to be.

We'll leave at midnight as planned.

We should be there by dawn.

The hour of the condemned man.

[ knock on door ]

It's me, Beal.

I've got a wagon waiting outside.

Give me a hand.

You, uh, you wanna sell it?

It's not for sale.

Well, uh, I'll give you my whole share.

It's not for sale.

Someday...

somebody's gonna take it away from you.

Are they, Beal?

Let's go.

Thought about you sometimes.

Sometimes isn't often enough, Augustin.

Right now I'm too scared to care.

AUGUSTIN: I won't let them hurt you.

MARIAN: You're made of ice.

If they paid you enough,

if you thought there was a halfway good reason,

you'd kill me or that priest or anybody else.

No, not you.

Doesn't matter.

If you don't do it,

they will.

You didn't always think I was made of ice.

I didn't always cry every night, either.

For me?

For you?

For you?

Why, you're a pig.

You're a killer, a thief.

I hate everything you are.

I cry because I let you touch me.

I cry...

of shame.

Augustin.

I thought you said you hardly knew her. What's going on?

It's none of your business.

Well, she better not get in the way.She won't.

I don't like it.I don't care what you like, Mason.

When something goes wrong, we can talk about it, all right?

That better not happen, Augustin.

Are you all right?

It's going to be a cool night.

Maybe the padre can get you a coat

or blanket.

I wish they'd get on with it.

You sound like you wanna die.

I don't care,

one way or the other.

Because of him?

Maybe because of me.

When he came along...

I was so alone, I...

I lived from sleep to sleep because I...

I couldn't stand being awake.

He made me laugh.

I guess I forgot to think about what he was.

Or might be.

Marian.

Could you...

help me?

Would you help us?

Set him up for you?

So you can kill him?

If I have to.

I can't.

Well, why not?

You said you hated the way he is.

I do, Mr. Starr.

But I also hate what I am.

That doesn't make me any less...

the mother...

of the child I'm gonna have.

Or him...

any less the father.

He doesn't know.

Well, now...

That could save your life.

And your child's.

He must never see

or touch

or know this child.

You won't tell him.

And if I did?

It would ruin my life.

And it wouldn't save yours.

[ sighs ]

Padre.

Talk to her.

I think you'll find your work is cut out for you.

I believe in my work, Mr. Starr.

Is there something you wanted to say to me, Father?

Mr. Starr indicated that such was perhaps the case with you.

Leave me alone, Padre. Please.

As you wish.

But there is something I've been wanting to say to you.

Since you have come to this village,

I know things have not gone well for you.

I feel you blame me.

You rejected me, Father.

What else could they do?

I didn't reject you, my child.

I rejected your money.

You came to me and offered a very generous donation

if I'd bless your cantina.

I refused

because blessings cannot be bought.

I didn't want to buy them.

I believe that now.

Why?

Because now you think you need me, and yesterday you didn't?

I don't understand.

He didn't tell you?

He said perhaps you need me, that's all.

[ knock on door ]

HARMON: Easy.

HARMON: Watch it, watch it.

Open it up.

That's your ultimate weapon, Padre.

MASON: The good people say this is gonna end war forever.

I can tell you it speaks louder than dewdrops.

Get it set up right in the middle here.

Father Carlo.

Will you...

Will you hear my confession?

This must be familiar country to you, sir.

The land, yes.

But the people, they change.

They come and they go.

They change. I hope I will know them.

You know, uh,

sometimes you act crazy,

treating this machine like it was a person.

It is a person, Beal-- it's me.

What did she talk to you about?Ask her.

That's close enough.

I just wanted to see this gun close up.

You and the world.

Something to look at, all right.

Where's it from? Harper's Ferry or Hartford?

Hartford. You know about guns, huh?

Oh...

I can love a good gun, same as anyone else.

Isn't so.

Most people don't understand that a weapon

is an extension of a man.

See, the bigger the power of the weapon,

the more powerful the man.

[ chuckles ]

How many people have tried to take it away from you?

14.[ whistles ]

Well...

I think you'd better be careful around here.

What are you trying to tell me?

You're a man alone.

No, not alone.

Oh, yes.

This gun doesn't have to sleep.

You do.

What's he saying to you, Harmon?

Oh, just that, uh, power...

breeds envy.

Nothing new.

Don't let him near this gun again. You watch him.

I'll watch everybody, Mason, everybody. And I don't sleep.

Ever.

What's that supposed to mean?

Just keep your distance. All of you.

Don't do that again, Starr.

Don't try to turn us against each other.

He's a sick man-- he's got the kind of sickness that kills.

You keep on going at him and he'll make this whole town run red.

You've got everybody figured out, haven't you?

You know what I'll do, you know what Harmon will do.

But you don't know what you'll do.

Well, when I find out, Starr,

you'll be the first one I'll let know.

Augustin.

Keep your eye on him.

I'm going outside for some air.

Yeah, I could use a little air myself.

The air in here is good enough for you.

Go ahead, Starr.

[ groans ]

[ exhales ]

Huh.

Gato Rojo.

The sleepy little village

that doesn't know it's about to die.

It's just another small village

with the same selfishness as all of 'em.

It'll sell out anyone to survive.

Is that the way it is, Mason?That's the way it is.

Mm-hmm.

You ever wonder....

why they are doing it?

You know, Beal and Harmon?

Then there's Augustin.

He's so sure of himself. Now what's he after?

Money, like Beal?

They tell a story about Augustin.

The Indians around here believe it's true.

Say he was born with no heart and that he doesn't bleed.

[ chuckles ]

If they're anything like the Shoshone,

it's just their way of saying that he never learned right from wrong.

I suppose that makes him innocent, too, huh?

Oh, no. No, no.

Harmon is the only one who qualifies.

It's too late for him.

He's committed to his sickness.

No, the guilt will be with those people

who use his sickness to do their killing for them.

Well, it sounds like you're talking about me.

What about it, Starr? Do you think you know my answers?

[ laughs ]

Well, I could give it a try.

This job is, uh...

revenge for you.

You're trying to get back at people you think

wiped out the meaning of your life,

but it's just revenge.

It's empty, petty revenge.

But you're not committed to it,

and I don't believe you're going to see it through.

Well, if what you say is true,

you can walk right out of that gate and I won't stop you.

Now do you wanna bet your life on that?

No, you're different than those three.

Yesterday I might have walked away from what's going to happen.

But not today.

What's so special about today?

Two things.

First, I wanna find out who's behind you.

[ laughs ]

You know, I think I'll tell you.

You've been sold out, Starr, just like I was.

It's a friend of yours.

The name is Howard.

Howard.

General Howard?

That's right.

Howard?

Well, what does he get out of it?

What difference does that make?

More power.

Now what's your second reason for staying?

The second reason is something the padre told me.

I had asked him if there was some way

we could arouse the people, to...

call them to arms.

And he reminded me of the terrible responsibility of...

having to choose

to fight for the lives of other people.

[ sighs ]

Very noble sentiment.

But as far as I'm concerned, all that means to me

is you were sold out again.

The one man in town who could help you,

the good man this time,

wouldn't back you up.

You said that innocence or guilt is determined by who's in charge.

Well, that's not true.

When you have the privilege

of making your own choice,

you're responsible for that choice.

Men choose their guilt, Mason.

Did you ever stop to think of that?

Guilt doesn't choose them.

We choose, you and me.

I have made my choice,

and I accept the responsibility.

I spent the most of my life doing things your way,

and I was paid back by being sold out.

And you've been sold out already by your friend.

Now these people out here or anywhere else,

they're no different than those people in Cimarron.

You don't hate Cimarron.

You hate yourself.

'Cause it wasn't their fault.

It was yours, and you know it.

Now I figure you've just got a few hours to go back.

After that, it'll be too late.

I feel as though I'm dressing for church.

DELGADO: It will be good to see Padre Carlo again.

But let me warn you,

do not let him get started on the story about the bell.

What bell?

It is too long to tell you now. We are almost there.

BEAL: Here comes that kid.

Looks like we'd better make room for one more.

Let me send the boy away. He can do you no harm.

Can't take a chance on the boy being missed.

Suppose the padre tries to warn him.

No, he won't.

He wouldn't risk spilling innocent blood.

Would you, Padre?

Go ahead.

[ knock on door ]

[ bolt unlocks ]

Good morning, Golindo.Good morning, Padre.

I brought you that quarter I promised for the poor box.

Why is the door locked today?

Oh, I've been so busy weaving a new bell rope,

I forgot to unlock it.

Weaving a new rope?

And why not? Haven't we always wanted

to be able to ring our fine bell?

Now let me have the quarter and you run along.

We both have much to do, I'm sure.Here's a quarter, Padre.

Thank you, Golindo.

This money will do much good.

Now run along.

[ dog barking ]

Padre.

Thank you.

You know, uh, in about a half an hour,

we may give you a contribution that'll make that quarter look pretty silly.

I prefer this gift from him.

Well, just where do you think he got it from?

It's not the gift that can be soiled, only the donor.

[ drops coin in box ]

You think the boy understood?

I hope so.

What's the matter with you? Don't you feel well?

I feel all right.

Papa, does the padre ever ring that bell he's got up in the tower?

Mm, I have never heard it.

He said he was making a new rope for it.

He said he was going to ring the bell.

Hmm, that would be a surprise.

A big surprise.

Hmm.

He likes to talk about that bell in his sermons.

Is very old, that bell.

He says it don't ring for 200 years,

and if it ever does, it will mean that...

It will mean that...

It will mean something bad. I don't remember it.

Are you sure he said all that?

He did.

You know, Starr...

All those ideals and dreams

you were talking about, that's...

They're just fine, but that's not the way it is.

That's not the way things really are.

Hmm.

There's a saying--

there's no greater tragedy

than a beautiful theory destroyed by fact.

Well, the fact is it's just too late.

Then it's too late for all of us.

Read it any way you want.

All right, but you remember this.

I care enough about what you've been

to wanna see it saved.

Even from you.

If you go through with this,

one of us will probably die.

I don't want it to be me.

And I don't want it to be you.

Marian.

If I wasn't what I am...

If I was...

different...

someone who...

didn't do the things I do...

live like I do...

If that could come true...

would you still hate me?

Too late now, anyway.

I can't change.

It would be too late for me, too, Augustin.

Even if you could.

Well...

BEAL: Mason!

So you did send word to them after all.

What about his ideals now?

What about the blood of those innocent people out there?

And when they're all dead, what's it all for?

Because of something they believe in or something that you believe in?

And you, Padre.

What qualifies you to set yourself up as a judge?

Tell me! What makes you think you can choose

between life and death for those people out there?

I am not choosing. You are.

MAN: Padre?

All right.

You call your men off, it'll all be over.

But you turn them loose,

the blood will be on yourhands.

MAN: Padre!

[ shouts in Spanish ]

Well, Mason?

Beal, you go to the side. We will take them in the crossfire.

I'm going to take over, Marshal.

Hold it, Augustin.

Nobody's taking over.

I'm calling it off.

We're pulling out of here. It's all over.

I'm really not too surprised, Marshal.

You and I never did see things the same way, did we?

This moment has been a long time coming.

What are you waiting for? They're almost here.

What is it?

He's calling it off.Call it off?

Not on your life.

You heard what he said, Marshal.

Not on your life.

Get away from that gun!

[ yells ]

Here.

Take him away.

Mary...

I'm sorry for what I am.

Always wanted to be something different,

something else for you.

But I couldn't.

I could only be what I have always been.

[ sighs ]

I'm sorry.

It doesn't matter.

Maybe you do something for me

so that I can feel I gave you something?

What?

Marry me?

I did not tell him.

Will you marry us, Padre?

Wilt thou...

take Marian Clay, here present,

for thy lawful wife

according to the rite of Holy Mother the Church?

AUGUSTIN: I will.

Wilt thou...

take Augustin, here present,

for thy lawful husband

according to the rite of Holy Mother the Church?

I will.

I join you together in marriage

in the name of the Father

and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Indians were wrong.

He is bleeding.

Here's your gun.

You and the padre took a big chance in there.

Hmm.

I doubt if the padre thought so.

I'll go back to El Paso with you

and get this thing straightened out.

Then I'm going to go to Cimarron.

There's a mayor there I want to arrest.

[ horses approaching ]

[ theme music playing ]