Original subtitles

It's you that I have been in love with all along.

Lydia, I don't deserve you.

Bret, you once did me the honor

of asking me to become your wife.

Let's have a very quiet wedding.

"Maverick."

Starring James Garner and Jack Kelly.

Produced by Warner Brothers.

From the entertainment capital of the world.

Produced for television by Warner Brothers.

- Denver. - Hope Springs.

Awful big money in that Denver game.

Bart, all the really big money is at Hope Springs this season.

You wanna be a drifter all your life?

Mn-mn. Remember what pappy used to say?

"Early to bed and early to rise

"is the curse of the working classes."

At the Great Western Hotel

even the maids don't get up until noon.

Bret, we're just simple country boys.

Those Eastern millionaires will show you no mercy.

Mm, thank you.

I think you ought to know. This fellow's cheating you.

Of course he is. It's his deal.

What name do you plan on using?

I kind of like the name Bret Maverick.

Well, they won't. Bret, you can't get into the casino.

You can't even get into the hotel unless your name

is Vanderbilt, Vandergelt, Stuyvesant or Astor.

Bart, in the bright lexicon of youth

there is no such word as can't.

Next station stop is Denver. Denver next.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

- You're gonna need it. - Hold the thought.

Is it, uh, true what he said?

Mm, probably not. What?

Well, that you can't get in at Hope Springs

unless your name is Vanderbilt, Vandergelt, Stuyvesant or Astor.

That's the way the old folks tell it.

I don't believe it.

Well, uh, you are not one of those names, are you?

Nope.

I'm just getting over a bad cold.

Oh.

How are you going to get in?

I don't know yet. I wanna surprise myself.

Well, I'm sure you'll have no trouble at all.

Well, if you're gonna be around, we can make a little bet on it.

By George, I will make you a bet.

Uh, do you have luggage with your initials on it?

Elegant luggage. Bought it in St. Louis.

- Especially for the occasion. - Good.

I'll bet you a $100 that if I take your name and you take mine

I can get into the Great Western Hotel

every bit as easily as you do.

Well, what makes you think your name

will impress them any more than mine?

Mine's Vandergelt.

Get your bets down.

I'm afraid, without a reservation...

Oh, ah...

A corner suite on the third floor.

A-and if it isn't exactly what you want...

Uh, t-take Mr. Vandergelt's luggage to suite 300.

Ma-verick?

Uh, Maverick.

Oh. Well I'm afraid we have nothing for you, Mr. Maverick.

- Now look here, my man, I-- - Ahem.

Mr. Maverick is with me.

Oh?

Oh! Oh, yes. Y-yes, indeed, sir.

Well, what are you standing around for?

Take Mr. Maverick's luggage.

You know, it's a, a good feeling having influential friends.

- But I'd rather be what I am. - What's that?

A simple, uncouth Texas gambler named Maverick.

Well, I'm afraid there can't be two of me here.

And I've sort of grown attached to the name.

If it's good enough for the desk clerk

it's good enough for me.

Bret, my boy, it's good enough for the desk clerk

only because a Vandergelt says it is.

If you wanna stay here, you'll have to as John Vandergelt III.

That bland stupid look is deceptive, isn't it?

You've got something up that Brooks Brothers sleeve of yours.

And you're planning to use me, aren't you?

Now you're beginning to think like a Vandergelt. Shrewd.

Well, whatever you're up to, you can count me out.

Suppose I start by counting you out, say, a $1 000.

If you're still here next week

and still being a good little millionaire

there'll be another 1 000 and so forth.

That should do something for your sturdy peasant pride.

What makes you think you can buy me?

My dear fellow, I don't want to buy you.

I, I simply want to rent you for a while.

A thousand a week, plus your hotel bill.

And all you have to do is simper back

at the snobs who simper at you.

Well, suppose some of 'em don't simper?

There must be somebody here that knows you.

Not likely, I-I've been

in England for the last seven years.

Fine. What about the seven years before that?

Well, if the situation arises, just face up to it

with your usual disarming dishonesty.

- Yes, sir. Anything else, sir? - Oh, yes.

If any mail comes for me, that'll be our beloved father

Brigadier Archibald Vandergelt checking up on us.

He thinks we're out here picking out a proper wife.

Why are we here?

Oh, you're here to gamble. Myself, I never do.

Mr. Vandergelt.

Mr. Vandergelt, you probably

don't know me from Adam's housecoat

but I'm Mrs. Chauncey George Mallaver, from Philadelphia.

We met years ago at a party

that I gave for the Grand Duke Alexis.

You were a mere boy.

My, you're looking extremely well. Where's your father?

- Uh, he couldn't make it. - Oh, well, you're here.

And half a loaf is as good as a mile.

Whilst you're here, you must let me take you in tow.

This place is simply teeming with predatory females

and their mothers.

Come along with me and meet some nice young ladies.

Lydia, my dear, we can go further, you and I.

Why does it always get so stuffy, this part of the day?

Look what I found. My niece, Ms. Lynley.

Ms. Marshal and Mr. Lucius Benson

whom I'm sure you already know. Everybody knows Lucius Benson.

This is my very dear friend, John Vandergelt III.

Oh.

How do you do?

As a matter of fact, Mr. Vandergelt

and I have not met.

- Uh, w-won't you sit down, hm? - Oh, well, thank you.

Oh, thank you.

I suspect Mr. Vandergelt finds

society in America rather provincial

after the courts and watering places of Europe, hm?

- How utterly unfortunate. - Actually it is.

New York society, for example, is being taken over

by people who have nothing but money.

Oh, I'm not a snob, mind you. Actually, I'm quite democratic.

I've always said that four generations can make a gentleman

just as easily as forty can, haven't I, Lydia?

Indeed, you have.

So many people who should be leading society

simply won't take any great part in the daily routine of it.

In fact, Vandergelt, that's my only criticism of you.

Oh, you know how it is, Benson. You keep putting things off.

Was that gentleman nodding at you?

I'm afraid he was.

It's refreshing to see a high-society loafer

reading a book.

Well, this one is a low-society loafer.

Oh. Who is he?

Oh, oh, a roving no-good Texas gambler.

His name is Maverick or something like that.

He, uh, he's not society?

He's barely humanity.

Now back to "Maverick."

"The violent unequal throbbing of her heart

"which beat visibly and audibly

"under the excess of agitation.

"I'm not wishing you greater torment than I have, Heathcliff.

I only wish us never to be parted."

Oh, I cannot stand that horseradish cream.

You can't stand the freckles either.

And that "East Lynne."

Oh, really, my dear child, your behavior this afternoon

was rather spectacular.

You were not only rude again to Mr. Benson

who's been patiently courting you for two years...

Aunt Celia, so long as I have money and position

Mr. Benson wouldn't mind if I wore a beard.

You could do far worse than marry Lucius Benson.

Not without a lot of thought and effort.

You were also very cruel to young Vandergelt

who is not only going to inherit $12 million

invested at 25% a year

but who is also quite comfortably

fixed in his own right.

At the risk of repeating myself, Aunt Celia

I'm more than satisfied with the money I've got.

Isn't seven million dollars enough?

What are you staring at? Surely you've seen books before.

"The Courtship Of Miles Standish."

"Fern Leaves From Fanny's Portfolio."

Oh, I'm essentially quite romantic, you know?

Oh, if you would like to borrow one of those, let me recommend

"Wuthering Heights." Delightful.

Star-crossed lovers on a windswept moor.

Or this one, "A Tale Of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens.

Oh, it's, uh, it's about a chap named Sydney Carton

who falls madly in love with a girl.

But she marries some French blue blood.

And what do you suppose this chap Carton does?

He takes her husband's place on the guillotine

so she won't feel badly.

He dies for love.

That's a very nice gesture.

Indeed it is bright to you.

Don't find people like that anymore.

I don't.

- Van. - Hm?

I'm not expected to die for that thousand a week, am I?

I wouldn't let you do a thing like that, Bret.

What sort of a monster do you think I am?

You were asking about the casino, Mr. Vandergelt.

- It's open now. - Well, good. Save me a place.

Well, put it on the table, please, I have

more important things to think about.

Oh, by the way, that Ms. Lynley you've been baiting with books

I rather like her myself. And I saw her first.

Oh, not at all. I saw her months ago.

That's why I'm here. That's why you're here.

Oh. I suppose you want an introduction.

Oh, thank you, no, I refuse to ride

on the coattails of my wealthy friends.

I wanna be loved for myself alone.

You'll need a lot of help on that.

Now tell me what I can do for you.

Oh, precisely what you're doing now.

Go on frisking about in the pursuit of happiness.

See as much of the girl as you possibly can.

Try to sweep her off her feet, dear boy.

- Why? - Oh, first of all...

Because you haven't a chance with her.

And, secondly, because the more she sees of you...

...the better I'm going to look to her.

Ah, there, girlie, does your mother know you're out?

That's the kind of dolly I want for Christmas.

Run along, little boys.

One moment there, my friends.

Oh, run along, my man. Nobody sent for you.

Think that money and blue blood gives you the right to annoy

decent young ladies on the public streets?

Suppose this girl were your sister?

Oh, we didn't mean any harm.

No harm, indeed.

Is this what you learn in your fashionable finishing schools?

I may be poor, but I know how to respect womanhood.

Well, Bret Maverick at your service, ma'am.

If it's not presumptuous, may I offer to see you safely home?

Mr. Maverick, I should deem it an honor.

Anything for a classmate, eh?

Well, it's something you Harvard men wouldn't understand.

Vandergelt.

I'm told you're Jack Vandergelt.

- Yes. - Yes.

And you're not Jack Vandergelt

because I went to Groton with Jack Vandergelt.

Of course you did.

And you haven't changed a bit, have you?

I, I haven't?

Oh, boy. Uh, you told Mr. Maverick I had to see him?

Oh, yes, sir, when he and Ms. Lynley came in from riding.

- This morning. - And?

Well, he said he couldn't get in touch with you

right then because they only had time for lunch

and then they had to go riding out to Lovers' Leap.

- I thought that was yesterday. - Oh, no, sir.

Yesterday was the caves, with a row boat.

Row boat?

It's quite simple to me.

If one station wagon isn't enough

then send two station wagons for the trunks.

Don't stand there trapping flies.

Ferguson, you clear the rooms

and have them rearranged.

Edwards, I want a direct telegraph connection

installed between now and dinner time.

- Ah. Mr. Vandergelt. - Oh, fill it out yourself.

- You know who I am. - Oh, yes, yes, indeed, sir.

I'll need the second floor rear. Eight rooms. Make it nine.

And absolute quiet at all times. Is that clear?

I-indeed, sir. And-and you'd be wanting to see your--

If I want to see anybody, I'll tell you.

- What's that woman's name now? - Uh, Mallaver, sir.

Uh, Mrs. Chauncey George Mallaver.

- Yes, suite 318. - I'll want my bath at 6:30.

And tell the governor he can come up at 7:00.

Have him report to me at five o'clock sharp.

Oh, Mr. Vandergelt.

- Yes? - He wants to see you at 5:00.

- Mr. Maverick? - Oh, no, sir. Him, your father.

Wine makes me drowsy. Thank you.

But I will have a drop of this.

Death and destruction, madam.

Ah...

- You were saying, brigadier? - Uh, yes.

Now, I've investigated your niece's financial condition

her health, her pedigree and her education.

I am inclined to believe she's just what I have in mind.

And what do you have in mind, brigadier?

- Marriage. - Oh.

Well, of course, you realize

that you're old enough to be her father.

Father-in-law.

You've seen my son Jack, I suppose.

Oh, we've met.

Promising boy, little rattle-brain

disorganized, slow to settle down.

I can say much the same about my niece.

Good, then we'll marry them off to each other

and that'll knock the nonsense out of both.

Well, are we in business?

Business? Oh! Oh, yes.

Yes. Indeed we are. Heh.

- He's here. - He?

Our father. And he wants to see his son at five o'clock.

Well, in this case, it might be better if I see him.

- You'd be rather badly bruised. - Trouble?

Well, it's no place for weaklings.

Well, you take care of yourself, fellow.

- You mean an awful lot to me. - Oh, nonsense.

A thousand dollars a week isn't that much.

Now back to "Maverick."

Come in.

- Father. - My son.

It's good to see you once more.

You're looking exceptionally well, father.

Westchester does something for you.

I have to face it, my boy, I'm...

...getting old.

Oh, nonsense, father. You haven't faced it so far.

Why start brooding about it now?

Jack, I've been thinking about your future.

About your being able to take care of yourself after I'm gone.

I don't mean this as a reproach, but when I was your age

I already owned my first steamship line.

Oh, I had meant to tell you, father.

I own a steamship line now.

Well, that makes me very happy.

Hm. Which steamship line?

Well, I saw you working so hard last month

trying to acquire the Liverpool Empire Line.

Well, I-I decided to buy it out from under you.

Good boy.

Where were we?

Worrying about my taking care of myself.

Oh, yes.

That I, uh, wanna see you independent, Jack.

I want to know that when I'm gone

you'll be standing on your own two feet.

I am touched.

I think I figured out how you're going to do it.

Have you now? How's that?

With a good wife standing on her two feet beside you.

And I think I found just the one.

Beautiful girl, good family

and well off in her own right.

Oh, I wish you both all the happiness in the world.

What does that mean?

There are 40 million people in this country

including, I imagine, a number of marriageable young ladies.

If there is to be one for me

I would like to find her myself.

Well, the ones you found for me have all been abominable.

This one is quite different.

That's been the trouble with all of them.

You're at least going to look at her

talk to her?

- I am not. - Why not?

Because we've had all this before, father.

If your eye for business was bad as your eye for girls--

I've already talked to her family.

Well, go talk to them again. I won't.

Blast me if I ever call you Jack again

you disobedient, ungrateful, treacherous--

- And shrewd. - Not when you tackle me, boy.

I'll cut you off without a nickel.

You won't have when I've finished with you, I'll drive

you to the wall, I'll break you, Jack.

I mean, you dog, I'll--

You're frightening me, father.

At least leave me my steamship line.

That does it!

I never wanna see you again.

Don't write to me, don't talk to me.

And when you change your mind and wanna come crawling back

crawl back to my lawyers.

Blast me if I ever call you Jack again. Get out!

What a pity it isn't snowing outside.

Everything go alright, brigadier?

Oh, drat! I forgot to tell him.

He's supposed to see the girl at six o'clock.

What girl at six o'clock?

- Her name is Ms. Lynley. - Ms. Lynley?

And she's with her aunt in suite 318.

You will go, won't you? Let me tell him that you will.

Tell him nothing, I'm not supposed to communicate

with the old bully at all.

It means so much to him.

It'll break his heart if you don't.

Ha.

Why not?

You're a very brave boy, Van.

I wouldn't be in your shoes for anything.

Oh, but you are, unless you want to go off salary.

Now, perhaps we can find a flower for your buttonhole.

I've never worn a flower in my buttonhole in my life.

The president of the United States wears a flower, Bret.

And he makes $40 a week less than you do.

Now run along and tidy up.

Ms. Lynley is expecting Mr. Vandergelt.

And for the moment, that still has to be you.

Oh, she'll be disappointed if you don't propose.

Van

suppose she says yes?

Then we'd all be disappointed.

I suppose you're wondering why I'm here.

Oh, not at all, Mr. Vandergelt.

You're here because your father sent you.

I'm here because my aunt is guarding the door.

You know, if it weren't for your manners

no one would know that you came from Philadelphia.

I'm sorry, Mr. Vandergelt. Do go on with your proposal.

Well, you're not making it any easier for me.

That is important to a Vandergelt, isn't it?

Let's see how easy we can make it.

"Ms. Lynley..." No, no, no.

"Dear Ms. Lynley

"I have long admired you from afar.

Deeply and tenderly, dear Ms. Lynley."

Uh, don't stop now.

"I'm keenly aware that I have nothing to offer

"except an honest and loving heart

"several million dollars invested at 25%

"a box at the Metropolitan Opera

a string of polo ponies--"

And my friends tell me I'm not unattractive.

"Yes, all these I lay at your feet, dear Ms. Lynley.

"And I beg you to do me the honor of becoming

Mrs. John Vandergelt III." Or however many it is.

There!

Ah, wasn't that a nice proposal?

Well, it's the nicest I ever heard.

Now what do you say?

I say

dear Mr. Vandergelt, thank you.

No.

- You won't marry me? - That's one way of putting it.

You don't know what this does to me.

Oh, I'm sure you'll get over it.

What do you have against me?

Money, Mr. Vandergelt.

Money? What's wrong with money?

The people who have it.

Usually they have very little else.

That's an awful thing to say.

Some of the nicest people I know are filthy with money.

And some of them have none at all.

Your friend Maverick, for example.

I'm sure there have been times when he didn't know

where his next meal was coming from.

- It's possible. - But he has better things.

He has warmth, imagination

courage, a sense of adventure.

That's Maverick.

Things he couldn't possibly have

if he were rich.

But you're rich and you have imagination.

But I don't spend all of my time dancing and riding to hounds.

I learn a lot from reading.

- Reading what? - Let me give you an example.

Have you ever read Mr. Dickens' "A Tale Of Two Cities?"

I've glanced at it.

Now that's life in all its reality.

A woman loved by two men.

One man is an aristocrat.

The other, a penniless lawyer named Sydney Carton.

Silly girl, fooled by outward appearances

marries the aristocrat.

Even then Sydney Carton still loves her.

He cuts down on his drinking, he tries to improve himself.

And when her aristocratic husband

is condemned to the guillotine... Guess.

Uh, Sydney Carton takes the aristocrat's place.

Because underneath it all, he was the real aristocrat.

Do you remember what he said as he was mounting the scaffold?

"It is a far, far better thing that I do

than I have ever done."

Now be honest, Mr. Vandergelt.

You wouldn't have done a thing like that.

With me, there's a difference. I don't drink.

Well, I don't hold it against you. But you can see my point.

I don't want $12 million. I want a man with a soul.

And I think I found one.

Well, of course she has. Me.

I know how you feel about this girl.

But you gotta be sensible. She has nothing up here.

All she knows about or cares about

is the stuff she reads in those purple novels.

Oh, don't brood about it, a few weeks over

a hot stove will steam that nonsense out of her.

I'll send you two hot stoves for a wedding present

'cause you're as bad as she is.

I thought I knew you, Van.

"Not smart," I said, "but he does have

a certain low animal cunning."

Uh, pardon me.

Ah, let's see, uh, dark suit, rather somber necktie.

Oh, don't mind me, Bret, just keep on talking.

[Lucius] Livingston, old boy.

Lucius Benson! How nice.

I've been meaning to tell you, there's a membership opening

up in the Cotillion Group. I know how anxious you've been.

Anything you can do for me, old boy?

Of course, that's a rather solemn

little set, the Cotillion Group.

Do you think you can get serious enough for them?

Oh, I've always been serious

where the Cotillion Group is concerned.

Let's hope they don't hear the story I heard yesterday

about your being knocked down in the park

for flirting with my fiancee.

Oh, Lucius!

That was only a little joke that some of us cooked up.

It isn't every day one sees a Rutgers man

cooking up little jokes with Texans.

Suppose you let me in on the joke, Livingston.

I have a droll sense of humor.

Come in.

- Father. - What do you want?

Well, I've, uh... Ahem. I've been doing a lot of thinking.

You'd better take it easy until you get used to it.

Well, after I left you, the sight of you kept haunting me.

I-I thought of your sitting here

old, tired, feeble.

Tired, feeble? Me?

You're in the twilight of your life

where the trivial things become important.

Peace and comfort. a rocking chair

a crowd of grandchildren fussing over you.

And I've given you none of these things, father.

Oh, I've been a wretched son.

Selfish, ungrateful, disobedient.

Not like a Vandergelt at all.

My boy, you mustn't...

Thank heavens I still have the Vandergelt conscience.

What Vandergelt conscience? Huh.

I've decided I can't let my selfishness

stand in the way of my duty as a son.

I am ready to marry the girl.

Confound you! You shall be Jack again.

You've seen the young lady? Talked with her?

Oh, I-I guess. I guess she's alright.

Oh, if you're happy with her, father, I'll go along.

Go along? What does that mean?

Marriage isn't a matter of going along.

Marriage is a matter of love.

Well, perhaps that will come later.

That's the most nonsensical thing I ever heard.

She's a smashing girl, Jack. If I were 20 years younger, I--

Oh, now no regrets, father.

You are just like all your mother's people.

No guts!

When I was your age, no father of mine would ever have

bullied me into marrying some stupid girl from Philadelphia.

She's not...

Father, you, you don't want me to marry her?

I want you to stand on your own two feet.

A-alone or married?

It doesn't matter to me what you do. Get out.

By George, young Vandergelt

it's a shamelessly beautiful morning.

And I could almost eat another breakfast.

If I'd known that, you could've had mine.

Do you suppose the casino is open yet?

I've been wondering what it looks like.

Oh, don't you ever think about anything but money?

Think about love and, and life, the simple joys.

They aren't simple the way you go at.

Van, you can't court girls the same way

you steal railroads.

- You ever been married? - No.

- Ever stolen a railroad? - Not yet.

Then shut up. You know, I'm afraid...

We'll have to elope down the back stairs.

A ladder that tall will be rather cumbersome.

Mr. Maverick.

Oh, good morning, Ms. Lydia honey.

I've a date to go driving this afternoon

with, uh, Mr. Maverick.

Would you be good enough, Mr. Maverick

to pick me up at one o'clock?

Mr. Vandergelt.

"My dear Ms. Lynley, the man you know as Bret Maverick

"is actually John Vandergelt III.

The man you know as John Vander--"

- Who's it from? - A friend.

What are you gonna do?

I think I'll go quietly upstairs and open a vein.

[Archibald] Don't bother to equivocate, madam.

I have three Pinkerton men on my household budget

and nothing escapes me for very long.

Then perhaps you can tell me what's been going on.

Delighted!

The two of them arrived here a week ago posing as each other.

Within an hour, you had swooped down on the cowboy. Why?

They told me he was your son.

At that time, brigadier

I considered myself a family friend.

And within 24 hours, your niece had pounced on my son. Why?

Is she a family friend of the cowboy's?

Oh, she's a silly, woolly-brained romantic child

who insists on marrying beneath her station in life.

She wants to marry someone poor, but honest.

if all the woman were like that

my family would have died out 12 generations ago.

Now, ahem, after several days of shenanigans with people

billing and cooing behind my back and defying me to my face

your niece, this morning, slaps my son on a public porch. Why?

I gather that was her way of declining his proposal.

My late wife turned me down 12 times

without ever laying a hand on me.

Well, everything's straitening out now and no harm done.

I'll have both of them up for a sensible talk.

Then you'd better send your Pinkerton men to find them.

She and he and the cowboy have all disappeared.

[Lydia] Oh, Bret, isn't it gorgeous?

Isn't it one of those days that makes you feel good

just to be alive?

I suppose, if I really thought about it.

You're actually quite shy, aren't you?

I'd never noticed it.

That makes me feel very proud

and, and very tender.

How did you find this place?

Well, it's one of the places Bret and I...

It's one of the places your friend Mr. Vandergelt led me to.

Lydia, don't you sort of wish you were up here with him?

Dear foolish Maverick.

What I, what I mean is, don't you think

you're being a little hard on him?

Him? Mr. Vandergelt III?

Bret, you must push him out of your mind as I have.

- He's no good. - He thinks an awful lot of you.

Oh, I'm sure he thinks an awful lot of his traction companies

and his coal mines and his yacht.

And I'm sure he got them by the same underhanded

treacherous, utterly-faithless tactics.

He's a cheat, an imposter, a thief!

And he's not the sort of person I want you associating with

Van... Bret.

I hadn't meant to tell you, but actually

I'm no good, too.

But your deception was for noble reasons.

I respect you for that.

Lydia, there's something I've gotta tell you.

You already have, Bret, every look, every gesture

every utterly-unselfish thing you did in all those days

when you were standing on the sidelines

sacrificing your happiness for that of your friend.

Well, things are getting awfully complicated--

No, no, things are finally simplifying themselves.

It's your happiness that counts now.

- I know that-- - Your happiness and mine.

All that time I thought I was in love with John Vandergelt

because I thought that he was you.

And now I know that you are you. Am I making sense, Bret?

And-and, and all the time, I was really in love with you.

Lydia, I don't deserve you.

Bret, you once did me the honor

of asking me to become your wife.

Let's have a very quiet wedding.

[Bret] Dear Ms. Lynley, I think you should know

that your friend, Mr. Bret Maverick

is not all he seems to be.

Wherever he has gone throughout the West

he has left behind him a trail of empty whiskey bottles

unpaid bills and broken hearts.

He has trifled with the affections

of every young lady...

She'd like that.

Ms. Lynley, please. Mr. Lucius Benson.

She won't see you.

Suppose you run along and tell

her anyway, my girl.

You better not come around anymore.

Ms. Lydia's getting married.

Married?

To Mr. Maverick.

- He is not Mr. Maverick. - This one is.

It's my son that has the problem.

What are you worried about?

I'm still on sa...

I like your son.

Doesn't it bother you seeing your own flesh and blood

moping around like that?

His heart broken, his whole life shattered.

It's good for him. I wish he could manage it more often.

I guess that's what it takes to be a multi-millionaire.

- No heart. - Oh, sit down.

It's gonna take more than heart to get

you people out of this mess.

Of course, we could bring in someone even more unattractive

than you, let her fall in love with him.

But that would leave my son right where he is now.

- Wouldn't it? - Love isn't the problem.

- Brigadier, it's marriage. - Mm-hmm.

She is in love with your son already.

That's true.

Marriage, marriage.

Why didn't I think of it before?

Brigadier, I've got a friend in Denver, if he's still there.

Anything anybody needs, Buckley can supply it. Uh, for a price.

I'll get word to him that I need a wife

and oh, three or four small children.

He'll have them standing in the lobby

first thing in the morning.

You spend so much time with that son of mine

that your thinking is getting as fuzzy as his.

If you did a thing like that, she'd drop the both of you

and marry the next man down in the list, this Benson fellow.

What do you want me to do? Just walk away from it?

Brilliant. Brilliant!

- What? - Think of it.

What would happen if you just disappeared?

You mean, run away? Leave that poor girl waiting at the church?

That's a pretty shabby thought.

I was sure you'd like it.

You see what it will do, don't you?

Make you an even greater scoundrel than my son...

Take care of this poor but honest business once and for all

and throw that girl right into the arms

of that simple, guileless, good-hearted son of mine.

Brigadier, I'm ashamed of you.

When is the next train out of here?

6:15 in the morning.

Reaches Denver half past 7:00.

Your fare will be 5 dollars and 37 cents.

And, of course, you'll-you'll need some change for breakfast.

If anyone asks for me, I've gone to bed early.

Slight head cold. Goodnight.

Mr. Maverick.

Goodnight.

And Lucius Benson was beside himself.

"No gentleman," he kept saying. "The man's no gentleman."

Uh, nonsense. Maverick's a real gentleman.

He's gallant. He's a better man than I am.

Well, how do you figure that, Van?

Ah, he played it square while I was playing it devious.

He's got the girl now and my admiration.

Yes, but, really, Van

laughing at a challenge.

Livingston, why should Benson challenge Maverick to a duel?

He was hoping to marry the girl himself.

- Until you two came along. - Preposterous idea.

You know, if only he weren't so snobbish.

You know, he wasn't nearly as upset when he thought

she was marrying a Van...

How would he know I was a Vandergelt?

You told him.

It just slipped out.

- When? - Day before yesterday.

Oh, but you're not angry with me, are you, Van?

Now, I want you to do me two favors.

One involves getting up quite early tomorrow morning

and the other's a matter of merely taking a message

to Benson tonight.

Give him my compliments and this.

Why pistols? Why not revolvers?

It was Benson's choice, I suppose

he's an expert with pistols.

Oh! Oh, Mr. Vandergelt.

Where are you going at this hour of the morning?

Out. Out to the picnic grounds.

Oh. Well, have fun.

- Oh, Lucy. - Yes?

- Is Ms. Lynley an early riser? - Oh, yes, sir.

Good. Will you give her this message for me when she awakes?

Well, if she'll listen.

Tell her

"It is a far, far better thing I do

than I've ever done."

Don't mean a thing to me.

It will, to her.

[Bret] Dear Van, I hate running out on you like this.

I feel awful about running out on Lydia.

But we might as well face it, I'm too old to change

and I'm too young to get married.

Thanks for the buggy ride. Bret.

[John] Dear Bret, Benson seems determined to fight a duel

with someone. So it might as well be me.

By the time you read this, I may be lying dead

on the picnic grounds, but I shall have died happy

knowing that the girl I love is with the finest man

I've ever known.

God bless you both. Van.

I just can't understand it, ma'am.

All of a sudden everybody waking up at the crack of dawn.

Ah, it looks like a heavenly day.

I ran into young Mr. Vandergelt downstairs

and he was already going out to the picnic grounds.

I haven't the slightest interest.

Oh, and it's a good thing, too, ma'am.

Ms. Lydia, you didn't get rid of that one a minute too soon.

I don't care to hear about it.

[Lucy] What I mean, ma'am, is he's real strange

going to picnics at six o'clock in the morning

and leaving messages for you that I wouldn't think

of repeating to you.

- Even if I could remember them. - Please don't.

He's spooky, talking like that at six o'clock in the morning.

'Oh, "Tell her," he said, "that it's, uh, a-a far, far

better thing I do than I have ever done?"

On my count you will both walk ten paces forward.

On the count of ten, you will then turn and fire.

One, two

three, four...

Now back to "Maverick."

Van, why?

It was nothing, Bret.

Don't be afraid to tell me, doctor.

Pretty messy.

You'll never be able to use it again.

Thank heavens it was my left arm.

I'm not talking about your arm. I'm talking about your coat.

It's barely a scratch.

Just remember to keep the bandage changed.

Guns, shootouts.

It's you people from the East

who are giving the West a bad name.

You oughta be feeling pretty silly?

Well, actually, I feel quite good.

My appetite's coming back.

[Lydia] Van!

Van! Van!

You, you let him do it. Why?

Why, I kept telling you I'm no good.

Van. Oh.

What the devil is going on here?

Shh.

- Lydia. - Don't die, Van.

You mustn't die.

Oh, Van.

What is there to live for?

For me, my darling. For us.

I love you, Van. I've always loved you.

Then I can die happy.

I won't let you die. You've got to live.

I want to marry you.

Oh, I'll, I'll try awfully hard.

I'll be a good wife.

It's no life for you, Lydia.

Polo ponies, a yacht.

That doesn't matter.

I'd marry you if you were the richest man in the world.

[Lydia] Promise me you'll live.

I promise.

Oh.

Oh, Mr. Maverick. We haven't met. I'm the hotel manager.

It's very nice to know you.

I see you're visiting our casino.

Tell me, have you run across a vicious rumor that you can't

get into our casino unless your name is Vanderbilt

Vandergelt, Stuyvesant or Aster?

- I never listen to rumor. - You should, Mr. Maverick.

Because that one happens to be quite true.

- Who? - An English lawyer.

- The Earl of Burkley. - Uh...

Not Burkley, young fellow.

Bartley. The Earl of Bartley.

[Bart] In our next, we bring you an unusual and exciting situation

involving three just as unusual people.

Carrie, can't you see what he's up to?

Well, if he was any kind of a man

he'd marry you whether I was for it or not.

I'd go anywhere with him, but he won't have it that way.

He knows that if you married him now

I'd turn you out and never see you again.

I got a weakness, a real bad weakness.

- I'm a jealous man. - Take three cards.

So why don't you help me fight this thing?

I'd be much obliged if you'd be on that stage

leaving tomorrow.

You're quite a man, aren't you?

You hit him when he wasn't even expecting it.

And that's the way you did it, isn't it?

That's not how it happened.

You hit harder, and I use my left.

Come on, man, get him up. Pick him up, Red.

Come on, Red, right hand, right hand.

- Again, boy. - Get him!

Tell you what?

You stay on, you don't owe me a cent.

You can keep the $1 000. What do you say?

Shame on you, Jed, it's a mean

lowdown dirty trick to play on your daughter.

And if you think I'm going along with it

if you think I'd have anything to do with that...

...you're right.

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

You mean he didn't tell you?

Tell me what?

Well, aren't you supposed to sweep me off my feet?

Turn my head, make me realize that Red's not the man for me?

Well, if that's what I was hired for, don't you think

I owe your dad at least an effort?

[Bart] It's not only the story of the strange relationship

between Maverick and a young and willful girl

it's also the story of a memorable gunfight.

I think you'll like the excitement

and the shocking surprise of this one.

Try to be with us for "Duel At Sundown."

♪ Who is the tall dark stranger there? Maverick is the name ♪

♪ Ridin' the trail to who-knows-where ♪

♪ Luck is his companion gamblin' is his game ♪

♪ Smooth as a handle on a gun Maverick is the name ♪

♪ Wild as a wind in Oregon blowin' up a canyon ♪

♪ Easier to tame ♪

♪ Riverboat ring your bell ♪

♪ Fare thee well Annabelle ♪

♪ Luck is the lady that he loves the best ♪

♪ Natchez to New Orleans livin' on jacks and queens ♪

♪ Maverick is a legend of the West ♪

♪ Riverboat ring your bell ♪

♪ Fare thee well Annabelle ♪

♪ Luck is the lady that he loves the best ♪

♪ Natchez to New Orleans livin' on jacks and queens ♪

♪ Maverick is a legend of the West ♪

♪ Maverick is a legend of the West ♪♪

This has been an ABC Television Network presentation.