Original subtitles

That was mighty good, Sally.

We enjoyed that.

Oh, thank you, Marshal.

Where you coming from this time?

We just delivered a couple prisoners up in Warwick.

Ah, at least you get to see some of the country.

Me, I'm stuck here.

Well when you coming into Dodge?

One of these days, maybe.

We'd better ride for Dodge.

I'd like to get there before dark.

Bye Marshal, see you next time.

See you later, Mr. Bean.

Thanks.

- Hey Sally. - Hey!

It'd been six months.

I'd just about given up on you.

Honey, I might not always be on time,

but I always show up.

Aw.

I can hardly wait.

St. Louis, that's what you said, wasn't it?

That's what I said.

Now look, just tell me.

When are we leaving, huh?

Sally, I'm broke.

Broke, I don't understand.

I thought the whole idea was that

you were saving enough to get married.

Saved up near $500.

What happened to it?

I decided to pass through Junction City,

and, well honey, I did it for us.

Sally, we couldn't have gotten far on $500.

You know I had that run up to over 800 and...

Oh no, Dave.

Ah Sally, I'm sorry.

Don't you know by now

you shouldn't have tied your rainbow to me?

I guess I'm just a hard learner.

You manage to save anything?

No.

Not enough to get us to St. Louis.

Sally, where are ya?

There's folks in here!

Just a minute, I'll be right there.

Look, what are you gonna do now, huh?

Stay here.

I got no place else to go.

Sally, don't worry.

I'll work out something.

Oh, I know you will.

Sally, hot up the beans.

Howdy.

- Well, howdy. - Something to eat?

Beans, salt pork, biscuits, coffee is 20 cents.

Room for the night, that's 50 cents.

Is that in advance?

Yes, sir.

Two ball in the corner.

Twenty dollars?

I reckon I got change.

It's too early to worry about change.

I'm planning a full evening,

so for starters you can pour me a drink.

Yes, sir.

Where you headed from, mister?

Finch, Finch.

Joshua Finch.

- Finch? - Yeah.

Missouri's my home.

Well that is as much a home as a traveling man can enjoy.

You a drummer?

Oh no no, merchant.

Canalley Watch Company out of Annaville.

Well, here's how.

Five ball in the corner.

Thank you, miss.

Something I haven't seen in quite a while, a gentleman.

Man can afford to be a gentleman

if it don't cost him nothing.

Four ball in the corner.

Eight ball in the corner.

He ain't no watch peddler.

If he ain't a hustler,

then I ain't ever seen a hustler before.

He'll make his move.

- How about another game? - Nope.

Like to keep just part of my pay.

- Turner? - No thanks.

I'll play.

Well, grab yourself a stick.

- Here, try this one. - Oh, thank you.

It's just to pass the time.

Playing for a little money makes it more interesting.

Well I... How about a dollar?

Sounds harmless enough.

I'd watch yourself, mister.

Pete there's been known to clean out

a man's pocket with a cue stick.

Losing a dollar ain't gonna hurt too much.

You can break.

Oh, thank you.

Oh, got one.

Yep, got one.

Well, let's see.

Oh, that's not very good, is it?

I went at the wrong ball.

Yeah, you had the stripes.

Good shot.

Eight ball in the corner.

Well, looks like you're a dollar richer.

Oh, your luck will change.

How about one more?

Double or nothing.

Oh, all right.

When does the hustler make his move?

You don't catch nothin' unless you bait the trap.

Eight ball in the corner.

Afraid I scratched on that one, your game.

Yep, now it's getting interesting.

Cowboy's hustling the hustler.

I tell you what, why don't we play another one?

Maybe your luck will hold.

All right.

And why don't we raise the bet, say ten dollars?

Ten dollars?

Is it too much?

Now look mister, I don't mind

playing a friendly game for a dollar or two,

but ten dollars makes it gambling,

and I don't gamble for peanuts, sorry.

How much did you have in mind?

Well, I don't usually gamble for less...

Oh, a cowhand wouldn't make that kind of money.

A month's wages, mister!

I'm betting it all, $40!

You got $40?

You better think it over.

I reckon you could beat me, but if you lose,

you'll lose everything.

Forty dollars to me is just...

Look, you've been talking real big.

Now it sounds like you're trying to weasel out.

I still say it's peanuts.

Now, if you had 100 or so...

Look you two, get your money out.

Come on, come on, we'll double our money.

Rack 'em up, Turner.

Your break, old man.

Eight ball in the corner.

You gotta be short a hat size to take us like that.

No matter how you cut it boys, you lost.

We were cheated!

Just got beat at your own game.

I wasn't the flat-heeled jubilee you took me for.

I guess you learned a lesson.

That's called building character.

That's our money!

Leave it alone.

He cheated us!

You were trying to cheat him.

He took you, all right,

but I didn't see no one twisting your arm.

Now quit your bellyaching, chalk it up.

Let's get outta here.

Oh miss, now I'd like a real supper.

Steak, pan fried potatoes,

and a bottle of wine if you got any.

Oh yes, buy this young man...

a drink.

That's the best cooking I've had since St. Louis.

Here honey, buy yourself a smile.

Thank you.

You shoot a fine game of pool.

Thank you.

Especially when the money's right.

You saw the inside of my wallet

and you didn't say anything.

Why?

When a man's running that kind of a bluff

you don't tip his whole card.

All you had was that $20 sucker bill.

We're both sitting on empty wallets.

Not anymore.

How long do you think that $120

is gonna last you, old man?

- You need a partner. - Why?

Call it breaking trail, sizing up a town,

seeing who's sitting on fat wallets.

Snaking up a few games.

Shill, huh?

Partner.

Sorry, I work alone.

Hustling cowboys out of wages

is a good way to wake up stew meat.

It was nice meeting you, friend.

Thought you were staying the night.

I was, but I don't like being hustled.

There's nothing here but our money!

Not a good idea.

That money's ours!

That's the way it goes.

Now clear out.

Come on, move!

You all right?

Oh, yes.

Loosened a couple of bolts, that's all.

Go on inside, I'll get your things.

I guess, I guess I owe you thanks.

Enough to talk?

Yeah.

All right, come on son, what's your game?

Name's Rope, Mr. Darby.

You always go through a man's gear like that?

Just checking.

Thought I'd seen you before.

Sure enough, when I was a kid up around Denver.

You beat Ace Hannon that night.

Say, you've got a good memory.

Yeah, yeah I was pretty good in those days.

Why'd you change your name for?

These cowpokes, they don't know

Moses Darby from Saint Peter.

Well maybe not in this part of the country.

But you never know when an old timer will show up.

Yeah, Denver, Chicago, St. Louis.

Pocket billiards was a gentleman's game then.

Fancy rooms lined with velvet.

Thick carpets, man dressing his best.

You're living in the past, old man.

Maybe it's all I got left.

You can have it again.

That cue stick could be made of gold for you,

but you ain't cashing in on it.

I'm talking about suckers.

I could finger the good ones for ya.

You've been nickling and diming it.

You know anything about pocket billiards?

Oh, I can play a game,

but I ain't the one that has to play good, am I?

Partner?

'Til I tell ya different.

What are you up to with that old man?

Honey you got enough money

put aside to get to Dodge City?

Yeah.

Well there's a stage coming through tomorrow,

and I want you to be on it.

Sally, that's what you want ain't it?

Getting away from this place?

Just look around you'll have the answer to that.

We'll be together honey, in a few days.

I got some plans first with the old man.

Why do you want me in Dodge?

Find out who's grass-bellied and rolling with money.

Who the big gamblers in Dodge are.

Honey, I want you to size that town

like you're buying a new dress.

Get a job in a saloon.

Long Branch would be best.

Everyone comes in there one time or another.

You gonna use that old man to cheat people, aren't ya?

Sally, that ain't cheatin'.

They play pool with him.

We just don't tell 'em how good he is.

Sally, please.

Just one more time, honey.

This is gonna buy us everything we ever wanted.

Being together.

Don't let me down this time, Dave, please?

Not again.

'Cause I just couldn't take it.

Hey, what do you want out of all this,

I mean besides money?

Reckon I ain't thought that far ahead.

You?

Roots.

I'm just tired of drifting,

tired of living in cheap hotels,

tired of going hungry.

Most of all, I'm just tired of being alone.

Last I heard, you was high on the hog.

What happened?

Oh, I got to drinking.

Got so I couldn't even read the numbers on the pool balls.

Then this woman I liked, she started taking care of me

and kinda straightened me out.

And then I found out she belonged

to the fella who was backing me.

She was just protecting his investment.

Might say she dropped me back in the bottle.

I crawled out after a while,

but I'd lost my game.

Looks good enough to me.

Well, it's good enough for one of those bumpkin farmers,

but say...

what about that girl Sally?

You two kids fixing to settle somewhere?

Yeah, soon as we can get ourselves a stake.

Uh-huh, nice girl.

Pretty too.

Me?

I'd just like to find a nice, quiet town

and settle down somewhere.

Buy a pool hall, that's all I know.

Pocket billiards.

Hey, maybe if you got no plans

you'd like to throw in with me.

- Maybe. - Yeah.

How about dinner over at the hotel tonight?

My room.

Well maybe next week, Mr. Kearney.

I won't be here next week.

I know.

Who's that biggun trying to make dust?

Name's Kearney.

Cattleman.

Talks and acts like money.

Well, he's been in town two or three days.

Plays a lot of poker, faro, and most of the time he wins.

I think he's leaving town in a couple of days.

Two beers, please.

Honey, how much money do you have?

It's the best way to meet that man,

get in that poker game.

But Dave, he plays for high stakes!

I hope so, come on.

All right.

I'm keeping track.

Well, come on in.

Yes?

Well I.

Something wrong?

You see, you're a nice man, Mr. Pinch,

but I just don't want Dave to get you into something bad.

Oh, Dave can't lead me

anyplace I haven't been before.

Chicago, St. Louis, New Orleans on top.

Bitter Creek, Dry Gulch, and Stinkwater on the bottom.

Ah come on, why don't you sit down?

Now you just make yourself comfortable.

Now.

It's just that you see, well Dave,

he uses people.

Well, I don't think he really means to,

but well he does.

Well, don't we all, sometime or another?

Maybe.

No maybe about it.

Dave's using me because of what I was,

and I'm using Dave to help me up.

Now what are you using Dave for?

To take me somewhere, anywhere.

It's just that I've been waiting

for five years for Dave to hit it big.

Five long years for the "big killings"

that were always around the corner.

Five years for, of chasing rainbows.

Well if you wait long enough, it's bound to come.

You really believe that?

Sure.

Oh, I know.

You want a home and kids.

And I'm gonna tell you something.

Just because I can't stand looking at that long face,

and those droopy eyes.

Dave told me he wanted to settle, honest.

And we even talked about going into business together, sure.

Pool room, store, something like that.

Maybe Dodge City can do it for us, right here.

I hope so!

You're a nice man, Mr. Pinch.

Good luck.

Sally?

I did lie about one thing.

My name.

It's Darby, Moses Darby.

Well, good luck, Moses Darby.

Marshal.

There's a man over in my office

says he got into a pool game with you

and you took all his money.

Can't afford to lose, shouldn't have played.

You know as well as I do

the man had no idea what he was getting into.

Now he's a farmer, most of that money was for seed.

If it doesn't get planted, he stands to lose everything he's got.

How much did he say he lost?

Forty dollars.

There's no law in this town

says you can't play a man a game of pool for money

as long as it's a fair game,

but I don't like the idea of hustlers.

Next time you get a man in a pool game,

you better make sure in advance he knows how good you are.

I understand, Marshal.

You didn't have to give back that money.

We need operating expenses.

It's one thing to take a man who's asking for it.

It's another to leave him with nothing to build on.

I reckon it don't matter anyway.

I just got us a fat pigeon.

He's gonna be along in a minute.

We'd better make it count.

Marshal's beginning to get annoyed.

When you gentlemen are finished,

I'd be pleased to play the winner.

I just came over to teach the kid a lesson.

Another time.

Sir, it's poolroom etiquette

to accept another man's challenge.

It's all right, old man.

Mr. Kearney, that's kind of an unwritten law.

All right, Pops, you play the winner.

Eight ball in the side pocket.

Come on over to the Long Branch.

I'll buy you a drink.

Mr. Kearney, our game?

Big stakes old man, or I figure it's a waste of time.

You name it.

I heard you were pretty good, but I'm better.

As long as you're here, I might as well get your money too.

How's about $50?

Eight ball in the corner.

You've got $1,000 of my money, old man.

I got a real gut feeling that you two were in this together.

You set me up for this old buzzard, didn't ya?

What's your cut, kid?

Hey you're loco.

Oh no, I've been around long enough

to read a stacked deck.

What do you think, boys?

Been here a week.

Ain't seen these two here 'til today.

I wouldn't be surprised if they...

Wait a second, Mr. Kearney!

You've been winning so long you clean forgot how to lose!

I don't like to be roped in!

Hold it!

What is it?

Nothing, Marshal.

Private business.

Fellas, clear this place right now.

Everybody out.

Don't you two go sneaking off.

Not 'til I get even.

He knew I was good, Marshal, he said so.

Knowing Kearney, he probably got what's coming to him.

But he's not the kind of man that gives up easy.

I'm gonna tell you for your own good,

I want you out of Dodge.

Doc Adams has got enough to do

without running around patching you up.

- We did it. - We did it.

We did it!

- Moses, we did it! - We did it.

We did it, $1,000!

We did it Moses, I never would've believed it.

One thousand!

Where you going?

Quickest way out of town.

Oh we just got the opportunity of a lifetime.

What are you talking about?

Kearney's out to get us all right,

but he ain't fixing to bust us up like we figured.

What's he gonna do?

He's bringing in a shooter of his own,

some guy he seen in Kansas City.

Supposed to be some kind of shooter.

Not interested.

Moses, we'd be loco to leave now.

Look, this whole town knows how good you are.

They'll turn out to see this kid take you on.

We can make more money than we ever dreamed of!

Lessen he's too good for ya.

Too good?

I've been around too many pool halls too long

to be taken by some young sprig.

I'll take him with savvy alone.

What about the marshal?

Be a legitimate game.

Marshal's gotta run us outta town,

he's gotta run Kearney's guy out too.

Besides, it'll only take a couple of days.

Moses, I just been down on the street.

That word's spreading like fire.

Yeah, been a long time

since I played for that kind of money.

When's this "some kind of shooter" due in?

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow huh?

Willie, glad to see ya.

Come on over to the Long Branch,

I'll buy you a drink.

Come on, Willie.

I want to introduce you around.

Ms. Russell?

I want you to meet Willie Tomsen,

the best pool player west of the Missouri.

Well, nice to meet you Willie.

Pleasure to meet you, ma'am.

Give him a drink.

Give everybody here a drink.

Kinda soft spoken.

That's just a ribbon.

Guy's a shark.

He just hasn't smelled blood yet.

Quiet everybody, quiet.

Well.

Look who we got here.

Joshua Pinch,

and that Judas goat he runs with.

This here's Willie.

He's the best I've ever seen,

including you, old man.

I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Pinch.

Only when I saw you play, you was known as Moses Darby.

Heard you were the best, way back.

'Til you started swimming in booze.

Yes sir, I sure heard about that.

You got throwed out of more places than I've ever been in,

and look at you now.

Hard to believe you were a legend.

That's right, folks, legend.

Every pool hall from Chicago and reaching east.

I heard you ended up in honkytonks, hustling drinks.

I wouldn't have believed it until just now.

That's a long way to fall, Mr. Darby.

See you're still swilling it up.

I bet drinking's the only way

you can hold a cue stick steady in your hand, huh?

Mr. Kearney, I don't like your friend.

Mr. Tomsen, I want you out of here, right now.

Of course, ma'am.

Pleasure meeting you, Mr. Darby.

I wanna tear that smirk right off his face.

After today there's gonna be a lot of money bet.

I don't give a damn about the money.

I just want to curl his tail between his legs.

Got a room reserved for you

over at the Dodge House, Willie.

I'm bettin' on Willie.

Folks, gather round!

Your attention, if you please.

My name is Thaddeus P. McKay.

I happened to be in the community of Deerfield

when word of this notable pocket billiard match

came to me, and my associates.

Now, my services are varied according to the need.

I'm a banker, a lender of money, and friend.

Today, I'm booking bets!

Hey?

Lotta money out on that street.

When do you want me to set it up with Willie?

You call it.

How about Saturday night?

Town will be brimming with fresh cash.

Is that all you ever think of, money?

Yeah.

I'll go set it up with Kearney.

We'll get all these bets recorded,

and odds seem to be pretty heavy on experience!

It's Moses Darby three to two.

We bid $30 on Darby.

What is it?

Come on Sally, get it said.

It's the way you been treating me and that old man.

We're both just merchandise to you.

Me for one reason, and him for another.

When this is over, we'll be together.

That's the story of our lives.

Sal, the match is Saturday night.

Afterwards, no more next times, no more deals, I swear.

Well Moses said that you were

gonna go into business together, the pool hall.

Honey, that's his dream, not mine.

Can you see me in a little town

chalking up cue sticks for trail bums?

We're going to St. Louis, a gambling hall.

I know the fellow that owns it.

He said if ya ever come up with the money,

you can buy it.

What about Moses?

He's counting on the three of us.

Honey, what do we need with an old rummy pool hustler?

Quit your job.

After I collect our winnings, we're leaving.

Just the two of us.

If we're gonna make any money,

I guess I'd better start spreading some bets around.

You ain't gonna be happy 'til you're rich, are ya?

You're nothing unless you are.

You wanted a stake, didn't ya?

Sure.

Well, I guess by tomorrow

we'll have enough money to buy us anything we want.

I hope so.

You know I was just thinking about a town

I once passed through in Colorado.

Nice little town, nice people.

Place where I could ease my bones

and maybe just play pool for pleasure.

Told Sally all about it.

How's Colorado appeal to you?

Guess it's time I quit drifting.

Well, there it is.

Take good care of it.

See you at eight.

Goodnight.

Come back now, ya hear?

Yes sir, what can I do for ya?

What are the odds?

They've gone to five to two in favor of Moses Darby.

Why, what's your bet?

2,000.

Hey wait a minute.

I only make 1,000 here.

Well you'll have to take my note for the rest.

Oh I will?

Well, where's your collateral?

Money's in the bank, it'll be there Monday morning.

A man's usually able to back up his note

with horses or cattle or land?

Eh, all you got is a lot of words,

slicking up the skate arm.

And $1,000 in the bank.

Yeah, well let me tell you something, sonny

I've been in this business a long time,

and I've heard every kind of story.

Now you may have that extra $1,000 in the bank,

and then again you may not.

But if come Monday morning, and you lose,

and you do not have that money in the bank,

my associates here are gonna make you wish you did.

No reason to get edgy, Mr. McKay.

Sign right there.

Now, who are you betting all this money on?

Well?

Willie Tomsen.

Almost 7:30.

Something for the nerves?

I don't need it.

Come on, it's gonna be a long night.

No.

You're really fixing on whipping this kid, ain't ya?

I'm gonna crucify him.

Moses?

I ain't made the bets yet.

You better hurry.

Odds are five to two in your favor.

We stand to make a killing if you'd...

You mean if I'd let him win?

Yeah, it's the best two out of three.

Make it look good.

Let him win the first game...

You heard what he said to me.

You've thrown games before!

Yeah, but that was hustling money for booze.

There's more than a bottle of booze at stake her tonight.

It's been some time since I thought of myself

as any kind of a man,

and even at five to two, we'll make out all right.

Get over there and lay that bet.

And after the match, you and me and Sally

will go out and celebrate.

Sally?

It's okay, honey.

Honey, you gotta talk to that old fool.

I just tried, he's too darn stubborn.

Talk to him about what?

He's gotta let Willie win.

Ah Dave, what have you done now?

I bet all our money on Willie.

Honey, I tried to tell him,

but Sally, the odds are five to two.

Honey, we can make a fortune!

If Moses loses, do you realize what that'll do to him?

Look, I'm not gonna have any hand in that.

Sally, I bet all the money we had, and more.

How much more?

$1,000.

- Oh. - If that old man wins,

I can't pay off.

McKay is gonna come looking for me.

Well it looks like you just finally

backed yourself into your corner, huh?

And if I had any gumption, I'd just leave you there.

Please honey, just talk to him.

All right.

I'm gonna tell him what you've done,

but only 'cause half that money is his.

Now what he does is up to him.

I'll bet five bucks on Willie.

I'll take it.

How about that heifer you got?

You wanna bet that heifer you got?

That heifer, I'll bet you that heifer, for what?

For that ten bucks, against my ten bucks.

Mr. Darby, you don't look too good.

Didn't you get a good night's sleep?

Or maybe you were too nervous.

Don't try to spook me, kid.

You're just wasting your time.

I'll bet you two dollars.

I'll take Moses.

Moses will beat him.

I'll give you two to one.

Two to one, you're on.

Moses, I have to talk to you.

It's important.

I'm sorry, girl, I can't back off now.

What's gonna happen to Dave?

They'll break his arm, maybe even worse.

Well, he called it.

Best thing for him to do is get out of town now.

But you know he's never gonna do that,

not while there's a chance for him to win.

There's no chance.

Now you better go to him, make him leave now.

You better go along with him to make sure.

Now there's a little town about 20 miles south of here.

Any money to be won, I'll be here to collect it.

He can trust me.

I know he can.

Okay, all right, I'll try.

Good luck, Sally.

Inside, mister.

Ready, Mr. Darby?

Anytime you are, Mr. Tomsen.

Heads.

Your break.

Good break.

Two ball in the corner.

Seven ball in the corner.

Four ball in the side.

One ball in the side.

Three ball in the side.

Eight ball in the corner.

That's it.

Darby wins the first game.

Rack 'em up again for Moses.

Go again Moses, you got it.

Fifteen in the corner.

Didn't leave yourself much of a shot, Mr. Darby.

That's a tough one.

How is Darby gonna get that shot anyway?

Twelve in the corner.

Now you got your chance, Willie.

Show him how.

Six in the corner.

Seven in the corner.

One ball in the corner.

Four in the corner.

Eight in the side.

Rack 'em up for Willie.

Just never mind that time.

That's your game coming up.

They both got one game now, don't they?

One in the corner.

Six in the corner.

He missed it!

Oh Willie.

Twelve ball in the corner.

Fourteen, corner.

Eight ball in the left hand corner.

If the old man makes this shot,

he wins the match.

Ooh that's a tough one.

He scratched!

- Over and out, Willie. - Thattaboy, Willie.

Keep going.

$2,000 at five to two is?

I know.

How much it is.

I'm buying drinks at the Long Branch!

I was waiting for you at the Long Branch.

Well, I just didn't feel much like celebrating.

Hey we won, didn't we?

It was only a game, so you lost.

But it was worth it!

You got enough money to buy your pool hall now.

Money wasn't what I was playing for tonight.

You was beaten. I seen that shot, you never could have made it.

He can!

He can make that shot 100 times out of 100.

Show him, Mr. Darby.

You're the loser, Dave.

Mr. Darby, those things I said in the Long Branch.

I didn't mean 'em.

Just trying to gall ya.

Figured I needed every advantage I could get.

Like they've always said,

you're the best.

Been a pleasure knowing you, sir.

I'm on my way to Colorado, Sally.

Care to join me?

Well, Dave,

I hope you finally got what you want.

And I hope it's enough.