II-24

BETHUNE

No! You can't do that!
He'll make you crawl for
it. I can take you lockin'
me up -- but I can't take you
donin' that for me! Martha's
right -- they're right. You
got to run me out!

CON

No, I'm not going to let you
drag yourself off somewhere
to die.

BETHUNE

You got to. I'd rather --
then have you do this! Con,
you come back here! I won't
have you crawlin' to 'em.
What if they're right about
me? What if I am sick in the
head? I got to be run off,
don't I? Come on back, boy!
I don't want you to do this,
Con! Come on back, boy --
please, boy -- Con -- Con!

II-25

BOARDWALK NEAR BANK. CON
SEES THE MAYOR COMING.

CUT TO: INT, BANK.

SYLVESTER AT DESK,

SYLVESTER

Well, if it isn't the Marshal.
What do I owe the pleasure of
this unexpected visit to?
What can I do for you?

CON

I want to draw out a hundred
dollars.

SYLVESTER

A hundred dollars? That's a
lot of money. And if I
recall right, you don't have
any savings account here.

CON

On my pay? But I can sign
my name, can't I?

SYLVESTER

Oh, you want a loan.

CON

That's right.

II-26

SYLVESTER

Do you have any collateral
to put pu?

CON

No.

SYLVESTER

What about assets? You own
your home -- or a rig?

CON

All I own is my horse and
the clothes on my back.

SYLVESTER

That's hardly --

CON

And my name. Is that good
enough for you?

SYLVESTER

Of course it is, Marshal.
How do you want it -- all
in one or broken up?

CON

I'd like it all in silver.

SYLVESTER

About closing time -- I'll
have it for you in the
morning.

II-27

CON

Don't I have to sign a note?

SYLVESTER

Oh, I don't think we'll need
a note.

CON

Why not?

SYLVESTER

Well -- I think I can afford
a hundred dollars for civic
improvement.

CON

What's that supposed to mean?

SYLVESTER

Well, I think I can guess
what you're planning to do --
being willing to come to me
for it and wanting it in
silver and all. When's
he leaving town?

CON

Tomorrow.

SYLVESTER

During the dedication ceremonies?

II-28

CON

Isn't that the way you planned
it?

SYLVESTER

Why don't you and the wife
come over to supper at the
Mayor's house tomorrow night.
I'm sure Mrs. Purvis would
enjoy meeting the Senator.

CON

Are you going to make out that
note?

SYLVESTER

I'll be glad to donate it,
you know. A hundred dollars
is a lot of money. You sure
you want to get that much in
debt.

CON

I wouldn't be here if I
didn't. Pick up that pen
and paper and give me a note.

SYLVESTER

All right, Marshal. Have it
your way.

(MORE)

II-29

SYLVESTER (CONT'D)

(HE WRITES OUT THE NOTE
AND CON SIGNS IT)

If you change your mind, we
can always tear it up.

EXT. BANK. CON COMES OUT
AND STOPS TO COOL OFF.

TOMMY IN SCUFFLE WITH BOYS.

THEY RUN OFF AS CON GOES TO
THEM AND HELPS TOMMY UP
SOLICITOUSLY.

CON

You all right, Tommy?

Look, Tommy, it's no good.

You can't fight them all. I
tried to defend him, too, but
the whole town's against him.

You can't change them.

TOMMY

They laughed at him. They
laughed at Marshal Bat Bethune

-- in jail!

III-2

CON

Doesn't he ever go home?

MARTHA

Your lunch is still waiting
for you.

CON

I don't think I want any.

MARTHA

All right. I've got Uncle
Billy's here. Want me to
take it back?

CON

I'd just as soon you did.
No need to look up again.

MARTHA

When is he going?

CON

During the dedication
ceremonies.

MARTHA

Are you coming out to the
dam?

CON

I'm coming.

III-3

CUT TO:

JAIL. MARTHA ENTERS.

MARTHA

Here's your lunch.

BETHUNE

Well--fried chicken! An'
apple pie. I'm really
gettin' a send-off. Or is
this all for the Senator's
party?

MARTHA

A little of both. I'll
bring you some more hot
coffee later.

BETHUNE

That'd be real fine.

MARTHA

Uncle Billy ---

BETHUNE

Yes, Martha?

MARTHA

I---

III-4

BETHUNE

You don't have to apologize
to me, girl. I been doin' a
lot o' thinkin' about this
an' I realize it wouldn't
do Con no good to turn in
his badge on account o' me.
It ain't his fault there's
no place for someone like
me any more. That's my
lookout. Let's look at
it truthful, Martha. I'm
not Bat Bethune no more.
I'm just old Uncle Billy.
That's what the real trouble
is. Nobody wants a
featherheaded old Marshal
around, gettin' in ever'body's
way. Marshals ain't supposed
to grow old. They're suppose
to die in the prime o' their
life with both guns smokin'.

(MORE)

III-5

BETHUNE (CONT'D)

I've lived too long, that's all. I've just plain lived too long. I'm no use to anyone--except maybe Tommy--an' seein' what I dont to Con, I'm not so sure I'm any good to him either. He oughta be taggin' after Con 'stead o' me. He oughta be learnin' how things is now--not how they use to be. Be best for both of 'em. Ain't nothin' like a youngster for givin' a man a good look at his self. Con ain't never had that. Don't have to be his kid. Con's all I ever had, an' I wouldn't trade him for a dozen of my own. You see to it they get together some, will you? Con'll come around. He has to. He knows the old days is over. Sure, he still dreams about 'em some -- but what man don't?

(MORE)

III-6

BETHUNE (CONT'D)

I'm gonna try not to after this.
Then maybe I can shake off
some of that trouble I got an'
come on back.
(SHE LOOKS AT HIM, THEN
RUNS OUT)

CUT TO: OFFICE AS MARTHA

ENTERS CON COMES DOWN STAIRS.

MARTHA

Con, I'd like to talk to you--
Hello, Tommy.

TOMMY

How-do, Miz Purvis.

CON

Hadn't you better get over
to the dedication? It's
late.

MARTHA

I know, but---

III-7

CON

There's nothing more to be
said, Martha. I don't want
to talk about it now.

MARTHA

All right, Con. Are
you coming with me?

CON

I've got to see him off.
I'll be along when that's
done. You want to see him--
go ahead! Tell him he can
come out whenever he's
ready.

(TOMMY GOES)

What're you waiting for?

MARTHA

Nothing.

(SHE STARTS OUT)

CON

Martha.

III-9

BETHUNE

Who needs a lot o' clothes?
I never had enough clothes to
dust a fiddle, but I managed.

TOMMY

Where you goin'?

BETHUNE

Oh, I don't know. I reckon
I'll head for that yucca
country where the sun always
shines, an' the lizards is out
all winter long. Yessir,
that's the life. Who needs
clean straw ever'week when
he's got his back for a
mattress an' his belly for
a cover?

CON

You can have my horse.

III-10

BETHUNE

Well, now, that's might generous
o' you Con, but I couldn't
take your horse.

CON

I want you to.

BETHUNE

Well, all right. I sure do
thank you. Y'know what they
say. A man on foot is no man
at all.

Sure thank you, son.

CON

Better take your guns, too.

BETHUNE

You sure you want to give them
to me?

CON

I'm sure. And there's that
hundred in silver waiting
for you down at the bank.
No point arguing. I already
signed for it. Sylvester
said he'd wait at the bank
till you came by to pick it up.

III-12

BETHUNE

Sure I will, boy. So long,
Can. Be seein' you.
(BIZ)
(CON GOES OUT)

BETHUNE

Well, I reckon I better
go pick up that money, I
got to get ridin'. -- you
wait here.

BOARDWALK - AS BETHUNE EMERGES.
HE WALKS TOWARD THE BANK, THEN
STOPS SHORT AS HE LOOKS INTO
THE BANK. HE RUBS HIS EYES
AND SHAKES HIS HEAD
UNBELIEVINGLY)
(HE STARTS TOWARD THE BANK
AGAIN, WITH SOME UNCERTAINTY
THIS TIME. HE PAUSES OUTSIDE
THE BANK AND PEERS IN AT THE
GLASS DOORS. HE BACKS AWAY
ABRUPTLY, MUCH SHAKEN AND
HURRIES BACK TO THE MARSHAL'S
OFFICE)

MARSHAL'S OFFICE - TOMMY IS LOOKING
AT BETHUNE'S GUNS ON CON'S DESK
AS THE OLD MAN BURSTS IN, FRIGHTENED)

III-13

TOMMY

Did you get the money, Uncle
Billy?

(SEEING THEM ON THE DESK, HE
BUKCLES THEM ON WITH SHAKING
HANDS)

BETHUNE

I got to get out o' here.

I can't take this no more.

I got to get out.

TOMMY

What is it, Uncle Billy?

What is it?

BETHUNE

I thought I seen 'em again.

I thought sure I seen 'em.

I gotta go. I gotta run-run-
run.

SOUND: GUN SHOTS (OFF)

TOMMY

Uncle Billy! Wait!

III-14

BETHUNE

Get back in here -- an' stay
there. You hear me?

DISSOLVE TO:

DEDICATION CEREMONEY AT DAM.
CON AND MARTHA STAND NEAR THE
SPEAKERS PLATFORM, SENATOR
NARRATES.

SENATOR

-- Washington's a fine place
to work in and of course I
consider it a signal honor to
have been sent there by my
constituents in this great,
great state of ours, but to
me nothing compares with coming
back home to be with my own--
to hear good Western talk and
look down on good honest
Western faces.

CUT TO: CROWD. SENATOR CONTINUES

V.O.

(MORE)

III-16

CON (CONT'D)

You've got to understand why.

MARTHA

I do, Con, but it's too late
now. He knows that, too --
and he wants to go. Let him go.

CON

I can't. I'm going with him.
I got to see that he's settled
someplace where I know he'll be
all right, if you don't want to
come with me, I can't make you.
That's up to you to decide.
But I can't let him go like this!
(HE SLIPS OUT)

MARTHA

Con -- Con --
(CROWD SHUSH HER)

FOLLOWING NARRATION TAKES PLACE
DURING PREVIOUS DEALOGUE BETWEEN
MARTHA AND CON.

SENATOR (V.O.)

Now I don't mean to take on
any big airs. Whatever I
did to make this possible,
I did
(MORE)

III-17

SENATOR (CONT'D)

as your humble servant--for
the good of the people of this
State--and the whole of the
United States! There's no
getting around it, folks.
What's good for this part of
the country is good for the
whole country. Let's always
remember that. The national
interest comes first. But
at the same time it don't
hurt any to think of local
interests, too. I only wish
we could all look out into the
future--not just five, ten
years, but twenty five and
fifty and a hundred just to
see all the good this dam is
going to bring.

DISSOLVE TO: STREET. CON
ARRIVES. SEES HIS HORSE STILL
HITCHED. GOES ONTO PORCH.
TOMMY RUNS OUT.

III-18

TOMMY

Marshal!

CON

Where is he? Is he gone?

TOMMY

He's down to the bank.
He seen two men to in,
an' he went down after
'em.

CON

What! Why didn't you come
after me?

TOMMY

There was gunshots. I was
scared.

(CON TURNS QUICKLY TO GO)

CON

Get back inside.

BOARDWALK. CON RUNNING TO
BANK ENTRANCE. DOORS ARE AJAR.

III-19

CON

Oh, no!

Sylvester, Sylvester--

AS CON ENTERS, HIS NAME
IS CALLED FAINTLY OFF.

BETHUNE (OFF)

Con--Con.

(CON TURNS TO LOOK AND SEES
BETHUNE.

CON

What'd you do? What happened?

BETHUNE

Look out, Con.

BETHUNE RAISES THE GUN AND
FIRES ONCE. CON WHEELS,
SEES THE TWO MEN IN BLACK
EMERGING WITH MONEY BAGS AND
STRONG BOXES. THEY DROP THEM,
THE ONE AS HE IS STRUCK BY
BETHUNE'S BULLET, THE OTHER
AS HE DRAWS AGAINST CON.
CON IS FASTER AND TAKES HIM.

III-20

CON

Uncle Billy--Uncle Billy!

BETHUNE

I tried to warn you. I tried
to tell you they was in there.

CON

I know you did.

BETHUNE

Was it them, Con--or not?

CON

It was them. What happened
to Sylvester?

BETHUNE

I don't know. Must of made
a run for it. He was lyin'
there when I come in. I
guess that's what throwed me.
I had the drop on 'em. I
should of been able to hold
'em for you but they still
got me. I couldn't move fast
enough. (MORE)

III-22

TOMMY

Uncle Billy--Uncle Billy--
you're hurt!

BETHUNE

Well, I'm nicked some. Quite
some--to tell the truth.
Better put me down, Con.

CON

Sure, old timer.
Want me to go after the Doc?

BETHUNE

Won't do no good. I can tell.
They thought I was done for
but I crawled over to where
my gun had fallen an' I was
waitin' for 'em.

(GROWING WEAKER)

Good thing you come back, though.
I don't know that I could of got
'em alone.

CON

Sure you could. You could of
done it easy.

III-24

TOMMY

Uncle Billy--Uncle Billy!

(TOMMY BEGINS TO CRY)

SOUND: BUCKBOARD APPROACHING

MARTHA

Con--Con!

CON

He's dead, Martha. There were
two of them--trying to rob the
bank, and he went in there
along to stop them. He saved
me from a bullet in the back.

MARTHA

Oh, Con, I'm so sorry, I was
coming back to tell you I
didn't care--that I'd go with
you wherever you wanted. I
still will, Con. I will.