10x14 - A World Full of Cannibals

[bunniefuu]

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Pray that the souls of the departed
may ascend unto the glory of God.

And with this consecrated earth,

Charles Ball, I give
you to your maker.

And may you rest in
peace through all eternity.

Thank you, Parson.

Get on with it.

Mr. District Attorney, could you
perhaps make a statement now?

- Yes.
- How will this affect the case?

It's a setback. It'll mean
a delay, but that's all.

Sooner or later, I mean to
bring these scoundrels to justice.

In addition to their other crimes,
I'm going to see they answer to this.

Could I say that this has been
a deliberate and brutal m*rder?

You may say that the man we're
burying here today, Charles Ball,

was brutally m*rder*d
to prevent his testimony.

Who is it?

- Who is it?
- Vern Ludlow.

Oh, Vern, what the devil are you
doing here at two o'clock in the morning?

It's good to see you. Your
horse lose a shoe or something?

- I'm sorry to bother you like this, Ben.
- That's all right.

Uh... Who else is here?

Hoss and Little Joe, and
Candy, one of my men.

- I know they're reliable.
- What's all this about, Vern?

I'm gonna ask you a favor,

and I'm going to ask
it both as an old friend,

and in my official capacity
as United States marshal.

Well, let's get on
with it. Ask him.

- Ben...
- Go ahead.

This is Charles Ball.

Mr. Ball...

didn't I hear that you'd
been m*rder*d and buried?

Bet you never shook
hands with a corpse before.

Mr. Ball is a witness

in a government case

and they want a place to
hide him for a couple of days.

Vern.

We got plenty of room here.
We could put both of you up.

Well, I wouldn't
be staying, Ben.

We put out the story a couple
of days ago that he was k*lled.

I, uh... I got to get back.
It wouldn't look right.

But that'll give you the
responsibility of guarding him.

- Guard him against whom?
- Anybody. Everybody.

Popular fella?

Joe, you'd better go outside, see
if the marshal's men need anything.

Right.

Vern?

If I could have a few more details about
this case that Mr. Ball is involved in.

Well, the case involves
defrauding the government

- and misuse of government land.
- And m*rder, don't forget that.

It's all right, Charles. It isn't
poisoned. All came from the same pot.

You see, they've already
tried to k*ll him twice.

After the first attempt, we put him in
the security of the prison at Carson City.

But the day before
yesterday, one of the guards,

man with 15 years'
service, sh*t him twice.

- Money talks.
- To some people.

So you see, Ben, I
do need your help.

But I, uh... I wouldn't blame
you if you turned me down.

Well, Vern, I said I'd
help you, and I'll help you.

Thanks.

I'd like you to take
a letter to my wife.

That's out of the question. No
one's supposed to know you're here.

I'm not gonna tell her where
I am, just that I'm still alive.

- I promise.
- I can't take the chance.

Harriet's been through enough. I
can't let her go on thinking I'm dead.

It's only until we get you
to the grand jury next week.

Marshal, either
I write that letter

or you're gonna have to
go back to the grand jury

and tell them that I can't
give one word of testimony.

That'll blow the case
right out the window.

All right... but I want to
read it when you're done.

Use my desk there, if you like.

It does make a difference
who holds the cards, doesn't it?

Get the crowbar, Haley.

I heard something.

It can't be anything important.

The watchman will be
gone for another hour yet.

Get on with it, Haley.

I'll go tell him.

That guard you hired to
k*ll Ball must have missed.

Only thing in that
coffin was a log.

So, Ball is still alive.

I want the men on every
road going out of Carson City.

Have them nose around the
towns, the cafés, even the doctors.

Have somebody check the stage
depots, the railroads, telegraph offices.

And put Haley and a couple of
others to watching Mr. Ball's wife.

- Yes, sir.
- Rodgers...

You'd better find Mr. Ball.

- Why does it bother you?
- Because I got a stake in it.

I think you're making a
big thing out of nothing.

- The steers moved?
- Yeah, we got 'em moved.

What was the discussion about?

Candy here thinks
we made a mistake.

He thinks we brought g*n
trouble by bringing in Mr. Ball.

He doesn't like
taking the extra risk.

That's not the way I said
it, but that's what I meant.

You don't think we ought to
give Mr. Ball protection, huh?

No, I don't. I
think he's a thief.

Well, that really
isn't the point, is it?

The point is that the marshal
asked us to give him protection.

And Mr. Ball is going
to give testimony

so that bigger thieves will be put
behind bars, where they belong.

Are you against
putting crooks in jail?

No, I'm not.

Do you think the other crooks
are gonna hold still for it?

They tried to get him while
he was in jail. They sh*t him.

They're gonna
try to get him here.

If I didn't know you better,
I'd say you were scared.

Yeah, I'm scared. That's right.

You bet on it. I'm scared five
or six of them are gonna come.

There's gonna be one or two of you here,
the rest of us out on the range somewhere

and we'll get back just in time to
bury you, that's what I'm scared of.

Joe, have you seen my Derringer?

No, I didn't, Pa. Isn't
it in the drawer there?

No, it's not in the
desk. It's not here.

Ball's got it.

What makes you say that?

You remember he sat at the desk
when he wrote that letter to his wife.

He must have taken it then.

He might be right.
I'll see if he's got it.

No, wait a minute, Joe. Joe.

Let him keep it.

What do you mean,
let him keep it?

He's a distraught, frightened
man. Let him keep it.

He's distraught and he's frightened.
What good is the Derringer gonna do him?

Probably no good at all, but at least
it might give him a little confidence,

which I think he
needs right now.

And suppose he
decides to use it on us?

He won't, Joseph. We're the only
people who can keep him alive.

Candy, I got Luke keeping watch on
the hill, so he can keep watch both ways.

- Spell him right now, would you?
- Okay.

You're sure you want
him to keep the g*n, huh?

Yes, I'm sure.

Okay.

Just don't turn
your back on him.

There. How's that?

- Fine. You've been very kind.
- Don't mention it.

You, uh... You been
hitting that stuff pretty hard.

Can't stand the
shaking. This helps.

You might try some sunshine.

It's a nice day outside. Why don't
you come out and get some fresh air?

We'll see. Hoss?

- Yeah?
- Do you mind if I ask you something?

- No.
- Why'd you take me in?

Well, you... You had
to stay someplace.

It's not as simple as
that, and you know it.

Well, it... it had to be done.

That's all there
is to it, Mr. Ball.

Got something here...

- Hey, good to see you.
- Well!

I'm glad you decided
to come down.

I haven't wanted to
impose, Mr. Cartwright.

- Oh, there's no imposition.
- Pa, I'm on my way.

- All right, Hoss. We'll see you later.
- Where's he going?

He's going outside,
to relieve Candy.

They're keeping
watch on the road in.

I see. Do you
mind if I go outside?

Of course not. Go right
ahead. It's perfectly safe.

Unfortunately, I've
heard that before.

We searched the place
thoroughly. There's no one around.

Where were we now?
Oh, yes, extra payroll.

Howdy.

I didn't mean to spook you.

Do you always sneak
around like that?

I don't sneak. I just walk soft.
It's a habit I've found very useful.

You're the one didn't want
me here the other night.

- I never said that.
- You didn't have to.

Trouble dumped in your
lap. Nothing in it for you.

That's about it.

If it'd been up to me, I'd have
probably just said, "Sorry, full up."

But it wasn't my say.
It was Mr. Cartwright's.

The Cartwrights.

- They seem like nice people.
- They are.

What's their angle?

Oh, I mean, for taking me in.

- There isn't any.
- Come on, everybody's got his price.

Uh-uh. Not them. For a fact.

Sticking their
necks on the block?

They must think they're
gonna get something out of it.

Well, you think about it real hard.
Maybe the right answer will come to you.

Depends on how sharp you are.

- Had enough?
- I gotta go to bed, anyhow.

You're learning,
Pa. You're learning.

Come on, Joe. Should give that up
and try picking cotton for a change.

Should try playing
checkers for a change.

How about a nightcap?

Oh, I'm sorry, I
didn't mean to stare.

I was just thinking, you
look like a happy man.

I haven't given that too much
thought, but I suppose I am.

Came out of the
same bottle as this.

You see, the first time
they used strychnine.

You know, your offering to give
testimony, that takes a lot of guts.

No, I'm just trying to
get a lighter prison term

by pleading state's evidence.

- All the same, it'll do a lot of good.
- You're being used, do you know that?

This is a very dirty fight.

The eight men who will be
convicted by my testimony

go all the way to the top of
the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

And if they're not convicted, and it's
a very good chance they might not be,

they'll k*ll you.

The marshal forgot to tell you
that. He's afraid of scaring you off.

Well, I have a feeling that
my boys would have insisted

that we take you in anyway.

- You'll be safe here.
- I'm beginning to believe it.

I think, for the first time in a long
time, I'll sleep through the night.

Give me a chance, I'll find her.

Please don't tell Vardeman.
Please. He'll k*ll me.

Right, Purdy. Purdy.
That's enough.

He's within 100 foot of her all day
and he let her get away from him.

He'll be more
careful the next time.

Telegraph Vardeman.

Tell him we've located Ball
somewhere in the area of Virginia City.

"Dr. Phipp's Nerve Pacifier."

Never heard of it. I'll see
if I can find a bottle for you.

Only if you can get
it without any trouble.

I'll be careful.

Oh, if I do slip up and
there's somebody in town,

you've always got
that g*n to fall back on.

They know you've got it. If you
wanted one, all you had to do was ask.

- I didn't know that then.
- You got their angle figured out yet?

It's one of two things.

Either they're rich enough so they
don't have to worry about being practical,

or they've got an
arrangement with the marshal.

You know, "Scratch my
back, I'll scratch yours."

Keep trying.

- Get him inside.
- What's the matter?

- We got company coming, a woman.
- Candy must have passed her on the way.

No, she came over the hill.
She almost slipped past me.

- Ought to be here in five minutes.
- Mr. Ball.

You'd better get inside the house.
There's a woman coming this way.

- The woman is my wife.
- Your wife?

- Yes. You see, I sent for her.
- You sent for her? How?

The letter I gave Ludlow
had a coded message.

That code my wife and I
agreed a long time ago.

I've checked 27 people
into town since morning.

Couple of families,
some ranchers.

I got men covering the general
stores, both banks and the saloons.

What about the doctor's?
The telegraph office?

Them too. Nothing so far.

We're spread a little thin, but I don't
think we'd miss anything important.

Cowboy just come in driving
a buckboard with a bay team.

- I'll take a look.
- Get me a beer.

Harriet.

- I'll get back on watch.
- Yeah.

I'll take care of her horse.

Mrs. Ball, I'm Ben Cartwright. We'd
better get inside the house. Come on.

All right. How did you
find your husband?

I'm sure there's
nothing to worry about.

If you found him, so
could somebody else.

- I told you I used a code.
- You just be quiet.

- How did you find your husband?
- It was a code.

We arranged it a long time ago.

I just wanted to verify that.

- That was very foolish, Mr. Ball.
- She wasn't followed.

You lied to the marshal.

You promised Marshal Ludlow no
information, just you're alive and well.

All right, I went back on my word, but
she's here, that's all that's important.

Pa, you think I ought to
ride in and tell the marshal?

- They'll send me away again, right?
- Mr. Cartwright, please.

Since this happened
four months ago,

I don't think Charles and I
have had 15 minutes together.

I haven't made up my mind yet.

What's the harm, Mr. Cartwright?
She won't tell anybody.

She'll stay out
of sight, like me.

Are you sure you
weren't followed?

I haven't had very much
experience at this sort of thing.

That's right, you haven't.

But I know there are some places where
a man can't very well follow a woman.

So, I slipped out the back of a
dressmaker's in Virginia City yesterday

and I doubled back
to the state line.

I spent the night at a
little boarding house,

and I rented a different
horse to come up here on.

I... I kept off the main roads.

This is all above board,
Mr. Cartwright, I promise you.

Why don't you go upstairs? You
probably want to freshen up before you eat.

- Then I can stay?
- For the time being.

- Thank you.
- I do appreciate this, Mr. Cartwright.

- I want to take a look at that arm.
- Oh, it's coming along fine.

- I had to see you.
- I know.

I missed you so much.

Harriet, I must tell you I made
a deal with some of the boys.

Charles, let me... take
a look at that wound.

And then we'll talk about it.

Excuse me.

That cowboy with the buckboard just
got supplies and a bottle of medicine.

- Are you sure?
- You bet I'm sure.

After that he went to the doctor's
and got three rolls of bandages.

I think we've located Mr. Ball.

- The cowboy won't be easy to follow.
- What do you mean?

- Didn't you get the brand on the horse?
- Yeah.

Then don't try to follow him. Go to the
courthouse and look at the brand book.

Rodgers, get Haley and
the rest of the men together.

- Tell them we're gonna ride.
- Right.

What are you so worried
about? It's good news.

$50,000. You won't
mind that, will you?

- What will it cost you?
- It'll mean a new life for us.

It won't mean a new
life, unless you change.

Isn't it a little late for that?

Charles, I've gone along because
that's what a wife should do.

But I don't always like it.

What is your deal?

When I testify, I clear the
names of seven of the defendants

and place the entire
blame on one of them.

- And that one?
- Vardeman.

He deserves hanging anyhow.

Did you make this agreement before
the guard tried to k*ll you or afterwards?

Before, so it must
have been Vardeman.

Why Vardeman? If the others
double-crossed him, why not you?

If you get k*lled,
they save $50,000.

If I don't accept the offer, they will
have me k*lled. They promised me that.

And if you do accept
the offer of the seven,

Vardeman will k*ll you,
one way or another.

They're savages, chewing
each other up. They're cannibals.

Harriet, any one of them or all
eight of them would k*ll me if possible.

If I stay alive to testify,

I stand a very good chance
of earning $50,000 in gold.

And the money means
that much to you?

Yes.

I want you alive.

Don't you understand that? I want you
alive, and nothing else matters to me.

I'll stay alive, and I'll
get the money. You'll see.

- Any trouble?
- No. How about here?

- No, it's quiet here.
- Is Hoss on guard?

Yeah. He's over by the creek.

Oh... Hey! I got your medicine.

Sure need this. Did you
have any trouble getting it?

- Not much.
- Did anybody see you get it?

Well, sure, I had
to buy it, didn't I?

I mean any strangers. Did any
stranger take a particular interest in it?

No strangers. None. No
one followed me out of town.

- Pa, I'm gonna relieve Hoss.
- Fine, all right.

Here, let me help you.

Rodgers.

Man coming along the
road from the Ponderosa.

- All right, you men, get out of sight.
- All right, let's scatter. Purdy.

Something I can
do for you, mister?

Just riding through. Looking for
some likely land to homestead.

- You can't homestead this property.
- Why not?

It's Ponderosa Ranch.
Belongs to Ben Cartwright.

- Does it? How do you know that?
- I'm his son, Joe Cartwright.

Well, I'm glad to know
you, Joe Cartwright.

Now, if you don't mind, just
drop your g*n to the ground.

- What's that, some kind of a joke?
- Just look behind you on either side.

All right, I'll go on from here.

Alone?

They have no reason
to do anything to me.

We'll try the easy way first.

All right, I'll spot the men
all around. Len. Frank.

- Pa, I need to talk to you a minute.
- What's going on?

Nothing. I just
need to talk to Pa.

- Are there riders coming this way?
- Are there?

- Yes, sir, there are.
- Anyone you know?

- Never saw them before.
- What do they look like?

Well, one of them's sort
of dressed up, a dude.

- They're after me, I know it.
- Those that are with him are gunmen.

- How many?
- Six.

Mr. Ball, take your wife upstairs.
Keep out of sight and keep quiet.

Harriet.

Hoss, go out the
back way. Stay around.

- Right.
- Candy.

Let's you and I get
real comfortable.

It is Vardeman.

Charles, he couldn't know
about the other seven, the 50,000.

It may be that he has an offer.

Not Vardeman. He
came here to k*ll me.

- May I come in?
- Yeah, sure.

Mr. Cartwright?

Yes.

I'm Richard Vardeman.

Oh, yes, Mr. Vardeman.
Of course.

I've read about you in the
financial pages. Mining, isn't it?

Yes, mostly.

What can I do for you?

I'm looking for Charles Ball.

Charles Ball? I'm
afraid I can't help you.

I'm not so sure about that.

I think you... can help me.

Uh, Candy. Did you
take your medicine?

Oh, yeah, yeah. The medicine.

May I talk to you privately?

Well, you can speak
freely, Mr. Vardeman.

I thought I might save
you a little embarrassment.

You see, I didn't
come unprepared.

- I came with the power to bargain.
- Bargain for what?

Your son for Mr. Ball.

My son?

Your son, Joseph.

I'm holding him prisoner.

Mr. Vardeman...

my son has nothing
to do with Mr. Ball.

I suggest you release
him immediately.

I know that Ball is somewhere
around Virginia City.

Now, you don't strike me as a
man afflicted with a case of nerves.

And neither one of you look like
you're in need of any bandages.

So, if Mr. Ball isn't here, I'm
sure you know where he is.

I have no idea
where Mr. Ball is.

I presume you want
your son to remain alive.

Alive and released.

Then you'll have
to give me Ball.

I can't give you
anything I don't have.

I'll give you some
time to think about it.

I'll give you ten minutes.

Now, you bring Ball to me up on the
hill or I'll bring your son to you dead.

It's the medicine that
brought him out here.

They saw me buy it
and they followed me.

I didn't fool him
any trying to drink it.

Vardeman...

- Vardeman has Joe.
- He's got Little Joe.

He says unless we
give up Mr. Ball...

he'll k*ll Joe.

What did you tell him?

Go out the back way.

See if there's a chance of getting
the horses through the gully.

All right.

You're going off to
leave us undefended?

For a while, yes.

Maybe you don't know
what you're up against.

I know exactly
what I'm up against.

Vardeman is one of the most
ruthless men in the country.

He'll k*ll your son,
then he'll k*ll me.

- Gonna try to keep both of you alive.
- The way through the gully looks clear.

They don't expect you
to make a fight for it, Pa.

They figure us come out the
front and trade him for Joe.

Mr. Cartwright...

Mr. Ball, you stay inside this house
and keep away from the windows.

He won't get his son back,
not without trading for him.

- He's got to try.
- He'll find that he can't.

Then he'll trade me for his son.

Or he'll get k*lled, and
Vardeman won't need a trade.

- He'll come right in after me.
- Charles, please.

I'm not gonna stay here. I'm
not gonna stay here and die.

They're right up above there.

Gonna need a diversion.

Let me go, Mr. Cartwright. It's
my fault them being there, kinda.

All right.

I'll give a call like a nesting
jay. Count ten, and then open up.

All right.

Here.

We'll be up above there.

Let's go.

- I say we oughta rush 'em.
- You do and they'll cut you to ribbons.

We know there's only
three down there, boy.

Aw, it's just an old bird.

Over there! Come on!

Here they are. Go.

Let's get to the horses!

Come on, now!

- Where are they going?
- Heading for trouble. Let's get them.

Come on!

You can't run.
Vardeman's right behind us.

Jack's line shack,
we can hole up there.

All right. Candy, get in that
buckboard. Take the reins.

Heya! Heya!

Get into that shack, now.
Come on, both of you, quick!

Candy, get that buckboard out of here,
get in there with them and stay. Move!

Get over there and
keep down. Move!

Charles, what have we done?

You jumped right into the fire,
lady, that's what you've done.

You thought we'd trade you
for Joe. You still think that?

- I don't know what to say.
- Say nothing. Keep down!

Cartwright! We
want Charles Ball!

- Then we'll leave.
- You can't have him.

What do you think now?

All right, let's get him.

Vardeman won't quit, not
until I'm dead, or he's dead.

- Oh, Charles, what are we going to do?
- I'm gonna testify.

If I get out of this
alive, I'm gonna testify

against each and
every one of them.

They can keep their 50,000.

Nothing like getting sh*t at
to make a man see the light.

That was close.

- You all right, Pa?
- Yeah.

- They're hightailing it.
- Candy!

Everything all right in here.

And all right here, too.

Thank you, for everything.

Take care. Good luck.

I'm not going to say thank you.

- No need.
- No words.

What words can a man use to
say, "Thank you for saving my life"?

- Forget it.
- I can't. I can't even pay you.

No. No, you can't even pay me.

I don't know what to do.

Tell them what you
must tell them at the trial.

And walk a straight
line from here on in.

That'll be pay enough
and thanks enough.