04x09 - The Profit and the Lost

[bunniefuu]

No, thanks, Silas.

Some more sausages,
Mr. Heath?

-No, thank you, Silas.
-Beans and jerky

for the next couple
of weeks, Heath.

You better settle down
and have yourself
a good meal.

It's time I was goin'.

I'll pick up that
bank draft in town
and be on my way.

All right.
Let's go.

Uh, look, Heath,
I was goin' to town
anyway.

Well, why not
the rest of the way?

Why not all the way
to Plankton to pick up
that stallion we don't need?

What are you talking about?
We need that stallion
for breeding.

We don't need it.
All we need is me
outta town

until Rance Kendell
has a chance to cool down.

Heath, is it such a bad idea?
Consider the alternative.

I just don't like
carrying on this game--

making believe
nothing's happened.

All right,
something did happen.

It was tragic,
but it wasn't your fault.

He was drunk and he
didn't know what
he was doing.

Drunk or sober,
he drew on you first.
Now, what else could you do?

That's true, Heath,
and Kendell will see that

if you just give him
a little time.

A couple of weeks thought,
and he'll realize

another gunfight isn't
gonna bring his kid back.

Especially one he hasn't
got a chance of winning,
and you know it.

If I didn't,
maybe I wouldn't be goin'.

See you.

Don't worry,
I'll see that he
gets outta town.

[sighs]
Well, I--

I gotta get that corral
ready for the stallion.

Are we pretending
to each other?

You really think Kendell
will change his mind?

I don't know, Audra.

He can be an evil man,
and a stupid one.

I just don't know.

[sighs]

-Any luck?
-No.

It's roundup time,
Mr. Kendell.

New hands are hard
to come by.

-But we'll find somebody to--
-To take his place?

I don't think so.

Heath.

Mornin', Rance.

-He was a boy-- just a boy.
-With a g*n.

Mr. Kendell,
I know how you must feel
about losin' your son.

I can't tell you
how sorry I am.

Don't try.
He don't need it
and I don't want it.

What I want is you dead,
now, like my boy is.

And you will be,
you can take my word
on that.

I won't fight you.

Bedroll and saddlebags.

Runnin' off
won't save you.

-I'll be back.
-Don't worry.

You can go
as far as you like,

and you can come back
when you like,

because you're as good
as dead now.

I promised him that.

And that's one promise
I'm gonna keep.

-Rance, this kind of talk
isn't gonna do any--
-Keep out of it!

-I'm talkin' to him!
-Like I said,
Mr. Kendell, I'm sorry.

I can't say any more
than that.

Mr. Kendell,
I've worked for you
a long time.

-And I ain't one
to give advice--
-Forget it, Bates.

I can't.
I've got to say it.

You call
Heath Barkley out,
you're a dead man.

Your son was fast-- real fast--
but not like him.

You wouldn't
stand a chance.

I got no notion
to call him out.

-I just want him dead.
-How?

A fight-- fair fight,
just as fair as my son had.

But not with me.
Vern Hickson.

-Ever heard of him?
-Hickson?

Want to tell me again
how fast Heath Barkley is?

Not that fast.
Not against Hickson.

-You sent for him?
-I've sent for him.

♪♪ [theme]

Somethin' I can do
for you?

Better go home.
No profit in it.

Wait.

Sheriff.

Now, you boys must have
somethin' else to do
than hang around town.

You shouldn't have
let him go like that.

-There's nothin' else I can do.
-He k*lled our pa!

Your pa drew first.

BOY: Pa had no choice.
He made him.

He was hired to k*ll him.
You know that the same
as we do.

You listen to me, boys.

Your pa had some enemies,
people who wanted his land.

That doesn't mean
they went out and hired
Vern Hickson to k*ll him.

Hickson's a hired g*n.
Why else would he do it?

I don't know.
All I know is you got no proof.

Without proof,
there's nothin' I can do.

I-- I'm sorry.
Nothin'.

Well, maybe there's
something we can do.

Smell that water,
do you, boy? Huh?

Let's go get some.
Come on.

Get up, there.

[horses approach]

[c*ck]

Sorry, friend.

Thought you were
someone else.

Whoever you're expectin'
can't be too friendly.

Can't say I was
expectin' anyone,

but a man can't be
too careful.

-You wear that.
-I enjoy living.
These are rough parts.

I heard there were
some desperados
around in the area.

-Which way you headin'?
-North.

Well, so am I.

Then maybe I'll see you again.

Better watch out
for those desperados.

I will.

[g*ns fire]

[b*ll*ts ricochet]

[g*nshots echo]

He's got help.
Let's go!

[grunts]
We meet again,
friend.

Who were they?

Never saw 'em
before in my life.

Must've been those
desperados I was
telling you about.

They don't look it.
They look more like kids--
like farmers.

Never judge a man
by his appearance.

It can be dangerous.

Like you, for instance.
I'm much obliged,
but who are you?

-Name's Heath Barkley.
-Barkley.

-Barkley.
-Yours?

Hickson.
Vern Hickson.

You heard of me, huh?

I've heard of you.

You said you were
heading north.
Whereabouts?

Well, that's my business,
isn't it, friend?

[groans]

This wound
needs tendin'.

Then tend it--
or leave.

You heard right, friend.

That's the way it is
with me.

I don't ask favors,
and I don't give any.

You ask my name
and you don't like it...

that's your privilege.

Stay or leave.
That's your privilege, too.

I leave now,
you'll bleed to death.

[chuckles]

The slug's gotta
come out.

So?

Here, bite on this.
You're gonna need it.

Hey... I like
your style, friend.

Open.

[chuckles]

[continues chuckling]

[groans]

It's a broth I made
out of dried jerky.

[sighs]

I feel like
I'm on fire.

It's fever.

-How long have I been out?
-About six hours.

[sighs]

I don't think
I'm gonna make it.

You'll make it.

Drink some more.

[mumbles]
Pay me. It don't matter who.

A thousand...

a thousand dollars.
Please... pay me.

Yeah, it don't--
It don't matter who.

[hyperventilates]
Pay-- Pay me!

Pay me!
Pay me!

It don't--
it don't matter who.

Pay me. Pay me.

Please, pay me
thousand-- thousand dollars.

Pay me. Pay me. Pay me...

pay me... pay me...

[mumbles]

[winces]

Keep forgettin'
about that arm.

Here.

You know you could've
gotten yourself k*lled

sticking your neck out
for me?

I keep wondering why.

If I have to explain it,
it wouldn't make any
difference.

You don't like me much,
do you?

Not much.

Why not?

You're a hired k*ller.

That's right.

But a lot of people
are K*llers, one way
or another.

My way's more direct,
that's all.

Dog eat dog.

I found that out,
so I eat.

And a lot better than this
as a rule-- no reflection
on your cookin'.

Men you never seen before?
Men you got nothin' against?

My best friend--

if I had a best friend
and the price was right.

You ever k*ll a man?

I've had to.

You know, I've k*lled...
I don't know how many.

And I never felt a thing--
not one thing.

But you felt something,
didn't you?

We're leavin' at sunup.

-Mother?
-Oh, Jarrod.

It, uh, was so warm
I couldn't sleep.

Yeah, I know.
I-- I couldn't,
either.

So many reasons
why Heath could be late.

Oh, sure there are.

You know, Jarrod, I was
thinking about Kendell's
son a few moments ago.

If it hadn't been Heath,
it probably would've been
somebody else.

He-- He was that kind.
He just had to have it all.

Rance ruined that boy, Mother.
He gave him everything--

everything except what
he really needed, I guess.

Well, it's easy to say yes,
and it's difficult to say no--

even when you know better.

And Kendell didn't.

You know, Jarrod,
I think there's a breeze
coming up here.

-It might be a little
cooler tomorrow.
-I hope so.

Nick and I are goin' out
to look for him tomorrow.

And don't you worry.
We'll find him.

-Thank you, Jarrod.
-Good night, Mother.

Good night.

We'll take the trail
to Willow Cut Point.

We'll probably camp the night
at Stone Mason.

Now, if Heath comes in
by a different route,

you send one of
the other men out for us,

-will you?
-All right.

We'll probably find him
walkin' some lame horse
somewhere.

Or tryin'
to ride that
wild stallion.

-Will you get
that horse saddled?
-Heath!

Hyah!
Yah!

Where in blazes
have you been?

-With him.
-What happened?

I'll tell you
about it later.

Gotta get him into the house.
He's lost a lot of blood.

Gonna make it
all right, mister?

I made it this far.
I'll make it.

Vern Hickson.

Yeah, last I heard,
he'd k*lled 16 men.

I want him outta here
right now.

-Oh, Nick.
-Let somebody else
take care of him.

-Who?
-I don't know, but get him out
from under this roof.

He is not to be moved.
Not until he's well.

All right.
The doc said he'd
be okay in a few days.

Well, he better be right.
I want him outta here
as soon as he can stand.

We all do, Nick.

If y'all excuse me,
I think I'll take
a hot bath.

-I think we're very lucky.
-Lucky?!

Heath is home...
and he's safe.

You're his sister.

How are you feeling?

Yeah, I remember you.
When they brought me in.

How long ago?

About eight hours.
Are you hungry?

I didn't know how much.

Ow.

Here,
let me help you.

-Comfortable?
-Yeah.

As much as can
be expected.

How 'bout you?

What do you mean?

[laughs]

Oh, yeah.
Your brother must've
told you about me.

That bother you?

It bothers me.

Mmm.

Well, a man's
gotta go on living.

A lot of people I meet don't.

You make it sound
very matter-of-fact.

Yeah, that's what it is--
a matter of fact.

Wanna know another one?

You're about the prettiest
woman I've ever seen.

That doesn't seem
to please you.

It doesn't.

It's all profit
and loss in this world.

It's k*ll or be k*lled.

People you don't
even know.

Wouldn't matter much
if I did know 'em,

as long as I get paid,
and I get paid pretty good.

What people say about you,
they're right.

Yeah, people don't seem
to like me very much.

But I'll bet you could.

What I'd like is to have
you out of this house...

as soon as possible.

If you're around here,
not much of a hurry.

Hello.

What are you doing
out of bed?

I'm feeling better.

A lot better.

Oh, let me help you.

[groans]
Thank you.

There's somethin'
I wanna say to you.

What's that?

I'm sorry about
the things I said
last night.

No call to do that.

Lately, I've...

been having trouble
with the people I've met.
Especially women.

I'm afraid I've forgotten
how to act around a... lady.

Please forget it.

All right, I'll forget it.

Everything except
one thing I said
to you.

You are the p--

prettiest woman
I've ever seen.

It still doesn't
please you.

Sorry.

I'm sorry, too.

For you.

Don't be.

I don't want that.
Not from you.

I'm sorry because
after you leave here,
you'll go on as you are.

As I am?

What else is there?

If it has to be explained--

No, don't bother.

As your brother said,
it wouldn't make
any difference, right?

What I want, I take--
my way.

Let me help you.

No.

I made it down alone.

I can get up
the same way.

And if it's any
comfort to you,

I'll soon be out
of your house.

The eyes.
When a man's gonna draw,

you can always tell
by his eyes.

Heath...
come on, try it.

Well, your gear's packed.
You're ready to go.

Why the games?
What's it matter?

Well, it matters to me.

A man I know is gonna
pay me a lot of money
to do a simple job.

With this arm,
I wanna make sure
I haven't lost my touch.

Whoever he is,
I hope you have.

I'll get your gear.

Heath!

I guess I haven't.

Well, I'm all set.

You know, I kinda
hate to leave.
I really do.

-Where's Audra?
-In the house.

We'll say goodbye
for you.

You do that.

Don't expect
we'll meet again.

Sure I can't send you
some money?

-Hate owing.
-You owe us nothing.

Just as you like.

But I'm beholden--
real beholden.

What we did for you
we would've done
for anybody.

If you did it for me,
I'm sure you would.

Well, so long, Heath.

I guess I oughta
thank you again.

I don't know if I'd
have done the same thing
for you.

Oh, that man I've gotta see.

Can you tell me
where I can find him?
His name's Rance Kendell.

You'll find him.

I'm sure I will.

Heath Barkley.

You know him?

He saved my life.

Saved your life?
When?

Doesn't matter
when or how.

A person saves your life,
a man oughta be grateful.

You saying you're
backing out of it?

You know, his family
helped a lot, too.

I've got a thousand
dollars here.
Count it.

I don't have to count it.
Nobody ever cheated me.

-I can say the same
thing, Hickson.
-Meaning?

Meaning Barkley k*lled my son.
He's gonna die for it.

I hired you to do the job.
You agreed to do it.

You back out now...

I'd say I was
being cheated.

Don't threaten me,
Kendell.

I don't take kindly
to that.

I hired you for the job!

Just taking a little time
to think it over.

Don't take too long.

The job will be done.

Leave the money.

If I spend it...

Heath Barkley'll be dead.

Where do you think
you're goin'?

Well, he's had time to
find Rance and decide
what he's gonna do.

Uh-huh, I see,
you're just gonna
ride into town

and make it easy
for him, huh?

You think saving that
man's life is gonna make
any difference to him?

-I know it won't.
-Then why?

He's a gunfighter.
He won't draw
unless I do.

I don't intend to.
I just wanna tell him that.

Well... all right,
but you take it easy,
you hear?

Thanks, Nick.

Whiskey.

Make it two.

It's on me.
Like I say,
I'm beholden.

Did you see him?

Kendell?
Yeah, I saw him.

How long have you known?

You found out my name.
You brought me in.
When?

Would it matter?

No.

I don't ask favors.
I don't give any.
I told you that.

You set the time and place.

I'm not drawin' against you.

Yeah.
Let's say, uh,

the street,
tomorrow at 10:00.

I won't be there.

Uh, Heath?

Uh-uh.

Not your way-- mine.

You don't deserve this.

Not like this.
Tomorrow at 10:00.

[g*n fires]

Sooner or later,
that's how it is.
You've got no choice.

Now, Audra,
I said it would
be all right.

I just don't see
any reason for you
to go into town.

Well, there's lots
of reasons.

You just told me
how important it was

that you have that fitting
at the dressmaker's.

That was before I knew
Nick was gone.

I can go in myself.

Not while there's
an able-bodied
male Barkley here.

Heath, be serious.
You know you shouldn't
go into town

with Vern Hickson there.

Audra, I am serious.
Now, what am I supposed
to do?

Dig a hole and hide in it?

-No, but you--
-No buts. Now, up you go.

Besides, I'm not
wearin' a g*n,
and even Vern Hickson

wouldn't force a fight
with a man that's unarmed.

Get up.
Get goin'.

I've got some errands to do.
I'll pick you up here.

All right.

[knocks on door]

[knocks]

It's open.

I want to talk
to you.

It's my pleasure.

You, uh, want some coffee?

I want to talk
about Heath.

Well...
your brother really
disappoints me.

Sending his sister
over to plead for him?

Heath didn't send me,
and I--

What?

And I am pleading.

No, you're not pleading.

You're wasting your time.

The other day,
when you came downstairs,
you-- you were different.

No, you only thought that.

I did too, for a while.

It's no good.

You're talking about
my brother's life!

No.
Talking about a job.
Just like all the others.

You're an animal!

I'm, um-- I'm a businessman.

It's a cold thing, business.

I didn't make the rules.

No, I didn't make
the rules.

Nobody did.

'Cause there aren't any.

Not even for you,
the...

prettiest woman...

lady... I've ever seen.

I'm sorry.

[muffled]
No... no! No!

Don't!

Audra, what happened?

Wha-- It's nothing.
I just fell.

-Fell where? How?
-In the hotel.

-I-- I just stumbled.
-Audra, what happened?
Now, tell me the truth.

Barkley,
you're lookin'
at the truth.

You know she came to my room
to beg for you?

But she's so pretty.

I guess I got carried away.

Heath, no!

g*n or no g*n,
I'll k*ll you.
Tomorrow at 10.

Or do you want more
of what you've been gettin'?

Heath, that's just
what he wants.

That's right.
And I always get what I want.

You know, the town
I came from, there was
a farmer a lot like you.

He wouldn't fight, either.
But in the end, he did.

Oh... you met his sons.

After they were dead.

Those "desperados",
remember?

Those boys' father--
a simple farmer?
And you drew on him?

Uh-uh.

He drew on me.

Like you will.

Yeah...
just like you will.

Heath, why?

There's no other way.
I've got to meet him.

Heath, please,
I've told you it wasn't me.

-He was just using me
to get to you.
-Nothing happened--

nothing worth dying for.

It's not just Audra.

I tried to turn
my back on it and I--
I can't anymore.

I'm meeting him
tomorrow morning.

I'm sorry,
but that's
the way it is.

-Heath--
-Oh, never mind, Audra.
It wouldn't do any good.

But it's my fault.
If I hadn't gone there,
it wouldn't have happened.

No, you were just
trying to help.
We all are.

Only thing is...

we've been going about it
in the wrong way.

-Audra, hitch up the buggy.
-Why?

Never mind.
I have to go into town.

Just hitch up
the buggy!

[knocks on door]

Yeah?

May I come in?

Well, please do,
Mrs. Barkley.

What can I do
for you?

I've come to ask you
not to m*rder my son.

m*rder?
It'll be a fair fight.
In fact, he'll draw first.

He saved your life.
Doesn't that mean anything
to you?

Uh-huh.

It means he saved my life.

[scoffs]
I don't understand.

I-- I just don't understand
how a man like you can
live with himself.

I've got a job,
just like everybody.

I'm in business,
like a banker.

-Bankers don't k*ll people.
-Oh?

Don't they?

Well, he wasn't
much of a man.

Let people walk
all over him.
Took it.

He always said he...

tried to do
what he called
"the decent thing."

Had a farm.

It wasn't worth much, you know.
Just a dried up piece of land.

It was his.
He... put his sweat into it.

And his dreams.

One year, his crops failed,
and a man came around.

He said, "That farm's
not yours anymore."

The bank...
was foreclosing.

So, the next day,
a kid of 12--
on his birthday--

climbed a rafter
in the barn...

cut a rope...

and watched his father fall
like a sack of grain...

at his mother's feet.

That man, who always tried
to do the decent thing...

that was my father.

Bankers don't k*ll people?

Everybody-- everybody kills.
And for the same reason.

Money.

My way is more honest.
That's all.

I'm sorry.

No, don't be sorry.

He deserved what he got.
Everybody does.

And that's why it's important
to get the other man first.

I've lived by that.

I reckon some day,
a long time from now...
I'll die by it.

You died a long time ago,
and it's you I'm sorry for.

Save your sorrow.

You'll be needing it,
and I'm sorry for that.

But, like the banker
said to my father,
business is business.

All right.

All right,
then let's talk business.

How much is Rance Kendell
paying you to k*ll Heath?

-Hmm? Wh--
-How much is anybody
paying you to k*ll Heath?

-[chuckles] Why?
-$5,000.

$5,000 if you ride
out of Stockton before


$5,000?

That's a lot of money.
That's truly a lot of money.

And you'll do it.

Add another thousand,
you got a deal.

The bank...

the bank opens
at, uh, 9:00.

I think I'll be
their first customer.

Why are you smiling?

[chuckles]
It's funny...

That banker.

He only made a few hundred
for k*lling my father.

And I walk in to that bank
tomorrow morning,

I make $6,000...

for not k*lling a man.

-I call that profit.
-No.

No, not profit.
Money, perhaps,
but not profit.

Compassion, kindness--
that's where you find
profit.

But the dead can't know that.
Only the living.

And I can't communicate
with the dead.

I can only
feel for them...
and pity them.

For $6,000, Mrs. Barkley,
you feel what you like.

[door closes]

You can't do this to me.
I paid you.

But not enough.
I've had a better
offer.

Besides, I didn't
like this job since I
found out who it was.

Well, you took my money
quick enough.

That's right, I took it.
You paid me.

And I'd have done the job
if I had to.

But a man saves
your life--

Oh, don't try that
on me!

They hadn't bought you off,

you'd have k*lled him without
giving it a second thought.

I might have tried to,

but that split second
before firin'...

I might've remembered.

Remembered what?

Remembered that
he patched you up
and brought you in?

Yeah.
Somethin' like that.

Anyhow, there's no
profit in it now.

There's more than one kind
of profit.

[chuckles]
So I've been told.

You could end up
losing everything.

-You threatening me?
-I'm tellin' you!

[laughs]

Anytime.

But how did you do it?
What did you say?

-Oh, I just--
-Morning, everybody.

-Morning, Jarrod.
-Morning, Jarrod.

-Mother.
-We're trying to find out

-How Mother did it.
-Well, that's very simple.

She's a magician.
Where's Heath?

He's still asleep.
Probably the best night's
sleep he's got in--

-Well, good morning, Heath.
-Good morning, Mr. Heath.

-Morning, Heath.
-Got a mighty fine
breakfast today.

I bet you got a mighty fine
appetite to match it.
[chuckles]

Mother, last night
you said you'd talked Vern
into changing his mind.

I'd like to know
how you did that.

Well, does it matter?
He has.

How much did you
have to pay him?

-Well, I never said I--
-You didn't have to.

I know him.
How much?

All right, Heath.
All right.
Six.

$6,000, and worth every cent
to get him to ride out of town.

And after he rides out,
who's next?

Mother, if it's wrong
for Vern to k*ll
for money,

it's just as wrong for me
to stay alive because we got
the money to buy him off.

Now, he's gotta be stopped.
I don't know if I can,
but I've got to try.

I'm sorry, Mother.
I've got to face him.

I'll be back.

-Wait a minute, Heath.
-I'll saddle the horses.

No. I think I've
got that right.

And I'm asking you
to respect it.

But thanks,
all of you.

Well, howdy.

Get down, Vern.

What for?

Didn't your mother tell you?
She paid me off.

You're worth more to me now
as you are.

You know, to tell you
the truth, I'm kinda glad
I didn't have to k*ll you.

But you'd have done it,
if she hadn't paid you off.

Yeah, I'd have done it.
In a fair fight, of course.

How many fair fights
have you had, Vern?

-I don't count.
-But there'll be more.

Yeah, I reckon.

-Get down.
-You outta your mind?

I've been paid.
There's no profit.

-I said get down.
-No chance, Heath.

I'm sure I could take you--



But that 1% gamble
without a cent to win...

those are odds
I don't like to mess with.

Like I say,
there's no profit.

Well, so long... friend.

Consider yourself lucky.

[coughs]

$6,000...

more money
than I ever had...

and I'll never spend it.

I'm sorry, Vern.
I thought you were
drawin' on me.

The sun...
on that r*fle.

He had me cold.

No, Vern.
He had me cold.

Nick, when are you
gonna give up?

Ah, you know me.
I'm not about
to give up!

Well, he's already
thrown you a dozen
times.

Well, he can throw me
a dozen more times.
I'm gonna get to him.

All right,
all right.

Break your neck.

Nick, what happened to you?

That ornery--
Well, that's what happened.

But, Nick, you know
you're not going
to ride that stallion.

-Why do you try?
-That's what I've been
trying to tell him.

Well, I've got to ride him.
What else is he good for?

Well, like I heard,
we needed this particular
very fine stallion

to improve our breed.

Just couldn't get
along without him.

That's what you said,
Nick.

Yeah, it looks like
now we got a stallion
nobody can ride

and not even fit
for breedin'.

Looks like a waste
of money.

Ha ha ha.
That's right, you all
have a good laugh,

but if it hadn't been
for that stallion, I mean,
suppose, just suppose...

that Hickson didn't meet
Heath here on the trail.

That Hickson went into town,
saw Rance, and then called
Heath out.

-He has a point, Audra.
-You bet I have.

That plug may not be good
for anything but the glue pot,

but we still
made a profit.

Heath, come on,
help me catch that ornery
piece of horseflesh.

I'm gonna give him
another ride...

or vice versa.

♪♪ [theme]