Original subtitles

Less care and more speed, huh?

The Baron is not going to stay fooled for very long.

Oh, no.

Let's have the pearls.

What pearls?

You've got them and I know it. If I have to kill the both of you to get them, I

will. Just a minute. Those pearls have been in the family since...

From the entertainment capital of the world, produced for television by Warner

Brothers.

The odds against filling an inside straight are 12 to 1. So a poker player

very wise to make the draw.

Unless, of course, he's feeling lightheaded and the pot is at least 12

size of his bet.

Which is exactly the way it happened.

A $1 ,000 bet had brought back $12 ,000.

And I was doing the only thing that should ever be done with money.

Spending it.

$150.

Thank you. There's a fine gentleman who knows a beautiful thing when he sees it.

Thank you, sir.

175.

175. 175 is bid, sir.

200. 200.

That's better, sir, but still not enough.

A prize, Palomino.

Of Arabian and thoroughbred stock, 200 is bid. Now, am I offered more than 200?

225.

225, that's a little better, sir.

225 just isn't enough.

250.

Two fifty hundred.

Three hundred.

Three hundred. Thank you, sir.

Three twenty -five.

Now, three hundred and twenty -five is bet. Do I have any more than... It isn't

worth any more.

Three hundred and twenty -five at once.

Three hundred and twenty -five twice.

Four hundred dollars.

Four hundred dollars. Thank you, lady.

Four hundred dollars is bet at once.

Four hundred dollars twice.

So... to the lady for $400. Thank you, ma 'am.

Could I have your name, if you please?

La Comtesse de Barreau.

And that concludes today's sale, ladies and gentlemen.

I thank you for your kind and generous attention.

Thank you, ma 'am. I shan't keep you a moment.

I'm afraid you paid a little too much for that horse, Countess.

But I'll be around Denver for a while, and if you want to get rid of him for

$325, I'll be glad to take him off your hands.

I beg your pardon.

Excuse me.

Allow me to introduce myself, Countess.

My name's Bart Maverick.

Monsieur Maverick.

Here's your bill of sale, my lady Countess. Thank you. He's all yours.

Mais non. I wish to have him delivered at my hotel stable.

I'm riding a horse now.

I'm sorry, ma 'am, but me and the boys is on our way back to the ranch in a

hurry. Otherwise, I'll be delighted.

Good day to you now.

I'd be happy to ride your horse back to town for you, Countess.

Oh, I don't believe... What did you say your name was, monsieur?

Bart Maverick.

Monsieur Maverick, I live at the Denver Plaza Hotel. Thank you. There is one

condition, however, Countess.

Condition? Yeah.

That you join me for dinner tonight.

Well, I'm sorry, but I have an engagement this evening.

Your horse, Countess.

Oh, how droll, Monsieur Maverick.

Don't you think so, Uncle George?

I'm not in the mood for humor, Michelle.

Last night, Monsieur Maverick, I ordered the most simple dish possible.

Poulet sauté Florentine. What is it?

Mille poulet?

Chicken. With almonds.

Sliced. With a thing, naturally.

Peeled fresh champignons.

Uncle, please.

Monsieur Maverick may not be interested in French cooking.

But I am, Baron. I'm interested in anything that comes to us from France.

You heard that, Che?

Monsieur, I have written the most complete encyclopedia on cooking that

in the world.

I'll get it to you.

Excusez -moi.

I think we have enough time for dance.

Mm -hmm.

Oh, my pearls!

Oh, that's too bad.

Oh,

do search carefully, Monsieur Maverick. I will die if I lose a single pearl.

You know how many you had?

Mais oui, 41.

Uncle George told me this would happen. I was always tugging at them.

Well, let's see how we're doing.

17. Oh, 22.

That's 39.

39.

40. Oh, 41.

Oh, thank goodness we found them all.

This necklace has been in the family for 300 years.

Uncle George would march me to the guillotine if he knew I broke the

Do you know where a good jeweler can be located, Monsieur Maverick? No, but I

can probably help you find one.

Here he comes.

International

cookbook

by the Baron de Montaigne. Yes, sir.

Wunderbar. I've never seen such pearls.

May I ask where they come from?

Their family heirloom.

They're perfect pearls.

And so perfectly matched.

Do you want them restringed now?

Do you mind if I watch?

You better.

Wait, I'll get the new string.

It's a glance.

Such luster.

Is it possible you want to sell these pearls?

They don't belong to me, but just a point of curiosity, what would you say

they're worth?

I'll give $40 ,000 for them.

Sir?

How much for restringing?

$5.

Exquisite.

Are you leaving?

Oui. It's kind of sudden, isn't it? For where?

New York.

Oh, that dusty train ride.

Quelle idée!

Would you have to go?

Uncle George has to.

Ask why?

It is too complicated, Monsieur Maverick.

Oh.

I, uh, I got your pearls.

Oh, merci.

Are you going to come back here?

Oh, the minute we can. All Uncle George needs in New York is one day. And why?

Because his money from France is suddenly, for some unexplained official

delayed. Quelle stupidité.

And New York is where Uncle George is going to undelay things.

It will only take a few days.

Then why can't they be straightened out from here?

It is too complicated, and we have no money to live on in the meantime.

How much money would he need to stay here?

Quite a bit, I'm afraid.

We live rather expensively.

So I've noticed.

Would $10 ,000 carry him over?

Oh, you are joking.

No, I'll lend you the money.

Monsieur Maverick. What?

Bart, I did not think you were so naive as to lend money to someone you know

only a few days.

Michelle, I'm not only not naive, I'm a mercenary. You can give me your pearls

as collateral.

Oh, I hadn't thought of the pearls as collateral.

Well, that, uh...

That would make it a business deal, wouldn't it, if you took them, Bart?

Absolutely.

I think my uncle would allow me to do that.

In fact, I know he would.

There is just one more condition, Countess.

Dinner? Lunch,

without Uncle George.

One o 'clock?

Yes, sir. Room 202.

Yes, sir. I'm Mr. Maverick. The Countess de Bourreau happened to leave a message

for me. No, sir.

She and the Baron left quite hurriedly.

Left? Yes, sir.

They checked out two hours ago.

No, sir.

These are not the pearls I strung for you.

These are imitation.

Brother Bart, didn't your long association with Dandy Jim Buckley or

Crawford teach you anything?

The first pearls were real.

Anyhow, let's not talk about what's over and done with.

It's what we're going to do to get back my money that interests me.

We?

What can I do? They know me.

What's the difference? You're just going to have them arrested when you find

them anyway, aren't you? What? They didn't break any laws.

I made a voluntary loan of $10 ,000 and took these as collateral.

But they're fake.

What difference does that make? She didn't say they were worth anything.

And besides, there's nothing on paper.

Well, I'm sure you'll think it's something.

I have.

Good.

You remember the banker, Mr. Bates and Sonny Acres, and the $15 ,000 we got

for you?

You have a point there.

Well, I'll do everything I can to help.

For 25 % of what we recover.

Taking up valuable poker time.

That's worth something.

Fifteen percent.

Twenty. Seventeen and a half.

It's a deal.

You sure talked me down fast.

The first thing we had to do was find out where the Countess and the Baron

It wasn't easy.

The hotel clerk told us, for a price, his life.

that they had taken the train from Denver for San Francisco, which meant,

course, that San Francisco was the only place not to look.

So Bart and I played leapfrog, working the alternate stops between.

There were a lot of them.

Leadville, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Trinidad, Socorro, Silver City, Santa

And each time the answer was no, until I hit Phoenix.

Yep, I remember him. He kept yelling for his bagagee, bagagee. That's him.

They got off here, huh? That's what I said, son. I don't like to chew my

twice. No, sir. Say, did you tell me where they went from here?

Yep, I took them up there myself.

Up where? The spa.

What spa?

The only spa around here.

Red Sulfur Springs. That's a mighty fancy place.

It's about two miles north of here.

Could I send a telegram to the next station west?

Nope. But I could send it for you.

Possible? Oui.

No.

Il est bien de figure.

Beaucoup mieux que ça, il me semble l 'avoir déjà vu.

Michel, le livre que je lisais ce matin, où est -il?

Il est sur la table dans la bibliothèque. Merci, monsieur. Attends

seconde.

How is St. Louis?

What can I do for you, sir?

That painting on the wall over there.

Yes, sir?

Uh, the painting, the springs.

Can you tell me how much it is?

Uh, yes, sir. It was $200.

Was? Yes, sir. It was just purchased by the Countess de Bureau.

There are going to be other paintings by the same artist, sir.

An exhibit at luncheon on the terrace.

Well, thank you. You're welcome, sir.

Bonne chance.

Congratulations, Countess. You got yourself a nice painting. I beg your

Excuse me, I better introduce myself.

My name is Donald R. Gray.

Mr. Gray.

Countess, there's something you might want to know about your painting.

Yes? The fellow who did it is giving an exhibition out on the terrace at lunch.

Thank you.

Would you care to join me?

I'm afraid not.

How droll, Mr.

Gray. Do you not think it's funny, Uncle George? No, I'm not in the mood for

humor, Michelle.

Last night, Mr.

Gray, I ordered the most simple dish possible.

Filet de boeuf rôti mariné poivre.

What is it?

Merlet de boeuf rôti.

Roast beef.

Marinated with cooked lung of beef.

Ox tongue.

To that we add a tranche de porc.

Pork.

Burgundy, tarragon vinegar, bay leaf, thyme, citron.

Please, Uncle George, Mr. Gray is not interested in French cooking.

Oh, but I am, Countess.

It's sort of my hobby.

You've heard that, sir?

Monsieur, I have written the most complete encyclopedia on cooking that

in the world.

Countess, have you seen the view from the end of the terrace?

Yes.

But I'd like to see it again.

Watch carefully, Mr. Gray. I will die if I lose a single pearl.

Perfect. Every one of them.

They've been in the family a long time.

As good as money in the bank.

How much money in the bank would you say was there?

$35 ,000, maybe a little more.

Can I get them restrung now?

Sure.

Oh,

hello,

Mr. Gray.

You're leaving?

Oui. Well, this... kind of sudden, isn't it?

For where?

New York.

That dusty train ride. Quelle idée!

Do you have to go?

Uncle George has to.

May I ask why?

It is too complicated, Mr. Gray.

Oh, I've got your pearls.

Merci.

Well, no problems at all. You'll have your $10 ,000 by 4 o 'clock.

And you will have your collateral.

Countess!

What a delightful surprise.

Good to see you, Michelle.

Excuse me, Baron de Montagne.

I wondered what happened to you folks.

You just up and disappeared.

we had to visit some friends here.

Emergency.

Yes, an emergency.

But I would like you to meet Mr. Gray. Mr.

Gray, Mr. Maverick.

Mr. Maverick? How do you do, Mr. Gray?

Mr. Gray, would you excuse us for a little while? You know, business.

Of course.

Mr. Maverick? Mr. Gray.

Well. It certainly is a relief to find you people.

I've been scared to death ever since I lost track of you.

Carrying around a $40 ,000 necklace is quite a strain.

$40 ,000 necklace?

Certainly.

This one.

But, monsieur, did my niece represent this necklace as being worth $40 ,000?

Did you?

No, I did not.

But I never told you the necklace was expensive.

Come to think of it, you didn't. The jeweler told me it was worth $40 ,000.

He made a mistake, monsieur. The pearls are imitation.

Excellent workmanship.

The kind you can find only in Europe.

That's still an imitation.

But the jeweler offered to buy them from me.

He made a mistake.

Well, what about my $10 ,000?

Everything straightened out?

I'm sorry, monsieur.

There are still complications.

Oh, too bad.

You know, I still think that jeweler back in Denver would be willing to pay

good price for these.

Perhaps. He obviously knows little about genuine pearls.

Would you be willing to give me a bill of sale for the pearls?

And I'll just forget what you owe me.

The pearls are imitations. They are worthless.

Not to the jeweler in Denver.

He's not that dishonest.

You mean, if you keep the pearls, we no longer owe you $10 ,000?

The pearls and the bill of sale.

After all, I want the jeweler to know I really own them.

Well, is it a deal?

Yes.

There is a pen and paper in the alcove. Shall we?

That he didn't examine the pearls after we left.

Why would he do that? He had no reason.

Yes, but... What?

I think I made a mistake.

A mistake?

You can't have made a mistake.

Come on, don't be a child.

Examine them.

What, examine them? You're going to make me waste my time examining a necklace

when we know that all these pearls are real.

It's fake,

it's an imitation.

Less care and more speed, huh?

The Baron is not going to stay fooled for very long.

Oh, no.

Let's have the pearls.

What pearls?

You've got them and I know it. If I have to kill the both of you to get them, I

will. Just a minute. Those pearls have been in the family since...

Today.

You've got exactly ten seconds to let me have him.

Drop him over there near the door.

That's fine. I'll drop him.

I'll get in the closet, both of you.

We'll pay you twice as much as the Baroness. Move!

Yes, sir.

Now keep your backs to me all the way in.

Don't shoot, monsieur.

You may keep the pearls.

We may what?

The pearls.

They're yours.

We've been outwitted.

Move the guns away, please.

Oh, come on, Baron. You know we don't have the pearls anymore.

Comment? Ce sont des menteurs.

Now, listen, Countess, and you too, Uncle George.

You played a neat little game, and we played one back on you. But when you

calling in gunmen, nobody's playing anymore.

We did not call in any gunmen.

I swear it. It is the truth, monsieur. I would not have anything to do with

guns. It is against the law.

You believe him?

I don't dare.

They're such good liars.

Nobody else knew we had the...

Yes, yes, I have.

But he's out to lunch.

Lunch? It's nearly dinner time.

Yes, I know. I was wondering why he wasn't back.

He's new here, you know.

My friend, a masked gunman stole a pearl necklace worth $40 ,000 from us.

We think it was your Mr. Murdoch.

Good heavens.

Do you know what trains leave from Phoenix today?

There are two. One at 4 o 'clock for San Francisco. One at 10 minutes to 5 for

Santa Fe.

We were going to be on one of them.

But wait, it's 20 minutes of six now.

Yep, I remember him. He kept marching up and down here like a lion in a cage.

He couldn't wait for the train to get here. Which train?

San Francisco.

Or was it Santa Fe?

I think it's important.

The man's a thief.

Really? What do you know? What did he do? The train. Which one did Murdoch

Murdoch? That's the man we're talking about, mister.

Oh, well, I don't rightly know.

When's the next train for San Francisco?

Four o 'clock tomorrow.

Ten to five for Santa Fe.

Yep. We can split up. You can take one to Santa Fe. Is it worth it? He's got a

big lead.

Yeah, but it'll take him time to sell the pearls. Besides, he's an amateur.

He's already made mistakes. He'll make more.

He will not break up the necklace. It would lose half its value that way.

Thanks.

Wait. Wait. Oh, just a moment.

The pearls are ours, remember?

They are? Well, that's funny. I've got a bill of sale that says they belong to

me. Rubber! Only the first $10 ,000 is really yours. Plus our expenses.

Do you know what that spa up there charges a day? Not to mention our

all over the countryside, plus what it's still going to cost. Plus our time.

We'll send you the difference in silver. Goodbye.

May I sit next to you?

It might be easier for you that way.

I'm not following you.

I'm just going to San Francisco.

While the Baron just goes to Santa Fe?

You are angry?

As my pappy used to say, Countess, never cry over spilled milk.

It could have been whiskey.

You will need help in finding this Murdoch.

We will look for him together, no?

No. Why not?

Because you're a crook, Countess.

A pretty one, an exciting one, and even a dignified one. But a crook just the

same. You double -cross me.

Mind your manners, Countess.

You are quite right about me, except for one thing.

I am not a countess.

I never wanted to be one.

I was happy when he found me.

Eve, the Baron.

Are you really French?

I met the Baron in Lyon, at a party.

At the school where I taught classes in English.

His nephew was one of my students.

He taught me how to speak with the accent of the aristocracy.

How to dress.

How to eat.

He spent a year of his life making a... A countess of me.

And then one day... After making me so very much indebted to him...

He proposed this, uh... Would you call it a scheme?

At least.

I accepted his proposal.

I did not feel I could refuse him then.

Well, how long have you two been at it, this scheme?

Only a few months, but... Oh, but too long for me.

Much too long.

Did you enjoy your nap?

Finding you gone woke me up a little too fast.

You need not worry about me any longer.

Well, that'd be nice.

This is the first time I've been free of the Baron and the Countess. I plan to

stay free of them.

Now, what'll you do?

When I reach San Francisco, the Countess, the Baron, will vanish.

I will become myself again.

Teach school right here in America.

What's your real name?

Michel Bussot.

And you really plan to give up this?

Countess Britt.

Well, I'll probably regret this later on.

Right now, I believe you.

Thank you.

In San Francisco, Michelle went her way, and I went mine.

Looking for a man with a pearl necklace for sale.

And getting nowhere.

Yes, he was in here.

Oh, now, you're sure?

He's, oh, about so big, black mustache, very rough -looking?

Well, the man I don't remember so much.

But the pearls you describe.

You know something? I came within an inch of buying them.

Why, I spent all day yesterday trying to borrow enough money.

But you didn't buy them. Not after she came in here.

And I've got the money now, too.

She? A pretty woman with a French accent?

I was all set to close the deal.

But I wouldn't think of buying the pearls after I heard her story.

What was that?

Why?

What do you have to do with all this?

Everything.

See, I'm her doctor.

She's very sick. She has hallucinations.

Which story did she tell you?

Well, about her mother, the family jewels.

When did you talk to her?

About an hour ago.

Well, go on. What did she say?

That she'd sold the pearl necklace to this man.

Murdoch. Because the family needed the money.

And now they don't need it any longer.

Right. She came into an inheritance, and she wants to buy the pearls back so

that her dying mother would... Who didn't know they were missing in the

place. ...would hold them in her hands once again.

It's not true, Doctor?

Not a word.

Did Murdoch say when he'd be back?

No, he didn't.

No, he said if I raised the money, come to his place with it, in cash.

You didn't tell her where she could find him.

Surely. At the Harbor Hotel.

At the end of Water Street.

Why, Michelle, imagine finding you here.

I thought you were out looking for schoolmarm work.

Well, I can explain this.

Of course you can, bless your heart.

He fainted when he broke that vase.

Okay, give it here.

I have no gun.

No pearls either.

Get in the corner.

But I... Countess Love, the corner.

You didn't miss much, did you?

Have you tried him?

Oh, I... Women are so illogical.

Can't we, uh... No, no, we can't. No.

Now, Michelle, you let this be a lesson to you.

Well, I suggest you get him to a hospital.

You really conked him.

Of course.

Of course I'm still interested in buying them, Doctor.

For how much?

Well, since there seems to be something kind of odd about all this...

Shall we say 30?

Well, what's the matter?

I'm no fool, mister.

These are imitation.

Why, they can't be. I just took them out of Murdock's pocket.

She switched them.

She saw me coming.

Oh, but, Brett, what happened?

How did she get him?

Bart, did I ask you how she got $10 ,000 out of you?

Yes, you did.

Oh.

Well, the problem is to find her again.

And, of course, the...

Baron knows exactly where she is. I'm sorry, I do not.

You don't have to call him Baron anymore.

He's just a waiter the Countess picked up and made over.

She tells me she was a teacher he picked up and made over. A teacher this time.

Last time it was a barmaid.

She hates being an aristocrat.

Where is she?

Baron, I could beat it out of you.

But I don't think I'll have to.

No. No.

Murdock is following her.

I don't think he'll be gentle when he catches her.

How could you know he's following her?

I checked to see if she left San Francisco by train.

She hadn't.

But Murdock had asked the same questions an hour ahead of me.

You know that hurt?

But at least it tells us you know where she is. So does Murdoch by now.

You must help me. I told Michelle to meet me back at the Denver Plaza if she

the pearls and to go there by stagecoach, not by train.

We've still got a chance. That stage can't even be in Denver yet.

You get packed, I'll buy the tickets.

Three tickets!

Is there any message yet?

No, Countess.

As I said, we'll be sure to let you know the moment a telegram comes in.

I'm in room 12.

I know, Countess.

Of course.

Oh, I'll be having dinner before I go up to my room.

Yes, Countess.

In which room is my niece?

Room 12, Berth.

Answer.

Speak up.

Who is there?

C 'est moi, George.

Something is wrong. She answered in English.

You wouldn't be saying you're through, would you, Baron?

Oh, yes. We are finished with all this kind of thing.

Sounds like he means it.

I think she does, too.

See? 5 ,000, 4 ,000, 5 ,000, 6

,000, 7 ,000, 8 ,000, 9 ,000,

10 ,000.

Plus my expenses.

Plus mine.

By the way, Countess, which reminds me.

Are you a countess?

I am.

What about Uncle George?

He is my uncle. And also the Baron de Montaigne.

However, our titles are all that we have.

Our estates were taken from us, and now even our money is gone.

You've just got $40 ,000 for the pearls.

Even with our little cut, that's quite a stake.

Enough to buy another necklace and start back into business again?

Oh, never.

What are you going to do?

It is difficult.

Uncle George has no profession.

I've never had to work.

I know nothing about nothing.

You mean you didn't really write that cookbook either that was just part of

act? Oh, pardon, I wrote every word of that book.

Then you have a profession.

Why don't you open up a...

A really good restaurant right here in Denver. You'd have to fight the

off. We were talking about it last night.

You've got more than enough money for a start.

It would be an act of mercy.

It would be a famous restaurant.

Chez Georges.

No, Chez Michel.

Oh! There is one problem, though.

How many people did you get with that pearl routine before you got to me?

Well, there were only six of them.

Five, chérie. Five too many.

Sooner or later, one or two of them are going to walk into that restaurant of

ours. Of theirs.

And that would be the end of our... of your business career.

Uncle, you have the name of the five people.

It was only five or six thousand dollars from each.

Maybe we could give the money back, huh?

Michelle.

Foolish girl.

However, Baron, you do have quite a stack of money there.

And Denver really does need the Chez Michelle.

No. It is still out of the question. We can't give back the money.

Matter of principle.

A matter of the practical. If we give back the money, how do we get money to

open the restaurant?

A donation.

Countess, please.

An investment?

Yes.

Partners!

Oh, Paolo.