Original subtitles

Jerry. Get on your feet, you cowardly crook.

Cowardly, yes, but not a crook.

Are you going to get on your feet or do I have to stomp you where you lie?

If you have to kill me, kill me. But I repeat, I am not a crook. Well, what do

they call it where you come from then?

Will you listen to me for five minutes?

I will not.

Five minutes? Then you can beat me to death and I won't lift a finger.

A Warner Brothers television production.

Your first trip through New Mexico, Mr. Maverick? My very first.

Find the local customs pretty strange sometimes, I expect.

Sometimes? A strange country.

Take the distances out here, for instance.

The air is so clear that... Oh, never mind.

You wouldn't believe it. Believe what, Mr. Crippen? How deceptive distances can

be.

Those hills over there?

Look about ten miles off.

They're a day's ride.

Or take Desert Springs. We're about ten miles from there. It's twenty minutes to

twelve.

Mr. Maverick, would you believe we'll be there before noon?

You can't be serious.

Serious enough to bet money on it.

You must be joking.

It'll take us a good hour at least.

Not at all, sir. In fact, I'd give odds of two to one.

Odds? You'd give me odds?

After all, I know the country.

And you don't. I have a spread of a few acres of Houston's wells.

Now, let's get this straight, Mr. Kribble.

These horses, this stagecoach, this rate of speed, 10 miles in 20 minutes?

And you say we'll be there before noon?

The air can't be that clear.

Two to one.

A hundred dollars to 50? Say, a thousand dollars to 500.

12 .30 exactly.

I'll trouble you for your money, Mr. Cropper.

Could I trouble you for the right time, sir?

I make it 11 .31 exactly, sir.

town can't be in on this.

You ever hear of time zones?

Of course I've heard of time zones, but this isn't... It is.

30 miles back, we gained an hour, so we're here before noon.

Pay me, boy, 500 to the best.

By Jove, it's General Warren, isn't it? And, Miss Warren, what brings you to Mr.

Griffin?

think of something.

I have to.

Uncle Bo used to say a maverick outwitted is still worth two ordinary

Mr.

Maverick, sir.

Will you be with us long?

Well, that depends.

Maverick!

The Saints, if it isn't Beauregard. How are you? Hey, O 'Brien, I haven't seen

you. I thought you were in Dallas. What are you doing here? Just leaving.

I wish... We still got time for a drink.

Telegram for you, Mr. O 'Brien.

Oh, thank you.

Oh, that's not good.

That's not good at all. Bad news?

$3 ,000.

That isn't good.

Do you have a bank here?

The sheriff has a safe, but he's out of town until Wednesday.

I need that drink.

I have to be in Santa Fe tomorrow at nine.

And I just got word a fellow there has got a judgment against me, which means

can take every cent I've got. And legally.

That's the worst way.

The trouble is, this isn't mine.

And if I was to lose it... Oh, of course.

I could hold it and then give it to the sheriff for you.

But I don't trust you, Bo.

Jerry, look at it this way. With me, you have a fighting chance.

Santa Fe coach is leaving.

It's safe.

Well, now, just the same.

Today, stay with the solid citizens.

People like, well, like General Warren.

General?

Retired. There's a big piece in the paper about him today.

Read for yourself.

All aboard.

Bo.

Don't worry, it's as safe as the second bank of Tallahassee.

General Josiah Warren, Chairman of the Board, Pacific and Western Railroad,

arrived in Dillard Springs.

It is believed the Pacific and Western may be considering a new line through

territory.

Mr. Maverick, I looked in the register.

My name's Warren.

General Warren?

I looked in the newspaper.

It's a pleasure.

I just wanted you to know that any enemy of John Crippen is a friend of mine.

He got to you too, huh?

Some old friends of mine.

I've no excuse.

I should have known he had a sure thing.

Oh, never mind.

I have every confidence that you'll turn the tables on him.

You have?

I know your family well.

You do?

By reputation, of course.

Well, I'll try to live up to it.

Oh,

I'm sorry.

Roseanne, Mr. Maverick. It's my granddaughter, sir.

Pleasure, Miss Warren.

Well, good day to you, sir.

We're going for a drive in the country. I have some business near Clay Flats.

Oh, oh. My granddaughter wants to know if you would care to accompany us.

Tell your granddaughter, sir. I should be delighted.

Desolate country.

What did you say it was worth?

Not much, but quite a bit if the railroad's going through here.

Oh, pretty sharp, aren't you?

As a matter of fact, it's not.

Too much grade.

Ah, that's more like it.

Good level ground all the way from Houston's Wells to the mountains.

Houston's Wells?

That's right, my boy.

Houston's Wells.

Drippen? I'd like a few words with you.

What about?

Time zones?

No.

Yesterday on the stage you mentioned some property. What was it called?

Houston's Wells. What about it?

Are you interested in selling?

No. It's worthless, you know.

I know it. You know it. General Warren doesn't. I gave him an option on it

today.

Crippen, it may interest you to know that the general is going to run his

railroad right across that land.

Time zones, eh?

You've been ahead of me all afternoon, General.

Hmm?

Oh, Houston's Wells.

I thought I saw you prick up your ears when I mentioned it.

I'm a little disappointed.

I was hoping to get rich, and even.

Oh, don't begrudge me, my boy.

I have a bit of revenge coming, too, you know.

Trippin thinks he's cheated me out of me eye teeth.

Not anymore, he doesn't. If you'll pardon me.

I want that option back.

It's iron -bound, Crippen.

How about a bonus? Say 500.

A thousand?

Not a chance.

All right. You've got just 24 hours to come up with the rest of the money. In

cash. Understand? 3 ,000 cash.

You'll get it. Good night, Mr. Crippen.

Sleep well!

Do you carry that much cash?

Certainly not. Too risky.

I hate to tell you this, but there isn't a bank in town.

Oh, no.

Well, I'll just wire New York then.

General, tomorrow is Sunday.

It can't be.

Oh, what am I to do, my boy?

If that scoundrel has outwitted me, I'll... I could raise the cash myself.

My boy, you've saved an old man's life.

It wouldn't be a loan.

I want the land.

The land is not for sale.

No land, no cash.

Oh, my boy.

You wouldn't want to cheat a poor old man out of his hard -earned revenge,

you?

I want half the land at least.

Half?

That's better than creeping.

Be back in half an hour.

Thank you.

Chairman of the Board Pacific and Western Railroad, verified as General

Warren, traveling in west.

You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Maverick. You flatter me, sir.

Well, good night, gentlemen.

Good night, my boy.

See you at breakfast.

Good night.

Roseanne!

Next time it's 50 -50 or deal me out.

I should be delighted.

Good morning. Good morning, sir.

Have you seen General Warren?

They checked out last night, sir.

Checked out? Yes, sir. Where did they go?

I believe Mr. Crippen mentioned Albuquerque.

Mr. Crippen?

Yes, sir. They left together?

Something wrong, sir?

Oh, no.

Thank you.

General Josiah Warren described as six feet one.

Age 45, hair dark, eyes blue, clean -shaven.

You're sure they said Albuquerque?

Yes, sir. They mentioned it twice.

Twice, did they?

One of the stages left last night. Just one, sir. For Silver City.

Make up my bill. I'm checking out.

For Albuquerque?

No, Silver City.

Shall we complete our transaction?

By all means, General. By all means. Why wait to become millionaires, eh?

There we are, sir. Thank you, sir. Mrs. Hale.

Thank you, General.

I'll never forget this.

That scoundrel Crippen won't either.

Oh. You know, the most beautiful part is that Crippen believes that he's stuck

us with a worthless piece of land.

Good night, General.

Good night, Mr. White. Thank you.

Thank you. Mrs. Hale, thank you. Your friends, an evening like this does my

heart good.

Well,

good night. Good night.

Mind if I join you?

Mr. Maverick, are you sure you'll... General, I want to make you an offer.

If you can spare a moment.

How much more land do you hold around Houston's wells?

You want more land?

All you can spare.

Why?

Just say I like the desert.

Well, I should look into that.

Mr. Griffin can join us. I think we all understand each other.

Oh, come in, come in.

Mr. Maverick wants more land.

How much do you have left?

About hours and acres.

I'll take it. I'm a little short just now, but I can give you 500 for an

You're a very smart man, Mr. Maverick. We'll be glad... Just a moment.

How long an option?

I expect to raise some capital within the next week.

I could promise you 10 ,000 for the whole block of land.

Would you pardon us for just a moment?

Mr. Maverick, we feel that it's always a mistake to rush into things too

quickly.

Are you staying overnight?

I'll stay till we settle this.

Delighted, my boy, delighted.

General, won't you sit here?

Oh, thank you.

Mr. Crippen? Thank you, sir.

Well, I trust that you have decided to accept my offer? Let's not beat around

the bush, Maverick. Three heads are better than one. We've had such vast

experience in these matters.

We don't have to sell, you know. Oh, I think you will.

Why don't you confide in us? May I? No.

General, that isn't brandy. Whiskey? No.

I'll buy you a drink downstairs.

I can tell you this much, gentlemen.

I looked at Houston's wells, and I liked what I saw. Now I want the rest of the

valley. It's as simple as that.

But I must have a quick decision now, shall we?

I think, Maverick, you're bluffing. You want us to think it's valuable and buy

it back from him.

It is a possibility, isn't it?

We'll let you know tomorrow.

Well, it's past my bedtime, but one more for my friends.

Good night, gentlemen.

Good night, General.

Don't you understand that oil is expected to be one of the biggest

the country one day? I still don't like it. It just goes against the grain.

Can't you two understand that this land is worth a fortune?

We can all be millionaires.

I know, I know.

And all we have to do for the rest of our lives is sit back and watch the

roll in.

But... But what?

Don't you want to be rich?

There's something about making money like this that just rubs me the wrong

It's so, so... So what?

Legitimate. It's just no way to make a living. What becomes of the joy of

preparation? The excitement of selecting the sucker. The tension as he smells

the trap.

The gratification as you play him and rail him in.

And that supreme moment when you close the trap and you hold the money in your

hand.

What becomes of all that?

Ask your friends in jail.

Oh, the child's right.

I'm not getting any younger.

And it would be very comforting in my autumnal years to have a fixed

income and be able to relax and take it easy.

I suppose so.

And we could always keep our hand in by knocking over a live one when we got the

urge.

The last time you got the urge, the live one knocked you over.

Jerry!

Get on your feet, you cowardly crook.

Cowardly, yes, but not a crook.

Are you going to get on your feet or do I have to stomp you where you lie?

If you have to kill me, kill me. But I repeat, I am not a crook. Well, what do

they call it where you come from then?

Will you listen to me for five minutes?

I will not.

Five minutes? Then you can beat me to death and I won't lift a finger.

So they buy me out and we get our money back.

It's as easy as that. They're 90 % convinced right now.

Are you finished?

I tell you, they're ripe for the slaughter. The money's as good as in

pocket. There's just one thing I need.

And what's that? Could you spare another couple of thousand?

Why? I can flash the money in front of their faces. They'll know I mean

business.

You can always kill me later. I swear I won't let the money out of my hands.

May I try this one on?

Yes, indeed, Miss Warren.

Right this way, please.

Now, what can I do for you, madam?

Mr. Maverick.

I just found another can of that crude oil in case you need it.

No, thanks. One was enough.

Gentlemen, this won't take a minute.

The money is starting to come in now. I can offer you another 2 ,000 for the

option. Mr.

Maverick, we have a counter -proposal, sir. How about our buying your land?

I'm afraid that's out of the question.

You couldn't pay what it's worth.

What is it worth?

I'd have to ask at least 8 ,000.

You're right. The price is too steep.

Grandpa?

Your option, Mr. Maverick.

The thousand acres are yours, Mr. Maverick, for one week.

No.

I'll not dirty my hands on you.

Don't blame you. Here.

You sold me out, didn't you?

Go on, get it over with. No, answer me. You sold me out. No, they just

outsmarted me.

Oh, Bo.

Please, put me out of my misery. I'm all washed up. I couldn't outwit a kitten

anymore. Uncle Bo will disown me.

No, you're a maverick to the bone. There's no end to your tricks.

No, this would be the easy way out.

I want my money back.

Get it the hard way.

Go to the law.

Me?

Go to the law?

The old man defrauded you, didn't he?

Amen.

General Josiah Warren?

That's right.

I got a warrant here for your arrest.

You must be joking, sir.

Mr. Maverick here claimed that you obtained money from him under false

by means of impersonation and...

Misrepresentation.

Mr. Maverick.

Where is your sporting blood, sir?

Marshal. Oh, very well, very well, my good man.

I'll just get my hat.

Well, off to jail, shall we?

What kind...

I want my money.

And there's nothing you wouldn't stoop to, is there?

Poor Grandpa in that cold jail.

What about his rheumatism?

I can't blame him. Just leave everything to me. I'll have poor Grandpa out of

there before... Oh, you lay off poor Grandpa.

He can take care of himself.

Don't, don't cry, Roseanne.

Marshall!

Marshall!

When I call... Come and let my granddaughter and Mr. Crippin out,

Anything you want, General.

Thank you.

What now? Look, General, just let me take charge, will you?

You! I'm a very resourceful man if I get half a chance.

You remember what happened last time you took charge? Anybody can make a mistake

once. Once is enough. You can be wrong, too. You're under arrest, not me.

All right.

Any ideas?

Uh, well...

I thought not.

I have.

And I think Mr. Maverick is going to be very much surprised.

But why do I need a corroborating witness?

It says here you've got to have one to back up a complainant on a charge like

this. You see, your say -so alone ain't enough.

That's in case you misunderstood or remembered wrong.

But I can prove the real General Warren is 30 years younger and a foot taller.

Yeah, but can you prove that he swindled you by claiming to be that General

Warren?

Yes. He told me he was chairman of the railroad.

Oh, sorry. You gotta have a witness, mister.

Now, did he make the same claim to anybody else?

Yes.

Yes, he did.

Well, Judge Stevens set the hearing for three o 'clock tomorrow.

You better round up somebody fast.

No, Mr. Maverick.

Well, Mrs. Hale, it was an out -and -out swindle.

I don't hold with an eye for an eye, Mr. Maverick.

Suppose the general did make a little mistake.

A little mistake?

He must have taken you for two or three thousand dollars.

That's my affair.

Don't you want your money back?

No.

What's the matter with you?

Don't you know Christian charity when you see it?

Mrs. Hale, you know you've been robbed. You're not a rich woman and you don't

want your money back?

No.

But, Mrs.

Hale... I'm sorry. I'm not going to oblige you, Mr. Maverick. I'm not going

appear against the general.

He's a fine old man. He's a fine old swindler. Who have you been talking to?

Nobody. Don't you want your $3 ,000 back?

No. Justice?

Don't you even want to get even?

Find out as sure as my name's... Maverick.

He's out -thought me right down the line.

A man with your reputation being outsmarted three times running. I don't

it. You sold me out, didn't you? No, Wade.

There has to be a way out somewhere.

You're going to get it. Now, now, listen. The only way to get the money is

convict the general, right?

Yeah. So we have to find out how he silenced those witnesses.

That's where you come in.

Oh, no.

You'll have to. I have to stay out of sight on this one.

What do you mean, another witness?

Do we miss one? No, this one just got into town. Name's O 'Brien. Big fellow,

wide.

Claims we took him for 3 ,000 last spring.

O 'Brien, O 'Brien.

Name's familiar.

Must be one of the Denver batch you place him. He's going to testify though.

I doubt it I Doubt it very much

Mr.

Bryan

Mr. O 'Brien, it is you.

Miss Warren.

And who were you expecting?

It was Denver, wasn't it, where we met?

I remember you very well.

Well, do you now?

Oh, yes, you made quite an impression on Grandpa.

I can certainly see why.

Well, he made quite an impression on me, too.

Grandpa has a little problem.

Every once in a while, he does get into trouble.

But when he heard you were in town, he was just delighted.

He was?

He remembers you so well, and he speaks of you so often.

My grandpa took a great liking to you.

Actually, if you want the truth, there's only one thing he really regrets out of

this whole terrible mess.

He regrets that you had to lose your money.

He does?

Mm -hmm.

But he wants to make sure you get it back.

Now, he doesn't have anything like enough money to repay everybody.

But he wants to repay you with interest if he gets off.

Oh, huh.

But if he's convicted, well, he can't do a thing to help you.

But if you don't testify, Mr. O 'Brien, well, what shall I tell Grandpa?

Well, you...

Tell Grandpa that I'll think it over very carefully.

So that's how he did it.

So simple.

So easy. I almost hate to see him lose.

You... What about my money?

Oh, don't worry. I'll speak to Wallace and Mrs. Hale again. They'll testify,

right.

But not if the general gets to them again.

Oh, I know.

I know.

There's only one safe way.

We'll have to keep them under lock and key until the trial.

That's a three. We've got an hour and a half.

Your room?

Yes. It's worth trying. You get them up there. Oh, and Jerry, don't tell them a

thing until they're safely locked up.

Right.

This way, I can't lose.

I'll be going over to the hotel in a few minutes. If you want me, I'll be in Mr.

Maverick's room.

Well, it's all set.

Bo, wake up. They'll be here any minute.

Well, I don't know. He just keeled over. Is there a doctor in town? Maybe.

Maybe he had a little help.

He did.

Now, take it easy, Mr. O 'Brien.

Ah, ah, none of that.

There's no harm done.

I just wanted Mr. Maverick nice and quiet while we had a little talk.

I got nothing to talk to you about.

Believe everything he says, don't you?

Hook, line, and sinker.

I thought so. He fooled us, too.

Took his split, and now he wants our share.

What kind of deal does he have with you?

Deal? He offer you money?

Well, my own, if that's what you mean. Ah, robbed you, too, did he?

Man doesn't know who to trust these days.

You'll never see your money again, you realize that.

Unless there's one chance for you.

You and I could make a deal. You keep your mouth shut, and I'll see that

repaid in full.

How much you got coming?

Oh, three... $4 ,000.

That's a lot of money, $3 ,000. Four.

Is it a deal for four?

Well, why should I make a deal with you when all I have to do is testify?

Sorry, friend, that just isn't enough to pay all the creditors.

Tell you what.

I'll see that you get your 4 ,000 plus 10 % interest.

Talk's cheap.

Here's a thousand on account.

You get the rest on delivery.

Delivery of what?

Silence. Yours and his.

No, no. Wait a minute.

Mr. Madrick.

Oh, it's you.

Well, here we are.

I'm sorry, folks. Mr.

Madrick isn't here just now.

Isn't here?

No, he was called out of town on business.

You said you had something important to say.

Well, I guess we won't be needing you now. Thank you very much.

You mean you called us over here just... Well, of all the addle -headed,

irresponsible... Good day, sir.

Good day.

I'll not club him. Now, that's out.

Tell you what.

When he wakes up, the two of you have a drink.

I guarantee you he'll give us no trouble till morning.

Boy, I couldn't do that to him.

I just couldn't.

And even 2 ,000, Mr.

O 'Brien.

Half your money.

Now, if you really don't need it, of course...

Oh, how can you put me in a spot like this?

You'll get the rest after the trial.

If you drink with him, he won't suspect a thing.

And don't mix up the glasses.

No.

Now, this hurts me worse than it does you, my boy.

But you got me into this.

You're going to have to get me out.

What

happened?

Seating folded?

We were slugged.

Need you ask?

Well, the general's in jail.

Well, he's got friends.

Crippen?

You need a drink, I think.

Yeah.

Maybe I do.

Well?

I was thinking that maybe you shouldn't be taking alcohol so soon after being

bashed on the head.

You should have talked to me first.

There wasn't time.

It'll go wrong somehow.

I know it. Every time you try to take charge, it goes wrong. It can't. They'll

sleep like babies till this time tomorrow afternoon. They won't even know

take the money back.

It sounds good, but somehow it won't work.

The witnesses, Jerry, the witnesses. That's why he slugged us.

Well, never mind about the witnesses. We got an hour before the trial. Now, are

you going to drink that or aren't you?

But why would he walk off and leave us?

I don't get it.

You poor innocent.

I... I couldn't let you go through with it.

I didn't think you could, Jerry. You see, I came to a little sooner than you

thought back there.

Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get moving.

Stop worrying, will you? At three, they'll turn you loose. They'll have to.

complaints, no... Relax,

John. I must say I'm rather relieved.

I thought for a while there that you'd broken a long, long record, but you have

done it again.

Badly, badly, you've done it again.

40 minutes.

I think I'd better have a talk with the judge.

Roseanne, do you think that you could get him to come here?

But you were going to cheat me. You didn't say one word when that hussy...

offered you the same deal. Did you warn me?

If I live to be a thousand, I'll never forget...

Well, Marshal, we're ready to see the judge.

The general.

Just wait till I get my hands on that man. You and me both.

You wait here. But I'm the complainant. And I'm the marshal.

The judge wants to interview the witnesses first, alone.

I have a right to be present.

If you want to be held in contempt of court, you can just wait here.

You, you the complainant, young man?

Yes, your honor.

You run a happy courtroom, sir.

Steady or not.

Mr. Maverick, you'll be very glad to know that we have settled everything.

Very simply.

And we are saving the territory the cost of a trial.

Go on.

I am returning everyone's money and reclaiming the land.

Judge, I have not withdrawn the charges. I have witnesses here.

Now let me see.

Mrs. Hale, how much do I owe you?

$2 ,000.

This is a real pleasure, madam, all the way around. You get your money.

Your honor.

And I get the land.

The deed.

I have every confidence in this land.

I am very happy to get it back.

Mr. Wallace, $3 ,000, I believe.

Please mr.

Wallace don't disappoint me.

No general you keep the money.

I'll keep the land Mr.

Maverick, I know that you won't disappoint an old man

Houston Wells is yours.

Here, Judge.

I want my land back.

Oh, Mrs. Hale, please. You're doing a very bad thing.

Judge?

Oh, as you wish, madam.

Your Honor, just out of curiosity...

What is the law on this? Returning the money doesn't change the fact that he's

swindled. Now, let's not quibble, Mr. Maverick.

Now, Your Honor, what about you?

You want your $5 ,000 back?

No, indeed, sir. I believe in you, General.

Thank you.

It's not me.

I have a message for you.

Grandpa doesn't want you to feel too bad about what happened.

He always told me you can't take credit for what comes naturally.

It's a gift.

Bread and the bone.

Grandpa got it from his mother's side of the family.

Her maiden name was Maverick.

explains everything.

We're cousins.

We've been cousins.

Smooth

as

a handle on a gun, Maverick is the name.

Wild as the wind in Oregon, blowing up a canyon, easier to tame.

Riverboat, ring your bell.

Fare thee well, Annabelle.

Lucky lady that he loves the best.

Nassau, New Orleans,

living on Jackson, Queens.

Maverick is a legend of the West.

Maverick is the legend of the West.