Original subtitles

- You're Modoc's friend. - That's right.

Well, if you've come to do something, get to doing it.

You seem in an all-fired hurry to die, mister.

Maybe I'm not quite ready to let you.

If you're thinking to trying to make me belly crawl

you couldn't be more wrong.

Could be I'm not trying to do any such thing, Hodges.

Any time you're ready, mister.

I won't be hard to find.

"Colt .45."

Produced by Warner Bros.

From the entertainment capital of the world

produced for Television by Warner Bros.

Hey, piano man.

Don't like that tune, change it.

Yes, sir.

Come to think of it, don't like this town neither.

Who's your anti-social friend, honey ?

Been around town three or four days.

Pretty quiet up till now.

He's catching up in a hurry.

Look, you've kept out of trouble

since you've been in town, Mr. Stone.

Don't you think..

I don't think nothin'.

And stop calling me Mr. Stone.

My name's Modoc.

Johnny Modoc.

Any of you hicks ever heard of Johnny Modoc ?

Sure you did.

Look at you.

All sitting there like you're glued.

Mr. Stone.

Why, you'd believe a man if he said his name was XYZ.

We generally figured what a man says is his business, Modoc.

- But when you do... - Shut up.

It's my business, alright, Willy.

I wouldn't be in this flea-bitten town

if it wasn't for business.

And I'm getting a little tired of waitin'.

'Nothin' ever happens.'

'There's nothin' to do here.'

Well, maybe I can get something to happen ?

Yeah.

Little excitement's what this place needs.

Homie, get the sheriff, quick.

Sure.

Hey, kid, come back here.

My boy's headed right off that street.

Happened just like you said, Willie ?

That's right, sheriff. He was fixing to gun down little Tommy.

Davey, let me see your gun.

Luke.

All .44s. One shot, fresh fire.

We know that, sheriff.

What are you getting at ?

The $3000 reward, Davey boy.

Modoc was hit once in the back of the head.

Two of you fellas shot wild.

Well, not me. I hit him.

I know I did. The reward's mine.

I've seen you empty a full load of that rattler, Davey

and not come close.

You never could hit what you aimed at.

- Now, look... - Alright, simmer down.

Both of you.

Bill Hodges, you have anything to say ?

Yeah.

Modoc was like an animal, sheriff.

I can't rightly I'm sorry about it.

Not proud of it either.

But I killed him.

- Mornin'. - Mornin'.

You lookin' to get a room ?

Yup.

You recommend a good hotel ?

Had a shootin' at Willie Flood's saloon.

Fella named Modoc. Got himself killed.

Johnny Modoc, the gunslinger ?

Same.

Got himself all liqoured up.

Thinkin' he was tougher than..

Went to gun the cleanup boy.

Shots started poppin'

this Modoc caught one

right in the back of the head.

Who shot him ?

We don't rightly know.

Sheriff's over at Benton right now.

Get the circuit judge to settle who did it.

You see, three different men's claiming the reward.

Three ?

Yeah, they all shot at him.

Only one of them hit him.

Couldn't the coroner help ?

How about the caliber ?

It was all .44s.

Now, if they was totin' .45s like yours

they'd all have a better chance of hittin' 'em.

We'd have just split that reward three ways.

- Mister, you forgot to sign. - You do it.

What name ?

Smith'll do fine.

So Modoc was dead, that meant that my cover

as a Colt salesman wouldn't work.

The bureau had sent me in to keep an eye on Modoc,

who was to be contacted by a fugitive named Sawyer.

Modoc not being around

I figured Sawyer might get in touch

with a friend of Modoc's.

I'm sorry, mister, the place is closed.

We had a little fracas in here last night.

I know.

You Willie Flood ?

Yeah, that's right but like I said

the place is closed.

I just opened it.

I want some answers, Willie.

Go ahead.

Who killed Johnny Modoc ?

Why should you wanna know the answer to that ?

He was a friend of mine.

A real good friend.

You know who did it ?

Mister, I'm the original see-nothin', say-nothin' girl.

Willie.

Look, we don't know exactly who shot your friend.

There was a lot of guns going off.

Three the way I get it.

All shootin' at Johnny's back.

I'd like you to spread a little word around for me, Willie.

Where ?

Anywhere you think it'll do some good.

"Say that I'm in town.'

And I'm going to find which one of those

three good citizens killed Johnny Modoc.

And when you do ?

I'm gonna kill him.

Well, now my evening's complete.

This a social call, sheriff ?

Sorry, Adele.

Business.

You got the circuit judge comin' over from Benton

Next week.

Lookin' for someone special ?

Man who says he's a friend of Modoc's.

Is he here ?

Over there.

The big good-lookin' one.

But don't let his looks fool ya.

He's tough.

I just get back in town, Adele.

Haven't even had time to check up on him.

Guess I'm gonna have to find out for myself

just how tough this friend of Modoc's is.

Mister, I'd like to talk to ya.

Well, fine, sheriff, choose a subject.

Well, I heard that a friend of Johnny Modoc's was in town

is that you ?

Might be. I knew Johnny pretty good.

And that makes you the man who's been saying

he's gonna kills someone.

Me ?

I never said anything like that.

Well, that's what I heard.

The law doesn't take kindly

to threats of violence.

You heard wrong, sheriff.

I never said anything like that.

Do you remember me saying anything like that, Willie ?

No. No, I sure don't.

Nothing like that at all.

I think you're lying, Willie. Look, mister...

You're not handling a saloon drunk, keep the hands off.

And if I don't ?

Willie ? Set up a couple of empty bottles on the poker table.

Now set a chip up on the top of each bottle.

This way I can prove a point and nobody gets hurt.

On the count of three, we draw and fire.

You game ?

Like to see if your aim

is as sharp as your tongue.

Look, can't you go outside ?

Take it easy, Willie.

The loser pays the damages.

- Agreed ? - Alright.

'I understand that we're to hit the chip and not the bottle.'

Count, Willie.

One.

Two.

'Three.'

You still aren't gonna kill anyone in this town.

Well, lover boy.

You've always been long on talk.

Why don't you go over and show him how you killed Johnny Modoc ?

Shut your mouth.

And now back to "Colt .45"

Come on in.

What are you doing here at this hour, Davey ?

About the reward.

Told you that's out of my hands.

Circuit judge promised he'd be here next week.

Yeah, I know.

What I mean to say is..

...well, I'm just not certain

it was my shot that hit Modoc after all.

Excitement and all.

I just don't think it was me after all.

And you don't lay any claim to the reward ?

That's right. Sheriff.

You just have that judge decide

between Luke and, and Bill Hodges.

Alright, Davey, I'll do that.

Thanks for coming in.

Sure, sheriff.

Sure.

[, I just wanna be fair, you know.

- Just wanna be fair. - I know, Davey.

You tally the supplies, Amy.

I'll get the harnessing over to Liversdale

just as soon as I talk to the sheriff.

Bill, won't you please..

Dan, you, have a minute ?

Sure thing, Bill.

I heard Davey Bryant was in to see you.

Yes, he was.

And he changed his mind about the reward ?

So did Luke Hanson.

Suddenly, remembered what a poor shot he was.

Two down, Bill and you to go.

Mind, nobody'll blame you either.

This friend of Modoc's is awful fast with a gun.

Yeah, I heard that.

But it makes no difference.

What do you mean ?

I mean, I killed Johnny Modoc.

Gunslinger or no.

And you still lay claim to the reward ?

All 3,000.

Now, it's not the money altogether,

if that's what you'e thinking.

Although I'll admit, me and Amy could use it.

Then what is it exactly ?

Well, Dan, the way I figure

a man has got to do what he knows is right.

He's gotta be honest with himself.

You understand.

I understand.

Of course, I'm not fast but..

Like I told you, I hit what I aim at.

So, if this friend of Modoc comes to gun me

I reckon all I can do is defend myself.

Even knowing you'll be standing up against the man

who's probably the fastest gun in the west.

Even knowing that.

Only other suggestion I have

is for you to put this fella in jail where he belongs.

I can't do that, Bill.

There's no legal way.

When the sheriff dropped in to tell me

he didn't want anymore killing in his town

I had to let him in on what I was up to.

After all the big talk you've been spreading

you've gotta make a move.

Can't gun him, what are you gonna do ?

Is there a chance that Hodges will come gunning for me ?

Nah, he's not that sort.

He doesn't want to fight.

But when you lean on him,

I don't think he'll take a backward step.

Gotta stall for time.

If I don't, why, Sawyer may never show up.

You're right in the middle of a dandy.

Sheriff, do you have any bandages in your office ?

Bill, let's go, please.

You're Modoc's friend.

That's right.

Well, if you've come to do something

get to down' I.

You seem in an all-fired hurry to die, mister.

Maybe I'm not quite ready to let you.

If you're thinkin' of trying to make me belly crawl

you couldn't be more wrong.

Could be I'm not trying to do any such thing, Hodges.

Could be my gun hand.

I got careless

lightin' the lamp at the hotel.

Might be five or six days before it's healed up.

You got a left hand gun hanging there.

You wouldn't want to take advantage, would you ?

Any time you're ready, mister.

I won't be hard to find.

Mr. Hobbs let me in.

I'm sorry but I had to talk to you.

We got nothin' to talk about, lady.

I've come to beg for my husband's life.

- He send you ? - No, of course not.

He didn't seem the type at that.

How would you know what he's like ?

I thought I knew.

He's just caught up in this thing

and too stubborn to back out.

Why don't you do your talking to him

instead of me ?

He won't listen to me.

Why can't you just leave town ?

Let us live in peace.

Are you forgetting Johnny Modoc ?

You can't be sure Bill killed him.

There were two other men that fired too.

They changed their stories.

Your mister didn't.

That doesn't leave me much choice, does it ?

You have a pleasant trip, sir ?

Not particularly.

Will you be with us long ?

No.

Room six. Right up the stairs, sir.

Evenin'.

Evenin'.

You the owner ?

Willie Flood, in person.

I understand there's a friend of Johnny Modoc's in town.

You know him ?

Well, we ain't exactly close

suppose I, well, I could say that I do know him.

What's he look like ?

Big fella, well over six feet.

Kind of a nice-looking sort.

Yeah, but real mean. Downright ornery.

- Oh. - But I'm..

There he is now.

Coming out of the hotel.

Look yourself.

If I was you, mister, I'd make a wide trail around him.

That appears to be sound advice, Mr. Flood.

Thanks.

Yes ?

I got a message for you, mister.

Man named Sawyer would like to have you meet him in the bar.

Thank you.

Halt.

Tell the sheriff I'll be over at the hotel.

He was your man, alright.

He signed the hotel register as Sawyer.

Just my luck, we'd met before. I hadn't counted on that.

Last time I met him, why, his name was Randalf.

I was government witness at his trial for mail fraud.

He spotted you this afternoon.

Willie Flood pointed him out.

Oh, I promised Willie I wouldn't tell you that.

Good old Willie.

I guess now we can tell folks

who you really are. Can't we, Colt ?

No, I'd rather you didn't.

Less people who know my identity

the easier my job's going to be.

I think I'll just pack my things and leave early in the morning.

I'll tell him it was self defense just like it was.

Why don't you spread it around that

I left town on your suggestion.

Alright.

Having a mean cuss like you in town

makes the sheriff look mighty bad.

I know, Dan.

- Thanks. - That's alright.

- Goodnight. - Goodnight.

Nine, ten, thank you, sir.

Hobbs, find something to do, hop back.

Yes, sir, sheriff.

Colt, we got trouble.

Bill Hodges is outside waiting for ya.

- Hodges ? - I told him you were leaving.

But I might as well have been talking to myself.

Team of eight wouldn't budge him.

He's either a fool or the bravest man I've ever known.

He's no fool, Dan.

Territory had more men like him

you and I'd be out of a job.

I know that.

What are we gonna do ?

Half the town's waiting out there

waiting for him to die.

Are they learning anything ?

About courage ?

Real courage. Acquired kind.

That Mrs. Hodges doesn't know what kind of a man she married.

Yeah. Be kind of a shame to pull the rug out, wouldn't it ?

Yeah, it would, Dan.

Mister, I understand you're leaving town.

That's right.

You planning on ever coming back ?

- Maybe. - No, you're not.

You're not riding out leaving me and my wife

and this whole town wonder when you comin' back to gun me.

I'm gonna tell you something, mister.

It ain't gonna be that way at all.

I ain't getting up every day wonderin' if that's the day

you're coming back to kill me.

So right now is when you gotta back up

that talk of yours.

Either make your play now or get to ridin'.

And don't ever come back.

Oh, Bill.