Original subtitles

What are you trying to do?

The tide's out, ma'am.

You couldn't drown in that Sacramento mud

if you had a cannonball under each arm.

Don't cry.

Please.

That, that's better.

Now, what brought you to this?

Men?

No, sir.

Cats.

Cats?

Miss, uh..

Modesty Blaine.

Bret Maverick.

Can I take you home?

I don't have a home.

Well, now there is a coincidence.

Neither have I.

Suppose we discuss the cold world over a hot cup of coffee.

A Warner Bros. Television Production.

There now, isn't that better?

You're so kind, Mr. Maverick.

'So strong.'

We're all strong enough, ma'am.

To bear the misfortunes of others.

Now, tell me the worst.

You said something out there about cats?

That's right.

Only I hadn't even bought the cats.

Two men held me up tonight and took every penny I had.

Five hundred dollars.

You were planning on buying $500 worth of cat?

That's right.

That's why I sold my gold claim in Paradise.

They need cats in Paradise, Mr. Maverick.

'Need them desperately.'

To join the heavenly chorus?

No, silly.

Paradise is a small mining town.

And they're having terrible trouble with rats.

Some of them are probably friends of mine.

'No, these are real rats.'

And mice too. Oh, they're the worst.

Like in so many camps.

The little creatures multiply themselves in the mine tunnels.

They infest the poor miners cabins

and they're robbing the storekeepers blind.

What, haven't they heard of traps or poison?

Oh, these mice thrive on poison

and they laugh at traps.

'Cats, Mr. Maverick.'

That's the only weapon.

For a prime mouser in Paradise

a girl could get 50 dollars.

50 dollars for a little old house cat?

More for a mean old snarly cat.

How many souls are there in Paradise?

That need cats, I mean.

Ooh, about 200 cabins, that's 200 cats.

Two hundred..

Well, that's, uh, a fortune.

Yes, it is.

That's why I risked every penny I had in the world.

Oh, I, I know I was greedy.

A girl could be happy on half as much.

So could a boy, Miss Blaine.

'What's this?'

Oh!

A 1000 dollar bill.

That's every penny I have in the world.

It is now the working capital of the..

Consolidated Cat Corporation.

My!

A 1000 dollar bill.

'"Tom Cats Wanted.'

'"The persons below will pay $2'

"per cat delivered to Hanrahan's stable.

Bret Maverick and Modesty Blaine."

But why only boy cats?

- Well, they travel smoother. - I thought they always fought.

- Only in mixed company. - Oh, I almost forgot.

No black cats.

Why, the mice is superstitious?

No, but the sheriff of Paradise

is superstitious about black cats

and walking under ladders, things like that.

Oh, he'd be very angry at us.

And there's no profit in punctured cats.

- Quick on the trigger, is he? - Quicker than a cat.

No black cats.

You did a good job, Mr. Hanrahan.

- Yeah. - And I thank you kindly.

Yes, sir. Much obliged, much obliged.

Uh, say, Maverick.

Of course I'm not a nosy man, you know.

But do you mean to stand there barefaced

and tell me that you're going up onto the mountains

with 200 of them screamin' felines in that thing?

Barefaced, Mr. Hanrahan.

I'd rather shave the devil with a toothache.

I got a pretty girl to ride with me.

- Oh. - My partner.

Smells like a swamp with the sun on it.

Smoked catfish.

Nobody but a woman that could make a man this foolish.

Oh, I got customers comin'.

Here, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty.

- Hey, what's that? - Catnip, of course.

Of course, catnip. We take every precaution.

- You Mr. Maverick? - That's right, son.

- $2 a cat? - That's right.

It's him.

Hey, $2 for a cat?

$2 is a fair price, wouldn't you say?

I'm glad I got my money first.

Alright, boys. Now you step up.

Give the lady your cat. I'll give you $2.

- Here you are. - 'Thank you.'

They're all boy cats, aren't they? Ah, you got four..

'$4. Keep 'em in the family. There's two for you.'

Do you ever notice how nice the evening smells

when there's money in the air?

Oh, Mr. Maverick.

You've opened up a whole new life for me.

Bright and full of promise.

Good. You head to the boarding house and pack your bag.

We're almost on our way.

Oh, I hate to mention it, but I do owe them 20 dollars.

Here, you take 30.

Bring back a bottle of wine. We'll have one for the road.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Maverick.

Bret.

Thanks, partner.

Oh, Mr. Maverick, Bret

I reckon I have known men like you

but they were in books.

And they clanked in armor and ate at round tables.

Evening, little lady.

But haven't you come to the wrong place?

Oh, I hope not.

I have 20 dollars and..

Well, I'd like a man disposed of.

Well, now, would you like both his legs broke

or have his body thrown in the river?

Well, I'm not quite sure.

Which is cheaper?

Oh, money, huh?

See, maybe the two of us can both make a few dollars.

The sailing masters in San Francisco

were pleading for help.

Seems like when their sailor men hit these golden shores

they lose their taste for the sea.

'A good strong body brings 40 dollars.'

And he gets a nice slow voyage

to Singapore under healthy ocean breeze.

You can do all that for 20 dollars?

Oh, yes, ma'am.

You pay me the 20..

And when the men pick him up from you, they pay you 40.

I make money, you make money.

And a lost soul gets a chance at a new life.

Well, I must say, sir.

You're a most understanding man.

Oh, but he's sly this one and powerful.

I think he might need a mild sedative.

Uh-huh. Oh, yes.

Grandma Odise back in my boarding house

just insisted on fixing us a supper

and put in a bottle of her blackberry tonic.

'Oh, I'll pour it.'

You just sit at the round table and let me wait on you.

My, it's a lovely bright night, isn't it?

Oh, it's a perfect night for cat travel.

Moon shinin' through the trees.

Balmy air.

'Regular spoonin' weather, you might say.'

You might say.

If I didn't, ma'am

I wouldn't be your clanking knight in armor.

Here, this may help you to clank.

To the prettiest partner a man ever had.

Grandma Odise really mixes a tonic.

Oh, little of this and little of that.

Wonder how she got so many tigers in one bottle.

It's His Nibs. The duke of Sacramento.

Who are you?

And what's that sound out there?

That's California's Golden Gate, lad

creakin' in the cold fog.

I'm in San Francisco?

Look, friend, there's been some mistake.

No mistake. A man can't pick a happier life than the sea.

Now, just sign on this line.

- What is it? - Just sign it.

Ship's articles, every crewmen signed it.

- Shanghai? - No, Singapore.

You're bound west for Singapore on the Island Trader.

Captain Puget commanding.

You're gonna make your fortune in the land of spice.

Oh, well, I never turn down money, your honor

but, well, I've sort of made my fortune in a land of mice.

- Careful, bucko. - No, I'm serious.

You've made a bad choice, captain.

I'm no sailor, I'm a businessman.

- In what line? - Right now I'm in cats.

Cats is it?

Ever meet one with nine tails, bucko me lad?

Hey, he's pretty funny, captain.

He must keep your crew in stitches all the time, huh?

Listen, my fancy friend.

We paid 40 dollars for you.

For 40 dollars we're going to get sweat or blood.

Makes no difference which one.

- Now, sign the paper. - I'm not signin' anythin'.

How many lashes, captain?

One cut for every puff of smoke.

Will you sign?

I'm considerin' it.

'What's your shipper, matey?'

Don't know.

Some bloodboat bound for Singapore.

Captain Puget commanding?

That's her.

Oh, good. I got a man for you here.

- Is he breathin'? - Of course he is.

He's perfect specimen.

Sunny disposition, never tie him out.

- $35. - Fifty?

- Forty. - It's a deal.

Take him out by the heels.

- Thanks for the business. - Oh, think nothin' of it.

Tell him the duke said to write when he gets the chance.

'We got more, folks. Alright. What have we got here?'

Oh, look at this. A brown and white.

- Oh, that's a fine cat. - A real rat-catcher, ain't she?

'They're going fast, folks.'

'There aren't many of these beautiful animals left.'

'What's that you say, madam? Look at this.'

'Isn't this a marvelous cat? This is so wonderful.'

Ah, a real rat-killer, folks. A real, what I hear?

$50.

$50, anybody else?

- 'Fifty five.' - 'Fifty five dollars.'

'Who else? Who else is on that?'

'$60. $75. Well..'

Hi, sheriff.

'This superb Angora is sold for $75.'

'Alright, my friends, how about..'

You are the sheriff?

What do you want?

Well, sheriff, I have a rather delicate job for you.

I'm a victim of fraud and perfidy

mayhem, kidnapping and misappropriation of funds.

Well, supposin' you point out the guilty party?

- Right over there. - 'Sixty. Thank you, madam.'

'Sixty we have. Sixty one.'

'Sixty twice and sold to the lady in the yellow bonnet.'

'We got just one more left, folks.'

'This is the last cat.'

- 'It's a splendid specimen. - Yes, he's a very fine cat.'

Kill anything smaller than a coyote.

- That's right. - Who hasn't got a cat?

'I'll have it. $50.'

Priscilla Colton bids $50. Anybody else?

And five more to the little lady who brung 'em here.

- Sold! - Oh, thank you, Priscilla.

'Now, just let me have one official word of thanks.'

As the mayor of our city, to this little lady.

Oh, thank you, mayor.

I'm sorry, folks. There's no more cats.

There's no more to auction today.

Howdy, Miss Blaine.

Anchor chains and may we clank, remember?

Oh!

She must've took a spell.

She'll take anything that wasn't nailed down.

Now, just a minute, stranger. Who might you be?

I might be Bret Maverick

but to this little lady, I'm Santa Claus.

Oh, stop him.

Oh, now, Lady Guinevere

you owe me and the round table 5000 dollars.

Who are you?

Plus expenses from San Francisco.

Scratch, stop him. He's trying to take our money.

Sheriff, this is the heartless criminal I told you about.

'I put up the money for this wagonload of cats.'

But I'm willin' to drop the charges

for half the 10,000 dollars.

Ever seen this dude before, Modesty?

No, I never did.

Oh, come on, I have half the school kids

in Sacramento as witnesses.

But I'm not vindictive. All I want is my share.

Your share?

Just happens, stranger, that I put up the 500 dollars

this little lady took down to Sacramento to buy cats.

- You? - Of course he did.

Scratch, you take this money and put it in your safe.

You lost his stake at some faro table.

Go ahead and tell him.

And it also happens that you got your hand

on a little lady who is gonna become my wife.

Now you just climb on your horse, mister, and get out...

Now, now, wait a minute.

I believe you're the real authority here, Mr. Mayor?

Yes, yes, I am.

Mayor Uli Bemus.

Now, Scratch, I think... Bemus, when you start thinkin'

folks better get out of the way of fallin' rocks.

I said you're leavin' town, you got two minutes

by a good watch.

Oh, but, sheriff, that's my...

You really wanna argue, mister? You got a gun?

Well, Paradise lost.

Oh, Miss Blaine..

I've bought a lot of gifts for a lot of lovely ladies

but never a trucial.

I'll be back.

You wouldn't be a Maverick, name of Bret?

Faro Jack Norcross.

Never figured to see a Maverick on the road to Paradise.

It's as rough and rocky as they say.

Where was it last time? Santa Fe? Vancouver?

Fort Union.

How is business lately?

Booming, Bret.

They don't hardly keep cool.

What you doin' away from a card table?

Well, I got stopped at the pearly gates.

Sheriff, didn't bother to look me up in the book.

- He just threw it at me. - Sheriff named Scratch Madden?

That's right. And you keep your eye on him, Jack.

He's sort of smokey.

Oh, good grief.

- That's him. I gotta get goin'. - Now, stay here, boy.

As my old pappy used to say

"A man who sticks his head in the sand, makes a good target."

He won't spot us here. I'll take our horses.

What do you mean, "He won't spot us?"

This here Marble Orchard

is the one piece of Paradise he's scared of.

How do you know?

I got a letter from some bug named Bemus.

- Not Mayor Uli Bemus? - Well, it just might be.

- A friend of yours? - You're welcome to him.

He's meeting me right after sundown with the money.

With the money for what? I mean, for who?

Why, for the sheriff. Old Scratch Madden.

That's what I've been trying to tell you.

Now why would the mayor wanna kill his own sheriff?

Scratch is getting too tall for his braces.

Gunned the two citizens that voted against him Election Day

'and nine men since.'

He's taking cash for protection from the merchants.

Why, the mayor's plumb scared of him.

Uh-oh! He's coming back.

Well, he's tracked you down the trail.

Figured you're outta the county by now.

Just tie your horses up here. He won't spot us.

Why won't he spot us?

Now come on, Jack. You know something that I don't.

He won't even look in this direction.

He's skittish about graveyards Beemer says.

And almost everything else since that night in Deadwood

Bill Hicock got killed holding aces and eights.

Aces and eights? Dead man's hand?

It was the sheriff who first named the dead man's hand.

It seems that old Scratch was sitting in the same poker game

the same night when a black cat

jumped up on the table before the smoke came.

He's been the most superstitious man

in the state ever since.

Yeah, well, I'm a little superstitious myself.

How about a nice little game of straight stud before sundown?

Oh, well..

There's a nice place right over there.

Customer's coming.

Who's that with him?

That's the lady who's skinned me in cats.

It's also the lady who's gonna marry the sheriff.

Marry the sheriff?

Yeah. Don't you turn your back on her.

I never do. Ain't polite to a lady.

- You got a gun? - Yeah, got the stubby here.

Well, cover me, huh?

Faro Jack Norcross is the name.

I'm Mayor Bemus. And this is Miss... Miss Modesty Blaine.

- Pleased. - How do you do?

- Don't you have a card? - I'm fresh out of them.

Business has been so good... I'm bucked up through the summer.

Well, you chose a good man, Modesty.

It was you who chose me?

Oh, yes, it was indeed.

You mean, your intended and mine are the same fella?

How do you know about me and the sheriff?

Well, a fella I met going out of town.

- 'Named Maverick?' - 'Hmm? Might've been.'

- 'Well, how far out of town?' - 'Now, now, Modesty.'

'This doesn't matter, because you see, Mr. Norcross'

Miss Blaine decided quite a long time ago

not to marry our sheriff.

And, uh... but, well, she

she didn't have the heart to tell him.

Well, ain't that sweet.

Hmm.

Better to let him die happy.

Well, it, it is kinda that way, isn't it?

'You see, Sheriff Madden has been real ill-tempered lately.'

- Always shootin' at people. - Indeed.

A real bad risk as a husband.

'Well, a girl just must look towards peaceful days.'

Don't you think so, Mr. Norcross?

Well, sure must, Miss Modesty.

A sweet little woman like you.

'I'm just proud to lend a helping hand.'

Now, now, that, uh, that settles everything.

I, uh, have your money, sir.

Well, no, no, no, Uli, everything isn't settled.

- There's one more thing. - What do you mean?

No, Uli, wait a minute.

You know that fella that you met going outta town named Maverick?

- 'Yeah.' - 'Oh, yes.'

'Well, he rode into town today'

'with some absurd idea that I owed him money.'

- 'He actually threatened me.' - 'Yes.'

'Him? Ah! He couldn't hurt nobody.'

Oh, well, of course, he could.

Well, you know, a girl alone is, is so defenseless.

Well, Mr. Norcross, if-if he comes back to town

'would it be imposing on you too much to ask you to..'

'Take care of him?'

Well, at your regular fee, of course.

Now, I-I just happened to have brought with me $200 today.

- 'One, two..' - 'Well, thank you, ma'am.'

'I'd be proud to oblige you.'

'Mr. Maverick's a real trustin' soul.'

'Quite sweet actually.'

Oh, I-I don't think he'd give you any trouble.

Don't you worry about a thing, Miss Modesty.

'He's as good as dead and sung over.'

We'll-we'll see you back in town

just as soon as the smoke lifts.

Yes, sir, and it's a pleasure to do business

with such lovely people.

Alright, come on, Modesty.

Jack.

Yeah.

Did I hear you makin' a deal with that female to, uh

put a lily in my hand?

Got the money right in my pocket.

Well, that's non-ethical, Jack.

Non what?

Fair and square, true blue..

To, you know, take money for goods that you won't deliver.

Why won't I?

Because we're old friends.

Sure we are, but remember that night in Dallas when we had...

Yeah, yeah, I remember. But I'm thinking about tonight.

You really aim to earn that 200?

Well, I sure do.

A man's got to be practical.

'Gunning's my business.'

Well, poker's mine, but...

Don't tell me you wouldn't take my last two dollars.

'Cause you done it that night in Dallas.

'Remember?'

Yeah, that's right, I did.

A man in my line doesn't know how long he's good for.

He's gotta get all the work he can get

and not let sentiment interfere.

Now, you can understand that, can't you?

I guess I'll have to.

But, Jack, uh, Modesty

if she doesn't know that I never left town

and she doesn't see me

well, that's as good as being dead, isn't it?

Well, since we're old friends

it would serve the same purpose.

But you gotta promise not to show.

If you do, I gotta shoot.

Or else give her back her $200.

It's like you said, it's not, uh, ethical.

Eh..

Don't you worry about that, Jack.

I may be seeing her, but she won't be seeing me.

So long, Jack.

Now that's what I call a thinking man.

- Hey. - Yes, sir?

Where is Scratch Madden?

- You must be... - New in town. Yeah.

Obliged.

You ain't big enough to bluff.

That pair of deuces wouldn't get an angel a free lunch in heaven.

'You just wastin' a little woman's money.'

I'm buying chips, banker.

Thought there'd be more than just cats on the prowl tonight.

Like, maybe a sly fox.

As my old pappy used to say, "A fox isn't sly.

He just can't think any slower."

Put it back, Maverick.

I've gone to a lot of trouble for that money.

Modesty... don't you think you'd sleep better

if you let me have my share and leave town?

You won't need it where you're going.

I've already arranged for your departure.

Yeah, I know.

But just my original $1000

so that taxpayers won't have to bury me.

Lock it up. I've got a man waiting to buy me a drink.

Faro Jack?

He's a real old friend of mine.

An old friend?

Well, then, uh, I've wasted my $200.

You never wasted a dime in your life.

- He'll shoot. - But a real old friend?

What kind of principles does the man have?

Modesty, my dear young lady, the same as yours.

Well, in that case, maybe we'd better find Mr. Faro Jack.

Mister, them cards got a liking for you that ain't normal.

You want to quit, sheriff? Cash in?

One of us is like to cash in before long.

Meaning?

Meaning you been dealing off

the top off the bottom and off the in-between.

You see that, everybody?

There ain't room for a crooked gambler in Paradise.

Take back his stakes, boys.

'You boys afraid of this lead-pusher? Here's your money.'

Touch a dime of that money and I'll put a hole through you.

You will, huh?

Well, just keep your hands above the table and stand up.

My pleasure.

Now, which one of you sick this black blowhard on me?

Gimbel?

You're that underhanded even for an undertaker.

Oh, not me, Scratch. We're business partners.

Scratch.

Here is your man.

You!

Paradise can be mighty hot too

for folks who don't know how to take orders.

Modesty..

'Draw, dude!'

Oh, now, wait a minute, sheriff. I don't even have a gun.

Somebody give him an iron!

Uh, hold it, sheriff.

Don't you think we oughta consider all the factors?

Faro Jack there, he's the twelfth man you killed.

I'd be number 13. It's a bad number.

Thirteen.

For you maybe.

Uh, bad for both of us.

'Uh, uh, and there's something else.'

The hand that Faro Jack dealt you..

A pair of eights and a black ace.

Go ahead, sheriff. Look at the hole card.

Go on, look.

'Aces and eights, a dead man's hand.'

What Bill Hicock held in Deadwood.

Maverick, how'd..

Where'd he go?

Where is he?

Vanished.

Maverick?

Maverick!

Friend, you calling me?

We haven't met, Mr. Maverick.

I'm Floyd Gimbel, the town undertaker.

What can I do for you?

Well, I wanted to ask you a question.

How did you know what was in Scratch's poker hand back there?

Well, I saw the pair of eights and aces showing

and knowing Faro Jack never leaves anything to chance

I just bet on the second ace.

Quick thinker.

Sure wish you could help me, Mr. Maverick.

Well, always glad to oblige.

You want to measure me now?

Oh! I don't wanna measure you out.

It's Scratch Madden.

You see, Scratch, he collects 10% protection money

from most of the merchants in town.

I'd be glad to pay him 10% to protect me.

Oh, yes, but because I'm the undertaker and he sends me

so much business, I have to pay him 25.

He's got a point there, Gimbel.

Who's that?

Heavy traffic tonight.

Oh, sooner or later you see everybody you know out here.

Hey, look.

Modesty and the mayor?

Why, everybody knows they've been schmoozing.

Everybody in town except Scratch Madden.

Except Scratch?

Yeah.

Maybe I can help you with your problem after all, Mr. Gimbel.

You run into town and tell the sheriff to come out here.

Oh, he won't come through that gate.

Not through the gate. He can stay outside the fence.

Just tell him what Modesty and the mayor are up to

he'll come running.

Oh, but I-I-I Don't gabble, Gimbel, get him.

You better know what you're talking about.

I had two pairs in that hand just now and it was both kings.

Oh, Uli, I don't know what to say.

And I don't know what to do.

Marry me, Modesty.

I'll provide for you. And I'll cherish you.

For better or for worse. In-in sickness and in health.

Till death do us part.

Yes, but that'll be almost immediately.

Scratch will kill you sure.

Mmm, I boosted Scratch Madden into office

and I'll boot him out. I ain't scared.

'Modesty Blaine!'

Modesty!

You get away from that windbag!

Scratch! Please don't shoot.

Then you rattle your hocks outta there!

Who's that? Oh, oh, Maverick.

I thought you weren't scared of him.

So there are more people here

than there are left back in town.

In a manner of speaking, yes.

What's he doing?

Right now, Mr. Mayor, he's kissing your girl.

He's kissing my-my girl?

- You alright, honey? - Mm-hmm.

Oh, but I was so shocked.

I don't know what that man had in mind.

Sweet little woman like you wouldn't know.

Let's not think of it.

Bemus!

'You'll have to come outta there at some time!'

And when you do, there'll be a gun waiting for you.

Welcome to the club, mayor.

Maverick.

Uh, what will I do now?

I can't stay here the rest of my life.

No, but you can't run either.

If you did, they'd laugh you outta every town you came to.

Mayor... you're just gonna have to face up to Scratch.

Me?

I'm so slow with a gun, my reflection in the mirror

will beat me to the drawer.

- Better death than dishonor. - Why?

"Why?"

I'm not quite sure.

- I fetched Scratch. - You?

But it didn't do any good.

On the way out, he told me he gets 30% off Bemus.

Now, look, what-what does he want here?

Well, he's sort of the landlord.

I figured your plan wouldn't work.

Plan? What... what plan is it?

Well, Mayor Bemus, I had plans for the two of us.

It might work, it might not.

But what have we got to lose? Scratch will shoot us anyway.

What have you got to lose?

Would you shut up! You can't lose.

Uli, you, uh, you just stay right here.

I'll be back in about a half hour.

I just don't understand it.

I tried in the best way I know how to raise a town proper.

And what happens?

I end up hiding in a cemetery.

With an undertaker.

'Here, kitty, kitty, kitty. Come on, kitty.'

'Here, kitty, kitty. Yeah, nice, kitty.'

Come on. Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.

Come on, kitty. Come on, kitty, kitty, kitty.

'That's a nice kitty. Come on, kitty, kitty. Here we go.'

What's that?

'Come on, kitty, kitty, kitty.'

Come on, kitty, kitty. Come on. Come on.

Come on, kitty, kitty, kitty. Come on, kitty.

Here, kitty, kitty, kitty. Come on, kitty, kitty, kitty.

What are them cats doing there?

- Why ain't they at work? - Oh, they'll be workin' soon.

There, Gimbel, take off my boot.

- Bemus, you get the other one. - What for?

- To shine it. - Shine it? But I'm the mayor!

I don't go around shining shoes.

The only thing you're mayor of right now is Boot Hill.

'If I'm gonna die with mine on tomorrow'

I want 'em nice and shiny.

I want you to mix plenty of catnip

and smoked fish with the polish.

- What polish? - This polish. Right here.

- 'I got a can of cold water.' - What's that for?

Old grannies say that cats are really witches.

So while you're polishing boots, me and the cats will mix up

a little mess of bad luck for old Scratch.

And tomorrow morning, you're gonna add your share, Mr. Bemus.

The boot.

Well, look who's come back to the land of the livin'.

What are you doing at my desk?

I'm takin' over.

I figured you'd be nearin' Mexico by now.

You're fired.

- You been drinkin'? - You heard me.

Best thing you can do is get outta Paradise

and the best time to do it is right now.

Now you heard me!

I've taken over this town.

Mr. Mayor, you were fired an hour ago.

That makes us both private citizens.

Alright, Madden..

Step out in the street.

- 'We-we'll settle this.' - What?

You heard, you heard me.

Alright, let's get going. What are we waiting for?

I never pass up a turkey shoot.

Where you going, Uli boy?

Anytime, Uli.

Good morning, gentlemen.

'Am I interrupting something?'

- Stay out of this, Maverick. - Out of what?

You're aiming a cross fire at me, you go down first, mister.

I can still kill Bemus before he can draw.

Why, I'm a peaceful man, sheriff. Not even armed.

All I'm trying to do is cross the street.

Hold your fire, sheriff. That's his constitutional right.

Just taking my friends out for an airing.

Count 'em. Thirteen black cats, sheriff.

Uli done it, boys! Uli done it!

That's straight out of Paradise.

Hey, what are you doing up here? Now, go away.

Go chase a rat or somethin'.

You won't nothing in there, but a nickel, Mr. Maverick.

What are you doin' in here?

Just waiting for the smoke to settle.

Who tidied up?

Modesty Blaine.

Oh, they was her cats and it was her money.

Oh, how long ago? You know which way she went?

Two hours. She went South and took the fastest horse in town.

I'll bet she did.

She's quite a traveller.

She's a sweet little lady.

She'll always be welcome in Paradise.

Sure you don't wanna try to get your money back, Mr. Gibbon?

No chance, Mr. Maverick. 'Cause it sure is your lucky night.

Yeah, I guess it is.

It was.

Again?

Why, Bret Maverick.

Don't tell me you lost all the cat money.

That's right. It was stolen.

- By two men? - Oh, Bret, please.

I really am desperate this time.

I was going to San Francisco for some brides.

The tabbies for the toms in Paradise?

No, silly, real ladies.

Coming down through the gold camps

I met so many lonely miners.

They paid $500 for a wife.

Well, that's chicken feed for a girl like you.

There's a shipment of brides due into San Francisco

tomorrow from the East. I was gonna use my cat money.

Our cat money.

To feed and transport a hundred of them

back to the mother lode country.

- A hundred? - 'Mm-hmm.'

- That's $50,000. - That's right.

Well, you blame me for wanting to jump?

No, no, go right ahead and jump.

All the suckers are down there in the river. None up here.

Oh, no.

Oh, Bret, I've really never met a man like you.

Not even in books?

Knights in armor would have sunk there.

No, I'm serious, Bret.

You weren't thinking about yourself

when you went in after me.

No, I was thinking about a hundred brides and $50,000.

Not about me?

Just a little?

Well, maybe just a little.

As my old pappy used to say, "You can be a gentleman

and still not forget all you know about self defense."

♪ Who is the tall dark stranger there ♪

♪ Maverick is the name ♪

♪ Ridin' the trail to who knows where ♪

♪ Luck is his companion ♪

♪ Gamblin' is his game ♪

♪ Smooth as the handle on a gun ♪

♪ Maverick is the name ♪

♪ Wild as the wind in Oregon ♪

♪ Blowin' up a canyon ♪

♪ Easier to tame ♪

♪ Riverboat, ring your bell ♪

♪ Fare thee well, Annabel ♪

♪ Luck is the lady that he loves the best ♪

♪ Natchez to New Orleans ♪

♪ Livin' on jacks and queens ♪

♪ Maverick is a legend of the West ♪

♪ Riverboat, ring your bell ♪

♪ Fare thee well, Annabel ♪

♪ Luck is the lady that he loves the best ♪

♪ Natchez to New Orleans ♪

♪ Livin' on jacks and queens ♪

♪ Maverick is a legend of the West ♪

♪ Maverick is a legend of the West ♪♪