Original subtitles

For love let's get on with it

Only

the good die

young

Weren't you here last night?

The night before.

Another of Miss Sinclair's admirers, no doubt.

I wouldn't be so sure.

There's a light in his eyes that only one mistress could inspire.

Ma'am?

The theater.

Why don't you go inside?

Lots of wrapping paper, but no present.

And the rat laughed and laughed.

The cat let out a big meow.

The man in the hat sees the cat chase.

The rat.

Yeah, these McGruffy readers are just full of exciting tales, ain't they?

Hey, Hickok, I was just... Forget it. This is a stupid book, anyway.

No, not reading would be stupid.

Hey.

My daddy used to say a strong will can open most any door.

Only reading can open up the mind.

Come on, you gotta find out what happens to the rat.

I already know.

Gets a job riding for the Pony Express.

Rider coming.

Thought you were coming in this morning.

I got back as quick as I could.

Ran into a couple army detachments on the way back. Slowed me up with a lot of

questions. About what?

About murder.

Seems someone killed General Freeman's chief of staff outside a theater in

Ransburg. Rumor has it Freeman's next.

Seems like every day war gets a step closer.

What'd he say?

He says you can feel it coming like gathering clouds.

With news like this, seems like it's already here.

Only the good die young.

Nah.

Only the good.

Die young.

That don't work either, do it?

Only the good die young.

Okay, here we go.

Pay attention.

Now let's get on with it.

Well, well, if it isn't our young fan.

He was going for his gun.

That's a lucky shot.

Nothing lucky about it.

I meant to kill him.

Margaret's very proud of her ability with a gun.

Well, I recognize this man who was at the theater last night.

And anyone of you see him last night?

Yeah, well, I ain't never seen one of these before, neither.

It's pretty fancy, though.

the one who saved us?

Yes, ma'am.

Our knight in shining armor.

Nice to meet you.

This here is a Henry Lever action, a repeat of that.

I heard about them.

I didn't know they was out yet.

Fellow who owned this is either a criminal or a government agent.

Some would say there's no difference.

He's here, the folks I was telling you about, Teaspoon.

The Herrick Traveling Theatrical Ensemble.

At your service.

Actors.

How do you do?

I'm Teaspoon Hunter, the marshal.

Here, sweet one.

I'm Margaret Herrick, proprietress and director of the troupe. This is my

husband, Edmund, Miss Jenny St. Clair, and... Jonathan Lansfield

McMasters. I see the doc patched up your leg pretty good.

Jonathan Ridgefield McMasters.

No! Jonathan has been searching for a proper stage name for some time now.

We're hoping he finds it, but so far there haven't been any positive signs.

Where exactly are you folks from, anyway?

Atlanta originally, though we haven't been home for more than a year.

Our mission is to bring culture to the territory.

And a noble mission it is, too, ma'am.

Can you think of any reason someone would try to kill you because of it?

These are perilous times.

We take heart in the adage that nothing could kill an actor but bad reviews.

I suspect that's a pretty painful way to go.

Well, you see, the man who attacked you might be involved in murder or ransom.

A murder?

General Freeman's chief of staff was killed.

Armour thinks it may have been the southern sympathizers. But why would the

killer want to follow us?

Chief Staff's killing the theater.

It's hard to say. The killer might think one of you saw something.

As far as you, Miss Herrick, I'll lay low for a while.

Well, thank you for your concern, Marshal Hunter, but I think not. Well,

the show must go on, right?

Exactly, Mr. Phillips.

Exactly.

Jonathan Teaspoon Ridgefield.

Jonathan!

Well, love, get on with it.

I just can't do it.

Not until my leg heals. Then who are we gonna get to take your place?

Looks like a dying fish at the bottom of a boat.

Coombs missed the rendezvous. And the Herrick's?

They've moved into Sweetwater. My guess is Coombs got too close.

Then you know what to do.

I leave for Sweetwater within the hour. No, you leave now.

The Herrick's have been a thorn in our side for more than a year.

Coombs isn't the first man who failed to stop them, but I want him to be the

last.

I'll do my best. You do what it takes.

This is a political bombshell waiting to explode.

I want you to find the Herrick's.

Gather evidence and either bring them in or send them to hell.

Along with anyone else who's helping them.

Come on, Mr. Coder, remember what I told you.

You gotta believe it.

Sorry.

Let's take it again from the top.

Now, this is the duel part. Now, in a duel is when two gents are going for

this... Excuse me.

I'm trying to act here.

For love.

Let's get on with it.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Herrick.

I'm just having a hard time pretending to be scared.

I got folks watching me, things falling on the ground.

I mean, how am I supposed to fear for my own life when I know the gun being

pointed at me ain't even real?

Suppose it was real.

But it ain't.

Now it is.

Mrs. Herrick.

I killed a man yesterday, Mr. Cootie.

I know that.

But at the time, it seems to me like he deserved it.

What if he didn't?

What if I had a reason why I killed him, a cause, a belief burning inside of me

that made the taking of that man's life your life?

Meaningless.

Well, then, I guess I'd be in a whole lot of trouble.

But I'm not, am I?

And what am I, Mr. Cody?

An actress?

A director?

Or a killer?

I don't know.

An act of beliefs, Mr. Cody.

Isn't there a single part of you that believes I might just pull this trigger?

Yes.

No! No!

Believe in something that's real and nothing can get in the way of what you

believe.

Nobody's going to learn awful fast with a teacher like that.

I bet you opening night Cody will

not know a single line.

And with that woman?

rifle you got there.

I noticed it from across the street.

Funny how the world works, ain't it?

I never set eyes on a rifle like that in my whole life, and this is the second

one I've seen today.

Where'd you see the first?

Oh, a friend of mine got caught in the middle of a thunderstorm.

A gun like that was causing all the lightning.

Friend of yours, huh?

I'd like to meet him.

Well, I'll pass the word along.

So, uh, where'd you get a gun like that, anyway?

I'll make you a deal.

You just stay out of my way, and when I can, I'll tell you everything I know.

Why don't you just tell me now?

Because right now, I'm not sure what side you're on.

They got the guy.

Five o'clock this afternoon, the old homestead is mine.

And so are you.

It was you who caused my father to go bankrupt.

You killed him.

Nothing can get in the way of what you did.

I beg you for your mercy.

I'll be back.

I am trying to believe, but you're making it extremely difficult.

Do you want Mrs. Herrick to get out your gun again?

No.

Then start.

You don't know how long I've waited for this moment. I can't get over how good

Cody is. It's like he was born to this day.

He mustn't think that way.

For love.

Let's go on with it.

Cody!

Only the good die young.

To toast to tonight's success.

And to the success of the Confederacy.

I have more good news for you.

General Freeman will be in Fort Laramie two days from now. Are we sure our last

attempt would have scared him off?

With his ego?

Killing his chief of staff probably convinced him to go.

Besides,

there's no better place than Fort Laramie for him to die.

Surely we are not going on with our plan now that they're on to us.

The man who was following us is dead, and the town thinks he attacked us.

But is General Freeman worth the risk?

He's not that important.

Alive, perhaps, but dead, he's proof that we can strike anywhere, anytime.

We're acting like bushwhackers.

That's what the Redcoats said to the American patriots.

The only important thing is to win.

There's no substitute for victory.

It's suicide.

It's perfect.

And with our new star, avoidable.

Here's to William F. Cody, rising star, sure shot, and a witting

assassin.

Jonathan Bainbridge Wilkinson?

Aren't you Jonathan Bainbridge Wilkinson, the actor?

Yes.

Yes, I am. I saw you perform in St. Joe. Very impressive.

I was disappointed to find you absent from the play last night.

Yes, well, bum leg.

I ran into some trouble on the trail.

Allow me to introduce you to my replacement.

Temporary, of course.

William F.

Cody.

Pony Express rider.

Marksman.

Enthespian. Who you call Enthespian?

Cody, right?

Yeah, that's right.

I didn't get your name.

Eastman.

Well, nice to meet you, Mr. Eastman. What brings you to Sweetwater?

Let's just say I follow the theater.

You're a reviewer, in a manner of speaking.

Looks like you're packing up. You're not leaving, are you?

Yes, tonight for Apple Creek.

Perhaps you could make our show there.

I don't think so.

I've got some business to attend to here in Sweetwater.

What business might that be?

The kind that needs to be done here instead of in Apple Creek.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

You'll excuse me.

First rule of the theater.

Always treat the press with respect.

Yeah, well, let me tell you something, Jonathan.

I ain't so sure he's the press.

And I ain't so sure he deserves my respect.

The pale faces are masters of the earth, and the time of the red men has not yet

come again.

My day has been too long, and yet, before the night has come, have I lived

to see the last warrior of the wise race, the Mohicans.

That's a pretty sad story you brought me.

Yeah, well, at least it's more exciting than the cat and the rat.

Size. It'll do you good to broaden your horizons. Yeah, Jimmy, especially if you

read more than the last page.

Well, enough things happen in my life where I gotta worry about what's gonna

happen next.

And often I can skip the anticipating and get on with it.

Yeah, well, I'll tell you what I'd like to get on with.

Getting Cody back to work.

Me too. I had to double up yesterday.

Yeah, well, I've done it twice.

Since weenie's doing Cody's job... Hark, methinks I see yon Cody.

May I please have your autograph, Mr. Cody, or maybe a picture to hang since

you're never around?

What's eating all of you?

Having to do your job. That's what's eating us.

Yeah, well, I don't recall asking you for no favors, Noah. That's right, you

didn't. But see, I've been doing them for you anyway.

Cody, each of us has had to pick up an extra run because you're out on

vacation.

It ain't no vacation.

It's hard work. Yeah, but you already got a job, Cody.

And you got responsibilities to go along with it.

You were in Rasburg for three days, and you may as well still be there.

Look, I'm sorry for letting you all down.

I just got all caught up in this acting thing, and... Well... Thanks

for covering for me.

The actors are leaving tomorrow afternoon anyway.

Sure we can get by until then?

Well, you might have to get by longer than that, Jimmy.

Because I'm thinking of going with him.

Boy said you wanted to see me, Teaspoon.

Cody, I'm glad you could come by.

Sit down.

I'd like to have a little chat with you.

Well, I'd love to, Teaspoon, but I gotta get to rehearsal.

I don't think they'd mind if you was a little late.

Uh, I understand you're thinking about hitching your wagon to that acting

troupe. Kind of permanent-like.

Seems a man can't even cross the street around here without somebody asking if

it's the right thing to do. Not any of it at all. It's, uh, it's just that,

uh...

As a matter of fact, that is it.

Son, I don't want to see you up and change your life without being sure what

you're getting into.

Teaspoon, I don't mean to be disrespectful,

but what could you possibly know about acting?

What could I know about acting?

I spent many a night in the theater.

Long time ago.

Acting? No.

Falling in love.

She was a Shakespearean actress.

One of the most famous of her time.

Most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.

I stood by her stage door for two weeks till she talked to me.

Believe that?

Yeah, I can.

Did you end up marrying her?

Nope.

She's the one who got away.

But while we was together, Lordy, Lord.

Anyway, she taught me two things.

Only two?

Only two that a young man like you should know about.

First off, Never go no place without a holy Bible and a copy of William

Shakespeare. There's enough going on in those two volumes to keep a dead man on

the edge of his seat.

Consider it done.

More important.

She taught me that an actor brings to his best performances all the

experiences of his life.

All the living is really done.

The problem is, you start looking back like that, it seems to me it gets harder

to look forward.

Mrs. Herrick says I got a lot of potential, Teaspoon. I know, Cody, and I

imagine she's right. I just... I just want you to be sure, son.

I'm sure you're ready to concentrate on where you've been instead of where

you're going.

I'll remember that, Teaspoon.

Sort of figured you'd know your lines by now.

Well, the more you put into your craft, the more you get out of it.

You sound like Mrs. Herrick. Yes, well, you would know, wouldn't you?

You know, for such a pretty girl, you've got an ugly way about you.

Are you seriously considering joining the troop?

Yeah.

Why not?

Mrs. Herrick said... Oh, Mrs.

Herrick. This, Mrs. Herrick. That. Do you ever think for yourself?

I

think

I just figured out what your problem is. Listen to me.

I am a damn fine actress.

And I have been studying with Mrs. Herrick for three years now.

And if you... And you're afraid.

You're afraid that she's gonna start giving me all the attention and you are

jealous of all the time she's been spending with me.

When I am up there on that stage...

It's like nothing I've ever felt before.

I love it.

But I need your help, Jenny.

The point is... that you don't kind of worry about

Mrs. Herrick forgetting you.

She's too smart for that.

It's just like you said.

It's growing on me.

Marshal Hunter, I wondered if I could speak with you.

Well, sure.

Sure. Have a seat.

And just call me Teaspoon, if you like.

All right.

Teaspoon, I came by to seek some professional advice.

Well, I'm flattered.

Just hope I can be of assistance.

See, my troop and I are leaving Sweetwater tomorrow for Apple Creek, and

I'd like to know if you think our journey is liable to be as eventful as

our last.

Well, ma'am, you never know, but like you said, these are perilous times, and

it wouldn't be exaggerating to say bad luck seems to be dogging your trail.

No, it wouldn't. A couple of...

attractive women like yourself and Miss St. Clair, and one of your men hamstrung

like he is.

Do you think we'd be safer with another man along?

I really do.

Mr. Cody has expressed an interest in joining us.

That's right.

I heard about that.

I should think we'd be much safer with a man like him in our midst, wouldn't you?

You know, up until today, I was wondering why you quit acting.

But now I see you haven't.

We all have roles to play.

What role are you playing now, Mrs. Herrick?

I'm shaping the future, Teaspoon.

I can change Mr. Cody's life.

Well, I don't doubt that.

He's a grown man, Teaspoon.

And he sees an opportunity that he may never have again.

He wants to come with us.

Don't deny him the one thing. He wants more than anything else.

And what would that be?

Your blessing.

Good day, Teaspoon.

Good day, ma'am.

I don't want to get all sappy.

Are you sure I'm going to miss all of you?

Rachel fixed you something to tide you over to the next stop.

You be sure to thank Rachel for me.

Take care of yourself out there.

I don't think I got much else to worry about, Teaspoon.

He said he was gonna kill us.

He attacked us.

He said he was gonna kill us all.

Who is he? He said his name was Eastman, but I didn't trust him, Teaspoon.

I think he's dead.

No, it's just a crease, but he'll be out for a while. You boys take him to Doc

Barnes and don't let him out of your sight.

He was carrying the same gun as that man that bushwhacked Mrs. Herrick and the

others outside of town.

I know. I tried to get him to tell me about it, but he wouldn't.

I got a good feeling he was working with that other fella, and they killed that

officer back in Radsburg.

The only way we're gonna clear this up, wait for him to come through.

Unfortunately, we have a schedule to meet.

If the story he tells you is a good one, I trust you'll come to Apple Creek and

fill us in.

Well, we'll see.

Cody.

You're a long ride ahead of us, Teaspoon.

Come here son.

Ride safe son.

Thank you.

The Herrick's... The Herrick's were... Hold on. You took a bullet a little too

close for comfort.

They must be stopped.

Why?

Who are you?

A coat.

Stone in the lining.

You're from Washington, ain't you?

The Herrick's are assassins for the Confederacy.

They spied.

Murdered.

They tried to kill General Freeman.

They're headed for Apple Creek.

Hold on. It's going to be a little while before you ride, I'll tell you. You

don't understand.

They must be stopped.

Yes,

I'll have to stop them.

We should cut our losses and disappear

right now.

No, I'm saying... Damn it, Margaret. When that agent comes through, they are

going to head straight for us. No.

They'll be heading for Apple Creek.

There's been a change in our itinerary.

My husband points out, we consider in the distance we still are from Apple

Creek. And the sparse attendance at our show the last time we were there.

There's a more sensible place for us to head.

Yeah, where's that?

Fort Laramie.

There he is.

I got this from the printers. You were right, Teaspoon. The actors lied about

going to Apple Creek.

They were headed for Fort Laramie all along.

Get to Laramie. Let's go.

General Freeman.

Every audience is the same, my friend.

Yeah?

Well, this one's got an awful lot of blue in it.

Look at me.

Look at me.

There is a doom and field out there, Mr. Cody.

There's danger in the air.

But you must believe.

Gun, Mr. Cody.

Do you believe it can kill?

A hand, Mr. Cody.

Do you believe it can pull the trigger?

A body, Mr.

Cody. Do you believe it can die?

Do you believe that someone will die in this building tonight?

Yes.

Mr. Cody, after tonight, no one will forget your name.

Can you smell it?

Death is in the air.

Perhaps he will not come.

No.

There will be no surprises tonight.

Tonight, a man must die.

He's perfect.

It's too bad.

He would have made a fine actor.

Don't make a bad escape code.

There's your cue.

Get out. Get in any way you can.

Son, I haven't seen the play for a year. It's my favorite actor. I'm sorry, but

without the correct papers, I can't... Thank you, Jimmy.

I tried to tell him what's going on, but he wouldn't believe me. Well, I don't

blame him.

Looks like a good fit. You want to play soldier?

I guess I just signed up. Nobody comes in or goes out.

Yes, sir.

For love.

Let's get on with it.

Captain General!

What are you talking about?

Now hold on a minute!

Put

the

gun down.

Mr. Gordon was not the one who shot at you. She's the one who shot at you.

Sarek!

Sarek! Why did you shoot General Freeman?

Is this real enough for you now, Mr.

Cody?

I'm just glad it's over.

Over?

This is only the beginning.

You all right, son?

Why couldn't I see the truth, Teaspoon?

Well, you've got stars in your eyes, that's all.

I'll tell you something, that Mrs. Herrick, she's a better actress than a

lot of us know.

She didn't even think I could act, did she?

She just used me.

Cody, I'm going to tell you something, and I want you to pay attention.

The country's in a big mess right now.

War's on the horizon. It's riding hard.

But when all that craziness is over, all this, this here,

will be waiting for you.

And I got the feeling you're going to be back.

Yeah? Yeah.

Teaspoon, what's gonna happen when war comes?

God only knows some.

But it seems to me we'll all be involved.

A curse shall light upon the limbs of men.

Domestic fury and fierce civil strife.

Blood and destruction shall be so in use and dreadful objects so familiar that

mothers shall but smile when they behold their infants quartered with the hands

of war.

And let slip the dogs of war.