Original subtitles

You and me gotta have a little talk.

- Trouble? - Aye.

Comin' from that direction.

Riggs has got this town sorted like a mattress.

I didn't think we'd meet again so soon, Maverick.

I did, Mr. Riggs.

Boys tell me a lot of gaming equipment came in this morning.

Yours?

Didn't your boys tell you that?

They didn't have to.

Now that I see you, I can add two and two together.

It will never come out four.

Not the way you deal.

"Maverick."

Starring James Garner.

Produced by Warner Brothers.

From the entertainment capital of the world.

Produced for television by Warner Brothers.

I'll take two, please.

I'll try one.

Three, please.

Opener bet's 200.

I'm out.

I think there's an expression in poker.

I'll tap you, Mr. Maverick.

There is 3,500.

And since you're tapping me, I believe I'd better add this.

Well, a thousand dollars.

I've never seen one before.

That's your pot, Miss Crawford.

Thank you.

I, uh, think it's about time for me to quit.

Can you cash me in, please?

Thank you.

Goodnight.

Well, I've had enough excitement for one night.

Do you want me to cash you in, Miss Crawford?

Mr. Maverick.

Goodnight.

Please.

Mr. Maverick.

You had quite a run of bad luck.

Maybe I played badly.

Well, that isn't saying much for my ability.

You're a bad poker player, Miss Crawford.

I expected you to be a good loser.

Is anyone?

No one likes to lose.

Especially to a woman, huh?

Your sex has nothing to do with your poker.

Two times you bet into my possible straight

and raised me.

Perhaps I guessed you were bluffing.

And you were.

Here you are, Miss Crawford, $11,200.

- Well, thank you. - Goodnight.

Goodnight, Mr. Maverick.

[Maverick] New Orleans, a real fine place to be

when you've got some money in your pocket.

I hadn't.

Good morning, sir. May I help you?

It might be the other way around.

I understand you gentlemen own the Stonewall Jackson.

We do.

Business seems a little slow.

I thought the Stonewall Jackson was scheduled to leave

for St. Louis tomorrow morning.

Your information is correct, sir.

Would you like to book passage?

I would.

Providing I get $5,000 from you gentlemen.

You have a strange sense of humor, sir.

Maybe I better introduce myself.

My name is Bret Maverick.

Maverick?

- Well, you're the one who-- - Who lost $12,000...

...to a lovely and charming lady named Samantha Crawford.

Miss Crawford is booking passage

back to St. Louis on the Delta Star.

Now, the Delta Star is not one of your packets.

And it looks like you haven't sold too many tickets

on the Stonewall Jackson.

The Delta Star is almost sold out.

You're not telling us anything we don't know.

Now, you listen to me--

What is your point, Mr. Maverick?

To return to St. Louis on the Stonewall Jackson.

Everybody expects me to take the Delta Star

because Miss Crawford will be on it.

And a lot of people would like to find out

if Miss Crawford was just lucky

or... a better poker player than I am.

Is she?

She's one of the worst I've ever seen.

She took you for 12,000.

[Maverick] So she did.

And curiosity being what it is

you can jam the Stonewall Jackson

from stem to stern with people wondering

if she can do it again.

And the 5000 you mention?

A stake.

If I win, you'll get your money back.

Miss Crawford cleaned me.

That being the case...

How do you know she'll switch to the Jackson

or even play again?

Maybe the lady doesn't want to push her luck.

Miss Crawford was particularly anxious to take my money.

She stayed in the pots when I did

and she dropped when I did.

She'll play again.

Why was she out to get you?

Well, that's something I hope to find out.

I've never seen her before in my life.

This whole thing sounds like a Flim-flam to me.

What's to prevent you from losing to her again?

On purpose.

What about you?

The same thought occurred to me.

I'll find a stake and book passage on the Delta Star.

- Hi, gentlemen. - Come on in.

Yeah, we wanna talk to you.

[Maverick] The Stonewall Jackson sailed the next evening

with a full passenger list

including Miss Samantha Crawford.

Evening, Mr. Maverick.

Gentlemen, may I?

It's an honor, Mr. Kittredge.

Thank you.

Good evening, gentlemen.

That chair is taken.

Appears empty to me.

We're waiting for someone.

Alright. We'll pull up another one later.

We don't want you in the game, Mr. Riggs.

You and me meet before?

Indirectly.

You're Joe Riggs.

I watched you in a game in Wagon Wheel, Wyoming.

So?

[Maverick] It was in your place, The Golden Bucket.

It was a crooked game.

You're not a very careful talker.

But careful who sits in a game with me.

But I'll leave it up to the other gentlemen at the table.

If they want you in, I'll bow out.

Mr. Maverick's word is good enough for me gentlemen.

As far as I'm concerned, we're filled.

Looks like we're filled.

We'll see each other again.

That's likely, Mr. Riggs.

Miss Crawford, good evening.

[Crawford] Mr. Maverick, gentlemen.

Good evening, Miss Crawford.

Mr. Kittredge, will you do us the honor of banking the game?

I'd be happy to Mr. Maverick.

Agreed, Miss Crawford? Gentlemen?

Uh, these stacks will be $5000. Will you help yourselves?

Thank you.

High card deals. Dealer calls the game.

- Satisfactory? - Certainly.

Your luck still holds, Miss Crawford.

I defer to the ace, gentlemen.

Your deal, Miss Crawford.

Uh, gentlemen, before we begin

I'd like one thing clearly understood.

Now, as we did before, we'd play according to Hoyle.

You make quite a point out of it.

Well, it's a man's world. Men make the rules.

I haven't any objection to that

as long as they all abide by them equally.

According to Hoyle, Miss Crawford.

Thank you, Mr. Kittredge.

Well, since I have choice of the game...

...how would you like to play five-card stud?

Well, now, that's a man's game.

[Kittredge] Ready?

Deuce.

Seven.

Six.

Four.

And another deuce.

Your pair of nines are high, Miss Crawford.

Five hundred.

I'll call and raise 500.

Fold.

I'll call.

Well I'll see your raise, and raise another thousand.

You have a lot of faith in a pair of nines, Miss Crawford.

Sure have.

Call.

Uh, the way my luck's been running

I can't buck a possible straight

or even a pair of nines.

I'm over.

Last card.

Queen to Miss Crawford.

Ten to Mr. Maverick, possible straight.

Your pair of nines are still high on the board

Miss Crawford, it's your bet.

A thousand dollars.

I'll call and raise 2000.

As I recall, Mr. Maverick, you sometimes bluff.

You need a nine.

I have two showing, one was turned down.

I don't know the exact odds

on your having that fourth nine, but, um...

Well, how much do you have there?

Sixteen thousand.

Well, in that case, if you don't mind

I'll just raise you 16,000.

[Maverick] I'll call.

Sixteen thousand.

You're looking at my hand, Mr. Maverick, a pair of nines.

I wasn't bluffing, Miss Crawford.

Sorry.

I do have the nine.

I didn't think you were, Mr. Maverick.

And you raised in to me?

According to Hoyle, remember?

"In five-card stud poker

"'straights are not played unless it's determined'

"'at the commencement of the game'

that they be admitted."

See for yourself, Mr. Maverick.

But-but, Miss Crawford

I've been playing poker a long time

and straights have always been--

Well, not in stud poker.

According to Hoyle, that is.

Steward

would you bring me the copy of Hoyle from the bar, please?

You see, straights are played

only when table rules allow them.

And we made no table rules.

Do you mind if I check the boat's copy?

Oh, certainly not.

Your pot, Miss Crawford.

Congratulations and goodnight.

May I have my money, Mr. Kittredge?

Yes, ma'am.

I imagine you have your suspicions, gentlemen.

Not at all. Both Mr. Hayes and I checked carefully.

You have an impeccable reputation for honesty.

I'm afraid that's all I have left.

Now, Mr. Maverick, what now?

I owe you...

...$5000.

No, sir.

You drew more fares than that.

We took our chances with you.

It was a stake, not a loan.

I owe you $5000, and I intend to repay it.

Goodnight, Mr. Bledsoe, Mr. Hayes.

Goodnight.

Straight bourbon.

You know something?

I think we're going to get our money back.

May I ask a question, Miss Crawford?

Why me, Miss Crawford?

Why were you out to get me?

Was I?

Oh, yes. Coming down the river, you

you played every pot I did and you dropped when I did.

Threw me off my game.

First time it's ever been done.

Well, I sure hope it'll be the last, Mr. Maverick.

[Maverick] Well, like I said before

you're a bad poker player, Miss Crawford.

But you had that one trick.

And you were waiting to nail me with it.

Why not Kittredge or one of the others?

Alright, I'll tell you.

You once won $50,000 from a man named George Cross.

That was all the money he had in the world.

Later, to make good his loss

he embezzled money from his bank.

Today he's in the Kansas State Penitentiary.

Because you cheated him at poker.

- Is that what he said? - Yes.

Then he's a liar.

He's my father.

I'm sorry.

But you played poker with me.

Do you think I cheat?

No.

I remember George Cross.

He played good cards badly and bad cards worse.

Well, you took his money.

Yes, but believe me, I never played in a game

with anyone I didn't think could afford to lose.

Well, that doesn't help him now.

I suppose not.

I'd like to help you, Miss Crawford.

But what can I do?

Well, I need another $25,000 to make good what he took.

And if you get it?

They'll release him.

Looks like we both need money.

I need 5000 to repay a debt.

And you need 25.

Any idea how you'll get yours?

It's a cinch that Hoyle trick won't work again.

By the time we dock in St. Louis

the story will be all over the river.

In a week, everybody in the territory will know it.

But...

...maybe there's another way.

What do you mean?

There's a man on the boat named Joe Riggs, you know him?

No.

Owns a brace joint in Wagon Wheel, Wyoming.

Never played a straight deck in his life.

So?

A man like that doesn't deserve to live as well as he does.

Well, you don't like him, is that it?

I believe I would have put it stronger.

I was once tempted to give the people

in Wagon Wheel an honest game, but...

...it meant staying too long in one place, so I moved on.

I propose a partnership, Miss Crawford.

You and I.

Only I haven't got a nickel.

Oh, well...

...uh, that makes it a little one-sided.

Maybe.

But how else would you get your 25,000?

You need me, and I need you.

Well, how much would it take?

Ten thousand would set us up

with the newest and best equipment.

The split?

Everything above the 5000

and what I lost before is yours.

I wouldn't want to stay with it any longer than that.

Alright, Mr. Maverick.

When do you need the money?

As soon as we dock.

Well, this is to be a first-name partnership.

Mine's Samantha.

Mine's Bret.

Then goodnight, Bret.

[Maverick] The Stonewall Jackson paddled into St. Louis

right on schedule.

And I went hunting for equipment.

Who is it?

[Maverick] It's Bret. You all.

Well, I've arranged to buy all the equipment we need.

Goes out by freight this afternoon.

And I got it for $1 000 less than I figured.

Well, isn't that nice?

Then you need...$9000.

Here. You can count it if you like.

Samantha, you know I trust you.

We can take tomorrow morning's train for Kansas City.

Change there for Cheyenne.

Take a stage on from there to Wagon Wheel.

I telegraphed a friend of mine.

He'll... be there to take care of the equipment.

Well, is there anything wrong, Bret?

Well, I was just wondering if your father would approve.

Oh.

I'll take care of that.

You know, it's pretty rough where we're going.

Might be better if you'd just stay right here in St. Louis.

Bret, that's so thoughtful of you.

But... well, I just kind of prefer

to keep an eye on my investment.

You know?

Yeah.

Well, I'll get the tickets...

...partner.

Yes?

Telegram for Samantha Crawford.

- What do you want? - Please, Miss Crawford, may I?

Who are you?

My name is Henry Tree.

Mr. Cross sent me.

Please forgive the telegram subterfuge.

And you've been watching me?

Yes, well, I'm-I'm paid to do so.

A detective?

Yes, and one of the best, if I may say so.

Miss Crawford

I'm afraid that Mr. Cross is not going to understand

the deal you made with Mr. Maverick.

What deal?

Well, I overheard you on the Stonewall Jackson.

And Mr. Maverick left here only just a moment ago.

And I followed him this morning.

He was quite busy visiting establishments

that sell gambling equipment.

Well... does Mr. Cross have to know?

Oh, my dear, yes.

You see, I have a certain loyalty towards my clients.

Here is, um...$5,000.

Hmm.

A lot of money.

Does Mr. Cross still have to know?

Oh, I'm afraid he already knows.

You see, I made a full report and he should be here in--

Hello, Samantha.

Mr. Tree tells me you've been a very busy girl.

Mr. Tree also tells me you won $25,000.

Ten percent of that is 2500.

Your share.

Uh, Mr. Cross, I-I believe

you'll find quite a bit of that money missing.

You gave it to Maverick.

You're gonna get it back!

May-may I say something?

Please do, Mr. Tree.

Mr. Maverick probably no longer has the money.

You see, he's on his way right now

to pay for the gambling equipment.

That's Miss Crawford's problem.

She's gonna get it back.

But why should she?

She double-crossed you, or at least she tried.

And inadvertently, she made it possible for you

to realize a much better profit than you expected.

- We let her go right ahead. - Exactly.

And you will reap the benefit of her keen imagination.

Oh, no, you don't. I made that deal with Maverick.

It was my idea.

So it was.

What are you doing?

Taking my money, Samantha.

Your money?

Only a woman could have pulled that Hoyle trick

and gotten away with it.

A lady with my Southern charm.

I want my share.

And you got it.

You gave it and more to Maverick.

Alright, I'll go to Mr. Maverick, tell him the--

That it was a scheme to make a sucker out of him?

Oh, he'll love you for that, Samantha.

He'll tie that money up in a red ribbon

put it right in your hands

and then thank you

for making him look like an idiot.

Oh, you aced yourself right down the river, honey.

I want my share or I'll--

May I suggest that you need each other?

If Miss Crawford goes to Mr. Maverick

and tells him the story, she'll end up without a nickel.

Yet you, Mr. Cross, you need her.

For she is your only link with a man who can set you up

in a very profitable business.

So I suggest that you come to some sort of an agreement.

Ten percent.

Fifty.

Twenty-five percent.

I said 50.

Now, you better take 25 percent

while I'm still in the mood to be generous.

Uh, he's being very reasonable, Miss Crawford.

Twenty-five for you, fifty for Mr. Cross...

...and twenty-five for me.

Well, after all, we three share a very interesting secret.

[Maverick] The journey from St. Louis to Wyoming

was long and rough

but mostly just long.

And I was a little worried about Samantha

but she made the trip almost a pleasure.

She took it all in with wide eyes

and a wider smile.

And had me looking at places

I'd never really noticed before.

This, uh, isn't exactly New Orleans, Samantha.

Oh, I didn't expect it to be, Bret.

Maverick! Oh, it's good to see you, lad.

Mike, how are you?

Samantha, this is Big Mike McComb.

Mike, I wrote you about Miss Crawford.

Aye, that you did, but you didn't write half enough.

Well, I hope we'll be friends, Mike.

There's nothing stopping it, ma'am.

Uh... well, excuse me.

See you later.

She's got to be Irish with a face like that.

She's an angel, but an angel.

Play poker with her sometimes.

You and me gotta have a little talk.

- Trouble? - Aye.

Comin' from that direction.

Riggs has got this town sorted like a mattress.

What about our equipment?

Went by wagon freight this morning

but you've got no place to put it, Bret.

Nobody to rent you enough space

to deal a two-handed blackjack game.

I didn't think we'd meet again so soon, Maverick.

I did, Mr. Riggs.

Boys tell me a lot of gaming equipment came in this morning.

Yours?

Didn't your boys tell you that?

They didn't have to.

Now that I see you, I can add two and two together.

It'll never come out four.

Not the way you deal.

You kept me out of that game on the boat.

But here in Wagon Wheel, I run the table.

Now, what were you saying about renting a place?

Oh, there might be a place.

Belongs to a woman called Ma Braus.

Where'll I find her?

Well, just outside of town.

But you're probably wasting your time talking to her.

As Pappy used to say

faint heart never filled the flush.

Point me in her direction.

You're just wasting your time son.

You can talk till you're blue in the face.

I don't hold with gambling, drinking, or them that does.

- I never drink, Ma. - But you gamble.

Only honestly.

Gambling's gambling.

Don't you want to see Joe Riggs closed up?

Well, the devil will get him someday.

I'd like to help.

The devil does plenty of business in this town.

He don't need you.

Riggs is crooked, you know that.

[Ma Braus] But ain't nobody ever proved it.

That's because nobody's ever gone up against him.

Think what he did to your husband.

You found out a lot about me, didn't you?

Everything I could.

Riggs took all your husband's money

and left you with just this house

and that old building I want to rent.

What makes you think you can put Riggs out of business?

All I want is the chance.

[Ma Braus] He owns this town.

Don't you think it's about time somebody took it away from him?

You talk big.

You better pack up your duds and head out of Wagon Wheel.

You're young yet.

You got a lot of life waiting for you.

But not if you try to buck Joe Riggs.

Ma, if I don't rent your place, I'll open a game in a tent.

And they'll bury you in it.

I hear everyone likes you, Ma.

Do almost anything for you.

I just thought you might like to repay the favor.

I guess not. Sorry I took your time.

[Ma Braus] Hold on.

I seen a lot of men come and go.

Big talkers and them that didn't talk at all.

Cowards, brave men, some in between.

Where do you figure I fit in, Ma?

I don't know.

But I'm gonna rent you that building and find out.

Come in the kitchen, I'll brew you some coffee.

Everything's all set, Samantha.

I've rented a place.

Just sent Mike to take out an ad in the local paper.

Oh, when do we open?

Tomorrow or the next day.

Depends on how fast we get the equipment in.

Uh, Bret, there's just one little thing.

Yeah, what?

Well...

...I gave you $9000 and, uh...

...I just don't have a thing to show for it.

What do you want, a receipt?

Oh, I don't want you to go to any trouble.

Why don't you just give me the bills of sale?

Thank you.

Have you heard from your father?

No.

No, I haven't.

Did you write to him?

Oh, yes.

I always write.

Well, uh...

Did you tell him what you were gonna do?

Uh, no.

Why?

Oh, I was just wondering.

What's that?

- Handbills. - What?

Fellow down newspaper office turned green when I told him

I wanted to take out an ad, he's scared of Riggs.

Finally talked him into printing those.

[Maverick] "Grand opening, The Square Deck.

"Games of chance.

"$5000 reward to anyone who finds a dishonest game.

No other place in town can make that offer."

These will do it.

We'll start passing them out today.

We?

You don't think anybody else in this town is gonna do it?

Take a handful, Mike.

See you later, Samantha.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, gather around.

I got news for you.

Take a look at this.

The Square Deck guarantees a fair shake

and an honest deal for everyone.

When do you open it?

[Maverick] Opens in Ma Braus' tomorrow night.

It's all true, gentlemen.

The Square Deck gives a fair shake to everyone.

Tell your friends.

Find out what it's like to play with honest cards.

Here you are, boys. Pass them around.

- When do you open, mister? - Tomorrow, maybe the next day.

- Where? - Ma Braus' old building.

Tell your friends. Better than that, bring your friends.

- Alright, step right up. - Alright, Maverick.

I gave you a fair warning when you come in, Maverick.

Leave him be, Riggs.

Leave him be?

Boys, this is Bret Maverick.

Let him open a place here

and he'll have your eye teeth in a week.

You boys know how I hate a crooked card man.

Well, he's it.

They know all about him down in the river country.

I ain't letting nobody move in here

and take your hides.

I always tried to give you boys a square shake.

I got a sign in my place.

Says you can have your money back

if you think I don't, right?

Now, wait a minute.

Hold it.

I think I can take care of him myself.

Take it, Mike.

Take him.

Drop it.

The other one, too.

Drop them at the edge of town.

If they try to get in again, finish them.

What are you doing here?

You give me those!

I take it you got these

from our former associate, Mr. Maverick.

You saw the little affair out there in the street

and being a very intelligent young lady

you came to exactly the same conclusion that occurred to me.

Give me those and get out of here.

Am I right?

You were about to dissolve your partnership

with Mr. Maverick and offer Mr. Riggs a deal.

I can hardly blame you.

But you do have two other partners, Miss Crawford.

Mr. Cross and myself.

Mr. Tree, you and I have the bills of sale.

George doesn't even have to be in on them--

My, how you twist and turn!

No, I told you.

I have a certain loyalty towards my clients.

We'll-we'll wait for Mr. Cross here.

Is George here?

Well, that's stupid. Maverick will recognize him

and then where are we?

Oh, I rather doubt that Mr. Maverick

can recognize anybody now

and besides, what difference does it make?

Obviously, we overestimated his abilities

or underestimated Mr. Riggs.

And as I said, we wait for Mr. Cross here.

And then perhaps, the three of us can see Riggs.

Oh, excuse me.

Uh, uh, uh.

Thank you.

- Now you just hold it. - Easy, easy.

Well, you look a lot better than when I found you.

We're walking now, Ma. That's the difference.

We're headed right back into town.

Now you're not talking sense at all.

You're both lucky Riggs didn't have you killed.

Aren't you a little worried about him?

Why should I be?

Maybe he won't take kindly to you

picking us up and bringing us here.

There's one thing Joe Riggs knows.

If he so much as laid a finger on me

he'd have to answer to every miner

and cow hand in this valley.

That's nice to know.

I don't know what you mean by that.

But there's a stage out of here leaving tomorrow morning

and you better both be riding it.

Ma!

How would you like to take us back into town

close to the hotel without Riggs seeing us?

Well, I wouldn't take you two near that place.

Not till after dark.

Ha!

Yeah?

- Somebody to see you, boss. - Who?

Excuse me.

May I?

Who are you and what do you want?

My name is Cross. This is Miss Crawford and Mr. Tree.

We're Maverick's partners.

Maybe you didn't see what happened to Maverick.

But we did. That's why we're here.

Maybe you better listen to what I've got to say.

You've got nothing to say, mister.

These are bills of sale for equipment

that Maverick had shipped here.

He won't be using it.

You don't know Maverick.

He won't quit.

He just did. A little while ago.

Would you like to bet on that, Mr. Riggs?

[Henry] My dear, Mr. Riggs

we don't wish to put you out of business.

But if we stay lined up with Mr. Maverick

I'm afraid you might find that you are.

Exactly.

We have the money to buy...

...well, all the help Maverick will need

if it comes to a fight.

What's your deal?

We'll sell the equipment to you...

...at a small profit to us.

Let me see the bills of sale.

You paid 9000.

We're willing to let you have it for 20,000.

Some deck's got a joker missing.

Well, Mr. Riggs, without equipment or money

Mr. Maverick won't have a chance.

But with it...

Well, I'm afraid he won't quit

till he runs you out of business.

You seem pretty sure of Maverick.

What will you tell him, in case I accept your offer?

We don't have to tell him anything.

He'll be out in the cold without knowing

how he got there.

I could fight you...

...but I'm willing to go the easy way.

I always wanted to get big, and with this equipment

I can do it.

But not for 20,000 or even five.

But I'll give you ten percent of the Golden Bucket

for the next three years.

That could come to twice what you're asking.

Put that in writing.

I will.

As soon as you sign these bills of sale over to me.

Suppose we both start writing at the same time.

Good evening, partners.

Nice to see you, Mr. Cross.

I imagine you know your daughter and I have already met.

Gee, it must be nice to have

dear old dad back again.

Quite a relief to be out of the penitentiary, huh?

Alright, Maverick, so you know the story.

I knew it all along.

I'm not likely to forget a man who lost $50,000 to me.

And somehow you just don't seem like the type

to have a lovely daughter like Samantha.

So, what are you going to do about it?

Well...

...I could knock your head off.

But then, what'd be the use?

No, I'm perfectly happy just being a partner.

But you're not.

That true, Samantha?

Uh... I'm afraid so, Bret.

You know, Samantha, it's kinda hard keeping track of you.

You made a deal with Riggs, huh?

I kinda thought so when I saw you coming out of his office.

I waited a long time to get even with you and I did it.

Nobody ever cheated me and got away with it.

And nobody ever called me a cheat and got away with it.

Well, what next?

Bret, there's nothing you can do.

We bought in with Riggs

and we didn't steal anything from you.

I guess that's true.

I don't think I could tell anybody

that you stole that equipment from me.

Well, hardly. It was my money that bought it.

Right again.

Samantha...

...you just proved something my old Pappy used to tell me.

Man's the only animal you can skin more than once.

Goodnight.

Partner.

I waited a long time for this.

It was worth it.

I wonder what he'll do now.

Well, I hope he goes into Riggs' place

and gets his brains beat out.

What's the matter, Samantha, you got a soft spot for him?

- Well, Bret? - Whipsawed, Mike.

Ten ways from Sunday.

They're sneaking double-crossers.

Whipsawed, but not licked.

Ma, you said something this evening

that interested me.

- When I called you a fool? - Among other things.

You think you could walk into Riggs' place

and get away with it?

I could. Why?

What if Mike and I walked in with you?

- I'll be at the wake. - Let's go, Ma.

Now, what are you gonna do?

Now, I don't mind a nice fight, Bret.

This is plain foolishness walking into his place.

- Hop along! - What's the matter?

I'm gonna lay it three-to-one on that one.

- I'll take two more. - You got it.

Well done, my boy.

How is it going, men, everything fine?

Yes, once more.

You'll never make one.

Yeah, tomorrow's another day.

Evening, Joe.

Outside, you two.

Take it easy, Riggs.

I just came in for a friendly game

of blackjack.

You can't object to that.

I do.

Hold on.

This here is a friend of mine.

Boys, can a friend of mine play if he wants to?

Why don't you want me to play, Riggs?

Well?

Go ahead.

I don't mind using the same deck.

We'll break a new one.

We'll use the same one.

If it was alright for these gentlemen

it's alright for me.

Go ahead, deal.

Well, now, let's see.

I got a ten and a six.

Ordinarily, I'd stand on 16.

Since that top card's a five or under, I'll take it.

Go ahead, deal it, Riggs.

What are you trying to do?

Show you up for a crook.

Face card.

Between a six and a nine.

Face card.

Five or under.

Now, don't feel too bad, gentlemen.

Mr. Riggs uses only the newest and best marked cards.

You could study them for a week and not find anything

if you didn't know what to look for.

Now, let's take a look at the Faro setup.

Or do we have to?

And that roulette.

How much did you pay for that rigged roulette wheel?

Fine, move it, over there.

You know, I remember a crooked place in New Orleans.

You know what happened to it?

A customer smashed it...

...to bits.

Hold it, hold it!

Now, hold it, gentlemen.

I could have killed him before if that's what I wanted.

Just turn him over to us, that's all.

Then I'd have to turn you over to the sheriff.

Now, go on home, men.

Riggs is through short-carding and second-dealing you.

Go on.

Let's go, boys. Fun's over.

He's got bills of sale for the equipment.

- They're signed over to me. - I know, Riggs.

The stuff's yours.

But you won't be doing anything with them.

Not anywhere west of the Mississippi

when this story gets around.

Hold on, now.

I never thought I'd live to see an honest gambler, and I did.

I guess I owe you something for this, son.

Joe, I'll buy those bills of sale from you.

I'll give you $2000.

It's all the money I got in the world.

They're worth nine.

They ain't worth a brass cent to you.

You'll take the 2000.

I'll meet you at the bank in the morning

and give you the money.

What are you gonna do with that equipment, Ma?

I'm gonna start an honest place.

You want a job, don't you?

Well, I can't run a gambling place by myself.

Mike'll help you, Ma. He's the expert.

You got anything better to do?

No.

I don't know what kind of a cut Riggs gave you

but whatever it was...

...chalk it up to profit and loss.

I sure wish you'd stay, son.

Mike'll take care of you, Ma.

Mike says you need $5000 real bad.

Does he?

I think you earned all that.

And a whole lot more.

So as soon as I've got that much to spare

where shall I send it?

To a couple of New Orleans ship owners

by the name of Bledsoe and Hayes.

Mike's got the address.

And thanks, Ma.

Have you got enough money right now?

Well, thanks. I've got just enough.

Allow me.

Excuse me.

Take care of my girl, Mike.

Hyah! Hyah!

It's a long way to Kansas City.

High card deals?

Seven of clubs.

Ten of diamonds.

Ten of hearts.

Ace of spades.

Hello again. I hope you enjoyed the show.

Next week, we have something special for you.

One of the strangest stories ever to come out of the West.

It all seemed very simple when it started.

A buggy ride with a very pretty red-haired woman

named Mary Shane.

We're coming to a very narrow bridge.

It's dangerous if you don't know it.

Maybe I better get out and walk ahead.

Better if I did.

I know where to look.

Oh, there.

You alright, Miss Shane?

Miss Shane!

But the next morning

it suddenly wasn't simple anymore.

I learned Mary Shane had died nine days ago.

Stop.

Now you step in here real carefully.

You got $3000. I want it.

I'd advise you not to do it, son.

$3000 is a lot of money

but it won't bring you happiness.

Not when it's my 3000.

I'll give it a try.

Let's have it.

I'll tell you what might be a better idea.

Why don't you see if maybe

there's some money pinned to your pants?

And if there is...

...get yourself a new coat and a horse.

And a new town to play in.

Well, I'll think about that, sheriff.

Right now, I'd like to play this game out.

You know, Foster, this is a real tiresome habit

you're getting into.

This is the second killing you've hung on me.

It's a funny thing about me.

[Maverick] If you like a ghost story you can believe

against a Western background with suspense and action

you'll like next week's story.

"Ghost Rider."

See you then.

"Maverick."

This has been an ABC Television Network presentation.