Original subtitles

You could yell, but it won't do you no good, mister.

You're a long way from town.

I wasn't planning to yell.

I just wanna ask a question.

What goes on?

Maybe you didn't listen too good, friend.

I said those questions you're asking could get me lynched.

Now, you've had a nice, friendly warning.

Think it over

while you walk the four miles back into town.

"Maverick."

Produced by Warner Brothers.

From the entertainment capital of the world.

Produced for television by Warner Brothers.

Hello. Glad to see you again.

This week, that other unpredictable Maverick

my brother, Bart, gets involved

in one of the most intriguing mystery stories

ever to come out of the West.

[Bret] It's called "The Naked Gallows."

[Bret] This is the town of Bent Spur

a three-day ride south of the Black Hills.

And Brother Bart had just made that three-day ride.

"Looks a bit seedy, " you might say

but nothing a bath, a razor

and a change of clothes won't cure.

Hm? Now, how many you figure you got there?

One-hundred and forty-seven, and they're all beaver.

Yeah?

You do buy beaver, Mr. Fall?

Oh, yes, buy almost anything

provided the price is right and got value to begin with.

Uh... Well, I'm open to any reasonable offer.

Well...

- Afternoon, Alec. - Sheriff.

You know, June is a right late date

for wearing the furs, mister.

Now, I ain't tryin' to tell you about your business

but, uh, you would've done better three months back.

I know, but I got banged up in a rock slide

and it took me a little while to get over it.

- Hm. - I'm Barney Fillmore.

Don't recall seeing you in Bent Spur before.

My name's Bart Maverick, sheriff.

Well, it's my first visit.

Trying to unload my catch, but Mr. Fall here

doesn't seem too eager to buy it.

Alec Fall wouldn't be eager to buy a hot stove in a blizzard.

Say, that's a pretty sizable bunch of furs

considering the kind of winter you had up in the hills.

How many traps do you have out?

- Oh, 50, 60. - Well, I'll say this.

Alec will pay a fair price.

That's more than you can say about most fur buyers

north of here.

But then I guess you heard of that before

seein' as how you come all the way down here to cash in.

That's only part of the reason, sheriff.

Friend of mine lives in Bent Spur.

As long as I was heading South, I thought I'd look him up.

Well, that's fine.

- What's his name? - Milo Ballard.

Heard he was doin' right well around Bent Spur.

Afraid you heard wrong, Mr. Maverick.

Milo didn't do so well here.

He was murdered.

About 11 months ago.

I'm sorry to hear that, sheriff. How'd it happen?

He was shot on his own doorstep

at night, and in the back.

He wasn't even wearin' a gun.

Well, it's a pleasure meetin' you, Mr. Maverick.

- Have a safe trip. - Thank you, sheriff.

Any reason why I shouldn't hear the rest?

Well, pretty sore point for the sheriff.

Town don't blame him, but he can't keep from blaming himself.

- For what? - Well...

A young rancher named Clete Overton

was supposed to hang for killing Ballard.

The only thing was, somebody helped him break out of jail

the night before. Nobody seen hide nor hair of him since.

They ever learn who helped him break out?

No, no.

Um, I don't know what you and your partner

would consider a fair price--

I haven't got a partner.

You trapped a 140 beaver all by yourself?

One-hundred and forty-seven, Mr. Fall.

- You wanna count 'em again? - No.

I'm, uh, I'm willin' to pay four dollars a piece

for the whole lot, in gold.

- What do you want? - Well, I want a room.

I was told this is the best hotel in town.

- It's the only hotel. - That's what I meant.

That wasn't very nice of you, sneaking up on me like that.

Yeah, I guess you're right. I beg your pardon.

Ah. Bart Maverick.

I don't have to scrub floors, Mr. Maverick.

The man who does it is sick, and I'm just helping my father.

Oh, I see!

I'm Annie Haines. My father owns this hotel.

Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Haines.

What room do I get?

Uh... The first one on the left, upstairs.

It's the nicest.

Well, I hope it has a big bathtub

and a lot of hot water.

Bathroom's at the end of the hall.

I'll heat the water for you myself.

Thank you!

I-I bet you'd look a lot nicer without all that...

Maybe you're right.

I've been wearin' it so long, I've forgotten. Thanks.

[Haines] Annie!

Who was that man, Annie?

Some stranger, pa. He rented a room.

I saw how you looked at him.

Your eyes were the eyes of Jezebel

when she enticed the men of Jezreel.

How many times must I tell you to call me

when anybody wants a room?

How'd I know where to find you?

- Huh! - You'll guard your tongue.

[Haines] Unless you want another touch of the strap.

Now where are you going?

He wants some hot water for a bath.

I'll tend to that.

You get back to your cleaning up in here.

Yes, pa.

If a man, any man comes around...

You're just like your ma was.

Are you trying to make me believe

Ballard wasn't even wearing a gun

after Overton threatened to kill him?

Nobody knew then just what kind

of a back-shootin' snake Overton was.

A little careless of the sheriff

letting Overton break jail, wasn't it?

It wouldn't do for Barney to hear you say that

even if Milo was a friend of yours.

You boys look a little thirsty.

- Water's on the house. - Well, much obliged, Virginia!

I was beginnin' to think I wore out my welcome.

Come on, Ben. It's your type of man that keeps me in business.

- Mr. Maverick. - Uh, no, thanks.

I've got so many vices, I decided to pass that one up.

You must tell me about 'em sometime.

I'm Virginia Cory.

As a matter of fact, I've been hoping to meet you.

Any friend of Milo Ballard's

would have to be a friend of mine.

We were partners here.

I didn't know that, Ms. Cory.

Well, as I was saying, we should get better acquainted.

When you finish your game, why don't you stop by my office?

And if you won't take a drink, maybe I can offer you a cigar.

I'll take you up on that right now.

I was just gonna drop out anyway.

Maverick!

Didn't expect to see you way out here. How are ya?

Mike Cardoza. You remember me.

That game up in Omaha, about three months ago.

Hardly forget a man that took $300 off me.

Afraid it's your mistake, Mr. Cardoza.

Three months ago I was trapping beaver

in the Black Hills.

Your name is not Bart Maverick?

I expect you met my brother, Bret.

He spends a lot of time between St. Louis and Omaha.

Your twin brother?

No, there's a strong resemblance.

Well, pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cardoza.

Cardoza?

You, uh, make a mistake?

Well, the name was Bart Maverick!

Leastwise I, I think it was.

The best, Mr. Maverick. Fresh from Cuba.

Milo loved a good cigar.

Like you, he didn't drink.

But you were his friend. You probably knew that.

Oh, some things you forget, if you notice 'em at all.

How long had it been since you saw him?

A month or two before he moved to Bent Spur.

Oh, then you lived in Wichita.

Oh, a year or so, on and off.

It's hard to believe he's dead.

It's even harder to believe he could've been so careless.

Tsk. Careless?

Turning his back on the only man in town

who hated him, and not wearing a gun.

You make it sound like you don't believe

Clete Overton killed him.

Is that your opinion?

I haven't got an opinion.

I'm looking for one.

Mm. Well, I'll do anything that I can to help.

You see, I was in love with Milo Ballard, Mr. Maverick.

The one thing in this world I want to see

is the person who killed him punished.

To be very honest with you, I was never satisfied

they sentenced the right person.

Milo didn't have any family.

- As I remember. - That's right.

Who took over his partnership here?

That came to me, Mr. Maverick.

Milo wanted it that way.

Can't be easy for a woman to run a place like this alone.

Well, it's no trouble, as long as I keep the whiskey cheap

and, uh, the games honest.

The men think of me as one of the boys.

If you're just one of the boys, I don't wanna meet any girls.

I hunted for that compliment. I got it. Thank you.

Do drop in again, Mr. Maverick, if you're going to be in town

for any length of time.

Thank you.

[Virginia] Oh, perhaps there's one thing I should tell you.

You know, Milo had his reasons for saying

he came here from Wichita.

The truth is, he had never been there in his life.

He came straight here from San Francisco with me.

You never knew Milo Ballard.

What are you really after here, Mr. Maverick?

Um...

When I think of an answer to that one, Virginia

I'll let you know.

You could yell, but it won't do you no good, mister.

You're a long way from town.

I wasn't planning to yell.

Just wanna ask a question.

What goes on?

The word's around you're looking for the man

who killed Milo Ballard.

Looks like he found me instead.

You're off your horse friend.

I didn't shoot Ballard.

Clete Overton's the man you want.

So you knocked me in the head and dragged me out here

just to tell me that?

You come around askin' questions

maybe gettin' answers.

Some of 'em leading to me.

That scares me.

So I aim to discourage you, friend.

You're doing a pretty good job of that, friend.

I want you out of town. A way out and stay out.

If you don't, you get a bullet

from a window, a dark alley.

- But you'll get it. - Can I ask why?

Sure. And I'm glad to answer.

I am the one that jerked Overton out of jail.

Bent Spur's about forgot Ballard's killin'.

You go around stirrin' 'em up again, and they find out

I'm the one who got Overton loose

I could end up swingin' from the gallows they built for him.

I'm trying to find the man that shot Ballard.

If you didn't do it, you've got nothin' to fear from me.

You expect me to believe that?

Then maybe you didn't listen too good, friend.

I said those questions you're asking could get me lynched.

Now, you've had a nice, friendly warning.

Think it over

while you walk the four miles back into town.

Now for the next act of "Maverick."

[Annie] Mr. Maverick! Oh, I'm sure glad to see you.

When you didn't come back, I... Your face!

- What-what happened? - Not now, Annie.

Well, wait, Mr. Maverick.

Mr. Maverick, I'm Ruth Overton.

I'd like to talk to you.

Alone, if you don't mind.

It's quite important to both of us.

Alright.

If you don't mind coming up to my room.

No. Thank you.

- Do you care to sit down? - No, thank you.

I'll try not to keep you.

Is it true what I hear

that you're a friend of Milo Ballard's

and you're trying to find out who killed him?

They told me who killed him, Mrs. Overton.

They told you a lie. Clete was at home in bed the whole time.

I swore to that at the trial, but they wouldn't believe me.

Why did you come to me about it?

Why not? I thought you want to find out who killed him.

- That's right. - Alright, then.

I'll tell you this, it was somebody in Bent Spur

and I'm positive that they're still around.

A man like you might be able to find out the truth

if you really wanted to.

If you do, Mr. Maverick

I'd like to help you. That's why I came here.

I can take all the help that's offered, Mrs. Overton.

Do you know what happened? I mean, the real story.

Just their side of it.

Yeah, yeah.

Didn't matter to Milo Ballard that I was married

in love with my husband.

One day in town...

...he made a remark to me

deliberately loud enough for Clete to hear it.

Wasn't the first time

but it was the first time that Clete was there.

And Clete told him

that if he ever spoke to me again, that he'd kill him.

And lot of people heard him say it.

I guess that's just what Ballard wanted

'cause he told Clete never to come into town again

without his gun.

That with or without it, he'd shoot him on sight.

You don't have to tell me anymore, Mrs. Overton.

I can figure out the rest myself.

No, I wanna tell you everything

every word of the truth.

I knew that Clete planned to go back to town

the next day with his gun

just like I knew that if he did, he wouldn't come home alive.

I guess he was the only one with courage in the family

'cause he slept soundly all night.

And I just watched him.

I never closed my eyes

'cause I was just so afraid that it was the last night

that we'd have together.

And that was the night that Milo Ballard was killed

but not by my husband.

If it's any help, I believe you.

You're the first person who has.

Thank you.

I think you're right about the killer

still being in Bent Spur.

In fact, I'm sure of it.

I've already been told to stop asking questions

and move out of town.

Well, who told you that?

Well, a man with a gun and a careless boot.

He didn't give me his name, although I can think

of a few that would fit.

May I ask you a question?

Of course.

Why is all this so important to you?

I hope I can answer your question

real soon, Mrs. Overton.

Is it just because Milo Ballard was a friend of yours?

I never saw Milo Ballard in my life.

Uh, but, uh... But e-everyone says--

I intended they'd say it.

It's the only chance I'd have to get some questions answered.

That's as far as I can go right now. I'm sorry.

Thank you, Mr. Maverick. I won't bother you anymore.

You changed your shirt.

Then a clean, gambling man like you would.

What's the idea? What are you tryin'... Uh...

That's smoke

from the lantern you were holdin' on me last night.

That was a little careless.

Why, Brink? Why'd you kill him?

Kill him? Kill who?

There haven't been that many murders in this town.

Ballard? Oh, you're wrong, friend.

Sure, I-I got Overton out of jail, but he

he's the one who killed Ballard. I--

If you didn't kill him, why'd you break Overton out?

I was paid to. And I was paid plenty.

- Who paid you? - Uh...

I-I'll make you a deal, friend.

I tell you who hired me.

You don't let anyone else know.

Like I said, I don't want 'em stringin' me up.

Maybe the one hired me

was the one who killed Ballard.

And maybe they hated seeing an innocent man hang.

So they paid me to get him out.

- Did you ever think of that? - Yeah, I thought of it.

Alright, Brink.

You got yourself a deal.

Who paid you?

His wife.

Ruth Overton.

I can check on that real quick.

Wouldn't be smart of you not to.

Can I ask you something?

Yeah. Anybody can ask me anything.

There's 200 men in this town, they all own shirts.

How'd you know that lantern smoke would be on mine?

Oh. Heh-heh.

Don't lose any sleep over it.

When a man's dealin' cards to me

I watch his hands pretty close

the way I watched your hands at the Blackjack table.

Last night those hands stood out on that lantern

like shoes on a snake.

Lookin' for somebody, neighbor?

Uh, you're back quick enough. Good news?

I'm afraid not, Clete. Let's talk about it over some food.

- I'm starved. - You should've let me know.

I'd have put the champagne on ice.

I figured Brink was telling me the truth, alright.

But I checked with your wife anyway.

She hired him.

But even if she didn't know you were innocent

she couldn't just stand by and watch 'em hang you.

Hired him how? Ruth didn't have that kind of money.

When I asked her that, she said she borrowed the money

on your holding.

You didn't tell her about me?

The way things turned out, I couldn't.

Even if you hadn't asked me not to.

Alright, Bart. You did what you could, and I'm grateful.

I'm not aimin' to hold you any longer.

- You're all through tryin'? - You got a better idea?

Only chance I had was to find out why Brink saved my neck.

And you came up with the answer to that.

So what's left to go on?

I'm not lookin' forward to runnin' the rest of my life

but I got no choice.

Whoever shot Ballard was smart enough not to leave a trail.

You found that out yourself.

That's about all I found out.

Well, I hope I didn't miss anything.

Ah, forget it. I wasn't expecting any miracles anyway.

Clete, 600 in gold for those beaver pelts.

What about you?

I picked up a fair-sized stake

at one of Virginia Cory's Blackjack tables.

You mind stopping off at Bent Spur again

on your way out of here?

Whatever you say, Clete.

Well, let Ruth know I'm alive

and that she is to sell the spread for whatever she can get.

And tell her to meet me in six weeks

at the Hudson Hotel in St. Louis.

[Barney] You'll never make it, Clete. Hold it!

Up with the hands.

I'm sorry, Clete.

I looked over my shoulder every foot of the way.

- I'd swear I wasn't followed. - Forget it.

Barney could trail an Apache through a dust storm.

Folks back home been wonderin' what happened to you, Clete

seein' as how you left without sayin' goodbye.

Now drop the belt.

Turn around, both of you.

You better check your friend.

- You only creased him. - Get him fixed up.

I can't get too sore at a man who tries to help a friend.

You try it again and you'll get shot. Is that clear?

As a mountain lake, sheriff.

Am I next, sheriff?

After leading me straight to an escaped killer?

Well, I'm downright grateful to you, Maverick.

You really seem to be enjoying this, Fillmore.

You bet I'm enjoyin' it.

I don't like killers bustin' out of my jail.

You might say it, uh, sort of hurts my pride.

You're in here 'cause I got a little careless, Clete.

I'll see that you get out again one way or another.

Till then I'll, uh, I'll stay in town.

It's a good idea.

When a man's kickin' at the end of a rope

he's entitled to have his friends around.

[Barney] It's a cinch Clete here don't have many in Bent Spur.

[Ruth] Clete? Clete!

Oh, Clete...

I figure you can be out of town by tomorrow afternoon.

See that you are.

A minute ago you invited me to the hangin'.

I just changed my mind.

You're afraid I'll come up with the right answer, sheriff?

The jury will beat you to it.

They found Overton guilty, and he'll hang.

What makes you so cocksure he's innocent?

I owe him a debt.

He asked me to pay it off by coming down here

and trying to find out who killed Ballard.

And do you think a guilty man would want that?

You mind telling me how this debt came about?

Six weeks ago I was in the Black Hills

headed for Fort Benton.

Two prospectors held me up.

They took every cent I had and put a bullet through my belly.

When Clete found me, I was as good as dead.

It was a solid week before the fever broke.

I don't think he got two hours' sleep the whole time.

Does that answer your question?

Might be a better answer than you think.

Might be.

Maverick.

By tomorrow afternoon. Don't forget.

Thanks, Annie.

I didn't hear you knock.

I guess I forgot to.

You have real nice shoulders.

I use 'em to hold up my shirts.

I felt real bad when pa said you'd left town.

I'm sure glad you come back.

Thanks, Annie.

Hardly any nice men

ever come to Bent Spur.

And even if they do, they don't stay long.

A town this size must have a lot of young men.

A lot of good that does.

Pa has a fit if I even look at one.

Of course, he can't watch me every minute.

I like a man that dresses up once in a while

and talks nice, knows how to treat a girl.

Like, maybe going for a buggy ride and things.

Sounds like a lot of fun, Annie.

Will ya, honest?

Billy and me used to ride out to the old Carter place.

Oh, you'd like it. Nobody lives there or anything.

I'm pretty busy, Annie. You better run along now.

Maybe we'll talk about it another time.

I suppose you think I'm not old enough--

[Haines] Are you up there, Annie?

Please don't say anything. Please!

Why? Nothing's wrong. There's no reason to hide.

You don't know him. Please!

Is my daughter with you, sir?

Annie? What would she be doing in here?

You're a man, tall and well-favored

with an easy grace.

Such are the tools of Satan

to entice a wayward child into the path of sin.

I'm sorry, but the path of sin doesn't come through here.

- You better try next door. - I must make sure.

Stand aside, sir.

I can't do it, Mr. Haines.

As long as I'm paying for this room

nobody gets in without an invitation.

That includes you.

Come out of there, Annie!

[Haines] You hear me?

Pardon me for saying so, but I'm getting a little fed up.

If you'll excuse me.

He's your father, Annie. Why are you so afraid of him?

Why did he do that?

Because I'm evil.

He told you that?

I am evil, just like my ma was.

She went away with a man when I was just a little girl.

It's ma's bad blood in me that makes me evil.

You better go before he comes back.

You will take me for that ride?

- Please, Bart. - Goodbye, Annie.

Now back to "Maverick."

Need any help?

Well, won't you come in, Mr. Maverick?

Why, thank you, Virginia.

I thought I'd like another one of these fine Cuban cigars.

- Help yourself. - Well...

Your secret is safe with me

Virginia.

At least that one is.

I'm beginning to see a new side of you, Mr. Maverick.

I'm not quite sure whether I like it or not.

Don't tell me you've been drinking.

I hear a man can get just as drunk on the truth

as he can on whiskey.

Now, maybe that's the answer

because I know the truth about who killed Milo Ballard.

You mean, Clete Overton finally admitted it?

- You know he didn't. - I know it?

A place I know in Kansas City

runs a big game about this time of year.

Trouble is, no-limit poker takes a good-sized stake.

Five thousand would be enough, Virginia.

You'd hardly miss that much.

I hate being wrong about people, Mr. Maverick.

And I was certainly wrong about you.

Now, you cheap tinhorn, get out of here.

Funny how you can go around asking

a lot of questions and get nowhere, and then, bingo

when you least expect it, you hit the jackpot.

Although, that's hardly a kind word to call a lady.

Let's make sure that I understand this.

You found out that I killed Milo Ballard, right?

You're willing to keep-keep quiet about it?

For $5000?

- That's about the size of it. - Hm.

Well, this proof you've got

do I get to know anything about it?

Why not? I get the money, you get the proof.

I apologize, Mr. Maverick. You...

You're not a cheap tinhorn after all.

You're a good poker player pulling a big-time bluff, but...

Now if I had killed him, it-it might've worked, but...

Well, you did it that well.

Since I didn't kill Milo, uh...

...you don't get the $5000.

You play a pretty good brand of poker yourself, Virginia.

You called my bluff, and I still haven't seen your hand.

That's never happened to me before.

I'll try not to let it happen again.

[Annie] Mr. Maverick.

Oh. Goodnight, Annie.

Don't go.

Sit out here with me for a while.

Pa went to a revival meetin'. He won't be back for hours.

Annie, I'm too old for you.

I've been too old since I was 13.

Now you leave me alone, you hear?

[Annie] I know why you're mad.

It's because they're gonna hang your friend.

When your father wears out that strap

you tell him I'll buy him a new one.

I bet you I know somethin' you'd like to know.

It's about your friend.

What about him?

I'll ask you again, what about him?

I won't tell you.

You're not nice to me.

Alright, Annie, you win.

I'll be nice.

And we'll go for that ride out in the country?

- You promise? - I can't promise, Annie.

You haven't told me anything.

She was there. I saw her.

Who was where?

Mrs. Overton.

She was at Mr. Ballard's that night.

Billy saw her, too.

We were walking by Mr. Ballard's fence

when she rode up to the house.

What time was it?

Well, it-it was real late

because Billy didn't show up till after 12:00, and--

Why didn't you tell the sheriff about this?

And let my pa find out that I wasn't in my room?

That I sneaked out?

Besides, it wouldn't have made any difference.

I didn't see her shoot him.

Maybe Mr. Overton did do it.

Who's this Billy you were with?

How can I find him?

Billy Marco. He rode for a ranch west of town.

Only, he quit right afterward and went away.

Are you sure this was Ruth Overton?

I saw her as plain as day.

She had on a ridin' skirt and a man's hat.

And her horse had a blaze under one eye.

Annie, if you're lying to me, I'm gonna--

I wouldn't tell you a lie.

I like you.

I like you a lot.

Alright, Annie, you did just fine.

You better get to bed before your father shows up.

He won't be back for hours yet.

We could go for that ride now.

Not now, Annie. Goodnight.

Oh, Mr. Maverick, come in.

Here.

Is anything wrong?

What's the matter?

That mare out in the corral

the one with the blaze under its eye

do you ride it?

Yes, she's mine.

Did you kill Milo Ballard?

Why would you ask me something like that?

Because someone told me you were there

wearing a riding skirt, a man's hat

and riding that horse.

Who saw me?

[Bart] Here's something new to me, Mrs. Overton.

A woman who can kill a man and let her husband pay the bill.

It's an experience I wish I missed.

I went there.

But I didn't kill him.

I intended to.

It was either kill him or let him kill Clete.

And I just couldn't let that happen.

But when I got there, he was already dead.

He was lying beside the bar

in the same way they found him the next morning.

I'm not the law, but I gotta know the truth.

Did you kill him?

No, I didn't. He was dead when I got there.

Why didn't you tell 'em that at the trial?

[Ruth] I didn't dare.

Just say I was trying to protect Clete.

They could've said that he rode through the fields

and got there ahead of me.

You sure he didn't?

No.

I'm not sure

but I believe in my husband.

I don't have any proof.

Just faith.

Faith that Clete would never lie to me.

[Bart] Looks like I'll have to take your word the same way

on faith.

Thank you.

Would you like some coffee, Mr. Maverick?

No.

No, thanks. I've gotta get back.

Oh, uh, how long have you known the sheriff?

Oh well, about six years.

Ever since I came to Bent Spur.

Um...

How well do you know him?

Not well at all, really.

We used to go to dances together.

Then Clete came along, and we fell in love.

W-What's Barney got to do with this?

Mm. Oh, just-just a thought.

Well, I'm sorry I broke into your sleep.

I wasn't really sleeping, Mr. Maverick.

Come to say goodbye, Maverick?

Not just yet, sheriff. I thought I'd ask--

Sorry. You can't see him.

I thought I'd ask you a question.

What do you know about a cowhand named Billy Marco?

Never heard of him.

He worked on one of the ranches near here.

And he left the day after Ballard was killed.

If any cowhand had left here on that day

I'd know about it.

Where did you hear the name?

Around.

Well, you tell him he's off his feed.

There's never been any cowhand around here named Billy Marco.

- Thanks, sheriff. - Say goodbye, Maverick.

I won't be seein' you again.

Bye, sheriff.

I've been looking everywhere for you.

Old Mr. Ramsey's having another one of his spells.

Pa went there to drive out the spirit of the devil.

- Did he? - He won't be back for hours.

We could take that ride you promised.

Sure, Annie, but first I want you to tell me something.

Why did you lie to me about Billy Marco?

- I didn't lie about him! - Sit down a minute, Annie.

There never was a Billy Marco!

Well, I, I just changed his name a little.

From Milo Ballard.

You were with Ballard that night.

Who killed him, Annie? Did you?

- No, I didn't! - You're a bad liar!

I'm not lying, not now!

I was with Mr. Ballard.

He asked me to come there. He said he had a present for me.

He was waiting out behind his house.

He said nice things to me...

...how pretty I was.

He said I was real grown up.

And he kissed me.

Did you take his gun? Is that why he wasn't armed?

He didn't have a gun, he was talking to me

and then all of a sudden there was a shot!

- I ran into the barn and hid. - For how long?

I don't know how long. I hid in one of the stalls.

When I saw Mrs. Overton ride up, then go away

I-I ran home.

You do believe me.

Yeah, sure, Annie.

And you won't say anything, about me being with him?

No. No, I won't say anything.

Then we can take the ride?

You did promise.

Sure, Annie. We'll make it a picnic.

- Can you fix something? - I'll be ready in ten minutes.

I'll get the buggy.

It's nice here, isn't it? So quiet.

Makes it feel like

like there's nobody else in the world but us.

I don't feel lonesome like I usually do.

You like me, don't you?

Don't you?

Oh, yes, Annie.

I don't think you've heard anything I've said

for the past ten minutes.

- Sure I did. But you see, I-- - What's the matter...

[Bart] Hold it!

Come on down and join us, Mr. Haines.

[Bart] No need to be frightened, Annie.

There'll be no beating this time.

Did you beat her the night you killed Ballard, Mr. Haines?

See, I was waiting for you.

I paid the boy a silver dollar to tell you just where we were.

And my vengeance shall be the vengeance of the righteous!

[Bret] Three days later, the town of Bent Spur

finally wrote an end to the story of Milo Ballard's murder.

This time, an ending they didn't have to be ashamed of.

Maverick!

As long as you're headin' south

figured you might like some company.

That is, if you don't mind associating with an ex-sheriff.

An ex-sheriff?

When a town does something it's ashamed of

it usually ends up blaming the authorities.

Figured I'd leave before that had happened.

That's not the only reason, is it, Fillmore?

I saw the way you looked at Clete

when Ruth ran into his arms.

Any chance you had with her ended when Haines confessed.

I gave you a reason, Maverick. It's the only reason you'll get.

Fair enough, sheriff. Let's ride.

This has been an ABC Television Network presentation.