Original subtitles

"Maverick."

Starring James Garner and Jack Kelly.

Produced by Warner Brothers.

From the entertainment capital of the world.

Produced for television by Warner Brothers.

[Briggs] Oh, help.

Oh, help, somebody.

Somebody, help.

Help.

Oh, uh.

What's the matter?

I'm sorry, I really am.

I never done a thing like this before.

Still time to change your mind.

No, no, there ain't.

[Briggs] Turn around, it'll only hurt for a second.

To Denver, that'll be $24.50.

Yup, drove a hard bargain.

Took me for $18

and then sashayed over to the newspaper office.

Seemed mighty interested in finding out

about Laura Stanton.

But at first, he didn't have the fare

come back with it just in time to catch the 11:05.

Yeah.

Well, when's the next train to Denver?

- Was there something? - Huh?

Oh, yes, sir, there was.

Uh, still is.

Uh, I wanna see Mrs. Stanton.

My name's Briggs, Paisley Briggs.

What's yours?

My name is Broadhill, sir, and Mrs. Stanton is out.

Oh, you mean out, or out to me?

Out, Mr. Briggs.

You show her this, she'll see me.

[Laura] "Phillip Stanton...

...valedictorian, class of 1861 ."

I see.

No doubt this is my husband's ring

but... where did you get it?

Uh, he give it to me, ma'am.

When?

My husband's been dead for the past 11 months, Mr. Briggs.

No, ma'am, he ain't.

He put it in my hand his self eight weeks ago.

You must be mistaken.

No ma'am, it was him alright, I knew him right off.

But all six men aboard that stagecoach

were killed by Indians.

[Briggs] Oh, six men was killed

and six men burned and six men buried

but there must've been a seventh man.

That stagecoach probably picked up another passenger

out on the road.

My husband was being taken to be executed

they wouldn't have picked up a passenger.

Well, they must've, ma'am.

Anyways, uh... you ain't no widow and never was.

I don't know whether to believe you or not.

- I want to-- - And yet you don't want to.

And don't I know why.

Just what do you mean, Mr. Briggs?

Oh, nothing.

Or maybe something.

Well, what I mean, it seems a bad time

for him to turn up livin', for you and him both.

I think I begin to understand you now, Mr. Briggs.

Look at it this way.

If it gets out that he's alive

he's still got to hang for that killin'.

Then the whole thing starts up again.

There go your weddin' plans, too.

Oh, yeah, I heard all about that

from the newspaper editor back in your old hometown.

Uh, congratulations.

So, uh, whether you love your husband

or the man you're fixin' to marry

it seems to me the answer's all the same

Bury the dead I say.

Of course, silence is golden.

Isn't that right, Mr. Briggs?

Shucks, ma'am, if you think

I come here to get money from you

just for keepin' quiet well...

...well, I ain't that kind.

I just thought you'd want to know the truth.

Well, I ain't askin' anything for it, am I?

But if you were, how much, Mr. Briggs?

Five thousand dollars?

Mr. Briggs, you say he gave you this ring.

- Why would he do that? - Why?

Well uh, for supplies, sir.

Yeah, that's it.

You see, I give him some flour, short sweetening

sour belly, frijoles.

Not to mention the rollings and the jug of scamper juice.

Rollings, scamper juice?

It's tobacco and brown paper to make cigarettes, ma'am.

And, uh, hard liquor, so to speak.

Paul, he's lying.

You were Phillip's partner for seven years.

Did you ever know him to drink or smoke?

No, I guess you never knew him to hide out in the wilderness

for most of a year neither

livin' no better than some animal.

A lonesome smoke and a drink ain't much comfort

but it's some.

That part could be possible, Laura

Phil could've changed.

He certainly had enough provocation.

You mean you believe him?

Um, no, I doubt him.

If Phil were still alive and hiding

he certainly wouldn't give this man a ring

that could be traced back to him.

But doubting isn't good enough.

Laura...

...we can't be married until we have some sort of proof

one way or another.

Can you see that?

Proof, yes, but-but how?

Mr. Briggs, if your story is true

if you really saw Phil Stanton and know where he is

you can take me to him.

Oh, that wasn't the deal.

Or else I'll have you turned over to the police right now.

Oh, no, you can't.

Is anything wrong, sir?

Oh, it's alright, Broadhill.

Mr. Briggs and I are talking business.

Oh, very good, sir.

Oh, for a man who leads a soft life, Mr. Asher

you hit awful hard.

That's how I earned a soft life, Mr. Briggs.

Well, have you reconsidered taking me to, uh...

...the man who gave you that ring?

No, sir.

You can turn me over to the law

but I ain't goin' back there, not never!

Well, my life's worth more to me than that.

What are you talking about?

The Wauconda, that's where he is

the Wauconda.

I guess I'm the only man that ever got outta there alive

once he was fool enough to get in.

Wauconda?

The Badlands up in Wyoming territory.

It's sacred land to the Indians.

They call it the burial ground of the Gods.

And maybe they're right.

That's a graveyard for sure.

The only difference a man don't have to be dead

to get in there, but he might as well be

'cause them Indians ain't gonna let him get out alive.

That's convenient for you, isn't it, Mr. Briggs?

In other words, even if Phillip is still alive

there's-there's no way to reach him

or for him to reach us.

Isn't that what you're saying?

Yes, ma'am.

Oh, cavalry patrol could get in there and get him

if they wanted him bad enough

and if they could spare the losses.

Yet you say you got in and out alone.

I stumbled in looking for gold

and I wandered out in a sandstorm so thick

that even I didn't know I'd made it.

Well, then there's no other way.

You've got to take us there.

- Laura, you're not going. - Yes, I am.

This is my problem more than yours.

Well, it ain't mine and I ain't riskin' it.

Now, look.

Now, suppose I did make it the second time

which ain't likely.

And suppose you've got yourselves killed.

Well, I'd have risked my neck for nothin'.

Now, you listen to me, Mr. Briggs

that $5,000 you wanted

I'll deposit that money in your name, today, now

in a bank here in Denver.

What ever happens to us

that money will be waiting for you here.

- Laura. - Let me finish.

If your story proves to be true

if we find my husband alive or dead

and we get back here safely

I'll add another 5,000 to the first.

That's $10,000, Mr. Briggs.

That's twice as much as you'd bargained for.

Well, you make it awful difficult to refuse, ma'am.

Yes, indeed.

We gettin' into injun country before the day's out.

We'll have to take turns standin' guard.

What'll they do if they see us?

Oh.

Well, just anything they take it in their fool heads to do.

Maybe talkin', maybe scalpin'.

Whatever it is, the three of us ain't gonna stop them doin' it.

What good will it do to post guards?

Well, they're more likely to talk

if we're awake and lookin' at 'em.

Not a lot more likely, but a little.

Was there something?

My name is Maverick, Bart Maverick.

Would you please announce me to Mrs. Stanton?

Well, that would be quite impossible, sir.

Mrs. Stanton is out of town.

Out of town?

Well, when will she be back?

I really couldn't say, sir.

Whoa, just a minute.

When did she leave? Where was she going?

I really couldn't say, sir.

[Bart] Well, then maybe you could say something

about a man named Briggs, Paisley Briggs.

He's the one I'm really looking for.

Then I suggest you look elsewhere, sir.

There is no Mr. Briggs at this address.

Well, it looks like I'm all alone in the big city.

If you're not doing anything for dinner

maybe you'll join me

at the Three Crowns Inn tonight, 9 o'clock?

I'm extremely sorry, sir.

I seem to have other plans.

Well, you understand that I don't go out like this

with just any man who asks me

or even who doesn't, like you didn't.

- You're the very first. - Really?

Oh, yes, and the best looking, too.

Well, thank you, lady.

Let's not talk about me.

Let's talk about you.

Alright, go on.

What do you know about Briggs?

And where's Mrs. Stanton? Did she go with him?

Well, honest, I'm beginning to think you just got me here

to ask me a lot of questions.

Well, no, that's not the only reason.

What other reason?

To get some answers.

That's not very flattering.

My pappy always told me, "Flattery's like perfume, Laddy.

Smell it but don't swallow it."

And between you and me, I'd like to establish a bond

that has some real value.

Money, for instance.

- Oh, money? - Yup.

Now, you concentrate on that thought

and see if you can tell me where did Mrs. Stanton go?

And what's it got to do with Briggs?

Ah, come on, hah!

Briggs, stop!

Oh, Paul, it's my fault, I-I just closed my eyes for...

Don't blame yourself, blame Briggs.

He never meant to lead us anywhere

only to lose us on the trail and hightail it back to Denver

to collect that money.

But why, he'd have twice as much

if he took us to Phillip.

Sure, isn't that your answer?

[Bart] Easy there, Briggs.

That hole in the pot could have been in you.

- Was it a shot, Paul? - Too far away to tell.

I think it came from that direction, let's find out.

Well, what do you know?

You mean to tell me you've been doggin' me

all the way from Grange?

Yep.

Single-minded, aren't I?

You know, you ain't gonna believe this

but you just saved me the trouble of lookin' you up.

Yes, sir, I felt so bad about what happened

that I just couldn't wait to look you up and pay you back.

That's pretty much the way I felt about it, too.

Yeah.

Runnin' me down this way

hey, that took a lot of doin'.

You know, I got to hand it to you.

Alright, hand it to me, $1200, Mr. Briggs.

Uh, eight hundred and fifty, wasn't it?

Plus 350 for my expenses, and don't argue.

I still owe you a lump on the head.

Oh, I ain't arguin'.

It's just that I ain't got it here.

You'll be interested to know that I run up

a nice little profit on our nest egg, Mr. Maverick.

Yes, sir, it's in a bank in Denver.

I was just headin' there to get it for us.

Well, you're welcome to come along if you like.

Well, thanks.

I may just do that.

Say, it sure is a shame you had to blow

a hole in that coffee pot.

Now I can't offer you a good cup for breakfast.

Oh, but, what the heck...

I sure am sorry I flew off the handle like that.

[Bart] Oh, forget it. I'm kinda glad ya did.

Now, we're even, in lumps on the head anyway.

Yeah, and then some.

You like to split mine wide open on that rock.

But I don't blame you.

I never could do anything right.

You see, I left home more than 20 years ago

lookin' to take the world by the tail.

Well, I left a sweet little thing named Ellie Mae

and I told her I'd come back to her with a pot of gold

and she promised she'd wait for me.

But she didn't.

Not ten years later she up and married another man.

Can't ever depend on women.

[Briggs] Yeah.

After that I got to feelin sorrier for myself'

than ducks in a desert.

Just about to give up hope for gettin' that pot of gold

and then somethin' happened that got me all fired up again.

What was that?

I got word of how Ellie Mae's a widow

with two fine boys.

So I figured it's how I still got a chance.

If I was to go back she wouldn't realize

how long it took me to get that pot of gold

and I'd have me a ready made family.

Yeah.

I just come that close to makin' good.

Now I guess I'll be goin' to jail and all.

'Cause of me? No, not at all.

All I want is the money you owe me.

If you've really got $5,000 in Denver

you've got no problem.

You still have $3,800 left over for Ellie Mae.

Yeah, I think she'll be glad to see ya, Paisley.

I know I was.

[Briggs] Say, you know you're a real gent, Mr. Maverick

and I'll be more than happy to give you back your share.

[Asher] Not so fast, Briggs.

That money you're splitting up doesn't belong to you.

Now for the next act of "Maverick."

You see what I mean about bad luck?

Just when you and me get everything worked out fine

they gotta go and catch up with me, too.

Take his gun, Laura, keep him out of this.

- What is this anyway? - I'll get around to you later.

Right now I wanna take care of Mr. Briggs.

Well, thank you, Mr. Asher.

Uh, w-what happened, see, was...

Well, I was goin' out huntin' some meat

for you and Mrs. Stanton and this fella jumped me.

Aw ain't ya even gonna listen?

Shut up.

You ran out on us because you knew

you couldn't earn that money.

It was all a lie, wasn't it?

You're an awful hard man to talk to, Mr. Asher.

You keep hittin' first and askin' questions later.

That ain't no way to act.

How would you like it?

[Asher] Hold it, Laura.

I can handle him.

Figured a way this time, we won't stop ya...

...but it's not gonna be so easy.

Alright, alright!

Don't strain yourself, I ain't goin' nowhere.

Let's have the truth Briggs.

You never saw him.

You were lyin' all the time.

Tell me you were lyin' or so help me I'll kill ya!

No, I never told no lie.

Now, like I said, I seen him and I talked to him.

Well, there's lots of things I am

but one thing I ain't and that's a liar.

I'd think he'd admit a lie to save his life, Laura.

I believe him.

What other choice do we have?

Paisley...

...how many more people may turn up lookin' for you?

All my life nobody wanted me.

Now, everybody wants me at once.

[Asher] Give him back his gun, Laura.

I'm sorry.

It looks like you've got a score to settle with him, too.

Well, I didn't track him down

to tie him up just to turn him over to you.

Whatever your reasons, we're grateful, mister?

Maverick, Bart Maverick.

My name's Paul Asher.

This is my fiancee Laura Stanton.

Mrs. Phillip Stanton, isn't it?

Well... why, yes.

You see, that's, that's part of the reason we're here.

Mr. Briggs claims to know the location of a gold strike

my husband made shortly before his death.

Even though your business with him seems to have come first

we, we hope you'll respect the urgency of ours.

Hm.

Well, I'd respect it a lot more

if you'd told me the truth, Mrs. Stanton.

What do you mean by that?

You didn't bring your fiancee out here

to look for gold, Mr. Asher.

It seems more likely you're lookin' for something else.

Mrs. Stanton's husband.

Whatever give you an idea like that?

I talked to that newspaper editor in Grange, Briggs

after you did.

You just told me the rest.

Alright, Mr. Maverick

I apologize for the lie.

Don't worry, I don't care what you're lookin' for out here.

All I'm after is the money that Briggs stole from me.

He owes me $1,200 and I'm takin' him

back to Denver to collect it.

You're not taking him anywhere without us.

And that money in Denver was for him

to lead us to Laura's husband.

He doesn't get one cent until the job's done.

He ran out on you once before, Mr. Asher.

You think you can keep him from doin' it again?

- Not without your help. - How's that again?

Meaning no offense, Mr. Maverick

but any man who will go through what you've gone through

for $1200 must be mighty fond of money.

That's why you'll go along.

We'll give you $2500 to help us keep an eye on Briggs.

If you don't, you lose $1200.

Where did he say your husband is?

[Briggs] The Wauconda, Mr. Maverick.

That's the last place on earth you wanna go, right?

Right.

I wouldn't consider it.

Five thousand?

- Well? - I'm considering it.

Just between you and me, Mr. Maverick

I'm awful glad you voted to throw in with us.

I feel a side better havin' you along.

So do your friends back there.

I know and they're right

I need somebody to keep an eye on me

to stop me from goin' off and doin' some fool thing

I'm sorry for later.

That's why I'm glad you're along.

- Save you from yourself, huh? - That's right.

Oh, if them Sioux get any closer

there ain't gonna be much left for you to save.

Yeah.

[Briggs] Your ears burnin', folks?

You're bein' talked about.

What are they saying?

Tellin' each other how we're headin' for the Wauconda.

They're not making any move to stop us.

As far as I know there ain't nothin' to stop us

from getting' in.

Only gettin' out.

I'll take over now, Bart, go get some rest.

The only one that's got any rest is Briggs.

You haven't closed your eyes.

- Neither has Laura. - I know.

Those drums keepin' you awake?

You know that's not what it is.

I dunno what we're afraid of most

that we won't find Phil, or that we will.

You don't have to talk about it to me.

Oh I have to talk about it to somebody.

Of course, you don't have to listen.

Under those circumstances, go ahead.

Well, what I keep asking myself is

what good can come of it if Phil is alive.

Aw, Phil was my friend, sure but...

...would it be better for him to have cheated the hangman

lived for another year

then have to go through all this again?

- Maybe not. - No.

It was better the way it was...

...for Laura's sake, too.

And... yes, for my sake.

I guess it's no secret the way I feel.

No.

Wish I could tell how she feels now.

I thought I could...

...but the farther we go

the farther we seem to grow apart.

She's had a lot on her mind, Paul.

Give her time.

We'll be in the Wauconda tomorrow.

You think we'll find him?

Nope.

But you'll find your answer there.

One way or the other.

Mr. Maverick.

Yeah?

What were you and Paul talking about?

Our chances.

- Of finding Phillip? - Among other things.

Tell me, what happens if we do find him?

I don't know.

Would you try to take him back with you?

Or would you be ready to stay with him?

- That's a strange question. - Well, it's a strange problem.

If he is alive, what makes you think he'll let you find him?

What makes you think he won't be dangerous?

To me? To Paul?

Anyone who might come after him.

Your love, Paul's friendship

they could still threaten his safety.

A man alone with no law, but survival

feeling that rope around his neck

every time he took a breath.

There's no telling what he might've become.

Are you trying to frighten me?

No, to prepare you.

- For the worst. - Mm-hm.

And hope for the best.

Personally, I think Briggs lied.

I think your husband's dead.

But if he isn't, don't count too much

on finding the man you married.

I see.

Good night, Laura.

Well, folks...

...there you are.

Cross that river and you're in the Wauconda.

Let's go then.

Uh, sorry

this is as far as I go.

What are you talkin' about now?

I told a lie, a real whopper this time.

What lie, tell me.

Well, ma'am, the whole thing, I guess.

I never seen your husband and I made up the whole story.

Oughta be ashamed of myself, I guess.

And I am, too.

But the ring, Phillip's ring.

Where'd you get it, Paisley?

Well, I just naturally found it in there.

- Across the river? - Yeah.

Oh, I was in there like I said

I just didn't see your husband.

It was findin' the ring that give me the idea.

But you did find it in there?

More than likely, one of them Injuns dropped it.

Probably took it off him when they burned the coach.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

I didn't mean to carry the joke this far.

Then why did you lead us here?

I expected to get away from you long before this.

I would've, too, if it hadn't been for him.

Well, that settles it. It's not too late to turn back.

Oh, but it is.

Well, you don't plan to go on

knowin' that Briggs never saw your husband.

That doesn't matter now, you've got to take us

where you found that ring.

No, ma'am, I ain't gonna do it!

Paul, please help me, make him take us there.

- Briggs? - No, sir.

I could bite my tongue off for lyin'

but I ain't gonna kill myself over it.

Bart?

I have to side with Briggs this time.

We turn around now they may just let us go

but not if we cross that river.

They're right, Laura.

You mean you're with 'em, too?

No.

Briggs can tell me where he found the ring.

You go on back with the others.

I'll cross the river alone.

If I don't come back with the answer

I just as soon not come back at all.

Thanks, Paul...

...but you're not going alone.

Sorry we took you so far out of your way, Bart.

Now, if you can tell us where you found that ring, Mr. Briggs

you're free to go, too.

Oh, this is all my fault.

If it hadn't been for me and my big lyin' mouth

you wouldn't be in this fix.

I just can't put you out on a limb and then saw it off.

No, ma'am, if you cross that river I'm goin' with ya.

It's my Christian duty.

Paisley, just when I think I got you figured out

you have to go and do somethin' decent.

I could kick myself.

Well, so long, Mr. Maverick.

Not so fast.

You owe me $1200.

I'm not lettin' you outta my sight.

Thanks, Bart.

Don't thank me.

Our deal still goes.

Don't run the horses.

You slip now you're finished.

They stopped at the river, they won't be coming after us.

Oh, but they sure closed the door behind us.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, I found that ring right here.

Yeah, I ain't likely to forget this spot

'cause that's the highest cliff for miles around.

We'll make camp here then split up and search.

Meet back here again at sundown.

Laura better stick with you.

Briggs and I'll take two other directions.

Stanton?

You got company, I'm comin' in!

Anybody home?

Now, back to Maverick.

Oh.

What are you?

Couldn't find any kind of a badge on you

so you're not a lawman.

What are you, a bounty hunter?

What did you hit me with?

This?

Haven't had any bullets for it for six months

otherwise you wouldn't have gotten

as close to me as you did.

You made it do a pretty fair job without bullets.

It wasn't that funny.

You think I'm outta my mind, don't you?

Oh, no. No.

It's just that hearing a human voice

sounds so good.

Any voice, even yours.

Thanks.

- You're Stanton, huh? - That's right.

Who's that?

[Phillip] Some white man

wandered in here looking for gold, I suppose.

I found him like that.

How do you know he's a white man?

Fillings in his teeth.

The only gold here is what he brought in with him.

Well, looks like we'll be together a long time

you, me, and him.

May as well get your name, never caught his.

Maverick.

Well, Mr. Maverick, I'd like to keep you alive

as long as I can 'cause I'm tired of talkin' to him

but that's up to you.

I'll kill you the first time you even look unfriendly.

You may not believe this, but I came here to help you.

Keep talking, I like listening.

Well, in the first place

the law forgot about you 11 months ago.

Your case is closed.

Officially you're dead.

What made 'em think so?

When that coach was found

they pulled six bodies out of the ashes.

Since there were only six to start with

they figured one of 'em was you.

Of course.

The man we picked up on the road.

They wouldn't have known about him.

[Bart] How did you save your neck

when the Sioux butchered all the rest?

I didn't.

They set me free.

Well, the Sioux have a sense of poetic justice.

I was in irons, chained hand and foot.

They seem to think that any prisoner of the white man

was a friend of theirs.

But if I'm dead, and there's no reward out on me

then there's no reason for you

to risk your life coming after me.

The real story, tell it.

I didn't come here alone, your wife came with me.

Laura?

Here?

That's impossible.

What's wrong? Don't you wanna see her?

Of course, I want to! But what good can it do?

I was better off dead for her sake.

Now, she's thrown her own life away.

Man that led us in here got out once before.

- It's not impossible. - And go back to a rope?

They might believe your story this time.

Not a chance, I went through all that.

So has Laura, it nearly killed her.

Nobody believed me except her.

And Paul.

Paul?

He's here, too.

Of course, Paul

I should've known.

He wouldn't have let her come without him.

There's no reason in the world for you to do me a favor.

Right.

But I'm going to ask one.

Please, tell 'em you didn't find me.

You understand? I can't go with you.

I can't see her.

It would make everything worse for all of us.

You mean that?

Well, how much can a man take?

I can accept this exile.

I can even live with it.

But... if I saw her again...

...I couldn't face it.

You're not facing anything, Stanton.

How do you expect her to go on living

not knowing whether you're dead or alive?

Then tell her I am dead!

Tell 'em tell 'em you did find me

and that's what's left of me.

That's what you really want, huh?

Alright.

Might've been easier getting out of here

with four men.

She might make it anyhow.

You'll never know whether she made it or not, will you?

That makes you just about even, I guess.

Wait.

I'm going with you.

It's three hours past sundown.

If Bart doesn't show up soon

we'll have to go looking for him.

It's this place.

It gives me the creeps.

It leaves a curse on it sure enough.

Cut it out, Briggs.

Anything could've happened to him.

He may of gone too far, horse pulled up lame, anything.

If that ain't him it ain't nothin' I wanna see.

[Phillip] Laura.

Laura.

Well, what do ya know, I wasn't lyin'.

Ah!

Too good to last.

They found that sentry's body.

They picked up our trail.

Hang on, Paul!

Head for those rocks!

Give me a rifle, I... I can keep 'em busy

till you get a start.

- No, Paul. - We're not leaving you.

Don't be a fool.

Why do ya think I came looking for you?

If I'd been alone, found you alive I'd have killed you.

[Laura] Paul, you don't know what you're saying.

Don't I?

I almost let him die once before because...

...because I wanted you.

You see, Phil

I knew you didn't kill that man...

...because I did.

I thought you'd get off.

When you didn't...

...I thought I had a chance

so I took it.

Hey, maybe we all got a chance.

That wind kicks up enough sand we can slip past 'em.

They won't even see us.

I think it's all over.

Yeah, we lost 'em.

We're out of injun country.

Oh, Phillip.

Did you hear that?

Sure, we had to make it, Laura.

How's Paul?

Paul?

He didn't make it.

I guess he didn't have to.

Well, Mr. Maverick, only ten more miles to Denver.

Every mile's worth a $1,000 to me.

Yes, sir.

Tomorrow mornin' I'm on my way to Ellie Mae

with $10000 in my jeans.

Correction, Paisley, $8,800, remember me?

Oh, Maverick.

"Maverick!"

This has been an ABC Television Network presentation.