Hilario.
Papa!
Sotero! My good friend.
How are ya?
You have a drink?
I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to see a village like this.
Santos!
So much restlessness and change in the outside world.
People no longer content with their station in life.
Women's fashions? Shameless.
Cigar.
ˇMire! Religion!
You'd weep if you saw how true religion is now a thing of the past.
Last month we were in San Juan - a rich town. Sit down.
Rich town, much blessed by God.
Big church.
Not like here - little church, priest comes twice a year. Big one!
You think we find gold candlesticks, poor box filled to overflowing?
You know what we found?
Brass candlesticks, almost nothing in the poor box.
But we took it anyway.
I know we took it anyway.
I'm trying to show him how little religion some people now have.
That I could see for myself.
Don't see!
What if you had to carry my load, huh?
The need to provide food, like a father, to fill the mouths of his hungry men.
Guns. Ammunition.
You know how much money that costs? Huh? Huh?!
No.
The days of good hunting are over.
Once there was horses, cattle, gold, fruit from the trees. No more.
Now I must hunt with a price on my head, rurales at my heels.
I'll be back.
Enough!
We'll get the rest when we come back.
I love this village.
- I know you have your problems... - Murderer! Thief!
Rafael!
Stupid!
We have to have another discussion very soon.
It's always a pleasure to hear the views of my good friend Sotero.
Maybe when I come back, hm?
ˇAdiós!
Let's go!
Help me bring him in.
If he steals our harvest again,
we might as well cut our throats and be done with it!
Leave the valley. That's what we must do.
- Live somewhere else? - Take our homes with us? Our farms?
We could hide some food.
From Calvera? He never steals all our food.
- He leaves us enough to go on with. - That's something.
We could beg him to leave us more.
No, no. That would make him more angry. I don't think we should do anything.
We must do something!
Like Rafael? Talk sense.
We break our backs in the fields, and our bellies stay empty.
- We must do something! - We must do something.
But what?
I don't know.
We'll ask the old man.
He'll know.
Fight.
You must fight. Fight!
With machetes and bare hands against guns?!
- Buy guns. - Buy?
Go to the border. Guns are plentiful there.
But what are we going to use for money?
Sell that.
And anything else you can collect.
Even if we had the guns,
we know how to plant and grow - we don't know how to kill.
Then learn.
Or die.
Hey! I've been waitin' for you.
Oh, you did a wonderful job.
- I'm sorry, but there'll be no funeral. - What?!
The grave's dug, and the defunct is as ready as the embalmer can make him,
- but there'll be no funeral. - Didn't I pay you enough?
It's not a question of money. For $20, I'd plant anybody with a whoop and a holler.
But the funeral's off.
Well, how d'ya like that?!
I want him buried. You want him buried. If he could talk, he'd second the motion.
- That's as unanimous as you can get. - You've behaved like a Christian, but...
Now, look. I'm not lookin' for any praise.
I'm a traveling salesman - ladies' corsets.
I'm walking down the street and a man drops dead.
For two hours people stepped over him, without lifting a finger.
I'm doing what any decent man would.
- Come on, Henry... - No! This man has to be buried.
- Soon. He's not turning into a nosegay. - I know. I would if I could, but
- there's an element in town that objects. - Objects? To what?
- They say he isn't fit to be buried there. - What? In Boot Hill?
There's nothing there but murderers, cutthroats and barflies.
And if they ever felt exclusive, they're past it now.
They happen to be white, friend.
And old Sam...
Well, old Sam was an Indian.
Well, I'll be damned!
I never knew you had to be anything but a corpse to get into Boot Hill.
- How long's this been going on? - Since the town got civilized.
It's not my doin', boys. I don't like it. No, sir.
I've always treated every man as another future customer.
- In that case, get that hearse rollin'. - My driver's quit.
- He's prejudiced too, huh? - If it comes to gettin' his head blown off.
- Well, get somebody else. - Nobody else will drive it! So here.
Oh, hell! If that's all that's holding things up, I'll drive the rig.
Can I borrow that scatter-gun?
You're more than welcome.
Hey! Wait a minute there. This hearse cost me $840. It's the only one in the county.
- I'll be darned if I let it be shot at. - I'll pay for the damages.
- I wanna see this. - Me, too!
Never rode shotgun on a hearse before.
Let her buck.
- New in town? - Yeah.
- Where are you from? - Dodge. You?
Tombstone. See any action up there?
- Tombstone? - Same. People all settled down, like.
- Same all over. - Injun lovers!
Easy. Just wind.
- We'll get there. - It's not gettin' up there that bothers me.
It's stayin' up there that I mind.
Comin' up behind us on the left.
I don't think so.
Second-storey window. Curtain moved.
I'm not in a good position. Let him stick his neck out.
- You elected? - No.
I got nominated real good.
Boys, why don't you just turn around now - save yourselves a lot of trouble?
Soon, huh?
The reception committee is forming.
Hold it.
Hold it right there.
Anything wrong?
Turn that rig around and get it down the hill.
I need six men up here.
Boys, the drinks are on me!
I'd like to buy you a drink. And your friend, too.
Thanks.
Where are you from?
Oh, yeah. Where are you goin'?
- Thanks for the free show. - You're more than welcome.
Boy, that was really something. I won't forget that if I live to be a hundred.
- Henry, the stage is leavin'! - All right, all right!
Wait till Flora hears about this. Y'know, she won't believe one word of it.
Henry! The stage! Come on!
You keep this.
- Where are you headed? - I'm drifting south, more or less.
You?
Just driftin'.
- Any action here? - Yeah.
Grocery clerk and bouncer in one of those bars across the street, if that's your taste.
Yeah.
Well, see ya.
Say, what's your name?
Make it Vin.
- What's yours? - Chris.
Yes?
We think you are a man we can trust.
- Thank you very much. - We wish you to help us.
- There's this man, Calvera. - A thief. A murderer.
He and his men, they steal our food, and then they leave us to starve.
- Not only that, but our women... - Wait, wait. Just a minute.
- If you need protection, go to the rurales. - We did. Twice.
But they can't station men in a small village for... who knows how long?
So they left.
And when they left, he came again - Calvera - and every year since.
He will do so until he is stopped.
Sit down.
- We need help. - We must buy guns.
We know nothing about them.
Will you buy guns for us?
Guns are very expensive and hard to get.
- Why don't you hire men? - Men?
Gunmen. Nowadays men are cheaper than guns.
- Will you go? - It will be a blessing if you help us.
- Sorry, I'm not in the blessing business. - No, no. We offer more than that.
- We could feed you every day. - And we have this.
What's that?
We can sell this for gold.
Everything we own.
Everything of value in the village.
I've been offered a lot for my work, but never everything.
Will it be enough?
You see, if we could drive the bandits away,
life could be very good in our village.
But as it is, we ourselves could stand it a little longer,
but the children, they cry because they're hungry.
Do you understand what it means when you start something like this?
We will fight, too. Every one of us.
When Calvera comes, the church bell will ring the alarm.
We'll fight with guns, if we have them.
If we don't, with machetes, axes, clubs, anything!
Once you begin,
you have to be prepared for killing and more killing.
And still more killing - until the reason for it has gone.
- We understand. - We've considered that.
Does every man in the village feel the same?
Every man.
- I'll see what I can do for you. - Gracias. You know...
Now, wait. I didn't say I'll go.
I'll pass the word around that you're looking for men.
It won't be hard to find men here. Everyone wears a gun.
Sure - same as they wear pants. That's expected.
But good men? That's something else again.
How can you tell they are good?
There are ways.
Come in.
The word is out you're looking for men.
That's right. Men who are good with that.
- I'm good with it. - Fast?
- Try me. - I aim to. Step in closer.
Now, hold your hands like that.
Now, clap.
Faster.
Now, as fast as you can.
Now you try it.
Very young and... and very proud.
The graveyards are full of boys who were very young and very proud.
Come in.
- No tricks now, Chris. - Harry! It's good to see you again.
- Chris. - What are you doing in this dump?
- I heard you've got a contract open. - Not for a high-stepper like you.
A dollar bill always looks as big to me as a bedspread.
It's just eating money.
A gold eagle, room and board. Six weeks gunning for some farmers.
You old Cajun! You don't talk so good, but you always know what's goin' on.
Oh, Harry.
With your permission.
All right. All that's on top. What's underneath?
- Only what I told you. - Gold? Cattle? Payroll?
- Only what I told you. - Sure, never mind. Tell me when you can.
Harry, please don't understand me so fast!
I said never mind. I'm in.
You dirty dog!
Place your bets.
Five.
Eight.
Eights again. Ten at the point.
The cowpoke that just walked in in the stovepipe chaps,
- I'd like to buy him a drink. - Yes, sir!
Válgame Dios. There's one. Look at the scars on his face.
The man for us is the one who gave him that face.
Hey, you learn fast.
Next bet comin' up.
Crap.
Next man.
Gent over there wants to buy you a drink.
- Vin. - Howdy.
- I'd like to buy you a drink. - Whisky.
Have you anything lined up?
Yeah. I'm gonna take a job in a grocery store.
Fella says I'm gonna make a crackerjack clerk.
Crackerjack.
If that's your taste...
I heard of a job shooin' some flies away from a village, but I don't know the pay.
$20.
- A week? - Six weeks: The whole job.
Well, that's ridiculous.
- You heard of anything? - Yeah.
Shooing some flies away from a little village.
Their village.
It pays $20?
I'm looking for men right now.
- No, it wouldn't even pay for my bullets. - Ours is a poor village.
We understand. You could get much more in a grocery store,
and it's good, steady work.
Yep.
How many you got?
Looking for O'Reilly.
Don't know his name, but there's a fella in back choppin' wood for his breakfast.
Mornin'.
I'm a friend of Harry Luck's.
He tells me you're broke.
Nah, I'm doing this because I'm an eccentric millionaire!
There's a job for six men, watching over a village, south of the border.
How big's the opposition?
Thirty guns.
I admire your notion of fair odds, mister.
Harry tells me you faced bigger odds in the Travis County war.
Well, they paid me $600 for that one.
He said you got that Salinas thing cleared up.
They paid me $800 for that one.
- You cost a lot. - Yeah...
That's right, I cost a lot.
The offer is $20.
$20?
Right now, that's a lot.
- Where can I reach you? - Right here.
- I still say he can't. - And I tell you he can.
- If he claims that, he's a liar. - Not so loud. He might hear you.
I don't give a damn if he hears me or not.
I got two months' salary comin'. I'll bet it all it ain't so.
- Well, you ain't bettin' with me. - Me either.
I told you what he said, and I believe him.
- Well, one of us is a fathead. - You can get good odds on which.
Britt. Britt, wake up.
I'm talkin' to ya! Look at me!
Filene told me what you said. I say you're wrong. What d'you say?
What's the matter? You afraid? Afraid to tell me I'm wrong?!
Call it.
Well, you see, I won.
Well, how about it?
Well?
- Filene, how about it? - I don't know. It was mighty close.
Close? What d'you mean, close? You all got eyes. You saw what happened. I won!
You tell 'em. I won, didn't I?
You lost.
You're a liar.
I said you're a liar!
I said you're a coward and a liar!
Get up. Let's do it for real.
Get up!
Get up, I said!
So help me, I'll let you have it right where you are.
- Call it! - I want nothin' to do with this.
- Call it! - Drop it, Wallace. Forget it.
Get away from me.
Call it.
- Britt. - Chris.
Can I have a word with you?
Did you have any luck?
Found a man who would have been perfect.
Gun or knife, you couldn't want any better. Wasn't interested.
The money? It wasn't enough?
He doesn't care a hoot about money.
A man in this line of work who doesn't care about money?!
Men in this line of work are not all alike. Some care about nothing but money.
Others, for reasons of their own, enjoy only the danger.
And the competition.
If he's the best with a knife and a gun, with whom does he compete?
Himself.
You.
- I've been looking for you! - What have we got here?
Never mind.
He knows.
Clap hands, he says.
Clap your hands, and let's see how fast you are.
Clap hands!
A man comes to him cos he respects him,
cos he'd be proud to work with him.
He makes me look like two cents with some damned kids' game!
- Hey, kid, that's enough of that! - You stay away from me, will ya?
Come on, now,
and let's see how fast you are.
And no games, huh? No clapping hands - none of that stuff!
Just draw.
Come on. Come on, draw!
- Campesino. Come on! - You say campesino to me?!
You get out of my way, you dirt farmer!
You don't think I mean it, huh?
You think I'm just talking, huh?
Hey, get up.
Do you hear me?
Get up and face me!
Do you hear?!
Hey,
give him my gun, huh?
Sorry this happened, friend.
Let him sleep it off.
When he wakes up, let him have his gun back.
And give him a drink.
I changed my mind.
There's a man waiting in your room. Said he was a friend of yours.
Remember me?
Yep.
You need men to do a job in Mexico.
- That's right. - How long?
Four, six weeks.
That ought to do it. How much does the job pay?
I thought you were looking for the Johnson brothers.
I found them.
- How much does the job pay? - 20. We leave tomorrow.
I'll have the money before I leave.
It'll just take care of my last two days' rent.
$20? You must be livin' in style.
Yes.
I have the most stylish corner of the filthy storeroom out back.
That, and one plate of beans:
$10 a day.
Yeah, things do get high when they find out you're on the run.
There's a dry wash south of town.
Pick me up there.
He's a good gun.
And we aren't heading for a church social.
Chris.
Yeah. He picked us up at dawn.
- Any idea who it is? - Yeah. That kid from the saloon.
- Won't take no for an answer. - Doesn't show much sense, does he?
I'm getting a stiff neck keepin' track of him.
If you can't forget him, why don't you ride side-saddle?
Ah, well, he won't last much longer.
That so?
Ridin' out there in all that dust and heat - what a chucklehead!
Yeah. Not smart like us!
Yep.
Suppose our friend over there has got anything to eat?
- How about I bring him some? - It isn't food he's hungry for.
Then let me tie a can to his tail. Right now, he's like an itch I can't scratch.
Leave him alone. It's a free country.
And it's his.
You know, it's funny. Now that he's gone, I kinda miss him.
Where is everybody?
- Where are they, Tomas? - Luis! Asunción! Demetrio!
Emilio! Sotero! What kind of a reception is this?
Come out! Come out and make them welcome, before we die of shame.
Hilario, stop your shouting.
Do they call this a welcome? What are they thinking of?!
Come in. You must be thirsty.
You must excuse them. They are farmers here.
They are afraid of everyone and everything.
They are afraid of rain, and no rain...
The summer may be too hot, the winter - too cold.
The sow has no pigs, the farmer is afraid he may starve.
She has too many, he's afraid she may starve.
There's no need to apologize. We didn't expect flowers and speeches.
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the founding of the village.
They will be celebrating - then, you will see them in a better light.
Who sounded the alarm?
Who sounded the alarm?!
I did.
Thank you, amigos, for coming out to greet us.
Thank you for letting us see your beautiful faces!
Thank you, thank you, you chickens!
You come running out like chickens!
We ride to this middle of nowhere. We're ready to risk our lives to help you.
And you?
You hide from us!
Hide from us!
But it's a different story when you're in danger, huh?
You might lose your precious crops.
Then you flock to us. Huh?
Well, we're here, my compadres and I.
And here we stay.
And you?
You prove to us that you're worth fighting for.
Now get back to your houses, back to work. Go on! Go back.
We'll let you know when to fight and how to fight. Go back! All of you, go back!
Go back!
Now we're seven.
You know, I've been in some towns where the girls aren't very pretty.
As a matter of fact, I've been in some towns where they were downright ugly.
But this is the first time I've been in a town where there's no girls at all.
Except little ones.
If we're not careful, we can have quite a social life here!
It's not so bad. I fell in with a fast crowd that hangs out near the fountain.
We got to predictin' the weather for today and didn't break up till twilight.
Stop the music! Bring out the other bull!
Hilario!
Britt.
The boy saw three of Calvera's men. The horses are in the arroyo.
Lee.
- Get one alive. - Yes.
I'll show you where.
Rico, he knows where the arroyo is.
- I'm sorry, Britt. I didn't mean to spoil it. - Shut up!
That was the greatest shot I've ever seen.
The worst.
I was aiming at the horse.
Three men were sent by Calvera to spy.
It's almost certain they saw us.
Whatever they learned will be buried with them.
ˇVálgame Dios! If he comes now...
He'd never send men ahead if he was near enough to see for himself.
So we have time to get ready. And we have something else - surprise.
If he rides in with no idea of the reception we can prepare for him,
I promise you, we'll all teach him something about the price of corn.
Aim,
squeeze,