"If it was anybody else but you, I'd put 'im in jail and keep 'em" "There 'til they got some sense back in their head." "Now you tell me you didn't mean that." "Oh, I meant it all right," "And there ain't nothing you can do about it, marshal." "I'm gonna kill 'im." "How?" "Pull out a gun and shoot 'im?" "No, he's gonna suffer like me," "Suffer like my sam did," "When he felt them bullets a-tearing through 'im." "Mrs. Caruthers, your husband was shot down" "While he was committing a crime." "Now you can't blame anybody for that except sam." "I blame the man who shot 'im, marshal." "Take it easy, mrs." "Caruthers, take it easy." "You tell him... 7 days after I'm gone," "You tell lucas mccain." "He's- he's gonna..." "Die!" "Mrs. Caruthers!" "Mrs. Caruthers!" "Mrs. Caruthers!" "She said I'd die 7 days after she did, huh?" "That's right." ""7 days after I'm gone, you tell lucas mccain he's gonna die."" "Because I killed her husband?" "That's about it." "That's ridiculous, micah, I was deputized." "You deputized me, we were upholding the law." "I know, I know only too well, lucas, I told her that." "What did she say?" "Didn't make any difference." "Her grievance was with the man whose gun cut down" "Sam caruthers..." "That man was you, lucas." "Why, she must have been plum out of her head." "She's gone, how can she do anything?" "I don't know, mark." "Micah, you don't really believe anything" "Is gonna happen now, do you?" "I don't know what to believe." "Sarah caruthers was a determined woman," "She had no respect for the law." "When a woman like that makes a dying threat," "I wouldn't treat it too lightly, lucas." "Micah?" "Hello, mark." "Lucas, could I talk to you?" "Sure, what is it, ben?" "Well, I'd like you, as head of the council," "To call a special meeting at the town hall tonight." "Special meeting, why?" "Well, despite the type of woman she was," "It was necessary that sarah caruthers have legal advice" "From time to time, and I gave her that advice." "Well, fine." "What are you driving at?" "Well, she made out her last will and testament shortly..." "After her husband was killed." "Well, go on, ben." "Lucas, sarah caruthers' entire will concerns you." "Concerns me, huh?" "In what way?" "Well, I'm not at liberty to say, I mean not here." "The will specifically states that it's to be read to all" "The people of north fork." "Micah said she threatened me or something before her death." "Got something to do with that?" "Lucas, I can't say anything until the will is read." "All right, ben, I'll call a meeting." "Can I go too, pa?" "Look, son, what concerns me concerns you." "Micah, I'm gonna need some help rounding up folks" "If we're gonna have that meeting ben wants." "Sure thing." "All right, all right, let's quiet down." "I know you're all" "Wondering what this meeting is about, and why I'm conducting it" "Instead of lucas mccain, head of our town council." "So we'll get right to it, and not waste any time." "I guess everybody here can speak for those who couldn't make it," "Your wives, children, and so forth." "What have my kids got to do with this?" "Oh, you'll find out, eli." "Now this is the last will and testament of sarah caruthers." "I drew it up for her," "And I can assure you that's it's absolutely legal." "I'm supposed to read it to you." "What it says," "I- well, I guess it speaks for itself." "Quit gabbing, ben, read the thing." "All right. "I, sarah "caruthers, being of sound mind" ""and memory, do hereby give," ""devise, and bequeath all the worldly goods and moneys" ""of which I died possessed to the residents of the town" ""of north fork, territory of new mexico," ""to be divided equally among every man, woman and child" ""resident therein, at the time of my demise."" "To us?" "What money?" "She didn't have nothing." "What is this, ben, some sort of a joke?" "A last will and testament is hardly a joke." "But she didn't have any money." "She owed me 17 dollars for things she got from the store." "Yeah, the way I heard tell it," "She couldn't even pay her bill for living at the hotel." "Let john talk." "The, er, the caruthers, both sam and the missus," "Kept a strongbox in my bank." "Now it was none of my concern, as long as they paid the rental" "For the space." "By that, I mean I never interfere" "With the private affairs of the bank's customers." "Well, when sam was killed, mrs." "Caruthers told me the box" "Was never to be opened, until after she died." "So, this morning I opened it." "What was in it, john?" "100,000 dollars." "Quiet now!" "Quiet!" "Now, wait a minute!" "John, where would a woman like sarah caruthers" "Get that kind of money?" "I don't know, micah." "As I told you a moment ago," "I never interfere with the private affairs" "Of the bank's customers." "John, you mind telling us" "When they started keeping that strongbox in the bank?" "Well, it was several years ago, lucas, I could look it up." "I've always suspected that sam caruthers and his gang" "Were mixed up in that shipment from the denver mint" "That was never recovered." "What are you saying, marshal?" "I'm just putting two and two together." "That denver mint shipment was just one of many." "There were plenty of others he was suspected of," "And I guess now we know they weren't just empty suspicions." "Now wait a minute, marshal, you got no proof this money" "Is the same as was taken in the denver mint shipment" "Or any other robbery." "No, I can't prove it yet," "But I've got a list of serial numbers going back" "Quite a few years." "That strongbox is impounded as of now." "Calm down, there's more." "Tell 'em the rest, ben." "Well, even..." "Even if you do have a legal claim to the money," "There's one more provision on the will," "I haven't finished reading it yet." ""-be divided "equally among every man, woman "and-"" "We heard that." ""my demise-" oh, here, "on the proviso that lucas mccain..." ""that lucas mccain shall not survive said demise," "By a period of more than 7 days."" "Are you saying that lucas has to..." "Has to die?" "So that these people can get that money," "If they have a legal claim to it?" "Those are the terms of the will." "No." "I've never heard of such a thing, it's preposterous!" "Look, folks, I think milly is right." "Now sarah caruthers was a pretty sick woman when she died," "In more ways than one." "Micah can tell you that." "I appreciate how all you feel," "But we might be making a little too much out of this." "Well, I move this meeting be adjourned," "And all this nonsense be forgotten right here and now." "I agree." "The whole idea don't make sense." "Lucas here is a fine man, a good friend." "I don't want no part of that blood money." "Well, I guess the meeting's over, ben," "You can throw that thing in the waste basket." "I'd be pleased." "However, I do have to file it." "Who knows," "Luke might get struck by lightning before the week's out." "Well, now, ben, if that happens," "At least I'll know it's not sarah caruthers' doing." "What about that envelope, ben?" "Oh, yes, she also entrusted this envelope to me." "All it says on the front is," ""not to be opened until after the death of lucas mccain."" "What are you going to do with it?" "Well, I'll have to hold for at least seven days," "Legally I'm bound to anyway." "Well, I'll meet you at the bank in the morning, micah." "Bring that list of serial numbers with you." "Good night, milly, lucas." "Must be nice knowing you have so many friends, lucas." "Oh, it sure is, milly." "Oh, mark, I've got a new box of licorice sticks" "That just came into the store." "Here's the key to the back door." "Now you go help yourself, hmm?" "Oh, thank you." "I'll be right back, pa." "All right, son." "I wanted to talk to you, without mark hearing." "Well, now, what about?" "You two." "You've lived in this town as about as long as anyone." "You've seen them come and go, all kinds." "Well, go on." "Well, the short time that I've lived here, I've discovered" "That most of the people of north fork are good people, but" "Well, quit beating around the bush, milly." "Well, I- what I'm trying to say is, suppose you can't prove that" "That money locked up in the bank is from the hold-ups," "Suppose it was legally hers." "Well?" "Well, then, don't you think you should take" "Some precautions of some sort?" "Well, like you said, milly, they are my friends." "Yeah, we better go." "Well, there it is, micah." "Just like I found it when I opened it." "This is gonna take a little time." "We'll wait." "All right, series 'a'," "Serial number 266655." "What's that again there?" "Number 266655." "Let's go, son." "All right." "Lucas, you're taking this too lightly." "What's the matter?" "Nothing, mark." "I oughta lock you up, at least you'd be safe in jail." "No safer than I'll be at the ranch, micah." "Now look, I know these people," "If I can't trust them, I can't trust anybody." "What about mark?" "Well, milly, mark's my responsibility." "We'll see you later." "What's happening, micah?" "That money in there, I can't put a hold on it." "The serial numbers don't check." "Don't check?" "You mean you can't impound the money?" "That's right." "It belongs to the people of north fork." "If any of you wanna claim it under the terms of the will." "'course, if you do, you'll never get a chance to spend it." "Unless you wanna hang first..." "For killing lucas mccain." "You better hurry, son, you don't wanna be late for school." "You hear me?" "Yup." "What's the matter, mark?" "Nothing." "Except, I wish you wouldn't go into town today." "I have to" " I've gotta let milly know how much feed" "We want to order for next month." "That, uh, couldn't wait 'til the end of the week?" "What about the end of the week?" "Well, you know, the time will be up then." "Mark, you remember reading in your schoolbooks" "About the ostrich?" "The way he hides his head in the sand" "Thinking he's safe, and all the rest of 'im is sticking up" "Like he's waving a flag?" "Yeah." "Well, I don't wanna be like that ostrich." "I'll be as safe in town as anywhere else." "North fork's our home, nothing is gonna happen." "Yeah, but suppose there" "Suppose there is someone" "Who'd rather count the cash in their pocket," "Than have me around?" "Well, don't you think I oughta know about such a person?" "I'll see you after school, pa." "All right, son." "Howdy." "Hello." "Is this, er, this your spread?" "That's right." "Oh, beldon, stacey beldon." "Luke mccain." "Pleased to know you." "Sure is a hot day." "Say, how far have I got to go to get to north fork?" "About three miles." "I'm, uh, heading that way myself." "Well, if you give me a chance to water my animal, yeah, I'll" "I'll keep you company." "Obliged." "Boy, this sure is pretty country around here." "Yeah." "What brings you to it?" "Well, I got a job o' work offered to me." "In north fork?" "I reckon." "You know, I've got some kin in that town," "Haven't seen 'em since I was a knee high," "Seems like they is cousins on my mother's side." "Maybe I know 'im." "Yeah, it's possible." "Eli, eli benson." "Eli." "You know 'im?" "Yes, I know eli, most everybody does." "Got the biggest family in north fork." "You don't say?" "Last I heard of eli, he was..." "He was celebrating his first born." "Well, he's celebrated 10 more times since then." "10?" "11 kids?" "Sakes, if that ain't something." "So you're gonna..." "Work for eli, huh?" "Did I say that to you?" "I don't recall saying that." "Well, if you're gonna ride in with me, let's go." "It's a nice little town." "We like it." "Come on, I'll buy you a drink." "Not now, thanks." "All right, I'll see you around." "You, er, you are gonna be around, aren't you?" "For a while." "Just wanna be sure." "Thanks, mccain." "Who is that?" "Stacey beldon." "Oh, strange company you're keeping." "No, he stopped by the ranch." "I was coming in anyway, so I rode in with 'im." "Says he's got some work to do here." "What kind of work, I wonder." "There's only one kind he does I know of, micah." "Maybe I better go have a talk with 'im." "Better talk to eli benson first, he's related to 'im." "That so?" "I wonder how come eli never said." "Would you?" "No." "Eli is up in milly's store, just saw 'im a while ago." "He is, huh?" "Hey, what are you doing in town anyway?" "Any reason I shouldn't be here?" "No, as a matter of fact, things have been pretty quiet." "I hope they stay that way." "Hey, I hope that thing isn't loaded." "Oh, hello, marshal, lucas." "Shucks, no, I was just trying it out." "I need me something" "Smaller, miss milly." "I'm just going after a coyote." "Well, I'll see what else I've got," "You've looked at just about everything." "He's been killing my chickens." "Something wrong?" "You related to stacey beldon?" "Who said?" "Beldon did, eli, he's over at the saloon." "Why, that no-good murdering" "What's he doing here, marshal?" "Apparently, he's got some work to do." "You know me, both of you." "I'm a quiet man." "I got a good family, good friends." "I came down here from kansas a long time ago." "Settled down, made something of myself." "I got respect, something I didn't have in kansas." "I didn't have it because nobody related to stacey beldon had it." "What's he doing here, marshal?" "Can you tell me?" "We thought you might know." "No!" "I got nothing to do with that man." "Well, he's here for a purpose, somebody sent for 'im." "But who?" "What purpose?" "Think on it a minute, eli." "You..." "You figure he's here to kill you?" "Oh, no, no." "No," "He wouldn't be." "I mean, maybe he's just passing through?" "No, eli, he said he had some work here." "But I- it stands to reason, eli, nobody in north fork" "Will try for lucas, for a lot o' reasons." "But a professional killer, that's something else." "Now the will said all I had to do was die." "It didn't say how or by whose hand." "Now, if somebody hired" "Beldon to do the job, that'd make it nice and easy." "Especially if he had 13 shares of money to get." "No, it wasn't me, it wasn't me, you gotta believe me." "Eli!" "Is that you, cousin eli?" "Yeah, stacey, it's me." "How are you, stacey?" "It's been a long time." "Yeah, it has been a long time, and I'm fine, just fine, eli." "11 kids." "Why don't you come on over here and have a drink with me." "I already invited mr." "Mccain." "How about it, mccain?" "Uh, no, stacey, thank you just the same." "Not now, if you don't mind." "What's the matter, can't mccain answer for himself?" "I'll be over, beldon." "Fine." "Fine, I'll be waiting." "Don't make it too long, though." "You gotta believe me, it wasn't me, I didn't send for him." "I didn't even know where he was, how could I know?" "It's been 10 years." "Please, lucas, I wouldn't do a thing like that to you." "Why not, eli?" "You've got a wife and 11 kids." "With lucas out of the way, you'd stand to make a pile o' money," "More than anybody else." "No, I told you, I don't want no part of that blood money." "Even if lucas..." "Even if- wait a minute," "How would I know when the old lady was gonna die?" "I mean, I didn't know what was in that will." "Nobody did, 'til it was read." "Eli, the will was read 4 days ago, you could've sent for 'im." "I swear, I haven't seen or heard of stacey beldon in 10 years." "All right, eli." "Micah, why don't we go over and see ben," "He might know if there was anybody else" "Who might have had the chance to" "Yeah, ben, the lawyer." "Let's go talk to 'im, micah." "Hey, mccain?" "Mccain, I'm waiting." "What's the matter?" "Don't you wanna have a drink with me?" "I told you I'd be over later." "No, wait." "Right now." "Come on, have a drink." "Later." "I said now!" "Mccain, you rile me." "Well, that's too bad, beldon." "Now let me tell you something, I drink with whom I please," "When I please, where I please." "No 2-bit gunfighter's coming in here and telling me what to do," "You understand that?" "Now why don't you stop beating around the bush," "You got business with me?" "Let's get on with it." "Did I say I had business with you?" "You don' have to say, I got you figured cold." "You calling me out, and all I ask you is to have a drink." "If I have to call you to make you admit somebody hired you" "To gun me down, then I'm calling you." "See that, marshal?" "He's calling me." "Who is he?" "Don't you know?" "No, how should I know?" "Good lord, he tried to kill you, lucas." "Reckon I'll claim the body," "Being as how I'm his only living relative hereabouts." "Micah, what is it?" "You know that envelope, the one that wasn't supposed to be" "Opened 'til after lucas" "Yeah." "What is it, micah?" "This is a letter to stacey beldon from sarah caruthers," "Telling him to pick up an envelope containing 5,000" "Dollars, care of box 15, santa fe post office," "Only if he killed you within 7 days after her death." "If you open that envelope you got, you'll find it contains" "Mailing instructions, and the 5,000." "She said she'd be laughing from her grave, she almost did." "Well, there goes your troubles, lucas boy, every cent of it." "Yeah, but where is it going?" "I'm sending it to the u.S. Marshal at santa fe." "That money was stolen, mark." "I checked the serial numbers with washington." "Good riddance, I say." "Well, john, I never thought I'd hear a banker" "Say anything like that." "Well, maybe, but I haven't slept right since the will was read." "I don't think any of us have." "I'm glad it's over." "Amen to that." "That mrs." "Caruthers, and all she tried to do," "I think there's one thing she didn't figure out." "What's that, mark?" "Well, when you got a lot of friends," "I mean like what pa has in north fork, well, there..." "There just isn't that much money in the world." "Come on, milly, I'll buy you some coffee." "See you later, john."