"All you have to do is close your eyes and squeeze the trigger." "In a crowd like this, you're bound to get a few." "So, this is the wild, wild west, hmm?" "Champagne and chamber music." "You've made our stay in san francisco so gay." "Small exchange for the wonderful pleasure" "You and mr." "Mathews have brought to san francisco." "No, I'd love to," "But we must make a very early start tomorrow morning." "Strolling players once again." "Oh?" "Where do you play next?" "We go south to a little town called san diego." "San diego's having its round-up now." "Yes, isn't it thrilling?" "The rest of the company is returning east," "But victoria and I decided we just had to see that round-up." "We've been invited to play some scenes from "othello."" "Is anything wrong?" "I urge you to change your minds." "But, why?" "A cattle town during a round-up can be an extremely dangerous place." "Nonsense." "And san diego's more dangerous than most." "In addition to the usual drunks and cowboys," "Men who haven't seen a woman for a year," "There are gunslingers, sailors," "Bandits from across the border, vaqueros." "You make it sound irresistible." "We were told that san francisco was wild." "Believe me, they're not looking for the kind of entertainment" "You're prepared to offer in san diego." "For your information, mr." "Paladin," "Othello has moved audiences for 200 years." "I don't think our audience in san diego will be different." "I wasn't referring to your abilities as actors, miss vestris." "But there are some things a particular audience won't want to see." "We have yet to find an audience, mr." "Paladin," "That is not receptive to shakespeare." "I'm afraid we better go." "Yes, we must." "Now, won't you admit you were exaggerating just a little?" "I was not exaggerating." "And I do hope that you'll change your minds about going." "Come see us in san diego, mr." "Paladin." "Perhaps we can prove to you the power of the spoken word." "Yes, by all means, hmm?" "Perhaps I shall." "Victoria." "Pretty smart of you to figure we'd be needing" "Some real gun talent around here this time of year." "Last year at round-up week, we had two killings every afternoon," "And a murder every night." "Seems that every time the sheriff knows" "We're gonna have a gang of charmers in to see the show," "He finds urgent business out in the country." "Kind of leaves us to protect ourselves." "Sure, you can have the job if you don't mind the grief that goes with it." "All right, I'll stay 'til after round-up." "Might find it kind of warm around here for this time of year." "Come on, I want to show you something." "Oh, this ain't what I was gonna show you." "That's ben jackson." "Oh, you know him?" "That'll make things easier." "Go ahead, then." "Tell him you're my private peace officer." "Hello, ben." "Paladin." "Nobody gun you down yet?" "They keep trying." "Good luck to them." "Thank you, ben." "You here to soak up a little culture?" "You wanna look at her, there's other pictures." "This one I got staked out." "That's right, he's been sitting here for two days" "Just looking at that picture up there." "I kinda think he's smitten." "You understand me?" "You don't want to share this poster with anyone." "Is that it?" "And that applies to the lady when she gets here in person." "Well, now, that depends on the lady, doesn't it?" "I don't expect much trouble." "Now, that's the way I like to hear you fellas talk." "No trouble." "We all just have a rip-roarin' time and settle it kind of peace-able like." "That's mr." "Paladin's job, here." "Kind of a spreader of sweetness and peace." "Uh-huh." "Well, that's a nice job, paladin." "Be educating' to see how you handle it." "Uh, how about a drink, mr." "Paladin?" "Uh, right over here, the, uh..." "Oh, yeah, the bar's right over here." "Uh, right over here." "Charlie, uh, two whiskeys, huh?" "Mr. Bellingham, you have one other problem." "Yeah?" "When miss vestris sees those posters," "She may take after you with a shotgun." "Well, that's your department strictly." "You take care of that." "And, uh, tell you the truth." "I wouldn't mind a little gun-shooting around here" "If I could make some money at it." "You know, you and ben jackson there." "Anybody could see you ain't exactly friends." "And, you know, it'd be real good if you could..." "You'd see who's the fastest." "You could settle it, you know." "Mr. Bellingham, you are a showman." "It'd be an attraction folks'd talk about here for years." "And only one performance." "That's right." "Only one..." "That would be kind of a drawback, wouldn't it?" "Geez, a shame." "You and ben jackson." "Well, think about it." "I will." "Ah." "Oh, take our luggage into the hotel, will you, boy?" "Oh, and take particular care with that one, please." "Yes, please be very careful." "They're filled with costumes and properties," "And indispensable items." "Here you are." "It's much quieter than mr." "Paladin said it would be." "Yes, I'm afraid our friend was over-anxious." "Well, let's find mr." "Bellingham and arrange..." "Victoria." "Charles!" ""with comical charley mathews!"" ""watch the little lady shake!"" "That's me as cleopatra!" "And she doesn't even look like cleopatra!" ""charley mathews, king of the comics!"" "Rosalind!" "Rosalind!" "Oh, disgrace!" "Oh, what have they done to me?" "!" ""king of the comics!"" "Charles, we'll be playing in a saloon!" "This isn't a theatre, it's a saloon." "Paladin, do something, will ya?" "Do something about that." "I don't know, mathews seems to be doing alright by himself." "No, he ain't, look at the look on jackson's face!" "Bellingham." "Which one of you is lucien bellingham?" "Point out that scum to me and with these hands I'll..." "Shut up!" "Look at that filth...!" "The next one I'll put between your teeth." "Please, don't shoot, please." "Well, all right, if you say so." "But don't let that give you any ideas!" "Victoria, come..." "And take your hand off of her!" "Oh, mr." "Paladin." "Oh, so you came, after all." "Keep moving, go to the hotel." "Go to the hotel, are you mad?" "Victoria and I are leaving this sodom and gomorrah forthwith." "And our advice to you is..." "Well, what in the world?" "Charles, he's carrying a pistol." "Yes." "And those clothes." "Oh, I know," "You're in costume for the round-up?" "Get her out of here." "Go to the hotel, move!" "Well..." "I've never been so..." "Really!" "Victoria, let's go." ""charley mathews, king of the comics!"" "She makes one move to leave town," "You won't live long enough to mourn at their funerals." "But, mr." "Jackson, that's not my fault." "That's none of my doing." "They don't know what they're saying." "Come on, we're clearing out of here." "Everybody!" "Uh, ben, my business." "How about my business?" "We'll be back for the show tonight and there better be no monkeyshines." "Gee, you heard what they said." "Them actors got to be on that stage tonight." "Or you know what'll happen, don't ya?" "Ben jackson'll tear this place to pieces" "And there won't be enough left of you to tar and feather." "Them actors, either." "They gotta be here tonight!" "Doing shakespeare?" "I don't care if they're reciting mother goose," "You gotta get 'em here, that's all." "Now, look, you're into me $500." "I'll make it $1,000 if they stay in town and do the show tonight." "I can try." "And remember my establishment has to remain in one piece." "Well, that could happen." "And I gotta be here, too." "And alive, besides." "It wasn't just his being here that surprised me." "He didn't even speak like the cultivated man we met in san francisco." "When he began issuing orders in that tone of voice," "I came close to striking him, if you hadn't held my arm." "I did?" "Yes." "Oh." "Oh, we were just talking about you." "Oh?" "Yes, we have decided to stay." "We refuse to be intimidated by mr." "Bellingham, his associates, or you." "Charles has written a statement to be printed in the paper here." "Yes, I think you'll like it." "In fact, you inspired it." "Yes, when you said in that decisive, man-of-affairs tone-of-voice," ""go to the hotel!"" "Let me read it to him, my dear." ""I came here with the distinguished actress, victoria vestris," ""to present for your favor a selection of scenes from shakespeare." ""we have been made the victims of a cruel and tasteless hoax." ""however, we do not believe that the people of san diego should suffer" ""because of the venal mr." "Lucien bellingham," ""and his contemptible associate, mr." "Ben jackson."" "Mr. Mathews, have you given that to the newspaper yet?" "Oh, yes, the editor was delighted." "I'm sure he was." "To tell the truth, I owe him credit" "For the contemptible mr." "Ben jackson."" "He, uh, he thought it added fire." "Oh, I agree." "Don't you?" "Yes, that's exactly what it does." "It adds fire." "The curtain will rise at 8:00 as scheduled," "On a bedchamber in a palace in venice." "We will present for your pleasure and enlargement," "The death scene from william shakespeare's "othello."" "That should set a proper note for the evening." "Now, listen to me, both of you." "Listen carefully." "Otherwise, you may be hurt." "Ben jackson thinks no more about killing a man than..." "Oh, there he goes again." "Warning us." "Now, listen to me!" "This is not a theatrical costume I'm wearing." "This isn't a toy, it's a gun." "There are six bullets in it." "Possibly six lives." "And it's part of my working gear." "Oh." "You know, victoria," "I think I'm beginning to believe him." "Oh, how utterly wonderful!" "How utterly romantic." "I know, you rob from the rich and give to the poor." "How utterly beautiful." "I don't believe a word of it." "Mr. Paladin being the true westerner he is" "Is determined to send us home with a story" "Of blazing guns and dying men." "Perhaps the next chapter will be about skulking indians." "We met you in san francisco, mr." "Paladin," "And we know this costume is only for the cattle run." "We do not intend to be frightened" "And we do intend to introduce the bard of avon to san diego." "Without the dance of the 7 veils." "Or charley mathews, king of the comics." "And if that contemptible mr." "Jackson creates a disturbance, you must..." "I shall step from the stage and knock him down." "Ah!" "Darling." "Bravo, my darling." "Ho!" "Mr. Jackson." "What a coincidence." "I was just walking by," "And I got to thinking about you, and here you are." "Thinking what?" "Well, it was kind of a private conversation." "I don't think we can talk about it here in the street." "Come to my office." "I can talk here." "Oh, yeah." "Well, you know, I don't know if you know this," "But I always had a lot of respect for you." "Did you know that?" "Well, I have." "I figure the man who's pretty near the fastest draw in the west," "You gotta have respect for him." "Pretty near?" "Well, I wouldn't want to be the man to argue the matter." "Paladin's fast, I'm faster." "What about it?" "Well, I just hope he never puts you to the test, that's all." "For his sake." "You see, I..." "Uh, this paladin, he kind of slipped himself in as my private peace officer," "And I was wondering if you'd like the same kind of job?" "You're pretty smart under that big hat." "You hire him to watch me, hire me to watch everybody else." "Nobody left to make trouble in your place." "Gee, whatever gave you that idea?" "How much you paying him?" "Oh, roughly $100." "Uh, roughly." "Smooth it out, it's more like $500." "That's it, $500." "Uh... $1,000." "Then that's what I'm getting." "Now, wait a minute, mr." "Jackson." "You gotta let a man put by a little money for old age." "Maybe you won't need it." "I'll take the job." "Nice crowd." "Ha, ha, ha, "nice crowd."" "Some sense of humor you got." "You see this?" "I saw it." "Well, he saw it, too." "I think it's your job to go over and guess what he's gonna do." "Why should I guess?" "I'll ask him." "Good thought." "Ben, you expecting to enjoy the show?" "Real show comes later." "Now, ben, you wouldn't want to deprive a lovely lady of her partner, would you?" "I'll see she don't miss you." "I'll have to take after you if you cause trouble." "How could I do a thing like that?" "Your runt friend hired me to keep order." "Sure." "Just like you." "I'm one of his private peace officers." "I hope you keep that in mind." "I sure will." "Now, this actor fella," "Already broke the peace, making remarks about me in this paper." "Causing a dangerous situation." "I better bring him back in line if I'm to earn my pay." "I could take over that part of your work." "You wouldn't enjoy it as much." "Uh-huh." "What'd he say?" "Well, it's more the way he said it." "Oh, how did I ever get mixed up with fellas like you?" "Oh, my goodness." "Ah, gentlemen!" "Gentlemen, I'll have your attention, please." "About the show, we're about to present one of the finest shows of its kind..." "Curtain, curtain." "Curtain." "Oh, curse of marriage," "That we can call these delicate creatures ours, and not their appetites." "Her name is now begrimed in black." "Oh, now forever, farewell, the tranquil mind." "Farewell content," "Pride, pomp, and circumstance." "Farewell." "Burnish me with some swift means of death." "Sure, I'll finish ya!" "Please, everybody..." "Calm down, let's have some peace!" "Gentlemen, I'm willing to accomodate you." "Here, here, here." "You put that away, I'll show you I'm not done." "We might just as well settle this and get on with the show." "Mr. Mathews." "Hey, watch out." "What do I do with it?" "I'm not familiar with a gun." "He's very good with a sword." "There's nothing to it." "Just close your eyes and squeeze." "In a crowd like this, you're bound to hit a few." "No, gentlemen, don't get him excited." "Just stand quietly." "Ben." "Now, wait, fellas, you're ruining me." "My mirror is my glassware." "I won't stand for it, just..." "Oh my goodness!" "What about it, ben?" "Let mr." "Mathews put on his show and afterwards," "You and I'll step outside and settle things?" "I'll have my gun before I make any deals." "All right." "I'll settle my business with you later." "Put on your show." "But down here where I can keep an eye on you." "What?" "Why not?" "Look, charles, we can put some chairs together" "And you bring a cushion." "And everything will be arranged, you see?" "Of course." "Desdemona's bed." "Yes!" "All the world's a stage." "Why not?" "What happened to you hand?" "You've got a hard head." "I don't mean for us to go outside and get bunged up some more." "Let's finally see who's faster." "Whatever you want, ben." "One more." "Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee and love thee after." "One more, and this the last." "Oh, I must weep at these a-cruel tears." "Who's there?" "Othello." "Aye, desdemona." "Will you come to bed, my lord?" "Why, what art thou?" "Your wife, my lord." "Your true and loyal wife." "Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell." "By heaven, you do me wrong!" "Is't possible I took thee for that cunning woman of venice" "That did marry with othello?" "You, mistress, lend me thy handkerchief." "Here, my lord." "The one I gave thee, that handkerchief," "Did an egyptian to my mother give." "She, dying, gave it me." "And bid me when my fate would have me wife, to give it her." "To give it 'way or lose it were perdition." "And would to god that I had never seen it!" "Have you prayed tonight, desdemona?" "Alas, my lord." "What do you mean by that?" "Heaven forefend I would not kill thy soul." "Talk you of killing?" "That handkerchief which I so loved and gave to thee, thou gave'st to cassio." "No, by my life and soul!" "Take heed of perjury." "Thou are't to die!" "May god have mercy on me, and you have mercy, too!" "It's too late." "A kinless death I die!" "Farewell!" "Oh!" "farewell." "Soft you, soft you." "A word or two before you go." "When thou shalt these unlucky deeds relate," "Speak of me as I am." "Nothing extenuate nor set down aught in malice." "Then you must speak of one" "Who loved not wisely, but too well." "Say this besides, that in aleppo once," "Where a malignant and turbaned turk" "Beat a venetian and traduc'd the state," "I took by the throat the dog and smote him thus!" "I kiss'd thee 'ere I kill'd thee." "No way but this," "Killing myself," "To die upon a kiss." "Well, it's settling up time, paladin." "I said before, ben, whatever you want, if you're sure you want it." "It's what I got to do." "And you know, everybody heard me say so." "You've got to keep up your reputation in this town." "We better get outside." "This'll take but a minute, miss." "I'll be back for ya." "You'd better ask the lady's husband about this." "Husband?" "Of course he's my husband." "What sort of woman did you take me for?" "How come you got different names?" "We're actors, not people." "You coulda' said something." "You coulda' asked." "Oh, she's a married lady." "I wouldn't want to try a fast draw with a hand like that." "I don't know, ben." "Still works." "But I figure I don't need an edge." "If I did outdraw you, and I would," "They'd all say it's 'cause your hands swoll." "I'm waiting, ben." "There'll be another time, paladin." "Yeah." "Won't you please continue?" "Your audience is waiting." "Thank you." "And now a scene on the lighter side." "¶ have gun, will travel reads the card of a man ¶" "¶ a knight without armor in a savage land ¶" "¶ his fast gun for hire heeds the calling wind ¶" "¶ a soldier of fortune is the man called... ¶" "¶ paladin ¶" "¶ paladin, paladin, where do you roam?" "¶"