"The rules say we have our choice of weapons, mr." "Sledge." "Silly, but what would you expect?" "We have fallen among idiots." "Excuse me?" "Would you tell mr." "Paladin" "That miss windrom is here to see him?" "Yes, ma'am." "Miss windrom," "Mr. Paladin is expecting you." "So it would seem." "Follow me, please." "Right here." "Lady coming." "You may make one parting remark." "A time like this, what is there to say?" "Oh, uh..." "So, this is where you live." "Yes." "It's very much the way I expected." "Well, I'd always thought of it as just a hotel room." "But let me see it through your eyes." "Oh, I'd say the man who lives here" "Is unbridled, rigid, austere," "Yet one who likes his comfort as well as luxury," "Though he could never quite forget he was once a soldier." "Someone has been telling you things about me." "Mr. Paladin, back in louisiana," "I'm considered a pretty good judge of horse flesh." "I'd say the standards are not very much different." "Well, there is considerable difference" "Between the western mustang" "And the pampered geldings that pass for horses" "In your part of the country." "I hadn't noticed." "Oh." "Mr. Paladin." "May I pour you a glass of champagne?" "Yes." "No." "I really don't have time." "I'm returning to new orleans immediately." "But not tonight." "Yes, I am." "I must." "My father's fighting a duel." "I got the letter this morning." "He's a very proud man, mr." "Paladin." "He'd rather die than yield." "Is that a family trait?" "Well, you'd have to know my father" "To understand what honor means to him." ""when honor dies," "When faith is lost, the man is dead."" "John greenleaf whittier." "Or the other side of the coin, falstaff." ""who hath honor?" "He who died a-Wednesday, doth he feel it?" "No." "Therefore, I'll none of it."" "It's nothing to laugh at." "He's an old man." "And it's what he believes in, right or wrong." "Please." "Will you travel as far as new orleans?" "Why?" "Because my father's going to be murdered." "He calls it dueling." "But he hasn't held a gun in 30 years." "And it's not dueling." "It's murder, mr." "Paladin." "And you want me to..." "Show yourself with father." "Beckley will back out the moment he finds out father has expert help." ""expert."" "Well, miss windrom," "Since our relationship has now changed from pleasure to business..." "Oh, yes." "Of course." "Your fee." "Mm." "But, paladin?" "Hmm?" "When this is all over," "When you have saved my father's..." "Oh, mr." "Paladin." "Madam." "Your name's paladin, eh?" "Nothing better to do than prance around my daughter?" "You're spilling your drink." "Allison tell you what happened to the last one?" "The one before me?" "Graham beckley." "I threw my drink in his face." "You didn't." "At the club." "In front of a dozen witnesses." "I warned the young pup to stay away from allison." "And I packed her off to san francisco so he'd have to." "He had the impudence to demand an explanation." "And you gave him one?" "Right in the face." "That ever happen to you, mr." "Paladin?" "Father!" "Don't worry." "I'm not gonna do it to mr." "Paladin." "What did mr." "Beckley do?" "What could he do?" "He makes the pretense of being a gentleman." "So he had no choice but to challenge me to a duel." "You brought me all the way from san francisco for this?" "His life is in danger." "And at his age, he could easily get killed." "There must be somebody in the entire city of new orleans" "Who can talk some sense into his head?" "Try it, mr." "Paladin." "You'll know why I brought you all the way from california." "When does this bloodletting take place?" "Friday. 5:00 a.M." "Since you're allison's guest," "I suppose I'll have to invite you to be present." "This is by invitation only?" "Certainly." "I expect 40 or 50 people, at least." "Call it off." "Never." "I was insulted." "I'll have satisfaction." "Do you think young beckley will dare fight me?" "I'm an old man." "He'd be stoned out of town." "Wait and see." "In the end, he'll turn tail like a yellow dog." "In front of 40 or 50 people." "That'll teach him a lesson he'll never get over." "Now do you see what I mean?" "He doesn't need any help." "This whole thing's a farce." "No, mr." "Paladin." "Graham beckley will not back down." "Father is wrong in thinking he has nothing to win by fighting." "Oh?" "What does he have to gain?" "His self-respect." "He's every bit as proud as father." "And what else?" "You?" "I can't help what graham thinks." "All right." "I'll stop him." "Can you tell me which one of these gentlemen is mr." "Beckley?" "Thank you." "Mr. Beckley?" "I'm afraid you have the advantage of me, sir." "My name is paladin." "I'd like to talk to you." "In a moment, when I've finished here." "Now, mr." "Beckley." "Why, mr." "Paladin," "Must it be right now?" "Because my time is too valuable" "To be wasted on matters of such stupidity." "May I trouble you to explain that remark, sir?" "I'll be very happy to." "I'm referring to the public spectacle of Friday." "Oh?" "And in what way does this concern you?" "I've been asked to put a stop to it." "Really?" "Well, I must say, mr." "Paladin," "That you're a singular choice for a mediator." "For one thing, sir, this time and place indicates" "A shocking disregard for good taste." "And for another thing," "I personally find your manner most obnoxious." "However, certain overtures have been made," "And it's only right that I acknowledge them." "Very well, mr." "Paladin." "These are my terms." "Since my worthy opponent chose to insult me in public" "In front of witnesses," "I shall accept an apology delivered in the same way" "And in the same place." "That's all." "I believe it's my move, henry." "Mr. Beckley," "Windrom is not going to apologize" "Any time or any place." "Very well." "I shall await his convenience next Friday morning." "Windrom is a fool." "And the only difference between the two of you is 30 years." "He's too old to fight a duel." "Well, then, may I assume, mr." "Paladin," "That you are not too old, sir?" "No." "No, I'm not too old." "Nor is 5:00 a.M. Too early for me to rise." "Well, in that case, sir..." "Not necessary, mr." "Beckley." "I have already accepted the challenge on behalf of mr." "Windrom." "You..." "You did what?" "That's absolutely ridiculous, sir." "Well, I never heard of such a thing." "It's in absolute violation of the dueling code." "I'll be there, mr." "Beckley." "And..." "Now..." "It's your move." "Paladin!" "You nincompoop." "I ought to have you horse-whipped within an inch of your life." "By what right do you interfere..." "This will steady your nerves." "Father!" "Mr. Paladin!" "I suppose you put him up to it." "Yes, I did." "Then you're as big an imbecile as he is." "You know what you did with your stupid meddling?" "Saved your life, most likely." "Why, I am not certain." "You cheated me out of my satisfaction." "I had beckley right where I wanted him." "He'd have been forced to back down." "Mr. Windrom, you are a fool." "Beckley would have killed you and married your daughter" "As soon as you were in the ground." "What?" "And if you had backed down at the last moment," "Which is extremely likely," "Not even your servants would have taken orders" "From you any longer." "I offered you both a chance to save face." "It was a mistake." "I withdraw." "Oh, no, you don't, paladin." "It's not as simple as that." "Beckley is getting somebody to do his fighting for him." "He sent for a texan, a hired gunfighter." "And just what do you propose to do about that?" "Nothing." "Absolutely nothing." "He wins by default." "But this is an affair of honor." "Mr. Windrom, the amount of honor I have involved is so slight" "That I'm not concerned about it." "It will be no reflection on you" "When this texan scares me out of new orleans." "In that event, sir," "I have no option but to face this ruffian myself." "It's not something I could expect you to understand." "Among gentlemen," "Life without honor is meaningless." "This thing's gone beyond apologies or retreat." "It can be settled in only one way." "If you refuse to meet your obligations," "I'll do it for you." "Mr. Paladin!" "He means it." "And against a gunfighter, he wouldn't stand a chance." "There has to be a fight?" "That it?" "Neither beckley nor I would be satisfied with anything less." "How much blood will you settle for?" "It's open." "You bill sledge?" "I once knew a man" "That could make a coin vanish right in front of your eyes." "Bring it back, too." "That's the part of the trick I never mastered." "Well, didn't help him much." "He died broke." "Getting back to your question, I am bill sledge." "My name is paladin." "You're a couple of days early, ain't ya?" "Not why I'm here." "I never ran into this kind of fighting in texas." "I hear tell there's rules." "Somebody else is supposed to do the talking." "You pay much attention to rules?" "I never have yet." "Have a seat, paladin." "Thank you." "Been in town long?" "Most of a week." "I only got here this morning." "Maybe you can tell me why I'm gonna kill you." "Mr. Sledge, I'm not even clear on why I'm gonna kill you." "There was a time when a man brought a fight with him," "He had to bring a reason, too." "Now I just ask how much it pays and let it go at that." "There's no land, no cattle, no water rights involved." "What's left?" "Nothing." "They just want the sight of blood." "Oh." "Well, they ain't paying enough anyway." "Heading back to california?" "I'll ride as far as texas with you." "No." "There's got to be a fight." "You fast with a gun, paladin?" "If I'd lost many, I wouldn't be here." "How are you with your fists?" "Why?" "These rules say that we get the choice of weapons." "Oh." "Well, a man's got to start living by the rules" "Sooner or later." "Still seems kind of silly." "Mr. Sledge, what can you expect?" "We have fallen among idiots." "Where is your sporting blood, gentlemen?" "I am offering you 3-2 odds on beckley's gladiator." "Well, it's your last chance." "Tomorrow's the big day." "Which one of you gentlemen can I mark down for, say," "A hundred dollars?" "Now, there's a man with convictions." "You are on, sir." "To be paid on the first man to draw blood." "Now, anyone else?" "I was just on my way out, sir." "The club is yours." "Stay if you like." "I can avoid you until morning." "Yes, of course." "Now, if you have any confidence in your man," "I'm sure harry will be only too happy to accommodate you." "I'll have the best of that bargain." "Losing my money would be compensated by getting rid of paladin." "The man is a rough diamond, sir." "But it seems to appeal to allison." "Then she's gone from bad to worse." "I'll give you this much, beckley." "You at least behave like a gentleman." "Well, thank you, sir." "It's small credit to me." "I completely lost my head." "A weakness of youth." "You'll overcome it in time." "Now, sir, that's very handsome of you." "Graham?" "I think you ought to know..." "Good evening, sir." "Graham, all bets are off." "I will not be a party to such a farce." "Now, what are you talking about?" "We have been taken." "There's not going to be a duel." "What?" "Those men have agreed to brawl with their fists." "Why, we'd be the laughingstock of new orleans." "Are you positive of this, sir?" "I have it on the best of authority." "It seems that your man paladin has developed cold feet." "Speak for your own man, beckley." "Very well, sir, I will." "I'll guarantee that my man will appear on the field of honor" "Completely armed." "The rest is up to you." "Then tell him to defend himself." "Paladin will have a gun." "Paladin?" "Hmm?" "Am I intruding?" "I hope not, my dear." "I don't want you to be alone tonight." "I was just enjoying the moonlight." "It is a beautiful night." "Paladin?" "Hmm?" "Do you remember that night..." "It seems so long ago." "In san francisco?" "I remember it vividly." "We didn't have time for that glass of champagne." "So I made you a promise." "Tomorrow might be too late." "And the garden's like a picture in a book." "None of it's real, is it?" "Your father and his friends" "Making ridiculous rules and games about killing." "You making a sport out of love," "Trying to pretend it's all so sad, so tragic." "In killing..." "Or in making love," "I don't pretend." "I took the liberty." "In this case, mr." "Windrom, that is the wrong weapon." "But this is an affair of honor." "It'll be fought as such." "You'll get your carnival." "I'll do it my own way." "You think so?" "Then you're the only one who does." "Your opponent will have a pistol under his shirt." "You may believe me, mr." "Paladin." "Beckley has offered the texan double price." "If you walk out there unarmed, it'll cost you your life." "I don't believe you." "Sir, I must protest these arrangements." "This is not a dueling with pistols." "Both weapons are equal, aren't they?" "Yes, but..." "Then get on with your instructions." "Why bother?" "Not one of the rules applies here." "You will stand back-to-back." "On my signal, the word "now,"" "You will each take ten paces in a direct line," "Turn and fire." "There's a doctor in attendance." "Good luck." "Whenever you're ready, mr." "Paladin." "What's the job pay now?" "Winner take all." "Worth that much to you?" "Money, no." "But I only got one life." "That's what I thought." "They sold us both the same bill of goods." "You wearing a gun under that shirt?" "That's right." "Gentlemen, are you ready?" "They must've talked it over." "What else is there to fight about?" "You ask me for a reason, I can't give you one." "But they want blood." "Ten paces enough?" "Not for me." "Just keep right on walking." "Never look back." "Now." "Well, what did you expect?" "A slight flesh wound to save the honor" "Of two men who never had any?" "That's what you paid for." "Go ahead." "Enjoy it." "You've had your blood." "Let's celebrate." "Have a drink." "Step up." "You want a drink?" "No?" "All right!" "Tell you why you can't drink." "You couldn't keep it down." "A toast to you, gentlemen." "And to you, allison," "The one we didn't have in san francisco." "Gentlemen," "To you and your code." "¶ "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 ¶"