Ride Lonesome

Billy John:
I don't know how much they're payin' you to bring me in, it ain't enough. Not nearly enough.

Ben Brigade:
I'd hunt you free. Let's go,

Frank:
[on horseback, in the distance, watching Brigade preparing to hang his brother, Billy] It's me you're after, Brigade. You've got no quarrel with Billy.

Ben Brigade:
[referring to his wife, murdered by Frank years ago] What quarrel did you have with her?

Frank:
...That was so long ago, I'd almost forgot.

Ben Brigade:
A man can do that.

Sam Boone:
There are some things a man just can't ride around.

Sam Boone:
[Sees smoke signals] Look at it out there. War signs.

Whit:
Well, we got a treaty with the Mescaleros, ain't we?

Sam Boone:
Just words on paper, Whit.

Whit:
Yeah, we been getting along.

Sam Boone:
I knew a man once. Got along with his wife. One day she up'n head-shot him.

Whit:
Dead? But why?

Sam Boone:
Got mad. Mescalero, they're mad.

Whit:
But we ain't done nothing to 'em.

Sam Boone:
We're white. That's good enough.

Ben Brigade:
[after meeting with the Mescalero chief] He's got a horse. Wants to make a trade.

Mrs. Carrie Lane:
For what?

Ben Brigade:
You. He said they'd been seeing you here. He wants to take you for his squaw.

Sam Boone:
So what do we do now?

Ben Brigade:
Play along with him.

Mrs. Carrie Lane:
Play along with him?

Ben Brigade:
If we don't, we're apt to stir up every buck in the country. Come on. Just do like I tell you.

Sam Boone:
Brigade. Can't abide to see a woman's hair hangin' from a Mescalero war lance. I sure hope you know what you're doing.

Ben Brigade:
[going to meet the Mescalero chief] He'll offer his trade. I'll turn him down.

Mrs. Carrie Lane:
Then?

Ben Brigade:
With any luck, they'll ride off. Stay out in the hills, try to figure some how else to get you away from us.

Mrs. Carrie Lane:
I see.

Ben Brigade:
No matter what happens, don't break down in front of 'em. If you do, they'll take it wrong. Shame 'em.

Mrs. Carrie Lane:
I don't scare easy, Mr. Brigade.

Ben Brigade:
I hope not.

Mrs. Carrie Lane:
They told me why you're taking the boy to Santa Cruz.

Ben Brigade:
Did they?

Mrs. Carrie Lane:
They'll hang him, won't they?

Ben Brigade:
Yes, ma'am.

Mrs. Carrie Lane:
He's so young.

Ben Brigade:
He killed a man.

Mrs. Carrie Lane:
It doesn't bother you, bringing him in, I mean.

Ben Brigade:
No, ma'am.

Mrs. Carrie Lane:
You just don't seem the kind that would hunt a man for money.

Ben Brigade:
I am.

Sam Boone:
[after the Mescalero chief is killed] Sure beats all, don't it? What a man'll put himself through to get his hands on a woman. Can't say as I blame him, though.

Whit:
I'd hate to see you loose your place up Socorro-way. I'd be mighty proud to work for you.

Sam Boone:
*Work* for me?

Whit:
I plowed when I was young. I ain't much with chickens, but I can slop pigs with the best of 'em.

Sam Boone:
Whit, how long you and me been riding together?

Whit:
About two years?

Sam Boone:
More like *five*.

Whit:
So?

Sam Boone:
So you ain't gonna be working for me... You're gonna be a partner.

Whit:
Partner!

Sam Boone:
Right down the middle.

Whit:
How come?

Sam Boone:
'Cause I like you, Whit.

Whit:
Well, I never knew that!

Sam Boone:
[Brigade loosens the noose around Billy's neck] I thought for a minute there you were gonna let him swing.

Ben Brigade:
So did I.

Sam Boone:
Brigade? I don't suppose there's any way of getting Billy from you? Aside from going over you?

Ben Brigade:
Come and get him.

Sam Boone:
Funny, ain't it? How a thing can seem one way, and then turn out altogether something else?

Ben Brigade:
Boone, you said you wanted to start over. I hope so. 'Cause you don't, I'll be the one comes looking to find you.

Sam Boone:
I'll remember that.

Frank:
So what do we do now?

Ben Brigade:
Sit there and watch your brother hang.

Frank:
You don't mean that.

Ben Brigade:
Don't I?

Frank:
He's only a boy!

Ben Brigade:
He's as old as his gun.

Frank:
It's me you're after, Brigade. You got no quarrel with Billy.

Ben Brigade:
What quarrel did you have with *her*?

Frank:
That was a long time ago. I almost forgot.

Ben Brigade:
A man can do that.

Sam Boone:
[referring to Mrs. Lane] Talk to her. Tell her we ain't here to harm her.

Ben Brigade:
Why are you here, Boone? A man needs a reason to ride this country. You got a reason?

Sam Boone:
Heh-heh. I can't get over the way them Indians wanted to trade her for a horse. If it'd be me, I'd give a whole herd. I guess she's about the best overall good-lookin' woman I ever seen.

Ben Brigade:
She ain't ugly.

Sam Boone:
She sure ain't.

Sam Boone:
Is Brigade still trying to get that animal up, is he?

Whit:
Yeah, he was at it all night.

Sam Boone:
Why don't he shoot him and just get it over with?

Whit:
He said he wanted to wait. He claims animals is like people. Feel the mornin' sun on them and makes'm forget all the hurt they got. Make's them want start over.

Sam Boone:
There are sure times he doesn't act like a man that makes his way killin'.

Ben Brigade:
Boone, you said you wanted to start over. I hope so 'cause you don't, I'll be the one comes lookin' to find you.

Whit:
When are we gonna do Brigade?

Sam Boone:
Soon.

Whit:
I been thinkin'. He ain't a man you can go straight at. Now, me and you, we're gonna hafta figure a plan. Some way to get him between us.

Sam Boone:
Can't kill a man like Brigade from behind.

Whit:
We could stand off! I don't hold to endin' a man with a long gun...

Sam Boone:
[Boone cuts him off] Don't worry, Whit. Time comes, I'll take care of it.

Whit:
Hope so. Hate to see you lose your place up Socorro way. Be mighty proud to work for you.

Sam Boone:
WORK for me?

Whit:
Well, I plowed when I was young... ain't much with chickens, but I can slop pigs with the best of 'em.

Sam Boone:
[Exasperated] Whit, how long you and me been ridin' together?

Whit:
[Unsure] 'Bout... two years?

Sam Boone:
More like five.

Whit:
So?

Sam Boone:
So you ain't gonna be workin' for me. [Whit shuffles his feet, unsure of how to respond] You're gonna be a partner.

Whit:
[Disbelieving] Partner?

Sam Boone:
Right down the middle.

Whit:
Well... how come?

Sam Boone:
[Patiently] 'Cause I like you, Whit.

Whit:
Well, I never knew that!

Sam Boone:
[Out of patience] Now get up on that rise!

Whit:
Yes, SIR!