Nemesis: Part One

Part One

MAN 1:
How'd that look?
MAN 2:
All right. Seems to work.
MAN 1:
Yeah.

STEELE:
This is terrific. For me, that is. You see, I've written about four hangings But I've never actually seen one. What's it like?
JUDGE:
Short rope, long drop.
STEELE:
"Short rope, long drop." Wonderful. Judge Travis? Judge Travis? Tell me about this man.
JUDGE:
Name's John Blackfox. Part Indian, drifter, horse thief. Got caught one too many times.
STEELE:
And you sentenced him to hang? This may be just the story I'm looking for. I don't believe this. I tell you, it is hard writing my books in New York having to make it all up. Although, 'Twin Guns Of Death' did real well-- about 10,000 copies. Probably read it.
JUDGE:
I missed it, I'm afraid.
STEELE:
I'll get you a copy.
JUDGE:
I'm not much for fiction, Mr. Steele.
STEELE:
That's okay. Let me just, uh... Yeah.

JUDGE:
JD
JD:
Sorry to bother you But the prisoner said he'd only speak with you.
BLACKFOX:
Judge, I didn't know if you'd come.
JUDGE:
And why am I here?
BLACKFOX:
I want to trade, Judge.
JUDGE:
Trade?
BLACKFOX:
I got information. I give it to you, you call off the hanging. I'll sit in a cell but I don't want to be at the end of no rope.
JUDGE:
Doesn't work that way. You know that.
BLACKFOX:
Judge, this is about a murder. Three years ago, east of here out past Eagle Bend. I was there.
JUDGE:
You took part in a murder? You think that's going to get you leniency?
BLACKFOX:
No, no, you don't understand. I was there, yeah but I didn't do nothing.
JUDGE:
Information about a three-year-old murder doesn't count for much.
BLACKFOX:
It was two murders, Judge. A woman and a boy.
JUDGE:
How'd they die?
BLACKFOX:
They burned... in a fire. Their name was Larabee.

CHRIS:
JD
JD:
I was, uh, just about ready to take a break.
CHRIS:
I hear you're interested in making a deal. You an eyewitness to the Larabee killings?
BLACKFOX:
Yeah. Who are you?
CHRIS:
Chris.... Chris Larabee.

CHRIS:
The woman's name was Sarah. She was my wife. The boy's name was Adam, my son.
BLACKFOX:
I didn't kill them, Mister.
CHRIS:
Who did?
BLACKFOX:
I don't know that neither. But I was... I was there.
CHRIS:
Tell me.
BLACKFOX:
I was hired. Me and two other cowboys. One night in a saloon. We was all pretty much drunk. A man comes in, offers us $50 apiece. Said it was to scare some folks off their land.
CHRIS:
Go on!
BLACKFOX:
We rode out... the four of us. By the time we got to the spread I was sobering up and I didn't like it. So I told the others I'd stand guard and watch the horses. When I seen the flames I I got scared and I took off.
CHRIS:
You're lying!
BLACKFOX:
No, I'm not... ( gasping )
CHRIS:
Everybody around here knew about that fire you're telling me nothing but jailhouse lies to save your miserable skin. You're going back to jail!
BLACKFOX:
No, no, I'm telling... I'm telling the truth. I seen it happen. The house and the porch with the windmill beside it.
CHRIS:
You see a corral?
BLACKFOX:
I think so.
CHRIS:
Where was it?
BLACKFOX:
I don't remember. It was three years ago. No, no... it was... it was past the windmill... maybe 50 yards? It was empty. I could tell you more if I was standing there.
CHRIS:
Yeah. I bet you could.

STEELE:
May I ask how long you guys been riding with Larabee?
JOSIAH:
You mean with his killer outlaw gang?
STEELE:
Yes, yes, that's it. I've heard Larabee's A very formidable man.
JOSIAH:
Formidable? That don't tell it by half.
NATHAN:
Chris asked me and Josiah to ride along because it's good to have backup especially when lead starts flying.
STEELE:
Oh. What do you do when you're not helping Larabee?
JOSIAH:
I look and I listen.
STEELE:
Uh-huh. For, uh... what?
JOSIAH:
Daily confirmation of the hand of God in all things.
NATHAN:
Josiah's been fixing up that church here in town.
STEELE:
Well, I've never seen a "man of the cloth" carrying a gun before.
NATHAN:
Josiah can get very "Old Testament" on occasion.
STEELE:
That's good, that's good.
CHRIS:
You ready?
NATHAN:
Just about.
STEELE:
Chris Larabee, right? Jock Steele, Steele Publishing from New York. Mister Larabee, I'm going to make you a very famous man by coming along. I am going to chronicle your search for justice. 'Larabee's Bloody Revenge'. See, I'm all packed... even brought the camera and the developer.
CHRIS:
You're not coming with us.
STEELE:
But I have to. I'll miss the story. Whoo!
CHRIS:
Won't stop you from writing it.
STEELE:
But... now, wait a minute. Guys? If you just hold on... um... hold on one m... wait a minute. Come on, mule, mucho pronto, right now... so I can get on... ho-hold on.

CHRIS:
Tell me about the two men you rode with that night.
BLACKFOX:
Not much to tell. Never seen 'em before, ain't seen 'em since.
CHRIS:
Big? Little? Fair? Dark?
BLACKFOX:
We rode at night and I didn't pay 'em much mind.
CHRIS:
Well, think.
BLACKFOX:
Only thing I remember is one of 'em had a single silver spur in his boot. Leastwise, he said it was silver. Claimed it was his good luck charm.
CHRIS:
What about the man who hired you?
BLACKFOX:
Hard man... not the kind you want to stare at. I remember his horse though... maybe 16 hands high. One of the cowboys said it looked a lot like Robert E. Lee's horse, whatever the hell that means.
CHRIS:
Big gray.
NATHAN:
Rider coming up fast. It's Buck.
BUCK:
Whoa, whoa.
CHRIS:
You out for a ride?
BUCK:
Heard you were going back.
CHRIS:
No need for you to come along.
BUCK:
Yes, sir, there is. I'm the man that talked you into staying down in Mexico that night... and I keep thinking if we'd have just rode back...
CHRIS:
I could have come back alone. You didn't keep me there. Let it go.
BUCK:
Sarah was my friend, too, Chris and I think you know how I felt about that boy of yours. So, if it's all the same I think I'll ride this one out with you.
CHRIS:
Suit yourself.

BLACKFOX:
Any chance of unlocking these here cuffs? They get to chafing pretty bad.
CHRIS:
You run, I'll hang you myself.
( gunshot )
CHRIS:
Anybody got him?
BUCK:
I think.
CHRIS:
Buck... Nathan, Josiah, watch Blackfox.
JOSIAH:
Now, that there's divine intervention. Me, I was going to shoot your hand off.

( distant howling ) ( gunshot )
CHRIS:
Boo.
STEELE:
( gasping ) ( relieved sighing ) Thank God you're here.
CHRIS:
You just about got yourself killed.
STEELE:
Sorry I followed you, but I have to have this story. I, uh, got a little lost and then I heard something.
( distant howling )
STEELE:
There. Coyote? Maybe a wolf! Okay, then.
BUCK:
Who is this guy?
CHRIS:
Nobody. Leave him.
BUCK:
You mind if I just shoot him?
STEELE:
What? Now, wait a minute.
BUCK:
Wait.
STEELE:
What?
BUCK:
What's that?
STEELE:
Where? Coyote, I told you. Coyote.
BUCK:
Run. Run away.
STEELE:
Was I right?

( child laughing )
ADAM:
Come on, Buck. Come on, Buck.
SARAH:
Adam?
ADAM:
Come on, Buck. Give me a ride. Come on, Buck. Give me a ride.
BUCK:
Get on board, pardner. Come on. You'll be riding like your daddy real soon.
SARAH:
I'll miss you.
CHRIS:
Hey, buddy. Big smile, huh? Come here, you. Buck give you a good ride there? Did he? Listen... I'm going away For a little bit. Take care of your mommy, okay? You promise?
ADAM:
Uh-huh.
( beckoning whistle )
ADAM:
Good-bye, papa.

CHRIS:
You're going to tell me exactly what happened that night. You understand me? From the moment you set foot on my property till the moment you took the lives... of my wife and son.
BLACKFOX:
I told you I didn't do...
NATHAN:
Chris! We found something.

NATHAN:
Came down here to refill the canteens. Looks like there's been a lot of heavy flooding down here the last few years. The soil's all washed away.
CHRIS:
Single spur.
JOSIAH:
Looks like we found the other two fellas Blackfox was riding with.

NATHAN:
Those men were shot from behind-- in the back of the head.
CHRIS:
Executed.
JOSIAH:
They didn't leave anything to providence either. Big bore gun, probably a .44.
NATHAN:
Chris, I think our man's left-handed.
CHRIS:
How can you tell that?
NATHAN:
Come at me like you was going to shoot me. Where's the barrel?
CHRIS:
Base of your skull.
NATHAN:
Right in the middle?
CHRIS:
Slightly to the right.
NATHAN:
Mm-hmm. See, Josiah's left-handed and when he did it he pointed slightly left of center-- same place where those men were shot. It's just a guess, but...
CHRIS:
It's a good one. Left-hander, big, gray horse. We're going up to the saloon in Eagle Bend.

BUCK:
Hold up. Hold on. Right here.

CHRIS:
Get off the bar.
JOSIAH:
Thank you.
BARTENDER:
Something for you?
CHRIS:
I'm looking for some answers.
BARTENDER:
I serve whiskey, not talk. Better go somewhere else. Take him with you.
CHRIS:
I'm interested in a man who rides a big gray, may be a lefty. Hired some men out of here a while ago.
BARTENDER:
Things go on in here are private. Now, I want you out of here before you're thrown out.
CHRIS:
Just tell me if you know the man.
BARTENDER:
My God. You don't hear very well.
JOSIAH:
Nice trip?
BARTENDER:
( groaning )
CHRIS:
Want to try this one more time?
BARTENDER:
Yeah. Yeah, sure.
CHRIS:
Know the man I was talking about?
BARTENDER:
I think so. He comes around once in a while. I don't know from where.
CHRIS:
What's his name?
BARTENDER:
I don't know, I swear.
CHRIS:
Describe him.
BARTENDER:
He's about your size, um, smokes thin, little cheroots had them special gloves.
CHRIS:
Special? How?
BARTENDER:
Well, one was kind of different. I figured 'cause his hand was crippled or withered or something.
CHRIS:
What else?
BARTENDER:
Not much. Yeah, 'cept he was real clean, like. He always brushed his clothes. He'd even wipe his glass out before he'd drink.
CHRIS:
We're taking rooms in the boarding house next door. If this man shows up, I'd appreciate you letting me know.
BARTENDER:
Yeah.
CHRIS:
Coming?
JOSIAH:
Figure I'll stick around a while. The service should be pretty good from here on out.

SHERIFF:
If you got Judge Travis's permission, you can keep your prisoner here. The cells are empty. Anything else you need you just let me know.
BLACKFOX:
Larabee... I didn't have no idea what was happening that night. It wasn't until the next morning that I heard people died in that fire. I'm sorry about your wife and boy.

FOWLER:
You sing a sweet song, John. Damn near brought me to tears.
BLACKFOX:
What the hell are you doing here?
FOWLER:
What are you doing in there?
BLACKFOX:
Trying to save my neck. They was going to hang me for stealing horses.
FOWLER:
So you dragged Larabee back here?
BLACKFOX:
He's dragging me. Look... he ain't found out nothing. He can't get close to you.
FOWLER:
Can't be sure about that, can we?
BLACKFOX:
Then kill him. Kill him and I'll take off and then we'll both get what we want.
FOWLER:
I don't know about you, John. I hired you to be my dog. We go to work, you turned into a mouse. You were useless. Now it seems you've turned into a rat. I love most animals, John. I hate rats.

CHRIS:
The bartender.

MAN:
One, two...
SHERIFF:
I hear there was a dust-up over at the saloon earlier.
BUCK:
Yeah. Chris killed the bartender and then he hung him up in his own room.
SHERIFF:
I'm not suggesting that but trouble seems to follow you around like a bad cold. Avoid it for the rest of your stay.
CHRIS:
You send word?
JOSIAH:
I had to drag the telegraph operator out of bed. That poor soul supposed to be our invitation to leave? Not very hospitable.
BUCK:
Really. Good reason to stick around; teach him some manners.
Where are you going?
JOSIAH:
Saloon.

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Season One
The Magnificent Seven (Premiere) 1 2 3 One Day Out West 1 2
Working Girls 1 2 Safecracker 1 2 Witness 1 2 Nemesis 1 2
The Collector 1 2 Manhunt 1 2 Inmate 78 1 2

Season Two
The New Law 1 2 Sins Of The Past 1 2 Love And Honor 1 2
Vendetta 1 2 Wagon Train Part One 1 2 Wagon Train Part Two 1 2
The Trial 1 2 Chinatown 1 2 Achilles 1 2 Lady Killers 1 2
Penance Serpents Obsession