Part One

---

EZRA:
That woman's deviousness knows no bounds. First she purchases this lovely establishment right out from under me, and now she... she sashays into town and sells it to those unfortunate scoundrels at the first whiff of filthy lucre.

MAUDE:
Ha ha! Well, this is a fine deal, my friend.
JD:
We can still drink here, right?
MARY:
Hello, Boys.
JD:
Mary.
MARY:
Ezra, may I speak to you for a moment?
EZRA:
Of course.
MARY:
I just got this wire from a certain Preston Wingo. He owns the Cattle Baron Hotel over in Snellville. It concerns your mother.
EZRA:
Oh, Mother. Are you familiar with a gentleman by the name of... Preston Wingo?
MAUDE:
I know a fat little weasel called Preston Wingo. What about him?
EZRA:
Well, uh, this Wingo has slandered you. Mary just received a telegraph claiming that you absconded with a pair of diamond cufflinks. He's demanding you be jailed until he arrives.
MAUDE:
Jailed! I'm no thief.
EZRA:
Yeah, ha ha! Yes, of course not, but unfortunately, the burden of proof is on you. Now, I would suggest that Mary search your bag just so you might acquit yourself of these... ridiculous charges.
MARY:
Sorry, Maude.

MAUDE:
This is so tiresome! My own son!
MARY:
Looks like Mr. Wingo was wrong.
MAUDE:
Satisfied?

EZRA:
That satchel has a false lid. Go on. Look.

MAUDE:
Somebody put those there. I am innocent!
EZRA:
Well, I am afraid we are left no choice. JD, will you assist me in escorting Mrs. Standish to the jail?

JD:
Ezra, she's your mother.

---

EZRA:
Now, you'll have to forgive the appearance, but the maid quit.
MAUDE:
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child.
EZRA:
I'm cruel only that I may be kind, mother. After all, you should know better than to steal. You know, perhaps some time... spent behind bars will be... instructional.
MAUDE:
Preston Wingo put those cufflinks in my bag. He's blackmailing me.
EZRA:
Now, why on Earth would he want to do that?
MAUDE:
That's none of your business.
BUCK:
Come on. Judge wants us to ride.
EZRA:
Well...sleep tight. Don't let the, uh... ah, you know the rest.

EZRA:
What appears to be the trouble?
CHRIS:
This boy just brought us a message from Judge Travis. He's over at Eagle Bend trying a colored man for murder.
BUCK:
I guess they're a little too het up for a fair trial. Judge wants us to bring the prisoner back.
EZRA:
All of us?
CHRIS:
Yeah.
JD:
Must be somebody famous.
CHRIS:
Name's, uh... "Obediah Jackson."

NATHAN:
Chris, let me see that.
VIN:
What's wrong, Nathan? He somebody you know?
NATHAN:
He's my father.
JD:
Hyah!

---

NATHAN:
How much farther to Eagle Bend?
VIN:
Town's just over that rise.
CHRIS:
Should take a look before we ride in.
MAN:
That's right string him up!!
MAN 2:
You're going to pay now!
MAN:
Get him out there! Go on!
JUDGE TRAVIS:
You can't do this, Sheriff.
STAIN:
No disrespect, Judge, but this is my town.
VIN:
Looks like a hanging party.
NATHAN:
Let me see.

VIN:
To the right of the water tower.
NATHAN:
That's my father.
VIN:
Now, hold on, Nathan. No sense riding into a lynch mob without a plan. Let's do this together. Come on.
STAIN:
Enough of this. We don't need a damn trial. Let's go, boys. Somebody grab some rope and tie his hands.
JUDGE TRAVIS:
That man deserves a trial.
OBEDIAH:
I can walk! I'm a free man!
STAIN:
Yeah, you're free to swing. Get a rope! Tie up his hands!
LIGHTFOOT:
Did my best to stop it, Judge Travis.
JUDGE TRAVIS:
Yeah, I can see that, Lightfoot.
STAIN:
Come on, let's go, boys! String him up. Let's go. Put him on this mule. Come on. Get him up there. Come on. Get up there. That's right, boy. That's it. Last ride. You get to go see your Lord.

VIN:
[whistling] Hyah! Hyah! Come on!
STAIN:
Maybe you'd like to apologize for killing that white man--
[gunshot]
BUCK:
Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!
JUDGE TRAVIS:
Glad to see you, Boys.
STAIN:
I know who you seven sons of bitches are! You're not going to get away with this!

---

MARY:
Right this way, gentlemen.
MAN:
Unh! Yes, ma'am.
MARY:
Well, I think they brought everything you asked for.
MAUDE:
Oh, thank you, Mary.
MARY:
I just hope it's not too terrible for you in here.
MAUDE:
Don't fret, honey. Wherever I go is home sweet home to me. Just put that over in the corner, sugar plum. You can put this down here.
MARY:
Thanks. Maude, why would that man put his cufflinks in your bag?

MAUDE:
Oh, men are such desperate creatures. When they don't get what they want, they do foolish things.
MARY:
Ain't that the truth.

---

OBEDIAH:
[coughing]
NATHAN:
Daddy. Daddy.

OBEDIAH:
Son... It's good to see you.
NATHAN:
It's good to see you, too. I went looking for you after the war. Daddy, where'd you go?
OBEDIAH:
Oh, it really don't matter now.
NATHAN:
What were you doing in that town?
OBEDIAH:
Coming to find you.
CHRIS:
You want to fill us in, Judge?

JUDGE TRAVIS:
A white man was found beaten to death. He had an altercation with Mr. Jackson in front of witnesses. After they found the body, they stopped Mr. Jackson as he was riding out of town. When I realized how angry they were, I decided to move the trial. That's why I sent for you. Then they decided to lynch my defendant.
NATHAN:
Daddy, let's ride! Let's get the hell out of here! We can go to Mexico!
JUDGE TRAVIS:
Travis: no, no, son. You can't do that. He's a territorial prisoner waiting for trial.
NATHAN:
I'm sorry! I can't let my father hang for something he didn't do!
JUDGE TRAVIS:
I promise you a fair trial.

NATHAN:
Yeah? With all due respect, judge, how many Negroes going to be on that jury?
OBEDIAH:
That's enough, Nathan. Ain't nothing more important to me than being a free man. And there's one thing every free man gets in America... and that's his day in court. I want mine.

NATHAN:
Come on, Daddy.

---

LIGHTFOOT:
Afternoon, Gentlemen. I'm James Lightfoot.
JUDGE TRAVIS:
Where the blazes did you come from?
LIGHTFOOT:
Judge Travis, I know you have a low opinion of me, but the truth of the matter is, sir, nobody but your professional shooters here could've stopped Sheriff Stains today.
JUDGE TRAVIS:
Every man in this territory has a right to a fair trial.
LIGHTFOOT:
I couldn't agree more, your Honor. Which is why I have been retained by the good people of Eagle Bend to prosecute this crime.

VIN:
Hell you will.
LIGHTFOOT:
The crime was committed in Eagle Bend, your Honor.
JUDGE TRAVIS:
It's their right.
LIGHTFOOT:
Now, a sizable contingent of citizens from Eagle Bend will be here to attend the trial. My strong advice-- sir-- would be to appoint some of them to the jury. It would be not only prudent, but fair.
VIN:
Fair? They was going to hang that man without a trial.
JUDGE TRAVIS:
All right, Lightfoot. You're appointed prosecutor. Tell sheriff stains I'll pick some people for the jury from Eagle Bend. It's unorthodox, but I want this trial to be fair for everyone.

CHRIS:
You can also tell the sheriff we're on the job here. He'll understand.
LIGHTFOOT:
That he will, gentlemen. That he will. Good day.

---

OBEDIAH:
Can I have a cell like that?
NATHAN:
Miz Maude.
MAUDE:
Nathan.
OBEDIAH:
Ma'am.
NATHAN:
I'll get you some blankets, make it real comfortable for you.
OBEDIAH:
[coughing]
NATHAN:
Daddy? Daddy, are you all right?
OBEDIAH:
Fine. I'm fine. Look at you. Grown into a fine man. After I knew you'd made it north, I used to dream about you... living as a free man.
NATHAN:
Well, Daddy, you didn't have to stay. You could've come with me.

OBEDIAH:
I would've slowed you down.
NATHAN:
You, uh...you want some supper?
OBEDIAH:
After a while.
NATHAN:
All right.

CHRIS:
How is he holding up?
NATHAN:
Same as he always was. They want to lock him up, he said, "yes, sir, lock me up." They want to put him on trial, let everybody laugh at him, he said, "yes, sir, put me on trial." Probably help tie the noose if they ask him to.
CHRIS:
He's your father. What's the matter with you?

NATHAN:
When I was about 7 years old, our owners decided to sell him and us kids away from our mother. Put us on a wagon, and we ended up going to Alabama. She stayed behind in Georgia. Then after a while, he told me that she died. Now, I was just a little boy at the time, but all that time, I waited for him to find a way to keep our mother with us, or us with her. But he never said one word! He didn't do anything. He didn't argue, he didn't even beg. He didn't put up one damn ounce of fight to keep our family together.
CHRIS:
Sorry.
NATHAN:
He should've done something.

MAUDE:
What are you doing with all that string?
OBEDIAH:
Keep my mind busy. What's a white lady doing in jail?
MAUDE:
My own son locked me up.
OBEDIAH:
Sometimes they don't rightly appreciate what you do for 'em.

MAUDE:
Truer words were never spoken.
EZRA:
Ha ha ha! Well, well. My, my. You know, it's a touch baroque, but... I like what you've done with the place.

MAUDE:
What do you want?
EZRA:
Hmm... perhaps I could be persuaded to act as your advocate.
MAUDE:
You? You're the one who had me locked up.
EZRA:
I don't find your story... compellingly truthful.
MAUDE:
Well, I don't care what you think. I know I am innocent.
EZRA:
All right, suit yourself. Uh... holler if you change your mind. Ha ha ha!

---

NATHAN:
The judge says one of us needs to represent my father. I don't think it should be me. Chris?
CHRIS:
What?

VIN:
Ah, hell, Nathan, you know Chris don't say more than 3 words in a day.
EZRA:
My apologies, Nathan, but I've... legal issues of my own to deal with.

NATHAN:
That's all right, Ezra. I wasn't really thinking about asking you.
BUCK:
What you need is an honest, well-spoken, handsome man for this job.
JD:
Fine. I'll do it.
BUCK:
JD, ain't nobody going to listen to a youngster like you.
JD:
Oh, Buck, you see a pretty girl in that courtroom, you're going to be rrh! Rrh!
BUCK:
I was thinking about Vin.

VIN:
I...I get too nervous in front of a crowd. What about Josiah? He studied Cherokee law. That should count for something.


JD:
And he's got a suit.
NATHAN:
Josiah... would you do this for me?

JOSIAH:
Nathan... I'd be honored.

---

BUCK:
What in the hell kind of sissy rig is that?
PRESTON WINGO:
Well, evening, Boys. Mrs. Standish in there, I hope. Heh heh!
EZRA:
You must be Mr. Wingo.
PRESTON WINGO:
Ah, my reputation has preceded me. Happy to hear that. Ohh...Maudie. Oh, Maudie, light of my life!

MAUDE:
You skunk!
PRESTON WINGO:
You're a beautiful woman, Maudie. And even more beautiful when there's fire in your eyes.
MAUDE:
You put those cufflinks in my bag, didn't you? Admit it.
PRESTON WINGO:
Say the word, Maudie, and I'll set you free.
MAUDE:
Huh! Never!
PRESTON WINGO:
When as in silk my Maudie goes–
MAUDE:
Don't try to sweet-talk me!
PRESTON WINGO:
Oh, then me thinks how sweetly flows...
MAUDE:
You tell these people I didn't take your cufflinks! And get me out of here!
PRESTON WINGO:
The liquefaction of her clothes. Then when I cast my eyes and see...
MAUDE:
Quit it! I hate that poem!
PRESTON WINGO:
That brave vibration each way free...
MAUDE:
Ezra, make him leave!

EZRA:
Oh, no. This is...
PRESTON WINGO:
Oh, how that glittering...
EZRA:
This is beautiful!
MAUDE:
God, I can't bear it!

PRESTON WINGO:
Maudie? I've substituted your lovely name for Julia's. I--I don't think Robert Herrick would've minded, hmm?
MAUDE:
Get out.
PRESTON WINGO:
If I can't have you, Maudie, then the jailer can. Ha ha ha! Hot-blooded! Passionate! What a woman! Maudie.
EZRA:
My, my, I don't know how you managed to resist such a display of ardor.