They Call Her Death (2024)

[bunniefuu]

- Who's there?

What are you doing here?

- Mrs. Pray, I regret to

inform you that your husband,

Thomas Pray, had a bounty on his head

for the robbery and m*rder

of one George Cartwright

of Sterling City in Morgan County,

and was subsequently wanted

by the sheriff, dead or alive.

You may claim your corpse

from the undertaker

of Sterling City

after I collect my reward

from the authorities

and justice has been

served in its entirety.

Watch yourself, little peach.

Pretty flowers.

And right on time, too.

Come on.

I haven't seen

you in Sterling before.

Are you new to our community?

- Thomas and I kept to ourselves.

- I see.

This profession provides me

with a unique opportunity

to become closely acquainted

with all the locals.

It's a shame that we

had to meet under these-

- Is this him?

- Indeed.

Did you want a public viewing?

Our rates for embalming and

preservation are very reasonable

and we utilize new formald-

- There's a hole in his head, Mr. Winter.

- Yes.

Well, there are methods that I can use-

- No.

No viewing.

No funeral.

I'm all that he had.

- Very well.

I do have to inform you though,

that the coffin that

he is resting in is $20

and is required for transportation.

- I can't transport this coffin.

- Mrs. Pray, what was your exact plan

for getting your husband

to his final resting place?

I can arrange for transportation.

- I don't have any money.

- I can set up a line of credit.

I will draw that up.

My men outside will take

care of the transportation

and the burial.

- That'll do.

I got it from here.

Y'all can go.

- We ain't been paid yet.

- Mr. Winter can charge it to my account!

It's

customary for a tip-

- Go on then.

Get moving.

Got a lot of work to do.

- Howdy, ma'am.

- You're the sheriff?

- Yeah, Sheriff Frank Jaroo.

This here's your town Marshall,

Leigh Murphy, at your service.

How can I help ya?

- My husband is dead because of you.

- Ma'am, you're gonna have to

be a little bit more specific.

- Thomas Pray!

My husband was Thomas Pray.

- Okay.

Come on inside.

I'm sure you remember George Cartwright.

George was your husband's

lawyer when he got busted

for sticking up those stage coaches.

You remember him now?

- Thomas and I had only

just met about that time.

- You mean around the

time that he went to jail?

- Yes.

- Well, George was found with

his head caved in a week ago

and a witness placed Thomas at the scene.

- What?

- So that, coupled with

the clear traceable motive

to George having lost the court case

that sent your husband

to jail, we had ever-

- Who? Who saw him and when?

I'm afraid I'm

not at liberty to say.

- Well, it's impossible.

He would've been with me.

He was always with me.

- George was loved and

well-respected in this town.

Your husband's actions

really got people up in arms.

- So, what?

You just sent out the

word to have him shot?

- Thomas was considered dangerous

and wanted dead or alive,

as it says.

Bounty hunters are within their rights

to use lethal force when they see fit.

Mrs. Pray, I am sorry for your loss.

I really am.

But women shouldn't be

associating with men

involved in so much criminality.

Once the shock of all this has worn off,

I think you will find yourself

in an advantageous position

to redefine your life.

We are all masters of our own destiny.

Maybe, it's time you stop

wallowing with thieves

and literal swine on the

edge of civilized society

and join us here in Sterling.

- Who witnessed my husband?

- I hope someday that you'll reconsider.

- And why do you give a f*ck?

- Because I love my

town and everyone in it.

I live to serve them and God willing,

I'll be serving them from a

Senate seat in a year's time.

Anyways, there are a lot of benefits

from leaving that hard

country living behind

and joining us here in town,

especially if you're a widow.

- Thomas did not k*ll that man.

- Mrs. Pray, I'm afraid that he did.

- I am telling you,

he could not have done it.

And I'm gonna find out who did.

- Mrs. Pray.

- And prove that my husband is innocent.

- Mrs. Pray!

- Innocent!

And that bounty hunter

m*rder*d him in cold blood

with your official seal of approval.

- Okay, you do that then.

And you let me know if you find anything.

- What are y'all staring at?

You got something you wanna say?

What about you? Huh?

- Whiskey.

So do you know anything about

a man named George Cartwright?

- Who's asking?

- I am.

- And who are you?

He was some rich lawyer guy. Got k*lled.

- And that's all you know?

- Yes.

And I don't really care for strangers

holding my foot to the

fire in my own place.

Why are you asking, anyway?

- Well, I figure you're bound to hear

lots of stories while you're

slinging drinks all day.

- Hmm.

- So hear any stories?

- I said that's all I know!

I ain't gonna say it again.

- So you ain't heard nothing about

say who did it or who's seen it?

- Are you deaf, stranger?

- I ain't deaf.

I'm single-minded.

- Hmm? Yeah.

Most drunks is.

- I know who done it!

You don't say?

- Like the law says

it was that bandit at the

edge of town, Thom Pray.

Why you hassling Maggie about it?

- Thomas was my husband.

- Hmm?

George Cartwright was a good man!

- So was Thomas, before that

bounty hunter took him from me.

- They say he was a thief and-

- We had to do what we

had to do to survive.

He was a changed man.

We'll, I'll be.

A changed man, was he?

A chaaaanged man!

And what about you, Missy?

Is you "changed," too?

- He did not k*ll that man.

- Bullshit.

You hear what I says?

I says,

bull

sh*t!

- All right, Tex. Come on now.

- Come on now, what?

She was married to a k*ller.

Who knows what she's done?

You a k*ller, too?

Like your pig-f*cking husband!

- Stop it, now!

- Damn it, stop it!

- Lady, cut it out!

You want some too?

- I didn't do sh*t.

- g*dd*mn it, that's enough!

I will not have you tearing up my place.

Now get!

Tex, get your a*s off my

floor and get outta my bar!

- Hey, Frank, you see that?

- Well, look who it is.

- Is that Tex she's whooping up on?

I believe it is.

- You gonna do something or?

- Nah, if I know Tex,

I'd wager that he was asking for it.

Besides, Mrs. Pray is a widow.

I suppose we can give her a

little mercy and leave her be.

- Who's the pig-f*ck now, b*tch?

- g*dd*mn, she f*cked him up good.

- Someone in this town knows something

about who really k*lled George Cartwright,

and it was not my Thomas!

- I believe this issue

has resolved itself.

- Thomas?

Thomas?

Who the f*ck are you?

You sure

know how to make a ruckus.

Stay the f*ck out of Sterling!

- Women shouldn't be associating with...

- Our rates...

- ...on the edge of civilized society...

- What was your exact plan...?

- Pig f*cking husband!

- ...A line of credit...

Justice.

- Served in its entirety.

- You a k*ller too?

My men outside will take

care of the transportation...

- We ain't been paid yet.

...And the burial

- Go away.

Mrs. Pray?

My name is Deputy Bosley Turner.

Can we have a word together?

Mrs. Pray, I understand you're

in mourning for your husband

and I want to extend

my sincere condolences.

I also understand public opinion

in regards to your late husband has been,

shall we say, lacking in compassion?

Fortunately for you,

I am a recent transplant to this community

and therefore, harbor

no such biased opinions.

Just wanna ask you a

couple short questions,

then I'll be on my way.

- Fine.

- So you're Frank's new deputy?

- Yes, ma'am.

- So are you gonna ask me

some questions or what?

- Drowning your sorrows?

Is that where your

husband rests, Mrs. Pray?

It takes a significant

amount of work to bury a man.

I understand you hired some assistants?

- The undertaker insisted on it.

- Hm.

So you're familiar with

the Paulie Brothers,

Luther and Fat Jack?

- Never heard their names.

- Well, now you have.

- I don't recall no fat man.

- Those men went missing

after your husband's burial.

That's all you have to

say about the matter?

- They just helped me move

the body and dig the hole.

I sent them away after the hole was dug.

- So you buried him yourself?

- Yes.

- With that limp?

- Excuse me?

- You did all that work

with an injured leg?

- No.

That happened later.

- When you whipped Tex back in town?

- No, I was wrangling a pig

and it got away from me.

- Did Tex paint your face like that, or...

...was that a pig too?

- Tex did it.

- Yeah.

Yeah, he must have.

You are a formidable woman, Mrs. Pray.

- That's right.

Do you have any more questions, Deputy?

- Because I have many.

- By all means.

I wanna know

how you sleep at night

knowing the law you represent

supports the m*rder of an

innocent man by a paid k*ller

and calls it justice?

Mrs. Pray,

I'm unfamiliar with the details of your-

- Details?

There are no details.

It's all a lie.

Bounty law may

be severe but it is the law.

- And that's good enough for you, is it?

I owe him, Deputy.

I owe it to my husband.

- I told you not to come

to my place of business!

How many?

- Dunno. All's I see is the driver.

- Luck we've been having lately,

that wagon's probably full

of dozen other outlaws

with their g*ns out ready to blow me away.

- I doubt that.

- Welp, reckon there's

only one way to find out.

You know the deal.

If you see anyone coming,

fire a shot right in the air.

- Be careful.

- Hands up, friend.

That's good.

No need to make this ugly.

Now how about you come down

off that wagon, nice and slow?

What's in the wagon?

What's in the damn wagon?

- Nothing!

Nuthin'?

There ain't nothing valuable back there?

No. I swear.

- I won't ask again.

What's in the wagon?

Alright, let's have a look then, shall we?

Open it.

- Sir, I'm begging you.

- And I'm telling you.

Open it.

- It's just my wife and children, sir.

We ain't got no food.

We ain't got no money, nothing.

We're just looking for someplace

where I can find work so...

so my family don't die.

Oh God.

Sorry for ruining supper.

- You're a good man, Thomas.

- Come on.

- You're resting good, ain't you, peach?

Now...I's supposed to sh**t ya...

...but in this state,

hardly seems like fair sport.

I just can't bring myself

to k*ll a sleeping woman,

especially one as pretty as you.

Although I gotta admit,

I'm a little disappointed.

I heard tell

you's a real p*stol.

I was looking forward to a

dust up with a worthy woman.

I ain't got no qualms about

hitting woman, mind ya,

providing she's...worthy of a fight.

and you...

are...

worthy.

Your husband was a lucky man.

Well...

till I came along, that is.

This seems a bit more

fair, wouldn't you say?

Let's leave it up to the fire.

Sweet dreams, little peach.

- Please take this.

It's not much, unfortunately.

We don't have much to give.

- Thank you.

- Do you want a ride into town or...?

Hey now, you don't need to be scared!

What the hell is this?

- Where'd you get these?

- Santa Claus.

- You best start speaking the truth

before I make you do it.

- Tuck my stones back into

my pants and cut me free!

- These g*ns were stolen from me.

Oh.

- Almost didn't recognize ya

underneath all that filth.

You that b*tch what's been

causing all those problems.

- That's right.

I'm that b*tch.

Problems for who?

Same person who gave you these g*ns?

- You're supposed to be dead.

- Well, I ain't.

Sorry to disappoint.

Who gave you the g*ns?

Maybe, I took 'em myself.

- I've seen what you do to

folks whose backs is turned.

That couple in the road both

had b*ll*ts in their backs.

If you'd have took them,

you'd have k*lled me in my sleep.

I'm asking you again,

you yellow sack of sh*t,

who gave you the g*ns?

- Oh, for f*ck's sakes.

- Who...gave you...

...the g*ns?

- Go to hell!

- Who?

- God, you sick b*tch!

You sick f*cking b*tch!

- I'm only gonna ask

you this one more time.

Who gave you the g*ns?

- I'm gonna cut your damn head off!

- Wrong answer.

Who gave you these g*ns, hillbilly?

- It was Frank!

Frank, the sheriff!

He got 'em from a bounty

hunter and he gave them to me!

- Do you know what happened to my husband?

Answer me!

- Cartwright had evidence on Frank!

So he did what he always does.

He hired that bounty hunter friend of his

to k*ll Cartwright,

rob him and then pin it on some sucker

with a phony bounty.

What evidence?

- That he's been robbing

and k*lling people

to pay off the legislatures.

- To secure his place in the Senate?

- Hey, congratulations.

You figured it out!

- I can't believe it.

- You better believe it.

He does sh*t like that all the time.

Frank's so crooked, if you fed him nails,

he'd spit out cork screws.

- What about JM and all that gold?

- Frank's gold.

JM only handles the money and takes a cut.

Don't you get it, b*tch?

We've got all the cards.

The law in Sterling owns your a*s.

- And I own your ba*ls.

You b*tch! My ba*ls!

You squished my f*cking ba*ls!

- When you m*rder*d that

innocent couple back there,

Mr. Town Marshall,

who'd you k*ll first?

The f*ck do you care?

Tell me.

- The man.

I shot the man first.

Satisfied?

- And she saw it happen?

Yeah.

Lovely Miss Maggie.

A round of whiskey for my

new friends here, please.

It is well earned after a long day.

- Coming right up, Deputy.

What kind of mess y'all tending to today?

- There's been a string of hold ups

along the countryside

and of course, we learned that

the Pray pig farm is burned down.

And then we saw, well,

let's just say we saw the worst of it.

But that's done now.

Now, we drink.

- Did I hear you say that

pig farm burned down?

That's right.

You know anything about that, Tex?

- No.

Just she probably deserved it, is all.

She dead?

- Excuse me?

I says, "She dead?"

- Would that give you a

personal sense of satisfaction?

They haven't found a body.

Any more questions?

You shouldn't have

paid him without a body,

a finger, her eye, anything.

- I trust Diego got the job done.

- But why?

He doesn't have a personal

stake in any of this

and that woman-

- You gotta stop worrying

about that woman.

The deal is done!

We got bigger things on our hands.

Everything is going smoothly.

You just gotta stay calm

and steady on me, ya hear?

- Long day, friend?

- Ever since I came to this charming town,

it's been nothing but long days.

- You must be Frank's new deputy,

I heard so much about.

- But what about this new deputy you got?

- So, what about him?

I got him chasing Leigh's

tail all over the county,

keeping him busy.

He's harmless.

- Well, does he understand

how you operate?

- Not everyone needs to know everything.

- He is gonna be fat in the fire

if you don't keep a close watch on him!

- What did I just tell you?

I got my eye on him.

By the time he finishes

running those fools' errands,

our business will be settled.

- You are affiliated with

Frank in some fashion?

- I'm a bounty hunter.

Sometimes, I bring him wanted men.

Is that right?

- He is not like the others.

I don't think this one is for sale.

- JM, 20 years ago in a few states over,

he would literally have

been for sale.

You think too much of these

"lesser-thans".

- May I inquire about your

most recent acquisitions?

- No offense, Deputy,

I don't like talking business

if'n I ain't paid to do so.

- Well, I'm simply wondering

if uh... Thomas

Pray may be among them?

Or perhaps you may know a little something

about the disappearance

of his wife, Molly,

and the recent burning of their home?

- Has Leigh checked in with you yet?

- Not yet.

- f*cking drunk.

He's been gone nearly a week.

- So what?

- Frank, I'm saying that

I can see the seams.

I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here.

- Then don't.

- Your attention is split too thin!

And she's missing, is she?

You didn't find this

Molly person in the fire?

Huh.

That is a shame.

- Listen, when this town was nothing more

than 30-some ranchers and prostit*tes,

running your bunko act was manageable.

But this?

And running for a Senate seat?

Frank, you have enough power

with the funds you have accumulated.

Just keep the g*dd*mn gold!

- Would you keep your g*dd*mn voice down?

- Frank, I'm saying "Why?"

- You look tired.

Your eyes are weary.

I seen eyes like yours before,

in the w*r.

- So you have served?

- I did.

- Whereabouts?

- New Mexico. Texas.

Hell, I was at the Battle of Valverde.

- You don't say?

- Unfortunately, my time

in the Army was cut short.

Or fortunately. Depending

on how you look at it.

- Now what does that mean?

My whole company was k*lled.

Talking to a lone survivor.

- Why?

- I am trying to build something!

- And what is that?

A country.

- The way I see it, Deputy,

it's every man for himself in this world.

You know why we won that

day at Valverde, Deputy?

It wasn't for the w*r.

Hell, it wasn't for the South.

It was for a drink of water.

See, we was out in that heat for days,

parched of thirst.

And them Yanks?

They was the only thing standing

between us and the Rio Grande.

We k*lled them boys 'cause we was thirsty.

Nothing more, nothing less.

So tell me,

what'd them weary Yankee

eyes of yours see today?

- There was a stick up

along the countryside.

Couple had been shot, wagon looted.

- I assumed you were

made of stronger stuff.

- Oh no, no, no, no.

No, that wasn't it.

It was what else we found.

- And what was that?

- There was a man who

had been tied to a tree.

His manhood mutilated, shot full of holes

and then his head cut off.

- Molly Pray!

- You told me to let you

know if I found anything.

Eat lead, c*ck!

- Help!

Help!

Help me!

- Hey, hey! Get that b*tch!

She's making a run for it!

Cut her off on the right!

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

- Thomas!

Am I dead?

No, I-I can't be!

Not yet!

Those men that did this

to you, they have to pay!

I can't rest until...

I can't rest until they're all dead.

They must die.

Speak to me.

Are you still in there?

- What?

Help you?

- What? What does that mean?

- What?

- I...

- Whatever it takes.

Find a body?

- How's JM?

- Alive.

Shorthanded but alive.

- Could have used your help today.

I could have covered more

ground if I had more men.

- If you're referring to these gentlemen,

I need them to get this place

looking back to normal

as soon as possible.

I've got some guests coming

in from the legislature

and if they were to pay me a visit

with things being as they are-

- I was talking about you.

- I have better things to do

than traipse around the countryside

until I trip over some stiff b*tch!

- You've got better things to do?

- That's right.

- Several people were k*lled

in your town last night, Frank.

And you're too busy to

find the woman who did it.

Now, it feels to me that maybe

you don't want her found.

- Oh, really?

- Feels like it.

Well, while

you were out riding around,

we got word from the

Stevens family out out East.

They saw Mrs. Pray making camp

on the edge of their property.

Now, how is that for help?

- Really?

So Buck Stevens rode all the way here

and had time to tell you while I was gone?

- Well, it is a ride. That's true.

All the more reason

you better hurry along.

Now, I believe that she'll be making camp

on the Canyon Pass Road

if she's still out there

that runs through the back

edge of their property,

- I suppose you're too busy to ride along?

- Actually, I thought she'd be more likely

to turn herself into you alone,

if she's still alive, which I doubt.

- Maybe so.

- Good.

Best get steppin'.

Follow him.

And k*ll him.

- Frank sends his regards!

I'll be damned!

You need to come with

me and turn yourself in.

- To the man who just

tried to have you k*lled?

- Frank will his due in due time.

For now, you need to do the right thing

and come quietly with me back to Sterling.

- Help me take him down.

- Now I'm serious, now!

You k*lled a lot of

innocent people last night

and one not-so-innocent Town Marshall.

What's the difference

between you and Frank,

if you're gonna k*ll innocent people?

- It's different.

- Something definitely is.

What's your plan?

- JM's hiding gold someplace.

I think I know where to look.

- Where?

- Same place he hides all

of Frank's dirty secrets.

Underground.

- Underground!

JM Winter!

- You again?

Get 'em, boys!

Oh, sh*t!

- Where's that gold going?

- Well, hello, Deputy.

I would ask what you're doing

here with this creature,

but I never trusted you to begin with,

so I can't say I'm surprised.

- We know all about Frank's schemes, JM.

Now, where's that gold going?

Okay.

I'm gonna give you to the count of three.

- Oh, yeah?

You're gonna have me shot, Deputy?

- One.

- I am a respectable citizen.

You are an officer of the law

and I am not resisting.

- Two.

- Be reasonable!

Okay. Okay!

Wait.

You think I wanna be out

here in this cemetery

hauling sh*t around for

that son of a b*tch?

If I quit now, he'll k*ll me.

- I can protect you.

- You're naive.

- As long as you tell me

where that gold's going,

I give you my word, you will be safe.

- That as*h*le used me as a human shield

while this one shot my damn hand off.

How am I supposed to earn a living

building with a g*dd*mn hook?

He's sloppy!

He's stupid!

And he doesn't listen

to anything anyone says.

I told him that you shouldn't be trusted.

- You are breaking my heart.

The gold, JM.

- It's going to the Cartwright House.

- George Cartwright's house?

Why?

- There's a big party tonight

for the legislators

that Frank has paid off.

- And you are bringing in the goods?

- That's right.

- Why George's place?

- The Cartwrights wanted to show

their appreciation to Frank

for solving George's m*rder so promptly.

And Frank just couldn't stop smiling.

He thought it was hysterical.

- JM, you are under arrest.

You can't pr-

- Whoa!

g*dd*mn it, Molly Pray!

Why?

Why would you do that?

He was giving up.

I gave him my word!

- They all die.

That was the deal.

- Deal?

What deal?

Am I a part of this deal in any capacity

that I should be aware of?

- No.

Ladies and gentlemen,

if I could have your

ears for just a moment.

I would like to say a few words.

Now if I've learned anything

from my time on this earth,

it is that we're all

masters of our own destiny.

- Now when me and thirty others

come to this savage land

trying to make a new home for ourselves,

it was only through American grit,

determination, and spirit

that we were able to transform it

into the truly great place that it is now!

- Here here!

- Yeah!

- And when rustlers and primitives

and other godless people

threatened her in her infancy,

well, we fought back with

that same righteous spirit

and we prevailed!

We sent them back to the dark

corners from which they came!

Because this is our America!

It was ours before we

ever set boots on her.

That's right, sir!

- Yes, she waiting,

just waiting for someone

with a proper grit,

determination and spirit.

And I promise to carry

those same qualities

with me all the way to the Senate!

- Thank you, everyone.

Enjoy yourselves. Thank you.

Thank you.

- There's a proper politician.

- Rousing words, Frank. I mean it.

Next stop? The Senate.

But then who knows?

Well, thank you. You flatter me.

- Yes, that was a very

adequate performance.

But I'm not interested in any

chest beating nationalism,

if there's no money in our coffers.

- No, gentlemen, I can assure you that

that is being handled at this very moment.

It was just a matter

of making a withdrawal

that was delaying things slightly.

But it is en route to this very party.

You see? A man of action

as well as words.

Get out of the damn way!

- Lookin' for this?

- What the f*ck you think

you're doing, Turner?

Molly Pray's shootin' the place to sh*t!

Now gimme my g*n, ya son of a b*tch!

- You tried to have me k*lled, Frank.

- What are you gonna do, Turner?

You gonna sh**t me?

- Damn b*tch!

You k*lled everybody!

To hell with you and your husband.

You're both trash.

You don't mean anything!

My only regret is I

didn't k*ll him myself

but that would be beneath me.

Because people like me rule the world.

People like you shovel sh*t!

I can't move.

I can't move. I can't...

I can't move my body!

I can't...I can't move my body!

I'm paralyzed.

You paralyzed me.

You paralyzed me!

- Where's your bounty hunter?

- Ugh. Just k*ll me.

Just k*ll me!

- I will.

I promise.

First you have to tell me where he is.

- sh**t me.

sh**t me!

sh**t me, you g*dd*mn b*tch!

- Where is he?

- In a cabin in Firecreek

Valley, south of Sterling City.

Now just...just do it already.

I'm already a dead man.

Just do it!

- Go get us some horses.

- Guess I best get to steppin'.

Come on!

Come on!

Wait!

Wait, wait, wait!

Where you going?

Where you going?

Come back! sh**t me! Come-

No...What are you?...

What is that?!

What are you...?

Have mercy, I-

No. I don't, n-nooo-

- I take it Frank's dead?

Yeah, that's what I thought.

You are persistent.

I'll give you that.

- My life ended the day

you came to my home.

Thought I'd return the gesture.

- I was working well within the law.

But you come here to m*rder me.

No official documents.

Pretty big difference, I'd say.

But hey,

I was just trying to

survive like everybody else.

Like you, peach.

- Get your g*ns and

walk your a*s out here.

Well, you wanna

settle this like real men, huh?

Mm.

Atta girl.

I knew you wouldn't disappoint.

Very well.

Let's do things your way.

You ready to be reunited

with your husband?

- All outta b*ll*ts.