02x21 - The Haunted g*n

[bunniefuu]

♪♪

Come on, Mr. Salazar, breathe!
That's California air.

[chuckles]

Go east for civilization,
Senator, west for air.

Something like that.

[g*nf*re]

Put it over the side.

[g*nf*re continues]

Take it easy, Senator,
they work for us.
They're here to welcome you.

Well, I'm sorry, Senator.
I thought you'd be pleased.

Nick, it's not your fault.

You see,
there's been a threat...
a threat on my life.

No more surprises,
Mr. Barkley, please.

♪♪ [theme]

Oh, Judd.

Judd,
you shouldn't have!

Mother, it's so lovely.

-She's lovely.
-Thank you.

You know, I was
just about to say
it's good to be back home.

And it's true;
I almost feel as though
California were my home.

Now pour me some of
that good California wine.

The good California wine
we ship back east.

[laughs]

Well, if you'll
excuse me, Senator.

"Senator"?

Senators live
in Washington, D.C.

Here, it's "Judd."

I won't even accept
a "Mr. Robson," just "Judd."

Judd.

Mrs. Barkley,
if the senator's room
is ready...

Oh, of course.
You must be very tired
after such a long trip.

Me, tired? Show me
a dragon to slay,
a mountain to climb.

I'll show you a staircase
to climb.

Audra, would you please
show the gentleman
to his room?

Be a pleasure.

Thank you.

Mr. Salazar, perhaps
you'd like to rest
before dinner?

Uh, perhaps later.

-May I speak to you
for a moment?
-Yes.

That ranch hand
who was just here--
What's his name?

Oh, uh, Walt Tompkins or
Thompson or something like that.

I'm afraid
"something like that"
isn't good enough.

I'd appreciate
if you'd find out
everything you can about him,

and about
every other worker
on the ranch.

May I ask why?

Please understand--

A man like the senator,
wherever he goes,
whatever he does,

the nature of his office,
his responsibilities,

goes with him,
they follow him.

But that isn't all
that follows him.

Personal enemies,
threats against his life--

There is right now a threat
against the senator's life.

And we have reason to believe
this time there'll be
an attempted assassination.

That's difficult
to believe.

Judd is so revered,
so loved.

and hated and feared,

like all men in
positions of power.

Think of his life--

A g*nman, a town-tamer,

a lawman,
United States marshal.

Think of the men that
he has caused to be arrested,

the dozens that have died
under his g*ns.

Hmm. Not so easy being
a living legend, is it?

I advised him
against this trip,
but he insisted.

You're his best friends...

he loves you.

I think he feels safe with you.

I hope and pray he's right,
because...

his life is in your hands.

Now, if you'll
show me to my room?

Certainly.

Judd,
that's enough.

Yes, I guess I'm getting
a little carried away.

Well, just carry enough
to heat the coffee.

There we are.

Ahhh.

You know,
for the first time in years,
right here, right now,

I feel young again.

-I'm glad I came, Victoria.
-I'll second that motion.

Salazar and some
of my advisors

tried to talk me out of it,

but I wouldn't be talked.

No, sir, I had to
get right back here,

right where it all began.

Get a chance to breathe,

begin to renew myself.

Well, don't expect
any sympathy from me,

because you never looked better
in your whole life.

[laughs]
Well, that's good to hear,

-even if it's not true.
-It is true.

Well, I'd hate to have to
ride out after the Manville g*ng
tonight to prove it.

Well, thanks to you,
there's no Manville g*ng
to ride after,

tonight or any other night.

You thank me.
Heaven knows how many--

[coughs]

Judd, be careful!

[coughing]

Hmmm.

Ahhh.

If I had choked,
my enemies would award you
the medal of honor

and that chicken bone
would be enshrined in
the national archives.

[horse neighs in distance]

-Did you see him?
-Yes.

The same man--
Thompson, Tomkins.

Well, I couldn't tell,
not from this distance.

Same man.

Evening, Walt.

Evening.

Well...

looks like the boys
went off and left you
all by your lonesome, huh?

It's Saturday night.
You know how that goes.

Uh-huh.

You're quite a loner,
aren't you, Walt?

Well, that's my
privilege, now.

Yet for a man
who likes his privacy,

you get around quite a bit,
don't you?

What's that
supposed to mean?

Hmm.

You got any questions,
you fire away.

I haven't got
anything to hide.

You were out on the east range
this afternoon, were you?

You know where I was.
I was out collecting strays
on the north ridge.

While you were out
on the east range

did you see the senator
and my mother?

Look, I told you where--

Well, Heath sent me
ridin' back here.

I may have cut
across the east range--
I don't rightly recall.

Walt, I asked you
while you were out
on the east range

if you saw the senator
and my mother.

Now, that's a very
simple question, isn't it?

Well, maybe I did.
What does that prove?

Nothin'...

yet.

[distant snapping sounds,
rustling]

[g*nshots]

[hoofbeats recede]

[knock on door]

He was down there.

He started climbing up,
heard me coming,
and ran off.

I'll check the bunkhouse,
see if anyone's missing.

That won't be
necessary, Jarrod.

It's that same man--
Tomkins.

I saw him riding out.

At least now
we know for sure.

-We'll leave in the morning.
-No.

He's only one of them.
There may be many more.

-In Washington
we're protected.
-I say we're staying.

No assassin is going
to drive me out.

We're staying.

All right, all right,
ride into town,

make yourself a target
for every--

All right, go.
But at least
let me go with you.

-Nope.
-I promise you,

I won't interfere
with your pleasure.

Part of my pleasure
is to be left alone.

-[Spanish]
-I heard that.

Next time make it in English,
loud and clear.

You are stubborn!

I don't know
what I'm going to--

That's better.
Much better.

[laughs]

Mr. Barkley!
Are you going
into town?

-HEATH: Yeah, need a lift?
-Thank you.

Mr. Senator, it seems like
you have a ride into town.

Thank you, Salazar.

All right, Heath,
let's go.

It'll take about an hour
to load the wagon.

Take as long
as you like.

Longer.

I'll manage
to amuse myself.

Get!

Whiskey.

Leave the bottle.

Look, pull up a chair
or take a walk.

I don't like spectators.

Not unless they
look like pearl here.

I'll consider that
an invitation.

[whispers]
That's the senator.
Judd Robson.

The name of the game
is five-card stud.

The deal's to you...

Senator.

Table stakes.

Wait'll I tell my wife.
It sure is an honor, sir,

it sure is.

Your bet.

Your fifty...

and I raise a hundred.

Been goin' for
that inside straight
all day.

Looks like you finally
filled it, eh, Senator?

Shut up and play!

Well...

I'll see, and, uh...

raise you fifty.

Honey, would you get me
a refill on this?

Yes, Senator.

Plenty of time,
Senator...

plenty of time.

Your little inside straight
looking right down the throat
of my full house.

I know what I'm looking at.

It doesn't look like
a full house to me.

For that matter,
that doesn't look like
any straight to me.

But, uh...

we wouldn't try to
bluff each other,
now, would we?

Would we...

Dude?

[laughs]

Dude?

You're from the East,
aren't you?

Aren't all gamblers
from the East called "dude"?

I'm from Kansas.
My name is Frank Keller.

It's fifty to you.

I know what it is to me!

Now, I know what
you said is your name...

I still say it's "dude."

Call.

Where is that bottle of whiskey?

You.

You.

What's your name?

Your name?

You talkin' to me, mister?

Well, that was
quite a display
I put on back there.

Challenging
a blind man.

You've been under
a lot of pressure,
Senator.

Oh, I guess so. But...

acting like a fool
who sees ghosts
all around him?

A blind man.

It was said of Judd Robson
that he could outride, outshoot,

outfight, outdrink
any six men north or south
of the Mason-Dixon line.

I'm not ashamed
of what I was--

What I did,
what I had to do.

I'm not ashamed.

But it's time
to put g*ns aside.

There's more important
things to do now.

I'm a senator...

a United States senator.

-Salazar.
-Yes, sir?

I played poker...and lost...

to a man who says
his name is Frank Keller.

Yes, sir?

What was his name...

St. Louis, about, oh, twelve,
fifteen years ago...

a gambler. Dapper.

Dude... dude...

-Dude Madden?
-Madden, that's it.

What did he look like?

Tall man, big hands,

deep-set eyes and...

that mouth--

That grin, taunting.

Suddenly I can see him.

I can see him almost
like it was yesterday.

First thing tomorrow
I'll ride into town

and have the sheriff
check on Keller.

He may have
some information
on him already.

-Tomorrow morning?
-First thing.

Good night, Senator.

May be too late.

[distant hoofbeats]

Howdy.

Evening again,
Senator.

We're about
to shut down.

-Whiskey?
-Can I buy you
a drink, Senator?

-I'd be proud to.
-Some other time, thanks.

That gentleman
that I played cards with
this afternoon...

-Keller.
-Keller, yes,

of course, Keller,
that's what he calls himself.

Plays a pretty good game.

At least I think
he plays a pretty
good game.

-You know, uh...
-[both laugh]

Well, he's played a hand
or two in his time,
I'll wager.

How long has he been
hereabouts?

Just a few weeks.

Any idea
where he lives?

The hotel
right across the street.

-You lookin' to
bend another deck with him?
-Could be.

-Well, you'll find him ready.
-You think so?

I know so.

As a matter of fact,
he said if you want
another crack at him,

he'll be ready.

-[g*nsh*t]
-[woman screams]

Anyway,
the minute Senator Robson
come in the saloon tonight

I knew there was
a sh**ting in the air.

-How'd you know that?
-How'd I know?

I'll tell ya
how come I knowed.

Judd Robson's
the fastest g*n
I ever seen--

Maybe the fastest g*n
of his time.

I know,'cause I seen him.

I seen him challenged once
in Abilene, Kansas.

He-- Judd--
He tried to bow out,

but this punk kid
wouldn't let up.

Then I seen this look
come into Judd's eye,

and I said to myself,

"That kid's done
talked himself to death."

Now, fifteen,
sixteen years later--
Tonight--

I seen that same look
come into Judd's eye.

A few minutes later,
Frank Keller was dead.

Charlie, did you actually
see the shootin'?

You blamed right
I seen it!

I come to the top
of them steps,

took a peek down
the corridor,

and I seen Frank Keller
come out of that door
into the corridor.

Had his g*n in his hand,
c*ck, ready to fire.

And Judd, he had to
clear his holster first,

take aim, and then fire.

But he did it!
You get it?

He did it all before
Frank Keller got off a shot!

Not one shot!

It was the most fantastical
thing I ever seen!

Oh, he's the best!
The best there ever was!

And I seen him in action
twice.

Jarrod, anything
you want to ask him?

No, I don't think so,
Sheriff.

-That'll be all, Charlie.
-Thank you.

Senator.

-Miss...
-Pearl Adams.

I work at Marty's Saloon.

Kind of, uh, wait tables.

I know where you work, miss.

Now, what happened tonight,
as you witnessed it?

Well, frank--
I mean Mr. Keller--

He invited me
up to his room
for a drink.

-There's nothing wrong
in that, is there?
-No.

There's nothing to be
nervous about, miss Adams.

I know that,
it's just that, well,

everything happened
so fast.

There was a knock on the door,

and then Frank went out
into the hall--

Mr. Hodges said Keller
came out of the room
g*n drawn.

-g*n drawn?
-Yes, you said earlier

that from the way
Frank left the room,

you just knew that there
was going to be trouble.

Wasn't that because
he was carrying a g*n?

Is that what he said?

That Frank was
carrying a g*n?

I mean, somebody
saw Frank carrying a g*n?

Mm-hmm.

Well, then, I guess
that's the way it was.

I mean, I was scared,
I was just so scared.

One minute were just
sitting there,

and the next he was
lying out there in the hall.

I was just so scared!

I think we understand.

Thank you. You can
go now, miss Adams.

I'm sorry to have to
get you out of bed, Jarrod,

but I felt the need
of a good lawyer
and a good friend.

You qualify
on both counts.

I don't think you'll be
needing a lawyer, Senator.

We have an eyewitness account
of what happened.

Then for the time being,
that'll have to suffice.

Oh, Mr. Salazar,
I can answer a few questions.

Not until you've checked
with Washington, sir.

These matters concern
not only you personally,

but perhaps
the national security.

All right, gentlemen,
I say this, and it'll have
to do for now.

Unless Washington
absolutely forbids it,

there will be
a public inquest.

-I'm sure that won't be
necessary, Senator.
-I insist on it.

After all, my office
does not give me the prerogative
to go out and sh**t people,

then sweep the facts
and the body under the carpet

as if neither
were of any import.

A human being is dead--

The American people
are entitled to know why.

I don't think the sheriff
had any intention of sweeping
anything under the carpet, Judd.

Very well,
we're in complete agreement.

Right now, and this will be
strictly between us gentlemen,

I can say with reasonable
certainty that Mr. Keller--

Not his right name,
incidentally--

Was acting for certain people

who are opposed to legislation
I have recently introduced.

You're saying,
then, that he was
a paid assassin?

That's what I'm saying,

and in a day or two
I'll be able to prove it.

Sir, if somebody's
out to k*ll you,

they may have hired
more than one man.

Oh, they have--
Two for certain.

Jarrod, that ranch hand,
whatever he calls himself.

Walt Tompkins,
Sheriff.

I'll have one of my deputies
ride back with you, Senator.

Thank you, Sheriff,
I don't think that'll
be necessary.

One assassination attempt
an evening is all we can expect.

I don't believe
there'll be any more trouble.

Well, good night,

and it's been a pleasure
meeting you, sir.

Under the circumstances, I wish
I could say the same thing.

[laughs]

You're a good man.

-The country needs
more like you.
-Thank you, sir.

Sheriff, I asked you
to check out all people
with criminal records.

I have some of
that information over
in my office

if you'd care
to look at it.

Thank you very much.

I'll see you back
at the house, Senator.

-Night, Jarrod.
-Sheriff.

It's been
quite an evening.

That it has.

We'll see the sun come up
on the way back.

The whole thing seems
so incredible, doesn't it?

I know it sounds incredible,

but in big business,
politics,

millions of dollars at stake,

human lives at stake,
wars hanging in the balance,

to hire a man to k*ll a senator
is child's play.

Judd, if you suspected
that Keller was an assassin,

wouldn't it have been wiser
to warn the sheriff to
keep an eye on him?

I guess I'm used to
doing things myself.

Jarrod, I thought
if I could talk to him,

sound him out,
I might be able to--

Well, you know
what happened.

He came out of his room
with his g*n drawn, and...

Yeah.

Well, we better
get back to the house.

I think you can
use some rest.

Uh, miss.

Good morning.

Are you leaving?

That's right.

I see.
Well, then, may I?

Tell me, does
the district attorney
know about this?

The district attorney
knows nothing and wants
to know even less.

You'll forgive me,
but what's that
supposed to mean?

Oh, come off it, Mr. Barkley.

You're the senator's lawyer
and his friend--

-You're part of it.
-Part of what?

Never mind.
I have to go.

Now just a minute,
young lady.

I asked you a question,
and I'd like an answer.

Part of what?

I want you to
understand something.

I may be the senator's
defense attorney,

but both the senator and I
want nothing but the truth
to come out in that court,

so if you know anything,
anything at all,

to either deny or corroborate
that defense, I'd like to--

Which was that
Frank had a g*n?

That he was waiting
up there in the dark
to ambush the senator?

That some people paid him
to do the job?

What a joke, Mr. Barkley,
what a stupid joke.

Ask anybody
who knows Frank Keller--

He never carried a g*n.
Never!

Can you prove that?

I spent enough time with him
that I can prove more than that.

Besides, I was there
when it happened.

Remember, Mr. Barkley?

Go on.

I was in the room.
I didn't see a thing.

You realize I can have
the district attorney
subpoena you,

force you to come back here
and testify.

Testify to what,
Mr. Barkley?

That I could see
through a closed door
into the hall?

Testify to what?!
No matter what I say,
it wouldn't matter.

People already
made up their mind.

By the time you
and the district attorney
finish questioning me,

well, about my line of work,
whether I ever spent
any time in jail,

do you think there'd
be anybody taking my word?

Come on, Mr. Barkley.

I'd probably wind up
in jail for perjury.

[sighs]
I'm sorry, Mr. Barkley.

DRIVER:Hiyahh!

[laughter]

Well, you know
the whole story--

By now, everyone
in the entire state
knows the whole story.

Kinda makes you feel good,
doesn't it, Hodges?

Gettin' your name
in the newspaper?

-Just like being a celebrity!
-Yeah!

Not that I care.

I never looked to be
in the public eye.

Aw, no. But you know
what interests me?

What you told the sheriff.

You said that you could just see
there was gonna be a k*lling

by the look in Judd's eye.

That's right.

Most men I know
would have run away
from trouble like that,

not right into
the teeth of it.

Man shoots as straight
as Judd Robson,

not much danger of hittin'
poor little ol' me.

Besides which,
you made darn sure

you weren't in
the line of fire, right?

-Right.
-Keller's room's around
the bend in the corridor,

man can hardly get hit
standing near the stairway.

I'm no hero,
that's for sure!

You can't get hit...
you can't see around
that bend, either.

-What are you driving at?
-Just this, Hodges.

You never saw Keller
coming out of his room,

and you never saw him
holding a g*n, either.

Do you know why?

Because he didn't
have one, did he?

Did he, Hodges?

"I promise you a complete
investigation of the mineral
rights in this area

-will be undertaken."
-That's fine.

Close it off
with a form ending.

"Thank you for your interest
in better government,"

et cetera, et cetera...
[yawns]

Sorry, Jarrod,
but some of these letters
have to be taken care of.

-I understand.
-That's if I can
stay awake that long.

Your mother took me
for a ride today

and really put me
through my paces.

Don't be so sober,
Jarrod.

Keller's girl is,
by your own admission,

-a lady of slightly
ill repute.
-That true.

But what about
our eyewitness, Hodges?

Hodges? I never put much faith
in his testimony from the first.

He's a publicity seeker.
I know the type well.

He couldn't possibly
have seen Keller's g*n.

But I saw it.

All right, Judd,

let's put aside
what Hodges said,
what the girl said.

How am I to prove
that there was a g*n?

Oh, Jarrod,
before the sheriff got there,

how many people,
guests of the hotel,
townspeople,

could have picked up that g*n?

A souvenir, something
to leave their grandchildren.

That's possible...let's say
for the moment even probable.

It still doesn't change the fact
that the girl said Keller
never carried--

While we're at it,
let's get one thing straight--

His name was not Keller.

I'm afraid it was, Judd.

He was checked out
thoroughly.

He was born
Frank Donald Keller,

and he died
Frank Keller.

He was an orphan.

And there's no indication
that either he or any member
of his adopted family

ever ran afoul of you
in any way.

I was sure,
absolutely certain,

somewhere along the line
that man had a personal
grudge against me.

His eyes...
the way he moved...

reminded me of duke Madden,
right, Salazar?

-That's right.
-Bet your life that's right.

Now, listen to me,
and listen good.

I don't care
what you found out
with your checking--

It wasn't I who
did the checking, Judd,
it was the district attorney.

Well, you tell
the district attorney
to check his facts again,

because I'll bet my intuition
against his facts

any day in the week
and twice on Sunday.

And with Salazar
on top of the package,

well, that man can remember
whether somebody I arrested

in Whitewater, Texas, in 1855
had a wart on his nose!

And if he had one,
whether it was on
the tip or the side.

Neither. It happened to be
in the middle of his forehead.

[laughs]

I think I'll turn in.

Jarrod, can I see you
a minute?

Excuse me, Judd.

You better get
some sleep yourself,
Jarrod.

Because tonight it sounded
like my lawyer's trying
to get me hung.

What'd you send
for him for?

I wanted to see Nick
and get my wages.

You ran out without
waiting to collect
those wages. Why?

Look, I didn't
exactly run,

I was run out,
Mr. Barkley.

What were you doing
under the senator's window
that night?

-I was just taking a walk.
-Just taking a walk, huh?

That's right,
I was just taking a walk.

Ask any man in the bunkhouse.
For a fact, I don't sleep good.

I never have.

So once, maybe twice a night,
I get up and walk around a bit.

You walk around,
all right.

Not five minutes
after the senator arrived,

you walked right into the house
to gawk at him!

Look, I was sent to get Nick.

And as for gawking at him,
he's a famous man,

a senator, a g*n fighter,

-and you don't see men
like him every day.
-Maybe.

But if it's all so innocent,

that still doesn't
explain why you ran.

Jarrod, in Walt's shoes,
taking a walk at night,

somebody takes a shot at you,
maybe we'd have run, too.

Jarrod, in town yesterday,

I saw Judd come within
one second of sh**ting down
a blind man.

Look, Mr. Barkley,

when I realized
that Judd Robson
was sh**ting at me...

and from the first,
he'd been lookin' at me...

Look, I don't know
how to explain it,
it was like...

like he was sizing me up...

for the k*ll.

I thought
you'd like some coffee.

Are you working
on the senator's case?

There's some cold beef.
Would you like a sandwich?

-Jarrod?
-Hmm?

Oh, I'm sorry, honey,
I was a thousand miles away.

I brought you
some coffee.

Thanks.

Jarrod, what's wrong?

You've been in here
all day, and...

and if you don't shave
pretty soon...

[chuckles]
You know something,
honey?

Those pretty blue eyes of yours
see a lot more than I thought.

Do you want to
talk about it?

Not just yet.

Well...if and when.

I may just
take you up on that.

Thanks for the coffee.

-Good evening.
-Excuse me.

-I hope I'm not
disturbing you.
-Not a bit.

-Care for some coffee?
-No, thank you.

-A drink?
-A drop or two of sherry,
if you have it.

I think that
can be arranged.

I hope you haven't been laboring
over the impending inquest.

As a matter of fact,
I was just preparing
some notes.

Purely academic...

but what sort of a case
were you preparing?

Why academic?

We-- The senator, that is,

received a telegram from
Washington this afternoon.

I'm afraid that it's going
to be impossible for us

-to remain here
for the proceedings.
-I see.

What you're telling me
is that you've simply decided
to cancel the inquest.

I'm afraid we must, much as
it pains the senator to do it.

If my memory serves me,
Mr. Salazar,

it was the senator
who asked for the inquest.

As a matter of fact,
he insisted on it.

Mr. Barkley,
it was a mockery at best.

The facts of the case
were public knowledge.

The verdict was
a foregone conclusion.

Was it?

You were to be
his defense attorney,
Mr. Barkley.

Surely you know that the k*lling
was justifiable homicide,
self-defense.

Excellent sherry, Mr. Barkley,

excellent.

Thank you.

Good night.

Well, you're down early.

I'm riding into town,

to see the district attorney.

At this hour of the morning?
What's wrong?

You heard what happened
about the inquest?

I know Judd's been
called back to Washington.

Suddenly, unexpectedly
called back to Washington.

And so, much to his regret,
forced to cancel the inquest.

I'm going to ask
the district attorney
to insist that he stay

and face that inquest.

I don't understand. Why?

Mother, when Judd
asked me to defend him,

I had to find out
certain things...

things that don't
go down easily.

What things?

Jarrod, I want to know.
What things?

All right.

I'm convinced that
the man sees ghosts--

Ghosts out of his past
that have come back
to k*ll him,

imaginary enemies
all around him.

But a man like that
does have enemies--
Real enemies.

Maybe, but Frank Keller
wasn't one of them--
Not nearly.

But he thought Keller
was an assassin.

In Judd's mind,
he had a reason.

Yes, in his mind
he had a reason.

But what if that mind is
no longer capable of reason?

I hope I'm wrong,

but I've got to find out.

JUDD: Good morning.

-Good morning.
-My, that coffee
smells good.

Ah, Jarrod--
Just the man
I want to see,

if you have a few seconds
to give to an old friend
and ex-client.

I take it you're not exactly
overjoyed that I'm not staying
for the inquest.

Well, I'm not pleased
about it either,

but certain things
have come up,

matters involving
national security,

that dictate that I leave
for Washington at once,
and that's that.

But...

if you're not satisfied,
go to the district attorney,

have him issue a subpoena,
force me to stay.

If Washington allows it,
I'd thank you.

Because believe me,
I have no desire to leave here
under the slightest cloud--

Even if it's only
in your mind, Jarrod.

-I'm on my way
to see him now, Judd.
-Good.

We'll both hope
he gives you satisfaction.

If you'll
excuse me.

Well, Judd, how about
some ham and eggs?

No. Later.

Victoria...
what did he say to you?

Nothing. Nothing you
don't already know.

He just thinks you should
be here for the inquest.

Better that
the truth comes out,

no matter
who gets hurt.

Oh, it's touching.
Your son's sudden,

passionate dedication
to the truth.

-"Sudden dedication"--
-Well, maybe not so sudden.

I saw it coming
from the beginning,

his burning desire
to defend me.

-But you wanted an inquest!
You insisted on it!
-Brilliant!

Give them credit for that,
using Jarrod, my friend,
my lawyer,

in such a manner--
Diabolical, but brilliant.

Victoria, I didn't
want to tell you
or believe it myself,

but I have
hard-core evidence now

that Jarrod is in league
against me.

Judd, what are you saying?

Uh--

Victoria, your face...

you sweet, wonderful woman,
I was joking.

[laughs]

I was joking!

[laughs]

Well, now that's settled.

[inhales] You know,
I can almost smell
that good, fresh air in here.

That's what I'm gonna miss most
when I get back to Washington,

almost as much
as all of you.

Maybe a good, hard ride
will fill these old lungs.

You have my ham and eggs
waiting for me, will you?

Oh, Mr. Senator,
Mr. Senator.

You can finish packing.
I'm going out for some air.

-Oh, but I--
-Some fresh air, Mr. Salazar,

if you don't mind.

Of course not, Mr. Senator.

JUDD: Jarrod!

Jarrod!

What is it, Judd?

I've been thinking about
your little ride into town.

Maybe...

maybe it's not
in the best interests
of all parties concerned.

I think it is.

You're trying
to get me hung, boy.

We both know that now,
don't we?

You and your friends...

you've been bought out, Jarrod.
You're in the pay of the devil!

You and your
big business interests,
your vested interests!

You'd destroy me
rather than see my bill
passed into law.

I don't want to hurt you,
Jarrod, but you're misguided,
and, so, dangerous,

to yourself, to me...
this great country.

We're old friends,
Judd.

You and your fellow assassins...

you're in the pay of the devil.

No words, no apologies
can recall a Judas!

-Jarrod, it's too late.
-I'm not armed, Judd.

It won't be as easy with me
as it was with Keller.

There'll be no witnesses
to say I drew first.

Oh, Jarrod...

Jarrod.

Why couldn't you have
let well enough alone?

[g*nsh*t]

[horse whinnies]

I swear to you,
I never believed
it would come to this.

I hoped and prayed
that his visions,

the hallucinations,
would pass.

He was a great man.

How does one believe
that such a man has fallen?

It wasn't easy for me
watching him disintegrate
before my eyes.

What are you going
to say to them?

Just what you've told me--
The truth.

What I've said to you,
Mr. Barkley,

and what I'll say to the world
are two different things.

As far as I'm concerned,
he was k*lled by one of
his many enemies--

m*rder*d by an unknown assassin.

What do we gain
by telling the truth?

What do we gain by destroying
the legend?

Perhaps nothing.
But we have no choice,
do we?

Mr. Barkley,
I spent the best part
of my life with him.

Being with him, protecting him,
was the meaning of my life.

You can't protect him
anymore. He's dead.

-But not his legend.
-His legend, Mr. Salazar?

Is it really that fragile
that it can't bear
the weight of truth?

He was a great man.

Do a few wrong moments
in a great man's life

wash away its entire meaning,
everything that he was?

I can't believe that,

but that's a judgment
we'll have to leave to history.

I'll have no part
in rewriting that history.

You've already paid
far too high a price
to hide the truth.

♪♪