Maverick

Almost got hung myself once.

Didn't care for it much.

How about you?

We'll leave you now.

Don't want anyone to see me here...

get the crazy notion that I was somehow connected with your...

accidental death.

On the other hand...

it's not good for a man to be out here alone.

The mind can do terrible things.

Enjoy the company.

Oh, snakes.

Don't go without me, all right, Ollie?

Lord...

whatever I've done to piss you off...

if you'd just get me out of this...

let me know what it was, I'll rectify the situation.

It had just been a shitty week for me from the beginning.

It all started when I was heading into Crystal River...

to take some money from the bank.

I should've known there was bad luck on the horizon...

when my horse got stolen...

and I had to replace it with something less than a thoroughbred.

My luck had to change fast.

The poker game of the century was four days away in St. Louis...

and I was still $3,000 short of the entrance fee.

There was no way in hell I would miss that game.

Not just because there was a half-million dollar pot to be won...

although that kind of money certainly demands attention...

but because I needed to know how good I really was.

Once and for all.

I had to hole up here for the night.

Business would have to wait till morning.

Big fella.

- Hello, sir. - Hi, son.

How much?

By the day, week or month?

No, no. Not how much to take care of him, how much to just take him. Permanently.

Pa! This man wants to know if you wanna buy a burro.

That burro ain't worth a dollar.

Well, sir, I say you got yourself a deal.

Here's your dollar.

He doesn't eat much, but he's a regular jackass.

And he-aw, he-aw, he always likes to be called Arthur.

From the moment I slapped eyes on this hombre, I smelled trouble...

and refried beans.

Something else told me that this was not just a chance meeting.

I'll see your 10 and I'll raise you 10.

I call.

- What do you got? - Full house.

That beats me.

Damn. You are a lucky lady.

Is this seat taken?

It is now.

My name is Annabelle Bransford.

What do they call you?

Bret Maverick. I'm pleased to meet you.

I like the game the way it is.

Well, I bring all sorts of pluses to the table.

I hardly ever bluff and I never, ever cheat.

I don't believe it.

Neither do I.

I like the game just the way it is.

What good is an empty chair?

Indeed.

I'll bet I can change your mind.

I promise that I will lose for at least an hour.

- I like that. - Sounds good.

My kind of player.

We're playing five-card draw.

Please, sit down.

My name is Mrs. Annabelle Bransford.

I caught that before, ma'am. Except the "Mrs."

Ante up.

I'm in.

Same game. Chips, sir.

You can lose as much as you want.

Two hundred.

- You did say you'd lose for an hour. - I'm a man of my word.

I know.

Place your bets.

It's about time.

I'll see you...

and raise you 20.

Slow down, I'm running low on chips.

I'll see your bet and...

I'll call.

Two pair. Aces over queens.

Lucky for me, I had 3 sixes.

Sorry.

Nice pot.

Broke your losing streak.

That one shouldn't count.

Beg your pardon?

I don't think that hand should count.

You got any logical reasons why not?

My mind wasn't on the game.

His mind wasn't on the...

What's your name, son?

- Johnny. - You got a last name?

Johnny Hardin.

What's your occupation?

I'm a gunfighter.

I have to assume since you're still alive...

and playing cards with us...

that you're good at it.

Care to find out?

Gentlemen, this hand definitely does not count. Take it all.

Whatever you think's fair, and I'll be content with the leavings.

You always been gutless?

I think so. For as long as I can remember, at any rate.

My old pappy used to say, "He who fights and runs away...

can run away another day."

What?

Look, I don't see...

Slow down there.

Where's the fire, son?

Slow down. Don't shoot me, okay? I'm just trying to expound.

I was saying, I don't see what's so great about being brave.

I mean, I'm a card player. You know, I play cards.

Call me a gambler. I want to become an old gambler.

You are a gunfighter.

An exceptional one at that, from what I hear.

If I went up against you, what chance would I have had? Answer?

Zero.

Absolutely none whatsoever.

Wanna see it again?

Damn thing won't stay in the holster.

Whoop! I must have a spring in there.

Come on, let's just play poker.

Who wants to play poker?

Who wants to see someone get killed?

No. Let's play poker.

I'd rather be rich than dead.

Was that fast? I thought that was fast.

Was it fast? Was it?

Yeah.

Now, what was it? Stud?

I think I prefer draw!

Just kidding.

Sorry. I couldn't resist it.

My ante's in.

- I'll raise you 75. - Oh, 75.

Well, that's... That more than takes care of your bet.

And I'll raise you whatever that is, looks like 100.

Shit! I fold.

Hey, you never paid to look...

You said you never bluffed.

I had a pair of aces!

No, I said I never cheated and I also said I hardly ever bluff.

This is one of the "hardlys."

You've been cheating the whole game.

What do you think I was doing during that first hour?

I was learning your tells.

Your weakness comes when you get your hand...

shuffle the cards back and forth and act a little fidgety.

I just called you a cheat.

You also called me gutless...

but I figured you were just teasing.

Get your hands off him!

We get him first!

When I seen you through the window, I believed in the Almighty.

You were drinking.

A lot. And you played bad. Whose fault is that?

Yours, you bastard! It's all your fault!

It's our time now.

- I think there's gonna be a fight. - Come here, son.

I want you to hold onto this for me.

If they get to whupping me...

you have my permission to shoot me.

- Shoot you? - Shoot me.

See this gets no dirt on it. Thank you.

Good luck! I get to hold it.

I'm going to cut you up...

fancy man!

- You're a pretty good fighter. - Thank you.

- I'm glad I didn't have to kill you. - Me too.

- By the way, I won 20 cents. - Twenty cents?

Thanks to my lucky shirt.

Speaking of my 20 cents...

All right. All right! My shirt's damaged! Damn!

What the hell else bad can happen? You!

What did you say before? You called me something.

- Nothing important. - He called you a gutless coward.

I did not say that. I might've said a gutless cheat...

- But not a coward. - Cheat? Cheat?

I was teasing.

- Teasing? - Teasing.

I don't like being teased.

Hey. My friend, I'm sorry.

Now I'm teasing you.

Let's play poker.

Oh, ma'am. Here. Let me get your chair.

That was truly amazing.

I just get lucky sometimes.

Whose deal was it? Mine?

Excuse me. Think I'm through with y'all for the evening.

- Good night, ma'am. - Good night.

Good night, son.

Five-card draw all right?