The Tin Star

Just getting the feel of these guns.

Where's the sheriff?

Sheriff.

What's wrong, Mr. King?

Who's that man?

I don't know.

Hickman. Morgan Hickman.

Better take his gun. He's killed someone.

You won't need to take my gun.

Won't need this anymore either.

Luke Jameson, murder and robbery. $500 reward.

Oh. Bounty hunter.

Yep.

Tracked down Jameson, he tried to shoot it out.

Fair fight. You won't find any bullet holes in his back.

You don't like outlaws brought in dead?

Our officers of the law bring in their prisoners alive.

Your officer of the law didn't bring in Jameson at all.

I'm not the law. I work inside it for money.

Same as you do if you're in a legal business.

I believe the banking business is legal. I'm also mayor.

My friends here are businessmen

except for Judge Thatcher and Dr. McCord.

You got a bone to pick with the freight company, not with me.

They put a hunk of money on Jameson's head.

He robbed a freight office, killed the agent.

Wanted him dead or alive, which is kind of a hint, sounds like to me.

We're not here to argue, Hickman. This is a law and order town.

Collect your money and get out.

Suits me fine. How soon can I collect?

Soon as I can manage it. I've gotta mail in your claim,

and I can't take your word it's Jameson, either.

I wouldn't know him from Adam.

Well, there's one man in town who ought to recognize the corpse. Bart Bogardus.

Jameson's his cousin, or was.

Get an affidavit from Bogardus.

I'll have to sign the claim, so will you. When will it be ready?

First thing tomorrow morning.

You can unload my pack horse, Sheriff,

I gotta find me a place to stay.

I'd like a room.

Haven't got a room.

Maybe you can find me one.

I said I haven't got a room.

Any other hotel in town?

Nope.

Where can I put up my horses?

Livery barn's that way. Can't miss it on your way out of town.

Now, don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you.

I'm gonna take you home. Got a real nice coop.

Howdy.

Howdy.

What are you up to, son?

Catching pigeons.

Get out of that hayloft!

Ain't I warned you to keep out of here?

Now, get out of here, and stay out.

I don't want your kind around here.

What do you want?

Put up my horses.

You know who I am?

I didn't ask.

Bogardus is the name. Bart Bogardus. Jameson was kin of mine.

Well, every family's got one black sheep, some of them got two.

Take your horses and get out.

It's your barn.

Hey, mister, can I ride your horse?

Big enough to get on, are you?

Better get off, son. It's gonna be a long walk back.

I live here. Where?

Kip, where have you been? The livery barn.

You promised to keep out of there.

I ain't afraid.

Well, I am. Thanks for fetching him home.

Wouldn't know any place a man could put up, would you?

You'd have to share a bedroom with my son.

I don't mind if he don't. I don't mind. Come on.

More coffee?

If you don't mind.

Get up, Kip. You've finished.

You live here all alone?

I have my son.

Why don't you live here with us? Then I can ride your horse.

Kip.

The fact is, I would like to stay a few days,

if your mother'd put up with me.

She'd be glad. Wouldn't you, Mom?

If Mr. Hickman wishes to stay, he can stay.

Do you want to see my pigeons?

Not tonight, Kip. Now, don't bother Mr. Hickman.

I just asked.

Catched them in the livery barn.

You have enough pigeons.

No, I haven't. But I'm raising them.

Two's laid eggs already. Wanna see my pigeons?

Kip, be quiet.

I better take a look at my horses before I turn in.

I'll go with you!

I hope you don't mind.

Bet he shows me his pigeons.

Wanna see my pigeons?

Lead the way, captain.

Can you see them?

What are you gonna do with them?

When I raise enough,

I'm gonna sell them and buy me a horse, maybe a dog, too.

Take a long while, won't it?

Yeah, but I'll do it.

Mom. You go to sleep now.

Nice boy you got.

Well, I hope he doesn't pester you with all his talking.

I like kids.

They like you.

I had a boy once.

You lost him?

Him and my wife both.

Same time.

I guess what got me remembering was

watching you make your own dress.

I used to sit and watch her the same way. It was nice.

This isn't mine. It's for a lady in town.

The way you make your living?

When I can find the work.

Well, I'm afraid that's all for tonight. It's getting late.

Say, am I keeping you up?

Oh, no, no.

I'm going to sleep out here on the bunk. You can go to bed anytime.

I don't like to take your bedroom.

Why don't you let me bunk out here?

'Cause I'll be up before you.

You'll need a light to find your way in the bedroom.

I'm sorry. I forgot your name.

Nona Mayfield.

Mayfield?

You heard my name mentioned in town?

No, but Mayfield. I mean, your boy looks part Mexican.

Don't get me wrong. I got nothing against Mexicans.

Well, how about Indians? Kip's father was an Indian.

Very well, you can move out in the morning.

There's no use arguing, Ben.

You told me when you took that badge

it was gonna be only temporary.

Look, Millie, I guess I might as well tell you.

What I'm hoping for...

Well, if I can show them, if I can make good...

You'll make good... In the graveyard.

Which you want, Ben? Me or that badge?

I can't quit until they want me to.

I won't be around.

Oh! Well.

Morning, Millie. What's the trouble?

She wants me to give up my badge, Doc. How do you like that?

Millie, that's your papa's badge.

I'd sure hate to see it on any man

that didn't keep it clean and bright like he did.

As for Ben here, young as he is, he's the only one we could find.

Would you rather see it pinned on a man like Bogardus?

I don't care.

I only know there's not gonna be any tin star in my life, never.

Where'd you be if your mama'd said that?

I saw what Mother went through never knowing what was gonna happen.

Well, finally it did happen.

I'm going to be a wife, not a widow.

I read something once, sticks in my mind.

"From this nettle danger, we plucked this flower, safety."

Your father plucked that flower for us, Millie.

Folks felt safe to raise their babies and not be afraid.

But somebody had to walk through the nettle patch.

Let someone else do it.

So nobody does it.

That's how the wrong men get hold of things.

Here's a man walks through the nettle patch.

Picks all the flowers for himself.

I have no use for bounty hunters.

Well, that makes it unanimous.

Miss Parker's father was sheriff here for 20 years.

If you find it a little too chilly in here, you can wait outside.

I don't mind the chill. I'm after money.

Oh, that reminds me. Coroner's certificate.

My formal affidavit that Jameson died suddenly but thoroughly of one gunshot.

I'm riding out to look at a bird's nest.

Abe Pickett's already got 11 kids, all girls.

Now his Annie's as big as a barrel again.

There's the kind of woman, Millie, to build up this country.

Stay here, Millie, and witness our signatures.

My claim ready?

Yeah. You can sign it.

It's no good unless you sign it, too.

You don't have to tell me my job. I gotta check it over first.

I'll just wait, make sure it's signed right.

Come on, you sign my claim yet? You sign it?

It's Bogardus. He'll kill you.

Let go.

What are you up to, Ben?

Gonna arrest you, Bogardus.

You're not gonna arrest nobody.

I gotta do what the law says.

The law says a man's got to defend hisself.

You hear me? That half-breed had it coming.

Now, that's far enough! Hold it!