Have Gun, Will Travel

Now, would you like to do some explaining?

It's nothing personal.

My name is Roderick Jefferson.

I... gamble, among other things.

I'm not much good to my family, or...

the human race.

That's very interesting

and not very satisfactory.

Well, I said "gamble."

Tonight my bad luck became catastrophic.

I signed IOUs for $10,000,

which I knew I couldn't make good.

I was desperate.

So you were offered the choice of... jail,

disgrace for you and your family,

or...

performing this...

little favor.

I've met you, Mr. Jefferson.

I don't believe so.

About ten years ago...

one morning, in a mirror.

At that time, I was receiving

a small monthly remittance not to go home.

Oh, I had tried the high life,

I'd tried it often.

But young as I was,

I finally came to enjoy none of it.

Look, why drag this out?

Call the police, and let's have done with it.

Mr. Jefferson, I am trying to tell you something,

and you would do well to listen.

Sit down.

Look at that.

Fused silica, lime...

...treated with mercury, polished...

and in it, a man can see what he is.

And what he was.

Ten years ago, Mr. Jefferson,

in this hotel, I was playing cards with a man named Norge.

Norge was a man who hated people.

Hated them because they were young,

because they had decent features,

because they were healthy...

or just because they were there.

$15,000.

I'll have it now.

Mr. Norge, I do not have $15,000 and you know it.

You knew it when you encouraged me to write those IOUs.

Payable upon demand.

Well, I demand it now.

I don't have $15,000!

Now, what do you want?

I want you to kill a man.

To kill a man?

There's a place called Delta Valley.

I own it all, animals and people included.

And yet if I even set foot inside that valley, I'd die.

Of what?

Of whatever whim moves that devil Smoke.

Smoke?

Smoke.

It's the name of the man you're going to kill.

He's wanted in a dozen states for a dozen crimes.

He rode into Delta about a year ago,

badly wounded.

And out of pity, my townspeople

nursed him back to health.

And then he killed my guards...

and one night I woke up with him standing over my bed

with a knife at my throat,

and he said to me,

"You get out of this valley.

If you ever return, I'll kill you."

I've chosen you very carefully.

I know your war record,

I know your dueling record.

Honor, hmm?

Well, in that regard, you and Smoke think alike.

That's what I'm counting on.

You give me your word you'll challenge Smoke to a duel,

and you can burn these notes.

The alternative...

is jail.

Or disgrace to your honorable family name.

Don't bother looking.

Well.

Norge sent a gentleman this time, didn't he?

What do you call yourself?

Now, that is none of your concern.

I'm here for one purpose only.

I challenge you to a duel.

Well, that's no ordinary cough you've got there.

No, it isn't.

And it will probably be the death of me,

since the likes of you will not.

So you challenge me to a duel, do you?

You accept?

I do, but as the challenged,

it's for me to choose the time

and the weapons and the place.

That is your privilege.

In the books, there's a name for a man like you.

Yeah.

A paladin.

Paladin.

That's a gentleman knight in shining armor

all armed with a cause and righteousness

and a fine, pointed lance...

...and yet, a mercenary.

A man who hires out for gold.

What was your price, my paladin?

How much gold did Norge give you

to slay the dragon?

Now, you have accepted my challenge.

Let's settle it, here and now!

This place, my dear Paladin,

like life itself, is at once a prison and freedom.