The War Wagon

Sheriff, Taw Jackson's back in town.

Are you sure? - He's ridin' down the street right now, big as life.

Goin' huntin'?

Oon't do anything real fast.

You fellas seem real jumpy.

How'd you get out? Parole. After only three years?

Good behaviour.

This paper says I have to report in to the local law officer wherever I am.

Check-in day is Monday. Figurin' on stickin' around?

For a while. - Your old spread belongs to Mr Pierce now. - I heard that.

It's his legally, and he doesn't want trespassers, so you stay off it.

Oh, I'll sure do that.

Maybe prison took some of the starch out of you.

Maybe.

Where's Lomax? In Randado. The Oriental Palace.

Billy Hyatt's in Chubisco. Levi?

He's down by Mesquite, with Calita's gang.

What about the shipment? The big one's four days from now.

Doesn't give us much time.

Nope.

Put back that salt.

The salt!

Pierce catches you stealin' now, you won't be worth a damn to me.

Mr Pierce. - Did it get here yet? No, it will by the trip after next.

That's when we want her.

Alright, let's clean her up.

Check the rim on the left front wheel. Yes, sir.

Beauty!

Mr Pierce, Taw Jackson's in town. What?

He's out on parole. Where is he? I don't know.

Don't you know he could take a shot at Mr Pierce? - Get Hammond and Brown.

You think he'll try somethin'? Wouldn't you?

Get fresh horses, I want you in Rondado before sun-up.

Find Lomax.

I want him to kill Taw Jackson. I'll pay him anything he wants.

You'll pay him anything, sir?

I'll go for 10,000.

Hell, Mr Pierce, we'd be willin' to do it for a lot less than 10,000.

If you could. Lomax is the one man that can, so get movin'.

Yes, sir.

Boss, you know the way they feel about each other.

Lomax would probably ride all the way over here, and kill him for nothin'.

Unless there's money in it, Lomax'll do nothin' for nothin'.

And I want Taw Jackson dead.

- What'll ya have? - Whiskey.

I understand Lomax is around.

So?

I wanna see him. Yeah, and who are you?

Taw Jackson.

Enjoy you're drink. It'll be your last.

Well, that'd be a shame.

Kinda hoped that my last drink'd be a big one.

Bottle's in front of you. Pour it out.

Gonna shoot me in the back? You deserve it.

You caused me a lot of embarrassment. How?

You're the only man I ever shot and didn't kill.

Well, if it makes you feel any better,

that slug you put in me kept me in hospital for six months.

What made you think I wouldn't kill you?

Curiosity.

Well, you're still alive. Now what's to keep you that way?

- Money. - How much?

Your share'll be over 100,000.

That's what I've always said the world needs:

More simple understanding to bring people together. Lhotse! Khaloo!

We can talk upstairs. What I have to say is private.

Can't get more private. Neither one of them speaks a word of English.

Come on in!

I hope this'll be friendlier than last time. - Couldn't be unfriendlier.

Know why Pierce wanted you to kill me?

So he could legally steal your land, once he found there was gold on it.

You were just defending your ranch.

But you got shot, framed and sent to jail.

Thought that was kind of amusing.

Nice to find a fella with a keen sense of humour.

Old Pierce found a lotta gold on your land.

That ore assays out at $643 a tonne, normally.

But they've hit the motherlode, which'll be 1200 per cent richer.

For a man out a short while you know a lot about his business.

He's important to me. You thinkin' about his gold?

- My gold. - Forget it.

You can't get within a mile of it. Have some grub.

No thanks. How about outta town?

He has a new toy. An iron-plated thing he calls the War Wagon.

Takes an average of 50,000 in gold from Emmett to the station in El Paso.

Forty-three miles away. There are a few guards.

Thirty-three of them. Twenty-eight outriders and five in the coach.

Each man has a Henry repeating rifle, two Colts and 200 rounds.

So what? We're going to take that wagon.

We are?

You taken a look lately at the cemetery at Emmett?

There's a big bunch of cheap wooden crosses, all crowded in together.

That's a tribute to the last fools who tried to stop the War Wagon.

You like facts? $1.15 for the casket, and 12 cents for the crosses.

Pierce foots the bill.

$1.27 seems a poor price to pay for a man's life, especially mine.

In four days, Pierce is going to make the biggest gold shipment ever.

A half a million dollars.

A half a million? How we gonna take it, with the Prussian army?

With three others. Five of us.

Five. I'm kinda glad I didn't kill you tonight. You're funny.

Wanna hear how? How we end up in jail or on the run?

- Not my way. - No chance.

$100,000, Lomax, that's your share. You ready to listen?

Why me? - You're good with guns. And the only safecracker I know.

How'd you find that out? An old friend of yours in prison.

For the last time, are you gonna listen?

Alright. Let's hear it.

Stony Flats. The War Wagon.

Yeah!

- One condition. - What's that?

My time till the robbery costs $100 a day, and if I fire my gun $500.

Haven't got that kind of money.

I'll take a marker against your share.

It's a deal.

You always wear a gun?

Just lately.

Morning, Mr Lomax. - Hello, Smitty. You want I should saddle your horse?

Your in the third stall on the left.

There he is.

- Lomax! - Morning, Lomax.

What do ya want?

Mr Pierce would like to talk to you. What for?

It's about Taw Jackson.

What about Taw Jackson?

Mr Pierce said he'll go all the way up to 10,000 dollars.

Hey, Taw, you hear that? I heard.

You're worth a lot of money. Dead.

Taw, this wasn't our idea at all. We're just deliverin' a message.

Yeah.

What's your answer?

Tell him I'll be thinkin' about it.

Yes, sir, we sure will. Come on.

The boss ain't gonna like that answer. I know it.

Why don't we do it?

Mr Pierce would be very grateful.

Ain't no better time!

Mine hit the ground first.

Mine was taller.

Yes, sir, a good way to start our partnership.

- How's that? - A $500 day.

I didn't ask for your help back there. Can't afford to let you get killed

unless I do it.

Hey, why are we headed south? To pick up Levi Walking Bear.

- Levi who? - Walking Bear.

He's running with Calita's gang, down on the border.

Pretty rough outfit. Yeah. Well, we need him.

He's worth 100,000 dollars to ya.

Ninety.

- Buenos Dias. - Buenos Dias.

Whose pigs are these?

Yours?

Fine.

Information?

Buenos días, Señorita. Welcome, Señor. Tequila?

Sure.

Thank you. Salud!

You're a pretty little girl. Little girl?

Well, you're not a little boy.

Where's Calita's camp?

Oon't know.

Are you sure?

Well, then. How about a drink?

A little one.

That's good!

Gracias, Señor.

Where did you get that? I sleep on this ring.

Yes, every night like this.

For the tequila.

Oo you not want anything else? Later.

- Let's go. - Go where?

Calita's. Third canyon south, two miles up.

You have to appeal to their intellect.

Let me guess which one's your friend.

Hey, don't shoot!

- Well... - Yeah.

Come on. Yah!

Hey, comrades! Ready?

Who the hell are you? Shut up. Oon't drop your arm.

What?

Where ya goin'? Another target.

Get outta here!

My horses! Where are my horses?

Looks like we made it.

Thanks, Taw. You might say I owe you fellas my life. - Yeah, yuh might.

Lomax. Levi Walking Bear.

So you're Lomax. What was that all about back there?

- We were playin' poker. - So?

I was cheatin'.

Hey, you got a bargain, big man. How's that?

Two $500 days for the price of one.

Thanks.

Why'd you stick your necks out for me?

We got a job for yuh.

Lomax, I want you to swing over to Chubisco. - Chubisco?

Pick up Billy Hyatt and bring him out to the old mission.

Sure hate being away from yuh.

That's how it's gonna have to be.

Oon't let anything happen to yuh.

Not likely.