3 Godfathers

Fill up the canteens, Kid. And don't forget that big water bag.

All right, Bob.

- Is that the place? - That's it.

- Where's the bank? At this end of town? - Me? I don't know.

The last time I was there, there was nothing...

no bank, no railroad.

There was a little cantina...

and the most beautiful girl named Josefina, that played the guitar.

We're robbing a bank, not looking up old friends.

Yes, I know. But I sure wish we were rustling cows.

- You want to change your mind, too, Kid? - Not me.

Well, you better think it over. I hate to take you along.

This is no cinch, like rustling a few cows.

I thought it over, Bob, and I ain't backing down.

No, sir, I ain't backing down.

Look, Kid, the border's over yonder, just 60 miles.

Why don't you light out? We'll join you. Promise you.

I ain't backing down.

Then remember...

all you do is hold the horses. No shooting.

Well, at least the cows, they don't shoot back.

Mount up.

That's right friendly of them.

I know why I didn't recognize him.

She has changed his name. She used to call him "tarantula. "

You know, a big bug with legs.

"Welcome" is more neighborly, right, Kid?

Yeah, I guess so.

Yeah, I'm Sweet. Looking for me?

No, neighbor. Just admiring your shingle.

That's a mighty pretty name, B. Sweet.

You fellas come in with that cattle outfit?

No, just riding through. Little business.

Cattle?

Talked about it some.

What happened, man?

Nothing, sir.

Perley, come get your breakfast.

Perley Sweet? Now, that is a right pretty name!

She just calls me that.

Most everybody calls me Buck. Buck Sweet.

I didn't know you had company.

Just passing the time of day with these here cowpokes.

Ma, why don't you fetch us some coffee out here?

I'd be mighty proud to.

You not only got a pretty name, Mr. Sweet.

- You got a mighty pretty wife. - Thank you.

She's a little sprung now, but I'll tell you...

that little woman used to be the best dancer in this whole territory.

I'll bet you were mighty spry yourself, Perley.

I could kick a little. Why don't you fellas light?

No, we better be moving on.

If you're looking for work...

you'll find most of the cattlemen down by the bank.

- Where is that? - Right down the street a piece.

Now, you boys have some hot coffee. I know you've been riding a long ways.

And I can tell you're from Texas by your hats.

Yes, ma'am. We're from Texas, all right.

Besides, you're carrying slickers. Don't rain much in these parts.

Did you come in by the Old Mormon Trail?

- Yes, ma'am, we did. - Didn't use much water. Got a full bag.

Did you happen to meet up with my niece and her husband?

They're coming out by the way of New Jerusalem.

No, ma'am, we didn't.

I don't see how they could have missed them.

They're coming out by wagon, and expecting them for Christmas.

Perley went up in the mountains and cut a big piney tree this morning.

Do you think that he could have missed the turnoff at Terrapin Tanks?

Be just like him to. Never knew such a shiftless fella.

Tried everything but preaching.

It don't take much brains to drive a wagon from New Jerusalem to Welcome.

- If he did, he'd never get here. - Another cup?

No, thanks.

Say, I bet you put eggshells in to settle the grounds, like Ma used to do.

- 'Course I do. Where you from, son? - From Abilene.

And what's your name?

My name's William, but everybody calls me "The Abilene Kid. "

I bet they called you "carrot-tops" when you went to school.

- "Brick-top," ma'am. - They did? Me, too.

Thanks for stopping by, boys.

- Coffee was real nice. - Mighty nice, ma'am.

Thank you very much, ma 'am.

I'm sure proud to have made your acquaintance, ma'am.

Thank you, son.

Well, Perley, thanks.

Hope you have a nice crop of apples this fall...

I'll be seeing you boys, probably.

I do declare, but you're a sight for sore eyes!

You kind of got the advantage of me, ma'am.

I mean all of you. I'm so sick of the East.

For the past two years, I've been back east in Denver, Colorado...

hobbled up in a boarding school...

till I just love the sight of anything sitting a horse.

- And that Charro saddle! - See, Bob?

And what is your lovely name, senorita?

My name? Lordy, my father's president of the bank. Tolliver Latham.

- I expect you do business with him. - We aim to, ma'am.

Ruby, my girl!

Welcome. Welcome to Welcome!

Welcome home, Miss Ruby.

Remember, Kid, you don't do no shooting.

I thought so.

Real desperado type.

Pete, quick, get on your horse!

- Sorry, Miss Crumly. - Tell me what's the matter.

Little bank robbery. Come on, get going!

Come on, Kid! Step up!

Haul it, Pete!

Get those bandits! Don't let them get away!

Blast one at 'em, Pete. Hang on, Kid.

Again, Pete.

Pull up, men.

- Gosh, Marshal, you missed them. - They ain't paying me to kill folks.

Them Texas boys gonna be mighty thirsty before they get to water.

- Back to the depot, Curly. - The depot?

Yeah, the depot. The railroad depot.

Giddup.

You hurt bad, Kid?

- No, but I bled like a stuck pig. - Don't try to talk, Kid.

That Perley character...

You know, he busted that on purpose.

Take a mouthful, Kid.

That's enough.

All right, men, raise your right hand.

As duly appointed Marshal of the territory of Arizona...

I hereby deputize you for the sum of $3 a day to find...

- Hey, watch them pack mules, will you? - I'm doing the best I can.

Come on along, girl.

- You unload them pack horses. - Get them on there.

Come on, Curly, I'm late!

- Come on, Curly, get them mules. - Now, where was I?

Say, Buck, I thought we were gonna get $5 a day.

I don't spend tax money that easy. $3 a day and found.

Now, you solemnly swear to uphold and enforce the law. Say, "I do."

- I do. - Good.

Can I drag it now, Buck? I'm eight hours late now.

Don't bust your bellyband, Luke. We'll be aboard.

- Marshal. - Yes, Mr. Latham?

Shouldn't you deputize more men?

The bank can't risk letting these desperadoes escape.

Sets a bad example.

I don't want you to fret none, Mr. Latham, but if it's gonna worry you...

Boys, Mr. Latham here just put up a reward.

$100, dead or alive, for every one of them poor fellas.

- Thank you, Mr. Latham! - You got them for $100.

Thank you, Luke.

Good luck, Marshal!

Give the Kid a swig of water, Pete.

Drink it up, Kid.

Plenty more when we get to Mojave Tanks. Drink it up!

There she is, fellas.

There she is, Mojave Tanks!

Water, Kid.

Water.

A thousand gallons of it.

You're gonna feel a whole lot better, a whole lot cooler...

once we wash up that shoulder. Go ahead, Kid.

Boy! I'm gonna skin me down to the hide...

climb up that ladder, and dive in that tank, right to the bottom.

Never come up!

Gosh! That a man should have such a great big thirst like I have...

and only water to quench it with.

Anyway, cheers, friends.

Get down.

Ain't no sign of anything.

But that's no guarantee they ain't around. You boys keep your eyes open.

- Sure, Buck. - You mind what I told you, now.

At night, two men stay awake while one sleeps. They won't rush two of you.

- I'd like to see them try it. - Just don't get careless.

Ben, I'll take that deck of cards in your pocket.

I ain't paying you pitch players to sit in the shade all day and claim low.

- Shall I drag her, Buck? - Drag it, Luke.

Drag her, Jake!

Sons of bitches! Let's rush them.

Six-shooters against Winchesters?

I've seen enough.

That Perley character... Tin star.

A lot smarter than I thought. Well, let's take a look at it.

Up here's where we come from. Welcome.

Railroad winds around and makes a bend here at Mojave Tanks, where we are now.

Then it moseys off again to the southeast.

Down here's the Mexican border.

- 50 miles, I figure. - 60.

How's 60, then?

So that Perley character starts playing checkers with us.

He figures we'll head this way, and right. It's the first water.

So he jumps us and stakes out his deputies. No water.

So he figures our next move will be up to Apache Wells.

Right.

So he jumps on his freight car and heads that way.

And he'll be there, setting waiting.

He can keep squatting on his hunkers from now till Christmas...

'cause we ain't gonna be there.

We're doubling back on our tracks to Terrapin Tanks.

- But that's up to the north. - We'll get our water.

We'll hole up in the piney woods until the Kid feels better.

Then while that marshal's sitting, getting calluses on his rump...

we'll set out to the east...

jump the tracks there, and be over the border.

Yes, that's good. But where are we gonna get some water?