Decision at Sundown

Driver!

Pull up here.

I said, pull up.

Whoa there!

Whoa!

You, shotgun, stand up!

Throw me my rifle.

All right, boys, you can move out.

From now on, we're going in different directions.

Well, git!

Morning, Bart. I was beginning to think that coach was never gonna get here.

- Looks like it woke you up. - Well, waiting makes a man sleepy.

I've been over in that hollow since yesterday afternoon.

Kind of scared the coach might pass me during the night.

The way he's travelling now, though, he'd have been by here two days ago.

I'd have missed you altogether.

Rough as you look, though, I can't say as I blame him.

Sam, you sure it's him?

Well, of course I'm sure. There ain't a hundred Tate Kimbroughs.

There could be, but I'm only interested in one.

Well, wait till you see him for yourself. You'll know that's the one.

- He's a big man in Sundown? - The biggest.

He's got that town in his fist and he's squeezing it hard.

Ain't heard the folks complain much. Guess they're all scared.

Glad to hear he's doing so well.

When a man's riding high, the ground comes up and hits him a lot harder when he falls.

Well, why don't you rest a little while?

You know I ain't had nothing to eat since yesterday.

We could make a little fire and cook up...

We'll be eating when we get to Sundown.

- Today's not Sunday. - Thursday.

What's all the commotion?

- Tate Kimbrough's getting married. - Today? Why didn't you tell me?

Well, I didn't reckon it was important.

Sam, folks say the most important moment in a man's life is when he gets married.

Well, I wouldn't know about that.

- There's a pretty good eating house down... - Where's the barbershop?

Over there.

I'm not gonna miss the most important moment in Tate Kimbrough's life.

A man shouldn't go to a wedding with stubble on his face.

A man shouldn't go to a wedding on an empty belly neither.

Go ahead and fill it.

No reason for you to go, stomach empty or full.

You'll have to come back this afternoon, mister.

This is my last customer. I'm closing up.

I'll be open again at two o'clock.

- What time's the big wedding today? - In about half an hour.

Ain't you almost finished with him?

Shouldn't take you more than fifteen minutes to shave my whiskers.

I told you, mister, I'm closing up.

You wouldn't be going to a wedding looking like this, would you, Mr Barber?

- No, but... - That's what I mean.

- I told you, I'm closing up. - You told him three times.

You don't mind if I shave myself?

- No. No, sir, I don't mind, not at all. - Thanks.

Go ahead.

I take it you're good friends of Mr Kimbrough.

Do you?

Well, it looks like you've come a long way to attend his wedding.

We've come a long way.

Mr Kimbrough is a very lucky man.

He's marrying up with Miss Lucy Summerton,

the finest and prettiest young lady in Sundown.

Sounds like you think mighty highly of her.

Oh, yes, I certainly do.

Lady like that's making a big mistake

marrying a man as rotten as Tate Kimbrough.

I guess you've figured out now we ain't friends of Mr Kimbrough's.

You shouldn't talk like that about Mr Kimbrough.

Thank you, Mr Summerton.

Oh, Bart, Mr Summerton here is Lucy's papa.

Yeah?

That's a shame.

Good morning, Mr Summerton.

- Good morning, Doctor. - How is Lucy feeling today?

Both the Summertons are enjoying excellent health, I am happy to say.

Well, I wasn't enquiring about her health.

Being a physician, that should be your only concern.

Honey!

Ruby!

I was just watching Mr Summerton ride down the street in his fine buggy.

- Of course, you made sure that he saw you. - He saw me.

I imagine he must be a little upset having that

Bible-quoting justice of the peace perform the ceremony,

instead of the Reverend Peterson.

It could just be that the reverend is out of town on account of you and me.

Oh, Tate, you're making a mistake. You'll still need me.

I never needed anybody.

Everybody's got to need somebody.

- You must think you need Lucy Summerton. - I'm marrying Lucy because I love her.

You love me.

But you never married me.

Oh, it's different between you and me. You know that.

Yes, I guess I know.

It would be embarrassing for Lucy if you stayed in town.

I'm leaving Sundown tonight.

I wouldn't want to embarrass Mrs Kimbrough.

Honey, you really are something.

I have to change for the wedding.

You can't go to the wedding.

Now, listen to me, Tate. I never crowded you.

You know I always thought that someday you'd marry me.

I've given you more than any woman should ever give a man.

Even though things haven't worked out the way they should, I've got to be there.

To remind Lucy and her father and everybody else in town about us?

That's not the reason. I've got to be there for me, Tate.

Don't you understand? For me.

Maybe if I see you getting married,

it'll be easier for me to understand that now you belong to somebody else.

Ruby,

do me one last favour, will you?

Don't sit in the front pew.

That sure is a good eating house down there on the corner.

These horses need food more than we do. Where's the stable?

Right down there a stretch.

Hey, Doc, come in here and give me a hand, will you?

Yeah, sure.

We want to buy some feed for our horses, mister.

You'll have to talk to Abe about that. He's in here.

I ain't wore these boots in five years. My feet must have growed some.

- Push. - Oh, who are you?

We want to buy some feed for our horses.

- How many you got? - Two.

Much obliged, Doc. Give me fifty cents and help yourself.

I can't go to church smelling like a horse.

Try some of it. It's real sweet-smelling stuff.

Yeah.

You figure on staying in Sundown for any length of time?

We could.

You know, there's a lot of folks around here that ain't interested in seeing you rebels.

The war is over.

I bet you still got plenty folks down in Texas that thinks the war is still going on.

What makes you think we're from Texas?

From your talk, I sure didn't think you was Yankees.

- Yeah. - What brings you two fellas to Sundown?

- Tate Kimbrough. - Oh, mighty fine fella, Mr Kimbrough.

Sure nice you got here in time for his wedding.

Well, come on, Doc, we'll walk over to the church together.

I'm not going.

Oh, sometimes you take things too serious.

- I don't think so. - Well, it's up to you.

Something bothering you, mister?

Were you afraid that Mr Kimbrough wouldn't like it

if you weren't in time for his wedding?

Some folks around here figure that Sundown doesn't need

any more of Tate Kimbrough's friends.

We ain't interested in what some folks around here figure.

Sheriff, I was shaving Mr Summerton when those two men came into my shop.

One was a fella I saw hanging around town a couple of days ago,

the other one I never saw before.

Well, what about 'em?

Well, I don't like their looks, especially the one I never saw before.

The nerve of him, talking about Tate Kimbrough like he did.

I tell you, Sheriff, he's a bad one.

- Well, what are you gonna do? - Nothing he can do.

He ain't broke any laws.

- But he said that Tate Kimbrough... - The stranger just stated an opinion.

Now, you can't arrest a man for having an opinion. Can you, Sheriff?

Good morning, gentlemen. What'll you have?

You got anything to eat?

The restaurant's right down the street, but it's closed.

Two whiskeys, then.

Your money's no good today, mister. All the drinks are on Tate Kimbrough.

- We're paying for our drinks. - There's no charge.

If you don't mind, we'd like to pay.

Give him back his money, Otis.

- That sign means what it says, mister. - So do I, Sheriff.

Otis, make sure everybody's got a full glass.

The good health of Mr and Mrs Tate Kimbrough.

Sheriff, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd get my money out of there,

wipe it off, and put it back on the bar.

Better hurry, Sheriff.

I don't think Mr Kimbrough would like you to miss his wedding.

Mister, if you're figuring to stay on in Sundown,

you're making a big mistake.

Otis, the sheriff left you a messy job,

but my friend and I would like these drinks before we leave.

That's all right, you go right ahead.

You paid for your drink.

Otis, I think I will have that drink.

On me.

- Doc! - Hello, Ruby.

Do me a favour. Ride with me to the church.

- Well, I wasn't planning on going. - Please.

All right, Ruby.

I sure never expected Morley Chase and the C-Cross boys at the wedding. Huh!

Something wrong, Barber?

Oh, no, no, no, Mr Chase. It's just that, er...

Just that what?

Well, none of us figured on seeing you here,

on account of you and Tate ain't exactly friends.

Well, why not? I'm no different than the rest of you boys.

You know we all feel the same about the groom.

Day's full of surprises.

What's she doing with him?

Make way for Mr Kimbrough.

Come on, now, make way for Mr Kimbrough.

All right, everybody, stand aside and make way for the bridegroom.

- Morning, Mr Kimbrough. - Morning, Zeke.

All right, folks, everybody inside.