The Villain

Damn!

Whiskey, let's find us a nice little bank.

What do you know? I'm the boss.

That does it, Whiskey.

Now just for that, I'm going in alone.

Without me, you'll wind up holding a broken chair together.

You say something?

Okay...

...but remember, I'm boss.

Cactus Jack Slade waits in the shade.

Pondering his evil schemes.

He's a well-known bad guy.

Ready to try whatever it takes To live up to his name.

No one is safe from the villain.

He totes a dangerous gun.

And robbing and stealing And just plain dirty dealing.

Cactus Jack Slade gets it done.

Get off the streets, he's the villain.

Meet me in front.

Close all the stores Lock all the doors.

Cactus Jack Slade has arrived.

- Who is it? - The sheriff.

Open up.

You're not the sheriff.

I lied.

One, close the door. Two, open the safe. Three, on the floor.

You forgot number two.

Oh, no, I didn't. I did that when you stuck that gun in my face.

- Open that safe. - The safe is locked for the night.

And only Mr. Simpson has the combination.

I'm just a clerk.

Excuse me.

Got a light?

How about a cigar?

I don't smoke.

Oh, I should've had two...

- What's that noise? - It came from the bank.

The sheriff's coming.

What are you doing, you traitor? Whiskey? You traitor!

I'll get even with you.

You won't get away with this.

Traitor! I'll get even with you.

Get your hands off me. Nobody pushes me around like this.

Here, ma'am, let me help you cross the street.

Are you blind? Don't you see all these horses?

We'll never live through this. Watch out!

Are you trying to get me killed? Oh, this is terrible.

Here, let me help you, ma'am.

See, Mother, safe and sound.

First of all, I ain't your mother.

Secondly, take your arm off me, dummy!

And third, I didn't want to cross the street in the first place.

Yes, ma'am.

Charming, you're gonna miss your train.

Now remember what I told you.

Avery Simpson would steal the candy from a young'un if he got the chance.

- Are you listening? - Yes, Papa.

- Them shoes still on that mare? - Hell, yes.

There's enough silver in that hill to make a St. Louis hooker happy...

...but it won't do no good in the hills, understand?

So you watch out for that thieving Avery Simpson...

...or he'll wind up owning all of my mine. You follow me?

One ticket to Snake's End.

That'll do it, one ticket to Snake's End.

Going away on a business trip, Mr. Parody?

None of your business, Charming.

Well, here's your ticket. Well, take it. Bite on it.

I'll get a hold of somebody to meet you in Snake's End.

And he'll protect you.

I can take care of myself.

Charming, I'm not worried about... I'm worried about the money!

Bring the money right back to the house.

- And be careful of strangers. - Yes, Daddy.

Pardon me, sir.

- I'm Handsome Stranger. - So?

That's my name. You have a telegram for me.

Boy, you talk...

...funny.

Well, that's easy for you to say. What about my telegram?

So I did. I forgot to write it down.

With all that commotion and everything...

...going over at the bank...

But I do recollect what it said.

It was from a guy named...

...Parody Jones. He said...

...his daughter was coming into town to pick something up at the bank.

And that you are supposed to escort her...

...back out to his...

...place.

And then he said something about you owing him.

That's true.

He saved my life once. I've been beholden to him ever since.

When is Miss Jones arriving?

Miss Jones is...

Miss Jones is coming in On the evening train.

Do I still have time to eat?

Sure, you do. Just go on over to the Broken Spoke and eat.

Broken Spoke? It's a saloon.

That's right. And this here's a telegraph office.

To send a telegram, you come here.

It's the only place in town.

To eat, you go to the Broken Spoke, because it's the only place in...

Thank you. Thank you.

...town.

Oh, I don't believe it. Oh, easy. Go slow, go slow.

What happened?

She was trying to cross the street. Got hit by a beer wagon.

I always say that alcohol and driving don't mix. What a pity.

I thought I heard that voice!

Get out! I'll kill you! Stop this stretcher! Get that man!

If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have been hurt. Turn around!

Turn this stretcher! Get that man!

I'll teach you when I want to cross the street!

You leave me alone! I'm gonna make you...

- Morning, Mr. Avery. - I want to see your prisoner.

I want to see him alone.

Traitor.

- Cactus Jack? - Who are you?

I'm Avery Simpson.

I own the bank you blew up last night.

I used too much dynamite.

Well, I'm not mad at you for blowing up my bank.

I'm not even mad at you for trying to blow my safe apart.

I don't keep any money in it anyway. I don't trust banks.

- You know why I'm not mad at you? - Why?

Because you and me may be able to do business together.

Now if we can...

...you'll walk out of here with me scot-free.

And I'll give you $1000 cash tomorrow.

If we can't do business together, the sheriff is gonna hang you...

...tonight.

I don't know.

- Well? - I'm thinking, I'm thinking.

- It's a deal. - Good.

A year ago I grubstaked an old prospector.

For that I got half of everything. You follow me?

Now he needs more money to work the mine.

He's putting up the other half as collateral.

I'm gonna lend him that money. You follow me?

His daughter will take the cash back in the morning.

I don't want it to get there. If it don't, I'll get the whole mine.

- You still follow me? - What about a little advance?

Here's $20, which I'll deduct from the 500 you'll earn.

You made mention of $1000, didn't you?

I thought I made mention of a hanging, didn't I?

Five hundred dollars.

Whiskey, if you behave, we're gonna be rich. Real rich.

Whiskey.

Not you. Stay outside.

Leave the bottle.

That's an uppercut.

That's a left cross.

And that's a two-by-four.

Thank you.

Mr. Stranger...

...the evening train's coming. I just heard the...

...blow. It's at Five-Mile Crossing.

Then the train has five miles to go. I still can finish my meal.

If you want to meet the old train you'd better come now because...

...Five-Mile Crossing is only half a mile down the t...

- Track? - Way.

Really?

I'd better go.

Charming Charming.

There ain't no woman in these parts That looks as good as you.

Charming Charming.

Don't forget What you were sent to do.

Pardon me. Pardon me.

Would you mind taking hold of these, please?

Well, yes, ma'am.

Wonderful.

You were the only lady to get off the train.

Yes, I was.

- Then you must be Charming. - You've said it all.

I mean, Charming Jones. Parody's daughter.

I'm your pa's friend. He told me to pick you up.

- I'm Handsome Stranger. - Yes, you are.

- Let me help you. - Thank you.

My!

- Shall we? - Oh, yes. Yes.

Handsome Stranger is such a wonderful nickname.

How did you get it?

It's not a nickname. It's my real name.

- Really? - Yes, I was named after my father.

He must have been quite a man.

I don't know. I never met him.

How did you meet my daddy? I never heard him mention your name.

I met him in Denver. He saved my life.

He nursed me after I got beat up by ruffians.

Oh, dear. Why did they do that?

You know, I don't know.

But like I said, it was a few years ago in Denver.

I saw a bunch of crazy horses running down Main Street.

I finally realized that these were runaways.

So I jumped on my horse and I chased them down the street.

I ran after them. It was crazy.

They were going faster and faster. I was catching up with them.

There were children and women and old men in danger in the street.

It was really dangerous. I tried to save them.

You risked your life to try to stop them.