The Broken Star

[Frank claims he shot Alvarado in self-defense]

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
Rustler?

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
Suspicion of. Tried to kill me with this.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
What happened then?

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
Guess.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
Tried to dry gulch ya?

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
Nope. Face to face showdown.

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
He jumped you first?

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
Mm-hmm.

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
[dubious] Self-defense, huh?

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
Yessir! Self defense.

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
You don't believe me, is that it? Is that why you sent Bill out?

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
When a man is killed in this district, it's my job to investigate - even when the killer happens to be one of my deputies.

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
I don't like that word 'killer'!

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
It's not a pleasant word, but when one man kills another, that is the term.

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
I've seen gunplay all my life, Frank. I came west out of St. Joe on a wagon train in '51; I was just a kid. I knew Bridger and Hickok and Bat Masterson, Shotgun Thompson and a lot of others. It was coyote and Kiowa in those days. It was rough and tough and a man had to be the same to last. But the cattlemen have got to learn that they can't go cuttin' farmers' fences and the settlers have got to learn that they can't bushwhack a line rider without answerin' to the law! The hogleg is on its way out, the law's comin' in; this thing will end up in a museum.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
Whaddya find?

W.C. 'Doc' Mott, Coroner:
Oh, very interesting.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
Speaking how - as undertaker or coroner.

W.C. 'Doc' Mott, Coroner:
Both. As coroner, I'd say he was shot from high up, like Deputy Smeed was on horseback or Carlos was crouched when he came a-shootin'.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
And as undertaker?

W.C. 'Doc' Mott, Coroner:
Ah, he'll look fine! Great subject - fine features. A little palmaid on the hair, a little color on the cheeks - Carlos Alvarado will be a picture.

W.C. 'Doc' Mott, Coroner:
I never carry a gun myself. Just a couple of cigars - settles any argument.

W.C. 'Doc' Mott, Coroner:
Next of kin?

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
Conchita.

W.C. 'Doc' Mott, Coroner:
Con... Every other Spanish girl in town is named Conchita.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
And every other one is called Lupe. Conchita sings at the cantina.

W.C. 'Doc' Mott, Coroner:
A baby comes into the world a howlin' and a bellowin'. A man ought to go out in style and dignity, proper-like.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
You're strangers, aren't you. Are you from Texas?

Van Horn:
Never ask a man if he's from Texas.

Messendyke:
If he ain't, why make him feel bad?

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
What the heck kind of fandango was that?

W.C. 'Doc' Mott, Coroner:
You know, Texas had to petition four times to get herself taken into the United States. Why did Congress ever give in? Why?

Van Horn:
We got a message for you.

Messendyke:
More important than a message - an order.

Van Horn:
A very important order from a very important figure hereabouts. When he whispers, people take it for shoutin'.

Van Horn:
The boss of the T-Lazy-W wants to palaver with ya.

Messendyke:
Mr. Thorton Wills - at the main ranch house.

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
I don't know him. Never had any business with him.

Van Horn:
You have now, Johnny Law.

Messendyke:
Trot, don't mosey.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
Alright, let's go.

Van Horn:
We'd like to know the charge.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
Alright, take a handful: illegal entry, assault and battery, suspicion of burglary and resisting arrest.

Thornton W. Wills:
Form your squares, folks. How about that old dosey-doe hoedown? All set, boys? Everybody in your places, straighten up your faces, tighten up your traces, we're in for a long pull!

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
You want to file a complaint?

Thornton W. Wills:
With you personally, not your office.

Thornton W. Wills:
I ain't interested in your ruckus with Alvarado, nor particularly interested he ain't among the livin'. I don't even care who's got the cash, just so's I get it back.

Thornton W. Wills:
No, I ain't accusin' you of a thing. If you feel guilty, edgy, that's your lookout. You might just know who took it, you might be able to just find it. I want it back. I aim to get it back if it costs ten times as much.

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
I don't know anything about it.

Thornton W. Wills:
If that's the way you want it. You've had a fair shake.

Indian Agent Hiram Charleton:
I am shepherd of my savage sheep, Bill. I assure you Nachez is not missing.

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
Well, you look fit to be tied, Bill.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
You know those two burglars are out on bail and you know who went to the judge and paid it? That Indian agent!

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
Wellll, Mr. Charleton's feedin' off his range.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
I'm a little mixed up, Mr. Forrester. What's brewing?

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
Eh, it's too soon to tell. It could be coffee, tea... maybe arrow poisoning. We'll just have to sit back and let it boil until it boils over - and then we'll see what's in the pot.

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
Mr. Alvarado's death seems to be much more important than his life ever was.

Conchita Alvarado:
Bill - please, dear, if you have to shoot, shoot first. I want you, not a memory.

[startled, Frank reaches for his gun]

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
Howdy, Frank.

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
Oh. Howdy, Bill.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
Kinda edgy aren't you?

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
Well, I-I thought you were Nachez. I had him, but he got away.

Deputy Marshal Bill Gentry:
Uh-huh. You sent his horse home. Does that mean he won't need it anymore?

Deputy Marshal Frank Smeed:
Hide me out. Cover for me!

Indian Agent Hiram Charleton:
That doesn't come within my duties and perogatives as Indian agent.

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
Looking for one of my deputies, Frank Smeed... seemed to be heading in this direction. Have you seen him?

Indian Agent Hiram Charleton:
What kind of a price is on his head? I'm sorry, Mr. Marshal - bad joke. One mustn't joke about politics, religion or police matters. No, I haven't seen Frank around.

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
I'd be obliged if he comes by this way to tell him I want to see him to clear up a case.

Indian Agent Hiram Charleton:
I will, sir. Nothing happens within my domain that I don't know about.

Marshal Wayne Forrester:
Has Bill Gentry been by?

Indian Agent Hiram Charleton:
You seem to have lost your entire department, Marshal.

Indian Agent Hiram Charleton:
I hate to see a human being helpless. Of course, it does have it's advantages. Just give me $4000 and we can procede.