Paladin, Chapter 18

 INT. SALOON - NIGHT

Saloon is crowded and noisy with customers.  PALADIN enters and approaches the bar.  Bartender awaits his order.

PALADIN: Beer, please.

Bartender retrieves and delivers to PALADIN.

PALADIN: Thanks.

PALADIN starts drinking his beer.  BIG DAN and BILLY MORTON enter the saloon, noticing PALADIN at bar.  They have a short, private chat. 

BILLY MORTON then proceeds to walk to bar and deliberately bumps into PALADIN causing PALADIN to slightly spill his beer.  

BILLY MORTON (to bartender): Two beers.

PALADIN (to BILLY MORTON): Are you looking for an introduction?

BILLY MORTON (to PALADIN) : Are you talkin' to me?

PALADIN: I believe I am.

BILLY MORTON: Why don't you go fuck yourself.

The saloon becomes quiet as danger looms.  The patrons at the bar scatter.

PALADIN: Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?

BILLY MORTON: What?  You speakin English?

PALADIN: I believe I am.

PALADIN notices BIG DAN in the saloon.

PALADIN: Is that your boss over there?  Did he ask you to do this?

BILLY MORTON: Nobody tells me what to do.  I'm my own boss.

PALADIN: Glad to know.

BILLY MORTON: So, why don't you shut up and get outta my sight.

PALADIN: Not as long as I'm drinking my beer.

BILLY MORTON reaches for PALADIN's beer and spills it on the bar.

BILLY MORTON: I guess you're done with your beer.

PALADIN: That was rude.

BILLY MORTON takes a step away from the bar and stands facing PALADIN in a threatening posture, ready to draw his gun.

BILLY MORTON: You think I'm rude.  Well, do something about it, Deputy.

PALADIN: You're making a big mistake.  You be BILLY MORTON?

BILLY MORTON: What's that to ya?

PALADIN: SHERIFF warned me about you.  

BILLY MORTON: Yeah!

PALADIN: Too bad he didn't warn you about me.

BILLY MORTON: I know about you...fancy gunfighter from San Francisco.  Well, I don't give a shit.

PALADIN: If I were you, I would think long and hard about what I am about to do.  Your life hangs in the balance.  Don't throw it away.  It's too precious.

BILLY MORTON: Well, you aint me.

PALADIN: Don't...

BILLY MORTON draws his gun, but not as fast as PALADIN who shoots him dead.  PALADIN kneels down to examine the body.  

PALADIN: Somebody get the undertaker.

Nobody moves.

PALADIN (shouting): Now!

A couple of witnesses leave the saloon.  BIG DAN approaches PALADIN who is now standing mournfully.  

BIG DAN: Too bad!  He was foolish.

PALADIN: Did you have anything to do with this?

BIG DAN: What?  

PALADIN: The two of you came in together.  He worked for you.  He seemed to be itching for a fight.  Why?

BIG DAN: Beats me.  Can I buy you a drink?

PALADIN: You can't buy me a drink, but if you want to talk, we can.  What's on your mind?

BIG DAN: Let's sit down.

They sit at a nearby table.

BIG DAN: I hear you're a man for hire.

PALADIN: Depends on what I'm being hired for and by whom.

BIG DAN: I was very impressed tonight.  What is your fee?

PALADIN: To do what?

BIG DAN: To remove a rival of mine.  

PALADIN: And who would that be?

BIG DAN: Normally, I take care of my own business.  Nothing stands in my way.  But, what I'm talkin about is different.  When I married POLLYANNA, I thought I could control her, just like everything else.  But, she's not like anything else.

PALADIN: I'm beginning to understand your problem with POLLYANNA.

BIG DAN: When CHARLES first came to Windfall, I hardly gave him a second thought.  Not a real man, if you know what I mean.  But, for some unknown reason, POLLYANNA was attracted to him.  I don't understand.  Do you?

PALADIN: Women are not like men, BIG DAN.  They think differently.  We judge women in a different way than women judge men.  Don't try to understand them.  Just accept it.  And how am I supposed to help you...with your rival?

BIG DAN: Goad him into a fight and then kill him...just like tonight.  It should be easy.

PALADIN: Is that what you did with BILLY MORTON,  goad him into pulling his gun on me?

BIG DAN: And why would I do that?

PALADIN: As a test?

BIG DAN: Not at all.  He was one of my best men on the ranch.  He'll be missed.

PALADIN: I'm sure he will.

BIG DAN: Well, I'll pay twice your usual fee.

PALADIN: I will not do what you ask, but I will try to help you win back your wife's affections, if you choose that way.

BIG DAN: Three times your usual fee.  

The undertaker arrives.  

PALADIN: I have work to do.  Let me know if you're interested in my offer.  Good night.