Paladin, Chapter 24

 EXT. RANCH - DAY

BIG DAN arrives at his ranch and sees POLLYANNA by the corral ready to mount her horse.

BIG DAN: Where are you goin?

POLLYANNA: Just for a ride.  I'm bored.

BIG DAN: Sure you are.  You're comin with me.

POLLYANNA: And where are we going?

BIG DAN: To town...to clear up some unfinished business.

POLLYANNA: And what might that be?

BIG DAN: You'll see when we get there.  Am I gonna have any trouble to get you to come?

POLLYANNA: No.  Let's go.

The two head to Windfall on horseback.

EXT. STREET - DAY

BIG DAN and POLLYANNA arrive in Windfall and dismount their horses in front of the general store.  They enter the store.

INT. STORE - DAY

GRACE is waiting on customer.  CHARLES is not there.

BIG DAN (to GRACE): Where's your husband?

GRACE (to BIG DAN): He's not here.  I don't know where he is.  He wouldn't tell me.

BIG DAN flings open door to office.  It is empty.

BIG DAN (to POLLYANNA): Okay, let's go.

BIG DAN and POLLYANNA leave store.

EXT. STREET - DAY

BIG DAN and POLLYANNA are in front of store.

BIG DAN: Tell me where you think he is.  Don't lie to me.

POLLYANNA (after hesitating): He's probably at the saloon.

BIG DAN grabs POLLYANNA's arm and they head towards the saloon.  They arrive at the saloon and enter.

INT. SALOON - DAY

BIG DAN and POLLYANNA enter saloon, which is somewhat crowded.  CHARLES is sitting alone at a table drinking a shot of whiskey.  BIG DAN approaches CHARLES, leaving POLLYANNA at the entrance.  

BIG DAN (to CHARLES): Stand up you son of a bitch.

CHARLES: What?  You gonna knock me down again?

BIG DAN: No.  This time I'm gonna kill you.

CHARLES: Oh, yeah.  And why do you want to kill me?

BIG DAN: For fuckin my wife.

CHARLES notices POLLYANNA standing by the entrance.

CHARLES: Thar aint true.  I don't even fuck my own wife...lately, that is.

BIG DAN: Lies.  Lies.  And more lies.  The two of you are liars.  Well, now the lying is over.

PALADIN enters the saloon.

BIG DAN: I'm gonna end this fuckin around behind my back.  No man does this to me and gets away with it.  Now stand up you coward.

PALADIN approaches BIG DAN.  CHARLES slowly rises from his seat and faces BIG DAN.

PALADIN (to BIG DAN): Don't do this, BIG DAN.  You don't have to do this.  You can just walk away from this.  And walk away from POLLYANNA.  There are other women.

BIG DAN: Shut up, PALADIN.  Stay out of my business.  (to CHARLES) Okay, CHARLES.  On the count of three, I'm drawin my gun.  One. Two. Three.

At the count of three, BIG DAN starts reaching for his gun.  At the same moment, CHARLES reaches for his knife with his one good hand and flings it at BIG DAN, hitting him in his chest, near his heart.  BIG DAN clutches the knife, which has entered his body, but succumbs to the mortal wound, falls dead on the floor.  There is a hush in the saloon.  POLLYANNA immediately leaves the saloon, presumably to return to the ranch to claim her new dominance there.  PALADIN examines BIG DAN's body.

PALADIN: Somebody get the undertaker...now.

PALADIN removes knife from BIG DAN's body and keeps it as evidence.

PALADIN (to CHARLES): You need to come with me to the sheriff's office.

CHARLES: What ever you say, deputy.

PALADIN and CHARLES leave saloon together.

EXT. STREET - DAY

PALADIN and CHARLES enter sheriff's office.

PALADIN: Sit down.

CHARLES sits.

PALADIN: To me, it looked like self-defense, but I'm not the sheriff.  I don't want to keep you locked up till he gets back.  But, I'm going to ask you to promise to stay in town till then.

CHARLES: In town?

PALADIN: At the store and at your house.  Stay out of the hotel and the saloon.  Do I have your word?

CHARLES: And if I don't?

PALADIN: I'll lock you up right now.

CHARLES: (exhales) You have my word.  

PALADIN: You're free to go.

CHARLES leaves the office.