The Mexican Wagon Train/dialogues

[Ricketts is having a drink in the hotel again.]

Landon: Hey, gringo!

Marston: Mr. Ricketts.

Landon: Come on in, sit down and have yourself a drink.

Marston: Sure. Say, any word of Javier Escuella?

Landon: No, nothing yet. Say, why are you after him anyway?

Marston: We're old friends. We was kinda educated together.

Landon: So what is this, some kind of high school reunion sort of thing?

Marston: Something like that. Well you, you've killed people, you've lived the life.

Landon: (sighing) That I have.

Marston: And I tried to stop. I mean, I don't know. I tried to go straight. I did. I left the gang after the gang left me. Left me to die after I'd been shot. They'd all gone crazy anyhow. Our old leader, fella you probably heard of...anyway, he more or less lost his mind, went and shot a bunch of people unfair like. I got shot in a robbery. They left me and I left them.

Landon: That's how it goes.

Marston: Already had me a woman. Got me a farm. Then I got me more trouble.

Landon: Sure.

Marston: I been sent to track down the men I used to run with. Track 'em, kill'em.

Landon: Well, if you don't, someone else will. There's no escape. Look at me. I spent twenty-five years killing men. Look at me now. Sitting around here like some low rent would-be messiah. We're relics. C'mon, have yourself another drink and let's wallow in a little self-pity.

Marston: Sounds like a plan.

Landon: To your health.

Luisa: Mr. Ricketts! Mr. Ricketts! Thank the lord I have found you. And you, Mr. Marston.

Landon: Luisa, sit down. You alright?

Luisa: I'm well, sir, but Allende is sending more men to their deaths. Prisoners who have not been tried. A prominent writer, Castillo, and a local official whose only crime was not putting the small holders on the street when they were late with taxes.

Landon: Writers and government officials. For once, I agree with Alende. Some men need to be killed.

Luisa: Mr. Ricketts!

Landon: I was just joking. Where are they?

Luisa: Out near Escalera.

Landon: Let's hang up our self-pity and go shoot ourselves some bad guys. You're going to be alright.

Luisa: Thank you, both of you.

Landon: Alright, here we go again.

[They hit the trail.]

Marston: Luisa was pretty shaken up.

Landon: She's angry. This war is getting dirtier by the day. People are being executed just for having an opinion.

Marston: Allende seems to have more enemies by the day.

Landon: Perhaps you would know. Rumor has it you've been making all kinds of new friends.

Marston: I don't pay much attention to rumors.

Landon: Just be careful, John. Keep jumping from one side of the fence to the other, you might just get impaled on it.

Marston: I have to find these two men. With respect, how I do it, is no concern of yours.

Landon: Choose your tone rightly, partner. Remember who you're talking to.

Marston: How could I ever forget?

Landon: And who are you, John Marston? Apart from a rat feeding every other hand he can get? My name means something. All you've done is kill a few peasants. And the only real outlaw you've taken on dropped you like a bad habit.

Marston: Now, I politely ask you to watch your tone, Mr. Ricketts.

Landon: All I'm saying is...maybe there's a reason people around here don't want to talk.

[They ride in silence for a bit.]

Landon: You must miss your family.

Marston: It's the only thing that keeps me goin'.

Landon: You know, you remind me a lot of myself. How I used to be. Stubborn and angry.

Marston: You ain't changed all that much.

Landon: I always thought I'd lived a charmed life. I've known wealth, respect, love, even fame.

[The wagon train cuts across the road.]

Landon: Do you see that? Prison wagons! That must be them! This is our chance! See if you can take control of that first wagon!

[Marston and Landon clean up the federales.]

Landon: We need to get this wagon to America! They'll be safe there. Head for the bridge!

[They cross the bridge after some resistance.]

Landon: We're safe. They know better than to follow us onto American soil.

[They free the prisoners, giving them the wagon.]

Landon: Now, we'll handle it from here. I know you got other matters to attend to.

Marston: It's been nice riding with you, Mr. Ricketts.

Landon: And you too. You took me back to another time. Talk to Luisa. She'll help you and she's well-connected in that other land. I hope you find what you're looking for, Marston.

[They shake hands.]

Marston: You know what I'm looking for.

Landon: If you say so, Marston. If you say so.