Open Range

Boss Spearman: Charley, you all right?

Charley Waite: I'm fine.

Boss Spearman: Seems like you was, you know...

Charley Waite: I said I'm fine. Just got some old feelings coming up.

Boss Spearman: You know, we never asked each other much. That's always been okay with me. I figured it was okay with you. But you said some things the last couple of days. Things that seemed like they had kind of a history to them. Hey, Charley?

Charley Waite: Don't stand behind me, Boss.

Charley Waite: [scene change to night] When I was a kid, a bunch of us would go into the woods with our peashooters. Nothing fancy, just enough to kill a bird or a squirrel, maybe something larger if we was lucky. Killed my first man in them woods. Held the paper on our farm, and after my pa died, he'd come around to get payment from my mom in any way he could. Weren't much older than Button when I shot him in the throat. Knew there'd be more killing, so I run off and joined the Army. War was on. They was only too happy to have me. My first skirmish was like hunting with my friends. We just sat up in some trees, and they came marching at us. Must have been a hundred of them dead after the smoke cleared. Went around and shot the rest who weren't. Those of us with the knack was made into a special squad so we could travel light and on our own into enemy territory. Orders were pretty simple. Make trouble wherever we could. With room like that, it wasn't long before we was killing men that weren't even in uniform. Seemed like that went on the rest of the war. After that, I come West. Lot of call for a man with them skills. And I put them to work for men just like Baxter. Every once in a while, I almost get through a day without thinking about who I am, what I'd done.

Boss Spearman: Much obliged to you, ma'am.

Sue Barlow: You're very welcome, Mr. Spearman.

Charley Waite: Thank you, Sue.

[Boss and Charley walk towards town]

Sue Barlow: Take care of yourself, Charley.

Boss Spearman: Are you just gonna go off like that without saying nothing?

Charley Waite: Ain't nothing to say.

Boss Spearman: I seen how you look at that gal and the way she looks at you. It ain't right to walk away without a word.

Charley Waite: What do you want me to tell her, Boss? We probably ain't gonna make it? Be a big fat comfort.

Boss Spearman: I don't know what you should tell her, Charley. I wish I'd have said more to my wife before she passed. This may be the last time she sees you in this world, Charley. Or you her. So tell her whatever you can. 'Cause she's entitled to more than just your backside walking away.

[Charley returns to the house and knocks on the door, Sue opens the door]

Sue Barlow: Charley.

Charley Waite: I'm not sure what's worth saying or not.

Sue Barlow: Well, you don't have to say anything.

Charley Waite: Yeah, I do. Boss is right about that. He's right about a lot of things. It's just... I'm not who you think I am, Sue. I've... been places. I've done things. Most of them, I'm not proud of.

Sue Barlow: You know, I always hoped somebody gentle and caring might come along. Years pass. A small town and all. And your hopes begin to fade a little every day until you hardly remember what they were. I've seen who you are, Charley. The way you looked after that boy and the respect you give Boss. It might be little bits. But they're enough for a woman who looks.

Charley Waite: Men are gonna get killed here today, Sue. And I'm gonna kill them. You understand that?

Sue Barlow: Yes. I want you to have this. It's always brought me luck.

Charley Waite: I... can't take your locket.

Sue Barlow: It's not your choice when it's a gift.

Charley Waite: It's a good likeness of you.

Sue Barlow: It's my mother when she was young.

Charley Waite: She's beautiful. I want you to know that if I don't ever see you again that I meant everything I said to you and I appreciate everything you said to me. Ain't nothing that happened in this old town been a surprise. Except you.

[Charley walks toward town]

Sue Barlow: I'll be seeing you, Charley Waite.

Charley Waite: [Charley speaks to Boss sarcastically] Happy?

Boss Spearman: Yeah. If you are.