The Searchers Page #7

CLAYTON:

(sternly -- as he

reaches for his cup)

From now on, call me 'Captain'!

But Ethan advances and calmly appropriates the cup Clayton

is reaching for...

ETHAN:

(mockingly)

Captain the Reverend Samuel Johnson

Clayton!...Mighty impressive.

Clayton marks his surprise.

CLAYTON:

(dourly)

Well...the prodigal brother...

When'd you get back?

Ethan sips his coffee and doesn't answer.

CLAYTON:

Haven't seen you since the surrender.

(a pause)

Come to think of it, I didn't see you

at the surrender.

ETHAN:

I don't believe in surrenderin'...I

still got my sabre, Reverend...never

turned it into any ploughshare

neither!

JORGENSEN:

Is no time for kaffee-klatch while a

man's beef is been run off.

MOSE:

Injuns, Ethan...

(taps his nose)

Caddoes or Kiowas...Mose Harper,

drinkin' coffee in a rockin' chair.

...ay-eh!

Martha has left the room briefly to fetch Aaron's shirt

and vest and stands behind him. Aaron drains his cup.

AARON:

Ethan, countin' on you to look after

things while I'm gone.

Ethan -- cup to his lips -- looks over its rim at Martha

as Aaron starts to put on his shirt. Their eyes meet

briefly, then she looks away. Ethan sloshes the dregs of

his cup into the fire -- some of it spattering Mose.

ETHAN:

You ain't goin'...

CLAYTON:

He sure is goin'...He's sworn in.

ETHAN:

(angrily)

Well, swear him out again!...I'll go

with you.

Martha stands submissively, with her head bent, eyes

averted as Ethan crosses the room to get his coat, guns,

etc. Aaron follows him.

AARON:

Now, Ethan, I ain't sure...

ETHAN:

Don't argue!...And stay close...

Maybe they're rustlers...and maybe

this dodderin' old idiot ain't so

far wrong...

MOSE:

Thankin' ye, Ethan...thankin' ye.

Kind words...

CLAYTON:

(grudgingly)

All right...I'll swear you in...

ETHAN:

You can forget that...

(as Sam stares)

Wouldn't be legal anyway.

CLAYTON:

Why?

(a pause -- then

shrewdly)

You wanted for a crime, Ethan?

Martha waits -- intent.

ETHAN:

You askin' as a Reverend or a

Captain, Sam?

CLAYTON:

I'm askin' as a Ranger of the

sovereign state of Texas.

ETHAN:

Got a warrant?

CLAYTON:

You fit a lot of descriptions.

ETHAN:

(levelly)

I figger a man's only good for one

oath at a time...I took mine to the

Confederate States of America...

(he pauses -- then)

So did you, Reverend...

He looks past him then -- at Martha and then at Aaron.

ETHAN:

Stick close, Aaron...

He looks at Martha again...and then strides out.

19EXT. THE EDWARDS' HOUSE -- DAWN LIGHT

As Ethan emerges he is brought to a momentary halt by sight

of a couple -- Brad and Lucy -- in each other's arms,

standing near the saddled horses of the posse. Clayton and

Jorgensen following him out, spot the couple, who now

belatedly are conscious of their audience.

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