 Are there any Parsons? Have you been found guilty by a jury of your peers? I didn't see any jury. Well, they was around. Anyway, what difference does it make? You gunned down Wendy Jones, and he was one of our most beloved and respected citizens. I heard he was the town drunk. Well, now that he's dead, he's one of our most beloved and respected citizens. I don't care who he was. I didn't kill him. You've got the right to hear a few words from a preacher. Unfortunately, our preacher's out of town, but luckily, we got Farley Millard here, and he's a feed-and-grain salesman, and he owns a Bible. No, thanks. Now, what does that mean? I don't want any feed-and-grain salesman praying over me. I don't want anyone praying over me. I don't believe in that stuff. You ready, Max? You've got one more inalienable right to speak a few last words, and I mean a few. We don't want one of them things where the dam takes off with a declaration of independence. We're gone. Well, I'd just like to say that this is the lousiest town that I've ever been in. Well, I've met a better class folk in a San Francisco opium parlor. Drunken pool hall bum would be considered too high-toned for these parts. And as for your system of justice, well... That's enough! You see what I mean? He was just one breath away from the declaration. An Indian squaw. Ed claims Wendy was the father that he was acting as the avenging angel. Wendy was going to be the father or something? That's what Ed says. On time. Given his gun, and don't you never come back. You heard her. I'm not guilty. Even so, we don't want no fast guns in this town. Fast guns right alongside with lepers in this law-abiding community. Can I ride back to town long enough to get some food? That's the way out, son. Don't press your luck. You don't have to. I'll be back. When? Whatever you do, don't leave town. Wait. Never give up hope. Well, I didn't know he was going to act like that. I never would have lied for him. Lied? You would have never! I thought he was cute. There ain't a man around here I'd have as a gift. And he took a bath every so often besides. I'm excited about you coming here. We ain't had a preacher here in over three years. When our last one left in such a hurry, he didn't even say goodbye. He was a pious man, but he had a yellow streak down his back. We're all looking forward to meeting you for the first time. All looking forward to meeting you for the first time? Hmm. I don't know how long you'll be willing to stay, but you'll be welcome every minute of it. I got a posse after me for something I didn't do. About that they're a parson, but, uh, we're a little too far off to catch that they're a caller. Is there anything we can do for you, Reverend? Either you boys ever heard of a town called Castle Walk? Well, yeah, it's in Arizona. Sure ain't much of a town, though. How far is it from here? All about 150 miles. It's over yonder in that direction. How's your church attendance been lately, boys? You boys see that branch over there? Uh, yes, sir. But he hates your profession. Yeah, I can see how I would. I want you boys to go and sin no more. Uh, we surely won't parson. As soon as we can afford not to. Uh, preacher, you mean it's a good if that kill us as we was riding up here. Because you boys are children of the Lord. Just as much as I am. Say nothing about no word. We've got to stay here and live with them. All right, let's get going. Where it been said. That's right. I wrote you a letter telling you not to come. No, you wrote me a letter welcoming me to Castle Walk. I wrote you that letter? Yeah, but things changed. First, Mr. Ross said it was all right for us to have a preacher. And then Mr. Ross changed his mind. Gentlemen, what the hell is going on here? Reverend! Did you see? That was a word that came straight from the Bible, folks. All I know is we've got a heart broken little widow here. You did say you were the widow? And these are my children. She's 18. You probably do in my saddlebag. You can borrow mine, Reverend. The deceased was probably a simple man, so I'll just say a few simple words of my own and not bother to dip into the Bible today. It's ashes to ashes and dust to dust. It may not sound like the best deal in the world but it's the only deal you're ever going to get so you might as well learn to live with it. I didn't know the late deceased, but some of the works he left behind are mighty impressive. But what did he die of? He was shot in the back. May the full wrath of the Lord fall on people who shoot other people in the back. It's a rotten, sinful way to make a living. Amen. Thank you enough, Reverend. I'd like to say more, but Mr. Ross only gave us half an hour to get out of town after the fuel. You're leaving town? You taking her with you? Mr. Ross said we all had to go. Who is this Mr. Ross? He's a mean, miserable, murdering thief, and he runs everybody in this part of the country. There ain't a soul of us that had a single solitary happy day since he rode in here and took over. He's gonna hear every word that you said? At least I got to say something that should have been said before I died. Why is he running this woman out of town? My husband, Sam, was the only man in these parts to stand up to Mr. Ross, so he had Sam killed. He let us take one wagonload of our things. We'd better get started. Ma'am, the only place you're going is back to your ranch. I'm sure with the help of all these fine citizens that we can make Mr. Ross see the air of his ways. Reverend, you don't understand the situation around here. Mr. Ross is a powerful, powerful man. He's got money and influence. And he's got 20 top gun fighters working for him. Well, I tell you people what I really think of you. I'm gonna tell you something about gun fighters. Now, Ross doesn't have 20 top gun fighters working for him because there ain't 20 top gun fighters in the whole US of A. Now, what Ross probably does have is about 15 cowboys that wear guns for ornaments. They do just fine at shooting up a saloon or making some terrified dude dance a little jig. But Ross has probably got about three men who are pretty good at getting their guns out of their holsters, but no good at hitting anything once they do, which leaves about two or three men that might honestly be called gun fighters, not top gun fighters, more like second or third raiders. So you see, you folks have been letting yourselves be rusted around by a bunch of two-bit yahoo's. How come you know so much about gun fighters, Reverend? The Lord's work takes one to many places in many climes. Matthew 31. There ain't no Matthew 31. Well, there ought to be. Widow, I want you and your family to get in the wagon. I'm gonna drive you home. You're gonna sit next to me. Oh, I don't know, Reverend. Man, you don't look like the kind of woman that would back away from a little fight. Where's your faith? My faith is in good shape, Reverend. And if you're willing to take the risk, so are we. Get in the wagon, kids. Less than the Reverend to go and home. The lives of this family will be on yours. In town, and they're pretty liquor-deaf. That was their first mistake. You ride my horse, son. Okay. What about this? Mr. Ross is a skunk of doubtful parentage. Mr. Ross is so low, he could walk under a rattlesnake's belly wearing a high hat. And that's what I think of Mr. Ross without ever having met the man. Now, that was indecisive, cowboy. Could have very easily cost you your unimportant life. Easily been your ears flying off your head, boys. Be my guest, ma'am. Your guest! I was carrying that coat over my arm when the shooting took place. Get my things and fix your coat. Mr. Ross and his men are going to come down and get us tonight. No, not tonight, honey. I'd imagine that Sunday in church would be where he makes his first play. Aren't you scared at all? Well, I'm scared, all right, Sally. Not the kind of scare that would make me knuckle under to the likes of that Ross. Is there a sermon tomorrow, Reverend? Tomorrow? Tomorrow's Sunday. I've lost all track of time in the last few weeks. I thought you said the synagogue is. Yeah, that's not bad, either. I thought you probably had some favorite passage from the Bible to illustrate your point. Oh, I do. Several of them, as a matter of fact. But what's your favorite passage from the Bible that would illustrate that point, ma'am? I think it would be Luke 12. Christ says, do you think I have come to give peace on earth? I came to cast wood, it were already kindled. Says that in the Bible? Well, I told you, Luke 12. Oh, Luke 12. Yeah, that Luke, he really knew how to turn a phrase, didn't he? I've seen you close up the services. I'd appreciate that. You don't have a battle around. Seem to have misplaced my glasses. Did you turn to that spot, Luke, that your mother was talking about? It's right here. I don't wear glasses. That's something you're right. Here's chapter 10 and verse 34. Luke says pretty much the same. Come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. He's not reluctant to use the occasion calls for it. He might become downright irritated if you don't use the sword, or the gun, or the rope. People get the kind of lives they deserve, and I guess they do. Women and children, and when their women won't mate, these people don't deserve any kind of... Exactly what you got. The awful thing it is to kill a man. And at the most, a man for wasting his life at the order of some tin horn dictator. I haven't quit before the fight even got started. Mark pretty much church today, that's all. Body on the side. The name is Mr. Ross. The name was Mr... Either those two men go for their guns, I'm going to go for you first. I think I can take him, Mr. Ross. Don't think. Here's your chance, boys. Grudge is against him. Draw on me, and I'll kill him for you. You don't look all that fast to me. I want you out of town. Who killed Sam Underwood? You were one of your men. Find out if I have to take a whole bunch of you to pieces. Give me the word. I'm sure I can beat him. I'll go on back to the ranch. It's 10 o'clock, and there's a four-bit fine for being late. Took a trip up the Cheyenne altercation between one of the top gun slingers. He didn't want no part of the fight, but this gunny was drunk. He kept at it, and finally the kid had to go for his gun or get blasted right there, and he struck that gunny flat foot. Why, he was dead before God got the news. Found out this kid's name was Ernie Parson. What are you doing here in Castle Walk dressed up in that preacher's outfit? It's the wrong guest, Billy. You know, once you've seen a top man handle himself in a gunfight, you never forget one little detail. They'll hang me just like I did if they catch me in the hills, and he was already, so I took his clothes and horse, and moves in mysterious ways, boy. If I do stick around here, how much help can I count on from these? Almost none. Almost none? Dinners of Castle Walk? Just as sure as I am, is at hand when you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Be not afraid, for this must first take place. Nations will rise! I brought you some lunch. Didn't know preachers had to practice. It's either that or watch the collections. That's a real bad joke I stole from the Methodist. Oh. Does your mother know you came out here alone? I don't know. Why? Well, uh, you're a very attractive young girl. Almost two youngs, a matter of fact. Most of the girls around here are married by the time they're 13 or 14. 13, huh? Well, I'll have to look into that. Why? They had the lucky ones. Even if they don't get a trip to Phoenix out of it. Is that the price of marriage around here, a trip to Phoenix? No, but it sure doesn't hurt. Look, do I have to keep on calling you Reverend? Oh, no. Call me Ernie. Ernie? My full name's Frank Ernest Fleming. All my good friends, they call me Ernie. Is there anything in your faith against marriage? No. Not in my faith. Sally, uh... Sit down. This conversation isn't going in exactly the direction I'd plan. I mean, you know, marriage is just fine. I was real glad that my parents believed in it. But, uh, well, there's other things, too. You don't know what I'm talking about, do you? I know what you're talking about. It doesn't matter. Oh, it's these clothes and these collars. It's just, I'm not going to get anywhere dressed like this. I don't see that it makes much difference. You would if you were dressed like a nun. It's just the wrong outfit for what I had in mind. It's real important. Yeah, I know of him. My blessings on him. And he's working for us. He's the best. You can take him, King. You sure he's working for us? Yeah, and he's looking for you. Although he don't know who you really are. That doesn't matter. Or does it? Where's he at now? He's at the men's loom when I left town. The ranch alone. We didn't get very much accomplished today, did we? He's breaking all around us. You all that sure you can beat me? You're all that sure I can? Anything I hate is a stupid, senseless fact. Call himself a gunfighter. And you know dang well you did, Jake. You're going to give Ross $1,000 back? If you're a rummy standing around, don't see where the bullets hit. All of a sudden you've got the Miracle Count. They're on their nut town and they're about to hang. And in rides this gal and saves your neck. You'll see she's your preacher's body. You find this letter that brings you right here to this here town. The one that wound up here. Ever been needed before. You want to stop the thing just a little bit more? I have the idea that you're just a little less than a tin god you pretended to be. Face that bum out of town. And he's not going to give you your $1,000 back either. That's the price he charges for shaking hands with a scum like you. Just don't make a big thing out of it. Get dressed and get out of here? Remember not, I've got to do it. Turn your back, Sal. I know it's a bastard, but I'm thinking as you are. Why not? I'm not going far. I want you and the kids to go out and dig a grave. Put some kind of marker on it with my name. Tyrosha found my body and buried it in the hills. Wanted to come as a horrible shock to us. Start giving him trouble in ways he never dreamed of. If I left you the next little while, well... That's the way you're dressed. You don't like the way you look. Some people don't have to stay dead unless they want to. I'm the preacher's ghost. Billy, I'm sorry. And it's been a long time since I've been safe anywhere. Isn't tomorrow Sunday? It sure is. Let's go to town and tell everyone that we're having church services tomorrow morning at 10. Sal has leveled to end up one of the youngest widows in these parts. And she's been a widow two years. No, Grace Dorthy only been married a week and a half when her husband fell down a mine shaft. You know how old she is. If I stay here and fight it out with Ross and his men, chances are very good that I'll be killed. But on the other hand, we could leave here tonight and get married the very first time we come to. And go someplace we both like and settle down and just have a wonderful life for ourselves. It's all up to you, Sally. You just say the word. You said never throw yourself in between a man and what he thinks he's got to do. I pointed in that answer. No, it's all right. I got the strangest feeling that I've been pointed straight toward this shootout ever since the day I was born. It wasn't a thing in the world I could do about it. Billy says it's God moving in his mysterious way. Well, I just don't know. You bear religious Sally. Talk and talk. Can't you be quiet and get on with what you're supposed to be doing? A bunch of cactus. A lot of you thought I was dead. And that my ghost was raging through the hills wreaking my vengeance on Ross and his men. What were your feelings? Angry ghost raging in your hills? You came out to see if I was alive or if I might not be hurting you people. Since you've been here, several of my men have been more run off because you scared them after death. I didn't know I was doing that well. What do you want, Ross? Sitting on a stack of Bibles ten feet high, I'd bet money that you were lying and I'd win. The moment we've been waiting for. Look, sir, how could you believe... Ross, A.D. You are going to believe... She holds a fat reverend. Anybody can make... Ross is man enough to come here to come here. I didn't mean to create any dissension amongst the preacher's flock. Now you're going to be married tomorrow morning at eleven. You're all invited. I don't know. It's not forsaken town for good. The place here in the church will be at the Mint Saloon. You can say what you want about those people at the Mint. But they know why they're there and they do something about it. One of my feelings, and I'm never wrong, that I should get out of this place. Oh, perform the ceremony. You're the only preacher around here. Says I can't delegate my... How long to be my wedded wife? You go on from there. And bypass the town and they're circling around and they're coming in that way. Please let us down again. Only counted fourteen including Ross. How long before they get here? Not more than five minutes. Well, Ross, otherwise I won't stand a chance. We'll have to finish this thing later. Get you from the windows or the keys to the hardware store. Get you people, I guess you just can't help the way you are. Ross Frank Fleming's body. When he moved boys to New Frank, they figured that you'd switch clothes with him. Well, if he wants me, he's just going to have to get in line behind Ross and those other thirteen men. That'll make you think we're going to live through this thing. My horse will meet me out back, huh? They'll meet me back at the ranch. We'll take off from there. No, I ain't going to do anything as far as I have. I ain't going to go no further. What are you talking about? I ain't going to let you run away with that kid. Or not knowing who you are or what you are or what kind of a life she's letting herself in for. You think if I told her everything, she still wouldn't ride away with me? Well, of course she would, Ernie. Because she's eighteen and you're her first love. Well, that's good enough for me. Ernie, you take care of Sally with the other. I mean, if something goes wrong, she can just stand around with your baby in her and watch you hang. You think I could just ride off without telling her why? I'll tell her. Yeah, then what happens to her? She'll be tore up for a while, but she's young. She'll get over it in a month or two. Yeah, but I won't get over it in a month or two. I'll get your horse. I'll get it myself, part of the country. And you're not one of them. And I've been hearing about a gunfighter named Ernie Parsons and some interesting goings-on in a town called Castle Walk. Now, they'll believe everything you hear, Reverend. Oh, I don't. That's why I'm on my way to Castle Walk right now to investigate these wonderful stories. Maybe you should get them a real preacher now. They seem very happy with the one they had. They had a gunfighter, not a preacher. God moves in mysterious ways. Just from an unknown admirer that thinks certain girls should have a trip to Phoenix, even if they don't get married. Things that happen to you when Castle Walk might be your call to the kind of work you've been destined to do and solve the problems of Castle Walk all come that way than it was when you arrived. You're a nice guy, Reverend. No thanks.