Say Anything Blog

Nevada, 1880 The town, Rockton.

People in Rockton are living in fear and oppression from Black Bart the outlaw and his gang.

Black Bart is a villain; he keeps the town in fear.  He kills an occasional citizen to maintain “Order”.  Bart’s gang takes what they want when they want to.  The citizens of Rockton have learned to live under this reign of terror.  They hate it but there is an order to it.  No other outlaws dare invade Bart’s fiefdom.  The devil they know is better than the devil they don’t know.  People live, grow up, go to church, have businesses but by and large only by the permission of the outlaw Bart.  Oh, in private they wish Bart would go away, that he would drop dead but no one dares take him on.

A new governor of the state of Nevada decides that we will not have these corrupt fiefdoms anymore.  He appoints a State Marshall to go to Rockton and take control of the situation.  If the state of Nevada is ever going to become the peaceful state the Governor believes it is destined to be the town of Rockton must be recovered from the thugdom of Black Bart.

The Marshall, Buck White (the color of his hat) shows up in Rockton, the sheriff of the town tells Buck that they don’t need his help.  Things are fine as they are.  Go away.  The Sheriff is Sheriff because Bart put him there and keeps him there.  Sheriff Spite tries to have Marshall White Killed. 

Marshall White figures it all out and jails Sheriff Spite.  Bart doesn’t take this lying down.  He sends several of his thugs to get rid of Marshall White.  But Marshall White is capable.  He has deputized a couple of the locals, and he brought with him two effective gunfighters to help him.  Black Bart doesn’t easily displace Marshall White.  He does inflict casualties.  The two men he brought with him from Reno are gunned down one by one.

In retaliation for Marshall White’s efforts Black Bart burns down the livery stable, shoots up the saloon, and scares heck out of the citizens of Rockton. 

Then the big showdown comes.  Black Bart announces that he will be coming to Rockton to take his town back.  Without Marshall White’s two gunfighters the situation looks grim.

The showdown is going to be at high noon.  Dickey the storeowner tells the Marshall that he should leave town, that Bart is going to kill him like he did the two gunfighters.  Ted the undertaker says nothing is going to turn out OK and life was better before Marshall White came to town.  The saloon keeper Harry and his barmaid Nancy tell Marshall White they wish he had never come to Rockton.  “Look at all the destruction and the men that have died because of the governor’s plan and the Marshall’s arrival”.  In fact the local newspaper publisher, Christopher takes up a petition to be sent to the governor to have Marshall White recalled to Reno.

Marshall White appeals to the townsfolk to support him.  Just have a gun and shoot from behind the closed doors.  Fear keeps the townsfolk from being brave or even taking action to defend themselves. 

Just before high noon Reverend Patrick from the Church picks up a rifle and takes a stand in the steeple of the Church.  Old Joe who was rejected by the cowardly townsfolk hides behind a water tank with just a pistol.  And the deputies emboldened by the support of just a few of the citizens of Rockton are lifted in spirit.  They decide to fight rather than run.

Noon comes, Black Bart and the Gang ride into town.  All is quiet for a bit.  Marshall White steps out onto main street, his guns still holstered.  He tells Black Bart to leave and never come back again or else.

Black Bart leans back in a huge guffaw and says “or else what”?  He makes ridicule of Marshall White.  The townspeople all cower and say to each other, “he should have got out when he could, he’s doomed”. 

Suddenly Bart and his men go for their guns.  Gunfire erupts all up and down Main Street.  Black Bart is killed immediately by a deadeye shot from Marshall White.  His men are confused.  They begin shooting randomly.  Several die.  The rest flee Rockton with haste.  One of the deputies is wounded, Joe is grazed by a bullet, but the Marshall is victorious.

Then, the townsfolk come out, self-congratulating each other on the great victory.  They knew it all along.  They just KNEW the Marshall would do it.

Marshall White mounts his horse and announces he is leaving, Bart’s Gang being destroyed his job is done.  The townspeople say, “Wait, what if his Gang comes back?” Marshall White says, “you have my deputies and now it’s up to you to maintain peace”.  “Elect an honest and effective sheriff and back him up.  Your security from here on out is up to you”.

With a tug on the bridle, he gives his pony a poke and off they go into the sunset.

That’s exactly what President Bush announced he is about to do.

The townsfolk of Iraq are going to have to take up the battle.  We aren’t sticking around forever.

Now if we could just get some of the cowards and traitors from our country to stop hiding their heads in the sand we might have a chance.

The Cast of Characters:

• Black Bart and His Gang – The Islamofacists in Iraq
• The Governor - President Bush
• Marshall White – Our Armed Forces in Iraq
• Sheriff Spite – Saddam’s Army before
• Dickey the Cowardly Storeowner - Dick Durbin
• Ted the nay saying Undertaker – Ted Kennedy
• Harry and Nancy who run the Saloon – Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi
• Christopher the Seditionist Newspaperman – Chris Matthews
• Reverend Patrick - The Religious Right
  
• Old Joe – Joe Lieberman
• The Deputies – The Iraqi Security Forces