Pa Clanton hires Ringo for revenge
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Pa Clanton, dissatisfied with his sons' failures, orders them to hire Johnny Ringo and offers $500, dismissing the local citizen's committee.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Confused and dismissive, masking a deeper optimism that the situation is not as dire as it appears, despite the evidence to the contrary.
The Doctor enters the Last Chance Saloon with Steven, seeking information about Dodo Dupont. He is informed by Charlie that Dodo fled with Doc Holliday after Seth Harper’s murder. The Doctor downplays the danger of Holliday, emphasizing their friendship and the medical care Holliday provided. His optimism contrasts sharply with Steven’s growing anxiety and Charlie’s ominous warnings. The Doctor’s dismissive attitude highlights his naivety about the true dangers of the Wild West and the moral ambiguity of those around him.
- • To locate Dodo Dupont and ensure her safety.
- • To defend Doc Holliday’s character and downplay the dangers posed by the Wild West.
- • Doc Holliday is a trustworthy friend despite his dangerous reputation.
- • The situation in Tombstone is not as perilous as Steven and Charlie suggest.
Righteously indignant and vengeful, masking deep frustration with his sons' failures and a burning desire to restore the family's honor through violent retribution.
Pa Clanton arrives in the Last Chance Saloon, immediately taking command of the situation with a mix of frustration and authority. He berates Ike and Billy for their failures, dismissing their objections and ordering them to hire Johnny Ringo for $500 to assassinate Wyatt Earp. His demeanor is aggressive and domineering, emphasizing his role as the patriarchal leader of the Clanton family. He mocks the Citizen’s Committee as weak and irrelevant, reinforcing his belief in the necessity of violent action to achieve their goals. His physical presence is commanding, and his dialogue is laced with disdain for his sons' incompetence and a clear intent to escalate the feud into a blood feud.
- • To hire Johnny Ringo to assassinate Wyatt Earp and eliminate the threat to the Clanton family.
- • To assert his authority over Ike and Billy, reinforcing his role as the patriarch and leader of the Clanton family.
- • The Citizen’s Committee is too weak to pose a real threat and can be dismissed as irrelevant.
- • Violent action is the only way to achieve their goals and restore the family's honor.
Anxious and determined, driven by a deep concern for Dodo’s safety and a growing awareness of the dangers posed by the Wild West and its inhabitants.
Steven Taylor, the Doctor’s companion, enters the Last Chance Saloon with urgency, seeking information about Dodo Dupont. He learns from Charlie that Dodo fled with Doc Holliday after Seth Harper’s murder. Steven’s anxiety and determination to find Dodo contrast sharply with the Doctor’s dismissive optimism. His warnings about Holliday’s dangerous reputation and his insistence on the need to act quickly highlight the growing tension and the fracturing of their group. Steven’s role as the voice of reason and urgency underscores the stakes of their mission and the dangers they face.
- • To locate Dodo Dupont and ensure her safety.
- • To convince the Doctor of the seriousness of the situation and the need to act quickly.
- • Doc Holliday is a dangerous and unpredictable figure who poses a threat to Dodo.
- • The Doctor’s optimism is misplaced, and the situation in Tombstone is far more perilous than he realizes.
Righteously indignant and vengeful, masking deep frustration with his sons' failures and a burning desire to restore the family's honor through violent retribution.
Pa Clanton is the patriarch of the Clanton family and the driving force behind the decision to hire Johnny Ringo. He arrives in the Last Chance Saloon, immediately taking command and berating Ike and Billy for their failures. His dialogue is laced with disdain for his sons' incompetence and a clear intent to escalate the feud into a blood feud. He dismisses the Citizen’s Committee as weak and irrelevant, reinforcing his belief in the necessity of violent action. His physical presence is commanding, and his orders set the stage for the Clantons' next move.
- • To hire Johnny Ringo to assassinate Wyatt Earp and eliminate the threat to the Clanton family.
- • To assert his authority over Ike and Billy, reinforcing his role as the patriarch and leader of the Clanton family.
- • The Citizen’s Committee is too weak to pose a real threat and can be dismissed as irrelevant.
- • Violent action is the only way to achieve their goals and restore the family's honor.
Cautious and ominous, reflecting a deep awareness of the dangers posed by the Clantons, Holliday, and the broader conflict in Tombstone.
Charlie, the barman of the Last Chance Saloon, provides crucial information to the Doctor and Steven about Dodo Dupont’s flight with Doc Holliday and Kate after Seth Harper’s murder. His warnings about Holliday’s lethality and the dangers of the situation foreshadow the violence to come. Charlie’s cautious and informative demeanor underscores the tension in the saloon and the urgency of the Doctor and Steven’s mission to find Dodo. His role as an observer and informant highlights the saloon’s function as a hub for news and gossip in Tombstone, and his nervous deference to the Clantons and lawmen alike reflects the vulnerability of frontier workers entangled in others' vendettas.
- • To inform the Doctor and Steven about Dodo’s whereabouts and the dangers they face.
- • To avoid drawing unnecessary attention or becoming entangled in the feud.
- • Doc Holliday is a dangerous and lethal figure who must be avoided.
- • The Clantons and their allies pose a significant threat to anyone involved in their conflicts.
The Citizen’s Committee is mentioned by Ike Clanton as a potential threat to Wyatt Earp’s authority. Pa Clanton dismisses them …
Doc Holliday is mentioned by Charlie as having fled Tombstone with Dodo Dupont and Kate after murdering Seth Harper. Although …
Dodo Dupont is mentioned by Charlie as having fled Tombstone with Doc Holliday and Kate after Seth Harper’s murder. Although …
Kate Fisher is mentioned by Charlie as having fled Tombstone with Doc Holliday and Dodo Dupont after Seth Harper’s murder. …
Wyatt Earp is mentioned by Pa Clanton as the primary target of the Clantons' assassination plot. Although not physically present, …
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Clantons’ saloon drinks serve as props in the Last Chance Saloon, where Pa Clanton, Ike Clanton, and Billy Clanton consume them before leaving. The drinks underscore the group’s unhurried menace and the tension building in the saloon. They symbolize the Clantons’ confidence and resolve, as well as their casual approach to violence and retribution. The act of drinking together before plotting their next move highlights their camaraderie and shared purpose, reinforcing the family’s bond and their determination to escalate the feud.
The hypothetical message from Dodo Dupont is a key piece of information that Steven seeks from Charlie. Although no message exists, its absence underscores the urgency and danger of Dodo’s situation. The message’s hypothetical nature highlights the chaos and suddenness of her flight with Doc Holliday, as well as the Doctor and Steven’s desperation to locate her. The absence of a message foreshadows the fracturing of their group and the looming threat of violence in Tombstone.
Johnny Ringo’s gun is mentioned indirectly through Pa Clanton’s order to hire Ringo for the assassination of Wyatt Earp. Although the gun itself is not physically present in this scene, its implication as a tool of violence and intimidation is central to the Clantons' plan. The gun symbolizes the ruthless and lethal nature of Ringo’s reputation, foreshadowing the deadly confrontation to come. Charlie’s later warning about Holliday’s lethality further emphasizes the role of guns as instruments of power and retribution in Tombstone.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Last Chance Saloon serves as the primary setting for this event, functioning as a neutral ground where the Clantons plot their next move and the Doctor and Steven seek information about Dodo Dupont. The saloon’s dimly lit, sawdust-covered floors and card tables create an atmosphere of tension and whispered conversations, reflecting the dangerous undercurrents of Tombstone. It acts as a hub for news, gossip, and clandestine meetings, where the fate of the town’s inhabitants is discussed and decided. The saloon’s role as a gathering place for outlaws, lawmen, and travelers underscores its significance as a microcosm of the broader conflict in Tombstone.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Clanton Family is the driving force behind the decision to hire Johnny Ringo for the assassination of Wyatt Earp. Pa Clanton, Ike Clanton, and Billy Clanton act as the primary representatives of the organization in this event, plotting their next move and reinforcing their family’s bond and shared purpose. Their actions underscore the Clantons' determination to escalate the feud into a blood feud and their belief in the necessity of violent action to achieve their goals. The family’s internal dynamics, marked by Pa Clanton’s authority and his sons’ reluctance, highlight the tensions and hierarchies within the organization.
The Citizen’s Committee is mentioned by Ike Clanton as a potential threat to Wyatt Earp’s authority, but Pa Clanton dismisses them outright as 'feeble-minded old women' who lack the power to effect real change. Their mention underscores the Clantons' contempt for civilian attempts to challenge their power and the lawlessness that pervades Tombstone. The Committee’s irrelevance in this scene highlights the Clantons' belief in the necessity of violent action to achieve their goals and their disdain for legal or political means of resolving conflicts.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Charlie's revelation indirectly causes Steven to learn Dodo left town with Holliday."
Clantons discover mistaken arrest of Doc"Charlie's revelation indirectly causes Steven to learn Dodo left town with Holliday."
Clantons retreat with Pa’s threat"Steven learns of Dodo's departure, and Doc is on his way to stay at The Wagon Hotel."
Doc deflects Kate and Dodo’s demands"Steven learns of Dodo's departure, and Doc is on his way to stay at The Wagon Hotel."
Doc’s violent return with food"Both Pa Clanton and Ringo pursue vendettas; Pa against Earp, Ringo against Holliday."
Ringo murders Charlie to silence betrayalThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"PA: Get me Johnny Ringo. Get 'im, quick."
"PA: What was I paying Harper? IKE: A hundred dollars. PA: Well, offer Ringo five hundred. IKE: Oh, come on, Pa. Nobody's worth that. PA: Not worth it? If I had the sons who could do the job without gettin' all fouled up I wouldn't have to pay 'im. But as of now I need a top gun."
"CHARLIE: His next extraction's gonna be a bullet."