A tired man on a hard-ridden horse arrives and enters the Birdcage asking for whiskey. Jake serves him a bottle. He takes a couple of drinks and interacts with the piano player. Jake asks for payment which the man does not have. As Jake tries to throw him out, Lily stops Jake and finds the man bleeding. Troop and Johnny help him into Lily's office and bring a doctor to tend to the arm wound. Lily learns the man was a well respected actor in the past being chased by a husband and brother who think he took liberties with the husband's wife. Overhearing the wife talk to him, Lily learns the actor is innocent. The wife is pursuing him. The actor performs at the Birdcage to pay his way. The husband and brother arrive. Troop tells them no guns. When the husband draws, Troop wounds him in the arm. The wife fires a derringer at the actor but appears to miss. The couple and brother leave town on Troops's orders. Inside the Birdcage they learn the actor has been mortally wounded but continues to perform for the crowd. He dies as they applaud.
—edited by Rob