This has got to be one of the best screenplays ever, but Eastwood was still able to improve on it. One change is when Munny commands WW to bring him the dead man's rifle and shells in order to reload his Spencer; we are reminded of his dedication to his weapon of choice since he's been a farmer (established earlier in the script), and see how he knows he's going to have to defend himself once he gets out of there. Eastwood's insight into the character is magnificent; his supreme jadedness is what makes the dramatic arc complete. Outside the saloon, his final glance at Ned's corpse and the way everyone watches him ride away in the rain, unwilling to shoot him, are the perfect cap to the story; it is clear to everyone that here is a man who has been pushed to the limit. Furthermore, the line "Deserve's got nothing to do with it" is just pure genius--it basically states the film's main theme in a nutshell.

LN, it's a terrific script and your analysis is worthy of the script! That line of dialogue -- "Deserve's got nothing to do with it" -- is one of those times where a script lays out a central story theme right there (a la Tootsie's, "I was a better man as a woman than I was as a man"). The script (Unforgiven) is also a great read, an excellent example of narrative voice, a real Western feel to the approach to scene description. Thanks for your observations.

Cool. Love the use of the lightening sound- adding to tension and suggesting that gunfire is soon to follow. Thanks for posting. Great scene.

No, thank you! This is a great exercise and a great blog in general; I read it pretty much every day. Keep up the good work! :)