Cowboy (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs)

Evil-doer
Full Name	Unknown
Alias	The Cowboy
Origin	The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Occupation	Cowboy Criminal Robber
Powers / Skills	Charm Luck
Goals	Avoid arrest
Crimes	Robbery Attempted homicide Larceny
Type of Villain	Western Thief

“	First time?	„
	~ The Cowboy to an unnamed criminal before they are executed by hanging.

The Cowboy is the protagonist of "Near Algodones", a story in the 2018 black comedy anthology Western film The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

He is an infamous cowboy and bank robber during the US settlement period.

He is portrayed by James Franco, who also portrayed Christian Longo in True Story, New Goblin in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, Alien in Spring Breakers and Gator Bodine in Homefront.

Personality

The Cowboy is depicted as a charming, humorous man. Despite this, he sees himself as invincible, and takes enjoyment and thrill from the crimes he commits.

Biography

The Cowboy is seen standing outside a lone bank in the middle of a deserted area. He enters the premises where he meets the teller. The Cowboy pulls his pistol out on the teller who flees to the back. The cowboy takes the money in the bank and leaves, but is followed by the teller armoured with pots and pans which deflect the cowboy's shots, and knocks the cowboy unconscious using the butt of his shotgun.

The cowboy awakes to find the teller has left him on his horse with his hands ties behind his back and a noose around his neck, meaning when the horse inevitably strays too far he will be hanged. A posse tells the cowboy he has been sentenced to death during his sleep for his robbery. However, the execution is interrupted by a native Comanche attack, who kill the posse, but leave the cowboy tethered.

A drover appears and lets the cowboy down, but is revealed to be a rustler and chased by another vigilante posse, who capture the cowboy. The cowboy is taken to a town square gallows, waiting to be hanged once again. A judge announces their sentences, and as the cowboy looks around at the others being hanged, notices a man besides him who is weeping over his fate. The cowboy smirks and asks "First time?" to the criminal, which perturbs the man. The trapdoor is opened, and the criminals are killed.

Trivia

• The Cowboy's story is supposed to reflect the absurdity of fate, and the immense role luck has in it.
• Shortly after the release of The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, his "First time?" quote and scene would go on to spawn several memes.