All language subtitles for A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972).en

I kill for the
first time in my life.

Joplin Gazette
Joplin Missouri, April 10, 1872

... Today, I walked through the ruins
of what was once Fort Holman.

10 years ago, this civil war fortress,
thought to be impregnable,

was destroyed by a wild
bunch of marauders.

Eli Sampson,
a survivor of that massacre,

revealed in an interview
that the raid was the

result of a blood feud
between two bitter men:

Colonel Pembroke, a union officer,
thought to be a traitor and coward,

led the mission to recapture the
fort he had once surrendered.

Major Ward,
a ruthless "Mad Genius",

who joined the confederacy slely
to gain command of Fort Holman,

so that he would rule the vast surrounding
Santa Fe Territory after the war.

But what motivated these two men and

what caused this incredible blood bath,

was explained by Eli Sampson
in the story that follows...

A REASON TO LIVE, A REASON TO DIE

We caught them two looting, sir.
Get over to Buxtown.

Very well,
I'm inform the Major.

Yes, sir.

Major Ballard, sir.

We caught them two looting
the church over to Buxtown.

Send the one with the hat
to my quarter, sergeant.

Yes, sir.

The sentence of the court martial
says you handed Fort Holman

over to the Rebs without a shot
being fired on either side.

Hell, man, why did you do it?

There's got to be
a damn good reason.

At least give it to me.

- It's not important.
- It's not important?

You knew our campaign in
the southwest depended

on holding the high
ground at Fort Holman?

As your best friend, I wish you
rotted in that prison camp.

No one will tend to
the grave of a traitor.

Well, don't let the thought of
executing me ruin your appetite, Charlie.

Probably make a colonel
out of you for it.

You could be right.

Good wine.

And what if I took
Fort Holman back?

They'd make you a
general with that.

Christ, man, what are
you talking about?

If I recall, it was you that ran out.

Yes, and once I've done it,
I'll disappear.

You will never see me again.

You've got my word on that. Charlie.
You know me.

Yeah, I know you.

But I also know that mad devil
war in command up there.

I've left more than a
thousand good men

at the foot of that mountain.

Not with a frontal attack,

but from within.

We'll surprise them from within.

From the defense platform,
called the pulpit.

Cross the hanging bridge,

through the tunnel,
into the fort.

You're crazier than ward himself.

It's impossible to reach the pulpit.

It isn't for me.

With a few men.

Once Fort Holman has fallen,
the route to the north is open.

You can get reinforcement
from General Canby.

You can take Santa Fe in one day.

Sibley's in Arizona,
where the main body of

his forces left the city
practically defenseless.

Listen, Charlie. I know.
I just escaped from there.

Say, we capture Santa Fe will
Sybil be cut off from his troops...

Cut him to pieces.

Send him chasing right
down to the Rio Grande.

Right through Texas,
all the way to New Orleans.

The whole southwest is yours again.

Could decide the
outcome of the war.

I'll need twelve men, general.

When does that take place?

Tomorrow morning.

What hell you're
waiting for?

Spread the trap!
Get it over with!

Shut up,
private Piggot!

The Major has
a announce to beg.

Now listen.

I'm offering you men a chance
to get off these gallows alive.

Volunteers are needed for a mission which
is as dangerous as it is important.

And if any of you are willing
to volunteer for it, you'll get pardons.

That's all I can promise you.

Gentlemen.
I can promise you nothing.

Except a chance to die
honorably and possibly live.

In any case,
freedom at the end.

Donald McIvers.
mule skinner and deserter.

Killed two senturies and
sold out to the Rebs.

What about, McIvers?

Hell, yes.

- Private Samuel Piggot.
- Yeah, I accept.

The pig. Murdered his commanding officer at
Sandy Creek and raped that officer's wife.

Ted Wendall,
caught stealing horses.

- What do you say, Wendall?
- You bet your ass.

In fact here, sir.
We can't identify him.

Well, I know this one.

If I say no, they hang me.

It's better I come with you then.
I never was any good at looting.

Will Fernandez,
thief and murderer.

Stole medicine and sold it in
the black market to the Rebs.

30 Union soldiers died.

What do you say?

Me? I go.

Jeremy, Cherokewa,
half breed, killed a white

man for selling
alcohol to the apache.

You want to come?

This is the worst of the bunch.
Religious fanatic.

Arrested for urgent men not to
enlist and inciting them to rebellion.

A terrible doom awaits you.

Renounce war, repent.

Are you in or out?

The Lord is my shepherd.

Vengeance is mine,
said the Lord.

Saith the Lord.

That's the cross your
wife always used to wear.

Yes.

And Sergeant Brent
wishes to volunteer.

Yes, sir.

Corporal, free all those men,
except the last one.

What do you think your life will
be worth out there with that crew?

What's it worth now?

Thank you, Charlie.

- Sergeant Brent?
- Sir.

Organize the men
in some kind of rank.

Yes, sir.

Your authority.

Move it out.

Excuse me.

Just out of curiosity,
what direction are we going?

- East.
- You hear that, Piggot?

According to colonel,
we're heading east.

You got anything
to do back east?

Nah, I don't think so.

What about you, Will?

You know, amigos.

East, west, north, south,
it's all the same to me.

What Willie don't like is
getting told where to go.

My mistaken.
This is the real Puerco.

You are right. This running
water has named Rio Puerco.

McGard. Yeah?

What's Puerco mean?

Why don't you ask chicken
shit what Puerco means?

He knows everything.

That's why he's a colonel.

He knows it means, Piggot,
just won't admit it.

Don't forget, it's
his mother's name.

Hey, Colonel, you should
not have called him that.

He'll be offended.

He ain't no colonel
no more. He ain't?

That's right.
Our chicken lost his wings.

No.
I can't believe that.

She's sold out.

And we'll be judged by
the company we keep.

Time's running out.

Any of you buzzard bait want to
keep writing with high pockets here.

- Holler out.
- No.

If we leave the old boy, he'll be
the lonesomest man underground.

"El viejo" is a brave one to
show us such a back.

Calm down, Willie.
Go right up with your amigo, Brent.

We'll show you
how calm we can be.

- Two amigos, one big nugget.
- Right up. Brent.

Have you got the belly for us?

If there's one thing
worse than an officer.

It's someone who
sucks up to an officer.

What the hell's going on?

The horses are free.
We still prisoners.

You filthy army backstabber.
You low down son of a bitch.

You sold out to the rebs.

We'd been better off
if you left us to die quick.

Looks like you're going to
walk to Santa Fe, Piggot.

He's going to carry me on
his shoulders, the bastard.

We're moving over confederate territory.

We can't do that
on US branded horses.

Now get your gear
together. We're moving out.

- Atta boy, Piggot.
- That's enough.

I said hold it!

Just nerves, why don't
you guys relax.

Just a goddamn minute.

Let's find out what this
chicken colonel has in mind.

We're going to Fort Holman, gentlemen,
to enter and retake it.

Let's go.
We got a train to catch.

What makes you think
that we're going with?

It's the job you men
volunteered for.

Yes, but that was with
a rope around our necks.

Well, Colonel Pembroke, looks like
your mission ends right here.

Hey, speak for yourself, Piggot.

I want to know why
the colonel's in such

an all fired hurry
to get back there.

He wants to risk our
ass to save his face.

That's what you're going
there for, ain't it?

No, gentlemen.
For gold.

Gold?

- That's what he said.
- What gold?

Captured confederate gold that I got
buried near a sundial in that old Fort.

That's what we're going to get.

How much gold is there, Colonel?

Well, I'd say, roughly,
there's around...

$500,000 worth of it.

- How much?
- 500,000.

One. two, three, four...

- 500,000.
- Come again?

You can sure save a lot
of face with 500,000.

What's Ballard's cut?

No, Ballard knows nothing
about the gold.

Sent me out here to clear my name,
win him a promotion, doing it.

Now, I can get us in there.

It's not going to be
easy, but I can do it.

And if the eight of us can
work together,

We'll make Ballard a general.

And we'll be living high in a hog
in good old Mexico, rich and free.

Well, then.

Gentlemen, your weapons.

I think you're lying.

There's only one way to find out.

Yeah, by telling us
where the gold is buried.

Already told you that once.

You better start
paying attention to me, Brent.

you pull that thing on
me one more time.

You better be prepared to use it.
I'm going to shove it up your throat.

Just bring the things
you can carry easy.

Whoa. You won't get any more out
of him if you shoot his ears off.

Well, there she is, gentlemen.

A ride through the lines.

She'll take us within a half
day's march of Fort Holdman.

There's a bed with a high grade
I know we can catch her at.

Let's move.

Come on here.

Colonel, you made a mistake sending
that idiot MacGyver down there.

He's a mule skinner, Brancher.

The colonel's right.

How much longer are
we going to wait here?

We're going down right now.
Get your gear down.

Come on, Redskin.

Hey, Johnny,
we got company.

Right.

Howdy, friend.

Well, stranger.

We're just on our way
to army headquarters.

We thought we'd stop by and see
if you had anything to eat.

We'd be glad to pay
for it, of course.

Pardon the gun, Mr.

Don't mean to act unfriendly,
only you can't be too careful.

Yeah, imagine you get a lot
of funny people walking by here.

Yeah, they come and they go.

Now, you all come inside and
make yourselves to home.

April, put some more
plates on the table.

We got guests for dinner.

Who comes from
afar comes from God.

Come in, friends.

A real pleasure to have you.

Come on, sit down.

Is there any Confederates
headquarters here?

Up north.
Fort Holman.

Fort Holman.
How far is that?

About 10 miles out of San Miguel.

So you wouldn't happen to have
a horse for sale, would you?

- We're packing a lot of weight.
- A horse?

The soldiers took everything
when they passed through.

Here's you must have
walked a long way.

If you want to stay the night,
I won't charge you nothing.

No thanks.
We're overdue already.

I ain't said grace yet.

Dear Lord, bless this food
we're about to eat. Amen.

Yeah!

The dynamite!

Piggot, get it off the stove.

We damn near blew up ourselves.

Instead a Fort...

What hell you stove hide it?

You just stay right
where you are.

Brent, line them up
by the fireplace.

I took you into my house.
I gave you food and drink.

Sorry, old timer.
You heard too much.

I didn't hear nothing.

Did you hear anything?
Tell him, Brian?

No.

They ain't done nothing to us.

All we need is a few hours.
We can tie them and gaggle.

It's a half million dollars
and our hides against theirs.

- We got no choice.
- Take what you want.

We won't say nothing
to no one.

We're not to blame if
you talk too much.

God knows nobody asked you.

Go look in the barn.

MacIvers!

- Why?
- This is why.

To steal everything ahead.

God knows how many
were murdered.

Try this on.
We need a uniform.

- Who, me?
- Yes, you.

Now we are only seven to share.

Well, let's see it.
Turn around.

How's it fit?

How's that's.

What is that?

"Colonel William A. Morrow of the Secret
Service of the State of Georgia is

authorized to travel
freely in all territories

of the states occupied
areas and military zones."

Come on, Brent.
You and I are going to buy a horse.

- Isn't that risky?
- Yeah. Here, you take my holster.

- What I do with it?
- We don't do any shooting with it.

If you do, it's the
end of Fort Holman.

Yeah, all that gold, too.

Yeah, and the gold too.

What's this?
You make it yourself.

Thank you.

Let's see now.

Oats, sack of beans.

Lard. Coffee.

Bacon, cheese, salt, sugar.

Bread, whiskey...

You all buying up supplies like
there was a war going on?

Whiskey.
What else?

Coil fuse...

Coffee, bacon, cheese, whiskey.

Salt, sugar, bread.

rope, gunpowder, fuse...
There's something missing.

But it's got to be it.
Now, how much is it?

I'm trying to think.
Don't rush me.

Meal, Whiskey...

Yeah.

Pay the man.

I knew and has what I forgot.

I forgot to put down
the doggone mule.

- That's $100.
- Here.

Be happy hunting down south.

- How are you, Scully?
- Oh, not bad.

Heard there's strangers about.

Yeah, just bought
the whole store up.

They didn't mention what
they was hunting for.

But it must be big game because
they bought gunpowder fuse.

And they paid for it without haggling
$100 in northern currency, too.

That's so? Which way
they're heading?

- Out that way.
- Thanks, Scully.

They got caught.
"Vamonos". Let's go.

Let's see what you
got there, boys.

Why not have a look?

We won!

We won!

The war is over!

The war is over!
Hurray!

Long live the Confederacy!
The war is over!

Hold!

Who told you
the war is over?

A trapper up in the hills.

This guy. He's just
rode in from Santa Fe.

"The only sober man in
town was a preacher."

And he won't be for long!

What are we waiting for?
They're no better than us.

Let's get drunk.

Let's all get drunk.
Yeah!

Whiskey now,
it's on the house!

- What's your name?
- Robinson.

You guys got any more, Brent?

Yeah, sure.

Ese cabron de mierda dese
colonel pembro estas dormiendo.

Yes. But that Falcon you
sleep with one eye open.

Don't give many more.
They've had enough.

Brent.
Give me that.

Oh, come on.

- The colonel don't want us to drink.
- The hell with him.

He's a sort of bashing around.

Give me the bottle, Piggot.

Piggot.
Give me that bottle.

Go to hell.

Look what you've
done, you bastard.

You gotta get his kill one
way or the other, Pembroke.

Colonel Pembroke.

You're going to pick up
those beans one at a time.

Hurry up.

What did I tell you
about that gun, sergeant?

I said pick them up.

I want to see you
on your knees.

Now eat them beans.

- Beans don't agree with me.
- Beans will.

I'll shoot them out of your
hand and into your mouth.

That's enough.
The party's over.

Always on his side, eh?

I'm on my own side.

He's the one's going to get
me into Fort Holdman. That's all.

Too bad.
It was real good.

Thank you, Eli.

I didn't like seeing you down on
your knees picking up them beans.

Worst things have
happened to me.

Why the hell did you do it?

They wouldn't have killed you.

Well, maybe not, Brent.

But if that little snakey eyed half
would have started shooting, we'd have half

the confederate troops in the territory

down us. That'd be the
end of Fort Holman.

Is it that important?

Yeah, it's that important.

Half a million dollars can buy a
lot of tortillas down in Mexico.

Oh, shoot.

I wouldn't get out on
my knees for nothing.

And neither would you.

I got a feeling there's something
else behind all the this, uh?

The uniform its pretty
good, doesn't it?

Listen. Picture this
is the pulpit now.

And that's the bridge that leads to
the tunnel connecting with a Fort.

This fort was built to
command the Santa Fe trail.

It passes through a
tunnel under the Fort.

There's an alarm system
connecting all of this.

To see that it never goes off.

Well, Colonel?

If our little plan worked
Eli is inside by now.

- The Password?
- Confederacy and liberty.

- Take me to Major Ward.
- Yes, sir.

Sir, Santa Fe prison camp has
confirmed that Pembroke has escaped.

- When?
- About ten days ago, sir.

I want you to send two
platoons from B company.

I want a 24 hours patrol
over a 50 miles perimeter.

Yes, sir.
Such a spike.

And you?

What else do you want?

I request permission to remain
overnight at the Fort, sir.

- Report back to your unit.
- My butt is awful sore, sir.

Don't get smart
with me, soldier!

Major, I respectfully
request permission

to show the cheeks of my tail.

Show him the quarters, but make
sure he's out by morning.

Come on.

I want Lieutenants Babbitt and Ryan
to report this office immediately.

Yes, sir.

There's no danger.
He's only one man.

- Can I make you a drink?
- No, thank you.

I would prefer to be alone.

Is there a sundial
anywhere around here?

- A sundial?
- Yeah.

All confederate forts have a sundial.

Well, maybe where
their cannon.

There never been a sundial here,
that I know of.

At least not since we've been here.

I thought so.

That's the damn horse.

After one week in the saddle.

I got a pain where it
counts most.

Real lucky.

Robinson and Hutton
are out on patrol.

There's a couple of free bunks.

Otherwise, you'd have to
ride out of here tonight.

You remind me someone.

That so?

I've never seen you before.

This is it gentlemen.
Here where we wait.

Eli.
Good luck.

- See you in morning.
- Thanks, friend.

He's been caught.

I bet the son of a bitch talked.
Let's get out of here.

I'm so tired.

I'll see you later. I'll watch
on the pulpit this morning.

Hey.
I'm afraid I can't sleep.

Mind if I come get
a whip of fresh air?

Why not?
Come on.

- Hear?
- What?

Humm!
Nothing.

It's almost dawn.
What do we do?

We wait.

Piggot.
The dynamite?

Yeah.

Hey, you got enough
ammunition here to

fight off the whole Union army.

How'd you manage
to bring it all in?

Oh, hell, that was all
here when we came.

You gotta hand it to the Yanks.

They're real organized.
Come on, boy.

Hey, I get dizzy looking
out a second story window.

Come on.
Just don't look down.

Lieutenant Wilkins.

Are you ready to
relieve me, sergeant?

- I'll relieve you, sir.
- Very well.

- It's great mountain air.
- It's very bad for your health.

You get careless, it'll blow you right
off this son of a bitching mountain.

- Just take a look down there, boy.
- Them tents must be kind of precarious.

I have as precarious as
a year with Major Ward.

- Like a cigar?
- I prefer my pipe.

If you could spare a couple
for the lads over there.

All right, sure.

Thank you.

Hey!

Come on, back of.

Hold.

Easy.
Steady. Steady.

Say!

Pull.

Take it easy.
Easy, take it down. Easy

Hes!
What's matter?

I thought I was going to be sick.

You better turn in.
You got a long ride tomorrow morning.

- You mean this morning?
- That's right.

It will be dawn in just
a few more minutes.

I know, there's something
familiar about you.

I just can't put my finger on it.

Well, let me know
when you figure it out.

Say, were you here
when the fort was taken?

Hell yes. I'm here to tell you
as a miracle if I ever saw one.

How's that?

Well, we had half of Sibleys force
massed down in the valley...

With orders that take
the fort at any cost.

You know what that meant?

It meant we'd all
have been wiped out.

- Go on.
- There. We was all set to go.

And then a miracle happened.

Pembroke hauled up the white
flag and we just walked

in here and took the place
without firing a shot.

All the same, these Yankees, they
turn and run like a rabbit.

Not Pembroke,
he's tough as nails.

The truth is Ward got his
hands on Pembroke's son.

Then what happened?

They send Pembroke word
to surrender the fort.

Or he would hang the boy.
And Pembroke surrendered.

Smart trick. But he
didn't hang the kid?

Oh no, Ward is a man of his word.

He doesn't hang him,
he shoots him.

Of course, I don't know
the whole story.

With Pembroke free,
I sure wouldn't be in Ward shoes.

Why? What chance does one man have
against a fort full of soldiers?

I wouldn't change places with Ward
or anything in the world.

Being inside this fort is safer
than being inside a bank vault.

You've seen the alarm system.
You know what Ward did?

Connected it to that suspension
bridge to blow it to hell.

Don't sell Ward short, old son.
He's as smart as he is me.

He invented this alarm
system his own self.

Know how it works.
You can bet your ass it works.

I think Ward has mighty big plans
for this place when the war ends.

Anyway, for us cross that bridge comes easy.
As long as Ward needs us.

You mean if the
alarm is set off,

the bridge would blow up?

It's mined.

If someone manages
to attack the pulpit

and the emergency
alarm goes off,

the major and only
him lose a handle.

Something like that, and bam.

She'll blow sky high.

- What's so funny?
- The alarm system.

I was taking the leap right
beside that alarm box.

If I'd have peed on it,
it never would have worked again.

Ain't that O'Brien?
Just think.

Answering a call in
nature could have

cost the south this
whole dog on porch.

Good thing I didn't
drown it out.

- You feel all right?
- Sure.

- Hey, what you got there?
- I don't know.

I have something in my jacket pocket.

A dice.

How much are you going
to bet I can't roll a six?

How'd you do that?

Now, you try.

Hands up, boy.

What's the matter?

This is one of a pair
of loaded dice that

belonged to private
Robinson he took more than

$100 off me before I got
wise to him that's who

he reminded me of how'd
you come by his uniform?

I found it.

Lieutenant Wilkins.

- Who's that?
- Sergeant, watch.

Over here, lieutenant
What is it, sergeant?

Oh, boy!

Look inside the jacket.
I bet that's Robinson's, too.

- This dice was in the pocket.
- I swear I found it.

Mine was completely worn out.

Come on, lieutenant, I know it's
against regulations give me a break.

All right, move them out,
Sergeant.

March.

Listen, we've had it here.
So let's beat retreat before we are spotted.

Give me the knife.

Sir.

I am Colonel Morrow, secret
service of the Confederate Army.

Under direct orders
of General Sibley.

You are in trouble, Ward.

- What do you mean, sir?
- What do I mean?

I was sent here to
check on security,

and I find that security under
your command is nonexistent.

First, I was able to pass
the sentry with an elementary trick.

Second, I was shown into
your presence without

any check on my
identity or intentions.

I could have assassinated you.

Third, I had access to the
powder magazine,

and could have blown up
the fort and half the mountain.

Fourth.
But why go on?

In all my 20 years of service,
I have never come across

more flagrant breaches of
elementary security procedures.

- But Colonel Moore...
- There is no excuse.

I'll report to General Sibley.

I'm tired and sore,

and I'm going to need
a few hours sleep,

before I head on back to Santa Fe.

Sergeant, you see the
colonel to my quarters and

you make sure that he
has everything he wants.

Sir.

What are we going to do now?

- We could.
- Yes.

Morrow can only damage you if
he reports what he has seen.

That's right. Go on.

But if he never
returns to Santa Fe,

And then he never would be able
to make this report. And then?

- An accident?
- Oh, no, no accidents.

Accidents are too risky.
Accidents have a way of being investigated.

Now, he came here to check
on our security measures,

and we showed him just
how tight our security is.

That's right.

Now he claims to be Colonel
Morrow of the secret Service.

Sir, I can assure you I've never
seen a Colonel Morrow in Fort Holden.

He's a spy.
Yankee saboteur. Right.

- And we've just found him out.
- Fawcet. That's right. On the nose.

And what do we do with
Yankee saboteurs, Lieutenant?

- We execute them.
- We execute them? That's right.

And all they can do is commend us.

Hold you go there.
Hold or I shoot!

Hold!

Emergency alarm.

- What the hell is going on?
- They're attacking the pulpit.

Pembroke.

- How many are there?
- I don't know, sir.

The bridge.

Break down the other end
of the shaft. Piggot. Hurry.

Right!

Get some men and
cover the tunnel!

You men.

We'll never get out of this
trap by ourselves.

What are you looking for?

There's a ventilation
shaft behind this wall.

If we can break through then
we can get right to the top.

See if you can find me a pick.

Soldier.
Back to your post.

Now, you leave your post.
Never no time for Cort Martial.

Execution on the spot.

We're almost out of ammunition.

There's some powder over there.
That's it. Give me a hand.

Right.

He is dead.

- You finished?
- Just about.

- How they doing?
- They're waiting.

They're blocked in the magazine.

Get all guns and keep them facing
toward the mouth of the tunnel.

What can we do now, sir?

Well, Napoleon said there's a
time to fight and a time do wait.

So that's what we're gonna do,
sergeant. We're gonna wait.

Go get them.

Why don't you try
thinking of us?

What's, Sergeant Brent?

Scared?

Go on.

- Sergeant!
- Yes, sir.

You say you saw that
man in the alarm box.

Yes sir, and he was acting
downright suspicious.

You take two men.
No, you better take four men.

Surround my quarters.
He may escape.

Yes, major.

You know the prisoner,
Colonel Morrow?

He's a real spy, a saboteur.

He came in here in order to
make way for the others.

Down there!

Piggot, Get that gun.
Come on.

Ward!

Get that gun right over there.
Go after.

You too, Wendall.

Sergeant!

Place your men on the wall.

Let's go up.

Hold your fire!
Hold!

Hey Brent, are you crazy?

Stop shoot.
They're surrendering.

Let go fly a kite.

Yeah, brother.

- He's after Eli!
- Go and get that son of the bitch.

Ward!

It's all over!

Come on out!

You're finished!

Now you're gonna tell me
where the gold is hidden!

I didn't risk my hide...

just to make a hero out of you.

You got to pay off, right now!

Let me remind you, Colonel. There is
a military procedure for surrender.

Congratulations!

He was innocent.

Subtitles: Kilo