Original subtitles

Indian country. Apache country.

A man's scalp never set too easy,

not even when the tribes

were technically at peace.

Now, with a couple of the young chiefs

jumping the traces and out for glory,

the stage trails were running red again.

There was an army payroll Wells Fargo

had to get through to Laramie.

Major Thomas Nesbitt, commandant at Fort Anderson,

was supposed to have met us with an escort,

but we were and hour from the Fort now

and still no sign of him.

I didn't like this at all.

My scalp was beginning to feel

less and less a part of me,

and I had a box of gold and a passenger to think about.

Hyah! Giddy-up!

Stage coming!

Is the escort with him? No, Sergeant.

They're alone and burning leather.

Looks like trouble.

Stand by to open the gates.

Something the matter, Sergeant?

The stage we've been expecting, Lieutenant,

it's coming in fast but there's no sign of Major Nesbitt.

That doesn't seem possible.

How could they have missed connections?

That's the way it is, sir.

Little something you picked up, Jim?

A souvenir for you.

How are you, Billy? Fine.

I didn't know you were scouting for this outfit.

I get around.

Still wearing my hair too.

Just what did you do to the fella

that give you this? I killed him.

Where's Major Nesbitt and the escort?

We didn't run into them.

We did run into some Apaches, however.

Lost our driver. How many Indians?

Three was all I saw.

We killed two and one got away.

They were wearing war paint.

This is Mrs. Oliver, Lieutenant. She's on her way

to Laramie to see her husband.

I'm afraid you've had a bad time, Mrs. Oliver.

I'm terribly sorry. I'm Lieutenant Kimball,

only officer on the post just now.

And I'm Jim Hardie. Wells Fargo.

I brought in a payroll for the army.

I know, that's why it was so important

for Major Nesbitt to meet you.

You suppose they've had trouble?

Oh, we'll hope not. But believe me,

the Major would be able to handle it.

Sergeant Condon will arrange quarters for you,

and I'll be honored to have you

join me later for dinner.

Well then, we're not going on?

Well that'll be left for Major Nesbitt

to decide.

Surely, he'll be returning

as soon as he knows he's missed contact

with the stage. I see. Thank you.

This way, ma'am.

Take it easy with that box, soldier.

I have a lot of trouble getting it this far.

It'll be taken care of.

Come to my quarters, Mr. Hardie.

I'll need a full report of this incident.

See you later, Billy. Sure thing.

Giddy-up.

You seem to be a good deal more concerned

than you're letting on.

I didn't wanna alarm Mrs. Oliver.

She's married to a lieutenant at Fort Laramie.

She's rather anxious to get to him.

I don't think she alarms too easy.

I'm quite sure she's seen Indian trouble before.

I suppose you already know that I haven't.

Why should I deny the obvious?

This is my first assignment in hostile territory.

No, I didn't know it.

I don't envy your job, Lieutenant.

If I could, I'd send out

a detachment to scout for the major's column

and try to find out why he didn't meet the stage.

But we're already shorthanded on the post.

You see, Major Nesbitt

was not only supposed to meet the stage,

but to bring back supplies,

ammunition, replacements.

You've seen what we have left.

I noticed it's not overly crowded.

Whatever happens, we've got to hold Fort Anderson,

because if it's lost, the Apache will cut the stage route.

We'll be thrown back a dozen years in the fight

to tame this country.

I can't spare a man for scouting.

Not even one? What about Billy Welch?

As far as that goes, right now, I'm not doing anything.

You?

With a box of gold to deliver, Lieutenant,

I'm as anxious to find out what happened

to Major Nesbitt as the next man.

No, Mr. Hardie, I can't accept. You're a civilian.

Rider approaching the Fort.

It's a soldier.

Alone?

Yes, Sergeant.

I can't make him out.

There's something wrong about him.

Open the gate, Sergeant.

It's Major Nesbitt.

Dirty, rotten butchers.

What about the rest?

Where's them that rode out with the major?

Don't you think we better double the guard

on the wall, Lieutenant, just in case?

Lieutenant?

Yes.

Yes, take care of it.

Get a burial detail for the major.

I don't think you wanna see this,

Mrs. Oliver.

Well, this is dandy.

Major Nesbitt's dead and his whole command with him.

We don't know that for a fact.

I think it's safe to assume they're dead, Billy.

That's an Indian's way. They'll ambush them

and then send us proof.

Yes, and so here we sit

with an an effective strength of 15 men

and a green Lieutenant

who's shaking in his boots.

Is that the way you speak of a superior officer?

Then why isn't he out here taking command?

Why isn't he out here getting us ready

to stand off an attack?

Because, mister, the whole weight

of the Apache nation's

gonna hit this fort,

you can count on that.

Makes sense. We're in the way, Hardie.

I can't argue with that.

Yes, and what are we gonna do?

What are we gonna do about the green lieutenant?

Why don't we start by not losing our own self-control?

A drink?

No, thank you.

Brave maker, they call this stuff.

I wish it was true.

I wish I could get what I need out of a bottle.

Hardie, I'm scared.

I'm really scared.

What am I doing here,

in the middle of a roaring wilderness?

The lives of men,

safety of a fort resting on my shoulders.

I know what they're saying out there.

That I'm not fit for the job, and they're right.

But it is your job, Lieutenant. You picked it.

No, I didn't, Hardie.

I went to West Point only because there's always

been a Kimball at West Point.

It's taken for granted.

It's just that I don't fit the tradition, Hardie,

and I wasn't man enough

to hold out against it.

I only hoped that somehow

I'd be big enough to face it

when my turn came, but I'm not.

I think you're forgetting one thing, Lieutenant.

You did go to West Point and you graduated.

You're an intelligent man. Right now,

this fort's in trouble.

Everyone here is in danger.

We're all in need of that training

that you received.

Yes, of course.

I can't sit here.

The supplies are low.

Food, ammunition, everything.

There can be no question of looking

for Major Nesbitt's column now.

If any of them are still alive, they'll be coming back in.

There aren't enough of us left

to help them.

So what are you gonna do?

Give up?

No.

No.

There's only one hope.

A routine patrol is due here

from Fort Laramie in a few days.

If it comes in time, we may be spared.

Maybe the Apache haven't gotten to the point yet

of trying to take this fort.

Gone already.

It was only a handful of the varmints.

It's just a nuisance raid.

Sent out to try to soften us up.

Doing pretty good, too.

It's only a matter of time.

The sergeant's right.

Sitting ducks for the whole Apache nation.

That's us, Hardie.

That's Fort Anderson.

And the only officer we got left

is cracking to pieces.

Danged if I ain't starting to get

that funny feeling in my scalp.

Mr. Hardie.

Yes?

Good evening, Mrs. Oliver.

Do you suppose they'll attack again in the morning?

I don't know.

I do know one thing though,

worrying about it's not gonna help any.

I suppose you're right.

You know, I feel kind of sorry for the lieutenant.

I feel somehow that he doesn't like the army.

That all this was forced on him.

His father was a graduate of West Point,

as I understand.

Made arrangements for him to follow in his footsteps.

Had I been born a boy, I'm sure my father

would have had me do the same.

Instead, he arranged my marriage

to the finest young lieutenant in the army.

Then your marriage was your father's idea,

not yours at all?

Well, I never would have considered disobeying my father.

Yeah. It's always been my idea

that every person should have the right

to marry the one they want.

If that's not true in your case, Mrs. Oliver,

I'm very sorry.

You needn't be.

John, my husband, is a very kind and good man,

but somehow, I feel...

I wasn't his choice either.

But he never let me know it or feel it.

And as for love,

well, you never miss

what you've never known, do you?

No, I supposed you can't.

Are you married, Mr. Hardie?

No. No, I'm not.

Have you ever been in love?

Yes, once. A long time ago.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm afraid I'm being far too personal

and I've told you, a perfect stranger,

the things I would never have discussed with a friend.

Sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger

than it is to a friend.

Thank you, Mr. Hardie.

You've been very patient.

Somehow I feel

much better about all this now.

Good night.

Good night.

Don't you worry about anything.

It gonna be all right.

She wasn't being foolish.

I know what was really bothering her...

Lieutenant Kimball.

The man's fear was beginning

to work into all of us,

affecting the morale of the post.

Thank you, Billy. A man could lose

his hair around here.

I think they got your sentry.

Take a look.

I think it's probably just a couple of them

coming in here to check our strength.

Sure, or else they plumb loco on firewater.

Ordinarily, a redskin won't risk

missing his way to the happy hunting ground

by getting killed in a night attack.

If they knew how weak

we really were and how few of us there were,

I rather doubt they would have waited this long.

O'Rourke's dead, Sergeant.

All right. Take care of him.

And tell the rest of the men to keep their eyes open.

And that lieutenant of ours,

where is he? Asleep.

Even a gunshot couldn't wake him up,

so I'd better go and report.

If he's asleep, let him.

It's only a short time until morning

and he's gonna need it.

He's the commanding officer

and his place is out here.

And your place is to remember

that you're a sergeant.

Danged if I ain't starting

to get that funny feeling

in my scalp.

It's only a matter of time.

Not a sound.

If they were gonna attack,

they'd do it right now.

Right at dawn,

so they could come at us with the sun at their back.

No, I reckon it won't be for a while yet.

I keep hoping there'd be a few stragglers

from Major Nesbitt's party coming,

but I think if there were any, they'd be here by now.

What do you think?

Have we got a chance?

As long as we're alive, Billy,

I don't believe in giving up.

Look Jim, I got to stay here.

I was hired to,

but you ain't.

Why not you and the woman get in that stagecoach

and make a run for it?

Who knows?

You might even get through.

If we left this post right now

without an escort,

it'd be a sure sign it was undermanned.

No, I believe our best bet is to stay right here

and wait for the patrol from Laramie.

All right.

We'll just wait together.

Mr. Hardie, the lieutenant would like to see you.

Come in, Hardie.

Close the door.

You sent for me, Lieutenant?

Yes.

Frankly, Hardie, I need someone

to tell me what to do.

You're right. I know I'm supposed to know

the books and think for myself

for those men who look to me for orders,

but my brain's locked tight.

What are the chances of the supplies holding out

until the patrol gets here?

Not very good.

If there was just some way to get that patrol in here

ahead of schedule, it'd help.

I wonder.

A messenger. If one could get through,

they shouldn't be too far distant.

That's it. We've got the one man here

who could get through where nobody else

possibly could. A man who knows

every inch of that country out there.

Corporal,

ask Billy Welch to report to me.

No hard feelings, soldier boy,

if I check the job you done on that cinch.

Sure, and that's real good.

You understand this is no order.

Don't give it a thought, Lieutenant.

I was getting kind of restless cooped up in here.

I'd like to stretch my legs a mite.

I'll bring that patrol in. Don't worry.

Hang on to your scalp, Billy.

It's on awful tight, Jim. Let's go.

Open the gate.

Look.

Close those gates.

Hold your fire.

It's too far!

Well, that's that.

A good man sacrificed for a fool idea.

There's nothing wrong with the idea.

The lieutenant was right.

We've got to get word to the patrol.

Saddle my horse, Sergeant.

They won't look for a second try,

not after what we just saw.

Our only chance is to send out someone else

at once.

You may be right, sir.

I'll call for a volunteer.

No volunteer, Sergeant.

I'm going myself.

You sir? Get my horse.

And you call him a coward.

He'll back out.

Do you really expect to get through

where Billy Welch failed?

I expect to do what I can.

Don't think I'm not scared.

I'm scared to death.

What have you've done to him? Look after him.

Your horse is ready, Lieutenant.

What's this all about?

There's been a change in plans, Sergeant.

The lieutenant's gonna stay here

and I'm gonna go out over the wall.

Have you lost your mind?

Another rider wouldn't have any more chance

than Billy Welch did,

but a man on foot might make it without being seen.

Hardie, you can't possibly make it

to Fort Laramie without a horse.

The Apaches have got horses. I plan on picking up

one of theirs.

He'll be killed.

Well, it's his own choosing.

All right, you men keep your rifles ready

so you can give him covering fire if he needs it.

We were in luck, and in time.

The Apache could have taken Fort Anderson

with little trouble, but they never knew it.

And so they lost their chance to cut the stage road

and maybe win a major war.

I delivered my payroll to Fort Laramie by horseback

and returned to get Mrs. Oliver.

We won't be going on to Fort Laramie, Mrs. Oliver.

I'm afraid I've got... I know.

They buried my husband two weeks ago.

I'll be going back with you, Mr. Hardie.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

Hardie, thanks a lot.

All right, driver.

Giddy-up, now.

I was pleased to find

a new feeling there,

a new spirit among the troops.

And above all,

I was glad to learn that I'd guessed right

about Lieutenant Kimball.