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Wonder when we're gonna head back into town.

Oh, don't tell me you're hungry again.

It's been dang near an hour since we ate.

Besides, we're just here

to celebrate the General's birthday, can't take that long.

Bye, thanks for coming.

Hoss.

Ha, thank you, ma'am.

You're unbelievable, unbelievable.

But I'm healthy.

You know, all this, uh, this fuss is a little embarrassing.

Imagine, changing the name of my hometown.

Thought Clear Creek was a good name.

It has a good sound to it.

I think Cloninger has a marvelous ring to it.

Wouldn't doubt you two had something to do

with this statue business.

Now, what do you know about the statue?

Oh, I... Let's say, I wouldn't wanna recommend your security officer.

Oh, Willis!

Ira, I assure you the statue was a spontaneous gesture

from the people of Cloninger.

Flattering, I don't know how spontaneous it was.

At least, you know, I'm human enough to enjoy it.

I still think you two are up to something.

Now, Ira...

You've had a brilliant career.

Many honors have been bestowed upon you, decorations.

Your hometown wants to add one more to a long list.

Now, what is the matter with that?

Ben...

You are beginning to sound like the judge here.

The flowery speech, and you rode a long way to make it.

You wanted me, sir?

Yes, Sergeant, give me some help with this infernal sash.

It's, uh, not the only puzzle I can't figure out around here.

Whoa.

Willis not only ran my headquarters company like a Swiss watch,

he found time to learn

how to tie one of these sashes properly.

Well, somebody had to, sir.

Insubordination, if ever I heard it.

Judge, isn't there some way we can discipline a retired sergeant?

I doubt it.

General?

Oh, Mr. Freed, Barnabas Freed.

Mr. Freed is a, a reporter, "San Francisco Journal."

The "Journal" sent you clear down here.

They must've heard about the celebration.

No, they didn't send me.

I was, uh, passing through Covis, and...

Whatever your reason for coming, you're just in time for the festivities.

I'm not interested in the festivities, General.

I came down here to get a story on you

and the man you killed out here yesterday.

You haven't changed much, Mr. Freed.

Still the gadfly, hmm?

Well, General, I'm a reporter.

And I try to say exactly what I mean.

And I say it's likely that a murder took place here yesterday.

Sergeant!

- Sir, he can't talk like that. - At ease, at ease.

Well, there was some trouble here yesterday.

A horse thief was shot and killed.

And the law was fully informed.

Did you know about this?

Yes.

And the, um, hearing, when is it?

The sheriff investigated, the facts were clear and simple.

- No hearing. - Sergeant!

Go get some air now, Willis, go on.

Yes, sir.

Still doesn't like reporters, ay?

Some reporters.

See, when he was with us,

Mr. Freed liked to travel with the advanced patrols

or ahead of them, contrary to all orders.

Besides, I had Willis put a stop to that

and it, uh, it made Mr. Freed very unhappy.

Well, that's all past history, General. It's already in the books.

I'm interested in yesterday.

By the way, was, uh,

Willis with you when the horse thief was killed?

Yes, he was, he was.

And there will be a hearing day after tomorrow at my insistence.

I think the General has been very patient, Mr. Freed.

I came all this way to find out what happened.

And he still hasn't told me.

You're interrupting a very...

That's... That's all right, Judge.

Sergeant Willis and I surprised three horse thieves on my property,

all armed, stealing my horses.

We tried to capture them, there was some shooting.

And I killed one of the horse thieves.

And what happened to the other two?

They got away.

Oh, excuse me, gentlemen.

We should be leaving.

There's a birthday celebration in town

waiting for the guest of honor.

Certainly, certainly, my dear.

We'll... We'll be right with you.

Oh, Mr. Freed, why don't you join us? You know, this could be interesting.

You might actually enjoy yourself. Come on, come on.

Must be a disappointment

having what looked like a big story just plain vanish.

I didn't know it had.

It has and the hearing will prove it.

If you wait around until tomorrow,

I can promise you an even bigger story.

Judge?

Front and center, we can't start without you.

Be right with you, Ben!

A story that'll make headlines even in San Francisco.

Privileges of rank.

Have enough rank, you can sweep anything under the rug, even murder.

I'm afraid you lost me, mister.

The General killed a man here yesterday.

Now they're getting the whitewash out.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you why we're gathered here today.

There isn't a true son or daughter in Nevada

who doesn't know and honor the name of General Ira Cloninger.

Catwalk Ridge, Stacey's Pass, King's Mill, Adalaya, Cold Harbor.

The campaigns and the Rosebud and the Snake.

All these and more have placed General Cloninger's name

indelibly in the histories our children will read.

Let it also be known that his courage and leadership

did not go unheeded in his own time by his own people!

You really believe all this?

Look, if you don't like the speech, why don't you leave?

I'm a reporter.

I hear an ugly rumor,

then I wanna check it out for the truth.

When people get evasive, I get very, very curious.

Yeah, well, rumors are just rumors, aren't they?

I guess more of them are pure lies, huh?

About half of them.

What makes you think this one's the truth?

An itch, an instinct.

After a lot of years, you get to know.

That may make sense to you, but it doesn't to me.

Was given the tough assignments...

You know where Angel's Point is?

I'd say it's about four or five hours from here.

You say he's a hero.

But I say he may have been once, but he's not anymore.

You wanna prove I'm wrong?

Show me how to find Angel's Point.

Unless, of course, you're afraid it was murder.

You're the reporter, you wanna dig up dirt,

do it on your own.

And friends have a small present for him.

From this moment on,

this town will be known as Cloninger!

And this statue,

now to be unveiled...

is our sincere thank you

to one of the great men of our time.

Mrs. Cloninger.

Thank you very much, Judge.

I'm truly, deeply flattered.

I am indeed a very fortunate man.

But the wars are now back of us, they're behind us.

And now I've come back home

to the land and to the people that I love.

My dear wife and I will never forget this birthday.

It's one of the nicest, one of the best I've ever had.

I must say, I...

I think the statue is much better-looking than I am, hmm?

All right, my friend, stay here with the rest of the fools

and cheer for a fake legend.

Hey, mister, you're so sure your right,

what if you're wrong?

You give him a public apology?

Whatever the truth is, that's what I'll print.

All right, I'll take you to Angel's Point.

Take the buggy down to the livery stable.

You'll need a horse to get up there.

Governor?

Your nominating committee wants me to run for governor?

Yes, General.

The state needs a man who stands taller than its present problems.

You can win, General.

You'll sweep this state like nobody ever has before.

I wouldn't be surprised if the other side just capitulates.

I have to think about this, gentlemen.

Of course.

Right now, I... I think we could all use another drink.

Governor?

Angel's Point will be right over that next hill.

Still don't see what you think you're gonna find out

from those Indians anyway.

I expect to be able to prove they're not horse thieves.

Sheriff did investigate.

The sheriff was elected by the people

that changed the name of Clear Creek to Cloninger.

Those same people are putting the General's statue up

in the town square right now.

Now, a sheriff that threw mud on the statue,

he could be out of work.

You sure got a big hate-on for that general, don't you?

No, but I do know him.

Why don't we go find out if I'm right?

Follow me, Mr. Reporter.

Hold it!

We, uh, we mean you no harm.

We only wanna ask you a couple of questions.

Put the gun away.

They're not the general's men.

Seven days we trail the herd down the mountains

and across the reservation and into the canyons.

They were not good horses.

But when you're on foot, any horse is a good one.

A long trail.

Um...

Uh, Chief Greybuck, have I got that right?

Sam Greybuck.

When we come to the agency, we take names from the great book.

I am Samuel.

My son is Thomas.

He was my son, Jacob.

Look, Greybuck, if you caught those horses like you said,

why would the general wanna take 'em away from you?

He had a herd of his own.

I know the general.

We are old enemies.

Uh, Greybuck, are you saying that there was bad blood

between you and the general,

and that's the reason he killed your son, Jacob?

I say we crossed this land with my horses.

Now Jacob is dead.

A white general does not prove what is his.

He sees and he takes!

Do you have any proof of what you've told us?

Were the horses branded?

No brands.

Well, that's should be proof of a sort, uh...

The general's horses should be branded.

Yeah, they should be,

but a lot of ranchers don't bother to brand their remount horses.

You just let 'em run loose like the ones Greybuck found.

No brands, no marks, nothing.

Did anybody see you catch those horses?

Only a rabbit and a hawk.

Jacob sold one of the horses to a man near Topaw.

Well, who was this man? Did you get his name?

No.

There's not gonna be any proof.

For Jacob, we need no proof!

The horses will be ours.

Look, Greybuck, there's a legal way to handle this.

- Now, the treaty says... - The thief's treaty!

First they take our land.

Then our horses.

Now our sons.

Well, what's your best guess, Joe?

I'm not changing my mind, but I admit,

I'm wondering if they're telling the truth.

You're the reporter, why ask me?

We're not gonna get anything else out of Greybuck, though.

Let's get some sleep.

We'll start back first thing in the morning.

I knocked on his door, he'll be right down.

Oh, thank you, Willis.

Uh, will you need me anymore?

No, you had a busy day.

Why don't you go get a little rest now, hmm?

I had a good day.

I liked every minute of it.

- Good night, sir. - Good night.

Thank you, Willis.

Oh, Ben, I...

I don't wanna steal your sleep, but, uh...

I wanted to talk to you alone.

It's always a pleasure, General.

I was just getting a little reading done before I got to sleep.

I need your help, Ben. Sit down, will you?

Thank you.

Want some of this coffee or a drink, Ben?

A little coffee, thank you.

That's fine.

Uh, Judge Donovan, he's an honest man.

He's a good friend of mine that you know.

We hunt together, we fish together, and we tell tall tales to each other.

But, uh, I have a feeling he's prejudiced.

In what way?

Well, in my favor.

He wants me to be governor.

And that disturbs you?

He was only one member of that nominating committee.

I'm sure he told you your selection was unanimous.

I'm not a politician, Ben.

I'm just a ex-soldier trying to build a horse ranch.

You were a commanding general.

So I was, but, uh, I'm not sure that qualifies me.

You... You want me to run, hmm?

- You must have your reasons. - Hmm.

I'd like to know what they are.

One big reason, Ira.

The war tore this country apart.

The hatreds and wounds are still with us.

There are men here in Nevada who wore the gray

who won't even speak to men who wore the blue.

- So the war still goes on. - Precisely.

But you've been able to close the gap.

After Appomattox, you had men and officers

from the Confederacy serving in your command.

We had our problems too, Ben, a lot of them.

But you ironed them out.

And now you have men from both armies working on your ranch.

A few ranch hands, yes, but that, uh...

That doesn't constitute a state.

It takes a very special talent

to bring men together.

Now, the men on the nominating committee,

they're from both sides.

But there was one thing we all agreed upon.

We need your leadership in our state house.

Thank you, Ben, thank you very much.

Ira? Is something wrong?

No, no, uh...

Bertie, how do you...

How do you really feel about my running for governor?

- Does it matter? - Hasn't it always?

I can think of once or twice it didn't.

You never listen to anyone when it's something you believe in.

You have the courage of your convictions.

I respect you for that.

I love you for it.

Honey, this isn't a command decision.

This, this is for both of us to decide.

You'd be a fine governor.

We won't have as much time to spend together.

You have been patient with me now for...

42 years, isn't it?

Forty-two years.

Bertie, you think you can be patient for four more years?

I've been happy for 42 years.

So long as we're together, I'll be happy anywhere.

You're a sweetheart.

Absolute sweetheart for 42 years.

Bertie, you will make a absolutely radiant governor's lady,

absolutely radiant, you will.

Oh, Ira, mmm.

Some fresh coffee, sir.

Oh, thank you, Sergeant, thank you very much.

I know that the Judge is a late riser, but then Ben is a rancher.

I thought... I thought he'd probably be up

and stirring around by now.

Well, so far, not a sound out of 'em, sir.

Coffee at first light, the way I like it.

The rest of the world still asleep, Sergeant.

You know something, General?

The day I got my stripes and started as your orderly,

you had me a little scared.

I remember, I was making coffee.

Nobody up but the birds and...

I turned around and there you were.

Yes, sir, that's when I knew I was gonna like this job.

They're back, Sergeant, they're back.

Greybuck!

No, Thomas, the gate!

Hyah!

Ira!

- Ira. - I'm all right.

Get him into town to a doctor.

Hold it!

Willis, hold it!

Greybuck, drop the gun.

They have my son!

You should've let the Redskin fight it out here, Cartwright.

He's gonna hang anyway.

Cloninger! You killed Thomas, my son!

I warned you, Greybuck!

You did not have to kill him.

You were in my corral on my land.

Your land.

That does not put justice in your rifle.

We came for what is ours...

Six horses.

You came to steal.

Willis, get him into the sheriff.

I'll handle it, General.

- Come on, move. - My horses!

And now you kill both my sons!

Well, I guess the charges start with attempted murder, hmm?

If that red devil had been a better shot,

he'd have killed the greatest man in this state.

Greybuck didn't shoot the general.

How do you know? You weren't there.

That's his rifle, Sheriff. Why don't you check it?

Clean, hasn't been fired recently.

This one has.

They took it off the young Indian, the one that got himself killed.

Attempted murder, then.

All persons involved in the commission of a felony

are equally guilty, right, Judge?

Yes, that's the law.

Do you want to add horse stealing to this?

Greybuck said that six of the horses in the corral belong to him.

Mr. Cartwright, Greybuck is lying.

He told us the same thing last night.

Where was this?

Up at Angel's Point.

I was there, I heard it, too.

Oh, were you now?

The two of you talking to wanted men.

But you didn't report it and you didn't bring 'em in.

I ought to lock you both up.

Why don't you do that?

My paper would love the story and the headlines.

But I doubt if the general would.

There's no reason to get excited, gentlemen.

I'm sure the question of the ownership of the horses will be looked into.

There's no looking-into needed, them Injuns...

Save your testimony for the hearing, Mr. Willis.

When will that be, Judge?

Tomorrow.

Ira's resting comfortably, napping.

The doctor said his wound is not serious.

That's good news.

I looked for you when the doctor left,

but you weren't in the house.

I saw you in the corral.

I'm a direct woman.

When something troubles me, I go straight to the source.

Why were you looking at our horses?

Greybuck said he came to get horses than belonged to him.

And what did you find?

Well, I found, uh, some of the horses were bone-thin.

Two of those had split hooves.

Ben, are you giving credence to what a horse thief said?

Are you trying to build a case against Ira?

Well, it makes no difference what I think.

There will be questions.

When a man runs for high office, everything he does is...

Let them ask questions.

Ira has nothing to fear.

He spent his, his life under the spotlight.

Every act, every order subject to the closest scrutiny.

There is not a black mark on his record anywhere.

I agree.

The nominating committee examined his record very carefully.

Then how can you doubt him?

I didn't say I did.

Split hooves.

We have rough and rocky country on our ranch

in places where the grazing is poor.

I'm sorry, Ben,

but it hurts to think that a good friend could even...

Yesterday, you asked Ira to run for governor.

The fact that renegades tried to steal his horses

hasn't changed him.

He's the same splendid man he was yesterday.

Oh, not quite, my dear.

I'm one day older.

Ira, you're supposed to be resting.

I was, I was, yes,

but I heard my name being mentioned in vain.

- I decided to join you. - But the doctor said...

Oh, now first rule, never listen to the doctor.

Dear, we could use a little coffee, hmm?

Ben, you know, these walls look thick,

but some voices go right straight through 'em

and, and hers is one of 'em.

What's troubling you, Ben?

Two men have been killed.

Two Indian horse thieves, yes.

There would've been three dead men if that bullet that hit me

had been about three inches lower and a little to the right.

Yes, I'm well aware of that.

You know, that hearing will find me blameless.

And even the muckraking newspapers will have to print the verdict.

I suppose the others will probably suggest

that I be given another medal, hmm?

Well, while we're waiting for the coffee, Ben,

why don't, uh...

Why don't we have a drink to the opposition?

Where's Hoss?

My guess, he's finishing his second steak about now.

He got to sending the tenth telegram,

his appetite got the better of him.

I don't blame him. I could use a steak myself.

Come on, I'll buy.

Fourteen telegrams altogether.

Every sheriff and newspaper office

between here and the Nez Perce reservation.

Greybuck did say that nobody saw him catch those horses.

Yeah, but he didn't say that nobody saw them

- after they caught them. - Here, here he comes.

Well, brother, how's the steak?

Eh, it was all right, a little small, so I had two of 'em.

What'd I tell you, huh?

You know, Greybuck lost one man at the general's ranch.

Why did he go back a second time?

- He's Nez Perce. - So?

Well, you ain't a man without a horse.

The better horse he's got, the prouder he is.

And if somebody steals his horse?

He'll just keep going back till he gets it.

Yeah, or they kill him.

Hey, there's a better restaurant around the corner,

and I hear they got great steaks.

Wanna try it?

I think I'll join you. I ain't had no dessert yet.

You'll have two steaks for dessert.

I looked out the window,

and I saw two Indians in my corral stealing my horses.

What did you do then, General?

I did what any man would do if someone was stealing his property.

I got a rifle, went outside to stop them.

I yelled a warning.

And I fired a warning shot, and that didn't stop them.

They opened fire. I returned the fire.

And they were riding out on my horses

when I hit one of them.

And one of them shot you.

That is correct, yes.

I was a couple of steps behind the general

coming out of the house.

But it's exactly as he said.

This is your chance, Greybuck.

We're waiting to hear your side of this.

After a white general speaks in a white man's court...

who hears what a Nez Perce says?

Well, you better speak while you have the chance.

Very well.

Prisoner's to be held for trial on charges already read.

Hearing's adjourned.

Willis, see that the General gets some rest, huh?

Oh, I will, Judge.

See you later, Ira.

Ben...

Ben, we've been invited to the general's ranch

for supper and a strategy meeting.

As members of the nominating committee, I...

Yes, I know, we're obligated.

You run a nice, fast hearing, Judge.

Which your paper will duly report.

I hear you've been burning up the telegraph wires.

Your sources are accurate.

No answers?

One.

"The Nez Perce reservation.

"Greybuck, Thomas and Jacob had permission

"to leave the reservation on foot to hunt wild horses."

Not wild horses, Mr. Freed.

Unbranded horses.

And they found 'em on the General's ranch.

The rope's ready, and they're building the scaffold tomorrow.

This is your only chance.

Get out.

If I say no?

You get a bullet now.

Well, as I told you they would, the hearing completely exonerated me.

Now that is in the past.

We can, uh, turn our attention to more important things.

I think I should begin my campaign right here in Cloninger

and then stump the whole state. What do you think?

- Fine idea. - Ben, you agree?

Well, I...

I can't agree that it's all in the past.

I don't think the trouble's begun yet.

You're kidding.

- Oh, there will be a trial. - Of course, mere formality.

And the jury will find Greybuck guilty.

- Of what? - Of all the charges, Ben...

Attempted murder, horse stealing, trespassing...

You look dubious.

Is something troubling you? Is something wrong?

Well, I was...

I was wondering why the first killing hadn't been mentioned at the hearing.

The sheriff investigated it, Ben.

Yes, and thought I was completely justified.

That's right.

Where did it happen?

What difference?

Tell him, Ira, you have nothing to hide.

Of course I haven't.

About a mile south of here.

On my land.

That's open range, isn't it?

Yes.

Well, any man can ride across open range without hindrance.

Any man, yes, Ben,

any white man

but not savages.

Not Indian horse thieves.

You knew them to be horse thieves?

Well, Indians on my land, what else?

Did you talk to them?

Talk, why should I?

You don't have to talk to savages to know what they are.

Worthless, no-good animals.

Ira, that isn't really what you mean.

The hell it isn't.

Huh, I fought them through three campaigns.

I know them for what they are.

The enemy.

You don't understand, Ben.

I don't understand.

Please, explain it to me.

The Blue and the Gray were enemies, yes.

But that was different.

Two armies, decent men opposed to each other

fighting for what they held was right.

And when it was over,

you worked to bring both sides together.

Now, that's the leadership we want, Ben.

The Indian Wars are over.

Peace has been made, treaties have been signed.

War Department mistakes.

We should've killed them all while we had a chance.

It would be a much better world today.

Ira?

You feel you have the right

to kill an Indian

simply because he rides across your open range?

A thieving, murdering, scalping, mutilating savage.

Yes, I do.

And I will, every chance I get.

Ira, don't say that!

He has said it.

I'll report this to the nominating committee.

As I must.

I'm certain the court will ask about this, too.

You're turning your back on me after all I've done for this country.

You're turning your back because of red filth

not fit to walk the Earth.

Go ahead, talk to the committee, Mr. Cartwright.

And when you're through with them,

you'll find they still want me as governor.

I'll be at the hotel in town.

The guest room is... is all made up, Judge.

Don't you run out on me.

Have another drink.

General...

All right.

Ira?

What's the matter?

It's almost morning.

You can just sit here.

Go to bed, Bertha.

Are you sure you're all right?

Go to bed now, Bertha.

General?

General!

I thought you ought to know, sir.

Know what, Willis?

Greybuck escaped, sir. He's loose.

He escaped?

Greybuck is loose? Oh?

I'm glad to hear it.

I'll find that thieving savage.

And I'll kill him.

And stand completely vindicated.

- I heard someone yelling. - That was a battle cry, Judge.

Greybuck is out of jail. He's my Indian now.

I'm gonna run him down and kill him

and prove to Cartwright, the committee,

and to everyone else that I was right all the time.

I think you ought to let the law handle this.

I'm in charge here!

Don't tell me what to do. Don't even try.

I'll saddle the horses.

You're not going anywhere, Sergeant.

But, General, sir.

Sit down and shut up! Both of you.

That's an order.

Ira?

Floyd found you, good.

Greybuck's gone and I'm getting a posse together

to go after him.

How'd he get away?

He had help. I know who it was.

I caught a glimpse of him just before he cracked my skull.

He'll answer to me, but I want that Indian first.

So Greybuck's gone. How convenient.

No Greybuck, no trial.

And no scandal

to knock the General out of the gubernatorial race.

But there will be a scandal, and a howling scandal,

Greybuck or no Greybuck.

Just what are you talking about?

I'm talking about these... Two telegrams.

One from a sheriff a hundred miles from here

who says he saw Greybuck, Thomas and Jacob

ride through his town with seven horses.

The other is from a newspaper editor

who says he bought one of those horses.

Only sold one, that leaves six.

Greybuck said the general stole six horses from him.

And shot and killed two, um, Indians to do it.

Oh, he didn't shoot 'em for the horses.

He shot 'em because they were Indians on his land.