Original subtitles

Whoa!

♪

Finally caught ya, didn't I, boy?

Didn't I?

You're gonna get a lesson about shirkin',

about shirkin' your work

and a lesson about talkin' when you're spoke to.

Get along.

Maybe you're thinkin' if I ain't satisfied with your work,

I'll take you back to the orphanage and get me another boy,

is that it?

That's the trouble with you young upstarts today...

You ain't got no gratitude.

I ride a horse 40 miles to take you out of that orphanage,

bring you to my home, let you sleep under my roof, and eat at my table,

and all I ask is you earn your keep.

Ain't that right? Ain't that all I ask?

Look at me!

You're gonna answer me, Joey Henshaw.

You're gonna talk to me.

You're gonna say, "Stop, Mr. Hulsey, please."

You hear that?

"Stop, Mr. Hulsey, please!"

'Cause I'm gonna strap that plow hand of yours until you do.

Hold out your left hand.

Turn it over.

Flat out. Palm up.

I want you to remember this lesson

every time the plow handle bites into the blisters I'm gonna put there.

Hey, you want to try to drive, Dick?

Oh, I can't drive a team, Major Adams.

What do you mean you can't drive? You never tried it.

Besides, "can't" is a word a young fella like you oughtn't use very often.

Come on, get ahold of here.

Ma won't want me to.

Oh, I'll fix it with your mother.

Come on, take hold here now.

Get it between your fingers there.

Hold 'em in a little bit.

That's it. Come on. Get it back.

Ha!

You know, most boys just give their year's supply

of rock candy to drive this lead wagon.

Tsk tsk. Ha!

Attaboy, git there!

Hold it in a little.

Ho! Ho!

Ho! Ha ha ha.

There you are!

Gee, Major Adams, that was a lot of fun.

I knew you could do it.

You know, a fella can do almost anything

if he just set his mind to it,

and I think if you tried real hard,

one of these days, you might be able

to get rid of one of them crutches.

I've tried. Best thing for me

is to get used to the idea of being crippled.

Your mother tell you that?

Uh, yes, after I fell down once

trying to walk without my crutches, broke my arm.

She said I wasn't to take a chance on hurting myself worse.

How's it look up ahead, Charlie?

Pretty rough, so I figure right here

is just as good a place as any to circle up for the night.

Oh, you do, do you?

Yeah, I'll go get Bill, and we'll pass the word along.

Well, just a gol-durn minute. You can go get Bill

and pass the word when I tell you to and not before.

Yes, sir.

Get you off of this wagon seat for a couple of days

and put you on a horse,

you think you're running the whole gol-durn outfit.

Well, it wasn't my idea, was it?

All right, go ahead and get sassy.

This replacement will be permanent maybe.

Besides, this boy drives better than you do anyhow.

Yes, sir.

Go on, get Bill and pass the word

we're gonna make camp for the night.

That's what I said, wasn't it?

Oh, get out of here!

How come you're so mean to Mr. Wooster, Major?

Oh, I'm not mean to Charlie, son.

If I didn't bark at him once in a while,

he'd think I didn't like him anymore.

You mean, if you were nice to him,

he'd know you didn't like him?

Well, not exactly, you see, I...

Then he can't tell if you get mad at him, can he?

Oh, I think he can tell, all right.

How?

How? Well, I... I don't know. I...

If being mean to Mr. Wooster means you like him

and being nice to him means the same thing,

then how can he tell if you get mad at him?

Well, he can tell, that's all. He can tell, Dickie.

When you're mean to Mr. Hawks,

does that mean you like him, too?

Well, I'm not mean to him, gol-durnit.

You sound like it.

Well, dog-gone it, Dickie, these fellas are my friends,

and if I want to bark at them once in a while, I'll bark at 'em. Ha.

I'm not mean to 'em, I...

Well, what are you grinnin' about?

You just barked at me, so I guess that means

I'm your friend, too, doesn't it?

Yeah, I guess it does, Dickie, I guess it does.

I'm glad, Major Adams, 'cause you're just about the best friend I've got.

Well, I... I...

Let's get out of here. Come on!

Get out of there, boy! Hyah!

Ho, Charlie!

Hey, looks like you've been fired for good.

What do you mean, fired?

Well, this is the second day runnin'

that you've been replaced as the major's driver.

It is not. That's the first day that boy's had them lines.

Well, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

At least he hasn't taken over your chores as cook.

You know, that isn't a bad idea.

You think you're smart, don't you?

Why don't you just tie up your horse,

and I'll let you unhook my team?

Unhook 'em yourself. You're drivin' em, ain't you?

All right, Dickie boy, come on, let's get down.

Ah, here you are.

There.

Thank you, Major Adams, I had a fine time.

Oh, I'm glad to have you, Dick. You're good company.

Maybe we can do it tomorrow, huh?

There's Ma!

Ma!

There's my boy!

You all right, Dickie? I'm fine, Ma.

Did you have a good time? I sure did, Ma.

Major Adams let me drive for nearly five miles.

You drove those horses?

You got a mighty fine boy there, Mrs. Jarvis.

Thank you, Major. I think so, too.

But do you think he should be allowed

to drive a big team of powerful horses all by himself?

Oh, he wasn't by himself, ma'am.

I was sittin' right there beside him.

Besides, I know a lot of boys his age

been driving a team for years.

Well, most boys aren't crippled, Major.

Well, he does ride well, ma'am.

You know, I was thinking a while ago, if you let me try,

I got a hunch maybe I can get that boy off those crutches.

Oh, I wish you hadn't said that in front of Dickie, Major.

It only builds up false hope.

You see, he's gotten used to the idea

that he'll never be like other children,

and I couldn't stand to have him tortured

by having his hopes built up

and then having to get used to the idea all over again

that there are certain things he'll just never be able to do.

Oh, surely it can't be that hopeless, ma'am.

After all, the boy puts his weight on both his legs.

But he'll never be able to move them separately,

to walk without crutches.

The doctors said.

Something happened in his back

that keeps his brain from telling his legs to walk.

Doctors can be wrong, ma'am.

Well, it's been nearly six years since Dickie fell off that horse, Major.

Don't you think if he could have walked by now, he would have?

That does seem so, I guess.

I pride myself in the fact that I've never allowed Dickie

to become sad about his lot.

When a boy knows he's loved and cared for,

that's all that's important to him.

I guess... I guess I can't argue with you there, ma'am.

My son knows that what he can't do for himself,

his ma will do for him.

Isn't that right, Dickie?

Yes, Ma.

So don't you feel sorry for him, Major.

He's a happy boy.

And please don't think that I'm not grateful

for the interest you've shown in him.

It means a lot to him to have a man like you for a friend.

You don't have to worry about him, ma'am,

as long as he's with me.

Nothing will happen to him, you can bet on that.

You're one of the few men I would trust to look after him, Major.

After all, he's all I've got, you know.

Yes, I know.

Well, we'd better go.

See you tomorrow, Major Adams?

Oh, you bet you, Dick.

I'll fix you a nice place to sit

and you can watch me set up camp.

Better get those horses unhitched, Charlie.

Ain't that the job of the fella that drives 'em?

Yup.

Well, I won't have to do it, then, will I?

Huh?

I ain't your driver anymore.

What in tarnation's eatin' you?

Oh, straddlin' that saddle for the last two days

doesn't quite match up with all those wagon-seat calluses

he's been buildin' all these years.

That's just too durn bad.

Charlie, why don't you try some of that bear grease

and black-pepper salve you're always talking about?

And you're gonna get too smart for your own good one of these days, too.

Well, I guess I'll have to tell the major.

You know what's wrong with him?

He hates kids.

I do not. Not all of them.

No, just the one's that take your job drivin' is all.

Why, Charlie, surely you can't be jealous of that boy?

Of course I ain't.

But why is it you always let him ride with you all the time?

Oh, Bill, by golly, I think he is getting jealous.

I never thought I'd see the day, by golly,

that a man your age would act more like a little kid

than a little kid does himself.

And I never thought I'd live to see the day

that you'd go soft over one of 'em, either.

I'm not gettin' soft over that boy.

He's just like any other boy.

Yeah, but you'll have to admit that you took to this kid

more than you ever took to any other kid.

Well, how come you got your nose in this argument?

How come you let him ride with you every day anyway?

Because I like a little intelligent conversation once in a while!

Does that answer your questions?!

All but one. Why don't you ever scream at him like you scream at me, too?

Because he's my friend.

Well, what am I?

You're an old goat! Go unhitch them horses!

Yes, sir.

What are you giggling about?

You got something else you want to say?

I think I'll go help Charlie, sir.

That's a good idea.

Ha. Soft.

Howdy, mister. Howdy.

I was told I might find the wagon master down here.

That's right, you're looking at him. I'm Major Adams.

Howdy, Major. I'm Sam Hulsey.

Hi.

I'm looking for my runaway boy, about 13.

Name's Joey. Ha. Don't guess he's goin' by his right name, though.

Well, I haven't seen any spare boys running around here,

but there's a lot of wagons. You're welcome to take a look.

I'll just do that, Major.

If you should find him before I do,

I'd sure appreciate you hanging on to the young scallywag for me.

I'll do that.

We won't be breaking camp before daylight.

I got a spread about six, seven miles back.

I sure can't figure that boy's way of thinkin',

runnin' away like this.

He just don't do anything anymore.

Don't even talk to me.

Pretty hard to figure out youngsters these days.

I'll keep an eye peeled for him.

I appreciate that, Major.

♪ Boy, this is the life ♪

♪ This is the life, oh, this is the life ♪

♪ Ha, aha ♪

Charlie! What are you doing taking a bath with your hat on?

Oh, by God, I plum forgot that.

♪ Oh, buffalo gals ♪

Hey, Bill, get me that hot water of the fire, will you?

Douse it over me, rinse off a little bit.

This is the life, boy, this is the life.

Yeah, it's the life. Aw, boy!

What are you doing, Bill? Hurry up with that rinse water.

I'll be right there, Charlie.

Hurry up.

Ho ho ho ho ho ho. Come on, Bill, what are you doing?

Be right there, Charles, I'll be right there.

♪ Ho, buffalo gals ♪

Are you ready? I'm ready.

Are you sure you're ready? I know I'm ready!

Just pour it on me, boy.

Well, here it goes, Charles, there it goes!

Ooh! Ooh! Bill, why'd you add cold water?

What are you doin' with your long johns on?

How do you wash yours?

Oh, man.

I wonder how he does.

You find your boy?

No. It's pretty certain that Joey isn't with your train.

I've asked at every wagon.

Well, I'm sure somebody would have seen him if he had been around here.

Well, I'll keep lookin'.

If I don't find him, I may catch up with you on the trail later on.

All right, Mr. Hulsey. Hope you find him.

Thanks very much.

Dog-gone it.

I know I left them dag-blasted things in there,

and now they're gone, so somebody must have broke in there and stole 'em.

What are you mumbling about?

Them biscuits I had left over from last night.

I was gonna put 'em in that stew to give a little body.

And now they're gone, so somebody must have stole them.

Well, don't look at me, I didn't steal 'em for the same reason

that you had so many of them left in the first place.

Oh, is that so? Yes, that's so,

and anybody in his right mind would only take one,

and as soon as he tried to bite into it, he'd throw it away.

I don't care what you say.

I put nine biscuits in that wagon last night,

and they're gone, so somebody must've stole them.

Wait a minute, Charlie, you might be right.

See, what did I say?

There might just be one person hungry enough

to try to eat them rocks. Rocks?!

Give me that lantern.

Rocks.

Boy! Joey!

Might as well come out here.

We're gonna have to come in and get you if you don't.

Boy, come on, we know you're in here.

So you're the little scallywag that stole my biscuits, huh?

Oh, leave him alone, Charlie.

He's probably suffered enough as it is with a bellyache.

How long you been in there, boy?

What's the matter? Has the cat got your tongue?

Can't you talk?

Bill, maybe if you rode out real fast,

you'd catch up with that Hulsey fella.

No, don't tell him I'm here!

Oh, why not?

'Cause I hate him!

It couldn't be, boy,

that you just hate everybody, could it?

The whole world?

You know, maybe if you was a little more friendly yourself,

other people would be friendly, too.

Did you ever think of that?

Well, come on, son, we'll have a cup of coffee.

Boy, we'll be sittin' right over there drinkin' some coffee.

If you think you want some, come on over.

Wonder if he can cook.

Ohh.

I don't think he's comin' over.

Good. We got enough young 'uns

runnin' loose around here the way it is.

Now, that's what I call a good cup of coffee.

What'd he say?

Oh, I'm not sure. What'd you say, Major?

I said that's what I call a good cup of coffee.

He said that's what he calls a good cup of...

I heard him. Thank you, Major.

That's the first time you ever said anything nice about my coffee.

Only reason I said it now was for the benefit of that boy.

The coffee's no better than it ever was.

Oh.

Charlie, you better get busy with that stew.

I'm gettin' mighty hungry.

CHARLIE: Yes, sir.

I don't think there's anybody in this whole world

that can make a stew like you can, Charlie.

Well, thank you, Ma...

Oh.

I've eaten in the best places in this country,

and, by golly, I can truthfully say

that I've never tasted anything like your cookin'.

Charlie, you better hurry up with that stew.

I'm getting mighty hungry.

CHARLIE: Yes, sir.

Looks like your bait's workin'. Here he comes.

Give me another cup, Charlie.

You better watch that cup, son. It's pretty hot.

How 'bout some more food, Joey?

Here. Fill his plate up, Charlie.

You got to speak up around here

if you want to get anything to eat.

You can't be bashful.

There you are.

You don't talk much, do you, Joey?

I can see what your pa meant when he said you didn't talk.

How come you don't talk, sonny?

Lookit here, boy, we've been pretty good to you since you came around here.

We'd like to know a little something about you.

How come you don't talk?

I got nothin' to say.

What was that? I didn't hear you.

I ain't got nothin' to say!

Well, I can still go after his pa.

Charlie, fix me a torch, will you, while I go saddle up.

Is that what you want, Joey?

You want Bill to go get your dad?

He ain't my dad.

What do you mean he's not your dad?

Like I said, he ain't my dad!

He got me out of an orphanage!

Hey, what's that?

Let me see that hand.

Let me see it!

How'd this happen?

Hulsey do that to ya?

Yeah, he did it.

But I didn't give in like he said I would.

I ain't no baby.

You're not gonna turn me over to him, are you, Major?

We'll see about that, boy.

Well, I'll guarantee you one thing...

As long as you're around this train, there'll be no beatings.

Nobody's gonna lay a hand on ya,

and that includes Hulsey if he comes back like he said he was going to.

Charlie, fix up that boy's hand and get him a place to sleep.

I'll go check the camp.

CHARLIE: Yes, sir.

Hey, Charlie. Hmm...

Charlie! Charlie! Come on, get up, get up, get up!

Indians! Indians!

Oh, there's no Indians.

I just want to show you something.

Take a look at that boy out there, will ya?

He's been up, got the fire built, got the coffee on,

doin' all your work for you while you're still just sleepin'.

He can't do that. That's my fire and my coffee pot.

Well, don't jump out of your britches.

The boy's just tryin' to help, tryin' to be friendly.

I wish he wouldn't get so friendly with my work.

I wish you wouldn't act so much like a runny-nosed kid.

Look at that coffee pot. I just had it broken in like a good old smokin' pipe.

Yeah, and your coffee tastes just like it was made in a good old smokin' pipe.

Hmph.

Hey, who made the coffee?

Oh, that kid out there.

Oh, you lost your job cookin', too, huh?

Oh, get out of here!

Mornin' there, Joey.

Good morning, Major.

Hey, you sure beat us all gettin' up this mornin'.

Had your coffee?

Yeah, I had mine already.

All right. Here, let's see.

Say, now, that's what I call a real cup of coffee.

That's what you said about mine last night.

You know what, Joey, on a wagon train like this,

we can always use all the help we can get, every man.

Of course, there's always some people that sleep late in the mornin',

let other people do their work.

I'm glad to see you're not one of those people.

I want you to know I appreciate it.

Charlie, what are you gonna do, sit there all mornin'?

Huh?

Why don't you get your breakfast started?!

We're gonna pull out of here in a half an hour.

Yes, sir. Be ready in just a few minutes.

Joey, get down there and get Bill Hawks, will you?

Tell him to come on back to breakfast.

Charlie might have it ready by the time you get back.

Yes, sir.

What's the matter, gimpy?

You goin' somewheres?

Get out of my way!

Why don't you run, gimpy?

Major Adams is waitin' for me.

"Major Adams is waitin' for me."

Get out of my way!

Why don't you throw those old sticks down and run, gimpy?

You stop calling me that!

Gimpy, gimpy, gimpy!

Ohh!

Now let's see you run!

You can't even walk now!

Let me have the other one.

You leave me alone!

Let me have the other one.

Get out of my way!

Leave the kid alone.

Who are you?

Here, kid, get going. He won't bother you anymore.

Who says I won't?

Get going, kid.

You mind your own business!

I thought I told you to get goin'.

Hey, Joey, what's the matter with you?

Come on, cut it out. Get up off from there.

Get up, kid.

He started it. It was his fault.

He's lying, Mr. Hawks. He was picking on me,

and he took my crutch away, and he made him stop.

You what? Listen, buster, I want to tell you something,

if I ever hear of you doing this again,

I'm gonna make sure that you get bent over somebody's knee,

even if it's mine, do you understand?

Now you get out of here.

Looks like you're getting acquainted real fast around here, son.

You're not gonna tell Major Adams I was fightin', are ya?

Why should I? You can talk, can't ya?

Let's go have some breakfast. Dick, you want to join us?

Sure. Come on.

What's your name? Joey.

Mine's Dick Jarvis.

Boy, you sure knocked him down good.

Where'd you learn to fight?

Oh, I don't know.

I fell off a horse and hurt my legs and back.

That's why I have to walk on crutches.

I'll never be able to walk like other people.

Did you know that? No.

None of the kids like me 'cause I can't run and play with them.

That's not a very good reason.

Major Adams is my friend, though.

Would you like to be my friend, too?

Sure, I guess so.

Hey, Joey, you're doin' all right there.

You're a pretty good hand.

I don't know how we ever got along without ya.

Keep it up, boy.

Can I help?

Sure, here.

I can't reach it.

Did you ever try standing up without the crutches?

Ma doesn't want me to. I fell and hurt myself once.

Gosh, you can't grease the axle with the crutches.

Here, here, let me help ya.

I won't let you fall.

Now just bend down real easy now.

Dip it in, that's it. Easy now.

And now straighten up and grease the axle.

I did it!

Dickie!

Ohh! Oh, my baby.

Are you hurt, dear?

I don't think so.

Oh, Dickie, goodness.

You were standing without your crutches.

Now, you know what I've told you about that.

Joey thought I could do it.

Joey? Did you do this, young man?

He'd have been okay if you hadn't yelled at him.

How dare you talk to me that way.

I've heard about you.

You're the runaway that that man was looking for.

And you had a fight the very first day you were here.

Now, you leave my boy alone.

You stay away from him, do you hear me?

What's all the fuss about?

Oh, he... he made Dickie fall down,

he got grease all over him, he might have gotten hurt.

Well, it can't be as bad as all that, Mrs. Jarvis.

Joey wouldn't do anything to hurt Dick. They're good friends.

Not anymore, they aren't.

I wouldn't have my boy associating with the likes of him.

There's nothing wrong with Joey.

Tsk, how do you know, Major?

Just what do you know about this runaway?

I thought you were gonna protect Dickie when he was with you.

Ma'am, how do you protect a boy from being a boy?

Well, you shouldn't let this ruffian get around Dickie,

and you had no right to take this runaway in the first place.

Well, I'm sorry you feel that way about it, ma'am,

'cause I think I have every right in the world to take care of that boy,

as long as I choose to do it.

Very well, but not this one.

Your little boy likes to ride up front with me,

and besides, it's good for him.

I will decide what is good for my son, Major Adams,

and until you get rid of this boy,

Dickie stays with me.

No, Ma, please. Let me go with Major Adams.

You come with me now, Dickie.

Come on.

Gosh, Major, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to cause any trouble.

I know you didn't, son.

It's too bad about that little fella.

Nobody's blamin' you.

Come on, I'll give you a hand with this wheel.

There we go.

HULSEY: I never got that much work out of him.

How'd you do it, Major Adams?

No foolin', Major, how'd you get that boy to go to work?

Well, I didn't beat him, I'll tell you that much.

Every boy needs a good hide-tannin' once in a while.

Get on that horse, Joey.

Come on, boy, move.

I wasted enough time lookin' for you.

You're gonna get what-for when you get home.

Now get on that horse!

I've been itchin' to do that ever since I saw that boy's hand.

You got anything to say about it,

get up, and I'll be happy to oblige you.

I'll have the law on you for this.

I'm the law on this train.

You got no right to interfere.

That boy belongs to me.

Maybe you got some papers that can prove that.

I didn't go to that orphanage to get no papers.

I went to get me a boy.

Then you didn't adopt him?

I wouldn't give my name to the likes of him or any brat like him.

I paid for him, and he's mine!

You paid for him?

$135.

Well, who did you pay?

A fella who runs the orphanage.

I bought and paid for him. I got a legal right to him.

Listen, mister, nobody's bought and paid for

in this country, not anymore.

That boy doesn't belong to you or anybody else

unless he wants to go with you.

What right have you got to hold him?

We're not talking about my rights. We're talking about his.

I'm not holding him, either.

He's perfectly free to go if he wants to,

or he's free to stay here. The choice is his.

You want to go back with Hulsey, son?

Then if you stay with this train,

you got to stand on your own two feet and earn your keep.

Nobody goes along just for the ride.

I want to stay with you, Major Adams.

All right, you heard the boy.

There's nothing holding you here now.

You ain't gettin' away with this.

Don't push your luck, mister.

You better get on that horse while you still can.

I know how you feel, boy.

It's all right, boy, it's all right.

I'm... I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I'm acting like such a baby.

Aw, you're not at all.

It's all right, Joey.

A fella has to let go once in a while.

You're all right. You're a good boy.

Ah, you, go on get up there and drive. Ha ha.

Go on there, boy.

Here, Dickie.

Just you never mind them.

You're better off right where you are.

I need you so much, son, and you need me.

Isn't that so, Dickie?

Yes, Ma.

We just do real fine together, you and I.

Ha ha.

Attaboy, you.

Hi, Mr. Wooster. Hi, Joey.

Want me to picket the horses for ya?

Say, I think I'll just let you do that.

And don't forget when you tie 'em up,

make every knot tight on the picket line. Okay.

Now, watch 'em, there's a lot of horses there.

Let me get out of the way, too.

Well, look who's here. How are you, old-timer?

By golly, I'm glad to see ya.

Sit down, sit down, we've missed you around here.

Did you, really?

You bet we have, all of us.

I... I saw you this mornin'. Joey was drivin'?

Yeah, I guess he was at that.

Is Joey a better driver than I am?

Well, he's a little older, he's had more experience, Dick.

Listen, there's nothing wrong with the way you handle that team,

I'll tell you that.

Joey's your friend, isn't he?

Well, sure, same as you.

Which one of us is your best friend?

Well, Dick, you can't measure friendship like you can a cup of flour.

He's your friend, too, isn't he?

Oh, sure.

Well, do you think it'd be all right with your ma

if you hung around here a little bit till Joey gets back?

He's around here someplace.

Um, no, I'd better not.

Your mother hasn't changed her mind, huh?

No, sir.

Well, I guess we better not upset her, had we?

Oh, no, sir, but I wanted to see ya.

Well, I'm glad you did, Dick. I'm glad you came by.

I'll tell Joey you was here.

I guess maybe you better get started back to your wagon, don't you think,

before your mother comes lookin' for ya?

I guess so.

Maybe I can come back again.

You bet your boots you can.

You just come back any time your ma says it's all right.

You'll be perfectly welcome, we'll be glad to see you.

Good-bye.

Good-bye, Dickie.

Hi, Dick.

Say, you lookin' for Joey?

I let him take my horses down to picket line.

Oh, yes, sir.

You're welcome.

Dickie!

Dickie, where are you?

Dickie, where have you been?

Just took a walk.

Were you over at Major Adams' wagon?

Answer me, Dickie.

Yes, but I just went to see the major.

Joey wasn't there.

Son, I'm not often harsh with you,

but you have got to do what I tell you

because it's for your own good,

and I think I am the best judge of that.

But Major Adams is my friend and he said he missed me.

Well, if he misses you enough, he'll get rid of that boy.

But Joey's my friend, too.

Son, you must stop moping around,

because I do not intend to change my mind.

If... if they sent Joey away, then could I go ride with Major Adams again?

Well, that's what I've been saying all along, isn't it?

Now, come on, I want you to get ready for bed.

Come on.

Mmm, boy, Mr. Wooster sure is a good cook.

Don't ever let him hear you say that, son.

We have trouble enough with him as it is.

Major! Major, the horses are all loose!

What horses? Our horses.

Picket line's gone and everything. The whole thing's gone.

Well, gol-durn, you thick-headed galoot!

Is this the first time you ever set up a picket line?

I... I... I... I...

I know. What do I have to do?

Send the boy with you every time I want you to do your job right?

Bill, go borrow a couple of saddle horses.

Maybe the Indians turned 'em loose.

Oh, Indians, my foot.

You know there's no Indians around this country.

Those horses get into one of those green hay-fields that we've been passin',

they'll blow up like a gol-durn balloon.

Major! What do you want?

Wooster didn't tie that line.

What?

I did.

You? Well, don't you know how to tie a knot?

Well, yes, sir! And I did!

At least I thought I did.

Well, thinkin' you did is not good enough around here, son.

Whew.

Boy, boy.

He sure is awful mad at me.

No, he's not really mad. He's worried about the horses,

but he'll be all right when he simmers down, don't you worry.

But it's all my fault.

It's just as much my fault as yours.

I should have gone with you and checked the picket line.

I should have done it right the first time.

I tried, Mr. Wooster. I pulled on the knots as hard as I could.

I know you did. Don't worry about it. Just sit down. Sit down.

The horses will get sick

if they eat too much of that green stuff, won't they?

Well, that depends on what time they got loose and what they found to eat.

Horses don't have many brains, you know. They eat till they get sick.

It's like a young boy in a cookie barrel.

Sit down, have your breakfast.

Oh, I'm not hungry.

Not hungry?

Walk those horses and don't give 'em any water.

Just walk 'em all day long.

How's it look, Major?

It doesn't look good.

They got into some green stuff, all right.

I can't tell whether they're gonna founder or not.

I do know that we can't work 'em today and maybe tomorrow.

Gotta get rid of that bloat first.

Folks are wondering if we're gonna move out or not.

Well, I guess I better go talk to 'em.

Charlie, give me a hand with this picket line, will you?

Yeah.

Well, folks, I...

I'm sorry, we've run into some bad luck.

Some of our stock broke loose and got into some green hay,

so we're gonna be stuck here for all of today

and maybe tomorrow

till our horses get over their bloat.

So if you men got any repairin' work to do,

now's the time to do it.

There's good water in that creek out there.

Maybe you women folk would like to catch up on some of your washin'.

I'm sorry for the delay,

especially since it was my horses that caused it.

If anybody else was as careless

with their picketing their horses as I was,

I'm sure I'd have somethin' to say to 'em. Ha.

So if any of you want to spout off at me a little bit,

go ahead, now's your chance.

Now do you see why it's important to mind your ma, Dickie?

This should be a lesson to you.

Why, if I hadn't forced you to stay away from that boy,

you might have been blamed for this terrible thing yourself,

just 'cause you'd been seen with him.

Maybe... maybe Joey didn't do it, Ma.

Of course he did it.

Why, you don't think Major Adams

would do a fool thing like that, do you?

Or any of the men that work for him?

Ha. That boy did it, all right.

Well, it could have been worse, Major.

Those horses don't seem too sick.

It was all so gol-durn unnecessary.

It's gonna mean we're gonna lose a whole day, maybe two.

Looks like we got a visitor.

Hello there, Dickie.

Your mother know you're up here?

No, sir, but I came to see Joey anyway.

Well, he isn't around right now.

Don't you think you oughta get your mother's permission 'fore

you come callin' on us?

It's real important.

Dick, I just saw him sittin' down at the creek bank,

mopin' about what happened, I guess.

You're pretty mad at Joey, Major Adams?

I was a little upset with him for a while, I guess.

Are you gonna send him away?

Send him away? No, no, I'm not gonna do that.

We all make mistakes, that's how we learn.

Joey probably feels like I was a little rough on him, maybe I was.

Charlie, go tell the boy to come up here, I want to see him, will ya?

CHARLIE: Yes, sir.

I'll tell him, sir.

Well, all right, son, if you think you should see him

without your mother knowin' about it, that's up to you.

Yes, sir, I know.

Hi.

Your ma ain't gonna like it

if she catches you talkin' to me.

She won't.

Joey... Yeah?

I'm sorry about what happened.

Yeah, so am I.

But Major Adams isn't gonna send you away.

I heard him say so.

He sure is mad at me.

He isn't now, honest.

He said he wanted to see you when you got back.

I wish he'd give me a lickin' or something.

He wouldn't do that.

I'd sure feel a whole lot better if he did.

It was just an accident. Wasn't it?

It doesn't make any difference.

He can't trust me no more.

You like Major Adams, don't you?

Yeah.

He's the best friend I ever had.

Me, too.

He's the first man who didn't treat me mean like all the others.

They thought they had to beat me every time I turned around.

Major Adams is different.

He likes me.

And I had to go and let his horses loose.

Joey...

you didn't.

I... I did.

I did it on purpose because I knew they'd blame you,

and Major Adams would send you away,

and then I could go ride with him again.

I'm sorry, Joey.

I'm sorry I did it.

Dick...

I'm not mad at ya.

You... you're not?

I guess I'm kinda glad, 'cause it wasn't me.

We can still be friends, though.

Come on, sit down.

Aah! Aah!

Dick, Dick, can you touch bottom?!

No! I can't swim!

Help!

Help!

Grab on to my shirt.

Kick, Dick. Kick your feet.

I can't!

You better kick 'em, or we'll both sink.

Come on!

What are you kids doing down here anyway?

Get my pistol, Joey.

Bill! What happened?

Aw, I had to pull him out of the creek.

What happened there, boy?

I fell in, and Joey jumped in to save me.

I... I went down there to tell Joey I was sorry

I turned those horses loose.

You turned those horses loose?

I turned them loose so you'd get mad at Joey and send him away.

Joey, I've been blaming you for that.

I'm sorry I barked at you the way I did.

Well, that's okay, Major Adams.

You're not gonna get mad at Dick, are ya?

Of course not.

I know how much courage it takes to 'fess up to something like that,

and I'm proud of you, boy.

I'm proud of you, Joey, for saving his life.

I couldn't have done it without Dick's help.

If he hadn't started kicking when he did,

we'd have both sunk.

He kicked his legs?

You were kicking your feet?

I guess so.

Separately? Like that in the water?

I guess so.

I didn't think I could, but I had to.

I was scared.

You know what that means, boy?

If you can kick your feet in the water,

you can do it on land standing up.

Bill, get him up on his feet.

Come on, now, boy.

Come on, Dickie, boy.

You walk over here to me.

Come on.

I can't.

Sure you can. Come on, you kick just like you did in the water.

Come on, now take a step, come on to me.

I can't. I know I can't.

Certainly you can. There's no reason in the world you can't,

if you want to. Come on, now, Dick.

You want to walk, don't ya?

Yes.

Well, then walk, gol-durn it!

Come on, take a step!

Come on, boy.

That's the stuff.

That's it, boy, that's it.

That's the stuff.

You do it now, and you'll never have to worry about walking again.

Come on, boy, once more.

Come on. Come on, Dick.

They won't let you fall, come on.

That's a boy. Come on, boy.

Dickie, don't!

Stop! Oh, Dickie! Oh, my baby!

Oh, Major Adams, this is all your fault!

You've ruined him!

Mrs. Jarvis, that boy of yours was walkin'.

He's gonna walk again.

Charlie, help him up.

You might hurt him worse than ever!

I'm not gonna hurt him.

Dick, show your mother now.

Come on, boy. Step right out.

Come on.

That's it.

Come on, boy.

That's the stuff.

Come on, another one.

Come on, son, that's it.

Once more, come on.

That's a boy! I knew you could do it!

Dickie, my baby.

Oh, my baby.

You'd never want me to walk,

did you, Ma?

Why didn't you want me to?

Dickie, please.

You're gonna have to answer the boy sooner or later, Mrs. Jarvis,

even he can see it's the truth.

It's a...

hard thing for me to admit,

even to myself...

but I guess I...

I did want him to be...

weak and helpless...

'cause I wanted him to need me.

I didn't ever want to lose him...

like I lost my husband.

Forgive me, Dickie, please.

Joey, I...

I hope you can forgive me, too.

Come on, Joey.

Charlie, I wish you'd remind me from time to time

how I'm supposed to be runnin' a wagon train and not a boys school.

It just takes too durn much out of me.

I thought you did real good at it, too.

Oh, you did, did ya? Yeah.

And I'm sorry you got that Joey to drive Mrs. Jarvis' wagon.

You mean you wanted him to take your place drivin'?

Yes, I did. I've been ridin' that old horse so long,

now I've got to start breakin' in my wagon-seat calluses all over again.

First time I ever heard of an old goat

gettin' wagon-seat calluses.

You said you were gonna stop pickin' on me!

All right, Charlie, go ahead, go ahead.

All right, then, do it. "Goat," he says.

Well, Bill says you smell like a goat.

There you go again!

All right, all right, all right, come on.

Well, you cut it out.

All right, Charlie, all right.

Ride!

♪