Original subtitles

♪

♪

Thieving mutton eaters.

Why do you want to sell your cattle, Mr. Keller?

Huh? I don't, really.

The trouble is, there's not enough water

up in this country,

and those Herefords can't cover as much ground

in a day as your long-legged range cattle.

Oh, yes.

But in your country, there's plenty of water.

They should do fine there.

Oh, that makes sense. $20 a head?

That's rather high, don't you think?

I'm asking 30, Colonel.

$30?

Oh, good gracious.

There must've been some kind of misunderstanding

between me and my foreman.

That happens sometimes.

Well, well, I was hoping to come to some agreement today,

but, uh, $30.

Good Lord.

I'd better sleep on it, don't you think?

Well, you suit yourself, Colonel.

It's only fair to warn you that some folks

from Colorado are interested in that herd.

I should hear from them any day now.

If they come up with my price,

I can't very well hold them for you, you understand.

Of course, if anybody offers $30 a head these days,

I should grab it.

Where did you say they were from? Montana?

Colorado.

Oh, Colorado. Yes, of course.

Why don't you come out to the ranch

and look at those short horns?

You'll like 'em.

Well, I'd like to if I can make it.

Sometime tomorrow?

Would you like to join me for a meal?

Thanks, but my wife is expecting me.

It's a real pleasure meeting you.

My pleasure.

You boys riding back?

Oh, we thought we'd have a beer first.

Fine. See you back at the ranch.

Okay.

Anytime tomorrow, Colonel. I'm up with the sun.

I'll see if I can manage it.

Are you inferring that I might be looking

for something other than a meal?

I'm inferring nothing.

Now, Sheriff Park says he wants

no unescorted ladies in here, and that's you.

As I understand it, this is your hotel.

I run it, but he runs the town,

and he can give me an awful lot of trouble if he's a mind to.

I'll have a meal sent up to your room if you want.

I did not travel 3,000 miles to eat alone in my room.

Excuse me. I couldn't help overhearing.

Would taking a meal be with me be the lesser of two evils?

Well, sir, I'm not in the habit of eating with strangers.

Oh, that's easily arranged. I'm Colonel Mackenzie.

I'm Sally Nigh, and I'm starving.

Good.

There we go.

Well, I don't have to ask if you're a native of this town.

I'm from New York.

Are you that Sally Nigh, the writer?

I'm that Sally Nigh,

reporter for the New York World Telegram.

Well, this is a pleasure.

I often wonder what you were like.

And are you disillusioned?

Oh, no, no, to the contrary.

I must say I'm rather surprised you're so young

and, may I add, so pretty.

Thank you.

What you doing in Mesa Verde? Looking for a story?

Yes, this is the perfect town for my purposes.

I'm doing a story on the wild West as it really is today,

not as the penny dreadful writers would have us believe,

that there are still Indians lurking behind every bush

and a road agent behind every rock.

Yes, things have calmed down a bit, haven't they?

A bit?

Colonel Mackenzie, do you know this is the end of an era?

Here it is Saturday in a Southwest cattle town.

Where are the cowboys hoorah'ing the town?

Where are the fierce Comanches?

And where are the John Chisholms,

the Charlie Goodnights, the giants who tamed this land?

You don't even find men like that anymore.

And why?

They've been domesticated

by the very environment they created.

You know, when I first came to this part of the world,

I used to think exactly like you,

but I quickly found out that things

weren't exactly what they seemed to be.

We must be careful not to soil the skirts

of the fine ladies, Francisco.

That's right, niño!

Run away home or the comancheros will get you!

There we go.

Thank you.

Smells like a... Comanche in here.

That's not Comanche. That's sheep.

Bartender.

Whiskey.

There was a time when Francisco Sosentes

would have shot his ears off for less.

Who is Francisco Sosentes?

He once led a band of comancheros south of here.

So they are the dreaded comancheros.

Hey, sheriff, this used to be a nice respectable hotel.

Seems like they let anybody in here nowadays.

Why don't you two finish up your drinks and leave?

I don't want any trouble in here.

We're not making trouble.

Wasn't any trouble until you came in here.

Now I got trouble.

Sheriff?

I presume you are the sheriff? That's not true.

No?

What do you know about this, mister...?

Colonel.

I saw these two gentlemen come in.

They've caused no trouble.

That's your opinion...

Colonel.

I happen to know these people.

Now I'm asking you kindly just to leave

without making a big fuss.

If I have to put you under arrest

to get you out of here, I will.

We do not arrest easily, señor.

Raul, we did not come here to kill a sheriff.

It's best we go.

Hey! Ain't you forgot something?

Four bits for the whiskey, sheep herder.

I submit the incident as a case in point.

When the once-scourge of the plains

is marched out of a bar with his tail between his legs,

the sun has set on the West.

You know, I'm suddenly not hungry anymore.

The señorita from the hotel.

You are out late, no?

No, it's not late for me.

You wish to speak to me?

Yes. My name is Sally Nigh.

I'm a reporter for the New York World Telegram.

Oh, is that not unusual work for a lady?

They pay me a lot of money, so I must do it well.

And how can I be of service?

I'm doing an article on this part of the country,

and I understand you used to be a comanchero.

I'd like very much to know more about your life today.

Do you live here in Mesa Verde?

No.

No, señorita.

I have come to pay my respects to a... a friend.

Our camp is in the hills.

Señor, would it be possible for me to visit your camp?

Either you are very brave or uninformed.

In this country, people,

especially attractive young ladies,

ride shy of comancheros.

I'm sure their fears are unwarranted.

If you would like to visit our camp,

we will be happy to have you.

Come out tomorrow.

How will I find you?

Ride east from here about seven miles from town.

Take the trail into the hills.

You need not worry about finding us.

We will find you.

Buenas nochas, señorita.

Excuse me.

Good morning.

Morning.

Do you know if Miss Nigh has been down to breakfast yet?

She has been. But she left early.

Oh? Where'd she go?

Well, she was asking about the livery stable.

I reckon she's gone for a ride.

By herself?

Do you think it safe for young girl

to ride round the countryside alone?

From what I've seen of her,

Miss Nigh looks like a woman who could take care of herself.

Really. Thank you.

♪

Whoa.

Oh! Mr. Sosentes.

I was beginning to think I was lost.

You have been quite safe, señorita.

You have had an escort for the last three miles.

Life here is so simple, so fundamental.

You mean primitive.

Ah, there was a time when our camps ran

with life and excitement.

Each night, there was dancing and singing,

and wine flowed like streams in the hills.

That would've been interesting to see.

Twice a year in the spring and fall,

we ran with the Comanches.

Those meetings were something to see.

There would be games and contests

and feats of strength and buffalo hunts.

Some people say that we learned to think

more like Indians than Mexicans.

But as I understand, it wasn't all fun and games.

It was a clearinghouse for stolen goods.

We traded hardware and guns

for cattle that Comanches had driven off.

And then you in turn sold the cattle.

It was profitable for everyone.

Except the ranchers.

Many of those ranchers were on land

that once belonged to my people.

What they didn't take with legal chicanery,

they took with force.

And was your part bloodless?

I can tell by your questions

that you know many of the answers already.

No, our business was not always bloodless.

I have killed those who would kill me.

I cannot say in all honesty that all my compañeros

were so discriminating.

The first man I killed

was a night rider who burned out my parents.

Where was that?

South of here.

My father had a land grant

passed down from the King of Spain.

But the land is also gone.

There is nothing left of that life.

And so you became a comanchero.

At the time, there seemed no other way.

But now that life has also passed.

Our business associates have been herded onto a reservation.

And those few comancheros who managed to survive

have been reduced to herding sheep.

It is an honorable life.

But one special hell for one

who was the greatest cibolero of them all.

What is a cibolero?

Ah, it's a thing of the past.

A lost art.

It was the name given those brave few

who hunted buffalo with a lance.

We would ride alongside the largest buffalo in the herd,

forcing our horse closer and closer

until we drove the buffalo into the ground

or were trampled under its hooves.

Sometimes I think I was born too late.

That's something I would love to have seen.

You shall.

Francisco, don't be a fool.

Very good.

But the backs are shorter than the longhorn.

That's right. There's more beef for the bone.

Oh, is that so? I see.

You got to understand one thing, Colonel.

This is an entirely different breed than the Longhorn.

Mr. Keller, I'm afraid I have you at a disadvantage.

I'm very familiar with the Hereford.

I used raise them in England.

- You had a ranch in England? - Well, it was an estate.

But it was big enough to run cattle.

You know, I had an idea that the Hereford

would make a great cross with the Brahman.

What's that, the Brahman?

Well, it's a breed in India.

I ran into them when I was soldiering over there.

I gotta say one thing for you, you sure get around, Colonel.

You know, they're very resistant to heat.

I think they'd make the perfect cross

for this part of the country.

You know, Colonel, when I first started dealing with you,

I thought you were some fella with a lot of money

and not much brains,

but now I see you know your business.

You take all 78, I'll let you have them for $25 a head.

That's very kind of you,

but you know what'd be even more kind

would be a realistic price of $20 a head.

But it's very nice to have met you.

Hey now, hold on, Colonel, I like you.

And because I like you, I'm going to sacrifice

those for $20 a head.

- What you think of that? - Well, now, that's very fair.

Thank you. There we are.

It's made out for the exact amount.

Really?

♪

There he is, señorita.

A brave strong bull, a worthy adversary.

No markings on him. A maverick.

Or fast enough to escape the branding iron.

In any event, he's fair game.

The lance, compañero.

Maybe this isn't such a good idea.

It's a tremendous idea, señorita.

For the first time in years, I feel macho.

Much man.

I ride for you.

Viva Francisco!

You cannot stay longer?

No, I'll have to get back before dark.

I'm sorry.

This is a day I'll never forget.

In your writings, I would appreciate

if, uh, you would forget the source of our dinner.

Adios, señorita.

You're quitting kinda early tonight, ain't you, Wilkins?

Yeah, couldn't get a rise out of Albuquerque.

There you go.

If telegrams wasn't confidential,

I could tell you something that'd curl your hair.

Is that right?

Them comancheros are just plain savages, I'll tell you.

What about 'em?

I don't want to start no trouble.

You got a lot of stories about those night crawlers.

Oh, this ain't no story.

This was seen by a white woman who was there.

Well, what was?

Well, I've talked too much already.

Bart, pour Mr. Wilkins another drink.

Well, thanks, Mooney.

What'd the lady see, Wilkins?

Well, now, the last thing I want to do is start trouble,

but you fellas'd do well to keep better tally on your cattle.

Wilkins, you don't make no sense at all.

Now what's comancheros and some lady

got to do with our cattle?

Plenty, that's what.

The comancheros are killing cattle.

You know that for a fact?

This lady saw 'em doing it!

I can show it to you in her telegram.

It's the way they do it that gives me the shivers.

How was that?

They spear 'em! Probably some ritual.

Well, how long's this been going on?

Well, don't ask me.

The implication is it's been going on for a long time.

Well...

I'd say one cow is worth about 100 head of sheep.

Wouldn't you?

I'd say that's letting them off cheap.

What is it? What do you hear?

Maybe you smell Señor Coyote. Go to sleep.

He's not going to bother us tonight.

That's the herd.

Owens? This is gonna be wild and woolly.

Francisco...

come to bed.

Francisco! Francisco! Francisco...

Estuardo.

Estuardo, who did this?

From Mesa Verde!

Men with many guns and clubs.

The sheep?

Gone, dead or dying.

The whole flock?

But why?

It is because killing the bull.

That bull bore no brand.

By the law of the range,

it belongs to any man who takes it!

I will find out who's responsible for this.

Did you know any of the men? Did you know any of the men?!

I will tell you who is responsible.

The gringo lady you welcomed into camp.

Huh?

Be careful with that baggage.

Yes, ma'am.

Hey, got room for one more?

- I reckon so. - All right, catch.

There we go.

Miss Nigh.

Colonel Mackenzie, are you taking this coach, too?

Yes, as far as Medicine Bow.

What a pleasant surprise, but what happened

to all the cattle you were going to buy?

Oh, I'll send the boys back for them.

You know, when it comes to trailing a herd

and riding with a pretty lady, no choice.

Everything's loaded. We're ready to go.

Will it be just the two of us.

Well, I went to great lengths to arrange that.

There we are.

Hyah!

When I applied for the job, I applied by letter.

When the editor called me in for an interview,

he was a little bit put out by the subterfuge,

but I got the job.

I imagine you usually get what you want.

Oh, I get what I go after.

But I'm not really sure what I want.

How about marriage?

Or haven't you met the right man yet?

I seem to frighten men away.

I'm rather hard on male egos.

Oh, maybe out here,

you'll find the men are less timid.

Whoa!

Driver? Why have you stopped?

Because that is the way I want it, señor.

Mr. Sosentes.

- Hand me your gun. - I have none.

Throw yours to the ground.

Hate to disappoint you gents,

but there's no valuables on this coach.

Oh, but there is.

This.

What do you want with me?

I want $25,000 for you.

Well, if it's a hostage you're after,

I'll serve just as well.

I don't know who would pay that amount

to keep you alive, Señor, but I'm certain your employers

value your services that much,

especially after your excellent story

about how I killed one of the bulls.

You did write of that, did you not?

After I asked you not to?

But I said it was wild, a wild bull.

But your story is not complete, señorita.

You must tell your readers how night riders

slaughter 300 head of sheep to avenge that bull.

Oh, I'm sorry. I... I had no idea.

An entire flock.

My people cannot survive the winter here.

Killing your sheep was criminal.

You've every right to be angry, but this is not the answer.

Let the lady go.

I'll ride back to Mesa Verde and do everything in my power

to see that they make it up to you and your people.

You see who you can trust, señor?

It's best we do things my way. Your horse, señorita.

No.

No, don't, please.

Lash him to the saddle.

We're going to have need of him.

We'll have two guests instead of one.

Whoa.

What happened, Chuck? Where are your passengers?

- The comancheros got them. - We'd better get him inside.

This ain't no hospital. Take him on down to the doctor.

And you, hustle your tail right back here.

I'll need you. Go on, get up.

Hah! Come on, boy.

What happened?

What? I don't know what happened.

A man got hurt, that's all.

Your head hurts, but you are alive.

Be grateful, señor.

Where is she? Where's Sally?

She's here in my camp.

Are you always that brave and that foolish,

Colonel Mackenzie?

Only when I have to be.

I apologize.

True bravery's never foolish.

We comancheros have much respect for it.

Kidnapping a defenseless girl, that was bravery?

It was necessary.

Don't you know that they'll hunt your people

down for this and kill them?

They have killed us already, Señor Colonel,

when they killed our sheep.

If we are to live, it must be in the old way.

Oh, the devil with your old ways.

Take me to the girl.

Very well, come.

Sally, are you all right?

Oh, don't worry, darling, I'll get you out of here.

I've been in danger before, but this is so unreasonable,

- so unnecessary. - It wasn't your fault.

You're not to blame for this. I'll make them understand.

I really don't think they're going to listen.

They're outlaws again. They're enjoying it.

Well, not Sosentes. He's too intelligent.

But the others are pushing him.

But he's the leader. He's the leader.

- I'll make him understand. - Colonel Mackenzie?

All right, everything's going to be all right.

Keep your chin up. Hmm?

You see? She's not harmed.

How long are you going to keep her

in that dirty, stinking tent?

You watch your tongue, señor. You could lose it.

Kill him now. He's of no use to us.

You're wrong about that.

The stagecoach driver was supposed to carry

our demands back to town, but since he was shot,

Colonel Mackenzie will have to do it.

If you let him go, he'll bring the law.

Well, then the girl will die.

Do you understand that, Colonel?

Yes, I understand.

All right, I'll give you my word I will not tell them

about your hideaway, now what do you want?

You must deliver $25,000

by yourself within 48 hours.

That may be impossible.

For the lady's sake, I hope it's not.

Because if you do not return within that time...

Would you do it?

We're fighting for survival, Señor Colonel.

We will do what we have to do.

Do you agree to those terms?

I have no choice.

It is agreed then.

He'll be the death of us, and so will you with your trust.

When you are ready to take charge, Raul,

you let me know.

Ha.

In the meantime,

prepare a horse for Colonel Mackenzie.

We can't cover the whole area ourselves.

We should've got up a posse.

You get up a posse,

people are gonna start asking why.

I don't want no talk in town about them comancheros,

not yet.

Well, even if we did find them, what could we do about it?

There's only the two of us.

We go back into town.

I get a few good men I can trust.

Then we ride on into that comanchero camp.

We don't leave as much as a blade of grass alive.

Are you saying you won't even try

to bring Sosentes back to hang?

Dell, I seen men kind of rally round at a hanging.

Sometimes they seem to get a...

The strength to make a martyr out of some strung-up bandito.

No, there's them other comancheros.

I want Sosente's death to put the fear of God

into every one of them.

Hey, who would that be riding out here all alone?

- I don't know. - Huh?

Colonel Mackenzie.

Hi, sheriff.

The stagecoach driver said the comancheros got you.

The driver got back all right? Good.

- How did you escape? - I didn't.

Their camp. Where's the hideout camp?

I see you're not asking about the girl.

- They still got her. - Yeah, that's right.

I'm gonna ask you again, Mackenzie.

Where is the comanchero camp?

Let's talk about that in town. Come on, boy, hyah!

Well, that's the whole story, Sheriff, all of it.

I'm sorry I can't tell you where the camp is,

but I gave them my word.

To a comanchero?

To the man who has that girl's life in his hands.

Well, I suppose you took his word on that.

Well, I believed him when he said

that they'd kill her if I didn't come back with the money.

$25,000, huh?

Well, he can just go whistle up a tree with that.

Didn't you hear me? They'll kill her.

I heard you.

So we give him the $25,000.

The next thing you know, they yank somebody else

off of stagecoach, and they want $50,000.

Sure does beat working for a living, doesn't it?

I see.

Then you're not going to help me raise the money.

Help you?

Listen, McKenzie, I'm in charge here,

and I'll run things my way without any help from you.

Now why don't you just go back to Medicine Bow

and keep out of this?

I have no intention of leaving here until I know

what you're gonna do about the safety of that girl.

Colonel Mackenzie, when I was elected sheriff here,

I took an oath to uphold the law,

maintain the peace, and bring criminals to justice.

Since that time,

this has been a nice little town to live in.

I see no reason to change my way of doing things

just to accommodate some outsider.

Sheriff, it might interest you to know

that night riders from this nice little town of yours

slaughtered all the comancheros sheep last night,

and that's what caused this kidnapping.

Oh?

Then I'll deal with that all in due time.

- Good day, sir. - Sheriff.

If you're not gonna do anything about the safety of this girl,

I shall consider it my responsibility.

You consider whatever you want.

But let me tell you this.

You interfere with the due process of law,

and I'll treat you just like any other lawbreaker.

If you pay those devils,

it's the last you will ever see of your money or the woman,

you mark my words.

Well, that's my concern, Mr. Henderson.

I've telegraphed my bank in New York for the money.

All I want to know from you is will you honor the draft

when it arrives?

Well, it's not that simple, Colonel.

You see, we are a very small bank here.

I founded it myself 16 years ago,

and I have always prided myself that I have adhered strictly

to the soundest banking principles.

Why, my goodness, I wouldn't be able to sleep nights if I...

Mr. Henderson, can I count on you for the money?

Well, a draft in that amount

would seriously strain the resources of this bank.

Our reserves are unusually low at this time.

Ed Jones has just made a loan to buy the Ragsdale place.

Matthew Keller has his payroll to meet.

They'll get their money. Can't they wait a few days?

Let me be frank with you, Colonel Mackenzie.

This is cattle country.

The whole economy of the country is based on cattle.

And people around here just do not take kindly

to sheep nor to the people who raise them.

Why, I've been told that cattle will not graze on land

for five years after it's been cropped by sheep.

Well, I've raised both,

and I can tell you that's absolute nonsense.

Anyway, those few hundred sheep weren't a threat to anyone.

Well, there's... more to it than that.

The people around here have not forgotten

how the comancheros were.

Why, if word got out that this bank had aided

and abetted them in this terrible thing,

I might just as well close my doors

and hang up a "for sale" sign.

Why, I'd be out of business in a week.

There's a woman's life at stake here.

And here you're talking about offending your depositors?

Look, I'll guarantee this bank and your depositors

will not lose one red cent.

Believe me, Colonel Mackenzie,

I appreciate what you're trying to do,

but these matters are best left to the authorities.

Now, Sheriff Parks is a very capable law officer.

You think so?

Well, I think he's a pigheaded idiot.

Now, Mr. Henderson,

I want a straight answer from you.

Will you honor that draft?

Well, legally,

I probably won't have any choice.

Ah.

Well, thank you for your time.

If Mackenzie came this way, you'd never know it.

Comancheros did a good job of covering up his tracks.

What do you want to do?

Keep looking.

Oh, how long can a man live on this cold food?

Longer than he can live by lighting a campfire

while his enemies are searching for him.

Has our guest been fed?

This morning.

She's not our guest. She's a prisoner.

And you treat her like one.

- Attend to her. - Later, after I have eaten.

Now, and be quick about it.

Hey! Bring her out here.

She's nice to look at.

Amigo...

if you have any ideas about this woman,

it will be best to put them out of your head.

Are you out of your mind? Get your hands off of me!

Let me go!

Here's your gringo beauty.

That's enough! Are you so quickly a savage?

Bring her the food.

Oh, poor lady, don't sit in the dirt that way.

No, no, no. Oh, your pretty dress.

Look, it's getting all dirty.

Let me go.

Release her.

But the poor lady, look at her dress.

She needs some help.

Here.

I suppose I should thank you.

Oh, señorita.

Señor Sosentes...

what I wrote was a tribute to your skill and courage,

nothing more.

I meant you no harm.

I don't know the men who killed your sheep.

Please...

let me go.

Plans have been made.

We will wait.

Sosentes, the Sheriff and the deputy,

they came to the end of the arroyo and they went back.

They ride in circles. They know nothing.

They'll find this place soon enough.

That Sheriff is no fool.

We should leave now or there'll be no money,

just a rope for all of us.

Armendez, you are like a child.

You would forsake a fortune tomorrow

to indulge your passions today.

I gave him 48 hours.

I'm not sure that draft will arrive here in time

or even if they'll send it.

I've got to raise that money somehow.

But if this woman was from around here,

it would be different.

I've never seen her before in my life.

It just isn't any of my business.

Well, it might very well be your business.

It was men around here that slaughtered all those

comanchero sheep just because they killed one maverick bull.

If I thought it was men from my ranch,

I'd hang their hides to the west side of that barn.

Sheriff Parks could take care of the rest of them.

You know, two wrongs don't make a right in my book.

Now look, if I bring you proof, will you help me?

Well, I don't have any great love for the comancheros,

but if you prove that this ranch had anything to do

with that kidnapping, I'll back you all the way.

Right. Well, maybe Ed Jones will help.

How far is it to his ranch?

By the time you got there and back,

- you'll know you had a ride. - Yeah?

Go ride straight down the road and take the left fork.

All right. Go! Go!

♪

Be nice to me, and I'll help you get free.

I'll help you escape.

But if you make a sound, one sound.

Be good. Be good.

You are a foolish man, amigo.

She's only a prisoner. In the old days...

In the old days, you were a pig,

and no woman would at look you twice.

Is it now, amigo?

Huh?

Is this the time you have chosen?

♪

Wilkins.

Wilkins!

I'm talking to you.

Wilkins, do you remember how you're always grousing

about what a lousy town this is

and how you'd like to go up to Vista and live?

We think you ought to go up there now, tonight.

W-why?

You didn't bother to mention

that that bull them comancheros killed

was a maverick, did you?

I didn't pay any attention what kind it was...

In a pig's eye!

We're not gonna have this come home

and roost on our doorstep.

You clear out and stay out.

If that woman gets back, they'll find out anyway.

That's the money coming in for her right now.

Get him out of here.

And you found it just like this?

Yes, when I came here, the telegrapher had gone

and I came right over to your office.

Wait a minute, what's this? Look.

This is from the Merchants Trading Bank

in New York to the bank here in town.

They've sent the money.

He must've been taking this message when they ran him off.

Let me see that.

I don't see anything about money.

All I see here is two addresses.

Well, what else could it be?

Could be anything.

Like, uh, evidence.

Bloody right, that's evidence.

That's evidence that the money order's been sent.

- Now give it to me. - I warned you once, Mackenzie.

You interfere with the due process of law

and you're gonna wind up in a jail cell.

I don't care if you own the whole state of Wyoming.

In this town, you are what I say you are.

You're not interested in upholding the law

or maintaining peace or anything like it!

You just use that badge as a license to hunt

and kill comancheros because they've made

a bigger fool of you than you already are.

You're not gonna catch them. Never!

And the death of the girl will be on your hands!

Mackenzie, I lost this eye to a comanchero

when I was just a young fella, still wet behind the ears.

And I ain't gonna rest easy till there's not

another stinking one of them left in this territory.

I want a horse.

You just brought one back a little one while ago.

Well, I want another one, the fastest you've got.

Fastest? That's the only one I got.

Here, old man, maybe I should do it, huh?

Thank you. Right, there we go.

How far is it to Albuquerque?

40 miles of you take the Emperor road.

But you'll pay for it if you run this horse into the ground.

Albuquerque?

What do you want to go there for?

Well, I have to get to the telegraph relay station.

Now, you want to open the door, old man?

Come, come on.

♪

I did not wish to alarm you.

You have had no other visitors?

No.

But you cannot sleep.

I'm scared, if that's what you mean.

You have every right to be frightened.

This is a terrible experience you are in.

You say that as if you had nothing to do with it.

It was your idea to kidnap me.

It was.

If you were really sorry, you would let me go.

If the money is delivered tomorrow morning

according to my instructions, I will release you here.

Well, what if it isn't?

This is not to my liking.

I want you to know that.

But you're doing it.

Yes.

Whatever happens, I am to blame.

But there are others who share my guilt, señorita.

Would you believe that you are the first one of your people

I have ever conversed with?

Would you believe that?

Oh, in Mesa Verde, I... I order drinks.

I order food.

It comes. Slowly, but it comes.

I buy gringo sheep.

We, um...

how, do you say, we... we dicker.

The gringo doesn't say,

"Come, we drink to seal the bargain."

You know? No.

And if I suggest this, he doesn't hear,

or he's too busy.

Well, evidently, the comancheros left

very deep wounds around here.

It was the same on both sides.

But if you pick at the wound, it cannot heal.

Well, where will you go?

Mexico.

Find some land,

steal a few sheep, and start again.

You say that as if it's a way of life.

It was our way of life, señorita.

We knew no other. We stole to live.

In time, our victims became our enemies,

and then it was impossible for us to survive any other way.

We have no roots.

We have no home.

Like the buffalo, we will soon be no more.

If you let me go

and if we tell the people in Mesa Verde

what really happened,

surely they'll listen to reason.

No.

No, señorita.

Sheriff Parks has waited for just such an opportunity.

He would stop at nothing to destroy us.

You get a cosigner, Mr. Wainwright,

and we'll be very happy to take care of it.

Good day, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Wells.

We're closed.

Well, open! I've got the draft.

Come back tomorrow morning.

No, now!

We're closed.

Well, now you're open.

This is an authorization from the Merchant Banks

in New York to pay the bearer $25,000.

May I have the money now, please?

I'm sorry.

Come back tomorrow morning,

and we'll see what we can do then.

Tomorrow's too late, and you know it!

I'm sorry.

Mr. Henderson, I've ridden a long way,

and I'm very tired,

and I'm beginning to get very angry.

Now for the last time, will you honor this draft?

What... there's a problem here, Mr. Anderson?

What happened?

I told him we were closed, and he broke in the doors.

Oh?

Colonel Mackenzie, you're under arrest

for breaking and entering.

What?

It's just the same as murder.

He'll kill that girl, and you know it.

You want to save her, just tell me where they are.

You know I can't do that.

Your word of honor is worth more than the girl's life?

Not the point, they'll see you ride up,

and they'll kill her on the spot.

Maybe. My way, she's got a chance.

Your way, she's as good as dead right now.

My way, I'll take the money to them.

Well, they'll probably kill her anyway

and you right along with her.

Well, I'll take that risk. Look, let me out of here.

Help me persuade the banker to give me the money.

The only way you're going to get out of here

is to tell me where that comanchero camp is.

Now where is it? Tell me.

Tell me!

All right.

First five bullets won't hit anything vital.

Number six is the one you gotta look out for.

You're insane.

Where is that comanchero camp, Mackenzie.

Where is it?

- Parks! - Huh?!

What do you think you're doing?

Oh, just asking my prisoner a few questions.

With a gun in your hand?

I usually get some pretty good answers that way.

What can I do for you?

Barnes, get in here.

One of my hands got drunk tonight

and did a lot of talking.

Tell him.

All right, go on, tell him what you told me!

Well, it was Mooney and me that killed them comanchero sheep.

We ran off Wilkins at the telegraph office, too.

Where's Mooney?

He's in my bunkhouse passed out cold.

But don't worry, he'll be in as soon as he's able to ride.

Now I want you to hold them both for trial.

On what charge?

For destroying property, if nothing else.

And turn Colonel Mackenzie loose.

- Why? - Because I'm telling you to.

Those comancheros had nothing to do with all of this.

And Mackenzie can take the money to them for restitution.

$25,000 for a flock of lousy sheep?

For a girl's life!

Come on.

- Thanks. - It's all right.

If you have any trouble getting the money from Henderson,

- use my name! - I'll do that.

Get in there, Lawrence.

Come on.

And you too!

Hey, what you think you're doing?

It's for your own protection, Keller!

Gonna be a little shooting around here anytime now,

and I wouldn't want you to get hurt.

You're finished as sheriff in this town, Parks!

You hear me? You're finished in this town!

I don't understand.

You let the colonel go, and you lock up Mr. Keller.

Yeah, Mr. Keller's gonna stay locked up

till we get back, too.

- Sheriff, don't you think that maybe...? - Look, Joe,

hustle down to the saloon and round up

every able-bodied man you can find to swear on a posse.

When Colonel Mackenzie leaves town,

we're gonna be right on his tail.

♪

I saw some cattle grazing in the canyon.

Kill a steer and bring back the hide.

Raul...

not this way.

It is our way. We are the comanchero.

She will be wrapped in a fresh hide and left in the open.

She'll be crushed to death as it dries in the sun.

No, no.

Please, please, no.

He can do nothing. He will do nothing.

Raul!

Francisco!

Francisco!

He's here!

The money, where is the ransom?

In the saddlebag.

Are you all right? Did he hurt you?

Thank God you're back.

You see, amigos? You see?

$25,000!

And that will buy us good horses and fine guns!

But in Mexico!

Wait a minute, that won't be necessary.

You won't have to go to Mexico.

The men who killed your sheep have confessed.

Full payment will be made.

This will more than pay for the sheep.

If you keep the ransom money, then you'll be wanted men.

Criminals. Hmm?

Then Mexico will not even be safe for you.

If we keep the money?

The people of Mesa Verde are sorry for what happened.

It was a tragic mistake all around,

but don't make matters worse.

Come back with me and return the money.

You want me to give it all back?

And what will happen if I do?

I will be thrown in the gringo jail,

and my people will be hunted down.

No. I promise you.

I kept my word with you once. I'll keep it again.

All this will be forgotten.

You can buy sheep again, live as you lived before.

Before? We were treated like dirt before!

Is that what you comancheros want to go back to?

You see, it is too late.

Too much has happened.

And what will happen in Mexico?

You'll be bandits again, living in hiding

until one day, there's no place left to hide.

Your people will die, Sosentes!

You want them to live,

persuade them to come back with me.

Gringos!

Betrayer!

I didn't bring them.

I believe you.

Take her and go.

They will let you through.

Sosentes...

you haven't got a chance.

You'll be killed.

Tell your people to surrender.

When life holds no promise, that isn't so terrible, amigo.

Do you have to take everybody with you?

There are women and children to think of.

Tell them to surrender.

- Surrender! Don't shoot! - Stop firing!

Surrender! Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

- Drop your guns! - Stop firing!

- They're surrendering! - Don't shoot!

Sheriff!

Sosentes.

I got him.

Yes, sir, I got him, didn't.

You got him.

You got them.

And you'll hang for murder!

Comanchero.

I wish you were coming with me.

I'm sure that your trip home will be completely uneventful.

I feel that I've destroyed something in this town.

And now I'm running away,

leaving others to pick up the pieces.

Well, at least they've got a new Sheriff here,

so some good came out of it.

I know, but...

men died, and I'm...

No, no, no, it was nothing to do with you.

If it hadn't been this incident, it would've been something else.

There just was no place left for the comancheros anymore,

There never was. It was inevitable.

Come on.

As you said, times change.

People don't.

But... I feel that I have.

I just can't tell you how I feel.

Then don't try.

There we are.

I don't know exactly what I'm going to write yet,

but it will certainly be unlike

anything I've ever written before.

Hyah! Hyah!

♪

♪