Original subtitles

THE OLD RANGER: And now,

Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [trumpet]

Howdy, folks.

I'’m the Old Ranger,

and I have another interesting,

true story for you

about the historic Death Valley country.

This is a story of a horse.

A story famous in Arizona history,

and one that never fails to send a tingle up and down my spine.

I hope it'’ll thrill you the same way,

as you hear about...

It'’s back in 1864.

The territory of Arizona is only one year old.

It'’s capital, Prescott,

a cluster of rude log buildings

in a sparsely-settled wilderness overrun by Apaches.

The only protection to the region is Fort Whipple.

MAN: Oh, Captain!

Yes, Sam?

About those pack horses

you ordered gotten rid of, Sir.

Well, what about '’em?

There'’s one of them I'’d like to put a word in for.

I'’ve already looked '’em over, Sam.

There are none of them that are fit for work.

They never should have been sent to us in the first place.

You'’re right, they shouldn'’t, but--

The sooner we get rid of them the better.

But this particular critter, though--

There'’s no place in a post like this

for man or beast that can'’t swing his weight.

Will you just come and look at him, Captain?

Sam, I'’m busy.As a favor to me?

Sometimes I think you take advantage of me, Sam.

Just because we grew up together in San Francisco--

Then you will? Good.

Mind you, I'’m not promising anything.

I just said I'’d look.

Is this the nag?This is Two Bits.

A mighty sorry-looking specimen.

Mmm, he was a great horse in his day.

Cleaned up plenty of money.

You mean he was a racehorse?

Sure, I saw him run in New Orleans back in '’51.

He nosed out the favorite just at the finish line

and he broke the record for the track.

Oh, what a race that was.

Are you sure he'’s the same?

I never forget a horse.

It'’s hard to believe. What happened to you, fella?

Somewhere along the line he'’s had a lot of abuse.

Look at those eyes.

Oh, let me keep him, Captain.

With rest, and care, and plenty of feed,

he'’d soon fill out again.

You talk as if we had feed to spare, Sam.

Supplies here at Whipple are scarce.

I'’ll forage for 'em.

Well, all right.

Oh, thank you, Captain.

We'’ll show 'em, won'’t we, Two Bits?

[whinnies]

I'’m a soft-hearted fool.

Saddle up my horse, Sam.

Going into Prescott?

No, out to the Wade Ranch.

Every day, the danger of an Apache uprising grows.

I'’m worried.

For Miss Audrey Wade?

As Post Commander, I'’m responsible

for the safety of all the settlers.

You'’ve got a lot of cheek, Sam.

You told me yourself you were gonna marry her.

Well, it isn'’t common knowledge, though.

You don'’t think so?

Well then I know who spread the word.

Sam, I ought to knock your block off.

Yes, sir.

Bye-bye, Two Bits.

It was good of you to look in on us, Captain.

Audrey here seems to think you don'’t come often enough.

Oh, Father.I'’m glad everything's going all right.

I reckon the Indians got tired

of stealing our cattle.Well, let'’s hope so.

Goodbye, honey.

I wish you didn'’t have to go.

It always seems twice as lonesome afterwards.

Well, how about you returning my calls sometime?

Well, the next trip we make into Prescott

we'’ll stop at Fort Whipple.

Yeah, six months from now.I'’m afraid so.

CAPTAIN: Maybe you could come over on the Fourth of July.

You and your father both.

We'’re putting on some maneuvers,

the commandant from Fort Wingate

will be there with some of his cavalry.

All the way from New Mexico?

You'’ll see some might pretty horsemanship.

Oh, I'’d love it. Could we, Father?

Well, it'’s quite a distance.

Well, I guess it'’d be all right.

Good.I'’ll be counting the days.

And I'’ll be counting the hours and the minutes.

♪♪ [ "Assembly" bugle call ]

♪♪ [stops]

Well, I guess that winds up the show, Audrey.

That'’s it.

It was wonderful, Colonel Downey.

Yep, makes a body mighty thankful,

having all that protection out here in this wilderness.

Unfortunately, half of them

belong over at Fort Wingate.

There'’s your really big garrison.

Well, how big is it, Colonel?

Three troops. That'’s 384 men.

Compared with only 80 men here at Whipple.

♪♪ [ bugle ]

Something more to come?

♪♪ [ stops ]

An unscheduled exhibition

by Private Loomis on Two Bits!

Two Bits?

[whinnies]

I can'’t believe it.

That horse was nothing but a piece of crowbait

a while back.

Uh, my orderly, the man who'’s riding him,

begged a reprieve for the poor fellow.

Look at that horse run.

How beautiful he is.

My orderly says he'’s a former racehorse.

Broke the track record in New Orleans.

[cheering and applause]

Sam, it'’s a miracle.

Kind of surprised you, sir.

You certainly did.

Colonel Downey, this is Pvt. Sam Loomis.

Colonel.

Mr. Wade, Miss Wade,

I think you'’ve met Sam before.Yes, we have.

We could use your services at Wingate, as a veterinary.

If you got any horses like Two Bits

to work on, Colonel, I'’d be glad to.

Would you like to try to ride him, Captain?

I'’m no jockey.

Oh, he'’s as good on the trail as on a track.

Go ahead, just try him.

I will, next time we go on reconnaissance.

This fella'’s not only got speed, he'’s got savvy.

Haven'’t you, Two Bits?

You were right about Two Bits, Sam.

He has got savvy.

He knows we'’re being watched.

Look at those ears.

He don'’t have to see Injuns,

he can smell them.

They'’re all around us.

Do you dare chance the canyon?

It'’s the most direct route to the Wade Ranch.

We'’ve got to warn them, and I don'’t want to waste

any time.

Things are fast coming to a head with the Apaches.

Any time now, I look to see

the whole tinderbox explode.

You mean a-- a general uprising?

We'’ve been hearing that for months.

There'’s already been an outbreak

at Date Creek Ranch, south of us.

We'’ve had to send half our troops down there.

What do you think we should do?

Move into Prescott at once.Leave the ranch?

At least until the danger'’s over.

I wouldn'’t dream of it.

This place represents

everything I'’ve got in the world.

What about your own life?I'’ll risk it.

And your daughter'’s?

You go on into Prescott, honey.

Without you? I will not.

I'’ll escort you there,

the Governor will find quarters for you.

CAPTAIN: Go pack your things right away, Audrey.

I can'’t leave him, Charlie.

Well, then, both of you come.

It'’s not safe here, there are Apaches

ambushed all around in the hills just waiting.

We saw them as we came over.I ain'’t afraid.

In case of an uprising, sir, we'’ll be powerless

to help you.

Will be all we can do to hold the fort

with half our troops gone.

I ain'’t a-gonna leave my property.

Audrey, honey, for my sake.

He needs me, Charlie,

and we'’ll be all right, don'’t worry.

You should leave this place,

try to persuade him.

♪♪ [ drums ][ chanting ]

♪♪ [ drums continue ]

They picked this time to strike, the devils,

knowing there'’s only a handful of men here.

I'’ve got to get word to Fort Wingate at once

and ask for reinforcements.

I'’ll send a courier.

One man alone?

We can'’t spare more than one.

That'’s a long ride, sir. Several hundred miles.

250.

With Apaches all along the way.

Assemble the men and ask for a volunteer.

SAM: You don'’t need to, Captain.

I'’ll go.

On one condition, sir.

If I can ride Two Bits.

We'’ll go saddle him together.

You take the Birdie Trail.

It'’ll be a case of hide-and-seek

every mile of the way.We'’ll make it.

God grant that you do.

The lives of all Northern Arizona

depend on it.

You hear that, Two Bits?And Sam?

I'’ll stop at the Wade Ranch on the way.

Tell them, and any other settlers,

to get down here to the fort

as fast as they can.

Whelp, I guess I'’m ready.

There seem to be less Indians to the north of us.

I'’d suggest you ride that way

and then circle south.

Well, I'’m counting on a surprise

and Two Bit'’s speed to get through them.

Goodbye, Charlie.

Goodbye, Sam.

Godspeed.

SAM: Ha! Yah!

[ shrieking ]

[ shrieking ]

Mr. Wade! Mr. Wade!

It'’s a general uprising.

Ride to Fort Whipple as fast as you can.

I'’ll saddle the horses, you pack some things.

[ yelling ]

We'’re out of sight here.

Just pray they didn'’t see us turn off the trail.

[ sighs ]Oh, thank God.

I know what you'’re thinking.

If I hadn'’t been so pigheaded

about heeding the Captain'’s advice--

I'’m not blaming you, Father.

You got every right to. Both of you.

If you never see each other again

it'’ll all be my fault.

We'’re not going to die here.

Charlie will rescue us somehow, I'’m sure of it.

If I hadn'’t have been such a fool

he wouldn'’t have to.

The Indians are falling back, but we'’re still surrounded.

Any sign of the Wades?

No, sir.I can'’t understand it,

unless Sam and Two Bits couldn'’t get through.

[gunshot]

I can'’t go on any farther, Two Bits.

You know the trail, boy.

You'’ve been there before.

Go ahead, fella.

Go on to Wingate. Go on!

[ yelling ]

MAN: Colonel?

Sir?

The Sergeant of the Guard reports a riderless horse

outside the fort.

Open the main gate and bring him in.

Yes, sir.

The rider must'’ve been killed,

there'’s blood on everything.

Fresh stains, too.

This couldn'’t have happened many hours ago.

Look in the other pouch, John.

See if there are any dispatches.

Not a thing, sir.

Nothing at all to tell us where he came from.

Fort Marcy, most likely.

That'’s Santa Fe.

Lieutenant, saddle up.

Send a scouting party out.

East?East.

No! No, west.

I recognize this horse, now.

He'’s from Fort Whipple.Fort Whipple?

Two Bits.Two Bits.

We saw him perform at Whipple.

Lieutenant, order up two troops, full strength.

On the double.

Bugler, sound boots and saddles.

♪♪ [ "Boots and Saddles" bugle call ]

Trooper, take good care of this horse.

Give him the best.Yes, sir.

♪♪ [ bugle continues ]

♪♪ [ stops ]Captain Evans?

You'’ll take the main detachment

on the Oak Canyon Trail.

A la twos!

♪♪ [ bugle ]

Hi-yah!

Lieutenant, we'’ll take the Birdie Trail.

Yes, sir.

♪♪ [ stops ]

Alla two! Forward, ho!

♪♪ [ "Cavalry" bugle call ]

Poor fella.

You run yourself clean out, didn'’t you?

♪♪ [ bugle ]

Pvt. Loomis, Fort Whipple.

Thank God you'’re alive.

When your horse came in without you,

we thought you were dead.

Then Two Bits got through to Wingate?

Arrived this morning, early.

We left him there to rest.

What'’s the situation?

Apaches, general uprising.

Half our troops are cut off,

but the Captain'’s holding the fort

as best he can until help comes.

How about yourself?

Got an extra mount?

Yes, they got Wilson this morning

in an earlier skirmish, you can have his mount.

Thank you, sir.

Before you fall in...

Lieutenant, I want this man'’s arm dressed

and his arm put in a sling.

Yes, sir.Thank you, sir.

Follow whenever you'’re ready.

MR. WADE: Audrey! Audrey!

They'’re coming.

Apaches?No, soldiers.

About a mile down the road. Let'’s get out of here

and hail them before they get by.

MR. WADE: Hey!

Oh, Miss Audrey. Mr. Wade.

Neighboring settlers, good friends of the Captain'’s.

Sure, I met you folks at Fort Whipple.

How come you ain'’t there now?

The Indians overtook us.

We'’ve been hiding in the rocks for days.

Well, fall in. We'’ll give you

a safe escort the rest of the way.

Column by twos! Ahead, go!

Colonel, you'’re a sight for sore eyes.

Got here as fast as we could, Captain.

Sam!

You said you'’d make it and, by heaven, you did.

Not me, Captain. It was Two Bits.

I fell by the wayside.

Redskins winged me and Two Bits travelled

the last stretch alone.With no rider?

If it hadn'’t been for Two Bits,

we'’d have never got the word.

And I'’d still be hiding in the brush.

Well, where'’s Two Bits now?

Fort Wingate.

Was he hurt?Not a scratch.

Just worn out.

Audrey!

Charlie!

Gee, honey, if you knew how I'’d prayed.

The torture I went through.

God watches over us. I know that now.

Now matter how many devils surround us.

We'’ll route those devils with the help we now have.

♪♪ ["Adjutant'’s Call" on bugle ]

Pvt. Sam Loomis. Front and center.

Pvt. Sam Loomis,

who, in the face of almost certain death,

volunteered as courier to warn

and thus to save the lives of the people

of Northern Arizona.

I present this medal on behalf of a grateful country.

Parade... rest!

And, for another great soldier,

we present this medal, which we ask you

to accept on his behalf.

He fought a good fight.

He finished the course.

He kept the faith.

Two Bits.

CAPTAIN: God rest his soul.

♪♪ [ "Taps" on bugle ]

Request permission to lower the flag, sir.

Permission granted.

♪♪

And that is the story of Two Bits,

who ran his last race in the service of his country.