Original subtitles

MAN: Hyah!

[ continuing ]

Get on there!

Work for those oxen there!

[ oxen bellowing ]

Hyah!

Come on! Ho! Get on there!

Come on, prod that leader!

[ oxen bellowing, men yelling ]

Well, Mrs. Mann, this is a surprise.

More of a surprise than you think, General Houston.

I'’ll take those oxen.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

It is the year 1836,

the year of the Alamo and Goliad,

a bad year for Texas'’ little army of independence,

beaten but not ready to quit.

General Sam Houston kept his army moving

just ahead of Santa Anna'’s victorious Mexicans,

waiting for a propitious time and place to strike,

but a wet spring has turned the roads into quagmires,

and General Houston commandeered all available draft animals

to haul the heavy artillery through the mud,

including two known as...

Well, General?

All right, men, hold it!

You didn'’t ride out here alone, Mrs. Mann.

Well, I'’m used to being alone, General,

ever since the Battle of Goliad.

Yes, ma'’am, well, I'’m sorrier than I can say about your husband.

Didn'’t my letter reach you?

Yes, it did, but not my husband...

or my oxen I loaned you last winter.

Those are my oxen, aren'’t they?

Well, you see what we'’re up against here, ma'’am.

Mud up to our eyeballs.

Only oxen could drag a fieldpiece through it.

Or pull a plow, Captain.

Now, the general promised me

my team back in time to make a crop.

Well, I'’m right sorry, ma'am,

but the fact is that I can'’t possibly spare them

for another month.

Another month, General!

I can'’t be without them for another week.

Well, ma'’am, I'm sure you'’ve heard the old saying

about possession being nine points of the law.

Exactly, so I don'’t intend to leave here

until I'’ve taken possession of them.

All right, Captain, cut the cannon loose.

What about it, General?

You'’ll do no such thing,

and I'’ll hear no more talk about it, Mrs. Mann.

As you were.

Captain, I'’m ready to fire again.

Madam, can'’t you understand?

If I lose the oxen, I lose the cannon.

One is no good without the other.

And if I lose them, I lose a crop.

I'’m waiting, Captain.

I'’m going to start counting to three.

One...

two...

All right! All right.

Unhitch them.

Well, I never thought I'’d live to see the day.

How is that, Captain?

She was bluffing, General.

Come to a showdown, she'’d have thrown in her cards.

Well, if that'’s true,

why don'’t you ride after the lady

and bring the critters back?

Oh.

I'’m sorry, General. I spoke out of turn.

Yes, sir, and the problem'’s all yours, Captain.

because you'’re going to follow her and bring those cattle back.

General, I don'’t know anything about handling women.

Private Riggs-- here'’s your man.

Why, he'’s forgotten more about women I'’ll ever know.

Well, I wouldn'’t say that,

but you'’re gonna catch more flies with sugar than you are with vinegar.

How'’s that?Yeah.

You gotta sweet-talk a woman.

He'’s gonna sweet-talk a women like that. [ chuckles ]

Why not? A woman'’s a woman, Captain.

Well, now, that sounds just fine.

Between the captain'’s tough talk and your sweet talk, Private,

you ought to have those animals back by tomorrow night.

I'’ll have Simms guard the cannon,

and you and Riggs prepare to leave immediately.

And that'’s an order.

Well, I reckon if you can'’t reason the wench into it, Captain,

I'’m gonna plumb romance herinto it.

I might even pick myself up a little promotion.

Or a knife in the ribs from that Mrs. Mann.[ chuckles ]

Whoa, boy.

Blast her!

She must'’ve driven them upstream. [ chuckles ]

She'’s nobody's fool, that'’un.

Come on, boy.

Yonder they went.[ horse sputters ]

Yeah.

Well, if it gets any darker we'’ll lose her for sure.

She must be figuring on traveling all night.

Come on.

[ owl hooting ]

Horse packers?

Yeah.

They passed here before she did though.

Army patrol, maybe.

No, it'’s too far south for that.

Besides, they'’re not even army-style horseshoes.

I guess that'’d leave but one thing. Renegades, yeah?

Now, that'’s strange.

Why would a woman build a fire, then go off and leave it?

Everything'’s strange about a woman, Captain,

unless you savvy them. [ chuckles ]

That'’s rule one.

[ gunshot ]

Captain, don'’t do it.

Well, you startled us, ma'’am.

I meant to.

I thought I'’d be followed.

Didn'’t think Sam Houston would give up that easy.

Uh, where are your animals?Up the hill, in the rocks.

You see, I just built this fire to keep the riffraff away from my camp.

Anybody comes looking for my oxen, I hear them.

That way, I surprise them.

Uh, what are you gentlemen up to?

"Up to"? We just followed along to see you get home all right.

You came after my animals and you know it!

Now, you just listen to me.

I'’ve done my share already in this war.

I gave a husband,

I loaned a yolk of oxen to the army,

but I'’m not gonna let my children starve

because General Sam Houston... [ gun clatters ]

Oh, ma'’am...

Looks like you dropped something.

Now, believe me, Mrs. Mann,

If we wanted to take those oxen, you couldn'’t stop us.

Then what are you doing here?

General Houston sent us to give you safe conduct.

And he admired your spunk.

MRS. MANN: He did?

Well, yes. Uh, you know what he said?

No.

He said, "That woman is a credit to the Republic of Texas."

Isn'’t that nice?

You know what you can do for me, Captain?

You can ride right back and thank him.

Oh, and leave you here unprotected?

You probably didn'’t know there are a lot of renegades in this area.

Oh, now, I'’ve heard about those renegades,

but I haven'’t seen many of them.

The closest I'’ve seen

are soldiers stealing livestock.

Well, you haven'’t traveled with oxen, ma'’am.

You and them animals would make a rich prize.

Oh, now, Captain.

Now, who'’d want a poor widow like me?

Well, nobody in his right mind,

but they might pick you up and carry you out

before they know what they caught.

Captain didn'’t mean that, ma'am.

He'’s, uh-- Well, he'’s just kind of vexed

that you won'’t let us help you.

You see, uh, we seen horse tracks back yonder.

[ chuckles ] Might be some bad fellas

ranged around these hills,

looking for a pretty girl to steal.

I'’ve seen those tracks.

Probably Texas deserters.

I resent that, ma'’am.

Everyone in our army is a volunteer,

and they'’ve stuck through the fires of Hades.

Well, now, along with all the heroes,

there'’s probably a lot of trash in that army.

Now, since I'’ve declined the general'’s kind offer of assistance,

you'’ll probably be wanting to start right back.

Well, now, I bet you wouldn'’t want to send us back

without so much as a cup of coffee.

Hard as we rode?

All right. You can come along then.

[ owl hooting ]

Hey, now, lookie there, Fergus.

It'’s a campfire, all right.

Question is, is whose campfire is it,

Mexicans or Texans?

Maybe it'’s some honest traders like ourselves.

Yeah. [ chuckling ]

Well, we got coffee, and we got salt,

and they ain'’t gonna pay much for goods like that.

Now, if we was bringing livestock,

100 a head for anything with four legs

hanging down from the corners... [ chuckles ]

Hey, maybe they got livestock, Fergus.

Why don'’t you ride down there and find out and get your head blowed off?

Oh, now, how else we gonna find out?

We gonna-- gonna wait till morning,

till it'’s nice and quiet, and we gonna ride down there

and hit them fast,

get away fast.

That'’s how we stay in business as long as this here war last.

All right. The rest of you fellas spread yourselves out.

We don'’t want no trading party coyoting up on us in the dark.

Only have the one cup, so you'’ll have to take turns.

Well, I'’ll just, uh, have a look around.

See if any more riffraff has been brought into your trap.

[ chuckles ]

There'’s a man. You know, he'’s a good soldier,

but, uh, he don'’t know anything more about women

than little old Snake knows about you.

And you do?Well,

let'’s just say I ain'’t totally inexperienced.

[ both chuckles ]

Well, now, Mr. Riggs, just what has your experience

taught you about us women?

Oh, like the way y'’all hone up for soft things

and like the way y'’all like perfume.

What else, Mr. Riggs?

What'’s your first name, Mrs. Mann?

Pamela.Pamela.

You know, a woman like you, Pamela,

she could have any man in Texas.

Maybe I wouldn'’t want

any man in Texas.Oh, yes, you would.

You'’re the prettiest woman I ever seed.

Listen, Pamela,

when this war'’s over,

I'’m coming back after you.

Oh, now, you don'’t mean that, Mr. Riggs.

I do. I surely do.

But you know, this war,

it'’s got to be won first.

I know.

And one thing'’s gonna win it.

That'’s oxen.

You-- You'’d wanna take my oxen?

Would you give them to me

if I promise to bring them back,

and stay?

No.

I just wanted to see how a man who understands women

goes about tricking one.

So you were just having fun, huh?

Oh, you let go of me!Now I'’m gonna have some fun.

Let go of me!

Help me!

Stop it!

Let go!

Please! Let go of me!

That wench-- she pulled a gun on me, Captain.

She did, eh?

[ grunts ]

[ coughs ]

[ exhales ]

Now, you get back to that bivouac.

This'’ll mean a court-martial.

[ exhales ]

I'’m sorry about that, ma'am.

I never thought he'’d try to pull a thing like that.

Well, if you hadn'’t forced your so-called protection on me,

it would never have happened.

Well, whether you like our protection or not,

my orders are to see you safely to your farm.

I suppose I can survive another artilleryman.

[ animal howling ]

[ clicks teeth, mutters ]

[ owl hooting ]

You know, I like you better that way,

with a spoon in your hand rather than a gun.

I like myself better this way, Captain.

But in a man'’s country, a women'’s gotta play a man'’s part.

Well, I must say, you play it to perfection.

Well, how long do you think I'’d last

mincing around like a silly woman?

Why, some worthless doings of a man

would take over my farm in a month.

Who do you think will take it over if we lose this war?

You know, they outnumber us four to one.

They'’re better armed.

And what artillery we have,

we can'’t move for lack of draft animals.

Such as oxen?

Such as oxen.

Oh, Captain, why don'’t you come right out and say it?

You didn'’t follow me to give me safe conduct.

You wanted my animals.

All right. Now you know it and I know it.

I also know you can'’t eat cannons, Captain.What do you mean?

What I mean is, an army can'’t fight on an empty stomach.

Now, I raise food.

So who'’s to say which is the better patriot?

The farmer or the soldier?

Well, you'’ve got a point there, I suppose.

But when the Alamo fell, Travis'’ garrison

had 20 bushels of corn left,

but no gunpowder.

It'’s a hard problem, Captain,

but I'’m glad it'’s been settled between us.

Now, go on, eat it. You'’ll feel better.

I...

I wish I could reconcile

the way you seem to be with what you are.

Well, now, most women are a mystery.

You know that, Captain.

I-- I'’ll get you some coffee.

[ brush rustling ]

Hey, you hear that?

Whoa, boy. Whoa.

I hear something.

Yonder he is.

All right, now, you hold it right there, fella!

Now, take it easy. Let me say my piece.

Mister, you better start making your peace if you keep coming.

Who be you?

Private Riggs.

You deserted?

I wouldn'’t say that.

More of a trader-like.

Well, what do you trade?Most everything.

I trade best with my hands down.

All right. You can put your hands down.

Where'’s your horse at?

Left him down the hill.

What do you trade?

Livestock.

Beef cattle?

Two oxen...

and two horses.

[ chuckles ]

You talking about that bunch up there on the hill.

We done got them in the bag.

Oh, but there'’s a hole in that bag.

They ain'’t anywhere near that fire if that'’s what you seen.

Where they at?That'’s what I'm trading--

where they'’re at and how many of them.

How much?

$100.50, if we get them.

75. We'’ll get them.

[ horses neighing ]

Their camp'’s on the hill. We'’ll walk up.

Barnes won'’t catch on till it'’s too late.

Travis, you stay here with the horses.

Pamela.

It'’s Riggs and some other men. I don'’t know what they're after.

They'’re after my oxen.

The devil with your oxen.

You'’re more important.

Now get down.

Captain?

It'’s me, Riggs.

Right over here, Private.

Get down!

[ exhales forcefully ]

They'’ve gone.

Yeah, they won'’t be back.

I'’ll see to Riggs.

Ma'’am...

Pamela.

I-- I'’ve been thinking about those oxen of yours.

It'’s even wrong for me to ask for them.

I hadn'’t thought about the matter of the food for the army.

Oh, now, listen, Captain--Steven.

Steven, I feel kind of foolish saying this,

but after all, first things come first,

and the first thing is to win the war, isn'’t it?

So I want you to take those oxen back with you.

Oh, no. No, absolutely not, Mrs. Mann.

How do you think I would feel,

knowing you were having to work the earth with your bare hands? No.

Well, now, it isn'’t gonna be quite that bad.

You see, there are some neighbors.

They have oxen, and, well, I could borrow them.

Are you sure?I'’ll make out

till the war'’s over.

What about after that?

Well, I don'’t make any plans anymore.

No. I guess soldiers can'’t make any plans.

Well, you'’re just as much a soldier

in this war, Mrs. Mann, as I am.

Thank you, Captain.

History doesn'’t record whether Pamela Mann'’s oxen

took part in the Battle of San Jacinto a few weeks later.

The battle which won the war for Texas.

But Pamela and General Houston-- now President Houston--

did become friends.

So much so, that when her son was married some years later,

Sam Houston was best man at the wedding.