Original subtitles

[ wind whistling ]

[bell rings]

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'm the Old Ranger.

A wounded man, afoot in the desert,

alone and without water,

could only survive by a miracle.

Yet such a miracle happened back in 1888,

in the San Jacinto region of the Mojave Desert.

And another miracle too, which is a story of...

[groans]

Welcome back to the land of the living.

I'm Sister Mary Francis, of the Order of St. Joseph.

And this is Charlie White Cloud Washington.

I am much pleased to welcome you.

Water.

Where am I?

Twenty-five miles from San Bernardino.

This is a school and hospital, run by the Sisters of St. Joseph

for Indian orphans-- children of the Cahuilla tribe.

How long have I been here?

This is Tuesday afternoon.

You broke our bell cord yesterday.

Name is Johnny Carter.

I'll pay for the broken bell cord.

And I'll pay well for taking care of me here.

You don't have to pay for anything, Johnny Carter.

Now, tell me, How did you get that?

Where's my gun? You don't need a gun here.

Where's my-- Where's my gun?

I--I worked a claim over San Jacinto way.

Kinda neat pile of dust...

on my way to Los Angeles, go in business for the fall.

I was ju--jumped by a couple highwaymen.

Shot my horse.

Walked for miles without any water.

Happened to run across your road.

Are you sure that's what happened?

Sure--

I'm sure. Very well.

We'll get word to the Marshal in San Bernardino.

No! I mean...

I don't need no Marshal.

I know the two guys who jumped me.

You can't take the law into your own hands, Johnny.

And you can't leave here for at least three weeks.

All I need is a few days' rest.

Like I said, you'll be paid good.

They didn't get my gold.

I got it stashed away.

Good.

I'll get you some broth.

If you want more water, Charlie will give it to you.

[ door closes ] Injun?

Come here.

Water, Johnny Carter? How many people around here?

Mother Superior, three Sister, seven squaw,

little ones, from Cahuilla tribe,

and me, Charlie White Cloud Washington.

Only man. Where are all these other people?

In San Berdino. The squaws have First Communion.

One squaw, she sick. Name Pale Moon.

Sister Mary Francis, she stay. Nurse sick squaw.

You mean, there's only the sister and a sick squaw left around here?

When'll they be back? Sunday.

Every Sunday, Padre drive wagon from San Berdino.

Bring food, supplies, say mass.

Any horses around the place?

No horse.

I can't stay around here five days.

Must be somebody with a horse.

Doctor,

fellow who took care of me.

No doctor. Sister Mary Francis.

She did bandages.

You mean, that-- that bullet's still in here?

No, sister get.

This yours.

[ door opens ]

We won't dip anymore, Charlie.

Cover the tallow. Yes, Sister.

Injun kid told me about you taking a slug out of me.

You'll be paid.

You don't owe me anything, Johnny.

Of course, if you want to make a donation for our work,

Mother Superior will gladly accept.

Yeah. Yeah, I'll do that, ma'am.

Don't be late with the Angelus. Yes, Sister.

We should prepare a letter. [ door closes ]

Something to send to your parents.

Mother died when I was four, I don't know where my father is.

Who brought you up?

Whole slew of aunts and uncles

kicked me around between them.

I took it till I was 12 years old.

Then, I ran away. That don't matter now.

I got a stake

and there ain't nobody

or nothing's gonna take it away from me.

Johnny, you're far too young to be so bitter.

[ bell ringing ] Oh, stop preaching at me.

People have been telling Johnny Carter what to do all my life.

[ ringing continues ]

Pale Moon is much better,

but not yet well enough to go home.

You can see her though, since you've come so far.

[ crash ] [ Johnny screams ]

Excuse me. I'll be right back.

[ Johnny moaning ]

Johnny, you shouldn't have tried to get up.

Gotta get-- gotta--gotta--

I can't stay here!

Another foolish trick like this,

and you'll burst your stitches.

I hope you're convinced now you're in no condition to travel.

If I could just get a horse.

You're staying here for another two weeks.

Those are orders.

I gotta get word to someone.

When you're strong enough, the Padre will arrange

for a rig to pick you up.

I gotta get word. Sister Mary Francis,

Big Tom say goodbye. Say thank you very much.

Who's Big Tom? Pale Moon's father.

Tell him to wait, Charlie. Maybe he'd mail a letter for me.

I thought you didn't want to reach your relatives.

The man I'm going in business with, him.

The Injun mail a letter to him, you think?

I'm sure he would.

I'll pay him. Tell him to wait, Charlie.

I'll get my writing case.

"I, uh, made a nice strike.

"Got over $3,000 in gold.

"I want to go into business with you

"and split the dust with you.

"I'm at a school for Indian orphan kids,

"'bout 25 miles out of San Bernardino.

"Anybody there can tell you how to get here.

"Please start at once and bring a rig.

"Thank you a lot.

"You'll be proud of what I done.

"I, uh, made no mistakes.

Yours truly, Johnny Carter."

Uh, where do we send this, Johnny?

Uh, Mr. Forbes Buckner of Los Angeles.

The only address I have is, uh, Silver Dollar Saloon.

Mr. Forbes Buckner, Los Angeles, California,

In care of

Silver Dollar Saloon.

Uh, perhaps you should sign this.

Oh, no, ma'am. He'll think it's prettier with your signature.

Fold it and get it going.

I, um, hope you won't mind, Johnny, I'm adding something.

Why? You're gonna tell him I can't ride for two weeks?

No. I added the fact that you offered to make

a nice donation to Mother Superior for our charity work.

Oh, sure. That's what I said.

Not a bad idea to let your friends know about the good deeds you do.

Sometimes they get the same urge.

Oh, sure. Sure. Mr. Buckner's a big-hearted guy.

I'll get him to chip in something.

Uh, here's a gold nugget.

About $2 worth.

That ought to pay the Indian for mailing the letter, huh?

Is this some of the gold you mined?

Yeah.

And tell that Indian,

if I ever find out he didn't mail that letter,

I'll cut his heart out.

Well, I'm afraid I can't do that.

But I will tell him this is not my letter.

I don't want news to get around

that friends of mine live in a saloon.

♪♪ [ whistling ] [ panting ]

Shut up, Injun.

You hurt, Johnny Carter? Yeah, I hurt.

Tomorrow Sunday. Padre come.

You talk, feel much better.

Yeah, tomorrow is Sunday.

Buckner should've been here by now if he got my letter.

I'll pray.

Injun, when you pray

how do you know it does any good?

It fix that bum leg of yours?

You really feel better?

Sister Mary Francis taught me pray.

Her prayers are always answered.

How does she know? She say she feel wind at back.

Wind push Sister on road.

Wind make much big work easy.

When I was your age, I used to believe that stuff.

Not anymore. You never feel wind at back?

Felt a strap at my back,

somebody's boot at the seat of my pants.

A-- Listen.

[ bell rings ] Maybe him.

Take a look and see.

[ gate opens ]

Well? White man, buckboard.

Not a lawman. Got a badge?

No, supplies.

Must be Buckner.

Padre's sick.

Won't be able to get over this week,

so I brung over your supplies.

Why, I hope it's nothing serious.

Ah, just a bellyache.

Yeah, Mother Superior is staying on in San Berdino

with the Injun kids who's making their first communion.

They'll be coming back

with the Padre a week from Sunday

Any other news from San Bernardino?

Uh, there's one bit of excitement.

Prospector out of San Juaqino way was robbed,

3,000 gold dust.

they left him for dead.

Did they catch the man?

Man?

He wasn't much more than a boy

according to Krindle's description of him.

Krindle? Spence Krindle.

He was the fella that was robbed.

He's pretty well shook up now,

but he can identify him, all right, dead or alive.

Chances are he's dead.

Krindle shot his horse and he wounded him in the shoulder.

He won't be bothering nobody else.

Where do you want me to unload this stuff?

If you'll just drive into the patio.

[ door opens ]

That my friend Buckner?

No, it's a teamster from San Bernardino.

Padre's sick. He won't be out here tomorrow.

None of them will be coming back until a week from Sunday.

Maybe he'll give me a lift, this driver.

You're not leaving.

Well, he's got a rig. I can take it easy.

You're staying right here in this room, Johnny.

Well, let me talk to him. Tell him to come in, Charlie.

No.

Something wrong, ma'am?

Sure. Padre sick.

You scared of the thought of staying alone here

another week in this godforsaken place?

God hasn't forsaken this place, Johnny.

And even if he had, I wouldn't be scared.

You're here to protect us.

You can even shoot a man.

You said so yourself.

[ bell rings ]

I'm looking for a fella with the name of Johnny Carter.

Did I come to the right place? Please to come in.

I'll take.

Hello.

You couldn't be anyone but Mr. Forbes Buckner.

I'm Sister Mary Francis. [ door closes ]

How do you do? Johnny's right in here.

You have a visitor, Johnny. Someone you've waited for.

How are you, kid?

Mr. Buckner, am I glad to see you.

Looking great, Mr. Buckner. Look, I didn't come out here

on borrowed money just for some social chatter.

Borrowed money?

Things bad for you?

Just got out of jail.

Spent a year because I trusted a punk kid.

Yeah, I know how you feel about young fellas.

I, um-- I tried to join up with you a year ago, remember?

Yeah, yeah, sure.

Well, I've proved myself now.

Planned my own job and I carried it out all by myself.

I got $3,000 in gold.

That's what you said in your letter.

Where is it? Kid out?

I'm willing to split it with you,

but we gotta be partners.

Oh, sure, kid.

Soon as you're able to leave.

Well, I wanna get out of here right away.

Did you bring a rig?

No, just one horse.

That's all I could afford.

Besides, I wanna see some of this gold you're talking about.

How'd you happen to get it?

Oh, I, uh, knocked off an old prospector.

He wounded me and finished my horse,

but I got the dust.

I got it stashed away, like I said.

Yeah. Yeah, you said, but where?

We'll get it together.

Wish you'd brought a rig.

Well, uh, maybe we could ride double.

Nah, a horse couldn't make it in this heat.

Maybe I could use your horse and go and get it, and I'll come right sure back here.

You think you can make it, Johnny.

[ grunts ]

I guess it's no go.

I didn't think you could make it.

I'll get it.

Oh, yeah? Well, how do I know you won't get it and skip?

You don't, for sure.

It's a chance you'll have to take.

I'll be all right in a day or two.

We'll get it together.

Look, kid, I'm clean with the law.

You're probably wanted for robbery and murder.

I get jammed up just talking to you.

Wait.

Give me something to draw on.

It's very close by.

That's the letter you sent me.

I wanted to talk to you before Mr. Buckner arrived, Johnny,

but I had to make sure in my own mind

just what I was going to say to you.

Everything's turned out just fine, ma'am.

Partner's gone to get my gold

and he'll fetch a good easy riding rig from San Berdino

and I'll be out of your way in no time at all.

Johnny-- Oh, don't worry,

I'll pay you for being so nice to me

[ chuckles ] and an extra donation for your charity work.

The teamster who brought the supplies yesterday

told me a distressing story.

It seems a prospector near San Jacinto

was robbed of $3,000 in gold dust and left for dead.

He didn't die. He's in San Bernardino.

He gave the law officers a good description of the man who shot him.

The prospector said he killed the fellow's horse

and wounded him in the left chest.

Johnny, don't you want to tell me something?

I don't know what you're talking about.

I dug that gold out of my own claim.

I'm the one they tried to rob.

Look, everybody's gotta lead their own life,

but they gotta do it their own way.

Yes.

And everybody knows by instinct what is best

and what is worst in himself.

You're a coward if you do not suppress the bad and build the good.

Ah, words. Just a lot of words that mean nothing.

I told you to quit preaching at me.

There's one short little prayer you should learn, Johnny.

"Thy will, not mine, be done."

You'll never be somebody stealing.

You'll never be anything running, hiding, living a lie.

Oh, stop talking crazy.

The man you robbed is Spence Krindle.

I never heard of him.

The saddlebags you buried have the initials S.K.

I tell you, I ne--

How do you know about them? The saddlebags?

The first night you arrived, you were delirious.

You talked constantly about hiding your gold, where it was.

You went out and got it? Yes, last night.

You had no right! I prayed for guidance.

Oh, guidance. Johnny, listen to me,

it is not too late for you. Give yourself up,

return the stolen saddlebags.

You stay out of this. I want that gold!

I can't let you ruin your life.

Don't you understand? Buckner's a killer.

If he thinks I was playing him for a sucker...

[ door opens ]

Get out.

I will not. And it's time for you to leave.

Now, listen, Buckner.

Take it easy. I can explain everything.

Play me for a chump, huh?

No, there was gold, buried there, but--

Why, you lying punk! [ grunts ]

There was gold buried there. I have it.

And you're not getting your hands on it.

No one is, except the rightful owner.

So, if you're determined to shoot someone,

I'm afraid it will have to be me.

Now, look, you two, I got no time for playing games.

But it's true, she's got it.

I didn't know she dug it up.

I talked in my sleep or something when I was out of my head.

Johnny's going to return that gold and give himself up.

That's your idea, Johnny? No.

Now, look, Sister, I don't wanna cause you any trouble,

but I want that gold.

Now, turn it over or you're gonna get hurt.

You'll never see that gold, Mr. Buckner.

I'm warning you, Sister, and I mean it.

Buckner, we can't do nothing with her.

Let her keep the dust.

You and me, we'll go away and we'll get a lot more.

I want that dust.

JOHNNY: Buckner, please.

Shut up!

You'd better believe me, Sister.

I don't wanna get rough with you, but I'm going to.

You've got till I count three to start talking.

Tell me where it is.

Tell him, Sister, tell him!

No, Johnny.

[ cocks gun ]

One...

Buckner, please. Buckner, don't.

Two...

Now, get out.

Get out before I finish the job.

Like I said, a punk kid.

[ door closes ]

I'll be all right, Sister.

Yes, Johnny. [ horse riding away ]

I know you'll be all right now.

That was a fine thing you did.

What made you do it?

I don't know.

I guess just seeing you facing Buckner's gun like that

made me realize that-- that all those things you were saying

did have some meaning.

A lot more than meaning.

Showed me that you did kind of care about me.

Enough to risk your life.

Oh, I knew he wouldn't shoot me. [ chuckles ]

[ laughs ]

I wish you'd told me.

You've been most understanding, Marshal Hadaway,

and I know you'll do everything you can.

Be sure to let us know when the trial date is set.

I know you'll take your medicine like a man, Johnny.

I will.

Who knows,

maybe I'll feel that-- that wind at my back.

Yah!

[ bell ringing ]

[ wind whistling ]

I have here, along with some old pictures

of the place and the Indian children,

the old ledger in which the Sisters of St. Joseph

recorded the names of all those who came under their care

out there in the desert.

The name of Johnny Carter doesn't appear

for a very good reason.

They explained to me, they never entered his real name

for fear it might be a black mark

against his reputation in the future,

when he'd gone straight.

And go straight Johnny did.