Original subtitles

[ distant horses neigh ]

[ explosion ]

Well, no one'’s gonna cross over this point, I can tell you that.

It don'’t look no different to me.

Look, there'’s holes in that river bottom

deep enough to swallow the biggest wagons ever built.

Yeah, well, I don'’t like it. We might not be able to handle

a wagon train as big as that one coming.

Why don'’t we try it out on a small outfit to begin with?

Are you gonna start giving orders, Link?

Oh, it ain'’t that, Mike.

It'’s just that I-I thought that may--

I did my thinking before I bought the dynamite.

Now, these people, they belong to some crazy religion

doesn'’t believe in carrying guns, see?

Now, they either do what we say,

or they get caught like rats in a trap.

Like-Like water rats, huh, Mike?

Yeah. Yeah.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

The Old West had its counterpart of present-day racketeers,

men who exploited honest citizens

under the pretense of supplying a useful service.

Mike Scanlon and Link Frets

were two of those early-day extortionists.

And the wagon train of religious pioneers,

steadfast in their refusal to carry guns

or other instruments of violence,

were to be Mike and Link'’s first customers at the...

[ horse neighs ]

[ horse neighs ]

[ Pioneers ] ♪ Oh, there'’s just one river to cross ♪

♪ Just one more river to cross ♪

♪ We'’ll haul our sails and brave the gales ♪

♪ There'’s just one river to cross ♪

♪ Oh, there'’s just one river to cross ♪

♪ Just one more river to cross ♪

♪ We'’ll reach the banks and then give thanks ♪

♪ There'’s just one river to cross ♪

This river we'’re approaching now, Brother Nathaniel--

dost thou think it will be the last one?

Well, there'’s always one more river, little one.

But surely when we reach the Promised Land.

All our rivers aren'’t made of water, Naomi.

Once we find the right spot, we'’ll have to clear the land,

build houses, and then I guess we'’re gonna have to find

a couple of fine, upstanding young husbands for you and Sarah.

[ laughing ]

Nathaniel, thy laughter will be heard by the Elders.

Well, there'’s one consolation.

I doubt if any of them would recognize the sound if they heard it.

I do not like to reprove thee, Nathaniel.

And I thank thee for sustaining the spirits of my sisters

during this long journey.

But the others, they do not understand thy ways.

My ways are exactly the same as theirs in everything that counts.

You don'’t think I'd quit the sea and marry you

if I wasn'’t gonna abide by their rules, do you?

No, of course not, b--

But I can'’t harness my laughter

any more than I can get used to the "thees" and the "thous."

I'’ll take the helm, Deborah.

But I have not yet stood my watch.

[ chuckles ] Well, you'’re relieved early.

The going may get choppy as we get near the pass.

Hyah.

One more river to cross, Nathaniel?

Hyah. Hah.

Giddy-up.

Ho. Ho.

Hyah.

[ horse neighs ]

Ho. Hyah.

Ho. Hah.

Hyah. Ho. Ho.

Whoa. Whoa.

Whoa. Whoa.

What is wrong, Mr. Norgate?

I don'’t know, but I'’ll find out.

Please, Nathaniel.

Whatever it is,

try not to argue with the Elders this time.

[ horse neighs ]

Map plainly indicates the river crossing upstream.

The sign points downstream, Brother Walt.

This map'’s exceedingly old.

Many things could have changed since it was drawn.

MAN: Many things have changed.

The old crossing'’s no good anymore.

Currents or something hollowed out the river floor.

There'’s a nice, safe ford downstream a bit.

We'’ve graded out the approach and filled in the holes.

You'’re more than welcome to use it.

Oh, thank thee.

For ten dollars a wagon.

Ten dollars a wagon?

Fifteen wagons, that'’s $150.

That'’s no more than fair for our efforts.

We'’ll use our efforts to cross the old ford.

Who is he?

Brother Norgate.

He spurns our manner of dress,

but is never reluctant to share in our decisions.

I'’m sorry to butt in, Brother Meeker.

But this is a plain, ordinary holdup.

Now, wait a minute, you.

For once, I tend to agree with you, Brother Norgate.

Besides, we have but little choice.

A hundred and fifty dollars.

Of course, there'’s another crossing,

150 miles further south from here.

I for one am gonna try this ford. I'’ll get my wagon.

Your floating coffin, you mean.

It may be too perilous, Norgate.

We'’d best reflect the situation.

Sure, you do that. And you take your time.

And when you find out that I'’ve been telling you straight,

you can find Link and me down at our ford.

Eh? Let'’s go. Hyah.

Hyah. Hyah.

They coming?

They'’ll be here any second now.

That hothead lose his wagon?

It took 20 of their best men to pull him out.

[ chuckles ]

Listen, I still can'’t see

this so-much-per-wagon stuff.

Now, I say shove a gun in their ribs and take whatever they got.

We are not criminals, Link.

We are businessmen.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know.

You don'’t know anything.

Your way, every lawman from here to California

be gunning for us.

My way, nothing can touch us. Nothing.

Well, these birds may not be as easy as you think.

I will have the good brethren doing exactly what I want.

Now, you watch me, and you will learn a little something.

[ horse neighs ]

Whoa. Ho there.

Hundred and fifty dollars.

Thou art free to count it.

Sure, sure.

Soon as you sweeten it with, uh,

oh, let'’s say another 50, hm?

But thou quoted a toll of ten dollars a wagon.

Under what guise doth thou now demand further tribute?

Well, that'’s because you took so long making up your mind.

We'’ve been hanging around here pretty near all day, waiting for you.

And time is worth money.

But I doubt there'’s $50 more cash amongst us.

We invested most of our money

in farming tools and seed grain.

If you'’d be willing to accept our labor or goods--

Don'’t you realize it's impossible to deal with crooks?

Now, you were the one who wouldn'’t take our word

about the old crossing being no good.

What'’s your worry this time?

Because if we do manage to scrape up $50,

you'’ll have another demand.

And what warranty have we that this crossing

is any safer than the other?

My personal warranty, ma'’am.

I'’ll escort you and your wagon across the river personally.

Just like friends.

Real close friends.

Hyah.Hyah.

Hyah. Hyah.

[ horses neigh ]

Come on, come on. Ha.

Come on, Josephine,

Sam, steady.

Hyah.

Get them moving. We'’ll bog down.

I can'’t.

Give me that whip.

[ horse whinnies ]

[ horse whinnies ] Hyah. Hyah.

You all right?

Hyah.

Hah.

All right, everybody all together now.

Link on the other side.

Come on. Heave. Hyah. Hyah.

Pull. Hah.

Hyah.

Hyah. Hyah.

Hah. Hah. Hyah.

Hyah. Hyah. Hah.

Good girl, Nanny.

Doesn'’t that feel nice?

Well, the last wagon'’s ashore.

All safe and sound, just like we promised.

I suppose we must thank thee for thy help.

Well, we didn'’t want the little ladies to think

that we were as black as your husband painted us.

Yeah, I guess we all make mistakes.

In fact, you probably made one

crossing the river without any provisions.

Yeah, I'’m getting hungry, Mike.

We ain'’t had nothing to eat all day.

Sure.

We could ride down to a little restaurant about 150 miles south of here.

Well, you'’re more than welcome to share what we have,

providing you'’ll settle for homemade beef stew

and fresh-baked drop biscuits.

That'’d be mighty nice of you.

It'’s been a long time since I'’ve had home cooking.

I can taste them hot biscuits right now.

I guess we all worked up an appetite.

We'’ll pull up over here.

But the train'’s encamping over there.

Deborah, I, uh--

It'’s-It's closer to the water.

We won'’t have to carry it so far.

Money, food, and women.

In the order named. Now, listen.

I don'’t trust him. You keep your eye on him, hear?

I'’ll watch out after the other bunch. Huh?

[ goat bleats ]

[ bleating ]

Why must we separate ourselves from the others?

So I don'’t have to answer questions.

About why thou expects me to prepare dinner

for thieves who'’ve robbed us of everything we'’ve had?

Deborah, just do as I say, please.

Hyah.

Amen.Amen.

Did you know that Brother Norgate invited those thieves

to share dinner?Who?

Those men who robbed us.

No.Sister Morgan overheard him.

Surely that is carrying brotherly love too far.

Never before has he adhered so closely to the Word.

Brother Norgate'’s ways are not our ways.

Inviting those evil men to break bread.

And with two unmarried women in their party.

We will say no more on the subject

until we have eaten and rested.

And if the El'’ers concur,

I will inform the Norgates they must leave the wagon train

and proceed from this point alone.

I think Nanny wants to go graze over by those rocks.

Even a goat can'’t stand the atmosphere here.

More biscuits.

And more stew, too.

Please.

He'’s trying for some kind of record.

Well, it'’s best to eat hearty before you get the bill.

The bill?

Yeah.

You mean you expect us to pay for this grub?

Yeah.

Seeing as how vittles are pretty hard to get

out here in this wilderness,

I'’m afraid the price is gonna be kinda high.

[ chuckles ]

How high?

Oh, about a hundred dollars apiece.

Uh, $200 altogether.

Two hundred dollars? You loco?

That'’s all we took from you.

Exactly.

You know, Norgate, we'’d be tickled pink to pay you,

but that'’d be bad manners.

After all, you invited us.

Yes. We invited you to share our food

the same way that you invited us to use your crossing.

Maybe so.

We warned you in advance that you'’d have to pay.

Yes, but you didn'’t trust us to pay later.

I, uh, I trusted you.

[ laughs ]

Sure. So, I'’ll ride back to town

and, uh, try to get some money from my banker, huh?

[ laughs ]

Yeah. Yeah, we'’ll owe it to you.

[ laughs ]

Where are you going?

Going to the wagon.

Something you want?

Getting my concertina.

I thought you and Link might want to finish off your meal with a little music.

Priced the same, with or without.

In that case, we'’ll do without.

Give this fire a stun, Norgate.

This stew ain'’t as warm as it should be.

And when it'’s good and hot,

I'’ll have some too.

No, thank you, Mr. Norgate.

Canst thou not see?

They'’ve scarce touched the food already on their plates.

Yes. That'’s why I thought they might want some warm biscuits.

Go ahead, little one.

Go ahead.

Where you going?

Not very far.

The sin of waste is written in the same ink

as that of greed.

Perhaps Nanny will compensate for our lack of more pigs.

Where'’d they go? Who?

The girls.

Yeah, where are they?

This some kind of a trick, Norgate?

Trick? No, no. There'’s no trick.

They probably went down to the water

to, uh, to go bathing.

You, um...

you keep an eye on him.

While you go angling for mermaids?

You want him watched, you watch him.

Yeah, I guess he'’s harmless.

He don'’t dress like them others.

But he'’s no different from them.

Come on. Maybe I can help scrub that little one'’s back, huh?

Nathaniel, a gun.

Now, Deborah, it isn'’t as bad as it looks.

I do not fear for thy safety

as much as I fear for thy soul.

To conceal this thingfrom me.

Please, Deborah.

No, no. Thy safety dost concern me.

Nothing is as dear to me as thy life.

Let them keep the money.

Deborah, I haven'’t got time to argue.

I told the girls to go bathing

because I had to get those thugs away from here for a minute, and--

And those thugs followed them to the river?Yes. Yes.

Thou used Sarah and Naomi as a lure?

Yes.

How debase thou must be.

To use my sisters'’ unclothed bodies

as an aid to some form of violence.

All right, all right, I am debase,

but I also know men.

I knew what it'’d take to distract them.

They were watching me every second, and I had to get this.

Now, don'’t let them follow me. Hold them here for a little while.

A weapon of violence!

I won'’t stand for this, Norgate.

Come back here, Norgate. I order it!

Come on, honey.

Come on, just reach up. Come on.

Go away. Please go away.

It'’s all right, honey.

You can come on out now.

Haha.

I wouldn'’t try drawing.

You can only get one of us with that old relic.

That'’s right.

Which one of you'’s gonna take a chance on reaching first?

I thought they didn'’t believe in guns.

He'’s a hypocrite.

I could'’ve sworn there was no guns in that camp.

Ordinarily, I don'’t condone the use of firearms,

but when two gentlemen such as you

eat our food and then refuse to pay--

All right.

So we'’ll pay you for the food, huh?

Yeah, later.

It'’ll be $200, now.

Now, wait a minute, Norgate.

Time is worth money.

Keep me waiting much longer, it may cost you $50 for, uh,

sweetening.

You ain'’t gonna bleed us for money, Norgate. I'’m--

You gonna give it to me, or am I gonna help myself before I bury you?

All right. Give it to him.

Brother Meeker.

Get their horses. They'’re going back across the river.

Now, take off your guns.

Throw them in the water.

[ splash ]

Now, when we reach the next settlement,

we'’re gonna report your little enterprise to the authorities.

So, I advise you to keep on going as far and as fast as possible.

Let'’s go.

Hyah, hah. There you go.

All right, Sarah, Naomi. You can come out now.

Oh.

It was almost as bad as being naked in their presence,

their thinking that we were.

Mr. Norgate'’s strategies and methods

are open to considerable debate, Miss Sarah.

We'’re grateful for the return of the money,

but the ends do not justify the means, Norgate.

I'’ve always been taught that the paying of a tribute

is just as great a sin as the levying of it.

True, perhaps.

But surely thou can find no justification

for concealing from us this instrument of destruction.

[ gun clicks ]

This hasn'’t been fired since Valley Forge,

when General Washington gave it to my grandfather.

Oh, Nathaniel.

I couldn'’t force myself to give up an heirloom,

so, knowing how you felt about firearms,

I kept it hidden.

Until thou had to face them with it.

Knowing it was useless, without a vestige of ammunition.

Oh, I needed none, Brother Meeker.

When I married Deborah,

I accepted your religion and I acquired your faith.

God bless thee, Brother Norgate.

Come. Thou had best change into dry clothes.

And the next time thy need a decoy,

please do not use my clothing.

Oh. Was there something you gentlemen wanted to see me about?

Yes. We'’re sorry we misjudged thee.

And we thought from this point on,

it might be well for thee to occupy the lead wagon,

Brother Norgate.

Thou art a pillar of strength.

♪ Just one river to cross

♪ Just one more river to cross ♪

♪ We'’ll haul our sails and brave the gales ♪

♪ There'’s just one river to cross ♪

♪ Oh, there'’s just one river to cross ♪

♪ Just one more river to cross ♪

♪ We'’ll reach the banks and then give thanks ♪

♪ With just one river to cross ♪

♪ Oh, there'’s just one more river to cross ♪

♪ There'’s one more river to cross ♪

♪ We'’ll take an oar and pull for shore ♪

♪ There'’s one more river to cross ♪

♪ Oh, just one river to cross

♪ Just one more river to cross ♪

♪ We'’ll reach the banks and then give thanks ♪

♪ There'’s one more river to cross ♪

Mike Scanlon and Link Frets were later arrested,

tried, and convicted of extortion.

As for Brother Norgate and the rest of the wagon train,

well, they settled in northern Arizona,

where they made two valuable contributions

to the growth of the Old West.

Progeny and faith.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]