Original subtitles

[ carriage approaching ]

Uh-oh. It'’s them Murphys.

What do they want this time?

Helped him fix his fences,

razed his sheep shed,

and I dug his well for him.

It won'’t sour your blood to be neighborly, Jim.

Howdy, Ned! Amy!

[ chuckles ]I got no more time

for mollycoddling those youngsters.

They'’ve been married a year now.

It'’s time that boy learned

to take care of his place like a man.

Hello, Esther.

Hello, Amy.Howdy, ma'’am. Jim.

Oh, we'’re mighty happy to see you.Hello, Miss Amy.

Step right down.

Uh, Jim? I gotta talk to you.

Alone.

Amy, could you go inside with Mrs. Davidson?

Come along, Amy.

The coffee'’s hot and lye-strong.

It'’ll curl that pretty hair of yours.

Don'’t know what all the big mystery'’s about.

[ chuckles ]

Jim...

two nights ago, six of my sheep

were slaughtered something awful.

Nine last night.

The hide torn clean off their bones

and trampled flat like a herd of buffalo ran over '’em.

I knew you wouldn'’t believe me unless you saw for yourself.

It'’s one of my sheep.

During the night last night, Amy heard this screaming cry.

She woke me. I heard it too.

I'’ll vow, Jim, it was like nothing I ever heard before.

Like something from hell.

I never saw anything like this.

Amy get so scared,

I told her it was just a mountain cat.

Even a mountain cat couldn'’t do that.

Whatever it is, Jim, it'’s roaming around up there in them hills.

And unless we get it, it'’s gonna tear us up

and trample us down like it did them sheep.

I'’m telling you, Jim.

I'’ll get my rifle.

Tell the women stay in the house

and lock up till we get back.

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

The Old West was given to tall tales of mystery

and strange goings-on.

But the true story of terror

that swept into Southeast Arizona

in the spring of 1883

caused even brave men to quake in their boots.

A frightening creature

which came to be known as...

You'’d think after a year, I'’d get over being

such a scared ninny all the time.

And you with such a good, young man to look after you.

That'’s just it.

Sometimes I feel Ned is just as scared as me.

He ain'’t toughened up like the men out here.

We don'’t belong out here, neither one of us.

Oh, give yourself time, and a little faith.

All day long, when he'’s out working the ranch,

I worry about him.

Like now, even though I know he'’s with Mr. Davidson,

I'’m all fret up.

Amy,

did you ever happen to think that maybe you need

something else around the house to worry about?

That'’s what Ned keeps saying.

But this is no place to bring up a child.

Ned'’s got enough to do looking after hisself,

much less me and a child.

He ain'’t a strong man, Esther.

Oh, Amy.

Jim and me were just about like you two

when we first came out here.

And I guess I was as scared as you are.

Until one day I-I saw him

kill an Indian with his bare hands

right out in front of that door.

And then I wasn'’t scared anymore.

No, I'’ve seen many a man grow big in courage

when the thing he loved was in danger.

Maybe so,

but you never heard that thing

cry out in the night like I did.

I know they'’ve gone to look for it,

and I'’ve made up my mind.

If they come back, I'’m gonna make Ned

go back East to live.

Where you going?To the spring.

The men said not to go out, no matter what.

Well, if I don'’t water down that fire

we'’ll be eating burned meat instead of smoked.

Esther?

Esther, don'’t go out there alone.

Oh, I'’ve been doing it for a mighty long time.

And anyway, that thing that you heard

won'’t be out in the daylight.

Will you busy yourself basting the meat

with that sauce over there?

I'’ll be back in a minute.

[ brush rustling ]

[ growling ]

[ screaming ]

[ growling ]

[ screams ]

[ muttering ]

Help me.

[ gasps ]

Esther?

Hello, Esther?

We'’re home.

Man, I'’m starved.

We'’ll ride out again first thing in the morning,

have another look around.

Jim?

Ain'’t nobody answered your call.

Ain'’t like Esther not to come out to meet me.Amy!

Amy!Esther?

Esther?

Esther, where are you?

They'’re not here, neither of '’em.

Amy! Amy!

What happened? What is it?

Amy, where'’s Esther?

Can you hear me?

Where'’s my wife, girl? Tell me.

The spring... The spring...

Amy, don'’t move.

Stay here.

Esther!

Esther!

Look, Ned. It'’s her bucket.

Esther!

Jim, look at those tracks in the mud.

They'’re bigger than horses'’ hooves.

Three times bigger than any animals I ever saw.

Esther!That thing--

That thing me and Amy heard screaming in the hills.

These bushes are torn out by the roots.

Look at these broken limbs.

Tracks lead off this way.

Esther!

Esther!

Jim!

No, don'’t look! Jim!

My God, Esther!

[ crying ]

[ crying continues ]

So, this dignified old lady climbs right up,

straddles that mule, and rides away.

[ all laughing ]

Hey, Sheriff.

[ carriage approaching ]

Something wrong, Ned?

Jim Davidson'’s wife-- she'’s been murdered.

[ gasping ]

Doc Jason, would you take my wife up to your office?

I'’ll be up in a minute.

All right, now. Who did it, and how'’d it happen?

It was terrible.

Same way my sheep were killed.

Trampled to death, whatever did it.

We seen the tracks. Four, maybe five times as big as a horse.

[ loud murmuring ]

I don'’t know of any animal in these parts that makes tracks like that. Mm.

It'’s out there, somewhere in the hills.

And there ain'’t a man, woman, or child safe

as long as that redhead monster'’s alive.

Monster? You seen it?

No, but we heard it.

Heard it? What'’d it sound like?Now, now, now, now--

Hold on. Don'’t get all lathered up.

Now, look, son.

You'’re new in these parts, but I can tell you

we ain'’t got no monster around here.

But I heard it.

So did Jim. Ask him.

What about it?

Jim?

What killed your wife?

I don'’t know, Sheriff. Some, uh, giant animal.

Now, look, if I believed

every tall tale that I hear in this town,

I'’d spend all of my time looking for ghosts and shadows.

Now I want the whole story!

Where were you when it happened?

I told you, it killed my sheep.

We were out hunting it.

"We"?Me and Jim.

Uh-huh.

You two together all day?

Sure, except for, uh-- Yeah, all day.

"Sure, except for, uh" what?

Well, we split up once, but for not more than an hour.

Where was this?

Around Eagle'’s Nest Canyon.

That canyon ain'’t more than half a mile

from your place, is it, Jim?

That'’s right. That'’s right.

Didn'’t go back home, did you?

Wait a minute. What are you trying to say?

You want me to blame it on your red-haired monster?

Something that nobody'’s ever seen?

We found this near her body.

Mm-hmm.

What'’d you do with the body?

Buried her. Near the house.

Jim.

You don'’t expect me to believe this story,

do you?

Sheriff, my wife'’s gone.

It don'’t make no difference to me what you believe.

I'’m a lawman, Jim.

I can'’t accept stories about red monsters.

Your wife is dead.

I'’ve got to investigate every possibility.

Nobody has seen this thing that you say killed her.

I can'’t just accept that and let it go!

Amy, my wife-- she was with Mrs. Davidson when it happened.

Maybe she saw the thing.

But she can'’t talk. She'’s plum scared out of her senses.

We'’ll go talk to her.It won'’t do no good.

She ain'’t said a word since it happened.

Come on, Jim. You too.

Now, try, Mrs. Murphy. Try to talk.

Who killed Mrs. Davidson?

Well...

Mrs. Murphy,

your husband says that Mrs. Davidson

went to the spring.

Now tell me, what happened at the spring?

[ screams ] No! No! No!

[ crying ]It'’s all right. It's me. It'’s all right.

Gonna kill that thing if it'’s the last thing I do.

Jim,

I want you to stay around town

till I make some sense out of this ghost story.

That thing is up in them hills, and I mean to get it.

Can'’t you see she must've seen something awful?

A man murdering his wife

ain'’t a pretty sight to see.

You saying I killed my wife?

I don'’t know what to say, Jim. Not yet.

Jim, I'’ll find it.

I'’ll go up there and get it. I promise.

You feed the horses?

That'’s why I walked all the way back to the camp, ain'’t it?

That don'’t mean you done it. You put the coffee on?

And a slice of fatback in the pan.

One slice? What about me?

You want a slice of fatback in a pan,

then go do it yourself.

Well, I declare. You never do any--

[ growling ]

It'’s in the camp!

It'’s in the camp! Something'’s in the camp!

[ growling continues ]

Get down, you knot-head.

[ horse approaching ]There'’s a horse coming.

[ horses: high-pitched whinnying ]

[ whinnying continues ]

Where is it?

Over there in our camp!

[ growling ]

[ growling fades ]

It'’s going away.

Man, it was big! Big and red.

20 feet tall, maybe more!

Moved like a streak. I couldn'’t get a good look at it.

Them tracks are the same as the others.

What others?

Whatever it is that killed a woman yesterday.

I'’m getting outta here. I'’m getting out now.

Gonna go back into town and tell the sheriff everything that happened out here.

Maybe he'’ll believe it now. I'’ll warn all the ranchers on the way.

[ clamoring ]

[ clamoring continues ]

Will you leave him alone?

He ain'’t got any more shells.

He sold outta shells before sundown.

Now, if you'’re so scared, work on the barricades.

That barricade ain'’t half high enough.

Go on. Build it up.

Come on. You heard him.

I seen it! I seen it!

I seen it! It'’s a...

It-- It'’s in the hills. It'’s a devil from hell.

It'’s gonna just-- No, listen.

It'’s got big wings, and he come down outta the sky

and swooped down on my cattle.[ murmuring ]

We'’ll all be killed.Oh, will you calm down now, Tom?

Will you shut up, please, everybody?[ murmuring stops ]

Now, Tom, just exactly

what did you see?

I was stabling my horse, and I heard this scream,

so I come running out of the stable.

It come down from the sky. A great big thing--

a red thing-- and it attacked my cattle.[ murmuring ]

Will you shut up?

[ murmuring stops ]

Now, you'’re all crazy with fear,

and you lost your reason.

Now, we'’ve got to keep our heads

if we'’re gonna fight this thing.

Sheriff, Tom'’s place is less than two miles from here.

Now let'’s go get it.

I still don'’t believe in ghosts,

and I'’m still in charge here.

Now, I don'’t want anybody else to get hurt.

Neither you or nobody has really seen this thing.

We seen it-- Clem and me.

Didn'’t get a good look.

But you don'’t know what it is.

Now, all we really know about it

is it'’s a wild killer,

it'’s big, and it's covered with long, red hair.

And it'’s got big wings, and it flies.

Now, you didn'’t see it fly, did you, Tom?

Not with your own eyes?

No, but-- It swooped down on my cattle so fast

it had to fly--But you didn'’t see it fly,

now, did you?

No, but--

Everybody'’s so infernal busy seeing things

that nobody'’s thinking.

Now, if we'’re gonna rid ourselves of this,

we'’ve got to organize a posse,

and track it down just like we would any other killer.

Now, we'’ll start at daybreak. Probably nothing but a wounded cougar.

I'’ve seen them things. [ growling ]

Listen!

Quiet!

[ growling continues ]That ain'’t no cougar.

No.

No, it sure ain'’t.

It'’s coming from the canyon.

Now, Sheriff, let'’s go get it.

Get yourself killed? We'’ll go in the morning.

NED: It can be miles from here by morning.

I'’m not letting anybody take a chance

out there in that dark.

Sheriff, that thing killed my wife.

Are you gonna give me my guns,

or am I going after it bare-handed?

Your guns are in the office.

Be ready to ride at daybreak.

[ growling ]

Better rest the horses.

Ain'’t heard it for an hour or so.

Well, it'’ll be daylight soon.

[ loud growling ][ whinnying ]

[ growling continues ] [ cocks rifle ]

[ snarling ]

[ rifle fires ]

[ whimpering ]

[ rifle fires ]

[ whimpering ]

I must'’ve hit it.You didn'’t drop it, though.

There was something riding on his back.

Something white fell off in those bushes over there.

Ned.

[ horses approaching ]

We spotted you right this side of Five Maples.

Did you see anything?

The ghost paid us a visit last night.

Took off towards Box Canyon.

There was something else.

A human skull.

NED: It fell off that thing'’s back when it run away last night.

You sure?

There was something riding on its back.

Could'’ve been a skeleton.

A red ghost with a skeleton for a rider.

Well, I'’ve looked for a lot of things in my time,

but this beats '’em all.

You sure it'’s in that canyon?

If it can'’t fly, it'’s in that canyon.

Dismount.

Now, I want you to spread out

across the mouth of this canyon

in a straight line.

Stay close enough to see each other.

Keep your eyes open and your finger on the trigger.

Move easy now.

If it'’s in there, it'’s gotta be in them rocks.

That growth is mighty thick.

But if it got through, we can.

Did you see something?

No, I thought you did.

I tripped. My gun went off.

[ loud growling ]

[ growling continues ]

That underbrush! It'’s in there!

[ rifle fires ]

[ rifles firing ]

Hold your fire!

[ gunshots ]

JIM: What is it? SHERIFF: It'’s a camel.

A skeleton tied to its back.

A camel? But where'’d it come from?

Well, I should'’ve thought of--What?

Before the war, a long time ago,

the army had a lot of camels out here.

In Arizona? Yeah, the government

bought a whole herd of '’em in the Far East

and brought '’em out here to help explore the desert.

Didn'’t work out because the war broke out.

The soldiers all had to go away to fight.

There'’s nobody to take care of '’em. They turn '’em all loose.

Been a long time since one of '’em

was seen around here, a long time.

Camel.

I didn'’t know they were wild killers.

They tell me that a camel, if it'’s hungry or if it's hurt,

is one of the meanest animals alive.

Meaner than a tiger.

Them big teeth-- sharp as knives.

Legs-- powerful and fast.

The Red Ghost.

Glad you'’re feeling better, ma'’am.

Thank you, Sheriff.

That'’s quite a young man,

that husband of yours.[ chuckles ]

Mr. Davidson here'’s been telling me what all he did.

Guess I ain'’t got much to be scared of

long as I got him around.

Jim, I'’m really sorry that I--Forget it, Sheriff.

How long you figure that camel been roaming around these hills?

Why, there'’s no telling. The poor critter probably

went loco trying to get loose from that skeleton.

That'’d drive anything mad.

How about that skeleton, Sheriff?

How do you figure that?

You know, that could'’ve been some kind of a crazy revenge.

Some killers have a sick sense of humor.

Or it could'’ve been that this man was badly hurt,

and he tied himself on so he wouldn'’t fall off.

Camels are hard to ride.

Now, that'’d be my guess, but I doubt we'’ll ever know.

Anyway, we'’re sure glad it's over. We'’ll be seeing you, Sheriff.

You bet.Thank you.

Sheriff. Ma'’am.

The true story of the Red Ghost

lived in the minds of the old Westerners for many years.

But the identity of its mysterious rider,

or why he was tied to the camel'’s back, was never learned.

But to this day, there are still reports

of camels being sighted in the desolate expanses

of the Mojave and Arizona Deserts.

Perhaps there are red ghosts still roaming the hills.