Original subtitles

What do you want ? Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

And now, "Colt .45"

A Warner Bros. television production.

Colt !

'Couldn't have been robbery.'

'Not with a gold watch'

'and that ward of bill still on him.'

Only 50 mile of the river right after Queen of Dixie docked.

Who was he ?

He was a cotton merchant from New Orleans with,

too good a running luck on the gambling tables.

I wouldn't have sent for you, except..

Well, I remembered those, $10 bills.

That's the serial number. These are the ones we're after.

- They sure look good to me. - That's the trouble.

- They're too good. - What do you mean by that ?

Well, these were made from a pair of plates

stolen from the Philadelphia mint during the war.

Taken by a southern sympathizer.

Hey, now, that's a pretty neat little scheme ?

The south never used the plates.

But in the last month or so, they've been turning up

along the Mississippi.

A gambling boat would be

made to order for that sort of thing.

Think I oughta question the captain ?

No, I don't want to scare anyone off.

I'm after the plates, as well as the men

who are passing the bills.

I think I'll take a ride down the river.

When does the Queen of Dixie leave ?

About noon. You can pick up your ticket on the pier.

No I've got a better idea.

I'll sign on as a deck hand.

Now, what do you know about river boat ?

Nothing. But I'm willing to learn.

- Here it is. - Is it hot ?

Hot enough to curl the tongue of a night blooming crocodile.

Watch those ropes.

Stupid fool.

Be careful, will ya. It's hot.

That's the way you said you like it.

Can you use a pair of strong hands, captain ?

- What can you do ? - Anything.

A man who says he can do anything

usually can't do nothing.

You ever work a river boat ?

- Can you peel potatoes ? - If I have too.

- Who asked you ? - He looks strong.

I could use a willing hand.

Sure, mister, I'll work for you.

I'm not interested.

Alright, then you and your friend Mr. Barnes

better stop asking for all them fancy French dishes

I ain't the time to cook and wash and do everything myself.

Seems to me the only thing you got time for is to talk.

If I don't get a galley hand, you ain't gonna eat

nothing but cold peas and fatback.

Alright, no pay just passage.

Get below we're ready to pull out.

Thank you, captain.

Stand clear !

Cast off !

Watch those lines !

Follow me.

Mr. Gibbs.

What kind of a man is the captain ?

Oh, just a big bag of wind.

By the way he struts you would think he's in high seas.

Well the Mississippi she's as friendly

as an old hound-dog at supper time.

I oughta know, I navigated her long enough.

Yeah. Oh, them was the days.

Captain Gibbs of the Natchez.

Who's in command of the Natchez now ?

Davy Jones. She's buried in river mud.

- What happened ? - Fog.

The thickest, filthiest stuff

that ever plagued the Mississippi.

They said I was drunk.

Well, I ain't never had a command since.

Sorry to hear that.

Most folks don't believe

I ever was a captain.

'Gibbs.'

- Aye, sir ? - Break out a bottle of port.

And have your galley hand bring it up here to the wheel house.

"Aye, aye, sir.'"

Barnes, stop acting like a frightened old woman.

You make me nervous.

We've got a good thing going, here on the Queen of Dixie.

Well, it can't last forever.

The government is still looking for those plates.

It'll last as long as you and me stay smart.

Now, I'm not getting mixed up in any Mexican revolution.

What is there to be worried about ?

Maximilian's in power and he's gonna stay there.

Sure.

All he needs is money for guns and more soldiers.

Yeah, but think about what this man's gonna gives us.

Each of us. A chunk of Mexico as big as the biggest Texas ranch.

I don't speak the language.

But what am I gonna tell his men in New Orleans

he'll be waiting for an answer.

Tell him anything you blasted like.

But we're partners and we're gonna stay partners

right on board this ship.

Seven feet.

Come in.

Set it down, don't stand there like a bump on a log.

- Who's he ? - New galley hand.

He doesn't look like one.

Oh, I'm just working my passage to New Orleans.

Alright, alright, get those dishes out of here.

Yes, sir.

- Where did he come from ? - The galley.

You know, one of these days you're gonna

frighten yourself to death.

What's so fascinating ?

Green ink.

If it ain't one thing, it's another.

Now, Barnes wants to eat in his cabin.

Well, you'll be rid of him when you get to New Orleans.

Yeah, who says so ?

He's been up and down the river with us for the last four trips.

- What's he do ? - Says he's a gambler.

Get me a napkin.

Does the captain ever write with green ink ?

No, not with green. Red or blue.

Don't believe the old pig-head knows how to write.

Why ?

No reason.

Just interesting the colors

some people choose to write with.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, take that down to Barnes.

Just knock and leave it outside his door.

Number nine.

What do you want ?

I brought your dinner, Mr. Barnes.

Weren't you told to leave it outside my door ?

Well, I thought you'd prefer to have it served

it'll only take a minute.

No. No, give it to me.

I said I'll take it.

Alright, sir, if that's the way you want it.

Here it is.

I'm terribly sorry, sir.

'You clumsy oaf.'

And now, back to "Colt .45."

Government man.

I told you I didn't like his looks.

Now, will you listen to me and make that deal.

Oh, stop running scared.

We'll get rid of him. No one will be the wiser.

Steer off.

Steer off.

You scallywag.

You and that floating junk-pile

you're a menace to navigation.

Ain't you've got eyes in that empty head of yours ?

Oh, go on get below, I'll take over the wheel.

Aye, aye, sir.

Mark to read. On the starboard.

Mark to read. On the starboard !

We could throw the press overboard

they wouldn't have a thing on us.

Maybe, if the government man

was tied to the press.

F-tway larboard !

F-tway larboard !

Rounding starboard.

Let"s make a deal with Maximilian's men in New Orleans.

Then we could head for Mexico with the plates.

Not me.

We make a deal, it's for cash.

I'm staying here.

As a partner, I've got a right..

'Rounding larboard. Rounding.'

Do you want to dig us in deeper ?

'Cut the engine. Cut the engine !'

- Are we safe ? - Oh, safe enough.

We'll stay put till morning, till the fog lifts.

What about the government man ?

Well, go and found out !

'Gibbs. Gibbs !

Aye, captain.

'Get some food up to the wheel house'

'we're gonna be sitting here all night.'

Aye, captain.

Got about as much river sense

as a jackass in the middle of the Atlantic.

Stuck good, captain ?

Of all the confounded rivers in creation

this one's the worst.

Oh, they're all bad when

you don't understand them.

Gibbs.

- Get out of here. - Sure, sure.

Oh, it ain't your fault, it's just the fog.

That's the way to write it up in the logbook.

Get out.

Mighty touchy.

He's mighty touchy.

- Good evening, Mr. Gibbs. - Hey, Chris. Where you been ?

Down below taking a nap, isn't that right, captain ?

Why did Barnes leave the ship ?

Oh, what're you talking about ?

I just saw him rowing through the fog towards the shore.

- What ? - Where'd he go ?

You'll never..

- Where'd he go ? - New Orleans.

He went to new Orleans.

What for ?

Trade the plates to Maximilian

for a chunk of Mexico.

And there's nothing you or me can do about it.

I wouldn't be too sure about that.

Where will he be ?

Count Royale Hotel.

What're you aiming to do, swim there ?

- If I have too. - Save yourselves the trouble.

I'll get us off that sandbar.

Oh, you're wasting your time.

I think we better give Mr. Gibbs a chance

to show us what he knows.

Tell you it can't be done.

You got yourself a bet, captain.

Now, stand back.

McCafferty, this in Gibbs in command.

'Give me a full head of steam and no back throttle.'

I want them furnaces fed

till the boiler start whistling Dixie.

Look what do you think you're doing ?

Shut-up or I'll send you below to the galley.

Don't stand there, pour me a cup.

You heard him.

Here.

I hope he knows what he's doing.

Keep firing them furnaces.

We're tying the safety belt down now, sir.

You'll blow us all to kingdom come.

You blows up on the railroad there you is.

You blows up on a steamboat where is you ?

You get one try to get off this sandbar

we need all the pressure we can get.

If this gauge goes any higher, I don't want to be looking at it.

McCafferty, here we go.

'Reverse engines.'

Forward !

We did it. We did it !

Nice going, Gibbs.

Wait till he hits the next sandbar.

You got to nurse along like

riding a blindfolded cow across a tightrope.

Them torches ain't helping us none in this fog.

Too much reflection.

Douse them torch baskets.

Take a lookout on the bow.

Keep them soundings coming

and sing so I can hear you.

Porter less tway starboard !

Porter less tway starboard !

- 'Seven feet starboard.' - 'Seven feet starboard.'

- 'Six feet larboard.' - 'Six feet larboard.'

Keeps running shallow.

You'll have us high and dry.

Why don't you let him do his job.

- 'Nine feet starboard !" - 'Nine feet starboard !"

'Eight and a half feet larboard.'

'Eight and a half feet larboard.'

- 'Seven feet starboard.' - 'Seven feet starboard.'

I swear there ain't room enough

for a catfish to swim 'neath there bottom.

- 'Six feet larboard.' - 'Six feet larboard.'

Mark tway safe water.

Now, let's trim that speed record to New Orleans.

Aye, aye, Chris.

There she is, Chris. New Orleans just the way you ordered.

'Thank you, Mr. Gibbs. Never looked prettier.'

I was expecting a Lieutenant Cortez.

- 'Did he arrive ? - Sorry, Barnes.

I'm afraid you won't have time to keep that appointment.

Your friend's waiting for you in the city jail.

I'll buy you a new hat.

Okay, an officers cap.

You're now addressing the captain of the Queen of Dixie.

Congratulations. I heard when the owners came aboard.

You can free passage anytime.

Well, thank you, Captain Gibbs.

Be a pleasure riding on the Queen of Dixie

without the potato peels.

Come along, Barnes.

♪ There was a gun that won the west ♪

♪ There was a man among the best ♪

♪ The fastest gun or man alive ♪

♪ A lightning bolt when he drew that Colt .45 ♪

♪ He carried the message of law and of order ♪

♪ Into a wicked land ♪

♪ With a Colt single action army revolver ♪

♪ Blazing from either hand ♪

♪ There was the right, there was the wrong ♪

♪ The gun was quick, the man was strong ♪

♪ And peace was made when they'd arrived ♪

♪ A lightning bolt when he drew that Colt .45 ♪

♪ Colt .45 ♪

♪ Colt .45 ♪