Original subtitles

Shot of whiskey?

Got a copper soldier?

No, folks.

Call her up.

Twenty for luck says you're a gambling man.

Me too.

I'll lay long odds you're over the hill.

It's something no deserter can hide, long as he wears the harness. Even the

guessed it.

What do I call you?

Leash. Leash?

L -A -I -S -H.

You're unusual.

Not Smith, and you're not broke.

What can I sell you, Leash?

Oh, some food and pack horses, supplies for the trail.

I've got a good riding horse.

It's a long jump, huh? Yeah.

Man, the only way to make it is to tie up with a wagon train.

When did the last one leave here?

Better than a week ago.

Immigrant outfit for Oregon.

I'll try catching up with that train.

For my health, it's arrogant or bust.

Hey, another bottle.

I

never try

changing a man's mind, but here's something you ought to know.

Just a couple of days ago, a bowlegs major named Pepper has come through,

west for Camp Taylor.

Major Pepperis, huh?

He's going to take command there.

Do you have a supply wagon along?

Two of them, but no escort.

At his rate of travel, then, he'll be between me and that immigrant train

to Camp Taylor.

Does he know you by sight?

Andy!

Bart. Bart Lake.

There's nothing you can do for that.

What happened?

Pawnee's. Led by Rasakura.

You've got to get word to Camp Taylor.

Tell Captain Wyckoff or Asakura's after the emigrant train up ahead.

Why did they attack you?

You know.

That's their method.

Cut off the trail behind the wagon train.

Close off all aid.

Tell Wyckoff... I'm not going.

Bart, you've got to. You've seen what Indians do to women and children.

I'm not going, Andy.

You've come a long way down, Bart.

How much farther can you go?

Aragon. Nobody knows me there.

Gambler.

Gunfighter.

Now a deserter?

Yeah.

Looks like you've added coward to the list.

That may be, but if I got to Taylor and was recognized, you know what would

happen. That's a chance you've got to take.

I've been all kinds of a gambler, Andy, but what kind of a fool would I be to

take those odds?

My concern is not for you, Bart. Well, mine is. I didn't hit the trail for

Unless Wyckoff protects that wagon train, it'll be annihilated.

It's none of my business.

Bart, listen to me.

We grew up together.

Went to West Point together.

For a while, anyway.

We're from the same family.

If our positions were reversed... I'm sure you'd go, Andy.

It doesn't matter what you've been, what you've done.

There must still be some good left in you.

Or have you changed so much, Bart?

All right, I'll go as far as Taylor.

Andy.

that much part.

Who are you, mister?

Where'd you come from?

Sergeant, who the devil?

Lieutenant King, sir. From Camp Taylor.

Taylor? Well, I was on my way to take command of Camp Taylor.

I'm Peppers, Major Peppers.

The Indians really wiped us out, Major.

Yes, I know.

I know. They ambushed us, too. My aide and my drivers were killed.

Well, I'm glad you were spared, sir.

Well, thank you.

Now that I've caught up with the outfit, I'll take over.

What do you have to report, King?

Well, the attackers at Fort Taylor four days ago without warning.

They charged right through, killing half the garrison.

These men are the survivors.

You're the only officer left?

Yes, sir.

I regret to inform you of the loss of Captain Wyckoff, sir. Mm -hmm.

What else?

Well, the immigrant train had passed only two days before, so I conceived it

duty to overtake it and protect it.

You've done well.

Tell me, Lieutenant, what are their tactics?

Almost hourly raids.

All day long.

Trying to wear you down, huh?

They are wearing us down, sir.

Our casualties are very heavy.

The edge has gone out of the men.

See, they're green to all this and can't take much more.

The command is falling to pieces, sir.

Is it that bad, Sergeant?

They're slowing down, sir.

Sergeant Leiberger, sir.

He deserves credit for hard duty performed under extremely difficult

I imagine you've had some difficulties yourself in getting here.

Yes. Yes, you're quite right.

Miss Costello Burke, Major Peppers.

Miss Burke.

It's good you're here, Major.

Thank you.

Tell me, does she have a wagon of her own?

Yes, sir.

But at present, she shares it with three critically wounded men.

Sergeant?

How far is it of that pass?

Not more than four miles, I believe, sir.

Four miles, huh?

Yes, sir.

Very well.

We cross tonight.

Tonight?

My own plan was to remain forded in here tomorrow, to arrest the men and

animals. Next morning, send a strong scouting detail out with Sergeant

Leiberger. Lieutenant, I find it a little difficult to accustom myself to

my decisions argued over.

It's fairly common knowledge out here that most Indians do not like to fight

night.

An Indian killed at night, they believe, wanders forever in darkness.

They may deal us mischief, some of them, from time to time, but they will not

ambush an attack.

Not in the dark.

I've heard of this superstition, sir.

But I didn't feel that it warranted... The warrants are moving across that pass

before morning.

Do you agree, Sergeant?

Yes, sir. The Indians are ready.

Come daylight, they'll chop at us till we make a run for it.

They'll catch us at the cross.

Probably what they've had in mind from the beginning.

Lieutenant, if you value Sergeant... Leibarger, sir.

Leibarger's life, it would be wasteful to send him out.

You'd never see him or his men again.

Alive, that is.

By the way, don't you have any hired scouts with this lash -up?

Yes, sir.

Two. Lurton and Croshaw.

Lurton volunteered to go to Fort Laramie for help.

He left last night.

Sergeant, you might ask Croshaw to come here?

Yes, sir.

Can I offer you anything, Major?

Food, whiskey?

Right now, I could use a little whiskey.

No friends and no home

I'm sure to meet danger

Wherever I roam They

don't want a stranger The people all say

So I'll settle my pony

Major Peppers, sir.

This is Croshaw.

Croshaw.

That'll do, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Watch your game, mister.

You're sharp, Croshaw.

So's my knife.

I've been an Army scout for a long time. You ain't Andy Peppers.

He's dead.

Rassicura's bunch.

I'm taking his place.

Why?

For one thing, to carry out his orders.

Now take that skewer out of my back or I'll break your neck.

What was his orders?

Abandon Taylor and escort the immigrant train to Laramie.

It's being done.

Being done? It's being botched.

Full outfit lying here in the dark on the pass only four miles off.

Crossing by daylight suicide, you know that.

King's Green doesn't know any better. King's running this according to the

Well, it's the wrong book.

Turn around.

What do you aim to do if I let them think you are Pepper Andy?

Cross the pass tonight and hold out on the other side till your partner brings

help from Laramie. My partner didn't get to Laramie.

I found him lying just off the trail where there was left of him.

What other plans you got?

No other plans. We're going through tonight.

There's only one officer left. More than half your men are dead.

All right, I'll assemble what's left for a rear guard action. If we get through,

we may get help from Laramie yet.

Yeah.

It might work.

I don't know who you might be, but I'll string with you as long as we both

agree. Go wrong on me, I'll slit your throat.

That's Tillotson's gang. His wagon has been drinking, messing around with the

women.

You got trouble there, too, huh?

Better keep an eye on them.

All right, Major.

Let's roll this outfit.

Major Peppers?

Mr. Tillerton, captain of the wagon train.

Lieutenant, we're moving on as soon as possible.

You can pass the word to these people to team up and move out.

Our men will drop back and ride rear guard.

Crochon will be up front. The leading wagons will... The leading wagons are

mine. I want protection up there, Major.

I'm carrying valuable merchandise.

My concern happens to be for the lives of these people.

You'll take orders or quit the pack and go it alone.

Anything you say, Major.

If we want to get across alive, I guess we'll have to rely on you. And what's

more, Tillotson, you'll keep your crew away from these women or I'll chain them

to the tailgates. And you too.

Come on, you men.

Sergeant, you're going to assemble the men.

Yes, sir. How are we fixed for ammunition?

All right, sir. See that each man has 80 rounds.

Have you got a trumpeter?

Yes, sir.

You can get him. Hold back!

We're not moving.

Yes. Tonight? Tonight.

But we can't, Major.

Why not?

The trip will be too hard on the wounded soldiers.

Miss Burke, back where I came from, there happened to be dead soldiers.

Private Hoback, sir.

Sound assembly.

Yes, sir.

Why don't you let one of the troopers take over for you, Christella? The

troopers are needed to protect the wagon train.

Well, I'll send for one of Tillerson's drivers.

No, thanks.

It's my wagon. I'll drive it.

Lieutenant?

Yes, sir?

I think the rear guard could stand some looking after, too.

Yes, sir.

Good evening.

Good morning.

Yes, I guess it is after midnight.

Major,

these men can't stand this pace.

I can't help that.

Couldn't we stop for just a little while and let me try to do something for

them? No, we can't stop.

These wagons must get across the pass before morning.

Even if it means abandoning a broken -down wagon and sacrificing a life or

You make that sound very harsh.

Well, you may soon see just how harsh it can be.

Good evening.

Seems like the Indian scouts are more active.

Well, this move annoys them, but it's not likely their main force will attack

the morning.

They know we can't outrun them.

We'll stage delaying actions as a rear guard.

That way we can hold off any attacks that might break through.

Yes, sir.

Say, Sarge, how does it feel to share a job with the Major?

Save your lip for blowing, you cotton picker.

Your place is anywhere he is from here on.

And don't you forget it.

What's the matter?

Sorry, sir.

Take it easy, Corporal.

You know, I think we can make it work.

For a while, at least.

Wish I had a mule.

Ever ride a mule, Clarkville?

No, Malone, nor care to.

It's been said that the mule is unapproached in Dublin.

Born old and crying.

Incapable of posterity.

Dexterity of nothing but trickery and kicking.

I prefer the horse.

Gallop! Gallop!

The tin soldier's got here.

Hang that Major in his rear guard.

Why, he'd let us all... He'd let us what, Tillerson?

I'm sorry. I'm upset, you know. I hardly know what I'm saying.

Major, believe me, I'm terribly sorry.

Any injured?

Nobody but that blamed idiot under the wagon and a couple of Tillerson's

These rocks have been hiding us from their view. Otherwise, they'd shoot

of them are still back there.

This pass ain't ever been easy, best of times.

Cuts sharp, narrow at places.

Sometimes them boulders come sliding down against the wagons.

Can't we get around it some way?

There's a big river on one side of it, a wall of mountains on the other.

This is it.

Dillardson! Pull some mortar into your outfit and get it ready to climb the

in an hour.

More or less.

Corporal? Yes, sir. We'll move out on a skirmishing line.

Let's walk until Hoback sounds off.

Alright, sound off!

All right, sound recall.

Well, there'll be a lot of squaws whaling come daybreak.

Say, look, Major.

Well, what's wrong now?

Don't you see?

Well, I see what?

This one's an Apache.

Oh.

Yes. Oh, aren't they enemies of the Pawnees?

Maybe a renegade.

Apaches always have yellow marks on their cheekbones, Major.

Thanks.

Purple Dennington?

He's gone, sir.

All right, Hurkinoff. Have the troop fall in. We'll rejoin the column.

Fall in, men.

worst fix i've ever seen i tell you straight something going

on here we don't know too much about andy must have been right

something so big rassakura will stop at nothing yeah rassakura

has been letting all the other wagon trains through i wonder what he's got

against this one

That woman over there, what's she crying about?

Her husband's the one that got pinned under the wagon.

Kill him?

Yes, sir.

She wants a coffin for him in the funeral service.

No time for that.

A woman is crying back there because her husband is dead.

She wants him to have a decent burial in a coffin.

Can't you understand?

Yes, I can understand, but it's impossible.

Even if we had the lumber... We have.

I'll give up my wagon bed.

No, we can't take time to build a coffin.

I'm sorry, but we'll only take time to bury them.

Then, are there others?

Yes, there are four troopers who were killed so these people could cross the

pass without being massacred.

He'll be buried as they'll be buried.

In a blanket.

We also have four wounded over there.

I wonder if you'd look at them.

Come on.

You can record the names of the dead and the wounded.

Yes, sir.

Tell Leibager to prepare a burial detail.

Yes, sir.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pasture.

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul.

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no

evil, for thou art with me.

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of mine enemies.

Thou anointest my head with oil.

My cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Well,

they made it.

Not an Indian in sight.

You won't see them until they're ready.

After what we did to that bunch, the rest will be more cautious.

They'll watch and they'll wait.

Leave a chance open, they'll strike.

Not if we hit first and hit hard.

Lieutenant, take half the troop and join the wagons.

Do I understand you'll use the other half to guard the rear?

Yes. The men are tired.

Seems hardly enough back here.

That's right.

An extreme measure, sir.

It's the best we can do.

Erkenhoff, follow me.

and leave the horses here.

stage a little delay in action here.

Give our wagons time to get a good lead.

We play it Mexican style.

They call it emboscado.

Playing for the other fellow just when he's dead sure he's got you stampeded.

Don't fight till I give the word and don't fall back till I give the word.

Yeah. Deal them a little of their own fake medicine, huh?

Now let's spread out along here. Long live the emboscadores!

And I'll make any trooper who gets killed corporal.

Any casualties?

No, sir.

Well, that ought to blunt the ridge.

All right, poscado!

No cup at this time.

Yes, sir. No warning.

You're in bad shape, sir.

Better withdraw with the wounded. We'll take over.

Nobody's leaving. You just keep hitting them.

Turn around!

So cut out your bragging about how you can fight and hitch up

your wagon. We're rolling tonight.

I'm a poor witch.

Today, six.

Three seriously.

That's rough.

I'm sorry I tried to interfere last night.

Sorry and ashamed.

The trick is to try to concentrate on something else.

Yeah.

Pain can be outwitted.

Up to a point.

Not the pain of others.

Your father must have taught you well.

Were you an only child?

No.

I had a brother.

He was young and hot -headed.

People back home said he... He went bad.

What are you thinking?

About you.

Why a girl would leave her home and her friends.

Because the old life was over.

At least it was for my father.

He was a fine man.

Fine doctor.

He helped many people.

There wasn't much he could do for Mother, though.

She died.

I'm sorry.

But after your father died, why didn't you go back home?

Delaware's small.

It's crowded with too many memories.

Well, maybe things will be better in Oregon if we can get through.

That's a big if, Major.

Yeah.

Yeah, tomorrow the Indians will be back on the attack.

Couldn't we hold out here till help comes?

Kroshaw's partner went to Fort Lamb, eh?

No, they caught him.

Oh, no.

So we have to keep moving on.

Gain a little every day.

Win it, buy it.

That's the way the game is.

Try to get some rest.

Thanks, Cristela.

Kroshaw.

Now, take it easy.

Better get some sleep while you've got the chance.

Doctor's orders.

Well, I never was much at taking orders, but... That's close.

That wasn't meant for you.

Arrows in the duck.

The Indian warning of big medicine.

Pawnee.

Patches.

Pawnees and Apaches banded together.

Well,

now we can expect twice as much trouble.

That's right.

And we've got 30 worn -out troopers.

I'll get the wagons ready, Major.

You don't need to call me that when there's no one around.

I'll call you Major as long as you're running this outfit.

What's the difference if you aren't Andy Pepperis?

You've done a right good job.

So far.

You might as well hear the rest.

Rassicura killed Major Peppers, and I took his place.

The Major wanted it that way.

Well, who are you?

The name is Bart Laish.

Andy Peppers was my cousin.

Like him, I started at West Point, but... Well, I went bad.

Later, I enlisted to get a new start.

Now I'm a deserter.

It doesn't really matter who you are.

It's what you're doing that counts.

Major Peppers?

What's wrong now, Lieutenant?

Same thing as before.

The Tennyson crew.

They're drunk.

Bothering the women.

All right.

I'll attend to that personally.

All right, Tillotson, I've heard enough.

Aside from a little ordinary fun, my men haven't misbehaved.

What did you expect, psalm -singing schoolmoms?

Or monkey soldiers.

Tillotson, I warned you once.

Now this is the last time. There'll be no more drinking. And no more monkeying

around with the women.

Very well.

Then I have all the wagons searched for whiskey.

All the whiskeys in this wagon.

Trade whiskey.

Trade whiskey.

Yeah, for trading with a Sioux.

The lowest thing a man can do is to sell... Now look here, Major.

I own a share in that wagon.

I'm a poor and sick man.

You wouldn't want to rob a poor, sick man like me now, would you, Major?

That wagon rides in the rear with us.

Do say.

Ever since the day that tin major and his toy soldiers took over, they've been

treating us worse than scum.

I tell you, they ain't got a right to push us around.

That's enough.

Listen, I ain't scared of him, and I ain't seen a... Shut up, I tell you.

If we go it alone, you know what the Indians will do to us.

This way, we've got a chance. Half a chance.

You keep shooting off your big mouth, we won't even have that.

I saw my head and sometimes I think I'd be better

off dead.

I'm a poor, weary stranger.

No friends and no home. I'm sure to meet danger

wherever I roam.

Major, what do you propose doing with my wagon?

I don't propose doing anything. I'm leaving it behind.

If it's whiskey, the Indians are after they can have it.

As far as the whiskey's concerned, I say good riddance.

The wagon, though, is specially built and costs me a lot. There's no time to

unload. You should know that by now.

Let the wagon go, then.

What is that for?

That's for the smell. Indian bait.

I don't like this, Major.

I've seen mad drunk Indians.

Well, I'm gambling that they'll get dead drunk and stay here till they finish

the load.

If I'm wrong, well, we can't be much worse off than we already are.

Sergeant? Yes, sir.

Assign one trooper to fall back and hide out with inside of the wagon.

All right, sir.

I want him to watch it all night.

What if the Indians don't stop, Major?

We'll find out soon enough.

to a great strength, but killing that man was a bad thing.

He would have killed me.

It was the way you did it.

The way you looked.

Maybe I look like the man I used to be, but I didn't feel like it.

I'm glad of that.

What chance do we have of getting through, really?

I think we'll get through to Laramie.

What will they do to you there?

With any luck, I'll get past Laramie.

Two or three of them wounded.

Had to be lifted on. They're that damaged.

I told them to ride the wagons.

They told me to go squat on my lousy rank.

What'll I do about them, sir?

Oh, pick them up gently if they fall off.

Yes, sir.

With the Major's leave, sir, I'd like to make mention that... Well, sir, this

has become a good outfit.

I'm glad to be with it.

Say, why don't you hook a jug off that wagon and pass it around?

Yes, sir.

How does it look to you, sir?

I'm afraid they're still with us.

Yeah.

Only a few miles back.

Perhaps with a little luck we can keep them like that.

A few miles back.

That's right, Major. No matter what Ratzikert did or what he said to them

Indians, he couldn't get them past that bootleg wagon.

Well... Well,

we made it.

Who would have thought that whiskey could do what gunpowder couldn't?

Please accept my congratulations, sir.

Ah, thank you.

Something else on your mind?

That whiskey, sir.

What's the usual procedure for entering a thousand gallons in the report?

Well, I guess you'll have to enter it under... Give an aid and comfort to the

enemy. Yes, sir.

Pawnees and Apaches, drunk as skunks.

Probably fighting each other by now.

Well, if all goes well, tomorrow we'll get through the hill country.

This side of Laramie, there's a trail dropped south down into Santa Fe.

That's what you got in mind, huh?

That's about it.

Figuring to quit now, mister?

What do you expect me to do, Croshaw?

Lead this outfit into Laramie right into the arms of a bunch of bowlegs who know

Major Peppers by sight?

No.

Thought maybe you'd joined up with us here wagon train to see them through

not just for your own protection.

I carried out Pepper Andy's orders.

From now on, the outfit's on its own.

Those Rassicuras takes another crack at us between the hills and Laramie.

Tillotson's whiskey took care of that.

I won that gamble and I'll win this one.

Gambling the whole wagon train on your own game, eh?

When the stakes are my neck, I play it my way.

Remember what I said?

Go wrong on me, I'll slit your throat.

Yes, and I'll give you as thorough warning, mister.

When this train gets into Laramie, I'll be halfway to Santa Fe.

You try to stop me and I'll have to kill you.

And that'll make two of us that'll be dead.

They're after Tillotson's freight wagon.

Only thing they've been attacking.

Probably figure it's loaded with booze.

Trooper could make Fort Laramie before sundown, sir.

Very well, send Carkerville.

I'd like to go along, too, sir.

Yes, I guess two men would have a better chance.

Good luck, Steve.

Thank you.

Leiburger?

Yes, sir.

Have the driver circle in.

Yes, sir.

Get him in the cycle!

That's Resecura.

He's getting ready to attack.

This time there's no Emboscado.

Here they come.

Well, if we can't stay here, they'll wear us down.

Yeah.

Any chance of getting the wagons up there?

It's a slow climb. They might pick us off.

Not if the troop buys you time. We'll hold them off till you get to the top.

It'll last a big deal before you cut out for Santa Fe.

Now, mister?

Billetson, you're going to have to... I heard you, Major. We're going up there.

Not this wagon. But, Major... It's too big, it's too slow. We can't delay the

others for your merchandise.

The whiskey, Major, that was all right. But this is my whole life savings.

If you force me to... We can't take time to argue now. If you want that wagon up

there, take it up yourself.

At the end of the line.

Our lives are worth more than this. Why don't we leave it here for the Indians?

What chance have we had we leave it here? These soldiers. Find out what's

inside. Don't be a fool, man.

Unless you want the army to hang us all at Fort Laramie.

You sent Steve to the fort?

Yes. He volunteered.

Carkerville went with him.

I hope for the sake of all of us they get through.

I hope that Steve gets back safely.

For your sake.

For my sake?

Yes, he's a fine person.

Yes, he has all the virtues.

He'll make somebody a fine husband.

Christella.

Yes?

You couldn't care for someone who hasn't all the virtues.

I might.

A man who's been a gambler, a drifter, a deserter.

No, Bart.

A man who's risked his own neck to save the lives of strangers.

well that did it we'll start climbing as soon as it's dark

What?

Bleiburger. Yes, sir.

Have the men collect all the rocks and brush they can.

Another biscotto, Major?

You may call it that.

Dismount!

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

We need more timber.

How about Tillotson's big freight wagon?

All right, use that.

I will make us stand here behind these rocks.

repeater. 16 shot. Where did that come from? Tillerson. A whole wagon load and

ammunition too.

So that's what they're after.

I'm sure we got one more job to do.

You're right, Major.

Where's Tillotson?

In the wagon.

He tried to knife me.

Caught me prowling his rifles.

Rassicura figured they were for the Sioux.

That's why he joined up with the Apaches.

Yeah, he must have thought that we were backing the Sioux against him.

Sure would have been a massacre.

Well, he's got nothing left to fight for now.

Except a couple of bottles of whiskey. How about celebrating?

Bart, the wounded.

We must get them to Laramie.

Better save it, Kroshaw.

If we start your wagons down the valley, we can get to the fort by night.

What are you going to do, Pod?

You can still cut out for Santa Fe.

I'm staying with the train.

I'm so glad you made it, Steve.

So am I, Lieutenant.

Thanks, Lace.

When did you find out?

Cockerville told me.

The boy was killed.

Steve, will it go badly with him?

I don't think so, Christella.

I'll testify on his behalf.

I'm sure his sentence will be light.

Thank you, Steve.

I'll ride up front with the escort from Laramie.

Troop will ride rear guard.

The men would be pleased if you rode at their head.

I would too, sir.

My last game No longer has

been