Original subtitles

When a detachment of 4th Cavalry

under the command of Lieutenant William Torrance

came to the relief of Fort Distress

there was only one man still alive.

Me.

How did it happen, the soldiers wanted to know.

"Why?" I had to tell them that what they were seeing

was just a fraction of the carnage

that had taken place in recent days.

As to the how and why I kept coming back

to a seedy-looking Indian necklace.

A Warner Bros. Television production.

If I had a dollar for every life this necklace cost, Lieutenant

I'd never have to deal another card as long as I live.

Just about finished buryin' our own men, sir.

What do you want to do about the Indians?

- Bury them too, sergeant. - Yes, sir.

You know the one thing I can't figure out is

how'd they get inside these walls in the first place.

This fort was supposed to be Injun-proof.

Perhaps Mr. Maverick can explain.

Hmm?

I said, perhaps you can explain

how the Apaches succeeded in storming Fort Distress.

I, uh, I was just thinking about that poster up there

on the bulletin board.

That was put up there three days ago

by the real murderer. Captain Score.

Who'd killed his own wife

because she stood in the path of his ambition.

At the time I had no idea I was wanted for murder.

Even if I had, I was hardly in a position

to do anything about it.

I was 50 miles away.

Tied to a stake in an Apache teepee with a man

who could give a rattlesnake lessons in treachery.

Lovable Luther Cannonbaugh.

The seedy, money-grubbing peddler

who started all my troubles at the fort by selling me a wagon

that contained a load of illegal whiskey.

The bear tooth necklace and Tawney.

An Indian girl he'd kidnapped to sell into slavery.

The only hope I had of ever seeing my old Pappy again

rested with Tawney being able to convince the chief

that I was bringing her back, when the Apaches captured me.

You're Bob Tallhorse, aren't you?

You've heard of me?

Everyone's heard of Bob Tallhorse.

He alone of his tribes speaks the tongue of the White Eyes.

My name is Bart Maverick.

I'm a friend of the Apache.

Tawney, my betrothed, has told us about you.

It is the ruling of her father, the chief

that you should go free.

Thank you, chief.

'Thank you, Tawney.'

But you will die.

Now, wait a minute.

Maverick, unless you get me out of this

there'll be nobody to clear you at Fort Distress.

What do you expect me to do, Cannonbaugh?

Well, tell 'em..

Tell 'em what a nice feller I am, why don't ya?

I speak the truth, Bob Tallhorse.

If anyone deserves punishment, it's him.

But you must let me take him back to Fort Distress

'so he'll receive his punishment from the White Eyes.'

The chief has decided.

Tell the chief that he can't kill a white man.

It'll break the treaty. Just mean more war.

The time for words has passed.

The chief is wise, he'll understand.

Bob Tallhorse wants war, doesn't he?

Otherwise you'd speak my words to the chief.

Hold your tongue!

Or I will tell him you've insulted the Apaches.

Then you will join the other White Eyes at the stake.

You wanna make a name for yourself in the world, don't ya?

Well, I got a medicine

that'll make you the greatest warrior that ever was.

More words.

A necklace made of bear teeth.

Think of that, Bob Tallhorse.

Every Apache knows there's no medicine

stronger than bear teeth.

Where is this necklace?

Well, you untie me, and I'll show you where it is.

Has he had these spells before?

'We better get him out of this stuffy teepee.'

I think it's his heart.

If your medicine was so strong, you could cure the chief.

Sure I could.

But do you really want him cured?

Huh? If he dies, the counsel will pick a new chief.

Maybe you.

It's the custom to choose an elder. I'm too young.

Not if your medicine's strong enough, you ain't.

I can give you

the strongest medicine there is, Bob Tallhorse.

Why, with my medicine they'd make you chief

if you was a toddlin' child.

The death of the old chief

put the camp into a state of mourning.

I'm sorry, Tawney.

Where is the necklace made of bear teeth?

Right here... ah!

Ah!

Ah!

Here you go, right there. Look at that. See?

How does Bob Tallhorse know

these are the teeth of the sacred bear?

Oh, it's easy to prove what kind of medicine this necklace has.

Go ahead and touch one of the teeth there

just one now... that one there. You'll see.

Now, that's enough.

Hey, you savvy our language pretty good, doncha?

- Hmm. - 'Can you read?'

But you would know a cartridge box

when you saw one, wouldn't ya?

Bob Tallhorse is not stupid.

Oh, no, no, who said he was?

There you are now.

There, now.

Cartridges.

- Let me have your gun. - Why you want gun?

Well, I just want to put fresh bullets in

so there won't be any chance for a misfire.

Listen, when Luther Cannonbaugh tests a medicine

he does it fair.

Look, I try anythin' foolish

that tribe of yours would just tear me apart

and you know that.

There.

Now..

Well, let's see, two of them ought to do it.

One... and... two.

Now turn around.

Here we are.

Two cartridges, see?

This is gonna be the kind of medicine that

you have never seen before in all your born days.

Here, now.

Take the gun.

Take the gun.

Go on, take it.

Now, move back.

Right, straight back.

Here we go.

There, a little back there. Right there.

Now..

Now, shoot me.

Right there.

Now is your chance to show them

how strong your medicine is.

Here, chief.

Put this over your neck and it'll keep you from all evils.

There, you take your gun.

There you are, right down like that.

Clutch it hard in both hands and over your heart.

Over the heart. Here you are now. That's good.

Alright, here we go.

Get away.

It's just a trick, Tawney.

Alright, now hold it, everybody. Wait a minute.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

He's probably using blanks in that revolver.

Now, you just tell your people no harm can come to you

as long as you wear the teeth of the sacred bear.

Cannonbaugh, you better warn him that that necklace

is not gonna be any protection against cavalry bullets.

Sure, it'll protect him.

If he believes that he's apt to start an all-out war.

- Stop lyin' to him. - Luther Cannonbaugh don't lie.

Ask anybody.

Ask me, I can prove to you that he's fooling you.

'He's shooting fake bullets in that gun.'

Me friend!

Ain't nothin' fake about that bullet.

'You can see for yourself I wasn't foolin' you'

'when I say that that necklace protects you.'

I bet you'd be a wise feller

if you get the tribal council to meet right away.

They know how powerful your medicine is.

So now is the time to get them to pick you for the next chief.

Now, Maverick, maybe this'll teach you

to take advantage of a poor old man.

It was the decision of the old chief

that Maverick live.

All night long the council parleyed.

And all night long, Tawney stayed at my side.

The head wound had left me feverish and babbling.

When the sun came up I still hadn't regained consciousness.

But a decision had been reached by the council.

It worked out just the way I said it would, didn't it?

And now, if you'll just give me back my $2,048.33

I'll just hop on my wagon, mosey along.

Bob Tallhorse did not say you were free to leave yet.

How long am I supposed to stay?

Until I learn if you have spoken truth.

If the necklace will protect me

from the long guns of the White Eye soldiers.

Oh, now, lookie here.

That ain't fair keepin' me prisoner here any longer now.

Bob Tallhorse is chief now.

He says what is fair and what is not.

That's all the thanks I get for bein' a good-hearted cuss, huh?

One of the results of Luther's good-heartedness

was the dismissal of my friend

Major Reidinger as commandant of Fort Distress.

He had vouched for me.

But the illegal whiskey and the Indian girl

Cannonbaugh had palmed off on me..

Not to mention the murder charge I faced..

Had destroyed the Major's career.

The stage was now set for Captain Score

to pursue his ambitions.

Alright, Lieutenant.

Goodbye, ma'am. Goodbye, Major.

Well, they're gone, general.

So if it's alright with you, I'll start moving in.

Moving in, captain?

Moving in where?

Into the commandant's quarters.

Have I ever intimated that you would be the next commandant?

Well, no, sir, but I thought..

Well, being I'm next in line, so to speak.

Captain, a good officer never jumps to conclusions.

Yes, sir.

Many would be the Indian tales

of Bob Tallhorse's bravery that day.

- You alright, Edith? - Just fine, John.

Deliberately, he set out to test the power of his medicine.

Ambush! Take cover! Fire at will.

Edith! Edith!

It was strong, his medicine.

The strongest ever known to an Apache.

There'd be no holding Bob Tallhorse now.

How come I always get gruel and he gets the good meat?

No, I'll eat it, I'll eat it.

It's better than nothin', it's not much better.

Oh, look at that, no sugar, no nothin'.

- Thank you. - Slop.

I hope by tomorrow I'll be strong enough

to do this for myself.

That sounds like the war party coming back.

Hope they had luck.

Cannonbaugh, doesn't it make any difference to you

that they're attacking U.S. Cavalry?

I got nothin' against soldiers.

Just I like me a lil' bit better than I like them.

If that bear teeth medicine turns out to be bad medicine

ol' Luther Cannonbaugh may get his feet burned in the mornin'.

Well... how'd it go?

Bob Tallhorse walked right into their guns.

And their guns would not fire.

Never has there been such powerful medicine.

Well, I'll bet you're grateful to the man

who gave it to you, aren't ya?

You are free to go.

Thank you, chief.

Thanks a lot.

Oh... whoa!

What do you aim to do about him?

As soon as he is well enough he too can leave.

It was the decision of the old chief.

Yeah, but you're the new chief. You can change that decision.

Why should I?

Once Maverick's loose he'd make nothin' but trouble

for poor ol' Luther Cannonbaugh. Nothin' but trouble.

'The troubles between the White Eyes'

are not the troubles of Bob Tallhorse.

Oh, oh, wait a minute, wait a minute, there's..

Somethin' you should know.

Ahem. Maverick here is been makin' up to your lady friend.

That's not so.

He's been playin' up to her.

Furthermore... she likes him.

Cannonbaugh, you're lying.

Tawney!

There, you see?

She don't like you anymore, but when it comes to Maverick

that's different.

At daybreak you die.

Chief, give me a chance to explain.

Bob Tallhorse has spoken.

'Sure he has.'

And he's never made a smarter decision.

Come on, Bobby, let's go.

Oh, hey, uh, Bobby Tallhorse.

- Um.. - What you want?

Oh, my money, naturally.

Well, the $2,048.33 that you took from me.

I said you could leave, I promised nothing else.

What about my wagon and stuff?

One horse you can take, no more.

Well, that's a fine way to repay my friendship.

Lieutenant, rider coming in.

It's a trooper, looks like he's hurt.

- That's Pete Peterson. - Open the gate.

At ease, captain.

How's Peterson doing, sir?

Oh, I'm sorry. It's a shame.

Oh, uh, general, here's where the Apache village is located.

Now, tomorrow morning, I'll take a column of troops...

Uh, no. I will lead the column, not you.

But, general, that's my job.

As acting commandant I should take troop...

May I remind you that you're not commandant

nor acting commandant nor will you be

if my opinion carries weight in the war department.

I see. I didn't learn my manners at West Point

so I'm ruled out as far as you're concerned.

Trouble is you can't seem to get it through your head

that being a good officer isn't knowing what fork to use.

It's earning the respect of your men.

Who doesn't respect me? I dare him to tell me to my face.

You don't see the slightest difference

between earning respect and demanding it, do you?

'There would be no use in carrying on'

'this conversation, captain.'

But, general.

I'm not here to discuss the situation.

Now, are the reports ready for me on supplies and personnel?

Yes, sir. They're right here, sir.

Oh, uh, captain, be sure you leave on my desk

all the maps you have of local terrain.

As I told you, I'll lead the column in the morning.

- Goodnight. - Goodnight.

Me friend Tawney.

Tawney, you can't go with me.

Now try to understand.

When they find out what you did to that guard

they'll track you, if it takes the rest of their lives.

Tawney, you must stay here. You must stay with your people.

- Tawney. - Oh.

Bob Tallhorse do that to you?

I sure messed up your life for you, haven't I?

Alright. You, me.

You, me.

Tawney, I can't go any further.

You go on by yourself.

- Me friend. - No.

Tawney, you go on and save yourself.

Somewhere behind us was a band of pursuing warriors.

Being an Apache herself, Tawney knew

what she could expect from them.

After she hid me there was nothing to be gained

by staying with me. Absolutely nothing.

Still she stayed.

When it comes to tracking

I'll take an Apache over a bloodhound any day.

Meanwhile, I'd done something helpful to Tawney.

I had started to babble in delirium.

Tawney knew it was only a question of time

until they found our hiding place.

Unless, unless something distracted 'em.

Hyah!

Halt!

Apache, sir. Pursuing a girl.

How many of 'em?

About 18 or 20, I'd say.

We'll ride between them and the girl.

Make a stand in Solito Canyon.

Pistols up! Forward gallop!

'Into the canyon, men.'

Dismount and prepare to fight on foot.

All soldiers to the rear.

Lieutenant Gregg.

Have all the horses and horse holders

go to the back of the canyon. Keep this open and covered.

- We'll go that way to retreat. - Yes, sir.

Make every shot count, men.

- General Bassington. - What is it?

That map's wrong. There's no back way out of this canyon.

- We're boxed in. - I see.

Our only hope's that Indian girl will ride for reinforcements.

Even if she does, I doubt if Captain Score will oblige.

One more concerted rush will do us in.

Better pass the word to conserve ammunition.

Yes, sir.

- Corporal. - Yes, sir?

When you get off duty

see that those barrels are filled with water.

Yes, sir.

Captain. Captain, look. Over there.

Oh, no. It's Tawney.

That Apache girl that escaped with Maverick.

- Shoot her. - Captain, it's only a girl...

She's an Apache, ain't she? I say shoot her.

- But, sir, I-I don't... - Corporal.

Well, that's one more Apache that won't cause us any trouble.

General Bassington's plan was to wait until nightfall

before attempting a break out.

But there was to be no nightfall for general

or any of his men.

Bob Tallhorse would see to that.

Anyone else would have been content

with the day's slaughter. But not Bob Tallhorse.

Way back to his village, he had his Apaches

make another search for me.

This time a thorough one.

Get your hands off me now. Ah, get off.

Well, look what you've done.

You've torn my shirt of perfectly good 75 cents.

You should'nt've done.

Ah!

And I come here to help you.

What can you do for Bob Tallhorse?

'I can tell him I'd wipe out'

the rest of the cavalry at Fort Distress.

Of course, I expect a little somethin' in return now.

- More lies. - Am I lyin'?

Am I lyin', when I say that every Apache in the country

will rally 'round you? Yes, sir, rally 'round you.

You pull off a raid like that.

'Why, Comanches too, maybe.'

'Why, you'll be the biggest chief ever was.'

And all thanks to Luther Cannonbaugh.

'Course, like I say, ol' Luther just can't afford to hand out

valuable information, not against his expenses back.

What do you want?

Oh, just my money is all.

Two-thousand forty-eight dollars and thirty-three cents.

And naturally, my own horses. My peddler's wagon.

My own gun?

Plus, plus, now one of them gold bracelets I've seen around.

That's to pay for the damage done to my shirt, you see.

You will have it all.

But not until the flag has been brought down on Fort Distress.

That's a deal. Now you listen, Bobby Tallhorse.

See, how ol' Luther's worked out the details.

Come on down. Get your foot out of the way there.

Move, that's a fort over there. Alright, now. There we are.

Now, there's the fort, see? The entrance. You got that?

And so for some money

and a wagonload of cheap merchandise

Luther Cannonbaugh promised to sell out every man

woman and child in the entire Southwest.

When the parley was over Cannonbaugh went his way

and the Apaches went theirs.

Back to the village for more ammunition.

And I went mine.

'Course my way was a lot slower than anybody else's.

Help! Somebody!

Alright, look alive, boys. It's a rider comin' in.

Hold it there, mister.

It's alright, alright, alright. Just ol' Luther Cannonbaugh.

Open the gate, boys, and let him in.

Alright, close them gates now.

I see, so poor ol' General Bassington's dead?

Oh, they don't come no deader.

No survivors at all?

I-I didn't get there in time to be any help.

I looked through the bodies though just to make sure

that none was breathin'.

Yes, I suppose a scavenger would make sure of that.

Wait a minute. You got no right

to call Luther Cannonbaugh a scavenger.

If I was you, I'd apologize.

- Apologize? - Yes, I would.

To a man charged with slave trading

selling illegal whiskey and I don't know what other crimes.

That's right.

Apologize.

What's that?

A map I found in General Bassington's hand.

Clutched like that, in his poor dead fist.

You know, the funny thing about this map

is that it shows Solito Canyon as havin' an opening.

Out in back there. Now, you know as well as I do

there ain't no back way out of Solito canyon.

Go ahead. Tear it up if you like.

The general had a parcel of other maps in his pocket.

All of them bunco. All of them signed by you.

Where are they now?

They're where they'll cause you nothin' but trouble

anything happen to ol' Luther.

He like to keep a coupla aces in the hole, ol' Luther does.

Alright, Cannonbaugh. What do you want?

Three things.

First, them charges against me gotta be dropped.

Those papers were signed by the general himself.

And he's gone now. The poor fella.

That leaves you in command.

Alright.

I'll see that Maverick is blamed for the whole thing.

Next, since I won't be goin' to the guardhouse

I'll need a place to sleep.

Yes, yes.

Sethler has a room that he rents to people passing through.

No, no, no. It'd cost good money rentin' a room.

Now, it appears to me that I oughta be the honored guest

of the acting commandant.

Now, you see here, Cannonbaugh, don't you put..

Alright.

You can move in to my quarters.

What else?

Luther Cannonbaugh works himself to the bone for other people.

That's right, to the bone.

And all he gets is insults.

It's time things like that change.

What else?

You called me a scavenger.

Apologize?

Yes, I apologize.

We are gonna get along right well.

You and me... Captain Score.

I can remember falling off my mount

and hitting the ground hard.

And that's all I remember.

Until I woke up next morning in the post infirmary.

The doctor had cleaned and bandaged my wound.

Captain Score wanted me healthy for the firing squad.

Alright, hit me.

He's comin' around now.

Captain Score wanted to see him the moment that he came to.

You better go tell him.

Oh, Shawn.

Shawn, how did I get here?

Morning patroller found you. They brought you in.

Oh, what time is it?

Nearing 10 o'clock, I'd say.

That doesn't give us much time to spare.

Now, just hold it there, Maverick.

Doctor says you're going to be alright.

Personally, I'd love a chance to prove him wrong.

In just a couple of minutes Bob Tallhorse

is gonna make a raid on this fort.

Oh, is he now? And I'm the Queen of the May.

Oh, he is. I'm telling you the truth, Shawn.

Maverick, this here is the best equipped fort in the Southwest.

And even a crazy Indian wouldn't try to take this fort by storm.

Unless somebody in the inside would open the gates for him.

Somebody'd open the gates? Now, just who would that be?

Luther Cannonbaugh.

Cannonbaugh's on the post over there.

Captain Score dropped the charges against him.

Yes, that he did.

Lack of evidence, the captain said.

Well, now, how would you be knowin' about that?

Because I overheard Cannonbaugh

discuss his plans with Bob Tallhorse.

He's got enough on Score to make him hang.

For instance?

For instance, he has the maps that Score prepared

for General Bassington.

Rigged maps that gave the troops no more chance

than minnows with a shark.

Oh, no. No, Maverick. You can't get away with it.

Captain Score warned me.

He warned me you'd be talkin' against him.

He told me to pay you no heed.

He told me just to remember what you did to Mrs. Score.

Something happened to Angel Score?

What happened to her?

I meant it, Shawn, what happened to her?

Maverick, you know what happened to her! You killed her!

You knocked me out and you stole my knife.

And you stuck my knife in that poor woman's back.

Maverick, I'll never forget how she looked as long as I live.

Sure, Score had to kill his wife.

Kill her and throw the blame on me.

Listen to me, Shawn.

Tawney, that Apache girl, was with me when I escaped.

She can prove that Angel Score was still alive

when I left the guardhouse.

- She can't do that, Maverick. - But she can prove it...

Maverick, the Indian girl is dead.

Dead?

Tawney.

Well, Captain Score and I we were inspecting

the block house walls.

We saw this Indian coming toward the fort.

- Well, he shot her. - He...

You can't blame him for that.

You were there. You didn't shoot.

Yes, I was there. I didn't shoot.

Well, he thought it was a trick or something.

Or something?

How much evidence do you need, Shawn?

Well, Maverick, I..

But he..

Maverick givin' you trouble, corporal?

Well, some, captain.

Like you warned me before, he has been talkin' against you.

Apache war cries.

Yeah. You see what I mean, corporal?

Yes, I see what you mean.

Corporal.

It means that I've been listening to the wrong man.

'Hold your fire!'

'Wait till they get closer.'

Hey, sounds like they mean business, huh?

Go away, Cannonbaugh.

There's no harm in just standin' here, is there?

No.

- What's goin' on? - This.

Another minute you'd be wearin' it in your back

and he'd open those gates for his friends.

Hold it. We'll take care of him. Alright, come on.

Prepare to fire.

Fire at will.

Open the door. Go on. Get in there now.

Maverick, now let's get you a gun.

I see, they got you here too, huh?

- Yeah. - I wouldn't worry if I was you.

I'll put in a good word with Bobby Tallhorse.

What do you mean?

'Maverick! Corporal!'

Cannonbaugh told me before you got him

he killed the guard on the side gate, it's unbolted.

- Better see to it, Shawn. - Alright.

Do you hear that, Maverick? They're inside the fort.

You're gonna need all the men you can get.

When it comes to Indian fighting there's not many in my class.

Now, come on, let me out.

You're picking the wrong team, Score.

Hey, there you are. I've been expecting you.

They key's over there in the next cell door. You..

Now, wait a minute.

You fellers wouldn't be here if ol' Luther Cannonbaugh

hadn't schemed things out for you.

You be askin' Bob Tallhorse if he ain't the Apache's friend.

You ask him!

Thanks.

Not many of us left.

Our only chance is to get Bob Tallhorse over there.

Huh?

I know Apaches, Maverick.

Lose their leader, and they lose the fight.

Alright.

Let me.

'A hundred people lost their lives'

for every tooth on it.

Everyone connected with this necklace, Lieutenant

is now gone.

That everybody may soon include you, Mr. Maverick.

As far as the army's concerned, you're still wanted for murder.

We're only here on supportive word

that you didn't kill Mrs. Score.

I see.

Take my advice, Lieutenant, and bury that thing somewhere.

As long as it's around, it's been nothing but trouble.

Hanson found a wounded Injun over in the clump of tree, sir.

We better get a stretcher for her.

Her? An Indian girl?

Yeah.

She looks like she's lost lots of blood.

Hanson says she's conscious now.

Hey, where do you think you're going?

Don't you see? It's gotta be Tawney. I'm gonna go get her.

Open that gate!

Tawney is the Apache girl he was telling us about.

The one who can clear him of all charges.

He has a lot to thank her for.

Tawney.

Tawney.

Me friend.

♪ Who is the tall dark stranger there ♪

♪ Maverick is the name ♪

♪ Ridin' the trail to who knows where ♪

♪ Luck is his companion ♪

♪ Gamblin' is his game ♪

♪ Smooth as a handle on a gun ♪

♪ Maverick is the name ♪

♪ Wild as the wind in Oregon ♪

♪ Blowin' up a canyon ♪

♪ Easier to tame ♪

♪ Riverboat ring your bell ♪

♪ Fare thee well Annabel ♪

♪ Luck is the lady that he loves the best ♪

♪ Natchez to New Orleans ♪

♪ Livin' on Jacks and Queens ♪

♪ Maverick is a legend of the West ♪

♪ Riverboat ring your bell ♪

♪ Fare thee well Annabel ♪

♪ Luck is the lady that he loves the best ♪

♪ Natchez to New Orleans ♪

♪ Livin' on Jacks and Queens ♪

♪ Maverick is a legend of the West ♪

♪ Maverick is a legend of the West ♪♪