Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

...where Western history comes alive.

Stories of the Old West,

stories of hardships and adventure,

of dreams and of courage.

Stories of the American pioneer

are all a part of our past, of our heritage.

California missions'’ struggle for survival

during the early 1800s was not an easy one.

Hostile Indians constantly warred on the missions

in an attempt to regain lands that they claimed were stolen

by the Spanish priests.

One such attempt took place at Mission San Juan Bautista,

when marauding Tulare Indians came face to face with...

♪ [ children singing ]

♪ [ singing continuing ]

♪ [ singing ]

♪ [ singing ]

Father?

He'’s gone, Captain.

There'’s nothing we could have done.

He must have known for a long time.

Then, possibly...

No, you knew him for two weeks,

I, for two years.

Believe me, Father, if he said nothing,

then he knew it was hopeless.

Father de la Cuesta?

Yes, Captain?

You understand you are in charge now?

I will be outside.

[ indistinct whispering ]

[ indistinct whispering ]

Please, let me through. Please.

Wait, little one.

Where do you think you'’re going?

Please, Señor Capitán,

Father Tapis is ill. I must go to him.

There is nothing you or any one of us can do now.

No, he can'’t die, let me go.

Stop it right now, do you understand?

There, that'’s better.

I should like to ask you,

all of you,

to recite a silent prayer for...

for the repose of the soul of Father Tapis,

who passed away a few moments ago.

[ mouthing ]

Father de la Cuesta?

Father, now that Father Tapis is gone,

we must think of the Tulare.Not now, Captain. Not now.

I'’m sorry, Father, later may be too late.

Only the strength of Father Tapis'’ will

has kept them from raiding the mission.

And when they hear of his death, they will attack,

is that it?

Sí,Padre,

we must evacuate the mission.

To surrender San Juan Bautista now

would mean the end of the mission forever.

No, Captain.

I have but two men.

The nearest garrison is four days'’ march away.

Then, Captain, I suggest you waste no time sending for them.

Father Tapis needed no soldiers. He was brave.

Enough!

You'’re not brave, you'’re frightened.

I'’ll get him, Father.No, Captain.

Such love must not be punished.

There will be a rosary for Father Tapis this afternoon.

Please pass the word.

The boy Jose, too?

No.

His grief is a continuing prayer.

It will be heard.

Father Tapis?

When I was a lad in the village of Palma Del Rio,

I was pretty good, too.

[ chuckles ]

Ah, but that was so long ago.

Father Tapis could put 10 in there without missing.

I have no doubt of it.

Father Tapis was a very gifted man.

And brave, too.

Once he chased away a Tulare raiding party with bells.

Bells?

Sí,the chapel bells.

The Tulare thought it was white man'’s magic.

Oh, I see.

Do you think it might work again, Jose?

No, Father. The Tulare have heard the bells

many times since.

Are you afraid, Father?

Well, I'’ve been here two weeks,

I'’ve never seen a Tulare,

let alone dealt with one.

Yes, Jose, I am afraid.

But there'’s no need.

Father Tapis will look after us from heaven.

Faith like yours is a blessing, my son,

but, often, faith alone is not enough.

You'’ll see. San Juan Bautista is Father Tapis'’ church.

He'’ll protect it.

The padre, where is he?

Father...Father, wait!

Father de la Cuesta, you must listen to reason.

You have sent for the troops? Sí,

but it is useless. They cannot arrive in time.

As yet, we have no proof the Tulare will attack.

Father, I do not tell you your job, do not tell me mine.

The Tulare will attack, of that you can be certain.

Help is arriving, Captain.

One wagon, one man,

one more scalp for the Tulare.

He'’s wounded.

Come Captain, he needs help.

You wanted proof? Now you have it.

Easy, easy, be gentle with him.

Obliged, Padre. SeñorMcGrath, it'’s been a long time.

Not long enough by the looks of it.

That arrow must be removed immediately.

Captain, take Mr. McGrath to the dispensary.

Just a minute, Captain.

Where'’s Father Tapis?

Father Tapis is dead, señor.

Dead?

That explains the Tulare being on the warpath.

Now, maybe one of you can explain

why I risked my life delivering that thing.

What in Saint'’s name is...?

That'’s a barrel organ, Padre,

and you don'’t find them around saints.

I saw one once in a San Francisco saloon,

but in a mission playing the sailor'’s horn pipe?

Captain, do you know anything of this?

Nothing, Father. Nothing.

♪♪

♪♪ [ slowing ]

Captain, see to Mr. McGrath.

I wish to study that barrel organ.

"Ellington Organ Works, Limited.

London, England."

All this way?

It is a gift from Father Tapis.

It'’s his way of saying he'’s looking after us.

No, my son.

That it'’s a gift is obvious,

but from Father Tapis? No.

It is from Father Tapis. I know it.

Do you know he sent for it?

No.

Then, did he ever mention it to you?

No, Father.

And the music is not the music of the church,

so, you see, there'’d be no reason for--There is a reason. I know it.

Jose, wait!

Please, señor.

You should be in bed. Rest. Regain your strength.

Rest? While Joaquin'’s out there with 20, maybe 30 Braves,

just waiting to burn this place to the ground?

I'’ll do my resting a long way from here.

Tell the Father your feelings.

Convince him that we must leave the mission.

He'’s not planning to stay here? Sí.

Well, now, don'’t that beat all?

He may listen to you.

He better listen awful fast

because I won'’t be here five minutes from now.

Father, I have told SeñorMcGrath

of your decision to remain at the mission.So?

So? Take a look at this, Padre.

Take a good look.

You won'’t be so lucky.

You'’re not just committing suicide.

You'’ll be responsible for the death

of every man, woman, and child in this mission.

Enough!

Captain, these, too, are your feelings?

Sí,Padre, they are.

I had little time to know Father Tapis,

but I'’m told he was a very great man.

When I look into Jose'’s face, and the faces of the others,

I know this to be true.

I cannot leave before internment services.

He was my friend, too, Padre, as you are.

Don'’t make me run out on a friend.

Can you?

If the lives of others are involved, yes, I think I can.

And you, Captain?

My responsibility is the safety of all.

That is as it should be.

As a friend, what would you do?

Bury Father Tapis now and leave with us.

[ Captain speaking Spanish ]

Joaquin himself.

Looks like your mind has been made up for you, Padre.

We must pray.It'’s men in rifles we need, not prayer.

Don'’t do that, Captain.

Holding that lance down is the same as a flag of truth.

Your holy man Tapis is dead?

Father Tapis is--Alive. Alive and well.

You lie.

You are new holy man?

I am Father de la Cuesta.

Your Tapis was a brave man.

Father Tapis was a good man.

[ speaking Native American ]

There goes our last chance. Sí.

Father has much to learn.

Learning takes time,

and that'’s something we just ran out of.

You are on Tulare land.

You must leave, or you'’ll die.

But, so little, when you have so much.

You leave, or you die!

Father Tapis entrusted the mission to me.

I will not leave.

Now, if that ain'’t the fastest turnabout I ever heard of.

First, you'’re going to leave after the services,

and now you ain'’t leaving at all.

Father, you must reconsider.

I have reconsidered.

I'’m staying.

Requiem mass for Father Tapis

will be at dawn tomorrow.

You may leave or remain.

It is your decision.

Some choice.

Get your people together,Captain.

I can handle about 12 on the wagon.

Your wagon may be of more value after the mass,

when speed is essential.

You'’d rather wait until morning?

Your as crazy as the priest.

Jose, are you there?

Jose, what are you doing?

See, Father?

What is this, Jose?

A bow, Father. To fight the Tulare.

Is this...

Is this what you have learned here in the mission?

No.

Jose, have you forgotten so soon?

Why, right here in this very spot,

you told me that Father Tapis was watching out for us.

Now, what would he say

to see you dressed like that?

But, Father, it was you

who said that faith is not enough.

Yes...yes I did say that.

Perhaps I said it because my faith

is not as strong as yours.

But you are a priest.

Priests are human, Jose.

We, too, make mistakes.

That may be,

but staying at the mission I know is not one of them.

I wish I were sure of that.

Mr. McGrath thinks you'’re crazy.

I heard him say it.

Mr. McGrath may be a very wise man.

That'’s good.[ chuckles ]

Father?Yes?

It was wrong of me to say that you were afraid.

I will stay with you, Father, when the others leave.

You'’ll do no such thing.

Mr. McGrath has agreed to wait until morning.

When he leaves, you leave with him.

But...

No "buts." That'’s an order.

In my tribe, I would be considered a man.

I would have hunted buffalo,

maybe killed an enemy in battle.

Here...Here,

you are a boy, and that is good, Jose.

Manhood will come soon enough,

and it will not be determined by the enemies you kill.

I posted guards on the wall.

There'’s one in the bell tower.

How you doing?

Rifles we have plenty, señor,

but men to fire them?[ chuckles ]

Yeah.

Well, maybe, with luck, we'’ll be out of here

before Joaquin makes his move.

You'’ve posted sentries. That'’s good.

Knowing when a rattler'’s going to strike ain'’t much good

if it can'’t be stopped.

Is there room in the wagon for the women and children?

There'’s room for everyone, Padre.

I don'’t understand.

Most of them have gone already, Father.

I see.

I will understand if you leave tonight.

Come with us, Father.

There'’s nothing you can do here.

Be sure you leave no one behind, Captain.

If that don'’t beat all.

We leave tonight?No.

We can'’t travel at night,

and I'’d rather be here behind these walls after dark.

We leave at first light.

Is everyone here?

Difficult to say. Some left during the night.

What about the padre?

It'’s no use. He refuses to leave.

There'’s no time left to argue.

Climb on board.

Come on, Captain.

No.

We attack the mission.

Father.

Jose!

Why didn'’t you leave with the others?

I could not leave before the mass, Father.

Don'’t you realize what you'’ve done?

You'’ll be killed.

You didn'’t leave.

It is my place to remain.

Then it is mine, too. I will assist in the mass.

You will leave immediately.

Now, go!

It'’s too late father, look.

There'’s still time.

I'’ll hold their attention while you run, understand?

Now run hard and fast. Run!

But Father--Don'’t argue! Run!

And God go with you, my son.

Whoa.

Why are you stopping?

Señor?

SeñorMcGrath?

What'’d you say, Captain?

You are thinking of Father de la Cuesta?

Yeah, I guess I was.

We did all we could.

I mean, no one can do more.

I suppose not.

Still...

We are going back, señor?

Yeah. We'’re going back.

I ask that you come in peace.

The others ran like rabbits.

Why did you remain?

Because my place is here.

I ask again,

have you come in peace?

I have come in war, not peace.

You should have left with the others.

You will die here.

This is Tulare land.

This is God'’s land.

Die!

♪♪ [ organ music ]

♪♪

♪♪

It is the spirit of Father Tapis.♪♪

It asks for peace, Joaquin.

Peace.

There will be peace.

♪♪ [ music stops ]

I'’m seeing it, but I don'’t believe it.

It seems, señor,you and I, we are not needed after all.

I told you, Father,

the organ is a gift from Father Tapis.

Yes, you did, my son.

You will teach my people the magic of the mission.

I will teach your people to have faith in God.

And, like Jose, faith in people.

That is the true magic of the mission.

The mission was not destroyed.

Joaquin and his tribe remained, as did the trader McGrath.

And, to this date, the origin of the barrel organ

remains a mystery.

You can see it today in the mission museum

in the town of San Juan Bautista,

midway between Carmel and Santa Clara, California.

♪♪