Original subtitles

PAT: Driver.

Why are we stopping?

Something up beside the road, ma'am. We're just checking.

Is it much further to the relay station?

Don't worry, we'll get you there on time.

[ gunshots ]

[ Indians yelling ]

[ barking ]

Oh, cut it out, Buttons, you're not helping any.

Besides, Daisy says we got to finish

churning this butter before we can go frog hunting.

[ horses neighing ]

Good morning, ma'am.

My name's Colton, Glen Colton.

I'd like to enquire about the morning stage.

How do you do, Mr. Colton?

I'm Mrs. Cooper.

The stage isn't due for a while yet.

I don't know exactly when it'll be here.

Not for 10 minutes anyway.

I guess you must have a crystal ball, ma'am.

Hmm?

Oh, nothing like that.

The two men from this ranch are working over the ridge,

not 10 minutes away.

They can see the stage coming and ride in,

in time to change the teams.

Sounds like a good arrangement.

While you're waiting, you're welcome to water your horses

and wash off the trail dust.

Oh, thank you. Thank you, ma'am.

I'm meeting someone on the stage,

someone, well, kind of important.

Oh, is that so?

Well, just make yourself at home.

Thank you.

[ horses neighing ]

Inside! Indians!

[ gunshots ]

[ horses approaching ]

[ gunshot ]

Daisy!

Mike!

We're all right, Slim.

You better see to Mr. Colton.

Where's Mike?

I locked him in the cupboard.

He probably won't want to come out,

how the cookie jar's in there.

They sure hit him a good one.

Looks like they were trying to take him prisoner.

We're lucky that's all they did.

[ dog barking ]

That Buttons sure knows when to get brave, don't he?

Lend me a hand, Slim.

The skin isn't broken.

That's quite a bump, Mr. Colton.

Almost as big as the one Mike got the day

he roped his first horse, by mistake.

Oh, why'd you have to bring that up for, Aunt Daisy?

Sure want to thank you for what you did.

I can't say I did much,

except get in their way a little bit.

You should have seen him.

He dropped that first one

with the best shot I ever seen.

Pure luck.

As you said, he was still able to ride out of here.

You know, it's a funny thing about those braves.

They could have killed you easy.

Seems like they were trying to take you alive.

I can't think why.

I've never cared much for Indians.

I had a spread about 80 miles north of here.

Worked it up from practically nothing.

Finally had to sell out last week

just to keep from getting raided all the time.

Yeah, I heard they're pretty hard

to deal with up there.

You sold out?

You're leaving the territory?

I hope so.

I'm here to meet the woman who's foolish enough

to want to marry me.

You know, I thought it might be something like that.

She's bound and determined to live in San Francisco,

so I guess that's the way it's got to be.

Troopers coming, Slim.

Walt Clayborne's patrol or what's left of it.

Better get things ready, Daisy,

looks like we got some patching up to do.

Come along, Mike, I need your help.

Looks like they ran into a stone wall.

Yeah, or caught up with something they weren't chasing.

Thanks, Slim.

How many in the war party, Walt?

I'm not sure, a dozen maybe.

They caught us flat-footed.

Well, I thought a peace treaty was being signed.

It was,

and we paid old Chetez the full amount

of the Indian land claims.

That was day before yesterday.

Well, that sure doesn't add up.

It's not like Chetez to go back on his word.

Yeah, that's what I thought, Slim.

Skenya was heading the hostiles that hit us.

He's a sub chief under Chetez.

Seen anything at the stage

when you were coming in, Captain?

Mister, we hardly saw the Sioux braves

that attacked us.

We're a little worried about that stage, Walt.

We had a run-in with some Indians, too.

Here at the ranch?

Yeah.

Something's going wrong, real wrong.

Better get the wounded back to the fort and report this.

Are they able to travel?

Daisy's dressing their wounds.

I don't reckon they can sit a horse.

You can take our wagon, Walt.

And I'd appreciate it if you take Daisy and Mike

into the fort with you.

That's a good idea, Slim.

But what about you?

We're responsible for that stage.

Maybe they didn't let it leave the station at Boulder City.

Yeah, maybe. But what if they did?

There's a lot of country between here and there.

I'll get fresh troops and ride back as soon as I can.

If I were you, I'd wait until we get back

before you go out looking for that stage.

Wait!

Well, that may do for them, but not for me.

I've seen too many people die waiting for the army.

Nothing personal, Captain, but I've seen it myself.

We'll be careful, Walt.

Let's get everybody moving.

Whether you know it or not,

Walt's doing the best job he can do.

Just like any man in the army.

I'm sorry if I ruffled his feathers.

But it's not his woman out there on that coach.

Whether you know it or not, I'm worried about it.

Well, save it,

'cause if those Indians are still around

while we're looking for that coach,

you'll have plenty of chance to worry.

[ gunshots ]

[ Indians yelling ]

Things probably aren't as bad as they seem, Daisy.

Give that to me, Mike.

Well, you and Mike will be back tomorrow or,

well, few days at the most.

Well, we've had to do it before.

I suppose we should be used to it by now.

Well, now it's not that bad.

Maybe not for us, but Mike's different.

Slim, do you honestly think that

that child should be brought up like this?

Running at a moment's notice?

Never knowing what's going to happen tomorrow?

Ah, it's all right, Aunt Daisy, honest.

I even sort of like it.

And I suppose you like those nightmares you've been having,

waking up scared half to death.

Don't know what we can do about it, Daisy.

You and Mike don't want to live in town, do you?

Ready to move out, folks.

Captain's ordered me to drive, ma'am.

Uh, yes, thank you, sergeant.

I don't want to, Slim,

but in fairness to Mike, I've got to think about it.

You understand?

Sure, Daisy.

Up you go.

Can we ride now?

Something wrong, partner?

Can you think of anything that's right?

Let's go find us a stagecoach.

I still think it'd be better to stick to the road.

That's where the coach would be.

Yeah, and some Indians, too, if they hit it.

Well, we can see more country from the ridges,

longer stretches of road, too.

[ neighs ]

Hey, Slim!

Hey, Jess, over here.

Darby.

[ panting ]

You best clear out, Slim.

Skenya,

six bucks, they'll be back.

Now you take it easy, we'll fix you up.

Not this time, Slim.

Where's Mrs. Darby?

In town, and praise be.

Tell her...

Did you ask him about the stage?

Shut up!

Tell her what, Darby?

Tell Nora...

I'm sorry about the way things turned out.

He's dead.

Didn't know he was a friend of yours.

So was his widow.

And his place was just starting to pay off.

He said it was Skenya again.

I can't figure out why Chetez is letting him run wild.

You honestly think that makes any difference?

While we're standing here talking about the why of it,

those red sticks could kill again.

I don't blame you for being in a hurry, Colton.

But there's one thing you've got to understand.

Finding that coach depends on one thing.

What's that?

Finding out what the Sioux are up to.

If this is a full-scale uprising,

then we're probably cooked right now.

If it's not, we stand a fair chance.

You know, Slim, maybe Mose was right.

About what?

He told me on his last stage run,

he saw some smoke coming from the burial grounds.

Well, if he's right,

that could explain a lot of things.

They only burn fires for a chief.

Well, they're not too far off.

It'd be on our way, maybe we'd better check it.

What has all this got to do with us?

It could tell us whether we stay alive or not.

We'd be better off going in after dark.

Meantime,

anybody mind if we keep looking for the stage?

Meantime, we got something else to do.

Oh, yeah, guess you're right.

I'll get something to dig with.

[ water bubbling ]

We better tie up here.

These horses are not gonna go for that boiling spring.

Smell of death.

Can't blame them for that.

Hey, Jess, over here.

What did you find?

Well, I hate to say it,

but you're looking at Chetez's grave.

From what I can make out on this marking,

it's not more than a day or two old.

You sure?

I'm no expert at reading this picture writing stuff of theirs,

but I know enough that it's about Chetez.

Being a chief, they wrote down a lot about him.

He was murdered, Jess.

Nothing strange about that.

Indians are always fighting amongst themselves.

See these two lines with his, next to the peace talk circle?

Probably a pair of sub-chiefs.

Right after the meeting with the army,

all three of them were shot.

These markers always make them out

like they're next to the Almighty Himself.

Nobody has to lie about Chetez.

He was worth more than most white men.

[ creaking ]

Hold it!

Go cracking off shots at ghosts

and you'll bring live scalpers down on us.

Let's get out of here.

We will,

as soon as I can make more sense out of this.

Well, this here is our war marker, isn't it?

Yeah.

No wonder the Sioux were wearing paint.

That treaty money was stolen after the killing, Jess...

by a white man.

Are you sure, Slim?

Chetez lived long enough to tell Toriano about it.

Toriano?

I thought he was supposed to take over as chief.

Isn't that what the old man was grooming him for?

Yeah, well, it says here he will,

but not until he avenges his father's murder.

And he's got to do it

according to the ritual of his tribe.

What do you mean?

I don't know exactly.

But that killer better be making tracks.

His dying won't be easy if Toriano catches up with him.

[ owl hooting ]

Let's get out of here.

Hang on!

Slim,

troopers ought to know about Chetez.

Yeah, I was thinking about that, too.

If you're thinking of turning back,

you'll do it without me.

There's plenty of moonlight to ride by,

and we've got a lot of ground to cover to find that stage.

Yeah, and you can get 6 feet of that ground

if you go knocking around here in the dark.

It'd be just as bad going back.

We got to face facts, we're in hostile country.

The going isn't easy in the daylight, worse at night.

So you're just gonna sit here in this place?

Sentinel Rock isn't far from here.

Plenty of caves to hide in.

And Walt said he was bringing fresh troops up,

we can find him in the morning.

At the same time, we can look for that stage.

If we stick together, we stand a chance.

Yeah, you got a good point.

What about you, Colton?

You want to hole up someplace close

or you want to stick around here and get your throat cut?

Well, without you two,

I'd probably fall in a hole someplace.

I'll stick.Good.

We'll ride easy, keep our eyes open.

Let's move.

[ horse neighing ]

Don't fight it!

You pull that trigger and you won't live long.

This is between Harper and me, move away.

No one shoves me around.

Now look, there's no shortage of Indians around here.

Anyone of us shoots and we're all dead.

Use some sense, Colton.

I'm sorry.

I don't know what's gotten into me.

I get all twisted up every time

I think about Patty on that stage.

Mister, you better get untwisted.

We've got enough problems

without fighting among ourselves.

I know it doesn't look like it, Slim,

but I really appreciate what you and Jess are doing.

It's just that,

well, Patty means more to me than anything I can tell you.

She's a lady. She's--

Well, I don't deserve her,

but I sure don't want to lose her.

And we're trying to see that you don't.

I want you to cool down some.

You can take the first watch.

Right.

Is that where you're bedding down?

Yeah.

Yeah, Jess and I'll grab some sleep

and one of us will spill in an hour or two.

Shall I unsaddle my horse first?

No, we better keep them ready for riding.

That boulder up there is a pretty good vantage point.

You just keep your eyes open,

let us know if you hear or see anything

that doesn't belong here.

Right.

Oh, and...

tell Jess I'm sorry, will you?

Yeah.

Slim, where is Colton going?

He's taking the first watch.

First watch? You gone clear out of your mind?

There's been no sign of Indians

since we've left the burial ground.

He'll make out all right.

Yeah, and get our scalp lifted in the bargain.

Look, all I'm trusting him to do is

to stay awake and keep his eyes open.

Well, you trust him, I won't.

Why?

'Cause I got a feeling.

You saw the way he acted back at the burial ground.

You ever see a rancher worth his salt treat

a horse like that?

Sure, I know he's worried about that stage and all,

but I'm not turning my back on him anymore, that's for sure.

Yeah, I think you're dead right, Jess.

You what?

I said I think you're right.

What do you think he's out there for?

Only way I could think of to talk to you

and see what you were thinking.

Well, what do you figure on doing about it?

Look in those fancy saddlebags of his.

We might get some answers.

[ cocks gun ]

[ cocks gun ]

He was sitting around here all night, Slim.

You watch for their gunfire.

Cover me, huh?

We hit him, there's blood.

[ cocks gun ]

Get down!

They were on top of me before I knew it.

Well, looks like we've discouraged them for now.

Let's get out of here

before they bring their friends in.

Just where do you figure we're going?

As far as our mounts can carry us.

Hole up in a cave someplace and hope we stay in one piece.

Now come on.

They go, Toriano.

Let them go.

Their trail will be easy to follow by daylight.

We go on alone?

No, but it will change nothing.

He will die as I avowed.

Where were you when you heard the firing, sergeant?

Over the ridge, sir,

checking on our advanced guard.

Shot sounded like it came from near Sentinel Peak.

That's rough country.

I wouldn't want to be caught up there at night.

You know, that might be Sherman

and Harper looking for the stage.

Captain, shall I call out the men?

A burial detail might be more to the point.

But I thought Sherman and Harper were your friends?

They are.

But so are these men.

I can't risk a dozen lives to save two.

If there are two left.

Have the men ready to move out at the first crack of dawn.

Yes, sir.

Captain, I'd like to take a try at it, sir.

I can take a couple of scouts and--

How long have you been out west?

Well, sir, I was stationed up north at Fort Warren

for 3 months.

Three months, huh?Yes, sir.

In the field?

No, sir, not exactly.

I was mess officer.

You'd better get some sleep, son.

Tomorrow's gonna be a long day.

Yes, sir. Goodnight, sir.

Goodnight.

You were right.

This isn't much of a place to camp,

but if we hadn't pulled up,

those horses would have dropped right in their tracks.

You know, that's twice now

the Sioux could have shot him and didn't.

Yeah.

You know, he's either mighty lucky

or he sure knows something we don't.

And we'd better find out.

That's just what I'm gonna do.

Colton, there's something I want to talk to you about.

Sure, Jess.

I got something on my mind, too.

I've got quite a lot of money in those saddlebags.

Of course, it's not the complete sale price of my ranch,

but it's a lot of money for a man

whose luck could change.

What do you mean exactly?

Well, those red sticks have come close

to nailing me twice.

Next time, they could make it.

Yeah, that's something to think about.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I have a feeling

that those, those hostiles are just toying with us,

like a cat with a mouse.

Otherwise, we'd already be dead.

So what's your point?Simple.

Either one of you make it out of this alive and I don't,

I'd be obliged

if you'd see that that money got to Patty.

Well, there's nothing saying that

Jess or I are going to get through either.

I've seen you in action.

You've got a lot more going for you than I do.

Her picture's in here.

If she's not on the stage, she'll be in Boulder City.

Will you do it?

Sure, if we have to.

Thanks, Slim.

You want to ask me something, Jess?

No, forget it, it'll keep.

Colton, wait!

You don't know what's down there.

I know the stage is.

Yeah, and what else?

Look, we'll spread out.

Move in slow.

Let him go, Slim.

He's got to find out sooner or later.

Pat!

Pat.

Pat, anybody but you.

She's alive! Bring some water!

[ gunshots ]

Let's get out of here.

Colton, get down.

[ Indians yelling ]

Behind you, Colton.

[ clicks ]

[ bugle sounds ]

No wonder they pulled out.

Well, he said she was still alive.

Let's see what we can do for her.

I'll get some water.

Too late for her.

You and Harper all right?

Yeah.

You can forget that, Jess.

We pushed hard as soon as we heard the shooting.

Well, Colton was right about one thing.

She looked to be a fine woman.

Judging from what you found at the Sioux burial grounds

that's probably the only right thing he told you.

You seem to know a lot about him.

I do now.

Before we left the fort yesterday,

I got the whole story on him.

From who?

Provost Marshal rode in from up north.

It seems Colton was selling guns to the Arapahos

until they caught him with one of their women.

Army was gonna arrest him,

but he cleared out so fast

he didn't leave enough tracks to trip an ant.

Then he wasn't a ranch owner.

He may have raided a few on his way down here,

but that's as close he ever came to owning one.

You figure he killed Chetez?

No doubt about it.

He probably heard in one of the Indian camps

that Chetez was getting money from the government

for signing the treaty.

So he waited his chance and killed him for it.

I wished I'd known.

When I think of the times I had him

in front of my gun in the past 24 hours.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing, Jess.

I don't know, maybe it's-- maybe it's better this way.

Well, there's one thing,

those Indians didn't go to the trouble of taking him alive

to give him an easy death.

Now that's just the reason we've got to get him back.

Well, maybe I should feel sorry for him,

but somehow I don't.

Captain, the men are ready to ride, sir.

All right, mount up.Yes, sir.

You see, it isn't the case of feeling sorry for him, Jess.

If those hostiles make a tribal rite out of Colton's death,

it could be the start of an all-out war against the whites.

It's not going to be easy getting him out.

It's got to be done.

Well, if that's the case, I think I know a good place to look for him.

SKENYA: See the brave Toriano.

He captures but one.

I burned,

I stopped the white man's coach and I killed

to prove that I should be your chief.

There's only one way to prove

who will stand in my father's place.

[ screaming ]

Are there any others among you like Skenya?

I shall not be chief, until the killer of Chetez,

my father, has died as I have said.

Tie him to the poles.

No!

No!

No, Toriano.

I didn't mean to kill him.

It was an accident, I swear.

The tongue of a liar is never still.

Think you can stop him, Jess, without warning him too much?

I can try.

Toriano, you're surrounded.

Glad to see you, Jess.

Save your breath.

If it was up to me, I'd have put a bullet in you long ago.

Tell them to put down the guns.

You'll be treated fairly if you surrender.

You have my word on it.

We must accept word of horse soldier.

There is no other way for us.

As much as I'd like to, Toriano,

I can't let you have your way with him.

It'd destroy everything Chetez worked so hard for.

My father is dead.

Why do you deny me

the right to settle with his murderer?

Because it wouldn't stop there, and you know it.

I know you saved the piece of crow-bait.

We've saved more than that.

You got your treaty money back.

It belongs to you now.

There can be no treaty between us until he is dead.

Why let a fool stand in the way of the peace?

This man killed for money he'll never have.

Even the woman he planned to spend it on is dead.

That's a lie.

She's dead, all right.

Just as if you killed her yourself.

Talk means nothing while he lives.

Toriano, you've seen the white man's gallows.

You figure that's an easy way to die?

It is for cowards.

Indian brethren born and die on the rope.

Unless I missed my guess, that's the way he's gonna die.

You have my word on it.

There isn't a military court in the land

that'll let him slip out of this.

No one's gonna hang me!

When I go, it'll be on my terms!

Now move back all of you!

You've only got two shots there, Colton.

You'll never make it out of here alive.

Maybe I won't, but maybe I'll--

[ gun fires ]

Get up.

He'll die a hundred times, Toriano,

just waiting for that rope.

You want to follow your father's ways?

Let this be his revenge.

You men pick up those rifles.

All right, let's go.

Hey, Mike and Daisy must have beat us back.

Where have you been?

We've been worried about you!

Well, where do you think we've been,

to a Sunday school picnic?

Where's Daisy?In the house.

We heard about what happened at the fort,

so we thought it was safe to come home.

Help Jess unsaddle, Mike.

Okay.

Give me a hand, tiger.

Hi, Daisy.

How are you?

Just fine, Slim.

Mike and I were so happy to hear

that you help put down the uprising.

Oh, we were lucky.

It's too bad that one man can cause all that trouble.

Certainly is.

You know something?

Sometimes it takes an upheaval to make us realize

that what we have is worth fighting for.

Does that mean that you and Mike

aren't going to move into town?

Are you trying to get rid of us?

[ chuckling ]

JESS: Hey, Slim.

Get this tiger, will you?

[ laughing ]

Hi, Daisy.

What's for supper?

Uh, after all that's happened,

all you can think of is eating.

Oh, I'm sorry. How are you, Daisy?

And what's for supper?

[ laughing ]