Original subtitles

Found him about five miles back.

Who is he? Nothing to identify him except an army-issue canteen.

I'll take a look.

He's from our command. Lieutenant Ben Carver,

six months out of the academy.

I don't suppose you came across any... any sign.

Only that he was killed by a Kiowa arrow.

Well, he found what he was looking for.

- Kiowas? - Renegades. They jumped reservation.

We'll take him back to Sweetwater for burial,

get some reinforcements and pick up their trail.

Tyree, McKendrix! On the double!

Sir, on behalf of Colonel Hamilton and the men of his command, I thank you.

Attention!

Firing detail, ready...

Aim,

fire!

Order arms!

Sound "Taps," bugler.

That's an order, bugler.

Lieutenant Buell, relieve Private Hamilton of his duty.

Sir.

I'll take that horn, Hamilton.

Pick up that bugle, soldier.

Lieutenant Buell, place this man under arrest.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Proceed.

"A special court-martial, convened at the request of the commanding officer,

"has found Private Tobias Hamilton...

"guilty of deliberate insubordination...

"and guilty of gross disrespect to the memory of Lieutenant Benjamine Carver,

with whom he shared the uniform of this command."

Not disrespect for him.

"Under Article 20 of the Articles of War,

"and by judgment of the post commander,

"the prisoner is hereby sentenced to receive one lash...

for each of the years he has lived."

- Sergeant! - Sir!

Prisoner! About face!

Assume the position for punishment.

I'll take that.

Colonel Hamilton, sir.

There will be no favoritism from me for my son,

if that's what's bothering you.

- No, sir. - My apologies, Mike.

One!

Two!

Corporal of the guard!

Corporal of the guard!

O'Rourke!

Sir! What the devil's that all about?

An unauthorized rider just left the post.

Find Lieutenant Buell.

Tell him to take a patrol. Bring that man back.

Sir!

Had a hard ride?

Hyah! Wait a... Wait a minute!

I'll get him, Mr. Grainger.

Turn that horse around and come back here!

Turn him around!

Stop right in your tracks, boy! Get your hands off of me!

Stop!

- Looks like he broke his leg. - Look after him, will you, Harper?

I'll look after the young fella here.

- Army horse. - Oh?

What do you make of it? I don't know.

We'd better get him to Shiloh.

You're gonna be all right. It's all right.

You're at Shiloh.

- Where? - My uncle's ranch... Shiloh.

Near Medicine Bow.

My clothes... I need my clothes.

I have to get to Medicine Bow. No, no.

First you've got to get well. Here, you'll be more comfortable on your side.

♪♪

Oh, he's awake.

Whoa! Hey, hey! Whoa! Wait a minute! Let me go!

Let me go! Nobody's gonna hurt ya.

We're here to help you. Take it easy, take it easy.

Lie down, please.

You've slept away most of the morning.

It's exhaustion, I think...

More than this bump that you had on your head...

or the welts on your back.

Now, let me see what I can do to make you feel better.

What's your name, son?

Toby. Toby Lowell.

Toby, there's carbolic ointment on this. I don't think it'll hurt too much.

Who gave you that whipping?

Indians jumped me sundown yesterday.

Might've been the day before. I don't remember.

You all alone?

Yes, sir. I was on my way to catch the eastbound train to Ohio from Medicine Bow.

Can you sit up now?

There. How old are you, Toby?

Eighteen.

- You come far alone? - Oh, about a day's ride west of here.

I spent the summer there with relatives.

Maybe you can tie this around so it isn't too tight. Yes, ma'am.

You'll be on that train in a day or two.

If you'd like to telegraph your folks or relatives in Ohio... No, ma'am. I'll, uh...

I'll take care of that before I leave. Thanks just the same.

Well, I know you must be hungry, so I'll see about getting you some food.

You're very kind, Mrs. Grainger.

Not at all.

Toby, uh...

These Indians that jumped you...

Were they Kiowas?

Course, they'd have had to move pretty far west to be in this part of the country.

I wouldn't know. It's possible.

I wonder if the army post over at Sweetwater knows about this.

♪♪ That music... Who's playing?

That's my niece.

She found the blamed thing in the attic. I keep hiding it and she keeps finding it.

Well, cornet takes a lot of practice.

Yeah, well, she's a very determined young lady.

If she'd just stick to the piano... She plays that pretty well.

Those Indians do that just out of pure meanness, or was there more to it?

I... I tried to escape.

Well, from the punishment you took, I'd say you don't discourage easily.

Well, it was dark when I came to.

I just remember that it took a long time for me to untie myself.

Toby, how'd you come by that army horse?

From the Indians. I stole him.

And the Indians stole him from the army, huh?

Yes, sir, must have. What happened to the horse?

He broke his leg. Harper had to shoot him.

Oh, I'm sorry. I... wasn't very clearheaded.

Ah, well, I understand.

I've got some work to do, young fella.

You get some rest.

You can stay on until you're fit for that train ride.

If you change your mind about sending that telegram, let me know.

I will, sir. Thank you.

Aunt Holly said you might starve before supper.

You were here last night, weren't you?

I'm Elizabeth, the Graingers' niece.

Oh, yes. The musician, huh?

Well, I cook better than I play the cornet.

Eat. Well, it's mostly a matter of practice.

You haven't been playing too long, have you?

I hope I didn't offend your ears too badly.

Oh, no. I love music, especially the cornet.

Well, I'd better be going. If you'll excuse me...

Mm-mmm. I won't.

You see, I get this big lump right here when I eat alone.

Doctor says 'cause I eat too fast. Need somebody to talk to.

Will you, please?

Very good. How long has it been since you've eaten?

Couple days. Oh, that man who brought me in with Mr. Grainger?

- Harper. - Yes. I'd like to thank him.

He's gone. I thought he worked here.

He does. But he took a crew up to Nebraska to pick up a herd.

Oh, I see.

I've got to go down to the barn...

to check on that pinto mare that Uncle Clay brought in yesterday.

She's in foal for the first time and two weeks overdue.

If you're feeling up to it, maybe you'd like to come along.

Sure.

Hello. Hi. Sorry I don't have any news for you.

Not even a mild case of labor? None, I'm afraid.

Oh, I'm sorry. Toby, this is our foreman.

Hello, girl.

How you feeling? Much better, thank you.

Harper told me all about you.

Had over three dozen foals this spring, but this one's special for Elizabeth.

You're gonna get spoiled with all this attention.

Her name is Patches. Uh, is that because of the spots?

Well, it could be.

Patches the pinto, I'd like to introduce you to Toby... Toby the what?

Well, let's see. How about, uh, Toby the tooter, huh? I play the cornet.

- Like Elizabeth? - Well, I hope not.

Hello, Patches. Hello.

She wants to be let out.

I hope you're gonna give up any notion of lettin' her go again now that she's back.

I honestly thought that if she was away from

us for a while... If she had some privacy...

Not when she's almost two weeks overdue.

Then you are afraid something's wrong.

Well, right now, until she foals, it's

strictly a matter between Patches and nature.

But the chances are she's just taking her own sweet time.

Well, what if she isn't just taking her own sweet time?

Well, we'll just have to wait and find out about that.

She's had enough exercise for one day. If she

doesn't go into labor by tomorrow afternoon,

you'd better take her out and walk her for an hour or so.

Good. She's gonna be all right. I know she will.

Well, it's easy to see that I don't know much about horses.

- I killed my own, didn't I? - Way I heard it, he stumbled and fell.

Elizabeth, Holly would like you to help her get supper ready.

Excuse me.

Uh, Mr. Grainger, I'm feeling well enough to leave on tomorrow's train.

Well, I suppose that's up to you, Toby. Thank you, sir.

He sounded like tomorrow wasn't quick enough for him.

What kind of a story did he give you about those welts on his back...

and that army horse you found him with?

He said he was jumped by a bunch of Indians north of here. Uh-huh.

I rode as far as Medicine Bow with the crew today.

Town's full of talk about those renegade Kiowas.

Course, there's that dead officer I found.

We haven't had any Indian trouble in this part of the country for years.

They were talking about a raid over by the Nebraska line last week.

That's where Harper and the boys are headed right now.

Toby said the Indians had that army horse.

I wonder if it could tie in with that body you came across.

Maybe. Lieutenant Ben Carver from the post at Sweetwater.

Toby was headed south.

Could be the army's combing the countryside a hundred miles to the east...

and don't know the Kiowas doubled back.

I'd better get in touch with the post commander at Sweetwater.

I hope you like angel food cake, Toby.

I baked a fresh one this afternoon.

I wish I could, but I really can't eat another bite.

Well, I know Clay will have some.

Never pass up one of Holly's angel food cakes.

Elizabeth tells us of your interest in the cornet.

Oh, it's more than just an interest, Mrs. Grainger. Music's my whole life.

I'd love to hear you play sometime.

I'd be happy to, if I can borrow your cornet. Anytime.

[ "Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms" ]

That's beautiful.

- Thank you. - Oh, that was lovely.

Who is it that wrote,

"Music is the speech of angels"?

- You have a very great gift, Toby. - Thank you, ma'am.

Well, if you don't mind, I think I'll get some rest. I have a long trip ahead of me.

I'd... like to have a word with you about that, Toby.

Elizabeth, honey, I think we better do our dishes. Excuse us.

I want you to postpone your trip home, Toby.

Oh, no, I can't do that, sir. Well, hear me out.

It'd only be a matter of a day. I want you to go to Sweetwater with me tomorrow.

You were the only one who saw those Indians close-up.

Your help would be invaluable to the army.

Mr. Grainger, I'm sure the army doesn't need my help.

And besides, I'm already a week overdue at school, and I can't...

I can't afford to miss a scholarship that I've worked 10 years to earn.

Is that more important than lives, Toby?

All right. I'll think about it, sir.

You'll have my answer in the morning.

What's the matter? Whoa.

Calm down now. What's bothering you?

- That you, Toby? - It's me, Mr. Grainger.

Oh.

Not unless he was trying to catch himself a horse.

Haven't seen Toby out here anywhere, have you?

I came out to check Patches, and something was stirring these horses.

You looking for me, Mr. Grainger? Thought you went to bed.

I thought there might be some news on Elizabeth's

mare I could tell her when I said good night.

Well, I'll see you in the morning. All right.

- Night. - Good night.

Hey. Traveling alone? Yeah.

Young Lowell figures the army will take my word for what happened.

Says he doesn't know the country well enough to be of any further use to 'em.

I don't believe anything he's told us.

He'd be long gone from here on one of our

horses if I hadn't come out here last night.

Yeah. He wants to get back to Ohio for a good reason.

He's earned a special scholarship in music.

I heard him play last night.

He's good. Well, I hope he teaches as well as he plays.

He's out there somewhere now giving Elizabeth a music lesson...

in exchange for a picnic lunch.

Lieutenant, this is Mr. Clay Grainger, the owner of Shiloh.

Lieutenant Buell is from the army post at Sweetwater.

- Glad to meet you, Lieutenant. - Mr. Grainger.

Corpsman, bring up that canteen.

Mr. Grainger, we found this canteen near a stream on your property.

There was an army mount close by, shot dead.

Yes, one of my men shot that horse yesterday. He'd broken his leg.

Sir, we've been on the trail of an army deserter.

That trail leads here... to Shiloh Ranch.

Detail, dismount!

The man we're after, Mr. Grainger,

dishonored a dead officer and the uniform he wore.

I have orders from Colonel Hamilton...

to return him to Sweetwater to stand trial as a deserter.

That wouldn't by any chance be Colonel Mark Hamilton, would it, Lieutenant?

The same, sir. One of General Crook's ablest officers.

A fine commander, a brave man. Yes, I know.

The only blot on his name is that son that...

Mr. Grainger, there were a great many footprints

on the hillside where that horse was shot.

The man who can tell you about that's on his way to Nebraska. His name's Harper.

Should be back in a week or 10 days.

Unless they run into trouble with those renegade Kiowas.

No, they won't. There were 15 Kiowas.

They're all prisoners now at Fort Kearny. We got word of the capture yesterday.

We've got the saddle and bridle from that horse

if you want 'em. Ah, some other time, sir.

Right now I intend to track that soldier just as

far as it takes, with no privilege of sanctuary.

Are those your orders from Colonel Hamilton, Lieutenant?

The colonel goes by the book, sir. No special privilege for any man.

Well, if we find your man, we'll return him to Sweetwater, Lieutenant.

Mr. Grainger, you haven't asked for a description yet.

The boy is slight, lean, light-haired and blue-eyed.

Did you say "boy," Lieutenant?

Two years older than I when I lied about my age...

to join Lincoln's army as a private.

But at 16, I was old enough to act like a man and to be treated like one.

I'm sure it marks you for the man you are, Lieutenant.

I owe a great deal of what I am to Colonel Hamilton.

Without the examples he set, I'd still be in the ranks.

Lieutenant, would you tell Colonel Hamilton...

an old Texas friend is coming to see him?

If I get there before you, sir.

Detail!

Right now I have a mission to perform.

Prepare to mount!

Mount!

Good day, gentlemen. Bye, Lieutenant.

Form in twos. Forward... ho!

You think I made a mistake.

I think he'll be back.

Well, I may be a fool,

but I owe Colonel Hamilton's son a chance to speak for himself.

You won't have much chance to hear him out...

if Lieutenant Buell happens upon that picnic.

♪♪

That was very good, really.

Well, you're a very good teacher.

You know that was the first song I ever learned too? It was my mother's favorite.

Tell me about her.

- She's dead. - Oh, I'm sorry.

Listen, we better get on with that lesson if you want to surprise your folks.

Oh, if that song reminds you...

Oh, I love that song. Someday when I'm finished

playing the Mozart concerto in concert,

I'm gonna play "Beautiful Dreamer" as an encore.

Go on. Try it again.

♪♪

♪♪

Toby, it's no use. Here, listen.

♪♪

Toby?

That was for good-bye, Elizabeth.

Why?

You may be visiting your relatives again.

No. No, I'm going a long way. Europe maybe.

I wish it was different, Elizabeth.

But I guess there's no use wishing for things that can't ever be.

I don't understand.

And I can't explain.

Well, we'd better get back.

There's plenty of time.

Your train doesn't leave till 5:00.

Toby? Would you play the Mozart for me before we leave?

Please?

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present...

the distinguished American concert cornetist,

Monsieur Tobias Lowell.

Toby?

What's the matter?

- What's wrong? - I think we'd better get back, Elizabeth.

I guess I'm gonna need a little rest before the trip.

Well, I'm afraid there isn't gonna be enough time...

for me to keep my promise if I'm gonna catch that train.

There's plenty of time, Toby.

That's not why I brought it.

I thought... Well, you were packing,

and you said this had a very mellow tone.

I want you to have it. Oh, no. Elizabeth, I couldn't.

You said you liked it, and I want you to have it.

Think what a favor you'd be doing Aunt Holly and Uncle Clay.

All right. I'll think of today whenever I play it, Elizabeth.

Thank you.

I hope everything happens the way you dreamed about it, Toby.

I'm never gonna forget you, Elizabeth.

Not ever.

Well, I should say not!

Because I'm gonna write to you.

I'll tell you all about Patches and her foal.

Where should I write?

Clay. I saw the rig.

I was going to tell you that they're back.

I'm gonna talk to him now.

- Clay? - Yes?

Are you going to take him back?

Well, it'd be a lot easier than sticking my neck out.

Uncle Clay, you'll be delighted to know...

that the cornet is going away for good.

Uh, I'd like to talk to you, Toby.

I'll wait in the rig.

Don't be long.

- Put it down. - I have a train to catch, Mr. Grainger.

Not this one.

A Lieutenant Buell paid me a visit today.

He told us those Indians are under guard quite some distance away.

He'd trailed you here. What'd you tell him?

I talked around the truth, and I don't like to do that.

I wanted to hear your side of it.

All right, I stole that horse.

I meant to send him back, but I... Well, you know what happened.

I'm waiting to hear what really happened.

Is your name Lowell or Hamilton?

- Tobias Lowell Hamilton. - Mark Hamilton's son?

Your father and I grew up not 10 miles apart.

Close for Texas.

Did you ever know my mother, Mr. Grainger?

I haven't seen your father in over 20 years, before his marriage.

In that case, sir, you don't know him at all. Not at all.

The Mark Hamilton I knew was a fine man.

He was strong enough to command respect and not contempt...

when he volunteered to support Lincoln.

That was hardly a popular decision in Texas, I can tell you.

Don't tell me war stories, Mr. Grainger. I know 'em all.

Either let me catch that train or turn me in.

But I'll run again first chance I get, and I'll keep on running until I get free.

You consider that freedom a personal privilege, don't you?

You bet I do!

My mother sends me to my father for the

summer, and my father kidnaps me into the army.

I find that hard to believe, Toby.

It happened... the day I was 18.

I was talking to Lieutenant Carver.

Hup, two, three, four! He was the only one on the post I could ever really talk with.

I got this on my 18th birthday, Toby.

A long time from now, people will still be learning things from it.

Walden.

You know, when I was your age, they used to called me "Young Doc."

My grandfather had been a doctor, and my father took over his practice.

I guess they all figured I'd follow the

family tradition... everybody but my father.

He gave me that book, and he wrote some words on the flyleaf.

Those words set me free, Toby.

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions,

"perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.

"Let him step to the music he hears,

however measured or far away."

Lieutenant!

Begging your pardon, sir. The colonel would like to see his son on the double.

- Thank you, Ben. - Sure.

Excuse me.

He's in there, waiting for you.

You wanted to see me?

- Have a drink, Toby. - No, thank you, sir.

I think you'd better.

Toby,

your mother's dead.

There was an accident...

A runaway.

This changes things.

You won't be going back now.

Why not?

Unless, of course, you change your mind...

and accept an appointment to the academy.

West Point?

Toby, you're 18.

It's time someone changed you into a man.

You've been raised on books and poetry and music... soft things.

- You've never had discipline. - Discipline?

You think I don't know what discipline is?

When I can practice my music more hours a day than you drill your troops?

When I study my scores just as long as you brood over your strategy?

Listen, Colonel, just because you're a soldier doesn't mean I have to be one.

We'll talk about this later.

There's no way you're gonna make me change my mind! No way at all!

Laddie.

I'm sorry to hear about your mother's death.

You know, me and a few of the boys were

planning on taking you over to Sutler's store...

to help celebrate your birthday.

Suppose now it'll be more like a wake.

Oh, no, sir! He might've had a drink or two,

but he was not drunk when he enlisted.

On that you've got me word.

- You're lying, O'Rourke! - That's enough, Private.

That'll be all, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

Toby's right, sir. The man's lying.

Lieutenant, Sergeant O'Rourke has served in my command for the past 15 years.

I've never had any occasion to doubt his word.

Do you doubt the word of a boy who could never willingly...

Mr. Carver!

My son is 18 years old. It's time he learned

a man has to live with his own mistakes.

With all due respect, sir,

should Private Hamilton wish to appeal this decision,

I will testify on his behalf.

Ben Carver never had a chance to testify.

My father saw to that. He sent Ben out alone after those Indians.

It was his way of killing him.

And then he ordered me to play "Taps" over the grave...

of the only man there that I could count on as a friend.

And he whipped me when I wouldn't.

He had to do it himself...

My father, the almighty military man.

I believe in hearing both sides of a story, Toby.

Thanks for yours. What happens now?

I ride to Sweetwater and ask for his.

You're his friend. You'll believe him. You can take me back, but he can't keep me.

But a prison can if you're convicted of desertion.

I didn't turn you over to Buell because I thought you deserved a hearing.

Now you're going to stay here until I accord your father the same courtesy.

If I let you go, Toby, you couldn't go back to school.

You couldn't study the way you want. I could go to Europe.

You run now, and all your dreams'll turn to dust.

Toby?

I... wanted to see Elizabeth.

Was there something you wanted to tell her?

I hope you haven't been waiting all this time.

No, Uncle Clay told me you decided to stay.

I decided that his back was in no condition for that long train ride.

And the least you can do before leaving is to teach Elizabeth one song she can play,

or else let her put that cornet away for good.

- I gave the cornet to Toby. - You did?

Yep, and someday I'll play it in concert just for her.

Hup, hup, three, four!

Your left, right, your left! Right, left!

Hup, hup, three, four!

Your left, right, your left!

Hup, hup, hup, four!

Your left, right, your left!

Something I can do for you, sir? Yes, Sergeant.

You can tell the colonel Clay Grainger's here to see him.

Well, now, I'm sorry, but the colonel just left orders not to be disturbed.

Maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow's too late, Sergeant.

You tell him he has a son who already figures yesterday was too late.

Wait here.

Portrait of a man looking at his wife through a cracked glass.

You never met her, did you?

Very lovely, Mark. Yes.

You have my sympathies.

We were a long time apart, Clay.

Worlds apart.

But I always knew the next dance would be mine.

But that's... That's ancient history.

Please, sit down.

How long has it been, Clay? Twenty years?

Just about.

Would you join me in a drink? No. No, thanks.

You live around here or you just... just passing through?

I have a ranch, Mark, about half a day's ride from here.

Why is it when you really want to get drunk...

You can't?

I'm told you have news of my son, Clay.

Yes. We found Toby day before yesterday.

He'd taken quite a beating.

And I suppose he told you how it happened.

He did.

You think I enjoyed that?

Whipping my own son?

It may not be any of my business, Mark,

but I told him I believe in hearing both sides of the story.

I can tell you the truth.

In his case, the punishment was deserved.

Maybe the army would've called it arbitrary.

Clay, I've been an officer in this army for the past 23 years.

I think I know when the punishment fits the crime.

The other side of the story, Mark... That's what I came to hear.

Toby claims you forced him into uniform. That was not of my doing.

He also holds you responsible for Ben Carver's death.

I know.

I find it hard to believe you'd send that man to his death.

I thank you for that, Clay.

I don't know where things went wrong between Toby and me.

I just don't know.

Maybe it was his mother's hatred of the army that rubbed off on the boy.

But when a man has a growing son, there...

There's so many things he wants to teach him,

to do with him, to talk with him about.

But in the summers when Toby'd come to visit me, we...

We seemed to grow further apart instead of closer together.

I encouraged his friendship with Ben Carver.

He was young, but he had great potential as an officer.

I honestly believed that Ben and I...

could turn Toby into the kind of man he ought to be.

But you and the lieutenant disagreed on what kind of a man he ought to be?

Ben Carver was a man who understood music, poetry, books.

But he was also a soldier.

Mark, why did you send him on that mission?

I didn't send him! It was the third time that week...

that Ben Carver had come to me and asked to be sent on the mission!

No!

No! And no again, Lieutenant!

With the colonel's permission, sir.

This is not the Indian wars of 20 years ago.

We know these are hungry men who have only hunger to blame for their actions.

Lieutenant, I can't possibly apologize...

to your graduating class for the extinction of the buffalo.

But, sir, may I suggest force is not the immediate answer to this problem?

Mr. Carver, in case it wasn't spelled out in your schoolbooks,

the Kiowa are a killer tribe.

And no shavetail lieutenant from my command's...

going to play Don Quixote for the sake of dealing with them!

When you are my age and my rank...

and you want to prove an experiment in idealism with one of your men,

then that'll be your judgment.

But as long as you're in my command, I won't

have you risking your life unnecessarily.

- Is that clear? - Colonel Hamilton, I must...

Clean out your ears, Lieutenant! I said no!

With the Colonel's indulgence, sir...

Lieutenant Carver, your persistence is trying my patience!

And while I might admire your determination,

you're causing me to suspect the meaning of it may go beyond your request.

You can't be so stupid as to risk your life on a judgment that's never been tried.

- Now tell me I'm wrong. - Sir, I honestly believe...

the mission can be accomplished my way...

That one man on the authority of good faith can reason with those renegades,

can make them understand that no matter how empty their bellies may be,

jumping the reservation to steal cattle is not in the best interest of their people!

I'm quite familiar with your rationale, Mr. Carver.

I was asking if idealism was the sole motive behind your request.

Well, Lieutenant?

Th-There is another reason, sir.

It's a matter of gaining the respect of my men.

They laugh at me behind my back!

They call me the crying towel for the colonel's lonely bugler...

That's enough, Lieutenant!

I'm asking you for the chance to prove myself as a soldier, sir.

And I suppose if you were a minister, you would ask for an assignment in hell...

just to prove the cut of your cloth!

Well, sir, you'll have to prove your right to respect in another way.

- Is that understood? - Yes, sir.

You'll join Lieutenant Buell in the morning.

Take the necessary men and ride east to meet the troops from Fort Kearny.

And when those renegades are found,

you can judge the extent of their innocence for yourself.

Is there any question regarding your assignment?

None, sir!

Dismissed.

Carver disobeyed my order.

He left that night alone.

It was morning before we found him missing.

Lieutenant Buell and his patrol came across a man who had discovered his body.

And you told Toby the truth about his death?

Well, of course I did!

The same as I told every man on this post.

It was a question of authority and command.

Toby didn't believe me.

He stood right here in this office, fist clenched, tears in his eyes...

and told me I'd lied about the truth.

Well, Mark, I've known you ever since we were pups together in Texas.

I always admired the way you were primed on principle.

You were never one to bend the twig without a darn good reason.

I know what it is to lose a son.

And I want to tell you something about Toby.

Dreams need sharing.

And like it or not, it's your job to admit...

a son is no less loved by his own father...

for choosing the different road.

Accept him and love him because he is your son.

Is that so difficult?

He sure takes after his mother's gentle ways.

She was six months pregnant with Toby when she went back to Ohio for good.

Just as well, I guess.

The hardship of army life,

the horrors of the Indian war were unbearable for her.

Naturally, she hoped I'd leave the army and follow her.

It's ancient history again, Clay.

How soon can you have my son back here?

Why can't you stop acting like his commanding

officer long enough to be his father?

He needs the father more... The man you are.

The man I am?

Boy, Mrs. Grainger. You don't just have a green thumb.

You must have two of 'em and eight green fingers to boot.

Good Wyoming soil has something to do with it.

My mother loved flowers. She'd plant a garden everywhere she went.

They always seemed to dry up and die.

Sounds like you moved around a lot.

Oh, it was before I was born.

Mrs. Grainger, Elizabeth and I were gonna look in on Patches. Will you come with us?

- Have you seen the Virginian around? - He's at the upper pasture,

mending the corral fence for Patches and her foal...

That is, if that stubborn rascal ever decides to be born!

I'll bet it's a female.

Well, I've known some stubborn men in my time,

Mr. Lowell. And a female foal is a filly.

Oh, well, you must pardon my ignorance, Miss

Elizabeth, but I'm what they call a tenderfoot.

- Well, you have other talents. - Mademoiselle?

Oh, Toby, uh, shouldn't you be resting?

Uh, besides, I think it's time I changed that dressing.

No, feels fine. I won't be long.

- That's a promise. - It's a promise.

Your aunt swears that carbolic ointment works

miracles on eczema, ringworm and ulcers.

- She seems worried about you. - Well, she shouldn't. I feel fine.

Then why are you staying on when you were so anxious to leave?

Well, I promised you the Mozart concerto, and

I haven't had a chance to keep that promise.

No, there's something more... Something you haven't told me.

Where's Patches?

Patches?

Patches.

Easy.

Lie still, girl. It's all right.

Easy.

I'll saddle a horse and go after the Virginian.

No, I'll go get him. You better stay here. You know more about these things than I do.

Easy.

It's all right.

Elizabeth? I'm in here!

Elizabeth?

- What's happened? Where did Toby go? - She's foaling.

Toby went after the Virginian.

- Oh, land's sakes alive! - Aunt Holly?

What's wrong?

Elizabeth, honey,

I know you're fond of this boy,

but you know very little about Toby.

Well, I do like him.

He's talented and gentle... And he's also a deserter from the army.

Toby? I don't believe it.

He has admitted it, my dear.

According to your uncle, he has his reasons.

That's why Clay rode to Sweetwater today.

But he left strict instructions that Toby was to stay right here until he got back.

And now he's gone! Well, he'll be back. I know he will.

Hey!

Elizabeth needs you right away! It's Patches!

She's about to have her foal.

Ah, you boys come on in after you finish up here.

If you're right and Toby's gone, someone still has to get the Virginian.

All right, dear. I'll stay here with Patches.

Oh, I told you he'd come back.

That's more than two horses.

Oh, honey.

Detail, dismount!

Ma'am, I am Lieutenant Buell. I assume you are Mrs. Grainger.

Yes, I am, Lieutenant. And this is my niece, Elizabeth.

- Ma'am. - What can we do for you, Lieutenant?

- Where is he, Mrs. Grainger? - He is at Sweetwater.

Are you saying your husband took the deserter to the fort?

I am saying that my husband rode to Sweetwater to talk with Colonel Hamilton.

- Did he ride alone, ma'am? - Yes.

Mrs. Grainger, where is the deserter?

He is no longer here, Lieutenant.

I'm sorry, ma'am. I think I'll have to see that for myself.

Corporal Callahan, take two men, search the barn.

Gorman, you and the other men go through the rest of the buildings.

And you ladies, would you be kind enough to conduct me through the house?

May I remind you, Lieutenant, that this is private property?

Mrs. Grainger, we had a long, hard ride to overtake your crew.

When we did, your man Harper told me he brought young Hamilton here to Shiloh.

So it now appears you people were harboring the deserter the last time we were here,

and this time I must be sure.

As much as I regret any inconvenience to you, I have no alternative.

My orders are to bring Hamilton back to the fort.

And mine were to keep him here until my husband returned.

It seems that we have both failed, Lieutenant.

Hold up.

It's Buell's detail. I've gotta go on down there.

I'm going alone. Toby, I won't ask for your word.

Why? Because you think it's worthless?

What I think doesn't matter. What they think does.

The Graingers are fine people. I don't want to see 'em hurt because of you.

Clay Grainger once told me that the measure of a man...

is not how he lives with success, but how he lives with his mistakes.

I hope I'm not making a mistake now.

Detail, prepare to mount.

Mount!

I have men posted in Medicine Bow, Mrs.

Grainger. One way or another, we'll run him down.

You sound as if you're hunting an animal.

In my book, he is less than a man.

Perhaps you go by the wrong book, Lieutenant.

Column of twos.

Forward! Ho!

Have you seen anything of Toby? I left him over the hill.

Aunt Holly! I need help! Something's wrong! Oh! You better go!

Thank heavens you got here.

She's having a bad time.

Oh, baby. Easy, Patches.

Easy, girl.

Shh. Try to keep her as quiet as possible. I'll get washed up.

How bad is she?

It's not so much Patches I'm worried about as the foal.

It's got to get straightened out. Got a leg up over its neck.

Could strangle it.

There.

That ought to do it.

Now we'll try again, girl.

Easy, girl. Easy.

Here it comes.

Patches, you got yourself a brand new colt. Look at those legs!

Isn't he beautiful?

Like all newborn things.

Oh, excuse me, will you?

Clay. Holly.

You're just in time to welcome Patches's new colt. Oh?

Holly, I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine. This is Colonel Mark Hamilton.

- My pleasure, Mrs. Grainger. - Good evening, Colonel.

Where's Toby?

- I don't know. - What happened?

I'm afraid it's my fault. I had him figured wrong.

We'll pick up his trail at sunup.

I'd say he'd head straight for town.

Well, in that case he'd either run into Buell's men...

or spot 'em and keep on ridin'.

He went this way.

The way I read it, he's headed straight for Sweetwater.

Looks like you had him figured right after all.

Reckon I'll head on back to Shiloh.

Clay.

Sir.

I sent a trooper to Shiloh with a message for you and Lieutenant Buell.

We came the long way. Where is he, Sergeant?

He's in the guardhouse, sir.

I suggested he be confined to quarters, but he'd have no part of it.

Tell my son I'd like to see him in my office.

I'll give him the order, sir.

You tell the colonel that if he wants to talk to me, he can come here.

Have you no shame at all? Haven't you disgraced the man enough?

He'd better get used to seeing me like this.

I might be locked up for quite a while.

You want everything your own way, don't you, Toby?

Isn't this what you wanted, Mr. Grainger? For me to stop running?

I want you to give your father a chance.

Why? When did he ever give me a chance?

He rode most of the night to do just that.

Hello, Son.

- Colonel, sir? - That'll be all, Sergeant.

Begging the colonel's pardon, sir. I'd like to put a word in in favor of Private...

- You're dismissed, Sergeant. - Sir!

Clay?

I'd like you to stay.

Toby, I want to tell you how wrong I've been.

It's a little late for that, isn't it, sir?

It's never too late for an apology, Toby.

You see, I wanted to shape your dreams instead of sharing them with you.

As a result, we had nothing to give each other,

nothing to share.

So, night after night, we sat in our own separate loneliness.

It's a terrible mistake for a father to make.

And now I'm asking you to forgive me for that.

And for Ben Carver?

Toby, I promised you I'd listen to both sides.

I believed your story about being tricked into enlistment.

And I believed your father when he said he didn't send your friend to his death.

Look at me, Toby.

Ben Carver was a man of the highest caliber,

a human being with strength of purpose and lofty ideals.

The combination of those two things is what caused his death.

He was buried with military honors.

But if Lieutenant Buell had found him

alive, he'd have been placed under arrest...

and brought back here to stand trial for deliberate disobedience of military orders.

I hate to think how wrong it could have

been if you hadn't been the one to find him.

I'm grateful to you.

I'm thankful it wasn't too late for either of you.

The fact still remains that I'm a deserter.

And I know I have to face up to that now.

We all have to face up to it, Toby...

You, Sergeant O'Rourke and me.

I never doubted your word.

It's just that Sergeant O'Rourke thought he was doing me a favor.

Now I'm gonna have to ask him to do me a real favor...

by telling the truth at your hearing.

- He'd lose his stripes if he did that. - He has that kind of loyalty.

And besides, he's lost his stripes so many times...

he attaches them with hooks and eyes.

Anyway, you came back of your own accord. That should stand for something.

Well, I'd better get going. Good luck, Mark.

Thanks for everything.

And, Toby, I wish you well.

Mr. Grainger. And would you please tell Elizabeth for me...

that I'm sorry for all the lies and that I'll write her when I can?

- May I go now, sir? - Of course. We'll talk later.

Yes, sir. We'll talk.

And we can talk now, thanks to you.

Mark, 20 years... It's been too long. Why don't you come up to Shiloh?

We'll fish and hunt a little. Maybe even talk over old times some more.

You know, that sounds fine.

I'll be riding up your way just as soon as Toby's hearing is over.

You can count on it. You sound optimistic.

He's a fighter, Clay. That way he's like me.

Well, he has something worthwhile to fight for... fine talent.

You're gonna be a proud father someday.

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