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[ suspenseful theme playing ]

[ chanting in Indian ]

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[ upbeat theme playing ]

[ upbeat theme playing ]

[ suspenseful theme playing ]

Next time you get tough with someone,

be sure you're wearing a gun.

Woodson.

I don't know you.

Herb Woodson.

You.

You're the one they tell me has been following me.

Everywhere I've gone.

But why? Why?

I've never even laid eyes on you before, mister.

Yet you've been hounding me for eight long years.

Woodson, you killed Helen Alderton.

You and Morrison and Bly.

No, no. I'll tell you.

Wait, wait, I'll tell you.

You've got a gun in your hand.

Let me go. Let me go.

Morrison and Bly, where are they?

Out...

Come on, tell me.

Joined the--

Joined the cavalry.

[ crowd indistinctly chattering ]

I saw it, I saw it. He shot first.

You're new here, ain't you?

We don't need your kind in this town, mister.

You better keep on moving.CROWD: Yeah.

He died too easy.

[ train whistles ]

[ bell ringing ]

[ indistinct chattering ]

Ha-ha-ha, looks like the Army beat you to it, lady.

But, uh, can't say I wouldn't give it up for a price.

Say for a little kiss.

The lady would just as soon not eat, O'Hara. Ha-ha-ha.

Oh.

Not so fast, sergeant.

You're trying to pick a fight with me?

You're drunk, soldier.

Just a minute, you.

I just came in for a cup of coffee.

I'm not looking for trouble. So forget it.

You wanted to fight. Well, stand still and fight.

All right, sergeant.

Ha, ha. Well, if that's all you've got.

All right, now you've got me to lick.

I've got no fight with you.Oh, yes, you do.

Where is he? I'll break his neck.

All right, all aboard.

This sandwich will make up for the lunch you missed.

Oh, but you missed your lunch too.

Oh, I've got two, one for each of us.

Thank you. My name is John Vickers.

I'm Molly Quade.

You on your way to Bismarck?

Well, my dad's at Fort Lincoln.

Oh, is he an officer there?

No, he owns a store. He's a settler.

Oh. So then I'll be seeing you.

I'm on my way to enlist in their cavalry.

The Seventh Cavalry.

The Seventh Cavalry? But you'll be a private and--

And I just licked a sergeant from the Seventh.

CONDUCTOR: All aboard.

[ bell ringing ]

[ bell ringing and indistinct chattering ]

Hello, daughter.

Dad.

I can't believe it.

Well, it's been eight years. I was only 12.

What happened to the freckles?

I still have a few.

You know, we've been separated much too long.

I can stay this time.

This time you can stay for keeps.

That's wonderful.

Unless you maybe marry

one of Custer's young officers.

Oh, I'm not planning that.

Oh, there was someone I wanted you to meet.

Well, he must be gone now.

We'll see him later at the fort.

Him? A man already, huh?

He did me a very good turn.

Say, are you going out to the fort?

What business is that of yours?

Oh, the sergeant.

Since I'm going to the fort to enlist,

I thought I might ask for a lift.

You, enlist?

In the Seventh Cavalry?Why not?

I'm told that Army life is the making of a man.

Ah, I sure hope I get you in my company.

Well, do I get the ride?

You bet you get a ride. Get aboard.

A couple of days when I sweat the booze out of my hide

I'm gonna look you up. Ha-ha-ha.

[ bugler trumpeting ]

MAN: Whoa.

Where do I enlist?Right in there.

Thanks.

Who do I see about enlisting?Me.

And Major Comstock.

Major Comstock, this man wants to enlist.

Very well.

Don't I know you? You're an ex-serviceman.

Yes, sir, 32nd Missouri.Of course.

Your outfit did rather a good job at Yellow Tavern.

Let's see. You commanded Company G at that time?

Yes, sir.

You know of course that General Custer

is commanding this regiment?Yes, sir.

And you're aware that the Seventh is a crack regiment?

You know what makes a crack regiment in peacetime?

Yes, sir. Drill.Drill and discipline.

I don't mind drill or discipline.

Enlist this man, corporal.

This is a very interesting service record.

Captain Gregson is in command of M Company.

You know him? No.

Good man, he's fair. I'll show this to him.

There's no need of that. Huh?

I'm not after a promotion.

You didn't, by any chance, have some trouble

on the outside, did you?

No, the law's not looking for me.

Good. See the supply sergeant.

Corporal Stockbridge will show you where you bunk.

Right.

Well, well, my bucko.

Now, ain't that just dandy, we meet again.

I'm gonna have to take mighty good care of you.

Let's see, let's go down this way a little ways

and see if we can get you a bed.

So you can do a little bunk fatigue.

Here's one right here.

I remember this bunk very well.

It used to belong to a Private Red Eagan.

Him who had the seven-year itch.

He scratched himself to death.

Ha-ha-ha. The corporal's a great one for jokes.

Speaking of jokes, Irish,

when was you last on kitchen police?

Oh, yesterday. And the day before, latrine duty.

Is that so?Oh, yes, I remember.

Mighty fine job you did on them latrines.

I think I'll recommend you for the duty again in a day or so.

Now, you do a lovely thing like that, corporal,

and some dark night, we'll meet again--

Is that a threat, Irish?A threat, corporal?

A threat to a superior?

Me who has been a soldier for four different armies?

Ah.

Peter Potts. Mate of Her Majesty's rifles.

Also Garibaldi's carabineers.

Ah, you've been around.

Also a short hitch with Price's robbers.

A Confederate?

Uh, a bit of an error in judgment.

I thought the South would win.

But I switched to the Yanks in '64.

Just in time. As usual.

Shake hands with Private Fiore.

Howdy.JOHN: Hi.

Always gay, always happy, always with a smile.

You're gonna have a rough time in this company.

Well, well, Private Vickers, in a nice new uniform.

I got a special detail for you.

Not latrine duty, sarge.

I'll get around to you later.

Come on, Vickers, follow me.

On the double.

Oh, no, Vickers, that way would be too easy.

I don't win any fights when I'm drunk,

but I don't lose any when I'm sober.

There's a better way to handle your kind.

Corporal Parker showed me your service record.

You're a gentleman.

Gentlemen can only stand so much.

Whatever's your reason for joining this outfit,

you ain't gonna be happy here.

And it'll get no better fast. I'll see to that.

All right, you're not running for congress. The orders?

No, you ain't gonna like it a bit.

And I say you can't take it.

This place is a mess.

Somebody's gonna catch it tomorrow.

In the meantime, clean it up.

And when I finish that?

Hit your bunk.

Oh, don't clean all the stalls,

just those belonging to Company M.

There's only 72 of them.

It shouldn't take you more than--

Oh, two, three hours.

[ man whistling ]

A little late for that, ain't it?

Sergeant O'Hara is breaking me in right.

I'm a recruit.That O'Hara is mean as a pony.

He's got it in for you, huh?Ah, I can take it.

I guess you've been in the service quite a spell.

Since '49. Four more years and they put me out to grass.

Heh. No, I mean in the Seventh Cavalry.

Since they organized her in '66 at Fort Riley.

Did you ever hear of a soldier named Bly?

Bly? Bly...

What'd he look like?

JOHN: Oh, big man, about 45.

Quick with a six-gun, handy with cards.

Son, that's half the men in the Seventh.

He had a friend named Morrison.

Morrison's the top kick in L Company.

Old?-timer like myself.

Older than me for that matter.

Commander of the first with the Mexicans.

No.

No, the men I'm looking for enlisted in the last--

Oh, six, seven years.

Enlisted in the Seventh, you say?

Well, in the cavalry, that's all I know.

They could be anywhere.

Fort Riley, Jefferson Barracks,

Leavenworth.

Maybe even Fort Laramie.

Bly and Morrison, huh?

They could have enlisted under other names.

They probably did.

It strikes me you've got some reason

for carrying a pretty big grudge against these lads.

I have.

They killed someone very close to me.

I've been hunting them for a long time.

I'll find them. I'll find them someday.

I've got to.

[ officer indistinctly shouting order ]

[ indistinct chattering ]

What can I do for you, soldier?What's the rule on credit?

Well, you get up to $6 a month for privates.

You're a recruit?Yes, I enlisted yesterday.

And you caught KP already, huh?

Stable duty last night.

I see they're breaking you in right.

What company are you with? M.

M? That's Sergeant O'Hara's company, isn't it?

He's the one who's breaking me in right, as you put it.

Well, I'll put your name in the book.

John Vickers.Vickers.

Uh-huh. Company M.

Oh, hello there.

Hello. Guess whose company I finally wound up in?

Oh, no. Not--

Yeah, Sergeant O'Hara.

Stable duty last night, KP today.

Tomorrow--

[ chuckles ]

Dad, this is the gentleman I was telling you about.

Mm-hm. You whipped O'Hara, huh?

Heh. He must have been pretty drunk.

He's a good man as a rule with his fists.

Dad, are you defending O'Hara?

No, just giving him his just dues.

Of course he pays his bills,

which is more than I can say for most cavalrymen.

Some of you fellows make great heroes out of yourselves

going around hitting drunks.

I'm sorry. I'm sure he wasn't trying to be rude.

Oh, that's all right.I haven't been here very much--

And, well, my mother died when I was very young.

As I told you on the train,

I've been staying with my Aunt Laura in the East.

But now I'm here to stay, for good.

Do you think you'll like Army life?

Oh, I'm sure I will.

They tell me they have a dance here almost every week.

I've already been asked four times today to that one.

Would you let me have some shaving soap?

Why, of course.

Are you going to the dance?

I don't think so.

Sergeant O'Hara has other plans for me.

I'm in the book.

You won't have any hair left if you keep cutting it.

Well, the Indians won't bother to scalp me then.

You didn't like him.

Who?

The soldier in the store. John Vickers.

Like him? I don't even know him.

Well, they all look alike when you get them in uniform.

He did do me a good turn on the train.

Molly, why don't you just take your time now, huh?

You know, there are a lot of soldiers around here.

And there's a good many officers

who'll be buzzing around here soon enough.

I got an idea, I'll be sweeping second lieutenants

out of the place.

[ indistinct chattering ]

Come on, boy, get dressed. We're waiting for you.

Oh, I'm not going. Sergeant O'Hara will be around

with a few more pleasant jobs for me.

O'Hara left for the dance ten minutes ago.

Come on, come on, boy, hurry, hurry.

They won't have any of them colleens left.

There's 20 girls coming up on Bismarck.

Two ambulance loads.

You can have them.

I was over to the settler's today.

His daughter is the one for me.

[ band playing dance music ]

If I'd known you were Quade's girl,

I would have met you with the regimental band.

You've already apologized twice.

Forget it, please.

There she is.

Gee, Fiore. For once in your life,

you didn't exaggerate. She's beautiful.

Dancing with Sergeant O'Hara.

O'HARA: I sure enjoyed the dance, Miss Quade.

I hope I didn't step on your feet none.

I'm a little rusty.

No, of course not. I enjoyed it.

FIORE: Miss Quade.

It would be a great honor to me indeed if you...

The next dance,

I suppose you wouldn't have it with me.

No, she wouldn't, Fiore.

Miss Quade, may I have the pleasure?

Well, I can't have the next dance with everyone.

Sergeant O'Hara just asked for it

and this gentleman just asked, but--

Well, I'm sure they won't mind.I do mind.

[ band playing dance music ]

So you made friends with him.

Oh, let's not talk about Sergeant O'Hara.

This is my first Army dance. I want to enjoy it.

I've been thinking about you.

You were an officer before, weren't you?

What makes you say that?

Oh, a certain sureness.

You were, weren't you? Yes.

Then whatever made you enlist as a private this time?

Oh, come on. Let's both enjoy the dance.

WOMAN: Oh, yes, Captain Gregson.

O'Hara, keep away from Molly.

I was drunk yesterday. I apologized.

I know how to act around a girl.

I'm not referring to that. You know what I mean.

Stay away from her.

Look, Quade.

Don't come in high and mighty stuff over me.

What makes you think that you--?

[ band plays fanfare ]

Attention.

All men of M Company,

report to your barracks immediately.

Report to your barracks.

[ indistinct chattering ]

Well, goodbye if I don't see you for a while.

Goodbye.

[ indistinct chattering ]

Well, boys, we ride.

Sergeant Parker said some immigrants were attacking.

That's how it is out here in the Dakotas.

When Custer said there was gold out in the Black Hills,

they practically declared war.

The Indians say the white man can't try to keep them out.

Yeah, the smart gold draws them like syrup draws flies.

Oh, Fiore, I notice you did all right

with the settler's daughter tonight.

Oh, I forgot to tell you. I met her on the train yesterday.

She was the reason for my fight with Sergeant O'Hara.

You had a fight with O'Hara?That's right.

Well, how is it you didn't get all bruised up?

I don't know, just lucky I guess.

Did you lick him?I did all right.

Boys, did you hear that? He did all right. Ho, ho!

I'd have given a month of the guard to have seen that.

All right, you soldiers, this is no tea party.

Let's get going. You're not gonna find no Indians.

Hey wait a minute, sergeant.

Let's settle this nonsense between you and me.

There's no point in carrying it on forever.

So I took a poke at you when you were out of line.

You made a horse's valet out of me.

I'd say we were even. What do you say?

Ha, ha. I knew you couldn't take it, Vickers.

What do you want, blood?

I just want the pleasure of reporting you missing

from the Seventh Cavalry.

That you'll never do.

You wanna bet? Get going.

All right, let's go on the double here.

OFFICER 1: Close ranks! Hold.

OFFICER 2: All right, close it up.

Listen up. Listen up.

At your back soldier.

Column of twos. Forward, move.

[ bugler playing ]

[ ominous theme playing ]

[ upbeat theme playing ]

OFFICER: Halt!

[ indistinct shouting ]

FIORE: Whoa.POTTS: Whoa.

Smoke.

The captain's already seen it. That's why we've halted.

[ suspenseful theme playing ]

OFFICER: Move!

I still say Sheridan had the right idea

about the Indian problem.

That's right, kill every one of them.

Then we won't have an Indian problem.

Spotted Elk, how many would you say there were?

Maybe 20.

Twenty Sioux couldn't have killed all these people.

Not unless they caught them by surprise.

And signs don't indicate that they did.

Maybe a hundred, maybe a hundred and fifty.

He's guessing.

He's afraid of the Sioux. All the Arikara Indians are.

Well, my orders were to go after them.

It's Sioux on the island, sir.In force?

They saw us, but they didn't light out.

That means they're likely to make a stand.

We'll give them a fight, sir.

There aren't very many on the island.

Lots of cover around here.

I know. That's what's worrying me.

You could hide a lot of men.

GREGSON: They're leaving. This may be a trap.

This is no place for us.If we're outnumbered,

we'll find some shelter on the island at least.

Column of twos, forward, move!

[ Indian chanting ]

GREGSON: Follow me to the island!

Dismount! Take cover!

Fire at will!

[ horse neighing ]

[ shouting in Indian ]

[ gunshots ]

Cease fire!

Cease fire.

[ trumpeting ]

We've beaten them off, but they'll be back.

We've gotta be ready.

Throw up your defenses.Come on.

Yeah, boys, get all this stuff over here now.

Throw them logs over there, go, boy.

That's me buckos. Get it all out.

Sorry to report, sir. Lieutenant Nelson.

Dead? Yes, sir.

And a lot have been wounded.

There will be more after the next attack.

[ Indians yelling ]

Here they come again.

Wait till I give the command.

[ gunshots and Indians yelling ]

Fire!

A man could get killed around here.

[ bugler trumpeting ]

I got at least three of them.

Including that big buck with all the feathers.

My boy, it was just the other way around.

It was him that almost got you,

and it was my bullet that got him.

As usual.

Join the cavalry. See life on the Great Plains.

You thought them fuzzy-wuzzies in Africa was tough.

But them redskins can take more punishment than any of them.

And the way they charged our guns.

Ha! Ten seconds more, I'd have killed them all.

They'll try again.I hardly think so.

Time means nothing to an Indian.

They've got us pinned down. All our horses are gone.

[ gunshot ]

And now the sniping begins.

[ gunshots ]

You mean there's no chance to fight through?

None whatever, sir. More than half the men are wounded.

K Company is moving out today.

Their plan was to go west and south.

They won't come within 30 miles of this place.

How far do you think it is to the fort, sir?

Oh, 50 miles. Perhaps closer to 60.

A good man can make it on foot in about 24 hours.

I know but those Indians will move down closer after dark.

There's still that 100-feet of water.

A man could move down the river,

cut across to the prairie.

Ah, my brave Indian fighters. Did you enjoy your hearty meal?

Yeah. Heart attack, more and more.

Johnny, you wanna go out there and tackle a Sioux?

What do you think of this business, Captain Vickers?

Anything like Yellow Tavern or Gettysburg?

Some good men died today.

But I don't even see a scratch on you.

You look pretty good yourself, Irish.

Good for a nice bit of rescue work.

But I need a better man. A volunteer.

What's wrong with me?You're late, son.

The ex-Union captain has already volunteered.

[ gunshots ]

This here is the volunteer, sir.

You're a recruit.

This job requires a more experienced soldier.

Four years with the 32nd Missouri, sir.

He served under the general himself.

An officer. A captain no less.

Oh, I didn't know. You'll do.

Here's the plan.

O'Hara goes to intercept K Company

somewhere in the south.

You'll head for the fort.

You'll take revolvers, not carbines.

You better put the revolvers in your neckerchief.

Good luck.

Speed's not as important as getting through.

[ suspenseful theme playing ]

Good luck, O'Hara.Listen, Vickers.

I'll be back here with K Company

before you ever get anywhere near that fort.

Keep some of the luck for yourself.

You're gonna need it.

MAN: Soldier.Yeah, soldier. Who's there?

[ horse neighs ]

I've gotta see Major Comstock.

GUARD: Parley!

Soldier. Aren't you in Company M?

Yes, sir. And I've just come from them.

We're cut off. Half our men dead or wounded.

Corporal. How many Indians?

We're outnumbered three or four to one.

And what position?

60 miles from here, a small island in a river.

I know the place.

And Captain Gregson is wounded, sir.

SOLDIER: Attention. General Custer.

What is it, major?

M Company, sir. Cut off with 2 or 300 Sioux.

This man has just come from them.

All right, major. Form companies.

Two companies to leave in ten minutes,

two reserved in an hour.Yes, sir.

I know you, soldier. From where?

32nd Missouri, sir.

Of course, the 32nd Missouri. Now I remember.

You led the company that broke up Stuart's right wing.

It's Captain Vickers.

I'm private Vickers now, sir.

Private? That's ridiculous.

I only enlisted two days ago, sir.

You mean to say you came in as a private?

Why didn't you come to me?

Wait. I do recall something now.

There was some trouble.

I was in St. Louis right after the war.

I believe I even wrote you a note.

Yes, sir.I never forget a name or a face.

Well, It won't be like during the war.

Three thousand of us.

But enough for any band of savages.

They need to be reminded of the little lesson

I gave them on the Wichita.

Indians.

Indians after facing men like Stuart, Longstreet, Lee.

ORDERLY: Ready, sir.Very well, orderly.

I'd like to go along, sir, if I may.

Do you feel up to riding with me?

Of course, sir.

Well, I don't blame you.

Naturally, you're anxious to rejoin your company.

Orderly, get this man a horse and fetch him a coat.

Yes, sir.Thank you, sir.

[ upbeat theme playing ]

[ suspenseful theme playing ]

[ bugler trumpeting ]

SOLDIER: Hey, hey! Here they come!

[ trumpeting ]

[ upbeat theme playing ]

SOLDIER: Hey! Hey!

[ soldiers indistinctly yelling ]

[ officer indistinctly giving order ]

Hello, sir. Here, here, sit down.

At ease, men.

Noble stand, captain. I commend you for it.

Too bad the enemy fled before we arrived.

We had quite enough of them, sir.

We fought them off, charge after charge.

Another attack tonight,

well, we couldn't have held on.

[ indistinct chattering ]

Come on, Jim. Oh.

A cheerful little loser, as always.

We were just having a little bet.

Which one of you will get through first?

You or O'Hara. I won, as usual.

Even though I didn't think I would, I'm glad I lost.

You don't know how close you came to being right.

[ laughing ]

[ slow theme playing ]

Captain Gregson wants you to report to him

at the hospital.Thanks.

By the way, has K Company come back yet?

An hour ago.

Well, well, if it ain't our little tin hero.

Did they turn out the regimental band when you got back?

Listen, O'Hara. Or whatever your name is.

What do you mean by that?

At first, I couldn't understand

why you kept prolonging a quarrel

that could have been settled with fists.

But that night across from the island

when you took a shot at me, I began to wonder.

Me took a shot at you?

When we split up, you tried to kill me.

Listen, soldier.

I don't try to kill anybody.

I wondered why a man would risk

the safety of his whole company to settle a grudge.

What about it, O'Hara?

Was it the grudge because I licked you?

Or was it something bigger?

I'm listening.

I heard that shooting. It was Indians.

An Indian with an Army six-shooter?

They'd drilled enough of our men

to have plenty of them.

Let me tell you something, Vickers.

I got plenty of reasons for not liking you

and now I've got one more.

You get to be a big hero

because Custer turned back K Company

before we got to the Indians.

If I were you, I wouldn't take any more chances.

Or there might be reason for me to kill you.

All right, O'Hara.

You still haven't answered my question about the grudge.

I didn't expect you to.

I don't have to tell you what will happen

when I find out.

And I'll find out.

John.Oh, hello, Molly.

You haven't been around since you got back.

Well, I've been catching up on my sleep.

Why, I know.

We heard how many men were--

Killed?

I thought perhaps you might like to come to dinner.

It's my birthday.Oh, is it? Well, best wishes.

Thank you. Will you come?

I--I baked my own cake.

It's a chocolate one.

Dad and I are making a--

Well, kind of a surprise party.

He's inviting his friends to surprise me

and I'm inviting my friends to surprise him.

I suppose Sergeant O'Hara is on your list of friends.

Sergeant O'Hara is more Dad's friend than he is mine.

Aren't you carrying that grudge a little too long?

Oh, it's O'Hara who's holding the grudge against me.

John, why don't you forget it?

You will come, won't you?

No.

So O'Hara is a particular friend of your father's, huh?

My father's known him for many years.

There's nothing more natural

than for us to invite him to dinner.

Is that all you can think of? O'Hara?

It's disgusting.

Sit down, Vickers.Thank you, sir.

You did a fine job bringing the Seventh to the rescue.

I don't want you to think the Army is unappreciative.

No, sir.

From now on, M Company is yours.

Mine?

I don't understand, sir.

As of today, you're the first sergeant of M Company.

Sergeant Parker didn't return to Nelson's Island

so you're the replacement.

But I'm a private, sir. There are corporals and--

You're going over them.

The first sergeant rank is yours permanently.

I appreciate it, sir,

but I'm not sure that I want the rank.

Sergeant. No man in the Seventh refuses to obey an order

and this one comes from the top.

The general.

He was here an hour ago and he wanted to know

what sort of company M Company thought it was

that could keep a man with your record a private.

Thank you, sir.

What's the matter with you, Vickers?

Any ordinary man would give his galoshes

for a promotion like this.

Yes, sir. I appreciate it, sir.

What do you want?Get your feet off that desk.

Have you lost your mind?

O'Hara, this is gonna hurt you.

I'm the new first sergeant of M Company.

Get that? I'm top sergeant of this outfit.

No. Yes.

Oh, no.

Until Captain Gregson returns next week,

I'm in sole command. And my first order

is for you to gather up your stuff

and get out of this room.

On the double, soldier!

I'm sorry I missed the party the other night.

I had a special duty.

Too bad. You would have enjoyed it.

Are you buying your beer some other place now?

I'm not drinking much. It's Vickers.

Yes, I hear. He's been giving you a hard time

since he was made first sergeant over you.

He was eight kinds of a hero at Nelson's Island.

Hogwash. It was luck, that's all.

Well, he went through the lines to get Custer.

I went through the lines myself.

It's all water under the bridge now.

He knows.

About us.

Molly.

Yes, Dad?

Will you tend the store for a while?

All right.

Now, what do you mean about Vickers?

Who is he?He's our man.

I don't believe it.

I overheard him talking to a soldier.

How do you know he knows about us?

Well, it's the way he acts.

The way he acts. That's ridiculous.

He's just paying you back.

No. He knows.

Well, how could he?

He's going around asking for two men

named Bly and Morris.

He can go around asking for two men

by the name of Bly and Morris for the rest of his life

and he'll never find them. Never.

Unless you did something to call attention to us.

I didn't do a thing. But I tell you, he knows.

How could he?

He enlisted in the Seventh because of us.

Listen, his enlisting in the Army is a coincidence.

He tried everywhere else

so he finally got around to the Army.

Did you let something up?

I asked you, what did you say or do

to make Vickers suspect you or me?

Nothing.

You're lying. I can see it in your face.

It ain't what I did. It's what he thinks I did.

He claims I took a shot at him.

You stupid, blithering idiot you.

I didn't do it, I tell you.

So he doesn't know about us, does he?

He just knows about you.

Why don't you start running, O'Hara?

You've got nothing to lose.

You're footloose and free. I'm not.

I've got roots here and a daughter.

Without you to draw attention to me, I'll be safe.

Run, O'Hara. Run.

How's the company, sergeant?

We're still short 12 men, sir.

We have first call on the recruits coming in.

I'd rather have new men than the misfits

other commanders had palmed off on us.

By the way, there's a second lieutenancy open.

I wonder if you'd care to try for the officer's examination.

Is that an order, sir?

No. But I believe you can pass them

without any trouble. You were a lawyer once.

How do you know that?

That day the general came to see me at the hospital,

we discussed you.

I've had a little time on my hands.

Sorry but I found an old newspaper file.

I read all about your trouble.

It still bothers you after eight years.

If you don't mind, captain, I'd rather not talk about it.

Rye.

I haven't seen you around the Dakota before.

Have I, sergeant?

How many drinks you expecting to have here?

Does it matter? Yep, it does.

It's like this. I like the Army fine, all right.

But I've had some pretty bad experiences.

I don't trust a soldier till I know him.

To see how much liquor he can hold.

A new fellow came in here yesterday.

He had five drinks, and he busted that there mirror.

Well, you don't have to worry about me.

I just came in to get drunk. Quietly.

STOCKBRIDGE: Well, I tell you.

This lily-livered recruit

has been toting around the officers.

First thing you know that captain has made him

top kick of the whole outfit. Ranked permanent.

What happened to all the non-comms in this outfit?

The old-timers?

Been here for years in the Seventh.

How about my good friend Sergeant O'Hara?

He should be top kick.

Just because he's beaten a new john's time

with a settler's girl lately.

[ chuckles ]

You should see what happened to him.

Me too. What's the matter with you?

Oh, there you are. Spying on us, huh?

You're shooting your mouth off

and you don't know what you're talking about.

So why don't you go back to your table?

Are you denying what I'm saying?

You calling me a liar?

JOHN: Why don't you shut up?

I didn't enlist in this stupid outfit

to become a sergeant. It was orders.

Why, you. Insulting the United States cavalry, huh.

Why, you--

[ glass breaking ]

Aah! You--

Hold it there, hold it.

Hold it.

Arrest this soldier. He broke a hundred-dollar mirror.

He's crazy.

And four bottles of my finest whisky.

It looks like you're in trouble.

I broke one bottle.Why did you wanna do that for?

He insulted the Seventh Cavalry,

that's what he did.You're drunk.

You see what he's done. I want a hundred, not a penny less.

I'll pay for one bottle. The mirror was broken already.

I'll have to lock you up till we can see the judge.

Come on.

Make yourself to home, soldier.

Do like he says, colonel. Make yourself to home.

He had no right to arrest me.

I thought it was against the law to arrest soldiers.

That reminds me of my old pal, Herb Woodson.

He wanted to join the Army

in account of the law was after him

for a small matter.

Having to do with a bank. He, he.

Did you say Herb Woodson?

Yeah, you know him?

The Herb Woodson I know is dead.

It's Herb all right.

The law caught up to him back in Nebraska.

Two or three months ago.

Shot him down like a dog.

How well did you know this Woodson?

Well enough. We bummed together for three or four years.

Say, are you the old pal of Herbie's

what enlisted in the Army?

I was no friend of his. I'm the man who killed him.

You killed him? But they said it was the law.

You ain't a lawman.

No. But I got Woodson.

I'll get his partners, Bly and Morrison, the same way.

What do you know about them?

I don't know nothing. Hones, mister.

I never met neither one of them.

Herbie said they busted up right after that last bank job.

Then how did you know one enlisted in the Army?

Well, Herbie told me.

He met an old pal of his and-- What was a sergeant.

This sergeant, did Woodson tell you what his Army name was?

Yeah, but I can't remember.

You see, I never met him myself.

Now, that I come to think of it,

it sounded like an Irish name.

O'Hara?

O'Hara or O'Reilly or something like that.

Well, it's a name you hear all the time.

It could have been O'Hara.

Marshal. Marshal, open up

Marshal, open up. Come on, open up.

MARSHAL: If you don't stop that racket,

you ain't gonna get no supper.

Open up. This is Vickers. I wanna talk to you.

Listen, I've gotta get out of here.

You stay right here until you pay.

All right. I'll pay. I only broke one bottle, but I'll pay.

Oh, that, shucks. I ain't worried about that.

But this here is a fee office.

Every time I arrest a man, I collect $2.50.

You mean if I give you $2 and a half,

I can get out of here?That's right. You can go.

Oh, wait, here's some change.

Give it to him.

Take care of my horse for me, will you, soldier?

Where's O'Hara?I don't know, sergeant.

What do you mean? He sleeps here. This is his room.

Is he at the settlers'? No.

As a matter of fact, he didn't sleep here last night.

Well, his gun's gone and his personal belongings

and $93 of my money that I kept in my locker.

Has he deserted?That's what it looks like.

Why didn't you report this?

I did. I went down to the orderly room

three or four hours ago, but you weren't there.

I told Captain Gregson.

I couldn't report it last night

because I thought he might just be spending the night in town.

O'Hara gave you any hint of his plans?

No. He's been a different man, though,

since we came back from Nelson's Island.

What do you mean?Well, he resented the fact

that you were promoted over his head.

Have you seen O'Hara? No.

Sergeant O'Hara hasn't been here since last night.

He's been a regular visitor around here lately.

He has business with my father. We expect him again tonight.

I don't think O'Hara would be here tonight.

What did you do? Give him some more special duty?

Where's your father?

Why do you keep up this argument with O'Hara?

Where's your father? I wanna talk to him.

He's finishing supper. Go right on in.

Vickers, isn't it?

Sergeant Vickers now, I believe.

I wanna talk to you about O'Hara.

You wanna talk about O'Hara? What do I know about him?

He's a particular friend of yours.

I'm the friend of hundreds of soldiers.

I give them credit,

sell them beer and listen to their troubles.

O'Hara wasn't that kind.Who says he isn't?

You've known him for years. What was between you two?

Was, was, was. What's all this was?

O'Hara has deserted with $93 of another man's money.

I don't believe in a man stealing,

but if O'Hara deserted, he was driven to it.

He told me how you persecuted him

and gave him every dirty job you could think of.

He's a liar.

He's a liar, he's a thief, and he's a murderer.

That's quite a charge, isn't it?

He's up to wind up with a rope around his neck.

Did you ever hear of a man named Bly?

Or another, Sam Morrison?

No. Never heard of them.

Quade, I have every reason to believe

you'll be seeing O'Hara again.

When you do, tell him from me I know now who he is.

And that I'll catch up with him.

And when I do, it'll be him or me.

You tell him that.

Get out of here.

What is it, Dad?

Vickers was lying about O'Hara.

Taking out his spite on him

because of that grudge between them.

He's been doing that ever since he's been made a sergeant.

Dad, there's something more, isn't there?

Molly, I didn't wanna have to tell you this,

but Vickers is a dangerous man.

He's a killer.

For years, he's been hounding some men for vengeance.

Now, he doesn't even know who these men are.

Even if he sees them, just their names.

He hates O'Hara so he claims that O'Hara is one of them.

Vickers is going to kill O'Hara.

But, Dad, that's terrible.

Well, surely O'Hara isn't one of them.

Oh, O'Hara is O'Hara.

The man that Vickers is after could be anybody.

He might as well accuse me.

Well, here you are.

You heard about Sergeant O'Hara?

I was just looking for him down at the settlers'.

It's hard to understand.

I never heard of a man deserting before

in his second enlistment.

And a sergeant.

He stole $93 from Sergeant Plennert.

I never warmed up to him. But he was a good soldier.

He went through the Indian lines with you at Nelson's Island.

And for a good reason. He tried to take a shot at me.

Why?I thought at first

it was because I licked him on the way to Bismarck.

But that's not why he tried to get me.

Captain, O'Hara was one of the three men

who murdered Helen Alderton.

How do you know? They were never identified.

I got a look at one of them the day she was shot.

A man named Herb Woodson.

I caught up with him at Plainville.

Before he died,

he told me his partners had joined the cavalry.

They knew I was on their trail,

they figured they could hide out in the Army.

And that's why you enlisted?

That's right.

That's no good, Vickers.

The Army is no place for private feuds.

O'Hara is a thief, an outlaw, and a murderer.

He deserted because he knew I was getting close to him.

You're in the Army under false pretenses.

You didn't enlist to become a soldier.

You were hunting for a man.

What you gonna do when you meet him?

I'll kill him.

You do and you'll face a firing squad.

If you have any proof O'Hara has done what you say he has,

you can turn the information over to civilian authorities.

They can get O'Hara from the Army

through legal procedure.

Why did you have to tell me all these things, sergeant?

Why did you have to pry into my private affairs?

Because I'm still commander of this company.

You're a soldier in the Seventh Cavalry.

I came over here to tell you that we've been ordered

to supply a half-company

to serve as escort for a wagon train.

In your absence, I gave Sergeant Plennert command.

But since you're back, you can take it.

Where's the train heading for?The Black Hills.

The government has withdrawn its ban on immigrants.

If they're foolhardy enough to go into country like that,

we've gotta protect them.

Sir, the detachment is ready to fall in.

Good, but Sergeant Vickers will replace you.

Very well, sir.

The wagon train is camped 5 miles west of Bismarck.

You'll join it this evening. Be ready to move out at dawn.

I'm sorry I had to talk to you this way, sergeant,

but the Army is first with me.

I understand, sir.

Good luck. Thank you, sir.

KELSO: Hey, are you in charge of these soldiers?

That's right.

Well, I'm Kelso, captain of the wagon train.

We're ready to pull out.

Go ahead.

Your man ain't ready yet.We'll catch up.

I thought you soldiers were supposed to get up early.

It was after midnight when we got in.

There's no point rousing the men at 4:00 in the morning.

You're only 5 miles from Bismarck.

There's no danger to you. So go ahead.

We'll catch up before you've gone a mile.

Well, look I've got 65 people in that train.

More than half of them are women and children.

It's your job to protect them.We'll do our job.

Well, that means you've gotta keep close all the time.

It's a long ways to the Black Hills.

You're Army, it figures to have its breakfast in bed

every morning. Kelso.

Let's you and I have an understanding.

You're captain of this wagon train. Fine.

I'm in command of these troopers.

I'll give them their orders.

Wagon train! Roll!

MAN 1: Wagons roll!

MAN 2: Wagons roll!

JOHN: Have the men saddle up.

SOLDIER: All right, men, all up! Hit the stirrup!

Look alive! Make a move!

[ upbeat theme playing ]

JOHN: Throw out foragers. Get them used to it.

Men on each side.

Have them keep at a good distance,

but stay inside of the train.

[ shouting indistinctly ]

Ho!

MAN 1: Wagons coming!

MAN 2: Wagons coming!

MAN 3: Wagons coming!

MAN 4: Hold those wagons. Whoa!

Whoa. Whoa.

QUADE: Quade's my name.

Are you the captain of the train?

Yeah.We'd like to join up with you.

Ain't you the settler from Fort Lincoln?

No, not anymore. No, I sold my license.

I wasn't gonna head west just yet,

but then I heard about this train,

I thought my daughter and I had better join up.

You can ride with us, but we made up a set of rules.

You've gotta stick to them. We've got this cavalry escort

so we shouldn't have no Indian trouble.

I hope not. There's all sorts of rumors back at the Fort.

Sioux are out and Custer will take the field.

Just talk, that's all. We'll get through it.

Are you in charge of these soldiers?

Yes.

If I'd known that, I'd have stayed in Bismarck.

I take it you don't like the sergeant.

We don't happen to be friends, no.

Mister, you are welcome with us.

You didn't tell me you sold the store.

You said you were leasing it because of business out west.

Well, Molly, you can't let just anybody know your plans.

Dad, did you sell the store?

Yes, Molly, I did. I, uh...

I was gonna tell you all about it a little later.

MAN: Wagons! Roll!

Come on. Giddyap there.

[ upbeat theme playing ]

Let him alone, Molly. He's not for you.

There's a reason perhaps for O'Hara not liking him.

But you, Dad, I can't understand.

Well, the man is no good. Take my word for it.

That's what you said that day at the fort.

I believed you then, but I don't now.

There's something between you and O'Hara.

Something concerning John Vickers.

Listen, Molly...

My father, is he one of the men you're after?

O'Hara and father.

Are you sure, John?Yes, I am now.

Is that all your life means?

It's the only thing I've lived for

these past nine years.

You were an officer during the war.

Your record was brilliant.

Why do you throw it all away for this crazy...?

What is it? Vengeance?

How could any wrong anyone did mean so much to you?

John.

Tell me. I've got to know.

There was a girl.

We were to be married.

There was a bank robbery

and she stepped from the doorway

just as the bandits were shooting their way out.

She wasn't killed. She wasn't that lucky.

The bullet paralyzed her.

For seven months, she lay there unable to move a muscle.

I watched her die.

Ever since then, all I've known is what you call vengeance.

I call it retribution.

It's the one thing that's kept me going all these years.

What then?

Maybe one of them will get me.

What if they don't?

What if you have to go on living

after you've fulfilled your mission?

Can you go back and find yourself again?

I don't know.

You say this retribution is all you have left

since she died.

But living and thinking and feeling don't stop.

You love me, John.

I've known it for a long time.

Yes.

But doesn't that mean something to you?

To change it in any way?

I'm letting your father alone.

You don't understand.

Don't you know what you're doing

is destroying you too?

Doesn't your heart tell you the truth?

You're letting my father alone because of me.

What about O'Hara?

You can't ask me to quit now. It's too late.

Couldn't live with myself.

You say you love me.

I love you too.

Not on those terms.

Then it's not for me.

John, what will you do?

I don't know.

I don't know.

When you do know, John, find me and tell me.

Why don't you go get some sleep?

You're one of them.

One of the men.

Did he say that?

That's why O'Hara deserted.

Why you sold out so quickly.

MAN: Hold that train!

Hold that train!

Hi there! Hi!

SOLDIERS: Hi.Howdy, sergeant.

JOHN: Hi.Seen any Indians?

Some, but we've had no trouble so far.

Guess they're back in town

now that Long Hair's taken the field.

And the Seventh Calgary is out.

Yeah. That ain't all.

General Terry is coming out here from Montana.

Taking dispatches to him now.

But he'll be too late, though.

Long Hair'll have licked all the Indians by that time.

But he'll make them fight

and he'll teach Sitting Bull and Rain-in-the-Face

the same lesson he taught Black Kettle on the Wichita.

I don't know. There are a lot of Indians in those hills.

Ha. What kind of talk is that, sarge?

You in the Seventh, ain't you?That's right.

The Seventh can lick all the Indians in this whole country.

[ upbeat theme playing ]

There's 40 lodges with only about a half a dozen horses.

Well, then the men are gone.That's what it looks like.

KELSO: If we tried circling this valley, we'll lose another day.

MAN: They've seen us by now anyway.

It's taking a chance, but if the men are away,

better to go straight through. This kind of country,

we shouldn't take time to go around.

It's a small village. I say burn it.

Kill every man, woman and child in it.

Nothing but women and children in that village.

We'll leave them alone.Women! Forward!

MAN 1: Wagons roll!

MAN 2: Wagons roll!

MAN 3: Wagons roll!

Hold it, sergeant!

He murdered the boy and the squaw.

He's better off dead.

MAN: We'll need every man.

[ gunshot ]

Let's get away from here before somebody else gets here.

Whoa!

Indians!

Come on!

MAN: Company, forward!

SOLDIER: I got them.

Halt! Halt those wagons!

MAN 1: Halt those wagons!

MAN 2: Halt those wagons!

Whoa! Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Hold it right there. We're stopping.

We can't stop here. We gotta keep moving.

When the axle on that wagon is repaired, we'll move.

Not before.You wanna get us all massacred?

We gotta get out of here and fast.

You can't outrun Indians on ponies with wagons like these.

If we have to make a fight.

it makes no difference whether we make it here

or 5 miles further on.[ gunshot ]

[ suspenseful theme playing ]

Well, make your circle. Your fight's come to you.

[ Indians yelling ]

Wagon train, right!

[ shouts indistinctly ]

[ gunshots ]

[ screaming ]

[ chanting in Indian ]

[ speaking in native language ]

You, sergeant. You come.

[ Indians speaking in native language ]

[ chief speaking in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

[ continues speaking in native language ]

Where Long Hair?

I haven't seen General Custer since I left Fort Lincoln.

Long Hair come. How many soldiers he bring?

You talk?

I don't know the general's plans.

I'm only a sergeant.

[ speaking in native language ]

You know that?

Messenger carry message from Long Hair to general.

Say Long Hair come to see General Terry.

Kill Sioux and Cheyenne.

Where Long Hair?

I don't know.

[ speaking in native language ]

[ drum beating ]

Well, well, if it ain't the hero of Nelson's Island.

Him say Long Hair march with 5,000 soldiers.

Sergeant O'Hara, late of the Seventh Calgary.

He ran away. He's a deserter.Deserter?

Him no soldierHe'll tell you anything.

Aw, thanks.

Maybe I can do something nice for you.

Him Custer man.

Him tell you where Custer-- Him--

[ chief speaking in native language ]

Let fight. Maybe get mad. Talk.

Maybe we find where Long Hair.

You heard the man, Vickers.

This is what you've been waiting for, ain't it?

For nine years.

You're either drunk or you're crazy, O'Hara.

I'm not gonna fight you here.

Ain't this good enough for you, captain?

This is the last chance you're gonna get.

They'll see to that.

Just you and me.

Either you kill me or I kill you.

We'll both be dead.

They'll see to that too.

Come on.

Or do you want these mingy dog eaters

to do the job for you?

[ speaking in native language ]

[ Indians speaking in native language ]

John. John. I thought they killed you.

Hey, boys, untie us, will you?

O'Hara, cut us loose.

[ drum beating and Indians chanting ]

We've gotta get out of here.

I don't know what they want with us.

The Indians don't take prisoners.

JOHN: They wanna get information.

They're gonna torture us till they find out about Custer.

I think they're getting ready for a big battle.

Don't make any bets against us.

We'd all be dead now if it wasn't for this powwow.

I know some of their words.

Made out they're expecting

some high monkey muggers tonight.

Sitting Bull maybe.

[ horses galloping ]

There's the war party now.

[ Indian speaking in native language ]

They brought news.

[ Indian continues speaking in native language ]

Long Hair.

We gotta get out of here.

Shut up!

If it hadn't been for you...

[ Indian speaks in native language ]

You lie.

Long Hair come to fight.

Tomorrow every soldier die.

You die tonight.

And you, all die tonight.

Long Hair tomorrow.

[ speaks in native language ]

I got an idea.

So you monkey-faced sons of prairie dogs think

you're gonna ambush Custer, huh?

Well, you'll never live to try it

if you put down those spears and that gun.

Because I'd beat your brains out personally.

Every one of you.

It's all right to talk. They don't understand English.

The general's got the Seventh with him,

but with the garrison left at the Fourth,

that's only 700 soldiers to fight.

There's 3,000 Sioux here.

And just before I was captured,

I learned there's a camp up in the Little Bighorn

with no less than 4,000 lodgers.

That's 10 or 11,000 lie-ins.

JOHN: If they got the general in between them...

He's gotta be warned.

We've gotta try. Yeah.

All you gotta do is get out of here.

Custer. What about us?

I say let Custer look out for himself.

We got our own lives to think about.

We gotta get out of here.

Come out of it, will you?I don't wanna be a hero.

I just wanna get out of here alive.

Alive.

What's a life worth here?

All this talk.

As if there were a choice.

Custer has got to hear word of the true situation.

And it's better that we get busy on that

instead of waiting until we get murdered

one by one.

[ Kelso sobbing ]

You. Come.

You! Come!

He's the first one.

[ speaks in native language ]

No! No! No!

You, run.

[ Indians screaming in native language ]

I'd just as soon die making a break for it.

You wouldn't get 50 feet, boy.

I don't like the idea just sitting here waiting for it.

[ Kelso screaming ]

All right. All right, O'Hara.

What is it?

All's needed is a little diversion

to get those guards away from the door.

They keep their horse herd out back.

They'll track us down in no time.

There's a chance as long as they're looking for Custer.

I was saving that for myself.

[ Indian speaks in native language ]

I'm next.

You come.

Too bad, Vickers. You missed your chance.

Good luck, O'Hara.

Keep it for yourself.

JOHN: Shut up. Shut up.

[ gunshot ]

[ Indians speaking in native language ]

Come on!

[ gunshots ]

O'Hara.JOHN: Come on. Hurry.

They're coming back.Fiore. Quick, come.

That one.

Touch of a shillelagh.

Come on, Fiore.

[ yelling indistinctly ]

POTTS: Back! Back, you!

[ gunshots ]

[ suspenseful theme playing ]

JOHN: Ride.

We're still too close to the village.

We ought to go on.

I didn't see any following us.

Either they've lost the trail

or they're busy at the powwow.

It's better to stay here.

We'd never find Custer after dark.

You just lie there quietly

and you'll get your strength back in no time.

Any bones broken?

I don't think so. Just bruised.

We'll have to get you patched up.

What for, Vickers?

I'm Sam Morrison.

Listen, Quade,

yesterday, O'Hara gave his life for all of us.

I don't believe it.It's true.

He had a derringer concealed in his boot.

He could have shot his way out, saved himself.

Instead, he saved the rest of us.

Ever since then, I've had no revenge left in me.

Get some sleep, both of you.

We got a hard day tomorrow.

It's almost daybreak now.

I'll stand guard and call you in a few hours.

Dad, you're wrong about him. He has changed.

I've gotta talk to him.

What is it, Dad?

[ melancholic theme playing ]

Molly. John.

I asked you when you knew what you were going to do

to come to me and tell me your answer.

[ horse galloping ]

Daddy's gone.

He's gone all right.

He hasn't got the strength to get very far.

It'll be light in an hour. We can pick up his trail then.

Why did he go?

I guess he didn't trust me.

SOLDIER: Sergeant Vickers. Where's your command position?

Vickers. By all that's holy.

Miss Quade.Reporting for duty, sir.

I've gotta talk to General Custer at once.

Major Reno is commanding this battalion.

The general split the column a couple of hours ago.

He went north toward the Little Bighorn.

He'll be ambushed.

There are 4,000 Indian lodges at the Little Bighorn.

I hope the settler got there before it's too late.

Quade went after the general?

Yes. He went through here an hour ago.

Here's Major Reno. This man has just come up.

He's verified Sam Quade's story

about the Indians at Little Bighorn.

RENO: Then it's all up with Custer.

Oh, John.

There's more Indians ahead of us than I realized.

And 3,000 more coming up from the south.

Bugler, sound retreat. We can cut through to Custer.

We'll be lucky to save ourselves.

[ bugler trumpeting ]

Lieutenant Brown fell a few minutes ago.

You'll have to take his place.

Yes, sir.

On the double, lieutenant.

[ gunshots ]

Halt!

We'll make a stand here.

I guess we've licked them all right.

There hasn't been a shot fired in an hour.

I think it's because they've drawn off.

Or they've had enough.

It's my idea they've seen General Terry's column.

Where?

The column with smoke off to the west and north.

I've been watching it too.

Captain, take a platoon and make contact.

Yes, sir.

Well, it's all over.

Terry is coming and the Indians have gone.

Could it be Custer?

No. Wrong direction.

You think Custer's dead?

Yes.

It looks like we're going to have to start M Company

all over again.

I'm the only officer left.

Say, captain, I've been thinking.

If those examinations for lieutenant

are still open...

As far as you're concerned, Vickers,

you already had the examinations.

You passed. When you get back to the fort,

you'll be taking over officer's corp.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, uh, you'll have to get married, lieutenant.

Otherwise she won't be able to stay out at the fort.

[ romantic theme playing ]

[ slow theme playing ]