All language subtitles for The Virginian - 8x09 - The Bugler

[ Birds Cawing ]

[ Horse Blustering ]

[ Virginian ]
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--

[ Rifles Cocking ]aim,

fire!

Order arms!

Sound "Taps," bugler.

That's an order, bugler.

Lieutenant Buell,
relieve Private Hamilton
of his duty.

Sir.

[ Heels Click ]

I'll take that horn,
Hamilton.

Pick up that bugle,
soldier.

Lieutenant Buell,
place this man under arrest.

♪♪ [ Drumroll ]

♪♪ [ Continues ]

♪♪ [ Stops ]

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.

[ Heels Click ]

One!

[ Pants ]

[ Groans ] Two!

[ Gunshot ] [ Sergeant ]
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.

[ Heels Click ]Sir!

[ Sputtering ]

[ Branch Snaps ]

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!

[ Horse Whinnies ]

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

Stop!

[ Whinnies ]

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

I'll look after
the young fella here.

[ Whinnying, Nickering ]

[ Rifle Cocks, Fires ]

- Army horse.
- Oh?

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

We'd better get him
to Shiloh.

[ Groaning, Panting ]

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

You're at Shiloh.

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

[ Exhales ] 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.

♪♪ [ Cornet Plays
"Beautiful Dreamer"
Shakily ]

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. ♪♪ [ Stops ]

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.

[ Clay ]
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?

- [ Whispers ]
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.

♪♪ [ Resumes ]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.

[ Door Closes ]

[ Knocking ]

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.

[ Mutters ]

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.[ Chuckles ]

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.

- [ Laughs ]
- 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.

[ Footsteps Approaching ]

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.

[ Laughs ]
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.

♪♪ [ Cornet:
"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.

[ Clears Throat ]

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.

[ Laughs ]
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.

[ Horse Blustering ]

[ Whinnying ]

[ Virginian ]
What's the matter? Whoa.

Calm down now.
What's bothering you?

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

[ Clay ]
Oh.

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

Not unless he was trying
to catch himself a horse.

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

[ Toby ] 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.

♪♪ [ Plays "Beautiful Dreamer"
Slowly ]

- [ Gasps ]
- 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.

♪♪ [ Resumes Slowly ]

♪♪ [ Discordant Notes ]

- [ Laughs ]
Toby, it's no use.
- Here, listen.

[ Exhales ]

♪♪ [ Plays Fluidly ]

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?
- [ Exhales ]

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.

[ Knocking ]

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 reallyhappened.

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.

[ Man ] 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!

[ Door Slams ]

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.

[ Door Opens ]

[ Door Closes ]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.

[ Scoffs ] 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.

[ Door Closes ]

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.

[ Man Shouting Commands ]

Hup, hup, three, four!

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

Hup, hup, three, four!

Your left, right, your left!
[ Continues, Indistinct ]

Hup, hup, hup, four!

Your left, right, your left!

[ Continues, Indistinct ]

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.

[ Clears Throat ]
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-- [ Pouring ]

you can't?

[ Chuckles ]

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 askedto 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 ofyour men,

then that'll be
yourjudgment.

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.

[ Door Opens ]

[ Door Closes ]

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?

- [ Whimpering ]
- 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.

[ Tongue Clicks ]

It's all right.

[ Galloping Hooves ]

[ Holly ]
Elizabeth?I'm in here!

Elizabeth?[ Whinnies ]

- 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.

[ Hammering ]

Hey!

Elizabeth needs
you right away!
It's Patches!

She's about to
have her foal.

[ Virginian ]
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.

[ Galloping Hooves ]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.

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

[ Indistinct ]
Thank heavens you got here.

[ Whinnies Weakly ]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.
- [ Whinnying Continues ]

There.

That ought to do it.

Now we'll try again, girl.

[ Whinnying ]

Easy, girl.
Easy.

- [ Blusters ]
- Here it comes.

[ Laughs ]

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

Isn't he beautiful?

Like all newborn things.

[ Clopping Hooves ]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.

[ Chuckles ]
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.

[ Door Opens ]

And we can talk now,
thanks to you. [ Door Closes ]

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.

♪♪ [ Bugle: "Taps" ]

♪♪ [ Continues ]

♪♪ [ Ends ]