Original subtitles

Well, Bill, that was a fast trip.

Yep.

Squire was waiting for me when I got there.

What'd you say?

They picked some man for us.

Yeah, they sure did.

You know about him, don't you?

Yeah, he took a train out of St. Louis about two weeks before we left.

That's right.

Well, he's already delivered that wagon train in Sacramento.

Now he's on his way back.

Who?

Says here he's going to be at Rivers Bend.

That's about 30 miles from here.

Who?

Dad, blame it.

Why don't somebody tell me who the new wagon master is?

Judd Benedict, Charlie.

Judd Benedict.

Wish I hadn't of asked.

I wish you'd taken over, Flint.

I got no stomach for this job.

I've had the responsibility too long as it is.

Still if I'd known the home office was going to pick somebody like Judd Benedict, I sure

stuck it out till we got to California.

It's too late now.

It sure is.

I guess the home office knows what they're doing.

I wonder.

Well, I'll see you later.

Where are you going?

Rivers Bend.

I've got to show the new wagon master where his train is.

Why don't you let him find his own way?

Maybe he'll get lost.

That's not a bad idea, Charlie.

Hey!

Howdy.

You all right?

Patches, did it.

Found them all dead.

My wife, my little girl, and my son, Jeff, was almost a grown man.

My own brother and his wife, whole family, all gone.

Well, it's, well, since you stand here, you better come on with me.

Come on.

I think you'll feel better.

I'll be all right.

You, you...

What's the matter with the stew?

Nothing, Charlie.

I'm not hungry.

Charlie?

You know who he is?

Homesteader, I guess.

He's burned him out.

Where's he hurt?

Inside.

It's hard to say how bad.

He had to bury his whole family.

He was just sitting there.

Don't know how long.

Look after him, huh?

Yeah, sure.

You go on, Flint.

Get some food and rest.

He may come out of it all right.

Get some fresh stew right here.

Check you and Coons take care of those two horses.

Lift him up a little bit, Bill.

Give him a little broth.

There you go.

Just take it, Bill.

That's good.

Yeah.

You wait a minute.

Take it easy.

We're just trying to help you.

Where have you brought me?

This is a wagon train.

A wagon train?

Oh, I can't see.

Wait a minute.

You're not going anyplace.

We're camped for the night.

If you start feeling better, you can leave in the morning.

Right now, you better get some of that food in you.

You're about ready to starve.

McCullough found you.

McCullough?

McCullough?

He's our scout.

He brought you in.

Oh, I do.

So you remembered, huh?

I...

Now, you just take it easy.

Get some of this good hot broth in you.

You've got all day tomorrow to remember.

So, I'm very hungry.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

Tastes good.

Mighty good.

Yeah, is that what he said?

Is that coffee ready Charlie?

Get your hands off there.

Well, you don't have to be so grouchy.

I'll let you know when it's ready.

Morning.

Morning.

Well, we wondered where you were.

Well...

Took a little walk.

Tried to get a few things straight in my mind.

Haven't been thinking too well the past few days.

Bill and me heard about you losing your family.

We're both very sorry too.

Hope I wasn't too much trouble last night.

Wasn't hardly myself.

Oh, we understand.

Man never figures he's going to be the one to have to...

have to face up to a thing like I found the other day.

Anyway, thinking things out this morning,

I know there's nothing more I can do back there.

The thing for me to do is to move on.

I was wondering if I could buy passage on your train.

Well, that's no problem.

That's a funny thing.

Last night you talked like you'd never want to join a wagon train.

Well, that was because...

Doesn't matter now.

That coffee and grub sure smells good.

Might take me several days to catch up on my eating.

Sit right down. I got plenty to get you started, mister.

Mister, uh...

Chris.

Just call me Chris.

Ain't you got no last name?

Is a last name important?

Oh, it's all right, Chris.

It's none of our business what a man is or what he might be again sometime.

All we care about is how he carries his share of the load as long as he's with us.

Dig in there while it's hot.

Thank you.

Sir.

How about old Bill?

Bill? Old Bill's all right.

I'll take care of you two.

Charlie.

What is it, what is it, what is it?

Listen.

That's a horse coming.

Coming fast, too.

Yeah, come on.

McCall! What are you doing back so soon?

Because Judd Benedict wants things done in a hurry.

Did you meet him?

Yeah, I met him.

We've been pushing the horses all the way from Rivers Bend.

He slowed down about a quarter of a mile back so we could catch up.

Roust everybody up for what?

Because the new wagon master wants to get acquainted.

Tonight.

Well, half the camp's asleep.

Can't he wait till morning?

No, I'm afraid he can't.

Like that, huh?

Yeah.

Just like that.

What's he like, friend?

Is he as bad as everybody says he is?

I'm not ready to pass judgment, Charlie.

I will say one thing.

Judd Benedict knows what he wants.

And right now he wants everybody up and waiting for him when he and his men ride in.

His men?

That's right.

He's got a lot of men waiting for him.

He's got a lot of men waiting for him when he and his men ride in.

His men?

That's right.

Four of them.

Roust everybody up.

We'll meet at the Hennessy wagon.

Let's go.

Yeah.

All right, you folks.

Quiet down.

Quiet down out there.

I know it's late, lady.

I know you just got out of bed,

but I want to say a few things about the new wagon master before he gets here.

That's right.

The new wagon master.

Now, as you know, this train was formed in St. Louis by the Western Trails Company.

Most of you started with this there,

and some of you are driving wagons that are owned by the company.

And what I'm trying to say is that the company has the right to hire the wagon master of their choice.

And they've picked a man named Judd Benedict.

That's right.

Judd Benedict.

Now, he's experienced.

He knows his business.

This isn't the first train that he's headed up.

But there's one thing that I want you to understand.

He's going to have his own way of doing things.

And they may not be the same as we're used to.

But I want you to promise me that you'll give him all the cooperation he can use because he'll need it.

Flint!

Here he comes now, right near him.

I hope I won't regret those words.

What else could you say?

You have to give Benedict a fair chance.

I hope he does the same for us.

Hold it up, Owen.

Hold it up, Owen.

It's all yours, Mr. Benedict.

My name is Judd Benedict.

I'm going to help you folks get the rest of the way to California.

And these are the men that are going to help me do exactly that.

This is Lenny, Wash, and Carl.

Any problems you folks have, you can talk it over with them.

This one here is Muerto.

I wouldn't talk to him if I were you.

Now, the reason I wanted us folks to get acquainted tonight is there won't be time in the morning.

I believe the daylight is for traveling and not for talking.

Now, any of you folks got trouble with your wagons, I respectfully suggest that you fix them up tonight.

I travel fast. I expect you to keep up with me.

We'll move out at sunrise.

That is all. Good night.

Mr. Benedict.

I'd like you to meet a couple of friends of mine that I think could be pretty helpful to you.

This is Bill Hawks.

Mr. Benedict.

Hawks.

Bill knows about everybody on the train by his first name. He'll help you get acquainted.

Acquainted.

One of my main jobs is to get all the teams hooked up in the morning and be ready to roll.

Well, that's very considerate of you, but as you can see, I brought my own men along to do that job.

So I see.

But there is one thing you could do for me.

I'd need an extra man at the tail end of the wagon train.

Tail end of the train?

To push the stragglers along.

And this is Charlie Worcester.

We kid him a lot about his cooking, but he's kept us alive for the better part of four years.

Worcester.

Well, you taste my rabbit stew, Mr. Benedict.

Thank you very much, but Muerto over here does all my cooking for me.

Oh.

Now, it wouldn't make much sense having two men cook for one man, would it?

No, it wouldn't.

Mr. Benedict.

There's somebody sleeping in your wagon.

Now, I wonder who that could be.

Jeff, he's a friend of ours. Hasn't been feeling well lately.

Maybe we'd better get our things out of your wagon.

Yes, and take the supply wagon to the rear of the train, please.

Yes, sir.

Come on, Charlie.

Bill.

Oh, Mr. McCullough, may I have your attention for a moment, please?

Take it easy.

Hey, you.

This is mine.

Over here.

And this.

That stuff here, too.

I mean, to go to sleep in there.

I guess I was more tuckered out than I thought.

That's right.

Well, I'm going to get my pots and pans.

Now, I want you to scout along this ridge here.

As far as the river at this point.

You sure you don't want one of your own men to take over my job, too?

You have a fine reputation as a scout.

I hope you can live up to it.

Bill and Charlie think a lot of this train.

You'll find the people on it think a lot of them, too.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

People on it think a lot of them.

But they don't know me or my work my men do, I'm sorry.

There is no room for sentiment.

Like the wire says, you are the wagon master.

But are you the scout?

That depends.

I couldn't have anybody on this wagon train who was against me.

I am afraid I couldn't let you ride along with the train.

You or either of your two friends.

All right, Mr. Benedict, I'll scout for you.

There's one thing we ought to understand, though.

You run this wagon train, but you don't run me.

Fine.

You can ride out tonight.

Why tonight?

You'll have to, to stay ahead of me.

As I said before, I travel fast.

I'll do my best.

It seems like there ought to be something we can do.

Like what?

The company owns this outfit, and they hired Benedict to run it.

Besides, he hasn't given us anything to argue with him about, yet.

Bill's right, Charlie.

We keep acting as though he's done something wrong, and he hasn't.

Until he does, we've got to go along with things as they are.

You're going to ride at the back of the train, I'm going to scout.

Unless you want to leave the train.

That's exactly what I'd do if it wasn't for these nice people on this train.

It's probably a good thing you're located back here.

What's good about it?

It's because the old people fall behind, they're the ones that need the help.

How far ahead is Benedict sending you, Flint?

Let's say that when I get back, there won't be any doubt what kind of a wagon master he is.

He wants to keep you out of his hair for a while, huh?

I think that's the plan.

Well, how are you feeling?

All right.

I'm riding out in a few minutes, I'm glad to have the chance to say goodbye.

Oh?

Well, we haven't had a chance to talk very much, but I want to thank you for bringing me here.

I'm thanked.

Chris Hale.

Well, hello, Judd.

I heard you were coming here.

Well, now, I am surprised.

I wonder why the Western Trails Company bothered to track me down if they knew that you were riding on this train.

I'm not pushing wagons anymore, I'm just a paying passenger, that's all.

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

I wonder why the Western Trails Company bothered to track me down if they knew that you were riding on this train.

I'm not pushing wagons anymore, I'm just a paying passenger, that's all.

Yeah.

Wouldn't make any more sense than having two wagon masters than it would be in having two cooks, now, would it?

I'd say you ought to know as much about that as anybody, Judd.

Maybe we'll get together and talk over old times, huh, Chris?

Maybe.

Are you, uh, Christopher Hale?

There's no reason why I couldn't have told you about myself.

Oh, we know more about you than you think we do.

Back east every spring when we're putting these wagon trains together, everybody knows Christopher Hale, and they all talk about him, too.

Is that so?

Yeah.

I don't mind telling you it's going to be a lot easier going on knowing there's a man like you along with us.

What do you mean by that?

Well, evidently, you know this Benedict pretty good, don't you?

Well, evidently, you know this Benedict pretty good, don't you?

What do you mean by that?

Well, evidently, you know this Benedict pretty good, don't you?

A man with your reputation will have a lot more influence on him than we would.

That is, if he lives up to his reputation.

I can't help you there.

Why not?

You heard me say, I'm not pushing wagons anymore.

Yeah, we heard.

Like I said, I'm just a paying passenger on this train.

Sorry I had to say that.

It's no way to show my appreciation for what you've done for me.

Oh, that's all right.

But I would appreciate it if you'd forget I ever was a wagon master.

I'm trying to.

All right, folks, let's go.

All right, hurry it up now.

Come on.

Come on.

Well, if you want it, be ready to travel at sunrise.

Now, let's get moving.

All right, ladies, get loaded up.

In the wagon.

What the devil do you think you're doing?

What's it look like?

Didn't you hear Mr. Benedict say to get your wagons ready last night?

Didn't know what needed greasing last night.

Better watch your sassy tongue, old man, before I climb off his horse.

Now, you and the rest of these folks better learn something right quick.

But Mr. Benedict told you something.

He means for you to do it.

Now, let's get that wheel on there and move out of here.

All right, let's get that team hooked up and get up on that wagon.

It's time to go.

That's no way to make friends the first day on the job.

Well, if it isn't our Mr. Hawks.

That's right.

Don't you worry about me or my team or when I get up on that seat.

I know my way around this train pretty good.

Not Mr. Benedict's train, you don't.

Ain't you hooked up yet?

Ain't you hooked up yet?

Why don't you keep your big mouth closed?

What did I do wrong?

You're brave.

What's the matter with you?

Looks like Benedict's got his boys putting the pressure on already.

Chris, you know this man.

What's the best way to handle him?

I do my best to stay out of his way.

Be glad he has the responsibility of ramrodding this outfit and that you don't.

Mr. Chris, you ain't never told us where you knew him from.

Doesn't matter, Charlie. That was a long time ago.

A long time ago.

All set to go, Mr. Benedict.

It's about that time. All right, move them out.

Wake up!

Hey, wait for me!

Wait for me!

Come on, hold her up there!

Hurry up, Benedict!

Come on!

Let's go!

Let's go!

All right, move it out there!

Come on, let's close it up!

Come on, there!

Pick them up! Let's go!

You let them eat and fire them up.

Yes, sir.

All right, we'll start eating.

All right, we're not having a siesta all afternoon.

Let's get loaded up!

Come on, let's move out of here!

Let's go!

Let's go!

Hey, buddy, what's your name, mister?

Hennessy.

What about it?

I was just wondering.

Are you always the last one to do everything?

Look, mister.

If you're looking for trouble, you just maybe came to the right place.

Well, now that you're up, you get that wagon loaded and get ready to pull out.

I ain't finished eating yet.

You are now.

What do you think you're trying to do, shooting off a gun like that,

with my wife sitting this close?

You might have hit her!

You know, one of these days you're going to get it through that thick skull of yours

that when I say something, I mean...

What kind of a wagon master is that Benedict, anyway,

that he's got to bring gun slicks with him?

Why don't you ask him?

Well, we're not a bunch of criminals, you know.

What are you so afraid of that you've got to back yourself up with guns?

Does that answer your question about what I need to back me up?

Oh, my God.

A wagon master is like the captain of a ship.

Anybody that defies his orders is guilty of mutiny.

There will be no mutiny on this wagon train, remember that.

And save yourselves a lot of trouble.

Any comment?

You haven't changed a bit.

You haven't changed a bit, have you?

In just one way, Chris.

Now I'm the boss.

Mind if I have a look?

Oh, you're that new fellow that tried McBill Hawks, ain't you?

That's right, ma'am.

You a doctor?

No, but I've had some experience patching people up.

Must have busted it when it fell against the wheel.

Oh, it hurts a powerful lot.

It wouldn't hurt so much if it was broken.

It's broke.

I know it is.

What are you trying to do?

You'll be all right.

You have a dislocated shoulder.

You sure it weren't broke?

No.

I'd leave it in a sling for a day or two until those muscles get back in shape.

Hey, by George, I do believe you're right.

It feels better already.

I sure do want to thank you, Mr...

What was your name?

Chris.

Chris Hale.

You're a handyman to have around, Mr. Hale.

I'm much obliged to you.

It's all right.

What happened?

Somebody get killed or hurt or shot?

That was a long time ago, Charlie.

It was a long way to the end of that train, too.

Nobody was killed, Charlie.

I just had a little fracas with the new wagon master.

You mean to tell me the new wagon master done that to you?

Yourself?

Afraid he did.

He's going to be a hard man to get along with.

Him and those gun slicks of his.

But Mr. Hale here, he fixed me up in good shape.

Now, where'd he go?

He's a real nice man, Charlie.

Who is he exactly?

You mean you've never heard of Christopher Hale?

Can't say as I have.

How about you folks hear him?

Oh, I'll tell you.

Back in Missouri, every spring when we put these wagon trains together,

there are very few men you can call a wagon master.

And he's one of them.

And he's always in demand, too.

Are you trying to tell us this Mr. Hale is a ramrod?

Ramrod?

He's possibly one of the very best.

Well, then how come them they sent on a fella like Judd Benedict?

Well, I've been thinking about that, too.

And I guess maybe the company didn't know Mr. Chris was with us.

Anyway, I don't think they could hire him as a wagon master.

He won't even talk about a wagon train.

When McCullough found him and his family...

Halt! Halt!

There he goes again.

Get back to your wagon.

I'll help him, Mr. Hale.

You get your wagon.

I'll help him, Mr. Hale.

You get your plate there.

Come on, let's get up here.

Charlie, you better get back to your wagon.

Why, if I stand right here, the wagon will catch up with me, won't it?

Come on, I'll give you a hand there now.

Watch that shoulder.

What's that fool Benedict trying to do?

Kill off our horses?

It's terrible hot, Hennessey.

I don't remember us ever driving in the heat of the afternoon like this.

All right, let's get him going.

Come on.

Pull it up there.

Let's go.

Come on.

Pull it up there.

Let's go.

Now we know how Benedict gets them trains to the coast in record-breaking time.

He pushes right on, doing the horse-killing part of the day.

Well, the heat, you know, Mr. Becker?

I reckon they're a little older than most.

They're a good team, Mr. Hawks.

But they gotta get rest.

How much longer we gotta keep going like this?

I don't know, it beats me.

You rest in there for a while and I'll see that they don't leave you behind.

Much obliged, Mr. Hawks.

Something wrong with Bonnie, Mrs. Stevens?

It's just that we've been going so long without stopping in the heat.

We ought to have been camped in a shady spot a long time ago, wouldn't you say, Mr. Hawks?

Yeah, I'd say that.

Steve, you hold them here. Charlie will be along in a minute.

I heard about your trouble, Mr. Hennessey. How's that shoulder?

Oh, it's all right.

But the rest of me is getting nigh-blown tuckered out.

I'm gonna ride up ahead and talk to Benedict and see if he won't stop and let you folks rest for a while.

You just tell that Benedict that we're not used to this kind of treatment.

That's what I'm about to tell him, ma'am.

Hey, Benedict?

If you think there's a drop down already, there's gonna be more.

Then what are you doing up here? Get back and take care of your job.

I came up here to talk to you and I'm gonna talk.

I would never want to have said that one of my men couldn't come to me if he had a problem.

You know, for five years I've been helping bring wagon trains west.

And I've never heard of one wagon master who would push his men and his horses through the heat of the day.

And just how many trains have you been on in five years?

Five. What does that have to do with it?

Everything. While you were riding five trains, I was heading up ten.

And not by wasting half a day because somebody thought I was a little warm.

Mr. Hawks, as you know, I get paid pretty well for doing my job.

And it doesn't take much figuring to know that you can make twice as much from two trains a year as you can from one.

It doesn't take much figuring to know how many people you leave by the wayside to fend for themselves.

Well, if people don't have the stuff for a trip like this, they shouldn't have left in the first place.

In the first place, the reason people travel with a train is for protection.

The strong ones help the weak ones. You don't leave them by the wayside and run off if you can help it.

You can run a train one of two ways.

No faster than the slowest wagon or my way. No slower than the fastest wagon.

People don't like your way.

I'm afraid they're going to have to, as long as I'm the wagon master.

Maybe they can do something about that.

You know, these people spend a lot of money to become a part of this train.

This trip is hard enough as it is without you making it harder for them.

They might just get enough of you, Benedict, and vote you out.

And just where would you stand on a case like that?

That's kind of a silly question.

But I had to ask it.

I had to make sure that you're the ringleader of this proposed mutiny.

Voting a tyrant out of power isn't mutiny.

Mutiny is punishable by death.

You're not aboard ship, mister.

And that is the only reason I'm not going to hang you.

Call him off, Benedict, or I'll gun him down.

You'll gun who down?

Uh!

Uh!

Uh!

Uh!

Uh!

Uh!

Uh!

Stop that!

Stop that!

You have just seen what happens to a man who attempts to commit mutiny.

And to another man who tries to attack me.

These two men will ride the rest of the way to California in the prison wagon.

And so will the next man that defies me, and the next one, and the one after that.

I am the wagon master. Make no mistake about that.

Any man, Jackie, you think otherwise, now is the time to speak up.

How about you?

Your wagon fell behind today. Any comment?

And Mr. Hale, anything to say?

I told you I'm just a paying passenger.

But that doesn't mean I have to listen to your speeches.

Throw him in the prison wagon and bring me the key.

Come on! Come on!

Let's go!

Come on!

Come on!

Here, here, here.

How does this feel?

Hey, that's real good, Charlie.

Put some more on, will you?

Yes, sir.

You know, when I get out of this chicken coop,

I'm gonna pull that Benedict apart bone by bone.

And all the king's horses and all the king's...

Now you just keep quiet.

It's the only help you're backing on, and this water will.

I wonder what Chris Hale's thinking about now.

I don't know.

There's a limit, you know.

You can push a man so far, so hard, so long,

and then, no matter who he is, he turns and fights.

It comes when he don't care no more.

When he does soon get his hide riddled, his knuckle under.

Well, talking up another fight isn't going to help this one, Hennessey.

I've known Judd Benedict a long time.

He fattens on fight talk.

We can't go on like this.

This keeps on.

I don't expect any of us will get to California.

Where are you going?

For a walk.

Take it easy, Fred.

I just wanted to see how my friends were doing.

Mr. Benedict don't want anybody around this wagon.

Well, I'll just be a minute. How about it?

Well, all right. Give me your gun.

Sure.

Well, how are you doing?

Oh, just fine.

I've cut myself a little.

How are you doing?

Oh, just fine.

I've cut that Benedict down 60 different times already in my mind.

You've got to get us out of here.

I wish I could. Only one trouble.

What's that?

I'm not in command.

Only one man can get you out of here. You know that.

You mean you're siding in with him?

I have no choice.

You're not the man I thought you was.

That's not the point.

The point is you got a man in charge or you got a mob.

He's the wagon master, approved by the company.

I hate him worse than you do. I've known him longer.

He's got a bigger axe to grind.

But that has nothing to do with what's happened.

He was wrong, but he was in command.

And you shouldn't have challenged him the way you did.

Now, I don't want to see you hurt anymore.

You just take your medicine and do what the man says.

He's taken a lot of wagon trains through to California,

and he'll ramrod this one through.

When we get to Sacramento, we'll fix his little red wagon.

But not till then.

Meantime, you just grit your teeth and tough it out.

Yeah.

All right, move him out.

Forward!

Forward!

Whoa!

What's the matter?

That old tongue finally broke.

You just got the baby to sleep. I hope it doesn't wake her up.

What are you stopping here for? Let's get a move on.

With a broken tongue? Don't be stupid.

Nobody talks to me like that.

I didn't mean it.

I was just upset at having a broken tongue and no extra.

Being sorry ain't going to help much now.

What are you getting at?

You know what I'm getting at.

I ain't no gunfighter.

Anybody with as big a mouth as you got ought to be.

Please, leave him alone. He hasn't done anything to you.

Call me stupid.

You might have a point there.

Well, you cutting yourself a piece of this pie, mister?

You're pushing that boy into a fire.

You ain't stopping.

I already have.

But if you want to finish what you started, I'll oblige you.

Just made the biggest mistake of your life, mister.

I don't think so. You're not going to try to face me again.

If you know what's good for you, you won't tell Judd Benedict you got bested at your own trade.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

I don't think so.

Don't tell Judd Benedict you got bested at your own trade.

Now get on that horse and ride out of here.

And stay out.

I sure do thank you, Mr. Hale.

Oh, me sure.

That's all right.

If I was you, I'd stay out of Lenny's way for a while.

Don't worry. I will.

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

Oh, thank you.

Let's see what we can do with this broken pump.

There. That ought to hold you until we can find some timber for a new one.

I sure do owe you a lot, Mr. Hale.

Forget it. You better get hitched up now.

Remember what I told you. You better stay out of Lenny's way for a while.

Yes, sir.

You sure are a good fixer, Mr. Hale.

Well, thank you.

My name is Bonnie.

Bonnie, huh? Well, that's a beautiful name.

Could you fix my dolly too?

Bonnie, you mustn't bother Mr. Hale with that.

But my dolly's broken.

I'll fix it for you.

That's all right, ma'am. I'd kind of like to if you don't mind.

All right, Mr. Hale, if you really want to.

But you've done so much for us already.

You come to my wagon tonight, Bonnie, your dolly will be all fixed.

Thank you, Mr. Hale.

You boys better pass the word around to everybody.

They better be ready for our rough trip tomorrow.

Hale.

Mrs. Hennessey figured Benedict being the way he is,

you wouldn't be getting much to eat.

So she sent you some goodies.

Well, Tar, we appreciate it.

I'm glad you stopped by for another reason.

Charlie and I heard Benedict tell his men

that he was going to cut off the trail in the morning

and go through Stone Mountain Pass.

How come he's doing that?

Well, it's shorter, but only a darn fool to try to take a whole wagon train through there.

We're going to lose a dozen wagons or more.

We've got to stop him.

How are you going to stop him?

Look, I want you to go to Chris Hale, tell him Benedict's plans.

Now, Chris is the kind of a man that can organize the people

and maybe do something about it.

Yeah.

Maybe he's good at that.

I'll take care of it.

Don't worry.

Good.

Be careful now.

Yeah.

Say, good to see you're not dead, huh?

Mr. Hale, we'd like to talk to you.

Well, sure.

What's on your mind?

You ever hear of Stone Mountain Pass?

Yeah, not far from here.

Why?

What would you say to taking a wagon train through there?

Well, I'd say it was impossible.

It is impossible to get everybody through.

You'd lose some wagons and some people.

Why do you ask?

Benedict is taking us through there tomorrow morning.

How do you know that?

Bill Hawks heard him say so.

He told me when I went up to see him.

Bill told me to come to you, Mr. Hale,

to ask you to lead us against Benedict,

make him change his mind.

I can't do that.

We'd back you up, Mr. Hale.

We'd run Benedict out,

and you could take over as wagon master.

The folks would all like that.

That's right.

I gave up, Ramrod, and I'm not ever going to do it again.

But we need you, Mr. Hale.

We need you bad.

I'm sorry.

Well, I don't understand, Mr. Hale.

The way you stood up to that fellow Lenny today,

I know you ain't afraid of Benedict.

It isn't a matter of my being afraid of him for myself.

You've got the experience, Mr. Hale.

When a man's got the know-how to help folks that need helping,

it appears to me it's his duty to do it.

Duty.

That's one word I've heard just about enough of.

And I'm going to tell you why.

For 10 years, I ramrodded wagon trains west.

For 10 years, I had to leave my wife and family

and spend most of my time in a saddle

looking after other people.

When I got a big enough stake,

I was going to settle down on a nice little piece of land

and make a real home for my wife and children.

And just this last spring, I was making my last trip.

My family was with me.

Even my brother and his wife were along.

And it wasn't far from this spot right here

that my wife took sick and we couldn't go on.

We thought this was as good a place to settle as any,

so we built a house and a barn right there.

Folks on the train put it up for us in one day.

Now, I had a duty to those people,

a duty to lead them the rest of the way to California.

But I knew I shouldn't leave my family alone in this country.

The only reason the Indians didn't bother my train

was because I had treaties with their chiefs.

But with me gone, those treaties didn't mean a thing.

When I got back from California,

my house and barn were burned to the ground.

I had to take five graves.

It was my decision that did it.

Nobody else's but mine.

We got families too, Mr. Hill.

You could help us protect them.

Can I?

Supposing I lead you against Benedict.

His gunslingers are going to start shooting.

Sure, we could probably win the fight because there are more of us,

but there'd be a lot fewer of us when it was over.

And some families would be a lot smaller than they are now.

I'm not going to make a decision like that, not anymore.

Enough people have already died because of me and my duty.

I'm sorry.

Tell Bonnie her doll's all fixed.

Oh!

My dolly's all well.

You fixed her. You fixed her.

You're the best fixer in the whole world.

Well, I'm not.

I'm not?

I'm not.

I'm not.

I'm not.

I'm not.

I'm not.

I'm not.

Rats!

Mr. Hill,

you helped us this afternoon when we needed you.

Please help us now.

Now?

They've gone to see Benedict. All of them.

My husband, too.

I guess you folks don't learn quick, do you?

Well, haven't we got anything to say about whether we risk our lives or not?

Of course you do, and you've just said it.

Now go back to your wagons and don't come back here trying to scare me

because you've got a lot of people standing behind you.

I gotta tell you, we're not moving our wagons in the morning.

Not if you're planning to take us through Stone Mountain Pass.

Hennessy, I am getting sick and tired of you!

You've got two arms, Judge.

Like me.

Or are you still hurting from the licking I gave you about eight years ago?

And tell your boys not to move a hand because I'll take you first.

And you know I can do it.

Chris, I wouldn't think of having you shot.

And about that time eight years ago, well, uh...

You're not still thinking you could do it?

There's no doubt about it.

And there's no doubt that it needs doing again for the same reason as before.

But there's a difference this time, Chris.

This time I'm calling the shots.

And you're calling them the same way you tried to call them on my train.

Judd, your kind of thinking was left behind

by the first people who landed in Massachusetts.

These folks are no different than anybody else in this country.

They have a right to speak up when somebody's trying to browbeat them

like you've been trying to browbeat them,

unlike you tried to do on my train.

You were too soft. I threw you out.

Eight years makes a big difference, Chris.

Especially to a man your age.

I assume you're willing to do your own fighting?

Boys, the only thing I want you to do is to see that nobody mixes in.

You going to take that off?

I'm going to throw you off this wagon train, Benedict.

You better get an early start.

All right, get out of here!

Come on, Chris! Come on!

Get out of here!

Get out of here!

Get out of here!

Get out of here!

Get out of here!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Come on!

Get over here!

Come on, get up!

Come on!

Shoot him!

Shoot him!

Benedict!

Oh!

Stand back, Charlie.

Get on your horses and get out of camp.

Take that with you.

Come on, move!

Stay with him.

As of now, we're going to get back to doing things the old way.

Thanks to Chris here.

Better get back to your wagons.

Have a seat, Chris.

This will help you, Mr. Chris.

Brandy.

Thanks.

Looks like you got a wagon train if you want it.

You know, these people need a wagon master like you.

They've had one all along, Bill.

This is your job.

We didn't handle it too well and ended up in a jail wagon like we did.

Oh, you've done all right.

You and Charlie were standing alone. I should have helped sooner.

Any man needs help.

You're right there, Chris.

You know, there's nothing that Charlie and I like better than to help a man like you.

Thanks, Charlie.

Oh, it was nothing.

Like you said, Chris, every man needs some help.

There was a gun there. Why didn't you use it?

Not with a good heavy skillet, Andy.

I could have missed him with a gun.

All set, Bill. All set, Chris.

Wagons!

Ho!

Ho!

Ho!

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