Original subtitles

[Apaches yelling]

[Bugler playing "Cavalry Charge"]

[Speaking Apache]

[Gunshots]

Sergeant, establish a picket line. This could be a trap.

Establish a picket line!

Assign a burial detail.

[Gunshots]

I asked for a burial detail!

Yes, sir.

Soldado, they are few. Do we attack?

You count only their men, Poderoso.

I count their bullets.

When we have enough guns, we will attack.

[Gunshots]

You know I've been hearin' all my life that Apaches are born with two left eyes

and they can't hit anything they shoot at.

Well...

It takes practice to become perfect

and it takes bullets to practice.

[Sam barking]

What's going on, Mr. Lane?

I'd say a little shootin' practice.

I'd say you were teaching the Apaches how to be marksmen.

That's about it.

It's time somebody showed 'em the fine points of shootin' so

they can feed their families.

A man gets kinda mean seein' his wife and kids starve to death.

I don't think I have to tell you Apache guns are used for other than hunting game.

Yes, my men also use their guns to support your cavalry.

I don't think that support is worth what it costs.

Well, what does it cost?

We're fighting not only our enemies, Mr. Lane

but your father-in-law's.

Say it clearer than that.

All right.

Vittoro's getting old

and there are young bucks around that are just aching to take his place.

and they don't care how many white settlers they have to kill

or how many troopers they have to kill to prove to the rest of the Apaches

that they're entitled to take his place.

The Holbrook family, settlers southeast of here.

We buried 'em two hours ago.

–This ammunition's from Fort Lowell. –Where else would I get it?

–See you in my office. –I'll be there.

♪ ♪

You're in big trouble, Mr. Lane. Big trouble.

You could end up facing a firing squad. Do you know that?

Yeah, well, it's hard to say how a man'll end up.

Supplying Apaches with government ammunition is not a minor offense, Mr. Lane.

It's no offense at all, Captain.

Colonel Crook authorized rifle practice for Vittoro's men.

To get things started he had me draw ammunition from the garrison stores here at Fort Lowell.

The authority is on file with your magazine officer.

Why wasn't I consulted?

Well, I'll tell you, Captain. Where I learned my military etiquette

a colonel didn't need to tell a captain what he was gonna do.

Besides, you were on leave while all this happened.

What else happened while I was on leave? Anymore surprises in store for me?

Vittoro will have his own ammunition supply so he won't be drawing on you.

Wagons oughta be here any day from Tucson.

Wait a minute!

Are you saying that I'm gonna be in charge of supplying the Apaches with ammunition?

Somebody has to, Captain.

Unless you want those savages in charge of their own gunpowder.

That's all, Sergeant. Dismissed.

Now Crook's startin' to spend the taxpayers' money so he can train Apaches to kill us.

[Laughs]

Seems to me they were good enough at it all along.

Crance, you got it all wrong.

I told you what Hondo said.

Once they get to be good shots, them Injuns is just gonna shoot jackrabbits.

Well, I can tell you one thing for sure.

From now on, I'm gonna start wearin' me a sign that clearly says I ain't no jackrabbit.

Have another drink, Sarge. I gotta get goin'.

What's the story?

Colonel Crook's got an ammunition train on the way

so Vittoro's bucks can learn to shoot.

–You're telling that to the wrong person, Crance. –Oh?

Should be telling Soldado, huh?

–He'd want to know. –[Laughs]

That's what I figured.

[Gunshot]

Poderoso, fire!

[Apaches yelling]

Mr. Lane!

Courier just rode in from Fort Whipple.

Colonel Crook wants us to meet him at Vittoro's village right away.

Looks like I'm gonna have to go look down the neck of a bottle all by myself.

He wants you, too, Mr. Baker.

–Cheer up. It'll just age some more. –So will I.

I, uh, called you together to tell you I'm being detached...

temporarily.

Ordered back to Washington for some social nonsense.

Gonna have a medal pinned on me by the President.

Kinda sudden, isn't it?

Maybe, but it's mandatory.

At any rate, I...

I want you all to work together like you've been doing while my replacement's here.

Not all the leaders of the white man's army have your understanding of the Indian.

Well, I'll only be gone a couple of months. Nothing will change.

We've been making good progress on getting our people to live together.

It, uh, hasn't been perfection, but it's...

it's been progress.

When do you have to leave, sir?

I leave for Tucson tomorrow.

If it'd been left up to me, I'd have left the area in your charge, Captain.

Thank you, sir. Good. Just who is....?

[Hoofbeats approaching]

Ammunition wagon, sir.

Attacked and looted comin' down from Coleman's Grade.

Driver and convoy massacred.

That's quite a going away present.

Well...

that's a problem my replacement will have to cope with.

You didn't say. Who is your replacement?

Colonel "Buckeye" Jack Smith.

Where are you going?

To get drunk.

I must call a council of the chiefs tonight. Can you be there?

Then don't get too drunk, my son. I will need you.

Don't worry about me.

Come on, Sam.

[Sam barking]

–Hello, Hondo. –Whiskey.

Hey, where you been, huh?

Stablin' my horse.

Oh, Buckeye Smith...

Colonel "Buckeye" Jack Smith, you know?

Just sayin' that name

turns good whiskey bad.

Well, I figure I'm gonna make myself scarce until Crook gets back.

Yeah, yeah. Me, too. I'm...

I'm gonna take, uh, two month's leave.

Well, you can't do that. You're on regular Army payroll.

Oh, now you're making me really sick.

"Buckeye" Jack Smith, boy general.

He won the whole Civil War all by hisself!

And didn't ol' Buckeye Jack almost single- handed whip the whole Sioux nation?

You better believe he did because he said he did!

Oh, man, I wonder what ol' whiskey barrel they scraped the bottom of to come up with Buckeye.

It musta been an old one.

Oh, Mr. Tribolet, sir.

Uh, what can I do for you?

Shut up, if you please.

Did you hear that, Hondo?

Mr. Tribolet asked me to shut up, if I please.

[Laughs] Why should I?

You're annoying me.

I happen to think a great deal of Colonel Smith. Your remarks are offensive.

Well, that's a shame.

(Hondo) Maybe that explains it.

I wondered who picked Smith for this command.

Maybe you and your brother arranged it with your friends in Washington.

Why, Hondo, you overestimate our influence.

However, if what Mr. Baker says is true

I'll confess I'm very pleased.

Yes, sir, I wonder how many politicians bend the bank with your pleasure.

[Snorts]

What does it cost, Tribolet, to handpick your own commanding officer?

[Snorts]

What's the going rate on colonels like Buckeye Jack?

Tribolet, Hondo asked you a simple question.

We all know how much you make on a nice Injun war sellin' bullets and material to both sides.

How much does it cost you?

Take your hands off me, you drunken...!

Welcome to Fort Lowell, sir.

This is Fort Lowell, Captain? A cavalry post?

Yes, sir.

By appearances I thought it might be a fortified saloon.

I'll have the area cleared in a moment, sir.

Break up that fight.

O'Hara, Smith, Johnson, break that up!

I want to inspect all military personnel attached to this command

first thing tomorrow morning.

Yes, sir.

I trust your command is as spirited in fighting Apaches as they are in fighting each other.

They're good soldiers, sir.

They'd better be.

I came here to fight Apaches.

Yes, sir.

Ah, looks like we done it again.

Well, that's all there is to it.

Smith isn't gonna replace Colonel Crook.

In two months Crook'll be back.

Nothin's changed and nothin's gonna change.

Smith will honor Crook's policies.

Crook is asking you to accept this temporary change of command in good faith. That's all.

Good faith?

I never accept the word of the white man in good faith.

Pride is the knife that is pointed at our hearts.

Senseless pride that makes some us believe that

we can defeat a people with a thousand times our strength.

But I did not call you here to discuss what you already know

but to tell you that today some of us broke our treaty with the white man.

Those soldiers who died

were protecting ammunition that belonged to all of us.

It was given to us by Colonel Crook

so that we could hunt food for our women and children.

Apaches!

Vittoro

tells us that we are to love our white enemy

in order that we can eat.

I say that if we listen to this old woman

we stop being Apaches.

Did you raid the ammunition train, Soldado?

If I did

I have enough ammunition to drive the white man from our land.

And then our women and children will no longer starve

and we could feed them even better if we had the new repeating rifles

like those of the white soldier.

If you have the ammunition

return it to your people.

Any ammunition I take from the white soldier

I will return to them

just as fast as my warriors can load and fire.

One wagonload of ammunition, if he has it

and with that Soldado is going to conquer the United States.

I said there was a knife pointed at our hearts.

Now I will name that knife...

–Soldado. –No!

The knife is the man who takes Crook's place.

A man called Smith, a known butcher of Indians.

Soldado, you don't know what you're talkin' about.

The Apaches don't have a treaty with Colonel Crook.

–He admits it now! –Shut up and listen.

Your treaty is with the government of the United States.

Smith has to live up to it, same as Crook does, same as you all do.

You lie.

I say you always lie to us.

Twitch one muscle and I'll blow your head off, Soldado. That's a promise.

Soldado!

This is a council of Apache chiefs, not a cock fight.

Sheath that knife!

You heard this white man threaten to kill me.

Sheath that knife! I command it!

You do not command Soldado, old woman.

I cannot match his gun with my knife, but next time...

Soldado!

I command you to return to your place!

I will return to my place

away from here.

The council will consider your message carefully, my son.

What's left of the council.

Come on, Sam.

[Sam barks]

(Sergeant) A-ten-hut!

Rations must be very generous here, soldier.

Yes, sir.

We'll have to find some way to help you work them off.

And these, I take it, are our scouts.

I'm sure they're very good in smelling out the enemy

if the enemy doesn't smell them first.

That hat

it has no place in this command.

As a scout you have complete freedom

from uniform regulation

but that doesn't give you the right to show contempt for it.

This is not the Confederate army.

Draw the proper hat immediately after inspection.

Do you pick men for their hats or what's underneath them?

You must be Hondo Lane.

Colonel Crook told me about you.

You're very special, I know.

But I could order you to lose that hat.

Then you'd lose me.

Fall out, Lane, and report to my office.

Mommy, what's a matter with Emberato?

What did he do?

Is that new colonel mad at him?

I don't know, dear.

Emberato walks like he's mad, don't he?

It would appear that Hondo's being sent to the woodshed.

Well, I'd like to get him in the woodshed

with an axe handle in my hand.

Don't worry about Hondo. He'll be taken care of.

We didn't pick Colonel Smith's name out of a hat.

–Yeah. –Come on. I'll buy you a drink.

–Have a drink, Lane. –Thanks.

And you may remove that hat if it's not nailed down to your scalp.

Is that why you called me here, so you could

ride me some more about this hat?

No, Lane. I want to talk to you.

Drink up.

I'm informed you attended a council of Apache chiefs last night.

That's right. Vittoro wanted to know the reason for the

temporary change in command.

Mm.

I trust I'm acceptable to them.

Well, they'll let us know about that, I guess.

Too bad you didn't check with me before you left the fort.

I have a message for the Apaches

that you could have delivered at the same time.

However...

I drafted what I would have had you say in the form of an order.

I want you to deliver it to Vittoro immediately.

You don't approve of the order, Lane?

You want a straight answer?

Mm-hmm.

I think that order makes about as much sense as a lighted cigar in a powder magazine.

You can't ask the Apaches to give up their firearms.

In the first place, they're entitled to those guns under their treaty.

They've been breaking that treaty right along.

Isn't it a fact that in the last forty-eight hours

they wiped out one family of white settlers

and massacred an entire detail with the cavalry supply train?

Those attacks were the work of a few renegades.

Most of the Apaches honor the treaty.

And they need those guns to feed their families.

They managed to get along for centuries without arms.

They weren't competing with the white man for living space during those centuries, Colonel

and they weren't pinned down on a reservation.

You can't do that to 'em.

I've asked for your opinion, Lane, and you've stated it.

The order stands as is and will be enforced to the letter.

They have five days to deliver their arms to our depot.

After that, any Apache found with a firearm...

...will be executed. I read your order, Colonel.

Look, can't you let this whole thing ride along until Colonel Crook comes back?

The Apaches are his responsibility, not yours.

Not while I'm in command here.

I want this order delivered to Vittoro.

Then you better take it to him yourself.

Lane!

I haven't dismissed you.

You might as well, Colonel.

Then I'm not dismissing you, or your insubordination.

I'm restricting you to the limits of this fort.

And I'm certain I don't have to warn you

breaking restrictions is a general court-martial offense.

No, I've been around the Army long enough to know that.

Matter of fact, I think I've been around it too long.

Sam

I'm gonna make tracks to Vittoro and then a long ride to Tucson.

You stay here. You got a week's leave comin' anyway.

Hondo? Who the devil sent for you?

You did, Colonel. You said you wanted me to help make peace with Vittoro and the Apaches.

Well, if that still means anything to you, you better move and move fast.

Forget that decoration Grant's supposed to pin on you.

What's this all about?

You better have a drink, Colonel.

Buckeye Jack's ordered the Apaches to give up their rifles or get killed.

He can't do that!

Throw me my pants.

That's why I came runnin' after you.

Maybe you'll have more luck explaining to Colonel Smith than I did.

(Crook) I'll do more than explain it to him.

Before we start back to Lowell, I better send a telegram to General Sheridan

ask him to make my manners to Grant, of course.

but I'll also ask him to terminate my temporary duty orders. Smith's as well.

Sheridan's gonna want to know what's goin' on.

I know it's not everyday a bird colonel can tell the President of the United States

what to do with a decoration.

I'll tell him.

Smith's pushin' us into an Indian war.

This is no time to protect a brother officer from his own foolishness.

Ahh.

Some day, Hondo, some day I'd like to put on a nice, clean, new uniform.

just to see how it'd feel not to smell like horse sweat and old buffaloes.

You know there's only one thing that

worries me more than your smelling like a gentleman and an officer.

What's that?

How much trouble Buckeye Jack could stir up before we get back.

You know

we got the makings of a first-class war going.

Well, we got Soldado supplied with plenty of ammunition

and he's just itchin' to kill white men right and left.

We got a colonel that's itching to kill Indians.

Shouldn't be long before they're both doing what they enjoy most.

(Crance) I hope you're right about that.

I hate to think what'll happen if people ask too many questions

about who put Smith in command here.

It won't happen, Crance.

If you were a student of history, you'd know that once a war starts

only scholars wonder how and why it began.

If they find out

it won't be in our time.

Yeah, yeah. [Laughs]

Your beer is flat!

That last one tasted just like dish water!

It is. I'm washin' glasses.

Huh!

Come on, Sam. Let's us go sit at a table.

[Sam whimpers]

Well, here's to old Vittoro. Heh!

His bucks is bustin' out all over the place, Sam.

Like that, that Soldado fella.

Boy, there's one that's itchin' to give ol' Buckeye the fight he's itchin' to get.

You want a drink, Sam? Boy, there's one that's itchin' to give ol' Buckeye the fight he's itchin' to get.

You want a drink, Sam?

[Sam whimpers]

Mr. Baker.

(Buffalo) Well, Cap Richards. [Laughs]

I plumb forgot to drink one to you.

Come on, come sit down, and you and me drink to you together, huh?

Thank you, no. I have some orders for you from Colonel Smith.

Oh?

Well, what are they?

Well, he would like very much for you to lead him out to meet Soldado.

[Laughs]

Wh... whatever gave him a foolish idea like that?

Well, Soldado sent in one of his warriors to say that

he's willing to give up all his guns to Colonel Smith.

Yeah, I'll bet he is.

From the front and the side, the back, any place he can get a good shot at him.

Huh-uh.

That's an order, Mr. Baker.

I heard you.

–What are gonna do about it? –What am I gonna do about it?

I'm gonna have another drink.

I rode two days and most of a night to get back here from Tucson.

So you can be certain I consider the situation critical, Colonel.

Well, I appreciate your efforts and your advice, Colonel. However...

(Crook) I'm not advising you, sir. I'm telling you.

This gun order is a tragic mistake.

You'll have to find some way to back off from it.

I have no intentions of backing off, Colonel.

In my opinion, my gun order is long overdue in this area

and I intend to pursue it.

Colonel

you've got to understand that everything we've done here is based on a strong tie with Vittoro.

Of course, there are renegade Apaches

but that's exactly why Vittoro's strength and influence must be maintained.

If one of those renegades takes over control of the Apache nation...

Heaven help us all.

Colonel...

we have plans for the renegades. Haven't we, Captain?

You better have plans, Colonel, because you'll be fightin' a man whose out to hang your guts up to dry.

A man name Soldado.

Soldado?

Interesting you should mention that name.

Tell them about Soldado, Captain.

Soldado is the first Apache chief who offered to surrender all the firearms in possession of his people.

What's your excuse for bein' that stupid, Captain?

You've been around here long enough to know better than to trust Soldado.

Speaking of trust, Lane, I, uh...

restricted you to the fort three nights ago

and I trusted you to observe that restriction

and warned you of the consequences if you didn't.

He broke restriction out of loyalty to this command.

I'd also point out that he returned voluntarily.

I'll see that those facts are recorded in his court-martial, Colonel.

Captain, have this man taken to the guardhouse.

Colonel Smith

within twenty-four hours your tour as commander here will be terminated.

Colonel Crook, that may be true.

But until those orders arrive, I am in command here

and don't you forget it.

Your gun'll be in the desk.

Hondo.

What are you in here for?

Oh, they got me in here for "subordination" or somethin' like that.

[Laughs] You know I mighta knowed you'd be around to look in on me.

Well, I'm not lookin' in on you. I'm locked in.

Oh?

What did you do, anyway?

Oh, Buckeye Jack he wanted me to lead him in a patrol out there to Mesa Roja where

Soldado's supposed to turn over them guns of his.

I said to him, "If you wanna get your hair lifted"

"and your scalp tanned by some squaw"

"that's your business. Not me, uh-uh."

Well, it looks like we'll eat high on the hog tonight. Here comes Angie with a big basket.

Yeah? [Laughs] Hey, that Angie's a right smart gal.

Hello, Hondo, Buffalo.

Miss Angie.

How'd you know I was here?

The whole town's talking about how you brought Crook back.

Guess it didn't do me much good.

It did get you free room and board.

Hot out of the oven. That's real good. Thank you.

Hondo, I...

I've heard about how many times you've broken out of jail and guardhouses.

Please don't break out of this one.

What makes this one any different?

I didn't know you before.

Victor.

I'll tell you things ain't goin' right.

What's the trouble?

Smith's going out to pick up Soldado's guns.

Let him try.

That should start the war we've been waiting for.

Yeah, I know, but we're

liable to lose our special, hand-picked colonel.

Soldado might kill him.

Fortunes of war, Crance.

Colonel Smith is expendable.

–We'll just have to buy ourselves another commander. –[Laughs] Yeah.

(Captain Richards) Detail, forward, ho!

There's one thing you can say about ol' Buckeye Smith:

he certainly was mighty smart and pretty lookin'.

Least ways he was the last time he was seen alive.

Which way, Captain?

Straight ahead, up into the mountains.

Something seem to be worrying you, Captain?

I was thinking about Mr. Lane, sir, but...

it's not important.

That's right.

The important thing is to get those guns from Soldado.

Yes, sir.

Colonel Crook, it's Vittoro.

Open the gate.

Vittoro.

What are you doing here?

Where is my son?

He's in the guardhouse.

I came to see him.

Come on. We'll both go see him.

Well, there he is, Vittoro.

I came here to tell you and Colonel Crook

that I've just seen Smith and Richards.

They are riding into a trap.

We tried to tell him.

You can't stop them, Colonel?

No, or they wouldn't be out there.

I'm under military orders, Vittoro. What's known as a detached status.

I, uh, I have no authority.

That's not so, Colonel. Right this minute you're the senior officer at the fort.

You can do anything you wanna do

if you wanna do it.

Well, now, which would I rather have: a court martial or busted out?

All right, Colonel, so you've asked a lot of men to put there lives on the line.

Now you put those birds on the line.

Maybe you will get busted.

But if you don't do something the Indian treaty's gonna get busted and

Colonel Smith and a lot of troopers are gonna get busted right outta livin'.

Can we stop it?

Well, let's all get outta here and try to spring Soldado's trap if there's still time.

Come on, Colonel, ante up those birds.

Even if we get to Smith, I doubt I can stop him.

He can order the troops not to follow me. He, uh...

outranks me

by three months.

Three months, huh?

I have men.

They will follow you, Colonel.

Guard.

Open this cell. Release the prisoners.

Captain

you know what occurs to me?

Colonel Crook was badly misled by that unreconstructed Reb, Hondo.

There's your proof.

What Indian would pick an open spot like this

if it were a trap?

Yes, sir.

Let's ride in and meet this Soldado, Captain.

Yes, sir.

Soldado

Colonel John J. Smith.

I compliment you on the common sense that brings us to this meeting.

Men who wish for peace

do not need the protection of firearms.

You are wise to bring in your arms voluntarily.

Splendid example for your people.

Both our peoples will gain, Colonel Smith.

As you see, those are very old rifles. Single-shot.

Even the best of them no longer fire true.

We will be well rid of them.

It is time they were replaced.

In return for them

we ask for 100 new Winchester repeating carbines

and 5,000 rounds of ammunition.

Soldado, you misunderstood my order.

We did not come out here to make an exchange.

I did.

That's completely out of the question.

You are wrong, Colonel Smith.

[Speaks Apache]

Then you'll have to order them to fire.

I won't be intimidated

and you're not getting those guns.

That is not for you to say.

–I am in command here. –You are nothing.

You will be less than nothing

if you or one of your men make a single move.

Poderoso

the Colonel is too hot.

Take off his jacket.

Sergeant, you have heard?

100 repeating Winchesters

and 5,000 rounds of ammunition.

I want them here by sundown

in an open wagon

with only one driver.

Do you understand?

Then go now

and take this with you

so at the fort they will know that Soldado means what he says.

From what you tell us, Sergeant

there isn't a prayer of getting Smith and those men out of there alive.

If we mount an attack, they'd be the first killed.

Figure we'll have to give Soldado what he asks for.

We better get back to Fort Lowell and start loadin' those wagons.

Vittoro, you know what you have to do.

Whoa!

We got your jacket, Colonel.

You didn't bring those weapons out here?

Why not?

You know what that much fire power means in the hands of these savages?

(Colonel Smith) What they'll do to us means nothing.

Just followin' orders, Colonel.

There you are, Soldado. Ninety-nine more just like it.

Ammunition, too. Five thousand rounds.

Poderoso.

–You got everything you want, Soldado? –Yes.

Now that you are here, get down.

All right, little soldier.

Unload!

[Gunshots]

Mr. Lane

accept my thanks.

Give your thanks to Colonel Crook.

I'd like you to meet Vittoro, chief of the Chiricahua

one of the savages that just saved your hide.

I'm grateful to you and your warriors.

I'll see that you are properly rewarded.

Well, that's already been taken care of. That ammunition is to go to Vittoro's people.

It's a very wise decision. It meets with my complete approval.

It's quite obvious that these people are in need of assistance in supplying their families with food.

(Tribolet) This is, uh, toilet paper.

This one goes to Prescott.

Morning, Crance, Tribolet.

Hello, Hondo.

Nice day, isn't it? Not a sign of a war cloud anywhere.

Oh, those things can blow up just as fast as they blow away.

Something'll happen.

Life in this country abhors a vacuum.

Maybe, but you can't find a man like Buckeye Jack everyday.

You're breed is dyin' out, Tribolet.

Hondo.

Hold up.

Colonel, if you got another job for me...

No, no. No job. Everything's quiet and peaceful...

at the moment.

Good. I figure I could use a little loafin' time.

How come you're not takin' off to Washington to get that medal pinned on you?

Hmm, well, uh...

The declaration's been cancelled.

You got the President riled up at you?

No, no. They voted to give Colonel Smith the medal instead.

Buckeye Jack?

For his, uh, superb handling of an explosive situation here at Fort Lowell.

Then they're gonna kick him upstairs to a desk job.

Kinda makes your breakfast rile up on you, doesn't it?

Where you headin'?

Cantina to get a drink.

–I think I'll go along with you. –All right.

♪ ♪